Travel to Oman – Episode 542

Hear about travel to the Sultanate of Oman as the Amateur Traveler talks to Claire Robinson from zigzagonearth.com about her trip to this middle eastern country.

Claire says “I am really happy that Lonely Planet has decided that it will be on their list of top countries to visit in 2017. It’s number 8. They decided to explain why they put it on the list with all the luxury hotels coming in and a big theme park. I am a bit disappointed by that. Happy they are on the map. So I am really glad I get to share with you the real beauty of Oman.”

“It’s a very good mix of culture, history, nature. It’s very authentic, especially compared to its neighboring countries. They have been really good at keeping a lot of the land wild. The capital city has no tall towers. It’s very respectful of the environment. You have a lot of contrast in the country. You have those white colors against the bare grey mountains. You have the empty wadis with the green of the palm trees. You have the orange sand dunes in the desert. Also, it has all this history.”

Claire takes us on a virtual tour which starts us in the capital of Muscat with sites like the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Royal Opera House as well as the fish market.

We talk about the UNESCO World Heritage sites: Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman, Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn, Bahla Fort, and the Land of Frankincense. Claire particularly enjoyed the old forts of Oman, including the Bahla Fort. She also talks about exploring some of the wadis like Wadi Bani Khalid as well as camping on the beaches and in the desert.

She ventured into the interior to old cities like Nizwa at the base of the Western Hajar Mountains. Standing at the top of the tower at the Nizwa fort, with the green of the trees and the white of the houses, surrounded by the barren mountains was the spot Claire found most beautiful.

Hear about this country where Claire found a special peace.

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Show Notes

Zig Zag On Earth
Oman
Oman Tourism
Muscat
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Royal Opera House Muscat
Muscat Fish Market
Muttrah
Land of Frankincense
Al Qurum Beach
Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve
Bimmah Sinkhole
Wadi Shab
Sur
Wadi Bani Khalid
Wahiba Sands
Nizwa
Bahla Fort
Jebel Akhdar
Jebel Shams
Rustaq
Al Ayn & Bat
Birkat Al Mawz
Musandam Peninsula
Videos of Oman
Places to visit in Oman

Community

From Gillian:

Very much love listening to your show here in Australia. I just discovered you a few weeks back and love listening to the archives. Will be great to hear at podcast on Gdansk in Poland one day. Keep up the great work and best wishes for 2017

From Tom:

Hi Chris, just wanted to drop you a note and say happy birthday next week. Just got back from a trip to china. I studied up on your podcast and chinahistorypodcast.com to learn the history. Love the show. Tom

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