N ot far from the Old Watch Tower which I visited earlier in the day, I decided to explore the souq located across the street from the Muttrah Corniche in Muscat — and I must say that there are 3 reasons why I did not like the souq.
The first reason is because I dislike crowds; and many parts of the sprawling souq — I must have spent at least an hour wandering around there — were packed filled with people.
With absolutely no interest in purchasing housewares such as pots, pans and laundry detergent or cheap tchotchkes from such faraway lands as China or India, that is the second reason why I did not like the souq — which felt more like a nondescript run-of-the-mill flea market found anywhere else in the world than a traditional souq.
Fortunately, I had the foresight to visit the souq and purchase an item there when I was in Nizwa. It was much more pleasant, with merchants selling wares authentic to the sultanate of Oman; and with significantly fewer people in the souq itself despite it being crowded outside of the souq due to people attending the nearby mosque. I supposed I was already spoiled from that experience, which lent to the third reason why I did not like this souq in Muscat.
After I was finally finished — I did not purchase anything — I strolled up and down Muttrah Corniche along Al Bahri Road before I returned to the rental car I parked on the street earlier that evening. Although there were meters, I did not have to pay for parking due to the time when I parked the car.
Perhaps I missed a good part of the souq. Perhaps there might be a better souq to patronize in Muscat. I do not know; but it did not matter to me, as I already purchased what I wanted at the souq in Nizwa — which is the one I would recommend if you have the time and means to travel almost 180 kilometers to get there.
All photographs ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
