In Samharam vista point, Salalah

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Oman Map
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Because the previous one has many bad-quality pics, I opened the new one :)
Oman in my own words


I traveled to Oman last month ( February 17 to 28, 2007 ) to visit my Omani friend, Khalid Salim in Muscat for three days before heading 1,058km southwest to Salalah, Oman's second largest city which is also Khalid's hometown . In Salalah, I met Khalid's friends Khalid al-Rawas ( yes, there are two Khalids :D ) and Mr. Ahmed Umar.
I have traveled to many countries around the world , mostly accompanying my father who had to attend some conference and seminars abroad, I must admit that Oman is the only country that has captured all my attention.


A very developed and prosperous nation

Oman is a very prosperous nation. The people enjoy very high standards of living. Many of them live in big and luxurious houses, they are all huge and gorgeous :banana: . They all drive posh and very attractive cars, I did not spot any dilapidated cars on the streets. Roads and highways in Oman are fantastic ( look very similar to highways in Malaysia but Omanis drive on the right :D ). I have been to many developed countries where hundreds of beggars and the homeless asking for money on the streets. But in Oman there is almost no visible poverty at all. Only the last time when I was in Muscat I confronted an expat asking for my voluntary donation to help his family back home out of financial troubles, and he asked me in a very respectable way :) . The Omani government really cares about the welfare of its people


Oman's total land area is 301,000 square kms which is almost similar to Malaysia's 330,000 sq km. However, the population of Oman is only 1.9 million compared to Malaysia's 28.2 million. There are about 600 000 foreign expats in Oman, they are mostly from Subcontinent, and they make up almost half of Oman's total workforce.


The first thing which comes first in judging a country is the people. Omani people are extremely friendly . When I took bus from Dubai to Muscat, the bus driver and his cousin who was also there greeted all tourists inside and they end up chatting with me ( I sat on the 1st row ) for 5 hours until reaching Muscat . Another scene: On the return bus trip from Salalah to Muscat, I spent hours of friendly conversations with a group of young Omani passengers. They even paid everything for my lunch when the bus made a brief stop in Hayma after 5 hours of journey from Salalah.


35 years ago, Oman was an extremely poor country :ohno: . In 1970, there were only three schools in Oman ! Life expectancy at that time was only 46. However, under wise leadership of Sultan Qaboos, Oman has grown so tremendously , from a very poor and disease-infested into a very developed country. Per-capita income, measured by Purchasing Power value, stood at $ 18,800 last year. Poverty rate is almost zero. It is a peaceful land-- where crime rarely happens and incidents of rape and murder are almost unknown. I feel very secured to walk alone even in the most secluded streets of Muscat.


Oman is a very beautiful country, with impressive landscapes which combine pristine beaches, lush-green plantations, and wonderful hills that will impress every visitor to here.
The beaches in Oman , especially in the Arabian Sea coast , are crystal-clear and lovely. I visited many beaches in Salalah and was very impressed. They are all comparable to Phuket, Bali, and the Carribeans. One question in mind-- why doesn't the Omani tourism authority publicize their fantastic beaches, it would surely boost the tourism sector of Oman. In 2006, there were 1.4 million tourists visiting Oman, mostly from Germany and GCC countries.


Islam is the national religion, but Omanis respect everyone regardless of their religions. One Finnish lady I met inside the bus said '' I have never been to a country where people know so many things about our country and to talk in our language ''. I am agree 200 % to what this Finnish lady said. One unique characteristic of Omani people is that they are very curious and very knowledgeable about many cultures which surely surprises every visitor. My Omani friend, Khalid Salim who is taking Japanese lesson , calls all his friends in the Japanese pronounciation ( Khalid becomes Ka-lee-do , fawwaz becomes fa-waa-zo ) and even everybody in his circle calling each other in the Japanese slang. Exciting !


How come such a very conservative and very reserved society ( most Omani men wear their traditional dress called dishdasha while the women don their traditional abayas , on the streets ! ) are so open and amazingly well-informed about other cultures ? Magic !


I left Oman with heavy heart :( Although nine days is short, I had my most memorable days in my life in this fantastic country. Oman is very different from all countries that I visited. I have to say that I found many '' major faulsities '' ( I will describe it under request ) in all countries that I've been, but this is not the case for Oman ( and the UAE ). This is definitely the best and the greatest country I've ever been. '' Those who has never been to Oman absolutely miss the best which this world could offer ''. I already called Oman my 2nd home and I will definitely not thinking twice once I get offer to work or to live in Oman :)


From Dubai to Muscat

I traveled by bus from my hometown in Malaysia to Singapore, catching Singapore Airlines SQ490 to Dubai then I traveled by bus from Dubai to Muscat. The journey from Dubai to Muscat takes 5 hours.


Look at the quality of roads in UAE ! I passed through many 8-lane-highways on the way from Dubai up to Oman border.

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Oman is only 45 minutes away!

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Still in UAE

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This is Oman

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This is Sohar, the first major Omani town after crossing the border. Sohar was once voted as the most beautiful city in the Middle East. It is believed that Sindbad the Sailor was born here.

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The most famous supermarket chain in Oman, LuLu :D
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Finally reaching Muscat. Oman has excellent highways. Driving is so easy.

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Oman Map
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Muscat

I stayed with my Omani friend Khalid Salim al-Shanfari in his apartment in Al-Khuwair township in Muscat. He is originally from Salalah but now he is in Muscat to serve National Statistical Dept. As I said before Muscat is a lovely place to live-- very relaxed, charming, a great combination of old and new. Al-Khuwair where I stayed is a nice suburb ( it looks almost similar to Shah Alam city where Im from ) with superb landscape on the foothill of Hajar Mountains.

Muscat has the population of 350 000 ( in city area which stretches from Qurayyat in the south to Seeb in the north, Al-Khuwair included　) while the whole of Muscat governorate has a total of nearly 1 million. Half of Omani populations live in Muscat governorate, leaving the rest of Oman's massive soil very scarcely inhabited. ( Oman's second largest city Salalah has only 150 000 inhabitants )


I am right in the middle of Muscat. ( with Old Muscat town behind )
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Houses in Muscat.

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This is snapped in Al-Khuwair are where I stayed. This is a ''middle-class'' area of Muscat.

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Very fantastic '' middle class'' Omani housing with great Omani infrastructure.

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Me and Khalid in front of fish shop :D Really great times spent with him in both Muscat and Salalah. We talked over many issues, and he presented such a great introduction to Oman and Omani traditions. He is a very all-rounder ( meaning he is very knowledgeable and is capable of doing various things ) -- can become good friend to my sister ( an all rounder too...of course, she's the college debator ).

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A huge mosque in Al-Khuwair

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We went to Muscat City Centre Mall at night. Look at how the majority of Omanis dressed when outing. The traditional Omani men attire is called ''dishdasha'' while ladies wear "abaya" or black robe. Every Omani government staff must wear dishdasha to work. Don't look at how they dressed-- in general Omani people speak perfect English and they are the society with the most knowledgeable about other cultures I've ever known.

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This is part of ''Omanization'' campaign.

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Souvenir for mommy :D

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Me standing towards Al Khuwair and the mountains

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Again, Omani impressive housing !

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A street in Muscat

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Ibn al-Naamani, probably the most famous tailor shop in Oman :D

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Muscat

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I like this tree very much :D

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Ruwi Mosque

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Muscat to Salalah

After 2 nights in Muscat, I traveled with Khalid to Salalah, Oman's second biggest city. Salalah is 1058 km from Muscat. We initially planned to fly ( Muscat -Salalah by Oman Air takes only 1 hr 15 minutes ). However, the fare is too high ( 37 Omani rials one-way ) so we finally ended up on bus. The journey by bus from Muscat to Salalah takes 12 hours and costs only 6 Omani rials. The bus made brief stops in bigger cities in between , namely Nizwa and Hayma. We had our dinner in Hayma ( there are many Indian shops offering tasty biryani ).


Just before departure :D
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The first 188 km stretch from Muscat to Nizwa is done by dual carriageway, but the final 870km from Nizwa to Salalah is totally by two-lane tarmac route.


Oman Map
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Salalah

In Salalah, we met another 2 friends, Mr Khalid al-Rawas ( yes, now there are two Khalids ! :D ) and Mr Ahmed Umar. Miss them really after a year of separation. They ( the two Khalids and Ahmed ) are extremely warm and friendly and Im really happy to meet them again. . For those who wish to visit Oman and to get a local guide, please send me a private message. I will inform Mr Khalid al-Rawas ( he works in Oman Ministry of Tourism and he welcomes all ).

For me, Salalah is the most interesting part of Oman. It is the most exciting and the most beautiful city with the most remarkable moments I've ever experienced in my life.

Salalah is only a small city with 150 000 people, making it the second most populous in Oman. The city centre is small with typical Omani low-rise shophouses and supermarkets more than adequate enogh to serve its relatively small population. It is a very huge city where its small population scattered so far away against each other inside the city limit.

Like Muscat, Salalah is served by powerful infrastructure and the people enjoy very high quality of living. Everywhere you go in Salalah you will find many luxurious , castle-look houses-- almost similar to Muscat. Industries are growing-- there is a huge steel industrial area in Raysut which provides massive employment. Salalah port is the world's fastest growing port.


friendship forever ! ( its me and my Omani friend Khalid al-Rawas) :)

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Its me in downtown Salalah :D

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A residential area in Salalah

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This is me and Khalid Salim in a Salalah beach

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This is me and Khalid al-Rawas somewhere near Taqah 30minutes from Salalah

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Ahmed, Khalid, and me ( on Ahmed's car !). We really had nice time together in Salalah. I stayed in Ahmed's home and we watched horror movie '' The 13th Warrior '' that night ( I really couldn't stand horror scenes :drool: but Ahmed keep laughing and laughing while watching it :lol: I feel like :bash: :bash: :D ) I really enjoy talking with Ahmed-- he is a man full of wisdom and it's very difficult to find this remarkable ''wise and peaceful'' character back home :) One of his favourite is fishing and he only uses simple tool ( thin rope tied on cardboard paper ) as hook, but very effective. I was really eager to follow him to camp in a fishing ground in As-Shuwaimiyah around 250km from Salalah if I had stayed longer in Salalah. Khalid is extremely warm and friendly, we had our meals together, we took rest together, we visited many of Salalah's '' balconies '' together. He really understands well what I really do like . For example, when he first took me to the viewing point heading Salalah port, I was very impressed and wish to return back again another day ( but didn't tell him so ). And yes, the next day I was brought again and so did the third day. Everybody in Salalah seems to be modest and humble, modern and luxurious lifestyles fixed perfectly with impressive traditional Omani architectural wonders and local traditions--definitely an example for us to emulate.

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Al-Baleed Archeological centre, Salalah

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We made a detour from the main route

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Salalah-Mirbat road.

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A beach in Salalah Hilton hotel

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Wonderful view in Khowr Ruri UNESCO archeological site near Salalah.

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Approaching the sea

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Road in Salalah
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Taqah Castle, 32 km from Salalah

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The aerial view of Taqah town, near Salalah.

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Samharam ''balcony'' in Salalah. '' Balcony''-- that's how people in Salalah describe the place where spectacular sceneries can be viewed from the higher ground. There are plenty of '' Balcony'' in Salalah. I have been to nearly 10 of them :D

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Me and Khalid ( al-Rawas ) :)

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Khalid in traditional Omani dress -- the dishdasha is worn by almost every men in all Gulf states, but the hat is very unique to Oman. ( I can simply distinguish between Omani and Emirati by the type of hat they use :) . It is impressive that Omani people ( the two Khalids and Ahmed are typical examples ) are proud of their traditional dress but very global-minded. Ask them about any issues or what they know about any particular contries/cultures, and they will give almost a perfect answer. Shame that many do not know about Oman whereas Omani people know many things about others . This is an example to emulate.
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Another ''balcony'' in Salalah. This is just near Salalah port

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Me standing in one of the many ''Balconies'' of Salalah, heading towards the lovely Arabian Sea.

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In Salalah town.. That's Khalid (al-Rawas)' car-- Japanese cars are so popular in Oman.

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Me and Ahmed in Nabi Ayub tomb.

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Flowers on Dhofar/Salalah mountain range

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Me trying Salalah coconuts:D

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Taking ablution for prayer

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In Taqa town. The town is very quiet, peaceful, but very prosperous .

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We traveled off-track again

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Beautiful Salalah mountains

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Another ''Balcony '' !

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This is the road from Salalah heading towards Yemen. Me and Ahmed are on the way to Al-Maghsayl , a very popular beach among Salalah resident ( 40 km west of central Salalah )

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Salalah-Al Maghsayl road

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Al-Maghsayl-- very beautiful beach with crystal-clear water but we arrived too late :(

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A balcony in Al-Maghsayl, overlooking the lovely Arabian Sea. This is truly a paradise !

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In another ''balcony ''

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The beaches in Salalah are so gorgeous and so crystal !

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Me and Khalid in Nabi Syuaib tomb

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Me in Salalah airport. There are 3 flights a day to Muscat by Oman Air on B737.

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Hehehe.. friendship forever !

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in Salalah town

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Our new friend Abdul Hameed, in a souq in Salalah. Didn't meet him the previous year. He took me to several places in Salalah by his car , a great pleasure to meet him :)

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After 5 nights in Salalah, I returned to Muscat :D

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Omani food

Oman is a food paradise. The food is sooo tasty -- there are variety of Omani cuisine but others like Indian, Chinese, selections of fast food is widely available. One thing I notice in Oman is that many restaurants ( even the lower-ranking restaurants ) offer home delivery. This already explains why life in Oman is so easy.

Omani staple dish is rice, which is usually served by beef or chicken side dishes. And they are sooo delicious. Compared to Malaysian/Singaporean dish, Omani food is served in huge portion and the rice must be flavoured by spices ( In Oman, white rice is very uncommon ).


This is the lunch I had with Khalid.

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Omani seaffod dish-- fried cuttlefish, fish curry with Omani chapati

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This is local sweet in Salalah which I had in Ahmed's house.

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Breakfast in Khalid's house

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Our lunch

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1310.jpg




Pics from my previous trip in Feb 2006

In Nizwa, the " Magic Town " of Oman. There are many people in Nizwa that believe in magic.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00587.jpg


Wildlife Sancturary near Wadi Darbat, Salalah.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00576.jpg


In front of Nizwa Castle

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00585.jpg


Jabal Akhdar ( Green Mountain ) near Nizwa.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman2.jpg


Me in Jabal Akhdar

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman4.jpg

Nice to hear :)
any pics?

Oops... maayan... sorry.. now you can see my pics. I have dozens ( actually hundreds ) of pics, but due to some technical problem I will post them later :)

Kool pics man.. But why are they so squished? :?

I haven't seen many pics of Oman around here really... exept for the Muscat thread of course..

Nice pics, It's the first time I see pics of Oman
Post more :okay:

man thanks alot eh bro? justt?? too mch gravity or what ? ( i know that was cheezyy :D) they are squished

fantastic scenery and climate and culture, peacful as i can see

post some more! please and tahnk you!

you richh rich lucky guy ;) travel the world

:okay:

oman looks so peaceful

OMG Oh thanks Mahdial, Yemeni Guy, Maayan..

I made a big mistake... I should process the pics again in IrfanView and get the right size...:banana:

^^ please call me Mahdi or Mehdi

no problem mate!:okay:

Oh.. sorry Shugs.. I forget to mention ya.... Thanks Shugs for your support :banana: . I have hundreds more but now I am not at home ( in my cousin's house ) and something wrong with her PC ! Will continue posting ( and repairing the existent images too by Irfanview ) once I return home.


Mahdi... :banana:.. hehehe.. are you from Iran ? Oman is very wonderful country, the best country I've ever been to be honest. Muscat-- the most beautiful and well-ordered capital city I have ever known. The people are damn hospitable and friendly ! Come on,, Im not rich yeaa... my dad got 1st class ticket from his college and he exchanged into 3 economy class which explains why me and my sister were able to join him.... and the trip to Oman only using frequent flyer programme by Singapore Airlines...

^^ :yes:

100% and PROUD PeRsIaN MaFiA

;)

NiCe PiCs Mate ^_^...I wanna c more pics of SaLaLah ..^_^

skyprince, great pictures of Salalah, a nice country! :cheers: Hope to see more, though:) (Salalah, Muscat pics, highways, souks etc.) Looking forward to it!:)

I understand now why you like that country so much!

Oh greaat Mahdi :banana: I would like to go to Iran to. Bandar Abbas is only within 1 hr from Dubai or Muscat.

Emirati Girl, yes thats right Salalah is very famous among Gulf citizens as it provides " temporary shelter " for them to escape the unbearable heat in the Summer. There is almost no sunshine in Salalah for 3 months ( it enjoys tropical climate during this 3-month Khereef season ).

Matthias.. I know that you like Oman too :banana: The weird thing is, how come such a very touristy place with one of the friendliest people in the planet is unknown to many. I have many pics of Omani roads , highways, souks,and city pics, but I will post them once I return home next Thursday. Now I only have my personal pics with Omani frens.


Oman Map
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman.gif

I am right in the middle of Muscat. ( with Old Muscat town behind )
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman5.jpg





In Nizwa, the " Magic Town " of Oman. There are many people in Nizwa that believe in magic.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00587.jpg






Wildlife Sancturary near Wadi Darbat, Salalah.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00576.jpg



In front of Nizwa Castle

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00585.jpg





Muscat

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00609.jpg





Jabal Akhdar ( Green Mountain ) near Nizwa.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman2.jpg





Me in Jabal Akhdar

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman4.jpg




Al-Mughsayl ( 45 km from Salalah ), overlooking the lovely Arabian Sea.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman6.jpg

MANY more pics will come ! :banana:

great great pictures!! Those mud looking houses are just lovely!

SECONDED NADINIII


great pics mate!! thanks alot! please, DO post more

:D:okay:

Great pics Skyprince:)

Sorry guyz for late reply ! My computer ( sorry..my cousin's computer ) didnt work.

great great pictures!! Those mud looking houses are just lovely!

Thanks a lot Nadini ! Ive also seen many pics of Lebanese houses, they are very impressive. Oman has warm climate throughout the year, contrasting with Lebanese mixed Mediterranean weather, and bricks usually make it cool inside.



SECONDED NADINIII


great pics mate!! thanks alot! please, DO post more



Wow, thanks for your support Mahdi, more and more pics ( dozens of them ) will come this Thursday ins/llah



Great pics Skyprince

Thanks Greg, there are many Swiss tourists in Oman, in fact there is direct flight from Zurich straight into Muscat ! There were 1.4 million tourists visiting Oman in 2006, the biggest group is German. But I found Swiss, Swedes, and Austrians almost everywhere in Muscat, Salalah, and Nizwa.

Thanx man keep em coming...Oman is certainly one of those hidden treasures of the world.

Oman is a truly beautiful country !

Thanks Wild El-Bahrain and Maltaboy ! Oman is truly an interesting country , a must-visit destination, I already regard Oman as my 2nd home !

Now I have returned home, so as promised, here are the pictures

From Dubai to Muscat

I took bus from my home in Malaysia to Singapore, from Changi Airport I flew by Singapore Airlines to Dubai, then from Dubai to Muscat by bus.
Dubai to Muscat is a 480 km-journey and it takes about 5 hours. Both UAE and Oman have superb road conditions. Roads are all well-maintained and driver-friendly. It is impressive to know that Oman, which 30 years ago an extremely poor country without proper connections between cities, has grown tremendously with excellent and smart road networks.


Taken from inside bus. Still in UAE
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1212.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1211.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1216.jpg


Another 40 minutes to Oman border !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1218.jpg


Still in UAE

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1223.jpg


This is in Oman !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1229.jpg


In Sohar, the capital city of Oman's industrial governorate of Al-Battinah.
Sohar has been voted as the most beautiful city in the Middle East not a long while ago.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1230.jpg


Sohar
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1231.jpg


Lulu Hypermarket in Sohar. Lulu is apparently the biggest supermarket chain in Oman . It is owned by an Indian tycoon.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1233.jpg


After 5 hr trip, I arrived in Muscat !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1234.jpg


Muscat

Muscat is the capital city of Oman, the population is about 940 000 for the whole Muscat Governorate while 350 000 live in Muscat metro area. Muscat is the most impressive and the most beautiful capital city I've ever been. It is impeccably clean, streets are wide, well-ordered, almost every highways/dual carriageways in Muscat are beautified with colourful flowers and trees all along its way. I stayed with my Omani friend Khalid Salim al-Shanfari in his house in Al-Khuwair area, which is about 25 km from central Muscat.


Residential area in Muscat ( in Qurum ). Look at the architecture ! Omani architecture is impressive ! ( thats why I will bring my sister who is studying Architecture in my next visit to Oman ! :banana:) And look at their size ! This is only a "Middle Class" area of Muscat.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1235.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1236.jpg


This is residential area in Al-Khuwair , Muscat. Khalid lives here and I stayed in his house for 3 nights before leaving for Salalah. Al-Khuwair is located on higher ground, so I could see Gulf of Oman from his house.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1240.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1241.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1242.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1243.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1247.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1254.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1257.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1275.jpg





I went to Al-Quds area in Muscat . This is where Khalid lives when he was studying in the nearby Sultan Qaboos University ( SQU ) which is the largest university in Oman.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1259.jpg


Khalid has many friends. Abdullah is one of them. This is my pic with him in front of Muscat Bakery restaurant where we had dinner together.
It costs RO 0.250 ( $ 0.75 ) for Chicken Burger .

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1265.jpg


Fish store in Al-Quds

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1266.jpg


Look at the clean footpath in Al-Quds. Oman is very clean and free from serious air, waste, and sound pollution. I am a fussy traveller especially when it comes to cleanliness.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1267.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1268.jpg


Muscat City Centre Mall. It is a 4-storey mall with Carrefour as the main store.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1272.jpg


Omanis are very proud of their products. Look at what I saw in one of the shelf. Omani government has launched "Omanization" programme to strengthen the Omani identity through its products and to instill self-esteem and confidence among all Omani citizens to be proud of their country.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1270.jpg


I bought this for baby brother

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1273.jpg



Muscat streets

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1276.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1277.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1278.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1279.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1280.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1281.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1282.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1283.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1284.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1285.jpg




Stay tune for more and more pictures !

Nice pictures, looking forward to more...

fantastic pictures mate! im looking forward to more and more as well

thanks alot

those villas are huge!

Skyprince, excellent pictures!:applause: :applause: :applause: And it is very nice of you to have given some background information on the places you have visited. Looking forward to more:)

From Muscat to Salalah

After 2 nights in Muscat, I depart to Khalid's hometown, Salalah.
Salalah is Oman's second largest city. ( pop 170 000 ).
Muscat to Salalah by bus takes 12 hours, the distance is about 1053 km.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman/IMG_1287.jpg



Salalah

Salalah is very quiet town, for me the best town in Oman

In a looking point in Salalah. The Arabian Sea coast is soo lovely !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01003.jpg

Me in a Salalah beach ( only 15 minutes away from the city centre ). The water is so crystal clear and perfect for swimming !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01005.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01004.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01007.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01015.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01018.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01020.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01009.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01001.jpg






In Khowr Ruri looking point/Archeological site in Salalah
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00895.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00884.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00887.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00889.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00890.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00897.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00898.jpg


A restaurant in Salalah

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00912.jpg


Khowr Ruri beach, Salalah
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00917.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00923.jpg


Two Khalids in Khowr Ruri beach. Really a lovely moment with them !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00919.jpg


At night we met another friend Abdel Hameed. We are having supper .
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00955.jpg






http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00901.jpg



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00696.jpg

Upon arrival Khalid's friend Khalid al-Rawas invited us to his home. He prepared a huge lunch for us !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00645.jpg


Me and Khalid al-Rawas in Prophet Salih tomb in Salalah.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00663.jpg

Me and my host Khalid Salim/ Al-shanfari

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00692.jpg

We went to Al-Baleed Archeological Site in the afternoon. Al-Baleed served as the main port linking Salalah and outside world in the past.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00706.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00709.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00723.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00724.jpg

From Muscat to Salalah

Me and Khalid al-Rawas in Prophet Salih tomb in Salalah.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC00663.jpg



why that tomb is that long ?

it belongs to a very tall person?

why that tomb is that long ?

Yes, people in the past used to be very very tall. If you look at Prophet Abraham (PBUH)'s footprint in Makkah, you will see its really huge.

Casa and Yemeni_Guy, as Halawala said , people in the past used to be very very tall. Even the coffin is about 10 metres long.

I have been trying to find out which Prophets originated from each ME country , any idea where could i get the source ?

Anyway, I really would like to highlight this pic. I damn like it !!

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/DSC01003.jpg

Skyprince, nice pics again, but I imagined Salalah to be more green. It was always advertized as a tropical gateway of the Arabian Peninsula.

Skyprince, nice pics again, but I imagined Salalah to be more green. It was always advertized as a tropical gateway of the Arabian Peninsula

Halawala, No... Salalah enjoys monsoon season for only 4 months of a year which is from June up to September.

And I traveled on last month which is February..so the climate is similar to Muscat and other regions.

In short, Salalah is brown from October to May but in June everything turns into green and it remains tropical like malasya till October.

And there is no sun for the whole 3 months during that Khereef/Tropical/Monsoon season !

http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/l/8/84413-salalah-green-salalah-oman.jpg

http://www.bahraintravel.com.bh/Images%20BIT%20web/Oman%20salalah%20Greenland.jpg

http://www.jefflindsay.com/gif/dhofar2.jpg

http://lexicorient.com/e.o/ill/dhofar02.jpg

Beautiful photos... Many thanks. :)

Btw. with some grass and trees, Muscat would be amazingly beautiful.

very impressive

Good job Skyprince.. informative thread

Yes, people in the past used to be very very tall. If you look at Prophet Abraham (PBUH)'s footprint in Makkah, you will see its really huge.
If that's true, how come then none of the Archaeologists have found any human skeleton taller than normal height!

:lo: Skyprince your like asleep in half of the pics ;)

lol man thanks alot for that update, FANTASTIC thread

thanks a million bro

:okay:

nice pics man

looking forward to more-j/k

Casa and Yemeni_Guy, as Halawala said , people in the past used to be very very tall. Even the coffin is about 10 metres long.

I have been trying to find out which Prophets originated from each ME country , any idea where could i get the source ?

Anyway, I really would like to highlight this pic. I damn like it !!

thanks for the information , i found in the internet the picture of the tombs of many prophets and almost all of them are 10 meter long . but also i found that the tomb that you posted is the tomb of prophet Imran not Saleh, the tomb of saleh is not in salalah , but in a city 200 km far from it

anyway thanks for the pics , it made me curious about oman which i didn't know anything about it and which i always imagined as a desert.
now i know that in there ,there is the best Frankincense or luban . also there are alot of coconut and banana palms, and that you can enjoy the best sea food
i hope one i ll have to visit there


but i m curious to know if the beaches there are open for swiming to both sexes like in dubai or it just for men. and how is the mentality there more like dubai, bahrain or like saudia

Yes, people in the past used to be very very tall. If you look at Prophet Abraham (PBUH)'s footprint in Makkah, you will see its really huge.

Only in religious books. :lol: I remember my imam who tried to persuade me that one prophet lived for 1200 y and was like 15 m tall. :lol: When I said that's bullsh*t (in a more polite way), he kicked me out of class. :nuts:

Skyprince very informative and brilliant pictures of a beautiful country. :cheers: :)

But I can´t believe that someone is lying in that grave. Nobody can be so tall!
There weren´t any giants alive. Maybe he was a hugelyl respected and adored person that´s why he was given such a very long and gorgeous grave!:)

Only in religious books. :lol: I remember my imam who tried to persuade me that one prophet lived for 1200 y and was like 15 m tall. :lol: When I said that's bullsh*t (in a more polite way), he kicked me out of class. :nuts:

Well, its true. Why is so funny? In the past they were very tall.

Beautiful photos... Many thanks.

Btw. with some grass and trees, Muscat would be amazingly beautiful.

Thanks Gamayun, Muscat enjoys desert climate, however there is serious beautification progress under way. Colourful flowers dot the main highway connectiong Muscat and Seeb.
Anyway, do you know how to pronounce Muscat correctly ? It was a trivial matter for me before my first encounter with an Omani , I always thought that it should be pronounced as " Must-cat " but actually it is " Must- qaat "

If that's true, how come then none of the Archaeologists have found any human skeleton taller than normal height!

Thanks to you Lirtain, Khalid informed to me that people in the past had huge physics, will try again to confirm on it.


lo: Skyprince your like asleep in half of the pics

lol man thanks alot for that update, FANTASTIC thread

thanks a million bro



Muahahaha lol Mahdi... really, the journey from Muscat to Salalah ( 12 hours by bus with two meal stops --imagine a bus trip Tehran - Bandar Abbas which is almost similar to Muscat-Salalah :banana: ) makes me too exhausted and jet-lagged. I am not the one who can sleep on bus/plane..


nice pics man

looking forward to more-j/k

There are regular bus services from Salalah to Yemen ( Al-Mukalla/10 hr-trip, Aden/21-hrs but still no bus to Sanaa ) by Gulf Transport Co/. However the entrance fee for Yemen via Salalah border is 21 Omani Rials / $ 60 per person is too pricey. I dont understand on why Oman and Yemen do not have good connections. There is no commercial flight from Muscat to Sanaa. Both Yemenia and Gulfair fly to Jordan, Lebanon etc, but do not fly between Oman and Yemen :(

thanks for the information , i found in the internet the picture of the tombs of many prophets and almost all of them are 10 meter long . but also i found that the tomb that you posted is the tomb of prophet Imran not Saleh, the tomb of saleh is not in salalah , but in a city 200 km far from it

anyway thanks for the pics , it made me curious about oman which i didn't know anything about it and which i always imagined as a desert.
now i know that in there ,there is the best Frankincense or luban . also there are alot of coconut and banana palms, and that you can enjoy the best sea food
i hope one i ll have to visit there


but i m curious to know if the beaches there are open for swiming to both sexes like in dubai or it just for men. and how is the mentality there more like dubai, bahrain or like saudia

Wow very nice findings Casa :banana:

My bad, its actually not Salih, but Prophet Shuaib ( always confuse about them )

Salalah is the main producer of Frankincense in the Middle East. The trade of Frankincense started centuries ago. Almost everyone in Salalah burn frankicense in their homes, so if you visit any homes in Salalah you will smell a great fragrance almost everywhere inside. I really miss the aromatic smell until today ( because back home we dont use that ). Initially I thought that Frankincense has the same effects like cigarettes, however when my Omani friend explained to me than I get informed that the smoke from frankincence helps to smoothen respiratory system and other medicinal values. It has no bad implications at all.

Salalah has extremely nice beaches and they are open to everyone. I strongly reccommend a beach near Salalah Port. Gorgeous ( I've already posted my pics there ). Oman is one of the most successful nations to combine old and new. Omani people, though conservative in dress and actions, are very modern-minded and open to any external customs.


Skyprince very informative and brilliant pictures of a beautiful country.


Thanks Matthias. Anyway, why don't you travel to Oman ? My friend in Salalah can show you around there.

Lovely pictures!
I hear that Oman is fantastic!

Hope to visit it sometime! :)

Lovely pictures!
I hear that Oman is fantastic!

Hope to visit it sometime!


Oman is just at your doorstep, Susan :banana:

But I dont understand one thing, why the airfares inside Middle East is incredibly high ??
My friend told me that it is cheaper for Omanis to travel 1 week to Thailand compared to 1 week in Qatar or Bahrain ( inclusive of air ticket, accommodation, sightseeing, etc ).

Domestic airfares in Oman is very expensive too. Muscat to Salalah one-way ticket costs around $ 105 ( 90-minute journey ). Travelling by bus is only $ 15 but you need to have enough courage to stand the exhaustive 12-hr trip.

Well, its true. Why is so funny? In the past they were very tall.

Because, if someone is 10 meters tall he must be far wider than average man. I don't think someone with 7 meters in legs would be able to stand. And at pic posted width of the grave is just normal.

Someone said that the grave is long to show how important and well respected the man was. I agree with him.

Btw. is there any verse in Qur'an or hadith (sahih) to confirm the "tall men" theory?

^^ there is no proof that this grave belongs to a prophet.

but i m curious to know if the beaches there are open for swiming to both sexes like in dubai or it just for men. and how is the mentality there more like dubai, bahrain or like saudia

I can't judge the mentality of the people but they're extremely friendly. The people dress very conservatively esp. the women but foreigners don't have to follow a dress code. Btw, at the Oman state university there's a dress code for the students (bpth male and female) and the female students aren't allowed to leave the dorms if they're not accompanied by a male relative-even the graduate students.

Thanks Matthias. Anyway, why don't you travel to Oman ? My friend in Salalah can show you around there.

I´d really love to ...but your friend doesn´t know or has never talked to me. I am sure that he wouldn´t like that ´cos I am a total stranger!:dunno:

Thanks Matthias. Anyway, why don't you travel to Oman ? My friend in Salalah can show you around there.

Skyprince, I´d really love to ...but your friend doesn´t know or has never talked to me. I am sure that he wouldn´t like that ´cos I am a total stranger!:dunno:

Skyprince, I´d really love to ...but your friend doesn´t know or has never talked to me. I am sure that he wouldn´t like that ´cos I am a total stranger!

Im sorry Matt for late reply , I just returned from Penang, spent a night with my Kenyan and Japanese friends there !

Actually my Omani friend in Salalah , Mr Khalid al-Rawas, works with Oman Ministry of Tourism. He really wants to meet more tourists ( I'm the first tourist he brought in) and he asked me to invite my friends and whoever I met on the net and interested to visit Oman to stay with him there :) . I can simply give you his contact number under your request:banana:

More pics will come but I have to fix some problems first.

^^ there is no proof that this grave belongs to a prophet.

I thought I'd never see a religious person saying something like that.

+###################

I thought I'd never see a religious person saying something like that.
1) Am not religious, I just believe in the fundamentals of Islam although not necessarily follow them.
2) There is no evidence whatsoever even from our Islamic sources that this grave is related to a prophet.

2) There is no evidence whatsoever even from our Islamic sources that this grave is related to a prophet.
but is is a great way to atract people to those places, like the musuem of topkapi , many people go there so see stuff of the prophet (pbuh)like his sword , his hair and so on , which i think most of them are fake, but still is a good way to attract more tourist to this musuem

Oman must be really nice! :)

I have already opened the new thread , since some of the pics here are of bad quality. ( Moderators--Im sorry, but really I think I should do this... )

I already uploaded great pictures with more detailed descriptions about Oman on the new thread, using my own words.

Thanks to all for your replies and support!

And sorry for the inconvenience :)

Simply amazing. I like all the Arab countries that made noticeable progress within a short amount of time and was fortunate enough to visit few of them. Unfortunately not Oman. I arrived at the Mascut airport last year on my way to a western country. Gulf Air, the carrier I was traveling with, issued me 24 hours transit visa but the immigration refused to honor that. Gulf Air agent and airport manager personally requested the head of immigration but after an hour long discussion failed to convince him that I had a return ticket and visa to the next destination and would continue my journey only after a short break. Ironically I visited Dubai and Bahrain in the same manner. I was being confined in the airport for more than 12 hours. I left the country after having a bad experience only because I hold Bangladesh passport.

Absolutely terrific! thx for sharing those pictures...A Moroccan friend of mine moved to Oman after getting his degree and got a job there and he simply loves the country and the people.

Here's a picture for Skyprince. Oman's embassy in Morocco:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/mounia/Agdal7055.jpg

Very impressive. Thanks PurpleDreams :) I thought that there are very few contacts between Oman and North African states. And the EMbassy of Oman in Rabat-- wow-- seems Oman is very serious in branding it's architectural wonders.

Anyway, seems like everyone sticks to this thread though I've opened the new one... so I'll move all the photos to here

In Samharam vista point, Salalah

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00873-1.jpg



Oman Map
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman.gif



Because the previous one has many bad-quality pics, I opened the new one :)
Oman in my own words


I traveled to Oman last month ( February 17 to 28, 2007 ) to visit my Omani friend, Khalid Salim in Muscat for three days before heading 1,058km southwest to Salalah, Oman's second largest city which is also Khalid's hometown . In Salalah, I met Khalid's friends Khalid al-Rawas ( yes, there are two Khalids :D ) and Mr. Ahmed Umar.
I have traveled to many countries around the world , mostly accompanying my father who had to attend some conference and seminars abroad, I must admit that Oman is the only country that has captured all my attention.


A very developed and prosperous nation

Oman is a very prosperous nation. The people enjoy very high standards of living. Many of them live in big and luxurious houses, they are all huge and gorgeous :banana: . They all drive posh and very attractive cars, I did not spot any dilapidated cars on the streets. Roads and highways in Oman are fantastic ( look very similar to highways in Malaysia but Omanis drive on the right :D ). I have been to many developed countries where hundreds of beggars and the homeless asking for money on the streets. But in Oman there is almost no visible poverty at all. Only the last time when I was in Muscat I confronted an expat asking for my voluntary donation to help his family back home out of financial troubles, and he asked me in a very respectable way :) . The Omani government really cares about the welfare of its people


Oman's total land area is 301,000 square kms which is almost similar to Malaysia's 330,000 sq km. However, the population of Oman is only 1.9 million compared to Malaysia's 28.2 million. There are about 600 000 foreign expats in Oman, they are mostly from Subcontinent, and they make up almost half of Oman's total workforce.


The first thing which comes first in judging a country is the people. Omani people are extremely friendly . When I took bus from Dubai to Muscat, the bus driver and his cousin who was also there greeted all tourists inside and they end up chatting with me ( I sat on the 1st row ) for 5 hours until reaching Muscat . Another scene: On the return bus trip from Salalah to Muscat, I spent hours of friendly conversations with a group of young Omani passengers. They even paid everything for my lunch when the bus made a brief stop in Hayma after 5 hours of journey from Salalah.


35 years ago, Oman was an extremely poor country :ohno: . In 1970, there were only three schools in Oman ! Life expectancy at that time was only 46. However, under wise leadership of Sultan Qaboos, Oman has grown so tremendously , from a very poor and disease-infested into a very developed country. Per-capita income, measured by Purchasing Power value, stood at $ 18,800 last year. Poverty rate is almost zero. It is a peaceful land-- where crime rarely happens and incidents of rape and murder are almost unknown. I feel very secured to walk alone even in the most secluded streets of Muscat.


Oman is a very beautiful country, with impressive landscapes which combine pristine beaches, lush-green plantations, and wonderful hills that will impress every visitor to here.
The beaches in Oman , especially in the Arabian Sea coast , are crystal-clear and lovely. I visited many beaches in Salalah and was very impressed. They are all comparable to Phuket, Bali, and the Carribeans. One question in mind-- why doesn't the Omani tourism authority publicize their fantastic beaches, it would surely boost the tourism sector of Oman. In 2006, there were 1.4 million tourists visiting Oman, mostly from Germany and GCC countries.


Islam is the national religion, but Omanis respect everyone regardless of their religions. One Finnish lady I met inside the bus said '' I have never been to a country where people know so many things about our country and to talk in our language ''. I am agree 200 % to what this Finnish lady said. One unique characteristic of Omani people is that they are very curious and very knowledgeable about many cultures which surely surprises every visitor. My Omani friend, Khalid Salim who is taking Japanese lesson , calls all his friends in the Japanese pronounciation ( Khalid becomes Ka-lee-do , fawwaz becomes fa-waa-zo ) and even everybody in his circle calling each other in the Japanese slang. Exciting !


How come such a very conservative and very reserved society ( most Omani men wear their traditional dress called dishdasha while the women don their traditional abayas , on the streets ! ) are so open and amazingly well-informed about other cultures ? Magic !


I left Oman with heavy heart :( Although nine days is short, I had my most memorable days in my life in this fantastic country. Oman is very different from all countries that I visited. I have to say that I found many '' major faulsities '' ( I will describe it under request ) in all countries that I've been, but this is not the case for Oman ( and the UAE ). This is definitely the best and the greatest country I've ever been. '' Those who has never been to Oman absolutely miss the best which this world could offer ''. I already called Oman my 2nd home and I will definitely not thinking twice once I get offer to work or to live in Oman :)


From Dubai to Muscat

I traveled by bus from my hometown in Malaysia to Singapore, catching Singapore Airlines SQ490 to Dubai then I traveled by bus from Dubai to Muscat. The journey from Dubai to Muscat takes 5 hours.


Look at the quality of roads in UAE ! I passed through many 8-lane-highways on the way from Dubai up to Oman border.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1211.jpg


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Oman is only 45 minutes away!

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Still in UAE

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This is Oman

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1229.jpg


This is Sohar, the first major Omani town after crossing the border. Sohar was once voted as the most beautiful city in the Middle East. It is believed that Sindbad the Sailor was born here.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1230.jpg


The most famous supermarket chain in Oman, LuLu :D
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1233.jpg


Finally reaching Muscat. Oman has excellent highways. Driving is so easy.

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http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1285.jpg


Oman Map
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman.gif



Muscat

I stayed with my Omani friend Khalid Salim al-Shanfari in his apartment in Al-Khuwair township in Muscat. He is originally from Salalah but now he is in Muscat to serve National Statistical Dept. As I said before Muscat is a lovely place to live-- very relaxed, charming, a great combination of old and new. Al-Khuwair where I stayed is a nice suburb ( it looks almost similar to Shah Alam city where Im from ) with superb landscape on the foothill of Hajar Mountains.

Muscat has the population of 350 000 ( in city area which stretches from Qurayyat in the south to Seeb in the north, Al-Khuwair included　) while the whole of Muscat governorate has a total of nearly 1 million. Half of Omani populations live in Muscat governorate, leaving the rest of Oman's massive soil very scarcely inhabited. ( Oman's second largest city Salalah has only 150 000 inhabitants )


I am right in the middle of Muscat. ( with Old Muscat town behind )
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http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/DSC00609.jpg


Houses in Muscat.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1235.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1236.jpg


This is snapped in Al-Khuwair are where I stayed. This is a ''middle-class'' area of Muscat.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1240.jpg


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1241.jpg



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http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1243.jpg



Very fantastic '' middle class'' Omani housing with great Omani infrastructure.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1247.jpg


Me and Khalid in front of fish shop :D Really great times spent with him in both Muscat and Salalah. We talked over many issues, and he presented such a great introduction to Oman and Omani traditions. He is a very all-rounder ( meaning he is very knowledgeable and is capable of doing various things ) -- can become good friend to my sister ( an all rounder too...of course, she's the college debator ).

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1266.jpg


A huge mosque in Al-Khuwair

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1244.jpg


We went to Muscat City Centre Mall at night. Look at how the majority of Omanis dressed when outing. The traditional Omani men attire is called ''dishdasha'' while ladies wear "abaya" or black robe. Every Omani government staff must wear dishdasha to work. Don't look at how they dressed-- in general Omani people speak perfect English and they are the society with the most knowledgeable about other cultures I've ever known.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1272.jpg


This is part of ''Omanization'' campaign.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1270.jpg


Souvenir for mommy :D

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1273.jpg


Me standing towards Al Khuwair and the mountains

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Again, Omani impressive housing !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1275.jpg


A street in Muscat

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http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1234.jpg


Ibn al-Naamani, probably the most famous tailor shop in Oman :D

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1289.jpg


Muscat

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1291.jpg


I like this tree very much :D

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1293.jpg


Ruwi Mosque

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1288.jpg



Muscat to Salalah

After 2 nights in Muscat, I traveled with Khalid to Salalah, Oman's second biggest city. Salalah is 1058 km from Muscat. We initially planned to fly ( Muscat -Salalah by Oman Air takes only 1 hr 15 minutes ). However, the fare is too high ( 37 Omani rials one-way ) so we finally ended up on bus. The journey by bus from Muscat to Salalah takes 12 hours and costs only 6 Omani rials. The bus made brief stops in bigger cities in between , namely Nizwa and Hayma. We had our dinner in Hayma ( there are many Indian shops offering tasty biryani ).


Just before departure :D
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1287.jpg

The first 188 km stretch from Muscat to Nizwa is done by dual carriageway, but the final 870km from Nizwa to Salalah is totally by two-lane tarmac route.


Oman Map
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/oman.gif


Salalah

In Salalah, we met another 2 friends, Mr Khalid al-Rawas ( yes, now there are two Khalids ! :D ) and Mr Ahmed Umar. Miss them really after a year of separation. They ( the two Khalids and Ahmed ) are extremely warm and friendly and Im really happy to meet them again. . For those who wish to visit Oman and to get a local guide, please send me a private message. I will inform Mr Khalid al-Rawas ( he works in Oman Ministry of Tourism and he welcomes all ).

For me, Salalah is the most interesting part of Oman. It is the most exciting and the most beautiful city with the most remarkable moments I've ever experienced in my life.

Salalah is only a small city with 150 000 people, making it the second most populous in Oman. The city centre is small with typical Omani low-rise shophouses and supermarkets more than adequate enogh to serve its relatively small population. It is a very huge city where its small population scattered so far away against each other inside the city limit.

Like Muscat, Salalah is served by powerful infrastructure and the people enjoy very high quality of living. Everywhere you go in Salalah you will find many luxurious , castle-look houses-- almost similar to Muscat. Industries are growing-- there is a huge steel industrial area in Raysut which provides massive employment. Salalah port is the world's fastest growing port.


friendship forever ! ( its me and my Omani friend Khalid al-Rawas) :)

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00693.jpg


Its me in downtown Salalah :D

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00786.jpg

A residential area in Salalah

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1306.jpg


This is me and Khalid Salim in a Salalah beach

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00863.jpg


This is me and Khalid al-Rawas somewhere near Taqah 30minutes from Salalah

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00857.jpg


Ahmed, Khalid, and me ( on Ahmed's car !). We really had nice time together in Salalah. I stayed in Ahmed's home and we watched horror movie '' The 13th Warrior '' that night ( I really couldn't stand horror scenes :drool: but Ahmed keep laughing and laughing while watching it :lol: I feel like :bash: :bash: :D ) I really enjoy talking with Ahmed-- he is a man full of wisdom and it's very difficult to find this remarkable ''wise and peaceful'' character back home :) One of his favourite is fishing and he only uses simple tool ( thin rope tied on cardboard paper ) as hook, but very effective. I was really eager to follow him to camp in a fishing ground in As-Shuwaimiyah around 250km from Salalah if I had stayed longer in Salalah. Khalid is extremely warm and friendly, we had our meals together, we took rest together, we visited many of Salalah's '' balconies '' together. He really understands well what I really do like . For example, when he first took me to the viewing point heading Salalah port, I was very impressed and wish to return back again another day ( but didn't tell him so ). And yes, the next day I was brought again and so did the third day. Everybody in Salalah seems to be modest and humble, modern and luxurious lifestyles fixed perfectly with impressive traditional Omani architectural wonders and local traditions--definitely an example for us to emulate.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00810.jpg



Al-Baleed Archeological centre, Salalah

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1317.jpg


We made a detour from the main route

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1341.jpg


Salalah-Mirbat road.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1342.jpg


A beach in Salalah Hilton hotel

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1325.jpg



Wonderful view in Khowr Ruri UNESCO archeological site near Salalah.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1343.jpg


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Approaching the sea

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Road in Salalah
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1309.jpg

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Taqah Castle, 32 km from Salalah

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00867.jpg


The aerial view of Taqah town, near Salalah.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00868.jpg



Samharam ''balcony'' in Salalah. '' Balcony''-- that's how people in Salalah describe the place where spectacular sceneries can be viewed from the higher ground. There are plenty of '' Balcony'' in Salalah. I have been to nearly 10 of them :D

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00875.jpg


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Me and Khalid ( al-Rawas ) :)

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00889.jpg


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Khalid in traditional Omani dress -- the dishdasha is worn by almost every men in all Gulf states, but the hat is very unique to Oman. ( I can simply distinguish between Omani and Emirati by the type of hat they use :) . It is impressive that Omani people ( the two Khalids and Ahmed are typical examples ) are proud of their traditional dress but very global-minded. Ask them about any issues or what they know about any particular contries/cultures, and they will give almost a perfect answer. Shame that many do not know about Oman whereas Omani people know many things about others . This is an example to emulate.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00980.jpg


Another ''balcony'' in Salalah. This is just near Salalah port

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00988.jpg


Me standing in one of the many ''Balconies'' of Salalah, heading towards the lovely Arabian Sea.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00997.jpg


In Salalah town.. That's Khalid (al-Rawas)' car-- Japanese cars are so popular in Oman.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC01049.jpg


Me and Ahmed in Nabi Ayub tomb.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC01062.jpg


Flowers on Dhofar/Salalah mountain range

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Me trying Salalah coconuts:D

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/DSC00777.jpg


Taking ablution for prayer

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In Taqa town. The town is very quiet, peaceful, but very prosperous .

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1335.jpg


We traveled off-track again

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Beautiful Salalah mountains

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Another ''Balcony '' !

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1340.jpg


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This is the road from Salalah heading towards Yemen. Me and Ahmed are on the way to Al-Maghsayl , a very popular beach among Salalah resident ( 40 km west of central Salalah )

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/Malaysianboy1/Oman2/Oman3/IMG_1362.jpg


Salalah-Al Maghsayl road

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Al-Maghsayl-- very beautiful beach with crystal-clear water but we arrived too late :(

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A balcony in Al-Maghsayl, overlooking the lovely Arabian Sea. This is truly a paradise !

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In another ''balcony ''

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The beaches in Salalah are so gorgeous and so crystal !

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Me and Khalid in Nabi Syuaib tomb

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Me in Salalah airport. There are 3 flights a day to Muscat by Oman Air on B737.

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Hehehe.. friendship forever !

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in Salalah town

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Our new friend Abdul Hameed, in a souq in Salalah. Didn't meet him the previous year. He took me to several places in Salalah by his car , a great pleasure to meet him :)

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After 5 nights in Salalah, I returned to Muscat :D

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Omani food

Oman is a food paradise. The food is sooo tasty -- there are variety of Omani cuisine but others like Indian, Chinese, selections of fast food is widely available. One thing I notice in Oman is that many restaurants ( even the lower-ranking restaurants ) offer home delivery. This already explains why life in Oman is so easy.

Omani staple dish is rice, which is usually served by beef or chicken side dishes. And they are sooo delicious. Compared to Malaysian/Singaporean dish, Omani food is served in huge portion and the rice must be flavoured by spices ( In Oman, white rice is very uncommon ).


This is the lunch I had with Khalid.

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Omani seaffod dish-- fried cuttlefish, fish curry with Omani chapati

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This is local sweet in Salalah which I had in Ahmed's house.

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Breakfast in Khalid's house

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Our lunch

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Pics from my previous trip in Feb 2006

In Nizwa, the " Magic Town " of Oman. There are many people in Nizwa that believe in magic.

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Wildlife Sancturary near Wadi Darbat, Salalah.

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In front of Nizwa Castle

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Jabal Akhdar ( Green Mountain ) near Nizwa.

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Me in Jabal Akhdar

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More pics

Omani dinner -- Mashed potato, chappati and Foul--mashed peas
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Supper-- Omani mini Chapatti

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This is where I sleep --Khalid's room :D

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My computer madness :D

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cooool pics Skyprince!!

the best time to visit Salalah is in August, it is completely green in that time.

btw, u posted the pics 3 times in this thread, i dunno why :lol:

^^^ I was think the same thing!! :hahaha:

You are being paid for this, Skyprince? :D

^^ always naughty.
really good job i like it alot, feels like saudi arabia but no gotra ,how is the climate btw, is it cooler?
u should get pictures of the ocean (arabian sea ).

cooool pics Skyprince!!

the best time to visit Salalah is in August, it is completely green in that time.

btw, u posted the pics 3 times in this thread, i dunno why :lol:

Thanks DG-- yeah the best time is in August, but then the hotel price will be up ! But accommodations in Salalah is relatively cheap compared to Muscat and the whole of UAE.

My mistake !!!

You are being paid for this, Skyprince? :D

Oh nooo.. of course not.... paid ?? by who ???? :D

^^ always naughty.
really good job i like it alot, feels like saudi arabia but no gotra ,how is the climate btw, is it cooler?
u should get pictures of the ocean (arabian sea ).
It depends, in Summer -- Muscat is hotter than any cities in Saudi Arabia ( that's what I heard from my Omani frens ) , but not as hot as Kuwait.
Salalah is tropical when Muscat is half-baked but then for the remaining 8 months it's semi-hot and dry.

OMG-- the Arabian Sea is very nice. Very romantic. It used to be a major sea route during the glorious days of Oman centuries before.

Oh nooo.. of course not.... paid ?? by who ???? :D
^^ by http://www.destinationoman.com/