There are certain tribes in Oman who chose to live in remote areas. These tribes hold on to their traditions and simplicity so tight, yet they are very welcoming and hospitable. Tourists flock to these areas, opting for the peace of mind and leaving all their troubles behind.
The Al Jabal Al Abyadh in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, specifically in Wilayat Dima W’attayeen is one of the remote mountains known for its simplicity and peace. Tourists visiting the place will witness life that is less hectic, and even a short visit will already lead to an enjoyable experience of living with fewer possessions.
To visit this village, prior permission is required from the Environmental Conservation Office, and it can be accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicles, because of the unpaved roads.
The inhabitants of the mountain start their mornings by getting up early to graze the sheep, collect firewood and cultivate.
Al Jabal Al Abyadh is home to the thyme plant in the Sultanate of Oman. This mountain provides the appropriate climate for the growth of these aromatic florae. The thyme plant is a low-growing evergreen plant, with small leaves, thin stems, and a distinctive aromatic smell. It is considered a perennial plant. It is used for culinary and medicinal purposes.
The thyme plant contains vitamins A, B and C, which are important for the health of the immune system, digestive system, respiratory and nervous systems. This plant is considered a disinfectant for the body and calms the mood also helps relieve coughing pain.
Due to the health benefits of the thyme plant, it has become very popular in the medical scene and people tend to search for the finest type of thyme around the Sultanate. Al Jabal Al Abyadh provides a very good type and there are some people in the place who turned it into business.
Shayib Saleem thyme project is one of the best sellers around the Sultanate. His team decided to design special bags with a modern design that allow the preservation of thyme of the process. It was named Zaatar Al Shayib Saleem because of the trust invested in this man to care for this plant. The product is very popular among Omani traders and shop owners. There is more than one outlet for selling the product throughout Oman.
There are other crops that also grow in abundance in this village such as boot, Al Dajja and al Faqa. The temperature in Al Hail Al Kabeer village is moderate in summer and relatively cold in winter, as it is suitable for tourists in all seasons. Camping overnight is not allowed in the Al Jabal Al Abyadh due to the presence of the Sirin Nature Reserve.
While it is a hard-to-reach location, Al Jabal Al Abyadh villagers exemplify some of the best Omani traits.
Saleem bin Raziq al Handhali has gained great popularity due to his comic clips that contain relevant and relatable content and his advice given in a comic style touches the hearts and minds of different age groups.
Saleem lives in the village of Al Hail Al Kabeer in the Al Jabal Al Abyadh. Saleem always speaks in his unique dialect when he creates his digital content. He also touches on current events which have won the community’s admiration and pushed him to keep pace with this generation.
Since joining the digital world last year, Saleem’s following has dramatically grown in just a year boasting 16,000 followers by today.
As a resident of the village, Saleem also demonstrates how the day-to-day living is in their area. He is known as a brave mountain man, passionate and kind who also mastered shepherding sheep. Saleem, who is already in his 70s, has been admired for his special characteristic of giving without expecting anything in return.
The people of the village praise the role of the government, which built houses and provided water and electricity, but they pointed out that the village still needs support and development particularly in the areas of road improvement and communication networks. The villagers explained that if both of these issues will be addressed, it would become easy to travel towards the village and the children will also have better access to education. The villagers also hope to see the establishment of a school and a health centre that serves this mountain because access to these basic and important institutions usually become very challenging when they have heavy rains and the mountain paths become flooded.
Sometimes, it is not the place but the people living in that place that make you repeat the visit a million times. Al Jabal Al Abyadh is one of those places and the people and the visitors here are able to experience life that is close to nature, to God, to purity and peace.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
