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a nomad in the land of nizwa

~ an American English teacher in Oman

a nomad in the land of nizwa

Category Archives: Wadi Bani Khalid

travel theme: pathways

26 Sunday May 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Cappadocia, Gongju, Japan, Jordan, Kyoto, Little Petra, Middle East, Nepal, Oman, Pathways, Pokhara, Sharqiya Region, South Korea, Suncheon Bay, Travel Theme Photo Challenge, Turkey, Wadi Bani Khalid

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Japan, Nepal, Oman, South Korea, travel theme, Turkey

Sunday, May 26:  Ailsa’s Travel Theme this week is Pathways.  I’ve seen many beautiful pathways in my travels around the world.

Path of Bamboo in Arashiyama, near Kyoto, Japan

Path of Bamboo in Arashiyama, near Kyoto, Japan

path through Ihlara Canyon in Cappadocia, Turkey

path through Ihlara Canyon in Cappadocia, Turkey

path through Suncheon Bay Ecological Park in South Korea

path through Suncheon Bay Ecological Park in South Korea

snow-covered path through Gongju, South Korea

snow-covered path through Gongju, South Korea

Many people use the aflaf in Oman as pathways to walk on.  This one is at Wadi Bani Khalid in Oman.

Many people use the aflaj in Oman as pathways. This one is at Wadi Bani Khalid in Oman.

Pathway of enlightenment ~ leading to a Buddhist temple in Pokhara, Nepal

Pathway of enlightenment ~ leading to a Buddhist temple in Pokhara, Nepal

a pathway along a farmer's field in Pokhara, Nepal

a pathway along a farmer’s field in Pokhara, Nepal

pathway through Little Petra in Jordan

pathway through Little Petra in Jordan

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cliff leaping at wadi bani khalid

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Oman, Sharqiya Region, Travel, Wadi Bani Khalid

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Oman, Travel

Thursday, January 3: Wadi Bani Khalid is one of the greenest wadis in Oman.   It’s dotted with pools, villages and plantations, and Omanis consider it one of the most popular spots in the country for swimming and picnicking.  Today, there are hordes of people, as it is a perfect January weekend.

Click on pictures in any of the galleries below for a full-sized slide show.

trucks of Omanis leaving Wadi Bani Khalid
trucks of Omanis leaving Wadi Bani Khalid
the wall of a plantation alongside the entrance to the wadi
the wall of a plantation alongside the entrance to the wadi
a little goat friend
a little goat friend
Adam, Mike and Alex along the falaj
Adam, Mike and Alex along the falaj
pools along the entrance to Wadi Bani Khalid
pools along the entrance to Wadi Bani Khalid
dragonfy & little fish
dragonfy & little fish
shallow pools
shallow pools

We walk into the wadi, where early on we come upon groups of people swimming in the pools and jumping off cliffs into the pools.  Of course, Adam immediately wants to jump, but he decides to head further back into the wadi where it might be less crowded.

Looking back toward the entrance to the wadi
Looking back toward the entrance to the wadi
inviting pools
inviting pools
Wadi Bani Khalid and its numerous swimming holes
Wadi Bani Khalid and its numerous swimming holes
Alex & Adam
Alex & Adam
Alex & Adam
Alex & Adam

We come to a spot in the stream where we need to take off our shoes to cross, so the boys both take off their shirts and shoes, and slide down a waterfall into a pool.  They come out downriver, where they climb out and slide down the waterfall again.

Alex slides down the little waterfall
Alex slides down the little waterfall
Omanis leap over the stream
Omanis leap over the stream
Adam slides down
Adam slides down
An older Omani man watches from above
An older Omani man watches from above
the pool
the pool
and more pools
and more pools
Alex, Adam and Mike swimming in one of the pools
Alex, Adam and Mike swimming in one of the pools

We head back up the river, and atop a cliff, some Omani boys, along with some tourists, are jumping off into the pools below.  Adam soon follows suit, as does Alex.  They do this numerous time, loving each jump more than the one before.

the wadi
the wadi
the wadi
the wadi
Alex jumps off the cliff
Alex jumps off the cliff
Alex takes a flying leap
Alex takes a flying leap
Mike puts his shoes back on after a swim
Mike puts his shoes back on after a swim
Adam jumps off the cliff
Adam jumps off the cliff
Adam's continuing jump...
Adam’s continuing jump…
IMG_0036
Adam after his leaps
Adam after his leaps

After all this cliff jumping and swimming, we head out of the wadi at around 4:30.  Our hope is to get to Camp Al Areesh by shortly after 5:00.  We want to get there in time to see the sun set over the desert of Sharqiya Sands.

beautiful reflections at Wadi Bani Khalid

beautiful reflections at Wadi Bani Khalid

walking out of Wadi Bani Kalid as the sun goes down
walking out of Wadi Bani Kalid as the sun goes down
reflections
reflections
walking out along the falaj
walking out along the falaj
the falaj
the falaj
the falaj
the falaj
a wall and little village
a wall and little village
Omanis stopping for a photo shoot
Omanis stopping for a photo shoot

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weekly photo challenge: movement

06 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Al-Batinah Region, Oman, postaweek2012, Sharqiya Region, Wadi Bani Khalid, Wadi MIstal, Weekly Photo Challenge, Wekan

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postaweek2012, weekly photo challenge

Friday, July 6:  The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge for this week is movement.  How do you show movement in your photos? This photo choice is a very deliberate show of movement through the camera lens and the blurring lights, but how else can you show movement of objects, or of the action that’s happening in your picture? 

Share a picture that means MOVEMENT to you!

a fluttering moth in the village of Wekan

And here is an Omani boy doing a cart-wheel off a rock in Wadi Bani Khalid.

cartwheels off the rocks

And another boy leaps off the rocks at Wadi Bani Khalid.

light-hearted leap into the wadi

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weekly photo challenge: friendship

08 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Oman, postaweek2012, Sharqiya Region, Wadi Bani Khalid, Weekly Photo Challenge

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postaweek2012, weekly photo challenge

Friday, June 8: Friendship. There are so many ways to show friendship and to see it in others.  Share a picture about FRIENDSHIP with everyone!

This picture shows the easygoing fellowship of boys in Oman.  Since the sexes are always separated, the boys go out exploring Oman with their friends.  This is common everywhere outdoors.  I rarely see a woman walking about in nature in Oman, and if I do, she is usually wearing the abaya and scarf.  She is always accompanied by her husband or family.  The women rarely have the freedom to go out swimming and hiking in a wadi, like these boys do.  I met these guys in Wadi Bani Khalid over the National Holiday last November, and the young man with the striped shirt in the forefront, Adil, is the one who invited me to his brother’s wedding in Al Awabi.  He felt very sorry for me because I was traveling alone and no matter what I said, I couldn’t convince him that I enjoyed doing so!

friendship in Wadi Bani Khalid

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karma’s february photo hunt

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Busan, Daegu, Hanoi, Japan, Jebel Akhdar, Karma's Photo Scavenger Hunt, Kyoto, South Korea, Vietnam, Wadi Bani Khalid

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karma's photography scavenger hunt

Thursday, February 23:  I am now officially hooked on the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.  After looking through lots of entries in this ongoing challenge, I’ve happened upon some amazing blogs.  One of my favorites is called Life in the Bogs by a talented photographer in Ohio named Robin.  I am so mesmerized that now I read her blog every morning along with my coffee!  Today, I found through her blog a photo challenge by someone named Karma: Karma’s When I Feel Like it Blog: February Photo Hunt.  Since I have hundreds of photos from my travels, and I also went on a hike Thursday on Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain) in Oman, I decided to try to find, or take, some pictures that match her prompts.  Karma’s challenge words and my photos follow.

1) flake(s)

a tree on jebel akhdar with its bark flaking off

Because Oman is a desert country, with little water, the few trees you see often look like they’re dying, or struggling to keep themselves together. I found this one Thursday on Jebel Akdar (Green Mountain), with its bark flaking off.

2) bow

at the Ho Chi Minh complex in Hanoi, Vietnam

For bow, I’m going with the definition of “a bend or curve.”  This is a pond at the Ho Chi Minh complex in Hanoi.  I love the bow of this large balcony over the pond.

3) mug

two crazy folks mugging it up in Busan, South Korea

For this one, I looked for the closest thing I could find to a mug shot, and this is the best I could do!

4) row

rows of fortunes (??) at a temple in Kyoto, Japan

I love how everything in Japan is so neat and orderly. I could have chosen so many pictures for row from Japan, I had a hard time deciding which one to use.  I love the colors and the Japanese characters on these wooden fortunes.  These are all over temples in Japan, but since I don’t read Japanese, I’m only assuming they’re either fortunes or wishes.  I really would love to know what they actually are!

5) bun

chicken & dumplings at a restaurant in richmond, virginia

Here’s the definition of bun I found: any of a wide variety of variously shaped bread rolls, usually leavened and slightly sweetened or plain, sometimes containing spices, dried currants, etc.  Ok, admittedly, dumplings are not exactly buns, but this is the closest thing I could find. They are a type of bread, right?  Anyway, I make mine with Bisquick, which one also uses to make buns.  A close cousin?

6) heart shapes (for the month of valentines)

a heart-shaped leaf at Daegu Confucian Academy in Daegu, South Korea

Beautiful heart-shaped leaves in Daegu, South Korea.  I love the color and texture of these.  I feel like they can’t decide whether they’re dead or alive, or whether it’s spring or fall.

Bonus word: leap (to celebrate leap year)

an Omani boy leaps into one of the many pools at Wadi Bani Khalid in Oman

This is at one of the many wadis in Oman, specifically Wadi Bani Khalid.  It’s always hot in Oman, so these pools are really refreshing.  This Omani boy leaps in for a swim at one of the many pools.  Ahhh, sweet relief.

Happy LEAP YEAR!!

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cooling off at wadi bani khalid ~ my sons bid adieu to the last of the wadis

27 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Middle East, Muqal Cave, Nizwa, Oman, Sharqiya Region, Spicy Village, Wadi Bani Khalid

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Oman, Travel

Friday, January 27:  This morning the boys and I leave Camp Al Areesh and head directly for Wadi Bani Khalid.  This is one of the greenest and most scenic wadis in Oman.  It has great swimming holes and picnic areas, so Omani families love to flock here on weekends.  I came here last on the National Holiday in late November, and it was packed!  This weekend, we’re lucky in that there aren’t many people.  We get to enjoy it in relative solitude.

the boys at the entrance to wadi bani khalid in oman

the boys at the entrance to wadi bani khalid in oman

pools galore

I think the boys are getting a little homesick and are feeling tired of all our exploring.  They say, though they like it here, that all the wadis are starting to look alike.  One of my colleagues who has been in Oman for about 5 years has told me the same thing; eventually all the wadis start to look alike.  I felt this way in Korea about the Buddhist temples.  Once you’d seen one, you’d seen them all.  Though this is a beautiful wadi, and I was thrilled to see it the first time around, this time we’re all a little bored by it.  Or maybe we’re just weary from all our travels.

flowers in the wadi

We walk to the right of a series of large swimming pools and follow a rough boulder-strewn path for about 20 minutes to the deep part of the wadi.  At some point along the way, an Omani boy starts tagging along with us. He can’t speak much English so he just walks in silence.

Alex and a tempting pool

We end up at the Muqal Cave, which has a horizontal slit for an opening, sort of like a person’s mouth.  There is no way I will go into this cave, but the Omani boy encourages the boys to go inside.  None of them have flashlights.  I know the Omanis know all the ins and outs of their country, so I don’t worry they will get lost.  They all three duck into the mouth of the cave and don’t return for quite some time.  At one point I start to imagine the worst and I yell into the cave, only to be answered by dead silence.  I worry, I fret.  Then I hear voices and before I know it they are all ducking and coming out of the cave.  Apparently there is a large chamber inside, but they couldn’t really see anything because they didn’t have flashlights.  Hmmm.

adam ducks out of the muqal cave

We make our way back out of the wadi and since the boys are getting warm, they decide to take a dip in some of the pools.  They are surprised to find the pools are quite warm.  Apparently there are two sources of the water.  One source is from the Muqal Cave and is warm, the other water comes from the mountain and is cool.  They have fun splashing about and jumping in the water until Adam has a strange encounter where one Omani boy, a different one who joins us along the way, tries to pull Adam down to sit on his lap under a waterfall!!  Adam gets pretty darn peeved about this, pushes himself away and then high-tails it out of that pool.  The boy vanishes as quickly as he appeared.

adam takes a dip in the pool

adam takes a dip in the pool

We decide we’ve had enough swimming and traveling. We grab some lunch and fruit juice at the little restaurant near the entrance to the wadi and then head back to the car. The boys want to return to my flat in Nizwa, which they like very much for a home away from home.

the beautiful wadi bani khalid

We drive the long way back, nearly 3 hours, with only one stop.  When we arrive in Nizwa, we eat a yummy dinner at the Spicy Village and then take a long walk together under the Nizwa stars.

another view of the wadi

This is our next to the last weekend together and I have to return to work tomorrow.  I hope they’ll enjoy their last week hanging around in my flat and taking it easy before they head back to the USA on February 3.

leaving the last of oman’s wadis before their trip back home 😦

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national holiday chapter 4: wadi bani khalid

26 Saturday Nov 2011

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Middle East, Oman, Sharqiya Region, Wadi Bani Khalid

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Oman, Travel

Saturday, November 26: From Al Areesh, I continue my road trip heading down the 23 road to Sur.  I’m on the lookout for a place my colleagues told me about, Wadi Bani Khalid, just north of the town of Al-Kamil.  It’s about 203 km away from Muscat.

Adil stands on the falaj leading to Wadi Bani Khalid

Adil stands on the falaj leading to Wadi Bani Khalid

I come across the sign for the wadi, where I turn to the north and start my climb high into the Eastern Hajar Mountains.  I zigzag and chug uphill through some colorful rock formations, green with copper oxide and rust-red with iron ore.  Wadi Bani Khalid is a series of plantations and villages that lie close to the floor of the wadi.  From the upper reaches of the wadi, a natural spring flows year round, nourishing the vegetation that makes this spot so lovely.  Most people who visit this spot head for the source of this water, which collects in a series of deep pools in the narrow end of the boulder-strewn wadi.

the big green pool at the wide opening to Wadi Bani Khalid

the big green pool at the wide opening to Wadi Bani Khalid

For people who don’t know what a wadi is, here’s a description from the Sultanate’s Ministry of Information: A wadi is a dried up riverbed found in the mountain valleys. Wadis come into their own after heavy rains, when the rivers start running again and the vegetation is restored. However, some wadis have year-round running water, with deep, cool pools in which it is quite safe to swim if the currents are slow. Wadis are green, lush oases of palm trees, grasses, and flowering shrubs.  On the whole, wadis are only accessible with a four-wheel drive vehicle, as the terrain can be extremely bumpy. (Wadis of Oman)

Adil, me and two of his non-English speaking Omani friends

Adil, me and two of his non-English speaking Omani friends

I see a sign for tourist information before I get to the entrance to the wadi, so I turn off the winding road to see what it’s all about.  Another car follows me into the turn-off.  The tourist information is just a shut-down building, so I do a U-turn. The car that has followed me is full of about 6 young Omani men.  One of them speaks English and asks where I’m going.   I tell him.  He says, “Follow me.  This place (the tourist information) is closed.”

So I follow him into the wadi where there is a too small and overcrowded parking lot.  We park alongside each other and he introduces himself as Adil.  He tells me he’s from a town called Rustaq, about 175 km SW of Muscat, and he’s a high school teacher there, teaching computer technology.  He’s married and has three children and is 30 years old.  He invites me to come along with him and his friends.  I love how Omanis just take you under their wings, just like that, without any hesitation!

more of the wadi

more of the wadi

We walk along a falaj, which is a water channel that collects water for irrigation purposes.  This type is a Ghaily falaj, dug close to the ground surface and a normally open channel.  At the end of the falaj is a lovely green pool surrounded by lush tropical plants and palm trees.  Hordes of Omanis are here today because not only is it the National Holiday but also the Islamic New Year.  It’s strange that there are mostly groups of young men hanging out together, away from their wives and families.  There are also families here.  Some of the men wear dishdasha, but many are wearing shorts and t-shirts. All the Omani women are covered, as usual, in their black abayas and headscarves.  No break for them even on holiday.

one of the swimming holes at the wadi

one of the swimming holes at the wadi

I ask Adil about his wife.  Why is she not here with him?  He says he’s on a holiday with his friends.  His wife is at home with their children, their parents, the whole family who shares a house together.  Besides, he says, it’s hard for Omani women.  I can see that.  They have to remain covered even when they’re at a place where all the men and boys are swimming to their heart’s content.

Adil and his friends, all of whom are under 20, tell me to follow them up a path through the narrowing the gorge.  He tells me I should go swimming, but I don’t know how I would change into my bathing suit.  He tells me it’s okay, I can hide behind a rock to change, or he and his friends will hold up a towel in front of me.  I certainly don’t feel comfortable with that.  The deep green and blue pools along the path do look inviting though.  Sometime, if I come with another Westerner, I will swim here.  Possibly when my son comes to visit in January.

my companions at Wadi Bani Khalid

my companions at Wadi Bani Khalid

As we climb along boulders and rocks, Adil takes good care of me, making sure I’m okay and that I’m enjoying.  At one point the whole group of us sit on a kind of small cliff overlooking a pool and they pull out a bunch of egg burritos.  They offer me one for breakfast.  I sit with them on the rocks in easy companionship and eat my burrito.  They give me some water as well.  I feel totally comfortable with them, as if I am one of them, but of course I’m not.  I will always be an outsider here.  But they all do their best to make me feel welcome.

deeper into the wadi

deeper into the wadi

We continue our walk up the narrow gorge, scrambling over boulders, squeezing down narrow crevasses.  I take off my shoes twice to ford the stream.  Adil asks me about myself, wonders why I am traveling alone.  I tell him I like to travel alone, I actually prefer it.  I had plans originally with two women from another college, but the plans were cancelled and I wasn’t going to just sit home because I didn’t have anyone to travel with. He feels sorry for me, I can tell.  But he doesn’t understand that Western women are very independent and don’t mind doing things alone. We are nothing close to the cloistered and powerless Omani women.  We are anomalies Omanis will never understand.

adil takes a break on the rocks

adil takes a break on the rocks

Actually, I love to travel alone just for this reason:  I meet many interesting people along the way that I would never meet if I was in a group or even with another companion.  I love this aspect of my travels and I don’t want to ever give that up.  I wouldn’t have met Adil today if I were with even one single other friend.  When I’m alone, people will approach me; when I’m with anyone else, the locals don’t approach.  This is pure and simple and true.

Adil suggests that I come with him and his friends for their whole 3-day trip.  I thank him for his offer, but I have plans to go to Sur and Ras Al Hadd and then to explore more of Oman.  He’s disappointed I won’t consider coming.  He says he wants to invite me to his home sometime to meet his family.  I tell him I would love that.  I’ve never yet been invited to an Omani home and I look forward to seeing the inside of Omani family life.

one of Adil's friends takes a flying leap into the pool

one of Adil’s friends takes a flying leap into the pool

We continue on to the deepest part of the wadi.   On the way back, we stop at several swimming spots along the way and Adil’s friends jump off of rocks into the swimming holes.  I do wish I could swim here.  Next time, for sure, but I’ll have to be with another Westerner to do it.  As a woman, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable swimming with gangs of Omani young men!

We take our time walking back along the same path we came in on.  We get back to the area where there’s a wide open green pool surrounded by palm trees and lush vegetation.  There I find a public toilet and a coffee shop.  I sit at the outdoor cafe and drink some coffee and watch a group of black Omanis playing wild music in a pavilion.  When I was at Al Areesh last night, the British guy John I met told me there are three kinds of Omanis.  There are the pure Omanis and then there are the Omanis that come from Zanzibar, the darker skinned ones.  Finally, there is the old slave stock.  I don’t know if he’s totally right about this categorization, but here it is anyway.

yours truly in the wadi

yours truly in the wadi

Soon, I part ways with Adil and his friends, after exchanging telephone numbers. Adil says anytime I want to go anywhere in Oman, call him and he will take me.  I don’t know if he means for me to hire him as a guide or if he’s just offering out of the kindness of his heart.  Somehow I think he wants to be paid for this; I’m sure as an Omani high school teacher with a big family to support, he could use the money.

Fast forward to the evening of Tuesday, November 29.  I get a text from Adil: ‘Good evening. How r u? If you have free time come to my home to have lunch in thursday.”  I’m disappointed that he asks for this Thursday because I already have plans.  I write him back: “ah adil u are so kind! i would love to come but i have a visitor from italy coming tomorrow for one week.  maybe u might invite me again after my guest leaves?? i hope…”

Time will tell.  I really hope he does invite me again.

the beautiful wadi bani khalid

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    • Friday Meditation
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    • Al-Batinah Region
    • Al-Dhahirah Region
    • Al-Dakhiliyah Region
      • Nizwa
    • Al-Wusta Region
    • Dhofar Region
    • Musandam
    • Muscat
    • Sharqiya Region
  • University of Nizwa
  • Africa
    • african meanderings {& musings}
  • Americas
    • nomad, interrupted: catbird in the united states of america
    • notes from north america
    • United States of America
      • Virginia
  • Asia
    • catbird in china
    • catbird in korea
    • catbird in kyoto
    • catbird in south asia
    • catbird in turkey
    • ride paddies and papayas
  • Europe
    • greek wanderings
    • in search of a thousand cafés
  • Middle East
    • a jaunt to jordan
    • catbird in cairo
    • United Arab Emirates
      • Abu Dhabi
  • photography
    • Sunday Post
    • Travel Theme Photo Challenge
    • Weekly Photo Challenge
    • whatever a moon has always meant
  • Fiction
    • land of make-believe

what happens when…

August 2022
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Blogs I Follow

Blog of the Year 2012

Kreativ Blogger Award

Genuine Blogger Award

Ligo Circle of Appreciation

Shine On Award

Oman Blogs

  • Adventures of an American ESL Instructor Teaching at an Omani University
  • Andy in Oman
  • Angry in Oman
  • Bethany Duffield
  • Desperate Housewife in Oman
  • Dhofari Gucci
  • English Girl in Oman
  • Hallucinations of a Kitten
  • How to live like an Omani Princess
  • Hunting the Lost Insurgency: Oman
  • Matthew Heines
  • Misadventures in HR
  • Mumoftheanimals's Blog
  • Muscat Confidential
  • Muscat Jet Driver
  • Muscat Mutterings
  • Oh Man…Oman is really nice!
  • Omani Book Mania
  • Omani Cuisine
  • Rural Route Runner
  • Samir's Home
  • Secret Salalah
  • Sleepless in Salalah
  • Sultanate Social
  • Susan Al Shahri
  • The Linoleum Surfer

Oman Information

  • Albahja Cinema
  • Background Note Oman: U.S. State Department
  • Bait Muzna Gallery
  • BBC News: Oman Country Profile
  • CIA World Factbook ~ Oman
  • City Cinema Shatti
  • Destination Oman
  • Embassy of the United States – Muscat, Oman
  • Lonely Planet Oman
  • Ministry of Information: Sultanate of Oman
  • Oman Daily Observer
  • Royal Opera House Muscat
  • Sultanate of Oman Tourism
  • Sultanate of Oman: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Travel Blogs

  • Dan & Jillian's International Teaching Adventures
  • Dude Travels to Go
  • The Cool Hunter: amazing places to experience around the globe
  • The Traveling Gypsy
  • Wildcard Travels

X-terraneous Stuff

  • CIA World Factbook ~ South Korea
  • Dawn King
  • Let me bite that.
  • Life in the Bogs
  • reinventing the event horizon

my photostream on flickr

Sunny but only 20 degrees today!uploaduploaduploadTaking a walk through the neighborhood#whpsentbymailNext door to port royal post officeNext store in port royalupload
More Photos

Goodreads

Top Posts & Pages

  • the nizwa cemetery
  • the dilemma of the feet in oman
  • camping on the beach near fins
  • the balcony walk from al khitaym to the abandoned village of as sab. {jebel shams}
  • 2008 GMC Terrain for sale!
  • the falaj daris ~ a UNESCO World Heritage Site

InterNations

Weekly Photo Challenge

PostaWeek2012

share your world

a-z photo challenge

52 Pick Up

Sunday Post

Six Word Saturday

No Comfort Zone Challenge

I pledge to read the Printed Word

things i write about

"Happiness" 52 Pick Up 2012 A-Z Photo Challenge Abu Dhabi Abu Nooh Building Africa Akrotírion Al-Areesh Camp Al-Batinah Region Al-Dakhiliyah Region Al-Dhahirah Region Al Aqr Al Ayn Al Hamra Al Musanaah Americas Asia As Sifah Beach Athens Bahla Balad Sayt Birkat Al Mouz Cambodia Cappadocia Crete Daegu Ethiopia Europe Falaj Daris Hotel Family Foundation Institute Friday Meditation Geoje-si GMC Terrain Greece India Intercontinental Hotel Jakesprinter Japan Jebel Akhdar Jebel Shams Jordan Kyoto Lake Langano Lalibela Life Matthieu Ricard Middle East misfat al abriyyin Musandam Muscat Muttrah Muttrah Souq Nakhal Fort Nepal Nizwa Nizwa souq Oia Oman Oman Dive Center Phnom Penh Photography Challenges Pokhara postaweek2012 postaweek2013 Rethymno Royal Opera House Sahab Hotel Saiq Plateau Salalah Santorini Seoul Share Your World Sharqiya Region Sharqiya Sands Six Word Saturday South Korea Spirituality Suncheon Bay Sunday Post Travel Travel Theme Photo Challenge Turkey United Arab Emirates United States of America University of Nizwa Virginia Wadi Bani Awf Wadi Bani Habib Wadi Bani Khalid Wadi Damm Wadi MIstal Wadi Muaydin Wadi Shab Wadi Tiwi Wednesday Song Title Interpretation Weekly Photo Challenge Wekan Western Hajar Mountains

oh say can you see?

Free counters!

Tag Cloud

#capturethecolour 7 Super Shots 52 Pick Up @travelsupermkt a-z photo challenge Abu Dhabi Al Amerat Architecture Art Balad Sayt Birthdays Blogging books Bucket List CBBH Photo Challenge Christmas Daydream Saturdays DPchallenge Egypt Empty Quarter Ethiopia GMC Terrain Greece Hyundai Sonata Ibri InterNations Japan Jebel Akhdar Jebel Shams karma's photography scavenger hunt Life middle east Misfat Al Abriyyin Muscat Nepal Nizwa Nizwa Souq No Comfort Zone Challenge Oman Omar Khairat Optimism Pessimism Phoneography Challenge Picture the World! postaweek2012 postaweek2013 Roses Royal Opera House Royal Opera House Muscat Saiq Plateau Salalah share your world Shine On Award Six Word Saturday South Korea Spain Spirituality Story Challenge Sunday Post Tibet Travel travel theme Turkey United Arab Emirates United States of America University of Nizwa Wadi Bani Awf Wadi Tiwi Wedding wednesday song title interpretation weekly photo challenge Western Hajar Mountains Wordpress WPLongform wwwp5k

Blogs I Follow

  • Fairfax County Emergency Information
  • ~ wander.essence ~
  • Living in Paradise...
  • SterVens' Tales
  • PIRAN CAFÉ
  • Word Wabbit
  • Cardinal Guzman
  • Pit's Fritztown News
  • Fumbling Through Italy
  • Empty Nesters on a Green Global Trek
  • snowtoseas
  • Cornwall in Colours
  • Slovenian Girl Abroad
  • Let Me Bite That
  • Running Stories by Jerry Lewis
  • Finding NYC
  • The World according to Dina
  • Cornwall Photographic
  • snippetsandsnaps
  • SITTING PRETTY

Administrative Stuff…

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  • WordPress.com

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Categories

Blog at WordPress.com.

Fairfax County Emergency Information

Official Fairfax County Government Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Website

~ wander.essence ~

where travel meets art

Living in Paradise...

SterVens' Tales

~~~In Case You Didn't Know, I Talk 2 Myself~~~

PIRAN CAFÉ

Word Wabbit

Wrestless Word Wrestler

Cardinal Guzman

Encyclopedia Miscellaneous - 'quality' blogging since August 2011

Pit's Fritztown News

A German Expat's Life in Fredericksburg/Texas

Fumbling Through Italy

Empty Nesters on a Green Global Trek

snowtoseas

Cornwall in Colours

inspired by the colours of the land, sea and sky of Cornwall

Slovenian Girl Abroad

A blog about travel adventures written by an Slovenian girl living in Switzerland

Let Me Bite That

Can I have a bite?

Running Stories by Jerry Lewis

Personal blog about running adventures

Finding NYC

exploring New York City one adventure at a time

The World according to Dina

Notes on Seeing, Reading & Writing, Living & Loving in The North

Cornwall Photographic

snippetsandsnaps

Potato Point and beyond

SITTING PRETTY

Fairfax County Emergency Information

Official Fairfax County Government Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Website

~ wander.essence ~

where travel meets art

Living in Paradise...

SterVens' Tales

~~~In Case You Didn't Know, I Talk 2 Myself~~~

PIRAN CAFÉ

Word Wabbit

Wrestless Word Wrestler

Cardinal Guzman

Encyclopedia Miscellaneous - 'quality' blogging since August 2011

Pit's Fritztown News

A German Expat's Life in Fredericksburg/Texas

Fumbling Through Italy

Empty Nesters on a Green Global Trek

snowtoseas

Cornwall in Colours

inspired by the colours of the land, sea and sky of Cornwall

Slovenian Girl Abroad

A blog about travel adventures written by an Slovenian girl living in Switzerland

Let Me Bite That

Can I have a bite?

Running Stories by Jerry Lewis

Personal blog about running adventures

Finding NYC

exploring New York City one adventure at a time

The World according to Dina

Notes on Seeing, Reading & Writing, Living & Loving in The North

Cornwall Photographic

snippetsandsnaps

Potato Point and beyond

SITTING PRETTY

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