The nicest people ever.

Trip Start Sep 21, 2006
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Oman  ,
Thursday, December 14, 2006

I think I never met nicer people than Omanis. One of the things that makes them so sweet is the fact that they're not used to tourists. In many places I went to in Oman, I had the feeling that I was the very first tourist that the locals had ever seen. And in many instances, it was probably true. It's interesting to know that Oman actually opened a Tourist Ministry only about a year and a half ago. It's a rather expensive place to visit with no good public transportation system so it's out of the traditional backpackers itinerary. But the warm welcome you get from everyone makes the additional hassle of visiting Oman much worth it.

It was great to see the locals wave me from across the street. They would often come over for a little chat and wanted to know everything about me. And there's no sitting alone at a table in a restaurant. Every time it happened, a local quickly came over and sat with me and got me tea before ordering me some local food that I didn't even know existed In Oman men wear white, and women wear black.
In Oman men wear white, and women wear black.
 . They all wanted me to get the best food there was. And the whole time I stayed in Muscat, I never paid for a single meal. My new friend would insist on paying for me every time.

Here's a good one. One night that I was staying in a hotel decent enough to have a kitchenette in my room I decided I was going to cook myself something. After months of traveling you get real sick of restaurants no matter how good they are. So I went to this grocery store in Muscat not far away from my hotel and put enough food on the counter to fix me a few meals. The man working there engaged in a very friendly conversation, which is so typical of Omanis, and we chatted for a while when he asked me where I was from. He was so delighted I was from Canada that he categorically refused that I paid for the food. I politely declined his offer, explaining I could easily afford it but he insisted. In a final effort to convince me to accept he said: "Take it as a gift from Oman to Canada." The man was so genuine that I couldn't refuse. What a great guy. He explained that he was the owner and introduced me to his son, adding: "If you need anything in the next days come see him and he'll get it for you." Of course, after such a good gesture I was embarrassed to ask for more so I did not. But I'm sure there would have been nothing they wouldn't have done for me. This is Oman !!!

Andre.
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