Life on the ocean wave
A few days ago, Emirati fisherman Ali Al Baloushi was attacked by a shark off the coast of Khor Fakkan on the east coast. He had been reportedly diving close to his boat when the shark bit his leg. Luckily, the 42-year-old Al Baloushi is making a good recovery, but the episode underlines the unpredictable nature of life at sea. It also is a reminder of Khor Fakkan’s proud maritime tradition.
This photograph taken by Alain Saint Hillaire in 1973 when he was on a tour of the country, shows a quiet Khor Fakkan town and harbour with simple low-rise buildings, a mosque and a boat moored just off the coast. But things were on the move for the Sharjah enclave. Today, families can picnic on an expanded Corniche, rent jet skis and stay nearby at the renovated Oceanic Hotel, while a huge deepwater port that opened in 1979 can be seen to the right of the harbour. The mountains still provide a stunning backdrop.
John Dennehy
Time Frame is a series that opens a window into the nation’s past. Readers are invited to make contributions to yourpics@thenational.ae
