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The Emirates

A 24-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more
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  • skip's retirement travelThe Emiratesskip's retirement travel

    Mirbat

    Yesterday in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Mirbat is an active coastal town where fishing is a major industry. In years past, it was another hub in the frankincense trade.
    The 1st 2 pictures look at the harbor from different directions. The 3rd picture is in the local fish market a bit early in the day for it to be fully in business
    Pictures 4&5 are the tomb of Bin Ali the great grandson of Mohammed. He was a renowned scholar and teacher. There is the shrine building and the sarcophagus inside. A cemetery exists around Bin Ali's tomb. That's the 6th picture the 7th is a street in downtown Mirbat.
    The last 2 pictures are part way into the mountains behind Mirbat. The 8th picture is of a baobab tree. These trees are rare in the Arabian peninsula, being found only in this region. The last picture is of camels eating from and beneath an acacia tree.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelThe Emiratesskip's retirement travel

    Samharam

    Yesterday in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    The archaeological site of Samharam is a former port mostly for exporting frankincense that dates back as much as 3,000 years, with most activity between the 3rd century BCE and the 5th century CE. Archaeological evidence shows trade extended as far as India, Mesopotamia and Egypt. Legend has it that frankincense was shipped from here to the Queen of Sheba.
    All these pictures were taken from a viewpoint across the lagoon that is the silted-in former harbor.
    The 1st picture is of the site. Most everything here is a restoration.
    The next 3 pictures look across the lagoon and out toward the Arabian Sea. In the 2nd picture you see where Samharam is on the bluff above the harbor. The 3rd picture looks out to the sea while the 4th picture shows more clearly the highlands either side of the harbor entrance that manned, providing security for the port.
    The last picture is a small boat of the size that would be used for fishing or short trading trips when the port was active    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelThe Emiratesskip's retirement travel

    Taqah, Oman

    Yesterday in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Taqah Is a fishing village not far from Salalah. The 1st picture overlooks the village and its beaches. I have found that there are miles and miles of beautiful, empty beaches along this coast. The 2nd picture shows some activity in the water that might be fishing.
    The sardine fishery here is prolific using a shore anchored net to capture the fish. About half of the catch goes for human consumption. The other half is shown in the 3rd picture where it is being sun-dried for animal feed.
    The next 2 pictures are in the 150 year old Koofan Heritage House that has been restored. It is the home of a former merchant. Today, it is also a small lodging facility.
    The rest of the pictures were taken across the street at the 19th century Taqah Fort. This was the seat of government. The 5th picture looks at the main gate from the Koofan House. The 6th picture is the reception hall inside the gate where the Wali or governor met daily with the local tribal chiefs.
    Immediately beyond the reception hall is the main courtyard shown in the next 2 pictures.
    The 10th picture is the guard room with a display of weapons of the time.
    The last picture is upstairs in what had been the residence of the Wali and his family.    Read more

    Trip start
    November 12, 2025
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