3-day weekend break

Between weekend trips, work, other chores, Yoga lessons and Arabic classes I'll try to give you an update...

The latest highlight: our recent 3-day weekend trip out of Muscat; it was awesome! It was my first trip away from the capital and although I still think Muscat is a fairly relaxing city (definitely nothing like the pace of London), coming back from the desert on Saturday afternoon it really felt like a big bustling city with all those cars and people.

We visited Ras al Hadd and watched nesting Green Turtles at Ras al Jinz, apparently the biggest Green Turtle nesting site in the world. We saw a big turtle laying eggs and small “turtle-litas”running towards the moon into the water... well there was one that looked a bit confused and kept on going round in circles!

On the way to Ras al Hadd we stopped at various places along the coastal road swimming in beautiful wadis (rivers) and stopping for a dip at the sink hole by Bamah, a deep hole in the ground filled with beautiful turquoise blue salty water.

After spending the night at the Turtle Beach Resort at Ras al Hadd we turned inland for our circular route back to Muscat, stopping at another beautiful wadi and then, icing on the cake, we headed for Wahiba Sands, the desert, where we spent the night at the Nomadic Desert Camp (www.nomadicdesertcamp.com) This is a desert camp owned and run by a Bedouin family.

On the way there (off-road desert track) we stopped for some Omani coffee and dates at the place where most of the family still lives, in the desert. We had a ride on their camels, who reluctantly took us on their backs and watched them being fed just before sunset. An interesting business animated by the young guy chasing an insistent free roaming camel (not owned by the family) who wanted to join the feast.. After witnessing the funny scene we got back into our car and followed our host's 4x4 deeper into the desert reaching the camp just after sunset.

After dinner we had coffee around the fire under the stars and the glowing full moon before going to bed. We got up just before sun rise (in reality we were woken up by a screaming baby next door but what the heck it was worth it!). We climbed the dunes and watched the sun raising: it was amazing. The colours of the orange/golden sand are so intense at that time in the morning it's hard to explain what a spectacle sunrise in the desert is!

The morning air in the desert is pleasantly cold (I was wearing my fleece for the first time since I moved here!). I even tried walking bare feet on the sand and it was painfully icy cold. It's incredible how cold it gets in the desert at night!

After breakfast we jumped on the car and went for some dune bashing with our 4x4 (following the guide in his car of course). I was the driver! My very first drive up and down steep dunes! My heart was racing, it was such and adrenaline booster. I loved every moment of it!.
We'll definitely be going back. Next time maybe we'll do the desert crossing....

Anyway, words are not enough to describe the beauty of the places we've visited. Have a look at the full set of photos and book your tickets. This is definitely a country worth visiting. I am loving it... every day a bit more... ma' as-salaama!

We have a pad!

I know, it's been a little while. I have to give credit to Simon, it does take a little effort to keep the blog updated with so much going on.

To the delight of all those who have been asking (and to ours) we finally have a pad!
A 4 bedroom – 5 bathrooms (yes you read right) villa in Azaiba (or Athaiba or whatever other spelling this area, like all the others, may have). Well, actually it is a 3-bed plus maid's quarters but since we are not going to have a live-in maid it's 4 bed for us: plenty of space for those friends waiting to come out to visit us and get some winter sun! :)

As you can imagine I am really excited about spending the next weeks and possibly months making our allowance work hard on furniture and fittings to make it homely (just think of the big grin on my face). Of course this means that you may have to wait a little bit for the pictures as at the moment the place is just a big empty marble shell where your voice bounces up and down against the walls and back to your ears.

The other good news is that, after much pestering the shipping company, we have finally found out that our stuff is on its way and is due to arrive sometime in the next couple of weeks so it sounds like our life may shape into some sort of normality towards the end of the month.
For the rest there are lots of other things that have happened or are about to happen but I don't want to overload you with information.

We have been out quite a lot recently, now that summer is over and the temperatures are much more pleasant there is always something going on in and around of town. Today we even enjoyed fireworks along the coast for bonfire night!

Amongst the most notable of the recent outings has to be mentioned the posh reception held on the grounds of the Diplomatic Club in occasion of the Italian Armed Forces Day. Being invited to such dos is one of the privileges of being part of a small community such as the 80-strong Italian resident population of Muscat. Of course it was not just for Italians as other local dignitaries and international diplomats were amongst the guests.

It felt a bit surreal at first especially arriving and being personally greeted by handshake by the Italian Ambassador, the Military Attaché' and their wives all in a line receiving the guests. I wasn't quite sure what to do so we just followed in a beeline, I could see their eyes squinting trying to work out who the hell we were (maybe I just had the same expression on my face!). It was quite funny actually. Especially as the photographers from the local papers kept snapping away at each hand shake. I'll let you know if we end up on the mundane pages of the local press with big grins on our faces.

It was nice to dress up for the occasion, mix with the high society of muscat and enjoy some nice wine and lots of Italian food. Apparently there are about 3 or 4 of these sociable events organized by the Italian Embassy to look forward to every year.

In the meantime I know there will be some more exciting non Embassy related events coming up soon. So stay tuned.

A final note to those who don't know yet (I will be sending an email soon): we will be in London town for a brief visit at the end of the month.. I hear it's cold :-

We are planning to hang out at a watering hole in town on Saturday 29th November, so if you are in London, you still have space in your diary and you don't mind us showing off our tans... keep it free. I'll be in touch via email.