BAIT AL SAFAH
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In the heart of the old hamlet, a 3-century-old wattle-and-daub house whose various rooms tell the story of Omani life in days gone by: a museum, but a living one, where a few villagers, dressed in their traditional finery, are busy reproducing the gestures and trades of yesteryear - making flour, making medicinal powders, baking local galettes (thin pancakes with jagged edges, to be eaten as bread), and so on. There's a room where dates are stored as they were "in the old days", another displaying traditional Omani clothing and costumes, and yet another showing furniture and objects from yesteryear. A loom reminds us that in the sultanate, cushions and carpets are made, the same ones on which people sit in the majlis: the reception room where guests of the day and visitors are welcomed, and dates are enjoyed with cardamom coffee. The breeze circulates through the many openings, the shelves are adorned with books and pottery, and the ladies chat, glancing at each other under their capes... Nearby, in the gardens, a man demonstrates date-picking: leaning on a sort of woollen strap that secures him during his ascent, he climbs up into the foliage, high up in the palms. It's a great photo opportunity, and one of the museum's attractions: photos are allowed, so you can take portraits of women... or just immerse yourself. On site, in another old mansion right next door: a large buffet restaurant.
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