Petra, Jordan’s famous city of stone, faces a preservation struggle
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Preserving Petra
Here is a great article about the pressures of tourism on Petra, in Jordan. The government is trying to balance the need to preserve the site while allowing visitors to still have access. While tourism is a good thing, too much creates problems, degrades sites, and in the end, if not managed well, can be its own demise.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
New Link!
We just got word that one of our travel agency partners is going to feature Caravan-Serai on their blog tomorrow! Willamette International Travel is a Portland, OR company, and if you are in the area and like to have an agent to work with for all your travel needs, call them. Their blog and information are located here: Willamette International Travel. We will keep a link to their blog which covers travel all over the world on the front page of this blog for easy reference.
Thank you WIT!
Thank you WIT!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Last day in Oman
May 5th was our last day in Oman and we started with a tour of the Grand Mosque. It was built not too long ago and it was the Sultan's gift to the people. No on knows how much it cost to build or how many people worked on it. It can hold thousands and thousands of worshipers at a time, and is absolutely beautiful inside and very elegant outside.
After visit the mosque we headed off to the mountain oasis city of Nizwa. It is located on a former trade route and has an ancient fortress in the old city that is a main attraction. The giant round tower is different than what most people expect in a fortress.
After visiting the town, we were taken to a mountain-top camp to enjoy the views and the cooler breezes. This is one of the newer places being developed for people to stay one or two nights in a camp, enjoy the wilderness and get away from it all. After lunch we took the dirt road back down the mountain and headed back to Muscat for one last hotel inspection and dinner. The hotel we visited is called The Chedi and is a very nice place that I would not hesitate to recommend - it's in the middle of the new part of Muscat, on the beach, is in a quiet, serene setting, closer to the airport, and has excellent food. Maybe next time I will get to stay there!
We had an early flight back the next morning to Dubai to catch our flights home. Yet again, the service on Emirates was impeccable. When we arrived a week earlier in the evening at Dubai airport, it was pretty quiet. Now, in the morning, the place was extremely busy. Every gate was full and the shops and restaurants in the departure hall were crowded. Make sure, if you are departing from Dubai airport, that you give yourself time to make it through security and through the huge terminal- the walk to your gate alone can take much longer than you might expect. They have moving walkways, but still it can be a long ways to your gate.
Also, a note about going into Oman. If you are traveling by land from the Emirates into Oman, the process is a bit different than arriving by air as I described in a previous post. Be sure to read back through Rita's blog post as she went by land.
Caravan-Serai plans to have a group tour to Oman and the Emirates later this year so keep checking our website or sign up for our email alerts. We also can put together a private tour of these countries at any time for you, just give us a call!
After visit the mosque we headed off to the mountain oasis city of Nizwa. It is located on a former trade route and has an ancient fortress in the old city that is a main attraction. The giant round tower is different than what most people expect in a fortress.
After visiting the town, we were taken to a mountain-top camp to enjoy the views and the cooler breezes. This is one of the newer places being developed for people to stay one or two nights in a camp, enjoy the wilderness and get away from it all. After lunch we took the dirt road back down the mountain and headed back to Muscat for one last hotel inspection and dinner. The hotel we visited is called The Chedi and is a very nice place that I would not hesitate to recommend - it's in the middle of the new part of Muscat, on the beach, is in a quiet, serene setting, closer to the airport, and has excellent food. Maybe next time I will get to stay there!
We had an early flight back the next morning to Dubai to catch our flights home. Yet again, the service on Emirates was impeccable. When we arrived a week earlier in the evening at Dubai airport, it was pretty quiet. Now, in the morning, the place was extremely busy. Every gate was full and the shops and restaurants in the departure hall were crowded. Make sure, if you are departing from Dubai airport, that you give yourself time to make it through security and through the huge terminal- the walk to your gate alone can take much longer than you might expect. They have moving walkways, but still it can be a long ways to your gate.
Also, a note about going into Oman. If you are traveling by land from the Emirates into Oman, the process is a bit different than arriving by air as I described in a previous post. Be sure to read back through Rita's blog post as she went by land.
Caravan-Serai plans to have a group tour to Oman and the Emirates later this year so keep checking our website or sign up for our email alerts. We also can put together a private tour of these countries at any time for you, just give us a call!
Video Slide Show of Dubai and Oman
Dubai 2012 Slideshow: Brenda’s trip from Snohomish, Washington, United States to 3 cities Dubai, Muscat and Nizwa was created by TripAdvisor. See another United Arab Emirates slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Another Study in Contrasts - Dubai to Muscat
On Friday we left Dubai's shiny, glitzy airport and landed in Muscat, a much smaller, less shiny facility, but nonetheless a welcoming airport. Our first stop on entering the airport was the arrival priority lounge where we could sit and wait for our visas to be processed, rather than wait in line out in the main arrival hall. This is a service provided by tour companies to assist their clients and make the process a bit easier for them. I was also told that if you are not able to use this service, then you go to the window that looks like a cashier's window and pay for your visa, then get in the line for immigration. Once we had our visas ( US $15, or it can be paid in dinars or rials or euros) we picked up our luggage, finished the customs and immigration process, then went out to our bus.
Muscat is different in so many ways from Dubai. The skyline is modest, but the most striking difference is the landscape. The mountains come right to the sea in Oman. Muscat is nestled in between the water and the jagged peaks, and instead of seeing miles and miles of dunes at the edge of the city of Dubai, you see white buildings and stark mountains.
We drove to our hotel for the night, the Shangri La Resort, located outside the city of Muscat on its own private beach. There are three sections to the resort: one that caters more to families, one that is more for the business traveler, and one for people who want a more private, relaxing resort experience. After getting settled into our rooms we departed for a tour of the resort, then later in the afternoon we went for a dhow cruise.
The dhow cruise was very pleasant and it was nice to get out on the water. In spite of the heat, once we were out in the light breeze on the water it was much more comfortable. We had an excellent view of the villages and the mountains, and the rock formations jutting out of the water. We also saw a few of the many watch towers that dot the hilltops all throughout Oman, as well as a fortress, and one of the Sultan's palaces. After watching the sunset, we returned to the port, then headed to Muscat's famous Mutrah Souk. It is much like other souks in the Middle East, and has spices and jewellery, as well as clothing, shoes, housewares, and more. You can find the typical Omani curved daggers - khanjars - with their ornately decorated scabbards, and frankincense here. Frankincense was once a commodity worth its weight in gold, but now is readily available and much less expensive, making it a good souvenir of Oman.
Just judging by what we have seen here so far, two days is not enough time to see everything Oman has to offer. Tomorrow we go to Nizwa for a half day, then return to Muscat for dinner and another hotel inspection, then it will be a late transfer to the airport to leave already. We have been hearing from the local tour operators that at least 5 days is a good stay, but you can easily spend more time in the country, going to the north to Musandam, and to the south to Shalalah, and visit the sites in between. I think we will have some more sample itineraries for Oman on the website soon!
Muscat is different in so many ways from Dubai. The skyline is modest, but the most striking difference is the landscape. The mountains come right to the sea in Oman. Muscat is nestled in between the water and the jagged peaks, and instead of seeing miles and miles of dunes at the edge of the city of Dubai, you see white buildings and stark mountains.
We drove to our hotel for the night, the Shangri La Resort, located outside the city of Muscat on its own private beach. There are three sections to the resort: one that caters more to families, one that is more for the business traveler, and one for people who want a more private, relaxing resort experience. After getting settled into our rooms we departed for a tour of the resort, then later in the afternoon we went for a dhow cruise.
The dhow cruise was very pleasant and it was nice to get out on the water. In spite of the heat, once we were out in the light breeze on the water it was much more comfortable. We had an excellent view of the villages and the mountains, and the rock formations jutting out of the water. We also saw a few of the many watch towers that dot the hilltops all throughout Oman, as well as a fortress, and one of the Sultan's palaces. After watching the sunset, we returned to the port, then headed to Muscat's famous Mutrah Souk. It is much like other souks in the Middle East, and has spices and jewellery, as well as clothing, shoes, housewares, and more. You can find the typical Omani curved daggers - khanjars - with their ornately decorated scabbards, and frankincense here. Frankincense was once a commodity worth its weight in gold, but now is readily available and much less expensive, making it a good souvenir of Oman.
Just judging by what we have seen here so far, two days is not enough time to see everything Oman has to offer. Tomorrow we go to Nizwa for a half day, then return to Muscat for dinner and another hotel inspection, then it will be a late transfer to the airport to leave already. We have been hearing from the local tour operators that at least 5 days is a good stay, but you can easily spend more time in the country, going to the north to Musandam, and to the south to Shalalah, and visit the sites in between. I think we will have some more sample itineraries for Oman on the website soon!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
A Study in Contrasts
Wow, this has been one full trip! I am sitting here trying to remember what we did yesterday and am at a loss. I think the heat is getting to me. I know we ended the day with a desert safari, which was a blast! We had the best driver and the ride through the dunes was crazy. We also stopped to watch a falconry demonstration, watched the sunset, then continued on to the desert camp where we had a great dinner, excellent conversation, watched a belly dancer, and enjoyed shisha under the stars. It was really a good evening. The falconer also came by the camp with 3 of his birds so we had an opportunity to talk one on one with him and learn even more about what he does, the birds, and the tradition of falconry. I got to hold two of the birds!
This morning we went back to the desert to the Al Maha desert resort and spa. If you want to really get away from it all and have a luxury vacation where you do nothing but relax and enjoy the natural beauty of your surroundings, then Al Maha is the place. It is located about an hour and a hald drive from Dubai on a nature preserve. You can enjoy the spa, activities like riding, archery, etc. Each room is actually a private bungalow with its own infinity pool overlooking the desert. The oryx and gazelles roam freely through the area, and you are likely to see one by your pool or grazing on the grasses by your front door!
After visiting the resort, we returned to the city to visit the other extreme in Dubai accommodation - the Burj Al Arab. Where Al Maha is quiet and peaceful, the Burj is bustling with people and activity. The Al Maha is designed to blend in with its desert surroundings and the Burj is designed to stand out. The Burj has an excellent view of the city, the ocean, the Palm and The World, and the rooms make a bold statement with bright jewel tones and gold chrome. Understated is not a term used in conjunction with the Burj.
I got to see the Ski Dubai indoor ski hill at the Mall of the Emirates. Its really an interesting operation. For the price of a lift ticket in the US, you can get a 2 hour pass that includes the lifts and your equipment. Then you can ski down the 400m long slope on the man-made snow. There is a poma lift and a chair lift. The mall itself is HUGE! And much like the malls at home. Lots of designer names and common brands you see in American malls. The people are a mix from everywhere in the world, and all are taking part in the national sport of Dubai - shopping.
There is a lot to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates, and with Emirates Air you can stop over for a few days on your way to other destinations. From Seattle you can fly to Dubai, visit for a few days, then continue on to Jordan, for example, for a week or so, making a really great vacation! Just sayin'.....
Ok, off to Oman tomorrow bright and early (ugh). More from Muscat tomorrow!
This morning we went back to the desert to the Al Maha desert resort and spa. If you want to really get away from it all and have a luxury vacation where you do nothing but relax and enjoy the natural beauty of your surroundings, then Al Maha is the place. It is located about an hour and a hald drive from Dubai on a nature preserve. You can enjoy the spa, activities like riding, archery, etc. Each room is actually a private bungalow with its own infinity pool overlooking the desert. The oryx and gazelles roam freely through the area, and you are likely to see one by your pool or grazing on the grasses by your front door!
After visiting the resort, we returned to the city to visit the other extreme in Dubai accommodation - the Burj Al Arab. Where Al Maha is quiet and peaceful, the Burj is bustling with people and activity. The Al Maha is designed to blend in with its desert surroundings and the Burj is designed to stand out. The Burj has an excellent view of the city, the ocean, the Palm and The World, and the rooms make a bold statement with bright jewel tones and gold chrome. Understated is not a term used in conjunction with the Burj.
I got to see the Ski Dubai indoor ski hill at the Mall of the Emirates. Its really an interesting operation. For the price of a lift ticket in the US, you can get a 2 hour pass that includes the lifts and your equipment. Then you can ski down the 400m long slope on the man-made snow. There is a poma lift and a chair lift. The mall itself is HUGE! And much like the malls at home. Lots of designer names and common brands you see in American malls. The people are a mix from everywhere in the world, and all are taking part in the national sport of Dubai - shopping.
There is a lot to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates, and with Emirates Air you can stop over for a few days on your way to other destinations. From Seattle you can fly to Dubai, visit for a few days, then continue on to Jordan, for example, for a week or so, making a really great vacation! Just sayin'.....
Ok, off to Oman tomorrow bright and early (ugh). More from Muscat tomorrow!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
From The Top of the World: Burj Khalifa
May 1, 2012
This morning started off with a tour at Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. What an amazing feat of engineering and design. We were able to go to the observation deck to get an amazing view of the city and surrounding area. It was a little bit hazy, but the views were still breathtaking. There was a small corner dedicated to the filming of the latest Mission Impossible movie with a directors chair and the clapper signed by Tom Cruise, I think. You can also buy gold out of a vending machine at the top of the world! It looks like a snack machine, but you insert your credit card and select the size of the gold you want and out pops an ingot with the Burj Khalifa stamped into it. What a great souvenir, huh? The elevator ride up and down are very fast and smooth - you hardly know you are moving except for your ears popping a bit and the floor numbers ticking up or down.
We did some hotel inspections next at a hotel located in the Burj Khalifa - the Armani Hotel, yes, that Armani. Apparently everything is designed and/or approved by Giorgio Armani - the decor, furniture, floor plans, music in the rooms, flowers, food, etc. If you want a chic, modern, luxury hotel to stay in, this would be it. Next was the Palace Hotel which is designed more like a Middle Eastern style palace, and although it is newer too, it feels more established, warmer, and maybe a bit more inviting to me. Both hotels have excellent views of the surrounding area, several restaurants to choose from, and are close to the Dubai Mall where you can go ice skating, visit an aquarium, and of course shop. We finished at The Address Dubai Mall hotel, another luxury property in the heart of shopping central. Gorgeous rooms and amenities, lots of food choices, and we had lunch there, so I can honestly say the food was excellent! The it was off to the Arabian Travel Market. The trade show is huge! And my feet are killing me now.
So some things I am taking away from today's adventure: There are lots and lots of things to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. Shopping is a national past time. They love their horses and falcons. There are hardly any old cars on the roads here. The construction may have taken a little break, but is going gangbusters again. Dubai is growing, tourism is growing, and they have the means to meet the demand. With the new Seattle to Dubai flight, I can imagine that a good vacation would be taking the flight from SEA-DXB, spend a few days here, then fly to another surrounding country like Jordan, Egypt, etc., for a week-long tour, then return home via Dubai. Also, Oman is great destination and a good contrast to Dubai. With the new flight, Oman is even more accessible for us in the Pacific Northwest than ever before.
OK, I am worn out. Good night, and more to come tomorrow!
Brenda
This morning started off with a tour at Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. What an amazing feat of engineering and design. We were able to go to the observation deck to get an amazing view of the city and surrounding area. It was a little bit hazy, but the views were still breathtaking. There was a small corner dedicated to the filming of the latest Mission Impossible movie with a directors chair and the clapper signed by Tom Cruise, I think. You can also buy gold out of a vending machine at the top of the world! It looks like a snack machine, but you insert your credit card and select the size of the gold you want and out pops an ingot with the Burj Khalifa stamped into it. What a great souvenir, huh? The elevator ride up and down are very fast and smooth - you hardly know you are moving except for your ears popping a bit and the floor numbers ticking up or down.
We did some hotel inspections next at a hotel located in the Burj Khalifa - the Armani Hotel, yes, that Armani. Apparently everything is designed and/or approved by Giorgio Armani - the decor, furniture, floor plans, music in the rooms, flowers, food, etc. If you want a chic, modern, luxury hotel to stay in, this would be it. Next was the Palace Hotel which is designed more like a Middle Eastern style palace, and although it is newer too, it feels more established, warmer, and maybe a bit more inviting to me. Both hotels have excellent views of the surrounding area, several restaurants to choose from, and are close to the Dubai Mall where you can go ice skating, visit an aquarium, and of course shop. We finished at The Address Dubai Mall hotel, another luxury property in the heart of shopping central. Gorgeous rooms and amenities, lots of food choices, and we had lunch there, so I can honestly say the food was excellent! The it was off to the Arabian Travel Market. The trade show is huge! And my feet are killing me now.
So some things I am taking away from today's adventure: There are lots and lots of things to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. Shopping is a national past time. They love their horses and falcons. There are hardly any old cars on the roads here. The construction may have taken a little break, but is going gangbusters again. Dubai is growing, tourism is growing, and they have the means to meet the demand. With the new Seattle to Dubai flight, I can imagine that a good vacation would be taking the flight from SEA-DXB, spend a few days here, then fly to another surrounding country like Jordan, Egypt, etc., for a week-long tour, then return home via Dubai. Also, Oman is great destination and a good contrast to Dubai. With the new flight, Oman is even more accessible for us in the Pacific Northwest than ever before.
OK, I am worn out. Good night, and more to come tomorrow!
Brenda
Welcome to Dubai!
Sunday April 29, 2012
Welcome to Dubai! I arrived in the Emirates last night after a very nice flight from Seattle on Emirates Air. I know you have already read from Rita's posts that the airline is excellent, but let me just reiterate that here. I was pleasantly surprised with an upgrade, then we were served champagne before take off. The seats recline, so after dinner and watching a couple movies, I actually SLEPT on the flight. It was supposed to be a 14.5 hour flight that was shortened to 13.5, and when I reclined my seat and went to sleep, I think only a few hours had passed. When I woke back up there were only 3 hours left in the flight! I was amazed.
I finally got to my hotel, had some dinner and went to sleep for the night. I have a view of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world from my room and it is all lit up at night - very pretty!
This morning we went to a Dubai Tourism presentation at one of the luxury hotels on the Palm islands. It is amazing to see how much the Emirate has grown in such a short period of time. In 1990 you would not recognize what the city of Dubai has become. There are still plenty of construction projects going on and demand for more hotel rooms and services is on the rise. The airport (already huge) is getting an expansion. They are really trying to make this a one stop destination for vacations - you can visit an aquarium, go snow and sand skiing, drive through the dunes, go sailing, go to the horse races, enjoy fine dining, and shop til you drop, and much, much more.
We had a brief tour to visit the Dubai museum, which also shows the development of the city, and then took an abra ride across the creek to the souks. The souk in the older part of the city is much like those in other Middle Eastern cities. The gold souk is huge, so if you want to buy some gorgeous jewellery you will have lots to choose from!
I will try to get some photos from today posted in just a bit, then it is off to dinner at the Zabeel Saray on the Palm Islands. More to come!
Brenda
Welcome to Dubai! I arrived in the Emirates last night after a very nice flight from Seattle on Emirates Air. I know you have already read from Rita's posts that the airline is excellent, but let me just reiterate that here. I was pleasantly surprised with an upgrade, then we were served champagne before take off. The seats recline, so after dinner and watching a couple movies, I actually SLEPT on the flight. It was supposed to be a 14.5 hour flight that was shortened to 13.5, and when I reclined my seat and went to sleep, I think only a few hours had passed. When I woke back up there were only 3 hours left in the flight! I was amazed.
I finally got to my hotel, had some dinner and went to sleep for the night. I have a view of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world from my room and it is all lit up at night - very pretty!
This morning we went to a Dubai Tourism presentation at one of the luxury hotels on the Palm islands. It is amazing to see how much the Emirate has grown in such a short period of time. In 1990 you would not recognize what the city of Dubai has become. There are still plenty of construction projects going on and demand for more hotel rooms and services is on the rise. The airport (already huge) is getting an expansion. They are really trying to make this a one stop destination for vacations - you can visit an aquarium, go snow and sand skiing, drive through the dunes, go sailing, go to the horse races, enjoy fine dining, and shop til you drop, and much, much more.
We had a brief tour to visit the Dubai museum, which also shows the development of the city, and then took an abra ride across the creek to the souks. The souk in the older part of the city is much like those in other Middle Eastern cities. The gold souk is huge, so if you want to buy some gorgeous jewellery you will have lots to choose from!
I will try to get some photos from today posted in just a bit, then it is off to dinner at the Zabeel Saray on the Palm Islands. More to come!
Brenda
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