Dolphins and turtles

During the last month we went to both dolphin as well as turtle watching. Not in same place and not on same day, though ;)

As for dolphins' watching, I better show you some photos:

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Some weekends ago we drove to Ras Al Jins with my dear friend and her family. We had booked the turtle watching tour at Ras Al Jins Scientific and Visitor Center about a week in advance. We had decided to go for evening tour, starting at 9pm, had to pay 3OMR for an adult and 1OMR for a kid. We were first taken by the bus nearer to the beach, then the guide gave us some information about the turtles nesting while other guide was already further on the beach to look for turtles. After a short walk we arrived very close to the sea and first we could see a turtle that laid eggs: flop and flop, one after another. Then, we saw some turtles who already returned to the sea. Then, another one who was covering the nest with sand. And finally a tiny turtle baby. The guide said we were lucky that we could see so much.

It was not allowed to take any photos (to not scare away the turtles) and it was disgracing how some south-European tourists just could not understand it and the guide had to explain them over and over again that taking photos, even without lighting, is prohibited.

Royal Opera House in Muscat

Muscat's one of the most beautiful buildings seems to be Royal Opera House. So far I had seen it only from the car window but now when my cousin was visiting us it was a good chance to go to see a performance there. Around Christmas, "Broadway On Ice" was played. 

We arrived early to collect the tickets (that I had bought online about a month earlier; I chose tickets that costed 10OMR (around 20€) per person; there were cheaper and more expensive tickets available) and then we had enough time to go for a short walk around the opera house (but we could not go all around; it seems one side of the opera house and garden is VIP zone) and enjoy some cakes in a café nearby. Then it was time to go back to the opera house. Our handbags got scanned and we had to go through security gate - what an experience! I mean I have never visited any theatre with that kind of security control. Then, I was curious to see what the locals wear in the opera house. Actually there are some strict rules about dress-code in the opera house's webpage: The dress code is formal or business including suits or dinner jackets for men and conservative dresses below the knee for women. Dishdasha and Massar for Omani. No jeans, t-shirts, or tennis shoes. 

There were relatively few Omanis enjoying the performance, most of the audience seemed to be either tourists or expats. And to my surprise not many women cared about conservative dressing and there were many skirts or dresses above the knees and some naked shoulders. Not among Omani women, of course, they were wearing abayas (with more decorations than usually seen). But I also did not see anybody sent back from the door, so I suppose they are actually rather relaxed about the dress-code.

The performance was great! I had never seen figure skating live, so I really enjoyed the performance with beautiful and advanced choreography and beautiful music. While watching the performance I could not help but wonder how relaxed Oman actually is. I mean, the skaters were wearing "common" short skater skirts and there was quite some passion in the performance. But maybe that's why there were so few Omanis enjoying the performance because it is still "over the limits" for some locals? Anyway, it was a very enjoyable evening. 

Christmas and New Year in Oman

Winter Wonderland in one of the biggest malls in Muscat

It was for the second time we spent Christmas in Oman. Of course, the locals do not celebrate Christmas and no free days are given during Christmas but yet, the big supermarkets have Christmas trees up and there are whole departments that sell Christmas stuff.

Another Winter Wonderland in another mall in Muscat

We also bought a small artificial Christmas tree and put it up rather early (in Estonia we bring the Christmas tree only at Christmas Eve or a day before). I had a good reason for it - it had to remind me that Christmas were coming. For me Christmas always associate with winter, cold and snow (although we also do not have snow every Christmas in Estonia and sometimes we also have plus degrees). Here, having around 27C on daytime, with sunshine and blue sky it was difficult to get a right Christmas mood.

Homemade gingerbread cookies

My cousin who was visiting us over Christmas brought us blood sausages and it was probably the most traditional Christmas food on our Christmas dinner. Otherwise, we spent rather different Christmas Eve than we had had it in Estonia: in the morning we found lots of small envelopes under the Christmas tree with our names on them (and in the envelopes there were hints about where the presents were hidden by the dwarfs), after some schoolwork with Märt we spent time in the pool, then had early dinner and the evening was spent by visiting a museum and a souq.

Us at Christmas Eve in our garden

 New Year is not celebrated by the locals either (because Islamic New Year in 2014 started in October). Thought, the international hotels and communities organize New Year's Eve dinners and parties (it is same about Christmas). Andres had been ill and so we decided to have a quiet evening at home by watching TV, eating and drinking.

Our pet did not want to miss the fun either and looked at us from the ceiling during whole dinner.

During New Year's Eve, we also visited an amusement park in a mall nearby.

Kids enjoying some amusement park fun

Before midnight we went outdoors, hoping to see or hear some fireworks but there was none. As I could read later there was not any fireworks nowhere in Muscat.

Lemon mint was also in our menu at New Year's Eve