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Book details

  • Genre:travel
  • Sub-genre:Middle East / General
  • Language:English
  • Pages:184
  • eBook ISBN:9780645957815
  • Paperback ISBN:9780645957808

Memories of Mutrah, Oman

Fishing Village to Vibrant City

By Maxine Burden

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Overview

"Memories of Mutrah, Oman: Fishing Village to Vibrant City" tells of the fishing background of the villages of Sur on the East Coast of Oman, and Mutrah. Sailing ships sailed with the monsoons from India to Sur and on to Zanzibar in East Africa trading goods. Meet two sons of these traders who are Oman's top entrepreneurs and visionaries, each heading a business empire. Today this vibrant city has an active fish market, plus with the 600-year-old ancient, traditional souq, it’s a must see with travellers and tourists alike.

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Description

This book reveals life in the beautiful, unique city of Mutrah, Sultanate of Oman. Discover the history, as passed down from generation to generation and told by the merchants, of life from a small fishing village of the past to the vibrant city that is Mutrah today.

Fishing and trading have always been the lifeline of Omani villages. Sons would join their fathers on trading ships to learn maritime and navigation skills. Mutrah Souq, is a maze of ancient alleyways, still providing for the people as it has over the centuries, selling original artifacts including silver and gold jewelry, fabrics, khanjars (ceremonial swords), frankincense, perfumes, and basic kitchenware. This fascinating melting pot of nationalities and cultures, makes this city unique.

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About The Author

Maxine Burden is an Australian citizen, born in Tasmania, who's had the opportunity to travel and spend over ten years in the Sultanate of Oman. Travel has always been an enjoyable part of her life and working in the travel industry in Western Australia as a Master Cruise Specialist, she's been able to fulfill a dream of traveling and guiding clients to various countries of the world. Maxine has been in print previously with Asian magazines requiring short stories about Australia. In December 2014 her first book on Mutrah, Oman, "Throw Down the Anchor: The Story of Mutrah Souq," was released. The book was written for the Centre for Omani Dress while Maxine was a volunteer with this group in Muscat. Today Maxine resides in Tasmania on a lifestyle property. It is here that she wrote her second book. She undertakes volunteer work with the Burnie City Council informing and assisting cruise ship visitors who visit throughout the season from October to April. As a tour guide, Maxine also guides coach tours from visiting cruise ships to various parts of the Northwest Coast of Tasmania. She also has plans to author more books about her travels throughout the world over the last twenty years.
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Book Reviews

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Julia
Prepare to be transported! This is the second book written by Maxine Burden that I have read, and it is just as wonderful as was her first title, THROW DOWN THE ANCHOR: The Story of Mutrah Souq. I thoroughly enjoy reading her new title and the numerous and various stories she has painstakingly collected for her readers. The entrepreneurs and other various members of the Mutrah community come to life through the storytelling on the many pages of this new book. It's a wonderful account of the lives in this community, beyond the souq. The information literally spans hundreds of years, multiple generations, with an immeasurable amount of love of country, city, community and family shining through. I no longer live in Oman but certainly felt I was transported back to the times when I did. Maxine’s love of the country, indeed, this body of work, is quite evident in the way she writes to include every detail that is so vividly described. As I read her written words, I am reminded of the wonderful community that it is, as its sights, sounds and even the smell have been brilliantly included. I’ve read many books on Oman but Maxine’s books I have enjoyed the most. It is evident that she loves the work involved in gathering these stories, the same way her story tellers have loved remembering and sharing their stories with her. Truly a pleasure to read. If one of your readers has never been to Oman, they will find MEMORIES OF MUTRAH, OMAN: Fishing Village to Vibrant City such a joy to read as their imagination tries to keep pace with the written words. For those readers who have been there, prepare to visit once again as you turn the pages. Read more