Muscat Travelogue | As Sifah

So when a seven-day long holiday is declared by the Government, one’s natural reaction is – “Lets get the hell out of here!”

I was no different. Having researched in detail about budget trips with the family, created excel sheets, pored over the maps of Istanbul, Tehran and Amman with great enthusiasm – I am now equipped to be your certified Middle East tour guide.

As what usually happens to anything I am excited about, nothing materialised.

Having to write polite decline emails to the travel consultants, I was in a rather rotten frame of mind. Sitting at home for nine days was simply not my idea of fun. 

Keeping with my inspirational Pin-board, I decided to do something with what I have, where I have it. Thus began the scout for unfrequented beaches, lost lagoons and uncharted routes within the Sultanate.  

I spoke to people at work, read up travel blogs and finally zeroed in on Sifah. A lesser known sand-beach coupled with beautiful tarmac winding roads through the valleys of the Hajjar Mountains. Its relatively simple to get to – and driving directions on Google Maps make it all the more easier to not get lost. 

So, to Sifah we did go. Armed with picnic baskets, mats, music, shades, caps and a post-swim change.

The terrain is most intriguing. The colours of the mountains, little wadis snuggled into their laps, settlements and their crazy goats and then suddenly a hint of blue.