Oman is an outlier and I love the ways it is different. It’s oil-rich but, unlike its oil-rich neighbors, Oman has avoided the glitz in favor of its traditions and architecture and sense of community. Oman is politically neutral, so it feels calm in this troubled part of the world. It has a lot of natural beauty and fancy malls. It’s the Switzerland of Western Asia but with sand. (Or Switzerland is the Oman of Europe but with snow).

I spent a few days in Oman’s capital, Muscat. Muscat is built around the beautiful Gulf of Oman and has preserved its old town. It’s very atmospheric, especially in the evenings when locals are out walking through the souks and along the waterfront.

I also visited Nizwa, an ancient city a couple of hours drive from Muscat. Nizwa is famous for its Friday goat market. Fortunately, I arrived after the bartering was over, so the goats and their kids were relaxed.

In addition to the usual spices and produce and household goods, Nizwa’s market specializes in handmade halwa, a sticky gelatinous candy made by boiling sugar with fragrant spices. It was too gooey for me and I didn’t care for the flavors, but I loved the traditional pottery. At the old fort, a group of men were performing a traditional sword dance, called Al-Razha, which is often performed at festivals and on national holidays.

Is Oman a great tourist destination? It probably is if you get out to the desert canyons for hikes and swimming in sink holes. Oman has island and cave adventures, and nature reserves. For me — after two months of intense travel — I enjoyed winding down in Oman’s quiet cities and learning about how Oman seems to be quietly using its resources to focus on social justice, quality of life, and peace.