| Log Cabin Chronicles Letter From the Oasis #3 |
 Jerry Buzzell  Jerry's previous columns are archived HERE
| Posted 12.28.00 |
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE DESERT
It's an annual tradition of the Emirates Natural History Group to assemble in Buraimi and drive in convoy to a spot in desert or mountain for a barbecue and get-together on Christmas Eve, to celebrate the season with family and friends.
The spot chosen this year was at the base of Jebel Qatarrah.
Cars and 4x4s began to assemble in Buraimi at 4:45 p.m. Directions were given, and we headed desert-wards at about 5.
After about ten miles of blacktop and several miles of rough dirt track, we circled wagons, emptied cars of grills, charcoal, wood, food, beverage, guitars, cameras, folding chairs, mats, blankets, and all the other accoutrements to make a desert evening comfortable.
Ibrahim Zakhour and others worked on the bonfire, assembling a fire pit, piling brush and wood nearby, and getting the fire going.
We assembled our grill, loaded it with charcoal, sprayed on starter, and put a match to it.
"More charcoal," Linda commanded. "Bring it up closer to the grill. I don't want it to take all night to get hot enough to cook."
I dutifully added more charcoal. And more starter. Poof! It was going. Wait a bit for it to die down. Set up the folding chairs, put down the mat.
 By this time, it was getting dark. I assembled my camera and tripod and took them up a nearby knoll. I wanted to get a photo of the assembled gathering in the dying light. Others seemed to have similar plans. I did get a couple of decent shots before the lack of light became terminal. Back at the campsite, our coals were perfect and Linda was cooking. Time to get out a beverage and socialize, as night came down. The bonfire was roaring. Stars were twinkling. What is that bright one? Venus? Perhaps, but it's quite high in the sky. Sat down with a brew in one hand, talking to Chris and Heather. Ibrahim got up and welcomed us to the desert. Spoke about Christmas and Jesus and his legacy, and read to us from Kahlil Gibran's book, Jesus the Son of Man. And then we ate. Lamb chops, baked potatoes, veggies, washed down by Fosters. It doesn't get any better… A dark night. The stars were bright, especially in the south and east. Orion (on his side) blazingly brilliantly, its nebula plainly visible below (beside) the belt. Follow the belt to the Pleiades, sparkling like tiny jewels. Jupiter was brilliant in the sky as well, between Aldebaran and the Pleiades. In the north and west (toward the city), however, the stars were less bright. We could just make out the Big; Polaris and the Little Dipper could only be guessed at. The bonfire blazed. Charcoal from our grills was added to it. Guitars were tuned and song sheets were passed out. And we sang… Silent Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Frosty the Snowman. Impromptu rendition of Petit Papa Noël. Jingle Bells (Dashing through the sand…), Oh, Come All Ye Faithful, Good King Wenceslas. Impromptu group of Swedish carols. The Twelve Days of Christmas (followed by a UAE version: …five 4- wheel drives, four oil wells, three flying falcons, two shopping malls, and a camel in my backyard). Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The First Noël, etc. Then the party broke up, with hugs and Merry Christmases, Ramadan Kareems, Eid Mubaraks, and Happy New Years all around. We loaded the cars and headed back across the darkness of the desert track to the Madha Road (finally), Buraimi, and home. Warm fellowship with friends in a far land. |