Tammy and I just returned from our Eid Mubarak holiday and I can't wait to share some pictures. We spent one week in Oman and rounded out our trip with two days in decadent Dubai. Both countries challenged my preconceptions about Gulf States and I learned a lot during the trip. When I get more time I will post a lot more, but for now I found a couple of photos that sum up the trip. The first is a photo of Wadi Shab in eastern Oman. This wadi (dry gully or valley) hosted the 2012 Redbull Cliff Diving Contest and is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been. We beat the crowds by heading out early and by the time we reached the main pool and swam through the keyhole to the hidden waterfall, we were joined only by a few other travelers. After a few hours of relaxing and jumping off rocks, we headed back and the crowds were overwhelming. Massive groups of Subcontinent visitors, Westerners with kids and coolers, and even some Omanis were flocking to find the mysterious "keyhole." This place really blew my mind and I can't believe that Oman is not higher on people's travel radar. The roads are extremely safe, the people are tolerant and reserved, and the opportunities for adventure travel is boundless.
On the other end of the holiday, we found ourselves smack in the middle of Dubai. Dubai is everything that Oman is so stubbornly trying to avoid. Tourists in scandalous clothing walking through traditional neighborhoods, a plethora of restaurants offering unlimited champagne brunches, migrant workers gambling on the Creekside, Emiratis being all but absent from the work sector, etc. If you are willing to accept Dubai for what it is (and head to Sharjah if you can't) than you will have a blast. We watched massive sting rays glide by sharks at the Dubai Mall Aquarium, saw hundreds gathering for a 2 minute water fountain show in front of the Burj Al Khalifa, attempted dialogue with our Afghani taxi driver, and even joined the other foreigners for a dip at the Jumeirah Beach Park.
More pictures are coming, but these are some of my favorite.
On the other end of the holiday, we found ourselves smack in the middle of Dubai. Dubai is everything that Oman is so stubbornly trying to avoid. Tourists in scandalous clothing walking through traditional neighborhoods, a plethora of restaurants offering unlimited champagne brunches, migrant workers gambling on the Creekside, Emiratis being all but absent from the work sector, etc. If you are willing to accept Dubai for what it is (and head to Sharjah if you can't) than you will have a blast. We watched massive sting rays glide by sharks at the Dubai Mall Aquarium, saw hundreds gathering for a 2 minute water fountain show in front of the Burj Al Khalifa, attempted dialogue with our Afghani taxi driver, and even joined the other foreigners for a dip at the Jumeirah Beach Park.
More pictures are coming, but these are some of my favorite.
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