(the boys were much less adventurous than us girls when it came to edgy views. Chickens!)
Carpets were spread on the ground and chairs opened up for the, ummm, more mature who have difficulty with ground level (both getting there and doing anything useful once down there which, come to think of it, was most of us!) Tea and snacks were passed around and salads prepped while the master chefs all got busy with their respective Bar-B's: a braai for the meat (this master chef is extremely good at his job), a fire for the Hallumi, tinfoil wrapped spuds, and roasting marshmallows, and a camp burner for hot water. Why we had so many cookers going is beyond me - but boys will be boys when they are in 'Great White Provider' mode. Regardless, it was a delicious feast in the desert.
All the while we were entertained by a herd of camels having fun taking dust baths in the sand while being dutifully watched over by a hobbled male. And every now and then entertainment of the Saudi variety drove past in utes calling, waving and drifting in the sand. We hoped they didn't hit a log hiding just under the sand because that would have meant running to someones rescue and upsetting our day. The funniest thing was a ute pulling up and asking in broken English if we had a drink.
'A drink?' we said
'Yes. One glass. Black', they said.
'What?', we said.
'Black Label. Johnny Walker'
'Ohhhh, we said. Uh, no. Sorry.'
It's bizarre to think in this Muslim land that locals not only presume we expats are all soaks carrying booze into the desert (we only had mint tea, cold water, soft drink and and bad coffee), but that they are not averse to asking to participate.
After our meal the carpet came in handy for those who needed a bit of a nap and then it was time for marshmallows over the coals. Little Oz had never tried those before (What kind of Ozzie are you mate!) But once shown how he was hooked cos they were delish! (Taking over the cooking and consumption of toasted marshmallows was suitable redemption from further ribbing.)
What topped off the day was Mama Camel coming over to investigate our picnic site. Because she was sniffing the air filled with smells of spuds and steak and toasting marshmallows, Hubster wondered if she might like a freshly baked potato. She loved it. So, he tried her on a baked onion - not so happy with that. Then he thought, how about some chips. Mmmmmm, nummy she thought. And then a couple of the other girls came over, so they got a spud too.
We couldn't believe the changes that have taken place on the way to this popular desert destination. Mostly in relation to the towns we drive through. They are expanding. It's an indication of the money the government is spending on the country. We've seen the little settlement of Uyayna, just before The Edge Of The World turn off which, by the way, still lacks an actual signpost (though there is a pink skip now marking the turn off point), grow from a scraggly hick town to a place that is a lot more lively with a new Othaim Market and a fancy handbag shop, among others. (Fancy handbags strike me as an indicator of wealth creation in this country, much like increased lipstick sales is a sign of a country going through economic recession). We've seen the road connecting Uyayna with Sadous become a smooth dual carriage highway. And our favorite fruit and vege road side stall is concreted out front.
The window in the escarpment hasn't changed much, though there appears to be new rock fall off the sides. Dandelions and other flowers were blooming on the hillside, a welcome change from the brown barrenness from previous visits. The walking tracks leading to higher and more precarious viewing vantage points have become more worn as the popularity of area has grown. The Edge still manages to attract people as close to it as they dare to look at the desert beyond...
