Travelling Dolly 10: Odette in Oman part 3

For the third and last part of Odette's adventures in Oman I remembered a promise I made about the quality of the pictures. For as interesting travel pictures might be, I believe they can also be really boring. So, before starting posing Odette and Carlo I made a full immersion in Avedon's fashion pictures.
This is what I came out with. I think the whole thing  looks a lot better!

In this last istalment Odette and Carlo are going to show you the diffrent environments and landscapes of Oman. Let's talk about diversity: here you can find the emptiest desert, the lushest wadis  and amazingly vibrant beaches!!!

Odette is modeling a comfortable jumpsuit (you can find the jumpsuit tutorial at April's here). At first I was planning to follow a Michael Kors's model, then something went terribly wrong with the collar. So I changed a bit the overall line and now it is an original Billa's, I'll try again the Michael Kors's with another kind of fabric. Odette will need some new urban safari outfits pretty soon!
Carlo is cozy in his bermuda shorts and a IT T-shirt.

Wahiba Sands
the Wahiba Sands are in the south-eastern part of Oman, they are the gate to the "empty quarter" the most desolate desert of the arabic peninsula. They are named after the Bedu tribe that still inhabits them, with their herds of camels.

In the natural light the sands are pink, so this is the third coloured desert visited by Odette, after the white and black desert of Egypt. Too bad that the camera renders an orange nuance!

You can tell you're in the desert when you find a road sign like this!

The 1000 Nights Camp is great place to stay: Odette and Carlo slept in a real beduin style tent with attached brick toilet and shower: one can have a hot shower under the open sky!

Whadi Bani Khalidsands
This is one huge Wadi! A Wadi is a Oasis around a river, this one is spectatular, actually there is a trek that leads from the Wadi to Muscat. People comes here during the festivities to have  picnics, while tourists prefer to take a plunge in the fresh waters.

Bibi Mariam's Tomb is the only standing  remnant of the ancient city of Qalhat. In fact the origins of this structure are obscure, as it stands alone among the dilapidated ruins of the rest of the city. It looks like there are some archeological dig in the area, but we couldn't spot any activity going on. Anyway is a great place to see!

Wadi Tiwi is a fascinating Tiwi, is a very long valley, punctuated with water polls, vegetable gardens and small villages.

A first sighting of the ocean from Wadi Shab, I can't resist these mushroom shaped rocks, have to photograph them anywhere I see one!

Odette and Carlo didn't have the chance to take a swim in the ocean, but just look at this beach! This beautiful spot is located halfway on the coastal road between Sur and Muscat.

Bimma Sinkhole is an incredible place. A local legend says it was formed by a meteor, but in fact this sinkhole occurred naturally by limestone erosion and collapse of the rocks.

They are back from Oman now, and Odette is posing with a chosen selection of souvenirs: a coffee pot, a clay turtle, a box carved in camel bone and and the thing for which Oman has been famous for ages: incense!  It smells wonderfully!

Next time Odette and Carlo will take us to Mexico!
Previous instalment: Odette in Oman part 2 - fortresses and doors

See you soon
Billa

Travelling Dolly 9 - Odette in Oman part 2: Fortresses and doors

For the second instalment of their trip to Oman Odette and Carlo are going to show us two of the main architectural features of the country: the fortresses and the colourful doors.

Jabrin

Watchtowers, forts, castles and strongholds of all kinds dot the craggy landscapes of Oman. Built by rulers - and would-be rulers - of the past, many of whom  played a role in the country's history. 

Nackl

Much of Oman's tumultuous history is written in the stone, stucco, and mud-brick dialects of its defensive architecture. The craggy countryside bristles so naturally with fortifications that it is difficult to imagine the landscape without them, from the chains of watchtowers perched along strategic mountain passes, to the great bastions guarding the coast and the historic capitals of the interior. As the political turbulence of the past subsided into history, however, the fortresses coveted by conquerors seemed destined to crumble into oblivion - until the 1980's, when the government of Oman began an enterprising program to restore the country's fortifications using traditional techniques and materials.

Nizwa

Oman is a land of 1,000 forts - at least. They tower above the treetops of inland oases. They ding to the cliffs above ancient ports. And over virtually every village fortified watchtowers perch atop handy crags high enough to command a view of approaching enemies. [from Saudiaramcoworld]

Omani Doors

Hand carved from great broad slices of huge teak mahogany or shishum timbers the traditional Omani Door is both defensive yet welcoming to guests. The  household Omani Doors were individually hand carved often with the name of the owner cut in attractive arabic script with geometric floral and other traditional patterns expertly carved and more designed to welcome guests. Great hand made spiggots, ancient locks and wooden bolt systems finished off what some would term as the only furniture in an Omani house other than the marriage chest and the windows ! [source: Fortantiques website]

Odette poses in a Gregory Prescott's inspired photosession

Next Instalment: Wadis and Desert

Previous Instalment: The Cities

Travelling Dolly 8: Odette in Oman part 1 - Cities

After such a long stay in China the travelling dolly was looking for a change of scenery. So, what about Oman as the next destination for Odette and Carlo?
They immediately agreed, fascinated with the idea of visiting the white city of Muscat, the unbeliavable charm of the oasis and the Wahiba Sands, in the northern part of the "Empty Quarter"! To say nothing of the fortresses and canyons. They can't possibly miss all this!
First of all I had to pick the right wardrobe for Odette.
I came up with this simple trapeze dress  and a safari jacket, The colours look great! Carlo is wearing a khaki suit and green t-shirt which are part of a Male urban safari colletion inspired by D&G, I'm working on it, and  someday I'll be able to post the whole thing! In the meantime Carlo is going to introduce the single outfits....

I also brushed a bit Odette's hair, I love her natural look now....

This time I decided not to show a route but to make four instalments showing: cities, forts, wadis and last but not least the desert. This will, I hope, help to show how diverse is the experience of visiting this wonderful country!

Muscat, the Capital: a white gem nestled between mountains

This is the Great Mosque. Omanites are very kind and tourists are allowed to visit it, but Odette didn't want to ruin her new hairdo so she posed ouside of it (I went inside!)

One of the forts presiding the bay of Muscat

The sea promenade

Muscat has a huge and colourful Souk, Odette and Carlo bought some Halva and Incense

No Odette, it doesn't look like original local harticraft.....

Sur: In Sur Odette and Carlo visited one of the dockyards where they build the tipical Dhow boats, described by Marco Polo in his book

A beach with fishermen's boats

A nice overview of Sur with her many watchtowers

Nizwa: Before visiting the fortress Odette and Carlo take a brief straw in the local souk, they saw many beautiful and expensive articrafts, pottery and the tipical daggers with filagree sheats

See you soon!

In the next instalment: Fortresses and doors

Previous Instalment: Odette in China part 3

Kisses
Billa