Oman. Journey Guide

Journey Guide

2015

Oman Alex Wolkowsky

Oman Alex Wolkowsky

Journey Guide E-ISBN 978-0-9890034-7-6

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CONTENTS About the author /4 Foreword /5

Destinations /12

/8 The Mosque of Sultan Qaboos

Birkat Al-Mawz

Wadi

/15

/19 Sayq

Nizva

/24 Sur. The Motherland of Sinbad the Sailor

/13

/22 Wahiba sands

/29

/27 Bimmah Sinkhole

Contents

Journey Guide

Muscat

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People often wonder that I travel a lot to different countries.

And they ask me how has it begun?

Why do you travel, choosing not just a good marine/ski resort or an Alex Wolkowsky interesting excursion program but also not quite prosperous The only “rule” countries or even countries of extreme I have, I try type like Iraq or to alternate Somalia? “civilization” and “exotic”.

About the author

Journey Guide

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I think I even remember that day and hour how it has begun. I was then 11 years old, the 5th form of secondary school, the heyday of the USSR and the unbreakable iron curtain (two kinds of sausage in a store, two kinds of cheese).

On history class we discussed the ancient Egypt and that was the first time I saw a photo of the Pyramids and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. In the photo it was evident that there were people/tourists and that the destination can be reached by plane, train or bus. I would love to see this.

But how it was actually far from us! As to another planet!

Going abroad was something About the author

Journey Guide

incredible and terribly complicated. Then, at age of 11, I thought that my childhood dream would never come true. I did not know then that my first trip abroad would happen in times of Soviet Union and the first trip would be crucial in determining my hobby.

To date I have managed to travel through all the continents but Australia. The assets of nearly a hundred countries, a variety of both the level of civilization, and the size, “danger�, the interest and the distance from the popular tourist destinations. Together with my brother we even took part in the race of the largest world amateur rally Budapest-Bamako.

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Everyone has a dream…

Do you know that originally Sinbad the Sailor is from Oman? I didn’t. But, after reading about his adventures, I always wondered where did he come from? How can I see this country?

Previously I thought that it was a good idea to combine visit to Oman with UAE and Yemen in one trip. I have never been so wrong in my life!

glaring skyscrapers because construction of high-rise buildings is forbidden. The country’s climate is different, there is no burning heat. There are more mountains, more trees, more streams. And people are very friendly.

This was my first trip so I decided to hire a guide with the car.

About the car – with or without a guide but you must Sorry for the comparison, but rent 4x4 car, especially if you this is not Dubai in the UAE, visit Oman during the rainy where it is enough to spend season. In the beginning and half a day and one night to the end of touristic season see the Sheikh Zayed Road, the weather can be rainy and and then safely to put a tick there could be some that “I was in UAE”. surprises from the mother In Oman you won’t see nature that are called wadi.

Foreword

Journey Guide

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There is duty free store in the airport after passport control.

So if you plan to drink alcohol — may be this is your last opportunity to buy

it because in Oman it is rather difficult to find alcohol beverages and they are very expensive.

I recommend to book hotels in Oman through local companies.

The price will be cheaper.

In the morning there was a little rain, the air was fresh, the temperature was +25 °C. I couldn’t believe that in the neighboring UAE the temperature may be +35 °C — +40 °C! Foreword

Journey Guide

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The Mosque of Sultan Qaboos

Let’s go! First stop — the Mosque of Sultan Qaboos.

The Mosque of Sultan Qaboos

Journey Guide

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There are no strict rules about visiting hours in the Mosque.

Outwardly it does not look large, but every detail is done very efficiently.

There was a few visitors inside.

No pomposity, everything is well balanced and simple.

http://sultanqaboosgrandmosque.com/

The Mosque of Sultan Qaboos

Journey Guide

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A major feature of the interior design is the prayer carpet which covers the floor of the prayer hall.

After visiting the Mosque, we went towards Nizva.

We moved through the low mountains, travelling up the country in the direction of the UAE border.

Let me tell you a few things about local mountains because they made a great The Mosque of Sultan Qaboos

Journey Guide

impression on me. They have different shapes, colors and shades. I saw red, brown, black, grey and even green rocks! I was under the impression that I got on another planet, and then BAM! I saw smooth two-lane highways, gas station,

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occasional bushes and a donkey, who was looking for the remains of grass at the foot of rocks. That was some

kind of surrealistic moment.

I thought that I was in the Future on another planet with highways and cars.

The Mosque of Sultan Qaboos

Oman

Journey Guide

ALEX WOLKOWSKY

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