Camping Experiment - Completed

Dedicated for the F-G family

Oman provides wonderful destinations for off-road travelers. Untouched beaches, mountains, wadis and desert drives. It is a vast country with beautiful landscape. Getting off the beaten track for a while in all sense did appeal me for a while.

My conception was that it provides a special feeling of freedom and an opportunity to getting out of comfort zone, hence always bringing some new revelation in ourselves, unexpected experiences and fun after all. Eid el Adha and the fresh friendship with a camper family brought camping on a secluded beach for at least 3 nights to arm’s distance for us. I had a week to get prepared for something unknown. Purchasing basic equipment , buying and preparing food was far enough of a challenge for me for the 7 days I had between the decision and the set-off. It happened maybe only once twice when the thought came to mind whether I know exactly what I was doing: 8-hours’ drive with two kids on the backseat, no water, no electricity, we eat and drink what we bring, sand and burning sun in excess quantity, etc.I took up the approach of participating in an experiment and put all those worries aside.

By the morning of our departure I got ready. Thanks to F-G Daddy and Son the heaps of stuff could be swallowed by the trunk of my lovely and faithful X-Trail.

The drive was eventually great fun for me. It was a lesson about following. Following means you trust your leader, find out his intentions, filter it through yourself and react onto it. Harmony develops greater if the reaction time approaches zero. In this leading and following game I had the instrument, my car around me. The car got part of me and I became part of the car. On our way we went through only one town, they had their weekly market. Lots of mattresses, pillows, duvets and clothes. Otherwise we passed by some smaller villages. The landscape showed some variety. We had to be careful with the wild camels grazing close to the road. On the last resorted place we had a hearty Indian feast by the patrol station.

We arrived to our beach before sunset, so the tents were standing before darkness came up on us. The Moon was in ascendance, so it provided us cozy night light.

Location: Three-Palm Lagoon. The sweet water lagoon boasts  of various bird species. The long beach is untouched, though Gonu still has its trace dispersed all over the place. A sank close to that coastline and its cargo content is still scattering about all over.

Sea: The sea gets part of life. Its waving sound gets your silence. It is your kitchen sink, your bathroom, your view, your fun. On two mornings we were even blessed by the company of a group of dolphins and the sight of many fish, but no catch eventually.

Sand: When you first step out of your car, you get all sandy. As you continue with errands, you’ll have sand in your tent, on your mattresses, in your sleeping bag, all over your body. And there is nothing you can do about it. You are surrounded with it. Being sandy and having sand all over you and your place, that’s an evidence you accept.

Sun: It was great to adjust our daily rhythm to the walk of the sun on the sky. We just looked at the sky and could tell the time and what we do. It was funny to see how much of an influence the sun had on our activities and activeness. Sunrise gives a fresh start for the day. It is still cool and bleak. You can hardly believe that within two hours all this will feel burning hot. Then you feel the warmth of the sun, for having a nice breakfast and a swim and get active. Then the heat contains you in the shelter of the shade. You have 3-4 hours of rest and static activity. With the kids we played board games, did some art work and of course some eating and drinking.

Afternoon is for beach time. And when the sun sets to decadence that’s the most activating part of the day. You are able to move about and do some physical work, and get prepared for dinner and the night.

After sunset you have the fire. It is a heartwarming feeling to sit around it feel the cosines of being together.

Food and drink: That is a field you might keep the comfort of home in your life. You have the hunger for fresh juicy fruits and vegetable, e.g. melon, orange and salads. In the evening grilled meats and vegetables. And also hot drinks  tea and coffee. These all serve your well-being and they are all the treats you need for feeling good all the time. Canned and dehydrated food is for survival, but it will not give the pleasing you might desire. 

Equipment: What you take to the beach will be exposed to the ruining effect of sun, sand and salty water. So take only a few clothing, all-body covering shirt, saris and hats are essential. Kitchenware is stainless steel. Kid’s toys, games and art material was very useful. Boogie board for wave splashing is also good to have.

Attitude: Acceptance. Here you are destined to circumstances that have a great influence on your activeness and set boundaries onto your space and freedom. The sun tells you when to be active, when to rest, when to get together, when to set apart, what to do. It provides a comfortable rhythm for your day. Just living for the minute, for the day. Enjoying what you have and what you get. Release many preconceptions and civilized attitudes about cleanliness, sanity and orderliness. Let everything run through you but do not let any of them touch you too much. This state is all transitory, so why not enjoy it as it is. You will not live all your life like this, so why not letting it happen in way it does come up to you.

We have the first decisive and very much positive experience behind us. We are not at all ready to go camping on our own, but hopefully we will have some more opportunity to gain practice in it.