Friday 30th November 2012 - Dubai

After a great comfy flight with emirates we landed early morning in Dubai to .... Rain! They get rain a few times a year and this was one of those days! Ryan was waiting for us at the airport and it is always great to see him with his cheeky smirk and bear hug! Out to the car park to get into the 4 x 4 he had hired for the day - turned out to be a tank. I felt like mum with her little legs trying to clamber up into it! We set off for a drive into the city with the most amazing views of the incredible architecture. One skyscraper after another and still so much building work going on everywhere.

Into the city.

A quick stop at Ryan's friends to collect tow rope and shovel and then we were off into the desert for a taste of what the locals do for fun! 4 x 4 dune bashing! As you leave the road to head into the desert you let most of the air out of the tyres to give the car more traction in the sand. Ryan was in his element driving up and down the sand dunes while Chris and I clung to the door handles! Unlike the last time he took me a few years ago at least he didn't manage to make me cry! What an amazing experience to be out in the desert just a few miles from one of the worlds newest cities. Stopping to admire the view and peace we were visited by a curious camel who was quite happy to just stand and keep us company while we stood and stroked him.

Ryan's new friend!

 

'Let me, let me!'

 

'Ooh hello!'

 

All was going great until we got back in the car and realised the front tyre was flat! Ha ha changing a tyre on desert sand is an interesting experience, especially in a hire car where just getting the jack and wheel out requires consulting the manual! Ryan and Chris did a great job while I made myself useful holding the manual, taking photos, and laughing.
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'Whoops!!'

Tyre changed we were off again and Ryan now had to regain his street cred! Taking a dune at speed and not knowing what was on the other side, we came to an abrupt stop. Ryan leapt out and we knew from his language that this was another lengthy stop - we were now bottomed out on the top of the dune. One rear wheel was not even touching the sand while another was deeply imbedded as was the bottom of the car. We all piled out and now we realised why the shovel was a crucial part of the day. Eventually we were dug out and off again. 
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'Double whoops & poop!!'

  

Then we heard a now familiar thudding noise and realised that the spare wheel was now also flat - we had let too much air out of it, without another spare we had to limp slowly over to a nearby Bedouin camp where the men were all sitting around chatting. Ryan had to do the walk of shame, causing ugh hilarity in the camp. All twenty or so of them came piling over to see what the stupid tourists had done while trying to play in the desert! After a lengthy humiliation session and much hand shaking the wheel was now inflated enough for us to limp out of the desert. Ryan was keen to continue but chris and I had had enough excitement for one day and declined!

'Thanks guys!!'

We headed back into town and to check into our hotel.  The car valet took Ryan's car off to park it and we went for something to eat.  We had a lovely meal in a local Arabian restaurant. 

Shisha piping with Ryan...

By now we were all tired after our overnight flights so we decided to call it a night.  As we approached the hotel the cheerful car valet pointed to Ryan's car as the tyre had gone flat again.  The last we saw of Ryan that evening was him setting off in a taxi with a huge wheel in the boot to find a repair shop and someone to clean the desert out of his car!