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Trip to Oman, November 2003

With some holiday time on hand, a weekend and the three day end of Ramadan holiday called Eid, we headed out to Oman to visit a friend, Laurie Owen. He already had two visitors so adding us and Auntie Marie to his group, there were eight of us. Including a number of souks (markets),the Grand Mosque and a few other stops around the capital Muscat, we headed out to the SW (Ras Al Junaiz Turtle Beach nature Reserve near Ras al Hadd) to view Green Turtles laying their eggs.
Click here and get details on these animals: http://www.nizwa.net/env/turtles/turtles.html.
If you would like more information on the famous 'Al Bustan' of Laurie Owen's Weekly, click on this link: http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides/muscat/index.html
Although the mosque featured in this gallery is not the one where I heard this call, it is the call that resounds around these nations five times a day.
Click
here and listen to what it sounds like standing close to a
mosque. Note, there are so many mosques in these countries, that it is quite common
to hear up to three or four called taking place at the same time; in this case,
you will hear two calls at once.
Map of our trip to Oman . Our trip path is in red.
Map of our trip to Oman . Our trip path is in red.		 Laurie at the source of the 'weekly.'
Laurie at the source of the 'weekly.'		 Laurie providing proof of the spread at the Al Bustan -- something like 27 different deserts to choose from.
Laurie providing proof of the spread at the Al Bustan -- something like 27 different deserts to choose from.		 Laurie's home.
Laurie's home.
If you look closely, you can see Laurie on the roof of his house waiving to you (center of image).
If you look closely, you can see Laurie on the roof of his house waiving to you (center of image).		 Donna had her birthday at Laurie’s home! Can you tell that he is a bachelor?
Donna had her birthday at Laurie’s home! Can you tell that he is a bachelor?		 Wednesday meeting in Muscat.
Wednesday meeting in Muscat.		 Typical view of Muscat.
Typical view of Muscat.
Sunset over the capital area.
Sunset over the capital area.		 We do some serious shopping at a souk.
We do some serious shopping at a souk.		 Garnet waits in line for the bathroom. He was really proud of his now Omani hat.
Garnet waits in line for the bathroom. He was really proud of his now Omani hat.		 A gentle shop keeper.
A gentle shop keeper.
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.		 The women are prepared to enter the mosque.
The women are prepared to enter the mosque.		 Trying out the 'washrooms.'
Trying out the 'washrooms.'		 The entrance.
The entrance.
Other than there being some books in wall niches and the floor being carpeted there is no furniture.
Other than there being some books in wall niches and the floor being carpeted there is no furniture.		 ClClose-up of the ceiling detail -- tile and wood.
ClClose-up of the ceiling detail -- tile and wood.		 A visitor at the main door.
A visitor at the main door.		 Outside in the garden, water flows freely in many fountain areas.
Outside in the garden, water flows freely in many fountain areas.
This is truly 'Big Sky' country.
This is truly 'Big Sky' country.		 Laurie leads us though some barren hills as we travel south.
Laurie leads us though some barren hills as we travel south.		 This old man was selling cucumbers along the road side. We stopped here to purchase some 'sweet lemons'.
This old man was selling cucumbers along the road side. We stopped here to purchase some 'sweet lemons'.		 The 'Turtle' camp is out on flat desert. Many people slept under the stars -- absolutely vivid! We choose bunk 9.
The 'Turtle' camp is out on flat desert. Many people slept under the stars -- absolutely vivid! We choose bunk 9.
The food building, Auntie Maria in foreground.
The food building, Auntie Maria in foreground.		 Everyone loves Garnet -- even an assistant to an Omani top government official that visited the camp – hugs and snuggles!!!
Everyone loves Garnet -- even an assistant to an Omani top government official that visited the camp – hugs and snuggles!!!		 9:30 pm. a turtle digs a nest before laying her eggs. For perspective, note the guide standing above.
9:30 pm. a turtle digs a nest before laying her eggs. For perspective, note the guide standing above.		 About finished laying, another female starts to fill in her hole as she digs a decoy hole 1 m away.
About finished laying, another female starts to fill in her hole as she digs a decoy hole 1 m away.
The family watches the miracle happen.
The family watches the miracle happen.		 Aven holds an egg.
Aven holds an egg.		 What we see just before the hole is filled in.
What we see just before the hole is filled in.		 Just down the beach, I get a photo of one more.
Just down the beach, I get a photo of one more.
This area is good for turtles because of the soft diggable sand and lack of rocks.
This area is good for turtles because of the soft diggable sand and lack of rocks.		 Along the trip we stop for lunch and I see this stink bug on a Milk Weed plant.
Along the trip we stop for lunch and I see this stink bug on a Milk Weed plant.		 We travel back through Sur, a sleepy fishing town with lots of dhow.
We travel back through Sur, a sleepy fishing town with lots of dhow.

comment | share
Ginoo 27-Mar-2008 05:23
HI, the pics look great!

just a question, do you know if there are any decent busses that go from Dubai to Oman? and if you have any contact information?

regards, Ginoo
24:00 12-Nov-2007 11:21
dear Pinicola! thanks for your photos!
i will go to Dubai and Oman in the coming X'man, could i ask you some questions?
is it possible to take a bus (or any other publc transportation) to Muscat from Dubai? is it easy to get that bus?
and, can i see the Turtles lay eegs in the x'mas time?
thank you so much! byebye!!!
Fred from Hong kong
Hammad Dakhna 01-Feb-2006 08:14
Very Use full pictorial info i got while surfing the net i found this site + Ur value able pictues
I am very interesting to know more about MUSCAT & the state , will travel soon to Oman , Plz tell me how can u help me for MUSCAT, getting visited Or more usefull info u plz send me, ur experiance,.
i willl appreciate ur mail.
hammaddakhna@gmail.com
Kim 18-Dec-2003 18:19
Hi Mark and Donna!
Great pics, thanks for sharing! I LOVE the one of the woman and child in the doorway - that's a perfect National Geographic type shot if I've ever seen one - I bet you could sell that one to a magazine, the composition and subject are just awesone, so effective!
Paul Borys 03-Dec-2003 18:18
Hi Mark and Donna,

Thanks for sharing your adventure into Oman. Very well documented!!

Paul and Norine Borys
Guest 01-Dec-2003 20:56
Hello Mark, Donna & Family,
We enjoyed your pictures and follwoing your trip via Laurie's Weeklies!! We are Rod Pizzeys' cousin and enjoy being with them - Rod and the girls were out to hunt this fall, and I enjoyed some time in Wpg with June a couple weeks ago. Hope your dad is feeling better Donna -= would be nice if they could get over to see you. Thanks for sharing your trip!
Tim & Adele Pizzey
Binscarth, MB
Cecile Tose 30-Nov-2003 03:16
Hi Mark and Donna,

My sister, Simone Puffalt, from Kelowna gets the weekly from Laurie Owen and she sends it to me, so it was nice to hear about you! and to see your website and the pictures.
How do you like the U.A.E.? Guess Sheila Stephens from BC is there, eh?

Looking forward to Sp. Mtgs. in only 2 weeks here in Edmonton!

Cheerio! Cecile
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