Black & White mag issue 77

II March 2016 Vol.7 Issue 77 21 Jumada al-Awal - 22 Jumada al-Akhir

Reverse time atop the jebels Pg8 Second edition of .Open Minds' forum Pg14 A world without cancer Pg54 FREE magazine

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Scent of a...

Halwa Pg30

Xclusive

30 Scent of a‌ Halwa This issue, B&W followed the aromatic trail of a sweet, sticky brown, gelatinous Omani delicacy that is known to melt in our mouth. We trooped down to Al Faiha Factory for Omani Halwa in Sumail and disovered the process of making this delectable treat from one of the most popular halwa makers there. The best part of the discovery is the fact that the whole family, from the youngest kid to the father, are all expert and enthusiastic halwa makers.

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Bitter Batter

Justice prevails You might be one of the most careful drivers in the world, yet, there is no guarantee that you can escape someone coming and banging your car...

Contents

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Reverse time atop the jebels

Dr Mosaraf Ali, a pioneer of integrated medicine, is all set to change the face of spa-based treatment in Oman with his own unique clinical spa, aptly called the Time Reversal.

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: +968 24565697 Fax: 24565496 Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com Printed at Oman March 2016 Printers

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A world WITHOUT cancer

Yuthar Al Rawahi, Oman's best known and most effective warrior against cancer, has bowed out of her role as president of the Oman Cancer Association. She leaves with a wish to see a world without cancer.

Chairman Editor-in-chief Managing editor Work editor Editorial Marketing Design & production Photographer

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Mohamed Al Balushi Priya Arunkumar Adarsh Madhavan Khadija Al Zadjali Salwa Al Rumhi Beneek Sirajudeen Najib Al Balushi

All about X, Y & Z

Ask stupid, dumb questions

By Adarsh Madhavan If you happen to be a wet-behind-the-ears scribe, then you better listen to this. Ask. Ask everything you want to ask (but of course, not in a manner to insult or harass or hurt someone). Ask the stupid question even if everyone at the press conference bursts out laughing and even if the person who is being interviewed chokes on their muffled chortles.

hung on to false pride at the cost of not really knowing what I was doing there in the middle of a press conference.

This has to be imprinted in the minds of young scribes especially in a climate of ‘intolerance’ today. Of course, at one end, the wild politically wily scribes ask everything.

They literally word strip their interviewers naked and burn-brand them with their random, hurtful epithets pre, during and post interview. But even they don’t ask the dumb questions.

Journalists are not super human beings. If our intention is not to insult, harass and hurt (and a litany of other issues) we should be allowed to be ourselves. We ask.

We ask because we don’t know. And if we ask Dhoni (Indian cricket team captain) if he plans to retire after he and his team was routed in the semifinal of the recently conclude T20 cricket, well, couldn’t we, for once, think that it was a genuine query.

The know-it-all-ones; the ones who roll their eyes when the youngsters in the lot go through the painful process of repeating queries until they get their answers right and the ones who machine gun the interviewed in a staccato burst of queries often forget that for the pen pusher, the ones like us who still believe that the written word matters and that a story can change the world, it matters.

For the ones who have to depend solely on the written word doing all the talking, they really have to get it right, which means that we have to ask and ask questions threadbare. And this may sound more often than not that we are a bit dumb and when the questions sound as though we are only kneeling down on the starting line, things may seem a bit tedious for the one on the other side of the table. But, it is better that than to pretend ourselves to be quite authoritative. Not everyone can be an Arnab Gowswami (*)!

Most often we pretend to know and in the world of journalism that is a cardinal sin. I know. I have sinned in this manner, mostly out of boredom, mostly because I didn’t want the other party to know the depth of my ignorance and mostly out of that don’t-care manner in which some of us operate. I have been through it all.

I have pretended. I have swallowed genuine curiosity because I didn’t want to seem like I was too interested in the subject being interviewed and on many occasions I

In short, what is a ‘foolish’ question? Why is that we can’t ask a stupid question? Why can’t we be dumb?

Why can’t we clear our doubts?

That scribe really thought that Dhoni may now want to retire. Sometimes, when you lead a team and you fail, there are chances that you throw in the towel. How is that question an irritating or an insulting one? Okay, it may be irritating, but why can't the question be asked?

Are celebrities being totally ‘intolerant’?

That is at one end, but just imagine you just got your entry into the big, bad, bold world of journalism and before you fire your first salvo into the world you have already been brainwashed into thinking that everything sucks and that you ought to know more than the people whom you interview. Maybe it works occasionally (when we get into those verbal duels) but on a general scale, no. If we knew everything, what was the point in interviewing them?

So, at the cost of putting yourself on the dumb, dumber, dumbest pedestal, go ahead and ask as it is quite honest, and it may perhaps even put your sources at ease and you can actually go through an interview without presuming something and taking everything for granted. As someone said rightly, it is better to ask stupid questions and write good stories rather than ask only the ‘right’ questions and write stupid stories! editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

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Mail your views and opinions at editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Readers column

A good guide is a philosopher I read the last issue (76) of B&W with great interest.

What captivated me was not just the cover story on the philosopher or Sumail, but the fact that it revoked memories of my encounter with a philosopher back home.

I am in Oman for over a decade now and I am happily married with two kids. I actually hail from India, Andhra Pradesh, to be more precise. But some 20 years ago, an old writer came to visit my home, upon an invitation from my parents. And I, who was not too keen on interacting with visitors, had to look after this sage-like man for nearly a week. I was not exactly an enterprising person and I was desperately looking for a job at that stage. So I was being confronted by a sea of advices from all fronts and was sinking under them. Since this man was considered to be a great writer, my mother wanted me to interact with him, learn something good. I resisted this with great passion until I suddenly realised that the good man was least interested in giving me advice. When I was thrust upon him, he merely looked at me and asked, “What do you want to be?” I was speechless for sometime and then I told him what I really wanted to be. “Forget everyone,” he said. “Everyone. Just be what you want to be. Just do what you want to do. Do you understand?” I did. That is I why I am in Oman. I did not study medicine or engineering 6

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(like my parents wanted). I wanted to become a software developer and that is what I am today. That man was not a philosopher, but a writer. But, for me, he was a guide and that is what a true philosopher should be – to guide!

Abhiroop S, Nizwa

The Philosopher from Khasab My grandparents and their parents used to live in wilayat Khasab in the Musandam governorate. Most of us have moved out to Muscat since our jobs took us to the capital area. But, I still remember my parents and my grandparents speaking with great reverence about a philosopher who used to live there, several decades back. When I read about the story in Black & White – issue 76 -- about the Sumail-based philosopher, I was literally reliving the days in my village where the sole person whom my parents as well as my grandparents could run to in times of trouble, doubt and confusion was this philosopher. Not just us, everyone in the village used to consult him. Since I was just a kid at that time, I do not remember his name. Unfortunately, neither my grandparents or my parents are alive and so there is no way we can find out the name of that great man.

I am sure that there are many people out there who used to live in villages would have similar stories to relate about that one person whom they would all sought out in times of trouble or to obtained advice from.

Abdullah bin Salaam Al Ghanim, Muscat

Real souls Philosophers are the real souls of a nation; these are the thinkers who nudge awake a new thought process among the men and women of a country and try to wean them away from a weary and oft-repeated manner of thinking,

which they have been following as a rote policy.

The Philosopher of Sumail (issue 76) was indeed one such soul. God bless him and all of his ilk!

Ashok Vasudevan P, Seeb

You can’t teach entrepreneurism I think there are some things that you just cannot teach. And one essential characteristic is the spirit of entrepreneurship. I salute young entrepreneurs like Qais Al-Khonji (issue 76) who says that entrepreneurship can be taught in schools. Maybe you can attempt it, but to be honest, my opinion is that one has to be born with the spirit for it. Some are born entrepreneurs and some others may somehow stumble through the process, but unfortunately, there are may others who simply cannot be asked to take this responsibility. For indeed, entrepreneurship is a major responsibility and you really need ‘strong’ shoulders to take on this responsibility.

I am sure Qais Al Khonji is a born entrepreneur and would like to commend him on his achievement of being given the title ‘Entrepreneur of the Year (2015) Oman’! More power to entrepreneurs like Qais!

Khalid Anwar, Muscat

Reverse time atop the

Oman watch

jebels

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Imagine a magical retreat, up above the mountains, almost straddling the clouds…

A place where you can attain near bliss, utmost well being… where you can reverse the ravages of time.

Impossible? Just a pipe dream?

Not so, says Dr Mosaraf Ali, a pioneer of integrated medicine, who is all set to change the face of spa-based treatment in Oman with his own unique clinical spa, aptly called the Time Reversal.

The spa is perched at an altitude of 7000 ft (2000mts) by the edge of a deep canyon, on Jebel Akhdar. Dr Ali terms it a “comfortable altitude” because “one doesn’t feel breathless or have headaches”.

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Built entirely of local fossilised rocks, the spa blends into the surrounding landscape. “As the light changes the mountains acquire different hues and colours. At night the sky is lit up with stars and planets. One sees shooting stars,” Dr Ali tells Black & White, giving a new, exciting, perhaps even a romanticised dimension to spa treatment.

patients, is likely to bring in the starry element to Oman too. Described as a “magic man with magic hands who can work miracles” by none other than Hollywood star, Sylvester Stallone himself, Dr Ali developed the basic principles of Time Reversal from Kaya Kalpa, an ancient Indian rejuvenation therapy.

“The Time Reversal is a clinical spa and will cater to patients, but we also welcome those who want to detox or lose some weight.

WHY OMAN? “I have been visiting Oman for over 23 years, for work and recreation. It is a country I love. I chose Oman to open my spa in Jebel Akhdar because it is a beautiful place. I want to spearhead medical tourism in this country. The people are intelligent, witty and kind. The country is clean, beautiful with an amazing tradition and culture,” he says with passion.

Oman watch

“For optimum results, we recommend a week’s stay as the body’s adaptative powers show results only after three to four days,” Dr Ali added.

SPA TOURISM Dr Ali, who has 30 years of clinical expertise and over 15,000 patients all over the world, feels that his spa will also bring spotlight to Oman from a tourism perspective.

“My clients in Europe love Oman – it is the hottest destination for high-end tourists now,” he says, hinting at a spa-tourism influx to Oman, especially from his Europebased patients.

Moreover, Dr Ali, who had Prince Charles writing in the foreword of one of his books, ‘The Integrated Health Bible’, and a list of Who’s Who, including the likes of Andrew Lloyd Weber, Morgan Freeman, Sylvester Stallone, Kate Moss and a host of other celebrities as his 10

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“My high altitude healthcare programme was developed in the Indian Himalayas and so the Jebel Akhdar mountains became my obvious choice. I ran a Spa in Tuscany for three years but that was only 800m high. Jebel Akhdar is 2000m, perfect for my healthcare programme, not too high or low.

Time Reversal is my brand. The spa in Jebel Akhdar is a clinical spa where people will come with chronic health issues and be treated with spa therapies like yoga, massage, diet, meditation and some supplements.”

HIPPOCRATES STATEMENT Dr Ali quotes Hippocrates, the father of medicine, as of saying: “We all have within us an innate healing power which we have inherited from nature. Cuts, burns, fractures, common flu etc can heal on their own without any medical intervention.

For health and wellbeing, we need to just nurture that healing power with simple regime of diet, exercises, massages and relaxation. About 80 percent of all illnesses can be cured by this method. Thus the Greek or Roman Baths and Spas were initially designed to do just that, stimulate the innate healing power.

“I have revised that by using therapeutic yoga, meditation, therapeutic massage (ancient Indian Marma and my unique massage to improve blood supply to the brain, which in turn creates wellbeing), high altitude walking and special supplements, which I have specially blended and got licensed,” he says.

HEALING ENHANCED IN HIGH ALTITUDE “My research in high altitude medicine has shown that healing is enhanced in high altitude. Sportsmen and army personnel train at high altitude to improve stamina, energy and endurance and patients treated at high altitude show phenomenal results.

This programme has a cure-all effect,” adds Dr Ali, who is also known as the ‘cure-all doctor’ and ‘genuine integrated general physician’, qualities of which has made him a royal physician and family doctor to many public faces worldwide.

NOT A HOSPITAL Time Reversal has doctors who makes initial diagnoses and supervises all treatments. Therefore there is a protocol of treatment for all conditions.

“It is not a hospital or a medical establishment so we will treat what is possible within the framework of a spa.

Usually, our expertise is in chronic backache, headaches, arthritis, stroke, weight gain, detox, stress management and IBS, but with my consultations and guidance, we can do more. I will be there twice a month for at least five days at a time, after which our team will follow the protocol. Our therapists are well trained and experienced in what they do.”

Time Reversal has 26 rooms and suites at the resort.

There are four therapeutic massage therapists who will treat patients twice a day. There is a yoga/meditation therapist, a doctor who will recommend the diet and protocol of treatments. Everyone is expected to walk at that altitude for an hour or so. “This is an essential part of the treatment,” says Dr Ali, who is known to be quite March 2016 2016 11 11 March Black Black & White & White

a stickler at enforcing the treatment protocols on his patients.

“Usually, one is busy for four to five hours of treatment a day. After that, people rest or swim or simply sit by the canyon and watch sunset or the stars at night. The view from the edge of the cliff is breathtaking. The silence is amazing, it creates inner peace. All of these have therapeutic effect on the mind and body.”

DESTINATION SPA The Time Reversal Spa has taken over a busy resort in Jabel Akhdar. “Therefore the transformation will be quick.

Even though there are good existing bookings throughout the year, we are changing the environment to become a destination spa. We will have a spa-type menu and so all those popular tourist dishes will be replaced with a healthy one. We will encourage existing guests to use our services,” Dr Ali said.

Oman watch

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS EXPECTED Time Reversal will see guests from the Gulf, the UK, Germany, Russia and Italy. “I have a good clientele already in these countries. They will come for a week to two weeks’ spa package. The weekend guests will be accommodated subject to availability.

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“All of this may be new for Oman and the Gulf region but then I am bringing in the best of healthcare to the country. And I believe it will be honoured and embraced by people. A little discipline and lifestyle change cannot harm anyone. Omanis are compassionate and they will definitely support me in my campaign for more health spas.”

SPA PACKAGE The package starts at OMR1500 per week. This includes full board, doctor’s consultation and all treatments.

Spa outfits will be included in the price as everyone is expected to wear them. Shorter stays will cost OMR250 per day, subject to availability of standard rooms.

HEALTHCARE PIONEER “I am a pioneer in integrated healthcare with 30 years of excellent clinical experience and over 25 years of spa experience. Harper’s Bazaar rated me as one of the top three Health Spa Gurus in Europe in 2012. I am not aware of any body in my field with such high level of patient satisfaction. I do speak at international conferences and I am always greeted with high respect.

So, obviously I must be doing something good and exclusive,” Dr Ali enthuses.

BIT OF CONTROVERSY But, not all has been hunky dory for Dr Ali in his career span so far, he reveals. He explains how he was once “trapped by lies”, where he got into a near-legal wrangle with a patient of his younger brother, who is a naturopath.

Worst, he says was the way some section of the press treated him when the news went viral. “I had phenomenal success in my work in London and this blip fed my critics to their heart’s content,” he notes sadly. But, he soon put all of that behind him as he ran two top spas in Europe and a very busy practice in London. “I don’t think it has had any effect on my practice or my life, as you can see.

If you have a name, someone must try to spoil it!”

OMAN – “HOTTEST” DESTINATION Time Reversal programme was available for a while in an ayurvedic resort in Kerala. “But then I realised that they were just using my name. They promoted ayurvedic packages to make more money. I have pulled out!. “Now I have own spa where I can offer top class treatment and promote my techniques. Moreover, my clients in Europe love Oman, it’s the hottest destination for highend tourists now. The model of treatment that I have developed requires thorough training of therapists and supervision by a doctor. It doesn’t require my presence all the time. My clinics in London and Delhi run on those principles.”

CHARITY CLINIC IN THE HIMALAYAS Dr Ali has a charity clinic in the Himalayas where 50000 people are served. “I am educating dozens of underprivileged children. I hope to introduce some of my techniques in Omani hospitals. That way, I will reach out to the common man.

HEAL PEOPLE – TRANSFORM LIVES “Of course my time is limited and I want to do what I enjoy most: heal people and transform their lives. I have commitments in London and at this stage in my life I have to limit the number of patients I can see. I have over 12000 on my list,” Dr Ali says.

No one can achieve 100 per cent results. “My treatment is heavily dependent on compliance by patients: they have to do the diet, have discipline of doing yoga or meditation.

Non compliance is equivalent to bad treatment. We motivate patients to follow our programme and they participate in their healthcare and learn how to. That is the depth of our principles.

Perhaps my self-help books will be translated into Arabic.

That will help a lot of people.”

(Contact: www.timereversal.net)

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Second edition of .OPEN MINDS’ forum at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah ballroom

Event

Her Highness Sayyida (Dr) Mona bint Fahd Al Said, assistant vice-chancellor for international cooperation at the Sultan Qaboos University, was the guest of honour at the second edition of the .Open Minds’ forum.

The two-day forum, which was held at the ballroom of the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah recently, saw speeches from eight speakers (four international and four local).

The opening speech was made by Malak Ahmed Al Shaibani, director general of National Business Centre (NBC). The first day’s speakers were Dr Amer Al Rawas, group Ceo, Tasneea Oil and Gas Technology and Dr L Subramaniam, iconic violinist and his son, Ambi Subramaniam and Sheikh Ahmed bin Suwaidan Al Balushi, former telecom minister. The first day also saw an SME presentation by the Busafi brothers(Busafi Design LLC).

The second day’s speakers were Jordan Casey, youngest app developer and entrepreneur, Matt Ryder, caricaturist, Col (retd) Abdulwahab Abdulkarim Al Balushi, general manager security and facilitation of the Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC)

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and also acting general manager of Muscat International Airport. Other speakers included Anna Roberts, radio and TV presenter and Abbas Al Lawati, stand-up comedian.

The second day also saw SME presentations by Eng. Ghassan Fadhil, human development and entrepreneurship consultant and coach and Shadya bint Salim Al Ismailiya, Omani jeweller and owner of DeemaOman. Top Dubai-based journalist Bikram Vohra introduced all the speakers and was the main moderator.

The event was presented by Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives (AVOD). Other event partners were the ministry of tourism and the Information Technology Authority (ITA)/e-Oman.

Merge and Al Wisal were the radio partners and the Times of Oman and Shabiba were the media partners.

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PRESENTS

A thought leaders

DAY 1

Malak Ahmed Al Shaibani, director general of National Business Centre

Dr Amer Al Rawas, group Ceo, Tasneea Oil and Gas Technology

Dr L Subramaniam and Ambi Su – iconic violinist and his

DAY 2

Eng. Ghassan Fadhil human development and entrepreneurship consultant and coach

Jordan Casey youngest app developer and entrepreneur

Matt Ryder caricaturist

Col (retd)

Abdulka general m and facilit

Event

EVENT

ship forum in Oman

ubramaniam s son

On February 10 & 11, 2016 at Shangri La Barr Al Jissah resort

Busafi brothers (Busafi Design LLC)

) Abdulwahab

Shadya bint Salim

rim Al Balushi anager security tation of OAMC

Al Ismailiya: Omani jeweler (owner of Deema Oman)

Sheikh Ahmed bin Suwaidan Al Balushi, former telecom minister

Anna Roberts radio and TV presenter

Abbas Al Lawati Stand-up comedian

PARTNERS RADIO PARTNERS

TECHNICAL PARTNER

A\V PRODUCTION

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER

ORGANISED BY

Dr Subramaniam and son performs at gala dinner of .Open Minds forum

Event

The living musical legend, Dr L Subramaniam and his talented young son, Ambi Subramaniam Jr, performed at the gala dinner of .Open Minds’ forum, which was held at the Turtle Beach of the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah.

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Leave extended… until further notice

wall he t ff

By Adarsh Madhavan

Off the wall

So Rajesh(*) got this letter from his company while he was on leave and he did not know what to make of it. The letter primarily read like the text from a failed economist (frankly I don’t know the exact description of an economist) giving a lecture on the current downturn of the economy; the oil prices slump etc. After this banal introduction to the general sorry state of affairs, the letter described how the slump has cast its shadow on the company he worked for the last so many years and well, you don’t have to wait with bated breath for the denouement, for it came much before the climax: “So, we have to look at ways to protect (PROTECT?OH MY GOD!) our employees, especially, the long-serving ones like your goodself (oh, what about his bad self?) from being entrapped in a situation which would put them in a quandary so we have taken the just (JUST? OMG!) stance by enabling you to find some time for yourself until the situation ameliorates.”

The letter continues: “Since you are still on your vacation, we would like to urge you to extend it for several months more until further notice.

As you have always wanted to spend more time with your aging parents and wanted your children to spend quality time with them too, we would say that this is the best opportunity you could get in a long time to come. Good things come out during bad times too and we sincerely feel that the best thing that has happened in these dire moments of acute financial issues striking most companies here are these golden (!) chances that are thrown to our employees in order to further strengthen their familial relations and also offer them greater opportunities to be with their loved ones. Also, the reason why we urge you to grab this opportunity is not all are as lucky (WOW!) as you. Some unlucky members of our company were unable to take the pressure posed by the current financial crises and decided to look for new opportunities elsewhere. However, in the prevailing scenario, one would not want to be very optimistic about their prospects, so we would safely assume that they have enough opportunities back in the countries where they come from. We would not want to impose such restrictions on you as you are (were?)

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a very loyal and long-serving employee of this company. So we have taken the liberty to give you a real outlet that will enable you to further all your unofficial activities, and other non-work related pursuits that you had said you were unable to pursue because of the work pressure and long hours spent at work.

“So, please look at this as an opportunity to further many of the dreams that you have kept in abeyance because of your extreme loyalty and dedication to not only our company but also the work that it entailed and be thankful to God for showering such blessings on you when the bleak financial scenario does not offer such options for many others.

“Since you have already availed of your leave salary and the only thing remaining is your gratuity (which we rightly assume you would not want to en cash as that would mean you would have to send us a note stating that you would like to take leave of your services with this company), we hope you will enjoy your extended vacation and fulfill many of your unrealised dreams. We wish you the very best and hope you take full advantage at the wonderful opportunity that has opened up for you!”

Of course, the above is a load of ballyhoo! Crap!

Yes, you said it, and perhaps such an imagined scenario would safely remain in the abode of those hazy nightmares that one would rightly spring awake from… But what do we do if, to cut the crap short, we were suddenly given such a ‘pseudo blessing-in-disguise time off’ from the companies that we work for, which is in fact a clear preamble to a slow dismissal or an equally smart way to extract a voluntary resignation?

Hard times throw up only harder choices? (*) Nobody by that name! adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com

Asaas unveils plans for Hilton Garden Inn Muscat and Urban Park in Al Khuwair Muscat National Development & Investment Company (ASAAS), unveiled its second mega-project this year announcing its plans to build a four-star hotel and urban park managed and operated by Hilton Worldwide under the brand Hilton Garden Inn. The project, a result of an agreement with Muscat Municipality to develop a 16,000 sqm plot in the bustling heart of Al Khuwair, broke ground in February 2016 with plans for the hotel to welcome its first guests in the first quarter of 2019.

ASAAS sealed the management agreement with Hilton Worldwide at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel and trade show, in the presence of Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mehrzi, minister of tourism, Khalid bin Sulaiman Ba Omar, ambassador of Oman to Germany and Oman Air Ceo. Representing ASAAS was Ceo, Eng. Khalid Al Yahmadi and Hilton Worldwide was Simon Vincent, president Europe, Middle East & North Africa.

With the leading global hospitality company at the helm, the 232 room hotel is expected to bring economic and social benefits to the community. Located on Dohat Al Adab Street, the seven-story Hilton Garden

Inn Muscat will be an architectural landmark. Respecting the surrounding area, the hotel design utilises elevation and section techniques to minimise close views into neighbouring buildings and will feature meeting spaces and a 24-hour business center. Food and beverage options at the hotel will include the signature 24-hour pavilion pantry for sweet treats and savoury snacks.

ASAAS had appointed AEDAS, one of the world’s top five leading global architecture and design firms to conceptualise the hotel and urban park. A collaboration of this kind with a renowned agency is a testament to ASAAS’ commitment to setting new benchmarks in quality project management and execution in Oman.

Speaking at the signing, Eng. Khalid Al Yahmadi, Ceo of ASAAS, remarked: “The tourism sector in Oman is a key contributor to the economic growth of the country and has the potential to yield even greater returns aided by strategic investments within its supply chain. Our aim is to establish a long-term partnership with Muscat Municipality, achieve profitable results, serve the community and raise the quality of projects in the tourism sector.”

The new-generation Audi A4 Wattayah Motors, the exclusive importers and distributors of Audi vehicles in Oman, unveiled the all-new Audi A4 to their top officials and media guests.

The new-generation Audi A4 is a fascinating synthesis of technology and esthetics. All the technology in the brand’s bestselling family car has been redeveloped, so that it yet again defines the benchmark in the segment.

During the development work, high priority was placed on the reduction of CO2 emissions. All technologies were focused on reducing drive resistance.

“With improved levels of standard technology, the Audi A4 is not only positioned to appeal to existing customers in the region, but will also attract a new range of buyers looking for a premium and stylish sedan”, commented David Ryan, general manager, Audi Oman. “Today

we have vehicles that cater to almost every customer segment. We are confident that with the emergence of the A4, there will be a consolidated shift towards this segment in the future,” concluded David Ryan.

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Disney Destinations event hosted in Dubai Disney Destinations hosted an event in Dubai to celebrate new announcements for Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland Paris. Exciting news was shared during this magical occasion where invitees discovered in premiere what’s new and what’s next across the three Disney Destinations.

Walt Disney World will soon open two new attractions in Epcot: Frozen Ever After and Soarin Around The World. A new meet and greet with Star Wars: The Force Awakens villain Kylo Ren will also open shortly in Disney’s Hollywood Studios while a new show, Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire, has been announced for the Magic Kingdom. Disney Springs, the new shopping and dining experience, has also been introduced to the guests. Disney Cruise Line announced the 2016 Summer itineraries where the Disney Magic will sail its first British Isles itinerary. Throughout the summer of 2016, Disney Cruise Line also will return to Norway,Iceland and ports of call in more than 15 European countries. In addition

to the tour of Europe with limited engagements in the Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, Iceland, British Isles and the Mediterranean. Disney Cruise Line will revisit favourite destinations elsewhere around the globe including Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Enhancements on the Disney Dream were also revealed such as the newly themed Star Wars area at the Disney’s Oceaneers Club or the new Vanellope’s Sweets And Treats, which satisfies the sweet tooth of cruisers of all ages, with handmade gelato and ice cream, an assortment of candy, and delectable novelty treats for purchase.

“Today, we are more than happy to have shared exciting news about Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland Paris. With all these new experiences coming soon, we are looking forward to welcoming Guests from the region to enjoy magical moments in our Disney Destinations” said Brigitte Elmkies-Sitbon, director of marketing and sales, International Markets, Disney Destinations.

Word press

Bahwan Furnishings receives ISO certification Bahwan Furnishings and Trading Company (BFT), one of the largest commercial furniture fit-out solutions providers in Oman under Suhail Bahwan Group, has reached another milestone in its history. BFT has recently been awarded the coveted ISO 9001-2008 certification.

The ISO certification was awarded

by Bureau Veritas – a global leader in certification services after inspecting and testing BFT’s robust quality management system and operations from design to delivery on various parameters and specifications.

Amal Suhail Bahwan, managing director and board member of Suhail Bahwan Group, said, “The ISO certification is the most credible way to demonstrate excellence and continuous improvement in our quality management system.

This recognition will build a tangible competitive advantage and assures that our customers will continue to receive the very best in quality and service from BFT. I congratulate the entire BFT team for achieving this 22

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accomplishment.”

Equipped with some of the world’s best and sophisticated machinery at its 250,000sq.ft workshop and warehousing facility in Rusayl Industrial Estate, BFT specialises in large-scale commercial turnkey projects – right from conceptualisation to commissioning

of interiors for retail showrooms, offices, shops, residential buildings, academic institutions, factories and warehouses. BFT also designs, manufactures and supply bespoke customised furniture as per customer demands and have a large list of loyal customers.

Oman’s first budget airline ‘Salam Air’ Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS) announced that the country’s first budget airline will fly under the brand name ‘Salam Air’. Homage to Oman’s deeply-rooted culture and long-standing history as an ambassador of peace, the name, which is derived from the Arabic greeting, is a result of a nationwide public poll conducted on the online social networking platform, Twitter and ASAAS’ corporate website.

“From the get-go, we were adamant about involving the general public in the process,” explained CEO, Eng. Khalid bin Hilal Al Yahmadi.

A call for suggested names was announced on Twitter that received an overwhelming response in a short span of time. After internal

discussions with Board Members and key government entities, eight names were shortlisted and a public poll was conducted that received close to 3,000 responses.

“While we understand that this is an unconventional way of naming an airline, we believe that integrating new modes of communication and outreach is the way of the future,” Eng. Al Yahmadi said.

“This is also a clear reflection of the way we do business. We are transparent and our approach is to be part and parcel of the community with all of our multi-industry projects.”

He went on to say, “The beauty of the word Salam is that it is a homonym. It means safety which is of fundamental importance in the aviation industry but also peace,

which characterices the quintessence of Oman as a progressive nation under the visionary leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.”

Up to OMR 2,000 cash-back from Mercedes-Benz Oman Admirers who seek ‘the best or nothing’ can now fulfil their ambition of owning a brand new iconic vehicle with Mercedes-Benz Oman’s special spring cash-back offer of up to OMR 2,000. Available on all models*, this outstanding new season deal is an exceptional way experience the exclusivity, luxury and intelligent drive of Mercedes-Benz. “Taking inspiration from the new season and also appreciating the fact that Spring is a time of year when many people consider buying a new vehicle, we have created a fresh cash-back March deal which includes our newest and most popular models.” enthused Clive Hammond, MercedesBenz Oman Ceo. “Our incredible vehicles are renowned for their global leadership in design and engineering but we have also developed a track record for delivering value-added offers to the market. This new offer is a tribute to our customer-centric approach which has and will continue to make Mercedes-Benz Oman the

partner of choice to drivers in the Sultanate.” Available only until 31st March 2016 or while stocks last, the offer encompasses all the MercedesBenz line-up which includes some of Oman’s favourite luxury sedans such as the S-Class, E-Class and the C-Class as well as the top-selling trail-blazing GLE, GLC and GLA

SUVs, and the new-generation hothatch A-Class. The extraordinary cash-back savings are calculated according to the vehicle selected with incredible value-return of up to OMR 2,000. *Not included in the offer are the G-Class and Mercedes-AMG GTS.

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Al Zaman Group of Companies to bring Fuddruckers to Oman The Al Zaman Group of Companies has signed up to bring American hamburger giant Fuddruckers in the Sultanate further expanding its activities. The deal comes close on the heels of the Group including top-end Indus restaurant in its roster and signing the opening of Caramel Restaurant and Lounge in Oman.

Khalid Zaman, director, Al Zaman Group of Companies, elaborates: “Hospitality is one of the areas where Al Zaman Group wants to expand significantly as we strongly believe that a robust and successful hospitality sector is very important for national progress and global recognition. Fuddruckers is a unique restaurant – though hamburger is its signature, its engaging menu offers variety for many tastes and likings with an array of sandwiches, platters and salads, all based on the principal of ‘Freshly Prepared, Best Ingredients and Prepared as the Customer Wants.’ World over, this casual dining restaurant is also known for its fun and relaxed family-orientated dining experience. Moreover, in this region, Fuddruckers has changed its menu and tastes to a great extent according to the local milieu. This explains why this chain is doing extremely well in this part of the globe. We are truly honored to bring Fuddruckers

to Oman, with its first outlet coming up soon in Qurum, in the heart of Muscat city”.

Othman Kolaghassi, managing director “Fuddruckers”, said: “We are thrilled to be expanding in the Middle East region and look forward to becoming an integral part of the Omani social circles. Fuddruckers is known for its hamburgers but to many it may be a surprise, that Fuddruckers’ most popular dish is the Dynamite Shrimp – a recipe par excellence that has been especially selected

by Sheikh Saleh – the franchisee owner of Fuddruckers in Arabia. We are very excited to start our outlet in Oman and want to thank the Al Zaman Group for their support and look forward to a long-standing fruitful association”.

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Al Rawahi International Company celebrates 25 years Celebrating 25 years of excellence in the building materials and construction industry in the Sultanate, Al Rawahi International Company, one of Oman’s leading contracting firms, organised a gala evening at the Grand Hyatt Muscat, recently.

The event was attended by Sheikh Salim Said Hamed Al Rawahi, chairman of Al Rawahi International and D. P. Hirani, director of Al Rawahi International in addition to top executives from the company, as well as top clients, business partners and other guests. The management of Al Rawahi International also took the opportunity to announce their exclusive distributorship of US-based Climatcool - manufacturers of green commercial and industrial modular chillers and packaged rooftop products promoting sustainability and energy efficiency.

Sharing his thoughts on the 25th anniversary of the Company’s 24

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operations, Sheikh Salim Said Hamed Al Rawahi, Chairman of Al Rawahi International said, “Almost three decades ago, we started this Company with a vision and support from friends and family. As the years passed, there came an increase in demand for quality construction and

building materials in Oman, which was fueled by the spurt in economic growth owing to the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. Today, we are indeed proud to celebrate 25 years of excellence in contributing towards making Oman a force to reckon with.”

Austria presents renewable energy solutions His Highness Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al Said, the patron of the Environment Society of Oman, inaugurated the conference Austria Showcase - Innovative Energy and Smart Building Solutions at the City Seasons Hotel Muscat.

He emphasised during his opening speech that low oil prices need not be a setback to the progress of greener initiatives such as efficiency and renewables. Organised by the Austrian Economic Delegation in Muscat and in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology, the event aimed to address the growing challenge of sustainable energy preservation in the Sultanate of Oman. The conference focussed therefore on two specific aspects on energy efficiency: green building: building efficiency, including the use of innovative new materials,

technologies and designs to optimise energy usage and Smart cities such as the integration of technology in urban planning to reduce energy consumption. In an overwhelming response, the conference was attended by over 130 representatives of the public and private sector in Oman. Various examples of sustainable projects in Oman were presented such as

the PDO large scale solar steam facility for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and their LEED’s approved PDO International School in Ras Al Hamra, the housing programmes by the Oman Ministry of Housing, the Fahud Solar Project by Renaissance Services and the ECO House competitions by SQU, Higher College of Technology and GUtech led by The Research Council in Oman.

Al Muzn and HMH sign Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel Muzn Oman Commercial (S.A.O.C.) signed a management agreement with HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings to operate Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel, recently. The upscale three-star hotel, with a built-up area of 12301m2 will be part of Al Muzn project that was promoted by MAJAN Development Company S.A.O.C. and being developed along with its strategic partners, as a mixed-use, one-stop destination offering multiple facilities. These include a shopping mall as well as a luxury wellness centre.

Making the announcement Mohamed Al Kindi, chairman of Muzn Oman Commercial (S.A.O.C.), stated, “The steady growth of tourism in Oman, with a vision to welcome 12 million visitors annually by 2020, is fuelling demand for quality mid-market hotels catering to diverse segments and Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel is being developed to serve that growing need. The hotel has been conceived to be a comfortable and stylish address for business and leisure travellers to Muscat. We are pleased to work with a reputed operator like HMH Hospitality Management Holdings on this exciting new development designed to complement Al Muzn Mall”.

Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel is expected to welcome

its first guests by the first quarter of 2018. Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO of HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings, said, “Oman is a key development market for HMH and we are very proud to debut the Corp brand in the country with Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel. The hospitality Industry in Oman is witnessing remarkable growth at the moment and we are truly grateful to Muzn Oman Commercial (S.A.O.C.) for having given us this opportunity at these exciting times.”.

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Shell Eco-marathon 2016 Three student teams from Oman’s prestigious educational institutions, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Caledonian College of Engineering (CCE) and German University of Technology (GUtech), are representing the Sultanate in the four-day Shell Eco-marathon Asia, which is set to commence on March 3 in Manila, Philippines.

The 2016 edition of the Eco-marathon kicks off with competitions in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The event brings to the forefront the future of mobility and encourages young aspiring engineers to think outside the box for sustainable solutions. The street circuit in Manila tests the boundaries of fuel efficiency and the winners are not measured by speed but on who can design a car that can drive the furthest on one liter of fuel.

“The Eco-Marathon aligns perfectly with the Oman National Vision 2020, touching the Human, Social and Energy pillars through its focus on education, teamwork, energy and scientific innovation. The competition brings together current and future leaders and people who are

passionate about energy issues and encourages them to think about sustainable solutions to the world’s energy challenge. We are proud to support the three high-calibre Omani teams who will be racing alongside 118 student teams from universities, colleges and technical institutes from 17 countries from Asia and Australia” said Chris Breeze, Shell Oman’s Country Chairman.

“We are very pleased to see these three teams once again participating in Shell Eco-marathon Asia. It is very impressive to see the high-level of detailed preparations and innovative thinking that the students have demonstrated in the design and assembly of the vehicles."

Three European premieres for Infiniti at 2016 Geneva Motor Show Infiniti’s European debuts include two all-new models and one comprehensively updated vehicle today at the Geneva International Motor Show. All three share Infiniti’s iconic design language, innovative technologies and precise driving characteristics.

All-new is the Q60 Sports coupe, promising a powerful drive from a highly-advanced new V6 engine boasting up to 400 hp, and the QX30 premium active crossover,

with its elevated stance, conceptlike exterior, and asymmetric cabin design.

They are joined by the refreshed Q50 sports sedan, which features significant performance and dynamic upgrades that deliver a more empowering and rewarding drive experience.

Roland Krueger, president of Infiniti Motor Company, commented: “2015 was a successful year for Infiniti, as we transformed our product line-up

and established a sales record for the brand around the world. The three new cars, which make their European debuts here in Geneva, highlight our ongoing commitment to developing and expanding Infiniti’s product portfolio.”

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An ultimate retreat for floral artistry An exclusive high-end shop for unique flowers and accessories was recently inaugurated by the Dutch ambassador, Barbara Joziasse.

Centrally located in the bustling Qurum complex next to Ocean Mall, Ultimate Planner offers floral decorations and glassware sourced from Holland. What sets Ultimate Planner apart are the exquisite designs made by Narayano Vrolijks, a master floral designer with 38 26

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years of experience, who applies his vision and talent to creating custom floral designs for special events of all kinds. Narayano and his team can transform a simple or elaborate wedding into an elegant ceremony as well as tailor-make arrangements for corporate businesses, hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

Each arrangement or bouquet will be personalised. “Some of the glass vases used in the creations

by Narayano are one of its kind, as they are exclusively handcrafted.

Even after the flowers fade away, the glassware can still be used as a centrepiece and will hold a place of pride for the owner,” Ahlam Talib Al Qutaiti, Ceo of Ultimate Planner noted. Ultimate Planner will soon extend its services to organising events that will include corporate events, concerts, theatre festivals, art and fashion shows.

Awasr launches 1 Gbps Internet service Awasr, Oman’s first specialised highspeed fiber Internet provider, officially launched its services in the regions of Al Khoud, Al Ma’awaleh, Al Hail, Maabelah and Shatti Al Qurum as a first phase, with expansion plans to cover the rest of Muscat and other areas in Oman.

The announcement was made during an inauguration ceremony organised by the company at Al Bustan Palace hotel, which included impressive shows and audiovisual effects and was attended by dignitaries, government officials and top executives, as well as Awasr staff members. “The broadband fibre optic packages offered by Awasr aim to support the government’s vision in reinforcing the Sultanate’s digital infrastructure and offering high-speed Internet services. Our new 1 Gigabit speed will drive the market to provide the high speeds needed to allow people and enterprises to become more innovative – hence contributing to the prosperity and sustainable development of the Sultanate,” said His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin As’ad Al Said, chairman of Awasr.

The company announced that it will soon offer a 1 Gigabit (GB) connection for homes and has previously launched three fibre-tothe-home (FTTH) packages with 20MB, 50MB and 150MB speeds accordingly.

Also available are three fibre-to-thebusiness (FTTB) packages with 5MB, 10MB and 30MB Internet speed for small, medium, and large scale enterprises.

So far, the company has over 500 customers and they expect to get a share of 30 to 35 per cent of fibre broadband market by 2019,”Grame Lowther, strategy advisor of Awasr, told the media after the inaugural event. Awasr will follow the Oman Broadband Company in providing broadband connections to homes in different areas, he said, adding that the OBC has built optical fibre network in cooperation with Haya Water.

“About 70,000 homes in Muscat have already been covered. By the end of the year, OBC will release 120,000 homes. That is a big market,” Lowther was quoted as saying to the

press.

The OBC is also laying optical fibre cable in other cities like Salalah. By the end of the year, 25 to 30 per cent of Muscat will be covered by fibre optic cable of OBC. “In two years, 90 per cent of Muscat will be covered.”

The services of Awasr are all postpaid. However, the company plans to introduce pre-paid service at a later stage.

The company, which has an Omanisation ratio of almost 100 per cent, is aiming at achieving breakeven by 2020.

More information about the Awasr packages can be found on the website http://www.awasr.om.

Meethaq enhances value proposition of savings account with new features Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, has enhanced the value proposition of its innovative Shari’a based savings account with attractive new features. Committed to maintaining the leadership in Islamic banking, the savings account with enhanced features is aimed at further encouraging the savings culture in Oman by providing attractive benefits to customers. Notably, the Meethaq savings account based on Mudaraba principle provides annual profit rate up to 1.25 per cent, along with free life Takaful.

With monthly profit payment and smart cash management, Meethaq savings account offers profit for

every single riyal of deposit. The benefits also include Visa ATM debit card for Point of Sale (PoS) transactions and cash withdrawal through ATM machines around the world. There is no minimum balance fee on Meethaq savings account.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, deputy chief executive officer - Islamic Banking, said: “At a time when expectations on financial rewards and incentives are low due to prevailing economic situation, Meethaq is proud to further elevate the unique Islamic banking experience. Meethaq is proud to enhance the features of the savings account, aimed at rewarding customers with attractive benefits.

The Meethaq strategy is to maintain

the leadership in Islamic banking through innovative Shari’a based products and services.” The Shari’a based Meethaq savings account is designed on the principles of ‘Mudaraba’ where the bank generates Shari’a based income with a predetermined profit-sharing ratio for the customer by investing the money in Shari’a based instruments. The savings account is available for both individuals as well as corporates.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd launched the newest additions to the Galaxy family of products, SamsungGalaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, to consumers in Oman at the Crowne Plaza Muscat recently.

“The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are very bold representations of our commitment to the hundreds of millions of people around the world who love our products and inspire our work. Class-leading camera technology, a longer-lasting battery, cutting edge processors and optimisation for gaming are just some of the features that will make these the most innovative smartphones

you have ever owned,” Tarek Sabbagh, head of IT and mobile division at Samsung Gulf Electronics commented at the launch function.

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge introduce the first Dual Pixel camera on a smartphone, delivering brighter and sharper images, even in low light. Motion Panorama, a new camera mode, brings movement to traditional panoramic photos, giving the user a completely immersive visual experience. The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge are constructed with 3D glass and metal – all in a sleek design with durability and ergonomic curves

for a comfortable grip. Without compromising design, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge both have increased utility with IP68 water and dust resistance. Edge UX, the advanced edge experience available on Galaxy S7 edge, provides convenience and increased efficiency by creating easy shortcuts to users’ most loved functions such as email, selfie mode, panorama mode or third party applications. Samsung Gulf Electronics has also announced the launch of the Galaxy Entertainer application in conjunction with the launch of the flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 edge smartphones.

New ‘S’ products every year Tarek Sabbagh, head of IT and mobile division at Samsung Gulf Electronics also spoke to Black & White.

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Samsung has launched the Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S6 Edge Smartphone last year. Barely a year after that we are seeing a new addition to the Samsung Phablets family. Is it part of theSamsung strategy to launch new products every year?

Yes, this is the seventh year after we launched the first Samsung ‘S’ series. Every March we launch a new ‘S’ (series). More than a strategy, it is part of our unerring commitment to our consumers that year after year we are launching new models of the ‘S’ series. The current S 7 can very well be called the “ultimate redefined phone”.

The Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 Edge were found to have great design and performance. So, would you call the S 7 a more stylish and premium product?

There have been quite a lot of improvements made on the S 7; we would like to call it the next28

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level phone. The improvements made are manifold: a 40 percent increase on the battery life; a sleek, elegant, trim and thin design with a powerful outlook and appeal; it is a modern and improved version of the camera with an enhancement on vision plus the ability to shoot night pictures and the addition of DSLR technology. All in all, I can say that the current launch of the S7 and S 7 edge displays a real commitment to innovation.

How will the new products enhance the owner’s desire to have bigger, better and smarter Smartphones?

We go by the adage, ‘rethink what a phone can do’. So that about covers everything. It is part of the ‘open ecosystem’ strategy, which enables us to go for a big range of innovations. It is in line with the buyer’s/owner’s desire to have a ‘bigger, better and smarter’ Smartphone.

How do you view the Muscat/ Oman market for these two new products?

We are very happy with the Oman market. Omanis are smart in choosing the right technology and the right phone. So that adds up well with the increase in numbers.

Samsung products are available at branded outlets, service centres where knowledgeable Samsung professionals expound on the features of the available products.

The S7 (OMR270) and S7 Edge (OMR300) are available at all Samsung outlets in Oman from March 14.

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In Black...

Omani halwa needs no introduction and is very famous not just in our own country, but also in the region. Many regions are famous for its own style and ingredients...

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Chairman PURSUIT OF SWEETNESS I was called to attend two functions recently, one an official event, the other, an unofficial one. What connected both in singular fashion was this: the serving of piping hot kahwa and delicious, melt-in-themouth, halwa before anything.

No event, nor any function can be complete in Oman with the serving of the traditional kahwa and halwa. Yes, today, the youth is very health and diet conscious but all of that is thrown to the winds before this sweet.

Omani halwa needs no introduction and is very famous not just in our own country, but also in the region. Many regions are famous for its own style and ingredients and it would be foolish to think that tradional Omani halwa would soon be replaced by modern sweets. No way, halwa is here to stay!

The kahwa is paired with halwa and dates and in fact even the modern generation have accepted these delicacies as part of their lifestyle.

The B&W team met with a unique Omani family, where almost all of its members jointly run a traditional halwa shop, and they have been doing so for generations.

The family of 11 boys with the father runs an Omani halwa shop in Samail and are very passionate of the traditional sweet making as they are with their own full-time jobs and schools. The father, who has been in this business for ages, details his passion and also notes that it was a tradition that will continue even after him. Although all of his sons are equally adept at making this sweet, the father has chosen one of them to continue this tradition.

MOBILE HALWA UNIT One of the sons has modernised and created a mobile halwa-making unit, which can be parked at various parks and joints and this van has added to further spreading the popularity of halwa.

Here is wishing the young and old team of halwa makers every success in their sweet pursuit!

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Scent of a‌

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One fine sunny morn, we sniffed the air and without much ado,

went in chase of a scent‌ of a sweet, sticky brown, gelatinous Omani delicacy that melts in our mouth. We had bumped into a young halwa maker in a mobile unit at a function hosted by a top bank and keeping our promise to meet his family of halwa makers, we took

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the aromatic trail from Muscat to Sumail trying to find the home of one of the most popular halwa makers there.

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Abdullah along with his sons run the shop-cum-halwa factory in Sumail But soon, the aroma evaded us on the road, it escaped us on the meandering interior trail until, hours later, when we knocked the doors of the halwa maker and his family, we picked up wisps of the scent again, then soon it pervaded us, stronger than ever.

We met the halwa maker, a cheerful Abdullah bin Amer Al Riyami, who smelt a bit of cardamom, a bit of saffron and a bit of roses... well, a bit of it all! His sons who trooped into the living room to greet us also smelt the same. The sweet aroma of the popular Omani treat seemed to emanate from them.

“Come,” they said, “Come, we will show you how halwa is made,” they chorused and the next day, they whisked us into the realm of an aromatic cardamom-tainted haven where they displayed their skills in creating this rich dessert that we willing took mouthfuls, the memory of

which has not faded much after it has melted in our mouth.

Al Faiha Factory for Omani halwa, which is their shop-cum-halwa factory in Sumail was just a small building like any other you see casually tossed on the sides of the roads when you travel in Oman. A nondescript sign featuring their trade sits mutely above the shop. Once you enter, your senses are immediately assailed by the aroma from within and the heaps of plastic containers waiting to be filled. Step in further and you realise that in Oman, some of the finest sweets are created within the four walls of homes and small factories such as this.

SYMBOL OF OMANI HOSPITALITY So there we were with Abdullah, and his young team who went about making this sweet treat, which is a popular symbol of Omani hospitality.

The making of halwa is often a fiercely-guarded secret, but Abdullah

had no qualms in lending us a ringside view of the proceedings.

“What is mostly kept a secret is the proportions of the ingredients used and when we are making it, you will only see the ingredients being used, but not in what manner,” Abdullah guffawed.

The main ‘ingredient’ for halwamaking success is to have all the materials ready at the right time, Abdullah, who had earlier worked for the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), believes. On a random scale, these include firewood, shredded almonds, sugar, pure ghee and powdered starch. Water is required not only for making the halwa, but also for the washing up. The important thing was to make sure that the proportions of the ingredients are correct, Abdullah emphasised. The main base is sugar and powdered starch. Flavour and colour can be adjusted by using varying amounts of almonds, cardamoms and saffron.

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Scent of a family... Halwa makers all!

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One of the sons wipes the copper pot (mirjnl) clean and pours water in it. Water, sugar and ghee forms the base, Abdullah noted, while cardamom, rosewater, saffron, egg, nuts and dates are added, depending on the type of halwa that is being made. All of this is cooked in the mirjnl, which can easily hold upto 60kgs. “But, we will be making only 20kgs,” Abdullah informed us. To make 20 to 25 kilos of halwa around 30-35 litres of water, 16 kilos of sugar and three kilos of starch as well as nuts, spices and colouring are used.

Abdullah and his family use the finest quality of wood for the cooking. The workers light the wood through an outlet from outside the building and soon, the half dead factory came crackling with life and the aroma of cardamom and ghee added to the lively cooking.

The father initiated the stirring and then soon the sons and other workers took over, while we also gave it a try.

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When Abdullah first started stirring it, the dark brown contents in the mirjnl made sounds like the waves coming to the shore.

HEAVY-DUTY STIRRING It is not easy to stir the brew. A bit of muscles, or at least a good amount of strength, is required to stir it, especially when the concoction gets thicker. The father and sons took turns to stir the boiling broth and their easy manner belied the tough task.

“Once you start stirring, you cannot stop – you have to keep stirring till the end. Also, if you stop stirring, there is a chance that the mixture may stick to the bottom of the pot and then the whole batch would be ruined.” Abdullah explained. “Maybe it will take an hour or an hour and a half of stirring,” he added.

And so they stirred and they stirred and along with our sweat, our mouths began to water. At a certain point Abdullah scooped some of the semi-thick brew into a bowl. We

smiled involuntarily anticipating an advanced treat, but much to our disappointment, he kept the bowl aside “This is to balance it later,” he said, adding some more ghee, while we tried to camouflage our disappointment with knowledgeable nods.

Sometimes, it is a strain to watch someone cook such a delicacy right in front of our noses.

The plot seemed to thicken as some grinded cardamom is put in. Earlier, two types of ghee, the thin and the thicker ones were put in; the latter primarily for the aroma. Soon some cashew nuts were liberally strewn in and more than a dash of Omani rose water (saffron) was also added as we waited patiently, our tongues on a leash.

Once again Abdullah dug into the cauldron drawing up a string of the hot sweetmeat. He tested the halwa to see if it was properly cooked.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT: With a dash of almonds, the mouth-watering halwa is placed next to an old Sumail Municipality cleanliness/hygiene certificate of Abdullah.

A half smile and the serene, satisfied look on his face was the simple answer to the query whether the halwa was ready.

DEVOURING THE DELICACY The viscous, slightly elastic and glistening product was quickly transferred to plastic containers, both large and small. Abdullah and his sons cut into the finished products and generously piled them on some plastic plates for us. We did not even show the courtesy to say that we need to only taste it as we greedily devoured the muchawaited delicacies and soon the conversations or the lack of it were punctuated with sighs of satisfactions and the smacking of lips.

While we licked our halwa plates clean, Abdullah cut through to some history of halwa in Oman.

While noting that Sumail was one of the traditional centres for halwa making in Oman, he said like some of the old crafts, halwa making often

tended to be a family tradition; the recipes are handed down from father to son, generation to generation.

"As kids we all used to sing local folklores, which mentioned halwa making. These songs were passed on for generations and mentioned how important halwa is for any traditional functions in our society and community from, weddings to Eid celebrations and family get togethers.

It is a symbol of hospitality and tradition and is an integral part of any celebration,” Abdullah said.

“Every region had its own signature style, and is famous for its taste, touch, odour and ingredients. Today Sumail has over 70-odd halwa factories which does good business with clientele from all over Oman.”

Much as it was a family tradition and part of the Omani diet, halwa’s ubiquitous presence was such that even a young kid could taste a spoon of halwa and determine its freshness and flavour.

Abdullah's grandfather “Every Omani kid is aware of the taste of halwa and its importance in the Omani tradition.”

And almost every other Omani boy has been initiated into the art of halwa making.

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STIR IT TILL THE END: Stirring is the most important process in halwa making. Al Faiha Factory has a machine that can

continuously stir “I learnt the art of halwa making from my father, who learnt it from his father. Ours is a trade that has been passed on for over 100 years and I have made it my duty to teach and train my children too,” he said.

A FAMILY TRADITION “I can proudly say that ours was one of the pioneer families in the halwa-making trade. One of my grandfather ran one of the first few halwa shops in Samail. It was located near the wali’s office then. It was a landmark and many people from nearby regions flocked at this shop.

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Those days, families were known by their trades and business. Each halwa maker had a signature recipe that has been passed down. The recipe and the ingredients remain traditional, though the newer generation members try to better the product, the taste has been preserved over hundreds of years and most families keep the recipe a secret.”

Lores about halwa also form part of the traditions and one tale that Abdullah had learnt from his grandfather was that in ancient Egypt, it was used in the embalming process along with frankincense.

Derived from the Arabic word halwa which means 'candy' or 'sweet', halwa’s age-old origins have various theories. With so much Arabic history attached to this 36

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delicacy, it is only natural that Oman has its own share of history and tradition. I started teaching my sons at a very small age. I learned it and started helping my father and grandfather when I was just seven.”

Ageless landmark Abdullah Al Riyami remembers his grandfather’s halwa shop located in the old souq in Sumail. It was one of the first few halwa shops of that time. The shop used to be a landmark and halwa lovers from the nearby regions used to flock at the shop to buy the melt-in-the-mouth sweet meat. Today, the souq does not exist. Abdullah took the B&W team around the ruins of what was once a bustling souq.

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Ahmed poses before their mobile halwa-making unit

MOBILE HALWA-MAKING UNIT “Growing up in a family that has halwa as it traditional trade, handed over through generations, halwa-making becomes child’s play to all of us brothers,” Ahmed Abdullah Amer Al Riyami, 30, one of the sons of Abdullah, told us. “Though we are all engaged in our own jobs in the morning hours, including the schooling of the younger ones, we all get together in the afternoon hours, and start making halwa and selling it in our shop until late night,” Ahmed, who works at the ministry of social development, said. “During celebrations, wedding seasons or Eid, we sell up to 200 odd kilos of halwa a day. However on a normal day, it could vary from 100 to 150 kilos. In a three-hours span, we brothers can cook up 40 kilos of halwa!”

B&W Xclusive

MOBILE COOKING AND SELLING Since it is a firm family tradition, and since all of the brothers were initiated to the art at a very young age, each one of them have gained mastery over it in their own way. “We know the recipe and ingredients and the process by heart. I have added on my own little bit of contribution and tried to modernise our shop and the production unit. As a rule, the more that it is stirred whilst cooking, the final product is tastier. At our shopcum-factory here, we adopt both the traditional and modern cooking process. We have a machine that can do continuous stirring. Moreover we invested on a mobile unit that travels to a particular public place, park or festival and make halwa on the spot and sell to the public.”

The object of a mobile unit is simple. “Earlier every process was conventional and there were no options.

We needed heavy brass vessels, ladles and materials

accordingly, all preset by the elders. Now carrying all this and lighting a fire at any public spot is impractical.

But if I set a safe halwa unit, including the vessels and all equipments in a mobile unit, I could go anywhere and make halwa. So with the mobile unit, we take halwa to the public rather than vice versa!”

THREE TYPES OF HALWA Ahmed said that they make three types of halwa: normal, first class and special. “We cannot use special halwa on a daily basis, as it is not for everyday use. It has high calories and most of the younger generation would think twice about consuming on a daily basis. However, halwa is a way of life, not just for locals, but also for many expats and tourists today. We focus more on the normal and first-class halwa on a regular basis. However weddings and Eid celebrations are incomplete without the special Omani halwa. So focus is on these types of halwa as per season and occasion. Mostly fruits are not used for normal type of halwa, however we do use dates in the special ones. In Sumail, most men indulge in this trade because the halwa is made fresh and in front of many guests with local folklore and songs. Making halwa itself is a celebratory affair. Most of the folklore/songs sung in Sumail region mentions halwa in verses.” That was a way of making a sweet song sweeter.

DAILY TRADITION “Halwa is a part of our daily life. No matter how old we grow, or how far we are away, the family trade will always continue. Just like how our father taught us to make the halwa, my brothers and I will pass on this tradition to the coming generations too. Even the womenfolk in our families are well trained in halwa making and support us in our endeavours!” enthused Ahmed.

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar, Photos: Najib Al Balushi 40

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Try this…

Change the way you THINK...

By Dr CK Anchan

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

Everybody’s view of the world is different and it all comes down to the thinking patterns you use in your daily life. If you think life is wonderful you will notice the wonderful things in your life, if you think life is not worth you will find things not good about life. Change your thoughts and you literally change the world you are living in. First you have to recognise your destructive thinking pattern.

Recognising and changing your way of thinking can be a long process depending on what patterns of thinking you employ and how badly you want to change. People can change, do change and change for the rest of their lives. It can be extremely difficult to focus on the good when, seemingly, bad things are happening in your life. However you can train your mind to focus on the good things in your life rather than dwelling on the bad.

You see everyone as incapable of doing anything right and your way is the best way to do it e.g. “He can’t do it right, You will find a lot of people in life who just don’t think there is a problem so there is no need to change.

If this is you then do nothing. If you want to change you must think there is a need and you will start to recognise what things need to change and it usually starts with your perception of life.

You tend to make a lot of conclusions without any evidence to back up your conclusions. This can be a really destructive pattern as it can limit you in seeing reality for what it is. This is when you think nothing good will ever happen to you. This can be a deep seated way of thinking and it is a deep down inability to believe you are worthy of anything good happening to you e.g. “I’ll never have money, I’ve never had it before so I’ll never have it in the future etc.

Everybody’s perception of life is different; therefore everyone’s reality is different. I don’t live in the same world as you and you don’t live in the same world as me. That might sound a strange concept to some people, but think about it for a few minutes, it could change the way you see the world. Your new way of thinking to good effect, You will start to notice new types of people enter into your life who can help you reach the goals you have in life and in turn you will help them reach their goals, don’t worry about how just now.

Take time to think about your goals and take the time often to do this. Take time every day to think about where you want to be in life and slowly but surely it happens. Wish you all the best!

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Fun facts about

Kidstuff

BRAIN

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People have been amazed about the human brain throughout the ages.

Here are a few interesting facts on the wonder called human brain The weight of the human brain is about 3 lbs Your brain keeps developing until your late 40s Lack of oxygen in the brain for 5 to 10 minutes results in permanent brain damage.

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and makes up 85 percent of the brain’s weight Your brain is 60 percent white matter and 40 percent gray matter. The brain’s gray matter is made up of neurons, which gather and transmit signals. The white matter is made up of dendrites and axons, which create the network by which neurons send their signals.

Your brain uses 20 percent of the total oxygen and blood in your body When awake, the human brain produces enough electricity to power a small light bulb.

60 percent of your brain is fat The brain is made up of about 75 percent water Dieting could force your brain to eat itself scientists say.

There are no pain receptors in the brain, so the brain can feel no pain There is no Left Brain/Right Brain Divide. It’s a myth. They work together.

When you learn something new, the structure of your brain changes.

While an elephant’s brain is physically larger than a human brain, the human brain is 2 percent of total body weight (compared to 0.15 percent of an elephant’s brain), meaning humans have the largest brain to body size

I thought a thought But the thought I thought I thought wasn’t the thought I thought.

If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought I thought, I wouldn’t have thought so much.

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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 month, here is some nitter natter for the B&W Bitter Batter:

It is not a joke. Getting into a road accident that is. You might be one of the most careful drivers in the world, yet, there is no guarantee that you can escape someone coming and banging your car. That is the tragedy.

You may be careful but what about the others on the road?

“Yes!” says this man who had his car banged by another careless driver when he was inside the parking lot of a building where he had gone to attend a meeting. Let him say it in his own words: “I was just driving slowly around the parking lot to see if I could get a parking and for sure I won’t be speeding there! I had hardly turned a corner at a speed of around 10kms per hour when a smaller car, which was parked, suddenly reversed with the driver not even looking behind or into the side mirrors and hit my car on the front right portion. I was shocked.”

“And even more so when the driver of

that car jumped out wagging his finger at me and screaming at me for ‘my mistake’! Duh?! What? Was this man for real, I asked myself totally taken aback by his actions. But of course, within moments, our driver composed himself and coolly took in the scene while the ‘victim’ went on ranting and railing and declaring to me that he was going to call the cops. “I was flustered for a moment and then I told him to go ahead and do so! My car was not damaged – save for a small patch of

black colour on the fender – while he had a very small dent. I tried to advise him and pointed out that it was his mistake and when the cops come, he will be the one to be taken to task!”

The other driver pooh-poohed this bit and said he was going to get proper compensation for the er, “damage”.

The cops came and within no moments told the aggressive car driver that it was HIS fault, which he defended with great passion but to no avail. The cops seeing his aggressive behaviour told him to cut it short and bring the car to the police station to pay the fine. That shut him up proper and square.

“There was no need to bother the cops with this. It was a trivial issue which we could have easily settled but that man wanted to ‘punish’ me – unfortunately for him, truth and the law were on my side,” our driver tells us happily.

Nitter natter

Er, he is not THE man?

Photographers are known to create photos that can surpass even a tale of thousand words! But, then what if the photographer clicks a wrong tale? Won’t it be a tale of (ahem) thousand blunders? At a recent top evening do, the journalist who was covering the event asked his photographer to click a high-ranking official who was the chief guest. There were other top dignitaries too as this was a major event. Now, our friendly neighbourhood photographer got into the act, shot some pictures and profiles and as rain was trickling and since everyone was into a ‘getaway’ mood, they soon slipped away. Especially the media, some of who had

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to get back and file reports. Our photographer friend downloaded and filed his pictures and went home. But the journalist concerned got a heart attack when he looked at the pictures.

Not one of them had the chief guest’s snap!

“What happened? Where is the chief guest’s picture?” he asked the photographer. “It is there – number X,” the latter said, citing a number. To everyone’s dismay, the truth was that the photographer mistook another senior official for the chief guest and never took the real man’s photo at all! The last we have heard of the photographer is that he is in hiding from the scribe!

Don’t sing Sir -- not even on your birthday There are singers and singers and there are those who well, simply cannot sing! Like at this recent party where friends gathered with family to enjoy this gentleman’s birthday at his home and they all decided to sing to liven things up. No, not just ‘happy birthday to you…” but film songs et al set to karaoke tunes. So, genuine singers, not-so genuine but aspiring singers set the song ball rolling until suddenly the birthday boy decided to pitch in with his own musical bit. Well, it was his day; he deserved to be pampered and whether he could sing or not, he had to be given a chance.

Nothing wrong in belting out a few lines! So, egged on by his friends and well wishers, the birthday boy took the mike, the technical guys set the tune for a very popular song rolling and the man began to…croak! Literally! In the stunned silence that ensued, as the man crackled, croaked and belched out the lines, the music suddenly went kaput. Before everyone could

heave a sigh of relief, the man coaxed the team to set the music rolling again and when it did, he attempted blue bloody murder of that popular song again. Somewhere the angel of music heard this cacophony of discordance and once again stopped

the accompanying recorded music.

But this man would not take this sign from above and still persisted.

He demanded the music be brought on again and began his phlegmatic dissonance, in effect totally mutilating the song as the original dead singer rolled in his grave and the withering birthday guests shifted uneasily at this harsh throes of nightmarish sounds emitted by this peculiarly ignorant song enthusiast. The remaining singers to take up the mike were so traumatised by this preceding ‘musical’ attempt so much so they refused to come up and sing after that. The karaoke was disbanded and everyone quietly went about the machinations of eating dinner and quickly disappearing from the discordant scene. Even if he was a Cacofonix (*), they could not stuff his mouth and tie him up! (*) A noisy village bard in the Asterix and Obelix comic strips.

Pot calling the kettle black Trouble brewing on the Indian school front? Well, we may have to sit this one out even though broad hints and hesitant complaints are lobbed against us in the name of news but we tell them boss we are no longer in the fray; we have been away from the scene since a long time so let us mull over things a bit before we comment, okay? Issues of fee hikes, and other

accusations are being levelled but until we get a grip we are moving to a

safe distance and will wait and watch.

We had our swing in this fracas before and our fingers have got burnt as well, so until and unless we are really sure there is real meat in this we are not going to bite. Also, most of the times we have got into the Indian schools’ issues, we have realised that it is usually a case of the pot calling the kettle black!

(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

GEMINI May 21-June 21

Keeping secrets will not be easy this week as you are beset by the need for the truth to be out in the open. Careful of sharing news which is not yours to tell. You could be affecting several lives if you do. News from far away gives you reason to get excited about your career possibilities in the months ahead.

Don’t let worries become bigger than then they need to be. stars show that you have all the tools you need to make a success of this week, this month and even this year.

You also have to realise that the outside influence which has been affecting you, really is outside of your circle and cannot hurt you anymore.

Your professional life is highlighted and you get the chance to mix with some powerful and influential faces. Make sure you’re on time for all meetings as first impressions will count for everything.

A new face in the workplace links to your personal happiness in the future in more ways than you could imagine!

CANCER June 22-July 23 This week, you get the chance to find out who your true friends and allies are. You also see with ease who it is you need to distance yourself from. Fresh faces in the workplace bring opportunities which are sure to give you a new zest for your job and its future possibilities.

LEO July 24-August 23 Your energy levels return and you no longer feel so worried about what others think. This would be a great week to finally ditch the bad habits that keep creeping back into your life. A naughty feel to your chart this weekend could see you pursuing a relationship which you know deep down is not for you.

VIRGO August 24-September 23 Emotions are working overtime, so it’s going to be very easy for you to accuse your close ones of things they haven’t done. Try to back away and look at the bigger picture.

To ruin all the groundwork you’ve put in recently would be just insane.

House moves and changes look to be to your financial advantage.

Horoscope

MARK WILLIAM CALAWAY (BORN MARCH 24, 1965), better known by his ring name The Undertaker, is an American professional wrestler.

He is currently signed to WWE, where he has worked since 1990, making him the company's longest tenured in-ring performer. Calaway began his wrestling career with World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in 1984. After wrestling for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as "Mean" Mark Callous from 1989 to 1990, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1990.

As The Undertaker, Calaway's gimmick is a horror-themed, macabre entity who employs scare tactics and holds links to the supernatural; the character was reinvented as a biker during the early 2000s. The Undertaker is the storyline half-brother of fellow WWE wrestler Kane, with whom he has alternately feuded and teamed with as The Brothers of Destruction. Since unseating Hulk Hogan as WWF Champion in 1991, The Undertaker has been involved in various pivotal storylines and matches within WWE history.

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stars LIBRA September 24-October 23 Don’t believe or act on the rumours which are circulating Libra, as many of the signs have mischief on their minds. The coming days should be about completing work you’ve already begun so you are not left with loose ends. You visit somewhere from your past which brings someone you lost contact with.

CAPRICORN December 23-January 20 Try to pay attention to detail today as there are important people you need to impress if you are to be given a hand up the career ladder. Carelessness with money could see you spending what you can’t afford or in some cases losing cash.

SCORPIO October 24-November 22 There have been a lot of things you needed to work through recently and I’m really proud with how very brave and honest you’ve been over what I’m sure were some very painful issues. Family demand to be a priority this weekend, but your help and support is sure to be duly noted and appreciated.

AQUARIUS January 21-February 19 You have been going through such an array of emotions that you’re no longer sure what it is that you want. Recent new influences in your life have blurred your judgement about what you want and where you’re going. Luckily for you, old faces remind you what’s important to you.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 22 There is a more even and steady feel to your life this week and you should no longer feel as if you have lost control. A new friendship gives you reason to look forward to social times and you begin to worry less and enjoy life more. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep though, as a tired mind could make mistakes.

PISCES February 20-March 20 A fresh view of an old problem helps you to take stock of life and just where yours is going.

You lost your grip on reality for a while, but you’re back and you will be able to see with clarity who is good for you and who has been dragging you down. New career paths should be grasped, not ignored.

STEFANI JOANNE ANGELINA GERMANOTTA (BORN MARCH 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She performed initially in theater, appearing in high school plays, and studied at CAP21 through New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before dropping out to pursue a musical career.

After leaving a rock band, participating in the Lower East Side's avant garde performance art circuit, and being dropped from a contract with Def Jam Recordings, Gaga worked as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. There, recording artist Akon noticed her vocal abilities and helped her to sign a joint deal with Interscope Records and his own KonLive Distribution. Her debut album The Fame (2008) was a critical and commercial success that produced global chart-topping singles such as "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". A follow-up extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009), was met with a similar reception and "Bad Romance", "Telephone", and "Alejandro" were released becoming successful singles.

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Cooking with

ZUCCHINI

Cooking

Eaten raw or cooked, you can simply enjoy any recipe made of Zucchini and still get a those vitamins and minerals you need. It makes the perfect light side dish for any heavy meal; you can add it on to pasta, spaghetti or plainly toss a salad with it‌here are a few simple salads for you to try at home‌

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Baby zucchini salad Ingredients 5 baby zucchini, sliced thinly 1/2 red onion, sliced thin 1 red bell pepper, diced 2 leaves fresh basil, minced 2 tablespoons smoked olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar salt and pepper to taste Method Toss the zucchini, onion, bell pepper, and basil together in a large bowl. Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the mixture and toss again to evenly coat. Season with salt and pepper to serve.

Minted Zucchini Ingredients 1/4 cup olive oil 3 large zucchini, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups fresh mint leaves, finely chopped 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar 1/2 teaspoon salt ground black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon olive oil, for drizzling Method Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini slices and garlic; cook and stir until starting to brown but you want the squash to stay firm and not get mushy, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and mix in the vinegar, mint, salt and pepper. Stir in the remaining olive oil. Spoon into a jar and store covered in the refrigerator.

Zucchini lemon Salad Ingredients 4 small zucchini, thinly sliced 1/2 small sweet onion thinly sliced 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, minced 1 lemon, zested and juiced 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons white sugar salt and ground black pepper to taste 1/4 cup light olive oil Method Place zucchini slices in a colander for 10 minutes, allowing juices to release;

pat dry.

Combine zucchini, onion, and parsley together in a bowl. Mix lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and sugar together in a separate bowl; season with salt and pepper. Slowly stream olive oil into lemon juice mixture while whisking constantly until dressing emulsifies.

Pour dressing over zucchini mixture; toss to coat.

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Psyche 50

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“What are you FUMING about? You are only a WOMAN!” This is something that is going to divide us all.

This is something that some of you are going to get angry about…

If you are a man and you are going to get angry about what we are going to say now, we will all take cognisance of your anger. But, if you are a woman, then all your anger, sweat and tears will not be given similar merit.

Now, we did not say that! A recent study, on the subject of who among the two genders are taken very seriously when they get angry, noted that the men were quite often seen as exhibiting a genuine emotion, while a woman, despite her frailty and the ready acceptance of her other behaviours, she is often sidelined when she displays anger, genuine or otherwise.

UPPER HAND Somehow, it reveals that an angry man has an upper hand over an angry woman when it comes to public acceptance of their rage. Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned, one may very well say, but the righteous fury of a man holds more sway than a woman’s, studies declare.

REALLY SERIOUS What we think is “really” serious is this attitude. If people out there really believe that a woman is only venting it out when she is angry and does not deserve much credit, while, a man’s anger deserves to be looked at as a serious issue, then, we think this is the problem.

ACCEPTABLE Maybe it could be the manner in which women’s anger is displayed. Somehow, it seems that women are not doing their anger right. Or, there is something in the anger of women that seems to put off both men and women and at the same time, the anger of men, despite being in the same degree and manner is somehow found to be acceptable.

SILLY Of course, such a study could be right in its approach, and they have probably done their homework and they would have really discovered this fact. So, this study has actually stumbled on a major issue. We need to give it a real thought as to why people find women’s anger as silly.

MERE OUTBURST While the anger of women is brushed off as mere outburst of sentiments and more of a display of irrational behaviour, the anger of men seems to be deemed serious and deserving more merit. It is as though both men and women were more concerned about men’s anger than women.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? This shows that there is a definite leaning on men displaying their emotions as opposed to women.

Apparently, the thought structure goes on like this: if a woman is displaying anger, well, she is just venting out her emotions, nothing much to it. Nothing serious.

If it is a man, well, poor guy, he must be “really” angry.

Men don’t display emotions and therefore, if he is showing anger, there must be a real reason. It is serious.

INTERNAL Of course, those who have been at the receiving end of a woman’s wrath will not really think like this, but the ones who are around may probably think otherwise.

The studies claim that they found out that people (upon listening to the harangue of both men and women) drew the conclusion male anger was “situational” and men “really must have a reason to get angry”, while female anger, “since it came from within, could just be something internal” and was just “an emotional outburst”!

BIASED VIEW Wow! If this thinking really spreads, some women are going to stop expressing their anger.

The only way to understand this is to acknowledge the fact that such a bias exists so that the public (read women and men) out there awake to the fact that they should not involuntarily be sucked into such biases.

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Sharp increase in BREAST CANCER cases: top cancer doctor The last few years have shown a sharp rise in the incidence of breast cancers worldwide, notes a top cancer doctor. “In 2012 alone, around 1.7 million new cases were diagnosed.

This is a 20 percent increase when compared to the data available from 2008,” notes Dr P. Vijay Anand Reddy, senior consultant clinical oncologist and director of Apollo Cancer Hospital Hyderabad. Dr Vijay Reddy has established quite a number of benchmarks in oncology in India and believes in modern methods of treatment. He has also successfully performed various first-time procedures.

Shape n Sound

Dr Reddy, who was here on a visit to the Apollo Medical Centre (AMC) recently, said: “It (breast cancer) is the most common cause of cancer death in women and represents 25 percent of all cancers in women. The incidence is rising rapidly in the less developed countries partly due to lifestyle changes and partly due to lack of access to advanced medical care.”

According to Dr Reddy, most patients present with a lump in the breast and many cases in less developed areas are advanced due to lack of awareness. “Improving awareness of breast cancer and implementation of screening programmes will help diagnose cases early and increase chances of cure, thereby reducing mortality. The chance of developing breast cancer increases with advancing age, obesity, alcohol, previous radiation exposure to breast, hormone replacement therapy and 52

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family history of breast cancer.

Certain genetic conditions like BRCA 1 and 2 mutations exponentially increase risk of breast cancer development and prophylactic mastectomy may be considered in these individuals.”

CANCERS ON THE RISE Dr Reddy also noted that the incidence of various cancers is on the rise in both men and women over the past few decades. “This can be attributed in part to both lifestyle and environmental factors and also better tools and awareness which help us diagnose cancer more frequently.

There were an estimated 14.1 million new cases of cancer worldwide and 8.2 million new cancer related deaths in 2012. This was higher than the 12.7 million new

cases and 7.6 million cancer related deaths seen in 2008. Prevalence data from GLOBOCAN shows that there were 32.6 million people who had cancer diagnosed over the last five years. More than half of these cancers and cancer related deaths occurred in less developed regions of the world.”

The cancers that most often affect women are breast, cervical, endometrial, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers, Dr Reddy said, adding that the most frequently diagnosed in Asia are breast and cervical cancers.

528,000 NEW CASES OF CERVICAL CANCER EVERY YEAR According to Dr Reddy, there are 528,000 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed worldwide every year. “It is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide and also the fourth most common cause of cancer death. More than 70 percent of the global burden is in developing countries and here the mortality is disproportionately high. This is due to lack of access to effective screening and proper treatment.

Cervical cancer vaccinations can help prevent a large number of these cases. Various factors responsible for cervical cancer include poor hygiene, early age of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, multiparity, STD’s and immunocompromised status.”

ENDOMETRIAL CANCER Referring to endometrial cancer, Dr Reddy said it is predominantly a disease of post-menopausal women and is seen after 50 years of age. Most patients present with post-menopausal bleeding. Various risk factors which contribute to increased incidence of endometrial cancer include increasing age, obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

Unopposed estrogen exposure is also an important factor, which is

seen in patients with early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity, recipients of hormone replacement therapy and drugs like Tamoxifen.

COLORECTAL CANCER Colorectal cancers are predominantly cancers found in the west but there is an increased incidence in Asia during recent years due to changing lifestyle. It is the third most common cancer diagnosed in women and also third most common cause of cancer death among women in Western population. It mostly occurs after 50 years of age. Risk factors include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, diet consisting of high fat foods with less fibre, smoking and genetic syndromes like APC and HNPCC. LUNG CANCER “Lung cancer is predominantly a disease of smokers but you can also get it if you don't smoke. It is the second most common cause of cancer in women and also leading cause of cancer related death in the USA. Second hand smoke also plays an important role in causing lung cancer. Awareness of the hazards of smoking, smoking cessation programmes and also prohibition of smoking in public places can help reduce the incidence of this cancer,” Dr Reddy said.

OVARIAN CANCER Ovarian cancers are the seventh most frequently diagnosed cancer and the eighth most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide.

Risk factors include obesity, early menarche, late menopause, fertility medication and hormone replacement therapy. “Family history also plays an important role as certain mutations, e.g.

BRCA mutation, increases the risk of ovarian cancer development.

Prophylactic oophorectomy may be considered in this population,” Dr Reddy said.

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A world WITHOUT

cancer

Wishing a world without cancer, Oman’s best known and most effective warrior against this disease bowed out of her ‘official’ role as president of the Oman Cancer Association (OCA), an institution which while raising phenomenal awareness of cancer has also succeeded in wiping out the stigma of this dreaded disease in the country. But Hon. Yuthar Al Rawahi can never ever truly divorce herself from the cause, she confesses to the Black & White in this tete-a-tete immediately after publicly announcing her retirement from the OCA. “I will always be a cancer survivor and warrior,” Yuthar said as she quickly took us from the time, more than 15 years ago, when she and her small team first started to raise awareness about cancer and successfully managed to change people’s mindset to a situation where she strongly and confidently states, “cancer is not a death sentence”.

While Yuthar’s achievements on the cancer fighting and awareness building front are too voluminous to be encompassed here, the most gratifying moments for this four-time cancer survivor was when she helped cancer patients through their darkest hours. “My heart was always touched when I would walk cancer patients through their personal journey from suspicion to diagnosis to cure!”

Excerpts: First and foremost, why are you retiring? And, what’s next?

The Oman Cancer Association has been my life for the past 15 years – I have been humbled by the trust people and organisations have placed in me. It has been a long amazing journey. These past years, since we began the campaign and were then officially registered as an association in 2004 have been rich: Full of creativity, full of innovation, full of struggles and limitations, full of accomplishments. I did not do

the work I did for recognition, but alhumdlillah, the recognition and appreciation has been forthcoming and very much welcome.

People feel I am an inspiration and that makes me proud, however, genuinely I have been inspired by the people I have encountered in my role as founder and president of this movement. I have truly been enriched by them. Serving cancer patients and their families has given me a fulfillment that is indescribable – but along with that comes great responsibilities, burdens of leadership that at times can be overwhelming.

For me now I feel I need to begin the journey that will lead me to the “sunset” of my life with my children and grandchildren. Until I am able I will continue to serve in whatever capacity I can, and whenever my time comes I hope to leave knowing I have done my part to contribute to the growth of this beautiful blessed country of ours of which I have great love and eternal optimism for its future.

Will you still continue to play an active role on the cancer-fighting cause or are you planning to move out of the scene totally?

The fight against cancer is a part of me – I can never truly divorce myself from the cause. However I March 2016 2016 55 55 March Black Black & White & White

The frameworks of governance that I have set up at our headquarters in Muscat as well as our satellite branches across the Sultanate, and the strict operation guidelines implemented at the Mobile Mammography Unit and Dar Al Hannan, along with the commitment to transparency and absolute integrity in sourcing and managing all funding and donations to the OCA is something I have taken personal pride in

Shape n Sound

am 100 percent stepping away from the administrative engagement with the OCA. All organisational and legal and promotional initiatives will be handled by the new president and board. As the founder of the association, naturally, I will do what I can when I can to support the cause, be it contributing ideas and initiatives, or assisting with engaging partners or attending functions in support of future programmes etc. It’s a ceremonial association I will have with OCA as of March 31, 2016.

I will always be a cancer survivor and warrior – how that will manifest in the future I am not sure, we’ll see. If an opportunity presents itself where my personal as well as professional experience setting up and running an NGO can be of use, then I will be happy to get involved. Given the sensitive nature of the work we do and the massive responsibility and accountability involved, it is important that it is clear my role vis-à-vis the OCA. As you look back, right from the time you first discovered you got cancer to the time you founded the OCA and to now where you are stepping down as the chairperson – would you say that you are leaving with a feeling of mission accomplished? Any regrets?

Building this organisation from an idea to what it is today has been one of the privileges of my life.

I believe the OCA possesses a unique potential to affect significant transformations in the civic fabric of Oman.

The strategic collaborations that myself and the board have tirelessly worked to establish with the government, particularly the ministry of social development, the ministry of health and the ministry of education and others, as well as our key and long-standing partnerships 56

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with leaders in the private sector, is a solid bedrock off of which the current and future leadership can build on and mature further. The frameworks of governance that I have set up at our headquarters in Muscat as well as our satellite branches across the Sultanate, and the strict operation guidelines implemented at the Mobile Mammography Unit and Dar Al Hannan, along with the commitment to transparency and absolute integrity in sourcing and managing all funding and donations to the OCA is something I have taken personal pride in.

The primary goals for me have always been to, firstly, raise awareness, and secondly, empower both patients and their families. I genuinely believe we have accomplished that. There are numerous other objectives that still need to be realised, and I feel we have paved the way for others to realise them, hopefully taking on board the lessons we learnt and complimenting existing initiatives while also creating new ones.

I regret that a lot of the time we were forced into a position of choosing between imperfect options – I wish the personal toil involved in getting things done was not so high, but those sacrifices my family and I made were for things we strongly believed in, so while unfortunate at times, I would do it all again – the positive changes our efforts have made to the lives of our fellow countrymen and women has been worth it.

What was it that you wanted to achieve when you began your trek and your mission? Have you achieved that?

I have said this many times in the past – when we first started people would tear up the self-examination and awareness pamphlets and throw them in the trash

and insult us for introducing “evil” into their midst by discussing cancer! So I feel erasing the stigma around cancer in Oman has been an important accomplishment – the taboo and the fear surrounding the disease while not eradicated is more digestible to the community at large which was a very tough thing to achieve; changing the mindset of people. So in terms of awareness yes – I feel we have accomplished what we set out to do: cancer is not a death sentence, people now are aware that if they conduct regular examinations and get an early diagnosis they can return to normal healthy lives. As for the physical and professional infrastructure to manage cancer in Oman, that still needs work. Our main goal of training palliative care professionals over the past four years was another mission we were very focused on, and I step down as president with plans already in motion to continue this important aspect of the association’s services to the healthcare community in Oman.

What is the most worrying and alarming aspect about breast cancer in Oman?

Women not going to get checked when they have clear suspicions and sometimes physical symptoms, out of fear. For me, women ignoring the signs out of ignorance, was unacceptable – that I do not believe happens any more or as frequently, which is comforting. However the emotional uncertainty and reservations are a huge challenge that still needs to be overcome if we want to see more early diagnoses and less late onset cases.

Another thing is the lack of facilities available to women outside the capital. The Mobile Mammography Unit does address this issue head on but more screening facilities are required across the Sultanate.

Do you think that getting afflicted by cancer has actually made you what you are today and also enabled you to make such great contributions to society? In other words, if not for cancer…?

I have taken every opportunity to express how I truly believe my multiple cancer diagnoses have been a blessing. As Muslims we genuinely accept Allah’s divine plan for us and while it is not always easy, with time, patience and faith the beauty and wisdom in what initially presents itself as an affliction or a curse is revealed.

Cancer has without a doubt shaped me into the person I am today, as a wife, a mother, a sister, a citizen. All in phenomenally positive ways alhumdlillah.

Would I have left my position at the Sultan Qaboos University and started an NGO if not for the introduction of cancer to my life – perhaps not! But, alhumdlillah, I have been blessed to be a part of a family that values service to the community – we generally do not like to sit on the sidelines and suffice ourselves with commenting on what is wrong or missing in society, we get involved and try to fill the gaps or right the wrongs if and when we

can. Cancer has been an important chapter in my life and it will, I am sure, continue to influence the future chapters still left in my life’s journey.

What has been the most challenging aspect in your cancer-fighting role?

Being patient. After identifying the problem, and having clearly laid out the solution to tackle it, then having to wait on what, to me, frankly are trivial and unnecessary road blocks and challenges has been truly frustrating. It was a challenge that I struggled with in one shape or another every day.

Finding people to volunteer their time and expertise to the initiatives has also been a challenge – as a non-profit outfit our resources are limited, so we really needed to work to convince people to help even in the smallest ways.

Finally recruiting talented people to execute the programmes and run the activities – even if we are able to pay them, the “career” promotion element is absent for workers in the NGO arena, so retaining people after investing time and resources to familiarise them with the tasks and jobs continues to pose a challenge.

And what has been the most gratifying moment in the same role?

Of all the hats I wore while at the helm as president: from organising the monthly free clinical breast exams (CBEs) at the association headquarters, supervising the MMU and its schedule, handling the bed and board needs of Dar Al Hanan and the families under our care, to organising the massive conferences and annual walkathons and the numerous community activities and campaigns throughout the years, my heart was always most touched when I would walk cancer patients through their personal journey from suspicion, to diagnosis, to cure. It’s a multi-layered engagement with the families as well - That joy and gratitude from the mothers of young girls who were cured because they took the advice to have the CBE, then the mammogram, or from children who still have their mothers with them because she didn’t ignore the pain in her chest after picking up an OCA pamphlet – the human element of just BEING THERE for people in what at the time is their darkest moment; offering assurance and hope and at times even grieving together, those moments kept me going to continue the struggles on the official level with the ministries and companies and hospitals etc.

Finally, as you bow down from this post, what is your deepest wish (in the fight against cancer)?

I wish medicine will be developed to send cancer into remission forever. I wish we can prevent all cancers and to detect them before they become a real threat. I wish a world without cancer.

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The other side

Hooked

By Priya Arunkumar With a small smile on her face, she sat in a corner immersed in her work.

She looked content, creative and to an extent focussed and intelligent, as if she was creating a work of art. No, she was not a painter or a sculptor; not a research scientist or a designer.

But, the way the needles moved, her face scrunched up in rapt attention, would draw intrigue. You will wonder why an old lady will strain herself so much, instead of relaxing and enjoying the ride and the moving landscapes at her window.

When the train came to a halt, she got up, smiled and said, could you please have an eye on my luggage and these, she gestured, I will be back soon, got to stretch a little, old bones you see.

I nodded. As soon as she walked away, I picked up one of her pieces and it looked awful–all messy, with all these knots and uneven strings hanging everywhere.

It looked ugly and confusing.

Knitting always seemed silly to me. I could never make myself do a line of anything with a needle.

I looked at the piece all around, turning it in all directions, trying to make sense out of it. But, could barely make out what the picture was supposed to be. It ought to be something, no one would work so hard to make a mess out of anything creative. Her age definitely said she would be a veteran in knitting too. So had to give her that when I scrutinised the whole thing around.

No, I could not make anything out of it.

In a few minutes, she came over and took the piece of fabric out of my hands, thanked me and began to work on it again, her frail little hands flying all over the place. After sometime I realised that she was looking at me and when I looked back at her, she triumphantly turned over the material towards me – it was finished and more importantly, right there was this masterpiece.

A beautiful piece of art, a dozen birds flying... I breathed out and smiled.

For a minute, I was ashamed that I was so quick to judge her work, and was totally surprised something so beautiful could result from something ugly and confusing.

Birds are born free, they depict freedom, peace and vastness of space, she smiled at me. I love birds, it is easy to be at peace when you look at them flying all around the sky, she explained.

Knitting is as messy and confusing as our lives, it is how you look at the larger picture. Behind the scene, it is all broken, tied up, knotted and in pieces, just like the challenges you pass through, finding solutions. Once you live through, the beauty of your soul reflects your life; a beautiful life that only you have lived, no matter how challenging it was. Finally you become what you are, a beautiful person. A masterpiece! Always remember, life is beautiful, only if you live it through, she murmured softly to me, perhaps, reminding herself of the knots and muddles she lived through, over the years.

There are no bad and good things to life, only two sides, she had said. Bad things don’t happen to people because they deserve it. It’s just life.

Smiling again at my confusion, she had said, you are too young to sit quietly at a spot and muse over today, but you will remember my words one day when you will learn that more light shines out of those who have the most cracks!

She was right.

Sometimes I think of those little pieces of threads, fast moving needles in her old hands, flashing by. Especially when life feels really messy and difficult to understand.

I try to close my eyes and believe that even though I can’t see the other beautiful side right now, and even if the side I am currently looking at is muddled and obscure, there’s positively a masterpiece that’s being woven out of all the knots and loose strings I am tied up with today.

And of course, there will come a time when I’ll get to see what that is. priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

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