The travels and musings of Matt and Heidi
Ana has lived in Muscat for several years and took us into the desert for 24 hours. First stop Wadi Bani Khalid. Drive over the mountains that frame Muscat one side (the sea is on the other) and into a valley of desert, mountains, villages and trails. What does wadi mean? Wadi is an Arabic... Continue Reading →
According to Wikipedia, in 1992 His Royal Highness Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said held a competition to design and build a Grand Mosque. Construction took six years to complete and the result is a stunning reflection of Islamic architecture. The mosque occupies an area of approximately 416,000 square metres and can accommodate up to 20,000... Continue Reading →
Our final post on Islamic Art and Architecture looks at the military. The 15th century war mask above was used in both Turkey and western Iran to motivate troops. The story told to us by the guide was that the commanding officer would charge into battle wearing the mask. Should he be killed then the... Continue Reading →
Astrolabes, like the one above, were used throughout the Islamic world for many centuries mainly to determine prayer time and the direction of Mecca.
Here are some of the finer things in life including the emerald wine cup (above) from India c1605. Wait! What? Wine?? 😉
The Museum of Islamic Art had a fascinating section that included ceramics, textiles and woodwork dating back to the 7th century. Here are just some of the stunning samples we saw, such as the Turkish tile above c1560, that uses a technique called 'fritware' in which ground glass is mixed with the clay and baked... Continue Reading →
During a recent visit to the city of Doha, Qatar, we were fortunate enough to spend an hour in the Museum of Islamic Art (above) on the picturesque Corniche. Throughout the rest of Ramadan we will share with you some of the centuries old culture we experienced, beginning with Everyday Life. Stall holder from the... Continue Reading →
This incredible building is called the Muhammad Al Ameen Mosque and is situated just off 23rd July Street in the district of Bausher, near our home. Named after the Prophet Muhammed it was privately financed to the cost of 40million Omani rials and bears the third largest carpet in the world costing around US$4million to... Continue Reading →
Kahwa is traditional Omani coffee. The core ingredients are ground cardamom pods and good quality Arabic coffee beans. Other spices such as cloves, cinnamon or saffron are added to the brewing process and these can differ from village to village, and from family member to family member. The method is simple: 1.) Take a kettle... Continue Reading →
Halwa is the national desert of Oman and a symbol of the countries heritage and culture. The taste is unique to the family that makes it and the recipe is handed down from generation to generation. The method of producing halwa has been preserved for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years as grandparents teach their grandchildren... Continue Reading →
Wish You Were Here 