Tony Walsh – author on Oman & Arabia
Northern Oman’s built history stretches back 5,000 years, its one of the Arab world’s most enduring cultures. Today its interconnected through modern highways and impressive mobile telecom networks
Bringing a splash of colour into Muscat a Kathryn Wilson, art exhibition
in Al Araimi Complex Muscat.
Working in Dubai as an art and photography teacher she graduated from Oxford University as a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and for her exhibition showed paintings inspired by the scale and drama of Oman.
Not only inspired by Oman but her paintings are ideal for the large rooms and cool interiors of many of Muscats new houses.
Gently manoeuvring into Port Sultan Qaboos, the Amsterdam arrived into Muscat .
We took our guests Continue reading “Amsterdam in Muscat”
There must be something about April in Oman.
Last year Tom Jones gave a great concert on 14 Apr 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel; this year it’s the group Westlife coming on 13th of April 2011 again at the Intercontinental. Its a big year for the group as they have just split from Simon Cowells record label.
Its always good to welcome the Brilliance of the Seas and passengers for Muscat shore excursions tours from the ship.
My own arrival into the port passed by a strike by Continue reading “Ships and Strikes in Oman”
The latest ‘fashion’ in Oman seems to be to hold a protest. Driving through Muscat I saw perhaps the smallest and the most temporary Continue reading “Protest in Muscat”
I was delighted to be invited to a concert held by Sarasin Alpen. Held at the Continue reading “‘Ustad’ Shujaat Khan in Muscat”
It always nice to have visitors
and this trip was with Continue reading “Words and Wadis in Oman”
for a Wedding
With shades of blue , bagpipes and cheers – it could be for events in Britain . But on Tuesday night I was at a wedding in Muscat and really enjoyed the enthusiastic entertainment .
AL-JALALI FORT, IS ONE OF THE TWO PRINCIPAL FORTS IN MUSCAT. It sits opposite its partner Mirani Fort, with the picturesque harbour of Muscat between them.
Probably the existing fort was Continue reading “AL-JALALI FORT MUSCAT visiting this landmark fort in Muscat“
to be joined in Muscat by Seabourn Legend in a couple of years
Joining the Costa and Aida ships, Brilliance of the Seas is now a regular arrival for us in Muscat bringing people for a visit into Oman
As its a new destination for her it will take time for the cruise excursions to be tailored to her passengers needs but I am confident that Muscat will be one of her more popular port calls in the Gulf cruises.
to take shore excursions in Oman
Avoiding the rain the Aida arrives into Mina Sultan Qaboos, Muscat.
This is probably the most colourful ship coming into Oman – and on a weekly basis does brighten up the harbour as the visitors spend part of their holidays in Oman.
Some cruise excursions during the type of heavy rain we have been having, needed to be cancelled, but better safe than sorry.
I chased the sun through Oman along the Tropic of Cancer
On my search for the Tropic of Cancer Oman I almost literally crawled up the slopes of Jebel Misht and then made a very tired stumble back into the car – saw sunset in the Rub Al Khali and had a puncture on the way out.
Its one of the Earths Continue reading “Tropic of Cancer Oman and my magazine article about it “
Friday afternoon is the traditional time for a few villages on Oman’s Batina coast to hold Bull Fights and recently I went to two.
These Bull Fights, rather than a Spanish style fight where a Matador kills a Bull, are contests between two evenly matched bulls.
The Bulls are usually an owners pride and joy and much personal prestige hangs on the result. The Bulls are given heroic names like Antar (an ancient Arab hero) or even modern ones perhaps Arnold (after Arnold Schwarzenegger).
This variety of cattle, and subsequent event, are said to have been brought into Oman by the Portuguese in the 16thc, and as they are only popular on the thin coastal strip that was under Portugal’s influence this does seem quite possible. Owners may have several Bulls who are led onto the arena under the supervision of a ‘Master of Ceremonies’, who wields a loudspeaker for effect.
The contest is to have the two bulls use brute force or intimidation to make the other animal submit and run away. Sometimes the losing opponent runs before the contest, other times the animals are so evenly matched that after 5 minutes or so they are separated.
Doubtless, with a ton of animal on each side injuries to the animals happen, though after innumerable visits I’ve never seen any; indeed with a value in excess of luxury cars, its in the owner’s interest to keep it from happening.
Just around the corner from Al Alam Palace in Muscat is Bait Sayyid Nadir, one of its few remaining 19thc houses.
The name of the house comes from Sayyid Nadir bin Continue reading “Bait Sayyid Nadir Muscat”
Tucked away in the back streets of Ruwi are small alleys and roads –
today a fire broke out in that area and remarkably the large fire tenders arrived next to the building that was belching out toxic fumes.
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