Docked at Sultan Qaboos Port

Latitude 23.63 Degrees North and
Longitude 58.57 Degrees East

April 10th, 2018

Weather: Mostly Sunny With Light Breeze and High of 90 Degrees With Low Humidity

Author: Don

Today we docked at the historic port city of Muscat, Oman.   Muscat has been an important trading hub between the Middle East, Europe and southeastern Asia for centuries.  At one time Muscat was a Portuguese trading outpost with defensive forts and watch towers built in the late 1500s.  For European traders, Muscat is strategically located on the way to India and China.

Muscat is the capital of Oman on the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and has a population of 1.5 million.  This city of low, whitewashed buildings is dramatically nestled among the valleys and canyons of the rocky Western Al Hajar Mountains along the Gulf of Oman by the Arabian Sea.  By law, no building may be taller than 14 stories. Traditional dhow fishing boats still frequent its harbor, though now they may carry tourists instead of fishing nets.

Today's included tour visited the giant Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, named for the country's beloved ruler.  Opened in 2001, this mosque built of dazzling white marble, intricate wooden panels and stained-glass windows has a 20,000 worshipper capacity.  It also has a remarkable 45,000 square-foot one-piece carpet that was hand made in Iran.

The Mutrah Souq was toured also.  (Souq means “market”.)  It is perhaps one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arab world, dating back to Muscat's centuries old trading history.  An interesting museum of Oman historical and cultural artifacts was also visited, but no photos were permitted inside.

Oman is a wealthy country.  Since the ascension of Qaboos bin Said as Sultan of Oman in 1970 (and subsequent exploitation of Oman's oil reserves), the city has experienced rapid infrastructural development that has led to the growth of a vibrant economy and a multi-ethnic society.  Omanis' prosperity is apparent.  Unlike what we observed all over India, the city is very clean, uncrowded and well-maintained.  Citizens may be fined for driving an unwashed vehicle.  Few motor scooters were seen by us, since everyone can afford a car.  In fact, many average families own three cars.  Oman is an almost entirely Muslim country, but various versions of Islam are accepted and coexist. 

Sultan Qaboos' two massive private yachts were prominently docked in front of the city, within sight of our ship.  Today's tour guide said two things are rare in Muscat:  rain and sightings of Sultan Qaboos.  The Sultan is now old, in ill health and has no children.  (In fact, he is in Belgium right now, receiving medical care.)  Oman's next Sultan has not been made known yet.  The country's primary source of wealth, its oil, is projected to be mostly depleted within the next 20 years.  This has been one of the more stable Arab countries.  Let's hope it continues to be.

Two nights ago, we spotted dolphins swimming alongside our ship in the Arabian Sea, and today we spotted a sea turtle as we left Muscat's harbor.  Humpback whales also are known to live in this part of the Arabian Sea.  We hope to see one or two on our way to the Red Sea and Jordan.