My La-La Land—Salalah

I promised you, dear Readers, to bring you more about that wonderful place called Salalah. I spent just over four years there and even though I occupied a position of considerable importance, the weekends were created (for me, at least) for adventure and travel. It took me a mere six months to buy myself a new car; from then on, the sky was literally the limit, as I searched the surrounding areas for sights and sounds never before seen or heard.

But, first of all, what is the Arabian idyll without a few camels.

One of the first places I visited was Ayn Razat, a beautifully-sculpted garden, ideal for a picnic. The place has some natural springs and the water gurgles along, clean and pristine and teeming with tiny fish. There are also some caves that can be explored, a little way up a hill. In fact, hills surround the garden, giving it the look of an enclosed, yet open, paradisal haven.

Much more rugged and natural is Ayn Garziz, again with ever-flowing streams of spring water and clusters of trees that are so short that anyone could emulate Tarzan if they really tried.

More accessible and right in the heart of the city is the Dahariz Beach, with its coconut trees all in a row and a recreational centre nearby. The beach may be a tad busy during the weekend, but on the other days there is guaranteed semi-privacy, even for an impromptu barbeque.

Travelling North and past the busy sea-port area, a forty-minute drive will lead you to Muqsayl, renowned for its blow-holes that can be heard roaring before they are actually seen. If you are game for a natural water-wash, stand atop the heavy steel grille and brace yourself. Not for the faint-hearted, if you take my word for it.

On the other side of the city, a little distance from Taqah, is Khawr Rouri, an archaeological site known for its palatial ruins—the palace actually belonging to the legendary Queen of Sheba. When I was there, excavations were still on-going and they perhaps continue to this day.

Oh, I can go on and on, extolling the natural beauty of Salalah. There is the giant sink-hole in Tawi Attir, the enclosed port of Sadh, the cove sheltering at least one dhow, the countryside with many tombs and monuments commemorating great religious figures, and even the ancient frankincense trail. But here, in the city too, there is so much to see and appreciate.

Take the Clock Tower near the City Centre. It stands tall in the roundabout, one of the four roads leading to the old Airport, another quiet picnic spot. The road leading to the Port of Salalah is the haunt of walkers, who come from everywhere to exercise and take in the fresh, unpolluted air.

Am I beaming with pride? Salalah deserves that and more. Because there is much more to cherish and remember. Next time, I will take you on a grand tour and show you why Salalah is also a memorable place for the historian and the devotee alike. Tradition and modernity go hand-in-hand here, and could well become a symbol of what life can be today, if only we give it a try.