Mark and Gail's Excellent Adventure: Muscat, Oman in 48 hours

Off I go again on a 48 hour adventure to Muscat, Oman.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed....

Sultan Qaboos's Yaucht, 3rd largest, to Paul Allen's #10

Sultan Qaboos bin Said Palace

Souk shopping

It is only a one hour flight but what a difference from here in the desert. Oman's capital is a striking city sandwiched between spectacular rocky mountains and beautiful beaches. With strong connections to its history and culture and some of the friendliest locals. We hit the ground running with a visit to the Amouage perfumery, the most exclusive and expensive perfume in the world. All hand made and containing Frankincense grown only in the Oman.
We stopped for a photo opt at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, unfortunately not open for us to go inside. Then off to a couple of museums, an authentic Omani lunch then our hotel, the Shangri -La in time for a sunset cocktail beachside to unwind. We did an evening tour of the Souk and a Palace drive by to round out our day.

Amouage perfumery tour

Grand Mosque

Gotta love self timers! made it just in time

Cemetary

One of the many forts

So different from here in the desert

Yeah! Dolphins

Ok, stayed up way too late talking and laughing with my roomie, this old gal needs more than 5 hours sleep! We had the most amazing, wonderful Dolphin, snorkel and coastline boat tour! The dolphins were a plenty and performing at a distance all around us, I was lucky to snap a few good photos...pretty hard when you are trying to watch, and enjoy the show but just keep clicking. We even had a sea snake off the bow, creepy, they assured us "no snakes where we snorkel, very safe". So those of you who really know me, know I don't really swim and hardly ever snorkel, I'm quite the spectator. Well not anymore! I grew up for today at least, grabbed a life jacket, mask and fins and away I went. They said we would see turtles and Boy Howdy, did I see a turtle. I had the most amazing turtle experience EVER! All alone and I find my new BTFF (best turtle) Barney. He let me follow, swim beside and above him for 15 to 20 minutes, even touched his shell...I couldn't help myself. Such beautiful fish and coral, but nothing compares to Barney. All is right in the world.

So much fun, they were everywhere.

My new best friend Barney

Isn't he Beautiful!

Sea snake

Beautiful Oman children

So a quick trip back to our hotel to float the lazy river, nice. Shower, change and head out to another museum, city tour, souk shopping and dinner before our 11:30pm flight home, Yuk.

We had an amazing local guide Shaaymia, because of her our trip the the little fishing village was a once in a lifetime! We asked to stop where this small neighborhood was getting ready for festival day and a birthday party. We were welcomed to join them, allowed to mingle, take pictures and invited into their home to dance with the girls and women. The men are outside cooking, and the women go indoors and dance. So much joy and happiness, we did not speak the same language, but dancing, smiles and laughter are universal. Truly wonderful and to share this is something special.