It is a sin to pass on any opportunity to travel. So when the invitation came, my backpack and passport were immediately ready. I honestly didn't know what to expect to see there just that a quick browsing of Google showed rocky mountains and vast blue seas. These excited me.
The road trip would require us to cross the UAE boarder to the Sultanate of Oman. from Dubai, it usually takes two hours and a half to three hours spanning a distance of approximately 193 kilometers. but with the stopovers our jolly group had, it was quite a long road trip for us.
The Musandam governate has been attracting tourists with the sea and mountain adventures it offers. Moreover, it is a very accessible tourist region from the UAE, or so it used to be.
Border rules and regulations have limited the entry to specified visa holders. A few members of our group were unfortunately not able to make it through this rather ridiculous regulation because of occupation or profession specifications. It is absurd and downright dampening to the traveler's spirit but at the end of the day, no amount of coaxing can make us be above the law.
So with the delay at the border and a stop at a seaside for a sumptuous quick bite of chicken and "pinapaitan" (I'm still not over the taste), we continued driving through the wee hours of the morning till we found a hotel to crash in before the morning's dhow cruise.
We were greeted by the humid heat of the Oman morning but this did not wane our eagerness to head off to the sea for the cruise.
The adventure consisted of passing by craggy mountainsides like these:
The road trip would require us to cross the UAE boarder to the Sultanate of Oman. from Dubai, it usually takes two hours and a half to three hours spanning a distance of approximately 193 kilometers. but with the stopovers our jolly group had, it was quite a long road trip for us.
The Musandam governate has been attracting tourists with the sea and mountain adventures it offers. Moreover, it is a very accessible tourist region from the UAE, or so it used to be.
Border rules and regulations have limited the entry to specified visa holders. A few members of our group were unfortunately not able to make it through this rather ridiculous regulation because of occupation or profession specifications. It is absurd and downright dampening to the traveler's spirit but at the end of the day, no amount of coaxing can make us be above the law.
So with the delay at the border and a stop at a seaside for a sumptuous quick bite of chicken and "pinapaitan" (I'm still not over the taste), we continued driving through the wee hours of the morning till we found a hotel to crash in before the morning's dhow cruise.
We were greeted by the humid heat of the Oman morning but this did not wane our eagerness to head off to the sea for the cruise.
The adventure consisted of passing by craggy mountainsides like these:
The rugged coastline has a resemblance to the coast of the polar region that's carved by glaciers. Whereas here in Oman, these were formed from the movement of the earth's crust which make these mountains earthquake-prone.
We then got the chance for close encounters with these awesome creatures.
We then got the chance for close encounters with these awesome creatures.
We also cruised to a part where it was enticingly perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
This part of Oman boasts of a rich, diversified marine life with fantastic craggy coastlines, thus making it a haven for sea adventurers. But the other parts of the region we saw so far hums with this hushed calm that makes one feel like the clock of nature has stopped.
The peninsula is an awesome breather over the weekend especially if one digs mountain safaris and sea escapades. If you simply enjoy being on the road, a trip here from the City is just perfect as you breeze through the sand dunes to an elevated geography that offers a bit of green.
And as a gung-ho backpacker, I rate this trip a 4 out of 5, seeing that i checked two musts in any trip:
The peninsula is an awesome breather over the weekend especially if one digs mountain safaris and sea escapades. If you simply enjoy being on the road, a trip here from the City is just perfect as you breeze through the sand dunes to an elevated geography that offers a bit of green.
And as a gung-ho backpacker, I rate this trip a 4 out of 5, seeing that i checked two musts in any trip:
And because it was a good weekend and a
good trip, here's a mandatory picture of approval.
good trip, here's a mandatory picture of approval.