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We have seen people doing stunts on motorbikes, horses, cars etc, but this is the first time I have seen stunts being performed on top of a camel ! The Bedouin friend of my Omani guide performed a few of such stunts when we visited his home at the Wahiba Sands.
Oman has some of the most beautiful beaches I have seen and there are hardly anyone using them which makes it even better. In Muscat alone, there is the Qurum Beach and there is another nice beach near to the Al Bustan Hotel. Outside of Muscat, there are many beautiful beaches such as the beaches at Tiwi, Ras Al Hadd, Ras Al Jinz, Barka etc. In southern Oman, the beaches in the Dhofar region near to Salalah are also fantastic.
As I said previously, at the end of each course the students and I would find a suitable place for a 'picnic', and to have a bit of fun. This is a picture of some Omani students near Fanjah, a village now largely abandoned and by-passed by the new road. Three of the names I remember: Rashid, Mubarak and Khamis It would be nice to meet up with them again.
I arrived in Oman at the end of August, and will never forget the heat. On leaving the aircraft, I can only describe the heat as like putting your head next to an oven door and then opening it! After about three weeks I was quite used to the heat, and in the winter months found the evening temperatures to be quite chilly - even at 80 degrees! The picture is of me, just a day or so after arrival, at Muaskar al-Murtafa'a.
I went to Oman in 1975 to work in the Force Headquarters at Bait al-Falaj but something went wrong and I ended up in Muaskar al-Murtafa'a near Seeb as the Force Clerical Training Instructor. With no knowledge of Arabic, and only two handwritten notebooks of lesson plans, I had to learn how to teach Omani and Baluchi servicemen clerical subjects and typewriting. Looking back now it was one of the best jobs I ever had. After each course we would go for a 'picnic' somewhere, and always where there was water and date palms. The picture shows some of the students from a course. Anyone who recognises any of them is asked to get in touch with me, please.
Sightseeing is obviously the most important activity for anyone wishing to visit Oman. The problem is that there are just so many wonderful places to visit. My advice would be to try and find an Omani friend who can suggest the best places, and show you around. Conducted tours are OK but I prefer to be 'on my own' and therefore able to browse at my own leisure. That is the danger, of course, because you may well stay longer in one place than you expected, thereby missing out on some of the other attractive places. Nizwa, Bahla, Rustaq, Sohar and Sur besides Muscat and Muttrah are all places I will return to.
This photo shows, in the top left corner, the old Jalali Fort, which used to be a prison. Slightly to the right, and looking like trumpets standing on end, is the magnificent Royal Palace. Enlarge the picture for a clearer view. Having seen the splendour of the Royal Palace in Muscat, only about half a mile away on the old airfield, lived a large number of people living in an assortment of makeshift dwellings, of scrap wood, boxes and plastic sheeting!
Leave the tarmac roads and cities behind you, and explore the interior regions, especially the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain). At any time of the year this is a most beautiful region My fondest memory of Oman is the generousity and friendliness of the people. There were few tarmac roads when I was there and we used to take a Landrover into areas where there were only graded tracks, and sometimes just drive through boulder strewn wadis. We often ended up at dead ends, and were always welcomed by the local people, and invited to share a light meal with them, before returning home. A really wonderful memory is of climbing to the top of Jebel Sham (The Sun Mountain) on foot. It took a whole day to get there, departing at first light from Ghul, a village now abandoned, I believe, and then we had a severe thunder storm, so I was unable to take any photos! I believe it is now possible to drive...
TrekkingOne of the most popular treks in Oman is the 'Jebel Shams Rim Walk'. Jebel Shams, or the Mountain of the Sun, is the highest mountain in Oman, standing at 3075m.The trek starts at the village of Al Khateem, which has amazing panoramic views of Wadi Nakhr and Wadi Ghul. The walk can be rather precarious as it is littered with rock rubble and hugs the cliff wall. There is a sheer drop to the other side. The route along the rim walk takes many twists and turns as it follows the mountain's contours and some of the stretches take you out on a protrusion which offers the less-vertiginous trekkers some breathtaking views of the canyon below.Only those who are extremely fit should attempt this walk as the route is very steep, exhausting, and has little shade or shelter. Always remember to take with you plenty of water, wear sunscreen and advise people where you are and when you...
Buy yourself a good guide book. I bought a great paperback by Diana Darke entitled: Discovery Guide to Oman, published by IMMEL Publishing, and available from Amazon.com, amongst others. It is an easy to read book and extremely well presented. Recommended price is £15.95.I was both fascinated and horrified to discover the changes that have occurred in Oman since the mid 70's. Having got over the initial shock and I suppose disappointment, I am now more determined than ever to retrace my steps.
InterContinental Al Bustan Palace Muscat Muscat
16 Reviews and 186 Opinions If you have a chance to visit this prestigious hôtel , you will not regret it. Outstanding...
Hilton Salalah Salalah
6 Reviews and 99 Opinions The minute I entered this hotel I knew something was special and it did not take me long to discover...
Sur Beach Hotel Sur
4 Reviews and 23 Opinions This hotel is a three star option and in my opinion the best you can choose in Sur. Having stayed...
Reviews and photos of Oman attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Oman sightseeing.
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Q: who could inform me about a really good local travel agency or tour operator in oman, in order to book with them a 15 days round...
A: I recommend Nomad Tours in Oman. We stayed at Nomad Guest House in Muscat- it was excellent, and Lorna (the owner) can organize any tour that you might like to...
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