Footprints Travel Mag Issue 6

“Rock Zoo” of Duqm

Vol. 1, Issue 6 ,Vol. 1, Issue 6 , August - October 2012,August - October 2012, Winter SpecialWinter Special

Ra’s Madrakah,Ra’s Madrakah,Veronica- the swaying Veronica- the swaying

beautybeauty,, Cliff Diving World Cliff Diving World Series at Wadi Shab,Series at Wadi Shab, Celebrity sayCelebrity say & & moremore

A safari to Kenya’s wild,A safari to Kenya’s wild,Flight of the Gibbons,Flight of the Gibbons,

Adventures on an Enfield - Adventures on an Enfield - Himalayan Odyssey,Himalayan Odyssey, Most Most spectacular sitesspectacular sites & more more

Oman-TrailOman-Trail Globe-TrailGlobe-Trail

Oman’s first premier travel magazineOman’s first premier travel magazine

Readers Forum

I agree with your comment that Oman is the best kept secret (Footprints, November

2011 – January 2012) in the diving world. A real wonderland exists beneath the waters

and divers must feast on them. Serious divers should look into the prospects of diving

in Oman and I must say that it (diving here) is not all that difficult as many claim. New

divers can of course learn from the many diving institutes set in Oman, but I would really

wish that more professional divers would look into the beauty of Oman’s depths. Oman’s

diving season is roughly between October and May and the latter is also viewed as the

best time for diving. During the season, the water is very clear. Some of the main diving

sites include the Damaniyat islands and Bandar Jissah. Next time you are in Oman, go

take a dive and see for yourself the wonders that exist below the Omani seas!

D. Lewis, (Tourist in Oman, from Louisiana)

I met the rarest creature in the world last year – Lonesome George, a giant Galapagos

tortoise (refer caption in Footprints, November 2011 – January 2012). It was an

amazing experience. I am a big fan of tortoises and I am always drawn into those

big, yellow eyes. The first day I say one of them (tortoises), I was hooked and since

then have visited most of the major zoos, even the San Diego zoo. But, my biggest

meeting was with Lonesome George! As far as I know, George is close to 100 years

and is reportedly in good health. And I am not sure whether George has managed

to have an offspring; earlier attempts seems to have been unsuccessful and I do not

know whether the Galapagos National Park authorities have managed to get any

offspring successfully hatched so far. Would love to know more about George.

Linda George, Muscat

‘Balcony Laden Floating Condominium’ –

the seven day cruise report in Footprints

(November 2011 – January 2012) – made

an excellent read. It took me back to my

own cruise on large cruise ship. Although

I am quite shy and feel claustrophobic

when in confined spaces and had so may

misgivings before I boarded the gigantic

vessel, the remaining week (yes, I also had

a week’s cruise) was one of the greatest

ever experience for me. I was not sure as to

how, I, an independent traveler would find

vacation bliss on a mind-boggling big cruise

vessel, but, I did. While the details of the

experience are too long to write here, I must

say one thing: food, food, food, and food

was in plenty and because of the variety

one could never get tired of it. Besides that,

everything you want, which includes, gyms,

theatre, music, swimming pool, et al are

available and somehow, even if you prefer

solitude, you will still find like minded people

on board! What an experience!

Sue Morgan, Al Khuwair

Lonesome George II?

Cruise ships offer a whole new experience

Come, dive in Oman

Shrinking

Venice and

shrinking purseI would love to catch a sight of the

world’s tourism treasures before they

disappear (‘Honey, my Venice is sinking).

But, however much I want to I am not

able to move in that direction because I

find my purse is always shrinking!

Sunil DCosta, Seeb

What was once a small fishing village, located some six hours – 700kms -- away from the capital, Duqm,

in Al Wusta region, is today poised to become a brand new industrial destination!

A remarkable transformation is on the cards for this once sleepy fishing town when all of the current

development work is completed. The government of the Sultanate of Oman has invested heavily in Duqm

and all of it is going to bear fruit, soon.

This little town, which faces a busy regional sea lane and its port enjoying a very strategic location, is

poised to become a major maritime gateway that will serve an industrial and commercial hub.

Al Wusta region is no longer a mere desert! A port, a dry dock, an airport, a refinery, a petrochemical

complex, power and desalination infrastructure, an industrial area and a free trade zone as well as tourism

and residential projects are all in the making!

The region is rich with natural scenic beauty too – not to miss the beaches of Ras Madrakha, Ras Markaz,

the pink lagoon of Khaluf, the Arabian Oryx sanctuary, the 45 million years old rock garden and the one

and only floating hotel Veronica…

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Editor-in-chief

Duqm – brand new industrial destination

Friend, phi losopher & guide

August - October 20126

C o n t e n t sO

n t

he

cove

r

Design: Beneek Siraj

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC

Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos

Office location: Hatat House A, 2nd Floor, Suite No: 212

Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496

e-mail: [email protected]

Editor-in-chiefMohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Managing editorPriya Arunkumar

Work editorAdarsh Madhavan

Design & productionBeneek Siraj

Advt. & marketingPriyanka Sampat

PrintersOman Printers

22

10

Adventures on an Enfield -

Himalayan Odyssey

A group of 14 Enfield men (and a woman)

went up on one of the toughest motoring

routes in the world, on the Himalayas,

riding the Royal Enfield 500, to heights

ranging between 2700 to 10,000 feet

above sea level, and returned as boys

(and a girl)!

A safari to soak in Kenya’s wild

The exotic landscape of Kenya

matches with the untouched

wilderness and the unusual wildlife.

Rising above them all are the

Kenyan people, especially their

lovely, innocent children

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1010

A joint venture with Zahara Travel and Service Bureau

presentationA

August - October 2012 7

42 50

56

5042

32

This year’s leading diving

competition was launched off the

cliffs of the picturesque French

island of Corsica. It will continue

its journey into some of the most

magnificent locations around

the world including Norway,

Portugal, Ireland, USA and UK

before landing for its seventh

and closing stop in the wonderful

Wadi Shab

Swaying beauty

Veronica, the 200-plus room floating

hotel, owned and operated by

the DSME, Daewoo Shipbuilding

and Marine Engineering Oman

LLC, the operators of Oman

Drydock Company, was seen as a

phenomenon when it docked here

some years back

Rock ‘Zoo’ of Duqm

We stood ensconced between

millions of years old rocks and

modern life taking shape just some

distance away and got ourselves

baked under a sweltering sun in the

blazing hot Rock Garden in Wilayat

Al Duqm, Al Wusta region

Flight of the Gibbon…

A firsthand experience on the Flight

of the Gibbon, a unique zipline

canopy experience where you fly

through a pristine rainforest

Oman-Trai l Oman-Trai l

Cliff Diving World Series concludes in

the picturesque Wadi Shab – Oman


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Black raven

(a safari to soak in Kenya’s wild)

A raven’s low, hoarse…almost croaking…sound seemed to

emerge from the dark, dense foliage beyond the main road as we

alighted from our extended safari Landcruiser, which had burst

a tire. It actually sounded like a sick crow, but van driver Robert

insisted that it was a raven.

croaking


August - October 201210 August - October 201210

Robert, a native son of Kenya, who

was formerly trained as a soldier and

was part of the peace keeping force in

Sierra Leone, should know better. He

was driving one of the two Landcruisers

that were taking us – a bunch of sardonic

scribes and over enthusiastic travel

agents -- to Sweetwaters Tented Camp

from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

as part of our Kenyan fam trip, arranged

by National Travel and Tourism (NTT)

and Kenya Airways. Moyo Holidays were

the destination managers. Sleepy, after

a fabulous breakfast at the magnificent

Nairobi Serena Hotel, we were hurtling to

the tented camp when the serenity of our

drive was broken by the puncture, the

first of many to come!

We got out in the blazing sunlight to

forage among the bright colours of

Kenya: small food outlets painted stark

raving red, black attired dark Kenyans

along with their red adorned women.

Newspapers, fruits, plants are sold

from these roadside outlets bordering

large woodlands, abound with amazing

colours. Suddenly, our eyes fell upon a

lone black bird. Robert was right – it was

a raven, which was sizably larger than a

crow, almost the size of a hawk.

It stared at us.

Lookalike raven A scene like this itself could make it into

a postcard. Orange mud, green foliage,

blue sky, white cars, black men and

women wearing a riot of colours. The

men were mostly relaxed and laidback.

The women were entirely different. They

always seemed to be on the move and

definitely more industrious. When the

puncture was repaired we got into the

vehicle but not without throwing a second

glance at the raven, which fluttered and

took wing.

We went on our way and suddenly

in the hot semi dust-laden highway

our Landcruiser lost another tire to a

puncture. We got down again there on

this road flanked by small fields where

some workers were toiling. As we

unleashed our cameras, we sighted our

raven, yes, looked like the same one! It

has to be, or perhaps all ravens looked

alike!

Globe-Tra i l


August - October 2012 11August - October 2012 11

A different brew Two flats and a detour to Fairmont Mount

Kenya Safari Club Resort ate into our

time and schedule, but the coffee we had

at the resort made up for the inordinate

delay. Kenyan coffees were of a different

brew!

A kind of magic Still, we were not deterred by the

punctures or the heat. There was a kind

of magic in the air – the kind of magic that

made us believe that our dreams, our

fantasies were all going to come true! It

was the kind of magic that made us feel

that we, somehow, belonged here in the

wild!

Tourists are just tourists But, did we actually belong? Were we

somehow part of this? Not quite. We are

a clear contrast in the scheme of things of

Kenya. Highly opinionated tourists, in rich

seasonal clothes, expensive cameras,

money in our pockets and with nary a

care in the world save for our desire to

shoot ourselves silly before big game.

We were out of place in the earthy tones

of Kenya, where the sheer struggle to live

for man and beast alike is an unnerving

story, which most of us would studiously

avoid. We prefer to have what intoxicates

us: the wild animals; snatching up some

bargain items from poverty-ridden folks,

whom we believe we have successfully

conned.

We are not ready to stand in the Kenyan

blaze, which is really more intense,

more personal than we can strive to

understand. There are plenty out there

for whom a mere morsel or a drop of

water can be the difference between

life and death. If we understand that, we

would learn to appreciate the magic of

Kenya more. But, who has the time or the

inclination?

Charming Sweetwaters The vehicles turned slowly into the

luxurious Sweetwaters tented camp,

set in a 22000 acre wildlife sanctuary. It

offers the perfect African ambience for a

tourist, replete with a tented camp and

a well cared for animal sanctuary. Sheer

bliss! This private game reserve abounds

with wildlife and offers night game drives;

guided bush walks plus both horse and

camel riding across its plains. There were

around 30 luxuriously appointed tents.

Each tent had a thatched roof, an en

suite bathroom, a large verandah, most

of them overlooking the waterhole. It was

not just the quality of its African, Asian

and international cuisine (five course

table d’hote) that bowled us, the camp

night was peaceful (hot water bottles

gave us company in the beds) as well

as enchanting. Polite and graceful deers

walked all around the camp area and

the whole night was punctuated with

animal cries, some distant, some quite

near. The waterhole, which could be

viewed from the dining area, as well as

the tents, unveiled a steady stream of

animals ranging from zebras, warthogs,

ibis, cranes…many claimed seeing lions.

We were unlucky – we did not hear even

a roar.

A lone elephant The afternoon game drive gave us a

sample of what was to come. But the

jumbled sight of a variety of deer (impala,

bush bucks, dik-diks etc), zebras,

warthogs, bison and a lone elephant

could only whet our lips. The elephant

was not near, yet it seemed not too happy

at seeing us and glared at us until we

moved past it and disappeared into the

distance. They say lone elephants could

also be rogue elephants, but we were not

inclined to find that out for ourselves.



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The exotic landscape of

Kenya matches with the

untouched wilderness

and the unusual wildlife.

Rising above them all

are the Kenyan people,

especially their lovely,

innocent children


Feeding a blind black rhino If you stumble upon a mother rhino and

her calf in the wild, it will surely attack you.

In fact, a black rhino can attain speeds

of upto 40 miles an hour, zoo officials

claim. But the one we met was a gentle

black giant, so tame that it ate from our

hands. The rhino is normally considered

to be dangerous, but blind Baraka at

Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Sweetwaters)

was a sweet old rhino who allowed us

the grandness of feeding him. A board

however cautions: “…all animals maybe

unpredictable. (So) approach Baraka at

your own risk…”. We did.

Feel good moments Fruit and vegetable vendors broke the

monotony of a rocky drive towards

the next destination for lunch: Lake

Elementaita lodge. En route we had a

stop over for photo shoots at a waterfall,

curio shops et al. Wherever we went

we bargained until the sellers gave in,

exhausted. They would never have met

specimens like us before! But, when

Gladys, a thin but optimistic sales lady,

took us to her tiny hole of a curio shop,

our bargaining resolve melted. There

were very little items there, but we did

not have the heart to move away without

spending some time and money there.

We were accosted by others who wanted

to show their outlets too, but we did not

budge. From the corner of our eyes, we

saw Gladys animatedly explaining to her

neighbour about our generous exploits

in her shop. She happily waved us

goodbye. We responded and felt a little

flicker of do-good happiness in us.

Fellow traveller Off the dirt track from the main Nairobi-

Nakuru highway, we drove in to Lake

Elementaita lodge, which had flower filled

gardens, a lovely pool and grassy lawns.

Robert, who sat with us during the lunch,

explained how in the south-to-north

sequence of Rift Valley lakes, Elmenteita

is located between Lake Naivasha and

Lake Nakuru. During the photo shoot and

the tour of the premises, our eyes fell on

the black raven again. It was perched

atop a tree and seemed quite innocent by

itself. As we tried to train our cameras on

this pesky stalking creature, she (she?)

flapped her wings and disappeared.

As we edged out of the lodge, we saw

her watching us again. We realised that

there was nothing ominous about her

presence; she could only be a benevolent

soul in the raven form; a fellow traveller; a

feathery guide!

Politically conscious A brief stopover at the market town of

Naivasha (part of the Nakuru district)

gave us an opportunity to hobnob with

some of the locals. Some of them were

exceptionally friendly and helpful, tending

to our needs and going out of the way

to assist us in our tasks. Most of them

were highly politically conscious and they

had their independent views with working

knowledge of other countries’ politics

too.

Hippos of Naivasha Persistent knocks at our door at around

3.30am hauled us up from our cosy

beds of the Lake Naivasha Country Club

where we were staying overnight. We

stumbled out and the friendly guards led

us over the slippery-when-wet grass.

We had befriended the guards who kept

their promise to help us get up, close

and friendly with the fabled hippos of

Naivasha. The previous evening we

had ventured out to the edge of Lake

Naivasha – along with the same guards

– and spent a near eerie three quarters of

an hour watching the submerged hippos.

Their eyes bulged out from the river

surfaces as they floated close. Where we

watching them or where they watching

us? And, where was our raven? We had

seen something fluttering earlier from the

tree tops, but this time our airy guide was

staying away from sight.

Globe-Tra i l



Night hippo safari “Don’t go too close!” the guards cautioned

us as this intrepid group braved the cold

and the dark morning to wander along

with some of the most dangerous beasts

on earth – the lumbering hippos! Soon,

the group split into two as we followed

the pre-dawn snacking of the beasts on

the grassy lawn. There were others too,

but some of them whom we followed

disappeared into the night and later we

heard them splash nosily in the river as

they plunged headlong into it.

We also had the luck to be greeted by

some really extra tall giraffes right at

our doorsteps as they munched the

vegetation and leaves of trees outside

our rooms. Moments such as these

cannot be explained in mere words.

Shantytown stopover Heat waves danced up from the

ramshackle slums where water taps are

known to have dried, but we still went

searching for something to wet our

parched lips. Dust whipped through this

small town, which comprised of many

tin-roof shacks, where vendors sold

small essentials.

Children gathered around as some of us

in the group turned mini Santas doling

out toffees to the youngsters.

The women members tried out the

fashionable tight curls and braiding

from a Kenyan hair stylist set in a small

dwelling. You could also get rides on

100 to 200 cc bikes and in fact, Robert

hopped on one to get an essential spare

part – a fan belt -- from the main town

for his vehicle, which was broken, one

of the main reasons for stopping at this

shantytown.

Empowering womenWe were some hours into the interiors of

Kenya, yet, we had not seen anything of

the big game as yet. Or, any game. Big

birds, yes! And big men lolling about,

while their thin as well as large women

desperately sought out to better their

lives by engaging in all kinds of labour to

meet both ends.

Africa is honed in this constant struggle

of these determined women, with several

kids and mostly a work-shy husband,

who does the job of 10 men to keep

her family afloat. The success story of

Kenya too would lie in empowering these

women who have the power and the

ability to lift families and communities –

men included – out of poverty.



Globe-Tra i l



Tall woesBeing the tallest living terrestrial animal has its disadvantages. Because of its

long neck, it is difficult for giraffes to pick, eat or drink from the ground level.

To bend down to eat, it has to either spread its front legs very wide apart

and pick its food, or bend its knees. Most often, they look as though they are

about to fall.



Out of disappointment stemmed such

idealistic observations because that

afternoon, which was originally reserved

for a game drive, where we were supposed

to see the game of the savannah, was

totally wasted as we were stuck with a

handicapped vehicle. It took a while for

us to reach the Mara Serena Safari lodge

and all this while our eyes darted out of

the speeding vehicle trying to rediscover

the raven again. Sometimes we thought

we saw her, and sometimes we didn’t.

She was playing hide and seek.

No big game?Rains lashed the car and drowned the

dusty track with muddy streams as we

neared the Mara Serena lodge. Just as

we dashed in from the rain, we heard her

again. The raven. Croaking in the rain.

But, we still couldn’t see her. She was

somewhere around!

Ensconced in the safety of the lodge,

we relaxed and how! We made up for

the time lost in the afternoon and our

deprived luncheon with a vengeance. But

deep in us, we wondered whether this

was one Kenya trip sans the big game?

God’s own creatures But the big game was just playing hooky

with us. They were just around the corner

waiting to surprise us in the expanse of

the Masai Mara. En route to the Keekorok

lodge, we finally began to satisfy our

cravings for the big game as most of the

missing members and other creatures of

the safari capital of the world streamed

into view displaying their sheer majesty

for us.

Post lunch, we were once again treated to

a real time play of the mesmerising animal

world peopled with as many animals that

we could conjure in our fantasies. As we

Globe-Tra i l



ventured deep into Kenya’s most popular

game sanctuary, we began to realise that

there is nothing more satisfying than to

watch God’s own creatures go about

their lives in their own wild world.

Best for last This trip reserved the best part for the

last. The beautiful Sarova Mara Game

Camp was one of the best camps

out of the whole trip. The camp is well

positioned to enjoy the best of the Masai

Mara. Although we did not have the luck

to view the phenomenal spectacle of

the wildebeest migration, which could

be viewed sitting at the camp, thanks

to its layout and the other activities

there, we enjoyed the locale like mini-

kings in paradise. The only downside

to the luxury tented experience was the

odd policy of power cutting from 4pm

to 6pm and 12am to 4am. Since some

of us were not warned about the same,

we were quite incensed at this power cut

and ventured out in the inky blackness

to voice our protest. However, we were

pacified when the friendly and supportive

guards helped us out with candles and

matches and led us back to the safety

of the tent. Also, the wooden doors had

no locks. Perhaps security may not be

an issue there in such a beautiful locale,

but it does pose some uneasy moments

when you realise this.

Epilogue We stopped for lunch on the side of the

highway whilst on the way back to the

airport from where we would fly out to

Muscat. At a distance we saw our raven

alighting on the branch of a tree. It waited

while we finished our meal and then as

our vehicles moved, it flew past us and

beyond, its tail waving us goodbye. We

made a silent prayer of thanks to the

departing wings of this strange black

mascot. She seems to have been our

good luck charm. Other than some

punctures, we were all safe and sound.

Bye, bye raven! Keep flying!


An oft repeated quote in the biking circles

– especially in the Enfield biking segment,

where it originated from -- is that

if you ride asif you ride as a boy on a bike to the a boy on a bike to the

Himalayas you willHimalayas you will return as a man; return as a man;

if you ride as a manif you ride as a man to the Himalayas to the Himalayas

then you return as a sagethen you return as a sage; ;

if you go as a sage, you will probably if you go as a sage, you will probably

returnreturn as a boy. as a boy.

Globe-Tra i l


– adventures on an

Here, a group of 14 Enfield men (and a woman) went up on one

of the toughest motoring routes in the world, on the Himalayas,

riding the Royal Enfield 500, to heights ranging between 2700 to

10,000 feet above sea level, and returned as boys (and a girl)!

Himalayan Odyssey



Ani Varghese revs up his Royal Enfield Classic 500 at his bike showroom in Wattayah. The bullet rumbles in its classic tug-tug-tug sound and strikes an immediate chord in the heart of Bullet lovers. There is something unmistakingly rough, tough and wild about a

Bullet/Royal Enfield, which other bikes, however bigger and richer, cannot offer. There is nothing like a Bullet, which while being minimalist, still offered an unusual rugged charm.Ani, 41, whose love affair with a bike began when he was just 14, was the team leader

for this Himalayan ‘Bullet’ expedition. He explains that their ride up the Himalayas was not just a picnic – but one of sheer adventure.

Here, both Ani and his other team member, Krystal

Murriy, detail the wonder of riding together in extreme

conditions on an isolated terrain and how they flogged

their Enfields on almost impenetrable roads.

Globe-Tra i l


Thundering atop mountains They had their share of tumbles, ill luck

and risky life-and-death moments. But,

like Ani noted, riding an Enfield is not just a

ride – it is a special bike for a special rider

and they were special moments. Riding

an Enfield is about attitude and riding

it skillfully is an achievement. Riding it

atop the Himalayas is all about teamwork

and having a sound head above your

shoulder. But, it is the ultimate adventure

on a mountain, Ani noted.

Recalling their thrilling moments when the

group thundered across the mountains

and plains of the Himalayas, Ani noted

how such rides were all about the rider

and what he/she rode. “Riding in the

Himalayas is primarily about who you

are and not just about how you ride,” Ani

explained. “When you talk about riding, it

is riding in an unusual environment where

we have to meet with difficult challenges

at every turn. But, it is also about making

a mistake and then learning from it!

“We experienced lot of hurdles, but we

managed to overcome them, and some

days, it was quite difficult to ride. Bikers

had their share of tumbles; bikes had

their share of damages! We also had our

share of altitude sicknesses! There were

some moments when we wouldn’t feel

like getting on a bike, but, once we did,

we forgot everything and rode like the

wind!

“But, despite all the challenges, we did

not break down! We somehow rose to

the occasion and managed to battle the

odds!”

Third-time ventureThis is Ani’s third biking adventure so

far. “After completing this successfully,

we are now keen to make this an annual

affair. June to July is the best time for

the trip and I would always recommend

the Royal Enfield 500 (classic) for these

type of mountainous biking adventures,”

Ani said.

“For every biker this is a dream route

with all sorts of different and difficult

terrain from water to ice to rock to gravel

to sand… every turn is tricky and you

have to be most vigilant to complete the

nine-day route successfully. Our team of

14 bikers comprised senior professional

bikers to rank new bikers; a backup

team to ensure that the adventurous trail

remains safe and exciting!”

Love for bikes“Biking is in my blood. A biker is not

created – you either have it or you don’t.

The passion for it is inbuilt and you need

to build on it. My dad was a biker and

he had an Enfield. So, I took up biking

at a very young age. I have had the

experience of riding all brands of bikes.”

Other than his passion for riding, Ani is

also a full-fledged bike mechanic: “I was

one of the first –starting in 1999 -- Harley

Davidson mechanics in town.”

Dream life A life with bikes has always been a dream

for Ani and it is this dream that he brought

to life at a very early age. “My love for the

Enfield is not a passing fancy, as a sound

technical bike mechanic, I can vouch for

its performance any day. The trip which

we took would have been impossible on

any other bike other than an Enfield 500.

The brand is synonymous with quality,

durability, performance and credibility.

Oman’s bike market is still at a very

nascent stage and only a handful of

passionate bikers are available in town.

Being the dealer for Enfield in Oman, I

hope to woo in many more passionate



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‘Bullet’ riders whiz past a camp in the Himalayas



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all that a biker can ever dream of!”

This year, the team of 14 comprised

different nationalities, and of a mean

age range of 24 to 64 years; some were

professional bikers, while some were

pretty raw. Most of them were above 40,

but all keen bikers. It was truly a trip of

the like minded.

“I remember every corner was tricky,

every terrain a challenge! In fact mine

was specially challenging one, with a

small mishap that threw me off my bike

at a treacherous turn, leaving me with a

broken wrist. I feel, for a biker, the safest

haven is on top of a bike, and I had to

confine myself to the seat of the follow

up van for a day, until my wrist was

medically attended to. In fact sitting in

the van actually made me more nervous,

because of the winding roads! After a

day of rest, I was back on track with a

bandaged arm and completed my trip

successfully. Good times always come to

an end but I have come back refreshed

and ready for the next adventure!”

Moments of bliss When they were riding, the roar of the

bikes could drown any other sound. But,

when they camped out in the Himalayas,

there were sheer and unbeatable

moments of tranquility and peace where

the stillness enveloped everything. “There

were moments of complete stillness that

was amazing; it could heal any wound,

real or imagined; it was poetic!” Ani and

Krystal recalled. And there was music

too. There were moments when nature

thrilled them with heavenly music. “The

sheer wind and the trickle of water from

little springs made magical music!” they

said as they rekindled those moments of

sheer bliss atop the Himalayas.

Six out of the 14 bikers were from Oman:

The six bikers are residents of Oman,

brought together by the love of biking

and the Enfield brand…

The 11-day trip started off from Oman to

New Delhi airport and to Chandigarh by

local train, reaching the starting point of

the nine-day adventurous biking route.

Bikers from Oman• Ani Varghese (team Leader and

Enfield local dealer)

• Krystal Murriy

• Simon Hawgood

• Lars

• Jesper Ege Rasmussen

• Kevin Junglov

and serious bikers in to the adventure

team. I hope to do more of the road trips

and one day hope to take up a bike trip

on the Silk Route. The Leh-Ladakh route

is considered the toughest motoring

route in the world and I believe that every

serious biker should take up this route. It

is a lifetime achievement for every biker

as it offers multiple terrains to ride on!”

A real biking experience“I have no words to describe the 9-day

(actually 11, taking in the total days of

travel) adventure!” Krystal Murriy, a keen

biker, noted.

“This is a route and ride every biker will

dream of. I have been on a bike since I

was three. Both of my parents are biking

enthusiasts. I have mastered the bike at

an age where girls of my age were just

out on the playground.

When Ani told us all about the Leh-

Ladakh route trip, I knew I was not going

to miss it! Looking back, I guess I will do

it every year! It is a challenging, exciting

and a dream route for bikers of the world.

With a good support team, the 9 to 11

day trip proved to be a well planned

adventure. The climate, the landscape,

the terrain and the vroom of the bikes is




“The Leh-Ladakh route is considered the toughest motoring route in the world. Every serious

biker should take up this route. It is a lifetime achievement for every biker as it offers multiple

terrains to ride on!”


Stay at: Agyaat Vass Eco Lodge

Route: Panchkula – Pinjaur – Kalka – Dharampur – Solan

– Kandaghat – Chail – Kufri- Theog-Narkanda

Narkanda is a town in Shimla district in the Indian state of

Himachal Pradesh. It is at an altitude of 2708 meters on

the Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 22) and about 65 km.

Stay at: Hotel Shangri-la, Kalpa

Route: Narkanda-Rampur-Jeori-sungra-Wangtu- Karcham-

Poari-Recong Peo – Kalpa

Kalpa is a small town in the Sutlej river valley, above Recong Peo

in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It is inhabited by

Kinnauri people and famous for its apple orchards.

Kalpa is a town with a history of ancient temples. The Sutlej river

below hurtles through deep gorges, the winding mountain road is

bordered by chilgoza forests. The serenity of this sleepy hamlet

was not often visited by foreigners until recently, but there are still

relatively few visitors. Relaxation of the inner line permits in the

mid-nineties (kinnaur borders China) opened the area to tourism.

Stay: the Spiti, Kaza

Route: Kalpa-RecongPeo – Poari – Jangi – Puh – Yangthang –

Chango – Tabo – Kaza

The town of Kaza, Kaze or Kaja is the subdivisional headquarters

of the remote Spiti Valley in the Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal

Pradesh in the western Himalayas of India. Spiti, which is a part

of the the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal. Kaza, situated

along the Spiti River river at an elevation of 3,650 metres (11,980

ft) above mean sea level, is the largest township and commercial

center of the Valley.

Stay at: The Chandrabhaga, Keylong

Route: Kaza – Losar – Kunzum – Pass – Batal – Chhatru – Gramphu – Sissu – Tandi –

Keylong

Situated at an altitude of 3350 m, keylong is the headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti

district of Himachal Pradesh. The region is strange, exciting, primitive, mountainous and

delightful. It is located along the Manali-Leh Highway, about 7 km (4.3 m) north-east of

intersection of the Chandra valley, the Bhaga valley and the Chenab valley; on the banks

of Bhaga river. It is an oasis of green fields and willow trees, water streams surrounded

with brown hills and snow capped peaks.

Day 1: Narkanda Day 2: Kalpa

Day 3: Kaza

Day 4: Keylong

Globe-Tra i l



Stay at: Himalayan Saga, Sarchu

Route: Keylong – Jispa – Dharcha – Patsio – Baralacha La-

Sarchu

Sarchu (Also called Sir Bhum Chun), a tented camp in the

Himalayas on the Leh-Manali highway, on the boundary

between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh (Jammu and

Kashmir) in India. It is situated between Baralacha La to the

south and Lachulung La to the north, at an altitude of 4,290

m. The journey along the Manali-Leh highway at high altitude

and variable road conditions, normally takes two days, so

travellers and tourists use this spot as an overnight stop. An

Indian army camp is sited nearby on the banks of the Tsarap

Chu River. The highway and thus the camp are closed during

the winter, when snow blocks the high passes along the road.

This spot can also be used as a start point for the difficult trek

into the Zanskar region of the Ladakh.

Stay at: Hotel Caravan Centre, Leh,

Route: Sarchu – Lingti- Lachalung La – Tanglang La – Rumtse

– Lato – Upshi – Thiksey – Leh

Leh is the heart of the Leh Disctrict and capital of Ladakh in

the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Leh is located in the Indus river valley at a crossroad of the old

trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet and Kashmir.

Stay at: Thirit Camp, Thirit

Route: Leh – South Pullu – Khardung La – Khardung – Khalsar

– Thirit

The Nubra Valley, once on the trading route that connected

easter Tibet with Turkistan via the famous Karakoram Pass, is

the most recently opened area of Ladakh. Nubra invites you

to a trip back in time into a nearly forgotten ‘Shangri La’. With

breathtaking views and delightfully hospitable inhabitants,

it is quite an experience. Local scholars say that its original

name has was Ldumra (the valley of flowers). The Shyok River

meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that

seperates the Ladakh and the Karakorm Ranges. The average

altitude of the valley is about 10,000 ft. above sea level.

Route: Thirit – Khalsar – Khardung- Khardung La – South

Pullu - Leh

Day 5: Sarchu

Day 6 & 7: LEH

Day 8: Nubra Valley

Day 9: Return to Leh



Flight of the Gibbon…Words: Priyanka Sampat

Photographs: Jackline Vieira


One moment I was on terra firma, and in the next, I was swinging wildly from tree to

tree like a mad monkey. It was great to be a

teenager again! I doubt whether any ‘flight’ could be

this fun and exhilarating! I was in a deep Thai rainforest enjoying an

unrepeatable adventure – the Flight of the Gibbon, a unique zipline canopy

experience where you fly through a pristine rainforest.

My heart skipped a beat when I stood on the first

treetop platform and viewed the scene before me – the ziplines looked like some

thin lines, more like electric lines, connecting some

large trees in a dense green forest. For some moments

I stood there transfixed, not fully sure of what I was

going to do. Then the gentle voice of one of the two young sky rangers, who

accompanied us throughout the tour, broke in to my moment of temporary

paralysis: “It is quite safe, you don’t have to worry one bit,” he said, smiling

reassuringly at me. I closed my eyes, gulped and finally decided to take

the plunge.But, before I leap, let me

take you back to how I got here:




After many discussions and

brainstorming sessions on the various

destinations to visit, we zeroed down on

Thailand, deciding to explore Thailand

a little differently than the usual. Some

research led us to discover an adventure

sport, Thailand’s premiere day Zip Line

Canopy adventure tour called the ‘Flight

of the Gibbon’, which is located an hour

away, on the outskirts of Bangkok in the

lush rainforests of the Chonburi district in

Thailand, somewhere between Bangkok

and Pattaya. The world famous course

is situated between the 30,000 hectare

Chompoo Wildlife Sanctuary, home to

some of Thailand’s most fascinating

plant and animal life and Khao Kheeo

Open Safari.

Once we reached there we were

welcomed by the friendly staff who

gave us a verbal tour of the flight. Then

we were introduced to the sky rangers.

They explained the nitty gritty of the tour

and gave us the safety instructions, after

which we were equipped with the safety

gear.

Then we set out for a quite steep 15

minutes walk in the rainforests of

Thailand, which brought us to the first

treetop platform to start off our zip lining

experience.

The whole zip line canopy was stretched

over three kilometres. The first zip line

was rather low and stretched to around

50 meters. Every time we started off, one

sky ranger would zip line to the other end

before us to ensure that we land safely…

I shut my eyes, uttered a prayer, and then

launched myself into a world unknown.

During the Eid holidays (Aug 2012) my group of friends (famously known as the ‘Wolfpack’) and I decided to go on a mini vacation or more like a

weekend getaway.



A gibbon at the Khao Kheeo open zoo




But, I couldn’t shut it permanently. My

eyes inflated, my heart raced and my

breath whizzed along with the ‘flight’. For

the first few moments, I did not realise

that I was screaming and when I did the

silence that followed was all enveloping

and I began to scream again.

What I was doing was – in a crude form

– what the masters of air locomotion,

namely, the gibbons, did in forests –

swinging from branch to branch. But

unlike these extremely acrobatic and agile

creatures of the forests, I was a novice

to this. Yet, within the next few minutes,

I realised that there was nothing much

to fear. Safety is foremost in this flight

and while it is a fast paced experience

(you can zip between platforms in mere

seconds at times) and quite a challenge

for the vertically disinclined. But, if you

manage to control your initial fear, it is a

cakewalk, or should I say, ‘cakefly’?


Globe-Tra i l



One important thing to remember though

is that you should never ever place your

hands on the iron rope – your fingers

could get sliced off in a jiffy! But, the safety

aspects were thoroughly drilled into us by

the sky rangers so we were not liable to

make such mistakes. I flew, sometimes,

low, but still cutting in between the trees

and other times, atop them, so much

so that all I could see below were the

frail tips of the presumably tall trees!

Sometimes it felt as though I could even

touch the skies.

I was part of a nine member group and

all of us zipped, most of us yodeling on

top of our voices. We zipped across 24

platforms, with one of the longest zip line

stretching over 300 metres. We spent

nearly three hours in the air enjoying

one of the most unadulterated flying

pleasures one could ask for. They say all

good things have to end and so it was

with a certain amount of reluctance that

we descended down from the ‘heavens’

back to the land, but an authentic and

delicious Thai meal helped bring us down

to earth. We ate ravenously, for we did

work up an appetite.

Post delicious meal we were taken around

the Khao Kheeo* open safari where we

were given a full animal treat up close,

even some of the most endangered ones.

When we were getting out of the

enclosure, we saw a group all trussed

up in safety gear moving a bit nervously

towards the platforms. We grinned

amongst ourselves and gave them a

silent wink – they did not know they were

going to experience a flight of a lifetime!

(Khao Kheeo is a world renowned

model for the ‘open zoo’ concept where

animals are kept in spacious landscaped

enclosures.)

Price: 3299 Baht/person (approx OMR41/

person)

Website: http://www.treetopasia.com


In the stillness of a half moon silent night a stray mutt barks somewhere in the distance. We

pulled down the windows of our four wheeler and gazed out into the darkness. We wanted to have a night vision of the rather strange spot we had visited earlier in the day. We were passing through this place so we just briefly stopped to have a night look at a rock garden that we were

all awe struck by, earlier that morning.

In the mut

pppppppulllleand ghave ahad vthhrouhhaavvee a

aa

Oman-Tra i l



The dog barked again and in the distance as our eyes got used to the darkness we saw some eerie looking mammoth-sized animals taking shape. It seemed as though we were on another planet – an animal planet -- where the beasts were cast in stone. Have one of those stone beasts come alive? Did the barking mutt emerge from this stone zoo?

Beasts coming alive We raised the windows and moved on in the dark as we pondered over this weird theory of a ‘stone’ animal coming alive. It was a strange experience and so we did not want to entertain such lay thoughts. The ever affable Mutasam Sulaiman Nasser Al Taway, a media man from Oman Drydock Company SAOC (which had organised this trip to Duqm, particularly to this rock garden), turned and smiled at us: “Do you want to get down and have a midnight picnic in a rock garden?” We were energised by the thought, but we finally decided not to give into our whims. We already had a taste of this famous garden in the blazing sunlight earlier that morning…

eedd

eee aa hhhoouuuggghhhttt, aaa tttaaasssttteee oooffff tthhhiisss



Amidst history and modernity We stood some several hundred

kilometers away from Muscat, almost in

the middle of nowhere: On one side we

were touching several millions of years,

and on the other – now, modernity,

today. Millions of years old rock on one

side, today’s technology on the other.

We stood ensconced between these

millions of years old rocks and modern

life taking shape just some distance

away and got ourselves baked under a

sweltering sun in the blazing hot Rock

Garden in Wilayat Al Duqm, Al Wusta

region.

45 million years old History touched modernity and that

unique moment was not lost upon us as

we gingerly stepped on some ordinary

looking limestone and sandstone rocks.

Never judge anything – even rocks – by

their looks. For these rocks are said to be

some 40-odd million years old!

Standing in the rock garden, overwhelmed

by the strange rock formations, we also

realised that we were in the middle of

history, archeology, geography and

geology, and then strangely enough, as

we looked into the near distance, you

saw cranes and trucks moving. “On the

one hand you have millions of years old

rocks and on the other you have modern

technology plugging away on the ground

nearby as new buildings and offices

slowly take shape in the distance,”

Mutasam Al Taway explained to us.

The incongruity of the scene is that

development activity is spread all around

this rock garden, which is a three square

kilometers stretch of limestone and

sandstone rocks, which was formed in

an underground freshwater aquifer over

46 million years ago.

Larger-than-life figures This three-square kilometers stretch is

devoid of all activity, except for curious

visitors like us who have come to admire

nature’s work of art. Over the years,

some of the greatest artists known to

mankind, namely wind, water, frost and

other natural forces, have shaped some

unusual figures on this soft white sand.

Some larger-than-life animal figures are

hewn out of the limestone and sandstones

forming a veritable Rock Zoo.

Top site of geological importance Duqm’s rock garden is one of the top 25

Oman-Tra i l

sites of geological scientific importance

in Oman and the rock formations

are of exceptional scenic beauty.

This ancient stone park set in a dry

landscape is a protected heritage site.

While its geological scientific value is

unmistakable, the other aspect, its ability

to inspire is equally amazing. Recently,

it was also a location for a group of

artists, photographers and writers

who, according to published reports,

stayed there for three days as part of a

project, to create their own impressions

of this geological and geomorphological

wonders of this planet.

Another 45 million years?A visit to this rock wonder is highly

recommended. It is amazing how in the

stillness of these uniquely shaped rocks

your mind empties itself and slowly

takes on the surroundings. This is a

phenomenon that has managed to lift

itself from above the mundane growth

of civilisation and even the ravages of

time for the last 45 million years. Instead

of asking the trite question whether it

might survive another 45 million years,

the question to really ask is whether we

will be true to our responsibility to keep it

going for the next 45…?



Oman-Tra i l



Is that a dog? A sea lion? No, just a rock shaped like an animal at the Rock

Garden in Duqm



Where the sea, mountains and hills

Oman-Tra i l



After savouring the rock garden, we thought it would be only fit

to visit a pristine natural spot where the sea, mountains and hills

meet. A visit to Duqm is not complete without visiting one of its

most popular spots – Ra’s Madrakah, a peninsula that can be

found further to its southern end.

Ra’s Madrakah is about 46km -- around 40 minutes by car –

from Duqm in Al Wusta region. We hit the road from Duqm in

the late afternoon hours to reach our destination a little over

40 minutes owing to a couple of stops to reconfirm the route

with passers bye. There are some villages scattered along its

coast and this quaint spot is a much visited area as we ourselves

realised seeing the number of vehicles returning from the beach

area as we sped there. Some of them were tourists too. Most of

them come to enjoy the weather, to bathe in the sea and the fish

and also to soak in the serenity of the surroundings.

Moving into the white beach, we quickly panned the area to find

some quick shots to take back home. The beach is set in an

area with rocky cliffs on either side. Some of the rocks seem

to rise from the sea and one could sit on the sands watching

the sea playfully gushing over the rocks and sometimes sending

spectacular sprays. The sun was setting as we sat there,

emptying our minds of all thought.


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Swaying Oman-Tra i l


beauty

Duqm’s unmistakable pride is docked silently at its port. But, the silence

is expected to be broken soon when news of this

swaying beauty spreads far and wide and its popularity

rises in tandem with the emerging industrial oil town

that is Duqm. The town is surely going

to blip on the global industrial radar soon, and the country’s first and only floating luxury hotel, is also

going to get its due.



Oman-Tra i l



Veronica, the 200-plus room floating hotel, owned and operated by the DSME, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Oman LLC, the

operators of Oman Drydock Company, was seen as a phenomenon when it docked here some years back. It came at a time when the Omani government was investing heavily in Duqm’s development. Thereby it served as the ideal

venue to accommodate the stakeholders involved in the development. A cheerful Sean Halliday, rooms division manager of Veronica, gave us the

works: “All of the 200-plus rooms on the Veronica are well furnished. You can choose from a range of luxury, deluxe and standard rooms. Veronica also

has readily available entertainment facilities for the guests including karaoke rooms, library, business centre, sports bar, theatre, shopping arcade, gym,

salon, swimming pool, lounges and multi cuisine restaurants.”


Oman-Tra i l



Halliday gave us a tour of the Veronica where one can stay a night at

prices ranging from OMR32 for serviced residences to OMR215 for

one of the two luxury cabins on board. In October 2010, the DSME

bought Mona Lisa, a cruise ship built in 1966, from Bahamas shipping

firm Leonardo Shipping Inc, with the intention of converting it into a

luxurious floating hotel, to be stationed at the Duqm Drydock. With

investments of over $30mn, the ship was renamed as Veronica. The

Veronica, previously known as the MV Mona Lisa, began life in 1966

as a transatlantic liner for the Swedish American Line, a passenger and

cargo shipping line. It was commissioned in Clydebank, Scotland by

one of the biggest shipping companies of the world John Brown and

Company.

Maritime historyEarly in the tour, Halliday pointed out to a large mural, which depicted

the maritime history of Sweden. “We have retained this mural as a

memoir to the ancient history,” Halliday explained. “The last owner was

Greek and the vessel was called Monalisa. The DSME took charge some

22 months back and this was the second vessel to go to the Drydock.

The ship was refurbished and the interiors were done by DSME and are

managed by the same operators,” Halliday said.

Focus on Duqm “Duqm ‘as a region’ is on the highlight of development and progress

and we hope to see more tourists and visitors in the near future. With the

Duqm airport on the agenda, we are sure the percentage of the visitors

will only increase. Our first international guests were from Sweden, a

group of serious bird watchers. They were in Salalah and on their way

back stayed in Duqm on the Veronica. There are no five star hotels

currently in this area and Veronica is a pleasant and unique luxury option.

With the beauty of the pristine beaches nearby, like the Ras Madrakha

and Ras Markaz, the wind sculpted heritage Rock Garden dated several

millions of years and the fabled Oryx Sanctuary near Haima, the region

is a rich destination for visitors and tourists. We arrange tours for our

guests aboard,” Halliday said.

A good place to rest Currently, the local residents are unaware of the facilities available at

Veronica and guests are mostly business related clients of companies

like ODC. “There is a fair amount of people travelling from Muscat

and Dubai to Salalah and Duqm being the halfway point would be a

good place to rest from the long drive. We are looking forward to those

travellers in the near future, once we start our promotional and seasonal

offers,” Halliday said. The Floating Hotel Veronica also has several

retail and office spaces available for lease to local and international

businesses who wish to open a satellite office in Duqm and be closer to

their project sites,” Halliday said. The Veronica offers guests a home-

away-from-home atmosphere and it can also accommodate both long

staying business clients involved in Duqm projects as well as tourists

visiting to see the tourist spots within the vicinity, he added.

(The B&W team visited the Veronica in mid-May this year and the facts

are related as per the date. For bookings: reservations@veronicaduqm.

com; [email protected] )


Cliff Diving World Series concludes in the picturesque



Wadi Shab – Oman




Cliff DivingRed B

ull

Every high diver’s dream is to qualify for the Olympics. They

work hard to perfect their jump and achieve the ultimate score,

overcoming the many risks and obstacles that come in their way.

With time comes the experience, and with experience comes

perfection. But after outgrowing swimming pools, divers begin to

search for bigger challenges, ultimately reaching for one of the

most exhilarating sports in the world: cliff diving. And with Red

Bull Cliff Diving World Series dominating that scene, divers will

definitely step up their game for a chance to be crowned World

Champions.

This year’s leading diving competition was launched off the cliffs

of the picturesque French island of Corsica on June 22nd. It will

continue its journey into some of the most magnificent locations

around the world including Norway, Portugal, Ireland, USA and UK

before landing for its seventh and closing stop in the wonderful

Wadi Shab – Oman on September 27.

The Oman stop will be held under the patronage of His Highness

Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al-Said and in partnership with the

ministry of tourism, Muscat Arab Tourism Capital 2012, MBC

Action, Omantel and Merge FM.

The final stopOman hosts the season showdown in the gorgeous Wadi Shab.

The canyon-like valley provides a most spectacular backdrop

for the crowning of the 2012 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Champion.

Palm and date trees line the narrow, winding and old rock paths,

with a series of streams, aquamarine pools and waterfalls —

the Wadi combines the attractions of coastal areas and inland

wonders. Wadi Shab lies in Niyabat Tiwi, a village between the

capital, Muscat,and the town of Sur. Easy to reach from the

Qurayyat-Sur highway; it has at least seven pools of emerald

green water and is studded with dramatic boulders. One of the

pools is in a cave where light streams in dramatically from above

The world’s elite cliff divers step up their game for the series finale on September 27th

and there are fantastic echoes heard when one swims in it.

Kingfishers add glorious splashes of colour. Although parts were

damaged in a cyclone, it is still one of the most scenic Wadis in

all of Oman. Some of the natural pools are not for swimming in,

however, as the spring water is an important part of the local

villages’ resources.

Mana and Pono – back to the rootsBuilding on its Olympic roots, this extreme sport requires both

immense strength and balance or what is known as “Mana”

and “Pono” in ancient Hawaiian Shamans. These fundamental

beliefs were at the core of 18th century cliff diver – Lei Lei

Kawa’s philosophy as he rose to fame for his daring jumps. In

modern times, cliff diving continues to call for these two qualities,

particularly with diving adventures thriving in various locations

around the world. Yet it wasn’t until May 2009 that the sport

acquired its organised and professional form of today, when

Red Bull launched the Cliff Diving World Series involving dives of

vertiginous heights comparable to that of the roof of a 10-storey

building. Every year, 14 of the world’s cliff diving elite with huge

amount of cliff diving experience and ranging in age between 25

and 46 years are selected from 10 different countries to compete

in this absorbing contest.

27 meters, 3 seconds, 85 km/hIt takes three seconds to jump from a height of 27 meters and

hit the waters at the speed of 85 km per hour... three simple

seconds that define this mighty jump and call for perfect physical

awareness as the slightest mistake could cause permanent

physical damage to the diver, similar to a 13 meter-high jump

on dry land. During that time, divers accelerate from 0 to

85km/h. But what might seem like a blink for the spectator is

in fact an eternity for the athlete as he “flies” off the cliff in a

perfectly synchronised motion, before immersing in the water,

decelerating then resurfacing with a sigh of relief.


The competition itself is organised under the form of dual

confrontation with heightened levels of excitement all throughout

the event. And still... the incredibly skilled athletes have to win the

approval of the international judges, who score every fraction of

the dive starting from the moment of the jump to every position

during the “flight” all the way through to immersion.

Cliff diving heroesIn the inaugural 2009 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competition,

Orlando Duque from Colombia was crowned champion followed

by UK’s Gary Hunt in second place and Artem Silchenko from

Russia came in third. In the following season, roles were inverted

as the Englishman managed to exceed expectations and sweep

up the lead, relegating the Colombian back to second, while the

Russian maintained his position.

Unfortunately, Duque sustained some injuries which kept him

away from the competition in 2011; Hunt retained his lead and

Silchenko jumped up to second place while Michal Navratil from

the Czech Republic won the last of the podium positions. The 2012

World Series is well on its way towards the second half following

stops in Corsica, Norway, Portugal and Ireland, lead by Orlando

Duque (610 points). Hunt (UK) is in second place with 510 points.

As for Artem Silchenko, he secured back to back wins during the

third and fourth phases which prompted him to third place (500

points) in the overall standings.

The leading trio is joined by eight other divers to constitute the

11 permanent divers in the competition, with three more being

selected at every round to bring up the total number to 14. The

first three rounds include seven dual confrontations, with the

winners and the losing diver with the highest score qualifying

for the final dive. Cliff Diving World Series champion is the

athlete who scores the highest cumulated number of points in all

competitions during the season.

RBCD World series finale in Wadi ShabSeven stops around the world from Corsica in the Mediterranean,

to Grimstad in Norway, to the Azores in Portugal followed by the

Serpent’s Lair in Ireland, Boston in the United States, Wales –

UK and finally Wadi Shab in Oman, seven battles in breathtaking

venues to decide the championship.

The pinnacle of high diving competition will fittingly conclude in a

showdown of divers versus gravity over the emerald waters of the

Arabian Gulf in Wadi Shab – Oman to crown the World Champion

and mesmerise audiences.


2012 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stops:

Corsica – France: 22- 23 June

Grimstad – Norway: 6-7 July

Azores – Portugal: 20-21 July

Inis Mor – Ireland: 3-4 August

Boston – USA: 24-25 August

Wales – UK: 7-8 September

Wadi Shab – Oman: 26-27 September

For more information visit: www.redbullmea.com/cliffdiving



Celebr i ty say



Oman’s pristine brownish red desert can make anyone fall in love with it. The ‘Last King of

Scotland’ was one such man who was struck by the beauty of Oman’s desert. Oscar winning

actor Forest Steven Whitaker, who was here in Oman as part of the 7th Muscat Film Festival

(MIFF), was bowled over by the beauty of Oman’s desert. In between picking an award (Golden

Khanjar) as part of the festival and enjoying his stay at Oman’s internationally renowned hotel, Al

Bustan Palace hotel, Whitaker quietly slipped into the Sharqiyah sands along with the organisers

to soak in the sun and sand. Sharqiyah sands, which extends over an area of upto 10,000

square kilometers, is the original

homeland of the Bedouins and

is a well known tourist attraction

offering excitement and vitality – far

away from the madding crowd!

The Unesco Goodwill Ambassador

dune bashed the sands and

enjoyed a night under the stars in

one of the world’s finest deserts.

‘King of Scotland’ falls in love with Oman’s desert

AirlinesFlight Information (24 hours): 24 519456

Aeroflot: 24 704455

Air Arabia 24 700828

Air France 24 562153

Air India 24 799801

Air New Zealand 24 700732

Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24 701128

British Airways 24 568777

Cathay Pacific 24 789818

Egypt Air 24 794113

Emirates Air 24 792222

Ethiopian Airlines 24 660313

Gulf Air (toll-free number) 800 72424

Indian Airlines 24 791914

Iran Air 24 787423

Japan Airlines 24 704455

Jazeera Airways 23 294848

Jet Airways 24 796680

Kenya Airways 24 660317

KLM 24 566737

Kuwait Airways 24 701262

LOT Polish Airlines 24 796387

Lufthansa 24 796692

Malaysian Airlines 24 560796

Middle East Airlines 24 796680

Oman Air 24 707222,

24519953

PIA 24 792471

Qatar Airways 24 771900

Qantas 24 559941

Royal Jordanian 24 796693

Saudi Arabian Airlines 24 789485

Singapore Airlines 24 791233

Sri Lankan Airlines 24 784545

Sudan Airways 24816565

Swiss Air 24 787416

Syrian Airways 24797567

Thai Airways 24 705934

Turkish Airlines 24 475030

Art galleries Al Madina Art Gallery 24691380

Bait Muzna Gallery 24739204

Omani Heritage Gallery 24696974

Omani Society for Fine Arts 24694969

Raj Relics 99329842

Yitti Art Gallery 24564297

BookshopsBorders 24558089

Family Bookshop, Qurm 24564391

Madinat as Sultan Qaboos 24600084

Turtles 24696217

House of Prose

(Used books) 24564356

CinemasAl Nasr Cinema 24831358

Al Shatti Plaza 24693557

Markaz al Bahja Cinema 24540855

Stars Cinema 24791641

Embassies and consulatesAlgeria 24 605593

Austria 24 793135

Bahrain 24 605074

Bangladesh 24 567379

Belgium 24 562033

Canada 24 788890

Chile 24 561977

China 24 696698

Colombia 24 816264

Cyprus 24 490200

Denmark 24 526000

Egypt 24 600411

Finland 24 701454

France 24 681800

Germany 24 832164

Greece 24 706648

Holland 24 603706

India 24 814120

Iran 24 696944

Iraq 24 604178

Ireland 24 797083

Italy 24 693727

Japan 24 601028

Jordan 24 692760

Korea 24 691490

Kuwait 24 699627

Lebanon 24 695844

Malaysia 24 698329

Mexico 24 561977

Morocco 24 696152

Mozambique 24 594207

Netherlands 24 603719

Norway 24 603706

Pakistan 24 603439

Palestine 24 601312

Philippines 24 605140

Portugal 24 561400

Qatar 24 691153

Russian Federation 24 602894

Rwanda 24 487978

Saudi Arabia 24 601744

Somalia 24 697977

South Africa 24 694793

Spain 24 691101

Sri Lanka 24 697841

Sudan 24 697875

Sweden 24 708693

Switzerland 24 568202

Syria 24 697904

Taiwan 24 605695

Tanzania 24 601174

Thailand 24 602684

Tunisia 24 603486

Turkey 24 697050

United Arab Emirates 24 600988

United Kingdom 24 609000

Uruguay 24 568202

USA 24 643400

Yemen 24 600815

LibrariesBibliothèque Française: 24681874

British Council Knowledge

and Learning Centre: 24681000

Oman Chamber of

Commerce and Industry: 24707684

Public Technical

Library Science: 24673111

United States Information

Service: 24643400

Raspberry’s Books: 95086074

MuseumsBait Adam 24605033,

99356676

Bait Al Baranda 24714262

Bait Al Zubair 24736688

Children’s Museum

24605368/9

Currency Museum 24641510

Muscat gate Museum 24739005

Nakhal Fort museum 26781384

National Museum 24701289

Natural History Museum 24641366

Omani-French Museum 24736613

Oman Heritage Museum 24600346

Planetarium: 24675542

Sayyid Faisal bin

Ali Museum 24641650

Salalah Museum 23294549

Sohar fort Museum 26844758

Sultan’s Armed

Forces Museum 24588700

Sur Maritime Museum 24541466

Special interest groupsAmerican Women’s Group 24594751

Environment Society

of Oman 24482121

Historical Association

of Oman 24563074

Horticultural Association 24605493

Indian Social Club 99322713

Muscat Amateur Theatre 24562511

Oman Bird Watching Camp 24695498

Omani Women Association 24602800

Royal Omani Amateur

Radio Society 24600407

Woman’s Guild of Oman

www.womensguildoman.org

TaxisAl Dar Taxi 24700555

Hello taxi 24697997

Muscat Cab 96429096

Info

rmat

ion

Travel ler ’s guide



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Documents

Footprints Travel Mag Issue 6