pictures of tourism in Oman

Traditional Omani handicrafts were on the brink of extinction a few years ago but they have made a dramatic comeback with the encouragement from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage to preserve these skills. Traditionally handicrafts were practiced and passed on through generations over thousands of years.
To start with, the ubiquitous palm tree has provided more than dates for the natives- its leaves are used to make 'mukhraf'(a bag for collecting dates), baskets and intricately designed shoulder bags called 'murbah'.
The 'mansul' is a traditional cloak made from black goats hair and embroidered on the outside.
Silver jewellery has always been an important part of the traditional Omani attire. Necklaces, bracelets, ear rings, anklets, ear pendants, bangles and hair decorations are typical examples of this craft as well as the famous Khanjar (curved dagger), the national symbol of Oman. Nizwa is famous for the silver souq where you can find decorative jewellery and Khanjars.
Bahla is known as the centre for pottery where you can still find potters at their wheels throwing clay pots, jugs, urns, incense burners, and decorative items which are then fired in kilns. Styles consist of simple decoration with simple glazed designs or etching on the surface.
In the desert you will find colourful camel girth straps woven by the Bedouin women of Wahiba. These colourful straps sometimes incorporate intricate geometric patterns and are woven from camel, goat and sheep wool as well as (nowadays) imported fibres.
Wood carving is also popular in the coastal areas. One of the most obvious examples of these are the elaborate wooden doors of almost any domicile. The craft also lends itself to the design of chests, shelves, and miniature reproductions of dhows

Oman: Location, Population, Religion, Membership, Currency
Official Name: Sultanate of OmanLocation: Oman is bounded in the north-east by the gulf of oman and south-east by the Arabian Sea, south-east by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. There is an enclave at the northern tip of the Musandam Peninsula between the United Arab Emirates of Ras al-Khaima in the west and Fujairah in the south-east.
Area: Oman covers an area of about 309,500 sq km (about 119,500 sq mi). Until the 1990s Oman had border disputes with its three neighbors; agreements were reached with Saudi Arabia in 1990, with Yemen in 1992, and with the United Arab Emirates in 1993. The borders with Yemen and Saudi Arabia were demarcated in 1995; the border with the United Arab Emirates awaits final demarcation. Oman is largely a desert land, with five distinct geographical regions. Capital: MuscatLanguage: Arabic is the official language of Oman, and English and Asian languages such as Hindi, Urdu, and Baluchi are also widely spoken. Swahili is spoken by some, a legacy of Oman´s former East African presence. English is widely used in business.Religion: Islam is the official religion, although other religions are tolerated under the country´s Basic Law. Muslims make up 86 percent of the population. Three-fourths of the Muslims are Ibadis, a minority sect dating from the 8th century. Most of the remainder adhere to Sunni Islam and the rest to Shia Islam. Indian Hindus account for 13 percent of the population. There are also small numbers of non-Omani Christians.
Population: In 1997 Oman had an estimated population of 2,283,324, giving it an average density of 7 persons per sq km (19 per sq mi).The population has grown steadily, doubling between 1960 and 1993. In 1997 the growth rate was a relatively high 3.5 percent. Oman has a very young population; two-fifths of all native Omanis are under the age of 15. Only 14 percent of Omanis live in cities and towns.While most of the rest are settled in villages, a few Bedouins still practice their nomadic ways. Much of Oman´s urban population resides in the Greater Capital Area, which includes Masqat proper, the capital; Mattrah, a major port; and Ruwi, the commercial hub of Oman.
The new port of Mina´ Qaboos is also in this metropolitan area, as is Mina´ al Fahl, a loading terminal for oil supertankers. Other important cities include Nizwá, the historic seat of the Ibadi imamate (Muslim community headed by an imam) in interior Oman; Sur, an important fishing port located south of Masqat, and Salalah, the largest city and principal port of Dhofar.Membership: Oman is a member of the UN, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Gulf Co-operation Council. Currency: The basic unit of currency in Oman is the Omani Rial (0.38 rial equals U.S. $1; fixed rate). It is divided into 1000 baiza. The rial is the only currency circulated, although in some rural areas transactions occur outside the cash economy. Oman Time Difference: GMT + 4