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| Nizwa Fort, Oman |
Also, you can get complete details on our website about this tour.
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| Burj Khalifa, Dubai |
Showing posts with label United Arab Emirates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United Arab Emirates. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
UAE & Oman Tour Map
Below is the link for a map of where our UAE and Oman Tour will take you in October.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Traveling and Your Money - FAQ's
One question that we always get about this time of year as
people are planning their summer holidays is how to deal with their money (cash,
credit cards, ATMs) while traveling.
What kind of currency, the use of ATM machines, what credit cards to
take, should I exchange money before leaving, etc. I hope this article gives
you information that might help you with your plans.
Credit cards and ATM machines have eased the challenge of
spending and exchanging money on a trip overseas, but occasionally you will be
in a country where the ATMs don't work or they might reject your card since it
doesn't have a chip in it like most European credit cards do. US cards usually have a magnetic strip, rather
than a chip, but some US
card issuers are now making their credit cards with a strip and the chip. Make sure to check this out with your card
issuer or the bank.
Before leaving the US, make sure to let your credit
card company know that you are traveling so they do not decline your card or
block usage for “suspicious” activity.
They usually want to know what countries you will be traveling to. When traveling to Iran you can use a credit card, but
not American Express, for a large purchase such as a carpet. The Iranians have set up a program where they
are using merchants in Dubai or Abu Dhabi to get the transactions to go through,
because of the sanctions. So remember,
if you are traveling to Iran,
be sure to include the “UAE”, “Emirates”, or “Dubai
and Abu Dhabi”,
when you notify your credit card company of your travels, otherwise they might
not give the authorization code for the purchase. They do not have ATM machines in Iran that can
be used with American cards so you will have to travel with cash so make sure
to figure out your budget before departing.
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| Finally got cash out of the ATM in Syria! |
You can check out the exchange rate for your destination before
you leave for your trip. There are
numerous websites that will give you a quick conversion and one site that will
create a “cheat sheet” for you – listing different quantities of currency and
the equivalent in US dollars, and vice versa. That site is http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/.
This is handy in case you are trying to pay for something in dollars that was
quoted in the local currency.
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| Cheat Sheet from the for-ex site OANDA |
Also, make sure to only exchange the money that you will
need for the next couple of days. It is more difficult to exchange back to US
dollars and you will lose money on the exchange. It takes some planning, and you don’t want to
be in a situation where you run out of local currency and then have to try and
find an ATM or exchange office at the last minute. Most hotels will exchange
money, as well as banks and exchange offices. So if you are getting low, its
best to stop at the front desk on your way out for the day and exchange some
more money, rather than have to interrupt your sightseeing with a trip out of
the way to find an ATM or bank. On the
other hand, a lot of merchants will take US dollars and you will be amazed at
how quickly they make the conversion in their heads! But remember, not all
places will take US dollars, so be sure to ask your guide about this. Generally
they will not take dollars for small purchases like a soda or sandwich, but
will for the more expensive items.
When planning your cash to bring with you, be aware that particularly
on the larger bills like $50s and $100s that they may be too old to be
acceptable. If the issue date on the bill is prior to 2003, it may not be
accepted for exchange. There are new security measures in place on the US currency and
prior to that there was a lot of counterfeit money being exchanged. Naturally
the merchants, banks, and hotels don’t want to get stuck with a counterfeit
bill and lose their money. Also make sure the cash is clean and not too worn or
damaged, even if it is after 2003.
Sometimes your guide will also exchange money for you (and
may add a small percentage to do it). It will be a convenience to you that
helps, but generally do this on the bus, but do not let officials see you to do
this - it is usually not considered legal.
Make sure to check with your bank and see what fees they
will be charging you for using the ATM machines and your credit card overseas -
it might be higher then you think. With
the new laws out that all banks and credit card need to list all the fees that
they charge their customers it is easy to look this up on line.
Have a great trip and enjoy your summer bouncing around the
world! Let us know if you have any questions ~ we are here to help and make it
an easier trip for you!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Last day in Oman
May 5th was our last day in Oman and we started with a tour of the Grand Mosque. It was built not too long ago and it was the Sultan's gift to the people. No on knows how much it cost to build or how many people worked on it. It can hold thousands and thousands of worshipers at a time, and is absolutely beautiful inside and very elegant outside.
After visit the mosque we headed off to the mountain oasis city of Nizwa. It is located on a former trade route and has an ancient fortress in the old city that is a main attraction. The giant round tower is different than what most people expect in a fortress.
After visiting the town, we were taken to a mountain-top camp to enjoy the views and the cooler breezes. This is one of the newer places being developed for people to stay one or two nights in a camp, enjoy the wilderness and get away from it all. After lunch we took the dirt road back down the mountain and headed back to Muscat for one last hotel inspection and dinner. The hotel we visited is called The Chedi and is a very nice place that I would not hesitate to recommend - it's in the middle of the new part of Muscat, on the beach, is in a quiet, serene setting, closer to the airport, and has excellent food. Maybe next time I will get to stay there!
We had an early flight back the next morning to Dubai to catch our flights home. Yet again, the service on Emirates was impeccable. When we arrived a week earlier in the evening at Dubai airport, it was pretty quiet. Now, in the morning, the place was extremely busy. Every gate was full and the shops and restaurants in the departure hall were crowded. Make sure, if you are departing from Dubai airport, that you give yourself time to make it through security and through the huge terminal- the walk to your gate alone can take much longer than you might expect. They have moving walkways, but still it can be a long ways to your gate.
Also, a note about going into Oman. If you are traveling by land from the Emirates into Oman, the process is a bit different than arriving by air as I described in a previous post. Be sure to read back through Rita's blog post as she went by land.
Caravan-Serai plans to have a group tour to Oman and the Emirates later this year so keep checking our website or sign up for our email alerts. We also can put together a private tour of these countries at any time for you, just give us a call!
After visit the mosque we headed off to the mountain oasis city of Nizwa. It is located on a former trade route and has an ancient fortress in the old city that is a main attraction. The giant round tower is different than what most people expect in a fortress.
After visiting the town, we were taken to a mountain-top camp to enjoy the views and the cooler breezes. This is one of the newer places being developed for people to stay one or two nights in a camp, enjoy the wilderness and get away from it all. After lunch we took the dirt road back down the mountain and headed back to Muscat for one last hotel inspection and dinner. The hotel we visited is called The Chedi and is a very nice place that I would not hesitate to recommend - it's in the middle of the new part of Muscat, on the beach, is in a quiet, serene setting, closer to the airport, and has excellent food. Maybe next time I will get to stay there!
We had an early flight back the next morning to Dubai to catch our flights home. Yet again, the service on Emirates was impeccable. When we arrived a week earlier in the evening at Dubai airport, it was pretty quiet. Now, in the morning, the place was extremely busy. Every gate was full and the shops and restaurants in the departure hall were crowded. Make sure, if you are departing from Dubai airport, that you give yourself time to make it through security and through the huge terminal- the walk to your gate alone can take much longer than you might expect. They have moving walkways, but still it can be a long ways to your gate.
Also, a note about going into Oman. If you are traveling by land from the Emirates into Oman, the process is a bit different than arriving by air as I described in a previous post. Be sure to read back through Rita's blog post as she went by land.
Caravan-Serai plans to have a group tour to Oman and the Emirates later this year so keep checking our website or sign up for our email alerts. We also can put together a private tour of these countries at any time for you, just give us a call!
Video Slide Show of Dubai and Oman
Dubai 2012 Slideshow: Brenda’s trip from Snohomish, Washington, United States to 3 cities Dubai, Muscat and Nizwa was created by TripAdvisor. See another United Arab Emirates slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Another Study in Contrasts - Dubai to Muscat
On Friday we left Dubai's shiny, glitzy airport and landed in Muscat, a much smaller, less shiny facility, but nonetheless a welcoming airport. Our first stop on entering the airport was the arrival priority lounge where we could sit and wait for our visas to be processed, rather than wait in line out in the main arrival hall. This is a service provided by tour companies to assist their clients and make the process a bit easier for them. I was also told that if you are not able to use this service, then you go to the window that looks like a cashier's window and pay for your visa, then get in the line for immigration. Once we had our visas ( US $15, or it can be paid in dinars or rials or euros) we picked up our luggage, finished the customs and immigration process, then went out to our bus.
Muscat is different in so many ways from Dubai. The skyline is modest, but the most striking difference is the landscape. The mountains come right to the sea in Oman. Muscat is nestled in between the water and the jagged peaks, and instead of seeing miles and miles of dunes at the edge of the city of Dubai, you see white buildings and stark mountains.
We drove to our hotel for the night, the Shangri La Resort, located outside the city of Muscat on its own private beach. There are three sections to the resort: one that caters more to families, one that is more for the business traveler, and one for people who want a more private, relaxing resort experience. After getting settled into our rooms we departed for a tour of the resort, then later in the afternoon we went for a dhow cruise.
The dhow cruise was very pleasant and it was nice to get out on the water. In spite of the heat, once we were out in the light breeze on the water it was much more comfortable. We had an excellent view of the villages and the mountains, and the rock formations jutting out of the water. We also saw a few of the many watch towers that dot the hilltops all throughout Oman, as well as a fortress, and one of the Sultan's palaces. After watching the sunset, we returned to the port, then headed to Muscat's famous Mutrah Souk. It is much like other souks in the Middle East, and has spices and jewellery, as well as clothing, shoes, housewares, and more. You can find the typical Omani curved daggers - khanjars - with their ornately decorated scabbards, and frankincense here. Frankincense was once a commodity worth its weight in gold, but now is readily available and much less expensive, making it a good souvenir of Oman.
Just judging by what we have seen here so far, two days is not enough time to see everything Oman has to offer. Tomorrow we go to Nizwa for a half day, then return to Muscat for dinner and another hotel inspection, then it will be a late transfer to the airport to leave already. We have been hearing from the local tour operators that at least 5 days is a good stay, but you can easily spend more time in the country, going to the north to Musandam, and to the south to Shalalah, and visit the sites in between. I think we will have some more sample itineraries for Oman on the website soon!
Muscat is different in so many ways from Dubai. The skyline is modest, but the most striking difference is the landscape. The mountains come right to the sea in Oman. Muscat is nestled in between the water and the jagged peaks, and instead of seeing miles and miles of dunes at the edge of the city of Dubai, you see white buildings and stark mountains.
We drove to our hotel for the night, the Shangri La Resort, located outside the city of Muscat on its own private beach. There are three sections to the resort: one that caters more to families, one that is more for the business traveler, and one for people who want a more private, relaxing resort experience. After getting settled into our rooms we departed for a tour of the resort, then later in the afternoon we went for a dhow cruise.
The dhow cruise was very pleasant and it was nice to get out on the water. In spite of the heat, once we were out in the light breeze on the water it was much more comfortable. We had an excellent view of the villages and the mountains, and the rock formations jutting out of the water. We also saw a few of the many watch towers that dot the hilltops all throughout Oman, as well as a fortress, and one of the Sultan's palaces. After watching the sunset, we returned to the port, then headed to Muscat's famous Mutrah Souk. It is much like other souks in the Middle East, and has spices and jewellery, as well as clothing, shoes, housewares, and more. You can find the typical Omani curved daggers - khanjars - with their ornately decorated scabbards, and frankincense here. Frankincense was once a commodity worth its weight in gold, but now is readily available and much less expensive, making it a good souvenir of Oman.
Just judging by what we have seen here so far, two days is not enough time to see everything Oman has to offer. Tomorrow we go to Nizwa for a half day, then return to Muscat for dinner and another hotel inspection, then it will be a late transfer to the airport to leave already. We have been hearing from the local tour operators that at least 5 days is a good stay, but you can easily spend more time in the country, going to the north to Musandam, and to the south to Shalalah, and visit the sites in between. I think we will have some more sample itineraries for Oman on the website soon!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
A Study in Contrasts
Wow, this has been one full trip! I am sitting here trying to remember what we did yesterday and am at a loss. I think the heat is getting to me. I know we ended the day with a desert safari, which was a blast! We had the best driver and the ride through the dunes was crazy. We also stopped to watch a falconry demonstration, watched the sunset, then continued on to the desert camp where we had a great dinner, excellent conversation, watched a belly dancer, and enjoyed shisha under the stars. It was really a good evening. The falconer also came by the camp with 3 of his birds so we had an opportunity to talk one on one with him and learn even more about what he does, the birds, and the tradition of falconry. I got to hold two of the birds!
This morning we went back to the desert to the Al Maha desert resort and spa. If you want to really get away from it all and have a luxury vacation where you do nothing but relax and enjoy the natural beauty of your surroundings, then Al Maha is the place. It is located about an hour and a hald drive from Dubai on a nature preserve. You can enjoy the spa, activities like riding, archery, etc. Each room is actually a private bungalow with its own infinity pool overlooking the desert. The oryx and gazelles roam freely through the area, and you are likely to see one by your pool or grazing on the grasses by your front door!
After visiting the resort, we returned to the city to visit the other extreme in Dubai accommodation - the Burj Al Arab. Where Al Maha is quiet and peaceful, the Burj is bustling with people and activity. The Al Maha is designed to blend in with its desert surroundings and the Burj is designed to stand out. The Burj has an excellent view of the city, the ocean, the Palm and The World, and the rooms make a bold statement with bright jewel tones and gold chrome. Understated is not a term used in conjunction with the Burj.
I got to see the Ski Dubai indoor ski hill at the Mall of the Emirates. Its really an interesting operation. For the price of a lift ticket in the US, you can get a 2 hour pass that includes the lifts and your equipment. Then you can ski down the 400m long slope on the man-made snow. There is a poma lift and a chair lift. The mall itself is HUGE! And much like the malls at home. Lots of designer names and common brands you see in American malls. The people are a mix from everywhere in the world, and all are taking part in the national sport of Dubai - shopping.
There is a lot to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates, and with Emirates Air you can stop over for a few days on your way to other destinations. From Seattle you can fly to Dubai, visit for a few days, then continue on to Jordan, for example, for a week or so, making a really great vacation! Just sayin'.....
Ok, off to Oman tomorrow bright and early (ugh). More from Muscat tomorrow!
This morning we went back to the desert to the Al Maha desert resort and spa. If you want to really get away from it all and have a luxury vacation where you do nothing but relax and enjoy the natural beauty of your surroundings, then Al Maha is the place. It is located about an hour and a hald drive from Dubai on a nature preserve. You can enjoy the spa, activities like riding, archery, etc. Each room is actually a private bungalow with its own infinity pool overlooking the desert. The oryx and gazelles roam freely through the area, and you are likely to see one by your pool or grazing on the grasses by your front door!
After visiting the resort, we returned to the city to visit the other extreme in Dubai accommodation - the Burj Al Arab. Where Al Maha is quiet and peaceful, the Burj is bustling with people and activity. The Al Maha is designed to blend in with its desert surroundings and the Burj is designed to stand out. The Burj has an excellent view of the city, the ocean, the Palm and The World, and the rooms make a bold statement with bright jewel tones and gold chrome. Understated is not a term used in conjunction with the Burj.
I got to see the Ski Dubai indoor ski hill at the Mall of the Emirates. Its really an interesting operation. For the price of a lift ticket in the US, you can get a 2 hour pass that includes the lifts and your equipment. Then you can ski down the 400m long slope on the man-made snow. There is a poma lift and a chair lift. The mall itself is HUGE! And much like the malls at home. Lots of designer names and common brands you see in American malls. The people are a mix from everywhere in the world, and all are taking part in the national sport of Dubai - shopping.
There is a lot to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates, and with Emirates Air you can stop over for a few days on your way to other destinations. From Seattle you can fly to Dubai, visit for a few days, then continue on to Jordan, for example, for a week or so, making a really great vacation! Just sayin'.....
Ok, off to Oman tomorrow bright and early (ugh). More from Muscat tomorrow!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
From The Top of the World: Burj Khalifa
May 1, 2012
This morning started off with a tour at Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. What an amazing feat of engineering and design. We were able to go to the observation deck to get an amazing view of the city and surrounding area. It was a little bit hazy, but the views were still breathtaking. There was a small corner dedicated to the filming of the latest Mission Impossible movie with a directors chair and the clapper signed by Tom Cruise, I think. You can also buy gold out of a vending machine at the top of the world! It looks like a snack machine, but you insert your credit card and select the size of the gold you want and out pops an ingot with the Burj Khalifa stamped into it. What a great souvenir, huh? The elevator ride up and down are very fast and smooth - you hardly know you are moving except for your ears popping a bit and the floor numbers ticking up or down.
We did some hotel inspections next at a hotel located in the Burj Khalifa - the Armani Hotel, yes, that Armani. Apparently everything is designed and/or approved by Giorgio Armani - the decor, furniture, floor plans, music in the rooms, flowers, food, etc. If you want a chic, modern, luxury hotel to stay in, this would be it. Next was the Palace Hotel which is designed more like a Middle Eastern style palace, and although it is newer too, it feels more established, warmer, and maybe a bit more inviting to me. Both hotels have excellent views of the surrounding area, several restaurants to choose from, and are close to the Dubai Mall where you can go ice skating, visit an aquarium, and of course shop. We finished at The Address Dubai Mall hotel, another luxury property in the heart of shopping central. Gorgeous rooms and amenities, lots of food choices, and we had lunch there, so I can honestly say the food was excellent! The it was off to the Arabian Travel Market. The trade show is huge! And my feet are killing me now.
So some things I am taking away from today's adventure: There are lots and lots of things to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. Shopping is a national past time. They love their horses and falcons. There are hardly any old cars on the roads here. The construction may have taken a little break, but is going gangbusters again. Dubai is growing, tourism is growing, and they have the means to meet the demand. With the new Seattle to Dubai flight, I can imagine that a good vacation would be taking the flight from SEA-DXB, spend a few days here, then fly to another surrounding country like Jordan, Egypt, etc., for a week-long tour, then return home via Dubai. Also, Oman is great destination and a good contrast to Dubai. With the new flight, Oman is even more accessible for us in the Pacific Northwest than ever before.
OK, I am worn out. Good night, and more to come tomorrow!
Brenda
This morning started off with a tour at Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. What an amazing feat of engineering and design. We were able to go to the observation deck to get an amazing view of the city and surrounding area. It was a little bit hazy, but the views were still breathtaking. There was a small corner dedicated to the filming of the latest Mission Impossible movie with a directors chair and the clapper signed by Tom Cruise, I think. You can also buy gold out of a vending machine at the top of the world! It looks like a snack machine, but you insert your credit card and select the size of the gold you want and out pops an ingot with the Burj Khalifa stamped into it. What a great souvenir, huh? The elevator ride up and down are very fast and smooth - you hardly know you are moving except for your ears popping a bit and the floor numbers ticking up or down.
We did some hotel inspections next at a hotel located in the Burj Khalifa - the Armani Hotel, yes, that Armani. Apparently everything is designed and/or approved by Giorgio Armani - the decor, furniture, floor plans, music in the rooms, flowers, food, etc. If you want a chic, modern, luxury hotel to stay in, this would be it. Next was the Palace Hotel which is designed more like a Middle Eastern style palace, and although it is newer too, it feels more established, warmer, and maybe a bit more inviting to me. Both hotels have excellent views of the surrounding area, several restaurants to choose from, and are close to the Dubai Mall where you can go ice skating, visit an aquarium, and of course shop. We finished at The Address Dubai Mall hotel, another luxury property in the heart of shopping central. Gorgeous rooms and amenities, lots of food choices, and we had lunch there, so I can honestly say the food was excellent! The it was off to the Arabian Travel Market. The trade show is huge! And my feet are killing me now.
So some things I am taking away from today's adventure: There are lots and lots of things to do in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. Shopping is a national past time. They love their horses and falcons. There are hardly any old cars on the roads here. The construction may have taken a little break, but is going gangbusters again. Dubai is growing, tourism is growing, and they have the means to meet the demand. With the new Seattle to Dubai flight, I can imagine that a good vacation would be taking the flight from SEA-DXB, spend a few days here, then fly to another surrounding country like Jordan, Egypt, etc., for a week-long tour, then return home via Dubai. Also, Oman is great destination and a good contrast to Dubai. With the new flight, Oman is even more accessible for us in the Pacific Northwest than ever before.
OK, I am worn out. Good night, and more to come tomorrow!
Brenda
Welcome to Dubai!
Sunday April 29, 2012
Welcome to Dubai! I arrived in the Emirates last night after a very nice flight from Seattle on Emirates Air. I know you have already read from Rita's posts that the airline is excellent, but let me just reiterate that here. I was pleasantly surprised with an upgrade, then we were served champagne before take off. The seats recline, so after dinner and watching a couple movies, I actually SLEPT on the flight. It was supposed to be a 14.5 hour flight that was shortened to 13.5, and when I reclined my seat and went to sleep, I think only a few hours had passed. When I woke back up there were only 3 hours left in the flight! I was amazed.
I finally got to my hotel, had some dinner and went to sleep for the night. I have a view of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world from my room and it is all lit up at night - very pretty!
This morning we went to a Dubai Tourism presentation at one of the luxury hotels on the Palm islands. It is amazing to see how much the Emirate has grown in such a short period of time. In 1990 you would not recognize what the city of Dubai has become. There are still plenty of construction projects going on and demand for more hotel rooms and services is on the rise. The airport (already huge) is getting an expansion. They are really trying to make this a one stop destination for vacations - you can visit an aquarium, go snow and sand skiing, drive through the dunes, go sailing, go to the horse races, enjoy fine dining, and shop til you drop, and much, much more.
We had a brief tour to visit the Dubai museum, which also shows the development of the city, and then took an abra ride across the creek to the souks. The souk in the older part of the city is much like those in other Middle Eastern cities. The gold souk is huge, so if you want to buy some gorgeous jewellery you will have lots to choose from!
I will try to get some photos from today posted in just a bit, then it is off to dinner at the Zabeel Saray on the Palm Islands. More to come!
Brenda
Welcome to Dubai! I arrived in the Emirates last night after a very nice flight from Seattle on Emirates Air. I know you have already read from Rita's posts that the airline is excellent, but let me just reiterate that here. I was pleasantly surprised with an upgrade, then we were served champagne before take off. The seats recline, so after dinner and watching a couple movies, I actually SLEPT on the flight. It was supposed to be a 14.5 hour flight that was shortened to 13.5, and when I reclined my seat and went to sleep, I think only a few hours had passed. When I woke back up there were only 3 hours left in the flight! I was amazed.
I finally got to my hotel, had some dinner and went to sleep for the night. I have a view of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world from my room and it is all lit up at night - very pretty!
This morning we went to a Dubai Tourism presentation at one of the luxury hotels on the Palm islands. It is amazing to see how much the Emirate has grown in such a short period of time. In 1990 you would not recognize what the city of Dubai has become. There are still plenty of construction projects going on and demand for more hotel rooms and services is on the rise. The airport (already huge) is getting an expansion. They are really trying to make this a one stop destination for vacations - you can visit an aquarium, go snow and sand skiing, drive through the dunes, go sailing, go to the horse races, enjoy fine dining, and shop til you drop, and much, much more.
We had a brief tour to visit the Dubai museum, which also shows the development of the city, and then took an abra ride across the creek to the souks. The souk in the older part of the city is much like those in other Middle Eastern cities. The gold souk is huge, so if you want to buy some gorgeous jewellery you will have lots to choose from!
I will try to get some photos from today posted in just a bit, then it is off to dinner at the Zabeel Saray on the Palm Islands. More to come!
Brenda
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Last day in Oman
Sorry for the long delay in getting this posted! We have been busy at the office getting ready for our next tours coming up - Iran, the Caucasus, a private group going to Morocco, clients on independent tours to Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and more. And Maha is in Egypt right now - I have a post from her that is going to be entered next! - Brenda
Monday March 12th
Today is the last day in Muscat and there is a lot to do and see
before we leave. We start out early this
morning at 7:30am and go straight to the Big Mosque, built by his Royal
Highness Sultan Qaboos. It is about a 20
minute drive from our hotel. The rules
to go into the mosque are more restrictive than most. Before getting on to the property of the
mosque, women need to have their arms, legs, and hair completely covered. No hair showing at all, no short sleeves -
the sleeve of your shirt need to come down to your wrist. Once you get to the door and the guard sees
that hair or skin is showing he is able to turn you away.
I
had a discussion with some of the guides outside the mosque while the group
toured around, asking them questions about marriage, etc. There is no civil marriage in Oman, most
Omanis do marry someone from their own country.
A couple of drivers knew Omanis that went out of the country and fell in
love but with other Arabs in Morocco
or Syria,
etc.
They talked about watching TV and seeing the American
stations and how families lived, and about divorce and the fighting and what
happens to the kids. This is the
impression they have of us. The
discussion went on about the age of the person when they get married is about
18 for the girl and older for the man.
If he finds a younger girl he is interested in he will tell his family
and they will talk to her family and say they are interested but will wait
until she is old enough for the marriage.
The average price that is given is 4,000 riyals and it can go up
depending on the family wealth, but it will not be less. If for some reason the woman wants to get a
divorce and is able to prove he is not good or something they will get divorced
and she or her family will need to repay 50 percent of the price they were
given.
When the group came back I discussed this with them and they
asked questions, it was a good conversation. After the visit to the mosque we
were rushed to the port for dolphin watching. We drove to the Marina to embark on a search for dolphins and
we found them - beautiful coastline and clear blue waters with a variety of
fish and other sea life here.
Oman
is a blend of the old and new and it has done very well with the architecture incorporating
all of this. While on the sea we were
able to see the city skyline and also the rugged mountain range that come right
to he city walls. The city builders built right next to the mountains so you
have the jagged mountains blended with the Islamic architecture of white stucco
buildings.
We went after this to the Bai Al Zubai museum which shows
you the traces of Omani history and development. I remember the first time I came here, it was
about 10 ears ago, and there was a small city and the center was near the marina
and the fish markets- now it has spread so wide and far, and a bigger
population, and new industries.
Took the group to the souk, which is ok but it is mostly run
by Indians and Pakistanis, rather than Omanis.
If you have traveled in the Middle East before you will be somewhat disappointed
with the markets here – they are not like Syria,
Egypt, or even Turkey, but for
the first time visitor it is a good introduction to bargaining and seeing the
buildings of the covered souks and the small alley ways. There are a lot of
different buildings and some old homes inside, and you do need to wander around
to see them.
Still one more visit to a hotel before we leave for the
airport. We were invited to the Grand
Hyatt and also had a hosted dinner at the property- very nice and upscale. They tried to incorporate Middle Eastern
design and also North African in this place.
They had a meeting of Ministers so a metal detector was brought in to
check people at the door, otherwise Muscat is a very safe city and this is not
normal to have these in the hotels - first time that we saw this in Oman and
also in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
----------------------------------------------------------------
It is 2:30am and our driver and guide are downstairs to take
the group to the airport. This is still the old airport but there are plans on
the walls of what they are planning to do for a future airport. The flight is 45 minutes only to Dubai and then you get to
this incredible new airport with masses of people from all nationalities and so
many different languages being spoken.
It is a huge shopping mall - everything you heart can want is available
- almost too much that you just want to find a spot to hang out in and get away
from the mobs.
Our flight is almost empty we have only 82 reservations in
economy class and a full business class - I decided to spread out on the four
middle seats and just sleep. The 15 hour flight to Seattle was not as bad as I thought since I
was able to relax. One of the people in
the group mentioned that each flight attendant was more beautiful then the next. It seems that we are back in the days of PanAm,
where you had to be a certain size and look and weight, etc. They were all so
pleasant and so accommodating to the passengers. Also, the trip back had a number of languages
spoken - I think it was about 8. Now to sleep and I will wake up in beautiful Seattle. I was told it snowed there so I am looking
forward to the cold after the heat of the Arabian Peninsula.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
1000 Arabian Nights Camp in Oman
Sunday March 11, 2012
We arrived last night at about 5pm into our camp after driving 11/2 hours in the desert. Before coming into the desert we had to stop at a garage to let the tire pressure out of the 4x4 tires to be able to drive on the sand. If the tire pressure was kept at the rate for city driving we might have rolled over or got struck in the sand.
We got checked in after having a glass of ginger tea and went to our tents. The tents have their own bathroom facilities and two beds or double beds with carpeting on the floor and towels sheets and blankets supplied. If you are someone that gets hot like me, I suggest that you bring a little motorized/battery operated fan that you can use. I took one of the chairs and sat outside and just looked at the sand dunes and watched the sun go down. It wasn’t that clear to get a great sunset because of the fine sand that was blowing around, but it was very pleasant, and so quiet. I think of living in the city, and forget how noisy it is and not sure of how to deal with silence. It is like the silence that you get when you have a hearing problem.
The weather got cooler in the evening and when the sun goes down it gets very dark, except for the moon which was full the night before last and it was fading a bit. The stars are so clear. The group slept early and this morning I got up at 5am and waited for the sunrise over the sand dunes. Some adventurous people decided to climb up the dunes to get a better view. It was so much fun watching since I do not think they realized that it is very hard to climb in fine sand, each step you take you sink farther and farther in. Once the person got to the top they would just sit and think to themselves “I made it up here, now how do I get down?” Well, you get down either by sliding down on your butt or having a snowboard to do some sand surfing, which is quite a sport in Oman enjoyed by the locals and the foreigners.
I was asking the group what they thought of this trip since I have two people in the group that have never traveled to the Middle East before. They said that what they saw in the Emirates they expected from the media, but they were very surprised at the amount of English spoken in all the countries, also the amount of foreign workers.
They expected that their would be more local workers even though I tried to explain that it was not the case except for Oman, where the ruler has been pushing for the Omanization of the country. English is spoken by so many that they thought it would be an area they could come back to and not worry about traveling on their own or with a partner. They were surprised at the beautiful color of the water, not having pollution, and the beautiful sandy beaches.
They were not sure how they might be taken as Americans, but found that everyone was very friendly.
They expected the foods like chicken and lamb, but for some reason did not realize the amount of seafood that we would have on the trip. They were also surprised at the mixture of foods from India and Pakistan, and some of the spices that are used.
Some comments from the tour group:
We arrived last night at about 5pm into our camp after driving 11/2 hours in the desert. Before coming into the desert we had to stop at a garage to let the tire pressure out of the 4x4 tires to be able to drive on the sand. If the tire pressure was kept at the rate for city driving we might have rolled over or got struck in the sand.
 |
| Driving through the sand dunes. |
 |
| Our camp in the desert of Oman. |
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| One of the tents at the desert camp. |
I was asking the group what they thought of this trip since I have two people in the group that have never traveled to the Middle East before. They said that what they saw in the Emirates they expected from the media, but they were very surprised at the amount of English spoken in all the countries, also the amount of foreign workers.
They expected that their would be more local workers even though I tried to explain that it was not the case except for Oman, where the ruler has been pushing for the Omanization of the country. English is spoken by so many that they thought it would be an area they could come back to and not worry about traveling on their own or with a partner. They were surprised at the beautiful color of the water, not having pollution, and the beautiful sandy beaches.
They were not sure how they might be taken as Americans, but found that everyone was very friendly.
They expected the foods like chicken and lamb, but for some reason did not realize the amount of seafood that we would have on the trip. They were also surprised at the mixture of foods from India and Pakistan, and some of the spices that are used.
Some comments from the tour group:
- Great food everywhere
- Vehicle 4 wheel drives are comfortable
- Drivers are excellent
- People are warm and friendly
- Hospitality
- Hardly anyone speaks Arabic
- Many speak English well
- We were the only Americans that we saw
- People have a sense of the future
- Felt very welcomed, no issues being American
- Very different then she has been before
- Not expecting so much of a Indian and Pakistani influence
- Very clean was not expecting to see this
- Was not expecting a Nigerian guide
- Thought before he came that this would not be safe- people perceptions are very negative
- Told people that he is going to Dubai and they said I thought you were going to the Middle East
- Thought of the movie Sex in the City that was filmed in Dubai
- Loved the food since it was all natural and very good food of vegetable tomatoes, onions
- Oman is the Vermont of the Middle East
- Lots of Germans and Italians
Monday, March 12, 2012
Leaving the UAE and Heading into Oman
Friday March 9
At breakfast this morning my friend Saeed from Abu Dhabi came by to see
me and visit with the group a bit. It was
nice to see him and for the group to be able to talk to a local. Our guide and driver from Oman were supposed to see us at 8am
but they did not make it until 9pm. It
seems the person in charge of passport control on the Omani side was too tired
and delayed getting to work. He did finally
show up and they were able to get through and arrive by 9am. We said our goodbyes, then on the bus I got a
call from my friend Saeed - it seems that the driver wasn’t sure of the way out
so he gave directions and a tour as we left.
On the phone with him he was giving us a tour and I was translating to
the group from Arabic what they were seeing.
The guide from Oman
was Paul from Nigeria
and he said he was also learning since he did not know these things. Quite interesting way of giving a tour!
We got to the border and had to do the formalities of
leaving the UAE. The man at the desk was
very happy since our group was laughing all the time. We paid a fee of $10 each and then out the
door. We then drove thru no man’s land
for about 5 minutes and got to the border of Oman. They had just changed the rules for visas on
arrival to the country - it used to be $60 and now it is down to $15. This happened a week ago, so everyone was happy
to save a few dollars. Found out though
that they will not take cash in any currency, they will only do credit cards -
no debit cards. So, the guide put this
on his card for us and we paid him back.
This is not something they have in print yet so it might be hard for
some clients that do not bring a card with them. The border office opens at 9am, or let me say
the people start to come at that time, so we did have a bit of a wait. The
banks were closed so no way of exchanging funds.
We finished the formalities and headed on our way to the Jabreen
Fort which is closed on a Friday but we could look at the architecture on the
outside. The weather here is so
different. Very warm for March - running about 80 F, but a dry heat. We got to the Jabreen Fort after driving two
hours from the border. The fort was
built with bud brick and dates back to 1670. Beautiful place. From there we headed for Bahla and then to
the date groves of Al Hamra and a short walk to the site of Bait Al Safah. We
walked into the date groves for about 10 minutes and got to a beautiful old
home made from mud brick. Inside we had
some local women that were making bread, incense, and roasting coffee. It is a three story old home and each floor
had something different. Some of the
women did not want their picture to be taken so then covered their faces and we
took pictures of them roasting coffee, etc.
We went to the top floor and had some tea, coffee and dates. A couple in the group tried some local costumes
and we took pictures, and sat in the house and felt how cool it was inside from
the weather outside.
We left here and head for lunch at a small truck stop. It was interesting in that the waiter and
also the owner of the place were all Indians so they spoke no Arabic. I found an Omani who spoke Hindu and got some
local food ordered for the group. The
workers from the kitchen were looking out the window at us so the group decided
to visit the kitchen and look at what they were doing. Everyone was laughing trying to figure out
the crazy Americans and everything they wanted to see. Our guide speaks no Arabic, but the driver
Yousef is from Oman
and speaks, Arabic and English fluently.
We started the drive to Nizwa and thru the desert and the
high mountains to get to our hotel in the middle of nowhere it seems. This was a good day in that we got the group
to the hotel early (5pm) so they could rest and relax since we had been moving
for the last couple of days. Relaxing
evening and ready for the desert tomorrow.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Finally on the ground in Dubai
6th Mar
We land in Dubai after a 15 hour flight and are totally exhaust. We are met at the airport and taken to the hotel for check in and dinner for the group. Everyone eats and afterwards we go directly to bed.
7th Mar
Today we start the city tour, but before that I have arranged a meeting with the tourism board and they give us a presentation of where Dubai is now and how it got there. For a country that is still so young, it is growing fast.
There are 7 million people in the Emirates which is Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Um Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaima, and Sharjah, but out of those only 950,000 are Emiratis, the rest are foreign workers that are in the country.
In Dubai you have a total 2.4mil and 200,000 locals, Abu Dhabi has 2.2million and 400,000 locals. I also found that the prices in Dubai are quite a bit higher. So you have people that are commuting from Abu Dhabi to Dubai for work and the distance isn't that bad with the freeways, but now a trip that years ago would take only one hour is now taking two hours or more depending on rush hour traffic. When a lot of construction was taking place in Dubai it was even worse. The average rental prices for homes outside of downtown Dubai in the suburbs is $1500 a month, and in the city is two to three times the price. There have recognized "expat" neighborhoods where the foreigners in the Emirates live.
All Dubai citizens, once they get married to another person from Dubai, is automatically given $20,000 cash USD and a house, not an apartment but a house and for each child they are given an allowance of $300 per month.Their education and health care is all paid for. They do have a pretty nice life in that there are no worries for them. This is one of the reasons that even if an a person goes to study in the US they will return home to Dubai. Wouldn't you?
Quite an interesting discussion. Then we started to see the city, and all the construction - every kind of building that you can image from the beautiful high rises to the very unusual architecture. Every architect that wants to try a new way of bldg or a very different looking build if they find someone from the region to sell this to he can get a permit to build here,
We went to the Dubai Museum, which is one that I really love and the best interactive one that I have seen in the Middle East. Upon entering, there is a map and it shows digitally how the area was total desert and how, with money, water and building started. Their is greenery everywhere. With desalination plants they are able to bring water from the sea to keep this going. Most of the workers are from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Philippines, etc.
This is one of the only Arab countries that I can come to and not speak Arabic. One of the group members was taking Berlitz class in Arabic and each time he tries it I would laugh since the people he was talking to would look at him to figure out what he was saying or what language!!
We took one of the boats across to the Creek to the old side of the city and into the souks of gold and spices etc. Not like the souks of Egypt and Syria, etc, also most of the shop keepers where from Pakistan or India. Saw a lot of Afghans and people from Sudan and Somalia, too. The Americans that you see here are mostly people working for big international corporations like Microsoft, medical companies, or were visiting their family members who worked for those companies. There are branches of the big medical centers in the US such as Mayo Clinic. We also heard that diabetes is quite big problem here and they have now opened an education center about this disease and how to control it. There is so much sugar in the diet, which back in the 60's they did not have this problem since the sugar was always natural. You did not have it in coffee - you were served coffee that was just coffee and a date next to it for the sweetness. Now you are getting coffee with sugar and also a date.
In the afternoon we went on a number of site inspections at some of the hotels in the area, since the group I am escorting are travel agents that come to check out the destination and see the properties that their clients might like. Afterwards we went to the Jumeirah Mosque and then to the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel.
After this we headed to Abu Dhabi going by Jebel Ali Port and world largest man made port and onto Yas Island. We saw the Corniche and the water that is beautiful turquoise today, and then went to visit the Heritage Village.
Arrived into Abu Dhabi late and went directly to check in and have another beautiful dinner at the hotel. Real fresh seafood, Arabic cuisine, and wine was flowing for the group and they did drink!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Off to the Emirates!
Rita is off to the Emirates, trying out Emirates Air's new non-stop service from Seattle to Dubai. She is traveling with a group of travel agents to help them understand the region better and provide better service to their clients when booking vacations in the Emirates and Oman. Below is her first post on this tour from late yesterday afternoon.
Today is the day that I am flying out of Seattle on the direct Emirate flight that started on the 1st of March, 2012. I was told that the first flight on the 1st was sold out, and actually oversold.
I got to the airport and checked in, all went very smoothly. They had a lot of new agents that are being trained by Swiss Air reservation crews, very strict on the size and weight of the luggage and especially the carry on for now. They make everyone put their carry on bags into a bin to see if they will fit, or if they will have to be checked in. The staff is very friendly and they seemed very excited about the new route. I talked to a number of the Emirates Air employees and they are hoping that this will be as big as the Los Angeles and San Francisco routes for them. They are also thinking that this will probably be in demand by the corporate travelers and also for people going into India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, more so than other parts of the Middle East since the connections are long and may require an overnight stay in Dubai.
I am in their lounge right now typing this out and it is similar to other airline lounges in the US. They have all the drinks you want from soft drinks, coffee tea and alcoholic products, and fruits, cheese and crackers, cookies etc. The lounge in SeaTac is at Gate 9 in the "S"concourse. It is being staffed by Club International. The lounge today is pretty empty as they said that the flight was light today. I think the full flight on the first day was all the people wanting to take the inaugural flight.
Looking forward to the trip to Dubai and Oman, but still not sure how I will be after 14.5 hours flying all at one time without stopovers - even in business class or first it will be hard.
More to come after I arrive in Dubai.
Today is the day that I am flying out of Seattle on the direct Emirate flight that started on the 1st of March, 2012. I was told that the first flight on the 1st was sold out, and actually oversold.
I got to the airport and checked in, all went very smoothly. They had a lot of new agents that are being trained by Swiss Air reservation crews, very strict on the size and weight of the luggage and especially the carry on for now. They make everyone put their carry on bags into a bin to see if they will fit, or if they will have to be checked in. The staff is very friendly and they seemed very excited about the new route. I talked to a number of the Emirates Air employees and they are hoping that this will be as big as the Los Angeles and San Francisco routes for them. They are also thinking that this will probably be in demand by the corporate travelers and also for people going into India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, more so than other parts of the Middle East since the connections are long and may require an overnight stay in Dubai.
I am in their lounge right now typing this out and it is similar to other airline lounges in the US. They have all the drinks you want from soft drinks, coffee tea and alcoholic products, and fruits, cheese and crackers, cookies etc. The lounge in SeaTac is at Gate 9 in the "S"concourse. It is being staffed by Club International. The lounge today is pretty empty as they said that the flight was light today. I think the full flight on the first day was all the people wanting to take the inaugural flight.
Looking forward to the trip to Dubai and Oman, but still not sure how I will be after 14.5 hours flying all at one time without stopovers - even in business class or first it will be hard.
More to come after I arrive in Dubai.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
New Dress Code in Sharjah, UAE
Just received from our coordinator in the UAE:
"Dear Rita,
Please be informed that there is a new 'Dress Code' policy for all Sharjah related excursions.
With immediate effect, Male guests have to ensure that they are not wearing any jewellery such as earrings, bracelets, chains, necklaces, rings, etc. when going on any 'Sharjah' related excursions such as 'Sharjah-Ajman City Tour, Sharjah/Ajman Walking Tour, etc.
The 'Code of Conduct' from the Sharjah Government requires that the above is implemented and respected in all cases."
So please be advised, if you are traveling to the UAE and Sharjah in particular, keep this dress code in mind.
Thank you!
"Dear Rita,
Please be informed that there is a new 'Dress Code' policy for all Sharjah related excursions.
With immediate effect, Male guests have to ensure that they are not wearing any jewellery such as earrings, bracelets, chains, necklaces, rings, etc. when going on any 'Sharjah' related excursions such as 'Sharjah-Ajman City Tour, Sharjah/Ajman Walking Tour, etc.
The 'Code of Conduct' from the Sharjah Government requires that the above is implemented and respected in all cases."
So please be advised, if you are traveling to the UAE and Sharjah in particular, keep this dress code in mind.
Thank you!
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