Day10 Monday 23rd March 2009 – Salalah Oman

Deb and I woke at 6.20am, just before our morning tea arrived. We couldn’t make up our mind whether we wanted to go to the pool or not, and decided to make a decision after breakfast. We went down at 8.00am for breakfast, and were sat in an ante-room which felt a bit isolating – after breakfast we went up on deck to watch the ship dock. I took some photos, and we decided to sit up on the deck on the lounges, while those going on tours disembarked. There weren’t a lot going ashore – only about 800 people. Many had decided to stay on board, as it was too difficult to get to the city if you weren’t booked on a tour.
We attended both the concert and the classical piano concert last night and found them both very enjoyable – we will try to go to any future ones with these artists. We didn’t go to the ball – but we did get beautifully dressed for dinner, and looked really lovely. No photos though – we have taken enough of those.
We docked in Salalah at 10.00am this morning. Once again the ship was precisely on time. A welcoming group of Salalah dancers and singers greeted the ship as she tied up.
It seemed that the tours were very slow to get away again, as people were still joining buses at 11.00am which meant that they would not be returning until later in the afternoon.
Deb and I had morning tea up on deck at 10.30, then I returned to the cabin to re-charge the batteries on the two cameras, and to transfer the photos to the computer.
Deb returned to the cabin at 12.00md and we decided that a swim was off, and we went to lunch at 12.30pm. We chose to sit with other guests as usual, and got stuck with a weird British couple who were absolutely paranoid about getting the Norovirus. Refusing to handle anything passed to them, and using antibacterial wipes on their hands despite having just having their hands coated with the anti-viral gel.
After we had finished eating, one of the ladies sitting with us announced that her husband had the virus and was confined to their cabin for 72 hours – well that went down like a “lead balloon” for the others at the table, and an American couple got up and left.
The British couple were terrified that they might catch the virus from anything and anyone they came in contact with and stated that they were cleaning their cabin and bathroom with anti-bacterial wipes after the housekeeping staff had cleaned it.
This announcement was too much for Deb and she launched into a detailed description of how useless this activity was, on the basis that the disease is viral and anti-bacterial solutions would be a waste of time. When they heard that Deb was a Doctor of Human Physiology, they at least had the good sense to listen to what was said, but they really weren’t convinced. We thought they were being pretty stupid – and probably risked catching the virus more than if they just did what was being asked, and washing their hands rigorously every time they used the bathroom.
The joys of communal living on a ship!! I have decided that people with too much money are pompous, egotistical idiots who try to “one up” everyone they come in contact with – they can be so boring to talk to – always trying to go one better than who ever they are talking with. I am so glad that we insisted on having a table for 2 at dinner time so that we don’t have to sit with the same group every night.
Tonight dress is smart casual – so Deb and I have decided to eat Asian in the Lotus restaurant tonight. I have booked us a table, as reservations are required, and we will probably go to the show in the Royal Court Theatre – another comedian is starring – an Irishman – so I guess the jokes will be heavily flavoured with Irish ones.