Al Ain UNESCO Site 3: The Oases of Al Ain

Having got up early to visit the Hili Archaelogical park before the day heated up, we were turned back by a guard at the gate who told us politely that it was open at 4.30pm.

I hate wasting days – so, what to do?  The sun was shining, it wasn’t hot and we were just round the corner from the Hili Fort (closed) and the Hili Oasis; early morning is a great time to explore an oasis!

We walked for less than an hour but managed to stumble upon a very old building which is currently undergoing restoration.  Mud bricks were baking in the sunshine, an Indian roller bird watched us from atop a scaffolding pole and we took advantage of myriad photo opportunities.

One of the principal reasons for Al Ain’s Oases inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List is due to the very early falaj (plural aflaj) systems which channeled water throughout the oasis.  So efficient are these systems that they are still in use today but the old mud channels with “gates” made of rags have now been replaced somewhat more durable concrete with plastic gates.

Even at the height of summer you will find temperatures bearable – inside the oasis it can be up to 8C cooler than the surrounding area – and you are never sure what you will come across once you are away from the highway.

In the garden city we have five oases recognised by UNESCO – gps co-ordinates after each one are suggested places to park.

Al Ain (24 13.032n 55 46.446e – AA National Museum)

Hili (24 16.919n 55 45.992e – Hili Fort)

Al Qattara/Al Jimi (24 15.622n 55.44.898e – Al Qattara souq)

Mutaredh (24 13.084n 55 44.723e – shops)

Muwaiji – is the smallest and less accessible than the others – no parking suggestions.

You can walk through most of them but don’t stray into the individual plantations unless you are invited.

Dates are harvested between July and October, dependent on variety

You can very easily become lost in an oasis – there are very few landmarks (apart from palm trees and walls) and it is easy to become disorientated among the maze of plantations.  My tip is to park your car near a landmark and take a gps or a smartphone with you – you can always revert to google earth to help you find your way back!

Remember to take drinking water with you – there are no shops inside and it may be challegning to find the drinking water dispensers.  If you visit during Ramadan remember to conceal your bottle and only drink where you can be sure no-one can see you.

there are lots of dates to photograph

good walkways – great for taking the kids including prams or bikes

Indian roller bird – particularly beautiful in flight

Falaj system

these should be ready to harvest in a couple of months

workers use low tech equipment

mud bricks waiting for a rebuild

they are going to need a lot more than that to rebuild this fort

oops – left out in the rain too long

old fort1

old fort 2

peek a boo

mud brick “factory”

wonder what they used all the wooden boxes for?

different date varieties

placing bags round the dates to stop the ripe ones falling off – worker was about 15 metres above the ground here!

Further reading

UNESCO

Gulf News

Weekly Photo Challenge: On The Way

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “On the Way.”

Last year, “on the way” home from Salalah via the new road at Hasik, we paused for a moment to investigate a roadside waterfall.

During the Kareef (Monsoon) in June-September huge amounts of water come cascading off the cliff, but even in the “dry” period during December fresh water filters through holes in the limestone, only to be caught by the breeze on the way down to the pond below.

You can read more about our journey along the new coast road in Oman by clicking here.