Muscat, Oman

My most recent trip took me to Muscat, Oman. It is a wonderful place...quiet, very clean, with friendly people and much to see and do. The weather in January is a mix of sunny days and comfortable temperatures (by Western standards), along with some rain and cloudy days as well. Some of the people said I must have brought the rain with me as a gift to their very dry land.

The photo above is one of the many (hundreds?) of defensive towers that dot the landscape around Muscat. The banner on the rocks below contains the colors of the Omani flag.

I rented a car at the airport for one week and the rate was about $20 USD per day. Driving is safe and the roads around Muscat are well-maintained and modern. There are many roundabouts instead of intersections; this setup seems to work well.

The food was delicious. Rice, bread, fruit juices, chicken, lamb, fish and seafood. I did not go hungry.

Muscat has, in my opinion, lots to offer. The souks are as good as the ones in Cairo and Dubai, the character of the people is honest and friendly, and there is always something else to do or see that makes you glad to be there.

My visit coincided with the playing of the Arabian Gulf Cup, a soccer tournament featuring the national teams from every country around the region, including the host country Oman. Oman ended up winning the cup in a stunning upset match against Saudi Arabia. It was apparently Oman's first cup championship title in 40 years. I felt fortunate to be there when it happened.

A piscine sculpture located along the corniche in Muscat.

Me, along the corniche in Muscat.

There are many dhows plying the waters of Oman. Their hulls are made of teakwood and the construction design has remained the same for centuries. Of course, most modern dhows are driven by modern engines rather than sails.

This old fortress stands high on a hill above the Port of Muscat. Someone told me it was a jail at one time.

This mosque is situated along the corniche in Muscat. I snapped the photo just as a wave crashed ashore. Pedestrians along the seawall need to be watchful or they can get soaked.

The mountains come right down to the sea just to the east of Muscat. This is the headlands area, where the coastline turns to the southeast. The Gulf of Oman is the water in the far distance and the Arabian Sea is off to the right.

I took this photo in the Omani-French Museum in Old Muscat. It is a diorama depicting ships entering the harbor sometime in the early 19th-century. The museum is housed in the old French Consul's residence and has a lot of interesting artifacts on display. Well worth the 1 rial admission.

This is one of the old fortresses at the entrance to the harbor in Old Muscat. The crews of visiting ships have a long-standing tradition of writing on the rocks. Some of the grafitti is two centuries old.

This mosque is adjacent to the Sultan's palace in Muscat.

This ship (the big white one, not the dhow in the foreground), is apparently the royal yacht of the Sultan of Oman.

This structure is a huge replica of an incense burner.

This was the only camel I saw during my short one-week visit to Oman. There are many more of them, but Muscat is not a place where camels, horses and mules share the roadways with the cars, buses and trucks.

Here are some photos of the Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman. Early morning is the best time to visit if you want to take pictures. Entry is forbidden after 11am in order to prepare for the midday prayers.

Me at the entrance to the Grand Mosque in Muscat.