Living in the UAE: November 2010

We had so much fun on the desert safari, but the name is a little misleading. It wasn't really a safari and we only rode the camel for one minute, but after that I realized, it would have been way too painful to ride it longer than that. The first pictures are our entry into Dubai to meet our ride. The tallest building in the world (now) is in the background. We met our ride at IKEA and he took us to the meeting point. We got in a big SUV with roll bars in the ceiling, which should have been my first clue to what was about to come. I had other clues because on the way to the meeting site we saw four wheelers and off roaders driving around the dunes. Anyway, what came next was like being trapped on a roller coaster. Straight up, sideways, down, slinging right and left, nearly tipping over, and claw prints on the seat and on Tandy who was riding beside me. It was a nightmare, but at least the wheels were on the ground......some of the time. All I could think was....I want to get out, I want to get out.
When we got to the camp site I wanted to kiss the ground, but I didn't want sand in my mouth. From then on it was much calmer. We rode the camel, had our hands hennaed, ate, danced and watched the bellydancer. It was a perfect night and the weather was gorgeous. The ride back to the car was much better thank heavens.

does not show the real dunes we went up and down. Seriously, they were straight up and down.

yes, he's driving with one hand, and yes, everytime I screamed, he smiled. There may have even been some profanity, but I promise when it was over I was thanking Jesus.