I enjoyed attending the service on Friday ( the weekly rest day in Oman) at the church of St Thomas in Ruwi – the church serves the Syrian (Syriac) Christians of southern Indian; the priests in vestments reminiscent of High Anglican attire.

http://blog.omanholiday.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/5/24/3709374.html

I must say that since the service was in Malabari (Keralas language) I didn’t understand a word but found the atmosphere made up for that.

Perhaps quite naturally, today the small coffee shop I go to near my flat for snacks only had Iddely & Sambar to eat, both classic dishes from Kerala.  http://blog.omanholiday.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/5/24/3709358.html

Iddely which is a rice based patty I could manage but left behind much of the ferociously hot Sambar.

On Thursday I was delighted to witness a friends marriage ceremony in a village mosque near my home The service, solemn and simple was attended, as is usual in such matters in Oman, by most ( all ) of the males of the village .