The Pearl of the Orient: Manila The inflight magazine of Oman Air | July 2016 | Your Copy To Keep facebook.com/omanair |
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is no better time than now to discover the astonishing beauty of Salalah in full bloom. And in further good news for leisure travellers, we have just launched a brand-new booking system for Oman Air Holidays at www.omanairholidays.com. It offers a range of holiday products, such as package holidays - including flights, hotels, transfer, tours and activities - and dynamic packages, from which you can choose to build the holiday of your dreams. Oman Air Holidays also offers a fantastic range of special offers and I would urge you to take a look as soon as you can. Furthermore, members of our Sindbad frequent flyers program can now earn 500 miles every time they hire from Europcar thanks to Oman Air’s new partnership with the leading car rental network.
On behalf of Oman Air, I am delighted to welcome you aboard your flight. Whether you are flying with Oman Air for business or leisure, you will be pleased to know that our fleet continues to expand with the arrival of more outstanding new Boeing aircraft. On 30th May our fourth Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner made its first commercial flight to Salalah and the jet is now in service across our network. And from July to November, a total of four new B737-800 Next Generation aircraft will be added to our fleet.
So, with more aircraft, destinations, frequencies, choices and benefits than ever before, you can be sure that Oman Air is committed to going the extra mile for you, our respected customers. Thank you for choosing to fly with us, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard again very soon.
Paul Gregorowitsch Chief Executive Officer
This increase in the number of planes we operate enables us to continue the growth of our international network. Our latest destination was unveiled on 1st June, when our inaugural flight to Mashhad, in Iran, took place. Oman Air now operates 14 flights per week to Iran with the daily service to Mashhad running parallel to our daily service between Muscat and Tehran. The new service meets strong demand and we would advise you to book early at www.omanair.com. In addition to the introduction of new destinations, our expanding fleet has enabled us to operate more flights to many of our established destinations. Notable among these is the city of Salalah, in Oman’s most southerly Governorate of Dhofar. The city’s popularity during the Khareef – the region’s summer monsoon – has traditionally seen Oman Air increase the number of services we offer during this season. This year, we are offering an unprecedented number of seats to Salalah, with increased frequencies operating between Salalah and the Omani capital of Muscat, and between Salalah and Dubai. There really
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Navigation
Diary
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Must See: Oman Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve
A wrap up of what festivals, events and sports are happening around the world this month
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Check Out
Pearl of the 16 The Orient: Manila
Check In The best of the Salalah Tourism Festival
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Navigation
Römerberg:
‘Old Town’ 28 Frankfurt’s historical highlight
Swimmer to sailor:
Team Oman Air’s Nasser Al Mashari
32 Oman Air News
47 Oman Air’s news and events Also…
Path to Success (34) Family Traveller (36) Oman View (40) Travel Guide (42) Welcome Aboard (44) In-Flight Entertainment (50)
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Editorial
Editing Director Paul Winter paul.winter@npaoman.com Mohammad Abu Al Majd Client Servicing Executive Ruwayda Al Barwani
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Photographic Contributors Cover Image: GettyImages GettyImages/Shutterstock © Red Bull Media House/Darren DeSilva/ Geoff Odell/Red Bull Content Pool Balikbayan Handicrafts/ www.balikbayanhandicrafts.com.ph
Designers Justin Das Mohammad Asif
Creative Commons License/ www.flickr.com/photos/marypaulose
Media Manager – Advertising & Marketing
Dubai Summer Surprises/ www.visitdubai.com
Vijay Murkute advertising@npaoman.com
Forest Stewardship Council
Extreme Sailing Series/Jesus Renedo/ www.extremesailingseries.com
Malaysian Mega Sale Carnival/Picture courtesy of Tourism Malaysia/ www.malaysia.travel Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycle Odyssey/www.royalenfield.com Salalah Tourism Festival/Times of Oman/ ONA Salalah Tourism Festival/ www.beautifulsalalah.com Zanzibar International Film Festival/ Peter Bennett/www.ziff.or.tz The publisher regrets that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.
Diary Zanzibar International Film Festival
Where: Zanzibar, Tanzania When: 9 July – 17 July What: Zanzibar International Film Festival is one of the highlights of the island nation’s cultural calendar with thousands of people attending every year. Films, filmmakers, film-lovers and tourists all flock to the festival, which celebrates music, the arts and the spirit of the island itself. Oman Air flies 7 times a week between Muscat/Zanzibar
Festivals around the world Singapore Food Festival (Throughout July, Singapore). Impark Summer Festival (28 July – 21 August, Munich, Germany). Amman Arab Film Festival (17 July, Amman, Jordan).
Bastille Day
Where: Paris, France When: 14 July What: The famous French national holiday on the 14th July is a huge celebratory event in Paris. From morning to well into the night, a selection of exceptional events – including military parades, dance performances, fireworks displays, and much more – make this a day not to be missed. Oman Air flies 6 times a week between Muscat/ Paris
Singapore Dragon Boat Festival
Where: Marina Reservoir, Singapore When: 23 July – 24 July What: This is Singapore’s number one dragon boat festival. A festival atmosphere rules the day as the dragon boat racers sweat it out for victory and prestige on these traditional, colourful boats. There’s also great food and music for the spectators, and it all goes down at Singapore’s popular Marina Reservoir. Oman Air flies 6 times a week between Muscat/Singapore
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Diary
Malaysian Mega Sale Carnival
Where: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia When: Throughout July and August What: Kuala Lumpur has a seemingly endless array of malls, shopping centres, and local markets dotted around the city – stocking literally everything and anything you could think of, and more. And the brilliant news is that much of it (especially fashion accessories, shoes, and clothing) will be on sale this month, as part of the Malaysian Mega Sale Carnival. You won’t go home empty-handed! Oman Air flies 7 times a week between Muscat/ Kuala Lumpur
Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycle Odyssey
Events around the world
Where: New Delhi, and throughout northern India When: 7 July – 23 July What: The Himalayan Odyssey is a motorcycle adventure where a bunch of riders explore around 2 200 kilometres of northern India’s most spectacular Himalayan mountain roads and landscapes on classic, Indianmade Royal Enfield motorcycles. It is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular motorcycle journeys in the world. Oman Air flies 14 times a week between Muscat/Delhi
Njangattiri Aanayoottu Elephant Feeding Ritual (22 July, Throughout Kerala, India). Beirut Colours Festival (25 July, Beirut, Lebanon). Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (22 July, Manila, Philippines).
Dubai Summer Surprises
Where: Dubai, UAE When: 9 July – 20 August What: The much-awaited annual extravaganza – the Dubai Summer Surprises – is back in its 19th edition with exciting activities for the entire family. This is when you can make the most of exclusive shopping deals, thrilling competitions, and unlimited entertainment activities across Modhesh World and various other malls in Dubai. Oman Air flies 70 times a week between Muscat/Dubai (49 Oman Air) (21 code share flights with Emirates)
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Diary Tour de France
Where: Throughout France, including Paris When: 2 July – 24 July What: Now in its 103rd year, the Tour de France will begin at the historic landmark of the Mont-Saint-Michel Island, on France’s western coastline, before heading off to complete 20 stages, and a total race distance of 3 519 kilometres. As is custom, the Tour then ends with a final ceremonial stage around the Champs-Élysées Boulevard in Paris. Britain’s Chris Froome of Team Sky (and of Tour of Oman-winning fame) will be back to defend his title this year, after winning the race in 2015 (he also won the race in 2013). Oman Air flies 6 times a week between Muscat/Paris
British Formula 1 Grand Prix
Where: Silverstone, England When: 8 July – 10 July What: ‘F1 drivers call the British Grand Prix at the iconic Silverstone circuit ‘insanely fast’. We simply call it one of the world’s greatest sporting events. Throw in a great weekend-long party and the race is on!’ Well that’s the news from this month’s British Formula 1 Grand Prix hosts at the famous Silverstone Circuit, just north of London. It’s going to be fast and fun! Oman Air flies 14 times a week between Muscat/London
Sport around the world IRONMAN European Championship (3 July, Frankfurt, Germany). European Athletics Championships (6 July – 10 July, Amsterdam, Netherlands). UEFA Euro 2016 Final (10 July, Stade de France, Paris, France). Kirkpinar Traditional Turkish Wrestling (18 July – 24 July, Edirne, Turkey). Ride London Cycle Tour (30 July – 31 July, London England).
Extreme Sailing Series Act 4
Where: Hamburg, Germany When: 28 July – 31 July What: With a compact race course of only 600 metres long by 300 metres wide on the River Elbe, in Hamburg’s HafenCity area – combined with strong tides, shifty winds and passing boat traffic, this month’s Extreme Sailing Series action should be very intense. Last year Hamburg presented the sailors with rolling thunderstorms, crashes, and even a capsized boat – so who knows what will happen this time around! Oman Air flies 7 times a week between Muscat/Frankfurt and 7 times a week between Muscat/Munich
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Must See Oman
Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve
Latitude: 22° 25’ 18” N Longitude: 59° 50’ 7” E
Located just south of Oman’s coastal town of Sur, on the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve is home to one of the largest nesting areas in the Indian Ocean for the endangered Green Turtle. 1. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), green turtles are one of the biggest of all of the sea turtles (and also the only herbivore among the different species).
7. Visitors should keep in mind that by law, they are only allowed to get up close to the turtles when accompanied by a registered guide.
2. Green Turtles are found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters, and tend to migrate long distances between feeding grounds and the beaches from where they lay their eggs.
8. Oman in fact has five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles – including Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, and Leatherback Turtles. 9. Classified as endangered, green turtles are threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear, and by loss of their nesting beach sites.
3. A perfect example of this is of course Oman’s Ras Al Jinz beach, where scientists say that around 20 000 to 30 000 female turtles come each year to lay their eggs. (Peak season is from July to October).
10. Visitors to the area can book themselves into the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve eco-resort – which has standard ‘Carapace’ rooms available for guests, as well as a set of luxury eco-tents. A buffet breakfast, turtle viewing (evening and dawn), and entry to the Turtle Reserve Visitor Centre are typically included in the stay.
4. The beach, in fact, forms part of the greater Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, which was established by Royal Decree in 1996, to better protect the natural environment of these visiting turtles. It now stretches over an area of 120 km2, and includes 45 kilometres of coastline. 5. At the time of laying their eggs, the female turtles drag themselves out up the beach during the night and, using the tips of their fins, will dig a hole in the sand in which to lay and bury their eggs.
Getting to Ras Al Jinz Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd can easily be accessed by road from Muscat – by driving first along the Muscat to Sur coastal highway; through the coastal town of Sur itself; and then along the (signposted) road that links Sur to Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd. To find out more about the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, go to www.rasaljinz-turtlereserve.com
6. When these eggs hatch around 50 to 70 days later, the turtle hatchlings begin the most dangerous journey of their lives, as they flap and crawl their way along the sand, back to the relative safety of the sea – all the while at risk of being eaten by natural predators like seagulls, crabs and land-based mammals like foxes.
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Manila is a city filled with energy, industriousness, humanity and culture
The Pearl of the Orient: Manila ‘The Pearl of the Orient’, as the Philippines city of Manila has been lovingly referred to in the past, is now a true South East Asian mega-city, filled with energy and industriousness, and bursting with humanity and culture. Thankfully, for the visitor, there are still countless ‘pearls’ to be discovered in Manila – like the following travel experiences – as you make your way around the city. Explore Intramuros: One of the city’s top tourism destinations, the Spanish walled city of Intramuros is where you can step back in time to the 1500s and get glimpse of the country’s colonial past that lasted 333 years. You can also enjoy a ride in a traditional Kalesa horse-drawn cart around the city’s walls.
Escape to Ayala Museum: This small, but well maintained museum has unique collections of archaeological artifacts and trade ceramics from Manila’s past, as well as a collection of fourcenturies-old gold jewellery items. It’s also a nice place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Visit the Cultural Centre of the Philippines: This is the home of performing artists and orchestras including the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bayanihan Philippine Folk Dance Company – and where you can get a dose of the best of Manila art and culture.
‘If you’re keen for a crowded, but fun ride through the streets of Manila, a jeepney is the answer’ 16
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Travel Token: Miniature Jeepney Taxi Jeepneys were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War 2, and are now the most popular means of public transportation around Manila and the rest of the Philippines. They are known for their crowded seating as well as their fantastically colourful paint designs, and have become an icon of Philippine city culture. For visitors to the Philippines, a miniature jeepney makes for a perfect travel souvenir to take back home. But don’t miss out on a ride in a real one either!
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Check Out unusual dishes available, so it’s best to go with a local so you know exactly what you’re eating!
Shop at the Mall of Asia: Claimed to be the world’s third largest mall by the Philippine Tourism Board, the Mall of Asia is a massive shopping space (almost half a million square-metres) with more than 600 retail outlets. It also has an IMAX Theatre, bowling centre, plenty of restaurants, and much more to see and do.
Ride in a Jeepney: Manila’s brightly coloured Jeepneys were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War 2, and are now the most popular means of public transportation around Manila and the rest of the Philippines. If you’re keen for a crowded, but fun ride through the streets of Manila, a jeepney is the answer.
Philippine’s National Museum: The magnificent building of the Philippine’s National Museum houses some of the most valued artifacts that represent the cultural heritage of the Filipinos. One of the most significant exhibits, are the collection 3 000-year-old Neolithic Manunggul burial jars that were found at the island province of Palawan, and which signify the belief in life after death by the Filipino people living at the time. (On Sundays, entrance to the museum is free).
Visit Chinatown: Manila has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, where one can find exotic Chinese goods and some delicious street food-style dishes. Explore Manila Ocean Park: Manila’s 8 000 square-metre oceanarium features a spectacular 25 metre underwater acrylic tunnel, where you can literally take a walk below the seas. There’s also a ‘Sharks and Rays Encounter’, ‘Mermaid Swim Experience’, ‘Trails to Antarctica’, and ‘Jellies Exhibit’, which will keep you and your family enthralled for hours.
Kultura Filipino: This centrally-based outlet sells locally-made handicrafts, delicacies, and traditional Filipino clothing. It’s the perfect place to get your cultural fix – and some interesting crafts items to take home with you. Greenhills Shopping Centre: The Greenhills Shopping Centre in San Juan City is the place to go bargain hunting for electronic goods, men’s and women’s fashion accessories, jewellery, and lifestyle and homeware products. Make sure your bargaining skills are sharp!
The Phillipine Halal Tourism Project: Welcoming the Halal Tourism Project The Philippines is accelerating its plans to position itself as one of the world’s preferred destinations for Muslim tourists – especially from the neighbouring ASEAN region and the Middle East. The Philippine Halal Tourism Project of the Department of Tourism and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos aims to welcome the Halal conscious traveller to destinations all over the country. The project follows a 100 day timetable for kitchens of 50 hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other tourism-related establishments to be Halal-certified in a growing list of popular tourism destinations like Manila, Cebu, Boracay, and Davao.
Street Food: Some of the best culinary experiences in any city are found at its street food markets and vendors and Manila is no different. There are both wonderful, and somewhat weird and
‘Manila’s 8 000 square-metre oceanarium features a spectacular 25 metre underwater acrylic tunnel, where you can literally take a walk below the seas’
A traditional Kalesa horse-drawn cart at Intramuros
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Manila has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world
Manila: City Facts Oman Air flies 7 times a week between Muscat/Manila
To find out more about experiencing the best of what Manila and the Philippines has to offer, visit the official Philippines tourism site www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com
Visa Requirements: The Philippines grants visa-free entry to passport holders of certain countries, while requiring a visa from others. You can confirm if your passport will require a visa for entry to the Philippines by visiting www.philippine-embassy.org.sg. Languages: Filipino (Tagalog) and English are the two official languages of the Philippines. Currency: The Philippine Peso (PHP) is divided into 100 sentimo. Bank notes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 Peso. 1 Philippine Peso (PHP) = 0.0083 Omani Rial (OMR) 1 Philippine Peso (PHP) = 0.022 United States Dollar (USD) (June 2016)
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The festival celebrates the best of Oman’s heritage and culture
The best of the Salalah Tourism Festival The ever popular Salalah Tourism Festival kicks off this month in Oman’s picturesque southern region of Dhofar, and runs until late August. It’s a festival of culture, art, shopping, and sport – and a meeting place for visitors and families from all over the Gulf and the Middle East. Here’s some highlights to experience this year. Spectacular weather: The Salalah Tourism Festival might be a wonderful celebration of Omani culture and heritage, but the heart of it all is a celebration of the spectacular weather of the ‘Khareef’ monsoon season, which takes place from around June to September each year. This is when the entire region experiences drastically cooler temperatures, constant mist and light rain, and when the foliage, streams and waterfalls in the area seem to magically come alive.
Delicious Omani and Dhofar cuisine: If there’s one item on the agenda that you can be forgiven for focusing all your attention on, it’s the serving of authentic Omani cuisine and delicacies throughout the length of the festival. You can treat yourself and your family to traditional Omani dishes – both savoury and sweet – that also feature flavour influences from the Dhofar region. A culture trip: A highlight of many of the festival days are the traditional Omani and Dhofari dance performances which are literally filled with colour (as the performers are often
adorned in colourful Omani dress) and which are a reflection of the rich cultural heritage of Omani people. And, the same goes for the music, poetry, and song performances on the go every day. Last year, there was also the Al Bara dance contest for children, which was put on by the Zubair Corporation in support of Omani traditional heritage and arts.
Exquisite craftsmanship: The festival is also the best time to meet the men and women that create some of the highly treasured craft items in the Sultanate. There are basket weavers, potters, woodworkers, weavers, silversmiths, coppersmiths, boat builders, and many more master crafters, and it’s fascinating seeing how each of them brings their products to life from raw materials. Of course, you get the chance to buy what they’re making as well.
Festive fireworks: Dazzling displays of fireworks are regularly scheduled on nights throughout the duration of the festival. After a long day of festival experiences, it’s pleasure to just sit back and enjoy the show.
‘The ‘Khareef’ monsoon season is at the heart of the Salalah Tourism Festival’ 22
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A highlight of the festival are the many colourful music and dance performances Traditional ways of life on display
The festival is a meeting place for visitors and families from all over the Gulf and the Middle East
Shopping: It’s probably impossible to walk away from the
• Explore Wadi Darbat: The highlight of this wadi is the series of waterfalls, which come alive during the Khareef season.
Salalah Tourism Festival empty handed! In previous years, the organisers have stated that the festival is the biggest and best opportunity for the entire year in Salalah for buying things. It’s hard not to agree. This includes men’s and women’s fashion items, home products, traditional crafts, Omani delicacies and sweets, jewellery, fragrances, livestock and agriculture products, and lots, lots more.
• Visit Shatti Al Mughsayl and Al Marneef Cave: The long, sandy stretch of Al Mughsayl beach, and the popular Al Marneef blowholes and Al Marneef Cave are easily accessible by car, and well worth spending time at.
• Drive to Mirbat: About an hour’s drive east of Salalah is the picturesque seaside town of Mirbat.
Sport in Salalah?: Beach championship? Equestrian races? Shooting contests? Traditional wooden ‘Huri’ canoe races? Salalah Tourism Festival Soccer Cup? It all took place at last year’s Salalah Tourism Festival, and there’ll be similar things on the go this year.
‘The festival is the best time to meet the craftsmen and women who create the Sultanate’s highly treasured craft items’
Dhofar adventures: Admittedly, the Salalah Tourism Festival is not the only thing worth seeing in the region at the moment. A ‘Dhofar list of things to see and do’ could include these:
More traditional dance
There is much to explore around Salalah – like Wadi Darbat
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Check In • Shop at Salalah’s Souq: Salalah’s Al Hafah Souq is where you can bargain for and buy anything from traditional textiles, to silver and gold jewellery, to various Omani craft items, and enjoy a cup of Omani ‘Kahwa’ coffee served with dates.
• Buy frankincense: Since ancient times, Dhofar’s ‘Boswellia’ trees have been known to produce some of the finest Frankincense in the world. Don’t go home without a bag or two!
During the ‘Khareef’, Dhofar’s foliage, streams and waterfalls seem to magically come alive
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Landmark Travels
Römerberg: Frankfurt’s ‘Old Town’ historical highlight Keen for an historic journey through Frankfurt and its fascinating ‘Altstad’ Old Town district? Don’t miss the charming collection of traditional wooden buildings at Römerberg. Frankfurt’s Römerberg is a collection of ornately decorated wooden buildings that formed the historic heart of Frankfurt’s ‘Altstad’ Old Town district during medieval times.
where Frankfurt’s first bank was established in the 17th century; the ‘Golden Griffon’, as well as the ‘Wild Man’, ‘Small Badger Hill’, ‘Great and Small Lauberberg’, and the ‘Black Star’.
The collection is made up of the iconic Römerberg City Hall, as well as the Römer buildings, and what makes them especially significant is that they were all almost completely destroyed during a night of bombing raids in World War 2 in 1944, before being faithfully restored to their exact original state (reportedly from their original plans!) a few decades later in 1986.
These days, the Römerberg remains Frankfurt’s top historical attraction – not only because their wooden architectural features and ornate painted designs are charmingly beautiful, and literally look like something out of a children’s fairytale story – but also
‘After they were almost completely destroyed during a night of bombing raids in World War 2, the buildings were restored to their exact original state (reportedly from their original plans!) in 1986’
Every building that forms part of the Römerberg collection has its own name, which recalls each one’s proud history according to the City of Frankfurt tourism guide. There’s the ‘Great Angel’,
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Landmark Travels
because they show you how fascinating and attractive Frankfurt must have been during medieval times. In fact, as you get up close and personal with each building and make your way around the cobbled streets of Römerberg’s central square, it’s easy to feel as though you have travelled back in time a few hundred years to the real medieval Frankfurt. Surrounding the Römerberg are restaurants and cafes, art galleries, landmarks like the iconic bronze ‘Fountain of Justice’ from 1543, souvenir shops, museums, and a bunch of other attractions. This all makes it an excellent place from which to explore Frankfurt’s Old Town for the morning or the day. Also, at certain times of the year, various food markets become part of the attractions around Römerberg. One of these is Frankfurt’s much-loved Christmas Market (from mid-November to mid-December each year), which has a history that goes as far back as the mid-1300s. It’s the perfect place to sample local sweet delicacies and traditional Frankfurt cuisine, and the elaborate stand decorations and celebratory atmosphere are guaranteed to put you in a good mood for the festive season. Of course, after the Römerberg, the famous River Main is a literally just a few metres away – where you can take a scenic river cruise to get a view of the Frankfurt city skyline – arguably the most spectacular city skyline in Germany.
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To find out more about Römerberg, and other Frankfurt attractions, visit www. frankfurt-tourismus.de. The Römerberg: Frankfurt on Foot Most experienced travellers will agree that the best way to experience Römerberg is on foot, by walking, as part of well-established tours like the Frankfurt City Walk, where you have the chance to explore Frankfurt during the course of a two-hour guided walk to visit the city’s most interesting locations (including the Römerberg), as well as the city’s famous banking district and more. The City Walk also takes you to the 200 metre-high Main Tower, which offers panoramic views of the city from its rooftop observation platform.
Oman Adventure
Swimmer to sailor: Team Oman Air’s Nasser Al Mashari From the time he swam his first length in the local swimming pool to the moment he picked up his first sailing world championship, Nasser Al Mashari has discovered water, whether he is in it – or on it – to be a treasure chest of opportunity. One of Oman Sail’s leading athletes with an unquenchable appetite for success is the 32 year-old Nasser Al Mashari. He is currently campaigning on the Oman Air GC32-design boat, in order to add another crown, the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series title, to his burgeoning collection.
It required him to step up his training, but seated alongside the likes of Sir Ben Ainslie and Sidney Gavignet was a sure fire way to fast track his progress and just four years after he stepped aboard a boat, Al Mashari earned his first international spurs as a member of The Wave, Muscat, champions of the 2012 Extreme Sailing Series. There have been two more world championship titles since then, and now in 2016, Al Mashari and Oman Air continue to pull out all the stops to strengthen their position as overall series leaders in pursuit of the Extreme Sailing Series crown.
But charging around an aquatic race track in China or Russia or Australia, wrestling with sails and ropes at the front of Oman Sail’s high performance ‘flying’ catamaran Oman Air before a crowd of thousands, is a far cry from his formative years competing for Oman as a youth swimmer. Growing up by the water as part of a small fishing village community, he was six years of age when the pool first beckoned but it proved a strong and instant bond and within a year, he was signed up with the local swimming club where he attracted the attention of the Oman Swimming Association. An athletic physique combined with a model approach and technique convinced them of his potential and he rose quickly through the ranks to represent Oman in swimming competitions around the Gulf and beyond, most notably at the World Youth Games in Moscow in 1998.
Follow Team Oman Air’s progress and stay up to date with the Series by following the #teamomanair hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2016 Extreme Sailing Series™ standings 1st Oman Air (OMA) 23 points 2nd Alinghi (SUI) 21 points 3rd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 21 points 4th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) 19 points 5th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 15 points 6th Sail Portugal (POR) 13 points 7th One (CHN) 13 points 8th Team Turx (TUR) 11 points
Inevitably, his talents started to earn him a living as an instructor and lifeguard and it was while he was based at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel, where they had a fleet of sailing dinghies, that a new opportunity arose for Al Mashari that was to prove life-changing. The connection with sailing was immediate and within months, he took things one step further and began teaching others. It was a natural step but one that stood him in good stead when Oman Sail began advertising for sailing instructors in 2009.
2016 Extreme Sailing Series™ schedule Act 1: Muscat, Oman, 16-19 March Act 2: Qingdao, China, 29 April-2 May Act 3: Cardiff, UK, 23-26 June Act 4: Hamburg, Germany, 28-31 July Act 5: St Petersburg, Russia, 1-4 September Act 6: Istanbul, Turkey, 22-25 September Act 7: Lisbon, Portugal, 6-9 October Act 8: Australia, 8-11 December
Initially, they trained him up to be a qualified international coach but his strong and muscular physique, honed through swimming training, also caught the eye of Oman Sail’s selectors looking for a bowman to make up their Extreme 40 crew in the Extreme Sailing Series that year. What he lacked in experience and skill, he made up for with a lion-hearted spirit and total dedication, qualities that earned him the biggest break of all – a chance to race with some of the best sailors in the world on the highest profile racing circuit of any.
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Path to Success
Drifting to success in Oman It’s been said that drifting is the fastest growing form of motorsport in the world. It combines the most exciting elements from multiple motorsport disciplines into one heart-stopping, and very crowd-friendly show. The good news is that drifting is alive and well in Oman. The annual Red Bull Car Park Drift is now also well-established in the Sultanate, and will once again be taking place later this year as a qualifier for the prestigious Middle East ‘King of Drift’ finals. In fact for the very first time, the local qualifying event will be held in Oman (on the 28th October) – as well as the main regional final (taking place on the 9th December), which is usually hosted in Dubai. The event is the perfect opportunity for motorsport lovers and drift fans to enjoy a ‘hands-on experience’ of drifting, as the organisers explain.
If you didn’t already know, drifting is a competitive motorsport where drivers intentionally oversteer their cars around a predetermined route, causing loss of traction in the tyres, while still attempting to maintain control through all the corners of the course. Their cars are specially modified, and there’s always guaranteed to be an excess of smoking tyres, screaming engines, and showmanship from the drivers at a drifting event – and plenty of thrills and spills in between. Drivers must display exceptional handling skills at high speed – all the while pushing their engines and cars to the limit. Performances are judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship and line taken through a corner or set of corners, and drivers are also awarded points for the amount of smoke produced from their tyres, how close they drift to the wall or designated ‘clipping point’, and also the entire crowd’s reaction. In Oman, enthusiasm for drifting is growing at a rapid rate, and there are more and more events and competitions being arranged through organisations like the Oman Drift Arena and the Oman Automobile Association.
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Path to Success
There was also the hugely popular ‘AutoX Challenge RD1’ drift event, which formed part of last month’s Ramadan Motorsports Festival 2016 at the Oman Automobile Association, and several more drift competitions are planned for the rest of the year.
One of the stars of drifting in the Sultanate has been Oman’s Ali Al Balushi, who has won the Red Bull Car Park Drift for three years in a row since 2013, and will no doubt be back in action – and a very firm favourite – at the event later this year. Another star is Said Badwawi, who is part of the Oman drifting team called the ‘Oman Mustangers’ (a name which comes from the Mustang car they use to compete in), and who achieved fourth position overall at the celebrated Qatar Drifting Championship in Doha, in April this year. Badwawi was up against some top-notch competition throughout the event, but managed to edge out most of them for his fourth place – and to prove that not only is the sport of drifting very alive and well in the Sultanate, but that there are some very talented drivers drifting their way around Oman’s race tracks.
Drifting: Oman Automobile Association
To find out more about competitive drifting in Oman, visit the Oman Automobile Association site www. omanauto.org or go to www.facebook.com/ omandriftarena
Red Bull Car Park Drift
On the 28th October this year, Muscat will play host to the 2016 edition of the now-famous Red Bull Car Park Drift local qualifiers. Then, on the 9th December, Muscat will also host the main regional final, which will feature drivers from all over the Middle East, competing for the prestigious title. In 2015, the crowd turn-out was huge, so this year should be bigger and better, and we’ll certainly see drivers pushing things to the absolute limit. To find out more visit www.redbull.com/cpd 35
Family Traveller
Minneriya National Park: Sri Lanka’s wildlife wonder If you and your family are lucky enough to find yourself travelling to Sri Lanka in the next few months, take them to explore the famous Minneriya National Park – where they can see large numbers of native wild elephants, and a whole lot more. For a relatively small island, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer the traveller. From beach holidays, to land and sea-based adventure sports, pilgrimage sites, ecotourism experiences, luxury hotels and resorts, historic tours, spa and wellness centres, whale watching, exotic culinary delights, and of course the thriving metropolis of Colombo itself – Sri Lanka seems like is a world of wonderful experiences, jam-packed into one small island. But one of Sri Lanka’s greatest attractions remains its wildlife, and especially its native Sri Lankan Elephants, which are one of the three recognised subspecies
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Family Traveller
Wild Buffaloes, and some rarer species like the Red Slender Loris (the tiny, nocturnal primate, which your children are guaranteed to fall in love with when they see one) and the rather crazy-looking Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, which all get lots of attention from ecoaware travellers.
of Asian Elephant, and which can be seen in abundance at the Minneriya National Park. Located more-or-less in the centre of the island between Habarana and Pollonnaruwa, Minneriya is a haven for these elephants, who end up migrating from the surrounding jungles to enjoy the lush grass fields on the banks of the Minneriya reservoir, during the dry season from December to March.
For travelling families, Sri Lanka can literally be world full of wonderful experiences. If you’re coming to visit, do not miss out on the island’s natural wildlife – and especially not the Sri Lankan Elephants!
This is when huge numbers of elephants can be seen, ranging from dozens of members per herd – up to an astounding 700 in number. It’s a truly thrilling sight and as mentioned, if you’re lucky enough to find yourself travelling to Sri Lanka in the next few months, take your family to Minneriya – they will love you for it!
Sri Lanka Elephants: Conservation Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation has several elephant conservation initiatives on the go at the moment. Besides the haven of Minneriya National Park, two other initiatives include the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Kegalle (where injured elephants are treated, and orphaned baby elephants cared for), and the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre in Udawalawe National Park (where there is an elephant rehabilitation centre, and where orphaned elephant calves are kept until they can be released safely back into the wild).
The traditional way of viewing the elephants, along with the rest of the park’s wildlife, is from the back of a safari-style jeep, with one of the park’s guides as your driver and tour guide for the day. Endemic monkeys as well as many resident and migratory bird species can also be spotted at Minneriya, and also endemic reptiles like the Painted-lip Lizard, Saltwater Crocodile, Indian Python and Water Monitor. In fact, despite its relatively small size, Sri Lanka is included among the top five biodiversity hotspots in the world, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism association.
Sri Lanka’s wilderness and wildlife: Go to Sri Lanka’s official tourism site www.srilanka.travel to find out more about visiting Minneriya National Park, and other wildlife and wilderness experiences on the islands.
Of the ninety-one species of mammals found on the island, the elephants are a highlight – but there’s also Sloth Bears, Leopards,
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Oman View
Ziyad Al Dughaishi Ziyad is a young Omani photographer who picked up the hobby of capturing still moments of life in 2014 when he bought his first professional camera. Since then, his camera wouldn’t leave his side. Wherever he travels, he finds pleasure in photographing nature, people’s lifestyles, and the rare moments that life grants from time to time. Ziyad’s work features not only beauty but creativity in concept too, as his technique takes a line in photography unmatched by others. His talent won him accolades at the UAE International Photography competition in 2015 and lately, he won the second prize in the 45th National Day photography contest organised by the Photographic Society of Oman. For more information about Ziyad and his work, check out his page on instagram: www.instagram.com/black_code77
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Travel Guide
Savvy Traveller The Sultanate of Oman is on the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west and Yemen in the southwest. It also has two enclaves – the Musandam Peninsula and Madha – which are separated by the UAE. Oman’s 3 165 kilometre coastline spans the Gulf of Oman in the north and the Sea of Oman (which forms part of the Arabian Sea) in the east.
For the traveller, the Sultanate of Oman has a large variety of experiences: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
There are currently four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Sultanate of Oman
A wide variety of pristine beaches and islands Spectacular mountains, canyons and wadis World class diving, snorkelling, and other water sports Turtle, dolphin and whale watching Wildlife tours in the Sultanate’s nature reserves and biodiversity spots Cultural sites including forts, ancient tombs and prehistoric cities Desert safaris and adventures A large variety of markets and souqs Museums and art galleries Trekking, rock climbing and caving adventures Horse and camel racing events Golf courses Various festivals, including the popular Muscat Festival and Salalah Festival.
• Aflaj Irrigation Systems • Archaeological Sites of Bat
• Frankincense Trail • Bahla Fort
Sultanate of Oman: Fact Sheet Area Population (2016) Language Capital Local Time Currency 42
: 3 09 500 km2 : 4 419 003 (2 006 734 expatriates) : Arabic (official) English (widely spoken) : Muscat : GMT +4 : Omani Rial, which equates to US$ 2.58
Travel Guide
Currency
The local currency is the Omani Rial (referred to as RO or OR or OMR). It is further divided into 1000 Baizas. Currency denominations are available in 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Rial and 500 and 100 Baiza notes. Coins are available in 50, 25, 10 and 5 Baizas.
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Welcome Aboard
Experience Oman Air’s Award Winning Services Welcome aboard! Oman Air is committed to providing you with a safe, reliable and seamless flying experience – enhanced by warm and friendly customer service.
Book and Check-In Online
Oman Air offers an interactive online booking check-In facility for convenient, stressfree airport checkins. The check-in facility is available for departures from Muscat International Airport, as well as a selection of airports on the worldwide Oman Air network. Online Check-in is available between 24 hours and 90 minutes before your departure time.
Exclusive First Class and Business Class Check-In
With its own entrance and sumptuous lounge area, dedicated staff, and fast-track security clearance and baggage drop, the First Class and Business Class Check-In service provides an ideal introduction to Oman Air’s extremely high standards of service. These facilities set the tone of refined elegance and luxury which stays with the traveller throughout their journey.
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Welcome Aboard
In-flight Connectivity Whichever cabin you are travelling in, you can send SMS or make calls to your friends, family or colleagues with our OnAir mobile services. Log-on and check emails, surf the web and update your social media with Oman Air’s WY-Fi internet services. And our great-value, flexible pricing means that you can choose the level of connectivity you want, whenever you fly on our Airbus A330 Fully Connected flights.
Chauffeur Services
Oman Air offers premium travellers a host of distinctive services that will enhance their travel experience. First and Business Class passengers can now take advantage of our complimentary Chauffeur Drive airport transfer service at select destinations across our network. With an attentive service that comes with a personal chauffeur, luxury vehicles and speedy door-todoor transfers, you can now travel in comfort and style with Oman Air.
In-flight Entertainment
Sit back and enjoy your journey in comfort, with a great range of the latest Arabic and international movies, up-to-the-minute TV shows, including satellite TV news, as well as music and games – all at your fingertips, and all on demand.
Oman Air Lounges
If you want to experience the privilages of Oman Air’s famous standards of superior comfort and indulge yourself in a relaxing experince before you travel, enjoy a heartly meal, or simply unwind, our lounges ensure a relaxing start to your journey that reflects the outstanding Omani hospitality you will enjoy aboard our aircraft, all whilst preserving key elements of our deeprooted culture and heritage. Relax in our First and Business Class Lounges’ elegant environment and enjoy the very best in hospitality and service as you prepare for your flight. Our Bangkok lounge is designed for customers travelling in First or Business Class, and for those holding Gold and Silver Sindbad cards, and can be used and enjoyed at a minor cost. The Majan Lounge is open to Premium customers travelling on airlines operating from Muscat International Airport and for Oman Air passengers holding Gold and Silver Sindbad membership who are travelling in Economy Class, and can be used and enjoyed at a minor cost. Each lounge also has an experienced and professional team of customer service staff on hand to look after you before you board your flight.
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Oman Air News
New ground handling partnership scheduled for Omani airports Oman Air and Menzies Aviation recently took a major step toward forming a joint venture partnership to provide ground handling services at all airports across Oman. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding confirming their intention to work together, and they will now enter a period of due diligence and focus on regulatory requirements, with the aim of forming the joint venture within the last quarter of 2016. The move is the latest step by Oman Air towards reconfiguring its handling businesses, and Oman Air has expressed its pleasure to have signed the Memorandum of Understanding. Menzies Aviation is considered a highly professional, global company with a proven track record, and the partnership will enable Oman Air to access new technology, improve training, and achieve the highest standards with regard to ground handling operations.
Oman Air boosts Salalah flights for Khareef season Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, is to operate more flights than ever before to the southern city of Salalah during this summer’s Khareef season. The airline has increased frequencies to Salalah in previous years, but will this year offer an unprecedented number of seats to the increasingly popular destination, in response to rising demand. seats were offered by Oman Air on flights between Salalah and Dubai. In 2016, Oman Air will increase that number to 74 176 seats, which will be a capacity increase of 42%. The increased frequencies will be supported by a range of attractive special offers for customers travelling to Salalah from points throughout Oman Air’s growing international network. Previous offers on flights to Salalah have included ‘Two fly for the price of one’ tickets, short-term sales on Business Class and Economy Class fares, and a range of Economy Class promotional fares. The Khareef season runs from June to September and sees monsoon mists and rains sweep across the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The cool, damp weather attracts thousands of visitors every year, especially from more northern parts of the Gulf region, where summer temperatures can rise to over 50 degrees Celsius. Salalah, the principal city of Oman’s most southerly Governorate, Dhofar, has experienced major year-on-year growth in visitor numbers in recent times. Increasing numbers of travellers from the Gulf, the Far East and Europe are visiting the city and its surrounding region, which offers a unique and ancient culture, dramatic mountain backdrops and unspoiled tropical beaches.
Eleven flights a day will be operated between Salalah and Muscat, with a capacity increase of 15 000 seats compared to the previous year. In addition, the deployment of Boeing 737, Boeing 787 and Airbus 330 aircraft on the Salalah/Muscat/Salalah sectors will increase the availability of seats on the route.
As the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Air has repeatedly expressed its long-term commitment to supporting the economic development of Salalah and the Dhofar region. This includes the continuing expansion of its tourism sector. In addition to offering year-on-year increases in flight frequencies, Oman Air is a major sponsor of the Salalah Tourism Festival and has also worked in close partnership with OAMC (Oman Airports Management Company) to modernise and expand the city’s airport.
The Dubai/Salalah route will witness the operation of one daily flight in the months of July and August. Furthermore, from 1st September Oman Air will deploy Boeing 737s on the Salalah to Dubai route, replacing smaller Embraer 175 regional jets which are currently in use. This will enable increased numbers of customers from the UAE to enjoy both Oman Air’s outstanding passenger experience and the warm hospitality offered to visitors in Salalah. From January to December 2015, a record 52 274
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Oman Air News
Easy booking with Oman Air Holidays Oman Air Holidays has launched the first fully online holidays booking engine in Oman. The holidays’ division of the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman has unveiled a dynamic new website and booking system at www.omanairholidays.com. The booking service offers a range of holiday products, such as package holidays – including flights, hotels, transfer, tours and activities – and dynamic packages, which customers can build to suit their needs. The system also offers a wide range of individual travel products, such as flights and hotels, short holiday packages, and car rental. Customers can then choose the products and services that best suit their needs and budget. In addition to the flexibility and convenience it offers, omanairholidays.com currently features a wide range of special offers. Customers bound for Oman can choose from great value packages which include accommodation at the InterContinental Muscat, the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, or the Al Bustan Palace Hotel, or they can head inland for the Salalah Special and the Desert and Wadi Adventure.
Dubai Specials, Sindbad Members Exclusive Offer Zanzibar and Umrah packages each offer outstanding value. Omanairholidays.com has been launched following last year’s agreement between Oman Air and Rezgateway to develop a complete holiday reservation system. In addition to delivering expanded choice and convenience for customers, the system enables Oman Air to source products and services seamlessly from any provider in the world, via XML/web services. In addition, it allows the airline to distribute Omani products worldwide at the click of a button.
Special rates are available for Honeymoon Holidays, Golfing in Oman, and Oman by Design. Meanwhile the Muscat Sea and Land Tour, Salalah Special and Summer in Oman packages offer the opportunity to explore the country in more depth. Further afield,
A330s introduced on Oman Air’s Doha route Oman Air recently introduced its award-winning Airbus A330-200 aircraft to the hugely popular Muscat to Doha service. As from the 1st June last month, the A330s began operating every Sunday (WY670), Monday (WY670) and Tuesday (WY664) as part of the airline’s schedule of four daily flights to Qatar’s capital city. Oman Air’s upgrade of the selected flights from narrow-body aircraft to the spacious and luxurious A330s has been undertaken in response to increasing demand for flights between Muscat and Doha. The larger jets offer 20 business class seats and 196 economy class seats, enabling many more customers to fly between the two cities and access Oman Air’s rapidly expanding global network. When Oman Air first launched its MuscatDoha service in 1996, it offered three flights per week. Frequencies subsequently increased to seven flights per week and then 21 flights per week by the first quarter of 2015. The airline now offers 28 flights per week and in 2015, Oman Air carried 134 832 passengers on the route – which was an increase of 41% on the previous year. To date, Oman Air’s A330 fleet has been deployed primarily on long haul routes. However, the aircraft’s flexibility, capacity and comfort also make it ideal for high-demand, short haul operations. It provides an outstanding environment in which customers can enjoy Oman Air’s authentic hospitality and welcoming on-board service. The deployment of A330s on Oman Air’s Muscat-Doha service forms part of the airline’s current
ambitious fleet and network expansion plan. In addition to increasing the size of its fleet to 70 aircraft by 2020, Oman Air is unveiling a range of exciting new destinations, increased frequencies and expanded capacity on established routes, and improved connections at its home base of Muscat International Airport.
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On Board
In-Flight Entertainment Welcome to the world of Inflight Entertainment from Oman Air. Sit back, relax and travel in comfort with a specially curated selection of Western, Arabic and International movies, television & music - all to be enjoyed at your fingertips.
Movies Hollywood
Barbershop: The Next Cut
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Midnight Special
NEW ON-BOARD (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies Poison Pen
SILVER SCREEN CLASSICS Gigi
Mirrors To Windows: The Artist As Woman
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
The Divergent Series: Allegiant
The Jungle Book
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On Board Movies Hollywood BOX OFFICE FAVOURITES Daddy’s Home Everest In the Heart of the Sea Joy The Big Short The Revenant The Transporter: Re-fueled
Kung Fu Panda 3
How to be Single
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Cars Dark Knight Frozen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1 Rocky Something’s Gotta Give The Fugitive Titanic
The Finest Hours
The Intern
Movies International Swara Bhaskar won for Best Actress at the Silk Road International Film Festival for her spectacular performance in this heartwarming feature that delivers a powerful message about chasing one’s dreams irrespective of their past.
Nil Battey Sannata
TAMIL Irudhi Suttru Rajini Murugan
HINDI CLASSIC Aankhen Anamika Beta Dil
TELUGU Sardaar Gabbar Singh Subramanyam for Sale
BENGALI Asha Jaoar Majhe Gaariwala
Pavada
KANNADA Ram Leela Uppi 2
Ezgi Mola and Murat Yildirim are back and bigger than ever in this hilarious sequel. Efsun is now with the man of her dreams, but will she make it through the never-ending family drama to have a peaceful life with Sinan?
Kocan Kadar Konuş 2
HINDI NEW Chalk N Duster Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
MALAYALAM Ithu Thaanda Police TURKISH Bana Masal Anlatma Dügün Dernek 2 Hayat Öpücügü
Little Mountain Boy
And many more ... Please see the onscreen guide for your full entertainment lineup
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URDU Main Kukkoo Aur Woh Meri Awaz Suno PERSIAN Night Shift Risk of Acid Rain SINHALA Lantin Singho Pravegaya MARATHI Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai2 Poshter Girl
GERMAN Herbert
FESTIVAL FAVOURITES Adam El Clan
ITALIAN Io che amo solo te
FRENCH Les nouvelles aventures d’Aladin
On Board TV Western BUSINESS WORLDWIDE Shark Tank COMEDY Doctor Foster Life in Pieces The Grinder
Extreme Sailing Series
Downton Abbey
Simply Nigella
11.22.63
NOSTALGIA Fawlty Towers Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
DOCUTAINMENT Breathe: Yoga Saved My Life Crazy About Tiffany’s
TRAVEL & BEYOND Bazaar Open Skies Seven Wonders of the Muslim World Wildest Middle East
DISCOVERY CHANNEL How It’s Made Naked Speed Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman Wondernesia
BRITISH TV Alan Partridge’s Mid-Morning Matters Sherlock The Graham Norton Show Top Gear: The Races
DRAMA Bones Rosewood The Last Panthers
GLAMOUR In Louboutin’s Shoes Passion for Fashion Rachel Hunter’s Tour of Beauty Royal Jewellers
LIFESTYLE & SHOWBIZ Hollywood’s Best Film Directors Running Wild With Bear Grylls The Indian Dream Hotel
SPORT ICC World T20 2016 - The Highlights
MUSIC & ARTS The Last Lennon Interview
OLYMPIC FEATURES Gillette World Sport
HINDI Mission Sapne Yaar mera superstar
TAGALOG Must Date the Playboy
TV International Kapil Sharma is back with a bang, kick starting the hilarious and most awaited talk show of the year. Catch all six episodes featuring Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Yo Yo Honey Singh and more!
The Kapil Sharma Show
GERMAN Deutschland 83 Murder By The Lake
Charlie Chaplin
KANNADA Bappare Bhojana Chinnara Chillipilli Harateya Melaku Punch Kajjaya NON-VERBAL Hardy Collections URDU Joru Ka Ghulam Ooper Gori Ka Makaan Tonite with HSY TAMIL Ilayaraja Aayiram - Aarambam Pongal 2016 Koffee With DD
Chefs Table
Comedy Stars
Pillalu Pidugulu
And many more ... Please see the onscreen guide for your full entertainment lineup
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MALAYALAM Suryotsavam
BENGALI Didi no.1 Mirakkel Akkel Challenger MARATHI Aamhi Saare Khavayye Chala Hawa Yeu Dya TELUGU Boom Boom INDONESIAN D’sign Kelas International OK-Jek
On Board Audio Western The Ready Set
Gandalf All Is One One Is All
BWB
Dolls of Highland
Markus Schulz Watch the World
The Legendary Live Tapes 1978 1981 CD4 Turning Into Water
All Is One One Is All
Prince
Various Artists
Namaste Healing
Firminus Caron Twilight of the Middle Ages
Various Artists
Various Artists
dvsn
Green Room
Maybird
Audion
Huelgas Ensemble
Ultimate
On Your Feet SEPT 5TH
Billy Ocean Here You Are The Best of Billy Ocean CD1
Arbor Labor Union I Hear You
Weather Report
Love Letter for Fire
Kyle Craft
Lemonade
Thank You Deluxe
Sam Beam Jesca Hoop
Detour
Beyonce
Meghan Trainor
Empire Season 2
Cyndi Lauper
You Should Be Here
Sugar Symphony
Empire Cast
BWB
Cole Swindell
Chloe x Halle
I Will Be Nothing Without Your Love
Various Artists
Shostakovich The Complete Symphonies CD7
YoYo Ma The Silk Road Ensemble Sing Me Home
Audio International Various Artists
Jagjit Singh
Soulvibe
Various Artists
1920 London Bersinar
Bird Thongchai
Bird All Time Hits CD1
Various Artists Cabaret
Harjot
Chann Warga Single
Santhosh Narayanan Iraivi
Santhosh Narayanan
Various Artists
D Imman
Thaman S
Azhar
Wagah
Sarrainodu
Manithan
NR Raghunanthan Mr Mommaga
ParwaazLive In Singapore CD1 Rough Guide to a World of Psychedelia
Various Artists Zubaan
Louie Gonnie
Songs from the Black Cedar Hills
ADo
The Best of ADo
Ricky Hsiao
The Mystic World
Top One Project Top EP
SP Venkatesh
Veera Ranachandi
Radio Western & International WESTERN
INTERNATIONAL Oman Unlimited
Malayalam Chart Busters
Fusion
Melodi Garuda
Maestro
Pinoy Power Fatafati Hits
Cool Jazz
Sham On Board
Dance Club
Sandalwood Reloaded
Chennai Parade
Bollywood Masala
Golden Oldies
The Marathi Hits Tollywood Tadka
Urban Vibes
Sufi For The Soul Top Hitz Mando Blitz
Chill Out
Africana Beatz
Sinhalese Mix
And many more ... Please see the onscreen guide for your full entertainment lineup
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Sindbad Program Hello and welcome to Sindbad, the frequent flyer program of Oman Air. Whether you’re travelling on business or going on a holiday, join Sindbad today and make your journey with Oman Air even more rewarding.
Earn & Spend Sindbad Miles Sindbad membership earns you Sindbad miles both in the air and on the ground. Fly with Oman Air, our partner airlines or transact with any of our global network Partners and earn Sindbad miles. You can choose to spend your Sindbad miles for free flights, flight upgrades, exciting raffles, promotions and more.
Exclusive Privileges & Benefits Sindbad has three tiers to offer- Blue, Silver and Gold. The more you fly with Oman Air, the higher your Tier. As a Silver and Gold member, you earn additional privileges designed exclusively for you.
Sindbad Partners As a Sindbad member, you have the added benefit of earning extra miles as well as special offers from our global network of partners which include Hotel, Leisure and Lifestyle, Car rental, Telecommunication and Retail Partners.
Benefits and Privileges • • • • • • • •
Complimentary Airport Lounge Access Extra baggage allowance of up to 20 Kg Duty Free discounts of up to 10% discount on Oman Air In-flight Duty Free Check-in at Priority Counter Priority baggage handling Double miles on your first flight Bonus miles, discounts and special offers from Partners Buy, Gift and Share Miles
Pick a destination Let your Sindbad Miles take you there Earn miles for flights made up to 3 months prior to your enrolment. Join today by visiting Sindbad. omanair.com or ask your hostess for an enrolment form.
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