"Oman" a Oman Travel Page by traveldave

Prior to 1970, Oman was one of the most backward and closed societies in the world. There were only three schools and one 23-bed hospital in the entire country. There were only two paved roads in and around the capital of Muscat. In addition, there were no newspapers, no radio or television stations, and no civil service. And the country was virtually closed to tourists.

In 1970, Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id Al Bu Sa'id came to power and set about modernizing the infrastructure of his country. Thanks to money generated by Oman's oil reserves, there are now hospitals and schools throughout the country, and even the remotest village has water and electricity. An excellent road system connects most villages and cities.

Oman is no longer closed to the outside world. It is quickly becoming a popular vacation destination, attracting visitors with its unique culture, spectacular desert landscapes, and clean, unspoiled beaches.

I entered Oman on two separate days during a birdwatching trip to the United Arab Emirates. My group crossed into Buraimi on our way to the Hanging Gardens to look for desert birds. From there, we crossed through the desert of Oman on our way to the east coast of the United Arab Emirates. Then the next day we went into the Musandam Peninsula, which is Omani territory separated from the rest of the country by a section of the United Arab Emirates.

I found Oman to be more traditional and less hectic than the United Arab Emirates. Many Omanis still tend flocks of sheep and herds of camels (and camel's milk is available in stores). Tribal groups live traditional lifestyles in the mountains and have little contact with the outside world. And Oman is more unspoiled, with little of the massive development projects that are so prevalent in the United Arab Emirates.

---