Author Archives: admin

Body parts

Posted on June 27, 2011 by admin

A few miscellaneous body parts which have come across my path in recent weeks. First up, I mentioned in one of my earliest posts a goat which I thought had big ears.  Well, I’m not afraid to admit I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 1 Comment

Heat and Light

Posted on May 27, 2011 by admin

The temperature here has recently been hovering around the mid 40s, and a lot more in the sun.   Once the air’s gone higher than about human body temperature, everything starts to feel rather strange.   Even with air conditioning on, walls … Continue reading →

Posted in Ibra, Nature | Comments Off on Heat and Light

Wadi Bani Khalid

Posted on May 23, 2011 by admin

The road to Wadi Bani Khalid is beset with dangers on all sides. Irascible camels: Vicious sand-dunes: And worst of all… cross winds! I thank you. For those who make it there alive, Wadi Bani Khalid has water in its … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 1 Comment

Signs of eccentricity

Posted on May 6, 2011 by admin

One of the great pleasures of living or travelling in another country is mocking their use of signs.  Without any more ado:   And finally…

Posted in Society | Comments Off on Signs of eccentricity

Walkies

Posted on April 23, 2011 by admin

Just for fun this weekend, I got up at 5:30 am, cycled along a track made of sharp stones, and scrabbled my way up and down a hill.   That’s a good time in Ibra. On my way up, I met … Continue reading →

Posted in Ibra, Nature | 1 Comment

Turtle Beach

Posted on April 1, 2011 by admin

This weekend we made an excursion to Ras al Jinz, better known in English as Turtle Beach.  This is the main turtle-watching site in Oman; it’s very popular, but fortunately seems quite well-managed. First impressions of the camp we stayed … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 2 Comments

No Man’s Land

Posted on March 10, 2011 by admin

The area around Ibra is a mix of mountains and gravelly plain; perhaps technically a desert, but not Lawrence of Arabia stuff.   Not too far away, however, are the Sharqiya sands, which look like this: It’s not all Zen … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 3 Comments

Born again

Posted on February 26, 2011 by admin

One of the disadvantages of being an Alexander is the persistence with which people keep trying to change your name; company bureaucracies and hotel receptionists being the worst offenders.   Here in Oman I’ve encountered a novel, Arabian twist on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy | 1 Comment

Old Ibra

Posted on February 16, 2011 by admin

I’m finally mobile now that my bike is in working order, so today I went to see Al Munisifeh, the old town of Ibra.   Just outside it is a cemetery which has the pleasing minimalism often found in Islamic … Continue reading →

Posted in Ibra | 1 Comment

Looking Up 2

Posted on February 16, 2011 by admin

A few more constellations: Perseus, with the Pleiades on the top left.   The constellation runs from the Pleiades to the bottom right, with a branch going left to Algol, just below the middle of the picture. More detail of … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 1 Comment