Fins Beach

While Wayne and Kathy were visiting we wanted to take them camping and show them what a Wadi is really like. We had already done Wadi Shab and really wanted to go again, so we decided to also add in camping on White Beach by Fins. This was our first time beach camping and first time for my parents in a Wadi so lots to look forward too.

Our camping group started with about 12 people and quickly grew to 20, in no particular order were Matt (USA), Lizzie, Caroline & Becky (England), Rowan & John (Scotland), Way Buff & Abi (India), Pete & Zan (RSA), Mohammed & Azies (Egypt) and Matts friends Heidi, Mary, Rob & Mike (think all from UK?). We carpooled from PDO and set off for Fins, about 1-1/2 hours from Muscat. Somehow we ended up following John and him not really knowing where to turn off we ended up turning off the coastal highway a little early. But the wrong turn turned alright as we ended up seeing a camel chilling next to the road and had a short pitstop to get everyone's fix of pictures. Highlight was Abi feeding it a carrot only to drop the carrot running away claiming the camel "charged" him. You be the judge from the pictures, very dangerous looking these camels.

Friendly neighbourhood camel

Abi cowering in fear of Mrs Camel -To quote Abi "It Charged Me"

We did make it to White Beach and were not disappointed, the sand was amazing, white, fine and very clean. There were already a few camps setup along the bay but with the waves crashing all night we didn't hear anyone else. We setup camp (one novice camper needed help from the ladies to put up their tent), gathered some firewood and went snorkeling. Visibility wasn't the best but there were lots of fish and lots of cool rock features to check out.

Caroline exploring the bay

Looking back at White Beach from the bay

A few of the campers (LtoR: Mohammed, John, Aziss, Abi, Zan, Vaibav, Janelle, Wayne, Kathy)

Rowan & John found some cliff jumping in the bay

Being so close to the equator we lose light quickly and by 6 it was getting dark. We did manage to fit in a new Indian game called 7 stones. Simply put it's a variation on dodge ball, 2 teams and a stack of 7 stones. One team knocks the stones over with a tennis ball and then has to set them up. The catch being that the other team is then trying to hit them with the tennis ball before they get the stones set-up, if you're hit you're out. It turned out to be a lot of fun and definitely something we'll take home.

Playing 7 stones

BBQ is just a hole in the sand filled with charcoal

The theme for the evening was make your own cocktail so everyone brought along their own special mix and distributed to the campers for judging. This turned out to be great idea with Lizzie bringing an entire bar. By the end of the night no one remembered to pick a winner but they were all enjoyed.

Abi's 22nd birthday = cake in the face

Camping in Oman and just about anywhere hot usually means waking up with the sun. So sun up at 7 meant that most of the campers were also up. After a short breakfast, one lost frisbee (note to not let John throw your frisbee near a body of water), we packed up and headed to Wadi Shab. This has been our favourite Wadi so far, it begins with a cool boat trip across the headwater and then a 30-40 minute hike up really nice trails to a fresh water swimming pool that connects to an underground cave and waterfall. As well, a few months earlier Red Bull hosted the World Championship Cliff diving from Wadi Shab. So we had to stop and do some cliff jumping ourselves. The Red Bull divers were about 28m up, but we jumped from a lot lower. John took some great pics with his GoPro (except for the one of me...) and we all had a great time.

Zan demonstrating her inner gymnast

John with the GoPro

My "face"

Nothing else to be said here