Of all the places to visit in Muscat, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Oman is the top of my recommendation list. Presented to the people of Oman as a gift from Sultan Qaboos in 2001, it is an opulent example of modern Islamic architecture. Whether you visit out of curiosity, for tranquillity, to see the …
Travel to the Middle East and Western Asia is fascinating. Filled with intricate and colourful architecture, unique cultural opportunities, and gastronomic delights, it is a bouquet for the senses. To date, we have experienced limited travel in the Middle East, visiting only Oman and UAE.
While both countries are quite different from each other, both have a draw for tourists and visitors.
The 16 countries that make up the region include Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey*, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
*As we have only been to the European side of Turkey, we have listed our Turkish articles in the Southern European category.
Enjoy our Middle Eastern travel articles:
Misfat Al Abriyeen: Discover a Village in Oman’s Hajar Mountains
Stepping back in time, we entered Misfat Al Abriyeen, a town literally built into the mountainside. It is one of Oman’s oldest villages. The Omani people here follow a more traditional lifestyle, and we found them to be warm and welcoming. The mountain village of Misfat Al Abriyeen is a maze of alleys surrounded by traditional …
Exploring Nizwa Fort and Other Nizwa Oman Sites
Oman surprised me, and the ancient city of Nizwa was a part of the mystery. Situated on the plains of the Hajar Mountains, it is only a two-hour drive from Muscat. We enjoyed a long day trip, but in retrospect, we could have spent a Thursday night, thus allowing us to observe the Nizwa Oman Friday …
Wandering the Streets of Muscat Oman: A Photo Essay
A city of traditional architecture and friendly people, Muscat Oman was one of many highlights of our travels around the world. The capital of the Sultanate of Oman, the city is an eclectic mix of modern and old world charms. Wandering the city with a camera, I was able to capture the culture in this …
Photos: Oman Grand Canyon and Jebel Shams
Along the edge of Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest mountain, the cliffs drop a thousand metres exposing dramatic scenery justly nicknamed the Oman Grand Canyon. Wadi Ghul, as it is called by locals, is a masterpiece of nature, yet still relatively unknown. Practical Information: Oman is situated in the Middle East to the east of UAE and …
Desert Floods in Oman
The desert floods in Oman evoked an interesting reaction. We witnessed the wonderment of children who rarely see swimmable wadis (a ravine that is dry except in the rainy season), and the bewilderment of the adults that looked on. Sadly, six people drowned that day in the Arabian desert as the dry ground was incapable of absorbing …
Bastakiya and the Old Souqs in Dubai
Bastakiya, finally I found somewhere I like in Dubai. We had a wonderful guide named Wahleed who took us on a walking tour of traditional Dubai at Bastakiya. The narrow streets clearly show what Dubai was like prior to the oil money. Homes were built close together in this way to give shade and to …
Abu Dhabi: Grand Mosque, Other Highlights, and Driving Tips
Opting to visit Abu Dhabi as a day trip from Dubai was not a good choice. Abu Dhabi is a city worthy of its own visit of days, maybe weeks. With only a day including the two hour travel time each way, we had to do an express visit. It was enough time to fall in …
Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa: World’s Tallest Building
After a week in Oman, the Dubai Mall felt very comfortable, albeit a bit overwhelming. We visited this massive mall as it is home to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. And, our girls are at the age where shopping malls are rather attractive options. We could practically live at the Dubai Mall, as …
Bedouins, Dhows, Sink Holes and Camel Riding in Oman
A two-day excursion south of Muscat Oman brought us a far south as Ras Al Hadd and included stops to meet Bedouins, swim in a skin hole, watch dhows being hand built, and ride a camel. First, we went south to Ras Al Hadd to see the turtles nest and to watch the newly hatched …
Entering Oman – An Amusing Delay at Immigration
Following the crowd out of the plane and entering Oman, we are in our first middle eastern country. Here, the process varies depending on which passport you hold. For us, with New Zealand passports, it is three steps. First, we purchase a 10-day single entry visa, next we clear immigration, and finally, we pick up our …
