A Large Rug; Dune Bashing and Arabian Nights

 I arrived in Muscat, Oman from Dehli without incident. I have to say their airport was one of the nicest and cleanest airports I have ever been to and their passport officials unusually friendly, efficient and helpful. 

The next day I visited the Grand Mosque of Muscat which I must say is an impressive structure. It reportedly features the 2nd largest handmade Persian rug in the world (Dubai has biggest) which reportedly took over 400 weavers years to make (if you are the Sultan of Oman, money isn’t a big object)- 

In Persian rugs, I like to say that quantity has a quality all its own. 

I left Muscat and drove to a desert camp in the west of the country. I was seeking an authentic no frills Bedouin experience- similar to my Nepal trekking activity- and I am pleased to say the camp met my expectations -

The camp featured sand boarding down a dune where my form might not yet be Olympic ready- 

Camel riding (naturally)- 

And this thing they call dune bashing where you ride on the side board of a jeep and the driver blasts through the dunes at up to 40 mph while you hold on for dear life sans seatbelt (the chatter you hear in the video is from a guy on the other side reproaching his daughter)- 

It was fun in a near suicidal way.  Before going, I thought it prudent to make friends with my driver- 

For some reason you are supposed to jump up as they take  a photo of you at sundown in the desert. Not sure if genuine Bedouins do that every night but whatever. When in Rome-  

The Arabian desert is starkly beautiful- 

On my way to my next place, I literally crossed several streams - 

Cheaper than bridges I suppose. I noticed one enterprising fellow using the crossing to save a few rial from a pot he car wash- 

Next stop is the so called Arabian Grand Canyon and the highest mountain in the Arabian Peninsula