APR 27 WHY WAS DJ AVICII IN OMAN?

APR 27  WHY WAS DJ AVICII IN OMAN?

Last Friday, discos and clubs worldwide mourned the sudden passing of their beloved DJ Avicii. The accomplished Swede (real name: Tim Bergling) was found dead from apparent suicide in a hotel room in Muscat, Oman. At first, the DUNER BLOG planned to write about his many contributions to EDM (Electronic Dance Music). Next, we thought about covering the curse of being a Ralph Lauren model. However, the overwhelming question from staff members was: What was Avicii doing in Oman?

Before we start, some world geography is needed. Muscat is the capital of Oman, a sultanate on the Eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula. Its neighbors are Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. The latter nation is the reason Avicii was in Muscat. See, Dubai was one of his favorite places. During his career, he headlined numerous EMD festivals in the chic capital. As everyone knows, fantastic Dubai has burst on the worldwide scene as a entertainment mecca. In addition to musical events, the city has cutting-edge cuisine, 5-star resorts and high end fashion retailers...all the things an internationally famous DJ demands!

Sadly, a decade of the fast-life spent in fluorescent strobe lights began to take its toll on Avicii. Friends, like Sultan Al Nahyan of the U.A.E., suggested he relax in nearby Oman. He did and the DJ fell in love with Muscat...and for good reason. See, a hundred years ago, Dubai was a sleepy fishing village. But Muscat has 4,000 years of history. Ancient Greek geographer Pliny the Elder was the first to describe the city's stunning harbor, surrounded by majestic cliffs. The seaport's strategic location meant it was part of Persian, Abbasid and Portuguese empires. The latter built two towering forts in the 1500's, which are Muscat's top tourist attractions today.

However, Avicii was drawn to the opulence of Muscat's Ghubra District. The ritzy area dates back to the 1700's, when Oman was a world power. Then, the sultan controlled the southern coast on Arabia and Iran, as well as much of Africa's eastern shores. Did you know that Omani settlers are responsible for the invention of Swahili? It's a combination of Arabic and African languages. Sadly, the sultan's economy was based on slavery. When England banned the trade in 1802, the Omani Empire shrank in size. Currently, it's about the size of Italy.

While Dubai has encouraged growth...it boasts the tallest building in the world...Muscat has taken the opposite approach. Sultan Qaboos has banned any structure over seven stories to keep the Old Town's architecture intact. The result is a hidden gem for savvy travelers, like Avicii, who come to relax, unwind and meditate. He will be missed. For those of who don't follow EDM, have Pandora play 'Levels.' He mixes in Etta James and the results are truly mesmerizing.