Christmas at Al Fair

A bit of a good news for those who are homesick with Christmas approaching in Muscat.. Here's a way to have those delightful food on your table on Christmas Eve/Day! Al Fair supermarkets are offering all these for a bit of a high cost, but at least they'll get it for you, even a fresh Christmas tree if you want. ;)

Items offered and prices are clearly mentioned. Just get an order form, write what you want (including the date/time when you'd like it to arrive or to collect) and pay. 

All orders are subject to availability and only until 15th December 2013 for taking of orders. 

Upcoming December Events!

Here is a line up of some interesting events you can go to..

Christmas Craft Fair
Date: Friday, 6th December
Time: 11AM - 2PM
Location: TLC School, Azaiba

Entrance fee:
Adults - 500bz

MWF Christmas Bazaar

Date: Saturday, 7th December
Time: 9AM - 2PM
Location: Ghala Church

Entrance fee:
Adults - 2RO

Christmas 2013 at the PCO

For those of you wanting to know information on the services/events coming up in our local church, please see the posters below. This is for Private Circulation only. 

Donations needed for Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda for the Philippines

It is really a sad and heartbreaking news.. Last Nov. 8, Friday, our country was hit by such a strong typhoon leaving more than 10,000 people dead, missing, injured, sick, homeless, starving.. So many countries and people all over the world, not only our countrymen, have pledged and sent their aid in forms of rescue teams and medical people, volunteers, financial aid, relief goods and a lot more. 

We all pray and wish that all these help will really reach the people in need and not just go to corrupt people. 

Here in Oman, Filipino people and communities are also doing their part to send aids back home, here are some way which you can help if you're here in Oman and would like to donate cash, cheque and in kind. I would say that so far in my research, these are what I would suggest and even for those based in the Philippines. 

OPTION 1:

For donations of items, you may also bring it to Marissa's Zumba gym (Al Muneif Sports Center, Ground floor), located in the service road along Al Khuwair highway, near Majan House and Al Meera supermarket, same road where TGIF and Bank Muscat buildings are. This building is the same building where you can find the Baskin Robbins and Tunes stores. For more inquiries on what time and days you can drop off the items, please contact Ms. Marissa herself - 9902 0080. She lived and studied in these areas greatly affected by the typhoon so that's why she really wants to make sure that items will surely reach the people in Samar and Leyte. 

Whatever items that Ms. Marissa will be able to gather will be sent free courtesy of TRICO shipping, and boxes will be dropped off to The 700 Club Asia (a Christian network/channel which I also love to watch and surely will support), so it was really easy for me to decide where I would like to donate the items I am able to collect. 

For more info on this network, you can check their FB page: The 700 Club Asia

OPTION 2:

Our local church, PCO in Oman (in Ghala and in Ruwi) will surely be donating cash as well thru the Missions Team, so for me and my church friends, we will surely be giving our cash donations thru the church. If you want to do so and will be attending at the PCO, you can put the cash/cheque donation in an envelope and write the purpose if its for the Philippines typhoon victims. I got in touch with the Missions Team head and has informed me that she has received requests to support the Philippines. 

OPTION 3:

Tentatively, donations in kind as per the above picture will be accepted until end of November, while cash donations will be accepted until 13th December during the concert that the FILCOSOC is trying to put up - HOLD ON TOGETHER: A concert for a cause at the Al Bahja Hall, The Jungle Restaurant in Qurum Park, next to Marahland. 

OPTION 4:

 For donations of items, you may also drop them at the Philippine School in Muscat, near ABA and Egyptian School in Al Khuwair. 

OPTION 5:

You can also donate via Don Moen's page (popular Christian Praise and worship singer who's currently in the Philippines now for a concert)

Please click on the link: http://www.donmoenandfriends.org/help/

OPTION 6:

FEBC Philippines is a local Christian broadcasting radio which shares the word of God and which we also tune into.

Donations to FEBC Philippines, especially for the typhoon Yolanda victims, here are our bank accounts:

ACCOUNT NAME: FAR EAST BROADCASTING COMPANY

BPI Julia Vargas Branch: Current Account Number 2431-0093-93

BDO Pasig-Maralco Avenue Branch: Current Account Number 004150366783

After you’ve made the donation, kindly inform us about your gift. So we’d know whether it is for the disaster victims or for the broadcasts of FEBC Philippines.

Our cell phone numbers are: 0947-333-5605, 0927-778-6909 or 0932-483-3233. Office phone number is (632) 650-0859.

For more info, you can view their FB page: FEBC Radio

OPTION 7:

Sagip Kapamilya Telethon is a part of ABS-CBN and accepts donations in cash or in kind. 

For more info, go to this link: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/tulongPH

OPTION 8:

Even a group of mommies in the Philippines are doing their part, just thinking if those children were their own, it surely breaks their heart. 

OPTION 9: 

Ang GMA Kapuso Foundation ay magsasagawa ng malawakang Operation Bayanihan (relief operation) upang damayan ang mga kababayan nating nasalanta ng Super Typhoon Yolanda. Kailangan po ang mga sumusunod: 
BIGAS 
NOODLES 
BOTTLED WATER 
DAMIT 
GAMOT 
KUMOT 
BANIG 
SABONG PANLIGO AT PANLABA 
TOOTHBRUSH AT TOOTHPASTE 
BAGONG UNDERWEAR 
TUWALYA 
TSINELAS 

Maaari pong dalhin ang inyong mga donasyon sa mga sumusunod na drop-off centers: 

GMA Kapuso Foundation 
2nd Floor Kapuso Center, GMA Network Drive 
corner Samar Streets, Diliman, Quezon City 
Tel. no. 928-4299/ 928-9351 

GMA Kapuso Foundation Warehouse 
# 366 GMA Compound 
Tandang Sora Avenue 
Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City 
Tel. no. 931-7013 

Para sa cash donation, maaari po ninyong ideposito sa anumang branch ng METROBANK, UCPB, PNB at CEBUANA LHUILLIER. Wala pong service fee na ibabawas sa inyong mga donasyon at tax deductible po ang inyong mga donasyon. 

Maraming salamat, mga Kapuso. 

OPTION 10:

Philippine Red Cross of course is also helping the typhoon victims. Do your part to help and save lives. 

Here's a list of what to give and not to give as per the Philippine Red Cross:

1. Cash is better - It is better to give cash than small amounts of relief goods. One hundred to 200 pieces of canned goods are a small amount. What the victims need are truckloads of sardines, rice and ready to eat food. Also, it is harder to sort goods that are of different kinds.

There is also another reason why cash is better. "If we buy items in bulk, it is cheaper," Pang said.

She said the cash can also be used for cash-for-work programs or cash grants in typhoon-hit areas. "We empower people to decide on what they want to buy," she said.

2. Give clothes with "integrity." - According to Pang, the Red Cross only gives clothes that are suitable for the Philippine climate. Do not give clothes that are too thick. Also, do not give clothes that are too sexy - something you cannot wear in an evacuation center.

Also, do not give clothes that are too dilapidated and can't be used anymore.

"When we give, dapat may integrity din so that when they wear it, they feel good," Pang said.

3. Don't give cosmetic soap - Typhoon victims need anti-bacterial soap, not cosmetic soap. They also need anti-dandruff shampoo. Pang said the relief goods given to typhoon victims must be high quality. The Philippine Red Cross usually packs items for a family of 5. This means soap, 5 toothbrushes, etc.

4. Don't give noodles - "For the first 3 days, ang pinakakailangan ay food and water. It has to be ready to eat dahil wala silang pang-luto," Pang said.

"Noodles hindi advisable dahil pakukuluan unless there is water, pero kung wala - rice and ulam sapat yun."

Pang said canned goods should be in easy open cans because the victims have no can openers. She said the Red Cross sometimes does not give utensils because it just adds to the garbage.

The Philippine Red Cross hotlines are 143, +632 527-0000, 09324995241 and 09175261957. 

Shangri-La's Special Year-End Offer!

Special 3-day sale from 14th-16th November at the Muscat Grand Mall! Grab the offer now ;)

 

Upcoming November Events!

Who said that life in Oman is boring and that there are just a few activities which you can do? We'll you're wrong. Here's a round up of events happening in and out of town this month of November, and best of all, most of them are for FREE! ;)

Build-a-Bear Workshop
Date: Thursday, 7th November
Time: 5PM onwards
Location: Muscat Grand Mall, Level 1, Near Sharaf DG

Follow them on:
FB: Build-A-Bear Workshop Gulf
Twitter: buildabear_gcc
IG: buildabear_gulf

Military of Oman Performance
Date: Thursday & Saturday, 7th & 9th November
Time: 7:30PM on Thursday / 4PM on Saturday
Location: outdoors on the Maidan, Royal Opera House

Admission is FREE!

Credits to our friend Andy for this photo invite which you can also read on his blog - Andy in Oman

Follow them on:
FB: Royal Opera House Muscat

Jebel Sifah Marina Festival
Date: 8th November onwards, every Friday
Time: 4PM - 7PM
Location: Jebel Sifah

Let yourself be entertained by a Parade, Magic Show and Dracula Theatre show. Food stalls will be present and admission is FREE!

For more information, call 24646961

Follow them on:
FB: Muriya Oman

Red Arrows Air Display
Date: Wednesday, 13th November
Time: 3PM
Location: around the beach near Intercontinental Muscat Hotel

Viewing of the air display is of course FREE, just make sure you're close to the location mentioned above ;)

Muscat Mums Yard Sale
Date: Saturday, 16th November
Time: 8:30AM - 10:30AM
Location: Madinat Qaboos

Buyers can come for FREE, lots of bargain items!

Winter Bazaar 2013
Date: Tuesday, 19th November
Time: 9AM - 1PM
Location: Bahja Hall, The Jungle, Qurum Natural Park

Entrance fees:
Adults - 2RO

Beat Diabetes 2-Km Walk
Date: Friday, 22nd November
Time: Collect your free shirts & cap - 7AM onwards / Walk starts at 8AM
Location: Qurum Natural Park

There will be live music, kid's zone, aerobics session, drumming and free blood glucose test!

Follow them on:
FB: Beat Diabetes

Register online:
www.beatdiabetes.me

Christmas Craft Fair
Date: Saturday, 23rd November
Time: 9AM - 12PM
Location: TLC School, Azaiba

Entrance fees:
Adult - 500bz
Children - free

Korean Week

Photo Exhibition
Date: 10th - 14th November
Location: Muscat Grand Mall, Main Atrium (G Level)

Movie Nights
Date: Sunday & Monday, 10th & 11th November
Time: 7:30PM
Location: Muscat Grand Mall Cinema

For more details on the movies to be shown on these 2 different dates, please click on to my previous post - Korean Movie Nights
 

 

UK's Aerobatic Team - Red Arrows air display in Oman on 13th Nov 2013

UK’s Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows will try to fascinate spectators with their air show display in Muscat on the 13th November at around 3PM. Location for viewing the display would be around the beach near Intercontinental Muscat Hotel.

 

The Red Arrows have performed in Oman five times as the papers said, although I still haven't witnessed this display so hoping that I could see it this time. Looking forward to them painting the town red (or even blue and white as seen in the pictures  below ;)

 

The show is just in time also for the 43rd National holiday month celebration, which is the birth month of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

 

Here are some pictures of years ago which I took from the internet showing their display (some of which were from Muscat) so that everyone would have an idea of what to expect, credit goes to other bloggers out there. ;) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Korean Supermarket in Ghala

Yes, this is my 3rd post related to Korea and probably the last for this week. Just to inform you of the supermarket location, below is the map. I have never been here yet, so hope you find it easy to follow. ;)

Korean Restaurant in Azaiba

One of the perks of working with Koreans and actually being close to some of them is to be able to taste and enjoy their food. I'm lucky as I've eaten here twice, thanks to my good friend. Anyway, for those of you who are looking for something Korean to eat as I know there is no popular restaurant here in Muscat that serves authentic dishes or simply curious to try their food, you can taste it here. ;)

It's not really open to the public, but I did ask permission first from my friend to check with the owner if I can post and share the information. Apparently, I can't post the location in public, but if you wish to try to eat here, you can send me a pm or give me your email and I'll try to give you the person to contact and directions/address to this place located in Azaiba or they can also pick you up or lead you towards the place from Shell station in Azaiba (the one between Al Fair supermarket & MB Petroleum, not the one along the highway). They don't really have a menu, but they will serve you their usual meal (which is quite a lot as they have so many side dishes).  

They are open daily, from 12 - 2PM for lunch, then 6PM onwards. Price per person is 5 RO nett without the drinks.. Not bad right? ;) 

They serve lots of side dishes like - Miso or Kimchi soup, Kimchi, Steamed rice, Omelette/Pancake, etc. They can also serve other Korean dishes as per your request - Chap Chae, Bulgogi, etc plus Chinese & Japanese food. Do ask in advance if you want a certain dish before coming or when booking so they can prepare for it. ;)

Here's our table full of yummy Korean food for 4 persons for an idea. 

Sweet & Spicy Chicken

 Grilled Pork Belly & kimchi

Spicy Seafood Noodles & Pancake

Sushi Platter

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More pictures of food below to entice your palate. :P These were the pictures taken by a friend during their 2-consecutive dinner there, they just can't get enough of Korean food. ;)