Jebel Akhdar



In this trip, me and my parents went exploring the Hajar mountains. First stop is Jebel Akhdar. It is the highest point in Oman and is one of the go-to spots for locals and tourists alike, more especially during summer time for a quick escape from the scorching heat in the city. All you need is a 4x4 for the steep terrain.

For our second stop, we went looking for this "Grand Canyon of Oman,” as what my Dad referred it. I am not sure if it was Wadi Ghul he meant, but it seemed not. After driving on well-paved roads, occasionally seeing mountain goats, we drove to a series of winding, unpaved paths on very high elevation whilst being treated to rocky natural sights along the way. It was a real adventure just following wherever the road led us. And it directed us to this spectacular sight shown in the photos below. It surely is off the tourist map but it is one of the amazing mountain scenery in the area.

For our last itinerary, we stopped at Wadi Bani Habib to see beautiful ruins of an old abandoned village. It is quite surrounded by trees, especially pomegranates.


There is no better way to experience the sheer beauty of Oman's diverse landscape than through a road trip. Till next time! x

Oman Road Trip

Having a break, taking a scenic route, discovering the beauty of a known place.


Forty-nine degrees Celsius in the middle of 2016. Around this time last year, we took a road trip in my short return to second motherland.

Not alone this time, I brought my friends (SFC household) with me. We traveled for five hours (plus the long and unexpected 3 hours in the border) to Oman, taking a time-out from the routine of work in UAE, utilizing the short holidays.

Albeit I used to live in Oman for several years - not consecutively - I haven't really gone to see most of the scenic spots it boasts. Though not so much of a wise choice to decide to do it in that time and climate, I'd still choose to go out and make the most out of the free days. Moreover, the joy acquired from exploring more attraction in a country that I seemed so familiar, was worth it. And it's with people most dear to me. 

Now, let's begin the short trip:



Shinas Gate. Oman's way of welcoming us. Though it's not really a tourist spot, it was a photo op nonetheless and an excuse to stretch out during the long ride. This structure is located near the Al Wajaja border of Oman and UAE.

Wadi Dayqah Dam. The water may look so blue and tempting but swimming isn't allowed. There is however, a good open space nearby for those who want to have a picnic.




Just one of the views we saw while driving on an unpaved road leading to we don't know exactly where too. Adventure, it was. Picturesque, this is.


Somewhere outside Bahla Fort. Under the ruthless sun in the Arabian sky, most selfies and videos were made in quick paces before we would have to run back to the car. High temperature tendencies!


En route to the next photo.


Wadi Al Arbaeen. Wadis or riverbed, are one of this country's natural wonders. This is such a remote site and is not quite easy to reach but surely deserves a visit. I'd love to be back here again and go for a swim. The water is too inviting!



Ad Dakhiliyah (Area). Stopped for the random but beautiful mountain in the background (not so clear in photo)


If fearless Anna is Olaf's "worth melting for", I can say that these places are our "worth sweating for." That being said, I suppose travel isn't always comfortable but it gives out happiness such as being able to experience everyday things differently.

Hope you enjoyed this post! Here’s a video you may watch for more of our trip!



I’ve too many sets of images long sitting in my photo stream waiting to be uploaded here, as usual. But I'm now trying to attend to them. Watch this space!

Marhaba


Salam Aleikum!

Almost a year later, someone’s reawakened from the long slip back into blogging silence. Indeed, procrastination got the better of me to the point that I left this personal space slumbering.

The shame.

As you might have gathered from the other content sharing platforms I have, I am residing in UAE now and instinctively converting dirhams to my home currency. Aside from that, I’m so pleased to presently impart to you that I’ve ended the hopping from one emirate to the other, boldy carrying my luggage on buses and metro, living out of a suitcase period. Alhamdulillah!

This side of the world has always been a not so distantly desert place from where I was. My thoughts have always painted it as a good holiday destination and shopping haven but never a preferred location of work. But God just has His best plans. He just knows where to land my ceaselessly wanting to explore nomadic feet.

Now here’s some sporadic snaps baring what and where I’ve been to whilst being MIA which I’ve stockpiled to myself if not shared elsewhere.


Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi with its impressive architecture

One of Dubai's iconic towers, Burj Al Arab alongside tourists if not beachgoers

Mall-walking under the charming arched iron-glass roof of the Mall of Emirates

Dubai Mall, among other things, comes complete with attractions like this Divers Fountain, a colossal aquarium and astounding daily fountain shows.

Probably my favorite road in all of UAE. Such an eyeful concrete jungle.


Dubai copping every famous world landmark in Global Village

Around the world in less than 24 hours. This is how you do it.

Literally soaring high with flying colors

National Conference of Singles for Christ. #iamSFC

The art of looking at art

The cARTel

At Alserkal Avenue. Super glad I discovered this creative hub.

I'm not sure if I'm done with my tourist phase but with all of the many fascinating things there are and the great new people I have met, it seems that this mecca of visually first-class man-made world is acceptable although hey, that is until real life punches back with the fact that Saturdays, if not 24/7, are still work days. Absorb that for a second.

Ma’a Salama!

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Huge special thanks to my good friend Camille of camillealaura.com for inspiring me to blog again. :)

Oh man! Already July


Tick tock, tick tock. Where did the time go? My apologies for the long blogging break. Anyways, I’m back! In the desire to offer some kind of compensation, let me share a short tale of my move to Muscat, Oman. It’s been 3 months now since I’ve left the beautropical (just coined that term) city of Cebu. For practical reasons, I have to get back to Muscat. The upwelling of sappy sentiments following this decision have ranged from reminiscence, to excitement, to fear, to thrill, to stress. Although this life phase has happened to me many times – leaving Cebu for Oman (vice versa) – some kind of emotional surge was still inevitable. But I had as well managed to take it all in whilst soothed in the vision of being reunited with my parents and in the anticipation that the tasty authenticity of Middle-eastern cuisine can be again devoured. Talk about legit shawarma!
Upon touch down in Muscat and stepping out of the plane, I was welcomed by a rude surprise of intense dry heat that swept through my face as I wrinkled my nose and had my gaze narrowed into a squint. Thankfully though, I’ve adjusted to the local heat wave, fast forward to today.

Sunny stories aside, I must reveal that I actually seriously missed this place for so long that I already had a prepared lists of things to do, places to visit/revisit and stuff to eat. For the months that have passed, I was able to tick off some from the lists (both actual list and mental list).
My faith is up that this relocation is God’s will and perhaps this is the right place to be in at this point. On my next posts, I hope I can share with you pictures that show how beautiful Oman is. For now, let me leave you with this as I head out, walk around and feel the warmth of this place.

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By the way, in case you have noticed, how do you like my new blog design? J


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At Kawasan Falls



After traversing for about 6 hours, we have finally reached Badian’s Kawasan Falls! It is a multi-layered waterfalls located in Barangay Matutinao. It has three stations. The one that is mostly featured in postcards or tourism ads is the first station situated at the lowest layer.



This cascading turquoise-colored beauty is really inviting. After trekking from Station 3, we decided to stay on the second station. Of course, we took a dip after resting for a while. The cool and deep natural pools are ideal for swimming and even jumping off (with caution).



If you choose to visit there without having to traverse all the long way from Mantalungon, Dalaguete, there is a 4-hour long bus ride you can take from Cebu City to Badian.



After about two hours, we already packed up and got ready to travel back to the city. We trekked to Station 1. In there, bamboo rafts are available for rent. It will carry you to where the water plunges for an experience of a natural waterfalls massage. I have tried it during my first visit a few years ago and it was worth a try.



It took us around 20 minutes to walk from Station 1 to the highway of Badian. On a wide riverside track, we passed through a hydro-electric plant, a very old-looking bridge and a store selling souvenirs and swim necessities until we reached the highway.














We caught sight of the beautiful sunset while waiting for the bus. That day has been one of the longest I ever had. I stood in cogitation as the sun was setting behind the clouds. What a great view it was to cap off this blessed day. May God be praised!

Photos taken by: Me and Abi


Traverse to Kawasan Falls



If you have read my very first post on this blog, you might have remembered that I mentioned I want to try doing the trek to Kawasan Falls and unpredictably, fast forward to a few weeks, my wish got granted! Happy me! :)
After taking enough pictures before leaving Osmeña Peak, we packed up and set out for our trip to Kawasan Falls in Matutinao, Badian. It was around 7:30 when we left the campsite. Having a local guide come with you and give you the right directions during the traverse would cost Php 1,200. Frugal as we are, we chose to do a guess-trek instead without hiring any guide to accompany us. We actually just relied to whoever we met along the way whom we're able to ask directions from. Lo and behold, we received our first set of directions for free from a kid we came across as we left the peak. Next is from the man who was carrying a huge vegetable basket.


As earlier planned by the group, we prayed the Stations of the Cross during the trek. It was actually the Season of Lent at that time. As we went on our journey, through prayer, we also reflected on the sufferings endured by Christ for love and for us. We remembered Jesus Christ who saved us and died for us. After every few minutes or whenever we felt exhausted or weakened to continue, we paused and prayed one station.



Traveling to Kawasan Falls was truly a very long journey. We initially descended on tracks still enveloped by the fogs and later on faced few challenges as we climbed many mountains, went uphill, downhill and walked along cliffs. But on a positive note, we saw more picturesque mountain peaks, scenic landscapes, and the view of neighboring islands.


As we went on, the bags we carried began to feel heavier. That’s why I have a good piece of advice to those who want to try this – TRAVEL LIGHT. Really. It would be so beneficial.


Along the way, we met locals who were able to lead us to the correct path and for that we are so grateful. They actually appeared in very timely circumstances, whenever there are two-way trails and we’re confused on whether to choose left or right. That is when they come. We actually considered them as our “Simon’s”. Simon the Cyrene, is a stranger who had offered help to Jesus by carrying the cross. They were like him because they were strangers we passed by and gave us help too but in the form of pointing the right directions. I think locals are used to trekkers passing by their place so they're always ready to willingly help. Praise God for all the Simon’s He generously sent us.


We endured walking and passed by vegetable farms from time to time but cabbages are what’s mostly abundant. The weather during that day was good. Praise God! If it wasn't, it may have added burden to us or we might haven’t pushed through traversing at all.



When we were more than halfway our travel, we passed by a basketball court with several houses nearby and a sari-sari store which sells food reminiscent to what we enjoyed when we were kids. All of us were 90s kids so all were able to relate amusingly as we bought some and ate. It is evident in our happy faces in the picture. J


After that quick break in there, we carried on and the following trail had seemingly become thinner. We passed by cliffs that really made us go slowly but surely in our steps. Gazing down at the view below urged us to try our best not to inch our feet too close to the edge. The sight however on the succeeding tracks got nicer.



There was a time when we have gone in what seems to be the middle of the jungle, with trees and various greeneries so close to us on both sides.




 Next to that portion, we went uphill once more and had a refreshing view of the sea and the adjacent islands again. 



Then later on, it was all downhill. 



Around 12nn, we finally reached Barangay Candiis. That means we were now getting much nearer to our destination. 


In that small hut, we rested and waited for habal-habal (motorcycle) that later brought us to the spot where we would continue hiking again to reach Station 3 of Kawasan Falls. It was a 15-minute ride and it felt good to be back on the road again after having spent many hours with just nature’s wide-ranging scenery all around you.


After trekking for about 10-15 minutes from where the habal-habal dropped us off, we finally heard the sound of gushing water and arrived at Station 3! FINALLY! That is the top most level of Kawasan Falls. Oh what a joy it was to have reached it after that God-knows-how-many-miles-and-footsteps it took us to get there!


I thank the Lord for this another new experience. It’s one for the books! I thank Him too for giving us enough strength and good health for that. Through His grace, we were able to continue to struggle valiantly while enjoying His awesome and overwhelming creations and the fellowship we have with another as not just friends but brothers and sisters in Christ. :)



I hope you get to indulge yourself into new experiences too this summer and squeeze in some time for occasional trips to wherever you haven’t been yet. ;)


PS. That 6-hour fellowship traverse awarded us with body malaise and muscular fatigue that lasted for about 3 days. Haha. But I tell you, it’s worth it! You might wanna try it with your own set of friends. #squadgoals ;)

PPS. More photos are quickly coming up on my next post featuring Kawasan Falls! Stay tuned!


Photos taken by: Me, Jethro and Abi
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