On my first day in Muscat, the capital of Oman, I hopped in a taxi at noon and told the driver to take me to Old Muscat. He pulled up in front of Al-Alam Palace, home to the country’s leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. “Do you have water?” he asked. “No, but I’ll … Read more
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman, is one of the one of the most spectacular things to discover in Oman. It is named for the country’s late leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman, who was the Arab world’s longest-serving ruler when he passed away in January of 2020. The main … Read more
Visiting Dubai had never been high on my travel wish list. I didn’t even expect to like it. Not a fan of big cities to begin with, I figured it would be noisy, crowded, pricey, and impersonal. My assumptions were based on the stories I’d heard about this city of excess. In 1965, when the … Read more
A dhow cargo boat on Dubai Creek in the Deira neighborhood of Dubai, UAE, is loaded down with merchandise. These old wooden boats carry cargo from the UAE to destinations as far flung as Iran, Pakistan, India, and Somalia. The spectacle changes from day to day. My first walk along the wharves took me through … Read more
At Atlantis Resort in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an enormous aquarium on the lower level allows guests close-up views of giant manta rays and sharks. The resort stands at the head of Palm Jumeira, the largest man-made island in the world, which was built in the shape of a palm tree. The … Read more
