Vol 3 Al Sawadi Beach & Kargeeen

I took it easy the first day. Everyone was concerned that jet lag would take its toll any moment. Val and Eric took me to the office and showed me around. Very large, sleek and modern. Separate waiting areas for men and women, though they all seem to use the first area. The office is still under construction and is very disorganized. I have my work cut out for me. All of the shelves and cabinets are still not in so storage is an issue. Fortunately, since the office, (and the small shopping center it is in), has only been open 6 weeks, the schedule is still light. I have had two days of work so far and have seen only a couple of patients.

Eric and Val and the kids and I went to the resort at Al Sawadi Beach. Nice resort/hotel with the typical outdoor pool.

The beach goes on and on…..

in both directions.

Lots of small, beautiful shells and the occasional goats jaw.


These purpley-blue gooey things were partially submerged in the sand. We decided they were probably jelly fish.

This guy stopped me on the beach and motioned/asked if I’d like to take his picture. Then he tried to chat with me but he didn’t speak hardly any English! He did manage to ask where I am from- Britannia? Lots of laughing as we tried to communicate.

I have found the coolest restaurant in the world! Firas took Val and Eric and I to welcome me to Oman.

It’s called Karjeeen, (not a typo, it really does have 3 e’s), and it’s a shisha café. Shisha is a fragrant, fruity tobacco mix that is smoked in big hookas called hubblie bubblies. The photos do not do this place justice. It is COOL! Outdoor, trees and plants, shadow box tables with Arabian items under the glass, men at tables smoking the shisha, which doesn’t smell bad, free roaming cats and the best people watching ever.

And the food is good! I had my first falafel here and it was to die for. The fried falafel balls are quite different and the pita here is so much better because they are made fresh. And the yogurt is delicious; it uses pectin instead of gelatin so I can eat it all. The salads are nice too- yes, those are pomegranate seeds sprinkled on it.