With a different take on Christmas carols this year I finally got to attend carols in the desert. In preparation I bought some fish to throw on the BBQ, hummus, bread & salad. For desert I made my first attempt at mini cheesecakes. More on those later...
I was picked up by friends in a 4WD at 2.30pm then we headed out to a central meeting place, on the way picking up two more passengers - 5 of us in total.
On arrival at the meeting point we joined scores of others all with the same intent, a night out singing christmas carols. Each car was given a sticker to display in their rear window so you knew who to follow. After half an hour or so the klaxon horn sounded and everyone jumped into their cars (mostly 4WD). On the second blast from the horn we set off, or tried to. Slowly, slowly was the name of the game as numerous vehicles all attempted to leave a car park at once and converge onto a main highway.
Once underway we drove for some considerable distance, way out past the airport, past my work, and into the desert proper. Thus we continued for about 40 minutes and eventually turned off and continued on a truck road for some distance before another turn saw us come to a fenced off area which we (and the entourage) entered. In the distance I could see tents set up, hundreds of cars parked on sand dunes, and people everywhere. We joined the throngs of vehicles and followed an off road track to some semblance of parking. Upon exiting the car we loaded up with deck chairs, chilly bins and bags, BBQ tools, bags of drinks and food, blankets and all the other gear required for an evening in the desert. And we weren't even staying the night.
Laden, we trudged up the nearest sand dune (boy was that tough) and joined some others who already had a prime spot saved for us. By this time I was wishing I hadn't brought so much stuff. However, as the evening progressed I was glad to have warm clothes, hot drinks and food for the BBQ.
We were treated to an incredible sunset over the sand dunes. Cameras flashed as most people tried to capture the moment. But sunsets are immensely difficult to perfect.
On dusk the BBQs were lit within a taped off area and although we were among the first to head over, we had a wait while others cooked their food. As one fellow cook put it - every expat in Abu Dhabi must be here. Too true! The variety of accents around the barbies was familiar and apart from the intense heat from the coals (no gas babies here) it was a familiar feel and reminded me of large gatherings at home.
One major difference is the use of grill cages (I have no idea what they are called and I'm sure they have a name) to hold your food together so you don't lose it down the grill. There are no solid hot plates like I'm used to on our wood barbies. Only grills. So you usually put your food inside a double handled 'cage' and shut it to keep it in. I had wrapped my fish in foil so it was even easier to handle. The negative side was I couldn't see if the fish was cooked and due to the intense heat and crowded BBQ I was unable to open the food to check. Luckily it was cooked beautifully and tasted delicious.
Retiring back to our campsite we settled down to join in the carol singing which began around 7pm.
Photocopied song books were available so there was no excuse, unless you had forgotten your torch. A makeshift stage had been set up with a three piece band. Song numbers were called over the loud speakers and then everyone launched into song.
Kids ran everywhere, overnight campsites were set up in the midst of the thousands of carolers. Some regulars had a flashing light atop a tall pole so the kids could find their way back again. People were wrapped up in blankets as the desert did get cold once the sun went down. Free hot chocolate helped warm us up.
While all this was happening, in the distance bonfires flared while locals did what they do best. Drive and socialise. Once the singing began various vehicles began racing up the dunes. This was concerning as kids were running around playing in the dark. But hey! This is how WE do it! During the carols a dune buggy revved repeatedly just by the band with lights on high beam dazzling the campgoers.
Just as we thought their behaviour was crazy, I'm sure they thought ours was also. Thousands of people turning up in the night with torches to sing. No wonder they wanted to come and check us out. They were probably all young boys, teenagers, who spend their weekends racing around the desert.
It made me very wary of camping out and I'd think twice about taking up an offer to join others. Many park cars around tents or set up a perimeter of lights to indicate they are there. I'd be lying awake wondering if every sound was a car coming. I'm sure this wasn't a problem when they rode camels.
My mini cheesecakes were a hit, especially topped with honey yoghurt & a raspberry. They looked and tasted Christmassy.
Drinking hot mulled wine from a flask and a beer or two, it was a pity about the trek down to the porta loo. Getting back up the dunes was a mission as there were bodies everywhere, even a tent in the middle of the track. I don't know how many of us tripped over this tent (with bodies inside) while we were leaving.
Carols in the desert - priceless!
I was picked up by friends in a 4WD at 2.30pm then we headed out to a central meeting place, on the way picking up two more passengers - 5 of us in total.
On arrival at the meeting point we joined scores of others all with the same intent, a night out singing christmas carols. Each car was given a sticker to display in their rear window so you knew who to follow. After half an hour or so the klaxon horn sounded and everyone jumped into their cars (mostly 4WD). On the second blast from the horn we set off, or tried to. Slowly, slowly was the name of the game as numerous vehicles all attempted to leave a car park at once and converge onto a main highway.
Once underway we drove for some considerable distance, way out past the airport, past my work, and into the desert proper. Thus we continued for about 40 minutes and eventually turned off and continued on a truck road for some distance before another turn saw us come to a fenced off area which we (and the entourage) entered. In the distance I could see tents set up, hundreds of cars parked on sand dunes, and people everywhere. We joined the throngs of vehicles and followed an off road track to some semblance of parking. Upon exiting the car we loaded up with deck chairs, chilly bins and bags, BBQ tools, bags of drinks and food, blankets and all the other gear required for an evening in the desert. And we weren't even staying the night.
Laden, we trudged up the nearest sand dune (boy was that tough) and joined some others who already had a prime spot saved for us. By this time I was wishing I hadn't brought so much stuff. However, as the evening progressed I was glad to have warm clothes, hot drinks and food for the BBQ.
We were treated to an incredible sunset over the sand dunes. Cameras flashed as most people tried to capture the moment. But sunsets are immensely difficult to perfect.
One major difference is the use of grill cages (I have no idea what they are called and I'm sure they have a name) to hold your food together so you don't lose it down the grill. There are no solid hot plates like I'm used to on our wood barbies. Only grills. So you usually put your food inside a double handled 'cage' and shut it to keep it in. I had wrapped my fish in foil so it was even easier to handle. The negative side was I couldn't see if the fish was cooked and due to the intense heat and crowded BBQ I was unable to open the food to check. Luckily it was cooked beautifully and tasted delicious.
Retiring back to our campsite we settled down to join in the carol singing which began around 7pm.
Photocopied song books were available so there was no excuse, unless you had forgotten your torch. A makeshift stage had been set up with a three piece band. Song numbers were called over the loud speakers and then everyone launched into song.
Kids ran everywhere, overnight campsites were set up in the midst of the thousands of carolers. Some regulars had a flashing light atop a tall pole so the kids could find their way back again. People were wrapped up in blankets as the desert did get cold once the sun went down. Free hot chocolate helped warm us up.
While all this was happening, in the distance bonfires flared while locals did what they do best. Drive and socialise. Once the singing began various vehicles began racing up the dunes. This was concerning as kids were running around playing in the dark. But hey! This is how WE do it! During the carols a dune buggy revved repeatedly just by the band with lights on high beam dazzling the campgoers.
Just as we thought their behaviour was crazy, I'm sure they thought ours was also. Thousands of people turning up in the night with torches to sing. No wonder they wanted to come and check us out. They were probably all young boys, teenagers, who spend their weekends racing around the desert.
It made me very wary of camping out and I'd think twice about taking up an offer to join others. Many park cars around tents or set up a perimeter of lights to indicate they are there. I'd be lying awake wondering if every sound was a car coming. I'm sure this wasn't a problem when they rode camels.
My mini cheesecakes were a hit, especially topped with honey yoghurt & a raspberry. They looked and tasted Christmassy.
Drinking hot mulled wine from a flask and a beer or two, it was a pity about the trek down to the porta loo. Getting back up the dunes was a mission as there were bodies everywhere, even a tent in the middle of the track. I don't know how many of us tripped over this tent (with bodies inside) while we were leaving.
Carols in the desert - priceless!
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