Canadian Stampede 2013

Well the break is over and 2nuksabroad is back blogging. A quick update on life in Oman as we've gone through a few changes over the past months. 2nuks has become one as my better half Janelle has returned back to Canada to continue her work there as her 1 year contract came to an end. I've done a pretty lackluster job since of keeping the blog updated, but here we go again.

Last year Janelle and I stumbled into the Canadian Stampede committee not knowing what to expect so I was quite keen to volunteer again this year now knowing what a fantastic party it is, definitely the party of the year. The event lived up to expectations again this year with close to 900 people in attendance.Importantly so as it was the 20th anniversary. It was also great to have so many friends turn-up this year for their first time. To sum up the evening I've attached the write-up that was sent to the club newsletter detailing all the Stampede had to offer. To those who didn't make it this year, make sure to mark it on your calendars in 2014.

"It was a warm evening with clear skies, like any other beautiful March night in Muscat.  But something was different… there was a scent of hay bales in the air and familiar chords of country music carried along with the ocean breeze; not common for the Ras Al Hamra Recreation Center (RAHRC). As I walked down the familiar RAHRC entrance, I was suddenly greeted by enthusiastic cowboys and cowgirls, all welcoming me in to the 20^th annual Canadian Stampede. These Canadian Stampede “ambassadors” happily briefed me on the evening’s festivities and then sent me along my way with a pile of free loot, including welcome drinks, western bandana / sheriff badge, 20^th Stampede drink cozzie, coupon for free coffee and  doughnut (for the next morning) and an enthusiastic “Yee Haw!” As I walked down the steps, into what once was the RAHRC volleyball court, there was an ocean of cowboy hats, hay bales and plaid shirts before me.  The DJ, Erin from Hi FM, was playing classic country hits while images of Canada flashed on the large video screen; images beautiful enough to make even the toughest cowboy a little homesick.  As a Canadian whose hometown is Calgary, this was a sight I had seen many times before, but not in Oman! Off to my right was a mouthwatering Stampede feast, including classics such as beef on a bun, coleslaw, potato salad, chili and, of course, Nanaimo bars. To my left, was a chuckwagon and bucking bull, ready for me to hop on board and capture the moment forever in photo. Oh what a night!

If this sounds familiar, then you might have attended the 2013 Canadian Stampede! Every year the Canadian Section hosts a Stampede party in the fashion of the Calgary stampede parties thrown during the month of July in Calgary, Canada. The Canadian Stampede party was on March 7, 2013, and, as in previous years, it was a huge success offering a little something for everyone. This year was particularly special because it was the 20^th anniversary event. So the committee pulled out all the stops, including a live band (Urban Gas), line dancing, and more free stuff than ever before. And their efforts were rewarded by the many smiling faces on all the honorary cowboys and cowgirls and a packed dance floor throughout the evening. The grand prize winners, Frank and Joanna Oprinsen, walked away with a free trip to the July 2013 Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Canada. The committee would like to thank everyone who helped make this event a huge success and look forward to doing it all again next year. Until then, we wish you easy trails with clear skies and leave you with a final “Yee Haw”!!!!!!"

Ghost of Alan and cowgirl Lizzie

RAHRC catering staff, food was awesome!

2013 Committee pic, just missing Janelle

Air hostesses enjoying the shooter bar (disclaimer that I did not take this picture)

Urban Gas performing

Mom's Visit! Nov 28-Dec 10 (Janelle's mom)

There wasn't any less than 14 hrs from when we were saying goodbye to Wayne and Kathy after a wonderful visit and picking up Mom later that night and welcoming her to Oman!
She arrived Wed night and we took it easy that weekend, allowing the jet lag to work itself out.
We toured Ras Al Hamra during the day, and mom couldn't believe how green it was. I guess she was really picturing us living in a desert, lol.  It also helped that there was 3 days of scattered rain which helped brighten things up. That evening we went out to Slider Station in Al-Shatti which was very good.

Friday we decided on a day trip to As Sifah to check out the seafood restaurant and Jebel Sifah hotel. We hadn't been out that way since January and it was nice to go back. The seafood restaurant was really good, with the fish soup being the highlight as it was loaded with fish and prawns! After that we walked around the hotel and villas and took the water taxi back to Bandar Marina. Definitely worth the 4 RO ea plus our captain let me drive the boat!

Bandar Khiryan - on the way to As Sifah

The seafood restaurant (I can't recall the name), but it's fantastic

The fish soup, so good! (The crustini isn't
burnt, it's tampenade)

View from the Seafood restaurant

I could get used to having a boat!

Mom in the upside down birka, lol

We took the scenic route through Bandar Khiran  and came across Oman Sail Regatta

We took Mom to our regular work week outings, Saturday Hash, Sun Bollywood, Mon Yoga and a beach bbq on Tue. I also took an afternoon off so we could get to ShangriLa and take the scenic route back through Ruwi.

 

 

 

Yoga at PDO gym

Me and Mom at the Hash

Anna and Donna - acrobatic yogis!

The regulars at Bollywood

ShangriLa Hotel

ShangriLa

View of Ruwi

  

 On Wed we were off to Dubai for a girls trip. I booked us in at the Al Manzil Hotel because of its great location for accessing the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. We took a ladies-only taxi from the airport which is quite the novelty! That evening, there was an appearance by Gwyneth Paltrow at Dubai mall to promote Boss perfume, so we did some shopping and stuck around to see the celebrity appearance. She was every bit the same as onscreen.

The ladies-only taxi service

Al Manzil hotel

The next day we decided to ascend the Burj Khalifa and then check out the LPGA event at the Emirates golf club. This was another novelty - seeing a world class sporting event without crowds, and for free! (the free part was unexpected...). So there we were watching Michelle Wie and the like.  Mom hadn't been to an LPGA tourny before and the last time I went was at the Mayfield in Edmonton. It blows your mind how good the ladies are. We caught up to Canadian Lori Kane and cheered her on during round 2.

Mom had been curious about Sheesha after seeing it everywhere all week. There was a great arabic restaurant, Mezza House out front of our hotel and so we decided to give it a go!

At the top of the World

LPGA event with the Dubai Marina skyline

Our Canadian - Lori Kane

The last day was spent touring the Mall of the Emirates where Ski Dubai is and then to see the Burj Al Arab (another infamous landmark).

The marina at Jumeriah Beach Resort

Burj Al Arab

Mom really enjoyed Muscat and Dubai and was glad she came for a visit. We only scratched the surface of things to do, but it gave her a good idea of how we've been living over the past year. 

Fins Beach

While Wayne and Kathy were visiting we wanted to take them camping and show them what a Wadi is really like. We had already done Wadi Shab and really wanted to go again, so we decided to also add in camping on White Beach by Fins. This was our first time beach camping and first time for my parents in a Wadi so lots to look forward too.

Our camping group started with about 12 people and quickly grew to 20, in no particular order were Matt (USA), Lizzie, Caroline & Becky (England), Rowan & John (Scotland), Way Buff & Abi (India), Pete & Zan (RSA), Mohammed & Azies (Egypt) and Matts friends Heidi, Mary, Rob & Mike (think all from UK?). We carpooled from PDO and set off for Fins, about 1-1/2 hours from Muscat. Somehow we ended up following John and him not really knowing where to turn off we ended up turning off the coastal highway a little early. But the wrong turn turned alright as we ended up seeing a camel chilling next to the road and had a short pitstop to get everyone's fix of pictures. Highlight was Abi feeding it a carrot only to drop the carrot running away claiming the camel "charged" him. You be the judge from the pictures, very dangerous looking these camels.

Friendly neighbourhood camel

Abi cowering in fear of Mrs Camel -To quote Abi "It Charged Me"

We did make it to White Beach and were not disappointed, the sand was amazing, white, fine and very clean. There were already a few camps setup along the bay but with the waves crashing all night we didn't hear anyone else. We setup camp (one novice camper needed help from the ladies to put up their tent), gathered some firewood and went snorkeling. Visibility wasn't the best but there were lots of fish and lots of cool rock features to check out.

Caroline exploring the bay

Looking back at White Beach from the bay

A few of the campers (LtoR: Mohammed, John, Aziss, Abi, Zan, Vaibav, Janelle, Wayne, Kathy)

Rowan & John found some cliff jumping in the bay

Being so close to the equator we lose light quickly and by 6 it was getting dark. We did manage to fit in a new Indian game called 7 stones. Simply put it's a variation on dodge ball, 2 teams and a stack of 7 stones. One team knocks the stones over with a tennis ball and then has to set them up. The catch being that the other team is then trying to hit them with the tennis ball before they get the stones set-up, if you're hit you're out. It turned out to be a lot of fun and definitely something we'll take home.

Playing 7 stones

BBQ is just a hole in the sand filled with charcoal

The theme for the evening was make your own cocktail so everyone brought along their own special mix and distributed to the campers for judging. This turned out to be great idea with Lizzie bringing an entire bar. By the end of the night no one remembered to pick a winner but they were all enjoyed.

Abi's 22nd birthday = cake in the face

Camping in Oman and just about anywhere hot usually means waking up with the sun. So sun up at 7 meant that most of the campers were also up. After a short breakfast, one lost frisbee (note to not let John throw your frisbee near a body of water), we packed up and headed to Wadi Shab. This has been our favourite Wadi so far, it begins with a cool boat trip across the headwater and then a 30-40 minute hike up really nice trails to a fresh water swimming pool that connects to an underground cave and waterfall. As well, a few months earlier Red Bull hosted the World Championship Cliff diving from Wadi Shab. So we had to stop and do some cliff jumping ourselves. The Red Bull divers were about 28m up, but we jumped from a lot lower. John took some great pics with his GoPro (except for the one of me...) and we all had a great time.

Zan demonstrating her inner gymnast

John with the GoPro

My "face"

Nothing else to be said here