One Last Hurrah at the Chedi!

About a week before we left the sultanate, we took advantage of the resident summer offer of 85 OR and pampered ourselves.  This last post (for at least a month) will feature some pics from our 2-days at the Chedi. And check back for added comments and details every now and then.  We HIGHLY recommend staying at the Chedi while this incredible offer lasts.

The internet is slow here in the Philippines. More to come!

 

 

Daihatsu Terios 4X4 For Sale

Time to think about selling this car!One sad thing about leaving Oman is that I have to say goodbye to this car, haha! She’s been good to me.  It’s got 175,000 kms on it and it’s a 2006 model-1.5 L, 5-seater.  It’s insured for Oman and the UAE until mid-November 2014.  I’m asking for 2,000 OR and it comes with booster cables, 20 l. petrol can and 3 fairly new off-roading books (2 for Oman, 1 for the UAE) and an extra yellow-painted hubcap. If you’re interested, text me at 96298119 or email me at andydbrown at hotmail dot com.  Hoping to hand it over on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.

Just to update: The car has been sold! 🙂

Disturbing Signs of Where Oman is Heading…

As someone who loves Oman, there are some things that have occurred or seem to be occurring here in the Sultanate that cause me some concern.  Each of these points on their own might seem like nothing, but when you see them combined as a whole, I don’t think it bodes well for those expats who have enjoyed the little luxuries of life here in Oman.  Here are issues that have been brought up in the local news recently which I find alarming:

1. The recent idea/attempt by some in the Shura Council to tax expat remissions. (Didn’t happen but the thought is there!)
2. Current ban on exploying expat women in the Sultanate (Based on the idea that women might not be so safe here in Oman?)  (As a side note, still absolutely no word on the punishment (if any) of the 5 beasts who raped an Asian lady in Sohar last year.)
3. Ban on dancers and live music.  (Seems small but seems to have killed many social events and hurt several pubs/bars in their entertainment options.)
4. Growing gap between expats and Omanis (January saw large salary increases for many Omanis based on the fact that…well, they are Omani!)  The current minimum wage for Omanis is 325 OR while the minimum wage for an Ethiopian maid (correct me if I’m wrong anyone) is 25 OR.
5. Unclear/Confusing laws (The recent announcement of a 2 year ban on expats, for example, that is still causing much confusion and interpreted differently by so many.  (See #3 once again for another example)
6. Closing down of some respectable B&Bs such as Nomad Guesthouse as reported by Y Magazine. (Maybe this also should fall into #5)
7. The subsidies on petrol are to end this year or next.  This year (I heard/read) is also the first time that Oman has considered the option of borrowing money from foreign countries to meet its budget. An anticipated deficit of 1.8 billion for Oman’s 2014 budget according to the Times of Oman.
8. Proposed ban of alcohol as reported in the Times of Oman yesterday.  You need to read this for yourself and see some of the attitudes out there about which direction some wish this country to follow

Interesting to note that many of these issues were brought up/introduced in the Shura Council…  Any of these issues (or others) a concern to you?

Lucky Winners of the “Chill at the Chedi Social Media Competition”

Nice to see that so many of you readers participated in the Chedi’s social media competition!  Well the results are in and Ekta Gandhi from marketing at the Chedi (the brains behind this idea) has announced the following winners: 

1.       Maryam Alraisi – For a 1 night stay in a deluxe room at The Chedi Muscat

2.       Keith – For dinner for 2 at The Restaurant

3.       Colette – For spa treatment for 2 at The Spa

 

  Ekta will be in touch with the winners through email if she hasn’t contacted them already.  As she wrote to the bloggers involved in this competition, the following feedback could definitely be extended to all readers, “Thank you very much for your support – the comments were overwhelming!

 

BTW, I still consider it a win-win to avail yourself of the Chedi’s incredible summer offer of 85 rials for expats/locals or 95 rials for other GCC residents.  The wife and I plan to enjoy this promotion ourselves in the next few weeks before leaving Oman! 🙂

Do You Want to Improve Your English? 40 Hours of English for Only 10 OR!

The University of Cambridge internationally recognized CELTA course is running 2 General English classes.  If you are over 16, you can come for English classes at the main centre in Wattayah.

• 1. 8th June – 3rd July 2014
• 2. 17th August – 11th September 2014
• Sunday – Thursday 9-11am
• 40 hours of English (includes skills and language practice)
• Price RO 10 (You must try and come to all of the classes)

If interested, please contact Heather, Director of Teacher Training. Tel: 2466-6630, GSM: 9926-9110 email: heather@polyglot.org for a placement test.