Stefan Glowacz and Chris Sharma climb Majlis al Jinn, one of the largest caves in the world.

They say that what goes up must also come down. In this case the opposite was true. Starting from a hole in the ground in the country of Oman, Chris Sharma and Stefan Glowacz descended below the surface of the earth to begin an ascent like no other.

The place was Majlis al Jinn, literally the cave of spirits and one of the largest cave chambers in the world. The only entrance to the cave is via a 160m double, although this is not strictly true for everyone. Felix Baumgartner joined the famous BASE. For Glowacz and Sharma, the climb was the point of interest and passed through the largest unclimbed roof in the world.

Majlis al Jinn

“When I first entered the cave, I realized it was going to be very difficult but it would be the perfect project to do with Chris,” Stefan told us.

Once down, the challenge began: getting back out. Thirteen pitches of 7c + and 8b + await them, with overhanging slopes of 45 degrees and more. Other than that, the athletes had no idea what to expect on Majlis al Jinn's never-climbed rooftop.

Unfortunately for Glowacz, an injury prevented him from completing the challenge and the tight schedule given to mountaineers to accomplish the feat left him no time to recover.

However, just being there was a memorable experience for the world famous climber. "It is simply an amazing experience to climb the Majlis al Jinn," says Glowacz. “The type and character of the course are unique. Rising from the bowels of the earth into the light is one of the most impressive things I have done.

Sharma's feelings are the same. “It was truly a groundbreaking achievement for myself. Getting out of that crazy cave was an ambitious goal in itself. We're just lucky to see how it turned out - it was truly special.

Majlis al Jinn

If you want to discover to Oman,  with breathtaking natural beauty of deserts and the sea, Oman is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is famous for its beautiful beaches, its miles of sand dunes and its precious incense. The country's international perspective coupled with its traditional vibe will give you a great introduction to the Middle East. Get inspired by our customized Oman tours to discover this fascinating country.

 Book Oman Tour Packages at Lowest Price, Safe & healthy at Mountain Valley Holiday, they are repotted travel agents in Oman.  And more Visit at Mountain Valley Holiday official website.  mountainvalleyholidays.com

Discover a man of peace from Oman

What is extraordinary in Sultan Qaboos' foreign policy choices is the priority search for regional stability

In the chaos of the past two weeks in several countries that have once again illustrated fundamental differences on universal values, a man of peace celebrated 45 years in office, reigning with his actions and proving that the man was not condemned.

Sultan Qaboos of Oman celebrated this rare milestone.

What the Oman leader achieved after coming to power in 1970 is truly remarkable. His due diligence and the hard work of his subjects transformed the sultanate from stagnation into a modernizing society. It wasn't easy, of course, and it wasn't free either.

Oman Tour Packages

Yet many wonder if these feats will outlive the monarch.

Beyond the difficult circumstances that brought him to power, Sultan Qaboos took on the weight of power to help transform his visions of stability and prosperity, which required an educated society. Like leaders placed in the same position, he has addressed the concrete needs of the nation to better exploit an expensive human resource potential, while claiming to be responsible. Certainly the Sultanate has faced unequivocal challenges and since the sovereign has introduced one novelty after another, perhaps crowned by the Basic Law of 1996 which laid the foundations for a constitution for the country and, above all, created an independent judiciary, it is not never been easy. There were many socio-political and economic obstacles to overcome. But the trend so far has been quite positive. When Sultanate residents marched in early 2011 to protest government unemployment and corruption, Qaboos was quick to admit responsibility for the shortcomings. Indeed, his response to the riots in Oman calmed the protesters and brought stability to the country.

Critics blew up the system because, presumably, Omani intellectuals did not dare to speak. “When we speak seriously”, says one observer, “they run away because they are afraid, but also because they are ashamed”.

"They fought for the revolution," he continued this assessment, when "they had strong ideas but now they are totally dependent on their position. They know they are trapped. Apparently, the Omani interlocutor who revealed this idea further confessed: "How can we talk about democracy here? There is no press, there is no journalist, people believe that universal suffrage Majlis Al Shura means democracy, but this is not true ... However, this situation is good for everyone because Americans know very well that if we have democracy in Oman, the Islamists will win and the new policy will be hostile to them.

This was, of course, a classic interpretation of what passed for anecdotal evidence, especially when it came to astute Americans and Westerners in general, and who apparently ruled the entire planet. Regardless of these gratuitous inferences, however, a realist as he is, Sultan Qaboos, is almost always aware that the sultanate is endowed with limited resources of oil and natural gas, which means that the cradle-at-the-tomb welfare phenomenon practiced elsewhere. in the Arab peninsula territory it will not and cannot apply to Oman. His repeated efforts to move from an oil-based economy to a natural gas economy and ultimately a gas-free economy mean that the leader expects Oman to make alternative economic choices. In an open capitalist system, unfortunately, large landowners or individuals willing to take investment risks practiced what amounted to corrupt behavior, often relying on cheap foreign labor rather than hiring more expensive premises. Some have indulged in nepotism, while others have gained privileges granted by a government eager to encourage entrepreneurship. Even when Muscat imposed its Omanization policy, which forced private companies to hire locals, opponents ignored social stabilization features for immediate monetary gains.

Despite the obscurity, however, the Sultanate managed to protect itself from internal and regional clashes, establish long-term security alliances with nearby and international allies, embark on a diversification program to encourage the private sector, and rely on itself to take on. Nation-building responsibilities, The Sultan has never claimed to be the distinctive identity of the country he rules and, on the contrary, his policies have allowed Oman to thrive and thrive without oil. It can therefore be said with confidence that, above all, his willingness to accustom the population to prepare for the day when the Omanis will have to rely on their inherent skills, not on oil, will make the job of his successor easier.

Equally important, the sultan stood out among his peers for decisive military choices within the Gulf Cooperation Council, even as he actively sought to limit tensions with Iraq and Iran. Neither overly optimistic nor overly pessimistic, what is remarkable in his foreign policy choices is the primal quest for regional stability. Bowing to fanatics has never been part of Oman's character, although Muscat has opted for temporary pragmatism to meet the Iranian challenge. On the contrary, Sultan Qaboos sought peace instead of war, aware that the latter rarely promotes general well-being. What he has always aimed at is relevance, not adventurism, to create appropriate bonds with all neighbors, friends and foes alike.

This pursuit of peace is, for some, a sign of naivety that he chooses to ignore the excess. But the Oman monarch is wise enough. He knows that fear can only be overcome through determination and skill, and while his will to power is intact, he also appreciates that strength cannot and should not be limited to military might alone. A surprising lesson from a soldier-ruler.

Mountain Valley Holidays is a leading tour and travel agency in Muscat, Oman. We offer best deals on holiday packages. Get customized travel packages at affordable price. For more information - Travel Agency in Oman

Here, the best advise on how to choose the right perfume, ignore the sellers when buying, and not look for the "last" and try everything on your own skin.

Does Dubai suddenly discover perfume? Well, it may be an exaggeration, but something is definitely happening. I am surprised by the response to my last two perfume reviews and by the flow of questions that followed. Here are the answers to some of these questions.

If you're looking for affordable, branded perfumes in Dubai, Adaa Lounge offers quality perfumes from all major international brands, making it one of the best shops to buy perfumes in Dubai.

Q: What should I do in a duty free shop if an assistant comes to me and tries to sell me a perfume?

A: Move the assistant away. He or she probably knows nothing about the perfume, but has been responsible for distributing certain perfumes. Providing help is useless. Many duty free stores around the world work with on-demand assistants so that they don't really care about your needs. They are just trying to make money for themselves. This is why they can be so persistent.

The way it works is that even if you ignore the seller, he will stay until you go to the checkout. Once you have made your purchase (even if it is a process to which the clerk has contributed nothing), he or she will receive a commission. You don't have to be rude; be firm and tell them to leave.

Question: If I am alone in the store, how can I find a perfume?

A: Just browse. Remember that perfumes are not like clothes. For example, if you like an Armani suit or the style of Abercrombie and Fitch clothing, you can probably count on these brands. This makes it easier to buy clothes.

This does not apply to perfume. Most fashion houses neither manufacture nor even design their own perfumes. They order them from a perfumer in one of the few perfume companies that dominate the company.

There is also no connection between clothing and odors. Giorgio Armani does not design Armani perfumes. Even when a house designs its perfumes (Chanel or Hermès, for example), the involvement of the fashion designer is so minimal that it doesn't matter.

So don't buy with brand bias. Don't say "I love Hugo Boss!" based only on fragrance.

 Question: Should I buy what I like immediately? Where should I wait?

A: Jacques Polge, the legendary perfumer of Chanel, has always advised to always spray a little perfume on yourself and to go home. If you liked the evolution of the perfume over the hours, return to the store and buy it.

This is good advice, but unfortunately also outdated. To start, no one has time to go to the perfume shop twice. Most perfumes are purchased on the first trip.

Second, Polge composed its greatest perfumes at a time when most perfumes had three different layers: the top notes, the heart and the base. Perfumers would wait a few hours to see how the perfume dried up.

Today, perfume companies have realized that buying perfumes is a sudden and impulsive decision. They therefore put everything in the top notes (which you immediately feel) and are less and less bothered by the layered structure. It is easier to make a quick decision because what you feel is all that you will get. But wait at least ten minutes to see how a perfume develops on your skin before buying it.

Q: Should I smell the perfume on a strip of paper or should I smell it on my skin?

 A: Good question. Perfumers only smell their creations on paper blotters, so they are determined to say that no matter how you smell it.

But it is not correct. Different perfumes smell different for each person. We already knew this anecdotally. Now scientists have discovered that each of us has a special odor caused by bacteria on our skin. How the perfumes you smell depend on how they blend in with the bacteria in your skin.

So always smell the perfumes on your skin. And don't forget that they smell different in each person.

Question: How many perfumes do you smell in a store until your nose gets blocked?

A: There is no real limit for perfumers. For you and me: no more than five.

Question: Can perfumes cause allergies?

A: Yes. Ask my wife. When she enters a room where someone is wearing a perfume with ingredients that cause her allergies, she immediately begins to sneeze. I am forbidden to wear very beautiful perfumes because she is allergic to it.

Q: What is the most common mistake made by people who buy perfume?

A: Research has shown that customers always ask "what's the latest news" or "what's new"? This approach may (or may not) make sense if you are looking for a new song or the latest fashion trend.

But the smell makes no sense. Only about one in four new perfumes succeeds. (Only one in ten will stay on the shelves for ten years or more.) So if you ask for a new fragrance, there is at least a 75% chance of getting a dud and a failure that will soon fail.

Never, never ask for the latest perfume. The new is not good in perfumery.

Q: How do perfume brands respond to customers' desire to buy something new?

A: They use it to their advantage.

More fragrances are launched each month than ever before. Brands know that many of these perfumes will not last long. But as long as they sell many bottles in the first year or so to people looking for "something new," they will break even.

Q: Is that why so many "new" smells come from old ones?

A: Yes. You go to a store. You are asking for something new. They show you a confused range of perfumes. You don't know what to do. Then the assistant said "this is the new L'Eau by Issey Miyake". You know the original perfume. You know the bottle. So you feel comfortable with it. If you are told that this is a new, improved version, enter it. (Big mistake. The original is much better than the garbage that comes out now with the name.)

This is why so many successful perfumes continue to release new versions. Guerlain seems to release every year a new version of its success La Petite Robe. Saint Laurent continues to manufacture new versions of Opium. Hermes produced an (unnecessary) edition of Terre d'Hermes a few years ago, the most massive perfume on the market.

Question: Are all the perfumes based on an original name the same?

A: Not necessary. In the world of perfumes, a "flanker" is a perfume which is based on the original brand but which is different. So all Opiums have something in common, but they all have a different smell.

But it's not always the case. Often the names can be misleading. Chanel's Coco Noir has nothing in common with the original Coco. The first Kouros is a rough fragrance that suggests body odors. But Body Kouros which must be based on this theme is a very different (and more soothing) fragrance.

Q: How does it work?

A: It is not. But it reminds you that in the world of perfumes, nothing seems to be. Feel everything yourself.

Even Chanel No. 5 has at least four different versions on the market with four different formulas.

Question: Is it a good thing if my smell is so strong that when I leave a room (for example an elevator or a car), my smell persists?

 A: No. You are not an aromatic candle intended to perfume your environment. Use less perfume.

 Q. Is there a real difference between men's and women's fragrances?

 A: At the bottom of the market: yes. Women are generally better.

Above: none. I use them both.

 Q: What are your favorite "gentlemen" perfumes?

 A: Too many things to mention. I love classics like Dior Eau Sauvage. (Don't be fooled by the new Sauvage. Dior hopes to capture the benevolence of the original Eau Sauvage, but it's a dull, dull new fragrance. Stay with the real thing.) I also like Monsieur Givenchy (another one times Published).

 Among the last songs, Lime, Basil, Mandarin is always a rare and beneficial perfume by Jo Malone. (I think it was only the second perfume Malone had ever released before selling her name to Estée Lauder.)

I love the reissue of Yohiji Pour Homme (now difficult to find), Gucci Homme (still impossible to find), Sycomore by Chanel (unisex vetiver), Ormonde Man by Ormonde Jayne and Vanille Exquisite by Annick Goutal, which always improves my mood.

 Question: Why do you never recommend anything from Creed or Tom Ford?

A: I don't think Creed is worth it. Perfumes are not bad, only real and are generally purchased by people who do not understand the perfume.

 Tom Ford is a design genius who has done a lot for perfumery. I just think you can smell as good, if not better, without paying these prices.

Get 50% off on Hugo Boss Bottled Night Perfume For Men 100ml Eau de Toilette

Buy Hugo Boss Bottled Night Perfume For Men 100ml Eau de Toilette from Online at adaalounge.com Best Prices in UAE. Check Hugo Boss Bottled Night Perfume For Men 100ml Eau de Toilette prices