Couple of kooks, out to see The Kooks...

Most of my days I am resorted to sitting on the terrace at the surf house, wishing something would come along and get me off this chair, finally something did. The Chill Out Festival was back in Dubai with some entertaining line ups. With world music, some funky jazz, hip hop and not a very crowded venue, it was pretty cool. Sitting on the grass having a drink and chilling out, it gave a small little light to this plastic wonderland. 

The last night of the festival went out with a bang! Having The Kooks head lining the show it was the place to be on Saturday night. Playing everything from new to old hits with amazing sound and a hint of " I love you!" from the crowd of underage groupies. It was a good show, got me out from the walls of Sunset Beach and put a smile on my face. But now back to the terrace, looking off into the horizon again...waiting.

We got bored...

P.V.D.

I don't know why I torture myself. Thinking that I don't really need to be here, when i should be somewhere I want to be. Every day just watching people passing by, living there lives in a routine I couldn't even imagine. Do they think the same way as me? Or am I just not willing to face the reality that's in front of me? But till that time comes...

Dean to the Rescue...

Sunset Beach. A small public beach located next to Burj al Arab here in Dubai. You would think that it was calm, like a lake, as most people would think. But when there's waves it turns into a different story.

Sunnies over the years has claimed more then a dozen lives. Without a lifeguard system till recently (which pretty much, isn't much of a lifeguard system), the only life savers on the beach where the surfers trying to catch some arabian swell. Pulling out helpless people without the knowledge to swim from permanently swimming with the fishes.

So when your drowning out there and somebody pulls you out, it probably wont be the coast guard, medics, or the lifeguards, since they don't know shit. It'll probably be one of those guys out there sliding away, and if it wasn't for Dean Cockle on this day and (the recent first aid course he did down at Surf Dubai with Up and Running), This kid and his dad wouldn't be having a KFC family meal for 20dhs as I speak! So thank you Dean and the rest who have saved lives down at Sunset Beach. You guys deserve a medal or juice...

" Mustapha... mint tea s'il te plaît? "

I haven't posted on here for a couple of weeks, it's cause I went off trekking the globe again, while you guys live your robotic routine lives. Doing the same thing over and over again, wishing somebody would pull the trigger.

Morocco. Situated in North West Africa is by far one of my favorite places on this planet. Being one of the many places I grew up in and going back to till now, the place never gets old. Thriving with rich, interesting culture and amazing food would make you just want to stay there, but that's not all Morocco has to offer. For any surfer, since way back in the early days, Morocco was a place to catch unridden right-hand pointbreaks, with not a single person out. Times have changed but the feeling hasn't.

While I write this, I really don't know why I am writing this! I should be back in a country that excites me, makes my nose tingle to the smells of tagine and mint tea. My hands firmly gripped upon my steering wheel of my some what trusty Defender, and last, getting some of the sickest waves I've ever ridden.

Aloha Times...

This new club opened up down the street from the Surf House taking over the once notorious club called "The Apartment", which used to be filled with Dubai's wanna be gangsters and money making women. Now it's called Mahiki.

Originating From London, England, the guys over there decided to bring it to the desert city and see if they could put something different in the night life in Dubai, where i think the night life is total shit, with it's clubs only catering prostitutes, gold diggers, and sleazy rich men, who think money can literally buy them anything (which i'm sure it can). Then you have the other bars and clubs in Dubai that are also just pure shit!

Then there's Mahiki. It's doors newly opened to the public and it's Hawaiian Theme of tiki statues and island fever flavored drinks. It's bar staff looking like sailors from that shitty movie with Ben Affleck, lovely dancers who give you a show, and a pretty nice crowd of interesting people and talent. It's a pretty nice joint and it can be real fun, if you can get in.

Awaiting you outside is a taunting line of people just trying to get in, and if you do make it in, it's packed shoulder to shoulder of thirsty individuals trying to get a drink, but so what! Nobody cares, whether you're there to have fun with your friends, pick up chicks, or just dance the night away to their some what ok DJ (who is getting better, music wise). So I really don't know why i'm even writing this because I still find myself there every time I go out. Maybe because it's a moped drive away, or maybe it's the Mahiki spell they have put me under, that makes me go back. I can say there's nothing special about it but either way i'm there... again. FML.

Hi... I'm Dan...

If you don't know Dan, well all you need to know is that he has stunning blue eyes and very wavy blonde hair, which smells of coconuts and hints of mint and watermelon. Apart from all of that, he is also partner in Surf Dubai and surfs pretty well. Just recently he tore some serious ligaments doing 540 Christ airs at Tashkeel's newly made art piece that you can skate to. Anyhow, since he can't be in the water punting and throwing buckets, he picked up my camera and had a go. I can say he's got some skills in the ISO and aperture department!

Photo by: Dale Davis

Photos by: Daniel Van Dooren

http://www.surfingdubai.com/