And finally, up the dunes...

And so we finally went a little closer to the stars last night. About 50 ft closer. Everyone, but me, saw shooting stars, Clint "saw three", predictably all three fell carrying the same wish - Bev... for life. Bev(erly), his girl.

Kay saw one, just as I was facing her, talking to her, the breeze was strong, a little chilly too... and right in the middle of the conversation, "Shooting star," she exclaimed. It must have flown right across the back of my head. I turned around, looked above, at the flood of stars - all steady, and still, winking at all of us.

"It's gone now," she giggled. I knew her wish - Sam... for life.

This was our fourth trip to the dunes ever since Clint got his Cherokee 4WD. Never before had we gone up. We sure used to see all the other cars and 4-wheeled bikes (don't know what you call them) going up and down the dunes of the vast desert. You could spot teeny-weeny headlights really really far inside, while we waited below, near the moonlit sea.

Yesterday, we (buzzed ;)) left the house, determined to go up the dunes. After all, Clint's gradually becoming more and more confident with his car. He's gradually sinking in the seat.

We reached Umm Said, Sea Line, the place to scan the dunes. Stopped, reduced the air pressure of the tyres to 20... packed ourselves inside... and SHhJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Stuck!

"Reverse Clint, reverse. Go back."

"Yeah I know."

"This isn't risky, is it?"

"Hahaha, of course it is. Why else would we do it?"

SHHJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.

Stuck.

"Back, back, again."

And then right below.

"Speed, Speed, Speed."

And SHHJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.

This time, right on top of the dune. The cool sand, the sky painted with twinkling dots, vroom, vroom sounds coming from distances.

"Where's my Big Mac meal?"

"Who's gonna eat so many chicken nuggets?"

"Clint, why did you get like 50 chicken nuggets?"

"Is there nothing else but chicken nuggets?"

"I got my Big Mac meal."

"You Kok, at least leave the headlights on. Just in case an arab comes on top of the dune and lands his car right on top of yours."

"Chill man."

"Oh Russel. Play man. Get the guitar out."

"My high's down man."

"Enjoy the scene dude."

"Hey Hey, shooting stars, I saw three."

"What did you wish for?"

"I can't tell you, it won't come true."

"I know."

"Yeah ask Sam, he'd know."

"What was it Sam?"

"What could it be?"

"Mmm... Bev? That Bev doesn't ditch him again?"

"Close... but not really."

"Bev for life."

"Bev for life."

"Bev for life."

"Sam dude. You're my man."

Welcome Russel Pandit - the latest to join the gang - professionally a QA flight purser, otherwise, an absolutely brilliant musician.

Welcome to Qatar!

From left: Sam, Kay, Me, Arun, Yagi, and Clint... just before leaving for the dunes. Missing from pic, Russel. Picked him on the way.