what people do on the weekends

local people, that is. on the ride back up here, we saw it in full force. the men and boys take their SUV's and either trailer or rent quads/ATV's. they go careening through the desert and go for joyrides. they have camps set up, so i think you can even stay there too and hang out. not sure if the women go to the tent area. they are EVERYWHERE. it's insane. 

in fact, at the exit we take off of the highway 311 (emirates road) to get to the factory, we saw an SUV coming down one of the sand hills at such an incline we thought the car was going to roll over. it skidded to the side and looked like he was going to lose control, but the driver managed to steer the car straight and make it down the hill sans probleme. 

another activity is for the whole family and involves getting in the car to picnic along the side of the highway (bizarre) on the sand. the worst part about this is the garbage. no one seems to pick up anything and the next day, you see wrappers and bottles and plastic packaging all along the sides of the roads in piles or blown about...it's really quite sad. i have no problem with people having a good time, but how hard is it to take your garbage home with you to throw out? have the maid clean out the car!!!