Following Thesiger’s footsteps… p26

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Oman and Lithuania to explore new trade frontiers p12

Love teaches acceptance and tolerance p46

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Some stories you may not reportBy Adarsh Madhavan

As a scribe, what do you do when you have a story

in your hands and are unable to report it?

It was a question I did not have an answer to. What

can I answer? Quite often people come and argue

on different facets of journalism with me. I tend to

keep mum because such discussions never get us

anywhere. I never had the ability to explain certain

things about journalism to them and because of

such a handicap I would often tie my tongue down

and not allow it to lash out, which is in my nature.

Silence often breeds contempt and people who tend

to provoke me, expecting a bitter reaction would

go empty handed because I don’t fall for the bait

nowadays.

Journalism. It depends on the context of what you

are talking about. It depends from where you are

talking about. It depends on who you are talking

about. But, this man who asked me the query on

why I couldn’t work on a story that had so much of

relevance to the present context still did not elicit a

proper answer from me.

When I was asked this question by this irritated

member of the public who claimed that he had a

fantastic lead I was forced to keep mum because

of reasons best known to me. I remained silent

because I knew such conversations never get

anywhere. People often engage in great debate with

me on the issue of journalism and although I agree

that everyone has their own point, it is pointless to

debate the same with me because it is irrelevant

from where I come.

We were sitting in a smoky restaurant and he was

defiantly puffing smoke onto my face trying to get me

to do something on what he was revealing to me.

I had recently gone to India and we were in one of

these joints that is somewhat of a favourite hub for

people with loads of dough. Now, although I didn’t

belong to that category, I still couldn’t resist going

because somewhere within me there was still a

longing for ‘breaking news’. Although I was no longer

in that cadre of scribes that were regular news editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

hounds, there still beat within me a heart that longed

to take the pen like a sword and slash down injustice

with a stroke.

But, I couldn’t bear to admit to this obnoxious man

before me that although he was giving me a fantastic

lead, it was not going to take me anywhere. I had hung

up my boots in that arena and I was not even in that

vicinity. Life has passed me by in that department and

I was no longer in the reckoning. But, since a common

friend insisted that I meet this man who was loaded

with some news, I just couldn’t resist. So I faked it.

I pretended to listen to him as a full-fledged scribe and

I even took down notes. But I was stumped when he

asked me one direct question: when was I going to

publish this and where? I was stumped, but I tried to

play along, stating that I need to verify facts and also

check on other sources.

“What other sources? What facts?” he said, raising his

voice. “My dear kid, I am the source. I have the facts.

You will not get any of these facts from anywhere else.

He (our common friend) said you were a good scribe.

Well, if you are one, you would have realised that you

are sitting on a bomb of a story!”

I nodded quietly. Then, I told him very softly that I

may not be able to do the story. The man stared at

me through the smoke and then suddenly slapped the

table. “What?! Are you gypping me? You bloody fake,

you bloody coward, you don’t have the guts to do this?

Then why did you meet me; waste my time?”

Listen, it is not that easy. I cannot just shoot off a story

just because you told me about it. There is a process;

there is a method; it will take time and even then I am

not sure that I will be able to do it…

The man got up and hurled abuses at me as

everyone’s attention turned to our table. He huffed and

puffed and slammed out of the room while I sat there,

empty, crestfallen and down. Neither did I have a

story, nor, did I have the money to foot that expensive

bill.

All a

bout

X,

Y &

Z

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Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC

Black & White

Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos

Office location: Hatat House A, II Floor, Suite No: 212, Wadi Adai

Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496

Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com

Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Printed at Oman Printers

Xclusive

Editor-in-chief Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Managing editor Priya Arunkumar

Work editor Adarsh Madhavan

Editorial Khadija Al Zadjali

Design & production Beneek Siraj

Photography Haitham Al Balushi

Advt. & marketing Shalet D'Souza

Conte

nts

Most often when you feel drowsy

in the afternoon, just take a quick

walk to wash your face, then get a

nice cool drink of water, which is

necessary as your body needs fluids

to make it function properly.

Dr Said bin Hilal Al Busaid, partner

at Al Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Co

gives a whole new perspective of

love in a proper setting of values.

52

46

12 Oman and Lithuania

to explore new trade

frontiers

When you hit the lows...

Love teaches acceptance and tolerance

In her recent visit to Oman, Boleta

Senkiene met with top Omani

officials to expand Oman-Lithuanian

ties in the political, economical and

cultural arenas

Following Thesiger’s footsteps…26Ahmed bin Haroub bin Hamed Al Mahruqi is planning to cross the Empty Quarter, from Bidiyah to Shannah, a distance

of approximately 184kms, in 14days from March 1 onwards

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Yesha (issue 64) is spot on with her comments on fire

walking. I have walked on fire at one of these fire walking

seminars (but not in Oman) and I have also come out

unscathed, but the initial fear I had is akin to what Yesha

mentions in her article. I was also quite apprehensive to

step on the burning coals until a senior colleague simply

said the magic words: “You are not going to know if it burns

or not until you walk on it!” And I did. And the sense of

elation, achievement etc that I experience then remains

even today. It changed my life.

Abdullah Al Zadjali, Ruwi

No need to walk on fire

Life-changing experience

Readers

colu

mn

Mail your views and opinions at

editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

What we have to understand is that fire walk is a mere

metaphor for all the problems we face and how we face or

deal with these issues. You don’t really have to walk on fire

to prove yourself competent to tackle the problem facing

you. Like walking on fire, you have got to face the problem

or challenge and climb over it. Whenever you are faced

with a problem, understand one thing: there is no way

but to deal with it. How you deal with it matters. You have

to attack the problem in full faith and you should not be

beguiled by doubt or sink in a sea of panic. This is where

the literal walking on fire comes to play. Look at how it is:

you have got some burning coals before you and you are

left with no choice but to walk over it. When you walk over

it, you realise that it is not that bad after all. In fact, most

of us walk on fire without even getting their foot singed.

That brings about a confidence in them and they are then

propelled on a path from which there is no going back. But,

you don’t really have to walk on fire to elevate yourself to a

new confidence level. Just attack your problem in full faith

and you would have ‘walked on fire’! All the best!

Sharanya Gupta, Seeb

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Laughter is indeed the best medicine (issue 64). At its

worst, it is a splendid placebo for many ailments. I, for

one, wholly believe in the theory and practice of laughter.

Life is filled with moments of dullness, boredom, pain and

sorrow and we encounter gross injustices in our path. In

such a scenario, laughter is not just the best, but the only

medicine. Laugh your blues away!

And I don’t believe that ‘he who laughs last, laughs last’.

Even if they did, they are still laughing. Look at the better

side and continue laughing!

Parvez Shah, Al Khuwair

Why fear when you can run? I read the article, ‘Run for

your life’ (issue 64) with great interest. A variety of physical

illnesses, coupled with depression had put me on the

backseat. And I have now started walking in the evenings.

I have never exercised in my life so I am not able to run

or do any of the usual exercises, but, I am slowly getting

and feeling better. I will also try to run but I am yet to get

into the rhythm. I will slowly pace myself and I know I want

to do it because the initial results are themselves quite

encouraging.

Sashindran. M, Muscat

Fire walk changed my life

Laughter the best medicine

I am going to run

I was delighted, to say the least, to read about the story

on walking on fire (‘Walk on fire’ issue 64). Having

participated in a ‘fire walk’ at one of the first few fire

walking events in Oman, I can confidently say that the

episode changed me completely. I was always a shy,

hesitant and introverted man who was not progressing

on the work front. Although I knew that I had it within

me, I could never overcome my fear in many things. I

was a social misfit and my career also looked in serious

trouble. Luckily at this stage the company that I worked

for decided to hold a fire walking seminar and although I

really did not want to do it, I signed up for the walk. And

it is not easy to put in words the sheer trauma I went

through before the walk. I really did not have the guts to

walk but somehow the trainer cajoled me to do it. The

rest, as they say, was history! I am a man, yet, tears

poured out of my eyes after the walk and the medics ran

to me thinking I was in pain. Little could I convince them

that it was tears of joy! Of being able to finally walk over a

fear and conquering it. No, I don’t mean things changed

immediately, but that was the spark for a change and

soon I found myself getting confident by the day.

Today I am the head of the department and I have 12

staff under me. I have also walked six times on fire and

each time I felt a layer of negativity getting peeled off from

me. I will vouch for the fire walk with my life. For, it indeed

changed my life!

Syed Hassan, Al Khuwair

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Men r

ead

All work

and no play

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Maybe they should but who is telling them?

They live by the adage that they should spend time on

only useful matters. It is them that we address here.

Why should you be under the constant belief that adults

should not play; adults should not fool around; adults

should not be goofy?

Is there some such rule, and if so, please show us the

page and the lines that dictate this law? There isn’t. It

could only be peer pressure that stops us from lightening

things up even if we return home from a hard day’s

work. Somehow, we have been told that only the serious

ones win and in life you have to be pretty serious about

everything. You are so right!

But, please give it a break! If you have been serious for

eight hours in a day, take at least an hour or two to relax,

getting outside, engaging in your hobby, playing with your

children or generally goofing around…

The benefits accrued from engaging in lighthearted play

are actually plenty. You will be better off mentally and

physically after spending some time at play.

The benefits include relief from stress, good physical

health, better self esteem and increasing confidence all of

which helps your performance at work too.

HOW DOES PLAY REDUCE STRESS?

Playing is about forgetting all of your serious stuff; your

trial and tribulations at work; your woes and worries. It is

not that you can be blind to it. But for the moment, let the

focus be on play.

HOW DOES SMILING AND LAUGHING HELP?

If you tend to smile and laugh without any reason, they

might book you into a mental asylum. Or, so, they say.

But, why? What is the crime in smiling and laughing (as

long as you are not directing your smiles and laughter

at someone)? Even if others do not understand why you

smile or laugh, is there any reason not to? These are all

unwritten and unwanted laws laid down upon us by our

peers. Surely, we will laugh only when something tickles

our humour or laughter buds. So, if you find something

funny, go ahead and laugh your lungs out. Just indulging

in a bit of play and enjoyment will bring that little dose

of laughter out of you. Laughter, as they say helps relax

your muscles, helps you breathe better and increase

blood flow.

HOW DOES IT HELP IMPROVE YOUR SELF ESTEEM?

Confidence does not come out of the blue. It has to be

cultivated properly and then tended to in the right manner.

When you play, you relax and when you are relaxed, your

balance is shifted to the positive from where confidence

stems. Being a confident man can bring a lot of changes

in your well being.

IS THERE A JOY IN DOING SMALL THINGS?

Of course! If you are able to do all those small and little

things that you like, then you will find yourself elevated

into a better mood. Think about what made you laugh as

a child and indulge in it. If you have forgotten how to play,

watch your kids (or any kids). Play comes naturally to

them and it is time that you learn from them.

Lately, Jack’s colleagues have been finding him to be rather dull. Studious, yes and work was also being done, but a certain amount of dullness seems to have set in him.Yes, Jack is dull because it is all work and no play for him. Who have we got to blame but ourselves for this sad state of our affairs? While there are those who waste time and indulge in only play and not work, today, in this competitive world, the majority

are hard core, serious, ‘workers’. They have no time for play. They are serious, industrious people who value time and would only work, work, work and work. And

what is wrong with that? It is because they work that this world moves. But, shouldn’t they deserve a break? Shouldn’t they take some time out of this ‘work only’ mode and

press the ‘play’ mode?

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The Republic of Lithuania, a country in Northern Europe,

and the largest of the three Baltic States, had made

inroads into Oman through the ICT sector. Three years

ago, IT companies from Lithuania attended the Comex

exhibition and since then they have been working

closely with Oman’s Information Technology Authority

(ITA), which is responsible for implementing national IT

infrastructural projects and supervising all projects related

to implementation of the Digital Oman Strategy.

Since then the Lithuanian officials have visited Oman and

the Sultanate has also become the first AGCC country

to set up a consulate in Lithuania. Both countries are

keen to expand their ties in the political, economical and

cultural arenas.

A quick review on all these aspects was given by Boleta

Senkiene, who recently took over as honorary consul

of Oman in Lithuania. In an interview with the Times

of Oman she made it clear that Lithuania was ready to

offer expertise and cooperation in sectors such as ICT,

agriculture, medical and education. “We are a strong

economy and proud that we have achieved a lot within

23 years of gaining independence,” she told the TOI.

Lithuania was the first Soviet Republic to declare the

restoration of independent State of Lithuania in March,

1990.

In her recent visit to Oman, Senkiene met with officials

from the ministries of education, health and transport and

communication and also the General Reserve Fund and

the Higher Education Council.

Senkiene noted how Lithuania entered Oman through

the ICT sector and after attending the Comex for the first

time, they followed up the visit, tied up with ITA and the

rest was history.

Lithuania has the largest ICT industry in the Baltic States

with an outstanding potential both for local as well as

foreign expanding businesses. It has world class ICT

infrastructure and is among the leading countries in

ICT in Europe and the world. The IT services has been

among the fastest growing industries in Lithuania during

the past few years. The growth of Lithuanian IT services

exports was three times higher than total services exports

growth in 2012.While the number of persons employed

in IT services was 6,800 in 2006, it has almost doubled

to 12,000 in 2011. Such substantial increase was mainly

the result of growing foreign investments in Lithuanian IT

sector, statistics from Lithuania reveal.

An ITA delegation from Oman is expected to visit

Lithuania soon and the culmination of the visit will be a tie

up with its Lithuanian counterpart.

The Lithuanian minister of agriculture is also expected to

visit Oman soon. Senkiene was confident that Lithuania

could also offer expertise in the agricultural arena.

Another crucial area was medical tourism, which

Lithuania is famous for. Lithuania was also planning to

have a medical centre in Oman, Senkiene revealed.

Since Lithuania is seen as among the fastest growing

economies in the European Union, ranked 17th in the

world in the Ease of Doing Business Index, this was

enough reason for Oman to look into investing in their

country, Senkiene opined. Lithuania could also be a hub

for Oman in the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and the

country itself, she added, noting that Oman could also be

used as a gateway for Lithuania to the AGCC, Iran and

Mena region.

Thanks for Oman’s excellent relations with other countries

and with a sound infrastructure in place, it offered a good

scope for re-export.

Senkiene was also quick to praise the stellar efforts of

Anees Issa Al Zadjali, honorary counsul of Lithuania in

Oman, who she said had not only opened the doors for

Lithuania but also took the relationship to newer heights.

She also thanked Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi,

secretary general at the foreign ministry for extending

cooperation.

(*) Information Communication Technology

Oman and Lithuania to explore new trade frontiers

The country with the largest ICT (*) industry in the Baltic States, which has already made inroads into this sector in Oman, is now exploring further trade aspects that

would bring the two nations closer.

Om

an w

atc

h

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Boleta Senkiene

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If the mountain does not come…By Adarsh Madhavan

O

ff th

e wall

adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com

There was a time when on the brink of tipping myself

off the edge, I would quietly head for the mountains

that were calling out to me. Get into a car with a friend

and trek up one of the jebels. Yeah, just like that. I

would go tell it on the mountain!

Trek up a solitary path, where the only thing alive

would be the little pebbles tumbling down the side, or

a shrub bending slightly in the wind. Oh yeah, there

would be eagles soaring above, stray donkeys, and

perhaps other solitary souls like us, who would not

mind stepping off the path not because they wanted to

avoid us, but just to keep up with their rhythm.

I would do nothing. Sit in a quiet top corner and

stare in the distance. The wind would move in from

somewhere, enter me and take a bit of me, disappear

and then reappear. That Houdini of a wind!

I never saw it, but always felt it. The wind was my

faith. Then and now I was in a perpetual mental

quandary. A kind of illness within that I strived to down

but ended up slipping over, like it were a banana peel.

I had no clue as to how this disease grew or who

sowed the seeds, but it swelled. The mountains were

an escape; a land from which this disease hid itself.

And when the wind washed my soul, I felt awake and

I became what I often searched for. But I couldn’t

remain there, cleansing my soul forever. I had work, I

had a home, I had those who cared to whom I had to

return. I had to get back to the clang and the batter of

life where I was like a home dog thrown to the streets,

hungry for a morsel and ill equipped to even find a

bone. I stifled those whines and slung along the dark

trails of my life, my tail tucked in. Naturally, I fought

and hurt and trampled down on the innocents too, but

always tried to make amends of the many mistakes I

made.

But, each time, I went, up the mountain, each time it was

like extending my life further. I sipped that unseen elixir and

came back not just refreshed but flushed with pleasure.

The balance in my life was restored. Pride would be back in

place, all in good measure and everything was alright with

life, all’s well! Up there the cobwebs would dissolve and my

general apathy would turn tail at a mere gust of wind.

I discovered so many things in my mountain treks, so many

facets of life, so much wonder, each corner springing up

a pleasant surprise and I used to drink in all that, let that

breeze soak my bones with an undecipherable bliss.

God, I wonder where all that went and how that aura

disappeared. I know. I haven’t been heading there lately.

In fact, I haven’t headed there in years and I feel now I

cannot even put one foot over the other and even head to

a spot where I could be alone and myself. The life I have

led in these last few years have stultified my being and my

useless self limps alongside my amputated spirit. Often

when I reflect, I try to decipher the reason why I slipped

down the edge, without even realising it. In fact, I did not

know I fell for I never felt any pain when I hit the bottom. It

is only when I pick up the pieces of a soul that never took

off and soared that I realise where I am and the abyss I had

fallen into.

And this is not the end because I know it is a bottomless

pit and this realisation has set in probably because my

sense was caught on the edge of an invisible ledge and I

am falling again…I wish someone would catch me, break

the further fall or at least throw in a rope… I know I have

to climb back and head for the mountain again for the

mountain is not going to come to me.

But, I hear it calling my name…

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Oman Medical College, Bowshar campus recently

organised a White Coat Ceremony for B.Pharm.

final-year students. DrDarwish bin Saif Al Moharbi,

undersecretary for administrative and financial affairs,

ministry of health was the chief guest for the ceremony.

Khulood Mohammed Rashid Al Araimi, member, board

of directors, OMC, Greta Holz, American ambassador

and Ph. Ahmed Said Al Harbi, chairman Oman

Pharmaceutical Society were also present during the

ceremony. Dr Diana S. Beattie, dean pre-medicine and

pharmacy programmes, OMC, gave a speech. The

keynote address was given by Prof (Dr) Chandrakanth

Kokate, vice chancellor of KLEUniversity, India. The talks

were followed by a formal 'robing' ceremony. A total of

67 students received white coats marking their entry into

practical training in pharmacy. They were cloaked by

dean Dr Diana S. Beattie and associate dean Dr Yaseen

Moosa Malallah Al- Lawatia. Dr Mohamed Hamadan Al

Rubaie, directorate of drugs and pharmaceutical affairs

administered the oath of a pharmacist to the students

after they received their white coats. Sumaiya Mohamed

Aslam Hassan Al Balushi on behalf of all the final year

students expressed gratitude to the parents and teachers.

The OMC also honoured the institutions supporting

internships of the pharmacy students. The programme

ended with a vote of thanks by Dr P. Jayasekhar,

professor and chair pharmacy programme at OMC.

Oman Medical College holds White Coat ceremony for pharmacy students

The U.A.E’s renowned international fashion brand, Fine

Fair recently announced the launch of 15 family fashion

stores across Oman. Five out of these 15 stores will

target major locations in Oman like Al Khuwair, Al Khood

and Al Seeb in Muscat along with Barka and Sohar. The

group will be investing $10 million in their expansion

plans for Oman. Since the opening of their first store

in Ajman, U.A.E back in 2001, Fine Fair has become

popular across the region for its offerings of fine quality

at affordable prices. Speaking at the launch, Ismayael

Rawther, Ceo and chairman of Fine Fair said, “Fine Fair

has long been known for its affordable family format.

Oman presents the perfect opportunity for us with its

quality and price conscious customers who now will be

served better through our 15 store network. Muscat is one

of the top 20 emerging markets in the world and we have

five stores in the pipeline for the city alone. While catering

to the specific fashion needs of the Omani customers,

we also get a chance to contribute to the community by

creating more job opportunities and helping the local

economy as much as possible.”

Fine Fair opens in Oman

Word

pre

ss

The countdown is now on for Gallops of Oman, the Sultanate’s

first ever horsemanship challenge, during a 180km ride across

the Sharqiyah desert. The opening ceremony is due to launch

on February 17 at Al Rakah Camp, near the village of El

Mintrib. Brigadier Abdulrazak Alshawarzi, commander of the

Royal Cavalry and Ceo of Gallops of Oman said, “Gallops of

Oman is a prestigious event, organised with the blessing of His

Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. It is the first event of its kind

to be held in Oman and as a nation, we are proud of our strong

historical link with the Arabian horse. Everyone attending the

opening ceremony will be able to see for themselves some of

the finest bred Arabian horses and also riders from countries

such as France, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Oman, who have

established their expertise in equestrian sports including

Gallops of Oman set to launch

endurance and racing. With 110 horses, the start

line will be a spectacular sight, not to be missed. At

the end of the fifth and final stage, the horses and

riders will cross the finish line at Qudaymah.” From

February 17 to 21, the Gallops of Oman will bring

together 110 adventure-seeking riders from across

the globe, who have signed up to ride the length

of Sharqiyah Sands and appreciate the stamina

and power of the Arabian horses that they will be

riding. In total, 22 teams of five people, including two

Omani teams made up of male and female riders will

set off on a journey of a lifetime.

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Throughout 16 years of TSC

existence in Oman, Sultan Center

provided its loyal shoppers an

exquisite shopping experience by

furnishing state of the art service,

quality and exclusive products.The

year 2013 was a successful and

eventful year for The Sultan Center.

It witnessed the launch of major retail

initiatives where customers were

the center of attention; that aimed at

the continuous delivery of excellent

customer service, focus on variety,

quality and freshness of products,

celebrating seasonal trends; making

TSC everyone’s favourite shopping

destination.

According to Fawaz Diab, chief

commercial officer, TSC, “The

year 2014 will be the ignition of an

increased focus on building up the

retail chain’s image as an exclusive

one-stop shop, which caters for all

tastes and needs.

“This focus will be translated in up

scaling our products variety and

services throughout our different

operating formats of service stores

in Qurum and Azaiba, reaching to

our wholesale centers at Al Khoud

and Amerat; in addition to our

community serving stores in Qurayat

and Sumail; to avail our customers

what they really need by creating an

unforgettable shopping experience”,

he says.

“Today we are closer to our

customers through social media

networks. We listen and interact with

our customers through social media

channels on Facebook, Twitter and

Instagram. This is aligned with our

core principles to give the utmost

value to our customers,” explains

Diab.

The TSC Experience

The late Alfred D’Cruz, the first

Indian sub-editor of the Times of

India, Mumbai in 1947, and a stalwart

of the Times Group, for 40 years,

was honoured posthumously with the

Laxmidas Borkar Memorial Award

for Journalism in 2013 by the Bori

Development Trust, Goa.

The award, instituted in memory

of eminent journalist, the late

Laxmidas Borkar, was presented

during the well-attended Bori Utsav

celebrations, at the Narayan Temple

Hall, Ponda in Goa, India, recently.

Sunil, son of the late Alfred D’Cruz,

who is based in Muscat, received the

award on his father’s behalf.

Way back in 1947, Alfred D’Cruz

was hand-picked by the then British

Editor, Sir Francis Low, at a time

whenEnglishmen were at the editorial

desk. His headline "India wakes up

to a new life" adorned the front page

of the Times of India, Mumbai when

India gained Independence.

Besides editing countless

newspapers and bringing out the

daily edition of the Times of India,

Mumbai, Late Alfred D’Cruz, who

passed away on June 1 last year,

co-authored the book Saligao: Focus

on a Picturesque Goan Village,

brought out during the centenary

celebrations of Mae de Deus church

in 1973, the only church with Gothic

architecture in Goa. In 2012, Alfred

D’Cruz was honoured posthumously

with the Lifetime Achievement Award

for Excellence inJournalism by the

Journalist Association of India (JAI)

in New Delhi.

Born on November 23, 1921, Alfred

D’Cruz contributed to the enrichment

in the field of journalism for 65 years

from 1947 to 2012 and is known

by the newspaper fraternity as the

‘Eternal Newsman’.

Alfred D’Cruz was also the News

Editor of The Sunday Observer,

Mumbai and the Assistant Editor of

The Kuwait Times.

The ‘Eternal Newsman’ honoured with top journalism award

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Ahlibank has launched an exciting program to tickle

customers’ taste buds. ‘Al Maida’, which means the

“Feast” in Arabic, is set to be the best dining programme

in Oman. Ahli Bank’s announcement is yet another

testament of the bank’s journey towards launching

customer centric products and services.

With the partner network of over 100 plus dining outlets

spread across the Sultanate, the customers’ can enjoy

exciting discounts up to 30 per cent when using their Ahli

Bank credit or debit cards to settle their dining bills. The

discounts are valid till this December 31 for use as many

times with no vouchers or coupons needed.

CB Ganesh, deputy Ceo banking group at Ahlibank, said:

“We are committed to provide our valued customers an

exceptional experience through the launch of various

value added products and services. We are sure that

our customer will welcome the usage of Al Maida Mobile

application to refer to the dining offer instead of carrying a

bulky vouchers and coupons book”.

Ahlibank launches Unique Dining Programme

DHL, announced the appointment of Ali Thabet, as the new country manager

for DHL Express Oman overseeing the strategic development of one of

DHL Express’ key markets in the MENA region. Nour Suliman, Ceo, DHL

Express Middle East and North Africa commented on the appointment, “Our

team has grown rapidly since we started operations in Oman over 30 years

ago continuously focussed over the years on delivering innovative express

solutions and high quality services to our customers. Today, we are pleased

to welcome Ali Thabet to the DHL Express Oman Management Team. I am

confident that his extensive industry experience will contribute highly to the

growth of our business in Oman. In his role as country manager, Ali will ensure

that DHL continues to deliver on our promise of excellence to our customers.”

DHL express Oman new country manager

The 2014 Honda Accord, has been named the “2014

Green Car of the Year®” by Green Car Journal. The

award recognises the class-leading environmental

performance of the Accord family of vehicles, including

the fuel-efficient and low emissions Accord four cylinder

and V-6 Coupe and Sedan. 2014 Green Car of the

Year® jurors selected the Accord as the winning model

for many reasons, not the least of which is its ability to

offer an efficient choice for a wide range of buyers, from

those seeking better fuel efficiency in a conventionally

powered model to those desiring the milestone efficiency

of a world-class car. In addition to the “Green Car of the

Year” honor, the Accord was earlier honored as one of

Green Car Journal’s ‘Top 5 Green Cars for 2014’ and

additionally earned the magazine’s ‘Green Car Product

of Excellence’ distinction. The 2014 Accord lineup

features Honda’s innovative Earth Dreams™ Technology

powertrains, including Honda’s next-generation 2.4-liter,

direct-injected 4-cylinder engine with continuously

variable transmission or 6-speed manual transmission.

Fuel efficiency is the best ever for Accord in the EPA

Midsize class, with 4-cylinder models earning a 36 mpg

highway EPA rating2 and the V-6 models garnering a 34

mpg highway EPA rating2.

Honda Accord named “2014 Green Car of the Year”

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In 2013, the company sold around 1,575,500 automobiles

worldwide, 8.3 percent more than in 2012. Audi sales

increased by more than 100,000 units for the fourth

consecutive year. Major growth drivers over the past year

were Audi’s three biggest export markets, all of which

reported double-digit growth: with China up 21.2 percent,

the United States up 13.5 percent, and the UK up 14.9

percent. In Europe and China, the four rings again led the

premium segment in 2013 as the top-selling brand. Audi

concluded the year with a 18.4 percent growth to around

130,700 global deliveries in December, increasing sales

in all regions of the world compared to the same month of

2012.

“We set an important milestone for Audi in the past year:

We achieved our intermediate strategic goal of 1.5 million

deliveries two years earlier than planned, and in fact

comfortably exceeded it,” says Rupert Stadler, chairman

of the board of management at Audi AG.

Audi: more than 1.57 million deliveries in 2013

To mark Earth Hour 2014, the

Environment Society of Oman

(ESO) is challenging budding

artists to create unique art work

for a poster themed ‘Our earth,

our hour’ that highlights the simple

every day changes that can make

a big difference to the environment

by saving energy. From January

8, Wednesday until January 29,

Wednesday, designers can submit

their artwork and win the chance

for their design to become the main

icon for this year’s campaign that will

be displayed across the country to

promote Earth Hour 2014 and win

exciting prizes along the way.

The competition offers people the

opportunity to use their imagination

to express their appreciation for

Oman’s natural habitat and take part

in the global challenge to conserve

resources for the welfare of the

planet.

Earth Hour 2014 will take place on

March 29 as individuals, communities

and organisations around the world

pledge their support for energy

conservation and green activities

through their yearly campaign ‘I will,

if you will’.

‘Our earth, our hour’ inspires creativity with design competition

General Automotive Company, the

official distributors for Mitsubishi in

Oman, organised a desert adventure for

Pajero owners and enthusiasts between

January 3rd and 4th, giving them a taste

of an Arabian desert in the vehicle best

designed to handle the challenge – the

Mitsubishi Pajero. This was the first of

three Team Pajero adventures to take

place, with the next desert excursion

scheduled for January 17 and the last

on January 31. All Mitsubishi Pajero

owners in the Sultanate are invited to register for the upcoming trips at the Mitsubishi showroom in Athaiba.

Commenting on the event Mark Tomlinson, the general manager of General Automotive Company, said: “We organise

these excursions to the desert so that our customers and their families get the opportunity to fully test the capabilities

of the Pajero in a safe, controlled and fun environment. The Team Pajero Adventure has received a terrific response

every time it is conducted with an ever increasing number of Pajero owners taking part.”

Mitsubishi organises team Pajero adventure

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Nearly one year after its launch,

the Canter Narrow Cab models

from Fuso Trucks have proven to

be extremely popular in the market

and have seen unprecedented

demand from companies in search

for cost efficient commercial city

transportation. Fuso Trucks are

represented in Oman by General

Automotive Company. Commenting

on the widespread popularity

amongst commercial operators

for the Fuso Narrow Cab Canter,

Mark Tomlinson, general manager

of General Automotive Company

said, “With the Narrow Cab Canter,

Fuso made one of the worlds most

advanced, efficient and powerful

light-duty trucks much more

comfortable to drive within the

confines of the city. In fact, since its

introduction at last year’s ‘The Big

Popularity of Fuso ‘Narrow Cab’ Canter grows

Pankaj Khimji, director, Khimji Ramdas, proved to be a

persuasive auctioneer as he helped raise OMR46,699 for

an exclusively designed special edition timepiece, created

from the Chopard design studio, at a charity auction event

held at The Chedi Muscat in November. This combined

initiative of the Khimji’s Watches and Chopard leadership

team resulted in the creation of a bespoke Happy Sport

timepiece for Oman for the purpose of raising funds

for a well-deserved community program. The Chopard

Happy Sport special edition timepiece, which is unique

and only one of its kind, has a beautifully handcrafted

engraved Omani Khanjar in white gold and moving

diamond, emerald, and ruby elements, representing

Oman’s national colors. Dr Mohammed Redha bin

Hassan bin Suleiman, chairman of the Association for

the Welfare of the Handicapped Children (AWHC) said:

“We are delighted that the event was such a success.

We value our continuing relationship with Chopard and

Khimji’s Watches. The children will truly benefit from more

patronage and we thank all those involved.”

Anil Khimji, director, Khimji Ramdas adds, “The cause

of the AWHC has always been close to us. Creating a

bespoke special edition timepiece to be auctioned at an

exclusive event helped us raise a meaningful amount to

this cause. I would like to thank Chopard and all our well

wishers in making this event a success.”

Khimji’s Watches raises OMR46,699 at charity auction

The new free Wi-Fi ‘Piggybacking’ service

from Nawras has been honoured with two

awards at the 2013 Global Cristal Awards,

part of the 13th annual Cristal Festival

held recently in the French ski resort of

Courchevel. Nawras struck gold in the

highly coveted ‘Future is Now’ category

and won bronze in the ‘Media’ section as

the ‘Piggybacking’ campaign was rewarded

for the best use of mobile technology.

Usama Al Saifi, Nawras Senior Campaign

Supervisor, said, “Nawras is offering customers with a

free wireless solution to help them stay connected. We

understand that customers will try to find an open Wi-Fi

connection wherever they are and we have

introduced multiple connections to share

existing wireless services to provide a free

service. This is part of offering creative

communications in the Sultanate and we

hope that customers enjoy the service.”

Nawras Piggybacking allows customers to

connect to a free WiFi network by providing

additional open signals from each modem

to create a hotspot. Customers can connect

to the free WiFi network by selecting

‘NawrasWiFi’, found at the top of the available networks

list, and logging in to the service to enjoy fast broadband

from Nawras for free.

Show’, the Narrow Cab Canter has

truly taken the market by storm. Its

popularity is due to the attractive

styling, comfortable interior and class

leading performance, coupled with a

low cost of ownership and a narrow

profile that allows for easy access

along tight city streets.”

Nawras Free Wi-Fi celebrates double win at 2013 Global Cristal Awards

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National Bank of Oman (NBO) announced that it will

revamp its Small Business Unit (SBU) in a bid to extend

support to Oman’s SME sector. The bank will launch

specific segment offerings under the Tijarati Banking Unit,

a specialised department which will focus on financial

and non-financial services for SMEs, to fully cater to the

diversity within the segment, and offer efficient, targeted

support to customers. The Small Business Unit will

now offer a comprehensive range of products including

collateral backed and collateral free offerings.

Moosa Masoud Al Jadidi, deputy general manager and

acting head of retail and private banking at NBO said:

“At NBO we understand the importance of SMEs in

developing a strong and diversified economy for Oman,

and see entrepreneurs as the leading business figures

and employers of the future. Our approach is designed

to empower and encourage entrepreneurship in a bid

to create employment. We take a holistic approach

to supporting entrepreneurs and SMEs, which is not

restricted to lending but also offering mentoring through

all stages of establishing their business, and the services

and products we offer truly reflect our understanding of

the SME segment”

National Bank of Oman revamps Small Business Unit

Omran recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) with Oman Telecommunications Company

(Omantel) to construct its new headquarters in the Oman

Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) Precinct.

The MoU signing was held at Omantel’s head office and

was signed by Omran’s Ceo, Eng. Wael bin Ahmed Al

Lawati, and Dr Amer Awadh Al Rawas, Ceo of Omantel.

The MoU appoints Omran as master developer for the

entire project, assigning responsibility for procuring the

necessary design and contracting consultancies and

providing management services during construction.

The state-of-the-art Omantel headquarters will comprise

approximately 40,000 square meters of built-up area

as well as parking for more than 1,200 vehicles.

The proposed project will also incorporate several

environmental initiatives throughout its lifecycle to meet

the globally recognised voluntary Leadership in Energy

and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria set by the US

Green Building Council.

Omran and Omantel sign MoU

Oman Road Safety Association

(ORSA), the first and only registered

non-governmental road safety

organisation under the umbrella of

the ministry of social development,

recently participated in an awareness

activity on road safety - organised by

‘Risks of Bicycles’ project - talking

topics of seat belts, child restraints,

speed management and the

importance of usage of helmets for

motorcyclists in Wilayat Sur under

the auspices of Sheikh Mohammed

bin Hamed Al Masroori, member of

the State Council.

During her lecture on road safety

awareness, Shaima Murtadha

Al Lawati, Oman Road Safety

Association Ceo stated the

objectives of the association and

its diverse range of activities. She

also emphasised on the role of

the community in leveraging and

activating partnerships between the

Oman Road Safety Association participates

association and general public to

further educate individuals on traffic

etiquette and practices.

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Oman Oasis Water Company recently held an event

to celebrate winning the ‘His Majesty’s Cup for Best

Factories in 2013’ award. The event, held at the Oman

Oasis Water factory, was attended by the company Ceo

and a number of senior executives and employees.

About 48 companies participated in the 2013 Best

Factories contest and Ziyad Mohammed Al Zubair, board

member of The Zubair Corporation was on hand to pick

up the HM Cup award on behalf of Oman Oasis Water

Company. Initiated in 1991, the ministry of commerce and

industry has been organising the competition annually

to commemorate His Majesty the Sultan’s declaration of

the years 1991 and 1992 as Years of Industry. Speaking

on the occasion, N. Janardhan, chief operating officer –

manufacturing sector, The Zubair Corporation said, “To

win this prestigious award for the second time is a great

honour, and adds to the earlier success for the Oman

Oasis Water Company in the Shield Award in 2010 and

2011”. N.S.S. Subramanian, general manager of Oman

Oasis Water Company added, “This is another milestone

achieved by our team and a prestigious moment in our

journey. It is a dream come true for all of us to receive

the highest recognition once again. The team has been

taking these challenges year after year and consistently

they are delivering value and innovation. These awards

give our organisation confidence and motivation to work

better and continue to deliver consistent results”.

Oman Oasis Water Company celebrates second win in His Majesty’s Cup

Oman Oil Marketing Company (omanoil) has

launched a Corporate Code of Ethics to further instill

its values of integrity and transparency amongst its

employees. Having achieved a decade of pioneering

performance in the oil and gas industry, the company

marks the beginning of its next ten-year journey with

a strengthened promise to sustain ethical business

practices as it continues to grow. The new guidebook

was introduced by Assila bint Zaher Al Harthy, Oman Oil

Marketing Company board member, at a special launch

ceremony held at omanoil’s headquarters.

“Our success over the last 10 years has been built

Omanoil launches Code of Ethics

on a foundation of personal and professional integrity,”

said omanoil Ceo, Engr. Omar bin Ahmed Salim

Qatan. “We uphold the highest standard of corporate

governance, going over-and-beyond simply complying

with requirements. We also share a holistic belief in ethical

business practices with our employees, suppliers and

partners who are passionate about serving this great nation

with integrity.”

The Second Oman International Plastics, Rubber &

Packaging Industry Exhibition 2014 – 2nd OMAN PLAST

2014 – was held at the Oman International Exhibition

Centre, recently.

The three-day event, which was inaugurated by Hilal

bin Hamad Al Hasani, chief executive officer of the

Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), was

organised by Silver Star Corporation L.L.C.

The OMAN PLAST 2014, in its second edition,

showcased the latest technology and machineries used

in manufacturing of plastics, rubber, packaging and

petrochemicals. It was an ideal platform for Oman and

its neighbouring states to source new technology and

products. As the petrochemical industry is one of the

main components of the Omani economy, the event

proved to give great impetus to further diversify its

growth, a press note said.

P.D. Nath, managing director, Silver Star, explained that

the event was perfectly timed for the continuing boom in

Oman’s plastics, rubber, packaging and petrochemical

industry. Bahrain, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman,

the United Arab Emirates and the United States of

America were the participating countries.

Oman Plast 2014 – perfectly timed

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European Motors has announced

the launch of its new website www.

europeanmotors.om; that plays

host to a new localized website

for Peugeot (www.peugeot.om) in

Oman. These websites have been

designed to match the brand’s

international standards in terms of

design and aesthetics while at the

same time promoting easy navigation

and effortless access to information

on both European Motors and the

multiple product lines offered; making

it even easier for customers in Oman

to access and experience the brands.

“It has always been our top priority

to provide our customers in the

Sultanate excellent products and

services at exceptional value.

Beginning from the vehicle purchase

experience, through to the ongoing

vehicle maintenance, our team

constantly strives to deliver and an

outstanding ownership experience for

our valued customers; now that very

same experience has been taken

a step further in the digital realm,”

Gurdeep Singh Multani, brand

manager for Peugeot in Oman said.

Dedicated website for Peugeot launched in Oman

In an effort aimed at extending a helping hand to the

children afflicted with cancer, Jotun Paints has supported

National Association for Cancer Awareness (NACA)’s Dar

Al Hanan Centre for the third year in a row 2011 – 2013.

The agenda this year was to not only collect money but

also to involve children in activities and to let them feel

important by way of helping them earn. Jotun helped

them earn money to support not only their but many other

families during their treatments. Under the supervision

of professional art teachers the cancer patients (age two

to 10) painted some magnificent and colorful paintings

using their hands. These painting were then sold to the

corporates and well-wishers. Mahira Saqib, assistant

marketing manager said that “we are happy to be a part

of such activity, The idea behind was to not only support

the organisation financially but also giving the children

hope of doing something more than just being sick and

treated’. ‘The contribution of Jotun Paints is a continuation

of the cooperation we started with NACA in 2011. We

donated OMR5000 in 2011 and OMR5000 in 2012. This

year too with the support of some of our dealers and

well-wishers, we have collected OMR5000.” said Andreas

Stolt-Nielsen, sales and marketing manager in Jotun.

“We feel that corporate social responsibility should not

be coerced; it is a voluntary decision that every company

must make on its own to support these non-profitable

organizations, and we hope that many organisations

will take efforts to support causes in future,” said Bjorn

Skjelby, general m anager, Jotun Paints Oman LLC.

Jotun support to NACA

Sharaf DG has launched a slew of services under its

technical services division DG Help. These services are

unique and have the stamp of exemplary quality which

is not seen in the market. DG Help provides computer

and mobile phone setup and repair services. In the

near future DG Help will provide onsite services like

TV/Home Theater system installation, relocation and

troubleshooting requirements. DG Help will also launch

special IT solutions for SMB (Small Medium Sized

Businesses). Commenting on the range of services Nilesh

Khalkho said “Every customer has a Mobile/Smartphone/

Tablet these days and use them for entertainment,

personal and official work. On the one hand companies

are launching new models in mobiles and tablets every

other day. On the other hand customers want to always

use the latest model and the latest applications. This

is where DG Help’s expert services come into play

assisting customers to easily move from one model to

another, install and upgrade software and enjoy features

of the product. Currently DG Help offers both in warranty

and out of warranty repair services to customers in

Oman. Customers can also safe guard their electronic

products by purchasing extended warranty on mobiles/

smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops. Currently

two year and three year extended warranty packages are

offered to customers.

DG Help – a one of a kind service in Oman!

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You know your age has passed the half¬way

house and it is all downhill from now on when:

People tell you to take it easy, slow down, you are

not getting any younger, lean back a bit - and you

hate them for saying it. Everyone has advice on

cutting out various foods. You never hear enough

of it as they babble on about salt, sugar, coffee,

tea, fried foods, cigarettes ...oh go away and leave

me alone.

You actually read those "I am John's liver" type of

articles in the magazines.

Your hypochondria gallops around like a young

colt and every symptom you read about or see on

TV you know you have it, no doubt at all.

You actually have memories and talk about the

good old days.

All the young people suddenly get very busy when

you say, `Let me tell you when I was your age...'.

You cannot believe what things cost as compared

to your childhood and you can't wait to share the

comparison if you can get someone to stay long

enough to listen.

All the job ads are for people old enough to be

your son.

Ads on herbal medicines and what they do to your

system fascinate you.

Someone sees you jogging and tells you it is

dangerous at your age.

Gravity seems to be winning hands down because

now life is one big sag.

You wish your metabolism wasn't such a lazy sod.

You go around the house yelling about electricity

bills and switching all the lights off.

You meet some young guy whose swash hasn't

buckled and he reminds you of what you once

were, and you loathe him for it. Then you go home

and sadly realise you'll never run the 400 metres

again.

' Someone gives you his card and you spend a

minute squeegeeing your eyes to read it; is that

number a 6 or an 8 or a 5 squint, squint.

You overhear someone call you that old eccentric.

Your kids tell you this is not your type of a movie, it

is too `now'.

No one in this generation knows who Malcolm X

is.

You find today's youngsters lazy, shiftless, spoilt,

pampered, ill mannered louts ...not much different

from what you were.

You go to a party and yearn for a chair to sit in;

then you don't want to get up every time a lady

comes in.

All your food intake is on a quota system. The

doctor talks about you in third person, like what

does he like to eat or how was he feeling this

morning and you want to say, hey, I am here, okay

talk to me.

You can't open a lid and you go red in the face

trying, and then some kid comes and yanks it off

and, upstaged, you go looking for Deep Heat.

Your whole breakfast is a saga in roughage and

fibre and you actually read the ingredi¬ents on the

packet to see if you have had 60 per cent of your

riboflavin - whatever that is.

You discuss the details of your flipping daily `walk'

with others of your age...like who cares, did you

ever think you'd do that?

If you do something young at heart your family is

embarrassed, like not at your age...well, whyever

not?

You actually find you bought a jar of antiwrinkle

cream.

You can't believe this is the generation which is

going to inherit your legacy, I mean what a mess

they'll make of it.

You get all shmaltzy and gooey eyed in the

movies, all that soppy sentiment for Mr Onetime

Tough Guy.

Your after-late-night morning recovery time is two

mornings, and you like fizzy solutions like fruit salt

and Alka Seltzer.

You find yourself obsessed by your digestive

system and its mysteries.

You wonder where the time went, there was

so much of it just yesterday ...it was yesterday.

Itwasitwasitwas.

Those were the days my friend, lalalala lalalaBy Bikram Vohra

Bikram Vohra, internationally-known Gulf based scribe

Sunny s

ide u

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EXPLORE THE DESERTS

Every piece of nature is a creation of the Almighty

– unique, flawless and beautiful. There is no other

beauty in the world that is as original as that of Mother

Nature. Oman is a fortunate country that has been

bestowed with the best of everything naturally. Oman

has two deserts: the Empty Quarter and the Sharqiya

sands, where kilometers of sand dunes join the

Arabian coast, a unique spectacle to experience.

My tryst with the desert began in 1998, a hobby that

has evolved into a passion today, initiated by a simple

glimpse from a flight to a nearby country. From that

height, the stretch of sand looked like a painting,

fascinating as well as alluring. I was hooked!

WALK BAREFOOT IN THE BEACH

As they say, walk barefoot in the beach, within the

proximity of the water, sky and sand and you will

experience pure magic. So if you need to experience

the sand, walk barefoot. Unless you cross the sands,

you will not know what I am talking about. You will

be transported to a world, which is far from the

maddening routines and tensions.

There is nothing to fear. The desert is like any other

raw environment. There are two ways to explore the

desert -- follow the Bedouin path or chart your own

course. The Bedouins path is tried and tested one and

there is little chance you will get lost. But, if you are an

adventurer at heart, equip yourself with all the utilities,

travel light with essentials and don’t forget your GPS!

It is easy to get lost in the vast stretch of the sand,

especially if you are a novice.

The desert is like any other raw environment. There are two ways to explore the desert -- follow the Bedouin path or chart your own course

Mohamed Issa Al ZadjaliEditor-in-chief

In Black...

& White

RESPECT THE BEDOUINS

You cannot afford to be reckless in the desert, not just

on the driving or safety front, but also in terms of basic

etiquette. How would you like it if people barge in to your

home unannounced? Similarly, you cannot just walk into a

Bedouin territory without their approval. The desert is their

home and it is not limited or confined to walls or cents of

land as in a city. It is their natural dwelling and you have

to respect that. A word of caution though: never disturb

nature, respect the desert and its dwellers and they will in

turn respect you. The Bedouins are genuinely simple and

they are also very helpful by nature.

HISTORIC CROSSING

The B&W team met with Ahmed bin Haroub bin Hamed

Al Mahruqi, who is an explorer and lover of the desert.

Mahruqi is embarking on a historic trip, following the route

of the great explorer, Wilfred Thesiger, who had crossed

the Empty Quarter. While Thesiger skirted the route on

the borders, Mahruqi hopes to make the crossing right

through the centre. Let us all wish him the very best of

luck in this historic crossing!

In b

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An intrepid Omani desert lover is planning to retrace the footsteps of the famous British explorer’s, Sir Wilfred Thesiger, journey of the Empty Quarter(*) which he undertook half a century or more back…Ahmed bin Haroub bin Hamed Al Mahruqi, whose second home is the desert, is planning to go right into the middle of the sandy quarter, from Bidiyah to Shannah, a distance of approximately 184kms, in 14days from March 1 onwards. This brave bid to cross the desert is to bring to the fore the magnificent sands of Oman, which Ahmed Mahruqi feels can woo any adventure-loving tourist to the Sultanate…

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A lone Omani driver in a jeep was weaving his way up the sand dunes one late dark night in the Empty Quarter (Rub’ Al Khali) of Arabia. His vehicle’s lights pierced through the pitch black midnight darkness. Suddenly in the distance, the car’s

headlights picked several dark figures huddled on camels. They just stood there in his vehicle’s path like mysterious dark shadows and the

driver instinctively slowed down. Men with lesser courage would baulk at the thought of encountering such sinister-looking rank strangers in the middle of nowhere,

especially at night.

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Ahmed bin Haroub bin Hamed Al Mahruqi was armed with nothing but a tent, some food and water and kahwa (Omani coffee).

“Perhaps they would like some kahwa,” Ahmed Mahruqi said under his breath as he tried to humour himself, waving out to those sentinels of the dark standing almost

motionlessly some distance away from his rugged jeep. He got out and stood before his car’s front lights and raised his hand again in greeting. There was a sudden stir

among the statues-like-men on the camels and they returned his greeting. “Mahruqi!” they said in unison, their voices decidedly warm and friendly. They alighted from their

camels, came forward and embraced Ahmed Mahruqi. These were the tough, no-nonsense Bedouins who would normally not entertain strangers. But, they knew him

by sight. He was not a stranger. He was like, almost, one of them.

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KING OF THE SAND

Ahmed Mahruqi was a common

feature in the Empty Quarter. Unlike

the tourists, he was not one among

the odd ones out in the lonely desert

sands. Most of the Bedouins knew

him because this is one Omani who

spends almost all of his free time in

the desert.

During workdays, you will find him as

any other dedicated and committed

Omani at his workplace in the Sultan

Qaboos University Hospital, where

he heads the health, safety and

environment (HSE) department.

Weekends, Mahruqi quietly

disappears into the cocoon of the

desert where this father of four and

grandfather of six metamorphoses

into a semi Bedouin. He gets

on his favourite and faithful red

Jeep Wrangler of 20 years – aptly

stickered ‘King of the Sand’ --and

drives deep into the innards of the

desert and let the sands absorb

him, soak his soul under a canopy

of stars, lit just for him. Most of the

times, it would only be Mahruqi, and

on some occasions, he would be

accompanied by his family members.

But, largely, Mahruqi would be alone,

enjoying the magic of the enigmatic

dark desert night or the open wonder

of a morning spent on the shifting

dunes.

SOMETHING GENTLE,

SOMETHING WILD

There is something that is very gentle

yet wild about this ardent desert

lover. He had invited us over for an

informal chat at his SQU office to

discuss a unique desert trip that he

is planning. Mahruqi is attempting to

cross the Empty Quarter on camel

and foot in a bid to recreate the

same trip that the legendary explorer,

Wilfred Thesiger, had taken 50-odd

years ago.

Now, more than half a century later,

Mahruqi was attempting this unusual

trip, not skirting the borders like his

idol, Thesiger, but actually cutting

through the middle, from Bidiyah

to Shannah, hoping to cover the

184kms in less than two weeks.

“I want to recreate the magic of the

good old golden days when desert

travellers relied on one single mode

of transport – the king/ship of the

desert, the faithful camel!” Mahruqi

says with a certain amount of

passion to the Black & White at the

same time tracing the path on a map

behind him. Mahruqi is training hard

for this grueling desert trip, slowly

dawning on him. If you happen to

see a tall bespectacled man with a

salt and pepper beard exercising

a young camel in a field near his

home, then you have stumbled on

this unusual desert lover. Mahruqi

is training himself with two young

camels (Kleesa), costing OMR5000

each. “These camels can easily walk

for around 400kilometres a day. I

will use one to carry food and other

utilities and I will ride the second

one.”

EPIC DESERT CROSSING

Mahruqi will embark on his epic

desert crossing on March 1, this

year. “As part of the 14-day planned

schedule, I hope to cover the first

part of Bidiyah to Shannah, a 184km

trip, starting off with a farewell

ceremony, which is traditionally

organised by the villagers of Bidiyah.

I will be staying in Bidiyah from

February25 onwards, gearing up for

the trip,” he told us. But that is not

all. Mahruqi, upon reaching Shannah

will continue on for another 184kms,

doing the second stretch from there

to Adam, which he hopes to do in

another 14 days. “I hope to move

at an easy pace, travelling around

30kms per day (on some days),

starting at 6am until 5pm and resting

after that,” Mahruqi said, gleefully

adding that he hoped to do a night’s

travel on a full moon day. He finds

night travelling on the desert quite

exhilarating. He has already done

enough night travelling on his jeep,

but not on a camel or on foot.

“I am not going on this trip to satisfy

a personal goal or achieve self

attainment. No, I love Oman. I want

the world to know what Oman has to

offer to the world tourists. Our desert

will be an eye opener for many and

they will be able to satiate their

adventure needs.

My journey will also be a life lesson

on patience. We are living in a fast

world, building all our relationships on

technology and speed, not pausing

even for a minute. We live in a fast,

fast world, from fast food to high

speed driving on roads. Fourteen

days in the desert will slow me down,

giving me a lesson on patience, a

self-realisation course. We all need to

slow down a bit, look into ourselves,

enjoy the nature and create a better

world for our youth, filled with wonder

and tolerance.

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Most of the times, it would only be Mahruqi, and on some occasions, he would be accompanied by his family members. But, largely, Mahruqi would be alone, enjoying the magic of the enigmatic dark desert night or the open wonder of a morning spent on the shifting dunes

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I have had the best of my time in the desert sands, from a

childhood trip to my honeymoon and to many moments of

sweet, calm, solitude.”

LOVE FOR THE SANDS

The desert has been a second home to Mahruqi since his

childhood. “I love the sand, the silence, the music of the

desert, from the blowing wind to the drumming sands and

the magic of the star-lit skies.

And I am also drawn to the night – there is something

mysterious, dangerous and yet rejuvenating about

nighttime. Few have really witnessed the beauty of the

night sky. When you live in a city, you will not be able

to witness this nocturnal spectacle. I have been lucky

enough to experience the countless stars shining brightly

above me,” Mahruqi said, sharing his enthusiasm about

the wonders of the skies above a desert.

Oman could proudly boast of its naturally beautiful desert

that could fascinate any human soul, he enthused. “The

more you look at the desert, the more it looks like a visual

treat. There are times when I feel this sand stretch (he

indicated a portion on the map on the wall) looks like

the neck of a whale when it leaps out of the water… it

is not just a visual delight, it induce a calmness inside

you,” Mahruqi said, stroking his salt and pepper henna

smeared beard and then slowly took us back into his

past.

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Mahruqi was born in Tanzania. In the early 60s, he and

several members of his family came on a ship to the

coast of Oman. “We landed in the Mahout area. My

family, consisting of my mother, my brother Arif and sister

Asa travelled on camels to Adam, where our tribe was

settled. I still vividly remember the rough camel ride but

my love affair with camels began then and till date the

passion has only increased. We, Arabs, are fortunate to

have the kings of the desert with us, but fail to use them

in our daily lives.”

The 60s did not see Mahruqi settle down in Oman. But

however after His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said took

over as the reigns of Oman, the former returned to Oman

in 1971. “It was also a long trip from Tanzania to Dar-e-

Salaam to Nairobi to Pakistan and I flew on a Pakistan

airline flight to Bait Al Falaj airport. I travelled from Muscat

to my village in Adam then, travelling 24 hours non-stop,”

he reminisces.

After his basic schooling, Mahruqi joined the Technical

School in Darsait in 1974-75 and joined PDO as a

fireman. “I served the PDO for 20 years from then and am

currently employed with the SQU in the HSE department

for the last 14 years. While I was in the PDO, I specialised

in fire prevention and safety in England.”

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ME AND A RED JEEP AND A DOG NAMED SALUKI

His tryst with nature began when, as a hobby, he started

climbing mountains.

“I pursued this passion until I was forced to give it up due

to health reasons.

I then took up desert crossing. In the last seven years or

so, I have crossed the desert in a jeep over 60 times, with

my faithful saluki (also named Saluki) as my companion,”

he said recalling how, while he was in the PDO in 1979,

he drove the nearly 840kms Fahud to Salalah stretch on

a Daihatsu, which he had only recently purchased from a

colleague then.

Weekdays, he diligently attended to his work, but

weekends he would disappear. “Weekends are very

personal to me and I do not indulge in any engagements

then. During the weekends, he quietly switches to

desert mode and travels on the sands alone. “I become

a different person then. But, I am able to identify with

the locals in the desert and the Bedouins. Most of them

have become my friends now. It is a different life and

experience. I get into a unique world where I enjoy the

splendour of natural beauty, amidst golden sands, wide

blue skies, brilliantly lit nights…

You cannot switch on a mobile or turn on a music

system there. Even if you attempt, within the next few

minutes you will shut it down. Nature has its own way of

entertaining us with its delicate music… I will not trade

this experience with any wealth in the world!”

A HISTORIC TRIP TO THE GOLDEN DAYS

Over the past seven years and a good 60-odd desert

crossings has made Mahruqi realise that Oman

harboured rich treasures in the desert, unknown to the

tourists of the world. He is also enamoured by the famous

British explorer and travel writer, Sir Wilfred Thesiger

(also known as Mubarak bin London – ‘the blessed one

from London’), who crossed the Empty Quarter of Arabia

between 1945 and 1950.

“Even today many of the Bedouin tribes remember bin

London as a famous and well respected explorer who

crossed the Wahiba (Sharqiyah) sands.

My love for Oman and the desert has prompted me to

cross the Empty Quarter 50-odd years after Sir Thesiger,

charting almost the same route, not just the borders, but

going right across the middle of the desert, with the hope

of completing the 184kms Bidiyah to Shannah stretch

in 14 days. I want to recreate the magic of the good old

golden days when we were dependent on the king (or the

ship) of the desert – the magnificent camel!”

DESERT IS YOUR FRIEND

Mahruqi did not subscribe to the common belief that the

desert was a dangerous place, where you could get lost

and lose life. A small mistake can prove to be too costly in

the desert. If good care is taken and proper preparations

are made, the desert is as safe and as friendly as any

touristic spot, he claims.

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We have to respect the sands as our own. So when

you travel, don’t litter, disturb or destroy any aspect of

nature! Respect your environment, learn and follow safety

measures, Mahruqi advised. The hazards exist, but, is

there any place in the world that can be called entirely

‘safe’? You could get killed in the streets!

“But, do be careful of the snakes and scorpions in

the desert. Never sleep in a sleeping bag as that will

attract snakes that seek warmth and will sneak into the

bag posing grave danger for you. Keep stock of basic

medicines, water, light clothes and proper footwear.

“I have been part of two films on desert safety and

survival, one for the PDO and the other with Hollywood

actors for Discovery Channel (New York). When they

approached me to guide them to the Wahiba, I told

them that Oman had various untouched desert terrains

and convinced them to come along with me to the

Ghanim sands in the Dhofar governorate. They were

wonderstruck. I am sure after my trip to cross the Empty

Quarter, tourists across the world will look at the desert

of Oman as the ultimate and unrivalled adventure

destination still waiting to be revealed.”

During his desert sojourns, Mahruqi has also come

across many like-minded desert lovers and adventure

teams. “These include the Guide, Shabiq, Xterra and the

F J cruiser teams, whom we regularly bump into during

the crossings. I look forward to seeing them too on this

historic crossing. They have also promised to extend

support for me during the trip.”

THINK LIKE A BEDOUIN

As Mahruqi saw us off, he spoke about the important

lesson that he had learnt from the Bedouins. As he

spoke, he crouched on the parking lot, mimicking a

normal pose of the Bedus, which he enacted to drive

home a point. “Desert has taught me many lessons of life.

The Bedouins live a natural tension free life with a healthy

attitude. Have you seen how a Bedouin react to a crisis?

Imagine they have a flat tire… They get out of the car,

walk some five to 10metres away from it, squat on their

haunches, take their pipe out and smoke. All this while,

they will be staring at their car and the flat or whatever

crisis/problem they are encountering.

They will smoke languidly, as though they are breathing

out their anger and irritation out of their nostrils. In effect,

instead of pouncing on the problem, they would allow

themselves some time, where they would instill in them

a free, confident and open mind. They will not resort to

anger, irritation or show signs of fear or panic. After a few

minutes of such calm scrutiny, they would attend to the

problem at hand.

This ability may be ingrained in them because they have,

over the years, aligned their soul with the soul of the

desert, which leaves them free of inhibitions and fear. I

have learnt so much from them. And I believe it is time

that we all did, without any knee-jerk reactions spreading

panic and fear.”

(*) The famous Empty Quarter, or Rub’ Al Khali, is the

largest sand desert in the world. It occupies the south

western region of Oman, straddling the border with Saudi

Arabia and the Yemen. It is an extraordinary moonscape

of sand dunes, sparse thorn bushes and rocks.

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Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Supplied

When he was twenty three, Sir Wilfred made his first

expedition into the country of the Danakil. In the Second

World War, serving under Orde Wingate in Abyssinia, he was

awarded a DSO. He later served with the Special Operations

Executive (SOS) in Syria and the Special Air Service in the

Western Desert.

“Sir Wilfred sought out the secrets of the desert in the years

before Arabia was transformed forever by the oil beneath her

sands. His reputation was established by two epic journeys he

made in the 1940s across the Rub Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter

– the most forbidding and least-penetrated region of Arabia

and explored the interior of Oman. Accompanied by his two

ever-present companions, Salim bin Kabina and Salim bin

Ghabaisha, and other Bedu guides and hunters, the barefoot

explorer achieved what few believed was possible. His travels

from Abyssinia to Arabia to Afghanistan in the company of

some of the world’s little-known and misunderstood tribes,”

articles on him say. Sir Wilfred had always said that his

fondest memories were of the five years he spent in Arabia,

which he described as “the most important years of my life

… the happiest period,” travelling from Hadhramaut to Abu

Dhabi in the company of the Rashid and Bait Kathir, evading

parties of Saar raiders, and enduring gruelling long marches.

The blessed one from London

Sir Wilfred Thesiger was perhaps the last and one of the greatest British travellers among Arabs. Sir Wilfred, also known as

Mubarak bin London (the blessed one from London), was a British explorer and travel writer. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sir Wilfred spent his early years in Abyssinia.

He was educated at Eton and Oxford.

He was the first European to visit the Liwa Oasis ,

in the UAE, and was the first to cross the Umm al-

Samim quicksands, the so-called 'mother of poison'

in Oman, a report says. He was one of the first

Europeans to cross the Empty Quarter.

His journeys have won him acclaim – the Founder’s

Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, the

Lawrence of Arabia Medal of the Royal Central

Asian Society, the Livingstone Medal of the Royal

Scottish Geographical Society and his writing also

won him the Heinemann Award and the Fellowship

of the Royal Society of Literature. He has been

made an honorary D.Litt. by Leicester University

and University of Bath, an Honorary Fellow of the

British Academy etc. He was made CBE in 1968 and

received a knighthood in 1995.

Sir Wilfred died in 2003.

His exploits have inspired many others and the

current one to follow in his footsteps is Ahmed bin

Haroub bin Hamed Al Mahruqi.

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Do you think differently...By Dr CK Anchan

Dr Anchan C.K.

managing director,

World Wide Business House

In this fast changing world we need to balance how

to think differently with how to grow expertise. The

reality is to think differently we need to be good

at thinking. To think differently you need to be

conscious of where your intellectual and emotional

energies are invested and when to switch. But to

think differently you have to think well. Being smart

becomes your platform, your expertise. To do

that though we need to change something that is

fundamental to how we function.

You need to put yourself into situations that expose

the singular elements of your thinking, so you

can grow multiple perspectives. The world’s most

successful people have one thing in common:

they think differently from everyone else. Devote

80 percent of your energy to the most important

20 percent of your activities. Remember that you

can’t be everywhere, know everyone, and do

everything. And avoid multitasking: it can cost

you 40 percent efficiency. It’s important because

the very act of thinking differently stimulates your

logic and creative thinking and separates you

from the masses, thereby making it easier for the

right people to spot you and give you the right

opportunities. It’s not the easiest thing to do. It’s

important to stand your ground and think differently

from the crowd. You want to improve your logic and

thinking capabilities, separate yourself from the

masses and draw opportunities to yourself from the

right people who can easily identify you because

you’ve separated yourself from the masses.

Raise yourself from the average masses and

the right people and the right opportunities will

identify you and start coming your way.The best

thinkers plan ahead, while leaving room for some

spontaneity. When you’re strategic, you reduce

your margin of error. Simply having vague ideas of

where you are and what you want to accomplish

will get you no where. Henry Ford once said,

“Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into

smaller parts.”

Remember, it was Steve Jobs who jump-started

the now-famous “Think Different” advertising

campaign as a way to inspire consumers and

recharge Apple’s innovation efforts. It worked.

Reflecting back on the campaign, Jobs said “The

whole purpose of the ‘Think Different’ campaign

was that people had forgotten what Apple stood

for, including the employees.” And the best way to

tell people what Apple stood for was to tell them

who the company’s heroes were. The campaign

reminded everyone — consumers and employees

alike — that the “crazy ones…see things

differently”.

Put positive seeds into their mind every single day.

All of us wake up with sometimes random thoughts

that can debilitate. By proactively choosing the right

words and actions, some people overcome those

morning limitations set by the mind. They have

certain rituals. A morning run, meditation, prayer or

their morning cup of tea.

Accept imperfection. They don’t say, “It’s not a

good time right now.” But they do say, “It’s always

a good time right here and right now.” They know

the right time will never come to them. They have

to go out and make it the right time.

As a leader, how often do you think different?

How often do you brainstorm? How often do you

hunt for solutions in new environments? Thinking

different is easier said than done,it can transform

good ideas into great ones that might even disrupt

the world. We have found that most people can

actually do this reasonably well if they choose to

put in the time and effort that’s required to think

different. That’s what disruptive innovators do, day

after day. Do you? Can you?

Let’s work towards making 2014 a memorable one

by THINKING DIFFERENT!

Managem

ent

Talk

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Fun facts about

ottersKid

stuff

There are 13 different species of Otters found in the world. There is evidence that they have been around for more than 5 million years.

Otters are fun creatures to watch and they are highly intelligent.

Otters consume mainly fish but many people think that they eat plants and berries.

Male Otters are called boars, females are sows, and the offspring are pups.

The Sea Otter is the only species that have a shorter and less muscular tail. The others use it as a powerful weapon and to navigate their movements in the water.

Otters spend the majority of their time on land but many people assume that they spend it in the water. The exception is the Sea Otter which does spend almost all of its time in the water.

Antarctica and Australia are the only two places in the world where they aren’t found. While they tend to live in the cooler waters, they have been known to reside where the water is warmer and the land is sandy.

Otters are very closely related to badgers, ferrets and mink. They aren’t related to the beaver but they are often mistaken for them. They are also distant cousins of the skunk.

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"Under the mother otter," uttered the other otter.

They have the ability to create and use tools just like beavers, monkeys, and apes.

The average life span for an Otter is 10 years. That can double though with one in captivity.

Otters can have a tail that is a foot long. It helps to protect them as well as to help them steer through the water. Generally the tail will make up about one third of the body.

An Otter can remain under water for up to 4 minutes. They can also dive up to 300 feet in search of food.

Otters love to sunbath during the day and they are very active at night.

They are they only known marine animals that don’t have blubber. They have their fur instead to keep them warm.

It can be hard to tell the pups from the mothers because the pups can be almost as long as their mothers at birth. Those that don’t know the males and females stay separated often assume this is a couple rather than a mother and a pup.

There are some great photos of Otters engaging in human behaviours including holding hands.

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Accidents are something that are waiting to happen,

especially when we are careless and let ourselves be

driven by sheer ignorance and apathy. But, even if we do

everything, we cannot at times, change the course of fate.

Having said that, we bring to focus the complaints of some

people out there who are, by all means, aghast at the

audacious and reckless behaviour of some lay motorists

in busy streets.

“Oh, when will they learn,” they lament, pointing out to the

road shenanigans of these selfish speedsters who throw

a peaceful street into chaos. Suddenly from somewhere

these mean motorists emerge and twist and turn through

traffic, honking and bullying over the slow moving ones,

mostly forcing them to make mistakes.

“Some of them come very close behind, honking in irritation

and urging them to illegally cross traffic, either while they

are moving or are waiting to move from the signal. Many a

time we are forced to move, making gross errors because

they breathe heavily down our necks,” an irate elderly

driver complained. They pleaded for better sense among

such road bullies and also said that such intimidators need

to be reported to the authorities concerned.

Let’s move to bring down

accidents

Road bullies need to be reported

We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now. Finally, we have taken the plunge to bring home to you

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

Nit

ter

natt

er

Terrible road accidents that blighted the start of this year

pose enough reasons for a complete rethink and remake

of the existing do’s and don’ts of the way we operate our

vehicles on the road. Maybe we have not been affected but

there are out there people whose lives have been cut short

and whose families have to live with the loss of their beloved

ones forever. At least for their sake, at least for the sake of

the thousands others out there who are at equal risk, there

should be a full, complete, concerted move to bring down

the accidents here. If it means more stringent laws and if it

means more fines and if it means even bringing down the

speed limits or other extreme measures, let it be, say a

bunch or really concerned folks who are devastated by the

recent accidents that have taken innocent lives. “A move

has to be made and it has to be made now,” they plead.

While so many different organisations have sprouted to

fight for an ‘accident free Oman’, it would be great if all of

them team up for this common cause, instead of making

independent pursuits. Everyone says that something has

to be done, but then no one knows what that ‘something’

is. Hope someone is listening; hope someone out there

knows what that ‘something’ is.

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An organiser of a music and dance event received a setback

recently when the officials of the venue he had booked and

confirmed a month or so back suddenly did a volteface and

said they had to cancel the booking. The organiser had

already gone ahead with his event marketing and he had not

only announced the date and the venue when he suddenly got

this cancellation call from the venue officials. “It was less than

a week away when I was told that I could not hold my event

at their venue because of some official reasons and they gave

me back the booking amount. I tried to plead with them, but

they said they had no choice.”

Naturally, the organiser was devastated for all the preparations

were made and since the event was less than a week away,

there was nothing he could do but to postpone the event until

he found a suitable venue, which is not an easy task.

Is there a method to this madness? Lately, it has been a fad

for some, who have been invited to functions and dos, to

walk in late. Pretty late! These are people who are counted

on the ‘who’s who’ list anywhere they go and they do make

an important presence at these functions. Besides being part

of the glitterati, they are people with power and money and

they also have the ability to turn heads, which make them

important at functions, especially ones with a distinct social

flavour. Unfortunately, this knowledge seems to have gone

to their heads and they are deliberately walking in late, some

expatriate function organisers claim. Since these big shots are

also expatriates, there is decidedly a small anti wave against

this lot who are trying to show their might in their tardy attitude.

But, this gang seems to have their own reasons for coming in

late and if it is just to be noticed, well rest assured that they are

achieving that purpose! They are not only being noticed, now

they are becoming the centre of attention, perhaps enjoying

more limelight than the chief or special guests themselves.

Way to go!

Sorry, no venue

Method to their madness

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

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If a longed for wish inspires

you this week, look for ways to give

it a voice and you may find others in

the same emotional tune. Be careful

though during the weekend as the full

moon incites aggressive actions and

brings work versus home issues to

the fore. Watch it.

The moon in your sign

gives you an intuitive edge that

helps you acquire insight into

people, and your surroundings, but

you may still have to work around

an emotionally turbulent, explosive

situation at the weekend. This

definitely tests your ability to adapt

to change.

Use your intuition

and insight to tune into subtle

intangible signals in communications

and you’ll be surprised what you can

learn. Negotiations and interactions

cause strain mid week, but keep your

eye on long term ambitions and know

you’re working towards your goals.

The full moon mid week

stresses the good and the difficult in

taking care of yourself, partners and

family. Inner needs and outer duties

both qualify for needing a sense of

security, but a discordant Venus/

Mars square gives more sparring

than satisfaction.

You won’t get much off the

ground this week as plans you’ve

made seem to fall apart all around

you. Get your head and heart on the

same page when working out long

term goals with partners, but keep

your emotions out of the equation

when dealing with money.

Use your instincts and

psychic antenna to help you know

what to do and say for the best this

week. You’re restless and in the

mood for change socially, but will that

mean you have to change your circle

of friends too? I’d go cautiously if I

were you. Don’t burn bridges.

March 21-April 20

June 22-July 23

April 21-May 20

July 24-August 23

May 21-June 21

August 24-September 23

Your ARIES

CANCER

TAURUS

LEO

GEMINI

VIRGO

Horo

scope

JOHN JOSEPH TRAVOLTA (BORN FEBRUARY 18, 1954)

is an American actor, dancer, and singer. Travolta first

became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television

series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office

successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease. Travolta's

acting career declined through the 1980s. His career enjoyed

a resurgence in the 1990s with his role in Pulp Fiction, and

he has since continued starring in more recent films such as

Face/Off, Ladder 49, and Wild Hogs. Travolta was nominated

for the Academy Award for Best Actor for Saturday Night

Fever and Pulp Fiction. He won the Golden Globe Award

for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his

performance in Get Shorty.

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Ideas that germinate during

the day this week won’t actually

materialise into anything, but at least

you’ve got a blueprint for things when

the time is right, so it’s not all been

a waste of time. The full moon mid

week illuminates stress at work and

home. Be calm.

Making the best of a

situation this week takes imagination,

but since you that in abundance,

you won’t go far wrong. The mid

week brings a stabilising influence

and makes it a weekend of personal

fulfilment. Focus on the needs of

children or loved ones.

Creative thinking and

imaginative concepts will only work

if you take the necessary steps to

actualise them. It doesn’t have to

be this week, or even this month,

but keep them on the back burner

and be ready to swing into motion

when the time is right. Be alert.

Put off major decisions until

all the facts are in place, and don’t

even be tempted to share damning

opinions. You’re confident over your

intentions and your goals, but it’s just

getting the time right to put them out

into the collective, as you fear others

may react badly.

Emotional struggles

over financial issues seem to be

ubiquitous. Be realistic and try to

realise you can only tackle things

one at a time. Unstable moves could

deplete your security, so take your

time. Tackle the most pressing first,

then the rest should follow naturally.

The relationship harmony

and positive family interaction that’s

been building for weeks suddenly

takes a dip. Don’t back down just to

keep the peace, but neither should

you shoot from the hip before you

know all the facts either. You’re

walking a fine line, watch out!

September 24-October 23

December 23-January 20

October 24-November 22

January 21-February 19

November 23-December 22

February 20-March 20

starsLIBRA

CAPRICORN

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

MICHAEL JEFFREY JORDAN (BORN FEBRUARY 17, 1963),

also known by his initials, MJ, is a former American professional

basketball player, entrepreneur, and majority owner and chairman

of the Charlotte Bobcats. His biography on the National Basketball

Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael

Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." Jordan was

one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and

was considered instrumental in popularising the NBA around the

world in the 1980s and 1990s.

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There is something beyond love. Beyond the mushiness, beyond the red roses, sparkling gifts and heady declarations,

there is a love that does not scream from the rooftops or indulge in other dramatic demonstrations. There is love beyond

this usual cacophony of Valentine’s Day celebrations.

We feel in this manner after having met a distinguished Omani personality, who, however brief our meeting, still managed

to convey the essence of love in a relationship and explained how true love

last forever.Despite the trials and tribulations one

would face in the pursuit of love, the real ones, those with true fire and strength and determination to weather the odds will win

in the battle of love. That is how people who truly love view it.

Maybe, that is not what many seek in this modern age. Especially those whose interests -- in almost anything -- are short-lived. For them, love is a transient feeling. Today, they feel ardent love for someone,

tomorrow, it is someone else. Love is a passing phase and they are in it for the momentary bliss. This feeling could be a sign of the times. But, let us not paint

everyone with the same brush. Amidst the noise of the Valentine’s Day celebrations, a man who has seen the world and is today content with what he has achieved and still continues to push himself to climb further heights slowly reveals to us what is

essential about love and loving. Dr Said bin Hilal Al Busaid, partner at Al Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Co, who was a top former judge, and currently holding a very high governmental position, gives a whole new perspective of love in a proper setting of values. He has been married for

the last 27 years with eight kids (three sons and five daughters).

Vale

nti

nes

Day

Love teaches acceptance and tolerance: Dr Said bin Hilal Al Busaid

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LOVE UNCHANGED

Love should be a constant, stable word, he says quietly.

“No matter what era we live in, love is something that

would remain constant, unchanged. Its meaning cannot

change. But, maybe the ways to express love has

changed, or rather evolved over the years.

The young and the old are of course unified by the

essence of it, rather than the means of expressing it. As

an individual, father, husband, brother, friend, colleague,

and donning different roles in society, I can only say that

love is for all. Love is never ending and will continue on

forever for there is no end to it. Generation to generation,

the definition changes, but today, the only thing that can

connect us all is love. So when it is a connecting and

bonding factor, why celebrate it only on one day? We

should ideally celebrate and cherish love throughout our

lives with people that keep us in this world together. So

always keep love in your heart. It teaches you acceptance

and tolerance.”

TWO PILLARS OF LOVE: FAITH AND

TRANSPARENCY

Dr Said bin Hilal Al Busaid also noted that the value of

the gift to a loved one was not the important factor, but

the thought behind it. “You don’t have to prove your love

with expensive gifts and presents. Let the gift be the most

inexpensive one, more than attributing a reason or value

to the gift, accept and acknowledge the thought behind

it. You will realise the value and cherish the person more

than the gift given. I love gifts too, but the definition of

love cannot be limited to give and take or a one day act.

I believe that the two important pillars that keeps love

lasting is faith and transparency.

Faith builds healthy relationships. The more we trust each

other, our relationships will be transparent.

In a healthy relationship, there is mutual trust, and

there will also be a greater level of transparency and

accountability. We will know we are accepted and we will

not be afraid of being judged.”

The town is pulsating and ready to receive the Valentine’s Day wave, replete with a red-carpet of goodies to suit the occasion and the mood. Love is in the air and it is going to be expressed in so many different ways, through

the stomach, through gifts, presents and the like. Be it jewellery, chocolates, dazzling clothes, stylish shoes, exciting accessories and tantalising taste-buds

tickling dishes, life in Muscat will move into the Valentine’s lane to engage in this never-ending tribute to love and all that goes along with it.

However much we may frown down on the changing times, or the sheer waste of an exercise in celebrating just one day for love, a timeless, forever feeling,

one must admit that there is an array of goodies out in the market that can still woo the most recalcitrant buyer.

Let us take a look at some of the offerings in the market:

Pure Gold Jewellers has launched

a stunning range of heart-shaped

diamond pendants for Valentine’s

Day. The romantic collection features

a breathtaking double heart diamond

pendant with a suspended solitaire

in the centre. Created with a unique

patented technology, the charming

pendant is accentuated with sparkling

diamonds around the outer heart-

shaped border. The dangling solitaire

in the centre is a symbol of the love

that binds the two hearts together.

This pendant is available for OMR

169 from all Pure Gold Jewellers

outlets. According to Karim Merchant,

Ceo and managing director of Pure

Gold Jewellers, “Choosing a loving

gift for Valentine’s Day is no longer

a challenge with our wide selection

of diamond heart pendants. They

are a message of love direct from

the heart. Our unique double heart

pendant with the suspended solitaire

is the first of its kind and will make

for a truly memorable gift.” Pure Gold

Jewellers Valentine’s Day collection

also includes a heart shaped gold

and diamond pendant for OMR 145,

a beautiful key pendant showcasing

an open heart at the top set with

glittering diamonds for OMR 110

and a silver pendant with gold and

diamonds at OMR45. Also in the

collection is a unique crossover ring

with two solitaire stones signifying

togetherness. The gold and diamond

ring is available for OMR 175.

Pure Gold Jewellers’s diamond heart pendants for Valentine’s Day

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Join the InterContinental Muscat this Valentine’s Day at

one of their restaurants and enjoy a night of romance

with your loved one, says a press note from the hotel.

“Since Valentine’s Day is a very special day for all, our

executive chef Pascal has been busy putting together

mouthwatering delicacies at all our three restaurants,”

the note said. Señor Pico restaurant will make this

valentine memorable; enjoy a three-course dinner with

a choice of scallop carpaccio as a starter, roasted sea

bass, or veal tenderloin as your main course and to

finish it off with a chocolate feuillantine with a duo of

raspberry-mascarpone and or mango mousse. Or just

relax in Tomato with the beautiful romantic views of our

gardens and let Chef Mario spoil you with his tantalising

mouth-watering dishes, Jerusalem artichoke and hazelnut

Velouté, Ossobuco Ravioli or Mahi

Mahi plait, Finocchio allo Zafferano

and raspberry tiramisu and p assion

fruit coulis. Trader Vic’s celebrates

Valentine’s Day in style, with a

menu that includes seared tuna,

Ina-kaya with cilantro-ginger salsa,

passion sorbet with orange liquor,

plancha of scallops and prawns and

red velvet cheesecake with Raspberry fruit jelly.

The hotel has also put together a one night valentine

package, so why not take advantage of this OMR115++

for two people including breakfast and dinner buffet in the

Musandam Café & Terrace restaurant? For reservation

contact 24680000.

Mouth-watering Valentine delicacies at Intercon

Build-A-Bear

Workshop’s

Valentine’s Day

items

Online gift store - YallahOman.com

Amouage: jubilation 25 special edition

The Build-A-Bear Workshop - the

world’s only global company that

offers an interactive make-your-own

stuffed animal retail-entertainment

experience has got some new

products available for Valentine’s

Day at the Build-A-Bear Workshop

this February:

Fuchsia Hearts Hello Kitty (OMR11),

Big Hearts Bear (OMR10),

Pawrincess Bear (OMR11) and

Purrincess Kitty (OMR11).

YallahOman.com – Surprise your beloved with a flower or cake, by

ordering online at yallahoman.com, making this Valentine’s Day a special

one. For this valentine, Muscat residents can send flowers and cakes to

someone special by ordering online within Muscat city limits. Payments

can be done using credit or debit cards (PayPal) and bank deposit.

Top Option Trading chairman Abdullah Al Busaidi, launching

YallahOman.com said, “This is going to be the best thing in the city,

to shop from your home or your office, anytime, anywhere using your

mobile or laptop, to be delivered by our delivery partners.’

The House of Amouage’s special edition of its commemorative 25th

anniversary fragrance has been composed to unveil rare and unusual

top notes of Ylang Ylang, Lemon and Tarragon. Rose and Frankincense

characterise the heart notes that combine harmoniously with additional

floral notes of Davana. The fragrance is given depth and warmth in

the base notes through the harmonious use of Amber, Musk, Vetiver,

Patchouli and Myrrh.

JUBILATION XXV SPECIAL EDITION

The House of Amouage’s special edition Jubilation XXV has top notes

of Rose and Frankincense that fuse harmoniously with bold ingredients

such as Coriander, Blackberry, Orange and Davana. Orchid and Rose

continue the floral theme in the heart notes

and combine beautifully with notes of Bay,

Cinnamon, Honey and Clove to create

undeniable warmth. Opoponax, Myrrh,

Ambergris and Patchouli give a stunning

depth in the base notes, which are then

masterfully completed by woody notes of

Cedar, Moss and Oud.

Vale

nti

nes

Day

The silent swishing of the effortless unwrapping of the gift beautifully

decorated with the Tiffany bow and the peeping into the life size gift box at

my doorstep increased my heartbeat by 277 percent.

As I peered inside excitedly, happiness, at being able to live another year to

the fullest and hope, of positive experiences outnumbering negative ones,

immediately leapt up and embraced me.In the next fraction of a second,

love, from all friends, engulfed me in an expandable sheath. Just as I was

revelling in it I felt the divine steps of prayer, enveloping me in a warm

bright protective halo.

Then I saw retreating hazy figures of negativity, enemy of life and fear of

the unknown, a dampener for growth. The haze also revealed grudges and

anger, a constant source of energy sapping, bidding me goodbye, because

they couldn’t get a hold of me anymore. Even hurt, pain, pettiness, sloth,

greed, were beating a hasty retreat.

Ummm, this was amazing and then came words, hugging me and filling my

heart with unimaginable joy at the ability to write and attach pieces of me

and get love from millions of people through my writings.

Finally C-H-O-I-C-E-S filled up the room and gave me the ability to embrace

the good over the bad, happiness over sadness, success over failure.

I looked around and saw that all of us had received this magnificent gift box

of 2014 and now it’s up to us what are the gifts that we choose to take out

of this and what we choose to put back.

HAPPY NEW YEAR once again!

Till next time hugs!

Tiffany Bow gift box… for you and me

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

By Vandana Shah

It's m

y lif

e

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

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

Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM

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Cookin

g

SOUPS!

Nothing beats the winter chill like a steaming bowl of soup. Here are few fuss-free apple soup recipes filled with good-for-you veggies and more.

No matter whether you like your apples sweet and fruity or tart and biting, you can feel good about eating these healthy apple recipes. Apples are a good source of soluble fiber, potassium and folate. So go ahead and enjoy them in good health!

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Ingredients:

1/3 c margarine or butter

1/3 c flour

1/2 ts salt

2 1/2 c milk

4 c gouda cheese, shredded

1 c apple juice

Method:

Melt margarine or butter in a

saucepan over low heat. Blend

in flour and salt. Gradually add

milk; cook, stirring constantly, until

thickened. Add cheese, stirring until

melted. Add juice; heat thoroughly,

stirring occasionally. Makes four 1

1/4 cup servings

Ingredients:

Fresh celery

2 large cooking apples

1 oz butter

60 fl stock

2 medium onions, peeled and diced

Salt and milled pepper

Milk to finish

Chopped parsley and browned flaked almonds to

garnish

1 ts soft brown sugar

Method:

In a large saucepan sweat off the diced onion in the

butter. Wash, trim and dice the celery, add to the onion

and continue on a low heat. Remove and bruises from

the apples and grate them into your pan, discarding

the core. Cook for a further 10 minutes before adding

the stock, seasoning and sugar – beware too much

salt if you are using a stock cube. Bring to the boil,

then simmer, lid on, for 30 minutes - don’t overcook or

the celery flavour becomes jaded and the colours dull.

Allow to cool a little before liquidising thoroughly. Pass

through a large mesh sieve to ensure there are no

stringy threads of celery remaining. Check seasoning

and consistency, adding a little milk if needed. Serve in

warmed bowls, sprinkled with parsley and the browned

almond flakes.

Ingredients:

4 Green apples

4 McIntosh apples

2 1/2 c Water

2 tb Lemon juice

1/4 ts Nutmeg

1/2 ts Cinnamon

1 c Light cream

Unsweetened whipped cream, for garnish

Method:

Peel, core and quarter apples. Combine all ingredients

except cream in saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer

15 min. till apples are soft. Puree; return to pan; add

cream and heat through but don’t boil. Garnish each

serving with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream

and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Apple and cheese soup

Apple and celery soup

Hot apple soup

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Psy

che

When you hit the

lows…Ok, January has passed you by and so has that

celebratory New Year feeling. Somehow it does not feel all that good and you have a feeling that you are not upto it a month after the celebrations. Especially,

in the afternoons, at work. There is a general low-energy episode that might often leave you drowsy

and heavy lidded. And to some of us, it may hit us almost every year

after the wave of the New Year celebrations gets over and the general low energy feeling sweeps over you

leaving you totally drained and down.

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If you are dealing with such an episode of low energy and if you suddenly

feel down in the doldrums, let us look at some of the simplest ways to get

you up and swinging.

While these are not earth shattering tips to follow, there are also some

don’ts to take care. Don’t reach out for a candy/chocolate bar, coffee or

energy drink for a solution. They are not solutions but stop gap relievers

that will still send you plummeting down the depths of grogginess.

Why do we have to fight fatigue in this manner? Why can’t we just look at

boosting our energy in very simple ways? If these steps are taken, then

you need not worry about slumping on your desk in a sudden attack of

afternoon burnout.

Now, let us begin: what do you do in the morning? Do you have

breakfast, or, do you skip it?

If you are doing the former, then continue with it, but bear in mind that it

is better if you have high fiber foods like oatmeal as it will keep you safe

from sudden hunger pangs. Hunger, as you may know, also leads to low

energy.

For the latter, there is simply no excuse why you are not having breakfast.

How can you skip the most important meal of the day? So, by all means,

go for a good, nutritious breakfast every day. If you do that, you will feel

not only awake, but also alert. It has been proved beyond doubt that

healthy breakfasts not only gives you a healthy morning, but sustains you

throughout the day.

Most often when you feel drowsy in the afternoon, just take a quick

walk to wash your face, then get a nice cool drink of water. Why, what

is the big deal? Water is necessary as your body needs fluids to make

it function properly. What happens is that every time we breathe, sweat,

and answer nature’s call, we are losing fluids. Now, what have we done

to replenish this? Most often, we don’t do anything. That is when you

would feel drained and fatigued.

Let us not get into the eight glasses a day strain, as most people are not

able to fulfill that task. But, there is no harm in drinking enough water to

keep the body well hydrated. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, during spells of

low energy, go take a quick drink of water. It will wake you up for sure.

Stretch. Now, that is easier said than done and you can’t exactly get into

a yoga jig in your office. But there are certain stretch methods that you

could easily adopt. Today, yoga is no longer an esoteric practice. Some

of the postures are very simple and one should ideally take advantage

of the health benefits of yoga. And studies have also found out that the

practice can be an excellent measure against fatigue. So, why not try it

out?

Always have a box of nuts next to you. The best nuts would be peanuts

and almonds. These are rich in magnesium and folate (folic acid), which

are essential for energy and cell production. Eat them in moderate

quantities. But if there is a regular intake of these nuts you will surely be

able to keep low energy at bay.

This may be a painful process.

But it is essential if you intend to ever

live peacefully with acceptance.

For starters you need to come to term

with the fact that you are one!

You are not a mentally deficient entity.

But yes, you are an idiot.

Well, why change that? Be that idiot.

You’ll be fine.

Here you go: repeat yourself: at least a

minimum of 100 times

“I am an idiot.”

I am not exaggerating. Sometimes it can

change your life.

It helps. How do you know you are an

idiot?

You will know it when you see people

assume they know everything about

you.

When you start changing your

schedules for other people.

When you eat what others want you to

eat.

You will know it when you see people

taking you for granted.

When you cannot say no to someone.

When people use your things without

asking you.

When people don’t return what they

borrowed from you and think you forgot.

When you keep company with the

people who have no time for you.

When you fill in cheap raffle coupons to

win a luxury car.

When you start a savings account to win

billions.

When you buy four or more pieces of

soaps or shampoos or even cooking oil

to get a pen free!

When you shop for your favourite books

and don’t read them.

When you read reviews to impress

By Priya Arunkumar

priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

Just the way it is!

people and call it research.

When your dog chews your foot

instead of your socks.

Ha! And you happily allow all this to

happen!

The list is long, not to mention the

emotional side.

The sunny side of being an idiot is

that you can attempt anything without

inhibitions! Even something you don’t

know anything about; once accepted

universally in your circles, you are

limitless. You can step out of your

comfort zone and don’t listen to any

of those wise men out there who

wants to make an intellectual out of

you.

Intelligence? What is that?

Tell them, you are what you are. Idiot.

Allow them to think that you are an

idiot.

You will feel free when you accept

you want to get out of the box, be

yourself and be laughed at, criticised

and judged. What is wrong with being

an idiot, anyway!

Be normal about it. Blurt out silly

things, and even inappropriate things,

or make a statement out of the dozen

slap-your-forehead mistakes. And

shatter your fear for what people think

of you. Use the word ‘whatever’ quite

often. Who makes that decision that

you are not allowed to be less than

perfect? No one, I repeat, no one.

Shrug it off when things go wrong.

The world is not a safe, predictable

place. Anything could go wrong

anytime. And no one will hold you

responsible.

That’s just the way it is!

Yes, be that idiot. You’ll be fine.

Hooked

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