Driving from Fujairah to Dubai yesterday the Hajar Mountains were spectacular.Awaking with the sun the mountains near Masafi were changing from massive black mounds to various shades of an ochrey glow. They were reminiscent of Australia’s iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) in early morning.
As a contrast, check out the colour of the mountains later on in the day.
The skies at this time of the year in Fujairah are beginning to regain their clarity and definition.
It is hard to get pictures of the Hajar Mountains without the electric power pylons in the way. But I have included them in this shot, because this is real life. This is Fujairah. Wonderful scenes with ugly pylons. This is pragmatic Fujairah with no thought of erecting pylons with a view to aesthetics.
There were so many more shots I would love to have taken but there are few places where you can pull off the road in safety. The region is not yet attuned to tourists and the things travelers would like to be doing in these places like pulling over, taking a photo, sitting at a table or on a mat, getting out the picnic basket, having a cup of tea while you drink in the atmosphere and relieving yourself before resuming your journey.
I say this not as a grizzle but to tell it how it is. This feature is a large part of Fujairah’s charm. It is not dressed up to please tourists. It exists as it has done for centuries. No pretension. No lusting after world records. No clamoring to be noticed by the press. No maneuvering for marketers. Take it or leave it.
Dr Geoff Pound
Image: Hajar mountains in early morning at Masafi.
