Marko Roth and his friends Lucas, Dominik and Vivi were looking for a cheap random flight to anywhere on the map and ended up in Oman, a destination they had not even heard of before. Their 12-day adventure took them crisscross through the scenic Sultanate located at the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula that shares its shores between the Strait of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean. They devoured every inch of the country’s beauty, climbed mountains, dove into crystal-clear waters, and conquered the hustle-bustle of Muscat, Salalah, and Musandam streets and souks.
Oman’s hospitality is legendary
They succumbed to the temptation of simple things, such as chicken sandwiches and heavenly fresh dates, discovered remote spots, explored adventurous dried-up riverbeds – the wadis, and courageously jumped off amazing cliff formations. They indulged in intriguing sights, foreign sounds and exotic smells with all their senses alert – and they felt safe. Safer even than in their own country, they say.
Friendly and helpful locals famous for their hospitality invited the foursome for dinners to their private homes. And for this short film on their destination, the surprised Omani hosts later released an overwhelming flood of thank-you messages for the young protagonists to revel in. www.markoroth.com
Marko Roth’s video made it into National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase that spotlights exceptional short films created by filmmakers from around the web. National Geographic editors look for work that affirms the institution’s mission: to inspire people to care about the planet. The content created and presented expresses the opinions of the filmmakers, not those of the National Geographic Society.
Header image ©Christina Feyerke