We resumed dune bashing,
skittering like spiders over golden
sandscapes that looked like scenes
in the movie Lawrence of Arabia.
Eventually, we returned to the dirt
road and then drove on to an Arabic
campsite. Tour companies have built
a lovely open- air dining area,
covered with carpeting and low
tables just a few inches off the
ground. While barbeque meats were
grilling, we had a chance to try
on Arabic attire for photo ops.
I put on an abaya and must say
it felt very confining.
The Land Cruisers used for
dune bashing
The driver then pulled onto a dirt
road and stopped to let air out of
the tires. We drove to those endless
sand dunes and began the madcap
ride. By the time cars and drivers
stopped for a break, I needed fresh
air and a walk. Dune bashing is not
a good choice for people who
struggle with motion sickness.
I recovered by trudging through
deep granular crystals. Some kids
on our tour ran up and down the
dunes and I spied a camel and baby
in the distance, roaming free.
Other booths offered temporary
henna tattoos, dates for sampling,
camel rides, Shisha water pipes
for smoking, and Arabic sweets
and coffee.
Jumeriah Ethiad
Towers Lobby
Dinner was a lavish buffet, much
better than expected, an array of
mezze - Baba Ghanoush, hummus,
tomatoes, pita and salads, plus
skewers of chicken, fish, rice and
other dishes. We ate as the sun set
and a starry night sky appeared.
Recorded music played and a belly
dancer performed on the center
stage. Again, the entertainment
exceeded my expectations; her
dancing was spectacular and
afternoon and evening became
one to remember.
This safari tour is well worth the
price and I highly recommend it.
A visit to the Mosque is a must, but
tourists can simply hire a cab to and
from the site. Tours of the site are
offered free of charge.
Last Day
The next morning, I hopped across
5
ALL PHOTOS BY DEBI LANDER
passengers drove about an hour out
of the city to a camel farm. A short
amount of time was allotted for
photos with camels.