Friday and Saturday 10th 11th of October

Oh Great Weekend! I started the enjoyment and extension of my concept on life at the Outdoor expo at the exhibition centre on Friday. Everything that is outdoors and dear to the heart of an emirate man. Hunting, fishing, camping, motor vehicles, shooting, horses, camels and falconry. There were heaps of Emirate men who brought their own birds to the show and parked them as the above pair of the falcon stalls.

To go with the falcons and the large number of organisations that breed and sold them there was a whole gun section of the top manufacturers in the world. To get to that area we had to go through metal detectors on the way in and on the way out and it was guns for Africa (literally) There were large groups of people from different African countries (and NZ) offering the opportunity to shoot animals. Guaranteed prices for different species and different sizes

There was a host of camping equipment that was needed for every desert camping trip. I did not bother yo photograph but I had to have a photo of the latest in desert portable gas BBQ's. The photo above shows stacks of them waiting for new owners and ready for some heavy duty work in the field.

The Arabian horses on show were an incredibly interesting animal show. To me watching it was more akin to a beauty show than a show of animal prowess. There were people with plastic bags all around the arena with plastic bags on sticks shaking them and making them generate noise to startle the animals. I can't for the life of me see any reason to make a horse prance and jump around except to show the 'correct' lines and angles of the animals. The trainers with the animals were something else again. They ran and pranced as much as any of the horses and the contortions they put their bodies into left no doubt as to what team they were batting for. (Mincing comes to mind)

There was also a section that was dedicated to the old crafts of the desert and the lady below was using the tradition grind stone to create a meal for the cooking of these little pancake type things. You could then have them smothered in honey or other sweet things. You'll note the face covering (Sharla) that the majority of the local women wear. You are not to look upon the face of another man's wife. Its just not done so the women whenever they are in public cover themselves.

Saturday saw me targeting the Souks (Markets) for a visit. I spent quite a bit of time in the fish souk (I'll be back there when I'm in an apartment and have to cook for myself) Over 100 different fishermen selling their wares and all ready to bargain with you for what you are after. Kingfish, Shark, King Prawns,Harmot, Jesh, Tuna, and a host of others I have no idea about. Fantastic place.

The guys doing the gutting and filleting where all dressed in red overalls and were down one end of the hall. Just about everyone of them wanted to pose for me and were real showmen with what they were doing.

There were also some incredible model boats that I would just love to bring home but would never get through customs. The picture below is one that I fell in love with and will see whether I've got enough space to fit it into my luggage.

I went to the carpet souk on the way home and it was everything that I had heard about souk. People trying to grab you (Literally not figuratively) and take you into their shop for a bargain that I could just not miss out on. I'm only going back there if I want to buy one.