David Whitley writes on our January AGM venue

I’d wager that the general response when Oman was announced as the destination for the 2011 AGM was something along the lines of “Oooh, that sounds exciting.” If you’ll forgive me, I was less enthralled – largely because I’d already booked to go and have a poke around in November 2010. Two visits in three months is possibly a little excessive.

Still, here are a few things that BGTW members can expect...

1. An unconventional capital: Muscat itself is tiny – it’s little more than the royal palace and a few government buildings. The Greater Muscat capital area stretches for 50km along the coast, however, a series of townlets interspersed with stark, seemingly impassable mountains. The journey around them is one of the world’s most spectacular urban drives.
2. Getting lost: A penchant for octopus-like junctions, large dual carriageways with huge gaps between exits, iffy signposting and police road blocks means that driving around Muscat can be, um, character-building. Mercifully, Omani drivers appear to be some of the least kamikaze-inclined in the world. Although don’t expect them to switch lanes to let you get in off a tiny slip road.
3. Sultan Qaboos: Pictures of Oman’s leader – hanging from streetlamps, draped over tall buildings, above the hotel reception desk, on shop walls – are ubiquitous. He’s almost universally venerated for how he’s looked after the country in the last 40 years, and it all borders on a personality cult. Still, you’ll probably find yourself transfixed by his excellent range of poses and beautifully maintained beard.
4. A unique identity: Oman just feels different. There’s an unshowy culture, which spares it from the absurdly gaudy construction projects of other Gulf States, and there are clearly concerted efforts to maintain both traditions and the environment. You’ll be politely asked rather than hassled in the souks, levels of respect and tolerance for various outlooks on life are high, and you can wander around mountain villages without being confronted by tables full of ‘handicraft’ tat. Oman is dignified and, most of all, it’s distinctive.
5. Incredible landscapes: If the other Gulf States were blessed with the majority of the oil riches, then Oman got the looks. The mountains, gorges, desert dunes, wadis and coastal lookouts should ensure even the most cynical eyes are jerked wide open.

David Whitley usually blogs at www.grumpytraveller.com.