The cabin crew aboard the 737-800 was all Thai. They were all lovely young women or transgenders. (I cannot tell the difference.) A remarkable event that took place during the flight was meal service. When was the last time that this happened to you on a fifty-minute flight in the U.S.? The Arabic airlines generally offer superior service in comparison to Western carriers. Furthermore, they are terrorist-free since there would be no point in blowing up a load of "homies".
Muscat is a city of about one million inhabitants. It is slow-paced and laid back in comparison to Dubai, but this is a nice change. It is a pleasant amalgam of desert, ocean, and mountains. The area reminded me a little of part of the coast of Southern California.
The airport was nicely done with Islamic architecture. The terminal was not large but outfitted with Western restaurants including Costa and Dairy Queen. It is a small world. I looked for a souvenir shot glass for my oldest son since he collects them. Good luck with that shot glass thing in an Islamic state. The most abundant souvenir was frankincense. Apparently, the Omanis have been producing this fragrant product since Biblical times when it was worth more than gold.
I returned to Dubai on the shores of the Gulf in late afternoon. The little journey was a nice respite from the usual routine of work. I have a place in my heart for the Omanis since they were very instrumental in the release of a young American hiker who was being held by the Iranians. It was good to visit this ancient sultanate. When my wife visits early next year, we may arrange a return trip.
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