Salalah Part 1 - Crossing the desert

I've put off writing this post for nearly a year, because the task of sorting through 260 fascinating photos was a bit overwhelming!  Last September, Oman delayed the start of the school year nationwide due to swine flu concerns.  David had an extra week of summer vacation, and we used our extra time to make a trip to Salalah in the southern Dhofar region of Oman.

The Dhofar region is a tropical paradise, completely unlike the desert that comprises most of the Arabian Peninsula.  Historically, this area was known as the "Land of Frankincense" and even today the world's best frankincense comes from Dhofar.  LDS scholars have identified Dhofar as the land of Bountiful (600BC) that Nephi describes in the Book of Mormon.  Dhofar is also a very popular vacation spot among Arabians seeking relief from the oppressive summer heat.

As we planned this trip, our Western friends warned us that the desert highway was a perilous one, with frequent fatalities and poor access to emergency services (There are daily flights from Muscat to Salalah, and that is how most prefer to travel).  Our Omani acquaintances insisted that the road was fine, and that "a good driver could do it in 11 hours."  We wanted to experience the real deal, including the vast expanses of "nothing" and "gravel" that we'd heard about, and so we packed our Mazda 3 with food and water and said a prayer before we departed on what turned out to be a 13 hour drive.  (We have to drive slower than most, because our car made an annoying beeping sound when we went over 120km/hr.)

  The kids had no idea what they'd gotten themselves into!  

Luckily, we bought a portable DVD player just before this trip. 

 After 3 hours of interesting mountain landscape and small towns, we filled the gas tank 

and  prepared for the 8 hours of "nothing" we'd heard so much about. 

Completely surrounded by desert.

Occasionally there were signs of civilization.

 

The town of Haimra marks the 1/2 way point.  This is one of those bathroom stops when you're glad there's no toilet to sit on, just a hole in the floor.  BYOTP.

 

I'd feel really sorry for anyone who turned the wrong way out of the gas station.

We did come across one accident, but fortunately no one was hurt.  David helped to clear debris off the road.  Our friends who made the trip last year came across a fatal accident involving a tour bus, and spent 4 hours diverting traffic in the fog.  We felt very blessed to make this trip safely. 

 Ever seen this sign before?

 

We were excited to see mountains again after 8 hours of gravel...

And then suddenly we came over a hill into this amazingly green valley!  

(we arrived at night, but took this photo on the way back out)

 

Happy Anniversary

David and I celebrate 9 years of marriage today.  We watched our wedding video with the kids yesterday, and realized that we aren't as young as we used to be!  I can't believe they let kids like us get married.  :)

July 5th, 2001 - Mount Timpanogos Temple 

We counted 10 different places that we've lived: 

1.  Provo, UT apt #1

2.  Provo, UT apt #2

3.  Richland, WA

4.  Cambridge, England

5.  Olympia, WA

6.  Kent, WA

7.  Alpine, UT

8.  Salt Lake City, UT

9.  Winterville, GA

10.  Muscat, Oman

Considering that we met in Jerusalem, it's no surprise that we've continued to be travelers.

August 1998 - Mount of Olives, Jerusalem - The day we met!

 

For our anniversary this year, we went to The Grit, a hip vegetarian restaurant in Athens.  I gave David a gold ring, one exactly like the one I put on his finger 9 years ago!  (Hopefully a poor worker will find David's original wedding ring at the beach in Muscat).

July 2010 - Athens, Georgia