{"id":2467,"date":"2011-06-29T08:00:08","date_gmt":"2011-06-29T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/?p=2467"},"modified":"2011-06-28T16:28:36","modified_gmt":"2011-06-28T20:28:36","slug":"anniversary-among-the-dunes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/","title":{"rendered":"Anniversary Among the Dunes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The big 5-year wedding anniversary was upon us, and we celebrated in style at Qasr al Sarab resort&#8230;just two hours by car, but a world away. Situated in the &#8220;Empty Quarter&#8221; (a vast desert area that encompasses much of the country), the resort was an oasis amongst red sand dunes. We rented a small villa, taking advantage of our own little backyard and personal &#8220;plunge&#8221; pool by lounging there the entire weekend! We didn&#8217;t want to leave, and you can see why&#8230;<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-2467 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1559\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1559-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2471\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2471'>\n\t\t\t\tWelcome to villa 34!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1518\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1518-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2468\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2468'>\n\t\t\t\tMorning coffee in our kitchenette\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1537\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1537-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2469\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2469'>\n\t\t\t\tBreakfast included? I guess we can leave the villa for that&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1550\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1550-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2470\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2470'>\n\t\t\t\tThe desert nearly engulfs the resort\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1583\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1583-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2473\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2473'>\n\t\t\t\tIn our cooled plunge pool\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1564\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1564-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2472\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2472'>\n\t\t\t\tLiving the hard life in the desert\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1596\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1596-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2474\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2474'>\n\t\t\t\tThe lounger where we spent 90% of the weekend&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1749\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1749-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2481\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2481'>\n\t\t\t\tWant lunch? Out of ice? Need a buggy ride to check out? Just tell the in-room iPad.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1770\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1770-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2482\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2482'>\n\t\t\t\tBest views from a hotel room&#8230;ever\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1775\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1775-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2483\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2483'>\n\t\t\t\tBrian didn&#8217;t get sick of taking pictures&#8230;the whole time&#8230;ever\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1674\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1674-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2475\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2475'>\n\t\t\t\tWe took a million cool sunset shots!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1712\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1712-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2476\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2476'>\n\t\t\t\tView from the pool at dusk\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1725\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1725-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2477\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2477'>\n\t\t\t\tOur &#8220;free&#8221; anniversary chocolate mousse cake (complete with trick candle)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1789\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1789-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2478\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2478'>\n\t\t\t\tAlas, we had to say goodbye sometime&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/img_1806\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_1806-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2479\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2479'>\n\t\t\t\tThe ride to\/from the main road was 15 minutes of pure, unfiltered desert\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/panoramic-1542a\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"135\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/panoramic-1542a-150x135.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2480\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2480'>\n\t\t\t\tBeautiful shot of the resort (CLICK TO SEE PANORAMIC)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Check out our video highlights reel!<br \/>\n<object width=\"425\" height=\"344\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/ueBOjzu3UFo?hl=en&#038;fs=1\"><\/param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"><\/param><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/ueBOjzu3UFo?hl=en&#038;fs=1\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"425\" height=\"344\"><\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The big 5-year wedding anniversary was upon us, and we celebrated in style at Qasr al Sarab resort&#8230;just two hours by car, but a world away. Situated in the &#8220;Empty Quarter&#8221; (a vast desert area that encompasses much of the country), the resort was an oasis amongst red sand dunes. We rented a small villa,&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/anniversary-among-the-dunes\/\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8],"tags":[20],"class_list":["post-2467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-picture","category-video","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2467"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2490,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467\/revisions\/2490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}