A tree in the desert

We took the decision that we'll be staying in Dubai for Christmas. Of course, many ex-pats go home at Christmas to be close to family and friends. However, we kinda feel that as we've only moved a month or so ago and as this is our home now so we should embrace Christmas abroad! 

This is the type of Christmas we are used to!

Also, both of our beloved mothers are visiting us from the UK and Sweden. Problem is I'm not feeling Christmas-y at all. It's quite hard to when it's 28 degree's and cloud less sunshine outside. In a desperate bid to feel festive I thought I'd put the tree up. 

Now, wanting to but not being able to spend a fortune on nice Christmas decorations and trimmings - because we don't see the point not being sure if we'll be here next Christmas. It was a budget Christmas tree for us this year. We bought a cheap tree for 150dhs and most of the decorations from Carrefour. The quality of some of the decorations was terrible and I know there'll be that annoying cheap glitter in our eye brows for weeks. However, when some of the baubles cost 1 Dhs for 4 you can't really complain about the quality. 

My tip for decorating a tree on a budget is kept it neutral, stick to a few colours, I opted for cream and gold to minimise the cheapness factor looking...well cheap. Then what I did was add a few expensive decorations as 'features' at the front of the tree and all things considered I think it turned out pretty well. 

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The road to Niswa

      

We'd planned our route from Muscat back to Dubai so we could visit the Oman Grand Mosque and also the historic city of Niswa. This was is first mosque we'd visited since we moved and wow what a impressive, tranquil space it was. It's said to be the 5th largest mosque in he world. 

Our detour via Niswa was a beautiful drive through the mountains - I had no idea the middle east was mountainous at all. The mountains and desert are punctuated by small oasis's, that are accompanied by small towns and villages.  


Unfortunately, because of having to stop off at the Mosque we hadn't timed our visit to Niswa very well, we got there at lunch time and of course everything was closed. The souk was eerily deserted but we were still able to go around the Old fort and Niswa Museum which were both great. 

  

I'd been thinking that really like to create a traditional Arabic flavour to our home even though it's very modern. I think it would be interesting to mix the two styles, modern furniture with some Arabic antique pieces.

Johan sampling a local delicacy
....a choc ice

I took inspiration from the traditional interior of the fort, with it's Persian rugs and colourful floor cushions instead of chairs. Not dissimilar to the one's I bought from Marina - see our Home Sweet Home post. We also bought an Arabian antique coffee pot and a large copper tray just like the one's pictured below at Muscat Souk. I'll do a separate post about how our own interiors shape up. 

       

The panorama from the top of Niswa fort -  amazing!! 

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The road to Muscat

So we decided before we moved to Dubai that we wanted to  explore as much as possible whilst we are here. Being in Dubai puts us in such a good geo-graphical position for so many amazing places; Asia, India, Africa, Oz & NE and that's not counting what's on our doorstep in the Middle East. 

So we thought we'd pop next door to Oman for a long weekend. We hired a car and started our 5 hour road trip with the tradition of Pringles and coke for breakfast. 

You have to get a visa to travel to Oman and then pass through 4 boarder check points - yes, a lot of faff but totally worth it. 

We were also trying out a new travel strategy to keep costs down. The plan is we stay in a cheap hotel - as we won't be there much and then dine in fancy restaurants. Our hotel was cheap with no cheer, but clean-ish (apart from an offensive stain on the chair that looked like someone had been murdered on it!) and in a good location so can't complain. Our strategy worked and the first night Johan found a great fish restaurant atop a hill over looking a cove and the sea, gold star for husband!

The next day we headed to Muscat which is really friendly, authentic and atmospheric. This is because it's a real place where local people live, work and go about their daily business, rather than just set up for purely for tourists.

Muscat is very picturesque, it's a seaport on one side against a backdrop of russet mountains on the other. You can walk along the coast road and take in the sights, the mosque, the souk, the old fort and the Sultans enormous Royal Yacht, it was the size of a cruise liner.

The mosque was covered finely detailed blue and gold mosaics with Arabic inscriptions. 

We also climbed a small hill to the old lighthouse now merely a ruin. Once inside the camber it's a tight squeeze, with the added drama of a collapsed floor exposing a sheer 30ft cliff drop beneath.  

Carving adorned the souk walls

That evening we picked up some great antiques from the Souk but be prepared to haggle, we're new to it so are trying out different tactics. The Johan 'good cop', me 'bad cop' seems to be working for us. As the male shopkeeper's seem to take pity on Johan for having such a bossy wife and give him a good price.

Parting shot, looking back from the lighthouse towards the old fort and port.   

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Home sweet home

So in a day our apartment went from being a soulless, bare, beige box to something starting to resemble a home and we were able to spend the first night in our new pad. 

Even though our main furniture items, sofa, beds, TV, chairs, desks wouldn't be delivered for a week. We had bedding and kitchen stuff and feasted on hummus and olives fit for a king.

We also had a mattress and two very beautiful hand made Arabic style lounging cushions from one of my favourite interior shops in Dubai,called Marina.

Every time I walk past the window of Marina, it's 'be still my beating heart', I literally get palpitations. 

My Top Tips for unpacking:

1. Throw things randomly in cupboards as quickly as possible 

2. Open the bubbly as quickly as possible 

3. Get on the balcony and enjoy the view as quickly as possible 

4. Have a heated debate about if cushions are 'art' and should be admired from afar or if they should jumped on and used as advertised! 

5. Loose that particular debate. 

Johan ruining my beautiful cushion 
by using them!

 

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