So today we leave for a few days vacation. We're going to a town named Khasab on the Musandam peninsula of the Sultanate of Oman.
Remember, I talked about it a few weeks ago at the beginning of Ramadan (If you missed that story, see Ramdan).
Yes, Eid ul-Fitr is upon us. "Eid", as it's more commonly known, is the breaking of the fast of Ramandan. It's three day holiday for us, some businesses get a week or more.
So anyway, we're going to Oman for Eid. Actually Musandam is an exclave of Oman. And I actually just learned what an 'exclave' is. Alaska is an exclave. So Musandam is to Oman as Alaska is to the United States. And in that case the United Arab Emirates is Canada.
Get it?
No?
Here's a map:
As you can see, we're going to be a stone's throw away from Iran. Interesting. So if King George decides to attack this weekend, we'll have front row seats. Don't worry, I'll bring lots of film.
(Oh wait, the radiation will probably x-ray the film, huh? I'll take the digital camera, too).
Our friends at Wikipedia just told me that Khasab is known for "fishing and smuggling goats in small, fast boats, to and from Iran".
Wait, "to and from"? So I gather the United Arab Emirates has a taste for Iranian goats, while Iran has a taste for Emirati goats?
Huh.
We also learn that "cigarettes are the main export though scrap metal and white goods form a significant part".
I'm actually quite intrigued - in Khasab I expect to find fields of tobacco, heaps of scrap metal, some "white goods" (not sure what exactly those are) and, obviously, lots of goats (of both Iranian and Emirati descent).
Wikipedia also tells us that "Khasab is currently evolving as a tourist destination, the diving in the area being well known for its challenges. Mountain safaris are popular as are the Dhow cruises of the nearby Fjords".
Phew, the real reason we're going (I mean, besides the goats).
Lastly, "the Musandam Peninsula has an area of 1,800 square kilometers and a population of 28,727 people".
For reference (I was just looking this up last week) there are currently 31,697 students (undegrad and grad) at Boston University.
But sadly, no goats are enrolled at this time.
(Although I wonder if they can smuggle them in from MIT across the Charles River?) |
