A Journey Through Mutrah Souq: Souvenirs, Stories, and a Little Bargaining
Today it was time for a trip to Mutrah Souq!
Luqman recommended that we visit Mutrah Souq, which is located a 30-minute drive from the hotel I'm staying at here in Muscat. I had a good idea of what I was getting into, as this isn't my first time visiting a market like this. It's pure chaos and noise as soon as you set foot within the "market borders," but that's part of the charm of going to these types of markets!
When Luqman dropped me off at the entrance, he warned me about exactly that. First, there will be noise and hustle all around, and second, Mutrah Souq is more or less a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys winding between stalls and shops, so it's easy to get lost, Luqman told me. We agreed on a time and place where he would pick me up again once I was done, and my adventure in Mutrah Souq began!
Luqman's words turned out to be spot on…
The first thing that hits me when I enter Mutrah Souq is the smells of Bakhoor, Frankincense, Myrrh, traditional perfumes, and various spices, which blend with the scent of food wafting from different food stalls. A great start to the adventure!
Before I continue, let me quickly explain what Bakhoor and Frankincense are. Bakhoor consists of small wooden pieces dipped in Oud oil. The Oud oil is extracted from the rare Aquilaria trees in Southeast Asia, primarily in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Frankincense is a gum resin harvested from Boswellia trees. It has many uses and comes in various colors and forms. Omanis use it for incense, perfumes, and medicine, as it is believed to have many beneficial (and safe) health properties.
As I stroll around, trying to take in all the sights and sounds, I am suddenly pulled into a shop. Before I know it, I'm fully dressed in a pure white cotton dishdasha (traditional outfit) with a Kumma (headwear) placed on my head. The salesman insisted that THIS was the outfit for me and that I simply MUST buy it without hesitation! He then placed me in front of a mirror to see what I thought… I had to honestly admit to him that I thought it looked better on the locals, but that his sales technique probably worked better on others than it did on me. We both had a good laugh, and I continued my journey through the stalls!
In conclusion, I must say that it was a bit disappointing not to catch even a glimpse of the genie in the lamp. I rubbed and scrubbed all the (both old and new) oil lamps I saw, but nope, no genie to be found... Disappointed that the tale of Aladdin and the Genie in the Lamp turned out to be just that — a tale — I had no choice but to try to find one of the two exits of Mutrah Souq and locate Luqman at our agreed spot. Thankfully, I eventually did…
All in all, I would say today (again) was very eventful and exciting! Plus, I'm now the proud owner of a Khanjar and a coffee pot, while I'm a good portion poorer in Omani rials! The money goes, but the memories stay!
Earlier in the car, I had told Luqman that I was looking for a Khanjar (a type of knife) as a souvenir from Oman. Luqman recommended I try to find a store called 'Ali Baba Gift Town,' as he was apparently very skilled in this area! Luqman's local knowledge (of course) came through once again. Suddenly, out of nowhere, there it was — the 'Ali Baba Gift Town' sign shining above the store. Inside Ali Baba Gift Town, it felt as though the treasures from the adventures we hear about as children were laid out in front of me — for real! Everything from antique weapons, coins, jars, coffee pots, jewelry, and refrigerator magnets. Ali Baba himself told me that the store had been in his family for 136 years! He spoke with great enthusiasm about all the various items in his store. At the same time, he was very clear that taking photos inside was not allowed. The reason for this was that many of the Khanjar handles he had were made from ivory and rhino horn. He stressed, however, that these were very old Khanjars, made in a time before such materials became illegal. He also pointed out that these were not for sale but were part of his private collection (which he had many of, including a Roman jar that he had papers for, proving it was 4,000 years old and found in Oman). I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, and it was now time to find a Khanjar as a souvenir for myself, something Ali Baba was, of course, more than happy to help with! We had a good old-fashioned bargaining session, and we both ended up agreeing that we were both happy with the deal! Not only did he manage to sell me a Khanjar, but he also managed to sell me an antique handmade coffee pot! Looking back on it now, perhaps Ali Baba came out ahead in the bargaining, but oh well, it was fun nonetheless!
