After a jaunt to Wafi shopping centre late this morning and following a swim in the hotel pool to cool off, it being 44 degrees today, we were picked up late afternoon for a desert safari.
After around 45 minutes driving we pulled up by a group of shops "miles" from Dubai but close to the desert and were told there was a 15 minute break while we waited for all the tour groups to meet up when it fact it was an opportunity to push everyone into a cheap tourist shop.
Back in the 4 wheel drive Toyotas (must have been 100 of them) we moved onto the desert proper.
Just before leaving the road the drivers got out and let air out of the tyres so that they would have better grip in the sand.
Then in convoy they raced through the desert doing dune bashing - up and over dunes, sometimes at 45 degree angle, sometimes having to let the vehicle slid down the slope because he couldn't bring it up to the top of the dune etc.
I thought it was rather tame apart from when we went over the top of a dune and my head was propelled into the roof of the vehicle, but Sherry didn't enjoy much.
We then stopped to allow every one out into the desert for photos and to put your toes in the sand.
What was surprising and disappointing was the amount of rubbish that others before us had left in this area however the view of the desert was quite spectacular.
Off again in convoy to another part of the desert which required the vehicles to go back onto the highway and as our vehicle came off the sand and onto the tarmac it must have rolled its right rear tyre off the rim as we came to a shuddering halt and then the fun started.
The jack wouldn't lift the vehicle high enough to start with.
Using a pump connected to the motor they though they could pump it up again but couldn't get the tyre to seal properly on the rim.
After around 30-40 minutes of headless chook stuff the tyre was finally changed and we were off again.
However due to the wasted time we missed being parked up to see the sunset and were too late into camp to get to ride a camel.
At the camp the 200 or so guests were served a meal and we were treated to performances by a belly dancer and a male dancing the tanoura.
While the lady was a good dancer (and looker) I thought the male was the more impressive and skilful.
Back into the Toyota for the drive back home and we watched street signs say that Dubai was 25kms, 18kms, and then 30kms away in that order!
A quick dip in the pool before it closed for the night finished off the day.
