The day started out just like any other. Jake woke us up at 5:50 by kicking us in the head, back, and any place else his little limbs could kick. We decided to take him for a quick swim in the pool before breakfast so he'd have a little fun in this travel day from Musundam to Nizwa, Oman. Our flight was scheduled for 1:25 PM and once we landed in Muscat, we would drive to Nizwa, a few hours away.
Chris remembered seeing a sign at the Khasab Airport that said flights from March-October depart at 11 AM. The Khasab airport is a tiny little airport and is actually a military airport they open up once a day for the one regional flight to and from Muscat each day. For my South Dakotans, this airport may actually be smaller than the Watertown airport or old Pierre airport.
So Chris checked the Oman Air online flight status to make sure we really were leaving at 1:25 PM and not 11 AM. Status said our flight was cancelled. No reason given, just cancelled. Chris called Oman Air customer service to verify. They confirmed, cancelled. They said they didn't have enough planes. They said the next flight would be tomorrow, but it is already booked full. They have no further details or instructions. Chris called down to Dan's room and let him know. Plan "B" is to take the ferry ("fastest ferry in the world" and we could see it from our hotel room, hadn't seen it move the entire time we were in Musundam). Dan called about the ferry and both Chris and Dan went down to check out of our hotel rooms then headed to check on the Ferry times. Ferry doesn't have a set schedule, but the front desk said it probably leaves at about 12 PM. They had the hotel shuttle take them to the Ferry terminal, but it turns out no Ferry to Muscat until next week.
They came back to the hotel. At this point, Jake and I had been kicked out of our room and were sitting in the lobby when the guys got back from the Ferry port. They called the Embassy in Amman to check on other flight options and then called Omani Air again. Chris asked the reason for the cancellation again and they said it was just cancelled. They didn't have enough aircraft. Dan got on the phone with them (a little more demanding this time) and they changed the story about 3 times from just cancelled to weather to no A/C. He said, "You know by law you have to provide us accommodations and meals." The lady said she knew, but still didn't offer any solutions. The hotel we were in was full and there aren't many options in Musundam. Then Chris called the Embassy to see if they found any flight solutions and the guy he talked to said he talked to Omani Air and they said we could still make the flight. We were at the hotel so we rushed to load our bags on the shuttle and had them take us to the airport. When we got there, of course, the flight was actually cancelled. I didn't go into the airport with them and just waited with Jake in the shuttle bus. Apparently Chris played "bad guy" this time and Dan smoothed it over. Eventually they came out and said we were leaving but not on a plane. They were followed out by a guy in sweat pants and a t-shirt, who said to wait 5 minutes and then we were locked in the airport. About 15 minutes later, the guy (Adnon was his name) pulled up in his car (Mazda 6) got out and was now wearing a black Thawb, one of the traditional flawy, Arab robes. We loaded up our 2 huge suitcases and 3 carry on backpacks and Jakes car seat and headed to toward Dubai. We are supposed to have a flight from Dubai to Muscat at 8:45 PM tonight.
I'm writing these notes as we are sitting at the border crossing between Oman and the UAE. Jake is sleeping so I'm waiting in the car. Dan just came out and said they won't let Chris, Jake or I cross the border without a Visa on our official passport. You have to apply for official visas in advance and can't get them on the border. Dan already has the visa for UAE from another trip.
On another note, there are goats just randomly walking back and forth across the border.
After 5 hours at the border, they did not let us cross. So we turned around and headed back into Oman. They wouldn't let us cross because we had just been stamped out and only had "single entry visas" and they weren't supposed to let us back into Oman. Dan and Chris went in to talk to the crossing agents and they had to fill out a form for each of us giving us another 30 day visa. Dan was no problem, but then they almost didn't want to let us back into Oman since the UAE wouldn't let us in. They thought maybe they didn't want us either if the UAE wouldn't take us. Chris explained, in Arabic (which is getting better and better with each mishap on this trip), and they let us in. Then the driver took us back to Khasab. On the way Chris called our hotel to see if they happened to have any vacancies and they still didn't, but connected us to a hotel that did. (So originally, Oman Air could have just put us in a hotel tonight and sent us out in the morning if they had done any research in the first place and saved us a trip to the border crossing.) And apparently Oman Air added a make-up flight for 7:45 AM tomorrow to make up for today and knowing the afternoon flight is full.
We are now in our hotel room at the Diwan Alamir Hotel and have a flight tomorrow morning. Jake is watching Tom and Jerry in Arabic and seems pretty content.
We went and got carry out food from a restaurant down the street. Jake is now sleeping and we are also ready to get some rest.
Traveling during Eid al-Fitr is much like Christmas in the States. Although Ramadan is over, stores are mostly closed and everyone is on holiday and home spending time with their family.
I did get to see some very beautiful coastline on the drive and Jake behaved pretty well for what we put him through today. It's all a part of the adventure. The Omani's at both hotels and even the airport were very helpful or tried to be within their ability. It is a great country to visit and we don't regret our trip to the Musundam peninsula, even with all the travel struggles. We would do it again! Beautiful country.
Some of the pretty scenery and beautiful aqua blue water.
There is a castle in this picture. Can you find it?
Here are the goats at the border crossing. I wonder if they have visas?
This is Khasab Castle. We could see it from our hotel. It was closed most of the time we were in Khasab so we didn't get a chance to check out the inside, but it was neat from the outside.
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