Oman Highlights

26 hours in Oman

Mountains. I miss them all the time anyway, but didn't realize how much until my trip to Oman this weekend. I would argue that the second you cross the border, the terrain changes and you feel like you're driving through the desert in Arizona or the vast expanse of Utah. The bunches of date oases crop up seemingly out of nowhere, goats and camels litter the side of the roads, and the mountains span the horizon.

Same planet, different world feeling, to say the least. Who do you think was staying at our hotel? The Lama himself (just let a girl believe), alongside the French cast of Cocoon (they loved the pool) and dancing girls to entertain guests at the Russian bar. Unfortunately, Michelle and I forgot our black spandex mini dresses/flowing robes/geriatric sandals, or we would have blended right in.

The Nizwa fort was quite stunning. For those not up on their Omani history, it's a very isolated country, with only a small time period of Portuguese influence....hence the forts. Architecturally speaking, it's very cool, but the preservation side of me screams "fake". It's a little from column A, little from column B. I'll take it, as it was a lovely break from the daily humdrum in Abu Dhabi. Wink.

Random Thoughts and Pictures

1. It's really getting hot out there now - 103. For my foreign followers, that means 39. However you say it, it's hot. And humid. And sun-ny.

2. What I would have given for a bagel w. cream cheese this morning. Muffins are nice but I love bagels so much, they make me cry.

3. Who knew fighting for a cab in Abu Dhabi was WORSE than fighting for one in NYC? Seriously, I had to essentially body slam my way into a cab yesterday morning. Good thing I'm totally jacked.

And on to the pictures

These camels "hugging" were too cute not to post.

Pictures don't do the dunes justice - they're amazing.

I can't get enough of the F1 track....

The view of Dubai from Slessy Man's apartment....bright lights, bigger city

Arabian Nights

Like Arabian Days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways

Our journey started with a camel visit....they were everything I imagined. Gentle giants with big doe eyes, who just want a little rub on the top of their noses. Strong enough to crush you in a single kick, although, I honestly believe, they instead to want to sit in your lap.

The dune bashing portion of the evening was so fun - came with a many recommendations and I'll send the same message along to any other visitors to the region (I mean, if Stevie Wonder and James Cameron have gone, all the cool kids must do it). Like a rollercoaster that lasts for 25+ minutes. We even managed "No Hands" but immediately stopped when our driver wanted to join us. Thrill, yes; death, not yet, thanks.

Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam

Where it's flat and immense
And the heat is intense

It's barbaric, but hey, it's home (for 3 more weeks)

Le Burj Khalifa

Too bad it's been so hazy and sandy in the UAE, or my views from the Burj Khalifa would have been unbelievable. Even so, I was still impressed. This first picture is towards the water and the "islands" showing slightly are The World Islands. Sure looks like they're sinking back into the sea...then again the amazing sky just dwarfed everything for me and I just kept staring at the clouds. Literally, head in the clouds.






My friends and I went right at sunset to see the city at both day and night. Quite lovely, quite sci-fi. For inquiring minds, there are bathrooms at the top, and we did use them. TMI? Too bad.




The finale was the show at the bottom. Let's face it, any time Thriller is being blared, my feet start dancing, but when I get to share my legendary moves with fountains, well, no dancing partner is going to be the same. It was fireworks and waterfalls all at once.

More views of the UAE

Aloft Hotel - CityScape Networking Hour

Le Meridien Hotel

Private Beach at the Intercon

Dubai

go speed racer go

The list of cool things to do in the UAE is lengthy but here are my Top 5.

5. The Grand Mosque. 1 word, 4 syllables: extravagance. Never seen anything like it and the pictures don't do it justice. It is the Magnum of the mosque world.

4. Al Ain Wildlife Park. Cute animals - check. Scary animals - check. Zoo train - check. Entrance fee - less than 5 USD. Bargain price for your inner child to have fun one afternoon.

3. Friday brunch. Pick a hotel. Any hotel. Brunch is going to be amazing no matter your choice. Unlimited food complete with unlimited beverage selection. Pasta to sushi, eggs to ice cream, seafood to salads. My mouth is watering thinking about it all. Eat, drink, eat some more and be merry all midday. And then take a well-deserved nap.

2. Wild Wadi. Always been a fan of waterparks - just ask my parents, as I'm pretty sure I had at least two birthday parties at them - but the super ride at Wild Wadi takes the cake. Four-person, "Cloverleaf", inner tube that shoots you down the start of the slide into a cone, up the wall for a magnificent (and pretty frightening) view of Dubai, only to ramp you up the other side where you're sure that one of your friends will fall out on top of you thanks to the impressive vertical....and then you hit two more cones on the same slide. Heart racing and motion-sick by the end, but, of course, we looked at each other and said "Again!!!!"

You're thinking, "How is it possible to top this list of exciting adventures?". Drumroll, please.



1. Yas Training Nights. Every Tuesday night, the F1 track is open to runners, walkers, and cyclists for training. I won't explain the awesomeness of this, so if you need one, tough. Perhaps, instead, I'll see you out there tonight, and you can experience it for yourself.