Sand, Sand Everywhere: Omani Flavour in The Lion City' Beauty Captured by Omani Women A Minute With Stephen Merchant

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10-16, 2013
Sand, sand everywhere

Omani flavour in the Lion City Beauty captured by Omani women A minute with Stephen Merchant
CONTENTS
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SPECIAL REPORT
Women have equal opportunities when it comes to education

PAGE 6
Weekend
LIFESTYLE
The Muscat Road in Singapore hosts a row of Arab stores, coffee shops and eateries
PAGE 16
COMMUNITY
With the lens as their weapon of choice, 109 women represent different governorates of Oman
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Vol 1, No 6
Chief Executive Officer
From the editors desk
Dr Ibrahim bin Ahmed al Kindi

Editor-in-Chief
Fahmy bin Khalid al Harthy

Managing Editor
Women and the challenges

hile highlighting the trauma of working women, who face several problems in their efforts to balance work, leisure, family and friends, the Weekend welcomes the readers to this weeks topic on the same subject, wherein women in Oman discuss the challenges facing them today. Famous American writer Betty Friedan wrote in her best seller, The Feminine Mystique that If housewives would embark on lifelong careers, they would be happier and healthier, their marriages would be more satisfying, and their children would thrive. At the same time, some experts also believe that a woman should work only to kill time or to fill time after the children had left home. A wife who pursued a career was considered a maladjusted woman who would damage her marriage and her kids. Opinions and comments vary. But todays women, no doubt, have inherited a legacy that woman like Pearl S Buck or any other of the repute, has shown to the world. Buck, author of several best sellers and Nobel Prize winner, in her novels, The Good Earth and The Mother, to name a few, not only does illustrate what women are capable of, but also hints at what opportunities await them if they insist on being mens equals in society. By todays standards, Bucks work would probably not be considered very feminist, yet it has evidence of the progress women have made over the past thirty years. Female participation in counsels, groups, and businesses is seen to increase efficiency. For a general idea on how a women can impact a situation monetarily, an OECD study found that of fortune 500 companies, those with more women board directors had significantly higher financial returns, including 53 per cent higher returns on equity, 24 per cent higher returns on sales and 67 per cent higher returns on invested capital. Therefore, women can also help businesses grow and economies prosper if they have, and if they are able to use, the right knowledge and skills in their employment. An urban working woman would seem to be in a better place than she was a couple of decades ago. Today she has access to a quality education, a career or a business, familial support, and a fair shot at success. She is gaining the grit to follow her gut and lead an independent and empowered professional life. Now read the report
Abdullah al Shueili
Editorial Advisor
Bader al Kiyumi
Features Editor
Samuel Kutty
Reporter
Melanie Held
Design
Upendra Nayak
Production
Abdullah al Balushi Musammil Hussain

Advertising
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Samuel Kutty
SPECIAL REPORT
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By Melanie Held and Samuel Kutty
More dreams for the future
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t is amazing, because they are the modern day women. They work and provide for their family and in return, they work to establish themselves and feel secure, said Asiya. We all have dreams and aspirations in life and as we grow older, some of us put these dreams aside and look to do what they think is right. For many women this used to be the case, especially if their dreams were to become business women as well as being a house wife and mother. So why do women these days opt to continue down their career path, while at the same time look after their family? Women now have stepped out of the conventional stereotype of being a stay at home mum and have stepped into becoming powerful women both in at the home front and in the business world. I believe if I show my children that I can work as well as take care of my family, it will show them that they can do it too, especially my daughter, Jocelyn said. Children look to their parents for guidance and support, so when they see, even if the children are not yours, that a women can have continue living her dreams outside the household, this benefits not only the mind of the women but also the growth of the country, Jocelyn added. If my mum could do it while still progressing in her career, Im sure I can as well, said Asiya. In Oman, significant strides have been made to ensure womens rights in most areas. The last four decades have seen women in the Sultanate rising from their simple household jobs to the bodies of economic decision makers. Women have not only taken high positions in the business world by becoming managers, head of departments or starting their own business company, but they have also gained power in parliament by having seats in the Majis A Shura as well as Majis ADawla. Women also have equal opportunities when it comes to education. Over the past years, many changes have been made to the laws in Oman specifically aimed at empowering and increasing the role women the in society. From maternity leave to land ownership and voting, a few areas of womens rights have not been revised in recent years and in
2010, October 17 was marked to be observed annually as Omani Womens Day. Naturally some women do not have any desire to continue being a working woman, while having to take care of their family, which in itself is a full time job. Martha, a mother of two, explains how she manages her time? It is easy, explained Martha, I have two children, which are a handful, but when they are in school and my husband is at work, I use that time to teach children how to play the piano. Martha added. Finding the right balance between what you want to do for yourself and your family and spending time with your family should be something that is planned in advance, so the schedule is clear to everyone. Surprise changes and interruptions make it hard for me to separate my work from my family time, so for me I make it a key point to plan my week in advance and share it with my family so they also know when I am working and when I am not. The overall female population of Oman from 2013 is said to be about 1.5 million, including expatriates, so what so the female
In Oman, significant strides have been made to ensure womens rights in most areas. The last four decades have seen women in the Sultanate rising from their simple household jobs to the bodies of economic decision makers
SPECIAL REPORT
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Thus speaks the data

W
omen represent 49 per cent of its population in Oman. According to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information, they comprise 47 per cent of the total Omani workforce in the public sector and 20.5 per cent in the private sector. Women represent 18 per cent of the State Council members in its 2011-15 term while there is only one woman representative in Shura Councils seventh term. The data shows 64 per cent of job seekers in 2012 were women. The data quoting 2010 census states that 45 per cent of Omani housewives are widows. Marriage of five per cent of them ended in divorce. Also, 60 per cent of illiterates in Omani society are women. The average age of marriage in Omani women has increased from 25 years in 2003 to 26 years in 2010. At least 81 per cent of Omani women knew how to read and write in 2010 compared to 70.5 per cent in 2003. Illiteracy rate among women aged 15 years and above has decreased from 29.5 per cent in 2003 to 19.4 in 2013. Moreover, 58 per cent of those who passed general diploma examinations in 2009-10 joined higher education institutions. The ratio of Omani males to females in the country this year is 1.03:1. The percentage of Omani women in each governorate of the sultanate ranged from 47.8 to 50 per cent in 2013.
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youth living in Oman feel about working and at the same time taking care of their family, if they do get married and have children. If I want my children to have the life I have got planned for them, I am going to work so that they get that and I also get to continue doing what I love, explained Fatima. Of course I will continue working, expresses Ghaniya. Since the father and I will have the children, it is only right for us to share the responsibility of supporting our children, she added. Plus I would like to know that I earning a certain amount of money from my own efforts and hard work, instead of relying on my husband. Yes even if I get married and have kids, I would still work and continue my business and would try building up more businesses. Still I will find time to take care of my children, but at the end of the day its not about giving up on your business, its just because you dont have time. What matters is how you make time and at the end of the day, what matters is taking care of my family and being around to build and secure their future, explains Fatimah. At the same time, Sarah bint Ibrahim al Hadharmi says, despite the government has initiated several steps for the bringing up of women in the country, the condition of the rural women continues to be pathetic. Drive into any village or small town outside the capital and observe how the women live. There is a lot to be done. First and foremost, women in rural areas need to know what their rights are she says. The main issue we face in places like Dhofar is societys attitude towards women. The majorities of men down south disapprove of working women and prefer their women to be at home where no other male can see them. However, like most women around the world we have our share of struggles. Having a couple of female ministers and a handful of ambassadors doesnt mean all Omani women are empowered. Many forms of discrimination still exist against women, she says. There are also some aspects of the law that discriminate against women in Oman especially when it comes to marriage, divorce and inheritance. They arent major issues but they matter a lot.
It is never too late to live you career dream, all it really takes is determination and a clear and realistic plan on what it is that you want to do. Along with the governments support, organisations such as the Oman Womens Association, will give the women in the Sultanate to the empowerment needed for them see their dream come true.
CONTENTS
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Resistance training for kids

PAGE 14
Lifestyle
Singapore: a city of culture

PAGE 16
Neem, clean and simple

PAGE 20
TRAINING
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Guidance is the key

medicine balls, as well as push-ups and other body-weight-bearing exercises can benefit young bodies and prepare them for active lives, the authors point out. You can look at the data from the Centers for Disease Control, kids are becoming less and less fit all the time, said Dr Tim Hewett, director of the Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center at the University of Cincinnati, who was not involved in the statement. There are lots of problems related to our current lifestyles. Lack of strength and overall fitness, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal strength all contribute to poor health for kids, and resistance training can be a great option to help, but moderation is key, he told Reuters Health. Though many parents fear their children will be injured during exercise or will damage their growing skeletons, childhood is actually the best time to use weightbearing activity to build bone mass and kids are less likely to suffer sprains than adults, according to the statement. Programmes designed to promote conditioning and correct form for specific sports can also reduce the risk of injuries by 50 per cent in kids and teens, the authors write. Clearly, participation in physical activity should not begin with competitive sport but should evolve out of preparatory fitness conditioning that is sensibly progressed over time, they write. But these activities need to be supervised by qualified professionals, like trainers or coaches, with strength and conditioning certifications. These leaders need to know how to effectively communicate with kids and teens, as well as what exercises are best for kids and teens, and how much is too much. Position statements in support of resistance training like this one make it easier to inform parents and coaches who may still be hesitant, said Jeff Martin, who co-founded CrossFit Kids, a branch of the popular and sometimes controversial training program geared to kids from preschool age and up.
esistance training is good for kids, but needs to be supervised and tailored for them by a qualified professional, according to a consensus statement by 20 doctors and fitness experts. The statement appears in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and is endorsed by the American Academy of Paediatrics, the International Federation of Sports Medicine and the US National Collegiate Athletic Association. Resistance training which can include light free weights, resistance bands or
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Watering Positivity
hen you plant a seed into soil, it needs water, light, and food to grow. Positivity also needs certain things to be able to grow. Over the last five weeks, weve planted the thoughts. This week we are going to water those thoughts; Im going to show you how to make your positive thoughts grow. For the next few weeks we will be WATERING POSITIVITY. What do you want to programme your mind to do for you? If you dont know what you want, if you cant imagine it or vocalise it, you cant bring it to you; it cannot manifest or become real, which is why for the past few weeks I have been asking you to think clearly about what you want. If you do know what you want, your mind can begin working for you rather than against you. Jack Canfield wrote a great book called The Success Principles. In that, he says if you know where you are and you know where you want to be then the universe will provide the steps to get from A to B. The how is up to the universe, all you need to think of is where you want to be. In our brain, we have millions of neurons that seek similar neurons. The majority of the neurons in our brain are negative, but what scientists, particularly Mark Waldman, whilst working with John Assaraf, have discovered is that these neurons are living things, not wires like in a computer but living things with tentacles that seek out other neurons of a similar nature. This means that they not only grow but you can choose to grow more positive ones than negative ones by switching your awareness onto more positive things. We can encourage these neurons to seek out neurons that are more positive by having more positive thoughts. The more we
remember positive things, the more we think positive thoughts the more positive neurons we will grow in our brains. If we do that frequently enough, the more the positive neurons will push aside the negative ones. The neurons want to create positive connections with other neurons. The more you have positive thoughts, the more connectors you grow which will then go out and seek other positive neurons. In order to create neural coherence you have to focus on your successes however small. It is critically important to have your conscious AND unconscious beliefs and habits synchronised together, working together, so your brain is working for you, instead of against you. This is known as Neural Resonance. Your job is to keep feeling and thinking as positively as you can. Life is very simple; you get back what you put out. The universe is a mirror. It makes no judgments, it does not decide if what you are putting out is good for you or not, or if you deserve it or not; it simply reflects back to you what you are putting out. Over the coming week, I want you to make a list of all the good things about yourself: make a list of things you have achieved so far and dont tell me you have not achieved things! Can you walk? Talk? Read? Speak another language? Swim? Ride a bike? Drive a car? Get up on time? Sing? Dance? The list could go on for a long time and that is what I want; I want you to recognise your achievements because I want you to learn to value yourself. Until you value, love and respect yourself, how can you expect anyone else to? See you back here next week, and bring your list with you. Love and light. Jenni Eden
By Jenni Eden
Author, artist, life coach and drama teacher based in Oman
TRAVEL
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Known as the Lion City, this small metropolis, made up of 63 islands, lives up to its name by providing the lions share to its economic prosperity. The capital city, also called Singapore, covers about a third of the area of the main island, blending Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and English cultures and religions
By Ali Ahmed Al Riyami
M The Omani flavour

of the Lion City
any good things come in small packages and for the relatively small Island CityState of Singapore, which although has a relatively big population of over 5-milllion souls and a current landmass area of only 704 square kilometres, a portion of which is reclaimed, this certainly does hold true. With its diverse culture and cosmopolitan nature, Singapore is surely one of the most renowned holiday destinations. Known as the Lion City, this small island metropolis, made up of 63 islands, lives up to its name by providing a lions share to its economic prosperity. The capital city, also called Singapore, covers about a third of the
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area of the main island, blending Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and English cultures and religions. Its unique ethnic tapestry affords visitors a wide array of sightseeing and culinary opportunities from which to choose. The travel experience of unparalleled sightseeing and bewildering shopping offered by this country turns Singapore holidays into unforgettable mesmerising moments. If I am asked, I will say the city is a synonym for cleanliness. People of Singapore obviously take pride in their city; the streets are spotless and beautifully laid out. There are meticulous parks and shady green areas everywhere. One can wander around any part of Singapore at any time of the day or night, carrying valuable possessions. Singapore is naturally well sheltered too. Adding to it this, there is no trace of pollution anywhere. Singapore is simply a beautiful city. To go one step further, I will say the people, too, are beautiful and cautious in their appearance. Singapore is filled with amazing fun parks like Singapore Zoo, Dolphin Lagoon, Jurong Bird Park, the Botanic Garden, to name a few. For history lovers, the National Museum of Singapore, the Asian Civilisation Museum and Singapore Art Museum are the major draw.
TRAVEL
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For me, the Muscat Road in Singapore was the main attraction because, after all, I am an Omani. While being in the area, I felt that I was walking along the pathway lined with murals and mosaic artworks depicting the common themes of my country. The street is not only an attraction for Omani visitors to Singapore, but also for Gulf co-operation Council nationals and other tourists. The road hosts a row of Arab stores, coffee shops and eateries. It also boasts the impressive Sultan Mosque built by Sultan Hussain Shah in 1824. The granite arches with Omani-style ornate carvings at both ends of the street,
along with the new pavement and patterned tiling for the road, all add to the flavour of traditional Omani style and architecture. Singaporeans go to great lengths in planning, and the people often joke about this, noting the painstaking detail that goes into every project. Still, the main attraction is the Maritime Experiential Museum, whose key highlight is the Jewel of Muscat, a full-sized replica of a 9th century dhow, gifted by the Omani government, along with over 60,000 pieces of Chinese ceramics, silver and gold artefacts, spices and other commodities salvaged from an original shipwreck from which the Jewel of Muscat is fashioned. They began to look at
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me in a different light, seeing me as a person from the city that the road is named after, and of the same country and origin as the intrepid Omani sailors of yore who had plied these waters to reach South East Asian countries and further up to China over a thousand years ago. The culinary delight of dining out is a popular Singaporean pastime. The flavour of China and the Chinese culture in Singapores Chinatown was another exciting experience for me, as well as the Indian tradition and its culture which can be sensed in numerous shops, selling spices and Jasmine flowers. Thanks to the different ethnic groups, there is no shortage of Chinese, Malay and Indian restaurants and food courts, as well as a variety of dishes that fuse together these different cooking styles to make new cuisines. Halal restaurants are also readily available. Sentosa Island is another place that you must stop by when you are in Singapore. The major attractions of this place include images of Singapore, Sky Tower, Sentosa Merlion. Along with the Sentosa Island, you can visit the Fort Siloso, Singapore Flyer, Songs of the Sea, Underwater World, Snow City, Marina Bay, Clarke Quay and so on. Singapore is truly a cosmopolitan, multicultural society, with an ethnic mix of people, cultures and religions. The main inhabitants according to their 2009 census, are the Chinese at 74.2 percentage , along with 13.4 percentage Malaysians, and 9.2 percentage of Indian descent, while Eurasians and other groups form 3.3 percentage. Accordingly, the main religions are Buddhism, making up 33 percentage of the population, with Christianity at 18 percentage, Islam at 15 percentage, Taoism at 11 percentage and Hinduism at 5.1 percentage
As a visitor, you cant help but notice how these different ethnic groups get along so well. Thanks to government efforts in making the nation a meritocracy, race is not such a big issue. Singaporeans, have managed to accomplish wondrous feats since their independence in the 60s. The have been able to generate a massive increase in wealth, and it is one of the Four Asian Tigers. Singapore is ranked as the worlds logistic hub and fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre after London, New York and Tokyo. A far cry from their colonial days when the countrys economic mainstay was rubber tapped from palm trees. Today, Singapore is the worlds fourth leading financial centre. It has one of the five busiest ports in the world, and is considered to have the third highest per capita income in the world. It is also one of the five founding members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, host of the APEC Secretariat, and a member of the East Asia Summit, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Commonwealth.
NATURE
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Neems healing powers have been appreciated for over four thousand years. Every part of the Neem, from its bark to its root and leafs, is useful, containing compounds called liminoids that make it Anti everything: from antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, to antiinflammatory, antiviral, anti-pyretic and anti-ulcer
The tree with healing

By Najah al Riyami
riginally from India, the neem tree has become a familiar sight within Omans landscape. These majestic evergreens do more than just provide shade beneath their sanctuary of fanned leaves. The neem is good for the environment, producing more oxygen than your average tree. It is so special that it has been listed as a major component in Ayurved, a branch of medicine native to the Indian subcontinent. Also known by its scientific name Azadirachta Indica, the neem tree is nicknamed the village pharmacy in Ayurveda, and has been the subject of many ancient myths. One such myth describes how its medicinal power was attained when a few drops of Ambriosa the food of God had spilled onto the tree, blessing it with these qualities. Its healing powers have been appreciated for over four thousand years. Every part of the neem, from its bark to its root and leafs, is useful, containing compounds called liminoids that make it anti everything: from anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, to antiinflammatory, anti-viral, anti-pyretic and antiulcer.
It grows effortlessly in hot climates such as Oman, requiring plenty of sunlight and little water (there is, in fact, more chance of harming your neem by overwatering than under watering!). Medicinal, cosmetic, environmental, you name it, and the neem tree can probably heal it. There are over a hundred uses for the neem tree, and given its presence within many gardens in Oman, it is helpful to know some of these. After all, you never know when you may need the neem.
Uses of neem
Neem can be taken internally or externally, in powder form, as a juice, paste or even ingested directly by eating the fresh leaves. Internally, it can cure ailments such as coughs, fevers, infections and stomachaches, strengthening your immunity and cleansing your blood. Taken externally, its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities make it excellent at curing a variety of skin conditions such as eczema, chickenpox, heatrash and acne. The neem trees anti-pesticide qualities allow it to be helpful to people, pets and other plants too. It protects you against mosquito bites, removing lice or tics from pets, and protecting edible fruits and vegetables from harmful pests.
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(amongst other skin conditions), pour about 100ml of this neem water to warm bathing water. Eating 2-3 leaves of neem a day has many benefits: It will strengthen your immunity, increasing the production of interferon responsible for inhibiting virus replication, and increasing the affectivity of lymphocytes responsible for producing bacteria-fighting antibodies. It will help your heart, improving blood circulation by dilating blood vessels, preventing erratic heartbeats and reducing heart rate. It will lower blood sugar levels, and may reduce insulin requirements by up to 50 per cent, although one
g powers
It is also interesting to note that neem oil provides a natural substitute to chemical pesticides, that is also less harmful to the insects; its mere scent keeping them away instead of killing them. You can make this pesticide at home by adding a little neem oil to water (very, very little neem oil is needed, only two tablespoons to one gallon of water!), or crushing the leaves and seeping them through soapy water (soapy, because neem leafs are not so soluble in water). In the village of Beel Akbarpur, the Malaria Research Centre of Delhi, India, proved the effectiveness of neem as an insect-repellent in 1994. One per cent of neem oil burned in kerosene lamps from dusk to dawn, was found to significantly decrease incidences of malaria, when compared to control villages (that did not burn neem oil). The antibacterial and antiinflammarory qualities of neem also make it good for your skin. Take about twenty neem leafs and boil with about half a litre of water, when its leafs are soft and discoloured and the water is green, strain, and pour into a bottle. This is your toner, wipe your face with it every night to clear acne, scars, pigmentation and blackheads. To treat eczema or psoriasis
should note that neem may cause ones blood-sugar level to go too low, and to be wary and watch out for these symptoms. It seems there is nothing the neem cannot heal. From diseases and disorders like malaria, dental health, jaundice, leprosy, stomach ulcers, chicken pox, heart disease, heat rash, acne, cuts and bruises. However, the healing powers of neem should be avoided by pregnant women, as well as children (due to its aspirin-like compounds that may cause Reyes syndrome). It also interferes with organ transplant medicine, as well as other medicines. Therefore, remember to use the powers of the neem with care and caution.
CONTENTS
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Community
The art of photography

PAGE 24
Exploring the sands of Oman

PAGE 28
Planning for pregnancy

PAGE 32
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Beeswax lip balm

By Melanie Held
ave you ever wondered how people make lip balm? And then wanted to see if you yourself could make your own well then keep reading! Things You will need:
s 2 tablespoons grated beeswax s 3 tablespoons carrier oil (sweet almond, coconut or grape seed oil) s 5-7 drops essential oil (orange, peppermint or lemon are good choices) s Optional 1 tablespoon honey (can be used instead of the essential oil) s A clean and empty container Method 1. Melt the beeswax and carrier oil of choice in a double broiler (placing a bowl containing the beeswax and carrier oil inside a pot of boiled water with the flame turned off). Mix until the beeswax melts. Make sure to turn off the flame before placing in the bowl inside the pot and be careful not to burn yourself. (You can use kitchen gloves to ensure you do not burn your hands). 2. Once the beeswax has melted add 5-7 drops of essential oil and mix again (or
add honey in the place e of the essential oil). 3. Pour the mixture into your container and allow it to cool down and harden. (You can put it in the fridge to cool down quickly). 4. Close the container and use as a regular lip p balm. Note: If you are allergic c to any of the ingredients mentioned above DO NOT OT use them. If you are going to try any of the ingredients for the first time DO A SMALL PATCH TEST on a little part of your arm first!
Beewax lip balm is very moisturising, can help protect the lips from the harmful rays of the sun, with a pleasant smell. It can also help prevent infections and cold sores. Beeswax balm has uses other than as a lip balm, and it is fairly inexpensive and easy to find
EXHIBITION
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With the lens as their weapon of choice, 10 9 Omani women, who represent different governorates of Oman, have produced 142 distinctive images, all of which either portraying humans, nature or both, while at the same time enclosing a story, patiently waiting for someone to hear it
Beauty captured by Omani women

By Melanie Held
ach year, October is highly celebrated as the month of beauty, purity and gentleness, for it is the month that is dedicated to women. Here in the Sultanate, womens day is celebrated each year on the October 17, thus as a part of this years celebration, the women of the Omani Photographic Society have once again displayed their talent and eye for capturing beauty as the fourth edition of the exhibition began last week at the cultural hall of Sultan Qaboos University, under the auspice of HH Dr Muna bint Fahad al Said. Ahmed bin Abdullah al Busaidi, in charge of the functioning of the photographer, said these images will convey different photography themes ranging from portraits, abstract, conceptual, still life and also landscape that we rarely see through the lenses of female photographers. In order to take a picture, one needs a camera, but having the ability to take a picture of an object in the right setting and angle and thus allowing it to express itself without words, is a different matter. These women have this skill; they have the ability to transfer a mundane object into a unique one and find the unique beauty in a face and
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EXHIBITION
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highlight it with just one click. With the lens as their weapon of choice, these 109 women, who represented the different governorates of Oman, produced 142 distinctive images, all of which either portraying humans, nature or both, while at the same time enclosing a story, patiently waiting for someone to hear it. As they captured these moments and immortalised them for all to see, some women also chose to edit their work using digital effects and thus enhancing what they saw as the focus point of the story in each piece. Pictures are worth a thousand words. With the images along the center and encircling the hall, guests had a chance to travel from one arts journey and chain of thoughts into anothers, giving them chance to see the world through the lens of each individual woman. Whether the images were in black and white, coloured or a mix of both, a simple flower or the flames of a fire, the complexity and technique behind each piece speaks of wonders and allures visitors to take not only a second look at it, but also asks them to look deeper both into the picture and themselves to find its hidden message. As the visitors embarked in these journeys, they could either take it upon themselves to understand the piece by themselves, or have the photographer, herself, explain the secret behind the piece. Visitors would gather around as the
photographer, as children would around their teacher during story time, anxiously waiting for her to unveil the secret message. These images are not only empowering, strong and striking photographs, they also served another purpose. As these they hung against the walls, they help show other women that they too can express themselves
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creatively with a camera and at the same time help reintroduce the Omani culture and tradition and the world as they see it to visitors. On the surface, this exhibition might present itself solely for photographer, but in reality the diversity of its nature goes much deeper. It looks to unite women for their love of photography, nature, beauty and life, even if it some of the images force us to look as the more poignant moments in life. These images are from different women from around the Sultanate, but at the end of the day, through using their sensations and eyesight, these soft hands have extracted the beauty sports in reality, explains Habib bin Mohmanned al Riyami, Secretary General of Sultan Qaboos Centre for Culture and Science. The exhibition is open to the public until Thursday October 10 at Sultan Qaboos Univertisy and from there; these images will be on display at an exhibition that will be held in Buraimi and Salalah.
Both, Habib bin Mohmanned al Riyami and Ahmed bin Abdullah al Busaidi expressed their gratitude to both the participants and Sultan Qaboos Univertisy for their efforts and time. Habib bin Mohmanned al Riyami said, I would like to thanks the Omani women photographers in all different governorates of the Sultanate for their creativity in this prestigious artistic exhibition and for their innovative artistic vision to participate through zoom lens, in the celebration of this Omani Womens Day in October of each year. I wish them more brilliance and success. We are proud of these renewed tender fingertips of Omani women and we are pleased that we send a message of thanks and appreciation for all the 109 participants in this exhibition. Also we can extend our sincere thanks to all who contributed to the success of the fourth edition of this event specially Sultan Qaboos Univertisy, Ahmed bin Abdullah al Busaidi said.
INTERVIEW
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Rock on
The development has been phenomenal and of huge benefit to Omanis, but the remote parts of the mountains and desert are still very similar to the old days, thankfully. The crucial factor now, in my view, is to preserve Omans unique environment and not to let rampant development destroy the best sites
s a geologist and academic at Oxford University, Professor Mike Searles interest in rock formations has seen him to travel to some of the most remote and extreme areas on earth. This includes geological expeditions across the Middle East and in recent years to the roof of the earth with studies in the Himalayas. As can be expected such adventures they brought with them many stories to tell and Professor Mike Searle has successfully compiled these accounts into an accessible, thrilling and informative read printed by Oxford University Press. Suzie Bruce spoke with Mike Searle before he set out on a 2-week trip to study the eclogites in the As Sifah region of Oman, a country which saw him take his formulate steps in an exhilarating and distinguished career. Welcome to Oman! I believe that youve been visiting Oman regularly for a number of years, what has brought you here? Well I grew up in Muscat since my father (Geoff Searle) was Finance Manager at PDO and my mother (Pauline Searle) was the
Reuters correspondent for Oman. She was also a nurse and worked with Don Bosch in the Muttrah Mission Hospital. I did my PhD in the UK working on the Oman ophiolite so had three winters mapping all over the northern Oman mountains. Ive returned to the country almost every year since then researching a variety of geological projects. You must therefore have seen many changes since your early days here. What are the most striking? Of course, the development has been phenomenal and of huge benefit to Omanis, but the remote parts of the mountains and desert are still very similar to the old days, thankfully. The crucial factor now, in my view, is to preserve Omans unique environment and not to let rampant development destroy the best sites. One has only to look across to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to see how development can destroy many wonderful natural habitats and unique geological sites. What inspired you to pursue a career in geology? Weekend camping trips with my parents all over Oman. We used to love camping out
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in the desert, on remote beaches and exploring the mountains and I still do. For me, the geology of the mountains was inspirational. After school my father also arranged for me to do a summer job on a seismic crew (SSL) in Northern Dhofar close to the Yemeni and Saudi borders. I loved driving around the amazing sand dune country in my Land Rover. So what is the purpose of your current two-week visit? For the last 10 years I have been working on some unique rocks called eclogites in the As Sifah region of Oman. These rocks show that during the emplacement of the ophiolite (a giant slab of oceanic crust and upper mantle) the Oman continental margin was dragged down to depths of over 100 km in a subduction zone and then returned to the surface. My new student and I will be working on the structures between As Sifah and the Muscat ophiolite. What is special about the geology of the Oman mountains? Oman is absolutely unique in the geology world. Two thirds of the worlds surface is covered by ocean but we can only drill into the surface of it. In Oman a giant thrust sheet of oceanic crust and upper mantle approximately 20 km thick was emplaced onto the Arabian continent. We can walk around the Cretaceous ocean floor, we can examine rocks at the base of the crust and study upper mantle rocks in intricate detail. The ophiolite weathers as the dark spikey rocks that make up much of the Oman mountains. Oman has so many unique and special geological sites, the whole Oman mountains should be preserved! In which other parts of the world have you spent a lot of time studying geology and mountaineering? I have spent 30 years working all along the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges in North Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan as well as about 10 years in parts of Tibet. Many of my early trips were tied in with mountaineering expeditions to peaks like K2, Masherbrum, Biale, the Trango Towers and Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, Shivling and peaks in LadakhZanskar and Himachal Pradesh in India, Annapurna, Machapuchare, Manaslu, Langtang Lirung, Everest, Makalu, and
Kangchenjunga in Nepal. During our brief meeting I can sense that you are not an idle person! I believe you have published a number of papers, co-edited books. In 1991 you wrote a book and you have published a number of geological maps. What are the numbers and title of the book? I have written over 150 papers in peerreviewed journals, co-edited four books, and written two books, so I dont think I have been too idle! Can you tell me about the second book, when it was published, what is the title, and can you tell me briefly about its content? My new book Colliding Continents: a Geological Exploration of the Himalaya, Karakoram and Tibet was published by the Oxford University Press in April 2013. It is a popular science book with lots of personal stories and covers my 30 years of research starting in Oman and Ladakh, then along the Karakoram and the Himalaya with the final chapters on South East Asia (Burma, Thailand, Vietnam) and the Indian Ocean Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami and its effects on the Andaman Islands. Theres more than 400 pages of full-colour so lots of photos of wonderful mountain scenery and stories of mountaineering expeditions and geology. For more information, visit http://www. earth.ox.ac.uk/~mikes
ADVENTURE
28
Sand, sand everywhere

As the terrain gradually changed from hard and rocky to soft and smooth, we knew we had reached the edge of Wahiba Sands. The car stopped bumping up and down sending our camping gear and carefully collected firewood all over the backseat and our heads thumping the ceiling
29
By Rachael M
t is not often you find your self driving along an empty road at 5 km/h looking for two small rocks in the pitch dark. But that was exactly what we were doing. I was glued to the car window straining my eyes to spot the two rocks supposedly placed by the side of the road to show where it would be safe to leave the main road and drive in to the desert. He said he would leave them on the top of each other, easy to see from the road, my friend assured me. Well, maybe they would have been easy to see in the daylight, but we had been driving like this for at least half an hour and even the stars, bright like fireflies, didnt do anything to help. And I needed a cup of tea. This could be it, my optimistic friend suggested as he slowed the car to a halt. I looked at the few pebbles by the side. These could certainly have been part of the worlds smallest cairn or they could as well have been left there by Mother Nature for no other reason that this was as good a place as any. I really, really needed a cup of tea. Go for it! I cheered loud enough to wake even my old dog in the back. He had been sound asleep since Ras al Jinz finding
our slow speed in the dark utterly boring. We unbuckled our seat belts, as we had been told you have to do when driving in sand dunes, took a deep breath and left the tarmac. The first bit was no match for the 4x4, a nice hard surface with old tire tracks crisscrossing, a few low bushes and a lot of sharp stones. Take it easy, the last thing we want here is a puncture I warned, looking at my friends skinny arms with not a hint of muscles. I could only guess how heavy the spare tyre was, and didnt much care to find out. As the terrain gradually changed from hard and rocky to soft and smooth, we knew we had reached the edge of Wahiba Sands. The desert. Even the dog joined in a sigh of relief as the car stopped bumping up and down sending our camping gear and carefully collected firewood all over the backseat and our heads thumping the ceiling. Sand, soft glorious sand. The smooth ride felt like the moment when your headache pill starts kicking in and you suddenly can see clearly again. But that didnt last long. Soon we, the dog and the now scattered camping pots and pans were speeding up and down sand dunes like on some mad
ADVENTURE
30
desert rollercoaster. Slow down! I shouted through the clatter of baked beans tins and cutlery hitting the windscreen. I cant then well get stuck in the sand, was the only words I could hear over the noise. When the car finally came to a standstill on the top of a dune, at what felt like a 45 degree angle, it wasnt out of concern for the dogs wellbeing or the state of our now limited supplies, but purely because we were stuck. I flicked away bits of bark and instant noodles from my lap and looked at my friend. Lets set up camp, he chirped in a tone of voice normally reserved for mothers of small children about to have an injection. I
had forgotten all about tea. As soon as I tried to open the passengers door, it became apparent that this would require all my strength. A strong wind kept blowing the door back in my face as soon as I managed to force it a few inches open. This couldnt be good. We clambered down the dune to find a sheltered area flat enough to pitch our tent. The wind had picked up another notch and with the moon now gone our small torch seemed pathetic in its attempt to throw some light on the situation. Stay here while I go back for the stuff in the car, my friend shouted through the relentless wind. Even though the distance between the car and the foot of the dune where the dog and I were huddling together getting sandblasted, was only a stone -throw away, I felt a rising sense of panic as I watched the dime circle of light from the torch disappear with my friend. Note to oneself: must remember to bring more than one torch when camping. And preferable not a pink Barbie one which my friend was now shaking vigorously to get working again. Ok listen, I will just throw the tents and sleeping bags down to you, he called from the top of the dune and hauled dark objects down the giant sand slide. Of course, I had no chance of actually finding them in the dark. All I could do was sit down and pray he wouldnt throw the coolbox as well. Once reunited with my friend we started the treasure hunt of locating our belongings now spread over the bottom of the dune and half covered in sand. As the pink light from the Barbie torch slowly died, so did my hope of a cup of tea. Let it be said, putting up a tent can be fun. Putting up a tent in the dark in a sand storm, however, is not. A glorious day greeted me the next morning as I lifted the tent flap to take in the sunrise and carnage around me. Sand, sand everywhere. Well, being in the desert this was only to be expected, but not covering every bit of camping gear I had ever owned, including the car perched on top of the dune, still in a funny angle. I stretched and began the tedious task of collecting our firewood once again, to get the tea brewing. I should of course have wondered slightly when I saw my friend march up the dune
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with a small saucepan and my dog set off in the opposite direction in a straight line, but it was early and I guess I still had sand in my eyes. Gently stirring the tea, I watched with amusement my friend on his knees now busy digging out the car with my saucepan. Considering that Oman is made up of 82 per cent desert and sand dunes and the majority of that seemed to engulf our car at this point, I reckoned he was going to be occupied for a while, so I leaned back to finally enjoy my cup of tea and the views. I was halfway through my second cup when the dog appeared from behind a sand dune, tail wagging with pride. He had brought breakfast. A large piece of dried meat, slightly used by the look of it. I stared out over the miles and miles of sand and wondered where or how he had found it. My friend had just about uncovered the wheels of the car when we heard another car approach. A battered old pick-up truck with a goat in the back was making its way towards our campsite. My friend had heard the engine noise too and waved. The Bedu who jumped out to greet him mumbled something to his wife in the back and she popped her head out of the window looking from the dog to the car, to the saucepan. I thought I heard a faint giggle. It is not always easy to tell what goes on behind the veil. The dog saw his opportunity to wander off again with a sense of purpose, into the desert following the same track as before. I am not sure what the Arabic word for fool is, but I am pretty sure it was in there somewhere as the Bedu clambered into our car, wriggling the steering wheel around a bit and gently rolled it straight down the dune. He had gathered speed by the time he whisked past me, his wife and the goat, and we all watched with surprise as he just continued driving until all there was left of him was the fresh track in the sand. My friend stood on top of the dune, saucepan still in hand with his male pride hurt. It had taken the Bedu exactly 7 seconds to get the car out of the sand. Not knowing if the Bedu was ever going to come back with our car and reclaim his wife (and goat), I thought I better offer her a cup of tea. We couldnt communicate with words, but we didnt have to. As they say, we all smile in the same language even from behind the veil.
The Bedu did come back to collect his wife and as we thanked him and exchanged phone numbers, I noticed the dog returning with something in his mouth. This time he had brought back a large piece of dried fish. We better pack up and get out of here before we get another visit, this time from some very angry Bedu who wants to know why our dog has raided his larder, I suggested, nervously scanning the desert horizon. We reached home, our hearts full of desert beauty and our hair full of sand. I felt that having now witnessed a sunrise in the desert my world would never be the same again. My friend felt that having had his driving skills questioned and his male pride punctured by an old Bedu, his world would never be quite the same again. The dog, however, just smelled of dried fish. www.facebook.com/ePicOman
HEALTH
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So you plan to get
PREGNANT
Dr Bernd K Wittmann
Sr Consultant MD, FRCSC Starcare Hospital Oman
Pregnancy planning as important as planning to purchase a car!

recently married couple is planning to purchase their first car, and is spending many hours choosing the brand, the model, the colour and the extras. They research on-line, visit dealerships, and after several test drives buy their very special car. However, somewhere in between, a pregnancy is suspected, and, excited about the prospect of a baby, the couple arrives at the clinic with a positive home pregnancy test. The pregnancy is confirmed by a laboratory test, and calculation of the dates establishes a 7 week pregnancy. At this stage the baby is already 1 cm long, the heart is beating, and all the important structures are forming. Review of the medical and family history of both parents is normal, and they live a healthy lifestyle. Premarital laboratory tests performed for thalassemia and sickle-cell anaemia were normal, and both were immune to rubella and hepatitis B. The mother is of average weight, on a normal diet with low caffeine intake, and not taking any iron or vitamin supplements. The
pregnancy is progressing well, however at the first ultrasound examination at 3 months, the baby appears to have an abnormality. This situation has occurred many times over the years, and head and spine abnormalities (neural tube defects NTD) have been considered unavoidable. Research over the last 30 years has shown that in many cases the abnormality can be prevented through the use of a vitamin, folic
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acid. As many women are on a diet which is deficient in folic acid, supplementation for all women of child bearing age has been recommended worldwide. However, to be most effective, the folic acid supplementation (Canadian recommendations 5 milligrams/day) must be started 1 month BEFORE the pregnancy, and continued for the first 3 months of pregnancy. There is increasing evidence that this will not only decrease the risk of NTD, but also of other abnormalities. This scenario serves to illustrate that couples who are thinking about a pregnancy should plan ahead of time. One way to do this is to book a pre-pregnancy counselling session with their physician in order to be aware of the steps required to prepare for the healthiest possible pregnancy. At this visit, a thorough history will be taken and, if indicated, an examination will be performed. The family history will reveal the possibility of medical and genetic diseases, and reproductive problems. A personal history, especially of the woman, will identify diabetes, hypertension and other medical conditions which are specific risk
factors for the mother and baby in the pregnancy and afterwards. If medications are used for a specific disease, then adjustment or change to a different drug may be required. Lifestyle, diet, social and environmental risk factors must be evaluated, and, if necessary, modified. For example, being overweight in pregnancy is associated with multiple risk factors, and extreme weight loss just before pregnancy can also have a negative effect on the pregnancy. Information on all previous pregnancies of both prospective parents must be collected. If in the past there was a complication of the mother or baby, or a surgical delivery, then documentation from the hospital file and a copy of the operation report should be obtained. This, together with all the other information should be reviewed with the couple, and a plan of management for the pregnancy developed. A recurrence of past problems is often preventable, and a successful pregnancy can usually be achieved if we dedicate at least as much time to the planning of the pregnancy as we do to the purchase of a car!
The family history will reveal the possibility of medical and genetic diseases, and reproductive problems. A personal history, especially of the woman, will identify diabetes, hypertension and other medical conditions which are specific risk factors for the mother and baby in the pregnancy and afterwards
CONTENTS
34
The law of gravity

PAGE 37
Leisure
The Merchant of comedy
PAGE 38
An apple a day
PAGE 40
35
Internet tech in cyber chic

M
odels wearing Google Glass eyewear, Pebble smartwatches and other hot gadgets strutted a catwalk as Internet technology continued to merge with the world of fashion. A Digital Fall fashion show here marked the close of the first Glazed Conference devoted to setting the stage for wearable computing startups to become billiondollar businesses. It looks like technology for the sake of technology is dead, said Eliane Fiolet, co-founder of popular technology news website Ubergizmo.com and organiser of the fashion show. People want a great piece of technology that works well and
looks great. Companies are increasingly tuning into desires for sophisticated gadgets that also let people express personal styles, she noted. Jawbone lets people customise colors of Jambox wireless speakers that synch wirelessly to smartphones, tablets, or laptop computers. Nike allows people visiting its website to design their own athletic shoes, and matches some sports attire with wearable devices that track daily active for those chasing fitness goals. There will be more and more integration with fashion and technology, Fiolet said. We are just at the very start of it. She believed that Google has touched on a winning formula with Google Glass Internet-linked eyewear, which have become a fashion trend in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley areas. We are in the next stage of human evolution, said Glazed Conference organiser Redg Snodgrass, co-founder of Stained
Glass Labs startup accelerator devoted to revving up the wearable computing industry. Entrepreneurs arent those nerds living in a closet anymore, Snodgrass said as the fashion show was about to commence in a club not far from Twitters headquarters in San Francisco. They are out there pushing the limit. Anything that is technologically fascinating is sexy, and fashion is tied to that. While fitness has been a winning theme for early wearable computing devices, such as UP and Fitbit bracelets for providing feedback on whether people are hitting activity and sleep goals, Snodgrass thinks films and games will be the next areas to catch fire. The one-day Glazed Conference was intended to bring together entrepreneurs, investors and others to explore ways to realise ideas and make money in the world of wearable computing. Not only did they show up, they brought the heat, Snodgrass said of the turnout. They brought some great stuff.
CINE WORLD
36
Its dark, and yet its quite comic

Hamm, best known for his Emmynominated role as the brilliant-yet-troubled ad man Don Draper in Mad Men, stars as the older version of the doctor, a figure who advises and taunts his younger self, an overwhelmed recent graduate played by Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe. The show is based on a collection of short stories by Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov. Radcliffe and Hamm are both fans of Bulgakovs writing. In the TV series, the character Hamm plays is addicted to morphine and under investigation by the Soviet secret police. He finds a notebook filled with writings about his experiences 17 years earlier that he uses to narrate the story of his younger self. Radcliffe portrays the fresh Moscow medical school graduate sent to tend patients at the small, rural hospital. Hamms character appears to coach him or to smirk at his naivete. The older and younger selves played by Hamm and Radcliffe appear in several scenes together, including one in a bathtub. The younger doctor panics at having to pull a tooth or amputate a limb, with blood spattering by the buckets around him. While the show has some gruesome horror elements, Hamm said, we hope it has some emotional resonance as a story about a guy dealing with his demons. Looking ahead, Hamm is preparing to film the final season of Mad Men, which will run on the AMC cable network in two parts in 2014 and 2015. He said he has not fully mapped out his career plans beyond Mad Men. Hamm will appear in a second season of Young Doctors Notebook. In May, he will star on the big screen in the Walt Disney Co movie Million Dollar Arm in which he plays a sports agent who stages a contest in India to find cricket players who he can turn into Major League Baseball stars.
on Hamms new TV role takes him far from the stylish 1960s Madison Avenue setting of Mad Men to a dreary, isolated and bloody hospital in a small Russian village during the 1917 revolution. The backdrop for A Young Doctors Notebook a four-episode series that made its US debut last week on the Ovation cable network, is not a typical one for television, and the show does not fit neatly into a particular genre. Hamm said he liked the project for both of those reasons. Its dark, and yet its quite comic, Hamm said. Its fantastical in many ways, and macabre in many ways. Its very British, he added. Thats probably the best way to say it. I like that they take risks over there. Young Doctors Notebook was filmed in London and broadcast in 2012 on British network Sky Arts. Ovation, a cable network available in about 50 million U. homes, picked up US rights for the first season.
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Gravity with personal adversity

atching an astronaut tumbling into the void of deep space might make a mere mortals own adversities seems rather small. But Gravity, a drama starring Sandra Bullock was born out of the setbacks suffered by one man in the midst of the last recession: its director and co-writer, Alfonso Cuaron. The Mexican filmmaker had already achieved international success with films like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004 and Children of Men in 2006. But in 2009, financing on a new film fell apart, leaving him in the lurch. That was just one element of a period of adversities that was striking my life, said. And sometimes adversities are like that. They come in big waves. The 51-year-old filmmaker and son Jonas Cuaron, 30, decided they would not sit around licking their wounds, and quickly got to work on a script about adversity, weaving the theme through tense and gripping action. They soon settled on space, a fascination for the Cuarons. We said lets take a character in a very adverse situation and we starting ping-ponging and this image came up of this astronaut just spinning into black emptiness, said Jonas Cuaron. And that is pretty much how Gravity begins, with Bullock playing novice astronaut and engineer Dr Ryan Stone alongside George Clooney as mission commander Matt Kowalski. Their space station is hit by debris from the demolition of an obsolete satellite, sending the two reeling into deep space with depleting oxygen and remote chances of returning to Earth. Ryan Stone soon finds herself alone, drifting into the void, with a tragic backstory that diminishes her desire to get home. For Alfonso Cuaron, Stone is a victim of her own inertia, living in her own bubble. She has to learn to come out of the bubble, shed her skin to begin a journey of rebirth, Cuaron said. The filmmakers and Warner Bros. Pictures ended up spending some $80 million to make the 3D film, with technological
innovations that reproduce space and zero gravity in ways never seen on screen. The trade publication Variety calls Gravity a white-knuckle space odyssey, a work of great narrative simplicity and visual complexity. The film opens this weekend in US theaters after showing at both the Venice and Toronto film festivals to critical acclaim. Bullock, as it happens, knows adversity and is known for having weathered it rather stoically. Right after reaching what might have been the pinnacle of her career by winning her best actress Oscar for The Blind Side in 2010, she learned ned that her thenhusband, Jesse James, s, was having an affair and she dropped out of the public eye to raise her adopted son. . Cuaron went to Bullocks locks hometown of Austin, Texas, to meet for the first time and talk about the Gravity role, and agreed adversity was very present sent in both their lives. She had, in Cuarons ons words, an amazing insight about that and an amazing maturity and clarity about that experience. He knew after that he wanted her to do the film. Bullock, 49, said the e physical demands of the role were less daunting aunting that the emotional ones, especially cially because she had to make the emotions ions sync up with the elaborate technology and the tight shots. Ryan Stone is not just ust isolated, shes cut off. So many parts of her er are not living anymore, Bullock told d Reuters. You have to put yourself ourself in that head every day of What hat would I do? What would I feel at this his moment? she said, adding: dding: It is not a nice place to be. Bullocks performance has won praise from critics, who predict she e will be a contender for another best actress Oscar. Los Angeles geles Times film critic Betsy Sharkey said Cuaron asked Bullock lock to do a free-fall with major or implications and she pulls pulls off a breathtaking landing.
CINE WORLD
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10-16, 10-16 2013
A minute with Stephen Merchant

tephen Merchant, the gangly and bespectacled comedian best known for creating with Ricky Gervais the British and US TV sitcoms The Office, steps in front of the camera with his warped sense of reality in the HBO comedy Hello Ladies. In the eight-episode series, it is Merchants first turn as he plays a leading role on US television. The 38-year-old Briton plays Stuart, a loser who is looking for love in Los Angeles. The Emmy winner spoke about how the show originated from his stand-up routine, the Hollywood dream machine and how his unusual height helps drive his humor. Did you believe your stand-up show could be a sitcom? It wasnt a plan I had, and once they (HBO) brought that up, my mind started wandering, and they suggested to me the idea of him being in Los Angeles. That sort of appealed to me because I like the idea that Stuart is a fantasist in a way, who has bought into L.A. as this world of glamour, beautiful people and VIP parties behind red velvet ropes, and having dreamed in the suburbs of England about that fantasy life, trying to get access to it, and, of course,
failing as so many people do. Stuart is a foreigner in Los Angeles, like yourself. Does foreignness help propel your comedy writing? Hes kind of a foreigner everywhere. I feel this in many ways: Im too tall and Im a little too pale and you know, Ive always felt a little bit like an alien. But also I think it magnifies the disjuncture between his fantasy of what life could be and the reality. For some reason, thats very pronounced in somewhere like Los Angeles because of this disparity between the glamour and the beauty and normal people is very distinct. Something that interests me as well is the idea of loneliness and the way that L.A. in particular is a very lonely city because everyone is in their cars and theres no real hub. But also this idea that the grass is always greener, this notion that, particularly in the Internet age, we are led to believe that the world is open to us and we can travel and we can experience things and its there for the taking. The reality is, that its not always the case. What were your impressions of Hollywood while growing up? I think it was like many people. It was
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10-16 10-16, 2013
refracted through TV shows. Something we tried to give this character is the idea that hes got this picture of Los Angeles thats soundtracked by 80s saxophone music and beautiful women attending glamorous parties, and that was certainly my view of it. I dont want to say youre characters are desperate. No, I think there is a desperation. You know, its funny, I remember being a big fan of (comedian) Richard Pryor. In a weird way I was jealous of so much of the horrible tragedy he suffered, just because it seemed to fuel his comedy. He grew up in a brothel and his mother was a prostitute and he was a drug addict and he was navigating being a person of colour in a very difficult time. All of that energy, and it felt like those were big emotions for him to fuel his work. I never really had that. What did you have? I was very lucky in a cozy middle-class life. But the thing that always bothered me and I used to see it in friends and family and people I went to school with was this idea of not fulfilling your dreams and you sort of have one chance at life and what if you blow it? That seemed like a very real and very tangible thing and its something that Ive always responded to in music and in movies. So when I first discovered Woody Allen it seemed like a lot of that same area was fear, that kind of existential anxiety of What do I make of my life?
For some reason that idea seems very valuable in comedy because it gives the characters a drive and a goal that seems really important. For me, it makes it more comic when youre not fulfilling those dreams. You make much of your height, even as Stuart. Do you feel like you stand out in Los Angeles? I feel like I stand out everywhere, particularly in L.A. where certainly most aspiring male actors are seemingly about 5-foot-2. People are often shocked how celebrities are shorter than they appear on screen. Yes, Im constantly surprised by that. How is that for you, being probably taller than you appear on TV? There were a couple of instances where depending on what the script entailed, I did have to cast taller actresses alongside me just so I could fit both of us on screen at the same time without it being terribly wide. The height thing is one of those things where, when I was a teenager it seemed like a curse and now as a comedian its like a great asset because it allows me to be very physical. What I hear is always John Cleese, who was similarly tall and used his gangly frame in Monty Python. Now I embrace it and use it for the comedy and I sort of walk tall with a bit more pride than I did when I was a kid when I was trying to kind of hide myself away and be less self-conscious.
The height thing is one of those things where, when I was a teenager it seemed like a curse and now as a comedian its like a great asset because it allows me to be very physical
FOOD TALK
40
Upside down apple slice

By Najah al Riyami
Ingredients 120g butter, chopped cup caster sugar 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 large eggs 1 cup self-raising flour 2 pealed apples (the sweeter the better) For the Sauce 3 heaped tablespoons caster sugar 1 tablespoon butter 4 tablespoons water Method 1. Preheat oven to 100C. 2. Cream chopped butter with sifted sugar until light and fluffy. 3. Add olive oil and eggs. Stir in until combined. 4. Stir in sifted flour. Keep an eye on its consistency. It shouldnt be too loose or too thick. 5. Oil loaf-tin with olive oil. 6. Peel apple and slice into pieces.
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7. Line the bottom of the loaf tin with apples. You can get artsy here, creating patterns as you decide how to place these apple slices. 8. Pop into oven and keep an eye out, because these are thin slices it wont take very long to cook, probably between 15 to 25 minutes. Remove when golden brown. 9. Make the caramel sauce while this cake cooks. Put all ingredients in a pan and let it cook on a low heat, mixing slowly, until it caramelises. This may take 15 minutes. You can tell its done once the syrup is sticky, golden brown and smells like toffee. 10. Remove the cake from tin and pour the caramel sauce above. There you have it, a delicious apple-slice, perfect with a cuppa. Note: This recipe is not fixed. Feel free to alter it to your taste. You can add more or less sugar according to taste, and increase or decrease the olive-oil slightly or decrease the amount of self-raising flour in order to maintain the right texture.
FUN TIME
42
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 3 Talk breathlessly about a rousing start, you understand (5) 8 Left a can of tongue (5) 10 Wherein Joeys mum keeps her baccy? (5) 11 Costly contribution to the salad? (3) 12 Where grisettes went around in pairs (5) 13 Cutter with a rotary action? (7) 15 Hundreds in a recent survey (5) 18 Be a bit floppy (3) 19 Had she existed, she might have been amused (6) 21 Game pies suitable for children (7) 22 An employers tactic (4) 23 Full of sauce during supper time? (4) 24 Cooked a piece of fish in breadcrumbs? (7) 26 Curtains spread apart (6) 29 You can link it with a European capital (3) 31 As carried by chairmen? (5) 32 The basics one gets down to when stony? (7) 34 Formal but not completely cold (5) 35 One can broadcast on it (3) 36 Throttle thats grand for new cars! (5) 37 Looked to go back where guided (5) 38 Nasty enough to disturb Denis (5) DOWN 1 Very masculine masterly companion, love (5) 2 Show a girls dramatic effort (7) 4 That of the crowd at the New Den? (4) 5 Tasteful additions (6) 6 Asked questions of confused dopes (5) 7 Those wha hae? (5) 9 To ring excessively (3) 12 Looks around very quietly for possibly sweet things (7) 14 Dads drink? (3)
DOWN: 1, MA-CH-O 2, Dis-play 4, Roar 5, Spices 6, Posed 7, Scots 9, To-O 12, Pe-pp-ers 14, Pop 16, N-UK-ed 17, Saute 19, Merited 20, Spuds 21, No.-mad 23, Peer-age 24, Benig-N 25, Sid 27, React 28, Par-AS 30, Screw 32, Bird 33, O-il. SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, G-r-asp 8, L-a-tin 10, Pouch 11, Cos 12, Paris 13, Chopper 15, Cents 18, Lop 19, Medusa 21, Nap-pies 22, Ploy 23, Pert 24, Bra-is-ed 26, Drapes 29, Ti-E 31, Sedan 32, Bedrock 34, (f-) Rigid 35, Air 36, Scra-G 37, Og-led 38, Snide.
16 Destroyed by a chap touring the kingdom (5) 17 A suet concoction lightly fried (5) 19 Determined to dispose of dotty Den, deservedly! (7) 20 Those bashed at the cookhouse? (5) 21 Wanderer making a number crazy! (5) 23 Look closely for a long time at the nobility (7) 24 Kindly begin turning north (6) 25 A sound CID man? (3) 27 Respond to an order for a crate (5) 28 Standard Anglo-Saxon soldiers? (5) 30 Pay in prison, perhaps (5) 32 Female flier? (4) 33 Mineral wealth meaning nothing to the Italian (3)
43
STARS FOR YOU

LIBR
(September 23October 22) A mischief maker whose sense of humour is making trouble among your friends ought to be put in his place by concerted action on the part of all his victims.
ARI
E
S
If Its Your Birthday Some friends who have watched you spend a lot of time and energy recently on pursuits which do not show results, will offer certain suggestions which may help to improve your reward for all the work you are doing. The year ahead will be busy, but very gratifying.
SCO
(October 23-November 21) Keep a minor family quarrel in its proper perspective and you will soon find the right approach to minimize its importance and keep it low key.
SAG
(November 22December 21) If you are anxious to keep the peace at work, it may be advisable to refrain from the urge to tell a colleague some unpleasant truths.
(March 21-April 20) A dormant talent could be brought to light through your encounter with a new cultural group. You will find you have a lot in common with many of the members.
TA U
RU
CAP
(December 22-January 20) An argument at work which did not seem to concern you personally, may in the long run have considerable bearing on the future of the job.
AQU
(January 21-February 19) You may be sadly disappointed when you have a chance to meet a certain person whom you have long admired from a distance.
PISC
(February 20-March 20) Your conduct in a recent dispute was above reproach, and you cannot blame yourself for the outcome, which was due to forces beyond your control.
RP
(April 21-May 20) Having decided to be equal partners in sharing a business opportunity with a friend, make sure that you are both clear about the terms of your agreement.
IO
GEM
ITT
IN I
ARIU
(May 21-June 21) Help a colleague who is also a friend out of a tight spot by offering him material assistance if you are under the impression that he really needs it.
CAN
CE
R
RI
(June 22-July 21) You may find it expedient to entrust an old friend with conducting certain negotiations for you, if you dont feel up to facing the other party yourself.
CORN
LEO
AR
IUS
(July 22-August 21) Contact with a person in authority will not prove as complicated as you had feared. State your case clearly, without wasting the officials time and there will be no hitch.
VIR
ES
(August 22-September 22) You will be invited to a celebration and ought to bring a gift of some kind, even though you are not very close to the person in question.
GO
WRITE AND LEARN
44
You... and Your Dad

Travelling the interstate routes With no sense of direction Following no road map Travelling only by the lay of the land Going on only because Of the love of the land You and your dad You, a curly-haired toddler Without even the knowledge To put the right shoes on the right feet Listening to Willie Nelson in a trance You and Your dad Feeling the love, but not really understanding it Your bottle in one hand The other, clutching the seat belt Anticipating the next fork in the road You, a rosy-cheeked kid Not knowing anything but Willie Nelsons voice and The indescribable landscape Not knowing That later on in life you wish you would be able to relive That single moment
A thousand times Only the hazy memory Sticking to you like the apple juice leaking from the bottle Stuck to your lively little fingers at one time You and your dad On the interstate routes.
Katie Ferman
My Day
G
et up very early in the morning clean my teeth take a shower and go to school. WHAT IM I SAYING!!! I get up around three to four thirty, look for my parents phone and check the time, sneak to the girls room to get my uniform and go take a shower and brush my teeth. At five O clock, I am down stairs and waiting for my siblings. I always try to wake my brother up, but he never gets up, so I wait until six to seven. We are on the road at seven, after cleaning our rooms and heading to school. We had assembly we had the lesson and then we had break. By the middle of the day before the school bell rings some are felling like zombies and some active, were all waiting to go home two more lessons to freedom! Running out of the classrooms and heading outside. Our family is the last to go home most of the times, sometimes we leave early. When I reach home I do my homework and wait for something to happen, such as play with my sister a game. At night I change into my pyjamas, eat my dinner and get ready for bed I talk to my sister or older brother before I go to bed, sometimes I play a little bit and go to bed when I get told off. The conclusion: that you always do something that you will never forget. I know I didnt say that because there is always something new at the beginning, middle or end of each story or day. So always look for something new. By Tasneem Nayel al Riyami
45
Dear parents/children, The Weekend is providing opportunities for your students to help them publish their creative work in the pages of the magazine being published every Thursday. The magazine has devoted KIDS CORNER pages for students from kindergarten to those aged 15 to express their ideas and show their skills in writing, drawing etc. What to include: Apart from the write-ups, drawing, etc, names of the pupil and school, age, class and phone number of the parents/teachers. Manuscripts are not returned. If you wish, include a photo as well. Send in or e-mail your original work to us: Features Editor, Weekend, Oman Daily Observer, PB No 974, PC 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, weekend@omanobserver.om, observerweekend@gmail.com
The Blissful Rain

Have you wondered why The rain from the sky Gives us so much peace And puts as at ease? I can give you the answer The rain is a graceful dancer Which washes our worries away And makes us feel happy and gay When I am sad, I pray to God for rain To fall on my window pane So that joyfulness I will gain
Ricky Cherian
By Nikitha Sherigar, 6th Std, ISWK
LAST WORD
46
Will the music play on?

he bass drum is silent on the one-time domineering stage at this hotel in Muscat. Since regulations against live bands in the country began, there is still the usual clientele but now the only sounds come from the quiet chatter of groups of friends. Although I can understand those who say that the prohibitions on live music might have a negative impact on tourism in the country, the result for Omans music scene is likely to be minimal. Without ignoring the traditional folk performances and concerts organised by embassies and entertainment promoters in Oman, live music in Muscat does not mean the same as in other parts of the world namely music that encapsulates a sense of everyday life through lyrical content. Instead, here in Muscat, live entertainment means cover bands playing the same, bland pop songs at ear piercing volumes. It might constitute as good entertainment for some but Im sure many more would agree that there is room for improvement in the music scene here in Oman. Although I have sympathy for the band members affected by the recent measures, the regulations on these bands will have little effect on the growth and development of a domestic music scene. When leading hotels, the only venues that are really capable of hosting live music, book bands almost solely on footfall and beverage sales they ignore the sense of dynamism, relevance and originality that music is all about. For food and beverage managers, their job is to increase profits for their establishments and cover bands offer a safe bet for hotels. Popular international music, for all its faults, brings in the big spending customers, but they have largely frozen out the myriad of local bands, formed by expatriates and Omanis, who have found no place to perform their music. We can only speculate whether this ban would have been implemented in the first place if the bands were local and the songs they performed carried some significance to the lives of the people here.
Paul McLoughlin
There was of course one obvious group that the ban is targeting, namely dance acts that carried little or no artistic merit. This form of entertainment is familiar to almost every Arabic-speaking country, yet imposing a blanket ban on live music in other parts of the region for similar reasons, would be seen as ludicrous and impractical. This is largely due to places such as Beirut and Cairo boasting intelligent, local, established alternative bands that would be good enough to sign a record deal in Europe, as some have. Many of these artists work full-time to finance their musical careers still, they had venues to perform at, a fan base that supported them at each gig, and promoters who were dedicated to establishing a place for local alternative music. Something that was home grown and carried a message that was relevant to the populace. Here in Oman we have the bands too. Battle of the Bands contests have shown that there are a great many groups playing a multitude of different musical styles, and people who will pay money to see them perform. Unfortunately, these musicians do not have the venues open to them and are shackled by bans on open-mike performances. They are not helped either by hotels that are willing to hold art and photography exhibitions to promote local artists, but dont want to risk affecting risk food and beverage sales at the hotel by having local bands play original music. The only option for musicians now could be to move abroad, which will be a difficult task seeing the high levels of competition in other countries in the region with more mature music industries. The Beatles did sharpen their skills as a cover band in Hamburg before they became famous, but it was only when they returned to Liverpool and wrote about everyday life that they became the ground breaking band that we know them as today. Many musicians in Oman will never get this chance.

Sand, Sand Everywhere: Omani Flavour in The Lion City' Beauty Captured by Omani Women A Minute With Stephen Merchant

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Sand, Sand Everywhere: Omani Flavour in The Lion City' Beauty Captured by Omani Women A Minute With Stephen Merchant

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10-16, 2013

Sand, sand everywhere

Women have equal opportunities when it comes to education

Chief Executive Officer

From the editors desk

Dr Ibrahim bin Ahmed al Kindi

Fahmy bin Khalid al Harthy

Women and the challenges

Abdullah al Balushi Musammil Hussain

By Melanie Held and Samuel Kutty

More dreams for the future

Thus speaks the data

Resistance training for kids

Singapore: a city of culture

Neem, clean and simple

Guidance is the key

By Ali Ahmed Al Riyami

M The Omani flavour

The tree with healing

The art of photography

Exploring the sands of Oman

Planning for pregnancy

Beeswax lip balm

Beauty captured by Omani women

Sand, sand everywhere

So you plan to get

Pregnancy planning as important as planning to purchase a car!

The law of gravity

Internet tech in cyber chic

Its dark, and yet its quite comic

Gravity with personal adversity

A minute with Stephen Merchant

Upside down apple slice

STARS FOR YOU

WRITE AND LEARN

You... and Your Dad

The Blissful Rain

By Nikitha Sherigar, 6th Std, ISWK

Will the music play on?

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