We have fallen in love with our neighboring country, Oman. We were fascinated with their gorgeous white houses, and a morning walk at their corniche was full of wonderful photo opportunities. We are inspired by the natural beauty of Oman, so much so that we decide to drive all the way again.
As you can see, Musamdam is a peninsula totally cut-off from the rest of Oman.
We start our journey from Sharjah, drove towards Ras al Khaimah (the same Emirate where we went to photograph a ghost town) taking the road E18, and arrive at the UAE-Oman border in less than three hours. We also stop for a quick breakfast along the way.
Unlike the pathetic-looking passport control office in Hatta, the immigration office on the UAE border is pretty impressive. However, unlike in Hatta where we didn’t pay anything to exit the country, we are asked to pay 35 dirhams each for exit stamps at this border. The passport control office on the Oman side of the border consisted of a couple of small cabins (unlike their huge building in Hatta). Omani visa costs 50 dirhams.
I notice that one family is having a problem with the immigration officer because they have brought along their dog.
At the UAE side of the border.
Gorgeous, breathtaking scenery unfolds right in front of our very eyes the moment we enter Musandam. I am tempted to pull the car over and stop to take a billion photographs. It is 10 am now, the light not so ideal for photography. But we stop anyway; the place is too beautiful to describe in words.
We had to stop and look down to admire the sea.
Where the sea meets the mountain.
It's either left or right. You don't drive straight for the next hour.
Can you see the winding road?
Looking back
We do not stay overnight in Khasab (the capital of Musandam). We leave the city at dusk. Oh, and somewhere along these same roads, the street lamps are out, so one has to really drive carefully. I wonder why the authorities haven’t done anything to fix this issue yet.
That’s beautiful! All these Arab/Muslim countries are so beautiful…
I know you always say you are a beginner in photography, but seriously, your pictures look like something I’d see in a magazine.
Thank you so much, LavendarClouds! I can’t take credit for the last picture though; that one’s taken by Masood
I also once thought that the middle east was just a big desert with camels and date palm trees. I am in total awe at how beautiful this part of the world actually is!
Just one word Nadia – WOW!
It’s official, I want to go see it for myself one day…..one day….
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Tien, I am sure you will enjoy the trip
Awesome and breathtaking pics of mountains and sea! does the winding road lead you to a higher altitude? I don’t take well to this kind of travel and so I always keep some items ready at hand
Now I wonder where you went after all that winding
Can’t wait!
No, Lat. As you can see from one of the pictures, the road actually winds at the base of the mountain, very close to the sea. You’ll be fine, inshaAllah
I’ll tell you where we went and what we did in the next post
Wow! Such a beautiful place!!
>>>It’s either left or right. You don’t drive straight for the next hour
How can people drive there?))))
How do people drive here? Carefully, that is. And no overtaking
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Must see place if anyone around Middle East.
Masood Basha recently posted..Fun with Graphics
Yep, it’s definitely a must-see place!
How are the people in Oman? I heard they are very friendly and down-to-earth humble people.
Mezba recently posted..Chapter 99 – Al Zalzala The Earthquake
Mezba, the Omanis are wonderful people, mashaAllah. They are indeed very warm and hospitable. It was a culture shock to see young Omani women behind the checkout counters of supermarkets.
SubhanAllah! Thank you for sharing your amazing photos dear Nadia. The peacocks and your comments are really great
. And the sea, the mountains, the scenery – breathtaking indeed. We are often told that if we want to know Him, look at His creation. How blessed we are to have gift of sight, to take in the magnificence and to smell the sea and the vegetation. Shukr Alhamdulillah!
Alhumdulillah, indeed! There’s so much natural beauty around us that remain unappreciated.
Thanks for stopping by, Noorshin
Hello,
congratulations on the pictures. They are really beautiful. I just wanted to ask you this: you mention that you took “E18″ to get to Khasab, but according to Google maps, “E18″ is not a coastal road. I just wanted to clarify if you merged onto “E11″ (Al Rams road) to get to Khasab.
thanks.
Thank you, Eduardo.
No, we took E18 to Ras al Khaimah, that eventually merged to E11 that went all the way to Khasab.