Dubai day 3

We decided to spend the day at the Al Wadi resort. The morning was pretty much pool time. We even had our breakfast spoils for lunch by the pool.

In the pm we got bikes and explored the resort. Posing at the camel riding falconry areas.

Some of our group went camel riding..

....the was also horse riding on offer, on magnificent (by all accounts) Arabian horses.

We were birdwatching, quite a lot being attracted no doubt by the lushness of the resort. White eared bulbuls..

...Indian rollers, which are colourful at rest...

..but amazing in flight.

Bee-eaters...

...a hoopoe woodpecker...

....plus parrots and laughing doves that escaped the camera, plus hordes of Indian minor birds.

We visited the falconry centre...

...where the falcons were presumably being kept calm...

...but the eagle owl was wide awake.

Here you could also have a private falconry experience for $600 a couple! These two obviously aren't short of a dollar.

The prize sighting, after considerable effort, were oryx. There are a number roaming the resort but as it is 500 hectares we hadn't seen any. We were lucky enough on our ride to see several, both posing...

....and on the run.

In the evening we went to the signature restaurant of all Banyan Tree resorts, serving Thai food. This is separate to the main resort complex and set on an artifial lake.