Wadi Bani Khalid (What you need to know before Hiking)

Wadi Bani Khalid - Summer season could be daunting times to enjoy the outdoors of Oman. But with the expertise of local friends and the wit of Adventureclub.om in planning, we had a great fun in Wadi Hawir which is the end stream of famous Wadi Bani Khalid. The night before we spend our aquatic hike, we had a wonderful camping on the nearby desert.

The sprawling red sands of Bidiyah stretch as far as the  foothills of Wadi Bani Khalid. Just the opposite of the corner where visitors make detour from the main highway to Bani Khalid lies an almost perfect place for camping. Surrounded by hills of sand, we camp on a totally flat sands suitable to erect our tents and free from sand dust should the winds blew stronger.

Omanis are expert at glamping, short for glamorous camping. The next time you are invited for a camp, feel free to bring whatever that can make you comfortable, including your favorite portable mattress.

Camels are everywhere in the desert, for that reason they are called the vessels of the sands. Though they looked wild, they are herded as the sunsets and are set free early next morning. The barn are equipped with water and some grass to supplement their diet.

It can also be Humid and Cold in the desert, always be prepared and some extra. Last time I forgot my bonnet and it the coldness are penetrating deep into my skulls. 

When these middle manager dressed down from their work clothes, they turn into an orchestra playing gastronomic symphony. My experience on Omani cuisine is authentic as it is, nothing beats it.

This is how our foods are served, both for dinner and for breakfast. Omani have high respect on the bounties provided by Allah, it has to be shared to all and eaten by hand. On these seating, we are all equal human beings.

Wadi as you might thought is synonymous to river water but literally it means valley. On hot summer seasons, the wadi can be dry and when the rain starts pouring in, they turn in one of Oman's adventure haven for camping, hiking, swimming and cliff jumping if you have the adrenaline for it.

Tip: When you know how to swim, there is no reason for you to be afraid to jump on the cliff. Once on the edge, spend less time gaining momentum for the jump, after knowing that it is safe to jump just take a leap and enjoy the free-fall. The longer you spend on the edge the more the panic attacks and the knees locks itself. It will be difficult to jump by then unless you ask someone to push you unknowingly.

So here are my top tips when going for Aquatic Hike

1. Wear Light Apparels
What to wear on aquatic hike? In almost all of my aquatic hike, I always wear light dri-fit shirts and shorts. Cottons are the worst as it becomes heavy when soaked in water. Pants are not recommended especially if some parts of the wadi are deep, it can wear you down easily. For footwear, I prefer the aquatic shoes of columbia, which has a mesh wrapping but solid outsole with 360 degrees grip.

Nature made slides. We all have great time playing with these fresh water slides formed by the natural flow of the wadi. At first it was ignored but when one of the group discovered the fun, we all jumped in and do the crazy stunts.

2. Stay Hydrated
Hydration starts the day before. Drink plenty of water and electrolytes from the day before the hike. The main aim is to stay healthy and fit so all can enjoy. My rule of thumb is a liter of water for hour of hike duration. The most I have taken with me on a single day hike was 3 liters, 2 liters on my Camelbak and 2 spare 500 ml of Pocari sweat. I try my best to consume 500 ml per 30 minutes of hike duration. If the hike is to last more than 3 hours, I have to carefully manage with that 3 liters and so far it was all OK.

Sure that pool of water was inviting and I took the privilege of jumping in first.

3. Never go hungry
While thirstiness are easily replenished by hydration, a crunching stomach is an enemy of an adventure day. I don't mean to stuff your stomach full but eating the right breakfast, taking regular small amount of snacks goes a long way. Our group favorites are the navel oranges from Egypt, bananas from Philippines and of course the fructose-packed dates of Oman. Leave those, cheap chocolates that has sugar that is not needed by the body. Chips and junk foods ruins your hydration plan as you get thirsty more often. The point is the body has to be light but packed with energy required to navigate around the boulders. At the end of the day, you can reward yourself heavenly foods you desired.

This spot is heaven on earth. Fresh water, clean and shallow just the right spot to spend basking.

This reminds of who did not make it down the water. Full of fun and laughter as each one of us prepared for what we called 'Leap of Faith'. Amazingly, age wasn't a hindrance for taking the challenge.

4. Safety
It doesn't mean that because we are in outdoor adventure, we have to take risks to enjoy. It is actually opposite, the more safety one would apply so that there will be more years to have fun. Don't be the lame lamb for the group to carry especially if it is less than half-way.

We abseil as part of our experienced. Arranged by our partner Abo Mansoor, we all have the chance to experience this rappelling alongside the waterfall. It was an exhilarating experience to trust your life on the strands of the rope, really worthwhile.

On rainy season, the level of water can go higher than where I stand.

With this group, the 5 hour trek was a cracker.

Improvised ladder made of date trees, quite a challenge for those who hesitate to experience adventure.

5. Bring waterproof camera
Yes, camera not phone. I had learned my lessons on the numerous adventures in Oman alone, 2 iphones and one camera. It goes with sling, so will stay with you no matter how rough the activity will take. My favorite is the Nikon AW130 waterproof and shockproof camera. The performance of the camera is comparable to GoPro3 but has the editing features unique to itself, I guarantee you'll be the first one to be able upload the photos if you're like me who can't wait to share fresh experiences.

Hassan is a pioneer in Telecom landscape of Oman, adventurous and always try to stay young at heart. He has endless list of wisdom to share. Trekking offers the opportunity to learn from him, free of charge.

The scene while waiting for our turns to experience abseiling.

6. Connect to your friends
Outdoors give plenty of opportunity to catch-up with your office colleagues or friends we haven't sent for quite a long time. If possible, change places on the pack along the way to have an opportunity to chat with your friends. Some preferred to be in the lead pack especially those younger than you. For the wise and the learned stay behind the pack, they are the enlightened ones. 

Our host on the abseiling course as he guided the Kuwaiti TV presenter.

A scene on my interview the Kuwait TV.

You can watch the full adventure on here:

Mabuhay!

OFW travelling back to Philippines for a holiday? Do these 5 secrets

ORMOC: Travelling back to Philippines for a holiday? It has been 9 years that I am in and out of the country as an OFW. As usual, I spend most if not all of the allocated money before our vacation is over and then I entered into the common syndrome of not to do the same next time but still keep doing it. Very few are lucky to have left a savings on their last days on a holiday. It would be naive to say that I have marginal improvement financially and would be humbled if someone would tell that I have accumulated a fortune. But I tell you, it is not all about the money that can keep us going and growing. 

With the increasing the number of OFW and improving economy, prepare for delayed flights on domestic travels

1. Share the Good news 

Upon our return, many of our family, relatives and friends eager to hear good stories to outside the country or how nice it is to work as an OFW. We all wanted to have that long holiday on a secluded places with our spouse and children where we can have the very rest we need, after all we deserve that break. Our family cultures is centered into gatherings, telling stories of how life has been after we've been away that long.

More of the financial stuffs, you can share the unforgettable experience or how easy it is to navigate the airport this time around or how well we have have performed in our workplace. Save the emotional ones to the people that is very close to you, preferable to the those that have touched your life before you were called OFW. Certainly, thye can give you a lift as they did before.

First meal upon arrival is shared best with your immediate family

On the other hand, it is an opportunity to hear as well their side of the stories. Those unforgettable childhood moments, or crazy highschool stuffs that you can't imagine you have done before. Everyone is unique and has his own happiness index and you will be surprised how little financial status counts. More importantly to our parents who have prayed for us that we all be safe and away from harm. They too wanted to know how well we have lived in a foreign country.

Not all toxic drinks are made for cheers, this refreshing lemongrass drink made by Aunt Norma is a sure thirst quencher.

Tapoctaporcs in Batangas City celebrating Raven's birthday

I got the chance to visit 2 of my cousins who are my first career mentors and bear witness of my success. I am happy to know that I have turned their advices into something useful many folds than their expectation. I also have reconnected to the medical staffs who was there during the troublesome delivery of our first born child. They were astonished as to how time past and to hear a 3 year old maturely joke with them.

2. Make Children Laugh

Remember those times when our relatives coming abroad and throwing a party for us? It is your chance to let the children feel the excitement, laughter and inspire them of your success. You don't have to limit your charitable act to members of your family, there are many opportunities into places that you least expected. One time, we attended mass to see an obviously struggling mother who still nursing her youngest son. We spend a little more than five minutes to get to know her life story how she left with no choice. Extending some help and giving new clothes to her children made her treat us life we descended from heaven and heard her prayer, the smile on the child's face can't be painted.

57th birthday of Mama Maricor with here grandchildren

Disneyland is not the happiest place for children, but a body of water where they can run and swim

Size of a house doesn't matter for a family celebration

3. Visit New Places

How often do we wonder how fast the days went during our vacation and even hadn't spent a day for ourselves? We deserve our piece of the the hard-earned money. It is time to explore places that are showcased in social media or attractions that are in your bucket list. It doesn't have to be a lavish resort published by commercially driven websites or travel magazine. So long as it is your first time, you will have that experience just as it as the first time you boarded an airplane.

Where can this be?

 This year we went to Iloilo to visit some old friends who happen to work also in Muscat. Just as Ilongos are proud of their island as so as to their local food. We have many first time dishes prepared from the home of Limosos, the looks of the food is familiar but the taste in unique probably due to the herbs used that are native to this island.

Native delicacies are best enjoyed with friends from the local community. Have you tried authentic batchoy?

Little did we know that our very accommodating host is taking us to what the province is noted for and is a UNESCO heritage site. Miag-ao church stands tall and proud for over 200 years, the most solid-built church I've seen.
  

4. Invest

The best value of an OFW is materialized when an investment is made and is making positive returns, this is how also our family knows that we care for their financial security. Whether building that dream home, buying that dream car, starting up a business or expanding an already existing enterprise, so long as it is a tangible asset. I am into stock market but when it comes to securing our family's future, I still prefer a financial structure where I can physically touch. We all wanted to retire, let the money work for us and dictate our own time. 

I have watched many OFW that goes broke after their stint because of their extravagant spending, enter into gambling, lured by cons or lack of financial literacy. How would you answer this question, "What have I done today and will do continuously for the next 10 years so that I can go home in time and spend the rest of my years enjoying the fruits of my labor?".

5. Pay religious homage 

Whatever your religion, it pays lot to visit the very church where you grew, or knelled to ask for blessings. It has a psychological sense of a successful OFW because the mere fact that you are there and of different status. After all, if it is not because of the power of prayer and faith in the Almighty that we all will realized our dreams.

Jaro Cathedral Church, Iloilo CIty

Basilica del Sto. Nino, Cebu City

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu City which happens to be the 35th wedding anniversary of our parents.

Tell me, which of these make sense to you? What did you do differently on last vacation?

We are but only care takers of this world...

Don't forget to smile, everyday is a blessing.

Mabuhay!