وادي ضــم

While on a road trip this week in Oman, my friends and I visited the breathtaking Wadi Damm/Dhum. Fortunately, many of its tranquil pools were filled with water, so we were able to take a dip after our long hike to the furthest flowing water channels (marked with moss and slippery waterfalls). Since we ended our hike in the late afternoon (in January), the temperature of the water was freezing when we considered taking a brave dip.

Slinking into the ice cold water for a swift swim down this inviting teal water channel was no easy feat. The water chilled me to the bone — all of my aches and pains from the challenging hike immediately disappeared (we couldn’t feel our limbs). Body numb, my mind also chilled — into a serene state of extreme calm (I was reminded of a Mongolian shaman in Ulaanbaatar teaching me the healing effects of cold water on the mind, body, and spirit). As you can see from these photos, being completely immersed in nature by swimming through the wonderful wadis of Oman — even in winter — is a magical experience unlike any other. So come to Oman and try it for yourself!