Jump off a plane!

Vol. 1, Issue 4 ,Vol. 1, Issue 4 , May-July 2011,May-July 2011, Summer SpecialSummer Special

Salalah: the green paradiseSnake Canyon adventure

Indigo’s Oman launchGolf Tourism, celebrity say

& more

Botswana Victoria fallsSkydiving in Dubai

Boat houses of KeralaSingapore night safaris,

Mauritius calling & more

Oman-Trail Globe-Trail

Oman’s first premier travel magazineOman’s first premier travel magazine

May-July 20114

Readers Forum

Bait Al Safah is one of the most important

landmarks in the history of the Hamra region. As

you are aware, Al Hamrais, where Bait Al Safah is

located, is a 400-year old town in the region of Ad

Dakhliyah, in northeastern Oman. It is also home

to the mountainside village of Misfat Al Abryeen. I

am a regular visitor to this area and whenever I get

the chance, I make it a point to visit Bait Al Safah

and taste the Rukhal (bread) and piping hot kahwa.

I somehow love the area and whenever I am there,

I also make it a point to visit the nearby souq and

watch halwa makers at work in the halwa shop in

the old souq. But, I have never visited The View as

yet. Next month, I will be heading to Hamra again.

Perhaps, might take a quick look at The View too.

Keep you all posted! All the best to your magazine!

Tim Saunders, Al Khuwair

The View seems to have all the necessary ingredients to be one of Oman’s most perfect

getaways. Especially when the summer is bearing down on us, rather heavily. I wanted

to know how it was on top. I am sure it was cool up there, but, how cool was it? Would

anyone of you let me know? I want to be really far away ‘from the madding crowd’ and

reading about The View makes me feel that this is one spot where I should head, but, yet

again, I am not in the mood to feel all hot and bothered.

Cyndi S., Qurum Heights

I read your piece on the yoga destinations (Random Yoga destinations for this holiday February – April 2011) with interest. I have

stumbled upon an exciting yoga destination, right in the spiritual home of yoga – in India – itself. Try to visit Shreyas, which is located

in the heart of the countryside an hour from Banglore (Bengaluru). I had a superb stay there and I think I am going to head there every

year, at least once. It is not just for yoga, I think it has a holistic approach, which makes it beyond a mere yoga destination. Peace and

yoga in five-star luxury; a perfect hideaway to recharge the batteries.

Nalini R. Gopal, Muscat

Inspired by your story on the ‘Seven places to visit before you die’, I have made my own favourite list: Niagara Falls, North America;

Lhasa in Tibet; Hawaii, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Loch Ness, Scotland; Amazon Rainforest, South America and Venice. These are the

seven places that I am going to visit before I die!

Salim Jaffar, Sohar

Cool up there

Put Shreyas on the list

My seven places

E-mail your letters to footprints@blackandwhiteoman.com

(Ed. – This trip was done in January, and the weather was quite cool; we took warm clothes along.

The View is not a place with just a view, but it is also cool (in every sense of the word) too! Have

a great trip!)

Regular visitor at Bait Al Safah

May-July 20116

C o n t e n t sO

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cove

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Design: Beneek Siraj, Photo: Michael Cissell

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC

Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos

Office location: Hatat Complex A, Office no: 212, II Floor

Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496

e-mail: footprints@blackandwhiteoman.com

Editor-in-chiefMohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Managing editorPriya Arunkumar

Work editorAdarsh Madhavan

Design and productionBeneek Siraj

PhotographerNajib Al Balushi

Advt. & marketingSwithun Fernandes, Ali Raisi, Priyanka Sampat

PrintersOman Printers

10

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Victoria Falls – the smoke that thunders

It is not possible for anyone to describe

the beauty and grandeur of the

unbelievable Victoria Falls. Words are not

enough, says Susan Thornton, a travel

writer, who exhorts us to go and see

the world’s largest falls so that we can

literally see the smoke that thunders

Some nights at the Night Safari

Night Safari, the world’s first wildlife

park for nocturnal animals, is one of

the most popular tourist attractions in

Singapore. This multi-time winner of

the best visitor attraction experience,

awarded by Singapore Tourism board,

is now an internationally acclaimed

leisure attraction

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A joint venture with Zahara Travel and Service Bureau

presentationA

May-July 2011 7

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56

60

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Wanted: Golf tourism in Oman

Every year, thousands of

businessmen and women visit Oman,

but how many of them extend their

stay for a round of golf?

Golf can become a major tourist

attraction

IndiGo, India’s largest

discount airline by

market share, will be

flying to Oman before the

end of this year, further

boosting the existing

tourism ties between the

two countries

Snake Gorgeous

The Snake Gorge, set in Rustaq,

is not for the faint hearted. Dark

legends surround this ‘grand

canyon’ of Oman

A drive through an ancient paradise

It is hard to believe that there is a

rain-drenched, green wonderland

right in the midst of the blistering

desert. Come Khareef and Salalah

drapes itself green and glowing with

a special beauty

House on water

A glide in a ‘Kettuvallam’

(houseboat) through the enchanting

backwaters of Alleppey in Kerala,

India, is sure to rob your heart

Oman-Trai l Oman-Trai l

Oman-India tourism set to receive a

boost with IndiGo’s Oman launch

May-July 20118

This holiday, don’t fly out of Oman. Stay put in

Oman itself. Strangely enough, we tend to escape

to other climes; other destinations for a holiday; we

have a fetish for anything that has got to do with

‘abroad’ little knowing that right here in Oman, we

have so many spots that are waiting to be explored;

to be fully discovered.

If we just look around, we are going to find hundreds

of fascinating spots and dream locales right here.

Guess it is just a mindset, but even if it happens

slowly, it has got to change. How many seasons

are there in Oman? Two, you would say. Yes, the

‘on’ season and the ‘off’ season. But, in reality,

Oman also has its share of four seasons.

With the monsoons setting in, it is Salalah calling

again! Why not soak up in this mystical green

ambience? Why not head to this nature’s miracle

getaway? However real it is, I always find it hard

to imagine a lush spot in Oman, drenched by rains

when the rest of the Sultanate is baking hot?

But, Oman is indeed a land of contrasts. For

summer, despite its heat, offers its share of cool

wadis and drives up wind swept mountain tracks.

Adventure tourism is the word. The Footprints

team recently took a dive off a plane in Dubai.

Exhilarating! But, at the same time, it made me

wonder why we don’t promote adventure tourism

in Oman? With its natural rich mountains, Oman

can indeed be an adventure tourist’s delight by all

means. The trip through the famous snake gorge of

Oman was indeed another adrenalin high…

Enjoy the holidays, but, for that, you don’t have to

fly away out of Oman!

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Editor-in-chief

This holiday, stay in Oman

Friend, phi losopher & guide

May-July 2011 9

May-July 201110

Victoria Falls – the smoke that thundersWords and photographs: Susan C. Thornton

Mosi-oa-Tunya

Raw natural power! The waters thundered down with that sheer, natural, awe inspiring power. It – no, enough! It is not possible for me to describe the beauty and grandeur of this unbelievable fall. Words are not enough. You must have heard of it, read about it, but, it is

better that you see the world’s largest falls yourself rather than hear or read mere words.

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The Victoria Falls is a natural wonder

that can overawe you. It did that to

me, giving me that sheer awestruck

indescribable feeling where mere words

were not enough. We had chosen to visit

the Zimbabwe side of the falls. Upon

reaching there we immediately went down

the cataract’s step into a misty rainstorm

and spent some unforgettable moments

as the turbulent waters thundered down.

We had watched the mist from the falls

some 20 to 30 kilometers away and it

was quite enticing. The thundering roar

of the widest curtain of falling water in

the world could be heard long before the

falls were seen. The river above the falls

is sluggish and tranquil, characterised

by deep pools filled with crocodiles and

hippos, while below the falls the river

narrows and tears its way through the

Bakota Gorge in a stunning display of

power.

Then came the final moment when we

stood right before it, watching up close

and personal. We stood, watching

it simply wonderstruck. Well, I have

repeated the same sometime back. This

is one article where I seem to have to

repeat myself because it is quite difficult

to put into words the indescribable feeling

of standing before a water powerhouse.

Forget me, even the famed David

Livingstone, a Scottish missionary and

explorer, had very few words when he

came upon this mighty natural wonder.

Sight for angels Livingstone was the first European to

view the Victoria Falls. The exploring

scot, who was the first known European

to see the Victoria Falls, named them

after Queen Victoria.

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He was quoted as saying: “No one can

imagine the beauty of the view from

anything witnessed in England, It had

never been seen before by European

eyes; but scenes so lovely must have

been gazed upon by angels in their

flight”. Earlier, from the window seat

of the plane, I had looked down over to

see the huge plume of spray where the

Victoria Falls tumbled into the deep gash

of Batoka Gorge.

Smoke that thunders Known to locals by their wonderfully

descriptive African name, Mosi-oa-

Tunya, the smoke that thunders, it is here

that nature is at her most powerful. What

would have Livingstone felt when he

first witnessed this amazing spectacle?

Just imagine running into something

like this by chance. He would have been

spellbound by the sight.

enjoyed spectacular views of the water

thundering down with a terrifying roar.

The river‘s annual flood season is from

February to May with a peak in April.

During this full flood season, the spray

from the falls typically rises to a height

of over 400 meters and sometimes even

twice as height and is visible from upto

50 km away. So, during this time of the

year, the falls cannot be seen on foot on

the Zimbabwe side with clouds of spray

rising height into the sky and drenching

all tourists.

Physical Description Information:

L ocation, Directions & Maps:

English MetricTotal Height: 350 feet 107 meters Tallest Single Drop: 350 feet 107 meters Number of Drops: 1 Waterfall Type: Segmented Block Average Width: 5,700 feet 1,737 meters Average Volume: 38,430 cubic feet / sec. 1,088 cubic meters / sec. Maximum Recorded Volume: 250,000 cubic feet / sec. 7,079 cubic meters / sec. Watercourse: Zambezi River Seasonality: Perennial Seasons of Best Flow:

Continent: AfricaCountry: Zimbabwe / ZambiaState / Province: Matabeleland / Southern StateLocality: Livingstone Specific Location: Victoria Falls National ParkLatitude / Longitude:

Watch the moonbow After covering the long distance with the

falling thundering waters we reached the

end of the Zimbabwe side where there

is a crack in the rock and we could see

the spectators from the Zambian side

watching the small little bit of the falls

they could view from that side. When it

is at its peak in April, chances are that

you may not even see your hand, let

alone the falls. But, since it was June, we

May-July 201114

But it is the best time to see the

“moonbow” that forms in the spray,

at the full moon, instead of the normal

daylight rainbow. From May as the

annual flood abates, the view of the falls

gets better and most of the Victoria Falls

can be seen.

We walked around and then finally

feeling deadbeat climbed a rock and sat

there. If ever you feel tired, all you got to

do is to just perch yourself on the rocks

and watch the falling mass of water. We

did that. We sat there and watched. And

watched…

World’s largest sheet of falling water The Victoria Falls is located in the

southern part of Africa on the Zambezi

river, between the countries of Zambia

and Zimbabwe. It is attributed to as the

world‘s largest sheet of falling water and

it is one of the ‘Seven Natural Wonders

of the World’.

In 1855, David Livingstone, the Scottish

missionary and explorer, is believed to

have been the first European recorded

to view the Victoria Falls. This waterfall

is 1708 meters (5604 ft) in width and 108

meters (354 ft) in height, which is roughly

twice the height of North America‘s

Niagara Falls and over twice the width of

its Horseshoe Falls.

The falls are formed as the full width of

the river plummets in a single vertical

drop into a transverse chasm, carved by

its waters along a fracture zone in the

basalt plateau. The depth of the chasm

varies from 80 meters (262.5 ft) at its

western end to 108 meters (354.3 ft) in

the center, and this is called the First

Gorge. The only outlet to the First Gorge

is a 110 meters (360.9 ft) wide gap about

two-thirds of the way across the width of

the falls from the western end, through

which the whole volume of the river pours

into the Victoria Falls gorges.

The falls are actually split into a number

of separate waterfalls owing to the small

islands dotted along the top of the

falls that interrupt the curtain of water.

Boaruka Island near the western bank

and Livingstone Island near the middle

are the two important islands on the

crest of the falls that are large enough to

separate the curtain of water even at the

full flood. The other islands that divide

the curtain of water into separate parallel

streams are: Devil‘s Cataract, Main Falls,

Rainbow Falls and the Eastern Cataract.

Flight of Angels If you get a chance, take to the sky on

a Flight of Angels trip and you will be

rewarded with the full force of the world’s

mightiest waterfalls in its ground-shaking

magnificence. Even if you view the falls

from a little way off, it is awesome what

with the full-circle rainbows, but the

best view is that of the sunset through

the clouds which gives off an almost

supernatural feel!

A 15-minute helicopter flight departs from

a location near the river. This flight goes

over the falls themselves. Once over the

falls, the pilot circles several times in both

directions, giving everyone on board a

terrific view of the water below.

The experience is dramatic as the falls are

instantly “in your face” from the moment

of takeoff. The 30-minute helicopter

experience takes off from the same

locations as the 15-minute experience,

but first travels down river, dropping into

the gorge itself, skimming low above the

churning water.

Best time to visit The falls get medium to high water

during January, February and then from

June to August. Though there is great

variance during the medium and high

water periods, conditions are generally

best for viewing the falls and enjoying

the water-based activities. Parts of the

mile-wide cliff face are exposed and you

can see all the way to the bottom with a

decent amount of spray and thunder to

make the spectacle suitably impressive.

Rainbows, so-called moon bows (full

moon rainbows) in the towering plume of

spray make excellent photographers of

even the most inexperienced of us.

High water is the happy medium between

too much water and too little with the full

range of activities on offer to boot. If a

safari is on your agenda, choose the latter

half of the peak to high water period when

temperatures drop, the bush thins and

wildlife concentrates around permanent

water sources.

May-July 2011 15

Don’t miss the hipposThe Okavango Delta is a perfect location in which to start your luxury safari holiday. Renowned for its lush waterways and

abundant wildlife, the Okavango Delta is home to a number of aquatic and land species. The species include semi-aquatic

species, such as the elegant red lechwe and shy sitatunga. Families of hippo hide in the deeper channels and lagoons, while

the unique Delta environment supports many minute but beautiful species, including multi-coloured frogs and incandescent

dragonflies. The area supports the continent’s largest surviving concentration of elephant and buffalo, while roan and sable

antelope roam the open woodlands. The Okavango is also a stronghold for the endangered African wild dog, although

sightings of this rare animal are relatively uncommon. Exhibiting a fascinating social structure, wild dog live in packs led by

a dominant pair, with a strict social hierarchy. Although particularly nocturnal and difficult to spot, leopard live in the dense

riverine thickets of the Delta.

“13,000 feet! What do you find

at 13,000 feet? Me, slightly cold,

slightly nervous, butterflies in

my stomach, facing the wide

open exit door of a plane. A cold

air rushed through the exit and

seemed to mock me, daring me to

jump. Suicide? Not exactly, but I

had to jump anyway. I was poised

gingerly at the edge of the exit:

should I…? Of course, there is no

turning back! The butterflies in

my belly created a storm…I was

caught between the proverbial

devil and the deep sea! Couldn’t

jump, couldn’t turn back…what

do I do?”

Young adventure enthusiast,

Swithun Fernandes, who made a

quick trip to Dubai recently only to

sky dive, relates his exciting airy

debut…his leap of faith!

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Whoever thought that jumping off

a plane can actually come true… oh well

it can happen at the Sky Dive Dubai (The

Palm Jumeirah), which offers not only an

extraordinary skydive, but also one of the

most breathtaking views for skydiving, in

the world. It all started off one evening at

an informal and friendly chat about our

plans for the weekend and it soon caught

on like a fire that would not subside until

we actually jumped off a plane in Dubai.

Since there was no opportunity for sky

diving in Oman, we had to head to Dubai.

We had so many questions in our heads

about the whole experience we were

to undertake…questions that had no

answers. From what height would we

jump? What to wear? Etc. It was a bit

nerve wrecking and by the time the seven

of us skydiving pretenders reached our

destination, we were totally in this what,

when, why and how frenzy!

As our minds whipped up a whirl of

queries and counter queries, doubts and

misgivings, the day, the hour and the

minutes dawned upon us. Since we had

to be at the venue two hours before the

jump of our lives, we made it a point to be

much ahead of the time.

May-July 201118

A huge ‘Welcome to Dubai’ sign greeted

us at the gate. The staff at the SkyDive

Dubai office gave us a very warm

welcome and handed out forms for each

one of us to fill in our details and initial

every term and condition mentioned. As

we nervously filled in the details, we could

not help watch the professionals pack

their parachutes, while others geared up

for some test jumps.

We gave our details and had our weights

recorded. I was under the impression

that our instructors would be giving us

one-to-one rigorous training so that we

don’t fumble at 13,000ft.

As we waited, we watched a few

professional jumpers landing a few

meters away from our tent onto a

beautiful green patch, which was about

the size of a soccer field.

We had to split into two groups as they

could not accommodate all seven of us

at the same time. So as we made our

groups, they handed over our tickets

which read ‘tandem ticket’ and ‘13,000

ft’.

We all knew then that there was no

turning back as we had already paid

OMR175 each. So as our names were

called out and we met our instructors for

the first time, butterflies began to flutter

in our tummies.

May-July 2011 19May-July 2011 19May-July 2011 19

When we touched down I was

brimming with adrenaline so much

that I could not even stand in one

place for more than a second to

accept that I had just leapt out into the open skies

May-July 201120

Globe-Tra i l

Absolutely No alcohol and/or drugs in your system before making a tandem skydive.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Please note that to be able to make a tandem jump

you must follow theses rules and restriction:

Age: You must be at least 18, please come with a valid ID.

Clothes: Bring athletic and comfortable clothes. Wear sneakers/sport shoes, no sandals or boots, no shoes with heels.

Weight: You must be within the weight limits: Ladies: Less than 200 lbs. Men: Less than 220 lbs.

May-July 201120

May-July 2011 21

Time: Plan to spend at least three hours for your experience. Reservations:

A deposit of 750 AED (roughly OMR 78/79)

is required to make your reservation, call and book

to reserve your jump. We try to accommodate walk-

ins but cannot guarantee you will jump unless you

booked in advance. Weather: Skydive Dubai is sensitive to weather, so if the conditions are not perfect, your experience may take a little longer.

May-July 2011 21

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Our instructors introduced themselves

and took us individually aside and briefed

us about the jump as they strapped the

harness onto us. I had a million questions

to ask him as I grew increasingly anxious

and nervous. So as soon as he asked

me, “Do you have any questions?” I fired

away like a loose cannon: “How long

will it take from the time we jump off the

plane to touchdown?” “At what speed

will we reach while we are freefalling?”

“What about our landing?” The questions

went on and on. By then everyone in the

room knew I was nervous, oh well it was

my first time!

Boys turn into menAs we paid for the entire package where

still images and a video came along with

the jump, my interview was taken before

I knew it by another professional skydiver

who was also going to jump alongside

me from the plane. As we made our way

to the plane, I saw my friends who had

jumped minutes before us, touch down.

It was our turn to walk into that plane as

boys and jump out as men.

Mere specks in the sky It was now a show of courage mixed

with excitement as I got into the plane.

The higher the plane climbed, the bigger

the butterflies grew in my stomach. As

my instructor strapped me to his harness

I tried to make small talk to my friends

to distract myself from the thought of

jumping off the plane, but in vain. The

guy right near the exit door kept opening

it to circulate the air within the plane and

it kept getting cooler and cooler. The

weather was so pleasant up there that I

just wanted to stay in the plane as long

as I could but then suddenly it was my

turn to jump and my heart skipped not

one but a million beats as I neared the

exit door. The guy who jumped seconds

before me was just a speck in the open

skies of Dubai.

Falling from the sky But as soon as I looked out of that

door and saw the view of the coastal

line and the skyscrapers of Dubai, all

the butterflies in my stomach vanished

and the next thing I knew I was flying.

They say you roughly fall at a speed of

200km/h but all I knew was that I had

never experienced a feeling like that ever.

It was a total adrenaline rush. It’s that

feeling you get when you wake up with a

jolt because you feel that there is nothing

under your feet. Only here you are awake

and still fall for an entire minute.

Leap of faithI noticed that most of us had a different

position before disembarking from the

plane. The girls had to bend their knees

and hold on to their harness while their

instructors did all the work. For us guys,

we had to kneel down at the edge of the

exit door and pray for a second before

we did the ‘leap of faith’. I guess it was

because of our height.

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Website: www.skydivedubai.aeGPS Coordinates: Lat: 25.091079, Long: 55.137892

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Stop thinking, just flyWhile freefalling I didn’t know what to

think of as things were happening so fast!

So I just went with the fall and enjoyed

the ride and soaked up the view. My

cameraman was all over the place as he

could easily maneuver himself with his

specially designed suit. And then I felt as

though I hit a rock. It was the parachute

opening with a bang! It was a tug I will

never forget. I thought it was all over but

it wasn’t! My instructor then tugged on

the parachute and I felt as if I was going

to fall again but he was just turning us

around. He then loosened the harness so

that I would feel more comfortable as we

slowly went down on our slow descent.

Jump at least once Even when we touched down I was full

of adrenaline so much so that I could not

even stand in one place for more than a

second to accept that I had just leapt out

into the open skies. Nothing can beat the

thrill and excitement that I experienced

in those brief (five to seven) minutes of

my life. We couldn’t wait to run back to

our hotel and share our experience with

each other. It is something I will never

forget and I would recommend everyone

to experience it at least once in their

lifetime!

(Author’s note: The sky diving trip was

organised primarily as a post-birthday

greeting for Michael Cissell, a dear friend.)

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Words: S. Nishanth

House on water

May-July 2011 25

This time when I returned from Down Under to my hometown in Kerala, my parents said: “Kettuvallam * (traditional house boat)?”. Why not, I replied. Although, I was born and brought up in Queensland, Australia, I am an Indian, or more precisely, a Keralite. My

parents, retired teachers from Queensland, returned and settled down in Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, a town in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. Alleppey or Alappuzha (also known as the Venice of the East), is an important tourist destination in India. The

backwaters of Alleppey are world famous and is the most popular tourist attraction in Kerala. It connects Kumarakom and Kochi towards north and Quilon to the South.

Alappuzha is a centre for houseboat cruises considered to be the Citadel of houseboats.

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UnforgettableMy parents had gone on houseboats

before, but for me, this was the first time

and I must say it was an unforgettable

experience. A glide in a ‘Kettuvallam’

(houseboat) through the enchanting

backwaters of Alleppey is sure to rob

your heart. Palm fringed narrow canals

winding through the vast expanse of

paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets

lined up along either side of the canals

are panoramic sights one can never

forget.

Visual treatSoon, we found ourselves in the heart of

Vembanad Lake, flanked by the emerald

green tropical vegetation and exotic

fauna. Birds, fishes, animals, butterflies,

flowers, paddy fields, water lilies, and a

lot more added to the charm and magic

of the backwaters. They offered a grand

visual enjoyment as we cruised through

the tranquil water-scape.

A cruise along the palm-fringed waterways

of Kerala in a luxury houseboat is the

most enchanting holiday experience in

India, my parents tell me. You will skim

past ancient Chinese fishing nets, water

lilies, lush paddy fields, coir villages, rustic

homes, temples and coconut groves. A

guided tour down the backwaters would

provide you with a complete and most

enchanting experience on the backwaters

of Kerala and will also reveal to you some

interesting facts about the life of local

village people. There is a Kerala that lives

along these backwaters throbbing with its

own unique culture. For you, as a visitor

to Kerala, it can be incredibly different

and unusual experience just floating in

the backwaters in a country craft.

A labyrinthine water world Alappuzha houseboats offer adjustable

and negotiable packages with different

destination circuits. The duration of

the cruise and its timing is left to the

convenience and interests of the tourists.

Those with plenty of time to spend in

the tropical environment, richly blessed

by nature, can have a package lasting

several days and nights. Those with

busy schedules and little time, can enjoy

a few hours in the blue lagoons, around

Alleppey, or they can visit Kumarakom,

and surrounding bird sanctuaries.

Kerala backwaters, as a whole, form

an intricate network of lagoons, lakes,

canals, estuaries, and rivers that drain

into the Arabian Sea. Over 900 km of

this labyrinthine water world is navigable.

Boating along the backwaters offers

spectacular views and vistas of Kerala’s

pristine natural beauty.

Coconut palms, the arboreal symbol

of Kerala landscape, fringe the

backwaters framing the blue tropical sky

during daytime and a starry twinkling

firmament during evenings. There are

diverse sceneries along the backwaters

crisscrossing the coastal areas.

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By AirIf you are planning to fly from Oman, the nearest airport is Kochi, situated at a distance of 64 km, north of Alappuzha. Another option is Thiruvananthapuram Airport, which lies around 159 km south.Oman Air and Air India have daily flights to Kochi.

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The largest backwaters stretch is the

Vemband lake, which sprawls out into the

three districts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha

and Kottayam and has an area of 205 sq

km. It opens out into the Arabian Sea at

the Kochi harbour.

Soul cleanser

We boarded the boat by noon and we

struck off immediately with our captain

(Bashir) and his small, but efficient

crew. For the rest of the afternoon, we

cruised around the canals, enjoying the

fascinating beauty of the backwaters. It

is not just infinitely relaxing to be on a

floating house; it has a way of soothing

your frayed nerves. The rhythm on the

boat is slow like the pace of life on the

backwaters as it navigates through the

narrow waterways watching Indian village

life in a constant moving panorama

before you.

Kerala cuisine Our houseboat was fully furnished. It

had a sundeck, a private balcony with

comfortable chairs, kitchen and toilet

with WC. In addition, there is a separate

room for the crew.

Traditional lanterns are used as lights.

The crew includes a chef, and two

oarsmen. We enjoyed the traditional

Kerala flavoured cuisine. I enjoyed the

fish fry (fresh from the lake). The food was

cooked by the crew and combined local

fish (blackspot, tiger prawns and scampi)

as well as curried dishes, daal and rice.

Exciting tourism products

There are single bedroom houseboats for

two people and two bedroom houseboats

for four people. The houseboats of Kerala

have become one of the most exciting

tourism products in India. Today there

are A/c and Non A/c houseboats with

deluxe and luxury facilities.

The houseboat holidays of Kerala are

increasingly becoming popular with

domestic as well as international tourists.

“The number of houseboats, plying

the backwater of Kerala, have thereby

increased dramatically,” the captain of

our houseboat told us.

(* A Kettuvallam means a boat made by

tying together pieces of wood)

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Some nights at the

Night Safari

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Nila Utama. Ok, the name may not mean anything to

you. But for the hundreds of nocturnal visitors at the

Night Safari, the world’s first and top award winning

night zoo in Singapore, it is a familiar name. A name

that will have them grinning from ear to ear. Nila Utama

is a naughty nearly seven-month old baby elephant,

which is the famous park’s latest addition to its brood

of endangered Asian elephants.

Nila Utama, named after the Sumatran prince Sang

Nila Utama, who founded the kingdom of Singapura

in 1324, was sired by Chawang, the sole bull elephant

at the Night Safari, which is managed by the Wildlife

Reserves Singapore (WRS). Nila is the first elephant

to be born at both Night Safari and Singapore Zoo in

almost a decade, zoo officials confirm. He is the 11th

addition to the family of Asian elephants at WRS.

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Nila’s first public appearance Nila made his first public appearance in

April this year and has already proven to

be a darling of the masses that throng

the Night Safari. Right from the time he

was four months old, Nila has shown his

adventurous streak, leaving his mother’s

side to explore his surroundings and

even get into the pool, all by himself.

Visitors will be able to witness the close

bond between Nila and his mother Sri

Nandong, who has also sired two other

males, Sang Raja (noble one) in 1999 and

Sang Wira (brave one) in 2001. Nila is but

one attraction at the Night Safari, which,

like its name begins in the night.

Over 1.1 million visitors annually Night Safari is an eight-time winner of

the Best Visitor Attraction Experience

awarded by Singapore Tourism Board.

This internationally acclaimed leisure

attraction embodies innovation and

creativity in products and services, and

service quality, thus attracting more than

1.1 million visitors yearly. Over 1,000

animals from 115 species (of which

almost 30 percent are threatened) inhabit

the 40-hectare park.

In line with its mission to promote

biodiversity, the park focuses on the

captive breeding of threatened species.

Over the years, it has bred Malayan tigers,

Asian elephants, fishing cats, red dholes,

anoas, markhors, bantengs and Malayan

tapirs, among other endangered species.

A visitor’s experience at Night Safari

is not limited to animals but extends to

experiential dining segments with the

park’s award winning Gourmet Safari

Experience, where visitors dine onboard

a tram traversing the eight geographical

zones. The park can be explored either

on foot via three walking trails, or by tram.

Night Safari is part of Wildlife Reserves

Singapore and is a designated wildlife

rescue centre by the governing authority.

Fascinating night journey As dusk falls, the night is just starting for

over 1,000 nocturnal animals. Observe

as they rise to frolic, graze and hunt their

night away! Embark on a fascinating

journey through the Night Safari.

You can traverse eight geographical

regions via the Night Safari’s three

interlinked walking trails and tram route

to observe various nocturnal animals

from different parts of the world.

The Creatures of the Night Show, which

feature a half hour of non-stop action

is something that cannot be missed,

according to the Safari promoters. You

get a chance to watch the Safari’s animal

stars demonstrate and amaze you with

their predatory and survival instincts.

Creatures of the Night Show Set in a forest clearing, this 20-minute

animal presentation will introduce you to

nocturnal animals, from the elusive owl

to nimble binturongs to intuitive civets.

Watch, learn, be entertained and even be

part of the act. The show also features

a more interactive format where visitors

will be drawn into the action. But, since

seating is on a first come first served

basis, it is better to come early to avoid

disappointment.

Show appearances/content may change

due to the temperament of the animals.

Show times: 7.30pm, 8.30pm, and

9.30pm daily (weather permitting).

Additional show at 10.30pm on Fridays,

Saturdays and eve of public holidays.

Himalayan FoothillsAs the tram journey begins, the foothills

of the lower Himalayas come into view.

At ground level, the terrain is covered

with dense vegetation. Farther up, pine

and fir trees, together with scrubby

rhododendrons and dwarf bamboos,

dominate the landscape.

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Stout trees, entwined with woody

creepers, dot the rugged hillside. This

wet, montane zone supports the sure-

footed and the agile, adapted to leading

a ‘high’ life in steep, mountainous terrain.

Some of the inhabitants include the

bharal, Himalayan tahr, mouflon, markhor

and the magnificent Himalayan griffon

vulture.

Nepalese River ValleyLeaving the Himalayan Foothills, the tram

weaves through the marshlands and low-

lying areas of the Nepalese River Valley.

The landscape changes dramatically

with streams, moist grass beds and tall

grasses dominating the habitats.

A drive-through sambar habitat is the

highlight of the Nepalese River Valley

zone. The sambar, one of the largest

Asian deer, range freely here and often

“sneak up” so close to the tram that

passengers can almost touch them.

The other attractions include: the Indian

subcontinent, equatorial Africa, Indo-

Malayan region, Asian Riverine forest,

and the Burmese hillside.

Walking trails Four interlinked trails – Leopard, Fishing

Cat, East Lodge and Forest Giants –

offer a triple dose of adventure as you

encounter different animals on foot.

A feast for the senses, you can walk

amidst giant flying squirrels gliding from

tree to tree, marvel at the swiftness of

the fishing cats zeroing on their prey or

reach dizzying heights as you peer over

treetops.

Leopard trail A rustle among the trees standing in

a shadowy forest. A leopard emerges

from the dark and starts tearing apart

a carcass, which drapes lifelessly on a

branch of a tree. Sounds like a scene

from a wildlife documentary? No, this is

one of the surprises in store for you when

you visit the Leopard Trail.

Another highlight is the tarsiers. These

gremlin look-alikes have enormous eyes

to spot their prey such as lizards, young

birds, spiders and insects in the dark.

Also on display along this trail are the

Malay and small-toothed civets, which

mark their environment with foul-smelling

secretions, called “civet”. The secretions,

however, have a very pleasant smell

when diluted and may be used in the

production of perfumes.

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A visitor’s experience at Night Safari is not limited to animals but extends to experiential dining segments with the park’s award winning Gourmet

Safari Experience, where visitors dine onboard a tram traversing the eight geographical zones. The park can be explored either on foot via three

walking trails, or by tram. Night Safari is part of Wildlife Reserves Singapore and is a designated wildlife rescue centre by the governing authority

May-July 2011 35

Fishing cat The fishing cats are undoubtedly the

stars of this trail. Guests are treated to a

drama as the cats watch their fishy prey

with intense concentration and suddenly

lunge into the water to pin them down.

The greater and lesser mouse deer move

around daintily with their pencil-thin legs.

Not true deer, these animals do not have

antlers and the males use their elongated

canines as a weapon for defense.

Other inhabitants along this trail include

the elusive pangolin, the playful and noisy

small-clawed otters, Indian gharials and

the largest bat in the world - the Malayan

flying fox.

East Lodge This trail leads you through one of the

few remaining pockets of undisturbed

primary forest in Singapore. As its name

suggests, this trail is a botanical display

of awesome forest giants, some of

which have been around for more than a

hundred years.

The shorea can grow to a dizzying

height of 45 metres while the Nyatoh, an

important source of timber, can reach

a towering 40 metres. Over 100 other

native plants are found.

Among them are rattan, gaharu, meranti

and jelutong. The forest at night is

teeming with the nocturnal activities of

toads, frogs, crickets and other insects.

You may even be able to catch a glimpse

of bats, flying lemurs, night jars, owls,

squirrels and tree shrews. Venture into

the deep woods of the East Lodge Trail

and trot from the continent of Africa into

Asia.

Forest giantsExperience the purr-fect nightlife of

Equatorial Africa’s wild side with every

step you take as you try to spot the

agile Serval. Listen out for the laugh of

the Spotted Hyeana, one of the most

fearsome predators in the savannah.

Then see the majestic Bongo in its bright,

chestnut red coat with narrow white

stripes – the largest and most beautiful of

all African antelopes.

Let the grunts of the highly endangered

Babirusas welcome you as you cross

over into the exotic Indo-Malayan region

where you’ll also see the marvelous

Malayan Tiger.

(Night Safari is located at 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826. More information can be found at www.nightsafari.com.sg)

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Mauritiuscallin

g

Time almost stands still when you take in the natural beauty of Mauritius. This tropical fantasy of an island in the Southern Indian Ocean, which is blessed with sunshine, trade winds and endless beaches, will enchant you, uplift your soul and make you feel that

you are one among the chosen few. Really!

After visiting many countries, you maybe tempted to ask: Which holiday destinations can keep the promise they made in their travel brochures? Some can. And, you don’t have to look far. Mauritius being one of the few that can really go beyond the

mere posturing of a brochure and deliver the goods!

What does a tourist really want? Attention. In Mauritius, you will discover that every visitor enjoys personal attention. Every encounter is an opportunity to discover a friendly face. Behind each smile lies the promise of a unique holiday. The contrast of a multitude of colours and tastes, the island, set in its turquoise

sea, is an oasis of peace and tranquility.

Mauritius, a melting pot where past and present are smoothly blended together, offers an essential beauty that will compel

you to return to its shores time and time again. There is natural beauty, brilliant sunshine and endless beaches…then there are

other reasons like golf, diving, and snorkeling. Mauritius has long been a destination for those seeking winter sun, paradise-white

beaches, pampering and luxury accommodation. Let us look at some quick-fire reasons why you should visit Mauritius:

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Mauritian charmsHolidays to Mauritius are surely

something to look out for. The island

offers ample opportunity to have fun,

catch some sun and explore numerous

natural marvels. Look at the handful of

Mauritian charms that will make your

cheap holidays absolutely rich!

BeachesMauritius beaches are a little slice of

paradise. It has some of the world’s finest

beaches that are responsible for making it

such a glorious winter sun destination and

an extremely popular holiday spot among

Europeans. The nation’s pristine beaches

are much more than just being beaches;

they offer different shades to the lives

of tourists and locals alike transporting

them to a place where serenity collides

with excitement! Belle Mare Beach, Blue

Bay Beach and Pereybere Beach are

some of the beaches that attract tourists

in droves for Mauritius holidays.

Port LouisPort Louis, the capital city of Mauritius,

is the perfect representation of the island

nation! Port Louis is a vivacious city that

presents a brilliant fusion of wonderful

traditions and breathtaking modernity.

The city is particularly renowned for its

remarkable nightlife and making tourists’

holidays in Mauritius an absolute hit.

People can check out numerous casinos,

pubs, night shows, bars and restaurants

in Port Louis. The city’s Natural History

Museum is big tourist attraction that

features stuffed replica of several

animals, birds and sea creatures!

Grand BaieGrand Baie is an extremely popular beach

stretch that just cannot be clubbed with

other beaches of the region! More than

a beach, Grand Baie is an entertainment

hub that is ideal for different types of

water activities like yachting, water-

skiing and windsurfing. Grand Baie and

its surroundings also include shops,

cheap hotels, restaurants and bars.

Pamplemousses Botanical GardenPamplemousses Botanical Garden

is for those who wish to experience

something different! The place offers

a perfect refuge for tourists needing an

escape from the hustle and bustle of city

life. Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

remains one of the most frequented

tourist spots in the incredible Mauritius.

The garden features different varieties of

medicinal plants as well as charming fish

ponds

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Restaurants and Cuisine Mauritian cooking is in a class of its own

and is influenced by different cultures

and cooking traditions. You will find an

eclectic mix of Creole, Chinese, Indian

and Muslim food. During your stay do

allow yourself the pleasure of eating local

food at a table d hote or in the various

specialised restaurants. Although the

food in the hotels is always of a high

standard, take time to sample the local

restaurants where your taste buds will be

pleasantly surprised.

Shopping The island has a reputation as a shopping

paradise and you will see there are

excellent shopping opportunities and

prices are very reasonable. Mauritius

has an enviable reputation for textiles

production, namely for sweaters and

other knitwear. Leading brands are sold

at unbeatable prices all over the island.

There is something for everyone on this

wonderful, diverse island.

Places to see and things to do Grand Bay is a must as it is a shopping

and leisure paradise, it also happens to

be the area where Mauritians head for

when they want a fun-filled night out. You

will find that Ile aux Cerfs is a paradise

for water sports and has one of the most

beautiful beaches in Mauritius. This tiny

island is a real gem, delicately poised on

the ocean. Visit Ile aux Aigrettes to enjoy

the magnificent landscapes with endemic

plants and rare bird species in this

protected area. There is some excellent

diving in Mauritius and Golf is popular

with some championship courses. Other

activities include trekking, cycling and

even caving for the more adventurous.

Climate Wonderful weather and awaits you here.

In the summer months (November to

April) the temperature varies from 25 C to

33 C on the coast. The sea temperature

approaches a lovely 27 C. It is a little

cooler from May to October when the

temperature varies from 18 C to 26 C

on the coast and the sea temperature

approaches 22 C.

Many international airlines, including well known carriers provide air access to Mauritius from major international airports. Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam Air Terminal is the international airport in Mauritius. It is situated approximately 3 kms from Mahebourg, and 48kms from Port Louis. The airport has all the necessary features of an international terminal, including duty free shops, restaurant, bars, bank, and a post office. Mauritius can also be reached by the sea route. Many cruise companies offer luxury cruises to Mauritius from nearby ports like Durban in South Africa.

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A drive through an

If you are driving and have never been to Salalah before, it will take some time for you to believe that just some kilometers away you will find a welcome respite

from the blazing hot desert climate. Yes, if you are patient enough and have reached Thumrait, the gateway of Dhofar, then you are almost there!

Climb the winding path, past the mountains and then your patience will be rewarded. Then you will realise what everyone has been saying all the time is actually true: That on one side, where you came from, there is this sweltering

sky sending down sheets of heat and blaze, while, just around the corner (well, almost), we have a cool, rain-drenched land sparkling green.

Words: A. Rahman Photographs: Mohammed Al Awaid

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It was like as though the land was

playing chameleon. Brown, splotchy,

sunny land suddenly turns a sparkling

shade of green that can make anyone

envious. Without much ado, we just dove

into this green wonderland.

The trip from Muscat to Salalah took

around 11 to 12 hours (not always as it

could depend on what distracts you on

the path; as there are plenty of places

worth a detour en route). From Muscat,

you will cover Rusayl, Nizwa, Haima and

then Thumrait. Next stop is the green

wonderland, Salalah, Oman’s second

largest city, around 1000kms away from

the capital.

Now, driving from Muscat to Salalah can

either be tedious and uncomfortable, or,

fun and enjoyable. For us, since we took

turns at the wheel and since we really

enjoy driving, it was the latter. Even the

scenery was fun, especially during the

first five hours when we passed through

Nizwa and other towns. In the latter half

we saw only barren desert and oil fields.

But, we had no problem as it was all a

new experience for us.

The exciting part of this trip is the

anticipation, because we have heard

so much about Salalah, especially the

Khareef (or monsoon season), which

climatically begins on June 21 and

continues till September 22, every year.

There are nine months of drought and

then, three months of the khareef for

Salalah.

And, as we drove into Salalah town, we

did the next best thing that we could do

before we embarked on a rainy adventure:

switch off the air conditioning in the car.

This is the only time and place where we

can think of doing this. Through the open

windows, we took in the scene.

Of course, Salalah is more than just the

khareef, but the latter adds an unusual

twist to this Arabian land, making it

sound like a fairy tale.

The visual delights include: long white

sandy beaches, swaying coconut palm

trees, thickets of vibrant green sugar

cane, grids of banana and papaya trees

and rows of frond-roofed stalls on the

roadside bulging with tropical fruit for

sale. This is a must-stop spot and we

tucked into some tasty Salalah farm

produce, including soothing coconut

water.

Many tourists flock these roadside

stalls. Each year, several hundreds of

thousands of visitors come to Salalah to

celebrate the Khareef festival. The cool,

cloudy, summer climate with refreshing

rains is an enjoyable break for many who

have been sweating (literally) under the

inescapable summer inferno.

Salalah is a city that has risen with the

frankincense trade. In the Middle Ages,

its position on Indian Ocean drew trade

from Africa, Europe and China. Top

explorers who have visited Salalah

include Marco Polo in 1285, Ibn Batuta in

1329 and 1349 etc.

Apparently, even the Queen of Sheba

fell under the spell of the area’s treasure,

far greater than gold and reportedly sent

gifts of frankincense to impress King

Solomon.

Tourists like us were mainly drawn by the

thought of finding summertime drizzle

in an otherwise sweltering atmosphere.

And, of course the fine sand beaches, the

cultural history and archaeology, and the

natural diversity that has always wooed

visitors to this ancient paradise.

Later, we drove past huge incense

burners along the roadways and this

reminded us of the fact that Salalah is

also known as Arabia’s Perfume Capital.

Frankincense enjoys a pivotal role in the

region’s fine heritage.

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The scented gum had inspired a trade

of mammoth proportions with other

civilisations, spawning in its wake

legendary cities like the lost city of

Arabia, Sumharam, and Al Balid, the

ruins of which are today a monumental

touristic draw. Visitors like us had the

privilege of stepping into the very spots

that legendary men had lived.

We visited the Frankincense Land

Archeological Park (Al Balid) on the

Salalah waterfront, then explored the

fortified ruins of Sumharam on the

picturesque Khor Rori creek and also the

famed Frankincense trees, which some

say are worth many times its worth in

gold. Frankincense is the signature scent

of Salalah, and it is available in many

grades.

Other unforgettable pit stops include

the visit to the Job’s tomb (Nabi Ayub)

set high in the Qara Mountains. Less

than half an hour’s drive from Salalah

is Ain Razat, a picnic spot with springs,

hills, gardens and streams. Nearby is the

equally resplendent Ain Sahanawt.

Seventy kilometers east of Salalah lies

Mirbat, famous for Bin Ali’s tomb (Bin Ali

was revered in the early days of Islam as

a sage and holy man). Taqah, 36kms from

Salalah is a picturesque, quaint village.

The fort at Taqah goes back several

hundred years and is well stocked with

authentic decorations and appointments.

Rising high above the coast is the Jebel

Samhan plateau, the highest point in

Dhofar at 1800 meters. Here you can find

the hanging valley of Wadi Dirbat which

is impressive in full flood. Further into the

jebels is Tawi Attir (the hole of the birds),

a natural sink hole over 100 metres wide

and 250 metres deep. Nestled in a hidden

valley is the Baobab Forest with huge

bulbous trees, one tree over 2000 years

old and 30 feet in diameter at its base.

To the west of Salalah are many stretches

of beautiful beaches. One of the most

popular of these is Mughsayl where you

can find unusual blow holes in the rocky

shelf close to the shore. These holes

display dramatic bursts of water and

foam sometimes reaching 50 feet in the

air.

The remaining part of our five day visit

to this summer getaway was spent

exploring these exciting spots. And last,

but not the least, we have to say that we

ended our trip in style: at one point in the

mountains, we switched off our 4WD, put

it in neutral and released the hand break.

The vehicle began to move up in some

mysterious fashion at this anti-gravity

spot, almost in the same fashion we have

been moving around this seaside oasis

since we drove down here from Muscat

a few days back.

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Frankincense trailSalalah is a city that has risen with the frankincense

trade. In the Middle Ages, its position on Indian

Ocean drew trade from Africa, Europe and China.

Top explorers who have visited Salalah include

Marco Polo in 1285, Ibn Batuta in 1329 and 1349

etc. Apparently, even the Queen of Sheba fell

under the spell of the area’s treasure, far greater

than gold and reportedly sent gifts of frankincense

to impress King Solomon

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Words: Swithun Fernandes and Abner Coehlo

Photographs: Simon Horswell and Wayne Hamrick

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Once you begin the

journey into the

snake canyon, you

cannot turn back.

That is the rule and

that is something

you will be forced

to follow because

there is actually no

turning back

A warning sign with the words,

‘beware, there is no turning

back once you enter’ should

ideally be hanging at the

entrance of the snake gorge in

Rustaq.

That is a fact: Once you begin

the journey into the snake

canyon, you cannot turn back.

That is the rule and that is

something you will be forced

to follow because there is

actually no turning back.

There is only the way forward.

As many who have been there

claim, the snake gorge is not

for the squeamish at heart.

Apparently, dark legends

surround this great fissure

in the rugged landscapes of

Rustaq: “about diving off high

cliffs, about waters whose

depths are unknown; of

snakes and other creatures

swimming next to you in

narrow caves; of sudden flash

floods that can sweep you

away…”

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Fortunately, not all of them are true.

Yes, you have to dive, but not from very

high cliffs – people have jumped and

lived to tell the tale. Yes, the depth of

some pools may not be determined in

some areas, but even if you don’t know

swimming, you could still wear a life

jacket and paddle across.

Yes, there are some reports of snake

sightings, but, they generally shy away

from us and reports of snakebites are

unheard of (according to our knowledge).

As for flash floods, yes, that is one area

where you need to double check and

double check before you venture into

the gorge or any wadi for that matter.

Entering the gorge after a downpour

would prove to be too costly.

Whether you believe it or not, the whole

journey is a mental as well as physical

challenge and we did not take it lightly.

You will never know what to expect and

once the walk is completed, there is a

real sense of achievement…

Your adventure begins at the canyon

mouth. But, we will get to that later. For

the moment, here we are rocking away

in a 4 WD to the exit of the snake gorge.

The whole group (around 23) were in six

4WDs. We parked some of the vehicles at

the gorge’s exit to facilitate our trip back

and then we all bundled into the other

4WDs and got back to the starting point

of the trek.

A word of caution before you start off

with this trip… the minimum requirement

is: two four wheel drives, loads of water,

water proof backpacks, cameras, snack

bars and most importantly, you all need

to be swimmers and if not, the most

important factor, you need to be brave

hearts!

You carry your own back pack so, keep

it to the minimum. Wear good trekking

shoes and grab your life jackets if you are

a brave heart and not a swimmer!

The trip takes about three hours and in

short is an admix of swimming, wading

through pools, jumping down a few

metres from rock ledges into pools,

scrambling over boulders in the gorge

between two cliffs and sliding down the

rocks. You cannot go up anywhere and to

cut it short and once you jump down into

the first pool you cannot turn back either.

The exit is at the village of Zammah.

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You will cross several pools and small

waterfalls during your trek, including one

pool that flows into a semi-dark nearly

30-metres long cave.

The trek is not about great physical

fitness, but rather, great determination,

which along with a life jacket can keep

you afloat (literally!). But, it is always

advisable that you have experienced

team members in the squad when you

do this trip.

Jump, slide, crawlWe will tell you what we did: we dodged

rocks, slid down an algae ridden slippery

path, jumped off high cliffs and dove

into ice cold water under a cave! And it

definitely wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

There were moments of great hesitation

as we looked over the edge, our hearts

palpitating -- and sometimes in our

mouth -- and our palms sweating as

we wondered where we would get that

push to leap! Getting into a cave is fine,

but then sometimes, it can be quite

claustrophobic if the water is high.

‘Mountainous’ jungle At one end, you could call it a natural theme

park, but at the other end, a mountainous

jungle… the canyon suddenly becomes

narrow with practically vertical walls that

have been smoothened out by rushing

water throughout the rainy season.

Then there are some huge boulders to

scramble over. Beware, there aren’t too

many hand holds here.

The gorge joins another one halfway

coming from the right and another one

(again from the right) near the end. Always

follow the left branch, down slope. Check

for shallow rocks before you plunge into

pools. They say that if you make enough

noise, that would be enough to scare the

snakes away. Although we lost all our

playfulness the moment we jumped into

the first pool, we still managed to make

enough noise. We did not see even a

single snake, nor even its skin. You won’t

be alone though, there are little cute

fishes and toads and frogs to keep you

company!

May-July 2011 53

At one end, you could call

it a natural theme park,

but at the other end, a

mountainous jungle… the

canyon suddenly becomes

narrow with practically

vertical walls that have

been smoothened out by

rushing water throughout

the rainy season

May-July 2011 53

May-July 201154

Oman-Tra i l

The slides are indeed trickier than the

ones on the snake and ladder game.

You slide down to pools of cold water.

So this adventure should be ideally

planned during summer, when there

is the warmth of the sun to take off the

chillness. Summer also ensures that

there are no rains to cause flash floods;

because the gorge gets full in seconds

post downpour.

Almost there The cave is the climax. You slide down

to a cave of water, quite dark, but for a

streak of sunray… the water is ice cold

and can numb you in seconds. But, don’t

panic. Relax, take a deep breath, and

swim through the stretch…whatever it

is, keep calm. A good 15 minute swim

awaits you here.

The trek will keep you on your toes all

the time. When we say jump off cliffs, it

is no joke. The highest jump is from a cliff

that is 18 to 20 feet high. But you have no

other option other than to jump. There

are three such jumps and the other two

are a little better, just 15 feet and less!

Once you wade out of the cave, you get

a wisp of fresh air. You are out in the

open, with a long way to trek… and as

it is summer, you will be dry and hot in

a minute. This is where you should keep

yourself hydrated… you trek for a good

30 minutes to reach the exit where you

have parked your first 4WD. It is a near

three to four hours ordeal through the

snake gorge!

The most challenging part in the trip for

us…? Well, almost all parts of the trek,

but there was an outlandish point where

you have to squeeze yourself through a

rocky gap, which could fit your body

through if you are of the leaner kind! If

not you will leave a bit of skin behind!

May-July 201154

May-July 2011 55

Barka R/O (Turn left)

GPS- 23º40'3.13 N

57º53’1.72 E

The Exit (Leave one

vehicle here)

GPS- 23º12'47.78 N

57º24'13.35 E

Zammah Village

The entrance

GPS- 23º12'40.42 N

57º23'5.14 E

Rest station

(Last petrol station)

GPS- 23º18'43.80 N

57º31'13.12 E

Signboards

(Stay left)

On road

Off road

Off road

Turn off (Left turn)

GPS- 23º20'31.38 N

57º29'35.64 E

L e g e n d

Take the road towards Rustaq, towards Wadi Bani Auf; keep going straight till you reach an Oman Oil petrol pump on the right. Another 15 minutes drive straight again, you see the board of Wadi Bani Auf, and just before you reach the board, take a left to get in to the off road. Forty five (45) kms on the off road drive with settlements on both sides, you reach a village. Keep left at all junctions. Soon you will reach Zammah village.

RE

AC

HIN

G T

HE

RE:

May-July 201156

Oman-Tra i l

Wanted:

in Oman

May-July 201156

May-July 2011 57

The Japanese

business group led by Takahiro Yoshimoto

came from Japan to Oman on a whirlwind work visit; they

stayed less than 24 hours. When they finished their work, they took the next flight back home to Tokyo. There

were seven of them, including Takahiro, and almost all of them were really great

golf enthusiasts, with Yoshimoto being a bit of a local champ in his home town. If they had only known more of the golf courses available in Oman, perhaps, all seven of

them would have extended their trip. And this group would have spread

the word. But, neither did the group extend their stay, nor, did they even think that they could have

added some golf pleasure to their business trip

here.

May-July 2011 57

May-July 201158

More than 50m golfers Every year, thousands of businessmen

and women visit Oman, but how many

of them extend their stay for a round of

golf? This sport (golf) can become a great

tourist attraction. There are more than 50

million golfers worldwide and roughly

30 percent of them are known to take

a golfing holiday every year, statistics

reveal. Facts and figures worldwide on

how golf can become a great tourist

attraction can be a real eye opener. Golf

represents the largest sports-related

travel market. It has been valued at $20

billion with over 50 million golf tourists

travelling the world to play on some of

the estimated 32,000 courses.

Big market to tap“Isn’t that a big market to tap in to, even

in a golf nascent country like Oman?”

query local golf promoters. If golf lovers

and promoters unite and embark on a

serious drive to promote golf as a major

tourism value, it would reap massive

financial rewards.

Golf for juniors The Oman Golf Committee (OGC),

which is always promoting golf in Oman,

recently conducted an innovative golf

training programme for juniors. They

trained 60 youngsters, comprising all

nationalities. The group included 38

Omani children, including nine Omani

girls. It was part of the ambitious five-year

plan formulated by the OGC to grow the

game of golf among children in Oman.

The programme was approved and

supported by the Scotland-based golf

world governing body, the R&A, which

had recently delivered 20 TaylorMade

junior sets to the OGC.

“With golf being the largest tourist-related

sport in the world, it is vital that a strong

pool of local members can support the

growth in the sport, especially as golf

is a target audience for Oman’s tourism

industry. The OGC’s vision is to start by

building the local playing population. We

hope to do this by introducing the sport

to as many junior members as possible,

Ali Said Al Bimani, chairman, OGC, told

Footprints.

Spread the word“Golfing is still a new game for the locals,

but, I feel it is time we looked at the bigger

picture. This year has been dedicated as

the year of junior golf development with

an aim to catch them young and teach

them golfing. Unless the locals start to

play golf, the game cannot progress.

We trained some young children to play

golf through a 10-week programme.

This is as part of our plan to grow the

game of golf among children in Oman.

This will encourage the parents and

family members to look at the game too.

Awareness is the need of the day. Locals

and expatriates living in Oman need

to know that Oman has very good golf

courses and it doesn’t take much to learn

and play the game. And it is a game that

one can play until you are 70 or more.

There aren’t any age limits at all,” Ali Al

Bimani said.

Focus on golf tourism“Today Oman is looking to tourism

for diversification. And globally, golf

represents the largest sports-related

travel market. So why not focus on golf

in Oman? Statistics reveal that over 50

million golf tourists travel the world. And

golf is one of the best-paid sports in the

world. It is vital that the local residents

support the growth of the sport, as golf

is a target audience for Oman’s tourism

industry.

“Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy,

minister for oil and gas, is the patron

of the OGC junior golf programme and

he has encouraged us saying that to

develop golf in Oman, we have to start

with our youth, both boys and girls. Golf

is not only one of the fastest growing

sports in the world; it is also one of the

important pillars that develop the tourism

industry of a country.”

Stay back for golfSalim Al Harthy, executive vice chairman,

OGC, meanwhile noted how golf and

the tourism industry were interlinked.

“It is more ideal for Oman, because

the Sultanate is targeting quality and

exclusive tourism and golf will be an

ideal tool for it. Look at the number of

business travellers coming to Oman…

are we retaining them here? They come

by road or fly down for a day or two and

go back, not knowing what is Oman.

With a little bit of awareness and by

promoting the game of golf we can retain

these travellers to stay back for more

days and take a bit of Oman along with

them.

Direct impact on tourism “I believe golf has a direct impact on

tourism and has a direct ability to bring

in revenue to the nation. Golfers can

contribute a lot to the development of

Oman-Tra i l

Ali Al Bimani

May-July 2011 59

tourism in Oman. Once again I would

reiterate that the home grown golfer is

the final word. We have to invest in our

own society so that the game has a good

life,” Salim Al Harthy said.

Time we said, ‘go golf’! The golf industry is by its self very vibrant,

offers lots of employment opportunities

locally. Oman has very distinctive

advantages too. The geography of

Oman, its cultural heritage adds on to

the lure of the game. “Golf is an addictive

game. It teaches the basic life skills of

patience, honesty and persistence. It

makes you a better person. Seven good

months gives golf a better time seasonal

time structure too. It is time we said go

golf,” Salim enthused.

Bright future for golf in Oman

He also noted that the OGC was quite

happy with the level of interest and

enthusiasm among all the children

who have taken part in the OGC junior

golf programme. “We are particularly

pleased to have nine Omani girls on this

programme.

This is a sport that is ideal for Omani girls

and our intention is to rapidly increase

this number. “In the 2016 Olympics, golf

will be introduced and we are confident

that Oman will have both a male and

female team competing. Golf has

definitely a bright future in Oman.”

Truly global sport“Golf is the game of the future. It is a global

sport that will bring the world closer. It

will definitely make the world a better

place, because it is an honest game. It

is probably one of the only sports in the

world that requires no referees,” Yvonne

Welling of the OGC added.

“Oman is the jewel of the Arabian

Peninsula. The natural landscapes are

a variety by itself. The desert, beaches,

mountains are all a feast to the eyes and

mind.

Golf will only add on to its natural beauty

and attraction. The game of golf will

enhance and accelerate not only the

GDP of Oman, but also place Oman on

the tourism map of the golfers worldwide.

It is just a start, but, golf will take Oman

places…” she said.

Golfing destination

If things work out as planned and with

the right push from the OGC, chances

are bright for the surge of golf tourism

in Oman, promoting it both as a golfing

destination and also a wonderful location

for golfing holidays. And, perhaps, the

next time that Yoshimoto come to Oman,

he might want to stay back for a quick

round of golf.

Holes: 18 holes, brown

Yardage: Men: 6,695 yards

Women: 5,620 yards

Telephone: +968 24522177

Holes: 18 Hole Golf Course

Holes: 18-hole championship world-class links style golf course with

panoramic ocean views to the north and mountain views to the south.

Oman’s first PGA Links golf course

Website: www.thewavemuscat.com

Contact: customerservice@thewavemuscat.com, +968 24534444

Holes: 9 hole par 3 green course

Telephone: +968 23235333Telephone +968 24467058

Holes Challenging 18 hole course built into a natural wadi (valley)

with a spectacular mountain backdrop and wonderful sea views.

Yardage Men: 5,936 yards / Women: 5,199 yards

Par 72

Contact: +968 24591248, info@gwgc.net,

Website www.gwgc.net

Al Maha Golf Club The Oman Automobile Club Golf Course

The Wave Golf Club

Crowne Plaza Salalah Marco Polo Golf CourseFlamingo Park Golf Club

Ghallah Wentworth Golf Club

Main Golf courses in Oman

Salim Al Harthy and Yvonne Welling

May-July 201160

Oman-Tra i l

May-July 201160

May-July 2011 61

Oman-India tourism set to receive a boost with IndiGo’s Oman launch

IndiGo, India’s largest discount airline by market share, will be flying to Oman before the end of

this year, further boosting the existing tourism ties between the two countries.

The New Delhi-based airline hopes to connect India and Oman before the end of this year, Aditya Ghosh, president, IndiGo airlines said, in exclusive remarks

made to Footprints.

IndiGo, which has been cited as the “fastest growing low cost carrier in the world” (*), plans to go

international in September, this year. “As per the traffic rights we have received earlier, IndiGo plans to make Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok as routes operational

to its customers,” Ghosh said, adding that they hoped to replicate its India success story, “redefining

its unique flying experience and brand value in the aviation industry”.

May-July 2011 61

May-July 201162

Excerpts:

What was the basic premise behind

starting a private airline?

India is a highly underserved aviation

market and there is a huge potential for

low fare air travel that is great quality and

reliability. That is why IndiGo stands for

three simple things – on time, low fares

and a courteous, hassle-free service.

I am the airline’s president. IndiGo is

promoted by InterGlobe Enterprises and

Rakesh Gangwal, an aviation industry

veteran. InterGlobe Enterprises has

been a committed player in the travel

and aviation industry for the last 19

years. InterGlobe Enterprises is a leading

travel conglomerate in India and enjoys

a wide-ranging presence in the fields of

airline and aviation management, travel

related services, travel technology,

travel distribution services and hotel

development and management

services. It’s aviation management

experience includes representation of

13 leading international airlines and

offers services ranging from sales

and marketing to revenue and route

management. It also offers distribution,

technology and BPO services for the

travel and aviation industries.

How many aircrafts does the airline

have under its wings and which are

the domestic destinations?

Currently, with 39 new Airbus A320

aircraft, IndiGo operates 259 daily flights

connecting 26 destinations in domestic

skies. IndiGo placed a firm order of a 100

Airbus A320 aircraft in 2005. The delivery

of the first 100 aircraft will be complete

by 2015. In addition, IndiGo recently

placed another firm order of 180 Airbus

320 series aircraft of which 150 aircraft

will be the newly launched Airbus A320

Neo aircraft. This is the largest aircraft

order in civil aviation history globally.

Domestic destinations include:

Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore,

Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bangalore,

Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa,

Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Hyderabad,

Imphal, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata,

Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune,

Indore, Srinagar and Vadodara.

IndiGo will operate its maiden

international flight on September 1, 2011

connecting New Delhi with Dubai. During

the month of September, the airline will

commence daily service on the Delhi-

Bangkok-Delhi and Delhi-Singapore-

Delhi routes. It will subsequently connect

Mumbai with Dubai and Bangkok with

daily flights effective October 2, 2011.

IndiGo will operate its maiden international flight on

September 1, 2011 connecting New Delhi with Dubai.

During the month of September, the airline will commence

daily service on the Delhi-Bangkok-Delhi and Delhi-

Singapore-Delhi routes. It will subsequently connect

Mumbai with Dubai and Bangkok with daily flights

effective October 2, 2011. Flights to Muscat would be

made operational within the same year.

Flights to Muscat would be made

operational within the same year (or

within a year’s timeframe).

How has the airline helped boost

domestic tourism? What are the new

plans to boost tourism to India?

IndiGo, with a current market share of

19.7 percent, started its journey in August

2006. And ever since, the airline has built

on its core values of low fares, on time

performance and hassle free journey to

the customers.

From convenience point of view also,

IndiGo is the only airline that has a unique

step-less boarding ramp for boarding

so that passengers with trolley bags,

children and physical ailments can board

effortlessly. The aircraft has spotlessly

clean interiors having a fresh and chic

look, thereby encouraging travellers to fly

with us frequently.

IndiGo’s cabin crew is known for their

professionalism and courtesy and they

actively seek feedback from passengers

on board. This not only helps us remain

sensitive towards any problems faced by

the passengers but also helps us improve

on the facilities we could provide them for

their convenience.

Get PackingKeeping in mind the approaching holiday

season, the airline has launched a new

initiative by the name Get Packing - an

exclusive packaged holiday offering for

its valued customers. Get Packing gives

IndiGo travellers the chance to plan for

the perfect trip enabling them to book

holiday and business packages in one

go.

With IndiGo’s extensive network of

flights, customers will be able to choose

from an array of diverse destinations

across the country.

With 150 packages in 30 destinations to

choose from, flyers can benefit a lot from

this, per say, avoiding the cumbersome

planning processes, long lines, pesky

touts and high prices that come with any

package.

The offer aims to address all facets of a

holiday - flights, hotel accommodation,

airport transfers, local conveyance,

entertainment et al. The customers can

log on to the Get Packing website (http://

getpacking.goindigo.in) or get in touch

with our representative at the IndiGo Call

Centre. The package offers customised

trips according to one’s convenience and

affordability, thus making the vacation a

hassle-free experience.

The airline is planning to go international in

September this year. Further to the traffic

rights it received earlier, the airline plans

to make Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok

as routes operational to its customers.

The move would not only help the airline

expand its market but would also help

boost tourism between India and the

desired locations. With the launch, the

airline aims to further replicate its India

success story, redefining its unique

flying experience and brand value in the

aviation industry. IndiGo will connect

Mumbai to Muscat in 2011.

Being a low-cost airline, would it be

an ideal vehicle for tourists flying

domestic destinations?

Definitely, low cost is one of our core

values through which we aim to offer our

customers flexibility and affordability.

Our tickets are even cheaper if they are

booked in advance.

In such a case, even the prime time

flights are the cheapest to travel. It is

always advisable to book tickets through

airline website as compared to any other.

At www.goindigo.in we continue to offer

our best prices and more flexibility to the

customers to book some of the additional

services, which may not be available on

the other sites.

We recommend booking as early as

possible. Four to six weeks in advance is

a good period. We believe in rewarding

customers for planning early and

choosing IndiGo for their travel.

Even being a low cost carrier, we make

sure to provide our customers an on time

performance and a hassle free journey.

The time has come for the airline to

begin international operations – when

would that be?

The airline is set to launch its first ever

international routes to Singapore, Dubai

and Bangkok in the month of September,

this year. Muscat will follow soon.

Which are the targeted destinations

and is Muscat one of them?

The targeted destinations include

Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, Kathmandu

and Muscat. Muscat would be made

operational within this year.

Which is/are the city/cities from

which the airline would be travelling

to Muscat and when (a tentative date

would be fine)?

IndiGo will initially connect Muscat to

Mumbai, followed by Raipur.

(*) Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation

May-July 2011 63

May-July 201164

Celebr i ty say

May-July 2011 65

“March 12, 2010, Fri 10:25 PMNo more intrigue, no more suspense, no more riddles and no conjectures. Its

Muscat the capital of this uniquely positioned Sultanate of Oman, South East of the United Arab Emirates, West across the Arabian Sea from the coast of India,

salubrious, quiet, peaceful with a distinct culture of its own…”

Big ‘B’ falls for Oman’spristine environment

This was what the Big ‘B’ wrote in his blog the night he landed in Oman in March last year (2010). Amitabh Bachchan, the greatest actor India has seen, came to Oman for

the first time to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Muscat International Film Festival. Amitabh was bowled over by the Sultanate’s pristine environment.

(“…dry picturesque mountains leading into the deep blue crystal clear waters of the sea. And further south I am told, large expanses of green (Salalah much like our own state of

Kerala during the monsoons)!”Amitabh wore the musr and the dishdasha at the festival going a bit in-depth into the

Omani psyche, so to speak!

May-July 201166

Foot forward

The Malaysia International Shoe Festival (MISF) by the Ministry of Tourism at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) held in April this year was co-organised by the Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association (MFMA). The event saw more than 166 booths

featuring over 50 famous local footwear labels including Zang Toi, Larrie, Princess, Carlo Rino, Nose, Bill Keith, Paula Moda, Fiorucci, Vern’s and Dr Cardin. Themed “Walking in Unity – Sole of the Nation”, MISF 2011 attracted over 80,000 local and foreign visitors.

May-July 2011 67

AirlinesFlight Information (24 hours): 24 519456

Aeroflot: 24 704455

Air Arabia 24 700828

Air France 24 562153

Air India 24 799801

Air New Zealand 24 700732

Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24 701128

British Airways 24 568777

Cathay Pacific 24 789818

Egypt Air 24 794113

Emirates Air 24 792222

Ethiopian Airlines 24 660313

Gulf Air (toll-free number) 800 72424

Indian Airlines 24 791914

Iran Air 24 787423

Japan Airlines 24 704455

Jazeera Airways 23 294848

Jet Airways 24 796680

Kenya Airways 24 660317

KLM 24 566737

Kuwait Airways 24 701262

LOT Polish Airlines 24 796387

Lufthansa 24 796692

Malaysian Airlines 24 560796

Middle East Airlines 24 796680

Oman Air 24 707222,

24519953

PIA 24 792471

Qatar Airways 24 771900

Qantas 24 559941

Royal Jordanian 24 796693

Saudi Arabian Airlines 24 789485

Singapore Airlines 24 791233

Sri Lankan Airlines 24 784545

Sudan Airways 24816565

Swiss Air 24 787416

Syrian Airways 24797567

Thai Airways 24 705934

Turkish Airlines 24 475030

Art galleries Al Madina Art Gallery 24691380

Bait Muzna Gallery 24739204

Omani Heritage Gallery 24696974

Omani Society for Fine Arts 24694969

Raj Relics 99329842

Yitti Art Gallery 24564297

BookshopsBorders 24558089

Family Bookshop, Qurm 24564391

Madinat as Sultan Qaboos 24600084

Turtles 24696217

House of Prose

(Used books) 24564356

CinemasAl Nasr Cinema 24831358

Al Shatti Plaza 24693557

Markaz al Bahja Cinema 24540855

Stars Cinema 24791641

Embassies and consulatesAlgeria 24 605593

Austria 24 793135

Bahrain 24 605074

Bangladesh 24 567379

Belgium 24 562033

Canada 24 788890

Chile 24 561977

China 24 696698

Colombia 24 816264

Cyprus 24 490200

Denmark 24 526000

Egypt 24 600411

Finland 24 701454

France 24 681800

Germany 24 832164

Greece 24 706648

Holland 24 603706

India 24 814120

Iran 24 696944

Iraq 24 604178

Ireland 24 797083

Italy 24 693727

Japan 24 601028

Jordan 24 692760

Korea 24 691490

Kuwait 24 699627

Lebanon 24 695844

Malaysia 24 698329

Mexico 24 561977

Morocco 24 696152

Mozambique 24 594207

Netherlands 24 603719

Norway 24 603706

Pakistan 24 603439

Palestine 24 601312

Philippines 24 605140

Portugal 24 561400

Qatar 24 691153

Russian Federation 24 602894

Rwanda 24 487978

Saudi Arabia 24 601744

Somalia 24 697977

South Africa 24 694793

Spain 24 691101

Sri Lanka 24 697841

Sudan 24 697875

Sweden 24 708693

Switzerland 24 568202

Syria 24 697904

Taiwan 24 605695

Tanzania 24 601174

Thailand 24 602684

Tunisia 24 603486

Turkey 24 697050

United Arab Emirates 24 600988

United Kingdom 24 609000

Uruguay 24 568202

USA 24 643400

Yemen 24 600815

LibrariesBibliothèque Française: 24681874

British Council Knowledge

and Learning Centre: 24681000

Oman Chamber of

Commerce and Industry: 24707684

Public Technical

Library Science: 24673111

United States Information

Service: 24643400

Raspberry’s Books: 95086074

MuseumsBait Adam 24605033,

99356676

Bait Al Baranda 24714262

Bait Al Zubair 24736688

Children’s Museum

24605368/9

Currency Museum 24641510

Muscat gate Museum 24739005

Nakhal Fort museum 26781384

National Museum 24701289

Natural History Museum 24641366

Omani-French Museum 24736613

Oman Heritage Museum 24600346

Planetarium: 24675542

Sayyid Faisal bin

Ali Museum 24641650

Salalah Museum 23294549

Sohar fort Museum 26844758

Sultan’s Armed

Forces Museum 24588700

Sur Maritime Museum 24541466

Special interest groupsAmerican Women’s Group 24594751

Environment Society

of Oman 24482121

Historical Association

of Oman 24563074

Horticultural Association 24605493

Indian Social Club 99322713

Muscat Amateur Theatre 24562511

Oman Bird Watching Camp 24695498

Omani Women Association 24602800

Royal Omani Amateur

Radio Society 24600407

Woman’s Guild of Oman

www.womensguildoman.org

TaxisAl Dar Taxi 24700555

Hello taxi 24697997

Muscat Cab 96429096

Info

rmat

ion

Travel ler ’s guide

August-October 201068

www.blackandwhiteoman.com

Read our magazine ONLINE

Oman’s First Free Fortnightly Magazine

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In Oman on October 26, 2011For more details: 24565697/98675976, blackandwhiteoman@gmail.com

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real watches for real people

Oris Regulateur “Der Meistertaucher”

Automatic regulateur movement

Titanium case

Manual helium valve

Water resistant to 1000 meters

www.oris.ch

Tel: +968 24699173