English - Oman Air

The inflight

S eptember ept ember 2011

magazine of

Oman Air

Y ou r C op y T o K e e p

destination Zurich on the lake

it’s oman

Ancient way of the rose

health

Benefits of olive oil

business

Planet saving ways to make a buck

Oman Air

Best business class seat in the world

Marhaba In July, Oman Air won its latest award – a Gold at the Vision Awards, which recognised the quality of our 2010 annual report. The award coincided with the launch of the Salalah Tourism Festival, which saw more visitors than ever before visit Oman’s southern region of Dhofar to experience the Khareef. This monsoon, unique to the southern tip of Arabia, brings cool temperatures, light rains and rich greenery that contrast greatly with the blistering summer heat found elsewhere across the Middle East.Relief from these temperatures is a major attraction for visitors from the Gulf and beyond,and I am pleased to say that the close of the Salalah Festival does not mean an end to Oman Air’s superb flight deals to the area.If you have yet to experience the Khareef, now is an ideal time to do so – and our new Dubai to Salalah service may make the journey easier than ever. That new route will soon be joined within our network by two more services.In October, we will be launching flights to Zurich,

Switzerland’s largest city and a major international finance centre.Located in the foothills of the Alps,and surrounded by lakes and forests, this exciting location is an ideal gateway for winter sports enthusiasts.This will be out seventh destination in Europe. In November, we will unveil our new service to Moscow, Oman Air’s 43rd worldwide destination.This ancient political,cultural and financial centre is home to some of the world’s finest museums and theatres, boasts more green space per head of population than London, and claims more billionaires than New York – so the shopping and nightlife are truly outstanding! I am sure that both these new destinations will prove extremely popular and we look forward to sharing Oman Air’s continuing success with you.

Peter Hill Chief Executive Officer

Contents Festival focus Be a part of these fun, educational cultural events this month.

8

Life by the lake

A superb destination for hikers and nature lovers, Zurich offers snow-covered Alps, as well as a fun mix of adventure and culture.

12

22

The O zone

It is important to incorporate healthy fat content in the diet and avoid unhealthy fat.

Sweat of the Roses

Omani farmers adhere to an ancient rose distilling tradition at Al Jebel al Akhdar, writes Finnish tourist Lauri Dammert

18

26

Green bucks

Green business ideas for the modern world!

Contents 32

World View Truth is stranger than fiction, so they say, and these pics seem to prove it.

34

Sports Crank up the big screen for these top sports events this month.

36

Oman Air’s inflight magazine is issued by:

Corporate Communications & Media Department - Oman Air

Reviews We review some of the

P.O. Box 58, Muscat International Airport, Postal Code 111, Sultanate of Oman Tel: +968 24519616, Fax: +968 24510771 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.omanair.com

most recent movies and books to hit the market.

For advertising enquiries contact the publisher:

National Publishing & Advertising LLC

P.O. Box 3112, P.C. 112, Ruwi Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Tel: +968 24793098, Fax: +968 24708445 Email: [email protected]

Editorial Managing Editor

Craig Bishop [email protected] Translation

Mohammed Abdullah Abu Al Majd Designers

Justin Das Mohammed Iqbal

Marketing Media Sales Director

Ashish Chaturvedi [email protected] The publisher regrets that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

41

Tourism & Entertainment

8 Festivals

Rheingau Festival Frankfurt Aug 31 – Sept 9

An annual fair that has become a must-visit event on the wine experts calendar. Over 600 wines from vintners of the Rheingau region are poured at the Frankfurt festival. Celebrated in the heart of Frankfurt, the fair takes place adjacent to the “Fressgasse”, a street which is famous for its gourmet restaurants and international cafes. Don’t leave without trying a glass of Riesling, the signature wine of the Rheingau region.

Bangkok Festival All September

If you have the chance to get yourself to Bangkok this month, then go for it! There are three major festivals happening, the Food Festival around Yaowarat Road in Chinatown in mid-September, where local Thai cuisine abounds, with many tasty and sumptuous dishes on offer, along with live music and shows. Then there is the International Festival of Dance and Music, attracting international performers from around the world, with music including rock, pop, jazz, classical and opera. Finally, there is a Moon Festival taking place all over the city, including night-time moonlit ceremonies, with candles, cakes and incense.

Art Festival

Edinburgh August 12 – September 04 Join crowds of art afficionados on an exciting journey through a three week celebration of the arts, at the Edinburgh International Festival, which transforms the city and brings people together from all corners of the globe. The 2011 programme of theatre, music, opera, dance and the visual arts highlights Scotland’s influence on some of the world’s great artists and artistic endeavours, and reflects on extraordinary moments in Scottish history which influenced the foundation of much of modern thinking.

Eco Expo

Event Horizon 9

WHERE: Doha International Exhibition Centre WHEN: Sept 17 – 19, WHAT: EcoQ is an international annual exhibition in Qatar

International Hunting and Equestrian Expo WHERE: Abu Dhabi IEC WHEN: Sept 14 – 17, WHAT: Held under the patronage of

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, this national event will enjoy camel auctions, saluki beauty contests, art competitions and traditional hunting and equestrian activities. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase the latest camping, hunting, equestrian and weaponry equipment from over 500 brands. Plus, view a designated heritage area to acquaint visitors with the deep-rooted traditions of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. www.adihex.net

covering everything you need to know about environmental protection and safety. The expo creates a platform where global businesses and investors in the environmental and sustainability sectors can meet with local and regional businesses, trade associations, government representatives, institutional stakeholders, academics, NGOs and other parties interested in reaching out to the rapidly growing markets of products and technologies designed to protect the environment for sustainable development.

The event will also help to raise awareness of environment protection especially among young generation by organising a number of creative events in parallel to the expo. www.wcse2011.qa/archives/151

Arab Art Expo

WHERE: Louvre Museum, Paris WHEN: All September WHAT: The Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the

Thames Festival

WHERE: London WHEN: September 10-11 WHAT: The Mayor›s Thames Festival

offers exciting activities at numerous locations, including the River Thames, docks, bridges, riverside walkways and public spaces. Over a weekend, people will enjoy an attentiongrabbing free London festival that celebrates the city, River Thames and the invigorating cultural life of London, attracting thousands from all over the world. Visitors will experience a fine choice of street arts, performances, carnival, pyrotechnics, illuminations, art installations, river events, exhibitions, music and dance, massed choirs, circus and feasting. The high point is a multi-coloured Night Procession, followed by a fireworks display. Nearest Underground Station: Waterloo Tube www.thamesfestival.org

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia brings you 300 works of art, revealing the archaeology and the history of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia from prehistoric times to the dawn of the modern world. This exhibition offers a journey through the heart of Arabia, orchestrated by photographs of the region›s sumptuous landscapes. It takes the form of a series of stopovers in some of the peninsula›s extensive oases, which in ancient times were home to powerful states or which, beginning in the 7th century, became Islamic holy places. An original panorama of the different cultures within Saudi Arabia from prehistoric times to the modern world.

12 International Destination

Life by the lake A superb destination for hikers and nature lovers, Zurich offers commanding views of snow-covered Alps, as well as a fun mix of adventure and culture

(Image sources: www.zuerich.com & Photolibrary)

International Destination

Zürich is a lifestyle capital where the tourism opportunities are endless, ranging from countless parks, public gardens and nature experiences such as visiting the zoo or exploring Zürich’s local mountain, the Uetliberg, to boat cruises on Lake Zürich and the Limmat River. The basin in which Lake Zürich is located was formed 12 000 years ago by the Linth glacier. The Romans, the Alemanni, and the Habsburgs all valued this picturesque, fruitful legacy of the ice, and today it has become one of the world’s most privileged residential areas. The Lake Zürich Trail offers one of the best views of this area, for along the way are found historic towns and villages, castle parks and villa districts, as well as unspoiled shoreline scenery, large tracts of woods, and wild gorges. The trail has more to offer along its ten sections: many restaurants, from simple country taverns to sophisticated eating places, as well as first-class wine cellars, are located literally alongside the trail. In addition, there are

13

sports and recreation areas, museums, movie houses and theaters. This is a trail for hiking purists, nature lovers, culture addicts and history buffs, gourmets, sports enthusiasts, and children. The surrounding forest is accessible in under 10 minutes from anywhere in the city. Follow interpretive nature trails and hiking paths to lakes and rivers, in and out of forests, over hills and through valleys and take a break at one of many designated barbecue areas along the way. After returning to the city from your day’s outing, enjoy the wide range of culture, gastronomy and nightlife that Zürich has to offer.

14


Parks and Gardens Whoever pays a visit to Zürich should not leave without first seeking out some of the city’s green hideaways. Throughout the entire city, there are green oases perfect for relaxing and letting your soul be refreshed. The Bäckeranlage is one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city of Zürich. It is situated in the center of Kreis 4 (city district 4) and offers exceptional opportunities for recreation for all – not just for local residents. The China Garden, a traditional southern Chinese garden on the Zürichhorn, was a gift from Zürich’s sister city Kunming. Behind the wall, a microcosmic area of pavilions, open galleries, and a water palace with terrace, is revealed. Covering almost 80 acres, Irchel Park was created as a natural landscape park around the new university buildings at the beginning of the 1980s. The expansive Platzspitz Park lies in the middle of the city, yet it is still wonderfully peaceful. You will find it behind the National Museum alongside the Limmat River, with countless trees that provide cool shade in the summer. During the summer months, there is always something happening in the green space around the lower lakefront area. Inline skaters, water lovers, jewelry vendors and street artists meet here in a colorful clash of friendliness. The Rieter Park is Zürich’s largest and most impressive landscape garden. In good weather, the Glarner Alps create a stunning faroff mountain panorama giving the impression that the world continues on without end.

Nature experiences Visiting Zoo Zürich is always a new and fascinating experience. Approximately 4 000 animals from around the world live here, on nearly 70 acres. You can enjoy views of snow leopards in their rocky Himalayan landscape, observe the Spectacled Bears as they climb and search for food in their mountainous cloud forest enclosure, and admire the swimming giant tortoises in the Masoala Rainforest. It is warm,

humid and deliciously scented all year long in this tropical green oasis – experience a glimpse of Madagascar live! The Sihlwald Wildlife Park and surrounding forests form the largest continuous mixed deciduous forest in the Swiss midlands. An interpretive nature trail introduces visitors to the phenomena of forest and nature.

City walks During a walk through the Old Town, guests will experience Zürich’s many facets. From the Main Station you cross the Bahnhofbrücke bridge via Central and enter Niederdörfli, a charmingly quaint city quarter with narrow, winding streets full of shops and studios. Passing by the Grossmünster Church, visitors reach Bellevue where the opulent Opera House is located. Following the shore of the lake, you come to Quaibrücke bridge and cross to the other side, passing the Fraumünster Church and then turning onto cosmopolitan Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world’s best-known shopping boulevards. A final stroll through the Old Town’s lanes leads to Lindenhof, a beautiful treed square where Zürich was founded long ago. Afterwards, you return to Bahnhofstrasse, which takes you back to your starting point, the Main Station. Visitors will discover the true heart of Zürich on this walk. Zürich Tourism offers numerous exciting city tours through all the city districts and with different themes, both for individuals and for groups.

16


Boat cruises: The sparkle of sunbeams on the water, the lapping and swirling of waves and the heady scent of fresh breezes are a pleasure for all the senses. The Lake Zürich Navigation Company offers cruises between one and seven hours. Choose from a river ride on the Limmat boat under seven bridges through the Old Town, or a lake cruise on a nostalgic steamboat or a modern motorised ship. Lake cruises begin at the easily-accessible pier at Bürkliplatz. At night, the magical ships of the Lake Zürich Navigation Company set sail and provide a great party atmosphere. From the “oldies boat” with hits from the 80s, to schlager-party, salsa and tango boats, there is something to suit everyone’s taste. Special holidays like the August 1st national holiday, New Year’s, and many more are also celebrated on board with music, dancing, and culinary delights. For private boat tours, a good choice is Lago boat rental at Utoquai, which rents out Zürich’s first solar boat. In addition, you can rent out boats here for wakeboarding, as well as motorboats, sailing yachts, aqua scooters, electric boats, and other small watercraft. At the boat rental at Seefeldquai, there are motorboats, paraboats, catamarans, rowboats, kayaks and pedalos available, while Pier 7 offers rowboats and pedalos for rent. Further addresses include boat rentals at Bürkliplatz and Enge. More information: www.zsg.ch; www.zuerich.com


Learn LearnGerman German Basics

Hello – Guten tag Goodbye – Auf wiedersehen How are you? – Wie geht es ihnen? Yes - Ja No - Nein What is your name? – Wie heisst du? OK – Es geht No problem – Kein problem How much? – Was kostet das? Please - Bitte You’re welcome – Bitte schon Thank you - Danke Excuse me - Entschuldigen Good morning – Guten morgen Good evening – Guten abend

Numbers 1 - Eins 2 - Zwei 3 - Drei 4 - Vier 5 - Funf 6 - Sechs 7 - Sieben 8 - Acht 9 - Neun 10 – Zehn

17

Country Facts

Oman Air will flies four times a week between Muscat and Zurich from October 2011. Visa requirements: Citizens of most countries do not require a visa to enter Switzerland for stays of up to three months. Exempt countries include all of Europe, the Americas (except Peru, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Belize), Japan, New Zealand and Australia, Visitors from these exempt countries wishing to stay for more than three months as well as citizens from non-exempt countries must apply for a visa in person at the Swiss embassy in their own country.

Languages spoken: The official language used by government and most publications is German..

Currency: The Swiss Franc is divided into 100 rappen.

18 It’s Oman

Sweat of the

roses

Omani farmers adhere to an ancient rose distilling tradition at Al Jebel al Akhdar, writes Finnish tourist Lauri Dammert

The newly sealed road has climbed the arid, volcanic mountainside for hours. There are only few dry bushes to be seen, all is brown, black and gray. Yet another bend, another gorge, another pass, and a huge, ancient caldera come into view. The inner slopes of the caldera are covered with vegetation, and the green leaves and red flowers of roses and pomegranate trees glow vividly in the soft morning light. After the desert, everything is light. Here, 2000m above the sea level, Al Jebel al Akhdar or the Green Mountain, is the source of the best rose water made in the Middle East or elsewhere, known as the Sweat of the Roses. Salem Al-Riyami is a smallish, gray-bearded and agile man, who radiates friendliness and joy of living. He climbs the mountain barefooted and fast, while the writer tries to keep pace, overloaded with cameras and with a

(Image source: Photolibrary)

European body, formed by too easy living and too lavish meals. Salem is wearing a sweater against the cool mountain air of 20 degrees Celsius. Salem lives in a place of immense beauty, and his life seems to be serene and uncomplicated. Like his family for countless generations, he cultivates roses and distils rose water, and he does not carry on his back mortgages, has no television, no car, no debts, no taxman, no customers who will not pay cash on delivery. His product is sold before it is ready, and nobody argues over the price.

It’s Oman

Family groups are plucking the roses. The women in their colourful, local dresses do not want, by any means, to have their pictures taken, and the men around cannot persuade them to change their minds! Salem examines the flowers on the huge rosebush. Some of the flowers are still closed after the night. He caresses these gently until they open – they must be “awakened”. If a rose is not open while plucked it will not open without force, and this, the farmers believe, corrupts the quality of the final product. All flowers must be picked early in the morning, before the hot Arabian sun warms them up, so that the rose resin on the petals evaporates. This resin will become at the end produce the Sweat of the Roses. This early morning there is still dew on the flowers. Dew and springs have made the lush greenery of Al Jebel Al Akhdar. Northern Oman is one of the most arid regions in the world, and people living there have always been very skilful in collecting each valuable drop. Old water-channels, called falaj, previously made of sand, stone and clay, today of concrete zigzag along the mountainsides. The water is distributed according to a meticulous system of gates. This of course leads to frequent disputes regarding the equal distribution of water. The system of falaj has been a powerful society builder. The building and maintaining of falajs is not possible without cooperation and organisation. “We have a habit here to lend each other roses, firewood, gas and water,” said one farmer. “If one of us lacks something we can get it from our neighbours. We have agreed to start the process at intervals, so we are not all at the same point in the same time. In this way, nobody has to stop the work due to a lack of roses or gas or water.” The farming terraces have also a history of community behind them. Several generations have built and maintained the hundreds of terraces covering the steep slopes. As often in Arabia, the locals do not know when the farming started. They say “It might have started during the times before Islam”, meaning, a very, very long time ago. They do not live according to time schedules but by

19

the cycles of the years. None of the men I spoke to knew their age. ”60-something, I guess”. The sheer amount of terraces suggests that rose farming has been going on for a very long time indeed. The people who farm the roses here are of old stock too. They have no special name, here a rose really is a rose, but their transparent, light green leaves, 2m-high stems and sharp thorns on bright pink flowers give one a reason to believe they are of the same family as Rosa Damascena. If so, they are really old. People in ancient times loved this rose, and pots of rose water were installed in the graves of the kings of Babylon and Ur. As mentioned, the flowers must be picked early in the morning. They must be kept moist, in order to preserve the valuable resin on the petals. The distilling must be done at right temperatures and repeated three times. Frequently, the burned out flowers must be removed, and new ones be put in to the pot. The result is a dark liquid, which is stored in clean clay pots. During cooling a thick, sticky, dark residue starts to float on the surface. This residue must be carefully removed and preserved – it is sold mainly to the perfume industry. Everything must be done at the right time, at right temperatures, and no tools, hands or pots – nothing – must contaminate the precious rose water.

20

It’s Oman

The windowless walls of a local distillery are black with soot. In the short end of the room, there are two ovens made of clay and goat hair, with built-in clay pots. Gas fire burn underneath. The roses are being put carefully and with washed hands into the pots. One of the farmers, Issa, maintains a careful control over the temperature of the oven. The room is baking hot. Every now and then, he scrapes off the burnt roses from the pots and adds new, fresh ones. Every distiller has their own idea of how much and when. The exact time is of crucial importance and every harvest is different. The professional skills are like a mother’s receipt for a blueberry pie: “The dough must feel right, and you must bake until it reaches the right colour”. When all is done, you have a dark, red liquid, the Sweat of the Roses. To get one litre of this, you need one and a half kilograms of flowers – or hundreds of them. “There is industrial production of rose water,” Ali Yahya Mohammed Al-Amri, a younger farmer, says. “But it is not at all the same quality. Here, we still do it as we always have.” Ali Al-Amri belongs to the first generation of inhabitants of the Green Mountain, who got out to the world. He is a part time rose farmer. His main job is at the new hospital, where he is an accountant, and he also runs a machine-renting business called Al Srega – a word that means “rose-distilling oven.” Oil money has brought a road to the mountains, while the government funded modern houses and a hospital. But the young people have not moved en masse to the capital, Muscat. The farmers are amazed to hear that in places like Scandinavia, the remote villages are dying because the young do not want to live there anymore. “We are very traditional here, and the family is the centre of everything,” they claim. “Why move away from your relatives? The rose water gives good income, and the modern world is coming up here. Why go?” Amri asks. During the season, the university graduate distils as much as he can manage. The Sweat of the Roses is very sought after, and the year’s production is sold out in a couple of weeks. Omanis use it as a spice in coffee, food and the sweet halva. It is also an ingredient in the popular yoghurt-drink lassi. You can also rub your chest with it. At first, there is no scent, but after an hour or so, the body smells of roses. Rose water has also been used in religious rituals all over the Middle East, and at the Grand Prix in Bahrain where the winner splashes with it instead of champagne. Now it is time for coffee, dates, pancakes and rose water syrup. The farmers take inquisitive strangers to their homes with an overwhelming friendliness and natural serenity. (Translation from Finnish by Dr Hussein Shehadeh)

22 Health & Beauty

O for alive

It is important to incorporate olive oil into your diet, and avoid unhealthy fats

(Image source: Shutterstock)

Health & Beauty

A hectic lifestyle, improper rest and inappropriate diet, contribute in affecting the human body in a negative way. The human body functions at its best when blood is pumped to each and every part of the body without any hindrance. A healthy heart is a result of proper diet. Diet containing high level of fat can be harmful to the heart. But, not all fat content is bad for the human heart. Fats can be categorised as harmful dietary fat comprising of saturated fat and trans fat and healthier dietary fat comprising of monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. One source of healthy dietary fat is olive oil. It is used in Mediterranean diets as a key constituent and is obtained from olive, which is a crop of the Mediterranean basin. Many modern diets consists of unhealthy fat in a large proportion in the form of butter, cheese, mayonnaise, etc. This is why, the incidence of cardiovascular disease

23

is on the rise in many countries, as compared to most Mediterranean countries. But these days, awareness about incorporating healthy fat in the food has triggered the use of olive oil in the diet. There are numerous benefits and side effects of olive oil. It can be used for cooking and seasoning. There are various types of olive oil available in the market. The extra virgin olive oil is the best one and is recommended for people aiming at reducing high cholesterol levels. Olive oil comprises mainly of triacylglycerol molecules. Different types of fatty acids are attached to this molecule. They include oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and linolenic acid. Oleic acid is the major fatty acid making up around 55-83% of olive oil. It is a monounsaturated fatty acid ie, a healthy dietary fat. Including olive oil in the diet increases the proportion of healthy dietary fat in the body.

24

It’s Oman

Reducing cholesterol? The chemical composition of olive oil makes it clearly evident that olive oil has more of healthy dietary fat as compared to harmful fat. Human heart is supplied with blood through coronary arteries. Rise in bad cholesterol level in the body will result in deposition of fats in coronary arteries as well. This will cause blockage in the arteries and the heart will have to pump harder in order to push the blood through the blockage to various body parts. This exerts pressure on the heart muscles and results in hypertension or rise in blood pressure. Rising cholesterol levels may also lead to serious heart diseases. Use of olive oil helps in reducing cholesterol level in the body to some extent. The monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil help in reducing the total cholesterol level and low

density lipoprotein level in the body. Also, monounsaturated fatty acids do not lower the level of high density lipoprotein which is beneficial to the body contrary to polyunsaturated fatty acids which may reduce HDL cholesterol. In this way, olive oil increases the content of healthy fat in the body and reduces unwanted fat. It must be kept in mind that using olive oil along with food containing saturated fat will not reduce the bad fat content. One should replace unhealthy fat with olive oil to gain its benefits. Food and drug experts have allowed the manufacturers of olive oil to mention in the label that, “some evidence suggest that use of two tablespoons of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the presence of monounsaturated fats in the oil”. For those who are busy shedding kilos of weight, don’t forget that olive oil has same amount of calories as found in other oils. So, watch out for the portion of oil you consume. If you are someone who is at a high risk of developing coronary artery disease due to high cholesterol level in the body, it isn’t a bad idea to replace all the unhealthy fat in your diet with healthy fat in the form of olive oil, reduce the cholesterol level and go on to have a healthy heart! (Article reproduced courtesy of www.buzzle.com)

26 Business

Green bucks The least you can do for your kids is to come up with some green business ideas. Here are a couple of starters!

By putting up a green business, you can make money as well as save the environment from many hazardous effects. If you need help, coming up with new green business ideas, take a look at the following paragraphs.

(Image (Image source: source: Shutterstock) Shutterstock)

Business

Useful Wastes: If you think, once your vehicle tire bursts, it’s useless, think again! Everything in this world has an alternative and so do your rubber tubes and tires. You can collect all this rubber trash and make attractive bags, wallets, overcoats, berets, gloves and absolutely anything you could think of. Beautiful jewellery can be made from bottle lids, can openers and also candy wrappers! All you need is a creative mind and determination to implement one of these brilliant green business ideas. This is a great idea for small business opportunities.

Rainwater harvesting: In countries where rains are scarce and limited to a few months, there have to be arrangements made to store this water for the entire year. For this reason, it is necessary to harvest the rainwater through some useful systems. Rainwater harvesting can be very useful as small business ideas for college students. If you want to start your own green business, you can put up these rainwater harvesting systems around the cities and towns where you live, to trap the rainwater and store it for the year ahead.

27

28

Business

Old wood treasure: If you like building, cutting and making, there’s a perfect business idea for you! There are old wood dump-yards outside every town where they put old, fragile or useless wood, which cannot be used. You can surely use it for many other purposes like building furniture, interiors, decorative items, wooden toys and many more wooden things which look very attractive. These can be wonderful green business ideas for students as fresh college pass-outs can get a start in the business world!

Recycling: You can come up with the literal meaning of recycling, by mending old bicycles instead of trashing them because they don’t work anymore. Polishing, greasing, painting and changing a few parts will surely make your old bikes good as new ones. They can be used in place of cars

and bikes if you want to go camping over weekends or visit the countryside. This will not only save fuel, but keep you healthy and fit, and you won’t have to purchase a brand new treadmill too. The above mentioned green business ideas are just a few out of many. You can surely start one of these and make quite an amount of money as many people like to work towards the environment indirectly by supporting such causes. Thus, make use of all these ideas and make some great bucks for yourself! (Article reproduced courtesy of www.buzzle.com)

Business

29

30 Fashion & Trends

Rococo your world Stunning and unique high-end fashion jewellery pieces, characterised by fancy chains and delicate, ornate designs inspired by 18th century Rococo art and architecture. The collection unravels the nature and beauty of the period. Crafted from Sterling silver and gold, adorned with the finest semiprecious gemstones, this invigorating new collection is perfect for the independent woman who strives to differ. The range is aimed at embodying history and lavish intricacy into the jewellery, as well as providing a unique and feminine offering to the modern woman. www.mishca.co.uk

Fashion & Trends

Sole discretion It only takes a hint of summer sun for men’s footwear to show off its summer essentials. This popular high street look reveals a heavy nautical influence in a casual and semi-formal range, presenting bold colour palettes, leather finishes and contemporary takes on traditional silhouettes. Go for the classic boat shoe, incorporating a variety of colour to luxurious leather finishes. Or perhaps you are after luxurious continental flair. A big hit are colourful soles with inspiration from traditional riverside fashion, providing an English dandy look combined with a modern finish. www.baselondon.com

31

32 World View Light fantastic

Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in Lapland, Finland. For many people the famous Northern Lights - the shimmering green glow which illuminates the poles - represents nature at her most dazzling. (Photo: Andy Keen/Barcroft Media/Getty Images)

Smiles of ocean

A green turtle approaches Adam Broadbent and appears to laugh into his camera off the Maldives. (Photo: Adam Broadbent/Barcroft USA/Getty Images)

Storm driven

No, the Federation mothership did not crash land in the Australian desert. This is Stormtrooper Jacob French on day five of his 4000km journey from Perth to Sydney to raise money for the children’s hospice, Starlight Foundation. (Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images)

World View

Water Beetle

A lifesize cement replica of the classic Volkswagon Beetle on Manchones Reef, Cancun, Mexico. The sculpture is designed specifically to house marine life whilst exploring the significant impact humans have had on our planets ecosystems and the subsequent affects to future generations. (Photo: Jason De Caires Taylor/ Barcroft/Getty Images)

Tales of tails

An endangered De Brazza’s monkey plays with a Jack Russell Terrier at Barnley’s Guesthouse in Kitale, Kenya. The photographers thought they were witnessing an attack, but soon realised the animals were only playing. (Photo: V&A Kennedy/Barcroft Media/Getty Images)

33

34 Sports

Cricket

September 9 Tune in for the third NatWest Series one-day international brought to you from the Oval cricket ground. England go head to head against world stars India. The experts are not giving this battered English side much hope in this

series, not against the power-hitting of the Indian front-order men, but as they say, truth is stranger than fiction. [email protected]

Rugby World Cup September 9 – October 2 The land that hosted Lord of the Rings now brings you the epic rugby battle of the year. Some 20 teams and close to 100 000 fans are expected to gather in New Zealand to see if defending champs South Africa can fight off the awesome All Blacks and hang onto the fabled William Webb Ellis trophy. (Ellis was the Rugby School pupil who apparently invented the game several hundred years ago.) Despite the crippling earthquake in New Zealand earlier this year, the Rugby World Cup will go ahead smoothly, according to event organisers. This is the seventh World Cup.

Grand Prix

September 23 - 25 The annual September visit to the Singapore Grand Prix is a welcome fixture on the F1 calendar. A long weekend allows you to watch as much on-track action as you wish, hunt for bargains in the many malls and markets and sample the varied cuisines on offer in restaurants across the island. www.f1grandprixtours.com.au

36 Reviews

Dolphin Tale

Director: Charles Martin Smith Starring:Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr, Clay Haskett, Ashley Judd Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Releasing: September 23, 2011 A young boy befriends Winter, an injured dolphin who lost her tail in a crab trap, and motivates everyone around him to help save the dolphin by creating a prosthetic appendage to replace the dolphin›s missing tail. Harry Connick Jr plays a vet who rescues the mammal and brings her to runs the marine hospital he runs. Ashley Judd plays the boy’s mother while Morgan Freeman is a doctor who creates a prosthetic limb for Winter. The movie is inspired by the true story of a dolphin named Winter who was rescued off the Florida coast and taken in by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Johnny English Reborn

Director: Oliver Parker Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, Rosamund Pike, Studio: Universal Pictures Releasing: September 16, 2011 The Bond spoof and sequel to Johnny English (2003), where the bumbling British spy Johnny English flushes out a spy in his followup assignment. We find the super-sleuth living in a cave in Tibet, hiding in shame due to his previous mission’s failure. However, British Intelligence are not done with him yet, and he soon gets embroiled in a plot by a team of assassins to kill the Chinese premier. More family comedy, verging on the zany and certainly cringe-worthy, as we gave come to expect from Atkinson.

My Afternoons with Marguerite

Director: Jean Becker Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Sophie Guillemin, Claire Maurier Studio: Cohen Media Group Releasing: September 16, 2011 Also known by its French title, La Tete en Friche, this charming 82-minute story follows the trials and tribulations of a lonely and illiterate French workman who finds himself bonding with an older and well-read woman. He finds that his life is transformed through the experience, and in turn he brings new meaning to the lives of his new circle of friends. Fans of Depardieu will flock to see this one.

Reviews

How hard can it be?

By Jeremy Clarkson Collected columns He is rude, irreverent, anti-establishment when it suits him and sure to shock and make you smile. Welcome to the world of motoring journalist turned social critic, Jeremy Clarkson who tries to paint a picture of the world as it should be, if only the Greenies and interfering politicians left everyone alone. He might be a curmudgeon, but he is likely to make you laugh out loud with his take on everything from the Welsh to the youth of today.

Equator Crossings

By Paul Huygelen Travelogue Extraordinary This semi-fiction, semi-fact work is set against a backdrop of nineteenth-century Africa, Zanzibar, Europe and Oman. An upstage American press magnate’s single three-letter-word telegram to his British competitor leads Henry Morton Stanley to 999 gruelling days of exploration in a quest to discover and define the watersheds of Africa’s two gigantic rivers, the Nile and the Congo. This geographical and scientific feat, that drastically changed the economic and political history of the world, now provides an epic narrative of adventure, travel and romance. An exciting debut novel by Huygelen.

Untold Story

Monica Ali Fiction What would have happened if Princess Diana had not died in that car crash in 1997? Well, the author of the Booker-shortlisted novel Brick Lane, has come up with an enchanting tale that starts off with three American society wives waiting for Lydia to turn up to her birthday feast. We quickly learn that Diana, after plastic surgery, has transformed herself into Lydia and decided to reinvent herself according to the American Dream. However, an investigative paparazzi newshound is slowly stumbling onto her secret.

37

38 Tech talk

Blast from the past Award-winning gadget geeks Bluelounge have come up with another winner - the MiniDock. The creators of the MiniDock have realised that people don’t want to stick a USB cord into their iDevice to charge it, and they don’t want to use an adapter to plug it into the wall. What they want is something without a wire, and the MiniDock is a place to put your iDevice on an outlet where it can be charged.

Tech Torque Wireless

Phantom Vision

Vision has introduced a couple of additions to their Phantom v-Series digital high-speed camera family. These are top of the line cameras, touted to be the fastest 1-megapixel digital high-speed cameras in the world. You will be able to snap high definition and widescreen photos at 1,280 x 800 resolution, thanks to the CMOS sensors. The Phantom v1610 has been touted to be 60% faster compared to any other camera that is currently on the market, where with it, you are able to acquire over 16,000 frames-per-second (fps) at full resolution as well as up to 1000000 fps at reduced resolution.

Here is something that is not meant for folks who want to live in the present and look forward to the future. The LP and Cassette to CD Recorder will transfer your classic vinyl records and cassette tapes through the recording of its tracks onto CDs. Bored of regular music? There is always the integrated AM/FM stereo with digital tuner as well as a single CD playback tray, while a couple of RCA inputs in the rear will let you connect the device to another stereo system or external speakers.

Time Out

39

Time Out

The world as we know it, or at least remember it, is changing forever. Here are 8 common things that are on the way out The Post Office. Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills. The cheque. Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with cheques by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process cheques. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the cheque. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business. The newspaper.

The younger generation simply doesn’t read the newspaper. They certainly don’t subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.

The landline telephone.

Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don’t need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they’ve always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.

Music. This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It›s the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is “catalogue items,” meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, Appetite for SelfDestruction by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, Before the Music Dies.

The things you own.

Today your computer has a hard drive where you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest “cloud services”. That means that when you turn on a computer, the internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device.

The book. You say you will never give up the

physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. Enter the electronic book, such as Kindle. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can’t wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you’re holding a gadget instead of a book.

Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they›re playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every four minutes and 30 seconds. It›s time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix. Remember, all we will have that cannot be changed are memories.

40 Culture & Heritage

Nizwa Fort

This massive 17th-century fort is about a two-hour drive from Muscat. This beautifully restored attraction features an enormous drumlike tower from which spectacular views of the surrounding markets, mosque and mountains may be enjoyed. Nizwa is a convenient centre from which to explore the interior of Oman with many fascinating forts, wadis, mountains and the desert, all within easy reach. The souk at the foot of the tower is worth visiting, especially on a Friday morning for the popular livestock market.

All in a day’s drive If you don’t have much time in Muscat, here are three easy and rewarding day trips you shoud try out!

The turtles of Ras-al-Jinz An absolute must-see, about two hours drive from Muscat towards Sur, Ras al-Jinz on the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula, is an important turtlenesting site for the endangered green turtle. Over 20 000 females return annually to the beach where they hatched in order to lay eggs. Oman has an important role to play in the conservation of these endangered species. The area is under government protection and the only way to visit the site is by booking through the Directorate General of Nature Reserves (Tel: 24 602285) and joining an escorted tour at around 9.30pm every evening.

Al Hootah Cave

Al Hootah Cave is located at the feet of the highest mountain in Oman, Jebel Shams (Sun Peak) in the Al Hamra district, in the vicinity of the ancient silversmith town Nizwa and the World Heritage Site of Bahla. It is one of the largest cave systems in the world and was opened to the public in 2006. In October 2007 the exhibition in the visitor centre opened it’s gates, imparting knowledge about local geology and the formation of the cave.Nizwa. It is more than 5km long traversed by an underground river. The Omani Ministry of Tourism have undertaken an initiative to make the lower part of the cave an environmentally sound tourist attraction as well as a socio-economic development project.

Tourism & Entertainment 41

Museums

To make your cultural journey complete, a visit to at least one of the dozen museums in Oman is recommended. The Natural History Museum features Oman’s flora and fauna, including some of the indigenous species. To get a glimpse of Oman’s military history, visit the Armed Forces Museum. The National Museum showcases a rare collection of the history of the ruling dynasty. The archaeological lineage of the country can be found in the Omani Museum. There is an exclusive museum for children, the Children’s Museum, that is educative as well as entertaining. Bait Al Zubair and Bait Al Baranda are examples of how Oman’s history has been captured in a capsule for those who are not familiar with it. For a complete listing of Oman’s various museums, please refer to the local dailies.

Bait Al Baranda Museum

Hotels Oman has a wide variety of staying options catering to any and all types of visitors. From plush five-star beachfacing resorts and spas for the more upmarket visitors, to the four-star, three-star, hotel apartments, camps, guest houses, and youth hostels, everyone’s wallet is catered for. Desert and mountain camps are particularly interesting experiences if you have not had the opportunity to enjoy them before. While in Muscat, you will be spoilt for choices, and when you head towards the interior you will experience true rustic charm and old-world elegance. Either way, you will get to experience the essence of true Omani hospitality wherever you stay. Salalah Marriott Resort

Shopping

When it comes to shopping, Oman is full of choices both traditional and modern. If you are looking for some of the world’s best brands, you could head to the nearest mega-malls, shopping complexes or hypermarkets. You can find these outlets all across the capital city, as well as in the larger cities like Nizwa, Sohar, Sur and Salalah. If traditional shopping is your interest, then you must visit the Muttrah Souq beside the Muttrah Corniche area. There are also some very old and famous souqs in Nizwa, Sinaw, Ibra and Salalah. For tourists, these souqs are a paradise for souvenir hunting! Frankincense, perfumes, spices, dates and antiques jostle for space with electronic products, fashion accessories and toys. For a complete Oman experience, have a go at both the old and the new! Muttrah Souq

42 Get Familiar

Oman at a glance

The Sultanate of Oman is the third largest country located in the southeast coast of the Arabian peninsula. The Sultanate is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the west, the United Arab Emirates in the northeast, the Republic of Yemen in the southwest, the Strait of Hormuz in the north and the Arabian Sea in the east. Oman has a land area of approximately 3 09 500km2 and a 3 165km long coastline extending from the Strait of Hormuz in the north to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the south. Oman’s coast spans the three seas: the Arabian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A number of islands also are part of Oman including the famous islands of Masirah and Halaniyat (Kuria Muria). The country’s northernmost part, the Musandam peninsula, is Oman’s only coast on the Arabian Gulf and it is located across the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Fact Sheet Area Population (2010) Language Capital Local Time Currency Shopping Hours

: 3 09 500km2. : 2.69 million, including 743 000 expatriates. : Arabic (official), English (widely spoken), German & French (most hotel staff ). : Muscat. : GMT +4. : Omani Rial, which equates to US$ 2.58. : 09:00 - 13:00 then 16:30 - 22:00

Currency The local currency is the Omani Rial (referred to as RO or OR or OMR). It is further divided into 1000 Baizas. Currency denominations are available in 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Rial and 500 and 100 Baiza notes. Coins are available in 50, 25, 10 and 5 Baizas.

Religion Islam is the official religion of the Sultanate of Oman.

(Image source: Ahmed Al Shukaili)

Get Familiar

Whenever you travel overseas, it is often useful to understand the local laws and customs in the destination country, as they can often be very different to your own. To avoid any mix up or confusion with local laws and customs we have provided some travellers tips to assist you in having an enjoyable visit to the Sultanate. Please be advised that the information contained on this page is not fully comprehensive and may be liable to change without prior warning. Consult a travel expert or your local embassy prior to departing on your journey. Oman’s laws are based on Sharia law, also known as the Islamic Law. • In Oman, it is illegal not to have some form of official ID on you at any given time. Therefore, it is recommended that you carry either your passport, or a photocopy of, or some other valid identification card. Other forms of ID such as overseas driver’s license or overseas ID cards will not be accepted. • Visitors holding valid UK, Australian, and American and certain other nation’s driving licenses (check with the embassy if your country’s license is valid) can currently obtain an Omani license without taking a driving test. • Vehicles are driven on the right side of the road.

43

Travel tips

• Heavy rainfall can cause sudden and severe flooding to dry riverbeds, which may pass over a road. You are advised to take full precautions when driving during rains. • Oman is a Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religion at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, or if you intend to visit religious areas.

Basic Arabic Phrases Yes : naäam No : laa Please : arjook Thank you : shukran You’re welcome : äafwan

Excuse me I am sorry Good morning Good evening Good night

: lao samaht : ana aasif : sabaah al khayr : masaa’ al khayr : tusbih äalaa khayr

(Image source: iStockphoto)

44 Oman Air News

Travel Photographer of the Year

If you are a keen photographer and have ever dreamed of seeing your pictures in print or on the walls of a prestigious gallery, read on! Oman Air is delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Travel Photographer of the Year, offering amateur or professional photographers the chance to win great prizes and have their work exhibited at the Royal Geographical Society, London, in the run-up to and during the 2012 Olympic Games. Prizes include travel adventures, photographic equipment and photography tuition. The winning, and other highly-placed, images will also be featured in Travel Photographer of the Year’s beautiful ‘Journey’ series of books. So, whether you are a professional photographer, are planning a career in photography, or just enjoy taking pictures of the places you have visited, why not enter Travel Photographer of the Year? Even if you don’t win, you could get some useful feedback from the expert judges on how to create even more striking images with your camera through the website! For more information, visit www.tpoty.com. The closing date for entries is 9 October 2011.

10 tips for better photography, by Chris Coe, founder of Travel Photographer of the Year 1. Learn how your camera works and what it can do BEFORE you set off. There’s nothing more frustrating than missing a great shot because you weren’t ready or were too far away. 2. Decide first what the main subject of each picture is to be, then make your photograph that, excluding anything else from the picture which you don’t want or distracts from it. 3. Place the main subject of your picture off-centre to make it more interesting and add impact. 4. Look for an interesting viewpoint to take your photographs from to make them more interesting. 5. Be original and take pictures that other people will find interesting! 6. Check the background of your photographs before you take each picture. 7. Take time to observe what you’re photographing before you start taking photographs. 8. Be patient and wait for the right moment. Sometimes that moment can be the difference between a bad shot and a great one. 9. Be aware of the light – its direction and intensity - and work with it not against it. 10. Have fun, experiment and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Then you’ll bring the joy of your photography to everyone else.

(Image source: Daisy Gilardini, Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada)

Health care discounts with Piyavate Hospital

Oman Air has joined with Piyavate Hospital, one of Bangkok’s leading health care centres, to offer the airline’s customers an exclusive range of outstanding discounts and benefits. Effective immediately, passengers flying with Oman Air from Muscat to Bangkok will, upon production of their boarding pass, be entitled to a 50% discount on the regular cost of Piyavate Hospital check-up programmes. In addition, they will receive a 20% discount against any advanced treatment, other than doctor’s fees, special medicine costs, dental charges and personal expenses such as phone bills. By showing their boarding pass, Oman Air passengers can purchase check-up programmes from an exhaustive list, at a special rate with 50% discount and can also benefit from a further 20% discount on most of the medical treatments. This offer is valid for Oman Air passengers until 31st December 2011.