Ramada Qurum Beach Muscat

... careful not to cough in public because it is them assumed that you have Swine Flu. I had a coughing fit in the market, but put it down to the incense that was burning all over the place. After a drink of water I came right. Went up to Oasis deck again but didn't last very long because it was too hot. Decided to head back to the cool airconditioning. We sailed out of Muscat at about 3pm. Very interesting place and so clean, but wouldn't return.

We had hoped we could visit Oman to see family and when it turned out that the cheapest flight to India went via Oman it was a go! Jessie and Tom, and their gorgeous 2 young daughters have lived in Oman for the past 5 years, first meeting in Saudi (Jessie is Bernd's eldest daughter). It was wonderful to spend a few days in a home with family, catching up on news and seeing Muscat through their eyes. They both love Oman, and can foresee staying here, at least until the girls get ...

... be sorted once I get my gardening things. Although it is a thankless task sweeping the leaves up from the olive trees. The front step needs sweeping every day. There is a road near here with just nurseries and garden centres on, at least ten! Apparently you can't get all you want in one place though! OK, as alien as it is to me, we now have a maid. Well, I'm telling myself she's a cleaner who comes is a couple of days a ...

Finally on the KLM flight to Kuwait and Muscat. The flight takes 5 hours to Kuwait, an hour on the ground, and then another 1.5 hours to Muscat. All flights (even to Amsterdam) were about half empty - the trip from Kuwait to Muscat was at best ¼ full. The KLM flight staff said that most flights they are on are quite empty - they are even feeling the downturn in the economy. Who could have believed that I would be flying ...

... landscape, you have all dead, bleeched out coral with tons of fossils under foot. Just so beautiful, and still far enough off the beaten path where you felt a little out of place. A fun feeling. Especially when the locals are so open and friendly. Not a lot of love for our President, but it didn't seem to impact their opinions of us, which was a bit of a welcome surprise. Hope you enjoy the photos. Will check back in a few days.

... and a pretty good road. Al Ain itself is a large oasis city of about 450,000 people and almost as many roundabouts. The run back into Dubai was fine except for the idiots for whom120 is way too slow. They have a serious small dick problem here I fear. Perhaps I am uncharitable and it is just that they have way too much money. Anyway, they certainly don't drive with any sense of responsibility, in fact with no sense at all. As you can probably tell there are a few ...

... no space in the marina for our boat, so we were tendered by private craft, 10 or so at a time to our Dhow boat. So little space in each that John had to sit in the captain's chair but no stripes or captain hat. We cruised along the waters of the Old City of Muscat. Our lady-guide, transplanted from India only 2 years ago apparently had not yet acquired all the traditional Omani party line. She volunteered that she was single and ...

... Tuesday night Jon had to work so we ordered a pizza with Tina and had a good chat before she flies out tomorrow. It was great fun! Wednesday we rented a car, packed up all of our stuff and drove out to Ras al Jinz (the turtle conservatory). As we were renting the car the guy at Budget kept showing me how to get the spare tire down and where the jack is which made me somewhat nervous. Think back to tire changing lessons check. Apparently the tire comes down on a ...

... Lu Lu Hypermarket and stocked up on some dinner and snack food for the bus back to Dubai the following day. The bus back to Dubai was much like the ride over - sand, rubble, hills, lots of round-a-bouts - but a little bit more exciting at the border as a fellow passenger was refused entry to the UAE and had to be returned to the Oman border to find his own way back. With the temperature hovering at a humid 40+ degrees Celsius we didn't envy his wait in the sun. Back at the only ...