#65 February 2016

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

1/68

PRODUCTSTO CHECK OUT

Plenty of

www.OutdoorUAE.com

Vol. 6, No.

February 201

Price10.00 AED

10.00 QAR

1.00 OMR

OLLIE UP AT

XDUBAI’SKITE BEACHSKATEPARK!

CAVE DIVING

IN THEMIDDLE EAST

Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

The Combat Zoe of WAR 11

Run a Marathon now!Marathon tips and tricks

Tried and Tested

Polar A360

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

2/68

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

3/68

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

The information contained is for general use only.We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has beenobtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information inthis magazine is provided without a full guarantee of completeness, accuracy and chronology. Inno event will the publisher and/or any of our affiliates be held responsible for decisions made oraction taken in reliance on the information in this magazine.

All contents are copyrighted and may not bereproduced in any form without prior writtenpermission.

© 2015 Outdoor UAE FZEReg. at Creative City FujairahP.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.

WHEN YOU’REDONE READING,

PLEASE RECYCLE!

EditorFor editorial content and press releasesTel: 04-447 2030Mobile: 055 [email protected]

Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries)Tel: 04-447 2030Mobile: 055 [email protected]

Mobile: 055 [email protected]

Published byOutdoor UAE FZEIn cooperation with A2Z EVENTSP.O. Box 215062Dubai, U.A.E.

OutdoorUAE Team

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

Nico de Corato

Diver and heli rescue swimmerwith Bergamo Scuba Angels

Ivana Chiles Health coach and outdoor enthusiast

Get to us on Facebook!

Marina Bruce

The Desert Diva andoff-road expert

EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Tel. 04-447 [email protected]

Distributor

Dar Al Hikma LLCP.O. Box 2007, Dubai, UAETel. 04-266 5394

Printed atGN PrintingP.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE

© 2016 Outdoor UAE FZE Vol. 6, No. 2, February 2016

www.OutdoorUAE.com

Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE

Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE

Instagram.com/OutdoorUAEDan Wright

Freelance wilderness guide in the UA

Jake Lyle Diving and Watersport Expert

Ian [email protected]

Margo CiruelosSales and [email protected]

Katherine Cañedo Patangui

[email protected]

Eulogy van DykEditor [email protected]

Jung FranciscoDesigner and Photographer [email protected]

Keith PereñaJunior Editor & Social [email protected]

Rachael BrufordTravel Editor

[email protected]

Daniel Birkhofer [email protected]

Helle Bachofen Von EchtElite Women Cyclist

For our entire life we develop our knowledge and abilities. That’s what I’m doingat OutdoorUAE and the more I know, the more I have the feeling that there are so

many things I don’t know.

Cover photo by: Urban-Ultra

A Heathy Mi i a Heathy Boy

Nela MacoveiSales and [email protected]

The outdoors have many possibilities that I have to break my activities into smallobjectives to understand everything better and to enjoy everything. The Wadi Bih Runis on my list for the 5th-6th of February and I’m planning to meet many of the peoplewe write about in our every issue there and to “steal” some of their determination inlife. I’ll also use this weekend for my favourite activity: trekking and hiking on themountain trails and wild rocky ways.

When I was in school all my teachers used to tell us all the time “Mens sana in corporesano”, a famous Latin phrase that means “a healthy mind in a healthy body.” Later on,I learned that our brains are built to work properly when you have physical activity daily

and that the brain develops when, for example, you walk a minimumof 7-8km per day. Since walking is a challenge in Dubai, I need totake advantage of all the outdoor weekends and do as much as I canto compensate working in an office and driving for meetings, so alot of static activities. After camping on the beach, waking up at 4:00a.m. for the Wadi Bih and hiking in the afternoons, I would definitelybe ready for a new challenging week with a fresh and relaxed brain.Read more about running and trekking in this issue.

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

4/68


OUTDOORUAE

CONTENTS

34 HEALTH POWERHOUSE: SALT

36 OUTDOOR FLICKS: INTO THE WILD

37 HABITUALLY HEALTHY: HUEVOS RANCHEROS REDUX

38 NATURAL HISTORY: WADI AL HELOW HIKING

EVERY ISSUE

LIFESTYLE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

18 EXPERIENCE THE UAE AND SIR BANI YAS ISLAND ON HORSEBACK

10 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON

06 EVENTS CALENDAR

08 BEST SHOTS

09 OFF-ROADER’S CORNER: ARIES’ HAPPY CAMPER

36 PRODUCTS

63 DIRECTORY

EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS

24 T.L.R.D – ADVENTUROLOGY: THE SCIENCE OF ADVENTURE

26 HUMBLED BY MY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU

28 ACROSS ARABIAN SEAS

30 NOMAD’S ROAD

28 ACROSS ARABIAN SEAS

10 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON

12 WAR 11

14 MARINE TALKS @ THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BOATSHOW

16 THE CYCLE HUB CYCLING TEAM

18 EXPERIENCE THE UAE AND

SIR BANI YAS ISLAND ON HORSEBACK

20 RUNNING WITH THE ORYX

22 A SECOND CHANCE FOR MAYA

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

5/68


OUTDOORUAE

OUR EXPERTS

TRIED + TESTED

LOCATIONS

PEOPLE

TIPS + TRICKS

58 TURNING EXERCISE INTO ADVENTURE

59 RUNNING TIPS BY FITNESS FIRST

60 CAN ANYONE RUN A MARATHON?

61 BIKE MAINTENANCE BY REVOLUTION CYCLES

61 BIKE MAINTENANCE BY REVOLUTION CYCLES50 WOMEN ON WHEELS: BATTLE ON THE DUNES - HELLE

44 AN ANGLER WALKS INTO A SHOP... - KIT

46 CHALLENGING LIWA! - MARINA

48 CAVE DIVING IN THE MIDDLE EAST - JAKE

50 WOMEN ON WHEELS: BATTLE ON THE DUNES - HELLE

52 MY FIRST VIA FERRATA! - NICO

54 XDUBAI SKATEPARK

55 YAMAHA CAFE

56 GILLES FAVENEC - SAILOR

57 OLGA ZOLOTOVA – CYCLIST AND ULTRA-ATHLETE

36 OUTDOOR FLICKS: INTO THE WILD

41 POLAR A360

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

6/68


OUTDOORUAE

EVENTS CALENDAR STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS

FEBRUARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

12F

EB

RAK HALF MARATHON 2016The fastest half marathon in the world is here!Are you coming?

When: February 12, 7:00 a.m.Where: Al Muntasir rd. Ras Al KhaimahContact: www.rakmarathon.org

19F

E

B

AL ADAID DESERT CHALLENGEThe inaugural cycling event which claims to be the toughestcycling event in the Gulf – One day, Six dunes.

When: February 19Where: Sealine to Khor Al Adaid, Qatar Contact: www.aladaid.qa, +974 3315 8593

YAS ISLAND CYCLE RACEThe first of four Abu Dhabi Sports Council-hostedcommunity cycling events.

When: February 19, 8:00 a.m.Where: Yas Gateway Park and Yas MallContact: www.premieronline.com

FEB

19

ESSA SUNSET OPEN 2016Surf and SUP action in Dubai is back for anotherround.

When: February 12Where: Umm Suqeim Open BeachContact: www.surfingdubai.com

FEB

12

GIANT DUATHLON SERIES RACE 4Race four of six of the 2015/16 season of the GiantDuathlon Series

When: February 19Where: Hamdan Sports ComplexContact: www.race-me-events.com

FEB

19

DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL 2016Spread across 11 race days, the World Cup Carnival is a series of races leading to the prestigious Dubai World Cup

When: February 11Where: Meydan RacecoruseContact: www.dubairacingclub.com

JUNIOR AQUATHLON SERIES 2016Take over the city in this metropolitan run!

When: February 13, 8:00 a.m.Where: Rashid School for BoysContact: www.premieronline.com

FEB

13

11F

E

B

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

7/68


OUTDOORUAE

SHARBATLY FRUIT BIG STINKERReady for a bit of climb? Take on various distances or even the new 45k ultra distance!

When: February 19, 7:00 a.m.Where: Khatt SpringsContact: www.urbanultra.com

F

E

B19

F

E

B

26XDUBAI SPARTAN RACE 2016The world’s best obstacle course is back to separate theSpartans from the regulars. Period.

When: February 26Where: Jebel Ali RacecourseContact: www.xdubai.com

M1 RUN 2016A fun vertical run for individuals and relay teamsat the beautiful Media One hotel.

When: February 20, 10:00 a.m.Where: Media One HotelContact: www.mediaonehotel.com

20

FEB

19F

EB

XYOGA FESTIVAL DUBAIGet relaxing and achieve inner peace in the first ever yogafestival in Dubai. Free for everyone!

When: February 19-20Where: Burj Park, Downtown DubaiContact: www.xyogadubai.com

TRIYAS BY DAMAN ACTIVELIFEThe region’s only day and night triathlon is backat Yas Marina for a sixth year.

When: February 26, 2:00 p.m.Where: Yas Marina CircuitContact: www.premieronline.com

FEB

26UAE BIATHLETE OPEN

CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016With short running and swimming distances,anyone can finish this race!

When: February 20, 7:00 a.m.Where: Le Meridien Mina SeyahiContact: www.supersportsdubai.com

FEB

20

SHARJAH LADIES RUN 2016Go neon in to the night in the third edition of theSharjah Ladies Run.

When: February 26, 6:00 p.m.Where: Sharjah University CityContact: www.slc.ae

FEB

26

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

8/68

OUTDOORUAE


BEST SHOTS

Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and itwas hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies

of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Katie Aun, Massimo Ziino and John Henzell. Well done!

To submit your entries, simply email us at [email protected] with the subject “Best Shots.”

John HenzellPicture I took near RAK

Katie AunGreater spotted Eagle

Massimo ZiinoStanding in the dunes

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

9/68

OUTDOORUAE

O F F - R O A D E R STHE

c o r n e r

Aries’ Hapy

Camer

Want your 4X4 to be the next feature?It’s all simple! Just send us an emailat [email protected] with thesubject “Off-Roaders Corner” and youand your car might just be the next oneon this page!

Name: Aries Sherwin MarquezNationality: FilipinoOccupation: Sales Admin Executive at Lafarge Emirates Cement LLCRide: 2009 Toyota Fortuner 2.7

There are several types ofoff-roaders around in the UAE,those that have an obviousoff-roading car such as a Jeep andthen there’s the people that driveunassuming SUVs and slap someoff-road tyres and kit in them andvoila, a subtle off-road car.

What’s interesting about the latter is thatsome of them (if not every car in the region)has something unique in them. One suchexample is Aries’ ’09 Fortuner which believeit or not has an entire kitchen in the boot.

And mind you, this happy camper has noneed for any trailer. It’s happy on its own.

but it’s still a project I’m continuously workingon. Recently, I just changed the wheels to

265/18/60 rims and tyres for off-road wheeland replaced the grills with a black meshgrille to get an aggressive, yet sporty look.Lastly, I’ve also installed a 20” LED Light Baron the front bumper to make it easier tocircumnavigate the desert especially whencamping in the evening.

Do you have something thatyou would consider to be a“special feature” of your car?Personally, I would consider it to be thatwonderful device at the back of the car. I callit my “chuckbox” which I specifically madeby hand to fit at the back of the car. It startsof as a simple looking box in the boot of

my car and once me and my group have setup camp, it unfurls into a full-blown kitchenin the middle of the desert, complete withlighting, a proper gas stove and even somecupboards! This chuckbox serves as a kitchenfor all my outdoor activities where I serve upsome delectable dishes from Mang Ariesyo’s.I bring the dishes from my restaurant to thedesert for everyone to enjoy.

What were your other optionsbefore you bought this car?Initially I wanted a 2009 Nissan Pathfinderbut wasn’t able to get one. Then the Fortunercame up and that was that!

How do you spendtime with the car?I usually spend a lot of time with my car. It’smy daily driver, so I take care of it like a liv-ing member of our family — car wash every

weekend, weekly checks on the engine andof course I take it off-road as often as

possible all around the country, but mostlyaround RAK, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

How often do you use your car?Daily, as what I mentioned above; I use it torun quick errands for my business, I use it goout with my family and I of course use it asmy happy camper in the beautiful outdoorsof the region.

Any future modificationsthat you are planning?Future modifications? I have a lot of plans,first up would be adding a 50” LED Light Baron the roof, a Roof Rack with Awning, a 2.5”Lift Kit, Ironman Suspensions, upgrade to

even bigger tyres, Custom Off-Road Bumpersand more future modifications which hasn’tcome to mind yet. I want to make it a moreformidable off-road vehicle.

What 4x4 do you dream of owning?How I wish to own a Jeep Wrangler Bandit7.0 HEMI which is a more perfect camper!

Tell us a little backgroundstory about the car...The car was originally bought as a workhorsefor my business to haul goods and for myoutdoor activities. Off-roading was intro-duced to me by a good friend from a localoff-road group — FORCE-A 4x4. At first, Iwas very hesitant about off-roading. Maybethe car cannot make it; but with the guid-ance and supervision of the group. I was ableto pull it off without any trouble at all. Fromthere off-roading was history and my car,simple as it may became a dune basher in its

own right.

Could you tell us all about themodifications that were made?Performance and cosmetic-wise?There’s not much going on under the hood,

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

10/68

OUTDOORUAE

It had been over a year since my lastmarathon back home in the United Kingdom,and three years since my first experience, inDubai. A lot had changed since then. For astart, I’d begun training with a club, the De-sert Road Runners, and had seen a vast im-provement in my times over shorter distances

thanks to the leadership and encouragementof Graham Rafferty and other club members.This time around, I was hoping to finallybreak the four-hour barrier, and although Iwas feeling relatively confident, I was alsoaware that you never really know how you’regoing to perform in a marathon until themoment that you cross the finish line, some42.195 kilometres later.

The TrainingIt’s often said that the real challenge of amarathon is in the training. Without a doubt,signing up for such an event requires com-mitment that transcends other plans, suchas social occasions and weekend sleep-ins.

Although we are blessed with perfect winterweather here in the UAE, early starts areessential as it is still too hot to endure longtraining runs after about 10:00 a.m. So sinceOctober, 5:00 a.m. Friday starts became apart of normal life. Of course, this meant thatThursday night socialising became almostobsolete, as did Friday nights, due to beingso tired from waking up early that morning.Added to this were evening interval sessionstwice a week, cross training and recoveryruns. As the Dubai running season got under-way, there were also several 5km, 10km andhalf marathon events to take part in, whichserved as a great way to measure progress.

Towards the end of December, training

Standard Chartered

Photos By: Matthew Reed and Official SCDMWords By: Rachael Bruford

There’s nothing quite like thenerves that slowly begin to grow inthe days before a marathon. Racepacks are collected at the firstpossible opportunity, kit bags areput together days beforehand andtried and tested running clothesare lovingly hung up, ready to stepinto in the early hours of marathonday. And so it was this year, as Iprepared for my third marathonwith an ever increasing feeling ofexcitement and tension that I couldonly hope would serve me wellduring the race.

peaked, with long runs of up to three hoursincluding some of this time at marathonpace. I had set myself an ambitious target,and was training with the 3:40 marathongroup, which involved a marathon race paceof 5:13 minutes per kilometre. Realistically,I knew that the chances of me achieving a3:40 marathon were slim, but I felt that thistraining would help to prepare me for a 3:45or 3:50 finish.

Training generally went very well, and Ilearnt from previous experience about theimportance of stretching, foam rolling andregular sports massages. Because of this, I

was lucky enough to avoid any major injuriesbeyond the usual aches and pains thatrunners grow accustomed to. As with anyrace where you have a goal in mind, train-ing brought with it incredible highs and souldestroying lows. Some days, marathon pacefelt incredibly difficult, and I questioned howI could possibly run an entire race at such aspeed, when even fifteen minutes felt likehard work. On the other hand,training with a group for the first time tookthe boredom out of long runs and helped tomotivate us all. Everybody understood theups and downs of running, and supportedone another as we took it in turns to havebad days. At other races, we celebrated with

each other asthe results ofsuch a variedtrainingprogramme began to pay off.

The Big DayWith the alarm set for 3:30 a.m., I triedto get an early night, and actually managedto sleep quite well once I had dropped off.Upon waking, I quickly changed into myrunning gear and forced down my tried andtested pre-race meal; porridge and a bananawith a cup of coffee. Taking a little coffee

with me for the car journey to the start line, Ileft the house at around 4:45m a.m., knowingthat I would rather get there in good timethan leave late and begin to feel stressed.

Once parked, I made the first of manypre-race bathroom stops before checkingmy bag and meeting up with other membersof my club. The weather was already humid,and there was the usual buzz of anticipationthat there is before any event. Before toomuch longer, we were lining up at the start,ready to begin.

As the guns sounded and I crossed thestart, I made a note to myself not to set offtoo fast; this is a rookie mistake and wouldonly lead to disaster later on, I reminded

EVENT REPORT

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

11/68


OUTDOORUAE

myself. Running with my team mate Liz, weimmediately turned left out of Umm SuqeimRoad, heading towards the Marina. It wasstill dark and pretty foggy, and at this earlystage of the race support was good, withpeople running close to each other, havingnot had enough time yet to gradually spaceout. Over the first three kilometres, we spedup from a pace of about 5:40 per kilometre,to our target pace of 5:13. It was very earlydays, but we were both feeling strong andwere happy to be on pace. The 5km pointsaw the first water station, and I made sure

I drank a small amount of water, not want-ing to become dehydrated later on, whenit would be too late to do anything aboutit. I also consumed my first GU gel as permy plan to take them every 10km from 5kmonwards.

The U-turn outside the One and Only gaveus the chance to see who was both ahead ofus and behind us, and weeventually caught up with some of our fellow3:40 group members who had started closerto the front. I was amazed to find myselfcomfortably chatting with them, although Iknew that as the race went on the conversa-tion would eventually diminish! Passing theend of Umm Suqeim Road again, about

12km into the run, I accidentally sped up fora while, with my pace quickening to underfive minutes a kilometre. Thankfully, mygroup was able to rein me in, and I realisedthat I had allowed myself to become over ex-cited by the cheering crowd. I slowed downagain, and we began the long trek downJumeirah Beach Road, towards the flag pole.

This part of the run passed by quickly,and we reached the halfway point in aboutone hour 52 minutes. I remember thinkingto myself that a half marathon had neverseemed so easy. We were still on pace when,shortly after half way, my right hip began tohurt. This concerned me a great deal, as Ioccasionally have problems with my hip. I

decided not to mention anything to my teammates, and quietly took an Ibuprofen that Ihad in my pocket, just in case something likethis happened. I told myself that at 28km Iwould take the other tablet I had, to preventthe pain from returning.

Before too much longer, hip pain tempo-rarily masked, we passed by the Desert RoadRunners support station. This was withouta doubt one of my favourite moments ofthe race, as I had enough energy to clapand cheer in return as we sped by. Havingsuch support gave us the motivation weneeded to get to the turn around point atabout 26km. Reaching this point was a boostpsychologically, as it now meant that all we

had to do was go back down Beach Roadbefore finishing on Umm Suqeim. However,we were also well aware that this was thepart of the race when things would start tohurt, and that it would take mental as well asphysical endurance to finish in our desiredtime frame.

At 28km, I reached into my pocket to takemy Ibuprofen as planned, only to discoverthat my body heat had caused it to disinte-grate. Telling myself that it was ok, that myhip no longer hurt and that I didn’t actuallyneed it, I focused on trying to maintain pace

as the sun rose from behind the buildingsand temperatures began to soar. Passingthrough the water station at 30km, I pouredsome of the water over my head in anattempt to keep cool. Our training grouphad got smaller, as two of the guys had spedup and gone on ahead. Meanwhile, Liz and Iwere beginning to struggle…

Around 32km, we passed the DesertRoad Runners support station again.Craving something sweet, I gulped downsome Coke, which was strange for me as Inever usually drink it. A friend ran with us fora couple of hundred metres, encouraging usto keep going and telling us that we didn’thave far to go. Ordinarily, 10km would be a

perfectly achievable distance, but now thepain was beginning to kick in, and the tough-est part of the race began.

I tried to break down the remainder ofthe run into smaller segments, telling myselfthat once I got to 35km, it was just 5km tothe next water station at 40km, and then Iwould be as good as finished. At this point,a 3:40 marathon was not achievable, but, ifI kept my pace somewherebetween 5:20 and 5:30 perkilometre, a 3:45 finish wasstill possible. For the next twokilometres, I averaged about5:25 per kilometre, but mypace was slowing rapidly and I

was taking longer walk breaksthrough the water stations. Lizwas somewhere behind me,and I was now running alone.I was aware that my form hadslipped entirely, and that Iwas not running economically.My quads in particular wereon fire, and mentally I justwanted it all to be over, notcaring what time I finished in,as long as I finished. I don’tknow how, but somehow Ireached the 40km mark andreceived a huge boost fromthe wife of one of our club’s

faster runners. This somehow gave me thedetermination I needed for the final 2.195km,which I ran at a pace of 5:50 per kilometre. A3:45 finish was now out of the question, buta sub 3:50 looked likely if I could just see itthrough…

Turning back on to Umm Suqeim Road,I saw the finish up ahead. More hobblingthan running now, I gathered what was leftof my mental strength, and told myself that itwould all be over in a matter of minutes. Thethought of being able to stop and hydratewas all I could think of as I passed a sign

that told me I had only 400 metres to go.I checked my watch and tried desperatelyto increase my pace, not wanting to missout on a sub 3:50 by such a small margin.200 metres to go… this was nothing, I toldmyself. All I needed to do was put one footin front of the other for another minute. 10kmrunners flooded the other side of the road,and I was grateful that they had been keptseparate from the marathoners.

Approaching the finish, I somehow foundthe energy to hold my arms up in the airfor the all important finishers photo, beforecrossing the timing mats and checking mywatch. Marathon number three had beencompleted in 3 hours, 48 minutes and 35

seconds! I was overjoyed despite beingexhausted. Not only had I finally achieved mysub four-hour goal, but I had taken 20 min-utes off my personal best, and 25 minutes offmy last marathon time. Suddenly, the painand suffering was all worth it, the months oftraining had paid off, and I had a time that Ifelt was worthy of all my effort.

It’s often said that after a marathon, run-ners will claim that they are “...never doing one again”. Forme, this was true for a couple ofhours. A little while later how-ever, once I’d had the time to re-flect, I found myself considering“What if?” Whilst I was delighted

with my time, I had also narrowlymissed out on a Good for Ageplace at the London Marathon2017. If I had run the earlier partof the race at a slower pace, 5:19per kilometre, could I have man-aged to get the 3:45 I needed?I’ll never know the answer onthis particular occasion, but Ido feel that I gave my all, andmost importantly, enjoyed myselfduring training sessions and formost of the marathon itself. Infact, I’m already considering mynext marathon… Copenhagen2016 anyone?

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

12/68

EVENT REPORT

1st place: David Grapengeter

2nd Place: Mohammed Al Hassani

3rd Place: Paul Drury

1st place: Rob Jones

2nd Place: Rashid Butti Al Qubaisi

3rd Place: Dustin Radney

1st place: Hallvard Borsheim

2nd Place: Boris

3rd Place: Jacques Gilbert Sophie

5km Podium

10km Podium

15km Podium

WINNERS MEN

1st place: Niamh Walsh

2nd Place: Liz Kelleher

3rd Place: Susan Hulland

1st place: Ashley Samples

2nd Place: Carolina Gutierrez Juri

3rd Place: Kelly Fray

1st place: Joanne Park

2nd Place: Michelle Jones3rd Place: Sara Aouad

5km Podium

10km Podium

15km Podium

WINNERS WOMEN

Photos By: Supplied and Nela Macovei

Over 700 local andinternational participants competedat the notorious 11th edition of theiconic Wadi Adventure Race Series(W.A.R.11), which took placeat the Middle East’s firstman-made whitewater rafting,kayaking, surfing and wakeboardingdestination, Wadi Adventure -Al Ain on January 16, 2016.

Qubaisi who bagged the second position inthe 10km category.

The nail biting build-up; W.A.R.11 wassplit into three gruelling race courses (5km,10km and 15km) providing challengers theopportunity to test their physical limits andconquering along the way a series of over 25indeterminate obstacles like climbing ropes,hauling heavy-duty sand bags,crawling under barbed wires and finallyplunging into ice-filled water beforereaching the finishing line.

The 10km extended Full Loop courseespecially incorporated with a bunch of newobstacles proved to be the highlight of theday, adding more zest to the popular racingevent.

“Extreme obstacle racing is one of thenewest fitness trends and Wadi AdventureRace 11 proved to be a thrilling spectacleas it mastered at testing the inner fortitudeand determination of its participants in a funand friendly environment”, stated Mr. NileshMistry, General Manager of Wadi Adventure,H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum binJuma Al Maktoum awarded the 18 podiumwinners from the Men’s and Women’s catego-ries with medals and over 45,000 AED worthof prizes.

The racing event was followed by a compli-mentary buffet, raffle draw, and an enter-tainment zone for the kids hosted by TamraEvents.

With W.A.R.11 coming to a successful end,Wadi Adventure Race series has undoubt-edly become one the top most challengingobstacle races in the UAE.

W.A.R.11 Sponsors included: Al Ain Phar-macy, Al Ain Club, Al Ain Municipality, AbuDhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority, Al AinWater, Al Noor Hospital, Al Ain Raceway,Eastern Motors LLC, Al Masood Travels andServices, Al Ain Rotana, Hilton Al Ain Hotel,Ayla Hotel, Ain Al Faida-One to One Hoteland Resort, McCain, GO Sport Middle East,Fit4Skool, Futurelife, Tamra Events andThree60 Leisure.

Media: Dubai Life TV, The Source UAE,Outdoor UAE and Kabayan Weekly.

Arriving at the crack of dawn, participantsstarted registering and receiving their goodiebags, electronic timing chips from PremierOnline and WAR 11 t-shirts supported byAl Ain Pharmacy from the Wadi Adventurereception desk before making their way to anenergetic warm–up session conducted by Fit-ness360 which prepped them before headingover to the Red Bull arch starting point.

The event took place in the presence of HisHighness Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoumbin Juma Al Maktoum who participated forthe second time in the Men’s 15km category.

The event also witnessed participation ofthe UAE Representative at Ministry of Interiorin the USA and ex-National Athlete, and AbuDhabi Police Instructor Mr. Rashid Butti Al

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

13/68

EVENT PREVIEW

Words + Photos By: Supplied

So Ultra!The Sharbatly Big Stinker and Hajar 100 by Urban-Ultra

Are you ready for a bitof a climb? Choose from abeginners and kids 5k, to a moreintermediate or advanced 12k, 24kor the new and exciting 45k ultradistance. The 45km ultra distanceis a UTMB Qualifying Race worthtwo points!

of Ras Al Khaimah. It is a tough challengeand requires training, but generous cut-offtimes (24hrs overall) allow most physicallyfit, determined and well-prepared runnersto get to the finish. Proudly announcing thisrace (100k) is a UTMB qualifying race (twopoints). Great prizes are up for grabs in the

100k race!Start time: 06:00amLocation: Ras Al Khaimah – Start: Double-Tree Hilton Hotel Marjan Island. You will bebussed to the start and back from the finishto the start hotel. (Buses will be every hourfrom approx. 3:00 p.m. for the 50k and 8:00p.m. for the 100k)

You will carry your food and water (fruit,water and Aqualyte available approximatelyevery 10km). CP5 will be your opportunityto eat a hot meal where we will provide hotwater for your dehydrated food and we willhave hot soup on the go. (Outside assis-tance is not permitted outside of the check-

points, but supporters are welcome to assistyou at any checkpoint, in particular CP5).The course will take you on a multi-terrain

adventure and take in approx 2500m of ele-vation over the 100km distance. Checkpoint5 will be located at approximately 52km.

Make sure you are part of the only single-stage 50km and 100km trail run in the UAE!

The Sharbatly Fruit Big Stinker is runup and over the beautiful Ras Al Khaimahmountain (540m) ascent and descent per12k loop behind Khatt Spring Golden TulipHotel. The 45k ultra distance will be anextended loop with slightly more elevationtaking you to in excess of 1,500m for thewhole distance! The 5k route is perfectlysuitable for kids and trail run beginners,taking you along a slight undulating coursearound the base of the Golden Tulip KhattSprings Resort & Spa.

Camp with us on Thursday night on top ofthe mountain, stay at the Golden Tulip hotel(special rates available from Golden TulipKhatt Springs Resort and Spa for our Urban-Ultra runners) or drive up in the morningand run one, two or three loops of the wellmarked course. No GPS required! A greatfamily and friends weekend away!

Race start time: 07:00 a.m.Cut-off time for 45k: 2:00 p.m.Registration closes: 13th Feb 2016

Don’t underestimate this challenge it’s prob-ably the toughest solo footrace in the UAE!

The Hajar 100If you on the other hand want to have ataste of the ultra distance trial runs nowavailable in the UAE, don’t miss the Urban-Ultra Hajar 50 and 100 on the 4th of March,2016.

Challenge yourself on this beautiful 50km

or 100km trail run through the mountainpasses, along jeep tracks, through boulderravines and over spectacular sand dunes

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

14/68

The 2016 Dubai International Boat ShowMarine Talks 1-5 MARCH 2016Dubai International Marine ClubMina Seyahi

In anticipation of theupcoming 2016 Dubai Boat Showthis March 1-5, OutdoorUAEmagazine is proud to announce its

partnership with the 2016 BoatShow with the annual feature onMarine Talks. Same as last year,the Marine Talks invites visitors ofthe show to experience watersportexperts of the UAE talk about theirrespective fields and how you toocould get started on it! Select fromvaried conversation schedules onall five days of the show with topicscovering most major watersportdisciplines such as Diving,

Kayaking, Fishing, Dragon boatingand many more!

The Marine Talks is an open forum that isfree for visitors of the Boat Show. The talksusually begin as soon as the sun sets and

audiences are then immersed into an eye-opening series of lectures about the manythings people can do in the waters of theUAE or even elsewhere! There are practicaltips on how to get started and there’s eventalks focused on specialized equipment todeal with the waters of the region.

This month, the Marine Talks is biggerthan ever in its scope as we bring more

resident experts from around the UAE toshare with Boat shows visitors their extensiveknowledge on varying disciplines.

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

15/68

OUTDOORUAE


The Dubai International Boatshow is theregion’s premier event focused on water-sports, sailing and basically life on the sea!This year’s show is bigger than ever withseveral new features and a more focusedapproach on other fields. Popular displaysalso make a return such as the SupercarPavilion and Superyacht Life where anyonecould go and explore the interiors of the

majestic craft of the sea! Another interest-ing highlight is the Outdoor Activity areawhere people can engage in more dis-plays and even try their hands on severaldemos! Other than that, this is also wherethe Marine Talks will take place by the sun-set. Listen to watersport professionals dis-cuss what you need to get started or evenpoint you to hidden locations in the regionwhere you can get your fix of H2O in themost outdoorsy way possible! Visit theDubai International Boatshow this March1-5 at the Dubai International Marine Clubin Mina Seyahi. For more information, visitwww.boatshowdubai.com.

A long-term contributor and fishing editorfor OutdoorUAE Magazine, an active sup-porter of catch and release, his passion forfishing can only be matched by his passionfor the conservation of the fisheries. Kit is

versed in most forms of fishing, was verymuch into fly fishing until recently whenthe temptation of catching fish onultralight tackle has smitten him again.

Jen is an Abu Dhabi resident that hasshared her passion of Stand Up Paddling(SUP) with hundreds of people since 2009.Her passion for SUP has evolved over thelast 5 1/2 years and continues to grow notonly locally, but globally as well. She is thefounder of the Abu Dhabi Stand Up Pad-dlers, a community group that organizesregular paddles and events, as well as ablog called Live Love SUP documentingher SUP travels around the UAE and theworld. In 2012, a company under the samename was launched which promotes standup paddling through a fundraising focus,with an aim to provide clean waters. Asof late, Jen and her husband, Nick Yates,

have travelled the world — paddling in 22countries and connecting with others whoalso share the same language.

Dan works as a Curriculum Managerfor ADAPT Adventure Centre in Ras AlKhaimah where he organizes school andfamily trips into the wilderness of theUAE. He also writes for several prominentpublications in the UAE on the subjectof natural history. During the talks he is

going to introduce you to the fun sport of“Snorkelling” along the UAE’s interestingand varied coastlines.

JEN SCULLY Stand Up Paddling

DAN WRIGHTFamily Snorkling

For over thirty years, Steve has been aBritish Canoe Union coach and assessor aswell as being a very enthusiastic sea pad-dler. Prior to coming to the UAE in 2009Steve worked in the United Kingdom inthe outdoor education industry as a kayakand canoe coach training andassessing individuals in paddling skills aswell as building future coachesthemselves. He is a Fellow of the RoyalGeographical Society.

STEVE BENNETTSea Kayaking

An AIDA InstructorTrainer and freediversince 2008, Alex hastrained over 100students from Intro-ductory to Advancedlevel and is alsothe co-founder andowner of Freediving-UAE. He has workedwithin AIDA since 2010 and has a healthyhistory of freediving that is admired by hispeers.

ALEX BOULTINGFree Diving

JAKE LYLEDiving

OutdoorUAE’s resident diving expert, Jakehas been exploring the depths of the worldfor 8 years now with dives in various coun-tries such as Oman, Maldives, St. Martin, St.Kitts in the Caribbean, the Philippines, Bah-rain, Hawaii, Australia’s Great Barrier Reefand of course the UAE. He is a PADI RescueDiver that has over 110 dives to his name.As a regular diving contributor, Jake writesabout diving techniques and the equipmentrequired when taking on the waters of theMiddle East. He is also an all around water-sport person that does kayaking, surfing andstand-up paddling.

Here’s some more info on some of the experts that you can get to witnessonly on the 2016 Dubai Boatshow at Mina Seyahi, Dubai, UAE.

KIT BELEN Fishing

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

16/68

ACTIVITY REPORT

We started off as a small group of threepeople. We were just in it for the rides,the exhilaration and of course the fun. It’squite amazing how fast we have grown andhow strong we became as a team. We’d be

joking around and sharing stories in one

instance and then pedalling hard in the next.I think that is the best part of having to share

THE CYCLE HUBcycling TEAM

Two Wheels and Tons of Fun:

1st UAE Cycling Federation RoadRace - Mushrif Park Masters Male

1st UAE Cycling Federation Road Race - RAKUniversity Masters Male and Elite Female

1st Turn and Burn MTB Time Trial Elite Male

2nd Turn and Burn MTB Time Trial Elite Male

2nd Qatar Losail Night Criterium Elite Male

1st Qatar Duhail Fast 5 Mountain Bike Elite Male

1st UAE Cycling Federation RoadRace – Jebal Jais Masters Male

1st Qatar – Dukhan Road Race – Elite Male

5th Spinneys Dubai 92 Elite Female

7th Spinneys Dubai 92 Elite Male

16th UCI Amteur World Road Race Champion-ships Denmark – Female 18-34 years

2nd Liwa Challenge Elite Male

2nd Liwa Challenge Masters Male

4th Liwa Challenge Elite Female

1st Hot 6 Mountain Bike Solo Elite Male

1st Hot 6 Mountain Bike Pairs Elite Male

2nd Hot 6 Mountain Bike Solo Female

1st RAK Awafi Mountain Bike Elite Male

1st Qatar Inland Sea Mountain Bike Elite Male

1st Adnoc Challenge Road RaceAbu Dhabi Elite Female

1st Ramadan Road Race Elite Female

1st UAE Cycling Federation RoadRace – Mamzar Corniche Masters Male

3rd UAE Cycling Federation RoadRace – Mamzar Corniche Elite Male

1st Spinneys Dubai 92 Elite Female

5th Spinneys Dubai 92 Elite Male

1st Emirates Team Time Trial Elite Female

2nd Emirates Team Time Trial Elite Male

2014

2015

Photos By: Keith Pereña

Words By: Simon Henley

It was a cool sunset afternoonwhen we went to Motor City fora quick ride in front of the CycleHub — kind of like a way to get thenew members and the older onesacquainted.

this experience with other people.

The team is an amateur set up where theriders are not paid to represent the store.All of the team have full-time careers andcompete for the thrill of the sport and forthe sense of achievement that comes fromtraining hard and pushing themselves to thelimit to improve. This year we have addedto the team roster. We currently have sevenmen and women representing the storeand competing in a wide variety of cyclingevents which include Road Racing, Time Tri-als, Mountain Biking, and Triathlon.

Our riders have a wide range of previ-ous experiences with some riders havingcompeted all their lives and others very newto the sport. But despite our different prov-

enances, one thing is common – our passionto ride and push ourselves further becausewe see cycling as a sort of lifestyle.

In September 2014, the team celebratedas we had three men and one lady qualifyand compete in the UCI Amateur WorldRoad Race Championships in Denmarkagainst the best in the world. It is one ofthe biggest cycling events in the world andit was an exhilarating feeling to know thatmembers of our team are part of it!

All of our team use either Specializedor Pinarello bikes and equipment that areprovided by The Cycle Hub.

You can follow our progress throughoutthe year on Facebook (The Cycle Hub Race

Team) and also on Instagram (The Cycle HubLadies Team).

In the past 18 months the team have hadmany fantastic results, here are some of them.

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

17/68

i i

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

18/68

ACTIVITY REPORT

Most people long for that first day offon a weekend, to sleep beyond a ringingalarm clock but the result of experiencinga sunrise on horseback is well worth theeffort.

I grew up in the southern United Statesand spent many years in western USA

where I enjoyed horseback riding in the oldwest where the stories of cowboys becamelegend, yet as a young boy I was fixatedwith the movie “The Black Stallion Returns”(1983) where an Arabian stallion and hisyoung owner travel to Morocco to competein a long distance race through the beauti-ful desert where they encounter a varietyof Arabian culture. This has always been afantasy and goal; to ride in the Arabian de-

Experience

the UAEand Sir BaniYas Island on Horseback

Photos By: Katie AunWords By: Jean-Paul Courville

Jiyad Stables, Endurance City

serts. My style had been western riding yetI made a dream turn into reality almost twoyears ago when I discovered the Al Jiyadstables in the Endurance City area of theUAE where I have enjoyed one to two ridesper week alternating sunrise and sunset.The horses are healthy, well taken care of,

and familiar riders faces provide a sense offamily. The illustrious desert resort and spaat Bab Al Shams puts on an evening dinnershow with horses, camel, and riders (fromthese stables) who dress in throwback attireand weapons of the old Arabian ways, it’s amagnificent spectacle that will makeanyone in attendance ask to ride a horseand grab a sword. I personally have had justan extraordinary time riding at the Dubai

The Arabian desert of the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE) displays awide landscape, open terrain, abeauty beyond the typical glance,and a vast history of mythicalappeal. Sunrise and sunset acrossthe land are the most breathtakingwhen riding on horseback, mountedatop an Arabian stallion - anendurance horse, a popularand intriguing passion of the localleaders in the UAE.

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

19/68

OUTDOORUAE


Arabian OryxGazelle

Mr Ali - Horse owner at Al Jiyad and Sir Bani Yas Island

Polo & Equestrian Club located in the Ara-bian Ranches area. The settings bring youto the outlining desert sand dunesoverlooking the Dubai Marina in thedistance — magnificent.

The opportunities extend beyond theUAE desert at Sir Bani Yas Island off the

coast of the UAE. Here you can find theopportunity to ride among exotic animalslike giraffes, striped hyenas, Arabian oryx,and Moroccan sheep. Under Sheikh Zayed’spatronage, several million trees wereplanted here as he recognized the needto preserve animals that were at risk fromextinction, particularly within the UAE andArabian Peninsula, and his vision has led tothe establishment of the Arabian Wildlife

Park to assist with breeding and rehabilita-tion, and an environment for thousands ofanimals to roam freely around a large area.Sir Bani Yas Island’s name originates fromthe Bani Yas tribe who first inhabited AbuDhabi. The Al Jiyad Stables are located onSir Bani Yas Island just a short trip by ferry

or airplane from the UAE.I took an advanced riding tour of theisland and it was epic to ride literallyalongside groups of giraffes as they walkedthrough the trees. My horse was comfort-able but I could sense the awareness as wemoved closer. The giraffes moved into anopen area and began to trot, I was able tomaintain pace next to the animals. Sudden-ly to my right something was moving in the

trees and I spotted a cheetah moving freelyafter the fresh kill of a gazelle. The momentwas surreal and as I processed it, we arrivedinto a canyon where the layer of the stripedhyena lay hidden from the main trails. Ifelt like I was riding into an Indiana Jonesmovie, my adrenaline and excitement were

at an all time high yet we were safe andprotected during the entire ride.I encourage anyone regardless of

experience to research the many stablesin the UAE like Al Jiyad and book anexperience. We meet people who lookback on opportunities passed wishing theycould go back to achieve numerous thingsthat were within their control, why wait?Get outside and make a memory.

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

20/68

ACTIVITY REPORT

On my arrival in Doha however, it soonbecame apparent that while the city roadsoffer okay running, there’s actually nothing

better than getting away from the hum ofconstant traffic noise and breaking free inthe desert. From November to March, witha bit of preparation, that’s exactly what anyrunner can do.

There’s something very special aboutfeeling the dirt under your feet, the sunon your back, and wind in your face.It generates big smiles. It’s a chance tounwind, soak up the peace, and wallow insome beautiful lunar-like landscapes.

Thanks to Emile and Wendy Fitzmaurice,formerly based in Qatar and veteran trailbuddies, I was quickly tempted off-road andinto the desert at Zekreet, the peninsulaabout 84km west of Doha. The area offers

runnable terrain and good first time off-road

Running with the Oryx

Photos By: Noel Cuarton, Stephen Blows, Tim Harman and Sarah WhittingtonWords By: Sarah Whittington

Trail runner Sarah Whittington explains how Qatar’sZekreet peninsula has hosted a unique race challenge

I never thought I’d become atrail runner. Whilst living in theUnited Kingdom, I was mostdefinitely a road junky, the halfmarathon distance was my thingand I rarely ventured off-roadunless the going underfoot wasperfect… I mean who wantsto slip and slosh through mudall of the time?

running. Yes, you need to keep your witsabout you – the desert surface isn’t sandybut hard, compact and often ridged whichhas the annoying habit of grabbing thesoles of inattentive runners and flippingthem up. You probably won’t dent much butyour pride, but it’s still better to keep thatfocus.

I remember falling on my first outing. Iwas running along and then I wasn’t! Withpractice, however, you learn the skills, theawareness, and the ability to fling yourarms out to find your balance and avert atrip - the exact skills that will set you up forsuccess in traversing any off-road surface.Following these early adventures, some four

years ago, I’ve since been lucky enough

to run in some stunning places and rip upsome fantastic trails.I’ve now completed the Al Andalus

Ultimate Trail, a gruelling 230km five-daymountain staged-race in southern Spainfor the last three consecutive years, win-ning in 2015. I took on the Salmon WadiBih 72km solo in 2014 winning the ladiessection, and I’ve also spent a fair amount oftime running up and down rivers and canalsin the UK (strangely as it’s not much likeQatar), winning both the 100km Canalathonand Waterway 100 mile ladies categories in2015. None of these race successes wouldhave been possible without churning outsome miles off-road in Qatar. The mainstay

of my training here has to be on-road, the

Scene

Shawn Deleu on coursekpoint

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

21/68

OUTDOORUAE

Visit Sarah Whittington’s blogon trail running mainly in Qatarat http://dustyrunner.com/

desert is out of bounds over the summer,but it’s great to get your head back in thetrail game over the winter months.

Personally, I stick to old faithful roadshoes for running in Zekreet. The widerbearing surface offers less sand-suctionshould you hit a soft spot, and since thelandscape is neither mountainous norboulder-strewn you don’t need the grip ortoe bumpers of a trail shoe. “Old” is a key

word however, the grit chews through solesand you end up with a rather slick finishwhich probably isn’t what you want on abrand new pair of road shoes with less than30 miles under the treads.

Trail runners should always be ready foranything and I never head out without theobligatory water reserves, fully charged mo-bile, and mini first aid kit. I’ve been caughtout myself, setting out a little late, when thesun was already high in the sky and runningout of water. While there’s usually a friendly4x4 cruising around the desert, it can’t bedepended upon, particularly if you go earlyor late in the season. Dehydration can takeeffect quickly, and while the peninsula is

easy to navigate it gets confusing when thesun is beating down and your mouth is dry.Wanting to help people experience the

trail in safe and supported surrounds ledmy husband — Steve Farnham; a fellowFitzmaurice-inspired trail runner, to set upsome pop-up trail challenges. Assisted bya small, committed band of volunteers andwith a “leave no trace” motto – the chal-lenges incurred no entry fee and offered noprizes, no medals, and no t-shirts.

The thinking was simply to get run-ners sharing the off-road experience andenjoying the desert environment. Water atthe event was kindly sponsored by Rayyanwater, a company renowned here in Qatar

for sports-based CSR activities. We are also

indebted to IRM Offshore Services whooffered some financial support in purchas-ing course marking apparatus (more of thatlater).

And so the Ultra Trail Qatar – Oryx RunSeries born, with the first event in Novem-ber 2015 featuring a 15km or 30km run.Devoid of the regular race incentives, wewere somewhat overwhelmed by the num-bers signing up. Each race day in the series

was capped at 60 runners, logistically wecouldn’t cope with more, yet every entry listwas full, but we squeezed 64 into the firstevent of the season. The December eventsaw runners tackle a 20km or 40km run, witha final 25km or 50km run in January, whereentrants had the opportunity to tackle thewidely acknowledged minimum entry-levelultra distance. We believe this was the firsttime a 50km “trail race” had been run inQatar.

All Ultra Trail Qatar runs have waterstations every 10-12km crewed by amaz-ing volunteers, who got increasingly moregenerous as the season progressed, addingfruit, nuts and sweets to the provisions on

offer.The events were timed via webscorer sothat runners had an idea of how quickly theyhad completed the track, generally learn-ing if not always accepting that progressingacross country means going much slowerthan on road. Rather than runner versus run-ner, the ethos was runner versus trail.

Keen to leave no mark on the delicate de-sert environment, we marked the first eventwith arrows laid in all-purpose baking flour.Rapidly realizing however that it’s not easyto spot a flour arrow on a flat landscape, wehad to come up with a better method or riskhaving runners dispersing in all directions.

Following a moment of inspiration, Steve

came up with the idea of using helium

filled balloons, tied to gas pipes, or withstrings looped under piles of rocks, orsimply attached to the wing-mirrors of cars.These massive red beacons, high in the sky,enabled runners to choose their own trail,hopefully the optimum route, and go pointto point.

During the season Ultra Trail Qatar sup-ported over 100 new-to-trail runners of 15plus nationalities in taking to the desert.

Footprints were left, many selfies weresnapped, but more importantly many morememories made and friendships galvanized.

As the summer heat beckons, we’llbe having a final desert fling in midFebruary with a social group run andbarbecue before saying farewell to the trailsuntil the winter.

Runners pass Sera Statues Zekreet Run

First Trail Runner Akmal Hani Ahmad Kamal

Sarah Whittington

Into the desert

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

22/68

OUTDOORUAE

ACTIVITY REPORT

After a long drive and a few attempts toget to the beach, we finally found a nice spotafter Jebel Danat with long beaches and aview of the open sea. The only bad thingwas the rubbish and subsequent dirt, whichis found on almost all beaches in this area.Luckily the water was clean andcrystal clear, so we enjoyed the waterduring the day to cool down, even thoughthe sea was extremely shallow.

After an afternoon paddle, we werewalking back in the shallow water when wesaw a little sea turtle looking up at us. Theturtle didn’t make any attempts at escapeas we moved closer. When we reached the

It was the long Eid weekend, andwe made the plan to explore thebeaches in the western region ofAbu Dhabi in the quest to find anice camping spot. Despite the longcoastline of the country, it is veryhard to find any camping spots onthe beach especially ones whereyou have the beach for yourself.

Rescuig a SeaTurte i the UAE

turtle, we could see that she was weak and indistress, and so we picked her up for an in-spection. The poor little thing was covered inbarnacles and looked very thin. With the bestof intentions, I carried the turtle to our campin an attempt to help her but, I didn’t knowmuch about sea turtles and what I should do.One thing was very clear though and thatwas that she needed help.

A few years ago I found a turtle in thesame condition and trying to help her, we

removed the barnacles and placed her backin the sea. We originally had thesame plan for this small turtle which weaffectionately named “Maya”. Withinour group was Ally Landes from theEmirates Diving Association, who knew alittle bit more about sea turtles than we did.Ally identified Maya as a juvenile hawks-bill sea turtle, which is listed as CriticallyEndangered by the International Union forConservation of Nature. The hawksbill hasrecently seen a huge decline in numbers due

to various human activities, and they are nowat severe risk of extinction in the wild. Allyadvised that the barnacles should not beforcibly removed, as this can cause pain and

A Second Chance for Maya

Words By: Daniel BirkhoferPhotos By: DTRP and Gina Birkhofer

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

23/68


damage to the fragile sea turtle.Ally then called David Robinson from the

Burj Al Arab Aquarium Team and Dubai Tur-tle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) to get someexpert advice. Based at Burj Al Arab Jumei-rah and Madinat Jumeirah, the DTRP is run incollaboration with Dubai’s Wildlife Protec-tion Office, with essential veterinary supportprovided by the Dubai Falcon Hospital andthe Central Veterinary Research Laboratory.The day-to-day running of the project andthe animal husbandry is managed by Burj AlArab’s dedicated aquarium team. The DTRPis the only dedicated sea turtle rehabilitationfacility in the UAE and rehabilitates hundredsof sick and injured sea turtles every year.

David explained that the barnacles,although they look bad, were not the actualproblem. Sea turtles are reptiles and as suchare cold blooded which means they gaintheir body heat from their environment, inthis case, the surrounding seawater. Everywinter, as the regional seawater tempera-tures start to drop, sea turtles (especially

juvenile hawksbills), struggle with the colderwater and some become lethargic and sick,and can wash up on the beaches, just like“Maya”. Barnacles are natural parasites onsea turtles, and a healthy sea turtle cancontrol it’s barnacle load by scratching themoff on rocks and corals. If a turtle is foundwith excessive barnacle growth, this is anindication that something is very wrong withthe animal itself and that this turtle has beensick for some time. Removing the barnaclesfrom the animal causes damage to the

carapace and internal bleeding.With this new knowledge, I feel sorry for

what I had done to that poor turtle I found afew years ago. I think it is good to help if youcan, and that it is okay to try to help, even ifyou make a mistake but, if there are expertsto help, you should call them and know whothey are.

Everyone knows how to call an ambulancein an emergency and so, if you spend a lotof time on the sea or the beach, you shouldknow about the Dubai Turtle RehabilitationProject and save their number (+971 4 3017198). This way, if you are in the situationsimilar to us, you will know the right thing todo for the animal.

Maya is currently doing well under the careof the DTRP team, she is putting on weightand has been treated for several severe

ailments. Later in the year when the seatemperatures warm a little, she will bereleased back into the Gulf and enjoy asecond chance, thanks to everyone involved.

If you find a sick or injured seaturtle on the beach, pleasedo not attempt to removeany barnacles (again, the

barnacles are a symptom thatsomething else is wrong) and call

the DTRP on 043017198 or visit them attheir office at Al Muna Restaurant, MinaA’ Salam Hotel, Dubai, or email them [email protected] for furtherinformation about the DTRP visitwww.facebook.com/turtle.rehabilitation.

CARVE YOUR OWN PAT

THIS ISYOURMOMEN

Whatever your riding style, Naish has you covered. Fusing premium materials with cutting edge engineering, Naish twin tips feature

uperior shaping for performance that excels in any condition.

nd your board at NaishKites.com/Products/Kiteboards. Pacific Boardsports LLC . [email protected] . (509) 493

2016 NAISH TWIN TIPS

MEGA

High PerformanceFreeride

MONARCH

Pro PerformanceFreestyle

DUB

Performance Freestyle/Freeride

HERO

All-around FreerideGROM

Kid’s Freeride/Freestyle

ALANA

Women’s Freeride/Freestyle

ORBIT

LightwindFreeride

MOTION

Performance Freeride

T T - .

Ocean Sports FZE: +971 (0) 55 935 2735 - [email protected] - kitesurfsup.c

Learn more at naishsup.cNaishStandUpPaddling

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

24/68

OUTDOORUAE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Episode 4T.L.R.D The Land Rover Diaries

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Some of us are genetically pre-disposedto staying within the physical and psycho-logical confines of the metropolis in order towork out how to make a relatively static life

“The very basic core ofa man’s living spirit is his passionfor adventure. The joy of life comesfrom our encounters with newexperiences, and hence thereis no greater joy than to havean endlessly changing horizon,for each day to have a new anddifferent sun.”- Christopher McCandless

in that environment as amiable as possible.These are the people among us who are re-sponsible for the tasks of making our roadssafer, hospitals cleaner, economy stable,etcetera. In light of those people’s efforts tobuild a better society for all, a person whodecides to swim the length of the treacher-ous river, race across an unforgiving desertor jump off the top of a very tall thing, isgiven little more than cursory fascination, ifnot simply deemed as being unnecessary,reckless and of little value to civilization.

As one subscribed to a life in pursuit ofadventure I would like to assert that as aspecies, we owe more to the foolhardy,risk loving, jeopardy courting, peril chas-ing chancers of our society than the paperpushing, law making, health and safety setsome may like us to consider. The fact is,we might owe the enduring existence of ourspecies to the enterprising daredevils whoweren’t satisfied to just sit around nibblingon insects and feathering their nest, the in-dividuals genetically predisposed to search

for better nutrition, richer and more tillablelandscapes and fitter potential mates whocould make a more positive impact on thegene pool.

“As our species evolved, communities withrisk takers might have done better… risktaking was important for the species and theindividual.” - Thomas Crowley, Psycholo-gist, University of Colorado, Denver.

The drive to see what lies beyond the fur-

thest ridge or the other side of the ocean,or indeed this planet, represents a definingcomponent of human identity and success;so if a compulsion to pursue adventureexists in us innately, perhaps its base restswithin our genetic makeup. There is in facta genetic mutation that arises regularly inthe context of this discussion, a diversifica-tion of a gene labeled DRD4, or as it is af-fectionately known, the “Adventure Gene”.

The genetic variation, cleverly cited bythe advertising giant Young & Rubicam

Words By: Theo MeasuresPhotos By: Neil Walton

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

25/68

Theo and Neil are two “overgrown children”who love nothing more than climbing intotheir “heroic old Land Rovers” and pursuingadventure in the beautiful UAE landscape.A passion for documenting their exploitshas been joined by a motivation to inspireothers to explore, in turn promoting bothawareness and appreciation of the UnitedArab Emirates’ natural treasure chest. Stayup to date with all their latest adventures byfollowing their Instagram account@TheLandRoverDiaries’

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Global in a campaign designed for the launchof Land Rover’s Discovery Sport, helps controlDopamine – the chemical brain messengercritical to human learning and reward systems.Known as DRD4-7R, research has time andagain connected the mutation to inquisitivenessand restlessness.

“Adventure is not outside man; it is within”- George Eliot

Present in about 20% of humans, 7R seemsto make people more likely to explore new ordifferent ideas, sustenance, chemically inducedexperiences, relationships and places. As wellas this, being more open to change, wandering(travel or relocation) and adventure is yet anothersymptom. Basically, possession of gene variationDRD4-7R makes you more likely to take risks.

I am sure that many of you reading this may beable to identify with the characteristics of DRD4-7R, none more so that the owners of old LandRovers, who have staked their bank accounts, re-lationships, mechanical sympathy and wildernesssurvival skills on a Solihull (the hallowed formerLand Rover HQ) factory worker’s enthusiasm forbuilding the least reliable car he possibly could!On a serious note however, if you think youmay possess the “Adventure Gene”, then anysuppression of the urge to escape, explore orwander can only be considered an unhealthy andunnatural thing. Having resolved some time agoto get out and explore as often as possible, I amnow immediately able to identify the symptomsof not satisfying 7R’s curiosity both in myself andin other adventurous types, when we get stuckin the ruts of city life: anger, frustration, depres-sion, anxiety and detachment can all manifestthemselves in one form or another.

“You do not need to fly to the other side ofthe planet to undertake an expedition. You donot need to be an elite athlete, expertly trainedor rich to have an adventure. Adventure is only astate of mind. Adventure is accessible to normalpeople, in normal places, in short segments oftime and without having to spend much money.”– Alistair Humphreys

Still not convinced you have the time, moneyor inclination? As a how-to guide for easily ac-cessing adventure, Alistair, an explorer, writerand film maker, came up with an initiative he calls“microadventures”, which in his words are “Sim-ple expeditions and challenges which are closeto home, affordable and easy to organize”. Sothere you have it, no excuses. Do your body andmind a favour and visit www.alistairhumphreys.com. Whether it be hiking, biking, running orclimbing, get inspired, get out, have anadventure!

Recently I have discovered that running withmy dogs, particularly through a desert, naturereserve or remote village provides an excellentopportunity for a daily dose of adventure. Notonly is this a fantastic way to get out and experi-ence more of the UAE, it is a genuinely engagingway to distract oneself from the actual businessof staying physically and mentally fit and healthy.Now that I have caught the scent of adventure inmy nostrils through a different medium, DRD4-7R really has got me wondering what’s over thehorizon; I think it’s time to buy a touring bike andhead for it before the weather turns. For all itsfaults, breakdowns and lack of creature com-forts, buying this old Land Rover has completelychanged my life, not just because it can take thedogs, future bike and myself almost anywherewe want to go but because with all its spurringpedigree and incorrigible character, it is in itself,part of the adventure.

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”

- Amelia Earhart

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

26/68

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

girl growing up in Dubai. Running along thebeach, cycling, activities that I never wouldhave otherwise indulged in, they broughtimmense calm to me, and I focused my painand loss on them. That’s when the idea oftrekking occurred to me and my friend andpartner in crime Kripa from I Love Adven-

tures, who indulged me. I booked the EverestBase Camp trek, and started training for it.Unfortunately, Nepal went through a hugenatural disaster and I had to let go of my EBCdream. That’s when I started studying Peru- The Inca Civilisation and the Machu Picchutrek. It was destiny, and things started fallinginto place. I got the dates I wanted, visas,tickets and all… I chose the Lares trek, whichis a four-day trek through the Andes whereyou reach a height of 4,871m. The brochureswere amazing, reality even better. The Incaswere people of the mountain, a supremely in-telligent race, and seeing the well preservedruins of Machu Picchu puts you in completeawe of them. Very little is catalogued but

what they left behind speaks volumes.For a first time trekker, with a decent fitness

level, I thought it would be a piece of cake.It wasn’t.

Day OneOur first day involved walking in the Urubam-ba valley and soaking in the people who livein the town. It felt so nice. The valley peopleare warm and welcoming.

Day TwoStarting early with a long walk, I had only mytrack bag, no day pack and I immediatelyfelt a disadvantage as my backpack washeavier than the rest. I felt okay while walkingthrough the most scenic sights that I haveever seen in person. Then came the steepclimb and a true test of my willpower to goon and not give up. I started lagging behind,my legs kept pushing but my lungs kept re-fusing. I got tremendous support from two in-dividuals who kept walking with me and sup-ported my slow pace. My guide Roddy andassistant Lucy called this a warm up to whatis known as the Andean Flat. We walked upand down 14km through sights and moun-tains that are unexplainable. We performed asmall ceremony asking the mountain God forsafe passage until we reached the KonkaniBase Camp at 3,800 metres. I began crying inmy tent as nothing had prepared me for howmy breathing was. A group member who isa professional athlete told me that’s it’s okayand it happens. Tomorrow will be a betterday.

The next day was looming ahead of me. Istill had to conquer the pass at 4,871m. Theguide had briefed us at dinner about the 7-8

The sudden demise of my Mother, who wasmy rock of Gibraltar, left me thinking of howwe take our existence for granted. We giveabsolutely no time to stop and make notes,to see, to breathe — we move like well pro-grammed robots and then suddenly we aregone, unplugged from our existence. It wasthen that I felt I needed to discover myself,let go of all that holds me down. For as longas I remember, my entire adult life was spentchasing one project or another, executing,achieving, never letting anyone down. My

Mum wanted me to slow down, as she fearedI would burn out. I needed time to grieve andto let her go.

I wilfully quit working, and started attach-ing my time to activities I liked doing as a

Words + Photos By: Zoya Razak

All adventures have an epicstart, at least in fairy tales. Forme, my urge to climb a mountain

was very simple. I fear heights andsuffer from vertigo and I wanted toconquer that.

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

27/68

OUTDOORUAE

The trip was organised by I Love Adventures– an adventure travel company based inUAE who work with leading internationaladventure organisations to provide fun– cycling, trekking and active holidays to over120 destinations worldwide. Connect withthem at www.iloveadventuretravel.com. Orget in touch at [email protected]

At one point around 3,900m. I juststopped breathing. Lucy and a fellow travel-ler Ronin asked me to take off my backpackand breathe. At that point, I felt frustrated,and couldn’t understand, tears stinging myeyes and face. “I can do this” I told myselfrepeatedly. I could see the look on Lucy’s

face as she opened a strong smelling oiland asked me to inhale. Gradually I felt mybreath and both she and Ronin kept mecompany until we reached where the rest ofthe group was waiting.

Roddy our trek guide calls me aside andvery gently explains to me the trek aheadand if I have ridden a mule. I know what hemeans, and my eyes fill up with controlledtears as I cannot let this man see what thistrek means to me and how failing it wouldbe failing myself. Yet I cannot let pride standin the way of my health. So I explain to himmy fear of heights and vertigo. I explain tohim how I feel my backpack is crushing myback. Very gently he says, take just your wa-

ter and snacks and put them in his pack. Mybackpack was removed from my shouldersand put on the mule.

He then looks at the entire group of 16trekkers and tells them “Zoe, (well yeahthey couldn’t get Zoya.) will lead ahead.” Iwas shocked. I cannot. I will slow everyonedown. I can’t breathe. It’s so high — all myfears bogging me down. I see smiling faces,love, and a general “Yes! Zoya you can, weshall take your pace.”

The next few hours were spent amidstthe most gorgeous and daunting land-scape, with the bag off my shoulders. Withmy lungs screaming, one leg ahead of theother,the mule carrying my bag and thank-

fully not me. With numerous momentswhere I thought I was dead, I made it, thefirst up the mountain. I sprinted the lastfew meters up a steep climb to the peak...and collapsed. Breathless and yet thankful

hour steep uphill trek. I couldn’t sleep thatnight. The chill of the mountains and the painin my body kept me numb.

Day ThreeWe woke up at 5:40 a.m. and packed ourday packs. We were asked to go extremely

light. Based on the previous day, I spent alot of time going around myself, keeping

just my water and a few essential items. Westarted out of the camp at 7:00 a.m. andour target was to reach the pass towards thehighest peak by 1:00 p.m.

We started walking, and I kept prayingthat my strength would hold me. It seemedto for a while; once again at the cost ofbeing repetitive, I passed through the mostscenic landscape and met full blooded Incapeople who lead a hard life in the moun-tains. With new hope I went forward. Anhour into the trek my nightmare began.If the previous day’s climb brought me totears, what happened on the first steep

incline reduced me to a pulp. I lagged farbehind. I couldn’t breathe. My lungs felt likethey would burst. I was so warm I wanted toremove all my layers. And I felt myself gasp-ing hard and people fading.

I made it. The vastness, the sky, the moun-tains and I.

Later, I got to know that one trekker whowas 60 years of age could not do it andhad to be put on the mule. That could havebeen me. But through sheer willpower Iconquered my fear and my breathing.

“The worst is over,” my guide Roddy said.We now had a climb downhill to 4,200m toreach Patchayu Base Camp for the night.My recovery was almost instant. A climbdown with no breathing issues, just a lot ofhard work balancing and keeping away fromthe edge, passed in a haze. We reachedthe camp with burning thighs and feet andspent another sleepless night in the wilder-ness knowing the worst was done.

Day Four Saying goodbye to the mountains was prob-ably the hardest thing to do for me. I learntso much from these mighty giants. Foreverin my heart I shall carry them. We walked

downhill to the Urubamba Valley in the lastfour hours. From there we went back toOllantaytambo where we boarded a train togo to the Machu Picchu proper.

It was a trek I took for granted and alesson learnt well.

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

28/68

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

After finishing my seasonal river job inIceland, I sat down to consider what routeto take next. My head said to work anotherrafting season, but my heart had other plans;I needed to go sailing.

So I kept my eyes open for an opportunity,and then, one ordinary day, I found my gold-en ticket - while reading a thread on CruisersForum about piracy in the Gulf of Aden. The

sailors were damning the stupidity of thosewho would consider such a voyage, betweenthe vicious jaws of Somalia and Yemen. Butamongst the noise I noticed an interestingpost. It read: “I’m going that way soon. Ifanyone wants to live a little and crew withme, let me know”. I let loose a message, andsoon enough I was shaking hands with Zac atPhuket International Airport.

There’s something magicalabout sailing. Life is simple... Yougo by the speed of nature, and littleby little, you end up far, far away.The horizon is endless.

Part 1: A Voyage fromThailand to Turkey,Through the Red Sea

Words + Photos By: Will Pardoe

We spent a few weeks stocking the boatwith food, drinking at beach bars and waiting

for the trade winds to set in. And then, upcame the dinghy - our only connection toland. We weighed anchor (confirming it washeavy), hoisted the mainsheet, and off intothe open sea we sailed.

Water WorldOn our journey to the Red Sea, Sri Lankawould be the next point of land out of Thai-land - 2,000km away. For nine days, we sailedwest; though time soon becomes irrelevant.There is nothing in the world outside ofour infinite and empty horizon; nothing toworry about, at least. And with all that spacearound you, being the only ones in the world,it’s easy to catch yourself standing in epic

poses upon the bowsprit, looking out at thefreedom.We slip into a rhythm. Daylight is mostly

spent in the cockpit; listening to music, trim-ming the sails, reading, napping, chatting, and

casting a casual eye around for ships that haveinvaded our view. Sunset is when the work

starts. We stand four-hour watches throughthe darkness, scanning for lights and monitor-ing the radar. To the cargo ships, we are ants,and to fishermen, we are a curiosity that theygravitate towards like flies to a lamp. Theircommon sense is not to be trusted.

Fishermen are the first sign of approachingland - the modern equivalent of the float-ing branch. They are also your first culturalcontact of a new land. Watch is taken mostseriously when navigating through the mine-fields of crazy fishermen, for they may decideto stop dead-ahead of you in the darkness. Isay, they are not to be trusted!

The Sweet Smell of Sri Lanka!

It may seem odd, but when you pass into thelee of land after a long voyage, an enticing

Phuket Koh Similan, Thailand

Dolphins being dolphins

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

29/68


OUTDOORUAE

smell comes to greet you; simply, a whiff offoliage, damp earth, dust, decay, and diesel

fumes. My first whiff of Sri Lanka was ofsweet, floral perfume. “My, they must be veryclean!”It was as if the ladies were all alongthe shore waving their dresses. Unfortunately,it was just Frangipani flowers that beckonedus in.

We dropped the anchor and slept - a calm,uninterrupted sleep - without watch duty, orthe constant rock and roll of the ship.

In the morning we awoke to the colonialparadise of Galle Bay. A white Portugueselighthouse and church stood at the bay’sentrance, nestled between swaying palms.Surrounding this, fortified Dutch wall de-fences and cannon emplacements guardedagainst a time gone by. Though evidently,

they hadn’t done their job against the British.It was time for a cup of tea.

The Best Exotic Marigold HotelThere was another yacht within the industrialfishing harbour where we moored, and so westruck up a friendship with Morris, a mild-mannered South African. Additionally I foundthat Anne, an old family friend from Dubai,was living in Galle. She had previously sailedaround the world, so the four of us arrangedto meet at a hotel for drinks one evening.

The Closenburg was on top of the hilloverlooking the bay. It had been a grand oldmanor house, and was built in such perfectcolonial style it felt like walking into a movie.

The restaurant was empty, yet full of char-

acter. Beneath the vaulted ceilings and higharches sat ornate wooden tables that seemedto be missing their cross-legged, pipe-smoking, handlebar-moustached explorers.Sri Lankan waiters, so neatly dressed I shouldcall them butlers, were waiting to greet anydrops-ins with their ever-present broad smileand sincere welcome. They lead us throughthe arches and into a wide, open-air verandathat flowed out into the gardens. As we satdown, the heavens opened - and so did theroof. Amusingly, the head butler held out hishand to catch the torrent, which immediatelyoverflowed. Still smiling broadly, he upheldhis self-sacrifice until he was struck with a bet-ter idea. Noticing that the fan above us wasnot working, he returned with a long broomand began to manually revolve the blades. Ithought he was jump-starting it, but really hewas stepping in happily as our punkhawal-lah. The other waiter looked at him a littlebemused. We decided it best to move to thenext table, in a dry spot under a working fan.

The conversation flowed like the drinks. Wediscussed the Red Sea, which delighted Annein reminiscing of her life at sea. We discussedstorms, and piracy, and the real dangers inlife - like flying on Air Tanzania. These richtopics inspired Anne to assemble some ofthe colourful characters she knew in Galle forlunch the next day.

Afternoon TeaAnne’s house was a more homely version of

the Closenburg, with its high vaulted archesand cooling veranda, perfect for sipping teaunder. The new guests certainly had storiesof their own; Heather had sailed across the

Atlantic and been shipwrecked at the mouthof the Amazon; and Dom was an ex-SAS,ex-pirate hunting adventurer, who had beenrescued from the perfect storm of Katrina andher following hurricanes while trying to kiteacross the Atlantic. While Dom shared hisexperiences of the storm, I remember Morriscommenting that “there are very few atheistsin a hurricane”. To this, Anne piped up, “...and on Air Tanzania, there are none!”

There was a surprising concentration ofinteresting people in Galle, with valuable in-formation for our imminent passage through

Pirate Alley. We even met an Australian,on the beach with his family, who had justreturned from Somaliland having served asa consultant to the Somali coastguard. SriLanka seemed to be the hub for Red Seasecurity. Indeed, every night tugs would dockbeside us and unload their mercenaries,laden with 50-calibre rifles and machine guns.

And so the time came to leave the welcom-ing arms of Sri Lanka. With a final evening ofcigars and spirits in the cockpit, we weighedanchor at sunrise and set off toward thebeckoning call of the Arabian Sea. We soonpicked up the wind and current, making eightknots for Djibouti.

“We’re getting the hell outta Dodge!”

said Zac.“Straight for Dodge.” I suggested.“Straight for Dodge...” he concurred.

(To be continued)

Zac and me in Phuket

The seaside fish market

Afternoon tea on the veranda

Galle Bay. These fishing boats pull up theircatch and sell it right there on the beach.Some just cast their nets from the shore!

Our friendly tuk-tuk driver, who eventook us home for tea with his family.

Sri Lankan bureaucracy: Customs, Immigration, Navy, Coast Guard,Ship’s doctor, yacht agent, and anyone else who fancied coming aboard!

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

30/68

Photos By: Grég, Magali, Natasha and Anastasia TrastourWords By: Grég Trastour

We are a family of four whohave started this adventure aroundthe world in the 1st of April2006 while landing in Brisbanein Australia, our daughtersat that time were six and eightyears old and made their firstoverlanders’ steps.

Nomad’s Road:Overaers for LifeEpisode 1: The First Ten YearsBefore Arriving in the UAE

UAE 2016, Sand Sculpture (Abu Dhabi)

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

31/68


OUTDOORUAE

During our first journey in Australia wewere driving a bit more than 35,000 kilo-

metres with a modified Nissan Patrol and acamper trailer to explore the eastern part.We have crossed six states by followingthe coast from south to north and the RedCenter to the south to close the loop. Wehave visited some legendary places likeUluru and spend most of our timein National and Marine Parks.

After this year in the land of kangaroos,we decided to hop into the kiwis’ land. It isnot a huge country but we nevertheless re-mained two years to visit most of the placeon the two main islands and the little rock atthe bottom of South Island near Antarcticacalled Stewart Island.

In 2009 we have moved to New

Caledonia, a little paradise in the SouthPacific Ocean situated between Australia

and New Zealand, and we stayed for threeyears and have participated in environmen-

tal project on corals, turtles and birds preser-vation all around the country. During the lat-est year in New Caledonia, we have activelyorganised our non-stop, round-the-world in10 years by road. And in February 2012, wehave flown to Australia for a second time.We quickly found our new vehicle - a 1993Toyota Landcruiser 75 series and modifiedit ourselves to fit our needs. We have fittedtwo rooftop tents and a solar panel to loadour batteries to feed the fridge and thepower points for the girls to do schooling ontheir computers while we drive.

In April 2012 we started our long journey around the world and becameoverlanders for life. Our primary target was,

driving on six continents and going through100 countries in 10 years to visit highlightedand remote places, and meet other culturesand traditions. On the way, our plan andour route have been modified a few timesfor diverse reasons, breakdowns, budget,war or visas. At the start of our journey wewould have ended our adventure in 2022but because of the time we spent in differ-ent countries, we had to extend it to 2024or probably more. We have been travellingfor the last years with only 500€ per monthfor four people to pay all our expenses,which is just enough for fuel, food and visas.Our major problem is the lack of sponsorsespecially when we have to cross a sea or an

ocean to reach another country or anothercontinent, or when our vehicle breaks down,like recently in the UAE.

So in 2012 for this new start, we have

decided to explore the main Australianremote places we haven’t done in 2006 and

we have driven another 35,000 kilometresdown under and visited some amazinguntouched places but the rough roads havebeen hard and at the end of the year ourbudget was not enough to send our vehicleto Asia to continue our tr ip. So we decidedto leave the car in Australia for a year andcontinue our journey as backpackers inSoutheast Asia. To save some money wedidn’t use transport and accommodationas less as possible and we used individualtunnel tents to sleep and walk as much aspossible.

In 2013 we haven’t done a lot kilometreson our theoretical route, we have just visitedthe main islands of Indonesia, and Malaysia

including Borneo and Brunei but we havehad a lot of fun and met a lot of people whohelped us all along our walk. In the begin-ning of 2014 we got just enough money tobring our vehicle in Asia and the family wasvery happy and really appreciated the luxuryof a moving car, despite the fact that wehave had less opportunity to meet peopleand take pictures. We were able to visitmore places and access remote places in the

jungle.In 2014, we drove through Malaysia,

Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.We discovered the wonders of SoutheastAsia with their wonderful landscapes, inlandand on the coast and offshore.

Myanmar 2015, convoy in Bagan

Australia 2012, Cape York, Old Telegraph Track (Queensland)

Cambodia 2014, Bayon Temple (Angkor)

Iran 2015, Perspolis

Australia 2012, Pinnacles (West Australia)

Australia 2006, start of our adventure

8/20/2019 #65 February 2016

32/68

OUTDOORUAE

The Trastours is a family that has beenoverlanding the planet for as long asthey can remember! Made up of Gregand Magali as well as their daughtersNatasha and Anastasia, The Trastoursis a family filled to the brim with anunstoppable sense of adventure for theultimate goal – to explore the world.

You can check out their next stop atwww.nomadsroa

Documents

#65 February 2016