Muscat, Oman

Monday, March 23, 2015

Setting sail west northwest through the Arabian Sea we headed for Muscat to dock at the port of Mina Qaboos.  The Arabian Sea has two important branches - the Gulf of Aden, connecting with the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman connecting with the Persian Gulf.  

Muscat is the capital of Oman and largest city.  This city has a vibrant economy and has been a crucial seaport for at least 24 centuries with links to India and beyond.   Muscat and Oman have been ruled by the Al Said dynasty since the 18th century.  In 1970, Qaboos bin Said ascended to the Sultanate, and began an ambitious program of revitalization.

Visitors to Muscat discover a fascinating combination of ancient and modern environments.  The harbor is guarded by two 16th century forts perched atop rocky outcrops.  Between the forts stands the palace of the Sultan.  Entering the harbor you also see a huge white incense burner sculpture created to honor the area's frankincense and myrrh. Beyond the city lies the vast area of the Arabian Desert. 

One of the things we enjoy most on our visits to Oman is shopping at the Souks.  At the port in Mina Qaboos, you find one of the oldest, the Muttrah Souk.  Here you stroll through winding alleys stopping to bargain with the traders for exotic spices, silverware, Omani clothing and handicrafts.

Another fun way to see the area is by sailing on a wooden dhow.  From the sea you view the dramatic mountains and the white washed buildings.  Dhows have been sailing the Muscat waters for centuries where they were used on trade routes, connecting Oman, India and Iran.

Muscat and Oman is truly an area out of the Arabian nights.

As-salaam alaykum "Peace be with you" the Omani's say as we depart for our overnight sail to Dubai and arrival early tomorrow morning.

Mumbai, India

Friday, March 20, 2015

Headlines for the Day:  Do not travel to India during their summer months  and if you do, wear a face mask!  The weather is extremely oppressive and HOT/HUMID.  The temperature for the day is 95 degrees F with smoke and no idea what the humidity might be.

So, Mumbai (also known as Bombay but officially changed to Mumbai in 1997 by Parliament) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra.  It is the most populous metropolitan area in India with 21 million, but how do they count all the people???  Mumbai is the eighth most populous city in the world.  It is also the wealthiest city in India.

Mumbai also has the distinction of being day 55 of our World Cruise which marks the half way point - time is really flying!

Our day in Mumbai began with a drive thru the city viewing the Town Hall, Municipal Corporation building, the Central Telegraph Office and the magnificent Gothic style Victoria Terminus, one of the busiest railway stations in India.

Next we visited Crawford Market, the wholesale produce bazaar, watching vendor's wheel and deal a variety of exotic and domestic fruits, vegetables, birds and even rats!

On to the infamous Dhobi Ghat known as the world's largest outdoor launderer.  Here washers or "dhobis" scrub the laundry for many of Mumbai's businesses and citizens despite most having automatic washing machines.

  We then boarded a local train for a ride to Churchgate Station, the terminus of Western Railways.  Local trains are the lifelines of the city, carrying as many as a million people to work each day.

Outside the train station, we watch the "Dabbawalas", men who accurately deliver freshly cooked food in lunch containers to thousands of people who reside in the suburbs of Mumbai, to their workplaces in the city, including returning the empty containers to the customers' residences.  This task has become a highly specialized industry that has been going on for over a century now, and a fixture in the lives of Mumbai's people.

 Our final visit of the day was to the iconic yellow basalt arch, the Gateway of India, built to celebrate the visit of King George V.

We were originally scheduled to depart tomorrow at 4AM but for some reason, the port authorities gave the Captain the choice of leaving at 11PM tonight or 9AM tomorrow.  The Captain chose 11PM tonight.

Off to Mina Qaboos, the port for Muscat, Oman, two sea days sail.