Day 123: Repelling in Ras al-Khaimah

In continuation of Kate having the hook-up, her and Andy (her Andrew) took us repelling in Ras al-Khaimah. A quick drive through the desert and we were in the mountains (kinda) for an afternoon of walking down the sides of a canyon. We didn’t have time to rock-climb in Thailand, so I was super excited to get on a wall, even if it was just to do the easy (sometimes most fun) part! Just like TJ, Andy knew exactly what he was doing (it’s his job, after all!) and was super professional as he guided us down the canyon walls.

Guess who made everyone pose for scenario pictures again? (It’s me! It’s me!) Only we weren’t as organized, and I forgot what each scenario was… Maybe being silly in climbing harnesses for all of them?

After repelling, we headed out of Ras al-Khaimah to drive and spend the night in Abu Dhabi for some sightseeing the next day. The normally two hour drive turned into five because we couldn’t find a gas station ANYWHERE! On empty, we were a little nervous, driving in the middle of the desert, but finally found one with Andy’s (Kate’s Andy) help using the internet at home. Whew! We were in the clear, until Andrew (my Andrew) took a turn behind the wheel and learned the hard way there are speed bumps on the expressway. We were in the midst of finding our way back to the right expressway to Abu Dhabi and all of a sudden the car is airborne and Andrew is freaking out out in the front seat apologizing to Kate over and over again, who was also apologizing on behalf of the UAE for the crazy amount of speed bumps without warning paint, lights, or even signs. Andrew couldn’t stop referencing The Office, whenever he talked about there actually being a speed bump in the middle of a highway...

Day 122: Dune-bashing in Ras al-Khaimah

Yep! We went dune-bashing in Ras al-Khaimah! What on earth is dune-bashing? An extraordinarily fun version of off-roading done in the desert, that’s what! Kate had the hook-up, and that hook-up was her friend, TJ who is actually a member of the Abu Dhabi Dune-bashing Club! He picked us up, let a lot of air out of his tires, and then took us up and down sand dunes, sometimes stopping right on the cliffs leaving us dangling from our seat-belts and with the same feeling you get when you’re on a roller-coaster dangling high above the ground face-down. That being said, he was a super safe driver, not only did he know exactly what he was doing, he tried to educate us a little about driving and bashing in the desert as we went up and down the dunes. (You rock, TJ!)

After bashing, we went for (Yemeni) Mandi.

This glorious dish is simple, yet fantastic. The chicken is cooked in a stone oven underground and then served on top of a huge pile of rice. The experts (Kate, Andrew, and TJ) told us to get the yogurt. We followed suit, dumping the not so spicy tomato based sauce into the yogurt and then pouring it on the rice or dipping the chicken into it. I’m getting so accustomed to eating with my fingers, I’m not at the moment prepared to use a fork. Good thing, we have a ways to go before I find that I’ll need to use one!

FYI: Andrew and I (being the foodies that we are, er, that Andrew has totally turned me into) are keeping a Pinterest board (Liz and Andrew eat their way around the world) of all of our favorite foods we have tried on the road! We’re trying to include recipes as well so we don’t forget what we loved and have the motivation to make it all when we get back home (you know, wherever home may be in a year)! If you’re feeling adventurous give one of the dishes a whirl- but please let us know how it turned out, as we haven’t had the pleasure of trying these recipes out yet!

Day 120: One Fish, Two Fish

I wish my New Year’s Day was spent wandering through the fish market in Ras al-Khaimah, but alas, I’m cheating on the blog for the first time because… My real New Year’s Day was spent suffering from the latest round of food poisoning. One last parting gift from India? Undercooked chicken in the desert? Something slipped into my drink when I wasn’t looking at the party? We were all skeptical. Andrew was tempted to take me to the hospital, but I refused. I did, however, accept his charcoal tablets and electrolyte mix. They worked. We picked up the charcoal tablets in India after Andrew was sick, they are officially my new favorite travel staple. I was better by the time everyone else in the house woke up from their afternoon New Years Day naps.

So, this cheating post is from another evening in Ras al-Khaimah. I thought it would be much more enjoyable than watching a video of one of us sick or sleeping again! James, one of Kate’s friends in RAK (short for Ras al-Khaimah) entertained us, and probably those working in the market with a little bit of a tour. Before I moved to Korea, I would get a little squirmish about walking through a fish market. Slippery tentacles especially tended to creep me out. Now, I quite enjoy them. They are much more fun than a sterile American grocery store, and if you’re going to eat meat (or in this case, fish) you should be comfortable with the process. And if you’re not comfortable, as sometimes is the case with myself, you eat more vegetables. It’s a win win!

Day 119: New Year’s Eve in the UAE

New Year’s Eve in the UAE! Kate lives in Ras al-Khaima, one of the seven emirates. It’s name means “Top of the Tent” and offers lots of sand (like many of the emirates do), which made for a perfect party in the desert! We spent the day relaxing at Kate and Andrew’s (yes, another Andrew) apartment, and then caravanned with friends out to a random spot in the desert. Cars were left near the expressway that wouldn’t be able to cross through the desert. Air was let out of tires of the cars which were able to drive on the sand. Tents were set up. Chicken and lamb was roasted. Drinks were shared. Hugs were given at midnight followed by lanterns being set afloat to bring in the new year! Happy 2013!

The night was a lot of fun. It actually reminded me of a field party in Kentucky. Only with sand dunes. And a really diverse group of expats and Emirates. And the obvious, that it wasn’t in Kentucky. The conversations were awesome, everything from what it’s like to travel through India, how the UAE has changed in the past ten years, trying to converse with a man from Bangladesh, who couldn’t speak English, and even a rousing debate about world economics with a currency trader.

This last conversation led to a very important lesson that I had to learn the hard way. In the UAE, women do not initiate conversation with Emirati men. Had I known this, before I went up to an entire group of them to ask their opinion “If they would rather live in China or the USA in the future, which would they choose?” I probably wouldn’t have  had to demand Andrew to change places with me and stand a little closer after one of the Emirati men copped a feel. Seriously, this happened. And it was after I told the Emirati men I was with my husband! – Stop freaking out, we’re not married, we just told everyone in India and the UAE that we were. Furthermore, I was standing right next to Andrew when this happened, but apparently they thought that I was fair game because I initiated conversation with them. Kate later said that the currency trader (an Emirati himself) should have known better than to allow me to approach the men on my own.

When Andrew demanded to know who did it, I told him to let it go. The “it’s your second night in a new country” feeling kicked in, and it wasn’t worth a confrontation. Also, in the midst of that same conversation with the currency trader, he had insisted that women were treated with respect in the UAE, and in Dubai, they were considered equals. I rolled my eyes at him when he said this, and after my bum was grabbed, I wanted to march back up to him and say “If women are treated with respect and considered equal in your country, sir, then why are your Emirati homeboys grabbing my bum after I initiate a conversation about ECONOMICS?”

Unfortunately – coincidentally – the currency trader was no where to be found after he insisted I ask the Emirates their opinion on our economic debate.

It was a lesson learned. an interesting night, and start to the new year!