Oman > Along the coastal road to Muscat

After breakfast, I head back toward Al Sawadi via the coastal road. Several stops are planned along the way. As I leave Sur, I recognize the neighborhood where I walked yesterday. I also see the castle, much closer to the hotel than I had expected. I pass the busy road I crossed yesterday as well.

Oman - The entrance to Wadi Shab near the village of Tiwi

It’s fun to see these neighborhoods from the bus. I drive west along the highway. After about an hour, near the town of Tiwi, I get out at Wadi Shab, a beautiful sea inlet. I take a small boat to the other side and walk a short distance into the deep gorge among the palm trees. I can’t go very far because the rest of the group has stayed behind. Twenty minutes later, I am back in the boat for the return trip. A little further along the road, I stop at the Bimmah Sinkhole, a crater about forty meters across that formed when an underground cave collapsed. I descend about twenty meters via the stairs to the clear blue-green water in the sinkhole. Around 12:30 p.m., I approach Muscat, the capital of Oman.

Oman - The Bimmah Sinkhole is 40 meters across and 20 meters deep The hole formed after the collapse of underlying caves

Earlier than planned, we look for a restaurant. Aymen doesn’t know it, so he checks it first. It is deemed acceptable. Surprisingly quickly, I am seated with rice and beef. After lunch, I drive the last stretch to Al Sawadi, passing through Muscat. Traffic on the highway is heavy, and at times it comes to a complete standstill, partly due to extensive roadwork. At the large Sultan Qaboos Mosque, I get out briefly to take a photo. When we settle on the grassy area by the roadside in the sun, Aymen quickly calls us back. For women, this is not allowed, and he says he is concerned about accidents caused by distracted drivers. Around three o’clock, I arrive back at Al Sawadi Beach Resort. I take a seat on the terrace by the pool and order a beer—but it can only be served after six o’clock. In the evening, I have an à la carte dinner on the terrace and let the evening unfold quietly.