Visit Oman – 2/2013

[Ahmad Pervez]

Beauty has an address....Oman
WOW!!! What a Trip!!!
Just back home now...detailed report follows....later...

[Saj]

What a trip! It’s nice every now and then to explore new routes and terrains and travel off the beaten track.

I would like to thank Mr. Ajay Sikri and Mr. Ahmad Pervez for organizing such adventures for DO members.

We camped at an altitude of 1200+ m on top of the Salamah plateau where we had a grand barbeque and some nice karak chai. We all woke up to a continental breakfast the next morning and then began exploring the wadis. We reached Wadi Shab for a late lunch but unfortunately could not take a dip or dive due to time constraints. Our last halt was at the Sink Hole and then we all continued to our next destination as some members stayed behind in Muscat while the rest proceeded to the UAE.

The facts :
Distance Covered : 1200+ kms
Maximum Elevation Achieved : 2023 m
Highlight : A 30+ km rally drive at 1800+ m elevation on a dirt track with some steep slopes and blind turns which is as good as it gets anywhere.

The Checklist :
Salamah Plateua – Done
Majlis Al Jinns – Done
Sink Hole – Done
Wadi Shab – Half Done

The fact that the above was accomplished in a safe and secure manner is testimony to the skills, experience, craft and adventurous spirit for off-roading of the founder and co-founder of DO.

On behalf of the group, I would also like to convey our gratitude to Mrs. Sikri for the warm hospitality extended to us on our pit stop at their place in Muscat.

Special thanks to Arun D’souza for being the co-pilot with Mr. Sikri and for the wonderful and cheerful company as well as the numerous shots he took of the convoy at various scenic spots.

Finally, this trip would not have been so fun and memorable without the convoy members. Thank you to Firoz and Family, Dr. Sajjadi and Mrs. Sajjadi, Avinash and Laxman, Jamshed and family, Leo with Masterchef Stanley(thanks for the and Richard and last but not the least to Raziq for the sweep duties

Oman has so much to offer and I am very sceptical if another country in the region can give you an opportunity to rally drive on heights of 1500+ m in the wadis !

Regards

Sajid

[Ajay]

I would like to thank Mr. Ajay Sikri and Mr. Ahmad Pervez for organizing such adventures for DO members.

The fact that the above was accomplished in a safe and secure manner is testimony to the skills, experience, craft and adventurous spirit for off-roading of the founder and co-founder of DO.

On behalf of the group, I would also like to convey our gratitude to Mrs. Sikri for the warm hospitality extended to us on our pit stop at their place in Muscat.

Thanks a lot Sajid for the nice words for me, Ahmad, Arun as well as Sangeeta. My thanks to you all for having made it so for just for a day's excursion, considering the time elapsed from our deflation near Fins at about 5pm to our finishing the drive at Qalhat at abt 330 pm next day. Even, I felt tired at the end of the trip, I can well imagine what you people have gone thru during the drive from Dubai and back and considering the time you all spent for procuring the visas.

I hope all of you reached home safely without any incident. My special thanks to all the ladies and children for the commendable patience and enthusiasm that you all demonstrated all thru this trip. I appreciate the support you all extended and the patience that you all had while we explored a new track of over 60kms from Jabel Abyadh (the place where we saw the Bee-Hive tombs) towards the ancient town of Qalhat. None of us (including me and Arun) had gone on this route before. None of us had even done a recce of this route before. It turned out to be good decision to take this detour.

I have taken few lessons out of this trip and they are:

- this route deserves 2 full days rather than rushing the whole thing in 24 hours: this will not leave any unfinished agenda as listed in Saj's email,
- we need to have firewood for the bonfire at camp spot: we were lucky that the temperature thru the night was pleasant, but we can't take it for granted,
- we need to pack a cricket kit when we camp at such flat land,
- A Bingo (Tambola or Housie, whatever you prefer to call it) pack will be an added advantage, specially when we have this large group for the camp.

Feel free to add to the above list. this will help us in improving the future trips, which I am sure, will be plenty.

[razik]

...driving some 100 + kms on sheer gravel & corrugated terrain on a gorgeous south eastern plateau of Oman was a real challenge & test of drivers endurance skill, focus, tolerance & above all vehicle's sustenance...i'm delighted to report that not a minute was wasted worrying about any of these...hats off to one and all for pulling this off safely

Can't thank Mr. Ajay Sikri & Mr. Ahmad Pervez enough for organising & carrying out this expedition brilliantly

to all fellow drivers for the company & fun we had together.

Special to all the co-passengers for being such a sport because of which this trip was all the more fun

Until next time...take care & safe

[bkumar]

Although I couldn't join the trip but have been monitoring the posts/updates... One day I hope I can also join for such wonderful special trips... Also to visit these WOW places... Please share some photos... I will try and satisfy myself with the photos only for the time being...

Very happy to know that you all had a good trip under Ajay and Ahmad...

Take care and best regards

[Ajay]

Some interesting Statistics of the Trip:

the total Offroad distance covered from roadhead to roadhead was 103 kms.

We started at an elevation of 15m and drove up to 1360m within a distance of 15km. The elevation at the camping spot was 1380m.

While there were ups and downs all over the route, the change of elevation was remarkable when at one time, we had to descend from 1829m to 1187m at the spot where we paused for the Friday prayers. Thereafter, the route took us thru steep incline to 2064m within a drive of 9km or so. Finally we finished the offroad section at an elevation of 14m.

[Ahmad Pervez]

Some interesting Statistics of the Trip:

the total Offroad distance covered from roadhead to roadhead was 103 kms.

We started at an elevation of 15m and drove up to 1360m within a distance of 15km. The elevation at the camping spot was 1380m.

While there were ups and downs all over the route, the change of elevation was remarkable when at one time, we had to descend from 1829m to 1187m at the spot where we paused for the Friday prayers. Thereafter, the route took us thru steep incline to 2064m within a drive of 9km or so. Finally we finished the offroad section at an elevation of 14m.

[razik]

Some interesting Statistics of the Trip:

the total Offroad distance covered from roadhead to roadhead was 103 kms.

We started at an elevation of 15m and drove up to 1360m within a distance of 15km. The elevation at the camping spot was 1380m.

While there were ups and downs all over the route, the change of elevation was remarkable when at one time, we had to descend from 1829m to 1187m at the spot where we paused for the Friday prayers. Thereafter, the route took us thru steep incline to 2064m within a drive of 9km or so. Finally we finished the offroad section at an elevation of 14m.

Fantastic feat...
Glad to have been a part of the contingent

[Saj]

Some interesting Statistics of the Trip:

the total Offroad distance covered from roadhead to roadhead was 103 kms.

We started at an elevation of 15m and drove up to 1360m within a distance of 15km. The elevation at the camping spot was 1380m.

While there were ups and downs all over the route, the change of elevation was remarkable when at one time, we had to descend from 1829m to 1187m at the spot where we paused for the Friday prayers. Thereafter, the route took us thru steep incline to 2064m within a drive of 9km or so. Finally we finished the offroad section at an elevation of 14m.

These are some fantastic stats . Can't wait for Jebel Shams.

[Ajay]

Can't wait for Jebel Shams.

pack your bags and get your car serviced, it coming sooner that what you expected ;)