Month: February 2010

Desert Nights in Oman

for a different Honeymoon

Spending a night in the desert during a holiday in Oman with the stars sparkling overhead is a memorable experience; especially if the afternoon arrival and morning departure is a trek by Camel .

Honeymoon travel Oman
Honeymoon travel Oman

Then onto a second night in a traditional Bedouin tent – with a very traditional musical accompaniment during dinner.

Music in Camp Oman
Music in Camp Oman

Oman Tour Guides

attended a lecture hosted by the Oman Ministry of Tourism

Oman Ministry of Tourism Oman Posters for a Lecture
Oman Ministry of Tourism Oman Posters for a Lecture

It was nice to be able to attend a presentation by Professor Ross Dowling.

Organised by the Oman Ministry of Tourism it was designed to give an overview about ‘Enhancing Visitor Experiences’ for Omani Tour Guides

Ross Dowling being introduced for his Talk on Role of Guides
Ross Dowling being introduced for his Talk on Role of Guides

Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky

from Salalah to Dubai

This time next year I should be on board the MS Island Sky for a wonderful cruise from Salalah along Oman’s coast and on up to Sir bani Yas in Abu Dhabi – plenty of subjects for talks.

Its 10 years since I first stepped on board a ship as cruise lecturer. This was also with Nobel Caledonia’s Shearwater when it undertook their first Gulf Cruise in 2000 – we ventured from Muscat up to Bahrain .

Shearwater in Oman
Shearwater in Oman

 

Cruising in the Gulf has become more popular since then – warm winter sun might be a factor! But the Island Sky  will go where other ships cannot reach and add in spectacular scenery, extraordinary birdlife along the coast, the historical monuments in Oman and of course the fabulous Omani’s themselves and it should again be a journey to remember.

Jan Gehl talks about People Friendly Cities

and his company’s work in Muscat

Jan Gehl, whose company is advising Oman’s Muscat Municipality, gave a talk last night on creating people friendly cities.

Jan Gehl talks about people and Muscat
Jan Gehl talks about people and Muscat

He gave examples of New York’s Broadway being pedestrianized, and how Melbourne in Australia moved away from being a ‘DoughNut’ city (one with an empty hole at its core) into a vibrant people oriented city.

The new Chairman of Muscat Municipality seems to be keen on creating a city where vehicles are given less priority and pedestrians and cyclists more (as I live in one of the more walkable areas of Muscat and have cycled round it for over two decades that emphasis will be great)