Planning for the Summer

Well its almost April, and the semester draws near to an end. Just four weeks of classes, cram week, one week of finals, and its over folks. There's also a month we spend 'jacking off" and doing what I'm not too sure. But then I start my vacation. As I've made everyone aware of, I get about 60 days paid leave from my job. As I've also made everyone aware of, I have absolutely no intention of coming back to Oman, nor the Arabian peninsula, or the pan-Islamic world anytime very shortly. It was great guys, thanks for all the money. And by the way, beef-bacon is almost not entirely different than pork bacon. So this brings me to the quandary, I find myself in. What to do for the summer. Well, I do want to go back to the States for a bit, seeing as the flight is paid for. I also intend on flying-off again to Korea in Sept. to see exactly what Asia is like. So, I'm not coming back here. This makes me think I should get the most of the area where I'm at before I don't come back here for a while. So, the choice is simple... India!

With the Indian sub-continent in mind, I have to try and fulfill a few criteria.

• Relax (The backwardness of this place burned me out but good)
• See some cool stuff I've never seen before
• Take some time to clear my head and the weirdness in it by investigating some wildlife and greenery.
• Go somewhere where English is popular if not dominant and still 'be outside a western context'
• Maybe check out an ancient civilization

So... India is a no-brainer.

Here's the general plan

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Well, as you can see if you zoom-out on the map, I'm right across the Indian Ocean from India. SO, I hope a flight to Kerala bottom tip of the sub-continent Kerala:Wikipedia). There I can chill out. THere are many Indians here in Oman, and its really easy to find people who can recommend hook-ups back in the old =-country. I actually know some guys with connections in Kerala. SO its obvious. It's a great place for resorts and lots of stuff to do, great beaches and so forth. There's an elephant preserve there and its very green and lush. Its also bordering on the rainy season, so I won't have to deal with all the jerk-tourists and things like that, phew! I want to stay at a rest-house or a bungalow on the beach for about 5-6 days. Rejuvenate, relax, and generally increase the chill-factor a bit (here it's fell many notches). After that, want to go on a train and travel up the east coast of India (or fly depending on how long this will take me, not because of distance, but because of logistics. India is still a non-developed nation) From here I want to check out Nepal, and Bhutan, . All of these regions being once part of the huge kingdom of Tibet!. I want to check out the Himalayas (another 'tick' off on the been-there, done-that list). After all that, come back to the states, chill with you-all and my dog, and then get ready to 'do' east-Asia. Sounds like a plan! So if you've been to any of these places, and have suggestions, know places or people, or have a hook-up, well let a brother know... till later..

Stuff that's worth a gander...

Hey all, just thought I'd drop a line. Its the 'beginning of the end' of the semester (mid-terms are the death rattle we are all waiting to hear). As such, I do not have anything to post right now (because I am so damned busy). Though I thought you would like to check out some other blogs that I think are extremely worthwhile and I'd like to share with the world. Here are the links: (one is political/social, the other is about food) check 'em out)

• http://www.eyeswideoman.blogspot.com
• http://www.expateating.blogspot.com

Hope you check 'em out and enjoy them... Peace...

A city built on sand!

Well, as most of you know (those who have been following my posts and status messages), I went to Dubai this weekend.  I was there for a conference, got a great deal on a flight+hotel room package.  I've been working tremendously hard in these last 8 months, doing a hell of a lot more than I am being paid for, and I seriously needed some down-time.  One of my middle east goals was to go to Dubai, so it was perfect.  Professional development, Dubai, a little change of scenery.

Well, there's a few things I know (second-hand) about Dubai.  Here's the list:

• Incredibly crowded
  
• Traffic is hell
  
• Very difficult to get a taxi
  
• Incredibly expensive
  

So, this is what I was expecting from the city when I got there.  When I arrived a few taxis fought over me.  I didn't have to wait more than 30 seconds until I was picked up by a cab, that nearly crashed into another cab, which was also trying to 'get the fare'.  When we hit the road the streets were empty.  Traffic flowed like a brisk current.  None of the ''grid lock' Ive heard so much about.  That was also the case later on that evening.  I had to take a cab cross-town to get to Cirque de Soliel.  I was told by a friend to allow about 2 hours for the 20 Km. ride.  It took about a half an hour, very few cars on the highway, and we bobbed and weaved our way straight to the Ibn Battuta mall (named after a famous Arab explorer, each wing is decorated in the style of one of places he explored).  It is a fairly large place, made to look even larger by the fact that no one was in it.  The mall was deserted ...  I mean, like an American mall on a Tues. afternoon.  This was also the case on the next night, when I went to the outlet mall.  A very popular and tremendous place on the outskirts of Dubai.  Also, completely empty (on a Thurs. night), not to mention the streets were sparsely populated with automobiles and getting to and back on a weekend night around midnight was a breeze.  

As you can see from the above, I spent a lot of time at malls, and with good reason.  Dubai is known for its shopping.  However, everything in the damn town is on SALE.  I don't mean half off, I mean 75%.  That's right, there's a fire-sale right now in all shops in Dubai, and still no one is shopping.  I bought things to wear, which I  have never been able to afford, even with my salary now.  I walked away with 3000$ in Pierre Cardin, and Ted Lapidus fashions for about 750$.  I bought a whole new wardrobe for the price of 2 formal outfits.  It was crazy.

Needless to say, the city of Dubai is in very bad shape economically.   The thing is no one is allowed to talk about it. In true Arab fashion, there is a 1,000,000 Dirham fine for reporting on the Dubai economy.  There were job losses in droves in the past two months.  After the losses, the Ex-pat flight began.  Thousands of cars were left at the airport abandoned as people fled the sinking sands. Check out this article on that LINK.  I was talking to one of our cabbies, a upper tier manager not 2 months ago.  A very intelligent dude, with many interesting insights on the state-of-Dubai economics.  He was an Indian (one of the largest immigrant groups in the Emirates).  He said that about 75,000 Indian children had been issued 'transfer certificates' at the schools (these are like academic records and transcripts), as their parents were moving back home to India.  This is made all-the-more strange, by the fact that India is in no better shape economically.  But, I guess that if your going to be out-of-work and poor, its better to do it around family and friends, in a place you view as home.

 for more on the economics check out these links

Dubai economy

Ban on Reporting on the Economy

NYT: 1000's of foreigners laid-off

All-in-all, I had a great time, with none of the 'downs' I had heard about, it was all fun-and-games.  It was really great, like NY with sunny weather in Mar. and very few people.  I feel as if I had the entire town to myself.  My advise to anyone, go here now, and cash in on the great deals, there's still a lot to see and at a savings of 75%, you get a lot of bang for your buck.  I think its a great place, and now while the going is great, visit.

Wadis, the saving grace of Rustaq

Well lets be honest, Oman is the developing world. Being the case, there are a lot of things that you don't get her, which you would in a place like the 'States and Europe. That especially the case with where I am, in Rustaq. Now in a place like Muscat (the capital city) you do get many of the conveniences of a developed nation (don't get me wrong, you pay out-the-ass for them, but they are available). Things such as Starbucks, Swine, and Booze, god love 'em all.

Though one thing that Oman is very well stocked up on, especially the outer regions, is natural beauty.


View Larger Map

So I'm not really in the interior, but I am away from the coast. Its not too bad. I mean, I am 1 1/2 away from the capitol, two and a half from the Emirates, Etc. If you look on the terrain view of the embedded map, you will see that I am nestled in the crocth of an incredible mountain range. That is significant. This is the place where the really cool Wadis are.
A Wadi, is a dry river bed. Remember this is the middle east, it seldom rains. But when it does, it flood. SO the water collects at the lowest point and flows. Over many many years it carves a path through the low-points, making a river-bed or a valley. It also usually has some sort of an Aquifer under it because some of the water does go down into the ground. So you find some amazing flora here. I must admit, it does look out of place in the middle of this Arid steppe, but it is beautiful nonetheless.

So going to hike in the mountains at one of these Wadis is really cool and beautiful. I live maybe within 'striking' distance from 5-6 of the major Wadis in Oman. So here are some pictures of Wadi Bani Kharooos, which takes about 3-5 min by car to get to.
Well, I need to go pack for the Emirates trip tomorrow. When I come pack, expect a post on Dubai and Cirque de Soliel, and probably how bad Ex-pat English teachers suck as a group-entity. So until then, I hope you enjoy the wonderful pictures.

True Globalization

This photo is proof-positive that multi-natioal companies are everywhere.

It seems that not just New England runs on Dunkin' Donuts!