Best Pool Ever!

There are certainly a number of things that I do not like about being a Diplowife; for me it can range from a simple matter of wearing heels to a party or being stuck in country during a civil war. Nevertheless, there are still the perks, and top of the list of course is visiting and experiencing things only travelling can bring. My latest adventure is visiting the Hawiyat Najm Park here in Oman which is the location of the Bimmah Sink Hole.

The view from the top of the Bimmah Sinkhole

I imagine some of you would think of a Sink Hole as something that is not good, but in case you haven’t seen one, as I have not prior to the trip, a sinkhole is huge depression on the earth caused by disbanding of rocks. This particular one which is known here as the Bimmah Sinkhole is located in the Dabab area in Wilayat Qurayat; it is about an hour and half drive from Muscat through the rocky mountains of Oman, via their very impressive, albeit winding highways.

through the rocky mountains of Oman

I think there are several kinds of Sinkholes, but Bimmah is the kind which is located near the sea and what seems like a crater that is filled with water. How it looked is probably why the locals believe that it was created by a piece of meteor (or something from space) falling on Earth creating this massive hole. And while most people would have swam in the usual man-made pools, I was there to take the opportunity to swim in a geological wonder the likes can only be found in a number of areas around the world.

the pool that God made...

But of course, since this isn’t the backyard variety pool, it isn’t exactly the safest kind either. The pristinely clear water will give you the illusion that hole is an easy 2-3 meters deep, but once you dive under you can see that it is not even close, as it said to be about 20 meters. If you can’t imagine numbers, imagine looking down a rocky steep cliff under water into an abyss instead. And I have to say, if you are ever planning on coming there, be sure that you are very confident swimmer, because I do not recommend it to ones that are not. Not to mention the fact that the rocky state of the surface makes it very uncomfortable for the wadding type.

As you can see I was the only one crazy enough to brave the waters, but it was totally worth it.

But if you do not have the lungs or the swimming prowess to brave the deep hole, you can always just sit by the edge and have a moment of fish-spa. Just try and stay still and pretty soon the little fishes in the water would start nibbling on your toes which they say is a good way of getting rid of the old dead skins. It doesn’t hurt at all if not ticklish even, plus pretty cool, foot rejuvenation care of nature itself.

Fish Spa treatment, promises to rid of your feet's dead skin the natural way.

Anyway for the tourists and fellow newbies who are planning to go there, I highly suggest that unless you are a brave driver, you find an expert driver or someone who has driven there. It’s not so much dangerous but I think being familiar with the steep turns can be a bit tricky for first time visitors. There is no fee to get inside the park and I think you are welcome to camp out or have a picnic. I cannot comment on the bathroom facility as I opted to just dry up and get clean at home. And like I said protective footwear that you can use around the hole, since its rocky state can be very hard on the soles.

We had a bit of time so we decided to drive on to Sur, which another 30 minutes drive away. The destination was to visit these antique ships that were said to have sailed to another country years ago, and was bought back by the Omani government as a testament to their heritage as voyagers and men of the sea.

I still have to look up the name of the boat and the story behind it, so here's picture for now.

And if you are a sucker for great views like me, I think something like this would definitely be worth the drive.

Year End Special: The Roller-coaster that was 2011

No doubt about it 2011 is a memorable one for me. Of course mostly due to the whole Libyan crisis, it seems that the year went by so quickly and yet for the first time in a long time I feel as I am older. Around this time exactly last year, my thoughts were filled with a European Year of Travel, and finally being able to visit home. That holiday in the Philippines were chock full as we explored some of its parts outside Manila, from Corrigidor, to Vigan, to Bohol, even to Palawan which I realized I did not write about (which I should I promise, along with my first trip to an Asian country, Singapore).

I wasn't able to write about our Singapore trip... but I will soon I promise....

But as quickly as the good times rolled the most unforgettable phase in my life as a Diplowife led to the saddest, scariest, most depressing, five months I have ever been through.

But then again, last year was also a great example of how quickly the wheel of life turns, one moment you are up, the next you are down in the dirt, and the all of a sudden you are back up again. It has been two months since my first month here in Muscat, and so far things are doing great. I really do not want to jinx it by mentioning it, but really, as much as I liked the Libyans and as interested I was in the dynamics of their culture, I found myself stuck and bored most days when I was there. And although I have met and made friends I will never forget, what I learned most about being posted there was just because nobody is saying anything doesn’t mean everything is okay; oh and that appearance is never really a good way of gauging someone or others.

But I am grateful to be in this city because although I have not been here that long, it has shown me that not every place is the same just because they have major commonalities. And that sometimes you still get lucky and meet a group of genuinely kind and fun loving people.

The Sultan's palace here in our new home Muscat

In general 2011 wasn’t the best one in my list, nevertheless it wasn’t all bad. The experiences I collected in the past year still did give me a few great things I can hold on to. Being away from JG that long and in that kind of situation automatically showed both of us how much we mean to each other, plus we both learned things we never really thought we could be capable of pulling off – him living by himself whilst I learned to let go and how to be patient.

And because 2011 was a rollercoaster-up and down-spinning around kind of year for me, I think I want to welcome 2012 with an open mind and just wait and see what it will bring, I will just do my thing, whatever it is I feel like doing and not worry about how it may affect the future. Expect perhaps for good health and the safety of everybody I love, I will not wish for anything this year… que sera sera and all that…