2011 - My Tiki Tour (Part 4 - Muscat, Oman)

A few days in the capital of an amazing country.

Monday 21 February 2011 - Wednesday 23 February 2011
View 2011 tiki tour on nzhamsta's travel map.

Monday 21 February - An early start for the bus from Dubai to Muscat in Oman. It was an empty bus with only four passengers, an Omani businessman, an Indian guest worker who had been in Dubai, a person on a visa run to the border and back, and myself (the only tourist). If you are wanting to read about a dramatic bus ride with dodgy drivers and so on, you will be disappointed. It was an ordinary bus ride. The driver was very pleasant and he helped us through the various checkpoints (four of them, two passport controls, one Omani customs post and one internal UAE check point). It took about six hours to complete the journey.

The scenery was stunning. The first part, just out of Dubai was classic desert scenery, sand dunes, camels and so on. Once we crossed into Oman, the scenery changed to mountains and then to coastal plains and small towns.

The scenery on the way to Oman.

An afternoon walk around the Mutrah area of Muscat, followed by the cricket world cup and a beer completed the day.

Tuesday 22 February - A decent walk from the hotel down to the corniche (waterfront), along the corniche to the old town, past the Sultan's palace, a total of about 6 km. Got a bit sunburnt as well.

The Mutrah Fort overlooking the corniche.

The Mutrah Fort.

A dhow.

The Mutrah Mosque.

The Mutrah corniche.

The Muscat Gate Museum.

The Sultan's palace.

The Sultan's palace and the Al-Jalali Fort.

More cricket and a good Indian dinner completed the day.

Wednesday 23 February - Another day of wandering around and sorting out the bus ticket to Sur.
I wandered down to the corniche again in the evening. It looks spectacular in the evening with everything all lit up, especially if there are cruise ships anchored in the harbour.

The Mutrah Fort overlooking the corniche.