To the Museum

Yesterday, we spent the last day of spring break at Muscat's Natural History Museum.  The museum provides a great overview of Oman's flora and fauna.  The boys enjoyed roaming the hallways and looking at the preserved animals (i.e. stuffed). A highlight was the whale and dolphin exhibit.  It includes the bones of an adult sperm whale.  The whale washed up onto a nearby coast a number of years back (many different types of whales and dolphins migrate off the coast of Oman).  Lots of learning for us!   

Birthday Celebration

Recently, our youngest celebrated his 4th birthday.  He was super excited about it, much more so than in past years.  He received a birthday card from his cousin several days before his birthday.  He slept with it under his pillow, counting down the days until he would be able to open it.  We spent the day with some friends who have kids the same age as ours.  After lunch and cake we continued the celebration at the "Adventure Zone," an indoor playground with slides, tunnels, and climbing equipment.  It is a great place for a 4-year-old to let loose. 

Relaxing on a grassy area near the beach, the day before the "big day."

Chocolate cake delivery.

Big toy car for a present - birthday dreams can come true.

Adventure Zone tunnel complex.

Adventure Zone rope bridge.

Press play on the above video to see our little one in his birthday glory.

Up High

Jebel Shams is  Oman's tallest mountain.  But, what it is better known for is the deep canyon on its flank.  It is sometimes called, "Oman's Grand Canyon" because of its 3000 foot vertical cliffs.  I recently went hiking with some friends along the "Balcony Walk," a path several miles long that runs along a ledge inside the canyon.  One false step will send  you sailing hundreds of feet down into the canyon.  Luckily,  we made all the right moves.  At the end of the hike we reached an abandoned village perched up on the ledge.  Walking around the empty houses and terraces was eery, but the views into the canyon were amazing.  We also camped on the rim of the canyon.  Our spot looking down into the abyss was humbling.  Our experience was augmented by a family of goats that inhabit the mountain and kept us company through the night. 

View from Jebel Shams.

Half-way up the mountain.  Village in the background.

From the top of Jebel Shams looking into the canyon.

Looking down into the canyon from the rim.

Our campsite on the rim.

Near our campsite.

Breakfast with the goats that slept outside our tent.

Sunset.

One segment of the hike went along this cliff.

Half-way through the hike.

Several houses in the abandoned village.

Press play to see a short video of the canyon and us on our hike.

Into the Dunefield

I have no doubt that my most recent birthday, celebrated earlier in the month, will become my most memorable.  First, my mother and a close family friend traveled to Oman and surprised me with a birthday visit.  I'm still in disbelief that they made the trip.  Then, we celebrated my actual birthday in southwest Oman in a region called the Sharqiya sands.  This area of several hundred square miles is covered with sand dunes.  Some dunes are over 200 feet high.  In the middle of the dunes, miles away from any cities, towns, or roads is a camp where one can stay.  We spent two days at the camp - climbing the dunes, basking in the sun, and marveling at the solitude.


Press play on the above video and see our adventure unfold.

Dunes as far as the eye can see.

The desert camp where we stayed.

On our last day a herd of camels looking for breakfast tried to enter the camp.

Camping at Fins Beach

 We recently camped out with some friends at Fins Beach, about an hour and a half south of Muscat.  As you can see from, the pictures below, there is stunning scenery -  turquoise water, rocky cliffs and mountains in the distance. It was really windy, and honestly a bit chilly for swimming but we just loved being in this beautiful place, enjoying the view, and letting the boys climb all the rocks and boulders they liked.

Our jeeps down on the beach

Lunch time!

Checking out the view

Our campsite

We had the fire going ...but forgot marshmallows...

Sunrise behind us

Morning on the beach

View from the cliff over the campsite

Canyon Hike - into Wadi Shab

A few weeks ago we explored one of Oman's more famous canyons, "Wadi Shab," which has pools and canals fed by the infrequent rains and some groundwater from the valley.  The water gets very deep at the narrowest parts - many people go swimming and there was even a cliff diving competition here over the summer.  But we definitely did not partake in any of that!  We hiked in for about 30 minutes and at the point where swimsuits are required, we stopped  to enjoy our picnic and the view.  Next time we'll swim.  We certainly enjoyed the breathtaking scenery - just about 2 hours from Muscat.   

Boat crossing required to get to the hiking path....

Thank you, trusty boat driver...

Entering the canyon ...

Lots of boulders for climbing!

No this is not a postcard - I took this photo myself!