Qurum Natural Park - Chirping Birds and a Paradise

A thought to begin with: 

"Nature surrounds us from parks and backyards to street and alleyways. Next time you go out for a walk, tread gently and remember we are both inhabitants and stewards of nature in our neighborhoods." Scientist David Suzuki

The above quote by the Canadian Scientist David Suzuki is very true in today's context. We are responsible for our natural surroundings. We have to live with them and nurture them too. This post is not just about a beautiful park in Oman, but I also want to highlight how every park, gardens and other green patches here are taken care of extensively by the Municipality. I have seen gardeners religiously tending to the plants, pruning, cutting and watering them regularly. Though the climatic conditions are harsh here, the green patches are minutely observed and taken care of on a daily basis. People here are responsible and keep their surroundings clean by not littering. A green space is an important breathing space woven into the urban fabric and needs to be nurtured.

Al Qurum Natural Park 

A Sketch of the Gazebo in Qurum Natural Park

We had heard a lot about this park called Qurum Natural Park, but had never been there due to the hot weather in Muscat. And then one fine day it was my daughter who insisted we take her to a park. So that evening a trip to the park was planned. Passing by the Qurum Beach road we took a turn towards our right and within a few kilometres we reached the park. It was a holiday and the parking lot was crowded. After a long wait for about 15min we finally got a parking space.

The entrance to the garden looked like a huge fort like structure with crenellations on the top and rose murals adorned the walls. The garden is also called Rose garden and it is said that the garden is filled with roses during the winter season. However we made our visit in the month of September hence we couldn't find a single rose due to the hot weather.

The large fort like entrance

The rose mural on the entrance walls

As we entered the park we were pleasantly surprised to find so much of green space. The park was interspersed with green manicured lawns, large trees including the date palms, beautifully designed flower beds, various pavilions, water fountains and shaded kiosks for relaxing. 

A colorful plan highlighting the prime areas of the garden was distributed at some intervals to guide the visitors. The Qurum Natural Park was opened in 1993 and it is the largest park in Muscat, spread over an area of 400 acres. 

The Plan of the Qurum Natural Park

Moving ahead from the park entrance

The weather was hot and we perspired all the same. As we proceeded further we found play areas for kids with colorful slides and swings. My daughter had found her destination for the day. And she would not budge from there. After several attempts of sliding up & down and running around, we finally moved ahead.

Slides for the kids

Further ahead we found a star shaped fountain. 

The star-shaped fountain

Moving ahead we came across an amphi-theatre space with a central fountain and surrounded by beautiful screens and floral beds. On one side an entry led to the Marah Land (Marah means city of joy) - a fun land for kids with various rides. Marah land has more than 28 special rides and games for kids of all age groups. It was with great difficulty that I had to steer away my daughter's attention from this place. And we moved further to explore the natural beauty of the garden.

The floral bed

The amphi-theatre space with fountain

Entry to Marah Land

The beautiful screen

Another entrance led us towards the lake. The lake was surrounded with beautiful gazebos   covered with golden domes. There was a jogging track around the lake and we found several people walking and jogging around. Being a holiday the entire park was crowded with people - some playing with their kids, some having picnics, some hanging out with their  friends, while some just relaxing on the green lawns. 

The gazebos overlooking the lake

The golden dome over the gazebo

After circling the entire lake we found the dancing fountains. The fountains went on after every 30 minutes. 

The Dancing Fountains

There was another lake theatre where we saw some children practising skate boarding. The theatre is said to have a seating capacity of more than 3,000 and is known to be one of the largest public theatre in Oman. It is said that a lot of major public events took place here due to its strategic location in the park. Being located in the interiors and surrounded by the greens it remains cooler during the summers and is unaffected by the noise from the outside. 

After a tiresome walk around the lake we settled down and had tea and snacks from one of the several food stalls out there in the garden. There was a signboard which showed free wi-fi connection but we didn't try to check it out. We were very happy to find this beautiful green garden in a desert land. There were lots of flowers all around including cannas, periwinkles, bougainvilleas and basil bushes. And all the while, we had the company of the chirping birds. 

The orange canna flowers

The yellow canna flowers

'Qurum' is the Arabic word for Mangrove. On the farthest corner of the garden, there is an artificial waterfall. The continuous waterfall has formed an ecosystem of grass and wetland. This is a home to several birds such as the Egrets, Cormorant, red wattled Plover and black winged Stilt. We spotted some crows and cormorants. But if you are lucky enough and visit this park early in the morning in the months of Winter, you may spot most of these birds. Actually this park can also be called a bird watcher's paradise.

Qurum park has been designed beautifully using the natural topographic features of the area to create a comfortable space for all the visitors. What is more I admired the intricate details put in each of its structure beginning from the sculpted floral beds, the lamp posts, the colorful pavements, the lights, the wooden trellis holding flowering creepers, the gazebos surrounding the lake, various sit-outs, the waterfalls, and the small elements including the trash bins.

The trellis holding creepers

Covered sit-outs in the park

Different types of Decorative flower beds in the park

The base of the lamp posts

The lamp posts along the walk ways

The floral motif carved on the lake walls 

The fountain lights 

The lights and the entrance canopy to Marah Land

The flooring pattern of the paved area in the amphitheatre

A lot of activities take place in this park from hosting international exhibitions to fashion shows, exhibition pavilions and walk/jog for a cause and so on.

Qurum Natural Park is synonymous with green landscapes, beautiful floral beds, tweeting of the birds, water fountains and yes it is a jogger's paradise. We were surprised to find beautifully manicured lawns and a well maintained park in the middle of a desert land and wondered why we hadn't discovered it earlier. It was like an oasis in the desert. This is the place to be if you are looking for peace and serenity and at the same time you are not alone as chirping birds will accompany you all along the way.

The chirping birds and the greens inspired me to write a few lines. So here it is:

Chirping Birds and a Paradise

Sitting by the lake as I swayed my legs,
My heart fluttered with the chirping birds.
In a green paradise with the bird's song,
Nothing would possibly go wrong.
The sweet smell of bushes drifted with the wind,
I looked at the greens and foolishly grinned.
Stirred by the birds singing,
A voice in my ears ringing.
My eyes glistened like that of a new bride,
A paradise was simply brushed aside.
The lights reflected in the lake,
Umpteen promises you make.
The dark sky glimmered with a thousand stars,
Come dawn and they too shall disappear.

The Royal Opera House Muscat - Bagpipers, Bugles and Drums!

Royal Opera House Muscat

Bagpipers, Bugles and Drums at ROHM

A few days ago, I read in the papers about a musical show to be held by the Royal Military force of Oman at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) from 6th to 8th Nov. And I thought that would be so boring!

Military music reminded me of the numerous Hollywood battle movies that showed the military troops marching away in glory, with the bagpipers, bugles and drums, accompanied by some military music in the background.

No ways, I was not going to the Opera House to listen to that! 

But then a thought crossed my mind. Whenever we go to Qurum by the Sultan Qaboos road, we always pass by the ROHM and I always admire its architectural details, but we had never been on the premises whatsoever. So that day curiosity took over and ended my boredom! 

A visit to ROHM had to be made to get a closer look and what day would be better than a Friday when a military music show was being held. This was a free Military Music show planned over a three day period, and it began on Thursday. Luckily for us, we managed to catch it on Friday evening since on the following day, the city received showers and the show was probably canceled.

It was a moonlit night and the Opera House looked stunning with the LED lights. We could see the rays of light emanating from the ROHM building from quite a distance from the road too. The entire building which is white in color was completely transformed into hues of purple and pink due to the LED lights used. A feast for the eyes!

The welcoming entrance by moonlit and LED rays

The open air space for the musical performance

The Musical Band of the Oman Military

Most of the performances were over. However, I heard later that there were ensembles from New Zealand, dancers from Scotland, British singers, traditional Omani dancers for the grand event. We had missed it all. But we were on time to catch the Royal band playing not only the military music but also jazz, opera and pop music. 'The Maidan' (meaning in Arabic - an open ground or space in a marketplace or a parade ground) was assembled with people from all over the city. 

The crowd busy taking videos and snaps

The 'maidan' viewed from the first-floor level

The music played by the band was so catchy that we couldn't stop ourselves from tapping our feet along with it. I was glad we came!

Exploring the ROHM premises - Awed by its Architecture and Interior Design

After the show was over we just walked around to explore the place a little a bit more. The Architectural design of the building, its circulation pattern, the interiors adorned with intricately handcrafted decors, the grand entrance - are all a reflection of the modern Omani Palaces.

         Walking through the colonnades in the Opera House

The Ruler of Oman is a lover of music and the arts. Thanks to the Sultan (for Oman doesn't have the culture of Opera), it was on his order that this beautiful Opera House was built and officially opened in October 2011. This Art complex designed by the Architects WATG (Wimberley Allison Tong and Goo) reflects contemporary Islamic Architecture with its porches, arched colonnades, and terraces. 

The main structure is made of reinforced concrete with block infill and it is finished in locally available desert rose stone and contemporary style stucco. The entire complex is spread over 80,000 sq m of area with nearly 40,000 sq m of area being reserved for gardens. We couldn't access the Grand Auditorium which has a capacity is of 1,100 seats and is of horseshoe shape.

A fusion of Classical Omani and Modern style is reflected in the interiors through the rich crystal chandeliers, hand-carved wooden fixtures, and marble inlays.

East Entrance to the Opera Galleria

The beautiful wooden ceiling 

A closeup view of one of the many Chandeliers

The Opera Galleria is a retail development adjoining the Opera House following the same style and pattern as used in the Opera House. It was officially opened in 2013 and houses a host of multi-cuisine restaurants, luxury souks, retail stores and coffee shops. There are some 50 shops here offering gems, apparels, perfumes, watches and many branded outlets. 

We were glad to spot an Indian restaurant by the name of 'Indus'. A quick look at the restaurant's menu items clearly indicated exotic Indian cuisine while the prices indicated it was aimed at people with money! We took a quick look at the interiors of the restaurant; it did have an impressive look.

Musicians at the main entrance of the Galleria 

The Indus - An Indian Restaurant

The ceiling design in the Galleria

The vaulted colonnade through the mall on level 1

Antique furniture outlet 'Khazir'

An Omani store with its traditional dhows & mabkharas on display

The ceiling design and colorful murals 
in the atrium at the 1st floor level

View of the parking lot - capacity to hold 540 cars

View of the exit road from the Opera Galleria

A parting shot of the Opera Galleria

We missed most of the performances that evening and I hope to catch up next year. But a walk through the ROHM premises that evening, exploring the beautiful building and the grand interiors of the Galleria, certainly made our day. 



sources referred:
www.watg.com
www.rohmuscat.org.om/venue/opera-galleria
Gulfconstructionworldwide.com

Fish, Frankincense and a Friday in Muscat

For the love of Fish:

Anywhere around the world, on a typical weekend, a Bengali household without Fish and Rice cannot be imagined. For all of you who didn't know, Fridays here is like Sundays in other parts of the world, with schools and offices being closed for the day. Fridays are when a mandatory visit is made to the old city area of Muscat by the men of the Bengali household for the purchase of fresh fish which is said to be imported from Bangladesh.

Don't ask me about the price of fish here! It is exorbitantly high for the fresh lot that comes here every Thursday evening. The sellers here justify it by arguing that airborne imported fish would be fresher and hence costlier than the frozen ones that arrive after months by the sea route. And, of course, by the taste of fish, you'll know the difference. Personally, I am not much of a fish lover but my husband and daughter will not have their meals without a fish item.

So for their love for fish, on one Friday morning, I accompanied my husband. As we entered the Muttrah (also spelled as Matrah or Matruh) locality of Muscat we neared the Riyam roundabout and from far away we could view a roundish white Watchtower situated on the hills. At the base of the hills is the popular Riyam park with its colorful rides and beautifully landscaped area. Here I am not going to write about the park. It is the Giant Incense Burner shaped watchtower that inspired me to write this post. I was intrigued by the shape of the watchtower and I sat down with just an A4 sheet and a pencil and sketched it with the hand. But this was before I made this trip to Muttrah.

Sketch of the Watchtower in Riyam park

Continuing on our return trip from the old city, I asked my husband to pull over his car near the Muttrah corniche so that I could click some snaps there and to my delight he agreed. I could capture some beautiful shots of the Watchtower and its surroundings and some views of the Harbour. The corniche area offered ample sitting areas to relax, gaze at the blue sea, the fishing boats and ships that are anchored in the harbor.

Riyam Park with its rides as viewed from the corniche 

Covered sitting area viewing the harbour

The fountains 

View of the harbour

The corniche with the mountains in the backdrop
and numerous benches for sitting

A Portuguese watchtower overlooking the harbour 

The view of the Harbour again:
An image of the old Hamriya region of Muscat on the walls 

The concrete blocks of the retaining wall in the sea

Harbour view - the concrete blocks used as retaining wall

View of the watchtower from the Corniche

In the foreground of the incense burner Watchtower (as you can view in the snap above) on display is a small sculpture made of a pair of dolphins from granite stone. There are some more fish sculptures scattered over the walkway along corniche area. Like the Bengalis, the Omanis also consider fish as a symbol of fertility and reproduction. Apart from agriculture and mining, Fishing is an important economic activity here.  

Zooming in - The Giant incense burner watchtower 
on the hill-top

From Fish to Frankincense:

This Watchtower was built to commemorate Oman's 20th National Day. Since the shape of the Watchtower intrigued me I searched over the net for more information. I found that the Watchtower shape resembled the incense burner, called 'Mabkhara' in Arabic. The Mabkhara (a container made of clay or stone) plays an important role in the homes of Omanis here. A 'Mabkhara' holds frankincense which is a unique aroma of Muscat. Usually, Frankincense is burnt in a Mabkhara on some special occasions like weddings or on Fridays or to just perfume the house. I wanted to know more about the Incense tower, its designer, its height, building materials used and so on, but I could find no information whatsoever.

I have heard about Frankincense in my school where we were told that it was one of the gifts carried by the wise men for baby Jesus. And that is pretty much most of us would've heard of from the story of 'The Three Wise Men'. I learnt more from the net that Frankincense is also called olibanum, an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes and is obtained from desert trees like Boswellia. These desert trees grow only on the Arabian Peninsula. Since ancient times, harvesting and trade of these substances have been a source of wealth for this region. There are a lot of sources from which you can learn more about Frankincense.

A Friday ends:

After a round of quick clicks at the Muttrah corniche, it was time for us to go home. And coming back home it was time for me to get back to cooking the fresh fish we purchased from the market. Satiated with the fresh fish curry and steamed rice, it was time to take a siesta - an activity also known as 'Bhaat-Ghum' in Bengali. In the evening, we gathered around the TV to watch some Indian shows.

And what else. It was a chapter from one of the ordinary Fridays of my life, and not some fantasy film shot from the movie of Freaky Friday! But what I treasured along were some childhood memories, time spent with my family (apart from the routine life), the taste of fresh fish on my tongue, exploring a new place, learning about the local traditions and culture, and lots of pleasant memories.