WE 162: Simply the Best

We have reached the weekend again! I have to say being on pregnancy leave it is like it is weekend every day, but I feel joy for all of you that the weekend is almost here! Looking at the writing topics for this weekend I was immediately drawn to the one about the best thing that happened on a trip. And, as my title shows I instantly had Simply the Best by Tina Turner stuck in my head, I guess it was a sign! And I want to take you to this place:

The Best Part of the Trip

For this picture we go back to the winter of 2019. My partner and I were in a long distance relationship at the time and he was working in Oman. I decided that I wouldn't mind visiting him during the winter, as the temperature would be great there then! So I packed my bags and left all the planning of activities up to my partner, who obviously knew Oman while I did not. The best day of the trip was in what is known as the Grand Canyon of Oman: Jebel Shams. The mountain is about 3000 meters high and gives you a view of the 1000 meter drop in the canyon. And the best news? You can climb it!

The Climb

Those of you that know me a bit know that I love climbing. Now Jebel Shams is climable with a via ferrata, stakes with a iron cable running through it and you attach yourself to that as you climb. You could free climb it too of course but it would take an immense amount of gear and preparation. If you look well at this picture you can see the route sneaking over the rock.

Now via ferrate routes, just like rock climbing routes come in grades, but since the route is hardly done without a tour we really had no clue how hard it would be. Ah well, that keeps things fun! We left in the morning, you start at the top of the canyon and hike down into it first. You reach a beautiful plateau and then run into the rock and the climbing route. There is only one way and that is up! Here you see me arriving at the bottom of the climb:

Now the reason I chose this as the best moment in a trip is because it was a magical climb! You constantly have the amazing view of this canyon all around you. At the same time I was doing what I loved most: climbing and I was doing it with the person I love most: my partner. It doesn't get much better than that. But what made it even better was that we had no idea how hard the climb was and it turned out to be the hardest via ferrata we ever climbed! But we supported each other and I felt like the worlds biggest badass for completing it!

The Reward

When we made it to the top of the climb all we could do was laugh and hug each other, we were so pleased with having done it despite it being a very hard climb. We had also not encountered a single person the entire day. It felt so special to have such a wonderful place all to ourselves. That evening we pitched the tent at the top of the canyon, made a bbq and enjoyed each others company. This view in itself was reward enough: