Y - Issue 216 - April 17, 2012 - Y-oman.com

Weekly April 17, 2012
Issue 216
PEER
POWER
Richard Harrison
WRITTEN
ENGLISH VS
SPOKEN
ENGLISH
Saud Al Busaidi
AN OMANI
GENTLEMAN
Mitsubishi
SKIRTING
JABAL AKHDAR
Music & Culture
SLICE OF GUJARAT

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Dear Reader,
While it is easy to blame peer pressure on all the
‘cool dudes’ hanging around the school/college
campus, what is of significant importance in this
game is the indirect pressure from the media,
including social media channels like Facebook.
Knowingly or unknowingly everyone could be a
party to this pressure game; it could be a stray
comment about a hairstyle or even a direct offer to
take a drag from a cigarette.
This week's Y-rated focuses on the peer pressures
the youth face on an everyday basis, in schools
and the neighbourhood, against the backdrop
of the ongoing campaign by the non-profit
organisation Rekaaz. There are tips from experts
on the ways and means to tackle the issue and
brace oneself against the onslaught of social
media pressures.
Our Motor-o-Meter takes the Jabal Akhdar
route to highlight some of the strong features of
Mitsubishi Outlander. The column captures the
journey to this beautiful destination in the sturdy
4X4. In our Culture segment, Saud bin Ahmed Al
Busaidi, author of the newly published ‘Memoirs
of An Omani Gentleman from Zanzibar’, takes a
walk down the memory lane to create sepia toned
images of Zanzibar and Oman in the early 70s.
Check out the changes that have crept into written
English language; the Earth Day celebration
with ‘One Day On Earth’ documentary film;
Indian Bollywood singer Bali Brahmbhatt’s new
music album project; Springboard programme
for Nawras women, etc. Also, read our regular
features like Venture, Beauty, Food Path, Stuff and
Game On.
Enjoy!
Y Team
4

This week in
April 17, 2012 Issue 216
10
Twentyfour Seven
Khimji Ramdas, Creative Women, Dar Al Aatta,
Decoria
12
Check This Out
Events, Movies in the Park, Nikhil Chinapa,
Earth Day, Gujarat Glory, Written English
30 Culture
Saud Ahmed al Busaidi
24
Y-rated
Peer Pressure
32 Motor-O-Metre
Mitsubishi Outlander
39
X-tra Time
Red Bull X-Fighters, 2012,
RAHGC Club Champions
22
Food Path
Grilled Affair
45 Chillaxative
Crosswords, Social Media
Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi Editor-in-Chief
Suzy Fontes Work Editor | Clint Derric Egbert Sports Writer/Photographer
Jerzy Wierzbicki Photographer | Shrikant Akojwar Art Director/Design
Eihab Abutaha CEO | Feroz Khan Director of Sales & Marketing | Ayman Canawati Logistics Manager
For editorial enquiries, email info@y-oman.com | Published by SABCO Press, Publishing & Advertising LLC | Y is a SABCO Media Product.

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
7

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
WINNING LETTER
Garbage Woes
Dear Y,
The article ‘Dumped and Forgotten’ in Y-rated was an eye opener and also thought provoking, especially
under the current scenario.
Sultanate of Oman is a beautiful country blessed with beautiful beaches, historic forts, mountains and
worldclass shopping malls and the place everyone wants to reside and also proudly calls a second home.
Now it is our duty to make this wonderful country to be more beautiful and be a pioneer in clean up activities
of the litters that have been dumped everywhere. ESO should be lauded for their all out efforts to make Oman
litter-free and campaigns such as Clean up is much needed one. The earlier campaigns launched by ESO
were very useful and a hit with the society; ‘Say No to Plastics’ is one of them. I am sure there was a reduced
usage of plastic bags after this campaign. The three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle should be followed in all
aspects of our life to ensure that we are also contributing something towards the environment.
The various health hazards, when exposed to solid waste, could also be avoided if we are prepared to
dispose them off in a proper way. The graph showing the decomposition of litters is very useful and should
be preserved for informing our children; they should be well advised from their young age itself to be more
responsible. I am sure this method will work wonders since they are the future of our society and they also
feel their tiny contribution to the environment. Thanks to Y, ESO and their supporters for creating awareness
about dumping and their after effects and we can join hands to see that Sultanate of Oman glitters like Gold
without any litters.
Indumathi
READER'S LETTERS
Trash It In
Dear Y,
I would like to thank you for throwing light on this topic. It is true that the trash bags are thrown out of the
bin rather than dumping them in the bin. The reason is that the street cats live in them, and you never know
when a cat will jump on your face out of the bin, which is the most common reason in the Sultanate why
people throw garbage bags outside the bins.
Those who have to hurry to office or to work also usually throw the garbage bags near the bins in a hurry.
There are many disadvantages when this is done. Besides awful smell diseases also spread very fast.
Muscat is the second cleanest city in the world so we should maintain that by not throwing the garbage bags
outside because the litter flies away with the wind and spreads in the city making it unclean and dirty.
Shaheena Munawar
be a winner!
Each week we are selecting our best
reader’s letter or image, and giving away free
vouchers, courtesy Shang Thai. Simply email
us at info@y-oman.com
Value of prizes may vary each week. This prize is not
redeemable for cash or alternatives.
Only one winner is selected at the discretion of Y
magazine. Proof of Identity is required to claim your prize.

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Parental Monitoring
Dear Y,
In today's world, children can grow up very easily and within no time
they can learn all the good and bad things, thanks to technology.
Parental monitoring is required for today's children as a whole.
Children who are in the age group of 10-20 don't know the good and
bad things and often fall prey to many outside sources, which they
are able to connect through Facebook, Twitter and other sites.
PET ME!
My name is Sam. I
am a very handsome
three-year-old, fully
vaccinated and
neutered male, and I
am looking for a loving
family to adopt me.
Such is their age that even if parents guide them towards good
things, they will not listen. Parents should always keep a check on
their children’s activities whether inside the house or outside the
house to prevent them from exposing to dangers. They can give
them a helping hand if needed to overcome the problems. With the
advent of Internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc., which were not available
previously, parents should be forced to monitor in double shifts to
see any abnormal behaviours in their children.
Modern Day technology is one of the best things to happen but
the same can put us in unknown danger zone not only for children
but also for everyone and children are more vulnerable so parental
monitoring is a must for children in all walks of life to make them
good human beings.
K.R.Anand
I came to the clinic
for an operation after I
was hit by a car and, luckily for me, the doctors here managed to fix my
broken leg and now I am well. I would be better suited to living indoors,
as I love to lounge around and sleep!
I do get along well with other cats, but I do prefer it if they are younger
than me, as I like to be the boss! I love dogs; I get along great with them
– even better than I do with cats!!
If you would like to come and meet me, then please call Laura on:
24562263.

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
DECORIA IN MUSCAT
DÉCOR CORE Interior Architecture ‘DECORIA’, which is all set to open its doors in the capital towards the end
of the month, will provide high-end interior architecture services for both residential and commercial markets.
Over the past years, their offices in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), Beirut
(Lebanon) and Damascus (Syria) have developed a distinct reputation for design expertise and proficiency to
become one of the leading firms in the design field.

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
KHIMJI RAMDAS PARTICIPATES IN OGWA
The Oil and Gas Division of Khimji Ramdas, Infrastructure Group, is participating for
the third time in the Oil and gas West Asia (OGWA) exhibition from April 16th-18th at
the Oman Exhibition Centre, with the aim of strengthening their presence across the
Middle East.
The three-day event, which is held under the patronage of Oman’s Ministry of Oil
and Gas and supported by Petroleum Development Oman, has consistently attracted
growing numbers of foreign producers, equipment manufacturers and service suppliers
since its inaugural edition in 1998.
“OGWA has been a great platform for us to showcase our products and services to our
potential customers,” said V Srinivasan, Senior Division Manager, Oil and Gas Division
– Khimji Ramdas. “We will showcase products from Hydratight, Enerpac, Karlstorz,
Garden Denver, Super products, Fexitallic.”
Their qualified and well trained team at Al Qadeer Engineering Services LLC, a separate entity of the oil and Gas Division, will be available to assist the customers
on specialised services for the Oil and Gas industry like chemical cleaning, catalyst change out, high pressure water jetting, flange management, online leaksealing,
valve and pump maintenance, tank cleaning, heat exchanger maintenance and cleaning, super vacuuming and sludge pump out.
CELEBRATING CREATIVE WOMEN
To acknowledge and celebrate Oman’s creative women, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa and the Bait Al Zubair
Foundation are presenting an exhibition entitled, ‘Brides of Photography.’ Opening today, the exhibition is part of an ongoing
series of exhibitions held at the resort’s art gallery, dedicated to promoting the art and culture of Oman to the world.
The Brides of Photography exhibition will display pieces by 80 top female photographers of Oman. The creative works
reveal the photographers’ eclectic vision, focusing on landscape, portraits, still life compositions, feelings and narratives.
All photographers are members of the Omani Society for Fine Arts Photography Club, which has assisted with the Brides of
Photography exhibition.
The exhibition will run for the next three months at the art gallery in Al Bandar hotel in Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and
Spa, Sultanate of Oman. Open to the public, the gallery timings are 10 am to 10 pm, daily.
WINNERS OF DAR AL ATTA’A LET’S READ
WRITING COMPETITION
The Let’s Read Committee had an overwhelming response to their annual
Writing Competition. This year’s theme being ‘Stories from the Souk,’ the
committee received 600 entries in English and Arabic from 22 different
schools around the country. Eleven judges worked together, following
various assessment criteria, to mark each and every story. Marks were
awarded for effort, content, originality, imagination, use of vocabulary,
grammar, presentation and illustrations according to three age categories:
4 to 8 years, 9 to 13 years and 14 to 18 years. This year, there were 31
prizewinners and 19 ‘Honourable Mentions.’
“Being a judge for the writing competition gave me a wonderful chance to
enter into the imaginations of children from all backgrounds. It taught me
that no matter what our cultural differences are, we are all very similar at
the end of the day. We all share the same basic love of telling and reading
stories. Well done to all that entered. You all made me smile,” said one of the
judges, Elizabeth Sarhani. Another judge, Cathy Dalton agreed with her saying, it was wonderful to read the unusual and original stories the children submitted.
The committee is looking forward to meeting the winners and awarding prizes at the Big Book Day on April 19th from 3pm to 7pm at the Al Qurum Complex.
11

Events
Do you have an upcoming event Drop us a mail at info@y-oman.com and your
event could be featured in the next issue of Y!
A BOOK IN EVERY HAND
April 12th, 19th & 26th
Qurum City Centre is hosting a fun, interactive storytelling sessions called 'A Book in Every Hand' for
children and parents within the community. Organised jointly with the Reading Skills Development Center
association, 'A Book in Every Hand' takes place every Thursday morning, for five weeks, from March
29th.
‘BRIDES OF PHOTOGRAPHY’ EXHIBITION
April 17th to July 17th
‘Brides of Photography’ exhibition featuring the works of 80 Omani women photographers will open today
at Shangri La's Bar al Jissa Resort and Spa’s art gallery; it will run for the next three months. The gallery
is open from 10am to 10pm daily.
BIG BOOK DAY
April 19th
Let’s Read is holding its annual 'Big Book Day' on April 19th at Qurum Complex between 3-7pm; the
winners of the 6th Writing Competition, ‘Stories from the Souq’ will be announced then as well.
PANASH MUSIC FESTIVAL
April 19th
A special night featuring Pearl, Nikhil Chinapa and VJ Kaycee at The InterContinental Hotel Muscat. Doors
open at 9pm.

PANASH Music Festival, featuring India’s popular DJ Pearl and Nikhil
Chinapa, along with VJ Kaycee, is all set to wow music lovers with
house, techno and progressive music on Thursday, April 19th, at the Al
Jabrin Ballroom in the InterContinental Hotel Muscat.
The DJ duo will rock the capital with their patented style of presentation
and music that has, at its heart, the pulse of both young and mature
audiences. It promises to be a fun evening with all the right doses of
music, lights and a perfect ambience for dance and cheer.
An MTV product, Nikhil infuses a fresh new feel to every genre of
music he plays. He has donned many an avatar since he began his
foray into the world of MTV with the India’s VJ Hunt contest in 1996,
which, incidentally, he won. Following that, he has gone on to host
a number of shows, including MTV Select, MTV Chillout (India), MTV
Super Select and MTV Discover n Download. From DJ to VJ to MC to
music promoter to festival director, Nikhil has well proven his calibre in
the field of music presentation. He is also very active in television reality
shows and singing contests, as a host and a judge; he has hosted reality
shows like India’s Got Talent, MTV Roadies, MTV Splitsvilla, etc. He is
also the Festival Director of Asia’s premier music festival – Sunburn
Festival in Goa.
As a DJ he has found fame all over the world, more so following the
establishment of ‘Submerge’, along with his wife DJ Pearl. ‘Submerge’
is an electronic dance music and alternative club scene, which serves
as a platform for upcoming DJs in the country. It has attracted some of
the top VJ names from the local Indian music scene and has been the
venue for popular international DJs.
DJ Pearl’s entry into the world of music can be traced to her search
for that perfect synergy of music and atmosphere. Her search for new
tunes as she clubbed across the globe, created in her a passion for a
genre that proved to be her definitive style – House music. She has
pioneered the cause of House music across the Indian subcontinent. To
her list of credits is the invitation from the famous Ministry of Sound in
London. She was the only DJ invited from India!
PANASH Music Festival is presented by High Wave Entertainment in
collaboration with Y, Merge 104.8, Syed Ahmed and Hemang Company,
Submerge, Khazir, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Alatool
Muscat.
Doors open at 9pm Thursday.
13

WATCH MOVIES IN THE PARK
Words | Priyanka Sacheti
Visitors to Qurum Park during the past few Thursdays would have witnessed its transformation into
an exciting outdoor cinema space - ‘Movies in the Park’. The brainchild of Filip and Toni Keunen,
‘Movies in the Park’, is showing popular films from India, Russia, China, Italy, United States, and
Germany, as well as short films from budding filmmakers in Oman, until May 10th.
“We were always wondering about the different activities we could pursue in Muscat, something new and
different,” says Toni. They then conceptualised the idea of playing films in Qurum Park, replicating the
scenario of drive-in theatres or outdoor cinemas, and suggested the proposal to Muscat Municipality, who
loved it – and from there on, Movies in the Park was born. “We also injected a cultural element into the idea
and got embassies involved,” Toni points out, adding that screening films from their respective countries
meant cinemas that the embassies felt would be enjoyed by both their community as well as the international
audience. “It was therefore important to select a movie that would be universally appealing, cutting across
gender, nationalities, and age-groups,” she says, observing that it would also be interesting to see how other
people responded to a film that has been hugely popular in another country.
Apart from the opportunity of experiencing international cinema, Movies in the Park is also a cross-cultural
event, becoming a meeting point for different cultures. “Also, you get to experience something fun and
new over the weekend, rather than just hanging out at a mall,” Toni says. The event is also using Muscat’s
beautiful, manicured parks in an alternative creative context, perhaps paving the way for future parkoriented
cultural events. An event, which has set a precedent in Muscat, Toni says ‘Movies in the Park’
required much organisation to make it happen, but it has been a hugely worthwhile experience. “It has been
a social initiative and labour of love in equal measures,” she says.
Apart from the charm of seeing a film in an entirely novel environment, the event is also encouraging the
local cinema-scene. A public Short Film competition for budding filmmakers has been instituted, in which
filmmakers can upload their short films on the Movies in the Park Facebook page. If the film meets the
competition criteria, which has an Oman-based theme, it could be selected for screening, just before the
main movie on a Thursday. The three best films’ creators will then get a chance to participate in a film
workshop organised by the British Council and led by British Broadcast Media personality, Roger Fayle, who
will be the one selecting the winners.

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
1
DAY
ON
EARTH
‘One Day On Earth’, a global initiative to imbue
the spirit of universal oneness, will mark the
‘Earth Day’ at City Cinema, Al Shatti Qurum, on
April 22. The documentary feature film will be
presented to a select gathering at two shows
– 5.30pm and 7.30pm. As per the plans, the
film will be screened, simultaneously, in 160
countries around the world.
Brought to Oman by Al Wisal 96.5 and Merge
104.8, in collaboration with Brand Oman, the
film presents a panoramic snapshot of events
captured around the earth on October 10,
2010. It includes footage of films shot in every
part of the world on that particular day, creating
a descriptive image of earth that is home to
millions of people, different yet alike in their
stand towards mother earth.
The screening of this debut film in Oman, though,
is open to invitees only, as the organisers do
not want to dilute the strong message packed
into the film. Interested people and those
environmentally inclined could grab a chance
to watch the film by tuning in to Al Wisal 96.5
or Merge 104.8.
The film is the creation of United Nations,
with the help of international community of
filmmakers, and contains over 3,000 hours
of recording. It is the result of more than
19,000 professional and amateur filmmakers,
who pooled their creative minds to produce a
landmark in the history of Earth Day, which was first observed in San Francisco and other cities on March 21,
1970. Since then, each year, environmentalists conduct events aimed at increasing awareness of Earth’s natural
environment.
The ‘One day on Earth’ project was headed by its founder and director Kyle Ruddick and co-founder and
executive producer Brandon Litman, who donated cameras to nearly 100 country offices of United Nations. The
film’s endearing music by Paul Simon, Fela Kuri and Sigur Ros, among others, is an inspirational piece culled
from works of artistes around the world.
The complete film is a picture of interconnected humanity, as demonstrated by the trailer plugged into the
website www.onedayonearth.org. It showcases the amazing diversity, conflict, tragedy and triumph that take
place in one day, around the world. The film covers a wide range of topics. The initial success of the project has
led to its continuation, with another day of filming occurring on November 11, 2011. Organisers hope to keep
the project going through 2015.
15

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
From 'What’s up', the unconventional greeting that created a fad just
a couple of years ago, to 'Wassup', which inferred similar salutation,
and the current 'Ssup', a completely abridged version of ‘What’s up’,
life in the English language lane has been strangely unpredictable
during the last decade or more. The impulsive foray, into a territory
that has been, for centuries, defined by conventions and rules, has
been more pronounced in the world of written English. The change
has been drastic, overpowering, exciting and, to some extent, even
detrimental to a language that is spoken in all parts of the world.
WRITTEN
ENGLISH
‘WRITE’ NOTES
Words | Suzy Fontes Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki
EMA
Written English is becoming more like spoken English, a trend that has
To the pedantic mind, this changeability factor is an unnecessary
development, one that could alter the very substance of a language that
has, for centuries, held the imagination of people from all walks of life. For
those who are charmed by the creative elements at work, in altering the
very façade of the language, this is a beautiful phase. And those who yoyo
between it-is-good and it-is-detrimental views, the cascading effects of
change is best deciphered with a wait-and-watch policy.
Against the background of the compulsive ongoing changes to the English
language, Richard Harrison, Course Coordinator for Academic English, Head
of Pre-University Programme, GUTech (German University of Technology
in Oman) deliberated on the decisive question: *What is happening to the
written English
BLOGGING
In a chat with Y, he explored the gargantuan changes that have taken place
in the language between, what he referred to as, two revolutions – the
printing press revolution of the 15th century and the current electronic media
revolution. “I am looking at what has happened in between; I am looking at
the changes (to the written language) that have taken place since the first
printing press. One of the main things that have come out in this is that
written English is becoming, rather, more like spoken English; a trend that
has been accelerated by email and blogging and, generally, the Internet.”
What is more striking, he says, is the length of sentences. “They (sentences)
used to be 50 to 60 words long, but nowadays it is about 20 words; also
sentences are becoming more direct,” he observes, adding that the use
of passive sentences has also declined. “Everything is becoming simpler
and more direct.” To illustrate these developments, he shows samples of
editorial and letter to the editor taken from The Times newspaper a hundred
years ago and compares them with The Times today. Such comparison,
he explains, brings out the pattern mentioned. “We see that sentences
are becoming shorter and more direct and also that people are using less
complex vocabulary - quite a few dramatic changes.” These changes are
discernible also in the context of business letters, he states, more so during
the last three to four decades. “We see that they have become shorter and
more direct with simpler vocabulary. Again, this trend is seen across all the
different genres of writing, whether it is legal text, novels, newspapers or
business communication. It is happening all the time,” he points out.
Defining it as an interesting phase, he notes that the changes have been
accelerated because of the changes taking place in the electronic media,
which he refers to as the second revolution. “Like all revolutions, once it
starts, you don’t know where it is going. So this is one of the interesting
things that we have to really wait and see.”
IN
16

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
While on this subject, he says, texting too has had a role to play, despite
the refrain from some people who opine that it is not a form of writing.
“It is actually very popular, and, for many people, it is the only form of
writing they do,” remarks Richard.
IL
EMAIL
But, what is surprising is the popularity texting has gained. Calling it
an amazing phenomenon, he says, “We never imagined that this would
catch on.” Nevertheless, what is worrisome is the spill over from texting
into other forms of writing. “We occasionally see that with our students’
essays. They put in things that are really meant for text messages. But
this doesn’t happen very often,” he adds.
Email is the other pertinent issue relating to English writing. “The
question here is whether email is, in fact, a form of writing or is it
just a speech written down. Well, email can be anything you want it
to be; it could be a formal business letter or something lighter. Email
creative, inventive, playful, etc., but others, who are more strict, will say the
language is deteriorating.”
According to Richard, there are two camps: one camp feels what is happening
is just ordinary language change and that language change happens
all the time; the other camp opines the quality of language is becoming
poorer - that language is deteriorating. “My own position is somewhere in
between,” he states. Highlighting the changes that are an inherent part of
every language, he notes that in the 20th century, when the telephone came
along, and with the advent of radio, films and television, everyone thought
it was the end of the written language. He explains the phenomenon as
follows: “We can’t predict the future, for what has happened is the opposite.
We at the university are trying to teach English academically. We have to
decide what the boundaries are. There is always the pressure coming from
students who want to write their academic essays as though they are talking
to their friends. In our own teaching we do stop students from using informal
TERNET
been accelerated by email, blogging and, generally, the Internet.
tends to be more like spoken English; it accentuates the current trend.
There are also other issues with emails: it can be very direct and abrupt
and sometimes can sound rude,” he says. Interestingly, there are no
conventions yet for sending mails and there is no reason to believe
it could happen in the future. “The message is that these things are
developing and we don’t really know where it is going,” he states.
From personal websites to company websites, there is a vast range of
Internet options for writers. This makes it very difficult to generalise
what is happening with the Internet, says Richard, emphasising that
sentences are becoming shorter and more direct. There is less use of
passive sentences and Latinate vocabulary and more use of simpler
Anglo-Saxon vocabulary, he explains, adding that there is also less
use of clauses – relative clauses, and more stress on direct forms of
communication.
“We seem to be changing rules; lot of sentences, nowadays, begin with
conjunctions like ‘and’, ‘but’, etc. In the past this was not considered
to be a good style. Today, even in The Times, sentences begin with
conjunctions; there are even sentences that contain verbs. Normally, we
call them fragments of sentences, not real sentences. If students used
it, we would underline it in red,” he asserts.
So, the question, what is right and what is wrong in written English, is
still in the debating stage, as the rules are changing all the time. Richard
says: “At the moment there are no rules. I mean, we have conventions,
but conventions are changing all the time. Because one thing about
the Internet is that people are making their own rules. They have this
liberty to do as they like; they can change spellings if they want or even
play with the language. Some people welcome this, saying it is very
language in academic writing; we stop them from using anything close to
text message. There is a general academic style, which most institutions
would aspire towards…”
INTERNET
While the changes in written language are obvious, what is startling,
or rather surprising, is the change in teen lingo. This, says Richard, is a
different issue altogether. “They (teenagers) deliberately like to create their
own language, one that nobody else understands. Once those words are
used by other groups they lose their interest in them, and they start all over
again. “In conclusion, I would state that we are still in the early stages of this
revolution. We don’t know what new forms of technology will come along.
We were taken by surprise with texting - nobody foresaw it. We don’t know
what’s going to happen. New technology may come along with very good
quality dictation or machines…
“This is really the beginning of the revolution. And although changes happen
all the time, we can see that from the 15th century up to the 21st century
there has been a gradual change in the written language. It has accelerated
in the recent past and we don’t really know where this is all going…”
SPOKEN
ENGLISH
* ‘What is happening to written English’ was the topic of the evening
presentation by Richard Harrison at GUTech, last week.
17

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
‘I learnt how to say ‘No’ and become assertive.’
‘We share a bond…’
‘I found ‘me’ time’
These are a few sentiments expressed by ladies from the ‘Springboard’
programme at Nawras. They have been a part of the training programme
that saw them undertake projects aimed at community development, among
others.
For the uninitiated, Springboard
is a three-month empowerment
programme (from the British Council),
specifically developed and written for
women. Its objectives are to take clear
practical realistic steps to have more
control over ones life, find out what
one values and to make decisions and
take actions based on those values.
Explaining the programme, Ayesha Al
Shoily, HR and People Engagement
Manager and Licensed Springboard
Trainer at Nawras, says, “Since we
started the programme about three
years ago, we have trained about 50
ladies. We have done three workshops;
each workshop allows you to train 15
to 35 participants. We took one step
forward by encouraging team members
to come up with projects after the
workshop. The workshop itself consists
of four sections and the participants
learn personality development aspects
like assertiveness, communication,
leadership, etc. Nawras has been a
great support for this; they supported
by funding the programme as well
as the different groups and their
projects.”
‘SPRINGBOARD
Three groups were created for the programme: Group 1 worked on ‘We Care’
project, which was a charity event for women who have started businesses
from home (they are now working on ‘we care 2’); ‘Bookworm’ was the Group 2
project aimed at creating an internal library; and the third, ‘Our Children’, was a
charity event to raise money for the orphanage.
Every participating lady in the programme was assigned to do a different project.
Sabra Al Alawi (Contact Centre, Department Head Support) and her team did a
charity event for an orphanage centre in Oman. “We learnt a lot from each
other’s experiences, and this helped us to network together and know each
other at different levels. We learnt that when you do something good for a noble
cause it makes you grow as a person,” she says.
TO SUCCESS
Words | Suzy Fontes Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki
re-evaluate herself and take life-changing decisions that she would not have
thought otherwise. “I have learned how to say ‘No’ and become assertive. I now
have the confidence to ask for things that I would never normally ask. It made
me believe that the power is within me and not in others. Truly a life-changing
experience…” Expressing similar sentiments, Maliha Al Suleimany (Finance,
Billing Operations Specialist – Wholesale) points out that what she liked most
about Springboard 3, the programme that she attended, was that the ladies in
the group, most who came from different backgrounds and upbringings, had
similar ambitions and fears and that
all shared the ideals of reaching a
certain goal. She says, “Whenever
I came to the class I never felt
intimidated by anyone, even
though we had department heads
and managers… Whenever I said
anything I felt everyone was holding
my hand. ...We shared a bond.”
‘
For Najwa Al Mayahi (Finance, Billing
& Credit Control Administrator)
Team Leader for the Bookworm
(an internal Nawras library) project,
Springboard helped balance her life,
as she was going through a lot of
stress at that time. Balancing work
and family life, comprising three
boys born in a span of two years,
seemed difficult and she felt she
was losing control. “I lost control of
time-management,” she says.
Interestingly, what inspired Manal Al
Kiyumi (Marketing, Communication
Specialist), Team Leader for the
‘We Care’ project, was the absence
of men in the course. “I knew I
could gossip a lot,” she says lightheartedly.
Although she didn’t
expect Springboard to set her life
and balance it in terms of work,
family and business, things soon fell in place. “I’d thought of starting a business
few years back, but I never said to myself lets do it or just do it. But, by the time
I finished the last session in Springboard, I was all set to open my abaya shop
called ‘Al Badawiya’,” she explains.
Further, this course also helped her understand the values she needs in her life,
and find motivation in the question ‘what if…’, which according to her, is essential
to help make a ‘Plan B’ for life’s various vagaries.
It was curiosity that brought Joukha Al Shaili (Marketing Project Coordinator) to the
Springboard programme. ‘Who am I’ was the question that egged her on to take
up the programme, as well as also a desire to hear other people’s experiences.
Team Leader of ‘Our Children’ project, Zahra Al Busaidi (Nawras Stores,
Assistant Branch Manager), says she was mobilised to join the programme with
the objective of building her confidence and leadership, qualities that helped her
undertake the charity event last month.
What makes the programme interesting is also the focus on personality
development to help the ladies cope with the day-to-day stress. As Sittie
Haiffah Lantud (HR Training Administrator) states, the course helped her to
She felt she was losing the basic connect with herself. “I was lost somewhere
between my work and my kids. I forgot who I am anymore… Now I know there
is time for family, time for friends and there is time for me; I was looking for ‘me
time’,” she describes.
Although Ayesha says the Springboard programme has no magic answers, she
hastens to add that it is a self-driven development programme, which clearly
states that, “If you don’t push yourself to succeed no one will do it for you.”
18

GUJARAT
IN ALL ITS GLORY
Words and Photography | Clint Derric Egbert
Gujarat, an Indian state of music lovers, is known
for producing some of the best musicians of
India, including legendary musicians of the likes
of Baiju Bawra, Tana Riri and Narsinh Mehta,
to name a few. The state and its people are
renowned for its preserved dynamic traditions of
classical and folk music. Known to be the heart
and soul of Gujarat, traditional music and dance
forms like the Garba, Garbi, Raas are cherished
as a part of life of Gujaratis across the globe. In
Oman, which is second home to a relatively large
population of Gujarati men and women, there is
a sense of pride in their culture and arts.
Manoj Bhatt,
General Manager
at MHMY
Auditors, who
has dedicated
much of his time
to promoting
the Gujarati
culture here in
Oman through
song, dance and
cultural events,
recently presented
‘Paarijat’, a
Gujarati musical
show, organised
by Indian Social
Manoj Bhatt Club’s Kacchi
Wing, which
successfully gathered music aficionados to perform
and experience the beauty of Gujarati dance and
music.
Manoj Bhatt and
his team captured
the audience with
melodious old Gujarati
songs, along with
fabulous compositions
from Manoj himself and
Ramesh Ramtekji, which
was sung by Bhrambhatt,
Pandita and Mahesh.
Bali Brahmbhatt also
performed his original
hit songs ‘Patel Rap’
and ‘Aato Prem Che’ at
the event.
Manoj reveals that he
is planning to organise
a show in the near
future, showcasing
songs of some of the
greatest music artists
in Bollywood, which
will be presented by
talented singers here
in the country. He is
also looking forward to
releasing an album in the future.
Bali Brahmbhatt comments on the show saying, “I love
the concept behind this show. Manoj Bhat has put in
such an effort to do a show that is totally based on
Gujarati songs and music; basically trying to revive
and maintain the pride in Gujarati culture and music
The event, which showcased performances from Omani
expatriate talents – Sree Lakshmi, Priyadarshani,
Haider Naqvi, Mohammed Rafi, Mr. Pandita and
Mahesh Mankodi - tapped into the soul of Gujarat and
its age-old music culture, mesmerising an audience of
all ages, from all walks of life. The show was anchored
by international sensation and Bollywood music icon
Bali Brahmbhatt, along with Sharad Shah, who kept
the audience entertained with Shers and Shayaris
(Urdu and Hindi rhymes), in between the performances.
20

with the youngsters here in the country. I think the youngsters
have actually forgotten; now they seem to be more into Kolaveri
De, and they don’t know much about Gujarati culture and music
because nobody has tried to bring it to them the way we did in
this show. So, it’s the beginning of many things, and I think it’s a
wonderful effort. My father has always taught me to appreciate
the culture that you are born into, be it Omani culture, Gujarati,
Punjabi, Marathi or whatever it may be, you should be proud of
your roots. I thoroughly support the cause… I came all the way
from Mumbai because I liked what they were doing for Gujarati
music here in this beautiful country Oman.”
Bali is an avid traveller and Oman is one destination on his list
that he visits fairly often. Having learnt of his latest project in
the country, Y jumped at an opportunity for an interview with
the singer. In a
freewheeling interview
with Y, he reveals
a project that he is
currently working on
with Mahesh Mankodi,
Finance Director at
OAMC and a hardcore
music enthusiast;
he tells us that a
new album, which
is currently in the
making, is scheduled
to be released in the
near future.
“I am a dreamer, and I will continue to
dream till I’m alive.” Mahesh Mankodi
“When I talk about
Oman… I’m in love
with this place. I have
great friends here, and
the Omani hospitality
is none to match in this
world. Everybody is so
nice and I thank them
all for making me feel so
welcome, every time.”
Bali Brahmbhatt
Explaining his new
venture, Bali, who
composed the album
himself, states: “A few
years ago, Mahesh
Mankodi and I met on
a flight from Mumbai
to Muscat… we were the only two passengers in the
business class section, when he approached me. We
got talking, a conversation that lasted for almost an
hour… He told me that his dream was to sing.
Now, what was going through my mind at the time was
‘oh no, not again’, because I meet a lot of people who
claim to sing but just can’t, so I sardonically asked him
to sing a song. But, when he sang I was surprised at
what I heard; he really did have a great voice and feel
for music… you can’t teach someone how to feel. So
I did the music for him to which he sang beautifully; it
was a non-commercial venture and so he circulated
the album only to selective people, mainly close friends
and family.
It wasn’t long before his interest for music grew even
further, encouraging him to take up musical and vocal
training. In a span of two years I noticed so much
improvement in his singing that I felt he was capable of
singing more challenging songs, like Ghazals. That’s
how I designed an album, which is currently in the
process of recording - the music is ready and his voice
is perfect for this kind of album.”
Mahesh’s love for music began at a very young age;
his passion for singing encouraged him to perform
in various music events here in the country, earning
him quite a recognition as a singing artist. His undying
desire and determination to cut a music album of his
own has driven him to finally achieve his goal.
Talking to Y about his upcoming album, he says: “Still
untitled, this Ghazal album is composed and directed
by Bali Brahmbhatt. We have already finished recording
four songs, right here in Muscat at the Golden Strings
Studio. The album will have eight Ghazals in total;
the other four songs will be completed soon. Music
is my passion, and I’ve always dreamt of having my
own album. This album will consist of Ghazals that are
unheard and unsung - brand new. Given the fact that it
is an Urdu album, we have ensured that the lyrics are
not too complicated so that listeners can relate to it
easily, even people who aren’t too fluent in Urdu.”
When asked what inspired him to make this album,
Mahesh says it was the challenge and toil to create
brand new musical compositions that spurred him on
to produce his very own album.
He adds, “I am thankful, first and foremost, to my God,
my forever supportive wife, and this beautiful country
and its people for giving us the opportunity and
encouragement to live our dreams. I would also like to
thank Bali for his support and for putting his heart and
soul in composing such wonderful ghazals.”
21

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Words | Suzy Fontes Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki
GRILLED TO
PERFECTION
Shatti al Qurum is by far the most happening place in Muscat. The eateries, the
shopping stops, the sea and the relaxed ambience – perfect for those that relish
their lunch without being nagged by the ticking time or the mounting office work.
Teens hanging around the place are also indicative of its popularity among young
folks. A ‘good time’ feel abounds here, spreading on to the ‘sizzling’ restaurant –
Just Grilled – at the Jawharat Shatti Mall.
There is a casual ambience about its outdoor seating, discernible from the gay abandon in
the conversations floating from the groups enjoying the meal, when we decided to check out
the restaurant’s grilled fare. The ‘fiery’ image embedded in their ‘Just Grilled’ logo caught our
imagination and we were ready for a hearty lunch – and we were not disappointed. Au contraire,
the super huge portions and the healthy feel of the grilled stuff put us into a child-like mood,
wanting to rush out and share the news with friends.
Our friendly host for the afternoon, Ashish Sampat, Managing Director of Just Grilled, turned
the official lunch into a relaxed, homely affair, pampering us with some of the best items on the
menu. We were seated in the vestibule of the mall, in comfortable leather seats, with creepers
of ‘money plants’ bordering the place and natural sunlight from the high ceiling, creating a cosy
ambience. Just right for an afternoon that has all the signs of summer having approached and
made home for the season.The stars of the cast included mocktails, burgers, sandwiches and
grilled fish. The details of each dish will provide the right mix for foodies who have a sixth sense
about restaurants and the fare they put out. So here goes…
For the mocktails, we had a choice of three very colourful drinks: ‘Summer Cooler’ with fresh
mint, lemon juice and crushed ice; ‘Arabian Sunset’ made with watermelon, grapefruit, orange
and lime; and a smoothie ‘Mango-de-Jango’ - mango, banana, orange juice and yoghurt.
22

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Although it was difficult to make a specific
choice based on the tastes and flavours of
the drinks, our overwhelming vote went to the
‘Summer Cooler’, made tangy with lime and
flavoured abundantly with mint – what a great
energiser! We were ready for the big lunch
planned by Ashish.
FOOD
PATH
And what a spread that was: First up was
‘Juicy Lucy’, a scrumptious burger with 8oz
double beef burger, stiffed cheese and turkey
bacon topped with fried egg, alongside pickled
garnishes, steak fries and house salad. A
whopper of a burger!
This was followed by ‘Almond crusted dory and
rockets’ which was mild in taste and just right
for the health-conscious diners. The dory fillets
are roasted with almond crusts and presented
with cherry tomatoes, rocca leaves and steak
fries. This was lighter and just right for those
that are wary of spice in their fish.
The last on the main course menu was ‘Peri
Peri Dog’, a scrumptious sandwich that could
be had at any time of the day. It contains slices
of chicken hot dog, peri peri sauce, jalapeno,
cream cheese and focaccia bread. The melting
cheese, spread over the hot dogs, turns this
into a perfect lunch.
Well, Ashish saved the best for the last.
Chocolate Fondue! A sinful bowl of warm
chocolate – rich melted Belgium – with
assorted fruits and finger biscuits to indulge
in. If creeping inches or mounting grams don’t
bother you, just dip into the richness and
enjoy…
On the recommendation of our host, we tapped
our tummies awake with special green tea –
they have an assortment of green tea, black
tea, English breakfast, etc. The hot brew helped
settle the food and boosted our digestion.
PARTING SHOT:
Kudos to ‘Just Grilled’ for winning the ‘Best
Newcomer Award’ at the recently concluded
Oman Restaurant Awards!
Their compact kitchen which is open for public
scrutiny, an interesting range of vegetarian
dishes and the general laidback feel within the
restaurant are sure to make it a first choice for
all those looking for healthy grilled options!
23

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
PRESSURES
OF THE ‘PEER’ KIND
Words | Suzy Fontes Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki
24
‘He was not like this. I don’t know what has come over him…’
she sighed, turning her head to hide the tears threatening to
escape her eyes. Things had, apparently, crossed the threshold
of tolerance. She’d received a call that morning from her son’s
school and all her suspicions about his recent behaviour came
rushing up.
Farha (name changed) first noticed the change in her fourteenyear-old
son when he refused to heed her call for dinner. It wasn’t
like him. ‘I ate with my friends’ he’d retorted, and closed the room
door on her. Following that incident, things escalated, but Farha
couldn’t find a clue to the sudden upheaval in their lives. That
was until the morning, when his teacher called to notify that they
would expel him from school if Farha didn’t bring him along for a
meeting with the principal the next morning. ‘He is playing truant,’
her teacher confirmed her doubts.
Farha’s is not a lone story. She is experiencing the negative effects
of, what is widely referred to as, ‘Peer Pressure’. Her son, who
usually preferred to stay home and read or write, had found new
friends. And Farha is certain that these friends are influencing
him to change his personality and be part of their ‘gang’.

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
But what exactly is peer pressure
According to an online dictionary, peer pressure is ‘social
pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain
action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to
be accepted.’ And, interestingly, this pressure could be direct
or even indirect.
It is all about wanting to belong, says Sayyida Basma Alsaid,
Mental Health Counsellor and Psychotherapist and proprietor
of Whispers of Serenity Clinic. She defines peer pressure as
“what your peers pressure you to do…” and affirms that peer
pressure issues are common everywhere, including Oman
and what Farha is experiencing is not a strange problem.
Basically, every child feels the need to belong. Being a part
of a larger, more popular group is a feel-good factor in the
life of every individual, more so children who are susceptible
to several factors, she opines, pointing out that children are,
often, not able to think for themselves.
Parents should press the panic button when they feel that
their child is ‘not the same as he/she was’, is her advice.
When the parent senses that things are changing, rather
negatively, in the lives of their children, they need to open the
lines of communication for a one-to-one, to understand what
is bothering, rather, what is the cause for the change in their
child.
Providing a general perspective of peer pressure, she says it
could be positive or negative, depending on the kind of group
that one subscribes or belongs to. A positive peer group will
put positive pressure while a negative group will alter things,
at times drastically, for the child.
“It usually happens at a certain age. The child wants to belong
to some group - a popular group. The idea is to be cool. Even
we, as adults, want to belong. It is so important for children
to belong. However, people tend to do wrong things to be in
the group. It depends on the peers concerned. If the peers
are into studying, for example, it is good for the child. The
other extreme could happen when the group indulges, say, in
smoking, taking drugs, etc.,” she describes.
that this is not a weird situation. Every child wants to belong.
Parents must understand that lack of self-confidence might
be motivating the child to seek groups that are popular in the
school/community. Not having friends is not the solution to
the problem.
Parents should focus attention on making their children selfreliable;
they should also be alert to the problem. “It has to start
from home. Alternately, you could ask a counsellor at school.
And even schools could organise lectures or workshops to
make things clear about the problem. The objective should
be to boost self-confidence and self-esteem in a very positive
ambience,” is Sayyida Basma Alsaid’s advice.
When problems related to truancy, or even indulgence in
smoking and drugs sees an increase, the issue of peer
pressure could become ugly. It is best to understand the
problem before it reaches or escalates to that level.
YOUR FRIENDS ARE YOUR REPUTATION
An ongoing campaign on the importance of positive
companionship by Rekaaz, an independent, non-profit media
and awareness foundation that works for consolidating high
morals, highlights the issue of peer pressure on a larger
canvas.
Peer pressure is universal in its context and reach, she says,
adding that it even applies to adults. “Husbands and wives
too can sense the peer pressure in their spouse when they see
that they are not what they used to be. And, more often than
not, it could be the new friend/colleague who is responsible
for the change,” observes Sayyida Basma Alsaid.
There are so many cases of peer pressure that it becomes
imperative on the part of the parents to play a role in
understanding subtle changes in their wards. What is called
for is an intimate talk to apprise the child about the dangers
of peer pressure, without deriding the friend/s or projecting
themselves as perfect individuals with teen years that were
uneventful or smooth, sans any negative influence from
friends. Such messages could make the child feel betrayed
and even alienated, she notes. Parents need to understand
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April 17, 2012 Issue 216
‘Rekaaz – Promoting Ethics’ has focused its 2012 campaign
on ‘Friendship’. Although the stress is on positive friendships,
it also alludes to the dangers of negative influences.
The three-month campaign, from March to May, aspires
to ‘understand and adjust human interactions to uplift
relationships with friends, with the aim of adjusting the nature
of human interactions relating to friendship.’
companions; what is a positive interaction and vice versa, etc.
This may take the form of speeches, stories, plays and even
games to convey the ideals behind the value,” he states.
What is important in a friendship, he notes, is the way one
interacts with ones friends, rather, how each friend makes
one behave or react. “Your companion could be positive or
negative, but how do you ensure that the influence is positive,
and not vice versa How do you control your emotions
How do you ensure that the relationship does not impose
limitations…” he asks.
And to make things simpler, the campaign kit includes a
personality quiz, the answers to which will help the youth
identify their personality type and, accordingly, seek
friendships that match. The campaign kit also highlights
various situations to help the youth understand ways and
means to tackle them. “What kind of relationship one has
with a particular friend is dependent on a variety of factors,
most importantly the personality of the friend. Basically, there
should be respect for each other’s feelings, likes and dislikes,
etc. Relationship itself should be healthy,” is his advice.
But, often, negative influences creep in, and a very good
example of such influence is when a friend calls and says
‘come on, lets go out,’ knowing fully well that you have to
study for an exam, Mohammed points out.
The general objectives of Rekaaz (which in Arabic means gold,
silver and precious minerals hidden under the earth) are to
absorb the different situations associated with friendship: to
build correct self-convictions; strengthen the self-equilibrium
of controlled emotions resulting from the effects of different
situations; infuse the flexibility needed to deal with diverse
attitudes and reactions; and the ability to see positive
behavioural options and choose what fits every situation,
individually.
Mohammed Ali Al Musafir, General Manager of Rekaaz,
explains that the campaign will adjust the emotions of
youngsters in a way that it improves their self-control towards
certain situations through values that help provide a better
outlook towards friendship.
‘Your friends are your reputation’ is the slogan for this
campaign, conveying the eternal message that friends are, in
more ways than one, a reflection of your personality.
Highlighting the campaign activities during the three-month
period, Mohammed explained that it is all thanks to the 800-
plus volunteers who make it a success by going to schools
and colleges and even malls to drive home the message. “We
talk about the meaning of companionship; how to choose right
“Here, a lot of emotions are at play. If you let go of your
emotions and intelligence, things could backfire. Every
relationship should be balanced. And a balanced relationship
is that where one is not indulging in drugs, for example. Friends
can translate into two experiences – positive or negative,” he
points out.
While parents lament that their child is not the same,
owing to peer pressure, what they need to understand is
that the youth could lose values and even direction owing
to negative companionship. “It could even lead to killing,”
warns Mohammed, stressing that friendships are all about
emotions.
The idea is not to tell the youth to abstain from friendships.
“They should determine what kind of relationship they seek.
You need to know what kind of friends you will select; nobody
should influence you. Well, the most difficult part is the teens.
To want to be a part of a group is natural. We encourage youth
to have friends. Everyone has different types of friends and
from each friend the expectation is different.
“A strong emotional intelligence is what we encourage. One
has to be strong from inside; understand how to react in a
situation and have the ability to pull out, when needed.
“Often, it is the negative attitude used positively that
encourages peer pressure. It makes the youth feel better to
follow the group. It is very important for families to closely
monitor their children and assess changes if any. Parents
have to play a role. Children/teens who are not close to the
family look for somebody outside. Some teens, who indulge
26

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
in behaviours that are negative, call it revenge – against the
family, that is. ‘I will teach you a lesson’, is their motive.
As part of the campaign, Rekaaz is active in the media, with
weekly talk shows on Al Wisal 96.5, full-page weekly pullouts on
Al Shabiba newspaper and advertisements on the television.
The ongoing campaign is sponsored by Omanoil. They have
been a part of Rekaaz campaigns during the last couple of
years. Talking about this association, Eng. Nabeel Al Ruwaidhi,
General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Business Development
and Procurement, omanoil, says, “Peer pressure burdens and
limits a person’s potential as it confines individuality, freedom
of creativity and open-mindedness.
“At omanoil, we inspire and encourage strong-willed
characteristics as they form the foundation on which the
company’s innovative and pioneering achievements are
realised. It is in our hands as a fully-fledged Omani company
to engage and enrich our nation by influencing moral social
behaviour and campaigning against peer pressure. We wish
to create agents of change who will leave behind a positive
legacy of respect, confidence and self-worth for Oman’s future
generation.”
Each campaign is planned diligently over nine months to
come up with ideas that will work. Rekaaz started its mission
in the year 2006 from Kuwait, after spotting changes in the
new generations where there was trend of moving away from
the original values and morals. The organisation activities
have been focused on a three-month campaign in which they
develop a slogan concerning a certain moral issue, which they
address to the public.
(www.rekaazoman.com)
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PEER PRESSURE
On the other extreme of peer pressure in the society is the
social media, which has, predictably, taken on a much stronger
role in creating an ambience for friends to spend time and
experience pressures of the peer kind.
Maryam Alawi, a social media specialist and CEO Soshteck
(www.soshteck.net), says, “Social media has created new
forms of peer pressure that are more immediate and broader in
scope than anything experienced in face-to-face situations.
Informational conformity can have an impact on decision
making because the decision maker turns to the members
of his/her social network to obtain accurate information.
Normative conformity may also bias decisions because the
decision maker conforms in an effort to be liked or accepted
by the members of one or more social networks.”
And the precautions to take…
Says Maryam: “Facebook parental controls provide social
network monitoring, privacy and protection. You wouldn’t let
your child go out without knowing where they’re going, who
they’ll be with, what they’re planning to do and when they’ll
be back. Why would you settle for anything less online With
parental controls software for Facebook you can keep tabs
on your kids without interfering. There are Facebook parental
controls software like ZoneAlarm SocialGuard, TrueCare and
SocialShield.
“Social networking has become as much a part of a teen’s
coming-of-age as learning to drive, etc. But what happens on
Facebook doesn’t stay on Facebook. You can think of teen
social networking as a high-school road trip; the appeal is
spending time with friends, seeing new things and sharing
new experiences without adult supervision. But even if your
kid is the safest driver on the road and is going with trusted
friends, as a parent you can’t help but worry about everything
else out there.
“Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and blogs are great ways for
kids to keep in touch with friends, express themselves and
develop social skills. In addition, the technology divide has
a way of dulling our senses and making it seem ‘OK’ to say
things we’d never say to someone’s face, post pictures we’d
never think of sharing in public, and further compromise our
privacy in the name of social networking.”
According to Maryam, popular conceptions regarding the
influence of peers in adolescence often focus on their negative
effects. Supportive relationships between socially skilled
adolescents confer developmental advantages while coercive
and conflicting relationships confer disadvantages. She
quotes Willard H. Hartup (1996) to summarise the situation –
'Knowing that a teenager has friends tells us one thing, but the
identity of his or her friends tells us something else.'
27

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
PEER PRESSURE AND ART OF LIVING
Art of living is about a healthy body, a quiver-free breath,
a stress-free mind, inhibition free intellect, obsession free
memory and ego that embraces all and a soul free from
sorrow. It recognises each individual as unique. “However,
wanting and expecting to be like someone else causes stress
and pressure on the mind and causes obsession, which
makes one lose his/her naturalness. This is what causes
peer pressure among the youth,” explains Mayur Shah, YES!
(Youth Empowerment Seminar) programme teacher at Art
of Living. In the following interview, he provides an Art of
Living perspective to the issue of peer pressure to help youth
overcome the dangers.
Youth want to be liked, to fit in, because they worry that
other kids might make fun of them if they don’t go along with
the group. Others go along because they are curious to try
something new that others are doing. The idea that ‘everyone’s
doing it’ can also be an influencing factor in some kids. This
makes them lose their own judgment and common sense.
What are the precautions to take to avoid such
pressure
Like they say charity begins at home, it should start with one’s
own self first. Recognise that you are unique; inculcate a healthy
value system; develop the skill and ability to discriminate the
good and the bad.
Could parents play a role in controlling the situation
As parents and, as a parent myself, I believe ‘control’ itself
could cause frustration and stress among youth. Teen years
can be tough and quite a crucial stage where the child is going
through a lot of physiological and emotional changes; we as
parents need to be more sensitive to this fact. Hence, yes we
do play quite a significant role in teaching how to manage peer
pressure and to ensure that we are not fulfilling our unfulfilled
dreams through our children. They need to see a friend in us
because there are positive and negative peer pressures. We
need to influence them with positive ones.
They are in the stage of figuring out who they are, what they
believe, what they are good at, what their responsibilities are,
and what their place in the world is going to be. Hence, we
need to talk to them about this as friends and guide them well.
Show them positive examples of peers who are doing well in
school or give their best in a sport, which can influence the
teen to be more goal-oriented, too. Peers who are kind, helpful
and have positive habits influence to build these qualities in
them.
Who are the ones most affected by peer pressure
I believe we are all affected by peer pressure, especially
the teens. Peers influence our life, just by spending time
with them. We learn from them, and they learn from us. It’s
only human nature to listen to and learn from other people,
especially among the teens and the youth who are at a
stage that is like a bridge between childhood and adulthood,
where they are going through a lot of mental and physical
changes.
What kind of peer pressure takes place among the
youth in the society today
Youth spend most of their time at school with their friends
and peers and, to add on, we as parents tend to have them
associated with youth who we feel would have positive
influence over our children. Nothing wrong, but do we realise
that each child is unique Do we want to fulfil our dreams
through them This in itself causes peer pressure in them.
What is the scenario in Oman as far as peer pressure
is concerned
I believe peer pressure in Oman is like in any other country,
because our basic human nature is to learn from others around
us, no matter where we are. However, the type and degree of
peer pressure may vary from one place to another. E.g. having
lived quite a few years in Canada, the peer pressure revolves
around wanting to be part of the community/group, especially
as expats, be it in schools or otherwise.
In Oman my experience and observation has been around
extra activities. Apart from regular schooling, how many extra
activities is the child involved in I would like to share an
interesting observation: I once overheard a conversation in a
party - a lady was mentioning that her child does not get to
study enough because she goes for her dance classes twice
a week and also for her swimming lessons on weekends.
Immediately, there came the response from another lady that
her son has an activity each day of the week, which includes
school tuitions so that he copes with his studies as well.
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April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Now, as parents do we really know if the child is enjoying what
he or she is doing Get them to do what they love doing.
What are the measures suggested by Art of Living to
help children suffering from peer pressure
Art of Living has some unique and absolutely amazing
experiential workshops for teens and young adults. These
workshops not only deal with peer pressure, but have a very
holistic approach in dealing with all aspects of our life – body,
breath, mind, intellect, memory, ego and spirit in a way that
the teens perceive and experience.
TIPS TO HELP THE YOUTH
• Recognise that you are unique
• Have self-esteem
• Take on any small social responsibility
• Have healthy habits
• Learn the skill to discriminate between good and bad
• Whatever you do, do it 100 percent
• Be natural
• At least do one random act of kindness everyday
• Avoid being reactive
• Involve in some physical exercises to keep your body fit
• Learn to meditate
The workshop for the teens in the age group of 13+ to 17 is
called the YES programme (Youth Empowerment Seminar)
and for young adults in the age group of 18 to 28 is called
YES+ (Youth Empowerment and Skills Workshop).
During the programme we make each child realise they
are unique in their own way. The programme attends to
teens’ physical, mental, social, and emotional development;
breathing techniques to relieve stress and bring the mind
into focus; dynamic games and yoga; practical knowledge
to create awareness; experiential processes to develop
problem-solving strategies; dynamic group discussions
designed to help teens feel at ease in challenging situations,
increase confidence, withstand criticism and peer pressure.
We enhance their self-esteem, impart leadership skills and
involve them in interesting games that make learning fun. They
learn meditation, knowledge about food and eating habits,
discuss their relationship with parents on a very positive
platform and involve them in random act of kindness, making
them experience that responsibility increases their abilities.
All these factors contribute in the child having a healthy body
and mind to deal with peer pressure.
29

STORIES OF AN OMANI
GENTLEMAN FROM ZANZIBAR
Words | Priyanka Sacheti
Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki
“When my grandfather set out from Barka on camelback more than a century
ago and made the long voyage over the seas to Zanzibar, he could not have
imagined the legacy he would leave for succeeding generations….”
Saud bin Ahmed al Busaidi, ‘Memoirs of an Omani Gentleman from Zanzibar’ (2012)
Listening to 97 year old Saud bin Ahmed al Busaidi
speak, one can only marvel at his ability to voyage
into his past and conjure it up as if it was happening
right before you. It is this very quality that makes
his recently launched book, ‘Memoirs of an Omani
Gentleman from Zanzibar’ so compelling to read.
Dedicated to his granddaughter, Roya, whom he
credits for encouraging him to write this book, we
can see, as we page through the chapters of his
life, transiting from one period to another, how
his dynamic, eventful life made him the venerable
personality that he is today.
When he describes his carefree childhood days,
his eyes twinkle: “I have very happy childhood
memories. I was staying in a big house with a lot
of family members and friends constantly visiting.”
He describes the casuarinas trees that grew
around the house and the birds that flocked the
branches: “As children, we used to love catching
them and I, especially, kept my eye out for the
pigeons!” He also chuckles upon remembering the
amusement he and his friends used to derive from
a model railway with a wind up train and stations.
“We would all gather around it and watch in delight
as it travelled around, stopping at one station after
another!”
Another significant chapter in his life was when he
travelled to United Kingdom in 1950 to pursue his
studies in Public Administration at Jesus College,
University of Oxford; as he mentions in his book,
it was a great source of pride for him that he and
his colleague, Hilal Mohammed al Barwani were
the first civil servants from Zanzibar to do so. “Ah!
That was an exciting moment and a thoroughly
wonderful experience,” he reminisces. “I was very
much impressed by the professors and fellow
students.” He was eager to remain in UK after
completing his studies, but he had to ultimately
return to Zanzibar. Through the vignettes of his
life that he shares in the book, the readers get a
detailed glimpse into Zanzibar and the sociopolitical
situation over there.
A definitive turning point in his life, inevitably,
occurs with the revolution that occurred in Zanzibar
in 1964; as he describes how it unfolded and its
implications upon his life, the book simultaneously
demonstrates how changes in larger political and
social order deeply impact human lives. “Problems
were rising: there was something unpleasant
brewing in the air,” he says. “When the Revolution
happened, it was a big shock. I became very
thoughtful about whether I should stay or leave.”
He made, what must have been, a gut-wrenching
decision to leave his home; however, it was simply
not enough to have made the decision to leave.
“Departing from the country was not easy once
the Revolution had begun though – orders had
come over the radio that people were not allowed
to leave the country. That was another shock!” he
recounts.
On visiting the immigration office, he explained to
the officials that he had to go to Kenya to collect
some inheritance that had been left to him by his
aunt; however, they in turn took his passport away
and he left dejected. Someone then suggested
to him that he approach President Karume with
his request. “I explained my circumstances to him
and he granted me permission to leave, given a
laissez-passer (one way travel) document valid for
one month.” His departure from Kenya was also
30

fraught with challenges. “At the customs in the airport, I was asked how much money I had: I told them I had
70 shillings and they said, no, you are only allowed to carry 30 shillings… I had to give the remainder to my taxi
driver!” The monetary issues dealt with, he nevertheless was still filled with trepidation when sitting in the plane.
“The fear was still in my mind as to whether I would be allowed to leave or not,” he remarks.
Having left his homeland, the moot issue also was of finding a means of living: “After arriving in Kenya and
collecting my money, I thought I would remain in the city of Mombasa and get a job. Meanwhile, I would see
how things were developing in Zanzibar.” However, he was once more alarmed upon hearing that Arab Zanzibar
refugees in Kenya were to be arrested and sent back to Zanzibar by ship. The fear spread and everyone
feverishly communicated with each other: Where shall we go Where shall we hide “I phoned a friend of mine
in Uganda and within an hour, it was fixed that we would take the train at ten at night to go to Uganda,” he
reminisces about that fugitive existence. However, President Kenyatta of Kenya meanwhile denied permission
for Zanzibari officials to arrest the asylum seekers in Kenya, emphasising that they would only be able to do so
if evidence was shown of the crimes they had committed. “While undeniably relived, I realised that I could no
longer stay on in East Africa though; I would have to leave it,” Saud states.
Saud’s journey then took him to Cairo, where his family was based and his children were studying in schools.
“I cannot express how much joy I got upon meeting them; they had been extremely worried as very little news
about the situation was filtering in,” he says. Yet, he was also very much aware of the cataclysmic changes that
had upended his life. “Everything was taken away, my money belonged to the state. It was very sad… I didn’t
have any idea if and when I would come back to Zanzibar again,” he says, shaking his head, the uncertainties
of that moment reflected upon his face again.
Life then took him to Libya, where he stayed for seven years.
Following the ascension of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin
Said to the throne in 1970, an Omani delegation visited
Libya to introduce Oman to the rest of the world. “For us,
His Majesty’s ascension to the throne was a huge piece of
news and we started thinking that we could now return to
the country of our ancestors,” he says. Everyone rushed
to meet the delegation, who in turn were surprised to see
so many people of Omani origin in Libya. They invited
them to return to Oman on behalf of His Majesty, who had
welcomed all Omanis residing abroad to return and usher
the country into the Renaissance.
As he pauses, the momentum of his stories having taken
him through different eras and phases of his life, he
returns to his present reality. “I am very grateful
to Almighty, having landed in the country of
my ancestors and, of course, His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos bin Said who in turn
welcomed us back into the fold,” he
says, his face visibly at peace.
Whether encountering Saud al
Busaidi in person or through
the pages of his book, you
realise that the title of the
book is so very apt: he
indeed is a gentleman in
every sense of the word
and his book is as much a
valuable historical record
and document as it is of a
rich, inspirational life that
we are privileged to learn
so much about.
31

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
MITSUBISHI
NOT AFRAID TO GET DIRTY
32
Most of us have heard of David and Goliath – the legendary tale that has
been carried down numerous generations; a bedtime story that has for many
years given children the courage to challenge whatever tomorrow brings; it
carries a message of bravery and the undying will to survive, even against the
toughest of obstacles.
Much like David, the Mitsubishi Outlander GLS and GLX refuse to bow down
to any forms of Goliath that may stand in its way. I can say this with conviction,
simply because a few days ago, for 10 hours, I posed as Goliath. And mine for
the day, a scorching red 3.0 litre Outlander GLS test vehicle, played David…
after a vigorous daylong battle of pushing and punishing, once again, David
stood there in its glory – victorious!
My eyes opened to a warm sunny morning, at 8am sharp, in time to quickly
shower, slip into my jeans and grab my camera before heading to the Mitsubishi
showroom in Azaiba, for what I knew was going to be a long yet very interesting
test drive event, organised by Mitsubishi. It was scheduled to start at 9:30am.
It’s not very often that journalists are given a chance to ‘REALLY’ test drive
a vehicle, and by this I mean given the freedom to push an automobile to its
limits. So it was exciting to learn that Mitsubishi arranged for us to take the
Outlander (GLS and GLX) on a 450 kilometre gruelling round-trip to the Sayq
Plateau and back. The estimated time of the journey was about eight hours,
during which we were to drive the vehicles towards Jebel Akhdar. Briefed on
the desired route before we were given the keys, we were soon off towards
Nizwa, an enchanting Omani town, en route to our final destination.
Not long after our departure, while cruising down a four lane highway in the fast
lane, listening to the Eagles, I was precipitously alerted with a beeping sound,
warning me of the 120km/h speed limit I had just overshot. This immediately

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Words and Photography | Clint Derric Egbert
OUTLANDER
The Outlander’s rock-solid compact body and exceptional off-road
capabilities stands as testament to the fact that size really doesn’t matter
drew my attention to the unbelievably quiet engine and sheer
stability of the vehicle I was in; I could never have imagined that
I would be touching 140km/h; in fact, it felt like I was driving at
60km/h. I made sure to keep my eye on the speedometer and
the car within the speed limits after that, more so to avoid any
speeding tickets.
We were soon embracing the beauty of the Omani mountain range
in the distance as we drove through Birkat Al Mouj; this was when
I couldn’t help but start foreseeing myself scaling these natural
wonders in the majestic red coloured 4x4 I was comfortably
planted in. The urge to take this bad boy off-tarmac was growing
by the minute.
At first sight, the Outlander doesn’t quite appear to be as tough
as it really is, mainly because of its compact size, in comparison
to other 4x4 in the market. But once you’re sitting behind the
wheel, you soon realise that its 2998cc, 24 Valve V6 SOHC MIVEC
engine does deliver quite a lot of power. With 223/6250rpm and
29.0/3750kg-m/rpm of torque under its bonnet, you can be sure
that the Outlander GLS has more than enough juice a midsized
SUV is required to have. But the question lingering in the back
of my mind was whether this was enough power to get you up a
mountain
It was approximately 2:30pm when we reached Sahab hotel, our
rendezvous point for the day, where we enjoyed a scrumptious
lunch sitting amidst some of the most magnificent sights
surrounding the hotel.
Post lunch, it was finally time to put the Outlander to its final and
most crucial test – it was now time to climb those mountains I was
imagining earlier. So, off we drove, higher up on the Sayq Plateau,
about 2,300 metres, where we searched for the most challenging
courses for our vehicles. It wasn’t long before we found a sandy
stretch, the ideal place to put the Outlanders 4x4 option to the
test. To my surprise, and I admit it took me some time to digest the
fact, the Outlander was swiftly gliding across sand and freakishly
climbing steep uphill slopes with absolute ease. The vehicle’s
steering capabilities were as good off-road as they were on asphalt
surfaces, and bursts of 4x4 power were evident in the vehicle as it
scaled and descended down rough terrain.
Truly impressed with the results from the off-road test, we decided
to head back to Muscat as the night began to quickly set in. On
our way downhill, I couldn’t help notice a rugged, rocky piece of
land that ran adjacent to the sandy course we were on… this was
to become my ultimate test for the Mitsubishi Outlander. Throwing
caution to the wind, I turned off the sandy course and onto the
rock-filled field, daringly driving over football sized rocks and
sharp stones.
The effortless and still powerful movement of the Outlander soon
made me realise that there was practically nothing that was going
to stand in its way, so without wasting any more time in the dirt,
I quickly drove back to Muscat, where I delivered this beautiful
monster back to its rightful owners - the Mitsubishi showroom.
As I walked away from my trusty Outlander, I turned around
one last time to say farewell, when I noticed that it really didn’t
look any bigger in size than it did in the morning… but for some
unexplainable reason, it did ‘feel’ a lot bigger.
33

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Old Tanuf
Thoughts & Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki
34

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
The Omani mountains hold many a secret; and
not just for people who love the outdoors. They
beckon even those who have a penchant for
culture and tradition. For the mountains possess
several old signs of the country’s culture; the
ruins of old Tanuf, is a reflection of this culture.
I had been planning to go to the mountains for
many months, but a location like Tanuf needs
special approaching, if you expect to take good
photographs. I was not disappointed. Tanuf
reminded me of the Old Babylon in Iraq, which
I’d photographed in 2003. Many historical
towns in the Middle East have been built with
mud bricks and the ancient builders knew
the perfect way to produce mud bricks, as is
obvious in some of the ruins. It is one of the
most significant elements of the Middle East’s
historical architecture.
However, mud brick constructions are not easy
to photograph. They are much more difficult
then stony or limestone constructions due to
the greyish colour and simplicity in design.
As a photographer, one needs to work in the
soft light conditions - only early morning or late
evening when the sunlight is not very strong.
But when it comes to Tanuf, it is also good
during the noontime when the light conditions
are suitable for photographing the old town; soft
light uncovers the structure of the walls on the
old buildings.
I reached Tanuf in the afternoon last Friday.
The weather and the light were perfect; the
sky was deep blue with patches of little white
clouds. The ruins were intensively lighted
by the setting sun, creating long shadows
and enhancing the space of the location.
Old Tanuf is located just before the town, also
named Tanuf. Behind the ruins is a falaj filled
with fresh and cold water coming out from the
mountain valley. Here is also the factory that
produces the famous brand of water – Tanuf,
which is distributed all over the country.
For those interested, Tanuf is located just after
Nizwa and is very easy to reach. There is also good
black top road, so the heavy 4x4 is unnecessary.
Total distance from Muscat is less then 160km.
GPS location of the ruins:
N23 03’6.3” E57 28’3”
35

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Words | Priyanka Sacheti
‘FOUNDATIONS’ OF MAKE-UP
When putting on make-up, always remember that your face is your canvas – and that clean, glowing skin is
absolutely crucial before you literally start painting your skin. We had previously talked about developing a
proper skin-care regime; this time we will focus on buying the right kind of foundation for your skin.
When you are choosing foundations, treat the process as if you are buying skin-care products; different
foundations will suit different skin-types (oily, dry, sensitive, or acne-prone). In each case, it is important to
decide what kind of formula you are looking for. Some women may want lightweight, medium-coverage, while
those with an uneven skin-tone and blemishes will prefer a heavier foundation. Mineral foundations are also
popular for all skin-types, especially sensitive skin.
Foundations are no longer just liquid
foundation in a bottle; there are stick,
cream-to-powder, whipped, and
even tinted moisturisers, which
double up as foundation
for women who prefer the
natural look.
One of the biggest issues
regarding buying the right
foundation is colour!
When you are buying
the foundation, pick two
to three shades, allow
it to rest upon your skin
for a minute or so, and
then test to see which
one suits you the best. If
the colour disappears on
your skin, it is the winner...
However, make sure to test
the shade in natural light as
well. The rule of the game is to
opt for yellow, rather than pink,
based shades.
APPLYING FOUNDATION:
Before applying foundation,
ensure that the skin is clean
and hydrated; apply moisturiser,
sunscreen, or primer. In fact, most experts
are in favour of putting on foundation primer, as it
ensures a smooth base for the skin and helps the
foundation to stay on longer.
Described as ‘secrets of the universe’, by Bobbi
Brown, the right way to go about it is pat, never
36

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
rub the concealer on under-eye dark circles; make sure
the concealer is two shades lighter than that of the
foundation.
Using a sponge or your fingertips, dab your cheeks, chin,
forehead, and tip of nose with little spots of foundation
and then blend them together. Make sure that the
blending is especially smooth around the jaw-line and
hairline.
Set the foundation with loose powder.
Here are a selection of primers and foundations:
PRIMERS:
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer:
It is ‘The’ go-to primer for readying up your skin before
applying foundation.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer :
A tried and tested favourite, this is one of the best primers
around.
FOUNDATIONS:
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra
For flawless application, incredible staying power, and
great coverage, there can be no better foundation than
this. Even though it is medium-heavy coverage, it has a
barely there feel, making it a winner all around.
MAC Pro Longwear SPF
10 Foundation
Liquid and fast drying, the foundation provides good
coverage and incredibly light and fluid texture – it really
does live up to its name: long-wear.
BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation
Looks like a powder, feels like a cream – these mineral
foundations give a new shine to your skin.
Diorskin Airflash in 300
medium beige
This innovative product is easy to get to grips with. Lightly
spray on to your face from 20cm and you will get a velvety
soft finish.
37

Clint Derric Egbert
TROJAN BITES INTO APPLE
Recognised for its spectacular capability to
fend off viruses and hackers, Apple’s Mac has,
for years, earned and loyally kept the trust and
confidence of many of its dedicated users.
Securing a place in the minds of consumers
as one of the most reliable computers in
the world, Mac has grown from strength to
strength to become the technology giant it
is today. Unfortunately, with the super-tech
savvy hackers we have lurking around on the
Net these days, it was only a matter of time
before someone came up with a way to bust
through Macs’ secured protection database… And from the looks of things, that time is here.
According to recent reports, there has been a vicious Flashback Trojan (thanks to Java) going around, infecting Macs. It has
been revealed that more than 60,000 Macs have been struggling with the virus, and the numbers are still increasing.
Good news is that there is a way to check your Mac for the Trojan and eliminate it, but it would be necessary to do so as soon
as possible. Simply download a script by logging onto http://c-mac.me/Fc21cnn=yes (hosted by CloudApp), unzip the file
and double-click on ‘Trojan-check’ and ‘Trojan-check-2’. If this results in a screen that looks like the image above then you’re
in the safe zone. However, if you get a script that says anything other than ‘does not exist’, then go to F-Secure’s Website and
follow the removal instructions. Infected or not, make sure to install the latest Apple Security update for Java to save you the
trouble in the future.
BE YOUR OWN GATEKEEPER
Five easy tips on how to safeguard your Mac
• SECURE WITH A SECURITY SUITE: Even though many would shun the thought
of downloading a security suite, it does play an important in the security
process. Security suites are not very popular in Windows platforms, but as
far as Apple are concerned they are quite efficient, able to block various
automatic drive-by downloads that afflict otherwise safe Websites. If these
drive-by downloads manage to weasel their way into the system, your
security suite kicks into action with a warning when it attempts to install
something. If you’re still not convinced with a security suite then make
sure you use a browser tool that will check and scan links to make sure
they are safe before you use them. AVG Link scanner is a great software
to start with.
• AVOID ADOBE READER: Adobe has become infamous for its security glitches
over the years. But fortunately, recently, they are said to have worked on
some of their flaws and are back in the game. However, the latest Macs are able to handle most PDF reading tasks on their
own – so why risk it if you can do without Even still, if you feel the requirement of Adobe’s Reader, make sure that it’s always
updated to the latest version.
• SOFTWARE UPDATES: It’s crucial to ensure that your software is regularly updated with the latest versions, simply because
software is constantly changing and security fixes may be required.
• ADMIN LOCKDOWN: Every Mac has an Administrator account set by default. This account is usually a prime target for infection;
consider it as the heart of the machine. To avoid any illegal entries create a non-admin account that could be used for daily use,
such as e-mail, browsing, and music and video watching.
• LOSE JAVA AND FLASH: If you can avoid using Java and Flash, then that would be the healthiest thing for your Mac. But, if you
run a program like Adobe’s Creative Suite that relies on Java for some tasks, then you would require Java for some tasks. If your
Mac is mostly used for Web browsing, media, and document creation then you can probably uninstall Java and Flash without
worry. You can also switch to Google Chrome from Safari, which is the only browser that comes with Flash built-in.
38

Words | Clint Derric Egbert
Sherwood clinched victory in the Dubai Red Bull X-Fighters
season opener, along with a generous $1 million in prize money
Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour, 2012, and in the presence of His Highness
kicked-off its six-month long season Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin
with a bang at The Walk, Jumeirah Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the
Beach Residence, Dubai, recently under Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and
the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saud Al
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Mualla, Umm Al Quwain’s Crown Prince.
Maktoum.
The event, which attracted an audience
of over 20,000 spectators, witnessed
New Zealand’s Levi Sherwood nab his
fourth career victory, and first since
his triumph in London back in 2010.
Creeping up from down under was Rob
Adelberg for Australia, who managed
to clinch second position with Javier
Villegas of Chile following in third place;
his first podium win.
Sherwood flexed his tremendous skill
and agility on the dirt track, delivering
a stunning overall performance that
contributed to his top-podium finish. “It
means a lot,” said a beaming Sherwood,
20, after celebrating with the spirited
crowd that savoured the spectacle
with riders jumping up to death-defying
heights of 12 metres and 20 metres in
distance on bikes. “I didn’t have much
confidence coming into it,” added the
friendly New Zealander.
Specially designed for the event was a
stunning dirt track set up on the white Along with the glory of Sherwood’s win,
sands of the Walk at Jumeirah Beach came the disappointment of defending
Residence. The event took place under World Tour champion Dany Torres of
the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Spain and Norway’s Andre Villa’s early
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al knockout in the quarter-finals, finishing
Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and eighth and fifth, respectively.
Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council,
Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Dates:
Dubai – UAE (13th April), Glen Helen – USA (12th May), Istanbul – Turkey (16th June), Madrid –
Spain (20th July), Munich – Germany (11th August), Sydney – Australia (6th October)
Results of Red Bull
X-Fighters Dubai:
Levi Sherwood (NZL) 100 pts
Rob Adelberg (AUS) 80 pts
Javier Villegas (CHL) 65 pts
Josh Sheehan (AUS) 55 pts
Andrè Villa (NOR) 45 pts
Todd Potter (USA) 35 pts
Edgar Torronteras (ESP) 30 pts
Dany Torres (ESP) 25 pts
Mat Rebeaud (SUI) 20 pts
Eigo Sato (JPN) 15 pts
39

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Words | Clint Derric Egbert
Forty keen golfers and members of
RAHGC (Ras Al-Hamra Golf Club)
gathered at the club over the weekend
to compete in the club championship.
With the sun mercifully peeping from
behind clouds and cool summer breeze
brushing the lush green grass, weather
conditions were almost perfect for an
afternoon of golf.
The ladies competition was a close
thrilling encounter between Jameela
Daud and Ayse Kazdal, both great
golfers in their own right. Going neck-toneck
with a score of 86 till the very end,
both the ladies put on quite a show. But,
it was Jameela who managed to clinch
first place due to Ayse’s few extra strokes
on the back nine. Ayse, runners-up in
the ladies competition, was followed by
the ladies captain, Andrea Muller on 95.
Richard Chia claimed a comfortable
victory with a score of 79 in the men’s
competition, three strokes ahead of Per
Sjostrand on 82, who claimed second
place. John Prescott with a score of 83
followed in third spot, just a tad behind
Sjostrand.
RAHGC CLUB
CHAMPIONS
RICHARD AND JAMEELA
There were also nett prizes to give away,
and for the ladies it was Shirley Prescott
who walked away with a nett score of
72. Second and third place required
a count back, as Norina Utot and Mia
Maskri both touched the 74 mark.
However, after reviewing the scorecard
and day of play, Norina grabbed the
runners-up spot with Mia following in
third.
The nett prize for the men saw Oyadele
Alao take first place on 69 – three
strokes ahead of Alex Borges on 72. The
third prize, again, required a count back
among three players, all tied on 73, but
Henry Huneberg was deemed victorious
out of the three.
The Longest Drive prize, unsurprisingly,
went to Richard Chia, and the closest
to the pin award was presented to
sharpshooter Thibaut Burckhart.
Along with the prize giving ceremony on
the terrace of RAHGC, attendees were
treated to some good food and lively
music to end the day.
OVERALL RESULTS
Ladies club champion - Jameela Daud
Ladies runners-up - Ayse Kazdal
Ladies third place - Andrea Muller
Men’s Club Champion - Richard Chia
Men’s runners-up - Per Sjostrand
Men’s third place - John Prescott
Ladies best nett - Shirley Prescott
Ladies runners - up nett - Norina Utot
Ladies third place nett - Mia Maskri
Men’s best nett - Oyedele Alao
Men’s runners - up nett - Alex Borges
Men’s third nett - Henry Huneberg
Longest drive - Richard Chia
Closest to the pin - Thibaut Burckhart
40

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Farewell Reception Of Radisson Blu General Manager
Michael Jacoby
Sayeh Stone (right)
Marius Wolmarans
'A Moment With Oman's Beauty' Art Exhibition At Al Bustan Palace Hotel
Monique Helou And Erika Anggreini
41

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
The British Week At The Sultan Center, Qurum
HMA Jamie Bowden (centre)
Azzan Bin Qais International School's Annual Fund Raising Day
42

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
10th Annual Day Celebrations Of Jingles Nursery
43

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
Chili’s
McDonald’s
Download your FREE copy at www.y-oman.com
NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA, ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR!
44
Ayman Canawati
ayman.canawati@sabcomedia.com
Feroz Khan
Tel. 97768900
feroz.khan@sabcomedia.com
Abhudit Greene
Tel. 94051770
abhudit.greene@y-oman.com
Hazel Carvalho
Tel. 97190377
hazel.carvalho@y-oman.com

April 17, 2012 Issue 216
FILL UP THE BELOW CROSSWORD, SUDOKU, GO FIGURE & 5 LUCKY
WINNERS WILL GET A CHANCE TO WIN COMPLIMENTARY MEALS AT
PIZZAEXPRESS
Scan & send in your entries to prize@y-oman.com
this contest is only valid from 3rd April 2012 untill 30th April 2012
Shatti Al Qurum
Oasis by The Sea,
Tel: 246 96 169
Al Khuwair
before Shell Station,
Tel: 244 85 114
www.pizzaexpress.com.om
Almouj Marina,
The Wave, Muscat,
Tel : 245 54 777
SUDOKU
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each
row across, each column down and each small 9-box square
contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
Go Figure
The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the
bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following
the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, form
left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below
the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of
the nine numbers only once.
45

March 13, 2012 Issue 211
Each week we are asking our readers to take part in a topical discussion
via Y Magazine's facebook page.
Join the group and you might see your comments printed in next week's
issue!
This week:
Do you think Muscat is in for summer rains
Pravesh Chhetri
its nice to see rains..but after rain temperature goes up...
Vikas Singal
Yup we are in April and still the weather is good. Even dat before yesterday there was a
shower in Seeb. Rains are very good always
Rahid Stylesh Designers
Summer Rains Impress's Muscat for a Day or Two, Later it leaves more of Humidity & Sun
Heat.
Sandeep Bagga
Wish If it rain through whole summers in Oman and we can feel like we are back in our
home town,but first let Oman sought out its sewerage network or it will be mess...
Ahmed Mohamed
Rains in summer is the best thing at oman's summer weather, the only problem is the
very high humidity that comes before and after the rainy days
Poyal Don
during summer in muscat no rain but its some of year shows there will be storm or
cyclone..jst last 2010 it was phet and last shows that there will be cyclone!!!
Ashfaq Cheema
Zaroor hogi barish...
Matar ejjee....
Barish howay gi....
Zeeshan Ali
I hope soo..........
Dianne Smart
oops i forgot abour Phet as was up in dubai for that one..
Motaleb F CB
hai
Faria Abbas Bhutta
yeah....enjoyed it yesterday !!!
Ricky Cherian
yes...hoping it would rain soon
SOLUTIONS
CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
GO FIGURE