Oman, Oh Man!

Oman was an interesting and wonderful stop along the Journey.  So different than any place else I have been so far.

First, let me dispel any misconceptions you may or may not have about this Gulf country.  It is absolutely, positively, 100% safe.  Safer than most cities in the USA.  The people are warm and friendly and genuinely want you to love their country.  Like other Gulf countries, Oman imports a good portion of its labor force.  There are many people working in the country who are from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, etc.  If you encounter someone who is a bit surly, they are probably not Omani.

Tourism in Oman is in its infancy.  There is not the same level of infrastructure or service you see in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This has a good side and not so good side.  The good is that it is not very crowded and you get to see what the country is really like.  The not so good is that the hotels and restaurants are not up to the standards you find in other countries.

I began my visit in Muscat, the capitol.  This is a lovely sea-side city which is rich in history while also looking to the future.

The first stop on my tour was to the Grand Mosque which is mind-blowingly beautiful.

The inside of this mosque is as impressive as the outside.

The chandelier inside the mosque is the worlds largest and one of the worlds prettiest.

The Penguin and Joe enjoyed the visit as well.  Joe is glad to be back in the desert.

The royal palace is an equally impressive structure.  The colored columns make the palace unique.

It’s even more impressive at night.

The Muscat Fort is an historical structure that offers great views back down to the city.

The day ended with a sunset cruise along the coast.  Oman is famous for its frankincense incense, so there is a large, very cool replica of a burner along the coast.  The sun setting behind it makes it look like a spaceship.

After Muscat, I headed to Nizwa.  This mountain city is known for its fort, castle and GOAT SOUK!!

The Goat Souk starts in the early morning and people from all over come to buy and sell goats; men, women and children.  The goats are walked along a “runway” and if you are interested, you wave.  The only thing that has changed in the past hundred years or so is that now people have smartphones!

After the goats, we visited the fort and castle.

And inside both fort and castle we were treated to a show by the some of the local tribesmen.  

A visit to Oman would not be complete without a stay in the desert.  The camp was nice, but the scenery was better.

And what trip to the dessert would be complete without a camel experience.

I made friends with one in the camp and then got to ride one later the same day.

There was a lot more I saw in Oman, but these were the best bits.  A big thank you to my wonderful guide, Omar.  He was knowledgeable and so very kind.  He even made friends with Penguin.  He was the best representative his country could have had.

Stay tuned for the UAE!

And, for my followers and readers in the USA, a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Stay warm and have a piece of pumpkin pie for me.

Much love to all.