Tag: Wadi Darbat

Memories of Covid Khareefs (and a few gentle reminders for tourists)

Some images from past khareefs (monsoon season) and if I may say,

  • please put on your headlights because a grey, black or white car on grey road in fog = invisibility
  • it is usually not a great idea to pass a local driver at high speed (when I was driving this morning, I slowed down as I knew that there was a dip in the road ahead that collected water, a car from other country raced ahead of me at high speed, hit the puddle and slid across the road into the other lane)
  • I understand that kids like to hang out of car windows, but allowing them to do this while you are driving 120 kph… that’s hard for me to understand
  • please do not drive on grass in the mountains – it is the food for Dhofar’s camels, cows, goats and donkeys
  • and most importantly: the mountains are kinda permanent. They are not going to move, thank heavens. Also, the many beautiful places in Dhofar are not going to relocate anytime soon. Muqsal, Ittin, Ain Razat and many other lovely locations are waiting for you and they will not go anyplace else. Darbat has given me a special promise that Darbat will stay exactly where it is until you arrive. And we all want you to arrive safely, so there is no need for anyone to honk, tailgate, overtake on blind curves or cut off another car – other drivers and all of Dhofar’s wonderful wildlife, especially the cows who like to sleep on the roads, will thank you!

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Hurricane Mekunu

Still trying to get my house dried out. Deepest thanks to the electricity, water and phone companies – all three stayed on during the storm which made everything easier. The government did a great job of warning people (to the point of forcing people to evacuate from low-lying areas), arranging free housing, food and water. Many civil aid trucks are out and about; roads are getting cleared. Darbat is RUNNING!