Walking and sailing at the same time …

I admit it!  I’m a clumsy person.  I walk into walls and stump my toes frequently.  However, I have been successful at walking on a cruise ship.  Each morning I’ve tried to do a minimum of five miles and exceed my goal of 10,000 steps. 

I’m been successful at the walking, but I’m scared to get on scales after the trip on April 30.  I know those three daily meals that are delicious have contributed to my girth in photos.  Well, calorie restrictions begin when I get back on April 30.

I feel great, and I will continue to do those miles daily.  Here’s the Fitbit report I received this morning regarding my walking this past week.



My weekly Fitbit Report ... I love my Fitbit and the accountability of the weekly report!

Crossing the Mandeb Strait between the Arabian Peninsula and the African Continent

As I write this blog entry, our ship just passed through the Mandeb Strait (or Bal-el-Mandeb).  In other words we have crossed the closest point between the Arabian Peninsula and the continent of Africa.  We’re now in the Red Sea.

As we made this journey between Yemen, on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, I got photos of the Yemen coast.  Unfortunately, the haze prevented my camera from capturing the shots of the mountain on the African side of the strait.

So here are my pictures of Yemen.  We’re moving quickly (22 knots) in order to be out of Yemeni waters by 5pm today.  We’ll then be off the coast of Saudi Arabia continuing on the journey to Jordan (Thursday, April 2) and the Suez Canal (Saturday, April 4).

 

The Bab-el-Mandeb at the bottom right of this map of the area.

The island of Perim divides the strait into two channels



Photos of the Yemen Coast as we pass by on Monday, March 30.

Crossing this strait moves us from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.



The Bab-el-Mandeb acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Our ship should be out of Yemen waters by 5pm our time.  We're traveling at a fast 22 knots.

Yemen is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula,

 

The voyage continues...

I attended the lecture on Petra, Jordan, this morning, and I'm excited about seeing this ancient city carved out of stone in 312 BC.  The treasury building is located in the picture above, and it may look familiar (from the movie Indiana Jones). 

I will be in Israel during Easter weekend with the following tours:

• A tour of Jerusalem and the Old City on Sunday, April 5
• A tour of Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee on Monday, April 6

Being fashion forward?!?

No, I didn't convert while visiting the Arabian Peninsula. However, I was convinced to purchase the traditional Omani garb as part of negotiations for some souvenirs yesterday.

Oman's Sultan Qaboos requires men in all government positions to wear this "uniform" with a few notable exceptions (e.g., police officers, the military, medical personnel).

Here's a photo of my new ...

Dishdasha:   The dishdasha is traditionally a white, full-length garment but can be made in other colors, too, mostly earth tones. It has a long slit opening in the center of the chest, a long tassel hanging down from the neckline (off to the side), long loose sleeves, a very specific cut and specific pattern of embroidery around the wrists, neckline, across the back at the shoulder blades and around the slit opening.

Kuma: The kuma originates in Zanzibar and is believed to be a direct result of Oman’s historical ties to Zanzibar. It is a hand-embroidered cap (buttonhole stitch) made to fit its owner (not free size). What is special about this cap is that it has holes throughout the embroidery work which helps to keep the head cool.

Fashion hit or faux pas?

Maybe I'll start a fashion trend when I return to the states.  If not, I can always join a choir since I have the robe. :-) 

Salalah, Oman

Well, Salalah is kind of like you mentally picture the desert in the Arabian Peninsula.  Sand dunes, rocks, and camel crossings were the norm, and it was beautiful.  The tour included some shopping time at the souk, the sardine fishing village of Taqah with its castle, the ruined city of Sumhuram which once was the center of the ancient frankincense trade, Marneef Cave and Mugsail Beach, and lunch at the Crown Plaza Beach Hotel.



Caution:  Camel Crossing.  Herds of camels have designated areas to use the highway.  If you hit one in the daytime, you have to pay the owner.

The beach and rocks of Mughsail Beach.

The view from the blowholes.  Low tide prevented them from doing their thing!

The path leads to the blowholes, but it was low tide.

Those are frankincense trees.  Frankincense comes from the resin that is harvested from the skin of the tree.

This part of Oman has miles and miles of beaches.  Hilton, Marriott, Crowne Plaza and other chains have hotels/resorts here.  This is the only part of the Middle East that can grow coconuts and bananas.  All other palm trees are date palms.

This is Taqah Castle.  This area is a fishing village known for its sardine catch.  I climbed up all those stairs!

The view from the Taqah Castle.  That's the fishing village with its beautiful beaches.

The ancient city of Sumhuram is being excavated.  It was the center of the frankincense trade in Biblical times.

A frankincense tree is growing on top of the ruined city.

Here I am at the archaeological dig.  That sand bar separates fresh water from the Arabian Sea.  Forgive the sweat on my shirt ... it was hot, hot, hot at 2pm in the afternoon!

Salalah, Oman

Meal times on the ms Amsterdam can be interesting...

It’s Day 81 of the 114 day voyage (almost ¾ths of the voyage has been completed).  Something interesting happened at both breakfast and lunch today.

At breakfast, the captain made an announcement that we had to make a sudden change in the ship’s course.  Was it a pirate ship that was too close?  No, it was to avoid migrating whales on the right side of the ship.  It was a great way to spend breakfast time on the Lido Deck, and I was lucky to be sitting on the starboard side for the show.

At lunch today, I was seated with two couples in the formal dining room.  One couple I’ve eaten with many times.  They’re recently moved to Colorado, and they’ve spent quite a bit of time sailing on a sailboat during retirement before the move to Colorado.  The second couple, Bob and Marge, are from Seneca, SC.  That’s right.  They’ve been on the ship since Day 1, and they’re from where I live and we hadn't met!  Marge, a New Yorker, married Bob, a resident of Seneca, five years ago.  Bob has been in the Seneca area for over 10 years.  Marge had relocated to Oconee County from Georgia to live with her daughter in Fox’s Lair.

I had met one other couple from South Carolina during the trip.  They were from Columbia and SC natives.  They were on the ship from Auckland, New Zealand, and they ended their portion of the trip in Dubai, UAE.

I will soon be off to dinner, and I wonder if any other interesting events will occur. 

Meal time can be interesting on the ms Amsterdam.

Muscat Sailaway...

I really didn't expect that much from a visit to the capital of Oman.  However, Muscat is truly a beautiful desert city. I was so pleasantly surprised by the visit and sights of the city.

 Here are my final shots from our sail away this evening.



Here I am at the sail away for Muscat.  I wish we had more time here.  Our next stop will be in Salalah, Oman, on Saturday.



Everyone is enjoying the sail away with Ft. Al Mirani in the background as the ship turns about for our exit from the harbor.

The souk markets are in the background as we make our way out of this natural harbor.

One final look at the Khawr Kalbuh area of Oman.

The Sultan's palace and government buildings are in the distance was we make our way into the Arabian Sea.

A closer look at Muscat, Oman

A picture of the Sultan Qaboos bin Said Palace.

The Al Mirani Fort was built in the 1580s by the Portugese.

The crystal clear waters of the Muscat Harbor are part of the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.

A traditional Omani Dhow lays anchored in the Muscat Harbor (it's the world's largest natural harbor).

Here's a picture of the Old Town.

Here I am outside the Sultan Qaboos bin Said Palace.

Government buildings near the Sultan's palace.

The Al Bustan Palace Hotel.  It is near the parliament buildings and is on the Arabian Sea.

The lobby to the Al Bustan Palace.

The country is an absolute monarchy, and the Sultan is Qaboos bin Said.  He rose to power after overthrowing his father.

Here's the pool at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel. 



Tea or coffee?  Here's our snack for our time at the hotel.



A photo of the lobby area. You don't need to light up here... you just breathe it in from the lobby.

Music during our tea time was provided by a harpist.

The shopping was great at the Mutrah Souq, and I bought a few cashmere items to bring home.

Muscat, Oman

Well, we arrived around 2am in Muscat, Oman (Thursday, March 26).  I just had breakfast, and I've taken a few photos of the city from the ship.

Muscat is the capital of Oman.  The Western Al Hajar Mountains dominate the landscape and you see how the city has been carved out of the side of mountain from the harbor.

I’m slumming it today in Muscat.  I’m off to Al Bustan Palace Hotel around noontime for another tea.  The hotel is part of the Ritz-Carlton group, so I know it will be an experience.  I'm also supposed to have time in the Muttrah Souk (or market).

 

This is the Al Mirani Fort that overlooks the sea.  It was built by the Portuguese.

Muscat has a large tourism industry because of malls, resorts, and a beautiful coastline.  Of course, it's an Islamic country with the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.  Shoulders, knees, and bellies must be covered while off the ship today.

The Al Hajar Mountains are in the background of every shot of Muscat.

Some of the tours will leave early this morning.  My tour doesn't begin until midday.

The port facility is very modern.

Muscat's position on the Arabian Sea close to the Straits of Hormuz has made it an important trading city.

A view of the monument in Riyam Park.