Black & white mag issue 59

Vol.4 Issue 59IIJune 7 - July 6, 2013 28 Rajab - 27 Sha'ban Two words that can make the tiny dream of many a desperately ill child come true.

Although a dark and deadly fate is looming over their tiny heads, these kids would still be harbouring simple wishes in their hearts

Mind your language p8 Stub it out women! p52

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24 i wish

A new initiative in town tries to make the tiny wishes of kids with life threatening medical conditions come true.

40

Bitter Batter

Phone'y' concern?

What would you do if someone insists that you were on the phone – even when you were not – while driving

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Contents

10 Mind your language When men use foul language, they not only tend to lose their dignity, but they may also lose the company of their fair friends.

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC Black & White Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos Office location: Hatat House A, II Floor, Suite No: 212, Wadi Adai Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496 Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com Printed Juneat7 Oman - JulyPrinters 6

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“Learn to cook to catch a husband?!”

Women are often told that they have to learn to cook or that their place is in the kitchen right from day one. If in the modern world it is not overtly told, a subliminal message often hovers around all women.

Editor-in-chief Managing editor Work editor Editorial Design & production Photography Advt. & marketing

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Priya Arunkumar Adarsh Madhavan Khadija Al Zadjali Beneek Siraj Haitham Al Balushi Priyanka Sampat

How do they get away with it?

By Adarsh Madhavan “How do they get away with it?” an irate friend of mine asked me, adding: “You scribes can’t do anything about it?

Nope, I said, in a matter-of-fact manner.

“Why? Have you hung your boots?” he was quite angry. Rightly so! He was angry about his company who he claims had cheated couple of his company staff. “…brought them on a visit visa; made them work and when they were caught by the labour authorities, completely washed their hands off them – they said they had nothing to do with them and said it was the fault of the immediate supervisor, but the poor man was only following orders!”

According to my friend, it was his boss who was “behind all this”! So, he wanted me to do a piece on this. I demurred and asked him to contemplate a better plan of action.

“Coming to the Gulf has made you soft; you are no longer aggressive or assertive and you have also become too lazy to boot!”

I agreed. Must be the heat, I joked. He took it rather unkindly: “Why is it that whatever I ask you to do – you make it look like it is an impossible task?” my friend was only in town for the last few months and coming from India where the media makes a hue and cry about almost everything, he was still unused to the idea that not anything and everything made news here.

Besides, there wasn’t a full fledged story in it. Of course, he was my friend. And I have to defend my friend. But that wouldn’t mean going out of line. I can’t use my pen as a weapon here, nor, can I ask any of my scribe friends out there to take this up too. But, how could I tell him this? So, I just kept mum and pretended to be difficult.

Still, I wondered about his statement: how can they get away with it? There are so many people out there who have actually ‘gotten away with it’! They have cheated; defrauded, looted their companies and made lives terrible for innocent people and yes, they have

gotten away with it!

But, let the common populace make a small mistake and see how they can be punished for that. You try to make a small error and see how the skies fall down on your head!

I tried to tell my friend about this fact and tried to reason with him on how in life some people simply get away with it. “I don’t think it is true – everyone gets their due,” my friend retorted pointing out to how a common school friend of ours in India who was quite a mean money lender. He was a bit over smart and wouldn’t even hesitate to lend money to our own gang members charging exorbitant interest rates. He was known to hold the property documents of many of those whom he had lent money and when they delayed the payment, he would threaten to sell off the property. He made such a mean move to one of our friends who had taken a loan from him and had unwittingly delayed the payment. We were appalled. All of us fell out with him. But, within months he got into some serious legal trouble and he lost quite a lot of money; he stopped his money lending activity altogether. At that time we all felt that he deserved it and no one could get away with it. No one who harms someone else, cheat, hurt an innocent will ever be able to get away with it – they will finally get trapped in the long arm of the law or at least get caught in the web of fate. Or so we believed.

But, over the period of years, I have become more cynical on this front. One can’t really be so naïve enough to believe that all of those who have committed crimes are behind bars. I know some big guns back home who have always been able to elude the long arm of the law. And fate has also been kind to them.

They are rich and happy living lives of splendour.

No tragedies, no deaths, accidents or acts of fate…

And at the same time, I know of many who committed small misdemeanours; small mistakes in life and are immediately caught and punished and are living lives of quiet misery. Why is it that they are never able to get away? editor@blackandwhiteoman.com June 7 - July 6 7 B&W 2 0 1 3

Irony It was a writing class.

Students wrote about the road accidents, Oman being one of the countries With the highest rate, They or their family members had met with, That ended in tragedy or serious injury.

Discussion of ideas and rules of writing followed, Including those of destiny versus individual responsibility.

His car registration having just expired, The same evening he had to go to town, To purchase a new insurance policy Intending to get over with the registration The very next morning.

As he was about to drive out of the parking He saw a young mother with a little child Standing by, waiting to cross the busy road As soon as the traffic cleared To their, rather the mother’s, best observation.

He was ruminating, so to say, About any untoward mishap That might occur all of a sudden In such a case to any poor pedestrian Without a designated crossing line.

No, he was happy to see They made their way safely.

By Jalal Uddin Khan A few yards down, In the same instant, He was entering the two-way traffic, To turn left on the second While perhaps looking long on the right Or pressing petrol more than necessary or both, To avoid, by all foolish means, getting hit from behind.

He lost control and after a short and swift zigzag Bumped head-on to a tree on the right, In what was the most dangerous traffic accident He made in his life.

His insurance was only third-party, But thank God there was no injury And to be alone he was lucky, No mothers with him, no children.

He never said anything to his students And never used this as an example of irony— Multiple, layered irony— Though until today and would ever he get jittery.

Haunted, was he pursued by fate or It was his own mistake?

He couldn’t help personalising the trauma Unlike those he had experienced, years ago, A fresh college graduate, when the bus he was riding Got into another, or once his boat got into a storm, Both taking him home to a remote island, In another country though.

Need to educate women

Readers column

We need to educate women. It is one of the most important tasks that governments of the world have to undertake. Education is the key for women to move up the ladder of society. But, over and above all that, an educated woman can hold a family together; or, rather, families together. Today, if we look around, we will find that most societies that are disintegrating due to a variety of reasons would still have one major reason for falling apart – the lack of a strong willed educated woman. Or, may be more: the fact that there are no women at all with proper education would be a main cause although no one would be willing to agree to this fact. The major role that women play in bringing families, societies and even countries together should be really stressed upon.

Alistair D’Souza, Ghala

Remarkable role Kudos to the ministry of education and the department of continuing education for the great role played in bringing women out into the world of education. It is a remarkable role that they are playing and it will surely bring in great results. All the best!

Muneera Al Rawahi, Al Khuwair June 7 - July 6 8 B&W 2 0 1 3

Caught between the two The real truth is that most men feel that women are inferior to them. I mean, this is something that is embedded deep not just into certain cultures, but also deep in our psyche.

The tragedy is that there are an equal number of men who know and understand that women are smart and strong and are able to handle all the things that men do, but they do not make it public; they do no come out and bat for

these women. Today’s women are caught between these two segments – one, which do not allow them to thrive and the other, who do not acknowledge them publicly.

Suffocating in between these two segments, women do not know where and whom to turn to.

Tarik Hussein, Muscat

Women need to break out There are many women out there in the world who need to break out of their self imposed exile. Forced to believe that they are not on par with men, they have dug themselves into a prison, which they believe is a safe haven for them.

Their minds have been so conditioned to believe that they do not come anywhere in the league of men and they

should not do anything to contradict their below men status.

Women with such brainwashed minds exist everywhere in the world, and it is high time that they break out and show the world what they are capable of!

Theresea Gomes, Al Khuwair

Education – a life changer Many women have undergone great struggle to be equal to men. The biggest weapon in their struggle to change the bias of the world is through education. Education brings knowledge and knowledge brings in respectability and confidence. Armed with acceptance and confidence,

a woman will have the natural power to make people listen to her. Education is a life changer and it is something all women should embrace.

Anjali Haridas, Seeb

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Men read June 7 - July 6 10 B&W 2 0 1 3

Mind your

language

By Claudia Armegne

When men use foul language, they not only tend to lose their dignity, but they may also lose the company of their fair friends.

Most of the time men forget that they are men and are not in the company of men when their tongues turn foul. It maybe without real venom, yet, the sanctity of a moment can be lost with an unprecedented use of a particularly bad word.

And if men are in the company of women when they use foul language then the latter may flinch.

There have been women who have left men because of their unrefined language. Women have a more refined taste and are often put off by crude behaviour and language.

Basically, men feel macho when they indulge in foul speech; there are those who pepper their lines with four-letter words and claim that from where they come, this is not unusual. What is unusual is that there are people who believe it.

But, whatever they want to be, men can lose more than just their dignity when they indulge in profanity. Ugly words may scythe through relationships and destroy friendships. Most women cringe when their partners indulge in profanity.

An article on a similar subject effectively sum up the feelings: “Foul language is definitely not something that anyone particularly likes.

However, there is difference in the way men and women perceive it. The level of permissibility for abusive language varies among the genders.

So it is common for men to use language that will make any woman blush. Many of you may not be aware that the kind of language that men use is a determining factor for women to go out with them. “So if you are one of those guys who like to throw a few slang words to punctuate sentences, then you better watch out when your woman is around.”

Women hate men who are abusive. Words, sticks and stones – all hurt. Of course, men do feel comfortable using foul language when they are with their buddies. Men tend to totally relax when they are with their bosom friends and it is here where the foul language habit develops.

Over the period of years, a kind of camaraderie exists between the male friends so much so that they do not feel it crude, rude or impolite to mouth profanity.

When guys are with their buddies they tend to use abusive words and no one blinks. In fact, foul language among buddies is a laughable matter.

But, when they extend this freedom among their family members, their office colleagues, especially women members of their families and friends, then it is a different matter. Women will neither laugh about it, nor will they think it cute or acceptable in any manner. They will not find any affectionate nature in such disruptive language and in fact will find it quite crude and they will move as far away as possible from such uncouth behaviour.

In fact, foul behaviour, filthy languages etc indicates that such men are from an uncultured family background. Now that maybe far from the truth, but women who have been subject such verbal abuse or have found their partners unleashing such foul language will not be convinced even when they shout from the rooftops that they are from good backgrounds and the foul usage is merely an aberration. So, remember, mind your language when you are in the company of the fairer creatures.

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“Smell like a man – man!”

By Cynthia Simmons I can officially declare that my hubby has stopped using my beauty products!

Before I proceed, let me take a quick walk back down a not so fond memory lane. ‘He’ (*) never used to admit using my beauty products even though he left telltale signs in the bathroom: face cream tube top left opened; body lotion depleting rapidly and rabid stains on my moisturiser bottles…Then, not long back, he finally admitted to using them, albeit sparingly, “because honey, my face was quite dry and I had to rush to office and I had no other moisturiser with me!”

Then there was another stage where he used to buy them in my name and instead of ‘his’ and ‘hers’ it was hers and hers, but used by him and me. Whatever!

Today, the scene has changed drastically because my hubby has finally got his own share of male beauty products. Whew!

Men read

There has been a paradigm shift: “The male grooming market in 10 key countries is bigger than many would think: men account for 47 percent of the volume of health and beauty products used, equivalent to over 3,000 million litres of health and beauty products every year.

“So while the use of male grooming products is increasing, results are already high. This means marketers’ primary challenge is not to attract men to their category, but to encourage them to switch from unisex and/or female brands. For example, this was the basis of Old Spice’s “Smell like a man, man” campaign in the US in 2010, which encouraged men to swap “lady-scented” body wash for a more masculine product,” reports note.

“After accounting for both men’s frequency of product use across these sectors, and for whether it was a man’s, women’s or unisex product that they used, Canadean’s consumer survey shows that men’s consumption of health and beauty products approaches that of women’s in several product markets, such as hair care, oral hygiene, and fragrances. In terms of total volumes around the world, it should be noted that the large male populations of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) region drives the global volume: male grooming isn’t restricted to just mature economies, even if product choice can differ,” the reports add.

So goes the news around the world about the current rage in men grooming. It goes without saying that we should not underestimate men and their newfound grooming urges. Well, we can’t say that this is entirely new for the metrosexual age has been there for sometime now and it will only evolve into an entirely new age.

Today’s men are lucky because they now have gender specific products that have gender specific benefits. Young adults are really beauty driven and neither are they shy nor are they averse to buying them off the counter!

Ask any young man and he will tell you of the products he has at home. Ask my man. Of course, he is not that young (and not that old either), yet, he has an array of products fighting for space at our bathroom mirror.

Time to start using his products now?

I am tempted! (*) Cynthia’s hubby

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The day my dog talked

wall he t ff

By Adarsh Madhavan I always wish for it. To have my pets talk to me.

Me, I am not much of a talker, but I would not have minded listening if my dogs had spoken to me; especially the grandma of my current doggie. She was special. She would have said something special. Well, she did, but that is between us.

I am not too bothered about the stray cats in my home. They always talk; but are mostly complaints: “Oh you – you are always late, why can’t you come home early? You give more to Blackie (one of them) than me; you always give it to her first…

“Is this all you have got? Same old cat food, humph no variety?!” Miaow, miaow miaowww…

Well, I am not a cat lover and although I have a bunch of strays at home whom I house and feed, it is more of a duty than affection. I wouldn’t want to knowingly hurt a living being; wouldn’t want to knowingly starve a hungry mouth…

But that is not the case with my Bobby. He is part of the family; although I had never planned to keep him (for I genuinely don’t believe I can take care of dogs or any pet for that matter in an atmosphere that is not really conducive for pet rearing), I was forced to look after him because no one gave him a home. There were takers for all of his siblings and even his mother. But no one wanted him. In such a scenario I was forced to look after him, along with his grandma, who went to dog abode recently.

Bobby is not exactly a very confident dog; probably because of his excessive timidity and his lack of self esteem, he is a perpetual-tail-between-the-legs, fearful and nervous little doggie. These days he has become a very fussy eater too and I really have a hard time making him eat something, anything. I always wish he could somehow tell me how he felt.

And that moonlit night, when I took him for a walk, he suddenly unleashed himself. I had taken him to an empty area next to our home where he usually did his potty and marking of stones when he suddenly sat down and woofed: “Listen!”

I felt like I was yanked by my neck, like I often yank him

when he strains at the leash. I know I am going crazy these days, but not crazy enough to think my dog could speak. C’mon Bobby, I said, but for once he proved to be stubborn and stayed put. What is wrong with you, I asked. I was a bit confused, but my irritation was also mounting. “Stop!” growled Bobby.

What? “Yes, you heard me, stop getting irritated and angry with me – you are the type of guy who comes home and yells at the children and kicks the dog just because your boss shouted at you!” I went from ‘D-uh’ to being totally paralysed. There under the moonlit night, amidst some small shrubs and a large wasteland, my dog spoke: “Don’t get surprised!

You wanted to hear me speak and there, I am doing that. Speaking! I don’t want to do this, but I am quite worried about you: something is eating you and you are taking all that anger on me; I wait the whole day for you and I am naturally overjoyed when I see you but you burst my bubble with an angry tirade just because I jump on your pants! Listen, you better contain your irritation and anger before you take up any task,” he said. “There is no point in being perpetually mad because that is what it leads to – madness. And a mad man cannot be relied to take care of a family, let alone a dog! What are you mad about?” Bobby asked categorically and I looked into his beautiful soul brown eyes and wondered about it myself. I lowered my head for some moments trying to figure myself out when I heard Bobby gently say: “Come let us go! I spend the whole day waiting for you to get home from work so I can go for a 10 to 15 minutes walk on a leash and I can’t afford to waste it!” I wake up from my reverie as Bobby strains at his leash, wanting to go. But, he seemed to have lost his voice. I try talking to him, but he ignores me, busily sniffing up a shrub and then he lifted one of his hind legs… adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com June 7 - July 6 15 B&W 2 0 1 3

Assarain launch Assarain Concrete Products & Trading LLC (ACP), Muscat and Modern Concrete Products LLC (MCP) of Sohar jointly introduced many brilliant, cost effective and latest construction and landscaping solutions for the construction industry at a gala launch at the Grand Hyatt, Muscat. Eng Salim bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, undersecretary, ministry of transport and communication (MOTC) unveiled and launched these new products for Oman’s construction industry. Over 400 guests attended the ACPs mega-launch event at the Grand Hyatt recently that included many dignitaries and representatives from the government, consulting and business community.

Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa exotic Thai cuisine Asia Restaurant at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa will welcome guest chefs from Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand to showcase authentic Thai cuisine from June 4 to 16.

Best-known for its distinguishing spicy, sour, sweet and savoury taste, exotic Thai cuisine is one of the perennial additions to food trends worldwide. Its enthusiastic use of fresh – rather than dried – herbs and spices, such as chillies, lemongrass, galangal, cilantro and Thai basils, guarantees diners an exceptional culinary journey.

Executive Sous Chef Chatmontree and Chef de Partie Wongkaew will showcase their cooking skills and secret recipes to share sumptuous Thai dishes.

Visiting Muscat with Executive Sous Chef Chatmontree is

Chef de Partie Wongkaew. Chef Wongkaew is originally from the Tak Province in Thailand and has been working in the kitchen since 2000.

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Commercial Bank of Qatar holds inaugural alliance Ceo meeting Commercial Bank of Qatar (“Commercial Bank” or “the Bank”) group chief executive officer Andrew Stevens recently hosted the inaugural monthly meeting of the chief executives of Commercial Bank’s Alliance banks, designed to identify and discuss the best way to deliver benefits to customers and shareholders from the emerging network. Stevens was joined at the meeting in Istanbul by Salaam Al Shaksy, Ceo of the National Bank of Oman, and Paul Trowbridge, Ceo of United Arab Bank. The three current alliance members were also joined by soon to be member and special guest Hamit Aydogan, Ceo of the Alternatifbank of Turkey. In March 2013 Commercial Bank announced its intention to acquire a 70.84 percent stake in Alternatifbank. The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval, and upon completion, will broaden the Alliance to four banks with a geographic reach from Istanbul to Oman. The meeting, June 7 - July 6 16 B&W 2 0 1 3

which was also attended by key managers from the retail, wholesale and treasury teams of each bank, addressed increasing trade and investment links between the regions, and looked at how the alliance of banks could benefit their customers and facilitate trade and investment developments, together with areas for cost synergies and increased shareholder value.

Bank Sohar’s Excel Diamond Infinite Credit Card Targeting its high net-worth individuals, Bank Sohar launched the new and exclusive Excel Diamond Infinite Credit Card recently, which provides cardholders with unparalleled advantages and rewards. The prestigious Excel Diamond Infinite Credit Card will be distributed to select customers at the bank’s discretion, and provides the cardholder with a high spending limit and exclusive benefits including Special services and privileges at Harrods, Free Priority Pass membership, Meet and Assist Services, concierge services and much more. In addition, the Bank

Sohar Visa Infinite Card is totally unique in Oman by featuring an actual diamond embedded into the card, further adding to its exclusivity and cache. Commenting on the newly launched Infinite Card, Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, Ceo of Bank Sohar, said, “At Bank Sohar we strive to consistently offer to our

clients the highest quality of services and payment solutions that meet and exceed the expectations of our everexpanding clientele. The launch of the Visa Infinite Card reflects once again this commitment and provides our valued customers with unrivalled spending powers combined with outstanding privileges.”

Omani motorists most aware about tyre safety Omani motorists were found to be the most knowledgeable about tyre safety and efficiency concepts and indicators in a Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE survey on vehicle owners’ approach to tyre safety.

The survey, that was conducted during the Bridgestone 2012 TSES roadshow, found out that three in four (75 per cent) Omani motorists know the correct tyre pressure for their cars as compared to 56 per cent in the rest of the AGCC. The Tyre Safety and Eco Station (TSES) campaign, developed by Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE as part of its corporate social responsibility, will come back to Muscat for the third consecutive year

to educate Omani drivers on the vital role that tyres play in keeping a vehicle safe on the road. A multi-purpose station will be set up at the Muscat City Centre and will run its education and awareness campaign on tyre safety for a designated period.

Haya Water treats 80 million litres of wastewater every day As part of the Haya Water master plan for the water reuse project, work is underway to implement a network for distributing treated water produced by the treatment plants currently under construction. The ground breaking water reuse project, developed by Haya Water in the Muscat governorate is one of the major infrastructure projects underway not only in the Sultanate, but in the AGCC states generally. The project is directly linked to people’s environmental health and safety, and its completion will be a qualitative leap for Muscat residents.

Commenting on the aims and objectives of the project, Eng. Hussain Abdul Hussain, Ceo of Haya Water said: “The water reuse project aims at protecting the

environment against pollution resulting from the outflow of the traditional sewage tanks and especially the outflow of untreated sewage. This can have a serious impact on health and can result in the spread of diseases and epidemics. Moreover, it causes offensive smell that makes life intolerable in the affected areas.”

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Mazda Oman’s first

augmented reality launch In a grand launch ceremony at their Azaiba Showroom recently, Towell Auto Centre (TAC) unveiled three dazzling new models of Mazda in one day -- the all new spectacular 2014 Mazda6 sedan, the powerful 2.5 Litre CX-5 SUV, and the sporty and stylish CX-9.

At the launch, Paul Valiyaveetil, head of sales, passenger cars and LCV’s, TAC said, “It gives me immense

pleasure and pride to announce that once again TAC has launched three Mazda models in one day.

The prime reason behind this being that we wanted maximum number of customers to experience the latest Mazda models.

Mazda cars are known for their driving dynamics and offer both absolute safety and utmost comfort.

With the new SkyActiv technology,

all the latest Mazda cars have undergone a tremendous change.

These powerful new cars offer a sporty feel and stout engines, all without compromising the ability to seat comfortably.

The all new Mazda vehicles are great for the family, as well as individuals who gain pleasure by driving their automobiles.”

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The Zubair Small Enterprises Centre The Zubair Corporation launched their new initiative - ‘The Zubair Small Enterprises Centre’ (Zubair SEC) which aims to support the national economy by empowering emerging business ideas and supporting small enterprises on the path to success.

The Zubair SEC will provide all the necessary tools to help fledgling ventures grow, succeed, and become stable contributors to the Omani economy. The corporate social responsibility initiative from The June 7 - July 6 18 B&W 2 0 1 3

Zubair Corporation demonstrates a long term strategic vision in harmony with the government’s vision for the economy. The press conference to launch the Zubair SEC took place at the Shangri-La’s Bar Al-Jissah Resort & Spa, followed by a workshop for the aspiring small enterprise applicants.

The event was launched by Rashad Al-Zubair, chairman of The Zubair Corporation, Abbas Al-Humaid – advisor to the managing director of

The Zubair Corporation, and Hani Obeid – senior advisor to the Zubair Small Enterprises Centre and acting Ceo of the new centre.

The press conference opened with a speech by Rashad Al-Zubair who provided an overview on the strategic objectives for the Zubair Small Enterprises Centre and detailed how the centre aims to positively transform the common understanding of the entrepreneurial and small business culture in Omani society.

ISWK alumini Indian School Wadi Kabir recently hosted a first of its kind alumni meet at the school. The class of 2003 represented

by Finney Cherian, the current principal D.N. Rao and school faculty David Paul were behind this initiative.

The function was attended by 38 students from the batch of 2003, coming from different corners of the world such as the USA, India, England and Scotland, along with those still in Muscat. The event also witnessed the return of the erstwhile school teachers who were closely associated with this batch. The school management committee graced the occasion with their presence and the president Harshendu Shah also agreed to be the chief guest of the event.

The event began with a warm interaction between the

management committee, current and former teachers and the class of 2003. They were shortly joined by the current students of class 12, the batch of 2013. A panel discussion followed, where the alumni happily responded to the questions of the students.

Genetco opens Canon business solutions showroom Canon Middle East along with Genetco, Canon’s partner in Oman, opened the doors of its first business solutions demo center and showroom in Oman. The opening represents a move by the company to consolidate market share of the Oman print industry.

Based in Araimi Complex in Qurum, the facility is designed to meet the growing needs of B2B and industrial sectors in Oman by being a central hub for all commercial digital printing requirements. As such the showroom will display end-to-end business solutions such as large format printers (LFP), document and imaging management systems (DIMS) as well as its industryleading range of office and professional printers.

Commenting on the launch of the showroom, Dr Muthanna Al Durrah, Ceo of Genetco said: “Local customers will now have direct access to the launch of new products and live customer demonstrations. The dedicated showroom reiterates our efforts to further

consolidate Canon’s market share within the business solutions segment. We are also on a mission to provide best value for Canon customers by offering trainings and seminars on Canon’s latest printing products.”

'harman house' in Oman ‘harman house,’ a new retail outlet was opened in partnership with Genetco recently. The new showroom, which is located at the first floor of Muscat City Centre (MCC), Seeb, was inaugurated

by Khalil bin Abdullah Al Khonji, chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI). Also present during the opening were M.A. Fadavi, managing director, Harman

Middle East; Murtadha Hassan Ali Al Lawati, chairman, Genetco; Dr Muthanna Al Durrah, Ceo, Genetco and Amit Malani, president, Harman

Middle East in the presence of top officials from ‘harman house’ and Genetco.

“The opening of this new store demonstrates the strength of Genetco’s partnership with ‘harman house'. This alliance proves to be a winning combination as we both share common goals and objectives; placing strong focus on our customers and providing them with service excellence,” said Dr Muthanna.

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All-new Maserati Quattroporte GTS Alfardan Motors the official importer of Maserati in Oman, launched the all-new Maserati Quattroporte GTS in Muscat with a cocktail reception that took place at the Grand Hyatt hotel. Maserati customers and enthusiasts in Oman were invited to enjoy a closer look on the all-new Quattroporte GTS, the flagship of the Maserati model range, now available starting from OMR55,000.

Oman tourism investment on the rise The outlook for new resorts and hotels in Oman looks promising with over 3,000 hotel rooms due for completion by the end of 2014. A list of new projects has been released by Oman’s ministry of tourism. Ahmed Al Mahrizi, Oman’s minister of tourism said: “The development projects now in planning or construction will put Oman’s tourism industry on a

new footing. Omran is on track to complete niche resorts in Khasab and Jabal Al Akhdar, and the construction of new hotels and visitor facilities are starting in Muscat and Salalah, while the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is on track to open in Q1 2017. These ‘next generation’ developments take into account community, environment values and

our consumer segments. Our focus continues to be on quality, ‘leading edge authenticity’ and beautiful Oman. We are looking to boost our competitiveness and provide sustainable jobs across the country.”

Omantel launches Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE smartphone Omantel announced the launch of the all new and most anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE one of the many smartphones that is compatible with Omantel’s state-of-the-art 4G network which was introduced by Omantel as the first provider of 4G LTE in the Sultanate.

Commenting on this announcement, Shadli Thabit Albdulsalam, senior manager product development at Omantel Consumer Unit said, “We are excited to offer this stunning device to our customers enabling them to enjoy features that the so-called “life companion” provides. Omantel always seeks to enrich the experience of its customers by providing them with the latest smart phones and devices that are compatible with the 4G network. We are proud to be the first provider in the Sultanate as well the one of the first providers in the region to launch Galaxy S4 LTE”.

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Omran raises environmental awareness in Jabal Al Akhdar In partnership with Nizwa Municipality Branch in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Omran recently concluded another successful anti-littering campaign in Jabal Al Akhdar that brought the community together under the slogan ‘Working Together for a Better Environment and Beautiful Nation.’

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The organisers explained the importance of maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of tourist attractions in Wadi Bani Habib to

more than 100 students from the third and fourth grades of Robaa Al Jabal and Al Ghalil Schools. The students were also encouraged to follow environmentally friendly practices that reinforce Omran’s commitment to preserving the natural environments in local communities.

Nawras supports Ali Al Habsi in FA Cup Final Nawras supported the company’s brand ambassador and national football hero Ali Al Habsi as he prepares to become the first Omani and the first footballer from the Middle East to play in the prestigious FA Cup final in London in May. To celebrate this tremendous achievement, Nawras will be represented at Wembley stadium by chief executive officer, Ross Cormack, together with Nawras family members Jamal Al-Habsi, Yasser Abdulla Al-Zadjali, Hassan Al Farsi and Omar Al-Naimi. At the same time,

the rest of the company will be avidly watching television coverage of the game and supporting Nawras’ brand ambassador in his role as Wigan Athletic’s goalkeeper.

“We are all thrilled for Ali,” said Ross Cormack. “This is a tremendous achievement for Oman’s outstanding sportsman and we could not be more proud of our brand ambassador. His qualities of dedication, great teamwork and a desire to succeed are admired and shared by all the Nawras family.

We send our very best wishes to Ali and all at Wigan Athletic.”

seaPearls showcases “Yalmaa” diamond jewellery An exclusive diamond jewellery exhibition “Yalmaa” by seaPearls, the oldest jewellery brand in the Sultanate at the Hotel Intercontinental, Muscat attracted great number of visitors on the opening day. The expo was inaugurated by Sheikh Khalid bin Mustahail Al Mashani, chairman of Bank Muscat, in the presence of an elite gathering of connoisseurs of diamond jewels. Sheikh Dr Salim Saeed Hamad Al Fannah Al Araimi, chairman of seaPearls said: “This is the first time in the history of jewellery business in the Sultanate that the oldest brand in the country is bringing the most exclusive diamond collection of jewellery from lead

designers across the world.” Talking about the exhibition, P.A. Riyas, the general manager of seaPearls said, “It is the first time in Oman, a single jewellery brand is taking such an initiative to bring designer collections to Oman. Though our brand caters to customers from all walks of life, this exhibition is for our niche

customers who want something different and unique while retaining the exclusivity in selecting diamond jewels of their choice.” Sea Pearls has seven showrooms strategically located all over Oman and these well accessible show rooms are located prominently in Ruwi, Bausher, Sur, Jalan Bani Bu Ali, Salalah and Sohar.

Khimji’s Watches introduces new Aquis Depth Guage Oris watch in Oman Khimji’s Watches recently introduced the Aquis Depth Guage range from the leading Swiss mechanical watch manufacturer Oris. Oris is one of the many top-end brands available at the Khimji’s Watches, host to the world’s finest time machines, jewelry, accessories and writing instruments in the Sultanate.

About the new range, Madhusinh Jesrani, general manager, Khimji’s Watches

comments: “This range is one of a kind. The new Oris Aquis comes with a mechanical depth gauge making it the first diver watch which measures depth by allowing water to enter the timepiece.”

You can view the new Aquis Depth Guage Oris watch at the Khimji’s Watches showroom, located at way no. 3036, building no. 2825, Al Ufouq building, Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat.

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First Solar EOR Project Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and GlassPoint Solar, recently announced the successful commissioning of the Middle East's first solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project. By harnessing the sun's energy with GlassPoint's Enclosed Trough technology, the solar EOR project produces a daily average of 50 tons of emissionsfree steam that feeds directly into existing thermal EOR operations at PDO’s Amal West field in Southern Oman.

The 7MW system is in regular operation and recently passed its first performance acceptance test since coming online, exceeding contracted steam output by 10 percent.

“PDO has successfully extended the life of its heavy oil

assets by deploying innovative EOR technologies over the past few decades,” said Raoul Restucci, managing director of PDO. “The GlassPoint system is proving it can reliably fuel thermal EOR with solar power while reducing the need to burn natural gas.”

Saraya Bandar Jissah in final development design stages Saraya Bandar Jissah (SAOC) has signed a contract for the design of its 106 key boutique hotel. The signing of this contract with DSA International marks the final stage of design for the entire Saraya Bandar Jissah project.

The contract with DSA Architects International is for the lead consultancy services for the design of the hotel, which is the second of two five-star hotels at the Saraya Bandar Jissah site. The design of the first hotel, of 206 keys, is approved and the tender for construction has been floated in the market. The 106

key hotel will be fully designed by lead architects DSA Architects and their engineering partner WSP, in the style of an Omani village. The design will incorporate elements from the natural surroundings including the mountainous terrain and the iconic beach.

Sheikh Hamood Al Hosni, Ceo, Saraya Bandar Jissah, commented: “This contract is the final step in the design of the hotels and the vital last link in the complete development design. We are very much looking forward to starting work with DSA Architects and seeing the complete vision of the project come to life.

“We are committed to supporting the ministry of tourism’s growth plan for Omani tourism and believe that the Saraya Bandar Jissah will form the backbone of the new vision with two new luxurious hotels operational in the first quarter of 2017.

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NOVA Muscat ties up with Eurosleep NOVA Medical Centre has joined hands with Eurosleep -- a network of ENT clinics from Norway and a world leader in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea problems -- to conduct a comprehensive study on the management of sleep related disorders in the country.

Dr (Col) KM Harikrishnan, general manager in charge of NOVA administration in the Sultanate, comments: “Sleep disorder is a major public health concern for several reasons: it leads to several physiological and psychological changes, heightens the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, increased body weight and cardiovascular diseases, it can also have social implications. And among all such sleep disorders, sleep June 7 - July 6 22 B&W 2 0 1 3

apnea is the most perilous disorder, which is not just a problem of the elderly population, but can been seen among children as well with serious consequences. This partnership is a huge opportunity for us to learn from Eurosleep’s technical know-how and expertise which will equip us to provide diagnostic and therapeutic treatments to help and cure our people suffering from sleep problems”. Nova Medical Center is a joint venture between Nova Medical Centers, India, and the OMZEST Group, in Oman. Multispecialties at the NOVA Medical Centre include - general and laparoscopic surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, gynaecology, obstetrics, gastroenterology, dermatology, cardiology and ENT.

In Black & White

In Black...

The I Wish initiative to fulfill the wishes of a few terminally ill children will soon set of a wave of help for not only these children, but a splash of happiness to them and their parents Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Editor-in-chief A GOOD HEART, FOR A GOOD DEED God works in mysterious ways. We are just mere tools or sometimes angels in the path of those desperately in need. If we are lucky enough to help someone in need, it is because we have been chosen as an instrument to help. It is God answering the prayers of the ones at the receiving end.

We all come to being with a purpose. And, one of the most important purposes in our life is to help the underprivileged; the ones in need; the ones who desperately need help. If we know and understand this fact and start doing that good deed without pride and prejudice, we would be instrumental in making this world a better place.

There is nothing stopping us from doing a good deed. To do good to another deprived being does not require an organisation, a marketing campaign or funds unlimited. All you need is to have a good heart.

In Islam, charity is very often mentioned alongside prayer because prayer is man’s relation with God, or man’s duty towards God, and charity represents his relation with his fellow-beings. There is no person in this world that cannot do a deed of charity to others.

Helping the poor, feeding the hungry, lending a hand to the disabled, helping an unemployed person to find a job, etc., are the more obvious examples of charity taught by Islam.

Our religion also advocates smaller acts of charity, which one has the opportunity to do every day. Helping someone in any way, speaking a kind word to cheer someone up, showing the way to a stranger, sharing knowledge to someone, or even simply refraining from hurting anyone, are all acts of charity in Islam. In fact, to do a good deed is one of the easiest tasks of life. All you need is a good heart.

SOMEONE’S PRAYERS ANSWERED When we do a good deed by helping someone, remember, his prayers are answered through us.

The B&W team caught up with two ladies who started something simple with the potential to have a deep and lasting effect. The I Wish initiative to fulfill the wishes of a few terminally ill children, in their own simple way, is something that will soon set of a wave of help for not only these children, but a splash of happiness to them and their parents.

DOING GOOD, SILENTLY Inspirations can go a long way and we hope our story will make a few out there to take that important and much needed step forward to pass on a good deed to the needy and deserving. There are many out there, silently doing a good deed, not for publicity or gain…it is your turn now!

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A tiny little Omani girl pushes a drip stand across the corridor as though it was some large mobile toy. We swallow and watch her push the movable contraption as though it was part of a game she was playing.

We were waiting for Aisha Al Habsi, who is in charge of the paediatric oncology department (POD) of the Royal Hospital when we saw seven year old Deema pushing a mobile IV (intravenous) drip stand with an infusion pump in the corridor there.

For a moment, it looked as though Deema was playing with the stand. Then you see the IV line from where a bag of fluid dripped into her blood. And then you are yanked back to reality with a start. Deema was being administered with chemo.

In fact, it was fate that was playing a nasty game – pushing innocent kids like Deema around without rhyme or reason.

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“Deema has brain tumour,” one of the nurses quietly tells us. Choking with emotion, we watch this little girl continue pushing the drip stand, which was twice her height, around.

She waits impatiently outside the locked door to the games and activity room at the POD and she is the first one in when the door is unlocked. It is a small room packed with typically small and simple games that kids of Deema’s age enjoy.

Unmindful of the mobile unit attached to her, she romps in the room like any other kid. The drip stand with the constantly dripping fluid pouch is a mere distraction to her.

For the onlookers, it is more than that – it is a painful reminder of a somber and bleak world out there where even innocent children are not spared of a terrible fate that snuffs out their lives even before they taste the first few years of their lives.

ANGELS OF CARE Aisha Al Habsi, and her colleague, Sameera Al Balushi, the second in charge among the nurses of the department, lift the pall of gloom quickly pervading the hospital halls with their ready smiles and encouraging words. These two angels in uniform have literally seen and experienced it all at the POD. They should, by all

In the games and activity room, young kids hesitatingly walk in.

Deema is joined by Sarah (13), Mohammed (eight), another Mohammed (nine) and others.

Nursing staff of the POD also walk in and cheer the kids – almost all of them cancer patients with the disease in various stages, critical and otherwise.

means, be tougher and probably even a bit nonchalant about the misery that they see around them, instead they are a fount of happiness and inspiration. The painful experiences that they have undergone, looking after terminally ill children in their ward, have actually made them more humane and helped them become true angels of care.

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While they have been quietly doing their job meticulously and with a lot of patience and care for years, a recent visit by two other angels, Karen Van De Ruit and Puja Khimji, gave them not only a boost in their efforts at the POD, but also helped them cheer up the children in the wards, some of whose lives are slowly ebbing away.

The emergence of Karen and Puja with a simple but effective initiative have suddenly brightened up the somber and despondent halls of the POD; they have, in fact, managed to bring smiles on the lips of not only the children suffering from terminal illness, but also on their sad parents and the hardworking caregivers of the department.

B&W Xclusive

I WISH The initiative hinges on a simple theme: Although a dark and deadly fate is looming over the tiny heads, they would still be harbouring simple wishes in their hearts.

The duo has managed to do just that: touch these kids’

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hearts; find out their wishes and somehow help make them come true. And the simple but striking name that they gave to this cause is just that: I Wish. Two words that can make the tiny dream of many a desperately ill child come true. And it has been proven that "a wish come true has the potential to be a positive turning point in the child’s battle for health". Worldover, parents and caregivers say that "when a wish comes true, it makes the kids feel stronger, and more energetic; such kids are even ready to comply with difficult, but vital, treatment regimens". Some even note that the wish experience as a frequent turning point in such kids' battle for health".

Although this initiative is just a month old, it has already managed to touch many hearts. A previous press report on their initiative is pinned on the small notice board at the POD. Aisha and Sameera note the featured children often gleefully point out at their faces smiling down from the board. Their smiles and their cheerful nature light up the otherwise gloomy atmosphere in the POD.

UNDERSTANDING, NOT PITY As Aisha and Sameera take us around the ward, introducing us to the kids and other staff, we ask them how they are able to weather the daily storm of working in such an atmosphere. “I am working in this department for the past eight years; totally 17 years at the hospital. I am actually living with these kids and they are like my own. They have made me a better and stronger person,” Aisha confessed. “They are all sick and suffering yet displaying a courage that cannot be described in words. The tragedy is that they are not suffering because of their fault. Sometimes you see cancer patients as young as two months old admitted here and undergoing treatment. It is a daily life of tears, fears, trials and tribulations, yet we all manage to smile through it, because we take life by the day, by the hour, by the minute and second…these lovely kids have taught us that,” Aisha and Sameera explained. Both of them said that there is a need for more volunteers to their department: “We wish for some more Good Samaritans and volunteers to spend time with these kids who are bedridden for long periods of time.”

Aisha noted that they were bowled over by Karen and Puja’s I Wish idea. “They asked us to help them chose a deserving child and his/her wish and so we thought why not? If a simple idea can put a smile on to their faces, we were more than willing to push this initiative forward.

“As nurses, we have a tough time to go through the daily grind of seeing lovely young children battling with deadly cancer. Yet, despite the pain and the suffering, there are moments when these June 7 - July 6 29 B&W 2 0 1 3

kids exude positivity and are cheerful and smiling – they have taught us to face life smiling!” Aisha and Sameera said.

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HAPPY FACES AROUND The nurses tell us of various cases they have gone through and the terrible pang of losing a dear kid.

Which is why they are happy with Karen and Puja’s I Wish initiative which they say have managed to fulfil the wishes of some of the terminally ill kids. “There was 14 year old Majid (who was terminally ill and not having very long to live). His wish was to have a PSP (PlayStation Portable), which was fulfilled thanks to I Wish.

Majid’s glowing face and the flashes of his dazzling smiles, when he is holding his dream PSP, literally lights up the room. He is totally engrossed and happy playing with it. And ever since he has been gifted with it, he has been so cheerful that he even forgets his pain for a few hours.

Children are thrilled that their little wishes are coming true.

"Then there is Hussam who wanted an iPad and when he got it, he was beside himself with joy. Earlier, he was tired and was not willing to go through his daily medicines’ schedules and collection of blood samples. Now when he is playing with the iPad, he beams at us; engaged with his new toy, he is more cooperative and eager to finish his daily schedule cheerfully.

We hope more and more people come in and share a few minutes of their lives with these kids. We have noticed many expatriates come in and spend time with the children; we also wish the same participation from our Omani brothers and sisters...

When one patient survives and moves forward in his/her life, we feel confident and happy. It gives us more strength to hold on when we lose a life... only last week one of our little patients passed away, leaving us with a painful void...”

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The wish angels Think charity; think ball and automatically Karen Van De Ruit’s name comes into focus. This English teacher is known to be a one woman army in terms or organising socialite evenings, fashion balls and most importantly charity shows. Of the latter, the most successful venture is the Green Sapphire charity ball.

So, when she suddenly seemed to have moved away from the clamour of huge publicity drawing fund raisers, it looked as though Muscat had lost its major fund raising lady. But Karen seemed to have just lain low to remerge and reinvent herself. For now, along with her friend, Puja Khimji, she has taken on the new role of resident angel with their I Wish initiative.

But the I Wish also put her into direct contact with tiny children suffering from terminal cancer and on occasions, she would be stricken with emotion. A recent personal loss due to cancer added to her pain. Still, she has managed to regain her composure and along with Puja is now determined to take their initiative to cover a wider armbit.

FROM WE WISH TO I WISH Karen explains how their deep-rooted wishes were fulfilled with I Wish. “Though an English teacher by

profession, I always loved organising events. I can proudly say that I was one of the pioneers in organising fashion shows for charity in the early 90s. Event organising is addictive and when it serves a social cause or a community purpose it becomes all the more engaging. From fashion shows to the charity ball was a progressive step that I took with the strong support of an active group of womenfolk. But I had reached a point where I wanted to do simpler things and make a difference in someone’s life, especially for a deserving needy person. The international Make A Wish programme was something very close to my heart and I along with Puja put our first step in finding out whether we can do something similar, fulfil a tiny wish of a small kid.

The thought came up late last year and we both wanted to do something with the terminally ill children. With this in mind, we approached the founder and chairperson of the Oman Cancer Association (OCA), Yuthar Al Rawahi,

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who helped and guided us in this endeavour.

She connected us with the staff of the paediatric oncology department of the Royal Hospital and informed us about one child called Mariam, suffering from cancer of the spine, who wanted an iPad. This happened in February.

We visited the department and found out many courageous children, mostly from the interior regions of Oman, undergoing treatment for many months. Slowly, we embarked on our little venture of making their tiny wishes come true...”

FLIPPING A COIN But, how did they get hold of such a striking name for their initiative?

“We sat down thinking of a name, and zeroed down to My Wish... I still remember I was at home discussing with my husband, who came up with ‘I wish', which sounded more crisp and neat. We were still stuck with both the options for the name, and finally flipped a coin... and here we are with I Wish, trying to make a small difference, to bring a smile on little kids, whose wishes are only a few rials away...

I Wish is not an association or a group, it is a simple endeavour by two individuals to make the wish of a needy person come true. We do not collect any funds, we reach out to people who can help realise the wish.

We started within our immediate friends circle and then moved on to strangers and well wishers, who were more than eager to step forward and get the dreams and wishes of these children fulfilled.”

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PASSING IT FORWARD At some point of life we would have come across random acts of kindness, touching our lives through people whom we have never met. As human beings, the best thing we can do is to reach out and help another being without any expectations.

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fulfilling the dream of someone whom you never knew before, says Karen. “God works in mysterious ways, where you become instrumental in making someone happy, changing someone’s life, giving them something that will make them smile, at least for a few days. Any little effort taken with an intention to spread cheer and goodwill is an act of goodness, selflessness and brings out the goodness in you. You should in turn pass it on and inspire others to take it forward.”

EVERY EFFORT COUNTS Who decides which charity is good? Who decides what goodness is? It is all in the mind, says Karen. “In fact I would say it is in our own hands. If every person takes up an oath that they will change the life of just one person, whom they don’t know at all, and put in that little effort to make it happen, the world will be a better place. “We don’t need to have loads of money; to be honest, money cannot take away the pain of a sick person, or alleviate poverty or make the world free of all woes. But the goodness of mind to touch the lives of fellow beings will definitely change the world. I Wish is one such effort to do good; just a simple effort to do a good deed, without analysing or complicating it!

When there is a will, there is always a way. Some days back, we met the children again and we met the parents of a child who loved to watch cartoons. The parents said it would be nice if little Ritaj could have a DVD player and some cartoons to watch... We quickly agreed, and when

we were walking out of the hospital, my mobile rang. It was the Indian School Al Ghubrah principal, Papri Ghosh, on the line. She was calling us to say that the children of the school had collected some cash for a charity cause and would like to contribute to I Wish. I couldn’t believe it; although we had said OK, we were not sure where we could source Ritaj’s DVD player. Like I said before God works in mysterious ways. We informed Ghosh that ISG could buy a DVD player and come over and give it to Ritaj. I believe that when you do good deeds God places angels in your path.”

LIFE NEVER RUNS OUT OF WISHES Karen and Puja have invested their hearts in this endeavour and they hope the wishes never end. “We also wish that we inspire at least a few so that they will start doing good to another being, in some small way. There are many out in this world, lost, craving for one good word, a gesture, a touch, a smile. Without losing anything we can bring about a smile in many people, touch their lives and make it worthwhile...

So let us all make a wish, to fulfil at least one person’s wish! We thank every person who helped us make a wish come true for a deserving child out there! Thank you folks! We are also grateful to the staff of the paediatric oncology department at the Royal Hospital, who made it easy for us to choose the needy and deserving candidate and make their wish come true.

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We want to make wishes come true

Karen Van De Ruit and Puja Khimji had a wish – “to make wishes come true”. With that wish in their hearts, they embarked on a dream journey to make the wishes of people they want to help come true. “It is with this idea in mind that we hit upon this name I Wish and started off,” Puja, who had moved to Oman from London just two years back, tells Black & White. What bonds the two together is their double delight on “seeing the faces of the people we help – there is no better feeling than making a wish come true”, Puja notes, adding that the scope for I Wish is enormous.

Excerpts:

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How did you and Karen get together on this initiative? What brought you together and what is the ‘cement’ that bonds you both on this initiative?

Karen and I have worked together on another charity, the Green Sapphire and she is also a good friend. I always wanted to start a charity or be a part of something more personal and so I asked Karen if she wanted to join me in this new venture.

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have the same goal, “to make wishes come true” .This is something we both take time out of our daily lives to do and so we both appreciate one another’s time and effort. The cement that bonds us together is seeing the faces of the people we help; there is no better feeling than making a wish come true! And for me, that is what keeps us going stronger together!

Why ‘I Wish’?

I wanted to do something on the same lines as the Wish foundation, and so when Karen and I decided

to go ahead with this project the name became very difficult to chose. We wanted ‘wish’ to be in there but also wanted to keep it simple and to the point. After days of going back and forth with different names, we decided on ‘I Wish’ as it is a direct translation of what we aim to do for the people we help. They make wishes and we try to make them come true. 'I' is also a lot more personal and the aim of what we do is to help each individual and not a group, therefore ‘I wish’ rather than ‘we wish’ was very important to us.

Have you been doing charity before? What is your background on the same; also, other than I Wish, what do you do?

Yes, as stated previously, I worked with Karen on the Green Sapphire Ball, which was a great experience.

Since I moved to Oman from London two years ago, I have not had a chance to set up a business of my own. So I am currently a housewife. However, charity is something I feel strongly about and see this time as my chance to give back and have used it as an opening to start I Wish.

What do you hope to achieve with I Wish? What is its scope and what, according to you, is its future?

I Wish is not a business. It is merely two people trying to put smiles on the faces of those who feel they have lost the reason to smile. That is what we want to achieve, smiles, happiness, a moment to feel that you are not forgotten and that wishes can come true!

The scope for us is enormous! There is no shortage of people that need help in Muscat, or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

We have started with cancer afflicted children. However

we hope to reach everyone who is in need, whether they have cancer, or are old, disabled, autistic... the list is endless and we have just started so I believe we will make a difference to many lives.

Would you include other relevant requests too?

Currently, we are helping those who are less fortunate with illnesses or disabilities; people who are suffering and need something to help alleviate the pain. As said earlier, our requests can be anything, ranging from an iPad to a trip to Disney Land, and we work closely with the Royal Hospital, as they inform us of the most severe cases and those families that are desperately in need. This includes expatriate families too.

How has the experience been so far? What were the most fulfilling moments and what were the most challenging ones?

So far the experience has been amazing! It is so overwhelming to see how such small things can make such a huge difference to these kids. I believe that actually we get more satisfaction out of it than they do.

Seeing those smiles makes all the work worth it.

The most challenging part is not being able to make every child’s wish come true! We wish we could just go and give all the kids what they wanted, but we have to start with the really poor and work our way up! It is also hard when a child asks if we will give them their wish the next day!

We hope to get the wishes out as soon as possible but it all depends on how fast we can find a donor, it breaks our hearts when we say “Inshallah” knowing deep down it may take longer. But so far we have done well, and the community has been so helpful in making these wishes come true. Without their help this would not have been possible.

I wish…to live!

This is a story of a little girl who desperately needs help for a bone marrow transplant.

Alessa Pereira, an 11-year old studying in the seventh grade of the Indian School Muscat (ISM), has been diagnosed with a rare medical condition, Aplastic Anaemia, for which the only cure is Allogenic Stem Cell transplantation. “Doctors have come to this conclusion after several checkups in Oman as well as in India. Now my daughter is admitted at the CMC Vellore (in India) and is undergoing primary treatment and getting prepared for the stem cell transplantation. She has to undergo several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation during this process and it’s going to be a tough process to save her life,” says Adrian Pereira, who has been working with the Bahwan Travels for the last 26 years. Luckily after several searches all over the world they have managed to find a donor through the national marrow donor programme in the US and the donor is ready to provide bone marrow to support Adrian’s daughter, Dr P. C. Alexander of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital told Black & White.

The expenses of the entire process is around Indian Rupees (Rs)50,00,000 (around OMR33000). Adrian had managed – through his company, his own funds and other sources -- to raise up to OMR20000 so far. But, he is still short of over OMR10,000 to complete the process.

“I request the support from friends and well wishers who can help me generate the balance amount, which will help save the life of Alessa. I also seek your prayers for my daughter in this process.”

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Ben

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When was the last time you said HI to yourself

By Dr CK Anchan

Management talk

‘Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.”

You do not have to be who you are today, and your life is not scripted.

Don’t let life’s changes throw you off track, but remember that most extenuating circumstances are temporary. Gain more clarity by staying the course and channeling your energy in a positive direction, Keep going. If you play the comparison game, you’ll run into too many “opponents” you can’t defeat.

There will always be some people who have more than you and some who have less. So stop comparing!

Our thinking will never be 100 percent positive. We must learn to dismiss the negative thoughts and stay open to other ideas that will help us to move in a positive direction. Even the most successful people have to deal with disappointment, but they’ve learned how to use it to get to the next level of life. The trick is to process your feelings, then take some kind of action. A good way to start is to stop doing things that hurt. The “real you” is a magnificent, unique being with enormous potential and capacity for experiencing love of yourself and extending love to others.

So keep your interest in life at a high level by being in the company of enthusiastic people. This way, you will get infected by their positive attitude. It’s hard to feel good about yourself if your days are spent in

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Dr Anchan C.K. managing director, World Wide Business House

work you hate. Self-esteem flourishes when you are engaged in work and activities that you enjoy and make you feel valuable. Learn to honour your efforts and give proper credit for things that you have done well.

Following a practical approach for managing your self-esteem will prevent it from becoming a problem and keep you off that rollercoaster.

You must give more of yourself to those around you. Because when you do things for someone else, you are making a positive contribution and you begin to feel more valuable, which in turn lifts your spirits and raises your own self-esteem.

Sometimes you have to take a new inventory on what you like about your looks, smile, health, personality, and character strengths. Most people dwell on their inadequacies and then wonder why their life isn’t working out.

Start focusing on your positive traits and you’ll stand a much better chance of achieving what you wish to achieve. Think of times when you did something that you thought that you could never do but managed to pull off successfully. These breakthroughs can generate an authentic source of never-ending pride in you. Read this list often. While reviewing it, close your eyes and recreate the feelings of satisfaction and joy you experienced when you first attained each success.

As said by Shing Xiong: "In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away."

By Dave Green

9

ŠThomas Snyder

4 7 4 8 1 3 5 2 Difficulty Level

3 7 4 3 5

4 8 2 1 6

6 1 8 7 5 2 3

2012 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

3 4 1 5 2

7/18

1 3 8 5 6 1 6 5 9 7 1 8 4 2 2 5 1 2 3 5 9 4 8 1 7 9 Difficulty Level

2012 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

ŠThomas Snyder

By Dave Green

7/19

SOLUTION: Difficulty Level

8 7 1 6 4 5 2 9 3

2 9 4 3 7 1 8 6 5

Difficulty Level

7/19

5 3 6 2 8 9 4 1 7

6 8 2 7 1 4 3 5 9

7 5 3 9 6 8 1 4 2

1 4 9 5 3 2 7 8 6

3 6 8 4 9 7 5 2 1

4 2 7 1 5 6 9 3 8

9 1 5 8 2 3 6 7 4

2012 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

6 2 7 4 8 3 5 9 1

9 4 8 5 1 7 3 2 6

7/18

3 5 1 2 6 9 4 7 8

4 6 2 1 9 5 8 3 7

1 8 3 7 4 2 9 6 5

5 7 9 6 3 8 1 4 2

2 1 6 9 5 4 7 8 3

8 9 5 3 7 6 2 1 4

7 3 4 8 2 1 6 5 9

2012 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

June 7 - July 6 37 B&W 2 0 1 3

Kidstuff

Fun facts on

June 7 - July 6 38 B&W 2 0 1 3

Eggs were coloured, blessed, exchanged and eaten as part of the rites of spring long before Christian times.

At the time of the French Revolution, the clever French already knew 685 different ways of preparing eggs.

A lot goes into an egg. The hen must eat four pounds of feed to make a dozen eggs.

Did you know a mother hen turns over her egg about fifty times per day (so the yolk won’t stick to the sides of the shell) The egg shell may have as many as 17,000 tiny pores over its surface. Through them, the egg can absorb flavours and odours. Storing them in their cartons helps keep them fresh.

Eggs are placed in their cartons large end up to keep the air cell in place and the yolk centered.

Eggs age more in one day at room temperature than in one week in the refrigerator Eggs can be kept refrigerated in their carton for at least four to five weeks beyond the pack date.

A hard-cooked egg will peel more easily if it is a week or two old before it is cooked.

To tell if an egg is raw or hard-cooked, spin it! If the egg spins easily, it is hard-cooked, if it wobbles, it is raw.

A cloudy white is a sign of freshness, not age, because of a high carbon dioxide content when the egg is laid.

If an egg is accidentally dropped on the floor, sprinkle it heavily with salt for easy clean up.

A fresh egg will sink in water while an older egg will stand up. As the egg gets older the air space in the egg increases causing it to float.

Eggs contain the highest quality food protein known. It is second only to mother’s milk for human nutrition.

Egg yolk is one of the few foods that contain Vitamin D. Egg yolk is the major source of the egg’s vitamins and minerals.

A large egg contains only 75 calories and five grams of fat.

Eggs have no vitamin C because the chick can produce it from the food it eats.

The most expensive egg ever sold was the Faberge 'Winter Egg' sold in 1994 for $5.6 million.

Edgar at eight ate eight eggs a day.

June 7 - July 6 39 B&W 2 0 1 3

We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now.

Finally, we have taken the plunge to bring home to you some offbeat stuff. Here goes, if you like it, give us the green signal for more; if not, just take it with a pinch of salt. For this fortnight, here is some nitter natter for the B&W Bitter Batter:

Irked by litter Whatever the rules, people love to litter in Oman. And yes, we are also going to use the same boring words: it is a real pity; it is quite unfortunate; etc etc. What else do we do but to just watch it all happen before our very eyes?

A lady who took her son to the Civic Piazza in Ruwi was quite upset by the sheer littering done by visitors there. “I was totally upset by the sheer littering done by irresponsible visitors to this landmark. Yes, there is lot of space for children to play, but mind you, the beautiful fountains there, the grass area…in fact, every nook and corner, there was litter. I am sure by next morning, it would be cleaned and cleared, but how could people do this to a beautiful spot like this?

“My friends tell me it could be because it is a site visited by many children and a lot of food is also brought in there, which after eating they could be throwing the waste around – but, I don’t believe that. Even if it is true, aren’t these children accompanied by their parents, relatives or guardians?

“How can they pollute such a beautiful, clean spot with their dirty waste? I wish the authorities will take them to task!”

The lady tells us she found plastic bags, cups, water bottles, tumblers, food remains, paper and even sandals floating in the fountain. Naturally, it would be cleaned by the workers, but isn’t it cruel to litter in this manner? Or do some people think it is their right to litter?

Nitter natter

Gas cylinders stalemate The other day someone in an area in Al Khuwair told us that they found it quite difficult to get cooking gas cylinders these days. “We usually have spare cylinders kept, but off lately, it has been a hard task getting the gas cylinder men to come and replace our empty cylinders at home, especially when it is close to winding up time,” one of our readers said. “We ask them to come home and deliver maybe an hour or so before the closing time, yet, they don’t come,” the reader complained.

Bitter Batter checked out if this was the scene in Al Khuwair with some gas cylinder salesmen. They stressed that they did not want to entertain calls after closing hour. “We have been told specifically that we should not sell gas cylinders after the prescribed time, so why should we do anything against the law?” they ask. Which is of course a point, but the buyers still complain that they are told to come and fetch the cylinders themselves if they are that desperate. “But, we (expatriates) cannot transport cylinders – that is also against the law!”

June 7 - July 6 40 B&W 2 0 1 3

Phone'y' concern?

What would you do if a man insists that you were on the phone – even when you were not – while driving; bangs at your window and screams at you for your ‘mobile’ indiscretion and when you react and point out that you are not guilty as charged, he turns tail and acts very concerned about scores of road accidents being caused by such careless behaviour while driving?

Well, if it happens to you, quickly notify the authorities concerned! This happened to a lady – along with her sister -- who was waiting at a traffic light in a posh area in Muscat when an elderly gentleman came and angrily tapped on the passenger window and began to deride her for her “irresponsible phone behaviour”! The lady who was on the driver’s seat was shocked.

Shocked because the man was quite angry and animated; shocked because she was not using the phone at all – it was her sister in the passenger seat who was talking on the phone and since when was that illegal?

The lady mildly pointed out these facts to the irate man

who grew angrier stating that it was the first time that a lady was arguing with him when he was trying to point out her mistake.

But what did she do wrong, the lady, now clearly on the hot seat, asked? If she had not used the phone while driving, why was he wrongly accusing her of doing this? In the meantime, the traffic light changed to green, but, even then the man still saw red. However, cars behind began to honk and the lady moved ahead. After sometime when the lady was reaching near her home, she suddenly realised that the same man was following her. This time, she did not waste time, she called the authorities concerned and when the man was questioned, he still ranted about her talking on the phone while driving. The officials however told him that was not his job and they had others who are authorised to police the streets and not ordinary citizens.

But such advice seems to have fallen on deaf ears as the man is reportedly known to be doing this for some time now!

(Note: Readers who have something bitter to chatter about can either email on editor@blackandwhiteoman.com or call 99218461)

June 7 - July 6 41 B&W 2 0 1 3

Your TAURUS April 21-May 20

GEMINI May 21-June 21

Travel and even overseas links help you to boost your income and make your future a more secure one. Your ruling planet Mars can be your best friend and your enemy all at the same time. Don’t take more than you should, though you have the energy to complete all.

There is so much temptation around you at the moment that it must be difficult for you to move without fear of either missing out or over indulging. To get the balance right you need to think and plan what you want, before you are asked. It’s sure to make choosing far easier.

People will be listening when you speak this week and your words can come back on you so try not to say anything which you don’t really mean. It’s all very well your comeback sounding good at the time, but not if what you say can come back to haunt you for years to come.

CANCER June 22-July 23

LEO July 24-August 23

ARIES March 21-April 20

Relationships are sacred to you and to have your trust breached is unforgivable. This week though it is a relationship which comes with more to lose that is at stake. Let’s hope the person concerned behaves, as you’re not a sign which even the strongest signs in the zodiac should mess with this week.

You’ve been walked over and mistreated in the past, but from here on in you are not going to be suffering fools gladly. That doesn’t mean your journey is going to be plain sailing this week, as you’ll have to stand up to some pretty strong signs. Looks like a friend is soon going to turn into a lover.

VIRGO August 24-September 23 Your chart is open to learning and this would be an excellent time for you to further your knowledge in a subject or to open yourself up to something new.

Rumours which are circulated at this time may not be true, so be careful of getting caught up in something which you may end up getting the blame.

Horoscope

VENUS EBONY STARR WILLIAMS (BORN JUNE 17, 1980) is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 32 in singles as of May 27, 2013. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate occasions.

She became the World No. 1 for the first time on February 25, 2002, becoming the first African American woman to achieve this feat during the open era. Her seven Grand Slam singles titles tie her for 12th on the all time list, and is more than any other active female player except for her younger sister Serena Williams. Her 22 overall Grand Slam titles consist of seven in singles, thirteen in women's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. Her five Wimbledon singles titles tie her with two other women for eighth place on the all-time list.

Venus Williams is one of only four women in the open era to have won five or more Wimbledon singles titles. Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, one in singles and three in women's doubles.

June 7 - July 6 42 B&W 2 0 1 3

stars LIBRA September 24-October 23 You’ve had so much to go through that I don’t think you’ve even stopped to take a breath or ask yourself how you’re feeling. You should though Libra, as it’s time you gave yourself a pat on the back.

You’ve come out the other side and a successful outcome is yours, as you should see for yourself by weekend.

CAPRICORN December 23-January 20 You’re going to feel like doing what you want to do when you want to do it this week, but by sticking to arrangements and showing you can finish what you start you’ll gain the respect you’ve been craving.

Money you’ll be forced to pay out on the home is worth the sacrifices which will come with it.

SCORPIO October 24-November 22 Where is that shy retiring character we saw at the beginning of the month? Gone we hope, and for good this time too. We don’t like it when you allow yourself to be ruled and neither do you. New attractions in love are formed and, for some of you, existing ones are strengthened

by Thursday.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 22 This is a really tempestuous week for relationships, but as long as you stick to what needs to be said, rather than firing negative comments with intent to harm then you’ll be alright. The truth is, you are trying to protect your vulnerable side. Others can’t see this of course.

AQUARIUS January 21-February 19 You’ve put yourself out so much for someone, and even though they don’t seem to appreciate your efforts you can, and should, be proud of yourself. You’ve proven you do the right thing when placed in such a situation. Cash flow could be a problem and you may want to prioritise so that you don’t miss out.

PISCES February 20-March 20 You have a lot you need to organise this week if you are to be able to tick off your list of responsibilities, but just make sure you’re not being used as a scapegoat for those who are lazy to do things for themselves. Gambles with money can pay off in your favour if you can show you’re worth the investment.

For men X SPRAY $ IUHVK JUHHQ Ó?RUDO IUDJUDQFH VLPLODU LQ VW\OH DQG LGHQWLW\ WR %H 'HOLFLRXV E\ '.1< Top notes Ě&#x17E; JUHHQ DSSOH ZDWHUPHORQ FDVLV DQG FXFXPEHU Middle notes Ě&#x17E; URVH ZDWHUOLO\ IUHHVLD DQG YLROHW Base notes Ě&#x17E; PXVN ZKLWH DPEHU VDQGDOZRRG DQG PDULQH QRWHV

E-MAIL: marketing@albahja.com, Website: www.albahja.comJune 7 - July 6 43 B&W

2 0 1 3

PICK-UP POINTS MUSCAT WADI KABIR Bait al Zubair Bait al Baranda Marina Bander Al Bustan Palace Hotel Oman Dive club Shangri-La- Barr Al Jissah Sri Lankan School NHI Pencil Building (Stationery shop) Al Maha bunk –Wadi Kabir Ajay Enterprises (Khimji) – (Next to Jingles nursery) Hotel Golden Oasis Sana Fashions Al Maya markets – (Old Rawasco) Scientific pharmacy – Opp to al Maya market ( Arab Udipi Rest)

Circulation

CBD AREA TO DARSAIT Al Amana Building materials – Opposite Jawad Sultan Al Omaniya Financial Services office Oman oil bunk Khimji mart shopping mall – (Old shopping & saving) Khimjis Bait al Ahlam- CBD area Pizza Muscat (Opposite ministry of manpower) Pizza Hut/TFC – CBD area Centre point-Splash Muscat Securities market Times of Oman Shell petrol Bunk (Next to Sheraton) OCCI Library – Oman Chamber of commerce (OPP MSM) KFC – Ruwi Oman International Bank – Ruwi Palayok Restaurant – Filipino restaurant Ever ready supermarket New India Assurance Office Al Fair – Ruwi high street Lakhoos Money Exchange, Ruwi High street Damas Jewellery/office – Ruwi Oman UAE Exchange – OCC Centre Air Arabia Office- Shanfari Travels Ruwi Hotel Gulf air building – Gulf air office Saravanabhavan Restaurant Sarco – Samsung showroom Khimji Megastore – Swarovski showroom OTE Moosa Abdul Showroom – next to al Jadeed Toshiba Showroom Al Jadeed shopping Badr Al Samaa Samara video (next to Talentz, old bait al ahlam) after 5pm Ministry of Education – Opp Wearhouse – Ruwi Future management consultants -(opp Toshiba showroom) Haffa House Hotel Al Falaj Hotel Muscat Bakery- Near church Pakistan School (after temple & church Darsait) Naranjee Hirjee office (before Hotel Golden Oryx) Hotel Golden Oryx Bank Muscat corporate office (Opposite Hotel Golden Oryx) Kamat Restaurant Uptown Restaurant Turtles Book shop Al Rima Clinic Lama Polyclinic

June 7 - July 6 44 B&W 2 0 1 3

Oman Air – CBD NBO- CBD area Bank Muscat Bank Sohar HSBC Standard Chartered Oman Arab Bank Harmony Music Centre – Next to OAB Bahwan Travel Agencies – CBD banks area OTTB – Oman Travels Bureau Air India office – CBD next to Costas Costas Papa John Supa Save – CBD Woodlands Bank Dhofar Horizon Restaurant – (Next to Moon travels) Oman post office Lulu Darsait Khimji Ramdas Head office, Muttrah (Kanaksi Khimji & pankaj Khimji) Majan College – Darsait junction (canteen) Indian Social Club Melody Music Centre – Next to ISM German Embassy – Hamriya roundabout Apollo Medical Centre Computer Xpress – Hamriya Roundabout Atlas Travels (Wadi Adai Roundabout (next to polyglot) Hatat House Passage to India Best cars Hyundai/Subaru/GM showroom Al Asfoor Furnishing Ahli Bank Shell marketing office SEAT car showroom- Wattayah DHL office- Wattayah Honda Showroom Sabco Head office wattayah NTT travels Wattayah Toyota Bahwan Advertising – Ist floor – Toyota showroom Lexus Ford showroom Shanfari Automotive Wattayah Motors- VW showroom Khoula Hospital Institute of Health sciences – opposite Khoula Kia showroom- wattayah QURUM AREA TOWARDS AL KHUWAIR Al Harthy ComplexPizza Muscat – next to Sultan Center in al Harthy complex Sultan Center Nissan showroom BMW showroom Muscat Private School Qurum city centre Pizza Hut – Qurum Capital Store Al Asfoor Plaza KFC Hardees Fono showroom next to Sabco centre Shah Nagardas Sabco Centre- Barista coffee shop only Al Araimi Panasonic Showroom NBO Qurum Al Khamis Plaza Al Wadi commercial centre – Coffee shop Mercedes showroom

CCC- Stand CCC Al Fair Bollywood chat Pizza Hut – Qurum Second Cup Nandos McDonalds Salman Stores Jawahir Oman Hamptons Business Services & Travel Amex office Ernst & Young buildg (OUA Travels) Starbucks Hawthorne institute- ELS Fahud Street, opp Qurum park Mumtaz Mahal Left bank Oman Association for the disabled Ministry of education (20 +20=20) Muscat Intercon Jawaharat Al Shatti complex- stand Oasis by the sea - crepe café stand LNG Office Al Qurum resort Bareek Al Shatti Complex Al Qandeel head office -, Entrance of Bareek al Shatti Al Shatti Cinema - Dunkin Donuts Al Sahwa Schools– principal’s office next to Ramada hotel Hotel Ramada Al Muriya Offices- next to Al sahwa schools Grand Hyatt Muscat Al Masa Mall Radio Shack Al Sarooj Complex Shell Petrol Bunk- Al Sarooj Al Fair Ramee Guestline Rock Bottom Classic Institute of Arts- next to Asas Oman Asas Oman Apartments Crowne Plaza Coral hotel Qurum Pvt school PDO Ras Al Hamraa Club Omanoil head office AL KHUWAIR/MSQ TOWARDS AZAIBA ELS – Al khuwair service road British School Muscat – MSQ British Council Oman oil- Madinat Qaboos Pizza Hut Khimjis mart – MSQ Kargeen Café Al fair Family Book shop- MSQ Tavola – Al Noor Hall buildg Starbucks Hana slimming centre – Ist Floor Fotomagic Al Noor Hall Al Jadeed Eqarat office Above Welcare Clinic – al Khuwair Domino Pizza Oman mobile Safeer Hypermarket Mustafa Sultan Souk Technia Omantel Oman international Bank – Al khuwair main office Ibis Hotel

Park inn Hotel Friendi Office Muscat Bakery Tropical Ice creams Subway Pizza Hut service road Ice Skating Rink National Training Institute Golden spoon Restaurant Shell Select- Al Khuwair Mcdonalds Mct holiday Inn Hotel Oman Bowling Center Halliburton Café Vergnano Khimji Mart – Next to Verganano Safeer suites Axa insurance (opp assarain Al khuwair) Zakher shopping Mall PAN Furnishing Harley Davidson Thrifty Al Amal Medical Centre – Dr Bashir Hotel Radisson Pizza Hut Al Khuwair Ozone Video Shop(Next to Pizza Hut) American British School Omar Khayyam Restaurant, next to V kool Grill House (next door) V Kool TAISM Centre for British Teachers – CFBT Baushar Complex Café Aviation Club Restaurant AZAIBA TOWARDS SEEB Lulu Hyper market – Baushar Oman Medical college College for Business & financial Studies opp Oman medical, baushar Azzan Bin Qais school - Baushar Muscat private Hospital Dolphin Village – Bausher Royal hospital Ghala industrial area – NTI National mineral water – Tanuf ( next to Al Madina Holiday Inn) Oman oil Azaiba Spicy Village – Rusayl Pizza Hut – Ghala Oman oil – Ghala Towell head office – Enhance & Ist floor Mazda showroom Mcdonalds – Azaiba Select shell Azaiba Oman Tribune – Al Watan office New India assurance Azaiba office Safeer Hypermart Nawras head office Zubair showroom and Yamaha corporate office(two places)- Yamaha Showroom – close to Zubair showroom – 1st floor Polyglot Institute GU Tech – Beach road Azaiba Chedi Muscat The wave Muscat corporate office NACA – national cancer Awareness Assn MCC – Crepe Café Al Bahja– Mood Café & food Court Al Maya Super market Oman air Seeb office (Below Flyover, before Golden Tulip) Oman Tourisn College Golden Tulip Hotel Air port Select Shell – Seeb Pizza Hut airport KFC

MUSCAT, SALALAH, SUR, SOHAR, NIZWA, BARKA, KASAB MUSCAT continued...

SALALAH

SOHAR

NIZWA

Muscat golf hills, SEEB KOM SQU – SQUH hospital , SQUH 2- canteen, 3Diplomatic Club, 4 – College of Commerce, 5 – Students banking area) Pizza Hut – al Khoud Sultan School al hail service road – principals’ office Caledonian college – principal’s office Oman Foot ball association

SHOPPING MALLS Lulu shopping center Al- Istaqarar shopping center (Salalah) Dhofar shopping center Bab Al- Salam market Al- Mashoor (Salalah) Al- Mashoor (Saada) Al-Khareef K.M Trading Al-Isteqarar (Saada) Al-Hoq super market Hamdan commercial market Fresh super market (Al-Sarat) Union Salalah Market Family bookshop

Spicy Village Restaurant Lulu Hypermarket Jumeirah Shopping Centre Khimji’s Mart Al Salem shopping Centrepoint Moosa Abdul Rahman – GMC Toyota Nissan Mitsubishi LG showroom Sohar Bakery Sohar University Bank Muscat Habib Bank Bank Sohar Oman International Bank Al Raffah Hospital Badr Al Samaa Oman Arab Bank Bank Dhofar HSBC Travel City National Travels and Tours Universal Travels and Tourism DHL Dhofar Insurance Al Ahlia Insurance Taeeger Finance Co Omantel Al Jazeera Group Narenjee Hirjee (International)

OIB, Nizwa OIB, Firq BankMuscat, Nizwa BM main branch, Nizwa BankMuscat, Firq NBO, Nizwa NBO, Firq Bank Abudhabi Toyota OTE Omantel Nawras Khimji, Nizwa Khimji, Izki Muscat Bakery, Nizwa Pizza Hut Discount centre Family shopping Al Diyar Hotel Safari hotel Al-Nif shopping, Izki Hungery Bunny, Nizwa College of Science College of Technic Nizwa Medical College Busmath Clinic Thalal Clinic Omanoil, Izki Omanoil, Firq Omanoil, Nizwa Omanoil, Marfa Shell, Izki Shell, Firq Shell, Nizwa Al-Maha, Firq Nizwa university -Dept of foreign lang Al-Maha, Marfa

RUSAYL AREA Rusayl Industrial Estate Oman Cables Sadolin Paints Jotun Paints Al waqia shoes Mehdi Foods Areej veg oils MINISTRIES AREA – AL KHUWAIR Ministry of tourism(Ghala, next to ISG) Ministry of social Development(next to Regional municipalities, Bank Mct) Ministry of foreign affairs

SUR Al-Hashar LNG LNG, Club Sur Sur Beach Hotel Sur University OTE, Sur Mitsibushi Rawaya coffee shop Toyota Nissan Sur Plaza Hotel Mazda Khimji Omantel Private Hospital, Sur BankMuscat Sur Hotel NBO, Sur Bank Dhofar, Sur ELS, Sur

HOTELS Crown Plaza Hilton Salalah Hamdan plaza Dhofar Hotel Salalah hotel Haffa House Redan Hotel Al- Hanaa Hotel BAMSIR hotel Al- Jabel hotel Al- Nile suite (Saada) Salalah Mariott MINISTRIES Ministry agriculture & fisheries Ministry of education Ministry of defense Ministry of housing & electricity Ministry of water Ministry of tourism Diwan of Royal court (Salalah) Ministry of primary court and justice Ministry of Commerce & industry Dhofar municipality (Baladia) Ministry of man power PETROL STATIONS, BANKS Shanfari filling Station shell select, al saada Oman oil Shell Salalah Bank Muscat Omantel Oman Arab Bank Pizza hut Dhofar University Al Maha souk

BARKA Lulu hyper market Safeer Centre Al Nahda resort Al Maha Souk Oman Oil Rumais Oman College of management OIB NBO Bank Muscat Shell OTE SARCO Nissan showroom Omantel

FREE FORTNIGHTLY MAGAZINE AVAILABLE ALL OVER OMAN ON 7TH & 21ST

20, 500 COPIES (BEING AUDITED) Circulation enquiries: 98675976/24565697

June 7 - July 6 45 B&W B&&W 2 0 1 3

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20,500 copies (being audited) Circulation Enquiries: 98675976/24565697 Advertisement Enquiries: 97679290/24565697

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It's my life

Huff Puff Pant..

Vandana, award winning author (‘360 Degrees Back to Life')

By Vandana Shah

9,8,4,6,5.5…0..20 minutes. Huff…phooo… Another 20 minutes…

8.2,7..2..0.No more.Just a typical day of mine on the treadmill trying to get rid of the excess fat. Finally, when I stop, I am almost satisfied with the effort I’ve made and hope for miraculous results like losing 10 inches, overnight, on my legs, by a 40 minute workout. It may not happen, but it keeps me going for another day and keeps me coming back for more.

It’s the like ‘the treadmill of our life’ which takes us on various journeys at various speeds .Sometimes it’s a mountainous terrain and seem insurmountable till we scale the summit. Oh! But the ecstasy when we get to the peak is unparalleled. Then, the descent, which feels easy and gives us time to build up our strength to climb another mountain.

At times its interval training, with the good times and the tough times thrown together and you actually can’t prophesy what is going to come next but the unpredictability is challenging and keeps us alert.

So much so, that after a point we actually begin enjoying it and look forward to the next cycle, of course all the while hoping that the fun times outlast the others.

Finally there is the normal walking on the treadmill which keeps our life paced out at an even speed and adds a semblance of normality to our life. It keeps goading us into living our life not only for the highs and the lows but the everyday pleasures.

But most of all, the treadmill reveals the panoramic movements of life as long as we keep walking and never give up …huffing, puffing, notwithstanding.

Vandana Shah, Author 360 Degrees Back To life, editor of Ex-Files. www.vandanashah.com.

Email me what you’d like to say on 360degreesbacktolife@gmail.com Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM

June 7 - July 6 47 B&W 2 0 1 3

Summer

Cooking

Soups are the perfect way to simple light lunchesâ&#x20AC;Śespecially in summer. Who says soups are only for winter? Here are delicious recipes for summer soupsâ&#x20AC;Śtry them at home.

June 7 - July 6 48 B&W 2 0 1 3

Sweet Tomato Soup Ingredients 1 pound dry ziti pasta 1 onion, chopped 1 pound lean ground beef 2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce 6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced 1 1/2 cups sour cream 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Method Place the red bell pepper and yellow bell pepper in a large pot with 1/4 teaspoon butter, and cook, stirring constantly, until peppers are slightly charred. Mix in tomatoes, onion, garlic, and chicken broth. Season with salt, sugar, cloves, oregano, and basil. Bring to a boil, and cook 20 minutes, until tomatoes are soft. Mix the milk and cornstarch in a small saucepan, and stir until smooth. Place saucepan over medium heat, and stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon butter.

Continue to cook and stir until thickened. Mix into the pot with vegetables. Strain about 1/2 the vegetables from the soup and transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth, and return to the pot. Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes.

Pumpkin and Pea Soup Ingredients 1 pound dry ziti pasta 1 onion, chopped 1 pound lean ground beef 2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce 6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced 1 1/2 cups sour cream 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Directions Rinse and pick over the yellow split peas and soak overnight in clear water. Saute the onions in the butter

in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the soaked split peas, chicken stock, pumpkin, salt beef, chili pepper and bitters. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the peas are soft. Allow the soup to cool and then puree in a blender. Adjust the seasoning and reheat and serve with a little nutmeg sprinkled on top.

Summer Fruit soup Ingredients 1 1/2 cupsfresh blueberries 1 cupdiced fresh pineapple 3oranges - peeled, segmented, and chopped 1honeydew melon - peeled, seeded and cubed 3 tablespoonsfresh lemon juice 1 tablespoonlemon zest 1/4 cupwhite sugar 1 (16 ounce) canpineapple juice 1/4 cupvanilla low-fat yogurt (optional) 4 sprigsfresh mint leaves for garnish

lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, and pineapple juice in a large skillet. If desired, stir in the yogurt to make the mixture more creamy. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves and the fruit softens, 3 to 5 minutes. Place fruit mixture into a blender or the bowl of a food processor; blend or pulse until smooth. Spoon into a freezer dish. Chill until mixture becomes slushy, about 20 to 25 minutes, or until desired consistency. Serve garnished with fresh mint leaves.

Directions Combine the blueberries, pineapple, oranges, melon, June 7 - July 6 49 B&W 2 0 1 3

“Learn to COOK

Shape n sound

to catch a husband?!”

June 7 - July 6 50 B&W 2 0 1 3

By Maya Darek

During my many conversations with women around the world, I have come to one conclusion: women of the world have been forced to believe that they have to cook – or know how to cook – to be deemed one.

Women are often told that they have to learn to cook or that their place is in the kitchen right from day one. If in the modern world it is not overtly told, a subliminal message often hovers around all women. If you don't agree, prove it otherwise. I know for certain that there would be households that do not follow this rule, but having said that, I hasten to add that in many a household across the world, this rule firmly applies.

Why is that women are told that their place is in the kitchen? This happens mostly when they are growing up. Because once they are grown up, it would be difficult to ask them to shift their ways. Cooking is a kind of tradition among women and it is something that many in the world – including women themselves – believe that they should automatically know. Cooking and women should go hand in hand or even the cliché: if you want to catch a husband, you better know how to cook!

What is it with women and cooking that many in this world try so hard to bring together? And then, try to explain the real irony that the majority of cooks or chefs, if you may want to call them that, are men? Go to any hotel kitchen and you will be surprised to find any female chefs. Maybe there are some, but it is nothing compared to the majority of male chefs around the world. So, what is actually happening here? Why is there a great need to make all women into cooks and at the same time why is it that most of the chefs are male?

As we ponder this particular dichotomy, let us look into the prevailing cultural aspects that make this women-should-know-how-to-cook rule a norm. In many cultures, it is considered that the role of a woman in a family is to cook, clean and maintain the house; it is more of a cultural belief and an accepted norm than an official rule. Today, even in these cultures there are women who are rebelling against the idea of being an official ‘cook’ and ‘cleaner’ of homes, but there are plenty who believe that there is nothing wrong in the rule. Even modern, educated and world savvy women sincerely believe that they should know cooking ‘otherwise, they are not women”. “Cooking is a quality that you are ingrained with from the start. You don’t feel like it is a duty or a chore – it is something we are born with,” a modern woman, who would otherwise rebel against everything, claims. Cooking has permeated the psyche of a woman in such a manner that it is beyond reproach by its protagonists, who in other words would have really rebelled at being forced to do something.

In a world that clamours for equality between the sexes, it is difficult to understand how women have gamely (or should that read as lamely) agree to don the role of a home cook without even a murmur of protest.

Perhaps, it is a tradition from the days when married women stayed home and took care of their children and their home when the men went to work.

But, men often take this to heart. They feel that it is their right to demand their wives to cook and also maintain the home even if the letter has a job.

“Men seem to have got into their heads that it is their right to make their women cook and expect them to cook and lay the table for them – it would be a great idea to rebel against this ‘right’ and even start a campaign, but I guess I might be the only one campaigning for it,” says a disgruntled ‘nocook’ feminist.

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Shape n sound

women!

We know why men start smoking -- especially when they are in their teens â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just to be macho beyond their age. Young male teens are quite impressionable when it comes to smoking. They are usually led by the portrayal of male heroes smoking in films, literature, art and pop culture. To men it represents masculinity, independence and well, toughness. It is also said that men smoke to bond or make a show of being occupied, thoughtful or perhaps even to bide time, collect their thoughts before responding to a query or committing themselves.

But, why do women start smoking?

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Because it is trendy? To call attention to herself? Whatever the reasons, it is better that they stop, health advisors claim.

Because the threats it pose to them are too real to be ignored. It is a vice that needs to be stubbed out now because it affects women adversely in their daily life.

Quitting is not easy. Nicotine is highly addictive and there have been instances of smokers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both men and women â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who were able to quit only after several attempts.

While quitting is not easy, it is not impossible. But, a real open minded and concerted effort could make a lot of difference.

TEEN RISK Teen smokers beware. Smoking poses severe adverse effects on menstruation and brings on early menopause. The earlier you smoke, the earlier you will get menopause.

The risk is almost three times more, say experts. Many women smokers have detected menopausal symptoms much earlier than those who do not smoke.

Menstrual problems among adult and teen women smokers are aplenty.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;These include amenorrhea or not having your menstrual periods for a while, abnormal bleeding, and vaginal infections or discharges,â&#x20AC;?

Dr Anetha Kemper, a noted gyneacologist said.

It is believed that early menopause and the abnormalities experienced by women during menstruation could be a result of the toxic effect that nicotine has on the ovaries. This is could also be because of the noted lower estrogen levels among women smokers than women who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t smoke at all.

FERTILITY AFFECTED One of the most known facts is that smoking decreases fertility in women.

So there is a real danger there. It has been found that women â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in their 30s or 40s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who smoke have lesser chance of becoming mothers.

This could prove to be a big deterrent for female smokers but yet the head count is still high. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women smokers who delay their children put themselves at higher risk of not being able to bear a child than non smokers,â&#x20AC;? doctors note. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women smokers are known to have lesser response of the ovaries. Also,

daily nicotine intake could even impair the fertilisation of the foetus,â&#x20AC;? they warn.

PELVIC PROBLEMS Smoking can also bring on pelvic inflammatory disease among women. It has been noted that pelvic inflammatory disease or what is more known as PID happens 33 percent more for women who smoke than those who have not touched a cigarette in their life or who have stopped smoking.

The PID is a disease that brings on pain to the patient and needs medical intervention as soon as possible. It often contributes to pelvic adhesions, ectopic pregnancies, and other problems when it comes to fertility.

DEATH DUE TO CANCER Also, it has been noted that among women, the risk of dying from smoking cigarettes is increasing, to the point where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly identical to menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risk. More and more women smokers are more likely to die of lung cancer than their counterparts from years ago, partly because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re picking up the habit earlier and smoking more, reports note.

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Beautiful people around

Hooked

By Priya Arunkumar Come, let’s go for a movie, they said.

Let’s go see ‘Man of Steel’?

Sure, when is it releasing? Couple of weeks later, she said.

Two weeks I guess, anything could happen, sure, I grinned.

Let us go, I confirmed.

I have this habit of taking things for granted and it is not always that someone picks up a phone and calls you without any reason. I felt happy.

No one has invited me for a movie without a reason or season.

In fact no one has called me out in the recent months, or rather in years I should say.

It is I who push everyone for a movie, or an outing or anything!

Neither do I get many courtesy friendly calls. I never make them too.

Most of the calls are from strangers, work acquaintances; if it is not for a complaint, it would be for a work related issue. Of course, work is worship, but sometimes it leaves you in a different world altogether. Make time for yourself, my father used to advise me, time will never wait for you. See that movie, buy that dress, eat that ice cream, walk that road you wanted to… never plan that you will do it all, when you get the time, he would say. You will never ‘get’ time; ‘make’ time for yourself!

And I would say, sure! Next week!

Next week and tomorrow never comes for me.

But, I have marked a whole lot to do very soon, which I am sure I will do.

I hope I do.

The movie schedule slipped off my mind in 3 to 4 days time, and there

after two weeks, she called again.

You remember the movie plan, right?

You won’t let us down right?

My mind was blank, which movie did I commit to, when was the date, did I actually miss the plan? In fact I had forgotten the movie name too.

But, good in my act, I said of course, as planned we will go.

I am not going to stand up on you girls, tell me which show and what time and let us go have fun, I replied.

Hey, I am actually invited to a movie, by two people who are much busier than I am. The thought that they remembered to call back actually put me to shame. I should have marked it on my calendar, or did I not believe that they will take my word seriously?

Am I so busy, that I don’t have couple of hours for my friends? I kicked myself, I should have called them back and reminded them, rather than they calling me to remind!

A simple call for inviting me out to a movie changed my day, and watching the movie with them was another experience. Thanks girls! Sometimes in our so called busy schedules and inhibitions, we forget that there are beautiful people around, who make our lives interesting.

I totally believe that wherever we go, there we are, and having a beautiful mind makes the journey and the destination a better experience.

What made them call me out to a movie, I still wonder.

May be I should pass this forward too.

Take someone out for a movie… priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

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