Gary (FFG 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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■ ' — A JHf j . ' : w I) 7 5 Arabian Gulf (

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Ill i I ill i • ' J ' ■ ■tlM r Originally slated for exercises with the Omani navy, the Gary pulled intc Muscat, Oman to turnover with the U.S.S. Rentz, while the Hill and the Benfom immediately transited the Straits of Hormuz. Muscat. Oman was one of those places where the only reason to really get off the boat was that it would enable you later on in life, perhaps, to bring up at a posh party Oman? Oh yes, I ' ve been there. ' Of course, if anyone asked you what you were doing there, you would have to say Well, I can ' t really talk about it. Let ' s just say, I was doing important work for the government. Which is a hyped up way of saying was in the Na y. What do you think I did? I drank two beers and watched a Pakistani belly dancer in the basement of some Godforsaken hotel. If breaking the rules is the standard for a good time, then probably the mosi fun one had was running around secretly taking pictures of mosques. Most of us spent our time in the clubs of the luxurious tourist hotels. There was a USO clut available, but after the first night, no one besides shore patrol bothered to venture there. On a scale of 1 to 10, the shwarma rating was about an 8. After Oman, the Gary headed straight for Bahrain. Other than the imprompu laser show put on by the ET ' s at the ASU. it would have been a boring port. Bahrair was the only place we visited that actually had a U.S. Navy facility, so we were allowed to shop at Navy Exchange prices, buy uniform items we had run out of and have needed dental work performed. The movie theater was also open, anc showed classic flicks — for free! Schwarma rating: seven. Dubai. U.A.E.. considered the most liberal city in the Middle East, was oui most frequently visited port. As information gleaned from American locals indicated, their tolerance to Western culture and customs has allowed their economy to boom, in areas other than traditional oil production. Their attitude towarc Americans being less ambivalent than the other Gulf states made it a good port visit Finally, a place we felt, at least a little bit, welcome. When we actually pulled into Dubai, rather th an its distant industrial port o Jebel Ali, getting to town became a lot more convenient. Those who signed up foi Host-a-Sailor were treated to home-cooked meals, nights out on the town restaurants and outdoor expeditions. These expeditions included four-wheelins through the desert to go swimming in wadis, natural canyons which collect rair water over time to become freshwater swimming pools. Some sailors participatec in local wadi customs such as cliff diving and Jacuzzi escaping. Four-wheeling on the beach and picnics would soon follow. The Dubai Seamen ' s Center seemed to be the most popular with Americai sailors and made for some happening parties, at least when some of the other ship: were in town. Sailors were treated to a unique blend of Navy cultures when ship: such as the H. M.S. Bayleaf or the Nimitz were in town. DJ ' s and entertainment wen provided by the club. Many sailors enjoyed other luxuries such as cheap beer. Tha food and swimming. For personnel who craved the city life. buses traveled to one of the man; souqs or malls downtown near the city center. Downtown Dubai bustled at times especially on Thursday night; the Islamic world ' s version of Friday night, whei locals and tourists deluge the Western style clubs, such as Pancho Villa ' s or T.G.I.T (Thank God It ' s Thursday). Great deals were available on a variety of merchandise at the gold and electronic souqs, although the malls seemed to be rather pricey. Dubai offered us some of the freedom we were used to in the States, as wel as large urban areas and malls to meander through. Although here, unliki Singapore, we were allowed to chew gum and spit, many of us had to be back b; midnight. Nevertheless, the local mutton schwarmas were quite succulent, so oi the whole. Dubai rates about a nine.

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