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...
Re-discovering the dunes of Barka
When one hears of Barka, it is easy to associate it with farms and industrial areas but it hides much more beautiful secrets just waiting to be discovered. On weekends, especially before Covid19,...
Where to find gourmet or high end food in Oman if it's not in your supermarket
The past week posed a real challenge to late eaters. With commercial activities coming to a halt at 8 pm, those who don’t know how to cook were in a bind. Noticeably, the whole Covid-19 saga has...
Renewing interest in Zukait’s beehive tomb
He noticed them from afar — an anomaly in a landscape of barren mountains. He thought they were old houses but were far too many and spread across the top of mountains that it doesn’t connect well...
Facebook unfriends Australia: news sites go dark in content row
SYDNEY: Australians woke to empty news feeds on their Facebook Inc pages on Thursday after the social media giant blocked all media content in a surprise and dramatic escalation of a dispute with the...
It’s time to bring qafeer and traditional weaved bags back to shops
Since the implementation of the plastic ban at the beginning of the year, small scale businesses focusing on recycled totes or grocery bags had started to flourish in the Sultanate. The absence of...
Muscat top 10 safest city globally, #1 in ME and Asia in Quality of Life Index
Muscat, Jan 26 - Out of the different urban cities in the Middle East and Asia, Muscat is currently number one when it comes to the overall Quality of Life Index for 2021. Muscat has bested...
Unlock the mystery of Oman's night sky
[gallery type="slideshow" columns="1" size="full" ids="654141,654140,654139,654138,654136"] It took less than a minute for him to find what he was looking for. With one eye on the narrow viewing...
Oman’s birds of prey
PHOTOS BY Biju Augustine I spent most of my childhood being one with nature and closely watching, hidden from view, animals or birds in the wild. I was not one of those kids who were fond of...
Oman passport can access 80 countries visa-free in 2021
Oman passport was ranked 62nd in the Henley & Partners Passport Index with its citizens able to access 80 destinations visa-free or with electronic travel authorization (eTA). Omanis can access 20...
Cinemas, recreation centres reopen across Oman
MUSCAT: Following the announcement of the Supreme Committee on Covid19 allowing cinemas and recreation centres to re-open, major cinema and entertainment operators in the Sultanate have created...