Clearing immigration was a bit fraught. I knew from
@Seat0B 's posts that Omani immigration was interested in any prior visits to Oman, but that seemed to be for on-line visas (or so I thought). I was getting a visa-on-arrival, so wasn't prepared for the official's questions about: when I was here before 'a long time ago' I answered - when? Can't really remember, sorry. Do you have a photo of the passport used then? No, sorry. He flipped back and forth through my passport and then stamped it and I was away. I didn't feel at all welcome in Oman.
Uber had told me it operated here, but turns out it doesn't, just taxis. But OK to get - go to desk, get a ticket, walk out to get taxi. The ticket is un-necessary.
I was off to the Movenpick and I anticipated a nice relaxing 24 hours, by the pool etc. No desire to look around as it was very hot and I'd been there before.
Nice welcome amenity
Very large room and the aircon thankfully worked well.
Not sure how long you'd be staying to take advantage of the dressing room:
View - oh, well ..
I went down for brekkie and the spread was excellent. Much more than this pic shows.
Anyway, the main item for the day was the pool, which I'd checked out on-line, and it was as promised:
But then the wheels started coming off the whole stay. A sign at the pool said that, due to the heat (max of 31 deg today, feels like 39 deg) 'the Ministry' had decreed that all pools closed between 11am and 4pm. WTF? Yes, its hot! That's why we use the pool
.
So I just had to retreat to my room, work on the TR and generally mooch. And than I started noticing things about the room. Light 'switches' were flat sensor panels with about 8 choices of lights around the room. No way you can tell where to touch to activate a particular one in the dark. Also, the showed, while being OK, after you shut it off, water slowly runs across the floor. So if you come back a bit later and don't notice it, major slip hazard. (I pick up and hang the mats when I'm finished., so they can dry).
Also, whare are the towels? There - above the bath. Many folk wouldn't be able to reach them. Just stupid.
At 4pm I hit the pool. It was quite warm, but did the trick for a bit of exercise. Not much lazing by the pool though.
The lounge was good - sapcious and a good spread of food and drinks. Better than shown here, as there were people about.
OK, so then turn in. Of course, then outside, the work starts in the relative cool of the night.
Noise! Cut a long story short, I rang and asked reception if they knew how long the work will go for. 'Call you back in 5 minutes'. 25 mins later I go down - needs to call 'manager' and on Saturday, manager isn't answering. I ask for another room, just to sleep in. Can't do. (I've never come across when they won't do that, if the noise is demonstrated; I'm Plat). All staff have no initiative or authority to do anything. All 'manager must approve'. Manager AWOL. A bad night's sleep.
