We left off having just been dropped off by the driver and seeing our apartment for the first time. Luckily prior to arriving Janelle had been in contact with a Canadian couple who have been living in Muscat for 2 years. As such, upon our arrival our new friend Donna (from Estevan,SK orginally) came to give us an official tour of the Ras Al Hamra compound. The RAH club is spectacular, there is a private beach (where western attire is permitted), pool, boat club (which is very comparable to a pub, only cheaper alcohol), restaurant (which has a daily buffet for 2 RO!, or $6), tennis courts, sailing complex (full of lasers, catamarans, kayaks and motorboats), library, liquor store and gym. We both couldn't believe that this is where we would be spending the next year, it was hard to shake the feeling we we're here to work when this felt so much like a 5 star resort.
Donna also gave us a quick tour of the PDO camp (Petroleum Development Oman) before driving us to the nearest grocery store. Before coming we didn't know what to expect when we heard "camp", would there be walls, security etc, but that is not the case at all. The roads through the camp are public and there is also a public beach. You can be walking through the camp and not even realize you've left, there is no distinct transition which makes you feel very integrated with the rest of the city.
Off we went for groceries and came to Carrefour, one of 3 big chains here in Muscat. It's very comparable to any grocery store you have in Canada, with the exception of some a few local items we would never see at home (fresh varieties of fish and goat to name a couple) but all in all you can get everything here that you can at home for very similar prices. The Carrefour is also attached to a shopping mall complete with an H&M, Starbucks, Coldstone Creamry and Dunkin Donuts. This sums up Muscat very well, there is stark contrast of a very old feeling city with the architecture and culture, but yet the stores, shops, cars and gadgets that we're used to are all here.
Donna dropped us off back at our apartment with our loot and we began to unpack and settle in. Thankfully Donna and her husband Tom invited us for supper again to ease in the transition as we weren't feeling the energy to cook (going on 36 hrs now). Needless to say we enjoyed a great meal but by 8 we were both completely wiped and called it a night.
Donna also gave us a quick tour of the PDO camp (Petroleum Development Oman) before driving us to the nearest grocery store. Before coming we didn't know what to expect when we heard "camp", would there be walls, security etc, but that is not the case at all. The roads through the camp are public and there is also a public beach. You can be walking through the camp and not even realize you've left, there is no distinct transition which makes you feel very integrated with the rest of the city.
Off we went for groceries and came to Carrefour, one of 3 big chains here in Muscat. It's very comparable to any grocery store you have in Canada, with the exception of some a few local items we would never see at home (fresh varieties of fish and goat to name a couple) but all in all you can get everything here that you can at home for very similar prices. The Carrefour is also attached to a shopping mall complete with an H&M, Starbucks, Coldstone Creamry and Dunkin Donuts. This sums up Muscat very well, there is stark contrast of a very old feeling city with the architecture and culture, but yet the stores, shops, cars and gadgets that we're used to are all here.
Donna dropped us off back at our apartment with our loot and we began to unpack and settle in. Thankfully Donna and her husband Tom invited us for supper again to ease in the transition as we weren't feeling the energy to cook (going on 36 hrs now). Needless to say we enjoyed a great meal but by 8 we were both completely wiped and called it a night.
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| RAH Beach |
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| Top of Adam's Head and a view of the private beach and bay |
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| More Beach (sorry to rub it in) and the kids play area |
Great information guys, thanks so much for setting up the blog, even if it makes us sad we are in -32 (-42 with the wind).
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you are getting familiar with everything and have planned on some events that keep you active. Would hate to think of you getting lazy just laying around on the beach, LOL.
Looking forward to hearing about the festivals.
Love
Aunty Janet
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