On route to Al-Ain we headed back via Jabal Akhdar (or the green mountain) part of the Hajar mountain range. At over 2km tall this was definitely an awesome sight to behold.
Most of the mountain is scattered with roads and tracks that wind their way through the Mountains. with over 30 populated villages on this part of the mountain range, this place isn't as desolate as it looks.
We drove to a local beauty spot known locally as Diana's Viewpoint (something to do with when princess Diana visited Oman, she was brought to this spot because of the views via helicopter and so the name stuck) for the spectacular views overlooking the rest of the mountain range. It was here we stopped for lunch. Never has a salad and tuna sandwich tasted this satisfying all washed down with a stomach full of this gorgeously inspiring view.
You really do feel as if you are sitting on top of the world
the eerie quietness leads you to stop and appreciate the finer things in life
yes you are right, i was absorbed in a moments contemplation and meditation
for any of you considering the trip to Jabal Akhdar, it comes highly recommended!
Standing on top of the world (or so it felt like it!)
Now a word of warning! there are police checkpoints on all the roads entering onto Jabal Akhdar, with good reason. Only 4wd's are allowed on the mountain and with good reason. Put it this way, when a polce officer hands you some kind of safety leaflet - read it! Unfortunately I didnt and almost paid dearly. Due to the extreme gradients a lot of stress is put on your car therefore you have to adapt your driving technique and need a 4wd for the added traction and if necessary low range gears and better engine braking etc. To cut a long story short, on my way back down, I booted it down the mountain using hard braking at the bends however what i didnt realise was the hard braking was smoking out my brakes and had I not, half way down, decided to stop and read the leaflet the coppers had given me (it also conatined other touristy information), I would have become another statistic of some dopey tourist whose car caught fire because he overworked his brakes and ended up turning into a crashing fireball hurtling down the side of the mountain!
Most of the mountain is scattered with roads and tracks that wind their way through the Mountains. with over 30 populated villages on this part of the mountain range, this place isn't as desolate as it looks.
We drove to a local beauty spot known locally as Diana's Viewpoint (something to do with when princess Diana visited Oman, she was brought to this spot because of the views via helicopter and so the name stuck) for the spectacular views overlooking the rest of the mountain range. It was here we stopped for lunch. Never has a salad and tuna sandwich tasted this satisfying all washed down with a stomach full of this gorgeously inspiring view.
You really do feel as if you are sitting on top of the world
the eerie quietness leads you to stop and appreciate the finer things in life
yes you are right, i was absorbed in a moments contemplation and meditation
for any of you considering the trip to Jabal Akhdar, it comes highly recommended!
Standing on top of the world (or so it felt like it!)
Now a word of warning! there are police checkpoints on all the roads entering onto Jabal Akhdar, with good reason. Only 4wd's are allowed on the mountain and with good reason. Put it this way, when a polce officer hands you some kind of safety leaflet - read it! Unfortunately I didnt and almost paid dearly. Due to the extreme gradients a lot of stress is put on your car therefore you have to adapt your driving technique and need a 4wd for the added traction and if necessary low range gears and better engine braking etc. To cut a long story short, on my way back down, I booted it down the mountain using hard braking at the bends however what i didnt realise was the hard braking was smoking out my brakes and had I not, half way down, decided to stop and read the leaflet the coppers had given me (it also conatined other touristy information), I would have become another statistic of some dopey tourist whose car caught fire because he overworked his brakes and ended up turning into a crashing fireball hurtling down the side of the mountain!
No comments:
Post a Comment