Eid Mubarak June 2018
Category: Oman
Snapshots of my life & visits to Oman. Oman’s built history stretches back 5,000 years, its one of the Arab world’s most enduring cultures. Today its a modern economy with a hospitable population.
WILFRED THESIGER the explorer of Oman and Arabia
Sir Wilfred Patrick Thesiger was born on 3 June 1910 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (then Abyssinia) into a life of privilege and aristocratic connections.
His father was the Continue reading “WILFRED THESIGER the explorer of Oman and Arabia “
Cyclone Mekunu aftermath
Cyclone Mekunu brought what is probably Dhofar’s most intense rainfall ever, which in turn brought some deaths (6 reported and perhaps a few more will be found), caused destroyed roads and spectacular waterfalls.
The effect can be seen by the closure announcment, by the National Committee for Civil Defense, of major road links – shown in a diagram issued after Cyclone Mekunu. As the diagram Continue reading “Cyclone Mekunu aftermath”
TAYQ CAVE SINKHOLE in Dhofar Oman
One of the most astounding events during the Cyclone Mekunu in Dhofar Oman has been the complete filling of the vast Tayq Cave sinkhole.
This sinkhole is about 3million cubic meters and its now full.
Tayq Cave is in an area of Karst Limestone, whose fractures provide the original ingress to water for the formation of a cave below the surface. Over time the cave enlarges as Limestone can eventually dissolve in water, the reverse happens when Limescale is deposited on water pipes. Over many hundreds of thousands of years if not more, the roof of the cave collapses giving rise in this case to the enormous Tayq Cave sinkhole 1.25km across.
Tayq Cave lies where two wadis meet, Wadi Sharaa to the east and Wadi Thirrat and these are the main sources of water into the sinkhole. The base of Tayq Cave contains a ‘drain’ that is believed to empty via the base of Tawi Atayr, also a sinkhole (8.5kms away), into the Arabian Sea at Qashrawb about 12kms east of Khawr Rawi and 16kms from Tayq Cave. The enormous quantity of water that will exit the cave over an extended period should enable geologists to determine the exit point into the sea.
Updated 1st June - Ahmed Al Toqi has taken an image of the sinkhole a few days after it filled - and it is now completely empty - emptying over about 5days.
The draining system (below centre left in shadow) down to the sea must be exceptionally efficient, or is there a second, even larger chamber under the visible sinkhole?
My rewrite of the Bradt Guide to Oman includes Tayq Cave – sinkhole on page 308 Tawi Atayr which is the location of the famous eponymous ‘well of birds’ sinkhole from page 307. The guide is available in eBook here and paperback through Amazon worldwide here.
Tayq Cave is located in the region where the Frankincense Tree grows and the trade in its resin developed. Explore The Land of Frankincense with my book which is available as an eBook here, and paperback through Amazon worldwide.
Tropical Cyclone Mekunu approaches Dhofar Oman
Cyclone Mekunu approaches Dhofar Oman and has formed to the south of the southern Oman coast of Dhofar. This Cyclone is relatively weak, with the ‘eye’ disintegrating and forward speed of less than 10kmph. However, the ocean surface temperature remains at over 31c and this will certainly provide an increase in the energy of the Cyclone as it approaches the coast.
Circulatory windspeeds of around Continue reading “Tropical Cyclone Mekunu approaches Dhofar Oman”
Oman announces dates for Ramadhan 2018
Oman has made a departure from the usual practice of only announcing the start of Ramadhan, and other religious events, by actually Continue reading “Oman announces dates for Ramadhan 2018”
Arabia at the London Book Fair 2018
Tulips under a male Date Palm, just off Kensington High Street in London,
set the tone for a mix of Continue reading “Arabia at the London Book Fair 2018”
MUSCAT AIRPORT new Terminal opens
Muscat Airport new Terminal opened for the first flights on
Shangri La in Oman repositions its hotels branding
Shangri La in Oman the Sultanate’s first resort, and possibly most successful hotel property, is on the verge of being ‘repositioned’
regarding its Branding.
The Shangri La in Oman’s Barr Al Jissa Resort and Spa is probably (I feel) the key hotel in Oman, and Continue reading “Shangri La in Oman repositions its hotels branding”
OMAN VISA application process is updated changes by Oman's Royal Oman Police to the tourist visa application process in Oman
Visiting Oman? Read on.
Below are the procedures to obtain a visa.
You will also want to read the Covid-19 entry requirements for Oman
The issuing authority of visas for Oman, the Royal Oman Police have announced that the Oman Visa application process is updated – read what needs to be done to apply for an Oman visit visa, based on their announcement.
The changes mean that the only way Continue reading “OMAN VISA application process is updated changes by Oman’s Royal Oman Police to the tourist visa application process in Oman “
Oman Taxi Charges revised
Oman Taxi Charges are revised by the government-owned Mwasalat Taxis service. New reduced charges apply from 1st February 2018 and new Taxi airport charges from 18th February. Continue reading “Oman Taxi Charges revised”
Omans new Vehicle and Traffic regulations
Oman introduces a number of changes to road and driving regulations from 1st March 2018.
Notable is the introduction of Continue reading “Omans new Vehicle and Traffic regulations”
Muscat Airport Opening Date Set
The opening date for commercial operations of the new passenger Terminal at Muscat International Airport has been set
Oman Taxi services – new regulations
Oman’s Ministry of Transport and Communications have said that all Taxis (including the original Orange and White unmetered ones) will soon have fares set by the appropriate government authority . The Ministry intends to study supply & demand and operational costs, throughout the Sultanate.
It is reported that vehicles should have a tracking system, presumably
a GPS based one, along with a navigation system, perhaps Continue reading “Oman Taxi services – new regulations”
Oman Guide Book for 2018 ‘Exceptional Places’
Oman has been included in Bradt Guide’s 2018 ‘Exceptional Places’ and the Bradt Guide to Oman is now available worldwide.
This annual listing is a recommendation of those countries, cities or regions that Bradt, the award-winning guidebook publisher, feels should be visited.
This year’s exceptional places include Continue reading “Oman Guide Book for 2018 ‘Exceptional Places’”
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