Masqat or muscat: where mountains meet the sea (and i got lost in souqs)
so here i am in muscat, oman, and let me tell you, it's not like the other gulf cities. no skyscrapers here, just mountains and sea, and a whole lot of white buildings. i just checked and it's 23.05°C right now, feels like 23.42°C, humidity at 77% - hope you like that kind of thing. it's warm, but not unbearable, unless you're walking around in the sun like i did.
the city's built around this natural cove, with the hajar mountains looming over everything. they're the highest range in the arabian peninsula, which is pretty cool, even if i don't know much about mountains. the gulf of oman's right there, with clear blue water and beaches where turtles nest. saw some tracks, but no turtles - maybe they're shy.
muscat's been a trading hub forever, so you can see all these influences in the architecture: portuguese forts, arab design, even some indian and persian stuff. the portuguese were here from 1508 to 1650, and they left behind these forts, al jalali and al mirani, which are kinda creepy but awesome. you can go up to them, but i didn't - too many stairs.
the city's got this regulated skyline, so no towering buildings. everything's low-rise and whitewashed, which is nice, but i kinda miss the glitz of dubai. still, it's got its own charm. the old city's walled, with the sultan's palace and all that. al alam palace's right on the sea edge, glittering in the sun - very indian-style, someone told me it's the sultan's crib.
muttrah's just a short drive away, if you get bored. that's where the souqs are, the 200-year-old market. went there to buy some frankincense and camel-milk chocolate (don't ask). you gotta haggle, which i'm terrible at. ended up paying too much for a silver coffee pot, but whatever, it's a story now.
ate some local food - seafood from the fish souq, spiced rice, dates. the camel-milk chocolate's interesting, kinda sweet. someone told me the cuisine's a mix of middle eastern, indian, and north african, which makes sense given the history. didn't try the turtle eggs, heard they're controversial.
the population's around 1.7 million, with a lot of expats. it's pretty diverse, but still omani at heart. people are super hospitable, which is nice. life's slower here, no rush, which is a change from where i'm from. the islamic call to prayer echoes through the streets, which is kinda peaceful, even at 5 am when they wake you up.
some things to note: dress modestly, especially at mosques. women gotta cover their hair, no short stuff. alcohol's only in hotels, so no drinking on the beach. the heat's no joke, so stay hydrated. someone told me the city's all about preservation, so no high-rises - gotta embrace the slower pace.
the standout thing is how it feels like time's kinda stopped here. ancient forts, palaces, souqs, all mixed with modern stuff like the royal opera house. it's not flashy, but it's genuine. feels like a hidden gem, even if it's the capital.
overall, muscat's a weird mix of old and new, mountains and sea. it's not for everyone, but if you like history and a slower pace, it's worth a visit. just don't expect dubai - this place's got its own vibe.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/notes-from-the-red-city-my-musicians-marrakech
- https://topiclo.com/post/howrah-in-a-mess-of-light-and-diesel
- https://topiclo.com/post/tilburg-honestly-its-a-place
- https://topiclo.com/post/beirut-at-dawn-when-the-city-coughs-itself-awake
- https://topiclo.com/post/ogbomosho-dust-drums-and-a-whole-lot-of-confusion