Tomorrow I’m boarding an Emirates flight for a seventeen hour trip to Dubai, UAE.  From there I have a one hour flight to Muscat, Oman.  I’m conducting a client workshop there for a few days and plan to stop over in Dubai for a few more days on the way back;  In all, I’m going to be gone from March 8-16th.   The closest I have ever been to the middle east is Turkey, and I had an absolutely great time there.  It’s always a little bit intimidating to visit the middle east especially with all of the commotion that has been going on.  I’m confident however that I will have a fun and safe trip.

In Muscat I’m staying at a 5-star resort courtesy of my client, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers.  I’m actually not too sure what I should do while I’m there or what places I should visit (any recommendations?), I have heard that there isn’t that much to see or do in Muscat itself but that there are some interesting things around Muscat that are worth checking out.  I’ll most likely rely on recommendations from people once I actually arrive in Muscat.

In Dubai I have heard that I should definitely make a point to head out to the desert to watch the sunrise/sunset as well as cruise around some sand dunes on an ATV.  We’ll see if I can make that happen; if not there are plenty of other things to see and do such as visit the world’s only 7 star hotel, go skiing indoors, stop by the world’s tallest building, and go shop in the malls/city center.

I’m most excited about experiencing a new culture and exploring the natural landscapes of both Oman and the UAE.  I’ve been doing a bit of reading on local customs and cultures and I’ve learned some very interesting things, for example it is considered impolite to greet anyone with your left hand or to point the soles of your shoes at anyone (when sitting at a table perhaps).

I’m not too sure what to expect but I’m pretty sure I’m going to love it.  I will make sure to take plenty of pictures and videos that I can share on here.

Have you been to either Dubai or Muscat?  Have any tips or recommendations on things to see or do?

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