Today didn't start off great due to one of my famous ( or infamous) headaches. It may well have been the chocolate overload from yesterday's extravaganza rather than the usual one I moan about, but whatever it was kept me awake until about 04.30 this morning. Having to get up to sort myself out to go to the mountains was a bit of a shock and packing a banana for breakfast instead of a chocolate fountain with marshmallows was also a bit unpleasant.

I ended up going on the wrong trip but not to worry - I was showered with stats of the oldest mosque, the tallest building, the oldest cement factory, the non-electric fence and my Japanese companion duly took pictures of them all. We passed Operation Stack going into Dubai with rocks to build more artificial islands, miles and miles of lorries not going anywhere. We also passed the camel racetrack which sounded like fun until I found out they only have robot jockeys now in UAE with 360 degree arms whirling around with a whip.

Our driver got very excited about things I must learn to get excited about - row upon row of Chinese blanket shops, plastic bananas and cactuses dressed up as Father Christmas. He also got excited about showing us holiday homes where I made the mistake of asking why they were in a quarry, only to be told we were in the mountains.

We then headed off the roads down steep ravines and through a dried oasis where we stopped for drinks. I was having a quiet walk when I heard this thundering behind me and saw the Japanese girl tearing towards me falling down the slopes shouting Katie, Katie! She looked terrified as she had seen a dog and a goat. She was also scared of birds and spiders and snakes and everything! It has ended up that I have adopted her and she is coming over to the UK - sorry Ween. God knows what she'll do when she finds out I have a dog and 6 chickens.

Lunch was another huge meal followed by a visit to the oldest/ smallest/ longest/ ugliest mosque in UAE. Then on through the desert back to Dubai stopping for sweet tea with cardamom on the way. I got caught out yet again trying to admire the landscape to be told that it was a cement mine.

No idea what my trip is tomorrow!