“What Does it Mean to be Omani?”

Cool, poetic ad from A’Saffeh Chicken on the radio today: (I’ll add pics for visual stimulation.)

“What Does it Mean to Be Omani?”

It means you love football with a passion
and support the team whether they win or lose.

And no matter how much you enjoy the city,
your heart will always belong in your hometown.

It will mean still greeting you for 5 minutes even if we saw each other in the morning.

 Your house should never run out of coffee. The Omani coffee.

A meal is never as fulfilling unless you eat it together with your hands.

It takes an Omani to know an Omani.  At A’Saffeh Chicken we are 100% Omani and halal.”     Nice!  🙂

Merge 104.8 – “Turn Up the Radio!”

This morning, June 7th at 7am, a new, dynamic English language radio station is set to make waves in Muscat, Oman!  I’m been listening to the music they’ve been playing in the days leading up to the official launch of the station and it’s pretty darn good!  (For those of you living outside of the Muscat area, I believe that you will able to hear it on the internet at http://www.radiomerge.fm/ soon.)  It is mainly geared towards young English speaking Omanis and is actually a fushion station with hints of Arabic and Hindi music thrown into the mostly English songs for those between 18 and 40.  From the sounds of the music they’re playing and the warm, hospitable people I’ve met at the station, I have a feeling it’s going to be a hit with EVERYONE!

I had the distinct honor of being invited down to Merge 104.8 offices and station along the Seeb Corniche last week.  I mention the location, dear reader, because if you happen to win one of the many call-in prizes or give-aways as a listener, you’re going to need to know where to pick up your prizes!  🙂

Merge is in the same building as their (Arabic) sister station, Wisel (96.5 FM).  2 points if you can name this Al Wisal (96.5) FM Presenter who I managed to bother live on air, ha!ha!

Sayeh Stone, Chris Fisher and Rumaitha Al Busaidi (as well as Sami, not pictured here) are looking forward to serving and entertaining listeners throughout the Muscat area and beyond!  Chris, who is not only a presenter but also the Programme Director, will kick things off at 7am with The Morning Show (7-10am). (7am on this day of June 7th is when it all begins!)  Rumaitha is presenting during the The Lunch Break (1-4pm) and Sayeh Stone is covering The Muscat Drive (4-8pm).  (I’ll post more tomorrow about each of the presenters and what to expect during their respective shows.)

Now that there’s a new radio station in town with great promise here on your doorstep, take advantage of it and turn off those i-pods and mp3 players and give these guys a listen!  I’m really looking forward to their local news coverage, traffic reports, cultural insights and “bitchin’ tunes”.  The fact is I’ve been turned off by a lot of radio stations due to arrogant, cocky presenters but the people of Merge are something else.  They took the time to explain everything there is to know about running a radio station to ignorant little me and then I was even invited to the press conference on June 6th!  If they can win Andy in Oman over with their hospitality, wit, humor and fun, I’m sure they can win just about anyone over!  While I was in the station, Sayeh was even kind enough to offer me a coffee which I shall not soon forget.  Thanks, Sayeh! 🙂 (WOW! How many people can say that Sayeh Stone has served them a cup of coffee?!)    The Merge 104.8 team has already made me feel like a part of their family and I’m sure that their audience will continue to grow steadily as people listen in and get to know the fabulous people behind the mic.  That’s really what it takes to invite someone into your home and car everyday, am I right!?  Anyway, I may very well be the biggest Merge 104.8 fan there is and that’s even before the launch!

Merge 104.8 is finally here.  Listen in & Be prepared to be dazzled!