Quaint Quriyat

Quriyat fort built over 200 years ago.

Quriyat Beach. (How many mosque minarets can you count?)

Lookout Tower at low tide

We went on short road trip to Quriyat, 1.5 hours drive southeast of Muscat. We intended to spend the day visiting the village, the castle and going "wadi-bashing” but P got called into an afternoon meeting at work just as we started our drive out. So we shortened our trip to visit just the fort and picnic at the beach.

Quriyat, is derived from the Arabic “qariyat” which means villages. It lies along the coastline on the Arabian Gulf. The town is the gateway to the scenic narrow coastal gravel road that runs south to Sur. Most people pass right by Quriyat without stopping to beeline it to the Bimah sinkhole, the white beaches of Fins and Tiwi or cool Wadi Shab.

That’s too bad. Quriyat itself is just as scenic, with a well developed corniche well used by the locals and full of authentic fishing boats and a lovely park at the end of a very clean and long beach. The town also has a beautiful restored fort that we explored. We had a nice lunch at the beach park and the children enjoyed playing on the sand while P climbed up the lookout tower accessible at low tide.

Season's Greetings 2005

All the best this Holiday Season
from Fair Witch, P and the 3Ms.

Merry Christmas!

Fireplace, armchair, heavy red woolen coat...the tradition continues even in the arid desert of the Middle East but wait ... are those Teva sandals under Santa's black boots???


M1 with Santa

M2 with Santa

M3 with Santa

35 Years of The Glorious Renaissance

National Day is celebrated in Oman every year on November 18, the Sultan's birthday. This year was extra special as "HM" - His Majesty, the Sultan- has been on the throne as absolute monarch for 35 years. The week was marked by military parades, fireworks and cultural presentations. We also received a 2 day holiday December 3 and 4.

As part of the celebration, HM gave away 16,000 plots of land to his citizens. Not only that, every civil servant, and all public service workers (teachers, hospital staff, Crown corporation employees etc.) received a bonus of 1 - 2 months salary. What a birthday party!


His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said

HM's picture on every lamp post...

The entire highway in Muscat is decorated with HM's pictures, the Omani Flag and festive lights.