The Long, Long Flight to Oman

So far we have crammed a lot into our first four days! It is hard to know where to begin - such big changes in climate, culture, and language.

The first adventure was getting here. What was promised as a 17 hour flight - Oman is 9 hours ahead of Boston - turned out to be 24 hours because of weather-related delays in Boston and one sick passenger who had to be deplaned, delaying our departure four and a half hours (the extra time spent seated on the plane).


Above is a shot Rodger took of our first sunrise somewhere over the Atlantic enroute to Amsterdam.

Missing out connecting flight in Amsterdam meant re-routing through Dubai to Muscat. Our arrival at the farm was 5AM local time without our luggage! Nonetheless, we met some very interesting people enroute from India, Kenya and Iraq. They are all very excited about our new president, Barack Obama.

Rodger brought along 100 4x6 inch prints of his famous photograph of Barack Obama, which were enthusiastically received everywhere we went. Many of those we met seemed to feel that Obama was their president as well as ours.

After a few hours sleep we went to Mohammed's home for lunch with several members of his family. Omanis, like the people of most Arab countries, greatly value the extended family. We felt very privileged to be welcomed so warmly. We ate a delicious meal on the lawn of Mohammed's palatial home. All of the food was exceptionally fresh, both fruit and meats are harvested form the farm - mangoes, cucumbers, dates, goat, chicken and eggs. All except us ate with their hands in traditional fashion.

After lunch we went back to the farm where our luggage was waiting. Finally we could change our clothes and brush our teeth! We had a Chinese dinner and a night tour of Muscat and Mutrah with Mohammed's son, Ahmed and his nephew, Ali.


A night shot of the central structure of the extensive Sultan's Palace, in Muscat.

In the end it all made for a very long day - two days really. But we were finally in Oman, and about to begin three weeks of exploration and high adventure. cck