The middle of no where....

When 13 four wheel drives arrive at the apartment to greet 60 keen Italians and Australian’s in mild temperatures of 40 degrees – you can sense the excitement in the air. No itinerary or imagination could pre-empt the amazing desert adventure we were about to embark on. All kitted out in ‘team sandpit’ t-shirts complete with personal nicknames we begin our journey.

As we drove in convoy with 5 people per vehicle, the Arabic tunes were pumping and our eyes wide open not wanting to miss a thing. Our driver Mohammed cruised a slow 130kms along the highway and pointed out some sights along the way.

We passed many ‘hire four wheel motorbike’ stalls by the sand dunes (this to be my next adventure). After a hour’s drive to the desert, a break of 10 mins was had to let out the air in the tyre's – we were all excited though with no idea of what was about to happen. The temperature gauge within the 4WD indicated a sizzling 47 degree day! Luckily for us Mohammed let us store the beers in the car esky.

The view of a line of four wheel drives making their way through the sand dunes looked tough as and then the sand duning began. Tears litterley fell, I was in fits of laughter as the car did 180 degree spins up, down, sideways along the sand dunes. The feeling of the best ever rollercoaster. Whilst at the top of a dune about to head down, excitement just pierced through your body. I loved it!! This will not be the last time I go four wheel driving in the desert (sorry mum and dad!!). We watched other cars do amazing moves, I just loved the look of these amazing vehicles in the dunes.

We drove around for about 2 hours so you can just imagine the fits of hysteria. A little behind time due to one car having a flat tyre due to coming down the sand dune sideways and the impact when it leveled out was too much. We took this opportunity (never one to miss an opportunity) to climb the sand dune. Well I began to race up the dune against a friend only to fall in a heap 10 metres up – they are god damn hard to climb!! Finally reaching the top and realizing how unfit I am the view was awesome. Kilometers and kilometers of sand, sand and more sand – seriously the middle of no where.

With an amazing stop by the water and sand dune, our eyes glanced across the water only to be told it was Saudi Arabia on the other side! Never thought I would get that close to a country that I never want to travel too! After now finishing the book ‘Daughters of Arabia’ I just don’t think Lauren and Saudi Arabia mix. I was invited by our driver to enjoy a tea and dates and try my early days of Arabic speaking. If anything – least I got a few laughs!!

Lauren and Saudi Arabia

The gang..

We finally arrive at our campsite. Now I was thinking, some 2 large tents with cushions….. only to be totally overjoyed when we approach a campsite complete with toilets, kitchen, multiple sleeping tents, volleyball, dance floor – lights and DJ, motorbikes and the sea!! I was pleased to see where the rainforest meets the ocean in Cape Tribulation; I never thought I would witness where the desert meets the ocean. What is that all about?

With an hour before sunset, a friendly game of volleyball was played then the most amazing swim in the ocean. Even whilst writing this, I still can’t believe I was swimming in the desert!

Where the desert meets the Ocean..

I have to say, this is a time that joins me in my top moments of life - I was in total euphoria. I couldn’t be happier, more excited and overwhelmed. I was in the desert, middle of the world, amongst sand dunes and friends that I have recently met. For a country I never knew even existed – has totally blown me away.

We enjoyed a smorgasbord of Arabic mixed grill dinner, the DJ mixed up his stuff and it was good times to be had. I enjoyed relaxing, meeting new people from Italy (Torino Olympics) whilst kicking back trying out the shisha (smoke pipe). The rose was the flavor of the night.

As the camp grew quieter, a few of us enjoyed relaxing in the dunes as the sun rose at the early hours of 4am. A quick snooze and I was awoken by the basting sun by 6.30am. It was too hot to now be out, so retired to the tents. The sun was seriously piercing with heat and by now we were all ready to go. A quick dip in the ocean and back to air conditioned apartment it was. Though before reaching home, another set of sand duning of course. Mohammed I think enjoyed having us in the car more than we did. He rang about 6 friends to speak on speaker phone to chat with us Westerner’s.

Totally exhausted and pleased to finally shower and enjoy the comforts of air-conditioning and couch – I slowly doze off with a smile and memories of the amazing experience of the ‘middle of no where’.

The crew back in one piece. Look forward to air-con!!


Prayer time in the desert

The Crew
Sand Boarding!!!

Tea time with the drivers...