Desert Safari Trip Gone Wrong (Almost)
For someone who likes to travel and go on adventures, I
surely suck at said likes. I rarely
travel and even if I do, it’s mostly around the Philippines.
Yesterday, though, even if I was under the scorching heat of
the sun, I made it a point to visit the desert and ride a camel before it was
all too late. My friends and I went on our DIY Desert Safari trip and I was
more than happy that we did. Most of the
time when we make plans, the plan does not follow through because of laziness,
or the heat.
Our main stop was Sealine. Everything is there. Camels, dune
bashing, desert safari cruise, and the beach.
CAMEL STOP
Priced at QAR20, you’ll be able to ride a camel around the
vicinity for a short distance. Short as in a few meters.
If you pay QAR50, though, the guide will let you go around
the steep slopes of the desert. Think of the 3 Kings riding the camels in the
desert to visit the baby that was born on Christmas Day.
I guess it was worth the experience for the price, I just
didn’t like the fact that they whip the camel’s neck for them to either kneel
or stand up. And they’ll moan in either exasperation or pain. I cannot tell
which. I do not see any water nearby as well where they can drink. I just hope
that they are taken care of.
DESERT SAFARI CRUISE and DUNE BASHING
There will be drivers with their Land Cruisers roaming the
area asking tourists if they’ll want to ride with him for a small fee for an
hour. There isn’t any insurance if something happens to you, so a word of advice.
Our driver, though, had 15 years of experience and we totally got what we paid
for, for such a measly price! He made sure to get our hearts pumping with every
swerve and slope running that he could get! At the top of the desert is a clear
white sand landscape, it’s hot but not so much that you wouldn’t want to miss
the experience. It was windy as hell but surprisingly, the sand does not get
caught up in the wind.
It’s a beautiful scenery. I mean, it’s not much. Just the desert, plain and bland. But beautiful, nonetheless. The desert sun in its Zenith, unperturbed by our frolicking souls and our appreciating hearts.
ATV and BIKE RENTALS
Where do I even begin? This is actually the meat of my post.
As this experience was the most eventful and possibly the one I’ll remember for
quite a long time.
I’ve had experience with driving an ATV before, back in The Philippines. I drove alongside my husband across the dirt roads. It was fun and
I would love to do it again sometime. I have never driven a bike/ATV here.
Heck, I don’t even drive. So when the opportunity came, well, quite frankly, I
wasn’t up for it. I got scared and asked a friend to ride along with her.
Let me tell you this, the rush was exhilarating! I wanted my
own bike. I wanted to drive one without any help, it looked so easy. And the
teenagers who were also renting made it seem easy breezy! So I tried it. I freaking
love it! If I had the opportunity to be reckless in my teenage years, I
probably would have done so. I remember maneuvering the bike and remembering
Bella Swan from Twilight when she wanted the thrill of the recklessness. I was
that girl. Searching for the near-death. I got what I wanted though.
Yes.
I thought I’d die that day.
I’m glad I asked my friend to get off the bike as I try to
maneuver it out of the soft sand atop the desert hill. I tried to turn around
but I got stuck facing the flat plain atop the desert. One wrong move and I’ll
go all the way down the hill. Who knows, the bike might flip and land on me.
Reverse-Forward-Reverse
I didn’t realize I was so close to the edge that the bike
just naturally reversed all the way down the steep slope with me on it. I felt
the rush. I felt panic. I screamed realizing what will become of me. I could
not look behind me nor down the hill. I was scared I might hurt someone so I
closed my eyes and screamed. I saw my friend disappear from my view as I
continue to traverse downward slowly, then all at once…
I stopped screaming midway. I soon realized the bike wasn’t
going to flip. It was meant for this. Then I was at the bottom of the hill. No blood,
no broken bones, not even a scratch. I was fine. Just the bike stuck once again
at the bottom of the hill because of the soft sand. Everyone got scared. My
friend didn’t want to see what became of me. And I’m glad I asked her to get
off the bike. I didn’t want her to experience that.
And yet, there was the thrill. I was scared and then I wasn’t.
I thought I was going to die, then I didn’t. It made me think of my last
thoughts before dying. While I was at sliding down the hill, I just kept
thinking that I’ll horribly die. I wasn’t afraid of death, but I’m afraid of a painful
one. I thought of my family and my husband afterward. I’m glad this was over.
I’m thankful I’m alive and well. I’m thankful I get to spend
a quick trip to the desert with my friends who are up for anything. I’ll always
remember this trip. One that I’ll hold dear to my heart.
Keep safe everyone.
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