(Oman Flag)


(Oman Map)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015:

We docked in Khasab, Oman first thing Tuesday morning.


Musandam is on the Strait of Hormuz, separated from the rest of Oman by the
eastern coastline of the United Arab Emirates. Its jagged coastline features fjordlike
inlets called khors, and its waters are home to dolphins and other marine life.
Omanis in the region have for centuries developed close trading ties with Iran.
The Iranian city Bandar Abbas is just 40 miles by boat across the Strait of Hormuz.


Click on the images below for the original full-size image.

Early Tuesday morning we docked in Khasab, Oman
which is the local capital of the Musandam Peninsula.


After we docked I took the ship's shuttle into the center of the small town.
I didn't stay long. Below is the mosque in the center of town.


Tuesday afternoon I boarded an old wooden dhow for a cruise around the Musandam Peninsula.
Below is the Splendour of the Seas as we were leaving the port in Khasab.


Musandam is frequently dubbed the "Norway of Arabia" because of its
extensive fjord-like craggy inlets and desolate mountainscapes.


There was time for a mid-day swim in the middle of our cruise.


We spotted many dolphins during our cruise.


We returned to the ship late in the afternoon and sailed away from Khasab just
before sunset. Watch the video below for all the day's activities.

42 minute video of Oman's Musandam Peninsula.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON DECEMBER 22, 2015

Hello folks, This morning at 8:00AM we docked is Khasab, Oman. It is the local capital of the Musandam Peninsula. It is a very small town in a remote part of the country, separated from mainland Oman. It is located on the extreme northeastern tip of the entire Arabian Peninsula. This morning after we docked I took the free shuttle into town to see what was there. The answer was not much. Below is a picture of town. Musandam is frequently dubbed the "Norway of Arabia" because of its extensive fjord-like craggy inlets and desolate mountainscapes. That is what I explored this afternoon on my boat trip. The coast juts out into the Straits of Hormuz and extends for 600 kilometers. Calm turquoise waters contrast the creamy-white limestone cliffs. Telegraph Island is in the picture above. This is where the British laid the first telegraph cable in 1864. I stayed on the boat and skipped the swimming portion of the afternoon. We were riding in traditional wooden dhow boats. We also saw lots of dolphins today. Some swan along side the boat and raced with us. I have them on video but have not checked those yet, so sorry no picture. It was a fun afternoon. The weather was perfect. Not too hot and clear blue skies. In the summertime this is one of the hottest places on the planet. They lifted the gangway seconds after we got back to the ship. Below is a picture of the Splendour of the Seas here in Khasab. It was a beautiful sail away tonight under a nearly full moon. This evening was the Captain's Welcome Reception. The beautiful ladies ride that crystal chandelier from the top of the seven story atrium to the bottom. And below is a picture of the Captain of the vessel. That's it for today, Tim

Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph. (Note: Screen grabs can not be enlarged.)

Click on the arrow above for my adventures in MUSCAT, OMAN.

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