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Japanese Meal at the home of the Japanese Ambassador and his wife

I went to a Japanese cultural morning meeting of the Women’s Guild in the garden of the residence of the Japanese Ambassador. We had a demonstration of sushi making and then a “tasting” of all the different food types.

Nov 1, 2009

Photos: 11

Egyptian meal in Sohar

Beryl and I enjoyed a fabulous lunch with an Egyptian colleague of mine who also lives in Sohar. His wife made a HUGE Egyptian spread for us and we sat on the floor and stuffed ourselves with the most awesome foods and flavours. What a treat. The 4 of us (Beryl, Emad, Amal and I) were expected to finish this entire meal. The fish in the left foreground was made JUST FOR ME as I do not eat meat. Another plate the same size was brought in for Emad and Amal. Other food was brought in after I took these photos.

Oct 29, 2009

Photos: 2

SA holiday - Joburg family

Oct 4, 2009

Photos: 21

SA Holiday - Baroque in the Bush

The Shingwedzi camp in the Kruger National Park were fully booked so we decided to camp. The organisers then acquired this additional accommodation with permanent tents. Basic -but much better than having to erect our own tent. We were allowed to drive outside of the camp after 6pm, and as a result had one of the best sightings ever – two hippos walking along the road. We saw hundreds of elephants and buffalo and buckn some giraffe and zebra, a few hyena. We saw a python that had just caught a squirrel. The rest of the squirrel family were standing on the branches of a nearby bush and agitatedly wagging their tails. We saw a large water monitor (nowhere near the water) and a crocodile. We saw only one lioness. She had just caught a zebra and was lying panting under a tree. The first vulture arrived and settled in a nearby tree to wait its turn. Pictures are not very good as I only had my phone camera

Sep 27, 2009

Photos: 29

SA holiday - Trip to the game reserve and the baroque concert

In Magoebaskloof Margaret and I stayed at Glenshiel, the most delightful B&B cum hotel the most wonderful English garden and the best customer service that I have experienced in a long time. In the morning we stopped at the Cheerio to see the azaleas – the most magnificent display- absolutely amazing. My phone camera is just not capable of capturing the magnifcence.

Sep 23, 2009

Photos: 88

SA Holiday Hilton

I stayed at Quarry Cottages when I went to the Hilton Festval. Unfortunately I d not have pics of the festival itself

Sep 18, 2009

Photos: 10

SA Holiday - lunch Mabel, Amanda and Xolani

Sep 15, 2009

Photos: 3

SA Holiday - Simonskloof

One of my favourite places situated in the Koo valley near Montague

Sep 13, 2009

Photos: 28

SA Holiday - Breede - tasting, buying, drinking wine and relaxing at the river

Sep 11, 2009

Photos: 14

SA holiday - Drive to Caledon and back

I just took happy snaps driving to Caledon and then back via Hermanus, Kleinmond and the scenic route home

Sep 10, 2009

Photos: 80

Trip back from turtle beach Aug 2009

Aug 13, 2009

Photos: 14

Donald and Eloise

I joined the Womens Organisation coffee morning at the magnificent home of Don and Eloise Bosch. She is now 90 years old and he is 92. She signed a copy of their book - The Doctor + the Teacher. He was taking a nap (probably to avoid so many women).

Aug 11, 2009

Photos: 12

Haramel Village

This village is a stones throw from the magnifcent homes of the General and Don and Eloise Bosch

Aug 11, 2009

Photos: 18

SA Women having a jol

SA Women's Day celebration at the Hyatt Hotel - hosted by the SA Embassy A wonderful meal and great SA music

Aug 9, 2009

Photos: 23

A camping trip and spectacular drive

We looked down on the Snake Gorge – next year I must get fit enough to do the kloofing trip through the gorge which entails walking, wading through pools, swimming, and scrambling over boulders in the gorge between two cliffs. The drive ended via a drive through Wadi Bani Awf. What a stunning and enthralling journey. A challenging drive (had a laugh when I saw a white dishdashed Omani riding a motorbike along those dusty windy roads– a major missed photo opportunity). It was so spectacular – winding down and down and down – around every bend an amazing different vista and a sense of discovery: a little green oasis among the rocky crags; A ruin; a little pink plant growing out of a crack in the rocks; trees clinging to the cliff face; a graveyard. Little villages of only a handful of houses perched on rocky ledges or nestled between the cliffs where they can grow a few palm trees and other plants.

Jul 30, 2009

Photos: 221

A sweet little boy

Stans 76th birthday lunch

Jul 20, 2009

Photos: 13

A village outside Ibra

On the way back from the wedding we stopped at this little village - partly abandonded and partly inhabited

Jul 10, 2009

Photos: 34

My Omani liquor licence

This cost me OR 50 or ZAR R1000 and I can spend OR 50 or R1000 per month

Jul 5, 2009

Photos: 9

Jabal Akhdar

A group of South Africans, New Zealanders, Australians, Canadians and Americans escaped the 45 degree plus Muscat heat and headed for a cool night on Jabal Akhdar. We drove through some rain showers on the way there. How heavenly. We explored some of the surrounding villages. My cell phone camera cannot capture anything of the magnificence of the terrain. Although this is my third visit up this mountain - I saw completely different villages and views.

Jun 25, 2009

Photos: 82

Why the tap water is so hot - Water tanks on the roof tops

Jun 7, 2009

Photos: 3

Tour by the tourism students

Students from the tourism college had to design a tour that was not on the main stream. We went as a couple of guinea pig toursits to a couple of villages in and around Muscat.

Jun 2, 2009

Photos: 26

Fire at Modern Gulf Institute

May 31, 2009

Photos: 18

Streets Winter flowers

The Zinnias along the side of the roads in summer are not nearly as showy as their petunia sisters in winter. The workers are out in all temperatures = some of these photos were taken on the 1st June 2009 when the temperature was 48 degrees and the real feel due to high humidity was 52 degrees.

May 24, 2009

Photos: 17

Silhouette of an Identity

Tunisian artist Riadh Abdi exhibition at the Bait Muzna Gallery. Riadh takes a philosophical approach to the human body and its movement, expressing the identity issue. The human silhouette is repeated and multiplied to the infinity, it forms a microscopic place. It discovers an organic and cosmic dimension. "The contemporary man is an enigma....I am searching for his identity, his surface. I want to manifest his look, his thoughts and his new conception of the world.....the silhouette is its contour, its shadow and its hidden side. I manipulate the silhoutte to then discover hte nearest. My question is how to use the hidden to discover the depth, how to manipulate the microscopic to discover the macroscopic? How to visualise the surface to discover the interface? I lay my silhouttes on the canvas like the wind accumulates sand".

May 23, 2009

Photos: 31

Two parties (not the political type) - South African National Day

One – the official party - Held at the Grand Hyatt. - The South African chef included melktert in the desert. Dignitaries gathered on stage cut a football shaped cake. (2010 and federation cup theme). A choir of South Africans sang the Oman and SA national anthems. For me – the best part of the evening was the outfits. A truly cosmopolitan occasion. Omani’s in their traditional dress – wearing the kanjhar and turban. Africans in modern interpretations of their traditional dress – from kaftans to Xhosa dresses – and turbans – all so elegant and bright. Indian Saris and other colourful outfits. SA flags beaded into ties. Men in uniform. The evening ended with a bit of whistle blowing and women dancing half modern / half traditional moves. Two – for the average South African - Held at the Capital Yacht Club – chicken braai and salads - DJ – and a 2010 fancy dress. A fantastic evening on the edge of the sea – dancing and vuvusela’s. The South Africans do know how to party/

Apr 28, 2009

Photos: 22

Jabal - Seeq or Sayq.

Take a walk with me through this fruit farming village

Apr 17, 2009

Photos: 45

Juniper trees on the Jabal

John, June and I go for a picnic in the Juniper “forest”. These trees have amazing dry, twisted trunks which create fantastic shapes. There were also Olive and thorn trees. These 1000 year old Juniper trees are been cut down for firewood by campers and construction workers for firewood and to make way for development and views. In 2005 this mountain was a restricted zone. Now, due to the tourism initiative, it is been destroyed.

Apr 16, 2009

Photos: 16

Hotel Sahab on Jabal Akhdar

John invites Deidre, June and I to spend the weekend at a half completed hotel on the top of Jabal Akhdar – the green mountain. We meet the owner and he gives us the run of the place. One room has running water and electricity and we have use of this room. When we were there in December I was horrified that this prime spot was been used to build a hotel. Boy what a pleasant surprise. They have used the rocks and fossils in the design of the hotel and the garden

Apr 16, 2009

Photos: 49

Roses on Jabal Akhdar

We get a chance to see how rose water is made and go to a village (Al Aqor, I think) just below the hotel Sahab. Rosewater is used in religious ceremonies, in cooking and also in beauty treatments. Distilling fragrant from the rose petals is a difficult procedure and the Jebel Akhdar rose has a short bloom, lasting only for a few weeks in April. Consequently this fragrant is expensive.

Apr 16, 2009

Photos: 107

The rocks and some views of Jabal Akhdar

Driving around the Jabal

Apr 16, 2009

Photos: 30

Jazz at the Crowne Plaza

The U.S Embassy in Muscat had a free jazz concert on the Grand Lawn of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Chris Byars Quartet played. Me – trying to get everyone involved – left it too late to book seats. All 300 free seats were booked by the time I got answers from my “theatre list”. So we took a chance – June, Deidre and I – and what a good result we achieved. We went and sat at the pool bar – had a good view over the lawns to the band and drank Australian wine, chatted and listened to and watched the band play. We could have gone and sat on the grass in the “theatre” area but were very happy to stay where we were. It was not quite loud enough but we had a lovely time and then Deidre treated me to a fabulous fish dinner.

Apr 14, 2009

Photos: 13

Dates growing on a tree outside my apartment

Apr 14, 2009

Photos: 14

Dosteen Restaurant

I took Naz, our Pakastani driver, to lunch. I was the only woman and the only white face in the establishment. The food was great - and cheap

Mar 25, 2009

Photos: 7

Royal Air Force Dinner

Very poor photos with my cell phone of one of the highlights of my stay here. A dinner at the RAF (Royal Air Force) mess. Now this was something special. The food was incredible – anything and everything under the sun. The music – 4 different bands played: One rock band made up of an assortment of expatriates, including two South Africans. A lady and a gent lead singers. One Royal Air Force band – a bag pipe player with 5 or so dancing and drumming accompaniments. One army dance troup of about 20 singers and dancers. Swiveling their camel sticks and rifles like drum majorettes. – Rifles flying many meters into the air. One Arabic band with electric oud, cello, flute and various other instruments.

Mar 17, 2009

Photos: 14

Muscat Gate Museum

This museum is a modern version of a city gate, built across the motorway upon the site of the mountain outcrop that once defined the historical boundary of Muscat city and the position of the old city wall that introduces Muscat proper. From the sixteenth century until as recently as 1970, Old Muscat was a walled city where the gates were locked at sunset, and anyone failing to carry a lantern illuminating their face was arrested. In a land in which radio, television and newspapers were prohibited, the city walls were the main means of administrative communication in Oman: the sultan announced his decrees simply by posting them on the city walls. The museum provides a good insight into the city’s rich history. The displays are informative but even more enjoyable are the wonderful views of the city and the coastline from the top. There were two armed guards hiding in the shade. You can climb the nearby watchtower constructed in the shape of an incense burner.

Mar 13, 2009

Photos: 56

Cocktail party to meet the new South African Ambassador at his residence

Thee pics appeared on the social pages of H! Wine and snacks at the SA ambassador’s residence – to meet the new ambassador, Yousef Saloji, brought up in Station Street Roodepoort. We had wonderful South African wine in the courtyard. It was so hot – I kept going inside to stand under the aircon for a few minutes to try and cool down. On going back out it was like walking into a brick wall it was so hot. As a result I did not enjoy the occasion that much.

Mar 12, 2009

Photos: 3

Wekan / Wakan the beautiful terraced farming village famous for its terraced gardens

Unfortunately my little phone camera cold not do justice to this magnificence. The steep and winding rocky road has huge rocks and walls of mountain on one side and sheer drops on the other. It is very dusty. Wakan is a tiny village from another world. The people kept mostly out of site – we saw a few locals working in the fields, carrying water or walking down the stairs after doing some gardening. Wakan hugs the mountain side and is surrounded by green plantations and terraces. There are a number of hiking trails but we were just coming for a look-see. We were too early in the season to get the full impact of the blossoms and fruits, There is a spring near the lookout point that brings water down the falaj. The views took my breath away. The muezzin called the people to prayer and was echoed by the call from the other village down the valley. It was eerie sounding, this stereo singing bouncing off the mountains.

Mar 11, 2009

Photos: 110

Ghubrah bowl - Photos by Fiona

The village of Wekan in the Ghubra Bowl. Pics by a more professional photogrpher using a somewhat better camera

Mar 11, 2009

Photos: 32

Traffic outside my house

Traafic on the wrong side of the road casuing chaos

Feb 25, 2009

Photos: 8

Streets - Summer flowers

Feb 20, 2009

Photos: 32

Margrets visit February 2009

Vorgegebenes Album für neu hochgeladene Fotos.

Feb 11, 2009

Photos: 44

Diplomatic club

A fashion show by all the embassies represented in Oman.

Feb 10, 2009

Photos: 31

The Turkish House

Margrets last night in Oman

Feb 10, 2009

Photos: 4

Mutrah and the old city of Muscat

The Alam palace is situated in the old city and is flanked by two forts - Jilali and Mirani The Mutrah Corniche is around 3km's and surrounds the main port area which is overlooked by Mutrah fort

Feb 9, 2009

Photos: 93

Margret's visit part 2

Margret's visit continues - Turtle beach, Wadi Bani Khalid, the road from Sur taking in Wadi Tiwi, Wadi Shab and the Bimmah sinkhole. ending in Muttrah

Feb 9, 2009

Photos: 54

Margrets visit February 2009

My first visitor in Oman. Margret from Germany Ali's home village Al Areesh Desert Camp and Camel racing

Feb 6, 2009

Photos: 101

Streets - lamps and lights and flags and posters and signs

Jan 30, 2009

Photos: 73

19th Arabian Gulf GCC Football Cup

Oman was host to the 19th Arabian Gulf GCC Football Cup……….. And they won

Jan 18, 2009

Photos: 7

Training Needs Analysis Presentation

Jan 8, 2009

Photos: 2

Al Sahwah Park

I walked about a kilometer from my home to Al Sahwah Park. This beautiful park includes entertainment facilities and car parks at an area of over 250,000 sq. metres. There are six gardens and a number of water fountains. It includes attractive geometrical hedge designs. There is a mosque in the centre.

Jan 8, 2009

Photos: 32

Annual Royal Horse Racing Festival

1200 men, 800 boys, 400 girls = 2400 riders and 838 horses! On New Years Day I was treated to a special experience. What an afternoon – a feast of colours and sounds and smells. I could not take decent pictures with my little phone camera – but these pics will give you an indication of what it was like. I quote from the programme: Oman enjoyed peaceful, glorious, and prosperous time under the reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. The Annual Royal Horse Race festival is a product of His Majesty’s wise vision, proving his relentless support to horses and related sports. Our festival is organised at the beginning of each year. Its programmes show authenticity of Omani people and their intimate bond with horses. The Royal cavalry persists to show innovated & attractive programmes in the festival, with emphasis to Oman’s tradition & heritage. The combination of modernity and heritage attracts attention of horse lovers and amateurs.

Jan 1, 2009

Photos: 91

Map of road closure

Due to the GCC summit – some main roads are closed for certain periods for two days. This created even more hassles on the extremely busy roads. The government printed high glossy maps of the road closures and distributes it with ALL newspapers and drops it off at various other distribution points.

Dec 31, 2008

Photos: 3

Pauls 50th birthday gathering at the Civil Aviation Club

Pictures by Lynette - this comment by Lynette - This was a very pleasant gathering of friends to celebrate Paul's birthday. He had a ball. Unfortunately I didn't catch a pic of him doing wheelies around the table but it came to that and we all got very jolly.

Dec 29, 2008

Photos: 10

Signs in Oman

Dec 25, 2008

Photos: 14

A travelling Omani home

Dec 25, 2008

Photos: 1

Bait Al Zubair (House of Zubair) Museum

Bait Al Zubair (House of Al Zubair) is a private museum that opened its carved wooden doors to the public in 1998. It is totally funded by its founders, the Zubair family. The museum displays the family’s collection of Omani artefacts, which is considered to be the finest that is privately owned. With the variety of exhibits, modern display methods and information provided, the museum serves as a real window on Oman’s rich heritage and culture. Since it opened the museum has expanded into a cultural complex that continues to evolve and is internationally recognised.

Dec 24, 2008

Photos: 6

Xmas present giving

A group of middle aged women met on Christmas day at Helens home at SQU. We had "chinese"? gift giving where each person selected a gift and opened it. The next person had the choice of taking that gift or selecting another one from the pile. Both the gifts I drew from the pile were African beaded items - one chameleon and one frog. I was relieved of both.

Dec 24, 2008

Photos: 17

Hash Christmas

I attended the Hash House Harriers annual Christmas dinner on the 19th. We had to take our own tables and chairs and cutlery – out onto an open desolate patch of sand and dirt. There we decorated our tables then went on an hour hash run/walk. We came back to a hot Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings and a vegetarian dish for those of us who do not consume turkey. A bonfire with carols and some hash versions rounded off a fun evening. I was disappointed that in the prize giving, our table did not even warrant a mention. We had truly authentic decorations. Using a meat cleaver I hacked down some palm leaves (I was terrified that I may get arrested) and these became our tree. We hung a lovely wire star from the top. We had Omani rugs and Arabic cushions. First prize went to an elegant silver and white ensemble. Most other tables were your conventional red and green baubles and tinsel.

Dec 21, 2008

Photos: 23

Streets roundabouts and ornaments

Dec 21, 2008

Photos: 70

Desert

A desert trip from Muscat via Mintirib (also spelt Mintarib), through the Wahiba Sands (Sharqiyah Sands) and back via Sur. Photos taken with a phone camera mostly from a moving vehicle.I have included photos taken by Lynette

Dec 6, 2008

Photos: 232

Al Jabal Al Akhdar (Green mountain)

Dec 4, 2008

Photos: 107

Rain, hail, thunder, lighting and rainbows

15 minutes of sheer joy. First the rain. Then the hail. Then lightening and 4 seconds later the thunder. And finally the rainbow. It was all over in 15 minutes. Reminiscent of Johannesburg summer thunder showers - only this was probably IT for the year. And guess what - I had the car cleaned this morning!

Dec 3, 2008

Photos: 15

Streets - Night lights

Dec 2, 2008

Photos: 20

Culture

Dec 2, 2008

Photos: 8

Wadi 1

Dec 2, 2008

Photos: 23

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum showcases the geography, fauna, flora, and other environmental factors of Oman

Nov 29, 2008

Photos: 11

Nizwa, Fort Nizwa and Tanuf

Nov 26, 2008

Photos: 97

Naseem Park

Nov 19, 2008

Photos: 44

Socials

Nov 19, 2008

Photos: 28

SEEB Thursday November 2008

Nov 14, 2008

Photos: 52

Hash

Nov 8, 2008

Photos: 16

food

Nov 5, 2008

Photos: 53

Grand Mosque

Nov 2, 2008

Photos: 35

Seeb Drive

Took myself for a drive up the coast to Seeb beaches and fishing village. Miles and miles of endless beach and sea. Fishing boats. Women swimming in their Abayas. I had heard that they do it – I finally got to witness it happening first hand. Interesting to watch them – some women wearing jeans underneath and walking back to their families weighed down by sodden denim. Others wearing flimsy or no undergarments and looking extremely sexy – which is what the Abaya is supposed to prevent. Gazebos dotted every few hundred metres where the locals take their families for picnics and you can see them sitting and playing chess.

Oct 30, 2008

Photos: 16

Dhow cruise

The SAGO Dhow cruise took us out of the marina towards the Bal Al Jissa resort and the Albustan Palace Hotel. Those are the dark pictures. It was a beautiful balmy evening

Oct 23, 2008

Photos: 17

Sifah

Friday 17 October – 39 degrees but cooler at the beach Friday, Liz and Pete (ex Rhodies who have lived in the Middle East for over 20 years) and Wendy (here on holiday from Cape Town) take me on a picnic. We meet up with another 4X4 (Australians and South Africans) and drive over 50 km’s of windy and twisty roads through valleys and over a magnificent rugged mountain range and via many little villages lost in time. Long haired goats roaming the desert and the streets and climbing the sparse trees