21st Century camel train

[luckykaa]

So, today was the driving around on Sand dune days, and the full Arab Experience (Disneyfied for the tourists).

Stop at the Sheik's Palace for a photo op, then the driver heads to the desert.  Really big road, very few cars.  For some reason a lot of the desert is fenced off.  No idea what we're being stopped from seeing.  It's slightly bizarre that they're building towers out here, and there's the occasional store.  I wonder why so far from the city centre.  Also saw Universal studios. Don't think it's open yet.  Either that or it's modelled after Diggerland. 

But anyway - the tour itself.  Stopped in the desert.  Took photos of the desert.  Took photos of each other.  Got back in the cars, and drove over sand dunes.  Lots of sand dunes.  Cool stuff.  Lasted a while.  Was keen to get onto the next bit.  We eventually got off the sand dunes and onto a track and then onto a road.  Soon arrived at the destination.  A Beduin village where we got a short camel ride, were taken into the village itself, the locals attempted to flog us loads of stuff using the sales tactic of not understanding the word "no". 

So inside there were various further attempts to entertain us and possibly sell us photos, although we could take our own.  So there was the chance to hold a falcon (handed my camera to a guy with a nice camera since he probably knew what he was doing, and he did). 

Watched a video about the early days of Abu Dhabi before it was anything.  it was a very old video in black and white and narrated by a very Chumley-Warner narrator.  Were given food.  It was tasty.  We were entertained by dancers.  An al Tanoura dancer (spinning around in multiple skirts) and a pretty good belly dancer.  Not seen Al Tanoura before.  The guy was a real showman, and was simply fantastic. 

So yes, on top of all the things I mentioned in the last post, driving around on sand dunes is also an option and kinda fun.

Comments

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

I know that the 'borders' between the emirates (in this case Dubai and Sharjah, I think?) are simpele metal link fences, so I think that might be what you saw?