Out and about: Dubai and Muscat

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month across the globe and that's an affliction that has wrought havoc in our family and without doubt needs a cure.  That initiative needs an extra push here in the Middle East where cultural norms have historically ignored such discussion.  However in recent years there has been a growing emphasis in countries like the UAE and 2011 seems to have been a tipping point year with activities becoming part of the broader consciousness.  So on the morning of October 28 we joined the students of Sarah and Alexander's school in a Dubai Charity Walk with 12000 of our closest friends (of course none of them had the cool theme-inspired tights that Sarah did).  The very good cause and the cooling weather made for a wonderful morning.

November brought a mini-break in the Muslim observance of Eid al Adha which, although based on very different historical circumstances, has the happy family feel of Christmas.  It is a "real" holiday and since businesses are truly closed down we decided relatively late in our normal planning to take a trip to Muscat, Oman.  It is less than an hour to fly (the family wouldn't let the writer drive -- apparently some concern about driver anxiety along the way!) but feels like a world away with the mountain vistas compared to the flat of Dubai.

Before we left we randomly chose a hotel called the Al Bustan Palace which turned out to have been built for a heads of government meeting and the top floor is still reserved only for the Sultan of Oman (and hence the "Palace" name).  The hotel was indeed palatial and somehow we were upgraded to a presidential suite which was larger than many houses we have lived in.  Sarah and Alexander thought it wonderful as their room was literally so far away they could legitimately claim they could not hear their parents!

Next morning we took a tour boat out to enjoy dolphin watching in the Arabian Sea which was a wonderful experience as the dolphins frolicked around us.  For those who have seen the 2005 film version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, we spent way too much time singing "So long and thanks for all the fish".  Photo courtesy of Sarah -- be appreciative as dolphins are EXTREMELY difficult to photograph.


The remainder of the vacation was spent lazing around, swimming and kayaking in the beautiful sea, and a trip into old Muscat to visit the Souk which has been a  trading market between Asia and the Middle east for centuries.

Overall Muscat was a wonderful experience.  The people were very friendly and hospitable, and we highly recommend it to everyone.  Of course it helps if you are upgraded in a Palace, but since I can't figure out how it happened to us just book it and see what happens!  Cheers.