Oh, man, it's Oman!

And that whole Middle East domination by Eff You continues with a first-time visit from Oman. I'm telling you, Eff You is huge in that part of the world. So, let's talk about Oman. The Sultanate of Oman

is an Arab country in Southwest Asia, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Holding a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the nation is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries.

From the late 1600s into the early 20th Century, Oman was a fairly significant regional power, which at its peak in the 1800s controlled territory from Zanzibar (now in Tanzania) in the south to Iran and Pakistan in the north. As it's power decline, Oman fell more under the protection of the British, although it was never a British possession.

A number of ethnic groups live in Oman, but the population is primarily Arabic and Muslim. The country has modest oil reserves. An absolute monarchy, the sultanate has close military ties with the United States and Great Britain.

The Portuguese showed up in 1507 and occupied Muscat, building a fortress to guard the sea lanes and port that is still there. Took until 1650 before tribes banded together and ousted the Portuguese. In 1741, a Yemeni tribe came in and ran those tribes off, beginning the dynastic line of sultans that still rules Oman.

Oman is a desert nation, with mountains along the north and southeast coasts. It's right nice looking as deserts go:

 (Photo by CISAustralia.)

A number of forts are scattered across Oman from the days when it was a major regional power, including this one, pictured on the website of Liliana and Emil Schmid, who apparently have spent nearly 30 years visiting pretty much the entire world and are still at it.

It's pretty damn hot in Oman and doesn't rain much. Oil revenues give the country one of the better standards of living in the region, but the place isn't swimming in the stuff like some of its neighbors. Tourism is on the rise, as well. The population of about 3.8 million is more than a third expatriates, many of whom work in the oil and other industries. About half the population lives in or near the capital city of Muscat.

So there you have it. Please extend a big Eff You welcome to Oman. Come again soon, and bring your friends.