Category Archives: Travel Tales

And She Flew Like a Seabird – 3

Posted on by

My daring feats of flight been noted and recounted in a mix of blog posts, my final air tale took place in a sensational seaplane, generously offered by Seawings in Dubai. Sand and City, love the byline!

Jad Frem, who terrorized… me in the hang glider at Six Senses Oman, was absolutely gleeful when he shared I could make my return to Dubai in a seaplane. Small planes don’t frighten me; strafing a savanna landing strip to warn a herd of elephants or giraffes is beyond exciting, I like the idea of metal surrounding my body.Seaplane – Why, yes indeed, I would love to fly in a seaplane! Plus this is a more interesting mode of travel from Oman to Dubai. Oman was once a center for the Middle Eastern spice trade it is also known for its beautiful coastlines and old world charming architecture. Blue water, sandy beaches and oceans of desert punctuated by Frankincense trees are better enjoyed from the air in the luxurious amphibian seaplane. Every seat is a window seat offering unparalleled vistas of the beaches and countryside.

Seawings, the only luxury seaplane tour operator within the Arabian Peninsula is expanding routes to a few signature properties, including Oman Six Senses.

Driver had instructions to turn toward the beach at the mosque in Fujairah Al Dana. Continue to the end of the road and we would see the plane, which lands on the sandy shore. Still in my shorts from my morning para-glide, I am a bit uncomfortable being so uncovered in this chaste country; everyone assures me I will need bare feet to board through the seawater, so no worries. I’ve been completely covered with long sleeves and slacks in the desert heat, but courtesy and respect mean more to me than suffering in my attire.At the mentioned mosque, we make a left and reach the beach – strewn with fishing boats and many local men hovering about curious to see this beast in the water! A grizzled bearded man in a long white robed is animated in his waving at me in the car; imagine their curiosity as a large SUV with dark windows arrives at the fishing beach, I felt like a celebrity – and slightly amused to think of their imminent disappointment when an anonymous blonde woman in shorts alights from the car – not looking too glamorous this morning!As also previously mentioned, I don’t travel light – this 21 day trip required business attire in high temps, gorilla trekking garb, safari clothing, boots, poles etc…which translates to a couple of very large and increasingly heavy bags as I also shopped my way through four countries! The fishermen had been recruited to carry my bags to the plane; as I was the only passenger, the bag weight didn’t matter – strapped into the seats like passengers. The robed man continued to make friendly gestures, lacking a common language, I smiled and said hello multiple times.

Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

Pilot let me know it had been very windy and it might be rough, will I be OK? Absolutely, I survived hang gliding! An exciting water takeoff from the beach on-board the spacious Cessna Caravan Amphibian Seaplane, we rose quickly over the turquoise sea and turned toward the sand dunes. These were the dunes of National Geographic photographs, the wavering lines of undulating white sand that seemed to stretch for miles.

The beauty of these planes is the advantage of flying fairly low for spectacular sight seeing, especially as we approached Dubai. Not only does Seawings offer transport between resorts, they are the preeminent flight firm offering picturesque sight seeing. We circled around the city and approached the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club enjoying majestic views of Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, The World Islands and The Palm Jumeirah. A simple splash down in to the Creek and I alighted at the pier. Sadly, no white robed man to greet me, back to civilization!Seawings Amphibious Planes to and from Oman Six Senses – or tour the skies above the worlds highest buildings. Highly recommend!

And She Floated Like A Bird – 2

Posted on by

5 am Thursday in November

Standing in a field of darkness in Kenya, great experiences await those who arise at dawn in the bush. We climbed aboard our comfy Range Rover, Lepeta wrapped us in woolly red plaid blankets and gave us warm muffins and steaming coffee. We briskly made our way through the savannah to a flat hot balloon attached to an upturned oversize wicker basket. A small crowd gathered on the dewy short grass, people stretching and beginning to wake up.Men hovered around the flat stretched out orange and yellow balloon, checking tethers and then the flame bursts with a brilliance in the dim dawn light. The silky balloon begins to billow with each blast of heat and red hot flame. It doesn’t take long as the chamber rises and opens to reveal a colorful bright cavernous tunnel large enough to walk through, not that anyone does.

I’ve done this once before in the bush, but wasn’t rewarded with much game life on the ground.  We climb into the wicker basket and stake out a corner for our gentle ascent. It’s a magical experience to float in the sky, the quiet and calm punctuated by blasts of hot flames, keeping the delicate balloon aloft.It’s a dream, gentle gliding, weightless – the drivers and tire trails begin to disappear and we spot herds of giraffes, zebras and a few stray hyenas. I tell Susan, look for watering holes for hippos; or a kill, as lions will be about. We spot both!Drifting quietly above the busy wildlife scene below on the flat open plain. The sun begins to rise up from a line on the horizon. Earth edge kissed by a pale pink glow.Captain calls out, we will soon brace for a gentle landing, the basket will bounce and slide a bit across the wet grass and we will come to a stop on the dirt road you see ahead – as predicted, we slide to a gentle stop.Kenyan Magic!