Blogs from Ash Sharqiya, Oman, Middle East

Für die nächsten zwei Tage haben wir ein Beduinencamp in der Wahiba Wüste gebucht. Bevor wir dann für einige Zeit kein Wasser sehen, wollen wir nochmal Baden und haben uns dazu entschieden den Wadi Bani Khalid zu besuchen, der für uns heute fast an der Strecke liegt und leichter zugänglich als der Wadi Shab ist. Wir fahren zunächst wieder eine Stunde auf der vierspurigen Schnellstraße bevor wir ein Stück in die Berge abbiegen. Erneut geht es durch unwirtliche Mondlandschaft steil bergauf und oben angekommen sieht man plötzlich hinunter in ein grünes Tal mit Palmenhainen und einer kleinen Stadt. Hier kaufen wir uns in einer Bäckerei ein paar „Brötchen“ aus Hefeteig und selbstgebackene Kekse und etwas von dem wir anhand der rein arabisch beschrifteten Packung denken, dass es Eiskaffee ist. Da auch die beiden Verkäufer kein englisch ... read more

Today we have booked a full day tour to the Wahiba Sands and Wadi Bani Khalid, both of which are around 200 kms south-east of Muscat. Our guide for the day introduces himself as Ahmed, and we head out of town on yet another immaculate six lane highway. We comment to Ahmed on how great we think the roads are here, and he tells us that when the current Sultan came to power in 1970 there were only seven kilometres of sealed roads in the entire country. The previous Sultan, the current Sultan’s father, was very much against development, and was determined to keep Oman isolated from the rest of the world. No one has ever been quite sure why he chose to do this. What has happened since 1970 seems little short of an economic ... read more

Still amazed from our Turtle Experience the night before, we packed up and got back in the car heading this time for the desert region of Wahiba Sands, for a night in a desert camp! On the way we had time to stop at Wadi Bin Khalid. Similar to Wadi Shab but rather that an adventure this was more of a 'parking lot and well trodden path' kind of Wadi. Still very pretty, the pools no less refreshing but just feel as wild. We stopped in a café (see, no where near as wild!), enjoyed a beverage and carried on our way. It had just turned afternoon before we arrived almost at our destination. I say almost, we were driving a regular saloon car and the rest of the way to our camp was over sand! ... read more

The border guard stamps my passport. I look at him enquiringly, but he just says "Finish", so I thank him and walk off. Why I didn't have to pay the 20€ that I had been quoted, I don't know, but I'm not gonna complain. I take it as a good omen for my sojourn in Oman, which is to be my first real travel experience on the Arabian Peninsula. I wouldn't count the few days of sightseeing I've had in Doha and Dubai as such. I withdraw enough Omani rial to last me for 10-14 days, buy a local sim card and hop back on the bus destined for Muscat, the capital. As per my request, the bus driver drops me off at Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. It's 2pm, certainly not the best time to be ... read more

...and yes, I simply love sand dunes After we left Sur and the coast our first stop was Wadi Bani Khaled. Oman is a dry land. One of the few places where fresh water can be found is in the valleys, the so called Wadis. Since there is water in the wadis that is also a place where you can find some vegetation and where you can have a swim. A swim in fresh water is a rare thing in a country where well over 90% of the land is desert so it is quite understandable that the wadis are popular to visit. Wadi Bani Khaled is one of the most popular and most easily accessible wadis in Oman. There is a big parking lot at the entrance to the wadi and walking paths leads to ... read more