Tell Me Whom Am I

~ Tell Me ~

Tell me who am I
Is it just a face with no brain
Or an intellect with no fame
Heart beats softly
But at times why am I so cruel
How could I be human filled with hate
Or am I a tiny girl, a creature to live
Where do I stand on page of fate
Can it be okay for a girl to cry
Or is essential to hide and fake
Maybe there is no ground falling in pain
Despite all, she a little girl
Taking many steps on a journey of search

I can not tell which year this poem was written but was written as I was growing, it seems poetry was the searching voice for me, an urge of finding who am I. My name is Nasra Abdul Rahman Mohammed born in island called Pemba from Tanzanian father and an Omani mother. I call myself a dreamer as an only child I recall my childhood began in small emirates called Ras Al Khaimah… There it was my beginning searching for where I belong, I can not recall when and how my parents got divorced but I just knew that my mother had gone back home to Oman and circumstances I was left with my father. At that time he felt that I'm so young I need more care so he got married again with a lovely women who I owe her being the person I'm now, her love and care truly transformed me. She was originally from Yemen. So I had many nationalities when I was growing one day I'm Omani, other days I'm Zanzibarian, and some days I'm Yemeni. I was taught Quran at home and as I reached six I was enrolled in Government School.

The first poetic thought (Khwater) was written while I was visiting my Aunt who lived in Al Buraimi during holidays, I had cousin who had disability, so I wrote a thought on having challenges. At that moment my dream was to be a poet and work with children who have disabilities (Children with special needs). My growing up was tremendously enriched with holidays to visit my mother in Oman or Buriami, in addition my father wanted me to know about Zanzibar and made sure to take me there to visit my grandparents from my mother who remained in Africa.

Writing was my gateway, I would write on every piece of paper that I can find and while I was growing up even in recipe books my poetry would be written with biggest dream that I will stand in front of the crowd reciting without fear on a night titled Talent With Purpose dedicating the night for fund raising for those who are less fortunate than us or compile all of my poems and when I die my poetry will be discovered. Cooking would be a task mixed with poetry writing …I really enjoyed being in the kitchen dreaming away, that was the reason when I was in high school I chose to go for Art subjects, in addition physics was a foreign language to me. Back then, my family moved to Dubai, for the first time I realized how Ras Al Khaimah was breathtaking, as our home was just in front of the beach and my dad before going to work would start his day swimming. I missed the wind blowing with the sea.

High school seemed to be a new world for me, I was living with my brother from my father side. Oh I did not mention my father had first wife before he married my mother so I had brothers and sisters who are at the same age of my mother. It was a new environment for me, having nieces and nephews who were same age group as me, all were studying in private English schools. I realized that my English was not at the same level as theirs and I had incident at school where I was bullied at school, I decided I'm going to write my poetry thoughts in English. With having our first computer at home, it was so exciting for all wanting to do our homework or as for me to write my poems with on the computer. My English was still not as good as my nieces and nephews, I felt somehow left out, so I began to read as much books as I can get. Taking English course at British Council helped me also to see my flaws and there it was time for graduation from high school with a dream to go to university but I did not want to become a financial burden on my brother so I opted to correspondence course taking Montessori Teaching Special Needs allowing me to study at home and in meantime I became a young volunteer at Al Noor Training Centre for Handicapped Children. Working with children it was amazing. My day begins with a hug and it ends with hugs. On the side of poetry I was writing and sharing with one of my nieces who also had passion for poetry and I started searching for forums to submit my poetry. Poetry also was personalized gifts that I would present my family with.

The decision to move to Oman to be with my mother and to know my sisters from my mother side had opened me up a new horizon for me. My first book I owe to my mother so I got my self a pen name Nasra Al Adawi, as my mother's prayers had took me through hard times.

~A Woman She is~

So he asked who she is
She stood there inhaling
What must be?
A moment of truth
Then she plunged with deep breath thinking
“Who am I?”
The words repeated to her in a self form
Lightening of thoughts passed by
Then ancient scripture appeared in bold
She ended her pause
To answer back in an only way she knows
In a women affirmation voice
Standing against gravity of earth
And boldly said:
I’m all woman
A woman
Ancient in Hieroglyphic Transcripts
A Cleopatra underlined in history
I'm Cleopatra
In a mountain stand
Creating a history of today
With my hands that dig the path of tomorrow
Learning through my weakness to engrave this path
I’m a female scribbled with many emotions,
I’m intelligence sculptured in curves,
A statement of womanhood
I’m not here to stand in man’s shoes
Here is the fountain that bears all nations
Yes there times where I get trapped in claws of lion,
But I’m woman who knows no defeat
For there is no ground to fall, as I chooses to stand
Despite my trembling knees
I conquer my fate
A woman who creates her own destiny

Copyright 2007 Nasra Al Adawi



Reference

Please link http://iamnasra.blogspot.com/2006/08/once-it-was-just-dream.html

~My Childhood Pages~

CANCER CENTER
Originally uploaded by evolver115

By Nasra Al Adawi

~My Childhood Pages ~

Its crayon that I like
Painting rainbow skies
I can swim in watercolors
Color Splash beyond my room
Blowing bubbles in shining colors
Mixed with giggles and laughter
And my trees are drawn
No only in brown and green
I'm painting a bright new world

Recently Dar Al Atta Association introduced Connecting With Colors, a calendar of art collection by children with chronic illness at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital with the support of Qalhat LNG.

What makes this collection unique is that on each page it takes you to a child's journey. A child who often has to deal with many challenges of having chronic illness from continues hospital admissions, the frequency of medication, often a child misses school and not to forget the massive medical procedures and testing. Yet, in the calendar, each child creative work had taken us into a brighter world; not only the usage of color but the subjects that had been explored by the children themselves had been nothing but a hopeful side.

Connecting With Colors had translated a simple message that art is not just a form of play, it is a medium of expression a linking point for the body and mind. One can only agree with Semir Zeki, a former professor of neurobiology at the University College, London and co-head of the Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, who published an article, “Artistic Creativity and the Brain,” in Science Magazine, in July 2001 where he stated that artistic expression is the key to comprehending ourselves. Now hearing words like Art Therapy makes so much sense, if you take time to view the creativity of the children at SQU Hospital you will find no difference between their art and any ordinary child. Art is a medium of therapy that helps to eliminate a frightening experience into fun and creative atmosphere.

Here is an immense applaud for those behind such creative difference, hope all our pediatric wards and waiting rooms be filled with colors and paper to encourage children's art especially for children who faces social and emotional difficulties related to illness or disability.

Connecting With Colors Calendar can be bought at Dar Al Atta Association in Madinat Sultan Qaboos Tel: 24692996 for benefit to encourage children's art in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

Photo is taken on TUESDAY JANUARY 31 2006 -- Jackson Fontenot, 3, of Mascoutah, Il., paints a picture frame at the St. John's Mercy Hospital, David C. Pratt Cancer Center while waiting for Gail Dietl, the local organizing committee member for the U.S. figure skating championships held in St. Louis this month. Dietl donated about 150 stuffed animals to the children at the St. John's Mercy Hospital, David C. Pratt Cancer Center. Jackson was at the cancer center with his older brother Brandon Fontenot, 6, who is afflicted with aplastic anemia, a condition in which the bone marrow is unable to produce blood cells. It has been in remission since August of 2005.
PHOTO BY JASON E. TAYLOR / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Poetic Moment

Priyanka Sacheti, Friday ReportPublished: November 23, 2007, 01:04

I was born on the small island of Pemba near Zanzibar in Tanzania. I am of mixed parentage with my father [who lived in Zanzibar] hailing from nearby Comoros island while my mother's family is Omani, from the northern town of Rustaq, although she was born and raised in Zanzibar. I moved to Ras al Khaimah when I was 4 then shifted base to Dubai nine years later. I still regard the UAE as my home for it is where I attended school and grew up. I have been living in Oman for a decade and am presently working as a coordinator at the Spanish Language Centre in Muscat. As a child, I had various dreams … … one of which was to become a teacher for children with special needs. After completing school, I did a Montessori course for children with special needs by correspondence. I then worked as a volunteer then an assistant teacher at Al Noor, a private institution in Dubai for training children with special needs. It was amazing working with those children. As their teacher, one might think that I was opening up the world to them. However, it was they who transformed and opened new worldsfor me. Afterwards, I also worked in an advertising agency, which kept me on my toes. I completed the Charted Institute of Marketing course, which proved beneficial for my work. Starting as a receptionist, I worked my way up to be a promotion coordinator.

I left the UAE in 1997 because I wanted to live with my mother in Oman. I had visited Oman during my holidays but that was an altogether different experience from living here. After arriving here, I became more aware of my Omani heritage. It's also nice here because I have a huge extended family on my maternal side. Oman's rich culture is very family-oriented. We are all involved in each other's lives and it is wonderful to have that kind of familial support. However, I am also thankful to my father's side of the family; my half-brother and sister who raised me while I was in the UAE. I may now be away from them but they – along with my nieces and nephews – still shower me with so much love.

A turning point in my life … … was when my father passed away in Zanzibar due to cancer. His death was the catalyst that led me to publish a collection of my poems, Collective Thoughts for the benefit of children cancer patients at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH).

Until that point, I had written poetry solely for myself since childhood. I was a very shy child, constantly engrossed in my writing. I had stacks of files containing my poetry which I imagined would only be discovered long after I had gone. I was a humanities-oriented student and dreamt of being both a poet and a teacher of special needs. However, I soon realised that poetry doesn't pay and that I would have to find a job while also pursuing my poetry. I therefore wrote poetry for the sheer pleasure of it. At the most, I imagined myself reading my poetry aloud in front of an audience. I would have laughed if someone had told me 10 years ago that I would publish a book. However, after my father's death, I wanted to raise awareness about cancer. I wanted to help people by bringing together a collection of poems dealing with cancer. I faced various hurdles in order to publish Collective Thoughts. I faced external challenges, such as finding sponsors, and internal dilemmas, when I wondered whether I would ever be able to achieve this goal. I was also determined to promote and launch this book, despite this being my maiden publishing venture, using my experience in advertising and promotion. I feel that I was never aware of God's miracles as deeply as I did when I was creating this book. Everything eventually fell together in place. Many people's have contributed towards the book … … including my father-figure graphic designer, Dr Zakia al Lamki, former head of Child's Health department at SQUH … and other friends and well-wishers. That's why the book is entitled Collective Thoughts. I wanted to pay tribute to the efforts, wishes and support of various people who helped this book get published. It was an unforgettable period in my life.
After this, I didn't think I could work on another book. However, I found myself writing and launching my second poetry collection, Within Myself: Willpower to Live Beyond Breast Cancer. In addition to poetry, I included narratives from breast cancer survivors to bring out their voices and pain. This book led to the inception of a third book about breast cancer patients in Tanzania.

I recently visited Zanzibar The purpose of the trip was to generate awareness about the disease as well as to obtain a mammography for the Ocean Ward Institute. Originally, I saw this trip as an opportunity to finish [my third] book. However, after arriving there, I witnessed such heart-wrenching sights that I could not get their faces out of my mind. People wholeheartedly embraced me wherever I went, taking pride in my African heritage upon hearing that my father was African. Avon MHD [Avon's exclusive distributor in Oman] gave me some [breast cancer crusade] ribbons to distribute to the patients there. Nurses explained to the patients that these ribbons would provide them with mental strength while fighting this disease. I visited the patients few days later to see the ribbons still proudly pinned to their blouses. It made me experience a huge responsibility towards them. It was no longer merely a book … it had become a mission. I have since created a leaflet on breast self-examination, which has been distributed among the patients there. I chose poetry as a means of generating social awareness about cancer … … because it was the only tool I had. My sole intention is to raise awareness about issues dear to my heart through my poetry. The process of writing is the easiest part; the difficulties lie in the technicalities of creating a book. Those are two contrasting worlds. I used to be shy, although working on the books has fundamentally transformed me as a person, taking me beyond the realms of ordinary experiences.
Snapshots Me and my poetic moments:

I do not think poetry should be limited to the confines of a book. I feel that life is full of poetic moments. I recently held a poetry workshop in which I used poetry as a means of therapy. I encouraged people who were ill, stressed or depressed to write poetry so that they could better express themselves and initiate a healing process. The concept of poetry therapy – practised by certified poetry therapists – is steadily gaining popularity in the West, particularly the US. Poets visit hospitals where they read poetry to patients and encourage them to write poetry.

http://www.gulfnews.com/friday/People/10169711.html

The daring stand against cancer

_ By Rekha Baala _

‘I am not sure if poetry is a sensible way to fight cancer. Still I keep pouring words into poetic thoughts, hoping they can bring the weakest breath of relief for those who are suffering with
cancer or have a loved one suffering with this disease’


When she was a child, Nasra al Adawi had a dream. To stand up on stage and read a poem for underprivileged children. The small dream has grown to embrace new and far-reaching dimensions. Nasra today has two books of poems to her credit and her third one entitled Brave Faces: The Daring Stand Against Cancer will be launched today.

Nasra’s oeuvre is both poignant and thought-provoking. Her first attempt, Collective Thoughts published in 2002 is a book of poems interspersed with paintings made by children afflicted with cancer. Two years later, Nasra came out with a second title Within Myself: The Willpower to Live Beyond Cancer, in collaboration with the Oman National Association for Cancer Awareness.

Brave Faces: The Daring Stand Against Cancer, Nasra’s latest effort also centres on cancer. Here, she goes back to her roots in Africa and captures the powerful voices of women battling cancer in Tanzania and their triumph against the odds. Nasra was born in Zanzibar, brought up in Dubai and came to live in Oman in 1997.

The Omani poet began writing poetry as a child and later used her verse to draw attention to social and humanitarian concerns and donating the proceeds from the sales of her books to charity. The dreaded
‘C’ word, cancer has greatly influenced and brought many changes in Nasra’s life. “The death of my father from cancer removed the initial fear and shyness and created a bold poet within me,” she says in the introduction to the book. “I am not sure if poetry is a sensible way to fight cancer. Still I keep pouring words into poetic thoughts, hoping they can bring the weakest breath of relief for those who are suffering with cancer or have a loved one suffering with this disease,” she adds.

Nasra’s strong links to the country of her birth had her itching to ‘bring poetry to Tanzania because it is there that my father’s soul is buried in the soil of Zanzibar’. But she was still unsure how she could reach out, being thousands of miles away from Africa. The making of Brave Faces is strong testimony of the fact that ‘where there is a will, there will always be someone to lead the way’. Help came in the form of Hamoud al Jabry who shared her vision and introduced her to the Collective Development Corporation (CDC) in Tanzania who would put her in touch with women fighting cancer.

“In the beginning, I began getting summaries of each woman’s story. As I pored over them, I realised that the emotions were missing. If I had to understand what they were going through, I had to be with them and talk to them,” she says. Soon, she was on a plane to Tanzania to visit the Ocean Road Cancer Research Institute, the only oncology centre in Tanzania. And discovered courage, strength, determination and faith. In first-hand accounts of women bravely fighting breast and cervical cancer. The outpourings of emotion are evident in Nasra’s verse through and through.

Whether it is the voice of faith in Hear Your Voice, the healing touch in Touch Me Love or the spirit of survival in A New Dawn Begins, Nasra clearly has the ability to tug at the heart-strings. It is not easy to write about cancer or someone undergoing the ordeal. Nasra admits that she went through many emotional ups and downs while doing the book. There were some stories she could not finish because the women she had spoken to had succumbed to the disease. But the women at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute had one thing in common which inspired Nasra a great deal.

“The women I met were firm in their realisation that God doesn’t take away everything. He gives you the illness but also gives you the courage to face it. The women wanted to share their stories with me because they felt that they could help other women who have cancer. ‘We can fight it’ was the motto ruling their lives at every stage,” she says. The conditions in which these women were undergoing their ordeals were not easy. Nasra was amazed to find more than 40 women in one ward. But that did not dampen the spirits of these women in any way. “We had taken many gift bags from Oman but these were not enough to go around.

We also had a lot of pink ribbons but didn’t think that they would be of any value. But a nurse at the hospital insisted we distribute them. The women accepted them with love and pinned them on. I was touched when they told me that the pink ribbon would give them the extra strength to fight cancer. They also happily posed for photographs.” The poet wants to continue with her voluntary work despite her hectic schedule as co-coordinator at the Omani Friendship Association. Right now, she is involved in a calendar project with children at SQU Hospital.

“I want to promote art by children in a big way. I am also looking for sponsors to aid my project.” Brave Faces also carries a Swahili translation. Distributed by SJS Oman, the book will be available at major bookshops in Oman from November 3. It will also be launched in Tanzania later this year.


(Brave Faces: The Daring Stand Against Cancer, a book of poems by Nasra al Adawi is being launched today (October 30) by Dr Sharifa bint Khalfan al Yahya’eeya, Minister of Social Development at InterContinental Muscat at a function organised by The Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania. Proceeds of the sale of this book will exclusively be used for cancer awareness campaigns in Tanzania.)

A Glimpse in one of the Oriental Therapy ~Acupuncture~

Face Acupuncture Treatment
Originally uploaded by Jennifer Esperanza.

Written By Nasra Al Adawi

The Article only was Pubished in Al Mara'a Magazine - Oman

Chinese Medicine has existed for many years. Acupuncture goes back more than 2000 years and is just one aspect of oriental medicine which is offered for healing.

Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese Traditional Medicine; some gives it a title of being an ancient healing technique. Uttering the word acupuncture I for one, who never had experienced such treatment. It did send horror to me, the image of countless needless all over my body, did keep me on my toes. Getting first hand experience played the trick to subside the fear. It was a friend who took me as an alternative treatment for pain that I had in my chest, her coaxing to visit Chinese Doctor made me realize its therapeutic effect. This encounter reinforced me to clear out misconception about Acupuncture.

Dr. Zheng Xuan of Al Maqooq Polyclinic has been practicing Chinese medicine in Oman since five years and previously in china for 20 years. She explained the basics of Acupuncture which is theorized into a certain structure called Jing luo. Jing Luo is defined as main and collateral channels, regarded as a network of passages, through which vital energy circulates and along which acupuncture points are distributed. The body has an energy force running throughout and this force is known as Qi (roughly pronounced Chee) if the Qi is not flowing smoothly that is when the disharmony and imbalance will cause the appearance of illness. So the work of acupuncture will needle through the points to assist in rebalancing the flow of Qi and there it can give a healing touch to some organ problems.

Dr. Zheng explained that the Acupuncturists can use special types of Acupuncture needles, its fine hair needle. The great advantage of acupuncture is there is nearly no side effects, and the ability to treat several conditions or ailments simultaneously. Needles generally cause no bleeding on entry or removal. Today, needles are disposable, used once and discarded in accordance with medical biohazard regulations and guidelines.

One other method healing method which has the same basics of Jing Luo theory, however it does not use needles and it does not penetrate the skin called Scrapping. Dr. Zheng stated “Scraping is using a special plate made of bull horn in a similar massage technique practice that requires rubbing along the surface of the skin. The rubbing through the skin over the channels gives a relief for stiff neck or back ache”

Finally another term is Cupping was brought up “One can not disregard Cupping which involves creating a vacuum in a small, bamboo, glass or plastic cup which is then applied over more general areas such as the back, neck, limbs or abdomen. It is used to relieve underlying congestion of the tissues, promote circulation and relieving inflammation and pain, which can be used simultaneously with either acupuncture or scraping.” Dr Zheng explained.

acupuncture
Originally uploaded by seablackwithink.

Acupuncture Treatment:
• The initial treatment takes 1-½ hours. Follow up treatments take 1 hour.
• A treatment consists of first talking with the acupuncturist about your symptoms and health concerns. Lastly, hair thin sterile and disposable needles will be inserted in different locations based on the diagnosis.
• Upon insertion, you may feel a slight pinch, tingling or an electrical sensation. Once the pins are in place, most clients feel very relaxed or even fall asleep.
• Your acupuncturist will develop a treatment plan with you, which will depend on your symptoms. Usually clients receive treatment 1-2 times per week.

Tips Before/During your treatment:
• It is preferable that you do not receive treatment on a totally empty or full stomach.
• Please wear or bring loose comfortable clothes.
• All complementary medicine has a cumulative effect. It may take several treatments for you to notice any change. Be patient with the process- chances are your symptoms didn’t occur overnight, so they won’t be resolved overnight, either!

Perhaps the idea of oriental medicine is foreign to many; however Acupuncture is a therapy dated back to more than 23 centuries. There are numerous efficacies in using Acupuncture and the World Health Organization recognizes over 40 conditions that benefit from acupuncture. In one of the fact sheets of WHO it stated the following “Acupuncture has been proven effective in relieving postoperative pain, nausea during pregnancy, nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy, and dental pain with extremely low side effects. It can also alleviate anxiety, panic disorders and insomnia.” quoted in the website of WHO.

Face Acupuncture Treatment
Originally uploaded by Jennifer Esperanza.

Written By Nasra Al Adawi

Dr. Zheng concluded “Though Acupuncture is unfamiliar to many in this part of the world. Acupuncture has served as healing touch for many condition and illnesses including stress. It is worth the try when western medicine fails to give the wanted healing. Acupuncture may perform miracle”

Many thanks to Jennifer and Seablackwithink for the photo in flickr.com. Please click the photo to see their other photo collections.

The Elegance in Abaya

Written By Nasra Al Adawi

MAJESTIC ABAYA DESIGNED BY EMIRATI DESIGNER
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/emaratiprincess-_the_sheikha/.

As she walks wearing royal black Abaya, it is adorned with beautiful embroidery and shiny beads along the abaya bottom and also along the sleeve edges. This is the image we constantly witness in the Arabian Gulf “Women in Abaya”.

Abaya as we call it in Al Khaleej (Arabian Gulf Countries) are known to be a veil for the body, to new comers to the culture and custom of GCC countries can give a description of a black cloak worn by women. Thence for outsiders or those who are new to such culture can be bore by seeing women in black. However, it takes time to be accustomed and to know that Abaya has become a statement of individuality for each Khaleeji lady that had emerged beyond being a sign of a woman's belief in Islam and of her modesty.

Just a niqaabi
Originally uploaded by Tashaea.

I do not remember much of the early days of the Gulf traditional Abaya but it used to be a shapeless black garment with small armholes, and a slightly delineated neckline (or no neckline at all). It is worn over the head (over the scarf and the jilbab) or other traditional styles are worn from the shoulders. My fascination of Abaya developed few years ago. Wearing Abaya was never imposed on me, my mother believed the importance in the decency in clothing, yet she never had any objection on the choice of dressing as long as it did not cross the border of being decent or it is not being revealing. I recall my two younger sisters wore Abaya away earlier than me, only then it had stricken me how fashionable Abaya is from the collections they had similarly to the western clothing fashion. Not only that the wearer of Abaya has the upper hand of choosing from readymade or tailor-made Abaya, it is about putting individual touch and style whether the cut, embroidery, type of material, even using accessories creating ones own chic Abaya. In era were fashion is the ultimate point of modernity, many arguments are arising as the abaya have crossed the means which was created for and it has become very eye catching and now its about fashion and trends and away from the modesty.

As I entered the shop Abdullah Hussain Al Khanji in Muscat City Centre dazed with the modern ambiance and still statues in the glamorous latest fashionable Abaya, greeted by Sales Staff who introduced herself Amal Saeed Al Amry. Her soft voice and polite manner encouraged me to admit to her even though Im Abaya wearer but my knowledge is so limited with the history of Abaya. Amal told me that Abaya is originated from the bidu not only as she says Suter (Protection) it is an ancient Khaleeji Custom. She explained that the thread which was used then to make the Abaya was from goat thread and then colored in black and such use of natural material did not cause any heat for the body in contrary it provided cooling for the body while in constant moving. Only with reanasis when Abaya had been modified and new type of material were introduced.

When I asked how she defines Abaya? She replied with pride that Abya is an art, it is a beatification for the women and Black is a royal colour which gives certain chic on the wearer and especially with head cover as it’s called in colloquial Arabic Shaila this is made of transparent material.

Abaya
Originally uploaded by poetictouch.

I got an opportunity to explore more about the fashion of Abaya by meeting Nawal Al Hooti Omani renowned fashion designer. Her shop located in Al Asfoor plaza it is differed from Al Khunji shop. Nwal’s shop did not have shelves parading Omani traditional dresses nor having collection of Abaya which she is know to be designing. The shop I may refer has an antique look into it. As if it takes way back to olden times, you get the feeling for being home. Still has a prestige in it, I hold into my silence as number of women entering the shop wearing elegant Abaya and I'm captured by the style of Abayas that there wore, I did not see the design before, no similarities from others as I kept thinking to myself and observing in quietness while Nawal was seeing into her customers. I have the head scarves (shila) displayed on the table. I scrutinized into each one, the soft texture, the sequences and the designs in them, and I’m all tempted to purchase one.

Nawal Al Hooti clearly said “The definition of abaya has changed. Abaya is no longer Abaya, it used to be worn for centuries as humility covering from showing body curves. Abaya has become like a dress with many fashion into it. Now for some its not about modesty, it is like a long jacket worn with skirts or trousers or dresses” She explained how the Abaya have changed with the passing years “Women finds herself continuously wearing Abaya and the inside dress is not been seen no matter how creative the style is. The only thing is seen for the eyes were the Abaya and that is how the idea of creating appealing design on the Abaya had appeared. Little by little it has become fashionable in every season certain designs comes out” She clarified.

~ CaVaLi On Ma 3baYa =D ~
Originally uploaded by * ĎăĹą3_ ßäŊåŤ * > ღ ỄҳỠтїÇ ღ.

I wondered how is the Abaya is useful as for instant closed abaya “When you wear Abaya you have complete freedom on what you wear inside” stated Nawal. She also gave insight of her preference as designer is making statement with Abaya with certain collage or decorative work into it, so it lightens up the Abaya. She explained even though black is chic, however the excessiveness use of black in Abaya can be distressful. Nawal had surprised me when she talked about colorful Abaya “One has an option to wear colorful Abaya for evening’s occasions. As I mentioned abaya now has a shape of being like long jacket, introducing Colorful Abaya can be worn with matching or color coordinated clothing and so on”. My immediate response on the acceptance for the colorful Abaya, Nawal stated “ Im one of the people who wear colorful Abaya for going out with my husband or coffee gathering with my friends and I have more demand on them now more than before. I feel colorful Abaya should be taken for happy occasions and black abaya can be worn for souq, hospitals visits and so on. Of course it’s taking time but it is slowly gaining acceptance. True examples of our ladies Ministers are wearing colorful abays. Hopefully to be the first country in the GCC country to be popular with colorful Abaya” she affirmed.

blingy ants
Originally uploaded by Pink Sushi.

As for the designs, Nawal creates the head scarves and based on it she works on the Abaya for her customers or keep certain designs ready to be selected by the customer or based on what the customer aspiration. Selecting deigns of Nawal, the customer grantees getting individual designs and assurances that the style of the Abaya is not repeated to another customer. As Nawal puts it in her own words “The wearer of my designs gets the worth of the pattern and enjoys wearing the Abaya to its maximum length of time”.



Tips for caring for your Abaya from Abdullah Hussain Al Khanji Abaya shop:

 Abaya is preferred to be hand washed using special Abaya washing soap. This is available in the supermarkets.

 Depending on the Abaya and the extensive embroidery work it require a dry-clean instead of washing.

 Always be careful when ironing the Abaya, especially if it has delicate embroidery work then the Abaya needed to be ironed inside out.

The Photos from flickr.com and I would like to thank all the photographers/ who posted the photos enabling me to compliment my writing with photos

1) {}..Em@r@tiprincess(R@b sh@)- @ touch of roy@lty.

2) Tashaea

3)Poetictouch

4) * ĎăĹą3_ ßäŊåŤ * > ღ ỄҳỠтїÇ ღ

5) Pink Sushi

Please click the photo to see more photgraphers.

Detox and Cleansing

Written by Nasra Al Adawi
Published in Al Mar'a Magazine - Oman

The first thought will cross you mind that such work is part of body treatment a spa for instance, or a body mask to nourish body skin. Yes it can be that but body cleanse goes beyond the treatment of the outer skin or a massage treatment, it’s a treatment for the internal body where the organs need to be cleansed from all the toxic elements created as result of wrong intake of certain type of food.

Meeting with Herbalist and Nutritionist Christina Grossniklaus, who is based in Muscat, clarifies more in depth about the body cleanse. “It is essential to listen to our body when we eat. The term is Food Tolerance means certain food at times does not go well with our body and of course this varies from person to person and as result reaction like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea or even tiredness is some of the signs we tend to ignore”. Christina explained.

Many people can be intolerant with introduced chemicals/elements, such a preservative used in many processed foods and other common food additives which are used in some of the food product to enhance flavor, freshness or fragrance. Intolerance to some food or food sensitivity to some food does not automatically mean that you are allergic to that food. Here body cleanse takes the tool it mainly refer to whole body cleansing.

Its about giving our body time to rest from the toxic that we tend to feed our body. How do we rest our inner organs and cleanse our metabolism system, it only takes a very simple procedure only through our food intake.

Christina’s tips in realizing Food Tolerance:

This procedure also works on cleansing the liver system. Take a vegetable diet for week. This means vegetable can be cooked without any addition of any type of fats. Vegetable can be roasted, steamed or boiled according to your liking. Gradually after a week of this you introduce other food and see how you body react. The food that tend to cause gas even tiredness or heaviness are the food that your body is intolerant towards. Its advisable to tend to avoid that type of food for length of time or then use the same procedure to see if your body will tolerate it on later on stages. “Some would consider this is as diet but its not. Listen to your body during this process; you will realize that you are more feeling lighter or even the bolting that some suffer will fade away. For some they will even reduce some ounces that they urge to get rid off.” Christina explained.

Miracle of Juicing:

Fresh Juice, originally uploaded by TomMarkey.

Vegetable and Fruit juices should be supplemented during the body cleanse procedure. The juicing itself can be part of daily way of life as it awakens body intelligence and guide the body towards obtaining optimal health.


Benefit of juicing can be sum in the following:

Many juices retain vital digestive enzyme which helps improve the digestive system

Raw vegetable and fruits offers nutrition from essential minerals and vitamins in their most natural and potent state. The body absorbs these live nutrients quickly and effortlessly as it is merely little digestion is required.

The introduction of raw fruit and vegetable juicing to your daily diet can transform your existing poor diet to extremely healthy and vital.

fresh juice
Originally uploaded by univers my.....

Juicing corrects the digestive tract which is the mean reason for food craving. When your cells and organs become malnourished from eating devitalized and non nutritional foods, your body constantly sends signals to your digestive system, causing an overproduction of digestive juices. Hence the digestive action creates a taste and inclination to eat, not what your body needs, but what’s sitting in your digestive system. Lingering food is more likely to be the residue of refined and processed foods for instance white flour, white sugar and hydrogenated fats (natural vital food does not linger in your digestive tract). Juicing lessens cravings by addressing and correcting malnutrition, as well as aiding the body’s digestion of old food debris.

Drinking vital juices aids your body’s ability to purify itself from dead cells, toxins and poisons out of the body.

Ingesting vital raw plant foods improves health more than any other supplement, powder, drug, and therapy or health program.


Vegetable and Fruit Juice Guide

Intensive guide on the benefits obtained from juicing fruits and vegetable can be accessed through different website on juicing. Here summarized details on some of the fruits and vegetables.

Apple juice is a powerful cleanser and a general tonic for the entire system. It has an abundance of vitamins A and C. The Apple juice can be mixed with any of other fruit or vegetable juices as it sweet taste will lessen intensity of some of vegetable taste.

Pineapple Collage
Originally uploaded by Sunshine Hanan.

Pineapples are jam-packed with minerals, potassium, choline, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, and iodine. They have loads of vitamins, including vitamin C, and are an excellent source of bromelain, an enzyme that helps digestion. Bromelain has also been known to cure laryngitis, and is soothing to the throat.

Pears The juice from a pear is thick and sweet and can be diluted with apple juice. They are high in thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid, which help establish a healthy cardiovascular system. They are also a good source of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and minerals.

Beetroot #2
Originally uploaded by vukoff.

Beetroots Famous for their ability to cleanse the blood, beets contain calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, choline, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Beets are also high in minerals that strengthen the liver and gall bladder, and are the building blocks for blood corpuscles and cells. Beet juice is very concentrated. Do not drink it alone. Dilute with a milder juice such as carrot or apple.

Broccoli It is dense in nutrition, full of beta-carotene and an excellent source of fiber. It is full of vitamins B1 and C, and has a generous amount of calcium, sulfur, and potassium. Surprisingly, forty-five percent of calories in broccoli are protein. Broccoli is excellent when juiced, stems and all, but like all green vegetables, it should be mixed with lighter juices such as carrot or apple.

In the Kitchen: White Cabbage
Originally uploaded by Britta's world of photos.

White Cabbage, raw cabbage is an excellent source of sulfur, vitamin C and the trace mineral selenium, which is excellent for fighting cancer, improving conditions of arthritis, rheumatism, slowing the aging process, and encouraging beautiful skin. Within cabbage is a delicate amino acid called glutamine. This is excellent to lessen stomach disorders, including ulcers. They also have an alkalizing effect on the blood, soothing the entire nervous system and toning intestinal walls. When making cabbage juice, it must be consumed within 60 seconds or this precious amino acid will begin to decay. If straight cabbage juice causes gas, mix with carrot and celery.

Carrot
Originally uploaded by moaksey.

Carrots They are packed with minerals. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene (beta-carotene will processed in the body into vitamin A) is invaluable to eyes. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin C, including most of the B complex, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. Carrots are easy to digest and cause the liver to release bile and excessive accumulated cholesterol. Carrot juice is the best base for vegetable juice combinations. Carrot juice helps in cleansing the liver. Drinking large amounts may cause the harmless effect of a slight yellowish color of the skin. Skin will feel velvety soft. The beta-carotene present in the skin is a natural protector for the common skin cancer, melanoma. Also, the slight yellowing of the skin can make a tan look deeper.

Celery is high in magnesium, iron and chlorophyll, which is an excellent blood builder and is one of the richest sources of organic sodium. Celery juice is a superb nerve tonic. Celery juice alone tastes a little bitter and is usually mixed with carrots or apples. Celery juice cools down the body and is great for hot weather. Are you on a diet and craving a Snickers bar? Celery juice helps curb the craving for sweets. Do you have a problem with muscle cramps and fatigue during workouts? The potassium/sodium balance in celery juice will be a great asset. Always leave the celery leaves on for juicing, but juice the celery last because it is stringy and clogs the juice machine.

Cucumbers
Originally uploaded by radiant guy.

Cucumber People living in the Middle East and India have been eating cucumbers for hundreds of years as a natural coolant. It is an excellent source of silicon. Cucumber is good to rub on your skin, giving it elasticity resulting in a more youthful complexion. It is suspected to help in reducing hair loss. Cucumber juice is usually mixed with other juices.

Garlic Research suggests that it reduces blood pressure, helps with the problem of blood clotting, lowers the LDL (negative cholesterol), boosts the immune system and encourages recovery in heart attack victims. Garlic's famous smell comes from allicin, which inhibits bacterial growth and fungus. It also helps with an overgrowth of yeast in the body and is used in treating candida. It’s recommended to have parsley after garlic to absorb the garlic odor.
Garlic increases the flow of digestive enzymes and encourages detoxification through the skin. Despite the odor, garlic is good for you. Throwing a clove of garlic in your vegetable juice every day will be excellent for your health; nonetheless, it may reduce your social life. One clove mixed with parsley in the juicer is enough.

Recipes
Here are few ideas on fruit and vegetable juices to start you off. Any fruit and vegetable can be juiced. Vegetables at many times need to be mixed with apple to reduce its taste. It is recommended purchasing special juicer machine available in the local market. This is preferred rather than a blender as it can not extract the minerals based in the skin of the vegetable and fruits. It’s important that all the fruits used for juicing should be ripe.
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Potassium Punch

1 peach, pitted and sliced
2 Apples
½ papaya, seeded, sliced
1 banana, peeled
Juice the peach, followed by one of the apples, the papaya and apple again. Pour it into the bender, add the banana and liquefy.

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Cleansing Cocktail

½ parsly
1 Carrot
2 Apples, cut in wedges
2 Celery ribs
½ beetroot with top, or radish top is also ok
Bunch up the parsley and punch through the juicer with the aid of the carrot. Alternate remaining ingredient to ensure proper mixing.
Immune Power vegetable
1 Clove garlic
¼ Inch slice of ginger
Handful of parsley
2 Celery ribs
1 Small fennel
2 Apples cut in wedges

Place the garlic and the ginger in the centre of the parsley, push it through with a celery rib, and alternate the remaining ingredients.
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As the summer time has started knocking on us early, this could be the right time to carry on this body cleanse and feel the difference in your body rhythm. After all who does not want to beautify themselves? So give your body the cleanse that it deserve, as the secret of beauty lies within you and before you treat your outer skin, sink deeper into your organs. Our inner organs it also need a break and some kind of special spa and the secret is by special kind of nutritional diet to rid of the toxic layers.