Where Indiana Jones hangs out....Oman: Part 8 Around the World

Destination: Muscat Oman
Date: March 2012

In the desert of Oman about two hours outside of Muscat
Oman, March 2012

We were unsure what to do in Oman.  It hadn’t originally been on our itinerary, and we don’t know much about the area, but we were excited to see a little more about the Middle East and so we gratefully accepted the challenge of creating an adventure day in Oman.

Clay and I shopping in Muscat.  This was a fun place to start the day!
Oman, March 2012

Bailey at a shop that sold lots of gold trinkets
Oman, March 2012

The shop owner let Clay pose with his sweet little girl
Muscat Oman, March 2012

 We started off by going into the city of Muscat and doing some shopping.  The shops were fun because once we entered it was a maze of shopping. There were little store fronts around every corner and along long narrow passage ways.  Their Riel was worth almost $3 American Dollars so it was interesting to do the math backwards in this country to figure out our pricing.  Of course we managed quite well and we bought lots of traditional clothing for our nativity collection back home.  After shopping in the morning we went back to the ship, had lunch, and went out to meet our guides for our 4x4 sand dune experience. 

Clay getting outfitted for his very own hat in Oman
March 2012

The hallways through the shops were very narrow and made
 for a great locale to shoot a chase scene in a movie
Muscat, Oman March 2012

When I got out of our car to take this camels picture he
walked right up to me to get a nibble of my hair!
Oman, March 2012

We had to leave Muscat and drive two and a-half hours away to the Waheba Sand Desert in Oman, to hit the dunes.  When we arrived, we had our car tires flattened and we headed out onto the sand.  We whipped around and slid all over the sand.  We went straight down dunes, and up over, sliding everywhere in a sea of groomed sand straight from a movie set.  We got stuck in the sand at one point and had to get out and took some beautiful pictures of the area around us.  The sand was a beautiful red, and we even had a camel come over and visit us in one of our photo ops.  

Had to include this picture of our friend "J" getting chased
 by this camel as he tried to get his picture taken with it in the background.  I couldn't stop laughing...
Oman, March 2012

Just being in this scenic, and totally foreign part of the world it felt like we had walked onto a movie set. I kept thinking we'd find Indiana Jones around every corner. Just the love the people had for their country and the total different beauty of the landscape made me really love Oman. 

Since we were on the dunes at sundown the sand was turning cool and was refreshing on our toes.  Clay jumped right in and loved to make his mark on this smooth, groomed sand.
Oman, March 2012

Bailey also loved running up the steep dunes to see what was on the other side....
guess what it was more sand dunes!
Oman, June 2012

After being whipped around we went over to a Bedouin home (a nomad like people) to see how they live out in the middle of the desert.  This family had about twenty camel hobbled and tied up out near their home.  They invited us in for tea and we sat around with them and enjoyed the peacefulness of their life out in the middle of the dessert.  I couldn’t believe how hot the sand can be with the sun up and how cool it became at night.  I can't imagine living in a place where sand was your constant companion.  

Clay outside the bedouins home in the dessert
Oman, March 2012

Inside the bedouins home with lots of oriental rugs put down to cover up the floor of sand
Oman, March 2012

Bailey with our friend "L" pretending to enjoy the tea the bedouins offered during our visit
Oman, March 2012

Of course the main reason they invite us to tea was so they could sell us their trinkets
These made for great gifts to bring home to the rest of the kids!
Oman, March 2012

On our way back to Muscat, we could see the real life of Omanis beginning.  During our hot day drive out to the dessert there was hardly a soul to be seen walking out on the streets, but on our drive back there were dozens of people out walking, at the gas station watching the football game on the television with friends, and hanging out at the local corner store.  We stopped for snacks at the cornerstore and to put air back into our tires and I saw two woman and their children out front dressed in their robes, abayas, of the Middle East.  I smiled and waved but couldn’t tell if they smiled back due to their concealed faces.  Their children looked at me more from curiosity and didn’t respond positivily or negatively either way.  

Clay and Bailey pose with some of our bedouin hosts
Oman, March 2012

A local textile shop in Oman
March 2012

We stopped for a refreshment and Clay was dying to get out of the Land Cruiser.  I couldn't help but laugh how he looked like he was being kidnapped in Oman!
March 2012

Once back in Muscat we boarded our ship at around 11pm.  We enjoyed our day out with the people and visiting with our taxi driver that convinced us all that Oman is the place to live.  No taxes, no crime, no unemployment for those who want to work.  I’m not sure what their secret is, maybe the oil in this land does pay for everything but it doesn’t explain the lack of crime.  I did feel very safe here but I can’t say if those Omanis we came in contact with enjoyed being with us or enjoyed the money they earned when we left.  Either way it was a very positive experience.  Our day going 4x4ing cost about $60 US a person and of course we tipped our driver extra.  I should also mention that I wore a capri type pant and a t-shirt with no problem.  The people here did not seem concerned about me not covering my arms or my ankles and I was grateful for that because otherwise it would have made for a very warm day!

Clay and "M" buying some snacks at the local corner store
Oman, March 2012

Love the international rules on toilet time!
Muscat, Oman March 2012

Going to the port to get back onto the ship!
Oman, March 2012

As always safe and happy travels.  If you ever get to Oman or the middle east as a tourist I'd love to hear about your trip.  My husband Trent has been to Saudi Arabia and after his visit there he said he'd never let me step foot in that country.  He was very surprised at how much respect the Omani people showed the women while we were there because he didn't feel we would have been treated as well in Saudi Arabia.