Roger Rambler        page 6     Roger Rambler Class Page

We had landed just to refuel and in less time than it takes to tell about it,. hour we were airborne.  The pilots gave me a chart to follow so that I could figure out where we were going.  That was easier said than done. Although there were few landmarks on the ground, I did manage to recognize the Khuria Muriya Islands lying about forty kilometres south of Oman.   Once over the islands,  a source of guano, we flew over an Oasis   filled with date palms and protected by a fortress that gleamed almost as white as snow.  Majilis al Jinn, known as probably the second largest cave in the world, was not very far from our next refuelling spot.  John and Jim, the pilots managed somehow to hitch a ride out to see the magnificence.  If I were to tell you that I rappelled into this huge cavern, I would be lying.  I realized that rappelling would be much like getting on the rollercoaster. It would be fun for a moment or two and then I would wish that I had never taken it on.

Nearby there were a couple of other smaller caves that were suitable.  The Al Fallah cave was spectacular.  However, the journey to the beach of Ras al Hadd, the nesting beach of the Giant Green Turtle was the highlight of the trip so far.  A visit to the Grand Mosque, which lies between Muscat and Seeb was awesome.   We stayed overnight in the Golden Tulip Seeb just a hop, skip and jump from Seeb International Airport.  

The next morning, we were airborne in the dark.  As soon as we had climbed to five thousand feet, the sun began to appear on the horizon.  At first it was just a glowing arc but then it sprung seemingly out of Pakistan and bounced into the sky like a giant basketball.  By the time we crossed the Musandam Peninsula, the sun was high in the sky. Having crossed the tip of the Peninsula, which incidentally is part of Oman, the chopper turned left and we proceeded down the coast of the United Arab Emirates. By that time I had learned that our destination was Abu Dhabi, about 200 kilometres south west. 

What I didn't know was how stunning it would appear from the air.  Abu Dhabi   has got to be seen to be believed. It is as green as all get out.  Beyond the city, the desert is empty.   After lunch we had a two hour flight across the water to Manama, the capital of Bahrain.  The King Fahad Causeway  is a nice drive when there is a breeze from the sea. On its journey from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia , the Causeway traverses (crosses) Umm Nasan Island, which is a wildlife sanctuary. The best part was the flamingos or perhaps it was the ibis . 

Causeway  Bahrain    temperature & rainfall     Emir of Bahrain    Bahrain architecture   Bahrain architecture 

Bahrain Banknote   Oud Player   Arabian Oryx    Mysteries of the Ancient World  twin skyscrapers

wedding ceremony    coins   mosque   atlas

You'd think wouldn't you that Jim and John and yours truly would have gotten around to discussing the reason for my being rescued.  Sure there was a slight eruption but it wasn't all that scary and there was no mention whatsoever of casualties.  On several occasions I tried to bring up the topic but they just sluffed it off.  In the seven days that we had been together there hadn't been a peep out of either one of them.  After lunch on the seventh day, Jim, the boss, finally hinted that it was time for a serious chat. 

I wondered what was going to happen but I didn't have to wonder for long.    Jim began with a friendly remark.

"So how did you like flitting around the Middle East in a Bell Long Ranger ?"

"The view is wonderful," I replied wondering if we were ever going to get into serious dialogue.

 "John and I would like to make you a proposition."

I nodded and let go of a silent sigh.  I was relieved that we were finally going to decide my future.  I didn't feel like hanging around Bahrain forever.

"Here comes Jim now.  I think we should wait for him before we get into it."

Although Jim was not the boss, he soon steered the conversation into new territory.

"Here's the scoop," Jim said for openers.

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