The Only Security in Our Insecure World

  From a painting we got at The Bible Society Store which now hangs on our dining room wall – The complete verse from the King James Version: “He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4)

What’s that Spaceship on the Hill?! Al Riyam Park in Muttrah, Oman!!

  This giant incense (frankincense) burner is a well-known landmark in Oman.  I’m sure many tourists wonder just what it is when they first see it!  It’s located in an incredibly beautiful family/childrens park called “Al Riyam Park” and is located in Muttrah as you drive along the coast past the Muttrah Souq and the forts on your right.   Here’s a close-up of the giant  frankincense burner on a very cloudy day. (Thursday, March 26th)  I just love signs like this!  I especially love point F which gives the image of humans using giant “litter boxes” (like kitty litter boxes) to do their business in, ha!ha!  There are many benches for visitors here at this lovely park (which has no entrance fee!) and so many places to have a picnic on the grass.  This was from the rain just hours before.  Yes, it rains here from time to time!  Peekaboo!   As you can see, there are many wide, green areas at the park.   Check out the gorgeous view in the background of the cliffs on one side of the park with the sea  and Muttrah Port on the other!  This park is terraced and has a space of over 100,000 square meters!  Check out that nice rest area!  You should be warned that there is a crocodile that has been spotted in this park and is known for devouring the occasional tourist or two! (with a particular craving for silly Canadians!)  Looks good enough to eat!  I personally think that “James and The Giant Peach” is one of the best children books ever written.  Many people are unfamiliar with Roald Dahl’s less successful sequel, “Andy and the Giant Pineapple”.    The pineapple of my eye! ha!ha!   Che at the entrance to “Riyam Amusement Park” which is located near the top of Riyam Park.  No entrance fee here and plenty of amusement rides for the kids!  Here is a list of the rides and prices to give you an idea:  This is the “Water Pitcher Monument” located at Riyam Roundabout.  This is where you turn to get to Riyam Park.  Riyam R/A with Muttrah Port in the background  One last photo while we were leaving the park.  The incense burner lit up just minutes before we left.  By the way, that is just a replica; it doesn’t actually light incense!  I must have driven by this park dozens of times during the last year but this was our first visit.  Definitely worth parking the car and taking a look around!  Hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of Riyam Park! 

Haircuts, Barbers, the Cost of Living in Oman and the Ever Worsening Economic Crisis to Grip the World!

THEN…   AND NOW…   Oman has come a LONG way in the past 40 years since Sultan Qaboos began ruling.  That goes not only for education, industry and infrastructure but extends even to the simple necessities of life such as GETTING A HAIRCUT!  There seem to be barbershops everywhere!  Almost every barbershop in Oman has either Indian or Pakistani barbers (and the occasional Filipino).  When I was in Canada on vacation, I remember my 2 brothers, Mark and David, discussing a great deal in Terrace, BC for a $15 haircut. I told them that that is nothing compared to 1 RO (or about $ 3.20 for a haircut) here in Oman!  Some things in Oman are INCREDIBLY cheap!  Here’s another quick example of why living in Oman is awesome!  That’s 3.6 Omani Rials or about 11.5 Canadian dollars to fill up my tank! (And that’s “super unleaded”-even cheaper for “regular”!!!)  With prices like THAT, you never have to worry if this happens…  Empty tank of gas?! At only $11.50 CAD, fill ‘er up!!!  For those of you who are paying WAY too much for gas elsewhere…   The book of Revelation in the New Testament describes 7 seals which represent the beginning of Christ’s judgment of unbelievers on the earth during the Tribulation period.  (The purpose of the Tribulation period is to punish unbelievers for their sin and rejection of Christ and to bring the remnant to faith in Christ.)  The 3rd seal represents inflation and famine.  “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:6)  The balances or scales are related to commerce and trade.  The word penny, better transliterated “denarius“, represented about one day’s wages.  Wheat and barley were considered necessities of life.  A measure was about one quart.  The price given is about 10 times what was normal.  The command hurt not the oil and the wine may indicate a restriction on the effects of the famine in this early part of the Tribulation.  Here’s a must see video a friend told me about on facebook – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Vsgl6SUZ0&feature=player_embedded

….OK, back to barbers in Oman…If you are looking for a great/cheap barber in Muscat, I highly recommend City Barber which is located on the way to Crowne Plaze.  First, pass by the Qurum Natural Park and continue straight through the next roundabout.  As you approach the next curve in the road (to the left), you will see this mosque (Abdullah mosque).  Turn right just after this mosque and you can find City Barber-next to Muscat Pharmacy, behind the Fisherman’s Lodge Restaurant and next to Qurum Clinic with Dr. Smita Lulla.  This is my regular barber!  If you end up going here, make sure you tip well!!!  Here’s today’s Bible verse on haircuts:
“Doth not even nature itself teach you that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” (1 Corinthians 11:14)

I would be EXTREMELY surprised…

if anyone could guess what this is a picture of exactly!  25 RO gift certificate from the Ruwi Word of Life bookstore to anyone living here in Oman who can guess…

Where Are My Students from? All over Oman!!!

I seem to have students from every corner of Oman this semester which is nice.  On the map below, 3 different colors represent the hometowns of my students from my 3 different classes.  I have students from Nizwa (6), Muscat (6 including 2 from Qurum, 1 from AlKhuwair and 1 from Al Mwalh), Sumill/Samail (4), Ibri (4), Bahla (3), Rustaq (3), Salalah (3), Manah (2), Birkat AlMouz (near Nizwa), Al-Mudhaibi, Al-Khabourah/, Al-Molddah (near Rustaq), Al-Kamil, Al-Wafi, Sohar, Sur, Al-Swiq, Al-Moudhabi, Saham, Ial’aan Bani Bu Ali (near Sur), Nakhal, Al-Hamra, Liwa,  Izki, Al-Seeb/Al-Hail and I even have one student from the kingdom of Bahrain!  Here is a larger map of Oman (notice the few dots near the bottom representing my students fromSalalah )  This is a great map I saw in the Museum of Al-Zubair which shows the 7 different regions of Oman and a little about what they are known for.  I think I have students from every region of Oman except for Al-Wusta which is in the middle of Oman. 

If someone were to ask me what I love most about Oman I would have to say, “My students are the Oman that I love!!!”

Great Things He Hath Done!

  I have never been happier in my life since being married to Che.  I was looking at this old birthday card from Mom from September 2008 and was thinking about how God has been SO INCREDIBLY good to me. God has brought Psalm 37:4 to fruition in my life – “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart:”  AMEN!

I feel like shouting out thanks to God; first of all, for all that He is and secondly, for all He has done.  Reminds me of one of my favorite songs!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymrZO1PZbU4&feature=PlayList&p=131D5F55829A58CE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7

The Golden Oryx – A Highly Recommended Restaurant in Muscat!

  The Freo sisters in front of The Golden Oryx Restaurant in Ruwi where we celebrated Maritess’s birthday!  Her birthday was Jan. 6th so talk about a belated birthday celebration!!!    Maritess has been an incredible support for Che and I and we are so glad to have family with us here in Oman!  Maritess works for the Sultan’s nephew.  Interesting, huh?  The birthday girl!   The dishes here are INCREDIBLE! I love the beef dishes myself and Che loves anything with seafood.  Most dishes range from 5 to 8 RO and they are usually large servings.   Both times we’ve been here we have over-ordered and walked away with huge ”doggy bags”.  I love the 10-sec timer on my Nikon Coolpix Camera!  Still can’t believe I’m with such an incredible woman!  Mostly found under the “Expensive” heading of Restaurant & Cafe Sections of Tourist magazines/guidebooks, the Golden Oryx is a wonderful place to take someone special on a special occasion.  It is usually classified as “Far Eastern Food” and serves mostly Chinese and Thai dishes.  Open noon-3pm & 7-11:45pm.  One of the restaurants which has an incredible assortment of wines here in Muscat.  (Beware of the “special wines list” which has bottles of wines from 100 to 199 Omani Rials!)  24702266/24706128  The love of my life in the garden at the entrance to the Golden Oryx.  If you live in Oman and haven’t been to this restaurant, give it a try! You won’t be disappointed!

Cash Counters for Women

  Never noticed this Cash Counter For Women before.  I saw quite a few couples do what Che and I decided to do.  The wife goes through with the groceries while the husband waits on the other side to bag groceries!  What is the point of this line-up?  Is it for women to avoid men? (the super market is full of men anyway…) Is it there for religious reasons?  Somebody tell me what I’m missing.

“The Man Called Cash” – A Great Read! (Part 1 of 2)

  Got this book from Mom for my birthday in September ‘08 (thanks again, Mom!!!) and just now getting around to reading it.  I LOVE this book and here are a few of my favorite passages:

Being “saved” was a cultural rite of passage in rural Southern communities of the period. If someone hadn’t “made a decision” by their early teenage years, the adults would wonder why. There were no open atheists in Dyess-only good Christians and backsliders. The pressure to conform made it difficult to differentiate between those who claimed conversion simply because it was expected to them and those who’d made a genuine commitment.                        

At the age of twelve, Cash answered the call during a revival in 1944. This was the age that many Southern Baptists regarded as the “age of accountability,” when children were considered morally developed enough to choose or refuse. This was the age, according to the Gospel of Luke, that Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents for the Passover and, with a clear sense of divinity, debated with the rabbis in the temple.                                                                                                             

If Cash remembered who preached the night of his conversion he never mentioned it. It’s unlikely that he heard anything that he hadn’t heard before. It was just the right night. He’d always known that someday he would have to choose one way or another, and he’d tried to put it off, but this night, for a reason he couldn’t explain, he felt that postponing the decision would, in itself, be a decision. How many times could a person put off salvation? If Jesus Christ was “the way, the truth and the life,” what possible benefits were there in keeping him waiting?  Cash believed in the reality of heaven He also believed in the reality of hell. Heaven was like the sound of sweet music working on your soul at the end of a hard day’s work. Hell was like the red glow of burning fields in the still of an Arkansas night. The fear of hell was one of the instruments God used to make us hunger after heaven. When the preacher called for those who wanted their sins forgiven to make their way to the front, Cash got out of his seat as the congregation sang “Just as I am”:   Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me,   And that Thou biddest me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”          Cash would never regret or renounce his decision. And though he would go through long periods of disobedience, he never lost the conviction that Christ had accepted him, just as he was, and that nothing could reverse that acceptance.” (pages 21-22)

“There’s 3 different kinds of Christian,” said Cash. “There’s preaching Christians, church-playing Christians, and there’s practicing Christians. I’m trying very hard to be a practicing Christian. If you take the words of Jesus literally and apply them to your everyday life, you discover that the greatest fulfillment you’ll ever find really does lie in giving. And that’s why I do things like prison concerts.” (pg. 126) 

“I don’t have a career anymore,” Cash announced. “What I have now is a ministry. Everything I have and everything I do is given completely to Jesus Christ now. I’ve lived all my life for the devil up until now, and from here on I’m going to live it for the Lord.” (pg. 146)

“I see no glimmer of hope in the scientific world,” he said. “There’s no place to hide. The whole world is a problem…Jesus Christ is the answer. There is no other.” (pg. 151)

“By being a Christin in show business, Cash was performing a difficult balancing act, and there were few good examples for him to follow. He would be attacked by agnostics and atheists if he appeared too pious. He would be denounced by the religious community if he appeared too wordly. “There are times that I want to go off into the woods and cr, because what I feel is too big a load for me to carry,” he once admitted. “We’re only called to be Christians, and I don’t feel any special calling, but I seem to have been given much by God. And much seems to be required of me.” (pg. 161)

3 photos with green in honor of Saint Patrick

  Saw this cute little guy on the lawn in front of the Intercontinental Hotel.  (OK, there is no green on that bird, but just look at that lawn! )  This was taken on campus, where I work  This picture (taken at Bait Al Zubair Museum) is of a Dhofari bed (Dhofar is the southern province of Oman which includes the resort city of Salalah).  Called a “Sareer” in Arabic, it is an example of the traditional Dhofari style.  Notice the gorgeous stain-glassed windows in the background (green color!).

Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day, I had the blessed chance of visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland many years ago.  It was only there that I learned that he was an actual follower of Christ who managed to convert a large number of Irish to the Lord!Legend has it that the shamrock became associated with him because he used this plant to teach the concept of the Trinity (“3 divine persons in ONE God”) as opposed to false teachings about Christ being a man only.  Many people wear GREEN on this day (March 17th) to remember this faithful man.  I just happen to be wearing green today.  How about you?

Would Anyone Like a 200 Litre Cup of Coffee?!

  One of the more eye-catching roundabouts in Ruwi, Oman  This photo was taken in the Bait al Zubair Museum.  These Omani coffeepots are called “Al Dallah” in Arabic and are made from copper and brass.  The Omani coffee pot design features a hinged lid attached to the handle and has a curved spout.  Some ancient Omani coffee pots were made out of silver and were mostly used for decorative purposes.   The way North-Americans eat and drink, I wouldn’t be surprised if this became the next size in take-away coffee orders.  “I’ll have the Omani-coffeepot-roundabout size, please!”

Barbecue and Bowling with Buddies

  A great couple from church-Chilin and Mabel Tang-who are from Singapore  Chilin and Mabel were the 1st couple to have us over as a married couple.  Chicken, hothogs and pineapple!  Nothing like a barbecue!   Hamoor-one of my honey’s favorite fish  Having fun at the El Masa Bowling Alley in Muscat.  The Al Masa Mall opened in Dec of 2006 and is one of the few places to do some bowling in Muscat.  (2 RO per person/game)  Open 7 days/week from 10am to 1am. (24693991)http://wikimapia.org/#lat=23.6085187&lon=58.4551084&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2  Chillin’ with Chilin!  Chilin is here in Oman working for the Zubair Corporation and has to be one of the funniest guys I know in Muscat.  You would think Mabel and Che were sisters, they get along so well.  Thank God for good friends!

Ghanaian Christians of Oman in the PCO Church

  Friday, March the 6th was a special day for Ghanaian Christians in the PCO Church.  March 6th is Ghana’s Independence Day!  So, the Ghanaian members of our congregation were the ones who read Scripture passages, lead the prayer of intercession and prepared a delicous fellowship meal of Ghanaian food!  The highlight was their leading and explanation of the Ghanaian offertory style.  Ghanaians see the time of giving to the Lord as a time of celebration and so they DANCE their way to the offering basket in front!  Check out a short video here but a small warning comes before watching this vid-You may suddenly get the urge to get up off your seat and start dancing!!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-7b9_ICmqI  Angelin Victor, one of our incredibly cheerful Indian church members, just had to have her photo with this Ghanaian brother who looked like an African king of old in his robe!   May God continue to bless our Ghanaian brothers and sisters who add such flavor and vibrancy to the church in Oman!!!

Happy Arabia?! (AKA “Felix Arabia”)

  Notice how some of the area is marked as “HAPPY ARABIA“.  I took this photo at Bait al Baranda a while back and wondered why they would call the area “happy” even so many centuries ago.  Then, when I visited the Museum of Bait al Zubair, there was a plaque which explained this very question…  In case you have a problem reading it, it notes, “Arabia Felix, meaning “Happy Arabia” or “Arabia the Fortunate”, was the name given to the southern fringe of the Arabian Peninsula by the Romans.  Little was known of southern Arabia at the time, and the ancient Europeans believed it was a blessed land shrouded in legend and mystery whose people had amassed vast fortunes from their trade in aromatics and spices.  The title stuck for nearly 2,000 years and was used on maps and charts in many languages.”  Now, I would describe the area as “a land shrouded in legend and mystery whose people have amassed vast fortunes from their oil!”  Here is the concept on a French map: “L’Arabie Heureuse”.    This was an interesting idea by Bait al Zubair to show bits and pieces from various ancient European maps labeling this area of the world as “L’Arabie Heureuse“, “Felix Arabia” or “Happy Arabia“.    Notice the creative  detail of ancient cartographers!  (This is just a small symbol located in the corner of one of the maps)

On a personal note, I would say that Oman, for the most part, has lived up to the name “Happy Arabia“.  The majority of the ex-pats living here would agree that it is a GREAT place to live and even to raise a family.  The people are hospitable and kind, Christian expats are free to worship and the area is gorgeous!   Although it is no “paradise on earth” (nor is ANY country on earth for if there were, paradise would not be paradise!), it is certainly a fascinating land!

Bait Al Zubair (House of Zubair) Museum

     Don’t you just LOVE museums!?  Some of you would say, “No!” but I say there’s something incredible about museums.  For me, it’s the thinking that goes on AFTER being in the museum.  A thought shared by Audrey Hepburn who stated that “Living is like tearing through a museum.  Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering-because you can’t take it all at once.”  I couldn’t agree more and so I will be sharing bits and pieces over the next few weeks about the fascinating things I’ve learned while visiting this fabulous museum.     Bait al Zubair is a private museum located in the Old Muscat area funded by the rich, powerful and influential Zubair family.     The hours are a little odd and you really have to make sure it’s open when you go to visit.  Otherwise….you may end up like…     Hee Jung who came all the way from South Korea and missed the opportunity of visiting Bait Al Zubair because it was closed when we got to the front gate!     Speaking of Bait Al Zubair-The gentleman here, Vasant, is an Indian gentleman who happens to be a graphic designer at the museum and has been working there for several years.  He is photographed here at the Ruwi Church Complex with his daughter after last Sunday evening’s service.  He tells me that he was responsible for this piece of work…     which was created and placed on the side of the museum in 2008 upon the 10th year anniversary of the museum.  To find out more about this museum, have a look at www.baitalzubairmuseum.com   Bait Al Bagh (“House of Gardens” is the main building of the museum which houses interesting Omani weaponry, jewellery, costumes, musical instruments and household items from Oman’s past.  One of the friendly staff members at Bait al Zubair.  Entrance was 2RO/adult when we went (children under 10 for free).  A small sampling of the beauty of the interior.  This was taken inside Bait Al Oud (“Grand House“) which mostly contains Omani furniture and early European maps, and prints/photos of Muscat.  If you ever get a chance to come to Muscat, give this museum a visit!

“Swords of the Sultan” / The 3 Swords of Muscat

  This monument, of 3 veiny hands holding swords, watches over the Qurum-Ruwi road in the capital city, Muscat, and it really captures your attention.  I decided to climb up the steep and thorny hill to get a few night shots.  I wonder…when was it constructed? by whom? what does it symbolize?  There are 404 passages of Scripture which contain the word “sword” (in the Authorized King James Version, that is) and here are a few of my favorite “sword passages”: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)   “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17)    “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household…And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-38)  “They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.” (Song of Solomon 3:8)  Here’s a pretty blurry view of Muscat (Qurum area) from the “3 swords monument”.  My advice to anyone thinking of climbing this hill for some pics-Do it in the daytime!

Children with Special Needs in Oman

  What kind of image do you have when you hear the words “children with special needs“?  Do you imagine a drooling, wheelchair-bound child rocking back and forth and unable to understand anything around them?  That is the image most people come with when they visit The Association of Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs reports the director, Masooma Al Saleh.

“Oman has seen a remarkable achievement in the quality of life of its people over the past 32 years, particulary in the areas of health and education.  This rapid development has assured Omanis their basic minimum needs.  However, the needs of disabled children and their families has not been fully recognized, especially for children from birth to age 6 who do not receive any services at all.

The Association of Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs was officially chartered by the Ministerial Order (144/2000) issued on the 20th of May, 2000 to address the overwhelming needs of young children with special needs.  It aims to provide a range of services that impact children’s welfare and improves the quality of life for them and their families.

The Association provides its services through a centre which currently is the only service provider for the age group (birth to 6 years): A daycare program in Al Athaibath works as a play school which allows the children to work to gain self confidence and independence.  A home visiting educational program for children in their homes, where a trained team of home visitors provide a carefully structured curriculum to help coach mothers to become effective teachers of their own children in their own environment.  Additionally, the Center provides an Assessment Unit which ensures that children receive a comprehensive program of professional testing and evaluation as well as the therapeutic needs of the children.

As an organization concerned about these children, it becomes our duty to improve the quality of their lives by spreading awareness in the community to erase the negative stigma held against this segment of the society, our children with special needs.

Our presentation includes an understanding of the services we provide to meet the varying needs of the children and their families as well as the role of community in this endeavor.”  Masooma Al Saleh, director of The Assocation of Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs.                                     A few interesting things heard during the presentation:

• There are no numbers or statistics available on the number of special needs/disabled people in Oman
• It has been decided by the government that the term “special needs” will be replaced with “those with disabilities”
• The idea of this Association is to create a model centre and then others can be started around the country
• 130 children are in the home assisted program, 65 in the centre program with 35 full staff members.  This means that each teacher has 3 students.  There are also 4 specialists at the centre which costs 60,000 RO/year to provide.

Masooma, during the “Community Involvement” and “Awareness” segments of the conference. mentioned that we could help through mass media and word of mouth.  I asked her if it would be okay to mention the important work of her association on my blog and she said she would be glad if I did so and even allowed me to take a photo of her.Check out their website at http://www.aei.org.om and consider supporting them!

I, for one, say, “YES to Oman AND YES to Plastic”!!!

  These signs seem to be all over the place when I go shopping here in Oman.  Don’t get me wrong…I think it’s very important to be concerned about recycling and how you treat the environment and all but when people TELL me what l HAVE to start doing “for the sake of the environment”, I wonder if anyone else gets annoyed with the whole “mother-earthish-new-age-religious-feel” to their commands.  IF people were REALLY concerned about the environment, they would not only stop using plastic bags, they would stop using packaging of products and we would all start carrying big buckets or pails to the shopping malls, asking people to “fill up our buckets with shampoo” and different products.  In addition, they would walk EVERYWHERE (for the sake of the environment, remember!), refrain from using electricity (think of mother earth!) and shower in pails of used dish-washing water (we must not forget to reduce our water consumption!).  In the end, I’m sure that these types of “campaigns” will just equal more money for the consumer here in the long run like how it worked in Korea just before I left.  IF you wanted a bag to carry something which you bought from the store (Hello! Of course I want a bag!) then they would make you pay an additonal 100 won for a bag (with their logo on it which is advertising! THEY should be paying ME for THEIR advertising!)  The same concept with take-away coffee cups.  They often charge you more – all in the name of “the environment”…  Whatever!

I, for one, will continue using plastic bags! The problem is not with the use of plastic bags.  The problem is with their disposal.  If people were more responsible with their trash (like actually putting it into trashbins instead of leaving their rubbish in wadis after a picnic or throwing trash out the windows of a moving car which I see quite often here…), then we wouldn’t have to worry about poor goats choking on bags or rare turtles meeting their end because of munching on a plastic bag which looked so appetizing to the unsuspecting turtle!  Why not impose a hefty fine (like 1000 RO) on anyone caught littering?!  THAT might make an impact!!!

Fellow Canucks I know in the Sultanate of Oman

  Michael, who works in the chemistry department of SQU, and his wife, Joan, at the Good Shepherd Chapel in Ghala.  They are from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan!

Reminds me of a good joke…An American couple were traveling around Canada.  They got lost as the wife was driving and the husband was trying to read the map.  He said to his wife, “Pull over and I’ll ask that guy where we are.”  The American rolls down his window and asks the gentleman walking on the sidewalk, “Excuse me.  Where are we?”  The man smiles and says “Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.”  The American tourist rolls up the window, looks at his wife and says, “THEY DON’T EVEN SPEAK ENGLISH HERE!!”  ha!ha!   (Sorry, just had to tell that ”Saskatoon” joke!)  Alfa Vold, on the right, is from Canada as well.  Her sister is living in Terrace, BC, and goes to my brother’s church!  What a small world, EH?!  Here she is with one of her good friends in Oman, Bridget, and Bridget’s mother, Crena, after the 11am service in Ghala on Friday.  Alfa is the only North American lady I know who is married to an Omani man.  An interesting story indeed!   If you’re interested in learning a little more about beautiful TERRACE, BC, my hometown in Canada, check out this 6.5 minute video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM7jDKD7MK0&feature=PlayList&p=E139D7591F4F7439&index=0&playnext=1

Muscat and its Harbor by Charles Fouqueray

  “Charles Fouqueray, a painter with the French navy, visited Muscat in 1917 and again in 1921.  These visits inspired many of his paintings.  The set displayed in this collection depicts the activity at Muscat port in the beginning of the 20th century.”  (seen at the museum Bait al-Baranda)