One Step at a Time: Oman...An Awesome Trip!

Wow! We had a really good time this Thursday! We took a bus tour to Oman, the country west of the UAE. It was beautiful! We went to the Oman Gulf, which feeds into the Indian Ocean. However, there are also mountains! So different than our landscape here! But, let me start at the beginning!

We left home at 6:00 A.M., as we were to meet our tour bus at 7:00. And...the bus came at 8:00, typical “Dubai” time! The bus held fourteen people, and a driver. We rode on the bus for about three hours. For that three hours, we were the only English speakers on the bus! All of the others spoke English, but it was their second language, so Larry and I couldn’t help but giggle, as we sat and listened to Urdu from a family of six from Pakistan, as well as our bus driver. The couple in front of us were from the Philippines, and then the woman tour guide was from Dubai, speaking Arabic.

When we arrived at the Gulf, we got off the bus, and climbed onto a boat! There were about thirty visitors on the boat. Again, we were the only Americans. :) Now, when we “joined” this tour, I think that we had a certain expectation from our trip...not AT ALL what it was like! The tour offered snorkeling, fishing, swimming, playing on the beach, drinks, and a lunch buffet. We were thinking that we would take the bus to the beach, and all of these things would be on the shore to choose what we would like to do. We even mentioned finding a coffee shop! Not QUITE the way it happened! But, it was way better, just in a much more non-commercial, authentic way.

There were cushions all over the floor, and we were greeted by men from Oman, “tour guides” who spoke little English. Everything was done by, “Here’s what I’m doing, you follow, and do the same thing!” We had coffee, and enjoyed the beautiful landscape! The boat motor then started, and we went out into the Gulf. After a bit, we stopped, and a big box of snorkeling equipment and life jackets were open on the deck. There was a smaller boat that was brought alongside our boat. We decided that meant that we could swim, snorkel, or take the boat to shore! Sure enough, that’s what we all did!

Larry swam, and I went to the beach! On the beach, was a herd of goats. I am assuming that it is where they stay. There is no grass, but some shade from scattered trees, and food in buckets. I took lots of pictures, and collected a few shells, and enjoyed the amazing view!

When we arrived back at the boat, lunch was served! Again, they set it out, and so we decided it was time to eat! It was good, but laden with curry! We had chicken, vegetables, rice, fresh vegetable salad, and cole slaw.

The boat then headed back, stopped again, and spools of fishing line were offered. No dialogue, just a spool with two little fish for bait, and a weight on the end. We didn’t fish, but watched and enjoyed the sun. A local fisherman came alongside our boat. I love the pictures of him!

As we were on the boat, we got to know our fellow passengers, especially the ones that were on our bus. The couple from the Philippines were Ex-pats, and had been in Dubai for seven years. The six friends from Pakistan were a family. They were two sisters and four brothers, about the age of our own kids. They were very nice, and very friendly.

On the way home, I believe they coerced (in Urdu) our driver :) to stop at a Pakistan restaurant. You can see from this picture that Larry and I looked quite different than the locals! This area of Oman is not full of Ex-pats, and definitely not Americans! They treated us to traditional tea and a deep-fried vegetable snack from Pakistan.

We FINALLY arrived back at our destination at 8:00 P.M., and rode on home on the Metro!

We have had a good time deciding which of our friends and children would have enjoyed this trip! :)

God’s beauty was so apparent this day! The mountains, the beautiful Gulf, the goats, the customs of the country, and our sweet new friends from Pakistan. Through it all, we know that God leads One Step at a Time!