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My Dubai Desert Safari Adventure

The desert safari adventure is a common tourist experience in Dubai. The city is built on the desert that’s why this is one of the major things you can experience while exploring this part of the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai Desert Safari Adventure
March 17, 2013

Desert Safari in Dubai

We had an Entertainer Book (which is book with coupons and discounts) and we used one of the pages for this adventure. We got two tickets for the price of one (AED 200) which was already a great deal.

Basically, the desert safari experience in Dubai includes sand dune bashing, camel riding, and a barbecue dinner where you can watch a belly dancing show.

sunset in Dubai

One of the surprising adventures I’ve experienced in Dubai is the Hatta Mountain Safari tour. We kept postponing this trip due to the (un)availability of our schedules. I was still new at the office and given that I only have one day off, it’s a challenge to find a perfect day to pursue this trip. Still I’m glad that it pushed through.

Hatta Tour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
April 30, 2013

Dubai Hatta Tour

Passing through Oman borders to reach Hatta where you will see the rocky mountains

Call time was 8:30am and I felt sleepy as I was in the closing shift the previous day. We went to our meeting point near Al Fahidi Metro Station so we could begin our Hatta Mountain Safari tour. The first activity was seeing the desert sand dunes of Lahbab, Sharjah City.

I was informed that the location of our previous desert safari tour wasn’t as grand as the place we were to visit. I wasn’t expecting much, else I would regret it if they are not met later on.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Driving a Buggy Lahbab, Sharjah
April 30, 2013

ATV on the sand

looks fake eh?

For one day and a half, we headed to Mui Ne, which is 4-5 hours northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I saw photos about the place and I told myself that I wanted to visit it when I started my backpacking trip. As a reference, here are a few tips during our trip to Mui Ne, Vietnam. Please take note that the information is based on my experience.

Mui Ne, Vietnam

Transportation

Rode a bus going to Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City. The bus left around 8pm and we arrived around 1am. We asked the conductor to drop us at a particular stop in Mui Ne which was near our guesthouse. You have to stay alert because the conductor might forget. It’s a good thing that I woke up to ensure that we wouldn’t go beyond our stop. The tickets we bought came from the hostel where we stayed in HCMC. We took round trip tickets so be sure to keep the return bus ticket to avoid any problems when you go back to HCMC.

sleeper bus

“Go Go!” The jeepney driver motioned us to step off his vehicle fast. “Hurry before the sunset disappears!” He wanted us to witness the spectacle at the red sand dunes especially when this was the highlight why we took the afternoon tour of Mui Ne, Vietnam.

For tomorrow may rain, so I’ll follow the sun.

We just came from the white sand dunes and we were running out of time before it turned dark. Getting a glimpse of the sun still on the sky sparked hope that we could still make it.

The driver’s statements encouraged us to run faster. We didn’t want to let the opportunity pass knowing that we still had the chance to arrive on time.

could still make it

One of the best spots I visited in Vietnam was the White Sand Dunes located in Mui Ne, 5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon: old name). After walking barefoot at the fairy stream and a quick stop at the fishing village, we proceeded to this beautiful destination and welcomed all the dust along … Read more

Your Suitcase, My Backpack

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh and saw you at the lobby while you were reading your book. You were waiting for me and your eyes showed how tired you were after your flight from Singapore. I just came from a stressful day myself and almost never made it passed the immigration in Manila.

But we showed up and we finally saw each other after a year and a half. That was all that mattered.

White Sand Dunes, Mui Ne, Vietnam

Vietnam and Cambodia, we gave ourselves a week of pure vacation and we made sure to find time for this quick respite despite our busy schedules.

The sand dunes and the fishing village in Mui Ne, the temples of Angkor Wat, the night life in Siem Reap. All of them were great backdrops as we rediscovered each other. I wanted time to stop so we could bask in those moments longer.

Red Sand Dunes, Mui Ne, Vietnam

My Dubai Desert Safari Adventure

Dubai, UAE: Hatta Mountain Safari Tour Highlights

Dubai, UAE: Driving a Desert Buggy in Lahbab, Sharjah

A Few Tips About Mui Ne, Vietnam

Transportation

Chasing the Sunset at the Red Sand Dunes in Mui Ne, Vietnam

Happy and High at the White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne, Vietnam

Your Suitcase, My Backpack