Where's my car? Where's my keys? Where's my clothes?

Couples of days after I’ll be leaving Dubai my friend Daniela goes back home to. She has organized a goodbye party at the desert to celebrate it, together with her birthday.

It was overnight party and bearing that in mind and being aware of how the temperature can decrease in the night at the desert I’ve realized, that I did not take enough warm clothes from Poland. How smart of me! But that was a good excuse for last shopping in Dubai. And as it was shopping for sport/casual clothes it was even fun. I’ve found some useful stuff.

In the afternoon Daniela together with Diti picked me from the hotel (they were about an hour late, but that was actually ok for me), we went to the meeting place where everyone (about 20 people) was already waiting only for us.

After quick shopping (just in case if there is not enough meat) we finally drove towards Hatta, where the party spot is. It took us of course some time to find it, as everyone had their own idea. Try to coordinate 10 cars…

In the end, we’ve made it. And even people arriving later were able to find us. No clue how. We’ve set up all gear. Most of it was brought by Daniela’s local friend with big pimp-my-ride car. He had everything there starting from power generators, through tents and finishing with cushions. Sweet.

We had great fun there, even though I was not allowed to drink anything I had so much fun. Grilling, chatting, dancing and taking pictures was basically our occupation during the whole time. Except when we were driving a quad and flipping over on the steep dune. Too many people on one machine.

I was supposed to stay for a night in a tent, but actually I got a chance to go back home the same night which I took. I did not want to spend half of Saturday on the desert waiting for everyone to get up and get sober enough to drive. I wanted to use the day as it was supposed to be my last day off in UAE.

Let's the party begin.
Somewhere there among all those bags, there is a lot of booze. Even in UAE there are the ways to drink not only in a bar.

Fire, BBQ, sitting mats, chairs. This is called good organization.

Friends

Dubai Girls

Daniela got a cool poster with Dubai landmarks. That poster was enhanced with small pics of her and her friends sticked in the cool Dubai spots.

Dubai Girls

Let's go dancing

Russia, Uruguay, UAE, Germany - so international

This is that vehicle that we had an accident on

Get yourself together

That was my injury

Island called Boracay

Boracay is famous for its white beaches. I was not aware of that but it’s first tourist destination in Philippines. What’s more not only for foreigners but also for local people. Actually it’s full of Filipinos, what’s really nice. I must admit that I enjoy it so much more this way than the other like in Thailand and Vietnam where beaches were full of farangs.


Filipinos are the most friendly people that I’ve met. They always smile, speak decent English, help you. This is how I got place where I’m staying right now. We were in Caticlan, arrived there quite late, when there were no more boats to Boracay and we met those local girls who were trying to arrange transportation to Boracay and did all the good job to get it. One of them was renting rooms and as her place was full showed us house next door where a family is renting rooms, so we got one.

Traditionally during holidays I’m sick. Sore throat, fever, runny nose, so most of the time I spend either walking along the beach or sitting and reading. I must admit that I even go into the water as it’s so warm that it can’t make me any harm. I was told that it’s 28 degrees (sic!).

When I thought I’m already better I went to kite surfing classes and in fact got worse again. Damn it! I’ve even spent all weekend evenings in bed, not going out to party and it did not help. Maybe I should have gone yesterday, as when we went for a dinner to very local place there was that bunch of Filipinos and when we got up to pay they’ve asked us if we wanna give it a try. But a try to what? I’ve found out only when two guys took me by the hand and lead me to the long table.

Apparently they were a crew of a Dragonboat (there was dragonboat competition taking place last two days) celebrating their victory (3rd place if I got it right) and drinking. But how where they drinking! There were three tables connected together. There was a line of 15 different bottles with booze and there was a shot glass with each bottle, sometimes there was also a bottle of coke in between. And what you were supposed to do was to get one shot after another.

I was the first one to try, but I knew I’m not gonna make it till the end as I was taking medicines to get me going and mixing it with booze was not a good idea, so after four shots I gave up. But John feeling the pressure made it till the end. That event made us forget to pay our dinner. So we had to go back there in the night to pay.

I was not planning it but in the end I’ve decided to stay here till the end. Especially that I don’t feel like traveling when I’m sick and bearing in mind that way home will be tough. Four flights in a row, transferring between terminals in Manila and Dubai, 17 hours of flights plus some additional waiting times. One needs to be fit for that.

Boracay sun set

Dragonboat warrior

Dragonboats ready to take off

Dragonboats with their crews

Filipino party people

John is taking shots

Very romantic, ain't it?

Coconut tree climber

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