We only see what we want to see

My cousin and several friends dropped me an email with the below link and comment.

PLEASE OPEN THE SITE BELOW AND SEE HOW PEOPLE LEAVE WITH NO FOOD AND WAITING FOR THROWING FOOD FROM THE RESTAURANT. THANKS GOD FOR WHAT YOU HAVE.

Click at the hyperlink and see the how people live in the real world, and thank God for what you have.

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a-la-Carte

This happens in every country.

Go to http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/poll/1,,661-5037790,00.html and vote 'No' for banning Hijab.

In UAE

This thought came to me when I read an article 'Locals not allowed' by Osama in Arabic, about not allowing locals wearing their national cloths dine in fancy restaurants as part of policy.

In UAE:

• The local citizen is a foreigner,
• It’s a western not eastern country,
• Bars and discos open 24/7,
• 24/7 developments.

Hippie or not
Over three years ago, I mate a young man, from the same community, I always found thing strange in his behaviour and character, which made me feel uncomfortable.

Since then, I was trying to figure out, which group he may fit in, he looked like a care free person, long hair, I realized he has a Hippie character, don‘t ask me, I just sense it.

The question is, are their Hippies in the Arab world or not?

Oman Nightlife from Facebook to Global

Who ever joined Facebook and wanted a snap shot of the nightlife in Oman, he/she would have joinned 'Oman Nightlife' group to get the latest all kind of events and activities that take place in town.

Now Oman Nightlife is going to offer for the rest of the world its services by lunching it's website via http://www.omannightlife.com/. At the moment the Oman Nightlife team working on making it work smoothly. The offical launch has not been set yet, but keep your eyes open.

Bits and Bytes
Two Omani youths jailed for rash driving.

Now it sinked in

The day of Eid, I felt my heart has just crashed, it just sinked in, my father has died, I won't go to see him today nor tomorrow or for the rest of my life; I won't wish be able to wish him, to see his face full of suprise and happiness expression of seen me and my sibling came to greet him in the morning.

I walked to my baby sister and told her how I felt, couple of days ago we were arguing about reducing number of houses we have to visit, on that day I disagreed with her, but in Eid morning, I told her I'm fine with it, I managed to reduce over half of the houses, we both couldn't manage to walk-in allot of people, our heart couldn't take it anymore, we were mourning in our on way all this time, trying to be braive.

When we went to have Eid breakfast for the first time in my life since moved in Oman, I greeted my uncle then I ran back to my room, I cried for the first snice my dad's death.

I am just praying for him when ever I remember him. I miss him allot.

I feel my life has changed allot, my principles and concept of life, family, etc. I realised I am not social enough that I don't visit most of my relatives and don't know most of them. I don't want to be unknown or forgoten, I don't want to be a stranger within my people.

The story about employee 'S'

حكاية الموظف سين
يكتبها ‎: هدي الجهوري
الموظف سين يعمل في إحدى الدوائر الحكومية، ويسعى دائما لأن يكون مخلصا ومتفانيا في العمل وهو شاب طموح يحاول أن يقدم نفسه كنموذج متميز في العمل، ولصاحبنا الموظف سين زميل آخر يعمل معه في نفس المكتب ‎.. دعنا نقول انه الموظف عين وهو على النقيض تماما يميل إلى قضاء ساعات العمل في الأحاديث المجانية، والتنقل من مكتب إلى آخر، لتبادل ‎«السوالف عن فلان وعلان‎» كما أنه أضاف مؤخرا إلى قائمة أحاديثه الكلام عن الأسعار والاسمنت والعيش‎.
رئيس العمل يعرف جيدا أن الموظف سين ينجز مهماته على أكمل وجه لذا كان يثقل عليه بالالتزامات اليومية، وينأى عن الموظف عين لأنه لا يتقن أداء المهمات الموكلة إليه ‎... عندما يفرح المسؤول كان فرحه يعم على الجميع، وعندما يستشيط غضبا كان غضبه يقع على الموظف سين الذي يبتلع ريقه على مضض‎.
ذات يوم سأل الموظف سين مسؤوله‎: لماذا لا تفعل شيئا إزاء كسل زميلي المتفاقم ؟ فربت المسؤول على كتفه قائلا‎: دعك منه، صدقني سيبقى في مكانه للأبد، بينما أنت سترتقي وستتطور، وسيصبح لك مستقبل باهر، قفز قلب الموظف سين من مكانه من شدة الفرح، وحلق عاليا بتلك الكلمات الجميلة‎.
ولكن المفاجأة غير السارة أنه وفي نهاية السنة حصل الموظف سين، والموظف عين على ذات المكافأة ، وبعد عدة سنوات من عمل سين، وكسل عين حصلا معا على ذات الترقية، وكلما جاءت فرصة للسفر للخارج كانت تذهب لصالح الموظف عين، وعندما كانت الأسئلة ترن في رأس سين كانت الإجابة تصله وشيكة من المسؤول‎: لا تقلق ‎... إنها محاولة لطرد كسل الموظف عين وخموله‎..
يذهب عين ولا يعود إلا بالحكايات والصور والهدايا، يأتي فارغا تماما، دون أن ينجز أي شيء لصالح العمل، وجراء ذلك لا يحصل سوى على بضع إنذارات سرعان ما تذهب أدراج الرياح، فالإنذارات لا تخيفه لأنها لا تطال راتبه الشهري، وترقياته‎.
كلما حاول الموظف سين أن يشذ عن القاعدة العامة وأن يبدو مختلفا ومحبا لعمله ومتفانيا في رغبته بتغيير السائد كلما صدم بالنماذج الأخرى التي تشكل ربما الأغلبية والتي لا يعني لها العمل أكثر من وسيلة للعيش‎.لفترة ليست بالبعيدة كان الموظف سين النكتة التي يعلكها الجميع، ففي الوقت الذي كانت طموحاته تكبر كان لا يناله أكثر من الدوران في منطقة الصفر، بينما الآخرون كانوا يصعدون السلم الوظيفي بسرعة، بعد عدة سنوات لم يعد باستطاعة أحد منا أن يميز الموظف سين لأنه اختلط مع الآخرين وتشابه معهم، وركل مثاليته وإخلاصه في أول سلة مهملات صادفها‎.
Source: Oman Daily News Date: 21-May-2008

Homosexuality

As for as I know most of the religions and cultures condemns homosexuality and consider it as one of the biggest sins as in it effect the person’s health who practice homosexuality and society as it can spread vary fast; some of the religion which stated to outcast the homosexuals from the society.

I met a man who is open about his homosexuality, I saw his face looked dark and he was hitting on every men, that made them feel uncomfortable until he left the party, the worst he left with anther man.

His friend is a woman who close to him, consider it normal, but I believe if she accepts him, that means she accepts homosexual women too.

Muscat Festival 2008

On 21 of January 2008. Sultanate of Oman has lunched the Muscat Festival 2008, organised by Muscat Municipality under the theme, ‘Fun and communications’.

Events

The fistival events has been devided into several areas:

• Qurum Natural Park
• Art Events Festival Plaza - Al Athaiba
• Al Sahwa Park
• A' Seeb Beach Activities
• Qurum Commercial Area

In addition to Cultural Events which are scattered in different locations:

• Cultural Club
• Grand Hayat Hotel - Muscat
• Technical College Theater- Muscat
• Sultan Qaboos University
• Al-Noor Hall
• Oman College for Technology

And finally Variety Events which are scattered in different locations:

• ROP Cavalry – Wattaya
• Bait Albranda
• Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
• Cultural Club
• Boushar Dunes
• The old Muscat Road, Riyam
• Qantab Beach
• Bait Muzna

Enjoy.....

Omani Cuisine

Hello everyone! A friend of mine (Ahmed Al Yahyai -some of you might know him) and I started a new blog on FOOD. We usually cook over at my place every other weekend, so we thought that it would be cool to post our recipes online. All the photographs that you see are of food we actually made, no, I am not kidding, and yes, we're pretty good. :P Check out the Omani Cuisine here http://www.omanicuisine.com/ and feel free to send me any feedback.

Regards,

Riyadh Al-Balushi