Black & White mag issue 50

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Women need to change their bad habits p52

FREE Fortnightly

The Jebel Khawr recluse p24

Foods men could ideally avoid p8 20 Shawwal - 4 Dh'Qada

Vol.3 Issue 50IISeptember 7-30, 2012

Xclusive

Hermit atop 24 The Jebel Khawr Here is a tale of a man who left everything to find himself atop a mountain. What is he? A saint? A man who has connected with his soul on top of a rugged jebel? Or someone who has escaped from it all?

38

Bitter Batter

Serial SMSer bites the dust A serial SMSer (one who sends too many short messages on the mobile) got into a real situation after a loveydovey message he sent to one of his ‘lady loves’ ended up with the wrong person

Contents

8

Foods that you could ideally avoid

There are some foods that you could avoid. These include fatty meats, enriched flour, fried foods etc. Also avoid daily products, enriched flour, fried items etc

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC Black & White Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos Office location: Hatat House A, II Floor, Suite No: 212, Wadi Adai Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496 Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com Printed at Oman Printers 4 September 7- 30, 2012

52

Women need to change their bad habits

It is a fact that women, despite having lesser bad habits than men, are prone to not weaning themselves from them once they have been bitted by the ‘bad-habits’ bug.

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

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Priya Arunkumar Adarsh Madhavan Beneek Siraj Shannon D'Souza Priyanka Sampat

To copy or not to copy?

By Adarsh Madhavan I almost lost my job as a reporter once when, after doing a long piece on a well known diver, my editor questioned me on the veracity of that report.

I was flabbergasted by the thought that anyone could question my integrity as far as doing a story was concerned. I went back to my seat, took my notebook to the editor and showed him the complete interview taken in longhand. The editor sniffed and frowned at the notebook, and waved me off.

Only a quarter of the interview was used and most of the quotes were rephrased. I had no clue what happened there and 15 or more years later, today, I still wonder why the editor did that. Some are able to give colourful quotes and fact is indeed better than fiction on most occasions and I am sure any writer would confirm that. I had further run ins with the editor in question but never on my integrity because he knew by then that I would lose my job post raising such questions and casting such aspersions, but he would lose something more valuable than a rickety job at a daily!

I, of course, confess: I have used so many quotes and so many lines off the net, but have always given the source and attributed them to the author. Why should I take something that is not mine and pass off as my own? What pleasure will that give me?

Why should I take the applause for someone else’s victory? I know I am no great shakes as a writer but nothing would make me pass off someone’s work as my own, unless I am that careless enough not to attribute a quote, which is what this media personality, Fareed Zakaria, might have done unwittingly thereby inviting accusations of plagiarism.

Zakaria’s career almost went on an abrupt standstill after bloggers discovered that his column, which he wrote recently, for Time magazine had “passages lifted almost entirely from an article by the historian Jill Lepore (this appeared in The New Yorker in April)”!

Although Zakaria looked as though he was going to go out of oblivion for this minor transgression, it was soon found that there was “no evidence of plagiarism” and although he was suspended from Time magazine, he was as quickly reinstated.

I have been in the thick of such controversies concerning many in the past. One was with an Indian correspondent of our newspaper, then with a lady columnist and then again with an educationist who was accused of plagiarising matter from another teacher’s book and so on. These controversies were always a mess but it managed to shake me awake from the reverie of writing.

Sometimes you are so caught in the maze of beautifying lines, that the thin line of fact and fiction gets so blurred that even you are fooled despite crafting them.

There is something starkly beautiful in being original.

Something so refreshing and alive, which you can never get from pulling off some lines from someone else! I have tried using quotes of many famous people, but they never ever really felt good, especially when readers manage to remember only the famous quotes and never caught your drift. Somehow truth often gets lost in the transmission and the translation from mind and heart to paper!

And when you desperately try to put the initial, unfettered and pure message across, just as you had felt it when it broke into your thoughts, you realise that it is but in vain for you have to be fast to capture the essence before it gets lost in the collective thoughts of many and becomes just that – a mere collection of words and ordinary. Now, even as I write this, I am compelled to mention that I did go over some articles on plagiarism, which has helped me form the thoughts penned here. But, I am in a dilemma as to whether I should call them my own? Are these actually my words and my thoughts? Since they claim that “everything that is written actually reflects something that came before it”, I am not fully sure whether I have copied all of this from somewhere or actually written it? Let me ask Zakaria.

editor@blackandwhiteoman.com Black & White 5

A shield of protection The hijab (issue 49) is a shield of protection, a modesty that protects them from any type of assault, which other women (who does not wear a hijab) are subjected to around the world. The hijab gives the women an air of authority, dignity and respect and well, it makes them equal to men.

Hijab, therefore, has great benefits and serves to guard against any assault, provides equality with men, brings about an air of respect and honour and most important of all, obedience to the Almighty!

Whenever you are in doubt, dear Muslim women, ask yourself whom you want to serve: some friends of yours who do not believe or the Almighty? The whole nature of our existence is to cultivate love and affection for the Almighty in our heart and not for anything else. How can we create that love when we disobey Him? Adoration and affection come from the heart and those who truly love Almighty Allah will not do anything contradicting this. A woman of dignity and having respect will not conduct herself in a manner that will disgrace her in her own as well as other’s eyes! Also, if there is peer pressure among young Muslim women who are often laughed at because they observe the hijab, let me tell them that they should not feel down or shaken by such derisive laughter. As they say, he who laughs last laughs the longest!

Ali Abdul Hatim, Muttrah

You talk when you are not at peace

Reader's column

You can’t speak (or write) about a genius called Khalil Gibran, without mentioning his quotes. One of the best quotes that I always cite is this: “You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.” Then he said: “Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky, we fell them down and turn them into paper that we may record our emptiness.”

I am honoured that I am alive to be present for his play.

Although I am a great fan of this artist and poet, I never had the chance to see his play and I am saying with great pride and joy that I am now getting this unique opportunity to see it. Thank you!

Abdul Mateen, Seeb

Mail your views and opinions at editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

6 September 7- 30, 2012

Brought me closer to the Almighty I began wearing a hijab when I was a child. I still remember my father asking me whether I would like to wear a hijab or not – but I was too young to really make a choice. Still, my choice was automatic: I chose to wear it, although I was just eight and a half years old. Since then I have been wearing it and it was only when I became a college-going girl that I realised when it actually meant: it gave me an identity of a Muslim. And yes, it makes me safe and protected and it also gives me lot of confidence. But the most important thing is that it has brought me closer to the Almighty! I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world!

Jameela Azeez, Qurum

Master’s masterpiece Khalil Gibran’s play (issue 49)? That is the best thing I have heard in a long, long time. I am a great fan of Gibran and value and treasure his masterpiece, The Prophet. It is indeed a work that has made him the third best selling poet of all time. This is a book, which contains 26 poetic essays and was quite popular during the 1960s. Since it was first published in 1923, The Prophet has never been out of print. Having been translated into more than 40 languages, it was one of the bestselling books of the 20th century in the United States, reports say. By bringing this unusual play of the renowned poet, artist and writer, your magazine, will help many have a firsthand view of the master artist. I am going to be there for this grand event! And so will many!!

Kassim Jamil, Sohar

My hijab, my companion You will not believe the amazing manner my life changed when I began to wear the hijab during my college days back in India. There was instant respect!

I realised that people began to take me extra seriously, and I somehow felt protected and confident whenever I stepped out alone – in fact, the hijab was a companion! I was never ever alone once I started wearing it.

Zubaida Tanveer, Ruwi

Black & White 7

FOODS

that you could ideally

By Michael Pauluke

AVOID

Hair today, gone tomorrow? This is one of the biggest fears on the cosmetic front for men. Hair loss, balding, receding hairline and total hair loss are indeed hair-raising prospects for many men. In fact, look around: You see more bald men than hairy ones today. And there has to be a reason for that.

AVOID JUNK They did not invent a bag of chips during those days when man paraded their locks or lived on its strength a la Samson! Once again, the answer is staring at you: Junk food! This is said to be a major cause for hair loss. If you consume commercially processed foods, like potato chips, over a lengthy period of time, say good bye to hair.

Yes, as bad as that!

This happens because junk food succeeds in producing excess cholesterol, which in turn brings about something called the pregnenolone that causes high levels of dihydrotestosterone or DHT. This three-lettered word is the prime reason for male hair loss, and is related to androgenetic alopecia, which causes thinning of hair and eventual baldness, experts note.

Men read

THE BOTTOMLINE They also add that hair loss depended on genetics. But, the unfortunate fact was that even though it relied on genetic make-up, it is not purely based on your DNA. Ultimately, the bottom-line is that your diet is a major contributor to beautiful locks of hair. You could do one simple thing: cut out on the junk food.

PROSTATE CANCER It is wise to note that not only junk, there are other items on the list that men should be wary of. For instance, it is not great to know that your favourite male food – hamburger – is also a problem poser. Going by research, a few burgers a week upped the risk of getting prostate

8 September 7- 30, 2012

cancer. In fact, reports say that the chances are like 40 percent, which is not a joke. Although it is nothing new, the fact is that cooking meat at high temperatures create cancer causing chemicals that damage DNA. Those who ate meat cooked in pan were found to be at the biggest risk, and those eaters of red meat to be really pushing it!

Research has found that those men who ate baked poultry had lower risk of prostate cancer as compared to those who pan fried it. Even fish that was pan fried posed graver danger. As researchers probe the reasons, they still maintain that although they don’t have the answers, it was wise to avoid pan fried stuff.

DIFFERENT DIETS The diet requirements of men and women are slightly different. Men require more calories, carbohydrates and protein owing to their larger muscle mass. But, that doesn’t mean you can eat anything to supplement these in your body. There are certain foods that you should avoid because of their potential harmful nature to your health.

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID While it is quite often maintained that one should look at a healthy and balanced diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins etc., many men don’t really bother about it. Some of the foods that men should avoid include fatty meats, enriched flour, fried foods and added sugars. Also, avoid dairy products, enriched flour, fried items, lavender etc.

Black & White 9

Men health 10 September 7- 30, 2012

How to eat your way out of a

STROKE

What you eat is what you are. And eating healthy food makes you healthy. This is not too hard to understand, yet, many men out there are bound to get into trouble despite all the advices floating around. When you consume a diet high in fat, cholesterol and salt, it can increase the risk of stroke, health experts say while adding that there are also foods that men can eat to get healthy hearts and thereby avoid strokes.

MORE FRUITS, LESS STROKES The first step to take if you even remotely suspect of any heart related ailments is to see the doctor. In the meantime, if you focus on food, it is time to eat a wellbalanced diet that contains fresh vegetables, fruits, lean, clear protein foods and whole grains. “Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that counteract/ prevent the damage from free radicals,” a health expert noted, adding that frequent fruit consumers had much lesser incidences of strokes. The benefits of fruits and vegetables are two fold: they are not just rich in antioxidants, they are also having good supplies of vitamin B6 and folic acid. It is known that B vitamins reduce levels of homocysteine (which again has shown to increase the risk for stroke).

EAT YOURSELF BLUE AND PURPLE Experts identified a diet rich with blue and purple fruits and vegetables, grapes, eggplants and red cabbage.

Start consuming fruits that are high in antioxidants, vitamin C,

potassium and magnesium, such as apples, pomegranate, cranberries, apricots, kiwis, oranges and blueberries on a daily basis. These nutrients help enrich the blood and support healthy cells, they said.

BE A BUGS BUNNY Being a ‘Bugs Bunny’ works! Help yourself to a good dose of carrots too, other experts noted. Carrot consumption works not just for the cartoon character, but also for you.

The more servings you have, the more the chances for reducing a stroke.

STEP UP THE ANTIOXIDANTS Time and again, experts have stressed the importance of consuming fruits that are high in antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. These include fruits like apples, apricots, blueberries, cranberries, kiwis, oranges etc.

HOOK UP ON THE OMEGA 3 The importance of fish cannot also be reiterated.

Consume fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help prevent cholesterol clots and thereby leading to stroke. These include salmon, mackerel and herring. In fact, eat plenty of fish. Regular fish eaters have a lower rate of stroke than those who don’t.

WHAT FOODS TO AVOID Avoid saturated and hydrogenated fats. Eliminate dairy products (except for small amounts of the low-fat varieties), red meat, eggs, margarine, shortening, tropical oils such as coconut and palm oil, and all fried foods. Saturated and hydrogenated fats raise cholesterol levels, especially that of LDL (“bad cholesterol”). Also, avoid a daily meat diet. It has been found that a worrying percentage of those who consumed meat daily had strokes. It is better to ‘foodwise’ than meat foolish, as a health expert noted.

Black & White 11

MAJOR DHYAN CHAND

Indian legend and hockey wizard

By SAS Naqvi – Sports Consultant

Oman watch

August 29 is a hallowed day in the history of sports because it was on this day that the Indian legend and ‘wizard of hockey’ was born at the Prayag Allahabad in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh to Sameshwar Dutt Singh, in 1905.

In honour of Major Dhyan Chand, the government of India has declared August 29 as the national sports day when leading sportsmen of the country are honoured by the President of India. I was personally associated with Dada Dhyan Chand, as he was respectfully called. I joined Western Railways in Bombay in 1952 and played in two of the most prestigious tournaments – the Gold Cup and the Aga Khan Hockey Tournament, both held in Bombay then. The Dhyan Chand Cup in Delhi, the Beighton Cup in Calcutta were the other two top hockey tournaments at that time. I gained name and fame in 1953 as the Western Railways figured in almost all the finals of all leading tournaments including the Inter-Railways and Obaidullah Cup held in Bhopal.

Our team of promising youngsters was led by none other than the experienced Kishen Lal, the Indian hockey captain of 1948 Olympics.

12 September 7- 30, 2012

Kishen Dada played as inside-right with me at the right-out position. I had developed perfect understanding and had imbibed the styles of Kishen Dada and my first mentor KD Singh Babu, the hockey captain of the 1952 Olympic team. I was given the nickname “pocket sized Kishen Lal and/or KD Singh Babu”.

We had a wonderful attack led by centre-forward Siddique who performed brilliantly against Pakistan’s Lahore Independents comprising of several Olympians from Pakistan. However, led by Kishen Dada, we defeated them by 1-0 margin in the semi-finals of an Invitation Gold Cup held in 1953 in Bombay but had lost in the finals to HAL, Bangalore 1-0 in the finals. We had earlier wrested the Obaidullah Gold Cup at Bhopal.

The press was euphoric and our victory over Lahore Independents received wide coverage all over the country. The 1953 Dhyan Chand Cup held at Delhi later, therefore received great attention as leading teams were in the fray including the Independents from Pakistan. We won the Dhyan Chand Cup also defeating Pakistan’s Independents once again in the semi-finals by 2-1.

We beat Kirkee United in the finals by a margin of 3-1 and Dada was highly impressed with our team. A grand function was organised to celebrate this victory and Dada Dhyan Chand was specially invited to join the celebrations. It was here that I was introduced by Kishen Dada to the

legend and wizard of hockey.

Incidentally, earlier KD Singh Babu had also spoken highly of me to Dada and my performances during the year had already reached his ears.

It was the greatest moment of my career when Dada first shook hands with me and was full of admiration for my performance. He predicted to all present there that ‘Naqvi’ had a bright future in Indian hockey.

Dada invited Kishen Dada and me for lunch at his residence in Safdarjung.

The vegetarian food prepared by him comprised of vegetable, dal and rice – cooked in pure ghee – was served piping hot. It was a rare honour to dine with the legend and is one of the best memories that I carry of Dada.

Being from the army, Dada was the coach of the Services XI hockey team and I often met him at the Nationals and various All India tournaments.

Kishen Dada was invariably with me when we met Dada as they were

good friends. In 1960 when I shifted residence to the Matunga Railway Colony in Bombay, Kishen Dada became my next door neighbour and it became a regular affair for Dada to visit us at home whenever he came to Bombay. Dada was also very fond of my collection of press cuttings of hockey matches, photos and trophies and he loved to go through my collection whenever he visited us.

In one of his rare letters to me, Dada appreciated my collection (see pic).

I will also never forget that it was Dada who personally visited the Railway Sports Control Board to put in a word for me and ensure that I was nominated from the Railways for training as a qualified hockey coach from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala in 1975. Dada was earlier the chief coach at NIS Patiala with Balkishen Singh as his understudy. I completed the year long course at NIS Patiala with flying colours.

Indeed I am most fortunate to have shared such close moments with the legend and wizard of hockey and I am even more blessed that he recommended my name for the NIS training, which laid the foundation for my future career as a hockey coach and a sports administrator and consultant. Nothing remains of the golden era of hockey in India but sweet memories, especially of Dada.

Black & White 13

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Patient on the run

all ew h t ff

By Adarsh Madhavan I am wanted: Dead or alive! Preferably alive, but dead still so that I don’t fidget when they try to scan me! There is this nice gentleman technician at the IMC (International Medical Centre) who wants me: an escaped patient who was to go under the MRI scan some time back. Biju is pretty nice and decent. I have met very few medical technicians who are that. In fact, when my son had to go under a MRI scan and they sent us to a well known private clinic, we met with some of the most obnoxious technicians and doctors alive in this industry. I can’t believe that people with such apathy exist and no one has done them in. It is hard to believe that every patient, or every patient’s dad, is as forgiving as I am. Now I am not forgiving; but when faced with such situations, I am impotent in my rage.

Unlike the silver screen, where the heroes bash up such obnoxious ones to pulp, I, in reality, in the gray screen, just fume with impotent anger and pain. But, Biju was the epitome of kindness and understanding. When I removed my shoes and my watch, my many rings et al, he told me that it was going to be a painless episode and all that I had to do was to lie still so that he manages to get a good reading of my left shoulder, which has been frozen for the last six months (doctors from Apollo Medical Clinic advised me to get a MRI done at the IMC). I wonder why they call it ‘frozen’ because the pain that rips my innards can melt all my resolve and pretence at being a tough guy and can throw me down on the floor, writhing like a weakling.

Typically, I walked in for the scan sans preparations.

Friends have given me firsthand account on the travails of being enclosed in a closed machine for durations between half an hour and more. Yet, I, with my usual stupidity, thought it would be a piece of cake. I had no clue. It was only when Biju made out this somber statement that it was going to be painless and there was no reason whatsoever to fear going under the scan and that there was no side effects for the same that realisation dawned on me. As for the side effects my friend who had gone under this scan believes that the radiation from the MRI can cause cancer a decade or so, later. Biju, however, quietly noted that the test was not only non invasive, but also the magnetic

fields and radio waves were not strong enough to cause permanent damage to my body. At that moment, my friend was not near me, so boo to her and hail Biju! But, suddenly when my back hit the cold innards of this dead machine, my confidence and my ignorance melted and a sudden wave of panic hit me.

Biju added to my woes when he asked, “Adarshji, I hope you are not claustrophobic?” Suddenly, all my ailments, a bit of diabetes, asthma, suffocation, aches, a dose of nervousness and panic and the dull ache on my left shoulder came to the fore. It was a panic attack and I wanted to get up and run. What the heck, I told myself angrily, closed my eyes and let myself slide into the centre of the MRI machine.

The opening was very small and from then on my problems began to compound. Biju tells me that I have to lie still for at least half an hour. I think I lasted for three minutes and then began to fidget; my left arm began to involuntarily twitch while I hoped that neither Biju nor the machine saw it. I tried to suck in air at a small opening in the machine and I told myself that I should not hyperventilate. When-was-it-goingto-end-when-was-it-going-to-end-when-was-it-goingto-end-when-?!

Biju walks in suddenly and says that I had moved several times and that we had to do it again. So, to my utter dismay, we tried again. I was okay with the thumping and humming sounds it made, but there was no way I could lay still, I kept twitching, twitching and twitching …Finally we gave it up! We will fight this battle again another day, Biju said, avoiding my eyes.

He kept calling me afterwards, but, like the many things I avoid in my usual escapist nature, I ignore and am on the run… adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com Black & White 15

American Tourister Buy & Win promotion winners American Tourister, the luggage brand from the makers of Samsonite recently conducted a raffle draw for choosing 101 winners for its American Tourister ‘Buy & Win’ promotion. The draw was held at the Khimji Megastore, Ruwi in the presence of the officials from ministry of commerce and industry.

Anil Khimji, director, Khimji Ramdas, Vivek Pande Ceo, Lifestyle Group, Ravi Kumar, business development manger were also present on the occasion.

This promotion was held throughout

Oman during the period June and July 2012. Anil Khimji, said: “The value for money, after sale service facilities and new attractive designs have made American Tourister one of the favourite luggageware for travellers across the world. American Tourister ‘Buy & Win’ promotion

has created a lot of excitement and customers from different regions in Oman actively participated in this promotion with enthusiasm and fervor making it a grand success.

Customers can call our customer care toll-free number 800-75000 to get more information on American Tourister products.”

American Tourister bags, including suitcases, uprights, briefcases, laptop bags, back packs and beauty cases available at Khimji’s luxury and lifestyle stores and across all major outlets Oman.

Chief executive officer of Travel Group Travel City LLC and Travel Point LLC announced the repositioning of Sunil Prabhakar, group general manager as the Chief Executive Officer of the Travel Group, recently. Known for reliability and “getting the work done” through persistence and strong work ethic, Prabhakar is a highly motivated, creative and versatile

individual in the travel industry with more than 27 years of experience in Oman.

In 2008, he took over the reigns as group general manager of the company from where he continued to achieve one milestone after another and in only four years time enhances the business network from only two branches, to 38 fully operational branches spread across the whole of Oman today. The company has augmented from only a nine member workforce to a team of over 200 efficient and skilled personnel,

dedicated towards delivering travel products and services par excellence.

Sunil Prabhakar, currently heads the Travel Consortium comprising Travel City and Travel Point LLC and Al Araimi Travel & Cargo LLC. Travel City LLC & Al Araimi Travel & Cargo LLC are IATA (International Air Transport Association) approved Passenger Sales Agents. Travel Point LLC represents all other travel solutions such as international product franchises, high quality leisure and hospitality products.

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Travelex Oman launches new tourism ambassador Travelex Oman has launched exciting new tourism ambassador awards that will reward individuals and businesses for outstanding achievements in the promotion of tourism in Oman – providing prizes for those who are often the “unsung” heroes of the Omani tourism industry and have gone above an beyond in delivering first class service and tourism products.

An independent panel of judges taken from leading organisations in the tourism industry in Oman, including a senior representative from the Ministry of Tourism itself, will decide on the winners of these awards that Travelex Oman plans to become an annual event. The awards are open to any individual or business that is currently operating within the tourism industry in Oman.Ten 16 September 7- 30, 2012

separate awards will be presented: Commenting on the awards Graham Flannery, Travelex Director of Business Development for the Middle East said: “We are very proud to be launching these awards at an exciting time for both the industry as well as the Travelex business, as we approach our tenth anniversary in Oman in 2013. As a company who deals with travellers and tourists every day we recognise the vital importance of outstanding customer service and delivering the personal touch the personal touch when dealing with visitors.”

Application forms for the awards are available from www. travelexomanawards.com and Travelex’s stores. The closing date for applications is October 31, 2012.

REDTAG opens its first store in Oman Redtag has opened its first store in Oman recently amid fun and excitement. Strategically located in Al Khuwair, allowing easy access to its customers, the new store was inaugurated by Sayyid Faisal Turki Al Said, Coo director general of marketing and media, The Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development in the presence of Redtag management, staff, media and a large gathering of customers.

After the inauguration ceremony, the chief guest was taken on a visit of the store and he was also provided with an overview of the products & services that the customers will now be able to enjoy in Oman.

Spread over an area of 2,200 sq mt , the store layout is attractive and so are the items on display, adding to the

all-round appearance.

Large aisles and a bright and spacious setting accentuate the feel-good factor. Shoppers can look forward to a wide array of trendy clothes and accessories under one roof, which make it truly a one-stop shop for all their shopping requirements.

Commenting on the launch of Redtag in Oman, Ernest J. Hosking, Ceo of the Redtag Group said “We are excited to have opened our first store in the Sultanate and look forward to sharing our long-standing traditions of exceptional customer service, great value and a broad assortment of merchandise with the Omani community and we are certain that the Sultanate will have a fresh shopping experience at our Redtag store in Muscat.”

New executive chef at Park Inn

Nando’s Master Griller competition

Park Inn by Radisson Muscat announced recently the appointment of the new executive chef Ajay Dhoundiyal, to lead its culinary team. “Ajay has over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry, and we believe that he is a master in what he does. As the new executive chef of the hotel, he will lead the culinary team, preparing and managing the operations of the hotel’s dining outlets and M&E”, says Fahad Al Wahaibi, executive assistant manager.

Ajay, who specialises in International cuisine, has had the experience of leading the kitchen team.

He has experience in a diverse well-known hotels establishment.

“We are delighted to have Ajay as our new executive chef at Park Inn by Radisson Muscat,” says general manager Rabih Zein. “We look forward to invite our guests and clients in to taste Chef Ajay’s ingenious dishes and enjoy new and fresh culinary experience.”

Six top flame grillers from Nando’s Oman competed against each other recently in an effort to qualify for the ‘Africa Awaits 2012 – International Grillers Challenge’ scheduled for September 19th to 24th. The aim is to provide an opportunity for Nando’s staff from all around the world to compete for the title of ‘Grand Master Griller’, by grilling the best quality chicken and delivering on the Nando’s promise to customers. Yousuf Saber Al Balushi who won recently is an Omani Nandoster that has been working for Nando’s Oman for the last three years.

Black & White 17

Almouj Golf launches its newest taste A sumptuous new carvery buffet menu featuring the ‘Sunday favourite’ of a full roast with all the trimmings was launched at the Almouj Golf Academy restaurant, adding to the wide range of offers at the oasis on the course. Available every Friday from 12 noon to 4pm, the new menu adds the perfect taste to the weekend for both golfers looking to fuel up with a hearty meal after a round and non-golfers spending time within the relaxing surroundings of the Almouj Golf course. Michael Blumberg, food and beverage service manager, Almouj Golf, said of the new addition: “We are really pleased to see yet another favourite taste added to our Academy restaurant menu. The carvery buffet will be an occasion not only for golfers, but for all the family, and promises to become one of the firm favourite academy restaurant deals.”

DAAD awards 15 GUtech students with study-scholarships The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has awarded a group of 15 students of the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) with three week studyscholarships for RWTH Aachen University in Germany.

“Congratulations for your achievements – a scholarship is a reward for your good performance; but we also want you to be ambassadors of our university when you travel to Germany,” said Juergen Werner, deputy rector for academic affairs at GUtech during an info-evening with the students and their parents. The 15 students of different study-programmes had to apply with a letter of motivation that was followed by an interview. They were chosen out of 42 applicants.

The group of Omani and international students and two Omani GUtech staff members will travel to Germany after the Eid holidays. They will study German at RWTH Aachen’s Language Centre in the mornings and in the afternoons they will have a cultural programme that

includes visits to The Netherlands, Belgium, Cologne as well as an Omani evening. “For most of the students this is the first trip to Germany. We want the students to get to know more about life in Germany, experience the classroom situation in our German parent-university and learn more about their department at RWTH Aachen University,” said Nicola Huson, head of the German language department and representative of the DAAD in Oman.

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Salma’s Chocolates becomes overnight YouTube sensation with over 32,000 views in 24 hours Salma’s Chocolates, the latest Intajee product launched by Omran, has become an overnight YouTube sensation. The video that depicts the voyage of founders Salma and Aisha Al Hajri to becoming world class chocolate connoisseurs has now received more than 32,000 views in just 24 hours alone. The launch of the handmade Omani chocolate brand was recently held at the Sultan Center under the patronage of Eng. 18 September 7- 30, 2012

Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, minister of commerce and industry.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, Omran provided the necessary investment for training, equipment, packaging and marketing to enable the products to reach the shelves of Sultan Center and become available to the wider general public. Omran also provided assistance with sourcing authentic Omani ingredients necessary to

create their inventive delights from local producers. The video can be viewed on Omran’s official YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=6qXyLKJyhTA

Eighth Nawras goodwill journey The Nawras Goodwill Journey 8 team members concluded their voyage of compassion and sharing at a homecoming and recognition ceremony held under the patronage of Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary of the ministry of tourism. The event at Muscat Grand Mall marked the return of the Nawras Goodwill Journey volunteers who visited those in need within communities across the length and breadth of Oman.

Following a video screening of the main highlights of the journey, the under secretary presented each volunteer with a certificate of recognition. Over the recent past, Oman’s customer friendly communications provider donated numerous gifts including laptops, mobile phones, televisions, air conditioning units, washing machines, iPads, sewing machines and wheelchairs and headphones.

During the final event in Muscat, Saleh bin Nasser Al Riyami, Nawras board director, said, “Fasting Nawras volunteers have travelled across the country to help those attending and running charitable organisations during the Holy Month of Ramadan. By working together in harmony, the teams have shown they can have a more powerful and greater impact in enriching people’s lives.”

The eighth Nawras Goodwill Journey has seen 20 volunteers visit branches of the Omani Woman’s Association across the country showing support for the great work being carried out every day by those working hard to enrich the lives of people in the Sultanate.

Starting in Muscat on July 28, the Nawras convoy visited Nizwa, Dhank, Al Buraimi and Al Mussanah, Al Suwaiq and Al Rustaq where donations will kick start a new tailoring business for women in the community.

Mountain Dew global campaign Mountain Dew announced that its partnership with Warner Bros.’ and Legendary Pictures’ summer blockbuster “The Dark Knight Rises,” which opened in theaters here recently, will engage Dew and Dark Knight fans in nearly 20 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East this summer as part of Mountain Dew’s first-ever global campaign.

“Dew fans in the U.S. and around the world have incredible passion for the Dark Knight franchise. With Dew’s first-ever global campaign we are giving fans the exclusive opportunity to experience Gotham City like never before,” said Brad Jakeman, president, Global Beverages Group, PepsiCo. “Mountain Dew is

a tremendously successful brand, and we are excited about continuing to find unique and authentic ways to connect with Dew fans and fuel the growth of the brand around the world.”

The promotion in Oman will invite eager DEW fans to “Go Inside Gotham City” and to experience “The Dark Knight Rises” campaign in a variety of ways, including: The packaging of 1.25 Liter Mountain Dew bottles and 6-pack Mountain Dew glass NRB bottle carriers which will come in attractively designed limited edition packaging in which the hero’s character of the famous “Batman” movie will be featured.

In addition, a “Collect and Win” campaign will be launched in a

number of modern retail outlets which will give buyers the chance to win premium prizes.

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NBO “A’ Rahma Iftar Sa’im Road Trips” concludes National Bank of Oman’s (NBO) employee volunteers continued to spread joy among families in the different regions of the Sultanate by distributing Iftar Sa’im Boxes to the needy during their concluding trip in Salalah.

This final NBO “A’ Rahma Iftar Sa’im Road Trip” in Salalah, was led by Abdul Qadir Ahmed, NBO’s assistant general manager- branch sales and distribution, assisted

by Hassan Kashoub, NBO’s regional manager, all NBO Salalah branch managers and their teams.

The goodwill trip started at Al Sa’ada in Salalah, where NBO employee volunteers visited a number of houses and spent time with the needy families, listening to their daily challenges and spreading happiness among all.

Besides distributing Iftar Sa'im Boxes, goodies were also distributed – much to the delight of all the children.

The trip thereafter moved towards to Mirbat, and then onto Al Hafa and eventually concluded in Taqa. Hassan Kashoub, NBO’s regional manager – Salalah and his team were responsible for locating the homes of the

beneficiaries and ensuring smooth distribution of the boxes to the families.

Aisha Al Kharusi, NBO’s head CSR and corporate communications said: “We are indeed delighted that our Iftar Sa’im Road Trips helped us to cover most of the country. Our Employee Volunteers are truly humbled and grateful for the opportunity to contribute their time and support, within their communities where NBO conducts its business. NBO’s management and staff remain committed towards supporting CSR programmes for the better good of our community and for our nation”.

Lucky shopper drives away in a brand new Chevrolet Tahoe Muscat City Centre and Qurum City Centre created a buzz this summer with fantastic deals of up to 75 per cent off and a season-wide promotion that included RO 100 worth of gift vouchers being given away daily – and one lucky shopper driving away in a brand new Chevrolet Tahoe.

Amira Salim Al Siyabi was the lucky winner of the grand prize raffle draw, which was held at the end of the promotion. During the campaign,

which took place this summer shoppers who spent OMR30 across any of the combined 200 stores at Muscat City Centre and Qurum City Centre would be eligible to enter

the draw. Presenting the key of the beautiful new 4x4 Tahoe, was Watfa Humaid Al Harthy and Husam AL Mandhari, both senior mall managers for Qurum City Centre and Muscat City Centre respectively.

Muscat City Centre and Qurum City Centre’s summer promotion was hosted over a five week period and in addition to shopping deals, the malls offered a calendar of family entertainment throughout the season.

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Bank Muscat ‘borrow wisely’ educational campaign launched Bank Muscat recently launched its ‘borrow safely’ campaign aimed at educating the general public to carefully control their borrowing.

The launch of this new campaign is another commitment by bank muscat 20 September 7- 30, 2012

as part of its social responsibility initiatives, serving Omani society and striking the right financial balance between the customer’s actual needs and their payment capabilities. The campaign offersadvisory services to customersto show them how to take a loan within their financial capabilities.The ‘borrow safely’ campaign will be instrumental in organising a number of educational and awareness events/activities,

including seminars and educational evenings in all the governorates and wilayats of the Sultanate.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Said bin Ahmed Al Badai, AGM branches with bank muscat, said: "The launch of ‘borrow safely’ campaignis one of the plans bank will reveal to consolidate its role in the area of social responsibility, aimed at supporting vital sectors in the community.”

Why is Salim up on a mountain top all by himself?

And why are these villagers hiking up once in two months to meet him, to ensure that he is alright? He has given up on everyone, but these villagers have not given up on him

TALE OF A MOUNTAIN RECLUSE Think of a life without your mobile. Or without internet connection? Or, without a car? Can you even think of a life without coffee or tea? No! A big ‘NO’!

Today’s man (and woman!) cannot live without these ‘basic necessities’! Man is more of a social animal today than ever and he/she cannot live in isolation like before. Today’s individual is made of the society he is born and lives in and before he dies, he proposes to live by enjoying everything that society can give him.

This cannot be obtained if you live in isolation and cut off from life.

In short, he is dependent on society and vice versa because society is peopled with men and women who are like him and think like him. Moreover, they cannot be separated from their devices. Some of us are so dependent on our mobiles, net and the like, that we feel totally handicapped when we are away from them!

So, when the B& W team expressed their desire to hike up the second tallest mountain --the Jebel Khawr -- to meet up with an Omani recluse who shunned society and lived in his own world – a world filled with silence and nothing more – I was more than delighted.

This was not an ordinary story. It was a tale filled with adventure, thrills, and for once, a chance to look

In Black & White

In Black...

Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Editor-in-chief beyond and within ourselves. So, the team took up the challenge and scaled the mountain to find a man who gave up everything to find himself.

We understand that all human qualities, including the ability to learn a language, enquire and think, play and work, help or harm others are developed in human society only. These capacities grow through social interaction with others. One cannot develop into a normal person in isolation. Meeting the hermit, Salim Al Hinai, was an intriguing experience. But, more than that, this adventure was also a reaffirmation that Oman is indeed a land of hospitality beyond compare. Why is Salim up on a mountain top all by himself? And why are these villagers hiking up once in two months to meet him, to ensure that he is alright? He has given up on everyone, but these villagers living in the foothills of the mountain he is on have not given up on him.

Our sincere thanks to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ensures that every living being on his land is taken care of. Kudos to the committed officials of the directorate general of police aviation also for the great efforts to reach essentials to even the remotest places in Oman. The B& W team would also like to thank every one concerned – especially the helicopter team, the guides, the interpreter and all of those who made this mission up the mountain to meet a mysterious recluse, possible.

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B&W Xclusive 22 September 7- 30, 2012

The Hermit atop

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B&W Xclusive 24 September 7- 30, 2012

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner...”- Henry David Thoreau – Walden

Omanis living in the foothills of the jebels have various tales to say. Of mysterious happenings, of strange people and unusual events. One such tale is that of a young Omani who went up a mountain many, many years ago and never came back; of how he found his ‘abode’ in the swathe of rocks up where only the eagles cry and how he lived all alone, content because he seems to have found himself there.

We, the Black & White, decided to follow this ‘tale’ to its roots and found it to be as true as the stories that abound on this strange hermit living atop the Jebel Al Khawr. A tale of a man who left everything to, perhaps, find himself atop a mountain…

What is he? A saint? A man who has connected with his soul on top of a rugged jebel? Or someone who has escaped from it all? Was he, in terms, someone who has rebelled against the normal dictates of life and decided to live it entirely on his own terms? We don’t know. We tried to find out by getting atop this lonely mountain in an area, which nature continued to bless with enough sunlight, to meet a man, who although time forgot, was still remembered by many below.

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The man on the mountain

B&W Xclusive

The helicopter flattened everything in that area and sprayed dust and little pebbles wild in every direction. We stepped out into that golden-sun-lit but barren ground, like mercenaries out on a mission to ‘kill’. Armed with cameras, notepads, pens, and thousands of questions, we ducked out of the helicopter and ran to a safe distance as it took off again for another mission. We squinted to see if we could find the subject of our risky adventure trip up the inscrutable jebels. For some moments, we could see nothing moving, not even leaves of the shrubs next to a tangled heap of goods, a semi cave, a tent-like structure, loads of water containers and the like.

Amidst that cacophony of unused supplies dropped there some recently, and others, years back, a dark, black bundle of a man sat on the ground, unmoving. As we neared, our guides yodeled out a greeting in Arabic and we followed, slightly hesitantly as though we were not sure of what to expect. What could we expect on top of a mountain like this: someone like Henry David Thoreau (*) who went to live in the woods alone?

But unlike Thoreau, who lived alone in his experiment for just over two years, this old man atop the mountain, must be there for the last 50-odd years (around 52) and in this case, it is not an experiment!

We found a dark, tiny, emaciated figure in tattered clothes spewing out some form of greeting of which we 26 September 7- 30, 2012

had no clue. His dark leathery feet was bare and if he stayed motionless for sometime, he would merge with the surroundings, another dark, weather beaten, sun scorched entity in that bowl above the mountains, which this ageless Omani hermit calls his own.

We were in the abode of Salim Al Hinai, a man as ageless as the mountain he lived on and as mysterious and perhaps as dignified in his own way. And as silent save for the occasional strange words that he emitted.

Otherwise, he could be seen muttering on his own, or, as the legends say: he was holding an animated conversation with a Jinn (a benign spirit). Even during our nearly one hour session with him, he would suddenly veer off in silence punctuated with his one-sided conversation

with his Jinn friend. Then, we would see him muttering and his hands gesticulating to some reply to his unseen companion. But, it didn’t seem eerie, or even sad.

For, here was a man who gave up everything and was not just living all on his own, but also away from everyone, everything. Far from the madding crowd…and

beyond!

Maybe he was not looking at living deep or “sucking out all the marrow of life”, but Salim Al Hinai did lead a Spartan’s life in the deep entrails of one of the tallest jebels in Oman. Still, he was isolated, cut off from everything and away from anything remotely human.

Imagine a life that

stood still

It didn’t seem sad because, he seemed utterly content with himself and his fate, which he had chosen for himself. He had shunned society to live in solitude. He also shunned all the trappings of life: just imagine a world without toothpaste, soap, shampoo, hair brush, water… just imagine being without cereal, eggs, chicken, rice, sweets, ice cream…imagine, not having to shower, clean, cut your hair or beard…imagine not having a bathroom, or a bed, or a roof above your head…imagine not having to work, not going for a nine to five job, or earning,

spending and saving money…imagine not having any money or wanting to buy something with it…imagine not having a family, a wife or a child and imaging not having any possessions or having anything that would invite trouble…imagine having no responsibility, or the need to worry or be anxious about anything…imagine a life that had no morning or night…imagine where time, literally, stood still…

Imagine a life where you had no one to call your own, a Black & White 27

Salim had built a small stone house many years before, but when the roof collapsed, he stayed out of it

life where the desire to live or even die is non existent, but you are still self contained and happy. That is the kind of life Salim Al Hinai was living amidst a swirl of rocks.

B&W Xclusive

NO ROOF ABOVE HIS HEAD Salim’s roof kept changing: when it was night, it went dark, and sunny in the mornings, and occasionally the skies broke to shower him with ice cold rain. But, up where he belonged, he had no qualms about being under the sun or the rain. This small, five foot, wiry man who when he moved, looked as though a cave man statue was brought back to life, could take the elements in his stride. He had built a small stone house many years ago, but when the roof collapsed, he stayed out of it, sometimes in a small semi-cave, or, a tent of sorts or under the canopy of a pine tree.

ATOP FOR THE LAST 50-ODD YEARS He seemed to have lost all sense of time. To a query, which we put across through our friendly guide, Hamoud Hamad Rashid Al Hinai, he replied that he came alone above this mountain a decade or so before His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said took over as the ruler of Oman. “I must be here for the last 10 years,” Salim says innocently as we all stifle a laugh. We try to tell him that was some 42 years ago and therefore he must be atop here for the last 50-odd years. Salim cannot believe that. “No way,” he 28 September 7- 30, 2012

says. “I think I am here only for the last 10 years…” We let him be.

NO KAHWA Even above the mountain and with almost nothing to his own, Salim has not lost the legendary Omani hospitality as he tries to see what he could give us, the uninvited guests. We decline and he says a trifle apologetically that he is out of coffee/kahwa. “I don’t have enough (kahwa) to give you all,” he says.

TALL MOUNTAIN TALES We sit opposite him and stared like he was someone from outer space. The cameras clicked incessantly as we tried to take that quintessential cover shot. All of us have a commercial purpose for living. And we, sort of, look down upon those who have no purpose. But, when it came to Salim, despite not being able to understand why he took this stance to get away from it all, we still did not feel as though he was wasting his time. He ‘must’ have a purpose.

The story goes that many years back, he was living in Saudi Arabia when he suddenly disappeared. He was later found in a cave and since then, he was submerged in his own eccentricity. After returning from Saudi Arabia, he went up Jebel Khawr. And then the legend began… some tales as tall as the mountain he is on.

FIVE FEET TALL Salim is just five feet and nothing.

Perhaps lesser, as his age and the elements seems to have shrunk him further. He would not weigh more than 40kgs. Draped loosely on his skeletal body was a tattered brownish black fur coat, which had the left shoulder popping out like as though a bullet had torn into him.

He had a coloured musr and he was permanently squinting against the sun. We thought he had some problem with his left eye because it seemed to be always closed, but at some stage we saw it fully open.

IT IS THE HOLY MONTH We pounded him with queries.

Sometimes he answered, sometimes, he just veered the conversation to something mundane and irrelevant, or like at one point, he suddenly realised we were all under the scorching sun and so he got up in the middle of a question and told

us that we should shift our position under the shade of a pine tree. We moved there and he drifted into his own world for sometime, talking to himself.

“He is talking to his Jinn,” Hamoud quietly told us, while we corrected him and said that the poor man was only talking to himself.

Our meeting with him was during the Holy Month of Ramadan and so we ask him about the month. He seemed happy to know that it was Ramadan, but reserved comments on the same.

NEEDS A ROOF ABOVE HIS HEAD He did not have any answers as to why he chose to live alone and why in a remote place like this. “But it was green,” he says suddenly. “Green… when I first came here, it was green, silent and peaceful.”

We look around, other than the mess of the things strewn around there, there were still patches of green and when we leave it was going to be quiet and peaceful.

The story goes that many years back, he was living in Saudi Arabia when he suddenly disappeared. He was later found in a cave and since then, he was submerged in his own eccentricity.

After returning from Saudi Arabia, he went up Jebel Khawr.

And then the legend began… some tales as tall as the mountain he is on

A small semi-cave, where Salim often spends his nights

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B&W Xclusive

“I was young then,” Salim reminisces. “And healthy...

I built a small rock home, but the roof always caved in and so I gave up the pursuit. If someone could help me, I could build the roof…” he trails off sans emotion. He points to his current tent-like structure made of wood and old clothes. “Too cold…I prefer a cave,” he adds.

down, nor, do I have the inclination,” Salim confesses.

He is not bothered about the elements or the ravages of the climate; extreme heat; extreme cold, storms et al, he lives through it and survives. “Whenever it rains, I get wet, but then it dries. It is not so hot at the top and in fact, it is cold than warm, which is why I wear this jacket.”

Later on, after much probing, he admits he likes silence, which the mountain seems to offer in plenty. But he is neither alone nor lonely. Without touching on his silent, unseen partner, he says that there are others like him scattered around the mountain realm. “Sometimes, I see them,” he says. This ‘sometimes’ is measured in terms of years.

He points to the pine tree, which always offers shade and is cool. What would a day in the life of Salim be like?

Hours under the pine tree; eating and drinking when he felt like, sleeping whenever he felt the need…there was no schedule, no clock ticking its constant disapproval.

He took life as it came by in the seeming monotony of a mountain top dwelling.

ONLY KAHWA Doesn’t he want anything? Hasn’t he got any desire?

Yes, he wouldn’t mind a roof above his unfinished rock home. He wouldn’t mind some coffee/kahwa!

Nothing else?

Nothing else!

Sometimes, he allowed himself the pleasure of snacking on a delicacy – some qubus/kubz rolled around dates and milk, which is given to him by passing goat-tending folks atop the mountain.

The only exercise he has is when he goes to collect wood, which again was infrequent.

UNDER THE PINE TREE Whatever provisions that he require is supplied to him.

He is content; desires nothing. “Many years ago, I used to go down the mountain and bring back essentials with the help of a donkey. Now, neither do I have the energy to go

Has he fallen sick; has he broken any bones, we ask rudely. He is non committal about this part, but admits that he had fallen sick at times. “I have had stomach problems!”

Salim Al Hinai in a meditative pose; close to his pine tree

30 September 7- 30, 2012

Precious, these bags The hermit, Salim Al Hinai, may harbour many a secret. There are many things he would not reveal to us or anyone.

But, among these are two most priced precious possessions of Salim’s: two plastic bags, which he seemed to guard over. Of course, he did not make a fuss about it, but, we saw him discreetly move the bags to a safe corner after we came, a point noted to us by our guides. These not too lumpy bags were with him when we went, but after sometime, when we moved to the shade of the pine tree, we saw him go back and inspect the bags. Satisfied that they were intact and did not face any damage in the short span he spent away from them, he set them down in a safe spot and with a satisfied look came back to us. What were in those bags? We did not ask; no one knew. These two innocuous looking bags add to the mystery that Salim and his solitary life continue to be shrouded in.

NO FEAR, EXCEPT… Didn’t this mountain dweller fear anything? Wasn’t he afraid of anything? He says no at first and then adds quietly that he did fear wild animals. What wild animals resided atop the mountain, we wondered? “Foxes, wild donkeys,” he says.

He has little information about his background, or about his parents or his next of kin. He reveals that his sister is somewhere there, living like him, alone and atop some mountain. He is not sure where (but that is another story…). Otherwise, he has no clue of his other relations.

ADDICTED TO HIS OWN SILENCE But, sometimes, in the stark raving nights of solitude, didn’t he feel alone, lonely? When nothing stirred and even the winds didn’t keep him company and the one he often used to speak to never replied? He did not seem to be bothered about such a thought. Salim was not

consumed by the desire to have any human contact or any need of such warmth. He was addicted to his own silence and his own need for solitude.

And during the rare occasions that people came to see him, he made small conversations in that slightly quaint mountain dialect. He almost seemed relieved when he bade us goodbye and as the copter lifted us out of that almost surreal yet serene atmosphere, we saw Salim sitting crouched there like before, alone and unmoving.

Perhaps, after we are all gone and the dust settled, he would start his conversation with his unseen companion.

And, he would still continue his life atop the jebel, living a life made entirely of his own and perhaps waiting for something to happen…

What would that be? What would Salim, the hermit, be waiting for?

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Bound by love

B&W Xclusive

What is love?

Few really have an answer for this complicated four-letter word. But, if we can try to decipher one form of love, it is this one which some of the villagers down below the Jebel Khawr have for their native son living all the way up there!

The villagers and Salim Al Hinai share a special bond, which the latter would not realise or understand fully. But, it is a sweet tale about the love that binds the two. Some of these brave villagers have scaled up the treacherous mountain just to be with Salim and youngsters like Hamoud Hamed Al Hinai who served as our guide cum interpreter during our meeting with Salim is one such man who has risked his life to just meet this man who loved

A villager ensuring the goods are safely packed

32 September 7- 30, 2012

anonymity and solitude. How, he managed to scale this impenetrable rocky edifice is a question that really has no answer but he and some others like him have done that – climbed up just to spend some time with their beloved hermit.

Love it is‌or perhaps, it is more than just love by the benevolent ruler and the government of the Sultanate of Oman for its beloved people. For, who would ever think of sending up provisions to people like Salim, whom time has forgotten? Supplies are regularly reached up to people like Salim, despite being in such far flung and remote areas.

The village of Ma'abas, from where essentials were airlifted to Salim's mountain abode

Adventurer’s dream to meet the hermit Mohammed Al Azri, 33, is a young adventure expert and instructor, who has traversed across various remote and inaccessible locales of Oman and lives to talk about it.

He was not only part of the trip to meet the hermit, Salim Al Hinai, but it was thanks to him, the whole exercise was made possible.

Mohammed, who has not had the chance to meet the lone man on top of the mountain, said he was excited at the prospect of meeting him: “I love hiking and have done plenty of trips like this. Sometime back, I learnt of the story of Salim who lived on one of the tallest mountain ranges of Oman. I was totally intrigued and always wanted to meet him. Meeting him would be a dream come true!

“I have heard that he lives all alone and his family members and villagers reach food and other essentials to him once in three months or so. He is said to be totally harmless, but his life alone, atop the mountain, is one shrouded in mystery. Why is he living all alone and away from everything? That is one question I would like to ask him when I meet him.” Mohammed, who assisted the B&W team up the mountain in their attempt to meet the hermit, notes that there was a tough hiking trail, which began from the end of the Bahla village and would easily take over five hours to reach the hermit. We took the easier way out.

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It’s Salim’s choice to live alone

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Hamoud Hamad Rashid Al Hinai, who volunteered to be our guide cum interpreter, hails from the nearby Nadan Village, in the Ma’abas area. Although he works in Salalah, he rushes back to his village during his vacations and offers his services to anyone in need.

Hamoud is one of those who is not only gifted with high spirits, but also has the pluck and the strength to scale the near-impenetrable mountain wall and reach to solitary folks like Salim Al Hinai. “All of us in the Ma’abas area and the nearby villages know about Salim, who is part of the region’s folklore.

Salim actually belongs to a village here called Hail Al Khadra. We do not know why he stays up the jebel all alone. We have heard from relatives and other villagers how he landed up there.

Salim was working in Saudi Arabia in the 60s when on one fateful day he disappeared. His relatives and family members searched for him for almost a week and found him finally in one of the caves there. They brought him back to Oman. Within weeks, he disappeared again and was later found to be living up on the Jebel Khawr. We have tried our best to bring him down, but he feels safe and happy to live alone up there. Now it is over 45 years plus; we have lost count!

Two weeks back, my father went up the mountain and 34 September 7- 30, 2012

gave him some food and basic amenities. He is not interested in anything, lives alone, walks alone and is always silently mumbling to himself. There are many, who think he has lost his mental stability, but no, he is quite alright, but for the fact he talks to himself. Some of the villagers believe he is living up there on top of the mountain with a jinn because he keeps talking to someone. We don’t think he is unsound; in fact, he also does remember many things.

It is part of the Islamic tradition to take care of your family and tribe members and we villagers take care of Salim in whatever way we can. Once in a month someone from the village visits him and talks to him, gives him fresh food etc. But, he makes only scant use of food and water.

Although he is frail and thin, he is still quite healthy.

Two years back we tied him up and tried to bring him down, the reason being that villagers felt he is old and he should be here with people and community. But he ran back. He walks all the way up to the tallest point in Jebel Khawr taking some difficult donkey tracks. It is not easy

to reach there; we need to walk some seven to 12kms uphill from Ma’abas. During summer it is pretty hot in the day and cool in the night. But at the point where he is living, it is cold. In fact he always wears thick clothes and sweaters. The ROP/army and RAFO authorities help us

reach food and amenities to him at regular intervals, but the expense is too much for just one man up there. But it is his choice to be there; we have never managed to convince him to come down.”

We respect the hermit’s need for solitude Suleiman Al Hinai, also from Nadan village, has been living with Salim Al Hinai’s tales since a long time: “We have been hearing of Salim since our childhood. He must be pretty old by now – maybe around 80 or 90… he was in his late 30s when he was in Saudi Arabia doing some sort of business.

The story is that he went missing for a week and he was found to be hiding or living in a cave and they brought him back. Then he went up Jebel Khawr.

But, his family is also known to be one of loners. His sister Zahia Al Hinai is also living in one of the mountains in this region alone for the last 30 to 40 years. But, she is more social and communicates too.

She rears a herd of goats and is self sufficient. But again we don’t know why she lives alone.

“Salim used to be a normal young man when he was working and trading in Saudi. How he suddenly became a silent recluse is a mystery. But he is not dangerous or mentally unstable. We respect his need for silence and solitude and we all keep away from him.”

Seen the hermit from above Mohammed Moosa Al Balushi, 28, crew member of the helicopter that took us atop Jebel Khawr, has never met the hermit, Salim Al Hinai. “I have heard of him, and in fact, seen him from above when we air dropped supplies – food and basic materials – to him, but never had the chance to meet him, talk to him,” Mohammed Balushi tells B&W. “I have only seen him from a distance!”

Mohammed has been part of these supply trips on three occasions. “We drop off food, supplies and also animal fodder,” he said, adding that they engaged in such drop offs once in three or six months. Mohammed, a product of the Airforce Technical College and further trained in Malaysia, noted that his job primarily entailed in monitoring the load, hauling and dropping, checking the electrical circuits and the like.

Black & White 35

Second to none The Jebel Khawr is Oman’s second highest mountain. It is said to be around 2730 m above the desert flatlands.

Although not as widely known as its popular counterparts (Jebel Akdhar and Jebel Shams), Khawr is one of a cluster or peaks, located west of Jebel Shams (the highest peak at over 3000 m) and east of Ibri. The officials who took us above the peak on the helicopter told us that we were going atop Bahla. Reports note that the Jebel Khawr conceals the third largest cave in Oman. (*) Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862) was an American author, poet, philosopher, freemason, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. He built a small home on Walden Pond and spent a little over two years there living alone -- from everyone and everything else.

THANK YOU (We are grateful to the officials of the directorate general of police aviation who helped us make this story possible; special thanks to Mohammed Al Azri, an adventure instructor, who was instrumental in getting us the lead.)

B&W Xclusive

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Ben

36 September 7- 30, 2012

Black & White 37

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:

No donations please!

Nitternatter

Serial SMSer bites the dust

38 September 7- 30, 2012

A lady was waiting in her car outside a video shop in Ruwi when two bearded expatriates, dressed in kandooras approached her. “We are seeking donation for a school. Would you donate please?” they asked in good English. The lady found them to be a bit suspicious looking so she asked whether they obtained permission from the ministry of education to conduct such a donation drive? They were taken aback, but they quickly averred. Then, later as an afterthought, they added that it was not for a school in Oman. They mentioned an Asian country’s name. The lady responded saying that she was not interested to donate. “Why not?” they demanded. “Don’t you want to support such a charitable cause?”

“If I wanted to donate, I would donate for a school in my country.

Why would I want to donate for a school in some other country?” the lady, who was from another Asian country, asked. “So, you don’t believe in helping this school?” the duo asked, suddenly looking a bit hostile. No, said the lady and then she felt as though the two were looking at her rather menacingly. She immediately honked at her child who was inside the video shop and zipped out of the scene. “Somehow, it didn’t look and feel alright. They looked strange and they behaved strangely! They were not sending out good vibes and so I felt I didn’t want to have any part with it,” the lady told Bitter Batter.

A serial SMSer (one who sends too many short messages on the mobile) got into a real situation after a lovey-dovey message he sent to one of his ‘lady loves’ ended up with the wrong person (another elderly woman by the same name). What had happened was in his utter carelessness, the trigger-happy mobile man, who was in the habit of sending SMSes to all his friends and acquaintances on a variety of issues, including personal and intimate, sent a real confidential message, declaring not just his ardour for his lady friend, but in his excitement, he sent it to another lady with the same name on the list. This lady was not just a friend of his mother’s but was also someone who always looked down upon him. Since the outpouring in the message was quite an overwhelming one and also revealed quite a lot of intimate stuff, the sender realised that he was going to be in deep trouble.

Moreover, the lady who received the wrong message began to call him non stop, most probably to shout and berate him for the message. The serial SMSer’s problems are only just beginning!

Another SMS blunder

In another related SMS mistake, a man sent a very confidential message, making a very personal request to someone wrongly. Like the above incident, the sender did not realise that he had sent his personal message to the wrong man, but with the same name, until the latter began to call him.

When he saw the name blinking on his mobile, he realised his blunder. He cut the line and checked his message and yes, by God, it was sent to the wrong person! Why are people increasingly being trigger happy with their mobiles? Should these SMSer’s get a BlackBerry, where the chances of making such mistakes were relatively less?!

ill-mannered hypermarket staff Supermarket ladies need a real education in manners.

Three colleagues who bought just six or seven items in total stood in the limited ‘five’ items counter queue at a well known hypermarket in town. Suddenly, the lady at the counter stopped her job, stood up and told the trio very rudely that they should not be in this queue.

She raised her voice when she said this and the three were shocked. One of them gathered himself and told the woman that they were three different individuals and they had altogether only around seven items, so what was the big deal? The lady herself had no clue. She sat down, rather subdued when she realised her mistake but still went on muttering under breath to which all of the three customers lost their cool and threatened to call the management. This shut her up but she made sure that her anger was felt in her bad service to the three.

It is sad that such prestigious hypermarkets keep such badly trained and ill-mannered staff to serve their loyal customers!

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

Black & White 39

ŠThomas Snyder ŠThomas Snyder

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

40 September 7- 30, 2012

By Dr CK Anchan

Any organisation, whether new or old, whether small or big, needs to run smoothly and achieve the goals and objectives, which it has set forth for itself. For this to happen, they must develop and implement their own management concepts. There are basically four management concepts that allow any organisation to take control of its destiny: PLAN It is the foundation pillar of management. Although every organisation or association is different, there must be some sort of plan implemented to achieve specified goals and objectives. It is the base upon which the all other areas of management are built. Planning requires administration to assess where the company presently is and where it would be in the upcoming years.

Strategic planning can be the overarching management concept that sets the direction the 'future of business' will take. Planning will involve all the various factors that may affect business or organisation operations. There are many different areas of planning, such as financial, general assets available, employee pool and selection process, and so on. The management concept of planning should be practical and efficient.

ORGANISE Organising at the level of the organisation involves deciding how best to departmentalise, or cluster jobs into departments to effectively coordinate effort. There are many different ways to departmentalise, including organising by function, product, geography, or customer.

Organising at the level of job involves how best to design individual jobs to most effectively use human resources.

The organising function of management impacts many levels of a business’s operations. First of all, the organising function of management addresses the manner in which people with the organisation will interact.

Who will report to who. The organisational chart and the lines of authority. Many jobs are now designed based on such principles as job enrichment and teamwork.

Management talk

Be a part of management

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

DIRECT/LEADING Leading involves influencing others toward the attainment of organisational objectives. Working under this function helps the management in controlling and supervising the actions of staff. This helps them in assisting the staff, to achieve the company’s goals and also accomplish their personal or career goals, which can be powered by motivation, communication, department dynamics, and department leadership.

It is very important to maintain a productive working environment, build positive interpersonal relationships and engage in problem solving. If managers are effective leaders, their subordinates will be enthusiastic about exerting effort toward the attainment of organisational objectives. To become effective at leading, managers must first understand their subordinates’ personalities, values, attitudes, and emotions.

CONTROL Control - includes establishing performance standards, which are aligned to the company’s objectives.

Controlling involves ensuring that performance does not deviate from standards. Controlling consists of three steps, which include establishing performance standards, comparing actual performance against standards, and taking corrective action when necessary.

Controlling also requires a clear understanding of where responsibility for deviations from standards lies. Two traditional control techniques are the budget and the performance audit. Although controlling is often thought of in terms of financial criteria, managers must also control production/operations processes, procedures for delivery of services, compliance with company policies, and many other activities within the organisation.

The concept of management has acquired special significance in the present competitive and complex business world. Efficient and purposeful management is absolutely essential for the survival of a business unit.

Different concept and revolutionary strategies has been getting evolved and will continue given the way today’s businesses excel.

Black 41 Black & & White White 41

Kidstuff

Fun facts n

42 42September September77-30, 30,2012 2012

Trees are the longest living organisms on earth. Trees keep our air supply fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

They provide shade and shelter, and improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds. They lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves. Here are a few fun facts about trees: The world’s tallest tree is a coast redwood in California, measuring more than 360 ft or 110 m.

The world’s oldest trees are 4,600 year old Bristlecone pines in the USA. There are over 23,000 different kinds of trees in the world.

In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles.

The average tree in metropolitan area survives only about eight years!

One large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air in a day.

Trees cut down noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.

Trees provide protection from downward fall of rain, sleet, and hail as well as reduce storm run-off and the possibility of flooding.

Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Trees located along streets act as a glare and reflection control.

The death of one 70-year old tree would return over three tons of carbon to the atmosphere.

One of the tallest soft wood trees is the General Sherman, a giant redwood sequoia of California. General Sherman is about 275 ft or 84 m high with a girth of 25 ft or 8 m.

Tongue twisters: Tie twine to three tree twigs.

Black & White 43

Your ARIES March 21-April 20 It’s all about rebooting and restarting this week so forget the past and focus on the future.

Its time to change tactics at both work and play, so step outside your comfort zone and you’ll catch others off guard. Keeping them on their toes will keep life exciting for you and that’s what you need.

TAURUS April 21-May 20

GEMINI May 21-June 21

No matter how hard you work or how much effort you put in, it seems you’re the only one who misses out on the rewards, and you’re getting fed up with it. Edgy conversations could lead to a stand off but think long term before making major decisions about work or love.

Calm down.

Trust your inner voice to give you the guidance you need over an emotional situation this week, even if you have to work hard. You haven’t played fair in the past and now need to work out how to make amends. Its only fair, especially if you’ve been a taker and not a giver.

Sort it out.

CANCER June 22-July 23

LEO July 24-August 23

Home is where the heart is usually rings true for you, but this week home and hearth seems like a lonely place. The moons move into Aries mid week jolts your attention over work matters, so attend to them first then maybe you’ll get the respite you need when you return to your abode.

Filter the wild off the wall ideas out of your mind over business matters and concentrate on the tried and tested ones that you know will work. If a friend needs a shoulder to cry on this week, be there for them.

They’ve been supportive of you in the past and got you through some hard times.

VIRGO August 24-September 23 Mercury your ruling planet enters Aries this week and makes you more outspoken about money, but try to be sensitive to those with less than you as you can be rather brusque in your delivery of the facts at times. Allow your softer side to break through. You’ll get your own way anyway.

DAVID COPPERFIELD (BORN DAVID SETH KOTKIN; SEPTEMBER 16, 1956) is an American illusionist, and has been described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history.

Copperfield's television specials have won 21 Emmy Awards of a total 38 nominations. Best known for his combination of storytelling and illusion, Copperfield’s career of over 30 years has earned him 11 Guinness World Records, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a knighthood by the French government; and he has been named a Living Legend by the US Library of Congress.

Copperfield has so far sold 40 million tickets and grossed over $3 billion, which is more than any other solo entertainer in history. He currently performs over 500 shows a year.

When not performing, he creates experiences for his chain of 11 islands in the Bahamas – Musha Cay and the Islands of

Horoscope

Copperfield Bay, which has completed a $35 million renovation under his supervision.

44 September 7- 30, 2012

stars LIBRA September 24-October 23

SCORPIO October 24-November 22

It’s not only you who has problems and issues this week, so stop being such a martyr and see if there’s anyone in your circle you can help. Embrace the unexpected and see where it takes you over work and love, and you might be happier with the new direction you’ve been pushed into.

Your emotional energy needs to be controlled this week to ensure your decisions are effective not chaotic. Money still seems to be an edgy issue but focus on work and health matters before thinking of your cash flow. It’s a weekend to separate fact from fantasy and truth from exaggeration.

CAPRICORN December 23-January 20

AQUARIUS January 21-February 19

Although you know you’ve got commitments to meet this week your heart’s not in it. That’s not to say you wont do your bit, you will, but grudgingly. You need something major to happen in your life that’ll restore your faith and optimism in everything and everyone. Make it happen.

Home and family need your full attention at the weekend.

If loved ones are feeling vulnerable, you’ll need to be patient with them, even if they stretch your last nerve to the max. You don’t seem to be getting the results you want from work situations, but make the best of what’s going on.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 22 A growing inner confidence in your decision making skills puts you in the mood to experiment, but don’t take too much of a chance or you’ll feel out of your depth. The suns move into Taurus on Thursday asks you to focus on health matters, so up your activity levels and get moving.

PISCES February 20-March 20 Don’t feel impatient and restless. Try to get a focal point to direct your energy because if you scatter your focus, as you’ve been doing, nothing will get done and you’ll have wasted time and energy on nothing. Try to see the best in others at the weekend. They’re trying their best.

For men

E-MAIL: marketing@albahja.com, Website: www.albahja.com

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

46 September 7- 30, 2012

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

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

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

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

SALALAH

SOHAR

NIZWA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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It's my life

Sherlock Holmes -Part 2

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

By Vandana Shah

“My name is Sherlock Holmes and it is my business to know what other people do not know," said one of the greatest detectives of all times.

If you became Sherlock Holmes who looked only at the good in people, then imagine a situation where someone has a different way of thinking from yours. Let’s say you believed in being extravagant and he believed in being thrifty, which is the only clue you had in this mystery case and you had to look for positive in this. How would you get to the bottom of this? You would definitely do research to understand more about them.

The net result of this would be learning and understanding a different point of view. Another positive outcome would be having a bevy of friends, that’s because constantly on the lookout for negatives in people are stumbling blocks to getting to know them in the real sense.

Besides, who are we to decide what is negative? Don’t we also have our own shortcomings, right from having a fiery temper, to being a workaholic to having fixed views about things.

People are akin to indecipherable exciting mysteries displaying a wide range of traits like love, hatred, passion, intrigue, kindness, evil and goodness. The change in perspective of focusing only on the positive and eliminating the negative will make us the greatest and most successful detective of all times, as we will have cracked the mystery of ‘being a person who embraces only the good in people’.

Tough? Easy?

You decide but as Sherlock Holmes would say, “Elementary, my dear Watson”.

It’s my birthday month, so do drop me a line, I am definitely choosing to be the positive Sherlock Holmes and I hope you are too!

Till next time love, hugs.

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

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

Black & White 49

Eating fish is good for you. Fish has fabulous health benefits and are a great source of protein. They contain healthy fats that will reduce your cholesterol and improve your health. Fish also contain omega-3 fatty acids that help keep your heart healthy and may even improve your mood. Fish have been shown to be an important diet of many‌ here are a few quick and easy fish recipes‌

SMOKED FISH SALAD

Cooking

Ingredients 125 ml (4 fl oz) whipping cream 300 g (10 oz) curd cheese 675 g (1 1/2 lb) smoked mackerel or trout, boned and skinned 3 stalks celery, chopped 50 g (2 oz) canned sweet pimientos, chopped 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice salt and pepper

50 50September September77-30, 30,2012 2012

Method: Whip the cream and fold it into the curd cheese. Add the fish, flaked, and the remaining ingredients, combining them all gently so as not to break the fish up too much.

Refrigerate until required. You can put the salad into a ring mould and turn it out onto a bed of shredded lettuce.

Decorate it with the rest of the can of pimientos, cut into thin strips.

GRILLED SALMON Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets Lemon pepper to taste Garlic powder to taste Salt to taste 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup water 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Method Season salmon fillets with lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt. In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, and vegetable oil until sugar is dissolved.

Place fish in a large reseal able plastic bag with the soy sauce mixture, seal, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat grill for medium heat. Lightly oil grill grate. Place salmon on the preheated grill, and discard marinade. Cook salmon for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

CRISPY FISH Ingredients 2 cups dry potato flakes 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon seasoning salt 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, or to taste 4 (6 ounce) fillets cod 2 cups butter flavored shortening, for frying

Method In medium bowl, combine the potato flakes, flour, garlic powder, seasoning salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Soak fish filets in bowl of cold water.

In a deep skillet or deep fryer, melt and heat the shortening to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Dredge fish filets in dry mixture and fry in the hot oil for 5 minutes or until fish flakes apart easily. Remove from oil and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Women need to change their

BAD HABITS

Opinionated

It is a fact that women, despite having lesser bad habits than men, are prone to not weaning themselves from them once they have been bitted by the ‘badhabits’ bug.

Women may be less indulgent in bad habits like smoking, eating fattening foods, and not getting proper exercise. But, if they have been habituated to such bad habits, it is more difficult to get them out of it, research says. In fact, it has been found that even women with a family history of heart disease are less likely to do proper exercises and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Why? It has something to do with their mental makeup, it seems.

LIMIT YOUR HEEL’S INCHES Women also have other bad habits, slightly related to health, which need to be curtailed. One understands the passion women have for high heels, but the risks of high heels are plenty, ranging from arthritis, hammer toes, back pain and tendon injuries. They need to know that the higher they carry themselves on stilettos, the bigger and harder their fall. If they can limit the inches for daily wear, and also wear insoles to help reduce pressure on joints, it will be beneficial in the long run. But are these women listening?

52 September 7- 30, 2012

STOP WORRYING – BE HAPPY Women are also known to be big-time worriers: they are known to harbour regrets, which slowly eat them from within. It is a fact that stress is damaging to both our physical and mental health, but despite knowing this women still get high strung on stress as though they are addicted to it. Research notes that women are twice as likely as men to suffer from stress-related disorders.

They are also known to be afflicted with higher rates of depression and anxiety. Is there a biological reason for this? That could be but it pays to note that worrying about

the future and dwelling on regrets can also only add to the problems. Statistics reveal that women are more than twice as likely as men to having regrets because of lost loves and broken relationships.

everything from accidents, high calorie consumption and risk of heart disease. Here also, research suggests that women suffer from sleep related problems than men. Bad sleeping habits fluctuates blood pressure and mood too.

NO COMFORT EATING Another unhealthy side of women is that they are also prone to taking refuge in comfort eating when distress visits them. Yes, both men and women indulge in comfort eating, but how and what they eat makes a lot of difference. Women, unlike men, hit the wrong note by grabbing sweet, high-calorie foods. It is a fact that women crave for sweet when they are blue, but ideally, they should try to boost their endorphins and health by other means. Why not exercise (exorcise?) the blues?

NEED FOR SOME ‘ME’ TIME The other side of the story is that many women – mothers – tend to compromise their sleeping habits to care for children and others. In other words, they put them last on the list. Not only are women more likely to compromise their sleeping habits to care for children and others, they are also prone to putting their own wants and needs at the bottom of a hectic to-do list of chores and obligations.

To avoid running yourself into the ground, learn to sometimes say no to those requests and commitments that are less than essential, and make sure you set aside some 'me' time each week to do something enjoyable just for you. It is not an exaggerated fact to see fathers snoring off to glory while their poor harassed wives tend to their crying baby in the middle of the night. The time has come for the women to take a stand and find a balance in all this. Specifically speaking on the fact that they compromise sleep to care for their children, it is time for women to wake up their men to do their role as fathers too. Also, women should also make it a point to take particular care and also reserve some ‘me’ time for themselves. It is imperative or all these bad habits are going to come back and attack at the wrong time in their lives when they are too vulnerable.

GET SOME GOOD SLEEP By no means are we saying that women are bad because of these bad habits; women are more emotional and of course more caring than men, which is why they get the bad name. Of course, there are other bad habits that put women on the other negative bracket, but, here, we are discussing about what they should avoid to enjoy better health. Women have this habit of not getting proper sleep, owing to various factors. As a woman, you do know that you have to look good and there is even societal pressure for you to look good, even if you don’t feel good, so why avoid sleep because it can make you look the worst.

Over and above that, lack of sleep has been blamed for

For women

E-MAIL: marketing@albahja.com, Website: www.albahja.com Black & White 53

Learning it right!

Hooked

By Priya Arunkumar

She had immense faith in me.

Not once in my entire graduation years, she doubted my integrity, honesty or ability.

She was protective and always thought I needed some protection from all the other evilness around me.

Even when I failed in her expectations she would convince herself and me that it was beyond my control that I faulted. I will perform better the next time.

Every time I missed her class, she would be worried and ensure that I got the special coaching.

And like any other tactless student, I thought I was lucky that I had an innocent face and a trusting head of the department.

I thought the teacher was absolutely crazy to have faith on me.

I still remember she had high hopes on me and believed that I was ‘scientist’ material.

She would spend extra hours on me, give me special books and guides and made me the class monitor and in charge for all responsible occasions.

Recently I met her at a railway station near my home town and she recognised and remembered me.

She introduced me to her daughter and said, here is the girl who was one of my favourite students.

Very proudly she commented that she always knew I will shine in any field I chose!

Every September when everyone remembers their teachers, I pray for her.

She taught me two of the best lessons in life.

Trust and positivity!

A subject totally out of the curriculum; which I learnt well, after my college days, of course.

I cannot boast of many qualities today, but yes, I am trusting and an incurable optimist!

Thanks to her and her faith on me.

I was an impatient and naughty kid most of my student years; but was one of the most fortunate students who got the best of teachers in all aspects of learning.

Teachers who taught me the lessons of life, rather than those printed on text books.

A physical education teacher who taught me the true sportsmanship, a mathematics teacher who made it easy for me to face problems in life, a physics teacher who taught me the physical impact of biting nails, an English teacher who pushed me in to a world of books, a Sanskrit teacher who created a fantasy of creativity thorough the pages of great Indian epics, a social studies teacher who taught me to smile through the society, a science teacher who taught me how to poach 100 eggs in three minutes, a SUPW teacher who taught me that a stitch in time saves nine...

Today when I sit with my child with her text books, I feel lost and sad.

Not one text book will teach her how to live her life.

Not one lesson will she learn, from all that quagmire of formulas and numbers.

No inspiration, no experiences, but loads of tensions and inhibitions.

Maybe I am cynical, but what are the young kids learning today?

Instead of being taught to be hard working they are trained to find shortcuts to everything.

Instead of being taught to be honest they grow up watching lies all around.

Instead of being disciplined they are prompted to break the rules.

They are taught to be affectionate and they grow up practical in all sense!

Pages, books, text books, references, home work, examinations… I think it is time to give them something real to take home! priya@blackandwhiteoman.com