Winner winner chicken dinner :-)

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?

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!

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 ~

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 ???

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$$!

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?

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.