Sand, Sand Everywhere!!!

Abu Dhabi the City, is nothing like any other part of Abu Dhabi!  As we drove out of town there were some trees growing along the road. EVERYTHING that grows here is because of irrigation! The driver (from India) said, aside from the date palms that lined the road, they were growing the scrub trees in rows like an orchard to keep the sand down. My useless opinion is it should be fruit trees to justify the use of the water! But what do I know?!

Along the road out of town. 

I expected to see oil wells but our driver says most of the Abu Dhabi oil is off shore.

Without irrigation Abu Dhabi looks like this-everywhere!

We started by visiting a camel farm. A camel farm is just a bunch of camels out in the middle of no where (at least I didn't see anything else nearby), with a watering hole and a few buildings (shacks) around. When we arrived, the camels were very interested in eating what looked like straw. I forgot to ask what they did with these camels (sell them, eat them, race them?).

My new friend.

They are not interested in us when there is food to eat.

Camels are a lot bigger than I thought.

                                         

Our drivers meeting before we head out onto the dunes. Planning our route?

 Next is "Dune Bashing!" Dune Bashing is letting air out of the tires (so you have more traction?) of these 4 wheel drive vehicles and driving up and down the dunes-like a roller coaster!  I have some good photos but I'm not sure how the videos turned out since we are moving very fast over the dunes.  The cars don't destroy the vegetation since there isn't any. Our driver said they do a different route every day so as not to destroy the dunes.  We had a clear day. Somedays, if there is a big wind, the sand is picked up and it looks as if they are driving in a fog(of sand). I asked if a car had ever roller over and he said: not yet! Had they crashed into each other? "I couldn't say no to that!" Our driver takes us very fast up the dune and sometimes just heads over it like a roller coaster and sometimes at the top he turns the car and we slide sideways down the dune! When we slide sideways down the dune, sand comes up and over the car, covering the windshield and passenger windows!

Cars heading out over the dunes

See this one?! A very steep drop and they don't take it slow!

Laughing and squealing (and swearing) is allowed!

We stop for some photos and to play in the sand. I end up taking my shoes off since it is very hard to walk but easier without sandals on! Is that where the word comes from? Sand-als because they are made for walking in the sand? I found it very difficult to walk since my feet sank so deep in the sand I couldn't move and there was a layer of sand inside my sandals-if that is possible. My feet got weighted down and my sandals began to get pulled off trying to walk in the sand!

I'm beginning to get sand in my eyes. Actually sand is everywhere on my body-ears, face, mouth, hair, feet. My scalp seems to have a layer of sand covering it! Where I have suntan lotion, the sand sticks to my skin and is so fine it doesn't brush off very easily! For me it occurs like an irritation and I can't wait to take a shower. If I was someone living in the desert, it would probably feel normal to have sand everywhere! Of course, they wouldn't have had water to shower daily or even weekly--maybe monthly. It's like going to the beach and having sand in your picnic, but then we leave the beach. Here they is only sand for miles!! No leaving it.

I've got my mouth closed to keep the blowing sand out!

Wind is just enough, at the top of this dune, to blow it everywhere.

Tanya from Sacramento was the brave soul who went with me.

Jumping in the sand. 

Didn't put my shoes back on until I got back to the hotel!

After a little more dune bashing we arrive at our final destination. Camel rides, dinner, belly dancing, henna tattoos, hookas, bathrooms, sunset viewing, and sand boarding for those who want to walk to the top of the very tall dune. I forgot to take a photo of the food but it looked like a standard food buffet with middle eastern food like hummus, baba ganoosh (I haven idea how to spell this), rice, etc.

To the bathrooms first! 

Every public bathroom stall I have been in has one of these next to the toilet.

It occurs to me that if I tried to use this, I would get my clothes soaked in any attempt!!

I'll have to ask about it.

Beautiful!! This is the first sunset I've seen here. 

At the hotel there are so many sand particles in the air (like smog) that you can't 

see the sun as it is going down. Sun sets at 6 pm sharp here.

Very fast sunset. It took a few minutes and it was gone!

Camels have these cute little crochet muzzles--

but they are held in place with what looks like metal rope! Ouch!

We got on the camel and walked in a small circle like those pony rides we take our toddlers on!

Belly dancing. 

Seems so out of place in such a conservative country.

Getting my henna tattoo.

After the henna comes off, the temporary tattoo is a nice design on my skin.

Decided to put it on my arm (not my hand) so I could cover it with long sleeves.

It gets darker the next day.

I didn't want to really smoke this but thought a photo would be fun.

I was afraid it would make me sick and I can't afford to be sick.  

The time change is enough to deal with in not letting myself get run down with lack of sleep.

Now, you may ask, was this a contrived and corny tour? My answer is yes! Very touristy. But I did thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was fun and I would recommend it to anyone coming here since it is the only way to see the desert life. As a woman, I wouldn't feel comfortable driving out to the desert even though I've seen a lot of women here driving.

Lots of people are arriving today who are assisting at the course-from all over the world: India, Iran, Canada, Turkey, USA...to name a few.

Formula One racing tomorrow!  I have no idea what Formula One means!! But I know we get into race cars that travel at very high speeds!!!