It is hot! We arrived here in Oman after a short 45 minute flight from Dubai. We had special services that met at the Dubai airport and whisked us through check-in and immigration. Then we met by special devices in Oman and while we waited in a comfortable lounge, she got our visas and we walked right through a very long immigration line. Our Omani escorts met us and brought us another special place....the Al Husn at the shangra-la. This is a hotel with in a hotel and it is beautiful
. No one under 18 is allowed and it has it's on very private beach with all ther service you could want.
We spent a morning at the private beach and it wasn't too bad for heat. The have nice sun beds with large awnings over them and we had a light breeze. The beach is also one where there are turtle nests and they are marked so you don't step in them. They are hatching now, usually in the very early mornings. The water was great as well.
While nit totally inclusive, they have Lots of nice extras like the mini bar is complimentary except for hard liquor. They have tea at 3:45pm and a complimentary
Hour at 6-7:00pm
We have a full day tour tomorrow to see an oasis and date planation with a local lunch.
We are even more spoiled than in the Voyager. If that is possible.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Last day at Al Maha
This place is great. Last night we drove uo to a nearby dune for the sunset, and it was spectacular. I'm hoping some of the pictures turn out well. Dinner was a barbecue on the deck. It is amazing how quickly it cools down after the sun sets. They had lobster, lamb chops, beef kabobs, chicken kabobs, and fish. There were plenty of accompanyments including a wonderful lentil dish.
This morning we got to sleep in until 6 then we met our guide for the dune ride...what a ride. They leave directly from the property and cross out of the conservation area in Dubai and enter the neighboring emirate. The dunes are higher here and the vegetation more sparse as it is a camel farm. We had 4 land rovers and this was not the tame dune driving we had experienced just out of Dubai. Our land rover got stuck on top of a dune and we had to be pulled off. One time we didn't make it all the way up the dune and slid down sideways with Jacque, our guide, makinging figure eights to make another run at it. It was exciting and a little scary.
It is hotter today so we are enjoying the air conditioned suite. We haven't seen too many oryx or gazelles today as they are hiding in the shade too. They will be out when it starts to cool off. Tonight is our last dinner here and we leave at 5:30am for the drive to the airport and put flight to Oman. Now if I can just get everything we need to carry on in two bags, they only allow 1 bag each on Omanie Air, I'll be happy!
This morning we got to sleep in until 6 then we met our guide for the dune ride...what a ride. They leave directly from the property and cross out of the conservation area in Dubai and enter the neighboring emirate. The dunes are higher here and the vegetation more sparse as it is a camel farm. We had 4 land rovers and this was not the tame dune driving we had experienced just out of Dubai. Our land rover got stuck on top of a dune and we had to be pulled off. One time we didn't make it all the way up the dune and slid down sideways with Jacque, our guide, makinging figure eights to make another run at it. It was exciting and a little scary.
It is hotter today so we are enjoying the air conditioned suite. We haven't seen too many oryx or gazelles today as they are hiding in the shade too. They will be out when it starts to cool off. Tonight is our last dinner here and we leave at 5:30am for the drive to the airport and put flight to Oman. Now if I can just get everything we need to carry on in two bags, they only allow 1 bag each on Omanie Air, I'll be happy!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Off the ship
I am really behind o. Our blog. We got off the Voyager on May 3rd,one day early. Due to some confusion about our luggage, we spent an easy morning, had lunch, said goodbye to many of our favorite staff members. Our tour company picked us up at the cruise terminal. We thought we would have to go through customs, but there was not anyone there so it was super easy.
We were drive to our hotel, Mina a Salam , which is immediately next door to the Burj. It is huge complex and we had a really nice room over looking the Arabian Gulf. Jan had the biggings of a cold so we had room service...pizza and a salad and drank most of a bottle of Australian wine we were still carrying with us.
The next morning jan's cold was much better and we had a nice 4 hour tour of the oldr parts od Dubai, like the museum, the older homes and the creek. We also got to see the new "tallest building" in the world close up.
After a nice lunch on the beach at the hotel, we tested unti
L our reservations at one of the nice sea food restaurants in the souk area. It is a huge area od many restaurants and shops. There are water ways all though the two hotels and the souk where you can take a abra (boat) between them. Our dinner was very good with Jan having a rraaly good roasted sea bass and Fred having a great tuna. We rode the abrha back to the hotel and had a good sleep.
The next morning we slept late, had breakfast, then dipped our toes into the Arabian Gulf. The new he's were beautiful. The previous two days had been windy with large waves, but this morning it was calm and you could walk a good 20 feet beef encountering anti deep water. The sand is very fine and the water a nice temperature. It is a private beach just for the guests in the two hotels so lots of sun beds and lounges with umbrellas.
Our driver picked us up at noon and it took about one hour yo reach our next resort. Wow. It is a stunner. We are staying at the Al Maha Desert Resort in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. It is a beautiful lodge with each suite an individual tent like structure with our own plunge pool. This afternoon we have had vists from the Arabian oryx, several small gazelles and lots of birds around our suite and really close up. They drink right out of the pool This place is like many of the lodges in Africa. We had a game drive late afternoon and will be going to dinner later.
We have wifi in our suite that is pretty fast so I will try and post some pictures.
We were drive to our hotel, Mina a Salam , which is immediately next door to the Burj. It is huge complex and we had a really nice room over looking the Arabian Gulf. Jan had the biggings of a cold so we had room service...pizza and a salad and drank most of a bottle of Australian wine we were still carrying with us.
The next morning jan's cold was much better and we had a nice 4 hour tour of the oldr parts od Dubai, like the museum, the older homes and the creek. We also got to see the new "tallest building" in the world close up.
After a nice lunch on the beach at the hotel, we tested unti
L our reservations at one of the nice sea food restaurants in the souk area. It is a huge area od many restaurants and shops. There are water ways all though the two hotels and the souk where you can take a abra (boat) between them. Our dinner was very good with Jan having a rraaly good roasted sea bass and Fred having a great tuna. We rode the abrha back to the hotel and had a good sleep.
The next morning we slept late, had breakfast, then dipped our toes into the Arabian Gulf. The new he's were beautiful. The previous two days had been windy with large waves, but this morning it was calm and you could walk a good 20 feet beef encountering anti deep water. The sand is very fine and the water a nice temperature. It is a private beach just for the guests in the two hotels so lots of sun beds and lounges with umbrellas.
Our driver picked us up at noon and it took about one hour yo reach our next resort. Wow. It is a stunner. We are staying at the Al Maha Desert Resort in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. It is a beautiful lodge with each suite an individual tent like structure with our own plunge pool. This afternoon we have had vists from the Arabian oryx, several small gazelles and lots of birds around our suite and really close up. They drink right out of the pool This place is like many of the lodges in Africa. We had a game drive late afternoon and will be going to dinner later.
We have wifi in our suite that is pretty fast so I will try and post some pictures.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)