Oman (Muscat)

Last weekend, for Thanksgiving, my friend and I went to Oman! Just a 4 hour drive (and 52 minute flight) from Dubai, Oman is a more real picture of the Arabic world. The Omani people (unlike the Emirati people) are not the minority in their own country. This means that they are much more influencial in daily life.

The ONLY ruler ever to hold power in Oman is His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. He rose to power in 1970 as the very first ruler of the newly formed country. He encourages modernization, while still preserving Omani roots and giving incentives to Omanis who live and work in their home country. He is credited with increasing the literacy rate and establishing the Royal Army, Navy, and Air Force in Oman. He is pictured below.

While staying in Oman, we went to the souks (markets), visited the Sultan Qaboos's palace, and went kayaking. We stayed at the Oman Dive Center, which featured beautiful barasti palm huts right on the beach! The mountains in Oman are breathtaking, and create some amazing views. Here are some pictures!

The ASD Variety Show!

I decided to take on a new project this month, and coordinated the 5th Grade Variety Show at the school. It is amazing what some private dance lessons and an amazing theater will do for you! I couldn't believe the amount of talent these 10-11 year olds came in with! The facilities and resources at this place never cease to amaze me. It was a fun and relaxing way to enjoy these awesome kids and what they can do.

Seychelles #2!

Here are some pictures from a nature hike, sushi night, and snorkeling :)

Seychelles

Over the Eid break (early November) I visited my aunt and uncle in Seychelles. The Seychelles is a group of islands off that lie northeast of Madagascar. The vast majority of people I talked to about this did not know where it was located, so here is a map:

Seychelles is an incredible place, and I recommend it to anyone who is willing to go the distance to travel there because...

You can have a Creole meal consisting of bat, octopus, and shark and washed down with an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the coconut palm tree.

This is the only place in the world where the famous "Double Coconut" (Coco De Mer) natively grows.
The views, with beaches, mountains, and forests, are breathtaking.

There are giant turtles, many of whom are over 100 years old!

The breadfruit chips are delicious! The locals say if you eat breadfruit in Seychelles you are destined to return :) I hope they are right.

Diwali- Dubai Style :)

October 26th was Diwali, and Dubai's large Indian population does it in style! We had a Diwali dress-up day at school, and then I ventured downtown to see the amazing lights and children setting off fireworks in the streets! It was a festive scene indeed...

The Friday Brunch

One unique Dubai institution is the Friday Brunch. As you may remember, our weekend here is Friday and Saturday. For Muslims, Friday is a holy day but for us irreverent expats it is a day to eat, drink, and be merry. The ENTIRE day! It is a 4-hour, all you can eat and drink afternoon, after which a nap (or more eating) is generally in order :)