Golden Sands and Golden Honey in Oman

Arriving in the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands to set up camp we were faced with flying sand and strong winds; a normal sunset event as the weather heats up. We couldn’t really do anything till the wind had died down – and today it really didn’t want to . Eventually having stretched the time of our move into plan B – a departure to a permanent camp – we were relieved that the wind did die down – and up the tents went in the darkness. Steaks cooked and baked potatoes unwrapped and the meal was good to eat.

Dawn at our Desert Camp

Our reward for all the hassle of the camp was to come. We stopped mid afternoon for a Coffee break . Here Coffee is accompanied by Honey Comb dripping with fresh Omani honey – too sweet to be good but wonderful none-the-less .

Coffee and Honey

Empty Quarter Desert, Oman

The Empty Quarter / Rub al Khali offers a great chance to sleep under the stars . On my way to Salalah, I drove through the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali ) to spend the night there . The coldest I have ever been in a desert was a couple of years ago when the thermometer dropped to 2c . Fortunately, though cold, at about 10c, my night this time wasn’t so bad. However, perhaps because of the chill or because the Moon had set – I woke at about 2pm. Above was a black sky set with diamonds of stars – wonderful.

A climb up a Mega Dune in the Rub Al Khali

Needless to say a climb up a Mega Dune was called for and though not as extraordinary as the night sky – the view at dawn from the top is also breathtaking .

A Bee guards her hive in Salalah

The next day I arrived in Salalah and amongst other things came face to face with a friends Bees . He had moved his hives from the mountains because of the cold and wind – I could understand why.