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.