The welcome of Oman

It's exactly a year ago since I visited Muscat the capital of Oman. It's a city under rapid growth and renovation with many new shopping centers and high end boutiques downtown is a lively spot. You will find all the top names from Gucci to H&M. For the tourist with a camera Oman is a paradise. With the Gulf of Oman on one side and the Western Al Hajar Mountains on the other and perfect weather year round there is no shortage of inspiring subject matter to photograph. The people are helpful and welcoming, though do remember to be respectful and ask to take photos rather than just snapping away and risk offending people. The shopping experience in the Souk is just that, an experience to be remembered with photos. A drive into the mountains and the hidden wadis and a swim in the cool clear waters is a welcome relief after the midday sun. As we drive along a mix of tarmac, paved and unpaved roads unless pointed out to me I would not have seen the villages that were nestled into the landscape due to the use of local materials that makes a perfect camouflage, and also respects the environment by being almost invisible. Into the silence of the wadi. I stopped and listened to pure silence. Not even a breeze to unsettle the ears, it was a place to sit in and relax. Oman is a country to sit in and relax. What to bring> First off natural suncream with no parabens or nano particles, a polariser to make the skies pop, graduated filters for balancing exposures, a flash for some portraits, lots of memory CF cards, wide angle lens and a zoom for the wildlife and light cotton clothing.