BLOG POSTS by Tony 🖋

Arabian Leopard in Dhofar

The advancing monsoon was descending on Salalah as I spent time there with Hadi Al Hikmani whose passion and work is researching Arabian Leopard in Dhofar. His family keep an extraordinary number of goats below the mountains and they are a potential prey of the Leopard.

Hadi checking scat
Hadi checking scat

During a six-hour trek through the mountain’s of Dhofar, Hadi expertly Continue reading “Arabian Leopard in Dhofar”

Church and Mosque in Muscat a service for Syrian (Syriac) Christians in one - and solominisation of a marraige in the other

I enjoyed attending Church and Mosque in Muscat over the weekend. The Church service on Friday ( the weekly rest day in Oman) was

St Thomas Church Ruwi
St Thomas Church Ruwi

at the church of Continue reading “Church and Mosque in Muscat a service for Syrian (Syriac) Christians in one – and solominisation of a marraige in the other“

Al Bustan Palace Hotel

I had a nice preview of the changes at Al Bustan Palace during the hotel’s refit. I arrived in Muscat in 1986 just after the initial opening of Al Bustan Palace and then lived for many years in Al Bustan village next to the hotel. Though I have moved a few kilometres away its always been like dear friend and neighbour.

Al Bustan Palace bedroom preview
Al Bustan Palace bedroom preview

The hotel, scheduled to re-open later in 2008, Continue reading “Al Bustan Palace Hotel”

Walk in the Najd of Dhofar

With cloud cover increasing over the Dhofar coast of Oman I took time to trek through the barren landscape of Dhofar, not on the coast but in the barren mountains towards the desert.

Frankincense Tree Najd Dhofar
Frankincense Tree Najd Dhofar

Here we passed Frankincense trees rustling in the wind and occasional Fan Tailed Ravens but little else of substance. Continue reading “Walk in the Najd of Dhofar”

Olympic Torch in Muscat

On its way to China the Olympic Torch snaked its way through Muscat today – I parked my car just behind the roadblocks and joined the crowds.
Oman is the only Arab country where the torch will visit – therefore the government invited personalities from around the Arab world to share in the torch carrying.

Olympic Torch Corniche
Olympic Torch Corniche

It can’t have been a co-incidence that Continue reading “Olympic Torch in Muscat”

Wihibah Sands to Masirah Island

We drove through the Wihibah Sands (also variously Wahiba Sands / Sharqiyyah Sands) desert and reached the coast in time to join

Tony Walsh Wihibah Sands
Tony Walsh Wihibah Sands

in the festivities at a friend’s wedding.

With the discharge of rifles Continue reading “Wihibah Sands to Masirah Island”

Fish and Flora in Oman

The green stuff is very much the focus in Muscat at the moment.

Dr Annette Patzelt
Dr Annette Patzelt

Apart from the green dollars coming in from high oil prices the new Botanical Garden project is now under way and due for completion in 2010 – the same opening time that the new Continue reading “Fish and Flora in Oman”