The empty walls echo even with the slightest rustle of the leaves. There was a time when the windows of the walls let out noisy conversations as well as laughter and giggles. The walls hid the sobs and whispers.
Life was being unveiled with all its heavy and light moments and the joyful moments of welcoming new members to the family. At times it was a newborn baby, and other times it was a wedding that saw the expansion of the family.
Between the walls of the house were celebrations of marriages and births. Marriages also meant the departure of one of the children to their new home and future.
The hunt for growth in a career meant the movement of youth to urban areas to ensure their place. It is often referred to as urbanisation. Young people gravitate towards big cities due to many reasons. Naturally, they want to look forward to everything that can support them in their growth. Urban environments look promising in terms of career opportunity, identity exploration, social belonging and high stimulation.
The urge to move out and explore results in rural flight, which is also referred to as the rural-to-urban migration. The rural depopulation eventually leads to abandoned neighbourhoods. Every country experiences this situation. It could be looked upon as a side effect of development.
The people who are left behind in the old neighbourhoods are the elderly parents and maybe their dependent children.
My friend said that when she had the option to work near her home away from the city, she opted against it because she knew she would be forgotten and there would not be much she could look forward to.
Experience is growth. Each challenging situation, which we may not think of as a blessing when we are going through it, is a potential for our growth. Challenging situations urge us to come up with solutions. It might push us and stretch us out by testing our endurance, but this is when we learn of our hidden strengths.
The four walls are full of meaning as long as the dwellers are there. When it is vacant, the silence leaves an echo, leaving behind memories of days when it was a protector and a shelter. Without people living in them, houses tend to decay and are an open invitation for vandalism. People tend to forget that it is a property with value for someone else.
In a world that is seeing increasing amounts of homelessness and hopelessness, abandoned neighbourhoods can be a solution provider.
Life would have to move on and find new meanings. Even nostalgia can be celebrated by making it serve a purpose.
In many parts of Oman, the old neighbourhoods are finding a revival by becoming part of tourism attractions. Heritage tourism is a travelling experience of a region's authentic history, culture and natural environment, encompassing tangible sites such as ruins and museums and intangible aspects such as traditions and festivals, aiming to educate, preserve and provide meaningful engagement with the past while benefiting local communities economically.
Old buildings attract tourism through their historical significance and cultural stories. For instance, the heritage homes in Al Hamra offer immersive experiences. Preserving them could make them cultural hubs and it could drive economic development through heritage preservation and management.
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