Sultanate

Living and working in Oman has its many positive qualities. The expat life is diverse with outdoor activities and the beautiful landscape clearly at the top of the list. However, there are others things to consider if you are job hunting in Oman.

In this episode of the Sultanate I sit down with my mate Jonty Baulk to discuss what it is like living and working in Oman. We cover topics like jobs, working culture, working hours, recreation, salaries, packages, the Oman Labour Law, and the Omanization. Our conversation starts off in my recording studio at my super secret location, but we finish the discussion in typical expat fashion; over a pint of cold beer at the local watering hole.

There is one more topic discussed at the associated episode post on my website. Check it out! Sultanate Ep 018: Expat Life Links

• Jonty's previous appearances on the Sultanate, Ep 001, Ep 004, Ep 009
• Oman Labour Law
• Oman InterNations
• Ras al Hamra Recreation Centre
• The Lazy Lizard
• 13 Ways to Beat the Heat in Oman

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
• Facebook
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• Twitter

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.

Oman is full of surprises tucked away in dusty corners of this vast land. Honey bees are just one example. However, it should be no surprise that apiarists cultivate liquid gold from the honey bee. The Qur'an speaks highly, and encourages this ancient craft:

And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build: Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colours, in which there is healing for men; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect. (The Qur'an, An-Nahl 16.68-69)

Bee Adventure

In this episode of the Sultanate, I enlist the help of my friend Yasir al Thahli to teach me more about this quiet past time. Yasir keeps his own bees on his farm in the Hajar Mountains, and when you ask him just one question about bee keeping, you quickly realize how passionate he is about bees. Especially for their delicious product, honey. Being a young man, Yasir is still new to this craft, but learning from his mentor and friend, Omar.

View the images I shot from my visit to Jebel Dawi in the associated episode post on my website.

Omar al Hatmi is one of a handful of bee keepers who use the traditional Omani bee house, a hollowed out date palm trunk, laid on its side. I discovered during my visit, that there are only three other locations in the Hajar Mountains that keep bees in this traditional way. The modern square box being more popular for its efficiency.

Omani Honey

There are two main types of honey in Oman. Sidr and Smer, named after the trees that offer their precious nectar. Samr, which is harvested in the summer, is dark in color and tick in consistency. As opposed to the winter harvested, Sidr, which is light in both color and flavor.

Omani Bee keepers are proud of their product, and ensure it is the highest quality and flavor. Some apiarists even move their bee colonies to different locations to ensure the best outcome.

So, why do some Omani bee keepers use the traditional bee house as opposed to the modern box? Join me as I explore the answer to that question, and more, in the hamlet of Jebal Dawi.

Sultanate Ep 017: Bees Keeping in Oman Links

• Goos and Agnes's previous appearance on the Sultanate, Ep 003
• 13 Ways to Beat the Heat in Oman

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.

The Bees! episode launches on the 9th…. June 7th 2017. Be sure to 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 find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
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Every spring something special happens on the green mountain. The roses start to bloom, and the farmers descend upon their fields to collect their precious pink flowers.

I knew roses are grown for making rose water on Jebal Akhdar, but that's about all I knew until I decided to investigate for myself with my microphone. What I discovered is a traditional, dainty, craft that continues to thrive despite its many limiting factors.

What wasn't limiting is the knowledge given to me by my new friends, the rose farmers I met in the village of al Ayn. Yahir al Riyami and Nasser al Riyami take us on an journey into the traditional life of the Omani rose farmers.

View images I shot from this year's harvest in the associated episode post on my website. Rose Season

Weather is the main factor in determining if the rose harvest will be good or not. This year there didn't see much rain, and I'm told it is significantly affecting their yield. A days picking could yield ten kilograms of flowers, but this year is averaging six kilograms for Yahir al Riyami.

Typically the rose harvest starts at the end of March and lasts for about three weeks. However, a bit of rain can fend off the rising heat and extend the season for another week. This year the farmers received a day of rain just after the roses stoped blooming, unfortunately.

Water is another factor in determining a good rose harvest. If the tanks are full, the farmers can expect to water using the falaj (traditional irrigation system) to transport water to their precious plants once every five days. This year brought an unusually dry winter and there is only enough water to irrigate every fourteen days, which limits the roses.

The Process

When the roses start to bloom, it's all hands on deck to collect the fragile product. Brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters descend on the fields to pick the flowers before the sun rises and dries out the precious rose. There are two main ways to collet the the flowers.

The first, and most common, is to take a men's massar (typically worn on the head), or a woman's hijab (also, typically worn on the head), and tie it around your neck in a way to create a storage sack for the picked roses.

The second method is only for the men, and is my favorite. One simply folds up his dishdasha and ties a knot around his waist with the loose material to create a knee-height rose collecting sack. This method can hold a huge amount of fresh roses.

Rose Water

Once the morning haul is gathered, the farmer takes the pink loot to his still where he will process the roses immediately to capture all the available moisture the flower has to offer.

The rose water still is a simple device. At its center is a series of clay chamber pots that sit in a solid base made of concrete or mud. The number of chambers can vary depending on the amount of roses needing processing.

Under the chamber pots is the heat source, a flame. Gas is mostly used these days because it is consistent, convenient, and cheap.

When the time comes the farmers places about one-half kilogram 0f his fresh roses inside the chamber along with a small bowl in the middle. Then covers the chamber with a concave lid filled with cold water. The heat turns the moisture in the roses into a gas inside the chamber which condenses on the underside of the lid and drips down into the small bowl. The whole process takes three hours and yields about 350 milliliters of rose water. The still can have anywhere from two to twenty chambers.

The rose water from each chamber joins the others in a tank where it will sit for one to two months before it is bottled and sold.

Uses

Rose water has a number of uses. Mainly it is used as a cosmetic for its lovely smell, but it also has moisturizing and medicinal properties. I come across rose water typically in food. Omani Halwa often features the pleasant undertones of Omani roses, along with tea, and my favorite, coffee!

Now you will definitely have a greater appreciation of Omani rose water the next time you spot a bottle in the souq.

Sultanate Ep 016: Omani Roses Links

• Jebal Akhdar Guide
• Wadi Bani Habib
• RAF Venom Crash (Jebal Akhdar War)
• Sultanate Ep 009: Via Ferrata at Alila Jabal Akhdar

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

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 rating on iTunes. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

The Omani Roses episode launches on the 7th…. May 7th 2017. Be sure to 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 find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
• Facebook
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I've done canyoning, climbing, off-roading, hiking, flying, but there's one thing I haven't done in Oman. Caving! Probably the best cave chamber to visit is the Canyon Room, accessed from the Seventh Hole on the Salmah Plateau. Of course, the pinnacle of caving in Oman is Majlis al Jinn, but it's off limits by government order. So, this is the next best thing. However it's far from disappointing.

The Seventh Hole derives it's name from being the 7th hole, or access point, found on the plateau. These seven holes access Oman's largest surveyed cave system. There are literally miles of passageways and chambers carved through the soft limestone, hidden below the surface. It's very fascinating, and something I only learned about on this most recent trip.

I joined twenty3 extreme for this particular journey because I know nothing about caving or have the experience to safley navigate Oman's underworld. I needed a guide and they were going with an open group.

twenty3 extreme is Oman's newest outdoor adventure company, offering guided experiences to the sultanate's most supreme locations. So I was excited to meet them and to see what they had on offer. Besides caving, they offer canyoning, hiking, via ferrata, and kayaking; all with qualified guides.

This particular trip requires nine hours of training, which we all completed as a group. Senior Instructor Joe Daniels made sure we obtained the required skills to safely complete our journey. All the time and effort to prepare was worth it, as the trip is amazing.

So, join me as we abseil into the Seventh Hole, explore deep underground in the bowels of the Salmah Plateau, and claw our way back to the surface.

Sultanate Ep 015: Seventh Hole Links

• twenty3 extreme

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
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Music Credit: Sly Tout Croche by Tortue Super Sonic (climbing scene)

Disclaimer:

twenty3 extreme did not pay me to write or speak about their company. In fact I paid them to join the trip, albeit a discounted rate. This episode and blog post is not an endorsement, just my opinions and experience. If this activity is terrible, I will tell you it is terrible.

The Seventh Hole Cave episode launches on the 7th…. April 7th 2017. Be sure to 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 find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
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Paramotoring has quietly been around for a few years in Oman, but the new kids on the block, SkySchool, bring it to the next level.

In this episode of the Sultanate I meet up with Seth Royce, who manages SkySchool Oman. He gives me the lowdown on what this crazy sport is all about, how he got involved with paramotoring, and what kind of experience one can expect when flying in Oman.

Seth is a long time traveler but recent expat in Oman. You can feel the excietment in his voice when he describes his first experiences in the country through the purview of paramotoring, and his lust for more.

So, join me as I take you down to al Sawadi Beach, and up in the air with Seth to see Oman from a truly unique angle.

Thank you to everybody who participated in the survey. Sultanate Ep 014: Paramotoring Oman Links

• SkySchool Oman Instagram
• SkySchool Oman Facebook
• SkySchool Oman Website
• Beyond the Route's Reader 2017 Survey Thank you!
• #trypod and #trypodoman campaign images for you to use!

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
• Facebook
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Most of you listen to the Sultanate podcast because of the information that I provide, but this project isn't about me. It's about filling a gap in the travel information for independent travelers to Oman. In other words it's about YOU! While, I am the conduit for good information from my point of view, I do realize that my view is just that... mine.

So, in this episode of the Sultanate I meet and interview two pairs of travelers to Oman to get their perspectives. Both pairs originally reached out to me with questions they had while planning their visits. I love talking to new people, so I responded to their questions and offered to meet up with them when they were on the ground. It is interesting to me to see Oman from the perspective of a new visitor.

Briana Jorgenson and Jason Forman are a young American couple who wanted to visit the Middle East, but were a little wary to visit Egypt or Jordan because of the safety risks. After seeing Oman pop up on a "places to visit" list, they decided the sultanate was the right fit for them. They hopped on a Turkish Air flight and arrived with a very full, self planned, itinerary as many visitors do. (Be sure to check out Jason's video from Oman on his Instagram account, it's really fun to watch.)

Anthon Keuchenius and Bob Askew are long time travel buddies and chose to visit Oman so they can get close to Yemen. I though that was strange too, but I learned Anthon is journalist and writes a bit about Yemen. So, getting close to the story in Oman is the best he can do until the fighting stops. We actually met up twice during their visit. Once for lunch near the bus station at the start of their journey, and another time for a hike and overnight camp at the end. Anthon and Bob are longtime travelers with rich and diverse experiences to draw from.

So, join me as we talk to four travelers in Oman and hear about their own visits to Oman.

Thank you to everybody who participated in the survey.

Visit my website to view the map and sample itinerary that is similar to the journeys the interviewees took in Oman. Click here to view.

Sultanate Ep 013: Traveler Interviews Links

• Ep 013: Traveler Interviews sample itinerary at Beyond the Route
• Beyond the Route's Reader 2017 Survey Thank you!
• Briana's Instagram @midnightcloaker
• Jason's Instagram @illking and Flickr page
• Anthon's Instagram and Twitter @abumelle, Facebook, and website.
• Bob wants to remain off the grid :)

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
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There are a ton of caves in Oman of all sizes. Majlis al Jinn is the largest and most unique, but thousands of other caves dot the countryside and make for some interesting surprises if you happen to have a look. This month I share with you a taste from both sides of the cave spectrum.

Richard "Roo" Walters is an amateur cave explorer who is on a mission to laser scan the world's largest cave chambers. He recently scanned Oman's largest chamber, Majlis al Jinn, and I was keen to talk with him for a few reasons. Firstly, the Majlis is off limits to visitors so it's rare to meet an adventurer who descended to the darkness. Secondly, I wanted to get his opinion and experience from inside the cave. Roo has visited all the large chambers in the world and can give us good comparison. Lastly, lasers are cool and the data they record can give curious adventurers like us the best view since we can't go ourselves.

Lasers and restricted caves are fun and all, but Mohammed Said Ali brings us back to earth when he shows me his cave in Dhofar and tells me about the "tigers" (Arabian leopards) that can eat twenty of his goats in one night. I never met anybody who owned a cave before I met Mohammed.

So, join me as I take you across the sultanate and into the caves!

Lasers, Caves, Tigers and ghosts... What name do you give the Bond villain in this script? Tell me in a comment on my website. Sultanate Ep 012: Tigers, Caves, and Majlis al Jinn Links

• Roo's Majlis Cave flythrough
• Maio Room 3D Tour (National Geographic)
• Roo's Sketchfab

Follow the show and find more about Oman at:

• www.beyondtheroute.com
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