The Backpacker

You know what you should do at night? No, forget the usual pubs-movies-friends-beaches type of entertainment. What you must do is connect with yourself. And how do you acheive that, you ask. I tell you in one simple sentence.

To connect to yourself, be alone.

How do you sit alone in your room? No, do not sit alone in your room. Drive. Go away. Go far. The farther you go the better. In the UAE, you do not have to worry about distances. The roads are well laid out, there are innumerable fuel stations along the way, the police-rescue facility is great, and on a three lane one way road, there are very little chances of running into another car even if your "spirited" enough to snake across the lanes at great speed while singing at the top of your voice.

Then suddenly being alone does not scare you. The lights along the way look like a sting of brightly lit lamps and the skies just above is so calm. The stretches of harsh desert are subdued and if yu stick your head out, you may even smell the sea on one side.

Yes, the driving alone is wonderful. Pull up by the road and speak to the stars or even spring over the fence and dash up a dune. No body bothers you. The only fear you have is in your mind. There is no cause for fear. If you fear, your mind will not allow you the freedom to enjoy what you see.

Pray what do you fear?