Unforgettable-A trip to Tiwi and Wadi Shab, Oman

Beautiful shades of the Gulf

Sometimes we reach a particular spot which surprises us with its unexpected beauty and then that becomes a benchmark for many future expeditions or trips that we might undertake in the future.

Thats exactly what happened some time back when I was in Tiwi and Wadi Shab (Oman) for I saw and managed to click some of my most unforgettable shots ever.

Shots that I choose to go back to time and again......then again... if only to relive the sheer beauty and magnificence of that place.

 What a view

Wadi Shab is a must see destination in Oman, located 40 kilometers southeast of Dibab along the coast road (though the signs are not very helping). Wadi Shab has a set of amazing natural pools ;waterfalls in the midst of the desert, and all of that with a crazy turquoise water colour. The swimming is very refreshing since it is usually hot. In 2012 it was the final stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 

There wasn’t too much to see until we reached the first of the Wadis in the afternoon, Wadi Shab. The entrance to the Wadi is marked by the main dual carriageway slung across the entrance, we parked the car and headed into the Wadi. Throughout the Wadi you will find lush vegetation and turquoise pools of water. After about one hour we reached a  final pool, and inside the enclosed cave was a beautiful water fall.

As I started by saying, "Its the unexpected that can really bowl us over."

Shoaib/Ayesha/Sania-Some marriages are not made in heaven

Did they/Didnt they? Or then again Did they?
Marry in haste and then repent in leisure?

These were the questions that have been raised over the course of the last week as the drama of Shoaib/Sania/Ayesha marriage/s played itself out on our TV screens.

Till yesterday, Shoaib categorically denied that he had married the lady Ayesha who claimed she was his wife, saying instead that he'd "been had" as he'd seen pictures of another young woman altogether and that this person was actually her Maha Appa( sister?!?)

And then just this evening we heard that he had divorced this very same Ayesha/Maha Appa.

But the point is, how could he have divorced her, when he hadn't married her in the first place?

Questions, questions and more questions with few, if any, answers.

Now that all has been said and done and a lot more besides, I'd like to  think that Sania Mirza will finally get the 'happy marriage' that she was so looking forward to.

Yet, I also think that sometimes when she looks at her new husband she might wonder, what if/maybe...?For the human mind is very strange and paradoxical thing, never really and completely satisfied.

Always,but always wondering........

Sheer coincidence or Divine intervention?

Say you decide to take the Shatabdi Express from New Delhi station to Chandigarh...something that you've done at least a hundred times earlier.But this time, there's a real difference. For just after you've boarded the train and reach out for your wallet to pay the Coolie, you disover that you've been pickpocketed...

Far more important than the money you've lost are your ID cards, particularly those related to Health and Insurance, which might take upto six months be re-made.

But then you console yourself...and finlly shrugging your shoulders, you tell yourself that it could have been far worse.And then you carry on with your way of life and living.Exactly two days later, your front door bell rings and standing there, are three young schoolboys. After having introduced themselves, they hand over your wallet...which is now much lighter, but still has ALL YOUR 6 ID cards.

Looking at your open mouthed surprise, they decide to enlighten you. They were on a school trip to Delhi Zoo and saw this wallet thrown in a bin just ahead of the monkey's cages.

So they did simply what they thought they must..And brought it back to you.

Now this would be a story that I would find hard to believe, but i did. For it was told to us by my own Father in law, earlier today, who is delighted with this sheer coincidence.

Or I'm left wondering...Should I re-phrase it as 'Divine intervention'?

PS- I'm repeating this Blog post, but thought it needed to be done...