Black & white magazine issue 66

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When midlife crisis hits… p12

Why all this negativity? p50

FREE Fortnightly

Our nation reads p26 29 Rabiul 2 – 30 Jumadil 1

Vol.5 Issue 66IIMarch 2014

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Your friend or the newspaper?

By Adarsh Madhavan

All about X, Y & Z

Are you allowed to be sympathetic when you are reporting about a friend? For example this friend is in trouble with the law and you are reporting on that story for your newspaper…would you do justice to it? Would you be able to write it just the way you would write about anyone else who has broken the law? Will you actually break the news when you are the first to learn about it? Will you rush to the editor and say leave space on the front page as you have a five-column 550 words news breaker about your best friend who has got on the wrong side of the law? I am not talking about those in power breaking the law and then not being able to write about it; I pose a bigger dilemma, where we are confronted with our own morality where we have to face the difficult aspect of choosing the right path despite all odds.

Will we take the right path, hold on to our morality and truth and all that goes along with it, or just dump everything and say that your friendship is bigger than morality or your story or your loyalty to your paper? It is a very difficult question to confront.

Even if the person is not a friend, but merely an acquaintance, having to report anything negative about them would not be that easy a task. The moment you know a person, be it very well or even in a small way, you would be forced to sway with the tide. You may not be able to be neutrally report it, nor would you be able to drop it. Worldwide, this phenomenon has happened and reporters, scribes, you name it, are pushed to the wall unable to take the next course of action. Some of them quit the paper, stay out of line till someone has taken the action that they couldn’t possibly have and then they slowly come out of their shell.

Some have dared themselves and gone ahead and reported about their friends or acquaintances when they chance upon such a story and even if they have betrayed a friend, they haven’t betrayed their paper

or network. But, it will be a heavy price they have to pay for betraying their own, even when it is in the line of duty or loyalty to their profession, somehow, it would eat into their insides.

And let it be the other way too, they don’t pledge their allegiance to their media, but to their friend and go all the way to defend them knowing fully well they are wrong, but still, even here, they are the losers, for knowingly they have allowed a mistake to happen, knowingly they have fooled the law or at least shut their eyes to truth, which, in their profession is the biggest of crimes they could commit. When we sit pretty and easy in our professional domain doing the little things that we do and amuse ourselves with the tittle and tattle of life, little do we realise the risk and trauma that many in our profession go through. We don’t realise, as we sit sipping our coffee and typing our pretty little compromised stories for a public who equally lap it up, there are many out there enduring major moral dilemmas and facing huge questions that they are unable to answer or face the significance of the vacuum created when they go unanswered.

Many of us scribblers live in a comfort zone that has little or no bearing on the realities that exist in the wide wild world out there. It is only when we step out of the cocoon and face it that the challenges of a real scribe’s world hit us. Right now, enjoying this world where the challenges are limited and expectations even less, our abilities are pitted against mediocrity and as we sow so we reap the results.

Coming back to the moral query that I raised at the beginning of this text, I must admit that this harangue is purely to wriggle myself out of that question. If someone ask me that question and asked me point blank what I would do, I will just say excuse me, I have an urgent need to answer nature’s call.

Like I said, as we sow, so we reap. editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

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Xclusive

Our nation reads Yes, our nation reads!

This is a fact that is clearly evinced from the tremendous response that the recently concluded Muscat International Book Fair, which was held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre (OIEC), witnessed.

The OIEC resonated with the footfalls of eager buyers of books, enthusiastic readers, and a whole new crowd of Omani writers, who varied from poets and authors to those engaged in joint collaborative efforts at bringing business and science in layman terms to readers.

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Bitter Batter

Home sweet home For many expats, Oman has become a second home; it has got into their blood. They cannot live anywhere else!

Contents

10 Time to turn a page‌ Increasingly we find the men of today being totally devoid of reading habits.

They seem to find no passion in the world of letters as they are addicted to their smart phones, tablets, thin airs and well, the idiot boxes.

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC Black & White Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos Office location: Hatat House A, II Floor, Suite No: 212, Wadi Adai Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496 Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com Printed at Oman M arch 20 14Printers

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Why all this negativity?

There are some women who are constantly at war with themselves; pre occupied with imaginary flaws in them and totally insecure...

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

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Priya Arunkumar Adarsh Madhavan Khadija Al Zadjali Beneek Siraj Haitham Al Balushi Shalet D'Souza

Mail your views and opinions at editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

A man to be proud of By the time I am writing this, Ahmed Al Mahruqi (issue 65, Following Thesiger’s Footsteps) would already be on his way to the middle of the sandy quarter. I had hoped to be there – amongst others -- to flag him off from Bidiyah, but unfortunately I am going to be out of town. However, I wish Ahmed the very best in his journey. He is one man whom I believe understands that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I am a proud Omani and I feel all the more proud of my dear brethren who engage in such adventurous pursuits. Omanis always have an adventurous streak in them and not only that, they are constantly looking at bettering themselves and also bettering the lives of others around them. By crossing the desert, from Bidiyah to Shannah, Ahmed is of course going to get a notch on his shoulder. And why not? But, more importantly, look at what Oman is going to gain if this attempt is successful: he would have retraced the steps of Sir Wilfred Thesiger, the famous British explorer. But, more importantly, this attempt would bring into sharp focus to adventure lovers and others alike the fact that Oman possessed one of the most magnificent sands in the world. By this one sandy trek, Oman’s desert will obtain a certain amount of limelight that will certainly make many heads turn. More power to our brave Mahruqi!

Ahmed Sheibani, Qurum.

Cite risks involved Ahmed Al Mahruqi’s journey into the middle of the desert is a classic desert tale, but I am sure it is not going to be easygoing for this adventurous man. Life will not be easy for a man travelling alone into the harsh desert. Your story, while detailing the plan, did not mention anything about the dangers he would face in the sands. Of course, the dangers may not be elucidated in a preamble, but in your follow up to this story, do mention the dangers and risks involved.

R. K. Mukherji, Qurum

Readers column

A gift box for us Vandana’s (Shah) (issue 65; It’s my life column) Tiffany bow gift box made not just excellent reading but quite a lot of sense. This is one gently sensible, deftly creative and essentially warm piece of writing from the author of 360 Degrees Back to Life. She has been most charming and 8

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as equally simple and nice in this column and I hope I have been effusive enough in my little letter to this generously talented writer who surely knows how to turn a phrase… or two! Enjoy her writing!

Tina G. Selvi

Desert unforgiving It was a real delight to read about Ahmed Al Mahruqi. Crossing the desert, that too, that stretch of the sandy quarter between Bidiyah and Shannah, is not a joke. Moreover, he is not just driving across, he is riding his camel and then walking on foot. This is going to be a sheer endurance test, man against the elements. I understand what Mr Mahruqi is saying about not to fear the desert, but I beg to differ. I would say fear it; fear it so that you are always prepared for the unexpected in the desert. One mistake and it can prove to be too costly.

Of course, many would have made mistakes and lived to tell the tale, but the desert, according to me, is not very forgiving; it is in fact, unforgiving.

John Rynd, Seeb

The calling There comes a time when we have to simply get up and do it. Ahmed Mahruqi seems to have faced such a feeling in his life and he just got up and did it. The desert must have been calling him for some time and so he heeded the call. We are all here for a purpose and I feel, all of us would be getting that call at some point of time. Some of us hear it, some don’t. Some get the call several times, and others, may not get any at all. Some of us ignore it

and some of us are unable to decipher it. Most of us don’t.

It is not just the desert, the sea, the mountains or anything adventurous at all times. Different callings would come from different sources. Thousands of choices would be thrown at you, and you would, most often take the easy way out.

But, the likes of Mahruqi would always take the road less travelled. Congrats to this intrepid traveler!

Malcolm, Muscat

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Men read

Time to turn a page‌

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It is time men turned a page…or two.

Increasingly we find the men of today being totally devoid of reading habits. They seem to find no passion in the world of letters as they are addicted to their smart phones, tablets, thin airs and well, the idiot boxes. But, then, women, who are equally, if not more, addicted to their smart phones and the like still enjoy books.

They still seem to read more than their male counterparts. And statistics actually prove that they have always been better readers, even before the smartphone revolution (and naturally so). But, the dismal record among male readers is quite a reason to worry because the benefits of reading books outnumber many.

While the younger generation may feel that it was not an ‘in’ thing to read, why is it the saner, the mature male population still swinging with the times, aping their youngsters?

Beats us, but the time has come for the male members to not only pick their books, but read them. Perhaps, it is a cave mentality or something in their genes that make men show such disinterest or portray a casual approach towards books.

Women, surprisingly, are good readers of books and some of them are strong readers who do not put down a book, once they have picked it up. There were of course, plenty of slow worms, who slowly went through their novels and spacing them out in such a way that only one or two books are read in a year! But, even if they are delayed, they still did not let go and doggedly read on between their high society callings, they tea parties, their fashion parades, their make up disasters and their family obligations.

Even the ones who were immersed in their work still managed to read a book or two and thoroughly enjoyed the exercise. Probing into the reading habits of some men, especially the 30 to 40 age segment, we found that they had major excuses to explain why they did not find the time to read. For example, one sales manager of a major business conglomerate, explained that after returning home from work, his mind went blank and all he could do was to unwind before the television, where he watched boring (his expression) sitcoms.

“I don’t have the strength or the energy or the patience

to go through a book. I did try to read sometimes, but then I found myself dozing off. “Nowadays, whenever, I find it hard to sleep, I quickly grab a book and before I complete one or two pages, I am snoring away,” says this once lover of books. In school and college, he was quite a reader and had even wanted to embark on a literary pursuit he confessed. “But, today, books put me to sleep!”

But, such men with latent reading dislike – and others -can actually be wooed into reading with the points made by a research that proved that people with poor reading skills are likely to be less healthy than those who read easily. While, this actually means that literacy skills are important for keeping in good shape, it is a point that can be used to woo in men to read more, especially those who have the literacy skills, but are otherwise too lazy to read or find it a non-macho approach to life.

The research had actually found out that adults with “low literacy skills are likely to be in bad physical shape than those who were able to read well”. This meant that the latter were feeling pains, had bad physical conditions that affected their daily activities, were down and out and had emotional problems that brought them social woes.

While this is a problem solely directed to those with low literacy skills, the fact remains that men, despite possessing good reading skills, were in an equal boat like their non-skilled counterparts, they also did not read, which finally amounted to the same thing, a researcher points out.

Whatever the health benefits, it is, as we said at the start, time for the men, to well, turn a page…or two!

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Men read 12

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When midlife crisis hits…

Jonathan came home the other day in a mad huff. He wanted to quit his job, he angrily declared. Catherine, his wife of six years, was shocked. She had been expecting trouble since sometime now because her husband was changing quite rapidly before her eyes. He kept late evenings and seemed to be quite disturbed. She had tried to find a way to getting into his heart and find out why he was angry, irritated and sad. But he did not let her in. He did not explain what was going on in his mind, or what was tormenting him so much.

Catherine tried broaching this subject discreetly with Jonathan’s best friend Craig who finally let the cat out of the bag. “I think Jonathan is going through a mid life crisis,” Craig told her. And then it hit her. This was the truth. Why didn’t she realise it, earlier? There were slight rumblings of this a year or so before it took full form, but that time, she did not seem to bother about it too much!

Jonathan was 44 and although they have had a happy marriage with two children, since some months, her husband was acting quite strangely. He was coming home totally inebriated and he was generally complaining about almost everything. In the mornings he would wake up and spend more time grooming himself than before but in the evenings, he would come, not only late, but totally disheveled.

Frankly, Jonathan’s is a pretty mild case. It is a small type of midlife crisis, in the sense, he was not making any big or drastic changes. Sometimes, men in a typical midlife crisis can make drastic changes to their life, family and lifestyle.

There is a story about a man, hit by a sudden midlife crisis wave, just wrote a note to his wife, withdrew all his money from the bank and then just moved to another city. Just like that. That is certainly not Jonathan. His fall into the well of midlife crisis is on a slower pace. His is more of wanting to get out of his job, which he suddenly found dreary and his depression spiral, though sure, was still slow. His is a midlife crisis phase where he has taken a hard look at his life, which probably was not going anywhere, and he feels he has the right to be happier, and that there was no better a time than this. All of this is fine, except that he was circling around the same thought and not making any attempts to get out of the stage he was in. Once that happened, he began to get more and

more disillusioned and slowly he began to feel dissatisfied with his career, his marriage, his health and although at the outset he felt an urge to take action, he never took the plunge, instead, descended into a world of turmoil, which if unchecked would pose real damage, not just to himself, but to the marriage itself.

Catherine approached a well-known psychologist, who gave her succinct information and sound advice to get out of the mess: Try to gently reason out with her husband and make him understand that what he was feeling should be left it just like that – they were only feelings, not commands. Right now, he would be feeling like he wanted to do away with his job, his family, his home etc. But, that did not mean he should actually do it. Give it time and such feelings would subside.

Make him see the goodness in life. Try to make him understand that he has to be grateful for the parts of his life that had actually made him happy. Gently put forward the thought how he would feel if the actions he is taking/ planning to take would cause him to lose all of that he held dear.

Slowly ask him to open up. If he is not able to do that to you, let him find someone he is currently comfortable with, like a common friend, or even a mental health professional, if need be.

Ask him why he thinks his sudden needs are realistic?

Ask him if he really thinks these newfound goals are practical?

Reiterate the fact that whatever he is planning to do should be done with care and thought because it may prove to be destructive to those around him, especially those he holds dear.

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BLACK AND WHITE MAGAZINE, OMAN

Off the wall

O

The distant dream

w a ll he t ff

By Adarsh Madhavan

Nothing worries a writer or a scribe more than a blank piece of paper staring at him or her. And it gets not just annoying but tragic when the blankness stare back at you for a considerable period of time. Then it is not just worrying, sad or tragic…it is a disaster for there in that emptiness is the unseen writing on the wall, of things unsaid but understood in all its painful existence.

The need to write and then faced with a stonewall where you are dealing with the inability to express yourself is the worst kind of death for many of our ilk, especially those like me who have the hang up of being a wordsmith and yet deep down inside know that I am not one, nor anywhere in the picture. Just walking or moping around with a 'd-uh' expression and telling everyone that you are a man of letters or scribe and doing practically nothing, just nothing at all, is not death, but mutilation after death.

For the past many years, I have been feeling this violence in me retching out as I find myself increasingly being drawn into things that have no bearing on my abilities and not really doing my kind of things. The more I attempt to do what I am not good at and the more I try to fool myself into believing that somewhere out there is a solution or somewhere out there is that big break which will help me tide over the current crisis after which I will sit and pen reams and reams of oh so important words is a pipe dream that has dripped itself dry.

The more I see it, the more my fear for I know of the effort required to be into a world of scribes or pen pushers, has never been made by me and my earlier attempts, however scratchy, were still honest and from the heart, but today, after so many years of isolation

and indulging in tasks that do not have my real honest interest and effort, I am left right in the great divide, part of the emptiness that has been swirling around, which I have been desperately trying to fill and failing, each fall dully echoing into the core of my being. Where I am and what I will be are so remotely disconnected that this terrible angst has metamorphosed into a rancid and ghoulish feeling that keeps erupting from me like a volcano of bile, hurting many.

There is no way out of this hell but an absolute turnaround and that is something that is not going to happen. I cannot throw away what I have gotten into and I don’t believe in running away.

So, here I am in absolute disarray staring at a blank wall of a sheet, which I am unable to fill. As the years have gone by, I also realised the wearing down of certain skills that I used to swear by. I could fill this page earlier in less than 10 minutes and I would, post that effort, admire the piece of work. This, despite being suffused in self doubt from the time I was born, I would still pat myself on the back and feel enthused to do more of these 10 minutes outbursts. But neither am I able to rest on my past laurels, nor do I have the power to recreate an old magic.

That halo, like an astrologer friend had unenthusiastically pointed out, no longer existed. I feel much deprived of many things. I don’t just feel left out or lost or not amongst friends anymore, it is the feeling that I get a dried old leaf would perhaps get. Yes, this must be the feeling that a dried little twig must feel, breaking when the burden on it gets too much.

At this stage, it is not just the burden of an emotional vacillation or a creative emptiness or the ugliness of nonaccomplishment alone…it is the sheer agony of having lost my soul. adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com 15

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All-new Audi A3 Sedan With the launch of the A3 Sedan, Audi Oman, represented by Wattayah Motors, is entering one of the fastest growing market segments in Oman, the premium class of compact sedans. The dynamic four-door car offers all of the strengths of the A3 model series – with low weight thanks to lightweight design, powerful and highly efficient engines and numerous high-end solutions for infotainment as well as driver assistance systems.

Ahmed Shariefi, general manager of Wattayah Motors, said, “This is the right car at the right time for Audi.

Premium compact sedans are one of the fastest growing segments in the Sultanate thanks to their compact dimensions, sporty dynamics and attractive pricing; and the A3 Sedan epitomizes these characteristics.

With Audi’s renowned engineering and performance expertise behind it, we strongly believe the A3 Sedan

has tremendous potential in the market and expect it to contribute substantially to Audi’s sales in the country. It will no doubt be a valued addition to Audi Oman’s product portfolio.”

This new Audi A3 Sedan is now available at Audi dealerships across Oman, with prices starting from OMR 9,950 (for the base A3 Sedan 30 TFSI with 122 hp). The Audi S3 Sedan is expected to arrive in the second half of 2014.

Opening exhibition for Tahira Fida Under the auspices of Her Highness Sayyida Virgina Al Said, the first solo exhibition Geometric souls by Tahira Fida was inaugurated at Bait Al Zubair museum. Artist Tahira presented her personal experience through the display of more than 60 art works.

“This is my first solo exhibition. I am presenting 63 paintings which describe my journey in art. This journey professionally started in 1999. At that time, I participated in the annual exhibition at the Omani Society for Fine Arts and got the Jury award. Later, my life has changed along with my art,” Tahira said.

Here, basically I show how I am fascinated with the geometrical patterns and the ornaments that come from Islamic art. Reading and researching Islamic art made me define my own unique artistic language that eventually reflects my identity and style.

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Bank Sohar Al Mumayaz Campaign Following the success of last year’s Al Mumayaz savings scheme campaign, Bank Sohar recently launched its new edition of the Scheme for 2014. In addition to the revamped scheme which includes a larger number of prizes, chances and winners, the bank is sharing saving tips each month in various aspects of life which will help customers to save more and spend wisely. The focus of this month’s tip is to plan a monthly budget which can in turn save you up to or more than OMR100 a month!

Speaking on the importance of planning and maintaining a 16

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monthly household budget, R Narasimhan, DGM and head of retail banking at Bank Sohar said, “Living without a budget is like going on a road trip without a map – it can be accomplished but is

usually inefficient. Planning ahead with a proper budget in hand has numerous advantages. It acts like your roadmap towards a brighter future, revealing wasteful spending, controlling expenses, reducing stress and generally contributing towards a more coordinated and a better overall outcome. Additionally and most importantly it can save you quite a substantial sum of money which can equate to OMR100 each month, and each OMR100 you save brings you closer to winning big in our savings scheme draws – a real win-win situation.”

Bank Nizwa welcomes Baroness Warsi Bank Nizwa recently welcomed The Right honourable Baroness Warsi, senior minister of state at the UK’s foreign and commonwealth office, when she made a special visit to its head office.

The visit to the bank, which was part of the Baroness’s official tour of Oman, incorporated a discussion on Bank Nizwa’s role as the Sultanate's first Islamic bank as well as an overview of many of the issues pertaining to Islamic finance.

Baroness Warsi was formally welcomed to the bank’s headquarters

by Bank Nizwa Ceo, Dr Jamil El Jaroudi and members of the bank’s senior management.

The British ambassador, Jamie Bowden, was also in attendance.

As part of her tour of Bank Nizwa,

Baroness Warsi was briefed about Islamic Finance in Oman and gained an in depth understanding of Bank Nizwa and its growth as a key part of the Islamic financial landscape of the country.

Commenting on the visit, Dr El Jaroudi said ‘We are proud to be the Islamic bank that welcomed Baroness Warsi to Oman and for her to see first-hand what we do here. The UK has a potentially very

strong Islamic finance market that is already ranked as one of the leading financial markets globally. As the leading Islamic bank in Oman, we follow the tenets of Islam which promotes fairness and transparency in all we do. We see it as our duty to bring Islamic finance into the main stream by educating all of our communities. This in turn will help to create a greater excitement and understanding for what we do."

Dar Al Atta’a hosts Zubair SEC management workshop The workshop held by Hani Obeid, senior advisor and acting Ceo of Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) provided students and competitors in the Dar Al Atta’a Big Give competition with insight and guidance on how to best pitch for their fundraising projects and stand out in their volunteering work.

The 3rd Big Give competition 2013 was launched at the beginning of academic year 2012 to 13 engaging students from various universities and colleges across the Sultanate with the aim to not just raise funds in support of the community needy, but to also provide opportunity

for students to acquire skills and experience in serving the community and less fortunate people in the Sultanate. In the past couple of years, competitors have come up with innovative projects to raise funds throughout the year; many of which have proved to achieve great results. In the first round 14 teams participated from different universities

and colleges and were able to raise OMR 19,264 and in the 2nd round 23 teams participated and raised OMR 77,437.

Shatha Abbas, board member and head of events committee said, “I think this is a great opportunity for the students to be collaborated with Zubair SEC to gain the knowledge they need from experts in the field.

The workshop was informative and motivating. We are happy with this collaboration and looking forward to our future collaborations with Zubair SEC. We would also like to thank Bait Al Zubair for sponsoring the venue for the workshop”.

Media trip at Almouj Marina Members of the media were treated to a day of sailing along the scenic coast of Muscat aboard Oman Sail’s luxurious 44-foot catamaran Orana, here at The Wave, Muscat. Joining the press personnel were Wayne Shepherd, general manager, Mourjan, Khalil AbuJaber, Marina manager of Almouj Marina Katrin Muller of GSSG, and Oman Sail’s Omani crew, who expertly piloted the journey.

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Mitsubishi Mirage and Attrage launch draws 6,000 to Al Marah Land

Following close behind the official media launch of the all new Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback and its saloon counterpart the Attrage, General Automotive Company, the official dealership for Mitsubishi in Oman, showcased both cars to the public for the first time in a grand family celebration at Al Marah Land recently.

The half-day celebration drew in over 6,000 people from across Muscat.

Aside from showcasing the two new additions to the Mitsubishi family, the event featured numerous attractions including free rides, a live show, spot games for children, henna stalls, magic shows, train rides train and more. In addition, GAC also set up a special test area inside the park where visitors could test drive and experience the Mirage and Attrage first hand. Mark Tomlinson, the general manager of GAC said, “The all-new Mirage and Attrage are two of the most significant vehicles to be launched by Mitsubishi in 2014.

Not only do they represent the latest

generation of Mitsubishi vehicles but they also cater to an entirely new segment for the brand, the subcompact market. Because of this, it is great to see such overwhelming interest in the cars. Not only did we have over 6,000 people visit the park on the day, but we also conducted over 1,500 test drives; which are amongst the highest number we have conducted in a single day.”

The GAC also launched a new Facebook competition on the same day. Visit www.mitsubishioman.com, call 2450 0500 or visit your nearest Mitsubishi showroom from Saturday to Thursday, between 8am and 1pm or 4pm and 8pm.

Biography of His Majesty in Indian languages makes way to school libraries The first Indian book on His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said – 'Deerghadarshiyaya Raajyashilpi' in Malayalam; and the second book in Tamil- 'Tholainokku Deerghadarshi', both mean ‘Sultan the Farsighted Statesman’ will be kept in the libraries of Indian schools across the country aiming to share knowledge about the Sultan among the expatriate students.

The authors, Kabeer Yousuf and Chithra Narayanan handed over the copies of the books to Tonny

Alexander, chairman of the board of directors of Indian Schools in the presence of Shaukath Ali, Al Bhaj Books and Sadiq, Three Stars Books who are the distributors of the books along with Lakshmi Kothaneth.

“Oman is a true home away from

home and the people of Oman have been highly hospitable to the expatriates, the majority of whom are Indians. Any effort to spread knowledge and awareness about the immaculate leader is laudable and we are happy to be a part of this venture”, said Tonny, chairman of the Indian school board. The first Indian book in Malayalam that sheds light on His Majesty’s life and Oman was launched in 2010 and the first Tamil book on Oman's leader was launched in 2012.

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The Maserati Alfieri stars at the Geneva Motor Show Maserati unveiled the Alfieri, a 2+2 concept car to celebrate the brand’s centenary at the Geneva Palexpo today. The Alfieri is an exciting but realistic and 100 per cent functional prototype that says much about the design DNA of future Maseratis. In fact, the Alfieri could well be a door to the future of Maserati.

The striking new concept bears the name of Alfieri, the most prominent of the Maserati brothers, and the engineering genius who founded 'Officine Alfieri Maserati' in Bologna a century ago. The Alfieri was created at the Maserati Centro Stile in Turin by a small group of talented 18

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young designers led by Marco Tencone. The project was masterminded by Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

HSBC Bank Oman new graduate trainees As part of its commitment to advancing the capabilities of future Omani business leaders, HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G. has welcomed the first group of recruits into the bank’s new two-year graduate trainee programme. The graduates will rotate between various departments to gain practical experience in every aspect of banking operations.

Ali Al Abri, general manager and

country head of human resources, HSBC Oman, said, “We are delighted to welcome the first group of recruits into HSBC Bank Oman’s graduate trainee programme. Each rotation the graduates undertake is supported by classroom training and dedicated mentoring, supplemented by a short-term assignment to one of HSBC’s other locations in the Middle East. Throughout the programme,

graduates will have the opportunity to learn about commercial banking, business banking, retail banking and wealth management, trade and supply chain and risk departments to cultivate a broader knowledge and experience of the services offered by HSBC.”

Dr Maria Clara Arbelaez receives award from the president of Colombia Dr Maria Clara Arbelaez, co-founder and medical director of Muscat Eye Laser Center, was recently honoured at the prestigious ‘Los 100 Colombianos’ event held under the auspices of President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia. She was invited to the Colombian Presidential House (Casa de Narino) Bogotá -Colombia to receive the award for her contribution in the field of healthcare.

A pioneer ophthalmologist widely recognised as a global authority on corrective eye surgery, Dr Maria Arbelaez jointly established Oman’s leading eye care center in 2002 under the expert guidance of the Ceo, Sameer Al Awam, who also had the privilege to attend the ceremony

and meet with the Colombian president.

Muscat Eye Laser Center believes in providing nothing but the best to the people of Oman, be it in terms of world-class doctors, sophisticated equipment and unrivalled customer service to achieve outstanding results.

Her participation in numerous symposiums and seminars, as well as involvement in developmental

research, has helped her to share knowledge and provided her with a platform to stay at the cutting-edge of technological advancement.

She has over 20 years of experience in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East and has performed over 58,000 successful surgeries.

Her commitment to obtain precise results and ensure high safety standards is recognised by doctors and scientists worldwide.

Mazda Oman Zoom-Zooms ahead with 12,000

Facebook fans and 3,000 Twitter followers Mazda Oman has worked seamlessly to make the Zoom-Zoom brand come alive online through their website, mobile app and within social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. It is hence not surprising that the brand is making waves on social media platforms and has over 12,000 fans on Facebook and over 3,000 followers on Twitter!

A spokesperson from Towell Auto Centre, sole distributor of Mazda

in Oman comments, “Social media integration was identified as a huge opportunity for us at Mazda Oman to open-up channels of communication with our customers, and we have worked very hard to realise our dream of having a huge fan following on these platforms.

Even our Mazda mobile app for Apple and Android devices is a step in the same direction and allows easy updates and content management,

while drawing only on key features most relevant to a mobile audience to simplify the navigation and userexperience as well as carry out features like service bookings within the ease of their mobile.

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Omanoil employees recognised Oman Oil Marketing Company’s Ceo, Engineer Omar bin Ahmed Salim Qatan, has awarded employees for their dedication to upholding the highest standard of customer care at the third annual Ceo Award of Excellence.

Founded in celebration of employees who contribute to making omanoil a national household name and a ‘superbrand’ for three consecutive years, the awards encourage staff to competitively apply new disciplines to improve the customer service field and better serve the nation. “Our legacy lies within the memories customers take away from their experiences with us and we aim to exceed their expectations time and time again,” said Engr Qatan. “As a home grown establishment, we couple Omani hospitality with best international practice to care for customers beyond simply fueling. Day-after-day, our mission is being made a reality by employees who

demonstrate our philosophy of excellence as true brand ambassadors.”

The Ceo presented certificates and special gifts to the winners of the various categories in recognition of their efforts at an award ceremony held at Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Engr Qatan announced the Hafeet Filling Station as the ‘best filling station’ of 2013 in addition to the Thumrait store as the ‘Best ahlain convenience store’, Arif Al Busaidy as the ‘best driver’, Hanan Al Harrasi as the ‘best individual staff member’ and Saud As Shizawi as the ‘best manager’.

Redtag showcases

latest Spring 14 Collection

Plumbers’ day out Staff of the plumbing department of Bahwan Engineering Company LLC, Development of Muscat International Airport, MC-1 project, went for a day’s outing recently to Al Sawadi Farm House, Around 87 technicians and 17 other staff members enjoyed the fun filled get together. A cultural, magic show and sports activities were conducted and prizes were given to the winners.

Go Mad for Mussels

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InterContinental Muscat will commence a month of Mussel promotion from March 1 to 31. The ‘Go Mad for Mussels’ promotion will be held at Al Ghazal pub. Executive chef Pascal and his team will be preparing mouthwatering dishes; allowing guests to enjoy a whole month of delicious Mussels. The AlGhazal pub ‘Go Mad for Mussels’ will be serving mussels along with selected beverages, throughout the month of March.

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Redtag announces a month full of shopping extravaganza and surprises! Now, shoppers will have the opportunity to indulge in super savings and new must-have items with special savings and brand new deliveries of spring merchandise that will wow and delight shoppers of what’s in store.

Spring Surprises for Redtag customers “With the ushering of the spring month, customers who purchase full price merchandise worth OMR25 and more will be eligible for a flat discount of OMR5 in the total bill,” said Nasser Kunnumal, country manager of Redtag. He also went on to say that, “With Redtag’s latest offering, we want to make shopping during this month even more fun and satisfying for customers.”

Muscat Grand Mall celebrates second anniversary Marking a truly remarkable milestone, Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) celebrated its second anniversary where employees of the mall joined with a large number of customers to celebrate the success achieved over the previous year. Muscat Grand Mall was inaugurated officially on March 1, 2012 and since then the Mall has been scoring continuous achievements, and in its second year of operation has topped the list of most popular shopping destinations in the Sultanate.

Highlighting this achievement, Hassan Jaboub, General Manager of Muscat Grand Mall, said: “Muscat Grand Mall is like a dream come true. Since the planning phase, we wanted to create a great project that would add tremendous value to the Sultanate on the tourism, business and social levels. I am very proud to witness it becoming a reality and to see all of the vision and hard work manifest itself to become the Grand Mall we know today. The mall is a very popular destination for both residents and visitors who come to indulge in a 360 degree shopping experience.”

Nawras Wi-Fi professional bundles Nawras is giving new business customers the chance to experience superfast broadband connection at a competitive price with an enhancement to their Nawras Wi-Fi Professional (NWP) product. To offer customers with an enhanced and more flexible business connectivity suite, Nawras are now providing more options for their professional WiFi packages, including a reduction in price for the existing 1 Mbps and 2 Mbps packages and the introduction of a new 4 Mbps connection to give all new customers a greater and more flexible business connectivity suite. Mazin Habib Al-Muaini, Nawras business Wi-Fi product manager, said, “Our re-vamped Wi-Fi Professional packages give business customers a complete broadband solution to help keep their business moving.

The service is available in a range of contract lengths to give more options and suit different budget and usage needs. The new generation of’ customers, be it whilst shopping, dining or even taking a stroll in the park, expect WiFi to be available on the go, and this carrier-grade WiFi service will help increase footfall to destinations where WiFi is available. It will also help businesses to enhance their own customer experience and loyalty.”

CBFS holds 9th batch of preparatory training The 9th batch of preparatory training of the College of Banking and Financial Studies (CBFS) was held recently for the ‘Introduction to Investments’ examination of the Chartered Securities and Investment Institute (CISI), U.K. The training was conducted by Mohamed Farzan faculty member, CBFS, who is a certified trainer of CISI. The training covered

topics ranging from economic environment, financial assets and markets, equities, bonds, derivatives, investment funds, financial services regulation, other financial products.

Dr Ahmed bin Mohsin Al Ghassani, CBFS’ dean said:“The college is committed to providing cutting edge training solutions to the banking and financial sector of Oman through providing quality professional

development programmes for the employees working in this important industry” .The college is serious in developing professional programmes in collaboration with the financial and banking sectors, Dr Ghassani said, adding that the CBFS has delivered more than 150 training programmes last year covering more than 2500 trainees.

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Wattayah Motors Volkswagen promotion Wattayah Motors, the official distributor of Volkswagen in Oman today announced a month-long promotion offering customers of widely popular range of models, unbeatable benefits and perks on purchase, ranging from upto three months worth free installments in the form of a cash gift to extended warranties and roadside assistance, in addition to free service. The promotion ends on March 31.

During the promotion, customers who purchase a Volkswagen Passat, Touareg, Tiguan, Jetta, Polo, CC or Golf during the offer period will stand to avail upto three months of free installments in the form of a

cash gift, in addition to receiving a 5-year Warranty and 5-year roadside assistance plan, together with 5 years or 75,000km free service.

Commenting on the promotion, Steven Grey, national sales manager, Volkswagen Oman, said: “Volkswagen is one of the most popular automotive brands in Oman and enjoys strong customer loyalty

owing to the fact that our cars feature high quality German engineering, value for money and high standards of service excellence.

We are therefore continuously developing innovative finance solutions and value added offers that appeal to our customer needs and offer greater financial flexibility”.

Muriya showcases at ITB 2014 Muriya, exhibited at this year’s International Tourism Bourse (ITB), which took place in Berlin recently, showcasing Jebel Sifah and Salalah Beach, the two largest Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) in Oman.

Muriya was the first and only private company from Oman to participate and occupied a 23 square metre exhibition space opposite Oman Air and the ministry of tourism to promote the Sultanate.

Hamza Selim, Ceo of Muriya said, “Muriya is Oman’s largest developer of tourism assets and ITB Berlin provided us with a unique opportunity to showcase our flagship resorts

and promote the destinations to business travellers and international tour operators, as well as offering a unique insight into the global tourism industry from the world’s leading think tank. Our participation in an event of this scale, with such wide exposure, solidifies Muriya’s position as one of the major developers in Oman and in the world, and will help to further increase the influence of tourism on the national economy.”

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JobSooq.com – a brand new job portal In this era of free internet, free calls etc., here comes another free offering. A job portal, which is 100 percent free. Employers can post jobs for free and manage the applications received using the Advanced Application Management System. Job seekers can post classifieds in the Situation Wanted section, again for free. This is something unique. Most of the job portals do not have the facility for a job seeker to post classifieds like 22

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they do in the newspaper.

Although, it has ben set up just a few months back, the site has become very popular. Thousands of job seekers have registered and started applying for jobs. Also, the site is receiving more than a million hits per month.

One of the founders, Manali says: “As per a survey, only around 20 percent of the jobs are published.

Most of recruitment happens by passing the word through the

grapevine. We wanted to set up a free site which will encourage the employers to publish the jobs”. She adds, “We enjoy knowing that we helped someone better themselves by bettering their current job situation.

It is a great feeling knowing that we have the power to shape companies and shape lives”.

Royal Opera House Muscat – March performances I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Romeo & Juliet) - Opera - March 19/20/21 Vincenzo Bellini’s Capulets and Montagues, the story of Romeo and Juliet, come to the Royal Opera House Muscat for the first time ever.

Performed by world-renowned opera company Arena di Verona, the iconic tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet has many origins and many variations. In the iteration used

by Bellini and librettist Felice Romani, the Capulets and Montagues are two warring political factions in thirteenthChi of Shaolin - March 28/29

century Verona. Against their political and personal violence, lies the tragic tale of young lovers unfairly kept apart by their rivaling families.

Bellini was known for melodious compositions that earned him the distinction as the great bel canto composer. Set to soaring melodies, Capulets and Montagues is one of the composer’s true masterpieces.

Presented by an excellent cast of up and coming Italian singers of the Arena di Verona, it is opera at its best: beautiful and soul touching.

This stunning new staging is a coproduction with Venice’s “La Fenice,” where Capulets and Montagues first debuted in 1830.

The world-famous Imperial Acrobats of China present a dazzling new show of athletic power and strong theatrical effects, created by celebrated Chinese acrobat Yan Yan Zhao and Guy Caron (also known for his work with Cirque du Soliel). The spectacular Chi of Shaolin: Tale of the Dragon relates the riveting tale of a Thief who, after being foiled in his attempts to steal a treasured relic, is nursed from death’s door by a Shaolin monk. As the Thief is healed and, ultimately, transformed in the Shaolin temple, the audience experiences a universal tale of rebirth and redemption.

Yutong bus launched in Oman Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co recently announced the addition of a new brand to its portfolio – from China’s leading bus manufacturer Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co. The Yutong luxury bus model ZK6122H was unveiled to a select gathering that included officials from the embassy of China, top executives from Yutong and Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co. “We are delighted to tie up with China’s leading bus maker to promote the Yutong in Oman.

We envisage a promising market for this brand in the sultanate, particularly in the tourism and high-end corporate transportation service sectors,” said Virendra

Agarwal Ceo, Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co. The exclusive dealer for Yutong brand in the sultanate, Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co will also be looking to incorporate school buses in its portfolio.

Al Thabat Travel: Pioneering travel in Oman Al Thabat Travel and Tourism enjoys the distinction of being the fastest growing division of Al Thabat Holdings Group and continues to add prestigious accounts on a daily basis. Their corporate travel division already caters to the travel requirements of both public and private sector organisations including most of the major banks, multinationals, embassies, ministries and government and semi-government institutions.

They have been appointed agents for most of the well-

established tour operators from Europe, America and the Far East. Al Thabat operates special tours for corporate clients and offer customised family tours to destinations worldwide. In addition to providing outbound services, Al Thabat caters to the needs of both individual tourists and groups visiting Oman. “Our professionally trained team includes fully trained personal guides and staff who create specialised sightseeing trips for the inbound tourists,” an Al Thabat spokesperson said.

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Cheque this out… you want to cry

Bikram Vohra, internationallyknown Gulf based scribe

By Bikram Vohra

The cheque is in the mail.

These are considered to be the six nicest words in the English language second only to I love you.

The sense of anticipation is tangible.

Except that it isn’t quite as dependable as one would hope. For one the cheque can spend an inordinate time in the mail and you cannot complain to the sender because it is in the mail. That it can get lost, misplaced or simply snail pace its way to you is not their responsibility.

Cheques also have a cheese like texture in that they are processed. This is the standard statement you can be given when you make your inquiry.

Processing has a timeless open-ended quality to it. So many factors have to come right in this delicate experiment that you can wait till the cows come home and the process of processing will still be proceeding.

Also it might need three signatures and only have been obtained since number three is on a trip to the Antarctica, the accountant has flu, the cheque books are finished, the cheque has gone for ratification, it has been sent…isn’t that enough for you, after all, be grateful, it has been sent, so what if you haven’t got it, not our department.

And the cheque which is in the mail over several suspenseful days would make Hitchcock proud. Every day you wake up and filled with hope brush your teeth and wait for the bell to ring.

Although in movies gangsters transfer millions of dollars with one phone call in milliseconds in real life your cheque from London to you in Dubai will take 34 days to reach you. Then your bank will send it back to London on another 34 day slow boat trip and you can whistle up the Thames because it will be nigh on month three before you see any cash. This is

Sunny side up

known as a modern banking system where your bank is user friendly.

The saddest words in the language are Cheque returned, see item 26.

Who cares why if it didn’t work.

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In black & White

In Black...

Our nation is quite young.

With the youth percentage being higher; we can look forward to many brilliant writers in the future. The recently concluded Muscat International Book Fair saw many firsts and we can be proud that literacy is indeed catching among the youth Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Editor-in-chief PEOPLE WHO READ, AND DON’T Some read, some don’t. That is how you can categorise them. Some are natural at it, yet, there are others who fall asleep even before they can complete a sentence.

Technology has got nothing to do with the decline in the numbers who read. Why blame technology?

I would only see technology as something that has come to assist non readers in this modern age to read. If we focus only on the reading aspect, and not enforce any rule that only those who read on paper are constituted as ‘readers’, then we are going to find many more readers out there than we think.

There is a clear shift from print reading to those who read online, on their smart phones, tabs etc…

There is more information at the edge of our fingertips than ever before and we are all reading that. So, why are we leaving this band of ‘e-readers’ out?

Technology is not an enemy of reading!

Reading may not be that easy. Some children pick it up with a natural instinct and thrive on it to grow beyond the words, while many stumble and choose paths comfortable to them. But life becomes very static if you can’t read, and you find you can’t even read a signboard.

Reading is recognised as an art capable of transforming man’s life and his entire society. Some have a natural inquisitive mind, an inclination to read, gather information and store. However, it is a habit that is part of your lifestyle and your personal choice.

It starts from your home and grows in the school, courtesy your teachers.

READING BEGAN AFTER THE 70’S I was fortunate enough to be born into an era of newspapers and media in Oman that gave me access to reading. Before the 70s, Oman did not have any newspapers or books as such, so we cannot blame anyone for a lack of the reading habit. The new generation is lucky, and schools and authorities are promoting the reading habit too.

125 WRITERS AND COUNTING Our nation is quite young. With the youth percentage being higher; we can look forward to many brilliant writers in the future. The recently concluded Muscat International Book Fair saw many firsts and we all can be proud that literacy is indeed catching among the youth. The B&W team met some of the first time publishers and writers, who were quite creative in their endeavours.

Within the next decade, Oman will definitely see more writers and creative publishers, which is good for our society. It is this thriving intelligence that keeps the nation strong and moving.

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B&W Xclusive

Our natio

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on reads!

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The only thing I haven’t done for you Is

Not having done anything for you…

Hamoud Al Mukheini, Omani poet

B&W Xclusive

Perhaps, the essence is lost in this lay translation, but yet, there is a singular beauty in these short lines that encompass a yearning, a longing and an almost desperate plea and entreaty by the poet (to whoever it maybe) where he claims that he has done everything possible for his love and now if she insists that he has to do more, then, the only thing that he hasn’t done so far is “not doing anything” for her.

We try to explain it, but we understand that we fall short. Our expressions do not capture the vivid spasmodic ardour displayed in this young Omani poet’s lines. One has to read it to feel it. The texture of the words, knitted in a warm ambience of measured, yet emotionally restrained feelings are in the truest sense the makings of a poet.

Hamoud has written these lines in his first book of traditional poems.

Titled ‘Balqees’, Hamoud, who is a lawyer by profession, took this path less travelled thanks to his own emotional calling. He was signing off his books at the NYC (National Youth Commission) counter, which was part of the 19th Muscat International Book Fair held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre (OIEC), recently.

The OIEC resonated with the footfalls of eager buyers of books, enthusiastic readers, and a whole new crowd of Omani writers, who varied from poets and authors to those engaged in joint collaborative efforts at bringing business and science in layman terms to readers.

And suddenly, we, who often complained about the lack of reading 28

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in Oman, are flummoxed by the thousands who swarmed at this book fair, for whatever the reason, merely window shopping, browsing, enquiring, buying… Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour Al Hasani, the minister of information, himself quietly tells us, in response to a query on what he thought about the low number of reading population in Oman, that more than 800,000 visitors came to the fair this year, a simple statistic that can shut any negative outlook on the perceived low reading habits in Oman.

But, if the winds of change on the reading front are sweeping in Oman, the prime reason for that is the collective efforts of the government and the private sector, both groups and individuals alike who have been striving for ages to bring about a much needed change here. The burgeoning crowds at the book fair are a clear testimony to this change. Of course, we will not go overboard in claiming that things have changed completely; instead, we will play safe and say that things are definitely changing…At one end of the reading spectrum are those who are clamouring for a return to the books and reading habits, at the other end, in Oman, there are hundreds of thousands of Omanis, young and old, queuing up to buy the latest Arabic book.

Having said that, one still cannot dispute the fact that among many other things, the power of technology has taken over the traditional habit of reading books. It is common knowledge that world over, reading books have taken a backseat on the list of recreational things to do. It can be due to a variety of reasons: reading books could be on the decline because of internet; many claim that they do not have time to read; some blame it on the television, and many feel that books are expensive.

But it was a refreshing change to see the great interest

among Omanis who thronged the book fair to get a real dose of books, books and more books. And they were not merely window shopping, lolling about or killing time. Like the information minister noted, sales of books at the fair had crossed over OMR3.5 million, almost a million rials increase over last fair’s sales of OMR2.5 million. “This is a clear indicator of not just the interest level but the fact that people out here are actually reading and also buying books,” Abdulmunim noted.

“However much attractive technology is, I still believe that there is a younger generation of Omanis here who will read,” Hamoud Al Mukheini added confidently.

This young poet has compiled his Balqees in the last four years. Although he is a lawyer, he has developed a passion for poetry. But was it easy to be a writer as well as a lawyer? “Absolutely! A lawyer is someone who cares about others; people in trouble and thus, it has only made it easier for me to be a writer,” Hamoud said. “Being a lawyer makes me interact with many people, and it also inspires my creativity. Poems are very sensitive topics and I feel good about writing them. It is a good feeling when I see someone reading my poems.

I advocate reading and writing without which life would be meaningless. The very essence of life is its sensitivity and a person who respects sensitivity, will be a good writer and a reader. When you read, you explore a new world, created out of someone’s imagination. It is hard to explain, unless you experience it yourself. In the olden times, our elders used to tell us tales of the society, an indirect way of reading by word of mouth. Writing encourages reading and vice versa. I believe the younger generation will read, no matter how the technology progresses.”

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Omani writers galore That there are a plethora of Omani writers is evident at the number of Omani authors flitting around the scene at the book fair. Other than Hamoud, we bumped into some more of them, thanks to the NYC members.

One of them was Dr Khamis Al Muqeemi, writer/national poet. The media was fawning over this striking looking young author and naturally we also joined the bandwagon.

LOVE FOR LANGUAGE, TRADITIONS Khamis Muqeemi sings and writes in the spoken language (Arabic), which is of distinct appeal to the masses. He has been writing since the last 16 years and has quite a following, both locally and regionally.

“I am into writing traditional poems in colloquial Arabic since 1998. Oman has the best of creative writers and being a close-knit society, word of mouth gets us immediate recognition. Acceptance of local talent is very good in Oman and I am one of the fortunate writers who have got support and recognition from local readers. Many regional singers including Mohammed Abdu and many other local singers have sung my lines/lyrics. Omanis love traditional poems. I have written poems on Oman and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and am proud to be an Omani poet.

“Our nation is rich in heritage and traditions and it is easy to get inspired locally. We, Omani writers, have excelled in the region too. My dream is to write another book soon on the local media scene since I have done a PhD in media science and politics in London. It will be a critical look on

Dr Khamis Al Muqeemi

the freedom of press in Oman.

“The book fair is a good platform for all writers to interact and also help us to update ourselves. This year we have seen many regional participation and the thronging visitors prove a point that there is a healthy reading habit in Oman.”

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The enthusiastic Entrupedia authors They openly declare that they are not writers, but businessmen. Yet they have jointly written a book, and their plan is to pen some more, the moment opportunity dawns on them.

Here we have three Omani selfdeclared non-authors, who along with another three, have brought out an interactive book of business norms in the Sultanate, titled Entrupedia.

The B&W spoke to the trio, Laith Al Harthy, Khalid Al Mahrouqi and Said Juma Al Salmani who noted that their book was written along with another three members, Mohamed A Dahli, Abdullah Al Qaabi and 30

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Khalid, Laith and Said Juma

Aziza Al Harthy. The trio was led

by Laith Al Harthy. “We are a group of Omani businessmen, who put in joint efforts to bring out an interactive

book, which is a compilation of 1000 questions that any new or potential entrepreneur is likely to face in the Omani business world,”

Laith said, while Khalid and Said Juma added that these queries were entirely on an Omani perspective. “The first chapter is 250 questions on governmental procedures, registrations and other processes involved in starting a new business.

The second chapter is 250 tips on funding and financing options and opportunities; the third has another 250 points on how to handle/safeguard your business legally, while the fourth is on marketing and public relations.”

These four sections cover the entire process of starting and doing business in a successful manner. “The best thing is that this book also has an interactive e version and mobile application. We hope that readers will interact and update our book of information helping us add information based on research and public interactivity,” Khalid said. “In Oman, we lack statistics and data. Much is talked about the social media and its merits. But what is the data available through local research? Our book will be a stepping stone for aspiring entrepreneurs and very soon we hope to bring out an upgraded English version too. The reading habit is a must for the society

to encourage writers locally. If people don’t read, what will become of writers? It is a relative habit that every society depends on. Even if technology progresses faster than the wind, the sanctity of the print word remains. The young writers thrive on readers. So let us all take it as a collective responsibility to promote reading and writing, which are the basic expressions of the human mind without which creativity cannot survive.”

A LIVE BOOK Laith noted that most books on business become obsolete and gather dust on the shelves. This is primarily because the business processes evolves faster. What was a business practice yesterday does not remain constant today. As it changes, business books become redundant. Entrupedia is our venture to keep the book contents alive and updated, according to the changing conditions locally. Through our book, we hope to channelise and mediate the young entrepreneurs to successful businesses.”

More information on entrupedia.com

Adopt innovative strategies to promote reading habits among youth Promoting the reading habit among the younger generation in Oman is an entirely different ballgame, says an official of the ministry of education. It was necessary to adopt a totally different strategy, feels Siham Ahmed Al Riyami, deputy director, education ministry. Siham, who published her first book, Once Upon a Time in Oman, a traditional Omani folktale and was also one of the 20 young authors who was supported, encouraged and awarded by the National Youth Commission (NYC) at the recently concluded Muscat International Book Fair, told B&W in an interview that it would be wrong to impose our thoughts, ideas and suggestions on the members of the current generation, whom she dubbed the ‘IT/digital generation’.

Excerpts:

Siham Ahmed Al Riyami

Once upon a time in Oman…what is it all about?

It is actually one volume, which is divided into books.

There are around 15 traditional Omani folktales in each book. These traditional folktales were gathered from around 11 Omani regions since 2008. These retold stories were culled from the narration of the elderly folk in villages in and around Oman.

The stories have pictorials and some of the illustrations were done by young Omani illustrators. Some of the illustrated Omani folktales were narrations of elderly Omani citizens, who lived in Zanzibar, India and Egypt.

Thus, the book serves not only as a channel to strengthen the cross cultural heritage but also to preserve our national heritage throughout the course of history.

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It will also help the young generation to open cultural dialogues with other countries by employing the narratives in these folktales. Attached to the book are some dolls, which were designed to represent some of the famous characters in the stories.

What made you write the book?

The idea came to me when I was doing my MA in Citizenship, Education and Human Rights in the United Kingdom. The subject included aspects on nationalism, volunteering works and ‘what to give to your country as an appreciation of what has been given to you as a citizen’.

I also keenly followed our leader’s speeches during his royal visits. There was one speech in 2008 when His Majesty the Sultan stated about how it was time to open our doors to other cultures and open the cultural peace dialogue with other countries. So it came to my mind that one of the tools or channels to familiarise expatriates with the Omani culture and customs would be through an interesting vehicle – folktales! In addition, it is one way of preserving our heritage which often gets easily lost and is phased out the minute we lose touch with our tradition, heritage and we no longer keep contact with our elderly folk. So, it is all about preserving culture and heritage and as Prof Bandyopadhyay from Nottingham Trent University stated: “Human settlements are expression of culture, social order and political intentions in space.

The are tangible representations of historical events and illustrate cultural continuity through the built environment.

With Oman’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, it is vital to preserve it.”

B&W Xclusive

How long did you take to write it?

It took me around four years to complete and publish it. I was recording the stories from elderly village folk in and around the Sultanate. I used to listen to the tales, write them in Arabic and then translate them to English. After that I began the process of editing them and then got them published in Y magazine from 2008 to 2011. I got the compilations published in book form in November last year as a dedicated gift to our venerable leader, His Majesty the Sultan and the people of Oman as part of the then national day.

Your take on promoting the reading habit in the younger generation?

Before talking about the right methods of encouraging the young generation to read, we need to study the needs and interests of this generation, whom I would call as the IT/digital generation. What is it that they find interesting?

We shouldn’t impose our life, thoughts and techniques on them. We should bear in our minds that our lifestyles are totally different from theirs. We have to find out from themselves, what they like or dislike. So we need to work 32

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very hard on the idea of the e-book and related activities or e-games. We also need to work on the talking books and working on the animated 3D or 4D stories.

Select the right books and readers that match both genders’ needs and interest. Always update the market with the new titles that suit them, take their feedback and have them as our partners when selecting the readers or books. Increase the numbers of public libraries, even mobile services. Engage them as joint adventure partners in the reading campaign projects and listen to them. This is why I came up with such a book, to encourage their reading and writing in English and also making them understand their unique culture and heritage. I also came up with the idea of the attached dolls in order to read and enact the stories because I feel we can always add a magic touch to reading when we act and perform what we read. Why don’t we deal with our kids as our customers whom we always try to satisfy?

What else are you working on?

I am currently looking at working on the future vision of the book. For this purpose, I am currently working on: * the website of the book * E-version of the book * Modified version of volume one of the book * Volume two and briging out the book in other languages (Spanish, German, Chinese and French)

The storyteller She started as a young girl with a precocious mind and a knack for storytelling. She remembers weaving many tales for her siblings and friends and soon a passion for telling tales crystallised into a bigger form where she began writing to appease her creative urge and to soothe her troubled heart. Hailing from a remote village in Batinah, Huda Hamed, who is today a journalist as well as a writer, is making waves. While she has a steady job as a scribe for Oman Arabic Daily, Huda has also managed to shine as an author, bringing out three books and a novella. “I loved writing as a child and this love has only developed over the years. What started as a childhood fantasy has become my career and identity today. I have authored books on short stories and poems.

A good reading book gives you more than a life. It gives you untold worlds beyond your imagination.”

MORE LIFE THROUGH READING Life changes for the better when you enter the world of words, Huda notes. “It changes your thoughts, helps you analyse and express yourself better. My books on folktales and stories started as bedtime tales.

I come from a village in the Batinah region where entertainment was not just limited, there was none. But I had my words with me and a fertile mind that weaved lot of fantasies. When I say words I mean words that come out of the mouth as amusing stories for my siblings. I entered the world of words when I started story telling for my younger brothers and sisters, a childhood habit that made me jot down short stories and the end result was a book!

“The human brain is quite a creative one. It can enhance your imagination and take you to a whole new world. I had the exposure of studying at the Syrian university and that four years changed my attitude towards reading and writing. Coming from a small village, as a woman, I never imagined a career in writing or that one day I would become a journalist. Reading and writing changed my world, my attitude, my creativity and my confidence levels. Today I express myself positively and progressively. I will encourage and promote reading among my children and the young ones in the family. My friends in the university inspired me as a woman to read and write more!”

Huda Hamed with her daughter

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NYC offers literary platform The recently concluded book fair, which saw great crowds, also witnessed an area which seemed to be the hub of activity among young Omani writers. Among the hustle and bustle, there was an extra focus at this stall of the National Youth Commission (NYC), which featured young Omani writers who displayed their work and also signed them off. It was indeed a literary platform any upcoming writer could aspire for and this was made possible by NYC (*).

B&W Xclusive

NYC PROMOTES 20 OMANI WRITERS “This year we identified 20 Omani writers, first time publishers of books through certain criteria judged by a committee,” Mazin Mohammed Al-Saadi, an NYC member told B&W. Mazin, who is a full time lecturer at the Higher College of Technology and an active member of the NYC, also detailed their role in general and specifically at the book fair. “We are here every day at our stall to create awareness and initiatives to encourage and promote reading and writing,” Mazin said.

The 20 writers were awarded a merit certificate each and their books were promoted at the book fair. The NYC bought 100 books from each of the writers, out of which 50 were autographed by the writer at the NYC stall in the evening hours. The public could interact with the author.

“We will circulate the remaining 50 books throughout the nation, promoting the young writer,” Mazin said.

Mazin Mohammed Al-Saadi

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The 20 writers are: • Fahad Al Saidi • Kamila Al Rahbi • Majid Al Alawi • Ruqaiya Al Buraidi • Saif Al Rawahi • Badr Al Rajhi • Mahmoud Al Balushi • Abdullah Khalifa Abdullah

• Siham Al Riyami • Asim Al Shiidi • Muthaber Al Musawi • Mubarak Al Jabri • Badriya Al Ismaili • Naji Al Saadi • Aida Al Balushi • Aisha Al Harthy • Mohamed Al Fasari • Hamoud Al Mukeini • Laith Al Harthy • Aisha Al Saifi SCHOOL CHILDREN CAMPAIGN Mazin also noted that 72 school children from all of the governorates of Oman took part in an interactive competition, conducted digitally, to promote the reading habit under the support of the Ministry of Education. The ministry nominated the school children to participate electronically, answering various questions. “We believe that the school is the right place to inculcate the reading habit and encourage the young ones to get inspired to read and write, thereby creating a healthy literary world in the future,” Mazin said.

MORE THAN A LIFE: BOOKMARK INITIATIVE Mazin recounted the popular phrase, ‘more than a life’, which was coined by the famous Egyptian writer, Mahmoud Al Akad, who is known to be an inspiration to the Arab world. “Reading, according to him is like living many lives, exploring new worlds! In short, reading gives you more than what a life can offer. In Oman, a group of

young reading enthusiasts created a group called ‘More than a Life’, promoting the reading habit through seminars and awareness seminars.

“We (NYC ) ran a campaign this year, along with the More than a Life group, which was to create a bookmark with your own photo. This was a gesture to initiate the thought that a bookmark, with your photo, would not only encourage a potential reader to view his/her face but also engage the person in reading.

“This campaign employs an emotional attempt to trigger the reading habit. It worked to a great extent. The people who visited our stall, clicked a photo, and when they got a bookmark made out of it in their hands, they felt slightly sheepish to say that they don’t read. A good percentage of them returned with a promise to start reading and use that bookmark.”

OUR CITY READS TWITTER CAMPAIGN The next group which the NYC identified was ‘Our City Reads’ a name that spells out their aims and objectives in the name itself. The group is striving hard to spread the goodness of reading through its various campaigns.

We joined them and did a twitter message campaign, but not by tweeting digitally, but by asking visitors to write a twitter message about reading and post it on the wall here. “The response was remarkable. Young kids to older people (mostly parents) scribbled out short messages on the importance of reading. Some of the messages were pledges to start reading or to encourage/initiate reading among friends and peers. This again is an interactive emotional campaign that made people write a note on reading,” Mazin said.

The NYC team at the book fair

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VISUALLY CHALLENGED READING CAMPAIGN “We brought six visually impaired candidates on six different days here to our stall. They sat here and read books. This created a clear awareness; people stopped at our stall to look at them reading with the help of Braille.

One of the worst challenges in life is to lose your vision and these visually impaired spend a minimum of two to three hours a day reading or writing on computers, which actually becomes a lesson for all of us who have vision.

This made quite an impact and I am sure those who saw them reading will pass on the message to encourage reading amongst their friends and families!”

YOUTH, A STRONG FORCE Mazin asserted that the youth were the strength of every nation. “And in Oman we can proudly say that we are a young nation. Whatever campaigns we initiated will go a long way and make the right changes in the years to come. Technology today is more of a handicap with the younger generation getting addicted to social media and the digital world. Of course the Internet has also a positive side of connecting the youth. The impact of friendship is so strong that the social media can create positive awareness on the reading habit. The

youth believe in friendship and bonding and if friends recommend reading, or a book, the group follows and reading spreads. We hope to tap the friendship groups and encourage the reading habit. We know reading does not happen in a day.

“Many factors including various topics of interest, parents, elders, schoolteachers, environment and region you come from, matters. All of these will influence your lifestyle and reading habits. We are very optimistic that the future generation will be more knowledge and information oriented and inspiring them to read may not be a tough task. We request schoolteachers and parents to initiate the reading habit at a young age itself. Once you have the habit of reading, it will only encourage you to read more, as you grow up!” (*) The NYC, formed out of a Royal decree in 2011, became functional in 2012 with all of its members nominated. The commission has all its aims and objectives focussed on youth development and growth. It aims to open free communication channel with the youth, create a feeling of ownership and citizenship amongst youth, facilitate the youth through seminars, campaigns that will manage the youth strength, develop the talents, support the NGOs, and other initiatives.

B&W Xclusive

Reading habits will not die To a great extent, the reading habit depends on your personal life, says Dr Raya Al-Mantheri, assistant professor, Sultan Qaboos University, and member of NYC. “It should ideally start with the parents at home and most importantly it becomes a huge responsibility of the schoolteachers. What you teach the young kid in the primary level remains in their mind and lifestyle throughout their lives.

“A good teacher can mould a young kid onto the right path of reading, by explaining to them the significance of a good read. Every book they open is a whole new world to be explored. I feel social media today takes away the magic of reading and denies them the opportunity, while making the youngster addicted to the digital world.

“I read quite a lot and I believe that the reading habit will not die. It will exist healthily as long as the human mind is creative. Even if the digital world progresses in leaps and bounds, reading will still survive, because out there in the literary world, there are creative minds that breathe life to words every day.

“Media also plays an important role. Every magazine, every newspaper becomes a reading material and creating awareness and promoting reading is a means of survival for every media. I would request parents, teachers and media to actively promote reading and writing,” said Dr Raya.

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Dr Raya Al-Mantheri

H. E. said it: 800,000 visitors, 125 Omani authors, 570 publishers More than 800,000 visitors, 570 publishers, 125 Omani authors…the 19th Muscat International Book Fair at the OIEC broke all records and wooed the public in an unprecedented manner, Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour Al Hasani, minister of information, said in remarks made to the B&W. According to the exhibitors, the minister made his presence at the fair, merged with the crowd and became part of them, probably in order to better gauge their enthusiasm. “The footfalls have increased this year at the book fair, reiterating the fact that reading habit thrives in Oman.

People will not visit a book fair, if there is no interest in reading,” the minister said in response to a query.

“The book fair has shown good growth over last year. One hundred and twenty five (125) Omani writers participated and the regional participation from booksellers and publishers also increased to 570 numbers from 25 odd countries,” Abdulmunim noted.

Book sales also recorded remarkable figures. “The sales have crossed OMR3.5million as compared to OMR 2.5million in the previous edition of the book fair. All of this shows the positive trends of the printed word and its everlasting effect on the young and old alike,” the minister enthused.

Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour Al Hasani

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Ben

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Kidstuff 38

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• There are over 30000 known species of fish.

• Relative to their body size, fish have small brains compared to most other animals.

• Fish are vertebrate animals that live in the water.

• Fish have gills that extract oxygen from the water around them.

• Some flatfish use camouflage to hide themselves on the ocean floor.

• Tuna can swim at speeds of up to 70 kph (43 mph).

• Fish are covered in scales which are often covered in a layer of slime to help their movement through water.

• Although jellyfish and crayfish have the word ‘fish’ in their name, they aren’t actually fish.

• Catfish have over 27,000 taste buds. Humans have around 7,000.

• Seahorses are the only fish that swim upright.

• Some fish, such as the great white shark, can raise their body temperature. This helps them hunt for prey in cold water.

• The oldest known age for a fish was an Australian lungfish. In 2003, it was still alive and well at 65 years old.

• Fish use a variety of low-pitched sounds to convey messages to each other. They moan, grunt, croak, boom, hiss, whistle, creak, shriek, and wail. They rattle their bones and gnash their teeth. However, fish do not have vocal chords.

• Fish can form schools containing millions of fish. They use their eyes and something called a lateral line to hold their places in the school.

• Electric eels and electric rays have enough electricity to kill a horse.

• Sharks are the only fish that have eyelids.

• Most fish have taste buds all over their body.

Flat flying fish fly faster than flat flying fleas.

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We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now.

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

Glam shop cold shouldering Walk into a glam shop and see how they treat you if you aren’t a glam doll or hunk yourself, say readers. This middle-aged couple walked into a high funda clothes shop and checked for some finery for their young daughter studying in the US. They were not the ‘in’ folks and were not up to date about the current market trends. But to their shock they realised the oh-so-trendy sales girls at the retailer did not bother about them and kept on ignoring their requests pretending to be busy and tending to other young and trendy customers’ demands, while keeping this non-trendy duo at bay. This went on until the man lost his cool and demanded to see the manager. But, unfortunately, the latter did not see eye to eye with the problem presented and gave the lame excuse that they had too many customers and the attention was divided amongst them. Plus, the man added, what was the need to make such a big noise about it? Those who come to such shops should rightly know what they want, otherwise,

Nitter natter

Hisss night fright?

After watching a late night movie, a family of five were returning home. Although they had a car, they had decided not to take it as the distance to the movie theatre from their flat was not much. So they were returning through a rather unlit area when suddenly one of the girls (there were two girls, a boy and their parents) gave off a bloodcurdling yell. Apparently, she had stepped on a snake or something and even though it did not bite, nor hiss, nor posed any threat, she screamed in fright.

Propelled by the scream, the whole family rushed ahead and stopped only after they reached a streetlight. But, save for the girl, no one saw the snake and even though the father braved back to the spot aided with a stick and a mobile phone, he could not detect anything slitheringly suspicious. Apparently, it was simply a pipe or could have been even a shrub, but the fright has made them vow to travel only by car everywhere, especially in the night.

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they could go elsewhere… Wow! What fantastic treatment to their own customers?

The duo feel terribly insulted, dejected and annoyed and so are we!

Bike taxis?

Traffic snarls are creating such a mess that some people are suggesting innovative methods to get out of the blocks. Some youngsters are suggesting that Muscat go for bike taxis or motorcycle taxis (which is commonly referred to as a ‘cart bike’ and is a licensed form of transport in some countries).

Of course, such bikes can carry only one passenger, but then, in a tight road fix, at least one or two or maybe half a dozen – or maybe even more - can escape the blocks. Something

to ponder about until the next brilliant idea comes through.

What say you?

Help them cross Talking of roads, let us quickly mention something: there should be an unwritten rule that we should try to help the infirm, aged, young kids etc to cross the road on busy streets. It has been routinely noticed that many of them just blindly cross the streets without much attention to the incoming traffic. Citizens and residents should empower themselves to help and assist those in the above bracket to cross the roads whenever and wherever they find them. When such careless crossing is done, it puts not only them, but also those in the vehicles in great danger. And after that when an accident happens, we should not roundly blame the motorists alone.

Home sweet home The other day we bumped into an old friendly face in Ruwi high street. He was an old salesman who went off to a neighbouring country some years back. He had left Oman seeking better prospects. Probably someone who was bitten by the grassis-green-on-the-other-side bug! It was a pleasant surprise to meet him and we said we were happy to see him in his same position in the same favourite side street shop that we used to haunt. Asked why and how he got back, he replied with a wry smile that he felt homesick (for Oman) and although he struggled hard to stay back in the neighbouring country, finally, he came back to his roots in Muscat. For many expats, Oman has become a second home; it has got into their blood. They cannot live anywhere else! Happy to hear that, we said feeling quite elated ourselves.

(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 Try to remember that it’s in your power to change things, so speed things up a bit and you’ll find you’re in a good position to push forward. Getting your own way should be easy for you if you use your natural charm, charisma and sensuality.

CANCER June 22-July 23 If it’s at all possible to get away for a few days, even to get into the countryside, it doesn’t have to be abroad, it would do you the world of good. Things are moving at a snails pace and are therefore causing irritation, so focusing on something more positive would be a godsend.

TAURUS April 21-May 20

GEMINI May 21-June 21

You may have to put your personal life on the back burner for most of this week. Both long and short trips are favoured and you find yourself going off on a break of some sort as time finally starts to slow down and work in your favour.

It’s not one of your best weeks where the signing of documents, contracts or agreements is concerned, but if you cant get out of it and cant delay it, look very carefully at all small print before putting your name on the dotted line.

LEO July 24-August 23 Financially, don’t be afraid to take a gamble this week, although in your case it would probably be more called a calculated risk. It may be enough to lift your good fortune.

By and large you can take a lot of things for granted now, but it’s still important to check details.

VIRGO August 24-September 23 Helping others comes so naturally to you that you don’t even know you’re doing it most of the time.

Not that you’re looking for anything, but the returns you’ll get just by adhering to this approach, could be potentially enormous.

Horoscope

WILLIAM ADAMS (BORN MARCH 15, 1975), better known as will.i.am (pronounced Will I Am), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, voice actor, actor, DJ, record producer, and philanthropist, best known as one of the founding members of the hip hop/pop band, The Black Eyed Peas. He is the recipient of seven Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, a Teen Choice Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, and three World Music Awards all won with the Black Eyed Peas.

Will.i.am is also a music producer. He has produced with other artists including Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Eazy-E, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, David Guetta, U2, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Earth, Wind & Fire, Nicki Minaj, Cheryl Cole, 2NE1, SMAP, The Game, Nas, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Daddy Yankee, Wolfgang Gartner, and Juanes. He is a coach on The Voice UK. In collaborations and with the Black Eyed Peas, he has a total of 34 Top 40 entries on the UK Singles Chart since 1998, and has sold 9.4 million singles in the UK.

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stars LIBRA September 24-October 23

SCORPIO October 24-November 22

A family matter may remind you of where your roots actually lie this week, so be prepared to offer support to relatives and younger family members. Avoid discussions that have no logical conclusion, as it’s just a waste of time

Don’t be afraid to diversify professionally from what you’re used to. It could turn out to be the key to your happiness.

Making new friends seems high on your list this week, but nurturing old ones is just as important.

CAPRICORN December 23-January 20 Look at life from the perspective of an observer, as by the time tomorrow comes, you’ll need to clear the decks for action.

Getting ahead in your chosen field is now within your reach, so trust your intuition and gut feeling to steer you in the right direction.

AQUARIUS January 21-February 19 It would seem that it’s clearly your intention to be noticed this week, and that’s all well and good, but just don’t overdo it. If your common sense has fleetingly left you, do your best to get it back pronto.

Keep impulsive behaviour bridled and ride out this crazy period of life.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 22 Your good nature and popularity have never been questioned, so when someone you barely know says something about you in a slightly negative fashion, don’t let it get to you. You can’t please all the people all the time, so don’t waste your time trying.

PISCES February 20-March 20 Changes to your professional life are sudden and unsettling at first, but look at the new options its unearthed. You may be happier going in a new direction.

Someone from your past may get in touch and offer you yet another option of work.

ALBERT EINSTEIN (14 MARCH 1879 – 18 APRIL 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist. He developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). While best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2 (which has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation"), he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.

Near the beginning of his career, Einstein thought that Newtonian mechanics was no longer enough to reconcile the laws of classical mechanics with the laws of the electromagnetic field. This led to the development of his special theory of relativity. He realised, however, that the principle of relativity could also be extended to gravitational fields, and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916, he published a paper on the general theory of relativity.

Einstein published more than 300 scientific papers along with over 150 non-scientific works. His great intellectual achievements and originality have made the word 'Einstein' synonymous with genius.

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

Circulation

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

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

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

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

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

SALALAH

SOHAR

NIZWA

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

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

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

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

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

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Smart Cities...

By Dr CK Anchan

As population growth brings challenges to cities around the world, new technologies will increasingly revolutionise the way we organise our lives and communities. This rise in population has, fortunately, been accompanied by technological advances. We need these technologies to make the disparate strands of everyday life synch with each other: so we can swipe the same piece of plastic card everywhere, whether it’s to pay for our bus fares, buy our groceries or get into our place of work.

Smart cities aren’t a science fiction, far-off-inthe-future concept. They’re here today, with governments already using technologies that include wireless networks, big data/analytics mobile applications, Web portals, social media, tracking/ sensor products and other tools. These smart city efforts have lofty goals: Enhancing the quality of life for citizens, improving government processes and reducing energy consumption, among others.

Indeed, cities are already seeing some tangible benefits. But creating a smart city comes with daunting challenges.

With more than half of the world’s population already living in urban areas, and that percentage expected to rise to 75 percent by 2050, it is clear that the path to sustainable development must pass through cities.

But exactly how cities should organise themselves to advance green growth for all and improve the day-to-day lives of residents remains open to debate.

The global urban population is expected to grow approximately 1.5 percent per year between 2025 and 2030, mostly in developing countries, according to the World Health Organisation.

Management Talk

The concept of the Smart City as the next stage in the process of urbanisation has been quite fashionable in the policy arena in recent years, with the aim of drawing a distinction from the terms digital city or intelligent city. Its main focus is still on the role of ICT infrastructure, but much research 46

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

has also been carried out on the role of human capital/education, social and relational capital and environmental interest as important drivers of urban growth.

Although there are many differing views as to what a Smart City really is, cities are facing common challenges. Creating a road map for Smart Cities is a complicated matter. The necessary steps depend on cities’ objectives and on existing local resources.

Road maps first require a detailed analysis of the city: its resources, infrastructure and pattern of energy demand. Starting from your own strengths is the key.

The dynamics of stakeholder interaction is central to successful Smart City actions. Who uses the infrastructure and how do the different users interact? Sometimes hundreds of different parties are involved in just one project. They can be anyone who is interested in energy evolution, including the end user. How do you align so many different priorities?

Working with different partners does not have to be complicated, as long as there is an open dialogue and a clear vision. Sharing a vision is crucial.

Talking about Smart Cities is often about executing sustainable activities in a more integrated way, with more partners involved and more projects connected.

In recent years there has been a clear move from individual demonstration projects to holistic planning.

Although the intention to cooperate is there, other interests are given priority in practice. How can we get a grip on the complexity of synergy between various sectors?

Dave Smith, chief executive of Sunderland city council, says: “The industrial revolution saw huge changes in the way people socialised, worked and organised their family life and communities. I see this opportunity through smarter cities as being the next revolution.”

It's my life

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

By Vandana Shah

I want you to close your eyes for just five seconds, go back to your childhood and walk with me when I was five years old. As a child I would spend my summer vacations in Mumbai at my grandmother’s home which meant playing with my cousins,fun,beaches,the sea,shopping,occasional sightings of filmstars but most of all tasty Alphonso mango milk shake.

My cousin brother used to get two glasses and I only one. One day I decided that enough was enough and I too wanted two glasses but when I asked him he said,” I am a boy and so I get more mango milkshake and you are a girl so you get only one”. My immediate response was, “No, boys and girls are equal and I should get the same AND MY FATHER SAID SO” to which he retorted that “No, boys get more, my brother told me” and this escalated into a heated argument which ended in fisticuffs with me eventually winning the fight by pounding and punching him to the ground.

When I wrote to my father to clarify I got a letter which read as, “ Yes, boys and girls are equal but perhaps my cousin deserved a bit more because it was his home and you are a guest and should not demand more and P.S. YOU ARE NOT TO BEAT YOUR COUSIN”.

That early lesson in the equality of men and women has stayed with me and has helped me to successfully navigate my life. Today it has come full circle as I have instituted an award 'Wing Commander Sanwal Shah and Charan Shah Award for Women Empowerment' in my parents’ name.

I salute all the great men and women on International Women’s Day who have enhanced our pride in being a woman.

Till next time...

Stay happy!

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

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

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Healthy

eggy

breakfasts

Cooking

Breakfast would be incomplete without egg on the menu. Good old eggs are loaded with vitamins, minerals, high quality proteins, good fats and various other lesserknown nutrients. Eggs are so nutritious that they’re often referred to as natural multivitamin with unique antioxidants and powerful brain nutrients that many people are deficient in. So boil, scramble or omelette, an eggy breakfast is a good way to start your day‌

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Sausage and Cheese Omelette Ingredients 1 egg, beaten 1 tbsp. milk 2 tbsp. fully-cooked breakfast sausage crumbles or 1 fully-cooked breakfast sausage link or patty, chopped 2 tbsp. shredded Cheddar cheese 1 flatbread (6-inch), toasted Directions Beat egg and milk in 2-cup cereal bowl until blended.

Add sausage. Microwave on high 30 seconds; push cooked edges toward center. Microwave until egg is almost set, about 15 to 45 seconds longer.

Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. cheese. Fold omelet in half; slide onto plate. Top with remaining cheese. Serve immediately with toasted flatbread.

Cup Scramble Ingredients 2 eggs 2 tbsp. milk 2 tbsp. shredded cheddar, cheese, salt and pepper Directions Coat 12-oz. microwave-safe mug with cooking spray.

Add eggs and milk; beat until blended. Microwave on high 45 seconds; stir. Microwave until eggs are almost set, 30 to 45 seconds longer. Top with cheese; season with salt and pepper.

Flatbread Pizza Ingredients 1 tbsp. milk 1 egg, beaten 1 tbsp. milk Fully-cooked breakfast sausage crumbles or 1 fullycooked breakfast sausage link or patty, chopped 1 round flatbread (6-inch diameter) 2 tbsp. finely shredded Cheddar cheese Directions Beat egg and milk in 2-cup cereal bowl until blended.

Add sausage. Microwave on high 30 seconds; push cooked edges toward center. Microwave until egg is almost set, about 15 to 45 seconds longer.

Cut egg into 4 or 5 pieces; arrange on flatbread. Top with cheese. Microwave an additional 10 to 15 seconds to melt cheese. Serve immediately.

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Why, all this

negativity?

It may not be all of them, but there are some women who carry such a negative image of themselves.

They seem to be embedded with some negative spark that flames when things go even slightly awry.

While this is the world, which also features the confident, successful, superwomen who totally dominate the scene, at the other end, we have a bunch of women, who fret about their abilities to such an extent that they end up tripping over themselves.

Women, who are preoccupied with minor and often imaginary flaws in physical features and are insecure about almost everything, despite having achieved quite a lot. They would discount their own thriving careers, good reputation and standing over the years fretting over things big and small. While each time they manage to finally win over their fears, thanks most often to good providence, the run up to an event, or a meeting, or an interview or anything of significance on their work front or their relationship front, they metamorphose into a bundle of fears.

Somehow, all the good they have done, the abilities and skills they have displayed over the years, pales into insignificance over their petty negativities, their frail egos and self belief. As a writer had once noted, for some women, it was the bad stuff (about themselves) that they liked believing in.

Research has found that sometimes women, especially young women, attach themselves to negative and self-critical thoughts than good. It is almost easy to believe this theory that women are more attuned to that part of the brain that is assigned to the task of negative thinking.

On the physical front, they are assailed by a slew of fears and self doubt. Most women are constantly bothered by how they look and are quite sensitive to that.

They are always wondering whether they look too bad, shabby, too fat, too thin, too old, too…the list is endless. While, you may ideally assign these fears to teenagers, the fact is that this angst covers a wide range of ages among women.

Researchers claim that this worrying aspect of the brain stems from the ‘anterior cingulate cortex’. Apparently, in women, “it’s actually larger and more

influential, as is the brain circuitry for observing emotions in others,” a report notes. The article says that females have more “emotional sensitivity” because they are built to readily respond to the needs of a “nonverbal infant”!

Scientists term this hormonal surge in the female brain as the “rising tide of estrogen and progesterone,” the article says, noting that was what made a woman more “sensitive to emotional nuance, be it disapproval or rejection”.

Then there is the perennial bit about the women’s menstrual cycle, which is known to put their emotional self in bad light for some days every month. When women get into this state of increased emotionality, everything becomes a bit raw for them. And when this double trouble hits those who are already bearing the brunt of self doubt, it could be a burden that could break them.

Scientists also note that at least half of our personalities come from our gene pool, that it is part of the identity card we are issued at birth, the article points out.

But, whatever the source for all this negativity and our understanding of it, there needs to be a way out to curtail the fear in such women. Whether it is to be open minded or finding their own niche and being comfortable in it, women should strive not to overdo the critical bit. When it comes to beauty, or the ideal female body image, girls, and even women, tend to look up to airbrushed images in the media, which are not even real.

As for the inner doubts on their abilities, one thing to understand is that without a doubt there is no creature that can inhabit this earth with the firmest foot than a woman, for she is the mother, the sister, the aunt, the daughter and the girl who has the power to dream and also make it happen.

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Never alone!

By Priya Arunkumar “Argumentative! You have all the trends of being a lawyer, here read this… "I still remember my dad’s words when he thrust some Perry mason books in to my hands.

I got in the world of ‘deep mysteries' and adventure when I was hardly seven, thanks to the adventurous four, Nancy Drew and the famous fives. I was hooked on, addicted. Never a book worm, more of a book freak! Cartoons humoured me, comics was a craze!

Tintin, Asterix and Obelix, Archies, Phantom- the Ghost who walks, Superman, Batman…. Sigh! Life was super fascinating!

Hooked

I adore Perry Mason and his courtroom drama, know Della Street and Paul drake, like they are my neighbours; till date it is a treat to read the series… and then came Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, followed by the action thrillers of Alister MacLean. That was an era where I would analyse and decide that everyone around the hero will eventually turn out to be a traitor. In fact I started seeing villains in every hero! Villains became fascinating and ruthless as in the Macleans! The names Mary and John became quite dear!

When I first saw the Guns of Navarone, I knew the complete plot by heart; yes, many of MacLean’s novels were made into films, but I always felt none of them reflected the intensity of his writing style. The action thrillers led the way to James Hadley Chase, the Clive Cusslers, James Bond and many more.

Robin Cook took me to a world of eerie science fiction and the complicated

world of medical science spelling out fevers and genetic manipulations in different versions, while Ayn Rands and Paulo Coelhos made me strong and proud.

Growing up was full of action, with heroes and heroines taking me along in every story I read. Romance was Gone with the wind, Man woman and child, A walk to remember, We the Living and the likes… A friend introduced me to Richard Bach, in fact gifted me an original handwritten copy of the Jonathan Livingston Sea Gull, till date I treasure. No words can explain the experience of reading a book, living the story, and walking around with a feeling that I know it all. Sometimes reading does give you an edge over others, makes you confident overnight.

Look at it, a few pages bound and stapled together carries a world inside, live and vibrant, keeping your mind and imagination alive. So when you are tired and depressed, dust your bookshelves, because the best friend you can ever have is a book; a constant companion, always accessible and wise. More than the visual impact of a movie, books make you alive, with creativity, humour, passion, wisdom and beautiful thoughts, and inspire you to return to reading with a fresh eye and eager heart. Finally, reading is all about crafting life out of words, which reminds us that good writing comes out of good reading. When you have a book in hand, you are never alone! priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

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