Reunion in Dubai Part II

In this ironic world, the days that I reunited with my family were also the days some Gazan families were destroyed and separated. It is a revelation that life is short. When you have the moments, seize them to frame the best of memories. So I did just that. I have had the time of my life with the loved ones by my sides. My son, Hadiff has the natural talent to seize the moments of his life. When he has his favourite sugared donut in his hands, he takes his time enjoying every part of it, nothing else matters.




We went out of Dubai to visit Al Ain, a green town in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The drive along Al Ain streets was pleasant. There are trees and more trees along the way. The growth and the development of this town is not as exponential as Dubai city. There are hardly any massive constructions. It is a peaceful little town but yet, driving in this town has its challenges for Al Ain has so many roundabouts.

I had come to know the meaning of an 'oasis' when I was a little boy. The word sounds like a heaven on earth, a blessed piece of land in a vast and arid desert. In this trip to Al Ain I have finally been to an oasis. This Al Ain oasis owned by the Sheikh, has a long history of early civilisation and has now become a huge dates plantation. There is a network of narrow driveway to allow visitors in their cars to pass through the oasis to enjoy the healthy air, the sounds of the birds and the thin ray of lights passing through the dense green shades. The best time to visit this oasis would be in August, when the riping dates are hanging on top of the palm trunks waiting to be harvested.

We wanted to visit Al Ain National Museum. It is renowned for its interesting display for many significant archaeological collections. But we were there on Monday and I didn't know it was closed on Monday. So we could only took a peek from the outside.

Our trip to Al Ain has reached its climax when we took the road up to Jebel Hafeed, the range of rocky hills with breathtaking views. Wind corrosion over the years had made the rocks in the strange shapes they are today.

There is a palace under construction on top of one of the hills, belonged to the Sheikh. It might be scary for those who have seen the sight of highland landslide. But for some others, having to live above everything else is a symbol of supremacy.

We dropped by at a camel souk, a marketplace for selling and buying camels from different breeds and purposes. Some camels are on sale for their meat, some for racing and riding.

Al Ain has been one of the best memories we had together. When we got back to Dubai, there is a list of places of interest we visited next.

The Wild Wadi And The Great Splash

The SkiDubai And The Torturing -4 Degree Celcius

The Jumeirah Beach And The Foggy Evening Walk

Ibn Battuta Mall And Its Majestic Displays

The Extravagant Mall Of The Emirates

The Dubai Mall And Its Mammoth Debut

Souk Medinat Jumeirah And Its Exclusive Ambience

Gold Souk And Naif - The Proud And Humble Parts of Dubai

The End