Adventures of Arabia- A memorable visit Zafraniya in Muscat, Oman

Some time ago, close to sunset, we found ourselves in 'Zafraniya', or as is sometimes better known, Hillat Al Zadjali. It is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Muscat and certainly one of the prettiest. 

A lovely old home

Unexpected delights

Walking through, we came upon an old graveyard, with some children playing nearby, sometimes even running across the unmarked graves. It all seemed so natural, the 
football, the cycling and the running around. Yet one thought did cross my mind, whose graves were they sometimes stepping on?

Moving on, we came across one of the prettiest houses that I've seen, and here are a couple of pics to show you some of it. It was just like  a picture book house, yet there was a clear difference. It was all so 'lived in' with some hens clucking and eating their grain in the courtyard, kids swinging on their 'jhoolas' and ladies having their tea.

But the 'adventure of Arabia', as I like to term it. wasn't yet over. Moving on, we reached an old Shiva temple where worshippers were just going in for their evening prayer. 

A very old Shiva Temple 

Just as I stepped in the temple bells began to toll, and simultaneously, I could hear the sound of the 'Muezzin' calling the faithful for their evening prayer.

Talk of harmony, it was really and truly in that air...

Children being taken for adult movies -Lessons in parenting and how cinema halls must adhere to rules

Some time back we went for an evening show of a particularly gruesome adult Hindi movie in Muscat  There were not too many people in the hall, which was not surprising, considering that many people are away for the summer. But what I found shocking was what happened a few minutes later.

A family walked in and settled down fairly close to where we were seated. The movie had already started and while I was focused on what was happening on screen, my attention was soon drawn to the sound of little ones' voices as they giggled and talked.

Looking around, I was aghast to see that three kids who were probably not more than ten years of age had been brought into the hall by their parents, who were comfortably seated with their drinks and popcorn. And all the while that the movie ran, they watched it comfortably, irrespective of what impact scenes of gruesome violence, killing and sex can have on those little minds.

As if to prove my point, one of the little girls started crying when a murder was being committed on screen, and it was only when the crying turned into terrified sobs that the mother took the girl outside, only to return a few minutes later!

I firmly believe that parents like this need to be educated about the grave damage this sort of movie viewing can have on impressionable young minds. But even more than that, I believe that cinema halls here must have the will and the wherewithal to firmly exercise their right to stop children from watching movies that have been given adult certification. 

So what if a few tickets don’t sell?

The Gift of Flowers

I am convinced that one of the easiest way to make oneself happy is to go and look at flowers. 

They are just so......

And any word you can think of is probably the right one to fit in here.

But even better, why don't you make someone else happy by gifting them flowers?

Take it from me, that is really the best present you can give.

Try it and see...

The rewards can be something that will wrap you up in a warm glow for a long, long time...