è Report #12 - March 18 – 20, 2008  (2-days at sea and a stop in Salalah, Oman)

After a busy and interesting time in India, we looked forward to having 2-days before our next port, Salalah, Oman.  As usual, there were many things to do while at sea, including lectures, cooking classes, port talks, time in the Exploration Café (the library & internet center), service club (Rotary, Lions, Elks, etc.) meetings, and long walks around Lower Promenade, to work off some of the calories.

We were ready for a new experience when we docked in Salalah, Oman, on Thursday, March 20.  The Sultanate of Oman (population 3.1 million) is located on the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and is bordered by the United Arab Emirates (and its popular city of Dubai), Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.  The capital and largest city is Muscat (1 million), located in the east; Salalah is the second largest city and is located in the southwestern province of Dhofar.  Oman is an absolute monarchy, ruled since 1970 by Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who is credited with modernizing the country, by taking major steps to improve the economy, infrastructure, education and medical systems and the lives of the Omani people in general.

Our all-day tour from the brand new-looking industrial port started with a drive to the city of Salalah, a stop in front of the Sultan’s palace (only used when he’s in Salalah), and a visit to the souqs (local shops).  The palace was huge and on about a mile of shoreline right on the Arabian Sea.  The souqs were only a few blocks away and offered bags of frankincense (with burners), khanjars (curved daggers), Arabian clothing, and exotic perfumes (made locally from frankincense and other ingredients).  After that we were off for a beautiful drive up the mountain to, according to legend, Job’s Tomb (our tour guide told us this is one of six “Job’s Tombs” in the world!).  The view from the top of the mountain was spectacular and the tomb area was peaceful and complete with a mosque and small mausoleum.

Next, we got up close and personal with some boswellia trees, as their sap is harvested for frankincense and has been, in this region, since about 5000BC.  An added treat was watching two camels (they roam free) eat the green off the trees nearby.  Camels were guaranteed to be seen, as they are all over and we did see hundreds.  Our last tour stop was at Mughsayl Beach, located on a spectacular bay with sheer cliffs that reach toward the nearby Yemeni border.

On the way back to the ship, our very very handsome Omani guide (it’s Georgiana talking - check out the photo) gave us the scoop on the Sultan.  It seems the Sultan became ruler after a bloodless coup against his father - who was no good and was sent off to London for the rest of his life!  He added that the Sultan is 70, not married and has no heirs, so according to the constitution the royal family will decide the next ruler, but everyone already knows it will be the favorite nephew.  We’ll be watching for news from Oman in the future to see if he was right.

Next, we’re off to sail the Red Sea, visit Egypt and transit the Suez Canal.

Check out Nick’s website - www.nide.smugmug.com - for pictures from Oman