HH President's Cup - Organizing CommitteeJohn and I had the good fortune to be guests of the Organizing Committee this year. Invited to provide press coverage, and to represent the Emirates International Endurance Committee's involvement in Endurance outside the UAE, as sponsors of prominent rides. Our ride, Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights, was one of the two US rides that Abu Dhabi (EIEC under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nayan) - sponsored in 2004.HE Mohammed al Sayed, chair of the EIEC, and Ted Lewis, committee member, were actively involved with all of the invited International guests, and provided a wonderful venue. For three weeks the guests - riders and horses from around the world - were taken care of. From the transport of the riders, grooms and horses to and from UAE, to the housing, meals, barn facilities, 4wd rigs for transportation and crewing - everything was provided.
A wonderful banquet under a huge tent, with traditional foods, and Mohammed's mothers special honey soaked bread (she cooked them herself for the dinner!) A bedouin band arrived late in the evening, playing traditional songs and dancing the native dances. They encouraged everybody to join in the dancing - Guests from France, Portugal, Germany,e tc - somewhat incognito because of the native costume, but still bouncing to the drum rhythm. Good fun. |
Plus we were all treated to some wonderful excursions and
entertainment. A night at the races followed by dinner at an authentic
Arabian restaurant (Lebanese), dinner on a boat, touring the harbor
around Abu Dhabi, and a very special party in the desert. All of the
guests were fitted with traditional clothing for the evening. Small
bedouin style tents in the dunes with women cooking traditional food,
painting our hands with henna. Men sitting around the fires, offering
Shisha pipes, Arabic coffee, tea.
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