Castles, Forts and Mountain Villages

After a lovely day in Mutrah, we set off for the mountains to Nizwa.  On our first afternoon there we decided to visit Nizwa Fort.

The fort was built in the 1650s by the second Ya’rubi Imam, although its underlying structure goes back to the 12th Century.  It is Oman's most visited national monument. The main bulk of the fort took about 12 years to complete and was built above an underground stream. The fort is a powerful reminder of the town's significance through turbulent periods in Oman's long history. It was a formidable stronghold against raiding forces that desired Nizwa's abundant natural wealth and its strategic location at the crossroads of vital routes.

The design of the tower, complete with battlements, turret, secret shafts, false doors and wells incorporates a great deal of architectural deception.  Access to the top is only by means of a narrow twisty staircase barred by a heavy wooden door studded with metal spikes to exhaust the enemy and impede their progress to the top of the tower. Those who did manage to run the gauntlet of hurdles risked being burnt by boiling oil or water that was poured through shafts which opened directly above each set of doors. Date syrup, a liquid that oozed from bags of dates stored in special date cellars, also came in handy as an alternative to oil and water.

Just outside the fort is Nizwa Souk.  It's an amazing place for pots, silverware and frankincense.

Bahla Fort was built in the 13th and 14th centuries and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The following day we got up early to travel up into the mountains to the mountain village of Misfat.  It was a great drive!

View of the Hajar Mountains in the Al-Dakhiliyah region.

We stopped for breakfast in the lovely old mountain village of Misfat, where the stone houses cling onto the mountain amid date plantations.

Breakfast at Misfat Old House

Muscat

Every year on our way back to Mumbai after the Christmas break we do a stopover.  We've been to Istanbul, Sri Lanka, Jordan and now to Oman.  After an overnight flight we landed bright and early in Muscat and hired a car to get to Mutrah.

Oman is very historic.  At one time it was ruled as a Portuguese colony and a lot of forts and castles remain from this time.  Today the country is ruled by Sultan Qaboos as an absolute monarchy - however he seems popular among the Omani people and his photo appears everywhere.  There are lots of watchtowers around Mutrah and Muscat.

 

Our first day in Mutrah was spent walking around, through the souk and along the Corniche to Old Muscat where the Sultan's Palace is.

The Sultan's Palace - built on the site of the former British Embassy!

Hats in a window in Mutrah souk

London in Winter

After spending time with Mum, we then went down to London for the weekend and stayed with Joal. On the Saturday I took Lex for a walk through Limehouse - where my grandfather used to work.  The place is certainly different from his time!

On the Sunday we went to see Vanessa.  There was a lot of rain - but I quite like the effect of taking this rainy photo through the car windscreen.

On the Monday we were due to fly to Oman, we visited my cousin Sally in the morning.  She had fallen and broken her collar bone, so until she got back from the doctors Lex and I drove up to Alexandra Palace.  It was a glorious winter's day and we had a great view right across to the City of London.

After a brunch in Highgate with Sally we went for a walk to Highgate Cemetery.  It sounds a bit morbid but actually it's a really interesting place where many famous people are buried.

Southwold with Lindsey

Another place we visited as a family was Southwold, where my dear friend Lindsey lives.  We drove through the countryside to get there, including through the village of Framlingham, where you can see the Dutch influence on the landscape.

Framlingham windmill

Southwold pier - there were some big waves here today.

Southwold looking towards the lighthouse

The very interesting water clock on the pier at Southwold

Southwold is famous for its beach huts

Gun Hill - With Lindsey

Can you believe that these beach huts cost between 70 and 90,000 pounds. Crazy!

An almost empty beach at Southwold on a lovely (but windy) winter's day.

Coastal towns of Essex and Suffolk

The Customs House, Ipswich. Originally an Anglo Saxon settlement, Ipswich soon became known as an exporter of wool.

Neptune Quay in Ipswich. Essex

View across Ipswich Haven Marina

Mum - off for a coffee in Isaac's.

Woodbridge in Suffolk

The Tide Mill, Woodbridge

Suffolk skies

Sutton Hoo.  The 7th century Sutton Hoo ship burial contained a wealth of Anglo Saxon artefacts - it's probably the most important archaeological site in England.

The Sutton Hoo helmet - found in the burial chamber