The Dubai Escapades (11)...the Desert Safari...

Although pakdokter and his partner had done desert safaris in the interior of Tunisia and Morocco some 6 and 4 years ago respectively, we could not ignore the much touted dune-bashing desert safari offerred in Dubai. And I must admit that we were not disappointed.

They do know how to organise tour packages in Dubai. With a booking made over the phone, we were picked up right at the door-step of the villa, on the dot, at the appointed time. We were driven in a Toyota Land-cruiser for about an hour along the highway into the desert in the direction of Muscat in Oman.




The dune-bashing excursion is a popular tourist activity judging by the number of 4WD that were already assembled at the meeting point before we started bashing into the desert. Some companies took their tourists in Hummer vehicles.



It was an exciting fast ride, a roller-coaster-like adrenaline pumping experience, as the driver rushed the vehicle over steep sand-dunes at times skidding the car almost as if we were on an ice-covered surface.

However I must admit that our driver and guide, a local Emirati of Iranian descent, was a competent and skilled driver. We were reminded to fasten ourselves to the seat-belt and I noticed that the vehicle was additionally reinforced with steel bars for additional safety.

The dune-bashing trip ended just before sunset and what a scene it was to see the sun set in the horizon of the desert.

After sunset we were driven to a tribal camp-site where we were served a buffet of local barbeques and entertained to a belly dance performance by a middle-eastern beauty.

Sheikh Kamal al-Kuttu, who in his previous life was an Uzbek, was completely mesmerised by the ripples and gyrations of Ms Mona, the belly dancer...

a l male dancer performing a traditional dance resembling the swirling dervishes of Turkey..