Oman Economic Review – July 2019

64 July 2019

BOOK

O

ne year. Three sixty-five

days. Ten people. And a

commitment to preserve local

communities inhabiting the

majestic mountains- their way of life and

their traditions. This is what it took to

bring together the worlds of imagination,

innocence and age-old tales to create

Alila Jabal Akhdar’s first Children’s Book:

“Tales from Jabal Akhdar: The Mountain

That Touches The Stars”.

The book, written by Omani author

Azhaar Ahmed and illustrated by Omani

artist and founder of Dahareez Art, Ibtihaj

Al Harthi, was launched in the presence

of Jokha Al Harthi- the first Omani author

to win the Man Booker International

prize for her novel “Celestial Bodies”.

Strongly committed to social and cultural

responsibilities’, Alila Jabal Akhdar –

Unfurling

Oman’s past

“Tales from Jabal Akhdar: The Mountain That Touches

The Stars” is an amalgamation of wonderous tales that

have been passed on from generation to generation in

the villages of Hail Al Yaman, Al Manakhir and Wadi

Bani Habib among others

the iconic boutique resort owned and

developed by Omran, the executive arm

of the government of Oman for tourism

development, collaborated with Zina Al

Harthi, CEO-Green Room Communica-

tions put this book together to immortal-

ise ancient and modern stories imparted

by senior men, families and children

living in local villages. The five tales in

the publication unravel the secrets and

the treasures of the ‘Green Mountain’ to

children while capturing the genuine and

authentic aspects of Jabal Akhdar - from

the blossoming Damask roses, pomegran-

ate, peach and walnut trees to the gliding

starry skies over the rugged peaks of the

Al Hajar mountains.

The book is an amalgamation of wonder-

ous tales that have been passed on from

generation to generation in the villages

of Hail Al Yaman, Al Manakhir and Wadi

Bani Habib among others, and it unfurls

Oman’s rich past from its pages.

Expressing his thoughts on the occasion,

Julian Ayers, regional vice president,

Middle East, Alila Hotels & Resorts and

general manager, Alila Jabal Akhdar said,

“Today, with our first Children’s Book,

we embark upon a journey to enrich

young minds and manifest a world for

them that unveils the magic of Jabal Al

Akhdar. When we started this year-long

journey, we did not begin with the very

thought of a storybook. As a hotel, we

wanted to find stories to gift at turndown

that parents could read to their children

at bedtime – a pastime that seems to have

been forgotten. However, as our story

research began to grow, the book began

to come to life. Thus, we undertook this

project, in our endeavour to safeguard

the spirit of the mountains for our

future generations, and promote Oman

tourism and culture among our guests

and beyond. While we believe that the

rich and vivid Tales from Jabal Akhdar:

The Mountain That Touches The Stars

is sure to enrapture children, it will

also encourage other institutions in the

Sultanate to create art and literature that

highlight Oman’s distinctive heritage

across the world”.

The book is all set to roll out. It first

will be made available to all guests at

the hotel, followed by a phase-wise

launch at bookstores and libraries,

across the Sultanate.