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Hand crafts
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Palm-Frond Weaving
Oman has a wealth of approximately eight million palm trees of varying types. It is noted that a variety of palms produce dates of unparalleled sweetness anywhere in the world. The majority of the date harvest is consumed locally with the remainder exported to various countries. The leaves themselves are stripped from the tree and utilised by skilled craftsmen to manufacture a host of objects, useful in daily life such as ropes, baskets, bird cages, pergolas, mats, fans and fishing cages.
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Omani Halwa (sweet)
It is a symbol of the Omani traditional hospitality. The main ingredients which go into the making are: starch, eggs, sugar, water, ghee, saffron, cardamom, nuts and rose water. Halwa is invariably served at times of joy or sorrow and, on religious occasions and festivals. It graces the tables of every Omani home.
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Frankincense
The frankincense gatherers cut the frankincense trees in many places. The first cut consists of paring off the outer bark of the branches and trunk. This causes a milky-white liquid to ooze from the tree which quickly solidifies. The second cut produces resin of an inferior quality. The third cut produces frankincense resin of yellowish color.
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Rosewater distillation
Rosewater is used in wedding ceremonies, cooking and in beauty treatments. The rosewater fragrant is expensive, but has one of the most beautiful perfumes.
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Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding yards can be found in Sur, where one can experience first hand, the impressive craft of ship building. Several professional shipbuilders now make miniature models of the various old Omani ships that once graced the waters of the Sultanate.
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Pottery
Archaeological discoveries revealed that clay industry was active throughout Oman during the forth millennium B.C. The clay industry was influenced by ancient civilizations like the Sumerian, making use of Iranian techniques. Further down the historical timeline, the Omani clay industry saw its influence coming from the clays of Samuraa', Siraf and Yemen, where Islamic industries flourished .
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Silver Minting
Oman's silver industry is an ancient trade. It has developed with time honoured tradition into a highly diverse and tasteful skill.
Centred primarily in Nizwa, this business is widespread and can be found in Muscat, Muttrah, Salalah, Ibri, Bahla, Rustaq and Sur. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries the main source of silver was the Austrian Maria Theresa Rial, which remained in circulation up to and including the year 1970.
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Kummah Embroidery
It is not known when the first Kummah was introduced into Oman, nor is it possible to trace the circumstances with which it came to be.
However, what is known is that this sophisticated head dress is unique in that it is woven only by women to be worn only by men.
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Traditional Food
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Shuwa
Is a typically Omani delicacy prepared only on very special occasions. Whole villages participate in the cooking of the dish which consists of a whole cow or goat roasted for up to two days in an special oven prepared in a pit dug in the ground.
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Khawa
One delight that remains a symbol of Omani hospitality throughout the country are the ubiquitous dates, served with khawa, or Omani coffee. Khawa is prepared from freshly roasted ground coffee mixed with cardamom powder.
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Sakhana
sakhana, a thick, sweet soup made of wheat, date, molasses and milk and fatta, a meat and vegetable dish, mixed with khubz rakhal, thin Omani bread, made out of unleavened dough.
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Arsia
Dishes served during Eid festivities include arsia, a dish of lamb meat cooked with rice, and mishkak, skewered meat grilled on charcoal.
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Native Activities
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Bee keeping
It has been practiced since ancient times in Oman. Two types of bees are known in Oman: Apis millifera and Apis florea. The specialist bee keepers have developed great skill in obtaining honey and propagating bee colonies in a sustainable manner, they keep the honey bee in hollowed out trunks of date palms.
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Camel breeding
It practiced all over Oman. Omani camels are of medium size and known for their strength and speed and colours vary by region: Dhofar camels tend to be black, although lighter colours are more common elsewhere. Camels are used in Oman for riding or racing and also for meat and milk.
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Majlis al Jinn cave
It is the second largest underground chamber in the world covering an area of around 60,000m2.
This is an extremely difficult cave to negotiate, and it is important that the expedition is not undertaken lightly and without professional guidance.
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Hota Cave
It comprises an underground cavern and subterranean lake system. It is a 2.7 km tunnel which runs in a north-south direction. There are many offshoots to the main tunnel, but so far, only approximately 5km have been charted by experienced cavers.
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Bull Fighting
The fort of Barka & its old bull fighting arena where the bloodless bull fight still takes place is not be missed during a trip to Oman where bulls are pitted against each other in a boisterous battle.
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Camel Racing
Camels are carefully bred for racing and undergo intensive training. Training begins at the age of two years. The camel is shown how to walk and how to be guided by the rope. After this, it is taught how to sit down and then the riding begins. The camel will be guided, taught how to walk and run.
Winning camels are highly prized and can be sold for vast amounts of money, their value is comparable with racehorses in certain instances.
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Horse Breeding
The Omanis' love of horses can be seen in the way they deck them out: the neck ornaments, the silver bridle, the sweat cover placed on the back and the underclothes to prevent chafing, the silver collar-piece, and finally the reins. occasions.
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Folk Songs and Dances
Each region of Oman has its own songs and dances unique to the area. During festivals and ceremonies, these are performed for the appropriate occasion. In March 2001, the Omani Song Festival will be held. The competition is being run by the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture and the winner will have the opportunity to have an album made of his songs .
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Shrimp Fishing
Shrimp fishing season in Oman is certainly an exciting and special sight to behold. With roughly one thousand fishing vessels gathering within close proximity of each other, remaining close to shore at all times, the event is more like a celebration than work.
Dolphins are seen playfully jumping between the boats, creating a truly unique and amusing experience, restricted to the season extending from September to March, with October being the peak.
The setting for this spectacle can be seen in several locations, the most prominent of which is a small island surrounded by thick mangrove vegetation in the Wilayat of Muhut. In addition to the aforementioned spot, shrimp fishing is also practiced in the coastal village of Khalloof, not far from Muhut and the Wilayat of Duqm; some 200 Km from Muhut. All fishing is performed along shallow shores at depths ranging from 20 and 50 metres.
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Fishing
For the last 100 years The Sultanate of Oman has been hiding its game fishing form the world. From Muscat to Salalah local fishermen have been bringing in big fish from their small boats, like Yellowfin tuna, Barracuda, Sailfish, Giant Trevally, Bigeye Tuna, Kawakawa or Queenfish.
Boat charter and fishing holidays are available in The Sultanate of Oman as full fishing or mixed leisure holidays.
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Fascinating Hamlets
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Misfat al Abreyeen
Life on Misfat al Abreyeen in the wilayat of Al Hamra is a classic hand-over legacy practised by many generations. The mountain village set amidst stunning landscape has hardly changed over the years except for some developmental works like roads, electricity and telecommunication networks benefiting the residents.
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Bilad Sayt
Deep in Oman's countryside are many villages that still retain their traditional charm and sense of rural solitude. Perhaps the most appealing of these is Bilad Sayt, a tranquil mountain hamlet tucked away in the protective embrace of Al Rostaq's rugged hills.Every year scores of local and foreign tourists make the bumpy journey by 4WD and on foot for a glimpse of this remote village and its picturesque settings.
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Al Rowdha's
Al Rowdha is located just 3km from Al Akhdar, another picturesque village in Samad A'Shan, known for its oasis ambience and rich historical legacy. Towering above the verdant countryside is Al Rowdha's most famous landmark, Bait Hus'n al Rowdha. A dirt track snaking along the bed of a dry wadi brings you to this imposing edifice at the entrance to Al Rowdha village.
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Al Hoqain
The larger of the two niyabats of Al Rostaq, the ancient town lies a short distance from Rostaq town. It's a half-hour's drive from Al Woshil, one of four routes leading to Al Hoqain (two other routes originate from Suwaiq, and another from Al Hazm). Twenty kilometres down this graded road, which cuts a swathe through the arid, undulating terrain, Al Hoqain looms into view.
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