Vacation - Saltanate Of Oman P3

On the fourth day of our trip, we woke up in the morning finding the weather partially cloudy. So we decided it was a good time to go to the mall "City Center". What we didn't know that there were two "City Centers", one which we previously visited in Qorum and the other in Seeb. From what we understood the one in Seeb is the newest and biggest. So yeah why not? let's give it a look. The mall wasn't that big. There were the same High Street stores we have here. I wasn't interested in shopping. What we wanted was Borders *swoon*. Yes! It was bigger than the one in Qorum. A wonderland to all book lovers!!! We actually forgot our kids when Fahad and I stepped in!!! Luckily there were a children's corner with books and comics. Abdulaziz grabbed a comic and sat browsing through it. Ahmed, of course, had to do the same thing. Soon I was lost in the middle of hundreds of books. What I loved about the store there up to date books from all genres, there were comfy chairs placed everywhere, take a seat and read through the books you picked up. There was also a corner in the store, where I saw a group of teenaged Omani girls discussing a book they were reading. You got to admire that! It is a shame we don't have this here, good bookstores and people who love to read. We left the bookstore with a couple of large bags filled with books for both us and the kids. We needed another trip just to get out of the initial shock of books around us ;p but the boys only tolerated that much! Next year inshallah, etha allah a7yana. We took a snack at Costa. They have the best dark and dense chocolate cake I have every tried, which I unfortunately didn't snap a pic of, we got more pastries to take back with us to the hotel, very delicious. When we reached the hotel, it was late afternoon, and very cloudy. The pool area was deserted. The weather has really cooled down, I had the boys put on their hoodies. We had a late lunch early dinner, which I'll post about later ;p

Waiting in the lobby for our car to be brought in ;p

Mountain scene as we drive by.

I love the rawness of the scenery around us.

This is only the front of the store... It is very big, and has

a Starbucks inside ;p

This is good! I love the childrens corner. The boys picked

up few books for themselves too.

Ahmed checking out a puppet

Cloudy weather. This is the biggest Mosque they have,

which has a library and a lecture areas.

AlBandar Hotel... more clouds

The pool area deserted,

where we had our late lunch early dinner

Chocolate Cupcakes

Last week of school before the Holidays Abdulaziz's English teacher organized a chocolate party, because they were reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". So he asked me to bake him some chocolate cupcakes. This is one of my original recipes, no ready mixes ;p I made for him four dozens of medium sized cupcakes and there was still plenty so I sent some for my sister for her birthday. They were really yummy and very rich. Anyway, this kids, according to what he told me really liked them, so did his teacher, and what's left of the cupcakes about a dozen, he sold them to other kids during recess for KD 0.500 a piece!!!

Where did you Party?

Where did you Party at New Year?

What did you do? Come on!!! Share :)

As for my family and I, we were at Hilton Mangaf

which I'll post about later ;)

Vacation - Saltanate Of Oman P2

Our main objective in this trip is to just Zone Out! Meaning…forgetting our worries and stress and just enjoy the moment. After a Yummy buffet breakfast at AlTanoor, we head to the pool. The kids are enjoying themselves in the pool while Fahad and I, lounged on pool chairs reading books, eating, napping and dipping in the pool. We did nothing, which was pure bliss, except for being lazy, enjoying the scenery around us and the cool breeze which lulls us to sleep ;p By 2.30pm we take the boys out, dry them off and have lunch at the pool restaurant called Circles. After that we either go back to our chairs at the pool or head back to room where the boys wash and change into their jammies and take a short nap until evening. Evening time we take a walk around the resort, then we head back to one the restaurants in the piazza for dinner and then to another café situated in front of the sea enjoying the evening breeze, while the boys play football not far away on a grassy area near the beach. Just pure laziness.

I think this is called the Souq area although there was only

one shop.

Ahmed refusing to try the Lazy River! It was an amazing

experience though ;)

A panoramic view

Another view of the Lazy River

A giant chess game, we played it one evening.

Al Husn Hotel high on the cliff. It was a shame I didn't check it out

The pool at AlBandar

Another view of the pool and there were many other amazing

areas of the pool I didn't take any snaps of.

Ahmed enjoying the pool.

A cute bird which I do not know the name of. But there

were plenty of them around.

Ahmed taking a break... ;p

Swimming lessons are available too ;p

Abdulaziz formed a gang and I hardly saw him during the time

we were at the pool ;p

One evening we decided to take a look at the Heritage Village. So we took

a shuttle from the hotel to the Village which was situated within the resort

There wasn't much to see. Small shops selling shawls and silver jewelery

that wasn't Wow and sold at extortionate prices. Then there was

a mini mall, with few opened shops and a child play area.

I think the resort could do a better job with it, like adding more entertainment

and maybe a cafe or a restaurant.

The exterior of the Mini Mall.

There was a gallery of pictures which were very interesting.

There was another art gallery at the hotel which unfortunately

I didn't take any pics of. It held the works of a very renowned

Omani artist.

After we were done. We waited few minutes for a shuttle

to come but no one came. So I decided to walk back to the hotel.

The Closest was AlWaha and we had to go through this tunnel to reach it.

It is amazing how they dug through this mountain to make

this tunnel . There was a one way for cars to drive through

and a walk way for pedestrians.

It is so beautiful and raw like everything in Oman.

It is how I feel about the place when we go there.

Abdulaziz was a little anxious about walking back to the hotel

in the dark and crossing a tunnel to get there. To calm him

down I told him imagine you're going on an adventure like

Indiana Jones, and you can show it off to your friends ;p

Shadows and Lights....

We got AlWaha hotel and this is a view of it from the pool

Another view of the cliffs and palm trees and an amazing full moon.

A cliff rock at the edge.

View of AlHusn

*Sigh* such a romantic scene don't you think?

Stay tuned... more to come inshallah ;)

Vacation - Saltanate Of Oman P1

Our Yearly destination for the Christmas holidays is Oman. So why Oman? First the trip isn't only for Fahad and I, but also the boys. They just love it there. Second, the weather is amazing and warm. Third it is a second home away from home, the Omani's are incredibly sweet and nice. I can't believe I let a whole year passed by without taking an occasional short trip here or there. Bas alhamdullah, now it is vacation time and because I couldn't wait and I was so excited, and not to forget the added excitement of the boys, I had our luggage packed and ready two days before the trip ;p We took the Omani airlines, they have a very good and friendly service. The trip took us about two hours and a half. The boys had their books to entertain them. This time I decided not to bring any PSPs or Gameboys or whatever. I wanted to break them from that routine, and alhamdullah they behaved themselves through the flight. We took a taxi to the hotel. They had a service there where you take a taxi and pay it in advance at the counter. Our Taxi car was a Mercedes ;p Like every year we stay at Shangri la Bar AlJissa which is nestled between a chain of rocky mountains and overlooking a wonderful beach and forty five minutes away from the airport. It is a three hotel resort with an amazing Spa. We usually book at AlWaha hotel, because it is more family oriented and caters more to kids, and where the parents wouldn't have to worry how to entertain them. However this year we couldn't find any reservation at Al Waha so we booked at AlBandar. From the moment I stepped into the hotel and looked up at the domed ceiling in the middle of the lobby, I fell in love with the hotel. We were greeted by a very friendly lady. She took our passports and booking vouchers and asked us to have a seat and enjoy some refreshments while we were waiting. I managed to snap some pictures here and there. She came back with our room key cards and escorted us to our room. We were lucky to get a room which overlooked the piazza of the hotel where all the restaurants were situated and close to other hotel facilities. I managed to snap pictures here and there, but most times I was so distracted with the boys, allah ye7fath'hom, there were places and scenery, now that I was going over the pics, I didn't take any pictures of. The cam is new and I'm still testing it, and some of the pics turned out fuzzy. Anyway, enjoy the pics ;)

On the way to the airport. They were so psyched!

Checking in our lugguage at the Omani Airlines counter.

inside the plane sending their love and hellos ;p

Taxi service at the airport. You pay in advance to the

place you're heading too. I forgot my cam at the counter and

they called our taxi driver telling him about it, luckly we didn't go far so we returned

to pick it up again. Yes this is how distracted I get ;p

Near the fountain at the enterance of the hotel.

The atmosphere is very festive at the hotel

They had a huge ornate tree very beautiful.

Some of the balls on the tree are as big

as Ahmed's head!

The dome in the middle of the the lobby.

Beautifully breathtaking.

The recption

More of the reception area... I love the wood work and the lighting

in the background. What do you think?

Becuase they didn't have interconecting rooms we booked for Junior suite and had an extra cots for the boys.

The room was spacious and not too crowded even with the cots.

I love their bathroom (w ento ebkarama). I loved the play

of the mix and match of the marbles. Something to

keep in mind when I want to design my own bathrooms ;p

This is the view from our balcony at the piazza and another

huge Christmass tree dominating the center.

By the time we got to our rooms we were so tired I decided to

to order room service. As by tradition we always order a burger

and spaghetti bolognaise. The burger which I shared with Fahad

was good. It had a very thick patti and the pasta was yummy.

There will be more to come! So stay tuned ;)

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/muscat/barraljissahresort