Our old Saudi friends Roger and Kay Heigel have come to visit us here in Oman and we are so excited to be able to show them this country. They have not been back to the Middle East since leaving Saudi Arabia over 25 years ago. Kay keeps a diary of their daily activities and so, with her permission we are going to put their impressions of Oman and the daily activities we were up to while they were here.
January 14, 2011 - Bosch’s picked us up at Muscat airport 10:30 pm with a tour en-route home driving back to Qantab. Stopped for pickup of zataar and cheese on Pita bread from a well-known Lebanese bakery. Arrived at David and Leslie’s place in Qantab by midnight. Talked to catch up, make plans for first day, unpack and were in bed by 1:30 am.
January 15, 2011 – Breakfast on rooftop. Grab out gym bags for later in the day – Dave drove through town and stopped at Rameesh Guesline hotel confirming AWG meeting on the 16th. Met Chris (archeologist) at Darcy’s Kitchen at noon. (funny guy, categorizing pottery sherds from previous dig,)went to the Al Bustan hotel to use gym. Beautiful grounds. Leslie and David took out membership for us to use while here. All worked out, trying not to let the jetlag take over – Drove to gold craftsman, Siddiq Jewlers. Showed him my gold – checked each pieace for karat of gold (9, 14, 18, 24) separated all pices into individual groups – removed stones; chips of diamonds on jewelry. After an hour he calculated weight of pieces – totaled a nice amount in omani riyals. Some of this was paid in cash riyals and some was in a check made out to cash. Took these riyals straight to a money changed and changed into new $100 bills with some omr yet to convert. (using riyals while here, repay from our checking on our return.) Having a few pieces made - jacket gold earrings, cross created with Amsterdam diamonds, Mom’s gold loop ear ring made to match existing one. Black and white pearl necklace shortened in length. Earnings made from the remaining pieces. Dashed from here over to the souk. Met Murthada at his shop in the souk. He gave us tea and invitations to the opening of the Seyyida Ghalya’s museum on the 18th. Drove through palace area with its government buildings – majestic, lovely architecture, beautiful highways, landscaping (plethora of foliage – Ladybird Johnson would be delighted!) Lampposts all along highways, along the port walks, men in dishdashas walking everywhere – in clean bright white with Omanie tassel at the neckline. “kummah” hats in different designs/colors also men wear the “mussar”, (represents a tie, cannot attend a business meeting without – considered an insult, this mussar is sometimes wrapped over the kummah to give structure to the turbin. The mussars color and design can be individual tastes. Women’s faces are exposed, wearing abbayah’s with trim on sleeves, neckline, and scarf – sequins, pearls, sliver/gold embroidery on their headscarves. Wear more colorful clothes underneath – high heels, make –up, nails all quite attractive – very fashionable. Ate at the Capital Area Yacht Club. Club sandwiches no bacon, house salad cooked veggies and perfect mini bottles of wine.
January 14, 2011 - Bosch’s picked us up at Muscat airport 10:30 pm with a tour en-route home driving back to Qantab. Stopped for pickup of zataar and cheese on Pita bread from a well-known Lebanese bakery. Arrived at David and Leslie’s place in Qantab by midnight. Talked to catch up, make plans for first day, unpack and were in bed by 1:30 am.
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| Testing the gold Karat |
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