Black & White mag Issue 39

Vol.

2 Iss

ue 3

9II

Decem

ber

7,

2011-J

anuary

6,

2012

FREE F

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Adventures of Adventures of

Mabrook, the sailorMabrook, the sailor p30

www.renaissance-oman.com

Issued in public interest

October was one of the worst months so far this year for Oman in terms of road deaths, new statistics

released by the Royal Oman Police show. As many as 110 people were killed across the country in

traffic accidents during the month, while another 903 sustained injuries, in a total of 670 incidents.

Speeding and not wearing seatbelts are the leading causes of road accidents. Please drive safely.

Don’t wait for an accident to change your view on speeding.

4 December 7, 2011-January 6, 2012

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC

Black & White

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

Office location: Hatat Complex A, Office no: 212, II Floor

Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496

Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com

Editorial: [email protected]

Printed at Mazoon, Muscat, Oman

XclusiveAdventures of Mabrook, the sailor

Mabrook Sangour bin Shaneen Al

Busaidy, a 79 year old sailor, pearl

diver and fisherman, relives his

sailing days and unveils some of the

adventures he has had in those days

Editor-in-chief Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Managing editor Priya Arunkumar

Work editor Adarsh Madhavan

Design & production Beneek Siraj

Photographer Ali Al Raisi

Advt. & marketing Shannon D'Souza

Priyanka Sampat

Conte

nts

Bitter Batter

Power corrupts

People in power can be

dangerous when they misuse

their power. Let it be whatever

power they have -- even if

it is to release a document,

approve something

55

14

1440

30

Dancercise your way out of misery

Promises to make and keep…

Exercise loves company and adores

rhythm, so why pound a treadmill

when you can dance your cardio

workout away, experts query

We still have some more time to

go for the D day, this time, so let

us quickly look at some of the

resolutions that men must make,

not just this coming New Year, but

permanently!

5Black & White

Caught in the lens of my own prejudiceBy Adarsh Madhavan

Sometimes scribes like me are caught in the lens of their

own prejudice. I stand shamefacedly at the end of this

year with this confession: I haven’t done justice to my

profession. What have I done as a journalist this year?

Silence.

More silence.

Dead silence.

I try to grope my way out of this void, trying to make sense

of my duty to this profession and I can’t for my life figure

it out. If I have accepted the fact that I am not allowed to

subscribe to the fair, accurate and unbiased story, could I,

at least, do a fairly accurate story? If readers believe that

we are telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the

truth, then, by God, I haven’t lied – not at all.

But, have I allowed myself to lower my standards,

accepted words as they shouldn’t be and allowed myself

to be garlanded by a string of words that lent itself or

any meaning, then I should be hung. For, I have, more

than often, let it be…let a tired phrase, let a cliché, let a

line loose on which I myself would trip when I read it in

print. I have this unfortunate fear to read anything that I

have written and comes out in print. Somehow, I would

always be disappointed at what I have written because

I know I have not been fair to the word, to the line and

to myself. I know I could have bettered it, had I read it

twice, or at least once, instead of skimming through it.

Whatever depths my ability to write a word or a sentence

has plummeted, it should not be because of a lack of

diligence.

Talent can wax and wane and while I held no credence

to my talent or ability to write, I knew that in the past hard

work was something that I swore on. While others cruised

on a line, I trudged; I sweated tears and blood and made

sense of it, even though at times, it went off the tangent.

I honestly don’t know why. Where is that soaring spirit;

being in the grip of that writing madness? Now, I am

stumbling in the shadow of my past integrity and while

[email protected]

I keep the ugliness of plagiarism, falsification, and

blatant lying at bay, I am still caught in the mindless

warp of self doubt and that nagging feeling of being

a crippled when I am unable to free myself from the

yoke of self censorship that I am lugging behind my

back.

Then there is this money monster that raises its head

at odd times, especially when you are on a good

wicket and driving forth on a hard story when the ugly

head raises itself and hisses. The words screech to

a halt and although I know the rule that advertising

does not blend with editorial, at times, the lines blur.

The head goes giddy with this potpourri of edit, news,

and advertorial and while you try to pinch yourself

to the fact that advertisements pay a large chunk

of your bills, the other governing factor is also fear.

Fear of everything. Fear of the unknown, in fact,

fear of the known too, because you know too well

the consequences of a journalistic act that is not

considered daring anywhere else, but is almost a

foolish act of journalistic suicide because writing that

story would be that – law suits, hounding and public

loathing and the fact that it is a lonely world not on

the top, but at the bottom of the steps when everyone

shun you like you were like the lord of the lepers.

Then, there is this perennial query of whether you

are in this business to sell your paper or magazine,

or have it closed down in the same flourish you

began it? That is when conscience takes a beating

because you realise that you are actually flogging a

dead horse. For a scribe, his/her ethics are like an

inviolable contract with the public, but, when they

demand something else, why do you want throw

pearls, you wonder.

Especially when bloggers and citizen journalists are

not cut up in their act as you are and are delivering

what they, the readers, want. Sigh!

The pictures of Yanni’s visit to Oman and his performance (which

I was not lucky enough to see) were superb. Like they always

say, the pictures told the whole story, and perhaps, it told us more

about this celebrated musician’s visit than one could describe in

words. Thank you Black & White for sharing us the rare moments

of the visit by one of the world’s living musical legends! Although

I could not see him performance, at least I have the pictures to

know what happened.

Usman T. A., Seeb

I am with the writer (Murali Iyer, issue 38, inbox). Muscat is a

beautiful city, and the officials concerned are maintaining its

beauty, but what can anyone do when certain miscreants are

bent upon creating havoc and destroying the purity of this city by

random abuse? I have fought with so many people who just spit

and litter about like as though this city is an over sized garbage bin.

Last week when I tried to stop a man from littering, he threatened

to report me to the authorities! I dared him, but he went away. I

don’t know if there is a law in Oman against littering and if it is

there, I hope it is implemented properly!

Anita Jhangiani, Qurum

I read the article ‘Better get fashionable’ (issue 36) with great

interest. I think the article only mildly stated what I feel about men’s

clothes. Men are no longer fashionable, I would say. Some of the

clothes that men wear these days and the weird combinations are

really making me crazy. I feel the youth are totally skewed about

what they want to wear and the fact that they have no clue as to

what is fashionable is evident in the monstrosities that they wear.

In stark contrast, women are quite fashionable and their choices

are really fantastic. They are not confused and that is reflected in

their wear.

Somehow, I feel that boys as well as men need to be properly

educated about fashion, otherwise we will have to bear these men

who go around like as though they are cast of an alien film!

Maggie Craig, Al Khuwair

Telltale pictures

Law against littering

Men are NOT fashionable!

6 December 7, 2011-December 6, 2012

Mail your views and opinions at

[email protected]

7Black & White

The fear of fear (issue 32, May 21 – June 20) was a pleasant piece to read.

In a light-hearted story, the truth of life is talked about. I really liked the way

the author chose to talk about our fears in life. Fear of future, hurting, losing et

al. But I think, it’s this fear that makes us go on in life. Remember how we felt

before exams in school and college? It was “fear” that made us score good!

Life is indeed a long run and a spark is needed to succeed. The fear within

all of us does not want us to fail in this long run. A mind with fear can help,

maybe!

Charu Pant, Khasab

Media renaissance (issue 32) talked a lot of truth about the media and its

freedom. It was a thought-evoking article. I totally agree with the fact that

stories are treated the other way after being edited. I, being a journalist, have

faced that situation quite a few times. Yes, the face of media has changed

and we are free to write about the happenings around us, but the pressure on

editors and reporters do not let the truth come out sometimes.

I give the writer who wrote a report about how a powerful man was rallying to

send an ambassador of his country back home a ‘thumbs up’! Its journalists

like these who have brought ‘media renaissance’.’

And I believe that journalists do realise their responsibility towards the

society and therefore will not misuse the freedom. However, journalists who

are writing for personal favours are always a menace. Knowing someone

influential and covering an event due to contacts is acceptable, but a moral

downfall – a big NO!

Charu Pant, Khasab

Fear of fear

Media renaissance


Are men becoming more like women…?By Anthony Barret

I want to ask all men a loaded question: Is it no longer a man’s world? Let

us assume that the gender wars are over. And then, if it is not a man’s

world, does it mean that women have won?

Ask yourself the question: Who is dominating the postwar landscape?

Women! That means women have won. The reason for bringing this up

is to drive home another point: Men are becoming more and more like

women. Their attitudes are beginning to resemble that of women.

And perhaps, women are becoming more like men too, but that is fodder

for another debate. What matters here is the question: are men becoming

more like women? And, if that is so, how come?

Look at it this way: men have been hounded since early days to become

more refined, more civilised and more humane. This has been drilled

into their heads so much so that the new generations, although not fully

grasping the values behind the requirements, have still managed to

become more refined, at least on the surface. It has not come from within,

because the refinement has started from outside, going in…slowly…

But in effect, the attitude of men in many a respect has taken a sea

change. With men becoming more concerned about their looks, the

metro-sexual effect doing the rounds, they are more family oriented, more

committed and ready to give their partners the equality they deserve.

So, men don’t dominate any longer and perhaps, women don’t either,

but slowly we see with the qualitative change, men are showing definite

womanly qualities.

Many of them are staying at home and working; or taking care of their

families, dropping office work and getting on to housework, looking after

their babies and generally taking a backseat in many areas. Ok, that is

fine, we know that men are no longer the macho guys they were before,

but, does it mean they are slowly losing it – are men becoming more

comfortable with their feminine qualities and thus have become less

aggressive, more tolerant and more considerate, but in the bargain have

become too soft?

Also, on the career front, men are no longer the chief home providers.

They have either taken the back seat, or are on equal terms with their fairer

genders. The men are no longer the primary wage earners too. Men are

today going through some of the same paces that women were put through

earlier and although they may or may not be equipped to handle it, life has

taken them around a full circle, right from the time their ancestors clubbed

and dragged their fairer mates to their caves to the time now when the

prettier ones are sitting across the table and dominating the proceedings.

Is life mean to the male homo sapiens of the human species? Only time

will tell. But, what we, the lesser mortals, can gauge from the current

scenario is this: it is a tough world out there. A world that the women have

been braving for ages, but now equally being shared by men and the only

problem here is that men are only getting used to it; they are suddenly

novices swimming in the rough seas of life and naturally, they are finding it

tough.

Men r

ead


9Black & White


Men h

ealt

h

Why can’t men wear

MAKEUP?Answer that question folks.

If women can, then, men can also wear makeup…or, can’t they?Tell us one logical reason why men can’t wear makeup?


Your Heart is Safe in Apollo’s Hand

P. O. Box 1097, Al Hamriya, PC 131 - Sultanate of Oman. Tel: 24787766, 24788263, 24788265

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT?

Men and makeup…now, that is an odd

combination, many would say. But when you

think about it…why can’t men wear a little

makeup? Most men’s skin could use a little

touching up and care dos…every now and

then. If women are expected to hide their

flaws with makeup, men should feel like they

can do something to look their best, too.

The purpose of makeup is to enhance your

natural beauty. Hiding imperfections is a part

of that process. Yet, where should a man

draw the line?

MARKET IS THERE

In fact, there are some companies that

feature makeup for men. So, the market is

out there. But, why is it still a taboo for men

wearing cosmetics? In fact, if there is a kind

of general approval of makeup for men, we

are going to find a sizeable number openly

reaching out for the products available in the

market. And most of them, who are currently

doing it on the sly, will emerge out of the

woodwork.

COVERING UP GAME

There will be plenty of them to follow the

cosmetics regime, some believe.

What is important is that none of us, men or

women, are getting younger. While women

are hiding their blemishes and/or enhancing

their beauty with adequate makeup, it is

natural that men also follow suit in this

covering up game. By putting on makeup,

men are not going to lose anything or they

do not have to feel any less masculine.

“Many men wear jewellery – that was once

considered to be the sole realm of women.

But, if you look back into the earlier ages,

especially in countries like India, the men

always sported jewelleries. What is wrong in

that?

MEN CAN’T ENJOY

“Society always seem to make unnecessary

standards and rules and dress codes for men

and women and it is a shame that men are

unable to enjoy the fun of putting on makeup,”

notes Stan Lyncy, a well known male hair

stylist.

20 PERCENT THICKER

Men have 20 percent thicker skin than

women, which means that men actually

need specially formulated moisturisers and

cleansers to maintain healthy skin, a noted skin

specialist says. Men have larger pores that

can accumulate more dirt and grime during an

average day; thus, a face cleanser designed

for women is simply not strong enough to

thoroughly cleanse men’s skin.

MEN’S COSMETICS

What are men’s cosmetics? Well, basically

skin care, shaving, hair care, and general

grooming products. We do not, of course,

mean lipstick and eyeliner, but beauty products

specifically designed for men. “Everything, in a

sense, to keep you clean, healthy and looking

your best around the clock. Once upon a time,

men subtly bought these items at the women’s

makeup counter in the local department

store or pharmacy and looked for unscented

versions of the products made for women.

Manufacturers now offer specifically designed

men’s cosmetics -- marketed to them -- but

offering transformative results,” a report notes.

As noted earlier, the skin of man is often

“much tougher and thicker than a woman’s due

to his testosterone and pH level. As a result, he

needs stronger lotions and cleansers to reach

deeper into his pores.

“It is true that hair skin tonics, as they were

called, have always been made with ‘manly’

men in mind, but most of these had harsh

ingredients.


Men h

ealt

h

to make and keep…

PROMISESRemember December 31 last year? And the year before that and the year before…?Remember all the promises that you have made…? Remember all the resolutions…?

We still have some more time to

go for the D day, this time, so let

us quickly look at some of the

resolutions that men must make,

not just this coming New Year, but

permanently!

In one way, it is not easy to make

healthy habits a permanent part

of our lives because there are

distractions galore. Also, your peers

are not exactly the best type of

people to have when you are hoping

to stick to a healthy diet and exercise

regime.

But, in reality, it is possible to make

your diet and exercise regime come

true. Yes, resolutions are easier

to break than to make and stick,

but, then, if you decide to stick to a

manageable health resolution, you

will soon realise that it is all the better

for you.

So, decide to live long and healthily

and for that, do try out these simple

resolutions:

QUIT SMOKING (AND OTHER

VICES)

Making this resolution (just like any

other) is easy; following it is another

story. Okay, you have tried to quit

before and failed, but don’t let it get

you down. The key to achieve this

goal is not to eliminate all at once but

to gradually reduce the consumption.

Experts believe that you are more

likely to achieve it if you are in a team

with a concrete plan.

Benefits: The relationship between

smoking/drinking and a whole range

of diseases is well known. A major

change will ensue after you take this

step.

13Black & White

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Most important resolution ever. Adopt

this and the rest of the problems

would fade away. Don’t let the term

‘regularly’ daunt you -- try at least

three times a week for about 30

minutes. Get exercise during your

regular daily activities by walking at

lunch, taking the stairs instead of the

elevator and walking short distances

instead of using your car.

Benefits: One study reports that

walking 30 minutes a day adds 1.3

years to a person’s life. Another

study found that walking can

decrease hypertension, lower bad

cholesterol levels and help you lose

weight. Regular exercise has been

associated with more health benefits

than anything else known to man. It

keeps the muscles in good working

order, stimulates the flow of blood

and makes you feel better both

physically and mentally.

EAT HEALTHY

To stay fit one must follow a good

exercise regimen coupled with good

diet. Fiber from fruits and vegetables,

raw nuts and whole grains is

considered to be good while excess

salt, refined grains, refined sugar and

fatty foods is said to be bad.

Benefits: What you eat has a great

influence on the way your body

works. A balanced diet is vital to

good health.

REDUCE STRESS

Easier said than done. Stress is

everywhere, whatever you do or don’t

do; whatever you think or don’t think,

stress is around.

Chronic stress can lead to

hypertension, poor digestion, a

weakened immune system and many

other conditions. Thus everyone

needs to de-stress. Spend some

more time with your family and

friends or on your hobbies. Take

a break if the stress is too hard to

handle. Other methods of coping

include proper breathing and

meditation techniques.

Benefits: Stress contributes to many

severe health problems, so it is

important to deal with stress earlier,

rather than later.

GET GOOD SLEEP

Sleep and rest are essential to

wellness. Sleep deprivation has been

linked to stress, depression, immune-

system suppression, and obesity.

If you are getting only six hours a

night, you have a higher chance of

developing hypertension than those

who get seven. The prescribed

amount of sleep required is seven

hours. However, it varies with each

person.

Benefits: It can boost your energy,

immune system and helps your blood

circulation to allow your body to

mend after the day’s activities.

DRINK AMPLE WATER

Water is the elixir of life. Drink

approximately eight glasses of water

per day (not carbonated drinks).

Benefits: But instead of getting

philosophical, let us also point out

here that it also helps in losing

weight. It regulates your body

temperature, lubricates your joints,

boosts your energy, eliminates waste

and provides fluoride for your teeth.


By Adarsh Madhavan

O

ff th

e wall

I am a Malayaleee

[email protected]

Yesss...I yam. I yam not hamble or

semble! Haark thoo!

I yam a Mala yaleee…

But, I don’t wear a pink lungiii (dhoti)!

I like kappa (mashed tapioca) meen

(fish) curry but like some biggies

think, I don’t stink of curry, nor do

I burppp after meals. But, I am a

Malayaleee…

I don’t like to be browbeaten, run

over or looked down upon, but that

doesn’t mean I am left or right! There

are those who love to be in politics,

but that is not a crime! Each to his

yown!

But, when you are not political, you

get kicked from both sides (ach

ouch)! All Malayalis are my brothers

and sisters!

Cheta (brother), it pains when you

make fun of my Malayalam and beta

(child) it hurts when you make fun of

my Manglish. I am between the Devil

and The deep sea.

There are those who feel you can

never be a Malayali if you cannot

speak chaste and pure Malayalam

and there are those who think

all Malayalis speak Manglish.

Am I morally wrong because

my Malayalam is not upto great

standards? I can be the Devil myself,

but if I speak pure Malayalam, will I

be forgiven for my sins? Should I be

looked down upon because of that

and on the same coin, should I be

laughed at because my English has a

Malayalam accent? You understand

what I speak no? And why is it that

you don’t laf-laf at the English spoken

by my French and German friends?!

I am not ashamed of my roots

(I am a Malayaleee…). In fact,

when one is away from Kerala,

the heart beats harder and the

distance makes it grow fonder.

I am not one who would hide under

an assumed identity because I am

in the Gulf. I am proud of my ethnic

identity and I love the language,

which I have been speaking since my

birth, even though I am not good at it.

But, somehow, I stick out like a sore

thumb…

Again, we are accused of groupism

(You Malayalee? I Malayalee! We

all Malayalees!), but is that wrong?

Everywhere in the world, birds of the

same feather flock together…it is just

that, like in Oman, we are one too

many, so we are noticed.

And yes, laughed at too. Sometimes

it rankles, but we are getting used to

it. And it helps a lot when we laugh

along with them.

Sometimes, these digs are rib

tickling (What does a Malayali do

when he has to stand for election in

Delhi? He changes his name from

Madhavan to M. A. Dhawan. How

does a Malayali spell Malayalam?

Yamm – Yay – Yell – Yay – Why

– Yay – Yell – Yay – Yum!). But, it

hurts when the digs dig deep (You

speak like a Malayali – but I am a

Malayaleee; You look like a Malayali

– but, cheta, I am a Malayaleee; you

behave like a Malayali – Yes, I yam a

Malayaleee…).

What can I do? I am born this way. I

look this way. I speak this way, I am a

Malayalee! And imagine if we all got

together (ha, ha, don’t worry, that will

never happen) and started laughing

at you and your language(s)!

Malayalis or non resident Keralites

tend to get hurt both within and

outside.

There are rabid Malayali moralists

and purists who insist on speaking

the pure language and at the other

end there are the highfunda non-

Malayalis (Indians) who despite being

a Bong, Gujju, Panju, Maru, Madrasi

etc and having their own language

foibles have a kind of superiority

complex when it comes the Queen’s

language as though they speak it

better than us.

The father (not mine yaaki; Fr

Cherian) of the school that I studied

in used to correct our pronunciation

(‘spunj’ (sponge) not ‘spawnj’).

But, when we speak Malayalam at

home and then English in school and

then finally more Malayalam than

English in college and then even

more at work, spunj can go back

spaawnj. It happens.

Like I couldn’t find a proper job in

my hometown, so I came to the Gelf,

and yes, I miss my family, but unlike

others I no make manney, and so

I struggle, struggle and one day I

make manney big manney. Maybe.

But manney or no manney, I still

Malayaleee. You yanderrrstand?

Off

the w

all

15Black & White

Black & White magazine will be contributing OMR34,176.400 to charity. This amount

has been raised by the magazine after it organised the Yanni Live in Concert event,

which was held at the Grand Hall of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in October.

The B&W will contribute OMR3150 to Omar bin Khattab School by buying 10 Perkins

Braillers for the students and OMR6150 to the ministry of health (MoH) by purchasing

two equipments for eye testing at Al Nahda Hospital and Salalah Hospital.

These machines are for eye testing and cost OMR3075 per machine, one for Al

Nahda Hospital and the other for Salalah Hospital.

The B&W will provide OMR14876.400 towards treatment of economically challenged

children (200 in numbers) by providing Riboflavin drops and will also be giving free

medical treatment -- to the tune of OMR10,000 -- to the visually challenged with the

help of one of the event sponsors, Muscat Eye Laser. “The eye testing equipments

and the riboflavin drops are being ordered through a supplier – Amico,” Mohamed

Issa Al Zadjali, editor in chief of the B&W, said.

The event sponsors were Audi, OIFC, Muscat Eye Laser Centre, Al Wisal (96.5 FM),

Merge 104.8 and Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. The venue sponsors

were National Mineral Water Co (Tanuf), Renna, Copper Chimney restaurant, Spicy

Village, Dunkin Donuts, Patchi, Café Vergnano, Bateel and Omantel.

OMR34,176.400to charity

B&W to contribute


Word

pre

ss

The Crisis Management Team (CMT)

of BankDhofar met to review the

weather situation and Meteorology

Department forecast. The meeting

reviewed effectiveness of the banks’

Business Continuity (BCP) and

Disaster Recovery (DRP) Plans to

prepare for any unforeseen and

disruptive events. The team also

reviewed the arrangements made to

provide uninterrupted services to the

customers and the communication

strategies, contingency plans,

emergency procedures to be followed

in case of any eventuality.

Abdul Hakeem Al Ojaili, general

manager (corporate services) and

head of the CMT assured that the

bank is well equipped to respond to

any disaster scenario that may affect

the business.

Though few branches of the bank in

Southern and Northern Al Sharqiyah

regions were affected for a day due

to flooding, the problems have been

resolved and the few affected off

site ATMs have also been restored

to normal conditions, facilitating

the customers to carry out normal

operations.

BankDhofar convenes Crisis Management Team (CMT) Meeting

The three-month long shopping extravaganza at Al Araimi

Complex successfully concluded with keys to a Dodge

Challenger and Polaris Sports man 300 being handed

over recently.

The annual festival at the complex attracts many

customers in the hope of being a winner of the many

prizes that are given away as well as to avail the

discounts and enjoy the diverse activities that are

organised during this period.

This year as well there was a draw held each month of

the promotion to keep the excitement alive. The grand

draw of a Dodge Challenger and monthly draws of

Polaris dune buggies were up for grabs, courtesy Dhofar

Automotive and Fairtrade Auto.

In the first draw, Sulaiman Ahmed Nasser Al-Wahaibi

won the Outlaw 90 and the second draw saw Ahmed

Salim Ali Bayaqub Mashikhi ride away with the RZR 170.

In the third ‘Grand Draw’ held just before Eid, Nasser

Mohammed Hamdoon Al Malki won the Sports man 300

and an excited Khalid Najbakht Sharshambeh Al Balishi

was declared the winner of the all-new Dodge Challenger.

In addition, many other customers walked away with

iPads, iPods, Bose dock systems, Bose computer

speakers, JVC LCD TVs, Osim foot massagers, Samsung

GSMs and Al Araimi shopping vouchers. The gifts were

handed over by Uttam Kotian – manager advertising and

marketing and Hilal Al Hosni, management manager of Al

Araimi Complex.

“The annual promotion is keenly awaited by all our

customers who are by now aware that it will provide them

with a double bonanza of shopping at their favourite

outlets and getting a chance to enter their names in

draws.

The dune buggies are particularly a favourite in Oman

as is the Dodge Challenger; so the draws this year were

eagerly awaited. The last draw was like an Eid gift to the

winners and they were ecstatic over their lucky win,” said

Uttam Kotian.

The CMT in coordination with

regional managers of the bank,

across the country, will ensure

availability of uninterrupted services

to its customers during the ensuing

holidays also.

Al Araimi Complex prize winners are gifted keys

17Black & White

Damas has rolled out the latest marketing campaign

to promote its new Farfasha collections with Lebanese

superstar Nancy Ajram re-signed on as brand ambassador.

Ajram was first signed as brand ambassador when Farfasha

was launched in 2005/2006 to target the youthful, vibrant

and fun-loving young ladies in the Middle East region.

Farfasha soon became the most popular gold accessory

for the young consumers creating the so-called Generation

Gold. In the 60-second TV commercial (TVC), Ajram, with

her ‘Meen Ma Ando’ as background music, is portrayed

as having fun with three other ladies during a night out in

downtown Beirut. The concept of the song is set around

the Farfasha brand – full of energy and fun, lightens up

everyone and wakes up people, and brings to life the art,

cinema and music scene. The TVC was shot over three

nights in several areas of Beirut, including Jemayzeh and

Hamra.

Damas Farfasha campaign featuring Nancy Ajram

The ISC Bhojpuri wing in association with the Indian

embassy organised a hockey tournament to mark the

Dhyan Chand Day celebrations.

The Bhojpuri wing has been organising this event for

the last four years and have honoured many hockey

stars like Ashok Kumar, the son of the late hockey

wizard Dhyan Chand, Dhanraj Pillay, Mir Ranjan

Negi etc. Mohammed Irshad Ahmed, convener of the

Bhojpuri wing has been credited with organising a

number of cricket tournaments in Oman.

The living legend of yesteryear, Leslie Claudius,

considered one of the greats of the game was the

special guest of honour, and distributed the prizes to

the winners and runners-up. Having won three gold

and one silver Olympic medal during his playing days,

Leslie Claudius has been inspirational to a lot of young

players. He has been recognised by the government of

India by being bestowed the Padmashree award for his

outstanding contribution to the national sport of India.

Dhyan Chand Day celebrations

An international exhibition called

the Industrial Machinery, Tools,

Hardware and Equipment Expo

(IMTEX Oman 2012) will be

held at the Oman International

Exhibition Centre from April 10 to 12, 2012.

The three-day trade exhibition, the only event in Oman

that directly caters to the needs of both manufacturers

and industries, will prominently showcase a full

range of products and equipments from local and

international companies.

Organised by the country’s reputed event management

firm Global Exhibitions & Conferences (GEC) LLC,

IMTEX Oman 2012 is being conducted under the

patronage of the ministry of commerce and industry.

The event also has the official support of the Public

Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), which

manages seven industrial estates in different parts of

the country as well as the Industrial Innovation Centre

(IIC).

“IMTEX Oman 2012 is primarily intended to cater to

the rapidly growing demand for all types of industrial

machinery and equipments. The exhibition will bring

together the biggest gathering of decision makers from

a wide range of sectors and industry professionals,

thus making the event valuable in helping equipment

manufacturers to target their potential clients,” said C.

J. Paul, chief executive officer of GEC.

Contact 24783800/95250277,

[email protected]

GEC launches IMTEX


After formalising a strategic alliance

with Fortis Healthcare, India, Hatat

Polyclinic LLC, An Assarain Group

Company, organised Continuing

Medical Education (CME) programme

in August. The speaker for the event

was Dr Harshavardhan Hegde –

director and senior consultant and

head of department of orthopaedics,

Fortis Healthcare, India. His lecture

on 'Pushing For Excellence In

Orthopaedics – Challenges and

Solutions' was well received by the

participants.

Another CME programme on

'Management Of Acute Ischemic

Stroke' was organised. The speaker

was Dr Sanjay Saxena, senior

consultant and head of department

– neurology, Fortis Healthcare,

India. Both the senior consultants,

Dr Saxena and Dr Hegde will be

available at Hatat Polyclinic for

consultation on regular intervals

commencing from October onwards.

Patients can benefit from their visits

and consult them in the comfort

of their own city rather than travel

to a foreign land, to sum up this

arrangement economical and saves

time.

Hatat Polyclinic CME

Mazda Motor Corporation will

showcase the global premiere of

the Mazda TAKERI next-generation

midsize sedan concept car at the

42nd Tokyo Motor Show. Mazda

will also hold the Japan debut

of the new CX-5 crossover SUV

equipped with the full array of

Mazda’s breakthrough SKYACTIV

TECHNOLOGY as well as other new technologies and production

models.

The 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will run from December 3 through 11,

2011, at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center. Mazda’s theme for

the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show is - “Environmental technology, pushing the

boundaries of the emotion of motion.” Mazda has previously announced

its plan to thoroughly enhance environmental and dynamic performance

under the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom long-term vision for technology

development.

Mazda TAKERI at 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

Muscat Eye Laser Center has announced the addition

of the breakthrough Avedro System to its ever-

expanding technological capabilities in the treatment

of corneal problems. The Avedro System, coveted by

the world’s leading eye-care clinics, is currently the

equipment of choice in the treatment of keratoconus,

a degenerative disorder of the cornea, in which there

is a progressive change of its curvature, leading to an

abnormal conical shape. The Avedro KXL System offers

a superfast, safe and non-invasive alternative to stop the

progression of keratoconus and, in many cases, to avoid

the need of penetrating keratoplasty (cornea transplant).

“The system is designed to perform accelerated

corneal cross-linking procedure (KXL) that represents

a qualitative leap over the traditional corneal collagen

cross-linking procedure. While the latter procedure

usually takes an hour and is fraught with post-surgical

challenges, the advanced KXL process is over in a few

minutes and with amazing results. Additionally the light

beam is more homogeneous producing a more precise

treatment that implies a safer result,” explained Dr Maria

Clara Arbelaez, medical director.

Muscat Eye Laser Center gets Avedro system

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19Black & White

HSBC has signed a $24 million medium term facility to

finance telecommunications equipment and systems

supplied by Nokia Siemens Networks - one of the world’s

leading telecommunications equipment suppliers - to

Asiacell, a leading mobile operator in Iraq.

The equipment and services supported by this financing

will allow Asiacell to continue to upgrade the quality of

services it provides to customers across Iraq as well as to

accommodate ongoing growth in subscriber numbers to the

Asiacell network.

Nokia Siemens Networks entered into a framework contract

with Asiacell in 2008 and has since been one of the leading

suppliers of telecommunications equipment and systems

to Asiacell. Nokia Siemens Networks solutions, financed

HSBC financing for Nokia Siemens networks contract

through the credit facility, will be used to expand and

upgrade Asiacell’s network in several different areas of

Iraq.

Mindshare MENA recently hosted their second annual Mindshare Media

Summit 2011 in Dubai in the presence of prominent speakers such as Marco

Rimini, head of business planning for Mindshare Worldwide; Sarah Kay, poet

and co-director of project V.O.I.C.E; Fredrik Bernsel, sales director of LinkedIn

EMEA Partners; Volker Hirsch, director of business development for RIM

(Blackberry); Juan Senor, partner, INNOVATION Media Consulting; Steve

Smith, Coo of the Arabian Radio Network; Mazen Hayek, group director of

PR & Commercial/official spokesman for the MBC Group; and Roy Haddad,

chairman and Ceo, JWT MENA.

The summit aimed to tackle some of the biggest questions facing the region,

from understanding the new art of story-telling in a digital age, to how the

rise of multiple screens will impact client communications. The presentations

included great examples of media innovation from across the world and

explaining what these new techniques and trends mean for our region.

Second annual Mindshare Media Summit 2011

Heart problems are common place in today’s modern

world. Thankfully there is now an opportunity to diagnose

heart disease early and have treatment before the heart

muscle is damaged beyond repair. Regular heart checks

should be done if you have a family history of heart

disease, if you are overweight, smoke heavily, or have

high blood pressure or if you are aged over 45 years. This

can easily be done at MPH by making an appointment for

the heart centre clinic.

"If vessels are blocked or partially blocked angioplasty

can be planned whereby special devices are inserted int o

the blood vessels of the heart to relieve the blockage. If

several vessels are affected then heart bypass surgery

can be offered, as in the case of Mr Graham. The heart

centre has everything needed under one roof to diagnose

and treat disease of the heart’s blood vessels. Graham

is General Manager Group Logistics for Mustafa Sultan

Enterprises and he wanted to acknowledge the fantastic

support his company has given him during this time," a

press note said.

New Heart Centre at MPH


A new state of the art OTE exclusive

tyre showroom of United Contract

Trading & Cont. Co. LLC was

inaugurated in Salalah recently. It

has the latest machinery and is the

one and only of its kind in Salalah.

It was inaugurated in the presence

of Anil Wadhwa, former Indian

ambassador, Sheikh Akram Hassan

Abdullah Al Murazza, director

general, ministry of commerce and

industries, Sheikh Abdul Salam

Mohammed Al Rawas, wali of

Sadah and Sheikh Mohd Salim Al

Mashni, director workshop, Royal

Court Affairs. On the occasion many

dignitaries Sheikh Naif Abdullah

Salim Al Rawas, Sheikh Abdullah

‘Oman Evo’, a self-styled group of Mitsubishi Lancer

Sports Car owners, visited Jebel Sifah recently, for an

up close and personal look at the services and facilities

within the sprawling Muriya development.

The 34-member team of Mitsubishi Evolution enthusiasts

drove their cars from Muscat to the scenic Jebel Sifah.

The 45 km drive from the city took them through the

peaceful fishing village, with mountains and the sea

adding to the visual delight, to reach their destination -

the breathtaking Jebel Sifah, which is fringed by sandy

white beaches and turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman,

against a backdrop of the majestic Hajjar mountain

range.

Oman Evo Team visit Jebel Sifah

Nawras SMS & WIN promotion winners

Amidst great excitement, Nawras is announcing the

first of 90 daily winners of OMR1000 in the current

SMS & WIN promotion. Oman’s customer friendly

communications provider held a draw on October 24 to

select 14 lucky Nawras customers who are the first prize

winners of OMR1000 each.

Nawras customer champions are now calling all the

winners from customer care number 22001555. Winning

customers will be invited to visit the Nawras main office

or their local Nawras store to verify their details and find

out how to collect their prize.

Nawras will not be asking for any personal information to

be given over the phone. The mobile numbers of the first

Nawras prize winners are being announced through the

promotion website at www.nawras2win.com. Following

each subsequent draw for the remaining OMR76,000 and

the three Toyota Prados, additional winners’ names will

be posted on the website.

New OTE exclusive tyre showroom inaugurated in Salalah

Abdul Aziz Al Rawas, Sheikh Khalid

Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Rawas and

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al

Rawas were present besides others.

Also present were Sheikh Salim

Abdullah Al Rawas, chairman United

Contract Trading & Contracting Co.

LLC, A.B. Singh, senior general

manager, TBA Division, OTE Group

of Companies, Ravi Kumar Setty,

senior manager besides Manpreet

Singh, sales manager.

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Audi Oman, the exclusive distributor

for Audi in Oman, hosted an event

to launch the Middle East edition

of the Audi magazine, which will be

published biannually and is a tailored

version of the successful international

edition, which has enjoyed a print

run of over 15 years and is available

in 25 languages in 70 countries.

The magazine will be printed in

Arabic and English combined in one

publication.

The magazine will be mailed to

customers throughout Oman who

have recently joined the world of

Audi. It will also be available in the

Audi showroom as well as selected

5-star hotels and retail outlets in the

Sultanate.

Audi is the fastest growing premium

brand in the Middle East, so we

feel it is the perfect time to create

a magazine to keep current and

prospective customers up to date

with the latest Audi news throughout

the region and internationally,” said

Jeff Mannering, managing director

Audi Middle East.

“The magazine is part of our ongoing

Omani launch of the Middle East edition of the Audi magazine

global strategy to delight customers

and will serve to communicate

new model launches, technologies

and news, and reinforce our brand

claim “Vorsprung durch Technik

(Advancement through Technology).”

Hosting the media launch of the

Audi magazine, Abdel Kareem

Awwad, national marketing and sales

manager at Audi Oman, said: “We

are delighted to be introducing the

new magazine to our customers in

Oman – ensuring they receive the

very latest information about the

Sultanate’s premium automotive

brand. I am sure that our tech-

savvy and sophisticated customer

base here in Oman will appreciate

the opportunity to receive the new

magazine in a range of hard copy

and interactive formats.”

Contact: 245 84510

“Whatever the occasion, we add flavour and fun to

it,” is the credo at Spicy Village. After a rollicking Star

Chef Season 2, the restaurant is now gearing up for

the final event of the year: the Spicy Village New Year

extravaganza.

“This will be the jewel in our crown of events,” said

Dayaparan, general manager, Spicy Village. Since this

year is the 25th anniversary of the Spicy Village chain of

restaurants in Oman, he promises it will be a mega event.

This year, a spectacular buffet with Indian, Chinese,

continental and Arabic Cuisine will be laid out. “In

flavour and variety, we will be second to none,” assures

Dayaparan. What’s more, live food stations will be set up.

This will include a finger-licking BBQ, a live dosa counter

and pav bhaji station.

A lively entertainment programme is also planned. The

highlight will be a live performance by the popular Omani

singer, Nadeem Al Balushi, and his team, who will soon

be launching his own album in Hindi and Arabic. He has

just finished recording in India under a big banner. The

audience can expect some unique new numbers from his

upcoming album.

DJ Saleem will keep the tempo racing. Unlimited games

and contests with gifts galore are in the offing, with prizes

for best dressed couples, best dancing couples and many

other fun-filled games. A warm bonfire and tambola will

add to the excitement, as will the ever-popular magic

show. Customers can also look forward to a grand raffle

draw with splendid prizes.

“Tickets for our New Year bash go like hot cakes, and are

usually sold out by December 27th. In order to avoid last

moment disappointment, we request you to make your

bookings now,” advises Dayaparan. For bulk bookings,

a special 10 percent discount will be provided. Tickets

are priced at RO10 only, inclusive of dinner, dancing and

entertainment.

Contact: 99224718

Spicy Village New Year extravaganza


renna mobile launched its benefits awareness campaign

recently. With a highly qualified customer service team,

fast broadband services, various recharge services,

and many more, this campaign aims to highlight renna

mobiles benefits and as promised to ensure that its

services, promotions and values are transparent and

clear to all its users.

“There are many benefits in joining renna mobile. Our

credit control features, various broadband bundles

tailored to suit our customers’ different needs, easy

and transparent price plans, are just some of the many

benefits that renna mobile customers can enjoy on a daily

basis,” said Joakim Klingefjord, chief executive officer,

renna mobile.

Our team is continuously working on improving customer

offers and packages that reflect customer lifestyle and

business needs. The way we see it, renna mobile was

created to make the customers life easier, focusing

entirely on managing their various needs,” added

Klingefjord. Renna mobile has recently enhanced its

broadband bundles where customers can now enjoy

more value with high speed internet access through their

phones and their laptops with the best prices in Oman.

Contact 80073662 or call 1240.

Renna mobile benefits awareness campaign

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BankMuscat, the leading financial

services provider in the Sultanate,

hosted a ceremony to celebrate the

long-standing partnership with Sultan

Qaboos University (SQU). Dr Ali Al

Bemani, vice-chancellor of SQU,

was the guest of honour at the event

attended by AbdulRazak Ali Issa,

chief executive, at the head office of

BankMuscat.

The SQU-BankMuscat partnership

is reflected at various levels.

BankMuscat is the first and only

bank to offer banking services on

SQU campus. The bank is focussed

on offering all banking and financial

services to the SQU student and

teacher community. Dr Al Bemani

said: “We are thankful to BankMuscat

for its valuable contributions

benefiting the SQU society and

we look forward to stronger future

partnership.” AbdulRazak Ali Issa

said: “As the nation’s leading banking

partner, BankMuscat attaches great

importance to national initiatives,

especially higher education aimed

at sustaining the country’s progress

and development. The association

with SQU stems from BankMuscat’s

commitment to the country’s future

generations.”

AbdulRazak added: “BankMuscat

enjoys strong relations with SQU and

is proud to celebrate the success of

the collaborative partnership with

the premier university of Oman. The

Bank is keen to further strengthen

the bonds with SQU, aimed at

contributing to Oman’s future by

investing in talent which is the real

wealth of our nation.”

Every year, BankMuscat welcomes

SQU graduates to take up

various positions in the Bank. The

recruitment of SQU graduates

reflects the bank’s determination to

develop its young leadership.

BankMuscat-SQU

collaborative partnership celebrated

23Black & White

Park Inn has been christened ‘Park Inn by Radisson’. This

was announced at a high profile event held at the rooftop

Lounge, Sama Terrazza that was attended by partners, key

corporate clients and the local media. “It is a progressive

step designed to preserve all of Park Inn’s existing brilliant

brand strengths and concepts while adding an instantly

recognisable connection to our successful and upscale

Radisson Blu brand. It offers a great opportunity to create

brand awareness for both hotels,” said Rabih Zein, general

manager, Park Inn by Radisson.

The change will be implemented on a gradual basis

Park Inn is now

Park Inn by Radisson

avoiding unnecessary waste of signage and collateral

and ensuring any disruption will minimal. There will be

very little will change in terms of daily operations.

Ernst & Young announced the launch

of the Entrepreneur of the Year 2012

awards in Oman. The programme

celebrates individuals who build

and lead successful, growing and

dynamic businesses. The event has

been running globally for 23 years

and is held in 135 cities across 50

countries worldwide. Rajeev Singh,

partner and Entrepreneur of the

Year Leader at Ernst & Young,

Muscat said, “I’m delighted that this

year the Entrepreneur of the Year

programme will be running as a

country programme in Oman for the

first time. Globally, every year the

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the

Year award gives entrepreneurs the

recognition they deserve. Even in

the most challenging times, these

business pioneers are looking

for opportunity and continue to

proactively take calculated risks to

grow. This is a trait that we celebrate

and a value that we espouse. The

programme also demonstrates Ernst

& Young’s commitment to fostering

the spirit of entrepreneurship,

which in fact drives the engines of

economic growth, especially in these

unusual times.”

To be eligible for consideration to

enter the programme, nominees

must be and have been for at least

three years, the owner/executive

director of a business (not subsidiary

or division); be primarily responsible

for the success of the business; must

have a significant equity shareholding

in the business; and must have its

chief operations based in Oman.

Awards are given to entrepreneurs

who have demonstrated excellence

and extraordinary success in

areas such as innovation, financial

performance and personal

commitment to their businesses and

communities.

In this inaugural event in Oman

expected awards to be presented

are:

The Entrepreneur Of The Year,

Oman, the recipient of which will go

on to represent the country at the

World Entrepreneur Of The Year

event in Monte Carlo in June.

Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year

(for those companies that have been

operating for two years and are able

to demonstrate that their business is

starting to make a real impact).

Other ‘special’ awards may be

deliberated and awarded by the

independent panel of judges. In this

first event we expect to present an

‘Eminent Entrepreneur’ accolade.

Self-nominations are encouraged and

there is no fee to enter. Application

forms can be collected from your

local Ernst & Young office in Muscat.

Contact: 24559559 extention 9506

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year


Social worker gets 2011 Al Shifa’ award

They also serve those who stand and wait. For

nearly 30 (precisely 29) years, P. M. Jabir, has

been tirelessly serving and assisting poor and

downtrodden blue-collar expatriate Indian workers

in Oman. Although his work has been publicly

recognised and he is quite a popular figure

among the Indian circle here, no one has officially

recognised his efforts.

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ight

25Black & White

While Jabir, like most dedicated

social workers, was not rendering

his efforts in order to get an award

or any official recognition, his close

friends and well wishers were hoping

their beloved ‘social worker’ friend

get some official recognition for

the service he has rendered to the

community.

Considered to be the ‘big brother’

of the distressed among the Indian

Diaspora, Jabir has been actively

involved in alleviating their suffering.

Since 1982, Jabir has been involved

in helping the troubled, suffering,

ill and penniless among the Indian

community without seeking anything

in return. While it may have begun as

a one-man army, today, he has an

ad-hoc team in place that can run the

show, even if the leader is away for a

period. So entrenched is the helping

mentality among these volunteers

that their helping hands have brought

relief, help and even happiness

among many blue-collar workers,

some of them who were at their wits

end and ready to give up.

A SYNONYM FOR HELP

As noted by those who have

benefitted from his assistance, Jabir’s

is a name synonymous with help. Be

it unpaid wages, financial help for

medical assistance or if it is even to

send the human remains back home,

Jabir, who is the founder member

of the Kerala wing of the Indian

Social Club (ISC) and social welfare

secretary of the ISC, was always just

a phone call away.

The beauty of it was that he or his

mates were available around the

clock. Jabir must have handled over

3000 death cases and thanks to the

popular Malayalam TV programme,

Pravasilokam (a programme on

Indian satellite television channel,

Kairali, which helps find missing

Indians outside India), he and

his dedicated team have been

instrumental in finding more than

70 missing Indians in Oman and

helped to repatriate them to their

waiting family members back home.

“This has been done in the last

decade or so,” Jabir, who is also the

Pravasilokam programme coordinator

in Oman and a member of the Non

Resident Keralites’ Welfare Board,

a statutory board constituted by the

Kerala government to take care of

the welfare of the NRKs, says adding

that the figure so far was the largest

find for Pravasilokam in any country.

FRIEND OF THE FRIENDLESS

For these and other social service

efforts, Jabir, who has been also

called the ‘friend of the friendless’,

has been awarded by the Bahrain-

based Shifa Al Jazeera Medical

Group’s prestigious ‘2011 Al Shifa’

award. The award was presented by

Mohammed Ali Karuvanthodi, group

general manager, Shifa Al Jazeera

Medical Group, to Jabir at a simple

but elegant ceremony held at the

Crystal Suites, recently.

“Jabir has contributed phenomenally

to the Indian community in Oman

and we feel we have chosen the

right person for the award,” noted K.

T. Rabiullah, chairman of Shifa Al

Jazeera Medical Group and a well

known philanthropist. The group has

presence in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi

Arabia and Bahrain.

While Jabir collected the award in

his usual nonchalant manner, he

was quick to point out that all his

efforts were thanks to his family, who

were there through thick and thin.

“Special mention should be made of

my wife, Shahanaz. My social work

and activism took a toll on my family

life and I must confess that I spend

very little time with them – but, she

takes care of my home, my children

– he has two daughters – and she

also actively dons the role of a

thoroughbred social worker.”

Jabir, who has been also called the ‘friend of the friendless’, has been awarded by the Bahrain-based Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group’s prestigious ‘2011 Al Shifa’ award


Moti

vati

on b

asi

cs

Say “Yes” cleverly!

By Nasser Al Azry

“YES” TO THE PERSON, “NO” TO THE TASK

The word “negotiation” brings up images of high-

pressure situations, where people have a lot to lose if

they get things wrong.

But how well do you negotiate? Do you know how to

recognise situations where negotiating is appropriate?

And do you understand the elements of an effective

negotiation?

NEGOTIATING BASICS

Negotiation is simply the act of reaching an

agreement as to how you will move forward. It›s the

process of communicating back and forth, and finally

having all parties agree to a solution.

In the book 'Getting to Yes', based on the work of

the Harvard Negotiation Project, authors Roger Fisher

and William Ury outline four parameters for principled

negotiation:

• Separate the people from the problem

• Focus on interests, not positions

• Generate a variety of possibilities before

making a decision

• Define objective standards as the criteria

for making the decision.

ASSERTIVENESS AND NEGOTIATION

Does the new committee offer career development

opportunities that fit with your long-term objectives?

If yes, perhaps you can give up another assignment

in exchange, or maybe you can negotiate hiring an

assistant so that you can reduce your workload.

This might even be the time to renegotiate your job

description and redefine your roles and responsibilities

within the organisation!

Whatever the situation, if you view negotiation as

a collaboration, you say "yes" to the other person by

respecting his or her needs - at the same time that you

give yourself the opportunity to say "no" to the task

itself.

Here are some key questions to ask before saying

"no" to a task:

• Do I have time to do it?

• Am I the right person for the task?

• Is someone else best suited to the job?

• Does this request fit with my goals

and objectives?

If your answer to any of these questions is "no", then

you may be best off saying "no"

To say "yes" to the person, first answer three main

questions:

What does this person really need?

• Find areas of flexibility.

• Determine priorities.

How else can this person's need be met?

• Find a different frame of reference or approach to

the problem.

• Look for time and resource alternatives.

How can I support this person to have the

need met?

• Define the larger goal.

• Look for common interests and needs.

EXAMPLES

"I'm sorry, I can't do that analysis this week.

Can I do it for you next Tuesday after month end is

complete?"

"I'm sorry, I can't take on doing this analysis on a

regular basis because Alex wants me to prioritise

development work. But I know Jane is working on

developing her excel skills. Would you like me to show

her how to extract the data so she can take this on?"

"I could do that analysis, but I wondered what

information you actually want from it. If it's the

conversion rate from the advertising campaign, would

one of the measures in the report that Marketing send

round give you what you need?"

When you collaborate, you consider everyone›s

needs.

Therefore, even if you have to say "no" to something,

you're still concerned about finding a way to get the

other person›s needs met, and this allows you to say

"yes" to the person. Integration and collaboration are

keys to this process. So, the next time you have to

negotiate, look for a way to meet everyone›s needs,

rather than leave one side with little or nothing.


27Black & White

WHERE DID THE PEARLS GO?

The Arabian region is very famous for the tales of the

high seas and its adventurous sailors.

With the abundant coastal stretch that the region

is endowed with, it is only obvious that these

adventures are imbibed as its very own culture

and tradition. Oman has its own share of sailors

and fishermen and their life experiences cannot be

captured in just a few pages. In fact, Oman is the

fabled land of the great sailor, Sindbad, it is said

Many fishing villages dot the coastal stretch of

Oman giving an insight into the past where fishing

and sailing were the main bread earners for many

families. In fact, the days before the renaissance

era, some Omanis lived off the bounties of the seas

before them. Although today it is a far cry from those

days, there are still fishing villages and fishermen for

whom the sea is everything.

Like fishing and sailing, pearl diving was also very

famous then and fishermen probably found an

occasional pearl when they plumbed the depths. But,

to gather enough oysters to make a living required

great effort. It required diving to depths of around

40 metres without equipment, in order to access the

offshore oyster beds. How did they do it then? Where

did they learn the tricks; who taught them?

Like fishing and sailing, pearl diving was also very famous then and fishermen probably found an occasional pearl when they plumbed the depths

Mohamed Issa Al ZadjaliEditor-in-chief

In Black...

& White

In B

lack &

Whit

e

Again the question arises as to why in the advent

of progress, the pearling industry did not flourish as

it should? Where did the pearls disappear? Was it

because of the discovery of oil that made us push it all

away? Many questions linger in my mind, but as I grope

in the dark for an answer, my mind still goes back in time

to the days when Oman was very famous for its pearls

and well, its fishes and seas...

The B&W team met one such sailor, who still carries with

him quite a lot of life experiences -- from his sailing life

to his close encounters with sea storms and his pleasant

and successful moments of oyster fishing.

When you hear tales from such people of a different

era, it makes you learn about the past, the lifestyles off

a bygone era and sometimes make you wish that you

could revisit those days and years.

Life used to be an everyday adventure for many, not

as a hobby, but as a livelihood with little or no choices.

They lived a life cut out for survival and basic amenities

and did not think twice about the dangers of the choices

they made. It clearly reflects on the hardy nature of these

people!

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29Black & White

ALL AT SEA

They had no idea from where the storm erupted and caught unawares, for a

moment, everyone floundered. The skies above broke and they were furiously

pelted with huge rain drops, which was nothing compared to the giant waves

that slammed on them immediately; the vessel began to swing violently and

for some moments they seemed rooted to the spot, with a grim realisation that

their end was nearing…

10 TIMES BIGGER

“We had never witnessed anything like this before. It was 10 times bigger

than the storms that hit Oman recently and we had no clue as to what was

happening,” Mabrook said, reminding us that he, at 25, was the youngest

sailor in a crew of 19 and other main sailors.

One moment, the sea was sublime. In the next, it exploded into a violent storm.And, in the eye of that storm was Fattah Al Rahman, a small Omani commercial

vessel with nearly 20-odd sailors on board. “It was a storm that could put the cyclones and storms that hit Oman in recent years to shame,” says Mabrook Sangour bin Shaneen Al Busaidy, a 79 year old sailor,

pearl diver and fisherman, reliving his sailing days from his modest home in the Muttrah area. This incident, which he related to us was in June, 1946, when this

group went from Muscat to Bombay (now Mumbai) on a sail boat

Adventures of Mabrook, the sailor

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30 December 7, 2011-January 6, 201230 December 7, 2011-January 6, 2012

31Black & White

SAYING THEIR PRAYERS

Heavy rains, giant waves, violent winds…hit the frail-

looking vessel, one after the other, which was tossed

upon the seas like a kid’s paper boat. And besides that,

the thunder clapped above them all as though thoroughly

enjoying the storm’s violent performance.

It seemed like doomsday and caught in that storm whirl,

those on board, including Mabrook, thought of nothing

else. They shut their eyes, said their prayers and tightly

held on to whatever they could on the vessel, which was

being battered with nature's fury.

The storm continued unabated for some hours and

finally when they thought they were already dead, it

suddenly subsided as suddenly as it had happened.

Those on board did not know whether to laugh or cry;

they pinched themselves to see if the suddenly changed

scenario was indeed true.

BOMBAY IN 12 DAYS

At first there was the proverbial calm before the

storm. Then, the calm resurfaced and it became deadly

quiet. The sea was always a bundle of contrasts

and contradictions and it took a while for the not

too experienced sailors on the Fattah Al Rahman to

understand that the belligerent storm had left them as

suddenly as it had descended on them.

“We soon got back on to our feet and shook ourselves

out of this bad nightmare and went about the task of

sailing again. Luckily for us, we were not set off the

course,” Mabrook recalled. In fact, despite being hit

by such a violent storm, the vessel managed to reach

Bombay in around 12 days. “Luckily, we reached the

shores of Bombay in one piece. Although we were

stuck in the storm for only a few hours, it felt like several

months and the 12 days it took to reach Mumbai felt like

12 long months. But, we realised that we were blessed

beyond doubt – for who will survive such a storm and live

to tell the tale?” Mabrook chuckles, lightly.

SKETCHES OF THE PAST

His eyes scoured the drab walls of his Majlis and fell on

his amateurish masterpieces – sketches of some of the

favourite dhows and vessels he had sailed on. During his

retirement days, Mabrook tried to capture and relive his

sailing days with such artistic efforts.

ADVENTURES GALORE

The Muscat to Mumbai sea trip was filled with a variety

of adventures. But, who would even dream that their

return journey would also be equally dramatic and event

filled. “In fact, our return trip seemed equally risky. We

reached Bombay in one piece, but the violent storm had

left its mark on our fragile vessel. This made our return

trip quite risky and challenging. We were waiting for the

inevitable and then it happened – a huge crack split

the vessel in the bottom area and water began to seep

in. The captain ordered us to clear the water, but it just

gushed in…”

Several hours passed and yet they could only make

slow progress and it was still impeding their sailing.

“The captain then decided that the only way out was to

repair the crack from beneath the vessel. Since I was the

youngest, I was given the task of diving below the vessel

and get the crack repaired!”

UNDERWATER REPAIR

Mabrook recalls how he realised that he was once again

put to a major test by fate, and this time around too he

was unsure -- as he was when caught in the storm -- as

to whether he would come out of it alive. “But, I did not

have much time to think – soon, I was plunging into the

icy cold and dark depths of the sea and swam under our

vessel.”

Diving into the icy cold water was itself a shock and the

young Omani boy almost froze, but they were all used

to obeying orders and this enabled him to just do as he

was told. “Besides the icy cold sea, there was also this

fear of the unknown and mysterious creatures that were

believed to reside in the deep. I was scared of the known

creatures too, especially of the sharks and other fishes

that swam around me when I dove beneath the vessel.

But, I focussed on the task before me and tried to drown

every other thought or fear.”

He dove beneath, tried fixing the crack and then rushed

back to suck in air. This went on for hours and soon he

and his other mates managed to get the dangerous crack

on the vessel repaired.

“I know all of this sounds dramatic, but even when I

look back, I know that it was something else; nothing

like what I have ever experienced – this sailing trip from

Muscat to Bombay and back was an unforgettable one –

it remains etched in my mind and embedded in my heart

– l learnt how to be a man in a single sailing trip! “And

more importantly, we survived what was by no means an

ordinary ordeal – we had to survive, there was no other

option!”

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HUMBLE ABODE

Mabrook’s humble abode was set in Mateirah in

Muttrah, somewhere near the foothills of Fort Mirani,

which fronted the Muscat bay in the Corniche area.

Unusually, none of his family members were into sailing,

fishing or anything remotely connected to Mabrook’s

lifelong profession. Even his brothers did not get into

sailing or fishing. “Somehow, right from a very young age,

I was drawn to the sea and I have never drifted away

from it,” Mabrook tells us, charting his growth from his

early swimming days to fishing, then sailing, pearl diving

and the like.

Somehow, everything he did was connected to the sea,

and despite the challenges the seas posed and also the

fact that the rewards were not always forthcoming, he

did not abandon the only livelihood that came by. The

sea always threw up adventures after the other. As we

chatted, Mabrook also recalled the time when he made

the longest swim of his life.

April, 1950HIS LONGEST SWIM

“I was enjoying my meager lunch – rice, fish and dates

-- on my small boat, one mid afternoon, in 1950. Lunch

was always a big affair as that was the only meal we had.

Though the skies were cloudy, I did not expect any

problems. I was waiting for my day’s catch and hoping to

return home by evening, but then…”

Then, once again, a storm broke without any warning;

the serenity of that lazy afternoon was broken with a

sudden stormy sky and sea outburst spurting out from

nowhere. “There, in a short span of 30 minutes, the

waves around me grew in giant sizes and walloped my

tiny boat. Little did I expect the boat to capsize and throw

me out in to the rough seas! I tried to hold on to my boat,

but it sunk, leaving me with nothing to hold on to…

"I swam for my life, back to the shore, a good three to

four hours of swimming... it was one of the longest swim

I ever had. When my clothes began to get heavier and

started pulling me down, I just shed them, broke free and

rapidly swam to the shore…by the time I reached the

shore, I was half dead and had to literally drag myself up

the beach.”

33Black & White

NATURAL SWIMMER

Having lost his boat, Mabrook was then forced to work

with his friends, until he could get other sailing jobs to

earn a living. “The sea was the only source of income

for many of us in those days. Education remained a

dream and we were focussed on earning a living at any

cost. Growing up in the coastal area made me a natural

swimmer and the sea my second home.”

SEA, MY LIVELIHOOD

As a child Mabrook grew up playing near the beaches,

and so the sea was naturally a part and parcel of his life.

“Probably that taught me swimming, my only life skill,

and soon I chose a sailing career. I knew nothing else.

I began my life as a fisherman, sailing, taking people

around in a small boat, then ran a ferry service, and

finally got in to the government sector as a sailor.

I started with a basic salary of Indian Rupees 30 (Oman

had Indian currency then). Sailing and fishing brought in

the some money, but it was not enough.

I, along with a few friends, then ventured in to oyster

fishing, diving for pearls. Oman was very famous for

its pearls then and sometimes, when we were lucky,

we made triple the usual money, if we found pearls,”

Mubarak said, delving into another exciting phase of his

sea life.

After his diving and sailing days, he retired from his

sailing job in 1986 and then took up a civilian job in the

military, he added.

PEARL DIVING

Pearls were in good demand in those days and the

money kept the divers motivated. “Most of the times the

pearls turned out to be rare and small, but we always

found buyers.

Oman was famous for pearls and we had good Asian

and European visitors who bought them as well as some

regular buyers. The local market was not thriving and

healthy, but we, the young fishermen, made our extra

money by selling pearls.

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30 PEARLS IN ONE OYSTER

“I remember a freak fishing episode once in the late 60s

when I went pearl diving. It was a very freaky, lucky day

for me. I dove and found oysters and then later when I

checked their insides, I discovered that one of them had

a cluster of small pearls -- numbering to around 30 --

embedded inside! It was an unbelievable find for me!

Not one or two or three… but 30 pearls! I could not

believe my eyes. My friends happily surrounded me and

congratulated me on my catch.”

Usually, after the fish and pearls sale, they used to go

home with their dishdasha pockets full.

“But that day, I ran home clutching a bag full of money!”

Mabrook happily recalled. Today, his only disappointment

is that the pearl industry never took off. “If only the

industry had thrived, all of us in this profession would be

in a better position today!”

COURAGE AND PATIENCE

Like any sailor, Mabrook not only had many sea tales to

recount, but his watery sojourn has also taught him many

valuable lessons.

“Simple tricks, employing the trial and error process etc.,

taught me how to live. When I used to get queasy or sea

sick on sea, I would drink a mouth of sea water. It may

taste bad, but, it made me alright! Just a mouth or two,

more will make you sicker! Everything should be taken in

moderation!

“When you are alone and fend for yourself, what do you

learn? Courage! Yes, a life of sailing and fishing has

taught me to be brave and more importantly to have

patience. It taught me to face life head on and to swim

out of darkness. I have had a happy life, though there

are times when I wish I could have done better, sailed to

other countries too!”

But, he immediately noted how tough and challenging life

was then. “I was the sole bread earner for my family and

I had to bring home the bacon! The sea taught me great

patience and it also taught me how to deal with life and

sudden surprises – even nasty ones -- and rise up to any

challenges.

“Today, thank God, I am still alive to tell you all these

tales. I am the sole surviving member of that fishing and

pearl diving clan of that time in Muttrah.

All of my friends have passed away … now whenever I

get a chance, I will pass on the seafaring and pearling

tales of my time, detailing to the youngsters of today the

stories of fear as well as triumph, also teaching them a

few fishing tricks that I have learnt during my time.

“I never had a camera nor even thought of recording any

of the events of my humble past, but, I have still managed

to sketch some of the vessels that I had sailed on for my

children and my grandchildren to see!”

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Ali Al Raisi


35Black & White

Why ‘open communications’

By Dr CK Anchan

Dr Anchan C.K.

managing director,

World Wide Business House

It is easy to be open and honest about

what we appreciate. When someone does

something that we like, saying “thanks” is

easy. Saying “what you did help me a lot” is

natural.

Speaking openly and honestly about painful

problems is sometimes another matter. If

I tell my boss about my problem, will he or

she care? Listen? Tell me to shut up and

work? Insult me in return, accusing me of

complaining?

Let’s suppose some of the answers to these

questions is “no” and that my boss stifles

my voice. What then?If that happens, often

people will give up on the idea that speaking

about the problem to their boss. Instead they

simmer, gossip or worse.

Taken to its extreme, such organisations

turn employees into serfs in a kind of

organisational fiefdom “ruled” by the executive

elite group. Communication flows one way,

orders are given and people are expected to

execute the orders.

While such organisations may be able to

respond to certain emergencies efficiently,

such a structure, strictly applied, is not usually

good at learning, providing an atmosphere

of respect for employees, or developing

high-quality services.That’s because when

communication goes only one way, it cuts off

feedback loops in the organisation.

History has been re- written with adopting

open communications; let me give an insight

towards the world's best two examples.

IBM’S OPEN DOOR POLICY

In the 1920’s, IBM instituted a process they

called the 'Open Door' policy. Here’s how it

worked:

Employees with an unresolved problem

were expected to take their problems to their

managers. If they didn’t get them resolved

to their satisfaction, they had a right to take

the problem directly to the Ceo, Thomas J.

Watson Jr. He said that through this policy,

he could get a “measure of IBM’s health”,

that on several occasions, “a single protest

led to a substantial change in the way we did

business” that “the Open Door was a morale

builder. It made them (employees) feel free to

approach a personnel manager or the person

running the plant when they had a problem.”

Watson’s office handled two or three hundred

cases a year, and he spent twenty five percent

of his time on problems voiced via the Open

Door policy. After 40 years of using the Open

Door, 1960’s IBM gave birth to the era of

computers and became the world’s most

profitable company.

GENERAL ELECTRIC’S “WORK-OUT”

SESSIONS

General Electric, one of the world’s largest

corporations, found a way to give employees

a voice.

The Ceo Jack Welch and other managers

practiced a forum called “Work-Out”. Work-Out

was a series of thousands of “town meetings

for GE employees to voice their issues,

problems and suggestions. After hearing the

employees’ comments, the managers of the

meetings had to follow a rule; they had to

come back into the room within two days and

say yes or no, right on the spot, for 75 percent

of the total issues raised.

Describing these meetings Jack Welch said

that they “broke the barrier of people really

understanding that, in fact, people’s ideas

count. That was a major, major breakthrough.”

To conclude: “Healthy families have a rule that

each family member can honestly say what

they experience and ask for what they want.” I

suppose this is the best practice, what do you

say?

35Black & White

Managem

ent

talk

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37Black & White

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numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares

so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same

number only once.

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People in power can be dangerous when they misuse their power. Let it be

whatever power they have -- even if it is to release a document, approve

something, or, better still, to do their duty, they tend to abuse their position,

which has been given to them by higher ups in the hope that it will be a boon to

the people, whom they actually serve. Power should not corrupt you, instead,

it should be seen as what it truly is – a blessing to help the ones without the

power. But, instead of helping, they would throw their weight around, totally

disrupting the proceedings and making the whole affair a painful one. People

with power, people with a certain amount of authority etc are ones who have

been officially given that position. It is given to them in the hope that they serve

the public. The power is given to them to so that they employ their official power

to service the needs of the public, not to thwart their requirements or make

the common man’s life one of misery. Instead of humbly serving, these power

holders only succeed in thwarting the requirements of the public.

Why is it that power tends to corrupt so many people, we wonder and we are

left with no answer. And why should we, the members of the public suffer, for

no fault of ours? Why are these powerful, but still corrupt, members still given

such posts?

We get letters from readers telling us that people have no concern about

environment and there are plenty out there who tend to have no concern about

Oman in any manner. They spit and litter and have no interest in keeping this

country clean and sincerely don’t care about such things. But, there is an

increasing frustration among many about the kind of salesmen and women

manning counters of supermarkets in town? Oman has enough and more of

stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets, but are the sales populace in these

places totally insensitive to the needs of the customers and is it true that they

really don’t care whether the customer buys or not?

Somehow we get the feeling from the increasing number of complaints

received about bad salesmen and women in these outlets. Of course, we have

also experienced the same and we feel that it is not only true, but nothing

seems to be done about it. More and more sales personnel are joining this

army out there in the outlets and more and more inexperienced, untrained and

ill mannered sales personnel are out there in all these outlets and soon, we are

all going to be numbed and used to the bad manners and bad sales of these

personnel. Shouldn’t we all act before we reach a state where we are even too

numb to react, to protest – or, are we there already?

Power corrupts

Too numb

to protest

Nit

tern

att

er

We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now. Fi-nally, 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 fort-night, here is some nitter natter for the B&W Bitter Batter:

(Note: Readers who have something bitter to chatter about can either email on [email protected] or call 99218461)

More on the freebies later, but, we are tempted to ask one

question. At a recently concluded major concert, it was noticed

that a certain section that was reserved for special needs people

at the event was duly filled by those who were perfectly normal.

How did this happen? As the organisers of the event scratched

their heads wondering how that happened, they had more to look

into: apparently, a good segment of freeloaders streamed into the

show just when the lights dimmed and snuck into whatever seats

reserved for the organisers and the volunteers. Since the show

had already begun, most of the organisers and volunteers could

do little but to stand and watch the proceedings.

‘Free’ revenge

Who let the cat in?

AJAY ENTERPRISESPO BOX 54, PC 100.

TEL : 24815485 FAX : 24815490E-MAIL: [email protected]

Website: www.albahja.com

AJAAYY EENNTTEERRPPRRIISSEESPPPPPPOOOOOO BBBOOOOXXXXX 5555544444,, PPPPPCCCCC 1111100000000000..

TTTTEEEELLL ::: 22224444888811155544888555 FFFAAAXXX :: 22448811555449000EEEE--MMMMAAAAIIIILLLL:: mmmmmaaaarrrrkkkkeeeeettttiiinnggggg@@@aallbbaahhhjjaa..ccoomm

WWWWeebbbbsssiiiitttee:: wwwwwww..aaaalllbbbaaahhhhjjjaa..ccoommm39Black & White

Free entry to events is considered to be the norm among many

so-called music and art lovers in Oman, but it is a pity when non

receivers of free tickets to shows take it to heart and then unleash

their impotent fury on the members of the show organisers in the

future. What we heard on the grapevine is that one senior VIP,

who normally gets free tickets to almost all shows, was singularly

ignored for a recent biggie

event in town and he has

vowed to get back at that

particular show organiser

because he was summarily

“left out”! “Let them come

to me for a favour, and

I will show them,” he is

reportedly have told his

office folks.


Take your time. A decision

you make will clearly affect your

future earning potential. Don’t be

scammed by a fast talker making

empty promises. Put your best foot

forward and show everyone what

you’ve got going. Your skill coupled

with your determination will captivate

a crowd and help you initiate

something you’ve wanted to do.

Open up to new ideas,

lifestyles or activities in the early

part of the week and you will

broaden your outlook as well as your

friendships. There is a whole new

world waiting for you to take part, so

spread your wings and get involved.

It’s very likely you will discover that

change isn’t so bad after all.

Don’t let anyone convince

you that you must take part in

something or make a donation. You

don’t want to end up being part of

a scam or out cash that you can

put to better use. Avoid making

fresh investments. Emotions are

topped up causing confusion in

your personal life. Stay away from

gossipers.

Make memories with

someone you cherish this week,

but be cautious when considering

products that offer to turn you into

something you are not. Don’t spend

money on someone or something

that will not benefit you personally.

You have to invest in you if you want

to be successful.

Take credit where credit is

due. Show your feelings and avoid

unnecessary stress and turmoil.

Someone is likely to jump ship

leaving you high and dry. Don’t let

this stop you from following through

with your plans. You have plenty

to offer and can do just as well all

by yourself. Originality will promote

progress.

A lifestyle change this week

will help you get out and socialise

with a new group of people. You’ll

learn a hard lesson if you let a friend

or colleague take over and take credit

for something you’ve been working

towards. Stand up for your rights or

you will set a standard that will keep

repeating.

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 staARIES

CANCER

TAURUS

LEO

GEMINI

VIRGO

Horo

scope

STEVEN ALLAN SPIELBERG KBE (BORN DECEMBER 18, 1946)

is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game

designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four

decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres.

Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as

an archetype of modern Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking. In later

years, his films began addressing such issues as the Holocaust,

slavery, war and terrorism. He is considered one of the most popular

and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema.He is also one of

the co-founders of the DreamWorks movie studio.

Spielberg won the Academy Award for best director for Schindler's

List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Three of Spielberg's

films—Jaws (1975), E.T.– the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and Jurassic

Park (1993) – achieved box office records, each becoming the

highest-grossing film made at the time. To date, the unadjusted gross

of all Spielberg-directed films exceeds $8.5 billion worldwide.

Search for a chance to try something unique this week.

A partnership with someone who has as much to contribute is

looking good. You shouldn’t have to use your own cash or pay

for someone else, in order to get things done properly. Use your

finesse and charm and you will be the one being paid for.

Giving in to someone who is demanding or trying to

get something from you will send the wrong message. Stand firm

and refuse to pay for someone else’s mistakes. You can secure

your position personally and financially by making a few crucial

changes to your portfolio.

Pull out all the stops and present, promote and push

for what you want. Working quickly to satisfy a request will speak

volumes about your intentions. Emotional matters will surface

this week, complicating issues, if you have ignored someone who

depends on you for companionship and comfort.

Educational or travel plans may be derailed, if you

haven’t got all your papers in order. Don’t rely on someone

else to fill in the blanks. Settle matters quickly so you don’t

miss out on an opportunity that pops up. Take your chance

with new opportunities surfacing.

Be careful of what others promise. Someone is likely

to back out of a deal or ask for something back that you’ve

been given. Put your heart on the line and you can make some

interesting changes at home that are conducive to love romance

and raising your comfort level.

Compromise may not sit well with you, but it will be

necessary if you want to get the support you need to get your

dreams off the ground. Stick to your story and eventually you

will get through to the people who count. You cannot give in to

complaints or ultimatums if you want to come out on top.

September 24-October 22

December 23-January 20

October 23-November 22

January 21-February 19

November 23-December 22

February 20-March 20

arsLIBRA

CAPRICORN

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

AJAY ENTERPRISESPO BOX 54, PC 100.

TEL : 24815485 FAX : 24815490E-MAIL: [email protected]

Website: www.albahja.com

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TTTEELL ::: 2224448881115554448888555 FFFFAAAAXXX ::: 22224444888881115555554444444999000EEEE----MMMMAAAAAAAIIIIIIILLLLL:::: mmmmaaarrrrkkkkkeeeettttttiiiinnnnngggg@@@@@aaaalbaaaahhjjjjjjaa.ccccooooooommmm

41Black & White


Kid

stuff

43Black & White

Tongue twistersSanta’s Short Suit Shrunk

Santa Claus

Fun facts about

Santa Claus incorporates many traditions: Christian and

Pagan, Old Catholic, Scandinavian, Dutch, German and

English.

Santa brings us all together! Kids all over the world know

who Santa is, here are a few facts on the multicultural

Santas:

In Italy Babbo Natale, which means Father Christmas, is

Santa. Children put a pair of their shoes by the door on the

day before Epiphany and the following morning they find

them filled with small gifts and candy.

In Spain children leave their shoes under the Christmas tree

the night of January 5th and presents from the Three Kings

(Los Reyes Magos: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar) appear

the next morning. Santa Claus is called Papa Noel and

some children receive presents both days on December

24th (from Papa Noel) and on January 6th (from the Three

Kings). In Morocco he is known as Black Peter.

In Japan, Santa Claus is called Santa Claus or just “Santa”.

Children often call him “Santa no ojisan,” which means

“Uncle Santa".

In Sweden Jultomten visits the evening before Christmas

day, pulling a big bag of julklappar (Christmas presents) in

the deep snow.

In the Netherlands, he is called Kerstman.

In Finland, he is called Joulupukki.

Sinter Klaas in Dutch. He is much thinner than the American

Santa Claus. He rides a white horse and gets help from

numerous Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes) handing out gifts

and candy. He arrives the first Saturday in November by

Boat.

In Russia, he is called Grandfather Frost that is “ded

moroz”.

Cookin

g

XMASCookin

g

Sweet ideas for


Spread more holiday cheer, bake a Christmas cake, simple and easy…

here are a few easy recipes:

Ingredients

Cupcake

White and red icing

Mini marshmallow

Shredded coconut

Blue and pink gel icing

Red candy

Ingredients

Cooled cupcake (baked from your

favourite recipe)

White icing

Large marshmallows

Waxed paper

Pretzel sticks

Decorators’ gel

Orange slice candy

Junior Mints

Thin Mints

Fruit leather

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup vegetable oil or melted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

(optional)

Method

Frost the cupcake with a layer of white icing. Add the red frosting hat,

curving it around the side of Santa’s face, and a marshmallow pom-pom.

Sprinkle on a ring of coconut to make Santa’s beard and hair. Draw on

his eyes and cheeks with gel icing, then top it all off with a red candy

nose.

Method

Frost a cooled cupcake (baked from your favourite

recipe) with white icing. Flatten a large marshmallow on

waxed paper with the palm of your hand. Cut a second

marshmallow in half horizontally, then stack the halves on

the first marshmallow to form a torso and head. Push a thin

pretzel stick down through the snowman (this will help him

stand up), then set him on the cupcake. Use decorators’

gel to create a mouth, eyes, and buttons, then add pretzel

stick arms and a wedge cut from an orange slice candy for

a nose. Accessorise with a candy hat (a Junior Mint secured

to a Thin Mint with icing) and a fruit leather scarf.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Place liners in 2-12 cup tins. In a

large bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, white sugar, baking

soda, baking powder and salt until thoroughly mixed. In

a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, water, buttermilk,

vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Whisk into flour mixture

until all of the ingredients are mixed in and no streaks of

flour remain. Add in optional mini chocolate chips, if using.

Fill muffin cups evenly with the prepared batter.

Bake at 350F for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted

into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, or with only

a few crumbs. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool

completely on a wire rack before frosting.

SANTA CLAUS CUPS

FROSTY CUPCAKES

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE

45Black & White


Laila, Omani graduate student of Nizwa University

Be only the shade of yourself

“There is but one cause of failure and that is man’s lack of faith in his

true self.” -- William James

Every time we fail in life, we need to reflect on why this happened. We

need some moments of reflection in total silence. And sometimes it

seems a bit difficult for us to bear that we were mistaken because we

didn’t trust ourselves enough or we were wearing a shoe that didn’t fit

us. But there is one way to being happy or happier; being only the shade

of ourselves. Unfortunately, most of us always compare ourselves with

others and we only end up being hurt…

I think each one of us is unique and special and that can be easily

noticed with those who always wear the shoes that fit them. Indeed we

cannot find ourselves in other’s eyes unless we try our best to reflect the

self we want to be in our own eyes.

When any one amongst us are confused between a role model and

being a shade of someone else, it is simply to underestimate his own

ability to live the way he wants. There is a big difference between me

and my role model because I cannot feel completely happy when I am

imitating someone else. The real happiness is just inside me and when I

respect my own self.

This might be obvious with teens who are trying to copy a celebrity’s,

teacher’s, father’s or friend’s personality. They might think that by doing

so they are building up their personality but in reality they are destroying

themselves. If you have tried or are even trying to be someone else,

let me hasten to say: “Stop doing that because you are losing the

uniqueness you already have”.

And to be special, just be the shade of yourself because it is the power

you need to go ahead in life. Nowadays, there are people looking for

themselves and they are very sorry for not living their own lives and

enjoying the gifts they were given…all that because they were shades of

others not of themselves.

You can cheat everyone for awhile but not yourself, decide from now to

be only the shade of yourself!

By Laila Ibrahim Obaid Al-Gharbi

[email protected]

ing c

urv

e


47Black & White

So its that time of the year when we all start thinking like chartered

accountants and take stock of our life the debits and the credits, the

savings, the interest, withdrawals and deposits. Yes, its the end of the

year and its time for STOCK ANALYSIS OF YOUR LIFE.

The five fingers of your hand become the pointers for the BIG

CALCULATIONS.

FAMILY: Was it a good year for you with your family? Did you spend

enough time with them? Did you help out each other during your

times of crisis? If the answer is yes, then definitely add a tick mark to

the credit side in your stock analysis of the year.

FRIENDS: Did you make any new ones? Were you a true friend in the

purest form? If yes then go ahead and get the tick. Did you lose out

on any? Any gossip about your friends which you felt you shouldn’t

have done? If yes then go ahead and a tick in the debit side.

WORK: I don’t want to talk about promotions because this involves

other factors which are beyond your control. I emphasise on the time

that you spent doing your work well? Did you enhance your talent and

also contribute positively to the organisation? If yes you know what

you get. Were you a slacker and take off when no one was looking?

FUN N FROLIC: Hope you had lots of fun and laughs and were more

happy than sad throughout the year and hence made life worthwhile

cos you know the age old adage --you live only once.

GOD:I cant overemphasise the importance of the God in our lives.

He is responsible for US in every form, I don’t think I need to reiterate

what he means to all of us. So I hope you spent some time at least in

HIS PRESENCE.

5 fingers in our life

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 [email protected]

Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM

47Black & White


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49Black & White

Stop! If you were planning to bite your uneven nails, just drop that

thought. Nails are not meant to be bitten. They are meant to be taken

care of, and properly.

Do whatever you can do to drop the habit of biting your nails. Why?

Simple, because it can cause an infection, and it can also make your

nails look ugly.

Most of us do get the urge to bite our nails when the edge is rough, but

when you are consumed by such an urge, all you have got to do is to

use a file – carry a small file with you. So, next time the urge hits you,

use the file. But make sure that you always have a top quality file.

Women have always been fascinated by their nails. There is a certain

charm in having stylish, polished nails. It adds beauty and confidence in

women. But good nails are not easy to come by.

SIMPLE NAIL CARE TIPS

You need to take special care of the nails. Here are some simple nail

care tips to keep your nails healthy:

More than aNAIL-BITING FINISH

• Always keep your nails clean and dry. Proper cleaning can

keep your nails away from dirt and infections and keeping it dry

again will not allow sticking of microbes to it and will also avoid

fungal growths under nails.

• Always cut your nails straight across making slight curve at the

nail tip.

• Always use sharp clipper or scissors. Do not file the nails at

points. This can make your nails weak.

• Take a fine textured file to shape your nails and keep them

free of snags.

• Check finger biting right away. Do not remove the cuticle.

• Keep your toenails short by regular trimming. Keeping shorter

nails will keep your nails away from injuries and trauma.

• Use warm salt water to soak your feet. Continue doing this

for about 10 minutes. This is a good practice to follow if your

nails are thick and is difficult to get trimmed. Apply lactic acid

creams or urea following the water treatment. This will make

your toenails softer and hence will be easier to trim them.

• Do not ‘dig-out’ ingrown toenails. Avoid doing this when they

are infected, sore or feels painful. Consult a dermatologist.

• Always wear shoes that fit you properly. Alternating pairs is a

very good practice. Wearing one shoe for a longer time can

cause deformities.

• If you get to find any irregularities in your nails, consult a

dermatologist. Any changes in the nail, pain or swelling can be

a sign of any serious health problem.

• Always keep a close eye on your nails if you are a diabetic or

have a poor circulation.

• Keep proper nail care tips in mind and make sure your nails

are always looks healthy and strong.

49Black & White


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51Black & White

GRIND TO GLADNESS

“Exercise loves company and adores rhythm, so why pound a treadmill when you can dance your cardio

workout away?” experts query. They say that dance-based workouts, from Zumba to Bollywood aerobics to

flexes at the ballet barre, can take your fitness from grind to gladness, with an international flair.

Why not because women don’t have it easy… They have the pressure of family, career, and health issues,

which can be difficult to confront when they come at one stroke. This combined with emotional distress can be

quite destructive for a woman.

DANCERCISE

So, you have to get all of that out of the system. How do you do that? Exercise, that is the only answer. But,

instead of boring exercise, let us try to engage in dancercise.

Women can build confidence through dance and related activities, it has been established. Dance requires

coordinated movement of the body that engages the mind and challenges the person’s ability to express

themselves in a free manner.

Again, for women who are struggling with unwanted weight gain or unwanted flab, dancing can be a way of

losing weight and toning muscle. Many people struggle with unwanted weight and feel hopeless because they

are not sure how to make the weight disappear and lose those pounds.

GET ZUMBA FIT

Now, there is this relatively new form of exercise that brings in a workout that is fast-paced, upbeat, and

most importantly, fun! Most of you may have heard of it and may have already started dancing to it -- Zumba

(pronounced zoom-buh) is a dance fitness class set to Latin and world music beats. It is choreographed

with salsa and other Latin dance moves so that people with all levels of dance experience can adapt to the

routines. Zumba uses high and low impact dance steps that make up the hour-long workout. But don’t worry

– the steps are fairly simple and easy to learn quickly, Zumba lovers say. In fact, there are many who have

gone into Zumba with no previous dance experience.

Even if you dread exercising, you will not have any problem with Zumba. In fact, Zumba lovers say that it is

so much fun that it is hard to remember that you are exercising until you realise you are sweating.

If you are looking for fun things to do in your community you need to search out a Zumba class! Zumba is a

great way to lose weight, strengthen your cardio endurance, and stay fit. Zumba fans say that they don’t even

realise that they are exercising. Want to go Zumba?

your way out of miseryDANCERCISE

So you have tried every form of exercise out there? You have done it all -- from aerobics to biking to the elliptical. And, now you are bored, restless and

frustrated and you no longer want to stick to one exercise regimen…But, exercise is necessary – exercise is the elixir of life, especially for women. The truth is that other than lack of time, boredom is the number one reason

people break their exercise routines. So, what do we do here? How do we break through this exercise monotony?

Dance? Well, why not?

51Black & White


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FOODS that can slow down your AGEEat a clove of garlic a day (raw or cooked; better raw) and it will protect your body

against cancer and skin disease. Earlier studies have recorded that women who ate a clove of garlic at least once a week were 50 percent less likely to develop colon cancer and it was also instrumental in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering the

risk of heart disease. In fact, there are some fantastic foods out there that can not only assist in slowing

down the aging process, but also bring about a spring of well being in you.

GINGER

This spicy root can boost the digestive and circulatory

systems, which can be useful for older people. Ginger

may also help to alleviate rheumatic aches and pains.

SOYA

Menopausal women might find that soya helps

to maintain oestrogen levels. Soya may alleviate

menopausal hot flush and protect against Alzheimer’s

disease, osteoporosis and heart disease. Look out for

fermented soya products, which are more easily digested,

therefore more nutritional, and do not generally cause

food intolerances.

NUTS

Most varieties of nuts are good sources of minerals,

particularly walnuts and brazi nuts. Walnuts, although

high in calories, are rich in potassium, magnesium, iron,

zinc, copper and selenium. Adding nuts to your diet

(sprinkle them on salads and desserts) can enhance

the functioning of your digestive and immune systems,

improve your skin help control prevent cancer. Nuts may

also help control cholesterol levels.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES

From garlic, let us go to the family of cruciferous

vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, turnip,

Brussels sprouts, radish and watercress). If we consume

of any of these vegetables or a combo of them on a daily

basis, it will assist our bodies in their fight against toxins

and cancer.

AVOCADO

Avocado contains a significant amount mono-saturated

fat, which helps reduce bad cholesterol, and Vitamin E

which aid in the prolonging of the aging of the skin. It

is also a great source of potassium which is known to

prevent high blood pressure and fluid retention.

SALMON

For people who don’t enjoy eating vegetables, salmon

is the perfect choice owing to the great quality protein it

contains. It is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which make

the skin healthy. For optimum results, it is advised to

include salmon into your diet at least thrice a week.

BROCCOLI

Broccoli belongs to the family of cruciferous vegetables

which are famous for assisting the body in fighting

against toxins. Broccoli also contains quercetin

and isothiocyanates which are known antioxidants.

Reportedly, broccoli sprouts contain more isothiocyanates

than the vegetable itself.

BERRIES

Berries, especially blue and black ones great sources of

flavonoids which are known to be powerful antioxidants.

These antioxidants protect the body against aging as well

as free radicals. Berries also help prevent the toxin build

up in the body, hence fighting the aging process.

WATERMELON

Watermelon is known as one of the best anti-aging

foods. Containing nutrients like selenium, Vitamins A, B,

C and E, essential fats and zinc, it is the most effective

food against radical damage and aging. Also both its flesh

and seeds are equally nutritious.

WATER

Try to drink at least 8-9 glasses of water every day in

order to remain healthy. Water helps us to get rid of the

toxins and unwanted waste materials from your body.

What you got to understand is that you should not rely on

thirst alone; instead, just drink often.


53Black & White 53Black & White

He was thrown out the classroom.

Not for any serious offence or

neglect.

For drawing an elephant!

We laughed out so loudly that he

withdrew sadly saying all of you

are the same.

What ‘exactly’ did you draw, we

mocked him.

"An elephant, a little distorted

though… the figure I drew

resembled an elephant, there

was no doubt about it; it is just

that the tail got a little thicker," he

explained.

How can a tail get thicker? We

interrogated him time and again

"Well, the time was so little, and

we had no choice of animals," he

explained.

"I could have drawn a cat or even a

rabbit easily.

But the art teacher compelled me

to draw an elephant.

So, you see, I was left with little

choice or no choice at all.

I was a kid, and had not seen an

elephant directly; the image of an

elephant in mind was that of the

ones I have seen in movies.

While I sat to draw, I did not have

a clear picture in mind. In fact I

suddenly went blank.

Like every other kid, I knew an

elephant was fat, had four legs, a

trunk and a tail.

I knew I had to draw it big, because

elephants were supposed to be

black and big.

But, I got stuck with the tail!"

Tail? It is the easiest part to draw,

we pulled his leg again. All you

need is to draw a long line and

shade it down bottom.

"You don’t get it," he continued, "I

drew the tail a little bigger, a little

more thicker than it should be, well,

according to the teacher. But, I still

feel I drew the tail right, it was the

trunk that got a little thinner…and

the teacher didn’t understand the

mistake I did!"

We rolled in laughter again…

As a kid everybody does this;

what’s wrong? Teachers are

supposed to teach you, not

throw you out of the classroom.

We are not cameras to capture

everything fully! Defensively, he

explained: "Look at the modern

art today; people spend a fortune

buying scribbles of big names and

abstract art.

I have seen disfigured elephants

displayed at various art shows

and major connoisseurs looking at

those canvases as if there was a

deep meaning to it all…

I am sure, if I had done the drawing

today, I could have packaged it

and sold it for a good amount!"

We laughed our hearts out

that day; we still do if someone

mentions an elephant, or an

illustration today.

The best part of it all is he didn’t

get disillusioned or demoralised by

the school episode. Though it did

not teach him any lessons of life,

he got in to a career that makes

him draw, illustrate and Photoshop

elephants and the like on his

computer on a daily basis. He is a

designer today, though he claims

if the teacher had not thrown him

out of the art class, he would have

been a great painter and illustrator!

By Priya Arunkumar

[email protected]

Of trunks and tails…

Documents

Black & White mag Issue 39