This week was a fast one. Classes flew by and the weekend doubly so. Thursday afternoon Ahlam, Nihad, and I went to City Center to do MORE Eid shopping. They needed to buy clothes to wear in the mornings. Despite being there from 5pm to 1am... it was rather fun. We broke our fast at the food court, which was a really bizarre way to break it after having in the family setting for so long. Even more bizarre that I broke it with Subway (which PS is really cheap here). I think we looked at every shirt, dress, shoe, and bag in the entire mall. And you would think that I already would have seen it all, considering how oftern we go... but no. Ramadan is crazy. They put out new merchandise every day, and change the window decorations twice a day. I thought Christmas was intense!
Yesterday was my slow day. Really nice in contra to being on my feet the night before. Did all my laundry and finished my Ludlum book- though simple tasks, felt amazing. Dinner was once again delicious, and I got to share the time with the whole extended family.
Classes are half day today... just 3 hours of Arabic. But today, a longgggg 3 hours of Arabic. So I will head home via taxi soon... help cook some things for iftar, watch my sisters' favorite Dubai soap opera (which I understand nothing.. except the men are always plotting and the women are always crying... not too different from US soaps), and hang out with my family.
Showing posts with label taxi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taxi. Show all posts
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Umm, the ocean is on the wrong side
Things you might not have known about Oman that I have learned in the last day and a half:
1. They have these sticks.. which when you put in water, can then use to brush your teeth. Seriously, they are twigs to chew on. Also, this was my mystery item... which did in fact stump everyone in the group.
2. Im glad I didnt eat fish at lunch yesterday, because one guy got food poisoning from his. HA, see why I don't eat it?
3. Wrinkles are a bigggggg no no. You must look sharp. And smell good. At all times. Even after hiking around all day in the heat.
4. The toilets, of the toilets are so stressful. Lets just say it involves a sprayer (or a bucket if in an old place), your left hand, and some toilet paper which must be damn clean when you are done. But lets just say it explains why the left hand is such a big taboo.
5. THe left hand.. don't give anyone anything with it. Do not shake hands with it. Do not eat or drink with it. This is way more hard than you'd think.
6. The people are so very friendly. We went to the Sultan Qaboos University to tour today. We met the Dean of the Arts and Sciences, a few professors, and 3 women English literature majors. The girls were such a delight, so sweet! And the school is very beautiful..
7. Omani time is a relaxed time. Maybe even more so than Spanish time. So dont expect the buses to have schedules or lunch to be under 2 hours.
8. The hypermarts are a drastic change from yesterday's souk. Change smelly good spices and herbs for the US mall (but, in this one, everything has Arabic subtitles) and there was my evening at drop off #2.
9. Buses are hard to catch. And my gruop didn't catch one on our drop off trip. We walked a mile to the market... and then had a taxi driver take us to the wrong place on the way back... only to be noticed by the ocean appearing on the wrong side of the window. Luckily, we somehow figured it out.
10. The University has separate reading areas for men and women. Wonder if more work would get done at good ol SU if this was the case as well!
11. Omani coffee and dates are goooooooooooood
12. I am suddenly an alien. I am scarfless, and I am American, and I am a funny thing to stare at as you walk by. Boy, have I gotten some hilarious looks
annddddd
13. My group is so amazing. Total is at 15, and I think we all mesh pretty well. We all go to smaller, liberal arts type schools- we are all in some form of political science, history, or intl relations- and we are already looking out for each other. And heck, do we laugh a lot
1. They have these sticks.. which when you put in water, can then use to brush your teeth. Seriously, they are twigs to chew on. Also, this was my mystery item... which did in fact stump everyone in the group.
2. Im glad I didnt eat fish at lunch yesterday, because one guy got food poisoning from his. HA, see why I don't eat it?
3. Wrinkles are a bigggggg no no. You must look sharp. And smell good. At all times. Even after hiking around all day in the heat.
4. The toilets, of the toilets are so stressful. Lets just say it involves a sprayer (or a bucket if in an old place), your left hand, and some toilet paper which must be damn clean when you are done. But lets just say it explains why the left hand is such a big taboo.
5. THe left hand.. don't give anyone anything with it. Do not shake hands with it. Do not eat or drink with it. This is way more hard than you'd think.
6. The people are so very friendly. We went to the Sultan Qaboos University to tour today. We met the Dean of the Arts and Sciences, a few professors, and 3 women English literature majors. The girls were such a delight, so sweet! And the school is very beautiful..
7. Omani time is a relaxed time. Maybe even more so than Spanish time. So dont expect the buses to have schedules or lunch to be under 2 hours.
8. The hypermarts are a drastic change from yesterday's souk. Change smelly good spices and herbs for the US mall (but, in this one, everything has Arabic subtitles) and there was my evening at drop off #2.
9. Buses are hard to catch. And my gruop didn't catch one on our drop off trip. We walked a mile to the market... and then had a taxi driver take us to the wrong place on the way back... only to be noticed by the ocean appearing on the wrong side of the window. Luckily, we somehow figured it out.
10. The University has separate reading areas for men and women. Wonder if more work would get done at good ol SU if this was the case as well!
11. Omani coffee and dates are goooooooooooood
12. I am suddenly an alien. I am scarfless, and I am American, and I am a funny thing to stare at as you walk by. Boy, have I gotten some hilarious looks
annddddd
13. My group is so amazing. Total is at 15, and I think we all mesh pretty well. We all go to smaller, liberal arts type schools- we are all in some form of political science, history, or intl relations- and we are already looking out for each other. And heck, do we laugh a lot
Monday, June 4, 2007
An American in Paris
I ordered a taxi in Spanish- I was so excited! After a quick ride and short chat with the taxi driver, I arrived at the airport at 3:30am on Friday. As it was very quiet, I quickly checked in, went through security, and boarded with little difficulty. I even got to board first and pick my own seat (a nice little shoutout to RyanAir's policies!). Slept through the entire flight and arrived in the little airport of Beauvais. There I stuttered through ordering a bus ticket into Paris and awaited my arrival (though 2 hours later!!) Serge, my good friend from Paris, and his brother guided me through the complex metro and around the city... good to have someone who actually spoke French!
With Serge!
Walking the street to the hotel. One could actually see the Eiffel Tower to the left of that steeple, but it was cloudy that day.
Looking down the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triumph
Paris was, once again, a delight to spend for a weekend. Friday it was very cold and rainy- but not so cold and rainy that I didn't go sightsee around the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, and the Champs-Élysées. So dreamlike to walk around this area!
With Serge!
At the Le Defense station in the metro!
Walking the street to the hotel. One could actually see the Eiffel Tower to the left of that steeple, but it was cloudy that day.
Looking down the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triumph
On Saturday, we went to this HUGE market... must have been 20 x 20 blocks... selling clothes, jewelry, Parisian trinkets, bags, shoes, food, anything and everything. Was actually quite warm this day, which made riding the metro uber fun haha. Hung out with some of Serge's friends that night before leaving for the bus station at 4am. Rode the bus back to Beauvais, slept again through the entire flight, and safely got back to Madrid via metro. I had a fabulous time in Paris, but coming back to Madrid was like coming back home... So relieving. Its cleaner, the people are much friendlier, the metro isn't as confusing, and I speak the language. Lordy, made me realize how much I love Madrid! But at least I can say I spent a wonderful weekend in Paris.
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