Sunday, December 18, 2016

Caravan Oman - And we're off

After a long day of packing we are finally off!  But not before stopping at Ace to pickup a towbar lock!  It's already late in the day so we are not sure how far we will make it tonight.  We will see how busy the border crossing is and maybe stay about halfway in Sohar.

I can't get photos to upload using my phone so photos will be added when we return!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

CARAVAN OMAN - Car Preparations 2

Towbar done!  Ended up finding a place in Sharjah Industrial Estate last Sat.  Went tonight and it was a quick 30-40 mins to fit it on and done!  No appointment or waiting around forever needed!  AND very happy with the results, particularly as it cost 800dhs!  However that included fitting and bumper and we would have paid a lot more in Dubai or even at home in Aus!

Next is to get the electronic connection fitted.

And I am slowly making a pile of stuff to take with us.  My list keeps growing!  Not as big as our usual camping list but still big enough.  Plus I will need way more for 2 weeks!  We are lucky as we know where we can get food when in Oman.

AND some good news we found out that the caravan company provides a generator!  So our electricity problems are solved!

Any tips from bush caravaners/off-grid caravaners?

Sunday, December 11, 2016

CARAVAN OMAN - Car preparations 1

So we have a 4wd to tow a caravan - BUT we don't have a towbar or plug for electronics (lights for caravan).  The fun part now is getting it sorted in a week!!  Not the easiest thing to do in a country where caravans are only just beginning to appear!  Luckily there is a caravan store in Dubai that have the electronic parts we need!  The also have the tow ball, but not the part to connect to the car!

So that means a hunt through the jungle of shops in Sharjah industrial area!  NOT my idea of fun!  If you have ever ventured through the dust, dirt and rubbish (oh and sometimes mud/water) of the industrial estates you will know exactly why!  Not forgetting the curious (or maybe not so curious) stares from the masses of foreign worker men!  There is street after street of shops for miles, mostly grouped by similar products.  For example shop after shop of tyres or car parts or plumbing shops!  Grubby, grimy floors and walls are typical, with rubbish strewn streets, broken cement steps and grimy signs that often give no indication of what is for sale.  Once in awhile a new bright spotless store appears, with its shiny metal car parts and white interiors (while outside still appears like it was built 20 years ago), giving the illusion however that prices will be higher!  But maybe better quality lies within!

So here is hoping finding it will be easier than we think!


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

CARAVAN OMAN - Trip preparations!

SO the last few years have been busy!  Moving countries... Completing a degree in psychology and another in family studies... Working on slowly selling jewellery again... Adding crochet rugs, soaps, body products, candles and other items to my list of items to sell!!

If you would like to check out my items for sale visit
https://www.facebook.com/Honeywattle/
https://www.instagram.com/honeywattle

But I have finally decided to return to blogging!  ESPECIALLY with our upcoming CARAVAN trip through OMAN!  And NO not camel caravan - tow your own caravan!  Caravans are only just starting to appear in Oman!  And what better way to spend a couple of weeks travelling around and not having to worry about packing and unpacking all our camping gear every time!

SO our Christmas holiday adventure has us all excited!!  It certainly will be an adventure as we work out the logistics of towing a caravan through a country that has no facilities for caravans!  Luckily we know the place very well and have some ideas about where we can go!

Stay TUNED to find out about our preparations!

Some of the items I have been making!  ALL HANDMADE!