Salala, Oman

We docked in Salala after 3 long days at sea. We were ready to get off the ship for awhile but we were not sure what to expect. Since w e docked in Salala’s highly industrial and busy port, there were strict rules about disembarking and we were not allowed to wonder around the dock area. The tour bus waited for us right next to the gangway and we were quickly escorted on board by our guide Mohamed. Mohamed was a young genteman dressed on a long white gown and a turbin. He spoke perfect English and made us feel at ease and welcome. After the congestion and mad pace of India, Salala was a pleasant change. The city, rich from recent oil discoveries, was spread out for miles with signs of continuing growth and development. Whereever you looked there was sand and the predominant color was brown. There were small patches of green in roundabouts at several intersections through the city but that was it. The roadways were modern and looked newly constructed and there were traffic lights and signs that people actually used. One traffic sign depicted a “camel crossing” symbol and as we drove through the city camels, actually dromedaries, roamed freely. When a herd of camels decided to cross the roadway all traffic stopped for them. Seeing the camels really brought home that you were in a desert. In the ancient past, Salala was the richest location for the boswellia tree which produces a resin that is used to make frankincense. In a lot of the ancient religions, frankincense was a vital part of the relious ceremony. Salala’s history and early development are attributed to its abundant spice trade, especially frankincense. Today, frankincense is still a major industry. We were taken to a souks, market, that specialized in the sale of franincense. They sold little decorative burners with charcoal chips used to burn the frankincense crystals to produce the fragrant smell of incense. Of course we bought one!! I bought mine from a beautiful woman dressed from head to toe in a black berka. Only her gorgeous eye were visible through the opening in her head covering. Nevertheless, we communicated and I sensed her kindness and sincerity in her eyes. It was one of those times when you feel you’ve made a connection with someone, however brief and no matter how different we were. Salala turned out to be an interesting and beguiling port of call. We both said that we would like to return someday and spend more time.