We saw a falcon show this evening where the falcons would sweep down going for this feathered toy they were swinging around. Finally at the end they would let the bird catch the feather target and then feed them. It was so spectacular to see at sunset. Falcons were used traditionally for hunting in the desert. Owners would send falcons out to hunt and then chase them down and take their catch. Then hundreds of years ago these dogs were introduced to then go fetch the birds kill and then people would race out on their horses and camels and intercept the food. Now they are very expensive birds that require not just an identity collar but also a passport. They are mostly just owned by very wealthy Arabs or Royals. They put a hood on them so that they aren't too jumpy and take off and go catch something. They are loyal to no one they said, so if they see prey they will go and get it and may never return. So they feed them only after a show or in the morning if they are doing a show. They weigh them so that they always stay at the right weight. That also keeps them close. There were also these desert dogs that run up to 55 mph. They had a toy they drag out and then it retracts and they let the dogs chase it and they go booking up the desert. It is amazing to see. The dogs look a bit like greyhounds but even thinner. They said they all look slim like this since they are such fast runners, they have a high metabolism. Just after sunset Sam and I returned to the hotel and sat on hotel's outdoor patio and enjoyed backgammon and the late glowing sky and hummus. It was a perfect day with a variety of everything.
The mosque took around 7 years to build and was different than other large mosques that I had been in. This was very colorful and had inlaid marble and semi precious stones in the shapes of flowers and all very botanical. It housed the largest rug in the world- which was so colorful and bright in pinks and greens and then the second largest chandelier in the world. The chandelier was made from colorful Swarovski crystals and a different design than any chandelier I have seen before. The walls had glowing stars on them and it makes sense since a lot of Islam follows the moon, which their calendar is based on and the rising of the sun is when their first prayers are. The ceilings all had a heavenly glow about them. It is smart that they allow visitors in my opinion since it allows people to see and appreciate their houses of worship and understand more clearly what their faith is about and appreciate it and their commitment to their faith. There can be no images of anything, nothing to worship other than Allah, so usually just writings from the Koran you see, but so nice to see botanicals in this mosque.
The Qasr Al Sarab is really cool. There is essentially a driveway that is a 20 minute drive through the dessert where you see nothing but sand. But this driveway, unlike in Morocco, is paved. The hotel looks like a desert castle and they offer all kinds of adventurous things and ways to see the desert. Tomorrow Sam is going to do the Dune Bashing. I should but I am honestly still motion sick from yesterday and all our rides and after a 2.5 hour drive out to here, over being in motion ;) I am going to hike up the dunes at sunrise and let Sam jump the dunes. We are then going to do archery. It should be another action packed day and then we head to Dubai! We are on our final marathon stretch.
This evening we ate dinner in their outdoor Bedouin restaurant at the hotel. We sat on rug covered couches on rugs in the middle of the desert. We enjoyed a Bedouin BBQ and music performed by a man playing a harpsichord. It was a relaxing evening under the stars.
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