Larissa Normanton, a student at the University of Cambridge, studying Arabic and Middle Eastern studies, spent her ‘Year Abroad’ in Oman. In October 2011, at the beginning of her year in the Sultanate, Larissa paid a visit to the Wahiba Sands in the Sharqiyya region.
These pictures depict a uniquely Omani cultural event called al ardha: a camel show. During al ardha, camel breeders convene with their most prized camels in tow and run them side by side down a straight track. However, these camels are not racing. Instead, the goal is for them to run as a pair, perfectly in time, thus demonstrating their obedience and the control of the riders.
