Oman is a beautiful country - has some stunning mountain areas. The sea is beautiful as well. One day I went to a beach south of Muscat and was the only person there besides a local fisherman tending to his boat.

Another day I wandered back in a date oasis - not at all like I expected. It was more like an Orchard in many ways, but very interesting, with some beautiful birds about.

Oman is less developed than other Gulf countries, which makes it a nice change from them. The tallest building in Muscat is 12 stories. Muscat also has mountain ridges cascading down to the sea everywhere - fascinating place to me.

The people are the friendliest in the Gulf region, too - very hospitable and laid back. I went out one morning in Muscat, heard music and followed it to a school, and ended up being invited in for a tour. At the end they offered me tea, dates, and halwah, and asked me to talk for a while with their best students of English, who didn’t often get to talk to a native speaker. It was one of the highlights of the trip.

There are also plenty of old forts and markets to explore around the country, and Salalah in the south is a totally different world.