Tony Walsh – author & tours through Arabia
‘THE LAND OF FRANKINCENSE’ (full colour version in UK), MY NEW BOOK, explores key locations associated with Frankincense in Dhofar, including the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Locations such as Wadi Andhur, Continue reading “LAND OF FRANKINCENSE is my Guide Book to historic places in Dhofar Oman associated with Frankincense – “
Work has started for the Harweel 50MW project for Wind Power in Oman.
General Electric (GE) Renewable Energy who are supplying the turbines for the site said “road works, civil works and foundation works are currently ongoing”.
The turbines components should arrive Continue reading “Wind Power in Oman”
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”
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”
possibly the oldest wreck ever found from Europe’s initial period of colonization in Asia
The Esmeralda shipwreck is one of the earliest shipwrecks from the start of Portugal’s entry into the Arabia Sea.
There can have been few countries whose population exploded around the world as quickly or indeed violently as the Portuguese. From a small insignificant land on the edge of Europe, they swept into East Asia. Leading the charge in many respects was Vasco de Gama who crossed the Arabian Sea in 1498 with four small ships, landing into the Indian port of Calicut. In 1502 he also led the 4th Portuguese fleet into the region, this time with the clear intention to subjugate the coastal populations. This was largely to monopolise trade destined for Europe, rather than it flowing through Ottoman and Venetian ships, and additionally in retaliation for military defeats in the Arabian Sea during the previous years.
His fleet was of 20 ships, indicative of the value of the potential trade, as well as the numbers of ships lost during the previous annual sailings from Portugal that made larger numbers of ships essential to achieve success. Vasco de Gama returned Continue reading “Vasco da Gama Esmeralda shipwreck”
After a drive from Muscat, via Nizwa, we arrived in Dhofar where the tail end of a weak Khareef (Monsoon) season was still evident. Most of Dhofars beaches are soft white sand, beloved by Humans and not surprisingly animals.
Within the slopes and valleys of the southern mountains of Oman are an extraordinary variety of flora. The plants in Dhofar inhabit an environment that can change from wet cloud soaked biome to bone-dry desert in the period of a few days or meters. Grass dominates the mountain upper plateau while the sea-facing slopes are have Anogeissus dhofarica as their dominant plant.
Though many plants catch a visitors interest, four are Continue reading “Oman’s famed plants 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.
We flew down to Oman’s Continue reading “Frankincense in Dhofar”
Tucked away under the shade of my breakfast source, Lulu in Darsait, I saw this well travelled car. Well travelled not just from Salalah, where I photoed it last week, to Muscat – but after 6 years on the road it has the most kilometres of any non production car.
Victor the buggy is a hand made gem, with a Continue reading “Victor the buggy in Muscat from Salalah”
One of my favourite photos is this of Arab Horses in Oman decked out in traditional silver. Marco Polo wrote about them in his book ‘The Travels’ – “and the merchants take a great number of Arab horses to that market (of India from Al Balid)”
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Flying down to Salalah after visiting northern Oman our group from Steppes Travel have been visiting some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Oman.
Some of the group enjoyed Continue reading “Khor Rori Oman with a visiting group.”
Do you live in Oman? Would you like a great price on the book ‘Walking through History’? Its all about Oman’s 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Bat, Al Ayn and Al Kutm; Bahla; 5 Aflaj Systems and the Land of Frankincense.
Filled with unique colour images and well researched information – this is the first Coffee Table Book about Oman’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
If you want it as a gift or to enjoy yourself – Crème de la Crème magazine have decided to help support the book’s launch.
Pick up a copy of the new February issue of Crème de la Crème magazine. Then take the magazine into their office of the building on ’ al Elm Street‘ in Al Khuwair ‘(opposite the Platinum Hotel off Dohat al Adab Street ) – and you will get Rial Omani 5/- off a copy of the book – its already in the Al Roya warehouse for the launch on February 14th.
I dropped into Al Roya’s office and saw the ‘dummy’ of my book.
All the pages have Continue reading “Walking Through History – sample of printed book arrives – so the publication is on schedule”
It was kind of the printing press where my new book is being worked on to let me see the first page go into the machine as a white page, and a few moments later appear at the other end of the machine in full colour.
Using a Heidelberg press, Continue reading “Printing my new book on Oman for its mid February launch”
Its nice that a building in Oman has won an award in the ‘Future Projects, Leisure led development’ at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore.
They have a quote on their website “WAF is the best in terms of breadth and depth of architects. Mostly you don’t get a meeting of world architects, but here you do. It’s the number one.” Continue reading “World Architecture Festival awards a building in Oman a prize.”
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