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Under
the Patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan
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The
Emirates Natural History Group,
Al Ain Chapter, P. O. Box
18057, Al Ain
April,
2004– Issue #219 |
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Al
Ain ENHG Participates in the 4th Annual Classical Music
Festival |
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Once again,
we had a successful weekend in support of the 4th Annual
Al Ain Classical Music Festival with a total of 12 tours
conducted, six each on Thursday and Friday morning.
We are grateful to the organizers
of the event, The Abu Dhabi Concert Committee, to the
InterContinen-tal Hotel and, of course, to the Ministry
of Antiquities and Tourism for permitting the Al Ain fort
to be used for the Gala concert event. It was an event
to remember.
A special thank you
to the volunteers: Tom Weeks, Jerry Buzzell, Linda Buzzell,
Denise Lee, Mike Gillett, Bob Reimer, Barb Reimer, Chris
Sanor, Beth Wallace, Brigitte Howarth, Geoff Sanderson,
Jenny Sanderson, Stephen Roney, Helene Dumarty, Will Moore,
Murphy Turner, Bill Jones, and Sylvia Holmes, Ann Perelli
and Anna Venter.
A very special thanks to Phil
Iddison who joined us for the Khutwah trip Friday morning!
Phil brought his wealth of experience and information
along on the walk, much to the delight of the visitors.
Once again both the Festival organizers
and the Festival subscribers were most complementary on
the generosity of the Al Ain chapter in providing these
tours which, for at least one family, was the reason for
returning to the Festival!!! Thanks again to the trip
leaders for providing entertaining and informative trips
to Wadi Aboul, Wadi Khutway, the Al Ain Oasis, the Al
Ain camel souq and downtown souq, Hanging Gardens of Jebel
Qatarra, and Fossil Valley!
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One happy Fossil Valley Group tour |
Right:
Two happy camels at the Camel sook, where guests
wandered amongst the beautiful beasts.
Left:
A whelk fossil found by one of the younger
guests touring Fossil Valley.
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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 further of our activities please visit our website:
www.enhg.org or join our e-mail discussion group at Topica.com. The
Group meets at 7.30pm on 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month, usually
at the Intercontinental Hotel, check Topica for details. New Members
are welcome. |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
April, 2004–
Issue #219 |
RAK
2004 - alias Ras Al Khaima Trip 2004
article & photos by
Brien Holmes |
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On the weekend of March 17-19 2004, the
Al Ain chapter of the ENHG travelled to Ras al Khaimah for
a weekend of touring some of the more spectacular sites in
the Emirates.
The tour included stops at:
the yanz of Wadi Sha'am
the abandoned village of Sili in Wadi Sha'am
the Wadi Suq tombs at Shimal
the dhow building yards
the ghost town of Jazirat al Hamra
the fort and farm at Falayah |
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Across the wade bed and at
the end of the wadi is the abandoned settlement at Sili. Evidence
suggests individuals were living in the community up until a
generation ago -- one man we spoke with estimated people moved
out 20 or 25 years ago. The exodus from the community would
correspond with the construction of new housing, complete with
municipal water supply, sewers, schools and electricity, constructed
with the first oil revenues.
At least two of the original houses at
Sili have been renovated in the past two years, evidence that
families are returning to the community, if only for weekends.
Many of the doors of the houses are locked and many of the
courtyards appear to have been abandoned only recently. Unfortunately
a few of the structures are showing signs of neglect.
Weary ENHGers return to their vehicles in wadi Sha'am. |
Monthly
Presentations
Our thanks to the presenters for sharing their insight and
experience. Because of the Music Festival, Inter-Emirates
Weekend, RAK Weekend and Nizwa Weekend there was no time to
prepare write-ups for these excellent presentations –
my apologies to all.
March 09 -
Traditional Housing in Al Ain,
by Phil Iddison.
March 23 -
The Camel Brain,
(to be published in Tribulus soon)
by Laurence Garey
April 13 -
' Environmental Issues in the UAE –
Role of the WWF, in the
UAE.
by Dr Frederic
Launay,
Director
of the World Wildlife Fund - EWS
April 27 - cancelled |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
April, 2004– Issue #219 |
Inter-Emirates Weekend
2004 |
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This year, the Al Ain Chapter of the Emirates Natural History
Group hosted the annual Inter-Emirates weekend. ENHGers from
the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Chapters were treated to some of our
local interests. Activities included trips to the Al Ain Oasis
and Al Ain Museum, the Hanging Gardens, Wadi Khutwah, Hili
Archaeological site, Saleh's Farm, Mahdah Oasis, Fossil Valley
and Camel Souq on both Thursday and Friday mornings. A special
workshop session was put on with presentations by Bob Reimer
(on maps, GPS’s and websites), by Dr Laurence Garey
on the camel brain and on human remains from Al Buhais. The
beetle display by Mike Gillett and associated bug pinning
activity by Dr Brigitte howarth added to this special after-noon
activity. Special thanks to trip leaders, presenters organizers,
volunteers and to the Al Ain English Speaking School for providing
us with the workshop space.
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The Hanging Gardens - clinging to life! |
Bob
Reimer gives a talk on Computer websites, GPS, and maps. |
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Guests attending the
workshop session. |
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Bug pinning! Yeah! |
Right: Amal
Baky organized an excellent dinner with the help of
the Ihter-continental Hotel Chefs. |
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The IEW would
not be complete without the catered dinner - held at the Al
Ain fort - thank you Amal Baky for your excellent organization
and thank you to the staff of the Intercontinental hotel who
catered the dinner. Thank you also to the Ministry of Antiquities
and Tourism for preserving this beautiful historical building
in Al Ain.
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
April,
2004– Issue #219 |
Inter-Emirates
Weekend 2004 - cont. |
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| This year's Inter-Emirates
Weekend included an open photography competition. This
was a "People's Choice" contest with those attending
the IEW dinner voting on their favourites. The winners,
in no particular order, included Naseer Ommer: "Camouflage"
(a wadi Khutwa toad with palm trimmings) Rick Green: "Dune"
(a dune shot from Al Hayer) Geoff Sanderson: "Carmen
the Caramel Camel..." (use your imagination!) Jerry
Buzzell: "Alert!" (an agamid with tail coiled
like a scorpion, at Jbeeb), and Naseer Ommer: "Etherial
Beauty" (a dragonfly on a stick, at Subaita). Congratulations
and well done to these four snappers. Thanks to all who
entered photos and to all who voted. Thanks to Milena
who did most of the work. |
| Nizwa
Weekend |
This trip to Nizwa was organized and led by Geoff Sanderson.
Thirty-two members went along. The trip included stops
on Wednesday: at Ibri, Al Sulayf abandoned
village, Ibri Suq, Bat – Um An Arr period tombs,
Al Ayn necropolis World Heritage site, Amlah, Nizwa Fort.
Then on Thursday:
Trip A went to Tanuf Village and Wadis,
Fort Jabrin, Bahla Suq - Silver Smith then to Potters,
Wadis Ghul Village, Al Hamra Village, and Al Misfah
Mountain Village, and
Trip B went to Jebel Shams and the
cliff walk. Ten Al Ain members enjoyed a leisurely walk
along the cliff face; it was the first time on the hike
for nine of the trekkers. From the new signboards, we
know the trail is approximately four kilometers in total
and the hike in should take about an hour. We also learned
that the village is known as Sap Bani Khamis and had,
at one time, approximately 15 families.
Finally on Friday, stops include: Nizwa Goat market
and Suq and Manah Village.
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A weary group take shelter
in the shade on the Cliff Walk at Jebel Shams
photo by G. Sanderson
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[ For more on
this trip, see the September issue - or check out the
website links to Nizwa: Jebel Shams.] |
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