Pages 8 & 9 - Oman Daily Observer

EuroFashion show
in Kiev Page 12
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Combining photography with special
effects Pages 2
Irish Potato Soup
Page 10
An artist with a ‘realistic’ vision
Pages 5
Weekend
Al Sifah, a scenic and hospitable hideaway — Pages 8 & 9

Weekend
By Ra’al al Jardaniya
TAKING a photo may seem very easy for
onlookers but little do they know about the
skills and techniques required. Each has his
own view about photography but we must admit
that for those who consider this as a hobby taking
pictures can be very difficult, taking into account
the quality of pictures. However, children
can also take photos through a simple camera, but
what matters is the concept behind the picture.
Only professional photographers can appreciate
the message and significance of each picture.
Every photographer in fact describes a story
behind his pictures; each of them has a different
way of transferring the beauty of his or her photos
to people. Aysha al Abriya (pictured), a talented
young Omani lady, has a deep involvement with
photography as can be seen from her excitement
on the subject.
2 PHOTOGRAPHY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
Combining photography with special effects
Aysha started on her passion of photography
long time back. She started off taking random pictures
of objects around her as well as documenting
her trips and occasions with pictures that she had
taken. Soon she started to improve and discover
the secrets behind a camera’s buttons and how to
use them to her advantage. She joined a photography
club in the school and in the college as well.
These participations allowed Aysha to get more
familiar with the camera and know more people
who could support and encourage her excel in the
world of photography.
Aysha has also participated in many competitions
since she was in school, the recently one being
the National Geographic Competition in Abu
Dhabi.
As an ambition she looks forward to participate
more in photo galleries and to be more skilful
and professional so that she can compete with
the famous international photographers around the
world. Also, she dreams of being a distinguished
photographer and establish her own business in
this field.
As a talented photographer Aysha is interested
in not only clicking pictures but also adding
designs and effects to on them. As a graphic
designer, she merges and connects her talent with
her work and study and this makes her pictures
more attractive.
Specifically, Aysha likes to take pictures of calm
scenes as this is what reflects her quiet personality.
For instance, she is more fascinated to take photos
of natural scenes, light effects and water calmness.
Aysha says: “Being a student at the Scientific College
of Design helped me improve my talent by
participating in the workshops organised by the
college during holidays. The field trips which the
college organised for photo sessions and meeting
with professional photographers enabled me to enhance
my skills and abilities”.

Weekend
3 EVENTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
‘A land of hospitality and beauty’
A
SRI Lankan family who visited the
Sultanate recently is all praise for
the hospitality of Omanis, besides
the country’s alluring beaches and mountains.
“Oman is a country where you will find
very friendly people”, they said while describing
their experience during their stay
here for a month as “unique”.
“Lovely beaches and beautiful mountains
are everywhere”, the family of five,
comprising Dissanayake, Nimali Malka,
Charitha Muthumali and Sadunisa Muthumali,
said in unison.
The beautiful and well-laid out landscapes,
sandy beaches and the friendly and
helpful natives have left in their minds a
pleasant memory.
Even though they come from a land of
beautiful beaches, they were pleasantly surprised
to find the vast and serene beaches
over here.
The other features they found here was
the excellent infrastructure facilities they
came across everywhere, particularly in the
capital city of Muscat. A good number of
hospitable hotels and unique services they
offer have earned their appreciation.
The weather during their stay in the winter
months was very pleasant and enjoyable.
It added pleasure to their trips to various
tourism spots.
The family enjoyed their holidays here
so much that they advise tourists who wish
to spend their holidays fruitfully to visit the
Sultanate.
Rang De 2012 celebrates joy of Holi
RANG De 2012, a colourful
event bringing reminiscences
of the Holi festival of India
was enlivened in Muscat at Marah
Land on March 9, 2012.
Organised by The Country Club,
the colour-packed event that was
again invigorated by artificial rain
saw people in different age brackets
putting dancing in step to the tunes
from the DJ.
Holi is one of the major festivals
of India and is the most vibrant of
all. The joys of Holi was let loose
on this day with an array of colours
as the festival is celebrated across
the four corners of India and now
all across the globe. The festival is
filled with so much fun and frolic
that the very mention of the word
‘Holi’ draws a smile and enthusiasm
among the people. Holi also celebrates
the arrival of Spring, a season
of joy and hope.
The colourful festival of Holi
is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima
which comes in February end or
early March. Holi festival has an
ancient origin and celebrates the
triumph of ‘good’ over ‘evil’. The
colourful festival bridges the social
gap and renews relationships. On
this day, people hug and wish each
other saying ‘Happy Holi’.
Holi celebration begins with the
lighting up of bonfire on the Holi
eve. Numerous legends and stories
associated with Holi celebration
makes the festival more exuberant
and vivid. People rub gulal and
abeer on each others’ faces and cheer
up saying, Bura na maano Holi hai.
Holi also gives a wonderful chance
to send messages of blessings and
love to near and dear ones wrapped
in special Holi gifts.
The event was sponsored by Sapil
Swiss Arabian Perfumes, Pizza Inn,
Golden Spoon Restaurant, Tropical
Juices and Tawa Magic Restaurant.
WINDOWS
Intellectuals’
role in society
AWARENESS — whatever its subject is —
it is of great significance because of the
effect it has in clarification of the vision
of what goes on around us, especially the world
that we are not aware of — its different aspects
and implications.
All societies without exception are keen to
increase awareness because of its vital role in
reducing the gap between knowledge and the
lack of knowledge, between visibility and foggy
vision, and between the straight lines and the
curved ones.
Therefore awareness plays a major role in elevating
people from holding on to their bad habits
and in uprooting the toxic roots from within their
consciences.
It does not matter that the aims of awareness
vary between guidance, advice, clarification of
the truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and
light from darkness, the result remains the same,
which is getting out of the dark tunnel to the clear
enlightened and wide area that shows all the intersections,
all distinctions and all differences.
Only then will the soul begin to calm down,
rest in peace and re-arrange its priorities in order
to achieve stability as a whole.
As we live in a vibrant community that is full
of knowledge and leaning on a fertile legacy famous
for charity and sacrifices, awareness is a
common feature of this community. Furthermore,
we are living in an era in which knowledge is no
longer restricted to one class.
It is the efforts of people to gain this awareness
that differentiate them from others. Whatever superior
knowledge that a person gains it is his duty
to gift it to other people so that the society can
reach the top of the pyramid, so that co-operation,
giving, loyalty, honesty, prevail.
It is appropriate here to mention the definition
by Dr Abdul Hameed al Ansari about an intellectual.
Speaking in an interview to Doha magazine,
issue no (49), November 2011, he says: “Real intellectual
or reformer or preacher is the man who
remains in a permanent conflict with his society,
anticipating a better future.
“If he agrees on the public opinion, he will be
no longer be an intellectual. The real intellectual
is the one who thinks independent of the effects of
power and the instincts of the masses at the same
time.”
Let us take the case of drugs as an example.
Drug dealing is a reality known in all human societies
that serves the interests of a class in any
society, but it clashes with logic.
Intellectuals here will clash with this reality for
the good of the members of society as a whole.
The problematic concept of intellectuals remains
here, but I agree that the definition of Dr Al
Ansari is the best identity of the intellectuals.

Weekend
ALTHOUGH it is a known
fact that women are not
as good as men in driving,
globally, some of the insurance
companies usually charge young
men more on their car insurance
because of the belief that these
drivers take more risks and are
less mature. But when it comes
to whether men or women are
the better drivers, it depends a
bit on the situation. Women are
involved in slightly more car
crashes per mile than men, but
the men are more likely to die
in a crash when they're behind
the wheel. In other words, male
drivers have a 77 per cent higher
risk of dying in a car accident
than women. Various studies
suggest that the discrepancy
comes from the fact that men
tend to be riskier on the road:
They break speed limits more
often than women and are more
likely to be reckless.
Zuwaina al Sulaimani
THE fact is that women
take more tasks behind the
wheels than men. It includes
doing facial, putting lipstick, so
on and so forth. So no second
opinion if women are worse
drivers. A number of studies
conducted by agencies across
the world say that most of all
car accidents that are either fatal
or produce serious injuries are
caused by female drivers.
Maisa al Odat
WOMEN may be bad
drivers but they are very
good at parking and the idea that
women cannot park is simply
untrue. Several reports indicate
that female drivers are more
adept than men at manoeuvring
into a space. The CCTV
surveillance of car parks across
the United Kingdom has shown
that while women may take
longer to park, they are more
likely to leave their vehicles
in the middle of a bay. Women
were also found to be better at
finding spaces, more accurate
in lining themselves up before
starting each manoeuvre, and
more likely to adopt instructors’
preferred method of reversing
into bays.
Fathayya al Arafaathi
SOME studies have revealed
that men have, on average,
5.1 crashes for every one million
miles that they drive. Women, on
the other hand, have 5.7 crashes
for the same number of miles
driven. These results are even
more telling when you consider
the fact that men drive 74 per
cent more miles than women
do. The researchers involved in
the study did say that younger
male drivers tend to skew things
considerably, too. Under age 20,
male drivers are more likely to
be involved in crashes. Between
ages 20 and 35, women and men
are equally likely to be involved
in crashes. Over age 35, women
are more likely to be involved
in crashes.
Khalfan Talib Asseleimi
FOR several years, it’s been
the same argument. Men
are better drivers than women.
Despite the lack of any real
CITY 4TALK
proof, there are few men that
would honestly put their hands
on their hearts and admit that
their wives or women in their
lives were better drivers than
they are. The fact is that all
the reports and evidence points
to young males having riskier
driving habits than young
females. Men between the
ages of 16 and 25 are much
more likely to be involved in
accidents, or be cited for traffic
violations.
Azza al Rashdi
HOW gender steers our
driving skills. Are women
drivers really so bad, or are
men worse? Men take more
risks. In studies men as a whole
display less cautious behaviour
than women, such as driving at
higher speeds and closer to other
cars, not wearing seat belts,
and driving while intoxicated
more often. They even make
riskier turns. Men do seem to be
more proficient than women at
certain driving tasks. However
this slight edge in ability does
not translate into better driving
records. The kind of accidents
men get into are generally the
results of their riskier behaviour.
Women are catching up... which
is not necessarily good news.
Men may be responsible for
more accidents than women,
but the gap is getting smaller.
Cally Warnakulasuriya
BELIEVE it or not, there is
actually a simple answer
to the age old question, who are
better drivers men or women?
The answer is men. Men gained
a driving advantage way back
when they were born. That
is because men are generally
taller than women. In that case,
better able to park in tricky
spots. Women by far cause
the least amount of accidents,
so therefore they are the most
careful drivers. Men simply
have a better and bigger spatial
brain and that probably enables
them to park more accurately in
tricky spots. In general, men and
women behave differently when
driving a vehicle. Although, I
see many accidents every day!!!
Sami al Battashi
THINK men are worse drivers
I than women. Males aged 20
to 24 were more likely to meet
with accidents and die, while
females aged 16-19 were slightly
more likely to be killed than
females 20-24. Several reports
say that with the theory that
males, especially young men,
tend to drive more aggressively
than women and display their
aggression in a direct manner,
rather than indirectly. And,
experts agree that male drivers
break the law more, and take
more risks when driving.
Manal al Qanbashi
MORE women are meeting
with accidents as they
speak more on the phones. We’re
all familiar with the cliché of the
female tethered to the phone,
providing an intricate account
of the day's events to anyone
who will listen. This is one
cliché that appears to have been
substantiated. According to a
recent survey, working women
talk on the phone 22 per cent
more than men each month; a
total of 14 hours and 16 minutes
— presumably many of those
hours logged while navigating a
multi-tonne automobile through
the city streets.
Najma al Rahma
FOR men, it's difficult to
admit that women are better
drivers although researches
have proved it so. It's almost
scary how bad men are driving.
Blame it on whatever you want
— high testosterone, higher
propensity to take risks, or
higher levels of aggression, but
the fact remains — men simply
make too many mistakes behind
the wheel.
Hani Mohad al Aisawi
THE driving efficiency of
women is always suspected
and who is better driver among
men and women has remained a
controversial topic.
But now, men beware, the
recent study suggests women
are better drivers than man dispelling
the long standing notion
that women are bad drivers.
The study, which compares
traffic violation, accident, and
insurance price statistics between
men and women, released
by auto insurance quote
provider finds that statistically
speaking, females are better at
driving than men. As per the
study, approximately 80 per
cent of all fatal and serious car
crashes are caused by male
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
Men or women — who are the better drivers?
Next topic: “Is the current economic environment having a negative impact on individual and corporate philanthropic activities?”
If you wish to offer your brief comments on this subject, please e-mail us at: citytalk.observer@yahoo.com
including your name and passport-size photograph. — Compiled by Kabeer Yousuf
drivers. It says women are 27
per cent less likely than men to
cause auto accidents.
Asfandyar Mukhdoom Mufti
WOMEN may be bad drivers
but they are very good at
parking and the idea that women
cannot park is simply untrue.
Several reports indicate that
female drivers are more adept
than men at manoeuvring into a
space. The CCTV surveillance
of car parks across the United
Kingdom has shown that while
women may take longer to park,
they are more likely to leave
their vehicles in the middle of a
bay. Women were also found to
be better at finding spaces, more
accurate in lining themselves up
before starting each manoeuvre,
and more likely to adopt
instructors’ preferred method of
reversing into bays.
Ahmed al Addawi
IN my opinion I would say
women are much better than
men in driving. Nowadays there
has been significant increase in
number of road accidents which
is mainly due to violating the
traffic rules. In my view men
usually neglect traffic rules.
They speed up very much at
times and don’t slow down
where they are supposed to.
While driving they attend calls
and text messages risking their
own lives. Women are generally
conscious while driving. They
move in a moderate speed
as needed. They are cautious
of others mistakes. Some
men breach red signal and
sometimes drive behind other
one at bumper to bumper range.
Aiman Fatma

Weekend
By Zaid bin Juma al Saadi
ARTIST Nadia al Saadiyah started
just like all artists by doing
sketches on school handbooks
until the art teacher at Al Mallada
School discovered that she is a budding
artist with a promising future. Nadia
was then chosen for the school arts
group and received much support and
encouragement from the teaching staff.
In her long journey from participation
in school competitions till she
joined the Omani Society for Fine Arts,
Nadia suffered, rejoiced and excelled,
but most importantly she convinced all
with her outstanding paintings.
“I received encouragement from my
father and the whole family. Painting is
my life passion. When I was a child I
used to draw
on every surface,
walls,
furniture,
floor using
everything
available to
me particularly
chalks and
pencils. At a
later stage of
life I felt that I
was quite satisfied with my artworks as
I saw the marks of admiration on people’s
face when they saw my paintings,
and this is what gave me the incentive
to carry on with arts,” she says.
Al Saadiyah doesn’t complete an
artwork in one session. She works by
fits and starts until the painting is com-
5ART WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
An artist with a ‘realistic’ vision
In her long journey from participation in school competitions till she joined the
Omani Society for Fine Arts, Nadia suffered, rejoiced and excelled, but most
importantly she convinced all with her outstanding paintings
pleted, maybe in a matter of weeks,
months or even years.
“Whenever the idea of the painting
is clear and complete in my mind, the
painting gets ready in a day or so. In
many cases I change my mind many
times until I feel quite satisfied about
the painting,” she adds.
More than 12 years have passed
since Al Saadiyah joined the Omani
Society for Fine Arts, of which she is
extremely proud and thinks it has done
a lot for its members and provided them
with countless opportunities to excel
and improve their artistic skills.
With more than 30 artworks, mostly
realistic, to her credit, Al Saadiyah participates
in most of the art events being
held in the wilayat, whether school
workshops, exhibitions or art forums.
Oman Educational Portal participates in SQU festival
OMAN Educational Portal
participated in the second
educational festival
events organised by the Students’
Activities Society at the College of
Education.
The students presented a report
on educational mission highlighting
issues of concern and an attempt to
investigate their causes and solutions.
Educational Portal seeks to publish
details of students’ activities.
The opening ceremony was
held on March 17, 2012, under the
auspices of Dr Humood bin Khalfan
al Harthi, Under-Secretary of Ministry
of Education for Education and
Curricula.
The events contributed in
highlighting students’ talents and
ingenuity and applying many
pedagogical skills which they have
acquired through their study at the
college.
The Educational Portal’s main
aim was to communicate with the
university students to spread the
awareness of the portal’s vision and
services provided to all categories of
school community.

Weekend
AS dusk fell on Monday, an
eerie pall enveloped the capital
city of Muscat prompting
motorists to navigate hazy streets
with extreme caution. Besides Muscat
Governorate, dusty conditions
prevailed also over Batinah South,
Al Batinah North, Musandam and
Sharqiyah South governorates. And
the phenomenon persisted yesterday
too.
Headlights blazed while streetlights
were switched on earlier than
usual on main carriageways in the
evening. The dust haze, linked to
northwesterly winds (shamal) that
had buffeted parts of the United Arab
Emirates over the past week, also led
to a dramatic drop in daytime temperature.
Dust triggered by northwesterly
winds, long simmering over north-
6 SPOTLIGHT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
When haze enveloped parts of Sultanate
western parts of the Arabian Peninsula,
swept over large swaths of Oman.
Many schools and educational institutions
across Muscat Governorate
as well as other regions shut prematurely
on Monday, while scores of office
workers headed for the safety of
their homes before the dust storm was
scheduled to peak just after noon.
The dust haze blanketed the capital
region reducing visibility to less
than 500 metres in some places, the
Directorate-General of Meteorology
and Air Navigation said in an advisory.
Flights in and out of Muscat International
Airport were delayed for
two hours by the dust storm.
Fishermen residing along the
Musandam and Sea of Oman coasts
were advised to take measures against
rough seas and low visibility.
Dust D t triggered t ttriggered i d by b
northwesterly winds,
long simmering
over northwestern
parts of the Arabian
Peninsula, swept
over large swaths
of Oman. Besides
Muscat Governorate,
dusty conditions
prevailed also over
Batinah South,
Al Batinah North,
Musandam and
Sharqiyah South
governorates

Weekend
By Maryam Khalfan
AS part of its campaign
to create awareness and
guidance on public health
awareness in areas of Wilayat Seeb
the Directorate-General of Muscat
Municipality has come up with an
impressive campaign to keep the
environment clean.
The drive, the first of its kind to
be held targeting Al Mawaleh area
of Wilayat Seeb, is aimed at actively
involving the participation of the
entire residents to join in efforts to
eliminate the negative phenomena
of unhealthy waste disposal habits
in their respective areas and the city
as a whole.
This month-long campaign,
which is being held under the theme:
Let’s Work together for a Clean
Environment, is also designed at
elevating the level of environmental
and health awareness among the
members of the community by taking
into consideration the concept
of combating the habit of littering.
This drive includes distribution
of pamphlets with knowledge
on the appropriate means of waste
disposals and on how to protect a
household from flies and other rodants.
The projects also explore
and highlight the hazards and dangers
of improper waste disposal
on open grounds instead of putting
the wastes into authorised rubbish
bins. Littering results in the spread
of insects and attracts rodents, apart
from stray dogs and cats.
The campaign further enlightens
the residents to co-operate in keeping
their areas clean by dialing the
municipality’s hotline whenever they
need to dispose waste resulting from
the trimming of trees and other un-
7 EVENTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
pleasant waste like dead animals.
This campaign has been organised
by departments of the Seeb
Municipality in co-operation with a
host of schools in the wilayat and Al
Haya Water company. The municipality
is working in close collaboration
with a host of around 50 stu-
dents comprising of the Scouts and
Girl Guides from the governmentaided
schools in the region, said a
municipality official.
In the first phase of the project,
the municipality in co-operation
with Shaikh Nasser bin Rashid al
Kharussi School has involved two
teams of students to partake in the
project to raise awareness by distributing
pamphlets in households, stated
Khalil bin Salim al Mahrazi, in
charge of the Keep Your Area Clean,
Campaign,
The project, which commenced
from the City Centre block involves
the participation of a team
of students split in to two shifts;
one in the morning and the other in
the evening. The students, who are
working under the close supervision
of an activity instructor, will cover
the entire Mawaleh catchment areas
before the project proceeds to other
areas, noted Al Mahrazi.
Likewise, the municipality has
co-ordinated to join efforts with
Kaab bin Zaid School, Um Saad
Girl’s School, Jamila bint Thabit
School, Al Muthanah bin Harith
School to join their endeavour to
make the project a success. Plans
are afoot for the involvement of
other stake holders like the Omani
Women’s Association and other
non-governmental oganisations, it
is learnt.
The project was recently flagged
off by Naama bint Said al Busaidiya,
Representative of Wilayat Seeb at
Majlis Ash’shura at Al Sahwa Park
in Wilayat Seeb.
40 Years
C ONFIDENCE is as important in
international life as well as in
personal life. Frequently in nations,
large institutions and indeed people are
questioned about their reliability. Can
they handle their debts? Are they to be
relied on? In short can they be trusted
without a nagging fear at the back of the
mind that they will not be able to live up
to their obligations?
Oman is free of any such fears, and
that is official. According to the international
credit rating agency, Moody’s,
Oman is in the top A1 Category when it
comes to assessing both Oman’s foreign
and local currency government bond ratings.
Such decisions are not made lightly
because much of international business
depends upon what one nation thinks of
another, and being at the top of this particular
ladder is very important indeed.
In it’s report Moody’s talks of economic
and financial strengths. Oman has
of course, been helped by the rise in the
world price of oil, but sensible and prudent
housekeeping must also be present
before any nation gets that much coveted
A1 credit rating. It is a look at the long
term direction of the nation and an assessment
of how it is likely to deal with
the many difficult decisions that may
well lie ahead.
The Government does not of course,
rely these days purely on revenue from
oil and gas. It has now built up substantial
international investments, which can
be drawn on when needed. There is also
an internal banking system that is stable
with all the major banks performing in a
way that is ensuring growth. In the past
few years new banks have established
themselves, and have had to build their
funds and structure in a careful manner
because of the strict banking regulations,
which forbid risky ventures. The decision
to adopt Islamic Banking has also
helped both to expand the markets, while
attracting further reliable funds.
The Government of course, faces
further highly expensive programmes
in terms of education and a transport infrastructure,
which has to be frequently
modernised if Oman is to remain competitive
both in GCC and world markets.
But at least among those, who take a
very close look at the way different nations
handle their financial liabilities and
assets, there is a strong feeling that Oman
is acting in a responsible and progressive
manner in handling the nation’s wealth.

Weekend
Tourists who visit
Sultanate, particularly
the capital city, can
enjoy the hospitality
of world-class
hotels. Among
them is the Sifawy
Boutique Hotel which
offers a warm and
friendly atmosphere,
reflecting the
hospitable nature
of the Omani
people
AWAY from the din and bustle
of city life, but not too far away
from the city is the blissful and
naturally adorned countryside Al Sifah
in the Muscat Governorate. It offers a
spectacular array of beautiful land and
seascapes that anyone would be hard put
to find anywhere else.
Tourists also can enjoy the hospitality
of world-class hotels who visit Sultanate,
particularly the capital city. Among them
is the Sifawy Boutique Hotel which offers
a warm and friendly atmosphere, reflecting
the hospitable nature of the Omani
people. The Sifawy Boutique Hotel is
only 45 minutes drive from Muscat.
Sifawy, meaning those ‘From Sifah’,
is located within the world-class Jebel
Sifah Resort, and offers a contemporary
blend of European design with a strong
essence of traditional Omani influence,
both in the concept and service.
Authentic regional and international
dining experiences are offered
at the all-day dining restaurant, Al Sabla,
or the unique beach restaurant, As Sammak.
The Sifawy Boutique Hotel also features
a large swimming pool, outdoor
Jacuzzi, fitness centre, treatment room, in
addition to a wide range of activities and
excursions.
Al Sifah is one of the treasures of
Oman; wherever anyone may roam
around the Sultanate, they are sure to find
remote and deserted places that give vent
to one’s imaginative, soulful and artistic
side.
Such places are sure to impress and
etch fond memories for visitors and trav-
ellers who have been lucky enough to
absorb themselves in these places of inspiration
and soul-searching.
Moreover, as many can confirm, it’s
not just reaching the destination that
sums up a wonderful experience, it’s the
getting there as well.
The journey there can be every bit as
rewarding as the reaching point itself.
In fact, travelling to the desired place is
where holiday-makers can have the most
fun of all. Going to Al Sifah is a sheer,
thrilling delight for both driver and passengers.
8 & 9 TOURISM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
Al Sifah, a scenic and hospitable hideaway
By Ali Ahmed al Riyami
How to get there
A good way to get to Al Sifah is to
head towards Al Bustan, in old Muscat,
and then take the sign-posted turn to
Qantab. Driving up this magnificent road
gives travellers a taste of what is in store.
Carrying on up the road’s sharp incline
that then dips sharply before rising
again, at the roundabout take a right turn
towards Yitti — going straight leads towards
Barr Al Jissah, while turning left
takes you to the Oman Dive Centre.
Upon reaching Yitti, follow the road
straight on and soon after signposts
showing the way to Al Sifah can be seen.
It is at this point the road starts rising and
twisting its way up the mountain with the
mountain’s sides so close-up that it seems
possible to put one’s hand outside the
window and physically touch them.
Super-tight corners and hairpin bends
complete the scene, where the driver has
to come to a near standstill in order to be
able to take some of the turns. It is a drive
unlike any other and is to be taken with
respect, thanks to the awesomeness of the
rugged mountains and the ingenuity of
the engineers who carved a fantastic road
from them.
Approaching Al Sifah, the road widens
out and it is here that the sight of lagoons,
converging between mountains and near
to the road, provides a wonderful spectacle.
The lagoons-spectacle is enhanced
by lush green undergrowths that sprout
out of the water, giving the illusion of being
small green-forested islets.
Here, the simple yet amazing panoramic
view of greenery — in the form of
the undergrowth; dark-blue lagoon waters;
earthy brown, reddish-grey tones of
the jagged, dusty granite mountains and
the pure blue sky, come together at one
and the same time in stark contrast and in
a kind of blended unison.
The waters of the lagoon lead out to
the sea, whose beaches parallel the road
along the sleepy Al Sifah village. Sitting
on the beach, having been pulled in by
another beautifully attractive sight — the
rolling, seemingly sparkling, crystal blue
waves that lap up onto the shore — the
temptation to take a dip is great and except
a couple of swimmers here and there
the whole sandy beachfront is yours.

Weekend
By Chef Ziyad Mohammed al
Balushi. InterCon, Muscat
Ingredients
● 2 tablespoons of Irish
butter
● 2 medium sized onions
● 3 large potatoes, washed
& peeled
● 1 cube chicken bouillon
● 2 cups of milk
● 1 clove garlic, crushed
● 1 teaspoon dried parsley
● 3 pieces of celery,
chopped
● 1 pinch ground black
pepper
● 1½ cup of grated cheese
& salt
Method
● Thinly slice the onions
A man stops to speak with a woman who sells spices during
his visit to the market in Cayenne, French Guiana. — Reuters
and potatoes and add to
a pan with melted Irish
butter
● Add the chicken
bouillon, celery, dried
parsley, garlic and
season with salt
& pepper
● Cover the pan allowing
the vegetables to soften
under a low heat, do not
let them brown
● Add milk and mix until
soup becomes thick then
stir in cheese until fully
melted
● Serve piping hot with a
few slices of buttered Irish
soda bread and enjoy
10 FOOD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
KATHARINE Hepburn
made mean brownies.
And Liz Taylor adored
chicken with avocado and mushrooms.
The gastronomic secrets
of stars past are being served up
in a new book. And they taste
good.
The Dead Celebrity Cookbook,
just published in the United
States, reveals a smorgasbord of
top dishes from artists of yesteryear,
whose films and songs we
all know, but whose favourite
recipes have until now mostly
been a mystery.
The fruit of a decade and a
half of passionate research, the
book "was a labour of love," its
author Frank DeCaro said.
"I've been collecting for about
15 years, I would go to flee markets,
I would use eBay. I ended
up with so many of them that I
had to pick and choose," he said.
"I would buy everything,
manuals that came with microwave
ovens, or flyers handed out
in supermarkets in the 60s, recipes
attributed to specific celebrities.
"I hope, I like to believe that
they were in fact truly their recipes,"
he added.
The volume includes reci-
Going beyond coffee with juices
STARBUCKS Corp opened the first store in
its new Evolution Fresh juice bar chain on
Monday, its biggest move outside coffee aimed
at boosting the company's position in the $50
billion health food sector.
The juice bar business is, however, fragmented
and intensely competitive and some
analysts say the Evolution Fresh shops could
have lower margins than Starbucks' coffee
shops.
With Starbucks yet to detail how many juice
bars it plans to open, the popularity of its first
shop, located in an upscale shopping area in
Bellevue, Washington, an affluent city just east
of Seattle, will be closely watched.
The 8-ounce drinks sell for $4.99 and the
16-ounce drinks are priced at $7.99. The juice
bar also sells bottled Evolution Fresh fruit and
vegetable juices, smoothies and food, such as
oatmeal, wraps, salads and soups. — Reuters
A guest eats at Pyongyang, the first North-Korean restaurant
in Europe, in Amsterdam. — AFP
S Star f food: dead celebrities’ top recipes, revived
pes from more than 140 stars of
music, cinema and television,
ranging from Michael Jackson's
sweet potato pie and Frank Sinatra's
barbecued lamb to Patrick
Swayze's chicken pie.
"In the past, celebrities used
to always be asked to provide
recipes... that was part of public
relations. They would offer up
recipes in benefit cookbooks or
magazine articles," explained
DeCaro.
"They were published all over
the place," added the writer, formerly
a film critic on US television.
"These recipes come from a
time when we didn't know everything
there was to know about
every celebrity. They were more
in control of their image, and
when they chose a recipe I think
it said something about them."
Evolution Fresh employee Kristin Hazard
shows off a juice product at the opening of the
juice bar in Bellevue, Washington. — Reuters
French baker Jean-Marie Coroir pours a drink into cups at a
dining room of a local high school in Minsk. — Reuters

Weekend
PHARMACIES
24-HOUR SERVICE
Al Hashar ph, Ruwi 24783334
Muscat ph, Ruwi, 24702542
Al Sarooj, 24695536
Scientific ph, Qurum, 24566601
Ruwi, 24702850
DAY DUTY
Muscat Al Jabry 24420761
Scientific 24480230
Belqees 24535398
Waleed 24707746
Sur Al Safa 25542240
Ibri Ataka 25691455
Buraimi Al Zaiyana 25694458
Nizwa Al Hazfah 25426102
Salalah Ibn Sina 23296112
NIGHT DUTY
Muscat Capital 24456760
Muscat 24497264
Muscat 24535977
Muscat 24702542
Sur Al Jawi 25541188
Ibri Al Hekma 25688177
Buraimi Al Naseem 25653070
Rustaq Muscat 26878631
Barka Scientific 26883673
Samayil Belqees 25352186
Nizwa Qarn Al Rawdah
25425012
Salalah Al Mawasa 23225201
Private & Other Wards
Working Days: 16:00-18:00. Weekends & Public Holidays:
10:00-12:00, 16:00-18:00
ICU
Working Days: 16:00-17:00. Weekends & Public Holidays:
16:00-17:00
Special Care Baby Unit
Working Days: Parents may visit at any time. Weekends & Public
Holidays: Parents may visit at any time
Hospital. . . . . .Board . . . . . Emergency
Royal. . . . . . . .24599000 . . 24590491
Health Services Dpt
Muttrah . . . . . .24797602
Quriyat . . . . . .24845001 . . 24845003
SQH, Salalah .23211555 . . 23211151
Police . . . . . . .24603988 . . 24603980
Al Nahda. . . . .24831255 . . 24837800
Ibn Sina . . . . .24876322 . . 24877361
Nizwa . . . . . . .25439361 . . 25425033
Al Rustaq . . . .26875055 . . 26877186
Sumayil. . . . . .25350055 . . 25350022
Izki . . . . . . . . .25340033 . . 25340033
Haima . . . . . . .23436013 . . 23436055
OTHER HOSPITALS
CINEMA
FILM INFORMATION
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
1 Ancient but not antediluvian
event (5)
6 Shed at the roadside
(5)
9 Calm sea? (7)
10 Soppy rhyme for a girl
(5)
11 Love in sin, say (5)
12 A good man to see
soon (5)
13 Was it impossible at
the Alamo? (7)
15 It’s green in appearance
(3)
17 No longer a concert
piece (4)
18 Performers in drama
or in turns (6)
19 Thick part of a garden
seat (5)
20 Jack, again, is a fearsome
fellow (6)
22 Nice change for a
soccer star (4)
24 What a fox may be
after in the night (3)
25 When Desmond takes
a message, it has
meaning (7)
26 Be taken in by a bird
abroad (5)
27 Land of song (5)
28 On which sportsmen
may step out of line?
(5)
29 Film unit (7)
30 Students of quality (5)
31 Dogs used by Speke in
his travels? (5)
DOWN
2 A chance to participate,
or watch TV
(4-2)
3 Disagree with one’s
attitude to work (6)
4 Time to get out of
Daventry (3)
5 It affords rest and a
new start for a singer
(5)
6 Split from a killer in
a seedy establishment
KHOULA HOSPITAL VISITING HOURS
Sohar . . . . . . .26840022 . . 26840099
Al Buraimi . . . .25650855 . . 25652319
Sur . . . . . . . . .25440244 . . 25461373
Tanam. . . . . . .25499011 . . 25499033
Masirah. . . . . .25404018 . . 25404018
Ibra . . . . . . . . .25470533 . . 25470535
Adam . . . . . . .25434167 . . 25434055
Bidiya . . . . . . .25483535 . . 25483535
Ibri. . . . . . . . . .25491011 . . 25491990
Saham . . . . . .26854427 . . 26855148
Khasab . . . . . .26830187 . . 26830187
Dibba . . . . . . .26836443 . . 26836443
Burkha . . . . . .26828397 . . 26828397
Sinaw . . . . . . .25474338
AL BAHJA CINEMA: 24540856, 24540855.
AL NASR CINEMA: 24831358, 24831809 (after 3pm)
AL SHATTI PLAZA: 24607360, 24692656 (after 2pm)
STARS CINEMA: 24791641, 24792360
CROSSWORD
(7)
7 The image I see ahead
(4)
8 According to Joe, a
spaniel (6)
12 The indemnity Di
gets from “6 Down”,
possibly (5)
13 Time taken by a flier
to encircle the Pole (5)
14 Disdain to treat corns
(5)
15 Indicate where to field
(5)
16 The remains of England’s
hopes? (5)
18 Tessa’s up to some
good! (5)
19 Wild denials from
Paul (7)
21 Possibly loopy TV
part! (6)
22 I have nothing to
eat, just something
medicinal (6)
23 Recent changes show
heart (6)
25 Hated end? (5)
26 Suggestions that
one has given good
service? (4)
28 Something music lovers
can “go off”? (3)
ROYAL OMAN POLICE
11 LEISURE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
1 Xmas entertainment
(5)
6 Useful (5)
9 Assistant in crime (7)
10 Strength (5)
11 Reek (5)
12 Applauds (5)
13 Spirit (7)
15 Flightless bird (3)
17 London district (4)
18 Feline (6)
19 Sketch show (5)
20 Abase (6)
22 Skin complaint (4)
24 Previous day (3)
25 Gossip (7)
26 Walking pole (5)
27 Model (5)
28 Defeats (5)
29 Flimsy (7)
30 Charred remains (5)
31 Navigate (5)
DOWN
2 Greek god (6)
3 Skin adornment (6)
4 Honour (3)
5 Quiet (5)
6 Nursing home (7)
7 Crafts (4)
8 Generator (6)
EMERGENCY 9 9 9 9
DG of Passports & Residency, 24569603
DG of Customs, 24714626
Traffic offences, 24510227/228
ROP Public Relations, 24569270
Consumer Complaints Cell, 24817013
Muscat Governorate
Headquarters, 24560021
Muscat, 24736611
Wattayah, 24677990
Ruwi, 24701099
Muttrah, 24712211
Bausher, 24600099
Al Amerat, 24875999
Qurayat, 24845555
A’Seeb, 24420099
Al-Athaiba, 24521099
AI-Khodh, 24425012
Directorate of the University Security,
24513999
Directorate of Traffic Muscat, 24567898
Al Batinah Headquarters, 26840096
Al Rustaq Division, 26875099
Al Dakhiliyah, 25425099
Nizwa Division, 25425099
Samayil Division, 25350099
Al Sharqiyah Headquarters, 25545070
Ibra Division, 25570100
Al Dhahirah Headquarters, 25650099
Al Buraimi Division, 25650199
Ibri Division, 25689099
Al Wusta Headquarters, 23436099
Haima Division, 23436211
Special Task Force, 24560088
Coastguard Headquarters, 24714888
Dhofar Governorate Headquarters,
23234599
Salalah Police Station, 23290099
Thamrait Division, 23279099
Musandam Governorate Headquarters,
26730299
Khasab Division, 26731502
ROP websites: www.rop.gov.om, www.
ropoman.net and
e-mail: ropnet@omantel.net.om
12 Witches’ group (5)
13 Stage whisper (5)
14 Peal (5)
15 Choose (5)
16 State (5)
18 Should (5)
19 Baby’s toys (7)
21 Eludes (6)
22 Affirm (6)
23 Snuggle (6)
25 Obscure (5)
26 Satisfy (4)
28 Coach (3)
YESTERDAY’S
CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, Flush 6,
Right 9, Lo-OK for 10,
Fruit 11, Milne 12, Atlas
13, Rel.-ease 15, Sec 17,
O-der 18, Scylla 19, Rosie
20, G-a-RN-et 22, VE-RA
24, E’E-N 25, Phaeton 26,
Nails 27, Pilot 28, Finer
29, Styptic 30, Aloha 31,
Getty.
DOWN: 2, La-Rd.-ed 3,
Sliver 4, Hot 5, Skate
6, Romance 7, Iris(-l) 8,
Hand-el 12, A-Scot 13,
Rouge 14, L-earn 15,
S-le-et 16, Ca-Va.-n 18,
Sighs 19, Regat-ta 21,
Aerial 22, Venice 23,
Robe-Rt 25, P-lops 26,
No-sh 28, Fig.
YESTERDAY’S EASY
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, Blast 6, Tunic
9, Caption 10, Ashen
11, Pivot 12, Trait 13,
Delight 15, Rep 17, Eric
18, Facade 19, Snail 20,
Debunk 22, Saga 24,
SAS 25, Recital 26, Erred
27, Swill 28, Amiss 29,
Secrete 30, Ogled 31,
Erase.
DOWN: 2, Lesser 3,
Scenic 4, Tan 5, Start 6,
Topical 7, Unit 8, Ironed
12, Think 13, Deeds 14,
Limbs 15, Rabat 16, Pedal
18, Fined 19, Snarled
21, Earwig 22, Simmer
23, Gasses 25, Rears 26,
Else 28, Ate.
M USEUMS IN OMAN
FAISAL BIN ALI AL SAID MUSEUM,
Tel: 24641650
MUSEUM OF OMANI HERITAGE,
Tel: 24600946
CHILDREN’S SCIENCE MUSEUM.
Tel: 24605368
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM,
Tel: 24641374
NATIONAL MUSEUM, Tel: 24701289
SULTAN’S ARMED FORCES
MUSEUM, Tel: 24312646
CURRENCY MUSEUM,
Tel: 24796102
MUSCAT GATE MUSEUM,
Tel: 24739005.
OMANI-FRENCH MUSEUM (Bait
Fransa), Tel: 24736613
BAIT AL ZUBAIR, Tel: 24736688
BAIT A’NAMAN, Tel: 24641300
SOHAR FORT MUSEUM.
Tel: 26844758
NAHKAL FORT, Tel: 26781384
BAIT AL MAKHAM. Tel: 24641300
BAIT ADAM MUSEUM, QURUM,
Tel: 24605033, 24605013
OIL AND GAS EXHIBITION
CENTRE AND PLANE-TARIUM,
Tel: 24677834.
PLANETARIUM, Tel: 24675542.
AQUARIUM at the Marine Science
and Fisheries Centre (located next to
Marina Bandar Rowdha, Sidab).
SALALAH MUSEUM, Tel: 23294549
CULTURAL CENTRE, Tel: 23294549.
SUR MARITIME MUSEUM,
Tel: 24541466.
BAIT AL BARANDA, Tel: 24714262.
ACROSS
1 Tolerate (6)
5 Lout (4)
8 Quarrel (5)
9 Rotter (3)
10 Duct (4)
11 File (4)
12 Happening (5)
13 Moment (6)
16 Gull (4)
18 Mid-day (4)
20 Pig-pen (3)
22 Posed (3)
23 Trap (3)
24 Mirth (4)
25 Detail (4)
28 Notched (6)
30 Test (5)
32 Win (4)
33 Curve (4)
34 Consume (3)
35 Traded (5)
36 Expired (4)
37 Hired (6)
DOWN
1 Pardon (6)
2 Devote (8)
QUICK CROSSWORD
3 Regret (6)
4 Stopped (9)
5 Rotating (7)
6 Warmth (4)
7 Yawn (4)
8 Imitate (3)
14 Attractive (9)
15 Fellow (3)
17 Rodent (3)
19 Salve (8)
20 Cunning (3)
21 Longed (7)
26 Interfere (6)
27 Revised (6)
Q UOTATIONS FOR TODAY
CARTOONS
29 Elderly (4)
30 Season (4)
31 Hired (3)
YESTERDAY’S
QUICK SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 3, Staff 9,
Author 10, Outfit 11,
Baron 12, Edam 15,
Fete 17, Damaged 20,
Nor 21, Ditch 23, Grip
25, Torn 26, Cower 28,
Bet 30, Degrade 33,
Eden 35, Drop 36,
Scrap 38, Urchin 39,
Ironic 40, Ready.
DOWN: 1, Eased 2,
Steam 3, Sob 4, Traded
5, Fool 6, Fun 7, Often
8, Other 13, Dangled
14, Magic 16, Tornado
18, Dived 19, Act 22,
Hoard 24, Pod 27,
Repaid 28, Begun 29,
Teach 31, Arena 32,
Epoch 34, Acne 36, Sir
37, Pry.
I can’t understand why people are frightened by new ideas.
I’m frightened of old ones.
— John Cage
History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.
— Napoleon Bonaparte
What luck for the rulers that men do not think.
— Adolf Hitler
Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality.
— Jules de Gaultier
ADAM @ HOME by Brian Basset
CALVIN AND HOBBES by Bill Watterson
GARFIELD by Jim Davis
STONE SOUP by Jan Eliot

Weekend
A Model presents a collection by Greek designer Yiannos
Xenis during EuroFashion show in Kiev. — Reuters
A
12 FASHION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
Ethiopia made
shoes a hit
SMALL Ethiopian company
has taken a traditional local
shoe design based on recycled
truck tyres and turned it into
an international success which
in turn is providing jobs in the
hometown of its founder.
Recycling is a well-known
and widely practised concept in
Ethiopia. The shoes can be spotted
in trend-setting metropolises
such as New York and London.
The shoe brand name is soleRebels
and the success story
behind the company based just
outside the capital Addis Ababa
is testimony to the belief that
products made in one of the
poorest countries in the world
can establish themselves in the
fashion market. — dpa
Designer Gupta to
showcase in UK
DESIGNER Gaurav
Gupta, who has completed
six years in the
fashion industry, is excited
about showing his collection at
the Alchemy in London.
Alchemy, a five-day event to
be hosted by the British Council,
starts on April 19. The event
will explore every aspect of Indian
culture through a range of
events encompassing dance, art,
film and fashion show.
"We are showing at Alchemy
this April. The show celebrates
the relationship between India
and Britain and I am fortunate to
showcase my collection there,"
the designer said. He has prepared
a collection, which is a
mix of his autumn winter line including
drape saris, maxi dresses
and high-waisted trousers.
"The collection is going to
be very beautiful with lots of
experimental dresses," he said.
Artisans to turn
designers
HAPPY Hands Foundation,
an organisation that works
closely on artisan-support
programmes, has launched
an initiative — Artists-in-
Residence — that gives artisans
from the remote corners of
India to learn design aesthetic
and improvise their work.
"Artists from different part
of the villages together stay with
us in Delhi and do a one month
workshop on how designing and
art are taught in colleges. Since
artisans don't have much sources
and knowledge of outer world,
this workshop will give them
exposure and enhance their
creativity and business style,"
said Medhavi, director of Happy
Hands Foundation. — IANS
Models present new collections by eminent designers during EuroFashion show in Kiev, Ukraine. Designers from 16 countries are participating in the show. — Reuters

Weekend
Tara Reid arrives at the premiere of Universal Pictures’ American Reuinion
at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.
South Korean actress Yoon Eun Hye
poses on the red carpet at the Asian
Film Awards. — Agencies
Justin Bieber set to shock
with gory photoshoot
POP star Justin Bieber has thrown
himself into the ring for boxingthemed
photo shoot that is sure to shock
his fans.
The star is on the April May issue of
Complex magazine and, in the spread, he
would be seen sporting a battered face,
bloody nose and soiled white tuxedo, reports
femalefirst.co.uk — IANS
Hong Kong actress Deanie Ip poses
with her trophy after winning the
Best Actress award at the Asian
Film Awards in Hong Kong
13
ENTERTAINMENT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
Rupert Sanders SSanders
praises
Kristen Stewart
D
IRECTOR RRup ert Sanders who
SSwan. Th They h b bbelieve li
that that’s her,” the di-
teamed up with actress rector said.
Kristen Stewart in “Obviously, an actor
“Snow White and is playing a role. She is
the Huntsman” has nothing like Bella. And,
showered praises on his I got on really well with
leading lady.
Kristen. It was great.
Sanders said he en- As I was writing stuff,
joyed working with she was there.”
Stewart and that she “We had a lot of
was incredibly good in conversations, seeing
the role, reported fema- through her eyes. We
lefirst.co.uk.
really hard on devel-
“I think what I realoping that character
ised is that she’s such a together. I was just
good actor that every- amazed at her talent,
one thinks she’s Bella really.”
Nicki Minaj new
face of Pepsi
RAPPER Nicki
Minaj has
signed a multimillion
dollar
deal to front the
campaign for
Pepsi’s new drink
called Pop.
Derek Jackson,
head of Glu agency
who brokered the
agreement, confirms
the star shot
a television commercial
for the
new product in
South America last
month. “You’ll see
the commercial
probably in the next
two months.
Actresses Alexandra
Chando and Sutton
Foster (below)
attend the 2012 ABC
Family Upfront.
Actress Lea Thompson
attends the 2012 ABC
Family Upfront
Cowell plans
to revamp
X-Factor
MUSIC mogul
Simon Cowell is
reportedly planning to
revamp singing reality
show The X-Factor by
letting the singers create
their own music.
“The idea might be
to allow for more original
music throughout the
competition. Whether this
means they will be writing
their own songs isn’t
confirmed, but it’s looking
like it’s going that
way,” thesun.co.uk quoted
a source as saying.
To encourage genuine
talent, Cowell will also
include aspiring musicians
recommended by
music industry bosses.
The show will welcome
bands and artists who
already have management
deals but are not yet
signed to record labels.
— IANS
Iranian actress Leila Hatami (left) and film-editor Hayedeh
Safiyari pose with their awards in Hong Kong.
Jessica Alba’s
non-toxic
lifestyle book
AMERICAN actress
Jessica Alba is set to
release her first book “The
Honest Life” about creating
a toxic-free home. She doles
out recipes, design ideas and
other tips to help eliminate
toxins from the house.
“It will be easy and fun
and I want it to be really colourful.
I’m a crazy foodie. I
love doing projects with my
kids. Everything in this book
will be something meaningful
that I’ve incorporated
into our lives, she told people.com.
Actress Chelsea Kane attends
the 2012 ABC Family Upfront at
the Mandarin Oriental Hotel
in New York City.
Philippine actress Shamaine Buencamino poses with her
trophy after winning the Best Supporting Actress award for
her role in Nino at the Asian Film Awards.

Weekend
Nigerians look at a vehicle by German carmaker Porsche in Lagos. Porsche officially
opened a new car dealership in Lagos’ wealthiest district, Victoria Island, a place with
one of the world’s highest concentrations of millionaires. — Reuters
14 MOTORING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
Nissan’s new
DeltaWing racing
car is seen after
it was unveiled
in London. The
experimental racecar
to be powered by
Nissan 1.6-litre
DIG-T engine will
be a non-competitive
participant in this
year’s Le Mans 24
hour race. Below:The
rear of DeltaWing
racing car.
— Reuters
Nissan revives
old Datsun
for emerging
markets
JAPANESE automaker
Nissan will revive
its discontinued Datsun
brand to meet demand for
affordable cars in emerging
markets such as Indonesia.
Datsun was developed in
1930, becoming a popular
and inexpensive model —
particularly in the United
States — but was phased
out from 1981 as Nissan
pushed its own name onto
its cars.
The company said it
would re-introduce an updated
model to the market
from 2014 for sale initially
in Indonesia, India and Russia.
“Datsun is part of our
history. It was synonymous
with affordable and reliable
cars,” company chairman
Carlos Ghosn said in the Indonesian
capital Jakarta.
“With the return of Datsun,
we want to add modernity
to it, with a new level
of quality, like a high-fuel
economy.” — AFP
Mitsubishi Motors launches new Thai model eco-car
MITSUBISHI Motors
Thailand launched its
new Mirage eco-car model,
a compact that promises
22 kilometres to the litre
and a low price due to the
government tax incentives.
Mitsubishi is the third
Japanese automobile manufacturer
to design and produce
an eco-model for the
domestic and export markets
under the Thai government’s
promotional scheme
launched in 2006. Suzuki Motors
is scheduled to launch its
own model today.
Nissan Motors was the first
to produce a Thai-made eco
car, the March, and Honda
Motors launched the Brio last
year. Toyota Motors is expected
to launch a new model for
the Thai market by year-end
2012.
Manufacturers of low carbon
emission vehicles enjoy
reduced excise taxes, as long
as they meet government requirements
on fuel consumption,
safety standards, engine
size and production levels.
Coda’s first car buyer Randy Abraham, of Redwood City,
holds the key to his vehicle at the Coda dealership. Below:
A charging station stands behind a Coda car during an
event featuring the delivery of the first sold Coda electric
vehicle in Santa Clara, California. — Reuters
An antique car sports a vanity licence plate naming a county
in Ireland before the start of the St Patrick’s Day
parade in Chicago, Illinois. — AFP
A Trabant convertible, a vintage East German car, drives past the Reichstag, the seat of
Germany’s lower house of parliament in Berlin. — Reuters

Weekend
Electrotherapy dampens
brain connections
SCIENTISTS have
discovered how
electroconvulsive or
electric shock therapy
— a controversial but
effective treatment —
acts on the brains of
severely depressed people
and say the finding could
help improve diagnosis
and treatment of mental
illness.
Electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT) involves
first anaesthetising the patient
and then electrically
inducing a seizure.
It has a controversial
reputation — gained in
part because of its role in
the 1975 film One Flew
Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
starring Jack Nicholson
— but is a potent and effective
treatment for patients
with mood disorders
like severe depression.
Yet despite it being
used successfully in
clinical practice around
the world for more than
70 years, scientists have
until now not been entirely
clear how or why it
works.
Now a team from Aberdeen
University in Scotland
has shown for the
first time that ECT affects
the way different parts
of the brain involved in
depression communicate
with each other.
In a study published
in the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences
(PNAS) journal
they found ECT appears
to turn down overactive
connections between
parts of the brain that control
mood and parts that
control thinking and concentrating.
This stops the overwhelming
impact that depression
has on patients’
ability to enjoy life and
carry out day-to-day activities,
they said.
“We’ve solved a 70year-old
therapeutic riddle,”
said Ian Reid, a professor
of psychiatry at the
University of Aberdeen
who led the study.
15 HEALTH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
‘Gluttony gene’
forces you to
gobble non-stop
SCIENTISTS CIENTISTS have stumbled on a ‘gluttony
gene’ that converts you into an eating machine
even if you are full. Mice tests have
demonstrated that a mutation on a single gene
broke down body-brain communication and triggered
non-stop eating and rapid weight gain.
But the good news is that the scientists hope
identifying the Bdnf gene could help with slimming
treatments as obesity is becoming a global
epidemic, the journal Nature Medicine reports.
Baoki Xu, who led the study at Georgetown
University Medical Centre, US on variations in the
Bdnf gene in mice, said: “This discovery may open
up novel strategies to help the brain control body
weight.” His team found the Bdnf gene has ‘short’
and ‘long’ versions which form at an early stage
in the womb. Those with the ‘long’ form sent the
chemical signals to say ‘I’m full’ through a ‘superhighway’
of neurons in the brain to the hypothalamus,
according to the Daily Mail.
In those with the short form, signals reached
some brain cells but could not be picked up by the
dendrites — the branch-like ‘fingers’ coming out of
the cells which pass messages on to the right place.
DS patients need
early intervention
Today is World Down’s Syndrome Day
EVEN though Down’s Syndrome (DS)
remains an incurable condition, experts
believe that acceptance by the family and early
intervention go a long way in ensuring that a
person with DS is able to live a normal life and
be socially independent.
Worldwide, March 21 is celebrated as the
World Down’s Syndrome Day. DS is a genetic
condition that affects 1 out of 800 people and is
universally present across racial, gender or socioeconomic
lines, according to Down’s Syndrome
International, a UK-based organisation for creating
awareness about DS.
The people having DS often suffer from mental
retardation, have a flat face, long or protruding
tongue and slanted eyes. “Down’s Syndrome is a
genetic condition and so far, medical science has
no cure for the condition. It is not something that
can be prevented.” — IANS
AT MY
WORKPLACE!
A N angel comes to a person and says, whatever you wish your
neighbour will get twice what you ask for! The jealousy and
envy streak kicks in — and he now says to the angel — Make
me one eyed blind!
As a kid in that distant land — on Eid days — I used to wonder
why the dogs snarled and almost killed each other fighting
over the skin and the remains of a slaughtered lamb! While the
real meat was actually eaten up by the human beings!
My Economics Professor in UK told us to try this experiment.
Go in the streets and give 18 people you see RO 50 each.
Then choose two others, and give them RO 100. What do you
think the 18 will say to you? Thank you for giving us unexpected
RO 50 out of the blue? No, they will ask you — why did you
give those two the double you gave us? That is human weakness,
foibles and nature to you! Like I have said so many times before
— The line between evil and good is so thin — sometimes you
may have crossed it inadvertently and without knowing it!
As a young boy my mind was puzzled why those people of
the same group were more to say frankly — so hard and cutting
cruel to each other. Many years later in life, I had my own
Management Consultancy — and I heard the very same words
and expressions — but this time from another race (Indian lady).
I would have just ignored it as a reaction of a lady who was not
happy because our business was going badly into heavy losses
— but I recollected her words when I met some of our own in
my home village. This time it was another race — but the words
were the very same and similar. Like the same song and tune —
but sung in different languages!
So I said to myself — let me find from the other races — what
they feel on the subject. Any surprises? No, you guessed it right
again — the very same outlook and feelings! Isn’t that amazing?
Or you can rightly say too — shocking? Why are we so mean,
dastardly, cruel and hard to each other — but would make allowances
and exceptions to those outsiders and who are not our
own? Is there a society that fares better or is really worse off than
others — or are we equally bad and mean to each other?
I think you must have met these kinds of people in the office
environment — and even more outside the offices for sure?
When it comes to making offers to their own kind and belongings
— they are very mean and cruel — but see nothing wrong
in paying especially that outsider — even three or four times his
own was being paid!
The sad and most tragic thing is that it does not concern nor
bother him a bit — and he will go to the extent of defending it in
order to ‘curry favours’ and to be seen as ‘our own boy’ looking
after this! Our guardian and hero! Even if both candidates are
equally qualified and experienced — even if the local maybe
even more qualified! You may be saying to me that this was in
the past — and if any cases — are just few isolated ones! But I
beg to differ — because I have seen it in reality still happening
— and have happened too before many times!
Keep remembering this too. I, as a Human Resources Consultant,
Expert and Adviser — have been involved in writing up
Companies’ policies and procedures — and I have seen a fellow
Omani and CEO/GM/Director want to dilute and or lessen even
the salary ranges and benefits — and add in factors like country
allowance (disturbance family allowance) and the likes in order
to give the expatriate some added points in order to get more —
even if the entry is in the same job category and level. And even
for expatriates there are distinctions — with regional staff of
course receiving lesser — but of course still more than the local!
These things need to stop now by paying someone by the
kind of dress and attire one wears. Even the office joke that goes
around — especially with the teenagers is — “Today you are
wearing shirt and trousers — because you want to get noticed?”
— To a man. And skirt and blouse to the ladies — and with that
hair open — if you are a woman!
Take Care!

Weekend
I don’t have the body for an item number: Sonam
SHE is slim, tall and pretty, but
Sonam Kapoor feels she can't
do justice to a saucy and pacy item
number.
"I don't have a body to do an item
ASIN Thottumkal is in
no mood to return to
southern movies — at least,
not right now. The actress is
comfortable in Bollywood and
number. I am slim, trim and healthy but
I don't have the grace and style and all
that requires a little time to develop. I
am a little young right now," Sonam
said at an event here. — IANS
Southern film industry can wait: Asin
says she is happy to see how
technology and awareness
have brought the two film
industries closer than ever
before. — IANS
Chief Executive Officer:
Dr Ibrahim bin Ahmed al Kindi
Editor-in-Chief
Fahmy bin Khalid al Harthy
16 BOLLYWOOD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
Actress Nupur Mehta arrives
for a press conference to
address a UK daily’s charges
that she was involved in
match-fixing. — AFP
I’m not dating Amita Pathak: Pulkit
ACTORS
Pulkit
Samrat and
Amita Pathak
( pictured)
are playing
a couple in
Bittoo Boss,
but the former
denies any
romantic
involvement
with his costar
in real
life.
"I'm not
dating her (Amita) at all.
We shared just a normal
chemistry and had fights
on the set," Pulkit, who is
making his big screen debut
with Bittoo Boss, said
on phone from Mumbai.
Pulkit, who hails from
Delhi, was seen in popular
Indian soap Kyunki Saas
Bhi Kabhi Bahu
Thi as Lakshya
Virani. He took
a break from
television after
the show as he
had got bored.
"I was not
challenging
myself to perform
while I
was doing TV.
So I was also
losing interest
in doing any
more shows.
You need a change and you
have to go for new things
in life... so I did," he said.
During his three-year
break from showbiz,
Pulkit enrolled himself in
a graphic designing course.
In Bittoo Boss, Pulkit plays
a videographer and sports a
desi look. — IANS
Vidya’s Kahaani hit among online gamers
AFTER getting positive reviews from critics
and audiences, Vidya Balan's Kahaani has
now become a huge hit among online gamers.
It got 50,000 hits within the first 10 days of its
launch.
"The Great Indian Parking Wars" requires
gamers to park Vidya's taxi on a friend's street to
help her in the journey to find her missing husband.
Gamers can play the game at ibibo.com and
can get in touch with Vidya through her gaming
profile on the website. "It's amazing to see the
kind of popularity Ibibo has developed about the
film on social media," said the actress about the
association with ibibo.com. — IANS
Don’t want my
son in films:
Akshay
ACTOR-PRODUCER
Akshay Kumar,
who spends quality time
with his 10-year-old son
Aarav despite his busy
schedule, says that he
wants to keep him away
from films.
"He is too young. I want
my son to be away from
films. I want him to enjoy
childhood. I want him to
go and play football. Go on
the beach and enjoy life,"
Akshay said. — IANS
Popular show Uttaran is set to take an 18-year leap,
with actress Tina Datta playing a double role as 35plus
Ichcha and her young daughter Meethi.
The show will air on Colors from March 26 and
Tina is excited about her double role. — IANS
Actors Azim (left) and Faith
pose during the music launch
for the forthcoming Hindi
film Qasam Se Qasam Se in
Mumbai. — AFP
Actress Yuvika Chaudhary
seen during the launch of a
clinic in Mumbai. —AFP
Multi-starrers
are important:
Shreyas
ACTOR Shreyas Talpade,
who has starred in a
slew of multi-starrers, feels
such films have their own
charm and should not be
missed in the race to bag
solo roles.
"Multi-starrers have their
own charm and uniqueness,
which I don't want to miss
out on just because I want
to do a solo film. The speciality
of a multi-starrer is
that so many people come
together and try to make an
entertainer," said Shreyas.
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