Saturday, January 7, 2012

wadi b


When we left off, happy family was in the desert on their way to Wadi Bani Khalid. After a 40 minute drive back across the sand dunes we stopped to reinflate our tires (you have to let about 1/2 of the air out prior to driving on the dunes or your car will sink and get stuck in the soft sand). While they were putting air back in the tires I saw this sign across the street:

I get that "accissories" is supposed to be "accessories," but what are "chooses?"
*Josh translated the Arabic for me and said it's supposed to say "shoes."


We drove another hour over some mountains to reach this patch of paradise.

 
 

 Beautiful, huh? We walked further in to where the water was deeper and went for a swim.

 


Caleb working up his nerve to jump off the rocks. Eventually he jumped from the bridge, but he wanted to "test the water" first. 


photo credit: Ross Macfadyen
photo credit: Ross Macfadyen
I don't know how they did it. I jumped from a lower place twice and so much water was forced up my nose it felt like my sinuses were given a thorough scrubbing and my ears were full of water on the inside of my head. The second time I thought I would be smart and plug my nose, but I hit the water with such force that my hand popped off my nose and I once again made friends with the world's largest Netti pot. No more cliff jumping for me.  

We sat on the rocks in the sun to dry off and warm up while we snacked and fed the hundreds of small fish in the water. Camille was throwing crackers and they swarmed up and nibbled the waters around her feet.  

 time to head to the car for the 3 hour drive home
  

 


One of a few roaming donkeys. This one was blocking the bridge between us and the car. 
 


Their front legs are tied together. I guess to keep them from running?

One of our friends walking the falaj. I don't know how the system works, but it's an old way of transporting water through a series of raised canals. They are very cool looking and it's fun to walk them like a balance beam. 
 

 


We made it safely home. I hope these guys that we passed going down the mountain did too. 


3 comments:

Nana Barbara said...

Brings back memories.

kristy said...

Looks beautiful & so fun! Those boys are brave, & you too. I wouldn't have jumped even if no water came up my nose.
Tell mom I'm suspect. Those sunglasses don't look like the new stylish ones she got for Christmas. Hmmmm

Mom said...

ok, in that picture I'm going for the Glamour Award of "What Not To Wear." I think I won. Ha Ha. That was such a beautiful Oasis. The cliff diving was too scary for me. Rob you're my hero. I loved feeding the fish along the shore with Camille.