The Bay at the Campsite east of Muscat Downtown Muscat - Not much to see The Map of our Travels in Red - Click to see Overlooking the Muscat Bay Castle On the road west to the Emirates Border - Hot and dry and Ramadam time
It was November 2003 and we needed to go somewhere a bit different, yet again! Why not start in Muscat, Oman and we can try to get to The Arab Emirates, Qatar then Bahrain. Good Idea. See the route we travelled - in Red.
Click on each Photo to enlarge - Mouse over each photo to get description.
Camping at a lonely Beach along the coast between two towns Leaving Ajman on route to Sharjah Mosque in Sharjah - Lots of money here! On route to Dubai - on the busy Motorway
Once out of Muscat after a week of camping by the warm waters of the Gulf we camped on the beach as much as possible, then onto Ajman (one of the seven Emirates) built up and full of Asian ex pats.
Into Sharjah along the Gulf coast (no alchohol allowed at all) but beautiful turqoise waters and fantastic looking Mosques. Then into full on motorways heading towards Dubai.
Loads of Shops and Cheap as in Dubai Amazing High Rise in Dubai Taking a boat ride up the creek Dhows Galore
Took a Hotel in Dubai - downtown - Great City and lots of bargains, people really friendly - mostly Asians.
Whow the richness of this Emirate is overwhelming. We took a cruise up what they call the creek.
Camping outside of Abu Dhabu Our All Fuel Stove (even Whisky) The Boss of Abu Dhabu Wow! Manhattan in the Desert
After a few days in Dubai we headed towards Abu Dhabu along a fancy motorway with palms along the middle, all watered artificially. We camped at yet another beach with no one there as it was their winter but warm enough for us.
120kms from Dubai to Abu Dhabi so an easy days ride. Then we hit this incredible city built on desert by the shores of the Gulf. Massive buildings and the place oozing of oil money.
The Corniche Hi Rise Apartments Expat Workers make up 80% The Skyline at Dusk Leaving Manhattan! Whoops Abu Dhabu
We spent a few days walking the streets and enjoying the mostly Asian food as 80% of the population were from South Asia. It was time to leave however so we were to try and get through Saudi in Qatar so days of desert ahead.
On Route to Saudi Arabia - No Enlargement Oh Dear - Doha Qatar Bahrain - For the Shops Kitch wee statues with Koran
OK we failed at getting into Saudi - Typical of them, we had to go back to Abu Dhabu and fly to Doha in Qatar. Not a very exciting place unlike their advertising on TV. Not a patch on the Emirates. So from Qatar we headed to Bahrain (The Island) We had always heard so much about the place but a bit of a let down.
The Great Causeway to Saudi Another Bridge way out in the Ocean Our friendly Driver to the Saudi Border No Visas no point - The Saudi Border
What was best about Bahrain was seeing the causeway that links it to Saudi Arabia - Now the 60kms or motorway from the island to the mainland is simply a fantastic achievement - alot to pay just so Saudi's can escape their oppressive regime to get some light relief in the capital of Bahrain. We had a great laugh with the driver we hired. We turned around yet again at the border with Saudi.
It was time to leave the Gulf and head for Hong Kong then Bangkok then Hanoi - Vietnam December 2003