HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNES

Hannes had his birthday party tonight. He wanted to be in Venice (he wished that a year ago) and here we were in the Arabian desert. Just goes to show......life has a funny way of not always giving what you asked for BUT this was fantastic.

I booked a private dinner in the desert just for the two of us. We had our own guide/driver by the name of James. He comes from Kenia and has been in Dubai for the last 17 years as a safari guide..

We were picked up at home at 16hoo. We were very comfy in this huge 4x4. Drinks on supply and wonderful aircon. It is flipping hot here....... We drove for about 65km to get to the desert. Boy oh boy then the fun stated. James took us dune riding in the 4x4. Exciting stuff. He is a very skilled driver as these dune just end and turn anywhere. We loved it. We then went to a camel farm in the middle of the desert and were given the real tourist treatment. Take foto's, pat camels, taste fresh dates. And we did it all. We also saw the locals come to the farm to buy milk. They speed through the desert as if on a highway after buying their milk, and again speed off in the big 4x4's.

Then back to the 4x4 we went for another bit of dune riding. All of a sudden behind a dune is a man dressed all in white with 2 camels, picture book perfect, alone in the desert. We stopped and these were our camels to ride. Each had his own. My camels name was "Saartjie" but she did not speak afrikaans at all. We had a stroll on camel back in the desert over and around the dunes while we watched the sun set. It is very quiet in the desert. Very very calming. But still hot. Luckily there was a breeze blowing which coled it down a little. The camel man walked with us and the camels and took all foto's of us on the camels riding. It is not difficult to ride the camel, just very tricky with the camel getting up and sitting down for you to get on and off. You have to lean very far back as not to fall straight over the camels head. It was great fun but Saartjie kept moaning . Both camels had muzzles over their mouths. I presume they bite is unhappy....... The saddles were very colourful and soft to ride.

Around another dune out of nowhere we came into our private dinner area. It was magical. On the sand is a Persian carpet scattered with cushions and a shisha pipe and ornaments. Private chef. (Another "pakistani kaniverstani") This was all for us 2. The camel man hung around until he was tipped and then disappeared over the dune to go home.....

The food was never ending. I must say it is terrible here with the portion sizes. These Arabs can eat. There is a saying that you pick up a Dubai stone (in weight) in the first month here........) Even in the restaurants the portions are huge and you cannot order a starter and a main as you will never finish both.....

We were served a meze of starters. very much like Greek and Turkish type foods. After that we got a pita like bead with humus, bowls of olives, bowls of chillies, funny green pesto look alike salad..... red bean and corn salad.

Then the chef made a barbecue of chicken, beef and lamb chops. It was delicious. But way too much. James then lit the shisha pipe and him and I had a shisha pipe together while Hannes lay there with us watching the stars. The stars are totally different as we lo at the northern hemisphere stars here and we only now the southern hemisphere stars.... In Dubai you also do not see the stars as there is too much light pollution and dust.

We were served drinks to our hearts content and were treated like royalty. Later came fruit and baklava. We did not even touch that as we wee already so stuffed.

I had a cake made for Hannes,which was delivered after dinner by it's own 4x4......Not because we are special but the cake was kept in a cooler until we needed it. We cut the cake , shared with the chef and James and then just lay back on the carpet and watched the stars and enjoyed the total lack of all sound..... It felt like living in a movie.....So unreal.

I love the water and the ocean but the desert has some magical spell it casts over you...... It feels amazingly calm and peaceful. As if you would not mind to just stay there......

After all this we were brought back home by James.

It was fantastic and even Hannes was blown away.

HE HAD A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY. He had so many calls from friends that he felt so special. Also all the family, my side and his, all phoned to say happy happy. The hospital also made a fuss and had all the staff sing to him. All in all a very hap day.

This morning though before this wonderful desert experience I wanted to go to a bazaar down town. Need some clothes that will work here..... Well Michael Schumacher picked me up disguised as a taxi driver. Boy oh boy it was hair raising, and all the way is this 7 lane highway so I could not say stop I am getting out. When I eventually got out of the taxi I just started laughing...Pure stress relief..... The bazaar did not help much in my line of clothes. If I was looking for a sari it would have been perfect as the Indian type clothes were plentiful but that is how one learns. Minah bazaar is not fir me. Karama yesterday was fun and that I will go back to. I love the "take me to your leader" (Bargains in back of shop....)

In the whole of Dubai so far the only wokers are from Pakistan that I have met. Arabs don't do the work they pay for it to get done. The construction as I told you previously is 24/7.

Well tomorrow we are going to friends in Abu Dhabi.... new day new things.

Chat again later.