Don't step on the scorpions!

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai
January 31st 2019

Published: March 5th 2019

After a very quiet year on the travelling front, I’ve finally got around to a bit of travelling having decided to give that annoying work thing a rest for a couple of months. Having discovered a love for joining a scientific expedition a couple of years ago I signed myself up for a trip to the wilds of Arabia and a bit of winter sunshine. In a similar vein to the Mongolian adventure, I found a ... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 50, Displayed: 21

The sand highway

The mountains in the distance are in Oman

Meanwhile on the other side of the fence

The camels aren't allowed in the DDCR (well apart from the tourist camels) so we had to make do with looking at them through the fence.

Look closely

See if you can spot the bird, some kind of bird of prey but I've forgotten which one.

Good camouflage

Another sand gazelle doing what sand gazelles do

Peek a boo

Sand gazelles enjoying the view

Just a few kilometres more

Walking between observation points, you need to keep a sharp eye on that GPS, it all kind of looks the same.

Not a mirage

It was nice to take our lunch by the lake in the reserve, some welcome respite from the sand.

Why am I not staying here?

The five star hotel in the reserve was a step up from our Decathlon tents, they even had their own pools, we had to make do with a cold shower...

Tourists ahoy!

A random balloon appeared over camp one evening, I wonder what they thought of looking at the feral looking creatures in our camp

Time for the real Arabian experience

We got to mix with the Dubai tourists on the last night with dinner at the 'Arabian camp experince', they all looked so clean and smart compared to us

Free henna painting

I'm not sure is this is common in Arabia, but since I wasn't paying, I thought I'd get painted

Who's crashing the party?

A gazelle sneaks into the camp at the end of the party, clearly realising there are lots of leftovers to be had.

Burj Khalifa

You can vaguely see the attempt they made at taking over the world in Dubai, however it just looks like a few sandy splodges these days

Snow in Dubai? Madness!

I have to say I was impressed with the snow dome, twice the size of any I'd been to before and good fun for a couple of hours.

How it used to be

Not that long ago these were some of the bigger skyscrapers in Dubai, oh my, how you have grown Dubai.

A shady alley

The old town is a pleasent change from the glass and concrete of modern Dubai.

Old Dubai

How they used to live in Dubai, complete with original Stabucks and Dunkin' Donuts.

Dubai in one picture

Camels, Sheiks and off road vehicles, enough said.

6th March 2019

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Letting that annoying work thing rest
Good idea! Fantastic that you found something unique to do with your time off.... and we won't tell that you lost and found the data notes. The universe was smiling on you! Love to hear more about Oman.

7th March 2019

Sheila Carney
non-member comment

Mary what a wonderful trip you have had It was very interesting to read all you did in a week. Now you will have no problem using Dads car when you look after Bella in April!!! Hope to catch with y
you sometime though I suppose it will be back to work soon Love Sheila

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