January 2016 51 www.bahrainthismonth.com international banks and five-star hotels, but the city retains much of the old world, while making room for the new. Once settled and refreshed, we headed out to get something to eat. Shatti Al Qurum is an upscale area that is characterised by its rows of white houses and boutique restaurants and hotels. It’s here that D’arcy’s Kitchen is located; a charming little eatery that serves soul satisfying, home made food, including all-day breakfast, and is an absolute must visit. Stuffed, we headed back to relax a bit before heading out to the Mutrah Souq later in the day. Muttrah is the old centre of Muscat and the souq there meets all your senses head-on. This is Muscat at its most magical: an absorbing kaleidoscope of narrow, perfume-laden alleyways packed with colourful little shops. These stores sell anything from articles for everyday use to cosmetics, perfumes, frankincense and ‘bukhoor’, Bedouin jewellery and other exotic paraphernalia. You could spend many hours here, haggling over handicrafts and attempting to make sense of the maze, especially if you venture away from the heavily crowded main stretch into the tangled back alleys. The long, extremely distracting yet magical walk through the souq takes you to the corniche, just across the road. A stroll along this with city lights glistening on the water, an assortment of smells from the bright street-side restaurants, a dreamy breeze and sounds of children playing in the distance, makes you want to stop and admire the simplistic grandeur of the place that is so comfortable in its own skin. Other places of interest in Muscat include the spectacular Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Bait Al Zubair museum, Royal Opera House, Qurm – Muscat’s only public beach, and you can even take a day tour to the enchanting Forts of Nizwa. One hundred kilometres away from the centre of Muscat is the ‘wilayat’ or district of Musannah. A much quieter and calmer area, it boasts the world-class Millennium Resort, where we were stationed for the two remaining days of our trip. A sprawling property consisting of 234 luxurious rooms with incredible views of the mountains and Gulf of Oman, it has four speciality restaurants, a state-of-the-art spa, four swimming pools, a host of other outdoor attractions and a stunning beach. The waters around the resort are perfect for sailing and perhaps that’s why the venue is also the permanent office of Oman Sail. During our stay, the resort was hosting the 2015 Laser Radial Women’s World Championship, the last major regatta before the 2016 Olympics. Next on the agenda was to visit a wadi and we set out to Bani Khalid, which was about 45km away from the hotel. This beautiful oasis is a delightful respite for the senses in the arid terrain that surrounds it. Wadi, the Arabic word for valley, is also a dried riverbed that collects water during heavy rains, but at Wadi Bani Khalid, as at many wadis in Oman, the green-coloured water flows all year round, making it perfect to visit any time. This was a full-day trip and, to our joy, by the time we returned, a scrumptious dinner was being served at the hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant Mydan. On the last day of the trip we just relaxed on the beach. Although it was mid November, the water was quite balmy and incredibly calm during the day. Suddenly scores of sails appeared and then drifted away on the horizon. The view was absolutely amazing. When the sun began to dip, we headed to Zayna spa for a 60-minute aromatherapy massage that soothed our senses and loosened the knots. Mydan restaurant hosts weekly theme nights and this beautiful day came to an end with some delicious Mexican food. This trip, although short, gave an insightful teaser into all that is quintessentially Oman. Its urban pockets that welcome all cultures and modernity, the pristine wadis, serene beaches, supreme comfort of luxurious hotels no matter how far you may be from the main city and the genuine hospitality of its people. Oman, I look forward to seeing you again soon. Millennium Resort Beach Millennium Resort Mussanah Wadi Bani Khalid Sultan Qaboos Mosque D’arcy’s Kitchen
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