Sasha Chisholm swapped office life in London for organising adventure holidays in the Sultanate of Oman.
For Sasha Chisholm, the best thing about living in Muscat is that all her favourite activities are so easy to access. “Back in London, it would take me a whole weekend to go rock-climbing, because we had to drive to the Lake District or Wales. The same with diving, as it was a long way to the coast. Here, everything I enjoy is within an hour's drive.”
The map of Oman shows why it is so easy for Sasha to indulge her love of outdoor adventure here. The capital city, Muscat, lies on a narrow coastal strip. To the north, the dazzling blue sea shelters coral reefs and rocky islands. To the south, high mountains rise dramatically, range after range of jagged peaks receding to the horizon. There's a network of good tarmac roads, but also huge unspoiled natural areas accessible only on by foot, camel or four-wheel-drive vehicle. The climate is hot and dry, ideal for overnight camping and watersports, although the mid-summer months are too hot other than in the early morning or evening.
Sasha loves her job because she gets to join in with all the activities and has the challenge of developing new ones. The centre offers diving, rock climbing, sailing, snorkelling, kayaking, and desert expeditions exploring dunes and wadis in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Thrill seekers can cross a rocky canyon clipped to a high wire. Those in search of culture can explore ancient cities and souks, or cruise along the coast on a traditional wooden dhow equipped with carpets and cushions for sunset dining.
It's not just the physical challenge that motivates Sasha. There is a business challenge too. “We were the first centre in Oman to offer all these activities. Now tourism is developing in Oman and other companies are offering some of the same activities. It's my job to keep us ahead by offering new experiences. I think we are keeping ahead, particularly in the more adventurous areas like rock climbing or leading kayak-camping expeditions along remote coastal areas.”
Sasha hopes that mass tourism does not develop too quickly. Asked how she rates the diving here, she says, “The Red Sea without the divers! The marine life on the reefs is fantastic and usually you will only have one boat visiting a reef at a time, while a similar reef in Egypt's Red Sea might have twelve or fifteen boats tied up there and the water crowded with divers.”
Asked about her social life outside work, Sasha jokes, “What social life! Last night I arrived home at nine o'clock and was asleep by five past nine!” Joking aside, she does find time to meet friends for a meal now and then, and if she had more time there are clubs in Muscat for tennis, netball and amateur dramatics. She certainly does not go out as much as she used to in London when she would be out most nights of the week.
The local pub is not an option as alcohol is not sold, this being a traditional Islamic society. There's a degree of tolerance, and tourists can have a drink with meals in the upmarket hotels. Sasha buys a bottle of wine in the airport duty free on her way back from business trips, so she can share a glass with friends now and then, but does not find alcohol a big issue. “After all,” she says “If you have a seven-hour trek or some dives next day, the last thing you need is a hangover!”
Read the full story in our April 2008 issue.
