Oman... Why has it taken me so long?

A friend and I went camping last weekend, it was so great! I had a horrible week at work, I just cannot believe I still manage to feel bad about things. It's just so messed up here. Anyways, I decided to call in sick to work on Thursday, I've been feeling run down and just couldn't take another day. Of course, I ended up actually feeling sick and sleeping all the way till noon and almost decided not to go camping, but with a crazy weekend schedule for the next seven weeks, it seemed like the last chance to make it to Muscat before I moved to Vienna. Crazy. There are so many things I think I may not have time to do. We were supposed to leave right after work, so 4ish, but we were operating on Mark standard time, so I think we ended up getting on the road around 5:30. I didn't help things along that well either, we were just about to leave and he says, do you have your passport? Glad he thought of that. We had a few minor problems at the border, apparently you are just supposed to know that you stop at this random, tiny hut like building in order to get an exit stamp and then drive to the Oman border and cross over and stand in this line, then that one and on and on and on... long story short we ended up setting up our tents at around 3:00am. Since I am suddenly addicted to vampire books, I read till 4:00 or so and then fell asleep. The next morning we woke up and headed to Wadi Sham. With my excellent navigation skills, since I declared that I was an Omani road expert, we made it there without too many problems. We had a quick lunch of tuna sandwhiches and then set out on our hike in the Wadi Sham. The weather was perfect for a hike, warm in the sun, nice in the shade and still warm enough for a swim at the end. Well, I didn't swim, but more on that later.

This was the start of the hike

So, this is where Mark was able to swim to this awesome area, waterfall, through a little cavelike thing and all that. Oh, the benefits of being a male. I'm not sure how I haven't figured out that I have to have a one piece swimsuit and board shorts in order to feel comfortable, well, I guess somewhat comfortable, in the Middle East. Well, actually, that's not true, in Dubai anything is fine, but I should know that in Oman, in a public place, I need to dress conservatively. I guess that's how that goes.

Swimming area

My Omani friends

View of the gulf

Camping on the beach

The beach was perfect for camping, we just sat around, I read my Vampire book, watched that crazy electric blue thing that was happening with the waves, had a fire, drank some wine. Very relaxing. We got up the next morning, found our way to Muscat fairly easily, went to the palace area, walked through the souk and then had some lunch. Perfect. 

Palace area in Muscat

We left Muscat and headed home. While some people would be annoyed about having to wait at the border, I was happy because it meant I could read more of my book. The drive home was much faster than the drive there. We're now pretty much experts and could get back there easily... Right. 

This weekend should be fun, it's a friend's birthday and we're going to a brunch and then possibly some 4 x 4 activities in the desert on Saturday, or the park, beach something fun and outside. The next little bit is crazy busy. Camping and a relay race the weekend of the 13th, half marathon on the 20th in RAK, James Blunt concert and tennis match the next weekend, then my mom comes for the next two weekends... Busy! I'm hoping to get in Stairway to Heaven hike but it may be too hot by the time I have time...