Two memorable days, part two

Then on Saturday, we did the hotel thing! First we had lunch at The Chedi (which means something like temple-shaped), which is styled in a beautifully simple Asian way, using Middle Eastern influences. External walls are white and mostly geometric, windows have dark wood lattices, there's the occasional rock pool with large stone slab steps through it. A very tranquil feeling in the grounds. Inside the lobby is very comfy with like a huge bed in the middle, except it's higher and softer and is square with a large pole in the middle that is surrounded by sumptuous cushions. Natural light comes through a strangely translucent domed ceiling. Around the wall are unpartitioned cubicles comprising a couch, table and 2 chairs or such, again with dark wood frames from memory. Dining area was well presented, though uncomfortably formal. All the waiters were Indian, nice simple uniforms. But you know, that expensive atmosphere doesn't usually make Sophie and I comfortable, but we relaxed into it after a while. After lunch, we walked around the premises, had a look at another cafe area which was open to the environment and looked across a dark-tiled swimming pool to the beach. All the lawns were perfectly manicured, etc... very picturesque. Next we drove to one end of Muscat, to the Al Bustan hotel, which is set out by itself at the end of a little peninsula. It looks like a squat, fat, ugly sand-coloured space ship. You enter through two sets of typical dark-tinted glass doors into what is essentially the lobby, and that's about when your jaw hits the floor. If you think you might ever go there, and you don't want the surprise ruined, you better stop reading now. There is an octagonal atrium situated in the middle, with a side length of roughly 12m (area ~700m²), and a height of over 30m, capped by a domed ceiling that lets in natural light through eight portals. The huge arches on each side which reached around 20m in height are plated in gold, the internal walls of the atrium have a greenish Arabian style pattern on white tiles.. actually, you can see for yourself here: http://al-bustan.intercontinental.com/mschb/photo_05.html
A completely different feeling to The Chedi (http://www.lajoiedevivre.co.uk/spa_mideast/chedi.htm), as you can see. However, we got chatting to the floor manager, Murli, and after we mentioned that we'd been to The Chedi, he asked if we'd like a little tour of hotel! Of course we accepted, and my goodness, he took us everywhere, and I had no idea how HUGE the building was until we'd seen the numerous restaurants, function halls and auditorium! We even got to peek into the locked room that the hotel was built for the purpose of, the special room with flags of probably Arab nations hanging at the back, where the big wigs from different countries came for some special conference. Cool stuff, lots of rooms that look like they're straight from the world news or a James Bond set. No time for details now, must dash!