24 hrs in Wilderness - Part II

(This is the second part of the article on our overnight camping adventure in Wadi Asima)

Normally you would expect a day to dawn amidst the chirping of birds. In our case, the day dawned amidst the rhythmic snoring of my fellow campers. The early morning sun with its gentle warmth coupled with the cold morning air made the camping site even more beautiful.
After the ablutions, it was meal time again and we were looking forward to the cooking of Pav Bhaji in our camping stove. When we were selecting this equipment in Carrefour, we had compromised on cost and selected a cheaper model. True to the saying of “if you pay peanuts”… we ended up with a stove and a fuel cartridge that were not compatible.

With technology failing, it was time to fall back on the resources of Mother Nature and our own resourcefulness. Lalitha put together a traditional cooking stove (stones) that was fuelled by the broken twigs. In his eagerness to bring fuel, Vijay uprooted a few trees causing deforestation in Wadi Asima. The hot pav bhaji & tea brought in a lot of appreciation for Rekha from the famished campers.

After settling the issue of food, it was play time and we selected the traditional Indian sport of cricket. Lalitha & Mallika proved to be excellent learners and discovered their innate cricketing abilities in that 1 hour. Having enjoyed the camp thoroughly so far, we wanted a grand and exciting finale for the trip and decided to drive along with wild and rocky wadi bed. Half way through the journey, we discovered a small stream and frolicked in the water for some time. Vijay in his white brief, Vishal in his black brief (very tight!) and Senthil with a wet white clinging vest provided some adult entertainment during this session.

As the path ahead looked very rough, we decided to get back to our site. Inspired by the surroundings and the occasion, we suddenly changed our minds and made a stupid decision to drive through the rocky terrain. After negotiating the heavy rocks, our ford got stuck in a strange combination of water & loose gravel. The harder we tried to get it out, the deeper it sank along with our hearts. The rescue effort resulted in all the campers getting thoroughly drenched (Ram Teri Ganga Mali!). We finally gave up and decided to take help. Like God sent messengers, two U.A.E nationals offered their services and helped the ford finally onto firm terrain.

With our mood affected by the Ford incident, we started our journey back. During the onward journey, the weather was gloomy but our moods were cheerful. During the return journey, the weather was bright and sunny, but our mood was gloomy. However when we learnt that nothing major had happened to the vehicle, we brightened up and finished our odyssey with a nice snack in the saravana Bhavan.


Overnight camping might not rank very high in the scale of adventurous activities for a lot of people. But for first-timers like us, it was a thrilling experience, an experience which will always be cherished. Like beauty, adventure and excitement are also in the hearts of the beholders!

24 hrs in wilderness!

Wadi Asima ! Wadi Asima ! We shouted excitedly looking at the UAE off-road book. The picture in the book kept staring at us, enticing us to take the adventurous trip. Although the prospect of an overnight camping sounded exotic, the fear of the unknown was lurking on the back of our minds. To keep things simple, we decided to dump the excess baggage (kids!) and travel light.

After deliberating for more than a month, we decided to take the plunge on the 2nd of Feb 2007. We had at our disposal one 4 wheel drive and one pseudo 4 wheel drive car. As a result of a week of hectic shopping, both the cars were filled with items that we hoped might come useful.

As soon as we started our journey, the heavens opened out, sending shivers down our spines. With a prayer in our hearts and the steering wheel in our hands, we traveled along the dhaid east coast road towards our destination in pouring rain. As we neared our destination, the rain reduced to a drizzle and eventually fizzled out. Thanks to the expert navigation skills of Senthil, we lost our way a bit towards the end and eventually made it the Wadi.

We found a very nice elevated place for our camping, with a ready made arrangement for the camp fire. The evening light was dimming fast and we started unfurling our camping tent. Having never pitched a camping tent, we struggled our way and managed to put together a shaky camping tent. Just as we were finishing the task, it started raining again with full force, forcing us take shelter in our cars. The rain Gods eventually relented and the rain clouds made way for clear full moon.

Using the mats, comforters and the sleeping bags, we managed to make the tent as cozy as possible and then set out to start the camp fire. Mallika and Rekha had managed to buy one of the most expensive camp fire logs available in the U.A.E and hence had comprised on the quantity of the logs. Aided by the printed instruction (thanks to Google) and expert advice from one and all, the camp fire was lit and was met with a loud cheer from everyone.

Gradually the evening was giving way to the night and the full moon was shining like a new bride. The view from our camping site was breath taking. Melodious music from a small tape recorder (thanks Jaya!) was wafting in the air soothing our nerves. A cool breeze was gently touching our faces and the raging fire from camp fire provided the welcome warmth. We enjoyed every minute and second that ticked by, absorbing nature in all its glory.

Soon the hunger pangs were out and it was time for the barbeque. In order to minimize the risk, we had brought instant barbeque kits and they looked quite small amidst the raging camp fire. A well organized team-work saw us finishing the barbeque exactly as per the plan leaving aside a few half-cooked mushrooms & broccolis.

After consuming several kilos of meat and vegetables, followed by sumptuous dessert it was time for retiring to the tent. The lantern provided dim white light and the warmth generated by 7 bodies in a small place made the tent very cozy. A bout of card game (Bluff) was followed by a session of pure unadulterated adult jokes. The wind was raging outside, singing lullaby to 7 little kids (that is how we felt!) and our eyes closed automatically embracing the welcome sleep.

To be followed ……