DESERT SAFARI IN DUBAI

        On the 20th December, six of us Rama Vandana, Vishal , Saisha along with their maid Champa, a Lankan, and myself set out for what is considered a highlight in UAE, Dune bashing and Desert Safari, We drove along the six lane Highway first towards Al-Ain and then to Sharjah where the Sand Dunes are in abundance and one can experience the true thrills of what the desert has to offer.

        At the appointed time of  3:15 pm all of us went down where our designated car a 4X4 Landcruiser was waiting for us. Hurriedly, we all occupied our pre-allotted seats in the car. Mr. Ashrraf, the driver, helped all of us taking our seats with all smiles, who also spoke very good Hindi.  He finally closed the doors and said 'okay' started the engine and finally set out for the journey at the permissible speed of 60-80 kmph in the city and then increasing/decreasing speed limits on the motorway.

      As everyone of us was very well aware of the Humpty -Dumpty style of run around, Over, Below and Sideways of the slopes, sometimes suddenly deep down, and then, in an another moment, steep on top of them, not giving any moment of sitting quiet in the car. Being tightly fastened with the seat belts and then holding, in a tight grips, with both hands, on whatever you may lay your hands, around and overhead, shouting, crying with mouth open, tongues rolling out intermittently, apparently, with eyes widest open.

       Breathing at high speed with thumping of the heart, reminded me of 'Anulom-Belom and Kapal bhati' of Yog Guru Baba Ramdevji!, You may enjoy the ride with all the dare you might gather, but with an unknown fear psyche inside the car, everyone's face was worth seeing during the whole safari drive, The  moments when the safari rolled fast blindly at the slanting slopes of the massive sand throwing clouds of sand up in the air and with a fear that car ab palti-ke-ab palti.

        Everyone looked praying, at heart and requesting at the back of their mind, Hey Bhagwaaaan! buss karo, vapis chalo, aur nahi karna!  My daughter Vandana, though being brave, also asked Vish many times to stop the ride. And yes,  it was not that, I was not scared, being the elder among all, I had to maintain restraint but at moments, it was all fearful fun for me too. 

       There were only two persons who were  little  calm and unaffected of the zig-zag drive, Vishal and little Saisha. Saisha was sitting along with Champa, her Nanny, all behind the car. While she kept all of us amused with her American accent at all times, Vishal remained busy making videos, He , perhaps,  had an earlier experience of desert safari, and  being sitting on the passenger's seat. But when the safari stopped at the top of a very fine dune, seemingly untouched a virgin, that looked to me like a 'No man's land', I also took a sigh of relief with the hope that, thank God, now we shall not be going back on the same route from which we had just come!

       After having enjoyed walk over and on the top of dunes, taking photographs and selfies, we drove down taking another route, facing not  much sand dunes, and joined with a highway leading to Sharjah, after ten minutes or so. From here we were to go to one of the traditional Arabian campsites, to enjoy the delicious dinner in the calm of a starlit desert night  where our table was already booked. However, I did not know about this arrangement.

        In another ten minutes, we reached at the so called camp site. It was a semi-circular type of an area, duly installed with makeshift stalls, some of them pucca rooms like living rooms for the staff and proper washrooms duly fitted with fine sanitary ware and electricity. The Camp was very well illuminated, well maintained, clean and tidy with proper sign postings installed at prominent places for the ease of visitors. A red carpet was laid from the entrance gate to the dining area. Walking on the sand bare feet was of course a fun for all!  There were kitchens, bar, Shisha (Hooka) Bar and in the middle, a stage was erected for various types of dances and performances by well trained Arabian showmen and women.

       The number of dining rows each separately for each family or a group were laid out on the sand, however, covered with fine carpets, three big fat pillow type cushions were kept on either side of two and a half feet high rectangle dining platforms, again covered with fine Arabic type printed designer cloth with ash trays and sufficient tissue papers kept in the middle.

      After having quick drinks with freshly baked non-veg (Bara like) tasty and delicious Arabian snacks, we had a moment with Sheesha (Hooka) Bar, just for a try but it did not work for us being non smokers. Immediately after that, a Belly Dance performance was carried out which was very mesmerizing, 

      After the dance and music program, all enjoyed hot Arabic Food on self service basis, as in our functions and parties, but the food had to be taken sitting at the improvised dining platforms already allotted.

       After Dinner, a Tanura dance performance was worth shaking our senses which was played by a very well versed and trained Tanura performer. All the dance performances were done on stage on beautiful Arabic songs and music tunes.  All the 'on lookers' took photographs and made videos.

       The end of Tanura dance was also the end of the evening after which we returned home in the same safari car with Ashraff, but with no impending fear at all!