Sayq Plateau - April 6, 2010

Today was another easy day since Samantha still wasn't 100 percent.  We decided to go up to Sayq Plateau.  There were a few geo caches that we did along the way.  Before we started the drive up we had to go past a police check point - to make sure we had 4 wheel drive and that we had engaged it.  We drove the whole way up wondering WHY?  The drive was way easier than the drive yesterday and it was paved the whole way.  It was very hazy so there aren't many scenery pictures.

Once we got to the top we stopped at at a place called Diana's viewpoint - Princess Diana had visited here in 1990 and somehow the name stuck.  As you can see from the pictures there is a village (Ash Shirayjah) hanging on to the side of the cliff with their farming terraces below that.

We then continued on the plateau to the old town of Bani Habib.  We had a picnic lunch before we started our hike.  We hiked to the abandoned village and were able to explore it.  A very interesting place to explore.  It must have been beautiful before everyone left because you could tell that it was a very nicely laid out town, with large trees all around.  Wayne and I figured it couldn't have been abandoned too long ago because there was wallpaper in some of the houses and pvc pipes (I think for roof drainage).  Across the wadi and higher up there was another abandoned village.  It was a picturesque wadi with the plantations neatly laid out.  I imagine when the trees are in full bloom it is quite something.  Below find pictures from the village...

Before we hiked back to the truck we had a little rest beneath a huge tree.
Once back at the hotel we had fun in the pool for our last night.  We head back home tomorrow for a relaxing weekend before school starts again.