Monday, December 24, 2012

Dispatch from Oman– Wadi Bani Habib

The abandoned village of Bani Habib is reached via a steep paved road up Jabal Al-Akhdar, the Western Hajar’s most impressive mountain. The road rises 2,000 meters in 25 kilometers, which is six times steeper than any road up the Sierras. Put another way, we climbed 6,000 feet in 15 miles, compared to climbing to the same elevation at Lake Tahoe in 90 miles.

The fun part was the descent.

There are many roads and villages up here on the Sayq Plateau. It's also a spectacular place to study geology.

Jabal Akhdar, Oman 002

We walked from the car park to the abandoned village in Wadi Bani Habib. We explored for about an hour. Amazing.

Mark’s remark: “How did these people amuse themselves? No booze, no casinos, no Internet …”
Me: “They prayed. And tended their goats and pomegranates.”

The villagers have moved into more modern houses nearby, or elsewhere for employment.

We will be back in spring, inshallah, when the trees are in bloom.

3 comments:

Cathy said...

Anne! I don't know why I didn't get notified of this post!! I signed up, I thought it was before this date of December 24. Because I met you on Dec 22. Oh well, just wanted to say your pictures of Wadi Bani Habib are beautiful!! I somehow missed the house with the blue door. Guess I will have to go there again to find that, as I have an Omani door collection going on. Great post!

Aesthomas281 said...

Thanks, Cathy! I love your door photos, that's what inspired me to start my own collection.

Cathy said...

Thanks,Anne! I love all your photos!