Hi All,
20 October 2010
As many of you know we are preparing to travel to India for 11 days. We fly into Delhi where we will spend 2 days then travel by car to Agra where the Taj Mahal is located. After 3 days we travel to Jaipur for 2 days. From there we fly to Goa for a 4 day all inclusive beach resort relaxation time. I am positive we will have hundreds of pictures to wade through and blog about however, getting there is 1/2 the trick.
I spent weeks on line researching travel offers and mulling over the itinerary and finaly chose the one above. Then I had to book flights to/from India. This set the dates and then put into motion the travel agent who worked the hotels and internal travel arrangements. I then went on line and got the information and forms on location of the visa office. I had all the forms ready for Christine and I when she arrived.
After our Oman trip, I was off the entire week and planned on this as one of our activities. I'll let Christine take over now as she tells the story so well.
Observation: I you want to learn patience, move to this part of the world. To visit most forgein countries you have to obtain a visa (translation: if patience is a virtue - I'm gonna get sainthood!)
Scott and I finally find the Indian documents building, it like many buildings in this area could use some good signage. Find the correct room and it is full of people - some sitting and many standing. The idea of lining up and waiting to take your turn is "foreign" (seriously, no pun intended). We work out way to the front of the "going to Indian for a visit" desk and I thank goodness that we were not there for work visas. Naturally we didn't have ALL the forms necesary and were given additional forms and gestured to go out into the hall. In the hall is 1 table, a few chairs and tons of people - no pens either). Forms need where were are staying, what we are visiting, our travel agency, passport info and our parents names (parents names??? what the heck for?)
We complete the forms and return the the even-more crowded room. Lines still seem to be optional and now only 1 employee for both visitors visas and work visas. (Did I mention that daily bathing also seems to be optional) A Local steps right in front of Scott and Scott tells him in no uncertain terms "I WAS HERE FIRST!" He replies "no problem" and steps back into the sea of humanity. Our turns comes and we are asked more questions and told to go to the room across the hall and (you guessed it) wait again for our interview with another gov't employee.
Enter next room and take a number (think like at the bakery). We found seats (a bonus) and Scott pulls out his phone and looks real busy. I realize that he is playing a game so look at my new phone... only one game and it involves moving a snake, which reminds me of etch-a-sketch. This game holds my attention for 5 minutes. Minewhile, in walks a woman completely covered in black (I'm used to this by now). She takes her number and immediately walks over to the interviewer. She reaches across two people who had patiently waited their turn (maybe their phone had better games?) and thrusts the number into the interviewer's face. The entire room is now watching to see how he is going to handle this situation. We breath a sign of relief when she is told to "take a seat". Grumbling fills the air and she walks out. For the next half hour, I read propaganda regarding the upcoming Commonwealth Games and India's modern economy. Abaya woman alternates pacing & sitting while grumbling as my dear husband is engrossed by his phone!
Finally our turn arrives, Hooray! Our papers are checked, our info keyed into the computer and then the moment of decision: can I hand over my passport to an official of the Indian Govt? I am assured that it will be delivered with Scott's to Mafraq Hospital by courier in 3 days. (I had the same anxiey attack as when I handed Wes all of HIS Christmas ornaments). "Enshallah - Arabic for "God illing" crosses my mind. Scott pries the passport out of my hands (sure fine for him as he has UAE National Identity Card and UAE Driver's License). I decided that once I'm safely back to the villa I'm not leaving until I get my passport back. Scott is amused by my discomfort, but at least he has stopped playing backgammon on his phone...
After two hours at the Documents Building, we leave the still-grumbling woman and step out into the 108 degrees. Time to find some lunch; I drowned my anxieties in hummus & fresh vegtables!
Two lessons: patience and trust. The passports were delivered to Scott's office the next day and Wes took good care of his ornaments.
Love to all,
Christine and Scott
Exercizing our right.
Beachcombing - I found a decent time for the mile swim !
I tagged myself in the photo - but it may be hard to see. - If you click on the picture it will bring up a larger version. I'm directly in front (just off his shoulder to the left) of the guy in the red and black body suit in the back row right below the guy in the white shirt/blue shorts behind the railing. 
Yes, this is a baby goat, no "kidding" Scott jumped back and shrieked when he saw the head in with the bag of meat. But one does wonder: how does one actually acquire a newly slaughtered baby goat?
Looks like a character from a Star Wars Bar Scene movie.
"Here's Looking At You Kid" You never know when a great movie line is going to be perfect!
Who looks more surprised? We couldn't stop laughing until....
Dinner is served! So much food that we had to borrow our neighbors' roasting pan and this beautiful serving platter. Scott used practically every pot and cooking utensil we own.
The Nizwa Souq - locally crafted goods include silver jewelery, khanjars (curved Omani dagger), copperwork, weaving, fruits, vegtables, fish, meat all available. Livestock sales are held weekly - must be quite the experience. Unfortunately the souq was closed, translate: afternoon prayers followed by a nap during the brutally hot hours of the day. Some shopkeepers like the one above leave their wares out in the walled & grandly gated area without concern for theft. When we left here, we continued our winding & beautiful drive thru the Hajar Mtn. Range. We also missed seeing the Fort which was completed in 1668. We need to return...
Ancient watchtower that has been surrounded by the town of Muscat. It was right across the street from the souq - note the telephone wires at lower left.
This huge rock was visible just off our hotel's beach area. It was lovely beach, with very gradual depth increase and soft sand bottom. Scott was amazed that I beat him into the deeper water AND stayed a long time. Same beach as we watched the fishermen with the trucks to pull in the nets, just another interesting experience.
Yet another watchtower, but note the difference in the terrain as this one was out in the Hajar Mtn. Range. The towers run along the range like a string of beads.
View driving thru capital of Muscat. The skies and the seas really are this blue and few clouds. It is quite green in the larger urban areas, where water is more plentiful and the parkways are planted with fabulous blooms shrubs and trees. We hope you've enjoyed the show.
One of the many mosques in Oman, some opulent, some small and humble, but everywhere.
Old meets new: one of the many watchtowers that dot the ridges along the coast. Oman has an ancient seafaring and trade route history. You will see concrete structures butting against rock or brick structures, but note architectural embellishments thanks to the Moguls influence
Ancient fort beside concrete apartment building with satellite dish on the roof - typical.
Giant incense burner in a park along the corniche; celebrates Oman's ancient spice trade.
Best for last: An American Frigate came into port the night before. We met 6 men from their crew at our hotel pool (the USS Kauffman FFG-59). 
One of the many narrow streets in the labyrinth that comprises the Souq - We did wander around "lost" in the atmosphere, dust and heat!
Typical jewelry display, all jumbled together and you must bargain for everything. Be prepared to walk away as we did, because there will be many more shops.
This woman certainly has a good head on her shoulders. The streets are all very narrow because this is a very old marketplace. Everything must be carried by hand, head, or...
handcart. This older gentleman looked to be pulling a huge load, but as he passed, we noted that 2 younger men were pushing to help out. Vehicles are only on the outskirts of this huge marketplace and we were wondering how so much merchandise was moved around: an ancient version of planes, trains and automobiles
Typical souvenir shop of jewelry, pottery, metals and pashminas. 
Christine looking good.
Pepan and Leonard - Marlene and Ranier's tw other boys enjoying the sand.
Such a lovely woman I'm luckily married to.
Suzanna (Finland) and her husband Chris from the UK. Chris is the CFO of E-Ships.
Sarah and Kevin - both from London our neighbors and friends. They both work for a law office in Abu Dhabi. Kevin in the Human Resources Dept and Lisa as a Legal Secretary.
Here's Pam from North Canton, Ohio and Ross from Australia. Ross works at SEHA (the governing body which controls Mafraq Hospital) in the IT dept. Ross' wife Lisa was working on her college classes and fell asleep and never made the party !
The E-Ship Boys.
Glen and Claire from the UK. Glen works for a company which supplies oil well platforms.
Christine with Paul and Karen from the UK. Paul works for the UAE Navy as as Weapons expert.
Martin and Paula from the UK with Annapolis napkin. Martin taught Navigation at the Academy and is a retired Royal Navy Captian who is instructing the UAE Navy.
Erico and George from Hungary. George is Christine's orthopedic surgeon who did her first and will be doing her second carpal tunnel surgery after our trip to India in November. In the background is Sarah and Kevin, our next door neighbors from the UK.
Katherine (UK) and her husband Hendrik from the Netherlands. Hendrik works or E- Ships as an inspector of the fleet. In the background is Pam - North Canton Ohio. Pam works at Mafraq in Patient Billing or what we refer to as Revenue Cycle.
