Oman – Day 1 (My First Trip to the Sultanate of Oman.)
Hey, I thought I’d try something different this trip, I’m going to post pictures each day on instagram
Also, I’m going to post a short update and chat about my day on my blog. If this format works on this trip, for me and more importantly you, then I’ll do the same each trip.
So here goes: Oman – Day 1
Arrived Manchester airport, and remembered that Terminal 2 is pants! The shops nearly all close, and cafes too. Apparently because there aren’t many flights.
Maybe they should value every customer, I like book browsing, drinking and/or eating before flying, and I’ve paid alot for a ticket.
Anyway, snacked on a bag of nuts, tried wifi which to their credit did work. Still doesn’t make up for a half closed airport at 5pm!
After a fairly non-eventful flight (Wow, so cool to say that after years of being flight phobic I’m now able to fly alone without tears or panic attacks! If you’d like to know my tactics let me know in the comments as I’m tempted to write a post about it if that helps others travel more and conquer their fears.) I arrived at Muscat airport.
As airports go, it was OK, clean and felt safe, the staff were amazingly friendly too! And note to Manchester – all cafes and shops were open!
Taxi to the hotel, (Shangri La Resort) no hint of a potential rip off or scam, such a relief when that happens.
I’m used to the Qatar landscape of what you think of as desert, i.e. Sand and dunes so was quite surprised to see Oman is quite rocky and what you could almost call mountainous. Fascinating rock formations and the ever present cranes and building sites lined the route.
The rocks varied between striped sharp layers to deformed bulbous lumps of sandstone. Holes no doubt full of birds or creepy crawlies maybe (wow such a geology and biology expert eh?)
The driver was really helpful and chatty so the 20 minute journey flew by. Arrival at the gorgeous hotel was through a tunnel, through yes a big hill of rock. Cool!
Hotel
The hotel is gorgeous, and the staff provided ice cold apple juice immediately. Note to UK hotels – start doing this, we need to step up our hospitality.
Straight forward, early and massively informative check in led to being shown to the most amazing room and views over a bright blue ocean and palm tree lined gardens! Bathroom, yep, luxury there too. Although, horror, had to ask for bathrobes, Ha! So spoilt, they were delivered in minutes!
No unpacking as the beach called loudly, so off to the sun loungers and sea. Phew, cool water, but to be honest I’m glad as the sun here is HOT!
Did well to ignore the pools, but didn’t do so well at trying to eat less, as the beach snack of roasted veg sarni was HUGE! OK, so I admit it, yes I ate it all and the chips, and ice cream. Well I had to get the energy to swim from somewhere! And I need to get the flight food out of my system.
Beach
A small fence on the beach was a curiosity until we realised it’s one of the protected sites on the beach, where turtles have laid eggs!! YES!!! Turtles nest on this beach and I’m sat on it!
Immediately booked to go on snorkel tour on day 2!
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