A gentle man of nature in our midst
Dr Nigel Winser is an Oxfordshire, United Kingdom-based, conservation advocate, who has devoted much of his career to the conservation and environmental issues that face Oman, since his first venture...
Social media. What has it achieved?
I have a sense that all of us have opinions. We always have had them, however, our natural, innate reticence has generally required us, through the rules of our many different societies around the...
Oman’s warriors in red set nation afire
The outpouring of national pride and emotion must have been evident around the Sultanate as the fifth Omani penalty taker, Mohsin al Khaldi, slotted home the winning goal, the winning penalty, at the...
Another year over, a new one to come
Here we stand, on the cusp of another year, as 2018 beckons to us with its questions, and challenges yet to be seen, heard or met. Indeed, life is itself, according to Tennesee Williams, just one big,...
I heard the ringing of bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play, and mild and sweet their songs repeat, of peace on earth good will to men.” Thus, paraphrasing Luke 2:14, currently, as many expatriates celebrate Christmas in Oman...
Christmas Tradition Unveiled in Nizwa
Christmas carols are traditional in the West, and have been since their advent, 1500 years ago. Each civilisation since has added its own touch to the practice of carolling, and in the Dakhiliyah, for...
It’s coming up to that time of the year
We expats are a strange mob. From about a month before Christmas everything is related to Christmas. Even though we are thousands of miles from home, we still take the habitual timetable of Christmas...
Explain Bitcoin to me in words of single syllable
There is so much I don’t understand about the new technologies. I’m sure I’m not alone. But I’m almost managing with the help of my colleagues at work, my family, and yes, my...
How do you see flowers? Symbol of hope, beauty?
Sometimes I get tired. I’m at work most days around 6 am and toil away until 4 pm, and then toddle off home in my little Kermit Green Kia Picanto. I down a quick cuppa and have a chat with my wife...
Frustrations of online support systems. Really?
Dealing with faceless individuals via call centres is frustrating, but the advent of online company, organisational and institutional online contact centres is proving even more of a frustration. For...
Omani award winner captivates Paris
Ray petersen - The burgeoning literary talent of Oman has again been recognised outside the Sultanate, as youthful University of Nizwa student Rua Salim al Mashaari captivated a lively Parisian...
Only big hearts can shape the young minds
Margaret Mead wrote that “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” Even as I write that, I’m moved to ponder that maybe even the thinking element is too narrow a definition of...
Working his magic in Bahla’s pottery scene
Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory is relegated back to fantasia when you visit the Training and Production Center for Pottery and Ceramics, in Bahla. Meet Nasser bin Humaid bin Nasser Yahyai,...
To err is human, to not learn from error unacceptable
The old maxim goes, “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” We all make mistakes, me as many as anyone, but if I feel there is one lesson I’ve learned in life it’s that mistakes, errors of...
Freedom, choices and democracy: More than words
It’s probably enough to have a man like Spartacus, who, 2200 years ago led a slave revolt against the might of the Roman Empire, turning in his grave, but the question must be asked. Are the...
A walk on the wild side, in Muscat!
Living in the hamlet of Birkat al Mouz, in the shadow of the omnipresent Jebel Akdhar, is geographically and geologically impressive, culturally rewarding, and quiet, oh so quiet. However now and...
Oman Natural Heritage Lecture held in London
Muscat, Oct 25 - Omani conservation and ecological science received a royal seal of approval last week, as Prince Michael of Kent, well known for his charitable interests, attended the second annual...
French language conference held at University of Nizwa
NIZWA, Oct 24 - The University of Nizwa hosted a high profile academic from Saudi Arabia recently, as the Department of Foreign Languages, French Section conducted their annual Latifa (French/Arabic...
Is it a good time for the solar conversation?
The Sun, according to Nasa’s Dr Sten Odenwold, has a life cycle of around 11 billion years. Four and a half of those have been used, so there are still somewhere between four (worst scenario) and...
Five Oceans: Leaders in marine conservation
Jacques Cousteau, the inimitable marine explorer once said, “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” The Oil and Gas Industry, Port Authorities, and Coastal...