Thursday, July 5: Since Wednesday was the 4th of July in America but a workday for me, I decide to celebrate my American independence in style by going to the Grand Hyatt pool all day Thursday. (Grand Hyatt Muscat)
Before I go, I stop at “Beauty Center” in Bareeq Al Shatti mall to get a haircut. You’d think the owners could have come up with a more creative name, but it is what it is. I have come empty-handed; I couldn’t find the picture of my wanna-be haircut that I take with me every time I visit a beauty salon. I figure it will be okay; I’ll just tell them I want the same haircut I already have, just shorter.
My hairdresser is a Moroccan lady named Rahma, and she acts a little too confident, brushing me off as I try to explain what I want. “I know, I know!” she says impatiently, trying to shut me up. She proceeds to snip away to her heart’s content. When she gets to the front sides, she takes a big chunk out of my hair. I say, pulling at the chopped short hair, “Oh my gosh! This is short! I don’t want the sides short! I want the SAME haircut I had. The sides were long!!”
But of course, it’s too late.
As every woman knows, once a cut has been taken that shouldn’t be taken, there is no turning back. The hair is botched and there is nothing to do but live with it, sometimes for a good long time while you wait for it to grow back.
Anyway, I now have the same haircut that I had in the mid-1990s when I was in the midst of raising my two little boys. It is a haircut I don’t choose. Rahma chooses it for me. And, unless I ask a stylist to “be creative” with my hair, I don’t appreciate her creativity!!
I escape the salon while I still have some hair on my head and head for the Grand Hyatt, where I check in for 10 rials and venture out to the steamy poolside. I first go to lie directly in the sun in hopes of getting a tan for my upcoming trip to Greece. But as it is about 46C out and extremely humid, sitting in the sun is like sizzling on a hot griddle. I move to a sun bed under an umbrella. And there I sit and sweat, taking a dip into the pool every other minute or so.
One of the draws of the Grand Hyatt pool is the swim-up bar. I saw this bar before when my sons and I ate dinner poolside one night in February. And I’ve been dreaming of swimming right up to it and ordering a beverage. Although my usual drink is red wine, I don’t figure a room temperature red wine is the right drink in 46C weather. I’ll wait until I’m inspired.
Later, I go into the pool and a French man named Yves strikes up a conversation with me. He’s the assistant trainer for the national football team in Oman. We chat for quite some time and then he asks me if I’d like a drink at the bar. We swim on over to it, inside the waterfall curtain. Yves orders a Corona with a lemon and I follow suit. Refreshingly sweet!
As we chat, I tell Yves that he is quite charming, as I’m sure he already knows. He says, “You’re quite charming yourself.” I laugh and say that no one has ever used that word before to describe me. He’s surprised. And I’m surprised that he’s surprised.
I’m pleased that the Grand Hyatt is so grand. I linger in the pool with the Frenchman for a while, then we go take a dip in the ocean, where the waves toss us around like jellyfish. Some boys toss their ball too far out into the ocean and ask Yves to get it for them. He swims out and I see his head bobbing in the waves as he catches and tosses the ball to the shore. We eventually make our way back to the pool, rinse off the sand, and part ways.
The biggest drawback to the Grand Hyatt pool is currently a lack of changing room or proper bathroom facility. Maybe the regular bathroom is under renovation or not operational, because today the hotel designated separate hotel rooms for the men’s and women’s changing rooms/bathrooms. This would have been a problem for me if I hadn’t planned to check in at another hotel. Because with one room for all women, and one bathroom, if I wanted to shower, change and blow-dry my hair, women queuing up outside and waiting for me to finish might get just a tad bit irritated.
I leave the Hyatt, where I can’t afford to stay overnight, and check in to Safeer Suites at Medinat Sultan Qaboos, where I’m able to soak in a good long bath. Later, I meet an Omani friend for a delicious dinner of Prawns Hong Kong at China Town restaurant in Qurum.
I think I’ve found a way to while away the weekends in Muscat.
The Haute Frugalista said:
im glad you had some pool time! post pics of your tan!! 🙂
Xoxo
catbirdinoman said:
Haha, Frugalista! I don’t think I want to show myself in a bathing suit. Not a pretty sight, sadly… 🙂
Donna Amis Davis said:
Oh how I hate a hairstylist being ‘creative’ with my hair! But the pool sounds wonderful, and a charming Frenchman thrown in for good measure. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad day after all.
catbirdinoman said:
Me too Donna! Sometimes they’re like artists in that they only want to cut hair their own way! The pool was wonderful and so was the Frenchman. It was a really fun day, for sure. Too bad he is married and going back to France today….
Donna Amis Davis said:
Alas!!
Toe Dipper said:
Hairdressers love to listen to their own voices…Still, looks great! The last semester seems to be a long one…how long! Do you get Christmas and Easter breaks…what are they like catbirdinoman?
catbirdinoman said:
Hi Toe Dipper. This is now the summer semester which is quite short actually but seems much longer than it really is!! We do not get Easter or Christmas breaks here because this is a Muslim country and they don’t celebrate those holidays… sad to say. I get to go on a 6-week vacation on August 2 through Sept. 15… and I really cannot wait!
Toe Dipper said:
I live in Abu Dhabi, but we do get Christmas and Easter holildays, even though it’s a Muslim country. I guess you have holidays between semester breaks, if so how long? Do you actually work 20 hours a week…?
catbirdinoman said:
I think last semester I taught 18 hours a week. Some teachers have 20, depending on what they’re teaching. We get the Eid holiday and last year we got a week break between semesters, but that isn’t guaranteed. Then we get 6 weeks in summer. You’re probably better off where you are!!
Carol said:
I once had a creative hairdresser that gave me a hairstyle resembling that of a squirrel. Not good. At least you had a lovely afternoon at the beautiful pool to soothe the irritation away.
catbirdinoman said:
Yes, Carol, you’re right. I had a fun day anyway. But we women really have to take a gamble every time we go to a hairdresser. In the USA, I’ve used the same one for over 10 years, following her from place to place. That’s because I’ve had too many horrible haircuts over the years.
A squirrel?? That’s not good at all! 🙂
adinparadise said:
I have been known to burst into tears at the hair salon. I hate going there. I love my dentist more. 😉 The Hyatt looks gorgeous. Pity you couldn’t afford to stay there.
catbirdinoman said:
Haha, many of my friends and family can tell stories of me coming home in tears from the hairdresser. I can’t say I love my dentist more though… Well, maybe the dentist is only slightly better!!
Yes, too bad I couldn’t stay at the Hyatt. At around 100 rials/night ($270), for just sleeping (which I’m not aware of anyway since I’m, uh, asleep), I just can’t justify it. I’d rather spend the money on things I’m awake to enjoy!! 🙂
adinparadise said:
Yes, very wise thinking, 😉 My dentist is wonderful anyway. 😉
Cee Neuner said:
I love the bridge shots. I could stay in the pool all day too!!
catbirdinoman said:
Thanks Cee!! That’s all there is to do here now. I really miss getting out for hikes and exploring the wadis, but it’s way too hot for that now. Guess I’ll find time and energy for it in October!
Toe Dipper said:
Thanks for your comments catbirdinoman…Bit disappointing about the holidays, still I guess 20 hours is better than 28 hours teaching a week! Your accommodation seems to be quite spacious and comfortable too…Staying on for anothe year?
catbirdinoman said:
Yes Toe Dipper, the holidays are very disappointing! My accommodation is great; that’s a saving grace. And there’s lots to explore in Oman. Although now, I’ve seen so much, I hope there will be enough to do in the coming year! I’m staying till Sept 2013, then I’ll be looking to go elsewhere, preferably not the desert!! Do you teach 28 hours a week? Where do you teach?
Toe Dipper said:
I’ve just finished three years teaching with the International School of Cheouifat. Time for a change! The job market is changing rapidly in the UAE; it’s not like it was when I first arrived. International schools in Abu Dhabi offer better salaries, but the teaching load is usually between 25-30 hours. Dubai offers lower salaries with similar teaching loads – not including prep time! You seem to have enough time for a life and that’s so important! Khazakistan is the newest hot spot for US salaries – don’t know about the teaching load. Another oil rich country! It’s cold in London…it’s supposed to be summer!
Toe Dipper said:
I won’t ask any more questions! Thanks.
catbirdinoman said:
Feel free to ask!