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.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
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.
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