Day 117 Tuesday 4/10/2018 Muscat, Oman 8:00-5:00

Still have no control over the order the pictures are posted.  

I loved Muscat, Oman.  The city was clean and most buildings were bright white. The roads were in great shape and there was no garbage along the roads or streets.  There is a lot of development happening.  Our guide offered great praise to the Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, as he is credited with turning Oman around.  The Sultan has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970.  I would love to return to Oman for a longer visit.  I felt very safe.  If someone breaks a law, consequences are quite severe as it is considered a personal affront to the Sultan.  

Muscat, capital of the nation of Oman, enjoys a setting between the Arabian Sea and the rocky Western Al Hajar Mountains.  Oman is an absolute monarchy, the Sultan is in charge of everything.  Low white-washed buildings watch over traditional dhow fishing boats in the harbor.  The city also offers royal and Islamic treasures.  The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was named for the beloved leader who has bolstered Oman’s economy.  He funded the building of this massive, beautiful building.  It opened in 2001 after six years of construction and is a vast expanse of white marble, intricate wooden panels and magnificent stained-glass windows.  A 45,000-square-foot carpet and 46-foot-tall chandelier are centerpieces.  The carpet weighs more than twenty tons and is one of the largest of this type in the world. 

Facebook summary -Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman is beyond amazing. This picture does not do it justice. A 45,000-square-foot carpet and 46-foot-tall chandelier are centerpieces. The carpet weighs more than twenty tons and is one of the largest of this type in the world. The carpet contains 1,700,000,000 knots and took four years to produce. It measures seventy meters by sixty meters and covers 4,343 square meters. In the center of the room, the dome is ninety meters high and the chandelier hanging there is 14 meters tall. There is a stairway inside the chandelier to allow maintenance. Oman is very clean, the roads are in great shape, saw many beautiful houses and there is a lot of development happening. Sultan Qaboos is credited with turning Oman around. Oman is an absolute monarchy so the Sultan takes care of everything. This mosque was incredible, we also visited the Sultan's perfumery where a small bottle of perfume costs $300. We toured the Bait Adam Museum with the owner/curator to see many Omani pieces of antiquity. We had an excellent lunch at the Kareen Caffe. At lunch, a couple told me that they had been to the Taj Mahal and the Sultan's Mosque was more impressive. It was quite a day in Oman.

I believe this is the Sultan's largest yacht.  Notice, there is only one lifeboat, so we know it is not a cruise ship. This might be the one worth $350 million.  

I was told the white domed "thing" is just there for aesthetics.  I was also  told that the two chimney/silo "things" in the right foreground are signal towers used long ago to communicate to other parts of Oman.  

The Sultan was schooled in India.  He has been in power longer than any other Omani leader in Oman's history.  He overthrew his father.  Owns several super-yachts.  Largest yacht worth $350 million dollars.  An accomplished musician and composer, on his orders, a Royal Opera House was constructed.  He is in charge of everything in this country; sultan, prime minister, finances, etc.  Our guide praised the Sultan repeatedly.  There is much growth as indicated by development.  Buildings have a limit of twelve stories which is out of respect for their culture.  There was no garbage anywhere.  The roads are excellent shape.  Buildings looked clean and bright.   

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Aileen and Ray in Kargeen's Restaurant - great buffet meal.  I loved the Omanian food.  The  lamb, chicken, fish, side dishes and desserts were all great.  

Luncheon restaurant.

Luncheon restaurant

Aileen ready to go to the Mosque

After we left India, we had an India night on board.  Left to right, Lara, the captain's wife and ship's hostess.  Each port is a first for Viking and Lara is the person that entertains dignitaries.  Matthew, dance instructor and part of the Entertainment Team, me, and Elmer, Assistant Cruise Director.  

Our guide demonstrated how he wraps his turban.  

 According to Wikipedia "A major feature of the design of the interior is the prayer carpet which covers the floor of the prayer hall. It contains, 1,700,000,000 knots, weighs 21 tons and took four years to produce, and brings together the classical Persian Tabriz, Kashan and Isfahan design traditions. Twenty-eight colors in varying shades were used, the majority obtained from traditional vegetable dyes. It is the second largest single piece carpet in the world. This hand-woven carpet was produced by Iran Carpet Company (ICC) at the order of the Diwan of the Royal Court of Sultanate. The carpet measures over 70 × 60 meters, and covers the 4,343 square meter area of the praying hall."  

Vast marble expanse between the main mosque and the Absolution Room.  

Our guide demonstrating the Absolution Process in the Absolution Room.  

The Sultan revived the art of perfumery in 1983.  Amouage is the most valuable fragrance in the world.  

Essence of Arabia  5 hours  A Rich Sensory Experience 9:15- 2:15/2:30.
Started at the renowned Sultan Qaboos Mosque, Islamic architecture at its finest.  In the Grand Mosque, we saw Swarovski crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows and the amazing rug.  Next, 15 minutes away, visited the famous Amouage Perfumery.  Arabia’s centuries old perfumes are among the greatest treasures in the world.  In 1983, the Sultan restored the art of perfumery to the region, creating Amouage, the most valuable fragrance in the world whose bottles continue to be individually finished by hand.  Continued  30 minutes away to Bait Adam Museum to see Omani antiquity with a private tour given by the owner/curator.  After, a 15 min drive to Kargeen’s Cafe to enjoy an Omani meal.  This was a beautifully decorated restaurant that felt very Bohemian.  The food was excellent and I enjoyed tasting the fish, lamb and chicken dishes.  The side dishes were excellent and so were the desserts.  A Viking tour that matched Viking’s reputation.   

Amouage Perfumery

Many rocky surfaces in Muscat, Oman.

Rocky hillside and signal tower.  

Beautiful panels throughout the Mosque.

Saw many beautiful homes

Swarovski crystal chandeliers.  Wikipedia  "The chandelier above the praying hall is 14 meters tall and was manufactured by company Faustig from Italy. It is the world's largest chandelier.^[5]" Since the mosque is 90 meters high the chandler looks proportional, and it is the world's largest chandelier.^[6] It weighs 8.5 tons, includes 600,000 crystals, 1,122 halogen bulbs complete with dimming system, and includes a staircase for maintenance within the chandelier. Thirty-four smaller chandeliers of the same design are hung in other parts of the building.  ^[7]"

Swarovski crystal chandeliers - people that we had lunch with went on an additional overland excursion at an additional expense to see the Taj Mahal.  They said this Mosque was more impressive.  

This beautiful alcove is where the leader is located.  This alcove is as tall as the main room.  

Notice the size of the people on the right to help you appreciate the size of this Mosque.  

Walkway near the Men's Prayer Courtyard.  

This is the Women's Prayer Hall.  

Wall on the outside of the Mosque.  

Men's Prayer Courtyard.  

Amouage Perfumery, I did not buy any perfume there.  A tiny bottle would have been $300.

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque 

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque - beautiful marble everywhere.

If the visitors were not adequately covered, they had to pay $5. to rent a robe to cover legs and arms.  Women needed a scarf to cover their hair.  

Sultan Qaboos Mosque

Opera House

Sultan Qaboos Mosque

Dhow, fishing boat in the harbor, is a symbol of Oman.

Our guide for the day.

Collection in the Bait Adam Museum.

Notice the size of the people.