The 22nd of July dawned bright and clear as Habibis young and old gathered at the gates of their Alma Mater to embark on an adventure dreams are made of. The "Spicy Shawarmas", "Hot Kebabs", "Smooth Hummus" and "Sweet Baklavas" all sizzling in harem pants would have given Princess Jasmine a run for her money! With a prayer in their hearts and smiles on their faces they took the magic carpet to the beautiful hotel of Cinnamon Bey in Beruwala.

Upon arrival, they were warmly greeted in true Arabian style with a splash of rose water. The beats of the Arabian drums and lilting tunes set the pace as they lounged under cool tents sipping a refreshing welcome drink. A cool hip-swinging Arabian dance was the beginning of a wonderfully entertaining day.

The line-up of games was both entertaining to watch as well take part in. Whilst some Habibis tried to disentangle themselves from a Jelebi Tangle, others were making a mad dash to complete a daunting Selfie Challenge which included many an imaginative dare, such as building a human pyramid, dancing and even putting their beautiful voices to the test.

There was never a dull moment as all the ladies, fortified with many a special sweet treat, adorned themselves with beautiful henna designs at the mehendi booth. After an invigorating morning, lunch was a very welcome affair. The spread included many mouth-watering treats including some very special Middle Eastern dishes.

The evening was spent in the beautifully decorated hall where everyone lounged on carpets or chairs. As the hypnotic tunes of Arabia took over, the committee began the afternoon segment with an easy to follow dance. It was lovely to have most joining in. The fun didn't stop there; the line-up of performances left the audience awed and the judges were left with the unenviable task of choosing the three best acts. The Bridgetines took the floor and danced till it was time to leave the oasis of fun and head back home. Among the many treasures these ladies flew away with was a beautiful designer saree designed and gifted by Ms Manal Mowlana to the best dressed Arabian Princess. It was a wonderful day as we Bridgetines took a fantasy ride away from daily cares and chores to renew old ties of friendship and forge new ones on our Arabian Adventure!