English Teacher in Oman
Al Musannah to Rustaq
January – July 2012
Background
Once settled at the Millennium hotel on our move from Rustaq to Al Musannah, we continued our employment at the Rustaq College of Applied Sciences as English teachers. That meant driving the 40 km distance between the college and the hotel twice a day. Many visitors to Oman, won't probably even do the route once, as it is a little off-the-beaten-track, but in our case, we did it twice a day for 7 months.
Al Musannah is at the coast and has a humid climate, but as you drive towards Rustaq, the climate is drier. Rustaq is located near mountains and has higher rainfall than most other places in Oman. The road was lined with fresh grass and vegetation most year round and many camels could be seen grazing alongside the road.
Typically Oman, the road has many roundabouts, and it's always tricky to navigate, as there are no clear rules....as long as you avoid other traffic. Speeding in Oman is also a huge issue. Saudi, Oman and the UAE have the highest traffic accident fatalities in the world due to speeding and reckless driving, so it was a bit like facing the crocodile.....twice a day.
I usually took my camera with and often stopped to take some pics along the way.
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| Beware camels! Near the Muladdah roundabout (Rustaq to Al Musannah) |
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).
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| Nature scenery near Rustaq |
From the Millennium to Rustaq
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| On my way to work - Camel in an open field near the Millennium 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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| The Millennium Beach resort marina corniche at night |
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".
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| Date plantation and agricultural land near Muladdah roundabout - Al Musannah |
Where is Al-Mussanah?
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| Map of Oman with Al Mussanah's location indicated |
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| On my way to work - Camels in an open field near the Millennium hotel |
Millennium hotel to the Muladdah roundabout
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| Omani farmer walking his camels |
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 |
The scenery at and near the Muladdah roundabout
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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 |
The Muladdah roundabout island
After driving a stretch of highway from the Millennium, for about 3 km, you reach the Muladdah roundabout. If you turn left, you go to Muscat; turn right and you will reach Sohar. If you go straight, it leads to Rustaq.
To view highlights of living and teaching in Rustaq, click here!
To view highlights of rural Rustaq nature scenery, click here!
To view Rustaq Street and shopfront scenery, click here!
To view Millennium hotel grounds and facilities, click here!
To view the Date plantations and fishing
villages in rural Al Musannah, click here!
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