hi all,
Life has taught us lot of things...we have been shocked, had our quota of fun, and also impressed and impacted from the everyday news...The panchantra stories to the chicken soup to the today's real life stories...
This is from our desk...shanvy and vysan
Life has taught us lot of things...we have been shocked, had our quota of fun, and also impressed and impacted from the everyday news...The panchantra stories to the chicken soup to the today's real life stories...
This is from our desk...shanvy and vysan
Alhotii caves and blind fish
I have always been bowled over by the natural beauty of oman, that is seen and also the hidden treasures..
For some time during my stay had heard,read about caves in Oman. No..just hold on girls dont start thinking that caving means you have to sqeeze through tight holes on hands and knees..
You will be amazed that most of the caves have huge passages like highways and also the underground is more like a playground(???where did i get the idea..)
So, before leaving muscat, last year wanted to see the much publicised Al-hoti caves, which were discovered by a trekkers/ cavers, later got the attention of the Sultan, then the national geography and lot of other people...for the blind fish.
Yes, you read it right, the blind fish whichi is know as Garra Barreimiae is a species found only in this cave and they are blind.
So, one friday,we thought we have to brave it..veda was not willing to take the risk, as it was steep, and the oxygen level was low, not advisable for a heart patient like me.
But I promised, will stop if i feel it very hard on myself..but would like to see the cave.
There is a rail taking you inside the cave (The rail is the first for oman..). no cameras, phones are allowed. you then have beautifully made steel steps to navigate around. The inside of the cave was so vast, formed from acid rain, and the vastness bowls you over.you have to climb lot of steps to go and see the underground lake that houses the blind fish. you cannot touch the water. you can see those transparent ones just swimming in the water.
All that was learnt in geography some 22 years back comes gushing to explain the stalagtites and stalagmites and the beautfiully formed pillars to my children.
It was nature at its best. But when you see the top of this place you will never believe there is a cave underneath.
Then the blindfish, they just don't need ot use eyes..they have feelers..what is the purpose of eyes when the place is pitch dark right....they can save that energy for better purposes...
Let me not go rambling ........
For some time during my stay had heard,read about caves in Oman. No..just hold on girls dont start thinking that caving means you have to sqeeze through tight holes on hands and knees..
You will be amazed that most of the caves have huge passages like highways and also the underground is more like a playground(???where did i get the idea..)
So, before leaving muscat, last year wanted to see the much publicised Al-hoti caves, which were discovered by a trekkers/ cavers, later got the attention of the Sultan, then the national geography and lot of other people...for the blind fish.
Yes, you read it right, the blind fish whichi is know as Garra Barreimiae is a species found only in this cave and they are blind.
So, one friday,we thought we have to brave it..veda was not willing to take the risk, as it was steep, and the oxygen level was low, not advisable for a heart patient like me.
But I promised, will stop if i feel it very hard on myself..but would like to see the cave.
There is a rail taking you inside the cave (The rail is the first for oman..). no cameras, phones are allowed. you then have beautifully made steel steps to navigate around. The inside of the cave was so vast, formed from acid rain, and the vastness bowls you over.you have to climb lot of steps to go and see the underground lake that houses the blind fish. you cannot touch the water. you can see those transparent ones just swimming in the water.
All that was learnt in geography some 22 years back comes gushing to explain the stalagtites and stalagmites and the beautfiully formed pillars to my children.
It was nature at its best. But when you see the top of this place you will never believe there is a cave underneath.
Then the blindfish, they just don't need ot use eyes..they have feelers..what is the purpose of eyes when the place is pitch dark right....they can save that energy for better purposes...
Let me not go rambling ........
Total Comments 29
Comments
 |  Dear Shanvy That was a lovely narration you have given in your own style. Felt like visiting there. Thanks. Vidhi |
Posted 17th February 2008 at 03:23 AM by vidhi  |
| |  "It was nature at its best" Dear most Shanthi ma'am, Very true and wonderful a description. You took me right there even though I have not stepped out of our sweet motherland, literally speaking !! Nature has everything in reserve for us and when we explore, we tend to feel "great" being a "part of her". It was really a treat that you made us enjoy by those colorful photos. (taken from the net?? since you had mentioned bold that no photographs.. just eager!!! :) ) The transparent golden blind fish speaks nature's language !! NB: Pl do take care of your health. Thank you very much for having shared. Regards RamyaVaradharajan |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 06:21 AM by RamyaVaradharajan |
| |  wow!! awesome place to visit from ur blog and the pictures u posted. |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 07:25 AM by madhu11 |
| |  Hi, The lake under the cave runs upto 5 km stretch... There are few enterances to the cave... But only one of them is made accessable to the public viewing... The area visited by us and seen is just less than 10% of the total caves... It is absolutely a fantastic place to visit... The Oman Govt. has developed it as a tourist spot and promoting it... Lot of efforts is taken to maintain the delicate eco systems intact.... Veda |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:11 AM by Vysan |
| |  Shanthi dearest I felt like I had made the trip with you..thanks for this great narration..and glad to see the photos.. thats value adding..Also special thanks to Veda thambi for the extra info !! |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 12:24 PM by Anandchitra |
| |  Vidhi, Thanks for joining us here. it is one of the many places to visit in oman. |
Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:09 PM by Shanvy  |
| | Ramya, It is a great place to visit. the photos are from the brochures you get visiting the place. Do have some that i have taken of the train, the entrance to the cave and all will post some later. The pillar that is formed from the joining of stalactites and stalagmites, though read in geography, is a wonder to actually see one. Thanks for the concern. |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:12 PM by Shanvy |
| | Madhu, thank you. Yes it is a place worth visiting. |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:13 PM by Shanvy |
| | One more thing i forgot to mention these caves are called majilis al jinn (the meeting place of genies..) it was already spooky at places,:hide and the guide she told us there were genies. This cave is the second largest in the world. If I am not wrong, the first is the sarawak chamber in malaysia. Some underground caves have rivers, but this one has a lake probably because it is a desert |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:23 PM by Shanvy Updated 17th February 2008 at 08:29 PM by Shanvy |
| | Hey Thats interesting.. i would like to meet some genies and gnomes.. always wanted to.. I have been to a few underground caves, with either river or lake..they are all so fascinating.. Thanks again for sharing..maybe when i go, thambi might take me if i behave nice from now on....:) |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:26 PM by Anandchitra |
| | AC, Thank you. Veda has been to the cave more times thanks to the guests, we get to visit. I personally feel, oman does not get its due credit because of dubai. Oman is for exploration at a slow pace enjoying everthing. The clear beaches, the caves, the green turtles that come only to this part of the world and malaysia..for laying eggs. The piece of land that resembles god's own country in all aspects..as you get coconuts to betel leaves. |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:27 PM by Shanvy |
| | AC, you are always welcome. Veda will take you around. |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:28 PM by Shanvy |
| | Shanthi I neve knew so much about Oman..i have heard plenty about Dubai though.. not as much of Oman.. |
| Posted 17th February 2008 at 08:29 PM by Anandchitra |
| | AC, I always feel, we don't know lots about India, and every week THE HINDU Travel section reiterates that point to me...there are lot of places that are discovered by accidents and are wonderful |
| Posted 18th February 2008 at 06:46 AM by Shanvy |
| | Shanti, Nice blog. One more place to visit now added to my list, and hope you and Veda are there, so i can crash in !!... Blind fish, why is it so? Have they given any theory for the same. But then like you said in all that darkness, who needs eyes in such instances? |
| Posted 18th February 2008 at 04:35 PM by Vandhana |
| | Vandhana, Thank you. and you are welcome to visit. regarding blind, the guide did not have much to explain. but after browsing found a lot of theories. |
| Posted 19th February 2008 at 09:46 AM by Shanvy |
| |  Dear shanthi.........i felt like visited the place with u.u have narated in such a way.........even i have not gone anywhere...........so if u take me ...iam ready to come.....pls veda anna.......take me also........ And really unbeleivable to hear abt Genies......is it really true........an d really cant beleive lake under underground cave..........this place seems to be AMAZING.......all GOD'S GIFT..........and ur blessed to see all these..... and BLIND FISH.........have not even heard abt it..........definitely my hubby would love to meet this place.........since he likes all these stuffs very much........... ..Thank u very much for sharing......and for the photos.......... |
| Posted 20th February 2008 at 12:09 AM by latamurali |
| | latha, thank you. yes it is a amazing place. You are welcome to visit. |
| Posted 20th February 2008 at 02:30 AM by Shanvy |
| |  Dear Shanthi ma'am Thanks a lot for taking me to Maijilis Al Jinn from MASTI...Enjoyed your description of it.....My parents were to California last year n they had gone to some cave (i dont remember in which state of US that cave is) n as soon as my mom stepped out of that cave, she called me n shared all her excitement! I have the pictures of that beautiful cave in my system. It is being said that it grows a little bit for every thousand years n if one touches the sharp points, its growth will be stopped. I still remember my mom saying, i reached out for touching it but your sis shouted not to arrest its growth. And my sis told, you know what amma said, "ivlo thooram vandhurukom, oru thadava thoda kuda vida maatengriyae". I was wondering why Chitu sis is putting goal on the same side. Now i understood. It is all because she wanted her thambi to take her to that cave.. |
| Posted 21st February 2008 at 03:22 AM by Meenaneelakantan |
| |  Thanks Shanthi I too was wondering why AC...........ooops sorry Anandchitra wanted to give Veda a new title after reading this my doubts got cleared. Wow what a beautiful description of the place it sounds interesting,and the beautiful pictures. I think even I should visit there ones Anandchitra count me too in your list lets maskafy both of them from now onwards so that when we visit there Veda can take us to that wonderful place. |
| Posted 21st February 2008 at 05:16 AM by Arunarc |
Recent Blog Entries by Shanvy
- Learning to be tough or resilient (22nd August 2008)
- The ship that does not sink (2nd August 2008)
- Balancing Equations (11th July 2008)
- Music my passion 8- Lullllllabies (23rd June 2008)
- Encounter with the Turtles. (17th June 2008)
