Life works in mysterious ways

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Oman Adventure Flash Back

May 9, 2019 was Ramadan month and a hot summer time. Lynn and I went to Nizwa with a travel guide. Lynn was visiting us (oh well, I delayed to post this travel note for a year, but the information is still relevant).

We waited in Holiday Inn Muscat early morning, to be picked up and then departed to Nizwa. The city is about 2 hours from Muscat. We stopped in different places along the way (my husband was working at that time, so he could not join our trip).

Our first stop was in an area near a little town called Fanja which is about 25 km from Muscat. We did not visit Fanja but we enjoyed staring at that town through the distance.

A view of an empty wadi (river)

Our second stop was Birkat Al Mawz, a small village in Nizwa. It is surrounded by palm dates. Lynn and I walked to the ruins at the Birkat Al Mawz. The ruins used to be a traditional village with houses made of mud mixed with stones and straws. I went inside a house that was partially intact and it felt cool, interesting. I really wish that this place could be better preserved and appreciated as it is so unique to Oman.

The ruins has clean water supply from Falaj (traditional irrigation system). It is so amazing that in the middle of the ruins, there is a stream of clean and cool water flowing. We spent some time walking inside the ruins, pretended to be a time traveller and lived the past at the present time.

Falaj in Birkat Al Mawz

In in Birkat Al Mawz, we managed to see Falaj Al Khatmeen, a 2450 meter long unique water system and listed as UNESCO world heritage site.

Falaj Al Khatmeen

After enjoying the flowing water, we visited Nizwa Souk it was unfortunate that a lot of shops were closed during that time but we did enjoy our time there looking around and buying some souvenirs. I got natural soaps and small pouches made of Omani textile style.

Different types of dates

Most of the shops in the souk are closed during this time

We spent most of our time in Nizwa Fort. The view from the top of the fort is beautiful but it was so hot at that time.

We had a short visit to Bahla. We did not manage to get into Bahla Fort but we managed to visit Jabreen Castle near the fort. Our travel guide forgot that during Ramadan, most of the tourist destinations are closed early. However, we had a good time enjoying the view from outside of the fort. We could see a small village surrounded by palm dates. I like that view, I think it is a unique place that can only be found in the dessert environment. I am from a tropical country covered with rain forests, so a small village with palm dates and spring water supply in the middle of nowhere is so appealing to me. I knew about "Oasis" from the school text book when I was young but never really imagine that one day I would had a chance to be in such place. Indeed, live works in a mysterious ways.

Time traveller wannabe (pic taken by Lynn)

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After spending some time in Bahla Fort, we stopped at Tanoof old village ruins. The ruins in Tanoof were made of mud mixed with stones and straws, similar to the one in Birkat Al Mawz. I enjoyed the time in the village and being in the ruins, wondering the good old time when people used to stay in their traditional houses and had simple life, far from "the disturbed modern life".

Lynn in Tanoof ruins

We went back home after visiting Tanoof. It was raining a bit on our way home. I hope we will have another opportunities in the future to explore different places in Oman.

Hello From Muscat

Posted by Mita on June 13, 2020 in life,

This is our second year in Oman (1 year 10 months to be exact). Time seems to move fast but at the same time it can be so slow to go by. I guess it depends on how we perceived it.

2019 was full of challenge in terms of our health. Both my husband and I struggled to recover from mercury poisoning. Dental mercury amalgams in our mouth made us ill. We are thinking of creating a specific blog to share our experience (let's see if we can make that blog!).

2020 is a strange year for everyone in this planet due to Corona virus infection. A lockdown policy was imposed in Oman from 17 March to 29 May 2020. The restriction is partially lifted right now but the damaged has been done. So many people infected with the virus, lost their jobs, lost their loved one, and lost perspective about what has happening. People are afraid of shaking hands, hugging and being closed to each other physically. I have never imagine this would happen.

At the same time, I don't think systematic changes have been done to address Corona infection such re-structuring health care system (to be more affordable and qualified), evaluating the existing health care facilities and how to improve it, providing better support for health care profession, conducting massive campaign about healthy life style. I am not aware of these thing being done by people in power.

Besides Corona virus, there is a collective action around the world to end racism. There is a word from an Indonesian thinker, Mr Pramoedya Ananta Toer or known as "Pram" that is very profound to me. He said "People must be just and fair, starting with what they think." It made me realized the importance of our conscious awareness.

Fighting for racism is fighting for justice. It is beyond the color of our skin. Racial discrimination is one of the manifestations of the presence of unjust thought, followed by unjust action and system in place. Sometimes, we think that we are right but unfortunately it is not necessarily just. Doing something that is popular as it is perceived as "right" by majority of the people is not necessarily just as well.

Friday, March 08, 2019

Good Bye Kurdistan

Posted by Mita on March 08, 2019 in cat, documents, Iraq, kurdistan, life, mondar mandir, pet passport, travel,

The time finally had arrived. Reluctantly, we had to leave Sulaimani for Muscat as my hubby got a new job there. We arrived in Oman at 28 August 2018 (I did not have time to update my blog until now). I had mixed feelings, sad to leave our friends but at the same time excited for our adventure ahead.

We took our 3 (THREE) rescued cats from Sulaimaniya, Mr George, Ginger and Dustywan. In the process of relocating the cats to Muscat we had to make several steps such as up dating their vaccines (rabies is the mandatory one), preparing their passports and import permits from the destined country. In preparing import permits, we communicated with a veterinarian office in Muscat six months prior our departure date. The people at the vet helped us to get necessary documents from Omani government. Two weeks prior to our departure, we took care of the export permit from the Government's veterinarian office in Sulaimaniya.

Import Permit, Health Certificates, Pet Passports

It costed about 350 USD for each cat to be put in the plane as a check in baggage. The kitties were fasting when we left. Fortunately, Dr Lynn, our dear friend saved us by accompanying us flying to Muscat. Not only helping us to carry Mr George but also lent us her suitcase ( I was nearly panic at the end of the day because we had more stuff to pack and we did not had enough suitcase).

At the airport, I felt like the process took forever. We needed to go to a quarantine office in Sulaimaniya airport before we start our check in. The officer wrote a letter for each cats. I felt so relieve after all the procedures were done and we went to the boarding room.

It was very easy when we arrived in Muscat International Airport. An officer and a driver from my hubby's office came to pick us up. We collected our kitties and bags from the conveyor bags. The immigration officers checked the kitties documents and ours. Then, they drive us to our lovely accommodation.

Our 3 kitties inside the carriers

Stuffs to be sent with cargo

I will miss looking at the flight schedule to Sulaimaniya

I will miss seeing this sign

Thursday, March 07, 2019

Bizzare Bazaar !!!

Posted by Mita on March 07, 2019 in bazaar, culture, Iraq, kurdistan, life, market,

We already moved to Oman by 2019. But I want to share about Bazaar, one of our favorite places in Sulaimaniya.

Sulaimaniya bazaar is so big, so vibrant, and it is feels so safe to be there. Whenever I went to the Bazaar, I always find something new, either a new shop or things that I did not see before. People take care of each other there. If you are a shop owner and need to have a break for lunch or prayer, you don't need to close the entire shop, just put a sign and other shop owners will watch and take care of your shop, the people too. They don't steal or find an opportunity to take something from the shop.

Rasha Mall