My Christmas destination wasn't chosen for the guaranteed sunshine, the champagne brunches or the cultural experience - although those did help sway my decision. It was to see my friends. I'm a strong believer in staying with locals to get a true flavour of a city or country but the challenge is ensuring their schedule fits yours.
First I headed to Dubai to see my heavily pregnant pentathlon friend before it was too late and thankfully she still had the energy to show me the sights. I enjoyed the glitz and glamour of the UAE but welcomed the change when I arrived in neighbouring Oman in time for Christmas.
I ensured I kept to one of my Christmas day traditions and got out for some exercise. Usually a run wakes me whilst increasing my appetite before a hearty meal. This year I felt the buzz but the heat had suppressed my appetite - thankfully I didn't have to worry about roast turkey with all the trimmings. To spare anyone the worry of cooking or indeed washing up we headed to a hotel for a Christmas buffet. All the traditional cuisine was on offer yet I found myself choosing the local and incredibly fresh seafood over the imported options of turkey and lamb.
I was not only astounded by the fine quality of local produce on offer but also the wide variety of nationalities who had come together to celebrate the occasion with their families, irrespective of their religious background. There were western expatriates, Asians and Omanis all making the most of the splendid food, weather and hospitality. Whilst the setting and weather may have been very different to what I am used to; the family atmosphere was reassuringly familiar.
