Moreeb jun dune:
For the Chinese New Year break, we decided to visit good friends from Hong Kong, who had moved to United Arab Emirates at the same time we moved to Beijing. We took an Etihad night flight to Abu Dhabi, arriving in the capital city at 6:40 am. As we landed, we remarked at the flight attendant and map’s reference to the “Arabian” versus “Persian” Gulf. Coincidentally, we read upon our return to Beijing that such references infuriate the Iranian government, which has threatened to ban all airlines that do not use the latter.
Our friends met us at the airport and suggested a camping trip to the Liwa Desert that very day. We jumped at the opportunity to visit the Empty Quarter, an area that encompasses about 1/5 of the Arabian Peninsula and includes parts of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen. One of the largest deserts in the world, its inhospitable climate and vast landscape have left it devoid of any human settlement throughout the centuries. In the winter months, however, our friends assured us an unforgettable journey to one of the more beautiful places on earth.
We arrived in time to observe our daughters’ attempt to scale a massive sand dune (we all climbed it the following day) and watch the sun set. Though we saw animal prints in the sand, we saw little sign of human life, which, after crowded Beijing, felt almost eerie. We embraced the emptiness and peace, which also turned out to be convenient as we barbecued our pork sausages. We didn’t have to worry about causing offense in this Muslim country.
While we may not have seen other people during our one night sojourn, our peace and tranquility were disrupted after dark as we heard the distant rumble of “dune bashers.” We learned the next day when we drove over to Mareeb Jun dune, that a dune buggy competition had wrapped up the previous day and there were literally hundreds of 4x4s camped around the event site.
Visit DeliciousBaby’s to see more photos.