Capture the spirit of Ramadan international photography competition

If you are a budding photographer, there is an international photography competition this year focusing on capturing the spirit of Ramadan.

The competition is open to talented photographers around the world over the age of 18. Cash prizes will be awarded and winners will have their photos published. Participants are encouraged to photograph everything Ramadan: people in prayer, holy places, mosques, iftar and suhoor, family gatherings, or even an inspiring shot of natural beauty and landscape taken during the month of Ramadan.

In its first year, the International Ramadan Photography Competition was able to attract 25,000 fans from all over the world and 600 photo submissions from over 40 countries. They hope to keep growing and providing opportunities for people to learn about the beauty and diversity that is Ramadan.

To enter the competition please send your photos to IRPC.2012@gmail.com along with a caption and the technical information as defined in the FAQs found on their official website. 

The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18, and runs for the length of Ramadan (well, 30 days anyway). The prizes are:


First: $2000
Second: $1000
Third: $500


In addition to this will be 3 Viewers Choice awards, each with a value of $200.


The competition is organized and designed to be run exclusively through Facebook, as it's one of the easiest methods of sharing photos available. The main Facebook page for the event is here.


Bon chance!


le fin.

Ramadan begins

Here we go, Ramadan is upon us once again. For those of you reading that are Muslim - good luck with your fast, and enjoy your annual ritual. The rest of the GCC starts Ramadan tomorrow, here in Oman, it will start on Saturday 21st July, which means if it is 30 days, then Eid will fall on Sunday the 19th or Monday the 20th August. If you are not a Muslim reading this, then these are my top 5 tips for surviving Ramadan as a non-muslim in Oman:

1. Expect very little to be done by any Government offices
2. Order your lunch to be delivered, or bring a pack lunch. I understand most restaurants will deliver during the day.
3. Get invited to the many house parties that take place during this month.
4. Do not drive, anywhere, at all, in the last 3 hours of daylight, your playing a rigged lottery and the odds are not in your favour.
5. Make sure you drink a lot of water before going to any meetings.

And, once again, a little picture I posted last year at this time (and the year before that), I think it's fairly instructive:

 le fin.

And so it begins.

Last night the moon was spotted and so Ramadan began, personally I was having dinner at the Dolphin club and they came round with requests for last orders - thats how I found out!

These are my top 5 tips for surviving Ramadan as a non-muslim:

1. Expect very little to be done by any Government offices
2. Order your lunch to be delivered, or bring a pack lunch. I understand most restaurants will deliver during the day.
3. Get invited to the many house parties that take place during this month.
4. Do not drive, anywhere, at all, in the last 3 hours of daylight, your playing a rigged lottery and the odds are not in your favour.
5. Make sure you drink a lot of water before going to any meetings.

And, a little picture I posted last year at this time, I think it's fairly instructive:

le fin.

Ramadhan treats with a twist.

Once again, we are nearly in Ramadhan and the mountains of caramel pudding and evaporated milk have been erected faithfully in Lulu and Carrefour just tempting you to buy 24 packs of the stuff. Dont forget to also pick up a handy 12-pack of hot-sauce as well. You can never have too much hot sauce.

So yes, Ramadhan. And with this time, comes two great things (other than the obvious religious benefits):

1. Awesome sales in the shops.

and, 2. Iftar and the foods that come with it.

It's become quite popular I have noticed in the last few years to give large bouquets of chocolates and such to friends/clients/etc with Patchi leading the way in the fancy chocolate stakes. Well, this year I received from a friend a box of BreadTalk mini pastries. I actually received 2 boxes, I guess they know I like sweet things. Being the nice person I am, I decided to share these beauties with the colleagues in my office. I had one Omani colleague asking me if she could have more than 1 and seemingly beyond herself with excitement at eating these pastries. She is pregnant so I'll give her a pass - glad she enjoyed them!

Someone had been in the office earlier with a box of 24 Dunkin Donughts and there were still a few left in the box, but these beauties were consumed in record time - I felt bad when 3 guys came looking for some of the pastries only to find they had all gone! You snooze you lose!

Anyway, it was such a success, I have decided that this year I'm going to give these BreadTalk boxes instead of my usual Patchi gifts to friends and clients. Check them out at Bareeq Al Shatti (Shining Shatti) - the box package costs RO 5 for a 16 piece box and makes for a nice change to the usual chocolate gifts :) I'm told if you buy 5 for RO 25, they'll give you a box for free as well, how nice! I wonder if they are in partnership with VLCC for people wanting to go on a diet after eating them!

le fin.