Tips & Tricks for Monsoon Trekking in India

The magical romance of monsoon with Mumbai has never been a deterrent to the trekking enthusiasts who take on the challenge to climb the slippery slopes of Western Ghats. Our adventure loving guest author Ankit K. J. shares some useful advice and handy tips on monsoon trekking preparedness from his own experiences. So, let's take the plunge to monsoon trekking!

Mumbai is a city with a hyperactive soul, they say. She does not sleep. Nor do the famous Mumbai rains stop her. It’s the time of the year where nature tries it’s best to dampen the spirit but fails miserably.

Monsoon is also the season when the otherwise dry Western Ghats turn lush green! The valleys surrounding the metropolis come alive with people flocking to the trails to take on the challenge of climbing slippery slopes only to rappel down a waterfall! However one thing people do not flock to is trekking preparedness. I had previously written a detailed post on trekking tips for beginners after I saw a lot of Indians not prepared for the trail - saves a lot of pain and hassle if you know the little details.

This post is about what to carry and a few tips that came in handy to me. A few essentials to carry on a monsoon trek in India!

Streams while trekking | Image source

1. Headphones/Earphones: If you are planning to do your travelling in a bus (which is usually the case if you want to reach the base where you begin a trek) and are the quiet, contemplative type, never forget to carry a decent pair of noise cancelling headphones. You'll lose less sleep and be fresh for your trek. They also have the secondary advantage of being able to play music!

2. A good pair of water shoes or sandals: The thing is that there are innumerable little streams to cross and taking shoes off and putting them on again is quite frustrating to both you and the rest of the group (who've already prepared for this eventuality). Look for shoes with a nice grip (rubber is preferable, since it slips less). Also, if possible, go for the shoes that look like an unholy (pun alert!) cross between a shoe and a sandal. These will have holes in them. To those with a sense of humour, they may also look like shoes in various stages of incompletion. Don't worry. They are designed to let the water out and dry quickly. Choose the ones that cover a maximum area of your exposed feet (so that the jungle mosquitoes have to work just a little harder). If not these, sandals always work best. Do not wear flip flops though, as they may result in your ankles twisting on rocky paths causing injuries!

Also, on a related note: do not wear these with socks or stockings.

Note: Shoes like these are what you are looking for

Waterfall on the way | Image source

3.  Mosquito repellent:Self-explanatory. Forget this at your own risk. Alternatively, you may also want to wear a jacket and full length pants. There are sprays and cream that one can use. If not, there are certain hacks around getting rid of those blood-sucking tiny monsters. Usage of sage leaves in the campfire, for example, also drives them away, leaving behind a pleasant aroma around the camp.

4. Layered Clothing: This is not as obvious as it sounds. Carry a t-shirt, track-pants, an extra pair of socks and a jacket. A cap is also helpful when it’s raining with a balaclava to cover the head. And carry a few layers – you can take them off if it’s hot and put more on if it gets chilly. You can never predict the weather and the rains!

And make sure they are comfortable. As a general rule of thumb, whatever suits you while running, works here. The more waterproof your possessions are, the more comfortable you'll be at the end of the day! Try stuffing it in a polythene bag before you pack them in a bag to keep them water tight! 

5. A bagpack: To carry your precious items. Find a water prof one if possible, but as described above, lining it with polythene can also do the trick. Make sure it isn't too heavy though. Also, carrying a poncho will also help in the rains.

6. Water & Sugar: Water - About 2 litres per person. Food: High energy stuff –Nuts, biscuits and granola bars. Glucose packs also help. The idea is to be prepared. You cannot trust the water on the trail, even if it looks sparkling clean. Animal/bird droppings nearby can easily pollute the water. And you do not want to become dehydrated with no water in the jungle! Light snacks do not take up space and provide much needed energy during crunch times. 

7.A Camera/Phone :So that you can take pics and call for help! And wondering how to use the phone in the rains? Seal it in a thin transparent plastic bag! Thank me later.

8. Towels: This becomes more important during monsoon trekking. Carrying light, quick drying towels help immensely. This may be the sole deciding factor on whether you get a cold after the trek or not.

9. Flashlight: A small hand-cranked flashlight should do the job. This is important especially in the rains, as it tends to get dark early. You do want to lose your way while camping and trekking. If you still manage to do so though, here is a helpful post on what to do if lost on the trail!

Base Villages before Trekking | Image source

Enjoy your treks! Safety first!

About the Author: Hi, I am Ankit. I love adventures and the outdoors and am the go-to guy if you need a sparring partner in adventures or sports :) I write about my travels on AlienAdv with a mission to inspire thousands to get off the couch and get going on lifetime experiences. I share my own travel stories (in the South East Asia and internationally) and my best tips and advice on issues like road-trips, scuba-diving nuggets, surfing, sailing and paragliding. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

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View from the top: A Tale of 3 cities

Height – for some it is intimidating, for some it is exciting. Mankind has always been fascinated by height- to reach to the top, to climb mountains, to fly like a bird, to make tall structures and to see the world from top.

For those, the majority, who cannot jump with a parachute on, climbing up to a tall structure is the best and safest way to have a sweeping view of a city. Let’s talk about 3 epic cities and 3 such equally great man-made structures that bring alive a bird’s eye view as well as provide a peek into their history. Let’s fly to London, Paris and Dubai and talk about the structures and listen to the tales about the views underneath.

The story is about human civilisation and its endeavour to excel. It dates back to 15th century when a revolution had started in Europe. A movement called the Renaissance that changed the way we look at arts and culture. The resurgence, which started in Italia and later widened to France and rest of northern Europe witnessed cultural and socio-political elevation contributed by multifaceted talents such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. They were simultaneously architects, poets, sculptors, engineers, scientists, astronomers, inventors and had been highly influential in that era. That is the era when people started to become more sensitive to aesthetics.

Mona Lisa - a Renaissance period art by Leonardo da Vinci - is still popular among the visitors of Louvre museum, Paris

200 years hence, another revolution stormed through another part of Europe and this time it meant serious business. In a bid to transform the society from agrarian to industrial, this movement invented machines and improved methods of production. Started in Britain, industrial revolution transformed manufacturing, transportation and the world of business. The British spread its wings all over the world in search of raw materials for the industry, leading to colonisation.

An artist's depiction of Industrial Revolution

While the England was at its pinnacle of success as the most industrial, richest, innovative and most powerful nation in the world, another revolution swept through France – the French revolution. This late eighteenth century revolution not only changed the political landscape of France but also changed the world’s view on political practices. By uprooting the age old feudal system, the citizen of France demonstrated the people’s power – an inspiration for democracies and republics which gained popularity in the twentieth century.

Palace of Versailles -a living witness and focal point of French Revolution - is now a tourist point of attraction

As the century turned, the coveted title of the most industrialised nation moved to the United States. The discovery of Oil - the black gold, fuelled the growth of the world economy primarily shifting the focus to the America. With improved methods of production and use, the petroleum became the world’s driving force of growth. Later in the twentieth century, the deserted landscape of the Middle-East started to gain a complete makeover with bustling cities producing the world’s most valuable commodity in terms of industrial use.

With this historical backdrop, let us now move to the views one by one

London | The London Eye | World’s tallest observation wheel


When this rotating observation wheel with 32 capsules was built in the south bank of the river Thames, the architects never expected it to become one of world’s most visited attractions. For, it was neither considered as an architectural wonder nor a technological marvel. However this rotating wheel, which can carry approximately 800 people at a time and offers views as far as 40 kilometres, when opened for visitors in the wake of the new millennium, caught the fancy of the tourists from all over the world.

River Thames and city of London: View from London Eye

Leisurely standing at a capsule of the wheel, which moves at an unnoticed speed of 26 cm per second, it’s a pleasure to see the city of London as it slowly unfolds. The river Thames flows just below at a speed faster than the wheel and is a live witness to the thousands of years of English civilisation, the industrial revolution, the great plague, the great fire, numerous public executions, world wars and so many other events that has shaped the modern England. St Paul’s cathedral with its Renaissance inspired architecture, the palace of Westminster- the parliament house which was rebuilt after the great fire and Big Ben clock tower will not go unnoticed from the view during the 30 minutes of journey. The 360 degree view from the wheel also offers a glimpse to the historic royal palaces –the tower of London, Hampton court and Windsor castle.

150 year old Clock tower or "Big Ben" still stands firm near the Millennium Wheel 

Paris | The Eiffel Tower |The most visited world wonder

A Metal beauty at the heart of renaissance inspired, fashion sensitive Paris. Named after its designer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who is also credited with the design of another famous landmark, the statue of liberty, this is undoubtedly a symbol of romanticism and the icon of France. Built in the year 1889 to commemorate centenary to French Revolution, Eiffel tower with a height of around 1000 feet was the tallest structure in the world till the year 1930.

View of River Seine and city of Paris from the Eiffel  tower

However, this metal structure hasn’t had a smooth journey over time. The advocates of French arts and culture of that time perceived it as an unsightly creation totally out of sync with French taste and raised appeal to demolish it. In fact it was almost dismantled into scrap but then they recognised the utility of the tower to transmit radio and telegraph signals. During World War I, Eiffel tower was used to intercept the radio communications of the enemies. During World War II, Hitler ordered destruction of the tower, but luckily that could not be accomplished. The tower is still standing tall with all its glory as the most stylish monument and welcoming around 7 million visitors per year.

River Seine

Time has changed, so has the taste and likes of Parisians and rest of the world. The once neglected structure is now the most prized possession of the city of Paris. What has not changed is the magnificent antiquity of French art and culture. The river Seine still flows that same way it used to in the time of French Revolution. The arc de Triomphe still boldly displays the valiance of Napoleon Bonaparte, the renaissance is still mirrored in the collection of arts of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo in the Louvre museum; Notre Dame cathedral, Les Invalides and all other Parisian architectures still living like a legend under the unmistaken shadow of the Eiffel tower.

Eiffel tower as seen from Seine

Dubai | Burj Khalifa | Height of height

Untouched by the happenings of the rest of the world, it used to be a sleepy fishing village surrounded by deserted landscape until oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi in the late twentieth century. Since then, it has been a journey of growth and progress for UAE with Dubai emerging as a commercial hub and a major port in the Middle East. It’s also been a paradise for present day designers who have created unprecedented mega structures in the heart of this desert.
Burj Khalifa, world’s tallest man-made structure with a height of 830 meters (2.7 times that of Eiffel tower), stands as a landmark at the heart of Dubai. A view from the observation deck of the tower itself tells a story of Dubai’s recent progress - on one side one can see a deserted landscape and on the other side a world class city complete with skyscrapers, busy roads and moving vehicles. The gulf of Persia can also be seen from the tower, where they have famously built the Palm Jumeira and the world island – two unique man-made islands in the shape of a palm tree and the world’s continents respectively.

Inside Dubai Mall

World’s second largest aquarium housed in the same complex and the world’s largest musical fountain just outside the tower, complement the pride of Burj Khalifa. Dubai is undoubtedly one of the most happening places in the Middle East, the commercial hub and most visited tourist place in the region.

As the time changes, the power and wealth also shifts from region to region. History tells us about how dynasties have been created and destroyed. The rich and famous does not remain so permanently. New wealth is created and new story of growth is written from time to time. And we must realize that the past is the only thing that does not change with time. A view from the top just helps us to realize this truth profoundly.

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Coolest ways to get colourblind

Planet Earth is full of colours. The nature decorates itself with a myriad of colours in its full bloom. But have you imagined a situation when you are overwhelmed with a particular colour, so much so that you see it everywhere as far as you can see and feel, as if you’ve gone colourblind, literally!

The guest post on my blog -World’s best Technicolor destinations provided some food for thought. Why don’t I write about some destinations which give us a colourblind like feeling without actually falling into colour blindness?

So what are you waiting for? Let’s zoom past some spectacular places where the beautiful nature makes you feel colourblind with a single colour all the way as if till infinity.

Canola Fields
Colour Yellow| Season Spring | China

It’s the season of spring at the Luoping County in Yunnan, China. The air is refreshing and the breeze is carrying with it a humming sound of bees. The flowers are in full bloom, and you are standing in front of a vast Yellow Sea. ..Yes, that’s how you would feel if you happen to visit these sprawling fields of blooming Canola flowers. The Canola or Rapeseed flowers, engulf the farmland making it appear as a virtual golden yellow sea that stretches till horizon where the yellow meets the blue. After a breathtaking view of the vast canola fields, if you close and reopen your eyes, you’d surely be flashed by yellow everywhere!

Canola fields. CC Image Courtesy: flickr.com [License]

Shibazakura, Japan
Colour Pink | Season Spring | Japan

Hitsujiyama Park, Japan. CC Image courtesy:flickr.com [license]

Pink is the colour of beauty and love. It also symbolises romanticism, and when thousands of Shibazakura flowers bloom at the foothills of mount Fuji in Japan, your heart cannot stop pounding at the beat of the mild air that sways the nearby cherry blossoms. The season is spring, which brings with it different shades of pink to decorate the Shibazakura moss phloxes and cherry trees of Japan’s Hitsujiyama Park. What more can I say than calling this pink paradise a pretty lady adorned in all sorts of ornamental buds. Here’s a word of caution – some mosses are so intense pink that it might dazzle your eyes causing colour blindness! Who knows!

View of mount Fuji from a Shibazakura garden. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Lavender Fields
Colour Purple| Season Summer | France

Lavender Fields, France. CC Image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Come summer, when the Lavenders bloom in the fields of Provence, southeastern France, and you can do only one thing- just stand at the middle and get speechless and mesmerized at the beauty and vastness of the infinite view of the perfumed gardens. ..And maybe, when you are back to the senses, click a few photographs to capture this unforgettable view of the colour purple at its best. Rest assured that it would be a treat to all your senses.

Pamukkale
Colour White | Season Any | Turkey

Pamukkale, Turkey. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

White – a colour without colours, a colour that symbolises purity and light- is the prime theme of our next landscape – Pamukkale in Denizli province of southwestern Turkey. The giant’s teeth like white terraces formed by white calcium and limestone, coupled with 17 hot springs means a rejuvenating experience to indulge in. The best time to visit is spring/ autumn as the summer is too hot and winter is too cold and snowy. So, get ready to take the plunge into a warm spring, let the sunshine sparkle on the white and be colourblind with the brilliant colourless colour.

Pamukkale, Turkey. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Aurora Borealis
Colour Green | Season Winter| Norway

Aurora Borealis. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Aurora Borealis or the northern lights as it is commonly known, is a supernatural phenomena witnessed in the land of midnight sun. When highly charged electrons from the solar wind get in touch with Earth’s magnetic field, they collide with the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of the atmosphere generating surreal lights mostly green accompanying with blue, red and purple. The lights can be best seen during winter from arctic and Antarctic. Apart from Norway, tourists also flock to Alaska, Northern Canada, Iceland and other Scandinavian countries to witness these enchanting lights.

Aurora Borealis. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Antelope Canyon
Colour Brown | Season Spring-Summer | United States of America

Antelope Canyon, USA. CC image courtesy: flick.com [license]

It’s hard to believe this geological wonder on hard brown rocks is a creation of water streams. The flow shaped walls of the Antelope canyon is primarily a result of thousands of years of flash floods that had been eroding the sandstones and sculpted such unique designs. What makes this space otherworldly is a enchanting beam of sunlight that peek through the upper opening of the canyon adding a heavenly touch to the curves and making it a true photographer’s delight . The radiating beam of light is though visible during April to September only. But the risk of flash flood, during the monsoon (July-September), cannot be ruled out.

Red Seabeach
Colour Red |Season Autumn| China

Now it’s time to get colourblind with red – intense, dark, crimson red at Panjin, China. Red sea beach, which derives the name from the red grass of Chenopodiaceae that grows in the Chinese wetland, is a complete treat to the eyes particularly for those who are passionate about the colour red. Located in the delta of Liaohe river, it’s also the world’s biggest wetland and a resting place for a number of species of migratory birds and a variety of wild animals. The green grass of this shallow sea turns red during autumn and envelopes the entire 25 km stretch with flaming red colour as if somebody had laid a royal red carpet to welcome you!

Panjin Red beach, China. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Salar de Uyuni
Colour Blue |Season Autumn (March-May) | Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Also known as the world’s largest mirror, this flat salt bed with a whopping 10,500 sq. km setting, located at southwest Bolivia creates stunning reflections on it as if somebody has photoshopped the lanscape. Whenever there is a little rainfall, the bright white bed of salt turns into a gigantic mirror and starts reflecting the objects on it…And when you stand on the bright rocks, you can feel the blue sky all over – up and down beneath you. It’s a unique phenomenon on earth and the best place to see the colour blue in its all encompassing form.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Fall Foliage
Colour Orange | Season Autumn | Canada/ North America

Color of fall.CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

It’s a magician called the season of autumn that colours the nature by painting all its trees and the entire setting turns into a blazing fair of vivid orange. It’s orange, orange and orange all the way, albeit with a lesser mix of red, yellow and purple. The autumn phenomenon of Fall Foliage can be seen in many places but the most flamboyant of all are best witnessed in the gorgeous rocky mountains and Québec (Canada), Glacier National Park, Yellow stone national park, Colorado and Vermont (USA) to name a few.

Color of fall.CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

Moonlit Sky
Colour Black | Season Any| All throughout the globe

Night sky. CC image courtesy: flickr.com [license]

If I had to name a new colour, it would have been the moonlit black. Yes it is our ageless sky which appears the same for rich and poor and offers the same view wherever you are on the planet. The night sky is black as hell but the heavenly sublime lights from the moon and the endless stars accentuate the beauty of the night sky into a view which is surreal, divine and simply out of the world, literally and metaphorically.

So, do you agree that sometimes it’s not that bad to get colourblind, at least fleetingly?

Cover photo is distributable under Creative Commons license

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Lost in Salalah with Ali: The old man and the season of Khareef

Uncertainty, dilemma, bewilderment – some people hate these words. For some others, they are the part and parcel of life. In the context to travelling, these words decide which type of traveler you are. Some people prefer to plan everything in advance and even make provisions for the probable uncertainties. Some others jump at once and start enjoying whatever comes on their way, while some weird travelers like me simply let happen whatever would happen and keep exploring at the expense of all the uncertainties and yet end up with wonderful memories.

Has it ever happened to you that you travel around a place without having any idea about where you’re heading or what lies ahead? Have you ever been guided by somebody with whom you could barely interact?

Our visit to Salalah was one of such eccentric yet memorable experience where we confided with an unknown companion and explored this beautiful dreamland on the southern peninsula of the Sultanate of Oman.

First let me introduce you to the place called Salalah. Surrounded by lush green Dhofar Mountains, Salalah is located at a distance of 1100 kilometers south of the capital city of Muscat. It’s the second largest city of the sultanate and is adjacent to Oman’s border with Yemen. Salalah is traditionally known for its Frankincense trees, which is used as an ingredient in incense and perfumes and has been one of world’s top trading destinations of this commodity during the medieval times.

Salalah in Khareef - the monsoon season

It is also one of the top tourist destinations in the gulf region. Salalah’s landscape undergoes a complete makeover during the Khareef season. It’s the monsoon season that brings lots of rainfall during the months of June to September and the hot and arid desert climate turns humid with lots of clouds on the sky and dense fogs enveloping the horizon and beyond. This is the time when wild plants and flowers adorn the mountains and the plains of Salalah and it appears to be painted in a mystifying shade of sparkling green. This is also the time when this place is crowded by tourists from all over the world – particularly from Muscat and rest of Gulf region to enjoy the short lived Khareef season in its full bloom.

Salalah in Khareef - the monsoon season

I heard so many great stories about this splendid place, its great tourist attractions and about the Khareef season but never seriously considered visiting it partially because of the long distance (12 hours by road) and mainly because of the old wives tale that Salalah’s Khareef season had nothing to offer than a green landscape and a humid climate, and it could only mesmerize the desert dwellers but not those acquainted to green landscapes. It was not to be.

It was July – mid summer and while almost whole of Middle East was under severe heat under the cruelest form of the Sun, Salalah was welcoming the clouds and the fogs. The Eid holidays were just declared and it suddenly struck our minds to take this opportunity to see Salalah. We had to think twice before taking this decision. First, it was the peak tourist season and prices were sky high. Second, holy month of Ramadan was still not over. It’s worthwhile to mention that Omanis observe fasting during the month of Ramadan. Food items are not sold openly and it’s customary for everyone including the tourists not to eat or drink publicly from dawn to dusk.

However, we had one solid reason to go for the trip – to get away from the burning heat of Muscat for a few days and after a long discussion with my wife, I went on to book the tickets the same day. The hotel prices were 2 to 3 times the normal tariff but finally we could find a hotel online at 40 Rials ($105) per night. So, we two packed our bags quickly and boarded the bus to Salalah the same night.

It was a long and tiring journey. As it was a single carriageway, we could not sleep due to the lights coming out of vehicles from the opposite side. The bus halted twice on the way for the passengers to take food. Finally it was morning and we could see gentle rays of sunshine. We were moving through a barren landscape and it was endless deserts all the way as far as we could see.

Suddenly, the Sun was encircled by a thick strand of clouds and it started to become denser and darker as we moved on. Finally, when the road turned to a slope of a hill, raindrops started pouring in all over. We peeped through the foggy windows and it was green all over. Monsoon had arrived to welcome us to Salalah, to a season called Khareef.

Salalah in Khareef - the monsoon season

By the time we reached the bus stop, the rain had subsided but the clouds were still around. An Omani taxi driver (only citizens are allowed to drive taxi) approached us.

Ad Dahariz beach – I asked the taxi driver. This is the place where our hotel was located.

He looked at me and raised 7 fingures and said –Rials.

7 Riyals was too much but we accepted. We were not in a mood to look out further.

During the short 7 minutes’ drive to the hotel, we wanted to strike a conversation with the driver but unfortunately he could comprehend little. He said something in Arabic, to which we simply smiled.

We reached hotel. The driver accompanied us to the reception and said something to the man. The receptionist translated it to us: Mr. Ali, the driver wants to know if you are interested in visiting the places in and around Salalah with him. He will start it at morning 9 and show you different places till 2:30 pm for 40 Riyals.

No way – I told myself, we will find somebody with whom we can communicate properly.

Please give us your contact number. I will call you if we require your help – I told Ali. The hotel receptionist, who claims to have elementary knowledge of Arabic, explained it to Ali. We were completely exhausted. So, we decided to retire to our hotel room and take rest for the rest of the day. I took this opportunity to browse internet and study about the must visit attractions of Salalah and finally ended up with an itinerary for next 2 days covering all the must visit attractions.

Everything was going fine but now we hit the dead end. For, there was no taxi to be found. The hotel receptionist told us that it would be really difficult to get a taxi due to the ongoing Ramadan. I used all my contacts and possible sources and finally found a man who was willing to take us with him for 60 Rial for a 3 hour sightseeing.

It was way too high, besides all our hard work of reaching Salalah would be useless for a meagre 3 hour sightseeing!

So, I used the last alternative. I called Ali.

Ali picked the phone. I introduced myself –you remember me? I was the one whom you dropped to hotel this morning….

Mafi Maloom – Ali replied and disconnected the phone. I knew the meaning of what he said. It meant-I don’t know. There was nobody to help us. Even the receptionist who translated Ali this morning left for the day. The new person didn’t know Arabic.

We were disappointed. We travelled such a long distance without any planning or preparation and now all our efforts were going to be wasted and we would have to confine ourselves to the hotel room and Dahariz beach for rest of the tour!

Dahariz Beach

We decided to wait till the next morning and then go to the city to lookout for a taxi for the tour. For the evening, we had nothing to do but to stroll around the beach, sip fresh coconut water (which is very inexpensive), and take some snaps of wild flowers and seagulls.
…
Next morning was dark and cloudy and it began to drizzle. We were taking breakfast at our hotel room when we received a call.

It was the receptionist – Good morning Sir! Your driver is waiting for you.

We were surprised. I went down and saw Ali waiting there. He smiled at me.

I greeted him and took out my itinerary from my pocket and explained him:

Look, we want to visit Wadi Darbat, Taqa, zero gravity point, Raysut falls, ............

It was of no use. Ali seemed to be completely oblivious of these places except Wadi Darbat. The receptionist also joined in to help us to communicate even though his own understanding of the language was not of very high standards.

So, thus it began. Here we were, in an unknown territory, with an unknown man, communicating with languages unknown to each other and moving ahead with an unknown itinerary.

Ali started to speak. It was difficult to understand, but we could make out some meaning from his speech. Probably he was talking about the hospitality of the Omani people, about His Majesty the Sultan and may be about the beautiful scenery of Salalah.

I tried to make best use of my body language, expressions and gestures but it all led to more confusion. Ali pointed to a large hotel on the roadside and tried to express that it was a great hotel.

Must be expensive – I told him. He looked at me seeming not to understand what I just said.

I gestured as if counting money. More money, big money- I told him by showing a high level with my hand. He turned his car and moved towards the hotel.

We were puzzled – why are we going inside? He didn’t reply. He stopped his car near the hotel entrance and pointed to an ATM.

Oh! Now I understood. My attempt to express the word ‘expensive’ by means of a gesture to count money was mistaken by him that I wanted to withdraw money from an ATM! We understood it would be for the benefit of us all not to experiment with gestures. It would only lead to more confusion.

Ali moved on, and with him we also moved on. After half an hour of drive Ali stopped his car on an isolated road and signalled us to get down from the car. It was barren land as far as we could see. We were puzzled but got out of the car. Ali pointed his fingure to something at a distance. We could see something moving towards us. Soon, it appeared bigger and bigger and finally we could recognise it. It was a hard of wild camels. There were thousands of them. It was a nice experience to see such an unbelievable number of camels crossing the road just in front of us.

Camels of Salalah

Ali then moved on again and stopped his car for a photo opportunity near the wadi Sumhuram.

After that he took us to the ruins of Khor Rori (also known as Sumhuram). It was an ancient fortified town and a port which dated back to 3rd century BC. During the heydays, this port was used for export of Frankincense to Europe, Mediterranean and India. It’s listed as part of “Land of Frankincense” as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Sumhurum or Khor Rori a world heritage site

A Frankincense tree at the ruins of Khor Rori 

Next we headed toward the Wadi Darbat – the most visited tourist attraction of Salalah. As we entered the uphill road to the Wadi, it was green all the way. Washed in rains, the green leaves were beaded with sparkling droplets of water. The cattle were grazing on the freshly grown grass and fogs were flying here and there. Nobody would believe that it’s Oman. It seemed like a dense forest of Africa!

Wadi Darbat

Wadi Darbat

We spent some time at Wadi Darbat. It was difficult to walk there as the ground was slippery with rainwater pouring over wild grasses. Still I managed to run as much as I could on the grasses.

As we were coming out of Wadi Darbat, Ali called somebody and offered the phone to me to talk. It was a voice in plain English – Hi! Eid Mubarak to you. I’m Salim – Ali’s friend. My friend can only speak Arabic. So, he wants me to ask you if you are facing any problem. Are you enjoying the trip with him?

I thanked Salim and told him that Ali’d been fantastic as a guide: “Even though, we cannot communicate in words, it’s been a fabulous trip so far. Tell him that we are thankful to him for taking us to all these good places.”

I will tell Ali. He will be pleased – Salim Said.

So, where are we heading now? – I asked Salim.

Now my friend will take you to Arjaat (Ayn Razzat). You will enjoy this place. Do not hesitate to call me if you need any help. I will be available on phone in case you need any clarification with Ali.

Ayn Razzat

Ali smiled and we headed for Ayn Razzat. It’s a beautiful place with a spring water cannel, surrounded by mountains. One of the mountains had a small cave in it. The flower garden was also lovely.

The garden at Ayn Razzat

As we were leaving Ayn Razzat, I asked Ali: what’s next. He lifted both his hands up as if praying and said: Allah ho Akbar.

I understood it was Friday and it’s time for the weekly prayer in the mosque.

Ali parked his car near a mosque and went inside the mosque after showing his watch to us signalling half an hour. It was a picturesque location. So, instead of waiting in the car we explored the beautiful plains which were green with newly grown wild plants and flowers.

This is how Khareef changes the landscape of Salalah

Next we headed towards Ayn Sahalnoot. It is a natural spring surrounded by limestone formations. Kids were playing and some adults were trying a hand on climbing the hills. Another such site we had visited during our trip was Ain Garzis. It’s also natural spring popular with tourists.

Ayn Sahalnoot

After Sahalnoot, Ali steered towards a hilly road, which I would consider as one of the drives to remember. It was a green tunnel – a curvy road enveloped by lines of trees, dense and deep. It was raining heavily and we drove with lights on. It was a trip of a lifetime. We crossed the long tunnel which took about 25 minutes and came back to the plains.

Road towards the Green Tunnel

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at Ittin. Ali halted his car near the road side. We went out of the car and tried to climb a small hill. The soil was too slippery. But when we reached to the top we realised the effort was worth taking. It was a full 360 degree view of Salalah. It was green, green and green all over, which Salalah is famous for. People flock here to see the greenery and the monsoon. It’s the well-known Khareef season that turns this place to such a paradise that it’s hard to believe to be a part of the Middle East Asia. And it’s the lesser known people like Ali who makes this place even more beautiful.

Ittin

We reached hotel at about 3 pm. I asked Ali about tomorrow’s programme. He only said: Mughsayl beach. (I will write another blogpost about our visit to Mughsayl beach as I have a lot of things to share about this natural wonder.)

We could have called Salim to get more clarification on next day’s schedule. But we didn’t. We didn’t even call Salim during our trip to Mughsayl beach the next day. We just loved the way we were exploring with Ali. We loved getting lost with Ali.
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Ali also came to drop us at the bus stop. It was our return journey in a day bus. He parked his car in a place reserved for physically handicapped. During our tour it never got unnoticed that Ali was paralysed. He could move only one hand. But he is a master in driving, which is evident in the way he changes gears with just one hand!

With Ali

We thanked Ali. We called Salim and conveyed our gratitude. Salim advised us to buy some Frankincense before we get into the bus. Ali smiled at us and told something in Arabic. We could not understand the meaning but it was sure that he was not talking about the ATM or the hotel. It must have been some good wishes.

Some journeys are made in earth! They are made to be enjoyable by proper planning, research and expert help. We make all efforts to know in advance about the dos and don’ts and every piece of information that saves us from all the hustles and bustles.

Some other journeys are made in heaven – made out of the blue but turn out to be pleasant! It may be due to the extraordinary ability of the traveler to explore the unknown, or a companion who guides you through the path or due to sheer luck. It reminds me the song – I need to know I can be lost and not afraid.
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So get ready for a journey where the itinerary is finalized only after it is over! Take the plunge and face the challenge of uncertainty and you will be rewarded by beautiful surprise of discovering something new.

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