Sultanate

Nestled at the entrance to the world's largest contiguous sand desert, al Hashman is a calm oasis in an inhospitable neighborhood. To your east and west your neighbors sit 70 kilometers away. North of you flows a sea of angry red sand. Those who are crazy enough to venture into that sea should hope to find the Saudi border before being shot at.

Al Hashman is fascinating place. At first glance you wonder, "why would anyone live here?" However, look deeper and you'll realize al Hashman is more than a dusty outpost.

Audio Postcard – al Hashman

I'm trying out this new audio postcard format on the Sultanate. Do you like it?

Surely, this formant will not stay forever, but let me know if you like it or not in the comments. Also, let me know if al Hashman sound like a place you want to explore.

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

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Do you like what you hear?

Be sure to tell a friend and tell me what you like in the comments at www.beyondtheroute.com. You can also leave the show a review on iTunes. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Read my post about my friend Jeff, it's a goody. Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

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Do you like what you hear?

Be sure to tell a friend and tell me what you like in the comments at www.beyondtheroute.com. You can also leave the show a review on iTunes. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Music: "Valantis" by Blue Dot Sessions

Oman is full of exciting places to explore. Places like our lush canyons and soft deserts. However, this excitement doesn't just reside in far flung and off-road locations. Most of these interesting places are right in front of us like the town of Mazyunah.

Of course, Mazyunah isn't really an easy place to reach, or on the normal tourist route; but it is an accessible town nonetheless. Mazyunah is located on the border with Yemen and there really aren't many reasons to be passing through for obvious reasons.

Mazyunah Unlike Others

I've passed through Mazyunah twice during my travels, the most recent being with my mate Fahad Alabri on our epic journey to handstand the world's tallest dune. Both visits left me with huge smiles on my face.

You see, Mazyunah is a town along Oman's border with Yemen. This proximity helps it to be wild, fresh, chaotic, and what I believe Oman to be like not too long ago. I relish both my visits to Mazyunah because they were unpredictable and surprising, unlike most of the little towns that dot the countryside. Mazyunah is definitely worth scheduling more time on my next visit down south so I can capture more of this unfettered reality.

Put on your headphones because I take you into the heart of Mazyunah for this month's episode of the Sultanate via a new format, the audio postcard. It's not a permeant change to Sultanate, but let me know if you like it in the comments below.

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

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Do you like what you hear?

Be sure to tell a friend and tell me what you like in the comments at www.beyondtheroute.com. You can also leave the show a review on iTunes. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Learning Arabic in Oman was one of my goals when I arrived back in 2011. I thought it would be easy to pick it up since I'd have plenty of opportunity around me to practice, just like when I learned Spanish. Well, it is 2018 and while I can speak enough Arabic to get by, and understand more than I can speak, I am nowhere near proficient. Before I leave this place I have to learn Arabic.

My challenges to learning Arabic in Oman are:

• Time commitment
• Non-roman script
• Native Arabic speakers tend to revert to English when you try to practice
• Omani Arabic dialect very different from Modern Standard Arabic
• Drive

Basically all of the above challenges boil down to drive. How bad do I want it? For now learning Arabic remains on the back burner, but recently it's on my mind because I put together a cool list of local Omani greetings with the help of Noor Majan Arabic Institute.

I got in touch with Noor Majan who invited me down to their new Muscat campus. To the visit I brought along my microphone and met Sulatan al Faris, the Director; and Simone Bettega, one of their students. We talked about what it is like learning Arabic in Oman, how Noor Majan Arabic Institute is different from others, the types of courses they offer, the difficulties of learning Arabic, and the uniqueness of the Omani Arabic dialect. It was especially interesting talking with Simone because he specifically researched the Omani dialect for his doctorate degree. This episode of the Sultanate includes that conversation along with the list of Omani greetings, 10 ways. Check it out.

Sultanate Ep 025: Learn Arabic in Oman Links

• Omani Greetings, 10 Ways
• Noor Majan Arabic Institute website
• Noor Majan Arabic Institute local courses (winter-spring 2018)
• Sultanate Ep 002: Language in Oman (discussion about the many languages spoken in Oman)
• List of Arabic words and phrases in Oman for visitors

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
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Music: "TGIF" by Tortue Super Sonic

Do you like what you hear?

Be sure to tell a friend and tell me what you like in the comments at www.beyondtheroute.com. You can also leave the show a review on iTunes. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Disclaimer - Noor Majan Arabic Institute did not pay me or offer me any service to make this podcast. This is not an advertisement. All opinions are my own.

This month on the Sultanate podcast we visit Noor Majan Arabic Institute to talk about learning Arabic in Oman, the Omani dialect, and how to talk like a local: Omani greetings, 10 ways. This is a fun one, you don't want to miss it.... mark your calendars.

The episode launches on the 10th of February, 2018. Subscribe using Sticher, the iOS Podcast app, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you don't know how to do that, learn here.

Follow the show and learn more about Oman at:

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The world's tallest dune is a magnificent sight. Standing tall at 455 meters, it pierces the barren landscape like a surgeons scalpel, but without the precision. Its meandering arms radiate, twist and bend in an attempt to dissuade you from clamoring to the peak. However, the luscious red sand seduces you into thinking it's possible.

After a more than a 900 kilometer journey into Oman's Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), I stand at the foot of a behemoth, the king of all giants, the grand daddy of them all; the world's tallest dune.

At this point my trip is complete, I've reached the pile of sand, logged its location, and I can go no further. Yemen is to my east, 12 kilometers away, and Saudi Arabia is to my north, 36 kilometers over dense star dunes. However, standing to my right is Fahad Alabri, and his mission just started.

Handstanding Atop the World's Tallest Dune

In this episode of the Sultanate I team up with Fahad Alabri to locate, record, climb, and handstand the biggest, baddest dune of them all.

Fahad is a local personal trainer who is on a mission, across the world, to use the act of handstand to break through cultural barriers while promoting health, fitness, and wellbeing. On his Instagram page, Fahad is seen upside-down all over Oman and beyond in places like Milan, London, Spain, and Zanzibar.

Regarding this trip, "I really have not much of an experience to balance my hands in a sandy desert ground, but I'm going to figure it out," he says. "It's about the connection with the hands and the ground so I just have to manipulate my hands toward it, and then I am gunna go to the inversion."

Tune in to find out if Fahad can overcome wind and sand to handstand atop the world's tallest dune.

You can download the GPS files and read my track report at the associated episode post on my website. Check it out! Sultanate Ep 024: World's Tallest Dune Links

• Fahad's Instagram @cavemangram
• "Voices of Arabia" by Dr. Eid al Yahya
• D's Top 13 Sand Driving Tips
• Sultanate Ep 004: Rub' al Khali

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
• Facebook
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Do you like what you hear?

Be sure to tell a friend and tell me what you like in the comments at www.beyondtheroute.com. You can also leave the show a review on iTunes. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Music: "Mister S", "Neogrotesque", and "On Five", all by Tortue Super Sonic

Bonus cilp from episode 24 of the Sultanate.

listen to the full episode here. Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

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This month on the Sultanate podcast we visit the tallest dune in the world which is located right here in Oman! Joining me on this adventure is my friend Fahad Alabri who attempts to handstand on the peak. It's not an easy task, but can he do it? Tune in to find out if he accomplishes his mission and why he handstands every city. The episode launches on the 11th of January, 2018. Subscribe using Sticher, the iOS Podcast app, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you don't know how to do that, click this link.

Follow the show and learn more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
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National Day is celebrated on the 18th of November, the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. The whole country decorates the streets with Omani flags and portraits of their dear leader. For me it's the best time to be in Oman. Here's why:

7 Reasons Why National Day is the Best Time to Visit Oman 1. Weather

The weather in November feels amazing. At this time we finally start to feel the affects of the coming winter, so the days are warm, and the nights are cool. This is also a good time to find rain in Muscat.

2. Decorations

Omanis go all out with decorations. The prime examples come from the displays along the highways in Muscat. The Muscat Expressway is lined with miles of Omani flags. Along Sultan Qaboos Highway you find lighted displays on every lamp post and a string of colorful lights connection them all.

In villages and towns, residents erect large portraits of His Majesty and hang Omani flag streamers which dance the the cool breeze.

Locals are also allowed to decorate their cars, something we are not normally allowed to do. The results are really fun to see. Have a look at the National Day Car Series I photographed last year.

3. Celebrations

Here's were it really gets interesting. It seems that throughout the course of November every company schedules some sort of celebration. It might be as simple as a luncheon with traditional Omani food. Or larger like a parade with a full marching band and dancing. These are all the privately organized celebrations.

The government organizes events too. Fireworks displays, parades, and performances are just to name a few.

4. Invitations

Omanis are great hosts so it's likely you will get invited to a celebration. I've heard stories of tourists driving through small towns and being stopped and invited to come and view the town's activities. A real special experience that is as real as it gets.

5. Surprises

Every town has something different to offer. You never know what is around the corner.

6. Holidays

We all love to have paid time off work, and Omani workers always receive two days off. These days, however, don't come on the 18th of November. Rather, they are usually given after the 18th and are positioned just before or after a weekend, often giving you a 4 day holiday. Who doesn't like that?

7. The Whole Month

Basically the whole month of November is set aside for National Day, with the frequency of celebrations happening closer to the 18th of November. So, you can still experience National Day even if you can't make it for the 18th.

While traveling around Oman you are bound to come across the wonderful sights and sounds of celebration. Come to Oman in November, you won't regret it.

You can view find Oman's national anthem translated into English at the associated episode post on my website. Check it out! Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

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Do you like what you hear?

Be sure to tell a friend and tell me what you like in the comments at www.beyondtheroute.com. You can also leave the show a review on iTunes. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Bonus cilp from episode 23 of the Sultanate.

listen to the full episode here. Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

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