Trip Report - Oman Trip December 2008 (Work in Progress)

Trip Route:
Day 1(Dec 3rd, 2008): Abu Dhabi - Jabal Shams (via AlAin, Ibri, Bahla, Hoota Caves, Night stay at Jabal Shams Hotel)
Day 2: Jabal Shams - Nizwa (Night stay at Nizwa Hotel)
Day 3: Nizwa - Ras Al Jinz Turtle Beach (via Sur, Ras Al Hadd, Overnight Camping at Ras Al Jinz)
Day4: Ras Al Jinz - Masirah Route - Back to Sur (Along the coast road till road ends and desert begins, Night stay at Sur Hotel)
Day5: Sur - Yitti (via Salmah Plateau, Near Majlis-e-Jinn, Overnight camping at Yitti Beach)
Day6: Yitti Beach (second night camping at Yitti Beach)
Day7(Dec 9th, 2008): Yitti - Abu Dhabi (via Muscat, Sohar, AlAin, back home by 7.00 p.m.)

Trip Report:
Day 1(Dec 3rd, 2008): Abu Dhabi - Jabal Shams (via AlAin, Ibri, Bahla, Hoota Caves, Night stay at Jabal Shams Hotel)

We had planned to start at 4.00 a.m. but were able to start at 5.00 a.m. as the plan was to reach Jabal Shams before dark and we had to see Hoota Caves on our way.

Sunrise on the way to Al Ain

Drive to AlAin was uneventful and we were planning to enter Oman via Mezayed Border Post but one gentleman at AlAin Adnoc told us that expatriates are allowed to enter only via Khatm Al Shakla Border Post-KAS BP. Therefore, we decided to enter Oman via Khatm Al Shakla. This added another 30-45 minutes to our drive. Immigration at KAS BP was smooth, we only had to wait for about 30 minutes before our applications were typed by the guy at computer and thereafter it was more of a formality to exit UAE. We took the road towards Ibri immediately after exiting from KAS BP. After about 30 mins drive there is Oman immigration entry point. We were the only passenger cars at that border post at that time and officials there were very friendly. It took only 10 mins there to do the visa stamping and off we went on the ibri road.

Omani Border Post


Making sure the pressure is right before proceeding to Ibri road


I think it was a Mosque on the way to Jabal Shams

A board on the way to Hoota caves

Reception Building at Hoota Caves
We reached Hoota caves at about 2.00 p.m. and were given time of 3.00 p.m. to see the caves.

We spent time in the souvenir shop and waiting room there. It is a nice place with good facilities for the tourists. A guided tour of Hoota caves took about 1 hour and we were back to to reception area by 4.00. There is a small train that is supposed to take tourists from reception till cave entrance. But it was under repair and we had to walk about 400 mtrs to reach the cave enterance.

Train that is under repairs most of the times, as per the guide there

Manmade entrance to the caves

As everybody was hungry, we decided to have lunch at the restaurant there which is maintained very well.
Nice view from Restaurant

It took us about an hour or so to finish the lunch and we left for Jabal Shams at 5.00. It was getting dark fast and we did majority of driving in the dark. In about 1.30 hours we reached Jabal Shams and were able to find two nice rooms at the Jabal Shams Heights Rest House.
Jabal Shams Heights Rest House Reception

Day 2: Jabal Shams - Nizwa (Night stay at Nizwa Hotel)

Jabal Shams Heights Rest House

It was quite cold and rooms were very comfortable and clean.

Nice and Sunny Rooms


Canyon on the top of Jabal Shams

View Point on the way back from Jabal Shams


Up the rocks at the view point


On the way back to Nizwa

Day 3: Nizwa - Ras Al Jinz Turtle Beach (via Sur, Ras Al Hadd, Overnight Camping at Ras Al Jinz)

Day4: Ras Al Jinz - Masirah Route - Sur (Along the coast road till road ends and desert begins, Night stay at Sur Hotel)
Day5: Sur - Yitti (via Salmah Plateau, Near Majlis-e-Jinn, Overnight camping at Yitti Beach)
Day6: Yitti Beach (second night camping at Yitti Beach)

Day7(Dec 9th, 2008): Yitti - Abu Dhabi (via Muscat, Sohar, AlAin, back home by 7.00 p.m.)

Lessons Learnt:

• Take crocs like sandles instead of normal slippers
• Don't take too many warm clothes
• Take water jerrycan with a tap and a small stool to place it at the camp, it is very inconvenient to use bottles for washing etc
• There is no need to take inflatable mattresses, if the ground is going to be cold, take foam mats instead. This will save lot of hassle in inflating and deflating the mattresses, also the inflatable mattresses are a bit uncomfortable to sleep on.
• Take 4 small sofa cushions for the kids in the back seat instead of inflatable pillows
• for soap, take a small squeezie bottle instead of pump type bottle
• Take the shaver if possible, it is always good to look fresh
• There is no real need to carry large mat
• make an arrangement to charge the batteries in car
• buy the 4 person cookset which is compact
• take some dry fruits and namkeen
• take some ready to eat meals like ashoka, Sohna Sag, tuna cans, tahina cans, baked beans etc.
• take some cheese cans
• Nutella is very useful as kids always love to eat it
• take a scotchbrite to scrub the cookware
• Take headlamp for each of the persons
• take solar battery charging arrangement if possible
• Take an arrangement for shade if going for extended camping
• Pressure Cooker is very useful, take wherever possible. It could be used to quickly cook khichdi, Pulao, vegetables etc
• Take sufficiently sized gas burner if going for extended camping trip.
• Take lightweight gloves for doing rough camping work
• Take enough band-Aid strips of assorted shapes
• To be continued.................
  

Things to Fix:

• fix the loose grip of camp axe as it comes out
• fix a small loop inside the tent to hang the lantern
• To be continued...........

Trip Album:

For complete trip album http://picasaweb.google.com/bhallasunil/OmanTripDec2008#

Trip Planning - Oman Trip December 2008

Tentative Itinerary:

Day1-1: Abu Dhabi - AlAin - Hoota Caves
Day1-2: Hoota Caves - Jabal Shams (Night stay at Jabal Shams Motel)
Day2-1: Jabal Shams - Nizwa (Local Sightseeing, Stay overnight at Nizwa)
Day3-1: Nizwa - Ras Al Hadd (Camp at Ras Al Hadd)
Day4-1: Stay another night at Ras Al Hadd
Day4-1a: Ras Al Hadd - Masirah Island (Stay at Masirah Island)
Day5-1: Masirah Island - Salalah (Night 1 at Salalah)
Day6-1: Salalah Local (Night 2 at Salalah)
Day7-1: Salalah - White Sand Beach(Camp at the beach)
Day7-1a: Salalah - Abu Dhabi
Day 8: White Sand Beach - Abu Dhabi

Preparations:

Clothes:

1. Warm Clothing for Jabal Shams (Caps, Socks, Warm trousers, Jackets, Sweaters, Gloves). Take layers of clothes.
   
2. Light clothing for driving and beaches area, quick drying clothes.
   
3. Towels
4. 1 Bed Sheet
   

Lodging:

1. Tent
2. Sleeping bags
3. Inflatable Pillows
   
4. Sleeping Mats
5. Chairs
6. Small Table
7. Camping Lantern
8. 2 Torches/Flashlights
9. Washing Water
10. Camp Shower
11. Toilet Rolls
12. Shade Sheet with Clips
    

Food and Cooking:

1. Instant Cup Noodles (5 cups per day)
2. Instant Soup (5 servings per day)
3. Instant Coffee Sachets (4 servings per day)
4. Hot Chocolate powder for kids
5. Sugar
6. Long life milk small(12 nos.)
7. Flavored Milk (1 pack of each flavour)
8. Dal/Rice for Khichdi
9. Salt, Pepper, red chilli, Garam Masala
10. Cooking Gas with Extra Refill Cylinders
11. Cooking pot
12. Pressure Cooker
13. Service Spoon
14. Knife and Peeler
    
15. Cigrette Lighter
16. Kettle
17. 4 plates, spoons, bowls, Glasses
18. Drinking Water (4 bottles of 1.5 ltr)
19. Biscuits
20. Namkeen
21. Dry Fruits
    

Personal:

1. Soap
2. Shampoo
3. Toothpaste
4. Toothbrushes
5. Medicines(Panadol, Adol for kids, Fludrex, Balm, Disprin, Brufen)
   
6. First Aid Box
7. Shaver
8. Comb
9. Earbuds
10. Sunscreen
    

Misc:

1. Passports with 4 copies each
2. License/Regn card with 2 copies each
3. Mobile Phone with Charger
   
4. Playing Cards
5. Camera with extra betteries
6. Binoculars
7. Battery Charger
8. Pen, Diary
9. Offroad Oman Book
10. Oman Map
11. GPS with car charger
    

Tools:

1. MultiTool
2. Battery Jump Leads
3. Jack
4. Pliers
5. Adjustable Wrench
6. Rubber Bands
   

Overnight Camping trip to Wadi Bih - 8th-9th Aug 2008

Have not gone for camping since long. In this peak summer, the spot that comes to mind is Wadi Bih. I hope the temperature at that height would be pleasant during evening and night. But it could be hot and humid as well. We'll know only when we go there.

Plan:

• We have to reach camping spot by 6.00 in the evening so that we have enough time to pitch tents and settle down before dark.
• Estimated travel time to camping spot: 4 to 5 hrs from Abu Dhabi (Considering small kids and few stops along the way, and I prefer to travel at 120-130 speed)
• Start from Abu Dhabi : 1.00 noon (have lunch before starting or have it on the road/Adnoc etc)
• Stop at Friday market to buy firewood etc
• Reach camping ground by 6.00 p.m.
• Pitching in tents etc. 1-2 hrs.
• Have Fun Till morning!!
  
• Start back in the morning depending upon the heat. I guess we will need to packup and leave latest by 8.00 as it will get hot quickly.
• Drive back home/wherever you want to go.

Preparation

• Food: Everybody to arrange for themselves (this is the least complicated option). For dinner and next day breakfast. Bring enough drinking water/fluids.
• Usual camping stuff such as tent, sleeping bags, chairs, tables, water for washing , first aid kit, torch/flash light, Chargeable Lantern, coolbox etc.
• Whoever has Walkie-Talkie, please bring and don't forget to charge the batteries.

Please inform me if you are interested to join.