Road trip no. 1

Bored with the highlife already, 6 of us headed off into the desert for a bit of soul searching. Armed with two landrovers we left the traffic of Dubai and drove up the coast for about two hours to find the biggest waterpark in the middle east. On the way to the park there was literally a line you cross when you are suddenly in the desert.

You pass over a cattle grid, well actually it's a camel grid. Suddenly the landscape changes from skyscrapers to desert. Exactly like any photo of the desert you have seen. Just hundreds of miles of sand. It is a beautiful site. The roads are pretty dangerous because in some parts the sand drifts have completely covered the road. You could drive for a mile on sand hoping to see a bit of tarmac soon! And then there are the camels. Unlike Ireland when you see the sign for deer crossing. Here when you see the sign for camel crossing, you really have to have your wits about you. Those things can move. They come out of no where.

Reaching the waterpark called Dreamland I was beginning to get excited. But to my disappointment, the slides did not live up to my expectations. They were good, but not brilliant. My disappointment was short lived however when we found the in pool bar. You literally sit on a seat in the water, at a table just above the waterline while the waitresses paddle over to you to take your order and return with anything from beer to pina coladas. Sitting there in the midday sun, was the first time it really hit me that I am actually in Dubai!