My First Car Accident in Dubai :(

The driving is so crazy in Dubai that you see accidents all the time. I have been here over two years and I am accident free....well I was until last week. I now join the ranks with all the others that have been involved in a traffic  accident in the UAE. I was hoping not to join that club ! You hear the horror stories about accidents and really hope it will not be you one day ( who is really to blame , getting the vehicle fixed, etc).


Clearly it was my fault. When the officer asked who was to blame I said it was me. He approached me and said, " I love when people admit they are at fault".  "Thank you for being a big girl " . Did I actually hear the office say that...." thank you for being a big girl?"
I got the red ticket.....okay, that wasn't that hard to say.


This is how it happened....


I was following a fellow on a turn when another car made an abrupt U turn and almost broadsided the car in front of me. The driver in front of me then slammed on this breaks to avoid being hit. I was too close and no place to go but hit him from behind. Oh no ! Bang ! The noise was very loud and of course during lunch when lots of people are around.


Thank goodness no injuries ....just my pride bruised a little....


To have your insurance take care if the accident, you have to have a police report and number. We called the police and waited. Tick, tock, tick, tock .... an hour and 30 minutes passed, still no police. My husband called and said that his wife had an accident and was standing on the street waiting with  strange men. They arrived a few minutes later and let me know that my husband had called about my safety. Thanks sweetie !


When the UAE police officers arrived they were very polite and insisted that I not stand on the road - he said " women don't stand on the side of a road - get into your car".
Officer Hamzah also said that part of his job as a officer of the law was to call husbands of women that have been involved in a car accident to help smooth it over before they got home. I told him I was okay,  my husband knew about the accident, but he offered three more times to call my husband after his initial offer. So sweet don't you think ? !


I was cited a ticket - handed a red piece a paper ( the person not responsible gets a green piece of paper). When it was given to me, the ticket was completely written in Arabic - "what does this say ?" I was told that it said that my fine was 200 AED ( @ 55 USD ). The officer quietly said, " Pay the ticket online and your husband will never know". I love this guy. He was watching out for me as a woman.


My car is now being fixed and the accident will soon be forgotten. I have had my token car accident in Dubai and would like to not have any others.


Overall not a horrible experience and thank goodness I had some very polite funny officers.

Two Starry, Starry Nights in the Arabian Desert

Camping in the Arabian desert is a popular thing to do on weekends in the UAE when the weather is cool.  Now is the time people camp. Families literally go a few miles outside the cities and camp, along side busy roads or any place adequate to make a fire and pitch a tent. There is room... no shortage of camping spots. The UAE has vast rolling sand dunes with space for everyone.






In the two years I have been in the UAE, I have not camped, nor have I wanted to camp in desert. No thank you ! You see, I don't like to camp, never have. If I had to rank my top five least favorite things to do, camping would rank high on the list right up there with visits to the dentist.






Two weeks ago I broke down and did it - I camped in the desert. I was with a large group of @  90 people. We traveled @ 40 minutes outside Abu Dhabi to a camping spot only accessible by walking into it or via vehicles that can travel over deep sand. We had several 4XD vehicles, including a razor but the majority of us walked into the camp site. The drivers remove air from the tires and away they go. After you have lived in the UAE for awhile you soon become a master of getting yourself out of deep sand. But no worries, if you have not mastered that skill yet, sooner or later someone comes along that does.
Not only did I camp one night but here it comes ....two night and three days. Yeah I know, I cannot believe it either. Besides being filthy by the time I got in my car to go home on Saturday afternoon, I had a layer of sand all over my body, in my hair , ears, etc. One fact with sand - the wind blows and sand shifts and swirls constantly. Becoming covered with sand is a minor inconvenience of camping.






Overall it was not that bad, actually, I would maybe consider future camping ( please do not tell my husband).




The days were hot and windy with sand blowing around but the I actually loved the solitude and quiet. No phones and electronic gadgets . At night , the stars were brilliant. The sky was amazing - the stars looked like beautiful sparkling crystal and so many shooting stars. I lost count after 20. Starry, starry nights !The night sky in the Arabian desert was the most beautiful than I had ever seen before anywhere else in the world.




Bedouin Shepherds were all around our camp day and night with their herd of camels, many times they would wander into our camp, looking for food and /or drink. One of them found the cooler with Coke Light and we soon found out that he had a fondness diet soda. We were also surprised. It was not uncommon in our three days of camping to see herd of camels surrounding us, strolling, baby camels romping in the sand or resting while their mothers stood around.




We were all together in the desert enjoying the beauty and solitude.




We slept in three sided Bedouin tents with Arabic rugs that acted as floors. Our tent smelled like live stock had been kept in it which probably would not be a stretch. When I asked about the fourth side of the tent, I was told, it doesn't matter , you wont be changing your clothes for three days. Oh well then !


The deep , deep soft white sand is very hard to walk in so we all had a no shoe weekend. Even though we are told that shoes should be worn due to the scorpions that bury themselves into the sand. Thank goodness no scorpions were spotted or stepped on while we were camping.




The last day in the desert, a herd of camels walked up behind us as we were readying ourselves to leave. One of my friends said," Debbie, look over your shoulder." Behind me were 15 + camels. One of them quickly ran up to me and reached out with its big teeth to bite me. When I jumped back out of its way, it proceeded to kick me . Down I went, right into the sand face first. I jumped up and could not stop laughing ! That darn camel even stood close behind me making a sound that sounded like it was laughing. 


I still love camels even if one tried to bite me then kicked me over into the sand. I forgive him.




Overall I would give our three days in the desert a B+. Would I recommend it ? Yes - definitely. I am sorry I waited so long to spend a night in the Arabian desert and experience the beautiful starry, starry nights and peaceful quiet days.

What Makes a Good Tour Guide, I Ask ?

Dubai, UAE has become my home away from home.


In a short two years, I have come to know this amazing, wacky city and it has come to know me. The first time I came to Dubai to take a look and see where my husband had moved us, I was terrified.


The landscape was flat (until you get way out in the desert), the roads were nothing like I had ever seen before... they twisted, they turned, and the city had incorporated speed "humps" and round a bouts everywhere. The roads made no sense and people drove at accelerated rates of speed in heavy traffic.
Plus there are over two million people in the city and it appeared that they are all out on the roads, in the malls or just trying to get around the city at the same time.


As Jeff and I drove around the city the first couple months we were ALWAYS continually lost (and yes, I cannot emphasize that enough), we had become pros at getting stuck in the sandy lots and we never, ever got anywhere on time - oh my !


There was a lot to see and do in this city and country and I decided if I was going to live here , I needed to become friends with it, best friends.


It was time to go out and conquer Dubai....one road, one section of the city, one new experience at a time.


I got my UAE drivers license and got behind the wheel. If you are afraid to drive on these scary roads, don't do it ! Driving in the UAE is not for the meek and courteous. You have to turn into a driver that you have never been before and go for it.....most important, learn to use your horn.


My youngest daughter Taeler came to visit after I had been in the UAE two months and we played and explored the city for 30 days. Every day was a new adventure. Up and out in the morning and at night we safely returned. By the time she left, I was feeling comfortable with driving and would not get lost every time I went out and could actually make it to places with and without my nifty, unreliable Garmin.


So...what makes a good tour guide ?


You need to know the city. Not only the main attractions but also the things that most tourist would not know about or never see. Go off the beaten path so to speak.


Don't be afraid to explore and get to know the fun spots, where the locals hang out, the great shops and shop owners. There is so much to experience here, such as, the souks, the tailors, the food....


Learn the facts about the city or country, the customs, religion and respect it. Don't expect it to be identical to the country that you left back home. I may not agree with the way that things are done here in Dubai, but it is their country and they make the rules.


Drive like a local. No need to say more.


Experience everything  - not just the things that interest you, but everything. Stretch yourself and doing things that you would never do. Okay....I will never sky dive ....ever !


Dubai and I have an understanding, I think we even sort of like one another....just a little. I can get around the city pretty good and only have to use my same unreliable Garmin occasionally and yes I still get lost. You cannot help that with the way the roads are set up Dubai. Who designed these roads anyway? !


Ok, no problem ( as the locals say) , you come to Dubai and I will show you around.


Come to Dubai and I will show you a city that you will never forget. Any takers ? !