Tag: عمان

Oman’s Royal Horse Racing Festival

is held in the warm sun

With the threat of rain over it was good to to take up an invitation to attend the Annual Royal Horse Racing Festival at the Royal Stables in Oman.

Royal Horse Race Program
Royal Horse Race Program

The afternoon made a nice conclusion to the last 3 weeks of rain. Sultan Qaboos attended with guests including Sheikh Mohammed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi. From the Sultan’s stables several Akhal-Teke Horse – which are a very elegant breed – were shown. So, it was disappointing not to have been able to bring cameras into the grounds especially as a friends horse won the 5th race.

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”

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 .

The British Museum’s Great Court
The British Museum’s Great Court

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 .

China Blue and White
China Blue and White

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

Oman’s Ministry of Tourism enters the Cruise business

Loaloat Al Behar at berth in Mina Sultan Qaboos Oman

With the arrival of the Loaloat Al Behar in Mina Sultan Qaboos, Oman’s Ministry of Tourism enters the Cruise business.  This was the last yacht of H.M. Sultan Qaboos and was given to Oman’s Ministry of Tourism on arrival of the new very splendid Al Said – its replacement.

Loaloat al Behar at berth in Mina Sultan Qaboos
Loaloat al Behar at berth in Mina Sultan Qaboos

Loaloat Al Behar has been refitted in Dubai as a mini (if that’s the right word for 100meters) cruise ship  or maxi yacht. Though the deck does not have a pool it does have a mini Jacuzzi is available to cool off in. It will probably appeal to large families or a holiday with friends .

I wonder what the chartering fee will be .

Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra

and a very enjoyable evening at Al Bustan

Simon Wright was the guest conductor for last night’s Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra performance at Al Bustan.

Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra
Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra

He has been Continue reading “Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra”

Oman’s National Day

November 18th is Oman’s National Day. This year is the 38th celebration of what is referred to as Oman’s Renaissance since Sultan Qaboos ( حفظ الله صاحب الجلالة) became ruler of Oman . The changes since 1970 have been remarkable – of course it’s human nature to say the good old days were better but I have yet to hear anyone say that about Oman.

Times of Oman National Day 2008
Times of Oman National Day 2008

Looking at today’s paper – Continue reading “Oman’s National Day”

Arabian Leopard Oman

the Arabian Leopard leaves it’s mark

Grabbing a couple of bottles of water, we set off at a good walking pace under the cloud cover of the early Khareef (Monsoon) season in Salalah Oman .

Arabian Leopard
Arabian Leopard

I enjoy trekking in Oman with Hadi al Hikmani, enthusiasm is always a good companion and Hadi packages his in friendliness and knowledge. On this walk, his knowledge identified fresh ‘scat’ (excrement) on our pathway – in fact Leopard scat . Fresh, in fact, very fresh – probably less than half an hour old. In the day that followed, we walked along Leopard tracks and with all our stops and starts, examining the tracks and collecting scat we didn’t catch up with our invisible walking companion.

We returned along the same path and astoundingly found more scat; the Leopard had returned to the path after we passed .

Oman Today Magazine Cover
Oman Today Magazine Cover

Over a year before, on another walk with Hadi, I said to him that I would write about Oman’s Leopards; as he believes that awareness is a key to its survival. So, shamed that no article had been produced in over a year, I returned to Muscat and somehow produced a piece. Wonderfully ‘ Oman Today ’ has used it in their August edition – I’m delighted of course.

Oman is a key territory of Panthera pardus nimr, the Arabian Leopard, and, with possibly less than 200 individuals in the world, awareness may well help its survival.