Thursday 25 / April / 2024
People going around the streets of Muscat with their faces and cars painted in the national colours is not an unusual sight on National Day. However, this year, a group of hikers in the Sultanate decided to celebrate Oman’s 47th National Day in a unique manner.
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Video courtesy: Hamdoon Sultan
The five adventurous individuals went on a challenging “National Day hike,” starting from a point in Jebel Akhdar. However, this hike was special not only because of the challenging and exciting route they had taken, but also because the group learnt a lot about Oman’s culture and heritage during the trek.
“Along the way, we discussed the significance of Jebel Akhdar in the olden days,” said Gabriel Aquino, an avid mountain hiker, who planned the trip. “We had a good conversation, and as we were passing through the villages, we got to know a lot about Jebel Akhdar in the olden days, and it made us feel proud of our country.”
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One of the visual highlights of the trek was the beautiful pictures the group captured, most of which had the national flag proudly hoisted or swaying amidst the breathtaking backdrop. “When we went on the hike, we carried a big flag, as it was the National Day, and at strategic points, we took photographs of our journey,” he remarked.
What was supposed to be a two-day hike ended up being a three-day and 23-hour-long journey through mountains, wadis, abseils, and intense paths.
“It was really an enjoyable hike, and there was so much water everywhere. If people say Oman has no water, they better go to Wadi Hijri,” he exclaimed.
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The group learnt a lot about Oman’s topography and history during their adventure. “We learnt how difficult life was for the Omanis, how hard they worked to earn this life, how they were building houses in the caves, and how difficult it was to reach the water, until they managed to build the fall system,” Hamdoon explained.
This unique way of celebrating National Day by learning about the country’s cultural riches got the team closer to Oman. “I am so proud to be working and living here,” stressed Gabriel.
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