Seeing Oman through the eyes of a local

Other than the thunderous crashing of the waves on the beach a few meters away, the place we were camping at was relatively peaceful. Our tents were perched on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea somewhere near the Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve.

“This is one of my secret places and it is the best spot to watch sea turtles,” Ahmed al Jaabri has boasted many times to which I didn’t believe until I saw what he meant for myself.

The mother sea turtles came by the dozens from as early as 7 pm and their numbers only swelled as the night progressed. The last of them left the beach by around 8 am and we have the prime spot to observe them as they laboriously burrowed deep into the sand to lay their eggs, cover them, and then slowly inch their way back into the waiting embrace of the ocean. It was an exciting experience, one that was only possible because the locals know all the best places in the country.

Ahmed works in one of the giant conglomerates in Oman today. While his job is his main bread and butter, he always finds the time to go out and explore the country and it is this familiarity of beautiful spots that prompted him to create his adventure interest group — Oman Outdoor Adventure.

Ahmed has brought me to many different places over the course of the last two years. We met initially via Instagram and his interest group was an intriguing way of seeing and experiencing Oman. Through the group, we helped popularised many of the now favourite destinations in Oman from the challenging Wadi Hawir, to the then-underrated Wadi Dima Wa Al Tayeen, to the pristine surroundings of Mibam Village and even the rising Floating Chalet of Khor Jarama.

Many of his photos graced the pages of the Oman Daily Observer and have been celebrated and featured frequently in different established social media pages in the country primary of which is the official account of the Ministry of Tourism.

“I’ve met hundreds of people who are interested in seeing Oman in a much deeper level. I started showing them the country when I was in my early 20s. It was fueled by this innate feeling of being truly proud of my country,” he shared while on top of a hill overlooking the scenic Sur Bridge — possibly today, one of the most Instagrammable area in that side of the Sultanate.

“Sites are just sites until someone tells their story. My village in Yeti is a prime example. When people go there, they end up loving the beaches but there are beaches everywhere. The travel experience becomes more meaningful when there is an interaction involved,” he said.

“I’ve brought several dozens of guests to my home in Yeti. Over the years, my family has collected many things both old and new, all representing Oman. It became a small museum-of-sort. We have a collection of shells and fossils of sea animals found in the beaches of Yeti, dozens of old coins and mementos even traditional clothing. I find satisfaction in seeing travellers enjoying their time interacting and learning about Oman,” he said.

“Whenever someone approaches me on social media and ask me that they’d want my help in organising a trip, I lend a hand knowing that I can give them a very customised, personalised experience of Oman. One would notice this trend all over the world. People don’t just travel to see the sites,” he said.

Today, dozens of adventure interest groups have popped up all over the country. While Oman remains to be an expensive destination compared to Asian and some South American countries and with many travel agencies asking hefty prices that is quite challenging for couch surfers and backpackers, the gap in the travel industry is filled by Ahmed and people like him who organises trip with only payment asked to cover transport and key expenses.

“This is totally not for profit. How it works is that the fees collected all go back to the expenses of the trip. Technically, it’s pooling resources so one can enjoy seeing the sites without spending too much,” he explained.

“For a country like Oman, going local is the way to go. This I think is the reason why people keep approaching small interest groups like us. Many of them don’t want the corporate-like travel experience where one is rushed from one destination to the next,” he said.

“I’ve received many compliments whenever we brought guests to a local restaurant that offers great Arabic dishes or bring them to remarkable spots they haven’t even read about on the internet.

And there’s something different about the interactions,” he said.

He added, “They also usually go home with a renewed understanding of Oman and the Omanis. And when they appreciate our openness and our hospitality, it inspires me to do it more and more — to become a better host and a better person that shares the beauty of Oman.”