The theme of this week's Corner View is shopping. Salalah has three types of shops. Firstly, there are the traditional souks. I buy my fish in the souk shown in the first picture. As you can see, shopping in the traditional meat, vegetable and fish souks tends to be an exclusively male affair. Secondly there are the rows of small shops, which open out onto the street. These are especially popular with Salalah's large Indian community. Finally, modern shopping malls are beginning to appear and they are, unlike the souks, frequented by Omani women. The one in the third picture is Centrepoint, which is where I buy most of my clothes.
jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie,esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,caitlin, joyce, ani, couturecoucou, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t.,jeannette, outi, schanett, ritva, dongdong, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemian girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle, amber, girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna, skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria, crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, virginia, april, sunnymama, samantha, karen, kristina , angelina, kyndale
Why are there only men in the shop at the top part of the post? Great pictures.
ReplyDeletethe top one reminds me of the markets in marrakesh -- it was there i learned to try pants on around my neck (and where i learned that your neck is half the size of your waist!) here's what else i learned: la elahah elah allah - but how in the world do you spell it? in sha' allah
ReplyDeleteLakeviewer, in traditional Arab society men go out and do the shopping; women stay at home. Women here have an average of about twelve children each so they have a lot to keep them busy.
ReplyDeleteHard for - a part of - me ;) to discover this kind of shopping !!! Nice "report"... as usual ;)
ReplyDeletewhat fascinating pictures! I'm grateful for my middle eastern Grandfather for moving to Argentin where I was born. With all my country's shortcomings I could at least shop wherever I wanted (IF I could afford it, granted). My spirit couldn't have survived in Oman!
ReplyDeleteHey Ian- This is so interesting. So the men do the shopping. Who would have thought... Great shots- Thanks Ian!
ReplyDeleteIan this is so interesting! Our shopping is no where as exciting. Speaking of I better come up with something for tomorrow. LOL... Thanks for a peak into your world. I love it!!
ReplyDeleteHa, I love that there is a culture where the men do the shopping. My husband would die. Great photo's! Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi. I have an invite for u to join the intl blogger community here @
ReplyDeletehttp://penname30.blogspot.com/2009/05/international-bloggers-community.html
cool. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for more wonderful photos. I would not mind staying home and letting someone else do the shopping :-).
ReplyDeleteI love the juxtaposition of the small traditional shopping vs. the modern malls. We have that here too, yet most people here rely ONLY on malls and traditional storefront shops...but the small local farmers and markets are growing over the past years...
ReplyDeleteI always love your images.
The first photo reminds me indian market a lot ...
ReplyDeletemen are shopping but do they cook too ?
Very interesting that the market is male dominated.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures.
Ooh, this is fantastic!! Love your pictures.
ReplyDeleteI expected to see in you something very typical and it is. I like to discover new horizons ... thank you !
ReplyDeleteAn average of 12 children???? Try taking them and do some shopping! Now it makes sense that the men do the shopping.
ReplyDeleteI might try to bring that Omani custom to our house...Ummmm, meaning the men shopping, certainly not the 12 kids!
Have a nice day, Jeannette
... I prefer the first one !
ReplyDeletethe souks look wonderful! is it ok for women to go, or a strict no go for western women too?
ReplyDeleteTrinsch, it's no problem for foreign women; it's just the Omani women who won't go there. A few old Omani women even work in the vegetable souk, but you will never see any young women there.
ReplyDeleteI always love when I get to your post because your corner of the world is so different to most of the others that post !! Definitely different to mine !
ReplyDeletewow, thank you.
ReplyDeletekyndale
earthycrunchy.typepad.com
It looks like the souks are a very social place. Germany also has modern shopping areas, but I prefer the markets or the traditional shops
ReplyDeleteinteresting, thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo interesting! I would love to go shopping there!
ReplyDeletewow, what a completely different world...
ReplyDeletethis corner view thing really is a journey around the world!
I visited the emirate of Dubai, and went to Al Ain, I could see Oman, but couldn't go through, because one of my friends needed a visa:-(.
ReplyDeleteBut I loved going to the souk in dubai, and in fact I spended most of my time in the souk. I found beautiful textiles from India, Pakistan and Yemen. You are right, I only saw foreign women in the souk. I miss it there!
Hey Ian- just a quick note- I planted basil about a month ago and still nothing. Radishes.. I´m very impressed:) Can´t wait to hear more about your jaunt around Spain.
ReplyDeletehey ian - it's may - when does your article get published? pls remind us - send a link, thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the big ads on the side of the shopping mall! Thanks for this fascinating look into your shopping!
ReplyDeletejane planted basil???
ReplyDeletefacinating that thre are such cultural ties to the various types of shopping.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see such a contrast between the small markets and large shopping mall. I love the colorful signs along the row of shops..
ReplyDeleteI would hate that I wasn't welcome in the food market. I would most likely accept it. . . but hate it nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteMy husband does some of our shopping, which is great, , but I wouldn't want to give up all food buying, because then I would have less control over what I was cooking.
ReplyDeleteYou said that foreign women can shop there, are they treated respectfully by the male shoppers?
Interesting to think about is if looking at one's own society maybe one is blind to gender separated areas. This was a thought way more advanced than my skills in english i guess. Sorry :-)
ReplyDeleteThese are great photos!
ReplyDeleteDo they eat sashimi/sushi (raw fish) over there?
Malo, you explained that very well. No need for apologies.
ReplyDeleteNatsumi, no there is no sashimi here, but there are tuna in the fish souk. I love sashimi.
Great pictures Ian!
ReplyDeleteIan, I think your "shopping" experience is the most exotic of all... thanks for taking us there :)
ReplyDeletethis is fascinating. thanks for a look into your life and travels.
ReplyDeleteAll men shopaholics...interesting to learn about other cultures...and changing outlooks in those societies...
ReplyDeleteyou have presented them well...
dear jan, thank you for these wonderful pictures from far away. i travel in my mind - and you are a real traveller, so i can join you through your pictures. wish you a good week*
ReplyDeleteamazing view!
ReplyDeleteHey Ian- Just stopped by again to thank you for all your kind comments- They make my day! Un beso-Jane
ReplyDeleteKim, the editor says my article is scheduled to appear later this month, but I haven't been given an exact date yet.
ReplyDeleteI like to do the shopping myself. so my wife wouldnt waste on something not useful.
ReplyDeleteI like the contrast between the three pictures
ReplyDeleteFascinating corner view and great pictures!
ReplyDeleteIntriquing views of a world I know so little of.
ReplyDeleteI will see if I can take a photo for you that you requested---the tricky part is I need to go to the shop just when it opens, because that is really the only time we see the ceremonial bows and welcomes by the sales people! In our city, it only happens at the main department store, mabye in tokyo you can find more. Cheers,
Hi Ian,
ReplyDeletei came across ur blog via virtual tourist. Im just settling in to my new life in Salalah with my jebali (mountain) husband & lil boy.
Your photgrahpy of Salalah is breath taking..you've protrayed Salalah as a very pretty land.
Please do stop by my blog.. id appreciate any expat info you may have instore.. maybe u would know where the rugby club is ?!
www.sweetnessofsalalah.blogspot.com ( Umm Ququ)