Wednesday, January 9: I’ve done the Wadi Bani Habib hike too many times to count already, but I never find it boring as there’s always something new to discover. The hike is atop my favorite “Green Mountain” in Oman, Jebel Akhdar.
Mike and Adam with the first village of Wadi Bani Habib behind
Mike, the boys and I park at the end of the road past the modern, but characterless, village of Bani Habib. We walk down winding stone steps into a narrow gorge filled with walnut and apricot trees and flowering shrubs. The greenery contrasts nicely with the brown bare rocks of the mountains and the sienna-colored ruins of two villages, made of stone in various stages of dereliction and clinging to the edges of steep sandstone cliffs. Down the wadi a bit is another village. It’s wonderful to stand in one village and look down the wadi to the other village. A spectacular view.
the view from village 2 to village 1
The hike down the steps is quite easy, but it’s difficult to make our way up through the first village because of the ruins blocking the path and the rocky and uneven footpath. However, we gingerly make our way up where I take the boys into a painted house, where it’s obvious someone had both wealth and a love of color.
Click on any of the photos in the gallery below for a full-sized slide show.
We follow the trail through the village where Alex swings from a tree branch, and further on where Adam squats down along the path, facing the first village in a meditative Buddha-like pose. The boys climb high to the top of the rocky mountain, and I make my way higher up into the village than I’ve been before. In this second village is another beautiful painted house I’ve seen before, where we stop for photos. Further up, we discover another one with the lower half of the walls in royal blue and the top half in crazy brown and cream designs. Someone obviously had a streak of wildness.
I guess everyone can tell by now what is my favorite place in Oman. 🙂
a nomad in the land of nizwa 
WHAT WONDERFUL PICTURES! And to be able to climb all around those villages unimpeded must have been great- I so want your life!!!! You are also changing the lives of your sons in such a positive way!
Thank you so much, Kathryn! I’m really lucky to have had these experiences of being able to explore Oman by working here. And my travel experiences outside of the country have been wonderful. However, as with everything there is a price to pay: isolation from family is one; my job is actually quite stressful because of the poor administration at the university. There is very low morale among all the ESL teachers. I am good at compartmentalizing; when I leave work, I totally shut it out and get out to explore. That balances everything and makes life fun!! I hope you’re right about me changing the lives of my sons. I hope they feel that way, and not that I’ve abandoned them!
Thanks so much for your encouraging words. They mean a lot to me. 🙂
You are welcome- I wish I was one of your children !! (an older one ..hehe)
Haha, you’re funny, Kathryn! 🙂
Not really …smiles
It looks like you are the only ones present which must give it a unique, personal connection. Love the colors. So many stories buried in those ruins.
Most every time I’ve hiked on Jebel Akhdar, we’ve had the place to ourselves. I guess it’s because there’s a police checkpoint at the bottom and people are not allowed up the mountain unless they have a 4 wheel drive. That keeps the crowds down, lucky for me! 🙂
We will have to get to this village next time. I’m sending this link to Mark so he can see.
I think it’s a great idea, Anne. For some reason, I had the idea you already went here! When you come back to visit, I hope you’ll plan to stay here, and we can go up together. 🙂
I missed this one, Cathy. Looks like you all had a great day up there. Love the pic of Adam doing his ‘ohm’. Must have been the perfect place. 🙂
Yes, Sylvia, it’s a place I’ve been to many times and is actually one of my favorite spots in Oman. I think the boys loved it too!