Friday, December 10, 2010
Desert, they say, is a place where one has to shed cowardice, weaknesses, pride, ego…to emerge stronger and to become a quick decision maker. Salim Joseph joins an expedition across the Sharqiyah Sands to encounter the unknown and to find out why many people are addicted to desert trips
“Hey, I am stuck. Winch me out. Maybe you could bring two winches…” the crackly voice through the walkie-talkie doesn’t cause panic but triggers a flutter of laughter. “There he is, stuck again…All guys with winches proceed to car number 13 and please somebody get behind his wheel…” (More laughter).
It’s a place where problems energize people and goad them into action. Nothing is kept for tomorrow. There’s no tomorrow. Fix it now, to move on. And while they move, they leave nobody behind. It’s real brotherhood, nothing less, nothing more.
That’s what they all have become after venturing into the desert, pushing hard on their 4WDs through the soft sands and towering dunes, getting stuck, pulling out, getting stuck again and even breaking the car bumpers and radiators — better human beings, a lot more patient and helpful to the fellow beings.
They go repeatedly to learn more about their chances of survival in a land that would fill, at the very glance, awe and fear in every single soul, to confront problems that could transform their mundane existence into worthy lives. Desert is a place where they purge their cowardice, weaknesses, egos, impertinence…to come out fresh and strong and to be quick decision makers!
“Yes. The desert has changed us all and now there’s no stopping us from going out there regularly,” say all in unison, numbering around 75 in about 50 cars who took part in the two-day regular desert crossing organised by The Guide Oman last weekend. Entering the Sharqiyah Sands at Al Reeka, off Bidiya, the expedition involved traversing the challenging powdery sands and high dunes, two-night camping at Wadi Muraeer and Ramlat Dabdub before exiting between Juweira beach and Ghate off the Arabian Sea.
“I always wanted to challenge myself, to prove that we can do whatever we want to do,” says Mohammed Essa Al Zedjali, the group leader, who began organising regular crossings in 2002. And these expeditions taught him about team spirit, risk management, the need for communication skills and about trust one should have in others. “The desert instilled in me those values. People now tell me that I am a quick decision maker. I learnt it from here.”
He knew that just camping at the existing desert camps in Bidiya or
climbing up and coming down just a few dunes nearby wouldn’t suffice to comprehend the unknown. He wanted to go to places where no one had gone before. “Then somebody suggested that the desert could be crossed through a route that no one has tried ever. That was exactly the thing I was looking for,” he recalls.
Hardly aware of the extreme challenges and huge requirements, the very first crossing was a great learning experience for him. And every expedition taught him more, and the number of people accompanying him began to swell gradually. “The trips into the desert have taught us a lot. We can never underestimate the desert... we have to respect it, we have to come prepared for any eventuality.” says Mohammed.
Hi asked many others who have been figuring repeatedly in these adventure trips into the desert what the desert meant to them. And here’s what they said:
Mohammed Essa Al Zedjali
The team leader
“When you are totally stressed or when you want to forget your worries, this is the place to let loose. Many people prefer to go to Dubai, hotels or resorts to freshen up. But when you are in such places, the problems will still haunt you. Here we have new problems, new faces to deal with and immediate issues to be fixed. If you cannot fix it, you cannot move on. The new situation will push all your existing worries to the rear. And when you are back to your house or workplace, you will find yourself totally energised.”
Haji Shaban Al Balushi
World bodybuilding champion
“When I came here first I saw it was very difficult. It was totally different from going to beaches or places like that. But there’s a lot to see, a lot to experience, crossing the desert is something I have started liking. And this trip gives me a great break to gear myself up before my final preparations for the Asian Beach Games.”
Mey Leong
Nurse
“It’s the colour of the desert, which changes as the day progresses that amazes me. When you wake up in the morning, you see it covered by the mist, and you see a solitary Omani praying in the middle of the desert, with nobody around but just the sand dunes. I have been here around 15 times during the three years of my stay in
Oman, and I still get stuck in the sands. But I am always eager to get back here and bring my friends as well.”
Mohsin Al Raisi
Former deputy CEO of Omantel
“Desert has been a constant attraction for me since I started venturing into its vastness with Mohammed, may be seven years ago. It’s a virgin land, quiet, peaceful and not spoiled or affected by the urbane life. It teaches people to be patient and to be helpful. The crossing of the desert involves many important things including
proper planning, team building and risk management. I always advise newcomers not to panic. If you get stuck, come out of the car, see the terrain and make a proper plan to get on. There’s nothing out there that we cannot solve.”
Mamdooh Al Zedjali
Coach of Haji Shaban
“After entering the desert, I came to know that it’s this that makes our country unique. With the pollution-free atmosphere and fresh air, the desert beckons us all who reside in cities and we do come again and again to get freshened up. This time, we are here to give Haji a good two-day break before the Asian Beach Games.”
Hamed Abdullah Suleiman Al Hamdi
Singer and oudh player (blind)
“Though I cannot see, I can feel the desert and I have felt its power for the last 3-4 years. I don’t know exactly how many times I have been here, may be 20 times, but people say I sing and play my instrument better in the desert.”
Badr Moosa Ali Al Azri
Admin. manager, Zubair Automotive Group
“Initially I had rejected the very idea of going to the desert as I couldn’t think of staying in an empty place. But, coming here, I saw that it’s never empty and with great guys around, I started enjoying the desert. Now we hit the sands every month once or twice and we make new friends. The friendship is stronger here as we help each
other.”
Muneer Al Maimani
Senior HR Service advisor, Zubair Automotive Group
“Desert is a part of our life and, as an Omani, I too want to enjoy my country, my desert. It’s always fun for me out here and it makes me a better man. Coming to the desert for the last eight years, it has taught me how to survive without electricity and other comforts of city life. There’s ample freedom here and we have some new
experience every day.”
Samuel William Mayston
Structural engineer in Edinburgh, Scotland
“I love the desert for its beauty, the vast stretch of sand dunes. I
get up in the middle of the night and I see stars from horizon to
horizon gazing down at me. It’s very beautiful. And driving
through the sands has changed me a lot. The sense of achievement
you get when you get to the top of a sand dune is huge. Sometimes,
you almost get to the top but slide backwards down and have to take a second run to make it. Such achievements make you stronger
and determined to succeed in all situations.”
Ghalib Al Hosni
kitchen operations manager, The Guide Oman
“The desert has become my life and I am with Mohammed’s group for the last five years. Practically here every month, sometimes twice a month, the desert has made me a better person, my abilities, capabilities, everything got polished. I have been able to bring confidence into my team, the kitchen crew. I encourage them to
drive, to move around and to have confidence in themselves to handle difficult situations.”
Ahmed Ali Al Awfi
Dy. CEO, OMIFCO
“Once you are here, you get addicted. You would want to do it over and over again. My first venture into the desert was in 1997 and I have crossed the Sharqiyah Sands more than 12 times since. The desert has awaken the adventurer in me, made me a lot more relaxed and enabled me to do things differently. In your sleep, you could really wash away all the thoughts and worries and when you wake up in the morning, you feel you are willing to do more in life and enjoy.”
Desert, they say, is a place where one has to shed cowardice, weaknesses, pride, ego…to emerge stronger and to become a quick decision maker. Salim Joseph joins an expedition across the Sharqiyah Sands to encounter the unknown and to find out why many people are addicted to desert trips
“Hey, I am stuck. Winch me out. Maybe you could bring two winches…” the crackly voice through the walkie-talkie doesn’t cause panic but triggers a flutter of laughter. “There he is, stuck again…All guys with winches proceed to car number 13 and please somebody get behind his wheel…” (More laughter).It’s a place where problems energize people and goad them into action. Nothing is kept for tomorrow. There’s no tomorrow. Fix it now, to move on. And while they move, they leave nobody behind. It’s real brotherhood, nothing less, nothing more.
That’s what they all have become after venturing into the desert, pushing hard on their 4WDs through the soft sands and towering dunes, getting stuck, pulling out, getting stuck again and even breaking the car bumpers and radiators — better human beings, a lot more patient and helpful to the fellow beings.
They go repeatedly to learn more about their chances of survival in a land that would fill, at the very glance, awe and fear in every single soul, to confront problems that could transform their mundane existence into worthy lives. Desert is a place where they purge their cowardice, weaknesses, egos, impertinence…to come out fresh and strong and to be quick decision makers!
“Yes. The desert has changed us all and now there’s no stopping us from going out there regularly,” say all in unison, numbering around 75 in about 50 cars who took part in the two-day regular desert crossing organised by The Guide Oman last weekend. Entering the Sharqiyah Sands at Al Reeka, off Bidiya, the expedition involved traversing the challenging powdery sands and high dunes, two-night camping at Wadi Muraeer and Ramlat Dabdub before exiting between Juweira beach and Ghate off the Arabian Sea.“I always wanted to challenge myself, to prove that we can do whatever we want to do,” says Mohammed Essa Al Zedjali, the group leader, who began organising regular crossings in 2002. And these expeditions taught him about team spirit, risk management, the need for communication skills and about trust one should have in others. “The desert instilled in me those values. People now tell me that I am a quick decision maker. I learnt it from here.”
He knew that just camping at the existing desert camps in Bidiya orclimbing up and coming down just a few dunes nearby wouldn’t suffice to comprehend the unknown. He wanted to go to places where no one had gone before. “Then somebody suggested that the desert could be crossed through a route that no one has tried ever. That was exactly the thing I was looking for,” he recalls.
Hardly aware of the extreme challenges and huge requirements, the very first crossing was a great learning experience for him. And every expedition taught him more, and the number of people accompanying him began to swell gradually. “The trips into the desert have taught us a lot. We can never underestimate the desert... we have to respect it, we have to come prepared for any eventuality.” says Mohammed.
Hi asked many others who have been figuring repeatedly in these adventure trips into the desert what the desert meant to them. And here’s what they said:
Mohammed Essa Al Zedjali
The team leader
“When you are totally stressed or when you want to forget your worries, this is the place to let loose. Many people prefer to go to Dubai, hotels or resorts to freshen up. But when you are in such places, the problems will still haunt you. Here we have new problems, new faces to deal with and immediate issues to be fixed. If you cannot fix it, you cannot move on. The new situation will push all your existing worries to the rear. And when you are back to your house or workplace, you will find yourself totally energised.”
Haji Shaban Al Balushi
World bodybuilding champion
“When I came here first I saw it was very difficult. It was totally different from going to beaches or places like that. But there’s a lot to see, a lot to experience, crossing the desert is something I have started liking. And this trip gives me a great break to gear myself up before my final preparations for the Asian Beach Games.”
Nurse
“It’s the colour of the desert, which changes as the day progresses that amazes me. When you wake up in the morning, you see it covered by the mist, and you see a solitary Omani praying in the middle of the desert, with nobody around but just the sand dunes. I have been here around 15 times during the three years of my stay in
Oman, and I still get stuck in the sands. But I am always eager to get back here and bring my friends as well.”
Mohsin Al Raisi
Former deputy CEO of Omantel
“Desert has been a constant attraction for me since I started venturing into its vastness with Mohammed, may be seven years ago. It’s a virgin land, quiet, peaceful and not spoiled or affected by the urbane life. It teaches people to be patient and to be helpful. The crossing of the desert involves many important things including
proper planning, team building and risk management. I always advise newcomers not to panic. If you get stuck, come out of the car, see the terrain and make a proper plan to get on. There’s nothing out there that we cannot solve.”
Mamdooh Al Zedjali
Coach of Haji Shaban
“After entering the desert, I came to know that it’s this that makes our country unique. With the pollution-free atmosphere and fresh air, the desert beckons us all who reside in cities and we do come again and again to get freshened up. This time, we are here to give Haji a good two-day break before the Asian Beach Games.”
Hamed Abdullah Suleiman Al HamdiSinger and oudh player (blind)
“Though I cannot see, I can feel the desert and I have felt its power for the last 3-4 years. I don’t know exactly how many times I have been here, may be 20 times, but people say I sing and play my instrument better in the desert.”
Badr Moosa Ali Al Azri
Admin. manager, Zubair Automotive Group
“Initially I had rejected the very idea of going to the desert as I couldn’t think of staying in an empty place. But, coming here, I saw that it’s never empty and with great guys around, I started enjoying the desert. Now we hit the sands every month once or twice and we make new friends. The friendship is stronger here as we help each
other.”
Muneer Al Maimani
Senior HR Service advisor, Zubair Automotive Group
“Desert is a part of our life and, as an Omani, I too want to enjoy my country, my desert. It’s always fun for me out here and it makes me a better man. Coming to the desert for the last eight years, it has taught me how to survive without electricity and other comforts of city life. There’s ample freedom here and we have some new
experience every day.”
Samuel William Mayston
Structural engineer in Edinburgh, Scotland
“I love the desert for its beauty, the vast stretch of sand dunes. I
get up in the middle of the night and I see stars from horizon to
horizon gazing down at me. It’s very beautiful. And driving
through the sands has changed me a lot. The sense of achievement
you get when you get to the top of a sand dune is huge. Sometimes,
you almost get to the top but slide backwards down and have to take a second run to make it. Such achievements make you stronger
and determined to succeed in all situations.”
Ghalib Al Hosni
kitchen operations manager, The Guide Oman“The desert has become my life and I am with Mohammed’s group for the last five years. Practically here every month, sometimes twice a month, the desert has made me a better person, my abilities, capabilities, everything got polished. I have been able to bring confidence into my team, the kitchen crew. I encourage them to
drive, to move around and to have confidence in themselves to handle difficult situations.”
Ahmed Ali Al Awfi
Dy. CEO, OMIFCO
“Once you are here, you get addicted. You would want to do it over and over again. My first venture into the desert was in 1997 and I have crossed the Sharqiyah Sands more than 12 times since. The desert has awaken the adventurer in me, made me a lot more relaxed and enabled me to do things differently. In your sleep, you could really wash away all the thoughts and worries and when you wake up in the morning, you feel you are willing to do more in life and enjoy.”
No comments:
Post a Comment