Taporco Trivial Travels: 2014

NIZWA: "Saba Mia wu Thalatain!", shouted a gentleman in his early thirties while he wrestles an adult bull. I am in the middle of ocean of white garments, an extraordinary experience to be in a place full of Omani. Yes, finally, I feel am in Oman enjoying the sighting as I observe the lives of ordinary citizen Friday morning.

Nizwa Livestock Market where cattle are traded as high as OMR730 ($1,800) as Eid Al Fitr approaches.

It was Wednesday, July 23, declared as the last day of work and the beginning of 10-day holiday (yahooo!). My wife and I agreed to experience Eid Habta, the market (flea) event especially set up for the occasion of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. Nizwa Souq was our choice due to its proximity to Muscat and it is known to have the higher number of livestock auction as advised by Nasser, my colleague in Nawras who happen to reside in Izki (village before Nizwa).

You will be lucky to find a spot in this huge parking area should you come after 7 am.

Hani (my wife, uniquely regarded by me as she is mostly spelled as Honey resembling her unsuspecting beauty) eagerly contacted Marivic for special arrangement at Golden Tulip Nizwa. Lucky us, we only have to spent for our splash in their newly renovated pool as her bungalow was more than enough to accommodate us.

We started our trip half-past 2:00 pm and at comfortable cruising speed we reached Nizwa at 4 pm. Along the way, Une (our daughter) was as sleep soundly because she woke up early in the morning brought by her excitement to see her tita Evic.

Ahlain Tayyib! Cattle waiting for their turn to do the "cow-walk". This gentlemen suddenly appeared in front of my lens and I can't help but continue to press the shutter. My little Arabic vocabulary suggest that he was bargaining directly from the owner on my left, avoiding the crowded auction area.

Marivic welcomed us with her self-cooked Maja Blanca and baked Bico, a perfect company for an afternoon coffee. Just right after enough rest, our Princess Minnie (as she address herself) was in desperate attempt to change her swimming suite. Few steps from the bungalow, into the main hotel lobby and out into the yard is an inviting scene of clear waters of the swimming pool all to ourselves (as most during long holidays opt to spend outside Oman).

We reached the fully packed parking lot of Nizwa souq past 7:00 am, so we have to navigate through the cobbled streets around the famous Nizwa Fort. Our searched was brought to a standstill as the chaos of traffic continue to persist. Peering at my right window, I saw just enough space for our vehicle to park.

This busy corner apparently appears as ghost town at this very morning, thanks to Ramadan timing where shop keeper are late to open their stores.

Walking in the colonial streets of the fortress hinted us how the old times used to be, an experience you won't find in the urbanised Muscat. Omanis young and old smiled as we meet them along the way. Looking up the passage, you will see a striking art resembling the Muslim culture. As soon as we gaze through the arc, the familiar sound of gentlemen bargaining points us in the direction we were heading, the Nizwa Souq.

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Here in this flea market, trading includes pottery, cooking wares, fruits, vegetables and livestock (cattle, goat, sheep, rabbit, turkey, chicken and pigeons). The smell of the fruits direct from the farmers orchard and the animal dung, strikes a balance of scent that will remind us of this local market.

When you're in Oman and don't know how to spend the long holidays, come to Nizwa and experience the true Omani culture.

Tell me,Do you find Nizwa interesting?