Ah finally back from Dubai, my sleeping pattern is a bit screwed though because of the 4 hour time difference and the 7 hour overnight flight..
It’ll get back to normal soon enough I guess..
Well yes, finally I’m back! Dubai was…hot and sandy and it makes me fat as you can order everything under the sun there without moving your ass off the sofa…Pizza, fried chicken, chinese food, arabic food, indian food, iranian food, lebanese food, groceries..basically whatever you want. And the portions are all huge!
We managed to grab a couple of days off towards the end and relax, we planned our trip out and went for a Dubai Desert Safari the day before we came back.
I recommend the Desert Safari to everyone, it’s an amazing experience, if you are ever flying with Emirates, just stop over in Dubai for a couple of days, check out Jumeirah, perhaps the Mall of Emirates and do the Desert Safari, that’s enough 🙂
The Desert Safari includes sand duning (driving fast up and down sand dunes in a massive jeep which feels like it’s about to turn over!), a camel ride, belly dancing and a bbq in the middle of the desert, oh yah and some shishas!
It costs between Dhs 150 and 280 depending which company you go with (that’s equivalent to the same amount in RM as the exchange rate is 0.99 = 1) and is worth every cent!
You leave for the safari about 3-4pm as it’s too hot before that, and it’s a good time to head out and catch the sunset on the dunes.
After quite a long journey and a quick stop at a buggy place (you can take a buggy on the dunes for Dhs100 for about 20 minutes and get sunburnt for free), which none of us took up, we hit the dunes.
The driving is crazy, it’s fun, it’s like a rollercoaster, up and down, sliding sideways down sandunes in a heavy 4.5 litre Toyota Landcruiser GXR.
You stop off a couple of times to admire the view and take some pictures of the dunes, it’s a beautiful peaceful place and is suprisingly windy.
It wasn’t too hot as it was about 4.30pm by then. There are quite a few jeeps up there and loads of people with their own buggies racing up and down the dunes, what fun!
There are dunes in every direction as far as you can see.
Our trusty vehicle, they deflate the tyres quite a bit before hitting the dunes so they can get more grip.
It’s a powerful beast indeed.
Footsteps to nowhere.
We stopped at a small camp to take some pictures of the camels on the way, we didn’t get to rid one until later though.
This bugger was arrogant, he spat at me, then smiled at me, check out this cheesy grin.
He loves to pose indeed.
Footsteps in the sand, making use of the textures available..
The sun going down over the dunes, this is my wallpaper now 🙂
Getting darker.
Chillin’ in the desert yo!
Finally the sun sets!
Watch out for part II with the Camel ride, Arabian BBQ and Belly Dancer!
I’ll catch up with the UK (Minehead and Mom’s party!) posts after I sort out everything else.
Hey, guess you have a nice holiday back from Dubai 🙂
Oo finally u get to do something fun there.
looks damn too fun *jeles*
As long as it’s not you doing the belly dancing, then I look forward to the next post! 😉
Just came back from Angkor myself, found yr previous posts on that useful – what an experience!
This also looks fun but I hate sand… ;(
wonderful! did u bring back some sand?
was your sleeping time not screwed up to begin with? 😛
does the sand goes into your shoe while you walk on the desert?
Awesome! That camel definitely likes you.
was it like effing hot..? man i haf to get my psychotic fren living in dubai to hook me up wif a trip like this. and a stay at the burj al arab. 🙂
did u catch any picture of err.. camel toe?
lovely pictures! when will you start your photography business?
what nice piccies! you’re using a nikon D70 right? looks like you’re putting it to good use 😀
~TheAngel~: Well the last couple of days were ok, other than that..not so great!
suanie: Yah was damn cun!
intensecure: Why not man? I sure have the belly for it haha. Will be watching for your Angkor posts, it’s quite a trip!
Kelvin: Sure did, it’s in my ears, up my nose, in my ass…still in my shoes too I guess 😉
KY: Well yah, but after a couple of weeks sleeping on a sofa…I was getting up quite early!
spiller: Yup, fills it up until you can pour it out like water.
Alex: Yah freaking hot…39-45 degrees in the days, not much difference at night. Staying at the burg…prepare to sell your kidney to pay for that.
sicksand: Camel…..(toe)….. was all covered by Burkas..
kimberlycun: As soon as people want to pay for my pictures! I’m still learning.
Michelle: Yah, D70s actually with kit lens 🙂 Thanks! Still learning though, have to keep practising.
The camel is so cute… just check out the look of love it’s giving you, don’t say his grin is cheesy lah.. *lol* Wow on the desert pics, looks very otherworldly. 🙂
Spat at … why does that bring back memories of Frank Herberts Dune series? 🙂
Nice photo’s. Where is a cardboard box when you want to go dune surfing?
[Car bonnets and surfboards work just was well for dune surfing! Ahhhh, memories!] 🙂
Beautiful photos! The camel looks sooooo photogenic! 😉
eh. lovely shots. lovely view! and i thought all dubai amounted to was sand sand sand more sand and nothing else. the food good?
and the damned camel looks effing smug there aye?
excellente!
cool photos!
elise: Thanks, I’d definately call it cheesy though 😉 It is rather like standing on another planet in the middle of desert, nothing for miles around.
Dabido (Teflon): Heh yeah..children of the dunes. Didn’t get to go dune surfing although it an option.
Applegal: Yah he was a proper poser.
Irene: Thanks 🙂 And well yeah it is all sand…but if you pay to go ride a truck and a camel around in the sand it’s kind of fun! Food is good there, although all mostly the same stuff and a lot of Indian food. Will post a bit about the food later.
Matthew & trevesco: Thanks
nice. and remember to get your camera services if you bring your DSLR. Desert wind bring blow fine sand to the lens.
just echoing what moo_t said… best get your camera serviced after a trip to the desert.
A friend took a trip to the China desert and all the pictures he took AFTER he came back was literally grainy.
OMG… It’s freaking beautiful!!! I vow to hit the sand dunes one day before I die wei.. Glad you had fun!
Pictures of the dessert was beautifully taken,man. Awesome!!
This is indeed a very nice chance to take lots of deserted pic! Yeah, the camel footstep was really nice. You should check out National geographic best awarded pic contest. The shadow effect from the camel is awesome!
moo_t & v0ices: Nah it’s ok I didn’t change the lens whilst I was there and the camera is sealed so it should be ok, I’ll do a dust check later anyway and might give it a clean if there’s any spots.
Slinky: Yah it’s really amazing you should definately check it out, best photo season is in January though and it’s freak hot in summer there, recommended to visit November – April.
Arth: Thanks man 🙂 Will be posting some of my fav pics soon from my last 2 outings in UK.
Hijackqueen: Thanks 🙂 Yah I saw that pic, very cool.