Salalah Time

We took a few days to visit Salalah to escape Muscat still sizzling 40c+ temperature  for some صلالة تائيم  where the sizzle turned into drizzle and the mountains were covered in their summer finery of green.

The town was still busy with many Emirati families and still a few Omanis on holiday after the Eid Holidays.

Car in Salalah Mountains

We were lucky to catch

The Gulf with Clipper Odyssey

In January last year I was delighted to give lots of talks about Oman on the Island Sky from Salalah to past Abu Dhabi. This year in November the American company Zegrahm is doing a similar cruise travelling between Muscat and Bahrain. I have been fortunate to be invited on board for a couple of weeks

Protests and Palms

Before the passengers on Island Sky  flew home we took a city tour in Salalah. Passing the protest in Salalah, one of several in Oman by Omani youth, we drove towards our overnight stay at the Marriott Hotel.

Protest in Salalah

Naturally we made a stop

Sea Voyage along the coast of Oman with Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky

Between Sur and Salalah Oman we spent a day and night at sea. It was a magical journey and for me the highlight of almost 2 weeks of memorable experiences. During the day we passed through a vast pod of Dolphin with Blue Footed Boobies joining them in feeding off fish and further away whales blew jets into the air after diving.

Dolphins from the Island Sky at Sea

At night as we sailed in complete darkness the stars dazzled

Muscat Oman

Our arrival into Muscat in Oman proved as always to be a highlight of the voyage, for most of the passengers it was the highlight. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque surprised everyone with the quality of the craftsmanship and design.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Muscat

The port at Sur is too small for the Island Sky to enter