JONATHAN et al. ARE IN DUBAI! (Day 8)

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This was 

JONATHAN et al.

very last day in the UAE.

So we had to make it a memorable one!

Another ROAD TRIP to

AL AIN

to spend some time at

WADI ADVENTURE!

Because of a couple of

LOOPS OF SHAME,

we arrived just in time for

JONATHAN et al.

to be taken into the Briefing Room

for directions on

WHITE WATER RAFTING!

 

After they were briefed,

they suited up

and were ready for a trial run through the rapids!

They were definitely excited!

Off they paddled for their trial run!

(Note the smooooooth not-for-long water!)

Meanwhile, people zip lined over the water!

My oh my, what concentration!

They proved they were ready for

the white water,

so off they went, carrying their raft.

Um yeah, note the not-so-smooth water now!

And their day just wouldn't be complete without

capsizing!  OMG!

I'm happy to report that they survived

WHITE WATER RAFTING

in the desert!

Back in Dubai, we visited 

SKI DUBAI in the MALL OF THE EMIRATES!

And then we stopped by the

BURJ AL ARAB,

the only 7 Star hotel in the world!

Back home to pack and play with SHALLIE.....

for the very last time!

We went over to the 

JUMEIRAH BEACH WALK

for our last dinner together, outside at

INDIA PALACE!

Our last hug with this guy

until we return to Indianapolis!

And off

JONATHAN et al.

went into the airport to wait on their flight back to the

DEEP FREEZE!

Thanks for visiting, Jonathan, Ted, Nate and Miranda!

JONATHAN et al. WERE IN DUBAI!

WADI ADVENTURE, AL AIN!

It was a mighty fine day for a
ROAD TRIP
 to Al Ain, to a place 
we'd never even heard of,
(although it's been open for two years)
.......
WADI ADVENTURE!

We plugged in the coordinates....

but as we arrived in Al Ain,
we didn't see one single sign!

(Typical UAE!)

We ended up on a dead end street,

lined with little cabins.

WHERE OH WHERE 
WAS
WADI ADVENTURE?

We finally realized that we were behind the park,

so we turned around and navigated our way

to the front --

at long last, a sign!!

The park was situated at the base of a mountain
and it looked amazing.

We couldn't believe our luck --

there were hardly any cars in the parking lot!

(So if you are going to go, be sure to go during the week!)

We were fired up as we walked towards the entrance.

The park attendants literally lined our arms
 with wrist bands....

one for white water rafting,

one for kayaking,

one for zip lining and the rock climbing wall,

one for the surf pool,

and a blue band to enter and purchase food with.

(Surely there's an easier way!)

Armed with a map, off we went

just in time for our white water rafting booking!
(Call in advance to book each activity.)

The park was quite beautiful with the mountains 

by the water's edge!

We put on life jackets and helmets.

(Who needs a helmet?)

Yea, I actually asked myself that question!

We met up with our guide and our raft,

and we were ready to go!

Up, up and away, we slowly moved up the conveyor belt!

After successfully riding the waves through the 

white water several times,

it finally happened....we flipped over!

O.M.G.

The three of us went flailing through the rapids....
and nearly died!
(I kid you not!  I kid you not!)
Luckily there were guys with ropes all along the shore...
they saved our lives!
And Yvonne saved my paddle!
WHEW!!
What an adrenaline rush!

So we did it again, and again, AND AGAIN!

Then it was time for our kayaking adventure!

They had us put on these skirt things!

I'd never been white water kayaking, so this was new!

Soon we were raring to go once again!

There were two things we all had to do 

before we could actually start paddling our kayaks.

First, we had to feel comfortable being 
tipped over!

Then we had to be comfortable releasing ourselves

from the kayak under water!

Once we all three passed 

(with flying colors)

we were ready to start paddling!

Like I said earlier,

I've been kayaking before (many times),

but never in white water.

This was a blast!

Darlene and Yvonne thought so too!

HaHaHa!  

I LOVE this one of Yvonne!

But once she got the hang of it, she loved it!

After white water rafting and white water kayaking,

we were ready for a break

and for lunch!

Note the mountains reflecting off the glass doors!

It was breathtaking!

(And, FYI, the food was delicious!)

Next, we tackled the surfing pool.

It was Open Swim 

from 4 - 6 PM,

 so surf boards weren't allowed.

But we had fun body surfing in the waves!

Finally it was time to go zip lining!

We harnessed up

and totally peer pressured Darlene into going!

It was an absolute blast!
(Yes, even Darlene thought it was!)

By the time we were finished for the day,

WE WERE 
ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY EXHAUSTED!

WADI ADVENTURE....

Yea, we explored our limits all right!
(And then some!)