dr. sanjay dalal - Y-oman.com

Weekly January 10, 2012Issue 202ITA & OMANTELTENNISINJURIESA TRIUMPHFOR TOURISM?DR. SANJAY DALALFLAMINGOBEACHIN FILIMNISSANCLEAN UP OMAN

Dear Reader,There’s no greater joy than showing visitingfriends and family around Muscat, an experiencewhich is guaranteed to add a spring to your step.Oman has a bounty of attractions for visitors,and unlike other neighbouring countries, the bestof these are outside the capital. In this week’sissue, we look at how the tourism industry inthe Sultanate is shaping up, and we look atthe challenges those in the hospitality industryface, along with highlighting the abundance ofopportunities on offer. For those who have pridein this country, it should make for a great read.Also in the issue, we speak to Dr. Dalal, theorganiser of Talent Hunters Oman and MuscatIcon, which aims at highlighting the humantalent in the country. For those of you whothought tennis was a game for softies, wehave a well-thought out piece on the rocketingnumber of injuries in the game, and show justhow damaging the sport can be on the body ifprecautions aren't taken. We also have a beautifulVenture piece on a natural sanctuary for GreaterFlamingos in Barr al Hikman, which should be aninspirational read for all nature lovers. Plus, thelatest news from Oman and afar, and we throw ina couple of technology gizmos which have got usexcited in the Y office.We hope you enjoy the issue.Y Team4

This week inJanuary 10, 2012 Issue 20210Twentyfour SevenClean Up Oman, ITA, Karcher Carwash Centre,Omantel, Nissan, Oman Association for the Disabled18Check This OutAn APPle a Week, Events, 2nd OmanInternational Salsa and Dance Festival30SpotlightDR. SANJAYDALAL38X-tra TimeTennis Injuries Hit the Stars28 VentureFlamingo Beach at Filim45 ChillaxativeCrosswords, Social Media22Y-ratedTHE TOURISTTRAILSayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi Editor-in-Chief | Paul McLoughlin Work EditorKarima Farid Chief Reporter | Clint Derric Egbert Sports Writer/PhotographerJerzy Wierzbicki Photographer | Shrikant Akojwar Art Director/DesignEihab Abutaha General Manager | Feroz Khan Director of Sales & Marketing | Ayman Canawati Logistics ManagerFor editorial enquiries, email info@y-oman.com | Published by SABCO Press, Publishing & Advertising LLC | Y is a SABCO Media Product.

January 10, 2012 Issue 202WINNINGLETTERThe Sleeping TruthDear Y,Hope you have enjoyed a Wonderful start to the New Year.I want to share with the readers one important information which I came across in an article, which will beuseful to everyone.There have been an increasing number of accidents in 2011 in the Sultanate of Oman and many people has losttheir precious lives, become permanently disabled and affected in one way or other which has caused doom intheir lives. Often these accidents are related to the following well known factors:Over speedingUsing Mobile while drivingTexting while drivingNot obeying the basic traffic rulesSudden Lane changing without any signalOne unknown factor which also relates to the increasing number of accidents is that sleeping disorders alsocan lead to accidents. Sleep Apnoea, as the disorder is known leads to a large number of traffic fatalities acrossthe world. Sleep disorder can cause people to become inattentive or fall asleep at the wheel for a microsecondwhich is more than enough for accidents. Lack of proper sleep in the nights can make us to fall asleep duringthe day which often leads to traffic accidents if it happens when driving. This disorder typically occurs in malesabove 40 years old and also seen in post-menopausal women and is more prevalent among those who livesedentary lives and are overweight with a body mass index of over 30.Sleep Apnoea itself can also lead to further weight gain in a patient and worsen their diabetes management.However, lack of awareness about this condition means that many patients remain untreated, which threatensboth their quality of life and rate of survival.Since Sultanate is having high rate of accidents, people with sleeping disorders can visit a doctor for propercounselling and preventive measures which will reduce the accidents to a certain percentage in Oman. We canalso collect traffic victims’ health status while collecting the statistics.Let us sleep well for an accident free Oman in the future.Indumathi.Abe a winner!Each week we are selecting our best reader’s letter or image, and giving away fantastic prizes care ofAl Nahda Resort & Spa! Simply email us at info@y-oman.comValue of prizes may vary each week. This prize is not redeemable for cash or alternatives.Only one winner is selected at the discretion of Y magazine. Proof of Identity is required to claim your prize.

January 10, 2012 Issue 202READER'SLETTERSBEAUTY EXPLOREDDear Y,In my almost 5 years in Oman, I haven’t got the opportunityto explore the beauty of this country. I am very grateful thatyour Venture section has provided me and the rest of the expatcommunity the opportunity to see various places. The Venturesection is what I like the most in your magazine, the photos arevery bright and full of life.Every week I always look forward to grabbing a copy of yourmagazine to see a new place in Oman. With all the beautifulplaces that you have featured, I now look forward to exploringthe various scenic spots in Oman. The latest Venture section wasabsolutely fantastic. Thanks a lot and all the best to Y Magazine.Maria Christina KempisBoss = Friend, Philosopher and GuideDear Y,I Would like to share about my boss "good" quality with Y Readers, who is leaving forgood after 15 years of service in OMAN.His cabin and thought is always open for any suggestion/improvementHe leads the team with full motivationHe commands respect with his leadership qualitiesHe made us understand customer is the boss and he motivated us to serve thecustomer "out of the way"He is always with solution for official and personal problems.He is friendly,helpful and he always accessible when he was on leave/ out of countryalsoHe isTalented , Target Oriented, Team LeaderAchiever & All rounderRespectableUnited &Neighbours envy - owners prideHis inspiration to winning success always remember the famous saying of - Zig ZiglarYou were born to win,but tobe a winner,you must plan to win,prepare to winand expect to winWe wish him all the very best and happy new yearKumar.V

January 10, 2012 Issue 202TAKING OUT THE TRASHAs you probably know by now, we at Y are big onsupporting positive initiatives, especially if their aimis to contribute to this beautiful country. ‘Clean UpOman’ is a group of mainly Omani volunteers whouse Facebook to send out a message to everyone inOman: ‘dumping litter can no longer be tolerated inthis beautiful country!’ Their first clean-up took placeon 30th December, and the aim of this initiative isto combat a major issue that is happening in theSultanate; a topic that Y has addressed many times.Dumping garbage on Oman’s land and in the seais unacceptable, and you can play a major part instopping it.On 30th December, a group of active volunteers met at the parking lot behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs toclean up Qurum beach. “I am inspired by the large number of young Omanis that have shown interest in thisinitiative and will be turning out for our first effort to address the challenge of reckless dumping on the 30th atQurum Beach. Of course, expats and residents are more than welcome to join in this initiative,” said Nasser AlKindi, the group’s founder who raised funds for members’ t-shirts by selling his photographs and posters.Ali Al Barwani, a volunteer and member of the Facebook group, said that “the shaping and transformation of anidea in the virtual world of Facebook into an event taking place in the real world is truly inspirational.”“Those who throw litter aren’t the majority in our society but our inaction is helping to promote it. We all havea choice: we can turn a blind eye, or talk and become disgruntled about it, or we can choose to do somethingabout it. Something that will discourage it and address the issue is we want everyone to come out and help tipthe scale against this problem,” added Nasser.Ahmed Al Wardi, one of the group’s very active members, said: “People can help if they can’t attend. You canhelp by spreading the message on Facebook and other media, by teaching your friends and children not tothrow rubbish.”These volunteers came together, and helped each other out. One volunteer donated drinking water, whileanother is creating a website and electronic leaflets for the group. Readers, there is also a way for you to helpout. Before anything, please stop throwing garbage in random areas. Secondly, you need to check out theirFacebook page titled ‘Clean Up Oman’. Dates of upcoming ‘clean up’ events will be posted in advance, so youcan plan, along with your friends and family, to join in. Our cameras will be there to support the initiative, verysoon. Thanks Nasser for getting in touch with us.

January 10, 2012 Issue 202ITA GIVES BACKWe all witnessed the first phase of the National PC Initiative, which the Information TechnologyAuthority (ITA) has initiated. Now, the ITA will continue to distribute laptops to beneficiariesduring its second phase. The ITA and Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) renew theirpartnership, and Omantel will provide free internet to beneficiaries of this scheme.The agreement signed between the ITA and Omantel is indeed a positive step towards a bettertomorrow. This evidently shows that the private sector plays a big role in the Sultanate, and wehope other companies will be inspired to give back too. This initiative aims to encourage all socialinsurance families, and also teachers who have graduated from the Government IT Training andCertification (GITTC) projects, as well as higher education students, to further their knowledge ofIT.Following the signing of the Partnership Agreement for the second phase of the National PCInitiative, the Chief Executive Officer of theInformation Technology Authority, Dr. Salem binSultan Al-Ruzaiqi, said, “We are really pleasedwith the renewal of the partnership agreement withOmantel in support of the National PC Initiative forthe provision of free internet for tens of thousands ofbeneficiaries across the Sultanate’s governorates.”Dr. Al-Ruziaqi added, “The Information TechnologyAuthority has taken all the necessary measures andprepared a plan to distribute the National PC Initiativelaptops in all the governorates. The plan starts withthe distribution of laptops and their accessories tosocial welfare families in Muscat, followed by othergovernorates.”The National PC Initiative will be providing a freelaptop to every social insurance family who have oneor more students registered in schools. Free laptopswill also be given to first year higher educationstudents, and teachers who have graduated fromthe GITTC project. In the meantime, Omantel areoffering two options for these families, whether it ishome broadband ADSL, or mobile broadband.of the internet, especially as it comes as per the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.”Following the signing ceremony of the PartnershipAgreement,, the Chief Executive Officer of Omantel,Dr. Amer bin Awadh Al-Rawas, said, “There is nodoubt that the company is proud of its participationin, and support of, this significant national PCinitiative, which would achieve a real leap in the useDr. Al-Rawas added, “The company has formed a team to study the requirements of the initiative and implement the various phases of the project as well as theoffers that would be introduced to the different beneficiaries in each phase.”The Omantel CEO said, “We would like to seize this opportunity to express our deep thanks to the ITA for its great efforts and the facilities it has provided, whichhelped us reach the beneficiaries of the initiative in a very smooth and easy manner.”Dr. Al-Rawas added, “We are keen that all beneficiaries get Omantel offers for this national initiative. The company will continue delivering the offer that wasannounced in the first phase for social welfare families. Beneficiaries can select from the two available offers covering the Home Broadband ADSL service thatprovides a free wireless modem, rent-free fixed line for one year with 1GB download per month, as well as free 75 minutes calls to fixed lines, or to get free mobilebroadband internet services through Omantel’s 3.5G network for one year, besides a free modem, free SIM card and 1GB of monthly usage.”11

January 10, 2012 Issue 202AT THE CARWASHKhimji Ramdas Industrial and Machinery Tools Division (IMT) has providedOman with various engineering solutions for many years. The companyrecently announced the launch of the first dual automatic Karcher CarwashCentre at Al Tharmad Filling Station, Suwaiq. The inauguration was a grandsuccess, with a gathering of around 40 guests from Shell, Sarooj, MuscatMunicipality, service stations and car dealers across the spectrum.Hritik Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas said that, “Khimji Ramdas haspioneered change and innovations in Oman through its products andservices and this is yet another ‘feather in the cap’. We strongly believe thatKarcher’s initiative will go a long way in enabling our key target groups tochange to the latest in the market”.Managing Director of Karcher Middle East, Richard Nouira, highlighted theneed for setting-up an automatic carwash, the first of its kind in the region.“Karcher has tailored this system for Al Tharmad filling station to suit thehigh traffic in the area without compromising on the result’. We hope manycustomers will be interested for investing in the state of the art car cleaningsystem for their customers like Said Al Mughaini, owner of Al Tharmad fillingstation,” he saidKhimji Ramdas has been the authorised dealer for Karcher over the past15 years.12

January 10, 2012 Issue 202SECOND CUP – THE HEALTHY BREWSecond Cup, which has recently adapted the ‘Swiss Water Process’, boasts of beingthe only international chain in Oman to offer such healthy and rich tasting coffee.The reason for this process being so healthy is because it is 100 percent chemicalfree,and only uses water from the coastal mountains of British Columbia to extractcaffeine. This rich and naturally healthy coffee is served at all four Second Cupbranches in Oman, ensuring complete customer-satisfaction in terms of the taste andquality of coffee on offer.The process used to decaffeinate the coffee chains’ beans is called the ‘Swiss WaterProcess’. This state-of-the-art method of decaffeination not only contributes to thehealthiness of the coffee, but also saves the flavour of the coffee bean, which isn’talways the case with others that use synthetic materials during the decaffeinationphase.Jannat Moosa, Marketing Director at Bin Mirza International, said, “It has alwaysbeen part of the Second Cup culture to treat customers as we would our family, byproviding the most superior quality available. In having a rigorous coffee selectionprocess, we make sure that only the best is chosen. Our premium selections havebecome evident in all our drinks and can be proven by our growing number of loyalcustomers.”Second Cup is planning on opening a number of new outlets in the New Year, so watchout for that.NEW LOOKNEW FOODComing soon to Almouj Marina, The Wave, Muscatpizzaexpress.com.om13

January 10, 2012 Issue 202NISSAN NOW CATERS TO MABELLADetermined to reach out to its customers throughout the Sultanate, Suhail Bahwan Automobiles(SBA), the sole importers of all Nissan vehicles in the country, recently established a newshowroom in Mabella.“We had Mabella Service Center in our plans... but seeing the rapid growth of Nissan vehicleson Mabella roads, we had to start-up the service centre ahead of schedule catering to Nissancustomers needs in all aspects coming from in and around Mabella Sanaya, Al Khoud andSeeb. With more numbers of vehicle repair bays and state-of-the-art infrastructure, this facilitywill reduce time in both vehicle receiving and vehicle delivery, making it almost as good as anExpress Service Centre. Nissan promises high-quality, reliable, after-sales services will alwaysbe maintained. When service is built around a wholesome ethos like that, satisfaction would beexpressed better by the customer,” said a senior spokesperson from SBA.The service centre as of now offers periodic maintenanceservices and various mechanical repair jobs. Its turnover isaround 100 cars per day, and boasts of state-of-the-art servicefacilities, equipped with the latest diagnostic equipments suchas Consult III and highly skilled Nissan trained technicians.Customers have easy access to the services through Nissan’scentralised appointment service by calling 24494833. You canalso book an appointment through the Nissan website www.nissanoman.comThe centre shows great promise with a full-fledged service and parts facility, trainedprofessionals, and complete sales, service and parts services for all Nissan customers livingin the region.“The remarkable levels of affection that the people of Mabella has showered on the Nissanbrand is also an indication of the faith they have in Nissan engineering, safety and performance.While the new model, the Nissan Juke, has found ready acceptance, the performance of thefavourites in the Nissan passenger range and the commercial vehicles is a true indicator of theimpact Nissan has made with the majority of the people here. I would like to assure all Nissancustomers that SBA will always be at hand to assist Nissan customers in any way. All that theyhave to do is contact the new Nissan showroom in Mabella,” said a senior spokesman for SuhailBahwan Automobiles (SBA).14

January 10, 2012 Issue 202OMANTEL VOTEDTHE BEST TELECOMSSERVICE PROVIDERIN OMANOnce again, Omantel has been voted as‘Best Telecoms Service Provider in Oman’.This award was organised by BusinessToday and the voting was conducted bya survey, and the participant includedaround a hundred Chairmen, CEO’s, andGeneral Managers from Oman’s businesscommunity.Commenting on the survey, Todd Dick, VicePresident of Omantel Business Unit said:“We are very proud to receive once againthis recognition from the Sultanate’s topbusiness executives who participated inthis independent annual brand survey.This distinction does not only reaffirmOmantel’s leadership of the Sultanate’stelecom market but also shows the trustand satisfaction that our customers haveon our range of telecom solutions. Thisrecognition is another affirmation followinga number of pledged testimonials fromdifferent companies from the oil and gas,banking,industrial and insurance sectors.Omantel offers its corporate customersthe widest choice of tailored telecom solutions, the most extensive network reach and a world-class post salesservice”.Also within the survey, Omantel was selected as the most favoured brand in seven different categories. Naturally,Omantel’s executives are delighted with the prestigious award, which happens annually.Todd Dick, Vice President of Omantel Business Unit, added: “When it comes to businesses, it’s all about quality,reliability, security and round-the-clock technical support that distinguish telecom services providers, and webelieve this is what the Sultanate’s top business leaders have voted us for. We made substantial investmentsover the past few years to ensure the redundancy of our network hence giving our corporate customers threetiers of protection that is guaranteed through service level agreements. Omantel Business has tens of thousandsof corporate customers across the country and key to this success and growth is the company’s commitment todelivering personal service through a highly trained and qualified team who offer highly focused and personalisedservices to business customers.”15

January 10, 2012 Issue 202TURNING THE PAGE IN OMAN’S HISTORYOman’s largest e-greeting card in the world project, initiated forHis Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, will wrap up in February.The initiation was made for the occasion of the magnificent41st National Day, and hundreds of thousands have alreadyposted their greetings to His Majesty.Usama Karim Al Haremi, Oman Air’s Corporate Communicationsand Media Head, commented: “We are immensely proud tobe the Gold Sponsor of the Oman First initiative, which willpay respects to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on theoccasion of the 41st anniversary of his accession to the throne.It will also contribute to Oman’s e-society initiative, which isbeing run by the Information Technology Authority. Oman Airis committed to supporting the life and development of theSultanate of Oman and to assisting individuals to achieve theirfull potential. Oman First will help to promote the benefits oftechnology at every level of society and encourage people fromevery corner of the nation to engage with digital culture.”Oman Air staff were one of the first to upload their warmgreetings. The initiative was circulated to different regions, and this gave an opportunity for many people from different walks of life to participate. Hopefully, thislarge e-card will make it into the Guinness Book of World Records.Usama Karim Al Haremi concluded: “It is also a wonderful opportunity for the people of Oman, expatriates and international friends of the nation to celebrate HisMajesty’s leadership and guidance over more than four decades. However, the greatest achievement of this initiative will be to have involved people throughoutOman in the development of digital communication and to have provided a new opportunity for everyone to celebrate His Majesty’s reign.”TOGETHER, FOR A BETTER TOMORROWThe Omani Association for the Disabled recentlycelebrated the ‘International Day of Person withDisabilities’ at Al Noor Hall. The event was held underthe patronage of Her Highness Dr. Mona Bint Fahd alSaid, Deputy Chairman of Sultan Qaboos University forExternal Cooperation. All around the world, this day wascelebrated on 3rd December 2011, and was themed‘Together for a Better World’. The event was attendedby Social Development Minister Shaikh Mohammedbin Said al Kabani, members of the Association, topgovernment officials and the American Ambassador toOman, Dr. Richard J. Schmierer.The Chairman of the Association, Yahya bin AbdullahAl Jabri, said in his welcoming speech, “Together,towards a better world for all people and involvement ofdisabled in the process of development, is our motto.”It is important to mention that Her Highness Dr. MonaBint Fahad honoured the Ministry of Social Developmentand the institutions supporting the Omani Society forthe Disabled. They have been taking care of disabled people by organising various programmes and helping them. Also, Hyder Jawad Sultan, who is a boardmember of the Association and was indeed the person behind arranging the entire event.With a large number of disabled people being felicitated by dignitaries, this will indeed give them encouragement to carry forward their lives in a positive way, thereis no doubt that the event was a grand success. It was a proud moment for many, and one that will be remembered for some time to come.16

January 10, 2012 Issue 202OMAN OIL MARKETING BAGS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCEThe Capital Market Authority, which is knownas CMA, acknowledged Oman Oil MarketingCompany for ‘Corporate Governance Excellence’in the services industry. Faisal Al Shanfari, whois the General Manager of Operations and HSSE,received this award. The award was presentedin a unique event, under the patronage of HisExcellency Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Saadi,Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairmanof CMA.“Year after year, we have demonstrated our abilityto internalise and pursue best in class practicesthus resulting in positive business returnsand earning both investors’ and stakeholders’confidence and goodwill,” said CEO Eng. Omarbin Ahmed Qatan. “As we continue to grow andevolve, we remain committed to maintaining highstandards of corporate governance over-andbeyondcompliance with requirements throughongoing assessment and improvement to enhanceshareholder value.”Omanoil was first formed in October of 2003, asOman Oil Marketing Comapany, with the brand name Omanoil. It is also a 100 percent Omani-owned company,which presently has over 100 filling stations (which have very good services) throughout the country. CMA wasfirst launched in 2010, and it is basically a ground-breaking competition to encourage and motivate Oman’svision for an internationally recognized, firm economy. This award, for Corporate Governance Excellence doesindeed place Omanoil as a leading Omani enterprise, and we would like to congratulate them for that.STARCARE TRULY CARESEvery person in Oman expects good, clean and respectful services when it comes to medical care. Expectingmothers are no different, in fact, they expect extraordinary services when it comes to their pregnancy, andof course during and post delivery. Ever since Starcare Hospital opened in Seeb last year, the entire hospitalhas been offering top medical expertise and the best of technological advancements from an ethical teamof doctors. The good news is that we too have been hearing from happy mothers that the Department ofObstetrics and Gynecology is the best in town! Just to let you know, the hospital uses Hill-Rom patient beds,which are known to be one of the best in their field.Success stories from many Starcare Hopsital patients are overwhelming, and we at Y are very proud of this.“Motherhood is a pleasant experience at Starcare,” a patient voiced, who was immediately supported by othersatisfied patients in the room.In the words of Dr Bindhu, a gynaecologist at Starcare, “The Doctor is an instrument of choice guiding thepatient through the period of gestation and the delivery itself. At Starcare we strive to combine the best oftechniques and expertise for painless labour.” The hospital is equipped with all necessary equipment, to dealwith high-risk pregnancies. The hospital stresses firmly when it comes to cleanliess and hygiene, expectingmothers can expect comfortable delivery suites.Dr Aseel, a gynaecologist at Starcare states something that truly reflects the outlook of the hospital: “Morethan anything, I treasure the satisfaction of my patients.” I urge all mothers-to-be to check out Starcare Hopital,especially if they are living on that side of town. Soon, Lamaze will be introduced to benefit expecting mothers.For more information, just pop down and visit Starcare Hospital in Seeb, next to Muscat City Centre, and youwill be pleasantly surprised.

January 03, 2012 Issue 201EventsDo you have an upcoming event? Drop us amail at info@y-oman.com and your eventcould be featured in the next issue of Y!PERFUMES: A NATURAL HISTORY INFRANCE AND OMANUp to 20th January 2012The Omani Ministry of Heritage and Culture, and the FrenchEmbassy, present a new exhibition in continuation of theircultural cooperation. This event is taking place at Bait AlFransa, the French-Omani Museum. It will be open to thepublic on Saturdays through to Wednesdays, from 9am to1pm, and from 5pm to 8pm, and Thursdays from 9am to1pm.MOMMY & ME25th – 26th January, 2012Enjoy two exciting days of shopping, resources and expertadvice all under one roof at the Mother and Child Exhibitioncalled 'Mommy & Me' at the Al Noor Hall! There’s lots offun and entertainment for kids! We visited this event lastyear, and had a blast! For more information, email info@mommyandmeoman.comMUSCAT FESTIVAL26th January (Thursday) to 23rd February (Thursday)Muscat Festival 2012 will soon commence and we at Ywill be providing you with more information as soon as weget closer to the action. For now, the excitement builds upof Oman’s traditional arts, culture and heritage festival,with food from around the world. Keep reading Y for moreinformation.2ND OMAN INTERNATIONAL SALSA &DANCE FESTIVAL29th February (Wednesday) to 3rd March (Saturday)The 2nd Oman International Salsa and Dance Festival (2ndOISDF) is organised by the Oman Salsa Group (OSG) inassociation with Al Nahda Resort & Spa. The event is to beheld between February 29th and March 3rd, 2012 at the AlNahda Resort and Spa, and promises to exceed the successof last year’s festival. Tune into Y for more information in thecoming weeks.AN APPLE A WEEK…HOUZZThis app is wonderful, and that is why it has been named the ‘Wikipedia of Design andExterior Design’ by CNN. With the largest database of home designs, this app is puregenius. All pictures can be saved, and all you require to build your dream home is an emailaddress, ID name and password. The app has an ‘Ideabook’ option, and this allows you tosave and keep all your pictures in one folder so you can keep a record of everything you like.Because the app houses thousands of pictures, the Ideabook is great, and the best partis that each picture comes with the vendors that carry the products, and a few websitesyou can check out. I can’t believe that this app is for free; you really need to get this! Now,you can forget about having to buy expensive design magazines, or even look around forinspiration, because all you need to plan and furnish your dream house is in an iPad oriPhone. Let your imagination run wild with this amazing app, while at the same time, youwill have access to thousands of articles giving you tips and home decorating ideas.DURAN DURAN LIVE IN DUBAI8th March (Thursday)One of the biggest bands from the 80s, Duran Duran, will play live at the SevensStadium in Dubai this March. The band are touring as part of their latest album release,‘All You Need is Now’, which was produced by Grammy Award winning musician, MarkRonson. But you can probably expect the band to play a few of their biggest hits fromthe 80s too, such as ‘Rio’, ‘Say a Prayer for Me’ and ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’.Tickets will go on sale on 9th January, but in the meantime you can check presaleinformation and more details on the event by visiting www.durandurandubai.com18

January 03, 2012 Issue 201SHAKE IT!If you’re planning a getaway with your family, you and your better half, oreven just with your friends, then we have a perfect solution for you – itinvolves dancing! As you might have heard, the ‘2nd Oman InternationalSalsa & Dance Festival’ is back and is scheduled to take place from1st-3rd March. Please note these dates in your diary because it will besomething you don’t want to miss out on. These three nights and fourdays of fun will include BBQs, all-night social gatherings, visits from 28international instructors, and of course great entertainment. With variousworkshops, and music from four funky Dj’s (R&B, Arabic, Reggation, HipHop and Salsa) you will truly enjoy yourself at this festival.One of the best parts about this festival is the fact that it is happeningoutside Muscat in the five-star Al Nahda Resort and Spa in Barka. Toavoid disappointment, please book your space in advance. For furtherinformation and bookings, visit www.omanfestival.com, or check outtheir Facebook page ‘The Oman Salsa Group’. You can also contact AlNahda Resort and Spa for reservations. Don’t forget to slip into you’redancing shoes on the day.Keep in mind, that the founder of the Oman Salsa Group and organiser ofthe festival is none other than the passionate dancer Thuwaini Al Harthy.The Oman Salsa Group was established in 2003 with only a few members.Today, with the passion and enthusiasm for dance from Thuwaini’s side,and with the support of various other Salsa enthusiast in the country, thegroup has managed to grow by leaps and bounds. Thuwaini’s experiencefrom travelling to different salsa festivals around the world has preppedhim to organise this upcoming festival. The first festival was a success,and we are all waiting for the second one.

January 10, 2012 Issue 202SHARP ANDSOFTBANK’S 824SHFIGHTS OF WATERUsually, electronic devices and water don’tget along too well, but ironically that is theone place you’re mobile phone seems tobe most attracted to, well mine at least.Thankfully, Sharp and Softbank have puttogether one of the coolest waterproofclamshell 824SH mobile phones.The device is available in two lines, the‘Elegant’ line and the ‘Active’ line, and indifferent colours. It also features a 2.8-inchASV LCD display, a 3.2 megapixel camera,a 0.5-inch OLED external display, Bluetoothconnectivity and a very useful microSDHCcard slot. The Elegant line comes in fivecolours: Gold, Black, Red, Navy Blue andSilver. The Active line colours are yet to beannounced.20

January 10, 2012 Issue 202THE TOURIST TRAILWords | Paul McLoughlin Photography | Jerzy WierzbickiIt would appear that efforts at making the Sultanate one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the region have paid off. Afterbeing selected as the second best city in the world to visit in 2012 by the backpackers’ compendium Lonely Planet, Muscat willalso hold the title of ‘Capital of Arab Tourism’ this year. It’s a remarkable achievement for a country which only a few years backwas rarely considered as a potential tourist hotspot, with Dubai grabbing the bulk of leisure tourists coming to the Gulf. Despitethe accolades, there’s still more that can be done to make Oman a competitive leisure tourism destination, able to compete withneighbouring Asian and Middle Eastern rivals. But work is underway and the opportunities for the country are aplenty.22

January 10, 2012 Issue 202Twenty years ago, a penniless student worked hard over the summer holidays to save up justenough to travel around Morocco. When he was there, every purchase he made was withmiser-like caution. He’d traipse the restaurants in town searching for the cheapest meals, takepublic transport wherever he went, and stopped at every budget hostel in town to find the leastshoddy option available. Still, he soaked up the culture and carried back a new found love ofthe country. Years later he returned to the same city with a family, and much higher spendingpower, frittering away a small fortune during his visit. This approach to tourism has worked wellfor Morocco, and other Middle Eastern and North African countries, drawing in backpackerswhen they’re young and seeing them return years later with jobs and considerably higher levelsof disposable income.Oman is primarily a locationfor upper-income tourists, andmaybe that’s part of the plan,but huge potential is beinglost. Despite recent awarenesscampaigns, Muscat is still largelyovershadowed by neighbouringDubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar astourist destinations for upperincometravellers. Both the UAEand Qatar have invested heavilyin promoting themselves toEuropean markets, as well asdeveloping the infrastructureto match the internationalstandardsthat tourists expect.Dubai now offers a range ofbudget-priced hotels, suchas the 99 dirhams a nighteasyHotel, as well as fantasticpublic transport links in thecity with a new metro service,and 5-star hotel options whichdon’t exactly break the bank. Ofcourse, many would argue thatOman has much more to offertourists than these city states,Christoph Franzenand they would be right, withsome of the most breathtaking landscapes and stunning beaches in the whole of the ArabianGulf. Still, the question of price is important. Christoph Franzen, General Manager of the GrandHyatt Muscat, believes Oman has a magic formula that could make it one of the leading touristdestinations in the region, with a niche that few countries in the GCC can offer. “They (touriststo Oman) are cultural holidaymakers who are not interested in beaches. These guys traditionallyhave a higher expendable income. We don’t have nightclubs and big shopping malls, ourattraction is nature and there’s so much more on offer than other destinations,” he says.Last year was a mixed bag for the hotel; Christoph says that around 80 percent of guests atthe hotel were business travellers, so the Grand Hyatt Muscat was less susceptible to theglobal economic downturn than other hotels in the country. “We’re a corporate hotel by nature,the majority of our business is corporate, so they (guests) don’t tend to be as price-sensitiveas guests at other hotels,” the General Manager says. “In terms of occupancy, we’ve beenvery much the same as the previous year. We’ve been very lucky in our food and beverage23

January 10, 2012 Issue 202operations which had a very good increase compared to last year.” His prediction for 2012 is that“The corporate market will hold - there’s no reason why not. The government is investing a lot intoinfrastructure projects, but leisure tourism will continue to be a battle.” He believes that a lack ofawareness of Oman, and the high costs of staying in the capital, are the biggest challenges for thetourism industry in attracting more visitors. “Coming to Oman is not cheap. The destination needsmore budget hotels, but they are under construction as we speak. This will impact on 5-star hotelprices, there’s no question about that,” he adds. Christoph also makes a point that the increase in thecost of visas hasn’t helped the industry, and he adds that the cost-structure in Muscat is much higherthan Dubai’s. If hotels here want to meet the same level of profitability, hiking up prices of rooms isthe only way, Christoph says. “If the question is if it’s value for money (Muscat), then if you’re a familyof four, paying from your own pocket, then it would be cheaper to fly to Thailand. For leisure touristsfrom Europe our competitors are not just Dubai but also East Asian countries, which are generallymuch cheaper.”Last year, an index of hotel prices was conducted by the popular hospitality website, hotels.com. In thesurvey, it was revealed that Muscat is the mostexpensive city in the world to spend the night,with hotel room prices averaging £185 (110 rials)in the capital. Complaints of the comparativelyhigh-price of dining and beverages in Muscat,as well as taxis and travel inside the country,also abound, however over the coming yeartourists might be willing pay the extra pricetag for the tolerance and security the Sultanateoffers. Cheaper, traditional destinations in theMiddle East, such as Egypt and Syria, sufferedtremendously following the brutal and muchpublicised crackdown on protesters by army,police and paramilitary forces. With increasedexposure of Oman in European, North Americanand Asian markets, then the Sultanate couldbenefit from instability in the region, by offeringa safer destination for tourists who still want anauthentic ‘Arabian experience’. Christoph saysOman’s reputation was not harmed followingthe events of the Arab Spring and that “TheMinistry of Tourism is investing a lot of moneyinto promoting the destination - they have acampaign on the BBC, for example. They goto all the trade shows, so they’re pushing reallyhard. We have to create this awareness.”Some tour operators say they also felt the pinchlast year. Nizar Ahmad, Tours Manager at MarkTours, a destination management companywhich offer a variety of services to tourists,such as airport transfers, accommodation, andNizar Ahmad adventure excursions, says, “Business was abit sluggish in 2011. This was due to the unrestin countries like Yemen, or more generally, the Arab Spring, and most importantly the economicsituation in Europe.” One challenge he faces at present is “the lack of required skilled manpower forthe tourism industry. We offset this by giving specialised on-the-job training to fresh graduates ordiploma-passed students.” Nizar says that although visitors to Oman say they are impressed with“the friendliness of the people, the cleanliness and safety in the country”, as well as the fact that24

January 10, 2012 Issue 202the country has maintained its culture andtraditions in-spite of globalisation, theirbiggest gripe is “the availability of good3-star and 4-star hotels in the interiorand the standard of restaurants in theinterior.”This may be about to change, as Omran,a developer and manager of many majortouristic ventures in the country, iscurrently undertaking an expansion planof amenities across Oman. Abdul WahidAl Farsi, Vice President of CorporateAffairs at Omran, says that achievementsover the past year have been made. Theseinclude “the start of site-enabling worksof the Oman Convention and ExhibitionCentre project; the appointment of AEGOgden to operate the Oman Conventionand Exhibition Centre; the award oftenders by the Oman Tender Board forAbdul Wahid Al Farsithe construction of the Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel and Khasab Hotel; and the launch ofthe Intajee project, a CSR initiative to help local farmers generate income by sellingtheir local produce (to tourist facilities).” These are all hugely ambitious projects thatwill diversify the tourism industry, moving its concentration away from the capital, andbring benefits of the trade to people across Oman.These projects should also go some way in supporting the government’s efforts in“positioning tourism as a major economic driver of the future and as a generator ofemployment,” Abdul Wahid says, moving the country away from a gas and oil-basedeconomy. It will also contribute to the drive for Omanisation in the workforce, and thetourism sector is already one of the most successful sectors in this regard. However,the best way to manage sustainable growth in the tourist sector is also to diversify thechoices available to tourists in Oman, something which Omran is currently workingon. Regarding facilities for more price-conscious visitors, Abdul Wahid says, “We willcontinue our work on two projects in Duqm. Duqm City Hotel is likely to be openedby the 2nd Quarter in 2012, and Duqm Crowne Plaza which is scheduled to open inthe 4th Quarter of 2012. In addition, we have already started mobilisation works onthe construction of Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel and soon we will also start on the KhasabHotel.” But the tourists might not flock into the country immediately, and Abdul Wahidis wary of penalties of “the existing euro crisis that might escalate and would impactthe tourists flow from Europe, and also the current security alert in the region in Syria,Yemen, Iran-US conflicts in the Gulf.”Still, he says “I would advise these tourists to visit Oman to witness the beauty ofthe country and its diverse climate, nature reserves and archaeological sites, realheritage and culture, and above all, the hospitable Omani people.” The potential ofnature and eco-tourism, as well as adventure travel, for Oman are huge, but many ofthese visitors will be looking for more authentic, and reasonably-priced lodgings inthe country than the ones currently on offer. The Royal Opera House Muscat shouldalso be a huge draw for tourists, and the country’s natural and manmade charm couldmake it a regional cultural powerhouse in the coming years that would help attracttourists in their droves. With an increasingly worldly, yet budget-conscious traveller,in Europe, Asia and the Americas, Muscat could offer the perfect holiday destinationfor these groups, but the price would have to match the needs of tourists in theseincreasingly difficult times.25

COMING SOON…Omran’s developments for the Sultanate look impressive, and should go a long wayin providing a more competitive market in the hospitality industry. Omran intends forthese touristic projects to span the whole country, providing opportunities for jobs andentertainment to residents and nationals across the Sultanate. Here’s a pick of some ofthese developments:JABAL AL AKHDAR HOTELLocated high up in the Hajar mountainrange, Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel will be aluxury hotel and spa development thatwill benefit from being positioned at a2,000-metre altitude with cool weatherthroughout the year. The hotel will boast78 rooms, 6 loft suites and 2 royalsuites. Singapore-based hotel chainAlila will take over operations whenJabal Al Akhdar Hotel is completed,and promises some of the best spa,relaxation and health club facilities inthe region.Due Date for Completion: 4th Quarter,2013FORT HOTELFort Hotel is a planned 5-star luxuryhotel which will be situated in theBausher Mountains, close to Muscat,over a 9 hectare site. The hotel will offerhigh-end restaurants, spa and leisurefacilities, and boast great views ofMuscat, being situated in an elevatedposition. It will also open up publicspaces, house 120 rooms, and offera range of entertainment options forvisitors to the country.Due Date for Completion: 4th Quarter201426

OMAN CONVENTION AND EXHIBITIONCENTREThis world-class convention and exhibition centrewill provide top-of-the-range conference spaceswhich could result in some of the biggest corporateand international events taking place in the country.The project will include a 3,000 capacity conventioncentre, a 22,000 square metre exhibition hall, a 6,000metre banquet room and parking for 4,000 cars. Forvisitors, it will include a 300 room 5-star hotel, two4-star hotels with 500 rooms, and a 3-star hotel with200 rooms. There will also be 85,000 square metrebusiness district, and a 192,000 shopping and retailspace.Due Date for Completion: Late 2015KHASAB HOTELKhasab Hotel will offer fantastic new 3-star facilities to the cityenclave of Khasab, with 110 new rooms and a range of facilities. Thehotel will capture the essence of Omani culture, using traditional localarchitecture designs and modern hospitality options. What’s mostimpressive about this hotel is its situation; it will offer a bustling touristhub close to the centre of the city, which will use the sea as its mainvantage point making use of its own diving facilities, and cater tothe mid-high end market. It will also feature restaurants, a swimmingpool, a health club, a kids’ ice cream kiosk, and retail facilities.Due Date for Completion: 1st Quarter 2013MUSCAT CITY HOTELSMuscat City Hotels will cover an area of14 hectares of prime space in Shatti AlQurum, and will add 700 rooms to thecapital. It will include the W Resort with250 rooms, the 350 room Westin Hotel,and a 100-room Element extended stayhotel. Facilities should benefit residentsand guests alike with a health club, foodand beverage outlets, retail spaces, spasand conference facilities. The hotels willbe designed by Hill Glazier, and COWIand Partners, and provide much neededlodgings for visitors to the nearby RoyalOpera House Muscat.Due Date for Completion: W Resort -3rd Quarter, 2013; Westin and ElementHotel - 3rd Quarter 201527

January 10, 03, 2012 Issue 202 201FLAMINGOBEACH AT FILIMThoughts & Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki28

January 10, 2012 Issue 202Natural life photography needs one important thing - patience! Often,photographers have to spend long hours or sometimes days just to catchone good shot. It means you’ll have to remain covered so you’re not visibleto the animals, hiding in a special camouflage tent or special shelter.In Oman, most of the year the weather and light conditions are toostrong for long photography sessions, especially outside, so winteris the best time for watching and capturing natural life in Oman. Afew weeks ago, I went to Barr al Hikman peninsula. I like this placebecause of the total and infinite emptiness there.Barr al Hikman is the place where the sky meets with flat sand desert.Locations like this are very difficult for photography. Near Barr alHikman peninsula is a small fishing village called Filim (Falam). Whenthe tide is out, many birds come to this location for feeding or breeding.There’s a shallow bay filled with many bushes and grass that is theperfect place for many species of birds. There are Greater Flamingos,too. Before this trip I checked out how to take the best wildlifephotography and I found out the best ones are taken by specialistswho know not only how to use their photography equipment but alsohave a lot of knowledge about the birds. I brought with me just onecamera along with two lenses, a telephoto AF Nikkor 300/2.8 with a1.6 focal extender, and a wide angle for landscape images.I reached Filim at night and early in the morning I moved quietly tothe shore where I saw a small group of flamingos feeding around100m from the coastline. I put my camera with a telephoto lens ontoa small tripod and I started taking photographs. It’s very easy tofrighten the flamingos and it is impossible to approach these birdstoo closely. My 300mm lens didn’t seem to be enough for goodphotographs of the flamingos and so I had to use an extender whichgave me a 460mm telephoto lens. With this equipment I could takebetter pictures from my position, still hidden from the birds. I useddark clothes and sat between two small rocks waiting for the momentwhen the flamingos would appear in the viewfinder. I took less than100 images until I decided to check another location behind Filimwhere there are big shallow puddles filled with warm salt water. Inthe afternoon I found a group of several Greater Flamingos bathing inthe lagoon. I approached the group of birds very slowly, and all thetime I was ready to take the pictures. Moving in slow motion, I didn’tfrighten the birds away and I started taking images from a distanceof less than 100m. Suddenly, something frightened the birds and theyflew out of the water. It was decisive moment and I got just eightphotographs. Everything I did that morning was for these few seconds.HOW TO GET THERETake road number 32 to Mahoot, pass Sinam. At Mahoot turn left toMarkaz al Willaya (Hijj). In Hijj is a road sign directing you to Filim. A4x4 is not compulsory for this trip as there is a black-top road.GPS: Filim Village E58’04”39 N20’34”2129

January 10, 2012 Issue 202CHARITYTHROUGHTHEARTSWords | Karima FaridThe desire to contribute and push others toaccomplish great things is gratifying, and throughY I have met quite a number of individuals whoare selfless in many ways. I had the pleasure ofmeeting Dr. Sanjay Dalal in the past, because of hisvarious activities and contributions towards theyouth living in Oman. He is a practicing medicaldoctor - a family physician - and has been in theSultanate for the past 30 years. We met with himto get to know more about the second season ofMuscat Idol, which is in the process already.Though not a trained singer, Dr. Sanjay tells us that he loves to sing. Hehas recorded and released his own music album ‘Chala Chala India’.Besides his profession, Dr. Sanjay says: “I keep myself involved in lots ofactivities. I was also a member of the Board of Directors of Indian schools30

January 10, 2012 Issue 202in Oman. In addition, I arrange continuous medical educationlectures for a group of around 80 top practicing doctors – ‘MuscatFamily Physicians’. Moreover, I arrange public awareness lectureson health topics.”Being passionate about performing arts, Dr. Sanjay regularlyattended social and cultural events in the Sultanate for manyyears. He has witnessed many stage shows and variouscompetitions organised by social clubs and their various wings.After all these years, he tells us: “I realised that we definitely havea tremendously talented lot in performing arts. I felt there is a needof a bigger platform, better presentation and to raise the standardand quality. With this thought in mind, taking a few likemindedpeople along, Talent Hunters Oman was born in 2006.”Talent Hunters Oman started their journey with a reality show, asinging competition called Muscat Idol 2006. Dr. Dalal says toY: “We really put our hearts in the hunt for the first ever MuscatIdol. We worked hard for three months in preparation, training andgrooming the participants. For the first time in the history of Oman,we did activities like mall shows and road shows to promote ourshow and the participants. Again, for the first time in the history ofOman, Omani singers were competing for glory and sharing onestage with expats. Also, for the first time, we had a popular choiceaward decided by votes from the audience.”It is not about the glory for Dr. Sanjay and his wife Dr. Sateja,instead this wonderful team aims to expose talent in Oman. Onething that they lacked was local radio support, although the showwas an instant hit with print media. Indeed, they experienced astampede/gatecrash at Le Grand Hall – the venue of the grandfinale – as entrance was free.The journey continued, only to have even more success andexposure that they ever anticipated. Muscat Idol 2007 (LittleGems) Muscat Idol 2008 (Teen Sensations) also happened. Bothevents were held at the Qurum Amphitheatre to a packed crowdof more than 5000 people. Giving back is of course one of Dr.Sanjay’s mottos, so they naturally combined their events with localcharities.So, now that you know exactly how Talent Hunters Oman started,you can further support this awesome platform, by attending thefinale this season.31

January 10, 2012 Issue 202Below is an excerpt from our interview with Dr. Dalal:on the top of the chart as professionals in the field ofperforming arts.How is your wife involved with what you do?My wife, Dr. Sateja, is a practicing doctor, and a familyphysician. She is also looking after all the chores as ahousewife. She is a trained Indian classical dancer andperformed many times on different stages in Oman. Sheis the ‘Event Administrator’ of Talent Hunters Oman.She basically looks after backstage dressing, make-up,dance rehearsals etc. She is also a good host to theparticipants and their families when they come homefor rehearsals.How important is it for you to keep up suchactivities?Muscat Icon – what is the story behind it?We took a break for two years, and we are now back with season two. Weare in the process of making Muscat Icon 2012 (a singing competition). Thecompetition is open to all Omanis and expats above the age of 15, who cansing in Arabic and Hindi respectively. The Grand Finale will be on March22 nd , 2012. We changed the name from Muscat Idol to Muscat Icon to createour own identity.‘Dance Muscat Dance’, how did that go?In 2009, we entered in to a different field – DANCE. We did an internationaldance festival ‘Dance Muscat Dance’ in March 2009. It attracted 15 differentnationalities, 22 different varieties of dances on one stage; three and a halfhours of nonstop entertainment to a jam-packed crowd of more than 5,000people. It was not only a hit, but an eye opener and a nice surprise. It haschanged the dance scenario in Muscat. We intend to do it again in 2013.To indulge in these kinds of cultural, social and charitableactivities is a passion for our group. It gives me peaceof mind and satisfaction. If we can help someone realiseone’s dream, then why not? A day is not far whensomeone from a small place like Muscat is going tomake a big mark in the field of performing arts!How can readers, print media, and decision makerssupport you?Local print media is very important to us. Let it be dailynewspapers, tabloids or magazines. Without the supportof print media we would not have been reaching outto so many people. It helps us to spread awareness ofthe event, hunt for talent, giving participants and us therecognition we deserve.Why did you choose to help Al Noor Association for the Blind thisyear?Every year we change the beneficiary of the charity. I came to know throughsome sources that Al Noor Association for the Blind (Nizwa Branch) is inneed, so we chose them.What is your aim with all these activities?The aim of our group is to give talented people in Oman a platform toperform on, give them the recognition they deserve and prepare them to be32

January 10, 2012 Issue 202

Words | Karima FaridThis week, we strolled around town in search of the latest, freshest and coolest beauty products in the market.So, check out these products, which promise to have you smelling cool, looking gorgeous and staying beautyluscious!Readers, if you have tried any products you have liked, or a beauty salon you have enjoyed, or eventried out one of our picked items, please email us on info@y-oman.com and share!34

MAC full lash curlerI didn’t really fancy using eyelash curlers, but aftermy sister forced me into trying a pair I noticed thatit actually made quite a difference to my look, andI started appreciating this curler. It’s very handy tokeep, and I don’t think you can pinch your lashes.Garnier RoseMake-up RemoverMy friend Al Anoudrecommended this product.I haven’t tried it as of yet, butshe says that it is gentle onthe eyes, which makes it anawesome product. Why don’tyou try it out, and let me knowwhat it’s like?Dior Blush Strawberry SorbetI love the name of this blush, and I love how itlooks, too. The consistency of this gorgeousblush is really nice. The end result is a glowing,cool undertone and a very pretty shade.Lolita LempickaOur cute friend Sherrysuggested this perfume, and welove it too. The combination issensational, and it’s comfortablefor both winter and summer. Thebottle is gorgeous, and it standsout well on your dresser.35

Clint Derric EgbertHARTMUT ESSLINGER’STOUCHSCREEN LANDLINEEver wondered what came before the iPhone?Well, for one there was the touchscreen landline,believe it or not, which came into being back in1983. Designed by Hartmut Esslinger, this devicewas never really put into production but manybelieve that it paved the way for Apple’s devices.This device was used to write checks online, andwas adapted into the daily running of the SiliconBank. For more information, log on towww.ubergizmo.comLG GOOGLE SMART TVThe new LG Google Smart TV is the talk of the town,and many are waiting in great anticipation for it tocome to Oman. This device conveniently marries anAndroid-based user interface with a Magic RemoteQWERTY that was designed by LG, making the TVrather simple to use. Users can enjoy convenient webbrowsingand content selection, as well as make useof their favourite social networks and TV functionssimultaneously. And that’s not all! The Smart TV isalso equipped with its own cinema 3D technology togive viewers optimum visual movie experience in thecomfort of their home. For more information, go towww.lgnewsroom.comGENIUS RING PRESENTERIf presentations are an important part of your job, then the GeniusRing Presenter is a great device to make a part of your workaccessories. The Ring Presenter, as the name suggests, is much likea ring, which sits comfortably on your finger. The device is designedmuch like a computer mouse with a pointer and left and right buttons.The only difference is that it is so small that it is rather hard to evennotice. The Ring works with Bluetooth technology and also sports aUSB dongle to connect to a PC. The Genius Ring Presenter is definitelya device that will make presenting so much more fun and interesting.For more information, visit www.ohgizmo.com36

Technology NewsPLAYBOOK’S DRAMATIC DROP IN PRICES RAISES QUESTIONSWith RIM slashing its prices of the PlayBook to just $299 in theUSA, evidently due to the product's failure, I can’t help but wonderwhether this is the best time to purchase a BlackBerry PlayBookor sell the one you own. This massive reduction in price of thePlayBook translates to a shocking less than half of the actual priceof the device when it was first launched in April last year.Even though the device has resulted in some disastrous salesnumbers, the firm’s joint chairman, Mike Laziridis, backs hisproduct by saying, “We believe the PlayBook, which will befurther enhanced with the upcoming PlayBook OS 2.0 software, isa compelling tablet for consumers that also offers unique securityand manageability features for the enterprise.”One of the main problems with the BlackBerry tablet is that itwas incapable of receiving emails without being linked to theBlackBerry smartphone. However, fortunately the new formatis said to be out soon, but has been delayed till February. Theslump in PlayBook sales has not only encouraged a change in theBlackBerry operating system, but has also initiated the urge to oust Laziridis and his co-chairman Jim Balsillie from the head of the board table. Thereare also reports that the smartphone may resolve their faults by adapting to a Microsoft or Amazon platform very soon.GOOGLE CHROME – UP, UP AND AWAYMany critics applauded Google Chrome when they successfully managedto surpass Mozilla’s Firefox to become the second-most popular webbrowser in the world. But, now the applause appears to be gettinglouder as reports have it that Chrome might just be able to achieve theunthinkable, which is to climb even further up the browser rankings,past Internet Explorer to the top.Google’s star browser recently managed to creep past Internet Explorer8 to become the world’s most used edition of the browser, according toweb analytics firm StatCounter. The numbers stated that the differencewas a diminutive difference in numbers, but in Chrome’s nonetheless.The numbers were 23.6 percent of worldwide browser usage comparedto Internet Explorer 8’s 23.5 percent.Even still, there is debate as to whether the numbers are for certain,as there is a strong belief that numbers can vary depending on who iscounting. Even still, web surveying firm Net Applications, even thoughthey have different numbers to show, have agreed that there has beena massive increase in Chrome’s momentum, and that it is a very strongcompetitor. Gartner analyst David Mitchell Smith has been reportedsaying, “People like it because it’s fast. Google has done a nice jobadvertising it recently, so that’s increased awareness.”PCMag agree with Chrome’s improvement saying the browser has “super-fast browsing performance, now with hardware acceleration, excellentsecurity through sandboxing and malware warnings and instant site prediction and loading.”Whatever the numbers may state, there is one thing for certain, and that is that Google Chrome is prepared for a fight to the finish. The question iswhether Internet Explorer is up to the challenge.37

Words | Clint Derric EgbertALL PAIN, NO GAME?It appears that tennis injuries have become a much morecommon phenomenon these days, and from the look ofthings, it only appears to be getting worse. One mightwonder whether it is a lack of training that is causingthese injuries or is it simply too much strain and pressureon the body caused by vigorous and continuous play. It’sdifficult to tell what the reasons for tennis injuries are, butif the problem isn’t tackled now, it could one day tell badlyon the game of tennis.Only recently Kim Clijsters had to pull out of the BrisbaneInternational semi-final match against Slovakia’s DanielaHantuchova after suffering from a painful hip injury duringthe second set of the match. The Belgian was one set upin the match when suddenly in the second set she calledfor her trainer.“I couldn’t go forward and I couldn’t put any pressure on whenI was going for my serve. It wasjust spasm-ing up and it wasgetting worse throughout thefirst set. The smartest choicewas to not let it get any worse.The tennis I play is physicallyso demanding on the body,combine that with a hard court,it’s more demanding on thejoints. I don’t doubt that therewill be a problem once I start inMelbourne, but that’s also one ofthe reasons [I stopped] becauseI could feel it when I was servingand landing - it was stiffening up and I didn’t want it to go intoa complete spasm where the muscle can actually tear. I hopethat doesn’t come out of the tests tomorrow. I don’t think I’vetaken it that far but when you feel it getting worse and worse, you don’treally have a choice.”-Kim ClijstersEven defending champ Roger Federer was recently forced towithdraw from the Qatar Open semi-final match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga due to a back injury that left him in excruciatingpain. In fact, the number 3 seed admits that he has playedthrough two matches in pain and doesn’t think it’s the right thingto risk anything more now.“I’ve just been trying to manage thesituation really. Back spasms happenand sometimes you can contain themwith massage and painkillers. I don’twant to drive myself crazy with morepainkillers and I need to do what’sright to get it better. It is only thesecond time I have pulled out from atournament and I have never pulledout during a match. It’s a sad momentfor me, the tournament and the fans,but health comes first.”- Roger FedererTennis has always be a game thatrequires tremendous stamina and agility, however, over theyears the game has become quicker and demands more timeon-court than even before. Even though more games meanmore winnings, there is a downside to constant play – rapidhealth deterioration, which leads to a shorter tennis career in thelong run. In addition to this, this strain on the body becomesa lifelong predicament, and to various problems like ‘TennisElbow’ (Lateral Epicondylitis), Bursitis of the elbow, RotatorCuff Tendonitis, Shoulder Tendinitis, Bursitis, and ImpingementSyndrome, Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis), Rotator CuffTendonitis, Glenohumeral Arthritis, wrist Tendinitis, Achilles'Tendinitis Iliotibial Band Syndrome and Osteoarthritis of the knee.38

There are also acute and traumatic injuries that occur in tennisthat have a great deal of negative effect on a player’s life on andoff the court. The most common traumatic injuries are:• Torn Rotator Cuff – A Rotator Cuff tear is when one or more ofthe four tendons of the rotator cuff muscles tear dueto excess damage and strain.• Shoulder Separation – A Shoulder Seperation is the injuryto the acromioclavicular joint, and is very different from adislocated shoulder. It is said that this injury is commonlyfound in sportsmen and women.• Wrist & Ankle Sprains – When a ligament is stretched beyondits capacity, then Wrist and Ankle Sprains can take place. Inthe game of tennis, it is important to have good footwork andbalance so not to sprain the ankle or the wrist.• Achilles Tendon Rupture – The Achilles' tendon is mostly affectedby sudden jerks, jolts and plantarflexion or dorsiflexion of theankle.vulnerable to a variety of injuries.• Blisters – Blisters are usually caused due to constantfriction, and in the case of tennis players, it is usually foundon the feet and palm area.• Stress Fractures – When overuse of the muscles takes placethey become unable to bare shock, eventually transferringthe stress to the bone causing cracks and severe damage.These are known as Stress Fractures.• Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness – Also known as muscle fever,Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness is when pain and stiffnessis felt in the muscles days after it has been exercised.The only way to save yourself from serious long-termdamage is to take precautions when playing any sport, likewarming-up, stretching, using the right equipment, a goodtechnique, staying flexible and keeping the body hydrated.• Hamstring Pulls or Tears – This is a tear of hamstring musclefibres and is usually found in runners. It causes a sudden,sharp pain in the back of the thigh that causes intense instantpain, many a time causing players to dropto their knees.• Knee Injuries - The knee is a joint with many components andis very complex. Too much strain on the knees make them39

January 10, 2012 Issue 202A Tribute to Jagjit Singh at Al Falaj HotelH.E J.S MukulKaranjeet SinghJaswinder Singh'Sustainable Energy' Lecture at GUtechThomas blaschke40Burkhard Rauhut

January 10, 2012 Issue 202'Voice of Creativity' Ba9ma Exhibition at the Omani Society for Fine ArtsErica and Richard J. SchmiererH. H. Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al SaidMaryam Al Zadjali41

January 10, 2012 Issue 202'Together for Accident Free Oman' Event at Muscat City Centre42H.E. Dr. Ali bin Talib al Hinai

January 10, 2012 Issue 202www.radiomerge.fmOman’s hippest music station, offering you the coolestsounds from around the world. Dig on Diggweed anddance to Oakenfold. From the headquarters of Hed Kandito the global sounds of Armin Van Buren. Freshen up yourday and sweeten your night with Merge 104.8.43

January 10, 2012 Issue 202McDonald’sDownload your FREE copy at www.y-oman.comNOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA, ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR!44Ayman Canawatiayman.canawati@sabcomedia.comFeroz KhanTel. 97768900feroz.khan@sabcomedia.comAbhudit GreeneTel. 94051770abhudit.greene@y-oman.comHazel CarvalhoTel. 97190377hazel.carvalho@y-oman.com

January 10, 2012 Issue 202SUDOKUPlace a number in the empty boxes in such a way that eachrow across, each column down and each small 9-box squarecontains all of the numbers from one to nine.Go FigureThe idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at thebottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by followingthe arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, formleft to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers belowthe diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of thenine numbers only once.45

Each week we are asking our readers to take part in a topical discussionvia Y Magazine's facebook page.Join the group and you might see your comments printed in next week'sissue!This week:If you have someone visiting Oman, where is the firstplace you take them to?Sujith M HaneefaQantab BeachPoyal Doni mostly like qurum beach and most fun in qurum funzone newest and it is too cool.....Bader Al Lawatisnake gorge! the big boys wild wadi :pMahalakshmi VinayakrishnanTurtle BeachAsma SiddiqShangrila Bar ul jissah Resort & Spa & The Wave Dinnin Area :)Olga KubrakKargeen for traditional dining and the Souq or Grand Mosque for sightseeing!Jigs DayocFor a day, going to Sinkhole/Wadi Shab/Wadi Tiwi then Sur and back to Muscat. Like whatwe did last week... Pictures at my album -_-Eiso Jil IramQurum & Shatti Beach especially when it’s low tide then to PDO heights my favoritegetaway :)Rahid Stylesh DesignersI will Be Taking Them First to Jabal Akdhar to let them know Oman is not only forsummers, it even snows here..!!Shaza TaherMuttrah & Muscat..Ahmed FouadWadi Al Hail!Harleen OsahanAnywhere in Oman because it is all beautiful :)Akansha LakhyaniI wil surely taka him/her to barakat al mouz ... thtz a vry good place..Brij Él ChavdaWadi Shab !!!!SOLUTIONSCROSSWORDSUDOKUGO FIGURE