Here is a lady, admitted in a hospital, there is full time attendant, and her bills are paid . Does it mean she is well looked after. No. the attendant is rude. No complaints. Attendants are hard to get, and even her son who knows this situation pretends to see nothing. It is a surefire, hellfire matter.
One daughter of this lady simply does not even visit her. Another one says, after all, my mother has lived so many years. A son calls his mother, this mother a CROSS.
Don't forget, one of them pays her bills, or many more of this lady pays bills, but is she loved and well cared? This lady is not a destitue, she gets her pension, which her children use.
Yet one son laments, when mother has bowel movement, the adult nappy costs 50 rupees.
After few days the lady passed away, luch she was, did not suffer the insults of her children and paid servants who were supposed to look after her.
The mother died and after one month, there was mass in the cemetary chapel, flowers and other thins were offered at the offeratory.
Every such gathering ends with some eats and in case drinks as well. Without alcoholic drinks no gathering is complete. A tray with drinks is not brought around, just , a small back room is used as concealed bar, and those who want booze, go in and take it.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
jabber away with friend in your dialect and make others unhappy
Said came complaining to Glen Johnston. That Remish and another malabari were constantly talking in another language and that made Said mad. Were these chaps laughing at me?
I guess this applies to every one. Talk alright, in a language every one understands, if you are in a group.
In a company's operations meeting every day, the boss speaks to one of the managers in Kiswahili. There are others who do not understand. This is not a personal meeting, company meeting where the lanugaue is English or Arabic.
I guess this applies to every one. Talk alright, in a language every one understands, if you are in a group.
In a company's operations meeting every day, the boss speaks to one of the managers in Kiswahili. There are others who do not understand. This is not a personal meeting, company meeting where the lanugaue is English or Arabic.
Saih Rawl
This is a desert town owned by PDO also known as Petroleum Development Oman.
This is desert, very dusty, dust gets into your nose, eyes every where.
Today I reached here, took 4.5 hours by road. Glen Johnston drove me, in, he was on his way to Muscat. Heard many stories about life in Algeria. Yes, he was in Algeria for fifteen years.
Guess, who else i met, the guy who calls himself Tbone, he is from Trinidad.
This is desert, very dusty, dust gets into your nose, eyes every where.
Today I reached here, took 4.5 hours by road. Glen Johnston drove me, in, he was on his way to Muscat. Heard many stories about life in Algeria. Yes, he was in Algeria for fifteen years.
Guess, who else i met, the guy who calls himself Tbone, he is from Trinidad.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Ed ul Adha in Nimr
Today is the 16th November 2010. Guys in the camp are given restricted holiday. No need to work unless it is urgent, but be available in the area.
For breakfast, there was a paste made of rice and mutton, for Indians it was dhosha and sambar. Well there was the usual bread butter jam option and eggs cooked to order.
For Lunch it was Omani rice and meat. In the camp inmates slaughtered a cow and few sheep for meat. I found some beef cooked in strange sauce, white rice, and omani style rice, okra and dhall for dinner. There was a large carke like thing on table, that was for dessert.
There is a five day holiday granted for people in city, for desert dwellers it is back to work tomorrow.
For breakfast, there was a paste made of rice and mutton, for Indians it was dhosha and sambar. Well there was the usual bread butter jam option and eggs cooked to order.
For Lunch it was Omani rice and meat. In the camp inmates slaughtered a cow and few sheep for meat. I found some beef cooked in strange sauce, white rice, and omani style rice, okra and dhall for dinner. There was a large carke like thing on table, that was for dessert.
There is a five day holiday granted for people in city, for desert dwellers it is back to work tomorrow.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
A trip from Nimr in South Oman to Capital of Oman Muscat - Toilets needed on the way
One way is to board a bus in the morning. There are two buses, at 5.30 am and at 6 am.
One is run by a company Desert Line and another by a company named Happy Line. Fare is 5.5 Rial Omani. (approx USD 20). Distance is about 800 kms, and running time about 9 to 10 hours hours.
Both the companies have offices in Nimr and they take parcels too.
The buses are airconditioned,(not all that good, sometimes, it is a bother as well, when windows are closed ac does not cool enough) both have plenty of luggage space at lower deck. No fuss if you have two or three bags, no charges for them.
The seat cover reminds us to fasten our seat belts, however, no fuss.
If you are in PDO controlled bus, the driver will ask you to do that, and you simply obey. No fuss here again. PDO bus does not carry you to Muscat, it is just mentioned for comparison. However you can travel from Nimr to Marmul, about 90 kms for free.
The commercial line bus picks up passagers along the way and stops at Haima, 250 kms from Nimr. In the middle of the desert, the place has two banks, and even one money exchange sporting the logo of State Bank of Travancore, which is in turn owned by State Bank of India.The money exchange is called Global Exchange .
You would get out of the bus, move your legs, have tea and snacks and abimportantly go for a piss. There are four toilets, some what useable. Probably the toilets are built by chaps who run the restaurant.
On the way there are security check by officials and every one has to carry his residence card or passport with him.
Then it is a non stop run for four hours, the conductor plays one Indian DVD, which looks like it is a Hindi dubjob of a Telegu masala movie. Tricornered love , poor boy, rich girls, the works.
well I had eaten something and drank lots of water at Haima and now wanted to piss. Had to hold it tight, if at all I had asked the driver he would have stopped the bus, but there was no cover, I would have had to piss in the open with all passangers watching. I am trying to hold things back, feeling very uncomfortable.
After yet another four hours from Haima, bus halted at Nizwa. It was one pm and I followed other passangers who made a pee line before toilets there.
Bless you guys who built it, and are maintaining it. Need more, not only in the built up area , but in the open desert as well.
An Indian Kerala restaurant at Nizwa served chicken/mutton/biriyani and salad. cost one Omani Rial ( 2.6 US Dollar)
Then around 1.30 we started off to Muscat. Next stop was at Rusayl, then there was another stop at Ghala round about, where I got off the bus.
One is run by a company Desert Line and another by a company named Happy Line. Fare is 5.5 Rial Omani. (approx USD 20). Distance is about 800 kms, and running time about 9 to 10 hours hours.
Both the companies have offices in Nimr and they take parcels too.
The buses are airconditioned,(not all that good, sometimes, it is a bother as well, when windows are closed ac does not cool enough) both have plenty of luggage space at lower deck. No fuss if you have two or three bags, no charges for them.
The seat cover reminds us to fasten our seat belts, however, no fuss.
If you are in PDO controlled bus, the driver will ask you to do that, and you simply obey. No fuss here again. PDO bus does not carry you to Muscat, it is just mentioned for comparison. However you can travel from Nimr to Marmul, about 90 kms for free.
The commercial line bus picks up passagers along the way and stops at Haima, 250 kms from Nimr. In the middle of the desert, the place has two banks, and even one money exchange sporting the logo of State Bank of Travancore, which is in turn owned by State Bank of India.The money exchange is called Global Exchange .
You would get out of the bus, move your legs, have tea and snacks and abimportantly go for a piss. There are four toilets, some what useable. Probably the toilets are built by chaps who run the restaurant.
On the way there are security check by officials and every one has to carry his residence card or passport with him.
Then it is a non stop run for four hours, the conductor plays one Indian DVD, which looks like it is a Hindi dubjob of a Telegu masala movie. Tricornered love , poor boy, rich girls, the works.
well I had eaten something and drank lots of water at Haima and now wanted to piss. Had to hold it tight, if at all I had asked the driver he would have stopped the bus, but there was no cover, I would have had to piss in the open with all passangers watching. I am trying to hold things back, feeling very uncomfortable.
After yet another four hours from Haima, bus halted at Nizwa. It was one pm and I followed other passangers who made a pee line before toilets there.
Bless you guys who built it, and are maintaining it. Need more, not only in the built up area , but in the open desert as well.
An Indian Kerala restaurant at Nizwa served chicken/mutton/biriyani and salad. cost one Omani Rial ( 2.6 US Dollar)
Then around 1.30 we started off to Muscat. Next stop was at Rusayl, then there was another stop at Ghala round about, where I got off the bus.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
തെസ് ആരെ ഫോര് ഈട്സ് ഇന് ദി desert
Breakfast:
Canned fruit juices
Tea or Coffee or Chocolate -- Milk
Bread -- Toasts
Butter -- Jam – Marmalade – Honey
Two (2) eggs to order
Sausages – Tomato – Beef Bacon – Baked Beans
Cereals or Porridge
Lunch / Dinner
Selection of salads and Cold Cuts (choice of 5)
Soup
Two (2) choice of Main Courses (Meat, Fish or Chicken)
Two Vegetables
Cheese and biscuits
Fresh fruits
Ice Cream or Sweet
Coffee – Tea – Squash
Canned fruit juices
Tea or Coffee or Chocolate -- Milk
Bread -- Toasts
Butter -- Jam – Marmalade – Honey
Two (2) eggs to order
Sausages – Tomato – Beef Bacon – Baked Beans
Cereals or Porridge
Lunch / Dinner
Selection of salads and Cold Cuts (choice of 5)
Soup
Two (2) choice of Main Courses (Meat, Fish or Chicken)
Two Vegetables
Cheese and biscuits
Fresh fruits
Ice Cream or Sweet
Coffee – Tea – Squash
വാട്ട് വെ ഗെറ്റ് ഇന് ദി ടെസേര്റ്റ്
Breakfast:
Canned fruit juices
Tea or Coffee or Chocolate -- Milk
Bread -- Toasts
Butter -- Jam – Marmalade – Honey
Two (2) eggs to order
Sausages – Tomato – Beef Bacon – Baked Beans
Cereals or Porridge
Lunch / Dinner
Selection of salads and Cold Cuts (choice of 5)
Soup
Two (2) choice of Main Courses (Meat, Fish or Chicken)
Two Vegetables
Cheese and biscuits
Fresh fruits
Ice Cream or Sweet
Coffee – Tea – Squash
Canned fruit juices
Tea or Coffee or Chocolate -- Milk
Bread -- Toasts
Butter -- Jam – Marmalade – Honey
Two (2) eggs to order
Sausages – Tomato – Beef Bacon – Baked Beans
Cereals or Porridge
Lunch / Dinner
Selection of salads and Cold Cuts (choice of 5)
Soup
Two (2) choice of Main Courses (Meat, Fish or Chicken)
Two Vegetables
Cheese and biscuits
Fresh fruits
Ice Cream or Sweet
Coffee – Tea – Squash
what why in the desert
Breakfast:
Canned fruit juices
Tea or Coffee or Chocolate -- Milk
Bread -- Toasts
Butter -- Jam – Marmalade – Honey
Two (2) eggs to order
Sausages – Tomato – Beef Bacon – Baked Beans
Cereals or Porridge
Lunch / Dinner
Selection of salads and Cold Cuts (choice of 5)
Soup
Two (2) choice of Main Courses (Meat, Fish or Chicken)
Two Vegetables
Cheese and biscuits
Fresh fruits
Ice Cream or Sweet
Coffee – Tea – Squash
Canned fruit juices
Tea or Coffee or Chocolate -- Milk
Bread -- Toasts
Butter -- Jam – Marmalade – Honey
Two (2) eggs to order
Sausages – Tomato – Beef Bacon – Baked Beans
Cereals or Porridge
Lunch / Dinner
Selection of salads and Cold Cuts (choice of 5)
Soup
Two (2) choice of Main Courses (Meat, Fish or Chicken)
Two Vegetables
Cheese and biscuits
Fresh fruits
Ice Cream or Sweet
Coffee – Tea – Squash
Eid ul Fitr in ദി Desert
Those who live and work in the Desert, if they happen be in the Desert, there will be festivities there as well. In 2010 the Eid ul Fitr was on the 10th of September.
On the 9th, the moon was sighted and announcement was made that, the next is the the Eid.
Chaps in the camp slaughtered two calves and three goats . There was a budget of 500 Omani rials for this purpose.
Meat of the calves was marinated, covered in palm fronts (leaves) and placed in a hot iron barrel. The barrel was earlier put in a hole in the ground and insulated with sand around it. coal/firewood was used earlier to make th drum hot, then the meat wrapped in leaves (so thatit would not get burnt). Once the meat was in, a metal lid covered the drum (like a baken oven the drum works, it radiates heat) and the metal lid, is then,covered by sand.
The meat stays there for 24 hours, and then , when taken out, later, it would be soft and cooked.
The meat comes to the mess, where the catering contractor displays the meat called Shua along with the other eatables for the day.
These are the instructions for what is to be given on that day.
Traditional feasts shall be prepared and served on the first day on each of the above festivals using freshly slaughtered Omani goats, Eid cakes, chocolates, sweets and assorted nuts are to be available in staff lounges and Recreation clubs.
The following dishes shall also be prepared and served during Idd festivals only:
• Traditional Arsiya with Torsha made from fresh mutton and fresh ghee including Fresh liver and fresh kidney for break fast.
• During the above festivals, special menus for lunch and dinner shall be prepared consisting of lobster, prawns, fillet steak and a variety of cold cuts and salads.
The rule is that, work never stops in the Desert. However, Eid ul Fitr is an exception. That day every body, (almost) takes a day off.
Every good things has some sad sides too.
People in the desert, drive like a bat out of hell to reach home , somes times.
It was annouced that several people died on the road, that day , they were in a hurry to reach home and celebrate.
On the 9th, the moon was sighted and announcement was made that, the next is the the Eid.
Chaps in the camp slaughtered two calves and three goats . There was a budget of 500 Omani rials for this purpose.
Meat of the calves was marinated, covered in palm fronts (leaves) and placed in a hot iron barrel. The barrel was earlier put in a hole in the ground and insulated with sand around it. coal/firewood was used earlier to make th drum hot, then the meat wrapped in leaves (so thatit would not get burnt). Once the meat was in, a metal lid covered the drum (like a baken oven the drum works, it radiates heat) and the metal lid, is then,covered by sand.
The meat stays there for 24 hours, and then , when taken out, later, it would be soft and cooked.
The meat comes to the mess, where the catering contractor displays the meat called Shua along with the other eatables for the day.
These are the instructions for what is to be given on that day.
Traditional feasts shall be prepared and served on the first day on each of the above festivals using freshly slaughtered Omani goats, Eid cakes, chocolates, sweets and assorted nuts are to be available in staff lounges and Recreation clubs.
The following dishes shall also be prepared and served during Idd festivals only:
• Traditional Arsiya with Torsha made from fresh mutton and fresh ghee including Fresh liver and fresh kidney for break fast.
• During the above festivals, special menus for lunch and dinner shall be prepared consisting of lobster, prawns, fillet steak and a variety of cold cuts and salads.
The rule is that, work never stops in the Desert. However, Eid ul Fitr is an exception. That day every body, (almost) takes a day off.
Every good things has some sad sides too.
People in the desert, drive like a bat out of hell to reach home , somes times.
It was annouced that several people died on the road, that day , they were in a hurry to reach home and celebrate.
Monday, May 17, 2010
How is it in a desert oil field in Nimr Oman
There are several places in the Arab world called Nimr. This Nimr I am taling about is in Sultanate of Oman. Oman is next to Saudi Abrabia in the map.
Nimr is about 800 kms South of Muscat and about 10 hours by road from Muscat. Road is almost straight then a bend towards the left on the road to Salalah. Nimr is only 200 kms from Salalah, but most people, rather expats arrive in Muscat and then take a plane or bus to Nimr.
There are two hotels in Nimr called PAC. That is for Private Accommodation for Contractors. The owner of this oil city is a compay called PDO (petroleum development Oman, a joint venture between Government of Oman and multinatkional oil company Shell) If you are going there just for few hours, and want to pray, there is huge masjid open for public and that is courtesy PDO.
There is no precise head count of people in the desert, they are mostly, contractors , subcontractors and few floatsam guys who come to deliver goods and servies on call off arrangement.
Food.
All permanent residents have free food supply by their employers. There are two or three restaurants run by Malayalee Indians, customers are plenty, people who are bored with camp mess food come to eat fish curry, rice and chicken rice biriyani, dosa, puttu kadala, cassava with sardine and so on.
Messes in the contractors camp serve some what quality food, with soups, salads, main dish, rice, chapathi, porotta, fish and meat curries, friend chicken, fruits and deserts.
Watering Hole.
There is bar in the Permanent Accommodation for main Oil Company, Petroleum Development Oman. (PDO). People in the PDO and those who are working for its contractors are welcome. Not very expensive. The bar is decorated with picgtures of pin up girls.
There is no bank in this place, however there is OMAN UAE Exchange, where you could receive and send money, - they also entertain Western Union transactions.
There is an ATM machine, most bank cards would work on it. That is a busy place.
There are two shops selling few electronic goods, TVs, gsm phones even phone cards. Ready mades for men, safety boots and so on.If you have your Resident Card or Passport with you , it is possible to buy a sim card for local phone use.
No hospital. Just one doctor appointed by a hotel, with whom there is a call off arrangement by contractors. If you are a worker here and has a toothache, bad luck, you need to travel 200 kms to Salalah or 800 kms to Muscat.
.
Oil company has its own chartered flights, which land in Marmul, 90 kms away from Nimr.
A PDO Chartered bus service will carry all air passengers from Nimr to MARMUL in one hours time.No extra charge for that The bus is very comfortable, provides biscuites and cold water and canned juice in the bus. Every passanger in the Oil field area has to be belted to seat, be it a car, truck or bus.
To use the service you need be an employee of the PDO or contractor, flights normally take a halt at Fahud (25 minutes flying time to Fahud) and then on about 1 hour ten minutes flight to Marumul.
Several buses plying from Salalah in the South to Muscat in North pass through Nimr, bus fare from Nimr to Muscat is 5.5 Omani Rials ( X 2.58 US Dollars for conversion)
If you even happen to see a sedan car , mind you, it is a worker coming live in the desert for a "hitch" which is normally 14 days. The Omani nationals work 14 days, and after that they are given 14 days off.
Among expats, those who are lucky, the work scheudle is 5 weeks on, 5 weeks off. Most Indians work here for one year and then go home for a month's leave.
Your leave and other terms of employment depends on who your emplyer is.
Most accommodations are wired for satellite TV, but the TV and satellitelite receiver must be paid for by user.
Those who live in the PAC, perhaps gets similar facility, the satellite link up from the facility, rest of the hard ware from the user himself.
There are no permament women residents here. Occasionally one finds a woman passenger the aircraft, they come stay for one or two days and then leave. They aare here in the capacity of an offcial in one of the companies here.
Nimr is about 800 kms South of Muscat and about 10 hours by road from Muscat. Road is almost straight then a bend towards the left on the road to Salalah. Nimr is only 200 kms from Salalah, but most people, rather expats arrive in Muscat and then take a plane or bus to Nimr.
There are two hotels in Nimr called PAC. That is for Private Accommodation for Contractors. The owner of this oil city is a compay called PDO (petroleum development Oman, a joint venture between Government of Oman and multinatkional oil company Shell) If you are going there just for few hours, and want to pray, there is huge masjid open for public and that is courtesy PDO.
There is no precise head count of people in the desert, they are mostly, contractors , subcontractors and few floatsam guys who come to deliver goods and servies on call off arrangement.
Food.
All permanent residents have free food supply by their employers. There are two or three restaurants run by Malayalee Indians, customers are plenty, people who are bored with camp mess food come to eat fish curry, rice and chicken rice biriyani, dosa, puttu kadala, cassava with sardine and so on.
Messes in the contractors camp serve some what quality food, with soups, salads, main dish, rice, chapathi, porotta, fish and meat curries, friend chicken, fruits and deserts.
Watering Hole.
There is bar in the Permanent Accommodation for main Oil Company, Petroleum Development Oman. (PDO). People in the PDO and those who are working for its contractors are welcome. Not very expensive. The bar is decorated with picgtures of pin up girls.
There is no bank in this place, however there is OMAN UAE Exchange, where you could receive and send money, - they also entertain Western Union transactions.
There is an ATM machine, most bank cards would work on it. That is a busy place.
There are two shops selling few electronic goods, TVs, gsm phones even phone cards. Ready mades for men, safety boots and so on.If you have your Resident Card or Passport with you , it is possible to buy a sim card for local phone use.
No hospital. Just one doctor appointed by a hotel, with whom there is a call off arrangement by contractors. If you are a worker here and has a toothache, bad luck, you need to travel 200 kms to Salalah or 800 kms to Muscat.
.
Oil company has its own chartered flights, which land in Marmul, 90 kms away from Nimr.
A PDO Chartered bus service will carry all air passengers from Nimr to MARMUL in one hours time.No extra charge for that The bus is very comfortable, provides biscuites and cold water and canned juice in the bus. Every passanger in the Oil field area has to be belted to seat, be it a car, truck or bus.
To use the service you need be an employee of the PDO or contractor, flights normally take a halt at Fahud (25 minutes flying time to Fahud) and then on about 1 hour ten minutes flight to Marumul.
Several buses plying from Salalah in the South to Muscat in North pass through Nimr, bus fare from Nimr to Muscat is 5.5 Omani Rials ( X 2.58 US Dollars for conversion)
If you even happen to see a sedan car , mind you, it is a worker coming live in the desert for a "hitch" which is normally 14 days. The Omani nationals work 14 days, and after that they are given 14 days off.
Among expats, those who are lucky, the work scheudle is 5 weeks on, 5 weeks off. Most Indians work here for one year and then go home for a month's leave.
Your leave and other terms of employment depends on who your emplyer is.
Most accommodations are wired for satellite TV, but the TV and satellitelite receiver must be paid for by user.
Those who live in the PAC, perhaps gets similar facility, the satellite link up from the facility, rest of the hard ware from the user himself.
There are no permament women residents here. Occasionally one finds a woman passenger the aircraft, they come stay for one or two days and then leave. They aare here in the capacity of an offcial in one of the companies here.
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