Omani currency is the OMR, or Omani Riyal. Qatar also uses Riyals (QR or Qatari Riyals). The only problem, for anyone who lives in Qatar, is that the Omani Riyal is worth 10 Qatari Riyals. When something costs OMR20 that sounds like a bargain, until you remember that’s Qr200 (approx $AU80 or $US55). We need to stay alert!
Today was another hot, blue sky day. Very unusual for this time of year (not the heat, but the clear blue sky). Early in the morning it is misty and cooler, so we went for a walk before breakfast around the resort. It’s a huge area, really several hotels & residences and plenty of walking paths.
The early morning views from our new room. Loving it!
I believe this is called a House Crow. Lots of them around. 
There are lots of colourful crabs at the waters edge. 
Looking back towards the Fanar. It fits in well with the local architecture. 
As we passed through the city of Salalah we came across a collection of fruit stalls. In this tropical climate, bananas & coconuts abound, as well as pineapples, papayas and more. Stall after stall, with palm frond roofs displayed the produce.
A cheeky shot of some locals heading to buy some fruit. 
Our destination was the Museum of the Frankincense Land. Frankincense is the dried resin of the Frankincense tree, and was responsible for much of the wealth of this region back in the day, as they traded with China, India & Europe along the so-called Frankincense Road. The best quality Frankincense grew herein the Dhofar region. This small but interesting museum contains displays about the Maritime history of the region, as well as archaeology, natural & political history.
A Frankincense Tree
The Al Balid Archaeological Site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the remnants of an ancient city of Zufar (Salalah). It was described by early visitors like Marco Polo & Ibn Battuta. Most of what can be seen dates from the 10th to 15th centuries, when the city was a port for exporting both frankincense and Arabian horses. 
Some old boats are also on display. This one is called a Jalibut, which derives from the English “jolly-boat”. 
It’s a huge site and it was rather hot. We only discover as we finished golf carts that we could have hired to see this site in more comfort!
Wikipedia suggests that it’s the other way around – jolly boat comes from jalibut – and that possibly jalibut comes from the Russian yal, though it seems quite unsure of that.
Hmm interesting. I was going by the sign posted at the site but it does seem more likely the other way around.
Had to laugh that you only discovered the golf carts as you left… think how much fitter you are as a result of all that walking!
Yes I did appreciate the exercise (12,000 steps) but it was HOT!
All of those bananas! Did you buy any fruit? Tempting!
So tempting! The bananas were selling by the hand so we couldn’t manage that, but we did buy some mango pieces – so sweet and tasty 😋