The drive down from Jebel Shems highlighted how little I knew about the geography of Oman before arriving. Where I had expected the sand dunes, and though I had read about the canyons and mountains leading up to the coast, I wasn't prepared for just how rugged the mountains were; there's a reason you really... Continue Reading →
Can you train a donkey to use the litter?
Waking up in Nizwa, there was little need for a weather forecast. It was going to be hot, sunny and humid. After some breakfast at the hotel, we headed over to the Nizwa fortress. Like the others we had visited or seen at Jabrin and Bahla, it had the familiar smooth lines and has been... Continue Reading →
5 signs it’s hot in Oman
How hot is it in Oman? Here are 7 indicators of just how hot it is here: 7. Dry clothes are a mythical thing you think you once experienced. 6. Your sunglasses fog up as soon as you step outside. 5. The glue holding your camera together starts to disintegrate. 4. Even the most proper... Continue Reading →
The upside of a sleepless night in the desert? The sunrise.
The upside of a sleepless night in the desert? It's really easy to get up early for the sunrise. Just point downhill and don't turn... Hmm, we thought, a big sandy hill... "Alex, you don't have some skis do you?"? "No, but we do have some snowboards." And just like that you're sand boarding in... Continue Reading →
From the glass towers of Dubai to the sand dunes of Abu Dhabi
Right now, I'm sitting in a building of sorts at the Jebel Shems Heights Guesthouse in the Hajar Mountains in Oman. It's a beautiful, almost lunar landscape. There are few people around, no Internet connection, and not much to do once you've been for a hike and the sun is setting, so it's a perfect... Continue Reading →
Dubai is a tale of two cities
So far, we've definitely seen the luxury side of Dubai. To be honest, it hasn't felt at all like the Middle East we've experienced in the past. While cities like Amman and Cairo have their developed aspects, Dubai is in a different universe. The metro here makes the one at home look rather "developing", especially... Continue Reading →
How is Dubai like Vancouver… Skiing in the morning, golf in the afternoon
How is Vancouver, a cold and rainy city in the great white north, like a global financial centre in the middle of the dessert? In both you can often ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon. Having explored The Atlantis, and gotten over our jetlag, we decided it was time to set... Continue Reading →
Living Large In Dubai
What's the saying? When in Dubai do as the Emiratis? Something like that. As we're starting this trip in Dubai, we decided we'd kick it off with a taste of the highlife. You've likely heard of the Palm Jumeirah, one of two man-made items visible from space, it's an artificial archipelago built in the Arabian... Continue Reading →
Turns out the Emirates A380 doesn’t guarantee bliss
Blood curdling screams and foul stench! Yes, this is life on one of the world's fanciest airline's state-of-the-art planes. The A380 may be the world's largest passenger plane, and Emirates one of the world's best airlines, but that does not guarantee a luxury experience. For all the technology and size, your flight still comes with... Continue Reading →
192 Reasons 