My magic carpet

A few days ago, we drove up to Hatta which is a lovely mountainous area bordering Oman. The scenery driving towards the old fort town reminded me a little of the drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound in New Zealand, but at the same time it couldn't be more different.

Driving through the desert on the Dubai-Hatta Road

Approaching the mountainous region of Hatta

Approaching the little township of Hatta, vendors selling plants, ceramic and terracotta pots, candle holders, as well as persian carpets line the streets at the foot of the mountains.

We stopped for lunch at the locally acclaimed Hatta Fort Hotel. A lovely spot with views of the mountains, offering guests camel and pony rides, archery, henna painting, and desert tours. This is a popular stop for those travelling on to Muscat, Oman or an ideal getaway for the weekend.

Having itchy feet we decided to go through the border of Oman. Muscat is supposed to be a real treat, but being another 3-4 hours away we weren't prepared to stay the night. So, we explored the area just by the border and found it to be a real sleepy town. There were lots of goats and camels grazing by the roadside, and children just wandering the streets.

A castle in Oman

By the beach in Oman

On the way back to Dubai, we decided to stop by one of the road-side stalls to look for a flower pot for my Gardenia and ended up with a carpet! It is a silk wool blend made in Kashmir. The best ones are supposed to be from Iran - the true Persian rug, but because we like the thicker wool blend feel, we got this one instead.

Okay so it doesn't fly, but we love it!