Monday, August 4, 2014

The Indecency of it All

2 August 2014 - Times of Oman "Two tourists were summoned by Royal Oman Police, (ROP) on Saturday for allegedly committing acts and indulging in behaviour that are against public morals in Mughsayl area of the wilayat of Salalah"  - read the rest of the article here

The moment I saw the video on WhatsApp (merely an hour after the incident occurred), I thought to myself ... "I wonder how long it will take before they're arrested?".... then I thought again "Nah, Omanis are pretty tolerant". 

Then again, to quote the article ... they were indeed 'frolicking' and being pretty stupid to the horror (and entertainment) of the hundreds gathered at Mughsayl blowholes. I wasn't particularly offended by it, but I know a lot of people who were. Nevertheless, it amuses me to see how the video traveled at the speed of light and how worked up people got about it.

Maybe if they followed the depressing world news more often, they wouldn't get so excited about tourists in bikinis at Mughsayl posing erotically. Oh, well.

Salalah is never boring. 

Nadia.  

(PS: I'm hibernating until the mud and UAE population decreases)

ADDED NOTE: Based on the comments below, I'd like to ask all expat readers when/if/how they received information on the dress-code in Oman. Sometimes I think tourists simply don't know. 

20 comments:

  1. Saw the video too and that exactly the first thought that came to mind.
    It didn’t bother me as such but the audacity is what got to me. They are usually informed as how to behave, or dress appropriately when in the country so what provoked them to think that they could get away with it?
    Think it’s the most drama-esqe activity to happen to the area in such a long time.

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  2. Then again ... when exactly are tourists informed of the dress-code? At which stage of entry to the country? Definitely not at the visa desk. I'm curious

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  3. Any expat reading this, can you let us know when/if/how you ever received guidelines on the dress code in Oman? Or was it simply via word of mouth from other expats?

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  4. Certainly all guidebooks mention dress codes (and how Oman is not too strict). I think most travel agencies provide at least a link on their website to dress codes (as applies to most of the MENA region). And I am quite certain that at least in PDO this issue was addressed (at least from what I remember of 20y ago, when I was about 10). Back then, virtually all women made sure to cover at least their shoulders and knees.
    But then again, I also naively assume some common sense in people regarding clothing.
    Every time I visit Oman I am appalled by what some tourists wear (or don't wear). And I'm Dutch.
    Any way, glad to see new posts Nadia :-)
    Kind regards,
    JB

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  5. Hi Nadia

    Im Stephanie. I moved to Salalah 2 months ago from Bangalore. I was told about your blog by a friend and ever since then have been hooked! :-) I have my son with me who uses a hearing aid and needs speech therapy. Do you know of any audiology / speech therapy center in dhofar where his hearing aids could be programmed / serviced? Most people I ask say such services are available only in Muscat :-(. Any advice would be of great help

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    1. Dear Steppygrey..about your dilemma, there is Hearing Aid Center called Khalid Hearing in Salalah, contact-23298178

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    2. You can contact
      Super Quality Hearing Aid & Speech Therapy Center in Salalah
      www.speechtherapyoman.com
      Ph: 23295078

      Delete
  6. I was advised by my prospective employer back in 1987. The only time tourists/new arrivals receive advice is if they read Time Out in Oman. Women's Guild in Oman annually advise their members about appropriate dress and behavior.

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  7. Nope. Word of mouth, and education only. Go to a Muslim country, dress conservatively. Of course there are uneducated people who can still afford to be tourists.... and there are people that wilfully ignore their hosts (e.g. the guy in the wifebeater t-shirt (i.e. sleeveless) covered in sweat standing in the checkout q at Carrefour, during Ramadhan).

    Think of life as a bell curve, there are always normal people, but occasionally idiots appear as well ;)

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  8. Can men wear shorts (below the knee) during Ramadhan in Muscat?

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  9. I'm a Westerner and I was appalled by the video. It gives every one of us a bad name. I honestly couldn't believe that anyone could be so brazen as to behave like that somewhere like Mughsayl. There was an arrogance to their actions and they were clearly enjoying the attention. I'm sorry but all this talk about tourists/expats not knowing the dress code is ridiculous. Any common sense dictates that this would be wholly inappropriate. Everyone knows that muslim countries are conservative and you only have to arrive into Salalah airport to get an idea of the local dress sense and sensibilities. These people are a disgrace and they totally deserve to have been arrested. You ask where I (as an expat) was told about the dress code? I wasn't - but I'm not an idiot! I wouldn't set foot anywhere in Salalah without at least my shoulders and knees covered (unless I'm at a hotel beach or an isolated beach with no locals around). There are enough bad incidents of tourists wandering around Lulu in tiny shorts & vests, but what made this so much worse was the way in which they were revelling in it. It's not like they were just going about their business. Disgraceful. I'm actually really surprised that you're not offended by it. Would I be offended if I saw this in Europe? No, not at a beach/pool because everyone's in their swimwear and might be taking holiday photos or whatever, but in Oman it's totally unthinkable. Imagine doing this in front of an audience of abaya/dishdasha wearing people! Jeez!!!

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    1. Their behavior is unacceptable, but let's not freak out. It's not like they are hurting anyone and people are having a fun time talking about it. If Oman wants more tourists stuff like this is going to happen occasionally. I think people should know better, but maybe a few signs to remind people what is acceptable dress might be helpful.

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  10. For expats: word of mouth, PDO, Lonely Planet, Women's Guild, blogs written by expat women, posters printed on the sliding glass doors of Muscat malls, ect.... It'd only take a day or two to get aquainted with the idea of dressing a little more modestly as a tourist in Oman.

    It is kind of like, the reverse going to Canada for myself, being more friendly, less guarded (as I am here in Oman) so that Canadians don't think I am suppressed or unfriendly or an angry Muslim ;). You realize it after a day or two. No one needs to tell you. Unless you're stupid or something.

    Expat dude: Shorts below the knee are fine always;). It is the thighs that men aren't supposed to show Islamically though you'll see Muslim soccer players ignoring this;) even during Ramadan.

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  11. Haven't seen the video. Anyone got a link? What did they do that's so disgraceful?

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  12. I don't think it's anyone's responsibility in Oman to 'inform' tourists of dress code when they make a conscious decision of booking their tickets and flying to visit Oman. Unless they are invited here, which they are usually told by the host be it a company, organization or friends/family.

    However, when you decide to visit Oman, or ANY country, for that matter, you bear full responsibility to properly and thoroughly research your destination's traditions and culture - otherwise you're just an ignorant, audacious, provocative person who deserves to be locked up.

    -
    Mariam S.

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  13. Yeah, don't suck up to a false western ideal because this was pure arrogant exhibitionism which would be offensive under any circumstances, even in the West. There were children present and the female is flashing her camel toe at them? Idiots.

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  14. I was informed by my travel agency, but I think some people can not understand it - why not showing the knees? What´s the point? I knew nothing about muslim traditional countries before I went to Oman by charter in 2008. I was in Cairo in 1987 it was much open minded about western dressing back then, I was in Istanbul in 1991, no dress code at that time, Iran has been open minded, too. In the last 20 years it has been more "closed" in these countries, that is not easy to comprehend as a westerner, that they go backwards, in our opinion. But when you come for the first time, at least to Arabia, you just feel how to dress or not among locals, but for the first time it is not easy. We do not even have shirts and frocks which is below our knees, it is not fashion, we have to buy some special clothes for the occation, and maybe we do not have that the first time we come (I buy second-hand in order to have long ones). I have been to Jordan recently, too, but the travel agency did not mention any dresscode, but they say you cannot wear bikini in public beaches, only in the hotels private ones, nor did they mentioned anything when travelling to Luxor in Egypt, but I guess some agencies think this is common knowledge, but it is not. And nowadays many travel by their own, no agency involved. That we, as tourists, not can wear any clothes we want is not easy to get, you have to experience it. Some are provoced by it and want to provoce back, I guess.

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  15. ah..ISLAM...how we know not to dare even 'offend' anyone who is Muslim. They lovely motto. "Convert or Get Hurt". That's their motto isn't it ? I mean, they constantly insult and degrade other people and religions..but don't dare do anything seemingly innocent or for 'fun'. Cuz whoa they will GET MAD. And arrest you. And get you deported. And yes..that is how most of the world knows about Islam and Muslim intolerance. By their own actions.

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  16. I would not be surprised if those idiots were Russian or so we tell the tourists from the former Soviet Union.

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  17. Lived in Salalah and it is obvious from your first moments that the place is conservative. These pathetic attention seekers should have been pelted with mud.

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