One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai

One&Only complete album

Sometimes it's easy enough to have a little getaway a mere 15-20 mins from your flat.  This weekend I booked at room at the One & Only Royal Mirage right in Dubai.  I had been to this resort before, but never as a guest.  They have a nice nightclub & outdoor lounge which I had been to on a few occasions & during those visits was always struck by the rest of the resort as well.

After being a guest there, I think this may have been my absolute favorite resort I've visited yet anywhere.  The service was excellent, the room was great, the restaurants were tasty, the shops actually had stuff worth buying, & the grounds & chilled pool were phenomal!  Just loved it.  The terrace of my room (in the "Palace" portion of the resort, there are 2 different areas the Palace & the Arabian Court) led right to the pool.  Spent pretty much 2 whole days poolside lounging in large comfy chairs, cooling off in the water while ordering bottles of wine. No complaints here.

Oman - Khasab, Musandam peninsula

Khasab, Musandam peninsula, Oman complete album

After wanting to for a while, I finally booked a trip on a dhow boat that took us through the khors (fjords) of Musandam.  It was sooooo nice!!  Went from 9am-4pm & I was worried it was going to be a bit miserable because of the heat, but it could hardly have been nicer.  Yeah, it was pretty damn hot & humid, & dhows are traditional boats which aren't air conditioned or anything....but it was shaded & the breeze from moving across the water kept things comfortable.  We stopped three times to jump off the boat & go snorkeling -- the water was crystal-clear & full of beautiful fishes & coral.  There was a small barbecue on the boat for lunch with fresh fish & everything.

Dolphins visited the dhows a few times, once there was even a mother with her calf.  Really great trip - I would definitely do it again!