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)
25 RO gift certificate from the Ruwi Word of Life bookstore to anyone living here in Oman who can guess…
I have students from 
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. 
