  Oman
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real travelers here at VirtualTourist. See the Oman Travel GuideInside advice from real people on:Overview, Hotels, Things to Do, Restaurants, Nightlife, Shopping, General Tips, Transportation, Off the Beaten Path, Tourist Traps, Warnings or Dangers, Local Customs, Packing Lists or Sports Travel.
 1186 Oman Tips.2273 Oman Photos.0 Oman Videos. Oman Pages by Geoff_Wright
Tips 1 - 8 of 8 Oman General Tips
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General Tips: Jebel Ahkdar
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Favorite Thing: 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
Fondest Memory: 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 most of the way to the summit - using suitable vehicles, of course. See more details in my new Travelogue.
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General Tips: Guide Books
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Favorite Thing: 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.
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General Tips: Omani Currency
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Favorite Thing: The Omani currency is the Rial, which is sub-divided into 1,000 Baizas. The Rial is linked to the US Dollar.
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General Tips: Muscat in 1976
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Favorite Thing: 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.
Fondest Memory: 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!
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General Tips: Sightseeing
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Favorite Thing: 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.
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General Tips: My Omani Students
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Fondest Memory: 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.
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General Tips: Blue skies, and HOT!!
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Fondest Memory: 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.
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General Tips: Students
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Fondest Memory: 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.
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Join a Discussion what am I supposed to wear?
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 Comments for Geoff_Wright about Oman | | | | |
maztek Sun Oct 21, 2007 01:53 UTC
Thanks a lot Geoff for taking time to tabulate your memories for the VT....I enjoyed and appreciate a lot...old is always gold | bucko1935 Fri May 25, 2007 15:03 UTC
Geoff. Great pictures they bring back many pleasant memories from my time in Oman. MAM 1977-1987. Thank you. Danny. | Vulindlela Mon Apr 2, 2007 21:02 UTC
I was very happy to read your Oman page! Great historic information and photos you have. | Jim_Eliason Wed Dec 27, 2006 23:05 UTC
great tips! |
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on Mar 13, 2004
