Going Under and Staying Under: Part Two

The events described in this post took place on or about April 21-23, 2010 in Muscat, Oman. For those of you viewing this through Facebook 'Notes', the original post is available on www.henrickatlarge.blogspot.com. It will enable you access to photo galleries and other multi-media material which don't transfer into 'Notes'






As I have posted before, I had enrolled in a 'Open Water Diving' course at the Oman Dive Center in Muscat.  Also, I had already completed half of the course two weeks ago.  I was originally supposed to complete the other half of the course last week, but could not do so due to severe dehydration (I was hung over as hell from the Tom Jones concert!).  So this past weekend I decided to 'get 'er done' and finish it off.

I was in Muscat visiting one of my favorite people in the world (who was in town or the SQU ESL conference), so that made the whole ordeal a lot easier.  I stayed at this really funky hotel by the beach (The Qurum Beach Hotel).  It was totally something right out of an Arabian 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).  From the font on the sign to the furnishings and decor, everything screamed 'Disco at the Casbah'.  It was actually pretty trippy. The lobby itself smelled like it was left over from the Seventies too (like someone's grandmother's house!  I spent most of Wens. and Thurs. hanging out and 'plotting' (something that I miss dearly).  We also had some great food in Muscat.  Being that I often go into to Muscat by myself, I don't really have the chance to 'dine' out (beside the occasional fast-food romp in one of the mall's).  We had a truly awesome dinner at Khargeen's (an Arabic fusion restaurant that gives you the option of sitting outside on a large carpet with pillows).  We even smoke a sheesha (Arabic style tobacco pipe) after dinner.  We also visited an amazing Thai restaurant as well.  We had been there last year, and I was very hapy to return.  If you like Thai and are in the Muscat area, I highly recommend 'Narjeel'.  They are the real deal.  I mean, they have five different types of Tum-Yam soup (not to mention a truly fantastic papaya sald).  The anachronistic accommodations notwithstanding, it was a great weekend!

On Friday, I did the last two  dives and finished my 'practical' part of the course.  Now I am officially an SSI open-water diver.  I can't wait to set up some really cool dives in the area.  It may even be the 'theme' of the Summer.  But anyway, after we came back to shore, I sat for a fifty-question test, got my 'ID' cards, and hurried on back to Nizwa.

Well, that was my weekend...

-H