The oasis, the desert, the beach

I've had the most amazing, beautiful, fantastic day. Salalah is hands down one of the most amazing cities I've ever been to visit. We arrived yesterday afternoon after a couple hours flight. Slept all the way, but got to see the green mountains around Salalah right before landing.



Last night we all walked around the souk (market) to buy traditional goods, spices, and a few house dresses. The whole group ate at a restaurant together... sitting in the Omani style on the floor with plastic to place the food on. Had chicken and rice- yum... I could eat it everyday (and almost do!) I haven't laughed that hard in a longggg time. Afteward, I took a taxi back with 2 other students- and the guy wouldnt let us pay! He told us to have a fun experience in Salalah and Muscat- and wouldn't allow us to give him the money. This, by the way, would NEVER happen in Muscat. Nor would the driver be so friendly... and shockingly, they speak better English in Salalah than in Muscat. Who'd have thought? The gals all hung out in our triple room at the Haffa House hotel... gossiping, debating, and listening to Dane Cook...and eating some snacks we bought at LuLu hypermarket during the day.



Woke up nice and early today, had breakfast (we aren't fasting, as we are traveling), and loaded up on our bus. We are all dedicated to the idea of being as touristy as possible. Such a release from worrying about trying to fit in. Our guide drove us up along the mountain side, stopping at this little side road, with an older mosque placed between the trees. Next to the mosque is a smaller building, which I learn inside, is the tomb of Job. Outside the building is a whole cut in the cement, revealing a spot of dirt... I stared at it for a good while, totally clueless. Our program director obviously saw my confusement and pointed out the heel print and the toe prints--- it was apparently the footprint of Job.... and it was 2 feet long. Job was, by the looks of his tomb, a giant. But it was cool to see his prayer room and the amazing scenery.



On the drive down the mountains, the most joyful thing happened. Totally touristy and just about as annoying as when people get excited as seeing a herd of cattle in Texas and gawk over it. But I cared not. In the road, was a flock/herd? of camels. And oh yes, we all got out of the bus and took a photo- and one next to the camel-crossing street sign. It was glorious.



But not as glorious as the wadi we stopped at next. Green, green, green. Cool breeze. Clear water. Rocks and bridges. The kid in my heart was dying to explore every cranny... but we were only able to stay for 20 minutes. We were to see the exact opposite setting, the desert-like mountains on the other side of Salalah, and we were behind schedule. Driving over the limestone mountains, zigzaggin along, we stopped to take only a few photos before we arrived at the beach.... I've never seen such a view. We gawked over the "blowhole" the ocean made on the rocky coastline and had our picnic lunch overlooking the green mountains jut up against the blue water.

Inspired by the tropical paradise we were seeing and not fully enjoying... as a group we all decided to go to the beach in the afternoon. We gathered our towels, donned the appropriate swimming clothing, and trodded across the soft, deep, white sand. The beach was totally empty except the 10 of us that decided to go. So we waded in the water, despite the strong waves and my deep fear of sharks/jellyfish, covered each other in sand, took hundreds of pictures, and enjoyed the solitude.

The day ended with a long dinner at a Chinese restaurant and a visit to the Salalah gold souk- was only a street, but was interesting to see what was being sold.