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It is a pleasure to offer you, our respected guests, the warmest of Oman Air welcomes as you board your flight. Oman Air is constantly working hard to make our services even more convenient. We are pleased to inform you, that the Oman Air mobile App, which we launched in May of this year, has been enhanced. It now also includes the Sindbad frequent flyer programme. On our new App, our Sindbad members can view membership mile balances and tier information, and update their membership information, among many other features. We have recently unveiled a new “Manage my Booking” feature on the Oman Air website, also. This enables you to make changes to your bookings online, and to process refunds should you have decided to change your travel plans. In the first month following the feature’s launch, more than 2 500 requests for booking changes have been received and processed online. “Manage my Booking” will become available on the Oman Air mobile App by the end of this month. And there is further good news for Sindbad members. The Muscat Duty Free Store has been launched on the Sindbad website (Sindbad.omanair.com). Members can spend miles to purchase Duty Free products online. There are over 900 products to choose from, ranging from phones and other electronic items, to chocolates, perfumes, jewellery and more. Products can be ordered online and collected when travelling into, or out of Muscat International airport. Elsewhere within the company, our current expansion programme continues apace. Oman Air’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner is getting closer to completion at the Boeing factory and is being prepared for delivery in the middle of next month from Seattle. This beautiful new aircraft represents an important step-change in air travel. It consumes less fuel, produces fewer emissions and creates less noise compared to any other similar-sized airliner. Crucially, however, the Boeing B787 offers an unparalleled guest experience, including cleaner onboard air quality, higher cabin pressure, greater natural light and a smoother ride. The Dreamliner will be a very special addition to Oman Air’s fleet and will operate first on routes to Frankfurt and Zurich. In the meantime, enjoy reading our on board magazine and allow me to thank you, once again, for your loyalty by flying with Oman Air. All of us are looking forward to welcoming you back very soon. On behalf of the more than 6 400 dedicated Oman Air colleagues,
M
with respectful regards,
Paul Gregorowitsch Chief Executive Officer
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Diary A wrap up of what festivals, events and sports are happening this month.
16 Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar Escape to East Africa!
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Shanghai Travel The best of ancient and modern Shanghai
Ras Al Jinz For the love of turtles…
22 Salalah Tourism Festival ‘Oman, the Country of Peace and Love’
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6 Oman Air’s inflight magazine is issued by :
Corporate Communications & Media Department - Oman Air P.O. Box 58, Muscat International Airport, Postal Code 111, Sultanate of Oman Tel: +968 24519616, Fax: +968 24510771 E-mail: wings@omanair.com Website:omanair.com
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Photographic Contributors
Ahmad Al Harthy Racing (www.marc-orme.co.uk) Extreme Sailing Series (www.extremesailingseries.com) GettyImages/Shutterstock/iStock Locarno Film Festival (www.pardolive.ch) Malaysia International Jewellery Fair (www.elite.com.my) Mohammed Awadh Alhadi Ba-Omar Museum Embankment Festival (www.frankfurt-tourismus.de) Oman Tourism/Salalah Tourism Festival Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Re-purposed Plastic Baskets (www.instructables.com) RideLondon Bicycle Ride (www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk) Salim Al Adi Singapore International Festival of Arts (www.sifa.sg) Sultanate of Oman Public Authority for Craft Industries (www.paci.gov.om) Venecio Datan/Times of Oman We The Fest Festival (www.wethefest.com)
Also… Omani Souvenirs Oman View Travel Guide Welcome Aboard
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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
8 Locarno Film Festival
Where: Locarno (near Zurich), Switzerland When: 5 August – 15 August What: Throughout its 67 year history, the Festival del film
Locarno has occupied a unique position in the landscape of major film festivals around the globe. Every August, the Swiss-Italian town of Locarno (which is just over two hours by road from Zurich), becomes the place where thousands of film fans and industry professionals come together to share their passion for cinema. The heart and soul of the festival is the town’s Renaissance Square, that accommodates up to 8 000 viewers every night.
Festivals Around the World Onam Harvest Festival
18 August – 28 August, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Esala Perahera Buddha ‘Tooth’ Festival
Singapore International Festival of Arts
Where: Singapore When: 6 August – 19 September What: ‘SIFA’ is seven weeks of great artistic experiences in Singapore,
say the organisers of this month’s festival. The theme, ‘Post Empires’, looks at how modern populations and communities live out their lives after surviving colonial regimes and dictatorships, and how they are adapting to an increasingly globalised world. The festival takes place at a selection of trendy venues around Singapore.
Museum Embankment Festival Where: Frankfurt, Germany When: 28 August – 30 August What: Many of Frankfurt’s museums and
entertainment venues can be found close to the southern banks of the city’s iconic River Main. And during the city’s famous Museum Embankment Festival this month, they will all come alive with exhibits, live entertainment, arts and crafts displays, and much more. This is one of the largest culture gatherings in Europe. Don’t miss out!
20 August – 30 August, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Rock en Seine Music Festival 28 August – 30 August, Paris, France
Diary
10 RideLondon Bicycle Ride Where: London, England When: 1 August What: The RideLondon FreeCycle bike ride is
a celebration of cycling, which gives cyclists of all abilities the chance to ride through traffic-free streets in central London. The planned eight-mile loop for this month will take in some of London’s most iconic sights, and anyone riding is free to stop and start, take photos and experience the fun and freedom of riding without worrying about the traffic!
‘We The Fest’ Music, Art, Fashion and Food Show Where: Parkir Timur Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia When: 9 August What: ‘We The Fest’ is described as a summer day
of music, art, fashion and food. The 2014 event was a massive success. This month’s event should be just as good, as it will once again include some award-winning international and local performers – and combine the best of mainstream and not-often-heard ‘underground’ music.
Malaysia International Jewellery Fair
Events Around the World Jakarta International Expo 4 August – 7 August, Jakarta, Indonesia
Shanghai Textile Show
26 August – 28 August, Shanghai, China
Notting Hill Carnival 29 August – 31 August, London, England
Where: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia When: 21 August – 24 August What: Visitors to this month’s Malaysia International Jewellery Fair will
be able to view a fantastic array of gold jewellery, silver jewellery, platinum jewellery, diamonds, pearls, gemstones, semi-precious stones, jewellery design equipment and tools, jewellery display and packaging materials, and much, much more.
Diary
12 Sprint Canoeing World Championships
Where: Milan, Italy When: 19 August – 23 August What: This month, you can watch
some of the world’s fittest and fastest canoeists battle it out on the water for this year’s Sprint Canoeing World Championships, which will take place on the artificial Idroscalo water sports lake in Milan. The event will serve as a qualifier for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, and some 4 000 people are expected to show up for the action – including paddlers, officials, coaches, team staff, and spectators.
‘Oman Air’ sets sail in the Extreme Sailing Series
Where: St Petersburg, Russia When: 20 August – 23 August What: The Neva River in the centre of St Petersburg will
be the scene for this month’s Extreme Sailing Series event. The river is surrounded by beautiful iconic buildings, and the narrow stadium race track (it is only 800 metres by 300 metres) will present the sailors with testing currents, and very shifty wind conditions – which can blow really hard when funneling down the river from the west. The sailing action should once again be very intense for the sailors – and very exciting for the spectators.
Ahmed Al Harthy: � Racing ahead in August!
Where: United Kingdom When: Throughout August What: This month will be a busy month for Omani motor-
racing star Ahmad Al Harthy and his Oman Racing Team. Their first event is part of the British Touring Car Series, and takes place at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk, England (8 – 9 August). Their second event is another British Touring Car event, this time at the very short, but very exciting Knockhill circuit in Scotland (22 – 23 August). Ahmed and his team also have a British GT Championship race at the Brands Hatch Circuit, just outside London (1 -2 August).
World Sports Badminton World Championships (10 August – 16 August, Jakarta, Indonesia) Ashes Cricket England/Australia (20 August – 24 August, The Oval, London, England) IAAF Athletics World Championships (22 August – 30 August, Beijing, China) British Superbike MotoGP F1 (28 August – 30 August, Silverstone, England) Rugby League Challenge Cup Final (29 August, Wembley Stadium, London, England)
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Omani Souvenirs
Woven Crafts
Weaving is something that is synonymous with Omani crafts and culture. Woven items like Al Karma palm frond containers, traditional baskets, and more recently, baskets made from re-purposed materials have all played a central role in the lives of the Omani people.
Traditional Date Palm Baskets
Basket weaving with date palm leaves has been practiced in the Sultanate for countless generations, and the craft reflects the strong relationship that Omanis have with the highly useful date palm. In fact, most Omani villagers still use baskets made of date palm leaves to collect and store dates. There are several stages involved in creating a basket – including harvesting the palm fronds, drying and immersing them in water to make them workable, the weaving process itself, and then the final assembly of the basket.
Re-purposed Plastic Baskets
Recently the age-old craft of basket weaving has been combined with various modern materials, like re-purposed, colourful plastic stripping that used for packaging, to produce baskets that are altogether practical, strong, and beautifully colourful.
Palm Frond Al Karma Containers
Al Karma palm frond containers have traditionally been used for carrying milk and other liquids, and are especially prominent in the Dhofar Governorate. They are made from woven date palm fronds and cured and stretched sheep or goat skin. Due to their attractiveness, they are often used nowadays as dĂŠcor items for home interiors.
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Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar: Escape to East Africa! Tanzania’s bustling city of Dar es Salaam and the offshore island paradise of Zanzibar represent East African travel at its best. Got some free time in your itinerary? Here’s what to experience when you’re here. Dar es Salaam Over the last century, Dar es Salaam has transformed itself from a quaint old fishing village into a thriving metropolis that is now Tanzania’s richest city. For tourists visiting places like Zanzibar Island, and some of the spectacular national parks dotted around Tanzania, ‘Dar’ is the common departure point. However, no true traveller can miss out on at least a few days in this grand East African city. It is a fantastic mix of African, Arab, Indian, and European influences, and it has developed into Tanzania’s muchloved arts, fashion, music, and film hub. It is also where luxury five-star hotels share city space with Dar es Salaam’s chaotic, but colourful streets. You have some free days in Dar es Salaam? Here are some ideas of what to do...
The Dar es Salaam city and harbour lit up at night.
Visit the markets: True travellers know that the best place to get a real experience of a city is at a local market. Dar es Salaam’s famous Kivukoni Fish Market is the perfect example, as is the ultra-busy (sometimes overwhelming) Kariakoo street market. Hang out at Coco Beach: This is the stretch of white-sand beach located on the Msasani Peninsula of Dar es Salaam. It’s where the local ‘cool crowd’ hang out, and often the venue for live music and beach parties. Get crafty: At the Mengwe Market, you can watch master woodcarvers and stone sculptors at work, and bargain for some of the best in Tanzanian-style souvenirs.
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Explore the National Museum: At the National Museum, next to the botanical gardens, there are exhibits of archaeological findings from around East Africa and Tanzania, a small auto exhibit, and a bicycle made entirely from wood! Explore Bongoyo Island: Bongoyo Island is a small island off Dar es Salaam’s northern coastline that makes for a wonderful day-trip. Snorkelling, lazing around on the beach, seafood lunches and sunsets are all part of the Bongoyo experience. Eat Nyama Choma: ‘Nyama Choma’ means roasted meat in Swahili. It’s somewhat of a national dish of Tanzania, and is best enjoyed with chilies, tomato and red onion. Drink Dar es Salaam street coffee: Coffee is Tanzania’s largest export crop. With this in mind, you can’t come to Dar es Salaam without enjoying a cup of strong, sweet black coffee, lovingly brewed by a local street vendor.
Learn about Dar es Salaam’s past and present at the National Museum.
Listen to Dar es Salaam’s live music: Dar has a thriving local music scene. It mostly features Swahili and Arab-influenced rhythms, western-style hip-hop, and a mixture of classic rumba and bongo beats. It’s a thrilling musical mixture, and it is at its best when performed live.
‘You can’t come to Dar es Salaam without enjoying a cup of strong, sweet, black coffee’
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Check Out Zanzibar Island is East Africa at its best.
Zanzibar Zanzibar, the famous ‘Spice Island’ of East Africa, is actually part of a larger archipelago that includes three main islands including Zanzibar itself, and then the additional Pemba Island, Latham Island, and Mafia Island. For centuries, Zanzibar was a key trading point for merchants and explorers from the Arabian Peninsula, India, and Asia. Now, it is a favourite spot for backpackers, eco-adventurers (like scuba divers, kitesurfers, and sea-kayakers), and an increasing number of travellers happy to simply sip cocktails by the pool and soak up the sun at one of the island’s luxury resorts. Zanzibar represents East Africa at its best: It is covered with quaint villages and small, fertile farms. There is greenery and vegetation everywhere and the air is thick with the aroma of Indian Ocean and spices. There are white sandy beaches surrounded by palm trees, coral reefs and tropical seas. There are secret streets to explore and brilliant photo opportunities at the famous old Stone Town. And all over the island, the cuisine is delicious. If you’ve found free time in your Zanzibar schedule, these are some experiences not to be missed… Visit Darajani Market: This is the main market in Stone Town. It’s mainly a food market, but there are also shops selling everything from sandals, to souvenirs, to cutlery, electronics, and much more. It’s a lively and entertaining place to visit. (Morning time is best to avoid the crowds).
exotic blend of people, markets, music, food, colourful dress, East African art, and language, Stone Town represents the soul of Zanzibar. And getting lost in Stone Town’s maze of old-style streets is a time-honoured travel tradition! Do a dolphin safari: Seeing a pod of dolphins in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, from the deck of a traditional East African dhow, is an experience you’ll remember forever. See rare monkeys at Jozani Forest: Jozani Forest, which is a short drive inland from Stone Town, is home to the rare (and threatened) Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkeys, which are found nowhere else in the world. Feast on Zanzibar cuisine: Zanzibar’s cuisine has been inspired and influenced by hundreds of years of contact with Arab, Indian and European cultures. ‘Mishkaki’ grilled meat or chicken skewers are one of the island’s favourites. Drink sugar cane juice: Ginger tea, coffee, and coconut milk are Zanzibar classics. But nothing beats drinking a glass of sugar cane juice, which has been freshly squeezed by a juice vendor – often from a juice press attached to the back of a bicycle!
‘With its exotic blend of people, markets, music, food, colourful dress, East African art and Simply watch the sunset: After language, Stone Town watching the sun go down in Zanzibar, from the comfort of the deck of one of is the soul of the island’s luxury resorts, you won’t be in Zanzibar’ a hurry to go home.
Explore Stone Town: Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar City. The town’s many historical buildings (which are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site) reflect the diversity of Arab, Indian, and European culture that have influenced it over many years. Now, with its
Discover the peace and quiet of Nungwi Beach: Nungwi Beach and its resort are tucked away on the more inaccessible north-western tip of Zanzibar. For peace and quiet – and a beautiful beach to spend the day on – head north to Nungwi.
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Travel Token: Tinga Tinga Painting
Tinga Tinga is a painting style that developed in Dar es Salaam and later spread throughout East Africa. They are the most widely represented forms of tourist-oriented art in the region, and are traditionally done on hardboard or canvas, using brightly-coloured paints. Each one typically features Africa’s ‘Big 5’ wild animals, village scenes, or surreal-like African sunsets as their subjects.
Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania): City Facts Oman Air flies ten times a week between Muscat – Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam Visa Requirements: Tourism visa requirements vary according to nationality. (For some nationalities, no visa is required for stays of less than three months). Consult your travel agent, or visit tanzaniaconsul.com for more info. Languages: Alongside English, Swahili is one of the two official languages of Tanzania. Many local residents also speak French and/or Italian. Currency: The Tanzanian Shilling is the official currency of Tanzania, where 1 Shilling is subdivided into 100 senti (cents in English). 1 Tanzania Shilling (TZS) = 0.00019 Omani Rial (OMR) 1 Tanzania Shilling (TZS) = 0.00048 United States Dollar (USD) (July 2015)
Zanzibar and Oman? Towards the end of the 1600’s (most historic sources say 1698), as a result of the increasingly frequent trade with Oman, the island of Zanzibar fell under the control of the Sultanate of Oman. And for almost two centuries after this, Oman’s ruling elite controlled the island. The height of Omani-Arab rule came during the reign of Seyyid Said Bin Sultan Al Busaid, the Sultan who in 1840 moved his capital from Muscat, in Oman, to Stone Town.
The old Arab Fort in Zanzibar Town was built by the Omanis in the early 1700s.
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Salalah Tourism Festival: ‘Oman, the Country of Peace and Love’ The Salalah Tourism Festival began last month on the 23 July, which coincided with Oman’s Renaissance Day, the date that commemorates His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s first day of reign in 1970. It has once again been a great success, and should remain just that until it concludes on the 31 August.
The Salalah Tourism Festival nights come alive with regular firework displays.
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It doesn’t take much to imagine why, during the summer season, large numbers of Arabian Peninsula and Gulf region residents shift themselves off to Dhofar, in southern Oman. Around beginning of July, Dhofar and the southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula receive the first touch of light rain, cool temperatures and fog of the ‘Khareef’ Monsoon Season. At this time, the Dhofar hills begin to bloom in lush greenery and colourful foliage, many of the mountain streams in the area begin to overflow, and many of the areas birds and animals begin to show themselves. The Khareef turns Dhofar into a blissful tropical-like paradise, and the steady increase in numbers of people that visit Dhofar at this time are evidence of this.
‘The festival is a wonderful addition to the blissful Dhofar Khareef season’
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Check In ‘Oman, the Country of Peace and Love’ The Khareef season is a joyous time, and an occasion for much celebration in Dhofar. But the Salalah Tourism Festival is at the heart of it, and it is fitting that the organisers of this year’s festival chose the theme ‘Oman, the Country of Peace and Love’.
Throughout the festival, visitors get the chance to sample some of the best in Omani cuisine, as well as a range of international inspired dishes. This is all finished off with fireworks on many of the Salalah Tourism Festival nights. It all makes for a truly unforgettable time.
The majority of the festival’s events are being held at Salalah’s recreation centres and the city’s attractive Samahram Tourism Village, as well as Al Maghsal beach, the Al Hisn Souq and around the nearby wilayats of Taqa and Mirbat. As always, the festival is a spectacular and colourful highlight of Omani culture and society. It is also a wonderful addition to the blissful Dhofar Khareef season conditions.
Bright Future for Dhofar: The New Salalah Airport
So what’s on offer at this year’s festival? For starters, visitors can expect a showcase of Omani crafts and craftsmen and women, regular live music events, traditional Omani dancers and other performers, sports events, various shows and events that cater to children, and a huge range of interesting Omani and international goods available for sale from the various vendors taking part in the festival. And then there’s the food, of course!
The festival is a celebration of the Omani people, and the best of Oman’s heritage and culture.
The brand new Salalah airport, which recently received a ‘soft opening’ in mid-June, when an Oman Air plane became the first aircraft to touch down on its runway, is a welcome addition to this year’s Khareef season, and the Salalah Tourism Festival. The project includes a passenger terminal spread over 65 000 square metres, capable of accommodating two million passengers per annum (in the future, it will be able to handle six million passengers). Oman Air will be operating an increased number of flights between Muscat and Salalah during Khareef, in order to accommodate the large number of visitors keen on travelling to the area. It is also scheduled to start receiving a number of international flights from Doha, Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi through various airlines, in the future.
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For travellers from outside Dhofar, the constant fog and light drizzle are a welcome contrast to the rest of Oman’s hot summer temperatures.
It doesn’t take much to imagine why large numbers of people come to Dhofar for a break during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
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‘The Khareef season is a joyous time, and an occasion for much celebration in Dhofar’
The wet weather of the Khareef turns Dhofar into a blissful, tropical-like paradise.
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During the Khareef, the Dhofar hills bloom in lush greenery and colourful foliage.
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Travel Snapshot
Ancient and Modern: The Shanghai Travel Experience Shanghai is at once both a fascinating relic of ancient Chinese culture, filled with historical wonders; and an uber-modern metropolis that has progress and the future on its mind. Here are some of Shanghai’s most spectacular ancient and modern highlights that every traveller should experience. Shanghai: The Ancient Zhujiajiao Water Town: There are several ancient water towns near Shanghai. One of the classics is the 1 700 year-old Zhujiajiao Town, where ancient tea houses, stone bridges, shop fronts and eateries can still be seen along the riverbanks. Tea: According to legend, tea was first discovered by the Chinese emperor and herbalist, Shennong, almost 5 000 years ago. These days, there are around 3 000 teahouses in Shanghai, and by visiting one and taking part in a tea ceremony, you become part of an esteemed Shanghai tradition that has been going on for thousands of years. Yuyuan Garden: The Yuyuan garden and temple in Old Shanghai was created around 500 years ago. Besides the exquisitely preserved garden, you can also find examples of centuries-old furniture, calligraphy and painting works by famous Chinese artists, sculptures, and a central pond filled with hundreds of goldfish. Shanghai’s Old City: The Old City of Shanghai’s main wall (only part of which remains today), was originally built to protect the town from raiding pirates during the Ming Dynasty. These days, it is one of the most picturesque parts of Shanghai, with its winding streets, ancient temple gardens, and tea houses. Shanghai: The Modern Shanghai Maglev Train: The ultimate symbol of modern Shanghai is the Maglev Train, which travels up to 430 km/hour. Not only is a trip on the Maglev comfortable, affordable,
and accompanied by trained ‘flight’ attendants (just like an airplane), but there are also on-board LCD screens which indicate your current speed – so you can take a selfie pic when you reach 430 km/hour! Shanghai Skyscrapers: Shanghai’s 468 metre-high Oriental Pearl Tower; the 420 metre-high Jin Mao Tower; the 492 metre-high Shanghai World Financial Center; and the spectacular 632 metre-high Shanghai Tower (to be opened to the public in 2015), represent the city’s unrelenting capacity for progress. Of course, the views from all of them are unforgettable. Nanjing Road: Nanjing Road, which is linked to Shanghai’s famous Peoples Square, is the pulsating heart of the city, and where over one million people eat, shop, work, drink, and relax every day. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium: An ‘underwater journey’ around the SOA is an ocean exploration and education not to be missed, especially for families with kids.
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Must See: Oman
Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Latitude: 22° 25' 18.228" N Longitude: 59° 50' 7.1016" E Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve is located just south of the coastal city of Sur. It is a nesting site for thousands of Green Turtles, and a favourite destination for eco-aware tourists.
The Sea of Oman is home to five of the seven species of sea turtles: The Green Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, and Olive Ridley Turtle, as well as the Leatherback Turtle (which is found in Omani waters but does not nest on the Sultanate’s shoreline).
During summer, approximately 13 000 Green Turtles nest on the beaches around Ras Al Jinz. The area is of vital importance to the global survival of this endangered species.
The reserve also has a hotel which is a great place for a one-night stop as it enables you to watch turtles at dawn and again at night.
During the summer months, visitors can observe Green Turtles dragging themselves out of the water and up the beach, using their flippers to dig holes in which they lay their eggs, and then returning back to the sea. It then takes about 55 days for the eggs to hatch.
The coastline around Ras Al Jinz has spectacular bays and rock formations, and often – calm, crystal clear waters.
Unfortunately, many of the world’s turtles are being increasingly threatened by human activities. One of the greatest of these threats are inshore fishing nets, which block the turtles’ access to nesting beaches.
After the baby turtles hatch (at night, or very early in the morning), they set out on the most dangerous journey of their lives – avoiding crabs, birds and other predators on the lookout for an easy meal – and make their way across the sandy shore to the safety of the sea.
Scientists say that most of the Green Turtles that migrate to Ras Al Jinz annually, do so from the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and the waters off the coastline of Somalia.
Along with being a safehaven for turtles, Ras Al Jinz is also a sanctuary for various species of birds and marine life, and important mangrove stands in the lagoon inlet.
The total reserve area includes the Ras al Jinz National Nature Reserve, and the Ras Al Hadd National Scenic Reserve. In total, the area covers 120 square kilometres of beaches, sea, rocky shoreline, and lagoon waters.
The reserve also includes archaeological sites dating back to the Copper Age. With connections to the Indus Valley, Zanzibar, East Africa, Iran and Iraq, these ancient sites add to our understanding of 5 000 years of contact across the Indian Ocean.
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Body & Mind
Healthy Indoor Air: Happy Lungs, Healthy Body! High quality breathing habits ensure high quality health. But how do you know you’re breathing the best quality air – especially when you’re indoors? You can’t see it, but you know it’s there. And you know that every second of every day, the air you breathe gives you life, vitality and good health. We often think that poor air quality and pollution will only affect us outside. But if the quality of air we breathe indoors is sub-standard, it can leave us feeling sick and uncomfortable – or even worse, it can leave us with a life-threatening condition. While organisations like the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) say serious health problems related to poor indoor air quality are rare, they point out that some simple, precautionary steps will go a long way to ensure that you’re benefitting from breathing in the best… Breathing the Best? But what is ‘good quality’ air anyway? According to the AIHA organisation, it should be: • Free from contaminants like dust and airborne particles • Free from bad odours • Free from chemical vapours • Free from airborne mould In addition, the air temperature and humidity should be at comfortable levels, and there should always be a freshly flowing supply through adequate ventilation. If you can ensure all of these, your lungs will be happier, and you and your body will be healthier. Indoor Air Pollution: Your Health Health experts say that physical effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure, or possibly many years later.
Symptoms of some conditions, like asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever may show up soon after someone is exposed to certain indoor air pollutants. Other immediate effects, which may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. More long-term effects, which may be revealed only years after the initial exposure, can include certain respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer. Healthy Indoor Air: Four essential rules for establishing a healthy indoor air space 1. Keep it clean: Over a period of many years, harmful chemicals and allergens can accumulate to unsafe levels in an indoor environment, which can then affect air quality – and your health. Obviously, keeping an indoor space clean (and keeping potentially harmful substances out) can go a long way in preventing this.
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Body & Mind 2. Be radon aware: Radon is a radioactive gas that is the by-product of the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. Experts say that radon can be a source of air pollution in any buildings – old and new – as it can move up through the ground and into a building’s structures through cracks and holes in the foundation. That’s the potentially bad news. The good news is that testing for radon is easy, it takes only a few minutes, and if you do discover a problem, reducing radon levels to safe amounts is a low cost procedure.
Freshen up, the natural way:
Some health experts suggest that due to the synthetic chemical fragrances in laundry products and air fresheners (some of which can trigger asthma and allergies, along with other breathing problems), indoor environments should, as much as possible, be ‘refreshed’ using natural alternatives.
3. Make it a no-smoking zone: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-smokers breathe in the same toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke as smokers do. This smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals, and can therefore be a major contributor of poor quality air – and poor quality health. 4. Keep a healthy level of humidity: Keeping humidity around 30% to 50% (using a dehumidifier and/or an air conditioner) helps keep dust mites, mould, and various other allergens under control.
‘We often think that poor air quality and pollution will only affect us outside’
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Business & Tech
Exposed! Getting the best media exposure for your brand and business Just starting out? With a little bit of public relations know-how, small business owners and entrepreneurs can generate far-reaching and surprisingly effective media exposure for their new business, brand or product offering. It’s been said that the essence of great media exposure is ensuring that you have a great idea, with a great story, and then getting the right people to showcase it. The more successful you can be at this, the more successful your business will be, too. Having one of your business’s new products or services featured in a magazine, on the web, or on radio or TV remains one of the most reliable ways to build consumer awareness and confidence for it. Simply put, good quality media exposure will spread your story and message further and more successfully. Some of the many benefits include: •
‘Good quality media exposure can be a very costeffective way of marketing and advertising’
It will enable you to target the exact market and business demographic you need.
• It can help you get your message across to a much wider audience. • It is a potentially very cost-effective (often free) way of marketing and advertising. • It can establish your business as ‘legitimate’ and give you more credibility. • Good media exposure can also help sway public opinion, or change it for the better. With this in mind, marketing experts often ask, what is your target market’s current state of mind; and what, from your point of view, is their desired state of mind? So how do you ensure the above benefits for your business? Here are the golden rules… 1. Select and target the media that your customers are using: What are your target audience reading, watching, and what online sites do they visit? Finding out exactly which media publications and platforms your target market associates with should be your number one priority for obtaining more, and better quality exposure.
Business & Tech 2. Identify industry influencers that can help spread your story: In traditional media outlets like magazines, newspapers, and radio, there are often individual contacts that control media coverage. These are the people that can be very helpful for ensuring your product and your story gets more exposure. In the online world especially, making contact with ‘influencers’ who have the power to influence the purchasing decisions of large numbers of your target market – people like bloggers, authors, local celebrities etc – can be extremely effective.
Plan a media ‘campaign’ instead of a once-off media event:
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Marketing experts say that an effective and sustained media campaign can include many things. But most importantly, it should: • Be clear about its objectives – what exactly does it need to achieve? 3. Optimise your visual content offerings: A • Have an appropriate budget. press release about your product or your business is an essential piece of work when it comes to • Evaluate and select the media media exposure. But even better, is having a channels most suited to its objective. selection of good quality visual-based media like • Create and provide relevant and high-res images, videos, and infographics, that your compelling content for these target media publications will appreciate for adding media channels and publications. depth to their stories. • Have a measurable (and hopefully 4. Build a solid media network: Good marketers make successful) Return of a habit of constantly building their network of journalists, Investment (ROI). authors, publishers, bloggers and editors who write about the topics that are relevant to their business. And you should too, so when you do have a story or product you’d like to pitch to them, you’ll know exactly what kind of content they need (and in what specifications). And hopefully, they’ll have learned enough about the benefits of your products to give them a great review.
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Oman View
Salim Al Adi Salim Al Adi is an Omani photographer, who is fueled by his passion to showcase Oman’s beauty to the world. Surrounded by gorgeous scenes in his hometown, Quriyat, Salim enjoyed photography since an early age. In 2012 he got the chance of owning his first DSLR camera, and in the short space of time since then, he has been visiting all his favourite places in Oman and creating some spectacular images that have already won numerous awards both locally and internationally. As a full-time pilot, Salim is able to find the perfect balance between his two professions. His breath-taking birds-eyeview shots of different Omani scenery are popular in many exhibitions and galleries. More of his work can be viewed via his facebook page facebook.com/ ALAdiPhotography or on Instagram @ SalimAlAdi and he can be contacted via salimaladi@gmail.com
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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: • 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
Sultanate of Oman: Fact Sheet
• Cultural sites including forts, ancient tombs and prehistoric cities • Desert safaris and adventures • A large variety of markets and souqs • Museums and art galleries
Area
: 3 09 500 km2
Population (2014) : 4 000 345
• Trekking, rock climbing and caving adventures
(1 767 396 expatriates)
• Horse and camel racing events • Golf courses • Various festivals, including the popular Muscat Festival and Salalah Festival. There are currently four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Sultanate of Oman • Aflaj Irrigation Systems • Frankincense Trail • Archaeological Sites of Bat • Bahla Fort
Language
: Arabic (official) English (widely spoken)
Capital
: Muscat
Local Time
: GMT +4
Currency
: 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.
5 baiza
100 baiza
1/2 Rial
1 Rial
5 Rials
10 Rials
10 baiza 25 baiza
50 baiza
20 Rials
50 Rials
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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, stress-free airport check-ins. 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.
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-to-door transfers, you can now travel in comfort and style with Oman Air.
Welcome Aboard Oman Air Lounges If you want to catch up on work before you travel, enjoy a snack, or simply unwind, our lounges ensure a relaxing start to your journey that reflects the outstanding hospitality you will enjoy aboard our aircraft, all whilst preserving key elements of Omani 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 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 team of customer service staff on hand to look after your every need.
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.
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 greatvalue, flexible pricing means that you can choose the level of connectivity you want, whenever you fly on our Airbus A330 Fully Connected flights.
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Oman Air News
Donations to help rebuild Nepal after earthquake Following the devastating Nepal earthquake on 25th April this year, Oman Air has risen to the challenge of both meeting the needs of those affected, and maintaining operations on one of its key flagship routes. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, all of Oman Air’s staff were reported as being safe. Despite the desperate circumstances, all of Oman Air’s staff based at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport responded with vigour. Oman Air’s workforce, throughout the carrier’s international network, had expressed a strong desire to assist in meeting the needs of those affected by the earthquake. An appeal was launched to raise funds, and around RO 10,000 was raised.
Boeing services to support 787 Dreamliner introduction Recently, Boeing announced that Oman Air has contracted for a suite of services to support the upcoming entry into service of its 787 Dreamliners and to ensure ongoing efficiency and cost savings for its fleet. Boeing will support Oman Air’s 787s with its Component Services (formerly Rotables Exchange) program, Loadable Software Airplane Parts service and Airplane Health Management. With the Component Services program, Oman Air will have access to a Boeing-managed, dedicated pool of high-value, missioncritical parts, enabling the airline to greatly reduce their inventory management costs while improving component availability. Through the Loadable Software Airplane Parts service, Boeing will handle software configuration and management tasks associated with operating the 787. Airplane Health Management will allow Oman Air to minimize maintenance delays and schedule disruptions by continuously monitoring airplane performance while the airplane is in flight, notifying ground crews in advance of potential maintenance issues. Together, these services will help Oman Air minimize the time and cost of maintenance while increasing airplane availability.
Boeing Commercial Aviation Services offers the industry’s largest portfolio of services including 24-hour customer support; pilot and crew training; aftermarket parts; airplane maintenance, engineering and modifications; and information services to enable airlines and leasing companies to operate more efficiently.
Oman Air News
Sindbad Mobile App for Frequent Fliers
Oman Air has announced the launch of its latest initiative designed to enhance the travel experience of their frequent fliers even further: the Sindbad mobile app for Android and iPhone.
The Sindbad app is an addition to the existing Oman Air mobile app and comes packed with features to provide a more seamless travel experience for guests. The app enables members to check their Sindbad miles balance, claim any missing miles, request for redemptions, keep track of their Tier progress, see their upcoming bookings on Oman Air, check their Family account, and much more directly from their mobile phones. Members can also store and display their Sindbad membership card on their mobile app and use it to get their privileges and benefits at the airport, all from the palm of their hand. Customers who are not yet members of Sindbad can now enroll via the app and start earning miles right away.
Omani Pilot Recruitment Programme expanded Following a huge response to its current recruitment drive, Oman Air is expanding opportunities for Omani nationals to become pilots with the airline. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman is now accepting applications from graduates with no prior flight training, as well as those who already have experience. Once accepted, Omani citizens with no prior flying experience or qualification will be enrolled in the Cadet Pilot training programme, the study cost of which will be covered 100% by Oman Air. They will undergo their initial flight training in an Approved Training Organization selected by the airline, followed by a type rated course on successful completion of their initial flight training. Successful applicants who have funded their own flight training prior to approaching Oman Air are known as Ab Initio Pilots: Licensed Pilots with no previous airline experience and/or Type Rating. They will be enrolled as second officers on a Type Rating course in one of the Airlines narrow body aircraft, depending on company requirements. Ab Initio Pilot candidates should be Omani citizens aged under 36 years old. Their academic qualifications must include a minimum average grade of 60% in Secondary school diploma with a minimum of 60% in English, mathematics and physics. Furthermore, they should have achieved a minimum of Level 4 ICAO English language
proficiency, and have at least 200 hours flight time, including 100 hours solo. In addition, Ab Initio Pilot candidates should note that Oman Air will only accept EASA CPL/IR with EASA Frozen ATPL for candidates who start their flight training on or after 01 September 2015. Recruitment in advance of the start of individual training programs will be announced in the local media, as will documentary requirements and entry criteria. Prospective candidates will be invited to apply at that time.
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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.