- Barkha
72 hours in Oman: wrapping up
What is it about camping that, irrespective of the discomforts you've experienced (such as a rock under your sleeping bag...), it's always hard to pack up and leave?
My trip to Oman was all too short. Before we knew it, it was time to leave the desert camp, pack up and go. We did indulge in a lazy, late breakfast: Omani and Lebanese bread smeared with cream cheese and crushed crisps ("Oman chips"). An unusual and very salty combo, though highly enjoyable on the day.
We packed up, making sure we'd left the site spotless and all cleaned up. Driving back was somewhat anticlimatic, particularly when the group started to split up - everyone hurrying back to Muscat to prepare for the working day (Sunday) on the morrow.
^ Photo by Sophya, methinks
What was left of the group, however, diverged from the route slightly to go to the Bimmah sinkhole - a limestone basin that was filled with crystal clear ocean water (reminding us of the To Sua ocean trench in Samoa.)
When the sun is out, the water sparkles emerald green.
On this particular day, the clouds were out but this didn't stop the water from looking terribly inviting. Of course, we couldn't resist - we jumped straight into the (freezing!) water, which woke us right up. It was a splendid, refreshing and truly picturesque swim, which sealed my Oman experience prior to my flight back home later that day: I was grateful to have experienced the city, the desert, and the ocean (of sorts) before I left.
With a tug to the heart, we waved goodbye to the rest of the group and continued on to Muscat, and, a few hours later, I took the flight back home, completely infused with renewed optimism and wanderlust and a desire to come back to Oman; the country where the wind carries the faint scent of frankincense, of sea and algae, of dust in the burning sun where century after century, the diverse cast of seafarers, architects, traders, voyagers has trodden to make it the beautiful, rich, friendly country that it is today.
I'm already thinking of a second visit!
To wrap up:
(1) Why go to Oman?
Because it's easily accessible from Mauritius (or elsewhere, if you're reading this from abroad). It's about an hour away from Dubai. Mauritians can get their visa made in less than two weeks from the Consulate based in the Maurel group at Pailles. Besides the logistics, the country is stunning, with its sparse landscapes, the marriage of mountain, desert and sea, its rich sea-faring history and abundance of desert flaura and fauna. Its people are truly welcoming, and it is without doubt one of the hidden jewels of the Middle East - I could almost say it's a bit like the "Iceland of the Middle East". It's also extremely safe (that chick who broke the record for travelling every country in the world listed Oman in her top ten).
(2) What to do in Oman?
I can only speak from my experience, which was made all the more better by the fact that a dear friend hosted us and showed us around. But I would recommend: a trip to the Old Town in Muscat; a performance at the opulent Royal Opera House; a desert safari; hiking and exploring the 'Wadis' (valleys) and scuba diving (the one thing I really wanted to do!)
(3) Some things to watch out for!
As we saw from our turtle experience, there are many operators who would exploit the natural flora and fauna of Oman in an unsustainable manner. Do your homework, read up on reliable guides and ensure that you're headed to a sustainable reserve, if at all. Culturally, Oman is as liberal as it can get - we even swam in the sinkhole with our bikinis, but check with a local for customs and acceptance of dress codes and behaviour first. Finally, Oman can be expensive, especially when it comes to transport as public transport is virtually nonexistent - renting a car might actually be the cheaper option..
