After arriving back to the UAE from Kuwait, it was time to not waste time and reach Oman as soon as possible. About to do hitchhiking through the UAE and Oman.
The first night
We were arriving in Abu Dhabi quite late, it was already near midnight, which wasn’t perfect to reach far. We didn’t know where we wanted to sleep, the airport wasn’t good for Krystal and sleeping in some bush outside of the airport wasn’t what I wanted as well.
It was time to walk to the right highway, to reach there it was necessary to walk on another highway. Walking on a highway is never fun! The best thing was, that there was enough light, to not get hit by cars easily.
After a few kilometers, we made it to the highway and it was not a good place to sleep. Due to the good light situation of the lanterns. The first car, after the thumb was in the air, was stopping. They didn’t know what hitchhiking was, but they stopped anyway. The driver was driving his friend away and was willing to drive us to a good spot after.
We drove to some desert type landscape next to a highway, over there many people visit due to driving crazy over the sand. Others came to do some camping or just a bonfire in the desert. Our driver had wood with him and was creating a bonfire, while Krystal and I were building up the tent for the first time on this trip.
Both of us basically just wanted to sleep, it was around 3 to 4 in the morning already. After we were telling him that we would want to sleep he seemed a bit sad, because he wanted to spend more time with us, but we were just way too tired.
The hitchhiking day
Waking up quite late” (8:30am), we didn’t spend time relaxing, we needed to get up and start the day. When hitchhiking is happening, relaxing in the morning is sadly never an option, when a big distance is in front of us.
Walking to the highway, it was already possible to feel the heat a little bit. Even though it wasn’t that warm during the day, when being in the pure sun, it can be quite awful. I don’t even want to know how bad it must be doing hitchhiking in summer there.
It took a while, until someone was finally stopping, we got around 5 km further, which sound not much, but helped a lot. We were able to get away from the place we stayed in and were now directly on the highway.
The whole time until Al-Ain, everything went quiet quickly. Waiting 5 to 10 minutes and getting a bit further in the direction. When reaching Al-Ain, which is the town before Oman, it was super hard to get further. The issue was, we were in a city and being in a city is never helpful.
Most cars were Taxi drivers, who were seeing us. Even stopping and not leaving, due to the hope that we might drive with them.
This was the first day of hitchhiking.
Finally making it to Oman
After waiting for roughly 30 minutes, someone was finally stopping for us and was bored, so he wanted to drive us to the border. He was living in Abu Dhabi, but was in Al-Ain to see his family. Many things were told to us about the city and it was great receiving the information.
He was inviting us to drink coffee with him and have a snack, before reaching the border. It was amazing to finally eat something and be sure to make it to the border.
When we drove to the border, they were telling us that it would not be possible to walk over, this was really weird, because usually it should have been possible there.
He felt bad and wanted to help us, so he wanted to drive us to the other border, which saved our day! We were not allowed to walk over the other border as well, some American guy helped us to go over, but we had to sit in his car, that was necessary to get over!
Click here for the informative story of the border situation
The guy, who was taking us seemed quite nice and annoyed at the same time, but he was taking us over, which was amazing. For him, it was the first time taking someone.
When we finally received the entry stamp, the stress was gone and we finally were able to start recovering the country.
First time hitchhiking in Oman
In Oman, it was taking a bit, until someone stopped. At the end a couple was stopping and taking us all the way to the coast of Oman. It was super uncomfortable, due to no space in the car, but it was great seeing the change of landscape. From flat landscape over to big mountains in Oman and seeing the water again after a long ride.
The people after getting out stopped but they always wanted money, which was annoying and took longer, until someone helpful stopped.
We had a driver, who was our age. He didn’t speak English, but was super friendly. He was a police officer, who was just done with the work for the day. Wanted to show us such a beautiful beach, where there should be no problem staying the night.
Let’s make it short, it wasn’t beautiful, so we ended up hitchhiking further and met a local Omani. He was inviting us to stay at his place, or driving us to a good beach as well. He helped us get a sim card, which took way longer than we expected, so at the end we agreed to the invitation to stay at his place. It was dark already, the whole day hitchhiking and making it to almost Muscat already.
First night in Oman
The place was amazing, we were just in the welcoming room and it was just huge and luxurious. The bathroom and the shower was great, which we used right away.
His wife was making us food and he was making us feel like home, we were allowed to stay in that room, which we had then just for yourself. We were talking with him for a bit longer that day, same as the hours before and it was great, we felt really welcome there.
The air mattress was filled with air and the sleeping bag was made into a blanket, it was good to be inside and comfortable. Kind of weird being inside a huge basically empty room by yourself in some strangers home, but still felt normal somehow.
The first whole day in Oman
After enjoying a great breakfast with local food, it was time to see the camels from the guy, who we stayed with. He is using camels to make money, trying to breed a racing camel.
The camels were really nearby and also super friendly, it was even possible to touch them, which was of course done! I really enjoyed being there and also learning something about camels. A camel nearby was also giving birth, but we were not able to see it due to the time, it took longer than we were there.
It was time to hitchhike again, to finally reach Muscat. It was only 30-40 km to go. The waiting time wasn’t really long and a ride was given right in front of the place from our host, which was just perfect.
The host situation
The host was a guy from Lebanon, but living for a while in Oman. He was providing a key, which was perfect and took some time to show us around.
He was taking us to the opera house, picking us up from a market quite far away, and bringing us to a viewpoint above the city of Muscat. It was also like that, that he was making food and inviting us for food, which was great. The only sad thing was, that he wasn’t super trustworthy, when it comes to making plans, which wasn’t nice, this will be explained in another blog post, because it was more at the end of the trip.
During the time in Muscat, where we stayed with him, we were learning a lot about the arabic culture, about life and many other things.
The first time in Muscat
During the few days we stayed there, we went exploring the city a little bit.
Hitchhiking into the city is actually super bad, which we had to do, due to bad public transportation.
We wanted to get 30 km far, and tried that with hitchhiking. It was just difficult. The first ride was a taxi driver, who drove us about five kilometers. That isn’t bad, but it always feels weird, when a taxi driver wants you to get into their taxi, even saying it is for free.
The climate made everything not easier. We were walking on the road, without really having shade at all and standing in the sun for longer than half an hour isn’t fun.
The goal was to reach the market called Mutrah Souq, where I wanted to buy the local dress.
After hopping in and off from one to another car for short distances, luckily a local. He was working for the biggest oil company of the country, was stopping. He was driving us to the market and even drove us around to the old center of Muscat. There he explained to us things about the history which was amazing.
In the market, there we were not finding the local dress, the way I wanted it, it wasn’t perfect.
It was also super crowded in the market, super easy to get lost. You can find many things there, not the best quality, but cheap. Also it is important to always negotiate a lot, otherwise you are going to pay way more.
Going for a hike
On the last full day we had, we were meeting up with another person from Couchsurfing, who was becoming our host at one point of the trip as well. He wanted to hang out with us and also wanted to go hiking, later that day.
He came from the Philippeans and was working in Oman for quite a long time, also had many local friends. We were getting along really well and decided on going hiking. A friend of his was picking us up and drove us basically again to the market. This was talked about in the section before.
Over there we met a Russian Couchsurfer, who was hosted by him. He was crazy strong in hiking, which we found out later. The hike was only around six kilometers long, but through and over the mountains, which made it a bit more difficult, than just a straight street of course.
During the hike, the Russian was just taking off, as if he would be a mountain goat. It was crazy to see, because it felt like we were actually walking at a decent speed.
It was a good route, we were able to see the ocean from the top of the mountains and even see a little river, passing through the Wadi between the mountains.
Always great doing a fun hike, with being out in nature and just moving, which is good for mental strength as well.
My most favorite thing
My favorite thing was probably seeing the camels. I am a big fan of camels and when I am able to touch them, it is a great feeling. In general, being welcomed by him was a good way to start in the new country I would say.
My least favorite thing
My expectations were higher, especially when it was about hitchhiking. Many people were saying how much better it is in comparison to other gulf countries, but I didn’t see it that way. Many cars stop, but most want money for giving you a lift. Also the public transportation system is just bad there, which makes life way harder there, for travelers who prefer not taking a taxi.
What was happening next
In the next blog post it will be about exploring the country a little bit and getting separated again and maybe forever.
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