August 27, 2008

• Ras Al Jinz

  Just because I'm back at work does not mean I can't travel around Oman anymore.  So, last weekend I set out to visit Ras Al Jinz, the most famous turtle beach in Oman. The first thing that struck me as I arrived - just like the last time I was here - were those dramatic rock formations. This is an amazing place.

  

  This time around, I decided to camp. I pitched my tent inside one of those beach huts, which was a good idea since there was a really strong wind blowing.

  

  The sky turned beautiful just after sunset.

  

  What happens at Ras Al Jinz is that there are guides there helping the visitors finding the turtles as they are laying eggs in the sand. To minimize disturbance, visitors are only allowed on the beach 9.30 - 11.00 pm and the guides are there to make sure visitors don't use flash photography or touch the turtles or the eggs. Here, our guide is shining his torch from behind - it's not a very flattering angle for the turtle.  The eggs are the size of ping-pong balls and each turtle lays about 100 eggs. It's an absolutely amazing experience to see this!

  

  Very early the following morning, I went down to the beach in the hope that there might be a turtle that had started laying eggs quite late. Normally all you see at this time are turtle tracks leading down to the sea.

  

  But this was my lucky day (or morning)! Here's a turtle struggling to get down to the water.

  

  The turtle seemed quite tired - no wander having laid 100 eggs and then having spent up to four hours covering the eggs with sand! It was pulling itself slowly towards the sea. It stopped again and again, looking around, closing its eyes, swallowing hard several times (!!) and then moving on.

  

  It might not look very happy in this shot. But my impression was that the turtle got more excited the closer to the sea it got.

  

  And with the daylight, I could get really good close-ups without using a flash (and using my zoom).

  

  It seemed to know exactly where the sea was, heading straight for it.

  

  That there were some people wandering around nearby didn't seem to bother the turtle at all.

  

  As the turtle moved quite slowly, there was plenty of time to get the photo angle just right.

  

  The waves were quite high, and eventually the water washed over the turtle for the first time. I wonder how the turtle felt at that moment? Probably elated.

  

  Pretty soon, the turtle just floated away and was gone.

  

  The only thing left was the sun shining on those rocks.

  

  And a few latecomers who had just missed this turtle's amazing journey to the sea.

  

  I don't know if I'll ever get used to what an amazing country Oman is.

  • 6:05 am
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