OMAN AND OUT

It’s fair to say that a total of 30 days/18 flights/13 hotels/safari camps visiting 7 countries requires a lot of planning and a leap of faith that all will go as planned.  Remarkably, it pretty much did.  Were there any of the proverbial “oopsies?” Yes, but mostly minor.  Nothing that couldn’t be handled with a little effort. Two minor visa issues — the hubby’s Visa for Rwanda didn’t materialize (just paid for one at the airport) and the Oman visa “arrive by” date expired the day before we arrived.  The flight to Oman changed so many times that I probably just miscalculated.  Fortunately, the immigration supervisor was forgiving, probably because it was nearly 4 am and he showed us some consideration.

Or maybe that’s just the nature of Oman.  Where else could one take a cab to a mall, engage the driver, accept his offer to pick us up when we were done (we exchanged WhatsApp contact info), and have him say:  “just pay me for both trips later.” Now that’s trust.  Apparently, that’s the nature of many in this particular country.

After our last Africa stop – an extraordinary visit to Nairobi (see previous post here) – we flew to Oman’s capital of Muscat.  The flight changed planes in Dubai — the “Las Vegas of the Middle East.” It is an apt name for Dubai given that it is lit up and operating at all hours.  We were walking to our departure gate at 1 a.m. and not only were the shops open, but they were busy.  Flights arrive and depart all night long. There was even a “shopping concierge” at the ready in the Emirates lounge.

The flight from Dubai to Oman is only 45 minutes — it seemed the ride on the tarmac getting to the plane was longer than the actual flight.  Many people drive between the two destinations as it’s just 4-5 hours.

As is often the case at a trip’s end, we did very little.  The heat (100-105 degrees) was a big part of it, so it was time to hang at the nearly empty, beautiful pool with a view of the Gulf of Oman. By the way, the hotel — a near new Mandarin Oriental – was my favorite of the entire trip.  It bears repeating that 5-star hotels in the Middle East and Asia cost significantly less than in Europe and the US.  That is definitely a plus.

Below, the Gulf of Oman as seen from the room

Below, Oman’s Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, can accommodate 20,000 worshippers

The ever-present Dodger cap

Below, “the last supper” at the hotel’s Essenza restaurant and a superb Veal Milanese

Finally, it was time to head home.  From Oman we flew to London for an overnight stay at Heathrow’s Sofitel (minutes away from Terminal 5) and then the flight to Los Angeles.

We’re often asked afterward whether it was too long to be gone.  I’m not sure how one quantifies that answer.  The hubby was one shirt short (my fault no doubt) but the upside was a successful shopping trip to the Mall of Oman (huge but arguably dwarfed by the Dubai malls).  Really the length of time was pretty perfect for the itinerary.  But none of this happens without the incredible “home team” stepping in to care for the house, dogs, mail, garden, and on.  We’re blessed to have had everything fall into place for this experience.  And it’s never taken for granted.

Above and below, that’s a wrap as the sun sets beautifully over Oman and us ..