What it’s really like in Oman…Part 1

Happy Sunday Everyone! I interrupt your usual DIY/Tutorial/Furniture Feature to bring you something a little different. Every now and again, I get feedback from followers who want to know more about me personally. I have to admit, the thought of putting my personal life out there scares me just a tad. I don’t think my life is all that exciting to hear about honestly. But in this creative business, it’s all about building a brand, and a brand reflects a person and their experiences. I figured a blog about traveling to a foreign country as an American would be pretty interesting, especially since not many know about living life in the Middle East. So here is what it’s really like in Oman…

You may have read my post about the long hiatus (deployment) I took for some of 2019 and most of 2020. If not, you can find it HERE. Long story short, COVID happened and kept me trapped (I use that term loosely) in the small but powerful country of Oman. People often think I’m referencing Jordan (Amman is the capital) or have no idea where it is. Oman is nestled between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen in the Persian Gulf.

I didn’t do much research on Oman before I deployed. I had this notion that all Middle East countries looked the same. My expectations were completely blown away. Yes, it’s hot. Yes, there is lots of sand, but this country was absolutely beautiful!

The Views

Just as you would expect from a ME country, it is very brown. What I was not expecting from Oman was the breathtaking ocean views, the stunning sunsets, and the rugged mountainous terrain that reminded me so much of my hometown (El Paso).

Typical of a desert, you’ll find lots of homes made from stone and brick. Local quarries are the primary source for building materials. I came across this jaw-dropping cliff driving around the city one afternoon and I just had to take a photo.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about Oman is the sunsets. If you followed me on Instagram the last year, you’ll know I posted a sunset photo almost every day and it honestly never got old watching the sun go down over the ocean.

The Culture

Oman is primarily a Muslim country. They are very progressive in the way of women’s/human rights and embrace a westernized approach to their way of living while respecting Islam. This made walking around freely without any coverings of my head or face (tattoos exposed and everything) something that I was not used to in the ME. The locals loved my tattoo artwork and often asked me questions about it. It was refreshing to say the least.

One thing that struck me is the how family oriented the culture is. Weekends and night times are reserved for friends and family. You can find the beaches packed in the evenings with families grilling, chatting and playing sports together.

The food was also amazing. I tried things I’d never even heard of, and kept an open mind to local dishes which included lots of vegetables, rice and lamb. One of my favorite things was a mint lemonade that was made fresh everyday. It’s common in ME culture to find this drink, and I’ve made it a few times since I’ve been home.

The Mutrah Souk is one of the most popular places in Muscat on the weekends. A Souk is essentially a bizarre or flea market where you can purchase local and handmade goods. My first few weeks I didn’t really do much shopping, but I spent a lot of time people watching, eating and enjoying the views at the Souk.

The Architechture

Oman has taken some seriously leaps to modernize it’s cities. One place it’s extremely evident is in the architecture. I love that these buildings pay homage to the Arab influences while adding modern and unique twists. These buildings were right along the beach where I spent most of my evenings. For reference, The W Hotel is where I stayed a large portion of my trip and the building itself was stunning.

I knew setting foot in this country would be an adventure. I thought my time would be limited here so I made the most of it by exploring, trying, and doing. Little did I know a pandemic would almost double my time here, which means I still have lots of content and photos to share with you. Have you ever traveled to Oman? If so, I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!