I can’t help but have the tune of Joshua Kadison’s 1993 release, Painted Desert Serenade, going through my head as we drive out of Dubai and into the changing colors of the desert landscape as we leave the city behind for a weekend away. Well, the desert city of Al Ain in any case.
The Painted Desert is technically a desert in Arizona, US. However, the lyrics of Joshua Kadison’s song may use the term both literally and more colloquially, to refer to the opportunity to get away and leave the world behind. The perfect excuse to forget all your troubles…..
This suits nicely as while I have a few sites to see on my list for Al Ain, I must admit that after another busy week, my main priority is to relax. A couple of hours later as we arrive at Jebel Hafeet, we stop to enjoy the view along the drive up the mountain and take some family snaps.
Next stop is the Mercure Hotel at the top of the mountain. We check in, put the boys to bed and head outside to meet Brad & Di on the cliff top restaurant of Al Khayma. I breathe a sigh of relief to have the best excuse in the world to do nothing.
The next morning we take a lazy breakfast. There is no need to hurry, leaving ample time for a leisurely selection from the buffet. I start with some scrambled eggs, followed by fruit and yoghurt. Later I indulge in a second cup of coffee accompanied by a pastry or two. The boys share some screen time while the adults linger, enjoying the time with our friends.
Next we wander back to our rooms to change. On the way, the kids discover the viewing platform of the hotel, right at the end of the corridor. The sweeping scene before us gives a feeling of just how immense the desert is, sprawled out below, sun beating down.
Jebel Hafeet (empty mountain) is part of the Hajar mountain range on the boarder of the UAE and Oman. From up here we can see across the city of Al Ain to the desert, an empty expanse of sand that disappears into the haze of the day.
From here we change and head to the pool. Once sunscreen is applied, the wearing of rashies (rash vests for sun protection) negotiated and the towels laid out, the boys are gone – there are waterslides, a large pool and enough kids around for the them to amuse themselves. I recline with my book in the shade soaking up the uncommon chance to pause in life.
A little later I am cajoled into some water slide and blowfish action in the bubble spa area of the main pool. Afterward a lazy morning, we have a late lunch and then head inside and out of the sun for the day.
Afternoon activities consist of table tennis challenges and some squash practice. Even mummy has a hit!
After all this activity there is a bit of of rest time for the boys while I head off for a massage at the day spa, slightly more relaxing that the bubble spa experience.
After some restful movie magic, we get ready and drive down the mountain as the sun is changing the colors of the desert once again. We drive to the Al Ain Zoo for an evening with the animals.
The next day, we have a little adventure in mind again as we take our time over breakfast. Today we are heading out to explore. First stop is the top of the mountain with the city of Al Ain once again sprawling out below us. The adventures for the day include a visit to the Al Jahili Fort in the morning and the Al Ain Oasis in the afternoon before returning to the hotel for another pool session in the afternoon.
The boys are rather exhausted again after another full day, so we leave them set up with dinner, a movie and instructions for bedtime and settle ourselves in Al Khayma restaurant to watch the sun go down and enjoy some Arabic specialties for dinner – a mezze platter and a barbecue platter.
We give them a call as they should be just about getting ready for bed and are informed that the movie has not quite finished yet. Our dinner arrives and we relax into the night as the lights begin to sparkle on below us. By the time we decide we better head back to the room and find out what is going on, we are proved proud parents as our two little angles are fast asleep.
We have decided to stay an additional night and head back to Dubai tomorrow. I do need to work, however, I can get a few hours done in the morning and the log in again tonight when we get home to catch up leaving us able to make the most of the rest of the day. The boys enjoy breakfast and the morning at the pool while I work.
Then we pack up and check out, once more making the 11km journey down the mountain with its 60 bends along the way. We stop in at the Green Mubazzarah to check it out but still on my list is the Al Ain Palace Museum which I am still keen to check out.
The Palace Museum is indeed, rather interesting and the boys seem to enjoy it as well. The museum closes early today, 4pm as it is Ramadan, although we realise it is getting rather late in the day and time to head off home. Reluctantly I give up on the other sites (the Jebel Hafeet Beehive Tombs, Hili Archaeological Site and the Qasr Al Muwaiji) and we drive off, back through the desert as the sun paints the rolling sands into night once more.
Would I Return?
Yes. Although I would not make a special trip to Al Ain for any of the singular attractions, on the whole this is a very easy and attractive getaway with enough of a balance of sightseeing and relaxation to encourage me to return should I feel the desert calling me.
If you have not followed the links throughout the post, see these links for more information on the ‘what to do’ in Al Ain:
Well that makes us both footloose and fancy free, so Jane, do you wanna come see the painted desert with me? – Joshua Kadison, Painted Desert Serenade