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Martin Hammerschmidt

Martin Hammerschmidt

Explorer and traveller at heart with 50+ countries visited so far. About to embark on the biggest adventure of my lifetime to see the world and ‘live a little’ 😉 Read more🇬🇧London
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    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Dumaguete - Diving and Exploring

      May 5–9 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

      Quickly leaving the ugly city of Manila behind, I was heading to the city of Dumaguete. Now, normally, Dumaguete is just a transit point to connect to the mystical island of Siquijor (I will head there next), but I thought I would check out Dumaguete's surroundings while I was there anyway.

      So, on my first day after arriving, I booked myself on a diving trip to nearby Apo Island. It is a protected marine sanctuary and should therefore have some beautiful dive sites. The trip I booked included three dives, which provides ample opportunity to explore Apo Island's underwater world.

      After getting all the dive gear in order, jumping on the dive boat and sailing for about 45 minutes, we put the gear on and jumped straight in.

      It is always difficult to describe the underwater world to someone not diving, but the three dive sites were absolutely gorgeous.

      The reefs looked healthy, which shows in the vibrant colours of the corals, the amount of fish calling this place their home and even a couple of turtles slowly swam around checking us out as we did them.

      Having been diving in Fiji, Apo Island can measure up. It was such a beautiful underwater world that I drove back to my accommodation happy, satisfied and still somewhat in awe of how beautiful our oceans can be. Most certainly a successful day!

      Then it was time to explore the overwater world, i.e. the countryside around Dumaguete.
      Since it is mostly a transit point, I hardly encountered any other international tourist that day, but mostly saw Filipionos/-as, which is always a good sign.

      Anyway, the first stop of my little day trip were the Sulfur Vents, which gave me some flashbacks to Rotorua in New Zealand. Basically, it is natural hot steam coming out from the ground consisting of sulfur, which smells like rotten eggs. It smells very bad, but is cool to watch as it looks like steam trying to break out of little holes in the ground.

      Next was the Pulangbato Waterfall, which was a nice little fall, but nothing really to write home about. I lingered there just for a bit before heading to the Red Rock Springs, which are natural hot springs that you can soak your body in and benefit from all the various health benefits those types of springs offer. The cool thing: For 80% of my time there, I had the springs completely to myself. Not one other person there. It was so serene and peaceful. I just sat in the hot springs and contemplated life. Perfect to spend some quality time there.

      Afterwards, I was driving through beautiful palm-lined streets in the countryside and back into civilisation. I stopped at a small World War 2 museum (didn't know it reached this far here), before passing by a colourful souvenir shop and ending my little day trip in Dumaguete City to visit a local church.

      It was a very nice day out with a couple of cool things to explore. That said, I do admit that if you just pass through Dumaguete, you probably do not miss too much. The diving is really beautiful, however, you can also do it from Siquijor, which is a better and more beautiful jump off location.      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Back To The Philippines - Manila Is Ugly

      May 4 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

      Ah, the Philippines. It has replaced New Zealand as my favorite country in the world last year. It has so much to offer and so many places to explore that I decided to come back. My first stop was Manila, Philippines' capital.

      Now, I haven't really heard many good things about Manila, but since I was landing there anyway, I thought I would take a day to explore the city and see what all the hatred is about.

      Luckily, once I checked into my hostel, they offered a free walking tour throughout the Makati neighbourhood (the supposedly nice and affluent part of Manila), which I gladly joined. The plan was to walk through the area, visit the riverside, an old church, a modern museum, and finish the tour at a little street food market and with a few drinks back at the hostel.

      Now, we did all of these things, but my feedback about Manila is quite negative. While the Philippines is one of the most beautiful countries with absolutely stunning beaches, amazing people and unreal sunsets, Manila must have been one of the ugliest cities I have ever seen in my entire life. Like really. If you ever think about going to Manila, don't. Grey, it is smelly in parts, dirty, no vibe, no real beauty or anything very interesting. I was shocked to be honest.

      Maybe it has some beautiful or hidden parts that I didn’t see or visit, but I would assume a walking tour takes you to the nicer places to showcase the best of a city. Yeah, no, not the case or there simply is nothing really beautiful there. Maybe I do the city unjustly, but if I ever return to the Philippines (most likely), I will use Manila just to change flights, nothing more.

      What you can see in the pictures is my best attempt to make the city look halfway pretty or interesting, but, yeah, I will keep this post short, as I was genuinely shocked how ugly a city can be. Especially when I compare it with my adventure to Oman or the interesting things I saw in Oman's capital, Muscat.

      But Manila: Apparently nothing to see that was interesting or beautiful, so after one night I was getting out of here and heading to some more interesting (and hopefully a lot more beautiful) parts of the Philippines - not a tall order to be honest.      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Oman - You Were Stunning

      May 3 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 39 °C

      The last day. Our flights were in the early/late evening (my parents would fly home, while I would head to the Philippines), which means we still had a few more hours in Muscat. We would make full use of those last hours.

      One of the things my mom (and my dad and l) really wanted to see was a mosque. And Muscat has one of the most beautiful ones in the world - the Sultan-Qabus-Mosque. To beat the crowds, we headed there first thing in the morning and arrived just shortly after they had opened.

      It is mandatory for women to cover their heads, so my mom was given a little hijab. Stepping through the entrance of the mosque (again, no entrance fee), an absolutely majestic sight appeared in front of us. The entire mosque is built from what looks like white marble, which was shining in the morning sun and created a really magical atmosphere.

      I find it hard to describe the place, as behind literally every corner was a new photo opportunity, this incredible was the mosque. Intricate details, stunning little courtyards and open hallways made this mosque a must-visit and exciting to stroll through.

      The highlight, however, was the massive prayer room and the opulent chandelier that was hanging from the ceiling. It is literally next level. The second-biggest chandelier in the world, it is made out of 600,000 (!) crystals/diamonds and weighs 9(!) tons. It is the centerpiece of the prayer hall that is decorated in lush blue colours complemented by a yellow-goldish tone.
      That room I can only describe as divine and awe-inspiring. Something that must be seen to be believed.

      We stayed in the room and the mosque in general probably longer than the average visitor, but I was so taken aback by its beauty that I couldn't stop being amazed.

      After the mosque, we stopped in a little family restaurant and had the most beautifully presented meal of our entire trip. Very delicious as well, typical Omani (we were the only western people there) and in a nice ambiance.

      I know I have said it countless times now, but the mosque (and the lunch) really was the perfect last sight that I could imagine to end our Oman adventures with. During this entire trip, I was amazed by the diversity of Oman's nature - I mean, after all, we went high up the mountains, walked through old forgotten towns, checked out a number of beautiful Wadis, experienced the magical desert for a night, made friends with playful dolphins in the ocean, watched the sun set behind a lighthouse, and explored the lively capital including its colourful market and majestic mosque.

      On top of that, I have to say that the Omani people might be the friendliest on the planet - and not just the service personnel, no, but the ordinary people on the street. Sometimes they just started a conversation out of nowhere, showed interest in us, and said "Welcome To Oman - enjoy this country" countless times.

      If you had told me before I started to plan that all of these things can be found in Oman, I am not sure l would have believed you. I am glad dad had the wish to come here and to explore the country and its culture. And I am even happier that I could share this adventure with my parents. It was something completely new for them (and for me in some respects).

      All I can say to Oman is "thank you" for an amazing time here. I am sure in the future it will become a lot more popular, so I am grateful to have experienced it now, while it still is a bit of a hidden gem.      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Muscat - Exploring The Beautiful Capital

      May 2 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

      Our last full day together in Oman. We woke up early in order to see some of the incredible sights before the heat of the day would take hold.

      After a short 10-minute drive, the first stop brought us to a beautiful viewpoint. Picture white flat-roofed houses squeezed into a little dry and sand-colored valley with a clear blue sky providing the backdrop. I have seen this picture when I did my planning and knew I wanted to see the interesting contrasts in colours. It lived up to my expectations!

      Next, we were checking out the government area. It might sound a little boring, but the buildings were beautiful. Even though we could not go into the buildings, the outside was pretty much all paved with shiny white marble and mesmerising white hallways. Something you actually would expect from a kinda rich middle-eastern capital, to be honest.

      We also paid a visit to the Sultan's residence, which looked like a colourful spaceship. It is a stunning palace and stands in stark contrast to the other white government buildings. We hoped to get invited for tea, but I think the sultan was unfortunately occupied with other plans - I mean, fair enough, he has a country to run.

      For our last stop, we tried to find another viewpoint over the city that was marked on Google Maps and was supposed to be easy to find, but turned out to be a complete failure. It was up a steep hill, but it was at the side of a busy street. We couldn't turn the car around here, so we had to go down on the other side, then all the way back up again and down again. Ah well, sometimes travelling does not go super smoothly.

      Anyway, once back at the hotel, we relaxed by the pool for a bit. Not too long though, as the Sheraton was throwing its biggest pool party of the year - of course, right when we just wanted a relaxed time. It was the Festival of Colours, which is basically the Indian Holi celebrations. Everyone was given bags of colours to throw around and at people, while Indian and non-Indian music was blasting from the stage.

      Naturally, I grabbed a few bags of colour and joined the celebrations. It was actually quite fun even though the clear water of the pool turned dark as all sorts of colours mixed together in the water. It really was a nice party and by the end I was also full of colour.

      After a quick shower, we all headed to our last dinner and then checked out another part of Muscat that was especially interesting for my mom - the market. Maybe not as beautiful as the one in Nizwa, but certainly very colourful, full of different scents and life. The market was definitely another highlight. We wandered more or less aimlessly passing the stalls, simply soaking in the atmosphere and watching people go about their shopping and lives.

      Leaving the market and walking towards the car, we strolled on a little promenade right by the ocean, completing an amazing day exploring, partying, eating and shopping ourselves through Muscat.      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Exploring Oman‘s Natural Wonders

      May 1 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

      Slowly, but surely, our little Oman adventure was drawing to a close as today we would be driving to Muscat, Oman's capital and our last destination. That said, on the way to the city, there were still a few things we would explore. Namely the famous Wadi Shab and the intriguing Bimmah Sinkhole.

      But first things first. Upon checking out, we headed to Sunaysilah Fort, which was still in Sur and provided us with great views over the city and the ocean as it was located on a little hill.

      The sheer amount of minarets still amazed all of us - we counted at least 15 dotted all across the city. The Fort was permanently closed for visitors, so we simply walked around it and soaked up the views.

      Then we were heading to Wadi Shab which is probably among the most well-known and beautiful Wadis in Oman. Even though it was still early in the morning (just past eight), it was already hot and humid. Once we arrived, we took a small boat for two minutes to get to the other side of a little stream and then walked towards the natural pools.

      The first part of the walk was uneventful, but we started to get a sense of the scale. In effect, we were walking through a small canyon with the canyon walls rising into the sky on our left and right. After some 15 minutes, the Wadi turned spectacular, though.

      Climbing a few stairs up, a smaragd green lake unfolded in front of us, starkly contrasting with the rocky and brown coloured canyon walls to its side. All I could think of was "Wow, what a sight". It really is amazing what nature can and has created.
      We took a little break there to admire the scenery in front of us, took a few snaps and drank lots of water. There was a little bit of shade, which was very welcomed, especially for my mom, who really does not like the humid heat.

      After just 5-10 minutes more, we finally arrived at the pools and it didn't take long for me and my dad to jump into the refreshing water. What a feeling it was. Something surely needed after the little 25-30 minute walk. To this day, I am not quite sure why dad doesn't like to jump into the open water (ie ocean) but is happening the Wadis, while mom seems to avoid the water of the Wadis, but jumps into the ocean - strange parents sometimes.

      Anyway, we lingered there for a little bit more than an hour before returning to our car and heading to our next destination - the Bimmah Sinkhole.

      The sinkhole very much reminded me of Cenotes in Mexico or the sinkhole in Samoa. It is basically very close to the ocean (so the water is a little salty), has a round opening and feels like an imaginary ceiling has basically just collapsed giving way to a round pool in which you can swim.

      The difference to the aforementioned locations is that this one does not have grass or trees growing inside and above, but has merely the yellow, beige, sandy colour given its location in a very hot climate.

      This time, I was the only one walking down the steps and swimming in the sinkhole, while my parents were chilling up top in the shade. I think the heat (42 degrees) had really gotten the better of both of them by now. To be fair, it was very hot, which is why the water in the sinkhole felt really nice and refreshing.

      Then it was finally the moment when we would drive to Muscat, our very last destination. We treated ourselves a little bit by staying in the Sheraton Hotel. I mainly picked this hotel, because it also has a pool. After arriving, I quickly made my way down to the pool, jumped in and then relaxed there for the rest of the afternoon. My parents took a nap and then also came down after some time to join me.

      In the evening, we went for a traditional and delicious Omani dinner before going to bed early. Tomorrow would be our last full day and we would wander around Oman's vibrant capital.

      Recapping today, it was a great day of exploring Oman's most famous natural wonders - and wonders they were. The incredible thing about them is also that they were free to visit and were not crowded at all. Maybe it is the time of year (May is already very hot in Oman), but yeah, I was, once again, stunned by the natural beauty of this country.

      That said, by now, we had left nature behind us and were ready to experience city life.      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Watching Dolphins, Fishermen and Sunset

      April 30 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

      I woke up feeling excited. I was taking my parents on a dolphin watching tour in Omani waters. How about that as a contrast to the desert that we woke up in yesterday? Yes, we made it to the ocean, more specifically, the Strait of Oman.

      Back in the mountain village of Al Hamra, we were given the contact details of the guy running the boat tour and after some back and forth I managed to get us a spot. So here we were - jumping on a boat in the hope to spot some dolphins.

      Well, it took all of maybe a 5 minute drive until we spotted them, jumping around, swimming with our boat and just having a great time. But I doubt as great of a time as all of us had on the boat. We were all very excited to see them and at times it felt our captain was the biggest cheerleader. The dolphins followed us for a while and seemed to have a fantastic time as they jumped out of the water, doing flips, etc. It was such a cool sight and as perfect as a morning on the water as it can get.

      Now, I believe my parents had never seen dolphins before, so I was very happy for them. I have not seen them in a while and definitely not as joyous as on this tour, so I was beaming with excitement.

      After some time, the dolphins had enough of us and we made our way along the shore towards turtle beach. On the way, we admired the sandy coastline and the contrasting clear and blue water. The cool thing: there were max 1-2 other boats where we went, so it felt as if we had the ocean, the dolphins and now the turtles all to ourselves.

      Ah yeah, turtles. We definitely were in for a show as it was mating time for them and they were having their fun all around us. Sometimes a couple of males surrounding one female waiting their turn. And our captain was constantly shouting "Bunga Bunga", in an attempt to flirt with the Italian girls on the boat. Ah, it was so much fun.

      Next one was a snorkeling stop, which was a bit disappointing, though, as the boat did not have enough snorkels for everyone. That said, mom and I grabbed some goggles and jumped into the water anyway. What I did not know is that dad is a bit afraid of open water - so he stayed back and observed the scenery (and us) while munching some watermelon in the process. Mom liked the snorkeling and I hope that at some point I will have the chance to snorkel properly with her again, because there is much more beautiful snorkeling out there in the world.

      On our way back, dad got really excited then. We passed a couple of fishing boats and stopped really close to them to observe how they all worked together to haul in the fish that they caught in the net that was spanning between their boats. Also for me it was super interesting to watch, but for dad, it definitely was the highlight of this boat tour (who cares about dolphins?). Towards the end, the fishermen even threw some fish over into our boat, supposedly for our captain to use for lunch or dinner.

      Back in our hotel, we quickly packed up and then drove to the sea-side town of Sur. After some lunch and some rest, we drove to the lighthouse and a guard tower to explore the area and to watch the sunset from there. It is a beautiful location - think ocean, fishing boats frequenting the waters amidst a backdrop of white buildings and countless minarets - and the warm light of the setting sun certainly added a magic touch.

      There was only one slight problem. It wasn't just hot as in the days before, but also incredibly humid. I mean, we were by the sea. But it did become uncomfortable at times - especially for my mom who really cannot stand such climates. So, we decided to stick around the area and instead of climbing up the guard tower, to watch the picture-perfect sunset from the lighthouse, which also offered a majestic sight.

      What cool a day was that, please? In all honesty, it was the best dolphin watching I have done in my life, the horny turtles were a fun sight to watch and the fishermen also gave us an interesting show. All of that and it wasn't even 11am. Rounding up the day with exploring Sur and watching the orange sun set behind the horizon. Ah, those are the days when I absolutely love travelling!      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Fun in the Dunes, Relaxing in Oasis

      April 29 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      My dad and I didn't really make a lot of use of the bed inside our tent as we woke up early to catch the sunrise over the dunes.

      Having slept only a few hours after enjoying the outdoor cinema last night, we took the same way up the dune as for sunset yesterday with the slight exception that nobody was driving us up, but we had to walk up the dune ourselves. Took around 15 minutes or so and would be totally worth it.

      Once we were up there, we made ourselves comfortable and watched how the sky changed its colours every few minutes. In the distance, a hot air balloon was being prepared and shortly after set off. Combined with the early morning sun rising in the distance, it created a magical scene full of colour.

      After lingering for a bit, we, of course, took a few photos, but more importantly, I was now having a drone with me. I had flown it a bit in Germany to practice, but this one was the first time I was properly doing some shots. And I have to say, those shots and videos definitely help to capture the amazing scenery. It was also super fun to play around with it, try things out and see what works and what does not. Really glad I brought it with me.

      Of course, I had to run down the dune again and by the time we got back to our tent, my mom was waiting there, already having had coffee outside and also enjoying the early morning glow of the desert. We quickly changed and headed to breakfast that was plentiful - we particularly liked the Omelette station!

      Then it was time for some activities - always my favorite part when travelling. First up was camel riding. If I had ever thought to see both my parents on a camel, I would not have believed it. But here we were. My mom was definitely a bit sceptical but she ploughed through bravely (not gracefully - she was basically holding on to the saddle with her dear life), whereas dad was more 'easy' in the saddle. I, of course, loved it. Definitely a nice experience.

      Then came dune bashing. In other words, sitting in a car with a driver who races up and down the dunes in a 4x4. My mom was all for it and ready to jump into the car. My dad, on the other hand, was a little bit too chicken, and decided not to join us. I mean, after the little 4x4 drive through the canyon a few days ago where it was his turn to more or less hold on for dear life, it was a 50/50 in my mind already.

      Anyway, mom and I met the driver who quickly raced up the dunes for a ride full of adrenaline. Going to some of the dunes I thought there is no way we are not going to flip over, but he expertly navigated the steep dunes. At one point, he was going a bit crazy, though, when we drove a steep dune backwards! I mean, BACKWARDS! What the hell. Not gonna lie, it was fun. My mom seemed to really enjoy it as well - and said afterwards, she wants to do it again - even though it was already the second time this morning where she was holding onto her dear life.

      That pretty much concluded a perfect morning and stay in the desert. Catching the sunrise, riding camels, racing down dunes. These are the moments I live for.

      Sadly, it was then time to leave the desert behind us. On the drive back, I was catching some aerial shots with my drone and even managed to find a herd of camels roaming around.

      Having left the desert, our next stop was Wadi Bani Khalid, which is a beautiful oasis amidst rocks and in the middle of nowhere. It was a nice little contrast to the desert. As mentioned in previous posts, a Wadi is a river valley and this Wadi had a large pool of water where we could swim in.

      After the dry desert, it was an ideal location and dad and I took the opportunity to refresh ourselves, while mom was chilling out in the shade reading a book. It was once again quite hot as we were there sort of in the middle of the day, so the water - even if a bit warm - was a nice refresher.

      We stayed there for a couple of hours before heading to Raz Al Hadd, our next destination and accommodation for the night.

      But yeah, another really cool day spent in Oman with new experiences for me and my parents. I cannot repeat it enough, but at this time, I was really amazed by Oman and did not expect it to be this diverse. And I did not even know what absolutely amazing thing would happen tomorrow!      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      1001 Night - A Night in the Desert

      April 28 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 41 °C

      Today was one of the days I was looking mostly forward to - in particular for my parents as we were about to do something quite cool. Spending a night in the desert.

      Firstly, though, it was time to explore Ibra's old town. At first, I was a bit disappointed walking through the abandoned streets as the houses were really run-down. Most of them basically collapsed and were just left in peace - but in a bad way. At times, it felt more like walking through a war zone than an old historical town.

      That was until we spotted a museum (an old house that was fully restored) that looked quite promising and would turn out to be a great place to visit. We learned a lot about the Omani culture, the way of life in the past and now, the harsh conditions people had to live through and the bright future they look forward to. One very interesting fact was that it had not rained for 6 months and our guide told us that when he was a child, there was a period of no rain for 10 years!!! Excuse me, what? 10 years of no rain? Wow. That is incredibly hard to believe and fathom.

      That museum visit was surprisingly amazing and sort of 'saved' my perception of Ibra.
      Before, I was a bit down to have brought my parents here as it was nothing really to write home about, but with the highly interesting visit to the museum, I did not feel bad anymore.

      Anyway, then it was time to head to our accommodation in the desert. And not just any accommodation. No. It was a 5-star hotel, with each 'room' being a tent right in the middle of dunes rising to the left and right. It really felt a bit like a scene out of 1001 Night.

      After admiring the place and appreciating where we were, I had another surprise planned. I took my parents into a 4x4 car that was provided by the hotel and we had a quick, but action-packed drive up onto the dunes to watch a beautiful sunset from there.

      Of course, we also took the opportunity of the warm, glowing light to take some snaps, but then just sat down in the sand and overlooked how the Omani sun was slowly setting behind the dunes and our camp, painting the sky in a vibrant orange. It was a beautiful setting and I was very happy to have brought my parents here to have them experience a sunset in a landscape like this.

      After running down the dune and getting rid of the sand in the shower, we got ready for some delicious buffet-style dinner. Sitting outside, talking about our Oman adventure thus far and just about everything else was pure bliss. I really enjoyed the time.

      That was not everything, though. There was one more thing. My dad and I strolled over to a little section that was filled with seats to watch the movie 'London Has Fallen' in an outdoor cinema.

      I mean, sunset in the desert, delicious lunch and watching a movie under the stars. What more do you want out of a night in the desert. It really was a perfect evening for all of us.      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      Offroad the Canyon & Exploring Castles

      April 27 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 40 °C

      Today, it was time to take our car on a real test drive. When planning this trip, it was suggested to hire a 4x4 vehicle as some roads in the mountains are a bit tricky to drive without an all-wheel-drive. And as luck had it, we got a free upgrade at the airport for having to wait 15 minutes to get our car. So now, we had a Nissa X-Terra - half a house!

      Anyway, as we explored the canyon from the top yesterday (i.e. hiking along the balcony walk), this time, we would drive through the canyon at the bottom. To be clear, there is no paved road. Instead, we would follow a dried out riverbed with lots of gravel, tight turns, ups and downs, etc - in short, lots and lots of fun.

      To follow the path, we definitely needed a 4x4 car, as the car slid left, right and centre, going through shallow water, underneath palm trees, tight turns bordered by rocks and unstable gravel, pretty much the entire time. The setting was spectacular, though, as we drove through the dramatic canyon that was rising up all the way to the sky all around us. It was a really cool and fun drive.

      My mom and I enjoyed it very much, even though the uneven surface was properly shaking the car in all directions - washing machine style. My dad enjoyed it at the beginning, but at some point it was a bit too ‚adventerous' for him and I think a couple of times he suggested to best turn around. Well, I wasn't turning around, since I had too much fun (and mom was on my side, haha).

      At the end of the road, we stopped the car, walked a bit further into the canyon and admired the breath-taking landscape that was unfolding in front of us. A truly majestic sight! Yeah, that was a real adventerous drive with stunning views the entire way. I absolutely loved it!

      Back in our accomodation, we packed up and were heading to our next destination. On the way, however, we did a quick pitstop to visit one of the most beautiful castles in Oman - Jabreen Castle.

      The fortress, made out of large stones and dark gray sandstones held together with thick layers of sand and gypsum, was build in 1675 by an Imam and is beautifully restored and perfect to explore. It's intricate interiors, variety of rooms (date storage, two courtyards, residency, welcome hall, etc.) made it very interesting to wander through and to think about when the castle was in operations hundreds of years ago.

      It also provided a nice cool climate as the sun and temperatures outside were again raging in the mid-40s by now. We took our time walking through the castle, learning about its fascinating history and taking some cool snaps before having a light lunch at a nearby cafe.

      Afterwards, we had a long drive to the city of Ibra, where we would stay for the night. Once arrived, we checked in, went off to dinner (Yemeni again, including camel and lamb), before walking through a little but underwhelming market.

      Once again, it was an interesting and varied day, starting with an adventerous drive through a canyon and exploring the history and architecture of a beautiful Omani castle.

      Tomorrow would be another amazing day, full of seeing new things and hopefully with something amazing and unique for mom and dad.      Read more

    • Martin HammerschmidtTravelerAround The World - Part 2

      From Canyons To Forgotten Times

      April 26 in Oman ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

      We started very early today in order to beat the heat, as we were doing our biggest and probably most impressive hike in all of Oman - the balcony walk over Jebel Shams.

      Jebel Shams is a beautiful mountain range and home to Oman's biggest mountain, but also features a breathtaking canyon. The balcony walk essentially leads along the edge of that canyon for about 1-1.5h offering stunning views. That being said, since we knew that the balcony walk was fully exposed to the sun, we started our hike at 7.30am in the morning after a 45 minutes windy drive from our accommodation.

      Not long after we began our hike, the canyon unfolded to the right of us as we were following along the path with the mountain wall on the opposite side, rising dramatically up from the canyon underneath. I immediately believed that this was the most spectacular hike in Oman.

      Yes, it was rocky, it was hot (but not unbearably yet, luckily) and the cliff drops of at least a couple of hundred meters were really high. And the views just kept getting better and better.

      It wasn't a difficult hike to be honest. Some downhill sections were a bit rocky, but otherwise quite straightforward. For my dad, a seasoned hiker after dragging him all through Patagonia, this wasn't strenuous either. My mom - not necessarily a mountain goat - ploughed through impressively with her only issue being that she suffers from vertigo. Not the best features to have when walking up high over a steep canyon. Ah well, she successfully completed the hike and towards the end we were all sitting under a canopy to enjoy the scenery in front of us and congratulated ourselves.

      Back at the car park, we also witnessed a funny scene when a few goats climbed someone's car to reach the upper leaves of a tree. One goat almost fell off, but did stabilise itself at the last minute. Would’ve been hilarious!

      Anyway, once back in our accommodation, we had a quick shower and then hopped over for some interesting Yemeni lunch. Interesting insofar that it was the first time for all of us to try camel! Am not gonna lie, it tasted really nice. So nice, that I knew I would have it again at some point on this trip. Mom was also intrigued and dad was his usual "yeah, tastes good".

      Then it was time for a well-deserved siesta. By this point, it was already 40 degrees or more, so there was no point in doing something exhausting.

      By 4-4.30pm, the main heat of the day had subsided a bit, so we decided to go and explore our last mountain village - Misfat al Abriyyin. It is nestled on a mountain side with a sea of palm trees on its lower part. Walking through the little village really felt like being transported into times gone by.

      Imagine walking through narrow pathways next to old brown houses made out of clay leading to a sea of green palm trees and intricate waterways. It was a beautiful sight (quite the contrast to the canyon this morning) and we took the opportunity to walk along those waterways to see where they would lead us. At some point, the waterways became too exposed, though, so we turned back.

      As the sun started to set, my dad found a very nice rooftop bar. There, we sat down for some drinks while enjoying the view over the old village, another mountain village opposite of a little river, the mountains in the background and the serenity of the moment. It was a picture-perfect finish to an amazing day that had started with dramatic views over a canyon and finished with beautiful views over an old mountain village.

      Oman, you keep impressing me and being more diverse as I thought you could be.      Read more

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