OutdoorUAE - December 2010 by OutdoorUAE

Editorial In Print: Managing Editor Daniel Birkhofer daniel@outdooruae.com Editor Kim Perks Marilena Cilta Graphic & Design James Russell For advertisement enquiries contact: Tel: 04-4472701 marketing@outdooruae.com Published by: Outdoor UAE FZE P.O. Box 215062 Dubai, U.A.E. Tel. 04-4472701 contact@outdooruae.com www.outdooruae.com Distributor: Abu Dhabi Media Company P.O. Box 40401, ABU DHABI Printed at: Al Reyami Printing P.O. Box 103828 Dubai, U.A.E. © 2010 Outdoor UAE FZE Reg. at Creative City Fujairah P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E. Issue #2 , 12/2010

The information contained is for general use only. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been obtained from reliable sources, however the publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in this magazine is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. In no event will the publisher, its related affiliates or anyone else be responsible for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine. All contents are under copyrights and may not be reproduced in any kind without written permission. © 2010 Outdoor UAE FZE

Reg. at Creative City Fujairah P.O. Box 4422, Fujairaj, U.A.E.

Issue #2 , 12/2010

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Usually I’m driving a big 4x4 - some of my friends call it a little tank. Driving such a big car is far from unusual in the UAE. Fuel is affordable (still), you have plenty of space and in my case I can drive off-road or tow a trailer. On the day that my car was in service, I took a cheap and very, very small car in exchange. When I got into the car it felt like driving an auto scooter or a kind of toy. Manouvering the car in a car park was very easy and it seemed to be huge – I was enjoying my first experience of driving such a small car. However, this changed immediately I entered the main road. All the other cars, especially buses, trucks and 4x4s appeared very scary from my point of view far below. Anyhow me, daredevil that I am, nudged the little toy just over the speed limit and moved to the left lane. Driving at my usual speed, I could see traffic ahead so I continued going with the flow in my lane. Suddenly I noticed someone flashing me from behind. When I checked my rearview mirror I couldn’t see a car or anything behind me… there was only this threatening black wall behind me. This wall was so close that it seemed to be attached to my car or I had the feeling it was already in my boot. Unfortunately there was traffic so I couldn’t move across one lane. Anyhow, it made no sense for the pushy guy in his huge 4x4 behind me to force me to move lanes as there were hundreds of other cars travelling at the same speed ahead of me. Threatened by my life I gave him space as soon as possible. Whilst big cars are made to go everywhere, this does not necessarily mean you always have to do this!. I live in a nice villa community with some grass between the two lanes. Unfortunately if you are driving from the supermarket you have to drive some hundred metres to make a U-turn. Some smart guys save seconds and take the direct way through the grass which results in ugly muddy destroyed terrain. What am I trying to say? The UAE had and still has experienced enormous growth in recent years. The community is growing more and more which is resulting in us sharing the same space with more people no matter on the road or off road. With a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T. from all of us life will be better or at least will not get worse. I’m talking not only about respect between each other also about respect for the environment and an undeniable responsibility for our future. Desert BBQs are a great thing especially now it’s winter time. However, the ugly truth is that every year the desert and all the other spots at the beach or the mountains get more and more dirty and you will find rubbish even in the loneliest place in the UAE. So before taking any action, spare a thought for the consequences to both yourself and others.

Daniel Birkhofer

Tips and Tricks

Stairway to Heaven

CONTENTS - December 2010

7 Day Travel

News

Contents4

Dragon Boats28

Arabian Leopard6

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge30

Products10

Outdoor People32

Tracking the elusive wild cat in Oman

Garmin GPS Map 62, Lifeventure Tritan Bottle, Salomon Quest 4d GTX Hiking Boot

7 Day Travel Tip12

7 day Backpacking Tour of Sri Lanka

Event Reviews18

Dragon Boating in the UAE

We meet Simon and Omar

A 4.500km Road Trip34

A roadtrip from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Salalah, Oman

Dubai International Rally, UAQ Fishing Competition, DIMC Dhow Race

Who says diving is like riding a bike?38

The essence of...24

Diving with Al Boom in Fujairah

Team building using the outdoors

News26

About OutdoorUAE42

How to add events to Outdoor UAE website

Swimming Like Dolphins44 Freediving in the UAE

Outdoor People

Salalah

A 4,500 km Roadtrip

Locations

Locations48

Sal Hamdan, Al Hayl, Dive spots in Musandam

Stairway to Heaven52 A mountain hike through RAK

Tips and Tricks56

Lens aperture and shutter speed, making fire and packing your back pack

Event Schedule62

Dubai Int. Rally

ÂŠ James Russell

Arabian Leopard

Arabian Leopard Tracking the elusive wild cat

the plane descends towards

delight and we never tire of seeing camels and goats

Salalah airport in southern

grazing by the sides of the roads.

Oman, I gaze down over the rugged but beautiful Dhofar

The Land Rovers arrive at the edge of Wadi Uyun, our

Mountains. It seems hard to believe that life exists

base camp for two weeks. We all pile out and take in

here as there is little vegetation or water, but once on

a great photo opportunity, the first of many that seem

the ground and heading to base camp in a convoy of

to get more beautiful as the days go by. Below us lies

Land Rovers and pick-ups, fragrant Frankincense and

the wide wadi, littered with vegetation, and the stillness

spiky Acacia trees dot the rough, desolate slopes of the

is only broken by a few camels, and a fleeting glimpse

wadis (dry river beds). Regular shouts of “look there’s a

of ibex. The excitement and anticipation to get going

camel” or disbelief as a group of camels amble across

is evident so the vehicles head down into the wadi and

the road, oblivious to the traffic, fill the Land Rovers.

we catch our first sighting of the dome tents and main

Local Omanis are used to these sights, flicking their

Bedu tent.

hazard lights on to warn drivers, but for us, it’s a real This is the first day on the Biosphere Expeditions Arabian Leopard project in the Dhofar Mountains. For most of the volunteers, myself included, this is a unique opportunity to participate in scientific research with little or no previous knowledge or experience, but still provide an invaluable role in collecting data and monitoring the

“

On our conservation expeditions

you will explore fascinating parts of the world, have fun, a lifetime ad-

venture and a real hands-on experience of working on wildlife conservation volunteering projects. © Biosphere

”

“

During the training days, there is also an opportunity for off-road driving.

”

Arabian Leopard

searches for leopard signs and attempts to camera trap the animals in prime leopard habitat, completing a wildlife inventory of the area, strengthening ties with local people and investigating historical records of leopard presence. We all quickly settle into camp life, enjoying the, almost predictable, warm sunshine and blue skies, and figuring out the washing and toilet

facilities. We spend the first couple of days star-

presence of the Arabian Leopard and their prey species

ing at examples of the scat of the leopard and its prey

in the mountains areas. As the Biosphere Expeditions

species, pictures of animal prints, and getting familiar

website states:

with GPS’ and compasses. I don’t think any of us imagined we would all be so fixated by poo, and be

Plus, I’m with a great group of people from around

happy to spend the next few days staring at the ground

the world, I’m visiting places that I would never have

and cheerfully collecting any samples. Our interest in

normally considered visiting, and playing a small but

the work is inspired by Tessa McGregor, the infectiously

important part in this conservation project.

enthusiastic scientist; Khalid the local guide who plays a vital role as guide, translator, and representative for

The Arabian Leopard, known locally as the Nimr, is the

his country, working tirelessly; and Ronald Seipold, the

largest surviving cat species of Arabia. Listed as “criti-

encouraging and good-humoured expedition leader.

cally endangered” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species, the Office of the Advisor for Conservation of the Environment of the Diwan of Royal Court began a survey of the Arabian leopard in Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve in the Dhofar in 1997, where a strong population has been shown to exist. The areas outside Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve, however, are virtually unstudied and Biosphere Expeditions has been asked by the Omani Diwan of Royal Court to survey these areas for leopard and its prey species. The expedition

Arabian Leopard All three patiently and good-naturedly spend time guiding us through our jobs for the next two weeks, always

Each day groups head to different locations, carefully

happy to answer any questions, and their enthusiasm

chosen by Khalid and Tessa so that our time is best uti-

and passion for the expedition is clearly evident. Dur-

lised. One survey day involves a long drive to a narrow

ing the training days, there is also an opportunity for

gorge that is only accessible by a steep scramble down

off-road driving, a chance readily accepted by many of

the wadi sides. The brave volunteers who join Tessa,

the volunteers, who quickly become competent off-road

Khalid and Ronald are rewarded with the discovery of

drivers.

a long trail of leopard tracks (a female with a cub), four scrapes with two faeces (one for sure leopard) and a

After the initial training, we are split into small groups

scent mark! A real find and proof of Arabian Leopard

and let loose in the ‘field’ to put out our scat and track

presence or in Tessa’s words: “I have never ever had

spotting skills to the test. All the surveys are carried out

so many leopard findings to state on one data sheet!”

in wadis and gorges surrounding Uyun but most require

Alongside the surveying, human interaction and sight-

a journey in the Land Rover to reach (the vehicles make

ings of the leopard and its prey species is of great

easy work of the uneven surfaces and steep slopes).

importance to the research, and further evidence and

On our first surveying day we travel up Wadi Uyun in

information is gained through interviews with local camel

the vehicles, and then spread out over the wadi floor,

herders and communities. We visit a number of herders

gazing intently at the ground for signs of scat, tracks,

and all are very welcoming to us, inviting us to share

remains of prey kill, fur balls or any other evidence that

frothy glasses of camel’s milk and sweet tea. These

proves the presence of the Arabian Leopard. We have

interviews are significant in gaining information on any

success with several tracks found including Blandford’s

sightings of Arabian Leopards and also in educating the

fox, porcupine, rock hyrax, ibex and gazelle. Seeing the

people about the lack of danger posed by the leopards

tracks on the ground gives a real sense of achievement,

to their herds.

and we all gaze more intently at the ground for further signs.

Findings are recorded on data sheets, photos

All too quickly the two weeks pass and we are packing

taken if appropriate and this information is then collated

up the tents, and taking our last photos of the resident

back at base camp, with a feedback each evening

camels who wander through the camp most days, un-

before dinner on that days’ findings.

I have never ever had so many “leopard findings to state on one data sheet!

©Biosphere

”

Arabian Leopard

bothered by the sudden flurry of cameras as numerous photos are taken – well how often do you have breakfast or dinner with a camel?! We are all reluctant to leave the wadi, though as a final farewell on our journey back to Salalah we witness six vultures and two eagles feasting on the remains of a goat.

I’m sure many of us

will be back to this beautiful part of the world. Katie Bunting. This expedition runs between 6 - 18 February and 20 February - 4 March 2011 (12 nights). More information at www.biosphere-expeditions.org/oman

Info: The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is a leopard subspecies native to the Arabian Peninsula and considered critically endangered with less than 200 animals remaining in 2006. Classified as endangered in 1994 and as critically endangered in 1996 the Arabian Leopard is listed in the Appendix I of CITES. The Arabian leopard is the smallest leopard subspecies. The leopard Panthera pardus is one of the most widely distributed and adaptable big cats in Oman. This cat has pelage hues that vary from pale yellow to deep golden or tawny and are patterned with rosettes. At about 30 kg (65 pounds) for the male and around 20 kg (45 pounds) for the female, the Arabian leopard is much smaller than all of the African Leopard and Asian subspecies. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Leopard

Products

New Garmin GPS Map 62 Series The GPS Map 60 series was very successful and one of the best outdoor GPS in market. User-friendly and very solid even at Middle Eastern temperatures. The new series is coming along with all the features of the old series but of course also

use them. This service is free and compatible with MAC and PC. Bird’s Eye Satellite imagery is another ad on to the new features which will require a subscription to this service, but it’s providing you access to a worldwide database of high-resolution imagery to use with your Garmin GPS. Garmins Base-Camp software allows you to use your device with the selected satellite image to explore the terrain as if it is a normal map (check

with some new features. Shock, dust and

out www.garmin.com myGarmin)

even waterproof and ergonomic in the hand, that the GPS Map 62, the perfect

Data can be saved on microSD or

all-round GPS for amateurs and profes-

directly to the huge 1,7GB internal

sionals. Only 260.1g light and 6.1 x

memory.

16.0 x 3.6 cm the GPS Map 62 with

Also new is the data transfer between

its typical external antenna, is offering

the handhelds directly and compatibil-

everything you need. The target group

ity with other Garmin accessories like

is usually hikers and mountaineers but

rate beat monitor (62S / 62ST)

it’s also doing a great job in the car or on the boat.

Features: World base map installed | Ability

The series has 3 model, all of them are

to add maps | Build-in memory

coming with a 2.6” 65000colour LCD

1,7GB (500MB 62st) | Micro SC

display which is easy to read even in

(62s, 62st) | Saves up to 2000

bright sunlight. The new powerful Bravo

waypoint, favorites, locations |

4 processor allows fast and smooth

Saves up to 200routes | Track

data processing as well as management

Log up to 10000point, 200 tracks

of map images.

| Automatic routing (with optional maps) | Compass (62s, 62st) |

Use your own maps for navigation! You

Barometric altimeter (62s, 62st) |

can load own maps and satellite images

Photo navigation with geo-tagged

(jpg) onto the device and maintain an

photos | Custom maps compatible

accurate navigation which is call Custom

| Geocaching | Hunt/fish calendar |

Maps Service. The files need to be geo-

Sun and moon information | Tide

referenced with Google-Earth (aligning

tables | Area calculation | Ability

reference points) before it’s possible to

to add additional points of interest | Unit to Unit transfer (62s, 62st) |

GavarnieTreeking Pole

Garmin Connect™ (62s, 62st)

Price: 95 AED Available at: GoSport Ibn Battuta Mall (04-3685344), Mall of the Emirates (043413251) and Mirdiff City Centre (04-2843034) Manufacturer’s Website: www.go-sport.com Info: This four-season pole adjusts easily with our twist Locks to match any activity. The rubber grip fits all hands. trekking-poles extendable to 145cm max length min length 70cm. Weight about 400g per piece. Including 50mm baskets for trekking poles and tip protector for added grip and noise and terrain scarring reduction The sticks are sold per piece and not as pair.

Lifeventure Tritan bottle 500ml Price: 60 AED Available at: GoSport Ibn Battuta Mall (04-3685344), Mall of the Emirates (04-3413251) and Mirdiff City Centre (04-2843034) Manufacturer’s Website: www.lifeventure.co.uk Info: Made from an extremely tough copolyester that is almost impossible to break, makes this the ideal outdoor and travel water bottle. Single walled and translucent the Tritan® material does not retain flavours from previous drinks, so is odourless and tasteless. Capacity 500 ml Dimensions 80 x 80 x 180 mm Weight 110g

Salomon Quest 4d GTX Hiking Boot Price: 850 AED Available at: GoSport Ibn Battuta Mall (04-3685344), Mall of the Emirates (04-3413251) and Mirdiff City Centre (04-2843034) Manufacturer’s Website: www.salomonsports.com Info: Lightweight (1300g) walking and trekking boot with nylon fabric and suede uppers, Gore-Tex membrane liner, rubber toe caps and heel stabiliser, dual-density EVA midsole, 4D Advanced Chassis, Salomon Contragrip rubber outsole. Available in both men’s and women’s versions and different colors.

Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp Price: 185 AED Available at: GoSport Ibn Battuta Mall (04-3685344), Mall of the Emirates (04-3413251) and Mirdiff City Centre (04-2843034) Manufacturer’s Website: www.princetontec.com Info: At a mere 96 grams and the ability to use lithium AAA batteries the Quad is easily the lightest headlamp. Four Regulated Ultrabright LEDs illuminate even the darkest of outdoor conditions with a powerful and wide beam. Including the benefits of an O-ring seal, a battery meter, a separately molded battery compartment, and high-grade materials makes the Quad one of the best headlamps for working around camp,dark trail runs, and work spaces. 45Lumens 4 LEDs BURN TIME105 Hours WEIGHT96 Grams

Products

Where Heaven touches the earth

Sri Lanka

Travel Tip XXL - 7days backpacking tour trough Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Facts: Capital:

Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte

Language:

Sinhala, Tamil

Area:

65,610km²

Population: 20,2 Million Density:

308,4 people per km²

GDP:

$102.537 billion

Per Capita: $5.025 Time Zone: GMT +5:30 / to U.A.E. +1:30 hours

ri Lanka has been troubled over recent years with instability and civil war. Since 2008 the situation with the Tamil rebels in the north has quietened and there have been no terrorist attacks. However, the situation is not resolved although the country is heading in the right direction with political stability in the country allowing and attracting more tourist development. Sri Lanka is rich in history and is influenced by many different cultures and religions. With tropical vegetation, beautiful beaches and impressive mountain scenery Sri Lanka has plenty to offer. The income levels in Sri Lanka are still very low and poverty is rife. Apart from the tourist hotspots travelling in Sri Lanka is cheap and the locals are friendly and helpful who understand and speak English even in remote locations. A flight time of only 4.5hrs from Dubai to Colombo is reason enough to visit this country. Saturday We took an early flight from Dubai to Colombo, so that we could use the first day to arrange our journey in Sri Lanka. The flight time was about 4.5hrs and we arrived around 2pm at Colombo Airport (GPS N07°10.509 E079°53.293) which is about 30km out of the city. We planned to use different means of transportation so we decided not to use one of taxis on offer to the city. You will be told that there are no buses or that it is very complicated to reach Colombo. Don’t believe everything you are told ;-). We left the airport without any fixed transportation and also no clue how to reach the city. We asked the driver of the first bus we saw in front of the airport terminal if he was going to Colombo. We understood that we would have to change buses somewhere in order to reach Colombo. In the bus we asked some travellers (don’t expect tourists) for more information and the very friendly passengers explained to us where to change buses, which was actually after a short drive which was free of charge. The bus ride was not luxurious but it only took about an hour.

Traffic:

drive on the left

Tel code:

0094

Currency:

1AED = 30 LKR

Compared to the airport taxi of $25 we paid only $3 for two bus tickets. We hopped out of the bus at the main bus station in Colombo (GPS N06°56.020 E079°51.282). With so much success travelling by intuition we decided to try and find our hotel walking. In fact, we had no clue where we really were or where the hotel was, but we new roughly which area from pictures on the hotels’ website. So by asking our way we reached the hotel (Cinamon Lakeside $100 / GPS N06°55.712 E079°50.961) after walking for only 15 minutes. It is best to ask more than one person and make your own judgement based on the information. You might fail but that’s the fun if you want to travel without a fixed schedule. We planned a route with the sights and place we wanted to see. We wanted to decide on how to reach our destination and where to stay whilst travelling. Our challenge was to see many places in only one week. Colombo was not on our list and served only as a starting point. We were not interested in huge cities but more in culture and the countryside (although Colombo does have some interesting sights). After checking into our hotel room we explored the city by foot and a three-wheeler. Our short trip convinced us that our decision not to spend too much time in the capital was the right one!. Sunday After a relaxing night in the hotel and a great breakfast we took our backpacks and walked back to the main bus station (GPS N06°56.020 E079°51.282). There are plenty of guides and drivers offering their services. We turned down all their offers and decided after our first successful bus ride to do the same again. We asked our way to the bus heading to Dambulla from where we planned to continue to Sigiriya. If you want to get the spirit of a country and the people, take public transportation. There are different types of buses and classes, so we decided to travel like the local people in the lowest class, with no AC, no pee breaks for 5 hours and

Sri Lanka depending on the route (usually always) the bus is packed with people so you will feel a little bit like a sardine in a can. Still for us it was a great experience and a fun ride. Before the bus left, traders came on board trying to sell all kinds of goods, from food and drinks to toys and big posters. “Driving is quite different over here.” The bus maneuvered through the traffic with skill but too fast, shaking from right to left. Our rollercoaster ride was only disturbed by sudden stops. Anyhow the conditions of the roads and traffic – everything is on the road, bicycles, people, motorbikes, chicken, cows, goats, cars, trucks and busses – doesn’t allow high speeds. I guess we never drove faster than 70km/ hr but it felt like being shaken like a nut shell on a rough river - 50km/hr felt like high speed travelling. The many sudden stops for people entering or leaving the bus didn’t help to decrease our travelling time. Before getting on the bus, you should be prepared that the journey will not be quick and comfortable - it will be a journey of experience. After 5hrs we reached Dambulla (about 150km) at 4pm (GPS bus stop N07°40.194 E080°31.658).

want to get the spirit “ Ifofyou a country and the people, take public transportation. ” After 5hrs on the bus without a break, our needs were obvious. We went into the first restaurant we saw, with the common beautiful open kitchen, latest fashion plastic chairs and plastic table covers… no details about the toilet. But amazingly, even though that these places don’t promise much, the food is great. We knew about the risk of getting diarrhea but hungry for food and new experiences it was a risk we were willing to take. While entering the restaurant we were asked by some three-wheeler drivers where we were heading next and they offered us to drive us there. The average cost was about $6,50 for the 30km to Sigiriya, our final destination of this day. On the way into the restaurant we had already started to negotiate the price just to compare it to the bus ride (again only 4$ for the two of us for 170km drive). Of course we felt that the prices offered at first were too high. During our late lunch, rice, chicken and curry, we discussed what to do. With were keen to see the famous cave temples in Dambulla and the rock temple and palace in Sigiriya. We decided to go with the guy who wanted to accept our offer of $4. We made it a condition that he had to drop us first to the temple in Dambulla before making our way to Sigiriya. He accepted and dropped us about 3 minutes from the bus stop near the temple (GPS N07°51.370 N080°38.938). Even though we felt uncomfortable we left our backpacks with the driver in his three-wheeler and went to the temple.

Dambulla Cave Temple: It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160m over the surrounding plains. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life.

www.wikipedia.org

The temple is worth a visit and a stop-over on the way to Siringia for 1-2hrs is enough to climb the hill and visit the caves. The views during sunset are breathtaking. We were a little bit unsure if the guy would still be there with our backpacks. Anyhow we had kept all our valuables with us. We were relieved when we saw him waiting for us. It was dark by the time we left and the driver offered to go via a nearby lake and we accepted. He was actually a very friendly guy and spoke very good English – but still we kept our little suspicions. In general I believe and want to believe the good in people but I’m not naïve and always try to calculate the risk. After a short stop by the lake he asked us if he could show us some good accommodation close to Sigiriya. Without a place to stay we accepted but soon began to regret this. It was already dark and the road was getting narrower and narrower, and we felt that we were moving further and further away from civilization. The road was already so narrow that I guessed only a three-wheeler could driver there – ‘a track’ would have been better. Apart from being much smaller than a bus, the three-wheeler provides a similar kind of driving experience – shaky, shaky, shaky. But you feel very light and about to lift up in the air, compared to the bus. Answering our question how much longer it will take he replied for the tenth time “Only five minutes Sir!” Suddenly he made a hard turn to the right and we arrived in a small courtyard in the middle of the jungle. He proved our suspicions wrong again. The guest house was very nice and in a perfect remote location for a quiet get-away. The rooms were clean and the highlight was a tree house within the jungle where you could have your dinner. Anyhow we decided it was a little bit too ‘remote’ for us and we weren’t sure how far away from Sigiriya we were having spent 1.5hrs in the three-wheeler. So we told the driver that we’d rather go to Sigiriya. He seemed a little bit disappointed but still very friendly. It took us another 30 minutes to reach Sigiriya and as the tracks became roads we became more confident. The main road to Sigiriya was still bad - small and without any lighting. With nowhere to stay we asked the driver to stop at some place to check prices and facilities. Due to the affordability we told him we would prefer a hotel rather than a guest house. Unfortunately the only hotel I had looked up in advance was the Sigiriya Hotel which supposedly cost $60 per night. As usual demand and supply drives the price and the bookings in Sigiriya. This weekend with the season starting, the price had almost tripled. We got upset and decided not to stay there. It took about an hour to find a decent place to stay. Our driver was very friendly, helpful and patient during our search. The price range for rooms was between $15 and $140 depending on your needs. We opted for a hotel with 9rooms in small huts for $50 per night including breakfast. (Sigiriya View $50 per room / GPS N07°57.357 E080°44.601) The rooms are simple but clean with AC and hot water. After being so helpful and nice we decided to give the driver $10 instead of the agreed $4. “While travelling in countries with a low income level, you should check in advance or during the first days the price level for certain things. Even if some prices are cheap compared to what we are used to, you always should put prices in relation to the local incomes. (e.g. worker on a tea plant $5/day) Tourists will always pay more than locals, but if you are not careful they will ask for incredibly increased prices.” We had some more good local curry and planned our next day. While discussing our traveling options to our next destination Kandy and Nuwara Eliya in the Mountains with the hotel manager he told us that there is only one direct bus leaving to Kandy from Sigiriya early in the morning. It is a drive of about 4hrs so we decided to spend the next day in Sigiriya and continue early the following morning. The hotel manager who spoke good English – actually you will always find people who speak English which makes travelling very easy – asked us if we would be interested in going to the Kaudulla National Park (GPS N08°08.036 E080°52.673) to see wild elephants after our trip to the rock. This was not part of our plan but we thought “Why not?”. The trip was supposed to cost only $50 for both of us and we would be picked up and dropped back by jeep. We agreed to be picked up the next day at 2:30pm to see the elephants. We went to bed and I was looking forward to the next day - our first day hiking and everything that was awaiting us.

Sri Lanka Monday After a good sleep in the jungle, we had our breakfast and headed towards Sigiriya rock. Luckily the entrance of the temple was so close that we could walk (about 2km). It was finally the first day we carried small backpacks and travelled by foot. The scenery was quite impressive; fresh and juicy green, bananas, mangos and other fruits all along the way and lots of butterflies, big monitor lizards, monkeys and unfortunately many wild dogs. The warning signboards and stories about wild elephants were to us more interesting than frightening. I guess if we had met one of these giants along the way I would have changed my opinion. The palace was visible directly from the hotel and it was easy to find. We entered the area at the main gate where there is also a museum. Entrance per person is $26. The fortress was surrounded by a defensive moat. After passing the bridge, we entered the ruins and a feeling of Indiana Jones overcame us. There is nothing more to say - the whole area is simply amazing and there is so much to discover. Even though it was tough we made our way more or less straight to the top. The path leads directly into the steep walls of the rock and you can see from afar the manmade steps and ways to the top. The last passage before reaching the top is the most interesting one. The metal steps are very rusty and do not look trustworthy, especially if you look down on one side. During the rainy

season the steps get very slippery, which makes the last descent even more interesting and challenging if you are not confident with heights. All along the way you see the old steps used in ancient times and you can imagine what an acrobatic act it was to reach the palace on top of the rock in this time. Building this whole city with the techniques and abilities available in those times is incredible. From the top of the rock you have an amazing view over the whole surrounding area and the green carpet of jungle behind the rock. There are only a few low walls remaining from the palace but the size of the whole structure and the location is the highlight. It took us about 2 hours from the hotel to reach the top (about 3.5km) (GPS N07°57.410 E080°45.596) including breaks. The hike is actually not physically challenging but you should take enough water and some rain protection with you. Temperatures and humidity are quite high so you will sweat a lot. After reaching the peak we went straight back to the hotel, because this place captured our imaginations and we spend more time here than expected. When we arrived back at the hotel, the jeep for our next trip was already waiting. We just dropped some stuff we no longer needed in the room and left at 2:30pm for the national park. The jeep was one of the older models and the drive was as usual very shaky and bumpy. The seats

Sigiriya (Lion’s rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times. It was used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 5th century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist Sangha. The garden and palace were built by King Kasyapa. Following King Kasyapa’s death, it was again a monastery complex up to about the 14th century, after which it was abandoned. Alternative stories have the primary builder of Sigiriya as King Dhatusena, with Kasyapa finishing the work in honour of his father. Still other stories have Kasyapa as a playboy king, with Sigiriya a pleasure palace. Even Kasyapa’s eventual fate is mutable. In some versions he is assassinated by poison administered by a concubine. In others he cuts his own throat when isolated in his final battle. Still further interpretations have the site as the work of a Buddhist community, with no military function at all. This site may have been important in the competition between the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist traditions in ancient Sri Lanka.

www.wikipedia.org

Sri Lanka were simple benches at the back of the jeep so that you could feel the wooden board on each bump – and there are plenty of those! The drive to the park took us about an hour through a very pleasant landscape. Arriving at the national park we were surprised that the price we had paid was only for the car and did not include the entrance fee which was very high. Locals pay only a small amount of the tourist prices. So we ended up spending actually double the price we had expected. Apart from elephants the national park does not offer much more than the jungle behind the hotel. We felt a little bit strange and uncomfortable when we joined a convoy of jeeps on the hunt for some pictures of elephants. It is still a great experience to see wild elephants in their natural habitat,and not behind bars. I also had the feeling that they hadn’t been disturbed by us and the entrance fees we paid are for their own good to protect and preserve this park and the living space of these animals. Despite a successful hunt, seeing the elephants and getting our pictures taken, we still had the bitter taste of paying a bit too much and compared with the breathtaking morning we returned a little disappointed.

We arrived back at the hotel at about 7:30pm and starving after being on the road the whole day and missing lunch. To avoid an unpleasant surprise like ours, always ask before starting a trip if the prices quoted includes all expenses. We decided to eat out and to save money on a three-wheeler, walked in the dark to the village. “Not a good idea!” First we underestimated the distance, second as mentioned before it was pitch black and there is not much along the road apart from jungle. The torch we had was very helpful but most scary were the wild dogs barking continually from somewhere. Sometimes one of the dogs came close and followed us a bit. During the day hike we had our trekking poles which are quite useful for keeping dogs at a distance. After an unexpected 30-40 minute walk we reached the main road which was busier with some motorbikes and three-wheelers passing from time to time. We decided to take the first possible three-wheeler which didn’t take too long. Of course the first thing we were told “Very dangerous at night, wild elephant!” Again I was not worried about elephants but much more by the passenger who was already sitting in the back of the three-wheeler. Usually I wouldn’t have taken this chance but we weren’t sure when the next three-wheeler would come along. So we squeezed into the back and I notice straight away that our fellow passenger was drunk. Again uncertain about our driver and his companion we reached our destination without trouble or incident. As usual the driver tried to tell us that he was the only one who could pick us up later that night, but we didn’t book him. We had a buffet dinner in a big hotel which filled our empty stomachs. For our return trip we asked the receptionist to order us a three-wheeler. (Don’t be silly like us - the three-wheeler is $2, only walk at night if you want a bit of a thrill). Also the next creative driver who picked us up (of course it was not a problem getting a ride back) told us a story that the bus we wanted to take for the next morning was broken and would not leave the village. However, he could drive us the 3-4hrs in his three-wheeler. Already wise to the experience, we said no and went to bed. Tuesday The next morning we got up early to catch the only bus going directly to Kandy at 6:30am. Luckily it was light when we left the hotel and fog climbed up the trees and the grass. Having learnt from the night before, we were armed

with our trekking poles for protection against the dogs. With some daylight the way was not so scary but we were quite surprised by the distance (about 2-3km). On reaching the junction with the main road, we saw the small bus stop where some people were already waiting. This was a good sign that our intuition was right and the bus would go. With Sigiriya as first stop we were hoping for seats, but weren’t lucky. So our journey on the bus started with us squeezed like sardines again but this time standing. We had no breakfast and couldn’t see the road like during our first bus journey. Also it was the morning bus which was full of school kids and people going to work, so the bus stopped every couple of minutes. I guess a boat trip during a storm would have been more comfortable. It didn’t take long before my girlfriend got travel sick. After 30 min drive she had to make her way to the door which is always open to be sick out of the moving bus. The other passengers found this incident very entertaining. Of course the only two tourists on the bus, can’t handle local driving skills :-D. The conductor was quite nice and also a little bit afraid that she might fall out of the door. He pulled her back in and made space for her to get some rest. The next 2.5hrs drive must have been a nightmare for her but she stayed on board. On reaching the mountains the drive got wortse, but we both survived and reached Kandy (bus tickets $2 per person). We had no real plan in place as to how to continue from here, but we knew this was our last bus ride – at least for this day. Based on how sick my girlfriend was feeling, we

Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth The monumental ensemble of Kandy is an example of construction that associates the Royal Palace and The Temple of the Tooth is the place that houses the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Originally part of the Royal Palace complex of the Kandyan Kingdom, it is one of the holiest places of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhists around the world. The Palace of the Tooth relic, the palace complex and the holy city of Kandy are associated with the history of the dissemination of Buddhism. www.wikipedia.org

skipped a visit to one of the most famous temples in Sri Lanka. After some coffee we decided to continue by train and went to the train station (GPS N07°17.400 E080°37.900). Luckily we were early because there are not many trains leaving, but we were able to catch one of the two trains going to Nanu Oya. We had to change trains once at Peradeniya Junction (GPS N07°15.438 E080°35.408). Train tickets are very cheap ($1,5 person) and there are three classes. The first class is usually booked out if you try to buy a ticket directly in Kandy. So we took the usual 2nd class ticket. While waiting for our connecting train we were told that it’s possible to bribe the train conductor and get seats in first class. After our morning nightmare we wanted to try that sneaky tactic and went to the first class. We found some seats and when the conductor came we started to negotiate but he simply asked too much ($7 person) for what the first class was offering. Actually the seat are very simple, old and used, covered with fabric, so nothing worth paying for. So we had to leave the first class and return to the second class. The weather was nice and the doors of the train are always open so we chose in my opinion the best place in the train and took a seat in one of the doorways. The train went very slowly especially while descending the mountains giving you the perfect opportunity to watch the scenery passing by or take pictures. Everything seems not so far removed from colonial times and travelling by train feels like being in a different world or time. The drive from Kandy to Nanu Oya took a long time 4,5hrs but there is plenty to see. The vegetation changes on the way from jungle to woods and tea plantations in the mountains. If you have the time to travel slowly take the train! We arrived at 5pm in Nanu Oya which is actually a 20 min drive from our destination Nuwara Eliya, known as little England. Nuwara Eliya was the only place where we were sure about our hotel which had

Sri Lanka been recommended to us. On arrival at the train station a guide offered us a ride to the village for a very good price ($3 for the taxi) so I accepted right away. The guide was a very nice and friendly guy, who told us all about the region, himself, the history… We had the feeling that Gihan was a good and honest guy which proved right later on. He offered us his guesthouse but didn’t try to talk us out of going to our chosen accommodation. Actually the info he gave us was honest and true. We told him about our travel plans and he gave us some good advice, so we decided to take his number and use his service again. Our hotel was the Hill Club ($95 per room / GPS N06°58.239 E080°45.837) which is an historical building previously used

the time “ If youtohave travel slowly take the train!

”

Nuwara Eliya meaning “city on the plain (table land)” or “city of light”, is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868m and is considered to

open fire on a couch the age of a great grand mother. Wednesday The breakfast was no surprise after the evening but the ambience in the old building was great. Nuwara Eliya is quite cold compared to the rest of the country so be prepared. After arriving when it was almost dark we went to explore the village this morning. Apart from a few buildings like the clubhouse, there is not much left of so called little England. But definitely worth a visit is the Victoria Park which is a beautiful place for a morning walk. (Entrance $1) We returned back to the hotel to vacate our rooms at noon. We called Gihan for a ride to our next place Dalhousie the starting point for the longest hike on our route. He told us on the way there we could stop at a tea plantation, a tea factory and would see some huge waterfalls. This and the fact that we were unable to travel by bus anymore meant we paide $60 for a taxi ride over there. When we left the hotel it started to rain heavily so we couldn’t see much of the scenery. We stopped at a place called tea castle which is not actually a factory, but more of a sales centre. However, it was very interesting and we learned a lot about tea and of course also purchased as much as we could squeeze in our backpacks. Unfortunately the waterfalls were covered in cloud and rain so we couldn’t see them properly. It took us about 4 hours to reach Dalhousie Gihan and his driver left after dropping us at his recommended guesthouse. The ride was far from ideal if you suffer from travel sickness, but is unavoidable if you want to reach this place. It was still raining and already dark so all we did was eat and sleep. I checked with the manager of the guesthouse for the way, weather and rented 2 rain jackets ($1 each) just in case.

be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city was founded by non other than illustrious Samuel Baker, the legendary discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846. Such was the salubrious climate that in no time Nuwara Eliya became the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Nuwara Eliya, called Little England then, was also the ideal hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse themselves in their pastimes of fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket. Many of the buildings retain features from the colonial period such as the Queen’s Cottage, General’s House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club, Town Post Office and

victoria park

even new hotels are often built and furnished in the colonial style. www.wikipedia.org

as club house by the English Colonial forces. The building and its interior seemed to survive decades without change, giving a very nice splendour of colonial living to this place. The atmosphere is strange giving a taste of English Royalty in the middle of Sri Lanka. The evening dinner is quite famous and the reason why we chose this place. The rules of a strict dress code and the history of the building led to our expectations for the dinner. Honestly the rules are not so strict and you can borrow jackets and ties there for free. So I ended up in a nice combination of hiking shoes, khaki military trousers, white polo shirt and a brown suite with an ugly tie! Somehow women always find something suitable for any event even if you travel with light backpacks. The dinner is different than might be expected but it’s an experience of its own. It is so weird but very cute, how the staff is trying to keep something alive for times long gone. Don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the charade. We ended the evening with tea served with white gloves in front of the carmine, with an

The online info we got via SMS from a friend in Dubai was forecasting rain, the locals told us there would be no rain, full of optimism and smiles. Thursday After dinner we went early to bed, to be ready to get up at 2am and climb Adams Peak. Luckily it had stopped raining and we kept our optimism even though the online weather forecast was saying it would rain during our descent the next day. Ready to sleep at 9pm we heard some dogs barking outside. Still optimistic we thought it will only be for a few minutes. Unluckily the only thing that lasted for a few minutes was silence. Anyhow we managed to sleep until around midnight when a dog started barking continuously. I hoped that the dog would stop eventually, but sadly he barked non-stop until 2am – no wake up call required! Actually I was relieved to stop trying to sleep. We had packed our kit the day before and were equipped for all eventualities. As soon as we left the room the dog stopped barking. It was still dark with only a few clouds – god bless. We met with some other people who had the same destination like us – Adams Peak. During the season the small village Dalhousie is busy and the whole way up to the peak is lit. You will find small huts selling water, tea, snacks and souvenirs along the route. Off season you will find none of that, but you would have the path and steps to yourself and wouldn’t need to squeeze and push. Making the early ascent like us to catch the sunrise at the peak, means walking up in pitch black on rough terrain and slippery steps. Torches and enough water are essential. The usual rain

Adam’s Peak is a 2,243 metre tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well-known for the Sri Pada “sacred footprint”, a 1.8m rock formation near the summit, in Buddhist tradition held to be the footprint of the Buddha, that of Shiva and that of Adam. It is revered as a holy site by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. It has specific qualities that cause it to stand out and be noticed; including its dominant and outstanding profile, and the boulder at the peak that contains an indentation resembling a footprint. This elevation is chiefly remarkable as the resort of pilgrims from all parts of the East. It is an important pilgrimage site, especially for Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims walk up the mountain, following a variety of routes up thousands of steps. The journey takes several hours at least. The peak pilgrimage season is in April, and the goal is to be on top of the mountain at sunrise, when the distinctive shape of the mountain casts a triangular shadow on the surrounding plain and can be seen to move quickly downward as the sun rises. Climbing at night can be a remarkable experience, with the lights of the path leading up and into the stars overhead. There are rest stops along the way. The mountain is most often scaled from December to May. During other months it is hard to climb the mountain due to very heavy rain, extreme wind, and thick mist. Buddhists say that the footprint mark is the left foot of the Buddha, left behind as he strode away, the right footprint being (depending on legend) in Amphoe Phra Phutthabat, Saraburi Province, located about 150 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, Thailand. This place is called in Thai Phra Bat or Phra Phutthabat.Tamil Hindus think it is the footprint of Shiva.Muslims and Christians in Sri Lanka ascribe it to where Adam, the first Ancestor, set foot as he was exiled from the Garden of Eden. The legends of Adam are connected to the idea that Sri Lanka was the original Eden.

Sri Lanka

www.wikipedia.org

protection should also be with you. Long trousers are also a good idea to be protected from the leaches which are all along the way in the grass (guess who got the only leach – not me!). The route goes more or less straight up, on thousands of steps on a stretch of about 6km from the village to the top and a 950m elevation. This hike is not an easy one - don’t underestimate the steps which vary a lot in height and step-length. The steps actually start after the first quarter and then seem to never end and get steeper and steeper. 2,5-3hours is a realistic and normal time to reach the summit if you are relatively fit. If you are not a pilgrim, you should definitely reach the top for sunrise. It’s an amazing experience to see the colorful rise of the sun from the peak (GPS N06°48.555 E080°29.965) with a 360° view over the jungle and the cities in the distance. Most of the jungle is covered in clouds which start rising after the sun is up. All the pain walking up there is worth it for the experience. Maybe I should not mention going down is not much more fun than climbing up. But now walking in daylight you could see the amazing jungle scenery with breathtaking waterfalls. Usually you should make your way down a bit faster than the way up. After a good and well portioned breakfast in our guesthouse (GPS N06°49.561 E080°31.361) we organized a taxi to get to the beach faster. The taxi (7seater bus) is about 10-12.000rupi $110 to Bentota and takes about 5 hrs. If you have time you can reach Bentota for about $5 via bus and train but it will take you a full day or even more. Friday – Sunday The coast is much more popular with tourists and finding a place to stay is easy. The beaches are amazingly beautiful, and that was all that we need after the last days filled with lots of action and travelling. We planned our last two days as relaxing beach days before returning back home as we felt we had earned the right to be lazy. On Friday we went to the city to buy some souvenirs and to explore the markets. In the afternoon we went for well deserved massage after our successful ascent of Adams Peak. On Sunday I went fishing in the early morning which is quite cheap compared to the UAE - $150 for a big boat (5people) for 5hrs and 100$ for a small one including gear

and a captain. I caught two nice barracudas but was hoping for a more exotic catch. Early in the morning I could also see in the distance Adams Peak on the skyline. In the meantime my girlfriend spend the morning in the spa with the famous Aveda treatments which she deserved after all her suffering. After our two relaxing days we left early in the morning to return to the U.A.E.

In Summary: Sri Lanka is definitely worth a visit and for us also a second one. If you follow our route, it might be advisable to take a diver for the whole trip ($30-40/day). This will save time and provides you more flexibility. For one part of the trip I would take the train and then meet the driver at your destination again. We recommend not taking the offers and using three-wheelers for long trips - the traffic is dangerous especially in these small cans. The people are very friendly and usually helpful even if they do try to sell their services whenever possible. Travelling as women only or as couple you should be careful at night. We never had any trouble and didn’t hear directly of any but it is mentioned in travel guides that some incidents have been reported. Price are often given in USD/$ why we mentioned everything in this currency. We paid 1.600AED for the flight, plus about 3.000AED for all other expenses per person. Daniel Birkhofer Special thanks to Dr. Paulus who actually put together this route for us. He worked for 6 months in Sri Lanka during the civil war as a doctor for the UN. Other sources and helpful publications: Lonely Planet Sri Lanka and www.wikipedia.org

DIMC Dhow Race

Event Reviews

Dubai Traditional 22ft Sailing Dhow Championship Date:25th October 2010 Location: Dubai A resounding win after leading the fleet of fifty dhows delighted the crew on Wafi helmed by Khalaf Buti Al Ghashaish in the 2nd round of the seasons Dubai Traditional 22ft Sailing Dhow Championship held on Saturday. Deenar took second place with Arif Bin Zafeen and his crew followed by Al Wasf and the team skippered by Mohammed Hamad Al Ghashaih. It was a perfect day to be on the water, with cooler temperatures and a good breeze creating a great introduction for the many new sailors joining the sport this season.

Today’s race was tough though and I needed all my experience to manage the shifty wind conditions.’ Arif Bin Zafeen is more often behind the steering wheel of Fazza’s Class 1 Powerboat than helming a dhow. ‘I’m not used to coming second,’ said the World Champion of the powerboat world. ‘But I enjoyed the race today.’ Round three will be held on 3rd December 2010. Provisional Results. Position, number, name, skipper, owner 1st. 10, Wafi, Khalaf Buti Al Ghashaish

The race, organized by Dubai International Marine Club, took just over an hour on a difficult course, which sent some sailors out to sea and some close to shore looking to catch the best breezes. Consequently the turn to the finish became the scene of tough and skilled maneuvers to avoid collision with boats descending on the mark from the diverse angles. ‘We are really happy with our win,’ said Khalaf Buti Al Ghashaish. ‘Last season our best place was sixth so this is a great improvement.

2nd. 5, Deenar, Arif Bin Zafeen, Mohammed Abdulrahman Ahmed Al Hamadi 3rd. 19, Al Wasf, Mohammed Hamad Al Ghashaih Dubai International Marine Club

Photo: DIMC

Eid Holiday Adventure Trip to Musandam Event Reviews

A diving trip from 7 Seas Divers Date: 16th-18th November, 2010 Location: Musandam Peninsula, North of Oman

group of divers and adventurers packed their things and spent the Eid Holidays with 7 Seas Divers exploring the majestic waters

of Musandam. The weather was lovely and the sea was calm - it was the perfect time to get away from the busy Cities during the Eid Holidays. 7 Seas Divers On arrival everyone was so excited getting onboard; all the paperwork had been done and the divers’ certification cards checked; dive levels noted. Cruising to our first dive site, we spent the night sleeping out in the open air with a blanket of stars above us. The scenery was amazing. The first day was a blast, with 3 perfectly executed dives. Then the infamous night dive. The divers couldn’t get enough of the amazing scenery underwater while doing the night dive. They eventually surfaced with big smiles on their faces when they heard that the beach bbq was about to start. With the bonfire set, marshmallows on a stick, story-

7 Seas Divers

telling, sheesha, a sumptuous dinner… some singing, some dancing... the laughter was infectious… So on to the final day when the divers were amazed by the magnificent sight of Octopus Rock; numerous kinds of fish and fantastic visibility … a moment not to forget. The trip to Oman was wonderful and all the guests are planning to come back for more adventure and enjoy the same excellent service. Berna Cruz 7 Seas Divers

What a catch! Event Reviews

Umm Al Quwain Fishing Competition Date:

22nd October 2010

Location: Umm Al Quwain Marine Club

was a sunny morning in the UAE on the 22nd of October, 2010, the same as the day before and the day before and the day before that. Te seas were calm, the

anglers in the mood, and the crack of dawn awoke them to the challenge. The tide too was willing, with the high waters bringing in the early fish. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it was the 5th running of the UAEQ Marina’s angling competition. Seventeen boats loaded with forty nine registered hope-

UAQ Marine Club

fuls took off after thorough preparations, each skipper heading out to his favorite location, each boat anticipating a prize winning catch. It’s a good thing that fishermen always say it is not only catching fish that makes for a good day at sea. The comradeship for some, the solitude for others, and the casting off of cares are as much a part of the experience. However, under conditions like a tournament, the excitement level is always ratcheted up a few degrees because come weigh in time at 4:00, all participants want to be in the running for a prize. Fishing is luck but luck can be enhanced through skill and techniques. Those that consistently catch prize winning fish are not simply lucky. They are highly skilled in the art of angling and returning to the dock with a good catch perpetuates that reputation.

UAQ Marine Club

For novice or less skilled anglers, luck may very well land them a winner as well, perhaps one large enough to take a top prize away from the more seasoned angler. There is always this wild card factor in a tournament which adds an element of surprise at weigh in time. I don’t recall the winners from past tournaments but it would be interesting if Jenny has an archive to see who, if anyone is a repeat winner. It would also be interesting to have that person give some tips to others on a Friday morning. But that will never happen…fishermen are not known for passing on secrets! I do have one tip to pass on though a scrap of information I was privy to somehow…live bait. Forget the Rapala

UAQ Marine Club

Event Reviews or Yozuri lures. It’s live bait, trolled slow. Course, you’ve got to get some live bait. Then you’ve got to keep that bait alive. Then you’ve got to not mind hooking it through the lip or dorsal fin and putting it out to sea to be devoured by that 11kg kingfish. If you manage all this, though, your catch will increase…guaranteed! If live bait is beyond your means, then the lures that Jenny is now selling from the clubhouse are also very, very good. Trolled deep, with one of those orange boards. So what were the results this time out? As follows: Prizes categories included largest fish caught by male, female and junior anglers, team overall weight and largest fish species. Soolyman Sportfishing Team Overall Weight of 22.96kg Mike Setterberg Kingfish at 11.78kg Champion Male Angler Kim Chang Kingfish 4.48kg Champion Female Angler Don Bekker Kingfish 8.86kg Champion Junior Angler Mike Setterberg Largest Kingfish 11.78kg Bobby du Plessis Largest Barracuda 4.28kg Kim Chang Largest Queenfish 4.12kg Calvin du Plessis Largest Hammour 4.4kg Sauad Khaja Largest Snapper 1.46kg Robin Pretty Largest Catfish 3.52kg Well done to the winners. Those were some good catches …...except for that catfish. Sorry, Robin…smelly, stinky things that slime up your line. You were brave to keep that one and good that you got a prize for your effort! Well done! Speaking of catches and of prizes, one of our club members nearly became a catch himself, along with his crew of hearties. Seems the captain led the crew too close to Iranian waters and the touchy Iranians took exception. Luckily the captain, a certain Tony, was somehow able to convince the Iranian navy that he was indeed a fisherman, not a spy and the crew was spared a stoning. Like it says on the TV shows… “be careful out there”. Written by The Fishhead

Dubai International Rally 2010

Event Reviews

Drivers challenge the Arabian wilderness 32nd Dubai International Rally Date: 2nd – 4th December Location: Dubai The 32nd Dubai International Rally, taking place over UAE National Day weekend (Dec 2-4), was the final and deciding round of the 2010 FIA Middle East Rally Championship following previous rounds in in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus. Taking place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Arts and Culture Authority, Middle East Championship has attracted 27 drivers from 12 Middle East and overseas countries.

I checked in for the first day of rallying, at the Dubai Men’s College in Academic City. As an avid racing fan, I couldn’t wait to see and hear the purpose build speed machines that were about to take on the tough Arabian wilderness. The teams and cars were all under the hands of the mechanics, as I wondered around the starting areas with increasing excitement. Once I had myself ready and set to go, I followed some of the rally cars to the first rally stage which was quite a distance towards a quiet area in the desert, called Shawka. I had finally parked my car at one of the check points on the course, hoping to capture some of the speeding cars skidding round this flat but challenging corner. There was quite a wait until the next batch of racers but as soon as I heard the growling and whining of a tuned rally car engine from afar, my body tingled with anticipation. My camera was set up ready for the first car to roar through. The noise had my ears aching but that was a good thing, because it was only a few seconds where the cars were almost 7 or 8 yards away from me, sliding through the gravel and around the bend. This was certainly a heart pumping experience. After taking some action shots and chatting to some of the other racing fans, the round had drawn to a close and it was time for the sweeper car to confirm the end of the day’s rallying.

The Ceremonial Started on Emaar Boulevard beside The Palace in the Old Town Island, Dubai As the seeded competitors left the start in reverse order, the honour of being first away went to the only lady driver in the rally, Jordan’s Ahed Eid, who was partnered by Feras Allowh in a Group N Mitsubishi Evo 9.

This was truly an exhilarating experience that simply enhanced the prestige of the event and the sport in particular.

The rally finished at the Old Town Island, Dubai at 4.30pm on Saturday, December 4. James Russell

The competitive rally action started with six stages of approximately 22 kms being run twice each over the two days to produce a route of 280 kms. While everything pointed to a dramatic battle for victory between Al Attiyah and Sheikh Khalid, Misfer Al Marri managed to get the win. Al Attiyah said, “It has been a perfect rally for me, and I am very happy with the result. Everything went well over the two days and I had no problems. I am happy for Misfer as he is the new champion.

“Rallying encompasses the best drivers in the world in an intense and adrenaline fuelled battle against the clock. This time, it was here in Dubai.”

FIA Middle East Championship final standings: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Misfer Al Marri (QAT) Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT) Abdullah Al Qassimi (UAE) Khaled Al Suwaidi (QAT) Khaled Al Qassimi (QAT) Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (QAT) Essam Al Nejadi (KWT) Hamad Al Thani (QAT) Mohammed Al Marri (QAT)

50 pts 46 pts 29 pts 22 pts 20pts 20pts 19pts 18pts 14pts 10pts

The Essence...

THE ESSENCE OF SELF DISCOVERY Team Building using the outdoors

eople have always ventured to the outdoors for fun; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well known that friendships made under tough conditions last a lifetime. The original outdoor adventure companies were made up of ex-military instructors; the courses were hard and usually very uncomfortable. Today they have evolved into team development facilitators where team dynamics, individual learning and self discovery are more important than just learning survival skills. They still use the outdoors and do physical activities where appropriate but the focus is about transferring the learning back to everyday life and into the workplace. The thrill of a first time abseil, catching your first wave on a surf board or just watching the sunrise over a desert mountain in pure silence is the essence of self discovery. So what sort of activities can you do to improve as a team in the outdoors? Well, the options are only restricted by the location and the physical ability of the individuals. Here in the UAE we are fortunate to have plenty of land and sea to play with so here are three options to explore: Sea Kayaking As opposed to river kayaking which is usually a

full-on swirl of water and rocks, sea kayaking is a team adventure for the mind, body and spirit. There are few other activities where you can fall asleep on a deserted beach around a camp fire tired from paddling all day with an overwhelming feeling of being totally relaxed from the simplicity and joy of experiencing the sea and its wildlife. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available to everyone and has no restrictions on physical ability making it the perfect team building activity. The kayak also provides space for overnight equipment and you can even set fishing lines from the back as you paddle to maybe catch some dinner (best to take a tin of beans just in case!). Rock Climbing The type of climbing found in the emirates is classed as rock climbing or cliff climbing which requires ropes and a harness. Although for the beginner this may sound more dangerous than mountain climbing where you spend a lot of time walking up a hill, this is actually safer as safety equipment is always used and you always climb as a team. Many of the climbs found in the region are on cliffs around the more rugged coastline which gives an even greater feeling of being close to

“

Here in the UAE we are fortunate to have plenty of land and sea to play with

The Essence...

”

nature as it provides amazing scenery and usually a nice sea breeze. To combine the joys of the sea and the excitement of the climb you can try Deep Water Soloing. This requires no ropes or harnesses as it is done over deep water as the name suggests so when, rather than if, you can’t hold on any longer you can drop safely into the ocean and cool off. Coasteering Pioneered by TYF™ Adventure in the UK, this sport has taken off around the world as a great way to explore a coastline and enjoy the thrill of an outdoor adventure sport. It combines climbing, traversing around a cliff at the waterline, cliff jumping when you need to cut across a gorge instead of climbing around it and caving when you get the chance to delve and explore the cracks and caves around the cliff face. It’s been described as the slowest way to get from A to B around a coastline, but I can guarantee you it’s the most fun and one of the most powerful outdoor adventure team building activities you can find in the world. Take it from me! Tavis Stewart Adrenaline! www.myadrenalinequest.com tavis@myadrenalinequest.com

News First World SUP Championship, Dubai 2011 Surf Dubai has a new promotion that they are doing for this session: ‘Surfing and Stand Up Paddle Boarding League’ with Duplays. http://dubai. duplays.com/ This SUP league is meant to help promote the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding within the UAE and was designed to create a buzz in the region for the lead up to the World SUP Championships. Surf Dubai has been given the rights to hold the World’s first ever ‘Stand Up Paddle Championship’ right here in Dubai. All the best watermen around the globe will travel to compete in this event. This will be held at Barasti beach in December 2011, the same time as the SEA Dubai festival next year. This event was given to them by the International Surfing Association ‘ISA’. For more information about their organization please visit www. isasurf.org This is one thing they are doing to try and build the sport and they are putting together a national team consisting of Local Emiratis to compete and represent their country.

‘Project Aware’ Clean up Day Fujairah, UAE: Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah and Al Boom Diving are partnering again this year to join divers across 100 countries while participating in the Project Aware International Cleanup Day on September 25, 2010. Divers will document the debris from the ocean and aim to create strong awareness about the underwater epidemic affecting our planet.

“It is astounding to know that the number one item found in cleanups is cigarette filters and simple points like this encourage us to educate the community and help us form the much needed larger environment protection groups. The cleanup this year has once again proved to be a huge success. ” He added.

Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah, said, “Partnering with Al Boom Diving and EDA for ecological conservation has always been a rewarding experience for us and ensures that we continue the trend in our on-going CSR activities.”

The win – the fourth of the five LV events held since February 2009 – caps a successful 2010 for the team, having previously won at Auckland and La Maddalena and also taking the MedCup season championship.

Simon Tambling, Managing Partner, Al Boom Diving, said, “The response we received for International Cleanup Day has been overwhelming. Held in partnership with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, our divers’ unique skills will add to the efforts across the globe to make a critical difference in protecting underwater wildlife and environments.” The end of the two dives saw contributors of the cleanup exchange notes and discuss the issues on hand while lounging in the resort’s Gonu Bar & Grill located on the shores of the private beach. Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi , Executive Director of EDA, said “EDA will always support underwater and beach clean ups as part of our Reef Check project to ensure our marine life is healthy, this clean up will be followed by the main annual ‘Clean Up Arabia’ event scheduled on November 5th, 2010.”

Final Day of the Louis Vuitton Trophy, Dubai Emirates Team New Zealand has taken the final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai with a 2-nil win over

Just as the smart money was writing off Emirates Team New Zealand and calling a BMWOracle win. Barker’s charge began, reeling in the opposition at an astonishing rate. There was no stopping New Zealand, overtaking Oracle and finishing 17s ahead. That’s a healthy delta at this Dubai regatta and rather belies the closeness of the racing. Oracle led by 9s around the first mark, the second mark by 10. Emirates Team New Zealand led by 4s at the third.

2009 saw divers the world over collect 550,000 lbs of underwater debris while it is estimated that at least six million tons of debris enters the oceans each year. The efforts being made by Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Al Boom Diving and the EDA have made it possible for the local UAE diving community to join over 15,000 divers internationally to clean the oceans and shorelines.

The ‘Clean up Arabia’ campaign will be a comprehensive clean up day to clean the beaches of UAE as well as underwater. This will be the 7th consecutive year that EDA, Al Boom Diving and Le Meridien Al Aqah partnering for the event. In this joint effort to protect the environment, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Al Boom Diving and Emirates Diving Association (EDA) staff along with over 30 divers participated in two separate dives on the artificial reef site – Le Méridien Reef, just off the coast of the resort.

America’s Cup holders BMWOracle.

The fickle breeze certainly called the shots for the entire race and New Zealand clearly benefitted from the shift that counted – the last one.

The Dubai regatta brings to an end the era of the IACC class yachts that have raced America’s C up regattas for 20 years. The 34th America’s Cup which will be raced in 2013 in a new class of 72ft catamarans. Conditions at Dubai today were tricky and afterguards were tested as they the coped with shifts of 30-40 deg and marked changes in wind velocity. The day started with BMWOracle as favourites – being the form team at Dubai.

In race 2 the breeze was master of the first beat. Again racing was even, with Oracle rounding the first mark 11s in front. Oracle’s spinnaker was torn in the hoist; they peeled and maintained a slim lead as the yachts separated and Emirates Team New Zealand started to build a small advantage. Dean Barker set up for the left side of the leeward gate, forcing Oracle to take the right. The margin was 28s to New Zealand. After rounding New Zealand extended and was never threatened. The margin at mark 3 was 56s and at the finish 1m37s.

Source: www.dimc.ae

The ‘Choose Wisely’ Campaign

Emirates Team New Zealand stormed from behind in a windshift and better pressure to snatch a win the first final match. Suddenly the odds and opinion, shifted in New Zealand’s favour. Honours in this race were remarkably even. Barker forced a penalty on Oracle in the pre-start; Oracle got a lift in the right on the second beat and extended to six boat lengths and did the penalty turn right on the top mark. Dean Barker charged on the run, gained overlap and rounded the mark first. Oracle wriggled out of trouble and extended down the run home. Separation was large and while Oracle’s lead increased in the left, New Zealand strategist Adam Beashel and tactician Ray Davies had faith in the right and waited for the shift they had seen coming.

With increasing popularity, the high demand for seafood is putting pressure on the UAE fish stock, resulting in a noticeable decline of about 80% over the last 3 decades. Hamour, a highly favoured fish in the UAE, is being overfished 7 times beyond its sustainable level, with a decline of 8792% since 1978, putting it at the top of the overfished species list. With an aim to raise awareness of the status of UAE fish stocks and to promote alternative sustainable fish, EWS-WWF has launched the “Choose Wisely” campaign in April 2010. A wallet size consumer guide has been developed classifying fish based on 3 categories, and assigning a colour to each; red distinguishing overfished types, orange marking stocks that are exploited within sustainable levels, and green highlighting sustainable fish types. This guide is available online for download on the campaign’s website (www.choosewisely.ae).

News ‘Choose Wisely’ campaign has been working closely with residents, retailers and F&B industry, but more still needs to be done. We ask you today to help us spread the word about the problem of overfishing, and encourage others to choose sustainable fish types. We have developed a print advert promoting the consumer guide and highlighting the problem of overfishing, and we hope that you could include the advert in your newsletter, whether printed or electronic. It is only with the generous assistance of our supporters in the past that we have been able to spread the message of conservation and environmental awareness. We hope that you would consider our request and extend your support towards protecting the environment.

First Dolphin Calf Born at Dubai Dolphinarium

a new mother,” said Alexander Zanin, Head Marine Mammal Specialist, Dubai Dolphinarium. “The calf constantly swims along Ksyusha’s side and follows her movements. We will continue daily observations for about a year to monitor the calf’s progress. The whole marine mammal team at Dubai Dolphinarium is thrilled to have a new baby to look after,” he added. Zanin got a call at 12pm to come to the maternity pool to watch the birth, along with five other marine mammal specialists. The Dolphinarium was closed between October 11 and 14 to allow the mother and calf to bond. This is the first calf for Ksyusha, one of the five bottlenose dolphins at the Dolphinarium. The baby’s father, Senya, is 24 years old. The calf is expected to appear in public next summer. Meanwhile, photographs and videos of the calf will be uploaded to the Dolphinarium’s website, www. dubaidolphinarium.ae. The Dolphinarium is planning to name the calf using input from the public in early December.

Monofining Courses The first dolphin calf for the family of dolphins at Dubai Dolphinarium was born on 10.10.10, at 12.40pm to 20-year-old Black Sea bottlenose dolphin Ksyusha following 12 months of pregnancy, in a dedicated pool within the facility. The calf, whose sex is still undetermined, is spending most of its time bonding with its mother, nursing and

learning to control the movements of its body. It measures about 90cm in length and weighs approximately 10-11kg, a healthy increase of about 20cm and 3-4kg since its birth. “Ksyusha’s pregnancy was confirmed in November 2009, following an evaluation of a blood sample. We monitored her health by conducting regular medical assessments throughout the whole gestation period to ensure that everything was normal. The delivery went without complications, and Ksyusha is immensely enjoying being

The first monofining course was held in the UAE on 3rd December. Mike Maric, World Champion Freediver, and Valter Mazzei, the Italian Freediving national team coach visited the UAE to conduct with the first monofining course along with Adel Abu Haliqa and Alex Boulting from FreedivingUAE. Monofining was originally designed for competitive fin swimming. The monofin was adapted for freediving and first used in a freediving competition by Rossana Maiorca (daughter of Enzo Maiorca the famous freediver depicted in the film the ‘Big Blue’) who used it to set a new world record. 20 years on, only monofins are used for competition freediving and give freedivers a 30% increase in efficiency over bi-fins. Monofining requires a greater number of muscle groups working over a larger area of the body than bi-fining, making the undulating technique difficult to master. Monofining effectively simulates the movements of a dolphin. Mike stated that, “Monofining is the most efficient and elegant way to move in the water – you really connect with the movements dolphins and other aquatic mammals make in the water.” Adel and Alex are looking forward to improving their monofining technique – “We wanted to broaden the appeal of Freediving – most people have used bi-fins whilst snorkeling or scuba

diving but this is a unique opportunity to learn a new way to move in the water.” stated Alex. He added, “Anyone who is interested in swimming or any other aquatic activity will love this course.” Mike and Valter have over 10 years of experience teaching monofining. The course consisted of theory, gym and pool sessions with video analysis of the student’s monofining technique. The course aims to help students develop the basic theory and techniques of monofining so that they can continue to improve their mono fining skills for the future.

The affiliated dressage season kicked off in November at the Emirates Equestrian Centre (EEC). The opening showcased some new talent to the scene and is sure to be indicative of an exciting and competitive season ahead. The hosts were thrilled to have the extremely talented and successful Dutch rider Christa Laarakkars as guest judge for the higher level classes. Laarakkar’s was heard to say “It was nice to see so many enthusiastic riders. I’m really impressed with the quality facilities at the Emirates Equestrian Centre. It has a great competition surface that suited all the horses last night”.

Source: www.emirateseuestriancentre.com

and users can switch between 6 and 12 volt charging. The cells are also high-temperature Lithium Polymer, which means their charging capacity lasts longer even when exposed to very hot sunlight, which is the case in the Middle East. And the battery is large enough to fully charge a smartphone twice. Source: www.pressreleasenetwork. com

Yas Marina Circuit launched Yas KartZone Yas Marina Circuit opened its new 800-metre kart track, Yas KartZone, to the general public after following its debut over three days of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Situated beside the Yas Racing School, KartZone offers a fleet of Cadet karts for youngsters aged 8-13 and Senior karts for people aged 14 years and above. It will be open between 2:00pm and 10:00pm from Tuesday to Saturday inclusive. KartZone is a significant milestone for Yas Marina Circuit. Not only will it provide everyday fun and excitement for anyone interested in driving, but it will also create an essential entry level to professional motorsport. That’s how Formula 1TM world champions like Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton started their racing careers. We believe KartZone will provide a fun and safe racing environment, and encourage young racers to aspire to be the next Vettel. “The KartZone will be an exciting visitor attraction among the many experiences that Yas Marina Circuit offers and will help us provide additional entertainment for families as well as committed racing fans.”

Ekotribe Launches Stand-Alone Solar Chargers from Voltaic Systems In addition to individuals, KartZone

Voltaic Systems that promotes ecological sustainability through renewable energy and recycled materials is now also available in UAE. Voltaic’s bags and backpacks feature solar panels to provide power, as well as a battery to store power for later use. Bags come with adapters for charging common types of cell phones, iPods, BlackBerry’s, digital cameras, and other portable devices. A smartphone can be powered up in just 4-5 hours of direct sunlight, which is a fast charge by any standards. The chargers have two 6-volt panels,

also caters for groups of 15 or more with three packages. Twin Sprint Racing begins with a practice and then a qualifying session to determine positions on the starting grid for a full race. Twin Sprint and Shootout allows drivers to compete in two separate sprint races, with the fastest drivers in each group progressing through to a final race. Enduro Racing sees participants split into three groups, with five or more drivers in each group competing as a team to complete as many laps as possible within a one-hour time limit. The team with the most laps wins. Source: www.yasmarinacircuit.ae

Dragon Boating

UNLEASH THE DRAGON WITHIN Dragon Boating in the UAE

eel like a new challenge in your life … are you tired of going to the gym or pounding the pavements around Safa? Why not try Dragon Boat racing: a sport which is rapidly gaining in popularity in the region. Last weekend saw Abu Dhabi host the 3rd annual Dragon Boat Festival. With ten amateur teams competing, over forty teams entered in the corporate competition, and twelve teams in the schools and university category, it was testament to the speed with which this sport is growing. So, what is dragon boat racing? Dragon boating is believed to have started 2,500 years ago in China. Folklore maintains that began because of the drowning of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet, who went into the Miluo River with the intent of committing suicide in protest against political corruption. When the people heard of Qu Yuan’s suicide, they rushed out into the river in their fishing boats and tried to save Qu Yuan. They beat their drums and splashed the water with paddles to keep the fish and evil spirits away from Yuan’s body. The folklore goes on to state that dragon boat races are held annually on the day of Qu Yuan’s death. Today, dragon boat racing is among the fastest growing of team water sports, with scores of thousands of participants in various organisations and clubs in over 60 countries – 62 of which are IDBF members (as of 8 Jan 2009). The sport is

recognised for the camaraderie, strength and endurance fostered amongst participants, and it has also become a very popular corporate and charitable sport. Each dragon boat can hold up to 20 paddlers both male and female. Most competitions have 3 categories ‘Open Premier’ – put as many men as you can find on the boat!, ‘Mixed Open’ – you can have 12 men max on the boat and ‘Premier Women’s’ – chicks rock! So, at each festival you could find yourself rowing in each of the 3 categories (only if you’re female!!). Last weekend’s competition was intense. The amateur teams had been training hard, with sessions generally starting at 6am. Rivalry is rife, with each team determined to put to rest past defeats. The heats in the Premier Mixed competition were close, with Dubai Diggers, Dubai Flying Dragons, Dubai Falcons, Capital Dragons & Dubai Dawn Patrol making the final. So, on to the final … and those magic words … ‘paddles up … go!” It takes a lot of power to get 780 kilos of teak boat moving, believe me. Paddling into the wind and into the current, visibility was poor, but blind ambition won through. Dubai Diggers crossed the line first with Dubai Flying Dragons hot on their heels.

Dragon Boating

With the prize giving in the grounds of the ShangriLa Hotel, spirits were high. A great bbq and party was enjoyed by all on the Friday night, with good team building in preparation for more races on the Saturday. An intense, exhilarating, fun weekend with some

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

great paddling and partying! For more information go to: http://www.dubaidragonboat.com Email: uaedragonboat@gmail.com or Call: Jason 050 763 4008

Rivalry is rife, with each team determined to put to rest past defeats.

â&#x20AC;?

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge

AD Adventure

10-15th December

AD Adventure 30 teams will debut at the 365kms Abu Dhabi

Traditional adventure racing stalwarts France have

Adventure Challenge in a six-day multi-discipline

eight teams in the fray.

race, a world leading endurance event. Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, Sweden, The Challenge, which includes mountain biking,

the United States and South Africa have also

desert and mountain adventure running, rope

increased their entries with three teams each, with

work and orienteering, swimming, trail running

Russia, China and Denmark having two apiece.

and sea kayaking, has now accrued a nine-fold

Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Italy, Norway, Po-

increase in UAE entries since its inaugural running

land, Singapore, Turkey, and Spain round off the

in 2007.

list of participating nations with one team each.

Signalling the sport’s increasing domestic popu-

From the dramatic heights, the teams will traverse

larity, nine UAE-based teams have signed on for

the vast expanse of the Rub’ al Khali - the world’s

the event – the largest ever number to be enrolled

largest expanse of unbroken sand, larger than

from the local market - and a third up on last year.

Holland, France and Belgium combined – for two-days of multi-checkpoint, lung bursting desert trekking. Tactics also come into play during this leg, as teams have to choose whether to attempt all checkpoints, or miss key ones and take the time penalty in lieu of saving energy in the precipitous 200 metres high dunes. The endurance race finally ends with a two-day, 128kms sea kayaking section back to the Abu Dhabi city finish line. With so many terrains to tackle, teams have to utilise a wide-range of skills including sea kayaking, adventure running, desert mountain biking, swimming, adventure trekking, street cycling, desert hiking, cross orienteering, and rope and mountaineering activities.

Outdoor People

Omar Abdulla

Name: Omar Abdulla Activities: Hiking, fishing and dune bashing Nationality: UAE How long have you been in the UAE?: Birth and childhood: I was born in 1984 in Dubai. My childhood was full of experiments with electricity and I have learnt more about it after getting several electrical shocks! I also had a big passion to become a scuba diver until I became one! Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your passion?: My passion is sand, rocks and big fish. My favorite sport?: Hiking, scuba diving, spear fishing, and Off-road Driving .. What do you recommend to our readers?: I recommend the readers to start spending their time going out in nature carrying their basic needs on their shoulders and enjoy life at its best and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure that they will love it ..

Simon Cahill Name: Simon Cahill Activities: Arabia Outdoors – Rock climbing, Mountaineering, Hiking, Camping, Kayaking. Nationality: British How long have you been in the U.A.E. and why did you come here? 4 years What’s your passion? Mountain sports What’s your favourite spot/route? Nepal What do you recommend our readers? Enjoy the outdoor environment and protect it for future generations.

Outdoor People

Salalah

A 4.500 KM ROAD TRIP A roadtrip from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Salalah, Oman

or any adventurous traveller in the UAE, an overland trip to Salalah is a must. All you need is a reliable vehicle, lots of fuel and some time. We also decided to take some audio books with us for the 4.500 kilometers. Salalah is in the far south in the Dhofar region of the Sultanate of Oman, close to the border to Yemen. Salalah is especially renowned for its climate because it catches the monsoon that results in cooler summer temperatures, and has hills covered in lush green grass and bushes. Even if you’re not travelling in the summer months, it’s still worth a visit. A lot of people these days just fly to Salalah and rent a 4x4 there, but it’s a different experience driving your own car through the remote terrain. You’ll travel for a long time without even seeing another vehicle and without

a change of scenery. A couple of years ago there was only a graded track, but nowadays the road is paved straight to Salalah. As it’s about 1.000 km to Salalah we decided to make some stops along the way. We started our trip at 9.30 in the morning from Abu Dhabi and crossed the border into Al Ain. Our first stop for the day was Quantum Beach south of Muscat. The beach was lovely and quite clean. There are even some old ruins where you can put up your tent and in the morning you can do some snorkeling or swimming. We decided to do a dolphin tour in Muscat and went snorkeling for the rest of the day. The next day we had an appointment with turtles in Ras Al Jinz. On the way to Ras Al Jinz we decided to get off the beaten track and took a diversion through Wadi Al Arabii. From there we drove to the “White Beach” in Fins and then back onto the paved road through Sur and Ras Al Hadd to the turtle beach. Our tour there started at 4am. We walked to the beach with a group of about 25 people and two guides. Luckily enough we saw a two huge green turtles that were laying eggs and we also found some baby turtles that made their way to the ocean. Unfortunately only one in a thousand baby turtles survive.

Salalah After we watched the beautiful dawn breaking on the beach we drove further south to Sannah. From there we took a ferry to Mazirah Island. The journey took about an hour and the cost for the one-way 20 km trip was 10 OR. We used the hour on the ferry to get some rest before checking in to the Swiss-Belhotel. We went swimming and took a walk along the endless beach chatted with some friendly local fishermen. We found a wreck of an old dhow on the beach and a bit further south we watched some crabs and ospreys. It only takes a day to discover the whole island, so we enjoyed an evening by the pool and a relaxed dinner in the hotel restaurant. The following morning we took another ferry and started the longest stretch of our journey so far ... 800 km through the desert to Salalah. Luckily there are a couple

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of new rest stops on the way where you can fill up your tank and your tummy. After hours of sand and stone desert we finally saw the Dhofar Mountains and we knew Salalah couldn’t be far away. We crossed the mountains and made our way to Al Mughsayl Beach, west of Salalah. We arrived at the beach before sunset and were happy to have our little barbeque.

There are even some old ruins where you can put your tent and in the morning you can do some snorkeling or swimming.

”

Salalah

The next day began with breakfast on the beach, then we went to the Blowholes only a couple of kilometres west of our camping spot. The Al Mughsayl Blowholes have formed naturally in the limestone rocks. Through these holes plumes of water can reach a height of 30 metres or more. An amazing site. From there it’s also only a short drive to Wadi Aful on incredible mountain passes where you have a wonderful view of the ocean. After the gorgeous view we drove back east to visit Salalah, stopping at Ayn Jarziz and the Nabi Ayoub Tomb where the prophet Nabi Ayoub is buried. Further north we drove to Wadi Uyun and then back to our beach Al Mughsayl.

This natural hole has a diameter of 150 meters and is 211 meters deep. It’s the biggest hole of that kind in the world and home to hundreds of birds.

The next day we explored the east of Salalah, starting off in Mirfat. In this old fishermen village is the tomb of another prophet, Bin Ali.

On the way back to Salalah we took a little diversion to Ayn Razat, a public park with flowers, trees and pools. A lot of people used the nearby river to wash themselves and their clothes.

Not far from Mirfat is the boabab forest. Unfortunately there was a lot of road construction around the forest, so we couldn’t get there and went straight to Khawr Rori. This is a gorgeous bay which had been a lively port about a hundred years ago when the locals traded with Francinese Trees. There are still some old ruins from that time that can be visited. In the BUCHT the camels, flamingos, birds and herons took over and use it as their new habitat. Right next to the bay is Wadi Dirbat, a nature reserve with a lot of plants, palm trees, camels, waterfalls and lakes. In the summer time there is a 100 metre tall waterfall at the Travertine Curtain. After a short break for lunch we went on to the Tawi Atayr Sinkhole, which is also known as “Well of the Birds.”

Since we were desperate for a proper shower we checked in to Samharam Village and had a good rest before we had the most exhausting day of our journey: a 900km drive to Nizwa. We started our last day in Salalah at the Francinsene History Museum and the Maritime Museum and made our way back north. We reached Nizwa in the evening and were happy to get a nice dinner at the Golden Tulip. Exhausted, we fell into our beds. On our last day we checked out some forts around Nizwa before droving back to the UAE. We reached Abu Dhabi after our 4,500km trip that evening with many memories of great views and unforgettable experiences. Sasha Ritter

. . . e r a e w , s r After 20 Yea

! e v i d e h t g n i y still enjo 2YEA0RS

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t established i is the longes y Scuba Duba ore in Dubai, staffed b st e g iv in d d d n ndersta dedicate ith a deep u d repaired. w ls a n io ss profe cts sold an of the produ cognized expert in e it is th re sales and is Since 1989, t repairs and techincal en m ip u eq diving nce for oint of refere e Middle East. p l a tr n ce e th matters in th ained, seven fully tr and ys lo p em p o s; Our worksh d technician ds. n d experience qualified an or service almost all bra e th ir a in p s re er d n ca d cylin gulators an ing re st ll te a f ty o ri u % p 0 8 here. Air ed ic srv re p se m re UAE a g air co ure breathin ne in-house. ss re p h ig h and are do sors repairs ly ented, friend er-service ori equipment m o st cu r u O ffer sales staff o atec, Luxfer, and helpful w -U ro p a b u . from Sc mic Aquatics to A d an Faber,Apeks dgets are available and ga ufacturers. Accessories riety of man ngs are va e id w a si m fro camera hou Subal. Underwater d n a e m Ikelit available fro atxygen comp ubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air is o air is guaranD a b u Sc f o n All 00 h quality, clea ible and hig nd standard air fills to 3 a to x d ro te it n N re r be teed fo uipment can ed divers. lifi Bar. Scuba eq a qu

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Saturday - Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM, Thursday: 9:00AM - 7:00 AM Friday: closed

WHO SAYS DIVING IS LIKE RIDING A BIKE? Diving with Al Boom

Diving with Al Boom in Fujairah

Diving with Al Boom was with slight trepidation that I set off

1990, I was pleasantly surprised. Sam showed me how

from work on Thursday for my evening

to attach the air supply to the tank and put my BCD on.

“dive refresher course” with Al Boom

One thing I’d definitely forgotten was how heavy the

Diving. I sat in traffic at the Trade Cen-

tank is! Fortunately it’s a lot lighter when in the water …

tre roundabout for what seemed an eternity with steam

all that ‘negative bouyancy’ or is it positive?

practically blowing out of my ears. I arrived late – not a good start.

So, fully kitted out, into the pool we went. Sam took me through a series of tasks ranging from ‘deflating my

However, I was made to feel very welcome by Sam

BCD’ to ‘flooding my mask’. Safety was of the essence

and his colleagues and before I could say ‘BCD’ found

and Sam ensured I was ‘OK’ after each task.

myself back in the classroom doing a test. A test!?! Help! I hadn’t even done any sneaky swotting. The first

A couple of hours later we emerged from the pool and

question almost had me flummoxed, talking of ‘neutral

Sam showed me how to dis-assemble my kit. One

bouyancy’ and ‘positive bouyancy’. Well, suffice to say,

thing’s for sure, I was a lot calmer (and of course, more

twenty minutes later Sam was calmly and accurately ex-

knowledgeable) than when I’d arrived! Then it was off

plaining the answers to me. Out of 3 tests I’d managed

home to bed before my 5.30am start the following day.

an 80% pass rate – result! So, onto the pool…

Fujairah here I come!!

Standing poolside beside Sam in his ‘dive gear’

I reached Al Boom Diving promptly on Friday morning.

brands I felt a little out of place in my somewhat dated

It was a hive of activity with staff and students readying

swimwear. Sam went on to explain the equipment,

themselves for a full day’s diving. I was asked to sign a

most of which looked vaguely familiar. Bearing in mind

disclaimer form. Fair enough, but the first sentence ‘…

I’d passed my PADI Open Water Dive course back in

outlining the possible dangers of diving …including but

“

It was great to see father and son enjoying a sport which has obviously been a key part of their lives.

”

Diving with Al Boom not limited to decompression sickness, embolism, or ….’ nearly had me running for the hills. Instead, onto the bus I climbed and off we set, north to Fujairah leaving the hazy skyline of Dubai in our wake. We arrived at Le Meridien Al Aqua in good time, before 9am. Into the dive shop to buy a log book, then out into the sunshine to find my kit. Everything was highly organized, with three boats due out that morning. I was in the yellow boat with a mix of nationalities from Brit to South African, French to Filipina. After a brief introduction we sped off towards Martini Rock where we were to do our first dive. As it turned out we had several Dive Masters on our boat, so I felt I was in safe hands. A very kind gentleman next to me offered to lend a hand assembling my kit. It turns out that he set up Al Boom Diving twenty years ago and still has a vested interest. I promised to keep quiet about that if he promised not to mention I was doing some ‘investigative journalism’ … no point in putting people on their guard! He was taking his son out for his first dive since he’d qualified. It was great to see father and son enjoying a sport which has obviously been a key part of their lives. Fully kitted and by now feeling like a hippo (not to mention a little queasy) I dragged myself to the side of the boat and perched nervously on the side. The weight of the tank dragged me backwards into a rather inelegant backward roll and into the sea I went. A strong current took me by surprise and within no time I was twenty yards from the boat. I managed to re-join the rest of my group and clung to the anchor rope until we were ready to descend. Keeping close to my buddy and the two lead divers, I deflated my BCD and carefully descended using the anchor rope as a guide. We reached the seabed then headed anti-clockwise around the base of Martini Rock. A wealth of sea life awaited us, from clown fish to cuttlefish, beautiful soft tree corals in glorious shades of purple nestled within the clefts of rock. It was hard to know which way to look. Shoals of fish swam above us, seemingly oblivious to the divers within their ranks.

Our lead diver was vigilant and frequently asked us to check how much air we had left and generally make sure we were OK. At one point we moved left and found ourselves in a strong current. Clinging to a rock by my fingernails, I was relieved to see the more experienced divers staying close by. We started our ascent and popped up close to the boat. As we clambered back on board the other divers were chatting animatedly about their underwater experiences. The boat sped back to Le Meridien for a brief lunch break. The crew loaded more tanks of air and checked the equipment whilst we enjoyed the five star facilities of the resort. Back on board, this time heading for Dibba. More confident this time assembling my kit, I made a slightly more graceful entry into the water. We descended only to about 10m this time and were greeted by a colourful display of marine life. We saw cuttlefish, clown fish and even three sharks. With clearer visibility we were able to see further, giving more prospective to the underwater world. Time flew and in what seemed like no time we’d surfaced and were back on board taking our kit apart. As the boat sped back towards the coast I reflected upon my days’ diving – a sport which I hadn’t participated in this millennium! Would I dive again – absolutely! A sport for beginners and experts alike, to be enjoyed with friends, family or even completed strangers. Exhilarating, exciting, with no two dives the same and endless oceans to explore! Enjoy! Kim Perks

About Outdoor UAE

About

How to add events to Outdoor UAE website Starting this month the OutdoorUAE team has improved the Events Schedule Feature on the website by allowing all users of the community to upload events. You will no longer need to login or register to OutdoorUAE.com before being able to upload events. If you’re organizing an outdoor event or activity and you want to share it with everyone, feel free to do it through the upload event feature. Here are the steps in order to do it successfully: Browse www.outdooruae.com

On the left side of the main menu is the “events schedule” section You can now view the uploaded upcoming events by other users In the right top, you will find a button “ add event.”

Hit this button and fill in the form with the details of your event: date, time, type of activity, emirate, description, link, and the person of contact.

All fields are mandatory, so please make sure you fill them and press save in order to successfully upload the event. The event will appear after approval from us which usually will not take more than 24hrs during office time 1 or 2hrs only. At the type of activity field u can choose between: boating, camping, off road, climbing, cycling, diving, fishing, hiking, jet ski, horse riding, kite and surfing, motor-cross & quad, wakeboarding. Please note: If the type of activity you are proposing its not included in this option but you consider it suitable as an outdoor activity and of interest for our community choose “not specified.” Also if you’re not sure about the location because it doesn’t appear to the emirate choosing field click “not specified”. For more details about the event add a brief description. To offer more support to those whom are interested post link address and also contact details.

wanted Outdoor UAE are always looking for

events news stories photos ...related to outdoor activities, wildlife and the environment. Please contact us if you have anything of interest for Outdoor UAE. We are grateful for any help to provide our readers with interesting and up-to-date content from the region. Your suggestions are also welcome. Please send any inquiries to: contact@outdooruae.com or call 04-4472701

Swimming like Dolphins

www.freedivinguae.com

SWIMMING LIKE DOLPHINS Freediving in the UAE

ave you ever dreamed of passively ex-

Ever since he was a young boy growing up in the UAE,

ploring the underwater world free of

Adel Abu Haliqa, also an AIDA instructor and co-founder

equipment?

Freediving is the ultimate

of FreedivingUAE, has had recurring dreams of being

way to liberate yourself underwater and is

able to breathe underwater and swim with the fish – this

one of the fastest growing watersports in the UAE.

is what inspired him to first take up scuba diving and, subsequently, the purer discipline of freediving. Now the

Anyone who has held their breath underwater has freed-

UAE National Freediving Champion, Adel has become

ived. However, freediving is not simply about seeing

increasingly passionate about the sport since being in-

how long you can hold your breath or how deep you

troduced to it in 2006, saying that it “allows me to be at

can go on a single breath – it’s a bit more zen than that.

one with the underwater world and myself.”

‘We teach our students the right attitude and attention to their body and mind so that they can dive comfortably

FreedivingUAE was created in 2009 to raise the profile

holding their breath’ says Alex Boulting AIDA instructor

of the sport in the UAE because it has such a strong

and co-founder of FreedivingUAE. ‘The true appeal of

connection with the heritage of pearl diving in the UAE.

Freediving is in the silence and calm it brings to people’s

FreedivingUAE run freediving courses and trips every

lives’ he adds.

month and are starting to create a large community of

Swimming like Dolphins

www.freedivinguae.com

“

It allows me to be at one with the underwater world and myself.

freedivers with over 50 active members. With water temperatures of over 300C the UAE is the perfect place for all-yearround freediving. As well as the perfect way to relax at the weekend freediving is an international competitive sport. Professional freedivers exploit the bodies’ diving adaptations to go to depths of over 200m on a single breath. These diving reflexes help conserve oxygen by restricting the blood flow to your extremities conserving it for your vital organs. FreedivingUAE are also putting the UAE on the international freediving map by organising world champion freedivers to visit the country and run clinics. The next clinic will be a monofining course where Mike Maric, World Champion Freediver, and Valter Mazzei the Italian freediving national team coach will be teaching the art of monofining and how to swim like a dolphin. E-mail contactus@freedivinguae.com or visit www.freedivinguae.com if you would like to find out more. Alex Boulting

”

Swimming like Dolphins

www.freedivinguae.com

QUICK FREEDIVING OVERLOOK Competitive freediving comprises eight disciplines:

Static Apnea (STA) The diver holds their breath, floating face-down in a swimming pool â&#x20AC;&#x201C; essentially a mind game where the freediver is trying to control their urge to breathe. Current world record: 11 minutes 35 seconds

Constant Weight without fins (CNF) As above, but with no propulsion aid. Current world record: 94 metres

Dynamic Apnea with Fins (DYN) The diver swims horizontally under water in a swimming pool using fins (usually a monofin) to see how far they can travel on one breath. Current world record: 250 metres

Free Immersion The diver must descend and ascend by pulling on the dive line. Weight may be worn, but this is simply a variation of the constant weight category so the diver must return to the surface with the same amount of weight used for the descent. No fins are worn. Current world record: 120 metres

Dynamic Apnea without Fins (DNF) The diver swims horizontally under water in a swimming pool with no propulsion aids to see how far they can travel on one breath. Current world record: 213 metres

Variable Weight The diver descends with the assistance of ballast and returns to the surface under his or her own power, either kicking and/or pulling on the rope. Current world record: 142 metres

Constant Weight with Fins (CWT) The diver must descend and ascend in open water (usually the sea) kicking and completely unassisted. The diver may wear weight, but whatever is taken down must be returned to the surface. This is seen as the truest form of freediving and the toughest. Current world record: 124 metres

No Limits The deepest free dives in history are made in this category. Here the diver uses a weighted sled, descending at a rate of 3-4 meters/second. Ascent is assisted by an air-filled balloon or other lifting device, which the diver usually has to manually activate upon arrival at depth. Current word record: 214 metres

Enjoy pure diving

MARES EQUIPMENT Technology has always been second nature at Mares. All of Mares products are designed and developed with cutting edge technology in order to offer the most advanced performance. Leave your grey world, Mares lets you enjoy diving: Just Add Water.

Sal Hamdan Hike

Locations

A hike up to Sal Hamdan Village and Bani Selaimano Tribe. Start Point - Latitude: 25°46’4.84”N, Longitude: 56°15’56.92”E End Point – Latitude: 25°47’15.43”N Longitude: 56°17’36.60”E It was 3:30am when I put on my headlight and rolled my sleeping bag. I started filling up my two 3 litre water sacks and placed them on my backpack, made sure of the first aid kit and of course ensured I’d packed enough supplies of energy bars for an interesting hike ahead. The weather was getting better but we had to move fast to avoid hiking at noon and to make sure we returned home before sunset. One of the biggest challenges is that people get dehydrated very quickly and it is the easiest challenge to avoid; drinking a lot of water more than 3 litres for a day hike will definitely help. Just before sunrise, we moved from our base camp in Dibba to wadi Khab Al Shamis in Musandam area in search for Sal Hamdan which starts with a relatively steep ascent, then becomes a rewarding, easy hike to the little village and the communication tower. Passports are ready and fuel tanks are full, ready to reach the start in 40 minutes. The GPS was pointing to the planned start point of the hike. The

mountain didn’t look very friendly at first but after a few attempts to find a track in the dark we started the ascent. On the way up, we started finding some clothes and a little bag containing a full set of national dress. I suspect it was for illegal immigrants who usually come by boat, then hike in search of their new illegal life! On the first break, I started an experiment to collect water drops by tying a bag to a green branch of a tree to check the amount of drinkable water we could get. This would give us a better idea in case we needed it for a survival situation. After about an hour, we started getting closer to an old village and we knew that someone lived there because of the welcome received by the goats! We passed by silently and carefully trying to find someone to talk to but it seems they were out hunting. The final destination was the top of an old tower placed on the highest point of the area that had been used to communicate between the tribes using fire and smoke, and also as a look-out and for defense. The view was spectacular and the shapes of the

Locations rock formations of nearby mountains helped us enjoy our second break. On the way back, we found Mr. Abdullah who belongs to Bani Selaimano. He is the elder son of the chief of the village and welcomed us, insisting that we join him in his little house. He treated us to Arabic coffee, very tasty cheese and dates. We started asking about the history of the place and he began telling stories of his grandfather and the way they used to live. He was carefully selecting words when talking about the other tribes who lived in the same area which “looked very political to me”. After an interesting conversation with Mr. Abdullah, he took us to his grandfather’s house, which was half built underground. I was wondering what the 1 metre stick was that he carried with him as we headed to the door and then I figured out it was the key to this 200+ year old door! He inserted the metal stick “key” and started moving the lock from inside. He opened the door after

a few attempts. It was amazing how everything was preserved; we saw the clay plates and palm tree cleaning brush, cooking sets, sitting area. There were no windows and it was too dark to notice other materials in the house. I switched on my headlight and turned it off immediately as it started to be scary! The villager started talking about his challenges finding water. His grandfather and father built a number of water systems on the mountain so all the raindrops collect into small “falajs” which direct water into huge water containers. These are covered to protect them from the direct sun and stop goats falling in. This water is used throughout the year for drinking and agriculture for wheat. The villager is planning to keep building on this system and we are aiming to surprise him this season by providing him

some tools to help him achieve his goals. We moved on to their little 4 metre diameter flour factory (Al Rahaa) and were told about how they used to make flour by placing grains of grass into a round wheel and turning it to produce home-made flour and make tasty bread! Unfortunately, the wheel was broken and we wished we had some tools to fix it. At the end of the hike we checked the water bag and found a few water drops collected at the bottom end of the plastic container. So the myth is a fact! We tried to find easier routes for the decent but it was 2pm already, so we used the same steep route downhill. One of the guys had an ankle problem as he hadn’t worn the right boots - it was a good lesson for everyone that the most important piece of equipment to bring to a hike is the correct boots. Don’t look at Mr. Abdulla “the villager” as a model when selecting your boots - he was wearing very simple Arabic style sandals that he uses for his way up and down the hills, but his body is built for these conditions! There are no all terrain boots, so you need to select a pair based on your needs and make sure you break them in well ahead of your hike as some boots will require some walking to ensure they are comfortable. I had worn my new pair on a number of times to the mall just to make sure they would be comfortable enough for the hike! As soon as the whole team arrived back at the cars, we informed our emergency contact about the successful trip and logged the incident. We split across a kilometre cleaning up the area as one of our main goals is to only leave footprints and leave the area cleaner than ever! It was a really successful trip that showed us an insight into the life of Mr. Abdulla bin Ahmad and his tribe. We look forward to repeating this trip and visiting our new friend again very soon. Yasir Albehzad - www.yazmodo.com

Dive Sites in the Musandam

Locations

Looking for new dive sites? Zone 1 -> Dibba Port to Leema Ras Haffa

A classic Musandam dive site, with sloping sides and as yet un-spoilt; Ras Haffa is close to the Musandam fishing village of Haffa. Ideal as a second, shallower dive of the day, this site has colorful corals and reef fish. Look out for sea turtles, black tip reef sharks and all of the characters from Finding Nemo! Depth: 5 – 15m The Caves A Musandam favorite, this dive site has it all: coral reef; reef fish; and a selection of swim-throughs. A rock overhang, gives the site its name. Popular as a shallow, second dive of the day, this dive site is great for all level of divers. Look out for the entrances to the swim throughs and watch your buoyancy as you proceed through them! Avg depth: 5 – 12 m Zone 2 -> Leema to Khor Hablane Pearl Island Just past Leema Rock is Pearl Island. One of the easier dive sites of Zone 2, Pearl Island offers great reef diving, and is ideal as a second dive of the day. Average depth is 10m around the island, descending to 20m further from the rock. Daisy and teddy bear corals in oranges, red and pink cover the reef. Parrot fish, clown fish and a variety of reef fish can be seen on this busy reef. Depth: 5 – 12m Octopus Rock One of the northern most dive sites of Zone 2 is Octopus Rock. Named because of the rocks resemblance to an octopus, the circular island on the surface stretches out in ‘tentacle’ shapes underwater. Most divers start the dive at the tentacle edges where it is deepest and end the dive close to the island. Here you will see big fish – grouper, batfish and sunfish. Shoals of jacks and barracuda can be seen as well as a nurse shark or two if you are lucky! This is a great dive for advanced divers. Depth: 5 – 20m Source: Al Boom Diving

Al Hayl Fort

Locations

One of the best preserved historical buildings in the UAE

features. GPS: N25°05.086 E056°13.586

The fort is estimated to an age of one to two hundred years.

Gear: any vehicle will make it there

The buildings made out of stone, bricks, mud and straw is one of the best preserved historical buildings in the UAE giv-

The palace had belonged to a branch of Al Sharqi, the ruling family

ing an good impression about life in past times.

off Fujairah Emirate being now under the protection of the Department of Antiquities & Heritage of the Government of Fujairah.

From wherever you start your trip dive to direction Furjairah City, usually most people will come from inland (Masafi) on

The Palace residence itself is an enclosed compound containing

E89, if you are coming along the beach exit Fujairah City on

domestic feature such as meeting rooms, store rooms, bedrooms

the E89. Coming from Masafi, turn right at the first junction be-

and a kitchen. The compound is fortified and well defended. The

fore Fujairah and the runway of the airport (GPS: N25°07.650

main reception area or the Majilis in the compound (the rectangular

E056°17.920) follow the road straight ahead passing a military

room attached to the tower) is a finely decorated room, the walls are

base and two roundabouts (about 9km). There are also signs

punctuated by decorated niches and the enter room rendered in the

giving direction to Al Hayl. You have to pass the village and

white lime plaster. Unfortunately the rooms suffered from collapse with

continue on the (small) main road till you enter the mountains.

much debris now obscuring its true splendor.

The road will lead you directly to the fort in the wadi which is impossible to miss. (GPS: N25°05.086 E056°13.586)

Standing alone outsoar the compound walls of the palace is another Majilis the single roomed structure was open at the front and was a

Climb up the defensive tower and enjoy the great view over

more informal place for guests to sit and drink coffee whilst waiting to

the valley. The wadi is nice for a little hike or continue exploring

meet with the sheik. On top of a hill overlooking the palace and the

the surroundings by 4x4. The palace itself it’s not always

village below stands the defensive tower one of the most interesting

open, but the tower can be visited any time.

Stairway to Heaven Mountain Hike

Stairway to Heaven

Ras Al Khaimah

he Stairway to Heaven is considered by many to be the UAEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic mountain hike. It certainly is an awe inspiring route that initially follows an ancient tribal trail above a deep wadi, before passing through a steep boulder field and up a scree slope to exposed ledges cut into a 400m high cliff face. Eventually the trail leads up a series of stone steps (a great feat of ancient engineering) to a goat farm on a secluded plateau nestled amongst the surrounding mountain peaks. The hike continues uphill in a clockwise direction crossing over from the UAE into Oman. Eventually the trail turns, leading to a steep downhill descent, roughly following more ancient trails that link small terraced farms perched high on the mountainside. Finally the trail passes under a dry waterfall and along a tremendously exposed ledge before rejoining the path leading out of the wadi. We began our Stairway to Heaven adventure at 6.30am on Friday morning. Due to the length of the route we had decided to split the hike into a two-day expedition. To avoid carrying heavy rucksacks and, at the same time, to have a comfortable camp we agreed to send a support team to the Oman side of the hike to prepare our overnight camp.

Once all our camping equipment and personal overnight gear was loaded into the support vehicle we set off for Wadi Litibah in Ras Al Khaimah, the start point of our hike. Our international team with members from Syria, Lebanon, Germany, Greece, USA and UK began to get to know each other over a breakfast of hot pies and coffee at the ENOC service station on Emirates Road. Mark took the lead, smoothly navigating the streets of RAK, arguably the most challenging section of navigation on our entire route. Eager to be off and walking we found a parking area in Wadi Litibah away from the village and out of danger

Stairway to Heaven of flash flood water. After a quick change into hiking boots and a check to ensure everyone had enough drinks, food and warm clothes, we were off down the wadi. The obvious donkey trail soon crossed the wadi and rose steeply before becoming less obvious as the path wondered up steep slopes and along exposed ledges. By keeping a sharp eye to the ground, rocks polished by hundreds of years of feet passing over them, guided us in the right direction. Where the polish marks became difficult to find the trail could often be picked up again by following a line of abandoned flip flops and occasional discarded water bottles and rusted tin cans. After an hour we reached the end of Wadi Litibah, a point where several wadis converge. High on the surrounding cliff we could see the remains of ancient stone buildings and terraced fields, although mostly long abandoned some are still used today by the local goat herders. Our route crossed back over the wadi before working its’ way up a huge boulder field, where we took a rest at a massive stone block; a key marker on our route and the point where we could look behind us to study our descent route awaiting us on day 2. A further tortuous hour took us up the loose scree slope to a welcome spot of shade provided by a lone acacia tree nestled close to the cliff face. We were now surrounded by a huge amphitheatre of cliffs with no apparent way forward. From this point onwards the route changed dramatically, weaving its’ way up leftwards before turning back right onto exposed ledges and up a 400m cliff face. After a short break for lunch we moved around the first major obstacle; an exposed narrow ledge requiring a step to be taken around a sharp corner in the cliff face. Some members took comfort from a rope handrail quickly placed and anchored to the rock. Having tested everyone’s appetite

Stairway to Heaven for heights and climbing skills we moved on along the ledges and to the final staircases. It is not known how old the staircases are; many were built by the Shihu tribe who inhabited the area and used the trail to move between the high and low villages. The original steps are an amazing feat of engineering; it is incredible that anyone could build steps in such a way on the sheer cliff face. Recent repairs using cement have been completed on the uppermost staircases, probably undertaken by the goat herders who occupy the farms on the upper plateau. On arrival at the upper plateau we were made welcome by the local goat herders, one of our team was able to translate the spoken language; a mix of Bedouin Arabic and Urdu. We politely declined the offer of a bed for the night in the farm’s majalis but we gladly accepted fresh bread skilfully cooked on the surface of a large tin drum. A short downhill walk to the edge of the As Sayh Plateau bought us to the rendezvous point with our support vehicle. After fixing a puncture the hikers were shuttled 6km to a flat field to be used as our camping area. The acacia trees, small stone walls and braying donkeys made an idyllic spot to spend the night. The team split into groups, one in charge of erecting tents, another to build a campfire and the third group to set up the kitchen. Soon everyone was sitting around the fire eating and warming up, as the temperature had really dropped as it got dark. The bread the goat herders had made went exceedingly well with our freshly cooked Thai green curry and rice. The evening was cold and the team members were a little nervous about the next long day so it was an early night for all, tucked up warm in our tents. The Toyota alarm clock (long deep blasts of the horn) woke the campers shortly after sunrise. Our breakfast of chicken sausage and beans was scooped up with Arabic bread and quickly washed down with hot tea and coffee. The tents taken down, the washing up was done and we were away again for day 2. Day 2 is the longer day and the downhill was hard on the knees, however before the downhill can start we hiked from the campsite uphill for an hour to the summit of Jebel Bil Aysh. From the military road running close to the summit of Jebel Bil Aysh we carefully selected the correct spur to descend back towards Wadi Litibah. The descent route is not as exposed as the ascent but the route is long and equally challenging. After about two hours across broken ground we reach the first

terraced farm, the largest settlement on our route. In the spring months the fields are green and make a stunning sight on the otherwise barren landscape. The farm lies at the edge of a steep cliff and again there appears to be no way of reaching the lower lying farms sitting on terraces hundreds of feet below us. Some careful scouting around, led us to the discovery of a further staircase and the Shihu trail leading down the cliff face to a huge boulder field and loose scree slope where the trail all but disappears. Perseverance through the boulders and scree eventually lead to a second small farm perched on an outcrop above a further series of cliffs. A trail leads down towards a large wadi with a huge dry waterfall, not many people have witnessed the waterfall in flood but it must be an impressive sight. We continue down to meet the wadi at a murky splash pool where the cliffs are grossly undercut. We use an exposed ledge formed by the undercut to cross the wadi. The ledge is scattered with fallen rock debris and requires us to carefully pass by large blocks of rock obstructing the path. We continue for several hundred meters before joining a trail leading to the high settlements we first saw at the wadi convergence on day 1. Careful exploration will lead you to ancient water jugs, mill stones and signs of the goat herder’s occupation even today. Finally we retrace our steps along Wadi Litibah to our awaiting cars and cool box filled with welcome refreshments. Simon Cahill. Authors Note. The hike is not for the faint hearted or unfit. The route is the only hiking route included in a climber’s guide written by Alan Stark; a pioneer of UAE rock climbing. Alan refers to the route as being like a via ferreta - minus the ferreta. Be warned this is a serious mountain route. The hike can and has been done in one day; however this is not the way we choose to do it. A high number of single day attempts have led to parties spending uncomfortable unplanned nights on the mountainside. The length and difficulty of the hike combined with challenging navigation has led to the necessity for rescue by RAK police on several occasions. If you are considering this hike please ensure you are fit and capable of up to 14 hours hard mountain walking that will involve some rock climbing. Go with someone who knows the route well: take plenty of drinks, some food, warm clothes, a head torch, mobile or satellite phone and a GPS receiver. Please remember it can get very cold after dark. For further advice contact Simon Cahill at Arabia Outdoors, details below. Arabia Outdoors arranges guided hikes to include Stairway to Heaven several times a year, you can email Arabia Outdoors or check the website for further information and availability for guiding. Email: Info@arabiaoutdoors.com Website: www.arabiaoutdoors.com

Outdoor Photography Part II

Outdoor Photography

Lens aperture and Shutter Speed

mentioned in the last issues article, the biggest advantage of an SLR Camera it that you can influence all kind of settings and master your camera. To do so, some technical knowledge is required. Don’t get scarred it’s some simple rules you will understand and remember easily. Photography is about capturing light which is mainly driven by the lens aperture and shutter speed of your camera. There are some other factors like ISO etc, which we will not discuss in this article. Lens aperture The lens aperture is actually the physical whole generate by the lens diaphragm which allows light to enter the camera and reach the film or sensor, to make an exposure. Depending on the lens, you can choose the diameter how far the diaphragm opens. The value of opening diameter is given in the f-number (also called f-stop). Usually the biggest aperture is given on your lens e.g. f 2.8, zoom lenses have often a range for the different zoom factors e.g. f4.5-5.6. Don’t get confused, the smaller the value the bigger the aperture (the bigger the whole, the more light will be available for exposure). For an easier understanding think of fractions f18 = 1/18 f9= 1/9 so f9 is bigger than f18. The smaller the aperture the better, you will recognize that this is one of the main quality differences with lenses, especially for zoom lenses. There are also quality differences in aperture shape, cheaper lenses will have hexagonal apertures while better ones will do round once which will give better out-of-focus effects. A good

lens has a good optic, therefore don’t expect small light lenses if you want to have a good zoom lens, also don’t be shocked if the lenses are getting double or triple the price of your camera. (Hint: a good lens is more important for good image quality than the highest resolution. Invest better some more money on a good lens.) Shutter The other factor influencing the light exposed to the sensor is the shutter speed. The shutter speed defines how long the aperture whole is opened allowing light to enter. The shutter speed has tremendous influence to your pictures. You can freeze an eye blinking moment or you capture seconds of a scenery where movement is blurred to generate and effect of motion. “Shutter speeds affect the appearance of time and motion. A slow speed will create movement, while fast speed reveals details in your picture.” Certain situations require a fast or slow shutter speed to capture the image with a wanted effect. If you want to shoot sports or anything with

“The quality of a picture is at its best when lens aperture is set to a mid-level e.g. f14. At extreme values like f2.8 or f32 the lens performance diminishes.”

Outdoor Photography fast action you should choose high shutter speeds of at least 1/500sec or faster depending on your camera and the light situation. Fast shutter speeds will require smaller aperture. If you want to capture scenery at sunset with only a view sunlight left you will require slow shutter speed (long exposures) e.g. 1 second or for night photography even several seconds. Due to static images you are more flexible to choose apertures and shutter speed. For slow shutter speed you will require a tripod to get crispy and sharp pictures. Any shutter speed slower than 1/100sec it’s advisable to use a tripod or any support to avoid jiggling. Depth of Field (DOF) If you did not know about Depth of Field before you might have recognized an effect of apertures to the sharpness of certain areas in the picture. To keep it very simple, the aperture is driving the sharpness in the fore and background of your picture. You choose a point of interest in your picture at which you focus and which will be sharp. If you use small apertures like f32 you will get an overall sharp picture despite you choose for the same picture a big aperture you will get a result with only our focused motive sharp and the fore and background blurred. To understand and use this phenomena and techniques, play around with your camera. Choose one motive and take pictures with different apertures and shutter speeds and compare the results.

Sigma Lens: 24-70mm f2.8

f32 whole photo with uniform sharpness

f16 photo outer areas slightly unsharp

1/200 f14 with Sigma Lens: 100-300mm f4

f2 only the focused point in the middle is sharp the outer areas are blurred

1/1000 f6.3 with Sigma Lens: 100-300mm f4

How to pack a backpack

Tips & Tricks

Backpacks are sacks to carry your stuff and they are connected to frames that help with distributing the weight. It is very important to organize your backpack to avoid back problems and have more comfortable hikes. Here are some tips to organize your backpack: • Your full pack should not weigh more than about 30% of your body weight so don’t bring things just because they might come in handy. •For general hiking activities, put the heavy items in the top compartments and the lighter bulkier stuff on the bottom. Most of the weight should be on the upper part of the backpack. •For hikes that involve some climbing and steep hard terrains, keep the weight on lower compartments to gain better balance. Waist belts will transfer most of the weight to your hips. •Choose clothes made from fibers like coolmax, polartec, mircrofeece, spandex, lycra, that wicks sweat and are warm and incredibly light. Avoid cotton or woolen clothes for hiking. If you use cotton clothing take some extra shirts with you to change them if they get sweaty. Also pack about 4 pairs of socks. •Roll garments up into tight tubes to save packing space and avoid major wrinkling. •A special travel towel will be more efficient than a normal one (a smelly, wet/damp towel in your backpack is not something you want to experience). •Place an odor absorber, scented drawer sachet or dryer sheets inside of your luggage to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

•Place the medical kits and different small items you may need more often during the day into the exterior pockets for a fast access. •Water should have easy access and it is best to use a “squeeze and suck” system! There are some good points for having a one of these. Positioned in your back area, a water bladder can keep your skin cooler. If you sweat a lot, water will be not be enough therefore you should carry a sports drink that contains electrolytes for proper rehydration. •Distribute items in small waterproof bags or small plastic bags to categorize your items. For example: sun cream, lips balm, toiletries are in one bag. •Place food cans close to the back as they are usually heavy. Fresh food should be sealed in Ziploc bags safe from critters. •For a longer trip get a sleeping bag. It can be rolled up and tied onto the outside of your backpack. •If you planning on getting a tent and tarp, pack it either on top of your clothes or under your sleeping bag for easy access. •If there is a possibility of rain, then top compartments will be useful to keep your raingear. •Get a key lock for backpack zippers prevents people from snooping through your bag when you are in a dorm room without a locker. Yasir Albehzad & OutdoorUAE

How to make fire without matches? Tips & Tricks

Using your first aid kit:

Ingredients: Potassium Permanganates (anti-septic) + Glycerin Many first aid kits have potassium permanganates (used as anti-septic) and glycerin included. The glycerin is a thick colorless quick solvent liquid used medically for eye disorders and also helping with constipation, especially when your stool needs some softening!Here, my mother used to apply glycerin to our lips when we were kids to help healing small wounds faster. Prepare the fireplace and firewoodâ&#x20AC;Ś a small hole surrounded by rocks will help the air do its job, find dry grass or you can shred plant fibers, apply glycerin to the dry grass or on a number of tissues and pour some potassium permanganates on it. Now add a few drops of water on the mix and wait a few seconds, you will notice some chemical reactions and fire will start! Using Steel Wool and 9v Battery: Ingredients: 9v Batery + Steel Wool I always pack steel wool and a 9v battery in my survival pack; they help with starting fire quickly for an emergency. Rub the exposed part of the battery on the steel wool and fire will start. You will have to immediately place it in the fireplace and try to maintain fire. The battery will drain out quickly so make sure you practice the technique and be ready for a survival situation. Yasir Albehzad - www.yazmodo.com

How to choose a backpack Tips & Tricks

Everybody who likes hiking knows that a backpack is an absolute necessity to carry all those daily essentials. For those who have ever experienced a badly chosen or uncomfortable backpack, you will know that all the joy and fun of hiking disappears because of it.. Therefore you should choose your backpack wisely. In general it’s very simple. Your backpack should be comfortable to wear, with plenty of space inside for everything you need to take with you. If you are planning your first trip, consider the weight of what you are packing. The right choice strongly depends on what you want to do. For example if you are planning only short day trips, your requirements will differ to those for long hikes which last for days or weeks. We will focus here on day trips or backpacking where tents, sleeping bags and other camping equipment are not required.

Comfort: First of all, it is very important to know that the main weight of your backpack (internal frame), will be on your hips and not your shoulders - the shoulder straps are there to keep the weight tight to your body. Putting the weight on your hips gives you much better balance and greater comfort. Only very light backpacks should be put just on the shoulders. External Frame backpacks are more useful for heavy weights and long tours. They are very solid but usually not that comfortable, and also hard to find in the UAE. Choosing a backpack is as individual as choosing trousers therefore most importantly your pack should be adjustable so that you can fine-tune the fit to your individual body. Shoulder pads and hip belt should be padded and adjustable to provide maximum comfort. To choose the right size backpack, look at your torso length, not your height. There are designated size and types of backpacks for men, women and children. Some manufacturers provide different types of exchangeable padding for both men’s and women’s backpacks. The latest models provide very good air circulation along with good padding. A padded back or frame sheet will keep hard objects from jabbing you in the back. There are some backpacks which provide a lot of air circulation on the back – meaning space between the backpack and the body. Unfortunately

this cooling effect will have a negative effect on your balance because the weight of your backpack is further away from your body. The closer the weight to your body the better the comfort and the balance. Size: A very good average size for day hikes or backpacking is a volume from 30-50l. There are backpacks available with additional storage space (e.g. 40+10l). If you are not sure about the volume, it is better to take a slightly bigger (max 10l) backpack to be more flexible. If you are not well trained and experienced a backpack of more than 60l makes no sense – bear in mind, you have to carry it! In general you should not exceed 20kg if you plan long day hikes. For backpacking with overnight stays and camping you will need more packing volume than 50l (usually 70l+). On these occasions it might be good to consider an external frame backpack because you will exceed 20kg in weight. Features: Apart from the packing volume inside the backpack, most backpacks provide additional pockets on the outside as well as straps to add more equipment and supplies. A good rule for everything on the outside of a backpack is: avoid everything that is not necessary! Bear in mind that straps and pockets can be very disruptive hiking through woods or jungle where you get caught by trees and plants with all the stuff hanging off your backpack. If you have to take a plane to reach your destinations, the straps can easily get caught in the luggage carousel and destroy your backpack. While taking a plane it’s advisable to put the rain-cover around your backpack (taking the risk it will get damaged and

will not be waterproof anymore) or even better put it in a big bag/sack or wrap it in cling film at the airport! Some small pockets with zippers are useful, and at least one open pocket for a bottle of water and one strap to fix a mattress or sleeping bag will come in very handy. To avoid a floppy backpack some straps to tighten up your load might be useful especially if you are unlikely to completely fill up your backpack. Backpacks with 30l+ capacity will usually be loaded from the top so be careful while packing. For bigger ones (40l+) you should try and get one split into two

Tips & Tricks compartments with a zipper in the lower third to allow the access to stuff from the bottom without having to unpack everything on top. Before buying a backpack think about your needs and roughly define your required volume. Then go to a shop and select the backpack which is most comfortable for you. The more options you have to adjust a backpack the better. Ask in the shop if they have some weight to

try the backpack. Put some weight (e.g. bags of sand) in the backpack to imitate the weight you will carry later on your hike. Take a short walk in the shop and see if the backpack is comfortable for you. It is strongly advisable to go to a shop with a wide selection of backpacks to give you maximum choice. To get something good you should expect to pay at least 400AED for a 30l backpack, and more for bigger ones.

Go Sports Andina Tech 50 Backpack 355 AED Backpack with 50L pack volume and Speedgrip backpanel with 3D mesh foam lower back padding and a sliding fastener for the perfect fir for your backpack. The back hight is easy to adjust using a sliding strap. www.go-sport.com Available at GoSport Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Mirdiff City Centre

Lowe Alpine Airzone Active 28

425 AED For the active end user who needs a versatile pack for varied use. Key Features and Benefits: • AirZone breathable back maximising airflow. • Zip entry - allows clear easy access to the inside of the pack. • Front stash pocket and elastic cord system for bike helmets or quick access stowage. • Internal organiser in front pocket, reflective feature for high visibility. www.lowealpine.com Available at GoSport Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Mirdiff City Centre

Camelbak Vista 32 Backpack

425 AED The ultimate reservoir-integrated solution for technical outdoor pursuits ranging from a full day to a full weekend. Includes the new Antidote™ Reservoir with Quick Link™ System Includes the new Antidote™ Reservoir with Quick Link™ System-- the ultimate cure for dehydration. Antidote features: - Quick-snap cap that tightens in just a quarter turn - Low-profile fit for unmatched stability - Air-light fillport cuts weight - CamelBak® Got Your Bak Guarantee™. If we built it, we’ll Bak it™ with our lifetime guarantee HARNESS: Women’s-Fit Dynamic Suspension™ BELT: Loadbearing Torso Length: 17-20 in (42-50 cm) Pack Weight: 3.06 lbs (1.39 kg) S-curve women’s harness Mounts for trekking poles and ice axe Hike essentials organizer pocket Suggested load range: 20-35 lbs Also carries tent, sleeping bag, extra layers, food Capacity 100 oz (3 L) Cargo 2136 CU IN (35 L) www.lowealpine.com Available at GoSport Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Mirdiff City Centre

Upcoming Events

Event Schedule Decmber 2010 Date

Event

Contact (City, Web, Phone)

Daily

Open and private cruises around the Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab

Dubai

and Burj Khalifa

www.lycatamaran.com

Safa Park Boot Camps

Dubai

info@b2bfitness.me

+971 50 586 9746 Tuesdays and Sundays

Camps in December Tours running daily apart from

Noukhada offers:

Dubai

Sundays

Kayaking tours in Abu Dhabi and in Umm Al Quwain ,Kayak

info@noukhada.ae

fishing tours in Abu Dhabi, Sailing tours and lessons in Abu

+971 50 721 8928

Dhabi, All Terrain bike tours in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates,Stand up paddle board tours and lessons in Abu Dhabi Daily

Outdoor courses at Umm Al Quwain

Umm Al Quwain

Educational and safe courses , giving students of all abilities

adventure@libra-uae.com

to take part in a variety of outdoor activities and team building

+971 50 325 5492

exercises. November - January

Courses for jet ski users and powerboats from Marine Concept

Dubai

9-11 December

Overnight Dhow Trip to Musandam

Dubai

Looking forward to the next dive and explore new dive locations,

bestdive@emirates.net.ae

the breath taking views? Capture them in pictures for that enjoy-

+971 50 947 4773

+971 4 432 9496

able and fun filled weekend! 10th or 11th December 2010

Surf Dubai 2nd Annual Around the World Charity Paddleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for

Dubai

(depending on weather condi-

Surfaid International. Standup paddle boarders will depart from

www.surfaidinternational.org

tions)

Jumeirah open beach and enter the North Eastern perimeter of

10 -15 December

4th edition of Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge is a multi-sports race in

www.abudhabi-adventure.com

the Nakheel World Islands

teams of 4, racing over 6 consecutive days in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. 18 December

Jebel Hafeet Mountain Climb

Dubai

Many UAE residents have driven, cycled or run to the car park &

info@arabiaoutdoors.com

cafe high up on Jebel Hafeet, not many realise the true summit

+971 55 955 6209

or highest point lyes severel hundred meters away and can only be reached on foot. Our route begins on the other side of the mountain and follows a series of steep winding wadiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to the true summit. We grade this route as Difficult, the ground is steep, requiring some basic climbing skills and a head for hieghts. For full details see website. 18 December NEW YEARS EVE

Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race 22ft at Dubai International

Dubai

Marine Club

www.dimc.ae

Camping in the desert New Years Eve. We supply tents, fire,

Dubai

cooking facilities, basic food. Limited numbers.

info@arabiaoutdoors.com

Social evening at Lakes Club at Emirates Hills

Dubai

+971 55 955 6209 27th January 2011

Everyone is welcome to join. The main focus of the evening will be on high altitude mountaineering. `We are previlaged to have Mr Daniel Mazur joining us as a guest speaker. The proceeds from the evening will go to the Mount Everest Foundation for sustainable development in Nepal.

WIN

2 Balloon Ride Tickets!

Tickets to give away to anyone who ‘Like’ us on Facebook! Find us on Facebook by searching ‘Outdoor UAE’, and winners will be selected in a raffle draw.

Good Luck!

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‫إﺧــﺘ‬ ‫ ــﺮ ﺑــ‬ely ‫ﺤــﻜ‬ is ‫ ــﻤــﺔ‬ose w cho

Year 2020

CATCHES

SMALLER Year 2010

Year 1994

APPETITES

BIGGER Year 1979 .ae isely

osew

.cho www

Due to overfishing, fish stocks in the UAE have declined by 80% in the last 30 years.

DOWNLOAD THE UAE CONSUMER GUIDE FROM WWW.CHOOSEWISELY.AE AND MAKE A SUSTAINABLE CHOICE TODAY.

‫ﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ ا ﻣﺎرات ﻟﻠﺤﻴﺎة اﻟﻔﻄﺮﻳﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻣﻊ اﻟﺼﻨﺪوق اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤﻲ ﻟﺼﻮن اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﺔ ﻫﻲ ﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ ﺑﻴﺌﻴﺔ‬ ‫وﻃﻨﻴﺔ ﻏﻴﺮ ﺣﻜﻮﻣﻴﺔ ﺗﻌﻤﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﻄﺒﻴﻖ إﺟﺮاءات اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ و ﺣﻤﺎﻳﺔ اﻟﺘﻨﻮع اﻟﺒﻴﺌﻲ و اﻟﺒﻴﻮﻟﻮﺟﻲ و ﻧﺸﺮ‬ .‫اﻟﺘﻮﻋﻴﺔ ﻟﻨﻤﻂ ﺣﻴﺎة ﻣﺴﺘﺪاﻣﺔ‬ EWS-WWF is a national leading environmental NGO. EWS-WWF works at the federal level to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable living through education and conservation initiatives.

‫إﺧــﺘــﺮ ﺑــﺤــﻜــﻤــﺔ‬ choose wisely