my complicated life

my hubby and i joined the filipino Manila Ecotourism Club (MAETRICS) in the tour they organized, called "Lakbay UAE". assembly time was at 5:30 AM infront of Abu Dhabi Mall. since there wasn't any cab yet at that time (muslims [including taxi drivers] were celebrating, EID), hubby and i walked from our flat to the mall. we left the house at 5:00 AM and got to the meeting place exactly 5:30 AM!!

the buses left Abu Dhabi at exactly 6:00 AM. two of kuya's officemates and their husbands were on the same bus as we were. we had breakfast on the road. we headed first in Burj Al Arab and Wild Wadi.

after that, we went to Al Wasl Park to have our morning snack and before heading off to a long travel to Fujairah.

i wasn't able to keep track whether it was a two-hour or three-hour trip from dubai, as i dozed off occassionally. =) however, i was able to take note that there were fewer and fewer buildings as we got to Fujairah. the first laps were mountainous regions. UAE mountains were inclined 45 degrees and rather pointed and slippery. it was in Fujairah mountains were i saw examples of "fanning" and "bedding". terms i learned from the sedimentary petrology classes i attend to (omigosh, i sound like my boss now!). from a climber's point of view, climbing UAE mountains would be a nightmare!!! either you die from sliding from the top down to the foot or you get punctured from sharp protruding rocks. however, i definitely look forward to climb one. ngahaha. tigas talaga ng ulo!!!

upon reaching the town proper, we noticed that they also have KFC, Pizza hut and Golden Fork restaurants. not bad... =) however, it also caught my attention that there were some houses which looked like Iraq villas. not that i have been to Iraq, but the way some houses were built in Fujairah really looked like the small box-lix houses i saw on CNN when they feature news in Iraq. we reach Khor Fakhan beach just in time for lunch. we had picnic together with the other pinoys. only the little ones took a dip as grown-ups were not enticed to the water anymore or should i say, to Fujairah amenities. =(

we left the beach area around 2:30 PM and stopped by to Al Badiya Mosque, the oldest mosque in UAE. after taking photos, went off to the market to buy souvenirs. the road has been congested this time as people were coming and going in & out the different emirates in time for a workday tomorrow (does not include me and hubby, though!).

"outside the Al Badiya Mosque"

"towers above the Al Badiya Mosque"

after Fujairah, we had another long travel to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet mountains. my hubby and i were not ecstatic this time, as we have gone even to a grander part of Jebel Hafeet before. at the top, i even had a feat with some arab women. pinainit nila ulo ko!!! i raised my voice and scolded these hard-headed arab women, saying "don't you know how to fall in line, people!!!". they really got into my nerves! after that, ayun, i was finally able to take a pee in peace. hahaha, line pala sa comfort room!

our last destination was in Green Mubazarrah Garden Park. the park has hot springs and green grassy areas. however, i have a feeling that these were just man-made though. i'll check out with the professors when i get back at work on Monday if my guess was right. however, had fun climbing the high areas. proving i really miss mountain climbing!!!

the pack was able to reach abu dhabi at 2:00 AM. my hubby said that i slept like a baby on the bus so i have no absolute excuse to claim otherwise. =) the tour has been memorable in itself except for the fact that i have been disappointed with the organizers. maybe because i do organize events myself and for them to have tours like this on a regular basis, the way things went on today hasn't been a superb job for nth-timers. just my piece of honest-to-goodness view.