Delirious in the Desert

What to do for Eid?

2010-11-13T09:24:00.003+04:00

Seriously, I'm so sick and tired of people here whinging and complaining about the "lack of official days holiday" for Eid. Honestly, the last 6 months of the year here is a cake walk - so many days off and lower productivity expected throughout Ramadhan, you would think people would focus on counting their blessings as opposed to feeling ripped off. *breathe* and I digress...

I for one am thankful for the handful of days we have off in a row this week, as well as the fact that we still have National Day holiday(s) to come and Islamic New Years.

So in typical Omani conversational style "What to do" people?
With the weather as awesome as it is (how can you NOT like 25-30 degree days in WINTER?) there are endless options:

* Camping
* Fishing
* Treks
* Geocaching
* Road trip to UAE or Salalah
* Cheap short tips anywhere in the region or even to Asia!

We are contemplating a quick trip to Abu Dhabi to go and visit friends and check out Ferrari World since my better half LOVES rides! I'm actually more interested in visiting Ikea, checking out some of the free events they showcase along the beach & corniche etc. Oh and maybe even bump into some celebs that are in town for the F1 Grand Prix events :)

Oodles of Couch Surfers!

2010-11-02T09:31:00.004+04:00

Given it is just the 2 of us living in a 3 bedroom villa, we figured we would offer our humble abode to others who are travelling through Muscat and looking for short-term accommodation. It is the least we can do because let's face it, we aren't spoilt for choice when it comes to hostels or backpacker accommodation in Muscat. Sure, there are more than enough places to camp...dodgy establishments & cheap hotels etc, but it isn't all that great and can get old REALLY fast!

Having backpacked through Europe ourselves, we know what it is like to be on a budget but also wanting to meet some nice people who can give you the inside tips & hints on what to do. Oh, and a nice warm shower, home cooked meal, glass of wine and a place to do your laundry helps!

So as a result, we currently have a full house with 3 new additions - an Austrian couple who are funky, fabulous and fancy-free! They are seriously refreshing, have some amazing stories and cooked us an outstanding meal last night! We have hosted them for the past few days and will continue to do so until their Indian visa comes through. We also had a French lass join us late last night and she is lovely, most likely staying with us for a week (and today is her birthday!).

It has been really nice to meet people who are so down-to-earth and keen to travel.
Who knows, maybe we will head off somewhere for Eid and Couch Surf for the first time?

So check out the site if you are interested in hosting, being a couch surfer, or meeting up with other like-minded people in Oman for a coffee, chat, trekking or camping.

Enjoy!

Misc.

2010-11-02T09:09:00.010+04:00

Hidy Ho all,

It has been a while and a lot has happened since my last post. Namely:

Bali = massages. pedicures. husband's with outrageous facial hair. games of euchre. tequila. wild dogs. gin. sun. a wedding. great people. rain. more sun. awesome villa. bali belly. bop it. grocer & grind. kudeta cocktails. hens night (FAIL). hens night shennanigans. bintang!

Perth = girls afternoon tea. hangover. AFL grand final #2. engagement party. family. vino. great weather. great friends. coffee & breakfasts by the beach. enjoying a run in the middle of the day. wearing shorts above the knee. Perth Zoo. Witches Cauldron. Ecco gourmet pizza. niece & nephew cuddles. Family dinners. shopping. packing. busy!

So here we are, back in Muscat and there is a lot going on. Sports and work are in full swing, we have joined the world of Couch Surfing and are currently hosting 3 fabulous people now (see next post), and the weather is cooling down a little - with today being a 'balmy' 37 degrees!!!

More updates to come, thanks for your patience...

Moving on Up...

2010-09-04T20:33:00.001+04:00

Since we are in the process of packing & moving, this is for your viewing/listening pleasure.

If you haven't seen this show or heard this theme song before, you must be too young or live under a rock!

You are welcome :)

Something in the water...

2010-08-12T12:10:00.004+04:00

Ramadan Kareem everyone!

I have a happy but heavy heart this morning...so much going on in my extended family & friends' lives at the moment and its bitter sweet to be in such a good personal head space, but so far away from a lot of them when they are experiencing such defining moments.

From pregnancies to christenings, break-ups without make ups, stresses of building & moving into a new house, surgeries, new jobs and missing out on my niece & nephews special times - it can be hard, but also makes you seek perspective and appreciate all over again how blessed we are.

I wanted to share a quote that I saw on a friend's FB status earlier today.

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be...for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances"

And so we send blessings across the seas to those people who need it most, as well as those that don't know they need it yet.
x

Limp handshakes

2010-08-04T13:10:00.003+04:00

I don't know why I haven't written about this sooner! I had a meeting this morning and was pleasantly greeted by a Consultant possessing a firm & friendly handshake, which totally took me by surprise and made me happy! It wasn't "me caveman" kida strong, just FIRM and I liked it...probably a little TOO much given I felt compelled to blog about it.

It might sound trivial and strange, but this isn't something we experience much here (it preturbs Duma more so than I) given most men simply don't shake hands with women, even if we extend our hands. Its cultural and understandable. But Duma feels awkward when going to client meetings and other men shake his fingers or extend a soft hand - he reckons it feels like they are caressing or tickling his palms lol!

So...what of the soft-handedness??? It was one of the things Duma and I first observed having moved to Oman and starting work, because it is common practice. Whilst I expect this from the women, in our part of the world a man with a limp handshake is often linked to a weak character or perhaps someone lacking confidence (I'm not even going to go where some people will go, in reference to sexual orientation).

Now, this isn't to accuse men who exhibit any of the above behaviours as being weak or unconfident, but it does FEEL a little disturbing...or is it just us?

I will say that one thing I really like about people here is that Omani women greet by shaking hands & Indians (male & female) head wobble. I still get tickled with the head wobbling and bobbing :)

So some women kiss cheeks (I'm comfortable with this level of PDA) if they haven't seen each other in a while...BUT the nicest thing I have observed is that when they ask how you are, they REALLY want to know how you (and your family / village / pets etc) are!!! It isn't like back home where you pass someone and they ask "Hi, how are you?" while continuing on their way and not even stopping for the answer. People here actually care about your response, hang on your every word and ask more than once regarding how you are. And while a conversation or simple greeting can feel like it takes 10 minutes - it's refreshing, its genuine and its sincere.

And that's my 2c for today.

For the traveller in you...

2010-08-01T10:32:00.008+04:00

Duma & I came across the COUCH SURFING concept when we were preparing to backpack around Europe. Now, it sounds good in theory(especially if you are young & broke) and thank God there are A LOT of helpful, friendly & hospitable people out there. There are also a lot of crazies, but we won't talk about them right now!

If you have ever stayed in a hostel you will know that sometimes you just want to rest your weary head somewhere other than a bunkbed that is the size of a baby's cot...or shower in a space where you can raise your arms and do the chicken wing dance (you are doing it right now, aren't you?) as you clean those much needed areas ...OR do a #1 or #2's where your knees aren't hitting the wall in front of you and the walls aren't so thin....y'all know what I'm talking about!!!

SO - over the weekend and in my delirium I came across the couch surfing community in Oman. I still don't know how I got there, but I remember thinking "No way - I didn't realise there were so many travellers who spin the globe and randomly select Oman as a destination for backpacking". But I guess with the UAE, India and Sri Lanka, Africa and Egypt so close...why wouldn't you?

I was also spun out by how many people here welcome strangers into their home and show them around. Kudos to you!

Here are some stats if you are interested.

So the question(s) remain:
* Have you / would you couch surf?
* Would you let a surfer crash on your couch?
* Would you be interested in playing a local guide?

Oven - attempt # 4

2010-07-31T17:06:00.002+04:00

The Oven technician FINALLY made it to our house this afternoon, after 3 failed visits (in the past 2 weeks) and us venturing to Carrefour and pleading with the C/Service Manager for some attention. FYI - Jesse @ QCC rocks! She kicked some ass and took some names, literally :)

I'm really hoping it is all fixed now as this is visit #4 and they know the warranty only has a few more months to go before hands are washed and shoulders are shrugged.

Question: So, what was the problem with the oven you ask?
Answer: Oh nothing really, it would just overheat...A LOT! Which meant that the knobs would literally shoot off the oven (I'm not even close to joking!), springs would go flying, parts were melting and food was burning...blah blah blah.

Yep - doesn't take a rocket scientist to assume that something is up with the thermometer/temperature gage and inner-workings. Oh, there was also an issue with smoke WHEN THERE WAS NO FOOD IN THE OVEN!!!!!

So that all being said - I'm REALLY looking forward to "attempting" to cook:

1) A roast & veggies (doesn't matter that it is too hot to eat)
2) Muffins
3) Baked fish
4) Banana bread
5) Scones

Wish us luck!!!

Wonderful weekends

2010-07-23T10:50:00.002+04:00

Kudos to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos on 40 years of ruling Oman and subsequently the economic progression & liberation of women that we all experience first hand.
And what better way to celebrate than partake in a holiday tomorrow to enjoy the happy occasion, however we all shall choose.

It's going to be both interesting & exciting to experience Renaissance celebrations this year in Oman, that's for sure!

We have friends taking advantage of the brilliant summer resident deals @ Muscat's finest 5* hotels; others have made the drive to Dubai for a change of scenery & the compulsory Ikea run (someone please tell me that an Ikea will be in the new mall near Lulu in Ghubra?!?!?!); while some have taken off to Khasab or Salalah.

And what are we doing you may ask? Today consists of:

- Sleeping in, blueberry pancakes & coffee.
- A few calls to friends & family back home***
- Visiting LeftBank for the obligatory Friday sundowner "cocktails & tapas" with some dear friends.

*** FYI - we switched from the God awful Omantel yesterday & took up Nawras' Wi-Max offer. The counters were choc-a-block but I can honestly say with my hand over my heart that Nawras service was still better than Omantel/Oman Mobile on their best day! Anyway, it seems that our VPN is now working again and we can make calls which is a God send :)

I'm going to be switching back to Nawras for my mobile too, it is service related as well as the fact that I like their logo & marketing campaign better. It's a girl thing ;)

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND FOLKS!

Brief update before an update...

2010-06-15T12:35:00.011+04:00

We are pretty busy at the moment but all is good in our world. Thanks for asking :)
Note to self: If I get a chance over the weekend I should write about the following -

* My birthday bonanza = FAB!
The Chedi is amazing & the staff were great (thankfully it was the weekend before Cyclone Phet). My 3 hour spa treatment left me thinking I was a celebrity AND feeling as good as Thandi Newton & Ashly Judd look.
FYI - they are my favourite actresses, hands down, no cigar. I'm not gay but for them...pause.

* We have a new addition @ work and it feels like I'm back in HS. Ever seen the movie Mean Girls? Ok so you can't really compare American HS girls to working women in abayas - maybe I need to stop watching Gossip Girl because it is numbing my brain?

* I wanted to buy a juicer for summer = we bought a juicer + 32" LCD for the bedroom.
Did we need it? No.
Was it because of the World Cup? No.
Was it for the NBA finals serious? Hell Yes ;)
Boston all the way baby!

* My deferred Arabic classes.
Alas I was defeated by the Sudanese 'Master of the Gab' who kept (kindly) demanding that we all give more effort. Abdul Rahman is a lovely man.
Result? I quit, period. Khalas (see - it didn't all go to waste).

* I attended my 1st (but insha'allah not my last) Omani wedding. WOW.
I even had a friend do my eye-makeup Arabic style.

* Our fridge & freezer have been broken, which is not good when its 40+ degrees and you are trying to eat healthily. Fingers crossed it is fixed today, so I can buy carrots, celerey, fruit, ginger & mint to juice up a storm.

* Duma is off to Taipei in mid July for a basketball trip. It is well earned I can assure you!!!

* I was invited to play in a 'friendly' basketball tournament in Dubai - all costs covered - but bloody work & the different Oman/UAE weekends got in the way. Again.
#Prays to HM Sultan Qaboos# Pretty please change our weekend to Friday & Saturday. Calls back home & trips away would be SO much easier if this was the case...

And thats all for now folks, hopefully I will have some time to add more details on Thursday. Masalaama!

Qurum traffic

2010-06-07T18:48:00.007+04:00

Does anyone know what the frick is going on in Qurum business district? Traffic has been backed up for days and the area opposite QCC and Muscat International School seriously brings me to tears. I don't even get road rage, but seriously the number of douchebags out there who cut across multiple lanes OR taxi drivers who have the nerve to cart passengers and risk their lives is beyond me!

Normally it would take me 5 mins to get home from QCC after grabbing grocery items or heading home from the gym...but the past 2 days it has been 30+ mins in traffic each time, where I have had to daringly stare down anyone who thinks they can squeeze into my lane IN FRONT OF ME from 2 lanes over. The hardcore Maori in me wants to start doing the haka mid traffic, but I live in a country where you can supposedly be arrested for "giving the bird" (did I tell you that one time [at band camp] I was pulled over for having a dirty car?). True story.

Anyway, this was the result of having a fly young Bvlgari-blinged out lass in front of me who wouldn't let the beamer chick in front of her = the age old Muscat battle to merge.

The picture doesn't do the situation justice at all, I'm ashamed but hey, I never professed to being Ansel Adams or Salim Al Harthy.

This was repeated by every frickin' driver out on the roads in Qurum today - Lord help me if I have to come home from that direction for the rest of the week.
THE GYM CAN WAIT!!! Roll on Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred @ home dvd*.

*After tonights meal of homemade hamburgers, washed down with Peroni that is ;)

Cringeworthy?

2010-06-07T18:40:00.005+04:00

As someone who hires & fires, reading the newspaper here never ceases to make me cringe.

Probably THE worst one I have seen here read like this:
Executive Secretary - must be non-married, preferably Philippino or Sri Lankan, attractive and personable, with 5+ years experience.

And enough with the hotmail, gmail & yahoo domains for work email addresses. It ISN't professional at all people! Get a domain already!!!

Mango Mania - don't mind if I do!

2010-05-29T14:41:00.003+04:00

I have officially died and gone to heaven...> 100 varieties of mangoes all under one roof = me roaming around Lulu squeezing & prodding & sniffing mangoes like there is no tomorrow!!! I love mangoes so much that Duma even gave me the nickname Mango once (pehaps stemming from my ability to devour them in seconds), but unfortunately it never caught on with the rest of my friends. But my mango fetish is now out in the open and I'm embracing it with both hands and an open mouth:)

So my mission for today, should I choose to accept it (which I will!), is to go to Lulu and buy more freezable containers so that I can join the mango train and start slicing & dicing those babies up for the mango shortage that will inevitably hit us hard! And when I say us, I mean me. Duma doesn't eat the things (thank the Lord, more for me).

Shoutout to my Mum - you would be so proud - I just need a bottle of Galliano to marinate them in and all will be good with the world :)
We will enjoy them with champagne on Christmas Day just as if we are home and eating yours!

Love you for all the evers Ma x

Two worlds collide

2010-05-25T09:58:00.005+04:00

Duma sent me an interesting article this morning and I thought I would share, given it involves our old and new homes.

Did someone say "Birthday Bonanza" ???

2010-05-22T17:19:00.007+04:00

So tomorrow I get another year older and supposedly that means wiser. As my wonderful other 1/2 has suggested, it is my year for a week-long "Birthday Bonanza" and since I have work tomorrow and class in the evening, it all starts tonight...

* Nice meal out for the birthday planned = check!
* Staying up until 12.01am to open my 1st (non-surprise) gift - check check!
* 47 degree day - crossing fingers it doesn't happen!!
* Surprise birthday festivities all week = TBA !!!
** UFC 114 Quinton Rampage Jackson vs Sugar Rashad Evans May 29th - marking Birthday Bonanza Week-eve; it is all a little too perfectly planned if you ask me!

Ok so it won't be an entire week of celebrating my fabulous and miraculous birth (I did technically die on the table and almost kill my mother, so I'm entirely too far off though - cue tiny violins), but supposedly this weekend is all about me. Duma has professed that turning 21 again is extra special this year since my last birthday (also celebrated in Muscat, though we were holidaying at the time) was a low low low-key event....or was it me that kept reminding him for months after that it was so? ;)

It is common back home to bring in a cake when it is your birthday, although I have never understood why this is the case - I have to bake/buy my own cake and share it with others? I have to stand around with (some) people I don't like (and mostly likely vice versa) and make idle chit chat while we awkwardly smile and eat cake??? Bah humbug.

In Oman am I expected to "do the needful" (gotta love that phrase) and bring a cake, chocolates, sweets, lunch etc to work in celebration of my birthday? When people have a baby here - they apparently bring sweets and offer everyone in the office. When Duma's colleague bought a new car - everyone enjoyed chocolates on his behalf that were offered around by the company's fine "Tea Specialist".

So people, what to do...oh what to do?

Fancy a ham sandwich?

2010-05-08T13:53:00.003+04:00

Duma was slightly hungover yesterday and as a result, we did absolutely nothing yesterday...nada...zilch! It was great to recharge the batteries, as I'm currently recovering from getting too much sun and we are both a little rundown.
I think the day consisted of couch surfing, facebooking, Grey Anatomy watching and ordering in Mumtaz for dinner :)

Lazy much???

I was, however, sent to the shops to get some food for lunch and the request was for a cheese, tomato and ham toasted sandwich. Now normally this would be an easy one to rustle up back home, a no brainer really and not a delicacy of any kind. But here? Ham isn't your wallet's friend - ham is like gold to a non-Muslim. Ham is like that expensive pair of Jimmy Choo heels or that new set of golf clubs or that ring you have been eyeing in the jewellery store window...you see it, you want it, you envision that your life would be better with it...but you just can't justify it and totally lose out when you do a quick cost-benefit analysis in your own head.

But on this occasion, Duma was getting what he wanted and logic was thrown out the window. And that is ok, because he is the finance guy in the relationship.

After much too-ing and fro-ing about which ham to get and how much, I settled for 5 slices of fancy honey ham. The guy even sliced a piece and let me taste it (I thought it was a trick, can I eat this in here?) and it was lush...we have not eaten ham since we were back home 5 weeks ago! It is the little things in life isn't it?

Anyways, he hands me the package and wow...I almost choked on the remnants I was still chewing on. Guess how much it costs me? (I should have taken a photo of the sticker, but I don't have that BB Bold 9700 yet).

Drum roll...

5 slices (lets just say 6, since I got to eat one) = 5.9 RO = AUD$17.50!!!
I almost died, but in Duma's state I knew he needed it and there was no going back.

We managed to make 4 small toasted sandwiches with 3 slices of ham, so there are 2 slices sitting in the fridge and I will be damned if they end up developing fur like the cucumber and lettuce does in our house. I'm fairly sure that Duma was going to sneakily head home for lunch and devour the rest, and for nearly 18 freakin' dollars I hope he does!

Oh and don't get me started on baby spinach leaves, are they watered in God's tears for that price??? I for one am waiting for the copious boxes of Indian mangoes that I have heard so much about!!! Bring on Mum's galliano-soaked mangoes and champagne ;)

The ways of the world, a cup of tea & a crazy kid!

2010-05-08T07:59:00.006+04:00

This weekend was pretty choc-a-bloc and gone in the blink of an eye - why is that always the case for weekends yet the working week drags on? And as our weekend ends, most of yours are just beginning. I'm still getting used to waking up for work on a Saturday...I don't think I will ever get used to that.

1/2 of Thursday was spent at a work function, which was really nice...apart from the crazy kid who stalked Duma and I all day and was fortunate enough to not get punched in the face or used as a training dummy for us to practice our UFC moves. This kid looked like the epitomy of in-breeding gone wrong - big ears, big teeth and the thickest monobrow I have ever seen...he followed us all day and kept staring at us saying "craaaaaaaazy" while he made this scary clown face and tossed his head from side to side. Seriously, he doesn't realise how close he came to the biggest ass-kicking of his young life, but we felt like family day probably wasn't the right time to put him in his place!

Anyway, the day was totally different to what I'm used to back home for work functions - which would normally consist of after work drinks or a BBQ, more drinks, mingling and maybe the odd prize here or there. If you are lucky there would be 1 major prize drawn at the end of the day and your chances of winning were minimal.

Here, that isn't how they do things. All the strings are pulled and people expect that they are getting something purely for showing up (which includes bringing their immediate family, additional wives, cousins, parents etc). Everyone has their own entourage it seems. There were LCD's up for grabs, laptops, perfume, vouchers, microwaves...you name it, it was a prize. It was amazing, it was surprising, it was intoxicating...clapping and shouting 'mabrook' everytime someone's name or employee number was called and seeing their excitement. My cheeks were so sore from smiling and seeing everyone so caught up in the moment.

Now, for me this happy day also presented a sad moment of realisation. At work we have a few men who are referred to as "Tea Boys" who are contractors. I don't like the term Tea Boy, since these are grown ass men with families and making tea is far from the only thing they do. I was hoping to see these men there but I avoided asking them last week if they woud be going, on the off chance that they were not invited.

I was so happy when I saw them there on the day, I feel as though they are underappreciated and treated like the ugly step-child and it really erks me. Sitting in the men's tent with Duma, we watched one of them make a cup of tea and I said "I'm pleased that just for once, he gets to make and enjoy a cup of tea for himself. I really hope he wins a prize today". (He is the main guy on my floor, so he is the darling who brings me piping hot coffee at the same time each day).

Anyway, off he trots with his cup of tea, smiling to us as he walks away. And then reality sets in - he didn't make that cup of tea for him, on his day off he is still making tea for people and carrying boxes and running errands. Duma also pointed out that this guy wasn't likely to get a prize since clearly he doesn't have an employee number and wasn't given a corresponding ticket :( My heart sank.

It made me sad because he is the most lovely guy and deserves to be treated like a human being and entitled to his own time. Time is one of our most precious things because we don't ever get it back once its gone its gone. I'm almost certain that he wasn't paid for the extra day of work either, but that I cannot confirm.

But in my fleeting moment of sadness and guilt for being afforded more opportunities simply because of who I am and where I'm from, I saw him smile. I saw him giggle and grin, a grin so big and wide that it warmed my heart. He was watching the kids playing a game, running and falling over and out of control. I don't know if he was smiling because he was thinking about his own kids back home, if he was just happy to be amongst a crowd of people, or if he was so overwhelmed by the innocence of kids playing and having fun. Either way, that moment was the single best moment of the weekend for me. He has such a kind smile and Duma and I made a pact that so long as our prize wasn't a 32-inch LCD, we would give it to him.

After a few more hours, we decided to leave the event early as it was just too hot and we had other plans later in the day. So imagine my surprise when this morning I walk into the office and am told to go and draw my lucky dip for my prize,which we were entitled to since we were there for at least 1/2 the day. I won a 50 RO (AUD$150) petrol voucher, which will surely last me all of about 9 months! I asked my collegue whether the Tea Man would have been given a prize and she said that everyone had considering there were so many. On the walk back to my office, I ran into him and asked if he got a prize. He beamed and told me that we had won the same prize and I was so chuffed...it totally made my day.

And for those of you not in Oman...just to put this into context - 50 RO is probably about 1/3 of his monthly salary - whereas that would be what most of us expats spend on 1 ball ticket, getting our hair done or on a new outfit.

Ever seen an Omani "Mullet" ???

2010-04-23T16:17:00.007+04:00

Best described as the off-spring of a jerry curl and rats tail...all business up the front in all their curly but groomed and perfectly 'edged' glory, with a distinctive 'tail' at the back. Think of an early Michael Jackson meets Billy Ray Cyrus singing "Achy Breaky Heart", meets Wesley Snipes from the movie "Blade" (the precise edgework/trim, not the flat-top)...that's it!

They are known to travel in packs and are all the rage at Muscat City Centre on a Thursday night.

Tend to be worn by (but not limited to) young men between 14 - 25, wearing bling-bling bejewelled jeans reminiscent of Ed Hardy, and too much hairspray and/or gel.

I was fascinated and dying to sneakily snap a photo of one, but the boys were so amused by Duma and all his white/tall glory (I won't take any credit for the staring, it was all about D) that they were just as equally taken by us as we were by them.
I guess you could say that we shared a mutually satisfying few moments, extended the old "head/chin lift" of respect and went on about our business.

** Tangent for the day - how GOOD is it to be able to walk through the malls now, given there is no smoking indoors? Hooray! And I digress **

So, why didn't I think to get a photo WITH them you ask? Because my current crackberry doesn't have a camera - the shame! Which is precisely why I am waiting for my 9700 to arrive in the mail (a recent purchase after getting jealous of Duma's new fancy shmancy gadget of an HTC Legend for his birthday). Let the fun times begin when I get that baby, it is going to be full steam ahead with Facebook uploads and paparazzi moments.

So don't fret, if we can bear the crazy crowds again (seriously, is the whole of Muscat shopping at Carrefour on a Thursday night?) I may just have to venture back to MCC in a couple of weeks to get a sneaky peak shot for you...which is pretty much a done deal now that La Senza is open and I'm overdue in paying Zara and MAC a visit :)

Trust me, it will be worth the wait...Omani mullets are stare-worthy and mouth-openingly awesome!

Meh

2010-04-19T15:53:00.004+04:00

It has apparently been 2 whole months since my last confession...How in the hell did that happen!?!?! That doesn't even sound right, but I suppose I have been out for the count, all for no good reason.

But seriously, I just haven't had anything substantial to say. I haven't had anything new to report. Other than a swing by old London town and a mosy on down to the Land of Oz, life for us has pretty much been business as usual. Until now.

We have booked to go to Bali in early October for our good friends' wedding. Hip hip hooray for holidays and good times! Roll on jam jar cocktails, cheaper than cheap all day spa appointments, the Hens/Bucks night, staying with 5 other awesome people in a private villa, oh and of course THE WEDDING :)

*slaps self out of future holiday daydream bliss*
Now to focus! I have hit the wall, am brain-dead due to trawling through boring HRMS data and am in deserate need of a strong, frothy and delicious caffeine fix just so that I can muster up enough energy to make it to training tonight. Or, do I flag training, suck it up and make my 58670312590 millionth visit to the Nawras & Oman Mobile stores (this week), to sort out my ongoing Blackberry issues?

Why in this part of the world are customer service people so incompetent BUT oh so nice while they are at it??? It makes it near impossible for me to be mad at them over a basic issue. And exhale........

Moving on, I dedicate this 'return of the Mac' post to 2 friends who kicked my proverbial blogger-butt into gear. 1 with the ever sweet "please blog, I miss reading you". The other with an eloquent "hurry up and bloody write something, I now have nothing to distract me from work".

And so...I have emerged from the dust and re-joined the blogging cosmos. Did you miss me?

I heart UFC

2010-02-11T15:54:00.008+04:00

I'm so excited - UFC 112 is going to be in Abu Dhabi @ the outdoor Concert Arena, Ferrari World Theme Park, Yas Island Saturday, 10th April!

Let us pray.
Dear Lord, please watch over Duma and I as we search high and low for tickets to the event. Let those who see read our plea on Facebook, Blogger and Buzz pass on the helpful information that we need to buy the much coveted tickets. We pray that we will be able to get the time off work, that our employers won't mind that we will have only one week earlier returned from our trip back home, and that they will encourage our desire to watch some serious a$$ kicking.
Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.

I know this post has nothing to do with anything but Duma and I seriously love us some UFC - we watch the replays in the morning over our conservative breakfast of coffee and vegemite toast, and we religiously follow the Ultimate Fighter shows too. Never heard of Kimbo Slice? That guy will give you a heart attack without even throwing a punch, by simply removing his shirt and opening his mouth *stares blankly*

This mofo seriously does NOT play around. Check him out on YouTube, he is stone cold!

So anyway, a little while ago I was told by a friend here that I must be hiding some 'nuts' somewhere in my bag of tricks since I guess I have tom-boyish tendencies (LOVE my cargo shorts, wearing baseball caps, I drink beer and follow sports). Oh but don't get it twisted, I can totally rock some heels and pink lippie (J* - that one you gave me is actually working for me!)...when I speak MAC it isn't the Apple I'm referring to ;)

Its just too bad really for all those people who believe that I should be sitting at home knitting a jumper or cooking Duma's dinner, because I totally dig the camaraderie and dedication shown in the UFC (hate the chatter and trash talking, but its all part of the promotion). I have a college friend from the States, Mark Munoz, who fights and I have been following his career ever since we graduated. An amazing wrestler, family man and all around good guy.

While Mark and Kimbo won't be fighting at UFC 112, I don't care. I don't care what the card is for the night, all I know is that we want tickets and we want them BAD! So if anyone knows how I can get some, I will be your best-friend if you share the knowledge.

Pretty pretty please with a cherry on top. There, is that girlie enough for you? ;)

** Edited** Mark might be fighting after all, but its yet to be confirmed. All the more reason to go now!!!

*** Edited again *** Mark IS fighting so we are hoping to get the hook-up - YES! ***

Under your skin?

2010-02-01T19:52:00.004+04:00

I think I have a fan / a hater / a nemesis / a blogger foe?

Stilletos - I'm posting especially for you today, because according to you I am not much of a blogger as I have been AWOL this week. Touche, you hit the nail on the head, I'm not a career blogger - kudos for that bright pick up. You get a gold star, two more and you can take the yellow bus to school ;)

Unlike you, I have a fulfilling and enjoyable LIFE in my part of the Gulf and while we are at it...I don't enlist the services of a grown ass man / houseboy to do my housework for me. It isn't because I can't, it is because I'm above doing that when I don't need one. Oh, and maybe my houseboy money is feeding the people in Haiti, just another dig for you ;)

It makes me giggle actually, that I apparently hit a nerve with a woman who "doesn't care" about lil' old me or Haiti...but appreciated the increased blog traffic nonetheless. You are welcome my dear, I guess its probably refreshing to have some people stop by who aren't brain-washed or obsessed with Obama, but have a genuine opinion about life in the Middle East, as opposed to those who bow down to your Jimmy Choos - or are they stilletos of the extremely high clear-heeled kind???

Anyway, I appreciate that whilst posting about your bitch-switch today (a mutual follower gladly let me know, I didn't venture into Cowsville I can assure you) that you thought enough about lil' old me? But you aren't getting another award.

Don't flatter yourself. From one non-serious blogger to another, your douchebag award was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I retired it when you won. Hung your jersey from the rafters and announced it to the world. There will never be another douchebag like you.

Who do you think you are, Taylor Swift cleaning up at the Grammys? You don't get two awards in one week for a repeat bitchy performance.

That is all...

My Douchebag Blogger of the Day Award...

2010-01-23T19:56:00.004+04:00

Goes to *drum roll* Stilletos In The Sand.

Now, it isn't 'polite' for me to link to her blog, but those of you that care enough to know how mad I am right now will search for it...and I guess I will bypass polite later in this post by backing up my rants (which I'm sure will backfire on me later). Better not rat me out readers ;)

She didn't win the award because she hates Obama - I won't get into politics as that is as taboo as religion, which is the other thing I won't get into. She is entitled to her opinion, as I am mine (who cares if he does a good job, the US finally realised a Black President *fist pump*).

It isn't because she wants breast implants, a tummy tuck or flaunts the fact that she has a 'Houseboy' (who is a grown man with a wife and many kids, might I add) who has not been home to see them in 3 years...yet talks about him like he is the shite on her toast. That must make you feel better Stilletos?

It isn't the fact that she is about to become a Grandmother, yet she is constantly talking about the tummy tuck and breast lift and the personal 'fluffing' she will get courtesy of her husband's wage (gross!).

And it isn't the fact that she has 'polls' for the public to answer when she and her hubby have a tiff OR she has something poignant to say...ok ok so I kind of think that is funny and would like to know how to do a poll on my blog!?!?!

BUT IT IS because:

She openly admits she doesn't care about Haiti...and she shouldn't necessarily 'care' but the fact that she goes on to say things like "America will look like that soon" - as IF! 50% literacy levels in America? How about you just go get a tummy tuck and breast implants with your poverty Stilletos?

Check out the comments here where she openly says "As bad as I feel for the children getting "all shaken up," the best thing that could happen to Haiti is for another couple of rumbles to happen and then for someone to take a coat of paint to the place. Start all over."

Are you *F'n* kidding me? You are about to be a Grandmother and you are talking about innocent children in a country where they have braved the odds just to be alive prior to the earthquake...then you talk about another couple of 'rumbles' and a coat of paint? SHAME on you!!! Don't donate...that is your choice...and I guess so is freedom of speech *insert my rant & wrath*...but you are welcoming your children's chidren into this world and more worried about boobs than dead bodies...WOW?!?!?! You must sleep well at night. Go buy some more pink booties and knit a sweater, oh thats right...it might ruin your manicure!

And then Stilletos talks about the devastation in Haiti in the same breath as the "shortage of maids in Saudi"?!?!?! Seriously? Even if you are joking, that fact that you put that out into the cosmos makes you a douchebag of utter proportions! Stroke your fake breasts and fluffy furry kids and go and berrate your houseboy while you are at it why don't you? Make you feel better? Oh Lord, please pass me more Semillon Sauvignon Blanc!!!

I digress people...readers...open-hearted people. Disagree or agree with me, I don't care. Just FEEL for the people around the world who are trying to live day by day that have done NOTHING wrong and have never known what its like to have ANYTHING!!!

Or if you are Stilletos in the Sand, bury your head in that silly red sand and put those designer clothes on under your abaya, make your appointment with the surgeon and buy your Grandchild some expensive items...because you are alive and can.

You are a Douche!!! And I'm spent...

Points of Contrast

2010-01-13T14:21:00.003+04:00

So far today has been a good day - a combination of walking a measly 5k along Qurum beach front and then drowning myself in coffee - both of which are apparently normal Winter activities for Home Executives such as myself (yes, I'm still waiting for my supposed work visa AND subsequently looking at other jobs as a plan B) here in Muscat. There is something to be said for 25 degree celsius weather in winter.

But I gotta admit that my heart is a little heavy today. Sipping on my extra large peppermint tea and munching on my Banana Nut granola bar (yum) gets me thinking about how great my life is and how blessed we are to be 'here'(both geographically and emotionally). In our corner of the world there has been 2 significant things occur of late - Monday's decapitation-style execution in Saudi Arabia...and news in the UAE of Sheik Issa being found 'not guilty' of torture (amongst other horrible things) whilst under the influence of drugs, though somehow avoiding arrest for all crimes including the latter!

This region truly is a place of contrast - the good, the bad and the ugly. And whilst there is much good going on, its unfortunate that today I'm focusing on the ugly...but it is what is current and on my heart right now.

On one hand a person *insert brother of the current UAE ruler* gets off scott free for the likes of torture and rape...in supposedly one of the most progressive and liberal countries in the Middle East. Then just a hop, skip and a jump away their neighbour is carrying out 'justice' in Chop Chop Square. I'm gob smacked.

I have said it before but people in Australia often complain about Perth being small...about it lacking the lights, camera, action and all that jazz. But it has its own appeal - the beaches, the laid back lifestyle, the people and its safety (other than Northbridge at night) and yes - it is the most isolated city in the world BUT it is charming and a great place to raise a family, while enjoying nature at its best.

Oman is a lot like Perth, which is why I refer to it as the Perth of the GCC. It is picturesque in parts, it is laid back 99% of the time (100% when it comes to my work visa) and it is a great place to raise a family. Noone is threatened by Oman and Oman isn't threatened by anyone else, we tend to mind our business and are safe here, also steering clear of the results of 'little man syndrome' which is apparent in Dubai with the million skyscrapers and always having to build the next world's biggest thing.

We are lucky where we are right now and today I totally get that and I'm thankful. I walked 5k along a beach front, soaked up the sun and didn't have to wear an abaya. I was accepted in my 'tomboy attire' of cargo shorts, t-shirt, hat and runners. I was able to drive myself there and pay for my own coffee, able to chat openly with a friend about life and gossip, fortunate to make it home irrespective of the hundreds of terrible drivers in traffic, and I will thankfully be lucky enough to enjoy a glass of wine tonight and sigh because my life is good.

I love Oman! Thank God Duma took a job here in Oman and not in the UAE or Saudi.

Degrees of Separation

2010-01-05T16:04:00.004+04:00

Today has been a good day, for many reasons. But one reason in particular is that I was reminded of just how small Oman is and how everyone knows everyone (don't get worried fellow bloggers in Oman - I don't know who you all are just yet!)...and this was a good reminder, not one of the "oh no she didn't say that about me" *finger snap* 'damn, everyone knows my business' type reminder.

Back in the day I worked for many years for Fitness First and through that job I met heaps of cool people from all over the world. Its great when some of them become good friends and you stay connected on a deeper level, but its also great when some are purely acquaintances but it all comes full circle eventually at a later time in your life.

I met *S as he hung out with some of the guys I was friends with through the gym, and they all trained together. Pretty hardcore actually, but they weren't the roids guys or 'meatheads' who would check themselves out in the land of endless mirrors, snarl, drop their weights on the floor, or grunt endlessly...they were just a nice bunch of guys who all trained really hard and ate religiously at the chicken & rice place in the Carillion Arcade in the city (leanest chicken ever! Wow I miss that place) whilst chatting about what a legend Ronnie Coleman was (IS!), the latest training techniques, Musashi protein drinks etc etc. Anyways, *S and I would often exchange pleasantries, chat from time to time, I would berrate him for forgetting to bring his ID card to swipe in (and make me break the rules by letting him in without it), and such was the friendship. I never knew where he was from, just knew he was an international student and studying in Perth, looked like he could have been anything from Persian to Egyptian to everything else, but I never asked 'what' he was as it didn't matter...Australia is like that...a melting pot of cultural backgrounds and nationalities.

So I'm chatting on FB today with a friend, one of the guys *S was friends with in the gym days, and he tells me that *S is from Oman, Muscat actually! You have got to be kidding me, thats awesome and I would love to catch up with him. I get a friend suggestion with *S's profile and low and behold he is living in Paris now, but hey, I will request him as a friend anyways.

I hear back from him immediately and we are re-connected, happy days :) Here we are chatting about Jebel Shams, the best shwarma places and whether or not I have gotten used to the staring here (yes, I stare back) and then he sends a FB private message to me and another girl (also from Perth) so that we can get to know one another and I can make a friend...and low and behold I met her at a friend's Xmas Eve dinner party. THE WORLD IS SO SMALL!

I'm not sure if you all know the concept of Six Degrees of Separation, but it refers to a 'web' or number of steps or connections that we all presumably 'know' any other person in the world...but here in Oman and Perth is sure feels like 2-3.

Its been a great day to re-connect with some cool people, re-live the past, and appreciate that things do come full circle eventually.

Brits vs Yanks

2009-12-21T10:47:00.003+04:00

Yesterday my couriered package finally arrived from my Mum, containing the much awaited university certificates that my employer needs before I can start work. So, this morning...off I went to the British Embassy (there isn't an Aussie one here, so they do most of the stuff we need, rather than sending everything to Riyadh in Saudi) to have them attested so my visa can be processed.

I get there and go through the usual security rigomoral and given it was raining this morning and therefore really humid, upon arrival to the main gate I looked like a wet dog shaking myself off to dry. Humidity is my nemesis or kryptonite some would say, my curly hair frizzes and my face shines so brightly that I tend to reflect light for kms. Its a whole lot of fun I tell you.

Then off to the consular visa section, where they proceeded to tell me that they could only attest my Aussie degree and that I would have to take my US one to their consulate, down the road. And RO 16.5 later (AUD$45) tomorrow I should have 5 copies ready to pick up. Seriously, do they really need that long to check me out and stamp my bloody paper?

So I trek off to the US Consulate and passing the Indian Embassy it looked like something big was going down = >300 Indians on the grounds queuing and hanging around + Omani police patrolling...not sure if it was a National Day for India or if there were protests, but unfortunately in that area of town no photos are allowed. So if anyone knows what was going on, feel free to enlighten us all and leave a comment below. Cheers.

After reaching the US Consulate I went through the security rigomoral again and was sent through a big steel door and left to roam around the grounds on my own. But not before an American (we call them Yanks or Doodles, as in Yankee Doodle) woman got pissed off because she apparently had been waiting to get something notorised and yelled to the security guard "but hey, I'm an American and SHE gets to go in first?" to which I replied "Sorry but how do you know I'm not American? And I don't think it has anything to do with where I'm from, my query is probably different to yours". She shut up briefly as she was getting stared down by the guard, but then said " I can tell your not American because of your look, unless you are Hispanic"...ha. As if I haven't had that said to me before, but seriously you knew I wasn't American because of my look? Maybe it was because I don't walk like I have a carrot stuck up my a$$? I didn't say that but God I wanted to. I was just real tough and chuckled to myself instead, but loud enough for her to hear me. Real tough right?

So once I'm in I get escorted to the right area and the woman takes my certificate, leaves for 10 minutes and then comes back with 1 attested US College degree and 1 copy for my employer. And how much you ask? FREE! That's right, the Yanks did something for free, whereas the Brits try to squeeze as much time and money out of you as they can.

Now, you may wonder why I felt inclined to post about this, but the whole process irritated me. Australia is a part of the Commonwealth and therefore the Queen is our Monarch. You would think that The British Embassy would cut us a break and consider an 'us' mentality where they would help a fellow Commonwealther (I agree, thats not a word) out, in a time of need. But instead they told me to come back in 24hrs, and took my money in exchange for a whole lots of papers that I don't need. I only need 1...not 5. And whats with the charge? Where is the money going?

But it was instead the Doodles who came to my aid and regardless of whether I was an Aussie or a supposed-Hispanic (I guess I did walk in looking like I just crossed the Mexican border), they gave me what I needed with no fuss, no delay and more importantly FREE! Hooray for the Doodles :)

So far, between these people - arrogant Brit couple in our apartment block, the British woman I met @ Al Fair, and the Embassy...the Brits are severely losing the Brit vs Yank Battle.

Ok so the smart a$$ American lady was obnoxious but she can be forgiven since the US Consulate didn't charge me or make me wait for the sake of waiting.

Just another day in the sands of Oman...

KaraOKe!

2009-12-20T12:27:00.007+04:00

Check this out for a pre-post warm up. Unfortunately the video link on YouTube has been disabled but just click the link :)

We have been hanging out for a good night of karaoke ever since it was brought to out attention that Pavo Real does it on Mondays...but unfortunately our plan to go tomorrow night was severely hampered by the fact that us and most of our friends right now are broke as a joke OR have to work the next day and find it hard to get into full karaoke mode sans the ever popular and equally AWESOME margarita jugs on offer. But oh yes, we are going in the new year fo' sheezy!

Given its the silly season and Duma and I don't want to go overboard on gifts for each other (I think its the Aussie low-key approach to Xmas), the fact that its just the 2 of us + my not having started work yet = lack of funds, we decided to get small but functional and logical gifts for us/the apartment = gifts that keep on giving.

Where am I going with this post? We decided to purchase a bar fridge for the living room (Freddie - your wish was our command!), I got season 4 of Greys Anatomy, Duma is on the hunt for some new Police shades...AND *drum roll please* ...

LIPS - karaoke game for the xbox 360 + 2 mics to rock the house :) And yes, this karaoke star duo WILL take requests :)

We have been waiting for this for ages, but nowhere seemed to sell the mics alone. So we just decided to splurge and get the Lips pack, complete with the epic Number One Hits disk...so last night we were belting out songs to our hearts content, which I'm sure amused and annoyed the neighbours.

Get some of these classics people:

U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McPherin
More than Words - Extreme
Hey There Deliliah - Plain White T's
Everybody Wants to Rule The World - Tears for Fears
Around the Way Girl - LL Cool J
Bubbly - Colby Caillat

But where is Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice, when you need it? Or Blame it on the Rain - Milli Vanilli, or Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics, or I Will Survive - Gladys Knight, or Black Velvet - Alannah Myles, or Proud Mary - Tina Turner?

Poll - Whats your favourite karaoke song? Check this chick out...rockin' to Miss Tina herself! Classic.

And here is a tribute to cool guys from the past...

Censored - Kissing or C U Next Tuesday?

2009-12-14T22:47:00.003+04:00

Yesterday was an interesting day = coffee morning @ Shatti Cinemas for a Ladies movie outing. I went to the last one alone and it was fun for me-myself-and I, the movie being The Ugly Truth...a true chick flick which was predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless. So this time around I anticipated it would be much the same and gathered a gang (four is considered a gang) of fab ladies to partake in the shenanigans with me.

And shenanigans it was! We get there and pay for our tickets then proceed to the Dunkin' Donuts stand to grab our free donut and coffee. Now, 'J' (no, I'm not speaking in the 3rd person y'all!) don't do coffee so I suggest that she might be able to get a tea instead since it was written on the menu...but the Dunkin' Donuts girl said it was only coffee - like the heart stopping, artery clogging, feel like you haven't brushed your teeth in 3 days kinda strong filtered coffee. No problem, I will just go and ask the ticket lady if we can get 'J' a water or something. And it went pair-shaped from there.

Me: My friend doesn't drink coffee, do you have tea/juice/water she could have instead?
Ticket Lady: No, its a ladies coffee morning ma'am *head wobble*
Me: I appreciate that, but she doesn't drink it and although it is a coffee morning surely you offer something else to the masses that don't drink coffee?
Ticket Lady (getting more agitated as time goes by): No, we don't! The email invitation explicitly stated that it was a coffee morning, but we will take your request on board for the future coffee mornings *smile*
Me: Well coffee shops here don't just sell coffee...they sell juice/tea/water, but their title is a coffee shop.
Ticket Lady: Well, she can certainly buy a water if thats what she wants? *head wobble*

So I go and tell 'J' that she is welcome to purchase a water and she does so, only to have the concession stand guy tell her he isn't working...and then ticket lady says something in Hindi aka tells him to serve her...aye aye aye it was a mess I tell you...can someone please just get my friend something to drink already? And eventually concession stand guy comes through and 'J' is no longer parched, yet her wallet is a little lighter and we are all truly annoyed.

So, on to the movie. We are all in the mood for a good (or bad) chick flick and given Kate Hudson and Jason Biggs are in the cast, I anticipate it will be a typical Rom-Com with some sarcasm and stupid stupid laughs. Think American Pie meets Bride Wars right? Well, that it was BUT Dane Cook took the cake saying the 'cu#t'* word less than 1.5 minutes into the movie...which truly set the tone for the rest of the movie and endless shrieks of horror from the nanna's in the rows behind us. While we giggled with nervousness and surprise, many a sophisticated lady was taken a back by the constant swearing, vulgar language and singing of "pop that pussy" throughout the movie. Just what you expect from a wholesome coffee/movie morning no? SURPRISE!

* Note for the day - Today's modern western youth often replace this word with the acronym - C U Next Tuesday ;) And for the record, I hate that word too!

Now I'm not posting this to offend anyone (oops, shoulda done a disclaimer at the beginning!) but it begs the question - why in Oman, do they need to cut the kissing scenes out of movies (New Moon would have been better with a kiss or five - which the rest of the world were able to witness), when repetitive swearing/reference to genitalia/sexual actions are all kosher? It makes me wonder who the censor is for the Oman Movie Association or like organisation.

Definition (as taken from the ever faithful dictionary.com)
cen·sor (sěn'sər)
n.
A person authorized to examine books, films, or other material and to remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable.

Hmmm, a kiss is more objectionable than saying C U Next Tuesday? *shrugs shoulders with raised eyebrows*. It seems you can 'talk' about sex til the cows come home, just not do anything physical whatsoever.

Needless to say, the ladies in the washroom after the movie were NOT impressed and I think they may have had to recover by spending the afternoon talking about it amongst their bridge group or croquet club over Devonshire tea, scones and cucumber sandwiches. And whilst I wasn't the least bit offended, I did write an email to the Cinema with my feedback and asked why they chose that particular movie to show to a ladies group which was open to all nationalities and ages?

And after checking my email this morning, my response was "your delivery to the following recipient xxx failed". Things that make you go hmmm, because it was the same email address that I used 24hrs ago to rsvp to the event (to which I got a reply).

OHHHHH and I forgot to mention, as we were leaving the movies a couple of ladies wanted to have a smoke so we stopped and chatted. Ticket Lady gets into her pretty red car and starts to drive away, crunching over the kerb as she goes and as graciously as an elephant falling, scrapes her car and tires for a few seconds. She proceeds to drive a few metres and then stops in mid traffic to get out and survey the damage, stops to look back at us with sheer embarrassment and then drives off. Oops!

Simple acts of kindness make my day

2009-12-09T15:16:00.005+04:00

A sympathetic soul (who apparently passes through our blogspot from time to time) has kindly directed Duma to a liquor store here in Muscat thats stocks our beloved MadFish wines from Margaret River WA - say it aint so?!?!?! In reading this post, they came to our rescue and I'm eternally grateful PG...

And from the same post, a new 'friend' (yes, thats what we call each other Gatvol - when we meet for coffee, pour out our hearts and talk about waxing and other inappropriate female things - we are friends ha!) graced me with a packet of Tim Tams via Dubai. And an angry 'friend' trekked all over Toronto for them as a wonderful surprise, only to see them sitting in her small town grocery store - bless! (Oops, I just outed myself as Duma was not involved in the destruction of said delectable, erotic bikkies - yes, they are ALL that *black girl finger snap*

If you don't believe me, check this out (Tim Tam straws or Tim Tam Slam) - all the cool kids are doing it!.

Ahhh its simple acts of kindness from strangers and friends in disguise that make my day x Gracias muchachos!

AWOL?

2009-12-09T09:10:00.006+04:00

Sorry all, I know I have been slack in writing but I haven't really had anything exciting to say (not that it means this post has any substance either) but I felt it was time to get back on the horse and see if my creative juices started flowing. But I have nothing, nada, zilch. It could be writers block or the fact that I am now addicted to watching UFC fights on TV and I just haven't been able to move the 2m to our PC from the couch (unless its for a coffee date or to do my daily Jillian Michael's workout) :)

Ok, so its not that bad but I just haven't had anything new to report so thought I would spare you the babble. Until now.

I haven't gone awol because that would involve actually going somewhere, which we have not. We wanted to use our free ferry tickets to Khasab over Eid, but alas Duma had to work 3 of the 5 public holidays and since our funds weren't flowing the way we would like, the hotel booked up before we could sort it out - all because my new employer doesn't understand my love of money and has been taking their sweet a$$ time coordinating the processing of my visa et al.

The latest saga is that the day before my confirmed first day of work, I get a call from the office stating the Ministry needs my original uni degrees (couldn't they have advised me of that way back when, to avoid the delay?) = ringing my Mum and Duma's mum to find them and then courier my documents from Australia to Oman. Seriously, the staff are lovely but there is a lot to be said for workplace efficiency and given that a BIG part of my job will be evaluating the HR policies and processes, I already have a fair few ideas and new initiatives to implement given personal experience. Its fair to say that being nice doesn't pay the bills, only a job or sugar daddy does...and as I retired my single card long ago, sadly my only option is a J-O-B.

I have to keep reminding myself that we really are blessed and things could be worse...amongst all the delays and drama, Oman is a beautiful place and being different isn't wierd, its just different. So I breathe deeply, guzzle my umpteenth coffee, remember that things take time and patience, even though the latter was never one of my best traits.

Our Eid plans to go out of town flopped (but we did squeeze in a sunset ferry cruise as above, dolphin watching and snorkeling), buying our a new car has been delayed and my sanity is hinging on when I start work - not to mention that I'm getting sick of explaining (and then laughing hysterically) with my friends why I haven't started work yet...because of course the first thing they ask is "How is your new job?" considering I accepted it over 3 weeks ago. Its to the point now that its actually funny.

Timeline as follows:

15/9 - 1st IV with company (get steamrolled by the external consultant as he seemed more focused on stroking his ego and demonstrating his IV skills to Management by highlighting what I can't do, as opposed to what I can and discussing my competencies and experience). Told I will hear back after Eid but not holding my breath.

27/9 - Eid well and truly over and still no word so I sent an email. The next day I receive a response stating that I will find out tomorrow insha'allah* as the board needs to decide on a few things.

* 'If Allah wills it' aka used loosely and often to put off anything that one cannot be bothered doing / is out of their hands / may or may not happen / hopeful but not likely.) AND when it comes to getting furniture delivered or internet installed, it usually means...wait a while...a LONG while.

4/10 - Received email stating I am suitable for 2nd IV TBC insha'allah.

12/10 - 2nd IV goes really well, apparently there is a newly created position for me but requires GM sign off.

9/11 - Nearly a month, countless emails later (from my end) and after 2 other job offers, I receive the offer letter by email. Apparently it has been sitting on the GM's desk and waiting for his initials since 12/10.

22/11 - Medical tests completed, advised they will be processed by 5/12 due to Eid.

5/12 - Receive a call from the company stating that everything is good to go, but they need my original university certificates, which of course are in Australia and need to be couriered = more delays!

So...after 3 months of running around and chasing my tail, here's hoping that I will be sitting in my new office, in my new work clothes, reading my new work emails and writing new blog posts from my new work computer...by 2010 - INSHA'ALLAH folks !!!

x

Movember vs. Indian moustaches

2009-11-28T09:58:00.006+04:00

** Disclaimer ** This post comes with a few socially inappropriate comments (not mine I assure you) so please read on at your own expense or don't say I didn't warn you :)

Once again it is that time of year, where many of our Western male compadres have grown/attempted a moustache to raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer & Male Depression charities all over the world. It is a great cause and really, the only time that many of them can get away with the porn-star/Magnum PI look at work.

Duma has never participated in Movember, but each year we sponsor a bunch of our mates and make sure that we recognise the good that comes out of so many guys having crappy, wispy, scratchy faces...one of my girlfriends wrote on facebook that "my bf's face looks like a botched bikini wax - thanks Movember!". Friggin' hilarious, and I'm sure there are women all over the world who feel the same!

So the concept of Movember came up at Duma's work, where there is pretty much a mixed bag of nationalities - Omani, Indian, Filipino, a few Saffers, a couple of Italians and an Aussie. So you can imagine that leads to many interesting conversations over lunch and Duma revealed the idea behind Movember BUT moreso to lead into asking about why SO many Indian men have these fabulously MASSIVE moustaches!?!?

Can you imagine the smell? Gross!

His colleague explained that having a big 'mo' is a sign of masculinity, and that for the older generations if you didn't have a mo you were considered gay. Now, the younger generation are apparently less inclined to follow this trend and are breaking away from the 'big mo' phenomenon. Interesting no? But bear with me for a minute as I explain Duma's dilemma/reaction...

We see Indian men walking around town, holding hands and arms around each other in a seemingly 'intimate' way, giggling and enjoying each others company. So the question he poses is "So no mo means you are a homosexual, but hugging and holding hands with other guys doesn't?". Go figure.

OO7 and the dress...

2009-11-25T23:50:00.005+04:00

The Crystal Ball is only 2 weeks away and thank God I was fortunate enough to find a good seamstress with a friend. I gave her a picture of the dress and was then advised about the amount and type of fabric I needed for the dress, so ventured to a HUGE fabric store to get what I needed or at least...what I thought I needed.

The thing is here, if the person you are talking to isn't western, you are going to get confused (as I'm sure is the case if it was vice versa). Ami - The Chinese Australian lady told me to "go to the fabric store at Al Khamis on the left, not the right" (ok, so she got it backwards...which way was she facing when she was giving me these directions?) and ask for the 150 good quality silk @ RO 6.5, not the RO 3 crap if I wanted a good dress.

So I went to the left store, asked for the best silk and it was RO 3 but looked nice. They had the Sapphire blue I wanted and all was good. Except they didn't have the 4m I required (or the right coloured/textured lining) so I needed to choose another colour. Now, I was trying to stay away from black, but was avoiding Pink (for fear of looking like the Oman version of the UK's Jordan) and Red (for fear of wanting to break out the Spanish Flamenco dance @ the ball and shouting 'ole') so I chose a teal/emerald green colour...beautiful...but they had just under 4m and I didn't want to take the chance.

So off I went across the way to the forbidden left-hand side fabric store and low and behold...they were the right place, but lacking in the sapphire blue and emerald green also :( They had the RO 6.5 Japanese Crepe Silk and while it was nice I wasn't sold that it was WAY better quality, but when you are paying RO 39 for a dress you want to make it last. So I bought 4m in purpley-blue material and 3m (@ 900bz/m) of purpley lining, so all was good and I was done. I couldn't bear anymore fabric or cricket conversations ("Gilly!") with the guys from the store :) Nearly 2 hrs in total was enough already...

A quick walk across the parking lot back to Ami and she was happy with my fabric, happy that her advice panned out, and we had a deal for my dress to be ready for the ball. Here is what I'm hoping for, but in Purpley-blue:

A few days later, Duma was mortified that we had to go to a tailor to get his measurements and buy fabric for his tux. Yes, this ball is black tie and means that he has to buy one or he will be the freak of Muscat, so he sulked a little but came along anyways and I was proud that he did.

Our friend have us directions and I'm wikimapia challenged so I grabbed the coordinates, which in a desert location don't often work (roads spring up FAR too often and you hear the phrase "recalculating" all too often by your GPS) but we eventually managed to find it. They measure him up and unfortunately only had enough fabric in the most expensive cloth (RO 8.5m) so we had to suck it up, much to his disgust! And then came the shirt, bow tie, cummerband and all so it cost more than we bargained for but we didn't have it in us to negotiate...we were exhausted by this stage. Then, we realised we didn't have enough cash to pay for the fabric AND the store was technically closed as it was just after 1pm so we had to dawdle for 3 hrs until they opened again since we couldn't be assed going home and coming back.

When Duma gets "the face", you know he has no more patience...is sulking because he lost a basketball game/challenge/didn't get what he wanted/has spent too much money, so we just left for greener pastures until they opened again.

So we ran some errands and then 30 mins before we had to be back at the tailor, I had a ridiculous urge to wee...AGAIN! I swear, I try and be good and drink 3-4L a day but it just makes me wee more, so we try to stop @ Zakker Mall = no go, closed! So we try and look for other places and I'm literally busting, swaying in the car and singing to get my mind off it, but every song on Hi 95.9FM is about waterfalls, rain or something of the like...so we stop at the old faithful McDonald's and surprisingly the toilets are clean and free, and Duma gave my first dibs on the mens toilet since the women's one was taken - BLESS!

And then we get back to the tailors and it costs us more money than we originally thought but we didn't care, we just wanted it done (but still cheaper than getting one tailor made back home, but thats not the point he says). But seriously, for this look I don't mind giving up my first months paycheck... damn!

Muscat - Dawn Call to Prayer

2009-11-25T23:18:00.006+04:00

We have been trying to sleep with our windows open instead of using the aircon every night (the ceiling fan creaks similarly to that evil movie Psycho) and the other morning I was woken up by what wasn't my alarm (a soothing John Legend - Ordinary People) but the dawn Call to Prayer. Duma sleeps through anything and although he is the one working and getting up early, I was the one annoyed and given the morning cue to wee...Duma still snoring away and oblivious to the goings on.

Here is an example from Muttrah, Oman though its a different time of day.
I have an evening recording from my Sony camera, buts it on my laptop and needs to be transferred.

So it was about 5.45am and entirely too early to make a coffee (I'm on the instant Nescafe Gold now w/ creamer since we are too broke to buy a Nespresso machine and I'm apparently somewhat lactose intolerant these days, so no Duma....I'm not a Yankee Doodle just because I use creamer!) and too early to get on Facebook. *sigh* This not working thing is starting to get on my damn nerves lol!

You see, since I know I'm due to start a new job after Eid and have to start getting up @ 6am instead of 8.30am, I have been telling Duma "you need to hold me accountable to get up when you do" knowing damn well that I won't and will get mad at him for even suggesting it when the time comes. So bless his cotton socks, he gets up in the morning and limps past my side of the bed (he has a sore knee at the mo'), I make my usual smart ass comment with one eye open (similar to a pirate, yes) about him walking around in his undies as he passes me, I think about getting up, he makes a smart ass comment back about "go back to bed, your exhausted!" *insert sarcasm* and then I do exactly that :)

I'm one of those people who gets more grumpy when I go back to sleep for a short amount of time, rather than getting a decent hour or so. And knowing this, you would think that I would stay away or do something productive like make Duma some lunch? No, I chose to sleep (because I could, of course!) and that starts my day off totally wrong, but I do it day in and day out religiously because its habit lately. Period.

Call to Prayer happens 5x daily and we live in decent proximity to a few beautiful mosques and its actually pretty relaxing once you get used to it. I get to the stage where at 12.2* something o'clock pm I try to time/guestimate when the call to prayer will occur (without having to look it up online) and feel a sense of relief when it happens...who am I turning into? :)

It's moments like this that hit you like a 2x4 and you realise where you are in this world. We are no longer in Australia where there is no real 'Aussie' culture other than drinking beer and enjoying a Sunday sesh, calling 'mates' by shortened names (Bazza, Gazza or Dazza) and eating Vegemite on toast. We are in Oman where people wear dishdashas, wear Abayas, drink Vimto and eat creme caramel by the pound @ Ramadan...and Indian males hold hands walking down the street. It is different and we stick out like sore thumbs, but we love it.

Now if only I had enough wasta* to reschedule the dawn call to prayer later in the morning, that would be happy days.

* Wasta post still to come, as is the insha'allah one!

You ducking like a bobble-head!

2009-11-23T14:49:00.004+04:00

That was a phrase from the dance movie "Honey" (Jessica Alba) and it made me laugh today because when I was watching the movie it reminded me of something I have witnessed often here, wait for it..."The Famous Indian Head Wobble". Note to self: wobble can and often is replaced with wiggle, niggle, bobble or wizzle (only if you are Snoop Dogg of course).

What is this, you ask? Its talked about a lot in Gregory David Roberts book Shantaram as a form of expression or a peaceful gesture, which often got him out of some tight spots as a foreigner in Bombay. But read here for more fascinating info! Surprised by the number of web pages about this interesting action AND the fact that there are different head wobbles for varying regions in India? Seriously its the coolest thing but who would have known? And it is something that both men and women do.

Put simply, I love it...its contagious*, and they love it when you do it back. The problem is that unfortunately I can't do it and its frustrating the hell out of me! Well maybe I can do it (believe me, I have practiced in the privacy of my own home AND in front of the mirror...actually I'm doing it right now and you are probably trying it too!) but not the way I want to and I thought I had rhythm like a Black girl stuck in a Polynesian girl's body but alas, my neck is too stiff and I can't wobble with the best of them (but dance, thats another ball game).

*If you ever get caught up amongst a group of Indians just stop for a minute to observe the head wobbling going on, its fascinating! One wobbles to say "yes, I agree/understand" and then the other starts to wobble as a sign of "thank-you/very good" and next thing you know there is wobbling back and forth and the only still head in the store/place/restaurant is mine and Duma's :)

But if you are an westerner and you manage to pull off the head wobble = HAPPY DAYS! You will experience the biggest grin from your Indian compadre EVER and its sure to make you giggle a little, no matter how old or mature you are :)

It's like a western conversation which goes back and forth - only we refer to this as being "like a tennis match" where we move our head from side. But these wobbles are totally different, they are a delicate blend of sideways and up-down action that uses all of the neck muscles possible, truly a sight to see :)

In this part of the world there are Indian bobble-heads on every corner and in every store and I LOVE it...their wobbles and bobbles and niggles and wiggles (and wizzles) make the world more colourful and cheery, so long as they aren't the person who is trying to cut you off the road or push in the service counter line @ Carrefour!

Enjoy this, its a funny video by a Canadian guy and is meant to be a tongue in cheek about his experiences teaching in India, so please don't get offended! Feel free to stop watching at 3.22 as thats where he starts talking about other things.

Like I said, I LOVE the head wobble and wanted to share :)

Melancholy moments

2009-11-23T09:02:00.011+04:00

I was reading this post the other day by Silver Jewel Oman and felt a closeness to someone I have never met, purely because her thoughts resonated with mine. And then yesterday, chatting with a lady about holes in communication and 'voids' that she feels having given up everything back home to move to Muscat and support her husband...so I felt inclined to share.

When you leave your home country you are caught up in the whirlwind of excitement and anxiety about conquering new horizons and the journey ahead. Its great, a mix of euphoria and being scared shitless, but home is always home and you can always move back if things don't work out right? It's not the case for all, but it is fortunately the case for us.

What you fail to see through those rosy coloured glasses is that whilst your life is totally changing and doing a 360 (whether it be for a year or 10) - your friends and family are still living 'business as usual' and generally speaking their lives are only changed by a small percentage given the fact that you have gone away and that means no more seemingly insignificant chats over coffee, morning walks, play dates with your niece/nephew, shopping trips or family dinner nights.

And yes, that may seem logical and straight forward to many of you out there in the bloggersphere (and yes, before you say anything, it was our choice to move and we don't regret it a single bit) but everything is magnified 100x when you are going through this stage (holla if you hear me K-Nash, lol!) and on some days you become super-sensitive once the euphoria disappears and feels like someone ripped off that proverbial bandaid without warning - the realisation that life goes on without you and the lack of your physical presence does not stop time. Full stop. (or period, for our Americano amigos).

Don't worry, be happy.

As is the story within Eckhart Tolle's fab book "A New Earth" it's moments like this that we need to remember the phrase "This Too Will Pass". (read up here if you want more info and to feel a little enlightened and uplifted). No, this isn't a Danoz Direct infomercial and I'm not getting commissions for selling the book, I just like the simple concept and think it applies to this situation :)

Back to the my post - I assume this feeling affects women mostly as Duma handles the void well and has the amazing good fortune of being blessed with a crew of long standing HS/Misc mates and an amazing mother (Hi Anne!) who is email/internet savvy :) He and his friends may go for many months and then sure enough are back to drinking beers, sharing jokes and stories like they didn't skip a beat. I truly love that about them. But what is it with men and women being so different - women being so emotional and men being so matter of fact? :)

And then there is the process of making new 'friends', which of course never replace the old, tried & true ones...but are critical to a happy and sustainable life in your new world. Sure, initially they may feel fabricated or superficial, but then what about our Facebook friends? How well do you really know them and how honest and 'real' are those interactions? Long story short is that they start out with a genuine need or intention of meeting like-minded, interesting and fun (albeit different circle people) to function and feel connected to this new life.

And one of them so wisely told me that when you move to Muscat, you make friends with people you wouldn't normally be friends with back home, not because they aren't nice people...but purely because your circles wouldn't intersect or your bubble of networks (work, friends and family) wouldn't fly in the same path. Touche! (I love that word but don't really know when to use it or whether I ever use it correctly lol!). Ok, so I added the bubble analogy but its the same idea only different fluffy explanation :)

So far I acknowledge the point and am trying to embrace it...coffee mornings with random cool ladies (the ratio of cool to uncool is about 3-1 in my humble opinion and experience to date), surfing the local internet forum and chatting with people about events/activities/gossip, as well as being the only western woman in my new office = only one not wearing an abaya AND using TP in the bathroom so that has to lead to new friendships, stories and moments right? Its all alien to me but its great and has totally opened up my world.

So there are some great moments to be had here for sure, really great ones...but I wanted to focus this post on the melancholy moments because that is what has been poignant lately throughout my conversations with people and my own feelings. And I have deduced that it often comes from being anal and a control freak in our previous lives...which leads to imbalance here purely because there are elements out of our control in our new environment - in our case:

* Not being able to talk to friends and family other than every other week, purely because it costs >AUD$1 per minute to call
* Not being able to sms our Mums or most friends because Vodaphone AUS is the only mobile phone provider to not be able to send AND receive from our network
* Our internet connection keeps dropping in and out so Skype calls (which are highly illegal here I might add!) are severely lagged and frustrating
* My gorgeous, loving mother doesn't know how to use the internet *sigh*

It all boils down to the fact that you miss out on 'moments', details and stuff that seems trivial to your circle back home, but help you function and feel 'connected' to both worlds.

It's a 2-way street and I totally get that. I can't expect people to communicate with me when 'I' feel like it or just because I'm sitting at home and have the spare time or energy...but I think its all a case of priority and making time for those you love and care about. I would like to think that things will all settle down soon and given I start my new job after Eid Al-Adha holidays next week (woohoo!) I will have a renewed appreciation for being busy, having a routine and structure in my life...not to mention my own money :)

So for all the expat women who are in my boat - chin up and hang in there. This Too Shall Pass.

For my beloved family & friends back home - I love you, miss you and hope we can talk soon xo

Tales from Giants

2009-11-21T14:27:00.005+04:00

Another funny shopping trip last night to Ruwi high street (looking for sunglasses, shirts and cologne) made me realise just how foreign and BIG Duma and I look in comparison to the Indian community. (another post soon re: male affection within the Indian community).

Over here we are giants, and I don't just mean tall. We are surrounded by lovely but tiny people of the Filipino, Omani, Indian, and varying expat community and sometimes its depressing. Not so much for everyday life because we like being tall...but it hits home on uneventful shopping expeditions (about 99% of the time) and results in my feeling very unfeminine (in my case of course).

I have a large foot which some have come to describe as "Ronald McDonald foot"...no idea why? Being a size 10/11 shoe or 42 Euro is hard in Oman, where literally the ONLY place I can find shoes in my size is Marks & Spencer @ Markaz Al Baja mall, only a measly 30 mins drive away from where I live. And don't get me wrong, I like turning up the tunes in the car and driving in general... but in Muscat, driving is unorganised chaos (not like Bali where its organised-mad-chaos and people are smiley and courteous)...it is utter madness and a deathtrap on the best of days. Plus, the choice is pooh :(

Duma on the other hand is a 14/49 Euro and we both have the same problem, there is only 1 store that fits each of us and go figure, they aren't the same store and the quality is NOT good! The Sales Assistants - bless their cotton socks - look at us like we are crazy when we ask "Do you have a 42 or 49 in your sizes?" because the answer is always "No, the biggest anyone has here madam is 41/46".

So I'm making damn sure that when we go home in March, I am bringing a shit load of shoes and clothes back :)

Oh and the clothes, don't even get my started! We have a shop that we always go to to buy...wait for it....genuine fakes! Oh the irony but I laugh whenever they say that, we grab shirts to send home to family and they love them because seriously, who knows and who cares for a tee shirt? Anyway, they sell ladies Lacoste polos and I have a couple myself, so was looking to grab some for my friend back home. Now I'm a sz. 12 normally so what does that equate to in Indian or Filipino sizes??? SIZE XXL people - WTF?!?!! Are you trying to make me feel inadequate? Oh and when we first arrived in Muscat I bought a business suit from Sacoor Brothers @ MCC and again, being a sz. 12 in Muscat, what does that equate to? SIZE 18 people - shriek, the horror!

Seriously, no wonder many of the expat wives visit beauty salons and spas everyday here, because when it comes to clothes and making yourself feel good...you don't unless you bought them from home!

Now, I'm off to start the Jillian Michael's 30-day shred that my friend got for me (and has worked wonders for her) and see if I can shrink to at least an XL Lacoste polo :)

Aussie Rules Friday & Socceroos vs. Oman Saturday!

2009-11-11T13:04:00.005+04:00

First home game for the Muscat Magpies season, this Friday @ 3pm.

Dubai Heat are the 2008/9 premiers (beating the Magpies in the GF ) so it should be a good re-match!

Also looking forward to Saturdays Socceroos vs Oman, which is sure to be interesting given there is a lot riding on this game for Oman and this place loves a good game of 'football' :)

It's the Little Things in Life

2009-11-08T10:20:00.005+04:00

They say that things happen in 3's and I guess that over the past 2 days I can attest to that. Well actually that doesn't really make sense does it, because things just happen and we make the saying fit when we feel like it? (Cue 'incessant ramblings' description from our blog profile!) Oh well, anyway the concept applies given three small but profound things happened to me and I'm very thankful they did :)

Yesterday was frustrating as I was following up on an outstanding job offer that has been literally doing my head in for the past 4 weeks - I just don't understand why people say they will do something and they don't come through, it is one of my pet peeves! To me, its better to under-promise and over-deliver therefore exceeding expectations, but maybe thats just me.

Long story short, I have 2 other offers but this 1 pays considerably more and is an internal HR role as opposed to being a Consultant and having to 'sell' my services. And hey - I'm fully aware that my sense of urgency is totally different to theirs, I'm not here to flatter myself. But yesterday I felt like a stalker in order to just get a straight answer (I got something of the sorts, hopefully the contract will appear today), because I have to let the other 2 businesses know where I'm at (by COB today) before jumping on board with them or burning a bridge.

Anyway, I was in a 'mood' of sorts and Duma's advice came right on time, it totally changed my perspective. It's pretty matter-of-fact but then again, thats just how he is and I love him for that...no mucking around, just a kick in the pants and get on with it (which is what I needed and he knew it).

"No point wasting energy worrying about the things that you can’t change. If you can’t change them, you must accept the way things are & use your energy concentrating on the things you can change".

2nd to that, my Mum called me this morning and it was such a nice surprise! There is nothing like a call from your Mum when you live in another country...a familiar voice, chatting about nothing, just catching up and smiling through the phone. And she is sending me a care package next week with recent pictures of my beloved niece & nephew who I'm missing so much = happy days!

After that, I was trawling through the internet and came across a cool note that reminded of how good life is...when you stop focusing on the things that just don't matter in the big scheme of things.

I hope this post comes right on time for you too, just like these words did for me xo

007 Eat your heart out!

2009-11-07T19:01:00.003+04:00

We have just over 1 month until the Diamonds Are Forever Crystal Ball @ the Amphitheatre of the Shangri La Al Jissah Hotel - Time to get our butts into gear and get a dress and tux made (much to Duma's disgust, he hates fuss and extravagence!)

Hopefully it isn't a stuffy/posh event...I guess they may all start out that way (considering its a fundraiser night) but with copious amount of alcohol and the table we are sitting at (young rugby club crew) we are surely in for a messy and forgettable night!

Pics and stories hopefully to come...

Bum Gun ???

2009-11-02T18:42:00.005+04:00

Ok, so this has been on my mind since we made our first visit to Muscat in May - the infamous toilet hose and its place in Omani society. Curiosity (and survival^) finally got the better of me and I actually googled Arabic toilets/toilet hose/Oman toilets = endless images and info :-)

The toilet system here is a little different to the Western world, much like many of the ones in Asian countries. This can definitely be confusing at first *tilt head to the side, eyebrows squeezed* kinda confusing and quickly escalate to panic!

Walking into your first Arabic toilet (this one actually has a seat, whereas once out of the city many are holes in the floor with foot pads) is an experience to say the least...and I'm sure vice versa for our Omani compadres when visiting our shores.

The floors are wet (often the seat too...begs the Q - wee or water? hmmm), there is sometimes a strategically placed squeegee, and often no TP. I must admit this scared me at first - no TP and only a "Bum Gun" (not my term, read the article)? How? (picks it up, inspects and looks around). Where? (looks down at body). Shriek! The horror...

And when I say scared, I don't mean that I thought it was dangerous, I just mean scared because I didn't know how to use it if forced to AND avoid soiling my entire outfit, shoes and looking like a wet dog once I exited the bathroom!

I had a good idea of 'what' it was for but no idea of the process in doing so. Oh the joys of being a woman, no explanation required I'm sure. I actually carry a pack of tissues with me everywhere in case I am stuck in a sorry situation since I wee every 5 seconds to Duma's amusement and wonder :(

Interestingly enough, this isn't the first article/blog that I have read where many Westerners actually prefer the Bum Gun method, but this Aussie couple aren't game enough just yet to give it a go...

^ re: survival - I have had 2 job interviews at one relatively large organisation and upon my 2nd visit, I asked where the bathroom was. Upon entering, shock horror there were 2 toilets, each equipped with a bum gun and NO TP!!! Needless to say I went to Lulu immediately after and stocked up on handy pack tissues and thus the googling for more info...actually, I wonder if there is a youtube video???

Things we love :)

2009-11-02T09:18:00.013+04:00

As stated in the last post, we have grown extremely fond of a few things here and wanted to share them with our friends. Sure, this place can be crazy, mixed up and backwards in many ways...but once you get past the bad driving and the time it takes for things to get done...it is an amazing place that has changed our lives forever:

We love going Wadi Bashing and trekking, this gorgeous place is wadi shab

MAC is everywhere, happy days! In Perth we only had one store :(

This neon spectacle is 'Lulu Hypermarket'. We love late night and 7 day trading!

How will we ever move back to the shackles of Perth?

Channa Masala, mmm. I have always had a thing for chickpeas :)

Indian food here is SO good!

Best coffee and service in Muscat, hands down!

Camping on the beach = fun and serenity! This is As Seifa beach...

Turkish House = cheap & yummy turkish food (duh!)

5G water = AUS$3

Sucks that people talk on their mobiles in the movies, but its seriously cheap!!!

Popcorn, 2 tix, large drink, bag of maltesers = AUS$20

Muscat Rugby Club - great people, chilled out atmosphere and cheap drinks...whats not to love?

Things we miss !!!

2009-11-01T16:25:00.034+04:00

Moving to the desert has been a delicate balance between temporarily letting go of a few things we love...and embracing our life here. We are pretty open-minded and have fallen in love with some things here also (next post) but for the sole purpose of this one, here is a snapshot of our life back home and a few things we miss:

An Aussie super food!

Many days I have contemplated a 5hr drive to Dubai just for these delicious 'bikkies'

One of our favourite Margaret River wineries!

If only our internet connection let Duma play online w/ his mates :(

Playing basketball...it's pre-season back home and we are missing out.

So I'm playing netball and Duma is playing aussie rules :)

Bonds underwear and tank tops *sigh*

It's the simple things you know?

Our lovely local Asian eatery...delicious, cheap, lightening fast meals :)

We miss this tomato sauce, ketchup is NOT the same thing!

Good 'ol chicken crimpys = the whole box annihilated in one sitting

Mail that gets delivered to your HOME!!!

Long time No speak...

2009-11-01T09:24:00.009+04:00

Sorry for the lack of blog action lately guys! It's not that there hasn't been anything going on, just that we have had issues with the internet, as well as me temporarily losing my mojo* (I was in a funk actually) which led to me having no interest in reporting the goings on - got to tell it like it is right?

* If you don't know what mojo is, go here to find out :-)

There still isn't anything poignant that I have to share but I do have my mojo back! I feel like Austin Powers (minus the bad teeth) but I have that spring back in my step ... sometimes I just want to bust out dance moves 'Austin Powers style' for no good reason - is that wierd? lol. The things that go on in my head sometimes, I tell you...

I think we all have those days where we have zero motivation = just can't be a$$ed and don't care. Only mine felt like a week long hangover minus the copious amounts of alcohol - I just didn't want to do anything and why not, when I didn't have to?

I think my mood was born from the fact that I'm still not working yet & constantly waiting on contractors and service providers to show up or do what they should, when they should. (There is a total lack of urgency here in Oman to get things done, as well as all the hoops you have to jump through just to complete a simple process). But still, its a beautiful country - you can't win for losing!

Now, what has happened since I last posted?

* Duma was in Dubai for a week's work, so I was left to entertain myself. This meant avoiding the urge to clothes shop (I did buy MAC makeup though, an addiction of mine - oops!), but LOTS of cleaning and baking which I enjoyed...all but scrubbing the floors and walls! (If you ever want a recipe go here and here, these 2 sites are a gold mine for ideas and they are all rated by other users. I have been using them for years!

* I finally got my resident card, after being here for almost 2 months! I pretty much had to stalk Duma's PRO though to get him to do the paperwork and meet me, but we got there in the end.
The funny thing was, they told me to meet him at the place and to "look out for the short Omani, with a long beard, who barely speaks English" - great! So after waiting for 30 mins in the smelliest place on earth (do Indians not wear deodorant at all?) Mustafa and I found each other and off we went. This is where being a woman was truly an advantage, as the women's waiting area and lines are much more quiet and speedy :-)

* I went back to the dress shop here in Muscat, since they bought in a wedding dress from London that I really loved...tried it on and it was a great fit - simple & elegant. Yay, happy days and my gorgeous Mum offered to pay for it so now I just have to go back with a friend and take some photos to send home to Mum/MIL/BM's to get some opinions :-)

Dress shopping by myself was actually ok, but when you have 2 Filipino Sales Assistants telling you what you want to hear, it isn't particularly objective...only a massive ego boost but I welcomed it nonetheless :-)

* I was offered a job - great news right? Yeah it is great and I really like the sound of the company, the team (I will be the only female), and the work they do. BUT (there is always a but right?) they work Sat - Wed + 1/2 day on Thursdays (our equivalent of a Saturday), which is less than ideal. Also, the pay is about 2/3 of the other job I am waiting to hear back about so I'm just in limbo at the moment.

How long is too long before giving them my decision? I'm thinking a week is ok, but don't want to burn my bridges by taking any longer. So I'm trying to speed up the other offer and finally (after 3 weeks of waiting, since my 2nd IV) I sent a 'stern but tactful email' highlighting the situation and my other offer. Within a day the HRM emailed back an apology and said "your contract is sitting on the GM's desk, waiting for his initial". So it sounds positive, but you just never know here - it could sit on the GM's desk for weeks before anyone actually tells him its there or puts a post it note on it lol! God knows how long it has been there already - you have to laugh about it right? :-)

* We now have an ADSL connection, only I had to go back to the Omantel office a few times as per their process of "come in and apply for your phone...then wait for the technician. Then come back in and apply for internet...then wait for the technician. Then come back in and get your username/password before you can use" - we are now 5 weeks later! Tell me that you don't see the duplication and the inefficiency in that process?

Funnily enough, they stuffed up the plan that we wanted because the CSO was flirting with me. He was talking to me about his cousin living/studying in Sydney, which led to some banter about the recent Socceroos win over Oman. Then he said "he says the women in Australia are very beautiful, this is true I see" and I didn't know what to say but smiled and said thank you.
Then I looked at the receipt and noticed that he had put us on the wrong plan, proof that men just can't multi-task by flirting and processing a transaction at the same time!

So what happened? Of course I had to go back to the office yet again (the next day) as they couldn't correct it on the same day as the mistake. It would be entirely too logical to just make a note in the system and call me the following day, to let me know it was done *insert sarcasm*

* Duma came back from Dubai late on the Wednesday night, then flew out to Bahrain Thursday morning to play footy (he is playing for the Muscat Magpies in the MEAFL). Unfortunately they lost by 2 goals, but they managed to drown their sorrows and enjoy a boozy night out. Then their flight back to Muscat on Friday afternoon got cancelled, so all the hungover Aussies/Irishmen/Canadians decided to hang out at a local pub for the 6.5 hour wait = a long and tiring flight after a big night out & hair of the dog!

So during my down time (a total understatement) I caught up with some friends who I have been neglecting for a long time. They did not disappoint me either - eye candy and entertaining!

I am spoiled because Duma came home from Dubai bearing gifts - duty free alcohol & Greys Anatomy season 1 (I couldn't find it anywhere in Muscat, the shame) and I watched all 9 episodes in 1 day! I *heart* this show...the sexual tension....the chemistry...the sarcasm and the sexual tension (oops, did I say that twice? ;-)

We went to Home Centre last night (armed with our 70 RO voucher) and bought Season 2 = happy girl! I'm looking forward to parking myself on the couch later this afternoon with coffee in hand, to relive the shennanigans of Seattle Grace Hospital's finest.

* Looks like we have sold our beloved Getz Sxi back home in Perth, so all is good in the world and our credit cards. My brother has been instrumental in this, thanks Muss!!!

* My friends Ant & Gaz (its an Aussie thing to shorten names - Barry = Baz, Gary = Gaz etc) may visit us this month...we aren't sure yet as Gaz is currently in Dubai working so insha'allah they will swing by Muscat at some stage, which will be exciting for us...our first visitors! So Duma & I need to prepare a fun weekend itinerary just in case, jam packed with Omani adventures.

Ok so enough babbling, I'm just recapping the past 1 1/2 weeks and you are probably worse off for reading but I am back on the blog train and am glad to have my mojo back!!! x

The infamous 'football' match of Oman & Australia

2009-10-14T15:38:00.004+04:00

*chants* Aussie Aussie Aussie...Oi Oi Oi!

Word around town is that we won 1-0 today and Tim Cahill is officially THE man!

That is all...

Random & interesting bahaviour of a few expats

2009-10-11T11:51:00.007+04:00

Living in Muscat has presented with its fair share of happy moments and challenges. We like the fact that the weather is hot, we can venture out of town on the weekends and see amazing beaches and wadis, and the people are great...for the most part.

Now I'm not talking about Omanis here...I'm going to reference some interesting behaviour by expatriates, most of which have astounded and humoured Duma and I.

Case 1:
I'm in the Qurum Al Fair during Ramadan, as my father-in-law is sick and needs some medicine before his international flight the following day. Its madness in the store and unfortunately, due to the retail store timings the attached pharmacy is closed. I can't find what I need, so I grab a few other things before I go on my merry way.

Enter Mrs British Expat...present in her sun dress (strapless and above the knees), wet hair and looks like she has just enjoyed a sunny day at the pool. She walks straight to the fruit section and picks a few grapes, tastes them and then doesn't hesitate to eat a few more.

I'm alarmed - ITS RAMADAN!!! You have the audacity to eat in public during the day and in front of all the Muslim staff and customers (and those others who are fasting)...and I might add that you are stealing in an Arab country!

She catches me looking at her, makes a face and then proceeds to ask "what are you looking at?" *insert snooty tone/accent* I replied "I'm just amused that you are eating in public during Ramadan". I shook my head, smiled and walked off. End of story? No.

She shrugs her shoulders and is back off to shop...but not before she starts following me through the aisles and making faces at me! This goes on for a good few minutes and then she stands opposite me at the next checkout line, while I chuckle to myself...are you serious lady? You have no idea who I am and I'm not timid, please don't make me embarrass you in public, lol.

Case 2:
We have had a few issues with the parking lot at our apartment. It's pretty clear that there is assigned parking, F2 = flat #2 people! So after a week of people parking in our space, I start leaving notes on the culprit car - a red jeep wrangler. Simple notes (not abrasive) educating them that we live here now and would like our space back. Case closed? No.

The red jeep of the SA expat just sat there for a couple days and it royally pissed us off - you removed the note and now know that we live here...but you choose to park there anyway on a daily basis...why? Are they messing with us or just don't care?
Another note alleviated the problem, but why should it have come to that? Next resort was Duma (in all his 6'8 masculine glory) paying a visit to this guys doorstep :-)

(sidenote - Duma made up a couple of 'don't park in our space' notes and kept them in the car, just in case lol! It was seriously getting that annoying that we had well thought out tactics and I was discussing it with friends. Duma even suggested that we put an orange cone in our space to 'send a message', whilst a friend suggested we put a cinder block in our spot as a sign - lol).

Enter British expat couple. We come home one night after a few drinks @ Pavo Real and its after midnight and another car (silver yaris this time) is politely parked in our spot. Bugger! There is only one place that we can possibly park in, though it belongs to another flat and we don't want to do the exact same thing to other tenants, but we have to as there is no other choice/place to park. We just figured we would move it early in the morning and no harm would be done.

WRONG! We wake up the following morning a little hungover and Duma wanted McDonald's for breakfast (which apparently doesn't exist in Muscat?) and upon walking out to the car park, we notice a white camry parked behind us, blocking us in and...wait for it...our windshield wipers are both up!!! Are you serious? Are these people trying to 'teach us a lesson' by putting our windshield wipers up? Wow...that was tough and so mature :-)

So after laughing about it, we got mad. We marched up to the apartment (obviously we knew who did it because we were in their spot) and knocked on the door. The lady scarily stood behind the door complaining "well we are just sick of it" and whilst we agreed, we explained what had happened and that we were victims of the same act. So her husband comes down to move the car.

Is he apologetic? No. Is he embarrassed? No. He just comes down and makes small talk and we explain our story of Mr. Red Jeep. "That's funny" he says "that guy is my neighbour and has his own spot"...excellent, so now we know who's door to bang on IF he does it again :-)

Then he moves his white camry. Case closed? No.

Yesterday we pull into the car park (about 1 1/2 weeks after the incident) and there is an SUV parked in their spot again...the white camry is parked behind it...windshield wipers up and all!

But here is the kicker - the SUV actually managed to manoevre out from the spot and the camry just sat there looking stupid and now blocking everyone else in on that end of the lot. And here comes the British guy with his tail between his legs, forced to move his car whilst looking like an a$$. Priceless! Well it made us laugh anyway :-)

Winner winner chicken dinner :-)

2009-10-10T14:19:00.010+04:00

I just got home from collecting the tickets that Duma won to Khasab (on Oman's National Ferry service) via a competition on the Hi-FM radio website. Cheers Hi-FM :-)

The day he won them we were emailing back and forth and I was telling him how lucky my brother is since he is forever winning competitions and finding money (well the latter as a kid anyways) - jealous much? Then Duma gets a call the same afternoon from the radio station to say that he has won 2 tickets to Khasab...what a spin out! Here is what we will be riding in:

We can't wait...what a great way to chillax and take some photos of the coast (its a 6 hr cruise up to Musandam) and spend a weekend away, while checking out the most northern point of Oman. Looks like we will probably do some snorkeling or see the dolphins, trek around and check out the fort, oh and my personal favourite - a dhow cruise! Will write an update and post pics when we get back from the trip...

Are we at the movies or in a cafe?

2009-10-09T13:43:00.003+04:00

Last night we decided to go to Shatti to watch a movie, as this is one of our favourite past times. And, although we went about 3 times while we were here visiting in May, we thought we knew what we were in for...but were once again surprised and enlightened.

Things we liked:

~ tickets are 3 OMR = AUS$9

~ large diet pepsi + large bag of maltesers + medium mixed popcorn (caramel & plain...yum!) was 1.8 OMR = less than AUS$6

Things we disliked:

~ every ad shown prior to the movie is about cars = gets really boring. And I'm not kidding, it was every single advert before the movie began...

~ the sound is LOUD! Like "is there a boeing 747 in this room?" kinda loud.
~ the courtesy screens show "turn off your GSM" yet this goes unnoticed and everyone is texting/calling/answering calls to their hearts content - no discretion whatsoever!!!

Ever heard of putting your phone on silent? (We even heard the MSN sound over and over again...that alerts you when you have a new IM - WTF?)

~ the guy sitting next to me was burping away, whilst talking to the guy next to him, while sending an sms, then proceeded to make and accept phone calls.

The only thing that made this a different experience to sitting outside at Al Deyar cafe was that Al Deyar has shisha...and we sure could have used a smoke to chill out after this crazy experience :-)

All Hail As Seifa Beach!

2009-10-09T13:06:00.008+04:00

Last Friday we ventured off to As Seifa beach with a few new friends (some Aussies, Irish folk, Saffers, a Brit and a couple of Omani expat brats - self proclaimed!), an esky full of cold drinks, plenty of food for a BBQ lunch, our swimming gear, a frisbee and soccer ball...it was probably the BEST time we have had here so far, well at least this time around anyway.

The drive was beautiful, such amazing scenery and we never get tired of driving through little villages and seeing how the people live - all with smiles on their faces but bloody rubbish everywhere! The Tiida did well getting up the steep hills and over the soft sand, thank God Duma knows how to handle beach driving as I would have gotten us stuck for sure!

We didn't take any pictures as it was H-O-T and we couldn't be bothered making the trek back to the car to get Duma's good camera and I left mine at home. But we will hopefully make it back out there soon, so pics will follow!

The water was that greeny-blue that makes you think of Mauritius or the Seychelles, so clear you can see for metres in front of you and the temperature was great, like sitting in a lukewarm bath! We parked just to the right of a private cove and stayed there until the sunset.

We definitely plan on heading back to camping, sleeping bag under the open skies and stars - sounds like heaven to me...

My girlfriends will understand this - it was SO nice to be able to get out of town and wear something I own and normally wear, not having to worry about who I might be offending/attracting or how much skin I am showing! Bearing in mind, I only wore a tankini and a pair of boardies given that I wasn't sure before we left home, but I could have worn a bikini and I would have been fine :-)

And sun..oh how I love thee! When you live in such heat and humidity and sit in air-conditioning all day everyday (hyundai - ok corny joke lol. not sure if its international though?), it is paradise to go somewhere and sit in the sun with a cold cider and enjoy the breeze...reminds me of all the great beaches we have back home in WA *sniff sniff*

So here's to new friends, new beginnings...and a new favourite beach!

~ I believe in Karma ~

2009-10-03T12:05:00.005+04:00

Warning - driving in Oman IS hazardous to everyones health!

On Thursday afternoon we were driving from CCC and heading to QCC via the road near the Nissan dealership, it was a hot day out, all was good and we had a full day of weekend activities planned...I was texting Lisa back at the time, sitting in the backseat while Duma was leisurely driving and talking to his Dad. The next moment I looked up we saw a small white car clip a motorcyclist...the motocyclist wobbled around trying to regain their balance and was then clipped again by the same car and flung to the ground!

And what did the driver do? They pulled over and were overcome with guilt, worried about the guy right??? WRONG! They braked for a second...then proceeded to speed off through the light and continue towards the main Qurum roundabout - BASTARD!!! They knew they had hit someone and didn't care enough to even stop of find out if they were ok.

As we were directly behind the crash, we immediately stopped in the middle of the highway to help the guy (who by this time was convulsing and in complete shock) - but we were torn because we wanted to chase down the guy who did it, so that there would be some justice in the world...The traffic was at a stand still, the petrol cap had come off the bike and there was petrol everywhere...so Duma turned his bike off while FIL and I tended to the man...trying to make sure he was conscious and frantically yelling out for the bystanders and 'rubber neckers'

to call the ROP and Ambulance.

FYI - there were the three of us actively trying to help the guy, a group of about 12 Indians who had apparently jumped out of a couple cars on the service road...all 'watching', and there were about 6-7 Omanis who were standing on the road divider and barking out orders.

Damian was smart enough to jump in the car to move it further up the road because of all the petrol, and to make way for the Paramedics.

Next thing we know, an older Omani guy walks up to us and tells us to move the crash victim -

Me & FIL: We can't move him, he may have a neck or spinal injury

Man: Well we can't leave him here, look at the cars piling up and he will die out here in the sun

Me: What are you talking about? It is a person and we aren't going to move him just bc of traffic!
Man: Take off his helmet

Me: No! We need to wait for the ambulance, has anyone called the ROP?
FIL: Is anyone here a Dr?

Man: (speaking Arabic to bystanders) We are moving him...the Police will take forever

So what do they do? They picked him up (looking like a Rag Doll) and moved him into the backseat of a nearby car, as the three of us cringed at possible injuries he endured as a result of being moved...and within a minute the ROP were there and directing/clearing traffic.

We tried to give a witness statement to the first ROP officer, who said he didn't speak English.
The second ROP officer was too busy checking papers of the guy who was going to drive the injured man to hospital (before the ambos arrived), so we interrupted him to give a statement...to find out that he also spoke limited English.

So what could we do? They said we could go ahead and leave, but FIL was smart enough to hand them a business card to have someone call us later about the incident, hoping they would bother. To their credit, the ROP office did call about an hour later, though considering we only knew it to be a small white vehicle (which could be anyone) with a yellow plate (which means a locally registered car I think?) our report was useless and will probably amount to nothing.

I was so angry...how can someone be so self-absorbed and have such little regard for another human being, an injured one at that? How can you sleep at night, knowing that you put someone in hospital, who could have been your son/father/uncle on any other day???

I believe in karma and truly hope that the driver gets what is coming to them...

My rant - What's a woman to do ???

2009-09-29T13:28:00.009+04:00

So I'm sitting at home and slowly pulling my hair out...what on earth is a woman to do here in Muscat with no job, kids or pets to take care of? I know, to most it sounds like a life of luxury but:

* Sitting on your a$$ and watching daytime TV (I'm officially up-to-date on everything that Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kadashian are doing - as well as how complicated Denise Richards life is...NOT!)

* Visiting the gym (the Phillipino trainers there have no idea what they are doing and NO, I don't want to register and pay extra to use your slimming machine - what are you trying to tell me?)

* Go shopping (bc you spend more time in the carpark than the actual store) because I can't find a pair of shoes my size anywhere :-(

* Sleeping in everyday (resorts to my old friend 'insomnia' paying me unwelcomed visits)

...gets old REAL quick! And there is only so much cleaning and cooking you can do without becoming OCD or bake up a storm and risk eating my life away and looking like a house.

Ok, so here are definitely worse things I could be doing but seriously, I'm going insane and need an outlet, have even resorted to online study options or doing a course of some kind. Any suggestions people? Poor Duma and his Dad have been working such long hours and when they come home to ask me me about my day, we all just stop for a minute, smile and then giggle...as if it was any different to yesterday but thanks for asking! I just hope that I don't start talking to myself and going crazy, makes me think about Angelina Jolie in "Girl Interrupted".

I had a job interview about a week and a half ago, prior to Eid holidays and finally heard back from them last night. Although I have good working experience, I think the fact that I haven't worked in the Energy industry may set me back a little given the position is managerial...but they rang to say that they "have something in mind for me, will draft the details and send them over to me in next few days for me to consider"...so we shall see if its a suitable package and something that will engage or stimulate me. At least there is a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel...

I know I know, when I do find a job I will be whining about 'not' having enough ME time or complaining about having too much to do and how exhausted I am, but that doesn't help the way that I feel now...are we never happy??

I have a brain that used to be paid very well for all the 'hiring, firing & BS' that I did...but now I feel it slowly melting away...even as I type my blog and update my status on facebook, I am suddenly overwhelmed by my apparent dyslexia or inability to spell - is that because I am no longer intelligent?

You have to laugh about it or you just resort to tears...and I have become more emotional than usual. Thank God Duma is so understanding, patient and accommodating.

I have never been a big spender and shopping for the sheer sake of it to me isn't a thrilling activity, my outings need to have purpose or a goal in mind. Plus, when you aren't working or contributing to the household income, it doesn't feel nearly as good, well not to me. I have a conscience and have never had to rely on anyone in terms of money - even when I was old enough to get a part-time job I was delivering newspapers, refereeing basketball or working as a checkout chick...so this is a big change for me.

Plus, I like having my own story to tell each day, a sense of accomplishment and gossip to share from my J-O-B. My job has always been a big part of my identity...plus you spend more time at work than you do at home = social network and friends. I can say though that we have met a few cool people here so far, which has been great. One of them said that "blogging has saved me thousands in therapy" and I would definitely have to agree!!!

Anyway, this post was never meant to be as melancholy as it reads, more just me venting about the situation and feeling like I am in limbo. Hopefully I hear about this job soon or some of the other opportunities that I have in the pipeline...now I'm off to watch "Candy Girls" and learn how to pole dance, audition for a music video and make that money girl! lol.

** check out the 'slang*tion*ary' - Deuces people! **

Kanye West - what an a$$!

2009-09-18T11:08:00.000+04:00

I aw these pics on the Oman Forum (thanks Dark Angel!) and literally laughed out loud - what an a$$!

Enjoy...

Moment of epiphany...came from MTV Arabia?

2009-09-14T15:34:00.002+04:00

Hey all,

I was watching MTV Arabia a few hours ago, as I do lately during the day to kill time until Duma gets home from work (when I'm not on facebook, watching E-Entertainment or doing some other mind numbing activity) and came across an episode of True Life...

Today it was all about people with medical conditions i.e. who were losing their hair.
Although 1 guy was an absolute tosser (a white homie-g Eminem wannabe), the story that really touched me was about a young girl (Rebecca) who had Alopecia. Prior to get knowing, she was a gorgeous brunette, graduating from HS and her only concerns were grades, boys and her friends...

It was so sad to see her go through this entire process - from misdiagnosis by physicians...waking up with clumps of hair on her pillow...having to keep it a secret and wear a wig just to feel 'normal' in public...regular cortizone injections in her scalp...growing her hair back (and then dealing with how people would publicly react)...to then losing her hair again.

It was heartbreaking and at a time when I am focusing on trivial things in my life - it was grounding. Hopefully the few decent shows on MTV raise awareness and kick people (like me) into gear by increasing understanding and empathy.

Another guy found the process of early balding pretty challenging and it showed some of the awkward social situations that he often deals with, poor guy!
Just goes to show us girls that not only are we insecure about our looks, so are men and we should be conscious of this.

Here is a link to a video of the last guy.

Not only did it make me realise how blessed I am, it also made me revisit the fact that people may look different but everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion.

Renting in Muscat, dodgy landlords & the agents...

2009-09-14T09:19:00.001+04:00

So we have been here for almost 2 weeks now and still no luck in locking down an apartment, though we have seen a few that we really like. It's so annoying here, the expectation is that you will pay 12 months upfront rent (tell me, other than overpaid Exec expats, who has a spare AUS$18K just lying around?).

We saw a few really crappy ones that were in poor condition but a great location, and a few good ones.

The one that took the cake was great, was a 2bdrm Madinat Sultan Qaboos (the location we wanted because its close to a gym, Al Fair grocery store and various other stores) although when we asked about the AC being in good working order (because its hot as a mofo over here!!!) they said "oh, we don't supply those for you. The ones in here now are just for looks, you need to buy your own"...WTF? Needless to say we turned that one down, lol.

Thursday (the weekend here) we had an appointment with two different agents, one Western Woman and an Omani guy. She showed us two apartments and they were both really nice, but we were sold on the small but quality apartment and we were happy to take it, pending it was ready to go before the Eid Holidays kick in AND we could pay 6 months upfront only.

Now Syed from Re-zone Properties...he told us where to meet him and after waiting for 25 minutes and him not answering either of his two mobile phones, we left. Noone answered the office phone because it's Ramadan and the weekend, so we had zero chance of getting through. We knew he was dodging us and that made us even madder, though Duma is the calm one in the relationship and was doing his best to put my Maori fire out lol!

Anyway, Duma tried calling later that afternoon and managed to get through, Syed claiming that he was very sick and couldn't make it...no sorry or anything! The conversation went like this:

Duma "We have been trying to call you ALL day, why didn't you show up this morning?"
Syed "I was very sick"

Duma "So, you couldn't call us to let us know or reschedule?"
Syed "No, I was very sick and it was a misunderstanding"

Duma "Well we are available now, can we meet you?"
Syed "Oh no sir, the apartment is gone now and not available".

Duma "You are kidding me? It was available this morning, you have been too sick to show it to anyone, but its gone?"
Syed "Yes sir I am very sick" - WTF???

So needless to say we settled on the small 2bdrm apartment but we couldn't sign the papers, as Duma's PRO @ work was still seriously lagging on sorting out his Residence Card (again, DON'T move to a Muslim country during Ramadan as nothing will get done!). So we said we intended to do it ASAP.

But wait there is more....in my fury and truly in my style, I sent an email to all of the addresses of Syed's potential bosses from the website, highlighting what had happened. Come Saturday morning, I got a call from one of them saying that we could now see the apartment (so apparently it wasn't taken???) on Sunday and that we would have first opportunity to rent it, because of our miscommunication.

We thought that although we were unhappy with their service, we would see it anyway as a point of reference to the other place we were going to take. So off we went and we almost wish we didn't because it was...fantastic!!! The guy was an idiot, barely spoke English and you could tell he clearly wasn't happy to meet us after hours (don't know why though as it was only 4.30pm and he is Indian and not even fasting!!!) but it was a great location in Qurum, close to Qurum City Centre, CCC, Al Fair and Nandos (we are LOVING the Peri peri chicken & rice, so cheap!). It was 50 OMR cheaper per month than the other place (about AUS$150), clean, the right size and easy enough to get furniture in and out of...BUT (and there is always a but) they wanted 12 months rent up front, since the rent was so cheap.

Going home to think about it we decided we would take it, pending Duma got his Residence Card the following morning (which thankfully he has now), so I rang Re-Zone properties and told them we want to sign the papers today and we will organise a bank checque. The convesation went as follows:

Me "Can I talk to someone about the Qurum 2bdrm apartment that we saw yesterday?"

Guy "Who you vant talk to?"
Me "The man who showed us the apartment yesterday told me to call Rizak? Is he there?"
Guy "Who are you, vat is your good name?"

Me "Delirious in the Desert...is Rizak there?"
Guy "Yes"

Me "Well, can I talk to him as its important?"

Guy "Yes"

Me "Now?"

Guy "Yes, vat you want?"

Me "I want to speak with Rizak, is he free?"
Guy "Yes"

Me "Can I speak with him?"

Guy "I am him"
Me (slightly confused as to why he waited that long to say it was him "You are Rizak?"

Guy "Yes, vat is it?"
Me "Ok...well we want the apartment and can do the paperwork & pay today"
Rizak "Ok maam, ve vant full 12 months, 1 cheque not 2 or 4 or 5 "
Me "Yeah I know and like I said, we can do that today"

Rizak "But we cannot do now maam"
Me "Why not? We were told that given the 'miscommunication' with Syed, that we would have priority on this apartment"

Rizak "Yes but vat you vant me to do?"
Me "I want you to let us sign the papers and pay and move in ASAP!"

Rizak "So sorry I cannot do"

Me "Why not? Why did we go see it then?"

Rizak "Ve don't own it maam, belongs to the landlord"
Me "Yes...and that's why he gets you to lease the property for him no?"
Rizak "Yes"
Me "So why can't we have it now?"
Rizak "I think landlord talked to someone after you visit?"
Me "What??? Are you sure?"
Rizak "No"

Me "Then what are you saying? Can we have it or not?"
Rizak "I do not know. Vat you want me to do?"
Me (I should have told him to kiss my a$$) "I want to talk to your manager"
Rizak "I cannot do, 9am and noone is here"
Me "Well I want to speak to someone so give me their GSM and I will call them"
Rizak "I will call you by 10 o'clock"

Me "So you will call me back with an answer within 1 hr"

Rizak "Yes, vat is your good name?"

LOL!!! You have GOT to be kidding me right?

FYI - It is 10.23am and still no call back, so I'm going to call the office and give them a serve!
But...we still want that apartment lol!

Loving the price of petrol!

2009-09-14T08:45:00.001+04:00

I still can't get over it...Duma made a pit stop to fill up the tank of our Nissan Tiida yesterday and it was less than 4 OMR (=AUS$12) for almost 40L !!!

Sorry to you guys back home :-(

On a bright note: at least you get cheaper (and better) fresh fruit & veg!

Caffeine Fiends...and in LOVE with Nespresso machines!

2009-09-12T18:53:00.001+04:00

Ramadan is officially making mornings beyond hard for Duma and I!!! We have the best coffee shop (thanks to the staff of Carribou Coffee @ Bareeq Al Shatti) downstairs from our current location and we can't even drink it in the mornings due to Ramadan...boo!!! It just stares at me, calling me every morning when I wander downstairs for a random walk (since I'm not working right now, anything I can do to amuse myself and get away from MTV Arabia is a good thing!).

So, the cafes/coffee shops/eateries around town are closed until dusk everyday...which means we are getting our coffee fix around 8 or 9pm every night - which is exactly why I couldn't sleep until 3am this morning!!! So in the desperate search for a good coffee first thing in the AM during Ramadan, this girl did some investigation...

Duma and I had a Nespresso Essenza machine back gome in Oz and it was delightful to say the least...smooth and creamy coffees to our hearts content, quick and delicious at the touch of a button. But alas, we decided not to bring the 'other' love of our life to Oman, given the weight restrictions for luggage from Perth - Ireland - Oman.

In doing so, I think we lost a piece of ourselves, because it was a part of our foolproof daily routine, even in Ireland as we encouraged R&D to get one too...ahhhh the art of persuasion!

Segway - why don't businesses here provide a GOOD coffee machine at work instead of instant coffee??? Not everyone is a fan of tea or Turkish coffee w/ cardamon!

Back on topic - after looking in all the stores here and realising that noone sells the machines, I reviewed the Nespresso website and rang the 1 contact they have for the Sultanate of Oman...I was beyond disappointed when their GSM provider stated "this user is out of the area" - then the 1 contact for UAE was 'unable to reach on this number'.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME? I NEED CAFFEINE PRONTO!

So, in typical fashion (I love to give feedback) I emailed Nespresso Australia and told them that we were faithful consumers and dying over here without coffee. Thank God (or Allah), but they got back to me with contact details for a business here in Oman and low and behold, they sell what we need!!! :-)
They aren't cheap, but they are SEXY machines and will look great in our new apartment...so we are happy little Vegemites at the moment and should have our new machine but the Eid holidays.

I reckon I could work for Nespresso here and make "one million dollars" true Mini-me style, as I love the products THAT much!!! lol.

** On another note, I just want to give kudos to Rahoul and the staff @ Carribou Coffee in the Bareeq Al Shatti complex. They are nothing short of amazing...remembering our names four 4 whole months after we last visited Muscat and always greet us with a steaming cup of amazing coffee, some of the most genuine and heartfelt smiles you have ever seen, calling us 'Maam' or 'Sir' and such a wonderful work ethic!

You guys truly make our day, EVERY time we visit, and it is definitely a memorable experience.
So much so, that when we were last in London we bypassed Costa Coffee & Starbucks due to the reputation of Carribou in Qurum :-)

I may have only gone to Starbucks just to buy Lisa a packet of her beloved Morning Blend coffee...that is all!!!

Alcohol & Ramadan in Oman...

2009-09-06T12:52:00.001+04:00

Hmmm where to start? This post is mostly for friends and family back home in Australia, the US and New Zealand who aren't aware of certain social habits here in Oman. For those of you that either live here or are of Muslim origin, please forgive any inaccuracies...

~ALCOHOL~

The use of alcohol is not illegal in Oman, but it is deemed socially unacceptable by most people in this region and goes against the Muslim faith. That being said, it is available and served to both Omanis & Westerners (other than during the month of Ramadan) in licensed restaurants and bars, usually the latter exist in the International Hotels around town. In saying this, alcohol is far from cheap!

You are only able to purchase alcohol if you:
* Do so via Duty Free at the Muscat International terminal (each person is allowed 2 bottles)
OR
* Have a permit - where the amount of alcohol that you can buy is determined by your rate of salary

** (Locals cannot obtain permits, thus the need to go to bars or restaurants that serve it).

~RAMADAN~

The month of Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar (which changes every year, given they don't follow the 365 day calendar), when all Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This means no eating, drinking, smoking (basically putting anything in your mouth), or generally speaking - acts of indulgence...hint hint ;-)

It is ultimately a month of personal reflection (similar to a Westerner setting new goals or New Years resolutions), as well as teaching self-discipline, control, modesty, patience, giving thanks and achieving deeper spirituality or enlightenment. I believe this is similar to the Jewish Yom Kippur?

People who are exempt are: elderly, ill, children, pregnant women.

In saying this, some Muslims go CRAZY when eating/cooking in the evenings! The obsession with food is obvious and the lines at the stores are outrageous...you would think they would more staff on checkouts, but maybe that is just me or common sense?

When we have been grocery shopping at either of the Al Fair, LuLu or Carrefour stores, we have seen people buying really 'interesting' combinations of items, as well as trolleys FULL of:

Vimto (a berry cordial) -generally by the case...there is a tower a few metres high dedicated to this product!

Creme caramelle - people were buying it in bulk, e.g. > 20 boxes of it

Cooking Oil - by the gallons

Strawberry Milk - as if you can't get this at any time of the year!

Sacks of rice

Crates of eggs...not a dozen...crates!!!

Note: see fellow blogger "Dhofargucci's" account of the leaning tower of creme caramel pic at http://dhofarigucci.blogspot.com/2009/08/dhofari-ramadan-menu-do-you-really-need.html

Read her stories, they are hilarious and pretty informative at the same time :-)

Given the sun doesn't set not until 6.30/7pm, Muslims tend to eat in the morning before dawn (called sohohor), work shorter hours since they are fasting (perhaps 9-2), go home and sleep for a few hours until prayer time, eat a first meal (called Iftaar) with family/friends, prayer time again then eat a second meal etc etc and this could go on for hours!

Another blogger "Muscati" stated that Royal's (maker of jello/creme caramel etc) sales during Ramadan account for ~90% of their total brand sales = fascinating!!!

It begs the question - do sales of antacids, laxatives or heartburn meds increase during Ramadan too?

DITD

Relocation during Ramadan

2009-09-05T13:14:00.001+04:00

So Duma and I are finally back in Muscat, after having travelled Europe & the UK for the past few months and getting back to see the families in Australia - but what a relief to be able to set up shop and not live out of a suitcase for a while!

We are excited to get back in to a routine and add some structure to our lives. I can honestly say that I'm excited to start work again, though as a Western Woman in Human Resources, I don't like my chances for the short-term :-(
But any help in that area or similar ones (Recruitment/HR/Training/Admin) would be much appreciated...I'm not looking to be an HR Exec, just to make some money, stimulate myself a little in an intellectual sense and be exposed to a new working environment.

The recent challenge for us has been getting a car and accomodation sorted out as we have arrived in the crux of Ramadan. Duma started work today and luckily enough we have family to stay with until we get on our feet. So I'm sitting in the apartment frantically trying to get through my "To-Do-List" - emailing car leasing companies, real estate agents and looking for jobs at the same time. What a royal pain in the a$$ - so much waiting and I'm WAY too impatient to spend weeks on end as a pampered woman sans children to take care of!

Ok ok...and so I'm reading some of my favourite blogs too - loving 'Angry in Oman', 'Muscat Jet Driver' and 'Culture Shocked' :D

Question - are there any women's groups out there for 20 & 30-somethings? I am interested in getting to know a few of the girls around town, maybe joining a book club or fitness group (AIM - where did you get the 30 Day Shred DVD? I want to get it!) but am not having a huge amount of luck. As most people know when moving to new and interesting places, it's not what you know it's 'who' you know...and I'm excited to make new friends, get involved in interesting dialogue and just test the 'social waters' in general.

So here's to our new life in Muscat and cheers to those who read, reply or we cross paths with.

DITD xo