One of the ladies of the hareem, the Fair Kate of County Cork, organised a day in the desert for all the people of the royal court of SIP. Some were able to make it while others must have thought it was just getting too hot in the desert to venture out of the air-conditioned oases of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. Only the intrepid and adventurous signed up for the caravan into the desert.
The caravan left from the Intercontinental Hotel in Al Ain under the watchful eye of Captain Rashed, master of the genies of the magic flying carpets (MFCs to those who have not read the Arabian Fairytale before). The MFCs, four in total, piloted by Emirati genies, clad in impeccable white, cruised out into the desert in the late afternoon. Captain Rashed, Saif, Hamad and Mr Al Shamsi catapulted the cruisers along the highway in search of the camel farms where the entourage would be saddled up.
Young Travis of the Carter Clan was to keen to master the art of mounting of a camel. He did this most ably under the watchful eye of some camel handlers from the far off exotic lands (and Deb and Simon with their hearts in their mouths!) Many of the entourage stepped forward to try their skill as camel handlers and they showed lots of promise as handlers of the ships of the desert. However their contracts with SIP have stopped them from pursuing this fascinating career!
The excitement has only just begun. In the blink of an eye, the magic flying carpets cruised across the desert speeding up and down the dunes and amazing the Princess with their capacity to keep all the people on board! Little did she know that the real daredevil 4 wheelers were about to appear. Ibrahim the Insolent and Tarek the Terrifying capably conned Captain Rashed and his crew into a detour to the land of the broken bones, grazed knees and cracked skulls, otherwise known as the Quad Bike Fun Park. Before we could say “…But what about viewing the Sunset….” we had arrived and our party was crisscrossing the park at breakneck speed.
After a cautious start many of the team were spinning wheels and wheel-y-ing their way all over the tracks, Tarek the Terrifying was only slightly more sedately cruising the dune and Enigmatic Ed was showing all the hallmarks of his misspent youth. Even Nerissa of Victoria braved possible broken bones taking her turn. Though it must be said I’ve seen ride on mowers go faster! Star of the (junior) track though was Travis. At age 3 11/12ths he managed his junior bike like a pro – giving his Mum Debbie lots of exercise, taking tumbles in his stride and before long burning up the sand!
There were some strangers from out of town in the group today. The Princess was bemused. Are they Australians, South Americans or perhaps Mexicans? It is curious – perhaps they are a new breed of Arab, mutants from the town of Shahama? Strange head gear, not before seen in the desert sets them apart from the royal Sheikhs of Al Ain. They must be good men and fair because they escorted the visiting Lady Houda of Morocco from Abu Dhabi – perhaps they are her secret service?
Back to the race track and the sun was setting and we were on our way. Some of the MFC pilots, now emboldened by the obvious bravery on the track, decided to keep the adrenaline pumping, roaring up, down and sideways through the dunes and into the dusk.
By now hunger is setting in. Images of 20 people lost in the golden sands begin to flash before our eyes. Stray goats are imagined to be draped in gravy – with salads! Even a camel haunch looks appetising. Beckoning lights in the distance hold the promise of a feast unimaginable. Finally, just before we succumb to starvation we arrive at Captain Rashed’s desert camp and are welcomed by his extended family with drinks, a soft seat, and (much to the relief of many) bathrooms – complete with Jacuzzi! (It doesn’t work but it looks good!)
Soon while the barbecue is sizzling we are guided around the camp. It contains all the necessities of life, a menagerie of pets, and in stark contrast to the modern magic flying carpets of the desert (Toyota Landcruiser, Nissan Armada, Chevy Tahoe etc) a WW2 relic Land Rover is proudly on display under its own museum style shelter.
We sit on cushions and dinner is served, desert style at low tables while knees seize up beneath us! We are treated to salads, barbecued quail, chicken kebabs and rice. Arabic coffee and tea complete the feast and soon we are all replete.
The desert causes strange things to occur. The Princess is reminded of the Lumbricidae of Dune (that’s HUGE worms for the uninitiated!) when Fair Kate of County Cork and Lady Houda of Morocco wriggle and squirm their way through the sands. They emerge clogged and dusty, eyes weeping and sand in their ears to be transformed into beautiful Arabian Princesses right before our eyes.
As the entourage changes into the royal dress of the desert Bettina the Bavarian records the emergence of the royal house. A new Sheikh of the royal family is proclaimed on his first desert outing – Sheikh Leigh Hazza Dry Wit, son of the Lady Nerissa of Victoria. A worthy sheikh seeking adventures and the princess of his dreams in the deserts of Al Ain. Beware princesses of the sands – he has a twinkle in his eye and a wit to match. Many a princess will have to run a long race to catch her prize!
After a cautious start many of the team were spinning wheels and wheel-y-ing their way all over the tracks, Tarek the Terrifying was only slightly more sedately cruising the dune and Enigmatic Ed was showing all the hallmarks of his misspent youth. Even Nerissa of Victoria braved possible broken bones taking her turn. Though it must be said I’ve seen ride on mowers go faster! Star of the (junior) track though was Travis. At age 3 11/12ths he managed his junior bike like a pro – giving his Mum Debbie lots of exercise, taking tumbles in his stride and before long burning up the sand!
There were some strangers from out of town in the group today. The Princess was bemused. Are they Australians, South Americans or perhaps Mexicans? It is curious – perhaps they are a new breed of Arab, mutants from the town of Shahama? Strange head gear, not before seen in the desert sets them apart from the royal Sheikhs of Al Ain. They must be good men and fair because they escorted the visiting Lady Houda of Morocco from Abu Dhabi – perhaps they are her secret service?
Back to the race track and the sun was setting and we were on our way. Some of the MFC pilots, now emboldened by the obvious bravery on the track, decided to keep the adrenaline pumping, roaring up, down and sideways through the dunes and into the dusk.
By now hunger is setting in. Images of 20 people lost in the golden sands begin to flash before our eyes. Stray goats are imagined to be draped in gravy – with salads! Even a camel haunch looks appetising. Beckoning lights in the distance hold the promise of a feast unimaginable. Finally, just before we succumb to starvation we arrive at Captain Rashed’s desert camp and are welcomed by his extended family with drinks, a soft seat, and (much to the relief of many) bathrooms – complete with Jacuzzi! (It doesn’t work but it looks good!)
Soon while the barbecue is sizzling we are guided around the camp. It contains all the necessities of life, a menagerie of pets, and in stark contrast to the modern magic flying carpets of the desert (Toyota Landcruiser, Nissan Armada, Chevy Tahoe etc) a WW2 relic Land Rover is proudly on display under its own museum style shelter.
We sit on cushions and dinner is served, desert style at low tables while knees seize up beneath us! We are treated to salads, barbecued quail, chicken kebabs and rice. Arabic coffee and tea complete the feast and soon we are all replete.
The desert causes strange things to occur. The Princess is reminded of the Lumbricidae of Dune (that’s HUGE worms for the uninitiated!) when Fair Kate of County Cork and Lady Houda of Morocco wriggle and squirm their way through the sands. They emerge clogged and dusty, eyes weeping and sand in their ears to be transformed into beautiful Arabian Princesses right before our eyes.
As the entourage changes into the royal dress of the desert Bettina the Bavarian records the emergence of the royal house. A new Sheikh of the royal family is proclaimed on his first desert outing – Sheikh Leigh Hazza Dry Wit, son of the Lady Nerissa of Victoria. A worthy sheikh seeking adventures and the princess of his dreams in the deserts of Al Ain. Beware princesses of the sands – he has a twinkle in his eye and a wit to match. Many a princess will have to run a long race to catch her prize!
The night must come to an end and the entourage makes it’s way under the watchful eye of Captain Rashed and the genies of the magic flying carpets back to the hotel and home. Another splendid day in Arabia – another adventure for the Princess and the Sheikh.
For photos of the day, visit our albums at: www.picasaweb.google.com/cherylandron
I can't believe you guy's didn't rip it up on the quad bikes with the others. You're not _that_ old!
ReplyDeleteBeen there...done that.....got the t-shirt!
ReplyDelete