I Promised To Be Back
Ever since we last came to Al Hudayriat Island, I have been wanting to go back to see how stunning (or not) this place could be at night time. I can't believe it took us a month before we finally went again!
An Afternoon at the Beach
Since we went fishing last week, the kids have been asking to go back. They woke up late again though, and we (hubby and I) totally ditched the idea. They started nagging about going to the beach again towards the afternoon and for my sanity, I gave in. We drove to the Bateen Beach at around 4:00pm.
The beach was crowded, given it is the weekend and the weather is starting to get better. We stayed there until sundown until it is no longer allowed to swim.
Side Trip to Al Hudayriat Island
After witnessing the amazing sunset at the beach, we decided to take a quick turn to Al Hudayriat Island with the intention of just seeing how the place looks like at night.
When we went there during day time, we saw the food trucks lined at the huge parking area. I already envisioned how lively the place was pre-covid but still wondered what the vibe would be at night during these times.
Again, we did not attempt to go inside the beach. The kids were already starting to get grumpy ("I'm tired mommy!") so I only had time to take a few shots.
I'm not sure if they allow night swimming here but we saw some people still entering the beach gate. I really hope next time we will have the chance to explore the beach and the amenities inside. Perhaps next time we have to plan on going there on a weekday to avoid the crowd.
Evening Vibe
Let me invite you to get a glimpse of the quick side trip we took to the island through the below video, starting from the amazing sunset.
You will notice the huge queue of cars passing through the food trucks. Most of them are just driving through and the customers are not staying to sit and dine there.
The food truck attendants are already waiting at the roadside to take the orders of the customers so they can readily pick their orders up when they reach the end of the queue.
It's amazing how the place is still so full of life despite the threat of the pandemic. It almost seems "normal" if only people don't have to wear masks.
Of course, the bright lights of the food trucks and the cars passing by add to the lively vibe in the area. And who can ignore that purple hue of the sky as the evening starts to settle?
It would also seem like a car show at some point as you see different luxury cars pass by one after the other.
There's Still A Lot To See
Funny that each time we come here, it always seems to be an incomplete experience. I guess that gives us the motivation to come back again and again, and hope that next time we will be able to explore the beach and other amenities already.
From what I have heard, there are basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts here too!
It would be lovely to be able to experience these soon, hopefully when things settle down a bit more -- the weather and that virus that doesn't seem to want to go away.
Of course, when we get to explore this gem of an island, I'll be sharing the experience to this amazing community!
All photos are by the author. Huawei Nova 3.
