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The
local community is fairly conservative, reserved but friendly. As
to be expected in a Muslim society there are restrictions regarding
dress, behaviour and the drinking of alcohol but there is a culture
of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect.
In
addition to the Omani community there is a sizeable population of
Indians, Pakistanis and other Asian and Middle Eastern expatriates.
Western
expatriates work primarily for the army or airforce, the port, in
education, or for hotels.
Salalah
is a small but attractive town in the far South of Oman near the
border with Yemen. It is surrounded by mountains on one side and
the Arabian Ocean on the other.
"The
Long, Beautiful Beach"
It
is well stocked with shops for basic foodstuffs and necessities
and is fortunate to have a number of hotels, including a Hilton
and a Holiday Inn. It boasts a number of swimming pools, a few bars
and a couple of cinemas which occasionally show films in English.
It
is a fairly quiet and relaxed town but does offer a number of opportunities
for visitors. The surrounding area is quite beautiful and there
are numerous opportunities for camping in the desert or on the beach
and there are wadis to explore. People tend to make their own recreation
but include football, squash, the hash, camping, diving, swimming,
barbecues, and eating out.
"A
Coconut and Banana Stand "
Since
the Dhofar war of the 70s, Oman has enjoyed a very peaceful period
of development under the current Sultan Qaboos bin Said. It enjoys
many natural sites of beauty and restored forts and lovely unspoilt
beaches. The country is making rapid progress and under Sultan Qaboos'
control has entered a period of stability and economic development.
Many roads, schools and hospitals have been built and an ambitious
port development and free zone has begun in Salalah.
"Camels Everywhere"
The
climate is varied depending on the region. Dhofar has the advantage
of enjoying a monsoon from June to September, which brings welcome
relief from the summer sun and turns the local mountains from brown
to green. The months leading to the monsoon are a little hot and
humid but for the rest of the year the weather is very pleasant
with constant sunshine and temperatures between about 18C and 32C.
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