Friday 16 February 2007

Oman: the Omani experience

On a day that could at last be described as warm, we drove to Nakhal with G & GP to visit probably one of the best forts in Oman. To a backdrop of dark blue skies and hazy mountains we clambered up and down steps through courtyards and numerous cool and shady rooms.

It was the post-prayer rush hour in Nakhal as we weaved our way to the springs for lunch. We walked along the accepting generous offers of barbequed meat from locals as the noise from frolicking children playing in the water grew louder and louder.

After driving across the stream we set up camp on a terrace and consumed a range of delicious sandwiches in a very British fashion – a great source of entertainment for the Indian family next to us.

On the way back to Muscat, we detoured to As Sawadi (where most of Oman seems to go on a Friday afternoon) to stretch our legs on the damp sand at low tide.

Continuing on, we stopped at As Suwaiq camel breeding centre to do a bit of research for Al and Flossie's chums coming next month. We were allowed to look around but unfortunately it was not possible to ride there. We were nuzzled and pushed by prize-winning racing camels wearing coats, knitted muzzles and leg restraints to stop them running away like racing camels.

We finally headed back home and rested before a humongous consignment of food arrived from the Grill House in Al Khuwair. Post match report - the Indian was excellent but the Chinese a little cross-cultural.

1 comment:

Maya Rao said...

Quote 'Post match report - the Indian was excellent but the Chinese a little cross-cultural.'

But of course. 'Indian Chinese' is a cuisine unto itself with one Indian lady famously declaring she liked Chinese food found in India better than what she ate in China!