Jarring Morning Walking

On a summer night, the temperature in Muscat seems to never drop below 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus that I’ll-exercise-once-it-cools-down-a-bit-this-evening promise holds absolutely no water, and it is easy to go from active to slug in a matter of days. Most days this leaves me trying to drag out the door in the morning. I managed it this morning. Go me. 

The sun here rises at around 5:30 a.m. which means the temperatures are fairly scorching by 7:30 a.m. The window of outdoor exercise opportunity slams shut by 6:30 a.m. This morning I slipped in a walk just as the weather was sliding on the heat continuum from will-make-you-somewhat-sweaty to will-make-you-look-freshly-showered-but-smell-really-really-bad. I had forgotten this reality over the last year and am still trying to come to terms with it.

The university that is hosting us looms large and drab white over a very swank part of Muscat, which means I have access (albeit not quite access that is on the up and up) to a golf course which affords exceptional walking opportunities. The surrounding landscape is all done up in a style know as Jarring Modern Gulf Contrasts.

My morning walk begins here, at our fairly modest little university which is playing host to the program. Yup, that is the whole university right there.

 

Wandering down to the golf course, I can start to see that dry, dusty, and natural snuggle up closely with green, grassy, and artificial--let's call this shade of green "grey water lush", because where do you think the water comes from to make this so green?

Desert spiny rubs elbows with soft and colorful. These two photos were taken in the back of a house that sits on the golf course...

While this one was taken in the same house's deep green front garden. Grey water magic.

The sanitary, clean, well-spaced lines of pricey housing abut tumbled construction sites and large earth moving vehicles, which are often parked within spitting distance of fancy pants cars.

What golf course would be complete without a dangerous wadi and a sign depicting a hapless stick man about to plunge to his death. Poor guy. 

The stereotypical palm tree! How could I be so negligent and leave that out? It is date season here and I had dozens to choose for a photo op. This one was especially photogenic.







Gulf contrasts--there are thousands of them here, but on an early morning walk, these are the only ones you will see. Stay tuned for more inshallah.