Amma's Steak House - Muscat

I recently ate at the Amma's Steak House in Madinat Qaboos (MQ). It is situated next to Costa Coffee and HSBC and opposite to Bamboo Spa. I thought I must mention how lovely their service is. When you enter, the staff greets you with a big smile, when you're in the midst of your meal they make it a point to ask you how it's going and if you are enjoying the food - so much so that we had 2 guys asking us how it went (each thinking that the other had not asked us already). The second girl was so sweet and nervous that she couldn't quite complete her sentences but I understood that she was trying to ask us if we were enjoying our meal (my guess is she is new there). After we finished, she asked us to write our comments on a notepad and well of course I mentioned their outstanding service. 

The food is also quite reasonable. We spent a total of RO 16.4. We ordered 2 mains, 1 starter and 1 drink. We were 3 of us but we only ordered 2 mains because personally I cannot finish a whole steak by myself. We decided to order less because we always end up wasting food, which is not a good thing.

After our meal we decided to go to Starbucks, which is next to Pavo Real (just a minute walk from the Steak House). I ordered the white chocolate milkshake - which was good; just that I don't like a lot of ice.

Right now I am in office (yes I am free because no one is in the mood to work considering the up coming long Eid Holidays and the amazing weather outside).

The weather calls for some hot "vada pavs" and "chai" - there is a small shop in Ruwi. It is at the Petrol station (can't remember if it was shell or oman oil, but you cannot miss it as it's on the main highway - if you are going towards wadi kabir it will fall on your right, so just look out for a petrol station on your right).

I will be leaving for Dubai tomorrow night to meet my fiance and will be back after a week.

Eid Mubarak everyone!!

Splash Fashionista Photos

 The Media Guys who participated in the ramp walk (as below)

Splash Fashionista!

Last night I attended the Splash Fashionista Event at Shangri-La. The event was by invitation only. I have a friend who works with Times of Oman and that's how I got to go. There were professional models brought in and dancers who entertained the crowd quite well. I assume the dancers were not from Oman. Drinks and snacks were on the house. Participants from the media industry also walked the ramp. I understand they had been groomed and styled by an international stylist. The event was to mark the launch of Splash Autumn and Winter Collection. Some of the outfits were quite eye-catching. As soon as I get some photos I will upload them but I imagine they will be out in the newspapers very soon. The ramp walk and entertainement got over at around 9 after which the "after party" started. The after party was just ok - a few people were dancing, the music could have been better (the sound was not very clear) and I personally think there could have been more options in food :) I had attended the one they hosted last year as well and I remember they had no after party - it was just the ramp walk followed by food (by which I mean snacks or finger food as they call it).Anyhow last night was definitely a fun night out and I imagine the media industry had a ball of a time. My friends and I left at 10.30pm.

Eve Teasing at Qurum Beach Road??

My friend and I decided to go for a walk on the Qurum Beach Road (the one where Japengo and Tche Tche are located). It was around 8.30pm. There were a few women and men walking too. I was really upset that we got a lot of unecessary comments from men and one of them even walked right into my friend on purpose. On the other hand I noticed a woman walking alone by herself. Wasn't she getting any of these annoying comments? Was it only us? We were decently dressed in track pants and tee shirts. If this is the case we are really  re-considering going there for a walk again. Why can't men mind their own business and not remark at women who just want to enjoy a walk on their own?

Goa and marriages!

I'm back from a 2 week vacation. I had gone to Goa and Bombay (Mumbai). Let me take this opportunity to say that I am getting married next year on Jan 8th 2012 in Goa. My fiance is working in Dubai and I will be leaving Muscat in December to join him. My trip to Goa was to sort out all pre-wedding formalities. I must say they don't make it so easy. Incase there are any Chrisitians wondering what they are required to do I will list a few things you need to get in order - 

1) Ensure you have a "Confirmation" and a fresh "Baptism" Certificate (by fresh I mean you will need to ask for an extract from the church where you have been baptised, a few months before you tie the knot. As far as my understanding goes they ask for a "fresh" copy because - a baptism certificate extract is only needed in order to get married. Extracting a recent copy shows that you have not been married previously.) 

2) Enroll for a marriage preparation course at your present Church. Once you have completed it, they will hand you a certificate. Once you have this certificate ask the Church to give you a "No Objection" certificate - which states that you have not been married previously in that particular church and they have no objection to you getting married.

3) Once you have these certificates in hand you will need to do a civil marriage (this is how it's done in Goa - I am not sure about other states in India). You will need to visit the marriage registrar's office (make sure you go before to take an appointment) and complete a few forms he tells you to. The normal procedure is that he will call you back after 2 weeks to obtain another set of signatures. Incase you do not have time to go after two weeks (say, you are living abroad), show them a copy of your ticket and visa and ask him to give you an exemption. You will need to pay Rs 2000 or so. He will then hand you over a provisional certificate, the final which you can ask anyone to collect on behalf of you after a period of 2 weeks. This can then be couriered to wherever you are.

4) Make a trip to the local church where you wish to get married in Goa and meet the priest. Ask him to do a pre-nuptial enquiry (different priests insist of having it done differently. Some states allow you to do in the country where you are residing). For my fiance and me the Goa priest insisted we do it in his church, which we did. He told us we will need a final "No Objection" certificate from him before the wedding date. So we have set an appointment to meet him again in January.

It is very important to meet the local priest (where you are getting married) so he can advise if your set of documents is complete.

I think that should complete it all. You can start this whole procedure 6 months before you tie the knot. If you do not have a "Confirmation Certificate" as mentioned in step 1 then maybe you will need to visit the Church where you reside and inform them that you wish to appear for the ceremony (this might have to be done a year in advance).

I may have missed something out. It sounds simple now that I'm putting it down but when I went about it I had no prior information. I had to go around asking various people. Everyone seemed to have a different opinion of how things were done. 

This trip to Goa had indeed been successful. By the way I am now legally married :)

on a serious note - must read!!

Guys please check out this link - http://www.squidoo.com/female-circumcision. Also please check out my fellow blogger's post at http://howtolovedavey.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-all-dhofari-girls-will-go-to-heaven.html. 

It is very informative.

Aches for cakes

People if you are aching for some delicious cakes/cupcakes please check out this facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/#!/achesforcakesoman. I am sharing it as it is definitely a motivation and inspiration for all of us that we can do anything we want.

PS - I am yet to place an order and I can't wait to do so soon.

Cheers