Exploring Oman: Wadi Adventures and Local Delights
Today, I went on a little excursion here in Oman! The day started with my driver/fixer, Luqman, picking me up outside the hotel. Luqman is originally trained as a meteorologist, but he also works as a driver/fixer because he loves getting to know new people and cultures—just like me! Right from the start, we realized we had a lot in common! We discovered even more common ground as the conversation flowed throughout the entire day, both in and out of the car!
Even though Luqman is a devout Muslim, he describes himself as 'I'm a Muslim from the newer generation.' At the same time, he's passionate about not forgetting one's culture, heritage, and traditions, but he believes it's important to understand that globalization is bringing cultures, people, and traditions closer together. I found his perspective very wise when he mentioned that we need to learn from history, embrace the good things that come with different cultures, origins, and traditions, and leave behind what we should now recognize as 'outdated' views on various practices. Such a great guy!
First, we drove southeast from Muscat to Wadi Ash Shab, a 2.5-hour drive. To reach the swimming pools, it takes about 35 minutes of brisk walking. The thermometer reached almost 40°C today, so it was incredibly refreshing to finally arrive… talk about an idyllic spot! Steep cliffs on both sides, while below in the wadi, the turquoise water sparkles, waiting to cool you down as a thank you for enduring the heat and managing to stay on your feet on the slippery rocks during the strenuous hike to get there. Pure bliss!
After we finished up in Wadi Ash Shab, we drove about an hour north again toward Muscat. Luqman had planned to drop me off at the Bimmah Sinkhole, so he could stop by the local mosque to pray. When I arrived at the Bimmah Sinkhole, the temperature was still pushing towards 40°C, so I thought I'd cool off by dipping my feet in the water. That's when I got a little surprise: I suddenly felt something tickling my feet! It turned out that the fish in the water loved nibbling on dead skin, so I ended up getting a free fish spa treatment for my feet!
When Luqman had finished his third prayer of the day, he came to pick me up again. We then continued the tour to the Wadi Dayqah Dam, the largest dam in Oman. This was also an amazing sight! According to Luqman, many families with children, like today, often have picnics in the park near the dam.
The day ended with Luqman taking me downtown Muscat for a chat over a cup of the local specialty—Chai Kharak. Chai Kharak is black tea with a hint of cardamom, and unsweetened condensed milk. I'm not entirely convinced they used unsweetened condensed milk in the cup of Chai Kharak I had today because it was incredibly sweet, but still, incredibly delicious! This definitely won't be my last cup of Chai Kharak during my stay here in Oman!
All in all, a fantastic day in a beautiful country with incredible hospitality and warmth!