Worldrecordtour, Weltrekordreise, Asia, Middle East, Oman, Muscat, Musandam, Pictures, Guinness Book of Records, Toyota, LandCruiser, Emil Schmid, Liliana Schmid

Pictures of our trip 2013 to Oman – part 1 – Musandam Peninsula
Oman’s Exclave at the Strait of Hormuz
- with our vehicle in February 2013:

Oman 1999 - from mid-March to mid-April 1999
Oman 2013 – Part 2 - February 2013: Sohar - Muscat - Rustaq - Nizwa
Oman 2013 – Part 3 - March 2013: Sur - East Coast - Island of Masirah - Dhofar
Oman 2013 – Part 4 - March 2013: Salalah & Surroundings (Dhofar) - Nizwa
Oman 2013 – Part 5 - March 2013: Western Hajar Mountains
(Oman 2013 – Part 6) - April 2013: Omani Madha Exclave in the UAE

Oman Map	Middle East Map
Oman Map	Middle East Map
latest picture: February 2, 2013 click a picture to see details


*001* The hamlet Ghumdah and a few fishing boats lay picturesquely between the Arabian Gulf and the rugged mountain scenery along the coastal road from the UAE border of Tibat to Khasab, the capital of Musandam .....	002 ..... it nestles on the foot of the mountain	003 At Quida fishing boats and an Arab dhow lie peacefully in one of the many fjords. The Musandam Peninsula is dubbed “Norway of Arabia"


*004* Life is still relaxed in Khasab, the capital. The restaurant in front of the main mosque is a popular meeting place of the male society	005 Bearded men dominate the scene of the town. An Omani is gossiping with a friend	006 The Khasab Fort was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century and houses now a museum


*007* Mosques and goats are an integral part of the Omani charm …..	008 ..... in front of the dramatic mountain scenery they are especially stunning	009 Speed boats are lined up in the harbor – smuggling vessels that transport US cigarettes and electronics to neigh- boring Iran at dark. Piracy and contraband had a long tradition in Oman


*010* A flagged government building and two minarets shine in an impeccable white against the dark mountain peaks	011 Oriental villas in the city center of Khasab are testimony of their long seafarer tradition. Here a model of a dhow is “floating” over the entrance …..	012 ..... and here the entrance of the villa is decorated with fine Iranian tiles and a maritime theme


*013* Sea gulls gather at the “Bassa“ beach – shortly before Khasab – the only sandy beach in Musandam	014 Omanis in their impeccable white dishdashas gather on the rock above “Bassa” beach	015 We park our LandCuriser at the upper end of “Bassa” Beach


*016* The gravel road to the viewpoint of “Khor an-Najd” (inlet of Najd) winds through a spectacular rock scenery. The bay is about 15 miles southeast of Khasab …..	017 ….. the view to “Khor an-Najd” is just breathtaking …..	018 ..... and invites to linger and to enjoy a picnic


*019* From the viewpoint the track winds through switchbacks down to the bay of „Khor an-Najd“, where some fishing boats bob up and down – a lovely spot to camp .....	020 ..... our LandCruiser looks like an ant between the rock towers while descending to the bay …..	021 ..... finally we move down the mountain track and return to the tarmac road that is about two miles ahead


*022* The small acacia forest is a curiosity in Musandam’s rugged mountain scenery, because such a cluster is rare in this part of the world	023 This lovely acacia tree marks the end of the road to Sall-Ala	024 Shade providing trees are treasured by both: picnickers and goats


*025* From the gravel road winding up to Jebel al-Harim (or Jebel as-Sayh), the highest mountain in Musandam (6’847 ft.), we enjoy the panorama north-north-east over the rugged mountain scenery with its geological formations	026 A lovely moment: On our way to Jebel Harim we have a reencounter with Karsten and his son Cedric. They are travelling with a red Toyota LandCruiser from Switzerland. We first met them in the UAE in Dubai	027 The higher we climb towards Jebel Harim, the more impressive the view over canyons and peaks gets


*028* After the fertile Sayh Plateau with its patchwork of fields and grazing donkeys we make a break to enjoy the spectacular scenery	029 The rocks with the hanging plants and the stone shelter ruin along the mountain track are a curiosity	030 Another switchback on our steep climb to Jebel Harim


*031* Looking back to the fertile Sayh Plateau	032 The little hamlet as-Sayh sits at the edge of the steep track that leads us to Jebel Harim	033 Wild, rugged and lonely: The track to Jebel Harim


*034* Our LandCruiser is driving through a moon like landscape towards the summit	035 On the peak of the 6’847 ft. high Jebel Harim sits – besides a military installation – a telecommunication tower. It is not open to the public	036 Wrapped into a warm winter coat, Liliana admires the fascinating mountain scenery. At almost 6’500 ft. height, temperatures can fall here at night to freezing point


*037* After the pass, the descent to Wadi Bih starts	038 View towards south-south-west: Still uncultivated patches of fields cover not easily accessible small plateaus	039 An isolated small settlement comes into view on our descent to Wadi Bih


*040* The track to Wadi Bih runs on the mountain ridge and reveals on both sides fantastic views over a canyon and the river valley	041 One more stop to take in the views before we climb another hill	042 The dry riverbed of Wadi Bih unrolls below us. Viewing direction upstream towards Ba’neh


*043* Close to the point of our return at Wadi Bih (the border crossing to the east of the UAE – Fujairah – is only open for Omanis and Emiratis). The mountain track, which is climbing another pass to Dibba at the UAE east coast, is visible in the background	044 At each stop we discover new rock patterns	045 Simply stunning: Looking back to the “crossroads” in the dry river valley of Wadi Bih, where the tracks to Ba’neh (upstream to the left), to the Rawdah Bowl (slightly left) and to the right towards Dibba (crossing another pass - see pic 43) resp. towards Ras al-Khaima (down the valley) branch off


*046* Wonders of nature: Even between these bare rocks plants are growing	047 ..... close-up view of the pinkish blossoms	048 A thorny bush with yellow flowers


*049* Our wild camping spot between Wadi Bih and the mountain pass of Jebel Harim	050 This is typically Oman: A lonely acacia tree, a hamlet nestling at the foot of a steep mountain slope (Khasab Valley)	051 A car driver waves and smiles: Hospitality is legendary in Oman


*052* A picnic on the rocks at “Bassa Beach“. Today we try garlic cream, onion pickles from Egypt and cucumbers from Syria (both are horrendously salty) …..	053 ..... below us – on the sandy beach – locals are pitching up their tent for the weekend .....	054 ..... the setting sun transforms the rocks opposite the beach in a glowing golden light


*055* 2/5/2013 – Farewell to Musandam. At the harbor the cruiser “Atlantica” of the well-known Costa-Line is berthing .....	056 ..... next to it sits the new car ferry of the NFC (National Ferries Company) which will bring our LandCruiser and us for OMR 40 (~US$ 100) to Shinas in the “mainland” of Oman …..	057 ….. This is the corner where our LandCruiser will spend the next five hours on sea. It is its 279th shipping trip


*058* Two different worlds greet at our good-byes: A traditional Omani dhow …..	059 ..... and the cruiser carrying more than 3’500 tourists that calls every week at Khasab, coming from Dubai in the UAE, and flooding this otherwise lovely quiet exclave with partly insensitive tourists	060 On our voyage to Shinas, Musandam’s distinctive rugged seashore is escorting us for a long time. Herewith the second visit of an exclave is ending again with a boat trip – analog of the visit of Oecussi, the exclave of Timor-Leste (East Timor)

More websites from Oman: Oman 1999 - from mid-March to mid-April 1999 Oman 2013 – Part 2 - February 2013: Sohar - Muscat - Rustaq - Nizwa Oman 2013 – Part 3 - March 2013: Sur - East Coast - Island of Masirah - Dhofar Oman 2013 – Part 4 - March 2013: Salalah & Surroundings (Dhofar) - Nizwa Oman 2013 – Part 5 - March 2013: Western Hajar Mountains (Oman 2013 – Part 6) - April 2013: Omani Madha Exclave in the UAE More websites from the Middle East: Fairytale Wedding in Dubai - United Arab Emirates - with our car from February 7th, to May 20th, 1999 Sharjah + Dubai: United Arab Emirates - without our vehicle from February 19th, to 27th, 2011 Sharjah/Dubai/1st Traveler's Festival/Emirates National Auto Museum - UAE with car Nov. 2012 to Jan. 2013 - part 1 Liwa - United Arab Emirates with our car in February 2013 - part 2 Al Ain, Eastcoast & Ras al Khaima - United Arab Emirates with our car in April 2013 - part 3 Welcome to Kuwait on March 3rd, 1996 Yemen car trip (from Oman to Saudi Arabia) - from May 16th, to June 15th, 1996 Sandstorm in Saudi Arabia on February 4th, 1999 Trip to Dubai in January and February 1999 Iran 2013 – Part 1: Ferry Port Bandar Abbas-Shiraz-Persepolis-Pasargad (between Persepolis and Yazd) Iran 2013 – Part 2: Pasargad (excl.)-Yazd-Esfahan – May 2013 Iran 2013 – Part 3: Esfahan (excl.)-Chelgerd-Hamadan-Sanandaj-Orumiyeh – May 2013 Turkey 2013 – Eastern Anatatolia - June 2013 Socotra - without our car from February 9th, to 19th, 2011: Part 1: Socotra trip in Yemen (East) – Hadibo - Dihamri - Arher Beach Part 2: Socotra trip in Yemen (South) – Homhil - Aomak Beach - Wadi Daerhu - Dicksam Plateau Part 3: Socotra trip in Yemen (West) – Qalansiya - Shouab Beach - Qadama Beach - Momi Plateau - Wadi Ayhaft