THE SAFARI ADVENTURE

I was quite flabbergasted when the K2A Editor, Mr. Erwin R. Relox, called me to inform about the K2A's official website and the same time, to invite me to be one of the contributors of its Feature Section. I said yes right away in the aim of supporting his vision for fellow Sibuyanons, which made me very proud of him.

Since then, a lot of topics are coming into my busy mind. One thing I like in this site is the freedom to write what we like, except of course, politics or gossips or any nasty topics which I consider my self "sick and tired" of hearing.

In view of the fact that my job is in the UAE (also known as, Gulf), with the very first issue of K2A, allow me to share with you my latest experience in Dubai.

UAE
To start with, I want to give you very short information about this country. The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates, namely: Abu Dhabi (capital), Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and was established on December 2, 1971.

DUBAI
Dubai is one of the finest and popular cities not only in the Middle East but throughout the globe as well. However, what makes it more special among the known urban centers of the world is the sandy surroundings it has been built upon. On one hand, it shows the ability of the city planners to have got such an architectural marvel built in the middle of the desert. While on the other hand, it lends a chance for some major outdoor activities around for the fun-seeking enthusiasts. There are several tourist spots around Dubai that one could choose to embark on.

PEOPLE
Bedouin (English: Bedoyne, Arabic: Badawi), is the term for the people who reside in the desert. They are the tribal people of the Arabian Peninsula and their lifestyle has fascinated Western visitors for centuries. You can visit Bedouin communities in the UAE as a tourist experience in much the same way you might visit a tribal village in Layag tribes in Sibuyan, the Mangyans in Mindoro, or the Igorots in Baguio, which I believe can be a memorable experience.

DESERT SAFARI
These safaris normally take place at a time the sun just starts lowering down on the western horizon and the sand dunes begin displaying larger shadows. The excitement of traveling straightway down from Dubai into a vast deserted land can be immeasurable in such circumstances. Scattered villages and well-bred camels straying across on earth while being on these expeditions are one normal encounter. We appreciated Dubai not only for its trade and commerce but also for the tourism activities it presents these days. And without a doubt, desert safaris may be stated as one of the key areas where these activities generally lay around.

• Booking: Generally, all major hotels and resorts will get such trips organized when asked by their clients. In our case, I personally arranged a half-day tour (5 hours) from a travel/tour agency wherein after a few phone calls and agreed discounts (tawad), the booking was then confirmed for 7 pax. Guides and drivers are provided for the duration of the trips, beginning from the late afternoon start of any journey to the same night return later.



• Travel Time: We were picked-up at around 3pm and after 45 minutes we arrived at the starting point where most of the vehicles (hummers/cruisers) stops to take photos before the sunset. At 8 pm, we're on our way back to Deira, which only took 30 minutes.



• Dune Bashing: The art of driving 4-wheel drive over sand dunes. This is compared to riding a roller coaster or to white-water rafting. We were all aware about the kind of topsy-turvy ride we might undertake, as miles of sand dunes will be lying ahead in the path to be taken inside the land. But who will bet the rides we have had on provincial jeepneys in Sibuyan particularly in San Fernando, from Olango to Poblacion? Plus the tricycle rides to or from Cajidiocan during rainy seasons? And what about our experiences in zyclone loop at the Star City which urged us to ride more after the first? Certainly, the fun and excitement of traveling like a gypsy made us all in high spirits and full of laughter.



• Sandboard, sandski & quad bikes: Though haven't tried any of this yet, I observed that sand boarding/skiing is not that much different from snowboarding, except that it is quite hot in the UAE and the sand never melts. However, many expert quad bikers are enjoying the sand as much as we do. They zoom fast but extra careful not to be overturned or get stuck in the sand. The best outfits will equip you with helmets, kneepads, and elbow pads.



• Camel Rides: A brief camel ride is part of all of the safari excursions in the UAE. It's not only entertaining but also challenging to be placed at the top of mounting and dismounting camel backs. The long-necked mammals are nicely taken care of by their masters, and would start acting somewhat like puppies when pampered by someone. Just scratch behind any camel's ear and it would start flattening its necks as if asking for more of the same message.



• Feasts, Camp Fires & Belly Dancers: The highlight of most of the day long and overnight safaris is dinner in a traditional Bedouin camp at the end of a hard day of dune bashing. Traditional pillows come out for the guest's table and a buffet is usually set-up. Generally, dinner includes a rich mixture of barbequed meat (kebab), local fruits, Arabic coffee, vegetable salad, along with Asian and Indian cuisine. Such "feasts" has traditional music and a belly dancer. We were a bit surprised when they also played Black Eyed Peas' hit, My Humps. While Dubai is one of the few Middle Eastern countries where belly dancing is legal, they tend to milk it for all the tourist revenue they can. And the best part was when all campers were invited to join the belly dancer to do their own "moves".



• Henna Tattoos & "Hubbly-Bubbly" Water pipes: Most of the campfire feasts and overnight safari excursions offer guests the opportunity to get temporary henna tattoos at the campsite. Body art has a long history among Arabic women, and you will be offered a variety of tradition designs - for free! Also around the campfire you are likely to be offered a hookah, or shishah, or water pipe. It is often referred to as "hubbly-bubblies" by locals. which usually done by burning a mixture of tobacco and some sweeteners like orange, apple, mint, honey, lemon, etc.



• Photography: Sure, everybody loves a good picture of the sun setting. The "dinner in the desert" experience is usually designed to please shutterbugs. But almost all of the safari experiences provide some excellent photo opportunities.

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