footprints travel mag feb-apr 2011

View from the top

Vol. 1, Issue 3 ,Vol. 1, Issue 3 , February-April 2011,February-April 2011, Autumn SpecialAutumn Special

Oman’s first premier travel magazine

The View at Hail Al ShasBait Al Safah: A live example

Al Hamra: Steeped in history Bimmah sinkhole & more

A Gite experience

Elephant orphanageTaman Negara national parkYoga destinations, places to

visit before you die & more

Oman-Trail Globe-Trail

Readers Forum

If there was a high point in your last issue, (issue 2,

August – October, 2010), it was indeed the tale of the

white lions of Al Ain. The pictures were amazing and

it was really a delight to read about the two-and-a-

half year old brother-sister white lions, Sanbona and

Shamwari, of Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort (AWPR).

We must really appreciate the efforts of the AWPR in

this regard. Their noble aim of raising these two rare

lions in captivity spells the urgent need to understand

that the African lion needs protection from extinction.

Sanbona and Shamwari thus become the real

ambassadors for their wild cousins. Kudos to the

AWPR and kudos to the Footprints for sharing this

story with all of us!

Namita Bharadwaj, Al Khuwair

There is a real wildlife park in Al Ain? I have been living in Oman for

so many years, yet, this is the first time that I am hearing about it. Al

Ain is not too far off and I am surely going to take a peek, or rather,

more than a peek, of these delightful animals at the AWPR. It was a

real eye opener for me to learn that there are 4300 animals, out of

which, 30 percent are said to be endangered. The lions are amazing,

and I can’t wait to take my family to see them and the rest of the

animals there during these holidays. Thank you Footprints!

Farhan Ahmed, Muscat

Reading about Al Ain park (AWPR) made me really wonder why we

cannot have a similar set up in Oman too? Maybe someone should

actually start it here in Oman. I am an animal lover and I am sure if

someone or some big corporate moots this idea, many others with a

similar bent of mind might join and take up this cause.

Also, looking after animals is an amazing experience. I have, in the past,

looked after several animals and am actually thinking of converting my

small farm in Musannah into a mini zoo. Not now, maybe some five or

six years later. But, that is a dream I will fulfill.

Great story and it has served as an inspiration for me to rethink on this

zoo project.

Mazar Al Balushi, Musannah

‘A journey through the ancient theatre’ Zanzibar by Aisha Abdullah

Al-Kharusi in the last issue of Footprints was one of the finest short

articles ever written (that I have read of) on Zanzibar. I thoroughly

enjoyed the article and I would like to roundly congratulate the author

for her efforts in bringing together a live feature on a place I love so

much.

Any story or article when infused with a personal touch brings out that

element too. And this is quite evident in Aisha Al-Kharusi’s piece.

I look forward to reading more of the author’s articles in the future too.

Khalfan Touqi, Al Khoud

White lions –

the high point

We are going to Al Ain

Zoo project in Musannah

Excellent article on Zanzibar

E-mail your letters to [email protected]

August-October 20104

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February-April 20116

C o n t e n t sO

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Design: Beneek Siraj, Photo: Andreas Kern

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC

Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos

Office location: Hatat House, Office no: 212, II Floor

Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496

e-mail: [email protected]

Editor-in-chiefMohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Managing editorPriya Arunkumar

Work editorAdarsh Madhavan

Design and productionBeneek Siraj

PhotographerNajib Al Balushi

Advt. & marketingSwithun Fernandes, Aloni Mehta, Priyanka Sampat

PrintersOman Printers

22

10

Some nights in the Malaysian jungle

The Taman Negara National Park in

Central Malaysia is a haven for nature

activities and offers visitors and

travellers, especially the adventurous

and curious ones, a never-ending

opportunity to explore Malaysia’s rich,

natural treasure of unspoilt verdant

jungles, rivers and mountains

Pachyderms on the Pearl

The Pinnawala elephant sanctuary

is very popular among local and

foreign tourists. The sanctuary offers

a virtual elephant reality show, with

the opportunity to observe the bathing

elephants from the river bank

Globe-Trai l

1010

A joint venture with Zahara Travel and Service Bureau

presentationA

February-April 2011 7

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28The view from The View

If you are looking for a weekend

getaway far from the madding crowd

in Oman, there is no other better

place than The View, which offers an

amazing view of Al Hamra village

View from Hail Al Shas

The Hail Al Shas is a quaint

old village perched atop the

mountainous area above Al Hamra,

just next to The View

Time stands still in Bait Al Safah

Bait Al Safah is a 400-year old

mud house built during the Yaroub

dynasty, which today gives an

insight into the lifestyle of the

Omanis of a bygone era

Trip to tranquility…

A group of 14 friends in France

made a three day trip to a Gite in

the interior. A detailed report of

their fun-filled trip

7 places to visit before you die

Your mission in life would be

incomplete if you don’t visit these

places. Visit them before you die.

Globe-Trai l Oman-Trai l


Sometimes, the past is a necessity. Most of us may

tend to forget about our personal past, but, then,

we can’t forget our roots, our tradition, the culture

and the ways and the happenings of the past…we

can’t forget our ancestors and the way they have

lived in… which is why we need to preserve the

happenings of yesteryear.

And that is what people, societies and nations…

have been striving to do. They are attempting to

preserve their rich heritage and culture, sometimes

without even the help of science and technology.

We research, plan and archive traditions, costumes,

and antiques to save the past for our future…

But, a major challenge for younger generations is the

confusion surrounding what constitutes traditional

ways. Why did their ancestors resort to hold on

to traditional values, traditional methods and the

like? These aspects are lost on many among the

younger generation. Part of the confusion is due to

claims of knowledge about the traditional ways by

various sources. Most people miscomprehend the

culture and traditions, passed on to them and tend

to create their own! And that is when the actual

happenings of the past sadly get corrupted by the

tongues of the new as they interpret the times of

yore to their own taste. But, not all.

Recently, the Footprints team stumbled on a young

Omani, Badr Mohammed Al Dahli, who has taken

up a project in his native town of Al Hamra and

created a live museum, Bait Al Safah, unique to

Oman and the AGCC region.

Walk in to the 350 year old traditional Omani home

and you will meet an old couple, Muhanah bin

Nasser and his wife Nasra, who are actually living

there. They will take you through a day in an Omani

household…400 years back!

What better way to preserve tradition than to live

those traditions in your day to day lives? What do

you say? Kudos to Badr and his team for recreating

and preserving the past in its trueness. I can only

say that this is a fitting tribute to the past!

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Editor-in-chief

Tribute to the past

Friend, phi losopher & guide

Globe-Tra i l

November-January 2010-201110

on the Pearl

November-January 2010-2011 11

Words: Ben Snyder Photographs: Priya Arunkumar


Globe-Tra i l

Little Appu blew his small trumpet

and rumbled up to his two-legged

master, who was holding a large milk

bottle in his hand. Appu is no more than

three feet tall. He bumps into his master,

nuzzles him and then proceeded to

thirstily drink from the bottle. Soon, his

baby brothers and sisters followed him

and they all vied to be fed. Cameras

whirred from the background as each

tourist photographer tried to capture the

images of these cute little pachyderms

being bottle fed with milk drooling from

either side of their mouths.

It is 1.30pm and lunchtime for the

residents of the elephant orphanage

in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka, a place for

abandoned and wounded elephants to

recover.

Elephant feeding Just some minutes ago, the whole herd –

right down from the babies to lumbering

adults and even some handicapped ones

-- had trooped into the eating area for

their lunch. While the babies were fed

with milk, the larger elephants were fed

with native greens like coconut palms,

jackfruit tree leaves and kitul tree logs.

The elephants are watered, bathed and

fed at proper timings. The daily routine

begins at 8am, when the elephants are

taken out of their stalls and allowed

to graze for about two hours. Around

10.30am, they are taken to the nearby

river known as Ma Oya.

In fact, most tourists to this ‘Pearl

of the Indian Ocean’ (as Sri Lanka is

known) make a beeline to the elephant

orphanage at Pinnawala, and then wait in

anticipation to see the herd taken for their

morning bath to Ma Oya.


Worth seeingElephants walking obediently in a single

file along the gravel pathway to the river

have always been cited as a sight “worth

seeing”.

Proper arrangements have been made

for the tourists to sit in the shade, enjoy

their choice drink and delicious food and

watch the elephants frolic in the flowing

waters of Ma Oya.

Some of the elephants are seen lying

down in the water and happy mahouts

scrubbing the bodies of these gentle

giants. After their water fun, they are

taken for their lunch and then again taken

back to the river.

Shelter for the wounded

The elephant orphanage was started

in 1975 by the Wildlife Department of

Sri Lanka on a 25-acre coconut land

near the Ma Oya river. The objective

was to provide a shelter for abandoned,

stranded and wounded elephants; a

place where they will be fed and cared

for before resettlement.

Apparently, the orphanage has the

largest herd of captive elephants in the

world. Most of the elephants are healthy,

while, one (*) is known to be blind and

another, which has lost its front right leg

to a landmine.

Bathing beauties

The orphanage is very popular among

local and foreign tourists. The main

attraction is the opportunity to observe

the bathing elephants from the broad

river bank as the herd interact socially,

bathing and playing.

It is open to the public, daily and all

admission fees are used to look after

the elephants. Visitors to the park can

view many different aspects of the care

and daily routine of the elephants, bottle

feeding of the baby elephants, feeding of

adult elephants, and of course, bathing.

The aim of the orphanage is to simulate

nature.

(* Not sure if there are more)

Located in the district of Kegalle, in the province of Sabaragamuwa, the Pinnawala elephant sanctuary is about 87kms from the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. To reach Pinnawala by road from Colombo, one has to travel along the Colombo-Kandy highway, and near the 82nd milepost, turn towards the village Rambukkana. If travelling by train, one has to get down at the Rambukkana railway station and it is about two kilometers from there.

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Globe-Tra i l



Words: Rajesh Kumar Badhragiri Photographs: Byju Sirajudeen


Globe-Tra i l

We need to get away from it all

sometimes. And that is how and why we

(around 14 friends, including families) got

far, far away from the madding crowd to

a Gite (*) recently.

The Gite was in Lascombes, which

was around 140kms from Toulouse, in

France. The house was on top of a small

hill, surrounded by a lake. Perfect setting

in perfect company. We made merry for

three days at the Gite and it was one

of the most memorable and exciting

experiences of our lifetime.

The Gite owner was French and she

could hardly speak English, but she made

up for that with her warmth. She took us

around the house somehow managing

to convey to us the lovely places to visit

around the area.

We felt like we were in some movie.

The house was picture perfect, isolated,

and on top of a small hill. There was a

beautiful lake nearby, verdant hills and

greenery in plenty. And more importantly,

peace and tranquility in abundance!

There was a small room outside the

house where we had arrangements for

table tennis, dart games and Petanque.

Another important member of the team

was Tituf, the friendly dog of the house

owner, who became our pet.

The team, on the whole, was happy and

they slowly moved around the house

to just get the feel for the place. Every

member of the team had felt that they

were in a different planet altogether.

Isolated, no worries, their mind was

really relaxed and the element of joy

was palpable. We ate, drank, danced

the night away, and all our work, all our

problems seemed far, far away and as

insignificant. We drowned our problems

with some mouthwatering veg and non

veg barbecue items.


Weather was a worry, especially when

the forecasts seemed grim, gloomy and

cloudy. But, Mother Nature never let us

down. It was bright and sunny the next

morning, and we enjoyed a sensational,

continental breakfast, replete with

delicacies, breads, milk, cheese, jams,

corn flakes, eggs... What a perfect way

to start the day!

After breakfast some of us took the car to

visit places around the Gite, some played

table tennis, while others busily tried to

calm their girlfriends for previous nights’

spats.

We all regrouped at the Gite at 12 noon

and moved off to the Millau Bridge. Millau

is a village at a distance of 192kms from

Toulouse. Significance of the bridge is

that its center pillar is taller than Eiffel

Tower.

We rocked the village roads and the

cars zoomed towards Millau, which was

60kms away from our Gite. We were

struck by the beauty of the landscape,

which was on the banks of a river.

Although it was a detour from our trip, it

was a pleasant interlude.

The landscape had peace and tranquility

written all over it and there was also a

small park for children nearby the river.

It had slides, see-saw, swings etc…

and for some moments, we let our hair

down, behaving like excited kids. We

also made a short visit to the river and

then continued on our journey towards

the bridge, which we reached within the

next half an hour.

The bridge was an engineering marvel,

an excellent blend of science and

technology. A 10 minutes video of

the bridge’s construction at the expo

hall lent us an insight into its intricate

construction.

In the hall they also displayed prototypes

of various phases during the construction.

After an hour of visit and photography we

went to see a gorge which was 75 kms

away from the bridge.

On the way we soothed our eyes and

senses viewing the amazing landscapes.

But, as it was getting dark and also

drizzling, we had no other choice but

to drop our plans to visit the gorge and

head back to our Gite.

Returning to the Gite, we swung into a

realm of fun, relaxation and gorged on a

new set of delicacies – hot fried chickens,

Indian flavoured bajjis to counter the cold

weather outside. This evening it was a

retro party where we played songs from

the early 1960s and 1970s. The dance

and the dancers were the same. The

dinner was special with rotis and spicy

vegetable curry.

The next morning was a bit dull, with

clouds covering the sun. So, we chose

to explore the lake near the Gite. There

were two huge windmills near the Gite,

which also serve as landmarks. Near the

windmill was a vast vacant field where

we decided to play cricket and seven

stones, but due to the excess velocity of

the winds we had to abandon the cricket

plans.

Sunday afternoon lunch was extra special

with spicy chicken curry, chicken fries for

the non-vegetarians and vegetable curry

with bajjis for the vegetarians.

We all were set for the trip to the cheese

factory in Roquefort. Roquefort cheese

is famous in France. This village is at a

distance of 220kms from Toulouse.

The drive to the cheese factory from our

Gite was wonderful. The landscapes on

the way were mind-blowing; I can assure

that we had not seen such beautiful

greenery in our life. On the way to the

cheese factory our GPS crashed and we

had to drive with signboards as reference.

We reached the factory after a 45 minutes

drive. At the Roquefort–Papillion cheese

factory, we viewed a 15 minutes video on

the history and evolution of this brand.

After the short film, we visited the

factory interiors where pretty young

women explained the various stages in

cheese making. Some of our friends had

purchased cheese and other products

that were on sale in the factory.

We then had travelled to a nearby village

for food and snacks. We were driving

around the place for almost 30 minutes

to find parking and another 20 minutes to

find a place to set food.

Some of us wanted to trek and they left the

Gite in the dark hours. Tituf accompanied

them and they had a wonderful time

during the trek. It was dark and the way

ahead was not visible.

The team managed to move around

valleys, flowing water with only a torch

and successfully completed their journey.

The team managed to move around valleys, flowing water with only a torch and

successfully completed their journey. It was a real challenge, in an unknown place, with no proper trekking equipments and so all had a

feeling of accomplishment


Globe-Tra i l


February-April 2011 19November-January 2010-2011 19


Globe-Tra i l

It was a real challenge, in an unknown

place, with no proper trekking

equipments and so all had a feeling of

accomplishment. The trek team returned

late in the evening.

Sunday night’s dinner was the best, as

we had our traditional biriyani and curry,

which tantalised our taste buds. It would

be an injustice, if I failed to mention in my

article about the food, drinks, snacks we

had during those three days.

Mouth watering delicacies, food from

various cultural regions of India – North,

South, East, West. I should say our taste

buds were for a real test. We were not

able to identify a standout item, all were

equally good.

Dessert needs a special mention here;

and, as far as the food was concerned,

we never felt that we had even stepped

out of our homes.

All good things have to come to an end.

And, on reflection, the three days felt like

some joyous marriage celebrations, with

all members active, chatting and happy.

This trip had all the flavours, strong

bonds amidst the team, an opportunity

to know each other, peaceful moments

with Mother Nature.

(*) Gite is a house rented for a weekend

or for a week or more, away from the

cities.



Millau BridgeMillau is a village at a distance of 192kms from Toulouse. Significance of

the bridge is that its center pillar is taller than Eiffel Tower



Globe-Tra i l


Some nights in the

We put our heads out of the tent, sucked in the jungle air, stared at the stars above and quietly listened to the night music. The nights at Taman Negara National Park in central Malaysia is always full of life.


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Globe-Tra i l

We had rented out a tent and

other camping equipment from the park

headquarters and then camped in an

open space surrounded by the jungle. Of

course, there were other campers too,

but, the experience was really something.

My wife and I had never pitched camp

in the middle of the jungle and this was

quite an experience.

We camped for three days and it was

the most unbelievable experience ever.

And the nights, although it was difficult

to sleep through the night sounds in the

jungle, was still a different experience.

In the mornings, we went walking and

although we did not see elephants or

other wild animals (which they say are

there), it was still exciting because of the

anticipation the whole journey raised.

Don’t walk off the path But, the wild, big trees, the dense

vegetation and the insects and small

animals can engross you forever. The

jungle is teeming with life. There are

thousands of insects, frogs, lizards and

innumerable other creatures. But, when

we were camping, we were told that we

should not go off the trail. Of course,

we did and we had to pay the price.

Once, we followed some leafy-looking

creatures into the woods off the main

trail and then we got lost. We had gone

just 100 to 150 metres off trail and then

we realised why the officials had warned

us not to get off the track. You know it

was in the morning hours, yet, when we

got lost, it seemed as though the jungle

had suddenly become dark. Besides this,

it was hot and humid and we had our

clothes sticking to our skin.

We did manage to find our way out of this

meandering jungle and vowed never to

veer off the path again.

Camping is just the tip of the iceberg at

the Taman Negara park, which is one

of the oldest, if not the oldest, unspoilt

rainforests in the world. It is estimated to

have evolved over 130 million years.

Haven for nature activities The park is a haven for other nature

activities like bird watching, wild-life

watching, boating, mountain climbing,

caves exploring, jungle trekking, river

rafting, photography, walking on

suspended walkways, nighttime safaris

and the like.

Taman Negara offers visitors and

travellers, especially the adventurous and

curious ones, a never-ending opportunity

to explore and experience Malaysia’s

rich natural treasure of unspoilt verdant

jungles, rivers and mountains. During an

earlier visit to the park some years ago,

we had just one day and we made the

most of it.


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We went on the canopy walkway, of which

there are only four or five in the world. For

those who have fear of heights, this is not

the place to be on. There are plenty of

other such excitements at the park.

Awed by the diversity When you first enter the National park, you

will perhaps feel awed and overwhelmed

by the richness, diversity and beauty of

the plants and trees species there. This

is not surprising as one-third of all the

world’s flowering plants are found in

Malaysia.

You will find that the largest plant

community in Taman Negara is the

lowland rainforest – where although

trees are dominant, they co-exist with

other plant forms like shrubs, parasites,

climbers, lichens, fungi and others.

To the herbal and plant naturalists, our

advice is do take your time to identify

and marvel at the richness, age and sizes

Taman Negara can be reached via three main park entrances. Of these, the most popular and easy – and the standard route for most travellers- is via Kuala Tahan. The journey to Kuala Tahan is an exciting one requiring a road or rail as well as a river journey. The access routes to the other main parts of Taman Negara are generally adequate but problems may arise due to the less developed public transport available.

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of the diverse plant and tree species.

Tall and huge trees stand imposingly in

the jungle, like lords of the low species

below.

Location, location, location

Located mainly in the delightful Malaysian

state of Pahang, Taman Negara also

straddles the borders of two other

states in the north, namely Kelantan

and Terengganu. It is accessible via

several popular and main access routes,

although there are other less developed

access points.

With an area of 4,343 square kilometers

(1,676 square miles) or more than a

million acres, Taman Negara is the largest

park and the most extensive protected

rainforest area in Malaysia.

Besides the dense virgin jungle, it also

houses Peninsular Malaysia’s highest

mountain in the Tahan Range, namely,

Gunung Tahan at 2,187 meters (7,173

feet). As a protected area, tree-cutting

or logging and other commercial

development and activities are strictly

prohibited. So far no commercial logging

has occurred.



Globe-Tra i l

Situated about 45kms off the coast of Terengganu, Pulau Redang is the largest of the state’s

island. It is famous for its picture-postcard views and fabulous dive sites. The most popular stretch

is the 800m Long Beach. It has one large resort and many smaller chalets lining the shore. Further

away on the northeastern coast is Teluk Dalam Kecil, a sheltered cove that houses a five star

resort. Berjaya Air, a private carrier, provides direct air links to the island. Alternatively, Redang is

accessible by sea. The jumping-off points are the Shahbandar Jetty situated in Kuala Terengganu

town, or Merang Jetty, situated about an hour’s drive from Kuala Terengganu.

Pulau Redang (Redang Island)

Must Do:• Snorkeling at the Marine Park

• Explore the 31 dive sites on the Island

• Take a walk along the breathtaking Long Beach

• Play beach volleyball

• Enjoy a jungle walk to see monkeys, squirrels and birds



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places to visitbefore you die

Regardless of whether you are bitten by the travel bug or not, there are some places that you MUST visit

before it is…well, time to go.


February-April 2011 29February-April 2011 29


There is no point in fretting about

a time when you have to go; some go

early, others, late. But, whatever, just

remember the adage that if you are still

alive, it only means that your mission is

not yet complete. And one of the most

important items among your missions

could be the lovely places that you have

to visit.

Sometimes, it may cost a pretty penny to

visit these places (no, not all though), but

what the heck, you can’t take it with you

anyway and if you should die in pursuit of

completing this list, then you would have

died seeing what only a handful of other

people would have seen in their lifetime.

Forget what you have seen or heard,

the world is a beautiful place and some

places are much more striking than you

could ever imagine. It can be engineering

marvels like the Taj Mahal or Frank Lloyd

Wright’s Fallingwater House; a hike

across Grand Canyon or a ride along

China’s Yangtze River, or even a sun rise

over Machu Picchu or seeing Iguazu Falls

by the light of a full moon...

Here is a random list, which we hope to

update in every issue of the Footprints.

Taj MahalThis mausoleum located in Agra, India, is

one of the most recognisable structures in

the world. It is an incredible architectural

wonder of our more modern world, and

one of the most beautiful buildings in

the world. Built by the Mughal emperor

Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife,

Mumtaz Mahal, it is widely considered as

one of the most beautiful buildings in the

world and stands as a symbol of eternal

love.

Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal

architecture, a style that combines

elements from Persian, Islamic and

Indian architectural styles. In 1983, the

Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World

Heritage Site.

The Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China was built in

the Qin, Han and Ming dynasties as

defensive fortifications during the

warring states periods of the Yan, Zhao

and Qin dynasties. However, it did

not become known as the Great Wall

until the Qin dynasty. The construction

required an army of labour that included

soldiers, prisoners and average people

to complete the more than 4163 miles of

the wall. With a history of more than 2000

years, this is one destination that cannot

be missed out on.

The Great Pyramids of EgyptOne of the eight wonders of the world

and an incredible sight to behold, the

pyramids certainly make our top list. It

is believed that the pyramid was built

as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian

pharaoh Khufu and constructed over a

14 to 20-year period.


Khufu’s vizier, Hemon, or Hemiunu, is

believed by some to be the architect

of the Great Pyramid. It is thought that,

at construction, the Great Pyramid

was originally 280 Egyptian cubits tall,

146.5 metres (480.6 ft) but with erosion

and absence of its pyramidion, its

present height is 138.8 metres (455.4

ft). The pyramid remained the tallest

man-made structure in the world for

over 3,800 years, unsurpassed until the

160-metre-tall spire of Lincoln Cathedral

was completed c. 1300.

The Coliseum in Rome Another incredible sight from the ancient

world, bringing home the power and

might of ancient Rome. The Coliseum is

truly colossal - it stands 50 meters (165

feet) high and measures 185 meters (600

feet) long. It was large enough to hold

50,000 roaring spectators when it was

inaugurated in 80 AD.

Today, it is one of the most dramatic,

historic and recognised archaeological

monuments on earth. The Flavian Roman

emperors built the Coliseum of Rome for

entertaining their subjects (and to distract

their minds from the woes of the time).

SerengetiThe Serengeti in Tanzania hosts the

largest migration in the world, which is

said to be one of the 10 natural travel

wonders. The region contains several

national parks and game reserves.

Serengeti is derived from the Maasai

language, Maa; specifically, ‘Serengit’

meaning ‘Endless Plains’.

Approximately 70 larger mammals and

some 500 avifauna species are found

there. This high diversity in terms of

species is a function of diverse habitats

ranging from riverine forests, swamps,

kopjes, grasslands and woodlands.

Blue Wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and

buffalos are some of the commonly found

large mammals in the region.

Louvre The Louvre is located on the bank of

the Seine River, Paris, France. Originally

constructed as the fortress of Philippe

Auguste in 1190, Charles V oversaw the

first modernisation process (r. 1364-

1380), which resulted in what was to

be the beginnings of one of the largest

palace complexes in the world. As

museums go, the Louvre is quite simply

a mammoth. The word ‘museum’ may

even be unfitting when it comes to the

Louvre: the collections are so vast,

diverse, and breathtaking that visitors

may have the impression of navigating

a maze of distinct artistic and cultural

worlds. It has become the globe’s most-

visited museum, and an enduring symbol

of French excellence in the arts.

Grand Canyon The majestic Grand Canyon in the state

of Arizona in the United States is one of

the seven natural wonders of the world

and the most visited national park in

North America. Called the ‘most sublime

spectacle on earth’, the Grand Canyon

is awe-inspiring, unimaginably huge and

spectacularly beautiful. Sightseers gasp,

artists rejoice and everyone feels humbled

by the sight. Nothing can prepare one for

the enormity of the Grand Canyon, which

is 277 miles (446 km) long, 10 miles

(29km) wide and 1.83 miles (6000 feet)

deep. It is almost as if the heart and soul

of the earth has suddenly been laid bare.


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The Coliseum in RomeThe Coliseum is truly colossal - it stands 50 meters (165

feet) high and measures 185 meters (600 feet) long. It was

large enough to hold 50,000 roaring spectators when it was

inaugurated in 80 AD



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Random

destinations for this holiday

This holiday, getting in touch with your inner self should be your number one priority. Why not?

You deserve it! Many might dissuade you saying that you can’t try to find inner peace in a luxurious

atmosphere… That is so far removed from the truth. Today, yoga is a ‘must have’ at all luxury destinations, and a formal yoga retreat is a vacation experience you

will always cherish.



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Some of these resorts also offer special spa treatments and even eco-excursions.

The truth is, yoga has quickly become one of the most sought-after forms of relaxation in the world.

And, stressed out men and women are forever on the lookout to learn yoga in order to gain both physical and mental balance and to find a sense of inner peace.

New yoga retreats are announced every year, not only at five-star locations, but in some of the world’s most secluded destinations as well. Take a look at this random selection:

US BOZEMAN, MONTANA

INDIA

Big Sky Yoga Retreats

www.bigskyyogaretreats.com

Located at 7,500 feet in the Madison

mountain range an hour north of

Yellowstone, the Big EZ Lodge is

entrenched in the heart of nature and

is the perfect complement to those

seeking a quality yoga getaway. The

lodge was built with native timber and

natural river rock throughout, which

brings the outdoor elements into the

13 well-appointed guest rooms and

common areas. Inspiration from the

wonderful setting is the big draw,

where yoga is combined with the great

outdoors through nature hikes and

outdoor activities after yoga sessions

that focus on technique. Views are

awesome and starlit nights under the

big sky are the norm, but don’t be

afraid to indulge in the fine mountain-

themed cuisine and offerings on the

wine list. A game room, workout room

and a large hot tub, complete with

waterfall, is a great way to end each

day at this mountain getaway.

Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune

A must-visit place for any serious yoga practitioner, the institute is run by

the indefatigable, 90-year-old grand old man of Indian yoga, B K S Iyengar,

and his children. The Iyengar school emphasises in-depth study of asanas

(anatomically correct postures) and pranayama (breathing).

It teaches students to adapt and modify their exercise routine depending on

the environment. Situated in Pune, 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Mumbai,

the institute caters to advanced students of yoga.

So before packing your mat and heading for India, learn the basics from a

certified Iyengar teacher in your country. Admission for a month-long $450

course is selective, and you

can spend up to 18 months

on a wait list. Those who

make the cut have to make

their own arrangements

for boarding and lodging in

Pune. Iyengar, called Guruji,

or master, counts global

celebrities such as Annette

Bening among his students.

In fact, there are many resorts where yoga classes are offered on a daily basis. While instructors remain on site daily, you will also find them offering special retreats at least once a month with visiting

instructors from around the world.

Big EZ Lodge


BRAZIL

NEPAL

CANADA

Sao Carlos, São Paulo

Jatoba Terra Prana Lar Yoga

www.yogabrasil.com/nam.htm

Situated in the Brazilian countryside, Jatoba

Terra Prana Lar Yoga retreats consist of

meditation, mantras, Kundalini yoga, Yin

yoga, Hatha yoga, partner yoga, Karma

yoga, silent walks, sacred dances, fire

rituals and Zen Shiatsu. The retreat also

boats a sweat lodge, a fresh water pool,

and the requisite vegetarian meals complete

with homemade cheese, bread and yogurt.

Founder and former dancer Lila established

the retreat on her family farm in 2000 after

traveling the world and studying yoga. She

also offers a children’s programme and a

fresh organic garden designed to help you

reconnect with mother earth. Be sure to take

a trip to the nearby sacred waterfall, too.

Pokhara

Pokhara has recently been cited as Nepal’s top yoga

destination. About 2,900 feet above sea level and 1,000

miles from the nearest ocean, it’s a city of 200,000 smack in

the middle of Nepal. It has a busy downtown strip where, for

years, trekkers and thrifty backpackers have come, many

to pick up supplies before heading out on the Annapurna

Range. These days, it’s the silence in the hills that is calling.

About a dozen back-to-basics yoga retreats have opened

in and around Pokhara in recent years, transforming this

once-partying hub into what might be Nepal’s top yoga

destination. For those wanting a quiet place to meditate,

away from the crowds, this is it.

Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Paradise Found Yoga

www.paradisefoundyoga.com

Specialising in Kundalini Yoga, Paradise Found Yoga offers both

scheduled and private retreats with two daily yoga classes as well as

meditation, art therapy and spa sessions that include aromatherapy,

hot stone Shiatsu massages, reflexology and Reiki. Take advantage of

the hiking excursions on the shorelines of Cusheon Lake on Salt Spring

Island. Relax in the gardens, enjoy the vegetarian meals, sink into the

outdoor hot tub and enjoy the individual attention that comes with

allowing only eight guests at a time. And with only a dozen other homes

on the lake, privacy is guaranteed in this picturesque setting.

February-April 201138 February-April 201138

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The ViewThe view from



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There is something special about

the early morning skies, especially when

you are gazing at it from an area of over

1400 feet above sea level. If it is before

sunrise, then rest assured that you can

see God painting on an empty canvas. It

is as though a large, invisible, paint brush

was experimenting on it.

A dab of red here, a bit of yellow there,

was that blue, yes, yes, and a tinge of

orange there, then a swab of purple over

there, a bit of black and then again yellow

here, a bit of golden… a riot of colours

merging and unmerging, coalescing and

then diffusing and then swirling again…

These are the moments before sunrise

atop a mountain above Al Hamra village,

which is around 200kms away from

Muscat.

Paint, my love We pulled our caps tightly on to our

head, adjusted the sweater’s flap on to

our necks in a bid to ward off the early

morning cold and then tried to video

record this painting-in-process. After

sometime we stopped shooting and

slowly drank in the rise of the sun, from

the far off mountains, with our naked eyes.

At our height, we could literally sweep the

expanse in a complete semicircle.

Above us in the sky, God was painting

and below us, a whole town was sleeping,

unaware of nature’s lovely morning play.

The occupants of the tents (around 15 of

them) behind where we were standing

were also slowly waking up to this reality,

more fascinating than a mere dream.

We, the early birds, wanted to see how

the view from our vantage point would

look like at dawn, as compared to the

night and the late afternoon hours.

Best-ever views For, the mid-afternoon before, we had

driven up an easy, but winding eight

kilometers dirt track from Al Hamra

village, which took us directly to ‘The

View’, an eco-luxury property located

right at the entrance of Hail Al Shas

village.


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SERENE SETTING:The mountain top locale has ‘luxury’ written all over it. This ‘Eco Luxe’ retreat, is an

ideal getaway with 15 exclusive luxury tents for a relaxed and comfortable stay


Oman-Tra i l

A recent entry into the Sultanate’s

tourism spots, The View, aptly named,

offers visitors an amazing view of Al

Hamra village. Other than offering what

could probably be one of the best-ever

views possible in the many touristic

locations in the Sultanate, The View also

hosts around 15-well appointed luxury

tents replete with a nice-sized bathroom

and balcony views.

Luxury written all over The mountain top locale has ‘luxury’

written all over it, right from its entrance to

the sprawling tents, some of which have

direct view of the village. In other words,

those lucky enough to get these tents

can sit on their own elevated balconies

to have a view of their lifetime right from

their tent. Others, who have obtained

the tents behind this area can still get

down below the elevated balconies and

enjoy the view from there. Corrugated

seats, hammocks and comfy chairs and

a nighttime campfire in the centre of the

tents make it a delightful experience.

Far from the madding crowd What is comforting at The View is the

sheer silence that envelops the area,

especially when darkness falls. For those

wanting to be far away from the madding

crowd, and those who are lovers of

silence, this is the place to be, as we

found out on a recent trip there.

Perfect sanctuary

When we reached the locale at noontime,

most of the tourists had gone out for the

day. The beauty of The View is that it

offers itself as a perfect sanctuary in the

midst of the mountainous arena. Those

wanting to trek or explore the mountain

area can do that at leisure and get back

to The View before dusk. The nearby

locales include the famed mud houses

of Al Hamra, the traditional village of

Misfat Al Abryeen, or the intriguing Al

Hoota caves. The Bahla and Nizwa forts,

the Jibreen castle, the traditional Bahla

pottery area are all easily accessible from

The View. To the west of Al Hamra is the

road to Jebel Shams (mountain of the

sun), the tallest peak in Oman at 3010

metres.

The mountainous area also features

rocky promontories and steep gorges,

which are also attractive for tourists.

Those merely wanting to view and ponder

the majestic grandeur of the surrounding

peaks and gorges are also likely to find in

The View, an ideal location.

Ideal weekend getaway

In fact, The View has all the necessary

requirements for those wanting to get

away from it all. The silence of the locale,

the grandeur of the mountains, the

impressive play of the stars above during

the night and the cool, at times cold, but

always pleasant, climate offers the best

weekend getaway.

After all, what do you want from a

holiday? Relaxation, peace of mind, a bit

of quietness and in short, a place to chill

out, far from the madding crowd: At 1400

metres above sea level, this is one of the

best-ever luxury soaked spots that you

could escape to in Oman.

The mountain top locale has ‘luxury’

written all over it, right from its entrance to the sprawling tents, some of which have

direct view of the village


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View from the topWake up to the sun rise… curl in to the hammocks with your favourite book; wind it all

up with the sun set and the fascinating night view of the glittering lights of Al Hamra

village. Warm up to the campfires… The View looks down on almost the entire Wilayat

of AI Hamra with the town of AI Hamra and its substantial date plantations creating a

patchwork of green in the distance amid the brown hues of the mountains.


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Footprints also spoke to a young German couple, Iris Miltzow and Toralf Rustenbach, who were staying at The View about their impression of the

area and also how they came to know of this locale.



Iris and Toralf were visiting Oman for the first time. They were already smitten

by the country, its people and the topography. The icing on the cake was this stay

atop The View, they chorused, adding that they were quite impressed by Oman.

“We always go to a different country on our vacations and this time, while browsing

through the net, we came across Oman and we were quite intrigued. One thing

led to another and we are now here in Oman and most importantly, enjoying the

country from this superb mountain top locale,” the duo said.

Both were of the view that Oman was more than what they had imagined. “Though

Oman is still not that well know in some parts of Germany, we were quite keen to

try it out.

“Without doubt, this is a very safe country and there is genuine warmth among the

people here, which is quite congenial for tourists. Especially for the first timers! It

is very important for first time visitors to Oman, as first impression is quite often

everything. “And, right now, sitting on top of The View, we feel quite safe and

relaxed. This spot is awesome and quite a welcome change for us both.”

The German duo said that they found The View to be a focal point for them to visit

all of the surrounding tourism locales, and at the same time enjoy the luxury of

five-star accommodation on top of a mountain!

“In a nutshell, we can say that The View is like Oman’s topography, unique,

different and in many ways, out of this world!”

A 2 ½ hrs drive from Muscat to Nizwa (175 kms), and a 45 minutes drive from Nizwa towards the direction of Al Hoota Caves, you will reach Al Hamra village (200kms).An eight kms uphill drive takes you from Al Hamrah to Hail Al Shas village.The View is located at 1,400 metres above sea level.

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View from

Hail Al Shas



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Baaa, a kid (baby goat) bleets as

it hurriedly tries to get out of our path

from the little Hail Al Shas village, which

is perched atop the mountainous area

above Al Hamra.

The little one gets out of the path but

several nannies (mama goats) and Billies

(papa goats) jump into the fray and our

car swerves off the path again, trying to

avoid them.

Some of the goats seem to be at ease

with our 4WD, but others were a bit

restless and they either moved in front or

got behind our vehicle, which made both

to and fro movement, nigh to impossible.

So, we did the sanest thing possible –

that is to stop and get down as some

kids of the village milled around the four-

wheeler.

We made the traditional greetings to the

enthusiastic children and we asked them

to take us to the elders there. From a

small enclosed area, which served as a

meeting point or a shelter, a middle aged

man greeted us and ambled towards

the car. This was Said bin Hamed bin

Ruzaik Al Nasri.

A village of 100 people The latter, who was working as a security

staff of Al Hamra school, was only too

glad to give us an idea about this quaint

little village. “We are around 100 people,

that is around 20-odd families, here

currently,” Said Al Nasri said, adding that

it was a very old village and all of them

were living here for generations. “This

village started off as a small settlement

many, many years ago. Now, it has

slowly grown to a village with 20 and

more families.”

Said bin Hamed Al Nasri


Oman-Tra i l

Goats, goats, goats…“What is our village famous for? Well,

I would say we are primarily known for

our goats – as you can see –,“ he said,

sweeping his hand at the many frisky

goats, which still played cat and mouse

games with us, coming close and then

skipping away.

The selling of goats are their main income

source as well as staple food (meat as

well as milk). “Goats – they are in plenty

here and we are also lucky enough to

have good supply of water,” Said Al Nasri

added. He pointed to the electric posts

and said off late, they were also blessed

with power, thanks to the benevolence of

the government, which ensured that the

sweep of modernity and development is

seen in ever nook and corner of Oman.

The village children also get their

education from the schools located

below their village. “Most of our children

study in schools in Al Hamra and Nizwa,”

Said Nasri said.

Green village

Thanks to the rains, there is no shortage

of water, and the village was also quite

green. “We are self-sufficient here and

we are hopeful that the future generations

will strive to make this a better place to

live in.

Right now, we have nothing to complain

about because we are able to enjoy

pleasant climate throughout the year.

The winter, which is just starting, would

of course be quite cold. But, it is alright

– it is different here, atop the mountain!”

Tourism makes the world closer, smaller

Earlier, visitors would often just pass

through, but off late, there are more

visitors here than ever before, Said Nasri

pointed out. “I would say that this new

property (The View) is actually bringing

in many tourists here – and we always

welcome them, though not many are able

to converse with us or vice versa.

“Besides, there is the trekking and cycling

trails too, so, there is lot of activity, which

is nice. “Sometimes, the trekkers, the

cyclists come to our village and ask us to

pose for them, which we oblige!”

Inaccessible Until 1994, this village was not accessible

as there weren’t any roads, save for some

goat and natural trekking trails. “Then we

depended on donkeys to travel up and

down to Al Hamra, but not so now,” Said

Nasri said.

Future bodes wellToday, he said, there were number of

them who went outside the village, got

themselves educated and employed in

public and private sector organisations.

“So, the future bodes well for us – we

have only seen our village grow, although

slowly, but that is how we like it to be!”



Dried – but tasty Marinated meat – spiced and dried up and stored for future – pieces beaded

through strings are hung on the makeshift shelters for future consumption.

Goat milk and meat are the staple diet for the villagers of Hail Al Shas.

The Hail Al Shas village is just a hop, skip and jump away from The View. You could take the trail on the right of The View and keep going straight until you reach this mountain top village. R

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Time stands still in


February-April 201158 November-January 2010-201158

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Inspiring locale400-year old mud houses built during the Yarouba dynasty


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Helloooooo... Crispy Rukhal anyone?Adding on to the tales of the historic past of Bait Al Safah, the womenfolk made

us some wafer-thin crispy Rukhal bread and piping hot Omani kahwa


Sixty year old Saada Al Abri sings

this semi-plaintive and hummable Arabic

song as she slowly, rhythmically, grinds

the cereals in line with her folksy tune.

But, she does not stop when visitors

stop by to see her work. Instead, she just

pauses between her song and explains

the meaning of the words to us…

Clouds come and goEven the pitter patter of rains disappear

Bursting into smithereens on the rooftops…

But, I grind on, for I can’t stop…I have mouths to feed

Even when the rains stop…

I have mouths to feedEven though the rains may stop…

At the Bait Al Safah, the songs must

play on…This 400-year old mud house

built during the Yarouba dynasty, many

hundreds of years ago, is an inspiring

locale, and so are the lively old and

young Omanis there. It is considered to

be one of the most important landmarks

in the history of the region because it

showcases the lifestyle of the Omani

ancestors and gives an insight to visitors

and locals of a bygone era. It is today a

living example of life in Al Hamra prior to

the renaissance of His Majesty Sultan

Qaboos bin Said.

Oman-Tra i l


This four-storey building was originally

the permanent residence of a prominent

family of Al Hamra, and later it was

restored by the owner’s grandchildren.

After that, the current owners, with the

help of the tourism ministry opened its

doors to the public and since then have

been receiving tourists from Oman,

region and around the world. Muhanna

bin Nasser Al Abri is the current owner.

Khadra Tourism, a locally based tourist

agency, is currently looking after the

monument and has outlined a daily

programme, which includes folklore and

traditional Omani dances alongside an

exhibition of traditional handicrafts.

We were greeted at the entrance by

Sheikhan Hamad bin Mohammed Al

Dahly, a young and enterprising Omani

lad who took us around the monument.

Sheikhan was appointed by Badr bin Said

bin Mohammed Al Dahly, the manager of

the Bait Al Safah project, to guide tourists

in the mansion. He also helped us try on

some of the Omani traditional dresses,

including the dishdashas, turbans,

women’s dresses and head covers.

Meeting the old Omani couple, Salim bin

Marhoon bin Salim Al Abri and his wife,

Nasra bint Ali bin Mubarak Al Abri proved

to be a double delight.

While Salim spun tales of the historic

past of Bait Al Safah, Nasra took us to

her kitchen, where her colleague made

us taste some wafer thin crispy Rukhal

bread, and piping hot Omani kahwa.

Nasra roasted peanuts from the side,

while her colleague greeted us with a

very cheery and musical ‘Hellooo!”

To soak in the history of a bygone era,

a visit to Bait Al Safah is a must. Most

tourists who are now visiting The View

make it a point to take a tour of Bait Al

Safah.

(Entry to Bait Al Safah is OMR1)


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Praba Iyer, a tourist from the USA, dipped her toes into the blue-green

crystal clear waters and immediately some little fish went and nibbled on them.

Tourists from all over make a quick and refreshing stopover at the Bimmah

Sinkhole, which is around 6kms from Dibab, along the coast, on the graded

road from Muscat to Sur.

The sinkhole, which is about 500 metres inland and 40 metres wide and

20 metres deep, is in the middle, in a fenced off area, of a park called the

Hawiyat Najm or Sinkhole park. The sinkhole connects all the way to the sea.

Apparently, the green and blue colours are a result of the salty water meeting

with fresh water. Praba wanted to go for a swim in the waters, but she had not

come equipped for the same, so postponed the swim for another time. Most

tourists and locals often go for a proper swim in the waters of the sinkhole.

Geologists say that the sinkhole was created when a limestone cavern

collapsed, while the locals say a piece of the moon fell from the sky to make

this hole. The underwater tunnel leads to sea, which is 500metres away. The

sinkhole is ‘tourists friendly’ and has concrete steps leading down to the pool.

There are a couple of shelters and also toilets at the entrance. There is an

attendant at the entrance, but no entry charge for the park.

Take the Amerat road towards Quriyat direction. Go straight towards Sur and you will find the Bimmah Sink hole signposted towards the right, on the mountain side. Turn right and enter the curved road towards the coast.

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February-April 2011 67February-April 2011 67

Tourist friendly BimmahThe sinkhole is ‘tourist friendly’ and has concrete steps leading down to the pool.

AirlinesFlight Information (24 hours): 24 519456

Aeroflot: 24 704455

Air Arabia 24 700828

Air France 24 562153

Air India 24 799801

Air New Zealand 24 700732

Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24 701128

British Airways 24 568777

Cathay Pacific 24 789818

Egypt Air 24 794113

Emirates Air 24 792222

Ethiopian Airlines 24 660313

Gulf Air (toll-free number) 800 72424

Indian Airlines 24 791914

Iran Air 24 787423

Japan Airlines 24 704455

Jazeera Airways 23 294848

Jet Airways 24 796680

Kenya Airways 24 660317

KLM 24 566737

Kuwait Airways 24 701262

LOT Polish Airlines 24 796387

Lufthansa 24 796692

Malaysian Airlines 24 560796

Middle East Airlines 24 796680

Oman Air 24 707222,

24519953

PIA 24 792471

Qatar Airways 24 771900

Qantas 24 559941

Royal Jordanian 24 796693

Saudi Arabian Airlines 24 789485

Singapore Airlines 24 791233

Sri Lankan Airlines 24 784545

Sudan Airways 24816565

Swiss Air 24 787416

Syrian Airways 24797567

Thai Airways 24 705934

Turkish Airlines 24 475030

Art galleries Al Madina Art Gallery 24691380

Bait Muzna Gallery 24739204

Omani Heritage Gallery 24696974

Omani Society for Fine Arts 24694969

Raj Relics 99329842

Yitti Art Gallery 24564297

BookshopsBorders 24558089

Family Bookshop, Qurm 24564391

Madinat as Sultan Qaboos 24600084

Turtles 24696217

House of Prose

(Used books) 24564356

CinemasAl Nasr Cinema 24831358

Al Shatti Plaza 24693557

Markaz al Bahja Cinema 24540855

Stars Cinema 24791641

Embassies and consulatesAlgeria 24 605593

Austria 24 793135

Bahrain 24 605074

Bangladesh 24 567379

Belgium 24 562033

Canada 24 788890

Chile 24 561977

China 24 696698

Colombia 24 816264

Cyprus 24 490200

Denmark 24 526000

Egypt 24 600411

Finland 24 701454

France 24 681800

Germany 24 832164

Greece 24 706648

Holland 24 603706

India 24 814120

Iran 24 696944

Iraq 24 604178

Ireland 24 797083

Italy 24 693727

Japan 24 601028

Jordan 24 692760

Korea 24 691490

Kuwait 24 699627

Lebanon 24 695844

Malaysia 24 698329

Mexico 24 561977

Morocco 24 696152

Mozambique 24 594207

Netherlands 24 603719

Norway 24 603706

Pakistan 24 603439

Palestine 24 601312

Philippines 24 605140

Portugal 24 561400

Qatar 24 691153

Russian Federation 24 602894

Rwanda 24 487978

Saudi Arabia 24 601744

Somalia 24 697977

South Africa 24 694793

Spain 24 691101

Sri Lanka 24 697841

Sudan 24 697875

Sweden 24 708693

Switzerland 24 568202

Syria 24 697904

Taiwan 24 605695

Tanzania 24 601174

Thailand 24 602684

Tunisia 24 603486

Turkey 24 697050

United Arab Emirates 24 600988

United Kingdom 24 609000

Uruguay 24 568202

USA 24 643400

Yemen 24 600815

LibrariesBibliothèque Française: 24681874

British Council Knowledge

and Learning Centre: 24681000

Oman Chamber of

Commerce and Industry: 24707684

Public Technical

Library Science: 24673111

United States Information

Service: 24643400

Raspberry’s Books: 95086074

MuseumsBait Adam 24605033,

99356676

Bait Al Baranda 24714262

Bait Al Zubair 24736688

Children’s Museum

24605368/9

Currency Museum 24641510

Muscat gate Museum 24739005

Nakhal Fort museum 26781384

National Museum 24701289

Natural History Museum 24641366

Omani-French Museum 24736613

Oman Heritage Museum 24600346

Planetarium: 24675542

Sayyid Faisal bin

Ali Museum 24641650

Salalah Museum 23294549

Sohar fort Museum 26844758

Sultan’s Armed

Forces Museum 24588700

Sur Maritime Museum 24541466

Special interest groupsAmerican Women’s Group 24594751

Environment Society

of Oman 24482121

Historical Association

of Oman 24563074

Horticultural Association 24605493

Indian Social Club 99322713

Muscat Amateur Theatre 24562511

Oman Bird Watching Camp 24695498

Omani Women Association 24602800

Royal Omani Amateur

Radio Society 24600407

Woman’s Guild of Oman

www.womensguildoman.org

TaxisAl Dar Taxi 24700555

Hello taxi 24697997

Muscat Cab 96429096

Info

rmat

ion

Travel ler ’s guide

August-October 201068

www.blackandwhiteoman.com

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footprints travel mag feb-apr 2011

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