Taulfiq

Meet Taulfiq. He is a driver with the Ministry of Education in Oman and he kindly gave up some of his time today to drive me around Muscat. All that I have seen so far has been the area around the hotel.

Muscat has been built along a strip of land between mountains and the sea - it is a long strip of a city. A striking thing in driving through the city is the absence of high rise buildings. There are plenty of multi-storey buildings but none impose themselves on the urban landscape, none shout 'look at me'. The Sultan did not allow it but required Muscat architecture to respect the traditions of the past rather than import the traditions of others.

That respect for tradition is reflected in dress. Taulfiq is wearing the traditional white dishdasha which is standard dress for all male Omanis and required for all government employees.

He is also wearing a traditional cap - the kuma. All Omani wear headgear - either the kuma or a colourful turban - the maasar.

They are proud of their country and their legacy. I was grateful for the time Taulfiq gave to show me around - lots of places worthy of further exploration.