Arabian Sea - Tony Walsh توني والش

Oman’s migratory Birds at Sultan Qaboos University

I attended a conference on ‘Oman as a Gravitational Centre in the Global Flyway Network of Migratory Shorebirds’ .

This highlighted Continue reading “Oman’s migratory Birds at Sultan Qaboos University”

Green Turtles of Oman

The recent rains have given added interest to the landscape in Oman.

Here, during Continue reading “Green Turtles of Oman”

Oman’s Tourism and Geology Combine in GeoTourism

I last met Ross Dowling when he hosted a seminar for Oman’s Tour Guides

– so it was really nice Continue reading “Oman’s Tourism and Geology Combine in GeoTourism”

Jewel of Muscat’s Museum opens in Singapore

Sitting in her new home –

the Jewel of Muscat is Continue reading “Jewel of Muscat’s Museum opens in Singapore”

Calendars on Oman

for 2011

For the start of 2011 there are lots of calendars on Oman to choose from. A couple have front pages with my photos on .

Oman’s Three Seas

a journey

Making the most of Oman’s coast Ernest Meili took a journey down the 1700kms or so of Oman’s coastline. He talked about his experience, in one of the best talks held by the ESO.

I really look forward to doing the same journey with Nobel Caledonia on their Oman Cruise and hope my talks will be as interesting.

Marriott Hotel Salalah

looks as if it will be a nice hotel for Oman

Having just opened, it was nice to be able to visit the new Marriott Resort near Mirbat Oman. Set on a very interesting beach with some areas of white sand and others of rock it will be a good hotel to relax in, especially as its isolated at almost 80kms from Salalah.

On the drive back I made a visit into Shuwaymiyah, whose pale cliffs drop into the Arabian Sea , as I was staying in a small village nearby.

Jewel of Muscat

the sewn boat for Singapore

Just before it launches I took a look at the Jewel of Muscat, the replica of a 9^th Century West Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea) boat. This is being constructed in Muscat and will sail to Singapore where it will be the focus of a Museum about the Belitung, a wreck full of Chinese merchandise .

The boat is sewn, rather than nailed together, a technique used in Oman until the mid 20^th c .

The Jewel uses extreme sewing – which in most boats I’ve seen was used for structurally critical parts of a boat. Probably for a long ocean voyage, between Oman and China, every part of the boat would be considered critical.