Have been doing the back and forth between Bombay and Muscat for the past few months. Was initially drafted for two months on a project there. Since then, have been shanghaied into it full time.
Looking at Muscat, its hard not to believe that every mallu household in Kerala has atleast one member in the Gulf. Food, stores, snacks, everything has a mallu influence on it.
The interior of Oman though is another matter altogether. On the borders of the Arabian desert water is scarce (costlier than petrol for a fact) and humanity scarcer. Large swathes of land where there is no permanent habitation has left it pristine.
Had taken a trip into the interiors for a night safari. The place, just of the road to Sur between Ibra and Bidiyah, offers 4x4 drive through the desert, camel rides, sand boarding (and belly dancers if you have the luck) alongwith the night stay, dinner and breakfast at a arabic desert camp for around 30 OMR (~ $70). However, mother nature put on the most impressive show for the night.
Though this place is just a few kilometers of the main highway, it lies in the valley between two sand dunes. Electricity is generated locally using diesel. So when the establishment decides to switch of the generator, there is no background light to ruin the night sky. The stars truly come alive. Coming from Bombay with its almost infinite light pollution, the skies look completely different. Even when compared to the sky as seen from the sea shore in the colony.
Bang in the middle of winter, the lead scene was Orion facing the rushing Taurus with the dogs sniping at his feet. Looking at the scene from a fresh perspective, you could actually see how the ancient Greeks imagined a hunter and a bull in the sky. You could see the barking Canis Major and Canis Minor at Orion's feet waiting for the blow that brings down the bull. Orion with his club and shield held up high holding his ground at the on rushing mad red eye (Aldebaran) of Taurus. You see the folded limbs of Taurus mid leap and imagine the Pleiades as the heart pumping blood around the enraged bull. A true canvas in the stars. Sorely regret not having a camera that would be able to do justice to the scene.
Camped around a weak fire to hold back the dropping night temperature, with a shooting star every few minutes, you could lie there waiting for Hades to come around to pick you up.
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A great pic of the two constellations. A representative diagram is available here.
Odd pics from Oman here. Also has a few pics of Muscat and Qantab beach nearby.
