Wednesday 4 July 2012

A Room with a view - our Millennium apartment

English Teacher in Oman

Staying at the Millennium Hotel

Al Musannah, Oman


December 2011 – July 2012


Background


After 3 months of living in Rustaq, we could bear it no longer. About 40 km from Rustaq, near Al Musannah, a five-star hotel, called the Millennium stood ready for our patronage. Built for the 2010 Asia Beach games, it was and still is a gem in rural Oman. It had apartments to rent for 400 OMR per month, and we decided to do so with or without our employer's assistance.

In order to sustainably continue our employment, we were willing to pay out of pocket. Initially, we got a studio apartment, but later due to the internet not working in our room, we were upgraded to a spacious one bedroom at no extra cost. We stayed in the hotel for 7 months until we finished our contract. 

During this time we went through many ups and downs; my wife broke her ankle and I had to assist her with everything whilst at the same time preparing for my final exam for a research component for a BA (Hons) degree in Development Studies I was in the process of doing, but it made me stronger....I survived.....my wife survived.....and I passed the exam. After my exam, I spent many hours on the beach picking up seashells or just relaxing at the infinity pool. We also explored Al Musannah with our rented Toyota Yaris and took many incredible pics of rural Omani culture, such as fishing villages.

During our stay, we also took many trips to the capital of Oman, Muscat, especially Muttrah Corniche where we could watch the ships and Omani dhows on anchor and browse for souvenirs at the Muttrah Souq. We also made two trips to the UAE, once to Al Ain, where my brother just started a teaching position, and to Fujairah and Dubai with Eva, a South African friend, and colleague.

Oman is not the most advanced place in the world, but it has a rustic authenticity unparalleled. It has fresh air, lots of sun and wide open spaces, and it's not uncommon to be noticed by locals and to be invited into their homes. The Omani's are soft gentle people with lots of hospitality. It is, in my opinion, the best country in the Gulf to settle down and build a life, as the Omani's are very accepting and inclusive. The pace here (excluding driving) is also much slower than in the neighboring UAE. 

View of the marina from our apartment balcony

About Oman


Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country on the south-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Holding a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the country shares land borders with the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan. 

From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar (today part of Tanzania, also former capital). As its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom. 

Historically, Muscat was the principal trading port of the Persian Gulf region. Muscat was also among the most important trading ports of the Indian Ocean. 

Oman is an absolute monarchy. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970. Sultan Qaboos is the longest-serving current ruler in the Middle East and sixth-longest current reigning monarch in the world.

Oman has modest oil reserves, ranking 25th globally. Nevertheless, in 2010 the UNDP ranked Oman as the most improved nation in the world in terms of development during the preceding 40 years. 

A significant portion of its economy is tourism and trade of fish, dates, and certain agricultural produce. This sets it apart from its neighbours’ solely oil-dependent economies. Oman is categorized as a high-income economy (Wikipedia).

Date palm trees on the grounds during sunset


About the Millennium Resort hotel


Enjoy the best of lifestyle resort and leisure by crystal-blue waters at Millennium Resort Mussanah. Experience perfect relaxation, with panoramic views over the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman. The world-class outdoor sporting facilities in our resort include an 18-hole mini-golf course, tennis courts, and five swimming pools, one of which is exclusive to families, zipline, floating water park “Aqua Fun”, PADI dive center. 

Our resort’s private 54-berth marina allows for water sport, sailing, snorkeling and yacht charter options, as well as customized holiday packages and excursions.

Our exceptional beach resort in Musssanah has been the recipient of multiple awards from 2015 MENA Travel, 2017 & 2018 World Luxury Hotels, 2017 Luxury Travel Guide,  2018 Hotel Middle East Award, 2018 Arabian Travel Awards, 2018 Haute Grandeur Awards and TripAdvisor. 

With 308 spacious accommodations, a state-of-the-art Health & Fitness Club and Zayna Spa offering relaxation treatments from around the world, couples, families and business guests will be sure of a restful stay at our luxury resort in Oman. Kids and adults will love the onsite diving and sailing school, zip-line and aqua fun. Come stay, live and play in the lap of luxury. 

For those who wish to explore the local area, Rustaq & Nakhal Fort, the Harjar Mountains, Mussanah Fort, and Damaniyat Island are all nearby, as well as a local fish market (Millennium hotels: online).

Giant turtle - grounds decoration

About Al-Musannah


Al-Musannah or Al-Musannah (Arabic: المصنعة‎) is a town in the Al Batinah Region of northern Oman. As of 2010, it had a population of 6,291 [Wikipedia].

What does the Lonely planet say about Al Musannah?


"Musannah is the home of Oman's navy, docked at Wudum naval base. Quite fittingly, then, the town has also earned itself a name as the destination of choice for nautical adventures. 

Indeed, the Millennium Resort that punctuates the flat shoreline of Musannah, at the edge of the shrubby Batinah Plain was initially established to accommodate athletes during the second Asian Beach Games of 2010 and that event left behind a legacy of sailing, kayaking, and swimming that has since been supplemented with a range of other water sports, including a water park".

Sailing boats at the hotel marina

Where is Al-Mussanah?


Map of Oman with Al Mussanah's location indicated

The Hotel


Millennium hotel entrance at night

Millennium hotel corniche

The Grounds


My favorite pic I took at the Millennium - Sunset through the grass

Date palm trees on the grounds

Rita, the Housekeeping manager doing her rounds

The Swimming pools & Beach


Pool area during sunset

Millennium hotel pool at dusk

Sunset beach scenery

Sunset beach walk picking up shells

The Apartment complex


Apartments from the Hotel grounds

Apartment complex veranda seating

Entrance to hotel apartments from Marina

Our apartments


We initially stayed in a studio apartment since that is what we could afford. Later, when the internet refused to work in the apartment, we got a free upgrade to a one-bedroom apartment.

We discussed a mold problem in our apartment, and we were moved to a hotel room in the main building for about a week prior to our return to South Africa.

Dining & Living Room


The sitting area of our second apartment

Ansu studying

Preparing for my final exam

Dining room
 
The one-bedroom apartment living room

Ansu studying

Corner table lamp

Preparing for class in the living room

Dining Room Light fixture

Ed my fish - I bought 10 fish, only Ed survived

Buffet cabinet - Dining room

Dining room table

Big screen TV - Living room area 

My Study corner in our studio apartment - I prepared here for my final exam

Kitchen


Our second apartment kitchen

Ansu washing strawberries - Kitchen of our one-bedroom apartment 

Homecooked meals - Omelette

Homecooked meals - Fried Haloumi

Homecooked meals - salad platter

Sitting at the serving counter of our one bedroom apartment 

Our studio apartment kitchenette

Bedroom


Blowing a kiss - taking my wife on a date to the restaurant

Bedroom of our one bedroom apartment

Bedroom of our one bedroom apartment

Ansu preparing for an evening out - Bedroom of our one bedroom apartment

Bedroom of our first studio apartment

Our Studio apartment - Ansu was recuperating from a broken ankle

Towel art

Bathroom


Our studio apartment bathroom

One of  the bathrooms in the one-bedroom apartment


Views from our apartment



View of the marina from our apartment balcony

View of the hotel grounds from our hotel room

View of the marina from our apartment balcony

View of the marina bay from our apartment balcony

View of the marina from our apartment balcony

Panoramic view of the whole Millennium bay and marina area

View of the marina - taken from our studio apartment balcony

View of the marina - taken from our apartment balcony

A navy ship passing by

View of the marina - taken from our hotel room balcony

Sunrise surprise

Sunrise over the ocean

Marina at dawn

Marina at dawn


To view Life in Five Star Resort Hotelclick here!

To view Millenium hotel grounds and facilitiesclick here!

To view eating and dining at the Millennium, click here!

To view Millennium Beach explorations, click here!

To view water sport at the Millenium Marinaclick here!


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