Dubai onwards.

We've left Salalah in Oman and are sailing through the International Channel which is a recommended route for shipping in the area as protection from pirates. Yesterday we were buzzed by a helicopter from one of the ships that patrol the channel.

We were docked in Salalah near a very modern Chinese naval ship that was waiting to escort a convoy of Chinese ships through the Channel. It's been docked there for several weeks already and has to wait until next month for the convoy to assemble. Crew members had organised a game of soccer with some local Omanis so it entertained us while waiting to depart Oman.

Allied patrol ships spend their time at sea rather than wait in port which seems to be of more use. I don't know why the Chinese don't do that, too.

From Dubai to Salalah we had quite rough seas. I rather like the rough weather at sea as I love lying in bed being rocked off to sleep. Our cabin is right in the prow so we get the best of it.

Salalah.

They say travel broadens the mind and it's true - I'd never heard of Salalah before. Not that it's greatly enriched my knowledge bank , though.

It's main claim to fame is the production of frankincense, which is harvested from rather ugly little stunted trees that grow in the desert in the same way that rubber is obtained from rubber trees. It's other exports are coconuts, bananas, guavas and papayas. Oman has some oil but is not one of the oil rich countries in the area.

Salalah itself isn't extensive and for some reason the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos, chooses to live there instead of in Muscat. He is a gay graduate of Sandhurst so has no direct heir.

The ship was docked 2 km from the dock gate and we were forbidden to walk in the dock area so had to be bused to the gate. The city had allocated four 25 seater buses to do the job. There are over 1800 passengers on board!

Our captain pleaded for more buses and eventually was granted 5 more. We were up early to get tickets (free, of course) so we were in the first convoy. At the gate tens of taxis were lined up with drivers all trying to catch a carful of rich tourists. We haggled for a price and set off with our friends, Richard and Patricia Crane, who we always go ashore with. As I said, there's not much to see - frankincense trees, Job's Tomb (perhaps it's it, perhaps not), a camel footprint that's supposedly mentioned in the Koran, a street that is lined with fruit stall selling the above mentioned fruit and a basic museum. I bought some frankincense burners, some fragrant oil and a pair of glittery sandals in the local souk. There was not much else there to buy except a trillion soccer shirts.

When we finished buying we were ready to head off but where was our driver? Gone to the mosque, of course!

He eventually returned after prayers and delivered us back to the dock gates. Of course, he wanted an extra $20 but, of course, didn't get it.

So that was Salalah. Don't feel that your life is lacking if you never make it there.

We are rounding the corner today to enter the Red Sea. Next port is Aqaba in Jordan.