Discovering Muscat-The Charm of Travelling Through Jebel Seifah

Report and Pictures Dr. Eugene D’Souza,Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Muscat, 05 April, 2010: After spending ten wonderful and exciting days in Dubai, my wife Benny and myself landed in Muscat on 3rd April 2010 as Benny’s two sisters, Celine and Pauline and her cousin-Richie reside in the city. We had wonderful time in Dubai, thanks to our hosts associated with Bellevision-Elias D’Souza, former President, his brother, Sigfred-the Webmaster and his family-Vineetha and Sohan, Valerian Alva, the present President and his family and Ronald Sabi D’Souza, another former President and his family. They not only took very good care of us while in Dubai but also took time out and accompanied us to various places in and outside Dubai including Fujairah and Al Ain. 

After landing in Muscat, I could see the difference in the ambience of the two great cities-Dubai and Muscat. Dubai is situated on plain land with modern multi-storey buildings, broad roads, metro system and mall culture manifesting modernism. The outskirts of the mega city is dotted with deserts with sparse vegetation and sand dunes. On the other hand, Muscat has its own rustic and natural beauty with historical past. As one sees buildings   all around Dubai, in Muscat the modest buildings are situated in bawl-like plains surrounded by hills and mountains. The roads are reasonably broad and well-laid so also the roadsides are lined with date palms, grass lawns and occasionally one can see flowerbeds.   

Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman since 1790, has a great deal of charm and character and offers the combination of the relaxed atmosphere of an Indian Ocean town set amongst the well ordered life of a modern oil state. The original town of Muscat forms only a fraction of the administrative area as over the years the city has expanded to other new areas. These areas have their own identities and are some kilometers away from ‘old’ Muscat itself.

As 3rd April 2010, the day we landed in Muscat was Holy Saturday, we went for the Easter Vigil and Mass at the SS. Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi-Muscat. The next day being Easter Sunday we had lunch at the residence of Mr. Thomas Pinto from Bantwal, a friend and neighbour of Celine who suggested that we could go on a ride to Jebel Seifah as he had taken leave for Easter. I grabbed this opportunity so that I could experience the rural beauty of Muscat.

Five of us started at around 5pm in the vehicle of Mr. Thomas who drove it with agility and extraordinary control through the mountainous road. The barren volcanic mountains stretching on both sides of the road transported us to a different kind of world. The long winding road presented us with spectacular scenery of the valleys and mountain ranges. At three different intervals on the route I could see blue lagoons branching out of the Gulf of Oman in the lake like formations which are being used as fishing bases and for leisure boating. 

As we travelled further, we could see cluster of traditional Omani villages with small houses. At one place I saw a group of men holding meeting outside a house and goats roaming around. 

After an hours’ journey we reached the beautiful sea front with sandy beach. The clear blue water washing the sand in small waves was a pleasure to see. By the sea side I could see some boats used for fishing. There were few Omani village women sitting on the beach. When I tried to click their pictures, three of them just turned their face away from the camera. However, three of the children playing on the beach obliged and posed for the picture.

After spending some time at the beach, we returned by the same route. The entire journey to and from Jebel Seifah was an experience worth sharing with the readers of Bellevision through this brief report and pictures.