Diving Weekend: Diving the Dymanyats

Image at:   http://www.bishopmuseum.org/research/pbs/Oman-coral-book/Chap2/CorBkCh24.jpg

This post recollects events that occurred on June 25th, 2010 in Barka, Oman.  The original post can be found at: http://www.henrickatlarge.bloagspot.com. For those of you viewing this post through 'Facebook Notes', it  is highly advisable to click on the link to the original post.  This post contains embedded pictures, video and other media that do not transfer into 'Notes'.

As anyone following this blog knows, I have posted a few times on my new obsession, diving.  I haven't done much in the way of diving since my initial open-water diving certification in April. This is due to the general craziness of May vis-a-vis end-of-the-semester chaos, finals, and grades.  Though as previously mentioned, June is quite the opposite.  With very few work responsibilities, opportunities to explore neglected hobbies and interests abound. So, that's exactly what I've been doing.  This weekend is an excellent example of this.  As Friday rolled around, myself and my friend Jared jumped in the car and took a trip to Al Sawadi beach resort to take a diving trip to the Dymanyat islands.



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It was a great trip.  As I said above, I haven't gone diving since my certification.  That is important because (as you know) I am leaving for Ko Tao Thailand on Wens, where I will be on a 6 day diving excursion.  That being said, I only had 4 dives under my belt, and wanted some more practice before I went 'hardcore' next week.


Location:
As in normal, we went for two 45-60 min dives.  One in 'Little Junn Island' (Doc's Wall), and the other on the backside of  'Junn Island' (Junn wall and around the lip toward the Aztec Reef).

Creatures of note:
Seaturtles (Two of them)
 Lionfish (Three of these. One solo and a pair)
Honeycomb Moray (This one was tremendous, and it was in a rock that had an open back so you could see the rest of his gargantuan body)
Angel Fish
Lizard Fish
Picaso Trigger-fish

I'm sure there were a lot more species there, though my head was in another place.  I was much more concerned with working on the technical aspects of diving.  On that note, my bouyancy was much easier to maintain, and I was much better at controlling myself with my lungs rather than focusing too much on the air in my BCD. So, there was progress made.  Well... I have to go and make sure all the details are ironed out for Wens.

H

Murder Mystery Birthday (or 'Guess who Died at Dinner')

This post recollects events that occurred on June 21st, 2010 in Nizwa, Oman.  The original post can be found at: http://www.henrickatlarge.bloagspot.com. For those of you viewing this post through Facebook Notes, it  is highly advisable to click on the link to the original post.  This post contains embedded pictures, video and other media that do not transfer into 'Notes'.




As a general rule I'm not big on birthdays. I often view the celebrations of these 'occasions' as some sort of an obligatory social responsibility. Though once in a while I am reminded how cool such a celebration can be.  Especially when the itinerary deviates from the time-honored tradition of cake-and-singing.  This past Monday was just such a case.

We were gathered to celebrate the lapping of our star by three of our fellow Niz-wa-ra-tee.  My friends Jared, Emily, and Rachel (the last of whom we were all unaware of. as far as we were concerned, we were only celebrating the birthdays of the first two).  At the onset of the planning stage, someone put forth the proposition that we do something different.  That was OK by me.  By something different, I had assumed they meant a different type of liquor should be served, or a theme party where everyone dresses up like someone from the Matrix or something.  But when it was announced that we would all be participating in a murder-mystery, I was truly intrigued.

In a few days, we had all received scripts and characters.  The gist was this: It's the 1920's, and a Mob family is having a dinner to honor the ascension of a new Don.  The result: murder, madness, and mayhem ensues.  I was cast in the roll of 'Crusher Joe' a underground muscle type (talk about type-casting).  It was quite fun. I won't give away too much of the plot, but there was intrigue, roughed-up snitches and rats, and fake blood everywhere at certain points of the evening.  This all coupled with a lot of wine and a great pasta dinner.  I really did have a great time.  Kudos to Rachel for organizing everything and cooking an amazing dinner...
FORGETABOUTIT!

My 'Metrosexual' Weekend in Salalah

The events described in this post took place on or about June 16-18, 2010 in Salalah, 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 mentioned previously, June in Oman can be a month of impotence and boredom. I was suffering from acute ennui as a result of having no teaching hours, and being forced to amuse myself (which, as you know, always ends up in the most dreadful of affairs). So, I took the opportunity of scheduling a mini-vacation in a part of Oman called Salalah. I have a very dear friend there, and used this 'picture-perfect' opportunity to go visit her.

A little background:
Salalah is  located at the very southernmost of Oman.  It lies near the Yemani border in a region called Dofar.  The region is very old, and has a rich history as a port.  It was in ancient times, one of chief centers for the Frankincense trade.  It has a climate that is unlike the rest of the Gulf.  It is actually quite tropical and is known for its mild and pleasing clime.


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I took a flight out with Oman air. Spent a total flight time of one-and-a-half hours and arrived in Salalah.  There was a temprature difference of 15 celcius between my two points of travel. The truly odd thing is that I was actually a lot closer to the equator when I landed than when I started.  I was completely blown away by how beautiful Salalah is.  Coconut trees abound, and one can seldom tell you are still in the Gulf. This might be the closest I have been to being inside the 'tropics'. 


We spent most of the time at the beach.  Salalah has georgeous beaches of a caliber that I have not seen anywhere else in the Gulf.  Salalah is going into their rainy season (called Kareef). This is due to the monsoons in the Indian ocean and Asia.  As a result, the sea there becomes a more turbulent. This is not so great for swimming but it makes for a visual and auditory aestetic that reminded me of my Atlantic Ocean at home.  


We took a trip up the coast to a place called Mirbat.  Had lunch at the Marriot (which was the most pleasant hotel I  have ever been to in the Gulf so far).  The Marriot's staff was delightful.  The grounds were vibrant and the architecture was far more beautiful than the standard 'vacant' , 'dead', and 'generic'  type of structures you find in the 5-star chain hotels in this part of the world.  We also went to the Frankincense Spa at the Marriot, and got Balinese massages.  It was quite the 'metrosexual experience'. I am not accustomed to being rubbed down with fragrant oils, and breathing deep the aroma-therapy laden air of a spa.  I must admit, I quite liked it. I understand now why people undergo these types of procedures.  You might smell like a honeysuckle for the rest of the day, but boy do you feel amazing! 


During the ride out to and away form Mirbat, we got a chance to stop the car and check out some of the local sites.  The coast here is breathtaking in spots.  There are also many camels grazing along the side of the road.  I took some videos of these magnificent beasts (who were generally nonplussed by me I might add).


Here is a great video of me disturbing Camels near the beach as they try and eat.


After the Mirbat excursion, we took part in a yoga class that was held on the lawn of the Crown Plaza in Salalah.  This was great! It was like being in one of those Yoga videos.  Right behind the instructor was the crashing ocean. The smell of sea-brine and the roar of the waves made this a yoga experience like none other I have ever had.


The next day featured my first Thai massage.  This was great!!! I was kneaded and twisted in a variety of different ways for an entire 90 minutes.  This was a truly amazing kind of 'therapy'.  I can't wait to have it done again in two weeks (when I go to Thailand). 


The rest of the weekend was mostly coffee on the beach, authentic Indian cuisine, and enjoying fresh tropical fruit from stands that sell what they grow.  <sarcasm>You know... Blase</sarcasm>


All in all, I had a truly amazing weekend.  I got to hang out with one of my favorite people in the world, do really amazing things, as well as go to a truly spectacular place.  I highly recommend checking out Salalah if you are in the area for business/pleasure.  You will not regret it! It is a place like no-other in the Middle East!!!

Oman in June... 30 day nothing OR Navel Gazing for Dummies

So it's been almost a month since my last post.  But that's reasonable given the circumstances.  Almost everyone reading this has either been a member of the faculty and/or student body at some sort of tertiary institution of learning.  That being the case, you realize what the latter-half of May and early June consist of - EXAMS,CHAOS, and UTTER MAYHEM!!! The up-swing to this is like most tempests, what they leave in their wake can best be described as pacific.  So is the case here. In the aftermath of Exams exists a masoleum-like stillness.  It is actually driving me crazy!!! But, those of you who know me, can easily picture a frenetic-type of person like me having a real problem with unstructured down-time of this magnitude!

One of the ways I have come up with to deal with the amount of time at my disposal has been planning my vacation.  As you probably know, I have recently become an Open Water Diver.  I think of no better way to cut my teeth as a novice diver than to take advantage of my nearness in vicinity to some of the best diving in the world.  Yes, you guessed it.... Thailand.  As of the 30th of this month, I will be in 'The land of smiles'.   After a briefing 'whirlwind-tour' of visiting Temples and palaces (about a day-and-a-half), I will be off to Ko Tao  to stay at one of the many dive-resorts there. 

(for those of you who are looking, Ko Tao is the 'speck' to the upper-right of where it says Brandon Bay)
For those of you who have Google Earth on your machine, here's a better view

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Links to Big Blue Resort (where I'm staying)

Wiki Media links to pictures of Ko Tao
 Wikitravel page for Ko Tao

Here's a video shot at Ko Tao.  It's a group of diver's 'hanging out' with a whale shark (which are pretty common in the area). 

I am sure I will have many pictures, stories and tales of 'misadventure' to report on my return to Oman in early-mid July.  Until then, I guess  I will just have to find new-and creative ways of amusing myself.

Till then....