Camel races

Well, a new adventure. Qatar Foundation sponsored yesterday's camel races. Apparently camels are rich boys "toys" here. Betting is not legal, but apparently different groups sponsor a prize for the fastest camel. The camels that race are rather small and very lean - like a runner. Seeing the camels reminds me why I am running each morning since I arrived in Doha - I have this illusion that I will get lean if I run. It hasn't happened so far, but maybe that's because (unlike the camels) I am not being whipped as I run! Back to the camels. We arrived just in time to see about a hundred camels basking in the sun and resting for the big races. There were European looking people walking around the camels admiring them, so the group we were with (fellow foreigners from our compound) did the same. The camels appeared quite tame until one decided to jump on the back of another camel near us and 5 camel trainers with whips separated them. Camels don't line up nicely at the starting line. Rather, they are "let loose" at the starting line and take off. Mounted on each camels back is a box like devise with a plastic whip that is operated like a remote control car. Which means that the "boys" that own the camels ride in SUV's along the track and operate the machines. To get the camels to go faster, they have to be whipped by activating the "jockey in a box" (my term). For the first race, we piled in a bus and rode along side the camels as they raced. The track is really long and by the time the camels reach the finish line, they are exhausted (or, I am exhausted watching them run in the sun and heat). For the second race, we watched them start and then headed to the finish line on foot. While waiting, we were offered the chance to ride on a camel! Of course, I declined. Not quite. I couldn't wait to get on ----although I almost didn't make it. It's not like a horse or a donkey. Camels kneel down and then they straighten their back legs first, which means you fly forward. The front legs come next and you are jolted upright. Getting off, the camel starts by lowering his front legs first so you are jolted forward and then back again. Needless to say, I screamed (similar to what I do when I ride a roller coaster!) which caused the camel handlers to steady me, laugh, and thankfully move on to the next person that dared try a ride. Actually riding a camel is also not "normal" or comfortable. It's rather jerky and gives you the sensation that you will fall any minute. I decided not to volunteer to train as a camel jockey. If I reconsider tomorrow, I am sure they will accept me. But rather than a jockey, I will be the camel feeder. The story is that 4 year old boys used to be the jockeys until that was outlawed. Don't ask me where they got the 4 year olds. You don't want to know and you can read about it. Needless to say, I am glad they use remote control jockey boxes, even though it seems rather inhumane. Back to the races ---- I was so tramatized by the camel ride that I missed the end of the race. There were only 2 races, but in the sun and heat, that was enough. Returning to Doha, we all decided to eat Turkish food at a restaurant along the Persian Gulf. By then, there was a cool breeze and the sun was setting. Perfect weather for me --- but chilly for our friends from China and the US (one from Arkansas and one Iraqi from the Woodlands in Texas!) The guy from Russia was comfortable --- but he was visiting from the Netherlands! I forgot to say that J. declined a ride on the camel. However, after seeing me, he reconsidered. So, we have pictures of both of us at the races and on camels. The smiles are fear smiles, not real smiles. In Jacksonville we have stock car races ---- in Doha, it's camel races. Very little similarity. But, that's not true either! I will leave the rest to your imagination.