Tony Walsh has been writing about Oman since 1999. He took his readers across the desert to join in camel racing, to the shores of the Arabian Sea on a hunt for abalone and to the mountain heights in search of Oman's fragrant Damask rose. Following his update for the 4th edition of the Bradt guide to Oman, Tony is delighted to include Oman's latest attraction in the 5th edition of this guide. Diana Darke, the original author of Bradt's Oman, first worked in the country for the Omani government in 1980, and remained acquainted with Oman for over 30 years. With a BA in Arabic (Oxford) and an MA in Islamic Art and Architecture (SOAS, London) her in-depth cultural background knowledge is second to none. She is the author of 16 guidebooks on Turkey and the Middle East including Bradt's Eastern Turkey and Syria guides.