English Teacher in Oman
Exploring Al Musannah
Oman
December 2011 – July 2012
Background
After 3 months of living in Rustaq, we could bear it no longer. About 40 km from Rustaq, near Al Musannah, a five-star hotel, called the Millennium Beach Resort stood ready for our patronage. Built for the 2010 Asia Beach games, it was and still is a gem in rural Oman. It had apartments to rent for 400 OMR per month, and we decided to do so with or without our employer's assistance.
In order to sustainably continue our employment, we were willing to pay out of pocket. Initially, we got a studio apartment, but later due to the internet not working in our room, we were upgraded to a spacious one bedroom at no extra cost. We stayed in the hotel for 7 months until we finished our contract.
During this time we went through many ups and downs; my wife broke her ankle and I had to assist her with everything whilst at the same time preparing for my final exam for a research component for a BA (Hons) degree in Development Studies I was in the process of doing, but it made me stronger....I survived.....my wife survived.....and I passed the exam.
During this time we went through many ups and downs; my wife broke her ankle and I had to assist her with everything whilst at the same time preparing for my final exam for a research component for a BA (Hons) degree in Development Studies I was in the process of doing, but it made me stronger....I survived.....my wife survived.....and I passed the exam.
After my exam, I spent many hours on the beach picking up seashells or just relaxing at the infinity pool. We also explored Al Musannah with our rented Toyota Yaris and took many incredible pics of rural Omani culture, such as fishing villages, date plantation communities, camels, goats, etc.
Oman is not the most advanced place in the world, but it has a rustic authenticity unparalleled. It has fresh air, lots of sun and wide open spaces, and it's not uncommon to be noticed by locals and to be invited into their homes. The Omani's are kind, gentle people with lots of hospitality on offer.
It is, in my opinion, the best country in the Gulf to settle down and build a life, as the Omani's are very accepting and inclusive. The pace here (excluding driving) is also much slower than in the neighboring UAE.
Oman is not the most advanced place in the world, but it has a rustic authenticity unparalleled. It has fresh air, lots of sun and wide open spaces, and it's not uncommon to be noticed by locals and to be invited into their homes. The Omani's are kind, gentle people with lots of hospitality on offer.
It is, in my opinion, the best country in the Gulf to settle down and build a life, as the Omani's are very accepting and inclusive. The pace here (excluding driving) is also much slower than in the neighboring UAE.
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| A Dhow painted on a wall - The entrance of a Date plantation |
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 neighbors’ solely oil-dependent economies. Oman is categorized as a high-income economy (Wikipedia).
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| Agricultural field - near the Muladdah roundabout, Al Musannah |
About the Millennium Resort hotel
Enjoy the best of lifestyle resort and leisure by crystal-blue waters at Millennium Resort Mussanah. Experience perfect relaxation, with panoramic views over the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman.
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| View of the marina and marina bay beach from our apartment |
About Al-Musannah
Al-Musannah or Al-Musannah (Arabic: المصنعة) is a town in the Al Batinah Region of northern Oman. As of 2010, it had a population of 6,291 [Wikipedia].
What does the Lonely planet say about Al Musannah?
"Musannah is the home of Oman's navy, docked at Wudum naval base. Quite fittingly, then, the town has also earned itself a name as the destination of choice for nautical adventures.
Indeed, the Millennium Resort that punctuates the flat shoreline of Musannah, at the edge of the shrubby Batinah Plain was initially established to accommodate athletes during the second Asian Beach Games of 2010 and that event left behind a legacy of sailing, kayaking, and swimming that has since been supplemented with a range of other water sports, including a water park".
Where is Al-Mussanah?
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| Map of Oman with Al Mussanah's location indicated |
Scenery near the Millennium...
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| On my way to work - Camel in an open field near the Millennium hotel |
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| On my way to work - Camels in an open field near the Millennium hotel |
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| Nearby fishing village - goats in the street |
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| Nearby fishing village - goats on the beach |
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| Stopping near the Millenium to take some pics |
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| Omani children playing games at the side of the road |
Near the Muladdah roundabout
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| Date plantation and agricultural land near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| Apartments & shops next to an agricultural field - near the Muladdah roundabout, Al Musannah |
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| Agricultural land near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| The Muladdah Roundabout island features |
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| Agricultural land near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| Livestock - Agricultural community near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| Agricultural land near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| Date palm tree with dates - Agricultural land near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| Agricultural land near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| Taking a camel for exercise Omani style |
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| Stop at the supermarket - Shopping in Al Musannah |
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Stop at the supermarket - Shopping in Al Musannah
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March 2012 exploration
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| A Dhow painted on a wall - The entrance of a Date plantation |
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| Looking over the wall - Omani date plantation & fields |
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| Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Beachside residences - Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| A truck parked near the beach - Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Ruins - Rural Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Omani villa - Al Musannah |
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| Fruit and veg shop - Al Musannah |
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| Ansu selecting fruit: Fruit and veg shop - Al Musannah |
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| Our shopping on the counter |
April 2012 exploration
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| Restored Tharmad castle near Tharmad roundabout - Al Musannah |
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| Beach scenery - Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Goat crossing the street - Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Beach scenery - Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Omani boy and his soccer ball - Al Musannah fishing community |
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| Omani villa - Al Musannah |
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| Shopfronts - Al Musannah |
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| Al Musannah community |
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| Al Musannah road sign & truck |
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| Al Musannah travel agency |
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| Al Musannah coffeeshop |
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| Ansu in the parking lot of the 'Emirates Marketing' shop in Al Musannah |
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| Al Musannah street scenery |
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| Dinner at a coffee shop |
Omani farmer taking his camels for a walk
One morning on our way to Rustaq where we taught English, we encountered this Omani farmer walking his camels on the road from the Millennium Beach Resort, where we lived, to the Muladdah roundabout.
I got out of the car and took some amazing pics.
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| Omani farmer walking his camels |
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| Omani farmer walking his camels |
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| Omani farmer walking his camels |
Shopping & eating in Al Musannah
This is the area we frequented most to shop at and eat out. This section is near Tharmad roundabout next to the main highway that runs from Muscat to Sohar.
It is about 5 km from the Millennium hotel and there are supermarkets, coffee shops, restaurants, even a KFC and Pizza Hut, if you need a break from the local cuisine.
Makkah supermarket
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| KFC next to Makkah supermarket |
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| The entrance to Makkah supermarket with ceiling painting |
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| Sweetcorn popcorn machines adorn the entrances of most Omani supermarkets |
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| Our bottled fresh water purchases... good for a couple of weeks |
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| Assorted chocolates for sale in Makkah |
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| Ansu buying yogurt |
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| Fruit and veg section |
Shops lining the Sohar to Muscat highway - Al Musannah
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| A truck parked next to the highway |
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| Ansu with the Discount Centre across the highway |
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| Highway - Direction Muscat |
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| Tharmad roundabout |
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| Our rental car parked next to the highway |
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| Omani shopfront - Al Musannah |
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| Omani gate |
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| Retail therapy - Discount centre for cheap bits and bobs |
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| Tharmad roundabout during the late afternoon |
Restaurants & Coffee shops
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| Pizza Hut |
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| Pizza Hut sign and delivery car |
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| Pizza Hut sign and delivery car |
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| Fruit juice and smoothies |
The Taste of Arab Coffee shop
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| Taste of Arab restaurant we frequented |
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| Window advertisement |
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| outside seating area |
The KFC
During the time Ansu broke her ankle and I was busy with my final exam, we basically lived on KFC twisters and due to me being a regular, I made good friends with the Egyptian manager, by the name of Bubbly.
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| KFC next to Makkah supermarket |
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| Bubbly the Egyptian manager |
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| service counter |
Turkish coffee shop
When we were in the mood for Turkish bread and Jawafa juice (Guava juice) we went to this little take away near the Muladdah roundabout.
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| Turkish restaurant |
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| Al Musannah hotel apartments next to the Turkish restaurant |
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| The waiter at the Turkish restaurant |
Our rotisserie chicken take away restaurant
Here we often just purchased one of this BBQ rotisserie chickens for 1.5 OMR with some salad or fries for a meal.
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| Rotisserie chicken |
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| Rotisserie chicken |
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| Rotisserie chicken |
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| Rotisserie chicken coffeeshop interior |
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