There are books and books that claim to package Oman’s monumental beauty for the ever eager and curious tourists from around the world. But, there is only one that does it with incomparable finesse and grace – Destination Oman. So much so that the book now in its fourth year of print is rated as the most authentic and complete book that cuts right to the heart of the matter and lays bare in sparkling detail all the romance and charm: The sun, the sand and the sea, the majesty and panorama of its brown mountains, stark and rugged, the limitless expanse of its virgin, golden sand, the cool green, lush wadis and the mystery of its deep blue waters.
All these scintillating facets of the precious Arabian jewel that Oman has always been since centuries, come alive through its rich culture and heritage, its music, arts and handicrafts in the pages of Destination Oman and compels tourists from every corner of the world to pack their bags and get here in double-quick time and experience for themselves what the book says.
Packaged in a unique manner with in depth articles by celebrated writers, who long ago succumbed to the charms of this beautiful paradise, and a separate section that has a cornucopia of information which all tourists need when they are in a new place – listings of hotels, tour operators, car rental firms, restaurants, coffee shops – Destination Oman has it all. With such a wealth of information at their fingertips and the abundance of lucid articles all the mystique and magic of Oman and its people comes alive in all its resplendent colours.
The latest issue of Destination Oman has 21 deeply absorbing articles that touch on various aspects of Oman’s fascinating culture and heritage. ‘Oman a glimpse into an ancient land’ by Sarah White gives a bird’s eye view of Oman’s ancient history shrouded in antiquity. ‘Al Hoota Caves – An exotic adventure’ by Mary Philip brings to life the wonder of these caves, ‘Maritime Heritage,’ ‘Jewels of Arabia,’ Musical Legacy, Protective Charms, Art of Oman and Traditional Architecture, all written by Sarah are brilliant cameo pieces that give a sparkling insight into various facets of Oman’s rich culture and lifestyle. On the recreation side, there are other articles like ‘Biking in Oman’ by Steve Bridger that talks about the passion of Harley Davidson bikers and why they love riding in Oman, Trek in the Wakkan, Nizwa Souk, Sayys Plateau – The guardian soul of Oman, Musandam and Camel Racing in Barka, all by Paul Bizarro reveal the variety of adventure tourism that is possible here. In Diving in the Damaniyats Patricia Groves writes about the thrills of deep-sea diving.
Another interesting feature of the book is the fact that although this book is a featherweight in comparison to several other coffee table editions on Oman that look very heavy no doubt, Destination Oman packs a kayo punch in terms of reading material, information and superb production quality. This is truly the USP of the book and in addition, this is what makes the book such a handy and valuable asset for tourists visiting the country, particularly those coming here for the first time, guided only by the delightfully informative and penetrating articles in the book or from information gathered from a website by the same name - www.destinationoman.com launched in 2001.
Strongly endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, and extensively distributed at various international exhibitions, there has been an overwhelming response to all its editions, including the 2008 edition which is its fourth edition and the book has helped to create a growing interest in Oman tourism.
The first edition was released in 2004. It was the popularity of the website that prompted its founder-editor Deepak Nair to think about a book so that people could know better about the places to see and read the legends and stories behind them. Certainly, the idea has clicked in a big way.
A yearly publication, Destination Oman tries to present some new and emerging destinations with the objective of always presenting the best of Oman to the world through words and pictures. Some of the pictures are taken by celebrity photographers and the book also contains several first-hand accounts sent in by visiting tourists or residents. But, apart from these at the core of the publication are a panel of celebrated writers who with the sheer elegance of their prose, capture in all its diversity the panorama and beauty of Oman – the unbelievable diverseness of the country’s landscape: rugged mountains, rolling seas, trackless deserts, pristine beaches, the variety of adventure sports from deep see diving, to trekking and mountain climbing.
The articles also allow readers and potential tourists to savour the richness of Oman’s cultural heritage from its forts and castles to its handicrafts, especially, its silver and copper jewellery and ornaments. There are other articles that give a glimpse of Oman’s traditional cuisines and other facets of Omani lifestyle. With such a kaleidoscopic panorama of sights and sounds and colour, the book is an excellent handbook and guide for anyone planning a trip to Oman. Even otherwise, Destination Oman is a good book to have for those who love good reading of the travelogue kind.
Some of the authors have written authoritative articles that reflect their intimate involvement with this beautiful country over a prolonged period of time. Englishwoman Sarah White, an artist, who is the overall in-charge of the Bait Al Zubair Museum, is one such person. Having lived here for over 20 years, her vivid accounts of Oman’s architecture, musical legacy, the arts and handicrafts are sparkling gems of prose that possess depth and insight.
Along with the depth and range of the articles and the loads of information packed into its pages, Destination Oman makes for light and easy reading that is fresh and balmy like a summer breeze.
Reprinted with permission from
Oman Tribune. |
