History & Culture with Diana Darke

  Can you give us a sense of the unique experiences you have had whilst travelling through Oman?

Oman still preserves its historic warring traditions in dances of mock-fighting at occasions like weddings and religious festivals.

It has bull-fights at places along the Batinah Coast, where no blood is shed, but two bulls fight against each other with no human involvement. The prize is the honour of having the strongest bull, as Islam does not permit betting on the outcome. Omanis also have a love of animals, and so some villagers from the Interior will keep baby camels as pets and raise gazelles in little enclosures beside their homes.

The tradition of hospitality is very strong towards the guest, with tea and cardamom coffee offered, together with fruit and halwa, a sweet sticky paste.

Dates are the mainstay crop. Oman boasts over 200 types of date. They live to be over 50 years, and a single male palm can fertilise 500 female palms. One villager named his prize male palm King Solomon to celebrate its fecundity.

  Are there specific locations that you would recommend visiting?

Yes - the inland fort of Jabrin has magnificent painted ceilings, the finest in all the country. Dating to 1670, it has over 55 rooms, one of which was reserved for the Imam’s favourite horse.

Fort architecture has influenced other buildings in Oman, and large villas often have crenellations, big gates and high walls, unlike other Islamic countries where intricate geometric decorative features are more prevalent.

At Sur the tradition of dhow shipbuilding is dwindling, but the traditional craft can still be seen. In the 19th century, 8 dhows were built a year. Now it is barely one. The Arab boat-building technique is the opposite of the western method of from the inside to the out. The Omani technique is from the outside in, all by eye, ribs first.