Vol.

2 Iss

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Marc

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-20,

2011

FREE F

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Poetry Poetry out aloudout aloud p34

Shades for men p16

Glimpses of 'Dance of India' p20

Don't be embarrassed p60

Presenter

Bharata Nrityam

Special thanks to:

Soorya Krishnamoorthy,

Founder, Soorya Stage &

Film Society

(Recipient of "Padma Bhushan" Award from the President of India)

by the legendary artiste

Event Partners:

Organised by:

Dr PADMA SUBRAHMANYAM

As part of the Indian

THANK YOU

Dance

The Embassy of IndiaMuscat

Classical Dance

Dr GAYATRI KANNAN

MAHATI KANNAN

K. SHYAMAKRISHNAN

along with popular actor-dancer

A NRITHYODAYA PRESENTATION

(Chennai, India)

and

VINEETH

Republic Day celebrations

U SPONSORS

of India

Oman's first

comprehensive

online directory

More details: oos@blackandwhiteoman.com

www.omanonlinesearch.com

Coming Soon!

Announcing

On May 12, 2011

On May 4-5, 2011

Grand Finale

Preliminary

10 March 7-20, 2011

Congrats to the Black & White team for a well conducted

event (Dance of India show). Needless to say, Dr Padma

Subrahmanyam is a legend and having her in our circles

is indeed a blessing. Even though I am from India and am

a great dance lover, I have never had the chance to see

this great dancer. For this, I would like to thank the B&W

for making it happen!

Krishnagopal S., Wadi Kabir

‘Dance of India’ event staged at the auditorium of the

Indian Embassy was a grand success. I need not say this

because the crowd that spilled over from the auditorium

itself was proof of the interest generated and it did not fail

to impress. Words fail to describe Dr Padma’s dance and

her disciples were equally good. Vineeth and Dr Gayatri

were brilliant. I am still reliving those dance scenes in my

mind. Thank you Black & White and Indian Embassy.

K. Karunakaran, Qurum

If only you could have organised the ‘Dance of India’ show

at the embassy lawns instead of the auditorium, it would

have been great. I am not saying that the dance event

was bad; on the contrary, it was one of the best dance

event I have ever seen in my entire life, thanks to the

seamless organising and the effortless manner in which

the dancers danced. I only wished more numbers have

seen this unique dance event.

Anjoli Sharma, Seeb

Congrats to the B&W

Grand success

Lawns would have been better

10 March 7-20, 2011

Mail your views and opinions at

editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

This refers to the news of a veteran print professional who left Oman (Black

& White issue 26), but in a unique way. The news of the legacy he left behind

really touched my heart.

It’s indeed a good start by giving the idea of planting 1,000 Neem tree

saplings inside the Rusyal Industrial area.

The green campaign is a noble cause, which will help support the

environment. We can see how global warming is affecting the entire world

in so many ways, and thus this initiation by R.Prabakaran to make part of

the industrial area more greener by planting these Neem saplings, which

has so much of medicinal value shows the love and gratitude to his second

home, which he had served for 14 years. I wish him all the best in his future

endeavours back home!

Malar Mahen, Ruwi

Your feature on ‘Hot Hammams’ (issue 28) was quite timely. Well, at least

for me. I had visited the same hammam in Sunub area just couple of weeks

before your report and was surprised to see it. Most of the thoughts that went

through my head are there in that feature and it was as though I was reliving

it again. I am really glad that you featured this hammam for another good

reason: these quaint spots in and around Oman need to be highlighted to

the public. More and more people should go and visit it. That will add value

to it and perhaps more tourists will visit it. Touristic spots add revenue to the

government coffer and it is a requirement as a responsible media to spotlight

these unique places of Oman.

Habiba M, Seeb

Green legacy

Tourist spots will bring revenue

11Black & White

12 March 7-20, 2011

Cover Photo: Najib Al Balushi

Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC

Black & White

Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos

Office location: Hatat House, Office no: 212, II Floor

Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496

Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com

Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Printed at Mazoon, Muscat, Oman

BPA Consumer

Audit applied for

December 2009

Xclusive

Poetic Extempore

Omani folklore poet Fadhel has

three listeners on his right, and

three on his left. He launches off

on an everyday topic, much to the

delight of his listeners, and they

cling on to the last word and repeat

it, which adds to the momentum of

the free verse

34

Editor-in-chief Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Managing editor Priya Arunkumar

Work editor Adarsh Madhavan

Design & production Beneek Siraj

Photographer Najib Al Balushi

Advt. & marketing Swithun Fernandes

Aloni Mehta, Priyanka Sampat

Conte

nts

Bitter Batter

Hippocratic or

hypocrisy oath?

Doctors are known to take the

Hippocratic Oath, swearing

to practice medicine ethically.

But, one of our readers claims

that the doctor she took her

daughter to must have taken

the Hypocrisy Oath

1644

Shades for men

Don't be embarrassed anymore

if you think you are the only

one afflicted with body-related

problems, think again, it’s more

common than you think.

For men who have a

passion for outdoor

activities, sunglasses are a

must.

60

13Black & White

Let's not beat our own tribeBy Adarsh Madhavan

OTHERWISE…

My usually amiable social worker friend did not

seem to be that friendly with me when I bumped

into him recently. His greeting was devoid of

warmth. He’d usually greet me with great amount

of joie-de-vivre, but this time he seemed to be a

bit moody, distracted. What happened, I wondered

and felt a bit uneasy.

I am a bit of an anti-social element and since I

don’t party, and am a bit of a mouse on the social

scene, my conscience went nibbling on the cold

reception I got. Although I don’t keep company

with any, I still assume that I am seen as a scribe

in need or if I may go the extent, I would say, a

friend in need, at least on occasions. This coldness

was a bit of a surprise and so I dug in deep and

tried to pull this social worker out of his suddenly

spun cocoon. I managed to break in and he said

quietly that I needed to speak to his wife, another

active social worker. But, she waved me off and

said we are in a public place, too many people, we

will speak later. Okay, I said, but then her husband

finally told me what had happened. “Your last

column, you sort of poked fun at a so-called social

worker…”

Yes, I said. “You know since some time now,

whenever you mention a ‘social worker’ it always

referred to me…so all of those who read it, asked

me why you were making fun of me?”

Uh oh, I thought. He was right. Off late, whenever I

mentioned the tag social worker, I had meant him. I

have not been mixing with any other social workers

and I was slightly off the scene myself. The only

slight contact I had was with this well known social

worker, who is also a scribe for a regional news

channel, and so what he was saying was right.

Everyone would have thought I was referring to

this man when I mentioned about the big-mouthed

social worker who never dirtied his fingers.

Oh, I never thought of that, I said sheepishly. “Yes,

I know you were not talking about me, especially editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

All a

bout

X,

Y &

Z

since we had not met each other off late, yet, you

know when people get talking…I was wondering

whether you were taking a swipe on me,” he grinned.

No, no, I said, why would I do that? So, this is why you

cold shouldered me, I asked him. He grinned again.

“No, that was just a ruse to catch your attention, he

said and you fell for it. Please correct the anomaly

in your next piece please. Otherwise…” he grinned

again. Well, I did. You know you can’t cross these

social workers. Otherwise…

BITING OUR OWN FINGERS

This column space was devoted to the surge in

socially relevant news articles by local scribes in the

English media here sometime back and the recent

front page school-related piece by A.E. James, in

Times of Oman, is one of the best examples in that

direction. Of course, a newspaper report has its

limitations. And this one too covered an issue in the

confines of the same restrictions. But since it was

critical of only one establishment, and it had some

lapses, which led to only one party getting all the flak,

the one at the wrong end of the stick revolted in the

only manner it knew best.

But, what pained us, the silent scribe tribe, is the

criticism against the journalist by his own fraternity

members. Instead of supporting a fellow scribe and

trying to douse the fire that he had unwittingly set,

many from the woodwork wormed out to throw muck

at their own fraternity member. Wrong or right, the

unwritten law among the journalistic fraternity here,

there and anywhere is that our kind stick to our own

through thick and thin! What a joke! The moment,

someone got into the limelight, everyone tried to

deride and mock and pull him down. Instead of

supporting him and trying to rally around him, many,

who have never ever tasted the first blood of a true

investigative report even was spitting venom into

the air…Now that the muck had fallen right where

it originated, could we stop beating our own tribe

members, please? Please?

14 March 7-20, 2011

Men h

ealt

h

Stretching should be a part of your daily routine, whether you exercise or not. There are simple stretches you can do while watching TV, on the computer, or getting ready for bed

15Black & White

Stretchlike a cat

If you’ve ever watched a cat, you may have been intrigued by the cat’s incredible agility and resilience. How can a cat fit into spaces that seem way too small for it?

How does a cat balance on the slimmest edge with the greatest of ease?

STRETCHING COMES naturally to

all of us too. You might notice that if

you have been sitting in a particular

position for a long time, you stretch

unconsciously. It makes you feel

good! In addition to that good feeling,

a consistent stretching programme

will produce large gains in flexibility

and joint movement. Be kind to your

muscles and they will be kind to you!

Simple question – can you touch

your toes?

CAN YOU TOUCH YOUR TOES?

No? Well, if you fall short of

touching your toes, as most guys do,

don’t blame your tight hamstrings,

instead blame yourself!

You have a major flaw in

your physique. And it is called

poor flexibility! Incorporating a

flexibility component into your

programme will also greatly reduce

the risk if sustaining a muscle strain

during your workout or your daily

activities.

Everyone can learn to stretch,

regardless of age or flexibility.

Stretching should be a part of your

daily routine, whether you exercise

or not. There are simple stretches

you can do while watching TV, on

the computer, or getting ready for

bed. If you are doing strength training

exercises, stretch in between sets.

It feels good and saves time from

stretching at the end of the workout!

Stretching elongates our muscles

which improves the range of motion

within our joints. Improving our range

of motion allows us to optimally

function throughout our daily

activities and performances.

Stretching has a positive effect

on our body’s proprioceptors.

Proprioceptors are receptors

located within our joints, muscles

and tendons that sense movement

changes and react accordingly.

Stiffness in your superficial back

line prevents you from working your

lower-body muscles through their

entire range of motion—for instance,

during a squat or a lunge. It also

leads to poor lower-back posture

when you’re performing these

movements. All of this results in a

less-effective workout and a higher

risk of injury.

HOW TO STRETCH

Now that the importance of flexibility

has been exposed and the benefits

are clear, the next step is to obtain

a thorough understanding of how

to optimally incorporate a flexibility

component into your programme. Of

all the fitness components, it should

be noted that flexibility is the easiest

to gain, however it is the first to go

when not maintained. This means

that in order to sustain the elasticity

of your muscles, stretches must be

performed quite frequently.

The recommended frequency

for optimal benefits is to perform

stretches 4 to 7 times a week, ideally

following your training sessions

as part of your cool down. Light

stretching is recommended during

your warm up, but to a lesser extent.

It is extremely important that the

stretches be of low intensity. As with

any new movement, repetition is key

for muscle memory. Performing three

repetitions per stretch is ideal for

the achievement of optimal results.

Also, you will notice that with each

repetition, you become more flexible

and are able to take each stretch

further than the last.

16 March 7-20, 2011

Men r

ead

16 March 7-20, 2011

17Black & White

IN TODAY’S WORLD, designer

sunglasses for men have become

hugely popular as a fashion

statement. And, most importantly,

they are also extremely comfortable

to wear and are very durable too.

For men who have a passion for

outdoor activities, sunglasses are a

must. All the more, these sunglasses

can block the harmful UV rays and

help in protecting our sensitive

eyes. These sunglasses work

extraordinarily to shield the eyes

from the harmful weather conditions -

whether it is snowing or rough terrain.

When men start choosing

sunglasses for themselves they

think about many things, besides

considering style and fashion. They

give equal importance to the quality

of the sunglasses which they are

purchasing, the comfort level of

such sunglasses, the fashion trend

prevailing at that time, status and

cultural factors too. It is not just about

walking into any store and getting

sunglasses for oneself.

So, why don’t you get yourself a

pair of stylish eyewear?

LOOK GOOD - FEEL CONFIDENT

Mild, bold, moody…the truth is quite

often that the type of sunglasses

you choose to wear reflects your

personality type. Even a moderate-

looking person can present himself

in the best possible manner by

sporting designer sunglasses from

top-notch brands and gives off an air

of confidence. When a person looks

and feels confident, he can carry

himself well and eventually face the

challenge of life very boldly. Did that

sound corny? No, you look good, you

feel good.

SHIELD FOR YOUR

SENSITIVE EYES

Designer sunglasses can not only

make you look dashing and stylish,

it also protects your precious eyes

from the hazardous UV rays emitted

by the sun. If you are a man who

spends a significant amount of time

outdoors, these shades can be more

than handy. Eventually various types

of eye-related incidents such as eye

fatigue can also be avoided.

SUNGLASSES FOR ALL

Okay, you don’t belong to the

wealthy bracket. But, who cares?

Gone are the days when only the rich

and the wealthy could afford to buy

designer sunglasses.

Investing quality time in browsing

the internet can be quite fruitful as

there a number of websites which

offer a sizeable discount on selected

models especially during the festival

season. Going in for renowned and

famous brand names would no-doubt

burn a hole in the pocket ranging

from a few hundred dollars up to

thousand dollars. Opting in for top

brands would give a good range of

choices.

SHADESUnlike women, men do not have a wide

range of accessories to deck themselves up

with. But, they have sunglasses! That is

one accessory in which they can look cool and

trendy. Sunglasses undoubtedly occupy

a lion’s share in most men’s wardrobe.

for men

18 March 7-20, 2011

By Adarsh Madhavan

Give me one more chance, I heard him say. I stared at his

broad back. Couldn’t understand what he was saying. Or,

rather, I heard what he said, but, he was standing, facing a

wall in his room.

Give me just one more chance, God, just give me one more

chance, these words hurled against the wall, ricocheting

off my ears. I suddenly understood what he was doing, he

was praying and since he was a big boy, his frame covered

the prayer spot from my sight. I pirouetted lightly and made

hasty my exit from the room. I had actually sneaked into the

room to frighten the living daylights of this irascible friend of

mine who was always upto some mischief; the party loving

madcap who always lived a hey-ho, high-five life.

In the sense he was the kind who was always the life of a

party, the perennial gung-ho type who was always full of

beans. He used to tease all of us a lot and he went around

with a cheerful and irreverent sense of humour, sometimes

dark, sometimes bordering on the supercilious, and

sometimes displaying a superiority complex. But, you could

never get angry with him.

Even when you fight with him, you could never stay angry

with him for more than a few hours, because he himself

would have forgotten about it and would be needling you

with some of his lip-splitting jokes. He and I constantly

took potshots at each other and we were in an age where

actually nothing mattered. But, I never knew he prayed

and I never knew that there was another side to him, which

was well, steeped in humility. I say it like that because, I

had never seen him bow before anyone, nor have I seen

him ask any favour from anyone or for that matter asked

forgiveness for any wrong he had done.

But, this larger-than-life boy was suddenly a different,

meek, humble and forgiveness-seeking version of himself,

something I couldn’t fathom…was something terribly wrong,

I wondered as I slipped outside of his home and waited just

outside the doorstep. It was too embarrassing for me and

I certainly didn’t want to embarrass him either. Anyway, he

came out of the room looking a bit down but the moment

he saw me, he transformed himself from Dr Give-

me-one-more-chance-God to Mr I-don’t-care-a-

dang type. I was quite nonplussed by this unusual

metamorphosis.

Was this really my friend? Yes, it was, but then, who

was that boy quivering before his God? I understand

all of us are different before mere mortals and

different before God, but, I was worried whether he

was in some kind of trouble. But, I never found the

courage to ask him ever, because in an year or so

he went off from college; his family had moved to a

different town. I later learnt that his dad committed

suicide, but I still couldn’t connect that boy praying

desperately before the lord and this boy who was

always full of mirth. But, that fervent prayer of his

stuck and I would often think of those words: Give

me a second chance. God, just give me a second

chance…and I don’t know whether it pained me or

brought me some kind of consolation.

Slowly as I also grew from a cocooned age where I

was king and nothing ever mattered to the concrete

jungle of life where anything and everything

mattered and I felt more like a puppet in the hands

of fate, and sometimes, even before people I

thought I was close to. I realised that perhaps, that

boy must have gone through a very trying period

in his life and he must have tried to sort out many

things that were going awry and that must have

been his quiet and private plea: Give me a second

chance! And I don’t know whether he got it, but

I believe he must have. I really believe that the

second chance comes, late maybe, but it comes.

And this is why, when the walls close in from all

ends, I also mutter, perhaps with that same intensity

and fervour: give me a second chance, God please

give me a second chance…

O

ff th

e wall

Gimme a second chance

adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.comOff

the w

all

19Black & White

Thank You readers

Thank You Well wishers and friends

Thank You Well wishers and friends

Thank You readers

Thank You readers

Thank You

ank You Well wishers andwish d

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Please collect your gifts from Black & White office, Hatat House, 212, II floor

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20 March 7-20, 2011

Om

anw

atc

h

Dr Padma, Vineeth

‘Dance of India’In a spectacular dance performance, jointly organised by the Black & White and the

Indian Embassy, the world renowned Indian danseuse, Padma Bhushan (Dr) Padma Subrahmanyam, proved yet again why she is a "living" legend.

The Embassy of IndiaMuscat

The ‘Dance of India’ event, presented by Oman Air, at the

packed auditorium of Indian embassy, recently, saw the

legendary dancer unveil fascinating mythical tales of India

utilising a treasure trove of dance movements and steps

that had the audience glued to their seats long after the

event was over.

Sheer tales steeped in Hindu mythology, rich and lively

characters from the epic Ramayana came alive on the

compact stage of the embassy auditorium.

‘Paddukka’, as Dr Padma is fondly known, transported

not only herself into a spiritual dance bliss, but also

took the dance lovers along in this amazing dance

spectacle, organised as part of the Indian Republic Day

celebrations.

The crowded auditorium, which spilled over with

enthusiastic dance lovers, included the presence of

the guest of honour, Soorya Krishnamoorthy, Essa

bin Mohammed Al Zedjali, chairman and editor-in-

chief, Times of Oman, Philippe Georgiou, chief officer,

corporate affairs, Oman Air, and many other dignitaries

and top members of the Indian community.

The host, Anil Wadhwa, the Indian ambassador, were

present along with many officials of the Indian embassy.

The ambassador and Soorya Krishnamoorthy also spoke

on the occasion.

The organisers thanked the event sponsors, mainly

Oman Air (show presenter) and the others, which

included OMIFCO (Oman India Fertiliser Company), Al

Ansari Group, Damas and Spicy Village. The ‘Dance of

India’ event was a right mix of patriotism, integration,

tradition, art and a delectable slice of humour, according

to dance lovers that thronged the show.

Sanskrit teacher Kavitha Rama Krishnan’s Tanjore

(Thanjavur/Thanjavoor) paintings display also added an

extra element of beauty and culture to the dance event.

Some of the select 40 heritage and culture rich Tanjore

paintings were even displayed on the stage, other than

the hall outside the auditorium.

The dance performance started of with Padukka

performing the evergreen patriotic Indian national song

Velli pani malaiyin meethu penned by Subramanya

Bharathi, the national poet, followed by Jathiswaram by

Vineeth.

The troupe of artists from Nrithyodaya, Chennai,

comprising Balakrishnan Kannan, Dr Gayatri Kannan,

Mahati Kannan, Shyamakrishnan, Neeraja Nagarajan,

Radhika Muthukrishnan, Prabu Sriram, and Chittoor

Kumaresan Patanjali displayed a rich mix of talent and

variety, infusing patriotism, traditionalism, mischief,

humour and heritage, as befitting the occasion of the

Indian Republic Day celebrations.

For Padukka, dance means everything. “It is a means

of spiritual awakening,” the legend, who is a rare

combination of dancer, choreographer, music composer,

singer, research scholar, teacher and author, told the rapt

audience, post event.

Krishnamoorthy said the theme selected by Padukka

quite befitted the occasion, and it had enormous

grandeur, while yet being intimate. “I would call it an

intimate theatre, executed with élan and perfection!”

22 March 7-20, 2011

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24 March 7-20, 2011

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25Black & White

26 March 7-20, 2011

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The Embassy of IndiaMuscat

28 March 7-20, 2011

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The NPA Events’ Colours of Fusion

event held under the auspices of Anil

Wadhwa, the Indian Ambassador

at the embassy of lawns was a

scintillating celebration of the Indian

Republic Day.

Roberto Riggio was superb on the

violin, oud and harmonium while

India’s national award winner Pravin

Godkhindi mesmerised the audience

with the flute.

The group included Jason Mckenzie

on the drums, Snehasish Mozumder

on the Mandolin, Fareed Haque on

the guitar, Subrata Bhattacharya on

the tabla, Kai Eckhardt on the guitar,

vocalist Nirmalya Roy, percussionist

Somnath Roy (Ghatam, Dhambek,

Ganjira and Kalimba), keyboardist

Partha Paul, percussionist Mongopal

Dhar on the Bangla Dhol, Dhol,

Darbuka and Sanjoy Das on the

guitar.

‘Colours of Fusion’ was held

in co-ordination with Subrata

Bhattacharya’s fusion band ‘Naad’.

As a special gesture, NPA Events

handed over a part of the proceeds

of the concert to the Centre for

Special Education.

Khimji’s Watches was the

presenter of ‘Colours of Fusion’.

Other sponsors were OMZEST,

Renaissance Services, OMIFCO,

Samsung, Oman & UAE Exchange,

Galfar, Talentz Centre and DTC.

Ruwi Modern Printers was the print

partner while Times of Oman was the

media partner.

‘Colours of Fusion’ wows audience

Laser hair removal is fast becoming a common routine for women and some

men too. Unwanted hair has always been restrictive, annoying and frequently

embarrassing. “The number of sessions required depends on the area of the

body being targeted, skin colour, coarseness of hair and gender. In addition,

since hair grows in several phases, laser can only affect the currently actively

growing follicles. Therefore, several sessions may be needed to reduce hair

growth,” said Dr Tayssir Jarbouh, a dermatologist at Kaya.

Kaya Skin Clinic laser hair removal

Making your loved one feel special became easier

during the Valentine season with Mazda’s promotion

– ‘spot the Mazda V-mobile’.

Spot the Mazda V-mobile as it cruises across

Muscat, click a picture of it and email it to club@

towellauto.com; the person who spots the most

number of Mazda V-mobiles (at multiple locations),

stood to win a premium gift hamper through a raffle

draw - a stylish Ray-Ban sunglass worth OMR100

and a weekend stay at Al Nahdha Resort & Spa.

As part of the Valentine’s promotion, on buying a

Mazda3, one could also win a premium gift hamper

(Ray-Ban sunglasses and weekend getaway at Al

Nahdha Resort and Spa), along with a Mazda TLC

package that includes giving your Mazda3 a tender

Spot the Mazda’s V-Mobile

loving touch with soft cushions and car perfumes and a five-

year extended dealer warranty.

29Black & White

Ernst & Young workshopErnst & Young, in yet another first-

of-its-kind enterprise, has facilitated

a workshop on enhancing leadership

capabilities. The workshop was

attended by senior business leaders

from leading companies in Muscat.

The German Industry and Commerce Office (AHK

Oman) has hosted two separate events for the business

delegation from Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany recently

at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Muscat. One of the goals of

this initiative of the ministry of economics, transport,

agriculture and viniculture of Rhineland-Palatinate was

to present a workshop on “Landscaping and Agriculture”

by Prof. Dr Roland Kubiak from the German Institute

for AgroEcology, which was warmly received by

representatives from the local private and public sector.

Workshop on landscaping and agriculture

The LG Electronics and OTE Group, announced

the Middle East launch of the 72-inch LZ9700,

world’s largest Full LED 3D TV. The LZ9700 will

let viewers see life-sized action on a beautiful crisp

picture. With Full HD resolution on an LED display,

the LZ9700 delivers pictures as large and colourful

as paintings at an art gallery. The extra spacious

screen size also makes the picture more immersive

than ever, offering viewers a 3D experience every

bit as good as the screen in the local multiplex.

LG Full LED 3D TV

Oman Air Holidays have come up

with unbeatable packages to Kuala

Lumpur and Salalah valid until March

31. For just OMR 199 per person,

the 3-nights Malaysia package that

includes flight, hotel, transfers and

taxes comes as a never-to-be-missed

offer that is sure to be extremely

popular with discerning travellers.

For those who want to travel closer

to home, Oman Air Holidays have

packages to Salalah partnering with

the 5-star Salalah Marriott Resort

and the 5-star Crowne Plaza Salalah

Resort to offer residents of Muscat

an opportunity to experience the

enchanting city of Salalah with 5-star

services and amenities.

The Salalah Break Package

includes return flights from Muscat,

complimentary hotel transfers with a

two nights luxury stay at one of the

5-star resorts on twin share basis

and complimentary buffet breakfast.

Packages start from OMR 99 per

person at the Salalah Marriott Resort,

and OMR 129 per person at the

Crowne Plaza Salalah Resort, which

also offers free buffet dinner every

night.

Oman Air Holidays offer to Malaysia and Salalah

30 March 7-20, 2011

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Johnson & Johnson distributed 40 laptops to

the winners of ‘win forty’ contest.

The event was conducted in commemoration

of the 40th National Day of Oman and drew to

a grand success with thousands of participants

making it a lively event. All it consisted of was

the purchase of Johnson & Johnson products

for just three rials and filling up the coupon to

take part in the promotional offer.

Held at Lulu’s Al-Burj hypermarket, the draw

picked up 40 winners at a glittering event.

“Obviously we enjoy a far better reach with a

tie-up with Lulu and make our presence more

solid in Oman,” said Alex Rajan, business

development manager, Ramniklal B. Kothary,

the authorised distributor of J& J products in

the Sultanate.

Johnson & Johnson gives away 40 laptops

The Park Inn Muscat has recently added two members

to its sales team who will take on the responsibilities of

handling separate sectors of the hotel’s business in Oman.

The newly recruited employees will fortify the sales efforts

for the four-star property in the local market.

Khalid Al Zadjali the new sales manager and a promising

young Omani has a background of six years of experience

in the hospitality industry in Oman. Raja Nair has joined

the Park Inn as assistant director of sales. He had

previously worked in a hotel in Oman in a similar capacity

and holds over a decade of work experience in total in

the hotel industry with prestigious hotel chains. Raja and

Khalid will come under the wing of Fahad Al Wahaibi,

director of sales and marketing.

Park Inn Muscat sales team

Apollo Medical Centre, an associate

of Apollo Hospitals Group, India

and the trusted and most preferred

healthcare provider in the Sultanate

has announced the launch of the

unique “Sun Rise Clinics”.

This concept is being introduced for

the first time of its kind in the private

sector health care in Muscat. Sun

Rise Clinics ensure early morning

Out Patient Consultations to the

people of Sultanate with specialist.

These clinics start from 8am instead

of the usual timing. In the initial

phase, Apollo offers Sun Rise Clinics

in the department of obstetrics/

gynecology.

Sandeep Kumar, Ceo of Apollo says

there has been demand for Early

Morning Clinics from the general

public and Apollo is now capable to

meet the demand.

He also added that apart from Sun

Rise Clinics, in Obs/Gynecology,

Apollo also offers continuous OP

services from 8am till 9pm with a

break on all week days. “We are sure

it will be beneficial and convenient

for the patients whom we can offer

our services at their convenient time.

It will also reduce the waiting time for

the patients” he continued.

“As Apollo is celebrating fifth

anniversary, we offer special

packages for ante – natal services

and deliveries. This package

includes special discounted rates,

exclusive counselling for husband

and wife, post delivery privilege card

facility for mother and child etc,”

Sandeep said.

Apollo Medical Centre has been

performing arthroscopy procedures

regularly and is also coming out

with laparoscopy services from

March. Both these services ensure

minimal invasive procedures which

will be beneficial for the patients.

Apollo is considered as one of

the best centres for mother and

child care and offers round-the-

clock emergency services in all

departments.

Apollo Medical Centre Announces Unique Sun Rise Clinics

31Black & White

Oman International Bank (OIB) is ahead of the other leading banks in terms

of return to investors based on an analysis of the bank balance sheets.

Evaluated on three critical parameters - the cash dividend declared, the

dividend yield and the Return on Equity (ROE), the OIB has emerged as

the market leader on return to its investor. The bank has not only generated

higher return for its investors consistently but also shared the same with its

investors through higher dividend payout and yield.

OIB outperforms its competitors

World renowned painter, M.F. Husain, the ‘Picasso of

India’ as Forbes magazine famously described him will

be holding ‘Between Two Lines’ – a two day exclusive

exhibition of 12 of his latest paintings on Calligraphy at the

Indian embassy.

Husain will be accompanied by his son Owais Husain,

also a painter and a multimedia artist with a growing

repute of his own. The latter will also be displaying 12 of

his personal creations on paper.

This exclusive event will be held on March 11 and 12

at the Indian embassy lawns and auditorium under the

auspices of the Indian ambassador, Anil Wadhwa. This

invitation – only exclusive event is brought together by

Blue Mosaic, Trinity Investment Partners and NPA Events.

'Between Two Lines' on March 11

As part of renna mobile’s strategy for growth,

a new distribution activity was announced in

conjunction with Sanad Service Centers in Muscat.

In an event held at Ubhar Restaurant in Bareeq

Al Shatti, Sheikh Samer bin Ahmed Al Nabhani,

executive director, Sanad Project, ministry of

manpower and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef,

board member, renna mobile launched the activity.

The event was attended by the first 20 Sanad

Service Center owners, who have signed up

around Muscat Governorate, and media partners,

in addition to the renna mobile management and

distribution team.

Sanad to sell renna mobile products

Mars International L.L.C opened their eighth

outlet, and sixth in the Sultanate in Al Khuwair.

Sheikh Ibrahim Bin Yahya Al Rawahi, wali

of Bausher inaugurated it in the presence of

directors and staff of Mars.

Mars International is focussing on expansion

strategy as well as to support their growth.

Briefing about the future plans, Vinodan said we

had strategy budgeted for opening 3 new outlets

by 2012. The one in Barka is almost at finishing

stages and the ones to follow will be at Sur and

Sinaw.

Mars' eighth outlet

32 March 7-20, 201132

Naqvi gets lifetime achievement award

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A captivating show by four Indian School

Ghubra (ISG) students at a programme called

Natyaarpanam, which served as the platform

for the arangetram (initiation) of Aiemy Mary

Sam, Anindita Purohit, Devasena Joshi and

Fairooz Rashid Sulaiman, at Al Falaj Hotel

recently.

The quartet, all disciples of the ISG teacher

Shailaja Sreekumar enthralled the packed

audience at Le Grand Hall with a variety of

dance forms.

Veteran sports personality Saiyed Ali

Sibtain Naqvi was recently conferred

with a ‘lifetime achievement’ award by

the ministry of sports. The minister of

sports affairs Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy

presented the prestigious award to Naqvi

at a function organised at Al Bustan

Palace hotel.

“It was the first award given to an Indian

by the ministry of sports,” a delighted

Naqvi said after receiving the award.

Natyaarpanam – an enchanting evening of dance

Muriya Tourism

Development

company has

announced the

appointment of

its first Omani

Ceo, Adil Taqi.

Formerly with

Damac, Taqi

brings with him years of prime real

estate experience and has also held

senior positions at large corporations

locally, including Alliance Housing

Bank (now known as Ahlibank) and

PDO. He aims to bring his distinct

Omani experience, insight and

attitude to ensure that Muriya’s

projects meet the needs of locals,

and expatriates and continue deliver

on time as promised.

Muriya appoints its 1st Omani Ceo

World Cup fever has hit the world. And at the Spicy

Village restaurants too!

World Cup décor, so you can live cricket, feel cricket and

even eat cricket! The restaurant offers a sixer of a buffet

all the way at all Spicy Village outlets in Muscat, Nizwa,

Sohar and Sur.

A spread that offers you the best of Indian, Chinese,

Thai and Continental cuisine. From breads to biriyani,

from starters and soups to salads and desserts – over

20 delicious items on the menu, every day. This lunch

buffet is available right through the World Cup, all for just

OMR2.900. What’s more, they have also got a fabulous

offer for you: Pay for four, and get the fifth free.

Contact 99224718

World Cup at Spicy Village

33Black & White

CREATIVE EXTEMPOREI watched and listened with great interest. The man

at the centre picked up an everyday theme and then

started to recite. It was a simple poem, but rich with

meaning and effective pauses where those who

couldn’t catch up had the time to register the words

and their meaning.

Watching from the side, I had the advantage of

thinking it was not only fun, but easy to do…the

main man picked up a topic and recited the lines on

that. The next one took it forward with great ease.

In those days, as a teenager, I used to watch the

Indian Antakshari shows on TV, and this seemed to

be a takeoff on that. It was quite engrossing and it

was a relay of poetry, which went on for hours. I am

not into poetry myself, but, it was always interesting

to watch and listen from the sidelines.

Every Friday the young and the old of a village

would get together to a leisurely war of words,

complimented by the traditional beat of drums,

the songs and the Omani kahwa. These forms of

Maidan poetry sessions were quite common in Al

Batinah, Sharqiyah and Dhahirah regions.

The beauty of the Arabic language is known

best when you hear it from the poets. It is very

fascinating to watch the simple, but very creative,

The beauty of the Arabic language is felt best when you hear it from the poets. It is very fascinating to watch the simple, but very creative, villagers fight it out with words on the Maidan

Mohamed Issa Al ZadjaliEditor-in-chief

In Black...

& White

In B

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villagers fight it out with words on the Maidan. The

words just flow from the heart, from a simple topic of the

day like the sun rise to the most complex of debates, all

extempore.

Arabic is indeed a language that has passed the test

of time and remains one of the oldest and most unique

languages in the world. It is beautiful when spoken

and written and you will feel a sense of extreme

accomplishment when you start to understand it. Like

every other language, the Arabic language has its own

peculiarity and it has its own origin.

What could be a threat to the language is that a lot

of people tend to use it less and it is on the decline

nowadays. Blame it on the addiction to the modern

forms of entertainment, the television, music downloads

and mobiles.

In this issue, the B&W team has tried to capture the

beauty of the Maidan, poetry that is recited out aloud,

in one of the villages near Barka. Let us hope that our

attempt to reach the Maidan poetry to English reading

folks will widen its reach. Happy reading and reciting!

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35Black & White

P o e t i c E x t e m p o r e

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36 March 7-20, 2011

Fadhel Al Haddabi

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Ya men wasalt barh Al Fuad,

Karayim ma’ah yem fithalto (fithalto)

News wasa’a Alyoum wa biyomeh wa

Ya’ani Al-khabar yooled fee yomeh (fee yomeh)

Yislam wasalkum birah wa fuad

‘Oqub ma wasaltu watafathaltu (tafathaltu)…

You who have come Have made us feel at ease

(talking to a man named Kariyam)

Kariyam, you have come with the horn made of silver (silver!)

What news today? What's happening?

Give me all the news that is born today! (today!)

Thanks, thanks for comingThanks for taking that extra mile

Your visit has gladdened my heart And it has opened up to welcome you, welcome…

(welcome!)

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IN A LITTLE CLEARING, in the

woody, date-palm fringed area of

Shirs Al Haddaba village in Barka,

Fadhel Al Haddabi, sits on a large

mat, reciting poems. Fadhel, who is a

well-known Omani folklore poet, has

three listeners on his right, and three

on his left. He launches off on an

everyday topic, much to the delight

of his listeners, and they cling on the

last word and repeats it, which adds

to the momentum of the free verse.

We watched the magical poetry

session from the side, making sure

we did not intrude or make some

disturbance that would break the

rhythmic flow. But, the group was

so caught up in the poetic throes

that they did not even mind the

flash lights from our cameras. One

could find strains of the Indian song

competition, Antakshari, in the

Maidan, at least in the quick take off

on the last word, but that is where

the similarity ends as the chorus

or the last word repetition does not

take the poetry off on a tangent.

They continued with a whole theme,

sometimes getting into different

aspects of the same theme.

After maybe half an hour or so of

some unusual poetic extempore,

Fadhel paused and smiled at

us. Almost on cue or more as a

continuation of the poem, all six

members of the poetic team seated

before Fadhel also turned and smiled

at us. We smiled back.

We were genuinely happy at having

watched a live Maidan in action.

Just an hour ago when we had

visited the Maidan it was silent and

seemed a tad bit lonely. The silence

was occasionally broken by a lone

donkey’s bray and some birds that

seemed to twitter and flutter around

the area.

Younger generation in their 20s finds Maidan interesting.From left to right: Mubarak, Fazal, and Khamis

Second side: right: Saleh, Abdul Hamed, and Saad.

39Black & White

Fadhel came and livened up the

scene with his homely version

of contemporary Maidan poetry,

which dwelt on reigning issues,

sometimes, even political. “But, we

always maintain a very simple and

light tone,” Fadhel slowly explained,

as though he was yet to come out

of the poetic trance he and his

fellow listeners and poetic partners

experienced just moments ago.

It maybe light and simple, but in

that lightness, and in that simplicity

were words weighted with import and

great amount of significance.

“This is Maidan!” Fadhel made

a dramatic declaration. A torrent

of words flowed from him, poetic,

rhythmic almost songlike in their

intonation, but the words had a

topical, newsy feeling. And, as our

interpreter noted, these were the

current news, the happenings in

the region, which he said in a light

manner, and with a little twist. At

one point, they were mentioning

something about Egypt…

WAR OF WORDS

“The Maidan is a war of words,

poetry, music… it is a part of the

Omani tradition of getting together.

We all meet together and recite

poems in Arabic; it is a sort of a

creative contest done in leisure.

All of the men in the village come

together in one field,” Fadhel

explained.

“Maybe in the olden days, this was

a means of passing on the richness

of the Arabic language. By passing

on the traditions of the society to

the newer generation; or maybe,

this was a means to keep the clan

together and enhance creativity on

the social front,” he added. Whatever

the reason behind it, the Maidan type

of poetry was not dead; in fact, it

was gaining more ground and even

youngsters were keenly following it.

All six of the Maidan participants at

the Shirs Al Haddaba areas were in

their early 20s.

While we only had a glimpse of the

Maidan-type poetry, a full-fledged

one would be like a major festival.

“Yes, you can call it that! People

come in large crowds, some with

family, and some with friends.

There will be lot of noise and cheer

and the womenfolk also take part

in the celebrations,” Fadhel said.

But, did women also partake in the

Maidan type of poetry? Did they

also take the lead? “Not exactly.

Their roles are slightly different

in the Maidan set up. Instead of

reciting, they take to singing and

also dancing. So, the poetry is set to

colourful music and dance!”

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41Black & White

FAMILY TRADITION

For Fadhel, the Maidan has been

very much like a family tradition.

“The art of Maidan poetry has been

passed down to me over the years.

I remember attending the Maidan

along with my father and uncles

when I was just a small kid. I was

both fascinated and little bemused

too. I couldn’t get the poetic Arabic

then…”

Fadhel has come a long way since

then. Today, he is still fascinated by

the creative verses that streams out

him and others, but, he is no longer

perplexed by the turn of Arabic

words. And, in the Shirs Al Haddaba

area, Fadhel now heads the Maidan

poetry sessions. “I can proudly say

that I am heading the Maidan just like

my father and grandfather did. I was

groomed to attend the Maidan as a

young boy. In fact I was not much

attuned to poetic Arabic and those

first few sessions were difficult to

comprehend for me.

But, I slowly got the hang of it and

then those little stumbles and groping

in the dark became a smooth flow for

me.

Now, I am not just interested in

the language and lyrics alone, but

also in the day-to-day news and

happenings. I have not outgrown the

Maidan and I don’t think I ever will.

Today, many men and women have

come to understand that Maidan

means that it is an opportunity for the

old and the young to come together

and exchange views and news

through a medium that is fun as well

as entertaining.”

POETRY TO CURE THE

POSSESSED

The Maidan is not just about poetic

sessions alone. We learnt that the

Maidan recitals were also called for

reading of the possessed and ill.

"It (the Maidan) is also used as an

arena to cure the possessed and the

sick.

“We recite to cure the sick and most

of the times we have been successful

at it. The reading and recitals for

the sick are part of our culture and

tradition too.

There are certain lyrics and music

that come along with it. I remember

one such case, a complicated one,

where the suffering man was ailing

for many years and could not find

any relief even at Ibn Sina or any

other traditional or modern medicinal

clinics. This man went through a

rigorous Maidan session of 3 to 10

days. After that, he came out totally

cured. These kind of curing recitals

are not religious; they are more of

curative recitals and the verses are

as mentioned in our holy books.”

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAIDAN

The Maidan sessions are episodes

that run to two and half hours and

sometimes even goes up to a week.

People from far and near come to

attend it.

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42 February 21-March 6, 2011

The loser would be the one who remains silent and has no answers to the poems or recitals. The winner takes it all. You should see the tempers flaring up sometimes. It is a serious affair, sometimes funny, sometimes sad

43Black & White

Text: Adarsh Madhavan & Priya Arunkumar Photos: Najib Al Balushi

The Maidan (Al Sooriya) is done

after the I'sha prayers 9.30pm to 12

midnight, sometimes 8.30am to 12

noon and evenings 4pm to 6pm. It

depends on everyone’s convenience

and also the climate.

Al Zaffan goes up to a week or even

10 days. The other type of Maidan

called Al Miss’ab is a family affair.

The last Miss’ab was held some

three months back and is normally

held once or twice every year. Al

Miss’ab is a full family affair and the

families camp at the location. There

will be singing and dancing and the

drum beats run throughout the day

and night.

The usual poetic Maidan involves

literary participation and people who

are good in Arabic take part. The

Raisi Al Maidan starts the session

with any topic, from sun rise to the

current Egypt upraising, it can be

any topic decided by the head poet.

He recites; he voices his opinion

in rhythmic Arabic with a generous

dose of humour and light satire

added on to it.

The opponent may not be one, it

could be many. Whoever catches

on and replies in the most befitting

manner, rich in the language and

satire, wins the prize money! There is

always some sort of prize money or

gifts attached to the regular Maidans,

Fadhel tells us.

“The loser would be the one who

remains silent and has no answers

to the poems or recitals. The winner

takes it all. You should see the

tempers flaring up sometimes. It is

a serious affair, sometimes funny,

sometimes sad. There is a mix of

emotions involved and whatever

emotions are less or more, the whole

episode is a very passionate affair!

Lots of noise and laughter rings in

the midst of claps and drum beats.”

MAIDAN FOR POSTERITY

Maidan is a rich Omani tradition that

is practiced all over Al Sharqiyah,

Dhahirah and Al Batinah regions.

“It is not a custom that will just die.

The youngsters in my village still

participate in the Maidan. In fact

the youngest one is hardly nine.

Since it is part of the family tradition,

the young boys will attend at least

one episode and it becomes the

responsibility of the elders in the

family to pass on the heritage to the

younger generation.

I am in my late 30s and I was

initiated to this custom by my father

and grandfather. I believe that Omani

boys, will at some point of time,

attend at least one of the sessions

even if he is away from Oman.

The youngsters in my family are all

involved in Maidan and I feel it is

my responsibility to pass the poetic

message on. I am sure it will continue

for the future too.”

44 March 7-20, 2011

Doctors are known to take the

Hippocratic Oath, swearing to practice

medicine ethically. But, one of our

readers claims that the doctor she

took her daughter to must have taken

the Hypocrisy Oath. She was livid, so

forgive her, doc.

But, can we forgive you that easily

doc? Because according to this

Omani lady, she was referred to you at

a government hospital, but since you

were busy, and had a tight schedule

and a long patients list, running from

here to Sohar, you told the lady and

her daughter to come to a private

hospital. She did. You made her wait.

Finally, you saw her, made her tell

the complete story of her daughter’s

problem and then after listening to all

that just dismissed her saying that this

was not your area and you had to go

back to the same hospital and see a

different doctor. All that is okay… But,

doc, if you didn’t offer consultation, if

you merely hear out a person who is

not even your patient, why did you ask

her to pay?

Was that right on your part, doc?

Anyway, we don’t want to know, you

tell her directly, or reimburse her…

Still on the subject of docs, we have another Omani lady here who told us of

how she approached her doc who was at a government clinic for an ailment

she had. Her right leg was so painful that she wanted to cut it off, and so she

asked the doc for an appointment, but he was busy. So when could she see

him, she asked.

Well, he was busy and had to go to another private clinic where he offered

consultation. Could she come there please, she asked. She told him she was

in great pain. No, was the curt answer. Too many patients, too busy! But, she

was in real pain, was there a chance to meet the doctor anywhere? Could she

meet him tomorrow at least?

Tomorrow? No way! He was off. Weekend. Thursday and Friday. Golf! She

could meet him only next week. Okay, the lady in pain said. But, when could

she meet him, please? Ummhhh, there was no way she could meet him on

Saturday as he was going to the SQUH. But, but, could she come to the SQUH

to meet him, she pleaded? SQUH, ha, no way… At the SQUH he was quite

busy; he would have meetings till late afternoon…no, he can’t meet her on

Saturday. Ideally, let her come to meet him on Monday at another private

clinic... So, the lady in severe pain had no choice, but to wait. Is this the way

doctors should treat a lady in pain?

Hippocratic or

hypocrisy oath?

Lady is in

severe pain…

so what?

Nit

tern

att

er

We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now. Fi-nally, we have taken the plunge to bring home to you some offbeat stuff. Here goes, if you like it, give us the green signal for more; if not, just take it with a pinch of salt. For this fort-night, here is some nitter natter for the B&W Bitter Batter:

Now, all of the above might look like a diatribe against doctors (or those in the

medical field)…but, that is not what this is all about. It is just a coincidence

that we got two or three issues on doctors all at the same time, but, the point

to make here is that in both these cases we have two esteemed members

of the medical profession acting callously and without any care for their

patients. Have doctors seen too much of pain that it no longer matters to

them anymore?

We are disturbed. Let us hope that these incidences are just an aberration in

the overall picture and surely just two cases cannot have us calling the whole

medical profession as callous, cruel and heartless!

Might always rules. This maybe what people are accustomed to and many

believe it to be natural in the order of things. But yaaki, why is it that might

always wins; why are bullies always winning? What order is that? No, we

are not saying that the meek should always inherit the earth, but, shouldn’t

the meek, the weak, the deprived, the aggrieved, the pained, the injured,

the one who have lost…win occasionally, or at least once? We do not refer

to any particular incident, or citing just one topic, but a variety of them, all

in a cluster, but each one hankering for justice, separate and on their own.

There is too much injustice in this world (hear, hear!) and too much injustice

is heaped on those whom we know and we wonder, we really wonder why?

Just an

aberration

Why should

might always

win?

(Note: Readers who have something bitter to chatter about can either email on editor@blackandwhiteoman.com or call 99218461)

45Black & White

46 March 7-20, 2011

Do we negotiate enough? Dr Anchan C.K.

managing director,

World Wide Business HouseBy Dr CK Anchan

The ability to negotiate is one of the most valuable skills you can bring

to any job. Whether you’re after a pay rise, time off, a new job, getting

someone to back off, more help or more recognition, the ability to negotiate

will give you a much better chance of success. It is something that puts you

personally and professionally in the driver’s seat!

Negotiation in its truest sense means listening to the other party. Trying

to understand where they come from. In a world that goes out of its way

to keep buyer and seller separate, I find no substitute for face to face

negotiation and the fruits that come from it. The best negotiating tool will

always be the art of listening.

It is the ultimate art of looking before you leap and not jumping to the

handshake and the contract. Instead, the art is in refining what you want,

setting those unstoppable goals and also leaving some wriggle room on

stuff you don’t truly care about.

Negotiations are not emotional. Refuse to act emotionally and you are half

way there. In addition, remember that the person who says little and shows

the least cards maintains the most control.

Here are few tips, which have certainly worked for me, I am sure it will

work for you also:

1. Increase the goodwill on both sides viz: compliment the person you are in

negotiation with; use positive indications and words.

2. Keep listening and ask intelligent questions viz : understand what the

other person is saying and their point of view. To listen shows respect and

good intentions, and will make the other person feel valued.

3. Become aware of emotional climates viz: If the other person is angry, do

not panic, keep your cool and be pleasant, you will find the person settling

down within some time.

4. Be clear about the decision you are going to take in advance viz: whether

you are going to compromise, or not. Assess all aspects of the situation.

5. Buy time and keep your options open viz : Give yourself room to

manouveur. Make sure you have something to offer the other person, as

well as something you want.

6. Conclude with win – win situation viz: Both sides should leave the

negotiation feeling they’ve come away with something and that they’re

satisfied.

To conclude for now, Life is a process of negotiations, from negotiating

contracts with clients, buying your first house to negotiating your next salary

raise. So happy negotiating!

Managem

ent

talk

46 March 7-20, 2011

47Black & White

Seyad Farook, ophiologist/

field herpetologist at the

Sultan Qaboos UniversityBy Seyad Farook

IF YOU DRINK VENOM, WILL IT KILL YOU?

Poisons are substances that are toxic (cause harm) if swallowed or

inhaled. Venoms are generally not toxic if swallowed, and must be

injected under the skin (by snakes, spiders, etc.) into the tissues that

are normally protected by skin in order to be toxic. However, it is NOT

recommend drinking venom for any reason..

Types of Venom:

(a) Cytotoxin (cell-affecting venom)

Most of the slower venomous snakes have a quick acting component

in the venom (cytotoxin) that will cause an immediate burning pain.

Cytotoxins destroy cells and tissue.

A bite from a cytotoxic snake generally produces local pain and swelling

around the bite area. Depending on the exact nature of the venom,

discolouring and necrosis will take place. Most people bitten by cytotoxic

snakes survive. Bites from a puff adder, which has predominantly

cytotoxic venom, can cause disfigurement. This is because of a large

amount of necrosis and even gangrene which results in digits or limbs

having to be amputated.

Carpet vipers, horned vipers, Sand vipers and false-horned vipers have a

cytotoxin element together with a more potent haemotoxin.

What is the difference between poison and venom?

Natu

re's Q

uest

47Black & White

48 March 7-20, 2011

Kid

stuff

The colour of the first successful bubble gum was pink because it was the only colour the inventor had left

49Black & White

The oldest known sample of chewing gum is a piece of birch bark tar

estimated to be 6,500 years old. It seems to have been chewed by a person

30 to 40 years old with a cavity in one tooth.

People have chewed on natural materials for hundreds of years, including

thickened resin and latex from certain trees, sweet grasses, leaves, grains

and waxes.

More than 1,000 varieties of gum are manufactured and sold in the United

States.

100,000 tons of bubble gum are chewed every year.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest bubble ever

blown was 23 inches in diameter!

Cinnamon, spearmint and peppermint are among the most popular flavours of

chewing gum today.

The country using the largest number of chewing gum manufacturers is

Turkey, using more then 60 companies manufacturing chewing gum!

In A.D. 50, Ancient Greeks were believed to chew mastic, tree resin taken

from the bark of the Mastic tree. Grecian women favoured chewing this to

clean their teeth and sweeten their breath!

Humans are the only animals on earth that chew gum.

Greeks chewed gum thousands of years ago.

The ages of 12 to 24 chew more gum than any other age group.

The colour of the first successful bubble gum was pink because it was the

only colour the inventor had left. The colour “stuck” and today bubble gum is

still predominantly pink.

Detectives have been known to identify criminals by comparing the suspect’s

chewed gum to their dental records.

Because of gravity, you must measure bubble gum bubbles by their width, not

their height.

Swallowed bubble gum will not get stuck from your intestines, but it will pass

through your system, because gum base cannot be digested.

Tongue twistersDouble bubble gum, bubbles double

Did you know...?

50 March 7-20, 2011

Extremely revealing and, at

times, unusual messages

or statements from friends and

colleagues may be a key theme now.

Watch closely for subtle changes and

unexpected revelations from loved

ones. Renewed intimacy and rare

moments of tenderness are likely to

continue in the coming weeks.

A trusted friend or

companion will now reveal important

family information or ask for delicate

social advice. Timed events may be

a key concern: expect a variety of

questions concerning recent group

celebrations, public statements or

family gatherings.

After several weeks of low

self-esteem or deep romantic doubt,

most Librans will now experience

serious overtures of passion, loyalty

and dedication. To some degree,

this may also apply to business

partnerships or career ambitions but,

for the most part, will manifest as

social or romantic intensity.

Family expectations are

now on the rise. Early this week

expect a close relative or trusted

friend to present unusual ideas

for home expansion or improved

relations with older relatives.

Optimism is what is important here;

so be sure to provide plenty of

support and encouragement.

You will make peace

with several months of business

indecision, financial strain and

lagging confidence. Much of this will

affect career matters but, for some,

long-term romantic relationships

may also be at issue. If so, expect a

friend or lover to push for new public

promises in your home life.

No worries here, though:

at present, planetary alignments

suggest that recently withheld

passions, observations and ideas will

rise quickly to the surface. Accept

all comments as valid and let others

witness your empathy: it’s time to

make your feelings known.

Older relatives and key

officials may this week ask for more

your time, attention and loyalty than

is warranted. No long-term changes

are likely here, so not to worry. Do,

however, respond quickly to all

requests and instructions. At present,

both loved ones and long-trusted

colleagues will need reassurance.

New romantic promises

and expanded commitments in love

relationships will be a continuing

theme for much of the next two

weeks. Much of this will act as an

overture to deepen a key relationship

or increase emotional intimacy.

This is the right time to begin new

projects.

Don’t look back: really,

there is very little that could have

been done to affect change during

the past eight weeks. Beginning this

week, however, and lasting over

the next five to six months, honesty

will be greatly rewarded. Planetary

alignments indicate a new phase of

shared goals.

Employment decisions and

short-term financial obligations will

be a key topic of conversation during

this period. Eventually, all will work

in your favour; so not to worry. Do,

however, quickly clarify all missing

documents or time schedules errors.

Stand your ground: all is well.

Important phones calls,

messages or invitations should not

be ignored over the next few days.

Pay special attention to the social

habits, daily needs and ongoing

emotional expectations of loved

ones. Someone close may this week

reveal a surprising family conflict or

ask for discrete romantic advice.

Early this week expect

an older colleague or work official

to return to outdated and ineffective

practices. Group projects and team

assignments may be particularly

bothersome. The key here is to allow

others to briefly revisit old habits but

quietly encourage change. By late

next week all will work in your favour.

March 21-April 20

June 22-July 23

September 24-October 22

December 23-January 20

April 21-May 20

July 24-August 23

October 23-November 22

January 21-February 19

May 21-June 21

August 24-September 23

November 23-December 22

February 20-March 20

Your stars

ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

TAURUS

LEO

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

GEMINI

VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

STEVEN PAUL JOBS (BORN FEBRUARY 24, 1955)

is an American business magnate and inventor. He is

the co-founder and chief executive officer of Apple Inc.

Jobs also previously served as chief executive of Pixar

Animation Studios; he became a member of the board

of The Walt Disney Company in 2006, following the

acquisition of Pixar by Disney. He was credited in the

1995 movie Toy Story as an executive producer

Horo

scope

51Black & White

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given

numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares

so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same

number only once.

SOLUTION:

By Thomas Snydermotris.livejournal.com

52 March 7-20, 2011

WADI KABIRBait al Zubair Bait al BarandaMarina Bander Al Bustan Palace HotelOman Dive club Shangri-La- Barr Al JissahSri Lankan School NHIPencil Building (Stationery shop)Al Maha bunk –Wadi Kabir Ajay Enterprises (Khimji) – (Next to Jingles nursery) Hotel Golden OasisSana FashionsAl Maya markets – (Old Rawasco) Scientific pharmacy – Opp to al Maya market ( Arab Udipi Rest)

CBD AREA TO DARSAITAl Amana Building materials – Opposite Jawad SultanAl Omaniya Financial Services office Oman oil bunk Khimji mart shopping mall – (Old shopping & saving)Khimjis Bait al Ahlam- CBD areaPizza Muscat (Opposite ministry of manpower)Pizza Hut/TFC – CBD areaCentre point-SplashMuscat Securities market Times of OmanShell petrol Bunk (Next to Sheraton)OCCI Library – Oman Chamber of commerce (OPP MSM)KFC – Ruwi Oman International Bank – RuwiPalayok Restaurant – Filipino restaurant Ever ready supermarket New India Assurance OfficeAl Fair – Ruwi high street Lakhoos Money Exchange, Ruwi High streetDamas Jewellery/office – Ruwi Oman UAE Exchange – OCC CentreAir Arabia Office- Shanfari TravelsRuwi HotelGulf air building – Gulf air officeSaravanabhavan Restaurant Sarco – Samsung showroom Khimji Megastore – Swarovski showroomOTEMoosa Abdul Showroom – next to al JadeedToshiba Showroom Al Jadeed shoppingBadr Al Samaa Samara video (next to Talentz, old bait al ahlam) after 5pmMinistry of Education – Opp Wearhouse – Ruwi Future management consultants -(opp Toshiba showroom)Haffa House HotelAl Falaj Hotel Muscat Bakery- Near church Pakistan School (after temple & church Darsait)Naranjee Hirjee office (before Hotel Golden Oryx)Hotel Golden Oryx Bank Muscat corporate office (Opposite Hotel Golden Oryx)Kamat Restaurant Uptown Restaurant Turtles Book shopAl Rima Clinic Lama Polyclinic

Oman Air – CBD NBO- CBD areaBank MuscatBank SoharHSBCStandard CharteredOman Arab BankHarmony Music Centre – Next to OAB Bahwan Travel Agencies – CBD banks areaOTTB – Oman Travels BureauAir India office – CBD next to Costas CostasPapa John Supa Save – CBDWoodlandsBank DhofarHorizon Restaurant – (Next to Moon travels)Oman post office Lulu DarsaitKhimji Ramdas Head office, Muttrah (Kanaksi Khimji & pankaj Khimji) Majan College – Darsait junction (canteen)Indian Social ClubMelody Music Centre – Next to ISMGerman Embassy – Hamriya roundaboutApollo Medical CentreComputer Xpress – Hamriya Roundabout Atlas Travels (Wadi Adai Roundabout (next to polyglot)Hatat HousePassage to IndiaBest carsHyundai/Subaru/GM showroomAl Asfoor FurnishingAhli BankShell marketing officeSEAT car showroom- Wattayah DHL office- Wattayah Honda ShowroomSabco Head office wattayahNTT travels WattayahToyota Bahwan Advertising – Ist floor – Toyota showroomLexusFord showroomShanfari AutomotiveWattayah Motors- VW showroomKhoula HospitalInstitute of Health sciences – opposite KhoulaKia showroom- wattayah

QURUM AREA TOWARDS AL KHUWAIRAl Harthy Complex- Pizza Muscat – next to Sultan Center in al Harthy complexSultan Center Nissan showroomBMW showroom Muscat Private School Qurum city centrePizza Hut – Qurum Capital StoreAl Asfoor PlazaKFCHardeesFono showroom next to Sabco centreShah NagardasSabco Centre- Barista coffee shop onlyAl AraimiPanasonic ShowroomNBO QurumAl Khamis PlazaAl Wadi commercial centre – Coffee shopMercedes showroom

CCC- StandCCC Al FairBollywood chatPizza Hut – Qurum Second CupNandos McDonaldsSalman StoresJawahir OmanHamptonsBusiness Services & Travel Amex office Ernst & Young buildg (OUA Travels) StarbucksHawthorne institute- ELS Fahud Street, opp Qurum parkMumtaz Mahal Left bankOman Association for the disabled Ministry of education (20 +20=20)Muscat Intercon Jawaharat Al Shatti complex- standOasis by the sea - crepe café standLNG OfficeAl Qurum resortBareek Al Shatti ComplexAl Qandeel head office -, Entrance of Bareek al Shatti Al Shatti Cinema - Dunkin DonutsAl Sahwa Schools– principal’s office next to Ramada hotelHotel RamadaAl Muriya Offices- next to Al sahwa schoolsGrand Hyatt MuscatAl Masa MallRadio ShackAl Sarooj ComplexShell Petrol Bunk- Al Sarooj Al FairRamee GuestlineRock BottomClassic Institute of Arts- next to Asas OmanAsas Oman ApartmentsCrowne PlazaCoral hotelQurum Pvt schoolPDORas Al Hamraa ClubOmanoil head office

AL KHUWAIR/MSQ TOWARDS AZAIBAELS – Al khuwair service roadBritish School Muscat – MSQBritish Council Oman oil- Madinat Qaboos Pizza HutKhimjis mart – MSQ Kargeen Café Al fairFamily Book shop- MSQ Tavola – Al Noor Hall buildgStarbucks Hana slimming centre – Ist FloorFotomagicAl Noor Hall Al JadeedEqarat office Above Welcare Clinic – al KhuwairDomino Pizza Oman mobileSafeer Hypermarket Mustafa SultanSouk TechniaOmantelOman international Bank – Al khuwair main officeIbis Hotel

Park inn HotelFriendi OfficeMuscat Bakery Tropical Ice creams SubwayPizza Hut service road Ice Skating RinkNational Training InstituteGolden spoon RestaurantShell Select- Al KhuwairMcdonaldsMct holiday Inn HotelOman Bowling Center HalliburtonCafé VergnanoKhimji Mart – Next to Verganano Safeer suitesAxa insurance (opp assarain Al khuwair)Zakher shopping MallPAN Furnishing Harley DavidsonThriftyAl Amal Medical Centre – Dr BashirHotel RadissonPizza Hut Al KhuwairOzone Video Shop(Next to Pizza Hut)American British School Omar Khayyam Restaurant, next to V kool Grill House (next door)V KoolTAISM Centre for British Teachers – CFBT Baushar Complex CaféAviation Club Restaurant

AZAIBA TOWARDS SEEBLulu Hyper market – BausharOman Medical collegeCollege for Business & financial Studies opp Oman medical, bausharAzzan Bin Qais school - BausharMuscat private HospitalDolphin Village – BausherRoyal hospital Ghala industrial area – NTINational mineral water – Tanuf ( next to Al Madina Holiday Inn)Oman oil AzaibaSpicy Village – Rusayl Pizza Hut – GhalaOman oil – GhalaTowell head office – Enhance & Ist floorMazda showroom Mcdonalds – Azaiba Select shell AzaibaOman Tribune – Al Watan officeNew India assurance Azaiba office Safeer HypermartNawras head office Zubair showroom and Yamaha corporate office(two places)- Yamaha Showroom – close to Zubair showroom – 1st floor Polyglot InstituteGU Tech – Beach road AzaibaChedi Muscat The wave Muscat corporate officeNACA – national cancer Awareness AssnMCC – Crepe CaféAl Bahja– Mood Café & food CourtAl Maya Super market Oman air Seeb office (Below Flyover, before Golden Tulip)Oman Tourisn College Golden Tulip HotelAir portSelect Shell – SeebPizza Hut airportKFC

PICK-UP POINTSPICK-UP POINTS

MUSCAT

Cir

cula

tion

SHOPPING MALLSLulu shopping centerAl- Istaqarar shopping center (Salalah)Dhofar shopping centerBab Al- Salam marketAl- Mashoor (Salalah)Al- Mashoor (Saada)Al-KhareefK.M TradingAl-Isteqarar (Saada)Al-Hoq super marketHamdan commercial marketFresh super market (Al-Sarat)Union Salalah MarketFamily bookshop

HOTELSCrown PlazaHilton Salalah Hamdan plazaDhofar HotelSalalah hotelHaffa HouseRedan HotelAl- Hanaa HotelBAMSIR hotelAl- Jabel hotelAl- Nile suite (Saada)Salalah Mariott

MINISTRIESMinistry agriculture & fisheries Ministry of educationMinistry of defenseMinistry of housing & electricityMinistry of waterMinistry of tourism Diwan of Royal court (Salalah)Ministry of primary court and justiceMinistry of Commerce & industryDhofar municipality (Baladia)Ministry of man power

PETROL STATIONS, BANKSShanfari filling Stationshell select, al saadaOman oilShell SalalahBank MuscatOmantelOman Arab BankPizza hutDhofar UniversityAl Maha souk

OIB, NizwaOIB, FirqBankMuscat, NizwaBM main branch, NizwaBankMuscat, FirqNBO, NizwaNBO, FirqBank AbudhabiToyotaOTEOmantelNawrasKhimji, NizwaKhimji, IzkiMuscat Bakery, NizwaPizza HutDiscount centreFamily shoppingAl Diyar HotelSafari hotelAl-Nif shopping, IzkiHungery Bunny, NizwaCollege of ScienceCollege of TechnicNizwa Medical CollegeBusmath ClinicThalal ClinicOmanoil, IzkiOmanoil, FirqOmanoil, NizwaOmanoil, MarfaShell, IzkiShell, FirqShell, NizwaAl-Maha, FirqNizwa university -Dept of foreign langAl-Maha, Marfa

Lulu hyper marketSafeer CentreAl Nahda resortAl Maha SoukOman Oil RumaisOman College of managementOIBNBOBank MuscatShellOTESARCONissan showroomOmantel

MUSCAT continued...

MUSCAT, SALALAH, SUR, SOHAR, NIZWA, BARKA, KASAB

SALALAH NIZWA

BARKA

SOHAR

SURAl-HasharLNGLNG, Club SurSur Beach HotelSur UniversityOTE, SurMitsibushiRawaya coffee shopToyotaNissanSur Plaza HotelMazdaKhimjiOmantelPrivate Hospital, SurBankMuscatSur HotelNBO, SurBank Dhofar, SurELS, Sur

Muscat golf hills, SEEBKOMSQU – SQUH hospital , SQUH 2- canteen, 3- Diplomatic Club, 4 – College of Commerce, 5 – Students banking area)Pizza Hut – al Khoud Sultan School al hail service road – principals’ officeCaledonian college – principal’s officeOman Foot ball association

RUSAYL AREARusayl Industrial EstateOman CablesSadolin PaintsJotun PaintsAl waqia shoesMehdi FoodsAreej veg oils

MINISTRIES AREA – AL KHUWAIRMinistry of tourism(Ghala, next to ISG)Ministry of social Development(next to Regional municipalities, Bank Mct)Ministry of foreign affairs

Spicy Village RestaurantLulu HypermarketJumeirah Shopping CentreKhimji’s MartAl Salem shoppingCentrepointMoosa Abdul Rahman – GMCToyotaNissanMitsubishiLG showroomSohar BakerySohar UniversityBank MuscatHabib BankBank SoharOman International BankAl Raffah HospitalBadr Al SamaaOman Arab BankBank DhofarHSBCTravel CityNational Travels and ToursUniversal Travels and TourismDHLDhofar InsuranceAl Ahlia InsuranceTaeeger Finance CoOmantelAl Jazeera GroupNarenjee Hirjee (International)

Circulation enquiries: 98675976/24565697

FREE FORTNIGHTLY MAGAZINEAVAILABLE ALL OVER OMAN ON 7TH & 21ST

20, 500 COPIES (BEING AUDITED)

53Black & White

FREE 20,500 copies (being audited)

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AVAILABLEall over Oman on 7th & 21stof every month

First Free Fortnightly magazine

55Black & White 55Black & White

By Praba Iyer

Praba Iyer is a graduate of the

California Culinary Academy

in San Francisco. She was

the Associate Chef at Greens

Restaurant in Fort Mason, SF.

She teaches custom cooking

classes in the bay area

Cookin

g

55Black & White

I have fond memories of my early years in Kanpur, India.

Situated on the banks of the Ganges, Kanpur was as

fertile as it could be. Our home had crisp green lawns

with roses of every hue.

My favourite pastime in the summer months was counting the

number of tomatoes on the vine, which stretched on to the side

walls of the house. I remember admiring the red plump fruit

against the faded brown wall. While my dad brought home red

juicy apples and healthy bunches of grapes, mom would cut a

bowl of fresh tomatoes and sprinkle a little sugar, for us to eat.

This was when I fell in love with fruits. My grand mother taught me

that fruits were natural cleansers and eating fruits everyday helps

remove toxins from our body. I also learnt to cut fruits from her.

We get most fruits the year round. When my boys were younger, my Wednesday morning

ritual was to head to the Farmer’s Market, and stroll the isles, sampling and buying freshly

picked fruits. All the colours and tastes were a feast for the eyes and the palate. Fruits are

a big part of our home menu, either as an evening snack or a salad everyday.

Here are some fruit recipes you can add to your menu. Now you can entice your kids with

a healthy alternative to yet another chocolate chip cookie or cheetos! Enjoy!

This is a versatile recipe which is

always a crowd pleaser. You can

be creative as to what you add, to

fit your cuisine preference.

•1 ripe mango, sliced into cubes/

strips

•1 corn, kernels separated

•1/2 English cucumber, sliced

into cubes/strips

•2 sweet peppers, sliced into

rings

•1/2 lime juice

•1 green chili

•2 tablespoons of cilantro chopped

•salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, refrigerate

and serve.

Variations: My Indian version has toasted cumin

and/or sprouted moong beans. You can turn it into

a Mexican mango salsa with grilled fish. Try it as a

Thai Green Papaya salad with Mangoes, by adding

mango to shredded raw papaya along with thai

chilies, lime and few roasted cashews.

This refreshing salad incorporates many green

fruits. It has Kiwi fruit that is high in Vitamin C

and antioxidants. Honeydew is a great source of

folate (folic acid). This salad is best when made

and served immediately.

•1/2 honeydew, skin removed, seeded and cubed

•2 golden delicious apples, cored, sliced into

cubes

•3 kiwis, peeled and sliced

•1 cup of green grapes, seedless, sliced into

halves

•1 banana, peeled and sliced

•Garnish with pomegranate seeds for color

(optional)

Dressing

2 lemon, juiced

1 tablespoons of honey

½ teaspoon chaat masala (optional)

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon mint leaves julienne

Whisk all the ingredients for the dressing

together. Place all the fruits in a bowl, mix in the

dressing and serve.

MANGO SALAD GREEN FRUIT SALAD

Laila, Omani graduate student of Nizwa University

Accept the things you cannot change

Sometimes you may feel as your life is turning topsy-turvy. And

sometimes you may feel though there is no purpose. Indeed, there

are times when things seem to go awry. And then you feel so

helpless, like a little log tossed upon stormy seas.

It is normal to feel like that sometimes when things are not going

smoothly with you. Circumstances would determine the status of

your mood and your life in general. But, it need not be all that bleak

and bad. There are ways to overcome any such feelings.

Believe it or not, accepting things that you cannot change is very

important to keep your sanity! Truly, you cannot change the whole

world if your problem is with the world.

But when you embrace the problem and accept that there are some

things which cannot be changed, it will be of help to you. Because

acceptance will provide you with enough strength and determination

to make things work easily for you.

On the other hand, there will be many others who may face difficulty

in doing this. Even when things are upside down, take advantage of

it and charge your soul with strong belief in yourself and the ability

to succeed. And when things are down, fight it with everything you

have got and never ever give up. Then and only then will you feel

that you have got a better understanding of making a life of success

and happiness.

Sometimes going through a wave of ups and downs is just

wonderful as God has given us the choice to make our life. We

better appreciate our life and be thankful to God because there are

others who have succumbed drowning under the waves of ups and

downs.

On the other hand, those who have struggled and fought to make

the wave of ups and downs work for them, because they know the

purpose of their existence, are alive and kicking. So, ask yourself:

"Do you really know the purpose of your life?’’ Then, no matter if the

waves of ups and downs come to you or not, you are equipped to

meet these imposters in a very strong and neutral manner.

By Laila Ibrahim Obaid Al-Gharbi

lalgharbi@yahoo.comLearn

ing c

urv

e

56 March 7-20, 2011

50000 DOLLARS ….W-HA-AA-T, no you can’t be serious…well, if

it is, then I’ll just have to dream about it lustily…but really is it worth

that much? Does its cost equate its worth? After all it’s just a stone,

why should it be so unaffordably EXPENSIVE?

A solitaire is about 10 times the worth of a cluster of diamonds. So

a cluster of diamonds is like clutter in comparison to a single large

stand-alone diamond.

A solitaire expresses the power of one and the strength of

individuality. When you have the ability to stand apart from a group,

you become worth much more than a bunch of people huddling

together and still not making the same impact as an individual.

The minute you have the courage to take a different path

you become the SOLITAIRE whose brilliance outshines and

overshadows the smaller diamonds. It eclipses the other diamonds

not because it tries to but just by the virtue of its presence.

A solitaire has a different grading system from your usual run of the

mill diamonds and any jeweller will happily accept it back and pay

you a decent amount for it, unlike the other diamonds which have

almost a zero return value. It’s just so different from other diamonds

that a comparison between them seems a silent mockery of the

latter.

So why is it so difficult for us to be a solitaire and shine with our

brilliance rather than needing the crutch and support of a group to

barely exist in life? Why can’t we be bold and choose the untrodden

path, face a few challenges and eventually become priceless?

Needless to say it is going to be impossibly difficult but whoever said

the path to greatness was not brimming with obstacles?

Go ahead make a bold decision today and be a solitaire…while I go

and be one and hopefully buy one.

Till next time peace and love!

Make way for the S-OL-I-T-A-I-R-E

Vandana, award winning author (‘360 Degrees Back to Life')

By Vandana Shah

It's m

y lif

e

Vandana Shah, Author 360 Degrees Back To life, editor of Ex-Files. www.vandanashah.com.

Email me what you’d like to say on 360degreesbacktolife@gmail.com

Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM

57Black & White

58 March 7-20, 2011

shape n

sound

58 March 7-20, 2011

59Black & White

Any woman can have a BUFF bodyMAN OR WOMAN, WHO WOULD NOT love to have a buff body? Yes, you

may have to huff and puff to get a buff body, but more importantly, it is having

the right attitude. Whatever anyone says, there is nothing better than simple,

straightforward exercise and toning down of the food intake to make you take a

simple trip from the unfit fat lane to the slim and trim healthy path. Many women,

especially those who are about to tie the knot, would die to have a fit body, at least

before they get hitched. Whatever the reason, the need to have a buff body is a

genuine requisite for many a woman. Let us see if we can get somewhere with this

desire:

BE CONSISTENT

How many times have you started a fitness regimen only to discover that working

late, buying that almost-forgotten birthday gift, and cheering the kids at their

soccer game or fancy dress parties have eaten up all your planned work-out time?

A consistent routine helps. What is needed is to plan it out ahead of time. Working

out three days a week is ideal; irregular training makes for irregular results.

ALL-ROUND FOCUS

Sometimes what happens is that we tend to focus only on the problems parts.

That is not unusual because when you have a problem thigh, upper arms, stomach

etc., you may tend to work out those areas more than the others. But, experts note

that instead of focusing on one or two body parts, it is better to work on the whole

package. As you work on the entire body, the problem areas will disappear.

STOP TALKING, START WALKING

So, you want to be buff and what you do is just stroll around the block or take

your dogs out for short walks around the corner and you want to be buff?! Uh,

get a life woman! It does not work that way. A stroll around the block examining

the sidewalk won’t do much to get you buff. As they say, there is walking and

then there is WALKING! If you can’t do fast walk, at least walk briskly, and when

you walk for exercise, make sure you swing your arms rhythmically to boost your

metabolism. Also, keep your back straight and your chin up for better balance.

GOODBYE ELEVATORS

Ugh! You are right. Those stairwells in your office building do look ugly. But,

believe us, these ugly steps may can help tone your legs while you’re at work.

So, why not make an attempt at it? Climbing stairs strengthens leg muscles and

provides a good cardiovascular workout at the same time. Quadriceps, hamstrings

and glutes will benefit, experts note.

NO RESTING

Lifting weights can be exhausting, especially when you’re starting out, but how

long you rest between repetitions can make a difference in how quickly your

fitness level improves. Try not to rest for more than 45 seconds between sets. This

will speed up your metabolism and burn more calories.

59Black & White

60 March 7-20, 2011

Psy

che

60 March 7-20, 2011

61Black & White

anymore!

Don’t be

EMBARRASSEDSOMETIMES OUR BODY refuses

to cooperate. Especially when we

need it to cooperate with us the most!

It could be a sudden expelling of

gas, a hiccups attack, an overactive

bladder, and a belch you just

can’t swallow, to ill-timed yawns,

excessive sweating... life does not

get any worse than this. But if you

think you are the only one afflicted

with such problems, think again, it’s

more common than you think. And

there are ways to avoid such bodily

embarrassments:

BLADDER LEAKS

For some, it happens when they

sneeze, for others when they laugh

or cough, or when they exercise.

Small, small uncontrollable leaks

called urinary incontinence can

cause extreme embarrassment.

Known as stress incontinence, it’s

the most common type of bladder

control problem in women. Another

type, called urge incontinence or

overactive bladder, happens when

you have a strong need to urinate but

can’t reach the toilet in time. It is said

that every woman who has given

birth to at least one baby is going

to suffer some urinary incontinence

problems – it is almost unavoidable.

But, all is not lost. Here is what you

could do:

If you have an incontinence

problem, there are exercises

designed to tighten bladder muscles

that control the flow. These include

Kegel exercises that strengthen the

pelvic floor and bladder training --

stopping your urine flow mid-stream

every time you go to the bathroom.

Try to learn how to just stop it and

release it several times; this will

help build the muscle that controls

urination. You can also try emptying

your bladder before engaging in

activities that might bring on a leak,

such as exercising or dancing.

Experts note that you should avoid

coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate if

you’re going to be away from home

and a bathroom and also if you

know you have this problem, even

occasionally, make sure you wear

underwear, and carry an extra pair,

just in case.

BURPS, HICCUPS, AND GROWLS

It is a make it or lose it business

presentation that you have to make.

Just as you are about to begin it, a

loud growl is heard throughout the

conference room. You and the rest

of the people are as shocked as one

can be when confronting a beast like

that.

Something that makes horrible

sounds like that has to be a

beast right? Right? Well, you are

speechless as you look everywhere

for the culprit and realise that is none

other than your stomach!

Okay, now that is a beast from the

stomach, but what happens when

another ugly creature escapes from

the confines of your own mouth?

Yes, we speak of another monster

called the belch or that series of

monsters called the hiccups.

Belches and growls are usually due

to gassy foods; hiccupping is the

result of an irritation to the diaphragm

which can also be made worse by

gassy foods, medical experts note,

adding that anxiety can magnify the

problem.

Burping and hiccupping can come

on when you swallow a lot of air,

and that’s very common when we’re

anxious. If you’re a person who sighs

a lot, then you probably swallow air

when you’re anxious.

What can you do about it? Well,

the simplest form of defense is to cut

down on gassy foods in the hours

previous to when you want to be at

your best. These include cruciferous

vegetables like cabbage and

broccoli, beans, and for some folks,

dairy products and fried foods.

Drinking more water also helps. The

GI tract is more likely to spasm when

it’s dry, so keeping well hydrated

reduces the likelihood of hiccups,

burps, and nervous coughs.

EXCESSIVE SWEATING

It is but natural for many: when the

heat is on, you break into a sweat.

For some, just a bit of stress is all

that is required to make you drip.

There are some people who actually

have a problem with overactive

sweat glands, but for the most part,

excessive sweating that occurs

only in certain situations is all about

stress.

A by-product of stress hormones

such as cortisol, epinephrine, and

norepinephrine, nervous sweating

is a reflection of sympathetic nerve

discharge -- a manifestation of the

fight-or-flight response that kicks in

when we’re anxious.

But even sweat problems have

solutions: Let us learn to condition

ourselves ahead of time for facing

stressful situations. It’s a matter of

brain retraining. Gradually expose

yourself to the nervous situation, and

eventually your body won’t respond

as if you’re in danger. And if those

slick ads are true, well, the easiest

way to prevent excessive sweating

is simply to try an antiperspirant

deodorant. What do you say?

61Black & White

There is someone in our living room, madam!

The call from my maid was not eerie, but

definitely funny.

The first thing that came to the mind was that it

could be a burglar.

Man or woman? I queried.

I am not sure madam, but I think it is a ghost,

she declared.

Now it definitely sound funny for me, I laughed

But, my maid was pretty sure of her statement.

Can you please come home early tonight? I

didn’t want to ridicule her, so I agreed.

The night when I reached home, she went on

to explain the full story.

Every evening, there is this presence in the

living room, someone just moves around,

actually fleets past through the sliding glass

section and she pointed it out to me.

I have been living in this apartment for over

six years and I have never felt anything

supernatural.

But, how do you know it is a ghost? Ghosts

don’t loiter around as they wish; I tried to

convince her that ghosts don’t exist. But, her

mind was made up.

She said she was watching the television

and every time she turned her head, she saw

someone fleet past by. She went on to tell me

stories of her village where many have seen

ghosts in person.

All said and done, I promised her to keep a

watch; maybe, just maybe, ghosts do exist.

I convinced my maid that I am going to get rid

of the ghost and told her that ghosts generally

don’t harm good souls; it could be an angel,

guarding us all!

All of us hold on to our own beliefs and I

believe in guardian angels!

She was hooked. She believed the story and

slept well that night.

Let us clean up the living room and reset it, I

suggested. The hall was reset and everything

looked normal. And I jotted it down on my

fridge for Friday, ‘keep a watch for ghosts at

night/evenings”

I did and there weren't any ghostly visitors last

Friday. Maybe it was a day out for the visiting

ghost!

Two weeks have passed by and I still could

not spot anything.

Last week, while I was watching a movie and

well, I saw a fleeting shadow; unmistakably

something flashed past. It is all in my head,

my mind said. Your mind only believes what it

wants to, in fact your eyes see one thing, and

your mind believes another. Aren’t we all in

some way creating our realities in alignment

with our most dominant beliefs?

Suddenly the interest to watch the movie

fizzled out and here I was actually watching

out for any shadows through the corner of my

eye!

I changed positions, but, in a couple of hours

I saw many fleeting shadows. I pull up the

shades, and sat again watching over the

ghosts and angels of my room. This time the

fleeting shadow turned out to be a flashing

light! Flashing headlights of a car, turning at

the corner junction!

Every time a car turned in to our road, its

headlights flashed on to my window glass. My

home is located on a slope, right above the

corner! Caught the ghost finally!

For a moment, I did believe there was

someone in the room. It is true, we definitely

are the sum total of our experiences. It is the

emotions which are tied to these memories

that affect us. The conscious mind of course,

is the seat of our rational mind, but the

unconscious is the seat of our emotions, or

feelings. I believe when there’s a conflict

between our intellect and our emotions, our

emotions always win! Mine almost did. My

maid still believes it is something else, but

she is 90 per cent convinced that the car

headlights played the culprit. She prays a little

extra now, and lights up a few extra candles

too… ha!

By Priya Arunkumar

priya@blackandwhiteoman.comHooked

Of ghosts and angels

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