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Published: January 16th 2010
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Hello,
So Heather suggested we make a day of going to the camel race track and zoo afterwards. As we are both under the idea that keeping busy will make the time pass quicker and I have still yet to find the elusive race track, I was all up for it. We left early as all our guide books said that they start early in the morning...around 7:30 am. We tried and failed to leave by 7 but left closer to 8. Alicia and Talia came along and off we went after having packed a lunch and some snacks. We followed the signs on the way to Al Ain which would lead us to the signs posted for the track. The Al Wahtba race track is 45 km from Abu Dhabi and as we live on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi towards Dubai...it was only a 20 minute drive. We followed the signs which were very well marked for a change until we got to the gates leading down to parking for the race track. I could hardly believe we found it! There were camels everywhere. Almost immediately a very nice Emirati guy told us the best places to stand
to see the race. There were even some men who came up to us to shake our hands which does not happen too often...from what I understand Arab men aren't supposed to touch women. We started at the finish line as a race had already begun. It takes 15 minutes for the camels to make their way around the track. It was great to see them coming toward us. A camel can run reportedly 65 km per hour. This was no horse race but they were running elegantly in their own gangly way. They all had electronic jockeys on their backs which are controlled by a remote that their handler carries with him. Once the race begins the handlers drive in their SUVs’ (gas is not a concern here...nor is the environment for that matter) alongside hitting the buttons on their remote in order for the robot to whip the camel to run faster. Once we saw the end of the race, we tried to run back to the start line but didn't make it in time to see the start of that race. They race them back to back.
A little while later, that same guy asked us if
starting line
A close up of the starting point for the races. we wanted a ride around the track. We got in and he drove us around with the other trucks. What a rush to run alongside the camels watching them race! It's also weird to see all that foam come out of their mouths. Kinda yucky! It's funny how back home we probably would never get into a strangers car but here things are different somehow...they seem safer. Well I guess we can think that as they have an extremely low crime rate.
Back at the end of the race we thanked our new friend (can't remember his name) and went off to see the start of another race at the start line. The races go from sun up till 10 in the morning Before we left to go to the Al Ain zoo, we stopped to pet some camels that were resting and talked a bit with the handlers. Well we did our best as they could not speak english (they were probably Bedouins) so we took out our phrase book and tortured the language by attempting to converse with them all the while using hand gestures like somehow they would understand us better. The camels really are cute up
Bigger view
the starting point for all races close but sooo grumpy.
Off we left for the zoo so I could visit my little cuties the meer cats...I tried to talk Alicia into putting one in her purse but she wasn't going for it!
Bye for now,
Sherry
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Lynn
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Of course - camel races!!!
Boy, do I ever feel silly - or course they race camels, we race horses. Why on earth does this shock me so much! lol Racing camels. the most natural thing ever. Seems logical now.....lol. Maybe take some video next time. Or maybe I'll just check it out on youtube for kicks. Is it like slow motion horse races?? Would you say they kinda look like emu's when they race - 'cause I've seen an emu run. Camels, I had no clue they could be made to run. Huh. Boy, I must be tired to be getting such a kick out of racing camels. I would have loved to have been there with you! Have a great weekend Sherry - Thanks for sharing.....Racing camels...lol