rule number one

one of the most important things a non-muslim must always remember about ramadan (other than not eating, drinking or chewing gum in public):

never arrive at iftar late.

omani time is nonexistent when it comes to breaking the fast, and understandably so. i was duly reminded of this when i arrived to meet a friend for iftar at one of the many all-you-can eat buffets 10 minutes late. normal for every-day situations, but quite late for iftar. note to self.