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HIYES Omanis are VERY nice people !!!When i did wear my dishdasha i was with my omani guide,he suggest me to wear, to know the 'feeling',but the reaction of omanis was great, positive.The little ''hat'' was great,,,friendly reaction...Pierre
the people from Oman is really kind and friendly. But only men are.Men use to go to small juice shops and cafes to drink some juices, to take a coffe and to smoke a narguile.They talk beetwen them about life. If you can meet someone from Oman, it can be really great going with them to a cafe.
Oman is unique for its traditional dresses and clothes. Men usually wear a - mostly white - long dishdasha (long gown) with sandals and the traditional Omani "kummah" (cap). It is white with colorful patterns. In addition, old Omanimen carry a cane stick - all of these items are sold on the local souqs.Omani women are quite different from other Middle Eastern women because they are usually slim and tender and love to express themselves in colorful clothes (especially old women in the countryside) and beautiful silver or gold jewelry. Be careful to take only pictures upon permission!
Islam is the official religion of Oman. In coastal areas, the people have been exposed to outside cultures and influences for centuries due to maritime trading. Therefore, unlike in some of its neighboring countries, other religions and ways of life are tolerated. Alcohol is available to non-Muslims in hotels, Western tourists may wear shorts, and it is not uncommon to see Western women in bikinis on the beaches. However, visitors should keep in mind that what may be acceptable on a beach or in a hotel may not necessarily be acceptable on the streets. In public, female visitors should wear clothing that covers their shoulders and upper arms, and skirts that do not go above the knees.Inland areas are much more conservative, and activities and styles of dress that are acceptable in the coastal areas are not appropriate. Despite the openness toward other beliefs, Islam is nevertheless an...
The Shihuh tribe is the main tribe to be found on the Musandam Peninsula. They are cousins of the Sharqiyyin tribe of nearby Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, and trace their origins back to Yemen. Until about the early 1970s, the tribe was isolated from the outside world. They did not trust outsiders, and it was common for visitors at that time to have stones thrown at them by tribesmen.Although some of the Shihuh live along the coasts, most live in the rugged mountains of the peninsula's interior. The land in which they live is rocky and arid, with very little vegetation. However, the Shihuh are able to use the small amount of rain that falls, mainly in the winter, to grow limited amounts of barley, wheat, and date palms. They also herd goats, whose meat and milk are staples. Most of the cultivated areas are high on the plateau of the peninsula, but the people live a couple of...
Hoping that 99.9% of people reading this won't need to, but please take care to look 'respectable' in the eyes of locals when you are 'out & about'. This means dress modestly and if in doubt cover (male or female). While in a taxi we drove past a group of tourists in quite revealing clothing and not only does it upset the locals, but it also gives us more respecting tourists a bad rap!! Leave the speedos & bikinis to the beach.....in fact leave the speedo's to ageing, balding, porn star lookalikes.......
We have just returned from two weeks travelling around Oman whose capital, Muscat is as enlightened as most capitals but - if you plan to travel around the Interior (the countryside) then you may want to consider the feelings of the conservative people who live there. We spent a morning in Ibra which is a typical town about an hour and a half's drive from the capital. On Wednesday mornings, there is a women only souq. As we approached all we could hear were ladies chattering away as they bought and sold textiles, children's clothing and the usual sort of things that us girls buy. I made the effort to keep my arms and legs covered and wore a shawl around my shoulders. For this trouble, I received nods and smiles and even had my hand shaken and an 'asalam' from one very shy lady. At the same time I noticed she and her companion were obviously unhappy that the one and only other white...
Be careful when you walk into a restaurant in small towns. The culture of Arabs is that they dont want offend you, they will never tell you that you are in the wrong. Make sure if you are in smaller towns that you go to the correct area of the restaurant. There are family sections and if you dont know you may cause major problems with the owners(they will feel uncomfortable and local customers may feel out of place with a foreigner sitting there or near them).
Omanis are gentle people therefore you must behave in a certain way in public. If you think that an Omani is doing you wrong either in a souq or taxi dont worry. Calmly tell the man that you believe you deserve better service and they will kindly help you. Overall, smile and be friendly.
Many tourists think that they can safely interact with women in the Gulf because they base it on their experiences in more liberal societies such as in Lebanon or some areas of Egypt or Jordan. Make no mistake, Oman is one of the most conservative countries on earth and the only way you will interact whatsoever is when you speak with cashiers etc in the service industry. You should never speak or confront women in public as this is a major taboo. Women can speak with local women but women only interact in public with their family members. Just take the lead from your surroundings and you will do fine.
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...
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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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