Living in the interior area of Oman, we look forward to our monthly trip to Muscat, the capital of Oman for our periodical dose of the metropolitan life. It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours drive from our place to the city. We all, even the kids, have gotten so used with long drives here in Oman. We love discovering and exploring new things in Muscat. Last December, we had our usual Christmas staycation at our favorite serviced apartment, Somerset Panorama and went back to Muscat again on the eve … [Read more...]
GOODBYE 2020, HELLO 2021
Wow, what can I say about year 2020. It surprised every single person inhabiting this earth in unimaginable magnitude that I have no words. It shook all of us at our very core and so many changes were happening, we couldn't barely keep up. The year started with bad news after bad news. There was volcano eruption. There were bushfires in Australia. There were talks of impending war. Then of course, Covid 19 came in and nothing became the same again. It was hard year for everyone. It tested us. It … [Read more...]
#THENEWNORMAL
When 2020 started, we never guessed we will be living like this today. We were all so hopeful at the start of the new decade. I know I was. I said that this will be my fresh start, my best year ever, my year where I will look back and say, 'Hey, that was the year that all amazing things happened to my life." However, the year began with bad news after bad news, many sad things happening in different countries and BOOM, Covid 19 happened.... So many things has changed in all parts of the world. … [Read more...]
DAY PASS AT SHANGRI-LA BARR AL JISSAH RESORT & SPA
Disclaimer: This is a late post Last March when Covid 19 was still like foggy distant phenomenon (cases were still few in Oman & social distancing was still an alien vocabulary), we drove to Muscat to Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa to celebrate Howell's 4th birthday. Howell has always been a water-baby. He has celebrated most of his birthdays with a fun day swimming in pools: Wild Wild Wet for his 2nd birthday & Adventure Cove on this 3rd birthday (both in Singapore). To keep … [Read more...]
SOMERSET PANORAMA MUSCAT: THE BEST AFFORDABLE SERVICED APARTMENT FOR FAMILY STAYCATIONS
One of the occasional indulgences of living in Oman of expats working in the interior parts of the country are staycations in Muscat. Staycations are usually for celebrations of a special occasion, sometimes to satiate the taste for a bit of metropolitan bustle for city-born expats missing it and sometimes out of necessity because a lot of errands are needed to do in the capital of Muscat & the current residence is a far drive away. In my ten months living in Oman, my family had a total … [Read more...]
THINGS TO DO IN MUSCAT, OMAN FOR 3 DAYS
Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is a metropolitan area where you get the feel of city life in Oman. If you are a tourist visiting Oman for first time, you would want to explore Muscat for a few days as you head to the picturesque mountains, wadis and sand dunes around Oman. There is also a good number of expats working at the wilayats or provinces found in the interior areas of Oman which has a simpler way of living with few to none shopping malls and not much of a city life. So some expats, … [Read more...]