Cleopatra

Thought I'd do some more creative makeup posts since Halloween is coming up and since I'm currently studying Cleopatra I thought why not her? Obviously this is just inspired... since no one today knows exactly what she looked like! I've filmed a tutorial for this, as soon as my internet speeds up, I'll upload it with all the products I've used etc. 

Might do some more Halloween posts...

xoxo Onna

Free sundowners for women!

When one door closes, another one opens! Pavo's recently (and perhaps only temporarily) has stopped selling booze (and thus their margaritas), but the good people at the Hyatt have decided to add to their already good 40% off happy hour at Safari Bar between 6-10pm each night by allowing women to have a free martini either at the Safari Bar, or the (and perhaps my favorite) John Barry bar - every night of the week, between 6 and 10pm.

Free cocktails are always fun, women who drink free cocktails can also be fun too ;)

Also, tonight at 7:00pm MRFC will be playing HMS St Albans, and then retiring to the Habanna Sports bar at the Hyatt for post match celebrations!

Have a good weekend everyone.

le fin.

Muscat Mole: Majlis A'Shura Elections

Majlis A'Shura elections

One of the changes brought about during the Arab Spring was the promotion of some members of the Majlis A'Shura into mainstream government, coupled with the increase in power of the Majlis itself. There are some observers who think that the Majlis will continue to increase in its importance, particularly when it is housed in its new building under construction now near the Al Bustan.

Some newspapers here have published pictures of the candidates, and we have all seen the hoardings appearing next to the main roads (some of which are blocking the view of drivers!) in the capital. The rules of the campaign allow for candidates to use such hoardings, or posters and flyers, personal meetings, TV and radio, websites and SMS, providing the local Wali has granted the necessary permissions.

Muscat Daily ran an article on Sunday which questioned 21 people about the elections. Comments were that candidates should be honest, hard-working, ready to interact with the people, and ethical. Most said that women should be fairly represented (of the 1306 candidates, only 82 are women, to quote Muscat Daily today). Some of those questioned seemed concerned that financial inducements may be offered by candidates to secure votes.

Muscat Mole is concerned that voters do not know what many of the candidates stand for. What will each candidate do if elected? With the Shura Council becoming more important, those who vote should know what principles they are voting for. And those who are elected must be prepared to be determined to face into the challenges, and try to fulfill the opportunities, present in today's society, for the good of all.


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le fin.

Confirmed: Pavo Real is now dry

Quite a few people have been in touch with me to let me know that Pavo's is not allowed to sell any booze at the moment. I've now been and confirmed this as true - since October 1st, Pavo's has not had a license to sell booze. The current line out of the mexican restaurants camp is that they are awaiting the renewal of the license any day now. I guess the people at UpTown are waiting too.

First, dancing was stopped at Pavo's (temporarily apparently, but that never got re-started), and now the booze selling has been stopped. Local business magnate, Pankaj Khimji, who has an interest in Pavo's will have to flex his wasta muscles to see if he can get the booze license lifted. Perhaps he can threaten to cut off all Phillip Morris International products to Oman for a while (PMI own the Marlboro brand of cigarettes amongst other smoke brands)! It has been rumored that PK was told that if he sold the restaurant, he would not be able to sell the liquor license either, so perhaps the days were numbered anyway.

Time will tell, but there are also reports of the Golden Oryx having lost it's liquor license too. Why are the hotels allowed to have alcohol but not restaurants? O Sole Mio and Passage to India are also reportedly on the chopping block as well. If tourism is such an important deal for Oman, one does wonder why this ridiculousness is going on. Oh well, not a lot I can do about it. Given the rent that is charged for the location, I wonder if Pavo's will remain open for much longer if there are no over-priced strong margarita sales augmenting profits?

One side note to make: Mumtaz Mahal and Left Bank are on Government Owned land are leased, and they are allowed to keep their liquor license. Heh, so that's fair then.

le fin.

Pointless Poll results: Pizza Express

Well the poll has come to an end, and you've voted Pizza Express in as the best pizza in town. Personally I like Domino's thin crust pizzas and their chicken wings... but Pizza Express is a close second for me - I love their duck pizza!

Pizza Express in Oman is operated by the Bur Al Hickman group, and they have 2 locations - 1 in Shatti in the Oasis by the sea, and the other underneath Shang Thai in Al Khuwair opposite Mcdonalds. As a quick aside, Shang Thai has now opened another restaurant location, at The Wave, next to Costa Coffee and has recently been reviewed by local blogger, Andy in Oman. Also, if you are a HSBC credit card holder and have the Entertainer 2011 HSBC book I blogged about last week, they have 3 handy buy 1 main course get 1 free vouchers for Pizza Express :)

Having written that, and it's lunch time, I'm hungry! And with it being Monday, its Monday madness 2-4-1 pizza at Papa Johns....

More soon!

le fin.

Sunday Catch Up

I know everyone and their mum's are writing summary posts at the moment, but I felt the need to blog - and without a proper camera, other posts just dont work *hmmph*


I miss reading blog posts and commenting on them - I just haven't had time recently...


Last week I did some work experience with a PR Company in Plymouth, and it was actually a lot of fun! Hard work though; and I'm now paying the price for being over-exhausted and not looking after myself, I have another chest infection! Bummer! 


As soon as I'm better I'm gonna get my (out of shape) arse to the gym - I need it! Promise as soon as my brother gives me camera back I shall put up some more *proper* posts! For now you can watch me on my youtube channel.


Hope you are all well, looking forward to catching up on all of your blog posts! 


Much Love,
Onna

Introducing the Muscat Mole: Yiti

Recently I have been contacted by an anonymous writer who wanted to know if they could contribute articles to Muscat Mutterings... and here we are! They wanted to be known as the Muscat Mole, which I thought was a fairly fun moniker :)

Hopefully this will become a semi-regular thing! Here is the mole's first story......

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Yiti Golf Course shelved

Strong rumours are being heard that the golf course planned for the Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) at Yiti have been shelved. The Yiti show complex and offices by the Sarooj bridge, in Muscat, have hoardings around them, looking like demolition is on its way.

Remember back to January 2007, when Sama Dubai announced the following:

“Sama Dubai, the international real estate investment and development arm of Dubai Holding, will exhibit its US $1 billion 'Salam Resort & Spa - Yiti' development at the International Property Exhibition to be held in Muscat, from 16 - 18 January at the Oman International Exhibition Centre.”

This picture shows an artists impression of the hotel and spa, as planned. The site is huge, 3.7 sq km, and an many of you know, lots of ground clearance and works in the wadi have been done, along with construction of the marina area. A large part of the wonderful beach has been lost, along with village buildings.

Muscat Mole hears that development is still planned, with hotels, but no golf course, and no real confirmed news has been made public. Who owns the land now, and are Omran re-planning the development?

Surely what is needed is a development for Yiti to create jobs and houses for the locals and those from Muscat, sustainable businesses and entertainments, all at prices which can be afforded. Let’s hope that this can be done.
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le fin.