Bananas, coconuts, papayas...

Salalah, Oman
Monday, December 31, 2012

It never takes Frank very long to scout out a fruit stand when we travel to a new place, and Salalah was no exception. The papayas here in Salalah have been wonderful, and today I finally got my fresh coconut. Heaven.

Happy New Year!

Chicken lollipops?

Ready for a new taste experience?

Salalah, Oman
Sunday, December 30, 2012

One should make sure to take a trip to Lulu Hypermarket when you're here in Oman. Maybe it's because we live in the countryside in Jordan and don't get many chances to go to department stores, but it's fun to wander around in a hypermarket and see what's for sale (and popular) in a new place. Of particular interest to us was Lulu's food section where they have lots of great prepared food for sale. It's easy on the budget and fun to try new foods in whatever quantities you like. I am still wondering about this item, however--chicken drumsticks, maybe?

Flamingos! Blowholes! Dolphins!

Mughsail, Oman
Saturday, December 29, 2012

This morning we drove about 45 km west of Salalah to the (very) small town of Mughsail. Along the way were moonscapes of various kinds and then suddenly one arrives at an inland lagoon with flamingos, herons, and egrets--and a really spectacular beach. The water is all shades of aquamarine... Sun too strong for beach combing but there are nice covered stone pagodas along the beach at certain intervals to get some protection from the sun. After passing through Mugasail, we ended up at the Marneef Cave, a fantastic stone structure with blowholes (with grates on top). Although the blowholes weren't "blowing" at the time we were there, we could stand on the grates and listen while the water below made ominous gurgling sounds. Definitely worth the drive.

When we returned to our hotel in Salalah a couple of hours later we found dolphins leaping out of the water outside our hotel. Yikes--what else is out there?

View from Marneef Cave

Another view from Marneef Cave

Culinary delights of the sub-continent

Salalah, Oman
Friday, December 28, 2012

After a morning wandering in the Lulu Hypermarket (you should see this place on the outside at night: it's lit up crazier than a casino), we returned to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant near our first hotel for an order of "chicken handi." One of the unexpected delights of travelling in Oman has been the ubiquity of the great Indian and Pakistani food. I am still wondering what Omani food might taste like...

Salalah: Where to stay?

Samharam Tourist Village: kind of sterile...

Salalah, Oman
Thursday, December 27, 2012

Well, I am now qualified to speak somewhat authoritatively about two hotels in Salalah: Samharam Tourist Village and Salalah Beach Villas. We spent four nights at the former: very nice breakfast, amazing pool (kiddie pool and hot tub as well) but not a lick of shade in the heat of the day, though there are some sun umbrellas at poolside. Chalets are comfortable, with full kitchen and good air-conditioning. On the downside, it's a pretty desolate setting with very little outdoor shade. Evenings are lovely (and the camels on the beach are fun) but in the heat of the day you'll be hiding inside unless you are intent on a full-on sun experience--and this is winter!

Salalah Beach Villas

As for the Salalah Beach Villas, they are a family-run establishment. It's a much smaller operation, breakfast served poolside next to its much more modest pool. Breakfast definitely not as elaborate as Samharam. The hotel is directly on the beach--great views! And you're not next to a container port... So, in sum, they both have their positives but Samharam is kind of lonely for families with kids, at least in December. Oh, and the reception staff are MUCH more friendly and helpful at Salalah Beach Villas.

Finally, we tried to do without renting a car and that proved not to be such a good idea. Rent one and see the sights!

Salalah Beach Villas: view from the dining area...

Khor Rori (Samharam)

Salalah, Oman 
Thursday, December 27, 2012

After a morning of obligatory sand castle building, we piled into the car and took a drive east to Khor Rori which was supposedly once the most important port in the frankincense trade. The ruins are restored but the vistas are magnificent: camels grazing, the ocean in the near distance. You might try coming not (as we did) at the heat of the day. Otherwise, like us, you'll scurry from patch of shade to shade. Lots of nice birds, too...

Al Baleed at dusk

Salalah, Oman 
Tuesday, December 25, 2012

This evening we spent a couple of hours roaming around the ancient ruins of the Al Baleed Archeological Park which sits on the beach at Salalah. Sunset is a great time to be at this place--for several reasons. First, the sun is going down so it's not as hot as it would be the rest of the day. Second, it's a beautiful time of day at the seaside (of course) and third, they turn on some fun lighting at this time of day which makes the place even more romantic. However, the mosquitoes also come out about this time as well...

A was not particularly pleased to be visiting more ruins, but she perked up when we played several rounds of hide-n-seek in the ruins. Reconstructed pillars provided most of the hiding spots, and it was a bit spooky to be playing in the falling light. This is a neat place.

Mysteriously, however, children under the age of 6 are not allowed in the Museum of Frankincense...

Camel crossing

Salalah, Oman 
Tuesday, December 25, 2012

I know, I know, it's one of those touristy things to do to take cute pictures of road signs when one is travelling. Nonetheless, camels were all over the place on our drive this morning. Our guide book warns us that in addition to the physical danger of hitting a camel when driving, one should also be prepared to pay the owner of the camel. So, lots of reasons to heed the signs!


(Oh, and you might want to know your numbers, too.)

Christmas morning at Job's Tomb

Salalah, Oman
Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Freed at last from our hotel by Frank's judicious renting of a car, we headed up to Job's Tomb this morning about 20 km outside of Salalah. They say Salalah is a tropical green paradise during the khareef (the July/August monsoon), but it's pretty dry out there right now. Still, the vistas were lovely.

Salalah sunset

Salalah, Oman
Sunday, December 23, 2012

After collecting half the shells on the beach  ("Mom, can't we please take them ALL back to America?"), we retreated to the pool for a swim. The sunset started at about 5:30 pm and grew more and more spectacular until the whole sky was radiant with pinks and oranges. Like the heavens were on fire...

Look both ways when crossing

Salalah, Oman
Sunday, December 23, 2012

This afternoon after the heat of the day had passed, we headed down to the beach for some beach combing. A was delighted (as were we) by the wide variety of great shells we found. The waves and rip tides make swimming inadvisable here but soaking your feet and looking for shells is a great way to pass the time. Above the roar of the ocean I heard myself shouting "Car!" to Frank as a car headed down the beach directly at us through the edge of the waves. Later on I heard a car up the beach honking at a herd of camels.

Not to overstate the situation: mostly the beach is deserted and lovely. But make sure you look both ways as you cross the beach: those cars can sneak up on you, the sounds of their motors hidden  beneath the sound of the crashing waves...

Camels on the beach

Salalah, Oman
Saturday, December 22, 2012

We arrived in Salalah late this afternoon and made a bee-line to the pool from our "chalet" at the resort where we are staying. To A's delight, Frank suddenly cried out "Camels!" Now, about a week ago I managed to get through most of Lawrence of Arabia which does indeed include a "camel on the beach" scene, but I had assumed that scene was a bit of artistic license. But, actually, here was a great long line of them. Frank suggested a video (below) but, alas, the video does not include the waft of "eau de camel" which accompanied these handsome fellows on parade.

Oman Air

Salalah, Oman
Saturday, December 22, 2012

A quick 80-minute hop, and we have arrived in Salalah, the so-called tropical paradise of Oman. Looking forward to a beach and a pool and any other delights we might find.

Al Riyam Park

Nice incisors you got there...

Muscat, Oman
Thursday, December 20, 2012

In the late afternoon we took a taxi to Al Riyam Park which lies about 1 km from Muttrah and its famous souq. A crocodile slide, a pineapple slide, a great huge (new) jungle gym, trees for shade, and flowers everywhere. Families relaxing on the weekend (yes, Thursday and it's already the weekend here) and a small fun fair with rides for the kids.

If you've got small kids, don't miss it!

Gold (and other stuff)

Muttrah, Oman
Thursday, December 20, 2012

We spent the morning wandering through the Muttrah Souq, one of Muscat's "must see" tourist sights. The gold section of the souq is wonderful to look at and you can smell the frankincense for free--but it's not like we are really in the market for either product. But the souq is lots of fun to wander through--even though A might not agree. She got chocolate ice cream as her part of the deal.

A stroll through Muttrah

Muttrah, Oman

Thursday, December 20, 2012

On our way to the Muttrah Souq, we strolled down the valley that is Muttrah. It seems to be a haven for "ladies tailoring" shops, narrow alleyways, mosques, and all along the way, fortress outlook towers. 

Wait until my students see this symmetry...

Blue on blue...

Restored towers, yes, but very nice to look at...

A big, big jumble

Umm Ar Rasas, Jordan
Sunday, December 16, 2012

We spent the morning wandering Um Ar Rasas, one of Jordan's World Heritage Sites. It has churches with fantastic mosaics from the 8th century and the biggest pile of stone building blocks I have ever seen. Not much in the way of explanation of what one is seeing, so you'll just have to use your imagination as to what might have been what.

Great place for wandering...

I love all the arches...

Just what exactly is this thing?

Herod's Palace (the ruins, anyhow)

Mukawir, Jordan
Saturday, December 15, 2012

A warm December afternoon with a brilliant blue sky and no classes to plan and no homework to grade. Time for adventure! We drove about 40 minutes along the winding King's Highway enjoying spectacular views of the approaching Dead Sea. We climbed up the long winding path to the top of the hill where there were modest ruins and spectacular views.

Don't miss it!

Gingerbread graphing

Graphed and ready to eat!

Madaba, Jordan
Thursday, December 13, 2012

Any teacher knows that those last days before winter break are hard ones: tough for the teachers, tough for the kids. We soldiered bravely on today with graphing parabolas, but in a nod to the approaching holidays, we graphed our last quadratics of the year on gingerbread "graph paper." The  writing implement of choice was colored frosting in ziploc baggies. Okay, maybe it was a little silly, but the kids seemed awfully pleased about it.

Gingerbread graph paper

Since getting to eat the graph was dependent on getting the graph right, I can safely say that they seemed to be concentrating pretty hard on those transformation rules. Happy holidays!

Shapes!

Madaba, Jordan
Thursday, December 13, 2012

 My geometry class finished up the days before winter break with a tessellation project. This year I confined the media to paper and colored pencils. Some very nice work emerged.


Everything from Sponge Bob inspired work to Dog Men to Islamic inspired tiles to "Southern Gentlemen" to pure shape...

Tessellating trees

Madaba, Jordan
Saturday, December 8, 2012

This afternoon I helped sponsor a Christmas cookie decorating party for 10 kids. Yikes! It was a frenzy of frosting and sprinkles! Lots of fun was (I think) had by all--and I ended up with a nice forest of tessellating Christmas trees...

Evening out

A heavenly start to the meal

Madaba, Jordan
Saturday, December 1, 2012

Frank and I went out for a special dinner last night at Madaba's finest (and most atmospheric) restaurant: Haret Jdoudna. It is THE place to go in Madaba--all around great food--and just a nice place to be.

...and a heavenly finish.

Happy anniversary!