Oman
from December 16th 2005 until January 5th 2006
Mixed feelings
Visiting Yemen in a good way and on our pace would take three months. After that we would have to race back the same way to the Emirates, because the Saudi embassy told us that Karin, being a woman, is not allowed to cycle in their country. A woman is not even allowed to drive a car there, let alone cycling. A big disappointment..... READ ON >>
Soup with ants en eggs of turtles
Just after Fins we find a beautiful spot between rock cliffs and fast running black crabs on the pebble beach. We make a campfire, splash in the sea water that lights up with fluorescent algae and count the stars that fall out of our roof. In this way we try to forget about the gnawing restlessness of the day; my saddle broke.... READ ON >>
The laughing scaffolds
The sand is creaking between teeth and chains and discouraged we leave another famous fortress, that of Jabreen, on the left. The sign next to the road does not indicate how far the castle lies from the junction, and we don't want to risk another vain effort to find ourselves at a closed gate between laughing scaffolds. Angrily we continue pedalling.
Angry at the eturnal wind, angry at ourselves
.... READ ON >>
We ask the officials for an explanation. They don’t understand why we don’t understand anything of what’s happening here. They tell us that it’s a new border post since one month and that we will get an exit stamp of Oman in our passports here, whether we like it or not.
Then we will have to cycle another forty kilometres on Omani territory and cross the border with the Emirates at Al Ain.... READ ON >>