Spoke too soon. I mistakenly entitled (and implied) the other blog entry as the last summer escapade. I was so wrong.
We'd visited this Shangri-La before, during our first year here, walked around just to see the place. We've longed since to actually try the place out...and so...(hit me).
Shangri-La is Shangri-La. Been to four so far and this Barr Al Jissah is the best we've ever tried. There are actually three different Shang hotels along the beachfront. We'd stayed in the Al Waha one which was on the far right of the strip, nestled and cupped by a mountain ridgeline behind it. The room and view was fantastic. The cove beachfront was wonderfully peaceful and serene. The staff was (more than just) helpful and attentive but never came close to being overly done. We were a bit wary of how it was like around the resort, it being Ramadan and all, but it was still very much relaxed. Drinking water was free albeit one had to be somewhat discreet. Pool bars were open for orders for food as well.
Downside to having three different hotels with various restaurant options was the travel between them. Looking forward to the seafood buffet at Al Tanoor (Al Bandar hotel side) , we decided to walk along the beachfront to the hotel on the far side only to find out it had been changed to an Iftar buffet for Ramadan. Still pining for seafood, we decided to go back to the Samba restaurant and asked the concierge to drive us back. Now driving to Al Waha, even while inside the resort, meant going thru this massive hole in the mountain with a traffic light - one way traffic at any time; I thought it amusing. Needless to say we gorged on Samba's oriental buffet.
The little girl was looking forward to some turtle viewing also but frowned in finding out that the turtle egg hatching season was over. Typically, hotel guests were prompted, even during wee hours of the morning if it came to, when the eggs would start hatching or when mother turtles would come to shore to lay their eggs. In-house Turtle Rangers make sure they are protected all year long. We even found some protected nests along the beachfront.
Upside was that she found one of her best friends from school running around the pool area with her siblings. The girls' eyes lit up when they found each other, gave each other a big big hug, and proceeded to forget their parents and play around as they wanted.
Time came to check-out and head back to the city. The girls' were comforted in knowing they'd see each other back in school soon. We definitely have to go back... if only for the turtles.
Downside to having three different hotels with various restaurant options was the travel between them. Looking forward to the seafood buffet at Al Tanoor (Al Bandar hotel side) , we decided to walk along the beachfront to the hotel on the far side only to find out it had been changed to an Iftar buffet for Ramadan. Still pining for seafood, we decided to go back to the Samba restaurant and asked the concierge to drive us back. Now driving to Al Waha, even while inside the resort, meant going thru this massive hole in the mountain with a traffic light - one way traffic at any time; I thought it amusing. Needless to say we gorged on Samba's oriental buffet.
The little girl was looking forward to some turtle viewing also but frowned in finding out that the turtle egg hatching season was over. Typically, hotel guests were prompted, even during wee hours of the morning if it came to, when the eggs would start hatching or when mother turtles would come to shore to lay their eggs. In-house Turtle Rangers make sure they are protected all year long. We even found some protected nests along the beachfront.
Upside was that she found one of her best friends from school running around the pool area with her siblings. The girls' eyes lit up when they found each other, gave each other a big big hug, and proceeded to forget their parents and play around as they wanted.
Time came to check-out and head back to the city. The girls' were comforted in knowing they'd see each other back in school soon. We definitely have to go back... if only for the turtles.
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