A quick word: Tamati Coffey

Tamati with a new friend from Oman. Photo / Supplied

A quick word with Tamati Coffey, weatherman, who got to experience some real highs in the Middle East in the opening episode of the new season of Intrepid Journeys.

So how did you score yourself a trip to Oman?
Well actually the show approached me and asked if I was interested in doing something for the new season. I wasn't sure I was going to get time off from Breakfast for three weeks but I think people kind of take pity on me for getting me up early and sending me around the country to crazy places at the drop of the hat, so they said yes.

Had you been to the Middle East?
No. The closest I had been to the Middle East was Dubai airport where I saw sand-dunes out the window. This time, I had to deal with the heat.

So did you choose to go there?
No I didn't have any option. I was just told I was going to Oman for three weeks in June.

And I guess you thought it would be a nice escape from winter?
It was the craziest thing because it was the height of summer and all the locals bugger off because it is too hot for them. Temperatures are between 40 and 50 degrees.

Wow. So my next question was did you step out of your comfort zone. I'm guessing yes.
Yeah, 50 degrees is out of my comfort zone.

Not quite the lovely winter escape you had hoped for?
I thought I could do with a bit of sun but I didn't think it would be that intense. It was so hot I can't explain how hot it was.

Did you have the right clothes?
Well no, I found the shorts and T-shirts I had packed were just too impractical in that heat - they were sticking to me. I thought there must have been something in the white gowns the men wear, so went and bought one. And it worked. I noticed I sweated only half as much in the gown. It helps that it's white, which doesn't attract the heat of course.

And did you learn any new words?
Well I learned a bit of Arabic along the way because I had a phrase book to refer to, but actually I found I ended up mostly speaking English.

It's funny because I am dark-skinned, and I grew a beard over there, then when I bought a white gown I really looked like a local. But I did myself a disservice because they thought I was one of them and then when I rolled out my Arabic they looked the other way, a bit disappointed.

A beard? How long did that last?

I just grew it enough to make me look like a traveller but whipped it off quickly when I got back. My boyfriend was not very impressed with it.

What were some of the highlights of the trip?
One of the craziest experiences was going to a turtle beach where we watched them lay their eggs at night time. We watched in a pervy kind of way which was weird. And then another time we went into the middle of the desert with a camel farmer. It was my first experience with camel farmers. I didn't realise that when the sun went down all of the camels - 150 or so - just returned to where they came from without any prompting. Then they got up when the sun did and went off on their day's pilgrimage.

I was especially impressed because I have two dogs at home and the second the gate opens they race off without any guarantee they will return. These camels don't even need to be trained to know when to come back.

Would you go back to Oman any time soon?
To be honest, it's not my kind of place, it's really hot. I like my green trees too much, and the water, and a snap of cold every now and then.

LOWDOWN

Who: Tamati Coffey, telly weatherman
What: Travelled to Oman as part of the new season of Intrepid Journeys
When and where: Next Thursday, January 20 at 8:30pm on TV One