Born To Be a Courageous Little Wanderer
“Indeed, I am nothing but a wanderer and a pilgrim on this earth! And what more are you?”
The Makings of A Wanderer
When I was a child I didn’t know that I was going to be a wanderer. I didn’t know that I was going to leave home without a plan, I was a runaway of sorts. God knows I didn’t know I would end up in Dubai or that it would even make my bucket list I never kept.
Anyone that has lived the military life as a child knows that wandering from place-to-place is status quo. It’s the life you live. Little did I know that this life was preparing me to work in and around the travel industry. It was not what I uttered when they asked, “so baaaby, what do you want to be when you grow up?”. It just happened. It happened way after my father’s tour of duty in Germany for four years where I sorely missed my grandparents back across the water; it happened after Georgia, Kentucky, and back to Georgia again; way after I ran off from home when I was barely 18; and after proving that I was capable and intelligent enough to be that travel planner in a prestigious, predominantly white higher education institution. Lord I was born to be a courageous little wanderer no one planned for.
Everyone Has A Specific Travel Style
When I say travel style, what I mean is that some folks are itinerary and schedule driven. They need to have every step mapped out in advance; however, some are content to arrive without a plan and let happenstance be a guide? By now you probably know which category I fit in.
While growing up, our travel was spurred by my father’s military career, therefore planned. When I left home without a trace as a thief in the night let my mother tell it, it was purely without a plan; nor a pot to “P” in, or a window to pitch it.
As I've matured, I realize that I have a travel style I’ve settled into. It’s the one where I am content to arrive without the most well thought out plan and let it do what it do (well, sort of). What makes me so versatile is that I can do both if I absolutely have to. I can be as structured as my job dictates for educational travel or travel on the fly.
While on my trip to Dubai with a few 20 somethings, I observed that they are ok with some travel structure but when there’s a beach waiting back at the hotel, the structured tours are only good for about 4 hours.
A Bucket List Like None Other
My husband will tell you that in my personal life, I’m not necessarily a planner, organizer or any of those priority corporate buzzwords. I just wake up and um see about it. One day I woke up and decided that I had a travel bucket list. It had one item in it, Dubai. I was able to check that off in 2015. I think it is the first time I've talked about a goal and accomplished it.
My Afterthoughts On Dubai
As a courageous little wanderer, I never gave thought to that I would be traveling to the Middle East. Dubai seemed to be a destination where the rich and famous like to play. The idea was exciting. It wasn’t until the time drew nearer that I stopped to think about where exactly on the globe I was going. I can’t deny that I was a bit nervous considering world news last year. I thought, "OH SHIT!".
Arriving on Middle Eastern soil. My mind wondered if I would be caught in the midst of something unfavorable. When I went out to the beach and looked at and swam in the calm, heated waters, it became immediately apparent that, hot damn, I was smack dab in the middle of the Persian Gulf. All I could think about was the Persian Gulf war. My imagination was running wild.
While the vast buildings; clean surroundings; a considerate people; the Atlantis hotel; and the all around calm nature of the city settled me somewhat, I never lost site of the fact that in America I don’t sit around with thoughts of war and upheaval on my mind.
The Arabian Desert
The Desert
A Camel Experience
When my tour partner told me that the itinerary included a night in the desert, I swallowed real hard. All I could think of was heat, sand storms and camels. I guess two of three ain’t bad. After all, I had to remember that Dubai is the desert. Could it be why it was 108 degrees on a good day? Let me put this in perspective for you. A menopausal woman in the middle of the desert is way down there past hell’s fire. Not because Dubai is a bad place but not so favorable on top of hot flashes.
Despite it all, the desert sleepover was one of the most breathtaking experiences I’d ever had in my life. I’m so glad that I chose to stay the night while others went back to the hotel. They missed a treat and a time to see all God’s glory. The stars were so brightly lit in the sky and I rode a camel for the very first time. The heat turned to a cool calm in the midst of endless sand dunes. It was truly an “Arabian Night” to behold. And then came the sunrise. It was just as spectacular as the moon and the stars.
The Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa
Magnificance
It is said that the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. The image speaks for itself. I also understand that when the Sheiks heard the news of the threat that Japan’s Tokyo Skytree was on tap to beat the Burj in size, they constructed their tower to be able to add on so that Dubai would remain the contender with the tallest and most grand structure.
The leaders of Dubai have a thing about being the biggest and most magnificent. I guess I don’t mind this type of competition. Just a little friendly back and forth (I think).
Abu Dhabi
I cannot end without words about the city of Abu Dhabi. While being in Dubai and seeing all the fancy cars; luxurious camps where the Sheiks reside; and the 7 star hotel, I have to say visiting Abu Dhabi overall was the most humbling experience of a lifetime. Standing amid the tallest domed mosque in the world made my heart be still. I suddenly felt the need to pray for some people. It was the wearing of the Abaya and Hijab (long dress and head covering respectively) that put things holy into perspective. I did it graciously and respectfully. Although, there was one point security stopped me because my head covering slipped down a bit but of course I obliged very quickly.
Ferrari Land
Next stop in Abu Dhabi was the fast and furious Ferrari land. Here again, the Sheik decided he wanted something fun and exciting so he brought in a fabulous indoor amusement park. Another something big and grand.
Recap
Finally, a couple of important points to note.....
All said and done, I concluded that Dubai is probably one of the safest places I have been in a long while. The term safest is definitely opposite of my initial sentiments above and of course confused my preconceived notions of war and unrest. And, HELLo, you asked about the weather? It’s a tad hotter than they say hell feels like.
Putting My Age Into Perspective
The thing that really sticks out on my visit is that the tour guide actually made me realize that I am older than Dubai as we know it today - YIKES. The new and improved Dubai at the time of this journey, is about 45 years old. It’s just something about being told you’re older than a country that’s bothersome.
What I Brought Home
The pearl trade was how families made a living in old Dubai. This was the case until its depression in the 1930s. On occasion you might see a set of pearls around my neck. For me, they are a constant reminder of a way of life in a land far away that I once had the pleasure of visiting. Second, I couldn’t leave without a copy of the Koran. The holy grail of their land. Finally, there is a fair amount of Souk markets where I found beautiful scarves, spices, gold, and lots of things imported from India.
Final Wandering Thoughts
There are all sorts of definitions of what it means to be a wanderer. My personal journey is what has shaped who I am personally, professionally and psychologically.
Where have you wondered off to? Did you arrive in one piece or was it a disaster? Was it planned?
