The Mosque,UAE Days, a camel and Shesha

One of the Grand Mosque minarets.

14 man oar racing boat - all wood down to the blades lashed to the oar. very cool for old boat enthusiasts - I asked the guy working on one next to it and this one is 60 years old. Remember this country is only 38 years old.

Many of the Emirati's decorate their cars for UAE Nationality Days (like our July 4) This is just one of the many examples you see running around. They spend a small fortune on it too.

Yes that's me on a camel . You should of heard the groaning - not the camel - Me - definitely not a comfortable ride!

Had to try the Shesha - it wasn't bad - but I won't be making a habit of it for sure.

Hi All,

Saturday 12 Dec. 2009

Army /Navy game today. - guess who I'm rooting for?

Well as you can see by the pictures I've been having some new experiences. I was on holiday from our Thanksgiving day until Dec. 6. The 10 days off were great. It was Eid and UAE Nationality days. I took Suzanna's mother (from Finland) to the Grand Mosque which is a place I will go many a time as it's so beautiful. Then out to the Fish Market where we saw the racing row boat. Talked to a couple of the young bucks who were on the team and the were describing how to paddle the oars. They had races later the next day as just one of the celebrations for UAE days. There was a huge fireworks display down on the Corniche but I avoided the MASS traffic headache, I could hear and see the fireworks from the villa - which is about 20km from the Corniche.

Yesterday I was an honorary Aussie again when I joined Ross (same guy for Aussie Football) and his family for a Desert Safari. His wife Lisa and two kids, Roxanne and Richard have been here for just 3 days - they are still in head-on-a-swivel mode and jet lagged as well.

We took buses out into the desert and then a 4 wheel drive SUV out into the sand - damn Emirati driver had the SUV tilting so much on the dunes I was sure he would be tipping it- of course they do this purposely. We arrive at the camp, camel rides, dune tobogganing, ATV rentals , then inside the camp for free henna for the ladies, shesha, BBQ, music and a belly dancer - then at the end - Santa came with gifts for the kids (put on by the Aussie group - so they had this all arranged - Santa arrived on a Dune Buggy.) - It was a BYOB affair but there was plenty free wine/beer left over from an earlier event. It was really enjoyable.

It was an overcast day/evening so the temps were cool and it even spit a few drops of rain. This morning it has rained hard several times so I took my car out and let the rain wash off all the dust. Sun is out now but I see more dark ominous clouds on the horizon.

No swimming since Thursday as the heater in the pool has broken and it is TOO nippy unless your into self abuse.

On Thursday I attended a party with about 20 people at Liz and Graham's house. Some I knew and others met for the first time. Had a ball and didn't get back home until 1:30a. ouch

Well hopefully I will be able to watch the Army/Navy game today - I'm checking out live streaming as well. Unfortunately for me it starts at 11p my time - and tomorrow is a work day !

I will have to see how it goes.

Well that's all for now.

Go Navy Beat Army

Love to all

Scott