Today we went to breakfast in our hotel in no time “TIME Grand Plaza Hotel", to head straight for Jebel Hafeet, or Jabal Hafit. This is a mountain on the border between the United Arab Emirates and Oman. From Abu Dhabi, we drove straight ahead for about two hours, right through the desert, to Al Ain. We weren't quite sure what to expect, as it looked quite hazy outside and the sand was blowing across the highway like snow does here in winter. We found it quite strange that every few kilometers there were people standing on the side of the road waiting to be picked up. Whether on the right or the left (which was between the two highway lanes), there were always men with suitcases or bags?!
Jebel Hafeet
Arriving in Al Ain, we had to drive a bit through the city to get to the mountain. An 11.7 km road winds its way up the 1350 m high Jebel Hafeet, with plenty of parking and viewpoints. Today, there wasn't much going on, and we were practically alone. Once we reached the top, it was quite windy, and unfortunately, the visibility, as expected, was not great. But that didn't dampen our spirits. A rock formation like this in the middle of the desert is still worth seeing.
Mubazzarah Historical Dam
Once we got back down, we saw a sign saying "Mubazzarah Historical Dam"... a dam in the desert, we absolutely had to see that. So we drove through the bungalow settlement and followed the signs, which suddenly disappeared behind a house without the road continuing. So we went off onto the sandy track, but only 20m and there it was... the majestic 3m high dam. We burst out laughing :D After what felt like 10 minutes, we calmed down and walked a little closer, but not all the way to the front, it wouldn't have been worth it. As we were about to get back in the car, a second car stopped and a father got out with his daughters and sons. The daughters immediately pulled out their cell phones to take photos... and burst out laughing just like us. I think they were expecting something different. The father just said that 5,000 years ago there was water in the dam here... oh well!
Through the desert to Abu Dhabi
Then we headed back to Al Ain to get back on the highway toward Abu Dhabi. We only drove a short distance, though, because we discovered a small side road with a few geocaches along it. So, off we went on our cacher desert adventure. The dunes were as high as single-family homes, and the only main road was so empty... no one would want to break down here! Good thing we filled up with gas! Sand, sand, and more sand. A few tree plantations, and... here comes the best part: dromedaries. Living in the wild, right next to the road! We took out our camera and pressed the shutter... Wow. There was also a burned-out car wreck on the side of the road, just like in a movie! It was a bit creepy, really. After a few kilometers, the road ended, and we headed back onto the highway.
By the time we arrived at our hotel, it was unfortunately already too late for our second stop of the day. We were supposed to go to the beach, but the desert adventure was more fun than we thought, so we stormed the pool at the Hotels. Also a welcome refreshment. :)
