Oman

For our last family travel in the middle east (gulp) we chose to go close by to Oman. It has mountains, beaches, dolphins, turtles, and really cool hats. So we did a little research into where to go to hike and planned a driving triangle of the country. If we were to do the trip again- I would do a bit more research, rent a 4 wheel drive car, and get a better map. Turns out when the guide book says "the road is paved but not recommended for 2 wheel drive" they mean it- steepest roads I've ever seen!

Take a look at what we were up to.

found a great park in Muscat the first night to stroll around and play in.

Getting ready for our first day dolphin cruise.

This is what 2-3 of our dolphin pictures looked like.

This is what the other 75 pictures looked like- turns out dolphins are incredibly hard to catch... or I just have really slow reaction time.

here flipper, come flipper

We still had time to spare after chsing the dolphins- so we went to the Oman dive center which had lunch, beer, and a beach to sit on- perfect.

doplhin girl

what more do 2 boys sitting in a tide pool surrounded by hermit crabs need? ...nothing

Day 2- We picked up our rental car and headed inland into the mountains. Nizwa was our goal- used to be a big spot on the frankinsence trade route and was the spot to stay before loading up the camels to cross the empty quarter to Mecca. We didn't get any frankinscents mainly because I don't know how to spell it but we did cruise around the fort and ols souk area. It was fun- but we realised as a family that all day in the car with not much get out and explore time makes us all a bit grouchy- we were ready to hit the Jebels (mountains) and Wadis (canyons) the next day.

The minarets in Oman were extraordinary-patterns, blue, very cool.

Wilder guarding the fort

Luca guarding the fort.

let us in!!!

this really should be in the Nizwa fort brochure

Luca and Innes- keeping it real

2 defences: Luca is standing on a trap door, Wilder is looking up at where they would pour the boiling hot date oil on you. Rough!

Day 3- we make it into the mountains- we have been living on a pancake of a country for almost 2 years now and you can just feel how we all get excited to be amongst the contours. Even though we couldn't make it to the top of Jebel Shams in our wimpy rental it was great to be back in the mountains- and cruising up Wadi Ghul was great.

True story: we had barely pulled to a stop and Lisa gets out of the car and just starts running like Forest Gump- we couldn't catch her and get her back in the car for another 2 hours!

Entrance to the Wadi- Omanis are amazing at using every single drop of water that flows out.

"Old town"

Goats, lots of goats... more on them later.

Entrance to the canyon

Each date palm gets its own little alotment of water- each tree produces 200+kilos of dates a year! plus the fronds which are used for roofing and fuel. If you don't dig on dates in this country- big problems.

Wilder photo bomb!

Don't drink the water

Yeah okay so I got a little tired- it was hot and all.

Ahhhhhhhh

Little did we know there would be a free spa treatment at the end of the hike- the little fish would nibble on our feet. Part tickle, part gross.

I have never before seen red dragonflys.

Token flower shot, you're welcome.

Oman has the 2nd biggest canyon in the world, but after actually having been to the bigger one in Arizona I couldn't help but feel just a bit smug

Another town- another fort- they really had to defend their water sources and dates palms back in the day.

Wish I could have taken more pics of the men of Oman- such amazing faces- like they had some stories to tell.

I love it when your door is so big you need a little door inside of it.

Hey mister are you walking your camel... or is your camel walking you?

Day4 and 5. We drove to the coast and stayed at the turtle beach resort (more to come on turtles from Wilder soon). Nice to sit in the sand and relax- then before we knew it it was time to start driving back to Muscat. On the way we stopped at a sinkhole- and got to swim! Luca said "I've never been in a sinkhole before!" - well I guess I hadn't either.

Guardian of the hole