Admit it. Most of you have no clue where Muscat is. Well, Muscat is the capital city of Oman. Once again, most of you have no clue where Oman is. So, here's a small geography lesson for everyone whilst also giving you a glimpse into one of the most beautiful desert cities I've ever been to.

If you look at a map of the Middle East, it looks like a big boot surrounded by a lot of water. Oman forms the toe of the boot. And Muscat is at the tip, thus making it a coastal city. Like all coastal cities, Muscat is a gorgeous city and has its share of beaches to show off.

Muscat is a city that has preserved its old rustic charm, and yet is a modern developed city. It is comprised of several small towns(districts) that each have a flavour of its own. Here are some of the main ones:

Ruwi - Ruwi is the shopper's paradise. Ruwi basically consists of a number of streets flanked by innumerable shops on either side. This is where you put your negotiation skills to practice. Bargaining is the secret to a satisfying day of shopping on Ruwi High Street. Ruwi also has the 2 most popular theatres in Oman that show English, Hindi and of course, Arabic movies. Hindi movies are a HUGE hit amongst the Omani people. Qurum and Al Khuwair - This is where the rich folk of Muscat live, sort of. Qurum and Al Khuwair are where you go to if you have money to spend. Both these places have lots of malls with international stores. So, if you've been craving that JC Penney blouse, this is the place to go. Qurum has a beautiful park with some theme rides in it - a great place for the kids. There is also an amphitheatre, which showcases big stars bringing shows for music and film lovers, and sometimes, even quiz shows for the geek in us. Al Khuwair has an ice skating rink with really reasonable prices. So, that's another place to definitely take the kids. Or maybe, just to even cool off, away from the desert heat. This part of Muscat was developed much later, so it will look much more modern compared to Ruwi. Al Wadi Al Kabir - Don't let all the 'Al's in the name scare you. 'Al' just means 'the' in Arabic. AWAK has the biggest fruits and vegetables market in Muscat. It's a wonderful experience to be surrounded by so many varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables. And when I say fresh, I mean fresh! Many of them are either grown right here in Oman , or shipped straight from the coasts of India. Bargaining works here too! Al Bustan - Here is where the famous Al Bustan Palace Hotel is. It is the most lavish hotel in Muscat. There is also a small harbour nearby, from where you can book boats to go dolphin watching. A must do! Seeb - Seeb is a very important town because that's where the Seeb International Airport is located. You can fly out to pretty much any part of the world from there. Seeb also contains the first ever public university of Oman, Sultan Qaboos University, named after the King.

There are a lot of other towns to explore including Madinat Qaboos, Muttrah, Wattaya and Old Muscat where you'll find interesting places such as the famous Gold Souq, the scenic Corniche, the fisherman's market, old forts which are still in really good condition, and Riyam park (which you would have gotten a glimpse of on The Amazing Race, if you're a fan of reality T.V.).

So, if you're tired of the fast-paced routine of the big cities and want to get away for a relaxed vacation, Muscat is the perfect destination. From its barren rocky mountains to its clean sandy beaches, Muscat is a thing of beauty. You will definitely fall in love with this quiet laid-back city. I can vouch for it. After all, I've lived there all my life.