Episode #18 - A dash to the desert

A few weeks ago there were rumors of a camping trip with DAA teachers. Unfortunately, Jenn and I had been unsuccessful trying to befriend a very famous faculty member named Frank. Frank is like the cool guy in high school that you really want to be friends with if only... if only you had that one chance. Frank is from Sudafreeka, he has a really cool jeep with a tent that pops open on top, and he has explored hundreds of campsites around Oman and the UAE. He's the guy you want to go into the desert with because if you get stuck in the sand he is guaranteed to find a way to get you out.  Not to mention he tells long and funny stories in his thick accent around the campfire. Eventually we got the invite and looked forward to taking our truck into the desert for her maiden voyage off road.

We set off from school at around 4:00pm, a convoy of 8 or so SUV's.  After about 1.5 hours we pulled off the highway and into the desert with a dusty brown haze in the air but very little wind. A few more turns and we headed off road onto a hard packed sandy road past a camel farm to a pretty little valley surrounded by red sand dunes with a cluster of tall trees for shade. It was amazing to climb the dunes and look off in all directions into empty desert. What's surprising is the amount of birds you hear chirping in the low shrubs. 

We set up the campsite and had drinks with a few of our middle school friends who were telling stories about their recent adventures during "week without walls" when they took MS kids off to the phillipines, Laos, Turkey, etc. 

After dinner we had a big campfire and many drinks.

The following morning Ryan took us out in his jeep to do a bit of "dune bashing" which is essentially just driving around the desert dodging shrubs and driving up and down big dunes. It's pretty exciting to go over a ridge and drive down super steep dunes when all you see is sky.. and then sand.
We were also joined by a herd of camels as they passed through our camp.

Overall it was a really fun day and half in the desert and hopefully one of many camping trips.

Later in the afternoon we headed back to Dubai in time for the "Genie Awards" which is essentially the school's talent show.  The students did an amazing job and it was fun to see all their hidden talents. 

Here are some pictures from the camping trip:

Our first foray into the desert

Our truck's first off road journey. Mitsubishi Nativa

Beautiful secluded spot with lots of trees for shade

Our Friend's son, Ethan, dancing to the music as the sun went down in the desert

uhh. not sure what's going on here. campfire antics

Our morning visit from the camels

hey. nice humps

trying to get a camel smooch

Invasion of the camels

Ryan was saying for about an hour that he would do the dishes. Then the camels came and they licked them clean for him!

You gonna finish that?

Bye guys!  see you next time.

Episode # 17- brunches, races, food fests, and surf

The last few weeks it feels like we've been trying to get the most out of our time here. Having a car has really increased our ability to get out and do things, and it seems like every opportunity we get we are heading out to see or do something new.. or for me.. go to the beach for surfing.

Last weekend we started off with a friday morning run, followed by a VERY nice brunch out on the Palm.  The Palm Jumeirah is essentially a man made palm shaped land mass that was created from nothing. They dredged the seafloor and formed this enormous thing that juts out into the ocean. When you drive out on the trunk of the palm it's easy to forget that it is man made. The massive Atlantis hotel sits at the top of the palm on the crescent. We were meant to go to a brunch a few weeks back but it conflicted with dad's visit, so jenn and I finished our run, got dolled up, and headed out there. The drinks, food, and hotel was incredible. Definately the nicest brunch we've been to. This was followed by a nice stroll around the grounds.  Given that each hotel takes up a portion of the palm, each hotel has seafront and beachfront, although i've heard rumors that the water does not circulate so well on the inside of the palm and it can get stinky in the summer. Although it's ecological nightmare to dredge up the seabottom and create land where land did not exist, it's actually pretty cool to see.

On Saturday, we did yet another run, followed by a day at the beach. The surf was really big so I had a few sessions interspersed with sitting on the beach with a bunch of DAA people.  Once again a really nice day to be in Dubai, beach, sun, surf and good friends. 

During this past week we went to a place called Global Village. It's a strange place but the best I can describe it is an international county fair that goes on for 4 months and hosts vendors from lots of different countries.  We sampled food in the Saudi Arabia area, looked at all the knick knacks in the Africa area (which were identical to all the ones Jenn and I have seen in Kenya), we took a ride on the ferris wheel to look at.... the parking lot... which is about the size of Rhode Island. I'm not sure what it is about this place but the locals LOVE it. They come out in droves as the sun goes down to wander around, eat dates, drink tea, and generally just walk around. It's one of the only places we've been in Dubai where you feel like there are more locals than expats.    Here's a few pictures from our little jaunt out to Global village:

Global village- the river in the desert

Atop the ferris wheel 

Jenn had to have her picture taken.

The saddest amusement ride ever. Office chairs welded on, and an Indian guy pushing you round in circles. 

On Friday March 16th we went to the "Taste of Dubai" food festival that was being held in the Media City area. Lots of restaurants had booths offering food, wine, and desserts. It has started to get a bit warmer here so we were ready for a cold cider with ice while eating pad thai, and lots of snacks at the different booths. We watched a celebrity chef "Artie" from food network and then did a wine tasting with a bunch of DAA teachers. We headed out early BEFORE the single malt whiskey tasting which I'm told was somewhat dangerous.   

And finally, this morning Jenn and I ran an 8km race which was hosted at the Jumeirah beach hotel right underneath the burj-al-Arab.  The track took us past the burj and through all the gardens and pools of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the Madinat. We both ran a good race and both finished in the middle of the pack for the male and female groups.  This was followed by a very delicious lunch at the Lime Tree Cafe.  Now time to rest!  Here are some pictures from our race: 

uhhh.. i don't think it's real gold..  or are you REALLY hungry?

Jenn post race with the burj in the background

Ready to run

Robbie across the finish line.

Knackered - only half way!!

All done

Great View at the start line. 

That's all for now.  Next weekend we'll be taking the car on its first camping trip to the desert. The following weekend we'll be heading to Portugal for a week with the Jefferiss Clan for Spring Break! Can't wait.