4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Mavericks PAST TENSE - the roads are all paved now, July 20, 2006
Well, up until 2001 this book was relevant.
Since then and especially since 2004, most of the roads
this book calls 'off-road' are now all paved.
It is completely out of date.
The only think the government in Oman hasn't paved
are the DUNES.
Here are some facts, just a few of the many that have changed:
Sorry, even the big Jebels (Mountains) are paved now. I drove up then when they were all lose falling rock and norrow as heck.
Now, safe as daylight.
As well the road from Sohar to Ibri is almost all paved !!!
Masirah Island is all paved now! Incredibly fast, and a new 5 star hotel is to open shortly.
The highway along the coast from Muscat to Sur is 80 percent done !
The road to Wadi Bani Khalid, paved years ago.
They are also building a new airport in Sohar.
And a connecting highway down the coast road from the UAE into SOHAR. The UAE government has already bought out hundreds of fishermens homes. UUHHH>..horrible right. Fisherman now live in the mountains.
This place is less and less about culture and more and more about the largest hotels and capitalism in fast action.
Sorry, I have met the author in the desert once, nice guy, if not totally enamoured with his own wonderful self and travels.
And profiting by bringing American military types to 'Oman' on sort of tourist holiday package. And yanks who are surprised not to see all the locals holding AK-47s....mmmmm well maybe they should READ some books before they join that tour.
Peter is a great story teller, and I suggest that he put his stories in book form, as they are quite nice to hear.
Perhaps bedtime stories for children about Sultans, Walis, and American fathers who travel and struggle with parent hood while
adventuring.
haha..you might as well bring them to DISNEY LAND. This is not Oman of the 1970's. This is a glossy new mercedes and safer than a gated community.
I don't recommend spending money on this book new, buy it used if you must, but new, why it is out of date with facts and figures.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Is THE Guide To Oman, June 27, 2000
The best (and one of the only) guides to a very pleasant and seldom-mentioned country, Ochs has done a wonderful job of giving us a very interesting intorduction to the culture, langiage, history, religion, cuisine, customs, geology and attractions of the safest and most attractive of the Arabian countries. Included is a wealth of information that every traveller will need to know before embarking on their trip. Also are hundreds of restaurants and sundry attractions for every taste and inclination. The rules and regulations are delineated carefully so as to prevent mishaps and fortunately, Ochs has provided for his readers, not merely the "tourist" side of Oman, but many facets of this beautiful and fascinating country that are generally overlooked by the typical sightseer. if you plan on visiting Oman, or just want information about the people or the land, this is the book to get.
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