Little Miss Honey

STARTING THE NEW YEAR AT ROYAL TULIP HOTEL MUSCAT

January 14, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

For New Year, we have earlier booked a stay in Hilton Garden Inn but last minute, we found a good deal to book in a new hotel we been meaning to book for a few occasions, but we never got to, which is at Royal Tulip Hotel. It is a fairly new hotel at Al Ghubrah Street, nearby Oman Avenues Mall. We were glad we decided to book there instead. It is located in a busy part of the city. The parking lot, however, is very small and narrow but it is forgivable with the beautiful amenities of the hotel.

The Christmas atmosphere was still very much alive in the hotel with its beautiful Christmas tree in their hotel lobby. They are also have a lovely gingerbread house in a corner. I love that their hotel lobby is so well-lit and spacious .

When we got to our room, we did our traditional family photo in our room. After we had several pictures, we checked out the room.

We were so impressed with the size of the room and the very space-saving fixtures they placed in the room – from the lights, to the drawers, TV and cabinets with such a budget-friendly price. There is a big desk, a large TV, a small refrigerator, a small sofa chair and large King-size bed. There is no balcony but it was fine. We love that the room already has complete utilities like the iron board & iron, blow dryer attached at the bathroom wall and complete toiletries unlike some hotel we recently stayed at, which required us to call them to ask for such things.

The bathroom has a small bathtub which makes the kids and I so happy. We love bathtubs and bubble baths! Though I realised now that the kids are growing, the kids and I couldn’t fit in the bathtub already. But the kids keep insisting that they want bathe and play in the tub together with their mommy. Besides the toilet, the bathroom has a bidet too. Quite impressive!

After fixing our stuff and resting for a bit, we went to Oman Avenues Mall to roam around and have snacks. We enjoyed the delicious coffee buns at Pappa Roti. We also bought some take out buns for our breakfast the next day. We headed back to the hotel to rest a bit before our New Year’s Eve dinner.

For dinner, we decided to go back again at D’Arcy’s Kitchen. It is located in the lively spot in Al Shatti Qurum near the beach. We were initially worried if we can get a parking spot because there was quite bit of traffic going there. But just like that, when we drove into the parking lot, there was car that drive off and we got a parking spot instantly. We were so lucky! Is that a good sign of our luck for 2022? I hope it is.

In the restaurant, we wanted to sit outdoors to enjoy the atmosphere. J ordered the Steak as usual. I tried their Stuffed Chicken and the kids got two orders of the kiddie pancake meal which they really enjoyed. What we also like in the restaurant was that they provided the kids some papers and coloured pencils for them to colour. The kids were busy colouring while waiting for our foods, sitting al fresco.

After a satisfying dinner, we strolled to the beach but slowly, it began to drizzle. Then eventually a downpour of rain. So we shortened our walk and headed back to our car and head back to the hotel to rest.

The next morning, I woke up a little earlier than everybody. So I got my new notebook I bought in Yoyoso and my trust Swarovski pink pen to bring with me behind the the curtains and made my gratitude for the Year 2021 and my goals for 2022. When I was done, my kids slowly woke up and had their Pappa Roti buns for breakfast with me.

I will share with you soon how I make my previous year’s gratitude list and my goals for the New Year. I hope you all have a lovely New Year celebration too.

Happy New Year everyone!

Royal Tulip Hotel

Address: Al Marafah Street, Way No. 238, Al Ghoubra North103 Muscat, Oman

Booking: (+33) 1 70 98 61 18 / +968 2 2125555

Email Address: info@royaltulipmuscat.com

THE BEST GUIDE TO A GIRLS’ TRIP TO VIENNA

January 12, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

When thinking of going on a trip with your closest girls, one of the most important decisions is where you will go. And there are plenty of cities all over the world that would make for a memorable getaway with your ladies! One of the destinations that should be on top of your list is Vienna. The capital city of Austria, Vienna is among Europe’s most prominent cities because of its rich history and strong cultural heritage.

While the city’s past is still evident, Vienna has evolved so much over the years to keep up with its growing popularity. For you and your girlfriends, Vienna is the perfect place to relax, take in some culture, eat great food, and do other fun things. If you want to have an unforgettable time, check out this list of things to do on a girls’ trip to Vienna. (Pro tip: To avoid having to drag around heavy bags or backpacks with you, look for a luggage storage locker in the city and deposit your items there).

Top Things to Do in Vienna with the Girls

Vienna offers plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure with your gal pals. Below are some of the exciting and girly things to do in Vienna with your best ladies:

Check out the markets.

If there’s one thing that travelers absolutely love to do, it has to be shopping. Luckily, there is no shortage of retail options in the city of Vienna. For an authentic Viennese shopping experience, ditch the big boutiques and malls and go for the markets instead. Some of the best markets in the city include:

Naschmarkt: This is the biggest and most popular market in the city where a multitude of local and international specialties await. The market also offers culinary delights from all over the world.
Karmelitermarkt: Located near Schwedenplatz, just a couple of minutes away from the Old Town, this market has different stalls and local vendors selling fresh produce and other ready-to-eat goods.
Brunnenmarkt: Situated in Yppenplatz Square, this is Vienna’s largest food market, with over 170 stalls that sell vegetables, meat, fish, and even exotic spices.
Mondscheinbazar : This seasonal bazaar features 200 exhibitors who present their art, antiquities, fashion pieces, and more. For a small entrance ticket, you can enter the market and see the different items being sold here.

Go museum hopping with the girls.

As one of the most historic and culturally-rich cities in Europe, Vienna has a host of top-rated museums and galleries that you and your girls should include in your itinerary. Some of the ones you shouldn’t miss are:

Kunsthistorisches Museum: This fine art museum is one of the best in the world, housing numerous works of art and treasures acquired by the Habsburgs. Here, you will find the biggest collection of Bruegels as well as artworks by the likes of Canaletto, Anthony van Dyck, and Gustav Klimt.
Natural History Museum Vienna: Located just across from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, this facility currently has on display nearly 30 million individual items and artifacts related to natural history. Highlights include the oldest and biggest meteorite collection in the world as well as the Venus of Willendorf, a statue of Venus said to have been around since 30,000 B.C.
Leopold Museum: Found in the prominent MuseumsQuartier in the city, the Leopold Museum boasts an array of pieces created by Gustav Klimt and is home to the world’s largest collection of works by Viennese artist Egon Schiele.
MAK – Museum for Applied Arts: This museum, housed in a neo-Renaissance building, also doubles as an exhibition space for all things design. The exhibits have everything from furniture, textiles, glass, china, and other items that existed between the Middle Ages and the present day.

3. Watch a live performance at the Vienna State Opera.

Austria is synonymous with music and opera. After all, it is the birthplace of some of the world’s most celebrated musicians such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss. Located in the capital is one of the top opera houses in the world – the Vienna State Opera. This 19th-century building, which will definitely catch your eye with its bright lights and stunning exteriors, is a performance space as well as the headquarters of the world-renowned Vienna State Ballet.

At the Opera House, more than 350 live performances are held throughout the season featuring over 50 different companies. The shows here are predominantly opera or ballet productions. Take your ladies for a night out and soak up some of the city’s culture by buying a ticket to one of the numerous live events held at the Vienna State Opera

4. Check out the hip bars in the city.

No girls’ trip to anywhere would be complete without grabbing the chance to relax, unwind and have a few drinks with your best friends. Fortunately, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to nightlife options in the “City of Dreams”.

Even though Austria is famous for its spritzers, the local drinking scene in the capital has plenty more to offer – from wines and beer to trendy cocktails. Some of our top picks on where to go for a drink when in Vienna are:

5. Walk the famous Ringstrasse.

You and your girlfriends cannot leave the city of Vienna without strolling the iconic avenue known as the Ringstrasse, also called Ring Road. Constructed in 1857 during the reign of Franz Joseph I, the grand boulevard was meant to highlight the best architecture borne out of the Habsburg Empire.

The 6.5-kilometer-long street is lined with exotic trees, botanical gardens, and historical landmarks. As a matter of fact, the Ringstrasse is home to a number of the top attractions in Vienna, including the Imperial Palace, the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament Building, the National Library the National History Museum, Vienna State Opera, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Spending one afternoon strolling the Ringstrasse is not only a chance to hang out, but it is also one of the best ways to go sightseeing.

Sources:

https://www.vienna-unwrapped.com/vienna-travel-tips-for-ladies/

https://girlsgetaway.com/2013/07/top-10-girlie-things-to-do-in-vienna/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/austria/vienna/articles/vienna-travel-guide/

https://www.her.ie/life/vienna-bucket-list-9-things-must-see-city-dreams-331758

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/vienna

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/austria/vienna

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/austria/vienna/

https://travel.usnews.com/Vienna_Austria/

GOODBYE 2021, HELLO 2022

January 4, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

As a tradition, I always look back at the year that was before embarking into the new year. I thought 2021 was just an okay year. Covid cases may have lessened, more freedom to roam about but there were still restrictions of course. I thought 2021 was just like a “mediocre” year – not too bad, not too amazing. But looking back at it now, I realised I have so many things to be grateful for 2021.

Gratefulness List of 2021

1. Experienced Wahiba Sands and Desert Camping

For J’s birthday, we celebrated his birthday in the beautiful magnificent Wahiba Sands. We slept in a warm tent like bedouins at the Wahiba Bedouin Rustic Camp, played in the dunes and had bonfire at night. We are had a wonderful experience there and we are glad we got to experience that once in a lifetime.

2. Staycations

For this year, we have been doing lots of staycations as our way of celebrating birthdays and as our own way of travelling since travelling is still challenging because of Covid. Here are the hotels we stayed at this year:

pool Intercontinental Hotel Muscat — Intercontinental Hotel for Howell’s Birthday

Hilton Garden Inn — Hilton Inn for Zeke’s Birthday

Sifawy Boutique Hotel — Sifawy Boutique Resort at Jebel Sifah for Naj’s Birthday

Bidiyah Oasis for bonding with Filipino friends

Swiss-Belinn Muscat — Swiss- Belinn for my birthday

We also went back to Sifawy Boutique Hotel in late November. We had our Christmas in Grand Hyatt and tried their sumptuous Christmas Eve buffet. For New Year, we spent it at Royal Tulip Hotel. I will be reviewing that hotel soon

3. Courage to stand-up for myself

This year, I learned to stand up for myself and I am glad I did. It made me feel strong and powerful. I usually let things slide to avoid conflict and maintain peace. I learned that I should never allow people to disrespect me and I should learn to fight for myself. I did and I reap good benefits. I gained respect in return and people now know that they shouldn’t mess with me flippantly.

4. Friendships

I am grateful for the friendships I have gained and nurtured this year. I glad I was able to have meet-ups with my two doctors friends who are working in far hospitals of Oman.

I also have wonderful friends in my work place. They are Indian doctors and I was honoured to be invited in one of their festival celebration in their home. I got to experienced the unique celebration of Onam, a traditional Keralite festival of India.

5. Paying off debts

One of the accomplishment and what I am really grateful for this 2021 was that we finally paid off our debts in our credit cards in Singapore and Oman. It is such a liberating feeling to be out of debt. We finally closed our credit card account in Singapore. Paying off our credit card debt allowed us to start invest in a property in the Philippines which we are really excited about.

6. Wonderful oppurtunity

I was given an unexpected offer this year which is so hard to say no to after thinking of all the pros and cons. It is not actualised yet but inshallah by 2022, it will be a reality and I will share more about it.

7. Acne-free

I been struggling with acne since I got here in Oman. Maybe it is the stress from moving to a new country, the harsh climate and lack of availability of the usual skincare & make-up products I used in Singapore that lead to my skin issues here. But I am so happy I discovered Sae Skincare. My skin finally cleared up and I am very happy to say that I am now acne-free. I also slowly discovered makeup products here that works for me.

8. Work fulfillment

This year, I realised that I loved my chosen specialisation: Family Medicine. I love its versatility and its opportunity to connect with patients holistically. I feel like I have gained skills and improved my management as doctor working here. I became more confident in handling obgyne cases, delivering babies, doing antenatal check ups, managing emergency cases, and doing minor surgeries. I feel honoured that my colleagues and coworkers trust me and feels relieved & happy when they know I will be working with them on that day.

9. Peace

In the middle of 2021, I got really busy in building my brand in Instagram. I gained traction, gained new followers, made new Instagram friends in Oman and even started in creating good quality reels (short videos with music) in Instagram. But I realised I been too caught up with social media even with posting in Facebook so I took a pause. I reassessed my priorities and realised that I should stop chasing likes & followers in social media. It was too draining already. So I decided to unpublish my Facebook Page, stop posting in my Instagram and Instagram stories. I would still post occasionally in my personal Facebook since I am using it as sort of an album for memories. But I try to keep the posting to a minimum and I now hold my privacy sacred. Result of this was peace. I am glad I did it. I still will be keeping my blog of course because it is my source of refuge & it brings me joy writing here. But there is no more pressure to promote it. If someone stumble into my blog, I will happily welcome them in my little space.

10. Passed BLS and ACLS course

I am happy that I passed the Basic Life Support Course last July and the Advance Cardiac Life Support Course just this December. The ACLS particularly is a tough course and I am glad I passed it. These certification will aid me in my job as a doctor here.

I am excited for 2022. For 2022, my theme is Homecoming. It is coming back to the source, to the original, to where I am suppose to be. Coming back to God, to what is essential, to my profession, to my loves….. This is the year we will be coming home to the Philippines by the end of this year if the situation permits. Let us all pray for a wonderful 2022. May this Covid leave us already and we can live our lives to the fullest.