Musandam has a special place among the landscapes of Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. Its position as a peninsula on the Straits of Hormuz is unique. In the 1970’s a young academic set out to explore this remote mountain region and to make, for the first time, a detailed study of its people. He discovered not only fascinating landscapes with their rich fishing grounds, deep fjords, vast gardens of dates in the oases and networks of grain terraces surrounded by jagged peaks; he also encountered a fascinating culture which, although rooted in its ancient traditions, was undergoing the first changes driven by the oil-boom. The research conducted at this time is the basis of this book and draws on previously unpublished photos, maps and sketches. These materials provide an authentic insight into the lives, the places, the culture, the trading habits and the mobility patterns of the people of Musandam. The magical world which they bring to life no longer exists and therefore the last part of the book covers contemporary Musandam, a dynamic exclave of Oman a mere two hours from Dubai.weiterlesen