Around the World I

Day 27 - Wed 7 May 2003

Phew! What a day!

Up and out to Hatta on the local bus - got off outside town, and walked up to the Hatta Fort Hotel, in the hope they might have been running a tour to the rock pools. A Nice hotel, and very helpful, they would run a tour but they would need 400Dh - Ouch too rich for my blood. So walked up to the town (3km!) and got to the heritage village - it's so hot, and it's only 10am - stuck my head under a tap, and then found an air conditioning unit - Bliss! Drank a can of Pocari Sweat in one go, and then had a wander around the village, ate lunch on the steps of the tower.

When I climbed down I found other tourists wandering around! They ask if I'm on a tour, and are amazed when I tell them I made it out here on a local bus. But they ARE on a tour to the rock pools, and then back to Dubai!! I ask the driver if there is space for one extra, and he says yes! Perfect!

Oman Border

So for 100Dh I managed to get to the rock pools, but more importantly set foot in Oman! There are two couples on the trip; one from London, who didn't speak a great deal; and other honeymooning couple.

Some of the hills and scenery are amazing - and some of the sand dunes we drove down were HUGE, and rather bumpy! On the tour we drove through' six of the emirates during the day.

Dropped off one couple in the far north of the UAE, just a hotel in the middle of nowhere - I guess it must be an all inclusive hotel - it looked very plush! I saw a sign showing 37C, glad the air con in the Land Cruiser was working. Got back with a headache - drank a gallon of water, had a shower, and then went to bed a happy man! I have my "O" country.

NextView my route around the world here