Desert Storm: My First Safari

Actually I don’t want to go to this sand trip today. There’s a sand storm I can see from the Gardens’ deck of my cousin Arlene’s apartment but my Dnata office mates were prodding me for days. If not because Violy is leaving Dubai for good, I rather have stayed in the room and sleep. Besides, Senthil had been calling for my weherabouts and kept on reminding me for the sand adventure. So I told Nasser, my carlift to bring us to Al Nada in Sharjah (Grace’s place).

The Arabian Desert Tours, our organizers picked us up at Grace’s place at around 2.30 p.m. in the afternoon. I had been warned by my friend’s sister and several others to not eat too much before I started the drive. I do not have car-sickness but it’s always better to be safe than sorry; so all morning I was surviving on two slices of bread and tea, an I was saying I am not interested to go, hahahaha! We also took the precaution to sit in the middle seat of the red Hummer3. What a vehicle! I do hope I own one or the likes someday.

Before entering the desert, the tires of the H3 were deflated so as to ease the driving in the sand dunes. After entering the desert what began, was a crazy roller-coaster ride up and down the sand dunes that lasted for an hour or so. The drivers are extremely skilled. They drive horizontally. They speed upwards and downwards and apply the brakes at the right moment! How they managed to go up over those steep dunes and come down without crashing is a mystery I’ll never unravel even if I go on the Safari a hundred times.

I even asked our driver Ali and our assistant Mubarak how they started driving. Ali said that he did not get any formal training. He would come down to the desert with his friends. The most important thing was to overcome your fear, if you can’t do that you could never drive in the desert. Also it was important to understand the desert, getting lost could be very easy as there were no prominent landmarks and most importantly one has to stick to the group as it prevented one from getting lost. That was the reason the tourist companies asked their vehicles to hang around together. Once the drivers were confident, they would go and apply to the companies, who tested their skills. Once the companies were confident they would give the job because one has to remember that the tourists’ lives were the drivers’ responsibility, they could not afford to be reckless.

He took great care of us by asking us every time if we needed to stop and if anyone of us was feeling dizzy. None of us did because we were really enjoying the ride. Ali was pretty a safe driver.

The first halt was near a caravan of camels. They were not tied but let free. I thought they were one of the calmest animals and did not get scared by the arrival of so many humans. People walked up to them and touched them, played with them and they did not budge. But among them all I saw a camel flocked by people crying. Tears were dropping from his eyes and at that moment I wish it were able to speak out why there were tears in its eyes. It moved us both and we just walked away from them, letting them be by themselves.

The second halt was at the top of a dune to watch the sunset. My pals took some excellent video recording of the sunset and the dune driving and if I can figure a way out to put it up; I sure will. Maybe some of you can advice how I could do it?

The sun sets early there around 6.30 and 7.00 seems like 8.00 p.m. here. Past the ride we were driven to an Arabian camp. The camp was a common ground for multiple activities and the dinner. We first drank the super hot Arabian tea and then decided to go camel riding. Sitting on the camel is the toughest thing I have done. It’s like sitting on another roller-coaster. First it goes forward on his front legs, as a result of which you are leaning forward, then it rises, and you keep swaying back and forth! The ride is excellent but once you have to get down the horror begins! Our camel refused to sit down and its owner gave it a jerk, the result my friend Senthil who was sitting behind me had his chin banged into my head when the camel leaned forward to sit! Ouch it hurt!

Then we decided to get ourselves shot in the traditional Arabian costumes. The white robe for Emerson and me and the black robe for Violy and Grace with head covered in black scarf! After that I went ahead to get some mehendi / henna tattoo done on my hands, an Arabic transcription of ARCHIE and by the time it was over the dinner begun. The dinner was amazing. Chicken Kebabs, Mutton Seekh Kebabs, Lamb Chops, Roasted Chicken, Chicken Gravy, Biryani Rice, Sphagetti, Rotis, and my friends’current favourite Hamus ( the vegetable) with Khamus(The Roti). I’m not mentioning the vegetarian menu because I did not taste any.

Once the dinner was over, the final program of the evening started; the belly dancing show. I was most impressed by the lovely Lebanese or German (not sure) dancer. First of all it did not look vulgar at all and secondly she was beautiful and aesthetic in her presentation. She balanced a stick on her head and moved her body without losing her balance. Then she balanced a sword on her waist! How on earth she did that I do not know. She then invited various people to dance along with her and the Arabic songs in the background added to the exhilarating atmosphere. The best part was two good looking Lebanese and French guys who danced in sync with the young dancer. I think they stole the show.

The whole journey was an quite a puking experience I’ll savor all my life. We were dropped back home; I wished the evening had never ended!