Destination ➜ Muscat, Oman
The Magic of Muscat BEYOND | OMAN
By Gayle Dickson
www.letstravelmag.com
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I
t’s hot…very hot! I’m thankfully whisked into the air-conditioned comfort of a sparkling BMW that waited just a short walk from the arrivals hall at Muscat airport. I was headed south of the city on my first night, but asked the driver to take it slowly; as this was my first trip to Oman, I wanted to take it all in. My first impressions were of space and, surprisingly, greenery. Aren’t we in desert country? Motorways were lined with manicured lawns and roundabouts all wore colourful blooms. The buildings were low-rise, most in creamy tones with the odd pop of colour bursting between, often from ornate windows and doors that were the jewels in an otherwise monotone crown.
My driver, Ahmed, was a treasure trove of information, pointing out not only the usual tourist things, but also some lesser-known trinkets that he felt would appeal. It seemed he knew who owned nearly every house. As we drove along the Corniche, his chatter became most excited when he saw the Sheik’s motor yacht, Al Said, moored in the harbour. My first experience of being a Western tourist in this Arabian gem came the following morning when my guide for the next week, Mustaffa, collected me from my hotel. Our first stop of the day was the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and, while polite, he was looking askance at my attire. Picking up on his vibe, I questioned him. I was wearing three-quarter pants that stopped just above my ankles and