Author: Tony Walsh

Book author including the current Bradt guide to Oman

Prince William visits Oman for a short visit after arriving from Kuwait

Prince William flew in from Kuwait to visit Oman in early December 2019. Sultan Qaboos met with him in Bait Al Baraka.

 

Sultan Qaboos meets Prince William
Sultan Qaboos meets Prince William

On Prince William’s arrival he first went to Khasab where he was received by Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy Governor of Musandam.

Prince William and Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy, Governor of Musandam
Prince William and Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy, Governor of Musandam

Then he flew into Muscat Continue reading “Prince William visits Oman for a short visit after arriving from Kuwait“

Touring the UAE with a group

I enjoyed touring the UAE with a group, seeing some of the old and new that the country has to offer.

We first took an Abra, from Radisson Blu Hotel on the creek, to the old suq in Bur Dubai which is full of interest and colour.

Shop - Bur Dubai - UAE
Shop – Bur Dubai – UAE

The walk allowed the group to get a taste of Continue reading “Touring the UAE with a group“

St. Francis Xavier Church – Salalah Oman

Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla – the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio (diplomat) to Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Qatar (strangely he doesn’t look after Oman) – and Dr. Ahmed Khamis Masood Al Bahri, director in Oman’s Ministry of Religious Endowments and Religious Affairs of Oman inaugurated St. Francis Xavier Church in Salalah, Oman.

St. Francis Xavier in Salalah
Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla , Dr. Ahmed Khamis Masood Al Bahri & Bishop Paul Hinder

The event was celebrated Continue reading “St. Francis Xavier Church – Salalah Oman”

Airbnb Adventures in Oman with Six Strangers from around the world

Airbnb took Six Strangers from around the world and sent them on the first Airbnb adventure where you can “ditch the tourist trails and go deeper with wildly unique adventures around the world”. Where would Airbnb send them? 24 hours later they landed in Continue reading “Airbnb Adventures in Oman with Six Strangers from around the world“

Doha’s Museums

Doha’s Museums include these three ‘must see’, when you stay in the city.

The design of the new National Museum of Qatar is based on the crystal structure of the Desert Rose, a small accretion of gypsum and sand. It surrounds the original National Museum which was in its turn twentieth-century palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. The new building is formed of interconnected discs and designed by the architectural firm Jean Nouvel.

Exterior National Museum - Doha's Museums
National Museum – Doha

The intention is to Continue reading “Doha’s Museums”

Omani Silver in the British Museum in the Albukhary Foundation’s rooms

On the Upper floor of the British Museum, Rooms 42–43 house the Albukhary Foundation’s rooms. This cultural institution, founded by Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, is based in Kuala Lumpur and claims to be the largest in Asia dedicated to the arts, culture and heritage of the Islamic world.

British Museum Queen Elizabeth Court - London
British Museum Queen Elizabeth Court

These galleries in the British Museum offer a perspective to the Islamic World, with beautifully laid out displays and as they are off the main flow of visitors, the space is less crowded.

Very unusually, as so many Islamic collections seem to ignore Arabia, the displays include Silver from Oman, some donated Continue reading “Omani Silver in the British Museum in the Albukhary Foundation’s rooms“

Anantara Salalah April festival at the Mekong restaurant

Transport yourself from Dhofar into Thailand as Anantara Al Baleed Resort Salalah celebrates the Songkran festival at the Mekong restaurant on April 13th.

Songkran festival at the Mekong restaurant.
Songkran festival at the Mekong restaurant.

The Songkran festival is Thailand’s Continue reading “Anantara Salalah April festival at the Mekong restaurant“