Nubian Ibex: Grazing and foraging in protected sites of Garden City
Just as tourists are enjoying the monsoon-showered Salalah, the different fauna and flora that calls Oman’s Garden City home are also benefitting from the lush greenery popping up all over the wide...
Rare: An art collector’s dream space
At the centre of the wide hall is a familiar face — pouting, elegant, the face of sophistication that has captured the world’s fascination. Marilyn Monroe is bigger than life persona and in this...
Pomegranate season in Jabal Akhdhar to captivate visitors anew
The soft intermittent rains drizzled the plants of Jabal Akhdhar. At night, the temperature still drops to a good 24 degrees Celsius. The inhabitants of Balad Seeq welcome these rains. In two more...
To fly or not to fly, that is everyone’s question
It’s nearly two years since I was last on a plane. The threat of Covid19 made me postpone a lot of my scheduled travels including visiting home in the farthest corner of South East Asia.That streak...
Five activities to break the summer monotony
The sweltering heat of summer in Oman can be a real challenge for people to enjoy their usual outdoor activities. With some areas registering up to 47 degrees Celsius (Muscat included), the country...
The rise of the #plantita
It's a portmanteau of the words plant and tita which is the Filipino word for auntie. Together, it is a concept of someone whose hobby is raising indoor and outdoor plants. If you haven't heard of the...
All eyes on Salalah’s beloved Khareef
Now that the full lockdown is finally over, a lot of the online conversations happening now revolve around Salalah’s hotly-anticipated Khareef season.During the lockdown, with fewer human movements...
Should you visit Salalah to see khareef this year?
The Supreme Committee last week has announced that, unlike last year, Dhofar will actually be opened for visits to residents and citizens who had taken the first dose of the vaccine.This was welcomed...
Building an outstanding career in hospitality and tourism
Hers is an industry classified amongst the top female-led industries in the world. In Oman, the tourism and hospitality sector is expected to contribute to the country’s GDP by OMR 3 billion by...
Three books you can binge on during the Eid lockdown
Against the Loveless WorldSusan AbulhawaPalestinian American writer and political activist Susan Abulhawa is back with this searing and lyrical story set in Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine under Israeli...
Bringing sophistication with a provincial twist to Mirbat
Jabal Samhan is a powerful, dominating site in the sprawling simplicity of Mirbat. With the start of the khareef, the usually caramel mountain has started to shed its earthy tone transforming to the...
Khareef season's extended effect in Khor Jarama
A solitary structure stood by the water overlooking the more than dozen of dhows anchored in the nearby still waters of the Khor. This structure is a recent addition, a makeshift port, that allows the...
Wadi Mibam: Fast-rising star amongst Oman’s wadis
It’s easy to miss Wadi Mibam. In fact, a lot of people still make the same mistake. After driving to Wadi Tiwi and reaching what seemed to be the end of the road that leads to a small village dotted...
Weekend hike at the Al Khoudh Trail
For the uninitiated, it’s hard to imagine Al Khoudh as a hiking destination. Very close to the city, many have an impression that it’s just an industrial area if not an exclusive village for...
[gallery type="rectangular" columns="4" ids="671541,671540,671539,671538"] For the uninitiated, it’s hard to imagine Al Khoudh as a hiking destination. Very close to the city, many have an...
Jabal Akhdhar farmers balance life between fasting and regular routine during Ramadhan
[gallery type="rectangular" ids="671020,671019,671022"] Abdullah Salim is already in his 70s but he is not showing any sign of slowing down. He took over his family’s rose water distillery almost...
Oman seas and beaches you can take home
It probably is the best way to preserve Oman’s beaches and seas so you can take it to your home. Or for Shireen Ahmed, take it anywhere. “I started resin art two years ago and I am addicted to...
Less than three weeks left to experience the rose harvest season in Jabal Akhdar
[gallery type="columns" columns="1" size="full" ids="667928,667929,667930,667931"] Over the last few days and the three weeks that will follow, Jabal Akhdhar’s gardens are seeing a massive...
A young Filipino artist’s death rekindles memories of his love for Oman
[gallery type="rectangular" ids="666248,666247,666246"] His friends and the artist circle in Oman will always remember him to be a sweet soul. To their recollection, he is a kind of person who is...