TEDx in Salalah

I don't think there's anyone out there who isn't familiar with TED talks and TEDx events, so I won't bother explaining what they are. Click on the link if you'd like to listen to ideas worth spreading. Dhofari Gucci is a huge fan of TED and for a little over a year, I've been hearing about TEDx in Salalah.  Finally, I received an email from one of the awesome organizers (a Dhofari female.... girl power!) informing me that the TEDx event is finally taking place on August 24th at Al Baleed archaeological site museum. It is in Arabic this time, and the list of speakers is up on their website. Registration is free, but seats are limited, so if you're interested go to their website and register.  The website will give you more information about the initiative and the speakers. I'm definitely tempted to register .......

 

Kudos Asma & Fadhila for organizing this. You make me proud.

Carrefour in Salalah

Not that I'm dying of excitement or anything (I'm not), but Carrefour opened in Salalah this morning. Then again, I have nothing against Carrefour. I'm just not a let's-get-totally-hyped-about-a-new-supermarket kind of person. In all cases, I find it weird that it's right across the street from Lulu Hypermarket. When is someone going to open a really good hypermarket in Saada, the main residential area of town?

Clean Up Oman this Weekend!

Reposted from Dhofar Eco Bug:
This weekend (Thursday 29th March) will see Oman's biggest ever clean-up taking place nationwide! Here in Dhofar there will be 4 clean-up teams at the following places:
(1) Al Dahariz Beach, Salalah
(2) Next to Municipality Playground, Taqa
(3) East of Fisheries Harbour, Mirbat
(4) Next to the Mosque in Town Centre, Maqshan
Start time is 4.30pm. Please go along and help out and spread the word to your friends/family and colleagues. This should be a fun event which will also raise much needed awareness of the problem of littering. Water, T-shirts and bin-bags will be provided to participants and the Municipality rubbish trucks will be there to collect the bin bags at the end.
To find out about other locations across Oman check out the Oman Clean Up group on facebook

Today in Salalah!

Hi Everyone! Wednesday at last. Thought I'd remind you about two events that are taking place in Salalah today. Both are free and require no registration.

THIS AFTERNOON: Ministry of Health & National Association for Cancer Awareness & Salalah Nursing Institute are organizing a 'Walk for Cancer'. Gathering at Salalah airport parking lot at 3:30. Walk starts just after 4 p.m. The group will walk to Al Nahdha clock tower and back again.

THIS EVENING: Ministry of Tourism is hosting a South African event at Al Murooj Theatre in Itteen. Event starts at 8:30. Entrance is free. I hear the Ibuyambo Ensemble is very good. Look them up on YouTube

Walk for Cancer

The Ministry of Health + National Association for Cancer Awareness + Salalah Nursing Institue have joined forces and are organizing a 'cancer walk' this Wednesday in Salalah. The event will be hosted by Sheikh Salim Aufit Al Shanfari (Dhofar Municipality). The purpose of this event is to (a) encourage people to walk and stay healthy (b) to spread awareness about cancer. In Dhofar cancer is still a pretty taboo subject and there are many people who can't even say the word.

Please come if you can. It's for a good cause. I'm sure every single one of you knows someone who has had cancer or is currently struggling.

Event Date: Wednesday March 14, 2012

Time: Gathering at 3:30. Walk starts at 4:30

Location: Airport parking lot is the starting point. The group will walk to Al Nahdha clock tower and back to the airport again (about 2.6 km).

See you there! (PS No registration required)

Morris Dance in Salalah

The Ministry of Tourism is back with its winter performances in Salalah! I saw a brochure this morning. The first one is on Wednesday (the day after tomorrow):
Performance: Morris Dance
Country: England
Date: Wednesday February 29th, 2012.
Location: Salalah - Al Murooj Theatre in Ittin
Time: 8 p.m
Morris dance is spectacular to watch. I've never seen it live before so I'll try to make it (if I can escape yet another wedding). You can read more about this ancient dance here.
PS (if you're from the Ministry of Tourism and you're reading this, please bring Irish clogging next time ..... sincerely, Nadia)

Royal Opera House

The new Royal Opera House Muscat program is out (January-March). More details here on Muscat Mutterings, or on the ROHM website. Tickets range from 3 OMR to 55 OMR.

Jordanian Night in Salalah

Dear Readers,

As randon and irrelevant as this may seem, just thought I'd share the info I have.

.

Event: Jordanian Music & Dance

Date: Wednesday March 2, 2011 (tomorrow!)

Time: 8:30

Venue: Al Murooj Theatre (Ittin)

Entrance: Free

.

I'm proud of the Ministry of Tourism for arranging such events. I missed the Georgia night last week, but I'm hoping to make it to tomorrow's event.

.

Small update: peaceful sit-in/protests continue in Salalah opposite the governor's office.

Anti-Government Protests in Dhofar

And I thought the opening of Oman's largest Lulu Hypermarket and the launch of the National Geographic exhibition would be the only interesting piece of news from Salalah today! Apparently not! Protesters gathered outside the Governor's office yesterday after Friday prayers and evidently they have not moved and won't until their demands have been fulfilled. I sent my brother to investigate. They've been chanting 'People want an end to corruption!'.

الشعب يريد اسقاط الفساد

.

What demands? They want the following from His Majesty the Sultan:

.

(1) An end to corruption in the government

(2) More jobs for people in need

(3) increase in salaries for the poor, widows and divorced women

(4) Lowering prices

(5) An end to financial and administrative wasta in the government and private sector

(6) And other demands.

It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. The police are standing around watching. Nothing violent.

.

Here's a video of the demonstrations last night in Salalah. Evidently protests have erupted in Sur, Sohar, Shinas, and more in Muscat. What is going on in the Arab world?!!
.

Lulu post will come later!

Dance Troupe from Georgia

I received an invitation this morning in my inbox to attend a performance by a dance group from Georgia. Evidently it's free. You should go.

.

Date: Wednesday February 23, 2011

Time: 8 p.m

Location: Al Muroog Theatre in Ittin

Town: Salalah

TONIGHT!

Wednesday, January 12th. Italian music/dance/performances at Al Murooj Theatre in Iteen. 8 p.m. Be there.

Logos Hope in Salalah

If you're in town during the next three days, I suggest you pay a visit to the famous Logos Hope ship at Salalah Port. Evidently it's the largest floating bookfair in the world (but that's what they said about the Doulos ship when it visited Salalah a few years ago). I'll definitely try to make it if my car come out of the vehicle salon. Thanks ShueShue for the information and the brochure!

Oman's Royal Opera House

It's finally happening. Check out this article in today's Oman Observer. Sigh.

World Health Day - Part (2)

Hi Everyone! If you remember my post here on World Health Day celebrations in Salalah, just a quick update on what actually happened. The walk started at Salalah Airport parking lot at 4:30. I wasn't expecting a large number of people, and I was planning on leaving if I couldn't spot any abayas, but ......... yes there were women, children, men, government officials, doctors, nurses, etc, etc. I'd say around 1000 people showed up. It was fun. I ended up walking the whole stretch. It was HOT, but I survived. I dragged my brother along and he almost murdered me for forcing him to expose his beautiful skin to the sun. Oh well. :)

World Health Day in Salalah - Join the Walk

Hi everyone! I haven't posted anything this week because I have been enjoying the comments on my post on women. Keep the comments coming. I read every comment carefully, and even though I have not commented myself (I'll probably save that for a post), I appreciate all the opinions and thoughts.

.

Anyway, tomorrow is World Health Day - April 7th. Salalah will be hosting a walk tomorrow afternoon. Everyone is invited. The meeting point will be the airport parking lot at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon. T-shirts will be given to all participants. They're expecting over a thousand people.

.

If you live in Salalah and you're free tomorrow afternoon, put on your favorite sneakers, and join the walk. It's for a good cause. I'm looking for a walking partner. Any volunteers? :)

Book Fair Salalah 2010 معرض الكتاب

Quick note. The annual Book Fair is on at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture (between the Governor's office and the Women's Association) for another week I think or more. This year there are some FANTASTIC reference books. I bought a book on eco-tourism and another on dragons. Oh... and I also bought Twilight (English) and the Arabic translated versions of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's books. Hmmm... I also bought Girls of Riyadh. I've read it but I don't own a copy, so I figured I should. Echoing Rania, GO CHECK IT OUT!