It’s been 3 days since I returned to Muscat after my week-long trekking trip in Jebel Akhdar, to which I devoted the first part of my traveling time in Oman. By now, I have rested well and my spirit is itching once again for new adventures. I decided that my second traveling round in Oman is going to be used up for a road trip. After having searched amply, I finally made a good deal for a Hyundai Accent car for one week. So, on this mellow afternoon, I set out from Oman’s capital. My first destination: the As Sifah beach.
As Sifah is situated on the north coast of Oman, some 50 km from Muscat to the southeast. I fuelled up and started on my way out of the city. I took the Bait Al Falaj Street, and then the Qantab Road leading southeast from Muscat. The roads were of excellent quality throughout the whole trip: perfectly fit for a 2WD sedan car.
The route offered some pretty outstanding sceneries to satisfy the eye. The road meandered up and down through arid, rugged mountains. Only a few lonely trees were to be seen here and there, urging the spectator to closely appreciate what a miracle life is.
The area was mostly desolate. But the road passed through Yiti and Al Khayran villages, as well as a number of smaller settlements, where a few human souls were to be seen. Dressed in their traditional outfits, they either were employed on some toil or indulging in leisure in some shade outside of their derelict shacks (as is most common with Arabs, the latter was usually the case).
Soon enough, I was entering the village of As Sifah, which is the last village to be encountered before the paved road terminates. I first proceeded with an evaluating drive around the village. There was a resort by the southern end of the beach which didn’t seem very busy. Nor was the village on the whole particularly busy. Despite its relatively large size, there was hardly any motion in the streets.
Having driven around a good deal, I then headed to that spot on the beach where Google Maps claimed a cafe was located. The only thing I found there was a ravaged wooden shed, which, apparently, used to be a cafe once upon a time.
I then drove to the centre of the village. There were a few kids playing in the streets. That was pretty much the first instance I saw people in this village. I luckily also found an open shop to supply myself with food and water.
It was getting late and it was about time for me to settle. I took the dirt road leading north along the shore from the village and wound up at a very nice spot by the beach’s northern end. I parked the car in the shade of a tree and pitched the tent beside it to shelter it from the wind. I took a stroll on the beach to wonder at the beautiful colorations the dropping sun cast over the sea and the sky, and I leisurely started working on my dinner.
Contrary to my expectations, the traffic suddenly started to thicken up as sundown approached and the night progressed. It was, in fact, Thursday, I realized then. A number of large campers companies, apparently from Muscat, started to gradually assemble throughout the evening in their big jeeps. Later on, a few of them went nuts riding motocrosses and ATV’s up and down the beach. I didn’t mind the noise as much as the prospect of being run over by one of them in the middle of the night. Nevertheless, I slept like a log.
The morning was charming and mild. The young mad Arab riders were probably fast asleep and the quiet was restored. Only waves and breeze were to be heard. I had a good breakfast and a cup of coffee, tossed all my stuff helter-skelter into the trunk, and drove away towards my next destination: the Bandar Al Khayran Bay.
Accommodation and Activities in Oman
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