Y - Issue 177 - July 05 2011 - Y-oman.com

Weekly July 05, 2011Issue 177SLOW ANDSTEADYTHE GREAT TURTLE COUNT‘Qaboos andthe PrivateSector’ BookBADAR SAUDAL ABDALIHANAN AL BUSAIDIACHES FOR CAKESOMAN MUSICAND DANCEsecond 'imagine us'competitionEXTREMESAILING SERIES

Tips fromto enjoy the summer seasonDr. Sahana GowdaDermatologistWhat does the summer remind us of… mostly sunshine, bright, easy living and breezy evenings. But all this can also result inspotted, pigmented, and sun burnt skin nightmares. Fortunately, our skin do not need to experience such harshness if one followssimple steps to prevent the hot weather woes.To alleviate the effects of the heat, one must be concerned about the body odour, skin & feet care and overall good self hygiene.The Mantra is to MoisturizeTo layer ourselves with a good water-based moisturizer is the most important part of the beauty regime during this season. Ourskin tend to lose its colour in the summer.Please keep in mind that moisturizers should be used on damp skin. This helps in sealing the water which results in helping the skinto hold the moisture better.There are lots of ways to keep dryness at bay and hydration is the answer:· To drink lots of water: it is recommended that womenshould ideally drink 8-10 cups of water and men drink 10to 12 to avoid dehydration.· It also recommended to eat low-fat dairy products suchas skim milk, yogurt and cottage cheese as calcium islost through sweating.· To beat the effects of heat on our bodies, one mustconsume fruits like raspberries, blueberries, andstrawberries, which are rich in antioxidants and vitamin Cand foods which are strong in protein, in the form of leanmeats, beans, nuts, and seeds.· To shield one’s back from the sweltering heat; always wearcottons garments rather than synthetics.· For a quick skin boost in the sun, always carry a mistingspray for the face and body for a quick cool off.· Incase of feet wear, flip-flops and strappy sandals aredefinitely the better choice over closed shoes. As we areaware the feet that don’t breath cause to stink and developheat rash.· Carry a good pair of sunglasses· It is recommended to stay indoors and avoid the afternoonsun.· Summer, means mandatory use of sunscreens, choosing aproduct with adequate SPF helps to block harsh sunraysand their ill effects on the skin.

Dear Reader,Oman may contain some of the mostspectacular coastlines in the world,but it’s the wildlife that ventures ontoits shores that are probably the mostimpressive element. The country’s turtlepopulation is one of the largest to befound anywhere in the world, and thisweek we spoke to the EnvironmentSociety of Oman about the work theyare doing in protecting the Loggerheadturtles in Oman. Masirah’s beachesare one of the world’s most popularLoggerhead turtle nesting sites, and thework currently carried out by the ESOto find out more about their nestingpatterns, could be the key to the survivalof the species.Plus, we have a look at the instrumentsthat make up Omani folk music, chatover coffee with Bandar Saud Al Abdali,an expert on cafe culture, and keep youupdated on all the latest gizmos, beauty,sporting action, and current affairs.We hope you enjoy the issue!Y Team

This week inJuly 05, 2011 Issue 177READER'S LETTERSSHOPPING IN SUMMERHAPPILY RENTING24Y-ratedTHE 'GREAT'TURTLE COUNT9Twentyfour SevenAl Bustan Palace, Road Safety Exhibition, Oman Air16 Check This OutEvents, Movie Review, Hanan Al Busaidi 'Aches for Cakes'2832SpotlightBadar Saud Al Abdali36 X-tra TimeExtreme Sailing SeriesYin-YangRecommended scents and products for summerDear Y Editor,I just moved to Oman 3 months ago from Dubai and I love thescenic beauty of Oman, the mountains fascinate me but I missthe shopping in Dubai. We have the Dubai Summer Surprise andthe Dubai Shopping Festival. I know Muscat has the Festival aswell. It would be great if we had something in the summer as well,especially since kids don't have school and it would be convenientfor people to go out and have some fun in the evening.Regards,Janice LoarcaDear Editor,After few years of rents sky rocketing, it’s a welcome change to see that rents have droppedin Muscat. We were looking for a new apartment as our lease was ending and we found abrand new 3 bedroom apartment, centrally located with a very reasonable rent. Last yearwhen we were looking for something similar we could only find 2 bedroom apartmentswhich were quite old and very far out of the city. I am sure there are others like me who arehappy rents are lower again. This way we can also save enough for other necessities andpersonal needs for our family. We hope that this stays consistent and would reflect on mostapartments and villas here in the Sultanate.Thank you.M. DravidFill up with Shell qualityAnd get a chance to win a Toyota Prado and Yaris*Shell Super is the only petrol in Oman with a special formula designed for extra kilometres # at noextra cost.And now when you fill up with Shell Super or shop at Shell Select for RO 3 ** , you also geta chance to win a Toyota Prado and Yaris.45 ChillaxativeCrosswords, Social Media30CultureOMANI MUSIC6Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi Editor-in-Chief | Paul McLoughlin Work EditorKarima Farid Chief Reporter | Clint Derric Egbert Sports Writer/Photographer | Jerome Adarle Art Director| Jerzy Wierzbicki PhotographerEihab 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.# Comparison between a standard fuel and the same standard fuel containing our fuel economy formula.Actual benefits may vary according to vehicle, driving conditions and driving style.* First Prize winner gets a Toyota Prado, Second Prize winner gets a Toyota Yaris** Offer valid from 15 June to 31 July 2011. The vehicles shown is indicative only. Conditions apply.

July 05, 2011 Issue 177 July 05, 2011 Issue 177WINNINGLETTERLET'S BE MATURE DRIVERSDear Editor,I have noticed that people don’t seem to care about their lives or the lives ofothers. On Thursday night I was in the car with my baby in Ruwi and there weretwo cars in front of me at the signal. Before the signal could even turn green theyscreeched their wheels and took off. Luckily there was no other car coming fromthe opposite side. There are times when people of the opposite side jump the redlight and on the other side take off before the light turns green. This could causefatal accidents. People need to be cautious and considerate for the safety ofothers and respect their own lives as well.Although people go through tough tests to get their license in Oman, they don’tseem to respect that and drive haphazardly once they do get their license.I would like to remind my fellow drivers that we are mature adults and the roadis not a race track. We are responsible not only for our safety but the safety ofothers. We should be cautious of what's around us whilst driving and must realizethat most often road accidents happen because of a slight miscalculation fromdrivers.READER'SLETTERSWE ALSO CAREDear Editor,I had a friend that recently mentioned to me an initiative in Oman tobuy water bottles and if we saw workers on the street or constructionworkers to hand them a bottle of water. I thought this is a fantasticidea since these people work so hard for our comfort and provideus with beautiful greenery, nice buildings and clean roads.I would like to thank the young lady for coming up with thiswonderful initiative and encourage all people in Oman to contributeto this cause. As she says, it's not just about providing water tothese workers, but also showing that we really do appreciate theirhard work in developing the country.Hats off!MaureenExhibition Highlights Road SafetyLast year, the death rate from road accidents was 820, while 10,066 were injured. Think about it fora second, only last year 820 families grieved the loss of a loved one, which is why I was so happyto hear about the Traffic Safety Exhibition 2011. This exhibition will be taking place in October, andis a part of ROP’s efforts to try and tackle the problem of road accidents."Even though there has been a decline in the number of road accidents over the last two years,the numbers are still alarmingly high. That’s not to forget the number of people who were injuredin these accidents, and those disabled and perhaps becoming burdens for themselves, familiesand society. If we carry out research on the causes of the occurrence of road accidents, the mostcommon cause would be due to thrill seeking or careless driving," commented Ebrahim Taher,Project Manager at Oman International Trade & Exhibitions, organiser of the Traffic Safety Exhibition2011.The 2nd Traffic Safety Exhibition will be held from 18th to 20th October 2011, organised by OmanInternational Trade and Exhibitions in cooperation with the Royal Oman Police. Keep this date inyour calendar so you can see what YOU as an individual can do to make the roads of Oman a saferplace.Let's be cautious.Ravi BhargavaTurn it off!Dear Y,be a winner!Each week we are selecting our best reader’s letter or image, andgiving away fantastic prizes care of The Noodle House! Simplyemail us at info@y-oman.comI would like to remind people during the summer seasons to bethoughtful to their use of air conditioning as I know many peoplewho overuse their air conditioning. In summer I have seen manypeople leave the air conditioning on in their offices when goinghome, and some careless people even leave it on in their homewhen they are going to work too. I hope that more people areaware of the grave damage it is doing to our world and that peoplewill be more considerate to their environment by turning off airconditioning, lights and other things. I would also like to bring topeople’s attention the campaign of Save Energy Oman, to makepeople fix their air conditioning to 23 degrees. This will benefit allof us in Oman and help make our world more better.Kind regards,Mr. SunilValue 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.

movement which is only 2.7 mm thick.July 05, 2011 Issue 177Immediately once notices two barrels providing 80 hours power reserve. Whereas most watches inthis segment of the market only provide a single barrel, the solution of having two barrels providemore July constant 05, 2011 powerIssue 177and more constant force, which will result in improved accuracy, somethingimportant for Arnold & Son.With further details such as hand angling and decoration of all bridges and fine hand stitching onthe alligator strap, this HMS1 line is a true modern expression of the traditional search forprecision combined with superior craftsmanship that Arnold & Son has always pursued.Oman Eyes Baltic TigerA recent three-day mission led by HE Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, took place recently, to cement the continued relationship with the Baltic state ofEstonia. As part of the mission, Nisreen Ahmed Jaffer, Director General of Investment Promotionat OCIPED held meetings with the Estonian Investment and Trade Agency and over 10 businessesfrom the ‘Baltic Tiger’ state. Estonia has one of the fastest growing economies in Europre, andover the past few years has become a regional economic powerhouse after huge investmentsfrom foreign companies owing to its strategic position, sandwiched between Scandinavia, EasternEurope and Russia, along with relatively low wages compared to other European countries.Estonia itself offers huge potential for Omani businesses with a range of large scale investmentprojects being rolled out across the Baltic region. “Many of the companies I held talks with werevery well informed about Oman and are keen to further investigate the commercial opportunitiesthat clearly exist in the Sultanate. The Estonian firms I met with showed particular interest in Oman’s ICT, manufacturing, shipping, logistics and food and beveragesectors,” remarked the OCIPED Director General for Investment Promotion. “The mission was a success and I fully expect Estonia in particular and the Baltic statesin general to play a more prominent role in our future investment and export activities,” concluded Jaffer.Virtually WinnersAl Bustan Palace Joins RitzAvailable in a 40 mm rose gold or stainless steel case, the Arnold & Son HMS1 is water resistant to30 meters.The New HMS1 Collection –In a Time of its OwnJohn Arnold, the watchmakerand inventor to design the mostpractical and accurate time tellingmachines, engraved his name inthe books of history that to thisday remains the foundation ofsome of the most magnificenttime telling devices known toman.The latest Arnold & Son timepiece,and the latest addition to the HMS1collection, stands as testament to theskill of Arnold’s concepts, and features ananthracite dial in a classic elegant 40mm diameter steel case,which houses a hand-wound movement only 2.7mm thick.Arnold & Son SA, Switzerland, January 2011Celebrating innovation and inspirationin education, Microsoft Oman and theMinistry of Education awarded winnersof the second ‘Imagine Us’ competitionand the Initiative Teach Inspire (ITI)initiative. ‘Imagine Us’ is a competitionaimed at secondary school students,with 84 teams made up of 400 studentsand teachers in the Sultanate. Thecompetition aims at supporting the creative and imaginative skills of students throughweb and graphic design, along with other forms of multimedia. In the ITI competition,four teachers were awarded in the ‘Virtual Classroom Tour Project’ category conducted bytechnology partners AMD and HP, with 30 teachers in total taking part.Winners of Imagine UsDigital Video CategoryAisha Al Kanadi, Mira Alawfi and Marwa Al AdawiArwa bint el Hareth School for GirlsGraphic Design CategoryMona Khalfan, Salem Alyahyai, Kholoud Khalifa, Ali Saidiand Khamis Moza Saeed AziziMaymouna bint al Harith School for Basic EducationWeb Design CategoryMa’oulli Tariq, Ma’oulli Nasser, Mohamed Fahmy and Rawahi KhalafMa’oulla bin Shams for Basic EducationITI ProjectZahra Hassan Abdalkhaleq Al-Lwetti, Sheikha Khalf Na’abi, Nora Bint Saif BinSalem El Bahria and Cherifa bint Suleiman bin Hamad AlroahiaThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C has entered into anagreement to fully manage Muscat’s Al Bustan Palace and is nowbeing rebranded under the new hotelier chain’s portfolio. Presidentand Chief Operating Officer Herve Humler said, “The Omani capitalhas long been a key aspiration for The Ritz-Carlton and we havewaited a long time to find the perfect opportunity to add to ourcollection. It is an honour to be selected to manage such an iconichotel as Al Bustan Palace and we look forward to retaining itspremier position in the regional and international marketplace.”Commenting on the transition that the Al Bustan Palace willwitness, Humler said, “All the current employees will be retainedby The Ritz-Carlton under the new management. The Ritz-Carltonis also strongly committed to all the Omani ladies and gentlemenat the hotel and we welcome the existing Al Bustan Palace teamto The Ritz-Carlton family. I know that we shall do our utmostto make them feel comfortable within our corporate culture.” HisExcellency Sheikh Abdul Malik bin Abdullah Al Khalili, the Ministerof Tourism said, “Our agreement with one of the biggest and mostprestigious hotel management companies in the world reflects ourtotal commitment to preserve the position of Al Bustan Palace asone of the most esteemed and luxurious hotels in the region. Thenew management aims at introducing the concept of luxury andhospitality philosophy in our present time while maintaining theprestigious stature of the hotel.”Available in a rose gold or stainless steel case, with a choice ofa black or brown alligator strap, the HMS1line is water-resistantup to 30 metres and is equipped with two barrels that providea generous 80 hours of power reserve and better precision; thisdevice is truly a masterpiece worth calling your own.For more information, log on to www.galleryargan.com.Journey of HopeYou will probably remember our coverage of the remarkableachievement of a South African cyclist who made a solo bike ridearound the Sultanate back in December. But there was anotherreason for Tom Millward’s epic bike ride. With the help of a numberof sponsors, Tom was able to raise just under 6,800 rials from hisjourney which he has donated to the Early Intervention Centre. Wecongratulate Tom on this achievement and hope the money goes along way in helping the children at the centre.Tom had this to say: “When I started looking for a charity to supportI had not heard of the Early Intervention Centre and I found the centrewhile looking for another place. On arrival I met Mr. Hassan Moosa,and we got on really well from the start and so the relationship hasdeveloped and we'll continue to work together in the future.”1011

July 05, 2011 Issue 177Ahlibank Notches Up SecondAwardAhlibank picked up its second illustrious award this year afterwinning the No. 1 spot in the Best Performing Companies surveyconducted by Arabic Magazine, Alam al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal. Thebank was presented the award at a glittering ceremony held atthe Shangri-La Hotel on 27th May. Earlier this year, Ahlibankwere awarded the Corporate Governance Award for 2010, by theCMA. The latest, ‘Best Performing Company’ prize was basedon their performance in five key financial parameters includingRevenue Growth, Net Profit Growth, Return on Average Assets,Return on Average Equity and Net Profit Margin. With newprofits for 2010 increasing by 65 percent to 14.1 million rials,and total assets at the end of last year reaching 806 millionrials, the prize was richly deserved. “We are proud to receivethis recognition. As one of the Sultanate’s leading bank, we arecommitted to creating a distinctive customer experience thatrelies on its products, services and overall customer service. We are aware that each recognition brings with it the additional responsibility of continuing to betterourselves. I would like to assure you that we are firm in our resolve and continue to do so in the days ahead.” commented Mr. Abdulaziz Al Balushi, CEO.Giving BackGiving back to society is amust for all of those who arecapable. This week we heardthat HSBC has donated 2,500rials to help those sufferingfrom autism. This moneywill fund the construction ofthe new rehabilitation andrecreational hall in the MuscatAutism Center.“Autism is a serious public health concern that is often underdiagnosedand therefore it is imperative that we come together toraise awareness on the disorder’s complexity and mystery whichat present has no cure,” said Ewan Stirling, CEO of HSBC Oman.“Contrary to popular belief, autistic children are gifted and havemany strengths and abilities. We hope that the new rehabilitationhall will provide the nurturing environment required to unlock thepotential of these children to secure a better future through lifechangingeducational programmes.”The Muscat Autism Center is the only centre in Oman that catersto those with Autism, providing care and rehabilitation. If you arelooking to help out, do visit the centre.Index OpensThe Investment ManagementGroup (IMG) of Oman Arab Bank(OAB) has recently announcedthe launch of a new service. TheAl Arabi Oman 20 Index will bethe first Index in the Sultanate totrack the weightage of liquidityand profitability of the MuscatSecurities Market stocks.Abdul Qader Askalan, CEO of Oman Arab Bank, began the launch explaining this latestaddition as a continuation of the excellent services Oman Arab Bank has to offer. Hesaid: “The Al Arabi Oman 20 Index clearly fills a void for investors seeking a reliable andtrustworthy performance gauge of liquid and profitable stocks in the Muscat SecuritiesMarket. This initiative will add value to the existing MSM 30 Index and we’re proud to bethe first to launch this unique index with plans to launch more indices for Oman and theregion in the near future.”According to Lo’ai Bataineh, DGM of Investment and Development in OAB, this project wasone hundred percent created and managed by IMG internally. He also said: “The Al ArabiOman 20 Index was launched in response to increasing investor demand for transparencyand liquidity in the local market and we believe the index’s unique approach providesinvestors with a superior tool for measuring stock performance. Investors today are seekingthe objective, transparent insight into the performance of profitable and liquid stocks whichthe Al Arabi Oman 20 Index provides.”Oman Web AwardsThis year the Oman Web Awards’ main sponsors will be Majan Consolidated. This competition will be hosted by SJS Group Oman, and is held to credit astonishingtalents in Oman and held under the auspices of the e.oman initiative and the Information Technology Authority (ITA).Anvwar Hussain Al Balushi, Chief Operating Officer, Majan Consolidated said: “We have been active with Oman Web Awards during its previous years as anattendee, participant and sponsor. Majan has always rendered full support to initiatives where talents and creativity are encouraged. IT is the main driver of changeglobally and Oman is no exception. We have made good progress in IT within a short period and the turnout crowd for the events like Oman Web Awards itselfconveys the influence of IT in society. Participation of major corporates in the event proves the quality and goodwill of Oman Web Awards,”Registration for the awards closes on July 10th, so for more details visit www.omanwebawards.orgPipeline to ProgressKnee Op a SuccessLaying the foundations for the growth of Seeb, Haya Water Another sign of Oman’sannounced that it has installed 1000km of piping in the town as part rapidly improvingof its water-reuse project in one of Muscat’s most populous areas. healthcare services wasConnecting 30,000 homes, offices and commercial centres to a highlighted this weekclean and odour free water network, Haya Water is embarking on aproject to provide reusable water for the whole Muscat Governorate.When completed, the ‘Greener Cleaner Muscat’ campaign shouldwhen Amando Rodiguezannounced he has fullyrecovered from full kneeconnect 80 percent of Muscat residents to this new system and replacement surgerySeeb’s soon to be completed modern water treatment plant willboast a capacity of 80,000 cubic metres of treated effluent perday. So far, the development in Seeb is 65 percent completed.Haya Water CEO Omar Al Wahaibi said; “We are very proud to havereached this significant milestone in the development of Seeb,which is one of the biggest and most important schemes in theoverall Muscat water reuse project.” He added, “When completeit will bring major benefits to individuals and families by removingthe need for old septic tanks, the yellow tankers to remove wastewater and helping to promote a much healthier and smell freeenvironment for the population.” Treated effluent, he says, can beused for irrigation and the watering of public parks and gardens,on both knees late lastyear. The surgery wascarried out by renownedOrthopaedic Surgeon Dr.Jacob Varghese, who has carried out more than 600 such operations. This was previouslyan operation carried out exclusively abroad, but the operation Amando undertook highlightsthe continued development of the Omani healthcare industry. Amando says, “I was in alot of pain, and had almost given up hope of ever being able to lead a normal life. Beingexcessively overweight only compounded the problem.” He says that recovery was swiftand painless and he is now able to walk without any problems – he can even play football.“It feels like I have been given a new lease of life. I am so thankful that I chose Al RaffahHospital for my surgery,” he added.reducing the strain on existing water supplies. The overall Muscatwater reuse project comprises of six major developments thatinclude Seeb, Bousher, Muscat, Muttrah, Amerat and Quriyat eachusing Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology - one of the bestDr. Jacob Varghese will be available for consultation on knee, hip and shoulder problems,along with pain of any joints, until Friday, July 8th. The surgeon will be available for 15 daysevery month at Al Raffah Hospital for consultation call 98550066.technologies in the world to ensure that quality treated water is freeof pollutants.12

July 05, 2011 Issue 177 July 05, 2011 Issue 177HSBC Manage BreakSpecial Flight Offers to SalalahEveryone likes a break from their daily routines, especially at this time of year whentemperatures skyrocket and day-to-day life tends to slow down. A team of managersfrom HSBC recently decided to break away from their routines to participate in twoevents; the first one took place at the National Hospitality Institute’s modern trainingkitchens, where participants were offered the opportunity to test their cooking skills,and brush up on them where needed.Before they began working in thekitchen, all teams were issuedguidelines on both food safety andhygiene. The aim of the activity wasfor the teams to cook and create agourmet meal, which consisted ofstuffed chicken with mushroomsserved with pilaf rice and tomatosauce. This was followed by pancakestuffed with caramelised apple servedwith butter scotch sauce. The disheswere then judged by NHI’s professionalchefs.For those planning an exotic trip away from Muscat, the recently announcedOman Air special offer is sure to grab your attention. Offering return flightsat special rates from Muscat to the beautiful southern city of Salalah, from1st July to the end of September, Oman Air is the ideal carrier to get youto this beautiful destination. Boasting of attractive prices of only 51 Omanirials, a 20 percent reduction of the average market price, Oman Air is theto get you to the Dhofar region for the Kharif season.Speaking about the offer, Oman Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Abdul RazaqAlraisi, said, “Our move to offer this special rate reflects the dedicationof the national carrier towards the community, also meets the needs ofits valued customers. We are sure many Omanis, as well as residentsof the GCC region and tourists from far and wide, will visit Salalah overthe coming months and enjoy the verdant beauty of the Dhofar region.As the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Air is committedto offering the best possible value for all our customers and we want toencourage more people to discover the full range of destinations that thecountry has to offer.”As this offer is so enticing,travellers are advised to book wellin advance to guarantee a seat– we’re sure these will sell outquickly.“We anticipate that demand forseats on this route will be verystrong, both from Omani familiesand from visitors from the GCCcountries. And, because we haveconvenient connections to 41destinations worldwide, we alsoexpect to see many visitors fromfurther afield. We have thereforeworked hard to ensure that the maximum number of seats is available and welook forward to welcoming many more passengers to our flights,” Alraisi adds.After the cooking, all participantsmoved on to the conference room and spoke to Julie Locke, a professional managementtrainer, about how kitchen skills can be applied in any work place. Participants also gotthe opportunity to see themselves at work, as they were videotaped while cooking.A second event saw staff head outto sea. Bandhula Perrera said: "Theprogramme was a great success andwas full of entertainment with loadsof new experiences. I am sure that forthe majority it was their first time atdeep sea and falling off a boat. Takingrisks, the ability to stay focused, andcoordinating as a team are a fewthings that I have gathered from thisenjoyable experience. The NHI & OmanSail were very professional and placeda lot of emphasis on safety. (Overall) itwas a very good show."This successful event was organised by The NHI in association with Oman Sail, wherethe staff got together and enjoyed a wonderful day at the beach. Participants enjoyedactivities like boat rigging, kayaking and boat racing. Even though the challengesrequired tremendous physical effort, like swimming 30 metres for example, theparticipants still had a great time. NHI also organises Corporate Etiquette and SocialDining programmes, outdoor activities and other courses for its clients. It wouldbe great if all companies did something like this for their staff once in a while.14

July 05, 2011 Issue 177 July 05, 2011 Issue 177EventsDo you have any upcoming events? Drop us amail at info@y-oman.com, and your event willbe featured in the next issue of Y!Consumer FairJune 29thCheck out the Consumer Fair at the OmanInternational Exhibition Centre. Many companiesfrom around the world are taking part to offer avariety of stuff that you can buy! Check it out,until 8th July.Salalah TourismFestivalFrom July 1stIf you are planning a trip to Salalah, make sureyou tie it around the Salalah Tourism Festival,beginning July 1st. A shopping fair at theMunicipality Recreational Center will be partof the events held during the Salalah TourismFestival.The SummerExhibitionJuly 22ndBoutique Muscat is organising an exhibitiontowards the end of July. This is your chanceto become a part of The Summer Exhibition byBoutique Muscat & AlRahma Charity Association(previously Oman al Khayr) at Al Noor Hall inMadinat Qaboos from July 22nd to 24th. Toparticipate, contact them on 95692280.Dubai SummerSurprisesUntil end of JulyThe region’s biggest annual summerextravaganza will take place between June22nd and July 31st. The 2011 Summer in Dubailine-up is set to extend the season this yearwith DSS, Ramadan and Eid creating an extralongcalendar with a range of exciting activitiesthat offer something for the whole family.16Let the Whole GCC be Next!Giving birth to a baby is probably the most preciousmoment in any couples’ life, and to witness the birthof any baby and seeing the joy couples experienceas they walk out of the hospital holding theirdelicate darlings is truly endearing. Forme, witnessing the birth of a babylast week was beautiful, up untilthe part when the parentsconcerned, with child inhand, walked out the hospitaldoors. Allow me to explain thishorrific scenario.The mother who was holding the baby waspushed on a wheelchair to the car. The car wasbrought up by a smiling husband as close as he couldget to the hospital entrance. The husband then quicklygot out of the car, opened the passenger door for his wife andgently helped her get in the front passenger seat, horrifically witha two-day-old baby in her arms.The safety and protection of our children is a must, and these kinds of accidents are 100 percentpreventable. According to Emirati media, Abu Dhabi took action on child safety last week, and TheMinistry of Interior's High Committee for Child Protection passed new laws regarding the installationof children's safety seats in cars. "The safety and protection of children drove us to introduce newseating requirements," said Nasser Al Nuaimi, Secretary General for the Office of Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister of Interior, who heads the High Committee.So basically, by law, children who are less than one year old must be seated in a proper child carseat, to prevent them from slipping out.Children six to nine months old (or weighing less than 10 KG) must be facing the rear of the car. Onlykids who weigh 9kg to 18kg (around nine months to four years of age) can face forward in the car.For kids who are four to six years of age (and weigh 15kg to 25kg), seat boosters must be used.Support cushions must be used for children six to eleven years, or weigh 22kg to 36kg.According to Emirati media, Al Nuaimi called for the implementation of laws passed by Britain thatmake it mandatory for child car seats/seatbelts fitted vehicles, taking children's age and weight intoconsideration. "As children vary in height and weight, seat belts must be used for all children under135cm or weigh less than 36kg,” he said.I really hope that the rest of the GCC and the Arab world stop talking about children safety andTAKE ACTION NOW. We are so proud of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai and are eagerly waiting for theSultanate to be next.karima@y-oman.comMovie ReviewOliver TwistMost of you have probablyread the book, but have youwatched the movie? I amtalking about Polanski’s versionof Oliver Twist. If you are notfamiliar with Oliver Twist thenyou are missing out on a greatstory from the brilliant author,Charles Dickens. This moviewas aired in theatres aroundthe world in 2005, and the DVD version was released in 2008. I recentlywatched the movie, and although I have already read the book back inschool, the story touched me. Oliver Twist is one of the most belovedstories of Charles Dickens, and it is a story about an orphan who getsinto so much trouble just because of food! I think that every kid fromage nine and above should be shown this movie, as it really shows youthe harsh reality of being in an unwelcoming world, while most of theparents who will be reading this review are capable of providing fortheir families and children. As an alternative, this movie is a fine way tointroduce children to a classic story, although it wasn’t exactly like thebook. It’s best to watch these kinds of movies for its educational side- I wonder if kids in school today are reading Oliver Twist? This movieis great, a good alternative to one of the best stories from CharlesDickens, so definitely worth a watch.Director: Roman PolanskiStarring: Ben Kingsley,Barney Clark, Leanne RoweRunning Time: 130 minutesMuscat:24564488Shopping in the KharifLooking for a chance to escape the heat? Well just a short flight to theother part of Oman, you can enjoy a place that is breezy, green and rainy.Check out Salalah as the ‘Salalah Tourism Festival’ (STF) is now in fullswing. It is described as the biggest and one of the most entertainingevents for tourism and shopping in the Sultanate. While you are there,please keep in mind that the STF this year has planned on bringing in avast range of products from different markets all in one place.This includes a Shopping Fair at the Municipality Recreational Center, andit will be ongoing throughout the STF. Organised by Oman InternationalTrade and Exhibitions, many first-time exhibitors will also be participatingso there will be some fresh products on display. Salalah is without doubtgrowing, and the city is currently taking up important projects in favourof developing Salalah as a tourism destination. This is just one eventthat will put Dhofar on the map as a top holiday destination.Sohar:26846662

July 05, 2011 Issue 177July 05, 2011 Issue 177A Question of HealthAs the country works towards a diversified economy,Lifeline Medical Centre will be playing a key role inproviding private sector workers with modern andaffordable healthcare. We spoke to Dr. Rohil Raghavan,Hospital Director at the Lifeline group in Oman, to find outwhat are the key challenges the healthcare industry facesand what is being done by private sector health providersto tackle these problems.First, could you please tell me about your ownexperience and a little about your personal life?I started practicing in Oman in 2004 as an ENT surgeon ina private medical centre. In addition to my ENT practice, Iwas also the Medical Director in which capacity I had thesatisfaction of starting a new hospital for the group at Ruwi.Currently I am working in the capacity of Hospital Directorfor the operations of Lifeline Hospital in Oman. Besides myfamily, which consists of my 10-year-old daughter and mywife who is a dentist, my extended family comprises of all my hospital staff.Can you tell me about the Lifeline Hospital’s operations in Oman and afar?Lifeline Hospital group, headed by Dr. Shamsheer V. P., though new to Oman, is a wellknown healthcare provider in the GCC. In Abu Dhabi, the group has three runninghospitals and two medical centres. The fourth hospital, Burjeel, which is the group’smost ambitious project, will open its doors to the public this year. Other running andupcoming centres are present in Dubai, Doha, Al Ain and in Calicut, India.In Oman, Lifeline is planning on a wide network of healthcare facilities. Currently ahospital in Salalah is functional and a large hospital in Sohar with MRI and CT willopen in July 2011. In Muscat, Lifeline Medical Centre is currently functioning with alarge state-of-the-art hospital to be launched in Al Khuwair. Besides these facilities,there are more plans in the anvil and these will be announced in due time.What is the principle behind Lifeline and who are you targeting?The main aim of Lifeline Hospital is to become the most admired and trustedhealthcare service provider by adopting state-of-the-art treatment and diagnosticequipments, attracting and retaining the best medical experts through education,and adopting the latest medical practices, along with improvising on service deliverymodels by adopting quality management. Multiple healthcare services will enableLifeline to provide services to people from all walks of life.Which niche in healthcare does Lifeline hope to fit into?As mentioned earlier, Lifeline Hospital wants to build their clientele by winning overtheir trust through proper diagnosis and treatment backed by the latest diagnosticequipments. The various quality management affiliations will without doubt enhancethe quality of healthcare service received by patients.18Do you feel healthcare providers in Omancould offer a more ‘personal’ form of service tousers?The multiple services offered by Lifeline arequite unique in Oman and they will not only givepersonalised services but will also give reassuranceto the needs of the patients.How will Lifeline work with public healthcarefacilities?Before starting the Lifeline ventures in Oman, Dr.Shamsheer V.P. and team had lengthy discussionswith the Ministry of Health officials and haveincluded various departments such as dialysis unitsin Muscat and a state-of-the-art open MRI machinein Sohar. The main focus is to provide services thatwill support and compliment the public healthcarefacilities.Do you feel that the drive to integrate more nationals into theprivate sector will provide a good opportunity for private healthcareproviders to offer services via medical insurance?If increased nationalisation in the private sector leads to more Omaniswith health insurance then this will definitely bring in more patients tothe private centres.How are Omanis adapting to the demand for healthcareprofessionals? Is it likely that expatriates will still form the majorityof professions in the near future and what do you feel deters manyOmanis from entering into these fields?Compared to 10 years back, the number of Omanis in the health sectorhas increased substantially and I am sure in the next few years we willsee a lot more Omani doctors and nurses ready to fulfil the growingdemand of this ever expanding field. During this interim period, the gapshave to be filled by expatriates.What are proving to be the biggest stresses on healthcare facilitiesin the country and what is Lifeline doing to tackle this?The increase in the number of patients with chronic diseases suchas diabetes and hypertension will place an immense strain on thecountry’s healthcare. One area Lifeline Hospital will be concentratingon is preventive medicine and lifestyle modifications. The creation ofawareness and education for patients could go a long way in reducing theincidence of these chronic diseases. By bringing in more superspecialistdoctors such as gastroenterologist, urologist, infertility specialists, jointreplacement, surgeons and sports medicine doctors, Lifeline Hospitalaims at reducing the waiting time for patients who require these specialconsultations.Launch of ‘Qaboos and the Private Sector’ BookIn celebration of four glorious decades of Oman’s Blessed Renaissance, and the first What also makes this publication so special is the fact that it is inanniversary of Future Magazine, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, the Minister of Arabic and English, and showcases rare photos of His Majesty onManpower, launched Future Magazine’s ‘Qaboos and the Private Sector: Insights Into The production sites with the people of Oman. This book is informative,Thoughts of The Leader', a book issued by Mazoon Press and Publishing.interesting and is definitely something to add to your bookcollection.Showcasing illuminations that came in the speeches of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos binSaid about the private sector, the documentary book is a first of its kind that highlights HisMajesty’s vision and the words that have drawn the principles of cooperation between theprivate and public sector in order to achieve greater development and prosperity.Jamil bin Ali Sultan, Chairman of Future Magazine says, “The book deals with insightsfrom the leaders thoughts through the speeches of His Majesty during the last years,and on different occasions, in which the Omani private sector received the support andguidance of His Majesty. His Majesty’s words were a beacon that inspired all along thepath of progress and prosperity. The Omani private sector became a giant in most of itsproduction and service sectors, and is deeply involved in the five-year development plans,aimed at diversified sources of income, and not to rely on oil as the only source of nationalincome, the private sector also attracted many of the labour force seeking work, to devotea culture of self-employment, in light of current challenges and international changes thataccompanied the global economic crisis. The speeches of His Majesty on the private sectorhas had a significant impact in the development of this sector and we hope all the successfor the private sector in their efforts to share with the government in promoting the Omanieconomy and to face all the difficulties and challenges under the leadership of His MajestySultan Qaboos bin Said - may God protect him.”19

Sweet ProgressIn Issue 103, we met Hanan Al Busaidi at her home, where she explained to us exactly how she startedher own business, ‘Aches for Cakes’. Her love for cupcakes then was obvious, but her customers provedto love her cupcakes even more!Since then, we have been tracking her desserts and now aren’t surprised with the beautiful desserts she whips up. Wedecided to catch up with her for nine minutes during a class she was teaching, to see what she has been up to. Hananis a student at a local college in Oman. Check out the progress she has made:Since your last interview with Y, tell us whatchanged in your life?Since the last interview (back when I was 17 yearsold), I feel like a lot has changed in my life. I knew thenwhat I wanted to do, but it was first just a vision, nowI can really see it happening! My baking skills havecertainly improved and I have so much more to offerto all my lovely customers no matter what their tastebuds are into.Did Y help you gain more customers?Yes it truly did, thanks to Y people got to know moreabout my business, as it was only Facebook orientedto begin with. After the first interview I got a lot ofwonderful emails of people encouraging me to dowhat I love to, and also motivated me to work extrahard.Also, because of Y, I got the wonderful opportunity of being an intern at thePastry Kitchen in Al Bustan Palace Hotel. Executive Chef Jean-Luc Amann isa person who I would love to thank for opening up my eyes to the wonderfulworld of pastries. He read the article in Y magazine, and instantly sent me anemail with that great opportunity. He said that I have potential and wantedto see me improve and grow as a baker. All of this made people aware ofwhat I have to offer and that I try to push myself as far as possible to make mycustomers happy.What are the new techniques that you have learnt?Well, throughout the two years I experimented a lot with flavours. I realisedthat I am more into creating different varieties of cakes and desserts ingeneral, than decoration. I offer desserts which you don’t only have to orderfor a special occasion; I even offer cheesecakes in portions of 1 or 2 in casesomeone wants to order a little special thing just for them! That’s one of themany possibilities with ‘Aches for Cakes’!What are you currently doing?Currently, in the summer, I can once again take up regular orders! It wasa little rough during college days, so summer is when I can really do manyorders. I am also teaching a cooking class in United Private School and it istruly a wonderful experience teaching little, adorable children, and extremelyfun! I don’t just teach them about desserts, I teach general cooking and alsofood nutrition, kitchen safety, fun food facts and where famous cuisinesoriginate from. We also have special theme days like ‘A Night at Venice’ whichwas a lesson dedicated to Italian food. So it’s not just cooking, it’s a little bitof history too.What are your dreams and aims?Of course, as everyone knows, it is obvious that I would love to own a littlebakery and also have special cooking classes for kids and adults! I want to bea proper pastry chef in the future and also learn how to make chocolate andsugar sculptures. My current goal is to learn how to make mouth wateringinternational pastries which include French pastries, of course, which is myfavourite. I do enjoy cooking savoury dishes as well, so my aim is also to bemore creative in general cuisines. No matter how much a person knows, youcan never have too much knowledge!We wish Hanan the very best in her future endeavours. In just twoyears, I have watched her grow and blossom into an individual withgoals. I have also tasted and loved her cakes and cupcakes, and somany other desserts that she has made.karima@y-oman.com

July 05, 2011 Issue 177www.radiomerge.fmEnd of QuarantinePet lovers in Oman will be pleased to hear that the UK hasannounced changes to its policy on importing animals intothe country. Under new laws set to be passed on January1st, 2012, the UK’s pet movement programme will beharmonised with those laws currently in place in Europe.Due to advances in science, such as the announcementof a vastly improved rabies vaccine, dogs will no longerbe placed in quarantine when bringing animals fromoutside the UK. Pets from the EU and certain non-EUlisted countries, such as the USA will not require a bloodtest but will have to wait just 21 days before they cantravel to the country. Animals from non-listed countries,such as Oman, will be required to be vaccinated, microchippedand then wait 30 days for the results of a bloodtest. It does mean, however, that pets will no longer berequired to go through the ordeal of quarantine, a systemthat has been in place in the UK since the 19th Century.Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said, “The UK’squarantine system was designed to combat the threatof rabies in the 19th century and has now been left farbehind by scientific advances. It’s time we changed theseoutdated rules which have caused hardship to generationsof pets and pet owners, and those who rely on assistancedogs, with too many animals cooped up unnecessarily.”Congratulations dog lovers!Micromax Service Centre OpensMolecules, the exclusive distributor of Micromax mobiles in Oman, has opened a service centrein Al Khuwair to provide technical support for customers. Manned by a highly-qualified team whohave undergone specialist training at the Micromax headquarters in India, services provided bythe centre will include software updates, music uploads and repairs. The service centre is locatedon Al Doha Street, near City Seasons Hotel, and will be open from 9am to 1pm, and 4pm to 8pmfrom Saturday to Thursday.Micromax mobiles were launched in Muscat to provide high-quality affordable phones to allsegments of Oman’s population, and are available in stores such as Emax, Jumbo, 3G and ZahrathAl Hana. Tariq Mohammad Al Balushi, Managing Director, Molecules, said that the new servicecentre will work towards providing better services to Micromax’s growing customer base.Soon in Oman!RosieA young small wadi dog is urgently in need of a home.Rosie is only five months old and has had bad injuriesincluding a nose infection, but she is better now and readyto go into a caring home. She is great with kids and otheranimals, and the perfect addition to any family. She hashad her first set of vaccinations and will be receiving thefinal set this week. If you take her all you need to do iskeep her healthy and show her lots of love, as she hashad bad experiences with humans in the past. Contact95219032 for more information.22The 3rd Media & Advertising Exhibition 2011 will be held again this October. Organised by Al NimrExpo, this exhibition will highlight the growing media and communication techniques in Oman.Since last year’s exhibition, many new publications and media technologies will be involved.This year, this exhibition will focus on Outdoor Advertising, Marketing Services as well Eventsand Exhibition Management. This event will last for three days, and will definitely be a greatopportunity for all the media houses in Oman to communicate with the public.We will be providing more information on this event as soon as we get it. For now, check outwww.alnimrexpo.com for more information.Muscat City Centre Hosting Cultural EventsA 60 day cultural bonanza is in store for visitors to Muscat City Centre, with a host of eventshighlighting the best in Omani arts and entertainment. The event will culminate in ‘Spend and Win’promotion where two, brand new Nissan X-terras will be given away to the public. The event willinclude a host of Omani talent along with traditional Omani folk music and much more. ThroughoutJuly, every Sunday through to Tuesday, there will be entertaining performances between 7pm and10pm. General Manager Ibrahim Al Qasmi states, “At Muscat City Centre we always have ourcustomers’ wants and needs at the forefront of our minds and we are constantly striving to makesure we not only provide competitive yet beneficial promotions, but host fun-filled and educationalevents that each and every shopper can enjoy.”Oman’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.

The 'Great' Turtle Count!Words Paul McLoughlin'Mouj' – The only day time nesterof the group, 'Mouj' pauses beforelaunching herself back into the surfat Sheinze in the north of Masirah.Counting turtle trails at the crack of dawn may not appearto be the most accurate method to analyse Oman’sLoggerhead turtle population, but as the sun rises on theEnvironment Society of Oman’s (ESO) Biologist, AndyWillson, and his team, scour the sands of Masirah lookingfor signs of turtle movement from the previous evening.The signs Andy is looking for are light tracks traced outin the soft sand from turtles that have emerged from theArabian Sea during the dead of night. They have travelledthousands of kilometres in search of this nesting site, tolay eggs for the next generation of Loggerheads in Oman.As they crack through the brittle shells of their egg, burieddeep under the ground, they stand more or less a 1/10,000chance of surviving to adulthood. The turtles themselveslive for 80 years and some of them even see a life spanof a century. But for the hatchlings that scramble upthrough the deep sand nest, they not only have to avoidnumerous natural threats, but also manmade calamities.It is suspected these root causes have caused the estimatednumber of turtle nests on Masirah to plummet by half since1977. “There’s 80km of good nesting beach along Masirah’scoastline, so obviously we can’t cover all these beaches inone sweep. So to simplify our survey we pick a subset ofprimary beaches, which we call ‘index beaches’, and theseare monitored every morning.”The team travel by quads along the shore looking for turtletrails and seeing if they lead to a nest. If they do, then theyare recorded on a data sheet. “We also do a complete surveyof the island once a week and with the data collected makean estimate for the number of turtles visiting that week. Atthe end of the season, we use the data collected to makean estimate on the total number of nests that were laid inthat season” Andy says “last year that figure clocked in atjust under 60,000 nests!”'Jood' – The local community of Hilfsee 'Jood' off after watching theattachment of her transmitter.“90 percent of the world’s Loggerhead population is split between Oman and Florida,holding approximatly – 45 percent each. Masirah has a history of turtle research andmonitoring and it’s relevant to now because the data collected can be compared to whenresearch began 30 years ago,” says Andy. Clearly this is significant on a global level,and Masirah’s population is vital for the survival of the species as a whole, yet thereare many challenges for the ESO. “The decline is based on a whole sweep of impacts.There are some natural processes related to beaches changing their profile due tosea level rises and some small climatic changes impacting on the incubation of eggs.The natural factors for the declining population, he says, are numerous – “Weatherpatterns can change in short, medium and long term cycles. If the temperature ofnesting beaches is inclement then the incubation of eggs is affected. Feeding habitatsmay also change, predators could increase for some unknown reason, whether onland or at sea. It is essential to our work that we identify which factors are causing thedecrease in numbers.” Changes in temperature may also play a part in deciding the ratioof female hatchlings to male – warmer temperatures means more of the hatchlings willbe female, whereas a drop will mean more males. Any extreme fluctuations from theideal incubation temperature will mean the eggs will not hatch at all. Global warmingmay play a factor in this, as could rising sea levels – something which has the potentialto wash out new nesting sites.'This is a resourcewhich has hugeeconomic benefitsand potential for thepeople of the island.The island is a havenfor other species ofturtles and wildlife,and could putMasirah on the mapfor ecotourism.'24 25

The ESO team attaching tag to'TAISM'. The tag for this turtle wassponsored by the school 'TAISM' inMuscat.'Baha' poses for the camerasbefore heading back to seaafter having a satellite tagattached.Other threats to the turtle population includeHowever, the threats posed by humans are numerous,cyclones and major storms that have ripped throughtoo. Amongst these are the risks posed on their naturalMasirah in recent years. Andy says, “Nesting maysurroundings, caused by light pollution. It is well documentedbe affected by the storms in the summer, and thethat this can contribute to the decline in the number of turtleareas where there is the highest density of nestingsites, in the north, are the ones most affected by thestorms. It may be that these nesting sites prone toflooding are less successful as recruitment areas.”One good example of this, Andy brings up, is thedamage cause by Cyclone Phet. “The cyclonecame last year a month after the nesting seasonhad started and we did a survey of all the nestingsites, and the ones most damaged were those inthe north. The beaches are flatter, the sand waswashed off and it also happens to be the pointwhere the wadis channel through, so they washedout huge expanses of beach. It was estimated thatbetween 80 and 90 percent of the nests that monthwere decimated.” The north of the island has thehighest density of nesting sites on the island, anarea where an airbase is situated. As the airbaseis a restricted area, in normal months it offers theturtles a safe, protected area to nest. “The peoplewho run the area are aware of the importance of theturtle sites, so there is limited access and nobodydrives on the beaches inside of that area - they takecare of the turtles,” Andy tells me.hatchlings that make it to adulthood. Hatching turtles rely onnumerous built-in ‘cues’, which will guide them from their nest tothe sea. After initially ‘pipping’ their shell, the first of these cuesis to scramble upwards, and then to wait for the temperature todrop to ensure it’s night time when they do break out of theirnest. This lessens the chance of meeting predators on theirway to sea. Once out of the nest, hatchlings naturally headfor the lightest point of the horizon, which is usually the seaas the waters reflect the moon and starlight. Andy says, “It’sinteresting that Florida has also seen a 50 percent decreasein their nesting population. Light pollution has a tremendouseffect on stopping female turtles coming onto beaches, andalso disorientating hatchlings when they get out of their nest. Ifyou have a fluorescent light or standard light fitting on a houseor a building, 99 percent of the time the hatchlings will headtowards this light and away from the sea. There are studies toprove that.” Once the hatchlings enter the sea their exposureto other dangers don’t end there. As well as lighting, a directimpact on Florida’s population decline included the operationsof long-line fishing vessels in the high seas, and smaller incoastal fisheries closer to shore. “It makes sense for us to alsoinvestigate these potential sources of mortality closer to homeif we are going to build up a complete picture of what may becausing declines in Oman”.Juma al Araimi,Local ESO AssistantResearcher –Returning turtles tothe sea after they gotlost inland.However, much is being done to spread awarenessof the Loggerhead population and to find increasinglysophisticated research tools to understand thepractices of the turtles. “Last year we started anew element of the research programme wherewe wait for a turtle to nest and count the numberof eggs laid and mark the nest electronically. Wethen relocate the nest after the incubation periodand look for signs of hatchlings, and once we’resure that nest has hatched we can then excavatethat nest and examine its contents. The ratio ofthe total number eggs to those hatched helps usdetermine the ‘success rate’ of each nest to hatch.The other main research activity on Masirah hasbeen the use of satellite tracking technology toshow the movements of turtles. In the past, tagshave been used which transmitted the location ofthe Loggerhead for up to a year, which has helpedidentify the migration routes of females after nesting.Turtle foraging grounds have been identified fromYemen in the south to Pakistan in the north andthe importance of a cooperative, regional approachto the preservation of the Loggerhead populationcannot be underestimated.In 2011, the team initiated the use of a highly accurate trackingtechnique made possible through the application of a new generationsatellite transmitter to nesting turtles. “The new technology will indicateevery time an instrumented turtle crawls up the beach, and so revealhow many times each turtle nests in one season. This informationis an essential element in helping us to estimate the total number offemales visiting Masirah every year,” commented Andy.The team tagged 18 turtles in mid April - at the start of the nestingseason - coinciding with a community awareness programme toeducate the inhabitants of Masirah about the Loggerhead population.Key to this is building the capacity amongst the local community tobe involved in both the conservation of the island and benefits thatcan be derived from the turtles. Andy commented, “This is a resourcewhich has huge economic benefits and potential for the people of theisland.” The island is a haven for other species of turtles and wildlife,and could put Masirah on the map for ecotourism. A balance betweenenvironmentally-friendly tourism and the protection of Masirah’sLoggerheads can be found which is mutually beneficial for both of theisland’s populations.To find out more about the Environmental Society of Oman’s work atwww.eso.org.om or see how Oman’s tagged turtles are doing followthe links to satellite tracking on www.seaturtle.org26

Taste the DifferenceWords Karima Farid | Photography Jerzy WierzbickiOther than my university-years-coffee-addiction (random coffee, milk and sugar), I have neverbeen a big fan of coffee. Occasionally, I would stumble across coffee once in a while during workevents and interviews, but it would never be my choice to order a coffee, instead I would prefertea. That was until one day, when I was invited to Boutique Muscat for a ladies morning. Thisevent included gorgeous discounted items, free manicures and free coffee. So just when I took abreak from shopping, and started getting my nails done, a latte (which is again coffee and milk)appeared just for me - it tasted like good coffee, something I realised I have been missing for along time!This week, we met the person behind that GOOD coffee, and to our surprisehe turned out to offer so much more than just coffee. Badar Saud Al Abdali is a cafesupplier who is based in Muscat, he explains: “I am a cafe supplier, and I do this as mybusiness. Being a cafe supplier means that I supply everything anyone would need for acoffee shop. I work full-time with the government, and any extra time that I have is putinto Abdali Commercial City. We supply coffee machines, coffee beans, ground coffee,syrups, accessories, premium pods (E.S.E. system), vending blends and liquid coffeeextracts, and equipment for hotels, restaurants and coffee shops.”Abdali Commecial City was founded by Badar nearly three years ago and they dealin the hospitality field of business. Since they represent and promote Italian brands, thiscompany is focused on high-quality services to ensure a solid growth of the business inMuscat, and around the GCC in the near future. The two main brands that they offer isBreda, which is known around the world to be a top blend of coffee and Astoria coffeemachines. Out of all GCC countries, Breda is only distributed in Oman but can surelybe exported from here. Astoria coffee equipment are elegantly designed for commercialuse, office use and home use.Badar informs us where the coffee comes from, saying: “The coffee is brought infrom Italian brands, but the origin of coffee supplied and used by Abdali Commercial Cityis from Brazil, Guatemala, Colombia and Mexico, as well as Africa, India and Vietnam.The popular coffee is the Italian blends, but the coffee comes from the countries I justmentioned. The Italian’s import coffee from all around the world, and make their ownblend, as coffee doesn’t usually grow in Italy. In Italy, they obviously specialise in roastsand beans and espressos, and Italy is known to have one of the best coffee cultures in theworld, and the most famous espressos.”This company offers different ranges of products, including different blends. Badartells us that a few competitors in Oman only serve one blend, but Badar made surethat he was representing a company that offers more than one blend, so he can provideconsumers with a choice. Although the Omani market does not consume coffee highly,Badar still managed to push himself into the market and is now supplying various outletsand hotels around the Sultanate. His business started because of his love for coffee, andhe tells us his story: “In Oman, people usually buy a cup of coffee just so they can chillat a coffee shop, not because they are coffee lovers, unlike other parts of the world,where people would go out of their way just to get their espresso and drink it quickly inless than five minutes – Oman is quite different. I started this business because I lovecoffee. For as long as I can remember I have loved tasting and drinking different types ofcoffees. Also, I have always wanted my own coffee shop business, so the idea of supplyingcame to mind. Within the next coming year I am planning to have my own coffee shop,and until then and even after, I will continue to be a supplier too.”Badar chose the coffee he wanted to offer by travelling to Italy and choosing fromthousands of brands. By visiting many parts of the world to attend exhibitions and visitfactories, Badar built his expertise and his passion for coffee grew even more. Beforehe began his business, he studied the coffee culture extensively and made sure he knewwhat was needed. By doing this, he learnt so much and today is successful in what he isdoing.Badar received no financial support from Oman, but does have a helping handfrom Italy. Representing an Italian brand, he has the benefit of continuous support fromthem. For almost three years, Badar has been dealing with coffee, and he tells us that ifhe continues to do well, he might take the option of doing this full-time.So if you are looking to offer coffee within your business, home or office, Badarwould be the person to call. Support this Omani business by using their products, asthey truly have GOOD coffee and excellent coffee machines that can cater to your everyneed. You can contact Badar by simply calling 95200899 to try out his coffee or emailhim at caffebreda@mail.com. I have stayed in many major hotels around the Sultanate,and had the luxury of a coffee machine in my suite, but I would have certainly beenhappier to have this tasty and unique coffee as an option instead.We wish Badar the best of luck in his future endeavours, and are waiting for aninvitation to his upcoming coffee shop soon!karima@y-oman.com28 29

In Rhythm with OmanWords Clint Derric EgbertThe city is built to music,therefore never built at all,and therefore built forever.~Alfred Lord TennysonOman is a nation that is submerged in intriguinghistory and diversity that is rarely found in any otherpart of the Gulf. It has developed and cherishedvarious distinctive ethnicities and cultures over manyyears, in various forms of arts like music and dance.Music, for one, has been gradually shaped over thedecades from the ancient trade relations with distantlands like Egypt, Tasmania and India, from whichOmani tunes gradually weaved itself into one of themost unique blends of musical trends that is witnessedand adored in the world today. Omani music brings avibrant, colourful nature to its compositions and playsa key role in the country’s life and joyous events.STRINGS OF TIMEDue to trade relations from years ago, mainly by sea,coastal areas in Oman were the first to adopt musicinto their everyday lives, mainly showing heavydependence on rhythm, which brings a full and richsound to tunes and melodies. The most commonlyused instruments in Oman are stringed instrumentslike the Oud, Rebab and Tanbura, each of which arevery special in their own way.TanburaThe Tanbura is an instrument that has remained constant and practicallyunchanged since its birth over a thousand years ago, and has travelledthrough generations and various cultures since it was first traced backto Sumerian civilisation, in 2700BC. Since then it migrated through theArab Peninsula and Africa, soon touching base in Omani regions.Designed with only five notes and six strings, the sixth string producesa sub-octave of the highest note on the instrument. Tuning is vital tofinding the right pitch, and only an expert of the instrument, playing byear, is capable of tuning this instrument correctly.Due to the instrument not having a neck, like the guitar does for example,it is not possible to change the tone of the strings, also called Khiyut orKhait in Arabic. The Tanbura player beats all the strings simultaneouslywith a bull’s horn in his right hand while muting unwanted strings withthe palm of his left hand. This method brings a more rhythmical asopposed to a melodic sound when playing.RebabBordering on extinction, the Rebab is one of the oldest and mostimportant instruments in Omani traditional music, but is rarely used inOman today. The Rebab is a single stringed instrument that was usedto assist poets to recite poetry. Producing four to five notes ona single string was simple enough to allow poets to play theinstrument without having to change the position of the lefthand.OudThe most popular instrument used in Omani music today is undoubtedly the Oud, which isconsidered to be easy to play, but very difficult to master. What makes the Oud such an imperativepart of Omani music is the fact that it is an instrument that boasts of a large melodic range, consistingof two octaves spread out over five or six strings. If compared to a western instrument, the Oud isvery similar to the guitar, only with no frets. It takes years of practice to completely understand thefinger positioning and tones. The Oud has gained tremendous importance over the recent years herein the Sultanate and plays a much more dominant part in Omani music, today.MOVING TO THE OMANI BEATDance too has played a major part in representing the country’s culture, as it preserves in everymovement an intricate piece of history that has been carried down through the years, from countriesfar and wide. Today, dance has been moulded to become a representation of the Omani way, onethat stands proudly alone and separate from any other nation. Various dance forms represent variousmoods, like ‘Malid’ which is commonly found performed during religious ceremonies. Another isthe ‘Rabbuba’, a form of dance usually performed at joyous occasions, which brings a lively way ofmovement and coordination to routines.Music and dance defines the Sultanate in many ways, through its vibrant and joyous notes, Omanimusic also represents the people in the country and the way of life in this beautiful and peacefulnation. And like Robert G. Ingersoll very wisely once said, “Music expresses feeling and thought,without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words.”Much like the violin we find today, the Rebab was played withthe use of a bow, but the difference was that the Rebab washeld over the thigh and in a vertical position. It’s interesting tonote that even today Moroccan musicians play the violin in avertical position, much like the Rebab. Again, like the violin,the Rebab has no frets.30 31

Challenge by LacosteThis cologne is citrusy, light andabsolutely refreshing. It is knownto last all day; the bottle lookspretty cool too. It would make anice gift, as the packaging is great!I think it smells nice, so you canrecommend it to anyone who wantsto smell good.Honour by AmouageThis is the latest from The House of Amouage, and it’sabsolutely grand. Honour woman is a floral scent thatsmells lavish and rich. This scent is easy to relate to, asthe story behind it is quite familiar- the story of MadameButterfly. Although the story was heartbreaking, thescent remains a refuge. Honour is available in 50ml and100ml Eau de Parfum.Life Threads Silver, Gold and PlatinumPerfume by La PrairieAfter Nina gave me the name of this perfume, anddescribed it as ‘so good!’, I decided to check it out. LaPrairie fragrance trio are certainly made to remember.Gold was the only one I tried but this concept is beautiful.The concept is that every woman has a story to her lifeand it’s woven into a beautiful way. Gold did smell SOGOOD!Lip Defense Treatment by InglotThis one is pretty cool. Recommended to usby Huwaida, this product is applied to yourluscious lips prior to lipstick application. Ithydrates, prevents lips from drying out andalso nourishes with Vitamin E. It is small, soit can be kept in your handbag easily and iscertainly a nice addition to your collection. Thisone’s for keeps.

Clint Derric EgbertDXG-5B1V 1080p Underwater CamcorderUnderwater videography is no cheap activity, especially with all the waterhousing that regular cameras require. However, fortunately with theintroduction of the new DXG-5B1V 1080p Underwater Camcorder videoenthusiast can now capture their favourite underwater moments for justunder $170 (65 rials). This device is equipped to go up to 10 feet underwater,and can produce still pictures up to 12 megapixels and video at 1920 x 1080at 30 fps – super quality for its price. The battery compartment, USB port,HDMI port and SD card port are all waterproof as well, making this bad boy areal swimmer. For more information, go to www.dxgusa.com.SuperTooth HD BluetoothIf a regular Bluetooth just doesn’t cut it, then theSuperTooth HD Bluetooth is sure to satisfy all your handsfreerequirements, and more. This device is capable ofblasting out three times more speakerphone volumethrough its 2.5 watt speakers and 5.4 watt amplifier,allowing easy and convenient hands-free communication.Also equipped with built-in dual microphones, anti-echoand DPS control, this baby will give you the clearest voiceclarity possible. Another cunning characteristic of thisdevice is that it is able to read e-mail and SMS messagesout loud with Android and BlackBerry phones and canconnect up to two phones simultaneously. Priced at areasonable $129 (49.6 rials), this baby is worth the buy.For more information, go to www.coolest-gadgets.com.iCade iPad Arcade CabinetThere is nothing like the actual feeling of arcade games, and theiCade iPad Arcade Cabinet brings back many fond memories ofwhen I was a child, resurrecting the good ‘ol days of simple joystickand red, black and white coloured buttons, the iCade is truly a treat.Breaking away from the intense Xbox and PS3 games, this deviceallows you to enjoy the simple fun of the Pacman-era without anyheavy graphics, guns and complicated combinations to deal with.Small and compact, what makes this device so special is that it isdesigned to house an iPad, on which you can play your favouriteAtari games. All you need to do is slide an iPad into the built-incradle, hook it up to the iCADE via a Bluetooth connection, andyou are good to go. Priced at $99.99 (38 rials), you can order theproduct online by visiting www.thinkgeek.com.iDuckyIf you’re hesitant about carrying youriPod or MP3 player in the bath, avoidingthe possibility of getting it wet, then theiDucky is just what you may be lookingfor. The waterproof ducky is not just anyordinary toy; in fact it’s a speaker for aMP3 player as well as an FM radio thatis compatible with any device. It's alsoequipped with 3.5mm headphone jackthat allows users to play music fromalmost any source, like mobile phones,iPods, MP3 players, stereos etc. Pricedat $29.99 (11.5 rials) this device runson AAA batteries and also comes withan egg transmitter which allows for goodcoverage up to 10 metres away. For moreinformation, go to www.thinkgeek.com.DXG-018O 3D Camera and ViewerWith 3D gaining tremendous popularity in themarket, the DXG 3D still camera could not havecome at a better time. Boasting a dual-lens,this baby is capable of capturing 3D stills andreviewing the images in realtime on its 1.44inch screen. Users can also print the images ifrequired, but transferring the pictures via the USBcable is not recommended. Instead, eject theSD card and insert it into the computer's printer.Thanks to PictBridge technology, the process isa breeze. It is important to remember that, whenprinting, the use of regular paper will get yougood results, but for a supreme finish you willwant to use photo paper. Priced at $69.99 (27rials), the DXG is available in various cool coloursand can be ordered from the official DXG websitewww.dxgusa.com.Commando Car AlarmsCar security is a concern everywhere in the world, and so it is importantto have the right protection for your car, especially when they sitvulnerable in the dead of the night with no one to watch over them. Thisis where the Commando FM 870 2-Way LCD Car Alarm with RemoteStart comes in to play. Equipped with a bright LCD display on a RemoteTransmitter, which comes with an alarm and remote starter kit, thedevice accurately monitors the opening and closing of doors of yourvehicle, armed or disarmed alarm, open or closed hood and trunk, andhard impacts to your vehicle from a distance of 2500+ feet away. Pricedat $170 (65 rials), this night watcher is a great buy. Check outwww.commandoalarms.com/itm30032.htm34 35

Words Clint Derric EgbertSailing against the tideEven though Boston weather conditions decided to With the fresh hands of British skipper Leigh McMillan, The Wave Muscat areplay it harsh on the 11 international fleets competing in looking like strong competitors in the event, and started their first day 20the Extreme Sailing Series that took place in the windy seconds ahead of second place racers Luna Rossa from Italy. Also on boardAmerican city recently, Oman Sail’s The Wave Muscat The Wave Muscat was bowman Khamis Al Anbouri.fought through these challenging conditions and fiercecompetition to finish in a very respectable second place “I sailed with Khamis in the Asian Extreme Series in 2010, so it was good toafter the first race in Boston.be back on board with him again, but today was the first time I have sailedwith Kyle Langford and even though I have known Nick Hutton for a longFinishing just a point behind leaders Artemis from time it is the first time we have sailed together. I was concerned I wouldn’tSweden, the Omani crew displayed super skills, tactics be fully up to speed after only having one hour training, but we are reallyand stamina to finish among the top three teams in the happy at the end of today. There is a lot of mutual respect amongst the teamcompetition, tackling unpredictable sailing conditions. and that gave us the mentality to go out there and do our best today,” said aAnother Omani team, Oman Air, did well also to finish very pleased Leigh.the day in eighth place overall in the mid-fleet races.Anbouri says, “We were nervous going into today as we had so little trainingOman Air’s Omani bowman Nasser Al Mashari spoke of time together, but we are really happy with the result. Tomorrow we willthe weather challenges, saying, “The weather is lovely, focus on going into the race in the same frame of mind, and work hard to getthe sun here reminds me of Oman, but for sailing it has more results like today. I am really excited about the rest of the event herebeen challenging conditions. The wind is difficult to and feeling confident we can deliver a good result.”predict and has been really up and down – all the fleetfound themselves without wind at one point during the Witness to the Oman Sail Extreme 40s for the first time and showingrace and the boats would just stop in the water. tremendous support to the Omani teams was Her Excellency Hunaina AlEveryone had at least one bad race because of Mughairi, Oman's Ambassador to the USA, and Her Excellency Lyutha Althe wind, and we are hoping that it is steadier Mughairi, Oman's Ambassador to the United Nations.tomorrow.”“For me it was my first experience on these boats and it was an experienceof a lifetime! The sailors were really skilful, very professional and I reallycommend them for their efforts on the water. I am very proud of what Omanhas achieved and I feel privileged to have been part of that today. Oman hasalways been a seafaring nation and through Oman Sail, we are going back toour roots. I think the Oman Sail project is excellent. I worked with them whenI was in charge of the Jewel of Muscat and I am very proud to be part of itagain. To see the Oman boats doing so well has made my day. I have neverseen sailing like this before, and to be part of this makes me very proud. Wereally want to use this to encourage our Omani youth to start sailing,” said avery proud Her Excellency Lyutha.The final scores are as follows:Extreme Sailing Series -Boston Results after Day 1, 7 Races1) Artemis Racing (SWE) (60)2) The Wave, Muscat (OMA) (59)3) Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT) (54)4) Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA) (46)5) Luna Ross (ITA) (44)6) Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) (43)7) Team NiceforYou (ITA) (41)8) Oman Air (OMA) (35)9) Alinghi (SUI) (28)10)Team GAC Pindar (GBR) (26)11) Team Extreme (EUR) (25)2011 Racing Calendar and Venue6-12 August – Cowes, UK16-18 September – Trapani, Italy30 September - 2 October – Nice, France12-16 October – Almeria, Spain9-11 December – Singapore36 37

July 05, 2011 Issue 177July 05, 2011 Issue 177Alam Al-Iktisaad Wal A’malAwards3839

July 05, 2011 Issue 177July 05, 2011 Issue 177Summer Fun Weekend atBareeq Al Shatti Mall4041

July 05, 2011 Issue 177July 05, 2011 Issue 177Al Arabi Oman 20 IndexPress ConferenceHappy Nursery Summer Camp4243

July 05, 2011 Issue 177KFWS • MindGymNovember 16, 2009SUDOKUPlace 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 ofthe nine numbers only once.McDonald’sDownload your FREE copy at www.y-oman.comNOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA, ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR!Ayman Canawatiayman.canawati@sabcomedia.comFeroz KhanTel. 97768900feroz.khan@sabcomedia.comSudipto MojumderTel. 94051770sudipto.mojumder@sabcomedia.com—1—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:For many of us, a holiday is just around the corner. Which destinationdo you hope to visit this summer and why?Samira Harib Al MaskryI haven't decided where to go this summer. I'm sure I'll be relaxing at home. If I go somewhereperhaps Dubai because that's where all the shopping is. I also heard Bahrain is a nice place tovisit. Who knows, Life is full of Surprises.Reem Elkashlanisa i will go for omra and my dream is to go to MaldivesKFWS • MindGymNovember 16, 2009Al Zahriwell I planned to visit Qatar this month but now i changed my mind to visit the beautifulSalalah.KFWS • MindGymNovember 16, 2009Enn Su ZeeWell i have no plan yet to move any place ,but may be ll visit Oman `s Beautiful places..and havefun ..Why i want to visit ...because of change and feel relax .Ayesha HussainI wud like to go to the Masirah Island as there are many turtles, also for the huge Corals andshells and also to explore the beautiful island!!Frasha KhanThis year, summer in the coastal beaches of GOA.. the rains, the pleasant weather and d totalholiday ambeince!!!SOLUTIONSCROSSWORDSUDOKUGO FIGUREKFWS • MindGymNovember 16, 2009