Hello Salalah

Well, I am finally here. After procrastinating over when to come and what to bring I am here..and yes I packed nothing of use.

Oman Air....my flight from London to Muscat proved the most uncomfortable of my life. An experience I will not repeat (long haul). After being pushed, nudged and perhaps prodded (it may just have been his briefcase), then given the 'Jain' meal I ordered (which I hadn't...I am a carnivore) and finally being served a part frozen, part soggy cheese salad roll I was about fit to scream.  However, by comparison the flight from Muscat to Salalah was a breeze.

Anyhow, I am here and wow..what a beautiful place. The climate is perfect, the tree lined boulevards a nice surprise and the call to prayer soothing.  Since arriving, Mr LondonCallingSalalah (to be known henceforth as Mr LCS) has shown me the Sultan's Palace, Mughsayl Beach, Camels, The Crowne Plaza and The Hilton along with the rudimentary trips to Lulu's. I am still a little nervous of his driving here but I guess back-seat driving is my speciality.

Now, I am a London girl and am familiar with fly-tipping and people throwing gum on the pavements but I have been disturbed to see many a local proudly throw their rubbish out of a moving car...Mr LCS assures me that this is a common occurrence. Are there no fines in place here? Where are all the dustbins (garbage)? I feel like saying loudly 'Your country is beautiful! Look after it!!'.  What about re-cycling? What does one do?
I am uncomfortable with the number of plastic bags I am given at Lulu's...is it O.K to take my own every time I shop there?

Someone tell me.....where should we visit and what is a good way to spend the weekend? Oh.....and where does a girl go to get her hair done? ;)

Oman is calling me.....

The weather is dull and cold here today in London. It is only going to get worse as we start preparing ourselves both practically and mentally. Fog and fireworks have already been blamed by some for an awful accident which claimed innocent lives. What may have been a wonderful Christmas for those families will now be a time of great personal loss.

What I don;t get (along with the rest of the UK) is that we KNOW we have bad winters, yet we are never prepared. Guys, it snows here! Instead of spending public money on sculptures you claim will make us happier and help us get through this awful recession you have got us into, how about ensuring we have enough grit to clear the roads so that we can get to work and earn a living!

I love London, don't get me wrong. I have my moments when i despair, like when what should be a 20 minute car journey takes over an hour. Or when I don't feel safe walking from the shop across the road to my home for fear of being mugged by a group of miscreants hanging out on the street, causing distress to innocent passers by. But, these things aside, I love the freedom we have to express ourselves freely in every way, be it our political opinions or the way we choose to dress. I enjoy the fact that I can travel around without a chaperone, I can sit and have a coffee and cigarette on my own without feeling judged. I can go to the cinema on my own ( should I choose to) to see whichever film my heart desires. I love that I can have a romantic meal with my husband followed by a walk, holding hands along the River Thames.

This is all going to change. You see my husband has taken a job in Oman and I am to join him. I am familiar with the Middle East. Very familiar, however I have only ever stopped in transit in Muscat during the Cyclone of 2007 when we were stranded for 14 hours. Now, I find myself preparing for an adventure to Salalah, Dhofar. I have done as much research as has been possible in the time I have had and 'adventure' is how I am approaching it. It is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of London but maybe that is not a bad thing.

I have started this blog for myself really, as many of the things I have read (online) regarding Salalah are written by the type of Expat my husband and I are hoping to avoid. We are open minded and respectful to the culture. We are both British but only my husband is English...more on this will follow in time. I want this blog to be an account of my stay in Salalah and I hope it will be an education for myself and perhaps someone else out there who may be looking to do what we are doing.

I have enjoyed reading http://dhofarigucci.blogspot.com/ and hope to continue as her accounts are brave and honest along with witty!

The countdown for my departure begins.......