Salala, Oman, November 17
Off the ship today in Salala after 4 sea days. Lots of people were very pleased about that! Salala is probably not a place I’d come back to, it really doesn’t have much to offer although it is apparently a haven for local holiday makers. Is clean, and has lovely buildings, though not skyscrapers like we’ll see in the Emirates of course. Our tour was for about 5 hours, first stop at the Mosque. Our lovely guide demonstrated how he prays, and showed us copies of the Koran which can’t be touched unless by someone of Islam faith. Was a nice Mosque, much less busy than earlier ones.
Next stop was at the souk but that was disappointing - every shop, all outdoors, had pretty much the same stuff, and I doubt anyone bought a thing. Frankincense is a typical thing to but here as it only grows in three places, Oman, Sudan and Yemen!
Back on the bus we were driven over 20 kms to a beach - I reckon if we came back in 5 years it would be a beautiful resort but at the moment , aside from a beautiful white sandy beach, there’s nothing but hundreds of roaming camels, a restaurant, which looked iffy and a walk to the cave with other views of the ocean and blow holes. It was eyes down all the way side stepping the camel poo!!!! But, we all had a nice morning, most of us had a sleep on the bus and that’s another place to cross off the list!!!!
Salala is the third largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, with 350,000 people. It has a sub-tropical climate which allows it to grow bananas, coconut, papaya etc and we did see acres of bananas ready to be harvested. Salala has an international tourist economy with many Middle Eastern tourists during the Khareef season from June to September. This is apparently when the mountains turn green and there are many waterfalls to visit. There are four reputed tombs of Islamic Prophets including Nani Ayoob, the biblical Job! We were meant to see that tomb but it’s closed at the moment.
Off to dinner now to with a nice couple from Seattle. Both in their late 80’s.