Wednesday 17 / April / 2024
Muscat: If you are interested in visiting Oman, you might want to check out Shoof Oman, the latest project by tour guide Marina Bruce.
Aimed at showcasing some of Oman’s more unexplored locations, as well as the Sultanate’s traditions and culture, Shoof Oman — shoof in Arabic means “look” or “see” — began as a result of Marina’s love for the Sultanate.
Check out more photos here
A long-time resident of Abu Dhabi, Marina has visited Oman and organised several tours for travellers in the past, and having explored many of the nooks and crannies of the Sultanate, she now shares her experiences with others, who have a thirst for adventure, on her blog www.thedesertdiva.com “Oman has good weather all year round, albeit you need to travel to places such as Jebel Akhdar and Salalah to enjoy outdoor adventures in the summer,” she revealed. “Each of the Gulf states has its own identity, and I like how traditional Omani culture and hospitality are still very much at the forefront of life here.
“Some tourists spend their whole vacation by the poolside of their five-star hotel; they may take a taxi down to Muttrah Souq, and they think they have seen Oman,” explained Marina. “Yet, Oman is such a beautifully diverse place; how can anyone believe they have really seen it unless they have travelled extensively throughout the country?”
The length and breadth of Oman’s landscape and the diversity of its natural beauty are features of the Sultanate that continue to amaze Marina, a native of Scotland.
“It would be impossible to narrow down my favourite places in Oman to just one!” she exclaimed.
“The Rub Al Khali with its endless massifs of sand on a pure white salt pan, and in particular, watching the early morning winter sun’s rays gently kiss the dunes after sunrise form some of my fondest memories.
“The Umm As Sameem is so desolate that I find it mesmerising, and I find the remoteness appealing. Salalah – particularly during low season over the winter,” added Marina. “Khaluf, the sugar dunes, during the week, when no one else is around, is an amazing beach with lots of wildlife and birds and is the perfect place to relax.
“Masirah Island was great,” she said. “We camped on the beach while hearing the breakers of the Indian Ocean, as they crashed on the shore all night. Wadi Bani Hinayy and Waid Al Hawqayn were very picturesque wadis, accessible by four wheel drive, with forts and watchtowers on the hills above, as well as a spectacular one marooned in the middle of the wadi.
Having now begun this project, Marina is hoping she can showcase the spirit and culture of the real Oman to tourists in the future.
“I hope my Shoof Oman project will portray the real Oman by focusing on awesome landscapes, the beautiful natural world and stunning architecture, as well as a few more unusual sights,” she stressed.
“Once I have reached the end of the project, which will take some time, it will be like a catalogue of things that are the very essence of Oman, things one simply must ‘shoof’!
“I also hope I can turn this into a book, where children (or adults) can tick off an item when they have spotted it, with points being awarded for each find, and the most unusual sights receiving more points!,” stated Marina, who is currently in the process of signing on full-time with the UAE-based tour agency Ibex Adventures. “Those I take to Oman are always amazed by the beauty of the scenery and the friendliness of the locals.”
