Monday afternoon we headed off in convoy to watch the sunset over the singing dunes, which is about 30-40 klms southwest of Doha. One of the heads of department had emailed everyone at school last week about doing a few things over the Eid break, but we only decided we would join them on this excursion at lunchtime. As it turned out there were only about 5 or 6 cars/4WDs heading out. Must say it was nice tackling unfamiliar roads by simply following the car in front!
Really the drive out there wasn’t that bad at all, although there were road works along the way (in Qatar… of course there would be road works!). Most of the road was actually very good, and looked very new… straight, flanked by camel fences once again (although we are yet to see any in the wild still) oh! ...and multiple power lines.
Really the drive out there wasn’t that bad at all, although there were road works along the way (in Qatar… of course there would be road works!). Most of the road was actually very good, and looked very new… straight, flanked by camel fences once again (although we are yet to see any in the wild still) oh! ...and multiple power lines.
Although you may think sand dunes = 4WD (I did) as it turns out these are probably the most northern dunes in Qatar, so they more or less just spring up from the same flat rocky terrain we are used to. The prevailing winds just move the sand until it gets caught on the next mound etc. Thinking we would have to drive off road and get stuck somewhere was silly of me… we actually had to only drive probably 100 meters from the road to park in the middle of several dunes.
wweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
... only problem going down... you have to climb back up!
These dunes are called “the singing dunes” because apparently the composition of the sand makes them make a unique sound… they didn’t sing for us but we will not hold that against them…Although, walking down the dunes creates an audible low ‘hum’/ ‘drone’ which resembles song (albeit, low pitched)… they are at least, Middle Eastern sand dunes, and that is more than enough for them to be at any particular time!
Our time was spent walking up and down… getting sand blown at times (still getting the sand out of our pockets)… watching the sunset… eating and talking with some of the others. Went for a little walk into the dunes once it was dark and decided that although peaceful, being lost in the dunes would not be a nice experience at all.
Lots of rubbish lying around on some parts of the dunes!
Some of our group atop one of the taller dunes watching the last rays of the setting sun...
... slowly sinking in the west!
They build big suns in these parts... isn't there anything petro-dollars can't buy!
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