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Warning, contains images of the deceased! Click away now if you may be distressed by seeing images of Alfred Gurritjiri Gurruwiwi and Sylvester Liyakindirr Gurruwiwi. We've spoken to families about this video and everyone whom we've consulted said it is ok to upload it to YouTube. That doesn't make it right to have this video here, but at least it gives families in Arnhem Land a chance to download the clip to their mobile phones and to keep it as memory of loved ones. Anyway, found this video in one of our archive tapes, for a while I thought it was lost as I haven't seen it for years. But as I was searching for other videos, I found this, so here it is. This is a tour to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May 2004, sponsored by the Australian Government's AUSTRADE. Rripangu Yirdaki - comprising of Djalu Gurruwiwi, his brother Alfred Gurritjiri, Djalu's grandson Sylvester Liyakindirr, Djalu's wife Gurrpiya (also known as Dopiya) Yunupingu, and Djalu's daughter Zelda Balpiyangay - performed at a sister's city conference as well as a Royal Wedding in Dubai. We were only there for a few days, and may possibly be the first Australian Indigenous group to perform in the Middle East, correct me if I'm wrong. I wrote an article about this trip some years back in the Didgeridoo & Co Magazine... the title of that article, West Wind blows to the Middle East, is an apt description of Galpu history and culture, and the place yidaki has in it. Dubai is a amazing place, a city built in the desert and where watering the lawn costs millions of dollars a year. We were treated like kings and stayed at the 6 star hotel, the Novotel - didn't know there was such a thing as a 6 star hotel. And then we got to see the Burj Al Arab, possibly the most luxurious hotel in the world where staying a night there can cost upwards of $28,000 and where the taps are made of gold. We were told all the rooms were booked out and there was a waiting period of several months - not that we could afford to stay there. I've got a lot of fond memories of this trip. Spending quality time with Sylvester and Alfred was a treat, just chatting about stuff and marveling at our surroundings. A lot of the locals had never met Australians before, but meeting Indigenous Australians was something else. They were really curious and had many questions to ask, and the didgeridoo really captivated their attention. Funny thing happened in the foyer of the Novotel too... some American tourists were there and immediately recognised the didgeridoo and proceeded playing Djalu's yidaki circular breathing and all. We had a bit of a captive audience there in the Novotel. We made many friends on that trip, learn about different cultures, ate amazing food, it was a privilege to represent Australia and to do our country proud. A special thank you to Rripangu Yirdaki, and in particular Sylvester and Alfred who are no longer with us, for their service to their country and Indigenous Australia. This will will remain a treasured memory for ever.