Up early for a 7am breakfast then relaxed around camp until 9:30. Drove out of the desert by ourselves then paid about $4 to get our tires reinflated! Back on the highway and headed west to Sur on the coast. First stop was 200 year-old Bilad Sur Castle which was pretty much empty though restored. Sur is renowned for its building of Dhow boats, so drove along the Corniche to the boat yards but arrived at lunch break. Instead crossed the Khor Al Batah suspension bridge to Ayjah village across the lagoon from Sur. Had lunch by the water then checked out the lighthouse. Back to the boatyard to watch the dhows being constructed by hand.
Headed north along the coast to Wadi Tiwi. A wadi is a valley or river bed that is often dry except after heavy rains (a rarity in Oman). They are often surrounded by steep cliffs and can have pools of deep water here and there. Wadi Tiwi has a sealed road for much of its length so we decided to drive up a ways before ending our day. Quite pretty and lush with plenty of plantations on either side. Drove back to our hotel on the beach at Tiwi village, had a swim in the pool, then dinner in the garden.
Pix of Sur and Wadi Tiwi are on Flickr:
