The Jewel Of Arabia

Sonia Gomez travels to Muscat to discover the hidden gems that the land of Sinbad has to offer. Looking out the window as my driver cruises along an Omani freeway, all I see is sand. In fact, I see miles and miles of gruelling desert that stretch well into the horizon.

Every now and again, the startlingly coffee-coloured landscape is peppered with a cluster of whiter than- white flat-roofed houses and the sway of dusty green palm trees that add a dash of colour to the rugged environs.

I make it my mission to spot a coloured house – perhaps painted a pale yellow or light blue – but in vain. The heat-repelling properties of white paint make it the obvious colour of choice for the Omanis, who need to brave the unforgiving heat during the summer months when temperatures sometimes exceed 47°C.

Other Posts :

Laneways And Languid Days

Poolside Panorama

Homecoming

The Many Faces Of South India