1. Yourtime
Celebrity hotspot – Sydney TAKE A DHOW VOYAGE THROUGH
Arabia’s
WHO Katy Perry takes a boat ride WHAT TO DO The Rugby League
around the harbour. World Cup (tickets from £14, until
WHY GO This cosmopolitan city 22 November) is currently on at the
has it all: great culture, delicious celebrated Sydney Cricket and
food and fantastic climes. Sports Grounds (scgt.nsw.gov.au).
THE VIBE Low-key and happening SOMETHING DIFFERENT Take
— both at the same time. Beach to the waters like Katy Perry. You
fjords
bums and culture buffs will feel can hire a taxi boat from just £6 for
equally at home here. a 15-minute mini-tour or £12 for a
45-minute Harbour Highlights tour
WHERE TO STAY The Medusa is (yellowwatertaxis.com.au).
a Victorian mansion refurbished as
an 18-room hotel in Darlinghurst TOP TIP For a great view of the
with a vibrant, modern personality. city (and a workout!) head to the
You’ll feel like you’re sleeping in a Sydney Harbour Bridge — you can
Rothko painting (00 61 2 9331 either climb up to the summit or
1000; deluxe rooms from £120 a enjoy the sights from the safety of
night, medusa.com.au). the Pylon Lookout.
floated
WHERE TO EAT Quay (00 61 2 HOW TO GET THERE BA flies
9251 5600) has a great location on round-trip from Heathrow to
the harbour, and a four-course à la Sydney for £876.20 (ba.com).
carte menu (£56) featuring cuttle-
fish dumplings, butter-poached cod FOR MORE DETAILS Sun-kissed: Katy Perry — with a
and saltwater duck breast. sydney.com.au. JENNIFER BARTON girl, of course — likes it in Sydney
our boat
W
HILE the Middle East’s BY DAISY DUMAS
most popular tourist des-
tination is the United
Arab Emirates’ capital sea town of Mutrah. Quintessentially
Dubai, it would be a mis- Arabian architecture extends around the
take to overlook neigh- blue bay, the fish market bustles with
bouring Oman. A million miles from the energy and the old souk is one of the best
fevered construction and hyper-modernity in the Middle East.
of its moneyed neighbour, the Sultanate Shisha pipe smoke tangles with the smell
of Oman is a quiet, friendly country, of fresh mint tea, while fruit sellers, shop-
steeped in tradition and the inescapable ping mothers and promenading shebabs
musky aroma of frankincense. (young local men) all vie for the best deal.
Baskets of silver trinkets, fresh dates and
BUSTLING SOUKS wooden boxes of frankincense bombard
THE old souks, beaches and palaces of the senses — this is a truly unmissable
Muscat, Oman’s capital, are wonderful to sight of Omani life.
explore, and all visitors to Muscat should
also take in the delights of the nearby old LUNAR LANDSCAPES
BUT the real jewel in Oman’s crown is the
Musandam Peninsula, 300 miles to the
north, an arid moonscape of rocky moun-
tains, punctuated by palm oases. The
Musandam is an isolated and sleepy place.
The first Tarmac road to its capital, Khasab,
was completed only 11 years ago, but the
pace of development is accelerating fast.
For now, there is only one international
four-star hotel in Khasab, The Golden Tulip
(rooms from about £80 per night, golden-
tulipkhasab.com) and the town itself
offers little more than a modest daily
market and a few restaurants serving basic
fresh fish and salads. But there are plans
for a five-star hotel and diving centre — so
get there before it changes too much.
Must-see: the traditional sea town, Muttrah The beautiful mountainous peaks of
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