One of those nights.

I had no idea.

Last night was one of those nights that you just love. The kind that starts out so differently than it ends. The plan was to visit the Iranian souk and find Indian food on the way back to the hotel. We set out to grab a taxi to get out to the port (to the souk). We weren’t really thinking. Finding a cab on a Friday night is nearly impossible. After about 20 minutes, Aaron said, “I wouldn’t usually do this… but I really want someone to just offer us a ride right now.” (Offering people rides isn’t all that unusual here). Not 2 minutes later and man pulls up and rolls down his window… offering a ride.

We took it.

Turns out, our new friend and driver is an amazing character. He agreed to drive us down to the port to visit the souk where we were meeting a few more friends. Once at the souk, he offered to wait for us until we’re ready to go. Nice… there are no no no cabs in this area. We visit the souk and he heads out to look at the city lights while he waits.

Ok, this story is impossible to tell. Please realize that.

After awhile at the souk, which was basically a flea market type place with household goods and plants, we call our new friend. We explain that we have 6 now but that we are going to dinner and would love for him to join us. We suggest getting a cab for the extra people but our friend is determined that we all ride together. So we did. All seven of us.

The dinner was excellent and the conversation was lively and enthralling. Our new friend is from Jordan but has been living in Abu Dhabi for several years. He’s a civil engineer currently completing work on the new airport in town, as well as a few others in Oman and Sudan. Not to mention the property he’s developing in Jordan. He’s a published author as well. Of course, when the bill came… he paid it. For all of us. He was so grateful to have new friends to spend time with that he thanked us repeatedly for the dinner invitation.

After dinner he offered us a ride back to our hotel (still no apartments for us!) then requested just 10 more minutes. We pull up to the private yatch club in the marina and he takes us out on his boat (Dad, it’s a Galstron!) for a little night time view of the city. Amazing.

It was a crazy night that no one saw coming. We now have tentative plans for a day of boating, overnight island camping under a full moon, the Arabian horse club, and a trip to Dubai where he actually lives.

We call him, “Uncle Roy.”

It’s crazy the people you meet.