I Love Camels ...But Who Doesn't

Raise your hand if you love camels ! Can you see that I have both arms up, high in the air?

I love, love, love these noisy, cranky animals. Since I landed in Dubai, the middle east, my fascination and love for camels has grown leaps and bounds.

My excitement swells when I see one, which seems to be frequently.

You can spot them in the most unusual places, but really in the back of cars? Okay, that really is unusual and if anyone can tell me how they got that camel into the back of that small SUV please let me know. But I have to say, his scarf is a nice touch and a smart accessory. This camel is the first that I have seen wearing a scarf and who knows maybe it will catch on.

I have seen camels lounging on beaches around Dubai, hanging out at Al Safa park (as I ran by - I was shocked to see a camel hanging out by the running track), on the side of the road, riding in the back of trucks speeding down Sheikh Zayed Highway, running down the busy street Al Wasl, tied up in yards, in the National Day parade or just walking across the sand in the desert. In the United States people rent ponies for the children's birthday parties - here you rent camels.

 

I love how camels act so annoyed when get up close to them, but I really think it is an act. Are they starving for a little attention ? If you can get close enough to a camel, you would be amazed at their ultra long and double lidded eye lashes . It appears, even though they making loud grumbling sounds, they wear an eternal smile on their cute camel faces.  

 

Camels are beloved in the middle east and why not ? What other creature could stand to be out in the scorching desert heat like camels do and love it ? None that I know of.  

 

Camel racing is big sport in the UAE. I have not made it out to the camel race track yet but I will someday soon. The racing camels are legend in this part of the world. The winners and fastest camels are big prize winners and worth a lot of money ( UAE Dir ham). Really big money !

When Jeff and I first moved to Dubai we were warned to be on the outlook for camels crossing the roads, especially on the outskirts of town. First and fore most, a camel is never at fault for crossing the road and second, if you hit a camel, it could be the Bedouin shepherds prize racing camel then you really could be in it for a lot of money. Just always remember - camels are never at fault. 

 

You just have to try it once and can find it in all the local stores dairy section - camels milk. It is very popular in Dubai and it comes in not only original, but you can also get it chocolate, strawberry and date flavored. I found it to be the same no matter the flavoring - I tried chocolate and original. I would hate to influence anyones opinion but be prepared, it is not anything like "good ole milk". If you love camels milk, you can also get camel ice cream in many different flavors and chocolate candy.  The UAE Nationals claim that camels milk is very good for the body, but the problem is getting it down and liking how it tastes.

 

I have done four blog posts on camels and there will be more. Their antics and personalities are so funny I can't help but write about camels.

 

So who loves camels ? I do, I do !

 

 

 

 

 
 

Dune Bashing ...Is the Fun Over Yet ?

Dune bashing ? What's that ? A large group of us decided to find out for ourselves in the beautiful red sandy desert, outside Dubai. The Desert Safari / Dune Bashing Company picks you up at your chosen location and takes for the thrill or should I say, " the ride of your life".

 

The caravan of seven land cruisers (all of them were equipped inside with an extensive roll bar system) drove 40 minutes, farther  and farther into the desert, then suddenly, they made a sharp turn off the paved road going at a high rate of speed into the rolling hills of red rippled sand. 

SUV's and jeeps were everywhere. It was dune bashing madness at it best.

 

All the land cruisers stopped and everyone got out. While the drivers removed air from the tires ( helps prevent the SUV from getting stuck in the sand ) the rest of us looked over the landscape, watching other groups doing dune bashing and giggled nervously. All I could think was, "what if I get sick ". Think positive, think positive.



The drivers whistled - it was time to pile back in the SUV's. Let the fun begin.

At a high rate of speed our caravan took off over the red sand hills. Up, down, on the side of the hill, sliding down the hill, straight up, straight down. How are we staying upright ? A couple times I thought, this is it, we are rolling over, but luckily we did not. We screamed a lot and at times I covered my eyes. The person in the front seat was encouraging the driver to take it steeper, faster and he did. It was like being on an endless roller coaster in the sand and the ride would not stop.
Finally it the SUV stopped, but wait, we were at the top of a sandy cliff. The only way to get to the other side was the sheer, straight drop - the driver punched the gas and off we went. Here we go ! Screams all the way down and all the way up. I think I am sick.

We made to the top of the other side of the steep hill and got out. Wobbly legged we walked around and a few of us had motion sickness. The drivers gave us a few minutes to get our wits about us again before they loaded us back into the SUV's and the fun started up again.

The sun was setting and the view was spectacular - an absolutely gorgeous sunset in this Arabian desert.

Here we go again.

The dune bashing went on for another half hour, then we arrived at the desert safari camp out in the middle of no where. The adventure continued - we got henna on our hands, sat around on the majlis watching belly dancing and a Turkish dance called "whirling dervish", rode camels and were fed a traditional Arabic meal. What kind of meat is this I asked ? No one seemed to know. When I asked the server, he repeated himself several times, but I could not understand what he was saying. It seems too big to be chicken, but I would prefer to think it was chicken and not something else. Let's leave it at that. It is one of those meals that you close your eyes and eat.

This is a picture of the whirling dervish - quite amazing ! The dancer twirled around and around for 45 minutes and didn't throw up once.

It was a fun afternoon and evening in the desert - even if I did get a little sick dune bashing.  I know now what dune bashing is and survived it.  Would I do it again? Absolutely !

 

The Things People Do With Their Money...Only in Dubai

There is a lot of money in the middle east. In the UAE, specifically Dubai, you see it everywhere. Money is spent extravagantly and lavishly, sometimes on some of the most unusual things and /or in excess. Automobiles, homes, animals and buildings...it does not matter.

I have mentioned it in previous posts but expensive luxury cars are so commonplace in Dubai, that it seems normal to see Ferrari's, Rolls Royce and Maybachs all around you on the road. But have you ever seen a baby pink expedition ? I have and it is simply beautiful. It looked like cotton candy on wheels.

The Rolls Royce Ghost in the picture below pulled up along side of us on Jumeriah Beach Road. The young men driving the car looked as if they were 14, okay, maybe 16. I wondered if their dad knew they had his car out for a spin ? They were happy to smile for the camera shot, then off they went. I sure hope they got the car home safely, with out any new scratches or dents.

Have you ever seen a Rolls Royce covered in artificial grass - the whole thing - in Astro turf ? I had never seen any car covered in fake grass, let alone a Rolls Royce. Don't quite understand that one.

If they want it, they have it done.

Gold plated cars, they are here - like the one in the picture below. Not just gold colored but gold plated. When these cars are custom ordered from the factory, they cannot have the standard V6 or V8 engine - no that would be too normal, they order them to have a V 12 motor. You can hear the cars with the  V12 motors roaring up behind you, even with your windows rolled up, loud and thundering. Your car shakes as it roars on past.

Not only do you see extravagance with luxury cars, but you see other things - so many other surprises. I don't stare in astonishment anymore when I see someone carrying a monkey on their shoulder or stop to gawk at a gargantuan villa.  

You never know when you will see something unusual, out of the ordinary. One thing I have learned while living here in Dubai, always keep your camera on your person and close.
Be ready for a picture when you least expect it.

Larger than life vases, planters, which always seem to be shaped like something - tea pots, people or horses. Full body horses shaped into lamps or how about gold plated life size horses.

The horses below are probably better taken care of than most "live" horses. They are shined, cleaned and spruced up every day. Brilliant to look at and shocking to see them out in public without high powered security surrounding them.

Horse and camel racing is huge in Dubai and there is no expense spared for a prize racer. There was even an elevator built at the Meydan Race track that would accommodate horses to be brought to a restaurant on the the top floor. A horse in a restaurant ?

Camels are cherished in the middle east and and coming up soon is the camel beauty contest. yeah !!.  I have waited for months for the camel beauty contest. The prize for the winner ....millions of dollars. Did you read what I wrote ...a camel is the winner!

The contest is next week and I can hardly wait to see which camel beauty will be crowned the winner. There will definitely be post about the camel beauty contest in the future.

In a recent article in the Gulf News, a Saudi writer wrote about the the extravagance of the "millions" of dollars spent recently on the purchase of 20 camels. 20 camels! All I can think is that they must have been some pretty special camels. Oh, the things that could be done with millions of dollars instead of purchasing 20 camels.

Snow in a desert ?!. The chance of it snowing here -  well... it will never happen.  But don't not be despaired, you can order snow and have it delivered right to your door. In fact a company in Dubai will turn your villa and surrounding property into a winter wonderland. It may not be icy cold, but it looks like the real thing and they can spray it thick enough that you can make a snow angel in it.
I was lucky to see the "snow falling " or being sprayed around the grounds and the roof top of a very large villa last week. A large group of children stood around cheerfully watching as the snow sprayers did their work. I got my camera out to take a picture and my battery was dead....no worries, I am certain I will see it again.

The artifical snow is not only reserved for villas and surrounding property. Dubai is also well known for its Indoor Ski Resort at Ski Dubai, the only one like it in world. Groomed mountains that can you can ski, snowboard, tube and sled on, down big hills with fresh  man made snow and the best part of Ski Dubai, live penguins.
They imagined it and built it.

Gold plated flag poles, man made islands, diamonds enrusted on  items to numerous to mention, unusual and magnificent architecture. The architectural wonder - the new residential twisting building in the Marina is almost complete and ready for occupants. You look at it and are astonished that the building is standing upright and wonder in awe, how did they do that ?

In other country's some things are imagined, thought about, but in this country they do it. There are no limits and if they want it, they figure it out. Imagination is everything here and money makes it happen.

I have never in  my life seen anything like I have seen here and when I leave Dubai I am certain I will never see things like this again - the extravagance, the obscure, the unusual. It is what makes Dubai what it is today.

What an experience and I feel lucky every day I am here that I get to live and witness it.