Anyone who has ever been to a high Catholic Church service would recognise the smell, a fragrance that wafts its way from the baroque cathedrals of Rome to the smallest parish church: that warm uplifting scent of frankincense.
Known as the perfume of the gods, and by Christians, a gift given to Jesus at his birth, Frankincense has been present about 7000 years in the province of Dhofar in the far south of Oman, where much of the world's quality frankincense is produced.
The low coastal ranges of Dhofar - the hills of frankincense in the Book of Solomon - are one of the few places in the world where the boswellia sacra tree will grow. Its resin, called luban, is collected, dried and sold as frankincense in the markets of Oman in much the same way it was when the Three Wise Men passed by looking for that special Christmas gift to take to the Holy Land. Omani frankincense is said to be the best in the world.
Frankincense was lavishly used in religious rites. In the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, it was an ingredient for incense (Ex 30:34) ; according to the Gospel of Matthew 2:11, gold, frankincense and myrrh were among the gifts to Jesus by the Biblical Magi "from out of the east."
The Egyptians ground the charred resin into a powder called kohl. Kohl was used to make the distinctive black eyeliner seen on so many figures in Egyptian art. The aroma of frankincense is said to represent life and the Judaic, Christian and Islamic faiths have often used frankincense mixed with oils to anoint newborn infants and individuals considered to be moving into a new phase in their spiritual lives.
Between July and early September the province is the only part of Oman caressed by Al Khareef, the Indian Ocean monsoon that sweeps in and deposits a fine mist over the coast and coastal ranges.
To celebrate the monsoon and the lower temperatures it brings, the Dhofari capital of Salalah holds the Al Khareef Festival during the moist months of July and August. While the entertainment line-up is less than electrifying, Salalah's sleepy streets begin to buzz as residents from nearby Gulf states and Saudi Arabia fly into town seeking an escape from the roasting heat of their own countries.
Divas in Dubai suggests a trip for ladies only to experience their own scented getaway. Girls may dive, snorkel, or relax in the Spa or on the beach, meet in the evenings for dining and chill out in the markets of Salalah.
A mid-summer break for us all.
The suggested date for the trip would be before Ramadan, on the 28th, 29, 30th of August. I would also like to organise a second one after Eid.
Time and Place; Thursday, August 28, 2008 til Saturday, August 30, 2008
Location: Crowne Plaza or Hilton Hotel
City/Town:
Salalah, Oman
Booking ahead with Jazeera Airlines, flights start at 39 AED (thirty-nine) each way, and weekend packages at the Hilton Hotel or Crowne Plaza start at 1200 AED up to 1500 AED including flights from Dubai.
Interested? Let's talk ladies...
Known as the perfume of the gods, and by Christians, a gift given to Jesus at his birth, Frankincense has been present about 7000 years in the province of Dhofar in the far south of Oman, where much of the world's quality frankincense is produced.
The low coastal ranges of Dhofar - the hills of frankincense in the Book of Solomon - are one of the few places in the world where the boswellia sacra tree will grow. Its resin, called luban, is collected, dried and sold as frankincense in the markets of Oman in much the same way it was when the Three Wise Men passed by looking for that special Christmas gift to take to the Holy Land. Omani frankincense is said to be the best in the world.
Frankincense was lavishly used in religious rites. In the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, it was an ingredient for incense (Ex 30:34) ; according to the Gospel of Matthew 2:11, gold, frankincense and myrrh were among the gifts to Jesus by the Biblical Magi "from out of the east."
The Egyptians ground the charred resin into a powder called kohl. Kohl was used to make the distinctive black eyeliner seen on so many figures in Egyptian art. The aroma of frankincense is said to represent life and the Judaic, Christian and Islamic faiths have often used frankincense mixed with oils to anoint newborn infants and individuals considered to be moving into a new phase in their spiritual lives.
Between July and early September the province is the only part of Oman caressed by Al Khareef, the Indian Ocean monsoon that sweeps in and deposits a fine mist over the coast and coastal ranges.
To celebrate the monsoon and the lower temperatures it brings, the Dhofari capital of Salalah holds the Al Khareef Festival during the moist months of July and August. While the entertainment line-up is less than electrifying, Salalah's sleepy streets begin to buzz as residents from nearby Gulf states and Saudi Arabia fly into town seeking an escape from the roasting heat of their own countries.
Divas in Dubai suggests a trip for ladies only to experience their own scented getaway. Girls may dive, snorkel, or relax in the Spa or on the beach, meet in the evenings for dining and chill out in the markets of Salalah.
A mid-summer break for us all.
The suggested date for the trip would be before Ramadan, on the 28th, 29, 30th of August. I would also like to organise a second one after Eid.
Time and Place; Thursday, August 28, 2008 til Saturday, August 30, 2008
Location: Crowne Plaza or Hilton Hotel
City/Town:
Salalah, Oman
Booking ahead with Jazeera Airlines, flights start at 39 AED (thirty-nine) each way, and weekend packages at the Hilton Hotel or Crowne Plaza start at 1200 AED up to 1500 AED including flights from Dubai.
Interested? Let's talk ladies...
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