a hui hou kakou

Oman is in a lot of ways my favorite of the Gulf states. In all the these countries people are friendly, but the Omanis seem more so. Besides Yemen it is the only one with good public transportation. Also Oman is the only Gulf state that feels like it is developing in an organized way. It doesn't have the flashy skyscrapers of Dubai and Doha but there also isn't the chaos of half finished things absolutely everywhere. The development follows a conscious style and one that is beautiful. There is an appreciation of public space. I was only in Oman for a few days in April 2008, but I would like to go back when I can get the chance.

Arms of Oman

Arms of Oman

Map of Oman At the amazing Grand Mosque in Muscat. A very beautiful place and the nicest mosque I've seen. April 2008. Grand Mosque. April 2008. Inside the Grand Mosque. April 2008. Inside the Grand Mosque. April 2008. Doorway in the mosque. April 2008. Door in the mosque. April 2008. More of the inside. April 2008. Yet more of the inside. April 2008. More of the outside of the mosque. April 2008. More of the mosque. April 2008. The Grand Mosque again. April 2008. Another archway at the mosque. April 2008. Last picture of the mosque. April 2008. Dry wadi near the CBD. April 2008. Little clock tower in Muscat's CBD. April 2008. Muscat's CBD. April 2008. Alley in an older part of Muscat. April 2008. Mosque in the Mutrah Souk. April 2008. Inside the maze like Mutrah Souk. April 2008. View of the Mutrah corniche. April 2008. Mutrah corniche. April 2008. Covered walkway in Mutrah. Oman is very different than the other Gulf states in that a lot more awareness is given to people walking around. Public spaces and all. April 2008. Another view of the covered walkway. April 2008. Bay between Mutrah and Old Muscat. April 2008. Monument on a hill. Giant incense burner. I don't know if it ever burns incense though. April 2008. Old fort protecting the Sultan's palace. April 2008. The Sultan's palace. April 2008. Inside a wonderful little coin museum at the Central Bank. April 2008. Really lazy looking cross walk sign. April 2008. Me at the corniche. The sun is strong in Muscat and I got a nasty burn. April 2008. A beach near Muscat. April 2008. Art at a roundabout in Salalah. It's a nice touch how many of the roundabouts in Oman have buildings and monuments in the middle. April 2008. Flowers in Salalah. April 2008. Salalah is much greener than most of Oman. Also it doesn't get as hot during the summer. April 2008. Part of the Sultan's Palace in Salalah. April 2008. A pretty little flower. April 2008. A large mosque under construction. April 2008. A graveyard in Salalah. April 2008. A computer shop with the Commodore TM! Commodores were the most popular home computers of the 1980s. April 2008. Bus I took from Salalah to Al-Mukalla. April 2008. The coast towards Yemen is beautiful and this picture doesn't do it justice. April 2008. Towards the border the coast becomes a series of dramatic hills. April 2008. More of the hills. April 2008. Some camels. April 2008. The Grand Mosque in Muscat. April 2008. More of the Grand Mosque. April 2008. Muscat. April 2008. The Muscat corniche. April 2008. The Muscat corniche. April 2008. Between the corniche and Old Muscat. April 2008. Passport Stamps |back to travels |