OutdoorUAE - August 2015

ROC N’ ROLL

RocTrip goes to Turkey

Africa in Retrospect

THE HONEY BADGER Diaries

Au Natural meets JAPAN

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FLY FISHING FOR TAIMEN

Vol. 5, No. 8 August 2015

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OutdoorUAE Team

An Ever-Changing Horizon “See the world, explore.”

These are the words that my father kept on telling me as I flew to the United Arab Emirates – my first journey outside of my home country. I have to admit that I was filled with so much anxiety as I wasn’t accustomed to other cultures and the change in environment wherein not everyone spoke my language. It was uncomfortable.

As years go by, I have come to realise that it’s completely okay to feel uncomfortable being in another country — It’s alright to be surprised at the norms of other cultures, it’s alright to hear various languages in the air, it’s alright to taste food you haven’t tasted before and it’s absolutely alright to be in a different place.

What I’m leading to is that if you ever feel anxious of travelling, it’s fine.

Keith Pereña Travelling proves Junior Editor & Social Media to us that there is a keith@outdooruae.com

larger world out there for us to explore. It makes us aware of new things; it lets us know more about our lives. Travelling gives us experience; and experience is the most beautiful kind of knowledge that is there for us to take. I would like to quote Christopher McCandless in length when he says that “The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences. And hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon; for each new day to have a new and different sun.”

To travel doesn’t necessarily entail going out to another country. Travelling can be anything.

It could be going outside your door and taking a walk, it could be going to the other Emirates.

Truth is, we all travel, everyday. And for all the days of our lives, we learn something new from it – little things that make us more knowledgeable of ourselves.

Rounding this all up, I’d like to go back to my initial point: If you’re scared of travelling – worry not.

I hope that the stories of adventures within these pages could inspire each and every one of you to go out. Get out of your comfort zone and take a walk, a bicycle, a car, a boat or a plane and just get out there. The world is large and beautiful place and it would be a shame if we remained in our own little corners of it. La vie est belle as the French say.

Editor For editorial content and press releases Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 5760322 editor@outdooruae.com

Distributor Tawzea, Abu Dhabi Media Company P.O. Box 40401, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries) Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 9398915 linda@outdooruae.com

Printed at GN Printing P.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE

Published by Outdoor UAE FZE In cooperation with A2Z EVENTS P.O. Box 215062 Dubai, U.A.E. Tel. 04-447 2030 contact@outdooruae.com www.outdooruae.com Cover photo by: James and Mira Raley

The Honey Badger Diaries

Get to us on Facebook!

© 2015 Outdoor UAE FZE Reg. at Creative City Fujairah P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.

Eulogy van Dyk Editor Qatar eulogy@outdooruae.com

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing linda@outdooruae.com

Katherine Cañedo Patangui Administration kathy@outdooruae.com

Jung Francisco Designer and Photographer jung@outdooruae.com

EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Sean James Mountaineering and MTBing expert

Marina Bruce The Desert Diva and off-road expert

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

© 2015 Outdoor UAE FZE Vol. 5, No. 8, August 2015 Ivana Chiles Health coach and outdoor enthusiast

www.OutdoorUAE.com Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE

Cindy Stadelmann Equestrian expert

Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE

The information contained is for general use only.

We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been obtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in this magazine is provided without a full guarantee of completeness, accuracy and chronology. In no event will the publisher and/or any of our affiliates be held responsible for decisions made or action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine.

All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission.

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and General Manager daniel@outdooruae.com

WHEN YOU’RE DONE READING, PLEASE RECYCLE!

Trace Rogers SuperTri triathlon coach

John Basson Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

Nico de Corato Diver and heli rescue swimmer with Bergamo Scuba Angels

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

10 FAT BIKING

16 BOULDERING BEDLAM IN BAFA LAKE

20 THE LAST GREAT PARADISE

EVERY ISSUE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

06 BEST SHOTS 07 EVENTS CALENDAR 08 OFF-ROADER’S CORNER 52 PRODUCTS 71 DIRECTORY

16 BOULDERING BEDLAM IN BAFA LAKE 20 THE LAST GREAT PARADISE 22 FIRE AND ICE (LAND) 26 DARANAK FALLS AND CALINAWAN CAVE 28 TARPON IN TAMPA 30 FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS IN AFRICA 32 THE HONEY BADGER DIARIES 36 THE OMAN SURFARI 38 BIENVENUE EN PROVENCE 40 TRAVEL ANXIETY GUIDE 42 DRIFTBOAT FISHING IN MONGOLIA 45 TRAVEL THROUGH MY EYES – WINNERS!

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS 10 FAT BIKING 12 ROCK REPUBLIC 13 THE FINE ART OF BEING A PENDELUM 14 TALES FROM THE STABLES 4

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22 FIRE AND ICE (LAND)

46 HEALTH POWERHOUSE

64 FLORIAN UGHETTO

LIFESTYLE

PEOPLE

46 HEALTH POWERHOUSE 49 HABITUALLY HEALTHY 50 OUTDOOR PSYCH

64 FLORIAN UGHETTO

OUR EXPERTS

66 MTB: A WEEK IN THE HAJAR MOUNTAINS 68 ROCK CLIMBING: INDOOR

56 10 THINGS TO DO IN QATAR – EULOGY 58 THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF SOUTH AFRICA – JOHN 59 THE VALUE OF FUN - TRACE 60 THE UNSUNG HERO – KIT 62 ENJOYING THE SUMMER IN LIWA – MARINA

LOCATIONS

TIPS + TRICKS 70 BODYWEIGHT EXERSCISES

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BEST SHOTS Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Zakir Hussain, Grant Edgington and Carl Hardie. Well done!

To submit your entries, simply email us at competitions@outdooruae.com with the subject “Best Shots.”

Zubair Safdar Homing In

Beerta Maini

Majestic falls and tourist boat dares to approach the falls 6

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Ace Espiritu

Kayaking at the Mangroves in Abu Dhabi

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EVENTS CALENDAR AUGUST 1

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

REGISTRATION OPEN

DUBAI GLADIATORS CHALLENGE

DUBAI

An enjoyable indoor adventure challenge for the whole family and office.

When: September 17-19 Where: Dubai Sports City Contact: www.dubai-gladiators.com, 055-864-7125

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A U G U S T

HAMILTON AQUATICS LEARN TO SWIM SUMMER PROGRAMME

This course on swimming skills will let your children know to swim or improve their swimming skills.

When: August 2 – September 3 Where: Dubai British School, Springs Contact: www.hamiltonsquatics.ae

02

A U G U S T

ChalLenge 2015

ELITE SUMMER CAMP

Let kids enjoy this fun and educational sports camp with various sports to choose from.

S E P T

SAVE THE DATE

ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL HUNTING AND EQUESTRIAN EXHIBITION

The much-awaited hunting, equestrian and outdoor sports in the region opens its gates this September. Showcasing the best the industry has to offer.

When: September 9-12, 11:00 a.m.

Where: ADNEC, Abu Dhabi Contact: www.adihex.net

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A U G U S T

When: August 2 - September 3 Where: Victory Heights Primary School, Dubai Sports City Contact: 04 554 5916

AL QUDRA CYCLE COURSE 1 HOUR RECORD CHALLENGE How far can you go within one hour?

When: August 29, 5:30 a.m.

Where: Al Qudra Cycle Path Contact: www.premieronline.com

REGISTRATION OPEN

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A U G U S T

4X4 FREESTYLE TRACKDAY

Take your 4x4s for a spin in this fun track day at QRC When: August 22 Where: Qatar Racing Club Contact: www.qrc.qa

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S E P T

THE JEBEL JAIS 1 HOUR RECORD CHALLENGE

Discover how far you can go on the tallest mountain of the UAE. Registration now open When: September 12, 5:30 a.m.

Where: Ras al Khaimah Contact: www.premieronline.com

OUTDOORUAE

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THE

OFF-ROADERS corner

Love (For Outdoors), Actually:

Sri Lankan Outdoor Lovers in the UAE Words By: Eranga Yasas Photos By: Joanna Fernando and Channa Munasinghe

SLOL stands for Sri Lankan Outdoor Lovers in the UAE. They are a platform for anybody who is looking for a break away from the hustle and bustle of city life and to be a part of an active outdoor weekend.

The group originated as a Facebook page in mid-2013, starting out as an idea by two enthusiastic outdoorsmen. The group soon grew to over 75 members within a year. As both of the founding members’ work demanded odd hours, initial trips to the desert were always at midnight.

One of the earliest memories that the group recalls was their first trip to Fossil Rock, which started at 12:30 a.m. in the morning!

It was a rare sight to see two 4x4s with roof mounted lights breaking the silence of the dark desert, sailing over the undisturbed dunes during the wee hours of the morning.

With the growing SLOL family, safety became the first priority. Basic safety tips on desert driving, handling recovery tools, how to select proper camping spots, etc are discussed regularly during group gatherings.

The group also encourages members to have basic mechanical know-how to tackle minor issues while away from any immediate help. SLOL is not merely a 4X4 club or group, and off-road driving is only one activity out of a long list that SLOL is part of. Some of the members take part in marshalling and organizing major automotive events in the UAE, dirt bike racing, long distance running and even intense cycling in their free time. Passion for the outdoors is the key to be a part of SLOL, owning a 4x4 will only compliment other activities.

The group particularly loves a calm drive through the dunes or wadis to arrive at a suitable camping spot before the darkness sets in, overlooking endless dunes or mountains.

Their passion for the outdoors and their own culture shows here, as a full meal finds its way to the table by the time the campfire is keeping the happy weekenders warm on a cold night. The group is famous for skipping the more obvious BBQ, and tend to go out

of their way to prepare a full Sri Lankan meal with several dishes to cater for the vegetarian and non-vegetarian requirements of the members. As the night matures, the guitars, drums and dedicated sound system will break the silence.

Skies full of stars, smooth music, great friends with delicious food — what more can someone ask for? Kids are also part of the group as they enjoy having the time of their life every weekend in the outdoors. Rather than sitting in front of a TV screen or a computer they experience nature, learn skills and develop the liking to be active. Sometimes it is a shame to see the desert has been polluted; so much so that the group maintains a strict ”all go in must come out” policy among their members. They urge other groups and friends to join hands to keep the desert clean. They have also hosted several desert cleanup drives so as to preserve it for the next generation.

One main highlights of the club so far is to see frost in mid-winter on the peak of Jebel Jais and the four days Oman overlanding trip in April this year. The Sri Lankan Outdoor Lovers in the UAE value the experiences that members and their families take home from a fun filled weekend and it is one of their tenets – to have an enjoyable, worry-free weekend.

For more information follow the Sri Lankan Outdoor Lovers in UAE on Facebook

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EVENT REPORT

Night Desert Fat Biking in Summer Words By: Daniel Birkhofer Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer and Alin Epure

Ever since I sat the first time on the saddle of a fat bike I loved it.

I am a strong believer, that whoever will try it once will have the same experience like me. In the last two years, fat biking developed from a handful of people and pioneers to a proper and respectable sport in itself.

The main reason certainly is the great experience of cycling in complete quietness and a peaceful environment away from the streets. With more and more brands bringing in fat bikes, the availability also increased in the last months as well as a price drop for the bikes itself. “We felt fat bikes were overpriced in this market so we spent seven months developing a fat bike specifically for the United Arab Emirates market. Not only are our Silverback Scoop fat bikes 2kg lighter, with better specs and offering more colour options than currently available, but they are also a massive 5,000 AED cheaper and this fits in line with our Best In Class (BIC) global strategy” said Gary Flint, Silverback Brand Manager for the region. So there are many reasons to get a fat bike and explore the desert in a different way and enjoy freedom and peace of mind.

Fat biking is much slower than normal road cycling and therefore you will miss the relative wind which cools you down a bit. So fat biking during summer in the midday heat is certainly not appealing to many people. But if you go riding in the morning’s early hours or in the late afternoon hours just before sunrise or after sunset, you can enjoy even in the

summer heat of July and August on your fat bike. Hydration is obviously of importance.

If you are not sure if fat biking is for you or you don’t like solitude, there might be an attractive offer for you. Silverback - who just launched their line of fat bikes this year and OutdoorArabia teamed up to inspire more people to go fat biking. The focus of the initiative is to promote the sport rather than anything else. So the two companies organized the first, completely free, Open Fat Bike Night outside of Dubai in the big dunes off the second roundabout in Al Qudra. Silverback and OutdoorArabia provided about 20 demo bikes which could be used by anyone who joined the event. The first event was only promoted on social media and was held during Ramadan from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. About 20 people showed up to this first event — all newbies to the sport and only one experienced rider. Gary adds, “The best thing about fat biking is that every ride is an adventure. I love seeing the excitement on people’s faces when they do their first 100m on a fat bike for the first time”. Everyone had great fun and enjoyed the hot evening with cold drinks, ice cream and various rides in dawn and darkness.

Silverback and OutdoorArabia are planning more regular community events to promote fat biking for both newbies and experts. With regards future events, Gary says: “In the cooler months we will be hosting rides on a

regular basis with demo bikes available for first timers. We will have two groups, one for the beginners giving tips and advice and the more serious riders will be able to enjoy a two-hour ride over the dunes with experienced leaders.”

To attract more experienced riders with their own bikes, a brand independent race series is planned along the free-ride nights.

More details will be posted on the Silverback Middle East Facebook page or follow OutdoorUAE magazine or digital platforms.

If you want to rent a fat bike or go on a guided ride, visit www.outdoorarabia.com

EVENT REPORT

Trust Rock Republic’s team to cook up a reason to stay just as most of us get busy packing and planning summer escapes!

Words By: Vanda Turcerova Photos By: Grant Edgington and Nyi Nyi Aung

With scorching heat around the corner and most sports seasons wrapping up, athletes are still around with not much to do apart from training some more. Rock Republic took this opportunity and rolled out the region’s first ever Summer Boulder Bash climbing series.

Comprising of five individual events set two weeks apart; the inaugural event kicked off on the 28th of May and saw sixteen athletes compete against themselves for an hour and a half before turning their sweatdrenched scorecards in. Guida Verschut, Director at Global Climbing and Vice President of Rock Republic, explains: “Climbing is about you and only you. You are not trying to beat the guy next to you, or compete to a level.

Naturally, we opted for self-scoring. 104 problems were available to everyone, stretched over eight grades.

You absolutely have to be honest with yourself and give it your best. That’s what Boulder Bash and every climbing competition is about - pushing yourself

ahead, harder than last time, smarter than before.”

Four more events followed including two over the Holy Month of Ramadan which saw a natural, slight drop in attendance.

Spreading these events two weeks apart gave competitors enough time to rest but keep training. Recovery is important and so is the continuity of fitness and in some cases, regrowth of finger skin. It is not uncommon to keep climbing without realizing you are leaving DNA all over the wall, but you will feel it the next day. Having five events completing the series also meant one could have skipped an event without feeling guilty or worrying too much about total scores. Nyi Nyi Aung, Chief Crew Leader, adds:” We knew most competitors would not be able to attend each of the five events. We had a great mix of vacationing climbers who came for one or two sessions as well as regular faces that just couldn’t do every single event.

Having scheduled five Fridays over ten weeks provided manageable choice and ensured everyone who participated was satisfied with their results, whether attending one or all five sessions. Overall, out of total 38 participants, 15% completed all five events, and around 20% of all competitors came only once.”

Five Ten, Brand of the Brave, was headlining the sponsors corner, along with Singing Rock and

Tendon, well-known and respected climbing brands under Global Climbing’s growing portfolio. Each round’s winners received prizes on the day and on the last round, also closing event for the season, over 10,000 AED in vouchers, climbing gear and Rock Republic memberships were given away.

Post-event, Pete Aldwinckle, the general manager of Global Climbing and President of Rock Republic, reflects. “Boulder Bash was surprisingly put together real quick. The idea was here for some time, but the real planning took a week tops. My team was amazing; everyone was immediately onboard and hyped up to do their bit. Summer is our season; when real rocks get too hot to climb, we see major increase in footfall in our centre; people need to keep training all year around, there is no “off-season” or else your hard work all year around goes to waste. Additionally, more and more people who never climbed before come down to try out and fall in love with bouldering at Rock Republic.

Why, you ask? Because it is fun, the approach even for a newcomer is very easy and the satisfaction you get from mastering a problem is second to none. We have the best people around to ensure everyone is welcomed, looked after and when they leave, it is with the thought of coming back very soon.”

Rock Republic remains true to its basic purpose: to provide world-class bouldering to all ages and levels in a friendly environment that doesn’t let you stay away for too long.

Rock Republic is located in Dubai Investments Park 1. Find out more at www.facebook.com/rock.republic.dubai or call 050 100 1370.

ACTIVITY REPORT

The Fine Art of Being a Pendulum ...or learning to take on a mini-ramp in style Words By: Keith Pereña Photos By: Jung Francisco

I choose to believe that some people are born, or rather designed for specific things. I say this because I’m not really a skateboarding kind of person; I’m more comfortable in the two wheels of my bicycle.

This does not mean however that I don’t desire to have a go at learning it. We may be built to do specific tasks well, but the nature of living a fun outdoor lifestyle is being able to learn that there are some things we can and cannot do rather than just dismissing it and never even trying it. The joy of the outdoors is in exploration.

With that being said, I was pretty surprised, nervous and excited when I got an invitation to try some skateboarding lessons at Dubai Sports World courtesy of the amazing people at RAGE. For those not in the loop, skateboard enthusiasts can enjoy themselves in the indoor skate park as the summer heat looms over the United Arab Emirates. They also have lessons of which I was a part of and it’s an extremely comprehensive lesson talking about the basics of skateboarding.

I was taught by one of their instructors Sonic who immediately gave a crash course

on skateboarding. I have to admit, riding a board for the second time (the first was by myself and it ended up with some gashes here and there) made me feel like I’m riding a boat that’s in the middle of a stormy ocean. It waved to and fro to the movement of my body as we both skated for the miniramp on the other side of the park.

Once we were in the mini-ramp though; the lesson escalated pretty quickly. For a beginner such as me, Sonic told me to ride the mini-ramp to and fro and “keep in line” and once I nailed it will we then progress through the next round. It was time to put what I learned to the test – how to push, to position my feet properly and the right posture on the board.

I rode through the mini-ramp in style, feeling the speed and the wind softly touching my face — so this is how it feels to be on a board. I felt such an immense freedom that I couldn’t even believe that it was myself, riding a mini-ramp like clockwork. Sonic assisted me to keep in line and even gave me words of encouragement when I got into some unfortunate slips. One of the most inspiring things he said was “It’s alright since most starters always find it difficult”.

He also remarks that riding a board requires some amount of Zen and being on it is like meditating and just feeling light – literally and figuratively.

I love the attention they give to their

Sonic showing how to properly step on a board.

students as it really does show their dedication to teach skateboarding to a wider populace. And having tried it out myself, I can definitely attest to RAGE’s skill in imparting knowledge to beginners like me.

As the lessons come to a close, I must admit two things:

1. Slipping off the board is definitely worth the ouch, it’s actually loads of fun as I found myself laughing as I slid around the miniramp with the board moving away from me in various directions.

2. While I won’t be riding a skateboard anytime soon, the lessons given by RAGE definitely gave me a confidence boost and some know-how that expanded my knowledge. It’s a superb learning experience!

Now I know more about myself.

You can also try out their skateboarding lessons and hopefully be more successful than I am! The skateboarding lessons take place between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the RAGE Skatepark at Dubai Sports World.

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ACTIVITY REPORT

tales FROM THE stables Words By: Cindy Stadelmann and Cosmo

Last month, my owner started explaining horse tack. Besides considering the horse’s health, horse and rider safety should be key when selecting the equipment. There is a price to pay to ensure safety but it doesn’t need to be exorbitant and often a high price is paid for “the looks”, attempting to justify safety.

We are very strong creatures and cheap tack can rip in a split second giving way to a freak moment and exposing us and our riders to accidents. It certainly doesn’t mean that only expensive tack is safe and has superior quality. Make sure that you closely research certain part of the tack (e.g. stirrups) and make an informed decision with

Summer is there easy going in a bitless hackamore

whatever price tag when you purchase your tack to ensure you are safe. Besides that, there is plenty of good-looking equipment that makes me look smart and I love to show off my new presents. The sky and my owner’s wallet are the limit. In last month’s articlewe stopped by mentioning the reins as one of the communication tools between horse and rider. Here I want to say that riders don’t only communicate via reins but, actually and preferably, mainly via their seats and legs. I can feel a fly on my flank and definitely feel her legs touching my rib cage.

Back to the reins…

Reins and Bits

The reins are connected to the bridle and bit. They are the elongation of the rider’s arm. The bit is the communication tool that is placed in the horse’s mouth. And here it starts: There is such an enormous range of bits that it is quite overwhelming to find your way through the bit-jungle and find what’s right for your horse. Every horse owner will agree that they have a multitude of bits at home on the quest for “the perfect bit” for their horse. All bits have a certain purpose and generally they are used to have good communication between horse and rider. Basically, bits are made of a “bar” and two rings on either side. The bar rests inside the mouth of the horse. The rings are attached to the bridle and the reins.

There are harsh bits and gentle bits. There are bits made of rubber and others out of

Waterford bit with rubber rings

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Rubber mullen and two types of double broken snaffles

metal. Further, bit suppliers offer bits out of different metals, which give different tastes and feeling. Metal bits are generally more popular as some horses do manage to chew on their bit and it can create sharp edges on rubber bits that can cause pain. One thing to be wary about is to ensure that the metal bit doesn’t rust. The bar can be one piece or “broken”, which means it is made of either two or more interlinked pieces. Most common is a single or double broken bit. “Broken” bits shape more around the tongue but can also cause the tongue or gum to be pinched and create discomfort. Bits can be thicker or thinner.

Thicker bits are generally considered gentler but some horses have thick tongues and if you add a thick bit to a thick tongue it can get quite tight and uncomfortable for the horse. The way the bar is attached to the rings varies with every bit type. Some allow the horse to move the bit more around in their mouth, others are more rigid. To avoid pinching the mouth, you can add rubber rings to the sides of the bit. Every horse will have different preferences. And so it goes: the quest for the best bit for your horse; an almost never ending story. The general goal should be to use the gentlest bit that still allows you to control your horse.

Bits: What to Think About

One thing to consider when you place the bit in the horse’s mouth is that it has more or less body temperature. This never crossed my mind until I was exposed to freezing winter temperatures in the United States one year. I learned that I had to warm up the bit during the winter month before offering it to my horse to avoid it freezing its tongue.

For this, I had a little pillow made of fabric filled with dried rice or beans that I popped into the microwave for a few seconds and then wrapped around the bit for a while.

Other riders used hair dryers. Here in the United Arab Emirates I would say, check that your bridle and bit haven’t been exposed to the sun before putting it into your horse’s mouth to avoid it burning its tongue. Once

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

the bridle is placed over the horse’s ears, there is no chance for the horse to spit out the bit. Obedient as it is, your trusted steed would most likely silently suffer through a burning bit.

Bridles – Bitless is an Option

Many riders now opt for riding with bitless bridles and control the horse by other means. As said, thepurpose of a bridle is to have one form of communication with the horse. This is either by having the above mentioned bit attached to it and reins as connection between bit and rider or it is by leveraging pressure points around the horse’s face, e.g. the nose or the chin.

The hackamore is the most popular bitless bridle. There are different sub-types but they all originate from ancient times when riders rode their horses only in simple head collars. The term comes from the Spanish, who themselves got the word from the Arabs dating back to the times when they rode their Arabians and camels through their territories. The term Hackamore originates and refers to a thick-plated noseband, called hakma. The reins are attached to the hackamore (noseband), which is the communication device for the rider. Using external pressure points is a great relief for many horses and Cosmo loves it when I pick the hackamore for a training session or take him out for a hack. Now, in the summer it is a good way to let them relax after a hard season’s work.

Ergonomic Bridles

Bridles have undergone some development in the last year after more awareness was created that they can pinch nerves behind the horse’s ears (poll) and cheeks.

Bridle makers now offer bridles that are more padded in certain areas and leave e.g. more space behind the ears. Blocked nerves behind the horse’s ears can cause discomfort and limit the horse to flex its head and neck to the left and right. Often the horse’s unwillingness to do a certain movement originates from discomfort rather than misbehaving. It’s good to have your horse checked by a vet or horse-physio once in a while to ensure no injuries have crept in.

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Horse Boots

The last bit of the horse riding attire is down around the horse’s legs and tendons. If those get injured, you either face very long recovery times or, in worst case, your horse is not fit for riding anymore overall. What a sad event when this diagnosis is made. As Dubai has limited space and if you chooseto keep your horse, there is not much choice for retiring your beloved animal in this country. Best option is to fly it home and retire it on green fields. Flying a horse home is easy but has bill attached, which some of us cannot afford. Better is to make all effort and protect those legs wherever you can (and even then injury can still happen).

Generally, there are two types of protection you can choose from. You can either apply Back boots wraps, or plastic or leather protectors that blankets that are placed over a sweaty horse are contoured around the lower limbs and to wick the sweat away and maintain a comjoints. The wraps are nowadays mostly made fortable body temperature. Finally and not out of fleece, elastic or a combination of the really needed in this country are rain-sheets two. Traditionalists use thin pillows and wrap and winter rugs - the answer to the human those with wraps. Wrapping them around winter coat. the legs is almost an art, needs practice and As you see besides the horse, there are takes a little bit of time. Most dressage ridmany additional items you will acquire once ers go for this option. The normal plastic or you own one. The ones above are the bare leather protectors are easier to fix through minimum. Go to any horse-lover’s home and Velcro or clips and cushioned inside either you will find many, many more nice-to-have via neoprene or wool. It takes seconds to items. It’s so nice to dress up your horse attach them and most show-jumpers and and have it look stunning. How about some general-purpose riders go with this solubling…? tion. They come in different colours and are often matched with the saddle cloth. This Cosmo with his linx color fly mask is where dressing up your horse comes into the equation.

Other Useful Tack

There are a few items that you need in addition to the riding attire for your horse.

You need a head collar and lead in order to bring your horse to e.g. the paddock or a wash-stand. Additionally, very popular are fly masks for your horse’s face. These are netted masks that go over your horse’s ears and around its cheeks covering a big part of the face and are intended to keep the flies away.

For very sensitive horses you can also buy a fly-blanket (rug) that is, as well, a net that gets laid upon the back of the horse and closed under its belly.

Additionally, many riders have sweat rugs, Cosmo’s ergonomic bridle

Off to the shower in his headcollar

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Bouldering Bedlam in Bafa Lake Words + Photos By: Read Macadam and Tara Atkinson

We awoke, groggy from the night’s Greek celebrations and packed up our tent under misty grey skies; all the while greeting late night revellers returning from one last sunrise over the towers - impassioned missions conceived very late and with liquid enthusiasm. There was a ferry to catch, but there was no urgency in the atmosphere as we edged out of the campsite and back onto the road, southbound.

Before the ferry, Tara and I planned to sample one of the greater Athens’ crags - Mavrosouvala. Did you know there are hundreds of world-class routes within 40 minutes of the Greek metropolis? It was not an easy decision.

The following day, winding our way down the narrow lane leading to the climb, the notion that in six hours we had to board a ferry to Turkey seemed ludicrous. Young pine trees waved gently in unison to a light Aegean breeze, covering the craggy hills surrounding Mavrosouvala like peach fuzz and masking the concepts of traffic, deadlines and time pressure just 30km away - Athens.

It is a giant amphitheatre - The rock world class, Tufa structures for miles on steep orange limestone - a climbers’ paradise, almost. Unfortunately it was not all pinescented fresh air and the delicate clinking of karabiners. Within a few short steps of the base of the crag the local climbers had done their dirty business. Having visited countless climbing crags all over the world, the issue of “how to defecate in the woods”, is very important to me.

For F!#@$% sake, people, please please please do your business well away from the pathways, belay stances and climbing. I am talking 100m or more. It is really very easy and it is the responsibility of each of us to spread awareness and lead by example. Dig a hole, burn or bin your used toilet paper and then bury the remains. It was a shocking reflection of the local climbing culture that there was little respect for the space people frequent every weekend. The effect on two visitors was that it felt like a slummy utilitarian gym rather than an epic and stunning natural playground that it should be.

So, with our noses out of joint we climbed a little and then looked forward. It was time to head east, time to drop off our trusty little

rental car and step into the unknown, trusting the spirit of the Roctrip to bring us to Turkey.

After a twelve hour modern ferry, a few hours layover on the island of Chios with the hilarious antics of one gruff and disgruntled port worker, the chaos of loading and unloading a barge with dozens of vans and the now famous Roctrip caravan, we arrived, borne on a warm breeze, to the port of Çesme, Turkey. Finally there!

Wait. Oh and how we waited. Five hours at customs for the vehicles to clear the port authorities. We sat, soaking up the sun, waiting for the agents to drink the magical number of sweet Turkish teas which would at last allow them to stamp the requisite documents allowing us to continue. We learned to slow down our expectations to the eastern flow and then “kachunk!”, the paper was stamped and we were quickly told to leave. With our new captain, Isabelle, and her customised Ford Transit van we finally set off towards our first Turkish climbing location - Bafa Lake.

There is a unique phenomenon in Turkey, of which we took maximum use. You see, the

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enterprising owners of the cafés alongside the motor routes have installed three metre high water spouts, car washes, to entice travellers in for a Gozleme - a sort of Turkish quesadilla pancake hybrid. So, after fifteen car washes and a suitable volume of pomegranate juice and gozleme we finally skidded to a halt on the gravel at a lakeside settlement to stock up for the coming days camping in the mythical and historic ruins of Heraclia at the side of Bafa Lake, or Bafa Golu in Turkish.

Meandering down the farmer lanes in the golden light, passing the tiny hamlet of Kapikiri, the setting sun radiating a magmatic glow over the land and we were transported back to another era. Thousands upon thousands of gigantic granite boulders cover the mountain on the eastern shores of Bafa Lake and now, at the foot of this scene, we were passing ancient city walls, an amphitheatre on the right; colossal granite blocks as perfect and true as the day they were laid, some toppled, telling stories of thousands of years; on the left a semi-submerged old fortress.

We would be climbing in a land of myth and legend.

As the sun set over the farmer’s field where the Roctrippers camped, we all chatted excitedly about the vast climbing potential laid out in front of us, hands sweating.

Bafa is beautiful and staggering. It is at once historic and steeped in atmosphere and also wild and untamed despite the thousands of years of habitation. It is also very hot. We awoke the next day in our farmer’s field, slowly steam cooking in the tent. After the cool and damp weather of the Balkans and Greece lethargy, the Turkish dry and hot climate swept through camp like a fog.

Bafa is beautiful and staggering.

It is at once historic and steeped in atmosphere and also wild and untamed despite the thousands of years of habitation.

Yet, the landscape begged to be explored.

Within a day most of us had no skin left.

The granite is very rugged; it shredded our soft and warm skin. The most intrepid of the climbers rose at sunrise, while the majority waited until sundown and with head torches, roamed out into the boulders, returning to the caravan for an evening gozleme and party. One night we stumbled upon the Petzl Team seasoning a very aesthetic 8A+ perched on a slope above the ancient ruins.

Shrieks and grunts of pain, grumbles against the balmy heat and curses in all languages rang out. Despite the sub-optimal conditions it was inspiring to watch Dave Graham dispatch the boulder, floating up the tiny-edged hand holds as if he survives on a steady diet of helium. More than once on this leg of the trip we would watch in awe as Dave Graham and Paul Robinson used hand holds — most of us would not even consider to thread their way upward.

Back at camp local climbers outnumbered visitors like ourselves. The Turkish climbing scene is vibrant and brings a fantastic energy and boy are they psyched to climb! Turkish climbers had driven to Bafa Lake from far and wide, proud to share their world-class stone with the best climbers in the world. We stayed up late into the night meeting and sharing stories.

Dave and Philippe,

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reliable DJ’s to our animated conversation, kept things lively and then Said Belhaj and other multi-instrumentalists took the stage to jam out some futuristic world music. We drifted off to sleep with the rhythm of the night in our ears.

Through the local grapevine that night we got word of a special area. A climber’s paradise at 800m altitude. “Cool winds rustle the pine trees there, the boulders are a mixture of granite and gneiss. Easy on the hands and only twelve kilometres away,” they say.

Of course, then, everybody headed up for the final two days to Sakarkaya. Just to pronounce the name itself conjures imagery of the prolific, of vastness and airy space. High above the valley, the heat faded and, driving up with our friend Dan Bates in his trusty German registered car “Bismarck”, a 2004 Ford Focus station wagon. With the windows rolled down, and Karen, the Australian accent of Dan’s GPS device guiding us assertively towards the village, we recharged on the fresh mountain air.

The mountain was covered in granite. In awe, we wound up the narrow road passing olive farms, alpine trees or pine trees and the occasional burro. And then we were awkwardly driving through the tiny town square and down tiny lanes, which split ahead of us and split again into impassably steep and narrow driveways. We had taken a wrong turn. “I told you it was back there,” I’m sure someone mumbled.

Back through the centre square - but the size of a large living room and full of people.

“Oops! Watch out for those chickens!” We waved like goofs, pointing and nodding, gesticulating what we hoped appeared to be a mimic of rock climbing. With a lot of “merhaba” and “teshekular”, we finally found the correct path and left the village behind. The village life brought us such a traditional view of Turkey, much more authentic than the infrastructure created around the climbing below in Kapikiri.

As we unpacked our gear from the car, a local woman sauntered down the road towards us. Her gait was strong and her girth at least double mine - a mountain lady in her traditional Turkish floral print, parachute pants and a grin from the ages. As we greeted her, she stopped and shirked her heavy scarf, bulging with freshly picked fruit from her plantation and absolutely commanded that we take some. Delicious gigantic mountain pears, the size of large grapefruits, that crunched like apples.

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We offered her what we could and parted, grateful.

For two days there were crash pads under nearly every boulder in sight. The quality of the rock there is much friendlier than near the lake and, revived by the cold mountain air, it felt possible to try hard again. Back in the boulders, visiting climbers rubbed shoulders with the elite Petzl Team.

Shoes in hand, one could wander and share energy with a group of Turkish boulderers and then shift over to try something with a French, Spanish, Iranian or Bulgarian group — the list was endless. I found it inspiring and at once overwhelming to have so many climbers, so many voices, so much beta spewing forth at each boulder, so I set off on my own to find some peace and quiet.

I stumbled up the hill and turned the corner, arriving at a majestic crack overlooking the whole valley. Exposed, but with a very nice flat landing. Perhaps six meters high, the perfect width for hand jams. Of course, at such a boulder reminiscent of big wall style was Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll - multi talented big wall climber and jammer. Sean was kindly fixing a rope for some girls who were too intimidated by the height of the boulder to attempt their go at hand jams, but they kindly let me have a go before the rope went up. Classic. I recharged on the quiet on top and then there was Sean, climbing up to fix the rope, in his flip flops. Making it look extremely easy (which it was not).

On my way back down the hill, I crossed Slovenian strongman Klemen Beçan and his lovely wife Anja, also seeking some solace from the crowds. With a conspiratorial grin, Klemen asked me, “Have you seen any highballs around?” His accent made wry from the grin. I had seen a possible line, actually, so I took him over. Along the way we picked up another climber, Tom, a fellow Canadian who was keen to join us. “There it is”, I pointed and sat down to eat lunch. Above us on a podium towered a massive boulder, its prow jutting into the crisp blue sky, drawing a line between shadow and sunlight. The line I had imagined was on the sun baked side, glowing orange in the daylight. Klemen nodded his acknowledgement and threw his single crash

The Turkish climbing scene is vibrant and brings a fantastic energy and boy are they psyched to climb! pad down between the shrubs at the landing and began putting his shoes on. Tom, I think finding it way too high, said his goodbyes and parted.

“Do you want to go first?” Klemen asked, one shoe already on, his eyes twinkling. Fork in hand and with a fork full of lunch in my mouth I sputtered that he should go first. I threw down my fork and jogged up to spot Klemen, who was already midway up the wall. It was high and with one pad it was best that he did not fall. The rock crumbled slightly as Klemen squeezed harder to make a very long reach. I noted that and flinched to dodge a shower of grit. “Ya!” Klemen hollered as he pulled over the top of the block. “It’s very good. I think it is 6A if you do not look down. Otherwise it would be much harder!” he chuckled.

Well, my turn then. I became very aware of the radiant heat and its effect on my hands.

I stuffed them into my chalk bag and then chalked, chalked again. Then I just tied the chalk bag to my waist. I would need it. I pulled myself onto the wall, Klemen would come around to spot me before I reached too great a height, I thought to myself.

The rock was pretty good. Granite edges, a bit brittle and with lichen on the surface from never being cleaned before, but the holds were mainly solid puckers of rock. Slopey on some and incut on others, more secure. I arrived to the very long reach just as Klemen rounded to corner to spot me. “It’s up there.” he encouraged. I stepped my right foot very

high and shifted my balance onto it fully, my left hand squeezing a sloped edge, the dry lichen cracking into dust between my fingers.

I reached up. Up a little more and was just short of the next hold. Gulp. I had to regroup.

I lowered my right hand back to face level very slowly and, chalked my hands, trying to relax. At this point my feet were a good metre or more above Klemen’s outstretched hands. I would have to be dynamic to reach that next hold. Gripping harder, I raised my right foot back to its position and began the lever motion, pulling down hard with my left hand until I was almost pushing from it and in that moment the hold crumbled in my hand.

In that fraction of a second I lurched up with my hand to grab the next hold, a pretty good edge and then quickly climbed the next few meters to the top, my heart racing — Right, 6A. I didn’t look down, but noted the down climb was pretty high.

Feeling more alive, we parted and I went over to Sakarkaya, a brilliant and inspiring overhanging wave of rock. The namesake for the location. It was really nice to have only three people around - Nina Caprez, Cedric Lachat and Daniel Dulac. A great change from the night before when there must have been a dozen people trying it. I had tried a few times, feeling like I would for sure do the top section, but struggling with a very long move from the sit start.

Feeling free, without pressure of so many people waiting to try, and also with a great deal of gumption with my storied and accomplished spotters, I managed to climb the problem after a few more tries, impressing myself by sticking the first move by surprise.

Along with another beautiful line I managed in a few minutes the night before - Skeleton Spine 7C, the Sakarkaya Sit Start 7C on day two, remains a highlight of that part of the trip.

The day was not over, though, as we continued to bounce between boulders, some hard, some not as hard, witnessing Paul Robinson and Dave Graham grab two of the worst holds ever - I know, Dan and I tried, too - and despite their protests of how hard it was, seem to float, one after the other to the top of “the hardest V10 ever, man! Probably 8A.” Reuniting with Tara and Isabelle, her partner for the day, we shared stories of our afternoon and celebrated our last night in Bafa Lake with what else? A gozleme, of course.

Onward to Antalya!

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Last Great Paradise: Kauai Words By: Jake Lyle

Five million years ago, a small chain of islands began to form and sprout life. One of these islands stood out especially. Greenery covered the mountains, palm trees shot up on the beaches and colourful corals guarded the shores and created a sanctuary that would soon house one of the most diverse underwater ecosystems on the planet. Millenia later, this life would give rise to the most beautiful and pristine locations the world has ever seen. This is the island of Kauai.

Kauai is situated within the Hawaiian island chain, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, nearly 4000km from mainland America. It’s the northernmost island in the chain, as well as the oldest, most magical and most rich in the “Aloha Spirit”.

There are few places left on this earth that can boast such a landscape that this island has been blessed with.

Enormous mountains are distributed across the island, painted in a lush green, occasionally divided by towering waterfalls as tall as the Empire State Building, where immense volumes of water cascade down, eroding the rocks in the small pools below.

These waterfalls are scattered all over Kauai, as the fresh water tries to find its way from the mountains to the sea. The rivers, some of the largest in Polynesia, curve around all areas of the island in their quest to reach the ocean, which is met by a plethora of golden beaches, littered with palm trees and drenched in sunlight.

The island of Kauai is the adventure traveller’s dream — the diverse geography and topography of the land allows for all sorts of adventures and voyages.

Not only do the massive mountains provide exceptional scenery and breathtaking views, they also provide some of the most spectacular hikes in the world. The most renowned coastline to hike on the island is the awe-inspiring Na Pali Coast. This 40km stretch of world-famous coastline has made

appearances in Hollywood hits such as Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean, due to its mythical-like beauty and one-ofa-kind cathedral cliffs. Many of the beaches along this coastline are considered sacred to the Hawaiian population and closed off to the public due to the sheer sanctity of the area. However, there are sections of the coastline that are accessible to hikers. The most revered coastal hike on the island is the Kalalau Trail, along the Na Pali coast.

This demanding 34km hike follows a perilous coastal footpath that at some points, is just inches away from a 4000ft drop down to the rough seas below. These risks however, are worth taking, as after the daring trail has been braved, hikers will emerge at the famed Kalalau Beach, which is only accessible by hike. Some hikers claim this beach to be the most incredible sight they have ever seen.

There are many other ways to experience the mountains and backcountry that don’t require you to brave heights of 4000ft, and with much less walking too. If breathtaking views are a priority, but there isn’t enough time to scale the mountains and follow the path, you can fly through the sky along one of Kauai’s many zip lines and experience a thrilling ride amongst the jungle canopy.

Kauai’s mountains and valleys are lined with zip line systems from six different companies, allowing you to see the epic views of Kauai whilst speeding along a 1,200ft zip line.

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If speed is a priority but so is being land-based, then the better option would be to take the off-road ATV tour through the mountain jungle, stopping at a few hidden waterfalls along the way. Mud-ridden tracks with tight bends and steep hills run throughout the island jungle, perfect for a speedy tour of inland Kauai on a rapid quad bike or mud-buggy.

Speed isn’t for everyone however, and those looking for a more serene experience will still have plenty to do on this diverse land. Rivers snake around every bend often leading to, or coming from one of the island’s unique waterfalls. One of the greatest rivers for this is the Wailua River, which can be navigated by kayak, and after a short hike, there is a spectacular secret waterfall, which makes for a refreshing and invigorating swim.

For those who favour salt water, Kauai is encircled in a 180km coastline, with sundrenched beaches all around. With easily accessible beaches on the north, east and south shore of the island, there is no shortage of desolate beaches that can be enjoyed in peace, without having to worry about that ever so frequent duo with a racket ball set, who seem to be on every other beach in Dubai. Each beach on Kauai has its own characteristics and not one is the same as another. Thrill seekers and watersport enthusiasts will thrive on the eastern beaches such as Kealia Beach, where there’s a plentiful supply of waves for anyone armed with anything from a body board to a paddleboard. When opting for a more relaxed and tranquil experience, northern beaches such as Lumaha’i Beach, offers that picture perfect scene of warm golden sand being hugged by the sparkling crystal clear water as it slowly advances and retreats along the shoreline. Kauai truly has some of the most stunning beaches in the world, which are often hidden or only reachable after a short hike – allowing travellers to have whole beaches to themselves.

If being above the surface of that sparkling crystal clear water isn’t enough, there are plenty of opportunities to dive down and submerse yourself in the underwater metropolis that surrounds this mystical island, either through snorkelling or with scuba equipment. Kauai has the largest reef of all the

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Because Kauai is the picture that forms in all of our heads when someone utters that enchanting word - paradise.

Hawaiian Islands, made up of a diverse range of colourful coral that hundreds of species of tropical fish call home, making these reefs an active and vibrant place to dive or snorkel and experience the true magnificence of the ocean, that people seldom see. Larger marine species also frequent the area, which range from sea turtles and octopi, to eagle rays and tiger sharks - making these underwater habitats all the more exciting.

It’s difficult to define the word “paradise”, because we all have different pictures in our mind when we hear the term. But Kauai can be seen as the universal image of paradise.

That’s why Hollywood turns to this little slice of heaven for their movies. The waterfall that Johnny Depp leaps off in Pirates of the Caribbean, the enormous open valleys that the dinosaurs stampede across in Jurassic Park and even the jungle scenes from Avatar, along with many other famous scenes, have been filmed on Kauai. Why? Because Kauai is the picture that forms in all of our heads when someone utters that enchanting word - paradise. It’s the reason why a multitude

of celebrities have summer homes on the island and it’s the reason why huge numbers of adventure seekers flock to this Pacific archipelago every year. Kauai has absolutely everything to offer, making the island capable of satisfying the needs of everyone, from a relaxed traveller in search of the perfect beach, to a seasoned adventurer seeking the next big thrill. Unlike a lot of other preferred holiday destinations, Kauai has maintained its natural foundations and has avoided being tainted by the usual toxins that invade most tropical paradises, ruining the natural beauty of the area. There are nearly no buildings taller than a coconut palm tree, no heavy traffic expelling heavy pollutants and certainly no large crowds being transported around in huge tour buses. Kauai is what the earth used to be - the jungle is abundant, the mountains are rugged and the ocean is vibrant. Kauai is the last great paradise.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Fire and Ice (land)

Experience raw nature Words + Photos By: Eulogy van Dyk

There are few places left for true adventure today. It seems like tourist attractions are everywhere, and it is hard to find a piece of nature without an organised guided package attached to it, even rarer in Europe. Well, on the magnificent volcanic island of Iceland, you can discover what is called Europe’s last “untouched wilderness”. With age-old ice, active volcanoes and the ground literally bubbling beneath you, Iceland provides you with pure and simple raw nature at its natural best.

“We are experiencing the coldest July in a decade” said the local shop owner when we bought our first cup of steaming hot chocolate on our trip to warm up our bodies and hands. Although this would be an incredibly true statement, with average temperatures of only eight degrees during our stay, we are full of excitement to drive around Iceland - taking the unconventional route from Reykjavik to the Westfjords, then to the north, travelling around to the east to finish with the popular southern part of the country. We were prepared, rental car (4X4 capability), waterproof (and windproof) jackets, waterproof tent, zero-degree down sleeping bags and a big detailed map of the island. But nothing can prepare you for Iceland’s natural beauty.

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Lake Myvatn Baths - Jardbodin

A few quick pointers before you read about all the beautiful places you can see on this breathtaking island: l Winter or Summer? It’s two totally different experiences with the landscape changing dramatically and snowed-in roads during winter limits you to get to some places (and personally I prefer the summer’s colours!) l Go off the beaten track. Most websites will recommend you to do the “ring road” or “golden triangle route” but heading out and visiting small towns or spending more time in the Westfjords is definitely recommended to experience Iceland’s raw scenery up close and personal. l Search for the natural hot springs in the hidden areas of Iceland (Google it – “10 Hot springs that is not the Blue Lagoon”!) l If you have the time and budget, spend at least two weeks in Iceland! l Backpacking or cycling is a popular means

of getting around the country if you have the time and courage, but personally I can recommend hiring a 4X4 car, taking your camping gear and supplies and discovering the country this way! l If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, just wait five minutes… This is so true! You can experience all four seasons in one day, but remember there is no such thing as bad weather, just dress accordingly!

Here are some of the highlights of our two-week holiday!

The Capital

Reykjavik – Experience the quirky, artistic capital of Iceland. Take a picture at the famous Hallgrimskirkja Church, but do go inside and sit for a moment to listen to the music of the organ. Pick up a city guide and follow the recommended walking tour inside

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Mountain biking in Iceland

Thingeyri – A tiny cosy village but a great stop for hiking, horse riding as well mountain biking! The famous green Simbahöllin Cafe is not to be missed, as this is also the place to book all your outdoor adventures. *Recommended Camping Spot

The North Hallgrimskirkja Church, Reykjavik

and finish your day off in Laugavegur Street for some shopping, ice-cold drinks or hot coffee. For mountain biking in the area, contact Icebike Adventures. “The Edge” trip takes you on a 35km route from the lava fields back into town.

The West – Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Arnarstapi - A very interesting old path follows the coastline where you can see old lending places of fishermen, lots of birds and lava fields so it makes it a beautiful place to do a day hike. You will find a sculpture standing by the beach, an enormous troll-like monument, which is apparently the region’s guardian spirit. *Recommended Camping Spot

Akureyri – The second largest city in Iceland and very much like Reykjavik; you can expect cool cafes with local shops and souvenirs. It is a good location to base you at for a few days to do some activities around the area.

Lake Myvatn – A unique combination of Iceland’s natural environment with large contrast between short distances. You will soon observe that volcanic eruptions have played a crucial role in the formation of the landscape here and the natural features are stunning! This is should be a “must-do” on your list! Spend at least two to three days in this area to visit the various sites. Great hiking trails also connect one area to another.

My personal highlights include: Pseudocraters at Skútustadir, Hverir, Viti Crater and Jardbodin - the natural hot spring in the area. *Recommended Camping Spot Dettifoss - Iceland’s greatest and most majestic waterfall and rated as Europe’s most powerful waterfall, based on its magnitude.

The waterfall is 45m in height and 100m wide, truly a spectacular sight to see! Ásbyrgi – This horseshoe-shaped canyon stole my heart! The lush canyon extends 3.5km from north to south and averages 1km in width. It is short and sweet, but green and beautiful. The short hiking trails around the canyon make it a great spot for an early morning run! Makes sure you experience the view from the top as well as inside the canyon. *Recommended Camping Spot

Latrabjarg - Searching for Puffins

Grundarfjordur, Mt. Kirkjufell – This is one of the most famous mountains in Iceland, filmed by photographers all over the world and has even starred in a number of films, most recently The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Nature abounds, with vibrant birdlife, spectacular waterfalls, great hiking trails and exciting marine visitors such as seals and whales putting in an appearance every now and then.

The Westfjords

This region really is just mind-blowing and is as they describe it - the place where Iceland’s dramatic landscape come to a captivating climax and where mass tourism disappears!

Expect rutted dirt roads along jaw-dropping coastal fjords.

Arnarstapi - Sculpture of Bardur Snaefellsas

Latrabjarg Peninsula – On the tip of the peninsula you will find the renowned Latrabjarg bird cliffs. This is a great stop to do some puffin “hunting”, referring to hunting as in taking photographs of these quirky looking birds!

Dynjandi Waterfall – The most dramatic waterfall in the Westfjords and pitching your tent right underneath makes this spot a must visit! You will find some incredible views as you climb up with many smaller waterfalls until you reach the main one. *Recommended Camping Spot

Dettifoss

Lake Myvatn - Hverfjall

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The South

Landmannalaugar – It is difficult to find the words to describe the beauty of these multicoloured mountains, but even the road leading up to this area is breathtaking! A unique destination and a must for all explorers (as long as the weather cooperates). You require a 4X4 vehicle to reach this place. I could have stayed here for days as the area offers multiple hiking trails and a natural hot spring is located at the camping grounds, which made this my number one destination in Iceland!

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – The photos speak a thousand words and I promise no editing was done! This famous glacier lagoon is a unique place with icebergs constantly breaking off from the glacier and eventually drifting through the short river to the sea.

Skaftafell National Park - Svartifoss

Skaftafell – Called the jewel crown of the Vatnajökull National Park. It is a popular site for many tourists, so to avoid the crowds it is recommended to get out on the more remote hiking trails and take advantage of the beautiful nature of forest and glaciers around you! The famous Svartifoss is also located here, which is a short 2.5km hike from the car park. There are also many glacier adventures here hosted by local tour operators.*Recommended Camping Spot Blue Lagoon – It has been said, “If you haven’t been to the Blue Lagoon, you have not been to Iceland”… as cliché as it seems and touristic as it can be, I would however still recommend you to add this to your itinerary and experience the milky-teal spa waters of this geothermal plant. Sit back and relax and enjoy the super heated water at a perfect 38 degrees!

The Golden Triangle

Gullfoss – This is Iceland’s most famous waterfall - Golden Falls, a spectacular double cascade! On a sunny day the mist creates a rainbow, which is a photographer’s dream to capture! It is said that during the winter months the water glitters with ice!

Landmannalaugar - Hike

due to its unique geology and natural features. The Almannagjá is a canyon formed between two tectonic plates, a visual representation of continental drift. It is quite creepy to stand there and comprehend that the earth is slowly moving apart at this very spot… The national park also offers many outdoor activities like scuba diving or snorkelling in the lake, hiking as well as fishing.

Geysir – This is the original hot-water spout after which all other geysers are named. It is quite entertaining watching the bubbling water and seeing the steam build up as you do the countdown just before the geyser “erupts” every three to five min.

Gullfoss - See the rainbow

Thingvellir National Park – Iceland’s most important historical site but also famous

Skaftafell National Park - Hike

Thingvellir National Park - Tectonic plates

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Words By: Mary Rose Torres Photos By: Mary Rose Torres and Darlene San Agustin

One random weekend, me and my friends spontaneously planned to go to a trip to Tanay, a city in the province of Rizal in the Philippines.

Tanay is an hour and a half travel from the Philippine capital of Manila making it exceptionally accessible for our unplanned outdoor trip! Since the location is very close to the city, a lot of tourists have overlooked the beauty of the place. Unknown to many, Tanay is the sanctuary for several outdoor aficionados - it is the home of many waterfalls, caves and rock formations.

Our first destination was the Calinawan Cave found in the small village of Tandang.

I suggest that before you go here you must study your route or turn on your GPS if you don’t have locals around, to avoid delays and to have a safe trip. The entrance fee is at 20 PHP (1.5 AED) and an expert guide can be hired for only 100 PHP (8 AED). Before entering the cave we were briefed about dos and don’ts inside the cave for the protection of both parties and we were reminded of the golden rule of every traveller: “Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints.

Kill nothing but time”.

Calinawan Cave is not just a natural wonder; it also has a strong historical background. It was named after the historical event when the Filipino revolutionaries resolved their disagreement with the Spanish colonisers at the time. Linaw is a Filipino word which means “clearness or clarity”, hence the name Calinawan - because they finally reached clarity. Other than that, our tour guide also shared with us that the cave 26

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served as the hideout of Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. As we entered the cave, we were greeted by beautiful and shining rock formations such as stalagmites and stalactites. No wonder a lot of filmmakers decide to shoot here, especially fantasy-themed films. Some parts of the cave have beautiful and wellplaced crevices around the ceiling so the light seeps in magnificently throughout the cave. Beware because there are also narrow paths in the cave so teamwork is needed to assist each other! This amount of team effort to fit in through the narrow spaces made our

experience more exciting as we tried – one by one to fit through! Our tour guide humorously remarked that they call the narrow paths the “sexy way” because you have to walk sideways and breathe in so that you are thinner.

As we continued exploring the cave, there was a point wherein we had to drop and crawl because the ceiling was becoming lower. There are five layers in the cave - one and two are the easiest levels, three to five are the difficult grades. Despite this, we still had to crawl at levels one and two! Definitely a great memory that I will always keep. We decided not to pursue levels three to five, because we were not sure how difficult it is but if you are really yearning for adventure you can definitely take the challenge of Calinawan on. The 1.5 AED fee is extremely affordable for the beauty and the experience the cave offered us. Also, the 8 AED fee for the tour guide is very reasonable considering their expertise and stories about the cave; we were both safe and entertained at the same time. As we reached the end of the cave, we rinsed our mud-filled shoes and sandals immediately and headed to our next

destination - Daranak Falls!

Daranak Falls is a 5-10 minute ride from Calinawan Cave. There are various modes of transportation near the premises of the cave if one prefers to get there faster. The waterfalls are breathtaking. It really puts mother nature into perspective and it made us more relaxed and calm after our adrenaline-filled spelunking at the caves. The area is well maintained by the local government. Visitors of the nature reserve can expect to pay 50 PHP (4 AED) and the roofed picnic areas are 300 PHP (24 AED); you can also rent life buoys for only 60 PHP (5 AED) if you would like to take a dip in the pristine waters. It is absolutely tremendous to watch as the water streams down in a rapid, yet gentle way. We were immediately soaked in the falls. The spectacular, azure-tinted water of the falls running down on us was exactly what we needed — it’s so cold and refreshing.

It is a wonderful destination to visit, just steer clear of the peak season of summer (April-May) to avoid crowds so you could fully savour the place. I think it is the perfect place to meditate and to find harmony and tranquillity. Visiting places such as the

Calinawan Cave and Daranak Falls for me is not just an escape from the everyday routine of city life but it also helped me to put everything in perspective - that there are beautiful places in our world waiting to be unravelled and explored. The world is such a spectacular place and we should all explore it with mindfulness and respect so that the future generations can still experience the beauty of nature that we have now.

Mary Rose Torres is an adventurer and blogger currently based in the Philippines.

She documents her wanderings in her blog where she shares her travels to people and inspires them to head out on their own adventures in beautiful, unfamiliar places. Read about her adventures at www.whereisrosie.me or find Where is Rosie on Facebook.

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Quest for a Tarpon on Fly

Words By: Nick Bowles

Growing up as a kid, we would get American magazines like Sport Fishing Mag, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, etc every now and then, these were treated like gold dust and they would be so well read and every picture closely inspected till the magazine would fall to pieces.

In these magazines we would see fish like redfish, bluefin tuna, strippers and of course the legendary tarpon! All I wished as a youngster was that I would one day be able to fish for tarpon on fly.

That day finally came when Michael J LaSota came with Jeff Currier to Dubai in April and we chatted about fishing for

tarpon in Tampa as they are some of the biggest around and Mike said if I ever have the chance to get to Florida he would sort out a trip with a great young guide - Greg Peterson from Headshot Charters (www.headshotcharters.com). After a lot of thought and planning I managed to put together a trip to fish in Cape Cod for Bluefin Tuna, go to iCast and then met up with Mike and Greg to fish for tarpon! Mike true to his word, sorted out a fantastic trip!

After some last minute planning, the trip was booked and I was extremely excited, but as with any trip there is always a few issues, namely weather. After a great iCast Fishing Exhibition in Orlando where I got to meet a lot of fantastic people and got some lines from RIO, rod from Sage - the Salt 1290 and chatted with Jeff at Abel Reels, I was as ready as I could ever be! But the stinger was that the weather was looking terrible! Wind, rain and storms! But Greg said to still come through from Orlando to Tampa and we would do what we could do!

My excitement was obviously through the roof but I could see that it was going to be a battle; firstly it was not peak season so the fishing was going to be tough even with good weather. I got chatting with Mike and Greg and I quickly realised I was in a whole new ball game flyfishing for tarpon and I listened and tried to take in as much as possible from equipment set up, leaders, flies, casting, hooking and landing a tarpon!

With all this, the morning arrived and we stalled before we left the house with rain storms pushing through, but after a few hours Greg said let’s get moving and we would try some close spots. Greg is about 500m from the slip and we launched and headed out. We tried a few spots for smaller tarpon but we got chased off the water a couple of times by massive storms.

I was quite happy at first to see rain after the scorching heat of Dubai, but after a few storms it was not so much fun anymore!

The next three days, Greg tried every trick in the book and we tried every different place imaginable! I came to realise Greg loves tarpon and the new places and things that can only come from a lot of time on the water and more so thinking and reading water. Every time we did see fish, they just would not take the bait, or the water was dirty, or the wind got up, or it started raining! With more people struck by lightning in Tampa than the rest of the United States, Greg took no chances and almost kept us dry and lightning free by running ahead of the storms. I was still having an amazing time seeing new places and experiencing new things but I was running out of days.

Finally after three very difficult days with a few hits but no hook-ups, Greg and Mike said that the last day, day four was the day we were going to give it everything and that we would basically stay out till we had some action. The weather was improving

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The fight is totally different from anything I have experienced, and I enjoyed every second. and it was game on!

We got to the first spot and before I got in the “cage” on the front of Greg’s 17ft Maverick Flats Boat the first big tarpon rolled! Adrenaline kicked in and I missed the shot, but the boys were fired up! We had several fantastic shots and I could now fully see Greg’s skill pulling us to fish and

getting me several shots at tailing fish. After some great shots I still had not hooked up or had a strike from a big tarpon. With frayed nerves and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I handed over the cage to Mike. We tried a couple of spots and then Mike got a great shot at big fish.

Two fishes swam in towards the boat and Mike put in a great cast and bang! Fish on!

Totally amazing and the fish gave a great show, the fish was above 120lbs and Mike gave her the gears and had an epic battle with the tarpon and got the fish to the boat —great fish and bit of skill. Also it was good to see how it was done firsthand!

Next, I was back in the cage and within a couple of minutes Greg shouted out “two fishes, 5 o’clock!” I turned and saw the fishing coming in towards the boat, and put in a cast leading the front fish, Greg gave

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

me the strip pace required to get the fly in front on the fish and I saw the big fish turn up towards the fly, breach and take the fly with its head half out of the water and a fly disappearing down a huge bucket mouth!

I started strip striking but the fish kept on coming towards the boat and for a moment I thought the fish was going to drop the fly, but the fish swam pass the boat and I put in about six strip strikes till I heard in unison from Greg and Mike “I think you’re good!”

The fish took off with a monster jump and finally after all of the waiting and planning, I was hooked onto a big tarpon! The adrenaline pumped and I had to calm down and enjoy the fight. I thought it would be hard but a big tarpon is one tough customer. We got pulled all over the ocean with Greg on the controls keeping me up close and with the ongoing advise keeping me in the game. The fight is totally different from anything I have experienced, and I enjoyed every second. After about 30 minutes, I got the fish close enough to Greg to have a shot at lipping the fish but only to pull away again. A few more heart stopping moments and finally Greg managed to get the leader and land the tarpon! A pure bar of silver and estimated in the 100lbs range. It was everything I had hoped and more!

We got a load of pictures keeping the fish in the water all of the time and revived the fish to release! Alot of high fives followed by a great lunch at a restaurant on a pier out in the ocean. Mission accomplished and I look forward to the return trip next year! A fantastic experience and I would like to say a huge thank you to Mike for making the arrangements and to Capt Greg, who is a fantastic guide and host - and without his knowledge and skill, I would not have even got close to catching such a great fish in such tough conditions!

FISHING GEAR USED Rod: Sage Salt 1290 Reel: Abel Super 12 Line: RIO Tarpon Quickshooter 12F/I Leader: Hatch 60lbs Fluorocarbon Leader Backing: Hatch 65lbs backing For more information or fishing products, please see our website www.oceanactive.com or visit us in our shop in the Dubai Garden Center.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Following Footsteps in Africa Words By: Geraint Isitt Photos By: Geraint Isitt and Kirsty McMahon

He held up his hand and we all stopped. We saw nothing, heard even less, but our guide knew better. With barely a whisper he told us to stay where we were, and he carefully stepped forward, avoiding the ready-made path created by elephants and other animals.

“Stay in a single line”. Our other ranger said from behind us - “When it’s safe to go; one at a time and walk where Kevin is pointing.”

Only 30 minutes earlier we had climbed out of our open-sided 4X4 jeep; after we had eased to a halt on a bend above a valley, our journey was planned so perfectly we got there in time to watch the sunrise over the mountains in the distance, and the valley below us light up with life. Buried somewhere in the South African Bushveld, we watched as our guides loaded their rifles and gave us our safety briefing. The phrase, “Listen to us”, repeated many times over. The affable Bongoni, always smiling and telling jokes

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learned from previous guests added the final message, “Please run in a straight line if you feel like running from an animal. It is easier for me to shoot you this way because I don’t want to shoot the animal.”

Kevin pointed to a nearby thicket and I shuffled there as quietly as I could. My next 20-metre journey saw me stop behind some rocks. Finally I was beside Kevin, a large clump of trees between us and … only Kevin knew what. When the other two safari-goers joined us, Kevin shared what was going on.

“There’s a black rhino about 30 metres in front of us.”

We saw nothing. And then, the rock directly ahead of me and hidden by the trees … well, it moved. It moved as only a rhino can. The black rhino is critically endangered, with less than 5000 remaining in the wild.

Of the two main rhino species in Africa, the black rhino is also the most aggressive.

We were about to move closer when Kevin stopped us. “This one has a baby with her, and a young one at that. Mom will be really protective today. Not sure if we should try to move closer.”

He surveyed the area around us, and only one other location would offer enough cover for us if mom decided her baby was in danger. We decided to stay where we were.

The trees and rocks made getting a good photograph impossible. The rhinos lumbered off, mom leading the way. I had never seen a black rhino before, and so close too — I’ve never been so happy to not get a good photograph.

After joining Bongoni again we crested a hill, learning little things about the bush you can’t learn from inside a jeep. We learned what trees can make elephants sick, exactly how hard a giraffe can kick, and the whole story of how Kevin, after his second year of medical school took a year off to travel to Africa and never returned to the ‘States. He took a field guide course and now spends every day in the bush.

Not surprisingly, a pair of giraffes saw us coming before we saw them. We stood watching them eat, our threat level to them at zero. When they move, there is more grace than possible; their long legs should be awkward beneath them.

As we made our way towards the river, we stopped to examine a series of leopard prints

only a few hours old. Since it was still early morning, the leopard may still be active. Our best bet though, was to search the trees.

When the tracks ran cold, we focused on the trees until we reached the river. No leopard to be seen this day; but the thought of one nearby made every step I took that much more exciting.

We sat near the river having a few snacks for breakfast. A pod of hippos snorted their annoyance with us but none of them bothered to move in our direction and stayed submerged in their quiet little pool. Breakfast over; we headed back towards the jeep, admiring a crocodile on the far bank of the river first. Back at the jeep, the weapons were unloaded and we returned to camp in time for a heartier breakfast.

A walking safari offers an unparalleled look at the African bush, and really gets the adrenaline flowing. While it is possible to see a lot of animals from the road, even the main highways that weave through the parks, walking amongst the trees and bushes, beside the river bank, and scrambling over rocks, adds a truly other-worldly experience to any safari.

Without the gentle rumble of a 4X4 motor, every sound is magnified: The rustling of the leaves when the wind picks up, a twig snapping and the mighty sploosh that echoes in your brain when a hippo takes to the water.

It is all there. Unfiltered and in high-definition that makes your television seem pointless.

Due to the risks, albeit minimal, the senses are naturally heightened, you are naturally more likely to hear something when there is nothing to hear. And when you are crouching, peering through bushes and over rocks to glimpse a two-month old black rhino and you break the branch you are holding for support and fall over in a loud heap, your heart stops for a second or two as both rangers and the other tourists look at you, and then the rhinos, and they all quietly laugh as the rhinos don’t care. You, however, will still look and feel like an idiot.

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Honey Badger Episode 16: A Year in Africa Destination: Eastern and Southern Africa

Diaries

Words + Photos By: James and Mira Raley

This was, without a doubt, the best year of our lives. We have had unbelievable highs, devastating lows, seen amazing panoramic views, weird animals, wonderful (and less wonderful) people, and had the satisfaction of devoting time and money to charitable projects.

Feeling adventurous when we left Dubai, we were surprised to see how many people took time off for similar overlanding trips. We even met couples who had been on the road for up to 13 years. Most were older than us, many had visited numerous continents and had chosen a huge variety of vehicles to take them there. Perhaps the strangest was a Brazilian skateboarder who had skated his homemade board from Brazil to Pretoria over seven years. He had at least another seven to go.

However, despite the mix of personalities, nationalities and vehicles, we all had one Cool dhow in Zanzibar

Honey Badger in Skeleton Coast, Namibia

thing in common: The unrelenting itch to explore. We never tired of hearing about other people’s adventures, and here are some of the most common questions that we were asked along the road:

What inspired us to do it?

Long before we were married, Mira and I used to discuss our love for travel and adventure. We often romanticised about a big trip, and agreed that Africa was the continent that intrigued us the most. Backpacking is possible in Africa, but a car or motorbike is essential if you want to open doors to the remote areas which are what it is all about for us. I had assumed that our discussions were a pipe-dream which would never materialise due to my indoctrinated need for financial success and career progression. However, a few months before we were married, Mira sent out a wedding gift list which consisted of adventurous activities in Africa. This sealed our fate and we were destined for a year-long African honeymoon.

How long did it take to prepare for the trip?

Dreaming turned into planning about 18 months before we left. Car preparations used up most of the time and money. Much of it

was guess work combined with Mira’s learning through internet research. Thankfully many travellers have blogs with useful information about what to take, where to go, and where not to go. We had wanted to circumnavigate the continent but sadly the realities of political and criminal risk restrained us, and even our second idea of driving from Dubai through Saudi Arabia and Jordan became impossible.

Eighteen months was plenty of planning time, although we left charity fundraising too late to capture all of the hearts (and bank accounts) that we had hoped for. If you are planning a similar trip, our blog has more Mt Mwenze in Killimanjaro

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information on our planning process and the equipment and companies that might help you.

What was the best part?

This is a difficult question to answer with so many very different highlights, but below are a few of the places and events that we will never forget: • Watching the tough and colourful people dancing at the Lake Turkana Tribal Festival, Kenya.

• Sitting with the friendly Gelada Baboons in the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia.

• Witnessing the great migration in the Masai Mara, Kenya.

• Sunset at our wild camp near Lake Albert in the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.

• Climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

• Diving in Mozambique with whale sharks, manta rays, hump back whales and all sorts of other underwater creatures.

• Testing (and finding) the Honey Badger’s limits just about everywhere that we could, but particularly in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

• And, of course, meeting all of our wonderful and diverse new friends along the road.

What was the scariest moment?

Despite what we heard from worried family and the media, the vast majority of our trip was safe. At times we were a long way from help and civilisation, but Africans seem to be able to make a workable plan in the most desperate of situations. This was particularly useful each time a part of the car stopped working or, in many cases, just fell off. Some of our experiences included figuring out how to fix the car in lion-infested territory, driving for 50km on a steel rim with no tyre, blagging a lift on the back of an artic lorry and many other nerve-wracking situations where there was always a solution in the end.

Our first day on the road was a bit of a shocker. Only a couple of hours out of Mombasa, Kenya we were stopped by the police and James was promptly thrown into jail to await a court case. His crime was allegedly speeding. We had been driving at 90km/h where the limit was 80km/h for commercial Mira and James at Summit of Kili

vehicles. They refused to believe that our car was private unless we were prepared to “massage their imagination” with a 10,000 KES (about $100) “donation”. Unwilling to throw money away so early in the trip, James was thrown into a cell with several other unfortunate travellers. Luckily Mira was working hard behind the scenes and found an official document to present to the police proving that the car was privately owned. As a result we were back on the road after a couple of hours, bribe and fine-free.

Later that day we set up camp in Tsavo National Park, ecstatic to be alone in the African wild. Settling down to a bottle of spirits by the fire after dark, we popped to the loo only to find a lioness heading for our campsite as we walked back. Terrified to be on foot so close to a lioness, we dazzled her with a very powerful torch and scuttled back to the loo where we barricaded the excuse for a door before collapsing in relative safety.

We were lucky when it came to crime, and were only ever robbed by the police. The worst occasion was James’ experience in Maputo where he was held up at gunpoint by police and relieved of 400 USD, narrowly avoiding prison.

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Mira and James with Lions

Which was our favourite volunteer project?

We completed three of the four originally planned projects, and unfortunately had to abandon our work with the Marine Megafauna Foundation due to an emergency at home.

All of the projects were different, but equally enjoyable and satisfying experiences.

Teaching English with African Impact in Zanzibar was a carefully structured programme which had a clear positive impact on the community in Jambiani, Tanzania and we got on extremely well with the young group of volunteers.

The lion rehabilitation and chimpanzee orphanage projects were much more handson, and allowed us to learn a lot about the animals’ behaviour and interact with them.

All were hugely satisfying, but our time with the lions at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe was out of this world. Both volunteers and the fulltime team were passionate about what they were doing, and huge fun to spend time with.

The activities were diverse and we were able to share time between helping orphans in the local town and developing a strong bond with the lions. We will definitely visit again.

What was the most useful or most used equipment in the car?

In James’ opinion: • Warn winch fitted by ARB – We would still be stuck somewhere in Africa if we did not have this.

• Vehicle tracking by SecureLocate – Tracked

by GSM and satellite, this allowed our families to track us everywhere from a mobile app. We were also able to remotely immobilise the car if it was stolen.

• The Beast (donated by Ramy 4X4) – An amazingly small, USB-powered battery which can start a car with a completely flat battery in seconds. We ran the car with a dead battery for months using this to start it every day.

Great migration Masai Mara

• Nite Core torch from Rahal – we would have been lion food in Kenya without this!

• Hi-lift jack, ratchet spanners and toolkit – we hardly knew what these were for at the beginning of the trip, but we figured it out fairly quickly.

In Mira’s opinion: • ARB fridge – If you don’t want to eat Ugali every day for a year, a fridge is essential. The professional ARB team are extremely proud of their products and they even sent a new fridge all the way from Australia to Zambia when ours broke – amazing!

• Roof net for waterproofs and warm clothing – These items are usually not required, but urgent when they are. The roof net gave us easy access to them whilst also keeping them out of the way when we did not need them.

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Honey Badger at Kubu Island

over a year they managed to decimate our coffers. It was still worth it though.

Did you pick the right car?

Honey Badger and BMW parked

• iPod with audiobooks – However interesting your partner might be, audiobooks are a reliable way to fill the gaps in a year of conversation.

• Comfortable bed – Our ARB tent was robust and comfortable. It was always a happy home to crawl into at the end of a hard day.

• Petrol stove – temperamental at times, but always worked in the end, and it was easy to refill.

and Mira was ready to go to the nearest airport and fly home a few times too.

It took a month or two to get adjusted to the new routine, but we learnt new ways of working and communicating with each other and identified the benefits of each other’s strengths. As a result, we are now happier and more comfortable together than ever before.

What was the least useful piece of equipment in the car?

Painfully so, and more than double what we had conservatively estimated at the start, despite working hard to keep costs low. Africa is not a cheap continent and we met several travellers who said that their experiences in Europe and the USA had cost them less.

Whilst you can survive on $1 a day, if survival is all you want to do, but we wanted to see and explore as much as possible which meant visiting expensive national parks, climbing mountains and, critically, keeping the car on the road.

• Loo seat – Great for James who is incapable of the sub-continental squat, but unnecessary for Mira.

• Rope and climbing gear – potentially essential in an emergency, but we never actually used it.

• Boogie board – a hassle to carry and it snapped before we got the chance to go surfing.

As a couple did you fight a lot?

Initially, yes. Despite seven years of being together, we had never spent so much time so close to one another. The epic disagreements are laughable in hindsight, but the word divorce came up on at least one occasion, Mira and James in Simien Mountains, Ethiopia

How expensive was it?

Here are a few examples of our costs: • 20,000 USD on mechanical and structural repairs to the Honey Badger • 3,000 USD for the two of us to climb Kilimanjaro • 1,200 USD to see the gorillas in Uganda, which is still cheaper than Rwanda • Up to 250 USD to fill up the car every 800km • 100 USD to camp for one night in the Savuti Marsh, Botswana • 400 USD to visit and camp in the Ngoro Ngoro crater for 24 hours Some of these costs may not seem like a huge amount for a week-long holiday, but

Yes. We researched carefully before buying the car. The two main options are a Land Cruiser, of which the 70 series is the simplest, or the Land Rover Defender. Being British, James was keen on the idea of a Defender, but researched showed that the Land Cruiser is more reliable and easier to repair.

Nevertheless, we had more problems than we could have possibly imagined. The main issues (and costs) were around the front differential (which drives the front wheels when driving 4X4) and the leaf springs (rear suspension). The front diff was taken apart in almost every country, and we got through four sets of leaf springs until the final ARB set was fitted in South Africa. Much of the work done by Icon Auto in Dubai caused problems and we eventually discovered their insane wiring around the spare battery and brake lights which spent a lot of time smoking in the rain. One of their wheel brackets also snapped off after just a week on the road.

Some of the scariest car-fails were when the front diff first broke in the Omo Valley, 1,000km away from the nearest Toyota dealer.

The leaf spring shackles also snapped off in Murchison Falls National Park and we had to repair it surrounded by lions and other wildlife. We also had six punctures in 24 hours in Mozambique, and had to drive for 50km on the steel rim with no tyre at one point.

We do not really know why we had so many problems. Perhaps because we were trying to explore off-road as much as possible, and we wanted to take the car to its limits. Possibly because we drove too fast, or maybe we were just unlucky. Whatever the reason, we did not meet any other overlanding couples who had had more problems than us.

Why will you go back to Dubai rather than stay in Africa or travel somewhere new?

We had dreamed of finding work and staying in Africa, or perhaps starting anew somewhere else. However, Mira’s family home is in Dubai and our growing need to top up our savings is most easily solved here. We expect to stay for the foreseeable future, as long as we can find work!

What would you do differently if you took a similar trip again?

We would probably buy a Land Cruiser 78.

This is similar to the 76 (the Honey Badger),

Baby cub with walking stick

Zebras in Tsavo, Kenya

but has a bigger shell which means that they are often used as off-road ambulances. For us it would allow a small indoor living space which is handy when it is raining or cold outside.

We would want to learn more about mechanics before setting off. We did practice an awful lot during the trip, but we wasted time and money fixing things the wrong way and trying to figure out solutions to our mechanical problems.

We would stick to our guts during the planning phase too. Africa has its risks, but it is not as dangerous as many people suggest and we probably could have picked a longer route in hindsight.

Ntwetwe Salt Pan. It was two months after this that we figured out why, and a doctor in South Africa told us that we are going to have a baby boy in December this year.

So, of course, we are facing reality back in Dubai, looking for work and a new home.

However, a much bigger adventure is now growing inside Mira and is going to keep us busy for some time to come.

Whilst this will be our last episode of The Honey Badger Diaries for a while, we do

hope to get back on the road at some stage.

Latin America, Asia and Australia are all calling, but for now our finances and impending baby will tie us to the UAE. The Honey Badger lives on and, once we have won our battle with the RTA to re-register her, she will be back on the road. Do give us a honk and a wave if you see us driving around, or come and visit us at Outdoor UAE’s Off-road and Adventure Show this October if you would like to say hello!

Honey Badger in Uganda

How much money did you raise and where did it go?

We have raised $17,254 so far. We are delighted to have raised so much, but we are still keen to raise more.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely! It remains to be seen whether we can get our careers back on track and achieve the same financial stability that we enjoyed before. Nevertheless, in the grand scheme of things, who cares? This trip has created memories that will last for the rest of our lives.

It has also changed our perspective on material belongings and grown our desire to help others.

What are you going to do next?

It would seem that this decision was unexpectedly made for us in a beautiful campsite miles from anywhere in Botswana’s

Mira and James with Lions

A key part of Mira and James’ trip was fundraising and volunteer work.Whilst they have now returned from Africa, they are still hoping to continue supporting these amazing causes from Dubai. If you are interested in helping them to achieve their target and make a difference to African communities and wildlife, please spread the word or donate using the following links: To donate: www.gofundme.com/ thehoneybadgerdiaries If you would like to follow their journey through Africa and see more photos, recordings and videos: Website: www.thehoneybadgerdiaries.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ pages/Honey-Badger-Diaries Instagram: @thehoneybadgerdiaries

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Surfari in Oman Twenty-six surfers, Omani waves and loads of fun

It’s that time of year again where we preWords By: Mari de Villiers pare to pack up and gear up for five days of Photos By: Alejo Bebedor and Michael Vosloo surfing bliss, cool temperatures and sharing a crew of very stoked individuals joinOur Eid holidays are often spent itingwith us for our popular Aloha Arabia Surfaris. in Oman. In fact, for the last few This Eid was nothing different. We spent the week preparing for the trip – finalising years most of our Eid breaks have food shopping, packbeen spent travelling and surfing in accommodation, ing surfboards and equipment, schedulthis beautiful neighbouring country. ing, phone calls, sending emails, transport logistics and all the necessary plans to get 24 very excited people from the United Arab Emirates and other neighbouring GCC countries to join us in a small town on the southeastz coast of Oman. With most of our group travelling to Oman for the first time, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding their first Surfari and the journey of preparation begins. We knew this trip would be epic.

Travelling from Dubai to Muscat and further south to our final destination called Asyllah, we were greeted by the annual Khareef (monsoon) winds which cool down Oman’s southern region every summer - one of the main reasons why we love escaping the UAE and its soaring summer temperatures. But it’s not only the cool temperatures that we crave for during the summer, but also the Indian Ocean swells that hit the southeast coast. “Proper waves!” as some of our guests often scream as they first lay

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eyes on the rugged coastline that we surf.

For those of us in the UAE who are content with the usual one to two-foot swells that hit our shores, Oman’s coastline gets battered by waves generally in the two to five-foot range, often with some sets coming through that would make the Middle East surfing community proud.

The drive is long but worth it, and is broken up into two journeys and two bus rides, made easier by good music, good laughs, some light snacks and solid power napping!

Once everyone has checked into the hotel with a quick breakfast down the hatch, it’s off to surf and enjoy some of the Indian Ocean swells that Joe’s Point is so famous for. By the time the sun sets, it’s a social dinner on most nights which ends relatively early for those wanting to hit the morning “Dawn Patrol” session with Carl at 5:30 a.m. which sees those keen surfers grab an early morning coffee and surf as the sun rises over the Omani coastline.

Thrown into the mix of these trips is plenty of time to surf, hang out, meet new people, sleep, read, eat, switch off and enjoy some down time. One of the main attractions we really enjoy hosting is our traditional South African BBQ, otherwise known to our group as a “braai”. Carl gets going on the fire with traditional South African foods such as

boerewors, chops, sweet potato and onions in the coals, tins of sweet corn cooking in the fire, toasties, more meat and of course marshmallows on a stick. This is normally on our second night of Surfari so by now all our guests are in full swing of meeting each other and friendships are formed - it’s awesome to watch and be a part of.

We like to mix it up too – surfing different spots along the coastline adds some variety to the trip, and we like to show our group a bit of Oman. So, the trailer was packed up and fully stocked for the day – shade, chairs, food, drinks and surfboards – towed by the Surf Bus which is jam-packed with people grinning from ear to ear. GoPros and mobile phones are in hand, capturing the raw beauty of small villages, children playing in the streets, a windswept ocean crammed with sets of never-ending waves, as we travel 45 minutes north or south of Asyllah, in search of the perfect wave listening to chilled out

tunes to get us on the way.

One of the highlights from the trip was discovering a perfect right hander in a beautiful bay about an hour from Asyllah.

Fortunately this newly discovered spot was protected by the howling winds that were hitting Joe’s Point making it tough for some of our beginners to surf due to onshore large waves and strong currents. Our new little slice of heaven, known only to some of the local Oman surfers, was the perfect place for us to set up our base for two days whilst being accommodated by a friendly old fisherman who was all too willing to share his shaded hut with us. Our group had two solid days of surfing this spot, it was magical. Clear waters, off shore wind conditions and no current made it ideal for us to spend time in the water. We surfed, lazed around over the midday heat with a few diehards surfing the lunchtime session, then got back on our game after lunch and surfed

a perfect wave for the afternoon. Trips back in the Surf Bus after sessions like these were filled with a blissful sense of tired tranquillity, some quiet chitchat from the back row and more chilled tunes to get us back to the hotel.

Carl and I live for this. Some people approach summer in the Emirates with discontent and gloom – for us both we know it’s the start of the Oman Surfari season. It’s a new season upon us of meeting awesome people, escaping the heat, exploring an amazingly beautiful country, surfing every day and just enjoying those moments that take your breath away. And once we’re all back in the Emirates - safe and surfed out - we have time to catch our breath and realise that we are truly blessed. And as the pictures start coming through in the days that follow, we take a moment to reflect on all the awesome people we meet and get to hang out with on these trips — and realise that each one of them is part of this spirit of Aloha that we’re striving to share and spread across the Middle East.

Mahalo!

For more information on dates, rates and what it’s all about please visit www.alohaarabia.com.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Bienvenue en Provence Hiking, swimming, kayaking... there are countless opportunities to get outdoors, recharge your batteries, explore nature and have a great time

Words + Photos By: Nico de Corato

Provence offers a range of landscapes for many activities: hiking paths, rivers, canyons and a brilliant sun all-year long. Go kayaking, surprise a carp jumping in the translucent waters or brave a few rapids. Descending the Sorgue to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, or the Rhône under the Pont d’Avignon bridge in a kayak, is above all a shared moment of pleasure and a way to stay cool in Provence.

Voile en Marseille

We had the chance to try a kayak trip down the Sorgue River. The Sorgue divides into two river courses at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (originally known as “Insula”), at a point on the river called the Partage des Eaux.

Further downstream it divides into dozens of separate waterways such as the Sorgue de l’Isle, Sorgue de Velleron, Sorgue de Monclar and Sorgue de la Faible.

The best moment of this trip? Stopping for a bath in the cold water (13 degrees Celsius) and having a lunch break with local cheese and wine. Along the waterways you can see several watermills still working and I stopped to take amazing pictures and to enjoy the local nature and landscapes. There

Reading the Little Prince in Provençal

are also guided canoe trips between Fontaine de Vaucluse and Isle sur la Sorgue. A family trip lasts about 8km and takes about two hours. The canoes depart every 30 minutes from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

We tried kayaking in Cassis, a commune situated east of Marseille which is also a popular tourist destination famous for its cliffs and the sheltered inlets called calanques. It is also the home of the Calanques National Park - a strong and innovative place made for its inhabitants. It was developed as a sustainable territory. In Cassis, nature is soverign.

The magical and enchanting calanques are limestone cliffs that plunge into the Mediterranean and connect Marseille to Cassis with almost 20km of marked trails. The calanques are classified for their scenery. It is also a fragile area that contains quantities of protected plant and animal species.

We started our trip from the Calanque de Port-Miou - one of the three big Cassis calanques. It is very long and narrow, and thus was very suitable for establishing a marina.

In fact it is a natural harbour hosting more than 600 boats.

By kayak, we reached the Calanque de Port-Pin, an attractive small creek on the way to En Vau creek. It was filled with pines, white rock and clear water — an ideal place to cool down before continuing on the sloping trails of the Massif des Calanques, or to stop and take advantage of the sun and the peace all day long, or going on kayaking to reach the other creeks.

We decided to stop to eat and have a bath in the crystalline water.

The creek of Port Pin gets its name from the Aleppo pines; this dream location features a sandy beach backed by the same pine trees. A curiosity about this site is the blowhole, a sort of cave in which waves rush out with air in force. This air escapes through a pipe and on very windy days you can hear it blowing from afar.

Walking around the peninsula of Port Miou, you can also find the Path of The Little Prince, a route dedicated to the memory of the famous writer, who died for France Antoine de Saint Exupéry. He was a French author and aviator best remembered for his novella The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince).

The novella is the third most-translated book in the world with more than 250 languages and dialects (as well as Braille). I’m fond of that book and I collect versions of it in different languages and just one day ago in Marseille, I bought a copy of the book in the Provençal translation.

The path is accessible to all ages for a walk of about an hour, near the longest calanque (1.5km in Port Miou).

Other calanques are accessible after several hours of strenuous hike through rugged and rocky trails. To get there, it is

imperative to be equipped with walking shoes, suitable clothing, to bring a map and water reserve. Access to the massif is restricted during summer due to fire hazards.

Another passion of mine is The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo), an adventure novel by French author Alexandre Dumas, completed in 1844. It was also adapted into many movie and TV shows. One of the settings of Alexandre Dumas’ story is the Château d’If, a fortress located on the island of If, the smallest island in the Frioul archipelago situated in the Mediterranean Sea. In the novel, the main character Edmond Dantès and his mentor, Abbé Faria, were both imprisoned in it. After fourteen years, Dantès and the Abbé made a daring escape from the castle; the latter didn’t survive, while Dantes became the first person ever to do so. In reality, no one is known to have Isle de Frioul

done this from this prison.

Just imagine my surprise when I discovered the Frioul archipelago was only a mile offshore in the Bay of Marseille. That was my next destination.

The château’s use as a prison ceased at the end of the 19th century. It was demilitarised and opened to the public in the 1890s.

The isolated location and dangerous offshore currents of the Château d’If made it an ideal inescapable prison, it gained reputation as one of the most feared and notorious jails in France.

It can now be reached by boat from Marseille’s old port. Apart from the fortress, the island is uninhabited, but it offers a highly historic experience and opportunities to take amazing pictures of Marseille from the sea.

After If, I visited Pomègues and Ratonneau – two other islands in the Frioul archipelago. Floral species flourish in the site’s arid microclimate. In total, 200 plant species can be observed and some are protected.

Many seabirds also flock to these islands including the yellow-legged gull or “gabian” in the Occitan language.

The Frioul archipelago is home to many rocky inlets, beaches and sandy creeks: Maison des Pilotes (sand), Havre de Morgiret (pebble and rock), Calanque de Saint Estève (sand), Plage du Débarcadère (pebble): all ideal places for a bath in fantastic water, a lunch break or a rest. The archipelago is part of the Calanques National Park. Closing off my journey in the Frioul archipelago finished my trip to the Provence region of France.

Prêt à voyager,

Nico Blogger, marathon runner and triathlete, divemaster and heli rescue swimmer with Bergamo Scuba Angels. You can check my website www.dubaiblognetwork. com, contact me on social networks or via email at admin@dubaiblognetwork.com for information about this article or just to say hello.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

What I Talk About Words By: Keith Pereña Photos By: Keith Pereña and Mary Rose Torres

Let me begin by saying that I’m a neophyte to travelling. Moving to Dubai, going to Iran and Oman, I have more places to go to. Let me also say that I am still anxious whenever I board a plane to my next destination.

It settles in, an old friend of mine that leaves me frightened of heading into places I’ve never been before. I do sometimes admire those experienced explorers (some of them are in this magazine) who go off the beaten path and seemingly have no fear about them. I look up to them as they inspire me to continue travelling. Travel – until I could somehow, by chance be a part of that illustrious group of adventurers that take on bigger challenges and face the full brunt of the undiscovered and unknown.

According to medical experts, travel anxiety can be classified under the condition Agoraphobia which is a disorder characterised by the sufferer facing fear in certain environments that are beyond his/her control. It also extends to the fact that those

Camping in Al Falakh

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The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward. – Amelia Earhart who have this condition tend not to leave the premises of their homes or safe havens – something that is important to note when it comes to being scared of travelling.

We all have that time in our lives – where being in an airplane, let alone an airport scares us because we’re on our way to an unknown place, a place where nobody speaks our language, where the people and norms are different, everything is

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different. It’s like stepping inside a flat you just moved into - where the location of anything and everything is not where it’s supposed to be. This is why the majority of people fear heading out and travelling.

Because they are afraid of not finding what they are normally used to — that is not the right approach.

But first, a story.

I have lived my entire life in my home country, the Philippines, for the past 19 years. I knew nothing of the world except that beyond the vastness of the ocean in Manila Bay were the places that were taught to us in the world map. Beyond the bay were those little, drawn out places with different people. And as our culture allows, they were made of stereotypes. It was when I hit my twenties that things changed – I was moving to the United Arab Emirates. For 19 years, I woke up to the same sun, slept under the same moon and yet there it was.

Moving to the UAE was the most nervewracking experience of my life marked by several panic attacks, tears, bottles of spirits thinking that it would stop the inevitable (the visa is there, the ticket is there, all I

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

needed to do was get on the plane). But it happened, right after I got out of university.

I was in Dubai, a city that I didn’t know, with people who didn’t talk like me, a place where I was wrapped in the same fear that took me over before I left, only double.

The point here is that, we have all been there, we have faced the fear of travelling to another place and we constantly live in that feeling until we go out more and learn that the fears are only paper tigers, as Amelia Earhart once said. We encounter travel anxiety for some time and even the most seasoned of travellers would face this predicament every once in a while.

But how do we overcome this fear? How do we let this creeping anxiety take the backseat so we could enjoy the ride and have fun in the unknown places that we’re going? Because travelling, is all about facing the unknown, learning about its story, the treasures it contains and the impact that it will have on us. Did the conquistadors and explorers know what was on the other side of the world when they embarked? No. Travel has sort of liberated me in a way, from stereotypes and fear

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But they found out a lot about the world and it proved to them that they are not alone. That somewhere, across the sea, civilizations exist and they exist like them. The explorer and explored both come out as being more learned than they were before.

Here are some beginner tips on how to overcome travel anxiety: Do a “Little” Bit of Research – This may sound like a no-brainer but it takes a certain degree of skill to know how to research a little. Do some reading on the country, the basics, like where is the airport or where is the hotel. Don’t think too much that you need to know all the streets and turns of your destination. The spontaneity of finding a beautiful hidden location is golden among travellers.

Talking the Talk (or not) – Learning the language of the country is cute but can be stressful. It adds up to your fear of the unknown because it makes you aware of the things that you don’t know. Instead, try using non-verbal forms of communication – pantomime, point towards maps, even do charades. Not only is this more understandable, it also gives you great memories of the trip. It’s a fun and creative way of communicating because sometimes, silence can be the best way to communicate.

Realise that Fear is a Part of the Experience, Not an Impediment – One of the best pieces of advice you could get.

Why are we afraid of fear? It is because we do not welcome it into our system. But once we stand up and accept that fear is a normal part of human life, it loses its power against us and it becomes part of us. Realise that being anxious of travelling is an occurrence that all of us face. Nobody is judging you for being scared, because at some point in life, other people too faced the same situation that you are in.

You Will Meet People on the Journey that Will Feel the Same – On my journeys, I have met people in the airport, in the hotel and they all share the same story of being scared and feeling lost. Two lost people make one found, like in the film Lost in Translation where the leads are alienated by society but they find respite in their shared anxiety. You too will meet people who are on the same path.

Jebel Hafeet, with my trusty film camera

Two Words: It’s Okay – When you travel, remember to bring this adage with you.

When you miss the train, or the cab queue is piled up, it’s okay; when you’re nervous and feel like going back, it’s okay; when the food you had isn’t good, it’s okay. Because the truth is, rarely do people nail it on their first try, maybe there’s another local dish you can enjoy, maybe this nervousness will bring out your cautious and careful side – keeping you away from danger.

Experiencing a new place is a trial and error process as you find out what you do and don’t like about a place and usually the dos outweigh the don’ts.

The fear is only a temporary thing, because after days or weeks of being in a different destination, it grows on you.

The destination is patient with those who explore it as they acclimatise themselves to the ambience of the country. No rush at all, so as you embark on your journey, be it your first or tenth, remember that the fears are only paper tigers and that at the end of the day you will come out wiser about the truths that the world present — in the wise words of Baz Luhrmann: “Travel, accept certain inalienable truths.”

Philippine highlands

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Fly Fishing for Taimen:

The barren and weather-beaten country, Mongolia, is home to some of the world’s most exciting trout rivers. In the following, Rasmus Ovesen takes you to the Khövsgöl region in search of the elusive taimen.

Words By: Rasmus Ovesen Photos By: Rasmus Ovesen, Anders Ovesen and Marcelo Dufflocq

I WAS 25 YEARS into my disreputable fly fishing career before I managed to haul my butt over to one of Mongolia’s fabled rivers and live out my most persistent childhood dream. However, it wouldn’t take me very long to find my way back there again!

About half a year after my first visit in Mongolia (OutdoorUAE #27, March 2013) – a visit that made an ineradicable impression on me, I found myself on the shore of yet another enticingly beautiful river in the middle of the overwhelmingly vast Mongolian wilderness; the river – which is managed by the expert guiding agency Fish Mongolia – meanders through the Khövsgöl region close to the Russian border, and in its chilly waters lurks the very same fish that has nourished my dreams all these years; the unpredictable and ferocious taimen.

The journey to the river is an arduous affair with transfers in Moscow and Ulaanbaatar followed by an eight hour drive from

the regional airport in Mörön. Via winding, dusty and rudimentary arteries, we’re led deeper into the wilderness and closer to the river. And along the way, we experience a Mongolia unaltered by time – a fragile and long-forgotten place where local nomads live as their ancestors did and where the fight for their daily bread is an actual fight; a stubborn defiance of the elements.

THE SUN IS SLOWLY SETTING as we reach the river. We find it via a deep canyon, where a fast-flowing tributary has found its chaotic riverbed. And as the river’s dreamy surface unfolds, I’m immediately reduced to a recognizable state of mind consisting of equal amounts of anticipation, intense gratitude for being alive, and an overwhelming feeling of being dumbfounded by the unmistakable

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grandeur of the Mongolian wilderness. This is a really isolated place –a sanctuary in a tempestuous world. It’s a place where you gradually fade away and become absorbed in order to return a bigger, more complete, and accomplished person.

Darkness descends with an abrupt heaviness as the sunset quietly seeps into the canyon’s steep cliffs, like a massive haemorrhaging. It greedily licks across the landscape; the twisted rock faces, the discrete green vegetation in the valley, the rocky shorelines, and the river’s crystalline water. It blurs all the colours that previously were so vivid and vivacious leaving a ghostly wake of gloom and shade. It doesn’t take long before the skies above give in and bleed out too – and under a pitch-black night sky subtly lit by the cold flickering of incalculable stars, we settle

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

into our tents and fall asleep.

As we wake up the next morning, the real adventure is about to begin!

IT IS SUMMER. Drowsy morning light pours down into the canyon from above. Flowers in full bloom rise among the shoreline’s abraded rocks. The river’s chilly water gushes downstream as if from an inexhaustible fountain, and dizzying cliffs outline themselves sharply against the bottomless pit of the sky’s cobalt blue. I’m about to hook the fish of my life, and the trip has barely started yet!

Less than an hour after, my brother and I climbed aboard our guide Mark Portman’s manoeuvrable NRS driftboat, I suddenly have a thunderous take. We have rounded a couple of the river’s razor-sharp bends, and we now find ourselves on a relatively slow-flowing stretch of the river – a stretch with moderate depths only a few kilometres downstream from the makeshift camp where we’ve spent the night.

It is as if I get snatched away from a dream

I’m about to hook the fish of my life...

as the bulky RPO Craft Streamer disappears in a big swirl downstream. The line suddenly becomes taut, and the first deep convulsions permeating into the rod handle send immediate shivers down my spine. This is undoubtedly a big fish!

The carbon fibres in my strained fly rod sing as the guide tries to strategically place the boat for the ensuing fight. The fish, which was holding at the end of a long, deep run, clings to the bottom. For now, it limits itself to wrenching and wringing at the unexplainable pull from above. It isn’t until I lean back in an attempt to lift the fish from the bottom that it becomes severely agitated and ill-tempered. It starts to thrash about in the gin-clear water, and all of a sudden it breaches the surface and thrusts itself partially free of the water. Now, all doubts have been removed. This is truly a massive fish, and the three of us in the boat now find ourselves challenged to control our fraying nerves.

THE FISH SPIRALS INTO THE DEEP AGAIN and now lurks in the shadow of the boat.

Meanwhile, Mark rows the boat closer to the shore. Along the way I do my very best to maintain solid pressure on the fish, and to my surprise it comes along cooperatively.

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It isn’t until the fish suddenly finds itself in alarmingly shallow water that it becomes alert and starts to fight back. But at this point it’s already too late. The boat is anchored and Mark and I have jumped into the water – me with a dangerously arched fly rod in a firm grip, and Mark with a spacious landing net perched over his shoulders.

It’s now or never! The massive fish is within reach and with a bit of luck it could all be over soon. Please, nothing must go wrong now!

The fish prepares to head for deeper water. It flaps its massive orange-red tail, but before it manages to really take off, I keel it over with a side pressure so relentless, that it makes the leader quiver and sing. In that same instant, Mark shoots the net under the fish, and it’s all over. One of the river’s old giants is now embraced by the cobweb-like mesh of the landing net – and as it lies there in the shallows, I kneel down beside it in total amazement and admiration.

The fish is nothing short of massive. It measures a staggering 125cm and must weigh more than 20 kilos – because I truly struggled to even lift it out of the water for a couple of quick pictures. As I submerge the elegant and robust lead-grey and olivegreenfish into the water, it immediately breaks free and disappears in the transparent veil of the water– just like a liquid being diluted and absorbed in another liquid.

Afterward, scenes of unrestrained joy and exultation play out on the riverbank.

IT ISN’T UNTIL we get back into the boat and continue where we left off that I completely understand what has just happened.

I have landed a dream-trout of more than 20 kilos on a single-handed fly rod, and downstream await countless more pools, deep bends, lies, and falls – all of them carved into a terrain so enthrallingly beautiful that it almost hurts. We have six days of fishing ahead of us – in one of Mongolia’s best taimen rivers, and for once I can just relax and calmly enjoy the roller-coaster ride downstream.

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

SEVEN DAYS LATER, I look back on a trip with close to 40 landed taimen, many of them caught on mouse imitations fished intermittently across the river’s flimsy surface.

We have sight-fished for full-grown taimen in shallow water, we have experienced spectacular and explosive takes on the surface, we have seen and been in contact with an additional couple of giants, and we have fumbled and failed – without really being bothered or irritated by it. Now and then, we have also found the time to crack out the light fly gear. Because even though the taimen are the river’s real attraction, it also offers exhilarating fly fishing for lenok and grayling. These fish might very well find themselves at the bottom of the food chain, but their reason for being isn’t simply contingent on the fact that they provide the taimen with a solid source of food. They rise willingly and headlong to well-presented dry flies, and with fighting hearts and solid average sizes they constitute an inexhaustible source of excitement and fun for the dry fly fisherman.

The experiences that we take with us from the river are indelible. The whole trip has been masterfully orchestrated – the complex logistics and the inhospitable terrain notwithstanding. The guides, the camp staff, and the rest of the fly fishermen in the group have made the Mongolian wilderness come to life, and through the whole ordeal, new friendships have been forged. We have shared food and drinks, the valleys have echoed with songs and laughter – and one magic moment has superseded the other. Just as one alluring pool has superseded the other during our more than 125-kilometre drift-boat ride downstream.

When I close my eyes, I can still see the whole panorama: The mountains that glide silently by in the periphery of my field of vision, the fathomless weight of the skies above me, and the river that keeps unfolding in front of me – true to its unique nature but in constant change. I also see how the fly line cuts through the air, stretches the leader and drops the fly in the water with a discreet splash. And with my whole body, I sense the imminent tug on the line as the fly is ripped from the surface and pulled into the deep by the river king – the indomitable taimen.

THE KHÖVSGÖL REGION is one of those few places in Mongolia where great taimen fishing can still be had – not least due to its remote location in the middle of the Mongolian wilderness, and the conservation efforts of Fish Mongolia. Getting there requires a transfer in the capital - Ulaanbaatar, followed by a flight to Mörön and an arduous drive on winding and bumpy roads.

The river drifted by Fish Mongolia is surrounded by beautiful snow-clad mountainsand undulating plains where Mongolian nomads have herded cattle and sheep through the ages. While the river might seem like a hostile place – being frozen 128 to 175 days a year –it is actually incredibly rich in aquatic life. The majestic taimen has lived here for thousands of years, and so have dense populations of grayling and lenok trout. The latter will rise to anything from small mayflies to big hopper patterns, and nothing beats the thrill of seeing taimen smash and bash a big mouse imitation on the surface.

The river remains cool and oxygenated throughout the summer and, since it has relatively steady flows and the riverbed consists mainly of big rocks and boulders, it is usually quite clear. The river is also relatively shallow (with the exception of the odd 3 or 4-metredeep pool) and is perfect for fly fishing. The season starts in early June and lasts until early October, when the Mongolian winter suddenly sets in with all its icy fury and rage.

THE EQUIPMENT used for drift-boat fishing on the river is without a doubt on the heavy side. First of all you’ll be fishing with 18 to 25cm streamers and big, bushy mouse patterns that can be rather heavy to cast.

Secondly you’re likely to hook into brutal double-digit fish that will require some forceful and determined handling.

A 9-foot 10-weight fly rod mounted with a robust fly reel, onto which 100 metres of backing, a floating WF fly line, and a 0.40mm fluorocarbon leader have been spooled, is a good starting point. However, it is most definitely a good idea to bring along a couple of extra rod and reel setups – preferably paired with pre-spooled intermediate and sinking lines. Because even though the taimen are generally opportunistic and aggressive enough to rise to a dry fly, there are days

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when they favour deeply fished streamers.

When this holds true, it is helpful to be able to quickly change gear and strategy.

The flies for taimen can hardly be too big.

The fish certainly have no lack of appetite, and they usually react promptly when they see a potential prey item. Nonetheless, certain types of flies tend to work better than others. This is especially true of fairly realistic imitations of lenok and grayling –flies such as the RPO Craft Streamers and relatively big and bulky mouse imitations. These should be tied on tubes or long-shaft single hooks, and it’s best to use pulsating materials that don’t hold too much water. Otherwise, they’ll quickly become painfully hard to cast.

FISH MONGOLIA Drift-boat fishing for taimen is a spectacular experience, and the Mongolian guiding agency and taimen conservation vanguard, Fish Mongolia, specializes in this type of fishing. They offer fishing licenses and travel packages to the Khövsgöl region with a week’s worth of drift-boat fishing, where a new stretch of the river is explored each day for seven days. For more info, please check out: www.fishmongolia.com or send an email to mjohnstad@igc.org Note: Fishing is strictly regulated in Mongolia to conserve its magnificent rivers and fish. All international anglers must have a special taimen permit that can only be acquired through a reputable outfitter like Fish Mongolia.

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TRAVEL THROUGH MY EYES This month, we asked the outdoor community to tell us about their favourite outdoor destinations and here are some of our best picks! Congratulations to Faisal Baddar and Shajitha Shifa for their colourful stories!

Words By: Faisal Baddar

Years ago, our concept of traveling was all about fancy cities, five-star hotels, and room service. One day, we decided to go on a trip to Nepal.

It was exactly the opposite of our previous experiences. Nepal, with her simple guesthouses, wholesome food, and genuine culture, turned out to be the richest place we had ever visited. We stopped looking for brief moments of satisfaction, and instead learnt to appreciate the goodness that exists

in the simple things in life.

When we visited Nepal, we found a holistic experience. Namaste, a greeting of peace extended to all locals and visitors in the country by our Nepalese friends. They are proud of their great culture, and share their religion, music and homes with us. Our treks bring us face to face countless times with smiles that come from the heart, and that convey a positive outlook that we truly need in our lives.

We left for Kathmandu on March 27 and found ourselves at Lukla Airport the next day, beginning an expedition that would change our lives. We were both comfortable trekking, and enjoyed the green forest, clear streams, and prayer flag-covered bridges. We found ourselves sprinting up ridges and down hills, enjoying every step towards Namche.

Trekking out of Namche Bazaar, we would sing along to our music, played on the speakers of our phones, emulating our Nepalese

friends. The landscape became dominated by snow, brush, and the daunting presence of the greatest mountains on Earth, but nothing could compare to the feeling of spending days moving towards Lobuche East, a 6119m peak we later summited, situated within Sagarmatha National Park, and near Everest. We smiled more often, sang with more vibrancy, and walked with a spring in our step. We could truly appreciate the simple joy of a walk in the park and up a mountain, which is a powerful lesson that many of us learned first in Nepal. This understanding is the reason we keep on returning, and makes Nepal the best place on Earth to visit.

We returned to Dubai one week before the earthquake that caused so much devastation, but it has not changed how we feel about Nepal. She represents the most joyful experiences of our lives, so we say dhanyabad to our Nepalese friends for teaching us how to smile from our hearts, and we look forward to returning.

Words By: Shajitha Shifa

Alps, Pine trees, lush green meadows, lakes, waterfalls the very thought of all these sends volumes of adrenaline down my nervous system and has always been my cherished dreamland.

Whatever your favourite outdoor activities are: skydiving, hiking, watersports or just a snow fight with your family at top of Europe, Switzerland offers it all. Personally my

favourite is the world highest sledge ride and the Glacier 3000 cable car that takes us there.

The journey to the Alps is a mesmerizing experience which can be reached by skiing, climbing the mountain, by bike or cog wheel train. I preferred a cog wheel train journey up the mountain and I captured every second in my camera. The Jungfraujoch is an Alpine attraction and viewing point, at an altitude of 3454m. It is located in between the well-known mountains of Mönch and Jungfrau, in the heart of the UNESCO Natural World Heritage property. At the top of Europe there were so many fun activities including a Lindt chocolate factory tour.

On the top of the Glacier 3000 , the Alpine Coaster, a 1000m long descent with

very safe sledges, at about 40km/h. Twelve turns, one at 560° is a must experience for anyone going to Swizz. The great difference with a normal rollercoaster is that you control the speed, and if you never use the brakes, it is the most phenomenal and crazy feeling!

At the end of the day we checked in to a hotel. Throughout the night I could hear sound of a bell which I felt like a lullaby that put me to sleep after a whole adventurous day. I realised later that it was from the bell that were tied onto a cow’s neck.

In total, my visit to Switzerland was truly amazing; a dream come true and a fairy tale experience after spending most of my life in hustle and bustle city life of Dubai.

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LIFESTYLE

Health

Powerhouse

Japan and Matcha Words + Photos By: Ivana Chiles

If you are regularly reading this section of OutdoorUAE you probably remember, that I devoted last month to a magic beverage called coffee. But what if coffee does not agree with you and you are more of a tea drinker?

This month we will explore the hidden secrets of green tea and matcha, the way I see them. I will share some tips about how to enhance its properties, so you can maximize its benefits. All that from the eye of the traveller (myself) who got to spend two days in one of my favourite countries - Japan.

Feeding deers

We will also look at some other extremely beneficial products Mother Nature offers to Japanese people and luckily to the rest of the world. We will explore secrets behind longevity and why is seaweed or umeboshi plum part of almost every Japanese meal.

If you are still undecided about where to head this summer, I strongly recommend you consider Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun offers anything from excellent hiking trails, mountain biking, exploring volcanoes, to the most fascinating cultures in the world.

I have been to Osaka before, and in order to run away from the hustle and bustle of this metropolis, I decided to head to Nara on my first day. The story of holy deers who freely roam around this picturesque town was not to be missed. Courtesy goes a long way in Japan and you have to see to believe, that any deer will bow to say thank you and please in order to receive a deer cracker (available for sale anywhere in Nara).

I was so taken by this scene, that I ended up spending a few hours playing and feeding them and only then decided to visit a few temples (absolutely stunning Kasuga-taisha Shrine and Todai-ji on the hill tops) and Isuien Zen gardens. But no matter where I went in Nara, I was followed by deers, little bambis or monstrous massive deers. Japanese Zen gardens are truly magical places.

Just a few metres away from crowded tourist locations, you are surrounded by serene,

Deers roaming around temples in Nara

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Bamboo forrest in Arashiyama

Deer eating deer cracker

green land with lakes and little streams. Everything is immaculately trimmed, grounds swept, that you wouldn’t dare stepping anywhere outside the trail. I had an impression, that even the fish in the pond looked happy.

All this finished with traditional Japanese lunch of sticky rice, seaweed, umeboshi plums, potato soup, raw quail egg and of course some matcha tea with red bean biscuit. The cutest thing to me was, that while I was comfortably sitting on the floor with legs crossed looking into the stunning gardens, two elderly Japanese ladies came to present the food to me. One was

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Freshly made matcha with red bean biscuit

carrying the food tray while the other one held a photo book explaining instruction how to prepare my food. Embarrassed having them kneeling down one on each side, all I was able to do was smile and say “thank you” several times. Not to mention the typical attention to detail, when my shoes were turned 180 degrees at the entry hall, so I could comfortably slip into them when leaving.

I guess not too many people like to hike in heat, so I was pretty much the only person on the top of Mount Wakakusayama with sweeping views across Nara.

I got to spend my second day in Kyoto with my husband. Heavy rain for most of the days certainly did not make us change plans. Coming from hot and humid Dubai, we very much enjoyed holding umbrellas and getting wet. Being more of an active person, my husband was not too keen on attending one of many tea ceremonies. When we mistakenly ended up on the wrong train and in Gion – an old part of Japan, he was left with no other choice.

Leaving the train station we were lucky enough to spot two real geishas walking towards us and 20 minutes later we were taking our shoes off and entering a 100-year-old formal geisha’s house to take part in a tea ceremony. The fascinating and religious preparation of the healthiest beverage in the world took 50 minutes. Harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity exercised during the process clearly justify matcha’s healing power.

We left the place feeling somehow more content and calm. We enjoyed numbers of temples hidden in the deep forest, admired all wonderful gardens and finished our day in Arashiyama bamboo forest. With lots of matcha in everything for the rest of the day, no wonder I felt wired for the next 24 hours!

Matcha

Green is my favourite colour. Understandably, I fell in love with everything from matcha tea, chocolates, cake, ice cream, soy matcha doughnuts and even green socks with a deer design I had purchased as a souvenir in Nara.

If you are not drinking matcha green tea yet, you are behind the times. But what is matcha actually? All tea comes from the same plant called Camellia sinensis. The plant can produce white, green, oolong, black or pu-erh tea depending on the region and processing method. Matcha is a high

Traditional Japanese dinner, kobe beef and vegetables

quality green tea that is covered before harvesting to accentuate the colour and increase chlorophyll content. It is then handpicked, steamed, dried and stone-ground into fine powder.

Matcha powder can be enjoyed simply by mixing it with almost boiling water. In Japan it is commonly used in sweets, cakes, ice creams and even chocolates. Check out the brand Royce! (They now sell them in Galleries Lafayette in Dubai Mall!)

Matcha is an antioxidant powerhouse. It delivers mega doses of catechins (unique in green tea) in every sip. Other beneficial ingredients are B vitamins (especially folate), manganese, magnesium and potassium.

Matcha green tea is considered the healthiest beverage on the planet. It can improve brain function and make you smarter, it increases fat burning, may lower the risks of various cancers, Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases. Green tea can kill bacteria, which improves dental health and lowers the risk of infection. It is a longevity drink!

As you are ingesting the whole powdered leaf, a single serving of matcha is equivalent of 10 cups of green tea. While the caffeine content is lower, matcha is an ideal substitute for coffee. It delivers the pick-me-up effect without the jittery feeling or headache. Zen Buddhist monks drank matcha to remain alert and calm during long hours of meditation.

Deer socks, Royce chocolate and matcha powder

Matcha powder, bamboo brush and porcelain bowl I had purchased as a souvenir

Tips

It might take some time for you to get used to matcha’s flavour. I recommend starting off with brewed green tea first. To boost its health benefits, add a squirt of lemon juice to your cup. Research has demonstrated that vitamin C significantly increases the absorption of catechins (more than five times). Try green tea with roasted rice, called genmaicha - definitely one of my favourites.

My husband Darryl preparing his own matcha tea

Have you tasted matcha frappucino or latte, a big trend these days? You might want to know, that proteins in milk may bind to and neutralise the powerful antioxidants, so the health benefits are substantially reduced.

Not mentioning sugary syrups and artificial flavours coffee shops like to use.

I recommend buying organic matcha, because it is produced without any artificial fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides.

Besides green tea, there are two more things I am fascinated about: umeboshi plums and seaweed. You will find both of them in abundance in any supermarket, and there is a reason!

Umeboshi plums (considered medicinal plums) are created through lactic fermentation process using Japanese plums, shiso leaves and sea salt. They have highly alkalisKimono street, kimono materials are sealed in glass and lit up at night ing properties able to restore digestive imbalances, fatigue, inflammation and even green tea (often added right into it). They excellent source of vitamins A and C, iron, emotional imbalances. They are excellent can also be used as salt substitute when calcium, potassium, iodine and magnesium. treatment for upset stomach, vomiting, cooking. Eating one plum on its own as the Besides being considered a longevity food, alcohol poisoning, diarrhoea and even runny first thing in the morning stimulates digesseaweed is excellent for balancing blood nose. tion for a day. sugar due to its soluble fibre content. Some The salty and sour properties make them Umeboshi plums are said to have been of the most popular edible seaweeds are: an excellent accompaniment to rice dishes. used by samurais to keep up their stamina, nori, kombu, wakame, hijiki, arame and Traditionally, Japanese put one of these stave off fatigue, and help heal between dulse. They should have a place in your plums in the centre of rice dishes to combattles. kitchen, as they are highly alkalising foods. bat bacterial growth and also, to create a If you are keen to try, you can buy them in A piece of kombu added to the pot while Japanese flag! One of my Japanese friends selected Japanese stores in Dubai. boiling any beans or grains will result in confessed, that despite him disliking plums, minerals from seaweed absorbed by them. his mum would put ume plum in his rice in Grains and beans will become softer and Seaweed the lunch box every day. He swears the food taste better.

Is a superfood of acquired taste, it is part never went off, even in heat.

I had only 48 hours in Osaka to fit everyof almost every Japanese meal. It is an Umeboshi plums are often enjoyed with thing in, but surely even that ignited a fire inside me and I know I will return one day soon. Even though it feels somehow too far away, Emirates flies to Osaka daily.

Have a wonderful rest of summer everyone!

Enjoying rainy day in Kyoto

Tea ceremony in Gion

Delicious lunch in Isuyen Zen Gardens

You can find some more tips and links on my website www.ivanahph.com or follow me on my Health Powerhouse Facebook page for some more gardening tips, delicious recipes and natural cosmetics.

Isuyen Zen Gardens

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Ivana Chiles has been living in the UAE for almost 15 years. Her passions are nutrition, healthy cooking and gardening. Ivana is a certified health coach, member of American Association of Drugless Practitioners and also a keen outdoor enthusiast.

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Habitually healthy No-Yo Primal Parfait Words + Recipe By: Chef Patrick Ikinofo

Hi guys, I’m Patrick the new chef here at The Cycle Bistro. I was born in New Zealand and over the past decade or so I’ve been working in mainly five-star establishments at home, Australia, London and Dubai. I’ve taken on this new role as a challenge for myself to think outside of the box and to transfer my knowledge and skill into healthy, new ways of cooking.

for the extra few dirhams you would pay at the supermarket. As the new menu is about to get underway here at The Cycle Hub, I’ve been playing around with some quick and easy recipes for our cabinet counter. I thought this one would be good for you to try at home and with the weather here in Dubai still up in the 40’s, this cold breakfast item would suit best. I’m calling this one the No-Yo Primal Parfait made of Chia seeds and a few other bits and pieces. And if you can’t make it, you can always pass by and get one from us.

Anyone in the hospitality game knows it’s a tough slog - long hours, hard work and lots of lonely days and nights as you try to navigate some sense of normal life outside the kitchen. It is not uncommon to find that the chef who cooks your beautiful food, survives on a diet of highly processed foods, cigarettes and alcohol, hardly sustainable.

So for me, turning the page on fine dining, processed and things I’ve known and been doing for years was a simple choice and something that needed to happen one day.

Paleo to me is totally a new world. I’ve heard about this diet before when guests would come and dine in other outlets that I’ve run, but I’ve never gone as far as creating an entire Paleo-tailored menu before until now! Back home and in Australia, the healthy food movement is quite advanced and established. I remember working at the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort just on the outskirts of Sydney and we grew all our own organic vegetables and herbs down the back in a garden that was made by the chefs for the guests.

The all-natural freshness and pure flavours as well as the different shapes and sizes you get from organic produce is definitely worth the effort to grow yourself

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, homemade or store bought • 1/2 cup chia seeds • 1 vanilla pod scraped • 1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or raw honey • Seasonal fruit • Nuts - almonds, cashews etc.

Method:

1. Combine almond milk, chia seeds, vanilla and sweetener in a bowl.

2. Mix well until combined and the mixture begins to thicken.

3. Store covered in the refrigerator overnight or for at least an hour.

4. Stir well before serving and add a bit of water to the pudding if it becomes too thick.

5. Top with fresh fruit and nuts of your choice.

The Cycle Bistro GPS location: Latitude: N 25° 02.792 Longitude: E 055° 14.384 Phone: 04 425 6555

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LIFESTYLE

Outdoor Psych Words By: Sean James

This is a series looking at a more spiritual and holistic connection with the outdoors.

This month we look at what is almost a magnetic pull of the mountains. Many features in the nature world have this ability such as rivers, cliffs, the sea but this month we are looking at mountains. Probably one of the most famous outdoor quotes is

by Sir Edmund Hillary when asked why he climbed mountains. He replied because “they are there”; maybe a throwaway because he could not explain it fully. And surely there is something deeper in our subconscious that pulls us back again and inspires us. If you have ever stood on a summit, however high, it is an undeniably fulfilling experience. A 360-degree view and if you are lucky enough to be alone then you feel almost enlightened, unburdened and extremely fortunate.

It may be controversial to claim that mountaineering or extreme sports have a spiritual or even religious significance, but what is undeniable is that mountains are universally recognized as having religious connections and representing many aspects in life such as aspirations, struggles and challenges.

In fact most religions have religious or sacred mountains that are either considered holy or are related to famous events in history. Take for example the home of the gods in Greek mythology, Mount Olympus; Mount Sinai in Judaism. Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of the Hindu deity Shiva and is probably one of the most visited mountains in the world. Mount Etna was believed to have been the home of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. And of course Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka that plays a part in many religions - Islam, Christianity, Hindu and Buddhism.

Maybe one of the reasons mountains are so powerful in our minds is their shape.

The fact that a mountain is in the shape of a peak and pointing towards the sky with a single point as a summit, leads many to believe that this point is close to heaven or other celestial bodies.

Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka

Uluru in Australia

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Lenin ordered statues placed at the top of high mountains in the former USSR

Mountains also symbolize a challenge that can mirror life. The physical climbing of a peak can be seen to be similar to the development of a spiritual evolution such as following a way or a set of beliefs. Both require discipline, vigour and focus. The most important thing in both is to reach the top and to do that, one must make a

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The mythical Mount Fuji

Christ the Redeemer in Rio

commitment and choose a path.

However it may not be possible to climb to the summit of a mountain due to a number of reasons. Failures like this are seen as lessons and many religions see these lessons as teaching acceptance. Likewise the number of different routes to the top of a mountain is vast and similar to the multitude of choices that we are faced with in life. Not everyone takes the same path. If this is starting to sound like a sermon, it is no wonder that mountains have been used by religions for such a long time and have such a spiritual place in our lives. So many parallels can be drawn between the purpose of our life and the apparently “worthless” pursuit of standing on a high point.

Many climbers who have written about their experiences on mountains and particularly high mountains above 8000m, talk of seeing spectral figures beside them in their lowest hours. They hear voices and guidance from somewhere ethereal - a similar experience to that which is sought by continuous chanting or swaying and many religious rituals.

Mountains and especially the highest mountains are located on borders of countries and have been used as propaganda by leaders and governments to maintain public motivation and control populations.

For example expeditions to make the first ascents of the 14 8000m peaks were supported by governments in an attempt to claim the summit even though the mountain was on a completely different continent.

A Fine Objective

Many mountaineers say that the journey is more important than the end goal, meaning that the gaining of experience and how to obtain it is more important than trying to express it or explain it or even that brief moment on the summit. An element of this has been lost in modern mountaineering as many now do not spend the time on the “journey” and simply want a peak on their list of achievements. Who can tell which is the right path? Either way, mountains force reflection on nature and life and also

provide the sort of experience that awakes the mind and makes you think. For some, this feeling is so strong that mountains or one particular mountain becomes a part of them and an obsession.

Climbing mountains does indeed provide a lot of time to contemplate. Generally the bigger and harder the mountain, the more time to wait at Base Camp or sit out storms staring at the ceiling of the tent. The attraction of expeditions for some is that it can be a very convenient excuse for doing nothing but sitting and thinking. For some this leads to positive outcomes, for others it is a deep, dark place. What is unquestionable is that this time of meditation is similar in characteristic to the search for spiritual insight.

It is often thought that achieving a summit of a mountain is all that the climber desires and they leave satisfied and contented. However many climbers have written quite the opposite. It in fact leaves an empty space. Doug Scott wrote after his successful ascent of Everest with Dougal Haston in 1975, “I came down with ambition fulfilled, and an empty space for noble thoughts and feelings; but I knew that Aconcagua, Argentina

space would soon be swamped back in the city - it had happened before.”

Steve House, probably one of the greatest Alpinists and climbers has similar thoughts in his book “Beyond the Mountain”. Only a few weeks after he had stood on the summit of Nanga Parbat he entered a period of great depression locking himself away in a motel room. “It had been the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. However, it was the lowest point of an existential crisis brought on by the realization of this greatest ambition.” In his lectures he tries to teach others the lessons learnt. “The simpler you make things, the richer the experience becomes. Within alpinism’s narrow framework we seek transcendence and relentlessly pursue what remains hidden from us on flat ground: our true selves.” All this just from climbing a mountain.

Equanimity

To finish, we look at how a number of Eastern traditions and Christianity use mountains in the practice of equanimity.

Equanimity is a state of inner balance that enables you to remain calm and centred in the midst of all the turmoil in your life. You are encouraged to “be like the mountain”.

Mountains are used as an example to not matter what is going on around, the mountain is still the mountain. The mountain absorbs the sun in the same way that it takes the rain, the wind and the snow. It doesn’t care what the weather is. So this month try and be like the mountain.

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PRODUCTS A ROUND-UP OF QUALITY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN THE UAE

Bear Grylls Ultimate Fixed Blade Knife by Gerber Gear 295 AED

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Powermonkey Explorer 2 425 AED

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Alpinestars Tech 10 Vented Boots (White)

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Wear and Rock!

395 AED

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2,500 AED

The benchmark boot in motocross; the new Tech 10 further advances the innovations that make it the most technical motocross boot ever conceived. From the anatomical shape, with front and rear sliding blades, to the all-new closure system featuring a light and durable buckle closure system, every component of the new Tech 10 boot has been continuously developed and tested in racing for uncompromised performance and durability.

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PRODUCTS Point 65 Tequila! GTX

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Lee Bartlett

Adventure fisherman, tech entrepreneur and author Lee is an English international fly fisherman and one of only a handful of anglers to represent his country at both river and loch style disciplines. He is passionate about his sport and has fished extensively across Europe, the US and Asia.

When not working he is known for packing a bivvy and spending weeks camping and fishing his way through entire river systems.

Amongst his travels Lee has spent eighteen months fishing the entire perimeter of Australia. Six of these months were working as a guide for Barramundi on the croc infested rivers and billabongs of the Northern Territory. He has also targeted bull trout in the rivers of Idaho, wild brown trout of the Owyhee River in Oregon, caught pelagics off the remote islands of Fiji as well as bonefish on the flats of Grand Bahama. Lee has also written for leading fly fishing publication Total Fly Fisher and is an expert on the United Kingdom’s rivers and lochs.

When not going native Lee lives in London and is a co-founder of a multinational technology business.

VISION VS1

Lee wears the HAWK Z-400T, CHRONO CR8-300TN and the VISION VS1.

CHRONO CR8-300TN

Night View

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Night View

Available at Instagram: @almekshah Facebook: www.facebook.com/almekshah Mobile:+971 55 9898954

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QATAR EXPLORER

My Top 10 Favourite Activities in Qatar Add this to your Travel-To-Do-List Words By: Eulogy van Dyk Photos By: Supplied

Living in a desert can be one big adventure! When I moved to Doha, capital of Qatar, two years ago people told me “You have gone to a dry desert” and I said, “The desert is a blank canvas let’s go and paint it!”

I simply love the outdoors and will always try to seek new experiences, and this is exactly what I did when I arrived in Doha.

Although this small peninsula is known for its hot desert climate and sandstorms, people tend to forget about the beautiful days you can experience here with blue skies and mild temperatures (mostly during the winter season) You will soon realize that there are a bunch of outdoor lovers here that embraces this small country just as it is! And remember, “There is no such thing as bad weather…” you just need to be a bit creative sometimes and change your clothing, gear, go out at a different time of day or adapt to the activity!

I have limited the list to my personal top 10 favourites, but do take note, there are plenty more to do here in Qatar!

1. Inland Sea Desert Adventures

The desert naturally offers a perfect playground for adventure seekers. The most popular and favourite spot for local Qataris and expatriates is Khor Al Adaid (80 km south from Doha) also known as the Inland Sea located in the south of the country. GPS Coordinates (24°37’21.1”N 51°19’32.6”E).

There are a number of desert-centric activities that you can engage in such as desert safari’s, dune bashing, sand boarding and quad biking. Local tour operators offer a number of tours or rent your own 4X4 and 56

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explore the desert with a group of friends. It is possible to visit the desert all year round, but the cooler months from October through March are preferred.

2. Bir Zekreet (Ras Abrouq) for Camping, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing

The area is known for its limestone escarpment, where the chalky rocks have eroded into mushroom-like formations; located at the very tip of a peninsula northeast of Dukhan, a 1.5 hour drive from Doha (GPS: 25°29’08.7”N 50°50’51.1”E).

Although Qatar has no official campsites or camping facilities, free camping is popular among expats and locals alike, which makes Zekreet a favourite amongst many! Camping is possible either along the beach or less noticeably in a cove or near the escarpment.

Due to the change in scenery here and the type of limestone cliffs you find here it is also a popular mountain biking post and rock climbers have discovered great “walls” to climb during the day or night!

Camping season is generally from October to April, but it is also possible to take a drive out in the hot summer months and spend one night there if you would like a break from the city life.

3. Singing Sand Dunes

It sounds a bit “off-tune” but it is true, 40km southwest of Doha, you will find this natural wonder also in Qatar. Reported often as a type of miracle by desert explorers, there are certain conditions in which the movement of sand grains can create a low murmur or “singing”. While the “singing” occurs naturally, it can be triggered by sliding down the face of the dune or running along its crest, where upon each footstep creates a humming that cannot only be heard but also felt as a vibration through the feet.

Pack a picnic basket and blanket and head

out for a brunch or lunch with the family and friends while the kids (or adults) climb up and down the dunes and enjoy the “singing” (GPS 25°02’21.3”N 51°24’25.4”E).

4. SUP (Stand-Up Paddling)

During winter or summer a great place to spend your time outdoors is in or “on top” of the water! Qatar’s mostly tranquil waters makes this also an ideal location to start this sport or try out a different kind of SUP activity like SUP Yoga, Surf Fitness or just a relaxing sunset paddle. Whether you are

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serious about competing in the sport, want to get fit or just want to have fun; SUP can tick off all those boxes.

5. Kayaking in the Mangrove Forest

One of the most popular kayaking adventures is at the Mangrove Forest found in Al Thakhira Nature Reserve close to Al Khor. It is truly unexpected to find this green patch of partially submerged ocean-forest in the middle of the desert. This experience will immediately let you feel relaxed (apart from the paddling of course!) and give you a sense of nature.

Local tour operators will be able to guide you with more information on how to participate in these. You are able to spend time in the water almost all year-round depending on the type of activity, however the cooler months between October and March are ideal.

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8. The Museum of Islamic Art

With many visitors commenting on the resemblance the museum bears, to an Arabic woman wearing an abaya, this monumental museum has become an icon for art, culture and heritage of culture in Doha. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei (architect of the Louvre’s pyramid), it displays minimal windows with a “virtual” moat and shaped like a postmodern fortress. It houses precious works from more than 200 years of Islamic civilization (www.mia.org.qa).

For museum junkies, here are a few more option to visit: Grand Mosque, Al Khor Museum, Weaponry Museum, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, Al Wakrah Museum, Qatar National Museum, Islamic Culture Center.

9. Katara Cultural Village

With a very short history, Katara Cultural Village is leading the way in highlighting the importance of culture through theatre, literature, music, visual art, conventions and exhibitions. It offers art galleries, an amphitheatre, opera house, drama and concerts performances as well as restaurants and beach sports activities. A perfect day out for the whole family to enjoy this unique village that embraces common causes to promote a united humanity (www.katara.net).

10. Walk in a Park

6. Souq Waqif

By far the number one tourist attraction in Doha, history shows that this market dates back at least a hundred years. It has recently been restored to its former glory. Quiet during the day it becomes alive and vibrant during night time with people from all over the world taking in the many attractions it has to offer. From tacky souvenir shops, bulk food stores, spices, tobacco and a wide variety of world cuisine on offer, no visitor leaves disappointed. Grab a map at the information centre, located in the main thoroughfare and make sure not to miss the local art galleries as well as the gold and falcon souq.

The well-maintained parks that are located all over the city often surprise visitors to this desert country. Excellent for picnic spots, walking with the kids or afternoon run, the parks offer green oasis for some peace and tranquillity. My favourite park is Aspire Park, with a long walking, running and biking track; this is the most active park in Doha. Expect busy afternoons with lots of visitors. (Opening Hours: 8:00 to 22:00) So whether you are here for a few days or only a few hours, and try out one of these of all of them, I can guarantee you’ll have fun and experience something new. And who knows, maybe even find your own favorite top ten in Doha! Hope to see you soon in Qatar.

7. Doha Corniche (and don’t forget the Skyline)

The Corniche is a waterfront promenade extending for several kilometres along the Doha Bay. Hugging the water, this horseshoeshaped promenade is a buzz with activity especially during the milder months from October to April. It offers visitors to the city the perfect opportunity for taking a stroll enjoying beautiful views of the city skyline by day or by night.

Don’t miss out on a cruise in a traditional boat known as Dhow which you will find located all along the Corniche.

TRAVEL TIPS: Weather: Qatar has a typical desert climate - hot humid summers and cooler winters.

The best time to visit Qatar is between October and April, when the temperature dips. The coolest months are December, January and February. The hottest months (touching 50°C) coupled with very high humidity are July and August, restricting outdoor activities.

Local Time: 3 hours + Greenwich Mean Time Language: Arabic is the official and main language, but English is widely spoken in every part of the country.

How To Get There:

By Air: Average direct flight price from the UAE +/- 1000 – 1200 QR (round trip) Average traveling time +/- 1 hour (one way)

By Car: Driving from the UAE is not really recommended, as you need to cross the Saudi Arabia border that has its own challenges with visa, insurance and residency issues.

Visas: Tourist visas are available on entry for citizens of 33 countries. The cost of visa for a month is QR100 per person, and an additional QR50 per companion registered on your visa. Alternatively you can arrange one via Qatar Airways’ website.

(Visit: www.qatarembassy.net for more details).

How To Get Around: Bus, taxi and limousine services (Karwa) are available through the national transport company Mowasalat. Taxis are mainly used and reliable. Uber Taxi Services are also available, very handy if you have the app installed on your phone.

For a longer stay, car rental services are also available.

Money: Qatar’s official currency is the Qatari Riyal. Currencies from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are easy to buy and sell at banks and moneychangers.

Clothing: Dress modestly as a sign of respect to local customs and culture. Both women and men should refrain from wearing clothes that go above their knees and women should preferably cover their shoulders and upper arms. Visiting women are not obligated to cover their hair.

Swimsuits and beachwear are acceptable at the hotel beaches.

Tour Operators in Qatar Company

Website

Email

Arabian Adventures

www.arabianadventureqatar.net

info@arabianadventureqatar.net

Gulf Adventures

www.gulf-adventures.com

info@gulf-adventures.com

Regency Travel and Tours

www.regencyholidays.com

inbound@regencyholidays.com

Qatar International Adventures

www.qia-qatar.com

info@qia-qatar.com

Qatar Inbound Tours

www.inboundtoursqatar.com

info@inboundtoursqatar.com

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OUR EXPERTS

The Best Kept Secret of South Africa Words By: John Basson

Cape Town, South Africa is rated as one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world, and is well known for its rich historical architecture, natural beauty, wine routes and of course Table Mountain. If however you are not one for the “city life” then a one-hour drive on the R27 (or the West Coast Road), will take you to a much more tranquil area with as much beauty, culture and history, but without the hustle and bustle of city life.

The small town of Langebaan has for many years been hidden from the world as a tourist attraction and only developed over the last two decades. Originally, in the early 1900’s, Langebaan was nothing more than a whaling station and guano farming from the three small islands located inside the lagoon (Marcus, Jutten and Malgas islands). These islands have thousands of sea birds living on them and when man arrived, were covered in several feet of guano. However the international pressure on the whaling and the destruction of the bird colonies forced these two industries to close and this literally stopped the further development of Langebaan.

However, sometime after their closing, our defence force took over the whaling station’s facilities and four Special Forces Regiments, stationed themselves on the island, ensuring 100% privacy from the public. Just outside of town the Air Force also built a base that is now home to our Central Flying School where we train our military pilots. These two units became responsible for the bulk of Langebaan’s economy until about two decades ago when tourism and holiday accommodations took over as the main economic support not just for Langebaan, but for the surrounding areas as well, which literally exploded with housing developments.

This however did not really affect the tranquillity of the area for most of the year. Only during our summer holidays that the town is a beehive of activity. Once all the holiday makers depart, we have things back to normal.

Langebaan is very well known for its windy conditions and currently rate high on the rankings of kitesurfers all over the world. We even

have a dedicated hotel that is geared to cater mainly for kitesurfers.

The surrounding farms also caught up with the increase in foreign tourists and now many of the farms in the area have become popular game lodges offering many additional activities that involve ecotourism. Langebaan’s southeastern side of the town is adjacent to the West Coast National Park. This is truly a great park to visit and includes many species of flora and fauna. The park is in many cases unique regarding what it offers as it has the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and one of the largest lagoons/estuaries in the country on the other. For those enthusiastic bird watchers, the West Coast National Park boasts with over 250 species of birds spotted in the park!

A large portion of the lagoon has also been declared as a National Parks area and the Parks Board is keeping a watchful eye on the lagoon, ensuring no overfishing or illegal activities are taking place. This has kept the fish population from decreasing even with the increasing number of tourists over the last two decades. Watersports on the lagoon include many activities such as wind and kitesurfing, waterskiing, fishing, sailing and more.

It is not uncommon for many Southern Right Whales to enter the lagoon and seeing these massive whales playing and basking in the sun is an amazing experience. Bottlenose dolphins and seals are also very common in the lagoon area and most of the times that we have gone sailing we have dolphins playing in the wake of the yacht’s bow.

Across the bay of the Langebaan is the town of Saldanha - home to many sardine and other commercial fisheries. Halfway between Langbaan and Saldanha is South Africa’s iron ore port. We mine the ore from the Sishen

Mine in the small town of Dingleton, almost 1000km from here and then rail it by train to the Saldanha Port, from where it is sold and shipped mainly to Asia. Then just around the corner of Langebaan is Club Mykonos Resort - a Greek style resort with a yacht club, marina and a casino for those who are looking for alternative entertainment.

The Cape region has winter rainfall and we get strong cold fronts moving through during winter. The average rainfall is not very high, but the strong winds, lasting light rain, low temperatures and fronts that last several days at a time can make the winter an unpleasant time to visit. However there is an old saying in the Cape: “Our best kept secret is our winter”.

Between these cold fronts we get the most incredibly clear, windless days with unpolluted air and visibility reaching 150km! Then by early August the landscape is transformed in a blanket of flowers as the wild flowers bloom.

An awesome cascade of colour transforms the previously green land with only the beauty of our sunsets surpassing the beauty of the land.

The best time to visit Langebaan, for the general fun seekers, is between November and April. We have very pleasant midday temperatures reaching high twenties during summer and sunshine can virtually be guaranteed every day!

If ever you plan on visiting South Africa, do yourselves the favour by visiting this area.

Whether you are an action-seeking outdoors person, bird watcher, hunter, fisherman or just looking for a relaxing tranquil breakaway, Langebaan has it all. Include the current exchange rate against the United States Dollar and you not only visit one of the most beautiful places on earth, you also get a very cheap and affordable holiday!

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OUR EXPERTS

The Value of Fun Greg showing us how its done

Words By: Trace Rogers

Participation in any sport forms part of a healthy lifestyle and as such, the aim is to be doing this for the long-term.

Last month I spoke about the lessons learnt from my oldest nephew. It turns out that his younger brother has a thing or two to teach me as well.

Greg is unique. He has a pet hamster called Live Action because that apparently was the most suitable name for this creature. He sails through life with a smile on his face and brings them out on the faces of those who surround him. He finds pleasure in everything that he does and doesn’t take anything too seriously – including the surprised looks he gets for stepping away from the conventional way of doing things in preference of his own special way.

This persists with his approach to sport. Like his brother, he enjoys (and thrives at) many

Its hip to be cool

different sports. Unlike his brother – his approach is less serious and without thought, he will approach a golf ball with a hockey swing, produce a decent shot and think nothing of it (whilst his golfing partners remain amazed that he could pull something like that off.)

Here’s why I believe that Greg gets it right.

Fun is a big value to him. This means that anything engaged in will be enjoyed to the maximum and as such, pressure to perform and considering technique and data just don’t rent space in his head.

As adult athletes, we get caught up in over thinking our technique. We over analyse the data produced by the many gimmicks that are readily available to us. We fixate on PB’s (personal bests) and forget to take in the beautiful sunrise on the bike ride or to say hello to a fellow runner. We take for granted how strong and liberated we feel when we are being powered by our own engines.

As a result of this, the joy of why we initially chose the sport we love, gets lost and with it the motivation to continue. In the case that we do continue it is almost done in the same mechanical and soulless way as a job is done to be able to continue to survive.

To keep it real, we have to enjoy what we do.

Keep it fun by approaching training with a new perspective or introduce a different (yes – don’t be afraid to get a little “out there” with it) way of training. Enter races that you would generally consider “not worth taking seriously”. You will soon reconnect with the joy of it all and I am in no doubt that through the good times, you will go faster.

Have Fun!

OUR EXPERTS

The Hero in my Tackle box Words + Photos by: Kit Belen

“What is the best lure?” ask five anglers the same question and you get five different answers. We can’t seem to see eye to eye on a lot of things, even those that work for us. Although this is quite an important question, it has nothing to do with the lure at all. The subject of efficiently catching fish has been debated for centuries, as it’s a pursuit that will last forever, that is until there are no fish left to catch in the ocean, or mankind altogether stops fishing.

The question is very much centred on a lot of things, the biggest of which is ego, yet the question in the centuries it has been asked, does not have an unequivocal answer. Many attempts have been made in the past and there are still a lot of debates, this is because one lure could work very well in one geographic location and it could go unnoticed in another. It could be that one lure is very effective for the most popular fish in a country or majority of its fishing culture, take the same lure to another place and it just won’t catch as much fish. Naturally, the lure would be branded as ineffective and another lure or method is used.

I have fished in quite a few places and have used a lot of lures, most of them effective up to a certain degree, while others are more regional specific and work very well in certain regions. There are also those that work especially well in different times of the day, in different depths, for specific fish and specific terrains and localities.

A bucktail jig’s appeal can be increased by adding a soft plasstic body

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A new style bucktail jig from SPRO - a very effective workhorse

If you calculate all the variables, this equates to a lot of lures, in different sizes, colours, shapes, weights, in sinking, floating and suspending versions. The combinations are endless and this is the reason why you can’t have just one lure. If you’re reading this, nodding your head in agreement, you know exactly what I’m talking about – if you are one of the few that only have five lures in your box, either you are just starting out or you have been living under a rock for the past 100 years.

In any type of fishing, from lure casting to fly fishing and anything in between, you cannot have just one lure or fly. It is a fact – it is an addiction and something you’re naturally drawn to even if you don’t need it - Icarus to the Sun.

The Jig is Up

For years, my most used lure is not of new technology, it has been around for a very long time and is still widely used today, although it comes in a lot more shapes colours, hook configuration and a multitude of mutations, this particular lure has been in my tackle box even before I had the confidence to use them, I first bought a small pack because it looked pretty to me, I didn’t know how much of an impact and how they eventually would be, my most used lure type years later.

It is probably the lure that has opened up a lot of fish catching opportunities for me and more importantly, a steady producer of fish, in any fishing condition, from shallow water fishing down to fishing the great blue depths, my number one producer has been and always will be some form of lead headed jig. The jig itself has evolved very little; it is nothing more than a small piece of lead-mounted head the eye of the hook.

Over the years, there have been a few variations but the overall structure remains the same and the simplest of all designs, one which is still very relevant till this day, is the original round ball head jig.

The overall structure of the jig may have

stayed the way it has been for the last few years, but with significant improvements.

There are some jigs that use tungsten for the weight instead of lead. Tungsten is heavier than lead so heads of the same weight are smaller compared to their lead counterparts.

The hooks are now stronger and thinner than their counterparts from 20 years ago.

The shape of the heads have also evolved, there are now a multitude of head shapes that provide a subtle change of action as opposed to the straight up and down action of a round ball jig head. There are those that roll the lure or dart side to side sharply as you twitch the rod tip.

Dress to Kill

The biggest change in the last 30 years however, is not how the jig itself is constructed, it’s the other half of the puzzle, but it’s how they are dressed.

When you say lead head jig before it almost always means you are referring to a bucktail jig – this means that the jig head is dressed with the fibres from a buck or male deer’s tail. The other variation is a jig dressed in marabou feathers (very soft feathers from a turkey). There are also those dressed with synthetic fibres such as nylon.

These are mostly used for deep-water work and are usually tied on heavy-duty jig heads.

Although these old style jigs still work wonders today, their use is now contained in small circles and are almost completely forgotten in place of the more modern and realistic soft plastic bodies.

The soft plastics of today closely mimic the size, shapes and colours of baitfish and are very realistic; it is really not a wonder why they have eclipsed the more traditional dressings of the past. The other advantage of the plastic bodies is of course there are types that are so realistic, they don’t only Marabou jigs are one of my favorites for shallow water fishing

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look and feel natural, they also TASTE like the real thing. Gone are the days of fumbling around for the best colours possible, the colours of the soft plastics these days come in different patterns and when in doubt, you can always grab the ones that look like the baitfish you see in front of you.

Soft plastics are relatively cheap and are almost always in packs of at least half a dozen, depending on brand, size and shape.

The United States has traditionally been the number one producer of these lures, however, in recent years; Japan has been a source of breakthroughs and innovations.

Getting the Jig Right

The thing I love about fishing the jig is the sheer simplicity of it all. I can’t stress this enough – the reason why the jig works so well is because you can’t fish it the wrong way! With that in mind, it really escapes me why there are still a lot left on the shelves of the local tackle shops.

The formula that works for me in shallow water is to use only as much weight needed to reach the bottom. When fishing the edge of flats and in and around the mangroves as well as shallow water coastal areas, you really don’t need much weight to get down, even when there’s a bit of current mixed in. I use long and very light leaders when going after fish such as the Picnic Bream, Grunter, Gilt-head Bream and other similar fish. I fish the jigs slowly off the bottom with long

Deepwater arrow jigs are used when targeting deep snapper and amberjack

pauses. A short jerk puffs up sand and gets the fish curious. They strike when the jig is resting on the bottom. I believe this kind of action mimics a shrimp, crab or a small fish trying to hide in the sand.

Lead head jigs are lethal on grouper and snappers as well. I often use a heavier jig when targeting these fish and also a heavier leader. I start with a long length of 5kg line terminating with the jig at the end. The stronger leader allows you to muscle the fish in and helps in keeping them off the rocks and other structure.

I love using bucktail jigs in blue water, especially for Dorado. The bucktail makes the jig cast like a bullet and gives it plenty of action when worked through the water fast.

Dorado can’t seem to get enough of an all pink bucktail jig.

The Old Meets the New

The only thing that changed for me when fishing with the lead head jigs is the

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

fishing line. I used almost the same rod and reel type since I was a kid, now though; I have the help of the high tech braid fishing lines proliferating the fishing scene these days. Using braid enables me to use lighter weights and going down deeper. The braid also doesn’t stretch, giving me more sensitivity and responsiveness that were not available years ago. Because it doesn’t stretch, it also means I make the jig move a lot slower and work it with very minute movements – things that were not available to us before.

Try it… Seriously

I’ve tried trolling jigs, bounced them off the bottom, cast them out and worked them like a lipped lure – it just doesn’t stop working for me. Lead head jigs in all its mutations are probably one of the most lethal but underutilized lure in existence and it’s really a shame if you don’t give it a chance. Just follow a few simple guidelines and you will find that you will be grabbing them more and more each trip.

Till next tide change,

Kit Our fishing pro who shares his experiences and erpertise with OutdoorUAE through his regular column. thefishingkit@gmail.com

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Enjoying the Summer Heat in Liwa Words By: Marina Bruce Photos By: Marina Bruce, Barry Christie, Ghada Mohammed, Richard Moss and Lyn Ramsell

Regular readers will have probably noticed that Oasis Offroad refuses to curtail their off-roading adventures in the hot months of the summer, even running an annual summer trip in Liwa (see Zodiac Liwa – OutdoorUAE #45, September 2014). Oasis Offroad will run two of two hot weather trips to Liwa this summer and the first of those was our “Desert Rose” expedition on 15th/16th May. There is one concession we always make for the high temperatures – since it is rather hot for camping, Liwa trips in the summer are hotel based, and in this case all were glad we did – the UAE experienced a heatwave that particular weekend and the mercury hit 47 degrees Celsius on Friday afternoon!

A total of 24 couples and families booked rooms at the lovely Liwa Hotel, which is located in Liwa City (formerly known as Miziara’a, which you will still see on some signage), atop a hill which gives lovely views over this major oasis.

Zach’s group at the tanker

Level 1 convoy

Oasis Offroad drivers from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai converged on the hotel during the Thursday afternoon and evening; those who were not working arrived as early as they could to make the most of the beautiful swimming pool and garden.

The first “official” activity of the weekend necessitated an extremely early start on the Friday morning; once assembled in the car park at 4:15 a.m., the convoy of fifteen cars travelled by road and track to a scenic spot

to search for desert roses. Not everyone knew what a desert rose was, whether it was a rock or a flower, so I sneaked down to the spot the day before with my friend Chris Lidster and he “planted” some silk roses, which my husband had painstakingly painted a sand colour. The desert garden did provoke some interest among the group and even those who knew what a desert rose was were slightly perplexed. We did find real desert roses but left them in the ground for the next visitors to see (it is illegal to remove them).

The early start was planned to not only beat the heat, but also to provide an opportunity for the photographers to grab some shots of a real desert sunrise. There is nothing like a pre-breakfast cup of tea and a biscuit so early in the morning and some of our group had come well prepared with

Planting desert roses

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Snaking down a slipface

kettles and stoves to cater for the group.

We all were back at the hotel in time for their buffet breakfast which offers a wide choice of cold and hot dishes as well as fruits, yoghurts, breads and cheeses.

The next outing was an off-road drive planned for the early afternoon so the group took the chance to relax in their rooms or catch some rays by the pool. The Liwa Hotel is currently officially classified as a three-star hotel, however it has been extensively refurbished over the last two years and visitors expecting a mid-range hotel are in for a treat. The rooms are very spacious with comfortable beds and beautiful soft furnishings. All rooms have a balcony which overlooks the Miziara’a oasis and offers a great view of the sunrise or sunset.

The Liwa Hotel has two restaurants, a coffee shop and a swim-up pool bar; the main restaurant offers buffet or a la carte at breakfast, lunch and dinner times; the Al Misayl Bar offers a full range of beverages and light food; and of course there is always their extensive room service if you cannot tear yourself away from your balcony.

On Friday afternoon over 20 cars between three convoys took off into the desert just south of Madinat Zayed, for an easy/moderate drive towards a couple of our favourite spots – the “scorpion bowl” and the “oshkosh tanker.”

My convoy was comprised mainly of level one drivers who I had led on a long drive near Al Ain just the week before in preparation for this long trip. We have some quite large slipfaces near Al Ain but the group were generally in awe of the massive dunes and endless desert of this area. Passenger Emma recalled in the group trip report: “We drove down the steepest slipface any of us had encountered. With a deep breath, some exclamations, we all crawled down like flies down a wall and made it to the tanker where we met Zach’s group. Time was getting on and the blazing Arabic sun was beginning to set. We stopped on our final dune to watch

Level 3 Saturday group

the sunset and take some last pictures - we had watched the sun rise that morning with Marina in another part of the desert and it was fitting to watch it set with her too.”

Zach took a more challenging route out to the tanker and with all “situations” dealt with by self-recovery, they made a good pace. He reports “Along the way, we had the pleasure of viewing a solar powered oasis. On that hot day, it would’ve been nice to jump into the cistern to cool off. For me, it was nice to finally see the legendary tanker and to pose for a picture on top. The return trip was a bit more technical as we had to find a line ascending the slipfaces. We had started to run out of daylight and I made the decision to take the easy exit gatch north to MZ.” Nic’s convoy took a meandering route north of Zach’s line, but efforts to reach either of the waypoints were thwarted by car troubles in the convoy. She says “While we didn’t reach either destination, the drive was still lovely, the scenery superb and the company second to none.”

On Friday evening, the whole group enjoyed a buffet dinner on the terrace which the hotel had decorated with balloons since some of our members had birthdays - they even provided a complimentary cake with candles. The service at the Liwa Hotel is one of the ingredients which make it such a wonderful place to stay – nothing was too much bother for their attentive staff led by their manager Mr Trevlynn.

Activities were planned for Saturday morning too – some of our marshals led a level three drive through the impressive crescent area and I took a small convoy to experience some UAE heritage and culture.

There are a surprising number of refurbished forts along the length of the 140km

Car troubles in Nics’s convoy

road which traverses the Liwa Crescent, but we opted to visit Al Hayl tower, which is a small mud brick fortification located inside a date palm oasis. After exploring the plantation and its falaj system, we moved towards the famous Liwa Fish Farm, where we encountered a film crew – who asked if they could film us!

Some Points About Liwa in the Summer

• Hardcore offroaders can drive all day but the sand conditions and the temperatures make short trips better for the less experienced and those with children as passengers.

• A Liwa trip does not have to be 100% sand dune driving; mix up the activities with a visit to a fort and some chill out time by the pool and all the family can come along.

• There are some amazingly cheap deals during the summer at the Liwa Hotel; check out their website at www.almarfapearlhotels.com/liwa.

Swimming pool fun for the kids

Liwa Hotel Pool

PEOPLE

Florián Ughetto Age: 28 Nationality: French Occupation: Manager

To travel is a challenge in many ways. It is a test of perseverance, patience and adaptability. Travelling makes us question ourselves and let us know that we are part of a larger world where other humans walk the planet. We sit down with Florián Ughetto, a backpacker living in Dubai as he shares with us his journeys and his advice for those planning to go backpacking.

How did you start as a backpacker?

I started by pure misunderstanding. I was in Mexico for an internship for a company — it was a boring job and it wasn’t my cup of tea. I met one of my uncles in Mexico and he told me “Why are you doing an internship anyway? Just grab your bag and go backpacking.” So I came back and called

my family that I wanted to go backpacking around Mexico instead of taking an internship and they said “Okay, go!”

So it was in Mexico!

How did it feel?

I was scared. Because it meant that I was stepping out of my comfort zone. When I started backpacking, I asked myself “Why am I really doing this? Can’t I just stay home and go back to my family’s place?” My family did ask me if I really needed it and why I was going there specifically. But when I started it, I felt like I didn’t want to be in my comfort zone anymore – I want to go outside and see what’s under the sun.

Are there any challenges that you have encountered?

Not that much, but I’ve been stuck in some crises where I wanted to go home, call my family and start crying. I remember one situation in India, when I was in Mumbai. My friend dropped me in the city and I had no hotel and I have misplaced my passport! I needed it to book a hotel in the city. I was lost, without a hotel, a passport and my purse (where my passport was). It was like that for the next 25 hours until one guy offered me to stay in his place somewhere near the centre of the city while I searched for my passport.

How do you prepare for every journey you take?

Looking the part in Kabul Teotihuacan, Mexico

I don’t. I only usually get my visa. The joy of backpacking is not knowing everything – maybe doing some research about the destination is fine, just a little bit. Also, I read Lonely Planet and get some apps to help me find a place to stay easily. The beauty of backpacking is not to plan anything, because the cool stuff are the ones that are unplanned.

What should our readers know when planning to backpack?

Expect the unexpected. Get used to the idea that your journey may not happen the way you see it to be. Learn to grasp the idea of making things work with what you have.

Is there some sort of training regimen required for backpacking?

I wouldn’t consider it training but learning Tackling Jordan’s Wadi Rum

Driving for the driver in Agra

to adapt to a lot of situations is a must. For example, learn to sleep in the train, in a hostel. Overall, it’s all about adaptability, especially when it comes to unexpected situations.

How has backpacking contributed to your life?

It has given me a way outside my comfort zone. I could have just taken a rest, go to a nice island, get a bungalow, relax and then get back to work. But it will just be the same routine again and again. With backpacking I may go back tired, but I also go back with a fresh mind. I learned not to judge people and make friends in the long run. The most important lesson I have learned is to cope with every situation in a nice way.

Where do you dream of going backpacking next?

All the places that I haven’t been to yet.

There’s no specific dream location because I meet so many people and they tell me about their country and it urges me to go there and see it for myself.

Watching over the fields in Panjshir, Afghanistan

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LOCATIONS

Words By: Sean James

Following on from our article “A Week in Musandam” and why it’s such a great idea to stay in the Arabian Peninsula for your holidays, we give another example of a staycation for residents of the Middle East.

This time we explore the Hajar Mountains close to Muscat. This area is absolutely stunning, easy to get to from Dubai and can be combined with a few days in the delightful, laid back city of Muscat.These mountains have been over 800 million years in the making and have been through three Ice Ages when the area was covered. Now the highest mountain in the range tops out at 3000m and although no snow or ice the temperatures are often cooler here.

The tracks and trails provide a paradise for adventure seekers and we take a look at the area through the eyes of a mountain biker.

The possibilities for hiking are also extensive and the Omani government have done a fantastic job of marking 11 hiking trails and making the paths available for download on their website. The hikes are very accessible and showcase the best of the area. They are graded according to difficulty with a time indication so a day out is very enjoyable and finding the path is easy.

The geographical position of the mountains, running parallel to the coast mean that the plant and animal life is unique and very different from the rest of the Peninsula.

There are similarities between areas in Iran and Somalia demonstrating how the whole region was once connected.

The focus of this week is always adventure. There is so much to do in Oman. Rock climbing, canyoning, via ferrata, hiking, swimming and of course mountain biking.

One of the best ways to explore and be at the center of the action is to camp. It is also the cheapest. Camping spots are plentiful and often free. Just make sure if you are on private land that you ask permission first and as always leave the site cleaner than when you arrived. Often in the hotter months, camping on the plateau which is at an elevation of nearly 3000m is much cooler than you would expect, sometimes even in the 20Cs.This freedom to pack up the off-roader and camp in the great outdoors is one of the great luxuries of the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Hajar Mountain Adventure

This is an example of how seven days could be spent on a tour in the Hajar Mountains.

It is focused towards mountain biking but hiking, via ferrata and exploring the natural attractions could also be added in.

Day One: Pack the off-roader and drive south from Dubai towards Muscat. Either cross the border at Hatta or nip over to Fujairah and fly through the much less busy checkpoint there. Both roads meet near 66

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Shinas and you continue your trip down the east coast towards Sohar. You can tell you are in Oman as the sides of the roads start to become much greener and there is a tidiness. Plus there are constant road works on this stretch. Progress is quick regardless and for the first night you are heading towards Rustaq. Rustaq is a quaint town at the foot of the mountains and a good gateway to the Hajar. It is the final place to stock up before entering the wilderness. There are apparently no hotels in town but camping is possible nearby particularly in the wadi that you will explore tomorrow, Wadi Bani Kharus.

Day Two: Get ready to enter the mountains proper. The roads that were once rough tracks are being pushed forward and developed. Many are now blacktop. The first wadi to be explored is Wadi Bani Kharus. It has some stunning villages and although a dead end is a huge wadi and can take several hours to ride up and back. The ride today is a gentle warm up but takes you between high mountains on either sides. The villages are green and welcoming and it’s a pleasant 15km up a gently sloping modern blacktopped road which gains only about 200m in elevation. Eventually the road finishes and it’s time to turn around. There are many side gravel tracks that are worth exploring and there is definitely plenty to see in this wadi.

You finish your day by driving into Wadi Bani Awf and to the entrance of Little Snake Canyon. This is a great place to set up camp.

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Day Three: The day starts with coffee and a camp fire before exploring Little Snake Canyon. Not as long or deep as Snake Canyon, it is a good introduction and organizing a pickup is not necessary as you return the same way. It is a leisurely two-hour scrambling over boulders and through pools before returning for lunch at the campsite.

From here, there is an excellent loop that is not long and just over 25km but has a lot of elevation gain and gets you into the heart of the mountains. Expect to push a little if you’re not a climber but enjoy the downhills.

Day Four: We are properly warmed up now and this promises to be a big day on the mountain bike with lots of climbing and descending. During our trip we ensured that all of the routes are loops and start or finish at the same point. With a little creativity longer link ups or variations can be ridden and pickups arranged if you have a willing driver.

To start we ride to the stunning mountain village of Bald Sayt. The road twists, turns and rises around the head of the Snake Canyon and you will stop every couple of minutes to take photos. Although after a few days you will become accustomed to trails and views like this, remember how unique and spectacular it is.

Day Five: The Hajar Mountains are about 50km from the coast and those on the plains want access. The road building program here is very progressive and every year more and more of the “mountain bike tracks” are swallowed up by black tarmac. However the situation and views are still stunning. Today we drive to just past Bald Sayt and head uphill for some elevation before racing back down. This is an opportunity to use two cars and avoid the ride up if you want. The day for us ends by driving back up the road and camping at nearly 2000m near to the Sharaf

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

al Alamayn plateau as we are going to take a rest from the biking and do a hike tomorrow.

Day Six: A rest day today and we start late and enjoy the sun as it comes up. We are going to hike some of the marked trails across the rim. A combination of W10, W9 and W8 will provide spectacular views and even better wild camping. We pack our light overnight bags and prepare for a night under the stars.

Day Seven: Our final day and in a few hours we are back at the vehicles and start the journey back. Turning towards Ibri we decide to take the road to Al Ain and then Dubai. It’s easy driving and we catch a glimpse of the jagged Jebel Mischt. We have not stopped during the week but there is still so much to see and we have only scratched the surface.

Time of Year

The best time to visit the Hajar Mountains is between November and March. Temperatures in the wadi bottoms will be pleasantly comfortable even in the sun and the nights on the plateau even lower so take warm sleeping equipment for the night. As the mountains are at an elevation of 3000m there are definite possibilities to visit at other times when it will be much cooler, even during the summer.

Points to Note

Like all mountains the weather changes quickly and although storms and rain are fun, they can be very dangerous especially if you are in a canyon or wadi. Rain higher up the mountain can be unseen by you and cause flash floods that you see too late.

Check the forecast before you go.

Also the month of Ramadan is very quiet.

Shops and attractions can be closed. Unless you are completely self-sufficient, avoid this month.

Be careful during the summer as the temperatures do rise considerably and as this is a mountain area, the weather can change at any time

Where to Stay

This article encourages camping but there are hotels close to the Hajar Mountains that can provide a base from which to explore. It

requires driving every day of several hours which may be tiring but a shower and luxurious restaurant at the end of the day may be the persuading factor to get partners to come. Some hotels are fantastically luxurious and provide a perfect retreat for those not accustomed to being under canvas.

How to Get There

A direct flight from Dubai to Muscat takes only 45 minutes but you will still need a vehicle with off-road capabilities. The drive from the UAE is simple and there are border crossing points at Hatta, Fujairah and Al Ain. The more you explore the mountains of our region the more you will be amazed at what they have to offer. Make sure that during your stay you plan several trips in the “camping” season and don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to get outdoors.

LOCATIONS

Rock Climbing:

Climbing Walls in the UAE Words By: Sean James

This month in OutdoorUAE we are going to take a look at what has been one of the fastest growing aspects of climbing over the past few years, indoor climbing. Last month we explained the many different varieties of climbing that ranged from bouldering to traditional and from sport climbing with bolts to big wall climbing — something for everyone.

Indoor Climbing

The number of purpose-built climbing walls in the United Arab Emirates has grown steadily over the last few years and now you will find them in many locations such as shopping malls, warehouses, hotels and amusement parks. Now is the perfect time The Club in Abu Dhabi

to make use of these facilities, especially the indoor ones and get ready for the winter season here in the UAE. Originally, indoor climbing was seen as practice or as a training aid before going outside. Now it has transformed itself into an activity by itself and many climb indoors with no intention of going out. In the United Kingdom in 2012 a study was released by Sport England that predicted that indoor climbing would overtake the more traditional form of outdoor climbing as the country’s most popular mountaineering activity by the end of the year. In fact climbing was one of only four sports that had increased in participation, so there are many things to like about it. There is even talk of indoor climbing being considered for future Olympic Games.

Why is it Such Good Fun?

There are many reasons for the rise in popularity of indoor climbing including ease of access, security, safety, progression, grading of routes, technology and the “sociability” factor. This increase in popularity has been reflected in the number of indoor public access climbing walls that have appeared in the UK. This trend has been reflected in the UAE with a large number of walls and ropes courses in the region. It is estimated that there are five million climbing wall user visits in the UK each year spread amongst approximately 400 walls. Although the UAE market is not as large, it is growing rapidly.

Better than a Gym Session?

Climbing walls were once seen as an alternative for rock climbers in the winter when the weather was too cold and wet or as a means to pass the time and gain additional training between expeditions to the Paris-Sorbonne Universityin Abu Dhabi

mountains. Here in the UAE, it is completely the reverse. Our outdoor season is over the winter and during the summer we have to escape the intense heat. Indoor climbing is the perfect activity to keep in shape and learn new movements and skills during these hot months with the advantage of the cool breeze of the AC. Indoor climbing can even be considered as an alternative to a gym and is a great way to be more social and meet new people who have similar interests to you. You never know who you may meet; you could be resting on the mats and start chatting to a group of like-minded people who want to go hiking or camping. Many indoor climbers simply enjoy the controlled environment of the artificial wall, ease of access and use indoor climbing to improve their fitness, flexibility and general well-being. What most climbers possess is the love of the outdoors.

How to Get Started

If you are a beginner, the best way to start climbing is to go along to a taster session at one of the walls in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Some have specific times and others you have to book and take an assessment. You can turn up by yourself and its always easy to find partners.

The amount of equipment you need for a first session is very basic and can nearly always be hired at the outset.

Climbing Walls in the UAE

Below is a list of the walls with climbing and ropes courses. It’s always advisable to call first to check opening times and what they can provide. There are several other private ones but it just shows you the extent of indoor climbing already.

Indoor bouldering is social

Bouldering indoors

offers top-roped climbing. It is open in the evening and you have to call to book an assessment and then take out an annual subscription.

Leading a route indoors

Rock Republic

Rock Republic is the first and only facility for bouldering in the UAE. It is a dedicated climbing centre and equipment is also available for hire or sale. In addition to the extensive bouldering, there is also a top roping wall. Instructors are available to offer advice.

World Trade Centre

Unfortunately this wall is outside and at this time of year, it’s a bit hot. The wall is located in the World Trade Centre and is 15m high.

There is top roping here.

Wafi Pharaoh’s Club

This wall is part of a health centre and

Adventure HQ

The reception area in front of Adventure HQ at Times Square offers a climbing wall and high ropes course. It is suited more for families and children.

Magic Planet

Again suited for children and beginners, this wall is 8m high and is in Mirdiff City Centre. There is also a Sky Trail or an obstacle course in the roof.

Madinat Jumeirah

If you are lucky enough to stay at the Madinat Jumeirah, you can climb on their 6.4m high wall in the Talise Spa for free. The general public are also allowed entry but must pay.

High ropes course

Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club

This wall is 11m high and 6m wide with four different walls and routes so if you are in Al Ain make sure you drop in.

Wadi Adventure

A 13m high wooden climbing wall with plastic holds and seven colour coded routes will keep you busy when you have finished surfing or kayaking. There is also a high ropes course here.

Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

This wall is in Abu Dhabi and is in the ParisSorbonne University so requires users to be part of the university. It is 9m high and has leading and sports routes.

The Club

Another hotel with a climbing wall; as part of the fitness suite, The Club in Abu Dhabi has a wall with coloured routes.

E-Sports Climbing Academy

This is a kids’ climbing club meet at GEMS World Academy in Al Barsha.

Contemplation

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69

Outdoors/Bodyweight Exercises Words By: Nicky Holland Photos By: Jung Francisco

Keeping fit and healthy can take place anywhere. This article is based on bodyweight exercise.It is important to be able to manage your own bodyweight as your resistance. This requires no equipment, all you need is yourself. Therefore there can be no excuses.

Exercising outside can be fun, refreshing and different.

Bodyweight exercises are fundamental in determining a basic level of strength and play a big part in everyday life. To be able to manage and move your body weight will help you in day to day tasks such as walking up and down stairs, carrying the shopping bags to the car and even pushing a pram. These simple tasks require a form of strength. From reading this article and performing these bodyweight exercises, which you can try at home or outdoors, you will become fitter and stronger. First thing you need is a small space. This can be out the garden, in the park or on the beach. Now let’s get on with the exercises.

4. Hands to Heels Sit up 2. Side Plank

The plank uses a lot of muscles in the body and is great for strengthening your core and improving your posture. Many people have office jobs and slouch over a desk all day, this over time curves the spine which affects our posture. This exercise really tightens the waistline.

This targets the obliques, on the side of the body. Technique is important, to ensure you feel it in the right places. Lie on your side, place you elbow under your shoulder and both legs out straight, one foot on top of each other. From there, lift your body up so there is a diagonal line from your shoulder, to your hip and to the floor. Keep your balance here with your hip lifted for as long as you can. You can drop your bottom knee to the floor to support this movement.

Repeat this on both sides.

A sit up, along with good nutrition will tone your stomach. Everybody has abs and core strength, it’s just a case of developing it.

Lie down on your back, lift both knees so your feet come off the floor and your knees are directly above your hips. Hold your legs here by bracing your abdominals and with your arms, reach straight to try and touch your heels. You will feel your abdominals working as you reach forward and bring your chest to your thighs. You should feel this in the upper and middle part of your abdominals — a good exercise for toning your waist and getting a flat stomach. Try and do as many repetitions as you can.

5. Horse Pointer Back Extension

3. Bottom Half Squat 1. Narrow Push Up

The push up works the chest and triceps on the back of the arm. Practicing this exercise will improve your upper body strength.

This focuses more on the triceps and more difficult than a regular push up. Place both hands on the floor and make a triangle with your two index fingers and thumbs. Now your hands will be directly under your chest.

Keep your back straight by bracing the core and lower your chest towards the floor until you get two inches from the ground then use your arm and chest strength to return to the top.Down and up is one repetition, see how many you can do. You can perform this exercise on your knees or on your toes.

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OUTDOORUAE

This exercise works all the main muscles in the legs. Technique and flexibility is important so you need to keep your heels grounded, your back straight, chest up and lower your bum down to knee level.

Stand with your feet wider than hip width apart as if you were performing a normal squat. Turn your toes out slightly so they face 10 and 2 on the imaginary clock. Draw your belly in and tip your hips back. This will help keep neutral spine and naturally lift the chest.

From there, bend your knees and you lower your bum towards the ground. As you lower yourself down to knee level, instead of rising all the way to the top, just come half way up, then go back down to knee level. Staying in the bottom range of the movement allows the load to stay in the legs where the muscles contract with no rest. A great burner for the thighs as you keep the muscles contracted… you’ll really feel this one!

It is just as important to train the back of the body as well as the front. This will avoid the body slouching forward as you grow older, which will improve your posture and reduce lower back pain.

From a kneeling on all fours position where both knees are under hips and both arms are straight with hands under shoulders. Focus on your balance and lift your opposite arm and leg into a straight position.

Aim to keep your hips still, without rotating and repeat on the other side in a slow and controlled movement. This works your core, your balance, your coordination along with your arms and legs.Try not to rotate the hips and keep the shoulders square to the floor.

NICKY HOLLAND Fitness Manager Fitness First, Al Manzil

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

UAE DIRECTORY General Sports Equipment Megastores

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, +971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai: +971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42839392 Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595; Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240 InterSport, Dubai Times Square Centre: +971 43418214 and Dubai Festival City: +971 42066581, www.intersport.ae Peiniger BMT Est., CBD, Khalifa Street, Yateem Optician Bldg., Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 26262332, www.peiniger.org Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping centres, +971 43504444, www.sunandsandsports.com

Adventure tours and desert safaris

Alpha Tours, Off #512, 5th Flr., Al Qwais Bldg., Al Ittihad Road, Deira, Dubai, +971 42949888, www.alphatoursdubai.com Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers, Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566, www.dadabhaitravel.ae Desert Rangers, Dubai, +971 43572200, www.desertrangers.com Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr., Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd., +971 44329392, www.dreamdays.ae Dream Explorer LLC, Shop no # 9, Plot # 312-504, Al Musalla Building , Mina Bazar, Bur Dubai, +971 43544481, www.dreamexplorerdubai.com Dubai Relax Travel, National Towers: Churchill Tower Suite #614, Business Bay, Dubai, +971 44221776, www.dubairelaxtours.com Element Fitness, Dubai, +971 502771317, www.element-fitness.net Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai, +971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae Gulf for Good, Dubai, +971 43680222, www.gulf4good.org Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre +971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com MMI Travel, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata Travel Centre, Shk Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43166579, www.theemiratesgroup.com Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, +971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628889, www.opdubai.com Rahhalah, Dubai, +971 44472166, www.rahhalah.com Vera City Tours, Downtown, Dubai, UAE, +971 556100414, www.veracitytours.com Wild Guanabana, Dubai, +971 567954954, www.wildguanabana.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking, & Adventure Club, +971504920860, mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com

Air

Ballooning Adventures Emirates, Dubai, +971 42854949, www.ballooning.ae Dubai Paragliders, www.microaviation.org, +971 552120155 or +971 552250193 Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 6139859, www.jac-uae.net Seawings, Dubai, www.seawings.com Sky Dive Dubai, Dubai, +971 501533222, www.skydivedubai.ae

Boating & Sailing

Manufacturer Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43235181, www.alfajermarine.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam, +971 72682333/+971 504873185, www.aljeerport.ae Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443, www.alshaalimarine.com Alyousuf Industrial, LLC, +971 43474111, www.aym.ae, yamboats@alyousuf.com Elite Pearl Charter, Saeed Tower 1 office # 3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE,

+971 43889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com Gulf Craft, Ajman, +971 67406060, www.gulfcraftinc.com Distributors and Dealers Art Marine, Shed Nr. 31, Jaddaf, Dubai, UAE, +971 4324061, www.artmarine.ae / www.artmarinechandley.com Azure Marine, Dubai, +971 43404343, www.azuremarine.net Luxury Sea Boats, Dubai, +971 505589319, www.luxuryseaboats.com Macky Marine LLC, Dubai, +971 505518317, www.mackymarine.com Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 65576818, www.nautilusyachts.com The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae UAE Boats 4 Sale, Dubai Marina, +971 44471501, www.uaeboats4sale.com Western Marine, Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +971 43039744 Equipment Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Deira, Dubai, +971 42263220 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43808616 / +971 553899995, info@bluewatersmarine.com, www.bluewatersmarine.com Extreme Marine, Dubai, +971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +971 559299111, +971 42828255, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43391512, www.rinehemiratesme.com Repairs and Maintenance Extreme Marine, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1, Al Quoz, +971 43391512, info@rinehemiratesme.com, www.rinehemirates.com SNS Marine, JAFZA Techno Park, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 501405058, info@snsmarine.ae, www.snsmarine.ae The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae Cruise Operators Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665491, www.marinaalbateenresort.com Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, Dibba, Musandam, +968 26836550, +971 65441232 Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite the British Embassy, +971 43994994 Bristol Middle East, Dubai Marina, +971 44309941, www.bristol-middleeast.com Captain Tony’s, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, +971 26507175, www.captaintonys.ae Delma Industrial Supply and Marine Services, Al Bateen Jetty, Abu Dhabi, +971 26668153, www.delmamarine.net Eden Yachting, Dubai Marina, +971 504586171, www.edenyachting.com Emirates Yachting, Dubai, +971 42826683 El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406, www.elmundodubai.com Four Star Travel and Tourism, Dubai, +971 42737779, www.fourstartravels.net 4 Yacht Arabia, Shop No. 5, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, 800 92248, www.4yachtarabia.ae Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971 558961276, +971 503960202, www.happydaysdubai.com JPS Yachts and Charter, Room 225, Emarat Atrium building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43437734, www.jpsyachts.com Khasab Divers, Oman, +971 567255889, khasab.diver2@gmail.com Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours, PO Box 411, Khasab, Musandam, +968 93350703, info@tourkhasab.com Khour Shem Tourism, Oman, +968 26731919, www.khourshemtours.com LY Catamaran, Dubai, +971 505869746, +971 566506683, www.lycatamaran.com Marine Concept, Dubai, +971 559603030, www.marine-charter-concept.com

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800 The Pearl–Qatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar, +974 4965801, www.ronauticame.com Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club, Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644, www.uaqmarineclub.com Dragon Boat Groups Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating, Dubai, +971 508795645 (Michael), www.dubaidawnpatrol.org Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175 (Nick Hando), www.dubai-diggers.com UAE Dragon Boat Association, +971 507634008, www.dubaidragonboat.com

YAS

Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26503600, www.noukhada.ae RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton Marina, +971 504912696, +971 72066410 Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011 Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Smoke Dragon Of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi International Marine & Sports Club, +971 507011958 / +971 504546617 Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +971 42573084 The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111, www.the-club.com The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk – opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel Marina, +8008044, www.theyellowboats.com Marinas Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, Abu Dhabi, Breakwater, +971 26815566, www.adimsc.com Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300 Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam +971 72682333 / +971 504873185 www.aljeerport.ae Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman, +968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +971 42394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.com Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai, +971 43801234, www.dubaigolf.com Dubai International Marine Sports Club, Dubai Marina, +971 43995777, www.dimc.ae Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +971 43627900, www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina, Dubai, +971 43455545 Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai, +971 43941669, www.dosc.ae Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi, +971 43388955 Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar, +974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com Fujairah International Marine Club, Fujairah, +971 92221166, www.fimc.ae Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina, Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26666888, www.intercontinental.com Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 48145555/5029, www.jebelali-international.com Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar, +974 55843282, www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman, +968 24737286 (ext 215), www.marinaoman.net Pavilion Marina, Dubai,

Camping & Hiking

Equipment Blingmytruck.com, +971 505548255, www.blingmytruck.com Gulf Camping, Dubai, UAE, www.gulfcamping.com Jack Wolfskin, Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, +971 24437802 Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43951113 Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink, The Dubai Mall, +971 43398801 Tour Operators Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959428, www.arabiatours.com Libra, +971 559228362, www.libra-uae.com Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba, +971 50336046, www.sheesabeach.com

Caving

Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +968 24543002, www.holiday-in-oman.com Oman World Tourism, Oman, +968 99431333, www.omanworldtourism.com

Climbing

Equipment Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com

OUTDOORUAE

71

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Clubs Abu Dhabi Tri Club, www.abudhabitriclub.com Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome www.cyclechallenge.ae Dubai Roadsters, www.dubairoadsters.com

Diving

Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi +971 24437802 Services Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, +971 43065061, www.climbingdubai.com E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 42824540, www.esportsuae.com The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111, www.the-club.com Information UAE Climbing, +971 506456491, www.uaeclimbing.com

Mountain Biking & Cycling

Equipment/Dealers Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE, +971 526221888, products@allbikers.net Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415, www.cyclesportsuae.com Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor, C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, info@funridesports.com, www.funridesports.com Micah’s Bike Shop, Warehouse no.4 6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228 Peak Performance, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Dubai, +971 43413056 / +971 43308023 Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1, +971 43255705, www.probike.ae Rage Shop, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City, +971 43369007, www.rage-shop.com Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441, www.rcdxb.com Ride Bike Shop, Dubai Mall, Festival City, Oasis Centre, Mirdif City Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43750231, www.ridebikeshop.com Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road & Jebel Ali, Dubai, + 971 43388644 Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525, www.tamreensports.com The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai, +971 505528872, www.thecyclehub.com Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377, www.trekbikes.ae Trikke uPT, Dubai, +971 45081202, +971 556096757, www.trikkeme.net Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae Operator Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, +971 506259165, www.adventure.ae, info@adventure.ae

72

OUTDOORUAE

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, Dubai www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Blue Waters Marine, +971 42232189, Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi, +971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com Premiers for Equipment, Abu Dhabi, Sh. Zayed 1st. Road, +971 26665226, www.premiers-uae.com Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road, Dubai, +97143414940, info@scubadubai.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Diving Centres Al Boom Diving (equipment), Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993, www.alboomdiving.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam, +971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St across from main bus terminal, +971 26437377, info@divemahara.com, www.divemahara.com Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72226628, +971 502428128 www.arabiandiver.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Coastal Technical Divers, glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com, www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City, Dubai, +971 44308246, www.diveindubai.com Desert Islands, Sir Bani YAs Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015400, www.divemahara.com Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa, +971 92370299, www.diversdown-uae.com Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi, near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444, www.edc-ad.ae Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman, +968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Ziggy Bay, Oman, Musandam, +968 26735555, www.extradivers.info Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Freestyle Divers, Dubai, Al Wasl & Dibba, Royal Beach Hotel, +971 43944275, www.freestyledivers.com Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Global Scuba Dive Center, Civil Aviation Club, Oman, +968 99317518, www.global-scuba.com Khasab Divers, Oman, www.khasabdiver.com Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Moonlight Dive Center, Madinat Qaboos, Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +971 503289642, www.holiday-in-oman.com Neptune Diving, +971 504347902, www.neptunedivingcentre.com Nomad Ocean Adventures, www.discovernomad.com, +971 508853238, Dibba, Oman Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman, +968 24284240, www.omadivecenter.com Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai, +971 44068828 Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488, www.scubaoman.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922, www.scubauae.com 7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan, +971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971 50784 0830, www.bsac406.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

+971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Sky &Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005, www.watersportsdubai.com The Dive Shop, 34G, European Center, Green Community, Dubai, UAE, +971 48135474, www.thediveshopdubai.com Clubs Atlantis Underwater Photography Club, Dubai, +971 44263000 Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai, www.desertsportsdivingclub.net Emirates Diving Association, Diving Village, Al Shindagha, Dubai, +971 43939390, www.emiratesdiving.com Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC), Dubai, UAE, +971 566952421, www.thefilipinoscubadivers.com Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971 507840830, www.bsac406.com

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43808616 / +971 553899995, www.bluewatersmarine.com Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798, contactus@challengingadventure.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com Operators Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993 Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72434540, www.alhamramarina.com Al Mahara Dive Center, Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125, www.divemahara.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +974 4 2394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.com Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing (Al Wasl

Passenger Yachts and Boats Rental LLC), Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai, +971 42394761, www.cruiseindubai.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah International Marine Club, +971 9222558 Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi, +971 26594144 Captain Tony’s, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, +971 26507175, www.captaintonys.ae Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai, +971 53244550, www.funbeachsports.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971 558961276, +971 503960202, www.happydaysdubai.com Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26811900 Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Nautica 1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26503600, www.noukhada.ae Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Soolyman Sports Fishing, Dubai, Umm Suqeim, +971 508866227, www.soolymansportsfishing.com Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.com Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking Club, mohamed.almahrouky@gmail.com Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers’ Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai, +971 554986280, www.dskc.hu

General Sports Equipment Distributors

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha 800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai +971 43467751, www.800sport.ae Flip Flop Arabia, flipme@flipfloparabia.com, www.flipfloparabia.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Goal Zero, +971 509128353, www.goalzero.ae Highbury Trading, Dubai, UAE, www.highburytrading.ae Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi, +971 44437802 Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com PORTABLE SHADE UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.portable-shade.net

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Sakeen General Trading, +971 47094224, www.sakeen.ae Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002, info@sportinlife.ae, www.sportinlife.ae Tresspass, The Dubai Mall 2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801

Horse Riding

Equipment Al Asifa Horse Equestrian & Requisites Trading, Al Khawaneej 1, Dubai, +971 554733110, www.asifa.ae Black Horse LLC, Abu Dhabi, +971 26422237, www.blackhorseuae.com Bonjour Equestrian Supplies, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Kho, Dubai, UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002, info@bonjourequestrian.com, www.bonjourequestrian.com Cavalos Equine Care and Supplies, 16th Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, +917 22222433, www.cavalosuae.com Emirta Horse Requirement Centre, Sheik Zayed Rd, Dubai, +971 43437475, www.emirtahorse.com Equestrian Clubs/Centres Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500, www.adec-web.com Al Ahli Riding School, Al Amman Street, Dubai-Sharjah Rd., +971 42988408, www.alahliclub.info Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Al Jiyad Stables, Behind Dubai International Endurance City, Dubai, +971 505995866, info@aljiyad.com, www.aljiyad.com Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian Centre, Dubai, +971 44274055, equestrian.centre@alsahra.com Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai, +971 503099770 / +971 501978888 Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir Road (going to Hatta-Oman), Dubai, +971 43238010, www.desertpalm.peraquum.com Dubai Polo Academy, Dubai, +971 508879847, www.dubaipoloacademy.com Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, Arabian Ranches, +971 43618111, www.poloclubdubai.com Emirates Equestrian Centre, Dubai, +971 505587656, www.emiratesequestriancentre.com Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +971 25629050, www.grpc.ae Golden Stables Equestrian Club, Al Khawaneej, Dubai, (Nouri) +971 555528182, www.goldenstables.ae HoofbeatZ, located just inside the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, +971 501810401, www.hoofbeatz.com Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club, Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai, +971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com Qudraland Community, info@qudraland.com, www.qudraland.com Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area, Abu Dhabi, +971 566127914,

www.rahalranch.com Riding for the Disabled, Dubai, lessons@rdad.ae, www.rdad.ae, Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road, +971 65311188, www.serc.ae Racecourses Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500, www.adec-web.com Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +971 25629050, www.grpc.ae Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road) beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, +971 43474914 Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 43270000, www.meydan.ae Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah, +971 65311155, www.serc.ae

Jet Ski Dealers

Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +971 559299111 / +971 42828255, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com

Motocross & ATV’s

Dealers Al Badayer Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 507842020, www.albadayerrental.com Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor, +971 43200009, sales@alshaalimoto.com. www.alshaalimoto.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Golden Desert Motorcycles Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 551532550, www.goldendesert-dubai.com Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai, UAE, +971 509192394, www.JustGasIt.net KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42, +971 4323151, www.ktm.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE (atv’s), Ras Al Khor, Nad al Hamar Road, Al Ghandi Complex, Dubai, +971 42896100, M4, Sector 13, 10th Street, Mussafah Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 25555144, www.polarisuae.com Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1 Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai, +971 48321050, www. wildx.ae Equipment Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental), Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43470270, www.sandstorm-motorcycles.com Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com 2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai, +971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com Wild X, Dubai, Um Al Ramoul Industrial Area, +971 42852200, www. wildx.ae Workshops and Services Moto-X and Quad, PO Box 476214, Dubai, UAE, +971 50 6169727, www.gasgasmotos.me

Motorcycling

Distributors and Dealers Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, www.aym.ae/yamaha Ducati, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +971 25535771, info2@ducati.ae, www.ducati.ae Duseja Motorcycles, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43476712, www.dusejamoto.com Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667, hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae, www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 42822144, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex, Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor, +971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com Tristar Motorcycles, +971 43330659, www.tristaruae.com Workshops and Services Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, +971 43678700 www.dubaiautodrome.com Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain, +971 67681717 2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai, +971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmarinacircuit.com

Off-Road

Dealers Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 / +971 505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com 4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai, +971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789, www.libertyautos.com Repairs and Services AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 285 8989, www.aaadubai.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.com Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43392449, www.offroad-zone.com Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939 www.salukimotorsport.com Equipment Advanced Expedition Vehicles, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152, www.aev.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 / +971 505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 567231967, www.heartlanduae.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 48321050, www.wildx.ae Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times Square Center, Dubai, +971 42898060, www.yellowhat.ae Tour Operators Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43034888, www.arabian-adventures.com Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628889, www.opdubai.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Off- Road Club, www.ad4x4.com ALMOST 4x4 Off-Road Club, +971 507665522, www.almost4x4.com Dubai Offroaders, www.dubaioffroaders.com JEEP Wrangler JK Fun Club, suffian.omar@yahoo.com, www.jk-funclub.com ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com

Running

Clubs ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi, www.abudhabitriclub.org Abu Dhabi Striders, admin@abudhabistriders.com, www.abudhabistriders.com Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi, +971 504188978, alainroadrunners@yahoo.co.uk Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info Dubai Creek Striders www.dubaicreekstriders.org

Stand up Paddling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Ikönic Brands, Suite 509 Düsseldorf Business Point Al Barsha Dubai, UAE +971 506874178, info@ikonicbrands.com Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3 +971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae Pearl Water Crafts, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, +971 553749398, www.pearl-watercrafts.com Picnico, Jumeirah Beach Road Opposite Sunset Mall, Dubai, +971 43941653 Surf Dubai, Dubai, Umm Suqeim, +971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai,

+971 43791998, www.surfshoparabia.com Surf School Arabia, +971 556010997, www.surfschoolarabia.com UAE Kite Surfing, +971 505626383, www.ad-kitesurfing.net Distributors Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store, International City, Dubai, +971 504559098, www.kitepeople.ae Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com Operators Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Kite Surf School, Dubai, Umm Suqeim Beach, +971 504965107, www.dubaikitesurfschool.com Duco Maritime, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi, +971 508703427, www.ducomaritime.com Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim, Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440, www.kitesurf.ae Kite4fun.net, Abu Dhabi, +971 508133134, www.kite4fun.net Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi, +971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim Dubai, +971 507689226, astrid@shamalkitesurfing.com, www.shmalkitesurfing.com Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005, www.watersportsdubai.com Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai,+971 556010997, www.surfschooluae.com Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, Dubai, +971 48876771, www.watercooleddubai.com Water Cooled, Watercooled Sports Services LLC, Hilton Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 26395997, www.watercooleduae.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle, www.abudhabisup.com UAE SUP www.uaesup.com

Water Parks

Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, +971 44260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm Al Quwain, Emirates Road, +971 67681888, www.dreamlanduae.com Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain, +971 37818422, www.wadiadventure.ae Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai, +971 43484444, www.wildwadi.com

Other leisure activities

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, + 971 25588990, www.adgolfclub.com Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah, +971 67431122 / +971 44370505, www.tamimistables.com Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 556101841, www.blokartme.com

OUTDOORUAE

73

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Adventure tours and desert safaris

Bike and Hike Oman, PO Box 833, Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873, www.bikeandhikeoman.com Dolphin Qasab Tours, PO Box: 123, P.C.

Dusseldorf Business Point, Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 44502418, www.sltme.com Sport and Health Centres Bespoke Wellness, Dubai, +971 553724670, www.bespoke-wellness.com Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +971 2406 9404, www.originalfitnessco.com Orthosports, 5B Street, Jumeira Beach road, Dubai, +971 4355060, www.orthosp.com The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, +971 44370570, www.physiocentre.ae

Children’s City, Creek Park Gate No.1, Dubai, +971 43340808, www.childrencity.ae Dolphin Bay Atlantis, Dubai, +971 44260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park Gate No. 1, +971 43369773, www.dubaidolphinarium.ae iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42316292, www.iflyme.com Sadiyaat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, +971 25578000, www.sbgolfclub.ae Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Sharjah, +971 43999005, www.golfandshootingshj.com

SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of The Emirates, +971 44094000, www.skidxb.com Spacewalk Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, +971 24463653, www.spacewalk.ae

811, Khasab City, Musandam, Oman, +968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com Go Dive Oman, Capital Area Yacht Club (CAYC), Sidab Muscat, +968 99289200, www.godiveoman.com Nomad Tours, PO Box: 583, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240, www.nomadtours.com Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box: 917, NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441, www.omantrekkingguides.com

+968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346, www.global-scuba.com Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box: 65, Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Oman Dive Center Resort, PO Box: 199, Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman, +968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info Omanta Scuba Diving Academy, Al Kharjiya Street, Al Shati Area, Muscat, Oman, +968 97700564, www.omantascuba.com Oxygen Diving and Adventures, PO Box: 1363 PC130 Alazaiba, Muscat, Oman, www.o2diveoman.com Seaoman, PO Box: 2394, RUWI PC 112, Oman, +968 24181400, www.seaoman.com Sub Aqua Dive Center, Hilton Salalah Resort, PO Box: 699, Salalah 211, Oman, +968 99894031, www.subaqua-divecenter.com

Oman’s Kite Center, +968 94006007, www.kitesurfing-lessons.com

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Manufacturer Saphire Marine, PO Box: 11, Post Code 118, Muscat, Oman, +968 99877243, www.sapphire-marine.com

Diving

OMAN DIRECTORY

AUGUST 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Equipment Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box: 44, Dibba, Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550, www.almarsamusandam.com Al Sawadi Beach Resort, PO Box: 747, Barka - Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545, www.alsawadibeach.info Diving UAE & Oman, www.dive-uae-oman.com Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar Al Rhowda, PO Box: 940, Muscat, Oman, +968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box: 498, PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman,

Health, Safety & Training

Safety Lessons Marine Concept Yacht Charter & Sea School, Rania Business Centre, Dubai, +971 559603030, www.marine-charter-concept.com Safety & Leisure Training Middle East,

Equipment, Operators Kiteboarding Oman, Sawadi Beach, PO Box: 133, PC 118, Muscat, Oman, +968 96323524, www.kiteboarding-oman.com

Camping & Hiking

Tour Operators Safari Desert Camp, PO Box: 117, Postal Code 421, Bediyah, Ghabbi, Oman, +968 99310108, www.safaridesert.com

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Az’Zaha Tours, +968 99013424, www.azzahatours.com Water World Marine Oman, PO Box: 76, Muscat, 113, Sultanate of Oman, +968 24737438, www.waterworldoman.com

Boating & Sailing

C

M

QATAR DIRECTORY Adventure tours and desert safaris

Al Mulla Travels, PO Box: 4147, Doha, Qatar, +974 44413488, almullatrvls@qatar.net.qa Alpha Tours, PO Box: 13530, Doha, Qatar, +974 4837815, info@alphatoursqatar.com Al QAYED Travel & Tours, PO Box: 158, Doha, Qatar, +974 44072244, www.alqayedtravel.com Arabian Adventures, PO Box: 4476, Doha, Qatar, +974 44361461, www.arabianadventureqatar.net Black Pearls Tourism Services, PO Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar East Marine, West Bay, Doha, Qatar, +974 55200078 E2E Qatar Travel and Tours, PO Box: 23563, Doha, Qatar, +974 44502521, www.e2eqatar.com Falcon Travels, PO Box: 22031, Doha, Qatar, +974 44354777, www.falcontravelqatar.com Gulf Adventures, 29, PO Box: 18180 Qatar, +974 44221888, www.gulf-adventures.com Net Tours Qatar, PO Box: 23080, Doha, Qatar, +974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa Regency Travel & Tours, +974 4434 4503/4718, www.regencyholidays.com Qatar Adventure, PO Box: 13915, Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561, www.qataradventure.com Qatar Desert Gate, Doha, PO Box: 18496 Ad Dawha, Qatar, +974 55594016, www.qatardesertgate.com Qatar Inbound Tours, PO Box: 21153, +974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com Qatar International Tours, PO Box: 55733 Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141, www.qittour.com Qatar Ventures, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679, www.qatar-ventures.com

Clubs

Cycling, Running & Triathlon Doha Sailing Club, Katara Beach +974 44439840/+974 55649995 www.qmsf.com

Qatar Chain Reaction, www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207 / +974 77776634, www.facebook.com/ QatarSandstormers Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/ groups/587539064642288/ Doha Bay Running Club, www.dohabayrunningclub.com TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.com

General Sports Equipment Megastores

Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44822194; Villagio Mall, Qatar: +974 44569143; Ezdan Mall, Qatar: +974 44922827, www.galaxysportqatar.com GO Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44631644; Villaggio Mall, Qatar: +974 44517574, www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar Sun & Sand Sports, City Centre Mall, Qatar: +974 44837007; Dar Al Salam Mall, Qatar: +974 44932973, www.sunandsandsports.com

Boating & Sailing

Equipment Regatta Sailing Academy, Katara Beach +974 55503484 www.regattasailingacademy.com Distributors and Dealers Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum Road, PO Box: 9145 Doha, Qatar, +974 44410109, www.speedmarinegroup.com

Horse Riding

Equestrian Clubs/Centres Al Shaqab, PO Box: 90055, Doha, Qatar, +974 44546320, www.alshaqab.com Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, Racing and Equestrian Club, PO Box: 7559, Doha, Qatar, +974 44197664, www.qrec.gov.qa

Diving

Equipment/Centres Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street (near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar, +974 44435626 Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club,

Add your free listing to the 74

OUTDOORUAE

PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar, +974 66304061, www.dohasubaquaclub.com Extreme Adventure, PO Box: 33002, Shop 3, 4 Ahmed Bin Ali Street (Bin Omran), Doha, Qatar, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44631644; Villagio Mall, Qatar: +974 44517574, www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar Pearl Divers, PO Box: 2489, Doha, Qatar, +974 44449553, www.pearl-divers.org Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2, PO Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar, +974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com Qatar Scuba Center, 187 Al Mansoura Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 66662277, www.qatarscubacenter.com Q Dive, Souq Al Najada cnr of Grand Hamad and Ali bin Abdulla Str.; Al-Odeid Aisle numbers 129-132, +974 55319507, www.qdive.net World Marine Centre, PO Box: 6944, Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989, www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com Pearl Divers, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street, Doha, Qatar, +974 4444 9553, www.pearl-divers.org Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2, PO Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar, +974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near Old Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 44313331, www.qatardivers.com Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center West Bay, PO Box: 16657, Doha, +974 553199507, www.qatarmarine.net Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 66662277 / +974 44422234, www.qatarscubacenter.com Qdive Marine Center, PO Box: 16657, Doha, Qatar, +974 44375065, www.qdive.net World Marine Centre, Old Salata Street, near the Qatar National Museum, Doha, Qatar, +974 55508177

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment, Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq,

+974 66724828 Y Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment, PO Box: 6449,Old Salata, Doha, Qatar, +974 CM 44444238, almamzoore@qatar.net.qa Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4 Ahmed Bin Ali Steet, Doha, +974 44877884, MY www.extreme.qa Fish World, PO Box: 1975, Doha, Qatar, CY +974 44340754 State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif, CMY next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234, www.stateofqatar.com K Operators Paddle Qatar, +974 55490895, www.paddleqatar.com Entalek, +974 3023 3207, www.entalek.org

Motocross & ATV’s Dealers

Qatar Adventures, Barwa Village, Building # 9 Shop # 11, Doha, Qatar, +974 77700074

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment, Operators Fly-N-Ride, Ras abu Aboud, Doha, +974 33117089, www.fly-n-ride.com Flo Kite School, Westbay, Doha, +974 55041039, www.flokiteschool.com Kitesurfing Qatar, +97430179108, www.kitesurfingqatar.com QSUP, Qanat Quartier, Costa Malaz, The Pearl-Qc, Doha, Qatar, +974 66602830, www.qsup.me

Cycling (Road & Off Road)

Bike Servicing, Equipment Carbon Wheels Bike Shop, Al Maha Center 10, Salwa Road, Doha, +974 44419048, www.facebook.com/CarbonWheelsQTR Flash Bike Shop, Mesaeed New Souq, Shop C.06, +974 6600 9116, www.flashbikeshop.com Skate Shack, Salwa Road, South Doha, +974 44692532, www.skate-shack.com Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, +974 44822194; Villaggio Mall, +974 4456 9143; Ezdan Mall, +974 4492 2827, www.galaxysportqatar.com; Sportswell, Salwa Road, South Doha, +974 40165155 / 40165156

ONLINE DIRECTORY

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