I stayed another night in Sohar as the weather forecast was not good, it even was raining when I came back from the Mosque. So I played it save, but in the end, it didn't rain...

This morning, after all packed, I went towards the coastal. border back into UAE. On my way I wanted to try my luck with uploading my credit of my local Ooredo card for using roaming in UAE, but the guy in the shop had no clue at all. Unfortunately only later I found out, how it could work 🙄

The border crossing was a bit chewy as it was Friday noon = prayer (lunch) time 🙄🫣

First I passed export as I couldn't see a soul around. When queuing at the booths for passport I changed my mind and drove back; good I am on a bike to drive against traffic! I went into the customs building to find it empty 😳🤔, nobody appeared on my various shouting "Hallo" 📢📯 I was nearly tempted to climb over the balconies to get to the other side, but didn't want to get into trouble if caught in the act...

So I drove back to the passport booths. At least now only 2 cars in front of me.

When it was my return, the officer asked me to go into the building next to them. So I parked the bike and went in - again deserted!! So I went back to the officer and said it is empty. He came out and shouted a name plus something and suddenly appeared a head out of a window... So I went back in, with my CdP asI know I will need to be stamped out.

He sorted me passport, but he said I need to go back to export customs. I got bit sharp now as I had enough of no-shows!! I told him,there is nobody and he better calls them to come over as I am not willing in that heat in my biking gear to ride there to find nobody again!

Whilst he was trying to help me, he also dealt with a russian family exiting. Finally he had someone on the phone and send me off...we'll, showing me where to go to. This time I walked all the way across the other side (meaning like I enter Oman!) to the office. I should have climbed over that balcony 🤔😂, would have saved me some time 😂😂

Pity I couldn't take a picture of that border officer there, but he was lying in a low chair....first I thought it was a cleaner having his siesta😳😳

His colleague send me on to another office across to the lorries. There I finally got my stamp and was just about to leave when I remembered that entering Oman a months ago it took the guy forever to put all my details into their system. I better get my bike out of that 🤔😳 So I asked the guy,but he didn't speak any English 😳😳 I mean,every Omani I met, even already pretty old,spoke English, or in the middle of nowhere and now here at customs no English 😳😲🙄

He had to call his colleague that spoke apparently English...well, maybe a wee bit more, but not too much!! So it took a long discussion until he finally went to his computer to look up my chassis number. Not sure what appeared and what they did, but he said "finished" as sorted - Inshallah 🙏

So walking back to my gear and bike and then off to boarder UAE. The guy in the passport booth send me to a little side office for Immigration. There were already 6 people waiting, but nobody working 🤔. After CA 5 mins stripped down to my t-shirt as I got hot in my jacket (=saunasuit🥵). I asked one guy if there is anybody working and he said "I think so, Inshallah" ... So I waited another 10mins and went then to the passport booths complaining 🤓🤭. Not 2mins later someone came 🤭🤭 and within 3mins it was my turn! By the time I was finished the 2nd officer finally appeared!!

That's Friday noon for you!!! And we are not through yet as I need my enter stamp on my Carnet. So stopping at customs. They send me across the street again I asked if I could leave the bike as nicely parked in shade and I am out of my upper gear again. He said NO,I have to take it with me! Seriously? I am not in the way to the others! So I muttered around how inconvenient and I would need 5mins to get ready as I went now on the slow on purpose!

Suddenly someone shouting from that office and suddenly I could leave my bike 😅😂 Geht doch!!

So I went, got my stamp and signature and finally I can leave. When I was just about to put my helmet on, the officer gave me an Omani Halwa "For you!". Not sure if they got it bribed or confiscated 🤔🤭 and now I carry it around 🙄

So nearly 90mins I was back into UAE. But only that fast as I made each time a fuzz due to no staff!

Then it was only 30mins later and I was in the Ibis hotel 🤩, thanks to my contact at Ibis Dubai! It was so weird after 1 months in Oman without any high buildings, to see suddenly skyscrapers. It looked so unreal!!

Tomorrow I plan to go camping along the coast 😅🙏