Turtle Beach Snorkelling

Thursday after school I drove to the Dolphin Club and met with Ingi, Sally and Jos. WE all went with Sally and Jos and after a 3 hour drive we arrives at Turtle Beach Resort at Ras Al Hadd. We booked for two nights with 2 breakfasts and two suppers included. The resort is located where there are a lot of turtles, the huge turtles we saw last year aren’t here but there are smaller turtles. We arrived too late for a swim on Thursday but had a nice supper in the dining room and I got lots of interesting South African information. Friday morning we were up early and into the water before breakfast. We spent about an hour in the water and after breakfast another two hours and them more time in the afternoon and evening. I was smart to wear a long sleeve shirt in but since I thought my legs would be underwater I didn’t cover them or use sunscreen on them. Not smart, have a hot seat and hot legs and wore pants in the water after that. The water is amazingly warm, and the coral and fish are beyond imagination. We saw two turtles and multi coloured fish of all types. My favorites were the yellow and black tear-drop shaped fish and the many blue fish, indigo fish and many other shades of blue and yellow. We saw an eel, cuttle fish, squid, a large puffer fish, and so may others. The coral is massive and every colour and shape. We saw clown fish in the sea anemone. Ingi had a camera and took some awesome shots. We were water logged by the time to go home, but it was awesome.

Mini  fort on a hill

House in the desert

House in the desert

Omani Dhow

Front beach at resort

Our cabin

Restaurant

Restaurant

You can see the coral in the water 

Coral reefs top left

Moi

Goat on the way home

Sallyann and I 

Sus, Sun, Sun

Another cloudless day in Muscat. School went fine and I’m getting to remember more names. Its difficult when they all wear the same uniform and scarf, all have dark eyes and black hair. Great girls, enjoying them very much. This weekend Friday and Saturday, I’m going to The Turtle Beach Resort at Ras al Hadd with friends for some new snorkeling, relaxing and swimming. This evening went to Majan beach from school, the sun was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky and the water is so warm, no gasp factor. I was swimming on the outside of a large school of fish.

Getting hotter

Monday May 13, 2013

School was excellent today, the girls make my day fun. After school Maggie and I went to Majan beach for a swim and snorkel. I saw an orange, black and blue Nemo fish in an anemone. He was quite aggressive, chasing the other fish away. I also saw 3 puffer fish, deflated. The water was warm and the sea like glass, a nice way to relax after school. A few nights ago I left the laundry room door ajar, (its open to the air), and a bunch of mosquitoes sneaked in and feasted on me. The welts are itchy, hot, swollen and larger than loonies. I just had to take the traffic caution pictures below. Did a wash, this evening, the articles I put in had better want hot water, because that is all there is when the tank is on the roof. forecast predicting 39-40 for Friday. So hot now, I can't drive as soon as I get in the car, have to wait till the steering wheel and stick shift cool down.

One of my girls had her hands hennaed, so pretty

This fellow doesn't cost much to hire.

Big savings on the highway budget, who needs the real thing?

Sunset on the Corniche

 

My Proton Gen X

First Full day of School

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Today was my first whole day in class with the girls. It is a grade 6 class, with 25 students (all girls). The boys are on the other side of the school and they don’t mingle at all.   The school front is the administration area, we walk through this into the courtyard. The cafeteria is in the middle, split in half, boys one side, girls the other. The girls and boys sections are mirror images, on each side of the cafeteria. The school is a place with distinctive smells. Immediately on walking in the administration building I could smell incense and stepping out in the courtyard I could smell the jasmine, what a lovely smell and….. there is the soaked in cologne smell from the boys high school section.

My apartment is fine but I have some things to resolve, I can’t turn on my propane stove (and I’m not experimenting with it), I guess the water pressure was always very low and good thing I’m not short, I can barely reach the first cupboard shelf.

School starts at 7:30 in the morning and last class is over at 2:10. Lunch/breakfast is served at the 10:00 break. I teach three, 55 minute classes a day.

I had a great day in class today. I had fun and the girls had fun, Nora’s sticky Mosaic Jewels   http://www.stickymosaics.com/   were a total hit. I’m sure they will add to my popularity.

The school is very fortunate to have such a wonderful staff. I was so happy to see so many familiar faces. Wonderful people from all over the world. 

My mosque next door, right across from my bedroom!

Majan Beach Friday, Helen, Ingi and me

Lobster in Oman

Getting to know my apartment, it has 2 bedrooms and two bathrooms, living room, kitchen and laundry room. I’m on the sixth floor and next door to a grocery store. Makes it easy when I run out of water. There is A/C in the three main rooms and a ceiling fan as well. Tried to sleep with the ceiling fan on high last night and I had to shut it off for it sounded like a helicopter ride.  My only complaint is the water doesn’t have much pressure. I’m getting used to the call to prayer at the mosque at daybreak.

Today was busy, went to a talk on healthy living with friends and in the evening after all my lessons for tomorrow were planned went to a party at Maggie’s. We broke out the canned Clearwater lobster and it was excellent. It’s a perfect way to transport lobster for a long, long distance. We had lots of potato salad and it was just like home in Cape Breton. It was enjoyed by South Africa, Scotland, Arizona, Australia, UK, Channel Islands and India.  I have an internet stick but it is having problems sending pictures. Will try again and if they won’t go, I’ll got to a WIFI spot.

Beach day

Woke up just before dawn, and realized…. I’m next to a mosque.  The call to prayer was being broadcasted my way quite loudly. The second time I was up at 7:00 to meet Maggie to go to the fish market, I enjoy looking at all the different types of fish for sale. Met my flatmate last night, he is about 25 cm long, tan in color and can run up the walls like Edmund Hilary, but he said his name was Gecko.  Made a trip to Carrefour the big supermarket and picked up essentials, surge protector and kitchen supplies. Joined Karen for lunch at The Silk Route, one of my favorite restaurants. At four I met Ingi, Helen, Sally Anne and Azra and her two little mermaids, at Majan beach for swimming and snorkeling. When I left in June the girls were just learning to snorkel, today they were like little fish.. Water was so warm but was a bit murky and the visibility wasn’t so good but it was very nice. We had our usual picnic spread and we all said how much we missed Veronica who is in Morocco.

Majan Beach is a small cove and the bottom is all coral. We make sure to wear water shoes for all the little holes are homes to very spiny sea urchins.

Having problems posting pictures, will post later.

Back In Oman

Left Halifax at 6:25 PM, had a short wait in Toronto and a great sleep over the Atlantic. Arrived in Frankfurt and had to run a long way to catch my flight, got there after it had boarded but made it on. Had another snooze on the way to Dubai and then on to Muscat. Arrived at 10:25 PM.  I already had a visa so sailed through customs and my luggage was waiting for me when I got to baggage. Picked up at the airport and went on to Sushelia’s apartment where I spent the night, so great to see her. I learned my lesson about jet lag last trip so I was ready with melatonin this time and slept till 8:00. Off to school where I saw so many good friends and got a quick briefing on what I’ll be doing. Went in with my 25 girls for about an hour and had a very nice afternoon. Looked after new passwords, the new thumb scan time clock and other details. After school bought new SIM cards and loaded my phone and internet stick, went for a swim in the Gulf of Oman and came to my flat and unpacked. Whew….and fish market tomorrow morning, love looking at all the different fish.

Oh yes and I’m mobile, went to the car rental and picked up the same kind of car I had last time, Proton Gen2, nothing fancy but enough power to make the roundabouts.

Wanted to bring lobster and realized a 21 hour flight just isn’t a healthy way to transport lobster. Instead I bought frozen canned lobster at Clearwater in Halifax, wrapped it in multiple layers of Styrofoam wrap, rolled it in a towel and then wrapped it in a yoga mat and put it in my checked baggage. Still frozen when I arrived!