hi 19 february 2016

READ ONImproving literacy and a love of reading in Oman starts with aff ordable books, mobile libraries, and, fi rst-and-foremost, dedicated volunteers. PAGE 26

LEARN SOME LOCAL SLANG It’s a cat, it’s a bird, it’s time for another Omani Dialect tutorial from Salim Al Afi fi . PAGE 14

THISWEEK IN

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VOL 10 ISSUE 8 / FEBRUARY 19, 2016

EAT LIKE AN EGYPTIANHead to Qurum for a taste of crunchy, tangy, and carby ‘kushari’ at the new Kusharina. PAGE 16

HEED THE CALL OF THE SHARQIYAH SANDS PAGE 20

H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 604

FounderEssa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali

ChairmanMohamed Issa Al Zadjali

CEOAhmed Essa Al Zedjali

Chief Executive EditorScott Armstrong

Executive Features EditorFelicia Campbell

Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta

Senior EditorsT. A. Ameerudheen

Faisal Mohammed Naim

Chief Sub-EditorsMohammed Shafeeqe, Ashish Dubash

Multimedia Editorial AssistantsShruthi Nair, Asmaa Al Balushi, Salim Hamood Al Afifi

Chief Creative OfficerAdonis Durado

Associate Art DirectorWaleed Rabin

Graphic EditorAntonio Farach

Design EditorSahir K.M.

Lead DesignerAli Jani

DesignersAntonio Ismael Sandiego

Geri Batara SonnyGregory Fernandez

Director of Digital TelevisionJoe Morrison

PhotographyMMG Photographers

Chief Sales OfficerRichard Pakenham

Head Of Advertising & MarketingAziz K. Baker

Production ManagerShafi Shaik

On The CoverPhotography and Design by Ali Jani

For general inquiries or comments:[email protected]

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H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 05

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Tell us what you’re doing this weekend:

Tweet us @HiWeekly_Oman; tag us in your weekend

instagram photos @hiweekly_oman;

or share with us on FB/hiweekly

18 19 20THURSDAY

10am Alert ShopoholicsGo to the Meena Bazaar

this Friday with your family to shop, have amazing food,

and even win prizes Al Bahja Hall

Jungle Restaurant, Qurum

+968 98713403

platinumeventsoman.com

6pm Sing Out LoudIndian pop singer duo Salim-Suleiman are all

set to rock the stage in Muscat for the first time at the Qurum amphitheatre.

Book your tickets from MGM, Foodlands, R&B, or

Mitsubishi showrooms.Qurum Amphitheatre

+968 9576 1210

lightandshadowllc.com

Neymar Jrs Wants You Aspiring footballers will

be out in force for the first qualifier for Oman’s spots in the global Neymar JR

competition cum talent hunt.

Bousher

+968 9986 6803

neymarjrsfive.com

FRIDAY SATURDAY

THE WEEKEND

LINEUP Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

10pm Celebrity SpinnerSydney’s DJ Willi, who has done tours with artists like

Snoop Dogg, Flo Rida, Akon, and the likes, is all set

to set the dance floor on fire this Saturday in Muscat.

The Cave Complex

Rumba Lattina

+968 2465 1051

insync-events.com

9pm Old School’s the New Cool

Enjoy a night that will keep you

lip syncing as Dj Fawaz and Mc

Mo play songs that are part of the

popular “Soundtrack of your life.”

On the Rocks, Seeb+968 2434 6765

goldentulipseeb.com

DJ WilliMusthe

MG

NeyA

bebbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbebbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbebbbe oqqqqqququqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq ain

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H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 606 Going out of town to

see any of these events? Tag us on Instagram

@hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on

facebook.com/hiweekly

Broadcasting the best events in the GCC (February 18, 19, 20)

K H A L E E J I H A P P E N I N G S

Thursday, February 18 Home Exhibition (Doha)

There is a saying: “Home is where the heart is.” No matter where an individual may hail from, the idea of home is unique to each of us.Exploring this theme, this exhibition is a collaboration between VCU Qatar, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, and the American Chamber of Commerce Qatar in support of Discover America Week Qatar 2016 (February 15 to 22).Time: 6pm

HBKU Student Centre, Education City, Al Huqoul St,

Doha, Qatar

+974 4402 0555

qatar.vcu.edu

01

Friday, February 19Journey Thru House: Garlands’ Special (Dubai)

A thumping house music concert featuring famous musicians including Dave Booth, Rob Tissera, Livin’ Joy and Lil’ John, entrance to Zero Gravity for Journey Thru House event is free before 10pm and AED 100 after. Ladies are free before midnight and AED 100 after.Time: 10pm

Zero Gravity, Al Sufouh Road, Dubai, UAE

+971 4399 0009

0-gravity.ae

02

Saturday, February 20Complicity Art Exhibition (Kuwait)

This exhibition is inspired by a quote from “Just Kids,” a memoir penned by the poet, artist, and singer Patti Smith about her complicated relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe. The Sultan Gallery, Street 105, Block 8, South Sabhan, Kuwait

+965 2471 4325; +965 6097 0001

[email protected]

05

Friday February 19I’m Hardwell Concert (Dubai)

Electronic dance music fans can finally get what they’ve been asking for as EDM superstar Haedwell, the 27-year old Big Room House and Electronic House DJ and producer, finally comes to the Meydan as part of his global tour.Time: 7pm

Al Meydan Road, Dubai, UAE

+971 4327 0000

iamhardwelldubai.com

04

Friday February 19US Embassy Film Night: The Music Man - 1962 (Bahrain)

U.S Embassy will present the classic 1962 film ‘The Music Man’ as part of an ongoing series of free film screenings. This particular film is a musical about a trickster who falls in love with a woman and re-thinks his cheating ways. Time: 6pm

Lecture Hall, Bahrain National Museum

culture.gov.bh

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FIVETO TRYCAMPING [email protected]

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WADI SHABSpend your weekend swimming

in clear water pools in Al Sharqiyah. This wadi attracts both locals and expats for its beautiful cave, waterfall, and

easy access by car. Location Coordinates:

22°50’13.72”N, 59°14’34.71”E

WAHIBA SANDS Enjoy a classic desert

experience at Oman’s most popular dune destination. Hit the road before summertime to enjoy the sands sans the

unbearable heat. Location Coordinates:

21°26’15.985”N, 58°33’15.7756”E

JEBEL SHAMSVisit the highest mountain peak

in Oman, Jebel Shams. It is close to other famous historical landmarks in Nizwa, Bahla, and

Al Hamra. Location Coordinates:

23°14’ 15.2113”N, 57°15’53.581”E

MUGHSAYLLocated in Dhofar governorate,

Mughsayl offers remarkable beach views, serene mountain

roads, and amazing weather. It is best visited in winter and spring.

Location Coordinates: 16°53’0”N, 53° 47’0”E

WHITE BEACH, FINS This famous beach is renowned

for its rocky coastal wall, captivating sea scenery, and

beautiful white sands. It is one of the best locations for snorkelling

and diving enthusiasts Location Coordinates:

22°53’34”N 59°13’20”E

H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 608 Where did you escape to this weekend?

Show us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it

on facebook.com/hiweekly

SATURDAY08:00 Have coffee and breakfast by the sea before checking-out of the hotel and driving back south.

09:30 Stop in Ras Madrakah and jump in the crystalline waters. This amazing bay has a powerful combination of the most amazing turquoise sea splashing over fine white sand.

13:00 Order an egg sandwich with chips and a karak tea on the go from one of the small coffee shops next to the main road, then head north for the long, but very scenic drive back to Muscat.

20:00 Reach back home, close your eyes and remember the pink red white and turquoise colours of the picturesque weekend you have just left behind. —[email protected]

Three hours north of Salalah and an hour and a half south of Duqum, pink lagoons, stunning white sand, and

pure turquoise waters on the remote shores of Ras Madrakah and Al Kahil make for fantastic detours on a

south-to-north roadtrip. Get ready for a colourful weekend.

W E E K E N D E S C A P E

LOCAL COLOUR FROM SALALAH TO MUSCAT

RAS MADRAKAH & WUSTA’S PINK LAGOON

FRIDAY08:00 Depart early from Salalah and head north via the Muscat–Salalah Coastal Road. You have 485 km of sea view ahead of you to enjoy.

14.00 Turn right in Al Kahil and follow the signs for the Pink Lagoon. A few kilometres down the road, a strip of pink-coloured water will appear in front of your eyes. It’s real. Though the intensity of the colour varies throughout the year, the water just before the sea always has a definite, other-worldly pink hue.

16.00 25 kilometres north of Al Kahil, take a left to reach Wadi Barun (18.774998, 56.621009). The sheer immensity of this can-yon earns it a little detour. Amazingly wide and reddish, the view will remind you of the African savanna at sunset.

18:30 Drive on to Duqum and check-in at Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence just in time for a quick swim in its relaxing ocean-view swimming pool.

20:00 Re-fuel with a sirloin steak and salad at the hotel’s RBG Bar and Grill.

21:00 Play a few rounds of mini-football before heading to bed.

STORY OLGA AYMERICH PHOTOGRAPHY GILES KEUN

10 H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

The Devil’s in the DetailsSTORY SALIM AL AFIFI | PHOTOGRAPHY ALI JANI

They say that the suit makes the man. Quite an interesting phrase, which I fully endorse, but do you ever wonder what makes the suit? In today’s fashion culture, “suit and tie” has become more than just putting together a matching pant and blazer. It’s the details that can add a hint of glamour to your look. Everything, from your socks to your lapel pin, make a statement about your personality, so you could say that it is the accessories that separate the men from the boys in terms of style. —[email protected]

SHIRTDark suits go well with lighter shirts, and vice versa, match your Navy blue suit with a lighter shade of blue button-up shirt. Try and avoid heavy textured shirts with too many lines and prints, keep it simple and classy.

TIEAlthough fashion is taking the tie-less approach on fashion runways recently, a tie is still an accessory that adds a classic touch that compliments the entire look. Similar to shirts; stay away from flashy bright colours and cartoonish prints and opt for more subtle ones with interesting textures.

WATCHA look isn’t complete without a stunningly smart watch. Look for a watch that screams ‘professional’. Prestigious watches are essential accessories for a gentleman with a bold attitude; Seiko watches are one of the options that highlight your look with classiness. This particular look is paired with sharply-designed Astron GPS Solar in Navy blue colour, with its cutting-edge technology and high-end features, it truly define a true gentleman.

Model: Mustafa Al LawatiNavy blue performance blazer at OMR 65, Navy blue performance trousers at OMR 50, Autograph blue cotton shirt at OMR 26, pure silk Navy tie at OMR 10 from Marks and Spencer (Muscat City Center, +968 2455 8988). Brown leather shoes at OMR 23, brown messenger bag at OMR 18 from Aldo (Oman Avenues Mall, +968 2206 0577). Astron GPS solar watch at OMR 835 from Seiko (Bahwan Electronics, +968 2411 7139).

BAGIn the spirit of combining traditional apparel with modern aesthetics, compliment your overall look with my personal fashion favourite, a modern messenger bag. Cross-over messenger bags offer style and utility for men. You can rock this brown synthetic leather bag with formal wear and still look professional. It looks elegant from every angle; a must have indeed.

SUITColourWhen it comes to suiting up for work, keep your whites and bright colours hidden in your closet; or save them for your gym session, and instead look for a darker colour that is masculine and alluring yet less boring than black. Colour such as Navy blue is unmistakably great, in which is trendy and ideal to accessorise.

Design and MaterialSuits have a wide selection of designs, materials and features, which cater to our excruciatingly demanding personal taste. A loose suit is never an option; suits should accentuate your body neatly. Marks and Spencer’s performance suits in slim fitting are a great choice, these water repellant and stain resistant set of clothes are fashionably attractive, and there are no crumples to worry about, which keeps your elegance tacked throughout the day.

SHOESShoes are the type of accessories that could make or break the entire look. It goes without saying that black leather shoes are as formal as suits can be. But you are not looking forward to look ‘formal’ only; you want ‘chic’. Brown leather shoes are the way to go, the colour goes stylishly with any suits, and with Navy blue; it’s a glamorous match. This double monk-strap, block-heeled, sleek ankle boots offer a flawless strut down the streets.


STORY T. A. AMEERUDHEENPHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF OMAN SAIL

YO GT THEO

U DEIUR

Renowned sailors from across the world will be seen in action

during the fourth leg of the America’s Cup World Series in

Muscat on February 27 and 28. In the process, Oman will

become the first country in the Middle East to host the

prestigious event. If you aren’t familiar with the event, you

still have time to brush up on the sport before the even. This

is your guide to the oldest sporting competition in the world.

13H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

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THE AMERICA’S CUP: A BRIEF HISTORYFirst contested in 1851, America’s Cup, yachting’s greatest prize, is the oldest trophy in international sport, predat-ing the modern Olympic Games by 45 years. The trophy’s roots date back to when a syndicate of businessmen from New York sailed the schooner America across the Atlantic Ocean to represent the United States at the World’s Fair in England. The schooner won a race around the Isle of Wight and, with it, a trophy called the 100£ Cup. After winning the trophy, the United States embarked on what would become the longest winning streak in the history of sport, a 132-year stretch of domination that saw boats representing the country successfully defend the trophy 24 times from 1870 through 1980 — until 1983, when Australia became the fi rst successful challenger to lift the trophy.

In over 160-years of competition, teams representing just four nations (the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland) have won the trophy. Ora-cle Team USA is the defending champion. It fi rst won the Cup in 2010 and successfully defended the title in 2013.

The Oman leg is part of the opening stages of the 35th America’s Cup, which will be held in Bermuda in June 2017. It is the curtain raiser to the 2016 season, which will be spread over six diff erent venues around the world.

TYPE OF YACHTAC 45 class, a one-design catamaran powered by a wing sail, will be seen in action in the two-day race. Held down by a crew of fi ve, this catamaran can cruise at speeds of over 30 knots in the right conditions. It is designed with a solid aeroplane wing-like sail and high tech hydrofoils to provide lift, and speed.

THE CONTENDERSSix teams: Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle Team USA, Land Rover BAR, SoftBank Team Japan, Artemis Racing, (Skipper: Nathan Outteridge), and Groupama Team France, will vie for honours in Oman.

COMPETITION FORMATThe America’s Cup is the fi rst stage of competition in the 2017 America’s Cup that began in the summer of 2015 with events in Portsmouth, Great Britain, Gothenburg, Sweden Hamilton, Bermuda, and Oman.

The circuit is an early opportunity to put points on the board that carry forward into the next stage of the compe-tition. Overall ranking position determines the starting points score of the teams in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifi ers in 2017.

SCORINGA high-point scoring system is in place for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series. For the two races on Saturday, the winner earns 10 points, second place collects 9 points, third place 8 points, and so on. Points are scored double on Sunday, when the winner of each race collects 20 points, second place 18 points, third place 16 points, and so on. The team with the most points at the conclusion of racing is the winner. (Ties are broken in favour of the team with the best result in the last race).

CURRENT POSITIONSAfter three events in 2015, Emirates Team New Zealand had a 10-point lead over second placed Oracle Team USA with Land Rover BAR from the UK in third, Artemis Racing from Swe-den in fourth, Soft Bank Team Japan in fi fth and Groupama from France in sixth. —[email protected]


Omani SlangInterspersed with the Arabic conversations overheard throughout the capital

city, even native Arabic speakers might be surprised to hear some unfamiliar

words. Though Arabic is the offi cial language in the Sultanate, there are all

kinds of words and phrases that are purely local. Here’s your monthly primer

from Hi team member Salim Al Afi fi . —[email protected]

Cat

Ant

Pigeon

Sanoora

Sqaat

Huqma


V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

Sheep

Lizard

AlSaqeaw

Hosh

La gha

Baby Chick

Want to learn a particular Omani phrase or saying?

Get in touch with us on Facebook/HiWeekly and we’ll post

your tutorial on our “All-Local Omani Tuesdays”.


Where will you be dining this week?

Share your food photos with us on facebook.com/hiweekly, tweet

us your culinary discoveries @HiWeekly_Oman or tag us in your

instagram photos @hiweekly_oman

Egyptians are known to be ardent meat and fish lovers and that is reflected in their choice of foods. But surprisingly there is one Egyptian specialty that is purely vegetarian and it happens to be most popular snack, available in all the roadside eateries and food stalls in Cairo. Called kushari, this dish is a combination of pasta, rice, and lentil with a spicy topping of tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. It is often served with a spoonful of cooked chickpeas on top. But if you are one among those whose meal is never complete without having meat, then stir in some cooked chunks of chicken or lamb and adjust it ac-cording to your palate. To try this distinctive dish, you don’t need to go all the way to Egypt. In a quaint corner just off the PDO road, you will find the aptly named Kusharina, whose specialty is kushari and other Egyptian favourites. It is the only place in Muscat whose sole focus is Egyptian cui-sine, so apart from the all-time favourite aforementioned snack, you can taste home-style tamiya, a popular snack similar to falafel that's served with freshly made dips and pickles; Ma7shi, a type of stuffed zucchini; Makroona bel bashameel, a dish of meat and macaroni draped in a creamy, white bechamel sauce; and chicken liver with Kusharina special spices, which can be served on its own or as a sandwich. —[email protected]

FROMTHE STREETS

OF EGYPTSTORY SWATI DASGUPTA

KusharinaQurum,

Sayh Almalih StreetPDO Road

+968 2202 7011

D I N E I N | D I N E O U T


Kushari4 servings

Ingredients•• 1 cup basmati rice •• 1 cup macaroni pasta •• 1 cup lentils •• 2 tbsp olive oil •• 1 onion, chopped finely •• 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced •• 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes •• 1/2 to 1 tsp pepper flakes •• Salt and pepper, to taste•• Oil for frying•• 1 onion, sliced thinly Preparation•• Cook rice in 2 cups of water in a covered pot

until done for about 20 minutes. Separately cook the pasta until done. Simmer the lentils in 2 cups of water until tender for about 30-45 minutes.

•• While the rice, pasta, and lentils are cooking, heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent. Stir in the tomato sauce and pepper flakes, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add a little water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

•• Heat about 1/2-inch of oil in a heavy skillet. Add the sliced onions and fry until they turn brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.

•• Place the rice, macaroni and lentils in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper, and stir together gently with a fork. Serve in individual bowls and put some tomato sauce over each portion. Top with crispy fried onions and serve hot. Recipe courtesy of Whats4Eats.com

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18 H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 6V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

The skies over Al Sawadi Beach transform into a colourful canvas each year at the end of February as members of the Pakistani community, as well as those of other nationalities, take to the sands to celebrate Lahore’s popular ‘Basant’ festival. The annual festival is a very important part of the cul-ture of Lahore, a city considered to be the cultural

capital of Pakistan, but it is also celebrated elsewhere, especially in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Gujranwala, and Pakistani citizens have also taken this traditional revelry to other parts of the world, including some parts of the Middle East, including Oman, where the festival has been celebrated for the last ten years.

Basant refers to the spring season when Pakistani citizens resid-ing in cities all over the world celebrate in a big way with varied revelry. Kite-flying on this day is very popular as the young as well as the not-so-young team up to fly thousands of col-ourful kites, in all shapes and sizes, bearing funny and social messages. Yellow is the theme colour of the festival and people turn up in bright yellow and amber attire representing the blossoming flowers of spring and the yellow mustard fields of Punjab (a province of Pakistan, with Lahore as its capital). Men and women wear colourful turbans, scarves, and outfits as well as adorn themselves with jewel-lery and flowers to watch the kite flying and join in dancing and singing, open-air cultural extravagan-zas, food festivals, and other celebratory activities.

Senior Direcor of PSC, Syed Aftab Gilani who has been a key member of the organising commit-tee ever since the celebrations began, described the festivities. “This is a day when the Pakistani

community as well as people of other nationalities come together to celebrate the whole day. The kite flying tradition begins in the morning and there will be a food festival on the beach wherein people can indulge in a variety of traditional delicacies. The day ends with a musical concert and Pakistani artistes will be specially flown in for the event.”

As for the kites, a huge quantity of kites are provided by a regular supplier in Dubai and people can buy them at the beach for reason-able prices. There will be kites of all shapes, sizes, and colours on sale and people are free to tag social or friendly messages on to their kites. Some of the youth come up with really creative ideas to decorate their kites and the sky over Sawadi beach gets trans-formed into a riot of colours as children, youth, ladies, and senior men, all take to kite flying and playful ‘kite-cutting’ battles known as ‘pecha’ for which the string used for kite flying (called ‘manja’) is replaced with a special kind of twine coated with glass powder

that enables the flyer to use it to cut off an adjacent kite’s string through skilful manoeuvres.

Yellow scarves will be distributed to people as it signifi es the season of spring. The average attend-ance for the kite fl ying celebrations is expected to be around 8,000-10,000 people and adequate arrange-ments are being made for maintaining order and cleanliness at the beach as well as parking arrange-ments for visitors. The ROP will also be present at the beach to provide security and ensure order.

This colourful kite-flying ritual is an open-to-all cultural extravaganza where the visitors who show up in colourful attire, donning yellow scarves, are almost as vibrant and fun to watch as the kites soaring over the Arabian Sea. —[email protected]

Jashn-e-Baharan, Pakistan’s popular Basant Festival,will be celebrated at Al Sawadi Beach on the 26th, the last Friday of February.So buy a kite, and let your spirit soar to the skies…

Basant Kite Festival

LocationAl Sawadi Beach

Time9am onwards (February 26)

Highlights

Kite Flying, Food Festival,Music Concert

Key Organisers+968 98972548, +968 9903 6715

STORY HUBERT VAZ


V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 8F E B R U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

ChinaKite fl ying is a very popular sport among the Chi-nese people. Dubbed as the earliest fl ying object of mankind, the kite is said to have originated in China over 2,000 years ago. As per legend, the tradition stems from the creation of a bird shaped wooden kite by Lu Ban, the great building master, who man-aged to make it fl y during the Spring season.

JapanIn Japan, kites were introduced by the Buddhist monks in the 7th century to ward away evil spirits and infl uence rich harvests. Kite fl ying became popular in Japan during the Edo period when people below the Samurai class were allowed to fl y kites.

AfghanistanKite fl ying in Afghanistan, known as ‘Gudiparan Bazi’, is one of Afghanistan›s national outdoor sports. It has been prevalent in Afghanistan during the autumn season for over 100 years and has also been accorded the status of an art. People prepare kites of varied designs to showcase their artistic skills as well as their competitive prowess.

IndiaIn India, the Hindu festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti is a time for kite-fl ying. Traditionally cel-ebrated in the second week of January all over India, the festival has rendered kite-making the status of a small-scale industry. An International Kite Festival is held at many places in India on January 14 to mark the festival.

GreeceIn Greece, Kathara Deftera (or Clean Monday) marks the beginning of the holy season of Lent among Orthodox Christians which is a day for kite fl ying and outdoor picnics, marking the start of Spring. As per tradition, people fl ock at Filopapou Hill to fl y kites amid a festive atmosphere despite the sobriety of Lent.

EuropeFor several centuries, kites were unknown in Europe until the legendary traveller Marco Polo brought them back from his travels to the East. Subsequently, Europeans, and later Americans, began using kites for all kinds of scientifi c and military purposes.


shift the transmissions into 4H. We felt the traction of the deflated tyres doing its round in the sand and the rollercoaster ride continued till 10.30pm when we stopped to set up our tents under the stars.

Campers began to sing and make music and latecomers kept arriv-ing throughout the chilly night. The camp never really settled down, with some enjoying the crisp night air un-til it transformed into morning dew.

The next day we exited our tents and were welcomed with the sight of desert expanses. It was so magical; I’d never seen sand so orange, or so much sand. The scenery in the desert is spectacular, especially at daybreak and dusk when the colour of the de-sert changes. It’s a terrain with wide, flat, open desert leading into high dunes. It’s the first place that you should go if you want to find out how much you actually like four-wheel driving, because out here, sand driv-ing for beginners is a baptism of fire.

Sand is the one place where if you get it wrong, you can get it badly wrong. Your car can float away with the tide (not kidding, mine did). You can roll your vehicle sideways on a dune or you can get stuck in quick-sand. So why do you do it? Because it’s fun, it takes you to awesome places, and there’s nothing quite like

the feeling of cruising up the ridicu-lously narrow ridge of a towering dune in your car at an alarming 45 degree angle — windows down, sand in your hair.

As we continued our trek, the dunes grew. Almost half a kilometre high, a kilometre wide, the imposing sand dunes are thrillingly unpre-dictable. I’d never driven on sand so steep, and it was a bit terrifying when the vehicle started slipping down sideways, forcing me to manoeuvre using a combination of quick steer-ing and rapid acceleration. Several times we had to reverse down a slope and fire the engine to get enough mo-mentum to defy the gravity. Once you brush past the strong sandy currents, the feeling is euphoric, one that will stay with you forever.

Going up a dune in a hairpin track, I slowed the engine half way in doubt and was stuck again. Nobody nearby. Suddenly a Ford Raptor appeared over the cliff. Mohsin, a crew member, came to us smiling. He taught me how to gently feel the sand and get out of it. I couldn’t but admire his patience. “Hey, car number 584 is stuck so badly. Winch them out…” the crackly voice through his walkie-talkie doesn’t cause panic but triggers a flutter of laughter among Mohsin and his friend Osama

The convoy had wheeled off the main road in the small town of Al Kamil Wal Wafi, plunging into the dark desert night

around 9pm. We were in pursuit in our Nissan Patrol, trying to catch up with the fading tail lamps of the con-voy as they disappeared into the wil-derness. Close to 100 4WDs and over 50 men on duty, including marshalls and crew volunteers, would man our route, tracing the edge of the Sharqi-yah Sands before veering off to drive straight up towering dunes and their deceivingly soft sands.

Though it was just me and my passenger, the back of our car was full with gear for three days of driv-ing and two nights of camping: jerry cans, a coolbox filled with ice and drinks, tents, mats, sleeping bags, water containers, our bags and cam-eras. The gear rattled as the terrain got bumpy, and without streetlights, I couldn’t see anything except the tail lights of the SUVs ahead of me re-flecting off of the dust they kicked up. After sometime I could see the moon rising through my left window. It was the only ‘landmark’ I could manage to find to satisfy my navigational consciousness.

We caught up with the group when the vehicles stopped for a while to

Off-roading through a sea of high dunes and sandy wilderness, eating fabulous traditional foods, and experiencing rustic Bedouin lifestyle, make a trip to Sharqiyah Sands a thrilling experience. The guided two-day tours being led by the Guide Oman are a total departure from every-day life.

STORY MOHAMMED SHAFEEQE | PHOTOGRAPHY ALI JANI

I N TO T H E S E A O F S A N D


who also came to my rescue in an FJ Cruiser. “There he is, stuck again… somebody get behind his wheels…” And more laughter.

I attempted the dune again as Moh-sin and Osama screamed, “Push….”

Without momentum, you’ll rarely get up to the top. Once you reach the peak, though, you’ll need to slow down or stop, the lesson I learned. Often, there will be a significant blind spot for a few seconds as you stare skywards. However, pausing at the top of the dune is important for another reason as well, because on the other side of the dune, there may be a mas-sive drop-off.

Many a novice has gleefully pow-ered to the top of a dune only to sail straight ahead into thin air. At best, this will result in some airtime, at worst, a broken bumper or damaged suspension or an over roll.

After a few tries, we made it. The view from the top was sensational. This was a place where problems energise people and goad them into action. Nothing is kept for tomorrow. Fix it now to move on. And while eve-ryone keeps moving, they never leave anyone behind.

That night in the camp, the place was buzzing with drivers comparing cars and chatting about the challenges they faced and the ones that lie ahead.

As we spoke to the other driv-

ers, we found a common story. Most come back to these sands over and over again to learn more about their chances of survival in a land that at the first glance inspires awe and fear. They came to confront problems they could fix. They came looking for something that could transform their mere mundane existence into worthy lives. For most, the desert is a place where one can purge their cowardice, weaknesses, egos, impertinence…to come out fresher and stronger as quick decision makers.

On our last day of exhilarating driv-ing, the team leader, Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali, created a challenging track for a final showdown with the dunes. We creeped along and couldn’t see beyond the next mountain of sand, so we simply followed the tracks of the car in front. Suddenly, the turquoise of the Arabian Sea came into view.

We exited the desert at Al Khuway-mah where we stopped for lunch on the beach. Looking around at my fel-low sand-covered drivers, I felt a kind of kinship with them. After venturing into the desert, pushing hard on our 4WDs through the soft sands and tow-ering dunes, getting stuck, pulling out, getting stuck again — and facing every challenge with a laugh and smile, we had all become better human beings, with a lot more patient and a helpful hand. —[email protected]


THE GUIDE OMANLaunched in 2008, Guide Oman is a pre-mier destination management company in Oman. The experienced team has a wealth of knowledge about the culture, heritage, and landscape of the Sultanate, and shares a passion for the outdoors. Guide Oman organises desert expedi-tions, mountain crossings, corporate functions, and team building events. Website: theguideoman.comContact: Rebecca +968 9803 8820, orAbdul Rahman +968 9228 5813 email: [email protected]

DESERT CROSSING

TRIPS IN 2016February 25-27

March 10-12

March 24-26

April 7-9


A trip to the dunes is as much about learning to face challenges, work as a team, and respect others and yourself, as it is about driving.

STORY T.A. AMEERUDHEEN | PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.

DESERT LESSONS FOR LIFE


Are desert safaris designed only for the adventurously inclined? Is it worth the money and time to spend two days and nights in the wilder-ness of sand dunes?

These and many other questions filled my mind as I packed my bags for my first desert crossing trip two years ago. But my worries faded into thin air over the two days that followed. Traversing through Shar-qiyah Sands from Badiyah to Ras Al Ruways in a 4X4, I realised that everyone should try a desert safari at least once in his or her lifetime as it is hands-down the best way to experience the beauty of sun, stars, and sands . Little wonder, then, that I was in the seventh heaven recently when I got an opportunity to travel through those pristine sands once again with the Guide Oman team, pioneers in the field of profession-ally organised desert safaris in Oman. This trip our caravan took a different route, driving from Al Kamil to Al Khuwaymah. Along the way, I learned some powerful les-sons for navigating life in the desert and on the tarmac.

LESSON #1: KEEP EGOS ASIDEWhen I stepped into the driver’s seat and fastened the seat belt, I was confident of driving through the dunes with ease. I thought my pre-vious safari experience would come handy this time. But my overconfi-dence let me down as I faltered at the first hurdle. Eager to showcase my driving skills, I revved up the engine only to find the tyres of my rented vehicle (Nissan Patrol) were digging deep into the sand. Mohsin, a member of Guide Oman’s rescue and recovery team, landed at the scene immediately and asked me to follow his instructions. “Acceler-ate gently while rotating the wheel right and left quickly.” I struggled in the beginning, but on my fourth attempt, I succeeded. Similar in-cidents followed over the next two days—the vehicle veered off track, I skidded into small ditches, got stuck in the sand—but the rescue team had different solutions for every situation. Some of the volunteers were younger than me, but I put my ego aside and followed their words of wisdom, which ultimatly lead me out of every difficult situation.

LESSON #2: DON’T CHALLENGE GRAVITYSand dunes differ in nature, shape, and size. Small mounds can be scaled with gentle vehicle accelera-tion, but one has to change tactics when climbing bigger dunes. After making many mistakes, I learnt the biggest lesson of dune climb-ing: Gravity will always win. So you need to follow the gravity of the car; do not turn against the direction the vehicle wants to travel. When

sand accumulates around the tyres, do not rev up and try to climb. You will fail, always. Allow the vehicle to slowly slide until you reach the position where you began the climb. Then, give it another try.

LESSON # 3: DON’T ALLOW FEAR TO OVER-TAKE REFLEXESWhen I saw bigger dunes, I felt completely intimidated. Even as I climbed, I felt nervous and doubted my ability to reach the top. Fear gripped my movement and it af-fected my reflexes. I couldn’t rev up at the right time. I slid off the track many times, forcing me to start the climb all over again. As time passed, my confidence grew and I was able to climb the dunes. Don’t feel bogged down by the enormity of challenges. Face them bravely and conquer them.

LESSON #4: FOCUS ON YOUR PATHAfter climbing a few big dunes, my confidence level grew and I thought I could do the remaining stretches quite easily. I lost focus and forgot to keep an eye on the track created by the team leader. I failed in the very next attempt as my car slid off the track. It took me more than 15 minutes to return to the starting point. Losing focus can make your journey more difficult, both in life and desert.

LESSON # 5: OBSERVE, OBSERVE, OBSERVEBefore we set out on the safari, Rebecca Maytson, the Manager of Guide Oman, gave an important tip to all the drivers. “Watch the cars similar to yours and note how they react on dunes. Note the speed and angle needed to conquer the dune.” The suggestion came in quite handy at times as I learned from the expe-rience of others.

LESSON # 6: RESPECT OTHERSDesert crossers always move in a convoy. So it is important to wait for your turn. I always ensured that the car in front of me crossed the dune before making my attempt and I maintained a distance of 20 to 30 metres even during driving to avoid sudden breaking and collisions.

LESSON # 7: NATURE IS A GOOD HEALERThe extreme weather conditions in the desert didn’t affect me at all. I am still wondering how the hotter days and chillier nights didn’t leave any scars on me. It buttresses my belief in the healing powers of the desert. I’m not alone in my belief, founder of Guide Oman, Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali, experienced a huge relief from fungal attack on his knee after it was exposed to the desert sand some time ago. He also told me that some people use hot sand from desert to treat back pain.

LESSON # 8: PRESERVE NATUREThe trip also revealed the desert’s fragile eco system and the need to protect it. Guide Oman is active in desert cleanup and protection, but everyone should respect the desert like their homes and should not leave trash, which is harmful to desert creatures, like lizards, foxes, scorpions and snakes.

“I love to cross the desert with Guide Oman, the most profes-sional desert safari organiser in Oman. It is an exciting group. So whenever I want to visit the desert, I join the Guide Oman team, like I did this time (January 28 to 30).

One needs different style and skill to drive in the desert. It also involves a lot of confidence. I had tried extreme crossing (drive through difficult terrain) on my debut. It was a tough drive. If you are a beginner, you should choose the easy path first, build up your confidence before opting for the extreme route. Frankly, I learnt from my mistakes. You have to first understand your vehicle. It is not just about power, it is about technique also.

Desert safari is the best way to promote Oman tourism. I had brought plenty of my friends from other countries to the desert and all of them enjoyed it very much. Desert crossing is a good adver-tisement for Oman tourism.”

AHMAD AL HARTHYOman’s ace race car driver on his desert crossing trips


within itself, is literally mind altering. Studies have shown that by keeping yourself mentally stimulated could slow down the progress, and pos-sibly even prevent the development of Alzheimers and Dementia. Reading also reduces stress, in-creases your knowledge, expands your vocabulary, improves your focus and concentration, improves your analytical thinking skills, and will help im-prove your writing skills.

In Muscat, access to books is sufficient, but can be quite expensive, especially if you are an avid reader. For the areas outside of Muscat, the access to books is, at best, limited. The inaccessibility to books, including those in Arabic and children’s books, can be detrimental to a society, especially growing in a digital age. It seems that less and less people read for pleasure nowadays. Whilst online access to information has its place in developing people’s potential, nothing can replace literacy.

The Let’s Read organisation is attempting to change that by increasing access to affordable books. Let’s Read launched in 2007 as a campaign to promote the love for reading with children in Oman. In conjunction with its parent organisa-tions Dar Al Atta and British Petroleum Oman, who now serves at its sponsor, Let’s Read runs a bookshop, mobile library, and hopes to open addi-tional bookshops in Ruwi and later both, Al Mouj and Sohar.

The bookshop carries a variety of authors and genres, including local authors and books in Ara-bic. All of its books are donated and are kept in great condition. Their books are also sold at rea-sonable prices. All soft cover books are OMR 1 and hard cover are OMR 2. In addition to having the shop open to the public, the organisation has worked with schools to set up libraries and provid-ed reading material for local business.

Noureen Kader, a general manager of Think Smart, a new training institute left the shop with nearly 100 books purchased including encyclope-dias and technical training literature. “I was just walking by when I found this shop. The people who work here are so friendly and helpful,” said Kader.

Staffed solely by volunteers, all the funds from the Let’s Read bookshop go towards supporting the Maktabati initiative. The Maktabati, a mobile li-brary carrying up to 1000 children’s books, travels throughout the interior of Oman with a Librarian to provide access of books to children. They can bring 500 baisas to purchase a book or bring a book to exchange for a new book.

“When a child can choose a book and own it and keep it, they will read it and re-read it and some-times memorise it and this is a very good starting of learning to read. We give them access to books that they maybe wouldn’t find in their libraries.”

Maktabati started with a donated bus to the or-

LET’S READTHE DEGREE TO WHICH LITERACY CAN AFFECT

SOCIETY IS IMMEASURABLE. THROUGHOUT

HISTORY, THE IMPORTANCE OF READING HAS BEEN

EMPHASISED AGAIN AND AGAIN BY THOSE WHO

SHAPED OUR WORLD. FORMER UNITED NATIONS

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAID “LITERACY UNLOCKS

THE DOOR TO LEARNING THROUGHOUT LIFE, IS

ESSENTIAL TO DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH, AND

OPENS THE WAY FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP”.

Reading

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY NADA ELSAYED

ganisation by the Woman’s Guild of Oman in 2013 and has since travelled to numerous villages and cities including Ibri, Salalah, Sohar, and Musan-nah. On occasion the bus will go to schools for days at a time. The organisation has hopes of add-ing a second bus in the future.

“I can’t say where it hasn’t been. It has been all over the place. The thing is we only have one bus so my plan and ambition is to get a second bus so that that can be based in the interior,” said Jeffar. “A lot of these villages don’t have a bookshop or a public library so we provide a service in that re-spect.”

In addition to Maktabati, the Let’s Read organi-sation organises a teenage book club, discussing a new book every two weeks. The book club is from 5-6pm every Wednesday evening run by a teenage volunteer. There is also a book club for adults cur-rently being organised as well.


Anyone interested in joining can simply stop by the CCC bookshop and sign up. In addition to the book clubs, Let’s Read holds a monthly book sale on the ground floor of the CCC from 10am–1 pm on the last Saturday of each month. One of the biggest events they have though is the writing competition.

GET INVOLVEDThe organisation is run completely by volunteers so there is always demand for individuals who are looking to help. Let’s Read is always on the look out for volunteers, for shifts in the shop, to sort and categorise books and to coordinate with some of the Let’s Read programmes. They are also open to individuals with special skills looking to volunteer their services including web designers to set up a Let’s Read website.

If you are unable to volunteer, you could be-

come a patron of the shop. Donate books which you no longer need or read; there is especially a demand for children’s books. Simply by shopping at the Let’s Read Bookshop, you are helping the organisation and its cause.

“We love having student volunteers.” Said Jaff er. “There is a lot we could do with younger people helping out. We are very happy for people to come help us.” So for students needing volun-teer hours, Let’s Read is also happy to have young-er individuals on board. —[email protected]

WAYS TO HELP•Volunteer for shifts at one of the Let’s Read Bookshop locations.•Donate books to the organisation.•Shop at one of the bookshops.•Bring awareness of the Let’s Read Campaign

LET’S READ BOOKSHOP

LOCATION: CCC, Al Qurum Complex, 1st fl oor

HOURS Saturday to Thursday 10am-1pm and 5pm-8pm Friday5pm-8pm

E-MAIL [email protected]

WEBSITE facebook.com/groups/Letsreadoman/


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The Open Minds forum, a unique thought-leadership forum, was held at Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort. Photos: Shabin E


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Yellow Chilli Oman's second outlet was opened in Muscat at the Panaroma Mall on Monday. Photo: Shabin E


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S U D O K UHOW TO PLAYFill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.

Level | Very Easy

Level | Moderate

Level | Easy

Level | Difficult

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hi 19 february 2016

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