It's incredible how countries only separated by a few hundred miles can be so different. But they are. Until recently, Oman was also a closed country. But since they have opened their borders to the world so much has happened - some is sad; the waterfalls, wadis and hikes that were once pristine and private are now bustling and showing signs of increased traffic - some is incredible; the beautiful buildings and roads, the kindness of the people, the openness of their culture. Oman. is. beautiful!! We loved it - the scenery, the people, and the liberation. We spent a lot of the week discovering and falling in love with the country. I would go back in a heartbeat and while there I kept thinking of all my friends back home that would love Oman too.
The house this time - not so great (cockroaches.) But the grounds were perfect. A pool, a playground, and a basketball hoop. What more could you ask for? The kids didn't want to leave.
This is about as good as it gets for us. Getting a good group picture is i-m-p-o-s-s-i-b-l-e.
The guard at the Grand Mosque offered to let Calvin take pictures with him. Calvin wasn't so sure.
Andy loved the trip - we spent the majority of the week off-road.
Our hike through Snake Canyon.
Tal and Naomi having a pull-up contest. What family vacation is complete without one?
Loved this village! Wish we had more time to stay!
Family pictures outside the church building in Oman. Yes, we are matching. Yes, I thought I might get a good family picture out of it. Yes, I was wrong.
Lauren, are you there? I need help.
A moment.
None of the pictures we took captures the insanity of this hike. Basically, this is us with our nine children hiking around the rim of Oman's Grand Canyon. It was crazy. Amazing no one died.
But it was worth it because at the end we got to explore these incredible cave dwelllings. Alone.
See. I can take a good picture of my kids. One at a time. If I'm not planning on it.
The day Andy was sick we took this incredible hike. Up a Wadi. To a little river and a canyon. That we had to swim through to get to a hidden waterfall. I was trying to help Andy. It was a long hike.
Andy rallied enough to do a stellar backflip off the cliff. Nice.
Inside the Grand Mosque. Maybe the most beautiful building I've ever been in.
Last day we took a few hours on a Dhow ship to see the Dolphins. They were amazing.
We were not so amazing. One word. Seasick.
