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Under
the Patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan
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The ENHG
Al Ain Chapter
Newsletter
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The
Emirates Natural History Group, Al Ain Chapter, PO Box
18057, Al Ain
November, 2005– Issue #230 |
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THE
IBRAHIM ZAKHOUR TRIPLE CRESCENT TRILOGY:
EPISODE TWO -
no quails, no donkey dung, but panorama and drama
ruled the day
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article & photos by Dino Savva |
| After the
highly enjoyable hike up Jebel Qattara last month, our
intrepid group of explorers was really looking forward
to the climb up “Swiss Mountain” this time.
The expedition began at the ungodly hour of 6.00am with
the group meeting outside the Buraimi Hotel. Everyone
managed to beat the sunrise but scout leader Bill Jones
didn’t read the script, arriving twenty minutes
later in his Pajero with matchsticks propping open his
eyelids. A 45-minute drive to Jebel Qawail (does it
have anything to do with quails?) lay ahead and Bill
led the way as the sun inched its way above the horizon.
The drive included a large section off-road, passing
over washboard dirt tracks and loose gravel, with the
local camels and goats (no donkeys today Robert!) looking
on as we blazed a trail in clouds of dust. We arrived
near the foot of the mountain at about 7.15 thanks to
Bill’s amazing navigational skills (or was it
his GPS?). It was a fantastic sight as an early morning
mist veiled the summit, and I could see why it was nicknamed
“Swiss Mountain”.
Bill led the group of thirteen (was this an omen?) along
the camel and goat tracks to the foot of the mountain,
wearing his Sir David Bellamy hat again as described
the local vegetation with the sound of cock-a-doodle-doo
from a nearby farm ringing in the cool, moist air. We
played hopscotch over some large rocks as we began the
first 1/3 of the climb with goat droppings (according
to Professor Bellamy) paving the way forwards. Our resident
Irish scatologist Robert Fay would have had a field
day but he was he was busy flexing his right elbow at
a bar in Hong Kong (the Force was definitely with him!),
so there was no appliance of the science of animal dung
on this occasion!
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The ‘Swiss”
Mountains in the early morning mist – a
great day for a hike.
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It was
onwards and upwards except for a duo of stragglers
who were still near the bottom and decided to
call it a day (or so we thought!). They were still
partially anaesthetized by the pina coladas that
they’d gulped at the Mercure the night before
so they couldn’t spot the scatological deposits
that marked the way forwards ;) . Two down, eleven
to go. Were the evil spirits about to claim more
victims? The sight of two vultures circling overhead
spurred the rest of the team to sally forth and
it wasn’t long before we reached a steep
precipice that had to be overcome to reach the
summit. |
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| This broadsheet is published free to families in
the Al Ain area. If you are a member planning an activity with a natural
history theme please notify us so that others can join you. Everybody
is able to contribute to ENHG and Emirates recordings. For more on
our activities please visit our website <www.enhg.org> or join
our e-mail discussion group at ENHG@Yahoogroups.com. The Group meets
at 7.30pm on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month, usually at the
Intercontinental Hotel. New Members are welcome. |
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| The ENHG Al
Ain Chapter Newsletter…
November,
2005– Issue #230 |
no
quails, no donkey dung, but panorama and drama ruled the day
cont… |
The view from the top |
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| It was the perfect excuse
to stop for refreshments (with bladders quivering at the
prospect of the next climb, some needed to make a pit
stop), savour the view below, inspect the footwear, and
prepare the crampons. Brownian motion was the order of
the day as everyone sought the path of least resistance
in their serpentine way up to the top. The only difficulty
was trying to avoid grabbing onto rocks that were splattered
with bird droppings (Robert, where were you?) so with
no more red cards shown by the gods; the whole team of
eleven reached the summit by 10 o’clock. By then,
the mist had cleared and a panoramic view of Oman was
guaranteed. Wow! |
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This alone would have been worth the price
of admission but for me, it was an excuse to dig the camera
out of my rucksack and play paparazzi (no, not Pavarotti!).
While some picnicked, others lay spread-eagled soaking
up the sun and dreaming about a pint of beer at the H
& J (the guilty ones can’t deny it!), and the
rest listened to the half-time team talk given by player-coach
Bill.
The second half began as the first one ended with everyone
slaloming their way down towards the ledge. There was
no chimney to sweep so all hearts kept beating but the
real drama was yet to come. As we passed the ledge that
marked the halfway point, someone spotted our two erstwhile
“inebriated” friends above us heading skywards!
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Bill Jones and his motley
crew atop the summit
– nothing but blue skies and vast views
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They didn’t appear in the
team photo so we knew who they were. Since they couldn’t
hear anyone calling below, the mobiles were frantically mobilized
into action and following several “hello, hello”
one-second phone calls, we finally gave them our location and
Bill and Howard guided them down. Happily it was we who waited
for them and not the vultures! Morals of the story? Don’t
go up if you can’t come down, and never venture alone
without telling someone where you plan to go. Future climbers
please take note!
Altogether, it was a seven-hour round trip with an extra hour
added to the return leg while shepherd Bill was gathering the
stray sheep to join the rest of the flock. Nevertheless, it
was a very enjoyable stroll in the park and if the next one
lives up to the same billing as this one, we’re in for
a real treat.
Thanks to the ENHG Committee for organizing this climb and a
special thanks to Bill Jones for ensuring a safe return for
everyone. Stay tuned for the final chapter of the Ibrahim Zakhour
Triple Crescent trilogy. |
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| The ENHG Al
Ain Chapter Newsletter…
November,
2005– Issue #230 |
A Typical
Friday Outing – a camel souq, a race track, a quarry,
a smelter and a majelis |
| Friday, November 18th a dozen members of
the ENHG Al Ain Chapter met at the coffeepot R/A (AKA
the “della” R/A or the Al Foah R/A) at 8:00
am for a quick trip to the local camel market (souq).
The souq here in Al Ain is one of the largest (if not
the largest – though size doesn’t really matter
when dealing with camel souqs) operating souq in the Emirates.
It is not nearly as smelly as one might imagine, in fact
there is hardly any odor in the air except for that of
fresh hay. The first impression was that the locals had
decorated their camels for Christmas as they were all
trussed up in silver and red tinsel. This however, was
a slight misunderstanding, as they were really trussed
up |
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A newborn camel – perhaps
a few weeks old now – being weaned
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Note the bag denying this baby
milk, while in the background weaning has not yet begun |
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to prevent
baby from nursing. A very ingenious method indeed. Lots
of very cute babies (What does one call a baby camel?)
were there, and a great variety of types, sizes and
colors of adults. The big black Saudi work camels stood
alongside slender cream colored racing camel from Yemen,
Ethiopia, or Sudan. Just a few thousand Dirhams and
you can take one home with you. Photographs were taken
of the camels, but beware the camel who wants to pose
with you – he’s liable to get too close
for your comfort. All too soon it was time to move on. |
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Our next stop was just off the highway
at the Jabeeb turn-off where we were joined by at least
twenty ENHGers from Abu Dhabi. They were keen to visit
a site being examined closely by one of their own, Drew
Gardner, as a probable site where local copper and tin
were worked or smelted into bronze and then worked. We
look forward to his report. But first we all stopped beside
a camel exercise track and explored the local flora and
fauna. A large hillock of desert squash Citrullus colocynthis
(not to be eaten!) sat mimicking a dozen tennis balls
left carelessly in the desert. Camels strolled by, walked
by and raced by. The day was uniquely overcast and cool.
We moved on to a local quarry where evidence of ancient
aflaj (singular falaj) or wells had been exposed. |
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Desert squash? – or tennis balls?
photo by S. Beck |
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| The ENHG Al
Ain Chapter Newsletter…
November,
2005– Issue #230 |
National
Clean-up Day( 12-12) is here again. |
Article
by Dr. B. Howarth |
For the last few years, EEG (Emirates Environmental
Group) have organized a national clean-up day. Since the beginning
we have supported EEG and have helped coordinate the event for Al
Ain, as we are this year. Officially, 5 schools/colleges from Al Ain
are involved with a total of approximately 270 participants. Nationwide,
10,500 participants have registered and will be turning up in designated
areas all over the UAE on 12/12 to raise environmental awareness and
help clean up an area. Sadly, news didn't get to all schools and colleges
in Al Ain but hopefully this is something that can be worked on in
the future. On Monday, 12th December, participants will be meeting
at the Al Masoudi district in Al Ain and spending 2-3 hours cleaning
up the area. Is anyone interested in joining the group? A few more
helpers to assure the morning goes smoothly would be appreciated -
water and juices will be needing handing out from the cooling truck
to children, rubbish bags will need handing out just to name some
of the tasks. If you have a group of students you wish to bring along,
this would also be possible, please get in touch with me. Habiba Al
Marashi, chairperson of EEG, called us the 'rock' in Al Ain today.
She is very grateful for our involvement and any support you can give
this event will be appreciated - I have some posters that could be
put up in your organization. Please don't hesitate to contact me regarding
the event.
Dr. Howarth can be contacted through the ENHG website: www.enhg.org
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year the 12-12 activities will focus on a site beside
the paved road. From the fort R/A (wedding cake R/A to
some – on Shakboot road) drive out past Prisuniq,
through the underpass at the Al Jimi road and on out towards
the camel racetrack in the desert. About three R/As out
there will be signs to the actual site (4x4 not needed).
The event will begin around 9:00 am. Hope to see you there. |
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