“Instead of reading about things you might want to do, you can watch the first-person experiential videos of actual places, adventure activities and the hotels you’re considering, building your itinerary through experience.” Andrew Wilson (Other Dimension) declared passionately about new travel website Side Trip of a Lifetime:
Oman www.sidetripofalifetime.com.au
Created by Oman Tourism in partnership with creative agency Other Dimension, the interactive digital platform captured two weeks of travelling the length and breadth of Oman filming all the highlights that every visitor must essentially do, as well as secret gems and adventure pursuits that are fast becoming renowned in this ancient Arabian land.
Oman is just an hour’s flight from Abu Dhabi or Dubai (my preferred long haul stop to Europe or the US east coast.) I’ve played with the site: great fun, very informative and the next best thing to actually travelling. My first view was this week at the launch with selected travel industry representatives, travel journalists, and the Other Dimension team. Our hosts were Oman Tourism and special guests, the Consular General and Deputy Consular General of the Sultanate of Oman.
Do make sure you check out the Side Trip of a Lifetime website.
It’s worth it for its own experience, but as additional incentive there are prizes:
A competition to win a trip for two to Oman; or frankincense (purrr).
Best of all competition winner (or not) – YOU still get to create your own adventure in a land lost in time, from the comfort of your favourite couch.
The Oman – side trip of a lifetime – launch dinner was held this week at Embers Mezze Bar Darlinghurst and designed to entice our travel lust even more through the food of Oman and the middle east. I stuck my head in the kitchen (as I often do.) Chef Simon Zalloua was smiling. I was smiling too. The food was thoughtful, well crafted and delicious. All of the dishes were great yet we saved the best for last – pilaf topped with barberry *mmm mmm* and even better as it was served to the restaurant in the traditional way shared from one large platter.
Sorry I missed the trifle Chef! I’ll have to come back for dessert! I could not have eaten another bite (no matter how delicious) on that night…
Embers Mezze Bar
52 Oxford Street Darlinghurst NSW Australia
+61 2 8354 1100
June 12 2012 at 8:02 am
Have friends in Oman who never want to leave after a lifetime in the travel industry. Be meaning to get there.. here’s an opp…