Jun 14 2018

Four of the most historical places to visit in Oman

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OMANBIG

The Arab Country of Oman resides in an area steeped in centuries of cultural, military and religious heritage and history and there are many reasons to travel there. If the history and heritage of Oman excites you and you wish to take in as much as you can on your holiday there, then here are four places that you absolutely must see on your vacation.

The Bahla Fort

The country of Oman has lived through some of the most turbulent times in the Arabian Peninsula’s history. From invading Portuguese to the Ottoman empire, warfare was a constant in days long past. From this time sprouted a need for fortified structures and from these fortified structures, we now have the only UNESCO World Heritage Site fort in Oman. The Bahla Fort.

Constructed somewhere between the 12th and 15th century the fort underwent a massive conservation and restoration and was eventually re-opened for public visits in 2012. Bahla Fort is a maze of sprawling rooms, military compounds and an almost evergreen Oasis, meaning anyone with a love of ancient buildings can spend hours there visiting it.

The Muttrah Souq, or Al Dhalam to locals, is possibly the oldest Souq (or market) in the Arab world. This is due, in part, to its central role in Omani trade up until the eventual discovery of oil and its subsequent effect on Arab trade. The market is still a central commercial area in Oman today however, due to its location next to one of the largest sea-ports in the region. In order to preserve the historical site, while keeping its heritage intact, the Omani government enacted a large renovation project of the area. This allowed the Souq to keep its traditional and famous style, while providing it with modern facilities and amenities, making it attractive to the ever growing Oman tourist trade.

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The City of Nizwa

Picking out a specific place in the historical city of Nizwa would be a bit of a challenge. The City is a pot of cultural history dating back to the 6th century, when it was actually the capital of Oman at that time. However, the city contains at least 2 major talking points for those looking to wade into its culture and history. The first being:

The Nizwa Fort

Built around the 1650’s, the fort was a formidable and important stronghold for the Omani forces over the years. The fort was built upon an underground stream providing a constant source of water for those who had no choice but to take shelter inside its walls. The walls and structure also provided an excellent 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside as well, cementing the fact that an excellent area had been chosen for the castle to be built upon. The castle can be visited daily for all those who wish to view this magnificent military building.

The Nizwa Souq

Two different Souqs have been mentioned in this list. Muttrah and Nizwa. Now if Muttrah is considered the largest and most important Souq in Oman, then Nizwa can undoubtedly be considered the 2nd. Here you will find traditional market stalls ranging from pottery and leather goods to silverware that is considered the best in the country by many. If you’re visiting Nizwa then make some time to visit the Souq there.

Special mention

In as a special mention, if you want the history and culture of all rolled up into one quick trip then be sure to visit the Oman National Museum. Commissioned by Royal Decree in 2013 and opened in 2016 The museum is great for those who don’t have much time to spend travelling but wish to learn as much as possible about the long history of the country of Oman.

Jun 11 2018

Why taking care of your tyres is so important

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My school run here in Thatcham is a little longer than it was back in Tilehurst. I’m not complaining as I enjoy chatting to my children on the way to their respective schools, and of course, that feeling of walking back alone - child-free, and no longer humping around rucksacks, lunch boxes and book bags.

Yet our school run is often marred by bad drivers in suspect cars. When I say “suspect”, I mean cars that appear to be in dire need of an MOT, that appear to be racing my child to school at obscene speeds. I’ve witnessed some seriously shocking driving, and some inconsiderate parking to boot. Everything, from flagrantly disregarding the law when it comes to smoking in cars with children, to blaring music, to bellowing exhausts. Although I’m still waiting to take my test, I’ve promised myself I won’t be one of these drivers. There is no more precious cargo than my two urchins, and careless drivers scare me.

Dex-Car

I’ve written about the importance of regular car servicing before, and how to entertain your children so your attention can be firmly fixed on the road, but today I wanted to really zero in on tyre care; why it’s important, and why you should consider going to a professional tyre and car service dealer.

The fact is, as unglam a subject as it is, tyre safety is an important part of keeping your car roadworthy. If your tyres aren’t kept in good condition, then you could be on the receiving end of a fine from the authorities, or worse, increase your chances of being involved in an accident.

So just what do you need to be aware of when assessing your tyres?

Tyre tread

It sounds so obvious, but tread depth will diminish over time: Tyre tread helps you to brake more rapidly (and so) is a crucial part of tyre safety. With a lower tread depth, you simply achieve less traction and cannot swerve or stop as quickly.

In fact, it’s so important to check your tyre treads, there is accompanying legislation to ensure you do so. You are legally obliged to keep treads within the legal limits (1.6mm) so you’re in the best possible position to undertake journeys safely. A quick visual check should tell you if you are within the limits, and we’ve all heard of the 20p trick, but if you are ever unsure visit a specialist tyre retailer such as Point S for professional advice.

Tyre age

How frequently you need to replace your tyres depends on a number of factors, not least the number of miles you’re clocking up, and the surfaces on which you’re driving. To prolong the life of your tyres you’ll need to regularly check the tyre pressure, as over or under inflated tyres will wear unevenly. Uneven tyre wear will ultimately affect a car’s tracking and will result in you having to replace your tyres more frequently. Don’t continue using worn out tyres & get car tyres online from places such as Point S.

Although replacement tyres must be compatible with your model of car by law, it is perfectly legal to drive around with different products from several tyre manufacturers - you can even buy part worn tyres from reputable tyre retailers to keep costs down. You might also want to consider nitrogen inflation and regular wheel alignment and balancing checks to ensure your tyres remain in the best possible condition and last longer in between replacements.

Worn and cracked tyres

Finding a nail of screw in a tyre is an all too common occurrence. Although you might think your tyre is relatively new, and there’s no obvious puncture, it is always better to seek a second opinion before attempting any kind of DIY job. Similarly, balding tyres are far more likely to see you skid out of control in wet driving conditions. It really isn’t worth the risk to put off a quick trip to your local garage or specialist.

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In short, it is easy to keep up the maintenance of your tyres. It might seem like an unnecessary faff, but it could just save you, and your passenger’s, lives. Craig and I are religiously checking our vehicle’s tyres, and it’s testament to this that we’ve never had an accident. If your children are regular occupants in your car, your ability to brake hard and fast is paramount, particularly when driving in built up areas with lots of pedestrians (e.g. near a school). It’s just common sense to get it sorted.

 

 

May 31 2018

The benefits of sunrise clocks

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I’m a terrible sleeper. A podcast addiction, fiancé (who, sadly snores like Darth Vader reincarnated) and children who we lovingly refer to as sleep ninjas, are all contributing factors to my lack of sleep. Heidi will, most of the time fall asleep in her own bed, yet join us at 2am. I’ve no idea why she creeps in so stealthily as she’ll happily kick us both all through the night. As a result, I’ve trialled a number of sleep aids; from pills, to sleep trackers, to pillow sprays, but nothing works better than my Lumie body clock.

If you have a hard time going to, staying asleep, waking up in the morning, or a combination of these things, a sunrise clock might also be of value to you. It will not only help you better position yourself to sleep at night, but to fall asleep a bit easier, and to actually stay asleep through the evening hours as well.

lumieclocks

Sunrise clocks mimic daylight and dark. You can set timers, you can change mood lighting, you can create a lighter or darker atmosphere. These are all ways in which your body is going to acclimate to the night (dark), versus daylight (sun) hours. Over time, this helps your body relax, and regulate itself, so it knows when to sleep and when to wake up.

Using sunrise clocks you can also implement alarms and other signals to help you wake up easily. The sunrise clock is going to mimic actual sunrise; this means it will slowly and naturally wake your body up, unlike traditional alarms which take you out of a stage of deep sleep unnaturally. Sunrise clocks help your body naturally acclimate to times, and it will learn internal body clock settings, so you better regulate your sleep patterns.

A sunrise clock has many different settings. You can add sounds, you can add mood or ambient lighting to create a calming and tranquil environment. These things are going to help you lay down easily, and calm your body in preparation for sleep. Your body is going to learn over time and will learn the proper sleeping patterns it should be falling into. This will help you relax when you should be sleeping, and eventually create a proper sleeping balance at night, so that you are not up at crazy hours, and you aren’t tired during the middle of the afternoon.

Many people have troubles sleeping. Some falling asleep, others waking up, and some can’t stay asleep at all. No matter what issues you have or sleeping patterns you want to correct, a sunrise clock is a great tool you should implement into your nightly bedtime routine. It is not only going to help you better understand your internal body clock, but over time, will also help your body to naturally regulate itself, so you will sleep easy, stay asleep, and will wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.

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