Martin Hesp
All tagged Salalah
Ain Razat, located behind Salalah in southern Oman, is a lush area fed by fresh springs. Once a primary water source for Salalah, it's now a public park. The main spring and its smaller contributories flow into a pool, with the water travelling through a falaj (watercourse) to Al-Mamurah Palace and Razat Farm. The highest flow occurs during the Khareef season. While signs caution against swimming due to Bilharzia risks, some visitors seem unbothered. The author recounts an unpleasant experience at the park's restroom, where he discovered the use of a knobbled stick in place of conventional toilet paper, marking a less enjoyable moment in his travels.
The story of the door through which just ab out all the world’s frankincense would have been carried 2000 years ago - and some would have made its was to a rather famous manger… The article delves into the author's personal experiences and historical insights related to frankincense, particularly its connection to the Christmas story and its historical trade in Southern Oman. It touches on the significance of frankincense in various cultures, its harvesting process, and the author's reflections on its mystical and cultural importance
The place where desert meets a green and watery paradise - Salalah in Oman. Martin Hesp visits the deep damp valleys underneath the ‘cloud cliffs’ that keep the coastal plain around the city of Salalah on the Oman-Yemen border moist
Oman is one of the safest and most fascinating places in the Middle East - and one of the most scenic
When Jesus was born half the world frankincense passed through one single door in a port on the shores of Oman. Martin Hesp went to the area to find out more about this strange connection to the Christmas story.