Go with Henry: February 2012

Friday 10 February 2012

Muttrah Corniche views - my favourite spot in Muscat

English Teacher in Oman

Muscat

February 2012

Background

During our second teaching stint in Oman, we often made trips to Muscat to either go shopping or do sightseeing on weekend days when we longed for a break from rural Oman. We made regular trips to Seeb, to the Muscat City Center shopping mall, to buy things we weren't able to get at the rural shops in Rustaq or Al Musannah.

We made a couple of trips to Muttrah, a section of Muscat, where there is a corniche with great harbor views and a souq, surrounded by great restaurants and coffee shops. We first worked in Oman during 2008/2009 and during that time we fell in love with this spot.

On this particular trip, Ansu and I drove down from Al Musannah on a Friday afternoon to spend some time at Muttrah Corniche to appreciate the scenic views in Muttrah bay from the Corniche, and enjoy a meal at a coffee shop across from the corniche.

Ship & Dhow in Muttrah harbour

About Oman

Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country on the south-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Holding a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the country shares land borders with the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan.

From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar (today part of Tanzania, also former capital). As its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom.

Historically, Muscat was the principal trading port of the Persian Gulf region. Muscat was also among the most important trading ports of the Indian Ocean.

Oman is an absolute monarchy. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970. Sultan Qaboos is the longest-serving current ruler in the Middle East and sixth-longest current reigning monarch in the world.

Oman has modest oil reserves, ranking 25th globally. Nevertheless, in 2010 the UNDP ranked Oman as the most improved nation in the world in terms of development during the preceding 40 years.

A significant portion of its economy is tourism and trade of fish, dates, and certain agricultural produce. This sets it apart from its neighbours’ solely oil-dependent economies. Oman is categorized as a high-income economy (Wikipedia).

With my wife and brother at the Muttrah Corniche - May 2012

About Muttrah

Muttrah, (Arabic: مطرح‎) administratively a district, is located in the Muscat province of Oman. Before the discovery of oil, Muttrah was the center of commerce in Oman (Muscat).

It is still a center of commerce as one of the largest seaports of the region is located there.

Other landmarks include Souq Muttrah, a traditional bazaar, and Sour Al-Lawatiah, a small community of houses surrounded by an old wall. To the south lies Muscat District.