{"id":500,"date":"2016-03-19T13:27:24","date_gmt":"2016-03-19T09:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/?p=500"},"modified":"2016-03-19T13:27:24","modified_gmt":"2016-03-19T09:27:24","slug":"desert-trip-and-other-miscellaneous-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/?p=500","title":{"rendered":"Desert Trip and Other Miscellaneous Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m quite behind in my blog posts due to internet issues, but I think that is all sorted out now, so be expecting quite a bit in the next few days! I&#8217;ll start by recapping a desert trip and including some photos from our other short excursions. In the next few days I&#8217;ll talk about my trip to Dubai, and in the following post my week-long vacation to Masira Island and Muscat.<\/p>\n<p>One of our trips was to the Bahla fort, one of the largest castles in Oman. I really enjoyed visiting this fort because we were able to explore all of the rooms, and there were quite a few interesting staircases and ladders to climb. In one room I found what appeared to be an old well &#8211; I dropped a little rock down it to see how deep it was, and it seemed like over a second before I heard it hit the bottom. I shined my flashlight in, and was greeted by a chirping bat, but luckily it didn&#8217;t attack me!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-500 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_112552.jpg' title=\"The Bahla Fort\" data-rl_title=\"The Bahla Fort\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_112552-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-468\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-468'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Bahla Fort\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_112552-1.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_112552-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_102304.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_102304-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_105554.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_105554-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_103621.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_103621-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_101729.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_101729-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_104723.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_104723-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_112222.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_112222-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>The castle was very haphazardly organized, i.e. there was really no clear way to figure out how to get to one place just from looking at it, but after a lot of searching I found a ladder that took me up to the top of one of the tallest tower in the fort.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"On Top of the Tallest Tower in the Bahla Fort\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/158669137?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>We also visited a mountain village after Bahla.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-500 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_125948.jpg' title=\"RC Cola? What? In Arabic it says &quot;Drink RC&quot;\" data-rl_title=\"RC Cola? What? In Arabic it says &quot;Drink RC&quot;\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_125948-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-514\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-514'>\n\t\t\t\tRC Cola? What? In Arabic it says &#8220;Drink RC&#8221;\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_134709.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160220_134709-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001-620x620.jpg 620w, https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160220-WA0001.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>The trip to Bahla was just an afternoon trip if I recall correctly. Our desert trip on February 25-26 was longer. We started that trip with a visit to Jabreen castle, considered one of the most beautiful castles in Oman. I wasn&#8217;t able to appreciate it completely though, because I was a little sick from eating an\u00a0ice cream bar that contained hazelnut chocolate, which I didn&#8217;t realize before I ate it (I&#8217;m allergic to hazelnuts!).<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-500 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152331.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152331-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152703.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152703-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152749.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152749-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_154024.jpg' title=\"The tomb of the Imam who built the castle\" data-rl_title=\"The tomb of the Imam who built the castle\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_154024-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-479\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-479'>\n\t\t\t\tThe tomb of the Imam who built the castle\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152318.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_152318-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Since we&#8217;re talking about castles and forts, I&#8217;ll add a funny anecdote here. In my first few weeks in the program, I learned two new words, the word for castle (\u062d\u0635\u0646, HuSun) and the word for plate (\u0635\u062d\u0646, SaHan). You might be able to see from the Arabic writing, that these words are the same letters but in a different order. When I went to a Syrian restaurant near our apartment, I accidentally asked for a Falafel Castle instead of a Falafel Plate, which the restaurant employees thought was very funny. Sometimes I still get the words confused!<\/p>\n<p>After our visit to the fort we arrived at the desert camp and went dune bashing &#8211; one of the men from the camp took us driving very fast over the sand dunes in his truck! It was a lot of fun, quite rough, and a little scary. The camp was nice, especially because we were the only ones there. We had a nice buffet dinner, and sat and talked afterwards. I went out for a walk in the desert by myself at night as well. I think I&#8217;m attracted to the desert because there&#8217;s no place that&#8217;s so quiet and isolated &#8211; there were no sounds around me, and almost no life. It was a good place to meditate, although I had to shine my light around every few minutes to make sure there were no scorpions around! The best thing about the desert camp was that I was able to put my mattress on a bed frame outside, and sleep under the stars. I even saw a shooting star.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-500 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_084916.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_084916-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_073123.jpg' title=\"How we slept in the desert\" data-rl_title=\"How we slept in the desert\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_073123-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-486\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-486'>\n\t\t\t\tHow we slept in the desert\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_071338.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_071338-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_192228.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_192228-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_191822.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_191822-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0007.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0007-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0008.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0008-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0009.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0009-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0010.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0010-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>We got up early in the morning to watch the sunrise. It was a very difficult walk up a few dunes, but it was worth it.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery galleryid-500 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_063742.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_063742-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_064139.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160226_064139-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_180945.jpg' title=\"Sunrise over the desert\" data-rl_title=\"Sunrise over the desert\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160225_180945-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-480\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-480'>\n\t\t\t\tSunrise over the desert\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Desert Sunrise\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/159590252?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>We also visited Wadi Shab, a large river\/canyon that I visited last summer in my previous trip. This time, however, I was able to swim to the end of the wadi to see a waterfall inside of a cave! It was beautiful, but of course, I couldn&#8217;t take any pictures.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery galleryid-500 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0004.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0004-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0005.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0005-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0006.jpg' title=\"\" data-rl_title=\"\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160227-WA0006-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Here are some other photos that I&#8217;ve taken over the past few weeks:<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery galleryid-500 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_102027.jpg' title=\"Some interesting fruits\" data-rl_title=\"Some interesting fruits\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_102027-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-470\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-7-470'>\n\t\t\t\tSome interesting fruits\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_193910.jpg' title=\"My conversation partner, Ahmed\" data-rl_title=\"My conversation partner, Ahmed\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_193910-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-473\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-7-473'>\n\t\t\t\tMy conversation partner, Ahmed\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_102419.jpg' title=\"The inside of the mangosteen\" data-rl_title=\"The inside of the mangosteen\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_102419-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-472\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-7-472'>\n\t\t\t\tThe inside of the mangosteen\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_102308.jpg' title=\"Apparently this is called a Mangosteen\" data-rl_title=\"Apparently this is called a Mangosteen\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20160221_102308-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-471\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-7-471'>\n\t\t\t\tApparently this is called a Mangosteen\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160310-WA0003.jpg' title=\"A very scary Ferris wheel in Ibri\" data-rl_title=\"A very scary Ferris wheel in Ibri\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG-20160310-WA0003-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-513\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-7-513'>\n\t\t\t\tA very scary Ferris wheel in Ibri\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m quite behind in my blog posts due to internet issues, but I think that is all sorted out now, so be expecting quite a bit in the next few days! I&#8217;ll start by recapping a desert trip and including some photos from our other short excursions. In the next few days I&#8217;ll talk about [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=500"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":518,"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500\/revisions\/518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oman.victorreynolds.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}