“If you’re a new visitor to Abu Dhabi you may be asking yourself, “Where are the camels?”
“In the midst of shiny buildings and luxurious shopping malls one easily forgets that Abu Dhabi was once a desert inhabited by camels and Bedouins. Some tourists may find themselves putting in some extra effort to locate places which showcase Abu Dhabi’s culture and heritage. After all, they do need to feel that they are actually in another country.
“Do not despair! There is a little slice of history amongst all the glittering modernity in the form of Heritage Village. If you’re a culture vulture like me you’ll enjoy learning about the traditions and lifestyle of Bedouins in this recreated living exhibition of how the original inhabitants of this land used to live before oil was discovered.
“OK… so it is a little staged, but once you enter this open-air museum overlooking the Corniche juxtaposed between high rising sky scrapers and Marina Mall, you are certainly transported to a simpler, calmer era. You can stroll through a traditional market, view the mud brick houses and yes… they have camels too! You can opt for a camel ride or observe falcons in the regular falconry demonstrations.
“It’s well worth a visit and don’t worry, the camels don’t bite!”
