Frankincense, the elixir of life

As soon as we stepped off the plane and into the tour bus, our loud tour guide posed a question: "Do you know the purpose for Frankincense?"  Maybe we thought we did, or possibly no one had considered the idea that there maybe more than one purpose, whatever the case I believe that moment was meant as a warning to ensure that we recognize that we would hear innumerable well-intentioned discussions of the countless uses for Frankincense while in Salalah.  According to the Omanis, Frankincense is for:

-fragrance (in a home or restaurant)

-perfume (for freshening clothing)

-eating (to cure: stomach ache, indigestion, symptoms generally treated by pepto, cancer, sunburn, problems with eye sight)

-smoking (with no clear specification on when or why, and also with no one willing to admit having tried the practice)

-keeping the devil away 

and others.

Salalah is known for it's frankincense, but also for it's beautiful views.  Yesterday, we visited the Port of Salalah where transshipment happens for good traveling from The Americas, Africa, and Europe to Asia and from Asia to the rest of the world as well.  Today, we visited several ruins of castles and fortifications outside of the city, a wadi (or river) near the mountains, and enjoyed Iftar with students from Dhofar University in a tent in the desert.  Saturday was announced by the Sultan as the first day of holiday for Eid, which means we have break as soon as we return to Muscat from Salalah. I will travel with my home-stay family to see relatives.  

Here's a link to my photos, which don't do justice to the spectacular views: http://s794.photobucket.com/albums/yy228/jmichelleking/?albumview=slideshow

p.s. sorry for any misspellings or formatting errors, I'm having to attempt to write these posts blindly as I cannot make them read in English.