Monday 6th May
The wonders of Oman
Super bonus for us today. The mufti here could not see the moon last night. So Ramadan will not start here until tomorrow. That makes it so much easier for us and we don’t have to worry about drinking water in front of our guide etc.
It did start in the other gulf countries last night. Yemen, UAE and Saudi as the moon could be seen.
A ship tour today in Oman. I’ve been here twice before and have done some good local tours in taxis. The souk, fish markets etc, so I chose a tour called the Wonders of Oman which goes an hour or so out of town to forts and things.
Heaps of dust was in the air. As we headed off down the highway visibility was only a kilometre if so. Just a grey haze over everything. Looked like a bushfire.
Our guide talking to us a lot about the Sultan – whom they all love so much. He has done a lot tourism, Education and health.
School starts at 6yo and goes for 12 years. Education of free including Uni. If someone wants to do uni overseas they can have that paid for as well.
Medical is not free. It cost 1 riel a year ($3). They pay for the card but medical is free. There is also private cover.
We had lessons on turbans and when each kind was worn. It was really god to see and who now there were so many different kinds and occasions.
The drive down the highway was great. A totally different desert to UAE. This was a stony scrubby kind. Lots of camels. And groups of houses.
A fish market was the first stop. Not a fancy city market with the product so perfectly organised. This was very much a fishing town market for the locals. Raw and great in the town of Barka.
It was a large cover area with a series of concrete and tiles gutters and benches. Heaps of dried bait fish. Many large tuna. Barracuda and more.
Benches were covered in fish, parts of fish and remains of fish. All the fishermen sat around cutting up and selling their fish. There was no ice of course. One tuna head would have been lucky to fit into a garbage bin it was so large. Guts, blood and fish parts everywhere. Was fun watching people pick their way through.
Opposite was a small vegetable market. Limes. Tomatoes, marrows.
On the other side was the animal produce shops. Lucerne hay for the camels and a variety of grasses for the goats. The grass was about 1.3 m long and packed into lovely bundles.
One taxi pulled up. The passenger put three huge bundles of grass and a few biscuits of lucern hay into the boot.
We then headed off to xxxx fort. It has been restored and was interesting.
So much fortification. Fun slots and canons everywhere. Outside the rooms of the important people were small holes in the floor where armed guards squatted. No where near one meter square.
Lunch was at a resort and was typical ship tour food. Not good and a very long way from traditional of even locals foods. Apart form the big bowl of humans that is.
Oman Coffee on the bus.
And then back to the ship. The dust all day has been amazing.
They lied. It wasn’t 36 degrees. It was over 41.
The sea days started with the Suites party – more amazing food, then down for round one of Progressive Trivia. We replaces Suzie and Georgia with another Canberra couple – Denis and Jo. a bit funny.
Then the Crown and Anchor night. I had to go up on the stage for my milestone achievement and got a glass block for this ship – so my collection is complete again!
They always have some guest entertainer do a private show for us. Lights came on and the music started – then singing came from off stage. An amazing voice singing a song from Phantom. After about 30 seconds of the mystery building – on walked Gordon the Cruise Director – who has a background in musical theatre and was as good as any voice you will ever hear on a cruise ship. Amazing.
I then went and ate Duck Pancakes – just because I could!
That night the show was a British group called The Barricade Boys. All four of them have made major leads in Les Miserables on Broadway of West End and in the movie. And they were fantastic.
Next was India
http://www.rainatravels.com/india-2