I'm sitting here in the Cyberpoint internet cafe in Muscat right now. Technically, I guess, it's really Ruwi, the "Little India" section of town, as described by Lonely Planet, but whatever it is, we're here. The booths around me are filled with Indian families using the internet to call home...

Eid al Adha, the holiday after the Hajj is complete, started today, I think...all the government offices and museums are closed right now, and will reopen on Monday. So, today, we just used our time to get familiar with the different areas around town.

We left yesterday from Riyadh, and traveled through Bahrain to get to Muscat. Flying in, I had a window seat, which for such a short flight, was nice. Having driven the route from Riyadh to Dammam several times, it was nice to check out what it looks like from the air. We passed over agricultural areas, as well as Crescent dunes in the Saudi Desert. Finally, as we cruised about 10,000 feet above Dammam, I was able to make out familiar landmarks. But, all too soon, we landed.

Thus far, all of our impressions of Oman are heightened by the contrasts that they have with Saudi Arabia. In fact, from the time we left Riyadh, this whole trip has been a study of contrasts. Our first stop was in the airport in Bahrain, where we had about a 5 hour layover. We initially just wandered around the airport, reveling in the bright, shiny duty free shops. Riyadh has a beautiful airport, but there's nothing at all to do. Just one shop in each terminal, and that only before you go through the security and on to the gate. Once you're there, you can gaze longingly at the Pepsi, Mirinda, and Power Horse drinks in the small snack bar. Unless you go to the first class lounge... 40 Riyals will get you in for a day pass...it's worth it.

Bahrain International Airport is completely different. In fact, it's almost like flying into the 21st century. There's plenty to buy, coffee shops, book stores, a restaurant, and even a real bar. After a few minutes of browsing, we went upstairs to the bar and just relaxed with a beer. Felt very strange to be able to drink one in public after living in Saudi for so long. But we pressed ahead through the strangeness.

Beers, Burgers, and Bimbos

We passed the time by watching planes from the window, and cooled our heels at the bar for most of the time we were there, drinking a couple of Fosters and having a burger for supper. They had a big screen TV playing a few movies, which helped to pass the time. I also engaged in what has been a ritual for me whenever starting out on a journey: I drank a toast to my good friend Greg D., a fellow traveler and kindred spirit. It's been tradition for us for about 10 years to toast each other with the first beer consumed in a foreign country.

Bahrain is also strange for another reason...women. When we walked in to the bar, there was a lady sitting with a guy and wearing one of those skimpy shirts that showed her whole back...Just not something that you see in Saudi Arabia!

Finally, Ron said, "Well, OK...let's get to the gate," and we headed off. At one point, we had to swim through the smoking section of the airport to get to the gate. For some reason, they put a small hallway about 20x20 feet that is the smoking area. However, everyone has to walk right through it to get to the gate. I didn't mind too much, as I'm a second hand smoker, but it was strange.

On the way to the gate, there was a little old lady who I think had never been on an escalator before. Her group got on, and she hung back for a moment, unsure how to get on it. Finally, some nice gentleman took her arm and helped her on, where she rode down with a two handed death grip on the railing. Fortunately, she was able to dismount safely.

When we got to the gate, we noticed that it said "Kuwait." Oh well...wrong time, wrong gate. Finally, we got it right, and boarded our plane for the short flight to Oman.

Six Omani Riyals is all it costs for the visa, and you're in. The difference was evident right from the start. The people were a lot friendlier and engaging...almost like they actually wanted you to be there.

We caught a cab to our hotel, the Al Falaj, checked in with no problem (even though the internet booking had the name slightly different). The room was fine by our standards, and being exhausted by the travel, we just crashed.