On The Browns - #204

At Hatta we played a short round of nine hole golf. Desert style...

The Greens were called Browns and the fairways were rock strewen, thorn bush infested dusty trails. You carry around a small square of astro turf on to which you place your ball before taking the shot.

A weird variation on the classic game of golf.

Tree, Sky, Rock - #203

Just back from a very pleasant trip to Hatta Fort Hotel, which is about 1 hour from Dubai city although it is still in the Emirate of Dubai. On route you see a lot of these desert scrubb / thorn trees.

It reminded me to post this shot - I like the starkness of the tree and rocky environment it thrives in.

An Arabian Off Road Triptych Pt3 - #10

The long road home...

This shot is of the road just as you exit the off-road section of the round trip after Ray pools. The road is great, very long and undulating. It heads straight through the moonscape of the valley. It's similar to how I imagine some of the USA's valleys.

The short trip back to the metropolis of Dubai is underway and in one morning we feel as if we've been to the moon and back.

Even in the 45 degrees Dubai can be a lot of fun.

An Arabian Off Road Triptych Pt2 - #9

These boots were not made for paddling...

After an hour or so of off-road challenges we carry on to the final destination of the morning's trip - the desert oasis and pools at Ray / Shuwayhah near Hatta and the Omani border.

The pools are located in a beautiful palm tree lined, shingle bottomed wadi. The crystal clear cool water bubbles up through the pebbles and gather in cool and refreshing pools, right in the middle of a vast barren, sun parched plain. It really is quite magical to see this fresh water bubbling up into the 45 degree C heat...

Nothing else to do but to cool your appendages.. gone paddling in a real oasis.

A couple of other shots of the wadi just incase my shoes don't do it justice... a longer shot of the wadi and one of a group of Emirati lads having a laugh and some time off chilling out at the pools.

An Arabian Off Road Triptych Pt1 - #8

Part one of a triptych of off-road images from Dubai... taken this morning, Sept 8th 2006. Location near Madam / Hatta approx 1 hour from Dubai city.

On the way to Ray pools, near Hatta pools. Impromptu off-road excursion over shale, apparently volcanic rock, dry wadi areas, steep gullies and tough ascents.

3 cars. 1 hot sun.