A Pakistani Joy Ride

Umm...there is too much technology! Between facebook, blogger, and my digital picture frame, I have spent the better part of 4 hours updating everything. Oh well, I hope it's worth it.

So, when you live in a desert region, one of the things you have to do is go on an "Arabian Safari." Eric and I had held off on doing this activity, because, of course, it's way more fun to go with others. That's how me, B, Eric, Becky, Patty, and Paul ended up in a Land Cruiser with a Pakistani driver named Ali and on an adventure through the dunes on Christmas Eve.

We left Dubai at 2:45 in the afternoon, heading for the desert. Once there, we were definitely not disappointed. As we wound our way through the sand, taking pictures, posing for silly photographs, we finally found ourselves watching the sun dip below the horizon into the desert.

After dark, we went camel riding and then into a "village" for a delicious dinner, belly dancing, henna painting, shisha smoking, and star gazing. We were the last to leave, therefore allowing Ali to take the crazy route home. Driving faster and faster over dune after dune through the moonlight, my face actually hurt from laughing and smiling. After we filled our tires up with air, Ali cranked his own personal mix tape (Pakstani rap and R&B), and hit the roads of Dubai like we were still driving through the desert.

Somehow, we safely arrived home, and piling out of the car we ran into who else? Santa! Er, a weird version of Santa complete with blonde curls, but there he was in the parking lot. Not wanting to stop our party, Bridget, Eric and I went to the nearby "American Bar," the Boston Bar. Finding it loud and the drinks not as strong as we hoped, we left – but not without a parting souvenir.

That’s right, isn’t Christmas Eve all about stealing things? We had noticed party poppers on our way in, and determined to have our own, lifted two on the way out the door. Paper crowns in place and plastic whistles ready, we made our way to the Emirates Towers to a karaoke bar I had passed at least once a day, Harry Ghatto’s. There wasn’t much of a crowd, so we were able to (mostly) get down to the business of singing.

The night would’ve ended on a very high note here (pun intended) had it not been for Song Stealer. Basically, this guy refused to give up the mic to Bridget whose turn it actually was to sing. Now, December 24th might be about a little bit of thievery, but it is definitely NOT about hogging the mic and stealing someone else’s much anticipated song. Fortunately, one of Bridget’s super powers is a lethal stare. When the Song Stealer was done, he made the mistake of standing in B’s eye line. Shortly after, Bridget’s intense gaze proved to be too much and he busted out of the bar.

Ending around 2AM, altogether, it was one of the best Christmas Eve nights I’ve ever had.