Dubai: Al Ain
As we left Dubai, Mohammad, the tour guide, told us about Dubai Land and the plans for development. We passed a few areas of the future site and saw a few areas that looked close to being completed. As we continued toward Al Ain, I enjoyed studying the picturesque landscape filled with high sand dunes that did not have any plants in them and stretched into the horizon. Some fences and walls had been breached because the sand dunes had drifted and piled up so high that it formed a bridge over the manmade barrier, which made me think of man’s impermanence compared to the sustaining forces of nature. Some areas of the landscape were also used to farm dates (the first actual farms I had seen so far). Mohammad, informed us about the numerous camel farms we also saw. He said that the best camels can be sold for millions and used in camel races, while others are bred for their meat, milk, or to be used as a mode of transportation, just like in the olden days. We passed a big camel racing complex and he told us that little boys used to ride the camels in the races, but now little robot jockeys are used.