Friday Magazine - 10, Dec 2010 - Special feature Camping Outdoors

1. outdoors & motoring
Camp
capers
I
t ’ s that wonderful
time of the year
again. So set aside your stresses of daily
life and move outdoors – to a beach,
mountain or desert – for some super
enjoyable camping, says Hina Navin.
Photos supplied
At this time of year, a drop in mercury If you are venturing into the sand
levels can mean, among other things, dunes with your SUV, don’t venture
gearing up for some fascinating too far from civilisation – you could
adventure outdoors (read: camping). get lost or even stuck. Make sure you
This is the time to leave the creature have enough chains and ropes to pull
comforts of your home and stir one’s your vehicle out if it gets trapped
stumps for some moments of pure in the sand. If you are going to the
enjoyment. It’s time for some fun in mountains, keep an eye out for the
the sun, take your SUV out to strike rains – or even mountain goats.
base in the desert, home in on the Friday speaks to a few camping
mountains and spend a night under enthusiasts on some dos and don’ts of
the stars, or even backpack. But arm camping.
yourself with the right handy aid. For
instance, whether you are camping on
the beach or in a wadi, take a tent that
will accommodate 3 or more people.
For beachgoers, a beach chair is ideal,
or opt for a foldout chair for campfire
relaxation. For those going on long
drives, a portable DVD player could
be the ideal in-car entertainment to Nicola Gregson (left) is a regular
keep the kids occupied. camper, while Koray Genckul is
However, watch out for the pitfalls. passionate about riding bikes
getty images
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2. outdoors & motoring
Sundome 6-people Tent Sleeping bags and relaxing chairs Communication
n 6 person/2 room tent. Coleman Hampton Sleeping Bag Puma phone
n 12’ x 10’ tent. n 33”x 75” – fits most up to 5 foot n Integrated solar cell, with charge
n Dome structure, easy to transport 11-inch. indicator.
and simple to set up. n 4 pounds of Thermo Tech n Touch screen: 2.8 inch thumbable
n 72” centre height. insulation. screen with 240 x 320 QVGA
n Exclusive WeatherTec System. n Temperature rating 40°F. resolution and TFT wide viewing
n 2 doors. n Polyester cover and polyester- angle.
n Durable carry bag with separate flannel liner. n Camera with Bluetooth photo
storage bags for tents, poles and stakes. n ComfortSmart technology keeps sharing.
n Great for small family car campers, heat in, insulation in place, zippers n Video: VGA video call camera with
summer camp. working right, and comfort a priority video recording and streaming and
n Control airflow with adjustable n QuickCord storage for easy, no-tie progressive video download.
Variflo™ ventilation. closure n Music: wide range of music formats
n Rain fly included. n Price Dh250, available at Picnico, with play-list support and FM radio.
n Vented Cool-Air port. Jumeirah n Localisation: GPS, compass, geo-
n Privacy vent window. tagging, routing and mapping.
n Easy two pole set up with shock- McKinley Beach Chair n Sports: pedometer, GPS tracker and
corded poles. n 500D polyester fabric with PE stopwatch.
n Price Dh450, Available at Picnico, coating + nylon mesh fabric. n Internet: Open internet browsing,
Jumeirah. n Rust resistant steel tube. with WAP Push.
Dh89, Available at Ace Hardware n Messaging: Mobile email client and
Also available: For 3, 5 and 8 people stores, Dubai Festival City, Shaikh mobile web mail notification; instant
Zayed Road, Abu Dhabi and Bawadi messaging; MMS and SMS.
Mall Al Ain. n Dh2,099. Available at Al Sayegh
Brothers.
Also available: McKinley camping
armchair, relax chair and tripod stool Merlin DVD Player 9”
n 9” TFT Screen
n Inbuilt TV receiver
Tips Tips Tips
Koray: Buy self-inflating beds. It beats Nicola: Always carry a mobile phone in case
Koray Genckul, director of Human Resource blowing the things up yourself. Invest in of an emergency. Try and leave the Blackberry
at Hilton Abu Dhabi: Buy a ‘plus one’ tent high-quality chairs and sleep essentials; at home – you are heading off for R&R,
if you are going camping with three people. these are normally more comfortable and remember? I would recommend a Puma
When you are camping on the beach, take more durable and last several seasons. solar-powered smart phone. GPS is great, if
the tides into consideration. When you you have the coordinates of where you are
are camping in a wadi, pitch your tent on a Nicola Gregson, head of public relations, heading. Above all, tell people where you are
higher spot just in case it rains. Fifth Ring PR: Fold-out chairs that sit low on going and take plenty of water with you.
the ground are a great buy as they are less
Tiffany Allen, a Dubai-based camping likely to tip over on uneven ground. You can Koray: Today’s technologies make camping
enthusiast: The key element to properly even get closer to the camp fire comfortably. easier with the use of mobile phones and
putting up the tent is getting to the I choose an inflatable airbed, and take along GPS. Take chargers with you, you can charge
campground at least one hour before sunset. a duvet or a double-sleeping bag. At the your mobile phone in the car. Solar energy
If you’re attempting to erect a tent in the same time, try to use what you have; do not is an alternative option, but it can give
dark, you will realise that it becomes a go overboard and buy anything special unless insufficient energy. Come equipped with
difficult task. you decide to camp every weekend. plenty of batteries.
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3. outdoors & motoring
BBQ, grills and cooking essentials
Weber® Q™ 320
n Push-button electronic ignition:
Continuous automatic spark until the
gas is lit.
n Cooking area light for easy grilling
after dark.
n Integrated thermometer in the lid
helps you control the temperature
perfectly.
n Plenty of space under the lid for
a large roast, a leg of lamb, kebabs,
eggplant, peppers or other delicious
accompaniments.
Vinverth Konstenlite Lantern Car breakdown help accessories n Price Dh2,579, available at Ace
n D I Y kit. X-Trax II• Hardware stores, Dubai Festival City,
n Uninterrupted light. n Engineered for maximum traction Shaikh Zayed Road, Bawadi Mall in
n Constant Voltage function. in sand and mud. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
n Energy Saving function. n Galvanised steel cables and fittings.
n Dual operating time. n Quick release robust carry bag. Simax Luna Jug
n 3 hours turbo power with full n Heavy duty rubber. n Smooth, non-porous and perfectly
brightness on full charge. Price Dh379, Available at Ace transparent.
n 7 hours normal power with full Hardware stores, Dubai Festival City, n Heat resistant.
brightness on full charge. Shaikh Zayed Road, Bawadi Mall Abu n Can be put straight onto
n Overcharge protection. Dhabi and Al Ain. a naked flame.
n Deep discharge protection. n Comes with a fitted plastic tea
n Replaceable battery pack. Maagen Folding Shovel insert to hold your choice of
n Power dource indicator. Price Dh20, Available at Emax. flavour within.
n Limited 5-year warranty. Booster King battery booster. Price Dh29 Price Dh49, available at
Price Dh110, available at all Available at Emax. leading outlets.
Vinverth outlets.
Must-haves Tips Tips
n Dual Power Rechargeable Led Lantern- Tiffany: When camping in the desert, do not Nicola: Don’t bother with a gas BBQ. Take
SEL-671S Can be recharged by solar or with venture out into the desert in only one SUV. a disposable BBQ and charcoal, or collect
AC-power Make sure there are at least two cars, and rocks and build a BBQ pit in the ground, fill
n Continuous working upto 60 hours have proper chains or ropes to pull your car it with charcoal and place a metal grill over it.
n 21PCS Bright LED out in the event of getting stuck. Remember to contain all fires and completely
n Discharge and overcharge protection Also, don’t set up camp far away from your put them out and clear up your mess.
n Heavy duty rechargeable battery car. Make sure that you have enough gasoline Koray: Take a small portable barbecue along.
n Price Dh89, available at Emax when getting out into the dunes. Ample The barbecue must be easy to clean and non-
Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer water in your car is also a critical part of sticky. Make sure that you have high-quality
n Large blade, small blade, corkscrew proper desert camping. charcoal and proper lighting fluid to light the
n Can opener with small screwdriver Koray: Besides the normal emergency fire. Respect the environment.
n Cap lifter with screwdriver, wire stripper equipment in the car, a shovel, sand pad and Tiffany: To help you cook faster, bring a
Price Dh149, available at Jashanmal, Mall of blanket can come in handy when you are shovel so you can create a shallow hole in
the Emirates stuck in the sand. the sand, which you can easily use for a grill.
Take charcoal to pour into the hole. You can
build an easy bbq this way.
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4. TOPIC
Tips
Koray: Don’t forget to bring along head
torches and rechargeable lights, they come in
handy when you are cooking in the middle of
nowhere. Swiss army knife is recommended
to take along too, as well as disposable
plates, so there no washing up after. In your
first-aid kit, you should have dressings,
tourniquets, antiseptics, sun block, aftersun
lotion, insect repellent and insect bite lotion
as the must-haves.
Nicola: It is getting cooler so along take a
solar-shower – fill with water and hang in
the sun during the day, and have a fabulous
warm shower at night.
Tiffany: Always keep a first-aid kit in your
car that should include (at a minimum):
hydrogen peroxide, gauze, tape, rope,
bandaids and burn ointment.
Nicola Gregson, head of public but still tell someone where you zip-lock bags – the same with salads,
relations, Fifth Ring PR: are going and when you expect to pasta etc. “For the BBQ , we have a
“When camping in the UAE for be back. couple of disposable ones – one for
the first time, work out what kind “We do ‘glamping’ (aka glamorous dinner and another for breakfast
of experience you want – in the camping) – I have an electric pump the next day – alternatively but a
sand dunes, in the mountains or on that goes into the in-car power source small camp stove with a gas canister
the beach. I personally prefer the to inflate my double airbed. We – approx Dh80 – is great to make
beach but having the sea to swim in also take a glass tea pot that can go sausage butties and cups of tea.
and provide an audible backdrop is directly on a fire, solar garden lights “Pick up some firewood en route,
what makes camping for my family and a bucket and spade – not just for around the traditional camp spots,
enjoyable. building sandcastles!” or just collect along the beach or
“We always make sure there are at “Carry lots of water. We take a mountains. The best thing about
least two groups camping – just in 4-gallon bottle for an overnight’s stay camping is relaxing, so no set agenda.
case one car gets into difficulty. There – to drink, rinse off, wash things in Not everyone though who could be
is safety in numbers. etc, and talc powder – it stops you sharing your camping spot may feel
“Plan a few days in advance, get all from itching after you have been for a the same. If you go to a busy/well-
equipment together, get a weather swim and dried off. known area be prepared that sing-
report, and ensure the tyre pressure “For food – take a cool box, filled alongs around the campfire and late-
on your vehicle is correct and the with bags of ice. Pack sandwiches for night partying isn’t unheard of.
spare wheel is inflated. lunch, readymade, then take chicken/ “Leave the place clean.”
“Camping in the UAE is very safe, meat that has been pre-marinated in – Hina Navin is a Dubai-based freelancer
Nicola’s advice on varied n Difficult to keep tent pegs in the sand? come close to you!
camping trips Take some bricks or stones to keep the tent n Pitching a tent can sometimes be tricky as
Sand dunes from blowing away in strong gusts of wind. tent pegs are harder to fix on rocky ground
Pros – secure corners of the tent with rocks.
n Amazing colours and sunsets. Mountain camping
n Lots of opportunity to find solitude and Pros Beach camping
great fun ‘dune-bashing’. n Great opportunity to see some different Pros
Cons scenery. n Easy access from main roads.
n The vehicle could get lost/stuck. Take a n The mountain roads are mapped out, you n No need for a 4x4.
tyre inflator (you need to drive on tyres that can see mountain goats at close proximity. n Take a kite, bucket and spade – the spade
are half-inflated on sand), a GPS (in-car or n It is often cooler in the mountains. comes in handy for lots of things.
handheld) and go with at least another 4 x4 Cons Cons
vehicle. n You could find yourself sleeping on rocks. n Identify where high tide reaches; the place
n Sand can get everywhere. Take plenty of n Be careful if rain is predicted. can get busy (and therefore noisy) late into
water with you to wash it off. n Watch out for mountain goats who could the night.
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