Most of today was spent leading workshops for board members at the school.
I returned to the hotel late afternoon, but after standing and talking for most of the day, I really felt I needed a long walk. I began by walking downhill from the hotel along Al Qurm Street, which gave me some impressive views of my hotel in the afternoon light – it was easy for me to see why many people liken the hotel’s architecture to that of an ocean liner.
I continued westwards along Al Shati Street, which is a road that is a couple of kilometres long which was built just a few years ago above the sandbanks of Qurum Beach, which in turn form the baymouth barrier to the mangrove-fringed lagoon that marks the seaward exit of Wadi Adai. This was an interesting walk, not only for the coastal landforms and scenery, but for ‘people watching’ and ‘car watching’. Al Shati Street seems to be the place in Muscat where young people come and stop simply in order to be seen by other people.
After reaching the western end of Al Shati Street I continued walking by taking a loop inland to walk past the Royal Opera House. This highly impressive modern building was opened in 2011 and was (I thought) a brilliant example of the fusion between traditional Omani architecture and modernity.
Having looped past the Opera House I returned to Al Shati Street as the sun was setting. By this time the beach had become quite busy – almost congested in some parts – with people walking, playing football and other ball games, lying down and resting, and even some swimming. I thought it made for some wonderful coastal sunset photos. By the time I returned to the hotel, it was almost dark and I felt well exercised and ready for a good night’s sleep.
