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[RC] FW: News from the Sand - President's Cup - UAE - Steph Teeter-----Original Message----- From: Debra Gilbert [mailto:gmchagall@xxxxxxxxx] Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 7:27 AM Subject: News from the Sand - President's Cup - UAE Hi all: Everything is going well - no rain! Today Beverly Gray (USA World team finisher) and I went out on a little jaunt in the desert - We managed to get into a camel compound and rode around for a long time in the dunes and encountered only mean 4-strand camel enclosure barbed wire. We backtracked in the early afternoon heat through the camp. In a very narrow straightway leaving the camp we encountered a camel train of about 40-50 racing camels coming the other direction from training at the camel racetrack. We parked the horses on the road shoulder while they passed. The riders were extremely friendly - huge smiles and used all the english phrases they knew "Hello", "No Problem", "Thank you", "How Are You" and "Good Bye". One wise fellow hanging over the compound fencing had one more phrase that he yelled as we were departing "I LOVE YOU". We were touched by their excitement over seeing us. It was an entertaining and enriching experience. We backtracked to our original route and made it back safely to the barn. During that time Jeannie Waldron, who every horse knows and loves and Todd Howard, equine sports therapist extraordinaire had been perusing the desert looking for us but arrived back at the barn shortly after us - very relieved. The guys did well but were very thirsty after 2 1/2 hours out. A good trial run for the race. We galloped and trotted and sorted out how they handle the different types of sand surfaces. Jeannie arrived last night and is already taking blood and assessing the state of all the horses and making suggestions. Seems we've done ok with getting them settled on our own. Yesterday we had the most wonderful trip to Al Ain - an oasis in the desert about 130 km from our hotel. We left early, ran by to feed the guys and were on the road by 8:00. First we went to a huge rock mountain that is near Al Ain and rises straight from the desert (I can't remember the name but will send later). It was 12 km to the top - about 3500 feet above sea level. On the top is one of the Sheik's vacation homes and a large parking lot for the public. It was like being on top of the world - you could see for a hundred + miles. The desert sand was tan surrounding the mountain then changed to an iron red further into the desert. Truly spectacular. While standing in the parking lot admiring the view, a woman in muslim dress came over and inquired where we were from. Virginia, Pennsylvania and California were our responses - hers was that she was from NORTH CAROLINA! Small world..... She was with a broadcasting company and lives in Greensboro. She has been here, in Abu Dhabi for 4 years and loves it. We had a nice chat and she hopes to have some coverage of the race. We then went to Al Ain, shopped and ate - We had a wonderful plate of rice and chicken, salad with yogurt dressing and a coke. (cost 9 dirham - eq to 3.50 US) We went to the gold souks (stores) and bought some souvenirs. We then went to Sheik Zayed's family home which is now a museum and took a tour (no cost) - How cool - simple with pillows on the floor - separate wives quarters - special "Guest" quarters, fountains and for the BMI folks - the most wonderful tent in the courtyard. I took my last pictures of that tent - had a liner and was huge - like an extended extended dome. We left there and drove through the date farm and into the livestock market. We actually saw a station wagon with a goat and cow looking out through the back window! I can't wait to go back - there was so much we didn't get to do. If we take anything away from this experience - it is that we have really given these people a bad rap. They are the most kind and generous people as a population that I have ever encountered. I cannot describe how wonderful and gracious they have been to us. The impending war is a non-issue and no one has mentioned it to us. We're still lobbying for a camel ride and hope to make it to the Sheik's wildlife area where he has rescued cheetahs. Gazelles run throughout his compound and graze at night near the stable. Haven't seen a snake, but have seen tracks across the dunes. We are in countdown mode - the race is a week from Thursday. Rumor has it will have 120 competitors. Saturday we are going to Dubai to watch another shorter race to find out how to do this well here. BTW we are sitting in an Internet Cafe where for 5 dirhams an hour you can use the internet. Much faster than at the hotel. The atmosphere is great with plaster walls and cubicles like you use in computer training class. Lynne & Beverly __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! 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