For local traveller and photographer Ahmed al Jaabri, the shores of Ras al Jinz and Al Ashkarah are home to his favourite beaches.
“During the khareef season in Dhofar, the cold winds affecting that area also spill over to the shores of these places. So many Omanis take the three-hour drive to get away from the heat of Muscat,” he said.
Ahmed shared that he usually recommends people to explore the beaches in Al Jinz and Ashkarah as not two beaches are the same.
“There are beaches made beautiful by towering cliffs while there are also long ones that looked endless and these are some of the seldom visited so not only do you enjoy privacy but also untouched by garbage or trash which is a common occurrence in beaches in different places in Oman,” he said.
On his last trip to Ashkarah, he embarked on a creative journey of creating a beautiful design of a sea turtle on the sand with a person interacting with his drawing.
“We know that these sea turtles are endangered and Oman is one of the few countries with detailed laws regarding their protection. I realized that it is important to always share a good message on social media,” he said.
“Some people, in fact, it has gotten viral a few months back, shared these reels where they are riding the sea turtles. This should not be the case. They are sensitive animals and in my personal experience, this can actually cause them trauma,” Ahmed said.
“Instead, I encourage people to do these drawings where they can have that riding experience on a sea turtle without actually harming a living creature. We should all work together to protect nature including the different species that call it home,” he said.
