Oman Trip - part 2
Day 2:
Morning exploring Nizwa Souk. In the morning they hold a fruit & veg market as well in the Fort, which was good to wander around - and get a slice of local life.
Unfortunately the Al Hoota cave was closed for refurbishment, so we had to skip our planned visit there. We headed up to the Sayq Plateau driving up the steep road up Jebel Akhdar via Birkat Al Mawz. There is a checkpoint at the start of the incline where the ROP only allow 4x4's through - although required, the road is actually very good, if steep.
On the plateau the spot known as 'Diana's Viewpoint' near the town of Sayh Qutnah seems to have been blocked off, but great views were to be found up the road a short distance.
Afterwards we drove further along the plateau until the end of the road. From there a short walk across the Wadi to the abandoned village of Bani Habib. Great place to explore and was worth the effort to get across. Was quiet too, although when we left there were a 'convoy' of tour company cars heading that way...
Clouds were gathering as we drove back across the plateau and down to the Nizwa-Muscat road. Views on the way to Muscat were spectacular although increasingly obscured by the clouds and dark skies.
As we reached the town of Fanja for a stop at the pottery market, the heavens finally opened and it started to rain. The rest of the drive to Muscat was in the rain and when we finally reached our hotel it continued for several hours - sometimes very heavy.
Dinner at a traditional Omani restaurant Bin Ateeq - fortunately the rain had stopped by then.