Wilfred Thesiger and Sheikh Zayed

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

It was interesting to visit Abu Dhabi and walk around the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. While its exterior is a brilliant white –its interior, in contrast,  is an equally brilliant poly-chrome . Almost overflowing with floral designs the mosque sits opposite the old tower at Maqta which, some 50 years ago, guarded the ford to the island of Abu Dhabi .

Wilfred Thesiger sitting in his Arabian Sands

Images of Maqta tower and the ford are included in an atmospheric galley in Al Ain of photos by Wilfred Thesiger.

The visits he made to Oman, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the late 1940s were recorded with ‘black and white’ photography. His travelling guides and companions bin Kabina and bin Gabisha are a focus of the images in the galley along with Sheikh Zayed. The gallery, with its natural earth tones and simple design, reflect Thesiger’s own yearning for austerity and focuses the visitor’s attention on the evocative images of his travels.

Football in Oman

Al Taawn Football Team had a good win in the local league competition to celebrate Oman’s 39^th National Day . They won the first round 4:1 and went through to the final against Hai Aldhahir .

Omans Al Watan Newspapers article on the win by Al Taawn

In a very competitive game the single goal was scored by Yahya AlBusafi of Al Taawn . So it’s probably the only time Arabesque will overcome the might of Toyota – as we sponsor the winning team and they the losers.

Nizwa Market in Oman

Nizwa Souq in Oman before Eid

Starting off in Al Sawadi we made a stop in Nizwa to enjoy the Friday market . Though our guests have visited Oman with us every year for the last six years the market is still a must see . This years was especially busy as it was in the build up to Eid.

Walking along the Coast of Dhofar

Then on through the Wahiba Sands and down the coast to arrive in Salalah several days later . The summer Monsoon’s green had largely disappeared – but a very enjoyable walk along the coast still took us through areas of vegetation – while in the water Turtles and Sharks swam in surprisingly close proximity .

Frankincense in Oman for Christmas

The Historical Association of Oman publishes a Calender each year .  Most images are usually of northern Oman, as thats where the Association is based . This year as a bit of balancing I was happy that a couple of my pictures of the Salalah area could be used.

Incising the Frankincense Tree for the Gum

Here is one,  a Frankincense Tree, appropriately the month is December, being cut for its Gum, by a friend of mine.

Picnic in Yemen

After a very nice drive through the Dhofar mountains we arrived in Yemen – where if anything the scenery is more dramatic than in Dhofar.

Enjoying the Yemeni sun

on small beach we had a simple Picnic before turning around, for the drive back to Salalah.

Fortunately we managed to arrive in time for a nice dinner in town.