Well hello there, and thank you for stopping by!
Have you ever asked yourself what you'd do if you were stranded in the desert!?! I certainly haven't, and it's alright if you haven't either, because I'm here today to share a few of my parent's desert survival tips! Hopefully these will come in handy if you ever find yourself stranded and surrounded by some serious SAND. Tried and true, these tips came in very handy on their recent trip to the Middle East, where they spent a few days "glamping" (glamorously camping) in the Wahiba Sands Desert in Oman.
The Stewart Family's Desert Survival Tips
#1 - Make sure to drink plenty of water and have extra on hand. 8 liters of water per person per day is recommended.
Unlike camels who can survive several months without water, us pooches and humans need lots of it, especially in the desert!
#2 - To prevent fatigue, eat often, including as many shawarmas as possible!!!
These babies were so good this applies even when not in the desert as well :)
#3 - With the UV Index sometimes reaching highs of 12 (on a scale of 10), it's very important to layer on the sunscreen and clothing.
Layered clothing slows dehydration and minimizes exposure. Good hiking shoes, loose fitting natural-fiber clothing, a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.
#4 - In case of a sudden sand storm, it's recommended to wear sunglasses or goggles and bring a scarf or handkerchief to cover your nose and mouth.
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| Daaaaaamn Daddy....You're looking quite desert chic! |
#5 - When dune bashing in a 4x4, always travel with another vehicle, and alert someone which direction you're going. Pack plenty of water and snacks. Bring a cell phone (which hopefully has service), and the phone number of someone who could come help if you get stuck. Be sure to lower your tire pressure to 15 psi, and always wear your seatbelt!
Let's see....how many of these did my parents follow? Looks like just about everything but the tire pressure rule and traveling with another party, both of which were the only ones that mattered in the end when they finally got stuck! As you can imagine, my daddy's cell phone sure did come in handy out in the middle of the desert!
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| After reducing the tire pressure (too late!) and digging for an hour under the blazing Omani sun, daddy finally called the hotel to come to the rescue. |
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| Waiting to be rescued! |
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| EuropCar may have cheap rental rates, but a 1/4" tread certainly doesn't grip much in this sand! |
#6 - Be careful not to underestimate distances! In an environment where there are no man-made objects for hundreds of miles, it's easy to lose perspective and visual distance acuity.
A good example is the image below. Is this a macro shot of a small ripple of sand, or the entire sand dune itself? Hard to tell isn't it!
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| "I promise we'll stop at the top of this next dune" - Full of shit husband |
Well, that just about covers it. I really hope these tips help the next time you find yourself in an unforgiving, arid desert! It can be a scary place if you're unprepared, so please make sure to take the proper precautions!
By the way, here's a few more photos from my parent's trip to the Arabian Peninsula that I couldn't resist sharing. Hope you enjoy and see you next time!
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| The famous Burj Khalifa towers over Dubai (UAE) nearly half a mile up in the sky. |
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| "The scent of [Frankincense] smoke is everywhere, rich but not cloying, honeyed yet slightly astringent, with hints of lime, vetiver and verbena—the olfactory equivalent of a good sorbet. For thousands of years, this inimitable odor has carried the fame of Arabia across three continents" - Tim Mackintosh-Smith |
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| Spice Souq |
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| Gold Souq |
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| Desert Nights Camp in Wahiba Sands, Oman....AMAZING!!!! |
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| View of the camp from a few dunes up. |
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| More stars in the desert than you can imagine. |
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| Ahmed Alfateh Grand Mosque in Manama, Bahrain. |
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| Doing some light Quran reading. |
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| The central chandelier was made in Austria and all the hand-blown round lamps were made in France. |
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| Mommy dressed in a traditional abaya and burqa. |
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| Shopping for rugs at a local Souq in Manama. They picked a beautiful Afghan runner to bring home! |
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| Mad Matrix Skills! |
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| Bangkok buddies reunited in Bahrain :) |
