14:35 - I checked the time after the local Bus dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. "Where the hell am I??" - Well, thanks to google maps I knew at least the location where I had to leave the bus. It was funny as I was the only person who went out of the bus in this area. Left / Right - There was absolutely nothing around me except a little tea shop and mountains. Lots of mountains.
Traveling as an Individual in Oman can be tricky and sometimes also be very difficult. But it's possible and way more exciting in my opinion. Traveling around with a group in a comfortable AC cooled Van sounds nice but wasn't the thing I was looking for.
So now I was staying exactly at this spot where you can see in the picture above. My target was to reach Wadi Bani Khalid - some mountain oasis in this area. I knew it was about 30 km from the spot where I stood so I had to move on. My Idea was finding a taxi / share car or hitchhike up to the mountains.
I pretty fast realized that there are not a lot of cars in this area :D .. So I just kept walking along the road which headed to the mountains. "Oh - did I already mention that it was HOT?? If not - It was freaking HOT out there!!!". Just always make sure that you have enough water with you. I know, it can be annoying carrying around but you will need it!
The little well drawn guy in the photo above is me. This was exactly the location where I was staying and started to walk up the mountain road.
After walking for about 20 minutes finally a car passed me and I didn't even had to say a lot. They stopped and I told them that I want to get up to Wadi Bani Khalid - And the guy replied quickly "Sure, get in. I live closed to the oasis in a small village near by. I can drop you off there.". Perfect!
So now I had 2 new local friends who enjoyed talking to them self and I sat in the back and enjoyed listening to them. Even I couldn't understand a single word :D .. But there is something in the Arabic language what I really like. I'm not sure what it is but I just enjoy listening to it.
The way up through the mountains was breathtaking beautiful. I haven't seen anything like that for a while.
As we got further up we also passed some little villages. It all seemed very peaceful and relaxed watching the people who lived up there.
As we got closer to the Oasis, Ismir (the driver) gave me his phone number so I could call him later when I'm done walking around. Of course I gave him a little tip for the drive. But It was definitely way cheaper compared to a taxi or even a tour.
After getting out of the car there was a 10 min walk ahead before I arrived at the Oasis.
And than I was finally there. "Wow!!! How the heck?!?.." - Even I saw pictures of Wadi Bani Khalid before - Staying there by myself was just incredible. Hard to find the right words for the beauty of this area.
Such an incredible spot in the middle of the mountains. Breathtaking!
This area itself is quite big and you can enjoy walking around those lakes, take a swim, drink a tea or a cold coffee, have a snack in the restaurant up there or what ever you like. It's a great location to spend some relaxed time.
After around 3 hours I called Ismir, if he has time to give me a lift back down. He agreed and this time his friend wasn't in the car so I had a seat in the front and enjoyed the amazing view around me again.
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Ismir dropped me off a Guest house which I booked early on the day. Man.. What an amazing trip this was. Looking at all those pictures again makes me really want to go back to this place or just discover some other beautiful nature.
Would I recommend hitchhiking in Oman?
Absolutely! Omani people are super friendly and helpful. Once you get to know them a bit better they will talk very openly and you will hear great stories about their life's.
Just always assess the situation and listen to your inner feeling if a situation feels comfortable for you or not. Just like in every other country.
Thanks for reading!
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Best,
Chris
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://world-capture.com/2019/02/23/hitchhiking-to-paradise-wadi-bani-khalid-oman/
Travel Resources for your trip to Oman
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Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Oman.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Oman on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
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