Bowlings Abroad

Over National Day weekend, Hope and I took a trip to Sohar, Oman. While crossing the border we had a small miscommunication with the border agent over duty-free allowances. Boom! I suddenly felt filled with feelings I hadn’t experienced in a long while. I don’t miss that feeling and it exploded back into my brain and kept a hold of me for the better part of a day. I addressed it a bit in the most recent Takes & Typos newsletter.

The drive to Sohar, the captial of Al Batinah North Governate in Oman is a tidy three hours across the interior of UAE. The sudden transitions from the cityscape of Abu Dhabi, to rolling dunes of Al Ain, to craggy Omani Mountains, to quiet coastline along the Gulf of Oman are remarkable.

Fun fact: Sohar claims to be the birthplace of Sinbad the sailor!

It was my first time in Oman, Hope’s second, after attending a conference in Muscat in pre-Covid times. I was struck by how it feels more traditional and slower than on this side of the border. There aren’t delivery drivers slaloming through traffic. The roads are less congested. The landscapes are varied and breathtaking. And of course, the food is solid, heavy on seafood for obvious reasons.

View of the Gulf of Oman from the Corniche in Sohar

The Sohar Fort is located across the street from the waterfront facing the Gulf

Minus the border fiasco, it was an enjoyable time and if you’re reading this in the region (or planning a trip), I recommend popping over to Oman and enjoying its unspoiled landscapes.