Oman’s built history stretches back 5,000 years, its one of the Arab world’s most enduring cultures. Today its interconnected through modern highways and impressive mobile telecom networks.
I enjoyed a stimulating overview of responsible tourism by Harold Goodwin
Dr Harold Goodwin of Leeds University gave a talk to the Environment Society of Oman about Responsible Tourism.
Harold Goodwin
This was his first visit into Oman but he was able to give very interesting examples from other countries about how tourism can impact, positively and negatively on people’s lives. He implied that New Zealand was probably the country most successful in branding itself in the field of responsible tourism. Interestingly he also felt Gambia and South Africa were two other countries with a very good approach in the field.
Bag for our guests – Jean & Sally
I try and act in a positive way within the Oman community – in a way that also adds value for our guests. Each person on a holiday with us is given a bag, hand created by the Sidab Ladies Sewing Group – and where possible we have the name of our guest sewn in Arabic.
The Empty Quarter / Rub al Khali offers a great chance to sleep under the stars . On my way to Salalah in Oman , I drove through the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali ) to spend the night there . The coldest I have ever been in a desert was a couple of years ago when the thermometer dropped to 2c . Fortunately, though cold, at about 10c, my night this time wasn’t so bad. However, perhaps because of the chill or because the Moon had set – I woke at about 2pm. Above was a black sky set with diamonds of stars – wonderful.
Rub Al Khali Empty Quarter
Needless to say a dawn climb up an Omani Desert Dune was called for and though not as extraordinary as the night sky – the view at dawn from the top is also breathtaking .
Bees in Dhofar
The next day I arrived in Salalah and amongst other things came face to face with a friend’s Omani Bees . He had moved his hives from the mountains because of the cold and wind – I could understand why.
Omans Gulf Cup – A gripping match – and yes, the best side did win
PHEW – WHAT A GRIPPING GULF CUP MATCH – Oman had a good first half but weren’t able to finish their goal attempts; through to the second half and still no score, nail-biting indeed. On to extra time, first 15mins, nothing, second 15 still nothing – and on to penalties. 5 goals each, and then – the Saudi missed and Oman’s Mohammed Al-Noobi got into the net – a win ; and in MHO a well-deserved win. Just after the match – its a holiday on Sunday was announced.
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
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.
On my way down to Salalah I had a wonderful visit to a local farm and an afternoons racing.
Horse Race in Adam Oman
After lunch in the farm, where 3 of the horses who participated were stabled, we arrived for the days events.
Horse Race in Adam Music
Various local dignitaries were present and we were treated to traditional Omani entertainment. It made an enjoyable break on my Oman trip between Muscat and Salalah and helped speed me on my way.
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.
we enjoyed some wonderful meals on a tour through northern Oman
In a vast swing from Muscat, over the mountains, through the desert, along the coast and back to Muscat we enjoyed some wonderful meals.
Local Meal in Oman
Some in ‘local restaurants’ others in hotels along the way and finally in Al Bustan Palace.
Al Bustans China Mood
Fish was certainly the highlight of most meals and Squid featured in a couple. While Oman doesn’t have what seems to be a vast choice of dining options – sometimes it can turn out wonderful meals.
Joining in the celebrations for a wedding in the Jebel Akhdar Oman
Making the steep climb by car up to Jebel Akhdar I arrived in the late afternoon to join the celebrations for a friend’s wedding in the mountains.
Wedding Arrival Oman
The formal betrothal had taken place last year and today would be the start of married life. Of course, it was a busy affair, as all Omani weddings are, with probably most households in the village joining in. Since this was a ‘town persons’ wedding we set off, in a queue of cars , to take the bride to the grooms home .
Date Tree in Omans Mountains
The next day I managed to have an early morning walk through the mountains before having a very enjoyable lunch at a simple reception to congratulate the groom.
focusing on to mentor, develop and promote promising Omani and International emerging artists Al Tarhal Gallery opens in Muscat OMAN
It was a pleasure to be at the opening of what, I feel, will be a superb showcase for Omani and International Artists .
Gallery Opens
Al Tarhal is a partnership, focusing on mentoring, developing and promoting promising Omani and International emerging artists. Works by Omani artists like Naima Al Maimani, whose works I am familiar with;
Pictures at a Gallery
join artist whose works I have yet to discover, like the calligrapher Saleh Al Shukairi. Oman has had a long tradition of traditional decorative works with silver (the exquisite Mans Khanjar and Ladies Hirz necklaces ) and wood (bold entrance doors into major mansions) . Art as pure decoration had yet to fire the imagination of many Omani’s , but with increased awareness and demand, the gallery should have no difficulty in finding Omani’s to mentor.
I uploaded some Oman and Yemen inspired magazine articles I wrote
The Arabian Leopard was the subject of an article in the new daily paper from the UAE http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081009/NATIONAL/76935597. The piece highlights how few of the animals there are – the writer covered the possibility that there might be, or might not be one Arabian Leopard in the UAE mountains. That prompted me to scan in the piece I did about the Leopard for ‘Oman Today’ along with 3 other ones .
The visit I made into Wadi Hadhramaut which Oman Today (again) published in 2007 was a wonderful journey . Seeing ‘hand made’ houses rather than ones made from mass produced material was very stimulating. Each one individual and yet harmonious . To get some nice photos I wandered around just after dawn – in Seyoun waking up a pack of several dozen ‘wadi dogs’ on a mountain slope which made me back away very carefully and in Mukalla enjoying watching the men of the old town take up their places in the tea houses . Along the coast, the scenes of fishermen chasing gulls away from drying sardines spoke volumes of their need to preserve ‘wealth’ .
Bank Muscat asks me to produce brief articles which cover towns where they have branches . I am waiting in hope that they will ask me to do one for their Egyptian branch – and of course pay my travel expenses.
Dr Rory Wilson gave a very good talk to the Environment Society of Oman
The Environment Society of Oman was given a very good talk by Dr Rory Wilson about animal tracking.Dr Rory Wilson’s Tracking Device
With the support of the ‘Rolex Awards for Enterprise’ he has developed a device to track the movement of animals. Rory calls the results a ‘daily diary because, by extrapolating the information which includes 3-dimensional movement sensors and time a scientist can surmise the events of a selected animal’s day – its daily diary.
Dr Rory Wilson
Why was he in Oman? Last January in Oman he did a small test on an individual Arabian Leopard . It is hoped that, by using this tracking device on Leopard in the wild, more information about the Leopard in Oman will be obtained and – its future made more secure using extensive information rather than limited information and speculation. I wrote about the Arabian Leopard for ‘Oman Today’
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