Dubai Desert Safari

For a number of expats who come to the Emirates to work, going to the Desert Safari might not be in the list of the first things to do. They get busy scrambling to settle with their jobs, but  usually won't go back to their home countries for good without doing it.

It took me a few years to do my first trip. Personally, it felt like a validation that I finally  earned the time to look around and appreciate all the beauty around.

There are a number of tour operators to choose from, who will take you in their cool, white 4x4s to the site.

The first attraction will be the dune bashing. It is not exactly for the faint of heart. Highly skilled drivers will hit the mountains of sand  at full speed with gradients that are seemingly impossible to maneuver. It felt a bit scary at first, I just kept quite, trying to be cool while my family was already screaming at every bump and skid and roar of the engine. To act calm is pointless, so I started screaming as well and started to enjoy it.

We stopped in the middle of nowhere. Along with the other SUVs. The driver told me it is a designated stop, perfect for taking pictures. It's a bit perplexing.  The amount of sand seems overwhelming, and there is really not much  a picture can say in this kind of place, except how vulnerable and small and helpless we are in the silent stare of nature. Individual stories seemed the distraction, instead of the main interests in the steady march of time.

It easy to be in a philosophical mood given that immediate surrounding. I noticed a small grass, with no sign of complaints about shortage of water. It reminds me of  that final scene in Jurassic Park, when winged dinosaurs were flying out far from the island where they were artificially grown---'Life will find a way.'----the scientist said.

After a few minutes of picture taking, its time to go to the camp. The impossible maneuvers of the SUV felt a bit less scary. And its easier to see the little things we see along the way.

 In theory, we all know there is life in the desert, but it is when you see this things for real that you are able to marvel at the beauty.

Or admire the wisdom and hardiness of the nomads.

 

We soon arrived at the camp, where everything seemed more predictable once more. One can go for a camel ride, a henna tattoo, and a traditional dinner and belly dancing.

 

 

 

It is a mesmerizing experience, the camp was located in what looked like a small valley surrounded by a mountain of dunes. I'm sure the locals have an Arabic term for that. There enough activities and family time to spend the whole evening, away from the trappings of  the phone signal.

 

 

 

It was late in the evening and time to go back home. I sat in the SUV and tried to come up with good reasons why I didn't do it earlier. Going back to the city, it felt like the tales of  A Thousand and One Nights are alive in the psyche once again.  

The Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi

"There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion", says Edgar Allan Poe.

Welcome to the Ferrari World in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The world's largest indoor theme park  where the world's fastest roller coaster is also located. It continues to attract millions of visitors every year from all over the world.

You don't have to be a car enthusiast to enjoy this huge theme park, Ferrari inspires awe in a universal language, and the theme park makes sure it is enjoyable for everyone.

 

 

Near the entrance, I model of a Ferrari engine greets visitors, and I must admit I haven't looked at a an engine more like a thing of beauty than, lets say, well, an engine.

 

 

 

Once inside, my son quickly went to the children's rides and who are we to object? It's supposed to be a real good experience for kids, right? Wrong.

 

 

 

It's good to compromise and take the whole family to a ride like this, where both young and old can enjoy. But that's before the inner child in all of us takes charge, and we are dragging our children to the more technical aspect of the experience, like how a Ferrari is built.

 

 

Every one is spoilt for choice with the variety of rides like the go-kart and roller coasters. Or you may want to just slow down and watch a variety a film or 3D animations related  to a Ferrari. Or just watch different attractions that the theme park comes up with.

 

For us, we went on a Chinese New Year, so here is what we found.

 

 

After getting recharged, it's time for the main attraction. The fastest roller coaster in the world. The Formula Rossa will literally take your breath away.

 

 

 

  

Well, honestly, it's not for me. Though I said I would  be happy watching others do the Formula Rossa. I leaned over to my wife and asked. 'Do you want to go to that queue?' She just smiled and said, 'No'.

The Al Hamra Village and Golf Resort

The Al Hamra Village and Golf Resort is a very charming site in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. It is about an hour drive from Dubai, and comes at a very reasonable price. You don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy the therapeutic effect of a weekend getaway.

 

Personally,  the tree-lined streets and Arabic architecture seems to have a calming effect. The resort  is close to the beach, where there is variety of exciting things that everyone can do like banana boat rides, para sailing, beach volleyball, etc.

 

Whether you want to sweat things out or just laze around and relax, there are a lot of options. The resort has an outdoor pool, massage center, sauna, tennis courts and a lot more. I'm not quite sure if its everyone's idea of relaxation or fun, but I just want to lie down, listen to the chirping birds, let the time go by.

 

 

The Dubai Creek Park

The Dubai Creek Park is another popular destination for residents during weekends. It is located, well as one might guess, near the Dubai Creek.  If you go there on a Friday afternoon or evening, parking could become an issue, not because parking spaces are few, but more because people find plenty of good reasons to go there.

It is an ideal place for kids to run around, the family to have a barbecue  and just have a good time. When I was new to Dubai, I did not expect to find such area of trees and vegetation in the middle of the city.

 

Near the entrance, there is the Dubai Dolphinarium which brings out the child and sense of wonder in all of us. Next to it is the Bird Show. There are plenty of opportunities to interact with animals, like camel and pony riding. 

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While animal interaction activities are for a fee, there are others that are free, like feeding the birds in the creek.

 

There is plenty of safe play areas for kids and green grass. So parents are free to relax and just chit chat.

Across the creek one can also enjoy the good mix of nature and modernity that is Dubai.

That's the Dubai Creek golf club.

 

 

And that's another view of Deira, with all the new buildings that seems to come out of nowhere just a couple of decades ago.

 

 

But sometimes, I just like to lie down, look up to the sky, and try to see the pattern in things.

The Matryoshka Festival

Today, I felt lucky getting a glimpse of Russian culture. At the Wafi Mall, the Matryoshka Festival is being held, and it will run from March 3-12, at the mall's main atrium.


There is a significant number of  Russian population here in Dubai. The Matryoshka Festival is perhaps both an effort to showcase their culture, song and dance, as well as a way of getting their compatriots together.

Activities for the 10-day event will start from 10AM every morning and will go on until the evening. The calendar of activities are  planned to involve people from different backgrounds and walks of life, including fashion shows, traditional dances, astrology and piano recitals.

Today I was able to catch students from a dance school performing Beethoven's Fur Elise, and another rendition of Tennessee Waltz.

 
At first, I got there by accident. Next week, I'll go there on purpose.

The Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature

Dubai hosts a great event every March for those who love literature.  This year, the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature will be held from March 1-15. In the event, all lovers of the written word will have plenty of choices of activities.

There are fun programs designed for children to appreciate literature. Workshops and master classes conducted by award winning authors for aspiring writers to improve their crafts. There are also writing competitions that will be a great platform for new writers.

The main events of the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature will be held at the Dubai Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City.