Hatta 2006

Hey friends,

About two weeks ago, a bunch of us went to Hatta, which is about 2 hours away from Dubai. The adventure started right from Arabian Ranches where we all gathered to get into the 4x4 off roader. There were eight of, and so four of us had to sit squashed in the middle row. Even before we hit the roads, we HAD to stop over at Costa coffee to get our replenishments.

Our driver, Mohammad Ali, no, not the boxer, but a local guy with Pakistani background took off from Arabian Ranches. Mina snapped her iPod in and with Arabic music on full blast we made our way to Hatta, which is towards the Oman side. En route, we stopped to take some pictures with the camels, and it was surely disappointing to see such scrawny and skeletal camels.

I took out my video camera and Nissa began her documentary. "Welcome on board. We are on our way to Hatta and as you can see..." and so her documentary began, which was nothing short of rib cracking jokes and laughter. I had to see the video about 10 times and still I cannot get over how funny it is.

Part of the way towards Hatta is off the beaten path, and with all eight of us in the car, the road that laid ahead of us looked more like a roller coaster track, and with each up and down, there were screams and more screams coming from the back. Finally we reached the magnificnet Hatta pools.

Hatta pools was really beautiful. Amidst the high fjords, there was water down below, and it led us into winding paths deeper into the fjords. Some places were deep to walk, others were shallow, but to be nestled between high rocks on each side as we walked in cool, clean sea water just made it an awesome moment. Nissa, Renata and I went all the way to end of the pool, where we could see water coming out from inbetween the rocks, creating little water falls, flowing into the pools.

Nissa picked up my camera and we made a short dramatic movie entitled The Rescue. Mina is found drowning in the Hatta pools, while the rest of our gang is screaming their heads off. "Bachaoooo..." screams Mina. In I come, the ultimate lifeguard: "Mein aaraha hooon!" and save Mina from drowning. But the plot doesn't end: Gibson, the evil one, Mini-Me, enters and I and him have a dishum-dishum fight, saving Mina all over again! Nissa informs us that "for the record, all this was not pre-planned, but that we witnessed a live event on camera!"

It was getting warmer in the water and we headed out of the pools to go to Hatta Fort Hotel, a five star hotel for lunch. There, we were treated to the most amazing buffet I have had in a long time, and before we knew it, Nissa got up and started dancing in there as the two-people band continued to sing up-beat, lively songs. Our table went berserk when La Bamba came on, and we realized how silly we were being dancing in a calm, idyllic restaurant where the the other guests were enjoying watching us.

It was one of the best trips I have made and I am glad I caught it all on camera. Yes, life is short, and so we had no hang ups about being a little silly and enjoying ourself to the max.

Coming up next! Read all about it! Our New Adventure- Rain Dance: Disco in the Desert under a million stars and rain!

Mansur
PS If you want pictures of this trip, please email me at mansourahsan@gmail.com. I could put them up here, but then I don't want some people to see them as they are too provocative and sensous, especially the pool ones...lool..no, for the sake of privacy, some of my friends have asked me not put the pictures up and to share with only whom I must.