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Oman and the Emirates
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Oman and the Emirates

A 24-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more
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    🇧🇭 Muharraq, Bahrain
    skip's retirement travelOman and the Emiratesskip's retirement travel

    Muharraq, Bahrain

    December 1 in Bahrain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Muharraq is an island in Bahrain adjacent to Manama. It was the previous national capital. Several members of the royal family are involved in redeveloping the old palace here.
    In many ways Muharraq is an old town that many cities preserve. In the 1st picture is a typical narrow local street. The rest of the pictures are in restored old houses that are now variously coffee shops, museums etc. The picture of me is in a CERN building related to the super collider in Europe.
    The last 2 pictures are in the Siyadi House that belonged at one time to a pearl merchant. One picture shows mother-of-pearl. The other highlights Cartier pearl jewelry. The carvings reflect Cartier designs, and I'm told that all Cartier pearls are natural (not cultured) pearls from Bahrain.    Read more

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    Manama, Bahrain

    December 1 in Bahrain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    The Kingdom of Bahrain is an island nation in the Persian Gulf north of Qatar. Civilization here dates back to the bronze age. The best known early civilization is the Dilmun dating back as much as 5,000 years.
    Manama is the capital of Bahrain and together with Muharraq, is where most of the population lives.
    The National Museum is justly famous, especially for its collection of Dilmun Civilization history and artifacts.
    The 1st picture is a depiction of Gilgamesh, a Mesopotamian legendary leader dating back at least 3 or 4 millennia. Bahrain was a central trading hub. So many cultures interacted here. Likewise the 2nd picture is of preserved ancient inscriptions in several languages.
    Much is made of Dilmun burial practices. The next 2 pictures are examples from different time periods of the practice which concludes with large burial mounds, of which there were more than 150,000. Some are shown in the 5th picture.
    Bahrain was well regarded for its pearling industry all the way back to antiquity right up to the invention of cultured pearls in the 20th century. The 6th picture is a floating model of a typical pearling vessel. Pictures 7&8 are in a pearl museum, showing sizing, grading and the way the business worked back in the day.
    The next 4 pictures are in the Grand Mosque: from outside; in the courtyard; within the main prayer hall; and from the balcony of the main hall.
    The name Bahrain comes from Arabic, meaning 2 seas. It refers to salt water and fresh water together. Fresh water bubbles up in the midst of sea water and is drinkable. One of those springs is shown in the 13th picture at low tide. I've never seen this before.
    The Bahrain (or Portuguese) Fort in the 14th picture is on an archaeological tell consisting of 6 layers of different eras, including the likely capital of Dilmun. Archaeology and restoration are ongoing.
    Adjacent is the Tylos Fort in the 15th picture. Tylos is the Greek name of the Island dating from the arrival of Alexander the Great and his army.
    The 16th picture is the British Gate built as part of their administrative complex and is an entrance to the souq in the 17th picture.
    Lastly is a look at the harbor at night.    Read more

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    Kuwait

    November 29 in Kuwait ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Kuwait is a small country near the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq, Saudi Arabia and, across the Gulf, Iran. It is much like a city-state as the vast majority of the population lives in and around Kuwait City.
    The 1st picture is an overlook of the city taken from the observation deck of the Kuwait Towers in the 2nd picture. The two large spheres are water tanks while the higher, smaller sphere is the observation deck and a cafe.
    Next are 2 night pictures. The Liberation Tower was started before and finished after the Gulf War. Originally the Kuwait Telecommunication Tower, it was renamed Liberation after the war. The other catches a bit of the harbor and a traditional fishing boat.
    The 5th picture is the fish market, probably the largest display of fish I've seen, and this is just after the daily auction that the restaurants attend. The 6th picture is the more general souq in another part of the building.
    The 7th picture is a mosque that I found interesting from my engineering days. The walls are made of gabions, wire mesh cages or boxes filled with rocks more often used for retaining walls. I've not seen them used as a building material.
    The rest of the pictures are in parks. The 8th photo is a park building with some skyline in the background. 9th is a typical walkway. The 10th picture is a fun sculpture of playing marbles. The 11th picture is a model ship floating in the park.
    The last 2 are of another park focused on history. The 12th picture shows an historic city gate, and the 13th is part of a model depicting old Kuwait City, formerly known as Qurain when it was a small fishing village.    Read more

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    Qatar

    November 28 in Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    An independent, peninsular Emirate on the Persian Gulf to the north of the UAE. Much of the country is low lying desert: some sandy, some stony. The vast majority of the population lives in the capital, Doha.
    Even today, much of Qatari culture can be traced to the desert and Bedouin ancestors. The national sport is camel racing, and the 1st 2 pictures are at a camel race track: there's a short section of track and some young camels in training. They not only have races; they also have camel beauty contests (really!).
    They are equally passionate about their national bird, the falcon. The 3rd picture is the winner of the most beautiful hawk contest. There are races, too. This is the only place I've seen a falcon souq. That's the 4th picture, and pictures 5&6 up the level of hawk passion: the hospital across the street from the souq with their list of services.
    Picture 7 is Al Zubara fort that replaced an 18th century fort that is currently a museum related to the nearby archaeological site.
    Qatar is big on public art. Pictures 8&9 are an installation in the middle of the desert called Shadows Traveling on the Sea of Day. The underside of each horizontal piece is a mirror.
    Pictures 10-12 are at the Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum. This private museum is the Sheikh's personal collection. He has a farm with a field of ibex, the national animal; a traditional Bedouin tent set up as a wealthy family tent; and much more, too much to show. However, the 12th picture is significant. The large structure in Mecca called the Kaaba is covered with an embroidered black fabric called the Kiswah that is replaced every year during the hajj. The old Kiswah is usually cut into pieces and given away. On rare occasions a large piece is set aside. This is one of those and is extremely rare.
    Now we get back to Doha where the rest of the pictures were taken. Pictures 13&14 are different skyline views. The 15th picture is the Museum of Islamic Art. The 16th is the camel market, and the 17th is the oldest hotel in Doha (only 2 rooms) booked up for several years.
    The last picture is at the Msheireb Museum that is part of the revitalization of the old downtown to reflect the traditional sense of community.
    There is far more to see in Qatar. One day isn't enough.    Read more

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    Abrahamic Family House

    November 26 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The Abrahamic Family House is a group of buildings and gardens tied together physically, architecturally and spiritually. There is a synagogue, a church and a mosque together with facilities for dialogue. The 3 Abrahamic faiths are together. At the entry, you can read "Diverse in our faiths. Common in our humanity. Together in peace." I felt very at home here.
    The 1st picture is of the Declaration that provided the foundation for establishing the house.
    The next 4 pictures are in the interiors of the 3 worship spaces. 1st is the synagogue which gets 2 pictures because of the ceiling. Then there's the church and the mosque. The picture in the mosque focuses on the mihrab that faces Mecca. In all 3 spaces, the light is beautiful.
    The last 3 pictures are taken in the garden that is built on the roof of the connecting buildings. The worship spaces extend up through the garden and are identified by a column with a central faith symbol for each.    Read more

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    Abu Dhabi

    November 26 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Abu Dhabi Emirate is the largest of the 7 Emirates that form the UAE. The post about Al Ain is also about this emirate.
    Abu Dhabi City is the capital of both the eponymous emirate and the UAE. This post is about the area in and around Abu Dhabi city.
    Yas Island is a tourist area in the region. The 1st 2 pictures are of the Formula 1 facilities. There is the track in the 1st picture. On the far side of the track is a marina where yachts are moored for folks to watch the races. In the background is a tower that is the royal family's "sky box." There are museums, water parks, golf and more here. The 2nd picture looks at architecture of the hotel at the track.
    The 3rd picture is the Guggenheim Museum under construction, and the 4th picture is the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Both are in the cultural district of Saadiyat Island.
    The 5th picture is in the date market.
    The 6th picture is taken along a beach to look at the Abu Dhabi skyline.
    The 7th picture is of a couple new buildings with the famous Emirates Palace hotel (bottom center with the dome). Pictures 8&9 give more of a sense of why it is so well known. This is a 5 star hotel managed by Mandarin Oriental.
    The rest of the pictures are at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest in the UAE. It can accommodate 40,000 worshippers in the main prayer hall, 2 smaller halls and the courtyards. The carpet in the next last picture is the largest hand knotted carpet in the world.
    The last picture was taken from across the road at the Wahat al Karama war memorial using the reflecting pool for its mirror image    Read more

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    Khor Fakken

    November 25 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Khur Fakken is an unusual situation. It is surrounded by Fujairah Emirate but is part of Sharjah Emirate. So it is not physically connected to the rest of the Emirate. To make it even more interesting, there is a disconnected bit of Oman enclosed within Khor Fakken. I understand that this is a relic of the process of organizing the UAE.
    Khor Fakken port on the Gulf of Oman is the only natural deep sea port in the region. The 1st picture is of the port which is a major container port in the UAE.
    The 2nd picture is the Khor Fakken Amphitheater, semicircular Roman style architectural theater that hosts performances regularly. The 3rd picture is right next door. The man-made waterfall is 45 meters high and carved out of the natural rock face.
    The last 2 pictures are at the Al Rafisah Dam and lake. The project flooded a village along the river. During summer, otherwise submerged buildings can become visible.    Read more

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    Fujairah Emirate

    November 25 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Fujairah is the only one of the 7 Emirates located solely on the Gulf of Oman with no coast on the Persian Gulf. As such, it's the UAE's access to the Indian Ocean.
    The 1st 5 pictures are at the Al Bidya Mosque is the oldest known mosque in the UAE that is still in use. The 4th picture is the Al Budya Watchtower on the hill directly behind the mosque. The 5th picture is taken from behind the mosque looking toward the coastline across the road.
    The 6th picture is Fujairah Fort, situated on a small hill. It dates to the early 16th century and was built by the Portuguese.
    The last 3 pictures are of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. This is the 2nd largest mosque in the UAE and opened in 2015. It can hold as many as 28,000 worshippers.    Read more

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    Ras Al Khaimah Emirate

    November 25 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is the northernmost and most fertile agriculture of the Emirates. They point out that RAK is the only Emirate that has all the arab peninsula landscapes from beach to farm, desert and mountains, all in one emirate.
    The 1st picture is of mangrove surrounded islands near RAK city, whose harbor is shown in the 2nd picture.
    The 3rd picture is the oldest mosque in RAK named for Sheikh Mohammed bin Salim. There is no minaret here. The elevated platform served that purpose in older mosques.
    The next 4 pictures were taken at the National Museum of RAK. The 4th picture is a rowing society boat based on traditional designs. The 5th picture is the museum courtyard , and the 6th is a re-created bedroom. The 7th photo is a madabi. Here dates were stored in sacks where the syrup would drain into the channels to be collected and used.
    The 8th picture looks up the 239 steps to Dhayah Fort. The fort dates back to the bronze age and is the only hill fort in RAK. At the top is a 19th century structure commemorating a battle between the British and local tribes. The 9th picture looks down from the fort to date palm farms.
    The last picture looks at a part of the modern part of RAK.    Read more

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    Umm Al Quwain Emirate

    November 25 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) has the smallest population of the 7 Emirates. It is also the 2nd smallest in area, with only Ajman being smaller.
    Unlike others of the Emirates, UAQ does not have much, if any, oil and gas. So their economy depends on tourism and more traditional activities.
    The 1st picture is the Al Khor tower, one of the fortifications along the UAQ wall that was built for protection from sea borne raiders.
    The 2nd picture is of the extensive beaches in UAQ. I'm still surprised by how few people I see on kilometers of beautiful and empty beaches.
    The 3rd picture is of a natural salt harvesting operation. This salt is used for industrial purposes.
    Pictures 4&5 are at the UAQ Fort. This was the seat of the UAQ rulers up until 1969. Today it houses a museum showing some local history and relics recovered from archaeological sites in the emirate. The day we were there, a member of the royal family was presenting certificates. The presentation included traditional singing and dancing.
    The last 2 pictures are from the museum. One is a kitchen recreation. The other is the entry to a jail cell that required the inmate to crawl in.    Read more

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    Ajman Emirate

    November 24 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Ajman is the smallest of the emirates in area. It is surrounded by Sharjah on all sides except for where it abuts the Persian Gulf. Most of the population lives in the eponymous city.
    All of these pictures were taken at Ajman Fort, the former residence of the ruling family. Today, it's a museum of the Emirate's history and culture.
    The 1st picture is of the fort from the outside. The rest are inside the walls.
    Pictures 2&3 are in the central yard of the fort . The 3rd is most interesting as it preserves a circular cemetery of common graves.
    All the rest of the pictures are in various rooms of the fort's structure. Each portrays a different aspect of Ajmani history and culture: old Qu'rans; pottery and jewelry; a home; a market; and 2 market stalls (hides and pearls). Finally, a bit about life, showing historic agricultural practice and an old style kitchen    Read more

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    Sharjah Emirate

    November 24 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Sharjah is another of the 7 Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is known as the most Orthodox and most cultural emirate. In fact, Sharjah has been named a "Cultural Capital of the Arab World" by UNESCO.
    The 1st picture provides a look at what much of the Sharjah streetscape is like. The 2nd picture catches a bit of the University of Sharjah, a large and modern campus. Several other schools of advanced education are here, as well.
    The next 3 pictures are at Cultural Square. A 14 meter tall pedestal with an open Qu'ran is the sculpture at the center of the space. That's the 3rd picture. It portrays the spiritual heart of the city and emirate. Significant buildings in Islamic architecture surround the square. The 4th picture is the Cultural Palace that hosts events year round. The 5th picture is the Ruler's Office.
    The 6th picture is of a Russian Orthodox Church. Mutual tolerance among faiths is a Hallmark of the UAE.
    The next 2 pictures are at the Central or Blue Souq which consist of 2 barrel vaulted buildings clad in blue tiles, hence the nickname. It takes its design inspiration from the traditional markets, but on a much larger scale.
    The last 2 pictures are at the old harbor. There is the fish market and a bit of the harbor with a traditional dhow.
    As a bit of foreshadowing, there are some unique features in the Emirates that will come up in another post later in which Sharjah takes a part. Stay tuned.    Read more

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    New Dubai

    November 23 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    It goes without saying that New Dubai is what most folks think of when they hear Dubai. Most of the development has occurred since the discovery of oil in the 1960s, with the biggest impact on the skyline coming in the last 25 years or so.
    The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world is justly famous. That's it in the 1st 2 pictures: night and day. I'm told that the haze is typical here. I've heard that it is mostly dust churned up by all the construction activity.
    Before the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Arab was the famous building (the 3rd picture). The architecture is inspired by a fully unfurled sail.
    The 4th picture is the Dubai Frame. It is the largest frame in the world at 150 meters tall and provides views of old Dubai to one side and new Dubai to the other.
    The next picture is taken while driving out the "trunk" of the Dubai Palm Jumeirah, the manmade island in the shape of a palm tree. The tower is called The View with 360° views.
    The 5th picture is of the Marina District taken from the Palm. Also at the Palm Jumeirah is the Atlantis Hotel and Resort in the 7th picture.
    The 8th picture is of the Royal Palace, taken from as close as we were allowed to get.
    Dubai also is known for its sometimes lavish and extreme projects. An example is the 8th picture. This is looking through the window at their indoor ski slope. The space is kept at about -3°C year round, even when the outdoor temperature gets to 40°C. (That's over 120°F.)
    The last picture is another nighttime photo. Dubai is very much a city that gets lit up with neon, building lights and more.    Read more

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    Old Dubai

    November 23 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. The city is generally dated to the early 18th century, beginning as a pearl harvesting and fishing town.
    The old town is a largely preserved and restored neighborhood along the Dubai Creek. The 1st picture shows a wind tower that was probably brought from Iran by traders whose homes were built this way.
    Pictures 2&3 are in the restored souq along the creek.
    Pictures 4&5 are of Dubai Creek. In the 6th picture , a traditional dhow is passing. These traditional watercraft are still in use here.
    The 7th picture is across the creek in the spice bazaar, and the 8th is part of the gold and silver souq nearby.
    The 9th picture is in the courtyard of a traditional home. I love the setting.    Read more

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    Al Ain, UAE

    November 22 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Al Ain is a city within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi at the border with Oman. Al Ain translates to The Spring, likely because it is at an inland oasis, or more accurately, 7 close together oases. (The 1st picture was taken in the largest oasis.)
    There is evidence of civilization here going back at least 8,000 years. Some of the earliest evidence are the tombs at Hili, one of which is shown in pictures 2&3. The carving seems to show 2 people and 2 oryxes. This archaeological site is also a city park.
    The next 4 pictures are in the restored Al Jahili Fort. This fort dates to the 19th century and was built to protect date farmers in the region. The 4th picture is the front wall and gate. The 5th picture looks across the interior of the main fort. The 7th picture is the Al Jahili tower. The 8th picture looks into the old fort in one corner of the facility. Thus shows some of the architecture and the decorations on the wooden door.
    The 8th picture is at the palace museum which is under reconstruction. This is the home of former UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultani, the founding father of the UAE.
    Pictures 9&10 are at the large camel market here. The 10th picture tries to show the market's extent, but that isn't even a quarter of it all.
    The 11th picture is of a natural hot spring near Jebel Hafeet. The area is a large park. The last picture looks out from the top of Jebel Hafeet to a portion of All Ain city.    Read more

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    Bahla Fort and Jabreen Castle

    November 21 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    These are 2 historic sites in pretty close proximity along the road to the border with the UAE.
    The 1st 3 pictures are at Bahla Fort. This is a mud brick structure and is the largest fort in Oman, dating to the 12th century and built to control trade of frankincense. It has been extensively renovated, but lacks interpretative information. Hence, we didn't enter, and all the photos here are of the exterior.
    The rest of the pictures are in Jabreen Castle dating to the 17th century. The was an important center for learning in astrology, medicine and law. It is said the some inspiraton for the architecture of the Royal Opera House in Muscat is taken from here.
    The 4th picture is the front of the building. The 5th picture is a guard room that is now a museum of period weapons. One of the distinctive features of this castle is the painted ceilings, an example is the 6th picture. The 7th picture is a stairway with inscriptions in the ceiling. The 8th picture is one of the Imam's meeting rooms, and the 9th picture is on the roof.    Read more

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    Nizwa

    November 20 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Nizwa is a former capital city of Oman in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, located at the nexus of trading routes from Salalah, Muscat and others. It's also one of the oldest cities in Oman. It is especially known for its souq, fort and castle.
    The 1st picture is the gateway into the market or souq. Pictures 2&3 are in the halwa store. Halwa is a common sweet here. The 3rd picture is of the traditional means of making halwa: ingredients are stirred together over a wood fire. The next 3 pictures are more parts of the souq.
    The 8th picture is the access from the souq to the fort and castle. I was there on Oman's National Day. Hence the flag colors on the wall of the fort.
    The next 6 pictures are in Nizwa Fort. The 9th picture is the entry gate that leads to stairs in the next 2 pictures. At several points in the stairway are pitfalls where invaders are "encouraged" to fall in. Also, above and just past each pitfall is a murder hole where hot water or oil were poured on those trying to enter. The 12th picture is at the round top of the fort with its continuous fighting platform. The 13th picture is the view over the oasis.
    The next 4 pictures are in the castle that was begun in the 8th century and expanded and altered a number of times since. This was a center of learning as much as a residence for the Iman. The 14th picture is the reception room; the 15th is a library; the 16th is in the Imam's residence; and the 17th is a washroom with the capacity to heat water.
    The last picture is the nighttime view from the hotel after leaving Nizwa, appropriately named The View.    Read more

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    Old Ibra Al Minzifah

    November 20 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    This is a small walled town of about 18 houses. There is much reconstruction happening in and around the historic mud brick buildings.
    The 1st picture is a longer look at the site while the 2nd picture is a restoration that is now a coffee house (and a good one, at that).
    The next 2 pictures are of the restored city wall and main gate.
    The 5th picture is a house right inside the main gate called Bait Al Darwaza, and it shares some structure with the gate. The house has been restored as a museum of the town, and the rest of the pictures are in, or on the roof of, the house/museum and show but a portion of what's on offer.
    There are the men's room or meeting room, and the women's room. There's a records room and the kitchen. Finally there's the roof and views over the oasis where the town was built.    Read more

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    Wahiba Sands Desert

    November 19 in Oman ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Currently known as Sharqiya Sands is another of 4 desert regions in Oman. It is easily the most accessible desert in the country.
    The 1st 2 pictures are at a traditional Bedouin camp with the structure set up to sell local handcrafts.
    The next picture is on the edge of the desert with a house set on the sand.
    The next 3 pictures are different views of the desert, itself.
    The last 3 pictures are of the camp where we stayed. There's the main tent where we gathered and enjoyed our meals. The next picture is supper with camel kebobs and grilled chicken in the foil, a tuna stew, hummus, cabbage, grilled veggies and more. A delicious feast.
    The last 2 pictures are where we stayed in a Bedouin style tent. The last picture gives you a sense of the size of the tent and how it's decorated. And, no, I'm not part of the decor    Read more

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    Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve

    November 18 in Oman ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Ras Al Jinz is a well known site that protects an important nesting beach for green turtles. The pictures are of a green turtle who has already laid her eggs. She is backfilling the hoke she had dug where she laid her eggs which are now about a meter deep. In the 2nd picture, she has finished covering her eggs and is now heading back to the sea. In the 3rd picture, she has made it to the water and is starting to swim away.
    The 4th picture is one of the hatchlings heading for the water.    Read more

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    On the road

    November 18 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    This is a miscellany of photos along the way. The 1st 2 pictures are of the scenery south of Muscat. The 3rd picture is a sinkhole that is the centerpiece of a park. The next 2 pictures are a bit farther south: a look at the seaside from the road; and a glance at a gazelle in a wildlife refuge.
    The 6th picture is in Wada Tiwi, a year round water feature.
    The next 3 pictures are in Sur and historic shipbuilding town. Two are at an active shipyard that builds new and refurbishes old wooden ships, mostly dhows, traditional Arabian ships. The 9th picture is the old harbor at Sur. The 10th picture shows the coastline south of Sur.
    The Last 2 pictures are an unusual mosque. The outside picture shows some of the 52 domes on the building. The domes work well to provide light and ventilation without electricity, though power has now been added. The last picture is of the interior. The building is undergoing restoration.    Read more

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    Muscat

    November 17 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Muscat is the capital and largest city in Oman. It is a thoroughly modern city. Much of the modern city and much of the development of the rest of the country occurred during the 50 year reign of Sultan Qaboos.
    The 1st 2 pictures are at the governmental: the royal palace and
    The 3rd picture is in the port. That ship is one of the sultan's private yachts.
    The next 3 pictures are in the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I'm told this can accommodate 20,000 worshipers.The next 4 pictures are of the Royal Opera House: outside the building; the foyer; the auditorium; and a portion of their collection of old instruments.
    The next 4 pictures are in a cultural museum: a map of Oman showing some of the cultural specifics as they relate to different parts of the country; a display of traditional wedding garb; the Omani Coat of Arms decorating a stairway; and an early Qu'ran.
    The last picture is in a modern souq.    Read more

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    Frankincense

    November 15 in Oman ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Oman is the land of frankincense. Here, the Boswellia tree provides the fragrant resin that has been traded and used for millennia in religion, as a perfume, and in medicine. It was worth its weight in gold.
    The 1st picture is of wild Boswellia trees from which frankincense is harvested today. The 2nd picture is of an area where the Omani government is attempting to cultivate the trees to increase production.
    The next several photos demonstrate how it's harvested. The 3rd picture shows a new cut in the bark and the 4th picture is a closer look at the cut as the sap/resin begins to ooze out. The 5th picture shows both the new cut and an older cut. Notice how the resin builds up into nodules. The 6th picture is a closer look at resin near ready to harvest.
    Other posts have talked about frankincense being traded to as far away as China. The 7th picture is of a model of a former trading ship in the frankincense museum. Among the other exhibits in the museum is this display of old incense burners.
    The last 3 pictures are in Salalah's Frankincense Market. There are bags of the raw product, some shops selling various frankincense preparations, and more shops with a more touristy bent.    Read more

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    Oman's Empty Quarter, Ubar, etc

    November 14 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    The empty quarter is part of the largest sand sea in the world. The 1st 2 pictures are of some dunes typical of the region.
    The next 3 pictures are of the archaeological site of Shisr. Some consider this to be the lost city of Ubar, the Atlantis of the Sands. Ubar was an important node on the frankincense trading routes and was wealthy. It's likely that the site's demise was from depletion of the available water. The large pit in the 5th picture is thought to be the former well and is dry.
    Around the edges of the empty quarter, agriculture has developed using pumped well water. These are very easy to see from the air but hard to photograph from the ground
    Similarly, camel breeding is another local business. The next 3 pictures are of such an operation where we tasted camel's milk. Think cows milk, just a bit sweeter and less rich. It was quite good.
    The last picture looks out away from the desert to where the mountains begin to drop down to the seam    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelOman and the Emiratesskip's retirement travel

    Salalah

    November 13 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Salalah is the capital city of Dhofar Governorate of Oman. There are many posts here in the Dhofar region. This post fills in some more detail about the city and its surrounds.
    The first 3 pictures are of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque from the outside, the inside and a detail if the wood carving. Completed in 2009, it can hold 3,000 worshippers in a mix of architectural styles, most notably modern Islamic.
    The next 3 pictures are in the traditional food market. There are sections for butchering camel and beef plus sheep, goat, etc. There is a large fish market, reflecting the significant fishing business here. Finally, there is a fruit and vegetable section plus small eateries.
    The 7th picture is in the gold and silver market here. Most shops sell their own creations. The next 3 pictures are in the frankincense market. There is a lot to say about the frankincense trade as Dhofar is where these trees grow (see another post).
    The next 2 pictures are at Ayn Razat, the largest natural spring in Salalah. This is a major source of irrigation water and was the water source for a sultan's palace until the desalination facility that serves the region was completed.
    The 13th picture is the tourist area in the upper part of the Wadi Darbat. This is the wadi that flows into the Samharam lagoon during the monsoon.
    The next 2 pictures are of the tomb of the prophet Job, reflecting the story of Job as told in the Quran, that Job was tempted and restored here.
    The next 2 pictures are more examples of the empty beaches here. The next last picture is of a school of sardines. That's the black area in the center of the photo. The last picture is of a beautiful secluded beach west of Salalah and about an hour from the Yemeni border.    Read more

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