Day-trip with Ibri College students
Teaching English in Oman
16 April 2009
Whilst working at the Ibri College of Applied Sciences in Oman, female students approached my wife and me to request that we chaperoned them on a trip to Nizwa and Misfat Al Abryeen on a Thursday (our Saturday). Oman's weekend fell on a Thursday and a Friday. These girls had to stay in at the hostel for the weekend, so to lessen their pain, the college organizes trips like this to keep the morale up. The only condition is that a teacher must accompany them. I could not really say no, looking into their puppy eyes of desperation, since it seemed like I was their last resort.
So I persuaded my wife and early on a Thursday, a mini-bus full of giggling and screaming semi-teenagers left from Ibri college to Nizwa. They were snapping pictures of my wife and I like we were supermodels, but refused to be photographed themselves, saying it is 'haraam' (wrong or not allowed). This word one probably heard 20 times a day.
Our first stop the Al Hoota caves near Ibri. Then off to Misfat Al Abryeen where I walked on the streets of this mountain village with its unique architecture, taking pictures of people appearing to be from centuries ago. It was photographic heaven for me. Back on the bus, when finally the girls reappeared again, we whizzed off to Nizwa, but not before we enjoyed a picnic in a wadi. At Nizwa my wife and I strolled the souq and fort area, whilst the girl disappeared. At Nizwa spices, silver and tourist trinkets are to be found in abundance. A fresh produce and livestock market for the locals is found in the same area. After a whole day with a demanding group of students, we finally made it home.....not too flustered.
Our first stop the Al Hoota caves near Ibri. Then off to Misfat Al Abryeen where I walked on the streets of this mountain village with its unique architecture, taking pictures of people appearing to be from centuries ago. It was photographic heaven for me. Back on the bus, when finally the girls reappeared again, we whizzed off to Nizwa, but not before we enjoyed a picnic in a wadi. At Nizwa my wife and I strolled the souq and fort area, whilst the girl disappeared. At Nizwa spices, silver and tourist trinkets are to be found in abundance. A fresh produce and livestock market for the locals is found in the same area. After a whole day with a demanding group of students, we finally made it home.....not too flustered.
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| Misfat Al Abryeen - the main street |
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 the 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).
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).
Al Hoota caves
Al Hoota Cave is a natural cave located in Al Hamra, Oman, which is 5 km (3.1 miles) long. The cave was first discovered by locals several hundred years ago and was officially opened as a tourist destination in December 2006. The Omani blind cave fish lives in this cave system (Wikipedia).
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| The road near Al Hoota caves |
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| A precious stone that originated from the caves on display at the Al Hoota caves museum |
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| Posing with a mannequin in traditional Omani wear - The 'knife' is called a khanjar Al Hoota cave museum |
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| A picture of a picture on display in the Al Hoota caves museum |
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| A picture of a picture on display in the Al Hoota caves museum |
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| Shop On the way to Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| On the way to Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| On the way to Misfat Al Abryeen |
About Misfat al Abriyeen
Just under an hour from Nizwa, the ancient—but still inhabited—mountain village of Misfat al Abriyeen is an amazing place for a short hike. The old houses, which are still in use, are traditional mud houses with palm roofs and are unique in that they are built on solid rock foundations. The inhabitants are mostly farmers, who grow bananas, pomegranates, papayas, mangoes, citrus, and most of all, the famous Omani dates (Fodor’s review).
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| Misfat Al Abryeen shop |
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| Misfat Al Abryeen street scenery |
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| Misfat Al Abryeen - the main street |
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| View of the valley below from the main street |
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| View of the valley below from the main street |
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| Posing in the main street |
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| Misfat Al Abryeen - Date plantations |
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| Misfat Al Abryeen - Rock house with a local sitting on the roof |
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| A woman on the roof - Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| House - Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| Farmworker - Misfat Al Abryeen scenery |
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| The mountainous area of Misfat Al Abryeen |
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Houses are built into and on rock faces - Misfat Al Abryeen
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| House built on a rock - Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| Houses are built into and on rock faces - Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| House built into rock faces - Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| House built of stones - Misfat Al Abryeen |
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| Misfat Al Abryeen house |
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| Omani villa - At one of our rest stops |
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| My wife Ansu - shielding her from the sun |
Picnic in a wadi with my students
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| Wadi (dry river bed) - near Ibri |
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| Wadi (dry river bed) - near Ibri |
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| Wadi scenery |
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| Wadi scenery |
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| Wadi scenery |
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| Wadi scenery |
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| A pool of water that remained after rains |
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| Wadi scenery |
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| Wadi picnic |
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| Wadi picnic |
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| Wadi picnic - The girls sitting down having a picnic |
Next stop after lunch, Nizwa ........
About Nizwa
Nizwa is the largest city in the Ad Dakhiliyah Region in Oman and was the capital of Oman proper. Nizwa is about 140 km (1.5 hours) from Muscat. The population is estimated at around 72,000 people including the two areas of Burkat Al Mooz and Al Jabel Al Akhdar. Nizwa is one of the oldest cities in Oman and it was once a center of trade, religion, education, and art. Nizwa acquired its importance because it has been an important meeting point at the base of the Western Hajar Mountains.
Set amid a verdant spread of date palms, it is strategically located at the crossroads of routes linking the interior with Muscat and the lower reaches of Dhofar thus serving as the link for a large part of the country. Today, Nizwa is a diverse prosperous place with numerous agricultural, historical and recreational aspects. Nizwa is a center for date growing and is the market place for the area (Wikipedia).
Set amid a verdant spread of date palms, it is strategically located at the crossroads of routes linking the interior with Muscat and the lower reaches of Dhofar thus serving as the link for a large part of the country. Today, Nizwa is a diverse prosperous place with numerous agricultural, historical and recreational aspects. Nizwa is a center for date growing and is the market place for the area (Wikipedia).
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| Fruit and veg shop - Nizwa souq |
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| Nizwa souq |
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| Clay pots for sale |
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| Fresh fruit being delivered - Nizwa souq |
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| Nizwa souq - Oman has more Indian and Pakistani laborers than the entire Omani population of approximately 2 million |
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| Sweets and nuts shop - Nizwa souq |
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| Nizwa souq area lined with small shops |
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| Typical scenery - Nizwa souq |
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| Tailor - Nizwa souq |
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| Tourist trinkets and souvenirs - Nizwa souq |
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| Man opening his shop for evening session - Nizwa souq |
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