What can be the best gift for a new mom other than her baby?
A nice vacation!
Oh yes,the months of non ability to move, let alone put feet
up on a chair and gaze at the ocean (either looking at a real Bondi beach or
the boring travel shows on Asianet) can be a tad frustu. So now that my little
one is ok to hang around with others we decided to go for
a trip … relax..Sheraton Doha.
Just us, the two families (Rol,Tan and their baby girl Leah)
booked ourselves for the Eid weekend. With only a week before of the idea
coming and always keeping things to the last minute,it was apparent that
shopping for the trip would also be done in the last minute. So a day before we
went hopping to City Centre and was quite glad to see SALE!SALE! on everything including beach stuff. Now,now don't
you turn your nose down at me coz I'm a new mom and cannot wear …umm …well..
beach wear…coz you see there are things called as ‘bermudas’! Got you!
Well I was happy to pick up turquoise (read Rashmi Regina) floaters,blue
shorts,and colorful Tshirts. Best part was when Tan picked up a Speedo (swimwear) for Jeremy.Baby swimwear is so cute!
Shopping truly is a therapy for women. For new moms it is like
aromatherapy. And during a sale it is like a free Thai massage at The Westin.
So had a real good start to the holiday.
On the first day,with the Eid sun shining bright, we drove
over to Sheraton.
Located in the uptown Corniche and facing the Arabian Sea
it is a landmark of Qatar. When my in-laws came here 30 years ago, they took many
pics in Corniche (not a posh area then) and I see this uniquely shaped hotel in
those pics. Imagine, to actually invest in a non-happening place like Qatar so
long back and being a pioneer in hospitality
of this fast growing country.
After many awe-filled gazes of the interior of Sheraton,
We
excitedly checked in our rooms. Nothing prepared us for the jaw-dropping view
from our verandah.
Immediately the aesthetic part of my brain did a To-Do for
the two and half day trip. Take sunrise pics the next day (even if baby keeps
me awake the entire night) and a quite just-me-time in the verandah with a
coffee and (oh yeah) feet up! I mean you have to do justice to the OMG view!
It was time for lunch and we strolled to Al Shaheen,the
inhouse Lebanese restaurant.There was a beautiful Lebanese singer crooning
to ‘wahalllah shuheeniiii masahjiklllllaahhh’ and another great view of the sea
from any table that you got,but the highlight of the lunch was the huge buffet.
It took our husbands an eternity to get back with their plates while we waited,just
because they were bewildered by the sheer display of Lebanese dishes. We just
could not do justice to it for fear of turning out obese on Day 1 and not fitting into
our beachwear we bought! And did I mention,everything was yummm!! Oh and there
was a room for only desserts!
Post the lunch and with content faces and stomachs we rested
and then headed off to the pool. We had a fun time giving Jeremy his first dip
in the pool. He loves water,thankfully and was really playful the whole time :) Same with Leah. Later
we all took turns and swam around a bit. I,stranger to swimming, ofcourse held
on to the railing for dear life and just enjoyed water to a safe level.
Afterwards we had tea and coffee by the pool. Sounds good right? Felt good too! :)
Seafood dinner was by the beach at the Pirates’ Cove.Great conversation.Not so great food.
I still had a sleepless night even though baby didn’t give
me one. That is coz I could not wait for the sunrise on Day 2 and it was worth
it.
Went for a stroll with my baby in the wee hours coz I just
could not get enough of the view. It was a precious time to stand next to the
sea,just me and baby and the birds. One of those fill-in-the-thought-bubble
kinda moments.
We ladies indulged ourselves at Schwarzkopf
salon and the men went for a game of squash. Lunch was at the Italian La
Verandah.A quiet evening followed with just us.
Day 3 and the last day was about grabbing fun and
simply relaxing. So out came the shorts and speedos and shades and off we went
to seaside again. Chilled iceteas,coconut water straight from the husk and our babies with their ever discovering eyes
were a delightful combo.
The men went for their sea dips and later me and
hubby went. What was going to be a simple feet lapping in the water turned out
to be a near drowning situation. My dear hubby spoiled my Schwarzkopf indulgence!
Forgave,coz all of us had a great time ;)
Are their learnings from even a small,two- day
trip? Yes. Beautiful things come in small packages. Babies are never a hindrance to couples of our generation who cannot think of a
vacation with babies.
And.....Thank you hubby :)
P.S - It seems the hotel will be run-down by 2015 and I feel privileged to have spent a stay at a landmark icon of Qatar.
Sheraton Doha during construction phase.Source - Web
P.S - Thank you Rol for your pics.
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