Posted by Navin Ganesh on May 15, 2007 in
Salalah This is a very famous tourist attraction just 50kms from Salalah city. Salalah is about 1000kms from Muscat, which is the capital of Oman. Salalah has a lot of natural tourist spots which are a must see. So, if you are visiting Oman don’t miss it.
The drive to Mughsayl is quite ordinary and is desert on both sides pretty much all the way. But once you get to Mughsayl, you can have great fun getting amused by the blowholes. The blowholes are actually air holes on the floor which cut through rock to the bottom, where the sea hits land. I guess its difficult to visualize, as I can’t remember hearing about anything similar, anywhere else in the world. (Hope the photos would be of some help!).
When the waves from the sea hit the rock, because of these vents on the ground, air and water is forced up the vent and comes up almost like a fountain, but the volume of water and force of air is awesome. It is something that is very enjoyable when you are actually waiting near the blowholes for the air and water to spray up.
Ofcourse there is an element of luck. If the waves are not strong then you might not get the chance to see the blowholes spraying up in full vigour. But I would say, for the experience, its worth a shot. And there are also other things, so you invariably end up having a great time anyway.
Anyway the whole place is very beautiful, with water hitting against solid rock mountains of the Southern Oman coast. Just a short drive from the blowholes place you have a nice beach where you can hangout over a snack. It’s a great picnic spot and if you go as a group, you are bound to have great fun.
Once you are done at the Blowholes, you can head further down the road and away from Salalah. This road leads you to the neighboring country, Yemen, which is about 150kms from there. But you can have a great time driving through these mountainous roads.
They roads are wide, very safe and its a thrilling experience driving through the mountainous roads which go up and down. You’ve got roads that are really steep with over a 45 degrees climb. You might even encounter some camels and mountain goats on your way. There are also some nice spots to park your car and click some scenic photos with the mountains in the background. Its definitely something you are going to want to remember for a long time.
Posted by Gayathri Jagannathan on May 13, 2007 in
Salalah Let me first brief you about Salalah. Salalah is a beautiful place situated 1000 km south of Muscat the capital of Oman. In this post I shall concentrate on one particular place called Hasik. Hasik is about 200 km from Salalah city. The roads were recently laid (about 2 years ago) and the drive along the southern oman coast is enjoyable!
I should definitely be elaborating on the drive as you would witness the nature’s beauty through out your drive to Hasik. As you cross the city, you would be driving through the mountains, and one thing you must watch is the natural change in the color of the mountain terrain from brown, red, dark brown/black to white. Once you are about 100 km from Salalah, you get the beautiful sea on the right and on the other side is the mountain. There are lots of places along the drive where you can park your car and enjoy the beautiful view of the sea and click some snaps.
Now to the main place. Once you reach Hasik, you find the most mysterious waterfall!! There is a huge rock mountain and the beach on the opposite side. But I still wonder how the water falls from this mountain. From the top of the rocky mountain there is always water falling. Ofcourse the force of the waterfall depends on the season, but there is at least some water dripping into a small stream and you won’t miss that no one when you go. The water falls only from this particular mountain which is what makes Hasik famous. The water that falls is cold and after a hot drive and it is great to get yourself wet, wondering where the water falls from!!!
Another kilometer drive from this place is the ‘Pebbles Beach’ which is also a must see. The newly laid road extends to another kilometer and then the ‘Kucha’ (unlaid) road begins. You can park the car there and walk around on the beach. You would find hardly any sand on the coast. Trust me its pebbles all over. You find amazing colors of pebbles and shells. (Wow… I don’t think i’ll ever get fed up of collecting those). Every pebble has something in it. They are just beautiful and once you start collecting them, you just can’t stop yourself.
When you go to the water, what I saw there was something I had not seen anywhere else. As there is no sand, and only pebbles, when the waves hit the pebbled shore and go back into the sea, the water filtering between the pebbles creates a musical sound which is just indescribable. You just have to hear it yourself, and it just makes you feel one with nature.
This place is really a treat for everyone’s eyes. So if you are planning to visit this place, my suggestion is that, you start early in the morning after your breakfast and pack up a lunch. There are lots of places where you can sit in the shade of the mountain by the waterfall and have a leisurely lunch. Once the sun has gone down, you can have a great time on the beach and return back to the city by night.
