Nizwa, Oman
The Oman saga continues… Just completed another submission for a huge Omani project. Have also been busy with visa renewals (our 2 years UAE residence visa was up for renewal, yup, it’s already 2 years since we returned to Dubai, quick huh?), and some major planning for our coming two week summer holiday.
Holiday planning is serious work, especially if you happen to need a visa for travelling, and Anu needs one for almost every country you can name. Just wasted 80 friggin Euros, on booking a hotel on a wrong date, with a non-refundable fare! F#@*! Serves me right for trying to save pennies, and for doing everything in a hurry. But that’s what the friggin German Schengen Visa fella said is required, or the application will be incomplete and we’d have to come back another day (and it'll cost us another 100+ dirhams for booking another appointment), plus there may not be enough time before the flight date. So, I fired away on the mobile, booking one hotel, after another, rushing off to the internet café to get it all printed out, etc, while Anu had to sit around and nurse little Jayden (Justin was at school, luckily).
Enough of this. It’s the Eid season, I shouldn’t be moaning and shooting off expletives!
Eid Mubarak, and Selamat Hari Raya to all those who celebrate Eid!
I’m putting pictures of Nizwa, Oman. Nizwa used to be the capital of the Imamate of Oman. Present-day Oman used to be called Muscat and Oman at one time, a sort of 'federation' of the Sultanate of Muscat and the Imamate of Oman. The Imamate was defeated in a civil war in the 50's and the name of the united country was later changed to the Sultanate of Oman.
Oman’s type of Islam is unique in that it is neither Sunni nor Shia. 75% of Omanis are Ibadis, including the royal family. Because of this, Oman seems to have been insulated from all the wars, strife and terrorism that is happening in the Middle East at present. It’s not involved in the bombing of Yemen, and not caught up with the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Heck, Oman usually ends up playing the mediator between the Sunni camp (led by Saudi Arabia) and the Shia camp (led by Iran). With the ongoing sectarian strife between the Sunnis and the Shias all over the world, being an Ibadi ain’t such a bad idea, if you ask me. (If you’re Muslim, that is.)
Anyway, Eid Mubarak to everyone again! No harm in wishing everyone one more time, right?
More pictures of Nizwa, seat of the Ibadi Imamate
Pottery seems to be a thriving industry in Nizwa
Date palms in Nizwa
Bahla Fort, Oman (not strictly inside Nizwa, but… what the heck!)
Bahla old town beside the fort, in ruins (from the looks of it anyway, nope, didn’t try going in)
Noor Majan Camp, our interesting chalet on the outskirts of Nizwa (on the road to Mannah)
The trusty rented car that took us on our epic 5 day journey in Oman
Family picture, Nizwa, Oman
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