MUSCAT, OMAN
I seem to write in the middle of the night/early hours, as my body clock is still out. Wide awake & alone. Usually. Tonight I have the company of Siena & a coat hanger. However, she missed out on my midnight snack of olives, cheese & crackers & dates. The dates being an arrival gift, & very nice. Maybe we'll add them to our weekly diet.
THE FLIGHT
This morning we left souless Dubai & took a super quick flight to Muscat. The airport time & stress is pretty much triple or quadruple the actual flight time. I understand why choosing to drive 5 hours for Dubai excursions might be preferable.
The view was incredible the whole way. A magnificent irridescent sea coast & sand and rock patterns absolutely majestic. Smooth flying & delectable views, great meal, but had to eat super quick between take-off & landing. The greatest flight I've ever had! It seemed to take longer to seat everyone than it did to fly. Seems so weird for an international flight.
Arriving in Oman was heaps more laid back than Dubai. Thankfully. More like flying into Fiji. The people, the pace, even the driving is more my cup of tea.
Arriving in Oman was heaps more laid back than Dubai. Thankfully. More like flying into Fiji. The people, the pace, even the driving is more my cup of tea.
OUR HOME
Whole family is now up but its only 3.45am. The kids are talking to imaginery people, looking for imaginery treasure, hunting in imaginery caves, so no chance of getting them back to sleep. At least they are loving their new place, enjoying exploring.
We are in a company sort of townhouse complex. Our townhouse is one of a few that make up a rectangle with back yard/patio areas opening on to a pool, slide & grassy garden area for all to use. That was a surprise and is going to be great. So far we haven't shown the children because they'd want us to be in the pool all day long. They loved the kids pool when we stayed in Dubai, but it was a bit hard with all 3. Si in particular kept falling under accidentally/on purpose evoking coughing fits.
LAYOUT
Our townhouse is similar to our home in Meadowbank. Three large bedrooms, one with ensuite, plus kids bathroom on the upper storey & and extra loo downstairs along with living/dining & kitchen. A washing machine is included in the kitchen for the laundry. The fridge is a bit on the massive side. There are super large cupboards/imaginery worlds upstairs & down, excellent storage for pushchairs, suitcases, a spot of exploration & hide n seek. They have locks with keys which I might ferret away as I can see some lock-ins happening. The walls are all concrete & floors all tile which are lovely & cool & easy to clean, but not great for cushioning little heads.
OUCH WITH TILE FLOORS
In the evening we heard a huge bang which turned out to be Siena pushed by Kaija off the couch on to her head. She screamed! We were really upset & worried because she went groggy for a bit & the scream unbearable. Soon after that she went to sleep, and then woke up ok. We got her some calmol or something which is the same as NZ's pamol. They must get some head injuries with kids here. Our kids are constantly knocking into the walls & floors.
Our home also comes with 5 airconditioners which are great. Still trying to get that delicate balance between too hot & too cold. We also have a little enclosed, concrete courtyard to hang washing, with shaded bit to sit or play and then the gates through to the communal pool area. Its probably about 20 years old, but well-designed.
Our home also comes with 5 airconditioners which are great. Still trying to get that delicate balance between too hot & too cold. We also have a little enclosed, concrete courtyard to hang washing, with shaded bit to sit or play and then the gates through to the communal pool area. Its probably about 20 years old, but well-designed.
I think we're going to be quite happy here in the "transit housing". Apparently we may be here for up to 9 months before we get a "permanent home" in the camp. "The camp" is a whole suburb with about 400 homes that belong to the company & most expat employees & families are living there. Its within the company compound & very easy to get to the school, kindy, work, recreation club etc. Now that I see how defensive & adventurous the driving is, I can see why it might be good live on-camp.
DRIVING
Seth is due to be picked up this morning & taken to work by a driver. He has jumped the gun a bit though. As we landed in Muscat in the morning, at 8.30am, were fast-tracked through processing with visas etc & driven to our new home where we were met by 2 white robed gentlemen & welcome pack, we were then all alone by about 9.30am. Unpacking & running around like yahoos kept us busy until the head accident which triggered all 3 monsters to eventually go to sleep.
Whilst we slept, Seth ordered a company driver to pick him up, take him to the company offices to collect a car which he drove home & we can use for 10 days. Seems they're still going to collect him this morning though. Probably good, because this left-hand drive car, right-hand lane driving is a mind bender. We really had to concentrate to keep on track. It' only Day 1 though. Probably after a week of drives each day, it'll be easier.
SUPERMARKET
After collecting the car, Seth stopped at a supermarket 3 mins drive away which we returned to again in the evening. It's always fun exploring supermarkets in different countries. Interesting to see what's the same as home, what's different. Some things here feel similar to living in Japan. Some of the small, cute sizing of products, & the packaging.
A lot of western faces at this supermarket. The supermarket carpark also deals in pirated DVDs & car washes. I was gutted to find Seth turned away a DVD seller. We have a tv but no signal & a few would have been great.
OUR FIRST FAUX PAS
We shopped up a storm in the supermarket getting start up provisions & at the checkout when it was time to pay Seth discovered he didn't bring his credit card. We're still carrying mostly US dollars as we kept missing opportunities to exchange currency through the airport system. It's so hectic nowdays, post 9/11 & post children its always a rush to check in & a rush to get to the plane before it takes off. There wasn't even any time to soak up the business lounge experiences.
Luckily I remembered my bag with wallet & most importantly, credit card was in the car & managed to stop Seth in the carpark just as he was ripping off home to retrieve his. Relief for me, as I was the one with 3 kids (growing more impatient) standing at the check out in everyone's way, with 2 trolleys full, feeling like a right noggin. (Discovered some checkout operators do speak engish though.)
We shopped up a storm in the supermarket getting start up provisions & at the checkout when it was time to pay Seth discovered he didn't bring his credit card. We're still carrying mostly US dollars as we kept missing opportunities to exchange currency through the airport system. It's so hectic nowdays, post 9/11 & post children its always a rush to check in & a rush to get to the plane before it takes off. There wasn't even any time to soak up the business lounge experiences.
Luckily I remembered my bag with wallet & most importantly, credit card was in the car & managed to stop Seth in the carpark just as he was ripping off home to retrieve his. Relief for me, as I was the one with 3 kids (growing more impatient) standing at the check out in everyone's way, with 2 trolleys full, feeling like a right noggin. (Discovered some checkout operators do speak engish though.)
Of course Seth in his manic panic & handicapped by his man-eyes didn't even see my large tote bag sitting right next to him in the car, let alone think to have a quick look in it for my wallet. Disaster averted, in a more fragile state, we drove home, old-ladyishly on the right side of the road in the dark, missing turnoffs as we went.
No comments:
Post a Comment