Dubai, UAE - Al Ain Tour & Camel Souk and Evening in the Desert
We have used Dubai Private Tours several times now and they are a super company. https://www.dubaiprivatetour.com/
From previous trips:
2013 Day 1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/tyPtASzhuufndg9J7
2013 Day 2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/kNK3qxVk9taob3Zh6
2017 Day 1 Sunset Desert Safari https://photos.app.goo.gl/MVJnZVRacPsLVaVx6
2017 Day 2 Abu Dhabi https://photos.app.goo.gl/gGZwZujDdM94WFUt9
2017 Day 3 Sharjah & Ajman https://photos.app.goo.gl/EJwp9916ACif943XA
Since we have seen most of the must-see's in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi, I decided on something a bit quirky here. High on my list was the Camel Souk.
We were picked up by our guide and she said our ship was in a different port. There was a new port built since we were last there and the Island Princess was docked there. We got there and waited for our other 4 people to disembark. Horst & Mark and Bob & Phyllis were joining us and Tom & Cathy for the day tour to Al Ain.
I couldn't believe it, but our guide, Maricar was the same one Greg & I used on our half day tour to two of the smallest emirates Sharjah and Ajman. She's a Philippina and moved there for work. She's a firecracker! Last time in one of the souks she was bargaining for a pillow cover that I wanted (and sits on a chair in our family room now) and man did she drive a hard bargain. She nearly brow-beat the shop owner to death before allowing me to buy it. Honestly, it was cheap, and I didn't mind paying the original price for it. LOL Our driver was Shareef.
Al-Ain the Green city of UAE, also known as the city of Gardens and is located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, right next to the border with Oman. We actually did see the fence of the border. Al-Ain is the birthplace of the ruler Sheik Zayed with his patronage and efforts Al-Ain became the Green city of U.A.E.
Next, we stopped at Al Ain Oasis. We watched a short presentation and then boarded carts to see the area. We made several stops and watched a man climb a date palm to collect dates.
We were running short on time and went to a local mall by the Camel Souk for lunch. Lamb Shwarma. Tasty!
Now for the highlight of the day, the Al-Ain Camel Market to see camels traded from all around the gulf. It's the last souk of its kind in the UAE. You used to have to pay each time you wanted to take a photo of a person or the camels, but they now charge admission and it's OK to take all the photos you want. One guy tried to ask for money when we posed with his camel, but of course our guide Maricar would not have it.
There was a baby camel only 2 days old that was so adorable. (fair warning when I do post the photos there will be way too many camel photos)
We needed to get on the road to meet up with the rest of the group for our dune bashing. There was some confusion on where to meet each other and instead of us getting in one larger vehicle we boarded our 4X4's there and we had to have our luggage with us, making 3 people have to sit across in the seat. We also seemed to waste a lot of time driving out of our way to meet them when we could have met at the Dunes which were closer to us. Anyway, we all connected and were on our way. We met up with Heather & Matt, Roberta & John and June who had done a city tour since it was their first visit to Dubai.
We stopped for a restroom break and to let some air out of the tires before we headed for the dunes. What fun! We stopped for some photos and due to being short on time we had a shorter ride than last time.
We headed for the Bedouin tent in the desert. We made a stop to watch the sunset and the guide got some photos of us holding the sun. Then, we drove to our camp which was smaller and more intimate than the last one we went to. We got front row "seats" which were cushions in the sand and a low table.
We all skipped the camel rides (we have done them before) and Cathy and I got our Hena tattoos on our hands.
The entertainment was good. (better than last time IMHO) It started with a fire dancer and he was fantastic!
Then, it was time for the buffet. Food was good, though we had more selections last time in the larger camp. I did prefer the smaller camp though.
Then, the Tanoura dance was performed which is always awesome. The dance with the whirling guy in the skirts that light up. It's quite a sight. Then the entertainment ends with the Belly Dancer. As a special touch up on a hill a guy leads three camels across in the sand and that is how the evening ended.
We got back in our vehicles and were driven back to the ship. It was late and we had an early pickup for our half day tomorrow. We expected some issues since we had come back from an overland (and to date none had gone without issues), but it was easy peasy. Yay!
Dubai – Day 1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/WkdsrtmApfG3QGmJ6
Video will be added later.
Birds seen in Al Ain:
Eurasian Collared Dove
House Sparrow
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Pallid Swift - NEW
White-eared Bulbul
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