Little Miss Honey

DOUBLE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT JEBEL SIFAH

December 5, 2021 by Little Miss Honey

It seems like a lot of people are born on November, me included. I already know 4 people who shares my birthdate and most of my friends & family members have birthdays on November. When I got assigned in the current hospital I am working, there 3 other nurses who have birthdays on November and 2 of them near my birthday. Last year, the 3 of us celebrated our birthday together but this year, the other nurse moved to UK to join her husband. So it is just Olive and I that will do a double birthday celebration.

We were thinking where we will hold our double celebration. We toss a few ideas and my hubby suggested how about Jebel Sifah. Our family has been there twice already and we really love the place. We are thinking that my coworkers would love to check out the beautiful relaxing atmosphere of Jebel Sifah.

Half of the gang headed there earlier while our family & two nurses who rode with us in our car, followed after we fetched our two elder boys from school. We drove to Muscat and had a stopover at Jollibee Al Khuwair for lunch.

By around 2:30 PM, we were at Jebel Sifah. We took the two nurses to their Airbnb unit they rented. It is such a perfect place to relax and hold a party. It is called Nomad Tours Marina Apartment if you want to check it in booking apps. You can check this unit in Airbnb here. It is a duplex 2-bedroom apartment and 2 bathrooms. It has a wonderful views of the marina. They have a terrace with a gazebo, kitchenette, bamboo bar, large dining table and BBQ area. It is nearby the store too.

After a little tour of their rented apartment, we headed to Sifawy Boutique Hotel to check in. The check in process took longer that our previous visit. We missed the nice efficient Filipina who received us before. She was fast, accommodating and efficient upon checking us in. When we finally got into our room, we did our new family tradition: taking a family photo on the bed of the hotel we are staying, thanks to my new handy bluetooth phone camera clicker and tripod. The room we got was a King Bed Room overlooking the pool unlike the Suite that we got before. But I do prefer this room rather than the suite. The suite is too uncomfortably spacious for my liking with not so comfy furnishing. This room was more cozy with bigger bed because in the suite, we only have a queen-size bed. We also have a balcony with table and chairs. The bathroom have a nice shower head with abundant hot water.

We been to Jebel Sifah twice already and stayed in Sifawy Boutique Hotel once. We didn’t know the hotel have this kid corner amenities near the pool area: a room with a TV, a slide, a cart full of toys, playhouse and a toy ride.

After fixing our stuff, we headed to the pool to swim. The kids jumped in the pool while hubby & I chickened out from swimming because the pool was too cold. Instead my hubby got a bucket of beer to drink poolside while I lie down the pool lounge chairs wrapped in the warm fresh pool towels the hotel provided. Around 5:30PM, we headed to the beach to meet up with the gang. We hang out at The Bank Beach Club for a bit of photo op. Then we said we will clean up and meet up at the apartment for the dinner party.

We changed from wet clothes and spruce up a bit before heading to the apartment. There were a lot of foods! We have Pancit Malabon, Chopsuey, Embutido, Bake Sushi and Lumpia. There was even a sweet corner with chocolates, candies, marshmallow and 4 cakes!

We were so full from all the yummy food. We even had a hula hoop contest. Haha! By around 10 to 11 PM, the kids, my hubby and I were so sleepy already for waking up to early for kids school that we decided to call it a night and say our goodbyes. We went back to the hotel and in a few minutes, hubby & Naj were fast asleep. Then Howell, Zeke and I eventually slept too.

Next morning, we had a morning visit from the nurses in our hotel. They wanted to check out our room. After a quick photo op in our hotel balcony, they continued in exploring Jebel Sifah. When they left, we ate our takeaway food from the party for our breakfast. We, then, headed out to the beach because J promised the kids that he will help them find nice shells to take home.

The kids were so happy to find some lovely shells. We walked around for a bit more under the blazing sun. We even bumped into Olive and Delia who were taking lovely photos of each other

We were all sweaty and slight tanned from the sun after our walk. We went back to our hotel to shower and fix our stuff for check out.

It is always wonderful visiting Jebel Sifah. Until next time! I am sure we will visit again soon….

JAPANESE BUFFET AT TAKARA AND STAYCATION AT SWISS BELINN FOR MY BIRTHDAY

November 27, 2021 by Little Miss Honey

Few days ago, I celebrated my 42nd birthday. I can’t believe I am 42 already. I thought reaching 40s before would make me feel so old but honestly, I feel like life has more to offer and I still feel young enough.

My little family and I usually have a tradition to blow our birthday cake by 12 midnight. But my boys prepared my cake early before 12 midnight because we are off to Muscat early the next day. So we said that we are celebrating my birthday Philippine time instead of Oman time. They told me to stay in the room while they prepare my cake. Awww, I got a beautiful cake with a bouquet of pink & white roses. Hubby even surprised me with a phone gadget gift which I been wanting so bad.

Next morning, we woke up and prepared for our staycation in Muscat. I wore my little red dress for my birthday which is the same dress I wore in my last year’s birthday.

We drove two hours to Muscat to check in Swiss Belinn Hotel. It is a small hotel near Azaiba Beach. Inside the hotel, the vibe is very hip and quirky. We were accommodated by the nice Omani receptionist and gave us our room card.

We got a suite room. There is a living room with extra bed with TV and round table. Inside there is a big queen bed with shower & toilet.

The vibe of the room aligns with the hotel. I love the quirky wall decals, the modern minimalistic feel of the room and the round table perfect to place food orders unlike some hotels. Only downside is that they don’t offer much toiletries available like conditioners, body lotion etc. For iron and hairdryer, we have to request it from housekeeping.

We fixed our stuff in the hotel then we head off to Intercontinental Hotel for our Japanese buffet lunch at Takara. I called weeks before to book reservations for the buffet. When we were in the car, heading to Intercontinental, I got a call from Takara, reminding me of the buffet that starts at 12 noon.

We were warmly received by the Filipino receptionist at Takara. We were brought to our table. Weekend buffet cost per head is 21 omr for adults and 10.500 for kids 5 years and below. The waiter gave us the QR code for the menu. Unlike usual buffet, there are no banquet spread for us like most buffet. We can order whatever we want from the menu. Drinks are not included in the buffet charge.

We ordered a lot of sushi and lots of yummy dishes until we feel our tummies would burst. Hubby tried out their sake. He said it tasted nice and sweet. We finished off our sumptuous lunch with a banana tempura and ice creams.

We headed back to the hotel to rest a bit. I stayed in the room with Zeke to relax while hubby and the two big boys went into the play area of the hotel where they have foosball table and a playstation area.

I got a lovely surprise from my two doctors friends when I got a cake delivery in the hotel. I am so blessed to have sweet and thoughtful friends like these.

Before sunset, we headed to Al Mouj. We made the kids play at their outdoor playground. Then we strolled around the lively atmosphere of Al Mouj. Oman is celebrating National Day so the place is adorned with green and red light all around. We decided to have a nice dinner at Yellow Cab before heading back to our hotel.

We woke up to a wonderful sleep. We went down for our free breakfast. The breakfast options were modest but kids were happy with the Choco Crunch cereals with milk and bread with Nutella spread. I was happy with my Spanish omelette and macchiato coffee.

We relaxed a bit in our room after breakfast before we packed our stuff for check out. We were going to the mall to buy some stuff and do grocery before going back to our house in North Sharqiya.

I love celebrating my birthdays like this – enjoying good food, relaxing in a comfy place with the people that I love dearly.

Can’t wait what my 42 year of life has to offer. I am ready!

Swiss Belinn

Address: Al Anwar Street Azaiba Muscat Oman 130

Phone: 24 908800

Takara

Address: Al Kharjiya Street Al Shati Area Muscat Oman, 114

Phone: 22 060003

THREE REASONS WHY NAXOS, GREECE SHOULD BE ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST

November 24, 2021 by Little Miss Honey

With its endless natural beauty and easy accessibility from Athens and surrounding islands, it is easy to see why Naxos’ reputation is flourishing amongst holidaymakers. In fact, according to a recent study by Rightmove, searches for Naxos rose by a staggering 80% this year, with more and more foreigners searching for their dream holiday home here.

Though typically classed as a family-friendly destination, there is something to do for every type of visitor in this Cycladic paradise. Whilst you may have overlooked it in the past, now is the perfect time to jump on the Naxos bandwagon and explore all that the island has to offer.

Here are three reasons why Naxos has to feature on your travel bucket list:

Historical value

It’s a familiar story across all of the Greek Islands, but Naxos’ historical and mythological significance should not be understated. Legend has it that Zeus, the king of the Gods, grew up in Naxos, and a visit to his purported birthplace at the Cave of Zas should certainly feature on your itinerary.

Another of the main attractions for culture lovers is the Portara, found on the islet of Palatia to the northwest of Naxos. The imposing marble doorway stands as the gateway to what should have been the Temple of Apollo, but the structure was never completed, and all that remains now is the Portara.

Besides the stunning archaeological hotspots, you can explore the island’s history with a walk through one of its many villages, which have retained their historic charm. The traditional Venetian architecture popular across many of the Greek Islands is still evident throughout the main villages in Naxos such as Filoti and Halki.

Natural Beauty

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades group and is home to a variety of different landscapes, from rolling valleys and sandy beaches, to the world-famous marble quarries. Be sure to get out and explore all that Naxos has to offer during your stay on the island.

Mount Zas is a hotspot amongst tourists looking to get off the beaten path and try the stunning hiking trails on offer. A trek to the summit of Mount Zas will take you to the highest point in the Cyclades, and present breathtaking views of the neighbouring islands. This particular hike is also popular amongst birdwatchers and botanical enthusiasts due to the high concentration of flora and fauna found here.

Local delicacies

With some of the most fertile land found anywhere in the Cyclades, Naxos plays an important agricultural role within the Greek Islands. An extensive range of produce is grown here, from potatoes to olives to oranges, and exploring the local culinary scene is a must for any visitor. Head to one of the many tavernas, where the chefs will be all too happy to celebrate Naxos’ local ingredients with a range of tasty creations.

Naxos gruyère is one of the island’s hallmark products, and remains very popular amongst locals and visitors alike. Such is the quality of the gruyère, it has held PDI (protected designation of origin) status since 1996. Why not wash down a portion of the famous cheese with some citron? Made from the locally-grown citron fruit, it’s usually served as a post-meal shot and is very sweet-tasting.