I signed up for a trip through the desert in a 9-seat sand buggy this morning and it was pure rollercoaster fun as the driver raced up and down the high sand dunes. We made regular stops on top of a sand mountain to slide down on a snowboard. The trip was supposed to include instructions but instead the driver just made us lie down on the boards and slide straight down.

Great fun, but I had to try it standing up. After a while I managed to do it in a crouched position, going straight but using my rear hand as a break, and I slided down majestically that way... until the speed made my hand too hot and I had to lift it. Since I have no idea how to steer a snowboard I kept accelerating and 10 seconds later lost control and summersaulted down the rest of the mountain. Luckily the only damage I got was a bit of a headache, but my trousers got completely torn in the process. Well, that helps alleviate my lack of backpack space problem :)

While we raced back to the oasis in our buggy the American girl in my group got a panic attack twice, after which the driver decided to drive carefully - bummer.