Often times we are blinded by what we actually see; by what happens before our eyes, by wrapping up in details and we miss the big picture: the grand scenario that may happen upon us or the destination we’re wanting to arrive at.
Close your eyes and see it. Stepping back to see the big picture is so important.
(picture taken at W Hotel Doha)
Visited Singing Dune last weekend, my fourth visit. The dune is one of the 30 singing sand dunes in the world. It requires the right combination of sand particle size, temperature and humidity for sand dunes to “sing”. However, they are not singing by themself. You need to slide on it to make an avalanche. The bigger avalanche the louder the sound is. The sound produced resembles “hoooooooooo…..” that Marcopolo described as the sound of the evil’s spirit.
During winter the dune is normally shy to sing. Although I managed to get it sing when slide it down with car (hence very big avalanche), spring to autumn is the good time to hear them singing. (I visited once in August 2009 and it sang happily).
When we visited last weekend, the dune is deteriorating however; it’s smelly (don’t know why), littered in many places…ggggrrhhh…*heard that it was used for Christmas party few days back attended by 1,200 people*. Having said that many people flocked the dune in the afternoon just to get an escape to city life. Unlike the dunes in Sealine area, here you are a bit free from flying SUV or quadbikes.
We pitched a tent amid very cold night and morning (around 11 C). It seems the area is 2-3 C colder than Doha city. I also tested my new toy for the first time. The white professor (my 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee) made several attempts up and down and slide the dune. He seems happy in his habitat. Enjoyable!
Singing sand dunes in Qatar located on the way to Mesaieed from Salwa Road, about 15 km from Salwa Road. Drive Salwa Road and take Exit 24 to Mesaieed. Follow 15 km, pass through 2 roundabouts until you find intersection to Al Kharara. Road to Al Kharara is a road belongs to QP for access to its transmission plant. This single carriageway road will lead you to pipe crossing where you will find fork intersection. This is the start oor a corner of rectangular road encircling singing dunes.
Singing Sand Dunes
Coordinate: 25°2’21″N 51°24’26″E
Map: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=25.0398396&lon=51.4079807&z=14&l=0&m=b&show=/23780782/Singing-Sand-Dunes
Waypoints:
Exit 24 Messaied: 25°10’24″N 51°19’31″E (15-km more to turnoff Al Kharara)
Turnoff Al Kharara: 25°4’41″N 51°25’52″E (5-km more to the dune)
On the Show off. “Mitch, if you are trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down at you anyway. And if you are trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone” (from Tuesdays with Morrie, a book by Mitch Albom)
CGK-DOH 