Due to the huge gaps of time between then and now - and the fact that photos are much more interesting than text - I'm going to focus on the outstanding activities and adventures we had, starting with a short sojourn to Oman!
One unfortunate aspect of Thomas working in Dubai for a company based in Oman was that he was required to travel to Muscat (the capital) on a fortnightly basis. Usually it was just for a couple of days, but on one occasion in June he was required to spend the week there... Miss M and I took up his invitation of spending a long weekend with him from June 5-9, where we had a great time exploring Muscat and beyond - though briefly.
We made the most of the hotel pool and also had a swim at the Dive Centre, which is actually a private beach. Despite the fact that the ocean water is supposedly cooler in Oman than the UAE, I can verify that in summer they are equally bath-like!
The bath-like beach:
The delightfully temperature-controlled hotel pool: 7:30am and already 36* outside!
On the Friday we went to a highly recommended souk (also spelled souq - it's Arabic for market) in a little village called Nizwa, a couple of hours' drive from Muscat. Unfortunately we went just as the market was closing, which was also in the heat of the day - and we're talking 41*C here! - and was the start of the midday call to prayer. Still, having made it that far we were determined to see what we could.
Friday is the holy day of the week for Muslims, so everything basically shuts down from midday onwards.
Anyway, here is a little collage of our trip there. In the picture with the text 'date souk' all of the bags are filled with, unsurprisingly, dates. I never realised how much of an industry it is here, but it seems to be about the only fruit-bearing vegetation that exists naturally here so I suppose it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.
We managed to miss the goat sales (can't say I was too disappointed at that) but there were a couple of mangy looking goats wandering around.
We were staggered that the village still existed... it's a bit hard to tell from the photos, but the old buildings are seemingly made of mud and rocks that have been crudely shaped into walls and doorways. There must be something in it though, because they have survived the sun and sandstorms for all those years.
Anyway... beyond the buildings and dates, we saw some lovely native pottery, a fruit and vege section that was closing, and some stunning views over the mountain range that surrounds Nizwa.
While Thomas was at work Margaux busied herself by very successfully charming all of the hotel staff. She and I spent part of a day at the famous Muttrah Souk. We haggled (me) and charmed (Margaux) and were undoubtedly ripped off, but I console myself with the fact that we could have been ripped off more so.
We stuck out like sore thumbs amongst the sea of people in traditional dress - especially with Maggie's blonde mop - but it was great soaking up the atmosphere. It has so many different areas to explore - fabric and traditional clothes shops; sheathed daggers; gold and silver jewellery; tacky, plastic toys and homewares; Omani touristy souvenirs; incense and perfumes; and trinkets of every other imaginable kind.
On our last night there together, Thomas and I made use of the hotel's babysitting service and he treated me to an unforgettable meal at the luxury hotel The Chedi. Bliss! On top of the amazing meal, it was wonderful to walk around outside... I didn't realise how much I'd missed seeing stars until I saw them that night.
Margaux and I bade farewell to Thomas a couple of days later and took the thankfully short flight back to Dubai without a hitch.
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