When my husband came home from work, he told me we’d have an early dinner and go to bed early. I was curious and asked why. He told me we were heading to Ghantoot Beach, the Perseids meteor shower was at its peak tonight! August 12 was the peak night, promising 60 to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. But the bright moon meant many of the fainter meteors might be invisible.
We left our building at 10:45 p.m., full of expectation, only to find the road to Ghantot Beach blocked with a barricade. My husband quickly suggested Jebel Ali Beach, a 30-minute drive away. Although not the suggested spot, we hoped for a glimpse of the meteor shower.
When we came, the parking lot had only two cars. We were a little disappointed. The area was brighter than before, likely due to ongoing construction at Jebel Ali Palm. We found a slightly darker spot, laid out our mat and chairs, and settled in. The beach was calm and almost mystical. I wanted to walk along the shore, but the silence made me doubtful.
I lay down on the mat to eye the sky. At just the right moment, I saw a falling star. I wasn’t sure if it was a meteor. I told my husband, but he missed it. He's too busy opening our snacks. About thirty minutes after, another line, thicker and brighter, shot across the sky. I shouted in excitement, my husband had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep.
As we waited, a few cats wandered around. Their curious eyes glinted in the dim light. I whispered to my husband to put our food away so we wouldn’t draw them closer. I didn’t take any photos of the cats though their gestures lodged in my mind. I focused fully on the sky, eager to catch every flicker of the meteor shower. Then suddenly, a creature appeared just ten steps away with long ears and a pointed snout. It wasn’t a cat. I nervously stood up and whispered to my husband. He smiled and told me it was a small fox, as he had seen one before in the yard of their office. The little fox walked away quietly, unbothered by our presence and slowly disappeared into the shadows. Leaving me with a strange mix of excitement and nervousness, my mind was still replaying the sudden unexpected encounter.
I didn’t lie down again, my eyes fixed on the small fox that had wandered nearby, so my husband was the one who finally stretched out on the blanket. We waited until 2 a.m., but the meteor shower never fully appeared. probably because of the bright moon and our non ideal location. We packed up and went back to the car. My husband said he was happy I had seen at least two, even if he hadn’t. The night may not have brought the meteor shower we hoped for. But it gave us a serene adventure, a sight of falling stars and a small fox crossing our path, a memory we’ll treasure forever.
Photos taken using Samsung S25 Ultra
Collage using Canva
