La Tarzane leaves the urban jungle: The Ultimate Staycation

The local sport at the moment is complaining about the weather - as if it's any surprise that the temperature is in the mid 40s again ... in the Gulf ... in summer ...so I am determined to buck the trend (now there's a surprise) and show people why it still rocks in Oman, even if the tarmac is melting, you burn yourself on the steering wheel of your car and you can't use those oh-so-funky touch phones because of the humidity ...

So here is lesson #1 in "How to Beat the Heat"; the ultimate staycation. As town empties out for the summer and the thermometers go doolally, all the big hotels start offering stupidly cheap deals in an effort to stop turning into ghost towns. I fully intend to try them all, and started this weekend with a stay at Al Bustan, Muscat's original luxury hotel. Chuck some stuff in a bag (forgot underwear, but never mind eh!), a twenty minute drive, and me and my mate Hilary were all of a sudden in another world ...

A world where all the little details stacked up to make a little cocoon of luxury - the super attentive staff, the little cool box of fresh face towels and water sprays, the temperature-controlled infinity pools, the overdosed cocktails, the sheer sheer relaxation of it all ...