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Weekly May 22, 2012Issue 221FACEBOOK'S'PUBLIC'PERFORMANCEHot TravelDealsTEDXMUSCAT:EXPERT TALKPPC :CARS & DREAMSTSUNAMI:A RESEARCH INPROGRESS

Dear Reader‘Its hot’, the summer time conversation starter is, in many ways, a prelude to travel plans that areeasily appended to school vacations. Unbearable heated, packed with unpleasant humidity, makessummer travel mandatory in many a household. And with travel agencies concentrating on familieswith tour packages to near and far-off destinations, the holiday mood is loud and clear.Our Y rated will guide you through some travel packages to recreate the magic of travel and help plana trip that is just right for you. Pegged on to the cover story are tips related to the importance of travelinsurance as well as advise on communication facilities while abroad.Find out more about the recently concluded TEDx Muscat, which brought together experts fromdifferent backgrounds on one platform to discuss pioneering works in their respective fields. TheSpotlight is on Ali J. Habib, who, along with his partners, has seen his dream take shape in the formof Power Performance Customs.Check out Dr. Gösta Hoffmann’s interesting work concerning tsunami potential along the coastline ofOman, as he talks about the subject against the background of Gonu. Our regular features and otherexciting stories in the check this out will keep you occupied this weekend. Enjoy!Y Team

This week inMay 22, 2012 Issue 22110Twentyfour SevenAl Araimi Complex, BankDhofar, Nestle, CaribouCoffee, BankMuscat, UTICO12Check This OutEvents, Shell Development Oman, Facebook,Eman Al Kindy, Dr. Gosta Hoffman24Y-ratedSummerGetaway30 SpotlightPower Performance38Customs32 CultureTEDx Muscat 2012X-tra TimeKarate in Oman45 ChillaxativeCrosswords, Social Media20Food PathPapparotiSayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi Editor-in-ChiefClint Derric Egbert Sports Writer/PhotographerJerzy Wierzbicki Photographer | Shrikant Akojwar Art Director/DesignEihab Abutaha CEO | 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.

May 22, 2012 Issue 221PET ME!HELLO, MY NAMEIS RANAI am a eight-month-old,friendly and affectionatefemale - fully vaccinated andneutered.I love to be around peopleand enjoy all the attention Ican get.I also get along well withother cats and am happy toplay for hours.If you would like to meet methen call: 24562263 or email:info@muscatvets.com7

May 22, 2012 Issue 221WINNINGLETTERMODEL TALKDear Y,Reading the cover story on the modelling industry was an eye-opener; as mentioned in the article, I too hadthought there was barely any modelling happening over here in Oman. I was pleasantly surprised to learn thatthere were several modelling agencies and that there is an increasing demand for models, with opportunitiesto venture into events as well. I also found it interesting to know about the model hunts occurring over here –perhaps, one day, they can find Oman’s first supermodel!On another note though, I would like to highlight the creative limitations as far as print media models areconcerned. Over the years there has been hardly any change in the stills of models presented by companies toadvertise their products. Hope that changes soon and we get to see more interesting advertisements.Karen FernandesREADER'SLETTERSThumbs up for the Blue-Collared workersDear Y,Yes, it is true that we don’t give the deserved respect to blue-collared workers. They work day and night.When we are resting they work; when we are working they work even then! They work very hard - under theblazing sun and in the shivering nights, and although they get satisfactory salaries, but still working day andnight is a lot of hard work. They are the real and true heroes, who we see almost everyday. And they trulydeserve to get the title ‘heroes’ because of their courage, sacrifice, strength and will power even when theyare alone and have no one to give them company.So, yes, the next time you see a blue-collared worker, just smile and acknowledge them for their hard workand think you have seen true hero.Nusair Bin Munawarbe a winner!Each week we are selecting our bestreader’s letter or image, and giving awayfree vouchers, courtesy Shang Thai.Simply email us at info@y-oman.comValue of prizes may vary each week. This prize isnot redeemable for cash or alternatives.Only one winner is selected at the discretion of Ymagazine. Proof of Identity is required to claim yourprize.

May 22, 2012 Issue 221ELECTRONIC BAZAAR AT AL ARAIMI‘The ElectronicBazaar’, whichbegan at Al AraimiShopping complextoday, has gatheredall the tenants inthe complex underone roof, to displaytheir wide-rangeof smartphones,consumer electronicsand home appliances,so that the customers do not miss any product. The preferred andfavourite brands of consumer electronics like Sony, Blackberry, HP,LG, Apple, Sanyo, Hitachi, RadioShack, Gree, Canon, Asus, Lenovoand many more are available, with attractive and affordable prices.A variety of international brands are also accessible at one go.During ‘The Electronic Bazaar’, which is scheduled to concludeon May 26th, more than 5000 customers are expected to visitthe shopping complex everyday. “The Electronic Bazaar is a greatopportunity for international brands to expose and associate theirbrands to Oman’s market with perception of the best and affordablebrands,” says Umesh Sharma, Sr. Marketing Manager at Al AraimiShopping Complex. Updates of the latest news and promotions atthe complex, along with a detailed floor plan, can also be viewed atwww.alaraimicomplex.comBANKDHOFAR SIGNS WITH PATHSOLUTIONSCARIBOU COFFEE OPENS AT MUSCAT GRAND MALLBankDhofar recently named Path Solutions as its Core BankingSystem provider for its Islamic operations. This system, entitlediMAL, is the first certified core banking system for the Bank’s Islamicbanking operations. The two companies signed an agreementthat will see them working together to deliver Sharia-compliantproducts to BankDhofar customers and allow it to expand this areaof its business. The agreement was signed by Abdul Hakeem OmarAl Ojaili, General Manager Corporate Services, BankDhofar, andMohammed Kateeb, Group Chairman and CEO, Path Solutions.Following a lengthy review process, BankDhofar selected PathSolutions (Kuwait-based global technology services firm) fromamong several IT vendors, offering a core banking solution. TheBank was looking for a trusted partner with the knowledge andexpertise in Islamic banking, to enable it to offer best services toits customers. BankDhofar is the third bank in Oman to embark onPath Solutions’ best of breed iMAL. The Bank joins a growing list ofIslamic banks adopting iMAL system to meet the needs of a large,complex financial services sector.For all those looking for that cosy niche tounwind and sip on that much-longed forbeverage at Muscat Grand Mall, visit thenewly opened Caribou Coffee. This newoutlet has an added advantage of free Wi-Fi and promises the perfect coffeehouseexperience, whether for business or justplain ‘coffee’.The soft music and country-like interiorsinstantly wraps itself around to make you feel at home. A truly innovative idea, the ‘CoffeeRecommender’ (www.cariboucoffee.com) shoots five quick questions to suggest you ‘theone’. Light drinkers pick lattes with fruit and nut infusions in a skilful blend of white, milk oreven dark chocolate. Substantial coffee drinkers can opt for smooth, bittersweet dark roastcappuccino with a burst of berries. The most-popular Turtle Mocha is a creamy caramelmix with Snickers sprinkles on top. The best part is you don’t need to carry the guilt ofa few hundred calories as you walk out. Most of their coffees have a healthier ‘NorthernLite’ alternative. Even the decaf, unlike many others, is chemical free. Apart from coffee,as tempting as it sounds, a cookies-and-cream snowdrift or a banana-strawberry smoothieis nothing but a throat-cooling bliss! Even their teas come in a selection of essences andcolours.From the traditional black or green to their special vanilla rooibos, each sip is pure health;and the assortment of muffins, quiches and sandwiches truly completes the offering.10

May 22, 2012 Issue 221BANKMUSCAT LAUNCHES GREEN SPORTSINITIATIVEBankMuscat launched a unique CorporateSocial Responsibility (CSR) initiative, aspart of its policies aimed at contributingto sustainable development, benefitingcommunities across Oman, especiallyyouth, to develop a sporting nation. SheikhSaad bin Mohammed al Mardouf al Saadi,Minister of Sports, presided at the launchof BankMuscat Green Sports initiative atthe Bank’s head office, in the presence ofSheikh Khalid bin Mustahail Al Mashani,Chairman of BankMuscat, Sulaiman binMohamed Al Yahyai, Vice-Chairman, AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive, dignitaries,senior government and private sector officials.The five-year Green Sports programme will identify clubs spread across Oman togreen their fields. BankMuscat recognises that local clubs wield immense influence onneighbourhood communities, especially youth; hence clubs with modern infrastructurefacilities can help raise sporting heroes for the country. The initiative is in line withthe United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), which has included Green Sports inits current 10-year programme: Resolution 2997 XXVII. Sporting activities involvingenvironmental commitment are now playing an increasingly important role at theglobal level in focusing recognition on protecting our planet.The Green Sports initiative allows BankMuscat to closely align itself with the globalUNEP programme. The Bank will primarily develop green playing fields across Omanand launch many community projects targeting the youth, representing 70 percentof the Sultanate’s population. Many CSR projects by BankMuscat will be clusteredaround sports, an essential activity for everyone’s well being, especially youth. Thesesports activities will take place in green fields developed by the Bank.NESTLE’S ‘MY BREAK WITH MY CUP’Sultan Qaboos University, Modern College of Business and Science and MiddleEast College for Information Technology, took part in Nestle’s ‘My Break with MyCup’ Omani film festival, which was held earlier this year. More than one thousandstudents submitted their film entries, making the festival a huge success. The festivalmarked a new advancement in digital media for film fans and tech-savvy studentswho formed teams of three and created a short film using the central theme of ‘Howyou spend your break with My Cup’. Each team forwarded their short film via USB toa mobile kiosk, rotating around the campus of each participating college.Once the films were submitted, they were shortlisted by a panel of skilled judges andthen uploaded onto Facebook sites NESCAFE Arabia and KIT KAT Arabia. Studentswere asked to vote for their favourite film by visiting either of the Facebook sites.Out of the 10 films posted on Facebook, the top three favourites were selected aswinners. Zaher Mohammed, Mohammed Ali and Nidal al Syabiy from Middle EastCollege for Information Technology stood first with 348 votes. The team representedby Badr AL Alawi, Mohammed Al Bulushi and Mohammed Al Sharqi emerged secondwith 220 votes, while Hafedh AL Harthy, Fahad Al Farsi, Ammar Zadjali got the thirdplace with 213 votes.NEW WATER & POWER DEVELOPMENT TOHAVE LOWER TARIFFSIn a move that could benefit consumers in Oman and the region, UTICO,a leading private utility developer in the Middle East, unveiled a utilitydevelopment project that would lead to lower consumer tariffs andzero subsidies at the Oman Water and Power Summit 2012. UTICO ispart of the US$3 billion Ghantoot Group, which in February this year hadannounced a US$500 million investment in Oman’s hospitality, water andenergy sectors. As part of that process, UTICO is in active talks with Omaniauthorities to implement utility and water desalination projects that couldlead to lower water and power bills for Oman’s consumers.The proposal is being currently reviewed by Oman’s Ministry of Finance,the Public Authority of Electricity and Water and also Oman Oil Company.When implemented, UTICO’s overall projects will also generate more than2,000 jobs for Omanis, besides translating to significant savings for thegovernment. Addressing the Oman Water and Power Summit, RichardMenezes, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of UTICO,pointed out that Oman gave over 200 million rials in subsidies in waterand power sector last year alone, which could have been made to zerofor water or halved, if not fully removed. It could also have generated netprofits for the government. Oman’s budget deficit is projected this yearat 1 billion rials, which means 20 percent of this deficit is allotted to thewater and power sector.11

May 22, 2012 Issue 221EventsDo you have an upcoming event? Drop us a mail at info@yoman.comand your event could be featured in the nextissue of Y!MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOLCHOIRMay 23rdMuscat International Primary Choir will perform live at theInterContinetal Muscat Hotel’s lobby lounge, Majlis Al Shams.‘We are the World’ is the theme of the evening and the choir willperform songs from all the over the world as well as popularsongs about children from 4pm till 5pm.WGO SUMMER CRAFT FAIRMay 22nd – 9am – 2pmMore than 50 tables of contemporary handmade crafts, art,and photography will be on display at Women’s Guild of OmanSummer Craft Fair at Muscat Holiday Hotel, Al Khuwair.MUSCAT YOUTH SUMMIT EXHIBITIONTill May 24thShowcasing the Muscat Youth Summit 2011 in an exhibition atBank Muscat Headquarters, Airport Heights.SPANISH CINEMA WEEKMay 20th, 21st and 22nd7.30pm. The movie tonight is ‘Retorno a Hansala’. This is a very special film, whichhas already participated with success in several international film festivals, Dubai,and El Cairo, among others. It is a social drama, which shows the plight of Africanimmigrants to Spain: a woman loses her brother in an illegal immigration attempt andmust return his body to their homeland. It is also interesting because Spanish, Arabicand Berber are used in the film (with subtitles in English) and depicts some fascinatingsequences of remote Moroccan culture.The Embassy of Spain presented its third Spanish CinemaWeek at Al Shatti Cinema on Sunday May 20th and MondayMay 21st, with the last one scheduled to take place today atThe film begins with several bodies washing up on the Spanish shore, near the coastaltown of Algeciras. One of them is the younger brother of Leila, a refugee living inthe town. She had encouraged him to risk the boat crossing to Spain, against theirfamily’s wishes. After identifying her brother, Leila decides to repatriate his body, andface the wrath of her parents. Teaming up with a Spanish undertaker Martin, the pairembark on the hazardous trip to Leila’s mountain village of Hansala in the Moroccancountryside. Leila’s most fundamental beliefs are challenged, as she must face herfamily, and their grief, anger and love. Martin meanwhile is surprised by his welcomein the village. Director Chus Gutierrez presents with great sensitivity the opposingviewpoints of her main protagonists, artfully, contrasting the lives of rich and poor,separated by only a few hundred miles.Entry free12

May 22, 2012 Issue 221CAREERS & PROSPECTS 2012More than 130 young Omani graduates felicitated by Shell Development Oman‘Careers & Prospects’, an annual ceremony organised by Shell DevelopmentOman to celebrate the graduation of new batches of young Omani high-schoolgraduate jobseekers, was held on May 20th under the auspices of H.E. SheikhMohammed bin Said Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development and attendedby dignitaries and senior officials from various government and private sectorestablishments.The ceremony is a celebration of graduate jobseekers who sign-up for thecompany’s employment programme scheme, which trains graduates in variouscareer fields with the prospect of sustainable jobs in the marketplace, after thecompletion of their respective training programmes. It marked the graduationof more than 130 graduates, who sought vocational specialisations in a numberof areas, including AutoCAD engineering design, occupational health and safetyand sales and debt collection. Among those graduated were also people withspecial needs, signed in for special programmes conducted in the fields ofcarpentry and cashier.On the sidelines of the programme, Hilal bin Yahya Al Mawali, General Manager– External Affairs of Shell Development Oman LLC, said, “We are very delightedto see more than a 130 young Omanis graduates today; everyone of them hasgot a job. Training young Omanis to secure jobs is one of the main pillars ofShell’s Social Investment programme. What really makes this year’s graduationspecial is the number of young Omanis with different disabilities that we trainedand they have secured jobs; we trained 45 disabled people and we are veryproud of this. We shall continue our efforts to contribute to the Omani society invarious ways, including road safety and developing entrepreneurs; developmentof human resources is core of our programmes.”All the training programmes are implemented in cooperation with the Ministryof Manpower, Ministry of Education, Oman Society for Petroleum Services(OPAL) as well as designated training institutes, along with a number of privatesector establishments that will employ these graduates.The ‘Careers & Prospects’ ceremony also featured a comprehensive presentation,highlighting Shell’s major social investment programme initiatives that wereundertaken and successfully achieved during last year. The presentation wasdelivered by Muna bint Said Al Shukaili, Social Investment Advisor of ShellDevelopment Oman, who explained the nature and type of programmes Shelloffers to the community, especially in the area of training for employment, whichcontributed in securing more than 131 jobs for young Omanis during 2011,whether in the private sector or by enabling them to create self-employmentprospects for themselves through creating their own businesses.Since one of the main thrusts of Shell’s social investment activities is to developthe capacity of young Omanis and enable them to enhance their skills to secureprofessional careers, Shell continued to invite training and learning expertsto conduct training programmes for Omanis who work in the public, privatesectors and non-governmental organisations, as well as students in schools,colleges and universities.In 2011, 3182 Omanis benefited from the overall programmes offered by thecompany. Such programmes include, for instance, Shell Professional TrainingProgrammes, where 272 employees from various public and private sectororganisations participated in Shell’s Professional Training Courses. The courseswere carried in Muscat, Sohar and Nizwa, covering a total of 10 sessions ondiverse topics such as Strategic Thinking & Planning, Creative Thinking &Innovation Techniques, Women Career Development, Public Relation & Media,and Dynamic Leadership.The company also continued to conduct its highly accredited Career AwarenessProgramme (CAP) for its fourth consecutive year. CAP is a dynamic andenergetic workshop designed to unleash the hidden potential of students whowere approaching graduation. It focuses on how to deal with the reality of thechallenging job market by highlighting how competitive it is to secure a job. Theprogramme covered around 35 colleges and universities in the Sultanate andattracted more than 2000 students who are enrolled in their second and lastyear of university.14

May 22, 2012 Issue 221STATUS UPDATE: PUBLIC!The fervour surrounding Facebook’s initial public listing on Friday, May18th, has simmered to a whimper, with the social media giant closing at adisappointing $38 a share. All the high expectations of cruising at $50 ashare have fallen short. It did open at a stock price of $42 and even movedup to $45, but could not hold on to it, as it slowly descended to $38 pershare.The closing price of Facebook’s debut outing has surprised many in theinvestment camp. According to online reports, almost every Silicon Valleyinsider had predicted that the stock would finish its first day between$50 and $60 per share! What also adds to the surprise element is thedifference in the price against that of Google, who debuted in 2004 at $85a share. However, it is important to note that about 570 million shares weretraded on the first day as a public company. Also, with shares valued $38,Facebook, say experts, is currently priced more than 100 times its profit.Does that mean investors have no reason to lose hope? Locally, did theissue generate any speculation? Y spoke to a few experts to find theirtake on the news and what, according to them, is the local relevance ofFacebook going public.than 100 millions in shares.Maryam Alawi, social media specialistand CEO of Soshteck:I think investors are hesitant; they want toknow the return value on their investment.Personally, I feel some invest to have aname in the market, while others look forreturn value on their investment… But I seehesitation in the local market, unlike theEuropeans, who are more forward. We needto understand that we are talking about moreWhen we see the market we know that it is much larger than Google, whichwent public in 2004 and was worth 23 million dollars. Investors probablyhave the sensibility of the last eight years and are concerned about thereturn value.Lets see… We can’t judge; it’s too early.Maurizio Monte, Managing Directorof MPiRe Communication agency andfounder of Oman Collective Intelligence:Facebook is currently making 80 percent of itsrevenue from advertising and if, as predicted,its growth will slow down, then it will needto look at other ways to grow its business.Facebook is going public to hopefully raise asmuch as US$18 billion, which will be morethan four times of last year’s revenue andif some of the money will go towards the development of Facebook, asplanned, each user will have a more enjoyable and enriched experience.As the founder of Oman Collective Intelligence, Facebook has always givenus lots of work; we’re constantly monitoring it as it very often updates itsplatform. As some of our services are Facebook related we need to be upto-dateon any development FB brings in order to provide a better service toour client and a better experience to their fans.Locally though, the news of Facebook going public has not much significance,unless you are into buying/selling shares.Tariq Hilal Al Barwani, Founder and President of Knowledge OmanI generally stay away from Facebook… However, I did follow the news ofFacebook IPO going public and was surprised, nevertheless, that it was nota successful venture. I do not see the news having much local significancethough.Kishor Cariappa of Al Nims Media(specialised social media agency inOman):Facebook IPO is the beginning of a revolutionthat will re-write the way companies conductbusiness and engage with their customersonline. With increased cash flow, Facebookcould make several major acquisitions toextend its platform, especially in the areas ofmobile and gamification. The pressure is onthe now iconic social network to re-invent its experience for today’s smartmobile devices.With 15 percent of its revenue coming from advertising, Facebook couldbecome more aggressive in pushing its ad model, stirring greater competitionwith traditional media establishments.We may also witness further developments in the open-graph technology,mobile innovations to improve shopping experience and improve clientaccount management services for marketers. As a public company,Facebook might now go slow on changing its products for users and brands,unlike the pace it has done in the past.The IPO will continue to raise awareness about Facebook and other socialmedia tools in Oman, which has been witnessing a surge in social mediaactivity in 2012. With so many brands already embracing social media inOman, the IPO buzz will get more mainstream companies to consider themfor practical business use.In a few months down the line, more and more companies in Oman willtake to Facebook pages and Apps that are now extremely popular and costeffectiveways of going to where people are today and engaging with themfor marketing, sales, information and support.15

DESIGNSON JEWELSWords | Suzy FontesEman Saleh Al Kindy is a new entrant in the field of jewellery, but her poise,confidence and repertoire of work conceals the short span of time that has taken herto understand the nuances of jewellery making and create designs under a brand,as well as market the same through social media. “It has only been two months,”she muses, pointing out that she took to jewellery making on a whim. It was a totallynew concept for her.The only initiation, if it could be called so, was her use of jewellerymaking tools like pliers and wires as she assisted her brother inmaking toy cars and such other stuff. The idea germinated whenshe used to go jewellery shopping for her Eid clothes and found ahuge vacuum, especially in comparison to the wide range of itemsshe found online.“May be I wanted to get into jewellery designing all along,” sheponders, as she explains that everything about her handmadejewellery is self-taught. There was a desire to create jewellery andthe rest just happened. She learnt how to place orders online forher supplies and also how to put them together, as accessories foreveryday wear as well as formal occasions. The process, she notes, was both easyas well as difficult. The blisters on her young hands, from using the tough wires andpliers, explain the difficulty in shaping the wires to her desired look.There is a kind of spontaneity about her, which comes out starkly in the vivid designsand embellishments she uses to create her works. “I decided I wanted to do thisbecause I love having things that no one else has, I’ve always loved being unique. Bymaking only a few of each item, I provide that element of exclusivity to buyers whoknow they are wearing a piece that is unique,” she adds.As an undergraduate student of Marketing Management in Dubai, with time dividedbetween studies and jewellery making, she had to start with simple designs, beforegradually moving on to complex ones. She focused attention on videos to perfect thetechnique and also understand the basic techniques involved in specific designs, bysimply taking a careful look at the images or the actual product.While making accessories like rings, chains and bracelets was a task, the actualchallenge came in marketing the same. “Other than creating awareness, I have notreally faced many obstacles,” she says, explaining that she had to rely on Facebookto garner attention to her work. Under the brand name ‘Lula’s’she began marketing her work, encouraging friends to like herpage and demonstrate their support. She says her friends werenot happy with her brand name ‘Lula’s’ but her love for her fouryearold niece, whose nickname she has adopted, overcame allthe differences.Her tools of trade are pliers, cutters, wires, rings and beads ofdifferent kinds. What makes her work attractive is the fact thatshe can customise it as per the requirements of her customers.She uses crystals, crystal bicones, crystal pearls and evenrandom stones and glass beads. All her supplies are sourcedfrom the United States, including the gold and silver plated chainsand rings. Talking about her designs, she quips, “My design ideas often come easy,as I arrange random things until I get something I love, although sometimes I facedesigners block and the arrangement my cat comes up with when he runs aroundmy board seems better than what I make!”As she keeps shuttling between Oman and Dubai and enjoying the benefits ofcatering to two countries, she lugs her huge craft bag that is packed with all theaccoutrements that go into making her jewellery. With a four-month summer breaknow, she hopes things will soon turn in her favour and customers will realise thather brand of work is different, considering she puts everything together by hand,including the loops in the chains.Check out her facebook page – www.facebook.com/lulasjewelry16

May 22, 2012 Issue 221RAISINGTSUNAMI ALERTWords | Suzy FontesAs the calendar turns to June, rumour mills willcome alive, spinning yarn about a Gonu-likeevent to mark the anniversary.Every year, since the 2007 June 6thevent, excessive concern among thosewho experienced the effects of Gonu hasled to predictions that have ranged fromrational to trivial. “People tend to think it’san annual event,” says Dr. Gösta Hoffman,Associate Professor, Department of AppliedGeosciences, GUTech, quipping that“Muscat could do something like a cyclonefestival,” if such an event occurred.Some people have already started checkingwith him about another event in four weekstime, to which he has this to say: “This isa weather phenomenon that happens inthe atmosphere. …Meteorologists predictweather for the next three to four daysand they can do that, nowadays, quiteaccurately. But no one is able to predictthe weather for the next few weeks or evenmonths. So, if someone is saying there willbe a tropical cyclone in four weeks, it is notsupported by any reliable information; it isjust a rumour…”People also do calculations to come to theirconclusions, he notes. Like the Gonu in 2007and the Phet in 2010, the tropical cyclones,which when subtracted from each otherand then divided with the number of eventscomes to 1.5, which is thought to be theperiod of recurrence of such events (2007- 2010 = 3; 3 divided by 2 - the number ofevents, gives 1.5 years).Dr. Gösta was talking on the sidelines of thepublic lecture ‘Tsunami potential along thecoastline of Oman’ held last evening at theGUtech auditorium. Questions like ‘Whatwould happen if a major tsunami hits thecoastline of Oman? Is this science fictionor a plausible scenario?’ formed the basisof the talk that highlighted historical andgeological evidence of past tsunami eventsalong the coastline of Oman.As a geologist, he says he works in thepast. “We are not fortune-tellers. I cannottell you what will happen in the future; butwhat I can tell you is what happened in thepast,” he stated in an informal chat with Yabout the ongoing research project, ‘Shortand long term coastal evolution in Muscat’,which is funded by The Research Council.The research results, which recently havebeen discussed on several internationalgeo-scientific conferences, were obtainedin the frame of a project supported by TheResearch Council (TRC) and the GermanResearch Foundation (DFG). In the past18

May 22, 2012 Issue 221two years, Professor Dr. Gösta Hoffmann has beenconducting research about the development of thecoastline in Oman and its tsunami potential. TheUniversity of Stockholm and RWTH Aachen Universityare also involved in this research project.Explaining further about the project, he notes that theinformation pertaining to past events can be used todraw a scenario of possible events in the future. “If wetalk about tsunami in general here, the first questionis - is this a tsunamigenic coastline or not?” And that,he adds, is something to do with the exposure of thecoastline towards potential source zone of tsunami- referring to the zone, just offshore of Iran andPakistan where tsunamis might be generated or havebeen generated in the past. “Looking at this, everygeologist would say yes, there is a potential tsunamithreat. Then, going back into the past, the geologisttries to reconstruct past tsunami events,” he pointsout.However, as far as Oman is concerned, historic recordsare limited and available only from 1970. “Before 1970we do not have historic record or the historic recordsare very fragmentary. But we have information thatthe last tsunami event here was in November 1945- we know that from other countries bordering theArabian Sea, i.e., Iran, Pakistan and India.” To tryand find historic evidence for this event in Oman,the research team conducted eyewitness reports byinterviewing old fishermen along the coastline. “Weasked them whether they’d experienced somethingunexpected during that time and we were quitesuccessful in getting a number of eyewitness reportsof people between Muscat and Ras Al Hadd.”This historical record is substantiated by geologicaldata. “We go along the coastline and try to find rocks,for example, to see whether or not they have beendeposited by tsunami. And along the coastline here, wehave found boulders - huge rocks that are up to 120tonnes - and we have evidence that they have beenmoved…Our task, then, is to find out, for example,if a storm is able to do that or if you need differentforce to dislodge such huge pieces of rock,” explainsDr. Gösta. Their studies have shown that a storm isnot capable of moving those rocks, as demonstratedduring the Gonu, which was the strongest stormon record. “We know that this storm did not moveboulders, so we have to assume that something elsehappened. We then look for fine grain sediments,”he states, describing the 2004 tsunami that saw thewaves depositing 10cms of sand sheet in Thailand.The lagoon in Sur, which has more or less isolatedbody of water, has demonstrated the presence of astrange type of sand.Probing more into the subject, he states: “Oman has avery rich history. If you go back in time, Oman has beenpopulated for the last 10,000 years or so, but giventhe natural conditions here, people tended to live onthe coast. So, there are lots of very old settlements,a couple of thousand years old, on the coast, whichare abandoned, and which are being excavated byarchaeologists. Together with them we now look atthe sites and we conclude that at least one in Ras AlHadd was affected by the big wave some 5000 yearsago. This is work in progress, however, we are prettysure we can conclude that this was also tsunamirelated. For the moment, we are trying to elaboratethe tsunami history, but the project is ongoing - thereis another two more years to go.”And once the historic records are in place, thestatistics are worked on to understand the recurrentintervals and the various aspects related to the heightof the water. At the moment, he says, they are trying topinpoint the exact dates. “I cannot predict the futurebut what I can tell you is that the tectonic setting hasnot changed. There will be tsunami in the future, butwe cannot say whether it is tomorrow or in 500 years.This is something we are working on. Society shouldbe prepared, and I understand that the Majlis Al Shuraalso has prepared an emergency plan for all kinds ofnatural hazards that might be affecting the country.“There should be some sort of emergency plan onhow to get fresh water quickly, how to get food …and how to get things into order.”Since the previous two events, the infrastructure ofthe country has seen changes, with the number ofbridges seeing an upward trend. Right efforts areunderway.19

May 22, 2012 Issue 221INTERLUDEWITH BUNSWords | Priyanka Sacheti Photography | Jerzy WierzbickiThe newly launched Muscat Grand Mall (MGM)’s central location in Al Khuwairmakes it the ideal place to grab a cup of coffee if you are on the run – and whatbetter place then PappaRoti?Cosily tucked away in a nook of the sprawling mall, you can smell the coffee wafting through thecorridors before eventually stumbling upon the café, which opened six weeks ago. Originallyfrom Malaysia, the Dubai-based franchise has now opened its first branch here in Muscat.Whether you would like to have a quick breakfast or simply enjoy a lingering coffee session withyour friends, there is an extensive range of hot-drinks to choose from to quell your thirst.However, the signature dish at PappaRoti and indeed, which gives its name is its bun. “‘Pappa’means ‘father’ and ‘Roti’ is the Malaysian word for bread,” says John Garcia, Store Manager -the name translating into ‘The Father of all Buns.’ This bun is also known as Rotiboy or MexicanCoffee bun; having originated in a bakery in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia, the bun has nowbecome popular all over Asia.The dome-shaped bun with its crisp caramel coating, which is served on wooden platters, makesfor a delectable sight; crunchy and crispy on the outside… however, one bite and it reveals20

May 22, 2012 Issue 221itself to be a soft, chewy butter-filled creation,which makes for a wonderful accompanimentto your choice of drink. It would make for anideal breakfast, for sure! Incidentally, the bun’sdough is flown in from Malaysia after which itis freshly baked over here.Apart from the buns, we were served steamingmugs of Arab Milk Tea, a very strong, fullbodied,and milky creation, a special blendof pure black tea and milk. “It is one of ourmost popular drinks,” informs John, along withGinger Milk Tea and Organic Tea. Apart fromthe teas, there are also various types of coffeeson offer for the coffee-buffs: Espressos,Americano, Café Latte and Cappuccino.However, if you like your hot drinks with a littlebit of a twist, then lo and behold, here comesthe Art Latte, a PappaRoti specialty. Thesurface of the latte is adorned with whateverdesign you wish to have, whether its dragons,birds, cartoon characters and even your nameinscribed upon it. We were treated to Art Lattesdecorated with leaves, dragons and even apanda! Having been so meticulously drawn, itseemed a shame to sip into the latte and disturbthe artistic creations. But we couldn’t resist thetemptation and sipped right into the art. Andthe experience… it was smooth, not too dry,and not too sweet and very satisfying.“Art lattes are especially popular with the ladiesand we even get requests such as the map ofOman,” informs John and we can very wellimagine a gaggle of gossiping girls enjoyingtheir personalised Art Lattes and capturing iton their phones.As the mall expands and becomes busier,PappaRoti is the perfect place to take a breakin between shopping sprees and recharge yourdepleted energy levels with its distinctive ArtLattes and the extremely satiating buns.The PappaRoti Café, located in the newlyopened Muscat Grand Mall in Al Khuwair, iseasily accessible from Al Ghubra roundabout,Al Khuwair or the new Express highway. Ampleparking allows quick and convenient morningcoffee and buns pick-ups, or a leisurely stayto enjoy the atmosphere. The Café also offersdelivery service to the Tilal Complex staff andresidents. PappaRoti Café is open weekdaysfrom 8:30am to 11pm and 8:30am till midnighton weekends.21

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Words | Priyanka SachetiNAIL IT!This summer, the nail colour trends are an interesting jumbleof contrasting colours; the colours do not belong to thesame family, instead ranging from the ice-cold freshnessof mint to the edginess of electric blue to the unusualstarkness of white. What shade you choose to paint yournails with, inevitably depends on your mood, outfit, or eventhe occasion.However, at times, if you wish to experiment with a particularcolour, but are still unsure about incorporating it into yourwardrobe, you can always play it safe by simply restrictingit to your nail-varnish selection.Hesitant about attracting the spotlight by wearing a tomatoreddress? Perfectly manicured scarlet nails will add just theappropriate amount of red to your ensemble. Wish to standout from the crowd and make your unique style statement?White nails will certainly contribute towards doing so!Last year, ombré (French word meaning ‘shaded’) hairreigned supreme; this season sees ombré nails, where onecolour merges into another. However, you could also mixit up by choosing shades belonging to the same family ofcolours and painting your nails in alternating colours. Otherfun trends are reverse manicures in plum and pink, whichwill certainly make your nails look interesting… and if youare inclined towards nail-art, what better canvases thanpale-coloured nails?22

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Here are the shades ruling the nail-colour trends this season:WHITE:MINTA few issues ago, we looked intohow mint has become ‘the’ colourto wear this season – and it is easyto see why, looking at this shade.A particularly fetching shade ofgreen, it is definitely something toreach out for. Colour-block withcandy-pink trousers and a classic,fitted white shirt – and you are allset for the summer.For starters, white is definitelya novel colour to chooseto paint your nails with; itcertainly is not quite the sameas a pearly shade though. Ifan opaque and matte shadeis a little too dramatic for yourliking, this semi-transparentwhite shade will subtly providethe ‘white’ factor. White alsoprovides a great backdropfor nail-art: how aboutplaying around with texturesby partially decorating thenail with diamante, creatingan eye-catching contrastbetween the white and theglitter?ELECTRIC BLUEBlack nails are too severeand Goth for your liking?Then here comes electricblue! This shade willinstantly give an edgeto any outfit, even thatsuper-girly lacy summerdress… in fact, couple thenails and the dress alongwith a pair of fierce heelsand the ensemble will betransformed into somethingquite different altogether.BUBBLE-GUM PINKWe all have days when we want toindulge our girly side and nothingspells girliness and femininity morethan this particularly deliciousshade of pink. All sweetness andlight, this is the perfect colour toinject playfulness and prettinessinto your days.CLASSIC RED:What shade could possibly exude morepower and drama than the classic red? Rednails easily notch up the glam factor, addingpizzazz to even a basic white shirt and jeanscombination. Red is certainly to nails what redChristian Louboutin soles are for high heels:mysterious, exciting and fascinating.

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Words | Suzy FontesBefore the ‘It's hot’ refrain turns into a raucous battle cry,give in to the vacation mood and treat yourself to an exoticholiday in the cool climes of destinations far away.Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Time when the itching summer heatand the accompanying humidity turns thoughts to places that greet one withsoft wintry notes and lure with activities and outings that are tailor-made tosuit the mood and the wallet. With the school vacations timed to match theseason, those thoughts won’t take long to turn to action and, before youknow it, you will be on that flight to your destination!So, tighten your seatbelts and get ready to take-off on your dream holiday aswe present various options floated by travel agencies in the country. Thereare trips to destinations closer - on budgets that are almost a steal, and thereare packages that have been put together for discerning travellers who seekthat much more from their trip.The general feeling in the travel campus is upbeat this year, compared tothe year before when the regional destinations were not as popular followingprotests in several parts of the Arab world. But, according to the ITB WorldTravel Trends Report 2011/2012 (prepared by IPK International on behalf ofITB Berlin), outbound trips were expected to rise by five percent last year,despite the diverse dramatic events and crises that impacted the sector.Curiously though, changes in the job market in America led to a trend of‘staycations’, which meant people preferred to stay at home or holiday innearby regions than go on a complete vacation.24

May 22, 2012 Issue 221However, as far as Gulf travellers are concerned, they are moresophisticated today when it comes to their travel preferences. There hasbeen a considerable growth in mid-market income travellers than before,with family travel remaining the most popular travel status during summer.Although the spending money is more, travellers are definitely seekingvalue for money. An online report highlighted that there has been a clearcorrelation, in the last 10 years, between tourism growth from these marketsto different destinations and ease in acquiring visas.Based on these observations, experts have been cautiously optimisticfor a moderate growth this year. They have predicted an increase of 3 –4 percent for world outbound trips in 2012. Interestingly, global outboundtravel spending grew eight percent in 2011, according to the World TravelMonitor.Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThese figures are reflective of the changes in Oman and the region as well.According to say travel pundits, things are looking all the more brighter withattractive tour packages that are sure to boost the industry.Travel, indeed, appears to be top on the summer agenda of most vacationers.And with higher disposable income, following amendments in the salaryand employment structure last year, plans to exotic destinations have beenmore forthcoming.Travel analysts also expect most of the travel to be planned around theEid holidays or before the onset of Ramadan, which will make June andearly July the preferred months. The two-day weekend has also acted asa catalyst to induce even the most incorrigible workaholic to plan shortholidays that can be easily combined with national/festive holidays. Plus,the availability of flexible travel packages has been a great lure for familieswho have tighter budgets and shorter vacation periods.Kerala, IndiaTRAVEL PACKAGESAsian and European countries are expected to make it to the popularity chartthis year, with first-timers as well as frequent travellers looking for packagesthat take them to destinations, which have retained their charm over theyears. Some of the popular destinations are Spain, Greece, Switzerland,London, Paris, Europa Park in Germany, multi-European destinations,Malaysia, Turkey and Thailand.“Cruise itineraries featuring Mediterranean and Greek isles, Far Easterndestinations and Alaskan Cruises are the upcoming trends in the Omanmarket,” notes Puneet Sachdeva, Manager, Vacations, Outbound Divisionof Travel Point LLC. Other destinations promoted by them are Spain asa family destination, Germany with Europa Park inclusions, Singaporepackaged with cruise and European Extravaganza (14 nights multi-cityEuropean package).Greece, DodecanesTravel Packages, he notes, are very popular with families who plan theirholidays during summer. “Travel packages suits them the best,” he adds,pointing out that their target customers are upmarket Omanis, Asianexpatriates and Western expatriate families. Their preference is for cruiseand European destinations.In addition to their traditional packages like Malaysian Explorer, Spainand Portugal, Singapore, Paris Disneyland, Cosmo Europe, EuropeanExtravaganza, they are also offering cruise itineraries like WesternMediterranean, Singapore, Malaysia and Greek isles. The attraction for travelpackages could also be attributed to the ease and comfort level woven intoit to create a feel of an organised trip. “…They give their clients a variety ofMeteora Monasteries in Greece25

May 22, 2012 Issue 221destinations and offers to choose from. It tickles their interest and helps themdiscuss with their families and come to a decision,” says Sanjay Bhattacharyaof Arabica Orient Tours.What is of interest to the travel community is an emerging trend among individualwomen travellers who opt to travel with other women. Adds Sanjay: “This year,in February, we organised our first trip to Vietnam comprising only women; ournext such trip is scheduled some time during this month, covering China.”Andaman Sea, ThailandAs far as the packages are concerned, Arabica Orient Tours has several neatoffers, like ‘Singapore Stay 4 Pay 3' at 122 rials per person, ‘Capetown at196 rials’, ‘City Break packages’ in several cities in Europe like Milan, Munich,Vienna, etc. “We are also marketing a very special mother and child package toSingapore - Singapore with Malaysia and Singapore with HongKong, where themother pays and child aged up to 11 years travels free,” says Sanjay, pointingout that they are constantly designing packages.Other packages currently on offer (per person, twin sharing basis) are: China– covering eight nights/nine days Hong Kong-Macau-Beijing for 261 rials,Vietnam – seven nights/eight days for 244 rials, Greece – two nights, Athens– three nights, Mykanos for 255 rials and Capetown – five nights/six days,starting from 196 rials.Ancient City, Bangkok, ThailandFar East remains still as popular with Thailand and Malaysia being the favouriteamong the budget conscious; however, this year China is fast gaining popularity.Istanbul is another favourite as are Germany and Austria in Europe.Arabica Orient Tours packages are not inclusive of international airfares asthe airfares fluctuate constantly. “Our land arrangements have fixed rates;we do not want to mislead passengers by making a package with the lowestairfare and then telling them that the same price is not applicable at the time ofbooking,” notes SanjayTheir target customers are families and young couples going on honeymoon.Families, however, prefer destinations that offer something for their children,like theme parks and other kinds of entertainment for the children.Cathedral of Palma de Majorca, SpainTravel packages, generally, present a well-organised itinerary with servicesand facilities that are aimed at pampering the travellers. Travel Point’s Vacationoffers sightseeing tours, transfers and hotel accommodation on escorted tours;onboard and offshore activities and meal on cruise itineraries; and transfers,tours and accommodation for individual travellers.Arabica Orient’s all-inclusive holidays include at least one meal a day, airporttransfers, selected tours and tickets.The Palm Holidays, from Majan International Agencies Travel and Tourism hason offer a variety of travel destinations and options that cater to a wide range oftravellers with budgets that range from 200 rials to above 500 rials. Their travelpackage includes five nights – six days trip to Kathmandu; various destinationsunder ‘Incredible India’ package; options ranging from four nights to sixteennights in the ‘Amazing Thailand’ package; ‘Malaysia … Truly Asia’ deal; andfour nights-five days in Istanbul.Castile and Leon, SpainMost of the packages include economy class airfare, accommodation, airport26

May 22, 2012 Issue 221transfers, tours, breakfast and travel insurance.TRAVEL INSURANCEWhile the travel package determines the destination and the schedule inmany a family, what also goes into the planning of the annual vacation isthe insurance, which is usually sidelined, but is of utmost importance for ahassle-free holiday. Although some travel agencies include travel insurancein their packages, not all provide the service.Explaining about the importance of travel insurance, Suresh S, DivisionalManager of Khimji Ramdas Insurance Services LLC, says, “Whichever placeyou are heading to, you, obviously, want to enjoy your vacation. However,your vacation could be interrupted due to many unforeseen reasons and themost probable ones are your falling sick, loss of baggage, loss of passport,delayed baggage, legal issues arising out of your negligence, etc.In a totally new place, you may not have anyone to support you... Havingtravel insurance when you are travelling overseas helps you to overcome thedifficulties. Travel insurance not only provides you support, it also takes careof the additional expenses you may have to incur in those circumstances.”And to combat this, insurers in Oman offer a variety of travel insurance plansat nominal prices that are dependent on the traveller’s age, countries oftravel, purpose and duration. The plans, points out Suresh, range from travelto GCC countries to around the world, including USA and Canada; fromminimum five days to a maximum of 90 days cover. “All these plans comewith worldwide assistance and when you encounter a difficult situation, allyou need to do is make a call to the support centres and assistance is withyou,” he adds.So, how do you buy travel insurance?All that you need to provide is some basic information about yourself andthe travel and insurance is offered immediately. However, the insurancecover begins from the time you start off on the vacation and ends whenyou return to the home country. “But, as the limits and benefits of a travelinsurance vary from one insurance company to another, you will have tomake sure if the limits and benefits under the insurance plans meet withyour requirements,” says Suresh, adding that KR Insurance Services canadvise and offer travel insurance that meets ones needs.TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATIONAnother, more important, aspect of travel is the need to be in touch withpeople back home, for emergencies, etc., while on travel. Although touristswant to shun work and other related features of everyday life, a phone thatcan connect to people back home is vital. The problem though, is the highroaming charges, which requires one to understand that majority of theinternational roaming rates are to be paid to the host operator.Kerala, IndiaKerala, IndiaMarina Bay Sands Hotel, SingaporeTo create a better understanding of the situation, Omantel has issued astatement requesting its customers to review the roaming charges beforeleaving the country. Omantel has voice roaming agreements with more than550 operators, in addition to 400 data roaming agreements, which haveenabled Omantel customers to remain connected while they are abroad.Highlighting the importance of this service, Nabil bin Ahmed Al-Rawas,General Manager for Customer Care at Omantel, said, “We are keen toSingapore27

May 22, 2012 Issue 221educate our customers about the roaming charges, as they vary fromcountry to country and operator to another. We are urging all ourcustomers, willing to travel this summer, to review the roaming rates in thecountries that they are visiting, prior to their departure by visiting Omantelwebsite www.omantel.om or calling Omantel contact centre 1234”.Kapalai's Resort, MalaysiaOmantel has more than one roaming agreement with different operatorsin every country, as the roaming charges vary from operator to operator.“By checking the roaming charges prior to their departure, our customersare now able to select the hosting operator that offers the best roamingrate, considering the type of service the customer is using. However, forthose who did not get the opportunity to check the roaming rates beforedeparture, they will be notified by SMS of the applicable charges with theoperator they selected,” Al Rawas noted.And as far as roaming charges are concerned, he explained that theproblem occurs mainly due to the fact that users are unaware of theinternational roaming rates. “When we notice that there are high roamingcharges, we call the subscriber or send him a text message. In certaincases we disconnect the service in order to stop the accumulation of highamounts against the subscriber until we get data roaming statement fromthe host country’s operator,” he stated.Kathmandu, IndiaA study of the complaints received made it clear that the charges weremainly for the use of Internet, which included downloading softwareand viewing videos. Besides, some smart phones are equipped withapplications that update themselves upon connecting to the Internet. It isadvisable to deactivate the auto update feature on the smart phones andalso turn off data roaming in your mobile phones if you do not wish to usethe Internet while roaming.Nawras users can avail the newly introduced free SMS notification serviceto show data usage when roaming. Nawras Ajel (postpaid) customers willbe able to closely track data roaming usage while travelling outside theSultanate, which makes it much easier to stay in control of internationalroaming charges.Berlin, GermanyData roaming charges vary from country to country and this service willhelp customers who have, previously, found it difficult to keep track of theirspend while on the move abroad. Now with regular free SMS updates, theguesswork is taken out of data roaming.Customers roaming in the GCC countries of United Arab Emirates,Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are able to enjoySmartRoamer rates for data as well as calls and SMS. Choosing theSmartRoamer partner in any of these countries gives customers thelow rate of 1.199 rials per MB of data. When using non-SmartRoameroperators or when travelling outside the GCC, the data notification willbe received after the first 10MB of data has been consumed and thenNawras will send a further SMS for every additional 5MB used. Whenroaming with Nawras partners, the corresponding data tariff will also beshown to help customers estimate their bill as they travel.Dresden, GermanySo, go on, plan a memorable summer trip. Take a ‘cool’ break in one ofthe destinations of your choice.Bon voyage!28

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May 22, 2012 Issue 22130For more information on PPC, visit their websitewww.ppcoman.com or email them on info@ppcoman.com/ppc.oman@yahoo.com.Words & Photography | Clint Derric EgbertAutomobile is a passionfor many. For some it’s simply agood pastime; but for a few it isan obsession… what one couldcall motor-mania – a fixationthat drives one to eat, sleep andbreathe cars. This obsession,inexorably, encourages one tolearn practically all that needsto be known about cars, insideout, giving birth to ‘car gurus’,the people to go to for any carwoes. Although there aren’tvery many here in Oman, Idid come across three youngmen who fit the guru profileperfectly.Ali J. Habib, Hussain A. Alzaabiand Aws Issa Nasser Al Hootiare directors and partnersat the Power PerformanceCustoms (PPC), an impressivespare parts and modificationsstore that sits in the heart ofCBD, beckoning car loversfrom around the Sultanate.Described to me as a ‘Spa forCars’ by Ali in a Tête-à-têterecently, it wasn’t long beforeI realised the man’s heartfeltpassion for cars and interest inthe company and his clients.Established in 2007, Aliexplains how PPC came to be:“The three of us (Hussain, Awsand Ali) have been friends foryears. We shared the sameinterest in cars from the timewe were children. All three ofus loved to spend our sparetime exploring the market forcars and car parts; we wouldput cars together and takethem apart, just so we couldput them together again. I’veeven used my own car as a testdummy for our experiments.This curiosity for cars drove usto learn more about them andtry out different techniquesand stuff.”Their dabbling with cars in theiryounger years gave the threeboys, at that time, practicalknowledge about cars thattoday has equipped themwith adequate knowledge ofmechanics and the dos anddon’ts of engineering. Beforelong they grew up to becomeyoung men, daring to dreamand determined to succeed.Catching up at their favouritecoffee shop one afternoon,they discussed the idea ofestablishing their very ownmodifications and spare partsbusiness, a dream that many

May 22, 2012 Issue 221a young Omani lad has. After45 minutes of discussion andplanning, without wasting anytime, they made up their mindsto give it their best shot.“We had always beendreaming of doing this and allof us share a great passion forcars. We are friends and wetrusted each other greatly. Sowe thought, why not just doit? We quickly started makingcontacts outside the countryin order to set up a good basefor imports of internationallyrecognised, genuine parts.We took a loan from the bank,even though our families werewilling to help us financially,because we believed that ifit’s our own money going intothe business we would beencouraged to work harderand appreciate the investmentmore. It’s easy to take moneyfrom family, but we wanteda challenge and we arevery proud of this,” Ali saysbeaming with pride.In order to sustain themselvesall three men took up dayjobs; making a steadyincome was important tokeep their business afloat.After long hours of work intheir respective offices theywould gather in the eveningsto dedicate time to the shop.“There is no denying that wedo get very tired by the end ofthe day”, says Ali, “But we aredoing what we love to do. Thesatisfaction we get from livingour dream helps us get througheven the toughest of times.Sometimes we spend endlesshours working, without sleep,here at the shop, becausewe are just so engrossed ingiving our customers the bestpossible service and resultson their cars.”At PPC, Chinese productsand parts from Dubai areconsidered taboo. “We onlybelieve in the ‘real’ stuff,” Alisays. “We import parts andproducts from the US, UK,Germany, Italy, Thailand,Australia and Taiwan, becausewe believe in the best. Eventhough our parts and servicesmay be slightly more expensivethan regular garages here inthe country, we assure betterquality goods and the bestservice there is to offer.”He goes on to say, “Our serviceis what sets us apart from theothers. We are willing to goout of our way for our clients,because we understand theattachment one can havewith their car. There are timeswhere, with VIP clients, weare willing to even go to theirhouses to pick up the car, bringit back to the shop where wework on it, and then drop thecar back to their house. Thisis how seriously we take ourcustomer service.”PPC offers its customers arange of products to satisfytheir motoring desires,including world famousIron Man products, EnginePerformance Systems, ColdAir Intake Systems, ExhaustSystems, Chip Tuning,Performance Brake Systems,Ceramic Brake Pads, AirDynamic kits, Off-Roadingaccessories like Skid Platesand Lift Kits, CampingAccessories such as portablefolding chairs, tents and selfdesignedportable water tanks,to name a few. The companyis also authorised by theirinternational supplier to makecustom vehicle parts right herein the country, keeping to thefactory’s specifications. PPCalso designs and fabricatestheir very own products inOman.Ali admits that his products andservices may be a little moreexpensive than other placesin the country, but he alsoensures that this is becauseclients can be sure that theywill receive special attentionand unbeatable service, alongwith original durable qualitycar parts being put togetherby thorough professionals.“We ensure that the quality ofour products is maintained,along with providing thebest material and applicationservices in market today.There are many other shopsthat do modifications to cars,but we have noticed thatthere is, many a time, lack ofexperience, knowledge andinterest in what they do, whichresults in improper tuning andwrong car parts being installedinto the vehicles. This kills thelife of the vehicle and canresult in quick depreciationof the car, and on many anoccasion, accidents. For us,here at PPC, safety comesfirst; we care about safety…and this might make us a littlemore expensive, but we savelives.”Ali goes on to narrateincidents he has noticedon quite a few occasions atthe Bausher dunes, whereoff-road vehicles suddenlyexplode into flames. Notmany mechanics can explainthe reason for this, but Alisays, at PPC they knowexactly why this happens. Heexplains: “The problem occursbecause these cars are madefrom weak material, and steelheaders fitted incorrectlyinto the vehicles causesoil to drip from the engine,which eventually sparks afire. There is also tremendousgas pressure built up that thefaulty material on the vehicleis unable to withstand, whichresults in a fire.”There is more to carmodifications than just takinga vehicle apart and putting ittogether again. It is a sciencethat requires time, money andknowledge. Paying a littleextra to ensure a safer rideis a bargain that one shouldnot have to think about twice.And this is exactly what PPCbelieves in.It is always better to be safethan sorry, and at PPC youcan be sure your vehicle willbe in the safest of hands.Ali J. Habib

May 22, 2012 Issue 221TEDx MUSCAT 2012:Words | Priyanka Sacheti Photography | Jerzy WierzbickiSHARING IDEAS & STORIES8speakers,8storiesAn audience eagerly waiting to be inspired to perhaps, eventually, in the future, become inspirational itself.Here’s presenting TEDx Muscat 2012….Held last Wednesday at Millennium Resort, Mussanah, the second edition of TEDx Muscat was reverberatingwith stories, stimulating conversation, and thoughtful ponderings.An independent offshoot of the renowned non-profit organisation dedicated to sharing ideas since 1984,TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design), TEDx events are designed to give communities, organisationsand individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. Therelevant word here is undoubtedly ‘local’ and the local context to sharing innovative and inspiring storiesand ideas naturally enables a greater degree of accessibility and identification for the audience. The openingmessage from the TED Curator declared to the audience that the TED spirit embodied exciting conversationsabout our shared futures – and the tone was thus set for dialogue and interactivity. The carefully curatedlist of eight Omani and international speakers and their stories allowed the audience at TEDx to be privy toa wide range of idea innovation, occurring both on aglobal and local scale. Apart from the speakers’ talks,the audience was also shown videos of speakers fromTED conferences and events from previous years.The theme of this year’s TEDx event was Passionfor Creativity, creativity embodying both the processof creating and its eventual outcome. As the eventemcee, Jamal al Asmi emphasised that creativity ismore important than ever in solving problems and allthe featured speakers were passionate about infusingtheir lives with creativity – and moreover, eager toshare these ideas on various platforms, such as this32

May 22, 2012 Issue 221one. Having recently been featured in Y, Dr. Abdullah al Zakwani,executive director of Industrial Innovation Centre of Oman, wasthe first speaker; holding a Masters degree in research andinnovation, he talked about innovation and entrepreneurship ina past, present and future scenario. Considering that TED spiritis wholly dedicated to the sharing of and dissemination of ideas,he raised a crucial point about incubating ideas and assistinginnovation, particularly grounding it in an Omani context.Young Mustafa al Barami is certainly a shining example of nurturingand incubating an idea and intently guiding it into implementation.While studying Chemistry at Sultan Qaboos University, Mustafaspent much of his time researching in thelaboratory; he was especially interested inaddressing environmental issues. He thenspecifically trained his research gaze uponone of the most ubiquitous sights in Oman:the date-palm tree. What with eight milliondate-palm trees in Oman, constituting 83percent of its agriculture; 160,000 tonnesof date palm leaves end up as waste, heoutlined the statistics, adding that majorityof the waste is burnt, leading to the hugerelease of toxic gases in the air, thuscausing pollution. Furthermore, he alsopointed out that Oman entirely imports itspaper, the costs equalling one percent ofOman’s GDP. Mustafa thus developed anidea, which would control the date-palmwaste products and contribute towardsthe country’s economic growth: extractingpaper from palm tree leaves that wouldsubsequently be used for envelopes,tissues, and business-cards, to name a few.Mustafa’s innovative idea has literally mineda local resource for both environmental andeconomic concern.Ingenious and creative green solutionsto existing environmental issues was arecurring theme in this edition; Danishbrothers, Neils Hansen Arpe and KeldHansen came up with a unique concept inwave energy, which is one of the few waysto convert fluctuating wave power intohigh speed rotation, necessary to generateelectricity. As they talked about their invention, Wave Star machine,which they patented in 2003 and is now harnessing energy from seawaves, it held incredible local significance for Oman, consideringits vast ocean reserves. Meanwhile, Sultan al Amry’s invention ofOman’s first electric car holds great implications in the future forreducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources.The relationship with creativity and art is taken for granted and yet,it is subject to constant redefinition; seventeen year old ShaymaAhmed Mohammad al Mughairy’s engagement with her desertsurroundings culminated into her becoming a truly extraordinarysand artist. Having been utilising sand as a medium to express herartistic talents since seventh grade and been feted along the waythrough television shows such as ‘Arabs Got Talent’, she narratedher journey through breathtaking sand art creations. Her talent,coupled with the awareness of the ephemeral nature of sand art,was mesmerising and provided a wonderful finale to the show.While Shayma displayed creativity through the medium of sand,Oscar-award winning Indian sound-designer, Resul Poolkuttyinspired us to hear more closely – and not simply just to the soundof his story. Having won an Oscar for his sound design in SlumdogMillionaire (2009), Poolkutty spoke of how he immersed himselfinto sound-design since his early days of cinema education – andyet, how he was compelled to deschool himself of everything hehad learnt while creating the sound for Slumdog Millionaire. “I hadto record the soundscape of Mumbai and my challenge was tounderstand how human mind is processingthe hearing and to comprehend howhuman ear would hear the sounds,” hesaid, providing a personalised commentaryabout how he created the sound-designfor the film by showing a clip from it.At the end of the day, creativity revealsthe ingenuity of the human mind throughidentifying a problem and crafting anextraordinary solution to it. One of themost powerful and moving moments at theevent undoubtedly occurred during EythorBender’s talk. Bender is founder of EksoBionics, which is committed to applyingthe latest technology and engineeringto help people rethink current physicallimitations: re-enable the disabled, so tospeak. While their bionic technology hadhelped many amputees to walk again,they were focused on presenting a similaropportunity to paraplegic patients as well.Presenting their path breaking solutionfor the first time outside of Europe andUnited States, they showcased the bionicor wearable robot suit, which allowedOthman, a 23-year-old Omani boy tostand up and walk for the first time sincehe had been confined to a wheel-chairfollowing a car accident two years ago.The smile festooning Othman’s face afterhe had taken a few steps celebrated thehours, months and years that had beeninvested in the research and planning in creating this product andthe hope and succour it will bring for so many like Othman aroundthe world.The day also saw Dr. Adhra Al Mawali sharing her research work;her breakthrough research has opened new possibilities in cancerresearch. She has given people a ray of hope - a possibility forcancer to be cured.TEDx Muscat 2012 provided a platform to introduce and shareinspiring ideas and encourage debate and discussion. Whether itwas through engaging with the speakers themselves or reflectingupon their talks with fellow attendees, TEDx compelled one tocontemplate the art and science underlying creativity – and pursuethe act of creativity themselves.33

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Wadi GhulThoughts & Photography | Jerzy WierzbickiA few weeks ago, I received an email from American photographer JamesHarris, with a couple of questions about the Sultanate of Oman. Jamesis based in Doha, Qatar and was planning to spend a few days in Oman,photographing its beautiful locations. I suggested that he visit Wadi Ghul,which is located at the entrance to Jebel Al Shams. James liked the idea,especially since Qatar does not have as many scenic places to visit asthe Sultanate. A few days later, he called me again for more information,before flying down to Oman. Once here, he contacted me, and the very nextday, early morning, we set off to the Al Dakhliya region on a photographymission.We, obviously, do not have a season for good landscape photography; atthe moment high temperatures and humidity levels make outings difficult.The air is thick and there is a lot of dust, creating a hazy effect in thedistance, which is an important detail in landscape photography.Regardless of the problems though, we got a few cameras along withlenses and reached Wadi Ghul around 10am in the morning. It was terriblyhot, but fortunately dry. After a quick review of the place, we decided to getone camera only along with two ultra wide-angle lenses.The overview from the ruins of Wadi Ghul on the mountains is magnificent.The ruins are located on the dark brown rocks, which look like a massivechunk of dark chocolate. The old stony ruins create a specific effect,especially when the sun is shinning exactly opposite to the camera. I likeplaces like these that have specific atmosphere and light, with smell ofthe old wooden part of the roof. That, along with the structure of the oldstony construction, makes good opportunity for travel photography, evenduring the very hot season, like now. James focused on the narrow streetsbetween the old houses and the details of the stony blocks. I have tried totake some general view of the place as I had an ultra wide 10mm lens.Across the ruins in Wadi Ghul is a very steep and narrow footpath. Walkingthere is some times a bit difficult; if you have equipment you need to bevery careful. In some places the footpath is very slippery. The ruins in WadiGhul are totally abandoned but there is also a falaj filled with water, a lotof palm trees and the small green field where local Omani people growcrops. It took us about an hour to photograph the ruins. James was pleasedwith the day’s work as he got a few great shots. A bit tired but excited, wemoved to the next location. It was a very long day.HOW TO GET THERE:There is a good conditioned tarmac road. There is a stony wadi track forabout a kilometre, but 4x4 is not really needed. Go to the main road toNizwa and from Nizwa go toward the town called Hamra. At Hamra turn leftbehind the Shell service station, and go to Wadi Ghul.GPS LOCATION: N23’09’07 E57”12’1735

Clint Derric EgbertHACKERS TARGET TRAVELLERSRecent warnings from the US Federal Bureau ofInvestigation (FBI) urge people travelling abroadto keep their eyes peeled for hackersInternet availability is a common request atcheck-in counters in hotels around the world,more so for people on business trips or longvacations. However, now it appears that thiscould be a dicey request, as FBI reveals thathackers are targeting travelers, looking tohack into their computers using random popupwindows while visitors attempt to get aninternet connection in their hotel rooms.Security reports do not mention where or howthe attacks work, but there is great reason tobelieve that travelers are prime targets forinformation, money hungry online stalkers, andthat precaution is the only answer, as of now.According to security specialists, hotel networks, more specifically open Wi-Fi networks, are believed to be untrustworthyplatforms, and that private networks offer more security and are less likely to be hacked.Users are said to receive pop-ups or browser windows when logging in, which prompts for updates on login. When accepted,they download the payload and are infected immediately. In some cases, it has been revealed that the update looks very muchlike it’s from Adobe Systems.Another option to ensure more safety is to use a mobile carrier network, instead of the hotel’s Wi-Fi network. These have provento be more secure and safer to use. It is also important to keep your laptop unreadable, in case it is stolen or misplaced, andsoftwares and web search engines, especially your anti-virus software, regularly updated. When you see a Trojan, don’t letcuriosity rope you into embracing disaster; avoid them and go on with what you were doing.A little precaution and you’ll be just fine.YAHOO CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S FAKE DEGREE?It has been a humiliating and distressing departure from the Yahoo chiefexecutive position for Scott Thompson, who has recently been replaced by thecompany’s global media head Ross Levinsohn. Adding to the accusations ofincluding a fake computer science degree on his job resume is his disturbingdiagnosis of thyroid cancer. The 54-year-old’s departure from the companyhas resulted in a 1.7 percent rise in Yahoo shares.Daniel Loeb, who is said to have spotted the Thompson flaw, is now preparingfor his new role as company director. He also looks to appoint two newdirectors. In addition, Fred Amoroso has been titled the new chairman of itsboard, after Roy Bostock, who, along with four other directors, is leaving thecompany.For a company that has seen four full-time chief executives over the last five years, it will be interesting to see how the newrecruitments will turnout. From what it appears, Yahoo doesn’t seem to have found its bearing just as yet, and if things keepgoing the way they are, it won’t be long before shareholders feel the same.36

BANG & OLUFSEN OFFERS THE BIGGEST BANGWhen we talk of high-end audio output, Bang & Olufsen is a brandthat immediately comes to mind, and for good reason. From soundquality to fabulous design, the company is capable of producingsome of the best, technologically advanced audio devices today.Testament to this is their BeoSound A8 iPhone/iPod/iPad dockingstation, which will soon be functional with wireless, thanks to theaddition of Apple’s Airplay. This will allow users to hook up theiriPhones and iPads to the device, sans wires, still maintaining thefinest audio output. That’s right! You can now enjoy the benefits of itswireless technology as you sit switching through songs, relaxed on the couch. Equipped with dynamic two-way speakers andformidable Class D amplifiers, the device is capable of recognising your iPad or iPhone automatically. Other features that set thisdevice apart from the rest our its five-inch midrange/bass speakers, 70 watts output and 3/4 inch tweeters that are powered by35 watts each.The BeoPlay A8 is expected to sell for a rather steep 442 rials, but is undoubtedly worth the money.Technology NewsSORKIN - ON JOBSAfter months of rumours, it’s finallyofficial – Steve Jobs’ iconic characterfrom Walter Issacson’s biographyon the co-founder to be captured oncelluloidInnovative, indomitable and pure genius, areonly a few adjectives to describe the superlativecharacteristics of Apple’s champion SteveJobs, who may not be with us today, but hasleft a legacy for many to follow and gain from foryears to come. Making a copious contributionto the technology industry, he was admired andrespected by friends, colleagues and rivals. Hisstory is more than magnificent and is going tobe written by Academy Award-Winning writerof ‘The Social Network’ Aaron Sorkin.It was announced by Sony Pictures Entertainment, recently, that Sorkin, who was contemplating doing the screenplay for themovie, has now accepted the job, confirming that he is very interested in the project and is looking forward to the new venture.Amy Pascal, co-chairman at Sony Pictures Entertainment, was reported commenting, “Steve Jobs’ story is unique: he was oneof the most revolutionary and influential men, not just of our time but of all times. There is no writer working in Hollywood todaywho is more capable of capturing such an extraordinary life for the screen than Aaron Sorkin; in his hands, we’re confident thatthe film will be everything that Jobs himself was: captivating, entertaining, and polarising.”Sony wasted no time in nabbing the rights to Isaacson’s best-selling biopic ‘Steve Jobs’, only days after Jobs’ untimely departurebrought on by a rare form of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. Sony’s deal was sealed for $1 million, and rumours on the roundssay that Sony is looking to rope-in George Clooney or Noah Wyle to step into Jobs’ shoes.Nothing is confirmed as yet, but you can be sure that this is one movie you will not want to miss.37

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Words | Clint Derric EgbertOMANEMBRACES KARATETo accurately define karate is an ambitious undertaking, simply because karate is more than just highkicks and power punches. It is the development of a balanced mind and body; the purification of one’ssoul and building of confidence of an individual. It is a process of internal healing and enlightenment.Karate is the completion and refining of oneself. Through training in fighting techniques karate developsan individual, not only mentally and physically, but spiritually as well. Karate is not only useful forlearning the art of self-defence, but also for strengthening the human mind and willpower.Sensei Farid Shuhaibi has been championing karate in Oman as long as one can remember. Hisdedication to the art and sport has remained unsullied and enduring. Only recently, at the City Season’sHotel in Al Khuwair, Sensei Farid hosted the the 28th Black Belt Graduation Ceremony of Oman KaratedoCentre, awarding karate students with certificates for their dedication and efforts towards the art.Gracing the occasion were HH Sayyid Faisal bin Turki bin Mahmoud Al Said and Shinichi Yamanaka,Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan.Speaking on the occasion, Yamanaka expressed his gratitude to Oman Karate-do for the invitation toattend the Graduation Ceremony and congratulated the students receiving black belts. “I believe youhave continued practicing karate for three to four years to receive your black belts. I think there arevarious reasons for you to have started karate. Some of you may have started it out of curiosity. Mangaor cartoons or movies might have inspired you to do that. Others may have continued karate formaintaining good health. During school days in Japan, we usually learn one of Japanese martial arts.We attach importance to such practice, because we believe that through such practice we can trainourselves both mentally and physically. I am sure you have definitely built up yourselves to stand up38

May 22, 2012 Issue 221to any difficulties you would face in the future. I hope through karate and other commemorativeevents for the 40th anniversary our friendly relations between Japan and Oman will be furtherstrengthened and expanded,” he said.Oman, today, demonstrates a rapidly growing enthusiasm for karate, more so among the Omaniyouth. It has now developed as a sport and is also a great form of pastime, which helps bringorder and discipline to the lives of the many young men and women in the country. The journeyof karate in Oman, however, has been a long and tough one.Karate was first introduced to Oman in the year 1982, where various clubs in the countryembraced the art. From the year of its initiation till 1985 Oman worked hard at training theirmartial artists, finally getting their first two black belts, out of 50 practicing karate members.“Perhaps, at the time I was too hard on them, or they were too soft,” says Sensei Farid, “butI believe I was tough on them because I was a lot younger back then and I used the strictJapanese way of training.”Shinichi YamanakaBy 1986 karate had a strong foothold here in the Sultanate, and the numbers gradually picked up.Oman was exposed to the high caliber of visiting Japanese karate masters of all the major fourschools – Shotokan-ryu, Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu and Shito-ryu. Students and trainers were giventhe opportunity to learn karate from the very best… a dream-come-true for karate enthusiastsin the country. With the participation of various clubs, and the devoted support of the Embassyof Japan, Oman organised their first karate competition.Says Sensei Farid, “I like to call the years from 1986 to 1994 as the golden era of karate. This wasa time when karate flourished all over Oman, with yearly competitions, black belt graduations,referee and instructor courses, lectures, seminars, demonstrations, etc.”The year 1987 brought further exposure for Omani Karate, as young Omanis got the opportunityto participate in the first GCC karate championships in Kuwait. “We were unable to get anymedals, but we did get the chance to test ourselves against other competitors and we realisedthat we really do have potential to go against some of the best in the region. This was provedin 1990, in Dubai, where as many as 45 countries participated in a world tournament. Oman’sKhalid Mubarak was classified as the 25th best in Kata competition, and to add to this, anotherone of our Omani fighters beat the Iranian champion,” says Sensei Farid proudly.A decade of prosperity and growth for karate in the country was unexpectedly stopped in itstracks in 1994, when the art/sport was deemed dangerous and violent in the eyes of authoritiesin the country. Sensei Farid narrates, “In 1994 karate was stopped in Oman... wrongly. It wasnot well understood. The reason is because at that time the General Organisation of Youthbelieved that karate was an aggressive game; they assumed that karate meant to fight in thestreet. Why would you need karate to fight in the street? Street fighters are good at fighting inthe streets... you don’t need karate to fight in the streets. Karate teaches people to hold theirsenses, to avoid places of trouble, to steer clear of hostile situations. However, we struggled for12 long years to convince authorities that karate was not aggressive. Finally, in 2006 the firstOmani karate committee, under the Ministry Of Sports, was established. This made way forcompetitions, programmes and international recognition in the sport.”The unstinting perseverance and diligence of Sensei Farid, along with senior instructors whohelped develop karate in Oman, the Embassy of Japan and authorities in the country, andthe karate enthusiasts who trained with the various centres in the country, helped re-establishkarate as a sport. Today, Sensei Farid proudly reveals that the country has developed more than1000 graduates. Oman has moved from competing in local competitions to representing thenation in world-class tournaments.He says, “Today we have a very strong base for karate, both male and female. We also havekarate teachers from Shodan to Rokodan, which is from first-degree black belt to sixth degreeblack belt... a very high degree in karate. Soon we may have several more degrees in the karate.We have a government committee now to regulate karate. We hope that someday Oman willbe a member of the World Karate Federation, if not the world, then at least the Asian KarateFederation!”Sensei Farid Shuhaibi39

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Launch Of The New Chevrolet MalibuAjay ChopraMay J. Performs On Japan Day At The Scientific College Of DesignMarkus LeitheHE George HisaedaMay.J40

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Newrest Wacasco's ‘Beach Clean-Up Drive’ To Mark 30th AnniversaryFilipino Week At The Sultan Center In QurumH.E. Joselito A. Jimeno (left)41

May 22, 2012 Issue 221WGO Event At Almouj Golf Club42

May 22, 2012 Issue 221TEDx Muscat Event At Millenium Resort At MussanahDr Abdullah Al ZakwaniNawras ‘Ruwaad’ Programme Graduates HonouredH.E. Hamed bin KhamisAl Amri & Ross Cormack43

May 22, 2012 Issue 221Chili’sMcDonald’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

May 22, 2012 Issue 221FILL UP THE BELOW CROSSWORD, SUDOKU, GO FIGURE & 5 LUCKYWINNERS WILL GET A CHANCE TO WIN COMPLOMENTRY MEALS ATScan & send in your entries to info@y-oman.comthis contest is only valid from 1st May 2012 untill 31st May 2012Al Khuwairbefore Shell Station, Tel: 244 83 083Almouj Marina,The Wave Muscat, Tel : 245 54 774www.shang-thai.comSUDOKUPlace 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.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:Do you think talking on the phone while driving is themain cause behind car accidents?Rashmi Dsouzayes it isVikas SingalYES IT IS THE MAIN CAUSEAtif Dafedaryes it is very very dangerous... You may cn lost yours life..!!!Penny's OmanIts very dangerous, along with speeding!Reemsha AkbarMain cause is Speeding, Changing lanes without indicating thn comes texting, talking on thephone.Rahid Stylesh DesignersNo talking on phone is not the main cause, its over speeding, switching lanes to lanes, takingchances of skipping a signal on red.. ect.Poyal DonYes it is main cause of accident while driving some people talking phone.....Cul Kaziyes it is but there are many other reasons too...Vijay Banikit is one of the reason......its the combination of various such reason that leads to accidents......ROPshould tighten other rules as well.......tht will make drivers more cautiousDonna CondonNo. the main cause of car accidents in Oman is self centred drivers who don't look at what'shappening on the road... they constantly change lanes to get just one car ahead, change lanes attraffic lights, break speed limits, tailgate, fail to indicate, park on the road, ignore other drivers whodo indicate and park in disabled spaces and give way to drivers doing all of the above. If you'veever done any of the above, you are the problem. There simply aren't enough cars on the road toexplain the awful traffic problems in Oman, the problem comes with the attitude that the rulessimply don't apply to YOU.Katrina MichniowNo, the main cause of accidents is impatience.Donna CondonActually Katrina, you're right. All the crazy behaviour on the roads here is about impatience! Howdid you know, you've never been here? Clever chicky!Jijigeorge JoseYes, also breaking traffic rules.Shreyas MelbuddhiI think it is one of the main reason for accidents on the road , it should not be followed by anyperson , the phone should be kept in silent mode , or should be switched off , before driving.Pravesh Chhetriyes ......SOLUTIONSCROSSWORDSUDOKUGO FIGURE