Camels to kayaks

There is definitely no lack of things to do here and a second trip would will be needed to fit it all in. Winter is the perfect time to be here since all of the outdoor festivities take place during the cooler months. So in our quest to pack in as much as possible, here is what the last couple days had in store. 

Kayaking through the mangroves was such a perfect chance to catch up while enjoying bird watching and some much needed exercise. There were also guided tours but we opted out so we could do our own thing.

We could see Suze's building in the distance. 

The Qasr Al Festival is a cultural festival focusing on both Abu Dhabi's traditional and modern heritage. The festival was divided into zones and had a variety of programs and activities for young and old. There was everything from rope making, camel rides, traditional souks (markets), animal shows, dancing, boat making and much more.

Traditional song and dance. 

The souks were filled with wonderful fabrics, spices, crafts and more. The entire experience was very authentic including the dressed members of the Gasr Al Hosn Police marching around.  

The Qasr al Hosn Fort still stands as the symbolic birthplace of the emirate. Built in 1761, it was used as a watch tower to defend the only fresh water well in Abu Dhabi. It was later used as a small fort and home to the ruling Sheikh. No longer used as the royal palace, it is open to the public once a year and used for historical, archaeological and architectural research.   

Camel racing is a big sport here and is a must see. Races start very early in the morning and range from 4K to 10K. We ended up being there on practice day but still had a blast watching them (surprisingly) zoom by. Lots of the riders smiled and waved on the way by. The smaller camels have little robotic jockeys with a whip that is controlled by remote. The trainers ride around the paved track during the race and use the remote + honk their own. It is quite the spectacle. There are over 14,000 camels in the UAE that are used as racing camels. It is illegal to bet on the races however the prizes can be anything from money to cars and winning camels can be worth millions.

We later tried to find the second camel racing track and accidentally ended up at the Endurance Cup. This is one of the richest and most prestigious horse racing events in the world. It is a 160 km race that riders have a max of 16 hours to complete. Along with the honor of winning, there are cash prizes for all who compete and 4WD vehicles for the first ten placed winners. Since you cannot see the actual track, lots of people crowded around the screens and jumped into action every time a horse came back from a loop (5 loops total where the riders must come in after each for a vet check and cool down). 

Watching the race.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is an area 40K east of the city and was designated as a nature reserve in 1998. It is home to a huge variety of wildlife however we only really came across a some plant species and the flamingos using our handy guidebook. It was interesting even though we ended up getting there mid-day which resulted in a few sunburns.  

The flamingos were easy to spot however you couldn't tell what kind the other 14 potential bird species were.

Labelled only as "parasitic plant".  

What's most impressive is their huge wing span which also happens to be where the most vibrant pink is. 

Red Bull Air Race is an international series of air races in which competitors have to navigate an obstacle course in the fastest time. Pilots fly individually through a slalom course consisting of pylons, known as "Air Gates". We hung out on the beach with all the other spectators to watch the last round of races. It was such a cool thing to watch and it was fun when people burst into cheers for their home-town pilot. Including me cheering on our boy Pete McLeod from Ontario! 

Pictures do not do the speed and stunts justice. 

Having a proud Canadian moment.