The Empty Quarter, aka Rub' al Khali, is the world's biggest continuous desert, filling 250,000 square miles of, well, sand. The area runs across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen and Oman and has been described a "desert within a desert." Sand by the way is unique in that it's defined only by size. Anything between 0.06mm and 2mm in diameter -- be it coral, quartz, lava -- is "sand." And there is a lot of sand here.
I took some pictures in the UAE.
This is the view from Jabel Hafeet, a 4100-foot mountain near Al Ain, a town that survived as an oasis for 4000 years.
Looking over Al Ain from the other side of the mountain. The mountain has hot springs -- you can bathe in pools for "gents" or "ladies" -- and over 500 ancient tombs have been found in the area, earning the area UNESCO status.
It's a touristy activity, to ride a camel. But camels remain a seriously endeared part of local life. You'll find camel races on TV, camel beauty contests at festivals, and camel markets where traders from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Oman hawk animals that let out loud Chewbacca growls.
Me and Scott.
I like Scott's red jacket.
And my drool!!
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