We left Dubai and drove the 5 hours to Muscat, Oman. The drive was fairly uneventful, but along our way, we took a small detour to stop at an oasis (pictures towards the bottom). That experience with the local people was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had - very touching and moving. It was hard to believe that people lived like that.
I really enjoyed Oman - it was a beautiful place with pretty mountains and lots of water. The people seemed a little more open and friendly than in Dubai. It was also right on target from a cultural standpoint, as opposed to how Americanized Dubai was.
My favorite part of this country was our day on the water, dolphin watching and snorkeling. What a cool experience!
And in case you are unaware of where Dubai, United Arab Emirates (1 of the 7 Emirates) and Muscat, Oman are...here is a link to a map so you can place them geographically!
Sweet hair. The humidity was a killer for me - oh , it was almost like being back home!
Fell in love with these two dogs who just passed out on the beach
The bar at the beach that Christina and I laid out by and got beers from. Nothing better than a cold beer at the beach.
The man in the traditional clothes befriended us a few days prior, and volunteered to take us on a walking tour of Oman towards the Sultan's palce, etc. He ws very cool and very nice. He was about our age, and basically worked in finance for the Sultan. He drove a cab in his free time for extra cash, so he always offeredc to drive us places for free. But I was torn - there were definitely moments when I stopped and wondered what his intentions were, and if they were truely harmless and genuine, which is sad that I thought that. You just don't often meet strangers who are willing to go to such lengths for you, with nothing in it for them. Yet another life lesson :)
I bought two scarves from this man at the Souk. I had the biggest crush on him. He was so cute and nice, and didn't even really speak English.
The Grand Mosque. This place was so cool and clean and white...
There were goats everywhere!
You can't tell how skinny this cat is, but they had creepy, skinny cats everywhere.
In the Mutrah Souk
That's Christina, and notice the woman in the background. I don't know what it was about the traditional dress - I just don't get it. And we were taught that it is not religious - it is simply how they used to keep the sand out of their face in the old days...but then why do they still do it?
So many scarves everywhere!
Near the Sultan's palace
The Sultan's Palace
This place sold these mini sandwiches that were almost like sloppy joes (pork, chicken or beef) that we stopped and got. They were so good, and they were the equivalent of about 50 cents each.
I will say, in Oman, they pay a lot of attention to the roundabouts - each one normally has some cool, unique sculpture, or boat or something in the middle of it!
Who knew dates grew on palm trees? Gitte and I found that out! I thought it was only coconuts...
I thought these concrete things were cool to use to break up the waves instead of rocks.
Probably my favorite excursion in Oman was to go dolphin watching and snorkeling...
This is the cove we snorkelled in - my first time.
There is a dolphin there...I swear!
The Sultan's yacht
The Grand Mosque
These girls were probably one of my favorite moments in Oman. They walked up to me - the one in the white is carrying a baby bird in her hand. They spoke to me as best they could in English; they said my dress was pretty - they were so cute and innocent, and lived in a very unsettling place - it is near an oasis of water, but very dirty in general. Talking to the girls was the coolest thing ever, and I felt like I was in one of those commercials for Save the Children! I will never forget that moment....
When we first arrived, these little kids asked us for 1 Rial (the form of currency) in order for us to be allowed to take their pictures. None of us paid, but as we hung out longer, they allowed us to take pictures of them while they were playing. Which is part of the reason it was so cool those two little girls came up to me and started talking to me.
Going through customs along the road
This was actually in Dubai, on the ceiling of the hotel room so you knew which direction to face for prayer time. The call to prayer that you hear 5 times a day is so unique - that would be something I would have to get used to! 
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