What in the World is a Wadi?

According to an Omani tourism website, "A wadi is a dried-up riverbed found in the mountain valleys.  Wadis come into their own after heavy rains, when the rivers start running again and the vegetation is restored.  However, some wadis have year-round running water with deep, cool pools.  On the whole, wadis are only accessible with a four-wheel drive vehicle."  These are not to be confused with large drainage ditches, which are also called wadis.

Yesterday, while Savannah and I helped out at the church's Christmas Bazaar, Joe and Austin went to the Wadi Al Arbiyeen with some friends.  No, this was not a drainage ditch.  It was the real thing.  They drove about 1 1/2 hours from Muscat.  I am sorry to have missed this trip!

  
Yesterday was the first rainy day we've seen in our four weeks in Oman, so there were quite a few clouds.

The goats roamed freely.

One of the nearby villages.

A small oasis.

No words needed.

Evidently drowning accidents are now popular.

Austin and his friends go for a cool swim.

This almost looks like a Hollywood backdrop.

The clouds increased later in the day.

I wonder how many 4x4 SUVs we have owned that never made it off the pavement.  Not so with this Suburban.  Joe said it went places no Suburban has gone before!  It really was more like Jeep country.

The guys visited a large dam.  This was the park next to the dam.

 Another small village.

This concludes the boys' trip out to the Wadi Al Albiyeen.  I hear there are a number of wadis in Oman, and I am looking forward to seeing the next one!