Weekend_10-12-15-GREEN WARRIORS

magazine
page 8
page 18
page 40
Oman's
Green
Warriors
Thursday
Dec. 10, 2015
Enacting
the migrant
woes
page 14
Of landscapes and old men
Hype,
history
in 'Force
Awakens'

08
18
28
06 Oman's Green Warriors
28 50 years on, quirky Nairn’s
London still shows the way
38 Yoga relieves pain
14 Of landscapes and old men
32 Trendy collection galore
18
22
Enacting the migrant woes
Cool just got Cooler! 40 Hype, history in 'Force Awakens'
06 O ' G W i
18
28 50 i k N i ’
Oman
Community
Trends
Leisure

I
n a small studio in central Beirut, more than a dozen
refugee women from Syria dash about barefoot as
they rehearse a play about their experiences as war
migrants. The play is the tell-tale of their real miseries.
The Weekend brings to you those experiences, which the
migrant women acted out at a Beirut theater last week. But
the dominant theme in the play Terrestrial Journeys — a
six-week project organized by British-Iraqi actress Dina
Mousawi — is their now longed-for passage onwards to
Europe.
As we know the Sultanate takes special interest in caring
for its environment. This care emanates from His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos’ interest. This is the special report for you
at this weekend. Oman promotes environmental protection
and the conservation of natural resources through
monitoring development projects and maintaining the
biological diversity. Weekend
are on the eco-frontline tasked with studying and protecting
the country’s amazingly diverse and rich environment.
Also we have an array of other subjects to make your
reading more interesting. Nairn's London is an Architectural
Review of London. It's an extraordinary catalog, the product
of an exhausting amount of legwork enlivened by a literary
style that is waspish, informed and opinionated. A report
on the Fall/Winter Fashion Show at City Centre Muscat
highlights the latest brands housed at the newly-opened retail extension of the mall.
Red Bull Curates provided a platform for budding artists to exhibit their creativity and resourcefulness
industry along with other regulars to delight you with more entertainment.
Enjoy your weekend. With warm regards,
Samuel Kutty
Editor
magazine
Thursday
Dec. 10, 2015
Vol. 03, No. 06
Editor-in-Chief
AbdullahbinSalimalShueili
Editor
SamuelKutty
CreativeDesigner
Michael C Juanson
TechnicalAssistance
MuzammilHussain

2015
On the Rocks Muscat, GoldenTulip Seeb, Muscat, Oman Someof Oman's best comedians are at itagain! Come check out new material and endyour week with a whole lot of laughter.
Stand-Up Comedy Night!
O
of
a
2015
Oman International Exhibition Centre
Child book,products Fair
Om
2015City Amphitheatre, Muscat, Oman
with melody and the nostalgic tunes of the Living
Legend Amitabh Bachchan, sung by SudeshBhosle. A live music event of the super star's
greatest hits.
Amitabh Aur Main
City A
2015
Hotel Alfalaj, Muscat, Oman
"Aswamedham " Drama
Hote
THE FESTIVE SEASON BEGINS
Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton
Hotel, sets the stage for series
of celebrations for families to
enjoy throughout the festive
season, including a glittering tree lighting
ceremony, cheerful gingerbread house
decoration workshops, unique culinary
offerings, as well as a magical New Year’s
Eve masquerade under the stars.
The season also brings with it a variety
of enticing experiences to ensure a
memorable end to the year at the luxury
resort tucked away between the Omani
Sea and the Hajjar Mountains. These
include holiday specials from the recently
launched Six Senses Spa for those looking
for a relaxing escape, in addition to a
variety of activities for the little ones to
enjoy through the hotels renowned Ritz-
Kids program.
To mark the beginning of the festive
season at AL Bustan Palace,
guests and visitors can look
forward to a magical tree
lighting ceremony held in the
Atrium of the iconic palace
on December 10 at 5 pm.
The British School Students
Christmas Choir will be on
hand to create a truly unique
atmosphere, enchanting
visitors with traditional
Christmas carols.
Carrying the festivities
on throughout the
month, guests can
enjoy a selection
of seasonal treats
including holiday
sweets and
cookies with tea
or coffee from
the Festive
Sweets Trolley
that will be
present in
the Atrium
daily from
December
10 to31
between 8am
and 10pm.
December 10, 20156
OMANSneak Peak

"Camel milk has been a valuable
economical source for Arabs since
ancient times and is used as cure
for many diseases."
— A camel enthusiast
Camel milking and beauty contests were
held in the Wilayat of Thamrait in the
Dhofar governorate of Oman as part
of the Camel Festival organised by the
Royal Court Affairs. Dozens of enthusiasts
gathered in the Wilayat to witness the
event. There is a growing market for camel
milk, and because of competitions like
these camel owners are providing better
feed and environments.
From The Region
7December 10, 2015

Green Warriors
Oman’s
"Environmental
Conservation is a shared
responsibility."
— His Majesty Sultan Qaboos
Sarnga Dharan Nambiar
T
hey are everywhere: on
the mountains and plains,
systems), deep in the
forests and the lonely wilderness
of the deserts and on the
beaches…. They are the Sultanate’s
green warriors.
They include students,
academics, environmental
conservationists and researchers
from Oman and abroad who
are on the eco-frontline tasked
with studying and protecting the
Sultanate’s amazingly diverse
December 10, 20158
Weekend Special

conservation projects.
Coordinating their efforts is the government’s
nodal environmental agency National Field Research
in collaboration with the UK-based NGO Earthwatch
Institute, under an ambitious project called Oman
Earthwatch Program.
Their work is humongous and awe-inspiring.
Engaged in various research projects that range
from studies on the endangered Arabian Tahr, and
the biodiversity and socio-economic status of Jebel
Samhan reserve to the
declining juniper and
olive woodlands
of Jebel Akhdar
and the
sustainability
systems)
at Luzguh
village,
they
live and
dream the
environment. Their work also extends to preparing
a proper framework for environmental education
in the Sultanate, and creating an exhaustive
environmental database about Oman, apart from
undertaking GIS and remote sensing work in the
woodlands and nature reserve at Jebel Akhdar.
Oman Earthwatch Program
broad-based national project funded by the Diwan
of Royal Court aimed at enhancing environmental
public awareness about environmental issues. OEP
collaborates with various governmental, corporate
and academic communities focusing on crucial
environmental research projects, and works towards
developing a cadre of research and development
specialists and educators in Oman capable of
leading long-term research and engagement.
projects on the Sultanate’s threatened species and
habitats. It also works with the Ministry of Education,
with a view to incorporating fundamentals of
environmental education into the Omani National
Curriculum.
More importantly OEP serves as a forum for the
science, research and policy communities to meet
Team of Nizwa University female students who joined the Mobile Environmental
Research Unit in March 2015 (photo by Glyn Barrett)
Waleed Al Zakwani from the NFRCEC
9December 10, 2015
Weekend Special

and explore strategies to exchange views
and address environmental challenges.
Viewed from a different perspective,
their greatest contribution to Oman’s
environment could be their success in
generating heightened public awareness
about Oman’s environment and the threats
it faces, and instilling in them a desire to be
part of or at least support the various eco
initiatives designed to protect it.
According to Dr Saif Al Shaqsi, Director
of NFRCEC, there is much to be gained
by understanding Oman’s rich diversity
of landscapes and habitats in the proper
perspective. “Much work needs to be done
to add to Oman’s biodiversity database,”
he says. He strongly believes that for any
conservation programme to be successful
the involvement of local communities must
be ensured, and this is a key aspect of
NFRCEC’s mission.
Dr Shaqsi, who holds a masters in
Water Resources Management from the
Socio-Economic and Cultural Aspects in
the Implementation of Water Demand
Management in Oman) from the University
of Nottingham, previously worked as the
Sultanate’s Director-General of Water
Resources Management for more than
17 years. His research interests span
biodiversity, water resources, traditional
knowledge, and socio-economy.
The environmental researchers and
experts under the Oman Earthwatch
Program comprise Omani nationals as
well as foreigners who are engaged in
on environmental conservation and
sustainability.
For instance Steve Ross, a conservation
biologist and a Research Associate at the
University of Bristol, has been working
on the Hajar Mountain ecosystem and
endangered Arabian Tahr, while Abdullah
Al Ghafri, assistant dean for training at
the College of Arts and Science in the
systems, with special focus on agricultural
water management, traditional knowledge
and ethno-hydrology.
Dr Glyn Barrett, a conservation biologist,
Steve and team
Dr James Burton
Dr. Saif-Al-Shaqsi
Dr Steve Ross at work
10 December 10, 2015
Weekend Special

on the other hand has conducted
extensive biodiversity studies at various
ecologically important sites in Oman,
especially sites across the Hajar mountains.
Dr Alan Roe is leading the Jabel Samhan
biodiversity study, while Roderic Dutton
birds is headed by Dr Mike McGrady.
Salah al Mazrui focuses on juniper
and olive woodlands, whereas the GIS
project is supervised by Dr Ehsan Khalefa
and Mohammed al Quimi. Preparation
of education materials for academic
institutions is taken care of by Saeida
Rouass and team.
Meanwhile Debbie Winton and Hussein
al Qasmi are coordinating the training
programs for NFRCEC associates in
environmental research projects. Dr Saif al
Shaqsi is assisted in his ambitious mission
of developing national capabilities in
environmental research by NFRCEC team
leaders such as Bushra al Wahaibi, Khalifa
al Hijji, Issa Samsami and others.
There are others as well who have
dedicated themselves to conserve Omani
environment such as Said Hamad al Rashdi,
Haitham al Rawahi, Brendan Whittington
Jones, Robert Lyon, Fatma Khalid Zadjali,
Hammad al Husseini, Bashair al Jabri and
Abdul Aziz al Husseni; but the list is not
exhaustive in any way.
The green brigade’s work is crucial to
the health of Oman’s environment. For
instance, Jebel Samhan - Oman’s most
diverse and largest ecological reserve - is
home to many endemic species, and is
crucial to saving Arabian leopard from
extinction. But this land of frankincense is
under immense ecological strain caused
solutions won’t help; and it is scenarios
like this that necessitate the intervention
and guidance of environmental experts,
preferably homegrown.
Till date, under the Oman Earthwatch
Program, well over 300 Omanis who
from ministries, research organisations,
universities, businesses and NGOs, as well
Dr Saif al Shaqsi
and Nigel Winser
Dawood-AlBalushi
The two wakils of Luzugh
who are enabling pioneering
projects to be trialled to
Luzugh falaj, with Nigel
Fadi Dada)
11December 10, 2015
Weekend Special

as community members and school students and
teachers have been involved and trained as part of
various environmental research projects.
environmental challenges and are working with
local communities and other stakeholders to thrash
out a long-standing solution. OEP’s Jebel Samhan
project has already initiated studies on ecotourism
and the economic potential of sustainable livestock
production in the area. Apart from this, OEP focuses
on capacity building in conservation by training local
reserve rangers and MECA staff. Environmental
awareness campaigns too form part of the project.
project has already collected a wealth of key data
facilitate biodiversity management apart from
providing research experience and monitoring
techniques to Omani environmentalists.
His Majesty’s vision
Under the visionary leadership of His Majesty the
Sultan, the government of Oman is committed
to conserving its rich environment from the
very beginning of the blessed renaissance. The
UNESCO’s Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental
Preservation, instituted by His Majesty and awarded
commitment to the cause of environment.
Moulding a young crop of Omani environmental
scientists equipped with the right skills to collect
critical environmental issues related to sustainable
development has been a crucial element of the
government’s vision. This effort is being coordinated
and executed by NFRCEC which was established by
a Royal decree under the guidance of Earthwatch
Institute.
The Centre works with the government, various
environmental organisations and academic
institutions, apart from corporates and the
general public in line with His Majesty’s view
that “Conservation of environment is a shared
responsibility.”
As part of NFRCEC’s awareness project on
monthly newsletter “Lynx” with the aim of sharing
research results and global developments in the
Suleiman Al-Balushi is serving as the editor of the
newsletter.
Currently OEP is engaged in four environmental
on Jebel Samhan and the one on endangered
Tahr at Wadi Sareen are a continuation of the
commendable work by the Diwan of Royal Court’s
project focuses on the declining juniper and olive
woodlands of Jebel Akdhar and Jebel Shams, in
collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University, while
the fourth studies the socio-economic aspects and
and their links to biodiversity, in association with
Nizwa University.
Oman’s natural heritage, and works on developing
an Omani cadre of environment researchers, and
environmental education resources.
has been involved in the biodiversity survey of Hajar
research training to Oman’s environmentalists.
“Each of these projects is designed to deliver
quality outputs, which in turn will help augment the
capacity and effectiveness of natural resources
management. These projects will serve as the basis
for further research activities,” says Nigel Winser. The
project members consist of Omani and international
The OEP project has created a well-trained team
of Omani environmental leaders who are capable
development, and competent enough to manage
Oman’s natural and cultural resources. The OEP
has also helped launch global studies about Oman
Akhdar (photo by Dr Alan Roe)
Weekend Special

environment, which are expected to bring in rich
dividends in the long term. Developing national
minimize loss of habitats and species, and this could
be the best contribution towards conserving Oman’s
natural heritage, Dr Shaqsi feels.
The Oman Earthwatch Program is the result of
the Diwan of Royal Court’s efforts at supporting
learning projects by collaborating with competent
international agencies. The various projects under
OEP are fashioned to assist Omani government in
future conservation tasks. Developing high quality
academic resources for both schools and colleges
is also a prominent objective.
According to Nigel Winser, OEP’s long term goal is
contribute to the conservation and sustainability of
the Oman environment as mandated by the Diwan
of Royal Court. OEP is training Omani environmental
leaders who can develop their own individual
research programs that complement NFRCEC’s
Environmental Action Plan 2016 - 2020.
Oman’s environment — largely undisturbed - is
distinguished by rare animal and plants species that
a number of biodiversity hotspots in the Hajar
mountains, but they face threat from infrastructure
development coupled with global warming.
According to Nigel Winser, though there are
who are capable of independently managing
the conservation of Oman’s habitats and wildlife,
the next generation of Omani youths must be
environmental conservation, which NFRCEC is fully
geared to undertake.
Small mammal trapping in Al Saleel
13December 10, 2015
Weekend Special

From portraits of old men he considered
as the soul of the country to astonishing
landscapes, Ahmed al Shukaili shares
his journey so far of finding that one
photo he can call his favourite
Of landscapes
and old men
Digital Space

Yeru Ebuen
“
I
have always been fascinated by the unique expression of the
Omani portraits,” shared Ahmed Al-Shukaili. “The Glistens with
Grey exhibit is very dear to me as the collection won me His
Majesty's award for Art, Culture and Literature.”
Conducted under the patronage of Mr. Ahmed bin Abdullah al
Busaidi, director of the Photographic Society of Oman, and His
Excellency Roland Dubertrand, ambassador of France, Ahmed’s
3-week exhibit took centre stage at Al Inshirah Street from May 26
to June 18, 2015.
The black and white photo of old men that made up the exhibit
dotted Ahmed’s Instagram page. When I reached out to him through

of the long holiday, I didn’t expect him to respond
quickly. But he did.
“What I am most proud is that the collection
highlighted interesting old men of Oman. These are
the people who helped build the Sultanate with their
bare hands even up to the point that the hair on
their head turned grey.”
“For me, all their efforts deserved recognition. For
them proper honor. The photos are not only simple
portraits. To me, they’re the soul of the country.”
Asked when he knew he was going to be a
photographer, Ahmed said, “There was no clear
decision to be a photographer. I was into graphics
designing during my university days and got
exposure to the photo society, but I wasn’t serious in
becoming a photographer then. It only started after I
owned an SLR camera,” he said.
Ahmed explained that his interest towards
photography got more serious when he attended
a workshop conducted by famous National
Geographic photographer Steve McCurry.
“It really changed the way I look at photography and
especially people photography at that time,” he said.
“Currently, I lean more towards landscape. It brings
me joy and peace to be outdoors,” Ahmed said.
And Ahmed is in fact doing a good job with
landscapes. Several of the beach scene
photographs posted on his IG wall is what exactly
drew my attention to his body of work. He has
mastered the intricacies of the sea and is able to
make a few of them peaceful despite the turmoil of
the waves. The combination of tension and serenity
draws your attention and causes you to take a
second look.
“All the photos I take are dear to me. As for my
most favourite photo, I don't have one yet. Maybe
I haven't captured it yet,” he said. “Right now, the
closest I think to what is my favourite is Dream’s
impressed and also, it set the tone for my seascape
photography style. And second, because it got me
photo competition in France in 2009.“
As for his most memorable photography
assignment, he said, “I don't usually do assignments.
But my 8-day trip to Salalah in 2009 with my best
friends Salim Al-Wardi and Ahmed Al-Toqi was a trip
that would always be engraved in my memory. We
spend days in Dhofar doing nothing else but take
photos of wonderful landscapes. “
December 10, 201516
Digital Space

Name:
Ahmed al Shukaili
Location:
Muscat
Instagram:
ahmed_shukaili
Website:
www. ahmedshukaili.com
Thoughts on editing:
Editing a photo is like cooking a
meal. It's always good to spice it
up, but beware that adding a lot of
it can make less of a good meal.
Advice to new photographers:
Anyone who can "see" can become
a good photographer, but learning
how to "see" is the real challenge.
So, I would say learn how to see
how to capture it and use the tools
you have to achieve your vision.
Want to be featured?
Follow and tag us on
Instagram. Simply look for
our handle: or
you can also use
or when
you post your photos.

Enacting the migr
She broke into tears during a rehearsal
as she told the group she had not yet
met her newest granddaughter
COMMUNITY
Theatre

rant woes
I
n a small studio in central Beirut, more
than a dozen refugee women from Syria
dash about barefoot as they rehearse
a play about their experiences as war
migrants.
"We get to a new country ... people stare
at us," one actress says while others put on
the disdainful looks they got on reaching
border.
door and there's rubbish everywhere. The
room is full of cockroaches," they chant in
unison, stamping on the imaginary insects.
Those experiences, which the women
acted out at a Beirut theater last week,
were at the start of the war more than
four years ago. Many refugees still had
savings then and hoped their exile would
be temporary.
But with life getting worse and no end to
the play Terrestrial Journeys - a six-week
project organized by British-Iraqi actress
Dina Mousawi - is their now longed-for
passage onwards to Europe.
John Davison
Theatre
19December 10, 2015

"After years, we've got no choice but to
migrate. That's our thinking now," Wessam
Sukkari, a 38-year-old Syrian Palestinian
refugee from Damascus's Yarmouk camp,
said during a rehearsal.
Sukkari's husband traveled to Germany
several months ago while she and their
two daughters stayed behind in Lebanon.
They hope to join him in future, but not
over the dangerous illegal smuggling route
he took along with hundreds of thousands
of other Syrians landing in Europe this year
Sukkari recounted her husband Nidal's
smugglers, crawled under barbed wire
fences in Hungary and walked along
railway lines to get to Germany.
Yarmouk camp in 2012 and now sees little
other choice than to move further west.
"We came for a temporary period, waiting
for the situation to improve in Syria," she
said. "We didn't think we'd stay for more
than two or three months - the war
wouldn't last that long. We'd rent a place to
live for a month, and then move again.
"But after three years, we're still extending
our stay. We haven't been able to get work
or make a future for our children."
Theatre

The United Nations says 70 percent
of Lebanon's one million Syrian
refugees live in extreme poverty.
Some 200,000 refugee children are
out of formal education, even with
Lebanese and international efforts to
increase the number attending public
schools.
The crisis has put a severe strain
on Lebanon, which hosts the highest
proportion of Syrian refugees. One in
every four people in the country is a
refugee. Many have sought passage
to Europe as their conditions worsen,
some even going back through Syria
and into Turkey.
Fedwa Awayti, whose personal story
also features in the performance, said
forced migration had scattered her
family.
"I have a daughter who got engaged
here in Lebanon, married in Turkey
and gave birth in Sweden," she said,
studio that looks out to the sea.
One of her sons is also in Sweden.
Another was killed by a sniper in
Yarmouk, after deciding to stay in the
camp to distribute food aid rather than
Awayti, 58, lives in Shatila Palestinian
refugee camp in southern Beirut and
sees no future there.
She broke into tears during a
rehearsal as she told the group
she had not yet met her newest
granddaughter Julia.
But the six weeks of daily rehearsals
than crying as the experience of
producing theater provides a rare
creative outlet.
"It's an excuse for them to leave the
camps because they hardly ever do,"
Mousawi said. "We start every morning
with yoga ... just to relax them and let
them forget about their worries. It's
therapeutic."
Sukkari agreed, saying: "It gave me
strength. I was able to express what I
wanted to talk about. There's no other
outlet where I've been able to talk
about this and still feel happy.
"We live under pressure, but in these
four hours we get strength from
telling our stories."
21December 10, 2015
Theatre

Cool just got
COOLER!
The primary aspect of the exhibition involved
transforming a plain canvas-wrapped Red
Bull cooler into an inspired work of art
Art

O
man witnessed its maiden
‘Red Bull Curates: The
Canvas Coolers’ exhibition
last week and made its
foray into creating a culmination
of art pieces from ten up-and-
coming artists in the Sultanate.
The event was primarily to provide
a platform for budding artists
to exhibit their creativity and
resourcefulness under one roof at
the Stal Gallery. An initiative around
the world aimed to transform
cubed coolers into living pieces
being held in partnership with
Hi FM, Hala FM, See Muscat,
Stal Gallery and Gailani Art.
Curated by local talents Hassan
Meer and Ibrahim Gailani, the
project unveiled a new display
that showcased Red Bull coolers
reworked into pieces of art by
emerging artists, Raya Al Maskary,
Farah Asqul, Tahira Fida, Liubov
Nikitina, Rawan Al Mahrouqi,
Sarah Al Balushi, Yasser Al
Danki and Taher Al Battashi.
The primary aspect of the
exhibition involved transforming
a plain canvas-wrapped Red Bull
cooler into an inspired work of art.
Two distinct themes underscored
the event’s highlights; both spiritual
and street art through modern
interpretations of Omani art.
Exhibition curator, Ibrahim Gailani,
said that the visitors were very
enthusiastic and inquisitive about
how different artists came up
with interpretations on the two
concepts. “When I got involved
in the project, the intention was
to have the artists follow the
philosophy we developed for
the show and make sure the
piece makes a statement and is
in line with the interpretation so
that it is a cohesive collection.”
Saranya Balachandran
23December 10, 2015
Art

On her work, artist Raya Al Maskary opines that her
art is a depiction of her life, constantly evolving and
transient in nature. The themes that she is interested
in are life and death and man’s inner most feelings.
She uses art as an introspection into her life.
dialogue on values of society and shows both its
importance and its challenges in the modern
world. She strongly goes by the belief that
art is a tool that cuts through biases and
challenges the boundaries. Her quest for
spirituality has stemmed from her recent
“body-map” art series that aim at seeking
acceptance beyond limitations of form.
A believer in spiritual attainment, artist
Mala Yagnesh’s art is a statement into
A serene mermaid made with realistic use
of colours adorns her cooler to give it the
much needed life. “My paintings are a reminder
to pause and listen to the elements of nature
around us and just let go - don’t be scared, don’t
be resistant, just let the universe guide you!”
An expressionist painter who explores cultural
narrative and symbolism in Arabia, artist Farah
identity and aesthetics, cultural diaspora, hybrid
existence and the blending of cultural boundaries.
Aesthetically classic yet simple, her work on the
cooler has a liberal use of pink and blank to
depict contrast and that by itself highlights her
vision of hybrid art and multi-cultural identity.
Artist Tahira Fida says that art is about being in
harmony. She specializes in geometric patterns
decoration in Islamic art, which also include calligraphy
and vegetal patterns. Her patterns pay homage to
associated with Islamic art and their aniconic quality.
She uses scripts from different languages in her
art along with her abstract designs to deliver a
message of going back to the roots and the core
teachings of spirituality that are universal.
Artist Nikitina Liubov believes in telling
stories that a wide range of audience
can relate to. A multidisciplinary
artist who works on illustrations,
sculpture, paintings and
handicrafts, she is of the
opinion that a human mind
has more potential than
one can ever imagine.
Art

On her cooler, the use of
a wide range of colours to
create a dash of sprightly art makes
her interpretation of art dynamic and vivid.
Having earned her Bachelor’s degree in arts from
Sultan Qaboos University in 2014, artist Rawan Al
Mahrouqi is fond of exploring and experimenting
is eager to learn new ways to help her better
express her ideas. The themes that she is interested
in are life and death, the human experience, and
society. She always strives to get to the core of
each idea or topic, mainly driven by emotions and
personal experiences expressed through her art.
A member of the Omani Society for Fine Arts, artist
Sarah Al Balushi loves to portray people’s lives through
conceptual art. Al Balushi likes exploring street life
through photography and conceptual art. Most
importantly, she wants to raise environmental
awareness using her artwork. Her
ambitions are waiting to be set free.
Artist Yasser al Danki’s style largely
revolves around using simple strokes in
myriad hues to create a sense of modern
art within the realm of traditional styles.
Artist Taher Battashi was born and
DJ and producer. Taher is mostly into
visual art as a collective. Besides the
ordinary forms of art, sound is his favorite
form of art. His minimal use of colors and
use of monotones mark his taste for simplicity.
Speaking after the event, Hassan Al Meer,
owner of the Stal gallery, said, “The event
atmosphere was different and vibrant; the artists
interacted with the concept which was fresh
and cool especially for the young artists who
I feel can push the art scene boundaries.”
The evening was indeed a cool riot of colours, ideas
and interpretations that received wide appreciation
from the visitors, both artists and laymen alike.
25December 10, 2015
Art

Timeless beauty
The Sultanate of Oman is blessed with a
Picture by: Jasim al Masqari

Nairn's guide to the capital contains 450 entries
describing churches, galleries, offices, houses,
monuments, bridges, markets, pubs and just
about everything else between Uxbridge to the
west and Dagenham in the east
and other citrus fruits
TRENDS
Travel

50 years on, quirky
Nairn’s London still
shows the way
A
rguably the best guide to London
published this season was written
nearly 50 years ago.
appeared in 1966 and has been reprinted
after fans of the idiosyncratic architectural
enthusiast mounted a public campaign.
The author, a former Royal Air Force
the Architectural Review into giving him
a job and who went on to become the
Observer's architecture critic, died in 1983,
aged 52.
He made his name as an agitator
against poor quality buildings being
thrown up after the war, coining the
derisive term "Subtopia" for the damage
Giles Elgood

starting a campaign against bad modern architecture
called "Stop the Architects Now".
Nairn's guide to the capital contains 450 entries
monuments, bridges, markets, pubs and just about
everything else between Uxbridge to the west and
Dagenham in the east.
Most of the buildings he writes about are still there,
although inevitably some have since changed use or
disappeared. He chose places the public could get
into.
It's an extraordinary catalog, the product of an
exhausting amount of legwork enlivened by a literary
style that is waspish, informed and opinionated.
Nairn very much likes the Soane Museum, the
former home of the architect Sir John Soane in
Lincoln's Inn Fields now crammed with his collection
of art and antiquities.
Although unremarkable from the outside, what lies
inside is "an experience to be had in London and
nowhere else, worth traveling across a continent to
see in the same way as the Sistine Chapel or the
Isenheim altarpiece".
Further north, an early Victorian development in
Islington, Milner Square, provokes an equally forthright
reaction, this time negative.
"Not to be missed in the sense that you ought to
try Fernet-Branca at least once," Nairn says of the
square's striking yellow brickwork and white pilasters.
"It is as near to expressing evil as a design can be."
Highgate cemetery, the north London necropolis
where Karl Marx's body lies and a popular spot for
Sunday strollers, also comes in for some criticism.
"This is the creepiest place in London," writes
Travel

Nairn. "Nothing seems real but death at its
creepiest and clammiest. The cemetery
closes well before dark, and a good job too."
Not much escapes Nairn's notice. Of
the Albert Memorial, Queen Victoria's
elaborate Kensington tribute to her Prince
Consort, Nairn says: "The elephant on one
of the corners has a backside just like a
businessman scrambling under a restaurant
table for his check-book."
Nairn is surprisingly ambivalent about some
modern places.
Heathrow Airport is "squalid, messy,
cluttered, a sea of cars, a depressing
introduction to London ... maybe".
The former pilot cannot resist seeing
described as "those astonishing 600 mph
packages, each one costing as much as
Coventry Cathedral".
According to an Afterword in the book by
architectural historian Gavin Stamp, Nairn
once described himself as "a person who
drinks a lot and can't bear either pretensions
or possessiveness".
So of course he listed quite a few pubs.
One to visit would be the Wellington, centrally
located on the corner of the Strand and the
Aldwych.
"Extraordinary-ordinary: comfortable and
quietly elegant, what every pub or street
should be and isn't," was Nairn's verdict in the
1960s. It still looks much the same, although
it is probably more popular with tourists now.
31December 10, 2015
Travel

Trendy
galore
collections
MUSCAT FASHION WEEKEND’
December 10, 2015
Fashion
32

The event featured a number
of runway shows filled with the
latest trends, most sought-after
looks and must-have pieces.
The Fall/Winter fashion show
highlighted the latest brands
housed at the newly-opened
retail extension of the mall.
C
ITY Centre Muscat was all buzz with its
trendy collection last weekend. It debuted
some of the latest collections and
welcomed guests to discover the fashion
trends as part of the Muscat fashion weekend in the
Sultanate.
City Centre Muscat, celebrated the mall’s expansion
and 20th anniversary of the City Centre brand with
the launch of ‘Muscat Fashion Weekend, an initiative,
which featured a three-day fashion and beauty
event at the leisure court from November 26 to 28.
Omani model, Hiba Alissa, and Jacqueline
VonYounis, a Palestinian-American who works in
Dubai turned up as guests. They gave away the
prizes to shoppers on behalf of City Centre Muscat.
Crowds both young and old thronged the
venue much before the scheduled time of the
fashion show and were mesmerised by the
fabulous collections. Shoppers also got chances
to unscramble a puzzle with hints and guess the
correct brands and won three gift vouchers worth
RO 20 each.
Several top brands like Max, Splash, Cotton On,
Forever 21, Koton, Mango, Nayomi, Origem, Promod,
Liju Cherian
33December 10, 2015
Fashion

New Look, Desigual, Hanayan, Marks and Spencer,
BabyShop, Okaidi, Tape a l’oeil and many exhibited
their latest collections.
The event featured a number of runway shows
and must-have pieces. The Fall/Winter
fashion show highlighted the latest
brands housed at the newly-opened
retail extension of the mall.
Youngsters Mostafa Mohammed
and Ashraf Abu Fayzan who
attended the show said they
enjoyed very much and wanted
such shows to be held often.
Throughout the event, visitors
were treated to special gifts
from the fashion retailers, as well
as an enticing menu of food and
beverages from the mall’s dining
outlets.
Husam al Mandhari, Senior Mall Manager,
expansion and the 20th anniversary of the brand,
the dedicated fashion shows are an ideal platform
to introduce the retail stores that reside in the newly
developed area to Oman’s fashionable and beauty-
centric shoppers.
“As the leading fashion and retail destination in the
Sultanate, we are proud to introduce a number of
great moments for everyone, with an exciting
schedule of memorable events,” he adds.
City Centre Muscat continues to
position it status as the foremost
destination for style and fashion
in the Sultanate as part of
the ongoing initiatives to host
entertaining activities for loyal
in the recent grand opening of
the mall expansion that featured
more than 60 new outlets, the
45th National Day celebrations
which included “Art of C” and other
activities.
Weeks before the event, they scouted
for amazing boys and girls to model the
latest ranges on the catwalk alongside international
models. Children were aged between 5-10 years
and available for a casting. Some of the children
who dreamed to be a runway star rightly showed up
their talents.
Fashion

shopping destination in the Sultanate continues to
position it status as the foremost destination for style
shopping destination in Oman, attracting more than
10 million visitors annually.
Totalling about 70,484 square metres of retail
space, it is home to more than 200 international and
local lifestyle brands, many of which have made their
debut into the Sultanate.
Major stores include Carrefour hypermarket,
Home Centre, Marks and Spencer, Zara and Sun
and Sand Sports. The mall’s integrated leisure
and entertainment offer includes 10-screen VOX
Cinemas, the largest in Oman; a newly modernised
Magic Planet; and 33 international dining outlets.
City Centre Muscat has completed a RO 35 million
redevelopment to introduce 10,000 square metre of
additional retail space, with 60 new additional retail
outlets. The investment further positions the Centre
as the leading fashion and lifestyle destination.
shopping destination and is owned and operated
by Majid al Futtaim. The event was part of the
mall’s expansion and 20th anniversary of the City
Centre brand.
City Centre Muscat opened in 2001, and is located
in Seeb on Sultan Qaboos Road. The mall is owned
and operated by Majid al Futtaim, the region’s leading
shopping mall, retail, and leisure pioneer across the
Middle East and North Africa.
35December 10, 2015
Fashion

Beachfront
setting for
brunch
Friday
December 10, 2015
Dining Out
36

F
RIDAYS will be special days for now at the
Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The
Brunch at its Beach Pavilion Restaurant is
The only beachside brunch in the Sultanate, the
place is full of buzz on weekends. The restaurant
is renowned for its fresh seafood offering, which
patrons and customers can relish with their feet in
the sand and the sound of the waves breaking in
the backdrop.
Beach Pavilion tastefully blends a family setting
with a memorable dining experience for guests
of all ages. Children can delight in a variety of
food stations and enjoy freshly-pressed chilled
lemonade while parents take a breather and enjoy
the ambience and delicious food on offer including
oysters, freshly made sushi and sashimi, gravlax,
smoked trout, crab, clams and mussels. The brunch
also features a Kid’s Corner for tots to have fun and
can avail of full advantage of the seaside setting.
Chef Bryce Carter oversees the Friday Brunch
which includes a delectable offering of fresh
appetizers brought to the table to start off the meal,
complemented by an extravagant buffet of freshly
baked breads, an extravagant salad display and a
selection of refreshing cold mezza.
Bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to Muscat,
the Arabic counter features traditional Arabic dishes
such as roasted leg of lamb along with lighter fare
like couscous with coriander and golden raisins. In
partnership with Veuve Clicquot, the popular brunch
invites guests to relish a gastronomic experience in
a beautiful and trendy atmosphere, complete with
views of the sparkling sea of Oman and a brisk
beachside setting.
The barbecue pits located on the green lawns
of the picturesque restaurant serves a succulent
selection of meats and seafood including local
specialties, Omani lobster and Omani prawns, in
addition to rib eye, lamb chops, chicken skewers and
beef tenderloin. Other stations feature a spread of
global cuisine, including a selection of cheeses and
Melanie Dorange, Director of Public Relations,
Al Bustan Palace says, “The Friday Brunch enjoys
great success and we are extremely happy about
the feedback received so far. Locals and guests
alike enjoy the beachfront setting and the ambience
during brunch and sundown session.”
Liju Cherian
Dining Out
37December 10, 2015

Yoga relieves pain
Yoga can help people with
arthritis, fibromyalgia,
migraine, low back pain, and
many other types of chronic
pain conditions
Health

Y
oga is a mind-body and exercise practice
that combines breath control, meditation,
and movements to stretch and strengthen
muscles. What sets yoga apart from most
other exercise programs is that it places as great
People have been doing yoga for thousands of
years. Given its history, several types of yoga have
developed The most popular form practiced in
the United States is hatha yoga — of which there
are numerous variations.
migraine, low back pain, and many other types of
chronic pain conditions. A study published in Annals
of Internal Medicine found that among 313 people
with chronic low back pain, a weekly yoga class
increased mobility more than standard medical
care for the condition. Another study published
at nearly the same time found that yoga was
comparable to standard exercise
therapy in relieving chronic
low back pain.
A meta-analysis of 17
studies that included
more than 1,600
participants
concluded
that yoga
can improve
daily function
among
people with
osteoporosis-related
curvature of the spine.
Practicing yoga also improved
mood and psychosocial well-being.
Yoga sessions typically last from 45 to 90 minutes.
home for 10 to 20 minutes a few times a week.
Video recordings with yoga instruction are widely
available.
A session generally begins with breathing
exercises to relax the body and help free the
mind of worries and distractions. Breathing deeply
through the nose is a vital component of yoga.
The session then proceeds through a series of
seated, standing, and prone yoga postures. These
postures are known as asanas. Some asanas are
held for a few seconds to a few minutes. Holding
the body correctly in the various postures and
breathing into them to stretch farther is important.
But don’t push your body farther than it wishes
to go. And stop if you feel any pain. The sessions
typically end with breathing and meditation.
strength and experience, as well as any health
conditions. People with multiple sclerosis, for
instance, can do yoga on a chair rather than the
about any limiting health problems. That way, he
or she can warn you against certain positions
that may aggravate your pain and instruct you in
Health
39December 10, 2015

December 10, 2015
Hype, history in
'Force Awakens'
Great performances and visual
effects, music "that breaks your
heart and soars," plus a story,
characters and creatures that are
new, but feel like they fit in the
universe created by George Lucas
in the original 1977 film
LEISURE
The Big Screen

December 10, 2015
T
he new installment in the "Star Wars" movie
saga opens in theaters this month against
a formidable force: the galactic hopes of
devoted fans who have waited a decade
to revisit their beloved universe of Jedi, droids and
lightsabers.
Can "The Force Awakens," the seventh episode in
when it debuts in theaters on December 18? "No,"
said director J J Abrams. "How can anything live up
to any expectation like that?"
What the movie will offer, Abrams told Reuters,
is great performances and visual effects, music
"that breaks your heart and soars," plus a story,
characters and creatures that are new, but feel like
"George was creating a world that we wanted to
go back to in order to tell a story we'd never seen
yet," Abrams said. "In a way, we were going backward
to go forward."
droids "to feel completely new and different and at
the same time something that was so of 'Star Wars.'
That was always the challenge."
Lucas bowed out of "Star Wars" after he sold his
"There's no way that I can imagine anything
touching the magic of what he did," Abrams said,
"and yet we all did the best we could to make
that happen."
Set 30 years after "Return of the Jedi," the new
Boyega) lead a younger generation that grapples
Disney is guarding details about the plot of "Force
Awakens." The secrecy has stirred rampant online
speculation, particularly about the fate of Skywalker,
who is absent from trailers and posters promoting
Abrams said the character was purposely left off
to keep key parts of the story under wraps.
"It's just what our narrative is," Abrams said, "so if it's
driving anyone crazy, apologies. But it's mostly about
wanting to protect the experience for the people
who might go see the movie."
captures the "delightful" tone of the earlier movies.
"'Star Wars' never had like insane violence or
anything," she said. "It's always joyful and always
uplifting even though bad things happen."
"Force Awakens" also features "classic Star
Wars humor, choppy dialogue," said Boyega, who
Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren, a character dressed
similar to Darth Vader who is presumed to play the
main villain, though that depends on the perspective.
"I don't think he's evil at all," Driver said. "I think
he's right."
Aside from fan anticipation, the movie faces lofty
States and Canada, a level never achieved in
December. "Jurassic World" holds the record with
Lisa Richwine
41
The Big Screen

December 10, 2015
B
ritish rock band Coldplay will not
immediately release its new album
on Spotify since the streaming
service requires all of its music
to be available to its free users, the Wall
Street Journal said on Thursday.
The album, 'A Head Full of Dreams', is
expected to be available on streaming
services that don't offer a free option
such as Apple Inc's Apple Music, the
newspaper reported, citing people
familiar with the matter.
The band will headline the halftime show
at the National Football League's Super
Bowl 50 in February, according to the
Journal.
Last month, Spotify, Apple Music and
Deezer said British singer Adele's album
"25" would not be available for streaming
on their digital music services.
Spotify did not immediately respond to
request for a comment.
Coldplay to withhold new
album from Spotify
42
Music

December 10, 2015De
H
opefully you will son be able to sign a most favourable contract
for the coming year. Don’t waste time in idle speculation, but face
reality and organise your work accordingly. Your efforts will be
rewarded towards the end of the year with a promising lifestyle in the
future.
Your lucky number for the day: 12
Your lucky encounter for the week: a person with the initial “T“
Your lucky colour for the month: Orange
September 21-October 23 — Avoid futile
arguments with a somewhat vindictive
person, who might be tempted to put
discussion.
LIBRA
— After
a few days of rest and relaxation the
nervous tension you have been feeling
of late will soon give way to a more
tranquil and happier frame of mind.
SCORPIO
— An
email from a friend outlining his
intention to visit you for a few days
during next month will cause you to
rearrange your plans.
SAGITARIUS
— Once you
have decided what you want to achieve,
it is as well to co-operate with those
whoa re in a position to help you to get
there.
CAPRICORN
— Keep aloof
from petty jalousies and disputes at the
time instead of attending to your work.
AQUARIUS
— Out of a number
of casual acquaintances you ought to
be able to select one or two who would
possibly be of a similar disposition to you
and become good friends.
ARIES
— By
concentrating very hard on a certain
problem and then leaving it alone for a
short while, you may get a whole new
perspective on it.
PISCES
— You seem to
frequently involve yourself with people’s
troubles. Try not to take them too seriously
as they could cause you unnecessary
strain and worry.
TAURUS
— A weekend trip
planned on the spur of the moment
can be more successful than if you had
planned it long before. A change of scene
will make you forget your daily worries.
GEMINI
— At a gathering of
some rather sophisticated people you
will delight your hosts by rising to the
occasion and entertaining your friends
with your wit and repartee.
CANCER
— This would be a very
promising time to encourage a friendship
with a person born under the sign of
experiences and your views are very similar.
LEO
August 23-September 21— Apply
your practical sense to your partner’s
ambitious plan and combined with his
or her common sense you will soon
VIRGO
op
for
rea
arde
re.
r luc
r luc
Your luc
rewa
futur
Your
Your
Your
IF IT’S
YOUR
BIRTHDAY
43
Stars for You

December 10, 201544
SUDOKU
Answer

ACROSS
4 Spheres, it seems, can be
7 A queenÕs husband whose
8 In the throes, there are
10 Relieve everybody on some
13 Debatable beastly utterance
15 A humble, down-to-earth
16 Figure to hearten the
19 Bit of a nonentity, but soon
21 Of an electrifying
23 Old sayings observed by
24 Sack the lot, hiding nothing
26 Is extracting this from jojoba
27 In the music trade, itÕs jazz
29 It may feed you a little but
35 Painted face showing a bit of
DOWN
1
2 Maybe sat on the corner again
4 Knock down for consuming half
5 Borrowed from German, itÕs
9 Otto cunningly gets round mum
11 One highly apt to lead to a
12 YouÕll admit thereÕs nothing in
13 Formed of units mostly
produced from a mould Ð
15 United Ð or possibly
18 OneÕs own part arranged for
21 Its driver usually has the
23 Broadcasting on a farming
30 Name incomplete on account
31 Upright supporters of old-
33 Not so much a sweetheart as
ACROSS:
4,Fields
7,Both-well
8,Others
10,All-ay
13,Moo-t
14,To-LL
15,Worm
16,Ten
17,Lied
19,An-on
21,Conductor
23,Saw-S
24,L-O-ot
26,Job
27,Trad
29,Clam
32,Tea-R
33,China
34,Biceps
35,Por-trait
36,A-gentÕs
DOWN:
1,U-boat
2,Sta-LL
3,Sway
4,F-lo-or
5,Echt
6,Darken
9,To-ma-to
11,Lob
12,All-O-w
13,Modula-R
15,Wed
16,Tor
18,Instep
20,Not-CH
21,Cab
22,Cod
23,Sowing
25,Pan
28,Rasps
30,Lil-AC
31,Masts
32,Tern
33,Cut-e
SOLUTION
45
Crossword
December 10, 2015

December 10, 2015
“I got married in the fall of 2009 to my
childhood best friend, Michael. Moving to another
city, making new friends and settling down is
always hard but when it’s New York, you don’t
think twice.
New York City is nothing like in the movies.
Jay-Z said it right, these streets really do make
you feel brand new. I joined the book club and
took up blogging to pass my time and came
what kind of a name is Avery Weyer?). He didn’t
have many followers and he wrote a whole
lot columns on the things I believe in. So I sent
him personal message, letting him know how
intrigued I was with his style of writing and that
he has earned a fan. The following day I was in
the kitchen when I heard a ping from my laptop.
Avery had replied. He thanked and asked me
about my blog and my interests. Over the week,
we exchanged a few messages and he added
me to this group chat on this social networking
grand uncle) and I met the coolest people there.
John Sanders from Cali, Lillith Lambert from
Canada, Elsa Vaughn from Johannesburg, Shon
Kortajarena from Spain and Stuart Miller aka Mr.
Yoda from Bunbury. We all lived miles apart but
the love for writing brought us together. We all
spoke on chat almost every other. The six of
them could write a book on me and that’s how
well they knew me. I don’t remember how we
all stopped talking but we did. It didn’t even feel
weird. Then TheZenCounter went obsolete and
I thought about them lesser by the day. I closed
that chapter of my life.
Few years later, my niece told me about
Facebook. I decided to give it a try. I added my
high school friends, college buds, family and
then it struck me….Would the six be here? I typed
Stuart Miller into the search bar and there he
was, Mr. Yoda who was now a cartoonist and
a part time journalist. Just when I thought he
was all grown up, I saw a recently added photo
on his wall of a badly edited picture of his face
on Iron Man’s body. Most part of me was glad
though that he was still the same. I found John,
Lillith, Shon and Elsa too on his friends list. Within
seconds Stuart accepted my friend request and
sent me a message —
“Another group chat sesh? For old times sake”
He didn’t wait for an answer and instantly
created a group, adding all of us. I was happy to
doing well. We rekindled the lost friendship in
no time but something was missing. I typed in
Avery Weyr in the search bar but found nothing.
I was curious to know about him though and so
I sent a message to the group and this is what it
looked like.
Me: Hey guys, have any of u heard from Avery
Weyer?
John: who?
Elsa: Who’s Avery Weyer? I totally love the name
though. So exotic.
Shon: I know an Avery who works with me but I
doubt you know him.
must have spoken to him one on one coz we
didn’t have an Avery in our circle.
My stomach went into a knot. What just
happened? Did they all just deny of having
known Avery?
I pinched myself
several times to wake
myself up hoping
that this was just a
dream but it was real.
I was positive he
of my imagination.
Where are you
Avery Weyer?
Everywhere!”
THE STRANGE ENCOUNTER
Avaantica Ashok
avaantica_ashok avaanti95Follow her on
46
Campus Beat
December 10, 2015

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