Echoes from The Past

It was a cold November evening towards the end of Ramadan and we were strolling along the dew drenched lawns bounding the Al Buhaira Corniche in Sharjah. The whole place had been magically transformed with fairy lights and resembled a scene straight out of a children’s fairytale story.

Every year during Ramadan, Buhaira Corniche wore a festive air. After following a rigorous fasting regimen throughout the day, the faithful liked to break their fast and have their ‘Iftar’ meals on the lawns edging Buhaira Corniche. Towards evening just before the ‘Maghreb’ prayers whole families used to spill out of large SUV’s, unfurling reed mats out on the lawns and unpacking large baskets overflowing with food.

Soon lawn chairs and BBQ grills would to be set up along the spots which promised the best views of the fireworks display slotted for the night. After settling down on their little patch of lawn, the men would roll out their prayer mats and offer Maghreb prayers. The ladies meanwhile were busy laying out the Iftar meal. Children could be seen playing tag with each other, or roller skating along the cement pathways next to the lawns.

Soon the lone thread of a muezzins call for prayer could be heard above the general din. This was soon followed by a chorus of prayer calls from the surrounding mosques. Once the Maghreb prayers were completed the fast was broken with a couple of dates. This was followed by watermelon juice after which people tucked into a sumptuous feast replete with mezzeh, hareez, rice and meat dishes and sweets like baklawa and kunafa.

After their Iftar meals people could be seen milling around gaily decorated ice cream vans parked at regular intervals throughout the Corniche. Walking under the date palms festooned with green and blue fairy light people would stop by cloth tents selling jewelry, knick knacks and toys. Balloon sellers dotted the lawns with their vivid helium balloons.

Finally a spectacular fireworks display lit up the heavens and marked the end of another wonderful evening spent on the Corniche lawns enjoying an Iftar meal with our global family.

Pic Courtesy : Gulf News / aus.edu

BEACHES OF UAE

Growing up in the UAE, I used to enjoy visiting the numerous beaches, gracing its coastline. Pristine white sands, whispering date palms, and azure blue seas provided the ideal background for a perfect getaway.

Most evenings, after returning from college, I would dash to the nearby Al Khan beach. This was a small, secluded semicircular strip of shoreline swarming with gulls, plovers and little else. At low tide the sand was littered with pretty shells, seaweed and driftwood. Walks along the seashore often threw up unexpected but exciting treasures like a rare shell or a conch.

A few decrepit fishermen’s cottages lined a portion of the beach while at the far end, stood an ancient fort. A tiny watchtower made of bamboo and woven palm fronds, offered unimpeded views of the horizon. From this excellent vantage point one could see the massive oil tankers dotting the high seas and the industrious little dhows sailing shore wards, after a long day of fishing.

Fridays, which is the official day off in the UAE, was often spent on Ajman beach. On this day, the otherwise quiet beach would throng with a steady stream of people representing almost every nationality.

The sunny weather all year round, also afforded the best conditions for barbequing. The latest BBQ machines to the humble coal spits in the sand, would give off the smell of roasted meat. Edging the beach, ice cream vans would line the road. A day on the beach would never be quite complete without a scoop of ice cream.

On long holidays, either during Eid or the National day, we would drive down to Khor Fakkan which is around 180kms from Dubai. After exploring the surrounding wadis (oasis), we would invariably be drawn to its pristine beaches.

Colorful jet-skis and surfboards would slice through the continuous breakers rolling in from the Indian Ocean. A quick bite at a shawarma stand, a camel ride and exploring the rugged coastline on a fishing boat were a must on these trips.

The memories of the lovely times I spent at the various beaches in UAE will remain etched in my heart forever.
pic courtesy : aff.bstatic.com