Black & white mag issue 61

Vol.4 Issue 61IIAugust 7 - September 6, 2013 30 Ramadan - 30 Shawwal

SAMI YUSUF p38

Sami Yusuf, a British singer-songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist musician of Iranian-Azeri origin will perform in Oman on August 30. In 2003 Yusuf released his first album "Al-Mu`allim" at the age of 23, selling over two million copies.

Today he is considered the most popular Arab artist who can pull crowds with his soulful singing in several languages.

Infin8 clicks p12 Back to school p19

FREE Fortnightly

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live in Oman

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Xclusive

38 Sami Yusuf Live in Oman Black & White in association with Bandera Events is jointly bringing the famed British singer, Sami Yusuf, to perform at the SQU Grand Hall in Oman. This is his first ever appearance in Oman.

24

Sathish unveils his “distressing encounters”

V. M. Sathish, an Indian journalist in Dubai, has unveiled the many distressing encounters faced by expatriates in the Gulf with his magnum opus, Distressing Encounters – Real Life Stories from a Reporter’s Diary

Contents

12 Infin8 clicks Top Omani businessman, Khalid Al Wahaibi, and his friend, a globetrotting British photographer, Robert (Bob), have united to form Infin8 Creative, a photo studio, which the dynamic duo believe can bring about change in the photographic scene in Oman

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 at Oman Printers 6 August 7 - September

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52

Women more prone to phobias

The general belief is that women are more prone to suffer from phobias than men. Depression and anxiety, generally, are more common in women than men

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

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These days, when you go to a clinic…

All about X, Y & Z

By Adarsh Madhavan This friend of mine visited me after he recently took his wife for a checkup at a local private clinic.

He was standing on one leg and swearing against the clinic. I told him if he continued in that manner he would soon be perambulating on the ground and his verticality would be horizontality. And he would probably need to go back to the clinic again.

My friend was in no mood for humour. He was not feeling one bit funny and so I made a dour face to suit his black mood. Even if I die, I will not go there, he declared and the pun effect was not lost on me so I guffawed. To which he protested: you never take anything seriously.

So, I made a very very serious face, looked like the doctor has just pronounced me dead and I said ok I am all ears. Spit it out!

So he spat it out: he had taken his wife to the gynaecologist and since the appointment was at 2pm and even at 3.30pm the queue before them was still standing, the hubby, my good friend, decided that instead of wasting time, it was good to get himself a quick checkup.

And, as there weren’t too many patients there, the husband was quickly shuttled into the GP’s room.

The GP, apparently, a dry old boring doctor, who had no room for any niceties of any sort, quickly got into the heart of the matter, or rather, succeeded in puncturing it. “If he was not an old man, I would have done him in,” my friend muttered. You are not telling me what happened, I told him. “Yes, to cut a long story short, I told him that I was feeling a bit down under the weather and he made me strip and do all tests…” Like what?

“Well, all of them. By the time, my wife got out of her appointment with her doctor, I was still doing an ECG.” ECG? Why did he make you take an ECG? “The doctor felt that it was better that I took it. So I did it. I guess it must have been my comment that I had trouble climbing stairs, lately.”

Ok, I don’t know about that, and then what happened?

“Now, I have to see a cardiologist with the ECG results!”

Oh. And did you get the ECG result? “Well, yes, I did, but although the GP said it is ok, he insisted that I should see the cardiologist. It was always better.”

And your wife?

“Oh, my God, other than conducting a surgery, they did everything to her.”

Since it was a lady’s issue, I could not probe, nor, even ask further details, but I understood that consultations alone on both fronts cost him and the other tests tore into his pocket and now both were asked to take further tests.

And this had nothing to do with my poor friend who accidently walked into the GP’s office for a mild check up and got a tad bit poorer. Since he and his wife had not registered at the clinic, that had to be done and then the consultation fees. In the meantime, the GP had suggested that he should also undergo an X-ray.

But, what are you having; what did he say was wrong with you?

“That is what they are trying to find out,” my friend retorted angrily.

Don’t get angry, I am just wondering what exactly is wrong. Why did you go to the GP in the first place?

“Well, I was feeling a bit down under and that day since I had a lot of time to kill, I took the road quite often travelled,” my friend explained.

But, then you got ‘roadrollered’ by the clinic, I laughed.

“Don’t laugh -- it is not a laughing matter.”

I stopped and then continued in a serious vein: but, do you think these many tests were required?

“I don’t know, but the doc said that I should do these tests to rule out all possibilities…”

And after all these tests, are you feeling better now?

“No. Worse!”

Uh oh, I thought, that would mean another trip to the clinic and another field day for the latter. But, I did not laugh.

What if my friend got upset and rupture a spleen and then it would be back to square one. editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

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Mail your views and opinions at editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Teaching values There was indeed a time when learning was held under trees (issue 60). It was a time when genuine knowledge was taught and the kids who benefited from such an experience have considered it to be life changing because it indeed made them into leaders of their time.

The Holy Quran schools of that time and today hinge on one singular theme: the knowledge and the values it taught the children. This is the underlying strength of these schools and the only difference today is that the amenities of the schools teaching the Holy Quran have become modernised.

Abdullah Al Harthy, Seeb

Great job Dar Al Atta’a

Readers column

Dar Al Atta’a has done a commendable job in restoring the over 100 year old Bani Rabia Holy Quran school in Al Khabourah. In the early days, this school used to teach students in just one room. Today, it is a three room building with other necessary facilities and it will prove to be a boon for students of that area. Great job Dar Al Atta’a!

Tanveer Mohammed, Suweiq

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INFIN8 At a glance, Khalid Al Wahaibi and Robert McCaffrey would seem to be as different as chalk and cheese. Khalid is a top Omani businessman with his base firmly entrenched in the Sultanate as the head of a major Omani business conglomerate, while British photographer, Robert (Bob), a globetrotting photographer, who, after happily clicking around the world, mainly for sporting events and doing international shoots for major corporations, is now eager to break new grounds in Oman.

Playground

Get to know them and you understand what they have in common and why they have linked up in a brand new project set to change the face of photography in Oman. Both Khalid and Bob share an unusual passion for photography and this is the simple reason why they seemed to have ‘clicked’. And their joint passion has resulted in a multipurpose photo studio, which is located in the basement of the Amideast building in Ghala.

They have called their labour of love, Infin8 Creative, a photo studio, which the dynamic duo believe can bring about change in the wasteland of photography in town, seed it with

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new ideas that would ideally spring forth a new dimension for photography lovers in town and bring about a new breed of photographers who will look at images in Oman in a different light.

“There is no end to creativity!” declares Khalid, who switches from the role of the managing director of Assarain Group of Companies to a photographer enthusiast in his trademark nonchalant manner. Khalid and Bob appear totally relaxed and at ease in their huge underground studio, which hosted an array of professional, top quality cameras and state-of-the-art equipment.

INFIN8 – LIFE AT A CLICK Infin8 is a photographer’s dream house. This is the D-age studio with technology oozing from every pore of the building and yet remains an ocean of serenity thanks to the cheerful and relaxed outlook of its two main protagonists.

In fact, Khalid and Bob seemed to look too relaxed in their swank, modern and wellequipped photo and design studio. But neither of them is even remotely laid back. As the interview progressed we realised that they were totally passionate about photography and Infin8 Creativity was a right platform for them to bring their photography dreams to reality.

Though the duo, along with their team of

Khalid and Bob at their studio

three photographers and designers and many others on reserve around the globe, are able to combine elements from design, web design and corporate branding through to wedding, family portraits, location and advertising photography, they hope to take it on an entirely different level. “Yes, we will do any type of photography, but do bear in mind that we want to give an entirely new experience for our clients,” Khalid said. He also added that the other prime area they were looking into was to develop local talent. “The Infin8 team believes that there is no end to creativity as long as the mind is young and active. There is no dearth of talent in the Omani youth and we hope to bring out their best by involving them locally and creating workshops that will enhance their natural talents and skills.

What Oman lacks is a professional set up and exposure. Infin8 will ensure to provide a common platform and train the local talent, while bringing out the best in them,” Khalid enthused. “Creativity is not anyone’s copyright! It is the language of the mind.

A common, simple, day-to-day topic can be presented in an entirely captivating manner if the right dose of creativity is applied to it... life becomes colourful and fascinating when you look at it from your mind’s eye... photography always fascinated me, in fact images did, either in film, on lens or on mother nature’s canvas! The brown mynahs on the

green grass, the black raven, the brownish mountains, the green turtles, the flowing wadis, the yellow sands, the list is endless in Oman. Nature has endowed Oman with natural beauty unlike any other country in this region.

My affair with the images started 10 years back when I picked up a camera of my own and started capturing the images. Photography became my hobby, and when I met Bob I realised it was more than just a passing phase, I wanted to start off a unique platform that will bring likeminded professionals together and offer the local market quality

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photography, production services and nurture talent.”

Playground

BRIDGING THE GAP Khalid also raised a thought provoking point: “Lot of local corporate head to the UAE for professional and creative services for their brands and communications.

Why does this happen? Why can't we keep our rials here in the local market? Oman has progressed so

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much in the recent years and why can't we offer good quality creativity for our local market? This thought brought us together and we created Infin8 Creative agency, which has a unique studio floor, cameras and equipments to meet the requirement and a team of creative professionals that will put together great ideas in a different manner. Why go to other markets and countries and let business and economy flow out of

the country?”

USE AND THROW SOCIETY! Bob averred. Infin8 will work on these aspects and they hoped to develop a new culture that would take photography seriously and give it a better status. For this, the team will start at the grassroots level and slowly take it up on a higher plane.

Bob also stressed on the need to develop local talent, which was there in plenty.

Yet, the advent of smart phones posed a different scenario as it brought forth a “use and throw society” as far as photography was concerned: “Anyone can buy a camera... in fact with the overflow of smart phones in the market today everyone is a photographer.

“We live in a use and throw society today. In the earlier days, photography was a hobby of the rich and it was a complicated affair too. You needed to own equipment, a dark room and know how to mix chemicals etc...The processes involved were cumbersome enough to make photography the profession of a genius. Then the images had to be printed, cut and photos and

negatives stored in an organised way. Today it is easy. Life is made easy with the discovery of digital technology, the advent of Photoshop and image manipulations.

“You click hundreds of images on a whim and store them as long as your memory card can hold them. Affordability and availability of various digital cameras and phones have changed the way we look at photography. Today, what differentiates a real professional photographer is not the camera he uses, it is his ability to visualise an ordinary image to an extraordinary canvas.”

Recalling a recent incident at one of their workshops, Bob noted that there were young Omanis with talent and the ability to visualise in a different manner: “I remember a very young Omani kid who attended one of our workshops recently. He walked in with a normal smart phone and started clicking photos and images.

He had a totally different point of view; he expressed himself well...and it was reflected in the images that he created for they were totally different from the rest of the lot.”

The Infin8 team believes that there is no end to creativity as long as the mind is young and active. There is no dearth of talent in the Omani youth and we hope to bring out their best by involving them locally and creating workshops that will enhance their natural talents and skills

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Men read August 7 - September 6 16 B&W 2 0 1 3

Men EMBARRASSED to admit they are on a DIET Is it wrong to admit it, or do men think it is kind of sissy to say they are dieting?

Somehow it beats reason but men are increasingly shying away from such aspects, which they feel are dolling themselves up. In a metrosexual world this bashfulness is unnecessary.

Men are not ashamed when it comes to building muscles.

The beef their cake and eat it too. But, anything that has been the long held privilege of the fairer sex is now slowly being encroached by men and perhaps some of them are feeling bad about it. Perhaps, that explains, in parts, why men feel so bad to admit that they are on a diet.

An earlier survey had revealed that although the majority of men wanted to lose weight one in three men would not divulge it to family and friends. Some said it was embarrassment that prevented them from sharing their fitness goal, while others noted that they were anxious that they would be seen as vain if they confessed. Yet, some other admitted that they were worried that close ones would tempt them to break their diet by offering sugary and fatty treats.

Meanwhile, recently published reports say that in the last 12 months, 32 percent of UK males have gone on a diet in an attempt to lose weight. However many feel embarrassed to admit this to their friends or family or seek out diet-related products when shopping. Findings from a new survey from Canadean Custom Solutions reveal that dieting is still seen as a social taboo by men and something predominately associated with females.

Of the one third of male adults who have dieted in the last 12 months, only 22 percent say that they have successfully stuck to their plan to lose weight. When it comes to weight loss, men believe that changing what they eat and drink is more effective than exercise. Forty six percent say that they have changed their dietary plan, whilst 44 percent said that they have reduced the portion sizes of the food they eat. In comparison, 26 percent said they had started to exercise and 27 percent said they had increased the amount they exercise. However, it is clear

that a stigma still exists among men when it comes to dieting. A total of 21percent of male dieters said that they find it embarrassing buying weight-loss related groceries in store. This was particularly true among male dieters aged 18 to 24 years old, with 67percent saying this is the case. This embarrassment will result in male dieters spending less time in grocery stores searching for what they perceive to be the right food and drink.

The survey also finds that a significant number of male dieters wish to keep their diet a secret. One fifth (21percent) of male dieters say that they find it embarrassing talking about weight loss with friends and family. Again, this attitude was most prevalent among dieters aged 18 to 24 years old (34 percent).

Emma Herbert, research manager at Canadean Custom Solutions comments “dieting is still seen as a social taboo among some men and a trait associated with females.

This is particularly true among younger males where image is of particular importance, and dieting can prompt feelings of inferiority and embarrassment.”

According to Herbert, men’s reluctance to share tips such as recipes are likely to have a negative effect on their dietary plans. “If there is any chance of the prevalence of obesity among males to decline, they will have to be more open about their dietary regime.”

Herbert calls for a change in the industry. “The industry can also do more, reducing the embarrassment associated with dieting among males through the way diet-related products are positioned.” (About this survey: This Canadean Custom Solutions survey is based on interviews with 980 UK-based males. The interviews were conducted in July 2013, press@canadean.com)

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O

50 shades of black…in an unfair world

wall he t ff

By Adarsh Madhavan “Hee hee hee,” my dark-skinned college-mate burst with unconcealed mirth. His pearly whites gleamed on his black face as he guffawed to glory. “Fair & Lovely,” he burst out. “My brother has a Fair & Lovely stashed away in his cupboard, hee!”

I remember the unashamed glee that my dark skinned friend in college had in repeating how he discovered a battered Fair & Lovely cream tube hidden in his equally dark skinned elder brother’s cupboard. His brother was deep into college politics and usually maintained a very stern and strict bearing and so my little big-brother-bullied friend was quite happy that he could burst the bubble. “All this time he was secretly applying Fair & Lovely,” he wickedly giggled. We all laughed with him.

I laughed the loudest. My skin then and now actually looked like it needed a fair share of Fair & Lovely, but at that age, I was invincible, didn’t think I would need cream to look fair. I felt fair.

As a baby, I must have been different. Chubby and even fair skinned. So says my mum. Mums never lie. Awright, awright, I have got some snaps to prove that too. But, then as a kid, I was skinny and dark. As an adolescent, I was skinny and dark. As a full fledged man, I was skinny and dark. And as a diabetes-ridden middle ager, I am still skinny and dark. I will die, skinny and dark and oh yes, wrinkled too.

Off the wall

And all the Fair & Lovely’s and even the Fair & Handsome’s in this world would not have made me either fair, nor lovelier or even handsome. Yet, when I look back, I wonder, did I miss the boat because I looked the way I looked? I may sound as though I am an honest, straightforward man, but don’t you read a skein of regret in between these lines; can’t you detect a thin whisper of a dirge that hankered for a ‘fairer’ fate?

It is a heartbeat that I am going to miss, but I guess I am no better than any of the mindless out there who are slave to the fair and lovely’s in this world for I was and am still a closet lover of all things fair. One can’t escape this desire, I guess.

Yet, I have chosen all things dark and black. Not because of compromise though. I chose so because I realised in this August 7 - September 6 18 B&W 2 0 1 3

twist and turns of desires in me, the truth was I loved the colour black and also the colour brown.

But in my youth, except for some skirmishes with some who found me dark and told me so in black and white, no one teased me for my colour although many did rag me to death about my skin and bone structure.

My colour, like my caste, was never in question until I got into a job and came to this part of the world. And then suddenly it hit me, gosh, I was not just skinny, I was dark too! I remember a lady who laughed and asked me whether all south Indians were dark and I gave an angry retort that would have singed her soul. Like the ad showing the skinny runt who gets teased on a beach by beach bodied bums, I wanted to pump Fair & Lovely and become instantly fair, but better sense prevailed and I stuck on with coconut oil, Kerala ishstyle!

I know I have sort of escaped the travails of a brown/ black man thanks to my good fate, but I really wonder what would have been the case if I were a girl. Would life have been that easy if I were a skinny dark girl?

Even in this iPad era, where you have the world at a wave, I belong to a society that still thinks twice if my skin is of a darker hue. And we have the otherwise morally addicted Bollywood stars who promote this without even lifting an eyebrow. The desire for lighter skin has reached an epidemic in India and there is even a belief that those with dark skin are either of low standing or second-class citizens. They really wonder what it would have been like if they were light or fair skinned. Would the world have treated them differently? I don’t know. I had never felt small or inferior just because I was several shades darker than my fairer counterpart, but I am wondering, just wondering… adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com

WITH A SMILE Most children return to school with a spring in their step these days. But, naturally!

Gone are the days when children drag their feet, cook up excuses, have imaginary illness, in fact anything to escape the first day when they have to return back to school, something some children view with trepidation.

But, today, the dynamics are slightly different primarily to an array of school-related goodies that are not only widely available but also colourful and enticing enough to set the pulse racing of many a student. Children have a fantastic dream land to get into and choose goods necessary for their post-holiday stint in school.

The items, nay goodies, vary from pencils to uniforms, but the best part is that the market rises to the occasion, competing with each other to give the best product for the discerning kid. With cartoon characters, super heroes and heroines coming into play in the world of education, kids have a whale of a time shopping for these essentials and then they are most eager to display them when the school reopens.

So, this is the time for school books, pencils, pens, uniforms, shoes, inner wears, socks, school buses, tuition, music and dance classes‌this is the time that the activities of parents and students go on an overdrive and so would business on this front.

Here we take a quick look at some companies that have highlighted their backto-school wares and unveiled their promotions: August 7 - September 6 19 B&W 2 0 1 3

REDTAG launches brand new ‘back to school’ collection Want to look smart and make a cool comeback to your school? Look no further as REDTAG has announced their exclusive range of ‘back to school’ collection that boasts of a wide range of attractive products for age groups three to 18. The ‘back to school’ collection offers a unique combination of style, comfort, durability and affordability expected of children’s essentials.

Showcasing some of the most loved and favourite from the world of action-heroes and animation, the vibrant collection is designed for style and something that kids would like to keep as part of their collection. Kids can now own school bags, water bottles, stationary pouches and lunch boxes that sport their favourite cartoon characters.

The ‘back to school’ collection includes interesting options for boys and girls of all ages. While Micky, Lalaloopsy, Winnie the Pooh and Disney Princess ranges are ideal for any girl, boys will enjoy flaunting their bags and accessories including water bottles, lunch boxes stationery items etc. featuring Ben10, Lamborghini, Manchester-United, FCB, G-Ride, Beyblade, Moshi Monster and Adventure Time.

The ‘back to school’ promotion this year not only offers a great collection to choose from but customers are entitled to a free stationary set on every purchase of OMR20 on any of the ‘back to school’ merchandise. The unique colorful set includes a pencil, eraser, sharpener and a

notebook. An essential school kit for every child making a new start.

Shopping at REDTAG can be a fun experience for families as kids can select their favourite cartoon characters. The ‘back to school’ range is sure to help make a positive start to the new school year.

So gear up for the new academic year with the latest ‘back to school’ collection which is up for grabs across all REDTAG outlets in Oman. Discover a whole new range of school essentials for your little ones!

The brand offers the latest in fashion and accessories for men, women, kids, infants and newborns also providing ranges of merchandise for the home like dining, bed, bath as well as home décor items and toys. Adding to the onestop shopping destination concept, REDTAG becomes a compelling proposition in the retail market.

Contact: 24478316 (Al Khuwair), 24181705 (Markaz Al Bahja) and 26941255 (Sohar).

Back to school

Excellent promotion and sales at Al Khamis Shoes Al Khamis Shoes, which has 10 outlets (Hamriya, Al Khuwair, Al Hail, Seeb 1, Seeb 2, Barka, Sur, Sohar, Salalah and Nizwa) in Oman, have reported excellent sales. Their exciting backto-school promotion seems to have been a big hit, a spokesperson from the company said.

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Amazing weekend entertainment for kids at TSC It’s not often that you see a classic Disney icon milling about shopping aisles on a regular grocery errand. Or bump into your favourite cartoon character in the fresh fruit section of a supermarket. Nor is it every day fare to see rabbits pulled out of a magician’s hat for that matter.

Back to school

Yet this pretty much sums up a weekend sundowner at your trusty retail store, Sultan Center. The retail chain’s outlets at Qurum store and Al Khoud and Al Amerat wholesale centers come alive with festive and fun activities designed to lure the country’s youngest customers and key decision makers in the family expense account – children of all age groups. Various kids’activities at TSC’s Qurum outlet and Al Khoud and Al Amerat wholesale centers are held on Friday and Saturday.

Every weekend, between six and nine in the evening, those outlets are transformed into more than just your upper crust top shop, becoming a versatile backdrop for some amazing entertainment. Their sprawling floor spaces and counter

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corners alternate as stage props and podiums for magic shows, balloon art, face painting, henna design and ubiquitous cartoon characters that stroll around surprising, sometimes startling their toddler fans.

Commenting on the events, Mahmoud Musbah Al Sheikh, marketing in-charge at the TSC says, “Our endeavour is to make shopping at Sultan Center an experience the whole family can enjoy. We want our customers to know that they can have groceries and weekend entertainment under one roof.”

Sure you can take that long overdue vacation to Disneyland to see your toon legends. But when you can peg it down as another item to tick off your list on a shopping errand, you can’t pass up the chance. Mini

Mouse, Goofy, Sponge Bob, Donald Duck and the rest of the cartoon cast are TSC’s weekend VIPs sneaking up on the unsuspecting preschooler with an affable ‘hello’ or a `Hi’ and ever ready to strike a pose for posterity. The little people hardly recover from their shock, when other exciting activities sweep them away on a journey of imagination and fun.

The TSC also has special offers on their bags, notebooks, pencils, erasers, which are quite affordable, officials said.

Lulu’s back-to-school promotion As everyone bids goodbye to the long and joyful summer holidays, the students are busy preparing themselves to head back to school and continue the academic year. Keeping their needs in mind, Lulu Hypermarkets has launched their ‘back to school’ promotion across all their outlets in Oman. The promotion started on the August 25 and will continue till September, 14, 2013.

The carefully thought out promotion gives you the best deals on a wide array of products like school bags, water bottles and lunch boxes in the latest and popular themes, essential stationery items, school uniforms and shoes, laptops, tablets and other IT accessories. With all the popular brands and themes like Caty, Princess, Ben 10, Hello Kitty, Barbie, Mickey and football clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, Lulu has something available for every imaginative kid. And no Lulu promotion is without a rewarding experience. For their Back to School promotion, Lulu is conducting a special drawing competition for kids aged between 7 and 12 years. The 100 winners selected will get a cool

iLIfe tablet each!

A name to be reckoned with not only as a retail giant but more as a brand that everybody relies upon and trusts, Lulu Hypermarkets has become a symbol of quality and trust in Oman.

While Lulu has firmly captured the spot for the preferred place to shop, it has also, since inception, demonstrated swift responsiveness to seasonal shopping trends. With over a decade’s presence in Oman, Lulu has become a shopping destination that has integrated all conceivable needs of the consumer under one roof. With its pleasant and novel variation from the usual, run of the mill super markets, Lulu stands out for its extensively laid out counters, sprawling parking space,

children’s play area, food court, money exchange and the array of international and regional brands at affordable prices.

With the opening of their latest outlet at Ibri, Lulu now has more than 106 outlets in the region and has ensured that quality shopping for the people of Oman is just a short drive away.

Lulu Hypermarkets is not only the largest retail chain in the region but is also heralded as one of the fastest growing retail brands in the world.

With wide recognition and various awards tucked firmly under its belt at both national and international levels, it has fortified its image of being a trendsetter by offering variations from the usual run of the mill super markets.

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Oman watch August 7 - September 6 24 B&W 2 0 1 3

Sathish

unveils his

“distressing encounters” The lifespan of most news stories could be ephemeral – perhaps less than 24 hours. V. M. Sathish, an Indian journalist in Dubai, who had worked in Oman before with an English daily, begs to differ. He has managed to preserve most of his hard-hitting news breakers in the Gulf, including Oman, in a book format, which is today the talk of most cities in the Gulf and beyond. Sathish, who is a hardcore news gatherer, known for his fearless pursuit of the truth against all odds, and suffering for it, slapped with defamation cases, brushes with the law and spending sometime in the penitentiary, is breaking new ground with his Distressing Encounters – Real Life Stories from a Reporter’s Diary, which is a random collection of his 665 selected stories that have been published in various newspapers across the Gulf spanning over two decades.

Excerpts: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE IN THIS NEW AVATAR AS A WRITER/NOVELIST? Ever since I wrote my first English article for a souvenir published by the department of international relations, Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, Kerala about 25 years ago, I have been a writer (not an author) for many academic journals, newspapers, the Internet and my Facebook page.

Journalism is literature in a hurry, said Arthur Miller. True. Journalists do it every day. While most of our news stories die even before 24 hours, some stories and the people featured there remain close to our heart. When I put together some of the very best news stories of yester years, in the form of a book, Distressing Encounters (DE), Real Life Stories from a Reporters Diary, I feel proud, elated and satisfied.

For the first time, a writer is being recognised as an author!

If they have applauded me when these news stories were published first in leading English newspapers, now after DE, the applause is louder and the recognition wider.

Many have said that the real life stories in my book are the first of its kind by an Indian journalist working in the Middle East. There is ample reason for me to feel delighted because compared to the long struggles, confrontations and

obstacles that a journalist face in day to day reporting, it is a unique experience to be acknowledged as an author. Some readers are now coming forward to share their woes and issues. As an active journalist, I have always been in the news, for the right or wrong reasons. Thanks to this book, the level of media coverage in the Gulf and abroad has been unprecedented and unexpected.

GIVE US AN IDEA AS TO WHAT DE IS ALL ABOUT The DE, published by KPS Menon Chair for Diplomatic Studies at the School of International Relations, Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam Kerala is a random collection of 665 selected human interest stories reported by me in 10 major English dailies— Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Daily Star/ International Herald Tribune, Emirates Evening Post, 7DAYs, Oman Daily Observer, Emirates Today, Emirates Business 24|7, Emirates 24|7 and The Indian Express – which highlight the plight of distressed and marginalised expatriates from different countries and cultures and the role played by the media, especially the English media, in extending a helping hand to such people. The 820 page book is the first volume and the university published it because the author was a former Masters student (who August August 7 -7 September - September 66 2525B&W 2 02 10 31 3 B&W

Oman watch

topped the university exam with a first rank). Dr K M Seethi, who helped me to write my first article, has written the foreword to the book.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO WRITE AND BRING IT OUT? I have been thinking about authoring a book for quite sometime and during the severe recession when I was on the verge of losing my job again, the process got momentum. However, I kept the project going and it took more than three years to complete the book. The delay occurred due to my hectic schedule as a full time journalist, and my busy schedule as the vice president of Indian Media Forum in the UAE, an association of Indian journalists, as a social worker campaigning against suicides, as a commentator on radios and television channels and other community events. I have also acted in a short movie, Bibi, about family values.

When my fellow journalists like KM Abbas, editor of Siraj Daily published their own books, I decided to speed up the process. Collecting all the old stories from newspaper archives and even the closed down newspapers were a major challenge. Finding a good publisher/distributor remains the major hurdle for a new author because established media and publishing houses have their August 7 - September 6 26 B&W 2 0 1 3

own business interest to promote. There were logistic problems in doing the technical work, typesetting work.

The printing etc was done in India to keep the production cost minimum. I am trying to arrange a distributor who can reach the book to an international audience. The final product came out on my birthday, May 24, 2013.

HAS IT BEEN WELL RECEIVED? Distressing Encounters has been receiving tremendous response from the media and the Indian community.

The Indian ambassador to the UAE, M K Lokesh, who launched the book in a public programme in Dubai, ordered 10 copies of the book to be given as gifts to other diplomats. A lot of Indian community associations have requested copies of the book in addition to lot of people featured in the book. All the major FM and AM Malayalam radio stations from the UAE –Radio Asia (Ras Al Khaimah), Voice of Kerala (Dubai), Asianet Radio (Dubai), Gold FM (Ajman), RadioMe (Dubai), Super FM (Dubai), Hit 96.7 FM (Dubai, Arabian Radio Network), aired special interviews about the book. Hisham Abdulsalam of Radio Asia (which reaches all the AGCC countries and parts of Middle East) interviewed me as an author in their Mukhamukham (Face to Face) interview programme – one hour each -- for two consecutive

weeks. Similarly, RadioMe featured me in their First Person interview with Krishna Iyer (Kris). Gold FM interviewed me for one hour on the world reader’s day.

Similarly, eight major television channels have done special stories about DE and me as an author. Reporter TV, Indiavision, Mathrubhoomi TV, Media One, Jai Hind TV, NTV UAE, Manorama TV, all gave special interviews about the book. All other Malayalam channels covered the book/author. Malayalam and English newspapers too carried special stories about the book, but there has been a very lukewarm response from the mainstream English media. As you can see from the media coverage, it is mainly in the vernacular Malayalam media of UAE, but the coverage in the English media is confined to just Khaleej Times and Gulf Today. The book is a collection of stories from 10 English dailies where I have worked in the past, but the value of a journalist is not acknowledged by these editors.

However, I am enthused by the support from the English media outside the UAE, especially the Times of Oman, the Peninsula (Qatar) Deccan Chronicle (India), the Financial World (India), 4PM News (Bahrain). Hussain Ahmed, editor of the Peninsula, AV Anilkumar from the Deshabhimani, Abdul Wasey, resident editor of the Financial World helped with very good reviews of the book. The Press Trust of India too reported the story, which was carried by leading English dailies like the Times of India, Economic Times, Malayala Manorama etc. As a journalist who has spent over 20 years in the English media, I am pained and hurt by the response from the mainstream English dailies, because the book is full of stories published by them!

DOES THE BOOK FEATURE STORIES FROM OMAN ALSO? As you are aware, I started my journalism in the Gulf from Oman and I have kept my experiences in Oman for a separate book in the near future. The DE contains some touching stories from Oman, especially about the major flood in April 2003 when several people died. There are some stories about the flood related deaths and accidents in Oman that I reported when I worked in Oman; a horror story revealed by 11 survivors of a ship wreck in Oman, due to the cyclone Gonu; story of an aborted passenger ship service from Oman to India planned by Sohar Shipping (Raju Abraham, general manager); changes in the Indian school there during the time when KM Meena was the Indian ambassador there, a few stories about expatriate tractor drivers etc are included in the book.

The most thought provoking news from Oman included in DE is the story of a Bangladeshi farm worker who faced a very distressing experience. This story revealed the

horrific experience of a 37 year old Bangladeshi, who came to the Badr Al Sama’a polyclinic with an eight inch, 2.5 diameter Pepsi bottle that had pierced into his rectum.

This story is included in the book, because it was one of the most interesting stories that I remembered from Oman.

Then there is the crime story of how the human traffickers were luring and trapping newly recruited housemaids into prostitution. This story, reported in August 2001, was about two Keralite ladies who came to work as housemaids in Khasab and then were kidnapped and sold by the racketeers. The story also tells how ladies were sold across the boarder, and the latest trend of human trafficking from Oman to the UAE. The most touching stories from Oman included in the book are related to Valiya Veettil Vasukuttan, an illegal Indian painter, who lived there for 18 years in Salalah.

Biju Abel Jacob, from the Asianet Television spotted him through his Gulf Round Up programme and repatriated him. Biju tried to reunite him with his wife and daughter, who came to know about his plight form the Gulf Round Up story. The sad part is that the couple who got separated a month after their marriage 18 years ago could not see each other, even though he reached Kerala safely, but died a few hours before his wife and daughter could see him! This is one of the most touching stories that I have included in the book from my fellow journalist friends.

WILL YOU BE PENNING MORE BOOKS? I will definitely bring out the second volume of Distressing Encounters very soon. The first volume could not accommodate many stories. I hope to publish a few more books touching the life of expatriates from different countries and cultures in the Gulf region.

A Malayalam translation of Distressing Encounters and an e-book version are also my dream projects. I will start creative writing once the pressure of daily routine work is eased. My journalistic experiences in Oman will definitely be put together in the form of a book. I wish to include more stories from fellow journalists in the forthcoming book.

IS IT BEING SOLD IN THE UAE, IN INDIA AND OMAN ALSO? SOME DETAILS As I mentioned earlier distribution is a major hurdle. In the UAE the book is available from Ansar Book Stall Dubai (00971505650181/00971504618815) and in India from the University (00919544121846/ 00919447230643 Dr K M Seethi). After sometime the book will also be available through amazon.com. The book is priced at Indian Rs 1200.

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Bank Sohar ‘Mystery Sahara’ credit card campaign winners Marking the conclusion of Bank Sohar’s three month credit card campaign aimed at `rewarding Bank frequent credit card users in the Sultanate, the bank has announced the names of the final 30 winners of the ‘Mystery Sahara’ promotion.

Launched in April, the campaign gave 90 lucky Bank Sohar customers the chance to win high value gifts over a three month period.

For every purchase of OMR30 or more using Bank Sohar Excel Credit Cards (Internet, Classic, Gold and

Platinum), customers got a chance to win a ‘Mystery Sahara gift’ in a monthly raffle draw.

The bank gave away a total of 60 gifts to the lucky winners until June as part of the promotion, and the final 30 customers won rewards which

included smart phones, tablets, smart TVs, laptops and smart cameras.

Commenting on the success of the campaign, R. Narasimhan, DGM and head of retail banking at Bank Sohar said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their trust in the Bank and congratulate the recent 30 winners of July.

Bank Sohar’s credit cards are one of the easiest ways to conduct transactions, whether they are overthe counter or online purchases.

alizz islamic bank provides iftar meals Sharing the spirit of Ramadan with people from different walks of life, alizz Islamic bank in collaboration with Dar Al Atta’a has provided iftar meals for 1,200 muslims in Wadi Al Kabir.

Over the course of four days, alizz employees volunteered to work hand in hand to help create a welcoming setting for people to break their fast. “As an Islamic bank, our principals are founded on the very values of the Omani society and we wanted to share this month with the people who matter the most, our community. It was rewarding to see our future bank managers reaching out with simple acts of kindness” said Jamal Darwiche, acting Ceo of alizz islamic bank.

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LG Optimus G Pro LG Electronics (LG) announced that its premium 4G LTE smartphone, Optimus G Pro, has received the Best LTE Device/Handset Award at the LTE World Summit 2013. This award comes in recognition of the device’s superior LTE capabilities, wide range of consumer-centric features, ease-of-use, seamless inter-device connectivity and elegant design.

The LTE World Summit, held this year in Amsterdam from June 24 to 26, is now in its ninth year.

“We are honoured and delighted to have been recognised with this prestigious award,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and Ceo of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The Optimus G Pro is a clear example of how LG is offering consumers the very best in mobile technology and user experience. Far from resting on our laurels, we are already hard at work developing the next generation of advanced LTE devices and network technologies.”

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Jayanta G Borpujari, general manager, Khimji Information & Communication Technology said, “The LG OPTIMUS G PRO is expected to be available in Oman by the end of July and it will be available through all the major retail outlets. Customers can call our customer care tollfree number 800-75000 to get more information on LG products.”

New business head at makala advertising & publicity Balaji Sundararaman was recently appointed as the business head advertising of makala advertising and publicity. Balaji has over 13 years of experience in the field of advertising, production and events across various industry verticals.

Brands that he has been associated include Citibank, N.A., MRF Tyres, Maruti, Coke, AirTel, Taj Group of Hotels, WH Smith, Mott MacDonald, Nando’s, Second Cup, BreadTalk, Oman International Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Union National Bank, National Bank of

Oman & Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant across agencies such as Rediffusion DY&R (Chennai, India), Advertising International (Muscat), Accurate Advertising (Abu Dhabi), Euro RSCG Muscat. Prior to this he was the Business Head at “Be Positive 24 Communication Design” in Chennai, India makala | advertising & publicity is a fullservice advertising agency offering ATL / BTL solutions, graphics, animation, print solutions, directory compilation, billboards, multimedia, websites, TVC, corporate films, events and presentations.

Muscat Grand Mall records over half million visitors in June Muscat Grand Mall, Oman’s newest and most dynamic shopping and leisure destination, announced that it has welcomed over half a million visitors in June 2013.

Home to over 120 international brands, many of which have entered the Oman market for the first time - Muscat Grand Mall has increasingly become the retail destination of choice among the people of the Sultanate.

Hassan Jaboub, general manager of Muscat Grand Mall explained, “Muscat Grand Mall’s record-breaking footfall elevates its position as the nation’s most visited tourism and shopping destination.

The Mall has demonstrated the demand in Oman for a retail destination and we are confident to hit higher

milestones before end of the year, shortly after the official launch. This achievement also illustrates the reasoning behind our expansion plans we have to further increase the largest lifestyle, retail and entertainment destination in the Sultanate.”

FRiENDi customer service excellence 2013 FRiENDi mobile has received the prestigious “customer service excellence” award in the telecom sector-MVNO at the 2nd Oman Customer Service Excellence awards event which was held recently. The award was a fitting recognition for FRiENDi’s outstanding customer service that conforms to the highest international standards.

FRiENDi mobile is the first company in Oman to have a contact center that provides customer service in six languages with well-trained courteous staff attending to customer issues and queries.

Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the ministry of tourism, the 2nd Oman Customer Service Excellence Awards 2013 took place at the Grand Hyatt Muscat where winners from the public and private sector received recognition for excellence in customer service within different categories.

On the occasion, Ahmed Al Mahrazi, customer service

director, FRiENDi Oman, was quoted saying “We are extremely delighted to win the award in the Customer Service category for MVNOs and it clearly demonstrates the commitment of the FRiENDi mobile management to treat their customers as more than just a connection.”

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Millennium Resort Mussanah to host Oman’s first mini golf tournament Millennium Resort Mussanah will host Oman’s first mini golf championship as local and international golfers, including PGA professionals, compete for an invitation to the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic in October. Each player will have two rounds on the resort’s 18-hole mini golf course to record a winning score and take home the trophy.

Leon Sassen, general manager of Golf World, said: “We are delighted to bring Oman’s first Mini Golf Championship to the Millennium Resort Mussanah.

The tournament will be run exactly like a normal golf tournament and administered by professional golfers and the resort’s cultivated course and challenging holes will test even the most experienced of golfers. We are looking forward to a high standard

of competition at a superb venue and a lot of fun for competitors and spectators alike.”

Maurice De Rooij, general manager of the Millennium Resort Mussanah, added: “This is an exciting opportunity for the whole family, amateurs and professionals, to put their putting skills to the test on our fun greens and custom-designed holes.

The holes present new obstacles to overcome with creative stroke play and using the unique bumpers and angles to their advantage to complete the course in the least shots possible.

The day promises to be a fun occasion with activities throughout the day for guests and a chance to enjoy our assortment of restaurants and the full range on site

facilities while taking in the idyllic surroundings as part of a fun packed day of competition.”

The 18 hole mini golf course at Millennium Resort Mussanah was recently inaugurated as part of a day of festivities held under the patronage of Sheikh Hilal bin Said Al Hajri, governor of Al Batinah South and Dr Yahya bin Bader Al Mawali, undersecretary of the ministry of social development.

The upcoming competition will be the first to be held on the course, presenting competitors with a brand new and exciting challenge.

Mitsubishi hosts Hala FM live show at showroom Mitsubishi, represented in Oman by General Automotive Company, was the host of a live radio show at the brand’s showroom in Athaiba the day before yesterday. The show was conducted by Hala Fm and featured, for the first time, a live interview with Mesehar Sa’ud. The lively brand

ambassador also spoke to families present at the showroom promoting a healthy lifestyle during Ramadan and distributing dates and sweets to the children. The radio show follows the recent launch of Mitsubishi’s exciting Ramadan promotion and marks the return of Mesehar Sa’ud.

the Sultanate through its strategic partnership with Oman Shipping Company. To celebrate this milestone, Vale hosted a special Iftar followed by a site visit at its Industrial Complex in Liwa under the auspices of Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed

bin Salim Al Futaisi, minister of transport and communications and deputy chairman of Oman Shipping Company, and the company’s board of directors along with members of the Shinas community.

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Vale shinas docks Ending its maiden voyage from Brazil, ‘Vale Shinas’ has docked at Vale’s deep-water jetty to unload 400,000 tons of iron ore. Measuring a length of 360 meters and width of 65 meters, the arrival of one of the world’s largest vessels at the Port of Sohar was commemorated by the community of Shinas and Oman Shipping Company. ‘Vale Shinas’ is the fourth very large iron ore carrier built for Vale’s operations in August 7 - September 6 32 B&W 2 0 1 3

Nawras Goodwill Journey messengers As the second leg of the caring initiative kicked off, Nawras Goodwill Journey volunteers travelled to the Omani Women’s Association in Ibra to support local families with donations of household equipment.

Alia Nasser Al Maskari, president of the Omani Women’s Association in Ibra said: “We thank the Nawras volunteers for their initiative in supporting local families. We will make sure those in most need receive the items that best suit their requirements and the donations that can have the greatest positive impact

on their daily lives.”

Volunteers then made their way to Al Qabil to install gym equipment to benefit more than 1,000 women in the community as Nawras continues to enrich the daily life of people in Oman. Afterwards, the Nawras

Goodwill Journey visited the Omani Women’s Association in Ashkarah to donate refrigerators, air conditioning units, water coolers, washing machines, kitchen equipment and televisions.

Fatma Al-Barawani, a Nawras Goodwill Journey messenger on the trip, said, “The gym equipment will have a huge impact by offering new activities within the local community.

The donation of household appliances will help with the services offered to local people and assist with ongoing support programmes.”

Nespresso Boutique opens Nespresso, the worldwide pioneer in premium portioned coffee, achieves another milestone in its Middle East expansion plan with the opening of its first boutique in Oman. The luxury coffee brand selected the iconic location of the Opera Galleria in Muscat for its first boutique in Oman, bringing the ultimate coffee experience to even more customers across the region. The unique cultural setting brings together a fusion of distinct Omani traditions and coffee expertise and innovation of Nespresso. Nespresso marked the launch of its boutique with an invite-only event under the patronage of Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, minister of commerce and industry. Many other local business partners and media attended the launch in the luxurious Opera Galleria.

Hamza Mohamed Abdul Hussain Bhacker Al Lawati, managing director of Highland & Bhacker Suleman LLC, the exclusive distributor for Nespresso in Oman, said, “Nespresso is a truly global brand with a very special appeal to the people of Muscat. The diverse range of personal coffee machines and gourmet coffee from Nespresso will bring a new experience to coffee lovers in Muscat, enabling them to make the perfect cup of espresso every time, from the comfort of their home.”

Muriya’s boutique hotels supports ESO Reinforcing its longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, Muriya – the developer of signature integrated tourism complexes in the Sultanate – has unveiled a unique campaign in support of the Environmental Society of Oman (ESO). Dubbed ‘together we can make a difference’, the campaign has been initiated by Sifawy and Juweira boutique hotels that anchor Muriya’s Jebel Sifah and Salalah Beach lifestyle developments overlooking the pristine Oman coast.

For as little as OMR 1, the hotels’ distinguished clientele comprising a mix of business guests, tourists and other connoisseurs of its superb offerings, now have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to preserving Oman’s singular natural heritage. This token contribution will not only go a long way in providing funding for ESO’s diverse portfolio of projects and activities, but equally, it will signal broad popular support for the society’s exemplary work in environmental stewardship.

“Although symbolic in monetary terms, this gesture connects our multinational clientele with the ideals championed by the ESO through its many activities and projects. In effect, our guests become stakeholders in the collective national goal of preserving Oman’s unspoiled natural beauty,” commented Mr Daniel Fanselow, GM for both properties.

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Oman road safety association continues its road safety awareness As part of the ‘Safer kids... Safer Oman’ road safety campaign, Oman Road Safety Association (ORSA) held its awareness activities at the Traffic Educational Village event in Muscat City Centre recently with the aim to shed light on the use of roads as pedestrians, cyclists and passengers in vehicles amongst children and their families. The activities included colouring for children, distribution of flyers, awareness talks about the dangers of speeding and the importance of seat belts and child restraints as well as the dangers of using mobile phones and the importance of adhering to traffic rules and regulations. ORSA also partnered up with Safety First to raise awareness on the use of child restraints in cars.

Shaima Murtadha Al Lawati, chief executive officer of the ORSA commented, “We are actively promoting ‘Safer

Kids... Safer Oman...’ campaign through the Traffic Educational Village which helps in demonstrating the right road safety practices to children and their parents.

We continue to reach out to all the citizens in Oman to educate them and the general public on the best practices in road safety based on the latest global methods to keep our children safe while using roads.”

The all new Golf GTI arrives Following 37 years of unprecedented global success, the seventh generation Golf GTI has arrived in Oman with Wattayah Motors. The legendary compact sports car is powered by a turbocharged petrol, direct-injection engine (TSI) with 162 kW / 220 HP coming as standard and accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 244 km/h.

Wattayah Motors, the official dealers of Volkswagen in the Sultanate,

launched the Golf GTI at the Oman Automobile Association, where fans in Oman were given the exclusive opportunity to test drive the all new car for the first time.

Hemant Bhat, general manager at Wattayah Motors was delighted to announce the availability of the Golf GTI in Oman; he commented “The new Golf GTI is sportier than ever and has been one of the most eagerly anticipated new models for 2013. The Golf GTI has long been

a favourite amongst automotive enthusiasts across the Middle East and last year accounted for 60 per cent of all Golf model sales in the AGCC.”

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Photocentre photography workshop Photocentre, the official dealers for Fujifilm in Oman, organised a day long photography workshop for professional photographers and photography enthusiasts at the Bait Al Zubair museum recently. The special guest speakers at the event were Skyle Burt and Bob McCaffrey who shared insights into the art of photography. Skyle is a co–founder of Yellow Street photos and strives to create dynamic images which give his viewers a deeper connection with his subjects. His photography has been used by clients and publications such as Forbes Traveler, Lonely Planet, The National, Time Out, Hallmark, Shangri-La Resorts, British council and Sony. Bob is a photographer with more than 25 years experience and during that time he has covered many large global sporting events and worked on international shoots for a August 7 - September 6 34 B&W 2 0 1 3

wide range of global corporations. He has recently started a creative business here in Oman (Infin8Creative) with a modern and well equipped photo and design studio and together with his team they combine all elements from design, web design and corporate branding, through to wedding, family portraits, location and advertising photography. “Fujifilm organised this workshop for the local community of photographers to show solidarity with the art form that we all love,” said Mohammed Farei, managing director of Photocentre.

Keys to the Lulu Dream Drive winners handed over Lulu Hypermarkets, ended their biggest annual promotion, Dream Drive recently. The end of the two month long promotion was marked by a gala event and prize distribution for all the winners. The promotion began on the June 20 and conducted a total of 10 lucky draws across various outlets in Oman. Running for over a decade now, Dream Drive has become a promotion that reflects dreams, hopes and aspirations which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. Every year, Dream Drive boasts of the best rewards and this year too was no different. Each draw’s grand prize was a Toyota LandCruiser 4x4 luxury SUV followed by 10 of the latest products from Sony.

Speaking at the event, Ananth AV, regional director of Lulu Hypermarkets, Oman said,” We have successfully concluded one more edition of Lulu’s Dream Drive.

Dream Drive has snowballed into one of the biggest and most successful promotions that Oman has ever witnessed and this year too saw incredible levels of

participation. 10 lucky customers of ours drove back in a luxury SUV while another 100 took home the latest in electronic gadgets. We would sincerely like to thank each and every customer of ours for all their support and for choosing us as their preferred retail brand.”

“As a completely customer centric organisation, all our promotions are designed around the customer with their needs in mind”, said Shabeer K.A, general manager, Oman. “We also time these promotions to coincide with an apt time such as a season or a festival so that our customers get the maximum benefit. With the last two months being the month of joy and giving, it was but natural for Lulu to ensure our customers get the best; be it rewards, products or prices,” he added.

Glimpses of iftars – hosted by companies during the Holy Month of Ramadan

IFTAR for Al Noor organised by Muscat Unique Diamond

IFTAR at Radisson Blu

IFTAR at Al Bustan by Khimjis

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Stressed out... check on Energy Management

By Dr CK Anchan

Management talk

Most people are expected to maintain peak levels of mental and creative performance for at least eight hours each day, but then they realise that it simply can’t be done. As a result people are continuously burnt out, stressed and functioning far below their peak capacity.

Energy works in a similar system as a currency like money. In other words, after you’ve spent it, you need to regain some more before you try to spend again.

Otherwise you end up going into a deficit. Energy deficits aren’t pretty. You know you are in an energy deficit when you are tired, irritable, stressed, frustrated and generally unenthusiastic. Ultimately a check and balance must be made.

The cycle of perfect energy management is one where you are fully engaged and using all of your resources for maximum productivity, followed by a period of intensive recovery where you regain all of your energy for the task ahead. When your body, mind, emotions and spirit finally declare bankruptcy, you crash and burn out as the eventual price of poor energy management. The key to effective energy management is to install habits into our life that promote cycles of deep engagement followed by recovery. Without this balance in the cycle, the system becomes unstable. Creating these habits means developing a ritual for recovering your energy.

This could be as simple as sitting back and relaxing for 15 minutes or doing some light exercise.

The key to energy management is more than just managing the energy you currently have, it is in increasing your supply of energy. Being able to devote more energy, concentration and flow to an activity is the primary goal of energy management. To increase your energy, you must stretch it beyond its current capacity, and then recover it. This stretching of capacity is what most people refer to as stress.

Energy is more than just the physical energy you use from exercising. There are other levels of energy that work in similar fashion but are equally important.

PHYSICAL – Physical energy is still incredibly important.

This is the primary and most fundamental source of August 7 - September 6 36 B&W 2 0 1 3

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

energy. Physical energy is regulated by diet, exercise and sleep. This energy is tapped regardless of whether the task is physical. Most of us do not do particularly physically demanding jobs.

MENTAL – I believe that mental energy is essential the focus or direction of the energy we have. Mental energy can be increased through the stress and conditioning method, through challenging mental study and tasks, deep learning and creative activities. Mental energy is our ability to concentrate, analyse and be creative. These higher level faculties basically describe the quality and clarity of your thinking. Mental energy is necessary for all of us, despite our career or hobbies.

EMOTIONAL – Emotional energy is our ability to control and maintain our emotions. People with a high amount of emotional energy will be positive, enthusiastic and happy. Low amounts of this energy are the manifestations of anger, despair and frustration. If physical energy represents capacity, mental represents direction, then emotional represents quality. A high degree of energy that is directed in a negative manner with hateful or angry emotions is incredibly draining and destructive.

SPIRITUAL – Spiritual energies not as being a religious or metaphysical type of energy but the energy we get when we are associated with purpose. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, purpose seems to be a necessary ingredient to live successfully. With a strong sense of purpose, energy can be created even when there is barely any physical, mental or emotional capacity.

Spiritual energy represents the power or force of energy.

Energy management continues to be a subject that will fascinate many. By undertaking conditioning and progressive increments of stress followed by deep restoration we can even expand our capacity for energy.

I am quite confident that, by recognising the multidimensional aspects of energy we can really take control of a force that guides our life. Take a break... And get back with Cash Rich Energies.

In Black & White

In Black...

Sami will sing his soulful songs in a beautiful setting, the 5000 capacity Grand Hall equipped with world class facilities and stage, which is rated as one of its kind in the Middle East Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Editor-in-chief THAT SPIRITUAL CONNECTION… Sometimes great music emerge right out of the blue when you least expect it. Great singers weave their magic through your ears and finally into your heart and you don’t even realise it. Sami Yusuf’s music and songs did just some years back. I don’t know who gave his audio CD to me, and since I haven’t had the chance to listen to him before, I was keen to hear him.

But somehow, it didn’t happen immediately, but a few days after I got it, I finally played it in my car on a long drive.

And right there in my car, I was hooked on to his songs. I don’t know how, was it his soulful voice, was it the purity in his singing, was it the words, was it the thought behind them…? Maybe it must be a combination of all that, which quickly helped me connect with him and something beyond. And it is this musical rapport, this spiritual element that he shares with his listeners, which is most endearing; you get a feeling that he is singing about something very significant and he is singing it just for you.

I realised then and there that this was not an ordinary singer. Yes, you cannot call a singer who is proficient in five or six languages and is able to switch on and off from one to another in one flow an ordinary one.

songs in not just one, but seven or eight languages.

One CD and I was hooked for life. Soon, thanks to the net, I learnt more about his versatility and his immense reach. I learnt that he had a record breaking show in Turkey where a 250,000 strong crowd thronged to hear him...and he was quite young at the time! Sami has earned the name of ‘Ambassador of peace’ and he was also hugely into charity and raising awareness on socially relevant issues.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW The Black & White is lucky to have an exclusive interview with Sami about his first ever live concert in Oman on August 30 at the prestigious Sultan Qaboos University Grand Hall. In fact, this is the cover story.

Sami will sing his soulful songs in a beautiful setting, the 5000 capacity Grand Hall equipped with world class facilities and stage, which is rated as one of its kind in the Middle East. Don’t miss this opportunity hear and see Sami Yusuf live! And let us all take pride in the fact that we have got yet another opportunity to highlight Oman with the music and songs of a world renowned artist.

MESSENGER OF PEACE Sami, who is a British Muslim, is one with his music and he has devoted his entire life to singing Islamic

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B&W Xclusive August 7 - September 6 38 B&W 2 0 1 3

Simple Sami He was ‘raw’; he was ‘cooked’; he was ‘consumed’…

British singer-songwriter, Sami Yusuf, 33, sums up his life in these three simple statements.

This is the code by which the great Persian mystic and poet, Maulana Jalaludin Balkhi (*), lived by and Sami hopes to follow suit.

“The only thing that consumes me is my love of the sacred,” the multitalented Spiritique (a philosophy and a style of music that evolve around spirituality and a sense of bringing people together) singer tells Black & White in an e-interview.

Sami, a self-confessed lover of spirituality, having been immersed in both spirituality and music from a very young age, adds that music is an extension of who he is and he has channeled his very being into it.

Sami, whose albums sell by the millions, said it was difficult to think about a life sans music. To a query he says: “It is very difficult!” And then adds: “Life itself is a kind of great musical symphony,” he noted.

The singer, who is a composer, producer, and an accomplished musician opened his heart to a variety of issues and replied to the B&W queries in his traditional, soft, simple and peaceful manner. His songs are an extension of himself, his thoughts, his ideas, his spirit and most importantly, his pure simplicity.

Sami is known for his extensive involvement in charity work and his songs have also delved on the plight of the underprivileged. But, he is not an activist, he says in the same breath, adding that he is “just a human being with a conscience”.

He also distanced himself from the confusing labels that some sections of the media have slapped on him. Notorious among them is Time Magazine’s tag of “Islam’s biggest rockstar”, which Sami feels is erroneous on their part and said that although he had no problems in people using it, he was not a rock or a pop star, but simply a traditional man and basically a musician with a message. “Honestly, I am not okay with such labels as rock or pop star. My listeners actually consider me their brother or a member of their family…”

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Excerpts:

B&W Xclusive

Sami, you are a singer-songwriter, composer, producer and an accomplished musician; you are also hugely into charity…but, we are looking for the real Sami Yusuf; is he all of this or someone else, someone entirely different?

Thank you so much for the kind words! I think most of what you have written is correct. Well, if you are asking about the ‘real’ me then I would say I am quite traditional (as opposed to being modern) and love simplicity. I am a lover of spirituality and have been immersed in both spirituality and music from a very young age. I also have deep respect and love for the great world religions. I believe they are all expressions of the same Truth.

You are a soul Spiritique singer, young, handsome, and many consider you to be one of the biggest messengers of love, hope and peace in the Islamic world -- do you think you are in this world for a special reason/purpose?

Thank you for the very kind words again. The message(s) of Spiritique (my self-coined genre of music) are perennial and not for any one particular tradition. Though much of my humble works are influenced by faith and my Islamic tradition, anyone and everyone can relate to my music since it is there to celebrate the sacred and spread the realm of spirituality.

What are your songs all about? It is not music August 7 - September 6 40 B&W 2 0 1 3

for music’s sake, but much more, spiritual and delivering…what do you hope to achieve with your music? Some of your songs are poetic and always spiritual, and you have managed to inspire a generation of people, but where do you draw your inspiration from? What is the secret?

Principally, to sing about and celebrate the sacred. To promote the idea of outward multiplicity and inward unity” (using the words of Ananda Coomaraswamy (*1) and others).

To ultimately bring people closer to the realm of the spirit. Outwardly, the religious forms may differ (which should be seen as a gift) but inwardly there is unity on the plane of truth.

Does music mean everything to you? Your life, your vision, your passion, everything…is music?

Music is an extension of who I am. I channel my ‘being’ into it.

250,000 fans thronged to hear you sing in Turkey – how do you explain that kind of magic?

It is hard to explain the sheer events that have taken place ever since the release of Al Mu’allim in 2003 paving the way for others. I see it really more as “Maya” (vedantic term for ‘divine-play’ or ‘illusion’) and never let it take over or get to me. I think there are practical as well as intellectual reasons for the ‘success’ of my humble works which would take up too much space for this interview. Suffice it to say that many people around

the world wished (and still wishes) to hear spiritual music because spirituality matters. Many parts of the world (including India, Middle East, parts of Africa) have not experienced modernism the same way that England or France have. Spirituality matters a lot for these people.

Indication for this is existentially manifested through the love of such type of music (sacred music, spiritual music).

We even find it in the West. Just look at how an album like the 'Buddha Bar' has done? It has sold more records than most A-list artists put together!

Can you think of a life without music? If not music, would you have been doing anything else?

It is very difficult. Life itself is a kind of great musical symphony. Though I must tell you, I am much more interested in traditional music (whether Islamic, classical Western or Hindu Ragas etc).

We live in an angry world, where a small spark can lead to an explosion of anger and pain and unhappiness – is this where your role as singer and a musician come in, to soothe the hearts of those in pain?

Yes, this is very true. I believe we are living in a ‘dark’ time so to speak. However, I am hopeful that things will get better. It will not (or cannot) remain like this for long. If you think about what we are doing to the planet (environmental crisis, wastage, war etc) and to ourselves, we have no choice but to make things work otherwise we may not be here for that much longer. I remain hopeful and optimistic. My humble role is to make music and remind myself and others of higher truths beyond materialism and a consumerist mindset. I have set up a foundation called The Spiritique Foundation which is aimed at developing closer friendship and fostering a

better understanding of the major traditions of the world.

(You can find out more on the aims and objectives here: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritiqueFoundation) What pains you Sami Yusuf; what pains, annoys and hurts you and what angers you the most?

It’s not easy to make me angry as such. However, it saddens me that the so-called 'post-enlightenment' era has brought more ignorance and anti-intellectuality than any time before. We need more love, peace and understanding, which can only, in my humble opinion, come about through mutual respect and adherence to truth.

You are promoting your fourth album…what next?

Would you be looking for a more diverse and different audience in the next album?

We have recently launched Andante Studios (www.

AndanteStudios.com), which aims to provide the highest standard audio-visual, production, publishing as well as consultancy services in the region and, God-willing, around the world. One of Andante’s branches is Andante Records, which aims to support up-and-coming (as well as established) artists in and across the region.

The records side is my personal passion as it aims to support and guide many talented artists who simply need guidance and a platform. I am also delighted to be able to support and invest in more traditional music -- a personal passion of mine.

Regarding the latter part of your question, I honestly have never ‘looked’ or ‘sought’ anything. Things just seem to happen. Also, it’s important for an artist or musician to always maintain his/her integrity and never succumb to commercial demand.

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B&W Xclusive August 7 - September 6 42 B&W 2 0 1 3

You are called Islam’s ‘biggest rockstar’ – how real is this title with your own aspirations in music? Are you okay with such labels?

Honestly, no. Throughout the years it has created both ‘opportunities’ (or opened doors) as well as confuse people. I am a traditional person who really isn’t that interested in ‘rock’ music or modern music per se. This title or label came about simply because of the sheer magnitude of the support my albums received -- which for the average journalist equates to 'rock mania' or 'star idolatry'. Yes, the support has always been overwhelming in terms of numbers but extrapolating this and making ‘Justin Bieber’ type comparisons has been a gross error on the part of some journalists (including Time Magazine). My listeners, by and large, consider me their brother or a member of their family. To this day, I find my concerts to be a rare spectacle and treat because you will find three, if not, four generations of people present.

It’s always a moving experience for me. I feel very grateful and fortunate for all these blessings. In the end, I think the Time Magazine article was -- no matter how generous and flattering in their intentions -- ultimately an error on their part. However, I don’t mind people using it, as I understand the realities of the modern world and the fact that it is difficult for many to see things beyond a commercial and worldly mindset.

Your songs talk a lot about the plight of the underprivileged…are you a campaigner; an activist?

I’m not an activist. Just a human being with a conscience.

Are your nearing your goals or is there more that you seek? What is your biggest wish in terms of music and also for the world?

Perhaps this can be best summed up by alluding to a few lines from my song Salaam (from the SALAAM album): “I pray for a day when there will be justice and unity When we put aside our difference, fighting makes no sense Just a little faith to make it a better place We are here for a day or two. Let me show my way Salaamu alaik, Salaamu alaik, Salaamu alaikom (“Peace be upon you all”).

What type of music do you listen to and enjoy when you are not singing/performing?

Traditional/classical music.

Do you have other interests or passions that consume you (other than music)?

What do you think of Oman; its people, its music? Is it a country that you wanted to visit for some time?

Your comments.

I cannot wait to visit Oman and meet everyone there. I love traditional Omani style clothes and have heard so many nice things about the nature there. We are all very excited.

Regarding my hobbies and passions; I love reading -particularly of philosophical nature. The only thing that ‘consumes’ me is love of the sacred. As the great Islamic mystic and poet Maulana Jalaludin Balkhi (Also known as “Rumi”) said: “My life can be summed up in three statements: I was raw; I was cooked; I was consumed.” Maulana Jalaludin Balkhi. (*)Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī (also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmi) and more popularly in the English-speaking world simply as Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13thcentury Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic.

Iranians, Turks, Afghans, Tajiks, and other Central Asian Muslims as well as the Muslims of South Asia have greatly appreciated his spiritual legacy in the past seven centuries. Rumi’s importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic borders. His poems have been widely translated into many of the world’s languages and transposed into various formats. In 2007, he was described as the “most popular poet in America”. (*1)Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy (22 August 1877 − 9 September 1947) was a Ceylonese philosopher and metaphysician, as well as a pioneering historian and philosopher of Indian art, particularly art history and symbolism, and an early interpreter of Indian culture to the West. In particular, he is described as “the groundbreaking theorist who was largely responsible for introducing ancient Indian art to the West”.

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Supplied

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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:

Wham, bam, no thank you Sir! There was this big shot who said he will get into an official deal with us if we get the right documents for that, plus a proper proposal. We made a neat proposal, fished out the right documents and emailed them to him.

He scrutinised them and gave us the green signal. Okay, it can be done.

Come over at a suitable time and date and we will proceed, he said. Great, we thought.

But when we went on the said date he seemed to be in a particular bad mood. Maybe he got on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe he must have fought with his wife, or maybe someone ditched him because he was not only in a foul mood, he was foul.

He was firing his minions left, right and centre and he was also abusive.

We sat through that and when our turn came, he was curt, incisive, abrupt and rude. We took it because we had taken it before and so we let it ride.

Someone has had a bad day, let it be, we thought. But, when we showed the documents and were waiting to proceed to an agreement with him, he suddenly turned nasty: what about this document, he said, waving at us and demanding a document, which he had not asked for before. Well, Sir, you did not ask for it and so we did not bring it, but if you insist, we will bring it, we said. I also want one more document, he said, demanding other papers that were totally classified. We managed to get the other new document he wanted but said that since the other matter was classified we could not divulge the contents. Nope, said the

big man, I want them all or no deal.

But, that is something we cannot reveal, we said citing official reasons.

Nope, said the man, then there is no deal. We sighed, took our documents and left the place with a no thank you.

He whammed us, bammed us, but we said no thank you!

Nitter natter

Waiting for Godot It is difficult to get money out from the market, a company official tells us. Although there is money there, companies are so reluctant to pay, even if they owe someone for a job or a work done. This poor official was dealing with a major agency for whom his company had done work a year or so back and his payments were still pending. Yes, we can say that again, more than a year and payments are still pending. We spoke to several others and they were also in the same waiting boat and sinking with the burden.

Some were waiting for six months, others eight, some for over a year. And the pending amounts are huge. Why can’t you sue them, we asked and then realised the foolishness of the statement. It was a virtual Catch 22 situation. They could neither spit nor swallow. If they made a case, then it would take its own sweet time to see the case to realise and moreover they would have made an enemy for life.

Besides, if you are in the business, you can’t sue in such August 7 - September 6 44 B&W 2 0 1 3

situations and you will probably end up on the street having sued everyone in their wake. We can only request, we cannot even demand for what is rightfully ours, the official said. How can one get out of such a tight snare?

Rise without rhyme or reason We are not going into the cost of living scene here but did the market fleece us during the Holy Month? Somehow we felt that the cost of certain items went up during the just concluded Ramadan. Consumers normally go on a buying spree during the month and that is the right time for many in the market to jack their prices. Now is this price rise official or is it something that is decided upon by the supermarket/hypermarket/shop owners themselves?

If so, are they authorised to do so, buyers ask. Many consumers were complaining that the rates of many items had suddenly increased without any rhyme or reason.

But, unfortunately, this happens every season. That is the tragedy.

Airline fares to a particular destination are also touching the ceiling and this has also thrown a spoke in the Eid travel plans of many a traveller. Are these hikes in fares necessary? Yes, it is necessary to make money, but, at whose cost? The poor passenger’s?

Walk on fish Some weeks back, one of our readers who was walking on one of the beaches in Muscat and was aghast at the site that met him. The whole area was littered with fish. There were hundreds upon thousands of fish washed on to the beach area, some still alive. This is not an unusual sight, but what was pitiable about this was the fact that some people were actually walking on the fishes, taking particular delight on stamping them.

There were a couple of men who even drove over the hapless lot as though it was still sand. The only redeeming factor was that some of the people – including kids – on the beach were trying to throw the live ones back into

the water. They were washed on to the shore due to some phenomenon – natural or otherwise – but what we

did not understand is why were some people so callous enough to walk and drive or them?

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

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Your ARIES March 21-April 20

TAURUS April 21-May 20

Embrace the challenges which this time brings, they will only serve to make you stronger. The recent dramas that you underwent will only make you stronger. So much stress is evident in your chart and yet you’ve been doing, and continue to do, a very good job of trying to cover it up.

Try to take a step back and look at the bigger picture this month. You of all signs should know that attention to detail is the key to longevity in your success. Keep a close eye on a rival in work and on your spending which is rather erratic to say the least over the coming days and weeks.

CANCER June 22-July 23

LEO July 24-August 23

Keep a cool head when challenged about a past relationship over the coming weeks. It would seem that certain signs seem to know exactly what to say and do to get a rise out of you. Be patient.

You have what it takes to rise above others’ words and actions, so don’t let anybody else tell you differently.

Trust your instincts at this time and don’t accept gossip as gospel. Don’t put on an act, but let others see you for how you really are.

This is the beginning of the rest of your life and you don’t want to give the impression that you’re someone you’re not or you won’t get the feedback or reactions.

GEMINI May 21-June 21 You’ve had to do a lot of growing up over the last few weeks and this has led to you looking at yourself from a new angle. Don’t let jealous friends stop you from striving towards your goals. What you want can be yours with a little bit of forward planning.

You know what you are capable of and how far you have come.

VIRGO August 24-September 23 It’s no use living your life as others see fit but it’s time to think about what you want to do with your future. There are big plans ahead for a bash, which can put you in the limelight and in the path of the perfect sign. Let the social side of your sign come to the fore and dress in clothes you know you look good in.

Horoscope

SIR THOMAS SEAN CONNERY KBE (BORN 25 AUGUST 1930) is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards (one of them being a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award) and three Golden Globes (including the Cecil B. DeMille Award and a Henrietta Award).

Connery is best known for portraying the character James Bond, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983 (six Eon Productions films and the non-Eon Thunderball remake, Never Say Never Again). In 1988, Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Untouchables. His film career also includes such films as Marnie, The Name of the Rose, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Hunt for Red October, Highlander, Murder on the Orient Express, Dragonheart, and The Rock. He was knighted in July 2000. Connery has been polled as "The Greatest Living Scot" and "Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure". In 1989, he was proclaimed "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine and in 1999, at age 69, he was voted "Sexiest Man of the Century".

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stars LIBRA September 24-October 23 If you can see potential in every opportunity, you will feel the rewards that each opportunity brings.

Get over your past hurt and get on with your future before admirers tire of vying for your attention. Don’t lose out on showing those who really matter to you how much you care, as the chance is not likely to come.

CAPRICORN December 23-January 20 There is more than one way forward in life. If you have trouble on one path then try creating a new one. Be discreet concerning a friend’s mistake or it could rebound on you. You can at times be the best keeper of secrets and at others the worst, but this is one month where it’s imperative.

SCORPIO October 24-November 22 This is your most important working month of the year. You can succeed where you had previously failed and you can also start to associate yourself with professionals rather than those who are simply killing time with their work. You’ve always been an ambitious sign.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 22 The only problem with a fire sign such as you is that as quickly as you tell one lie, it can be tempting to tell another to cover it. Step up your act though when important faces enter your life who are willing to help you take a step up the career ladder, but who will require total truth from you.

AQUARIUS January 21-February 19 You are always striving to be the best you can be and all too often give yourself a hard time when you don’t come up to scratch. Aim for progress this month, not perfection.

Nobody’s perfect, so don’t put pressure on yourself to achieve the impossible. Enjoy who you are with all your imperfections.

PISCES February 20-March 20 Don’t let old problems get in the way of new opportunities now.

You would be far better to put the past behind you, even if it means distancing yourself from those who bring you down but who you feel such an emotional tie to. You’re growing and changing so much at this time though, those around you notice it.

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E-MAIL: marketing@albahja.com, Website: www.albahja.com August 7 - September 6 47 B&W

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By Dave Green

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2012 Conceptis Puzzles Dist by King Features Syndicate Inc

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By Dave Green

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

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

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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.

2012 Conceptis Puzzles Dist by King Features Syndicate Inc

5

It's my life

My favourite four letter word Vandana, award winning author (‘360 Degrees Back to Life')

By Vandana Shah

Seductive, sensuous, slithering into my consciousness the F-O-U-R letter word has permeated the fibre of my soul. Every time I think of it I start fantasizing about it and my entire body goes into raptures thinking of what it will do for me, my wardrobe, my look, my life. It dominates my conversations with my friends who I’ve discovered more or less feel the same. It’s a dream wrapped in reality. I’d choose it over an evening with Brad Pitt,George Clooney… Lovely ladies, any guesses, guys I’m sorry I think this one’s not for you, no gender bias, but really, it’s not for you.

The loaded four letter word is...

S A L E The blue and pink neon signs in dazzling colours smilingly beguile me till my will power crumbles like a sandcastle and I fall prey to their charms. I enter their haven which feels like heaven and then go through their wares hungrily like a starving child at Mc Donalds and keep coming back for more. I talk to myself and say, “Because I need it, it’s required, it’s the next big thing, it’ll be a big motivation for me to lose weight, my sister can also share it so in the long run it’ll benefit everyone. I’m doing the sensible thing by being here because it’s so economical it is as good as free and ultimately it will pay for itself”.

The only battered one in S-A-L-E s’ is my poor wallet which has gone from a size 20 to a size 0, but I’m confident that once I wear all the beautiful things I’ll forget about that as I’ll have all the Clooney’s in the world lining up to date me and to take me for all the latest sales in town.

Gotta go…another sale beckons.

Till next time Love and Hugs.

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

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Cooking with

MAYONNAISE

Cooking

Mayonnaise is one of the safest products you can take along for your home planned picnics or special occasions. Mayonnaise can also be part of a healthy diet for your heart. Mayonnaise contains Vitamin E and hearthealthy oilsâ&#x20AC;Ś here are a few simple recipes your kids will loveâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Hot Broccoli Cheese Dip Ingredients: 200 g: broccoli, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 60 g Parmesan cheese, grated 120 Cheddar cheese, grated 1 clove(s) garlic, minced 120 ml sour cream 120 ml mayonnaise Freshly ground black pepper Method Preparation time: ca. 10 min / grade of difficulty: easy / Calories per portion: n/a Chop broccoli, onion and bell pepper and place in a bowl. Add Parmesan cheese and add to vegetables along with remaining ingredients, mixing well. Set aside 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese for garnish. Heat mixture over low heat until hot but not boiling. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesean cheese over top and surround with Pita Chips.

Creamed Cucumbers Ingredients: 250 ml mayonnaise 60 ml milk 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp white vinegar 1 large cucumber, sliced salt and pepper, to taste Method Preparation time: ca. 10 min / Grade of difficulty: easy / Calories per portion: n/a Combine the mayonnaise, milk, sugar, and vinegar and mix until smooth. Place cucumber slices in the bowl and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Women more prone to

PHOBIAS Research on this subject keeps changing, but the general belief is that women are more prone to suffer from phobias than men. Depression and anxiety, generally, are more common in women than men, but this may also be because women may be more likely to report and seek treatment for their mental health issues, reports note.

There are millions of people out there with real, live and crazy phobias, which are in effect an intense, irrational fear when they face a certain situation, activity or object. Yes, you know it is ridiculous to believe that phobias have a life-paralysing grip, but that is the way the cookie crumbles.

While there are hundreds of different phobias, experts divide them into three categories -- agoraphobia, an intense anxiety in public places where an escape might be difficult; social phobia, a fear and avoidance of social situations; and specific phobia, an irrational fear of specific objects or situations.

Here is the usual list of phobias and let us see the ones that you are terrified about: AGORAPHOBIA: FEAR OF PUBLIC PLACES Someone with agoraphobia is afraid of being trapped in a public place or a place like a bridge or a line at the bank. The actual fear is of not being able to escape if anxiety gets too high. Agoraphobia affects twice as many women as men. Untreated, it can lead to someone becoming housebound. With treatment, nine out of every 10 people who follow through are helped.

SOCIAL PHOBIA: BEYOND BEING SHY Someone with a social phobia is not just shy. That person feels extreme anxiety and fear about how he or she will perform in a social situation. Will her actions seem appropriate to others? Will others be able to tell she is anxious?

Will the words be there when it’s time to talk? Because untreated social phobia often leads to avoiding social contact, it can have a major negative impact on a person’s relationships and professional life.

CLAUSTROPHOBIA: NEEDING A WAY OUT Claustrophobia, an abnormal fear of being in enclosed spaces, is a common specific phobia. A person with claustrophobia can’t ride in elevators or go through tunnels without extreme anxiety. Afraid of suffocating or being trapped, the person will avoid tight spaces and often engage in “safety seeking behavior,” such as opening windows or sitting near an exit. That may make the situation tolerable, but it doesn’t relieve the fear.

Eves drop

BRONTOPHOBIA: FEAR OF THUNDER The Greek word bronte means thunder and brontophobia means fear of thunder. Even though people with brontophobia may realise thunder won’t hurt them, they may refuse to go outside during a thunderstorm. They may even hide indoors by crouching behind a couch or waiting out the storm in a closet. An abnormal fear of both thunder and lightning is called astraphobia, a phobia shared by people and animals.

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Plain plastic

Hooked

By Priya Arunkumar Pink.

A bunch of pink flowers was pinned on her hair.

Bright pink colour that would put candy floss to shame!

While she crossed the road in front of me, I realized all eyes were on her, staring at her pink flowers.

I was not different. I was doing the same thing, staring shamelessly at a woman who was minding her own business and living her life, oblivious to all other things happening around her.

She was walking swiftly, speaking on a phone, and while she crossed me and I was still gazing at the pink flowers; it was not eye candy, it was hilarious. I was laughing too, at the pink flowers, a big bunch of them, and suddenly I realized that those flowers she adorned in her hair were artificial, plain plastic.

How stupid of me, I thought, there cannot be any natural pink large flower, how could I think those were fresh and pleasant? And to not realize that in this hot summer morning, plastic flowers may not actually be fragrant.

While I drove past her, the visual of the lady all dressed up in light pink dress, pink sandals tightly holding on to a dark pink handbag, looked altogether very out of place.

What would have made her look for pink flowers and buy, only to wear it along with a matching dress? Flowers are worn to enhance the beauty of your face, while leaving a lingering fragrance…? At least I thought so. I am always quick to judge, so my judging mind went ahead and thought of all possible reasons why a woman would pick up bright pink flowers to adorn her hair, that too plastic!

Maybe she could not afford fresh

flowers, maybe she didn’t find fresh flowers, and maybe someone dear to her told her that she looks beautiful in pink?

Maybe, could be…but common sense was missing.

Perfumes and body products have replaced natural elements far behind, from food to our thought process. We hardly have anything natural and fresh left with us… I am not being negative, but sometimes, a long drive becomes very painful within city limits.

Pink had caught on to me hard and I was still thinking… Did someone gift that to her or did she actually plan and purchase? I am still thinking of what makes people do odd things to look good.

Everyone wants to look good, no matter what age, gender, class or creed they belong to, spending hours to make up the face, select and stitch that exclusive dress, that will make them look out of this world. Designer pieces, brands, labels, sometimes you think you are a loser left far behind the live ramp, everyone walks upon with fervour to outrun others in the game. Everyone looks plastic, made up and beautiful. Sometimes too good to be true! I love seeing beautiful things, people, and am positive that others do too. But when you look around and see people run after instant beauty, cool stuff and made up looks, you see them as toys walking past you, animated talking in phones, with no time to take a deep breath from the free fresh air nature is offering us all. Toys that work on schedules preset for the, programmed to eat at specified intervals, dress as the market style demands, smile briefly at people stranger than fiction, and claim to know all around them...

What has made us, all plastic, when each dawn holds a new hope, a new plan, and a new life? priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

August 7 - September 6 55 B&W 2 0 1 3