007 Eat your heart out!

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 ???

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 :)

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 !!!

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...

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

*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

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 :-)