..: A desert romance :..
A trip to Abu Dhabi - often dubbed as the diamond of the Middle east - opened my eyes to many things never before imagined. First of all, check out the gigantic mosque the government is building, they really spare no expense in impressing and wooing visitors and investors alike. The number of luxury properties and high rise buildings sprouting all over the city also bears testament to the growing property market. But i guess they have to think beyond their oil and there's no betta time than now.
An example of their extravagant spending; Marina mall, one of the big shopping malls has scheduled thunderstorms everyday inside the mall, complete with roaring thunder and overcast 'skies' to make up for the dry blistering heat of 40 deg outside.
I take a trip to the desert because i've always wanted to see it for myself. U hardly see Arab guys working, even the driver who took us to the desert was Indian. Ditto that for the few staff working at the Bedouin camp where we spent the night.
First, we go to a camel farm which quite frankly doesnt interest me... much as they are useful in the desert, i cant find it in me to appreciate them.
One thing that strikes u the minute u enter the desert, the terrain is extremely harsh and unforgiving. The sun shines down mercilessly, yr head spins from the heat and the strong winds blow sand into yr eyes, yr mouth. And u have difficulty walking straight because every step u take requires effort to lift yr foot from the fine soft sand.
Nevertheless, it has a haunting beauty that no other place possesses. High sand dunes shaped by the winds and clear skies with no clouds. The silence is deafening.
One of the most popular things to do is to go sand dune bashing with a 4WD. Our driver Anwar reminds us again and again to 'keep your stomach empty please'. And i realise why.
If u have motion sickness, you are bound to throw up. The first time we all shrieked with delight.. then 5 mins into the up-down-sideways routine, our laughter died down. Another 5 mins later, i heard a whimper from the back, " How long more?" And then a while later i threw up in the bag, bile and everything.
The ordeal finally ends. We are treated to a stunning sunset.
The Bedouin campsite where we are to have dinner and spend the night is furnished with Arabic tents and pillows and carpets. U can go for camel rides, do sand-boarding, dress up in abbayas, etc.
As i'm still feeling queasy from the ride, i give all of that a miss. The dinner is scrumptious and the shisha after that was a welcome respite. By then the fierce rays of the sun have given way to cooling breezes that make walking on the sand seem like treading on a soft carpet of cotton wool.
Our dinner table
Strawberry is always my favorite shisha flavor 
Anwar enjoying as well. We finally take a shower and prepare for bed.
The tents are too hot to sleep in so we take all our mats and pillows and sleep out in the open. There's only 4 of us in the entire campsite.
By then, all the lights have been turned off and the whole place is plunged into total darkness. A surreal feeling comes over me.. i'm actually sleeping in the desert, with only the silence and the stars for company.
Cocooned in my blanket, I look up and i can't bear to close my eyes and sleep. The stars are generously sprinkled across the sky like diamonds on a blue velvet carpet. Words cant even describe how clear and beautiful the sight is. I've seen something like this in tasmania many years ago, but even then, i was not able to see the Milky way. This time, the Milky way stretches across the sky and i even saw a shooting star!
My camera doesnt do justice to the view. I lie awake until the moon which was slowly creeping up over the horizon casts its glow over the camp and i can't see as many stars anymore.
The next morning, the heat wakes us up. Breakfast is good but before we eat, we cautiously ask Anwar if we have to bash any more sand dunes to get back to the city ha.
I bid farewell to the desert... it was one of the best experiences of my life.
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