Wednesday 26 August 2015

Ras al Khaimah - Places to visit- RAK ZOO , ICELAND WATER PARK, RAK MUSEUM and the HAUNTED HOUSE

Just as the summer vacations came to an end, in a sweltering 48 degrees centigrade we were on the road to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) for a weekend staycation, braving the desert and the Hajjar mountains.

We are not going to get into the nitty gritties of where we stayed, because Ras al khaimah has many options of good hotels. Instead here you will read what we ended up doing, in our 2 days there.

Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven emirates of UAE and  it is the northernmost emirate. Its name could translate to 'Top of a Tent'

So if  you stay in UAE or are visiting it, it would be nice to drop into Ras Al Khaimah  where you can find lot of history, forts and some places which will excite the kids too.


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


DAY 1:

AGENDA: Keeping our daughter entertained.

To tick off our places to visit for the day and majorly to soothe our highly impatient daughter we made our first visit in RAK to the newly opened RAK ZOO, the tickets of which were a freebie with our hotel package.

Driving along the airport road we took some to locate it (look for JULPHAR industries, it lies just on the opposite side of the road).
Its privately owned zoo, the huge billboard welcomes us with the owner posing with his lions.

Catch some more information in The National and here

Once in we rented a self- driven cart (50 dirhams for 30 minutes) to escape the heat. To what was advertised as the 3rd largest zoo in UAE, RAK zoo, it did not seem as good or as big enough. The animals were few, majorly lions and tigers. May be there is a plan of expansion later.  And we couldn't capture most of the animals on our camera as they were resting under their shaded benches. Probably we chose a wrong time to go.

Anyways we were done in half an hour, as there was not as much as to do.

There is a majlis or rest area at the entrance, an equestrian club for women and children who love horses, some shops and cafeteria and a play zone.

So if you are in RAK with kids then do try out this place once. but this is just for a lazy day out, nothing too exciting.


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


After this off we headed, to ICE LAND water theme park to cool of the heat and to excite our disappointed daughter who didn't like that most animals were sleeping.

ICELAND water park has been done on a theme of artic, snow and penguins. Has many water rides for all age groups. Its on the road towards UMM AL QUWAIN just after COVE ROTANA Hotel.

The lockers are paid here unlike the Dreamland Aqua Park in Umm Al Quwain that we visited last summer. But may be due to that the facilities were very tidy in comparison.

We really liked the shaded pathways so that we did not roast in the full heat of the sun through the day. There are cabanas inside for rent too. The rides were pretty good. Our daughter had a nice time in the kids zone.

The part we did n't like much is that it closed at 6pm on a Friday!

Anyways tired after lot of fun in the sun we wound up for the day.

No snaps of the place as we did not take our cameras to the water:) Here the website for more information though


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/



DAY 2:

AGENDA : Peeking into the past


Ras Al Khaimah is well known in the UAE for its forts, and historical sites. Photographers and history enthusiasts do flock to RAK with this purpose, as many of these places have stood the test of time. Though we didn't land up exploring the archeological sites or abandoned villages we did go to the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah

We loved the courtyard. To see the life lived in those times. Trees within the dwelling. There were some collection of fossils and archaeological finds including pictures of burial sites, pottery,the ornaments, their living style, the trade, pearl diving. All a sharp contrast to the UAE of today.

It was nice to see our daughter asking questions about the houses and pots and pans of the yesteryear, a far cry from the apartments that we have now.

We indulged a bit with our camera, snapped a bit of the mannequins who were happy to pose to our inexperienced photography. Some of what we manged to capture of this beautiful piece of history.


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Another place we went to at the end of our trip was KHATT SPRINGS in the KHATT Village of RAK. A therapeutic natural spring with mineral-laden water has been converted to a spa facility as a part of the GOLDEN TULIP HOTEL. Separate thermal pools for men and women, and some private rooms for families are available.

Warm water with pebbled bottom the hexagon shaped pool was a nice relaxation. The water is a bit warm so do go early in the morning or in the late evenings. The facility is open from 7 am to 9 pm.


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/





Meanwhile in the late afternoon , we had driven around RAK checking out its malls when we spotted something very very interesting, something that we had read in the papers but not thought of discovering.

The HAUNTED HOUSE in Ras Al Khaimah.
Now not to spook anyone. But if you are a horror or paranormal buff and do like ghost hunts then do check this place out.
We were neither of these and were glad enough to snap happily from a distance.


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Scary picture, right? Just kidding. It looked no where like this, This picture is just modified to look extra scary. Here are the real snaps.


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Ras Al Khaimah (UAE): Unconventioal and fun places to visit @https://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.com/


Okay, the information online says that this is the AL QASSIMI Mansion or Palace which was abandoned 20 years ago by its inhabitants because of unexplained para normal activity in there.

From afar, this house looks well built to the glory of its time and since then in complete neglect and disrepair. Graffiti covered its compounds, windows broken, overgrown bushes and no humans in sight added up to the haunted feel.

There seems to be paintings and skylights staircases and a scary basement once on the inside, but we didn't venture that far :)

We chose the easy way out and did not dare to set foot inside, anyways there seemed to be no one at the gates.

We had enough ghost stories to talk about on our ride back from RAK, but only after our little girl slept away after her day of adventure..

We leave you brave hearts out there with the article about the entire story on this Haunted Palace in Ras Al Khaimah, just in case this has spiked up your interest.

Will be back with some more unconventional and fun things to be doing in UAE.
Till then adios.

ZAIN & FARZ

P.S. Here is out post on one more neighbouring emirate in UAE UMM AL QUWAIN

And a complete guide to camping in UAE here : http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/2015/10/camping-with-family-in-uae-beginners.html














1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing such valuable things. Ras al Khaimah is vary beautiful stay with Dubai and make me happy to living together in Ras al Khaimah.

    thanks
    http://www.rasalkhaimahhotel.com/

    ReplyDelete