dispatches from muscat

one of the little oman luxuries that i knew i would miss upon leaving the country was the opportunity to take a nice long walk on a stretch of quiet beach at my leisure. the weather was almost always seemingly perfect (save those steamy hot summer months when just stepping from your apartment door to the car caused a nice layer of sweat to form), the crowds not overwhelming even on fridays (the most crowded of days), the sand always soft and clean (with only a stray piece of rubbish here and there), and thousands upon thousands of little shells to collect.

i knew that the beach was a luxury and just the thought of having it a mere 10-minute drive away is something of a distant memory. living on the east coast, the beaches are 2 hours away, and one can only dream of their atmosphere's to match the tranquility i found every week on my friday walks on qurum beach. it seemed to cure all ills, helped to clear the mind ... now, i have the january blues, the weather has been freezing my bum off, but friday's climb into almost-60F caused enough joy and motivation for me to go on a nice run around the neighborhood.

i can't wait for spring to come, if only for the milder, longer days, leaves on the trees and flowers in bloom.

oh wait, i have allergies. damn.