9 countries - 7 airlines

[zig]

I'm glad that the duck on your first flight tasted good as it looked a bit ordinary to me

Was thinking the same thing

Enjoying the TR henleybeach, and look forward to travelling with you.

 

[henleybeach]

We arrived into the Etihad business lounge in terminal 3. I was waiting to walk into a packed overcrowded lounge like every time I was there, but I was surprised it wasn't even half full. A couple cappuccinos and we just relaxed , still full from the plane.
AUH-MCT. Etihad a320-- seat 2a --
0850 dep.


We went down to the gate and on a bus to the remote stand with about 40 other 319s,320s,321s.
They boarded economy pax first and the business boarded , the plane looked choca block and J had 14/16 in it .
A pre departure lemon and mint drink and then we pushed back for a long taxi.
The seats are miles about VA , so much legroom , the recline so much more, foot rests and IFE in the arm rests, reading lights . Very comfy seats , great for a short haul flight .
The flight was only 50 min so it was a quick service , pastries , fruit and coffee.
The scenery coming into Oman was amazing, the mountain were awesome .
Another remote stand and through immigration and then into a taxi to the shangri la.
It's a amazing resort of three 3 hotels with a private beach. We checked in early to our room , relaxed and had some lunch.
If your on a budget this isn't the place,
1 turkey sandwich ,1 beer and 1 coke was $35 aud later !
We caught the free shuttle into the souk area and look around the corniche area and watched the sunset while sipping on juices . Muscat has such great scenery , mountain views , and lovely old buildings . Such awesome natural environment. Defiantly the better out of Doha , Dubai and Abu Dhabi .
We caught our bus back and we were in bed by 7pm and woke up at 630. We were knackered and needing a bed.
King bed was so soft and pillows lovely , I dare say it felt better cause we were so tired .

 

[henleybeach]

Sorry I don't why some pics are ok and some are sideways

 

[RooFlyer]

Are they iPhone pictures? If so, try, on the phone editing them by cropping just a smidgeon off the bottom of the image. Then, they should post right way up.

Ah! the Shangri-La I stayed there last year ... Al Husn, the pink bit in the distance in your pc.

 

[henleybeach]

Are they iPhone pictures? If so, try, on the phone editing them by cropping just a smidgeon off the bottom of the image. Then, they should post right way up.

Thanks rooflyer , next lot of pics I'll do that !

 

[mmchow]

Just caught up with this trip - amazing and I'm sure you both are having a ball.
Love how you call the A380 the big daddy and the big girl
Ms henleybeach hairdo that took 4 hours look amazing..

 

[JohnM]

Sorry I don't why some pics are ok and some are sideways

If they are iPhone pics, IME the way to ensure they are the right way up is to take them landscape with the shutter button on the right.

 

[Simo]

Have a great trip

 

[henleybeach]

We went down for breakfast , buffet including in the room price, really nice selection . They have a great lemon and mint juice , so refreshing .
We walked around the resort for a bit , it's literally the size of a suburb with the three hotels in here .
We caught the free shuttle to the Oman mall and walked around for a bit and bought a six pack of cranberry sparkling and a six pack of lemonade . When we landed in Muscat I bought a 1 litre bottle of vodka for $10 usd , to use in our a room . But I had this bright idea once we arrived that we can enjoy it down on the private beach. I drank the water out of one the water bottles in our room and filled it up with vodka . Packed it in our beach bag along with the sodas and some fresh like we bought . Hotel guests are supplied towels as well as a esky with ice and water complimentary to take down on the beach. We set up shop , with a perfect view, top the esky up with our sodas and poured our vodka cranberry lime coughtails . Success! We sat there all afternoon listening to the water , people watching and enjoying the scenery . We defiantly saved a lot of money, One coughtail at the resort is $16 aud with plus plus .
We had dinner at the one of the restaurant , ms Henleybeach wanted pizza , so we shared and it was beautiful wood fired pizza and then we headed back to the room to relax . Tomorrow is the Muscat city tour for four hours , see the mosque , fish market and a few other cool sights .

 

[love_the_life]

I know it is a private beach but TBH I wouldn't be pushing it at all and would be keeping well within the rules. But is seems you were not caught and maybe I am just used to playing it very safe.

 

[henleybeach]

I know it is a private beach but TBH I wouldn't be pushing it at all and would be keeping well within the rules. But is seems you were not caught and maybe I am just used to playing it very safe.

You had me second guessing and worried ,I went downstairs after our city tour this morning and asked the beach guys and they said no problems just no glass . So we left the glasses we used yesterday behind and The Beach Boys went and got us some plastic cups from the barman! I was surprised they didn't care

 

[henleybeach]

We did the city tour this morning which was good, private tour with a driver and guide . Went to the sultan qaboos mosque which was amazing inside . Checked out old Muscat and the fish market . The sultanates palace looked great and Is only used for meetings with other presidents. The guide said no one knows where the sultanate lives.
buildings in Oman can only be a maximum of seven stories and have to be either white or cream . They defiantly keep to tradition unlike Dubai or Abu Dhabi . 3 wives allowed as long as the previous one approves !
We headed back to the hotel for some R&R by the beach and a few drinks

 

[Justinf]

Subscribed!
Does that mean that while you were having the beef, someone got stuck with the barra?

 

[henleybeach]

Subscribed!
Does that mean that while you were having the beef, someone got stuck with the barra?

Haha I didn't think of that. im hoping it was because she was Eastern European and didn't understand me maybe

 

[henleybeach]

 

[henleybeach]

 

[henleybeach]

After 3 nights at the shangri-la it was time to check out. Overall we loved our stay there, not cheap , rooms are a little outdated but the beach , pools and facilities are great . Defiantly would come back here.
we checked into the park inn for the last night , it's a bit closer to the airport and next door to the malls. We got upgraded at checkin to a suite , the lady said it was totally booked out . It's a standard hotel , nothing flash , the suite had a separate lounge room and 2 toilets and a shocking view of a vacant block of land which is fenced off. From ground level it's fine but when you open the blinds on the sixth floor it looks like a rubbish dump . There's a bit of construction going on around the hotel and this bit of land is being used as a dump ! Hotel has a good rooftop pool and bar which we had a couple drinks and a swim. Ms HB wanted to go to high tea so We went to the grand Hyatt, it was very nice and a very nice hotel . Sandwiches , scones, and cakes with tea and champagne washed down well. Ms HB Wanted photos but I put a photo ban on, i did not want all my mates back home seeing me sipping tea and eating scones! As a couple from Adelaide we were a bit out of place here tho, defiantly a lot of government diplomats from around the world in here , the embassies are next door .
A quiet night in and easy for our Y flight to LHR with Etihad . I told ms Henleybeach prepare yourself mentally and physically for the horror show tomorrow! It won't be that bad I'm sure !
Overall ,Muscat Oman , is wonderful and we loved it . It's not cheap , but it is beautiful, people are friendly and relaxed. It has mountains ,beaches and desert dunes . If only oman air flew to AUS-MCT-Europe it would be a perfect stopover.
Next stop is one night at LHR airport and then off to Iceland !

 

[henleybeach]

Flight - MCT-AUH Etihad a320 1105 dep
Economy class


We arrived at the airport about two hours before departure , it's a old run down airport but the new one should be finished sometime this year . Checked in ok and we went to the plaza premium lounge which is what Etihad use. Walking up I was thinking this will be drama , I bet the girl has never heard of VA. During checkin I asked about a pass for the lounge but he said just show your FF card . I was bracing for confusion and denial of entry . But it all went smoothly and straight in. Basic lounge , cough coffee from machine that uses powdered milk . I had some toast with honey and a juice, the chairs were comfy and it's better in here then out there !
We boarded via stairs and left about 20 minutes late even tho the plane inbound was on time . It's only a 45 minute and I found it strange they had a pillow and blanket on every chair yet didn't supply earphones for the IFE because it's only a short flight ! We get served a "express snack bag" which had a cheese and tomato focaccia and a water . Ms HB and myself just shared one of the focaccia's and soon as we finished we were landing in Abu Dhabi.
We only had a hour and ten minute connection and we landed in terminal 1 and our LHR flight was from T3 . So we didn't get to try the lounge in T1. It was straight across and line up for the next leg.

 

[henleybeach]

Flight- AUH-LHR a340-600 Etihad Y class
Departure 1335hrs


I love the look of the a340-600, it just looks so long, stretched and skinny. It's a Shame more weren't made because they are a comfortable plane. They have a good amount of room in economy and seats are really comfy I found . Especially coming from the a320 we were just on. Went to settle and noticed the IFE wasn't working . 2 resets later and no good, the flight was pretty full , a couple spares here and there. FA said she would work something for me , I wasn't fussed and said it's ok I'll read, don't stress I don't want to be playing musical chairs with everyone just to move me and Ms HB . We were in row 17 ( third from the bulkhead ) and one of the last to board right it front of us was a single girl . She was talking to the people across from her saying she works for Etihad as FA and has a few days so is flying to London for a break . After takeoff the senior FA came up and said she had a solution, she then went to the single lady in front of us and had a general chat about work and then asked her if she would swap with us, she said that one IFE wasn't working and if we swapped we could still sit together and she could still use IFE on the aisle seat in our seats. To my surprised and and shock look on the FA face she said No . I said it's ok thanks for trying . About 20 min later she had swapped someone around and we moved 2 rows back. She was very apologetic and said that the Off-Duty FA flying for free should've swapped.
It all worked out in the end .
Lunch was served and I had fish with cous cous , it was a bit bland and but the fish was moist . Corn salad was nice but tiny and chocolate mousse tasted like eating cake batter from the bowl when Mum wasn't looking ! Overall the food size is pretty small and we didn't get anything else until 1 hour before landing . (A little snack sandwich). It was a daytime flight we literally didn't see the crew for fours. I pressed the call button and asked politely for a beer and got the death stare and when she brought it back so wasn't any friendlier , the EY crew just don't seem as friendly as other airlines . I think I've done a dozen flights with them and there is always half the crew that look like they hate their job. Qantas and virgin are by far the best that I have flown international long haul , Always smiling and talking.
There was excellent views going over the top of Iran with snow on the mountains , very picturesque and we arrived half hour early and safe . Overnight at the new ibis hotel at heathrow and then it's British airways to Reykjavik.

 

[henleybeach]

We have landed in Iceland after our BA flight from LHR-KEF. It was a uneventful flight but not one spare seat left , before boarding they were asking people if they wanted to check hand luggage in as everyone's wont fit on board . We took our our snacks and water now that BA charge you for everything including about $3aud for a cup of water !
Great seeing all the jumbos at heathrow and all different types of planes and carriers . It's looking overcast here so the lights might be no good ! Fingers crossed