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Oman is a well-liked tourist spot.
Tourists truly love coming over to Oman. The land
promises everything that one can possibly desire of. If
you are to know more about the subtleties of this land,
then refer to Oman Overview. Entertainment in Oman
allows you to have the best of times around. Oman
entertainment is sure to capture your senses. The
amazing sand dunes, the far-fetched mountains, the
palm-fringed wadis and the vast coastline adorn this
lovely land of Oman. It is truly one of the finest
places amongst the Gulf States. Thus, you will never run
short of entertainment in Oman whatsoever. Alpha Tours
in Oman as well as dolphin watching in Oman are the
primary means of entertainment. Entertainment in Oman is
all about making your trip even more worthwhile and
eventful.
Alpha Tours in Oman is certainly worth its weight in
gold. Discovering the historic city of Muscat, whilst
catching sights of the mountains, the market places and
the oasis is truly an experience of a lifetime. Dune
driving is simply amusing and heady. You will come
across the forts of Nakhal, Al Hazm and Rustaq that lie
on the Jebel Akhdar mountains. The oasis at Wadi Bani
Khaled can also be seen whist this desert tour. Alpha
Tours in Oman is certainly adventurous, so much so that
you will be in cloud nine.
Entertainment in Oman just gets better with dolphin
watching in Oman. Crowds in scores come over to watch
dolphins along the coast of Muscat. The far stretched
coastline also comes to view, much to your delight.
Dolphins are some of the lovely creatures on planet
earth. They will simply love to see them play in the
blue waters. Be it the the foot pushes or the water
flights, the kisses or the handshakes, they are a feast
to the eyes. Entertainment at Oman embraces everything
to keep you in high spirits.
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Food and Drink
Numerous restaurants have opened in recent years, but
many people retain the habit of dining at hotels - in
Muscat at least. There is a wide variety of cuisine on
offer, including Arabic, Indian, Oriental, European and
other international dishes. Traditional coffee houses
and international-style chain coffeeshops are popular.
In other parts of the country, except in Salalah and
Nizwa, most people eat at home so the main options for
dining are small coffeeshops, occasional Lebanese or
Turkish restaurants and roadside shwarma (shaved meat)
stands.
Things to know: Waiter service is usual. Muslims
are forbidden to drink alcohol, but most hotel bars and
restaurants have a bar for guests. Visitors are only
allowed to drink alcohol if they purchase drinks from
licensed hotels and restaurants. To buy alcohol for home
consumption, Western nationals must obtain a licence
from their embassy.
National specialties:
• Shuwa (meat cooked slowly for up to two days in
underground clay ovens, marinated with herbs and
spices).
• Mashuai (spit-roasted kingfish served with lemon
rice).
• Maqbous (rice dish with saffron cooked over spicy red
or white meat).
• Halwa (sticky, gelatinous sweet made from dates or
sugar and flavoured with saffron, cardamom and
rosewater).
• Lokhemat (balls of flour and yeast flavoured with
cardamom and deep fried, served with sweet lime and
cardamom syrup).
National drinks:
• Kahwa (coffee; strong, bitter and flavoured with
cardamom, served with halwa and lokhemat).
• Mixed fruit juice (mango, pomegranate, orange and
avocado layered in long glasses).
Tipping: Becoming more common; 10% should be
given in hotels and restaurants with licensed bars but
is not expected in more casual restaurants.
Nightlife
There are a few nightclubs and bars in Muscat; most
nightlife is to be found in hotels and several modern
cinemas in Shatti Al-Qurm and in Ruwi showing Arab,
Indian and English films. There is very little in the
way of nightlife in other Omani towns with the exception
of Salalah: during the khareef (rainy season in July and
August) it comes alive with festival activities.
Shopping
The newly expanded Muscat City Centre mall boasts over
140 shops, with many designer goods for sale. Other
malls include Markaz Al-Bahjah and the Lulu complexes.
More modern shops are centred around Shatti Al-Qurum.
Qurum itself was hit badly by the 2007 cyclone Gonu, and
may take some time to return to full capacity. The two
main traditional souks (markets) are located in Muttrah
and Nizwa, although most towns have a souk of some
description. Traditional crafts include silver and gold
jewellery,
khanjars (Omani daggers), coffeepots, saddles,
frankincense (the sap of a tree that grows in Dhofar in
the south of Oman), handwoven textiles, goat hair
carpets, baskets and camel straps. Antique khanjars
(over 50 years old) may not be exported. It is wise to
check with the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture
for the necessary documentation before purchasing.
Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1300 and
1600-2000. Souks open 0800-1100 and 1600-1900. Many
shops close on Friday. Opening hours vary during Ramadan
with many shops closing all afternoon but opening until
late (about 1000) in the evening. |