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Published: January 9th 2011
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I decided to combine Oman and Qatar into one blog since we were in both countries for less than a week combined. We were lucky to be couchsurfing again in these countries as there are no hostels at all, camping would be insane, and the cheaper hotels start at more than 100 dollars a day. True they are all luxury but on the best of days I would not want to spend such money on a hotel.
So, Oman. Like Dubai I really liked Oman. So a bit of history that I thought was interesting. It was fasinating to see how much in common Oman has to Zanzibar. When we were in Zanzibar we learned that Zanzibar used to be part of Oman, but really didnt think too much about it at the time. In Oman the well designed and layed out museums did a great job showing the proud history of Oman. In fact while Portugal was off colonizing India, Pakistan, Angola, Mozambique, China and other places of the world the Omanis kicked the Portuguese out of Oman in around 1650 and remained the dominant naval and military force in the area for some 250 years. I had no
idea about this. Starting from the late 1800s Oman got smaller and smaller, lost Zanzibar when it united with Tanzania (but retained a Sultan) and lost Gwadar to Pakistan. Their East African territories including Mombassa were long gone. The mid 1900s saw the current sultan's father rule from about 1930-1970 when he was overthrown by his son and current sultan Qaboos bin Said.
Qaboos, pronounced like the last car on a train, is really revered in Oman. Like King Rama 9th of Thailand, Kim Il-Sung of Korea DPR, and Fidel Castro of Cuba, Sultan Qaboos has passed the 4 decade mark of leadership. His pictures and slogans are everywhere and he is an expert in almost everything. Since he is just 70 and in good shape he could go another 20 years. He is strangely single so we do not know about his succession plans. Anyhow, I was really interested in the history of Oman and enjoyed the cleanliness and the architecture and in all seriousness Sultan Qaboos really has brought his country out from the isolation of his father into the modern age in a short period of time.
In Qatar is was also less than 100
degrees. There was a definate sports fever in the air. Qatar was recently awarded the 2022 World Cup of Soccar. While we were there we attended the Qatar Open (Tennis) and got to see the world's top two players in Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Both of them beat their rivals.
Also the Asian Cup was going on. So, for those who may not know, the year before the World Cup takes place in the country that will next host the World Cup there occurs a tourneyment called “Fifa Confederation's Cup.” This tourneyment has 8 teams, the current world champion, the host country and the winners of soccar's 6 divisions (North America, Oceania, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa). The winner of this Asian Cup will represent Asia in the 2013 Fifa Confederation's Cup in Brazil, the site of the 2014 World Cup.
Besides sporting events we went to the Islamic Museum of Art (designed by Pei), strolled around the Corniche (waterside harbour), bummed around Souq Waqif (oldest souq in Qatar), went to the zoo but was informed that it was ladies day (no harrassment from men or camels) and hung out at a nearby mall that was
showing the 3rd Meet the Parents movie with Ben Stiller and Robert Deniro. You'll see mall pictures in the slides and as expected it was over the top. First of all the “sky” or ceiling was so well painted it really looked like a blue sky. There was a water river or canal in the mall on which you could take to a gondoleer from one store to the next complete with bridges over the canal. Each hallway looked like a road and the shops were 2 stories, the second story of which was a facade designed to look like an upper aparrtment. Indoor amusement park, giant cinema, ice rink, etc.. it was really amazing.
Now we are in Beijing and it is minus 10 Celcius or 20 Farenheit or so and bitterly cold. We are wearing all of our layers but it is hardly enough. Still January is the coldest month in Beijing so that means each progressive month will be at least a bit warmer. We are planning on teaching English here this spring semester, so wish us luck that it works out well.
Till next time..
Zaijian (bye in Chinese)
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Charles G. Mc Namara
non-member comment
Wonderfull!
The photo"s are wonderfull quality,& a memorable look into another world. as I am a decendant of a far-east woman. Nice really over wellming.the culture there should not be destroyed, for the sake of greed, By any-one in the west. agree?