1April 28, 2016

page 6

page 18

page 32

Beyond the realm of beauty

ThursdayApr 28, 2016

Amid grief, a climb again

Charmed by Oman’s beauty

magazine

06 Beyond the realm of beauty

28 Towards a social innovation

38 Prince music still protective!

12 Things we learn from our fathers

36 Richness of Mughlai food

18

24

Amid grief, a climb again

Dance for your health 46 Khakhra, fafda and thepla

06

18

28 T d i l i ti

Oman

Community

Trends

Leisure

06

12

24

Samuel KuttyEditor

magazine

ThursdayApr 28, 2016Vol. 03, No. 25

Content ConsultantYeru Ebuen

Editor-in-ChiefAbdullah bin Salim al Shueili

AdvertisingMs Ameena MaksoudTel: +968 24649486 GSM: +968 92474488Fax: +968 24649469 Email: nonnamaksoud@yahoo.comEditor

Samuel KuttyReporterLiju Cherian

Creative DesignUpendra Nayak

I happened to meet Narayan Prasad, a native of Nepal during my recent visit to Bengaluru, the capital city of south Indian state of Karnataka and nicknamed as the Silicon Valley of India. While sharing a table at a restaurant in the city, which is now an adopted home to a large number of people from different parts of India and abroad, he recounted the harrowing tales from the earthquake that shook the Himalayan country on the fateful day of April 25 last year. "Many of the people on verge of breathing their last cried for help, but nobody was there to come to their rescue," Narayan, who was traumatised by fear of the brutal calamity, told me with tears falling from his cheeks. The earth shook and a portion of wall of his house

suddenly collapsed and fell on him leaving him injured. Although he survived miraculously, he lost his parents in the deadly devastation by nature. He saw heaps of human bodies lying under the debris of fallen houses and other structures immediately after the quake rocked the tiny nation. He told me he would never go back to Nepal even if he had to die in penury. So is his shock that he does not want to recollect those horrifying tale. As Nepal completes one year of the tragedy, the Weekend brings to you a review of how the people started coping with the darkness of the disaster.We have a lot more this week. An exhibition named, “Beyond the Realm of Beauty” was organised

under the patronage of the Indian Embassy in Oman in collaboration with the Omani Society of Fine Arts.

thousands of postcards from different countries in his possession, are included in the long line-up of topics to make your weekend reading more interesting.With warm regards.

Enjoy our articles atomanobserver.om/weekend

Weekend SpecialBe

yond

the

real

m o

f bea

uty

A bright coloured auto rickshaw might be a common sight on the bustling roads of India, but one image was sitting pretty on the wall of Oman Society for Fine Arts with

the driver seemingly taking a nap during the break.The painting is by Rohit Sharma and is part of

the 18 artists’ collection from Nitanjali organised by the Indian Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman in coordination with the Oman Society for Fine Arts. Meanwhile Laxman Aeley’s series of untitled

the series becomes more intense, forced to stand alone, and no longer partially obstructed by colour.

Lak

shm

i Kot

hane

th

6 April 28, 2016

“We have here well-known Indian artists and they are showcasing art from different schools of art. We are able to explore the various types of techniques used by them. Basically, the exhibition portrays the history of art in India for the Omani art lovers. Some of the art work is truly contemporary giving us an idea about the development of art in India. It has been our pleasure to host the exhibition here at the Omani

of OSFA.Featured in the four-day-long show were 18 artists,

Weekend Special

7April 28, 2016

8 April 28, 2016

Pictures by Khalfan al Ruzaiqi

Mukherjee, T Vaikuntham and Vinay Sharma.Many of the works are inspired by the Indian

subcontinent and explore unconventional painting techniques such as mixed media and acrylic on canvas as well as multi-patterned paintings. Shapes, lines,

forces.

discussions as within the two young animals were images of childhood. Images of children, alphabets and numbers made some of the guests wonder if the children depicted are happy or not? The water colour on paper is called ‘The Journeys’. Someone then just stepped in and said, “It indicates the simple cycle of life.” Still, the ladies who were engrossed with

children?”This was when one wished the artists were nearby to

ask them.There was a buzz around the paintings of the artist

Raza. “This artist is exceptional,” said an art collector in Oman. And he explained, “He is in his 90’s. His paintings are much in demand.’Syed Haider Raza was born in 1922 and since 1950,

he has been living and working in France but maintains strong ties with India. His earlier paintings were of expressionistic landscapes then moved on to abstract work landscapes of mind.This is exactly the specialty of the exhibition, said

Indra Mani Pandey, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman. “We have here paintings by upcoming artists and then you also have paintings that are more than

Weekend Special

9April 28, 2016

Weekend Special

10 April 28, 2016

Weekend Special

50 years old. There are also well established artists like Ram Kumar and others. The other aspect is that the exhibition brings together different traditions of India — whether it is

types of media have been used. That makes it a very diverse collection”, he said.In contrast to all the colours there was

untitled art by FN Souza which was ink on paper. Lingering with the art work was curious to know more about the artist. This is how the experts describe him —

“Indian artist Francis Newton Souza (1924 –2002), referred in the art circle as just F. N.

artist to achieve high recognition in the West. Souza's style exhibited both low-life and high energy.” The painting called ‘Birth’ (1955) had set a

world auction record in 2008 as the most expensive Indian painting sold till then — The auction was Christie’s and the selling price

"We have here paintings by upcoming artists and then

you also have paintings that are more than 50 years

old... the exhibition brings together different traditions

of India — whether it is calligraphy, abstract or

feature art. Different types of media have been used.

That makes it a very diverse collection."

11April 28, 2016

$2.5 million. The story did not end there. The painting ‘Birth’ was resold at Christie’s in New York last year and this time it brought in $4 million.Would the artist have ever thought about the

impact of his painting? For an observer who wants

intriguing because Souza lost his father to small pox when he was just three months old. What is interesting is that he worked as a journalist too,

while working hard to establish as an artist.This is in a way takes you once again to the CH

the discussion by the art lovers who were trying to interpret the painting. Put together all the paintings and one walked away wondering — ‘sometimes it could be the scars of childhood that drive the individual to strive for the best and leave a mark for the world to ponder forever.’

Weekend Special

IIII''''mmmm vvvveeeerrryyy aaaaappppppprrreeeeccciiiaaattiivvee ooff mmyy ffaatthher. II llleeeaaarrrnneedd ssoo mmmmaaanyy tteeeeccchhhhnniqquueesss ffrrrooommm hhhiiimmm..

WWWhhheenneevveerrr hhhhhheeeee hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaasss tthhheeeee oooooppppppppoooorrrttttuuuunnnniiiittttyyyy,, hhhheeee ggggaaaavvvveeeeeeeee mee tttiiipppssss oooonnnnn hhhhhoooowwwww IIII cccaaannn iimmpppprroovee. II tthhiinnkkkk

whatt III llleeeaaarrrnnneeedddd bbbeeeesssttt ffffrrroommm hhiimm iis how tomakee aaaaaaaaa ppppppphhhoootttooo tttttaaaallllkkkk... HHHHeeeee sssshhoooowwwweeeeeeeddddddd mmmee how to

caappttttuuuurrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee aaaaa sssssstttttoooooorrrrrrrrryyyyyyy iiiinnnnn aaaa ppppppppppphhhhoooottttooooo..

Digital Space

12 April 28, 2016

13April 28, 2016

14 April 28, 2016ApApApApp iriririillll l 282882828828,, 222020202016161616

Digital Space

15April 28, 2016

He has always believed that a picture is worth a thousand words. It's a mentality and a belief passed down to him by his father. In fact, for Ahmed Bin Hamid AlBulushi, he learned most of the things he knew now of photography from his father."My father is a professional photographer. Since

the time I realized I like photography, he was always supportive of me. He taught me majority of the things I know," he shared.Currently based in Muscat, Ahmed was a student

ago. He studied Power Electrical Engineering and although he is serious about his bread and butter,

he is just as dedicated and passionate as well on one of his hobbies — photography."I have a lot of hobbies really. I like diving, scuba

and for some reason, I am also into collecting old cameras," he said."But photography is special for me. I started taking

pictures since 2006 but my work back then were amateurish. I only gave it a try. In 2010, I started taking photography seriously."He shared, "I started learning and studying more

about it just for fun. I began reading photography

Yeru Ebuen

Digital Space

16 April 28, 2016April 28 2016

Digital Space

PHOTOGRAPHER'S PICK:My favourite photo is the one I took of the milky way from Jabal Shams. I like taking photo like this and it is my dream to pursue it.

Want to be featured? Follow and tag us on Instagram. Simply look for our handle:

@OmanObserver or you can also use #OmanObserver or #BeAnObserver when you post your photos.

books even researched about it. The more I read, the more I got hooked. I practiced and practiced and then I started attending photography workshops.""Hopefully, eventually, I'd become best at what I do. I'd really like to

be a pro photographer and I want to be the best at it.""I'm very appreciative of my father. I learned so many techniques

from him. Whenever he has the opportunity, he gave me tips on how I can improve. I think what I learned best from him is how to make a photo talk. He showed me how to capture a story in a photo," he said.He added,"On top of that, he taught me the importance of being

Asked how he sees himself in the future, Ahmed shared, "I've participated in many exhibits. Some of them with HCT, SQU and MEC. I also did an exhibit with the Photographic Society of Oman. I didn't have a solo exhibit yet but I'm planning to have one. I want an exhibit that is unique and never been done in Oman yet."

Hopefully, eventually, I'd become best at what I do. I'd really like to be a pro photographer and I want to be the best at it.

Name:

Ahmed AlBulushi

Location:

Muscat

Profession:

Engineer

Instagram:

@lighthunters90

18

CO

MM

UN

ITY

18

Amid grief, a climb again

For survivors and relatives of victims of a landslide that struck with the force of half an atom bomb it is a time to grieve. For witnesses to a fatal avalanche at the Mount Everest base camp, it is time to climb again

Anniversary

18 April 28, 2016

Craft

19April 28, 2016

Ross Adkin

For survivors and relatives of victims of a landslide that struck with the force of half an atom bomb it is a time to grieve. For witnesses to a fatal avalanche at the

Mount Everest base camp, it is time to climb again.A year after the worst earthquake in Nepal's

history struck at four minutes to midday on April 25 last year, the Himalayan nation is remembering the 9,000 victims of the 7.8 magnitude quake and a second tremor 17 days later.Among those returning to Nepal are

adventurers like Australian photographer Athena Zelandonii, who was trekking again to attend a ceremony of remembrance on Monday in Langtang village, obliterated by a huge rockfall that took the lives of 285 locals and foreigners.They were remembered at the memorial

event where, starting at 11:56 am, the name of each victim will be read out."There was no question of not coming back,"

Zelandonii, 26, said in the capital Kathmandu.Part of a group of people who searched for

loved ones or themselves lived through the disaster, Zelandonii survived an avalanche on the mountain slopes above Langtang, but was stranded for days by the rockfall. Still missing in the Langtang area is American

from Augusta, Maine, who was trekking in Nepal for the fourth time.Son Khaled and daughter Yasmine worked

was that she was last seen walking downhill toward Langtang just before the earthquake.

in Nepal for the anniversary, and hope that at least her body can be found."Because we need that closure," said Khaled.

"Sometimes I still get these lightning-bolt thoughts — what if? And that’s not healthy."Of 181 foreigners who died in the earthquake

or are still missing, 63 were in Langtang.Villager Kartok Lama, 30, said locals had

already marked the anniversary of the quake by the Tibetan calendar that they follow. They said prayers in a hut because Langtang's two gompas, or Buddhist temples, had been destroyed."Almost everyone from the village is back;

people are rebuilding homes and hotels, and

"We want the tourists to come back."For many Nepalis it's been a lost year of political bickering over a new constitution, a blockade of the Indian border by its opponents and the failure to spend $4.1 billion in aid to rebuild, pledged by foreign donors. Tourism, which accounts for 9 percent of the economy, is down.Climbers have been slow to return. The

number getting permission to scale the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest, in the spring fair-weather window is down to 289 from last year's 357.No one reached the 8,850 meter summit

last year after an avalanche set off by the earthquake tore through Base Camp, killing at least 18 and abruptly ending the 2015 climbing season.

Anniversary

20 April 28, 2016

Anniversary

21April 28, 2016

Among those returning to Nepal are adventurers like

Australian photographer Athena Zelandonii, who was trekking again to attend a ceremony of remembrance on Monday in

Langtang village, obliterated by a huge rockfall that took the lives

of 285 locals and foreigners

22 April 28, 2016

Anniversary

a

23April 28, 2016

The disaster, and a fatal avalanche the year before on the Khumbu Icefall approach from the Nepali

to reconsider whether the risks are worth fees of $50,000 or more that clients pay to summit Everest.One climber at Base Camp a year ago, Adrian

Ballinger, is leading a small party to attempt Everest's northern route from Chinese Tibet. He says it is less dangerous."It's a beautiful place, but a terrifying place," the

American said of Nepal. A dry winter and global warming has made the icefall more treacherous than ever, added Ballinger, whose expedition company Alpenglow has suffered no Everest fatalities.Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of the Nepal

Mountaineering Association, disagreed, saying that

secured the route. "The condition of the icefall now is like it was before the earthquake," he said.Shaheed and Anjali Kulkarni have returned to the

Everest region a year after they watched from a nearby slope as the avalanche engulfed Base Camp.

They helped carry the injured to a makeshift rescue center down the mountain.The return of the mountaineering couple from

Mumbai, India, is an exception. Numbers of trekkers have plummeted — and on less-traveled routes are still down by half — guides and lodge operators say.One is Sunita Rai, who is struggling to rebuild her

ridge 4,200 meters (13,800 ft) above sea level that

"Renting this lodge was my chance to break with the past and earn a decent living," she said.Rai has rebuilt the dining room of her lodge after

the earthquake, but much of the two-story stone building is still covered in plastic sheeting. Now the 31-year-old worries how she will pay her yearly rent of $4,700 — seven times Nepal's annual per capita income — and works as a porter at times."The trekkers haven't returned so to pay it I have to

carry heavy loads up the mountain off-season," she said.

Anniversary

Philanthropy

Dance for your healthancing is a universal human experience.

We dance to express joy, celebrate life

events, and enact religious and cultural

other forms of exercise.

exercise is indisputable. Physiologic studies

have demonstrated that regular activity builds

muscle and bone, reduces fat, increases aerobic

capacity, lowers blood pressure, and improves

forms of exercise.

Moreover, by incorporating music, dance may

Music stimulates the brain’s reward centers,

while dance activates its sensory and motor

quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease

and related movement disorders. And several

— but not all — studies have indicated that

mastering dance movements and patterns yields

greater improvements in memory and problem-

solving than walking does.

dancer who specializes in sports and

24 April 28, 2016

accessible to everybody. People who can’t stand can use the rest of their body while seated, people who have lost movement in their arms can dance with their torso and legs. It’s a way to connect to your own body, to music, and to other people. It just depends on whatever your goals are. But we

— cognitive, physical, and social — that it merits consideration by everybody.”If you’ve ever danced — and who hasn’t? — you

know how much fun it can be. Even if your rhumba is a little rusty or your time step has slowed, it may be easier than you anticipate to get back in the swing. Yet, if you’re not quite ready to jump on the

there are ways you can enjoy dancing, even if you’re shy or feel you have two left feet. Many “Y”s and senior centers offer some type

of group instruction for people of all levels of

chi, a meditative exercise that is often performed to relaxing music, and Zumba, an aerobic workout that combines steps and moves from a variety of traditional dances — often to Latin music. Learning new types of ballroom dance can also be fun and challenging. If you don’t have a partner, there is a world of folk and line dances that don’t require a pairing with another person. Many dance studios and square-dance and contra-dance groups create a friendly environment for people by having all classes involve rotations, where you switch partners and dance with someone new each time. You might also consider taking up (or resuming) tap, which can build bones, or ballet, to strengthen core muscles and improve balance. The Internet has a wide variety of dance

motion and allow you to proceed at your own pace. Your public library may also stock instructional dance videos that you can borrow. All you need is comfortable clothing, a pair of good sneakers, and enough space to move freely.

connecting to the music, so you’re involving a part of the brain that isn’t necessarily being tapped when you’re doing something like walking that is more

Physiologic studies have demonstrated that regular activity

builds muscle and bone, reduces fat, increases aerobic capacity,

lowers blood pressure, and improves the ratio of “good” to

“bad” cholesterol.

Health

25April 28, 2016

Local Fashion

This week, I selected something strong yet femminine.

I always loved the combinanan tit on of black and pink and whenever r wwearingbold colours, I prefer simple mam ke up. I hoh pe you guys enjoy our OOOOTDT for

the week. xoxo

— Viianney

Stylist of the Week

Ely Aranda

Ely has eight years of

experience working as

fashion and clothing stylist

for one of the top clothing

brands in Qatar, Morocco

and now in Oman.

Mango

Circular bead

necklace

RO 8.95

H&M

Patterned dess

RO 12.90

26 April 28, 2016

27April 28, 2016

H&M

Sandals with

studs

RO 20.90 MAC

Lipstick/Viva Glam

Ariana Grande

$17.00

Mango

Contrast textured-

panel dress

RO 13.95

OUR challenge for Ely and Vianney this week is how they think a woman on the go should dress up. Our operative words: simple and sweet. But

to be noticeable and can go from morning to evening. Ever the competitive, our

fashion duo went to work and surprised us with their picks. We hope what we prepared

would inspire you.

Local Fashion

Keeping itSIMPLE and

SWEET

28 April 28, 2016

TR

EN

DS

28

Career

Finally, are we going to witness its advent here in the Sultanate? Is the nation indeed going to ride the crest of social entrepreneurship wave? Yes, feel experts, who all agree that Oman stands to benefit

immensely from social enterprises. And it is also one of the few concepts on which a consensus gentium across segments is possible quite easily, as it involves a healing cause.

Riyada — the public authority for small and medium enterprises development in the Sultanate — contends that the key to unlocking the economic deadlock is social entrepreneurship. Further, the present times, though turbulent and flickering economically, could be the most appropriate to establish a robust national foundation for social entrepreneurship with a strong focus on sustainability.

But social entrepreneurship is not something new to the Sultanate. As rightly noted by Khalid Al Safi Al Haribi, the Deputy CEO of Riyada, Omanis in the past achieved economic diversity on the strength of their heritage. From the acclaimed falaj (irrigation) systems to making clothes made out of recycled materials and community lending

Towards asocial innovation

29April 28, 2016 29

Career

practices, sustainable social enterprises had been in vogue in the Sultanate for long.

An increasing number of Omani youths are showing keenness to go the social enterprise way in the fields of environment, especially recycling and related sectors. But it all adds up to nothing significant.

And one name that features prominently in the Sultanate’s social enterprises sector is Baby Sam Samuel. A humanist, first; and a management consultant, second; Sam wears several hats with élan. Currently pursuing his doctoral programme in entrepreneurship at SRM University, Sam is serving as the general manager of InterTech LLC, and won wide appreciation for implementing a successful turnaround of the company in just a few months. He is also the vice-president of Sultanate’s largest volunteer organization Knowledge Oman that provides a strategic platform for social innovation and knowledge-sharing, apart from being a Board member of Indian Schools in Oman.

Beyond these, he is the chief strategist and mentor for Adventz, a leading design house rated among the top three digital consultancy firms in Oman.

As a business consultant, he offers Turnaround Management, Strategic Consultancy & Business Mentoring services. He was the recipient of the Golden Achievement Award for 'Business Consulting' last year at the Global Media Events, Dubai, and also won the Most Valuable Member Award-2013 instituted by Knowledge Oman, the largest volunteer organization in Oman.

In between, he divides his time to mentor a few start-up initiatives as well. At another level, he uses his personal website (www.babysam.biz) as a tool for generating positive ideas in the society and

empowering individuals to realise their dreams.He is always in the thick of strategising projects

across business system integration, consultancy, and turnaround solutions in the ruthlessly competitive corporate world where life is perpetually in the fast lane. But his alter ego never loses the meditative serenity of a compassionate mind.

“Everyone has a humane aspect to his personality. At least a small section of today’s youth not only desires change but is capable of acting as agents of change for the betterment of the society they live in,” says Sam.

Sam puts his entrepreneurial skills to the best use at Knowledge Oman, especially in designing a national initiative to create and up-skill social entrepreneurs in the country. At the beginning of the current year the organization hosted an open event to enhance public awareness on social entrepreneurship with a series of workshops.

Knowledge Oman has partnered with the international organization, Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3), to design the C3 Social Enterprise Accelerator Programme under which expert coaching and mentoring support is offered to ambitious young entrepreneurs to generate positive and sustainable social impact and to find efficient solutions to varied social issues and challenges through entrepreneurship.

The C3 Social Enterprise Accelerator Programme, which encourages the use of the “Power of Business to Make a Change in the World”, supports those who are looking to start own enterprise with a social mission, as well as those who want to incorporate social mission into their current businesses, or those who are ready to take the next step in social entrepreneurship.

'Everyone has a humane aspect to his personality. At least a small section of today’s youth not only desires change but is capable of

acting as agents of change for the betterment of the society they live in'

30 April 28, 2016

Career

“We at Knowledge Oman help them get the necessary approvals for the business idea and puts them through social enterprise learning sessions and connect them with a mentor who will guide them towards getting the business up and running,” Sam says.

Meanwhile Riyada and Knowledge Oman have collaborated to develop social entrepreneurship towards achieving the goals of social Inclusion.

Another area where he is interested in is tapping the business potential of social media services. With the penetration of internet enabled devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, the number of internet users in Oman has risen in the last decade from almost 4% to nearly 70% of the total population.

“Today’s iGeneration is hooked to various social media services like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and LinkedIn. But social media holds great relevance for businesses as it facilitates integration between individuals, community and

An increasingnumber of Omani

youths are showingkeenness to go the social

enterprise way in the fieldsof environment, especially

recycling and related sectors. But it all adds up to nothing significant

31April 28, 2016

Career

organizations. It can empower entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses. SMEs can leverage social media services to gain insights into social behavior and mindset of target market, brand awareness, consumer engagement, lead generation and more.

‘Crowdsourcing’ & ‘Distributed thinking’ on social media allows people to collectively accomplish a goal. An example of crowdsourcing site that has had a tremendous worldwide impact is the collaborative online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Sam notes, adding: “The burgeoning social media base in Oman is sure to generate opportunities for businesses to enhance consumer engagement, making social media services a booming business in itself.”

Such projects are going to strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector in Oman, whose collective contribution to Oman’s GDP stood at just around 20 per cent last year.

“Technological readiness and internet enabled smartphone penetration have aided in the propagation of social media in Oman. At the same time at present social media is mostly used as an entertainment tool, and its immense business potential is yet to be tapped fully. Lack of digital media skills has hindered local businesses from fully exploiting its potential. This presents exciting entrepreneurial opportunities for digital and social media agencies who can offer a range of social media management services. The scope of social media related services is vast both in its diversity and quantity,” Sam says.

Sam is also excited about the ICT revolution that is all set to happen in the Sultanate. He is all geared to contribute to its growth. With the ITA working towards facilitating the growth of ICT (and ICT-enabled) businesses thereby providing the basis for a new and invigorated Omani ICT industry and greater entrepreneurial aspiration and spirit throughout the ICT sector in Oman, Sam is fine-tuning his strategies to play it big in the ICT field. “ICT holds immense potential to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial culture in the Sultanate. Especially I’d be focusing on cloud computing, and IT security and audit,” he says.

Away from all this, he has set up a charitable trust called Little Hugs towards providing a loving and caring home for abandoned children. “Abandoned by man or by fate,” Sam clarified. The land for the project has been identified in the Indian state of Kerala. At the same time, in the Sultanate, he is busy managing the affairs of the Centre for Special Education (as its director-in-charge) that is currently functioning at the Indian School Muscat premises. "I am putting all my efforts into making the Centre a self-sustainable ecosystem," he says. As many as 85 children with

special needs study at the Centre.Another project he is involved in is called Anjappam,

a chain of economy restaurants through which we aim to make available fresh, healthy meals to the marginalised sections of the society at affordable prices. Three such restaurants will open shortly, again in Kerala, his home state. “Anjappam restaurants will function as restaurants only in the day; in the evening they will operate as libraries with a good collection of books, dailies and journals,” he elaborated.

Yet another project is an art café in Muscat, where art lovers can discuss and appreciate art over a cup of coffee. But his most immediate assignment is to undertake a high octane public awareness campaign on the importance of organ donation.

April 28, 201632

Hobby

Charmed by

Oman’s beauty

Liju Cherian

76, 533 postcards and still counting… Volker Willschrey from Dillingen, Germany, loves the Sultanate no end. Three years back, he made a fleeting visit to Muscat and flew back

after within 48 hours, but not before he had packed enough postcards and added to his vast collection.

All countries of the world are represented in his collection. However, Volker is still trying to receive cards from rare countries and cities namely new capital cities like Naypyidaw (Myanmar). Any card of interesting countries and cities is welcome for him. Two years back he received some cards from Socotra (Yemen) which were really rare. Amazingly, he waited for 25 years to receive a postcard from Port aux Francais, capital of the Kerguelen Islands (French Antarctic Territory).

His craze for postcard collection knows no end. He goes all out to make friends in all corners of the world to get these cards. His home at a small town in Bavaria has two rooms of cupboards with neatly stacked up cards which is good enough to be displayed in a huge hall.

He has plans to make another visit to the Sultanate later this year and visit Salalah, Sohar, Masirah and Khasab to explore chances of buying the cards. He prefers to spend more time during his next visit.

Says Volker: “Unfortunately I did not receive any

“As a nation, Oman has great

culture, very unique way to

bring the country and its people forward to the

21st century and a great future. It is a safe and peaceful

region.”

33April 28, 2016

Hobby

postcard from Oman since my last visit there. Really a pity, as I would really like to get some more postcards of this interesting country. There was someone from the Philippines, who is working in Oman and had read the article on Observer’s Mazoon magazine. He wanted to swap postcards but I did not receive any postcards from him for years.”

His love for the Sultanate knows no bounds. Recently, his family of Marise, spouse, and Nadine, daughter, took to the eco-lake and the sport hall of Dillingen in the background holding Oman’s national flag in the open. The scenic Dillingen located on Saar-River in southwest Germany, about 720 km away from Berlin, was where the Volker’s posed with the tricolor. They waited for all most a week for a bright sunny day in the open since the weather was cold throughout earlier. He was able to trace an internet flag shop and found Oman’s flag on the homepage of the online shop.

Almost every month, Volker makes few friends through his vast network all over the globe. It is through this network, he makes it a point to get his valuable postcards mailed to him.

Volker Willschrey with Marise and Ndine

Hobby

April 28, 201634

On an average, he receives about 200 postcards in a month.

At last count, Volker has astonishingly amassed 76,337 postcards from all countries of the world. In the last few years, he has received postcards from countries on the Arab Peninsula, from Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Yemen.

In 2012, a local newspaper in Dillingen called Saarbruecker Zeitung had enquired who in the area of Saarlouis had got the most postcards in their collection.

And you must have guessed who the winner was. Volker had collected over 68,800 postcards by then. A journalist from Saarbruecker Zeitung visited the Volker’s a few days later and took photos. Unfortunately he was not at home and was travelling somewhere through Eastern Germany, so they took a photo of his daughter Nadine holding some postcards. Volker says this was the only official information published about him and his hobbies in Germany.

Volker received his maiden postcard from Oman in

the 70’s which was from a penpal who was working in Muscat. It was a card from Muscat which he has safely guarded as a prized possession. So far collected about 80 postcards from Oman but still craves for more. Unfortunately, he has not got any Omani postcard since his last visit to Muscat and is fervently trying to make new contacts to widen his collection.

Says Volker: “I agree that I am trying my very best to visit the Sultanate again and that I was deeply impressed from my first visit in 2013. As a nation, Oman has great culture, very unique way to bring the country and its people forward to the 21st century and a great future. It is a safe and peaceful region, despite problems in Yemen.”

He also tries visiting countries and obtains some more postcards from there alike during his Oman visit. And when he is on visit, tries to get some duplicate cards to swap with other pals all over the world. During his Oman visit, he brought a huge package of cards which he sent to his friends worldwide to let them know the beauty of Oman. It’s over 57 years

Hobby

since Volker began collecting postcards from 1959 and has so far collected over 76,434 from all countries of the world and even independent dependent ones.

How does he go about it? In order to receive postcards, he writes to various institutions namely tourist offices, newspapers, embassies, governments and other organisations.

Alternatively, he has also connected to more than 20 pen pals worldwide and more than 40 postcard collectors. He recalls the longest time he needed to get a postcard was 25 years for a card received from Port aux Francais, capital of the Kerguelen Islands.

His postcard collection saw him travel through 70 countries which include the Middle-East, Oman, Iran with temporary stays at airports of Doha, Bahrain and Dubai.

On the personal highlights, Volker feels that he has met a lot of his postcard collecting friends in the overseas, but also some at home in Dillingen who could enlarge his knowledge about the countries from during these visits.

His fond hobby also helped him find a life partner in Marise from Seychelles, whom he married in 1982. From 1976, he began to correspond with her and Kuwait was one of the countries which helped him indirectly to find the love of his life. He happened to tune in to the Listener’s Choice Programme of Radio Kuwait and the name and address of Marise’s brother was mentioned who wanted to have a pen pal from abroad. From then on, he took it up. Volker says that it was really interesting that postcards do not only help to get information about other countries, but also to learn about customs, to find friends and leave wonderful lasting memories. The Radio Kuwait incident went on to have a lasting influence in his life.

Two years back, the couple travelled to Albania for a week and enjoyed a full week programme in Tirana. They travelled by bus for about 1,300

kilometres and stayed each day in one hotel or the hotel which he says was a dream come true. In April 2015 they travelled to Romania for a week flying from Frankfurt to Bucharest and taking the one way bus trip through Transylvania. They visited Bran Castle and Sighisoara, the castle and the birth-town of Vlat (Dracula). During all these visits, Volker was able to update his knowledge on postcards and also add to his sizable collection. Later in June they followed it up with a visit to visited Seychelles, where we visited Marise’s ailing mother.

In 2015 and before, he was able to collect several postcards from Syria from tourism spots like Aleppo, Al Maqab, Apamea Bab Al Farj, Crack des Chevaliers, Damascus, Hama Kasr el Heyr, Lattakia Maaloula Nour al Deen, Palmyra, Saint Simeon’s and Cathera Syria (general).

Volker was born in Saarbrücken, capital of the Saarland, but later moved to Dillingen in 1986 since the place was much closer to Ford Motor Company where he was working until 2011 when he decided to take early retirement.

One of his early inspirers who helped him with his collection is his mother, Irmgard Willschrey. As one who encouraged with his collection, Irmgard who turns 93 in July this year lives in a retirement home and continues to advise her son on his pet hobby.

Volker reveals that looking out for postcards while visiting cities and other interesting sites can be very time-consuming. But his family has always shown endless patience and understanding while he went in and out of different shops looking for suitable cards. His daughter, Nadine Willschrey, is also excited of visiting Oman next time with her father and is grooming herself as an actor.

Postcard collectors who wish to establish contact with Volker or those having similar interests can his email him at willschrey@arcor.de

35April 28, 2016

36 April 28, 2016

Dining Out

Mumtaz Mahal is widely known for its amazing Indian food and an equally stunning view of the Qurum Beach.

The interiors reflect classical motifs of the Mughal era, and the general ambience is one of a calm and elegant Mughal Palace. The cuisine is inspired by the richness of Mughlai food and each dish has been recreated with the same culinary splendour for the connoisseurs of authentic Mughlai cuisine in Oman.

But that is not all, under Henry David, Acting General Manager, and Executive Chef Pardeep Singh’s menu offers the best culinary delights from across India ranging from authentic Kashmiri food to Bombay’s street delights.

Henry David says proudly: “Our marinades and masalas are our own in house creation and freshly

ground to bring forth an intense burst of flavour. The best quality meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables are carefully selected to offer our guests a unique culinary experience. Our menu highlights the classic dishes that everybody knows and loves, but also delights customers with new dishes, not found at other Indian restaurants.”

Next to the restaurant menu there are many specials to delight our guests. “We are offering a Friday Family Brunch Buffet including a large array of dishes to enjoy and Surprise Night on Tuesdays, which is a four course menu with selected beverages included.”

Says Henry, “Our signature dishes from curries are Chicken Tikka Makhani, Kashmiri Lamb Roganjosh, Black Dal Makhani and from our clay oven (Tandoor) are Fish Tikka Mumtaz, Raan ‘e’ Mumtaz and Gun Powder Tandoori Prawns. The concept is to offer the very popular Indian curry dishes and our special

Henry David

Richness of Mughlai foodat Mumtaz Mahal

37April 28, 2016

Dining Out

tandoori dishes that cater to all types of nationalities and taste buds. Our guests can rate our quality, aroma and taste of Mumtaz Mahal food, which is different from all other Indian restaurants in town.”

Acting General Manager — Henry David: He has worked in

the F&B industry for 25 years, out of which 20 plus have

been with Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant.

He started his career at Taj

Coromandel, Chennai’s

best known

landmark, and over the years worked his way up after hands on experience at every level. During his tenure as Senior Restaurant Manager at Mumtaz Mahal, he successfully directed his fellow colleagues in building pride and taking ownership of their responsibilities, resulting in a truly great dining experience for their guests time and again.

Executive Chef Pardeep Singh: He is a creative, enthusiastic and hardworking chef with a passion for food. He has been in the industry for 21 years with enriching experience in Miami, New York, Caribbean and Dubai.

This gave him exposure in a variety of restaurants and thus acquired culinary training and experience in multiple cuisines. He found his dream assignment at Mumtaz Mahal where he enjoys putting his own stamp on traditional dishes, creating new combinations and experimenting with new flavors while being careful not to compromise on the freshness and originality of the food he prepares. Pardeep Singh

Executive Chef

38

Prince musicstill protective!

LE

ISU

RE

38

Tribute

April 28, 2016

The late pop star Prince was known in life as an artist fiercely protective of his intellectual property, but how much others may profit from his legacy, including a

large body of unreleased songs, hinges on how astute he was in arranging for control of his music after death.

Questions about Prince's estate loomed on Friday, a day after his unexpected death at age 57. Sales of the iconic performer's albums surged, and platforms from satellite radio Sirius XM to MTV rushed to satisfy a sudden fascination with his music.

Some 230,000 albums and 1 million singles from Prince's catalogue were sold in the United States alone on the day he died, according to BuzzAngle Music, which tracks daily music sales.

By comparison, folk-rock band the Lumineers sold 108,000 copies of its latest album, "Cleopatra," during the course of seven days as they topped Billboard's pop charts this week.

The long-term outlook for Prince's catalogue depends on who ends up in charge of his estate

39April 28, 2016

Tribute

and how much direction he provided before his death to govern his legacy, entertainment lawyers said.

Found dead of unknown causes at his home and studio compound in Minnesota, Prince is one of relatively few recording artists, even of his stature, believed to have possessed ownership of his master recordings and his own music publishing.

At stake are potential retail sales, licensing fees and royalties on music from more than 30 albums that have sold over 36 million copies in the United State alone since 1978, plus an extensive cache of unheard recordings said to be locked away in a vault.

The

collection is believed to include an entire album he

recorded with jazz trumpet great Miles Davis, said Owen Husney,

who was Prince's first manager and teaches music business at the

University of California, Los Angeles.Husney said he would put the overall value of Prince's existing catalogue at well over $500 million. That estimate factors in not just the potential for retail music

sales but for rights to film, television, commercials and

video games — which Prince in his lifetime rarely if ever licensed,

Husney said. The key unanswered question about the fate of

Prince's intellectual property is whether he had a

valid will or estate plan in place at the time of his death, lawyers said.

Twice divorced with no surviving children, he apparently lacked any immediately identifiable heirs, though Husney noted Prince has a sister, Tyka Nelson. His parents are both deceased.

"Hopefully, Prince executed a trust, and indicated his intentions both with respect to who his trustee would be and how he would want the estate to be disposed of," said celebrity probate attorney Dan Streisand, who has represented the estates of Marlon Brando, Barry White and Rodney Dangerfield.

Some 230,000 albums and 1 million singles from Prince's

catalogue were sold in the United States alone on the day he died

Fans dance grief away

Prince's funky tunes filling the

room, up to a thousand of the pop star's fans danced

the night away at the Minneapolis club where "Purple

Rain" was filmed, celebrating the late singer hours

after his death on Thursday.

Dancers filled the floor at the First Avenue club, where

a screen played videos of the eccentric singer-

songwriter in action, boogieing to his hits which

included "Little Red Corvette", "When Doves Cry",

"Kiss", "Let's Go Crazy" and "Get Off".

They shone their phones and waved their arms in

the air when "Purple Rain" came on. The venue was

packed and other fans crowded at the doors trying to

get in.

The all-night party paying tribute to the influential

Grammy Award and Oscar-winning star, who

successfully blended jazz, disco, R&B, funk and rock,

had begun late at night and was expected to last into

the morning.

Prince, 57, was found in an elevator at his Paisley Park

Studios compound on Thursday in the Minneapolis

suburb of Chanhassen.

April 28, 201640

Film

“As it is possibly the most hyped blockbuster this year… I just had to remake the Suicide Squad Blitz trailer in Fallout 4. I spent a long time getting Harley Quinn and

Deadshot right since they get the most screen time in this Warner

Bros Traile”

Written and directed by David Ayer, Suicide Squad is based on the DC Comics of the same name, and begins as government official

Amanda Waller starts a special program involving incarcerated supervillains.

While Suicide Squad’s huge ensemble of characters will provide for an interesting dynamic and launch the stories of more villains than heroes in the DC Extended Universe, it is hard not to argue that two of the most talked-about characters in the line-up are the Joker (Jared Leto) and Harley Quinn; one of the most well-known villains in the history of DC comics, and his former sidekick-turned-vigilante, who now dominates the shelves of comic shops everywhere with multiple titles under her name.

Suicide Squad‘s latest trailer, titled ‘Blitz’, gave fans a closer look at the next installment to the growing DC Extended Universe on the big screen and how it differs from the more serious tones of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. While darkness and villainy will permeate throughout the film, Suicide Squad‘s dark comedy aims to take fans of the ensemble on a wild ride that puts fans right in the middle of the action.

With that in mind, it almost seems fitting that this mash-up takes the audio and imagery of the explosive trailer and introduces it to the styling of Fallout 4, which takes the idea of a post-apocalyptic survival game and spins it into a high-octane adventure, backed by vintage tracks to give it just the tinge of darkness that it needs to remain exciting. Using mods that one can only really work with on PC, YouTuber “UpIsNotJump” brought the trailer to life within the wastelands of the latest Fallout game.

“As it is possibly the most hyped blockbuster this year… I just had to remake the Suicide Squad Blitz trailer in Fallout 4. I spent a long time getting

Suicide Squad More villains than heroes

April 28, 2016

Film

41

Harley Quinn and Deadshot right since they get the most screen time in this Warner Bros Trailer. I must say though playing as The Joker and Batman just to get them to appear in this Suicide Squad trailer was so fun I had trouble filming.”

It’s pretty evident that none of the villains in Suicide Squad are just starting out. The entire premise of the film revolves around taking the worst of the worst out of their cells and giving them specific objectives, with the idea being that if they fail their mission or get out of control, it will just look like business as usual for bad guys. It hadn’t been revealed just how they got locked up in the first place, however.

According to Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, though, the members of the Suicide Squad have at one time or another all been victims of Batman’s war on crime. This makes sense to comic fans, of course, but it does go to show just how busy Batman has been during the years he’s been fighting crime in Gotham.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who underwent five hours of makeup and prosthetics every day to play Killer Croc, refused to reveal whether he would tussle with Batman again during the film. He did promise a few “croc rolls” for fans, though it’s possible that they’ll occur against other enemies and not Bats himself. Either way, given Croc’s size and strength in the comics you can expect his big-screen counterpart to be a fierce

Beyonce cemented her status as the queen of surprise releases last weekend, launching

a completely new album and videos called "Lemonade" via a widely anticipated one-hour special on cable network

HBO.During the show, which

ignited social media as fans breathlessly

enthused about, and

debated, the

program and its content, Beyoncé appeared to address long-standing rumors of trouble in her marriage with rapper Jay Z.

After leveling accusations in her song lyrics about being cheated on, Beyonce made clear in the last tracks of the new album that she has decided to reconcile with him and continue in the marriage.

In a preview earlier this week, the singer teased fans with a snippet promoting the show, mysteriously intoning "The past and the present merge to meet us here. What are you hiding? Why can’t you see me? You’re the love of my life.”

Fans, who wondered if Saturday's show was to be a concept video with new music from the R&B star, found out that was pretty much the case, with chapters carrying titles that riffed on the grieving process

stages such as anger, denial and forgiveness.

Before the end of the program, which

featured a compilation of music videos,

vignettes, vintage, home-movie style

footage and poetry, Beyonce,

34, had dropped "Lemonade" onto

the Tidal streaming service. The film was also available via Tidal.Videos also featured

appearances by the mothers of two black

men, Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin,

whose shooting deaths, in Brown's case by a Missouri police officer, have trained a spotlight on

U.S. racial tensions.Fans posting on social media such as Twitter were

especially engaged with speculation about the content of the show and songs as they related to Beyonce and Jay Z, making references in postings about "women scorned" and the singer "dropping" both an album and a divorce, seemingly at the same time. Beyonce previewed work from the new album just before his Super Bowl appearance this year when she debuted her single, "Formation."

Beyonce's last album, in 2013, was also marked by a surprise release. She kicks off her new tour this week in Miami.

Queen of surpriseat it again

Music

42 April 28, 2016

43April 28, 2016

Bhave to be carefully considered before you do anything to tie you

document if things went wrong. Your lucky number for the day: 8Your lucky encounter for the week: A person with the initial "C"Your lucky colour for the month: Blue

September 21-October 23 — Some

acquaintance might be misleading. You should treat it with caution and ignore it

LIBRA

October 24-November 21 — Don't join a friend in an ill-advised venture merely out of a sense of loyalty. If you really feel he is taking unnecessary chances, warn him in time.

SCORPIO

November 22-December 21 — An investment which you rather thought was ill-advised, has a good chance of

too distant future.

SAGITARIUS

December 22-January 19 — Before committing yourself to a series of

that you will be able to meet them out of our regular income.

CAPRICORN

January 20-February 18 — A short

and you will make some valuable

subsequent journeys.

AQUARIUS

March 21-April 19 — Do not get involved

advantages.

ARIES

February 19-March 20 —

condemning this mischief making.

PISCES

April 20-May 20 — Before starting a serious argument today over an obvious

TAURUS

May 21-June 20 — with friends from abroad will renew your desire to travel. Your friends will be able

encouragement.

GEMINI

June 21-July 22 — Put aside daily any

accumulating a tidy sum you will be able

your way.

CANCER

July 23-August 22 — Refuse to be rushed into a business transaction that may be less to your advantage than you were led to

LEO

August 23-September 21 — You may

will give you more satisfaction than any easy victory.

VIRGO

docuYourYourYour

dYYY

IF IT’S YOUR

BIRTHDAY

Stars for You

44 April 28, 2016

ACROSS

(5) 6 Cause of being drunk (5) 9 Sailor said to have a coarse

manner (7)10 Be in a rugged bay as a good

with a writer (5)

hairdressing? (5)

15 He left directions (3)17 Girobank town (4)

20 In tormented throes? Not us! (6)

24 A drink could lose nothing by being alcohol-free (3)

25 A colourful but frustrating game (7)

26 Remains as he is (5)

beats him by far (5)28 Breathless, Anne comes back

with the dye (5)

airmen's mess (7)

bed (5)

(5)

DOWN

3 From the cinema, he wouldn't deliver anything hot (3,3)

4 Rob him novelly! (3) 5 Shot two ways, say (5) 6 Being biased, bodge it badly (7) 7 One name for something

ferric (4) 8 Producer who misdirected

12 Moves esteemed gents out of

(5)

16 River or converted sewer (5)

a heavenly sign (5)

of garaging (7)

Indies (6)

court (6)

curdling agent (6)

installed (3,2)26 A recess of quiet in the rough

sea (4)

ACROSS: 1, C-hair 6, Binge 9, Cors-air 10, Ab-be-y 11, Go-go-L 12, Sal-on13, Royalty 15, L-EW 17, Oban 18, Tenure19, C-row-D 20, Others 22, Cite 24, T-O-T 25, Snooker 26, As-he's 27, Ralph 28, H-enna 29, Seminar 30, B-ox-ed 31, Start

DOWN: 2, Ho-Bn-ob3, Ice man4, Roy5, ES-say6, Bigoted7, I-Ron8, Gro-W-er12, S-t-irs13, R-obot14, Yacht15, L-U-nik16, Weser18, T-wins19, Cra-shed21, To-bag-O22, C-Over-t23, Tenner25, Set in26, A-p-se28, Has

SOLUTION

Crossword

45April 28, 2016

Answer

Sudoku

I was ten when my parents decided that their kids had to see Disneyland. I don’t know how old my brother was

at that time. Let’s just say that he was old enough to ask for the things he wanted but young enough to cry when he didn’t get it. (Not the best of ages I could say).

For the summer of 05’, our destination was Paris after a week’s halt in London and I couldn’t have been more excited. Our seats were scattered, the flight was going full and there were at least four babies on the flight. Dealing with four babies, on a eight-hour long journey was a harrowing experience.

I walked to my seat which was towards the end of the aisle and I almost cried seeing the love handles of my co passenger eat up half my seat. The flight was boring. My main source of entertainment were the two university girls sitting in the seats behind me, yapping away in French.

I’ve always been fascinated by that language so with the hope of learning a few (cuss) words in French, I turned around and offered the girls some ‘khakhra’ that my mom had packed in my bag and then some ‘fafda’. They absolutely loved it. By the time the Dhokla was out, I knew quite a few French words (not cuss). I still

didn’t know their names though. After munching away for a while, we introduced ourselves. Andrea and Alice were two best friends, travelling to London for the summer. We spoke and spoke and spoke until I pulled out the ‘Theplas’ (pretty spicy Indian snack). I offered them to the two girls, who, by now, had fallen in love with Indian food.

Andrea took a bite off of it, two shakes of a lamb’s tail and she turned red as a tomato. Her friend turned into a different shade of red and started coughing frantically, making incomprehensible hand gestures. I almost wet myself. They looked like they were on the brink of death. Their co passengers grabbed bottles of water by their side and gave it to the two girls. I figured that the spice was too much for them to handle.

I watched in horror as people tended to the two drama princesses while I, in a snail’s pace, casually slid back in my seat. Ten water bottles, two shots of vodka and countless sugar sachets later, the commotion behind me reduced and I could hear myself think again. Confrontation is my biggest enemy so I pretended to be asleep for the first hour and then I switched my seat with my brother. I saw the girls six hours later, at the immigration counter… still red.

Avaantica Ashok

avaanti95avaantica_ashokFollow her on

Khakhra,fafda and thepla

Campus Beat

46 April 28, 2016

is agovernment owned company, responsible for the management and operations of the civil Airports in the Sultanate of Oman. The infrastructure of the airports such as the terminal buildings, cargo building, runway, apron, car parking and other facilities are directly underOAMC’s management.

الشركة�الُعمانية��دارة�المطاراتاهياشركةاحكوميةمسؤولةاعناإدارةوتشغيلاالمطاراتاالمدنيةافياسلطنةاُعمانااوتتولىاا�دارةاالمباشرة

للبنيةاا3ساسيةالهذهاالمطاراتاكمبنىاالمسافرين،امبنىاالشحن،االمدرج،امواقفاالسيارات،اوالمرافقاا3خرىا

The best airport award for staff

service in the Middle East region

جائزة أفضل مطار يف خدمةاملوظفني يف منطقة الرشق األوسط

2015 Airport Excellence

New Salalah Airport (OAMC)

جائزة التميز ٢٠١٥مطار صاللة الجديد

Our Vision

To Be Among the Top 20 Airportsin The World by 2020