Choc-a-bloc traffic at Darsait roundabout
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Monthly Archives: August 2007
It’s raining hotels
The Oberoi group of hotels has signed MoU to set up a hotel in the Sultanate of Oman. I guess there could be around 15-20 high-end hotels/resorts lined up for the next 3-4 years in Oman. Enjoy the boom while it lasts!‘Chak De India’ rocks
For the last one decade, I hadn’t watched a Hindi movie, which kept me gripping for the entire duration of 2.5 hours. Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Chak De India’, which means ‘Go, India!’ reversed the trend for me. It was simply an amazing movie. Yesterday, we watched the movie in Ruwi cinema, and I must confess it a must-watch film, irrespective of the fact whether you have little or zero knowledge of hockey.
Being an avid hockey lover, I couldn’t ask for more. In every sense, the film evokes nationalism to newer heights, and for every thousand kids watching the movie, if one gets motivated to play hockey, then the task is done – of bringing back the glorious days of Indian hockey. It’s no secret that in a nation obsessed with cricket, other disciplines are suffering a step-motherly treatment with no sponsors willing to take a risk of supporting non-cricket events.
As hockey coach, Shah Rukh Khan has rocked in ‘Chak De India’, and so are the 16 women players, who are the real stars of the movie. Credit must be given to the director, Shimit Amin, for digging up a true story, backed by relevant facts. On a scale of five, I would give the movie a perfect hi-five!
Here are some of my hockey-related stuff:
India not Champions class
Hurray!
The contract for reshaping of Darsait roundabout has been awarded. In the meantime, expect more mess when the project gets underway.
Related story: Bye bye roundabouts
Same story, different location
(Image source: Gulfnews.com)
Only 8 percent of employees in UAE are satisfied with their job, while 63 percent of them think the salaries have not kept pace with the cost of living. Ditto in Oman too. Increase in rentals, general cost of living has made many middle class Indian expats re-think on their plans.
Go, catch a bite at CCC McDonald’s
McDonald’s have resumed their drive-thru services at the Capital Commercial Centre (CCC) in Qurum. We just happened to pass through that place yesterday, and upon my daughter’s insistence, who is also a die-hard fan of their ‘Happy Meal’ package, ventured inside the mall and found out their drive-thru services had resumed. The billing staff informed the indoor seating facility will be ready in about two weeks time.Dumb, dumber, dumbest
Bank Sohar, the new entrant, is aiming to position itself in a crowded marketplace, and look at the creatives being dished out by their ad agency. The above ad appeared in today’s newspapers.
‘Khareef’ in Muscat
Muscat weather for next one week. (Image source: Weather.com)
Salalah weather for next one week. (Image source: Weather.com)
Looks like the weather in Salalah, especially during this season of Khareef is rubbing on its distant cousin, Muscat. Check the screen shots above of both cities for the next one-week to get an idea how a little over 6-9 degrees separates the supposedly ‘scorching’ Muscat from the ‘cool and rainy’ Salalah at this time of the year.
This is my third summer in Muscat, and strangely I did feel this time around the summer wasn’t vengeful. The mornings are cool, so are the evenings, and it is only around noon, you felt that summer was still on.
People talk about global warming and stuff. I completely agree with them, no issues. But, how on earth would you justify this theory when temperatures are coming down the way it happened in Muscat this year. Due we call this global chilling?
Anyways, looks like we are in for a biting winter this year.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Are Gulf nations prepared to tackle natural disasters?
No, says this report.
Bye bye roundabouts
The major roundabouts around Muscat are in for a makeover; slowly, but steadily, they will be replaced with traffic light junctions. For me, the worst roundabout in terms of traffic congestion and related accidents is the Darsait one. Try traveling in peak times, and chances are more that you will spend a cool 15 minutes just waiting for your turn to cross the roundabout. Add to this monster-looking trucks coming from Muthrah port and Ruwi roundabout areas. Imagine the chaos, phew!
A report says:
Muscat municipality has floated tender to convert Darsait roundabout and another roundabout near Sports Ministry into 4-way junctions with traffic lights. New plans are underway to build a road directly from Qurum-Darsait highway through Darsait area to the Church and Temple area.
This is so much better. Something to look forward to!