Walking Through History – sample of printed book arrives

I dropped into Al Roya’s office and saw the ‘dummy’ of the book.

Front Cover Book Walking Through History

All the pages have been printed and the printers did a hand made hard cover so that it could be approved.  The inside pages look really nice, so Im looking forward to getting a finished version.

A Mega Dune of the southern Rub Al Khali from the book Walking Through History

I think there will be an introductory offer for it – check back for this.

Printing my new book on Oman

It was kind of the printing press where my new book is being worked on to let me see the first page go into the machine as a white page, and a few moments later appear at the other end of the machine in full colour.

The first page of the book being printed

Using a Heidelberg press the inks are printed on – and then when all are finished (some 48 hours later) it will go onto the next process of coating the pages to ensure that the inks are fixed in place.

Checking the flow of paper of the book

Then the hard cover and binding will be done and hopefully all will be ready for its launch in mid February.

The Clipper Odyssey arrives into Muscat

Cruising into Mina Sultan Qaboos is always an experience, the harbor really looks great from the sea.

Muttrah from the Clipper Odyssey

Of course though enjoying the views it was also a sad occasion as my work giving lectures on the Clipper Odyssey was drawing to a close. We visited Nizwa and enjoyed not only its fort but

Bandar Jissah closes

It was in 1986 that I first ventured into Bandar Jissah (often called Qantab Beach) in Muscat, along the dirt track which wound down the wadi towards I knew not, but the grand scenery was draw enough.

I found the beach, in an amphitheatre of mountains cascading into the sea, and from it I have swum since then.

Bandar Jissah Beach

Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

It was good to meet up with Kim Tan, Director of Business Development at the Shangri-la,  after his recent business trip to Moscow. Apart from discussing how our own business with the hotel could improve it was also nice to learn how Oman is focusing on the ‘Brics’ countries for its inbound tourism.

Kim Tan of Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Later