Last year my trip to Oman for a job there was quite a memorable one. Well, this is the first time for me to travel to a Middle East country. First reaction from my colleague was,
“Wow, you get the chance to go enjoy Oman”
“Have fun there”
I was a bit reserved when they said that. Doing this short-term engineering job, we seldom had the luxury to go around, you see. We are expected to land there, go hotel, that night or if lucky the next day go to work. On the last day, prepare to go back that day itself or if lucky go back tomorrow. No free non-working day for you to enjoy.
In one incident, I had to take midnight flight. Reached the destination airport at 4.15am and had to sleep inside the arrival hall until 8am. Then it’s straight to work non-stop. After that, straight fly back and reach hotel at night! Tough job, huh? What to do? Part and parcel of an engineer’s life.
Having said so, this trip is the first time I get to work less than 8 hours. Not that I chose not to work, but rather I was forbidden to do so. The searing heat I had to face in the country doesn’t allow me to work beyond 9.30am. Furthermore, I can’t work at night as this is a visual inspection. Just imagine how hot and dry it can be. I did my laundry in the hotel and then hang it outside the window. Within 3 hours, the clothes was dried and “hardened” even without direct contact with sunlight.
Food-wise, the only food I would recommend is the briyani rice with fish. Other than that, McDonalds is the next best staple food you get to eat around. Not because there is not any other restaurant around but the cheapest you can get. Eating dinner here at night is really an experience to remember. Here, they have air-cooler especially for your table alone. Because this country is so desert type, your drink has to be covered with aluminum foil to prevent sand getting into your drink.
The second funny thing I encountered when I was in Salalah city is that you WILL NEVER get to find restaurant open between lunch and dinner! Even if you are rich papas and mamas, they don’t give a darn. Sorry brother, when it’s time to eat you should eat. So… McDonalds again?
We all know the rich papas from this country are because of petroleum. Talk about subsidise. Where on earth can you see the price per liter petrol start with zero in front? Fuel is so cheap here that people are reluctant to get out from the car even when going to ATM machine for money withdrawal.
As for the culture, you eat with your right hand. You shake with you right hand. Even if you are a left-handed. Hygiene is of utmost importance that I spend some time figuring the purpose of this bowl beside my toilet bowl.
Wash clothes? I don’t think so judging from the position it was located away from the toilet bowl. Wash leg? Maybe, because you know for prayers, they need to clean they limbs. Or wash face? Can’t be because there is a basin there. Urinal pot? Can’t be when the one to aim is just beside. Wash backside? I can’t imagine how you want to switch from one side to the other when you can just “kaotim” at the place you finished your job. Furthermore, there is a hose attached to the wall. Can anyone tell me please?
As for the people, you really need to see how “barbaric” CERTAIN people are here. The customer service here is the most impolite I ever encountered. You would be lucky if they didn’t scold you back. To them, “customer is always right” is not in their syllabus. When you are rich you can do everything you want just like Bill Gate giving presentation without wearing any formal clothing. Here, you can even play bowling barefooted! How about that?
One thing I noticed the people here have a good features in their faces. They are all generally good looking. Pointed nose and big blued eyes. Some of them are quite big sized too. I even came across one guy in Salalah that looks like an Asian version of Luis Figo.
Middle East is a nice place to earn some extra income. But to call it as a home? You must be someone who grew up in North Pole.
“Wow, you get the chance to go enjoy Oman”
“Have fun there”
I was a bit reserved when they said that. Doing this short-term engineering job, we seldom had the luxury to go around, you see. We are expected to land there, go hotel, that night or if lucky the next day go to work. On the last day, prepare to go back that day itself or if lucky go back tomorrow. No free non-working day for you to enjoy.
In one incident, I had to take midnight flight. Reached the destination airport at 4.15am and had to sleep inside the arrival hall until 8am. Then it’s straight to work non-stop. After that, straight fly back and reach hotel at night! Tough job, huh? What to do? Part and parcel of an engineer’s life.
Having said so, this trip is the first time I get to work less than 8 hours. Not that I chose not to work, but rather I was forbidden to do so. The searing heat I had to face in the country doesn’t allow me to work beyond 9.30am. Furthermore, I can’t work at night as this is a visual inspection. Just imagine how hot and dry it can be. I did my laundry in the hotel and then hang it outside the window. Within 3 hours, the clothes was dried and “hardened” even without direct contact with sunlight.
Food-wise, the only food I would recommend is the briyani rice with fish. Other than that, McDonalds is the next best staple food you get to eat around. Not because there is not any other restaurant around but the cheapest you can get. Eating dinner here at night is really an experience to remember. Here, they have air-cooler especially for your table alone. Because this country is so desert type, your drink has to be covered with aluminum foil to prevent sand getting into your drink.
The second funny thing I encountered when I was in Salalah city is that you WILL NEVER get to find restaurant open between lunch and dinner! Even if you are rich papas and mamas, they don’t give a darn. Sorry brother, when it’s time to eat you should eat. So… McDonalds again?
We all know the rich papas from this country are because of petroleum. Talk about subsidise. Where on earth can you see the price per liter petrol start with zero in front? Fuel is so cheap here that people are reluctant to get out from the car even when going to ATM machine for money withdrawal.
As for the culture, you eat with your right hand. You shake with you right hand. Even if you are a left-handed. Hygiene is of utmost importance that I spend some time figuring the purpose of this bowl beside my toilet bowl.
Wash clothes? I don’t think so judging from the position it was located away from the toilet bowl. Wash leg? Maybe, because you know for prayers, they need to clean they limbs. Or wash face? Can’t be because there is a basin there. Urinal pot? Can’t be when the one to aim is just beside. Wash backside? I can’t imagine how you want to switch from one side to the other when you can just “kaotim” at the place you finished your job. Furthermore, there is a hose attached to the wall. Can anyone tell me please?
As for the people, you really need to see how “barbaric” CERTAIN people are here. The customer service here is the most impolite I ever encountered. You would be lucky if they didn’t scold you back. To them, “customer is always right” is not in their syllabus. When you are rich you can do everything you want just like Bill Gate giving presentation without wearing any formal clothing. Here, you can even play bowling barefooted! How about that?
One thing I noticed the people here have a good features in their faces. They are all generally good looking. Pointed nose and big blued eyes. Some of them are quite big sized too. I even came across one guy in Salalah that looks like an Asian version of Luis Figo.
Middle East is a nice place to earn some extra income. But to call it as a home? You must be someone who grew up in North Pole.
3 comments:
Maybe the basin is to wash their feet or hand. Too lazy to stand up to wash hand after doing the business.
That's what I thought initially but was told not the case. Anyway I won't be putting my foot inside the to wash mate..
I just stumbled upon your blog... that thing next to the toilet is called a bidet. It's to wash your bum. Google it.
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