Mohammed Anwar Al Balushi
It took us about one hour and thirty-seven minutes to reach Nizwa from Al Maabela, where we left exactly at 5 am. It was a little difficult to drive from Al Rusail industrial area to Bidbid, so drivers had to be careful due to ongoing roadworks.
It was not my first time touring Nizwa, but it was for my wife. Our exploration of Nizwa in the past hadn’t been done the way it was this time, so I kept in mind that we must reach the Nizwa market before noon and we reached around 11.34 am. Having parked the car, we walked to the market from there.
My eyes couldn’t believe the crowd that was there, and tourists came from different parts of the world including like Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Of course, many locals were there as well. Upon entering the market, we found Souq Al Gharbia (The West Market) on the right and Souq Al Sharqiyah (The East Market) on the left.
“I have been here half past five since the market opened”, said Mundhir, a young Omani seller who was selling Halwa. “You can have a taste, it was made today”, he offered us politely. There was another young Omani who was selling honey to Mundher’s left.
Omani Khanjar, Bedu jewellery, traditional wooden walking sticks, pottery, and clothes attracted tourists.
In front of the Nizwa Fort, we saw some women cooking Omani food, and tourists were purchasing and eating. Their faces revealed that they were enjoying it.
“Are you two individuals?”, said the young Omani lady who was selling the tickets, cheerfully. “Yes, we are two”, I replied. “You need to pay RO 4”, she said.
A visit to the Nizwa Fort gave us insight not only into Oman’s history but also how our ancestors lived, made things, and established rules of living. Inside the fort, there were different rooms for different purposes.
“Painting is my passion, and I am studying economics at Sultan Qaboos University, in my final year”, said Ibrahim al Rashidi, a young Omani artist who was coaching kids and promoting his work.
“When did you start painting?” I asked. “I’ve been doing it since I was a kid”, he said.
“It is not only about painting, but I get immersed in a completely different world while I am painting. I forget all my troubles and sorrows, and according to some research, painting has become a tool for treating psychological patients”, he explained.
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