Abu Dhabi Island Paradise

On the weekend a heap of us headed off to Abu Dhabi for a camping trip. A friend of Tom's owns this Dhow (old style boat) and said we could use it overnight for about 1/10 of the normal price.

We started at the Abu Dhabi sailing club, after loading what seemed liked a months worth of gear on to the front of the dhow we headed off.

Kat's facial expression mirrored mine, but everyting went fine (until we broke down on the way back!)

Here is Anthony guarding all the gear... It did LOOK like it was going to fall off!

It took about an hour to get to the choosen spot. Abu Dhabi itself is on an island and there are heaps of islands all around.

Here is the Dhow, they were used to trade up and down the coast of the Gulf, I believe some still do. Small dhows are used in Dubai as water taxis in the creek.

The water was blissful, we are coming closer to winter and it was just the right temperature. I couldn't help but take every photo with the Dhow in the background.

Here is our little camp site. There were other people down near the trees in the background, but they packed up and left in the evening.

We had a driver, he stayed on the boat all night.

Sunrise! One of the joys of camping is the very early awakening, but this was my reward!

We spent the whole next morning in the water. Rui and Melissa think they might have found paradise.

Early afternoon and it was time to head back to the real world. The boat broke down.... With the owner not far away in his speed boat noone was too concerned it just meant extra time in the sun with plenty to lok at. The Drydocks boys had us going again in less than half an hour and we eventually reached the safety of the sailing club.

What a weekend, bliss, pure bliss.