Salalah, July 26 - Necessity is the mother of invention. This aptly applies to this traveller who has been visiting Salalah during khareef for years. He is fond of lush greenery, mountains, heritage and overall serenity of Salalah and places around it.
For Mohammad Jawad, Salalah is a place that cannot be enjoyed only by living in hotels or furnished apartments. “The place needs to be indulged in and lived fully.”
He has been coming to Salalah from Bahrain either in his car or by air. During one of these trips, he didn’t get proper accommodation at a place of his choice.
It was then that he decided to design a vehicle that can take care of all the travel needs, including entertainment, sleep, wash room, kitchenette and a nice sitting area.
A man with a technical background, Mohammad started marketing the self-designed product among friends and acquaintances who come to Salalah during khareef and look for transport. He stays in Salalah the whole of khareef or more, depending on the demand.
“Since people know about me and my Travel Caravan service, they book me in advance as most of my clients come from the other GCC countries,” said Mohammad.
His clients mostly come by flight and engage him. “Since I know all the important places in Salalah, it becomes a hassle-free trip for them and I get the satisfaction of serving tourists. It also takes care of my own bread and butter,” said Mohammad, who retired from his job in a major oil company to pursue his passion: travelling.
The concept is popular among families who love some adventure. They go to places of their choice during the day and have a choice of night halt in the van itself, which has beds, air-conditioner and almost everything needed for a safe and comfortable stay.
From outside, the van looks like an average vehicle, but inside the 70-square-feet “getaway” has everything required for a journey.
A diploma holder in electrical engineering, Mohammad has designed the van entirely. It is equipped with solar power and dynamo-based systems for regular power supply for internal lighting and AC.
Mohammad thanks his friends who encouraged him to give his passion a commercial enterprise. “It has been very successful now and for a destination like Salalah, many new things can be started for the convenience of tourists who come from many countries.”
The initiative, according to him, is a good idea for young Omanis for self-employment. “They know the country and places. Moreover, tourism in Salalah is growing due to new facilities and services,” he said.
Kaushalendra Singh
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