My World: Another journey, another story.

[fahim mohammed]

I have brought to OPF images from places that my wife and I have traveled to. As indeed other esteemed
OPF members have.

From parts less visited and less shown on OPF is a diary of our short trip to the Sultanate of Oman. In the Middle East. The Sultanate of Oman and my country share a common border.

Befor I post any images, please indulge me in a small exercise.

Oman. What impressions spring to your mind?

What do you think you would see, if you visited this place?

Maybe you have heard about it on National Geographic, Discovery/Travel Channel. Or maybe on Fox News?

So please, as a game; close your eyes, imagine you are on a flying carpet and land in Oman. What do you think shall greet you?

 

[Antonio Correia]

I will try.
Very hot weather. Desert. Dunes. Great palaces built with marble. Arabic arches. Nice beaches. People working in handicraft. Nice people and landscapes to photograph

 

[Andy brown]

Fahim, if I'm on a flying carpet, I'm thinking oases, camel trains, date palms, mirages.
I'm sure the reality is modern cities, nice cars, great food.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Antonio, Andy.

Thank you for volunteering to take part. Very much appreciated. It does take a bit of courage to go out on a limb.

What surprises me is that none of our resident Middle East experts volunteered to participate in this exercise!

Antonio, you are absolutely correct in what you might find there. Except for the palaces part. Much much less exist in this region than say the mansions of Bill Gates and the like, or the stately estates in the U.K, or the Chateaus in France, or the magnificent residences in Bavaria. Even in India.

But when asked what I would find in a certain place, I don't think of the beautiful and stately mansions of the rich and famous across Europe or N.A.

It is what one is continuously told to believe, right or wrong, that could lead to certain mistaken perceptions.

Anyway, back to Oman...

and yes Victoria, our women can and do attend the Opera...

 

[Asher Kelman]

I would expect a place with a complex history, a moderate foreign policy and the need for foreigners to not expect the freedoms of London, Paris or Rome as it is an absolute monarchy where dissent is not likely to be tolerated. Doubtless there are first class hotels, a great hospital system. However, I would not think one could readily date the local ladies as one could do in Europe, as the society is pretty conservative. Beer and wine might not be allowed and western relaxed dress or public displays of intimacy might be unacceptable.

But then all my ideas are really superficial and say nothing about the life of the people, their feelings, ideas or their hospitality.

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Of course, your ideas are like all opinions partly correct and mostly biased.

Cricket and ice hockey are two different games. Comparing them to camel races, is for those that argue for the sake of arguing. Generating noise. And noise pollution that I find of so much around me.

 

[fahim mohammed]

But back to photography, in a photography forum....

 

[fahim mohammed]

In the background is an NG transporter....

of course, there is the ' hop-on, hop-off ' tourist bus.

 

[fahim mohammed]

And there are beautiful mosques. Tourists ( or anyone ) can go in, except in certain portions of the mosque when the faithful are in prayers. At least five times a day.

And ' conservative ' dress is a must. Would one expect otherwise?

Like elsewhere in my region, mosques can be grand or they can be very humble structures..all serve the same purpose for the faithful.

 

[Antonio Correia]

I think I would like to go there...

I like this kind of Architecture.

Thank you for posting nice images Fahim !

 

[Asher Kelman]

Of course, your ideas are like all opinions partly correct and mostly biased.

Cricket and ice hockey are two different games. Comparing them to camel races, is for those that argue for the sake of arguing. Generating noise. And noise pollution that I find of so much around me.

Not "biased", Fahim, just what a European would experience. We have no bias as we are totally tolerant and celebrate diversity. Bias is such a perjorative term and out of place here, even when eloquently expressed.

But the photography here is indeed beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

..........



........Anyway, back to Oman...

and yes Victoria, our women can and do attend the Opera...

Fathom,

Fabulous art in the clothes. Beyond what I have ever expected! But explain the faces on the scarves the men wear? I didn't expect that, just creative patterns!

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Antonio.

You shall enjoy the light here for photography. And the architecture.

Some of the best light for the canyons, dunes..stretcthing for 100s of kms, mountain ranges, oasis, and of course the crystal clear beaches.

Thanks for your comments.

I think I would like to go there...

I like this kind of Architecture.

Thank you for posting nice images Fahim !

 

[fahim mohammed]

That is indeed magnanimous of you Asher.
You measures distances in miles. I, in kms.

Thanks for he comment on the photography. The images on the dress are that of Sultan Qaboos of Oman.

Take care.

Not "biased", Fahim, just what a European would experience. We have no bias as we are totally tolerant and celebrate diversity. Bias is such a perjorative term and out of place here, even when eloquently expressed.

But the photography here is indeed beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Now we shall head out of Muscat. Into the mountains.

The primary reason for this trip, agent to the summit of Jabal Al-Shams. The highest peak in the Gulf.
Around 3,000.00 meters high.

Along the way, we pass multiple small villages and oasis...history speeds past us. Here is one settlement. An oasis.

Not from the ' 7th century '...actually 5000 years old. Preserved, for the most part as it was. With modern infrastructure concealed so as to harmonize with the heritage.

5000 years old.

This is my impression of it.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Excellent, excellent !

Very impressive indeed ! A very good interpretation !

It looks like painted on paper but it is in fact a photograph.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Thank you, my friend. Very kind of you.

Best regards.

Excellent, excellent !

Very impressive indeed ! A very good interpretation !

It looks like painted on paper but it is in fact a photograph.

 

[fahim mohammed]

' Are you ready ', I asked.

Yes, she said.

Without any ' public or private displays of intimacy ', I bade her farewell.

The terrain was going to be rough. Very rocky, slippery, and a misstep up along the path could be very very dangerous.

Ayesha , but why?, I asked.

To experience the ultimate thrill, Fahim; one has to be prepared to pay the ultimate price. It is a good trade, she added.

One last look at me. We understood each other....the journey was about to begin..

Ayesha shall take up the story for hereon..

 

[Antonio Correia]

Beautiful place !

What a nice rocks ...

Let's wait for the next images.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Thanks Antonio.

Beautiful place !

What a nice rocks ...

Let's wait for the next images.

 

[fahim mohammed]

The voice! I had heard it countless times before. I heard it again.

Traveler, said the voice..faint but distinct.

' Do you have what it takes, Traveler? '

Seemed so long ago. Age has its own rate of progression. The body refuses to do what it did willingly previously.

I have aged a lot, I said. The spirit is willing, but the body..the body feels much weak, I added.

Traveler, the voice replied. It is all in your mind. Remember the last time. It is all in the mind.

It has been an arduous climb. Progress is slow. Night falls. It gets very cold. Dry cold.

The morning sun lights up the valley. There is a serenity, the same serenity I had experience before.

Took a deep breadth of the mountain fresh cold air. Wonderful..

 

[fahim mohammed]

The story is short. The time is short. The ascent is steep. Jabal Al-Shams. The mountain of the sun!

No part of these images are cloned. Not a simulation. As it was.

Please do not try this..practice what you are about to see at home only! If you are afraid of heights or are an inexperienced climber. And have balance problems.

Jabal Al-Shams...A sight to behold. Words cannot describe the feeling.

I looked around and said softly. I was sure I would be heard.

' What do you say now, Guardians of the gates of Shangri-La? '.
' Its all in the mind, Traveler, the voice whispered back.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Down..down is really way down..

 

[fahim mohammed]

 

[fahim mohammed]

The thrill of it all. The challenge. To stare danger in the face. Extremely thrilling.

A final look, before the descent.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Back home, I asked Fahim..

' Do I have what it takes partner? '.

In spades, my lady.

Thank you for being with us.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Great reportage !

Brave people. My wife and myself we are also brace and not scared of things like this.

It doesn't mean however, that we are unconscious.

I know that the air in this mountain feels very different.

The images are nice ! Oh yes !

 

[fahim mohammed]

Antonio, thank you.

I think you guys n my wife would hit it off.
I could wait for you folks back at the hotel!

Stay well.

Great reportage !

Brave people. My wife and myself we are also brace and not scared of things like this.

It doesn't mean however, that we are unconscious.

I know that the air in this mountain feels very different.

The images are nice ! Oh yes !

 

[Antonio Correia]

I was meaning brave and not brace !

Do not wait for us please.

 

[James Lemon]

I think I would like to go there...

I like this kind of Architecture.

Thank you for posting nice images Fahim !

My feelings exactly. Spectacular images!

James