[oman-l] travel advice

[Al Salmi]

What is WWOOF?

Willing Workers On Organic Farms
WWOOF began in the UK in 1971.
WWOOF acts as a means of putting members in touch with organic farms and
growers.

http://www.phdcc.com/wwoof

Commets on dress code: Ironically though that currently there are lots of
Omani young ladies dressing in tight jeans and short skirts without being
told anything by others.. also check out the satelite dishes on almost every
house in Oman .. do they all watch "conservative dressed" programs?  I think
it is about time for my own people to let it go .. we have other issues much
more important to deal with than worry about XYZ dressed in mini skirt.

Cheers,
Ahmed Al Salmi


----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald Carroll" <dcarroll@kayoko.niji.or.jp>
To: "Oman-l" <oman-l@oman.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [oman-l] travel advice


> Budget travel is great and I'm all for it, but I would seriously consider
> budgeting for at least 3-4 days worth of 4wd rental (running around 50 OR
a
> day).  One you get to Oman you might be able to link up with some other
> tourists and go in together on one.
>
> I lived in Oman (and loved it!) for six years and from my point of view
all
> of the best things in the country you can't get to one any kind of public
> transport -- unless you count just waiting on a gravel road until someone
> comes along an kindly offers you a ride "public transport".  As a country
> full of (comparitivly) wealthy European expats, it would seem stange to
see
> a "European" hitchhiking, doubly so in the case of a woman.  And remember
> the further out into the wadis you get the more conservatively you should
> dress and behave.
>
> Here is my own list of must see destinations:
>
> 1.  Friday goat/cow market in Nizwa.  Plan to be there by 10:00 at the
latest.
> 2.  Fish market in Seeb (any morning by 8:00)
> 3.  Dhow shipyards in Sur
> 4.  Wadi bani Auf (4wd)
> 5.  Wadi Shaab/Wadi Tiwi (4wd)
> 6.  Mintrib (sort of an entrance point to Wahiba Sands).  You can be an
> enterprising Bedu to take you for a (probably not inexpensive) spin
through
> the desert (and maybe even ride a camel).
> 7.  Top of Jabel Shams for a view down into the Grand Canyon of Arabia.
>
> I would echos Abdullah's word of warning about summertime temps.  I found
> that you jsut can't be out doing anything from about 1 to 4.  Also be
> warned that there are few hotels in the interior (at least when I was last
> there) and what fewe there are would definitely not fall into the "budget
> tourism" (i.e. backpacker class).  There are I believe a number of
> cheap(er) hotels in the Muttrah area of the capital and so you might
> realistically have to plan on daytripping out of Muscat or attempting to
> camp out (which is difficult in other ways.)
>
> >advice? Tips to share?   Customs, laws, rules? I am female, age 46
> >and I travel alone. I travel VERY light, day pack, public transport,
> >hostels, etc. Sort of a "blend in and absorb" method.
>
> A baggy, long sleeve blouse and loose pants or long skirt are best.  My
> wife was once (very politely) told that her shirt was too short (it was
> several inches below the kneeand that the (puff) sleeves here too short.
>
> >fascinated by history and people. I am also interested in any WWOOF
> >type situations in OMAN.
>
> What's WWOOF?
>
> Don
>
> PS If you have any further questions please respond to dcarroll@sg-u.ac.jp
>  I don't use this address much.
>