Oman - Tony Walsh توني والش

Travel with a new plug to Oman

see this and be inspired to invent

Here, in Oman, we run on British voltage and 3 pin plug sockets (which with the Earth and Fuse protects you and your equipment from damage) –

but lots of equipment comes with a 2 pin plug fitted as standard.

We also, amazingly, run on screw in light bulbs and British pin type light bulbs (which like their plug’s are also safety oriented as they are either, all in or all out – with the screw type it has an infinite amount of ‘just might be’ ) .

The problem with a British style plug is …. its so bulky and the pins stick out at 90degrees from the body so, along with the bulk, they can dig into and damage so much – including your laptop.

What to do when you have a LapTop, Phone etc that need charging when you take a tour of Oman with us ? ? Continue reading “Travel with a new plug to Oman”

Wimborne in Dorset wants to twin with a town in Oman

a first as far as I know

In the heart of the English country side Wimborne Minster might not seem to have links with Oman; but! In what will be a wonderful first Wimborne apparently wants to twin with an Omani town.

So perhaps we will have Rustaq and Wimborne Minster as twins .

Ras al Khaimah will hold 33rd America’s Cup

a great event for Ras al Khaimah

The neighbouring Emirate to Oman, Ras al Khaimah, will hold the 33rd America’s Cup as landlocked Switzerland has nominated the Emirate for 2010 . Congratulations Ras al Khaimah.

Sitting next to Musandam the event might well come into Omani spectacular waters

With 11 wins in 20 starts by Masirah, Oman’s racing boat, Oman really should try and put an AC33 yacht and team in for the America’s Cup 2010

Sultan Qaboos visit to Iran

A very opportune time to visit Iran

Iran is an important neighbour of Oman and the President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be taking the oath for a new second four-year term. Continue reading “Sultan Qaboos visit to Iran”

Oman at the Seminar for Arabian Studies

Interesting finds in Oman

It was good to join the Seminar for Arabian Studies at the British Museum.

Held annually the seminar focuses on the history and archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula . It was especially nice to meet up with Ali Al Mahrouqi on July 23rd, which is Oman’s ‘Renaissance Day’. He was attending on behalf of Oman’s Ministry of National Heritage and Culture and put up a Poster of the project he is working on, which includes areas in Adam which I enjoyed visiting with him last year.

At this years seminar Derek Kennet gave an overview on pre-historical sites in Wadi Andam and Axelle Rougeulle talking about the first season of excavation at Qalhat which was very interesting.

Derek Kennet talks about pre-historical sites in Oman

Football result in Oman

the home side won – but it still would have been good for our team to win

Al Taawn ‘The Co-operation Team’, the football team we sponsor, were at a disadvantage playing against the Island Falcons – it was an away game. Both teams are from Quriyat – but the game was on the Island Falcons own pitch .

With good attacking players the Island Falcons managed to do what all teams playing at home should do – they won and unfortunately, Al Taawn are out of the tournament

It was a good lesson for Al Taawn, attackers are the way to win.

The Club Cup later in the year will hopefully see Al Taawn at least reach the top two.

Richard Schmierer will be the new US Ambassador to Oman

a new head of the US Embassy in Oman

Dr Richard J. Schmierer will join the residents of Oman as the new US Ambassador . Previously he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, so will bring a breadth of experience with him into Oman. His diplomatic postings’ include time in Germany, Saudi Arabian and Iraq.

Oman’s rise in Health and Wealth

a great way of visualizing Oman’s development

Here is a very cute graph I did

A nice comparison over time of Oman’s rise in wealth and health

that shows the relative wealth and health of Oman and the UK, <<<click and it opens and springs into action. The UK jigs along at the forefront of wealth and health compared to the world while Oman, until the 70s was low on both but then, sharply pulls up after 1970 with oil wealth and its much-admired health services – that, I feel, is focused on prevention far more than the NHS in the UK..

Visiting Ubhar in Muscat

a stand out on the food scene in Muscat – for lots of reasons

Ubhar is one of the more distinctive restaurants in Muscat (unusual addition of an ‘h’ into what is more usually spelt Ubar). Its in a central location in Qurm with a discrete appearance from the outside. Inside however it’s a fusion with dark wood, shocking fuchsia cushions and clear Perspex chairs – almost 1960s retro.

The restaurant opened a few months ago and is probably suffering from the economic slump and a focus by the affluent local population on coffee shops and fast food . They are missing a unique experience . Standouts were the Appetizers, Soup, and Crème Caramel – the very personable service by the maître d’hôtel and his 100% Omani staff.

One to visit again.

Muscat Hills Golf

forget the old Browns – Oman will soon have Greens

The first of Oman’s grass Golf courses has had a soft opening. Between honey coloured mountains and the Gulf of Oman it will be a great alternative to Oman ‘Browns’, the rollered sand golf course we have had till now

Etihad to Muscat

A flight to remember for a lifetime

Taking Etihad from Heathrow to Muscat I was lucky to have a brand new plane, an Airbus 340 . It was a flying advert for the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix later this year.

As is often the case in The Gulf the flight attendants were from all over the world, mostly Far East, and I’m not certain if there were any Emiratis.

Will Smith in “I Robot” looks over my Etihad meal

The meal was frankly poor – with rubber like Pasta – made worse by being served a couple of hours into the late evening flight. I found the entertainment selection extraordinary – 70films, 100 TV entertainment programs, no idea how many news Channels and presumably as many Audio choices. For a new plane it was a shock to have an aborted landing – with good recovery, thank you Mr Pilot– because a wheel door apparently would not open. Our second attempt succeeded and it was comforting to see the fire tenders moving back into their sheds.

Arriving for transfer at Abu Dhabi into the new Terminal the Muscat flight was waiting in the old terminal – very nice because it’s distinctive. Flashing up on the TV – BBC breaking news Michael Jackson died. I can remember where I was the night Elvis (Presley) died and now will be able to add Michael Jackson to my life’s time line, through this flight.

The Jackson 5 and later Michael were not my favorites but his Music from ‘Off the Wall’ to ‘Thriller’ was so good. What a shock to his family and fans . He visited Oman a couple of years ago and I must say in Oman Michael Jackson was sooo popular that many people here will miss him.

New Ferry Terminal in Khasab Oman

Good news for car drivers

Oman’s Transport & Communications Ministry has confirmed that it will build two ferry terminals in Khasab and Shinas .

The 'Shinas' in Mina Sultan Qaboos — The ‘Shinas’ in Mina Sultan Qaboos

These will take the Ferries, enabling cars to be taken on board. Certainly getting to Khasab in Musandam is not the easiest of places to drive to – it involves 4 border posts each way and a dreadful drive through Ras al Khaimah .

I presume Mina Sultan Qaboos’s quays are good to unload and offload vehicles.

Oman Air adds new routes

Oman Air adds some good new routes this autumn

Frankfurt and Munich will be connected to Muscat by a direct Oman Air flight in September according to Reuters. Then, in October Oman Air will fly into Paris .

The London flights seem to be a success – my flight this June from Muscat to London was busy – Paris and the German cities are also natural links for Oman Airs target clients – holiday makers.

East Anglian Summer Solstice

Cycling though the East Anglian countryside.

Though the Summer Solstice in East Anglia wasn’t a bright sunny day there was no rain; so we enjoyed cycling around the back lanes on the Essex Suffolk borders.

A field of bright yellow (Rape ) and reds (Poppies) with a few yellows and whites ( Ox-Eye Dasies ).

Having had snow recently and a fair amount of rain, the fields are perhaps a bit behind the normal growing season. Poppies seem to be making a comeback – here mixed in a field of Rape .

There is of course a downside to lush vegetation – Aphids by the million drifting across lanes and onto clothes and body.

There are so many nice sights on the route we took; one of my favourites is this picture perfect thatched cottage – complete with dove cots

Shah ‘Abbas in London – Sultan Qaboos in Iran

A bit of Persia in London and Oman in Iran

Walking into the Shah ‘Abbas exhibition in the British Museum’s Reading Room was almost a sense of ‘déjà vu’ as the very English Sir Robert Sherley & wife Teresia gaze down as they did in the Tate’s ‘Lure of the East’ exhibition last year .

This time they were not included because of the gorgeous costumes but for Robert Sherley’s role as Persian Ambassador from Shah ‘Abbas to various European Courts .

In 2007 President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque which of course has a very Persian flavour to it with the style of Shah Abbas’s dynasty throughout the interior of the building.

As Sultan Qaboos seems to like Persian art he will enjoy his visit to Iran this month. Perhaps the visit by the Omani Minister of Tourism in May to Homs and other Iranian cities was a build up to this visit – one trusts that the current political uncertainty will not affect His Majesty’s visit.

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As an update – His Majesty’s visit did not take place at the end of June but Sultan Qaboos now should visit Iran during mid-July