Sultan Qaboos is held in very high regard by the Omani people. His image is everywhere, his luxurious yacht is moored in Muscat harbour, and concern for his health and succession is widespread.
The reality in Oman sometimes seems straight out of a tale from the Thousand and One Nights.
Sultanate of Oman, recently opened to visitors, will surprise us with its contrasts. Desert dunes and mountains give way to quiet beaches, rivers and lush oases. Traditional adobe buildings, ancient fortresses and lavish architecture share the towns and cities, while markets along the route add splashes of colour.
Palm-filled oases, fertile valleys, deep canyons and adobe villages adorn the Hajar Mountains.
Huge dunes reach the ocean and merge with the beaches. Their colour changes with the location and time of day.