Closer to the edge (Oman 5/7)

Once out of the deep Wahiba sands we headed East towards the eastern edge of the Arabian peninsula. 

We spent a night in Ras-al-Jinz, at an observatory for sea turtles, which we went out to see twice during the night. We were lucky enough to see a couple of turtles lay eggs and cover them with sand, as well as half a dozen hatchlings (they're actually as small as 5 cm!) coming out of the sand, avoiding the hungry crabs and entering the sea for the first time in their life. Once grown up, i.e. about 37 years later, the female turtles will come back to the exact same beach to lay eggs at the very same place they were born!

The following day, we went to Sur and its famous dhow building yards, and then to the ancient city of Qalhat, whose settlements date back to the 2nd century AD. Interestingly, it's a place where both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta once stood, respectively in the 13th and 14th century. Back then, the city of Qalhat was a big port playing an important role in horse trading.

On the coastal road towards Ras-al-Jinz

In a coastal village; goat stealing food from the pick-up

Sunset on the road to Sur

Ras-al-Jinz, 5am, turtle returning to the sea

Sea turtle returning to the water after laying eggs

Ras-al-Jinz: fishermen going to work

Sunrise in Ras-al-Jinz

Sur

Traditional dhow under construction

Sur

Qalhat - tomb of Bibi Maryam, built for Baha al Din Ayaz by his wife

                                                                                                                                             Sur

                                                            Sunset on the coastal road towards Ras-al-Jinz