Hike to Wadi kabir view point, Muscat, Oman

 

                                                            WadiKabir View Point

Last weekend (19.Feb.21) , my hiking partner Ramya and I decided to go for a trek within the city Muscat. While searching , we came across Wadi Kabir View point.We simply followed the Google directions and reached the spot at 6.40 AM and saw the huge mountain. By seeing it, I remind myself  'No panic Anu,One step at a time'.

Found this beautiful message while scrolling.

Here is the google link to reach there -  

https://goo.gl/maps/zGtLV2tFsXvfCZou9

The uniqueness of this hike is inclined walking to reach the summit but no rock climbing. In few places the path is too slippery due to loose stones  and dry soil ,one should be very careful especially while exiting  irrespective of  wearing proper hiking shoes..

This complete hike took us around 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

Its worth to watch the beautiful view of  Wadikabir and the mountains around....

                                                                    Happy Hiking!

Sidab Hike, OMAN

Sidab is a small town near Old Muscat, Oman. This weekend (12.Feb.21) we planned to Sidab coastal trek. Following google directions we reached the starting point of the hike at 6.30 AM. Here is the link

https://goo.gl/maps/9G6d8F685skpwfkb8

Seeing the mountain, we thought it’s okay we can do it, however as we progressed 10 min into it, there is a rugged and steep point with a shaky ladder tied at one end to a big rock at the top which brought us literally to quit then while we descend few steps down, like an angel a girl with her friend came and said it’s her second time and we can do it. Then me and my partner pulled out all the courage and started ascending.

Yes! We crossed the tough point, with this sense of achievement, we further moved to the top and got our bonus, a beautiful sunrise and its glitters on the layers of blue sea waters. The atmosphere is so serene and placid with the surf sounds at the front and the beautiful calm village at the back and we at the top of this  mountain witnessing both in tranquility....Worth taking risk to experience this beauty.

                                                       First tough point

From here we descended until the rocky shores of water assuming it’s a too short trek and there might be an exit but we were wrong we found the marked trial guiding us towards another mountain to hike and we continued assuming we will find an exit....however, to our surprise instead of the way out, we saw crystal clear waters and smoothy rocks which looks awesome but these rocks are very slippery and one should be careful irrespective of wearing proper hiking gear.

In between mountains we saw cemeteries of Portugese people who dominated the Muscat region in 1600’s and paid respects. We reached ‘THE END’ but didn’t find the gateway. The only way out is either you trek back in the same route to the start point else take a boat.

This complete trek took 1.5 hours for us and return may take minimum 1 hour, so we thought to take a boat and waited there for sometime.....finally an Omani fisherman saw us and gave a lift in his boat. Twist in the story is boat got stopped in the middle of the sea as he was out of fuel....but somehow he managed to get a bottle of diesel from his stock and filled the tank. Meanwhile, we observed the beautiful unruffled blue waters and as usual became busy in taking pictures.. ...with a jerk, boat had started, we held the boat tightly keeping our mobiles back into our pockets, he took us around and showed few other cemeteries and one abandoned Hindu burial ground etc of 1930's time.

Finally reached the ship yard....when we asked about paying for the boat ride, he simply denied and said with a smile,’ it’s a help so no money’. Omanis are truly kind and helpful. Help means help no expectations of any return to their favor...

Overall it’s a best hike so far....thoroughly enjoyed the trek, early morning beautiful sunrise, rocky shores with blue waters , learnt little bit history of Portugese and a boat ride. Had a great weekend!


Thank you to Ramya, my hiking partner, her never say NO attitude always fascinates me.

A beautiful incident - Sharing and Caring

 All the children were playing with water inside the compound using their water guns. My son, Akshaj has only pichakari (kind of pointy bicycle pump) where as others have water guns. I didn't give a heed on this thinking he will adjust and play.  And, even Akshaj too was okay with it. But, Akshaj friend Arohi (6 year old) when she went for shopping with her parents , she reminded her father to buy a water gun for Akshaj. when he enquired,  she said, Akshaj has only pichakari for which he need to carry a bucket of water downstairs and its not comfortable to him. so  I want to gift him this water gun so that we both can play with water gun. Her father after listening to this moving story bought the water gun.

'Sharing and caring for each other gives utmost happiness ' and this little girl proved it with her kindness.

She came  straight to my home  10 o clock at night from shopping and gave this surprise to Akshaj. Akshaj was very very  happy and said ,' mamma see arohi bought this for me.she too has the same one with very little difference'. He kept it beside his bed and slept. Next day morning , Akshaj woke up happily and came to me  with a smile on his face saying I am very happy mamma today. With this energy he did a his chores by himself and went for playing...

Sleeping at night with happiness makes our morning wonderful !

Sleep like a baby!

It's true that we have nothing to teach children except showing them the right path and a lot to learn from them as said by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar.

Sifat Ash Sheik, Oman

Date: 29.Jan.21

This week, we visited a place which is famous for snorkeling and fish catching. Enjoyed boat ride with friends and explored few islands far from the shore where people do full day camping to spend time with family. Locals, expats and tourists go by boat in the morning around 8 AM , fixing camping tent ,carrying food , short hike on the mountain and a beach in front for swimming, snorkeling , catching fish , having fun and return by 4 PM to the shores.

Seeing these isolated islands far from each other reminds me of my favorite actor Tom Hanks movie 'Cast away'! Of course no one wants to go through that plight which his character had gone through in the movie yet I must say its a Hall of Fame movie.

One can enjoy the weekend either in isolation having 'ME' Time or spending  time with family both  gives immense peacefulness in these islands.


When it was dusk, we lit a small camp fire at the shores with the straw and wood  collected by our little climbers Akshaj and Arohi with their tiny hands and a big trunk by our friend.

An impromptu view of moon rise and its glittering light on the sea waters came as a bonus to our weekend trip and made our day awesome!

                                                            Picture Courtesy by Jeet

Here is the map whoever wish to visit this beautiful place in Oman. 

https://goo.gl/maps/45wGzeJyPb5zWdjh6

Bandar Al Khairan, Oman

Last week ,I had a fun filled packed day with friends to a beautiful place Bandar Al Khairan in Oman!

                               View point of Bnadar Al Khairan

Felt like ,I was in the middle of the sea though its not too far from the shore but no one around in the vicinity, alone in the Arabian waters doing kayaking, listening to my own heartbeat in that silence surrounding by mesmerizing mountains.The layers of water hitting the bottom of the rock mountain yet it stood sturdy without a sign of trembles, which made me realize that no matter what comes in your way to distract you from the destination you still need to focus at your goal.

Thanks to Jeet for introducing me to kayaking...its my first and great experience...

Me and my friend Hetal did hiking on these mountains, when I was nearing the edge of rocky mountain, heart beats fast with a fear of falling but seeing the beautiful blue waters felt a kind of peacefulness and my feet stopped wobbling.

                                                    A beautiful video of our fun filled day.

                                                             Video Courtesy : Jeet

Combination of Recycling and creativity!

 Trying to understand how Recycling and creativity goes hand in hand and here is my experience!

Went to pebble beach with friends a month ago its so clean,beautiful and serene. Good for strolling and spending time with family. Here is the location map if anyone wanna go...

https://goo.gl/maps/CvE7hhPirGCR3SSy6

I collected a bag of pebbles, brought home thinking to do something out of these and kept it in the balcony doing nothing for a month.Surprisingly , my son picked some of them , arranged the pebbles and made a smiley on the mat.

Seeing this, an idea struck me and the result is below..ta da.. A Pebble Mat

I recycled a old floor mat with pebbles glued on it making it to a new Pebble Mat.

This looks beautiful in a aesthetic sense as well as good for my feet . Ambling on it gives a good foot massage too.

Recycling an old material with an idea is called Creative Recycling ...Hmmm....

WABI-SABI : The Japanese Philosophy for a perfectly Imperfect life

 

My son Akshaj used to scribble a lot on the walls with his color pencils which is not a surprise to any of us as they are children and its obvious they do all this stuff ,after all he is just 5 year old now.


However, interesting thing which I have learned from him is, one day I lost my patience and screamed at him ,'Akshaj , this is the last warning to you, just stop spoiling the walls.' His response blew my mind, 'Mamma, I am not scribbling, I am making family picture on this wall, see its you ,me and papa'. When I keenly observed its true I was able to see the drawing of three of us.

All my anger gone for a toss that very second looking at what he drew with his tiny hands that's when I realized the wall is looking more beautiful now with his doodles and squiggles like a puzzle to find a family picture instead of plain pale yellow color wall without any design on it.

I cuddled him, no words just love to my baby boy (this incident happened when he was just 3 year old).

Finding beauty in imperfection is an art and I have learned it.

Later I came to know about this beautiful concept name as 'Wabi Sabi' which means 'Embracing Imperfection and celebrating happy incidents'. This Japanese philosophy encourages us to focus on the blessings hiding in our daily lives, and celebrating the way things are rather than how they should be.

Have a great day with this new learning!