When I first told people that I was going to Oman, there were a few different responses. Some mistook it for the Aman resorts, some mistook it for Amman and a few people actually knew where it was, next to Dubai, Yemen and Saudi Arabia on the edge of the Arabian sea and the Gulf of Oman.
The Sultan’s Palace, Muscat
Curious about this country that you may not have heard of before? Until 1970, very little was known about Oman as its walls were high and the country was well hidden. One might presume that because of this recent introduction to the rest of the world that perhaps Oman is one of the more conservative countries in the middle East. That’s not necessarily so, which I would learn. Buildings show both Arabic and English names. There is no income tax and education and health is free including tertiary education.
Mirani fort
The Middle East is mysterious to many, mostly because they haven’t visited it. It is diverse and for those who like to discover a place before the tourists swarm, Oman is on the verge of hitting its touristic stride. Developments for the latest Missoni and Louis Vuitton hotels are set to be completed in 2014 and 2015. But if the idea of getting in before everyone else appeals, then the time is before they finish.
Oman’s official name is the Sultanate of Oman and is ruled by the monarch the Qaboos bin Said al Said. Despite the reputations of their high glam neighbour Dubai with the tall buildings and artificial snow fields, Oman is quieter, the buildings smaller and all is not desert in Oman as we would soon learn. Souqs (markets), dates, wadis (lush valleys) would all become known to us.
We arrive in the capital of Muscat. It’s hotter than we’ve ever experienced here and I take a look around. Women are wearing traditional abayas dress with niqab (veils) and men are wearing dish dashas with a tassel hanging down from the collar. These tassels would traditionally be dipped in perfume. On their heads they wear either kumma, a round hat or msarr which are wrapped like turbans. Most people are in traditional dress. Arabic is the first language although English is widely and well spoken.
Yellow dates
And what about the food of Oman? We start at the best place to find out about any sort of food, the markets. Our guide Abdul shows us Muscat’s daily vegetable and fish markets which are fascinating. It is late July and it is coming towards the end of the date season. Dates are used extensively in Omani cuisine. Abdul tells us that when his father was growing up in the 50s, he ate only dates, Arabic bread and dried fish. Indeed much livestock is fed on dates and there are countless varieties of dates in Oman. The yellow dates which come last in the season are called khalas and when they arrive, it signifies the end of date season.
Vendors sell boxes of dates outside the markets and there is an abundant supply of them. One of these boxes of Omani dates will set you back 1 OMR or $2.50AUD.
Zam fruit
We come across fascinating fruit that we haven’t seen before. Looking like an olive, zam fruit has a sweet, chalky taste to it.
Butt fruit or bush blueberries
The butt fruit (pronounced boot) resemble blueberries in shape and size. They are wonderfully sweet and syrupy with a little hard peppercorn sized pip in the centre. It’s like a very sweet, juicy and round red grape crossed with a syrupy sweet berry. I could eat cups of these little gems.
Clockwise from top left: yellow dates, za’atar, dried limes and red dates
A friendly vendor offers us tastes of red and yellow dates. Oman dates are different from Medjool or California dates which are large, wrinkled and rich. Omani dates are syrupy inside when ripe and are smaller in size. A bite into the thin skin produces a little spurt of addictively sweet date syrup. The vendor’s stall sells honey in tall bottles, dried limes, piles of dates, dried shark and za’atar which he encourages us to rub between our fingers to smell. He also sells Omani garlic which at 5 OMR a kilo is more expensive than Indian and Chinese garlic but is much more potent.
Our nose leads us to the fish section of the market which is open from early until 10am when the sun becomes too strong.
The fish in the top right picture is a skeel which is a prized fish with white meat which fetches 35 OMR or about $80AUD for the whole fish. The vendor proudly shows off its blood red gills to me. We watch a small fish auction which is taking place outside. A man haggles a price with the vendor for a large pile of fish on the tiles.
Maleh or salted dried fish
Another man cuts at kingfish and there’s a bowl of maleh or salted dried fish to his right. Dried fish is a common ingredient in traditional Omani cuisine.
Muttrak Souk
We drive to nearby Mattra Souk which is the most famous souk or market in the country. Look for the Muttrah cornice and enter the doors to find a labyrinth of treasures. The undercover market full of clothing and jewellery and traders spruik their wares chiming in after one another trying to catch your interest. It’s enormous and there is some beautiful jewellery. Clothing, well, it tends to be blingtastic with no shortage of sequins and baubles.
We arrive at the Chedi Muscat. While there are 5 star resorts down to whatever you might like, there just aren’t in the same number as surrounding countries. The Chedi is set against the backdrop of the Al Hajar (The Rock) mountains, a sepia backdrop to the surrounding white houses and low rise buildings.
The lobby is all aglow with a stunning lighting fixture which glows a steady amber and ruby. Service is deferential and extremely polite and the overall impression is that of a serene oasis. The smells of flowers and scents occasionally wafts under noses – Oman is a something of a perfume capital which we will later discover.
Special mention should be made of the hotel shop. Although clothing in Oman is generally quite different to Western tastes, the Chedi’s surprisingly large store has stunning clothes and homewares although the bowls that I was coveting were 118 OMR/$290AUD each and the dresses were about 123 OMR/$302AUD.
A private beachfront affords sun bathers views of the Gulf of Oman coast. Our rooms, Chedi Club Suites are flowing spaces decorated with Omani and Asian influences. The sitting room has a long lounge and in one corner sits bottles of complimentary vodka, gin and whiskey as well as pistachios, almonds and dried apricots.
The mini bar is also complimentary in the Chedi Club suites and the whole space measures an enormous 67 square metres. The rooms are moodily lit; they never quite reach the point of brightness at night and remains a seductively lit space made for couples.
Walking through to the bedroom, there is a king bed and in some Chedi Club Suites, there is a domed ceiling with a chandelier hanging from it on top of the bed. There is a Bose sound dock and there are two televisions, one in the sitting room, one opposite the bed and there are his and hers everything. There are two areas in which to sit in the bedroom in front of a mirror; in the bathroom there is two sinks and two closets as well as two bedside phones.
A sunken terrazzo tub faces you as soon as you walk into the bathroom and there is also a toilet with bidet and a separate shower. The products stocked are by Bvlgari and include soap, shampoo/shower gel, conditioner and body wash and there are also cotton tips, pads and an emery board. Nice light robes and slippers are also provided.
As we’ve been flying for almost 24 hours a quick shower is most certainly in order, given the heat. I slip into a dress and heels and negotiate my way back to the main lobby area. There are 158 rooms and the property sits on 21 acres of gardens so it’s not impossible to get somewhat lost although you’ll never stray too far away. I could say that I inadvertently tried… 
The Chedi Spa is in a separate building from the main lobby, where a golf buggy will deposit you if you wish. It is beautifully appointed and we take a glass of iced hibiscus tea and cool down from our walk. We are then shown into the relaxation room where the view is a heart stopping blue and green from the sea. There are teas and magazines to read while waiting for your therapist.
After a few minutes, they come to get us and we are led into our treatment rooms. My therapist Sheera tells me that I am having an Organic Naturelle D’Orient facial using a French made skincare line made with Morrocan Argan oil. It is said to contain omega 6 and 9 fatty acids for anti ageing and cell renewal. The facial is 35 OMR/$84AUD.
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Clockwise from top left: the view from the relaxation room, iced hibiscus tea, flower display and lounges in the relaxation room.
She starts with a shoulder and upper arm massage with their heavenly orange cream and then proceeds to the cleanse. After this is a diagnosis and then she starts the rest of the facial which includes extensive massage on the face and arms while one of the masks infuses. We finish with another glass of iced tea.
Dinner is at the main restaurant called “The Restaurant”, an enormous space that boasts five open kitchens and a bar. There is a pastry kitchen and Western, Asian, Middle Eastern and Indian fare. The restaurant was designed by Japanese architect Yasuhiro Koichi of Design Studio SPIN and this Sunday evening, it is quite full. Crystal chandeliers are suspended at different lengths.
Cold mezze plate 2.50 OMR/$6AUD a person
We start with a hot and cold mezze plate. The cold plate has tabouli, quarters of Arabic bread, smokey baba gannoush and the smoothest, creamiest, dreamiest hummus. It’s addictive and so good that I ask for the recipe which I promise to share if it works out!
Hot mezze plate 8.50 OMR/$21AUD
The hot mezze plate has a range of items including felafel, halloumi, lamb kofta which I particularly enjoy. But I keep going back to that hummus which is just so lovely.
Omani lobster 26.50 OMR/$65.22AUD
This is enormous and to be honest I had no idea that it would be this big because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to finish it. The large lobsters are a bit tougher so it makes it difficult to eat it although the Arabic spices with sumac are good. It comes with a bowl of long grain rice and try as I might, I just can’t finish it.
Roasted hammour fillet 8.50 OMR/$21AUD
A better choice was the local fish, a hammour fillet, a firm but moist white fleshed fish served with fried cauliflower, tahini sauce and baba gannoush.
And is there room for dessert? I make the fatal mistake of checking my phone which shows me the Sydney time of 3am so we take dessert to go in a box. I choose three macarons: a halwa which tastes of sweet sesame seed halwa, an orange and lavender which is strong in lavender and a saffron rose, resplendent in that honeyed flavour of saffron. And I sleep happily ever after with the intoxicating perfume of Muscat perfuming my dreams.
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever been to the Middle East and what did you think of it? And which country would you want to visit to get to know better?
NQN visited Oman as a guest of the Ministry of Oman
Fish and Vegetable Markets
Dhow Harbour, Oman
Old Muttrah Souk
Al Bahri Road, Muscat, Oman
The Chedi
North Ghubra 32, Way No. 3215
18th November Street, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
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60 Comments | Add your own
No income tax!!!:) When I can move there?
WOW! What an incredible adventure Lorraine. Lucky you. We had similar reactions when we told people we were going to Morocco (some even went as far as to say: WHY?).
It surely is quite the different holiday and although some things didn’t quite meet our North American standards, the people surely exceeded them. They were the nicest people I have EVER met, and genuinely nice.
That was quite possibly my most favourite post you have ever done! What an exquisite destination! It must have been so wonderful to go to a place like that. That is what travel is all about to me. I would love to go there.
Wow, you have such an amazing job NQN!
I’d never even thought of Oman as a travel destination before. Turkey is where I would like to visit next time I get the chance.
Simply beautiful photos Lorraine! I loved your post about Oman – intrigued!! I’d like to add this beautiful place to my must see list.
Well, I’ve justfinished readingthis and am now seething with ugly envy. Oman is on our list for a visit and your post has just confirmed that desire. The food and markets look divine!
Lovely photos, it looks like you had a fantastic experience!
I visited Oman for my honeymoon and stayed at the Chedi. I loved it! The water was so warm, we went snorkelling off the coast and it was amazing!
Great post
What a stunning place and such beautiful food. I have never been to the Middle East.
Wow Lorraine what an amazing trip. Such an interesting place to go
Hi Lorraine! Love this report but I’m curious about what you wore out in the markets? Assuming that your body was fully covered but did you cover your hair or face as well?
Hi Katy! Oh what a good question! I should have mentioned that. I wore regular clothes to the markets although they weren’t particularly short dresses that I wore, they were about knee length?
I’ve only heard of Oman, never really knew where it was. Love the look of those mezze plates and the lobster. It must be time for breakfast!
Happy Friday!
I know where Oman is and it has been on my list for a long time. I really want to go there. I have been to Dubai a couple of times and it is fun, provided you go in winter. I couldn’t cope with the heat in summer.
Oman looks great. I met a lovely couple from Oman just last month, who said Oman wasn’t as interesting as Dubai, but I think I’d much prefer it.
I’ve visited Iran and Turkey (which is sort of Middle East). I was meant to visit Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel as well in 2010 but got sidetracked and had to work. I’d mostly like to visit Jordan (especially Petra and the Wadi Rum) and Israel.
I’m keen for that hummous recipe. Since it was so smooth, I am wondering if they took the chickpea skins off before blending it. This takes a lot of time, but gives the most silky result it’s hard to go back!
A place which has been on my list of places to go to for such a long time (especially as my last name is OMAN!) It looks wonderful and as you say the time to go is now before the developers move in.
I was so enthralled by this post Lorraine! The photos, the stories… what a magical place.
I’ve never been to the Middle East. I really, REALLY want to visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. I find the Nordic countries fascinating
WOW! I have always had a fascination with the middle east but haven’t yet had the chance to travel there. Your photos are beautiful, the food looks incredible and that hotel is to die for!
I think I’m going to have to start planning a trip.
x
It seems stunningly beautiful and peaceful – olde world earth with decadence. Oman is now on my list!
I hope the hommus recipe turns out!
I’ve been to Dubai but I was rather underwhelmed by it. It was like it has been deserted (no pun intended). There were so many unfinished buildings. The shopping was good though!
Oh my, oh my, how lovely it all looks! It’s such a great opportunity to visit a country that hasn’t been homogenized into a tourist trap but retained it’s tradditional integrity. I would love to travel to the middle east, and this look like a great place to start
I’ve heard Oman is the next place to visit, the hotel you stayed looks fantastic….love that beach-side pool
I have been to Dubai, which fascinated me (the extravagance a bit overwhelming in places!), but not enough to want to go back there again…I would prefer to go back to Vietnam!
Oh my gosh, I’m in awe of all of those different kinds of dates! For that reason alone, I want to visit Oman
Lorraine, I read your blog every day and rarely comment. This is just a beaufitul post and I would love to visit Oman having been to Dubai a few years ago. It looks like a place with beautiful scenery and good.
Wow, what a cool place. I knew where Oman is because I’ve been to Abu Dhabi and it’s very close. The lobster looks incredible, but the mezze plate even better. Yum.
Never been to the Middle East,but I’ve have many middle Eastern deep friendships. I would love to go to Israel. I think I would need to be with a group to feel good going to Oman, but I’m intrigued.
I have no words. I never be in the Middle East, but wanted to go some day.
In the mean time, I will wait for the hummus recipe
You are an excellent story teller Lorraine. I love it when you take us on adventures with you.
Thinking about the heat of the desert is very useful at this time of year in Sydney!
Lorraine: I have so enjoyed most of your travel descriptions, but NEVER as much as this one. Here you have been a perfect teacher and left us with recent memories of yours to read, file and keep! Sadly so many people leave countries of the Middle East, Africa nd Far Easy aside and loose so much thereby. Many believe these countries to be somewhat ‘inferior’ to where they live and never bother to find out about the history, the geography and the culture, including food. A local friend of mine, K, a reader of your column and a lady whose cyberspace sends you too have perused, lived awhile in Oman, where her oil engineer husband, an Aussie, was stationed. When I asked her what first came to her mind when thinking of the country, she began by saying ‘Eha, they are the most stately and proud people I have ever met’ – this from a lady who has lived throughout the world! Oh, loved your accommodation and food, so, all in all, THANK YOU many times over
!
What a fabulous look at a place few of us will ever get to. The marketplace is just fascinating with all those unusual fruits. So you have to spill the beans — what wonderful baubles did you bring back?
You do get yourself to some amazing and ‘off the beaten track’ places Lorraine. How lovely to live in a tax-free haven but if they could just lighten up on the restrictive dress rules. The prices of these seem quite high especially as no one is having to take our any tax xx
Thank you for enlightening on Oman today!
Seems the country and culture affects people in the most unique way!
Having experienced Egypt’s mystique re country, culture, foods and local customs last year, TRUE!
I CAN say to all, forget what and how the media portrays the country and people and have a look through your own eyes; am highly suggesting touring with reputable tour companies to make navigation of the unknown a much more memorable and treasured experience that one will NOT forget in a lifetime too!
Oh, those markets! Bliss for me. Thank you for sharing your exotic adventure Lorraine. Vietnam is on our bucket list for a must visit.
What a great trip! We haven’t been to that part of the world yet, debating where to go next: I want to go to Italy, my men tend toward Middle East. Still debating…
Getting the chance to travel to such exotic locations is fantastic
Wow!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I’m a long time reader of your blog from the UK but I’ve been living in Oman for the last 7 years. It was the last place I expected you to visit and a very nice surprise
Thank you for highlighting a beautiful part of the world and I can recommend it to both live and visit – so different from any other country in the Gulf
I’m Egyptian so I’ve been to the Middle East plenty of times- Egypt, Jordan, Dubai Lebanon, Syria (which has invented some of the most beautiful Mezze dishes). Oman has never been a place I have considered going to.. however, reading this post I’m more inclined to add it to my list. Belah (dates) are one of my favourite things in the Middle East. During ramadan they serve up this delicious syrupy type soup-a combination of dried apricots, raisins, dates etc.. to act as a sugar start after hours of fasting! How did you find Ramadan there Lorraine- was it easy to eat during daylight hours?
I loved Oman, we stopped over there for two days on our way to London when we moved a few years back.
The people are so friendly, even if they drive like lunatics, the food is divine and the weather….oh I miss the hot dry heat (especially as our London summer this year has been pretty crap!)
We didn’t stay/eat as flash as you, but I can highly recommend a local chain Laundromat, for some of the best cheap and cheerful middle eastern food I have ever eaten!
thanks Lorraine for your interesting story re your visit to Oman. Like Suzanne (no. 37) I too have been to most of the places she mentioned and yes, Syria’s Mezze is……incredible!. I heard before that Oman is THE place to visit soon, most likely will do. But right now its Madrid/Spain – what a place, what wonderful people. Dubai? Too hot, too many halffinished buildings, too many (much) of everything, and I find we (visitors) were more welcomed years ago.
You know my family is in Dubai…
I love the life there.. Western luxuries with eastern traditions…
And of course yes NO Income TAX LOL
..
Anyways did you bought some jewelry from souks or not?
I’ve never been to the Middle East. My sister went last year and said we MUST go.
When you went to the souqs and out in public, how did you have to dress to respect cultural sensitivities?
I must admit that I don’t know a lot about Oman but I did learn quite a bit through reading this post – everything looks so beautiful!
One of my dreams is to travel through the Middle East, particulary through Israel, Egypt, Turkey and Jordan and will definitely need to add Oman to the list
Such a fabulous post! I agree with the above comments – I think it’s one of your best ever stories. I have never even considered going to Oman but it has definitely gone on the list now.
My wife and I moved to Oman in March this year. Yes it is all NQN makes it out to be and much more.
We really enjoy living and working here, the food rarely disappoints and while hot it is not unbearable.
In Oman you are definitely in the Middle East! Dubai by comparison – well you could just as well be in Singapore…
Dear me NQN! How did you get to travel by invitation of the Oman government??????? That’s almost unbelievable. It has been on our wish list for the past few years now…but work has just been too busy sigh!
My husband and I used to take a trip overseas every year before I quit my job and went back to school. I’m happy I did it, but I miss traveling so much. I’ve been living vicariously through all of your wonderful travel photos lately. Keep em coming!
Fascinating, just fascinating and I have been waiting a while for this post as you know Lorraine
It’s just sheer coincidence that a few weeks ago I entered an online competition to win a trip to Oman, before that I had never considered it to be a country high on the tourist list. It’s so intriguing and still fairly untouched by Western influences to add that edge of Mystery ! I’d love to visit Oman and would relish staying at the Chedi Muscat…the rooms, the spa, the food, Wow! The prices are quite steep and definitely tourist targeted, did you manage to bag a bargain?
Love the markets and souks, I didn’t know that there were so many different types of dates grown and how cheap are they by the box? Bargain!
Another country that has always fascinated me and I’m yet to visit is Morocco. I would love, love, love to go there. Just remember me if you happen to take a trip there! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!
The markets really show Oman’s personality and soul, don’t they?
Could you eat the dried fish just like that, is that considered their snack/street food (if they have)?
Looking at the markets, I just want to pick one of each and start snacking…..
Ah another here who would have been in the ‘no idea where that is’ camp! It looks like a great place to visit
The only place i’ve been in the Middle East is Dubai. I’d love to see more.
As you probably know, I lived in the Middle East for many years. When I lived in Abu Dhabi in the mid-70s, we used to drive to the beach in Oman via the Buraimi Oasis. The borders were so porous then that you only knew which country you were in by the change of the leader’s portrait in the souks! Now a retinal scan and visa are required! This post makes me so hungry for my very favorite food in the world–and you are right, once you’ve had smooth, lemony, garlicky Middle Eastern hummus, you never look back! Thank you for reviving such lovely memories.
Hi Miss Kimbers-I know! Imagine that!
Esp. compared to what we pay here 
Hi Eva Taylor -Really? I’d love to visit Morocco one day! Yes OMani people are wonderful-so friendly and the people really make a destination don’t they?
Hi michelle-Aww shucks thank you SO much!!
Absolutely, travel is about exploring and I love exploring 
Hi Angela-Thanks!
Oh yes Turkey would be fascinating! 
Hi Mrs_Mulberry-Thank you so much! Wonderful-it’s so intriguing and mysterious!
Hi Amanda-Hehe oh wow ok!
It is so different from everywhere else 
Hi Laura-I did indeed Laura!
Hi Julie-Oh what a coincidence! Isn’t it gorgeous there?
Oh I wihs we had time for snorkelling, that sounds wonderful 
Hi Cakelaw-This was my second visit-it’s really fascinating and so diverse
Hi tania-Thank you Tania!
Hi Tina-Yes I had to look it up. Happy Friday or Saturday to you!
Hi Debra-I knew you’d know where it was
Yes both places are very hot in Summer but beautiful in winter! 
Hi Karen-Isn’t that funny? Oh I disagree, although if you like shopping, Dubai has more range than Oman. You’ve definitely been to some amazing places! And I promise to share the recipe if it works out-it was too good not to!
Hi Wendy-Oh well you really must visit then!
Absolutely, avoid the crowds! 
Hi Chanel-Thank you so much Chanel! Oh I’ve never heard of the Blue Lagoon! I must look it up now!
Me too!
Hi Steph-Yes I do too. It’s so interesting to me
Thank you so much lovely!! x
Hi Renata-Yes it’s a lovely combination of it all!
Hi Claire-Me too!
Dubai is really quite different-it’s a playground and quite high glam and over the top. And there’s a lot of construction too!
Hi Rebecca-Yes it’s definitely still got its identity
Wonderful!
Hi Ali-Yes I’d heard that before I went too
Yes Dubai is extravagant, this is more modest but with some sumptuous hotels 
Hi Hannah-I know, the dates are so delicious!
Hi Dianne-Thank you very much Dianne!
Yes and the people are really so friendly too 
Hi joey-Yes you’re right
That mezze platter was divine! 
Hi angela-Oh yes Israel would be wonderful! I think if you had a friend and a good guide then it would be fine
Hi Nydia-It’s fascinating there
Hehe I’ll try it this week!
Hi Margaret-Aww thanks Margaret! I love writing to you all-it’s such a pleasure
And hehe you’re so right! Brrr! 
Hi Eha-I’m so glad that you liked it! Yes they’re not inferior and part of traveling is discovering the differences in cultures and ways of life. They are really such friendly people there
Hi Carolyn-Oh you know I bought lots of dates and halwa! But I didn’t have a lot of time to go shopping alas!
Hi Charlie-I liked the idea that Oman was largely unknown to people
xxx
Hi Joanne-You’re very welcome!
Oh Egypt is a great place to go to, I’d love to go there! Good idea Joanne!! 
Hi Lizzy-I love visiting markets
You’re very welcome. Agree about Vietnam, there is something special about it 
Hi Marina-Thanks! Oh can you do both perhaps?
Hi Uru -It is indeed
Hi Ben-Oh how wonderful! Thank you so much and you’re very welcome
You live in a lovely part of the world and yes as you say, so different from other parts of the Gulf 
Hi Suzanne-I’d love to go to all of those places
Aren’t dates delicious? I bought so many to take home with me. Oh no, I didn’t try that, they said that they just ate dates and water to break the fast. It sounds delicious! We ate mainly in our rooms during Ramadan during the day 
Hi Elisa-Yes the people really make it a wonderful place. Hehe I didn’t notice any peculiar driving though
Oh that sounds great! We tried some local
food throughout the trip-I miss the rice!
Hi Carina-You’re very welcome! I’d love to try mezze in Syria
Yes I think now is a good time before it gets very commercial 
Oh yes Spain, that is also
hard to beat!
Hi Reem-Yes there are lots of reasons to visit or move!
I didn’t alas, we didn’t have a great deal of time to shop 
Hi Maureen-I think it’s really fascinating
I wore western dress but not short skirts or dresses. We were told that items below the knee were fine 
Hi Libby-Fantastic! I hope that it has helped
Sounds like a fantastic dream 
Hi Sarah-Aww thank you so much! I’m so chuffed to read that
You are too kind!
Hi David-Yes I have plenty more stories on Oman to come and it’s fascinating
Yes it definitely has kept its culture 
Hi DessertCorrespondent-It’s from the tourism organisation that works for the government. Every year they send over a certain number of travel writers but all tourism organisations work like this
Hi Jen-Oh I would too! Thank you so much and I hope you’ve been enjoying them!
Hi Matilda-I know you have!
Oh I hope you win!! We did when we went out for dinner at local places. Haha now that would be a fun trip to take wouldn’t it?
Hi jenbeans-Absolutely they do! A good question! We had the dried fish rehydrated in a curry-it was still a bit dry but not bone dry
Hi Phunk-It’s such an interesting part of the world to me
Hi Victoria-That must have been a fascinating time for you!
A retinal scan? 
Wow, I’ve never had one of those! I can’t wait to make that hummus! 
You’re very welcome!
Dates dates dates!! I’ve never been to the middle east – loved this post! Would love to. Well, we did have a 6hr stopover in Jordan, but that was just the airport. V eager to check it out! Food looks great!
Heidi xo
Hi, I am a 20 years old Omani lady, yes people i live in an amazing country, a country with a unique idintity and nature! Oman has that special type of originality like no other place in this world has!!! And the people here are really friendly, and i actually mean friendly even way above the normal level! They are always there for each other and their hospitality to guests is just unbelievably excellent !
And by the way if just a few photos from Muscat amazed you then wait till you see the rest of the country
I’ve seen the world and seen how other people’s life in the other countries and i can tell our life here is just a million time better but it’s sad that some Omanis dont realize this fact!! I mean since when Oman is not as intresting as Dubai ?! I can tell it’s double intresting than Dubai
Thanks fpr spoting the light over our beautiful Muscat in this amazing blog
I depart for Egypt in a couple of weeks, from there I travel to
Oman, staying at The Chedi. This story has made my enthusiasm grow. Good to see ‘Business Spectator’ carrying some cultural articles for a change.
Oman is stunning and fascinating! I had the chance to visit last year and am thrilled to live it again through your post. I didn’t have the chance to visit the market and next time I will. I did have a wonderful lunch at the Chedi and did visit the shop and wanted everything! Wonderful post (and a guest of the Ministry????)!!
I have a friend who used to live in Oman and he loved it there! I want to visit! IF I could afford it, The Chedi is definitely on the top of my list of places-to-stay! It’s one of the world’s top hotels in the Arabian peninsula! Thanks for sharing all your lovely memories, Lorraine!
What a beautiful post & what a georgous place to visit!
Thank you for taking us along rhe ride! I have never been there but you make me want to go there,…instantly!
Gorgeous photos and lovely post. Looks like a colourful holiday destination!
OMAN IS SO BEAUTIFULLY DEFINE IN THIS SITE THAT I AM SPEECHLESS & FALL IN LOVE WITH OMAN & IT’S CULTURE !!!
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[...] eat hummus with a knife whereas some dip the bread straight in. This hummus recipe was one from The Chedi in Muscat, Oman, that I had adapted. It was so silky and delicious and so unlike any other hummus I had tried.They [...]
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