Ramadan Ramblings

Ramadan is drawing to a close, people are discussing how much time off we will get for the Eid break, and we are all looking forward to the bars & coffee shops reopening.

As with other years, I have found Ramadan to be a very sociable period, although it has been difficult not to pop to Darcy's or Costas for a quick cuppa and catch up during the day. I have been to at least one party each weekend, and this forthcoming one is no exception as I'm off to help Eternally Distracted celebrate her birthday. I had a house party last weekend, unfortunately, due to the high humidity we've been having, it had to be moved from my rooftop to the lounge, but I certainly enjoyed it. During the same weekend I went to two barbies, so it was back to work on Saturday for a rest. A big positive of Ramadan parties is that you catch up with people you haven't seen in ages as there are limited places for people to go - a friend's house or a friend's house. Of course, most of us go to at least one Iftar meal at a local restaurant, these are the meals which Muslims traditionally break their fast with, after the dates & yoghurt. I went to one the first week at a new Lebanese restaurant and my friends & I ate so much we rolled out afterwards.

Apart from eating and drinking, I have been dancing, as the Oman Salsa Group has continued to meet for its Sunday classes, although the weekly social evening has been cancelled due to the bar being shut. I have done classes randomly before, Peru, Spain, even Italy this summer, but never in a regular weekly class. The instructors are all very helpful and nice, as are everyone who goes. It is a nice mix of Omanis, Indians, & Europeans. I am looking forward to the Eid party next week as it will be an opportunity to just dance salsa without the concentration of getting everything right - last Sunday I just could not get my turns right. Maybe next class?

Finally, over the last few weeks I have made the decision to leave Oman, and will be permanently back in Europe by Christmas. It is the right thing for me now, afterall I've been here four years, and I miss European culture and I want to be able to walk - at the moment I use the car to go to the shop across the road, as Muscat is not pedestrian friendly, nor is the weather. Oman IS a lovely country, and I will leave with only good memeories of my time here, just don't ask me about teaching in the colleges.

Gratitude Friday: 3

Today it is easy to know what to be grateful for... all the lovely people who are in my life. Whether they are transitory friends (those whom when we move on we will not keep in touch with). new friends, cyberbuddies, or old friends. Everyone is important in their own right and for what they bring to my life.

It is amazing the diversity of people and how we can interact. Last night, I was with friends whose occupations ranged from harp-player, through to people in the oil industry. There was a lawyer, a dive instructor, teachers, and a friend who is something in civil aviation. Despite all this disparity of vocation, it was a lovely evening, full of interesting conversation and debate, and I am so thankful that these people are part of my life. Moreover, I am also thankful for my friends at home, or in other parts of the world who I see/contact all-to-rarely, but who are also an important to me.

Photohunt: Orange

Here is my first contribution to Photohunt hosted by tn chick. This week's theme is Orange and I took this picture of a stall awning in Dubai earlier this year.

Gratitude Friday 2

After a lot of thinking and realising how much there is to be thankful for, today I am grateful for the beauty and wonder of nature. Last November, I was fortunate to witness this turtle lay her eggs on the beach and then return to the sea as the sun rose. Magical!

Again, I must say thanks to Diana of Creative Structures for the great idea of the Gratitude Friday Club.

Gratitude Friday 1

I'm grateful to Diana over at Creative Structures for coming up with this idea. I came across it last Saturday, when I was having a personal day because life feels so difficult at the moment. Diana's post gave me some much needed perspective and I decided to join in on this great idea. I tried to be grateful earlier this year, but I think this weekly idea is a lot better than a one off thing.

So, this Friday I am grateful for several things and it is difficult to know which to start with, but maybe one of my first loves, which I have just been reminded of by the current exhibition of Rembrandt here in Muscat, art.

Since I was young I have had the ability to draw and I am very grateful for the talent I have been given. However, more than my talent I am thankful for the great art that is in the world, and that my mum and dad helped me appreciate it. They frequently took the time to take me to galleries and exhibitions in order to view great and sometimes not so great art. They took the time to really show me the art, and tell me what they knew about the artists, but left me to decide what I like. Finally, they supported my wish to go to art college - at the other end of the country - and all the anguish which ensued. I don't think I ever really thanked them, so here is a very big thank you mum & dad.

Art, in all its forms from a drawing to a piece of ceramic, is a wonderful thing in our lives. It can add beauty, provide inspiration, make us think, provide peace, and give a sense of wonder, so I think it is a great thing to remember, to be grateful for, and a perfect start for my gratitude Friday posts.

Weekend wanderlust in Beirut.

Too funny... my new cyberbuddy Lisa of Travel Dreams & Moonbeams interviewed me about my recent trip to Beirut. I was very flattered to be asked about my latest little trip and you can read the resulting article here with the the fabulous title of Adventure and intrigue await wanderlust women in Beirut. The title is so good it's taken me ages to think of a title for this small blog today.

Good, bad, and slightly dangerous?

I have just spent a long weekend in Lebanon, and it was not long enough. It is an intriguing country full of contradictions. Beirut is an amazing, vibrant city. There are masses of construction going on, but around the corner you will find a building covered in bullet holes or shell marks. The beautiful Al-Amin Mosque (right, from St Georges Orthodox Cathedral) commissioned by former PM Hariri stands only a few kilometres from the former Holiday Inn still baring its ugly war damage from 2006. Furthermore, it stands next to the Cathedral of St Georges Beyruth, Christian & Muslim together. All the Lebanese I met from taxi-drivers to Hezbollah followers seemed genuinely nice people. I know some of you query the latter group. I do not agree with their politics, but I had the opportunity to go to an Hezbollah exhibition in Baalbek. There, the men were friendly, wanted to inform about their perspective, but did not try to force anything on me - oh apart from a nasty tourist hat and flag as gifts. People apart, the contradictions continued with the beautiful countryside ruined by the litter along the sides of the roads. I felt safe whilst there, but was nervous by the checkpoints along the roads manned by soldiers with guns, and some tanks in places. Although, no-one was stopped it was a little worrying. Furthermore, you can see vast wealth and great poverty as you drive around pass summer resorts for the rich Beirutis or pass the Syrian Bedu tents of the migrant workers.

I had a very full weekend, which started off with a walk around Hamra district full of shops and bars, pretty much like any other city of the world. That evening a Lebanese friend C took me to an exclusive rooftop club, where there are tables which cost 3000US$ a night, needless to say we sat at the bar. It was my first time on a guest-list to get in anywhere. As the club has been booked up for the summer we were the guests of the youngest female judge in Beirut who used her influence to get us on the list. The next morning I went to the centre of town, Solidere, for a wander around and was amazed at the number of mosques and churches side-by-side. I tried some of the famous Lebanese food, in the form of a huge slice of cheesecake. YUMM. In the afternoon, I joined C & her friends as we went south of Beirut to a beach resort, Bamboo Bay. All very decadent as we had our own hut, complete with jacuzzi, near the pool and overlooking the sea. The birthday cake, which was topped with fresh Lebanese fruit, was to die for.

The next day I joined a tour to the Bekaa Valley. The first stop was Chateau Ksara for a tour of their caves and then a wine tasting - at 10am!!! Now I like a glass of wine but it was a bit early and so had to pass up the red as being too heavy. I did try the chardonnay & rose first. From there we drove through the valley to Baalbek. WOW!!!! I have seen a lot of ruins over the years but these are impressive! (Left, the entrance) There are not enough superlatives to describe it - you'll just have to go. I am a bit concerned about my mum who was in Lebanon in the early 60s and wrote this in an email last week "I went but don't really remember it apart from a couple of pillars". Oh dear, maybe I should take her back.

From Baalbek it was off to Zahle, for a riverside lunch. Riverside was not the term I would have used as it was more like a very narrow canal/concrete chanel a metre wide with fast flowing water. The sound of the water was nice though. Now, Lebanese food is famous, but I thought being on a tour it would be a mediocre affair. How wrong I was! The mezze to start had the usual hummus, mixed salads, bread, etc., but the quality and freshness was outstanding and I could barely eat another mouthful. Being an almost veggie, I passed on the barbecued meat, but was told it was delicious. Desert was Lebanese fruit and was so nice I forced myself to eat a great quantity of watermelon & melon. Rolling back on the bus it was off to the last stop and Aanjar, an ancient Umayyad site. It was also impressive, but it would have been more so if I'd seen it before Baalbek. It was a bit like going to Brussels after visiting Paris.

Sunday morning, I woke very sad to be leaving, and wished I had more time to explore both Beirut and Lebanon more. I have put them on my To-go-back-to list, very near the top, after all there is so much more to see and do. Hugs & thanks to C for inviting to her country.
Sx