Confessions of a food connoisseur
Souq Waqif: The Heart of Doha
Chinese tea sommelier dazzles
www.omanobserver.om
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
APPS & ALL ABOUT GROUPS
Struggle of an
autism child, mom
4
CONTENTS
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
SPECIAL REPORT
The mobile is on the
go constantly beeping
and updating
LIFESTYLE
Being a parent, what does
it feel to have a child
with autism?
PAGE 16
Weekend
PAGE 6
COMMUNITY
Souq Waqif got its name when
Doha was a village divided in
two by Wadi Mishireb
PAGE 24
5
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Vol 2, No 20
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Ibrahim bin Ahmed al Kindi
Editor-in-Chief
Abdullah bin Salim al Shueili
Deputy Managing Editor
Bader bin Zahir al Kiyumi
Editor
Lakshmi Kothaneth
Reporter
Melanie Held
Design
Upendra Nayak
Proof-reading
Said al Rahbi
Advertising
Ms Fatma al Ghelaniya
Tel: +968 24649486, Fax: +96824649469
Email: [email protected]
Marketing
Nibu Erattakkulam
Mobile: 95117064, e-mail: [email protected]
Technical Assistance
Mohammed Mubarak al Moharbi
Printers and Publishers:
Oman Establishment for Press,
Publication and Advertising
P O Box 974, Postal Code 100
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Tel: 24649444, 24649458, 24649451, Fax: 24649469
Website: omanobserver.om
e-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Distribution Agent:
Al Omaneya for Distribution & Marketing
P O Box 974, P C 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman,
Tel: 24649350/24649360, Fax: 24649379
e-mail: [email protected]
‘Group’ syndrome
T
he mind is a mystery. Scientists continue to study the
subject called mind. The mystery continues. There was
a time when we used to take great preparation to write
a letter, take a pause before we give our comments.
This is the era of instant information and satellite
technology. And for our personal assistance we have the
great number of apps available in the global market.
According to emarketer.com, two billion consumers
worldwide are to get smart phones by 2016.
Meanwhile if you continue to look globally, Nielsen study
says, smart phone owners aged 25-44 use the greatest
number of apps per month (29 apps on average); but 18-24
year olds spend the most time on them (37 hours, 6
minutes).
Smartphones and the apps have definitely changed our
life style and this week the Weekend looks at the ‘Group’
syndrome.
Going back to the marvel called mind, Weekend caught
up with a mother who is trying to understand the way to lead
forward her autistic child. The challenges are many for the
parents of autistic children, from accepting the situation to
prepare the children for tomorrow.
Can the society at large make a difference? Awareness
would the key answer. A society can be the most resourceful.
When we are so into being part of a wide variety of groups
how many groups can we find related to social causes?
You are most welcome to write to us with your thoughts —
[email protected]
Enjoy your apps but take time to visit someone who might
be waiting.
— Lakshmi Kothaneth
[email protected]
SPECIAL REPORT
6
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
APPS & ALL
ABOUT GROUPS
7
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
For most people on smart phones
the trend began as a group for
family and then maybe for the work
place. A group is a place for the
likeminded people or for the ones
who have something in common
By Lakshmi Kothaneth
“H
ow many groups do we have on
your phone?”
“Ah, I think I have 10,” said one
person. “I just have five,” said the other.
Invariably the number was higher when
they actually got into their mobile phone
and checked out the number of groups.
It feels strange for many who are not into
the culture of being part of groups. For
most people on smart phones the trend
began as a group for family and then maybe
for the work place. A group is a place for
the likeminded people or for the ones who
have something in common. Now it is a
total overload of groups.
The mobile is on the go constantly
beeping and updating. The stress level on
the mind rises until one decides to back out
or fall back on technology and mute the
groups.
It is not all bad we found out from the
advent users of apps on smart phones.
Mellissa is an active person and is into
many activities and so for her being in a
group in Oman is the best way to keep
herself updated. When asked how many
groups she is part of, her quick answer was,
“I have 10 but when you actually look at it I
have one which is for volley ball and the
other from an old dance class. I am inactive
on both these groups and active in the other
10 groups.”
“Being on a group is good for example
we have the group for Kite Surfing. So if one
of the members are out at the beach and
detects an ideal wind he or she might
8
SPECIAL REPORT
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
immediately text on the group and others can follow
suit. This goes with the weather as well.
Then we have another group we just say
silly things and share funny pictures and
videos. Another fun group is ‘Come
Dine with Me.’ Whoever is in the
mood to cook and try out
something new invites others on
the group. It is fun because we
also have themes where guests
come as celebrities or as someone
in the group – talking, dressing and
behaving like them,” explained
Mellissa.
The nature of the group is related
to the person you are. It could be your
profession, interest, education or most
importantly family and people you hang out
with. There are groups that are temporary and
purpose based. They could have been formed
for just an event and it dies out eventually
when the purpose is fulfilled.
One of the biggest reasons is that the
members
are busy with other groups. Many a time the
same people can be featured in a variety of groups.
There is another side to the coin – people who become part of a group
“I am fed up with them. I
keep them on the mute
for the night and when I
wake up there are about
80 comments awaiting me”
“Where is
the time?”
9
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
WhatsApp, or any
other group chat
etiquettes.
T My Silent Footsteps Blog
T Avoid sending messages past 11pm
T Private or group chat worthy?
T Think before sharing
Some pretty basic points we shouldn’t
forget:
1. A big No to texting during a face-toface conversation.
2. Put your phone on ‘silent’ in Public
Places like cinemas, theatres and
restaurants.
3. Don’t be fidgety with your phone in a
dark cinema or theatre.
4. Special Tip for Kids – No texting while
driving (advice for parents – monitor
your kids WhatsApp to ensure that
they’re not texting and driving)
5. Avoid chatting something irrelevant in
a group.
6. Leaving a group without saying
anything is considered rude – Always
notify before quitting.
7. Big no for giving one-word responses
like — K for ok, Y for yes and N for no.
8. Sending gross pictures (no porn, no
semi-nude images, no inapt selfies)
9. Blocking a person or deleting him is a
better option over pretending we’re
friends.
10. Avoid text messaging when informing
someone of sad news, business
matters, or urgent meetings, unless it’s
to set up a phone call on the subject.
11. Wrong text message received – a text
that was sent by mistake from
someone, reply explaining that you
aren’t the intended recipient. You
don’t have to respond to anything else
in the message.
— www.imobispy.com
“Being on a group is good
for example we have the
group for Kite Surfing. So if
one of the members are out
at the beach and detects an
ideal wind he or she might
immediately text
on the group and
others can follow
suit. This goes with
the weather as well”
10
SPECIAL REPORT
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
unknowingly and the others who have
been added to a group and know not
what to do.
Rashid al Jabri is in about four groups,
“I am fed up with them. I keep them on
the mute for the night and when I wake
up there are about 80 comments
awaiting me.”
“Where is the time?” he thinks out
aloud.
Socially speaking this is a changing
time for the society. When people are
complaining about lack of time for a
personal call or visiting a family member
they are communicating to large number
of people simultaneously. A lot of
people in the groups can be strangers.
A group can have about 100 members
in a group.
People have a lot of apps to venture
into. While there are a variety of options
for communications such as Messenger,
Google Chat, IMO, Skype, Face Time,
Snap Chat, Whats App, Viber, the
popular ones in Oman have been Whats
App and Snap Chat. Some of the apps
11
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
such as Skype and Viber are not legally available in
Oman. While the immediacy and cost effectiveness are
an attraction, there are issues that have become a
challenge for many. According to Business Monitor
International (BMI) smartphone penetration in Oman
reached 65% in 2013.
“My problem with group is that sometimes you are
added without a prior notice. It can be a bit annoying. It
can also be an issue of privacy. I rarely interact in groups.
The ‘Forward messages’ which are continuation of what
we used to see in email earlier,” pointed out Danniel.
The storage size is another problem area for many of
the group members. There would be dissatisfied
members of the group who would want to make an exit.
All the group users we spoke to agree that it can be a bit
touchy when a person exits from a group even more
sensitive when a person is removed from the group.
“Another part of the problem is that even if we do
make an exit, the Admin can add your name again,”
complained Danniel speaking from experience.
A lot of time groups can also lose focus. “We are only
humans,” point out a pro ‘groups’ person.
“I have about 10 groups I am part of and I have just
got married. So I need to now be part of my husband’s
family group,” said Zahra.
Ali longs for the lifestyle of the past. “People today are
so busy with their gadgets that they have forgotten to be
social in the true sense. Omanis in the past used to thrive
on the closeness of the society. Today we depend so
much on technology. I am ready for a conversation but
everyone in the family is talking on the phone or texting,”
complained Ali.
More and more people agree that that husbands and
wives communicate much more through texts. “Today’s
youngsters wake up looking at the texts and comments.
Go to bed wishing everyone in the groups good night,”
said Abdullah.
The changing scenario of life style one might say. But
the trend is here to say. For many it is keep in touch with
yester years. “My groups are SQU Girls, Childhood
Friends, Family, School Mates, and Australia Friends and
so on. It is great to be in touch with all of them,”
explained Z al Nasseri.
So are we becoming an app driven society?
Writing a letter was an art and at one point it was even
considered a hobby. Pen Pals came about in the 70s and
the burst of communication with the onset of web
technology.
Think of the letter in a bottle. We have always been
wanting to send a message across. A group might be of
convenience. But how far would we truly express
ourselves in a group?
THROUGH THE LENS
12
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Share your pictures with
#ODOWeekend
and get them published
13
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Smile Train’s Virtual
Surgery Simulator at WISH
WISH welcomes cleft lip and palate charity
Smile Train to join healthcare line-up of groundbreaking Innovation Showcases for 2015 summit
T
he World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a
global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education,
Science and Community Development (QF), will
showcase Smile Train’s Virtual Surgery Simulator, a cleft
lip and palate surgical training tool, as one of 20 of the
world’s newest and most ground-breaking healthcare
innovations being presented at the second WISH
Summit taking place in Qatar next month.
Smile Train developed the Virtual Surgery Simulator in
collaboration with technology company BioDigital to
address the challenge of training cleft surgeons around
the world. A game-changer in surgical education and
training, the Simulator is a 3D, web-based, interactive
tool that provides users with essential information and
training on cleft anatomy and cleft surgical repair
techniques.
The free, web-based tool offers a sustainable,
accessible approach to cleft surgical training and
advances Smile Train’s mission to provide a long-term,
scalable solution to the global challenge of treating cleft
lip and palate.
Since its founding in 1999, Smile Train has performed
more than one million cleft repair surgeries around the
world. The organisation currently reaches more than 350
children each day and 128,000 every year.
Only in its second year, WISH’s Innovation Showcases
was opened up to global applicants and as a result has
received 80 applications from 26 countries spanning all
areas of health innovation; from digital healthcare and
new products to smart-systems and service updates.
14
CONTENTS
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Struggle of an autism child, mom
PAGE 16
Lifestyle
Confessions of a food connoisseur
PAGE 20
15
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
Sultan Said Ali Saiee
Front Office Supervisor, Holiday Inn, Al Seeb
How do you begin your day?
Since I work for the hospitality industry here in Muscat
with one of a very prominent brand like Holiday Inn, I
usually start my day as per my daily shift work timings
which differ sometimes in the morning or evening shift.
Whom do you consider as your role model?
I consider His Majesty Sultan Qaboos as the role
model. I am very impressed with how he rule such a
magnificent country like Oman.
A brief description about your job
I work for the Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb as the Front
Office Supervisor and it mainly has responsibilities of
tackling guests through guest relations and ensuring the
guest has a pleasant stay with you right from his arrival to
his departure.
What are the issues you tackle?
The issues could be handling guest problems and
also training the current employees specially freshers
below me.
What are the other skills you possess?
I like computer programming and designing and also
blogging.
What is your advice to Omani youngsters?
Oman has a lot of potential to grow. It has grown over
years and the Omanis have also grown with the country.
These days the majority of the Omanis are educated
studied abroad and are working on good positions in big
multi-national companies here along with being
entrepreneurs in this country. My only advise for the
youngsters is that if their fathers have done so much then
they can do much more so the first step is to be good
learners and listeners.
They should be good learners and listeners.
How do you manage your free time?
I am a very homely person and I love my family,
relatives and friends and hence I am very interactive with
my friends and family members during my holidays. I
travel to different places during my free time. I also have
a cup of coffee. I am very interactive with my friends and
family members with whom I spend my free time.
What is your ambition in life?
I am quite ambitious but I love keeping myself busy at
work. I hope to one day start my own hotel as now I am
getting very inclined towards the hotel industry.
I would love to start my own hotel one day.
16
SOCIETY
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Taking her child’s trauma
to Twitter, Um Munthir
has been campaigning
for the rights of Munthir
relentlessly, refusing to
admit the society’s verdict
passed upon her child
on the pretext of being
labelled as an autistic
STRUGGLE OF AN
AUTISM
CHILD, MOM
17
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
By Mohammed al Badi
A
S cultural perspective and social norms
stamp the people with autism as mentally
ill-people, those who suffer from this
health status have nowhere to go except to
co-exist with this hellish reality.
Being a parent, what does it feel to have a
child with autism?
Perhaps, the answer will not be as rhetorical
as a catchy phrase quoted from a best-seller
book or an encouraging statement of hope by a
by-passer autism consultant. “O’ my child, I will
fight for your rights as equal as your twin who
were accepted in the nursery school and whom
the school would admit the next year unlike
you.. I will endeavour for your sake and rights.”
It was a spontaneous cry of determination
that did not have a second thought nor did it
come at the spur of time. Um Munthir, a mother
of twins, has taken to the social media to make
issue of her child Munthir public.
The four-year old autistic
child’s mother never gave
in to despair and
embarked on a long
and patient journey
despite all the odds she
would have to endure.
Taking her child’s trauma
to Twitter, Um Munthir has
been campaigning for the
rights of Munthir relentlessly,
refusing to admit the society’s verdict
passed upon her child on the pretext of
being labelled as an autistic.
Stuck between negligence of
proper nurturing by specialised autism
education institutions and the anvil of
society which portraits people with
autism as freak and mentally ill
people, she wrote “I wish he could
have told me what this drawing meant
to him.” (see pictures)
Munthir developed a talent in drawing at a
18
SOCIETY
Um Munthir
voiced her
concerns over
the pitch-black
reality smearing
her child’s life
who appeared
nonchalant with
all the fuss his
siblings made
over a gift he
received and
brought in
home, tweeted
his mother
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
young age and the pencil-lead drawings
his mother uploaded on Twitter are a
vivid attest to the core of his talent.
“Despite the circumstance of my autistic
child and his degree of autism, the
Ministry of Education drove him away of
public schools, even classrooms. ‘Why?’
It does not change the fact that
Munthir is a brilliantly gifted child. Lost in
his own world and inability to establish a
normal communication with people or
interaction with the surrounding around
his, Munthir’s drawings compensated for
disruption in normal communication
which he could not enjoy with his peers
or with his family.
Um Munthir voiced her concerns over
the pitch-black reality smearing her
child’s life who appeared nonchalant
with all the fuss his siblings made over a
gift he received and brought in home,
tweeted his mother. “He’s been in the
spiral of autism and no kindergarten nor
schools gave him an admission. He got
prohibited from joining his twin in the
first-grade class and the Ministry of Social
Development insisted to force him to Al
Wafa Centre.”
However, the Ministry has so far not
provided specialists to the Al Wafa
Centres but in few wilayats. With a tiny
classroom, can Al Wafa Centre
commensurate with the level of
19
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
rehabilitation needed for my child with
autism?, Um Munthis tweeted on @
monthir46.
Pursuing news of developments in
respect to autism in the Sultanate, the
publicity of the Oman Autism Society
was received with extreme relief and
welcomed by Um Munthir, which she
saw in it a glimpse of hope for her child
and herself.
She hailed the establishment and
tweeted “Congratulations to all those
worked on the establishment of the
society and to our children who would
reach out to their rights.” “It’s a beautiful
and marvelous step towards attaining
the rights of every autistic child. I am
thankful to the efforts of the elders who
contributed to the foundation of Oman
Autism Society.”
Um Munthir though still sees hope at
the end of the tunnel and is optimistic
that life will blossom for her precious
child. “In the realm of disabilities, there
are those who understand him.” “Even
before he was diagnosed with autism, I
had known it was autism. Ever since then,
I have been his tutor, mother, and
consultant. Day after day, I have seen
development. I’ve never given up and
am sure what future holds for both of us
is even better.”
FOOD
20
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Confessions of a
FOOD CONNOISSEUR
A
British professor recounts his gourmet experience
in Oman. Jonathan Waxman, Professor of
Oncology at Imperial College London and founder
and president of The Prostate Cancer Charity is a
frequent visitor to Oman. The country has been so
alluring to him that he and his partner, Naomi Heaton,
CEO of London Central Portfolio and another frequenter
to this country, spent their honeymoon in Muscat last
year.
Jonathan helped establish the All-party Parliamentary
Group on Cancer, the organisation behind the Britain
Against Cancer movement. He has also written a medical
law book, several novels and a book of short stories
entitled The Elephant In The Room. His style is certainly
refreshingly different!
We recently had the pleasure of dining at the Qureshi
Restaurant, and it was fabulous. The restaurant is located
in the newly opened Hormuz Hotel, which has been built
near to the airport at Muscat, to service the expansion of
Oman’s airport as it comes on line. The development is
prescient and will clearly fill the market need for a hotel
in this dynamic area.
The dining area of the Qureshi restaurant combines
modern and classical Indian design. The kitchen area is
adjacent to the dining room. A lattice screen both hides
and exposes the kitchen, where staff can be seen
preparing food. Ceiling lights are classic Indian lanterns
and provide a muted illumination that is restful and
peaceful. The tables are well spaced, on a floor of an
extraordinary black and white Italian marble; a floor that
should a visitor not be able to find a table, alone makes it
worthwhile visiting Qureshi!
On to the food! Oh the food! The cuisine is from
Lucknow, in Northern India. The principle features of
Lucknow cooking are that food is prepared slowly, and
that the cooking pots are covered with bread. As a result
flavours are sealed in and a fragrant and delicate cuisine
results.
We had a tasting menu that would have graced any
Michelin starred restaurant in London or Milan. We
started with a dish of mutton seekh kebab, murgh
Peshwari Tikka and char grilled Malai
prawns. The mutton was skewered,
minted, spice crusted and cooked in a
tandori oven. The chicken tikka was
minted, marinated in spices and curds,
and finished in a tandoori oven. The
prawns were indescribably delicious and
crusted with yoghurt, saffron and
remarkably... cheddar cheese, and then
char grilled. This was an eleven out of
ten starter!
A broth followed, of lamb trotters
Jonathan Waxman
flavoured with coriander, cloves and
cardamom, and pepped up with a
wizard’s wand benison of chilly. A ten out
of ten dish. Most unusual and very delicate.
We were full at this point but pressed on regardless of
our coronary arteries, and with great self-sacrifice,
soldiered on with fine table manners and no use of our
fingers, though a munificent feast.
21
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Our next course was slow cooked lamb shank, mildly
spiced, tender meat that flaked from the bone, smoked
chicken finished in cashew nut and tomato curry, and
prawns simmered in coconut cream and spices, too
delicious for our knives and forks to falter. Another ten
out of ten course.
Then almost finally the last course, for which we really
did need an extra stomach, a burrani raita, the chef’s
keynote dish, which is a feast day special of rice and
lamb. Yet another ten out of ten bestowed upon.......and
emerging from behind the screens, summoned by the
rattling applause of the gathered rotund gourmands,
came Ashish and Imran Qureshi, executive chef and chef
de cuisine, who welcomed us and thanked us, and
wanted to give us more food, but sadly we were
completely stuffed and so protested to these two fine
men that we would have need to rest for a week before
eating out again.
DAL QURESHI
Ingredients
2/3 cup Whole Urad dal
3 ½ tsp Ginger paste
3 ½ tsp Garlic paste
120 ml Tomato puree
1 tsp Red chilli pd.
½ cup White butter
½ cup Cream
By Mohammed Ashfaque Qureshi,
Executive Chef, Qureshi Restaurant,
Hormuz Grand Hotel
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 3 hours
Preparation
The Lentils: Pick, wash in running water and soak
overnight. Drain.
Cooking
Put the drained lentils in a handi, add salt and water
(approx. 6 cups) bring to boil, cover and simmer until the
lentils are cooked and two-thirds of the liquid has
evaporated. Mash the lentils lightly against the sides with a
wooden spoon. Add ginger paste, garlic paste, tomato
puree, red chillies and 7 Tbs of butter, stir and cook for 45
minutes. Then add cream, stir and cook for 10 minutes.
Adjust the seasoning.
To Serve
Remove to a bowl, garnish with remaining butter and
serve with tandoori roti.
22
CONTENTS
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Souq Waqif The Heart of Doha
PAGE 24
It’s all about the face
PAGE 28
Community
Study points to early tool use by ancestors
PAGE 32
23
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
PERSONALITY
OF THE WEEK
DR HILAL BIN ALI AL HINAI
e need
w
,
h
c
r
a
In rese apacity, we
c
to build chers and we
an
sear
need re velop our hum
de
o
need to es to be able t al
resourc d identify soci e
t an
to b
interpre the right way of
ults
rs in
indicato tegrate the res licy
in
o
able to arch into the p
the rese ing system.
mak
l Hinai,
a
i
l
A
n
i
al b
— Dr Hil ary General,
Secret ch Council
ear
The Res
24
TRAVEL
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
SOUQ WAQIF
The Heart of Doha
By Rachael M
25
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Y
ou know you are in a Gulf country when you go
shopping and park your 4x4 next to a couple of
docile camels. This was the capital of Qatar, a city
with highrise, 5* hotels, money — and camels in the
parking lot.
I edged out of the car trying not to disturb a snoozing
camel which looked more dead than merely resting, its
long neck stretched out in front of it on the ground. Just
behind it, and its other camel friends, construction work
was ongoing and builders were making their way
between them with wheelbarrows and cables. This was
truly a place where past and present met — yet it didn’t
get in each others way... well, kind of.
We had arrived in Doha from Muscat and at first sight
it felt like any other Gulf country. Dusty whitewashed
houses, lots of cars, a cornishe with its many office lights
reflecting in the water below. It was difficult to imagine
that the city was once nothing but a small fishing village
mainly known for it pearl fishing. Pearls which were then
sold or traded for other goods and soon became Qatar’s
most important source of income. This was before the oil,
of course.
Even before the pearl market collapsed in the 1930s,
Doha was dusty impoverished city. But the discovery of
oil turned this tiny population into one of the riches per
capita countries in the world. Modernisation and
development followed the influx of oil money and Qatar
succeeded in brushing the dust of its thobe and ghutra
and join the family of Gulf states better known for
marinas, tourist facilities and grand roundabouts, than its
heritage.
Souq Waqif was supposed to be one of the few
remaining places in Doha still having its roots firmly in
history. For centuries it has been a place where Bedouins
came to sell their goats and dates and exchange news.
Today it had enjoyed a makeover or been ‘redeveloped’
as the tourist brochures boasted.
I looked with slight skepticism at the orderly and newly
constructed mud rendered shops with their exposed
timber beams and couldn’t help feeling that it all missed
a bit of grime or lfaws; anything to make it look a bit
more, well… real. Pretty, no doubt about it, but just a
teeny tiny bit plasticy. However, had renovation not been
started when it did in 2004, the old souq would probably
slowly had fallen in on itself. The site had been a chaos of
collapsed buildings in disrepair and ruins and the
traditional doors had been replaced with ugly modern
metal shutters and concrete slabs. Luckily it was possible
to find old drawings and plans, and so started the long
process of re-designing the past. Where many might
have taken an easier option Doha actually chose to use
Qatari traditional materials and techniques when
rebuilding. Corrugated metal roofs were replaced by
traditional matting of date palm leaves, mud and straw,
not only providing roofing but also acted as a natural
insulation against the scorching heat in the summer.
An array of wheelbarrows were lined up in one of the
small alleyways, like modern day’s donkeys resting before
the afternoon shift. Goods were still bought and sold — it
was very much a working souq and not merely a tourist
attraction. Tranquil coffee shops offered a welcoming
oasis for a couple of Qatari man and their shishas. Two
26
TRAVEL
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
guards walked slowly down the path
holding hands for a moment, giving
them a human touch to soften their
otherwise stern expressions and loaded
handguns. Perhaps their forefathers had
met once upon a time in the old souq to
sell their goods and watch life go by.
Souq Waqif got its name centuries
ago when Doha was a village divided in
two by Wadi Mishireb. The villagers living
on either side of the wadi would gather
on the banks to sell their goods. During
the winter rains the river would burst its
banks and the water flow towards the
sea from the wadi. Seawater creating a
tide would flow into the area, making it
difficult for the vendors to sit on the
muddy banks, and the name ‘The
Standing Market’ — Souq Waqif — stuck
forever.
Gradually the banks of the wadi were
27
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
converted into shops and even quays
were built allowing for cargo ships to
unload timber and foodstuff from East
Africa, Iran and India. For these more
valuable goods the Shwikh appointed a
guard force to protect the stores at night.
I looked at the guards of today holding
hands and wondered if they too hand
been re-introduced along with mud
cladding.
We left the main area and went
exploring the smaller alleyways away
from the usual tourist nif-naf. A small
shop tugged away caught our eye. The
window display of natural pearls like
exclusive pick‘n mix sweets laid on a
deep red velvet, ready for customers to
select enough for the men’s everpresent
misbah (string of prayer beads). Amazing
to think that the Qataris once to rely on
these tiny drops from the sea. But that
was before the oil, of course.
The camels had left the parking lot by
the time we returned to the car, as had
the builders with their cables. I couldn’t
help pondering the dichotomy that
money had once ruined the Standing
Souq, but that money had also helped it
to find its feet again. And this time with
plenty of benches for comfortable sitting.
ART
28
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
29
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
It’s all
about
the
FACE
By Melanie Held
“
H
umans are something amazing for me,”
explained French Artist Juliette Thomson.
Focusing mainly on human portraits, Juliette
expressed that “the look of people is something that I am
always trying to catch.”
Juliette Thomson is an artist that looks to capture
people’s lives through their faces and thus show
everyone the similarities that we all have as human
beings, living in the same world.
“I’m very happy to have been given this opportunity to
show my work here at a public place,” explained Juliette.
“At the end, this country has given me so many things
and the Omani French Centre is exactly the place that I
feel both sides of me can be expressed. So I am very
glad to be showing my work here,” she added.
Entitled “Alter Ego” Juliette’s exhibition at Centre
Franco Omanias (CFO) has had guests looking into the
eyes of her subjects, searching for their life stories.
Inspired by all things colourful and Oman, Juliette
explained that “colour makes lifer nicer, it is as simple as
that!”
“I love surrounding myself with colours and the thing
that I love about Oman is that there are many bright
colours. The people are not afraid to use pinks and
oranges and then you have the green of the trees, all this
feeds my work and nurtures my work,” Juliette added.
ART
Explaining her exhibition and what one will see in her
“Alter Ego” exhibition, Juliette states that “here you will
see portraits from Africa. This is one continent that I’ve
not been to, but has some fascination over me, especially
the tribes in Ethiopia. You will also see portraits from
India. I love the Indian colours too because, just like
Oman, the way they dress and the way they express
themselves in colour is just incredible. You will also see
people from Europe too. There is a mix of everything
from Africa to Europe, to India to South America, there’s a
part of Mexican portraits too.”
As the main subject of her works being humans,
Juliette explained what it is that intrigues her to pick
these individuals over the many others that she has
crossed paths with whilst travelling. “There has to be
something that overwhelms me when I look
into their eyes. Usually it’s just the way that
they look at things or when they look at me
or say something I know.”
“I am fascinated by old people, so many
of my portraits are of old people because I
think what they have lived though is
reflected in their faces. You can imagine all
that life and all that emotion that is in them
just by looking at their faces,” explained
Juliette.
With each wall consisting of several
paintings portraying people from different
countries around the world, these images
are not only evident of Juliette’s fondness
for travelling, but also the rich diversity that
is found all around us. Using oils as her
medium of choice, Juliette stated that it
works best for what she is trying to capture
and convey because “it allows you to work
over and correct your mistakes and the
colours are always brighter, which is what I
love. The oil medium gives you richer and
brighter colours and it gives you a wider
palette.”
Even though each of Juliette’s works are
of different people from different places,
she looks at not only the people
themselves, but to the way in which they live
their lives. This causes each of the images to
be bold and full of character, may it be of a
woman, man or child.
“I did some portraits of some Omanis in
the wadi, they were carrying these bananas
and other fruits and they had some sparkle
in their eyes, something to say in their eyes,
30
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
31
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
something that caught
me.”
With the exhibition
on display until
February 12 at CFO,
Juliette wishes that
visitors to her
exhibition see,
understand and
takeaway with them the
overall message of the
exhibition. “The main
message is; as different
as we are as human
beings there is a
similarity in all of us, we
are all the same. We have the
same kinds of life we have
choices and we all have to
age, as different as we are, we
are all bothers, there is this
idea that we are just the
same, just human beings. This
is what I was trying to convey
by showing different places,
of people from different parts
of the world and to show how
there’s a link that you can see
in all of them.”
32
AROUND THE GLOBE
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
THE UPPER HAND: STUDY POINTS TO
EARLY TOOL USE BY HUMAN ANCESTORS
S
cientists said an analysis of fossil hand
bones of the species Australopithecus
africanus that lived in southern Africa about
3 million to 2 million years ago indicated
this human forerunner could use its hands
in ways very much like modern people. This
species, known for its mix of ape-like and
human-like characteristics, possessed the
uniquely human ability to have a powersqueeze grip as needed to wield a hammer
and a forceful precision grip as used to turn
a key, the study showed.
“Forceful precision grips have been
linked specifically to stone tool use and tool
making, and so it is possible that
Australopithecus africanus was using stone
tools as well,” said Tracy Kivell of Britain’s
University of Kent, who helped lead the
study published in the journal Science with
fellow University of Kent
paleoanthropologist Matthew Skinner.
FREE E-BOOKS OFFER SELECTIONS
OF UPCOMING RELEASES
A
pair of free e-books will offer excerpts from
upcoming releases by Dennis Lehane, Ann
Packer and more than 60 other writers. Buzz Books
2015: Spring/Summer and Buzz Books 2015: Young
Adult Spring,” available on Amazon.com, Barnes &
Noble.com and other major e-platforms, feature a
wide range of anticipated fiction and nonfiction
releases. Notable works include Lehane’s World
Gone By, Packer’s The Children’s Crusade and
nonfiction books by Maria Bello and Mika Brzezinski.
Louis Sachar’s Fuzzy Mud, David Levithan’s
Another Day and Sarah Dessen’s Saint Anything will
be among the books featured in the young adult
collection. The books were compiled by Publishers
Lunch, an industry newsletter.
33
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
LETTER FROM TITANIC
SURVIVOR SELLS FOR $11,875
A
letter from a wealthy survivor of the Titanic
grumbling about “disgraceful” treatment in
the press has sold at auction for $11,875.
The Boston-based RR Auction house says the
May 1912 letter written by aristocratic fashion
designer Lady Lucile Duff-Gordon sold on
Thursday. The buyer’s identity was not disclosed.
Duff-Gordon and her husband were among a
dozen people who survived in a lifeboat built for
40.
Tabloids dubbed it the “Money Boat”
because her husband was said to have bribed
the crew to row away faster from the sinking
ship.
The Duff-Gordons were cleared by the British
Wreck Commissioner’s inquiry. Lady DuffGordon was upset at media coverage and wrote
to a friend: “We didn’t seem to have done the
right thing in being saved at all! Isn’t it
disgraceful.”
FIRST ROUND-THE-WORLD SOLAR
FLIGHT TO TAKE OFF NEXT MONTH
A
plane powered by the sun will attempt an
unprecedented flight around the world next
month, the project’s founders said, seeking to
prove that flying is possible without using fossil fuel.
Solar Impulse 2 is set to take off from Abu Dhabi
with stopovers in India, Myanmar and China before
crossing the Pacific Ocean and flying across the
United States and southern Europe to arrive back in
Abu Dhabi.
On its five-month journey of 35,000 km (22,000
miles), the engines will be powered only by solar
energy. The two Swiss pilots will take turns at the
controls in the tiny cabin for five consecutive days
and nights in the air.
“Miracles can be achieved with renewables such
as solar power. We want to show we can fly day and
night in an aircraft without a drop of fuel,” Bertrand
Piccard, one of the pilots and the project’s
co-founder, told reporters on the sidelines of the
World Future Energy summit currently underway in
Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.
34
CONTENTS
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Chinese tea sommelier dazzles
PAGE 36
Leisure
DO YOU KNOW?
PAGE 40
35
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Nils Lofgren, guitarman to the stars
reputation as one of the hottest players around led
him to join the E Street Band in 1984 for the “Born in
the USA” tour as a replacement for Steve Van Zandt.
He’s been with them ever since.
He’s also collaborated with other artists, ranging
from Ringo Starr and Lou Reed to Branford Marsalis.
A
fter 26 grueling months on tour with Bruce
Springsteen and the E Street Band playing stadiums
across the globe, guitar man Nils Lofgren deserves to put
his feet up until the phone rings again.
But the irrepressible Lofgren is already back on the
road, treating his loyal fans to his own music in intimate
venues.
“It was fabulous of course. But I do want to do my
show again and now I’m doing that,” Lofgren said.
“It’s been something I’ve done simultaneously with
being in other great bands really the whole of these 46
years, starting when I was 17 with After the Goldrush.”
It was Neil Young’s classic album that first brought the
teenaged Lofgren’s name to attention, playing piano and
guitar after he had introduced himself to the Canadian at
a show.
His own debut album in 1975 was highly rated and he
enjoyed the occasional hit over the years. But his
Heavy metal acoustic
Lofgren’s own solo concerts are anything but laid
back.
“I try to think of it as heavy metal acoustic. You need
to be loud and to really command the room. You don’t
want to be a thin folk act where people can have a
comfortable conversation.”
At London’s Union Chapel, he played old favorites
like Keith Don’t Go and Shine on Silently as well as
Springsteen’s Because the Night. He opened playing a
harp, a Christmas present from his wife Amy a few
years ago.
He also tap-danced on I Came to Dance — a skill he
learnt after years of playing basketball necessitated
him having a hip replacement and giving up sport.
Afterwards, he chatted with fans and signed copies
of a 10-disc, boxed-set retrospective of his career that
has recently been released. He and Amy put together
the package after Concord Music secured the song
rights.
“We turned our house upside down for a yearand-a half, went through thousands of photographs and
posters, after a lot of work we had a beautiful package.”
Lofgren said he’s comfortable with the balance between
being a sideman and his own man.
“I love to lead bands but when you do, you’re playing
all the solos, you’re singing all the leads. It’s a bit more
challenging to be the front man.”
As a sideman, he enjoys getting to play everything
from banjo to steel guitar.
Future plans include writing songs for a new album
and more touring. “I think if I wrapped it up it would kill
me.”
He always checks with Springsteen’s camp to make
sure he’s not needed for the day job.
“It’s a very cherished honour and I’ll certainly always
be there if and when they go out again. Of course, I hope
there’s another chapter, like everybody else.”
TRADITIONS
36
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Chinese tea sommelier
The Sultanate thus boasts
to have the only tea
sommelier from
China and Natasha
is proud and
delighted about her
role. Says Natasha, the tea
sommelier: “Tea is not only
good for health but is also an
art. I am glad to pass on China’s
history and civilisation in Oman”
By Liju Cherian
H
ave you ever seen a Kungfu performance
before sipping Chinese tea. An Oriental girl
does stunning traditional art before guests at
the China Mood restaurant.
Natasha (Liu Ping) landed in Oman 5 years
back and has since been working as a tea sommelier at
the Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel. China Mood
has claimed its position as one of the top Asian
restaurant serving authentic Chinese cuisine in the heart
of Muscat.
At the restaurant evenings from 8 pm Natasha is tense
and busy as she sets about to serve the guests with her
own pyrotechnics. She pours the tea like you have never
seen before without even spilling a drop into the cups in
an act that defies the usual norms. Holding the longmouthed Chinese brass tea pot and to the
accompaniment of music she sets about serving tea in
her own usual style.
The Sultanate thus boasts to have the only tea
sommelier from China and Natasha is proud and
delighted about her role. Says she: “Tea is not only good
for health but is also an art. I am glad to pass on China’s
history and civilisation in Oman.”
Henry Tao, Assistant Manager, China Mood, says the
restaurant is packed to full and there are many devoted
customers who come to see Natasha perform. The
restaurant is getting ready for the Chinese New Year
from February 19 to 28 when there will be special
performances from her.
Marwan al Zadjali, Communications Coordinator, Al
Bustan Palace, is of the
view that Natasha
not only fits
exactly into her
role as a tea
sommelier but
also as an
entertainer who
excels in her job
from her wide
experience. She
wows the guests
each time
she
performs
37
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
dazzles
which leave the guests at the restaurant contented.
For about six months, Natasha mastered the Kungfu
tea performance through hard work and learning at
Sichuan, the Chinese tea capital. Her family came under
the heavy influence of tea culture since childhood when
she moved eight years back from Qingdao City,
Shandong province in China.
Back in her hometown Natasha earned praise for
many of her grand performances. She admits that tea is
not only good for health but is also an art. “Tea is the
quintessence of Chinese culture, treating guests and also
establishing deep relationships and keep them for life.”
At the China Mood, Natasha uses the traditional tea
performance and makes it look modern in a ceremony
wowed by the guests. She is closely aided by Henry Tao
at the restaurant.
Earlier she used to show her skills at the 38-metre high
domed atrium lobby of the hotel. She has become a tea
sommelier expert through years of hard work and
practice. It has taken years of tasting, training, and a
lifelong learning to call herself an expert in tea.
Anything on tea Natasha is an expert. She possesses
plenty of personal knowledge about how teas are made,
how they should be brewed, and what their potential
effects are on the body and mind.
As a well-trained tea sommelier Natasha is able to
recommend a tea to someone who does not know much
about the subject, based on what other drinks they enjoy,
and the kind of caffeination
effect they want.
Not only that
pouring tea into
the cups without
spilling a drop in
a class act.
38
EVENTS
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
EFG Sailing Arabia: Teams prepare for kick off
E
FG Sailing Arabia — The Tour 2015 takes
place from February 15 to 28 with practice
rounds taking place in the preceding days. An all
new format and a new route is set to give EFG Sailing
Arabia — The Tour (SATT) greater prominence in 2015 as
the appeal of the Gulf region’s leading offshore race
extends further afield. Sponsored once more by EFG, the
leading global private banking group, SATT 2015 will see a
radical change to the 700 nautical-miles route around the
Arabian Peninsula as the introduction of training sessions and a
new starting point create a more exacting test for sailors in the form
of strong and sustained headwinds in the early stages.
All identical Farr 30s, will start their campaigns at Almouj Marina at The
Wave, Muscat.
The teams are will finish approximately 14 days later at the Amwaj Marina in
Manama, Bahrain’s newest marina, where a grand prize giving ceremony will be
staged to bring the 2015 event to a close.
In between, there will be seven stopovers to showcase some of the best venues
and facilities on offer to sporting tourists visiting the Gulf region. The first 100 miles of
the first leg from Muscat to Sohar are expected to be tough but at the end will be a warm
welcome at International Maritime College Oman, which is hosting a SATT stopover for the
first time.
‘In the Know’ initiative to promote Omani artists
I
nterContinental Muscat and Bait Al Muzna have joined
hands to promote Omani artists to the hotel guests as
part of the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) “In the
Know” initiative. “In the Know” initiative is about how the
hotel can connect to their well-travelled guests to things
that make Oman as a destination special. Sharing the
Countries local knowledge and helping the guests enjoy
the local authentic experiences that enrich their lives and
broaden their outlook of the country.
Last week the hotel introduced Enaam Ahmed al Lawati
as the first Omani artist. Enaam is one of Oman’s
prominent and award winning artist who has exhibited her
work internationally. Her artwork is inspired by ancient
texts from bygone civilisation within the region that
include Assyrian, Ugarit, Aramic, Byblos, Palmyrenean and
Aad alphabets. Her artwork pays tribute to these iconic
and narrative early scripts and the civilisations that
transformed global history thousands of years ago.
This ongoing “In the Know” initiative will continue for
the rest of the year where other Omani artists will have an
opportunity to introduce their work. The hotel’s Club
Floor lounge is displaying various arts from the Omani
artists.
39
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
WHATS ON IN MUSCAT NEXT WEEK
Feb 2-5: Global Naval Medicine
Conference, International speakers
from USA, Australia, Austria,
Germany, New Zealand, Denmark,
India will meet at the Al Bustan
Palace Hotel, Muscat.
Gallery Sarah is hosting “Nectar in a
Sieve,” until February 2.
Feb 5, 8 pm: Boney M Live in Oman
at Oman Automobile Association,
Seeb
X Feb 7, 7.30 pm: Ute Lemper, the
reigning German diva of song,
S Muscat Festival from Jan 15 to Feb 14: The monthlong Muscat Festival 2015 will be held at various
venues across Muscat, Al Amerat Park and Naseem
Park.
THE Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) will host a
production of Giuseppe Verdi’s final opera, the witty
and fun Falstaff by the youthful Accademia Teatro alla
Scala from Milan on January 29 and 30. The three-act
combines her passion for song with Tango music at
Royal Opera House Muscat
Feb 17-19: Interior Design, Décor and Furniture Expo
at Oman International Exhibition Centre.
Feb 17-21: 6th edition of Tour of Oman as part of
Muscat Festival.
Young Omani Author writing competition registration
until March 15.
Feb 25-March 7: Muscat International Book Fair 2015.
opera, Giuseppe Verdi’s 28th and last opera,
premiered in 1893. It was based on a libretto adapted
by Arrigo Boito based on two of Shakespeare’s plays,
The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry
IV, parts 1 and 2. Falstaff is the story of the “fat knight,”
Sir John Falstaff, who is broke and in need of a quick
fix to his money woes.
Ragalaya Sandhya, a
Musical Evening with K S
Chitra at Al Falaj Hotel on
5th February 2015.
40
KIDS CORNER
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
STUDENTS’ WRITING COMPETITION
The Weekend magazine, published by Oman Daily Observer is
holding a special contest for school students in Oman. The next
topic:
‘SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON MUSCAT FESTIVAL’
Send your write-up, approximately 350 words, along with a
passport size photo and a copy of school ID in addition to
contact details to:
[email protected]
The best article will be selected by a jury consisting of Observer
journalists.
The winner will receive a gift voucher worth RO15 from Al Bhaj
Books Trading.
R Soundharya
III-B , ISWK
41
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
haavvii,,
Sneha Sambh
Grade IV, ISD
A WOMAN’S WORTH
She gave me life, she is a wife .
She is a mother and she is a
friend .
She is a sister and survivor till the
end.
Appreciate her, we don’t dare.
Ask her worries we don’t care.
Wipe away her tears, they are
invisible as air.
She works, cooks and clean.
She laughs, helps and comfort .
When you struggle she pulls
through.
All this and what do we do ?
Complain and create a mess.
Push her away ignore her advice.
Tell her she is nothing without
thinking twice.
She swallows her pride , puts her
feelings aside.
Does as you order for you to be
free.
Ignores your ignorance and
tolerates your flaws.
She always answers with pride,
dignity,and complete loss of
self.
YOU CALL HER NOTHING.
I CALL HER STRONG,
SENSUAL,CARING ,GIVING,
AND POWERFUL.
I CALL HER A WOMAN!
— By Raya Sengupta
Grade VII, ISG
42
KIDS CORNER
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
DO YOU KNOW?
S There are 15 surprising rules you must follow if you
want to work for Disney. You may be the biggest
Disney fan out of all your friends, but unless you’ve
worked at the parks, there’s no way you know these
surprising facts.
S Lenticular clouds (‘UFO clouds’) are stationary lensshaped clouds. They are a rare meteorological
phenomenon. They form when a tall geographic
feature, such as the top of a mountain, interrupts a
strong wind coming up the side. Have you ever seen
one of these before?
T The key to a longer life could be
porridge. One small bowl of
porridge a day can reduce your
risk of death by 5 per cent.
S The lump in your throat when you
are upset is due to the fight or flight
response. When an animal is
threatened, the nervous system
opens the throat to increase air flow.
If you are crying, swallowing is
difficult because the throat tries to
remain open, giving you the feeling
of a ‘lump’.
43
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Sudoku
ANSWERS
44
FUN TIME
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 9, Imp-Li-cat-e 10, Agreeable
12, Hike 13, F-L-or-a-L 14, Ant-hill 15,
Revolver’s 17, Passing on 18, Willowy
19, End-I’ve 20, O-miT (rev) 23, Compet-ing 25, Running on 26, Miss 27,
Close-(tha)t 29, Mo-roc-Co 32, Tormen-tor 34, Re-dbrea-st 35, Reviver
(rev) 36, Vic-Tim 37, Etna (rev) 38,
Single-ton 39, Plastered.
DOWN
1 Leave in the company of — pull out (8)
2 Provided much information, as those
reading aloud did? (5,7)
3 Joking about the barrier? (8)
4 Discovers that money makes money (6)
5 After all the work to get through, we’d
been beaten (8)
6 Having good luck with the lucky
number, recoups losses (6,4)
7 Confident it’s potentially nicer,
volunteers to occupy (7)
8 The dog fish, don’t be worried about
(10)
11 Force yourself to take the b—— call! (5)
16 I’ll break one in for him (6)
19 A little bird cage (3)
21 Light the genie appeared from? (5,7)
22 It’s needed if you’re to have self-regard
(6)
23 As it landed, the meteor pieces were
hurled all about (4,2,4)
24 “Poorly”, you repeat, “or not at all
educated” (10)
25 Tripe won’t keep (3)
28 Doing one’s best to get a string quartet
in (8)
29 Very keen to have a girl perform the
song (8)
30 Where the patients are anaesthetised —
towards the exit? (8)
31 Humble about the Latin verse I
translated (7)
33 A few, standing near, caught the bird
(5)
34 On the subject of cold pie, changed
the ingredients (6)
DOWN: 1, With-draw 2, Spoke volumes 3, Raillery 4, L-earns 5, W-all-ope’d 6, Break-s even 7, Cer-TA-in 8,
Bed-ling-ton 11, B-ring 16, Li-one-l 19,
Egg 21, Magic lantern 22, Mirror 23,
Ca-me to re-st 24, Ill-iterate 25, Rot 28,
Str-IV-ing 29, Mad-rigal 30, Out-wards
31, Servi-L-e 33, Ra-V-en 34, Re-C-ipe.
9 Involve getting the little terror to lie
about the cat (9)
10 Nice and willing (9)
12 Increase as you walk (4)
13 For a pound, getting about fifty of the
flowers (6)
14 A small rise achieved by a lot of hard
workers (3-4)
15 The Spinner’s Arms (9)
17 Telling the others one’s transferring to
(7,2)
18 Like the slim figure carved in wood? (7)
19 It’s edible is the conclusion I have
come to (6)
20 Forget, when turning, the man-hole (4)
23 Playing against a future favourite in (9)
25 Given energy by, talking non-stop (7,2)
26 Don’t be there for her (4)
27 Near that end there’s a cupboard (6)
29 Tick “bird-house” and “country” (7)
32 He pesters the people in “Twin
Heights” (9)
34 The remainder of the bread, crumbled
in for the bird (9)
35 It will pick you up coming back, too (7)
36 Two names given by the injured party
(6)
37 What you saw in Sicily before coming
back? (4)
38 The only one taking in one-way: not
coming back (9)
39 How the injured drunk left the
emergency ward? (9)
45
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
STARS FOR YOU ËÏË
LEO
AQU
AR
IUS
(January 21-February 19)
If you want to train a youngster
to think for himself ask him
once in a while for his opinion of certain
matters under discussion.
PISC
VIR
E
S
TA U
LIBR
(September 23-October 22)
A friend’s unavoidable change
of plans may mean a change in
your holiday arrangements. You will be able to
sort things out in time.
SCO
S
RP
RU
IO
(April 21-May 20)
You may be reluctant to accept
a chance of an evening’s
relaxation being tired and depressed, but you
will return home in a much better frame of
mind.
(August 22-September 22)
Don’t feel badly about having
to punish a miscreant. It will be
a salutary lesson and the experience will make
him mend his ways.
A
(March 21-April 20)
It would be a mistake to
exaggerate the importance of
your appearance. You will not be judged by
the way you dress as much as by your attitude
to the occasion.
GO
ES
(February 20-March 20)
You would not be taking an
undue risk if you invested a
modest sum in a flourishing undertaking
especially if you first take expert advice.
(October 23-November 21)
Avoid as much as you possibly
can the company of a nosy
neighbour who takes pleasure in interfering
with the running of other people’s homes.
SAG
GEM
ITT
IN I
ARIU
(May 21-June 21)
A friend who is too proud to
admit his need for help could
feel humiliated by your offer to lend him some
money. You will have to tread carefully.
(November 22-December 21)
You may be able to turn an
indifferent proposition into a
successful transaction by using your wits and
let the other person make the first move.
S
ARI
(July 22-August 21)
Today’s newspaper will contain
some valuable information on
a subject of particular interest to you and also
give you an idea for a new hobby.
CAP
CAN
RI
R
CORN
CE
(June 22-July 21)
At a social event you will create
a very good impression on an
important person who may be able to do quite
a bit to further your ambition.
(December 22-January 20)
Make sure that there is a solid
basis for a harmonious union
before getting too deeply involved in a
romantic affair.
If It’s Your
Birthday
After helping
someone through
a bad time and
making several
sacrifices you can
now look forward
to a happier and
carefree year with
more time for your
own interests.
Look ahead with
confidence and
should you
encounter any
problems
remember that the
past few months
are well and truly
behind you.
46
FINAL WORDS
THURSDAY, JAN 29-FEB 4, 2015
Simply Thrilling
D
espite rains battering Muscat and
other parts of the country, the
spirit and extravagance of Muscat
Festival goes on. Though it began on a
low note, activity at all the venues picked
up despite the wintry evenings with
crowds thronging Naseem Gardens and
Amerat Park.
Liju Cherian
[email protected]
This year the theme is ‘Oman
Fascinates’ and includes cultural,
entertainment and sporting events.
The 15th edition of the Festival
which goes on till February 14 also
coincides with the announcement of
Nizwa as the Capital of Islamic Culture,
2015.
Despite the approaching final
semester exams, the students are not
one bit cheesed off. The biggest
response has been from the students
who have the Education Village which
has been instilling great wisdom on
general safety, environment and
citizenship.
The kids centre and the Heritage
Village are yet another which offers
many learning activities for the children
in a fun-filled and exciting manner.
Muscat Municipality officials have to
be lauded for the preparations which
began months ahead. The events
showcased local and international
heritage and culture, entertainment
and amusement shows.
The Jurrasic Park at the Nassem
Gardens and the Snow Village at the
Amerat Park are the major crowd
pullers as they have been introduced
for the first time. However on the
transportation side, much is left to be
done.
Special services from ONTC to ferry
the public to a number of locations
ranging from Al Amerat Park, Al
Naseem Gardens, Seeb Beach would
have produced excellent response.
The Municipality can also probably
think in terms of organising smaller
cultural events during weekends at
parks and playgrounds dotting the city.
Sports enthusiasts also have their
handfull with the usual Tour of Oman,
coming up. There is also the Rotax Max
Challenge and drift events.
Since the first Muscat Festival in
1998, it now serves as a celebration of
the rich culture and tradition — as well
as the modern lifestyle — of Muscat and
the rest of the Sultanate.
With over two more weeks to go, it
is high time that those who have not
ever visited such festivals, to consider a
visit, since it is characterised by wide
international participation and has a
mix of authenticity and modernity.
It can also be considered as a place
where there is an intermingling of
cultures and where families meet to
spend in a relaxing manner.