Naseem Hotel Muttrah

... Costa... We can walk to the local shopping centre from the house. The kids and I went to the local groc**y shop wh**e I had a Lee Evans moment...let me explain. I don't know what tour it was but Lee Evans was talking about women who take pushchairs to sup**markets and load up 2 weeks worth of shopping on it [I'm s******ing thinking about it...] You turn back and the buggy is on it's back and the child has his legs in the air...(can you see wh**e this ...

... in mind the instructions I was given were "Have your fingerprints taken, then go next door and they'll issue your card". In reality............. Arrive at the immigration centre and drive around for 20 minutes to find a parking space amongst the several thousand asylum seekers and migrant workers squatting in any available shade. Look for signs for the fingerprint office. Finding none, ask a policeman. Follow his instructions ...

... By now it was time to leave as it was way to hot but first into the city of Muscat.  Here the city was all white-similar to but not much different than Amman-except it was all government buildings. This was a fast photo stop and then we wanted to find some water.  No, we weren't going to lie on the beach but wanted to put my feet in the Gulf of Oman.  Boy, was the water warm!  Lunch was at Subway as that was about the only thing open as people were still celebrating ...

... oil and its people seem to be doing just fine, thank you very much. · Gulf Air We flew here with Gulf Air, a nice, no nonsense and good value airline that employs great looking air hostesses. We got our first taste of hummus on-board and it whetted our appetites for what lays ahead. The downside? No beer on board. · Air Force One? When we were taxying to the small arrivals terminal of Muscat International Airport yesterday we saw Air Force ...

... for more details and the like, and out of the blue offered to lend me money. I'd shown up, two or three hours previously, to his internet cafe, and there he was, offering me money. Which, as it turned out, was the difference between curtailing my travel and seeing everything I wanted to see. So as I headed out for further adventures the next day, dear reader, I had already concluded that the Omani people are some of the nicest, kindest, most genuine on the earth.

... online of where this place was actually located. It is located near the Dnata building by the Clock Tower, only no one in Dnata gave me helpful advice. I had to walk around the block asking everyone I saw. This was all in the blazing, humid heat around midday with a large heavy backpack on my shoulders. Finally, I discovered it in some alleyway behind the Dnata complex. It wasn't really marked or anything; I just walked past a store, having ...

... year to camp all around Oman (yes, in a tent) so he can talk to the people. Seems like a pretty interesting guy. My 2nd day, I took a tour around Muscat (the state, not just the capital city) with Jamal, my guide and driver. I donned a headscarf (that would not stay on) and visited the Grand Mosque, which boasted the largest, single piece of handmade Persian carpet in the world (gorgeous), a Swarovski crystal chandelier with 1K+ lights that was 40m tall or ...

... this country is. Far different than what I'd originally expected. We've yet to see any graffiti, roadside trash, or decrepit buildings. Most of the streets and sidewalks look clean enough to eat off of. We spent yesterday driving though the stunning desert mountains of northwestern Oman before finally arriving in Muscat. We are again using frequent guest points to stay at a Sheraton Hotel. This one has clean water and is absolutely spotless, but...it looks like it has not been ...

... and off we went in this old, broken-down looking bus. This one didn't have a microphone at all so Ali continued his back and forth dialogue. Just a side story about Ali - He is 39 years old, retired after 20 years in banking with a full pension. He has 10 children aged 21 to 1, and is looking for a second wife to bear him more children. Remember in Islam a man can have up to 4 wives. The ladies on the bus gave him a heck of a time, while the men seemed to ...