Pixels For Four

There are some things I learn when I travel. I learned that no matter how much you expected for things to happen, some things are just not meant to be. Just like when I looked forward to dining at a well-known restaurant in Muscat to experience authentic Omani cuisine, ambiance and all. But things didn't work out my way. When my hosts brought us to S&H Chocolate Lounge for lunch instead, I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't on our itinerary. I wanted authentic Omani food, even if it meant eating street food.

An expat friend once told me, if you want to explore a place deeply, go to its markets, or souq in Arabic. In markets, you will find the heartbeat of the community that lives there. And I was reminded of that when I went to Oman last November. On the landing page of my search for the list of top things to do in Muscat is a visit to Muttrah Souq suggestions. *Al Dhalam (Darkness in Arabic) Souq is the local name for the Muttrah Souq. It has been named after darkness because of the crowded stalls and lanes where the sunrays do not infiltrate during the day and the shoppers needed lamps to know their destinations. As one of the Arab nations' oldest souqs, Muttrah Souq plays an important role in the preservation and presentation of time-treasured customs and history. You will see khanjars (daggers), vases and jars, kuma  (Omani headgears), sandals, and even frankincense, myrrh, and gold. If you check out my Instagram posts, you will read bits of my experiences there. The time I...

It's 2017! Happy New Year to us all! More than a month has passed since I came back from Oman when I attended the momentous launch of  Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront . It was one of my most unforgettable moments as an expat here in the Middle East. It's one thing that doesn't happen every day. And until now, the experience hasn't left me. I still cannot believe I went there alone. Or that I was able to interact with strangers who turned out to be some of the friendliest people I know. I wanted to post the other places I've been to after the launch, but I decided it would be best to present my experience and the places chronologically — except for the Plaza Premium Lounge in Muscat International Airport — which I will tell you about on my last post about Oman.