Crossing the Empty Quarters on Foot

Okay, before you get all worked up, no, it wasn’t me. I have crossed part of the Empty Quarters, but by car. British explorer Mark Evans, on the other hand, crossed the vast desert on foot, and lived to tell the tale through an exhibition at Oman’s National Museum. I was lucky enough to meet … More Crossing the Empty Quarters on Foot

Oman: Migration and the Importance of State Policies

Spending an afternoon in Al Khuwair, a busy commercial and residential area of Muscat, I can’t help but marvel at how diverse it is. The smiling Syrian restaurant owner greets me and my weekly order of dips and falafel at his popular corner shop. Omani men appear from the golden domed mosque nearby. A crew … More Oman: Migration and the Importance of State Policies

Beyond Mosques and Camels: Discovering Art in Muscat

I can’t help but feel a little awestruck as I am welcomed into Radhika Hamlai’s studio. A bright room filled with sunlight, commanding sweeping views of Al Ilam and Al Shatti with its low whitewashed villas and elegant minarets rising towards the sky, greets me. This is the room where Radhika’s art is created. Canvases … More Beyond Mosques and Camels: Discovering Art in Muscat