Oman

Located on the coast of Arabia, Oman has a strong history as the heart of the Omani Empire. In the early 1970s, Oman was a reclusive country with a capital city that was gated shut at night. Today it is a welcoming and prosperous country. The capital city of Muscat is an atmospheric city that evokes images of the Arabian Nights. Within, you can find traditional souks and neighbourhoods in a city that has not been affected as much by soulless modernization as other Middle Eastern cities. As well in Oman, there are a number of forts dating back to the 16^th to 18^th Centuries. The Batinah Coast has many towns with impressive forts and interesting settings. Jabrin Castle is another fort, one that was built during the 17^th Century and restored in the 1980s. It impressively stands out from the desert and contains a mazelike interior. For a natural sight, the Wadi Shab is a famous sight that contains emerald green pools of water and most famously, a cave where light streams in and illuminates the pool from above.