— witsandnuts

Arabian dinner, sisha and more

Continued from dune bashing and sunset camel ride

After riding the camel, we were taken to the (Arabian Knight Tours) camp. It looks purposely primitive to a certain extent because the walls were made of dried trunk and leaves from palm trees. As you approach the entrance, you will be offered fresh dates and Arabic coffee.

Next to which you will pass by the man serving the appetizer. You have to pick the pieces yourself while they’re newly fried. You bet, I had an ouch moment. The food looks like Indian’s gulab jamun (which is a dessert). But when I tasted it, it is also delicious but is almost crunchy compared to gulab jamun which is dipped in a syrup.

The tables and chairs were set up like these. We strategically sat here so that we were near to the belly dance floor and tattooing area.

Here’s the belly dance floor :

While the buffet dinner was being set up, we checked the souvenir stalls.

These are colored real sands that are being customized and packaged in a bottle.

You will also notice the colorful belts at the end right.

More souvenirs here like camel figures, accessory cloth for belly dancing, Burj Al Arab figurines and sequined purses.

While these are commonly available in souvenir shops in the malls.

Not too long when dinner was served. It was more of a barbecue party to me – of mutton and chicken meat, of course no pork. Most of the dishes were spicy and the salads were really good. I was a little disappointed with the desserts because they only served fresh fruits. Or maybe because I just expected that I’d see several cakes and other pastries just like in the hotels. I forgot that this is a camp.

It was revitalizing to be taking a meal under a literally starry, starry night in a desert. We were also counting the planes coming in and out of the horizon.

Most of the locals do take sisha as a tradition. While most of the foreigners tried it out of curiosity.

I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the washrooms. Honestly, it was a mixed feeling of being creeped out, amazed, and transported to a provincial feeling in the Philippines (remember those toilets in the barrio and those shown in old books?).

You will notice though the obvious fondness for carpets in this part of the world. But of course, I didn’t see a tabo inside.

Next: Henna tattooing, Arab’s traditional dress for men and women and belly dancing