Please revisit this page often, since it will be updated as we take more pictures of the city where we live--the hardest thing of all to do since it's so easy to procrastinate.
The first picture shows a very small part of Muscat's loveliest and most popular beach at Qurm, which is five minutes walk from where we live. The sand extends for miles and miles up the coast. Even on Friday, the busiest day, it's relatively quiet since most Omanis don't seem to care much for swimming or sunbathing although families gather here. The municipality does a splendid job keeping it clean, and we have even seen workers sweeping sand off the new access road that parallels the beach. The second picture shows Qurm, one of the ritzier parts of Muscat, from the beach road.
Four other pictures show some of the dramatic landscapes near Muscat, which is situated between the sea and high mountains. This is a rugged land, and the aridity of the environment emphasizes the starkness and beauty of the mountains. The fifth picture shows a beautiful protected beach where there is a dive center. Anna and Alasdair clambered up the hill overlooking the bay for some lovely views of the coastline (sixth picture).
April 8, 2001
Muscat is beautifully landscaped, with the major highways flanked by flowers, shrubs, trees, and bright green grass. First impressions of the city coming in from the airport are highly favorable. All of this vegetation is immaculately maintained by legions of South Asian workers. The municipal water bill must be staggering. Muscat also imposes tight restrictions on architectural design (air conditioners must be covered with lattice screens, mobile radio towers are disguised to look like little old forts, outside advertising is strictly limited etc.). The result is a well-planned, efficient, modern, and visually appealing city. Pictures in the third row (and eighth row) show some of the housing in one of the most desirable neighborhoods. There are some enormous infrastructural developments and national projects underway, most notably the construction of Muscat's Grand Mosque, which is due to be completed in 2001 after years of work.
The fourth row has some pictures of Matrah, one of the metropolitan area's old cores, as well as the most interesting part of the city. Until 1970, this was about it! Matrah is well-preserved, and has some lovely old houses that show traditional architecture at its best, with great care given to designing coolness into the building. The corniche, or waterfront, of Muscat, is one of our favorite places to walk, and seems far away from the modern parts of the city where most people live (although it's no more than ten minutes' drive from our apartment). There is a wonderful fish market near one end of the waterfront with a huge variety of fish on display. Matrah also has a huge suq or market in the neighborhood behind the corniche. Said to be one of the best in the Arabian peninsula, it is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys with tiny shops. Great fun to explore! As you can see, we enjoy visiting markets of every description. Other markets around Muscat include a big Friday one in Ruwi, shown in one of the pictures. However, lest you get a false impression, Muscat has many shopping malls, all the usual fast food outlets (Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC, MacDonalds, etc) and supermarkets that are every bit as good, if not better, than the ones we are accustomed to at home. Muscat combines the old and the new in an appealing way. It's VERY comfortable to live here as an expatriate.
Also shown in row 7 is Ruwi, the commercial center of the city. It's hard to believe that in 1970, there was nothing here at all. The foreground is a wadi, or dry river bed, which after heavy rain is full of flood water. As well as being the business center, Ruwi is heavily Indian in its makeup, and a walk down some of the streets feels like a walk in an Indian city.
PLEASE CLICK TO ENLARGE AND SCROLL VERTICAL IMAGES
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