Day 5: Oman: Enchanting Oasis

Thursday, 9 June, was my last day in Oman. As early as 3.30 am, I woke up to try my luck, by doing a quick visit to the beach, to do another turtle watching. Baby turtles normally come out in the early dawn. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any baby turtles. We were lucky though to witness the beautiful sunrise and have the feel of the fresh morning sea breeze.

Graciously dressed appropriately for Wadi Shab –
so not glamourous swimwear in high heat!

The first thing that I checked when I woke up was my cuts and bruises. Voila! I was able to prove that local remedies do wonders. I was so looking forward to doing another dip in the pool, this time at Wadi Shab (which means ‘gorge between the cliffs), a riverbed with stunning emerald green water. Suleiman was right that the pools here are better than the ones in Wadi Bani Khalid.

We finally arrived at the Wadi Shab at around 11 am. I was all set for another surprise. I was dressed up in my denim shorts and t-shirt, comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunglasses. I made sure I applied a generous amount of sunscreen to protect myself from the high sun.  We started our walk under the blistering heat of the June sun and spent 45 minutes crossing a low tide river under the bridge of Wadi Shab through the rocky paths. Later on, I noticed that my shoes were already soaking wet.

Finally a pool track to reach Wadi Shab cave pool

Along the way we met Juma and Khalfan, friendly locals in the neighborhood, who eventually joined with us. We walked along the river stretch and as we approached to the deeper part of the river, I decided to change from denim shorts to a more comfortable available outfit (a traditional men Omani wrap around). All of a sudden my head started aching because of the dry heat. I decided soaking my cap into the water.  It was a good remedy to keep my head cooler. I had to slow down on the next track as we go through the big, massive, humongous rocks. It was definitely the hardest part of the track, as we had to climb up and down and some rocks were slippery.

Finally we got to the pool track ready to get through the entrance of the cave pool.  At this point, we had to leave our personal belongings, except my camera, which Khalfan offered to carry.

When I decided to visit Oman, I was picturing myself dune bashing in a 4WD, charging up and down the mountainous slopes (unfortunately they’re not available during summer time). Instead, I found myself sliding sideways with my life jacket on (a survival kit for non swimmer) as we got through a very narrow water channel between two sandstones.  Few minutes later, I entered an oasis, a cave pool surrounded by sandstone walls, and strong current waterfalls. This is the part of the path where you will need a local guide to help you locate the cave entry via the water channel.  A tour guide is highly recommended as the place was not that easy to get around. To reach the cave, you need around 45 minutes of trekking. But without a guided tour, you may end up wandering for hours around the Wadi.

Inside the cave as you look up, a shade of sunlight shines through. Suleiman was right when he assured me by saying “you will love it, when you see it.”  True enough, I fell in love so much with the place that I wanted to stay all day long and learn how to swim. I also enjoyed watching the guys diving.  Kids would absolutely love this type of adventure.  It was perfect destination for a family outing.

As an expression of the traditional Omani hospitality, Khalfan invited us for an authentic Omani lunch at his humble abode.

The best time to visit Oman is during winter season, September through April.  Whilst the heat was my no. 1 enemy on this trip, I was pleased to be in the company of my new found friends: ‘Jabel Akhdar,’the local bottled water, and ‘Nakhala,’ the resident palm trees and my shade. With the heat and the long walks one loses a lot of sweat. I consumed 4-5 small bottles of water a day. Take plenty of water – especially if you go during summer season.

Hawijat Najm Park (Sink Hole Park)

At 3 pm, we were back on the road heading back to Muscat. Along the way we drove by the White Beach on the coast of Qalhat, a 15-minute drive from the Wadi Shab.  Our next stop was the Hawijat Najm Park (Sink Hole Park). Here, you will find a circular wall with a deep hole of fresh and sea water surrounded by sandstone walls.  This park is popular among local kids, especially for swimming.

At 5 pm, I checked in at my refuge for the evening, the luxurious Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa in Al Waha. The hotel was indeed the perfect place to end the wonderful Arabian experience.  The hotel is one of the largest of the three hotels in Muscat. It is located at the foot of the mountain range by the bay of Al Jissah.

Barr AL Jissah beach, Shangri-la is located nearby

The front desk staff was remarkably exceptional.  I was welcomed with a genuine smile and a glass of refreshment by Divina, one of the hotel staff. She also personally ushered me to my room.

My room was overlooking the beautifully landscaped pool and the beach.  After a most needed shower, I dined at the ‘Samba Restaurant’ for a sumptuous buffet. Buffet was a wholesome selection of hot and cold foods.  My favourite section was the Seafood area where you can pick a cut of fresh piece of fish ready to be cooked the way you like it.  Breakfast was a greater surprise, where I’ve been able to have my old time favourites, Eggs Benedict.

Suleiman made my visit enjoyable and memorable. I can’t say enough to his dedication and passion to his work. His patience was my chill pill to combat the daily heat that I had to endure. His laid back attitude shined throughout. He’s indeed a good asset in the service industry business.  I was also fortunate to have relaxed drivers who made our road trips safe.

Oman is indeed a royal land with full of surprises, endowed with rich traditions and cultures, awe-inspiring sights and warm and hospitable people. Oman is a highly recommendable travel destination.  The 5 days adventure I shared with you justifies all the good reasons why Oman needs to be in your travel destination bucket list.

To Oman Tourism, thank you for an incredible historical and cultural familiarity that brought great essence of my Arabian experience, an experience that I will forever remember.

In this article, I am delighted to feature Sultanate of Oman Tourism who fully sponsored my recent visit to Oman. Visit tourismoman.com.au to view list of major wholesalers in Australia as well as New Zealand.

© 2012 by Michelle Riel, retains sole copyright to her contributions to all the contents of this site.