Every now and then something comes along which makes you wonder just exactly what other people are doing at that very moment – today was one of those days.
I have some fairly diverse buildings and facilities within my portfolio, and I’m sure some of the others will crop up at some point, and I also have some very ordinary ones in some diverse places. Today’s trek was to one of those (I’m sure I’ve already mentioned it in the recent past, but, as usual, I can’t be arsed to go and look it up – you can go back and have a look, it’ll do you good !).
We manage a few “clubhouses” for the Abu Dhabi Motors Club, which on the whole isn’t as exciting as it might first seem. However, we do manage the clubhouse at the largest dune in the world (apparently – the dune thing, not the clubhouse). It’s called the Moreeb Dune (which I’m informed means scary !) and true to form the locals have turned it into a playground. It’s 25km off the beaten track, directly South, off the bottom of the UAE map essentially, fairly close to the Saudi border, and right on the edge of what’s called the Empty Quarter (look it up !).
So they built a race track there – obviously, what else would you do ! Only this race track is vertical. There is another track there as well, and it probably a little more traditional, for camels and horses (hence the title of the blog). We’ll start with camel racing……….
I’ve heard the expression “chaotic, even by Arab standards” (apparently used by the British Ambassador at the official ceremony to launch the Union of the seven Emirates to form the UAE), and have always thought it was a little unfair, however, today, all that changed. We arrived, I thought a little late, and expected to see things in full flow, to be greeted by what could only be described as a pile of camels, and having been dissapointed by camel racing in the past, my heart dropped a notch……
But I shouldn’t have worried – we hung around for half an hour, drinking in the atmosphere of Royal Ascot, when suddenly, and for no decernable reason, up jumped a load of camels, handlers, 4x4s, press, you name it – and off we went. I’m not sure you’ll get the full feeling from the video (assuming I can get it uploaded OK) but it sort of summed up the British Ambassador……..
Mind you, the finish was even better !
Then came the horses – there was only two horse races (there were probably at least 10 camel races in quick succession), and as they started from right over on the other side of the track I’ve only got a picture of the finish I’m afraid…….
Not really your average Point-to-Point I guess, but the principle is sound enough.
Whilst all this was going on, and as you may have noticed from the pictures and videos, the quad bikes and 4x4s were starting to circle, and then things started to get a bit more extreme………
……so we de-camped to the dune itself……..
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150524310329721
The real racing starts tomorrow night with the motorcycle championships, under floodlights obviously, with the buggys, and the serious hotrods (these are just play things…..) on Friday night. I’ll almost certainly be going, so you’ll just have to hold on until then !
The only other news is that I ran Yas Circuit last night (twice = 11km, in 57 mins if byone is remotely interested, which considering that it was on the back of Christmas, a heavy cold and in new trainers, I was quite pleased with myself !), I should move into my new apartment in Madinat Zayed tomorrow (I hope so – as hospitable and generous as Psycho has been there are only so many nights that you can spend on a sofa at my age !). I spent a fun time at IKEA last night trying to sort out the three mattresses which somehow got cocked up on the original order and have meant that I couldn’t move in, but, and I mean but, subject to them actually arriving tomorrow, I should be able to move in and start sorting things out…..which will be nice !.
Right, I’m off for a rummage in the fridge to see what we can turn into real food !
Oh, and for those of you who were worried about who was policing these events to make sure that they are conducted in a healthy and safe manner, and I know that was surely the next question on your lips…….
Well…….. it had to be done really didn’t it !
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