My trip to Oman was...full of surprises. When I came to Muscat,
I didn't have much of a plan and I knew nothing about the country. Because I wanted an authentic experience I stayed with a local host and now great friend, Abdulmalik. He introduced me to the local customs like eating delicious Omani bread filled with cheese and honey and drinking the even more delicious karak tea for breakfast. I learned more about the roots of Omani culture and we even pushed the exploration a little bit further, roadtriping to Wadi Shab. I immediately felt at home especially since Oman is one of the safest countries on Earth. The only thing I was missing was the thrill of spontaneous adventures I was getting too comfortable so I decided to pack my bag and head to Ras al Hadd where another host, Mohammed, was awaiting me. And I had my fair share of adventures... But once again, I was getting too comfortable and I wanted to go back on the road and explore. I had no plans so I decided to head back to Muscat first. The same day, some relatives gave me the contact of Jamel, a great guide, and we had dinner together. After dinner, he tells me he has to go the desert right away and asks me if I want to tag along. Of course I said yes, it was my dream! I grabbed my bag and hit the road once again. 3 hours later, I was in the desert for the first time. Completely surreal. I realized then that the desert is actually full of life. I would go as far as saying it is alive itself. Vibrant. And if you lend an ear, you might hear its own pulse. But my experience wasn't all peace and quiet. Jamel made sure I would also get my dose of adrenaline. So yeah, I was preparing myself to hitchhike for a while... The first car passed me by and I was getting ready to get rejected again when suddenly... I then had one of the most awkward conversations of my life trying to explain to the taxi the concept of hitchhiking but the language barrier was strong with this one. Though it was pretty fun to translate in three languages thanks to the help of Nikhil. Then the craziest thing happened I had not even started hitchhiking yet, I was looking for a way to go down the slope, when another taxi stopped. I didn't want to make the same mistake again and I explained that I wasn't interested. But he told me I could hop on for free I felt I could trust him, so I did. Best decision ever. Before taking me to Nizwa, he showed me everything in Fanja. He also offered me halwa, which is a sweet desert made with safran, cardamom, nuts and rose water. I gradually became addicted to it and it's been my breakfast for weeks. Of course, I was lucky to cross paths with Hamed, such a kind soul. But the thing is that in Oman, people are like this more than not. They take great pleasure and pride in sharing their culture and helping. And that's without expecting anything in return, it is sincere. They will even somehow manage to make you feel like you're the one doing them a favor, telling you your company is a gift. I think I've never met more genuinely nice and trustworthy people in my life. When I arrived in Nizwa, I met with Noor and I immediately felt like I was hanging out with a friend. She also happens to be a guide and she took me to Bahla, Misfat al Abriyyin...beautiful, beautiful places. What added to the culture shock is that I was coming from Dubai where I had spent a week. And when you ask kids from the 60s how they would picture a dystopian future, it paints a pretty accurate description of this place. The Emirates are a neighbor country, yet everything opposes them to Oman. That's the work of the beloved leader who built Oman, Sultan Qaboos. To me, Oman will forever be a magical country from its incredible nightskies full of stars to the blue lights twinkling in the sea. I didn't want to leave, holding on to the scents of Oud and Luban but my time in the Middle East had come to an end and I had to move on...to India! But it's only a matter of time before I am back for more of Oman's magic...
