Tuesday, April 17: Frizztext’s challenge for this week is the letter P: “Introduce one photo of your own archive with an “P” keyword for example POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHER or PYGMEE tribes, Pakistan or Pepsi Cola, Perfume or Poetry, Pavilions or Pontiacs, Painters or Peanuts, Penguins or Pirates, Police or Pain, Prayers or Politics, about Putin or the Pantheon, Picnics or Paths, about the term PARADOX or PASSION, Peacocks or Paragliding, Possessions or Phones, Pressure or Paris etc.”
My entry for this week’s challenge is palms & paintings. According to Explorer’s Oman Off-Road, Oman has over 8 million date palms, outnumbering Omanis by four to one. Over 150,000 tons of dates are produced annually in the country, making it by far the largest crop grown in Oman. With long hot summers, moderate winters, and little rainfall, Oman has the perfect climate to grow date palms.
Whenever I travel in Oman, which is almost every weekend, I encounter date palms. They are the icon of this country, if not for all of Arabia. I honestly think they would be a better symbol for the country’s flag than the khanjar. Date palms flourish along every water source, and Omanis congregate to picnic in the shade of the trees. No picture of Oman is complete without its palms.
Here are some date palms from Misfat Al Abriyyen.
Nakhal, Oman is home to one of the largest date palm plantations in Oman.
Even beautiful paintings I found in the art department on the campus of the university show the students’ fascination with the abundant palms in Oman.
I love the palm trees (& the boats and the sea) in these watercolor paintings.
2e0mca said:
Those date-palms remind me of a comic story I read when I was a kid set in the Paris-Dakar rally. The car broke its sump on a rock and the African mechanic – having repaired the metal parts crushed the palm nuts to get oil to lubricate the engine.
Love those paintings – very colorful 🙂
catbirdinkorea said:
Hi 2e0mca, that’s a funny story about the mechanic using the palm nut oil to lubricate the engine. Thanks for sharing! And thank you for the compliments. Of course all I did was photograph them. I wish I could paint like that, or like anything for that matter… 🙂
frizztext said:
you are invited to answer 11 questions to introduce yourself:
catbirdinkorea said:
Thanks! I’m flattered to be tagged and will answer as soon as I can…. 🙂
Myra GB said:
I love the photos you have here. Kind of reminded me of the time I taught teachers in Bahrain – they would always always bring dates for sharing in class – never fails. Your photos here truly capture that Middle East vibe. So great to chance upon your blog through the photo challenge.
catbirdinkorea said:
Thank you so much Myra GB. How long ago did you teach in Bahrain? Where are you now? I try as much as I can to enjoy every bit of my life in Oman…. I won’t be here forever, so I want to savor every moment!!
Myra GB said:
I taught two course modules in Bahrain in 2009. Stayed for two weeks per course module – it was a professional development program for the teachers in Bahrain as arranged by their Ministry of Education in coordination with my institution here in Singapore. I’m still staying here in Singapore, my trips in Bahrain were only for two weeks at a time. 🙂
catbirdinkorea said:
Ah, okay. Are you a native Singaporean? I’m glad my blog brought back memories. I’ve been to Singapore once myself, for about a week. It was for a study abroad course during my Master’s program. Very interesting…. and hot and humid!!
Myra GB said:
Nope, not a local. I’m an expatriate here. Originally from the Philippines. 🙂
frizztext said:
beautiful paintings in the art department of your campus!
catbirdinkorea said:
You’re so right, Frizz! I asked the students if there was any way I could buy one or two, but they said they weren’t for sale. So I just had to take pictures!! 🙂
Fergiemoto said:
I enjoyed seeing your palm photos and artwork!