Muscat 1 of 6

This morning, (June 3rd) we sailed into Mina Qaboos, the port of Muscat, Oman. We entered the harbour which is "guarded by" two 16th century forts - all that remains of Albuquerque's ambitions to control the waters of the Indian Ocean. We'd visited this port last year so these early images seemed 'familiar' to us. Images out of the fabled, "Alibaba and the Forty Thieves" filled our minds again as we surveyed the view before us.

We docked at about 8am and even then because it was the height of summer the air was warm and throughout the day we found ourselves in temperatures which ranged between 30C and 45C. In contrast winter temperatures range from 17C to 25C and are much more comfortable but today we dressed and hydrated ready for the summer onslaught.

On our port side we could see the absolute monarch's official residence: the Al Alam Palace which is an impressive blend of both modern and contemporary Islamic architecture.

A little bit of Muscat's history:

Muscat is the capital of Oman, one of the fabled ports of the Near East and a legendary trading centre connecting Europe and Asia as far back as the 1st century AD when Roman merchants, Indian traders and even Buddhist monks met, mingled and traded in the city's streets. Archaeological excavations have uncovered pottery from the early cities of the Indus River Valley digs outside the Muscat city.

Muscat has a colourful and turbulent history due to its strategic location and importance as a commercial port. A long line of foreign interlopers have staked their claim to the city and its' riches over the centuries.

During the West's Middle Ages the Iraqi Caliphate (ruler) of Baghdad exerted control over Oman for 2 centuries until 1508 when the Portuguese, Alfonse de Albuquerque, (don' t you just love his name) took possession of Muscat and became the dominant power over the entire Indian Ocean and Muscat for the next 151 years. In 1659 the Ottoman Turks took possession of Oman but they were driven out in 1741 by Ahmed bin Said of Yemen who liberation Oman from foreign domination. He consolidated the sultanate of Oman in 1744 and founded the present Royal line. Since this period the Al Said dynasty has ruled over Muscat and Oman. In 1970, Sultan Qaboos bin Said ascended to the Sultanate, and began an ambitious program of revitalisation of Muscat and Oman. Tourism has been part of this revitalisation.