Kishor Cariappa » India

Oman is eyeing Indian tourists

Kishor — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:09:28 +0000

According to a report:

In a bid to increase awareness and acquaint the Indian travel trade with Oman’s tourism products and offerings, Oman Tourism plans to conduct a four-city road show in February 2012. The road shows will be held in Mumbai on February 3, Bengaluru on February 6, Chennai on February 7 and in Delhi on February 8. This year will see a two-fold increase in the number of participants, with a total of twelve tourism suppliers attending the road shows as compared to last year’s six. Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative – Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman said, “We see India as one of the most promising markets for tourism. These road shows are being conducted in order to educate the Indian travel trade on the potential of Oman as an ideal destination for clients looking for luxurious short-haul vacations. This year, we have more participants in the road show as compared to last year, which will surely bring out the best of Oman to the Indian travel trade and we will also give the travel trade an opportunity to interact with the delegates.”

According to Sheerazi, Oman Tourism would be promoting Muscat, Nizwa, Sur/Ras Al Jinz and Wahiba Sands in India. Additionally, Oman Tourism is planning to continue its offline training programmes in the four metros and is also considering taking the programmes to other Indian cities. Participation in events organised by association like TAFI and TAAI are also on the agenda. Apart from the road shows and training programmes, Oman Tourism will also organise familiarisation trips for the travel trade and the travel and mainstream media. Sheerazi added, “We will continue to create awareness through advertorials in both mainstream and trade publications. The metros will continue to be our focus markets but we will also explore a few of the feeder markets that have been performing well on the outbound front.”

Cox and Kings Ltd is offering tailor-made holiday packages to Indian tourists. And below are the rates:

I am quoted in this Mint piece on Coorgi cuisine

Kishor — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:20:32 +0000

It’s an old-fashioned thrill for game or hunting that’s given the Coorgis their love for pork, one of the few regions in the country that pays particular attention to this form of meat.

The Kodavas, a martial race once defiant of Muslim rule, historically remained fearless soldiers. Their food habits reflect this cultural trait because the pork is not domesticated bovine but wild hunted boar, which is how the community would prefer it. With forests getting depleted and wildlife laws prohibiting game hunting, the Coorgis have, however, had to settle for less in their pork.

Chandra Shekhar Pandey, executive chef at the Courtyard By Marriott Pune Hinjewadi, who did a project on Coorgi food while in catering college in Bangalore, says pork makes its way not just into the famed Pandi curry but also into meat pickles. The pickles traditionally do not use oil as a preservative; instead, spices and salt brine are used. Coorgis also make pickles using fish, kumu (mushroom) and baimbale (tender bamboo).

“Kodavas are basically agriculturists who get busy transplanting in the rice fields from June to August-end,” says Kishor Cariappa, a media consultant and the moderator of a blog on the community. “So on 3 September, they have a festival Kailpold or Kail Muhurta where pork is consumed in abundance. Farmers need the extra fat and energy after the hard work for three months transplanting rice. Coorg is also cold and monsoon months can be harsh.”

“We are strict non-vegetarians,” insists Naren Thimmaiah, executive chef at the Gateway Hotel in Bangalore, though, he adds, there are many vegetarian options also in Coorgi cuisine. (more)

Today’s tweet in tomorrow’s newspaper

Kishor — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:45:15 +0000

My tweet on the Bangalore murder was published in Bangalore Mirror newspaper on August 15, 2010. I came to know of it from one of my Twitter friends on that morning.

All I remember is this particular tweet was RT-ed (repeat in Twitter parlance) more than a dozen times and the next morning it landed in a newspaper. Power of social media.

World Cup soccer fever in Kannur, Kerala

Kishor — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:20:00 +0000

Photos: Mrudu Naik

Oman jinx for Indian politicians

Kishor — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:41:00 +0000

I had blogged about this earlier, but again my theory proved right when Shashi Tharoor was asked to quit from the cabinet yesterday. For starters, Tharoor was in Oman in February this year, and in two months time he gets sucked into the IPL controversy and he’s gone.

Oman musings

Kishor — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

I have decided to write a diary at the end of every quarter, and this is the Q1 effort.

Unsung heroes

The Government of the Sultanate of Oman last week extended the amnesty deadline extended to expatriates (including Indians) living in the country without legal status to leave the country by May 31, 2010. The earlier date was March 31. These people, blue collar workers and housemaids mostly, are in the situation after having been cheated by unscrupulous agents back home. They land here on visit visas and only once they are here, do they realize that the agents have taken them on an extremely long ride. The workers, who come here with big dreams, are unable to convert the visit visa to a valid work visa. Helpless, they stay on illegally doing odd jobs.

Recently, the benevolent Oman government under the guidance of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said made the amnesty offer and was generous enough to let these overstayers go back without paying fines. However, with more than 22,000 Indians registering for safe exit, the Indian Embassy in Muscat faced a daunting task at hand. To cope with the pressure, the embassy first appointed a few part-timers to handle the inflow of these hapless souls.

With the numbers increasing by the day, the embassy released that part-timers weren’t enough to cope with the demand. Just as they were wondering what to do, a group of goodwill Samaritans stepped in. For the last two months, these selfless volunteers belonging to various Indian communities and organisations have been helping the embassy in processing the papers of the illegal workforce without a hitch.

Unmindful of the scorching heat of Muscat (40 degree Celsius), they operate from the temporary tents put up in front of the embassy. They interact with the people, fill in their official papers, advice them on the course of action to be taken and keep in touch with them. It is not an easy job because each of these overstayers has a unique problem – mind you some of them don’t even have their passport with them.

What is amazing is that these volunteers spend their time sacrificing their comfort and sometimes losing money since they stay away from their full time jobs. There is a tailor who spends time at embassy helping between 8 am to 6 pm and then stays up till 3am to cater to the needs of his clients and livelihood. Homemakers who otherwise sit in the comfort of their homes are chipping in large numbers too. They are happy doing their bit for a noble cause. They are the real unsung heroes in this whole effort. Of course, the Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa too needs to be lauded for his proactive ways in this case. The Indian government must create more awareness so that more victims don’t fall prey to agents.

Magical Oman

Many may not be aware Oman is a tourism goldmine. From alluring beaches (blue, blue and blue) to majestic mountains to historical monuments to breathtaking deserts, the country has a lot to offer the vacationer. The tourism sector is active and the focus is on quality, high-end tourism. According to reports, in the next 6 to 8 years, Oman will see a boom in 5-star hotels and resorts. The Muscat International Airport is on a massive expansion mode. Recently, the cruise terminal was inaugurated at Sultan Qaboos Port. Besides, Muscat has been recognised as the second cleanest city (Singapore first) by a world body.

Salalah, one of the picturesque tourist attractions in Dhofar region, is like the south Indian state of Kerala. Dotted with coconut palms and banana trees, it is the only place in the GCC region which experiences monsoon (July-August). Locally, the season goes by the name Khareef. Cool Salalah is a hot favourite among locals of neighbouring countries like UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar too. To escape Muscat’s scorching summer, Omanis and expats too make a beeline to Salalah during Khareef. The cascading waterfalls, the quiet streams and the mist clad green mountains are quite a sight. For Indians who see a lot of monsoon, there are other exotic places to explore – Fjords of Musandam, Wahiba sands, Masirah islands, turtle beaches. Frankincense, dates and silver – you get the best in Oman. The Sultanate does provide a refreshingly soothing alternative to the dazzle of neighbouring Dubai.

Oman-India bhai-bhai

For centuries, Indians have made Oman their second home. More than 5,50,000 Indians live here in a total population of around 30,00,000. There is a lot of bonhomie between the two nations and its people. It is quite evident. So much so a lot of Omanis are very comfortable conversing in Hindi and it is common to see Hindi being used as a verbal means of communication in offices. In fact, my Hindi improved after landing in Oman. It is a treat to hear few of the Omanis speak a smattering of Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil sometimes. Omanis are very fond of Bollywood movies, songs and actors. For many, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan are idols. I know a couple of Omanis who watch SRK movies first-day-first show at Muscat’s theaters.

Recently, when Big B was in town to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Muscat International Film Festival, it was no surprise to see Omanis all excited. Indo-Oman connection doesn’t end here. It is normal to see Omanis dig into masala dosas or thalis at Indian vegetarian eateries like Saravana Bhavan or Rajdhani. The Indian dal tadka and biriyani have been all time favourites with them. A lot of Omani students are pursuing studies in Indian cities like Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Free pass culture

Muscat hosts many Indian-based entertainment events. The recent high profile show was A R Rahman’s ‘Jai Ho’ concert in January this year. Likewise, Muscat has seen many shows. However, Indians hate to buy tickets and go any length to lay hands on a free pass. Some of them are known “pass-mongers”. According to an event manager, some of secretaries of top Indian bosses have an assignment during the entertainment season between November and March and that is to source free passes. If you are into event management, and want to expand your horizon abroad, then Muscat would not be a great place to organise pay-and-watch kind of shows. Pass it on.

IPL and real estate combo

What are the favorite topics of middle-aged Indians when they meet in social gatherings these days? It is invariably IPL cricket and real estate investments. Honestly, I feel out of place in such gatherings. But, I pretend to be a good sport by talking endlessly about Royal Challengers Bangalore and giving my two cents worth gyan on real estate investments in India. My bank statement would be a misnomer for these high-end real estate talks, I know.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan in Omani national dress (dishdasha)

Kishor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Out of the frying pan into the pyre

Kishor — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:10:00 +0000

Always I used to think why low-paid workers from India opt to work in Oman for low salaries. Low salaries are just one part. To get a two-year visa, they shell out RO 500 (INR 60,000) to agents back home. RO 500 doesn’t come easily; they pledge their belongings in the dream of a better tomorrow.

Two experiences in the last one week sort of kept crossing my head. While returning from vacation, two men from Hyderabad were seated next to me in the plane. They sought my help to fill the H1N1 forms, and in the process I struck a conversation with them. Both were joining a construction company in Muscat and they were to handle road construction work. “What is your salary per month?” I asked. “100 rials,” they said.

The men narrated how they took a loan of INR 50,000 each to bag the two-year work visas. “How much would you be able to save in 100 rials?” I asked them. They said, “40-50 rials.” “Can’t you earn the same amount in Hyderabad?” I asked. “We earn around INR 100-150 (1 rial) per day, but at the end of the day we spend most of the money on booze,” one of them said. “Running a family is a difficult task back home,” they quipped. In the same breath they said 100 rials don’t come cheap in Muscat. They are made to slog from 6am to 6pm with a short break in between. I was just thinking how much they will be able to save to repay the loan plus take care of their families back home. I tried, but numbers weren’t looking good.

Yesterday, I went to my regular barber in Ruwi, and the guy poured his heart out to me. He said he gets a salary of 65 rials per month, and he has to take care of all the expenses minus the housing. He gets around 70 rials per month as tips from customers, and he said that is what keeps him going. “In 65 rials, I have to take care of my expenses and also make sure to send money to my wife and kids back home,” he said. “If not for the tips amount, I would have returned long back,” the barber said. The Indian guy, who is the owner of that barber shop, and many other shops, is eyeing the tips money now, he quipped in a sad tone. Hearing his sob story, I gave him more than the normal tips money, and slowly walked away.

On my way back, I was wondering who was better placed among the two – the construction worker or the barber. Came to a conclusion that the construction worker’s life is hell – he neither gets tips, nor works in the comfort of an air-conditioner.

India random pix

Kishor — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Stop and proceed: Speed breakers along National Highways in Kerala.

18 degrees — temperature in my hometown now.

River Cauvery. Come monsoon, and the river will flow over the bridge at least thrice a season.

I love these sweet paans, more so after eating a spicy biriyani.

Mist, monsoon and Madikeri (my hometown)

What are the options when kebabs don’t sell?

LuLu enters transport business?

Kishor — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:50:00 +0000

Reader ASHWIN RAO emails a photo of a bus in Udupi (South India) which sports the LuLu logo. Has the LuLu conglomerate moved into transport business or is this is a case of an enthusiastic bus owner trying to show off his Gulf roots?

If you travel in the Malabar region of Kerala, a lot of businesses — from bakeries to restaurants to buses to barber shops – have taken a fancy for names from Gulf countries. So next time you bump into a Muscat Bakery or a Doha Motors, don’t get awed. With every household in the Malabar region having a person employed in GCC, it can’t get better than this. Last time, I almost fainted looking at a shawarma counter in Kannur, Kerala. Someone told me there is a milkshake called “Sharjah Milk Shake”. Malabar shall not forget its bread-butter roots, after all.