ET aka Kylskåp's 1st History Tour: Quiriyat.

 What an eventful last few days.  Firstly, an email from the future grandmother of ET.  She has been visiting baby shops in the Netherlands.  Checking out tit bits for ET.  Bibs, miniature shirts, balls and an assortment of things!  Isn’t it a little too early for that?  Apparently not!  Grandmothers usually do these things.  How lucky for ET. 

And then, we have a childhood friend of Ingrids visiting us. From Amsterdam.  Wonderful to have her.  Marlies is her name.  With her comes a bag load of things for ET.  From books on how to rear an ET to stuff sent by the grandparents.    ‘I love Oma’ and ‘I love Opa’  T-shirts.  Is this a political campaign thing going on, that I do not know about?  It’s just like those  ‘I love Bush’  t-shirts.     I find it all a bit funny.  But, then ET is blessed to have all the love and affection around.   Oh, there was a stuffed cat too. I think it is a cat.  A lesson that can be learnt here from grandma, is that she ‘puts her mouth where her money is’.  She spoke about baby stuff and she got them.  Unlike, the general attitude of people in this region.  It is always, ‘Yes, we can do!’.  And then when the day of ‘doing ‘ comes,  it is a healthy servings of  insha’allah. 

‘I want to go to the moon’, I say.

‘Yes we can do that’ says the camel.

‘Where is my rocket then?’ I demand.

‘Tomorrow, Insha’allah!’

Anyway, back to the story.  Friday morning, my dear friend Peter was here from Dubai along with Christian the Italian.  We had a houseful.  Peter, Christian, Marlies, Ingrid, ET and I drove to Quiriyat in the afternoon.  ET and I slept through the journey.  The others were discussing recipes and needlework.  

Quiriyat has an old fort.  I think it is absurdly over rated.  But in these modern times, it is perfectly normal and fashionable to look at a blank white wall and exclaim, ‘How amazing the workmanship on the wall looks’.  Hope ET does not become one of those. My message to ET on this educational history tour is,  It is just a building, just like any other, but  built a few hundred years ago.  And just like anywhere else, nature with the help of the elements will do it job on it.  No need to throw a gala feast.  

 On our way back, we stopped by at Muthrah.  The souq in particular.  A nice place to visit. Just once though.   Along side the souq is the jetty.  Berthed there is His Majesty’s beautiful yacht.  Elegant, classy and so pleasing to the eye.  Peter and I did not go into the souq. We caught up on the last months whilst feasting our eyes  on the yacht. 

The highlight of the evening was, dinner hosted by Peter, at Kargeen.  This is probably the best Omani restaurant in town.  A sumptuous meal we all had.  ET did not order anything in particular.  Besides, sharing what Ingrid had. Chicken Caesar Salad.  Thank god for the chicken.   Interestingly, the man who served us was from India.  From a neighbouring village to where my family comes from.  It was a kind of a mini clan reunion.  The typical conversation.

'Where are you from?' He asks in excitement.

'I am from Thirunellvelli' I reply

'Really?  I am from Nagarcoil!'

Oh my god, lets hug, kiss and bring on the village criers!!!    As if I care! But I show some enthusiasm and say, 'How wonderful is that!'

I need to make a chart for ET.  A kind of tool; a flow-chart maybe. This will help ET  decide what religion  must be followed.   This needs to be done before being bombarded by family (especially from my side) forcing alliance with the Queen and the Anglican faith.