From Oman to Dubai for stake conference with Elder Jeffrey Holland presiding. Incredible. Dubai was crazy with construction everywhere. Paper maps and the GPS were worthless as detours and re-routings were everywhere. Freeways were 7 lanes wide in each direction. Hotels being built everywhere. Can't describe it except to say perhaps it was crushing. Traffic and populations were mixed, tight and busy like New York City. Yet, in the desert, it had the mega porportions as you'd find in Las Vegas. It was an amazing place but not where I'd want to visit again.

From Mughsayl to DhalQut to Karfut

February 13 - The day is hazy. The wind blew all night. Visability is lousy. They say it's a north wind so it has kicked up all the dust in Saudi and brought it this way.

Feb. 14 We drive to Mughsayl~ another proposed site for the Land Bountiful. We slept in the cave here last October. There was a storm off the coast of Somalia in Africa which brought rain and rough seas. It's strange being back, but this time, in good weather.

We climb to the top of the "cave". Take photos of excavation work done by BYU and the parking lot so far below.

If the Land Bountiful, is Mughsayl, as some propose, this picture would be from Nephi's mount.

We have a delicious lime/lemonade at the dusty, primitive, little cafe. I didn't expect the beautiful presentation!!

The ocean is too rough from the dust storm. The fishing boats are grounded. We have to camp in the rest area at DhalQut. Whenever I'm here (twice now), we have rough seas. Why is that? If we ever get in, will we be able to get out?

Warren thinks sleeping in the car shouldn't be any different than sleeping on an airplane. He has body kinks in the morning. (Surprise). Yep, not any different.

Note to readers: Dust storms aren't good for the sinuses either.

February 15 My last meal before heading out for a week of camp food. Their Indian curry isn't anything like what they serve in the States!

The town of DhalQut:

Sights around town:

I convince kids to let me take pictures of their feet or their hands before I get shots of their faces. Seeing the immediate ditigal results is fun and warms them up.

Feb. 15th (Noon): All is clear. It's time to head for "Bountiful".

First: We must procure and load up a seaworthy vessel.

Second: A handsome skipper!

Just call me "Mrs. Howell the Third, Lovie!"

Sorry, no photos available of our "Exciting Beach Landing" but we do have some as the Minnow leaves us and heads back to her home port.

If you have a minute, there's a departing action shot:




We kick away the dried evidence of locally grazed cows and camels. Camp is quickly set up. The day is still hazy from the Saudi sand storm dust.

Camping at "Bountiful"

Camels on the beach in the fading light.

Sunrise.

Sunset behind Nephi's mount to the west.

The reeds and marshes near camp support an abundance of birdlife. Nephi's mount in the background.

Yes, there are caves. I imagined all the Old Testament stories of people fleeing to hide in caves, burying loved ones in caves and just living in caves. They are more like large overhangs, not what we call caves where I come from.

We now pause for a video presentation. This was taken before the camping trip. These frisky youngsters are just way too cute!

And meanwhile, back at camp.....

This general place, WadiSayq, was called "Land Bountiful" by Nephi's family. Today the particular beach, is "Karfut". I personally call it "Bug Beach". The bugs are plentiful as well as bountiful. Warren assures me these bites are from ticks. Oh great! (rolling my eyes)
Monday the 16th. I'm thinking about how nice the people have been. Friendly, helpful, honest and generous to a fault. They do have locks on doors so things aren't perfect. However, I am realizing how guarded I feel at home and how relaxed and safe I am here.

Zillions of sand crabs on the beach. I wonder if it comes down to playing Robinson Crusoe, if they would make good eating?

They build these pointy hills as they dig into the sand. I can't figure how they do it.

February 18th. Life has fallen into the mundane and routine. Warren takes photos in the morning light and then, to avoid the heat, we are both back at camp by 10. We sit around, nap, slap bugs or think about the next meal until 3 or so. Then it has cooled a bit and it's time to take more photos. It's dark and I'm in my tent by 7. That's pretty much it.

I busy myself with my Christmas cards. This year I even missed the Valentine deadline. I dug up the old blanket. It came in handy.

Cows on the beach are frequent.... and friendlier than the camels. Camels would have made a more exotic photo but I didn't get one. I doubt you will see many Land's End catalogs sporting this kind of promotion. (I'm talking about the beach cows - not the girl in the suit!)

The day's sea breeze is welcomed. I rig my tent's rain fly for a sunblock. Warren tries to do something with the ladder for his tent. He doesn't do anything about the rock under his tent but wonder why it was hard to sleep on. Not much different than airplane arm-rests ....

Natives come by camp with a 2 German tourist girls. They have a (still kicking) fish. They were going to eat it themselves but in the culture of generousity, they cut a filet for us. We wrap it in foil, throw it on the grill and have a delicious lunch in only a few minutes.

Earlier, I had calculated our remaining food supply and determined we need to reduce ourselves to 1/2 rations. The fish is a blessing. And it walks right into camp!
On the way to the spring for water, we come upon the largest, scariest snake I've ever seen outside a zoo. Warren avoided stepping on it. The "Expedition First Aid Kit" has nothing for snake bites or bee stings. Does this make sense in the land of "much fruit and wild honey"? Does it sound like we were really prepared for this trip??

There are beautiful birds to counter the scary snakes...

And interesting trees... (not just palms)

The end of the week. We have one can of tuna left between us. The guy who was supposed to come fetch us from the beach isn't here. If he doesn't come soon, I will return to the spring waters with a different attitude. I've heard that snake tastes like chicken. (The cows will be next.)

Our man comes!

We went by some of his lobster catching friends on the way back. Check out how beautiful the water is!!