A LION and BLIND FISH in Al Hoota Cave?!?!?!

This dripstone figure is known as “The Lion” and represents Al Hoota Cave on the site’s main pamphlet, given to tourists upon payment of admission (5.5 RO).

This is a pretty blurry photo but can you notice the water near the bottom? The cave homes an underground lake with natural ventilation, resulting in the phenomenon whereby blind, transparent fish thrive in large shoals. Exclusively found in the area, these fish feed on organic nourishment carried in by rain water. Cave fish feed on organic particles in the mud, while surface fish mainly grate algae from stones.

Here is a picture of a picture of the blind fish (found in the museum on the 2nd floor). Garra barreimiae, the Omani mountain barbell, lives exclusively in the Wadi waters of the Al Hajar Mountains in the Sultanate of Oman and in the UAE. The species was named after the city Al Buraimi. A rare type of these live in the Al Hoota Cave. Those fish are blind and eyeless. Due to the absence of pigmentation, their skin is transparent. Blood vessels under the skin give them a pinkish appearance. On the other hand, fish of the same species from surface populations display functional eyes and a darker skin. (Reminds me of a few jokes: What do you call a fish with no “eyes”? Answer: “fsh” Get it?! ha!ha! “eyes“…as in “i“s…

Okay…one more: What did the fish say when it ran into a wall? Answer: DAM!

OKAY, OKAY! No more fish jokes! 🙂

>Church Banner Time!

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“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” (Joel 2:28, KJV)
http://www.topverses.com/?verse=22340
Here’s a good sermon on this verse: http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper90/11-04-90.htm

>Shaq Plateau on Green Mountain (Jabel Akhdar)

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“The village of Shirayja is set above extensive terrace farms with steps leading down through them. Dappled paths lead down through the farms with falaj gurgling alongside.”



It may seem like I have posted the same pic over and over (9 times) but each is different, from a slightly different location/perspective. This is THE scene on Green Mountain, seen on many tourism websites, posters and ads. The weather is at least 10 degrees cooler here than other areas of Oman.

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There is a spot on the Green Mountain called “Diana’s Point“, named after the late Diana Princess of Wales who visited the area in the 1980s. Opposite Diana’s point is the view of the terraced farms of the Jabal, with a full deep greenery that is rarely seen.