The whole model # 5/2012

Some of you expressed admiration - rightly so. Here is a snap of the whole model.

The model maker - the Omani sailing dhow # 4/2012

The legendary sailor, Sindhbad, was an reputedly an Omani, who voyaged far and wide to exotic places and had astounding adventures.


The legendary voyages of the real sailors of Oman were no less exotic, and the traditional dhows are still built. The only difference is a diesel engine inside a fine, seaworthy, traditionally styled wooden hull.


The dhow yard at Sur still builds these beautiful ships.  They also make wonderful models worth thousands of pounds. Here's a snap showing a builder completing a magnificent model; no doubt being built to order.

Another hummingbird # 3/2012

This time another tiny little hummingbird of a different colour. They flit and twitter through the leaves, so small and hard to spot.

The desert sands

International air travel gives more and more the opportunity to see these scenes for themselves, and magazines frequently show such pictures. Nevertheless I longed to capture such a photo for myself. Here is one, taken in the sandy desert area of Oman known as Wahaiba sands.

The Hummingbird # 1/2012

"It's been a long time" as the Frenchman says in the old Cointreau advert.

I've been away in Oman (again, as last year) and brought this back.  There were hummingbirds in the garden and I had to be smart and get the timing right. They (there was this one and an irrridescent blue one) appeared at around 09.30 in the morning. The snap succeded.  It was worth waiting and watching.