Rustaq Oman has some remarkable new discoveries from Iron Age

After the British Foundation for the Study of Arabia (BFSA) Annual General Meeting, there was a good chance to listen to Dr Derek Kennet talk about Archaeology in Oman and especially the Iron Age archaeology of a little-studied region in Oman .

Dr Derek Kennet BFSA Talk Archaeology in Oman
Dr Derek Kennet BFSA Talk about a little studied region in Oman

Dr Kennet has Continue reading “Rustaq Oman has some remarkable new discoveries from Iron Age”

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.

Walking in Dhofar mountains near Frankincense in Dhofar trees
Walking in Dhofar mountains near Frankincense Trees

We flew down to Oman’s Continue reading “Frankincense in Dhofar”

Abdullah Al Shuhi’s new book – ‘Oman Living Traditions’

Hot on the heels of Tonny’s art exhibition, Abdullah Al Shuhi has launched his new book ‘Oman Living Traditions’ at Bait al Baranda.

Abdullah Al-Shuhi Photographer
Abdullah Al-Shuhi Photographer

I first met Abdullah almost 20 Continue reading “Abdullah Al Shuhi’s new book – ‘Oman Living Traditions’”

Happy New Year from Oman

1/1/11

What a nice start to the New Year in Oman – snow on the mountains a few days ago and dazzingly clear skys in Muscat.

1/1/11 ........ 1 Camel, 1 drinking trough and 11 White Storks in Salalah Oman
1/1/11 …….. 1 Camel, 1 drinking trough and 11 White Storks in Salalah Oman

Of course its going to be a year full of the unexpected, but a certainty is that there will be but lots of 1’s – as here on 1/1/11 .

Wadi in Oman

Passing a Camel I searched for a good spot to sleep

Oman’s beachs sometimes have huge numbers of sea birds, mainly Gulls and Terns. Here, on a beach I was driving past, large numbers of Gulls descend on fish scraps thrown away by fishermen .

Seagulls descend on fish scraps in Oman
Seagulls descend on fish scraps in Oman

This beach is long with the gulls concentrated where the fishing boats beach to offload their catch.

A Camels dashes through an Oman Wadi at dusk
A Camels dashes through an Oman Wadi at dusk

With so many birds I sometimes prefer the silence of Oman’s wadis to sleep in; so I drove through this wadi as the sun set – passing this camel who was in a bit of a rush to get somewhere. The night was nice and cool – and the bright full moon lit up the landscape till dawn.

Christmas Greetings from Oman

Special Greetings to you – from Rudolph the Red Nosed Camel and me, here in Oman

Here in Oman, rather than Reindeer, Father Christmas needs to use Camels, sand is quite different from snow of course. Since Father Christmas is no longer as young as he once was, his memory is sometimes poor so he naturally gives all his Sleigh pullers the same set of names.

 Rudolph the Red Nosed Camel in Oman

Rudolph the Red Nosed Camel in Oman

I was lucky to find Rudolph the Red Nosed Camel, just before they set off last year in Oman. The NORAD Santa Tracker will follow his worldwide journey http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html .

I know he would want to wish you a very special Christmas and a great New Year for 2009 – as do I.