Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Muscat


Muscat is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Oman. It is the largest city in the muhafazah (governorate) of Muscat .


The greater metropolitan area of Muscat, known locally as the "Capital Area", currently covers an area of approximately 1500 km². Since the ascession of Qaboos bin Said as Sultan of Oman, Muscat has seen a growth of infrastructural development and urbanisation. Pockets of dense residents and commercial districts are interspersed with undeveloped land. The major centers of development can be split into three main groups:

-West Muscat: Al-Seeb, Udhaybah, Bawsher, Al-Ghubbrah and Ghala
-Central Muscat: Al-Khuwair,
Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Shati-Al Qurm, Qurm and Ras Al Hamra
-East Muscat: Wuttayah,
Ruwi, Matrah, Kalbuh, Old Muscat, Sidab and Al-Bustan


In general, Muscat presents a relatively homogeneous appearance of low (rarely more than five story), generally white buildings, with residential, government, and commercial architecture frequently recalling, at least by allusion, historic regional styles. For a city at the edge of the Arabian peninsula and in Oman's sometimes fierce climate, Muscat is remarkably green, with tree-lined main streets linking the various districts, several sizeable public parks, and grass, shrubs, and flowers decorating many traffic circles and other public areas.







Monday, March 3, 2008

Choose A Happier Life


Choosing things comes pretty naturally to us humans. I can choose chocolate ice cream over strawberry any day, and choose blues over browns without hesitation.



But can we really just simply choose a happier life? If you mean a life that’s simpler, less stressful, and more meaningful, then yes, I believe that we can make those choices.
Life is usually what we make it. And while there are things that none of us can control -- rainy weather, sky high gas prices, cranky bosses, nosy mother-in-laws -- there are many things that you are in charge of. These are the things that help you lead a happier life.



Choose Consciously Make an effort to decide that YOU choose how to spend your time, money, energy, and spirit. As long as you accept the consequences, and make the choice with your eyes open, you’ll feel more in control. Consciously choosing your TV time, or surfing time, is a lot different than just realizing you spent 4 hours clicking channels.



Set Priorities If the annoyances of life are living your life for you, you’re never going to win the foot-race of life. You’ll simply run out of time, devoting it to things that you chose in the moment, instead of what you really wanted the most. Don’t put what you want right now above what you really want in the long run.



Nurture It: Protect It What you focus on in your life will flourish. If you focus on problems, lack, hatred, guilt, and self doubt, that’s what you’ll find growing in your garden of life. Instead plant seeds of change, conviction, courage, and choice. No, it’s not just about thinking positive thoughts -- but it’s a heck of a good place to start!



Be Consistent Anything that you do consistently, day after day, week after week, adds up. Good results or bad results are the product of repeating the same behavior over and over. If you consistently save, you’ll have money in the bank; if you consistently over-spend, you’ll be in debt. Choose what you want, and take one small step, consistently day after day, and see what happens.



Stop Reading, Start Doing We live in an amazing world of information. Most people have access to more choices and information than they’ve ever had. Even our children are faced with decisions based on their broader ability to receive information. But. information without action is useless. Put the information you already have to work in your life.



Stop Analyzing, Start Living A lot of psycho-babble teaches us that we need to know the “why” about our behavior before we can address it. And the “why” can sometimes help correct a problem, or give you motivation for action. But most of what we all do on a daily basis is not the product of some deep dark psychological reason. It’s habit. Change your habits, and you’ll change your life. Change your attitude and you’ll change your life. Change your environment and you’ll change your life.