Driving in Oman
I lived for four and half year in Oman and it was a bit difficult to get the driving licence initially but finally when I got the driving licence or you can say learning licence (The Green book), I purchased my first bike and went for tour in Oman (you can read my another blog for how to purchase motorcycle in Oman)
First of all I would like to tell about my experience in living in Oman was much better than living in any other GCC countries. (The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprises six Middle Eastern countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.)
Omani people are more humble and helpful compared to the other GCC nationals. Muscat is the capital and the biggest city which is really not as big as like other capital cities. Even though the city is well maintained but still the one of the biggest building was HSBC Oman (The bank I hate - The Chore bank).
I am putting a link of Muscat guide map in case you visit there. you need to check the timeline because I am talking about between 2014 to 2019 So it could be change a bit.
My First Trip in Oman.
When I was finally able to get a Learning license and purchase a second-hand Bike (six-month-old), I made my first-round trip in Oman of approx. 500 km.
My first trip started from Muscat to Sur which is 200 km from Muscat and I stayed there in a 4 star hotel on a cheap price due to booking.com but everything else was so expensive in the Hotel.
I think it's a problem with Oman. They want to promote tourism but their hotels are quite expensive, (No budget hotel). The net speed was very good in the hotel though.
Second day I drove towards south and Stayed in Ibra (Don't confuse with Ibri) and the 3rd day I came back from Ibra to Muscat so it was around 500 km.
I remember one incident when I was searching for the hotel through Google, I ended up knocking a home (which I was doubtful of to be the hotel but Google map was very sure). Two ladies came out and I was afraid that they may gather the whole neighborhood on seeing a stranger like me but, to my suprise, they were ok that I am lost and they tried to help me to understand the way out for the hotel (By sign language).
Driving in Oman is very disciplined and moreover during my 500 km driving, I didn’t see any other bike. I drove inside the yellow line (I once asked to police that if i can drive inside the yellow line and they said yes) and All cars drive on the main road. Neither a single acar come on my lane and nor I went to theirs (I felt like a VIP with a dedicated lane for me, ha ha ha 😁).
One time I was resting outside a Mosque in a deserted area (because there was drinking water tap also and one "Neem" Tree), One Omani Family came to the Mosque. The women went inside but the men greeted me and they were happy to see another man even though I am a 'Bengali' for them (this is how they call all Indian. Pakistani and Bengali people who do servant job or cleaning job there).
This is the culture and customs I received throughout in Oman. Omani people are very affectionate and they show their greeting while touching your body (I read that before otherwise I would have been scared that “why this man is touching me”.
Actually I noticed one thing. Whichever country has less population or aren't so called developed or rich, are very affectionate to the fellow humans. I never got this type of treatment in Europe although my travelling experience is also not so extensive. People were helpful but not so affectionate. Here or in Baluchistan or in rural Azerbaijan, People really cheer-up when they see you, like a baby see the known relative (I know it’s hard to believe).
Roads are lonely and heated but people are very warm.
Some of the Pictures of Oman countryside to get a feel of Oman.
I took this trip, by mistake, in hot month (June) and it was most difficult for me so far. I felt that I won’t be able to remain conscious for the next second. I guess that experience made me abandon my plan to drive to Europe through Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya Algeria and Morocco though I had arranged for Egypt and Algeria visa (and I guess I saved myself 😁).
While I was planning for the above trip, suddenly a thought came to my mind that I haven’t driven enough in Oman. So the next weekend I started towards IBRI (West South of Muscat).
My second Trip in Oman route map.
It was quite different than driving in any other country. I didn't drive far enough because of the extreme heat (It was 47 C one time and weather forecast said It will be 48 C in IBRI for next day).
I cancelled to go further from Ibri and returned, and I guess I saved my life because I felt a near miss sun-stoke when I was returning from Ibri to Muscat.
Ibri City
“Oh my god, so much different world here in Ibri, deserted by Heat. Thanks to we Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshi people, there was people around and it was not scary at all.
I have driven in winter, in storm and in rain but when I drove in the Oman, I found it very difficult to drive in the heat. I would like to tell you that this is a very deserted country and even the mountains look like cooked or the heated for so long that you won't find any grass on dirt and every stone looked like it has been roasted in the fire for many years.
See below pictures.
When you drive in Oman, you need to be have a lot of water with you and that needs to be kept in the middle of your bag with cloths and not on side pocket so that water do not get heat up so quickly (Thanks to the tip given by a Pakistani in Baluchistan).
Advisable season to drive between September to February if you don't want to get roasted.
Below are two of the Oman maps (may be useful to understand more about Oman)-
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