Monday 23 November 2009

Al Sawadi - Holiday hot spot in Oman

English Teacher in Oman

Al Sawadi 2008 - 2009


Al Sawadi was one of my favorite places in Oman. There was a three-star Beach resort (recently closed) that had chalets close to the beach. It had a great beach with luke-warm pristine water. One could rent a boat to take you to the Sawadi islands to snorkel. A bunch of teachers at the Ibri College also camped out on the beach for a weekend.

Al Sawadi

About Oman


Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Holding a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the country shares land borders with the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz (which it shares with Iran) and Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries.

From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar (today part of Tanzania, also former capital). As its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom. Historically, Muscat was the principal trading port of the Persian Gulf region. Muscat was also among the most important trading ports of the Indian Ocean. Oman is an absolute monarchy. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970. Sultan Qaboos is the longest-serving current ruler in the Middle East, and sixth-longest current reigning monarch in the world.

Oman has modest oil reserves, ranking 25th globally. Nevertheless, in 2010 the UNDP ranked Oman as the most improved nation in the world in terms of development during the preceding 40 years. A significant portion of its economy is tourism and trade of fish, dates, and certain agricultural produce. This sets it apart from its neighbors’ solely oil-dependent economies. Oman is categorized as a high-income economy (Wikipedia).

About Al Sawadi


Al Sawadi (or simply Sawadi) is a resort town near Muscat, Oman. It is one of the most famous places in Oman. It has a beautiful beach. Many people like to spend their holiday in this place (Wikipedia). 

Beach Camping at Al Sawadi (2008)


Fishermen - Al Sawadi

Our tents - Teachers from Ibri COAS who camped out on the beach for a weekend

Blair (Australia), still fast asleep in the early morning hours

Our Tent

Salim, an Omani kid, who came to speak to us. I asked him what one
calls chocolate in Arabic, to which he answered Galaxy...
which is a brand of chocolate you find in Oman.

The fishing boat that took a bunch of us over to the island to do some snorkeling

The fishing boat that took a bunch of us over to the island to do some snorkeling

The boat 'captain'

Some of the teachers enjoying the sun and snorkeling on the little island.
We stayed here for a couple of hours before we were fetched again to return to the mainland

Staying at the Al Sawadi Beach resort (2009)


Fishing boat

Romantic sunset boat trip for an Omani couple

Al Sawadi Beach resort - pool area

Relaxing at the pool

Pool

Al Sawadi Beach resort chalets

Al Sawadi Beach resort - Price per night in the chalets was 50 Omani Riyal

Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Al Sawadi Beach resort - some tents that were used for relaxation

Al Sawadi Beach resort - Beach area

Al Sawadi beach - Fishing & tourist boats

Al Sawadi Beach - Oman men enjoying the beach

Fisherman

Omani kid taking a swim

Fisherman

Fisherman

Omani family returning from a trip

Omani family on a boat trip

Al Sawadi - Boats at sunset

Al Sawadi

Al Sawadi beach scenery

Omani practicing his soccer skills

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