Within the slopes and valleys of the southern mountains of Oman are an extraordinary variety of flora. The plants in Dhofar inhabit an environment that can change from wet cloud soaked biome to bone-dry desert in the period of a few days or meters. Grass dominates the mountain upper plateau while the sea-facing slopes are have Anogeissus dhofarica as their dominant plant.
Though many plants catch a visitors interest, four are Continue reading “Oman’s famed plants in Dhofar”
Category: Dhofar
Dhofar in southern Oman is a different take on Oman, its monsoon climate, population and history are distinct
Frankincense in Dhofar
Frankincense is such an evocative word for many religious people, but few have a chance to visit the real Land of Frankincense in Dhofar. Its associated with religious ceremonies worldwide and of course with the gifts brought by the 3 Kings, or Wise Men, to Jesus.
We flew down to Oman’s Continue reading “Frankincense in Dhofar”
Salalah Sunshine
Having been together in the heart of all the storms before the National Day holidays it was great to fly down for some Salalah Sunshine with a couple of tourists so they could ‘dry themselves out’!
We came across Continue reading “Salalah Sunshine”
Trip to Salalah and a focus on Frankincense
At the end of the Khareef is a great time to visit Salalah. We visited the nice Land of Frankincense Museum and saw a Frankincense Flower being pollinated by an Apis Florea bee.
Unexpectedly Continue reading “Trip to Salalah and a focus on Frankincense”
Victor the buggy in Muscat from Salalah
Tucked away under the shade of my breakfast source, Lulu in Darsait, I saw this well travelled car. Well travelled not just from Salalah, where I photoed it last week, to Muscat – but after 6 years on the road it has the most kilometres of any non production car.
Victor the buggy is a hand made gem, with a Continue reading “Victor the buggy in Muscat from Salalah”
Khor Rori Oman with a visiting group.
Flying down to Salalah after visiting northern Oman our group from Steppes Travel have been visiting some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Oman.
Some of the group enjoyed Continue reading “Khor Rori Oman with a visiting group.”
Eagles in Oman in Salalah
With part of our group from The Traveller it was good to visit Salalah,
Salalah Time in Oman
We took a few days to visit Salalah to escape Muscat’s still sizzling 40c+ temperature for some صلالة تائيم (Salalah Time)
where the sizzle turned into drizzle and Continue reading “Salalah Time in Oman”
World Heritage in Oman on World Heritage Day
18 April is World Heritage Day. In the far south of Oman are the sites under the UNESCO citation Land of Frankincense.
The Frankincense Tree itself can be found in places scattered throughout the Dhofar Mountains, including here at Wadi Dawkah, the UNESCO WHS.
Dhows and Gazelles in Dhofar
It was a nice surprise to see the familiar face of Allesandro near Salalah.
He had previously Continue reading “Dhows and Gazelles in Dhofar”
Omani Frankincense as a picture calendar for 2012
For 2012 I’ve just done a Frankincense Calendar.
Its got 13 pictures all about Frankincense in Oman including Continue reading “Omani Frankincense as a picture calendar for 2012”
Breakfast with Saudis and a visit to Sumhuram
Its always nice to visit the archaeological site of Sumhuram near Salalah Oman as it is constantly evolving as discoveries are made and the site itself is developed.
Amongst the new features is Continue reading “Breakfast with Saudis and a visit to Sumhuram”
Salalah in Oman the cooler side of life
We arrived into Salalah after Eid in Muscat, where the temperature over Eid was in the mid 40s centigrade,
for a cool reception Continue reading “Salalah in Oman the cooler side of life”
Cruise from Salalah on the Island Sky heading north to the Arabian Gulf
and its historical sites.
It was great to meet all the passengers who flew in for the start of their cruise from Salalah. I would give a series of talks on board about the region to, hopefully, enhance their experience and enjoyment.
The crew and guests overnighted in the Hilton Salalah Continue reading “Cruise from Salalah on the Island Sky heading north to the Arabian Gulf“
BBC looks at the Frankincense Trail as seen by Kate Humble
a modern journey along the route
As the Monsoon Season draws to a close in Salalah it will soon be time to start the Frankincense Harvest.
A crew for the BBC filmed in Oman a piece about the Frankincense Trail in June last year. From Oman they went to The Hadramout and beyond, mixing fable, modernity and a bit of history as seen through Kate Humble’s eyes.
Apart from the fact that Frankincense is a living legend – the thing I really like about the tree is the culture that surrounds it.
The smoke from the small pebble size pieces is used in Oman as a welcome to guests and the fragrance will scent clothes for a long time .
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