Ash4Sej Arabian Adventure

Having enjoyed our time in Dubai in February 2016, Mr J and I continued our Arabian adventure by visiting Oman for some winter sun in November 2016. Our week here will be one of our most memorable, as we celebrated the Omani Sultan’s birthday, saw a Super Moon and a shooting star, and Ash even got to swim with sharks. I reconnected to a piece of family history – my great grandfather had come to Muscat (Oman’s capital) in the early 1900’s and had made it his home for several years.

After a 10-hour flight and a 50-minute transfer to our hotel, the sight of the Arabian Sea at the Shangri-La Al Husn was a true delight. An oasis of calm with serene water features dotted around the wonderful grounds, and with the air perfumed by exotic incense, the setting had an immediate effect on me. I knew straight away I was somewhere wonderful, and this was confirmed by the fabulous Omani hospitality which we experienced upon arrival at the hotel - fresh mint tea and succulent dates to welcome us to this beautiful luxury property.

Every morning and evening we enjoyed magnificent sunrises and sunsets due to the Shangri-La’s unique position above the clifftop. Each evening, hotel guests were treated to complimentary pre-dinner drinks and canapes around an ornamental pool in the central courtyard. This was another reminder of just how hospitable the Omani people are.

As a qualified PADI diver, Mr J wanted to use our time away to go scuba diving as the coast of Oman is rich in marine life. He was not disappointed as during his time underwater he saw some sharks! Whilst Mr J was diving, I spent my time relaxing on the beautiful private sandy beaches which are only accessible by hotel guests. It was amazing how many books I got through that week!

Sultan Qaboos - the Grand Mosque in Muscat - is a must for any visitor to Oman. Remarkably, given its scale and complexity, it only took 6 years to build and was opened in 2001. When visiting, please be respectful, ensuring that you cover your head and dress modestly.

Once inside, you are drawn to the enormous main chandelier which measures 45 feet tall by 26 feet wide and weighs around 9 tonnes. It’s decorated with 600,000 crystals trimmed with gold. The mosque is simply divine and one of the few in the country which allows non-Muslim visitors.

There was a great selection of day trips on offer at the Shangri-La. We opted for a fantastic visit to Nizwa, the former capital of Oman and Jebel Shams, the Grand Canyon of Oman. During the day we experienced the rugged beauty of this country, with numerous mountains and lush valleys surrounded by barren desert dotted with ancient forts everywhere we looked. It was quite a landscape!

After Nizwa and spending some time in the souks, our 4x4 continued uphill to the Jebel Shams – the highest peak in the country at 3000m – where we got a magnificent view of Oman’s “Grand Canyon”. It was a truly breath-taking sight and we even managed to make a friend at the top!

Our visit to Oman coincided with the Sultan’s (King’s) birthday and throughout the country there were major celebrations to mark the occasion. The Shangri-La was no exception with the hotel hosting a complimentary event for guests and locals alike which featured music, dance, fireworks and food!

The celebration of the Sultan’s birthday continued late into the night. It was lovely to see local families out together enjoying themselves and it was wonderful to feel very much part of the fun ourselves! The food was plentiful and varied (different cuisines from around the world) and there was even a huge birthday cake for everyone to enjoy. Once again, we got a real taste of the famed Omani hospitality!

I absolutely love the moon, and one of the highlights of our trip to Oman was witnessing a super moon against a clear night sky. We even glimpsed a shooting star that evening! And the sight of a huge rising super moon, just above the horizon, hovering over the Arabian Sea, will live with me for a long time. It was a fitting way to round off our Arabian Adventure!