Frankfurt: Summertime in the city The inflight magazine of Oman Air | June 2017 | Your Copy To Keep facebook.com/omanair |
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Marhaba
Dear Guests It is a great pleasure to welcome you on board your Oman Air flight today. June is a very exciting month for Oman and Oman Air for a number of reasons. Not only does it herald the stunning pre-monsoon season in Salalah, the verdant green capital of southern Oman, but it marks the beginning of the summer holiday season. June also marks the culmination of the Holy month of Ramadan with Eid Al Fitr marking the end of the holy fasting month. To the whole of Oman and our Muslim brethren it is considered to be the most important day in the Muslim calendar. Oman Air always respectfully recognises and bows to the sentiments of those guests observing fast and strives to provide the required traditional refreshments during the fast-breaking time on board our flights. We would also like to wish our Italian guests a very happy Republic Day on 2 June and our Filipino guests a wonderful Independence Day on 12 June. Delivering your valuables to your desired destination safely is a responsibility that we take on with pleasure. Wherever you are travelling and whatever you are celebrating, I hope that you are taking advantage of one of Oman Air’s latest enhancements, our new Pre-Purchase additional baggage allowance structure. Further information may be viewed on our website www.omanair.com. Those departing from Dubai and London Heathrow may have benefitted from another new enhancement, our new
Mobile Boarding Pass introduced to ensure a seamless check in process. This initiative will soon be rolled out to other European destinations. We are always looking at ways to provide the best possible service and experience. Our journey to ‘Become the Best’ reaches every aspect of our operations. This includes most importantly catering to your needs, enhancing our services, adding efficiency in our ontime performances and motivating our staff to be proud participants in delivering our celebrated onboard Omani hospitality to you as highly appreciated guests. Many thanks for choosing to fly with us. We hope we will welcome you back soon.
Paul Gregorowitsch Chief Executive Officer
‘Middle East’s Leading Airline’ Business Class: 2016
‘Middle East’s Leading Airline’ Economy Class: 2016 ‘World’s Leading Airline’ Economy Class: 2016
Best Airline Staff Service Middle East 2014 & 2015
Navigation
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Diary
A wrap up of what festivals, events and sports are happening around the world this month
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15 Must-see Oman
Check Out
Daymaniyat Islands
Frankfurt: Summertime in the city
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Check In
Family Traveller
Artistic Oman
Family fun in Manchester!
30 28 Oman Adventure Extreme Sailing Series
Oman Heritage
Treasures from the National Museum: Safeguarding Treasure
Navigation
32 Oman Air’s inflight magazine is issued by : Corporate Communications & Media Department - Oman Air P.O. Box 58, Muscat International Airport, Postal Code 111, Sultanate of Oman, Tel: +968 24519616, Fax: +968 24510771, E-mail: wings@omanair.com, Website: www.omanair.com
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: advertising@npaoman.com National Publishing & Advertising LLC P.O. Box 3112, P.C. 112, Ruwi, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Tel: +968 24793098, Fax: +968 24708445
Landmark Travels
Hop aboard a Kerala houseboat cruise!
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Editorial Editing Director Paul Winter paul.winter@npaoman.com Mohammad Abu Al Majd Client Servicing Executive Ruwayda Al Barwani Designers Justindas Mohammad Asif Media Manager – Advertising & Marketing Vijay Murkute vijay@npaoman.com advertising@npaoman.com
Savvy Traveller Oman Travel Guide
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Photographic Contributors Cover: Getty Images Check In: Stal Gallery/Suresh Kumar/www.stalgallery.com Check Out: Getty Images/Shutterstock/Frankfurt Tourism Family Traveller: Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester (www.manchester. legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk), Go Air Trampoline Park Manchester (www.goairtrampolinepark.co.uk), iFly Indoor Skydiving Manchester (www.iflyworld.co.uk) In-flight Entertainment Guide: Global Eagle Entertainment/ www.geemedia.com (in association with Oman Air) Landmark travels: Getty Images/Shutterstock; Augustus Binu/ Wikimedia Commons Network News & Welcome Aboard: Oman Air Marketing Communications Oman Adventure: Oman Sail/Extreme Sailing Series/ Mark Lloyd Oman Heritage: National Museum of Oman/Photography © Saleh al-Ruzaqi Travel Guide: All images Getty Images/Shutterstock/iStock Diary Images: Art Basel/'Courtesy Art Basel'/www.artbasel.com ICC Champions Trophy/Getty Images Le Mans 24 Hour/Getty Images London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival/Getty Images Manchester Day/www.manchesterday.co.uk Must See Oman: Shutterstock Ramadan Night Market 2017/www.ramadannightmarket.com Royal Ascot Horse Racing/Getty Images Ultra Singapore/www.ultrasingapore.com World Club Dome/www.worldclubdome.com
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
Forest Stewardship Council
Oman Air News
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Please recycle after use
The paper used for Wings of Oman Magazine is duly certified by the PEFC and FSC, and contains FSC mix pulp, FSC recycled pulp, FSC controlled wood pulp, and pre-consumer reclaimed papers. The PEFC is an international non-profit non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting good practice in the forest, throughout the entire forest supply chain, to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. The FSC is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.
On Board
The publisher regrets that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.
Also…
In-flight Entertainment
Welcome Aboard
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Diary World Club Dome 2017 Where: Frankfurt, Germany When: 2 – 4 June What: World Club Dome is one of the most popular electronic dance music festivals in Europe, where some of the most popular DJs on the planet play to enormous crowds (last year included sets from legendary DJs like David Guetta, Hardwell, Martin Garrix and Steve Aoki). The stage production and light shows are mesmerizing as well. Oman Air flies 7 times a week between Muscat/ Frankfurt
Ultra Singapore Where: Ultra Park, Singapore When: 10 – 11 June What: This is Singapore’s biggest outdoor dance music festival that debuted in 2015. It forms part of the Ultra Music Festival tour’s worldwide expansion, which has now spread to twenty countries. The two-day event boasts top DJ’s, and spectacular stage designs and production. If you’re up for a party in Singapore this month, this is where you want to be! Oman Air flies 4 times a week between Muscat/ Singapore
More festivals around the world Champs-Élysées Film Festival (15 – 22 June, Paris, France).
Glastonbury Music Festival (21 – 25 June, Glastonbury, England).
Singapore International Festival of Arts (28 June – 9 September, Singapore).
London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Where: London, England When: 25 June What: ‘Our programme for 2017 promises to be our best yet. This is an excellent chance to experience Chinese culture, while enjoying the thrill of competing and raising money for charity,’ say organisers of this month’s London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. The dragon boat racing promises to be as exciting as ever, and there will be plenty of entertainment and activities on the go for the whole family. Oman Air flies 14 times a week between Muscat/London
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Diary Ramadan Night Market 2017 Where: Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE When: 1 – 10 June What: ‘A bigger, better and more exciting Ramadan Night Market returns this Ramadan to offer fun, frolic, family time and loads of shopping with irresistible offers for you and your loved ones’ Eid gifting requirements,’ say the organisers of Dubai’s Ramadan Night Market 2017. It’s all set to be a fantastic affair, so don’t miss out! Oman Air flies 70 times a week between Muscat/Dubai (49 Oman Air) (21 code share flights with Emirates)
More events around the world Ideal Home lifestyle show (8 – 11 June, EventCity, Manchester, England).
YogaFest Amsterdam (17 – 18 June, Amsterdam, The Netherlands).
Milan Men’s Fashion Week (17 – 20 June, Milan, Italy).
Art Basel Where: Zurich, Switzerland When: 15 – 18 June What: At this year’s Art Basel, visitors can explore and discover a breadth of modern and contemporary artworks including paintings, drawings, sculpture, installations, prints, photography, video and digital art by more than 4 000 artists. Basel is on the iconic Rhine River in northwest Switzerland, around an hour’s drive by road from Zurich. Oman Air flies 5 times a week between Muscat/ Zurich
Manchester Day Where: Manchester, England When: 18 June What: Manchester Day is an annual event that celebrates everything great about the city, turning the centre into a huge party. As well as an amazing parade through the heart of the city, Manchester’s city centre squares feature a dazzling array of performances, decorations and food. The theme for this year’s Manchester Day is set to be ‘Abracadabra – the real magic of science’ and the celebrations promise to be bigger and better than ever before. Oman Air flies 7 times a week between Muscat/ Manchester
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Diary ICC Champions Trophy Where: England and Wales When: 1 – 18 June What: The ICC Champions Trophy is the One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament that takes place every four years, and features the top eight teams in the ICC one-day rankings. This year, Group A will be made up of England, Bangladesh, Australia, and New Zealand; while Group B will consist of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka & South Africa. The current title holders are India, who won the last tournament in 2013. The Oval, in London, as well as Edgbaston Stadium, in Birmingham, and Cardiff City Stadium, in Wales, will be the three host venues for the event. Oman Air flies 14 times a week between Muscat/London, and 7 times a week between Muscat/Manchester
More sport around the world Dubai Sports World (1 June – 3 September, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE).
Tour de Suisse Cycling Tour (10 – 18 June, Throughout Switzerland).
UFC Fight Night Singapore 2017 (13 – 17 June, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore).
Le Mans 24 Hour Where: Le Mans, France When: 17 – 18 June What: Held annually since 1923 in Le Mans, which is around a two-hour drive southwest of Paris, the Le Mans 24 Hour is the world's oldest, active sports car race in endurance racing. Thousands of motorsport fans attend the event every year, and the festivities and atmosphere that goes with this prestigious race are legendary. Oman Air flies 5 times a week between Muscat/Paris
Royal Ascot Horse Racing Where: Ascot (near London), England When: 20 – 24 June What: Royal Ascot is Britain’s most valuable race meeting, attracting many of the world’s finest racehorses to compete for what is now more than £6.58 milllion in prize money. It is also as much about fashion, style, and socializing, as it is about horse racing, which makes it an unmissable event on the English social calendar. Oman Air flies 14 times a week between Muscat/ London
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Must-see Oman
Daymaniyat Islands
Latitude: 23° 51' 29" N Longitude: 58° 5' 57” E
Jump on a boat and escape to the islands? For anyone travelling in and around Muscat, a trip out to Oman’s famed Daymaniyat ‘desert islands’ is a sea adventure not to be missed. • The Daymaniyat Islands lie around 18 kilometres offshore of the coastline between Barka and Seeb – the two coastal towns a few minutes’ drive east of Muscat. • The archipelago itself consists of nine islets. They’re lined with deserted white sand beaches and rocky coves – and all surrounded by coral reefs and the crystal clear waters of the Sea of Oman. • Boat trips out to the islands take around 40 minutes. They leave from places like the Al Mouj Marina at Al Mouj Muscat, or Seeb Harbour, and on the way out, there’s always a chance you’ll see dolphins, turtles and occasionally, even a whale shark. • The Daymaniyats were designated as an official nature reserve in 1996, with the aim of conserving turtle nesting beaches, natural scenery, coral reefs and birds, as well as promoting ecotourism.
beach barbeque in the evening if you’re staying overnight. It all makes for a very memorable sea and island adventure in Oman. • Scuba divers can expect some magnificent underwater scenery. There are over twenty well-known dive sites here, with terrain featuring coral and rock reefs, giant boulders and swim-throughs – and a huge variety of tropical marine life. • Marine life is abundant. There are hundreds of colourful tropical reef fish species, large pelagic fish, moray eels, stingrays, turtles, leopard sharks, and plenty more to see. • During late-summer and early autumn, there’s also the chance you’ll see one of the giant whale sharks that cruise through these waters at this time of the year. • Currently, there are a handful of tour operators and wildlife organisations that arrange volunteer-based beach and shoreline clean-ups on the islands on a regular basis.
• If you don’t have your own boat, the best way to explore the islands is with one of the several marine tourism operators that do full-day or half-day trips out to the Daymaniyats, as well as overnight ‘full-moon’ camping trips at certain times of the year.
Visitor Information The Daymaniyats can be accessed by private boat, or with one of the many marine tour operators and dive charters that operate out of Muscat, and surrounding regions. (Note that you’ll need a permit to gain access to the islands themselves, as per Oman’s Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs regulations. You can arrange this through your tour operator, or visit www.meca.gov.om for more information).
• On a typical day on the islands includes swimming and snorkelling just offshore, lazing and lounging around your very own ‘private’, deserted beach, a picnic lunch under the shade of an umbrella, and a
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Check Out
Summer is the time to head out into Frankfurt’s city streets and start exploring
Frankfurt: Summertime in the city Frankfurt’s modern, high-energy city centre; its historic Römerberg Square; and the cultural landscape and museums that line the iconic river Main, all draw millions of tourists to this great German city every year. With maximum daily temperatures regularly reaching into the mid-twenties and more during Frankfurt’s summer months, now is the time to head out into the city streets and start exploring. Here are some ideas… Explore Frankfurt on foot… Like many great European cities, Frankfurt is best explored on foot. There’s just no better way to get acquainted with
Frankfurt's historic cobblestone squares, quaint alleyways, green zones and parks, it’s bridges, cafés, shopping streets, and stretches of river shoreline, than by walking. Currently, there are
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Check Out
dozens of tour organisers providing professionally guided walking tours in and around the city. You can also book a one-hour walking tour with Frankfurt’s official tourism organisation (they can be found online at www.frankfurt-tourismus.de), which takes in the city's most interesting locations including the Römerberg old town centre, the modern banking district, and Zeil, Frankfurt’s high-end shopping and pedestrian promenade. Also, in summer,
‘Frankfurt is best explored on foot. There’s just no better way to get acquainted with the city, than by walking’
Frankfurt’s traditional apple cider jugs are favourite souvenirs for travellers
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Check Out bus whenever you like to explore specific regions and sights around the city. Most hop-on/hop-off tours depart several times a day from various points, and tour commentary is usually available in several languages.
a simple, long walk along the banks of the river Main is certainly one of the greatest life-in-Frankfurt pleasures. See the Frankfurt skyline Frankfurt has some of the tallest buildings in Europe and a spectacular skyline – both during the day, and at night. For the best views of the city and its skyline, Frankfurt’s Main Tower is where, for around 8 Euro, you can take the elevator to the building’s viewing platform at a height of 200 metres. Its best to go a short while before sunset, so you can watch the city become illuminated with lights as daytime turns to night. The River Main bridges (especially in the eastern part of the city), also offer spectacular views of the city skyline.
Cruise down the river Main Scenic cruises that take you up and down Frankfurt’s iconic river Main, with accompanying commentary in German and English providing information on the most important sights along the way, are one of the city’s travel classics. From March until
Frankfurt Card: Travel cheaper! The Frankfurt Card is the perfect companion for visitors to Frankfurt. It enables you to take advantage of the city’s welldeveloped public transport system while simultaneously offering reduced-price admission to numerous cultural establishments and discounts on other services throughout the Main metropolis. Go to www.frankfurt-tourismus.de to find out more.
Do a hop-on/hop-off bus tour The various double-decker hop-on/hop-off bus tours offered by various tour organisers in Frankfurt are a fantastic way to discover the city. You’ll enjoy superb views from the open-top, upper decks of the busses, and be able to get on and off the
Frankfurt’s iconic river Main
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Check Out
The river Main bridges offer spectacular views of the Frankfurt skyline
2. The Römerberg: In the heart of Frankfurt's Old Town centre – known as the Altstadt – the Römerberg is a public square with a charming set of historic buildings, which is now also one of the city’s most popular pedestrian zones.
October, many river cruise charters depart on an hourly basis from various points along the river, every day. One popular cruise is the Köln-Düsseldorfer Cruise Line – a state-of-the-art vessel that takes you past many of the city’s landmarks. The vessel is equipped with a full range of modern amenities, including airconditioning, plush seating, a spacious sundeck, a bar and much more.
3. The Old Opera House: Frankfurt’s beautiful Old Opera House was originally inaugurated in 1880, but destroyed by allied bombing during World War 2. It was rebuilt in the 1970s, before opening again in 1981. Now, it remains one of the most important and prestigious concert venues in the city.
Frankfurt on your smartphone One of the easiest and convenient ways to explore the city of Frankfurt’s rich traditions, and bring its centuries-old history back to life, is with the Frankfurt’s audiovisual tourism app (which you can download off the iPhone Store for 4.99 Euro). As you make your way through the city, the audiovisual app’s online ‘tour guides’ – famous people from Frankfurt’s past – share interesting stories and anecdotes with you as you explore places like the famous Römer City Hall, the Frankfurt Museum Embankment, the city’s Banking District, and the historic, half-timbered houses and narrow alleyways of the Old Sachsenhausen district.
4. The Eschenheimer Tower: Frankfurt’s 47 metre high Eschenheimer Tower was originally erected in the early 1400s as a city gate, and part of the late-medieval fortifications of Frankfurt am Main. Now, hundreds of years later, it is a much-loved landmark in the city. 5. The Palm Garden: Frankfurt’s 54 acre Palm Garden is the largest botanic garden in Germany, and a beautiful place to walk, sit, and relax, and watch the world go by – especially during summer.
Summer sights
6. Goethe House and Museum: Frankfurt was the birthplace of Germany's greatest writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and the so-called Goethe House was where he was born on 28th August 1749. The nearby Goethe Museum is the only picture gallery exclusively dedicated to the Goethe period.
Don’t miss out on these top attractions in Frankfurt, especially during summer... 1. The Museum District: The embankment to the south of the river Main in Frankfurt is home to a large concentration of museums – and where you and your family can spend a fascinating day out at places like the Städel fine art museum, the German Architecture Museum, and the Film Museum.
7. Senckenberg Natural History Museum: This spectacular museum features, along with many other fascinating
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Check Out Frankfurt: Travel Info
exhibits, one of Europe's largest dinosaur displays. 8. The Frankfurt Museum of Modern Art: Opened in 1991, the Frankfurt Museum of Modern Art houses a vast collection of works from noteworthy artists – from the 1960s until present.
Oman Air flies 7 times a week between Muscat/Frankfurt
9. Frankfurt Zoo: Situated in the heart of the city, the very popular Frankfurt Zoo is home to some 4 500 animals (and around 500 animal species) from across the globe.
Currency: The Euro (EUR) is the currency in use in Germany. One Euro (€) is made up of 100 cents (c). Banknotes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500; and coins come in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, and €2.
Travel Info: For more information on travelling to Frankfurt, you can visit the city’s official tourism page www.frankfurttourismus.de
10. The Hauptwache: In the centre of the city is The Hauptwache plaza, which is famous for its historic buildings, as well as modern architecture – and which is a favourite shopping district and pedestrian area for locals.
1 Euro (EUR) = 0.43 Omani Rial (OMR) 1 Euro (EUR) = 1.12 United States Dollar (USD) (May 2017)
Don’t miss out on a summer sojourn through Frankfurt in 2017!
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Check In
Artistic Oman: Emerging artists Oman is fill to the brim with creative talent – from photographers, to graphic designers, fine artists, calligraphers, visual artists, sculptors, fashion designers, singers, songwriters, musicians, and many more. Here are three emerging artists that are currently doing wonderfully creative things in the Sultanate, and abroad.
The Stal Gallery and Studio, in Muscat
One space from which Oman’s artistic talent continues to shine is the Muscat-based Stal Gallery – especially through its annual Young Emerging Artist of the Year awards. The gallery went ahead with the event's awards ceremony at the beginning of this year, which was opened under the auspices of Her Highness Sayyida Afraa bint Talal bin Tariq Al Said. Out of around a dozen young Omani artists selected to take part in the awards, three were chosen for their remarkable talent and work. These included the Grand Prize Winner, Abdulrahim Al Kendi; the Best Presentation Awardee, Asila Al Habsi; as and Mohamed Al Kindi, who won the Best Concept Award…
Asila Al Habsi
‘Oman as a nation is full of creative talent’ 22
Check In Abdulrahim Al Kendi Abdulrahim Al Kendi specialises in photography and art installations, and he says that for him, Art has always been about re-imagination. Although he graduated with a computer science degree from Sultan Qaboos University, his real passion, he explains, has always been about the visual medium. He likes to create a contrast between the ideals accepted and prohibited in
Abdulrahim Al Kendi receives his ‘Young Emerging Artist of the Year’ award
society through insight and satire. His work tackles serious issues playfully, bordering on the absurd, and his audiences usually have a broad spectrum of reactions to his work which may spark a paradigm shift, as he explains.
Asila Al Habsi Asila is a Fine Arts graduate from the Scientific College of Design in Oman. Her artistic interests revolve around drawing, installation, assemblage, and Mohamed Al Kindi receives his ‘Best Concept’ award collage. Most of her art is inspired by the observation of her surroundings in addition to research, experimentation, and interaction with materials to produce a comprehensive work of art. The majority of topics covered in her work involve the reality of life where the artist connects it to science, research, and discovery. Her aim, she says, is to experiment and explore art beyond its traditional boundaries.
Mohamed Al Kindi Mohamed Al Kindi, who also goes by the name of ‘Chndy’ was born and raised in Oman, and while he says that he was rarely exposed
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Stal Gallery and Studio is a purpose designed visual arts studio and exhibition space in the heart of Muscat. Its mission is to promote the creation, appreciation and engagement of the visual arts in all media in Muscat and the surrounding region. For more information about the gallery, and its annual Young Emerging Artist of the Year awards, visit www.stalgallery.com
Check In to art, and that ‘the only art he knew were drawings on the side of his Arabic note book in school’, it grew into a more serious hobby when he began self-learning most of the Adobe computer programs before graduating from high school. This eventually led him to graphic design which he majored in. By the time he graduated, he was already semi-established as an artist in Muscat, and as he started his artistic journey into the rest of the Middle East and other parts of the world, his works began to get recognized, and continue to do so today. Now, along with his ongoing artistic work, Al Kindy aspires to raise awareness on the importance of creativity and art and its ability to push culture forward.
The ‘Best Presentation’ awardee, Asila Al Habsi
As these three talented young artists – along with many others – continue their work into the rest of 2017, the future for art and creativity in Oman continues to look bright – and beautiful, too.
’Abdulrahim Al Kindi was named the Stal Gallery Young Emerging Artist of the Year for 2016’
As Oman’s talented young artists continue their work into the rest of 2017, the future for art in the Sultanate looks bright – and beautiful
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Family Traveller
Fantastic family fun in Manchester! For travellers, Manchester is not only one of the most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities in the United Kingdom to explore, but it also offers fantastic adventures and activities for families and their kids. Here are some exciting destinations in and around Manchester that you’ll love visiting…
Manchester Museum: Founded as a natural history museum in 1821, the much-loved Manchester Museum now has four floors of displays and exhibitions, all of which feature fascinating collections and objects from all over the world – including a fossilised Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur named ‘Stan. Your kids will be enthralled.
Legoland Discovery Centre: Manchester’s Legoland Discovery Centre offers a fun, highly interactive and educational experience using the much-loved Lego bricks. It’s designed for kids aged 3 to 12 years old, but you are guaranteed to enjoy it too! Chill Factore: Enjoy the thrills and spills of this popular park where you and your kids can spin and slide around a bunch of snow slopes and snow rides.
Play Factore: Play Factore currently has what it says is the largest play frame in Europe, a gigantic fun slide, laser quest, a go-kart track, zip wire, and extensive toddler’s play area. It’s also located next to Manchester’s Trafford Centre mall, which makes it a great a great place to drop your kids off for the morning, while you go shopping!
Go Air Trampoline Park: With 200 interconnected trampoline beds, twin dodgeball courts, bounce basketball, battle beams, giant freestyle airbag jump zone, and a dedicated jump arena for kids under six, Go Air will provide you and your kids with an energetic morning or afternoon.
Sea Life Manchester: This magnificent aquarium has over 5 000 creatures including sharks, seahorses, octopuses, jellyfish and rays. During your visit, you and your kids can watch fun talks and feed shows throughout the day, and also study the sealife in the aquarium’s fascinating interactive touchpool.
iFly Indoor Skydiving: Indoor skydiving is the simulation of true free-fall conditions in a vertical wind tunnel, and it’s where the dream of flight can become a reality for anyone. Flyers from the age of three can experience the thrill of indoor skydiving at the
Chester Zoo: The award-winning Chester Zoo, which is a short drive south-west of Manchester, has been voted as one of the top zoos in the world, and is where your family can explore over 2 000 animals in a giant 125 acre space.
‘Flyers from the age of three can experience the thrill of indoor skydiving at the iFly’s 4.3 metre diameter vertical wind tunnel’ 26
Family Traveller iFly’s 4.3 metre diameter vertical wind tunnel. Jump Nation: This is billed as Europe’s largest indoor trampoline arena, and features 139 trampolines joined together over two levels. It's the perfect outing for any age, shape or physical ability, who are keen to bounce their way through the day!
For more ideas on what you and your family can do in and around Manchester, visit the city’s official tourism site www. visitmanchester.com
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Oman Adventure
Team Oman Air sails to success in China
The word sailing means different things to different people. For some it is being anchored in a calm bay, watching the sun set over crystal clear waters. For others it is high-speed racing against determined opponents, where the difference between winning and losing can be measured in millimetres. Team Oman Air fits squarely into this second group of elite competitors. In fact, Team Oman Air’s five-man crew are all veterans of the ultracompetitive Extreme Sailing Series, which matches international teams of racing sailors against each other in twin-hulled yachts. These boats can ‘fly’ above the water on hi-tech foils, and reach speeds of up to 30 knots (over 55 km/h). The Extreme Sailing Series is a striking spectacle that travels to eight different venues as part of a global 10-month campaign. It offers huge crowds the opportunity to watch top-level racing at close hand, with stadium-style race courses close to the shore. The most recent event in Qingdao was particularly appropriate for Oman Air as the Sultanate’s national carrier has recently launched a route to China. (The new addition to Oman Air’s growing network flies between Muscat and Guangzhou). “Our two countries have enjoyed a long history and our team here is really commemorating this through racing in Qingdao,” said His Excellency Abdullah Al Saadi, Oman’s Ambassador to China, who travelled to Qingdao to support the team on finals day. Sailing across cultures Outside of racing, Team Oman Air seized the opportunity to experience local culture, taking part in a Tai Chi session. The ancient Chinese tradition is believed to have many virtues, including easing stress. It is a benefit the Oman Air sailors may have been glad of after mixed results in early races. Varied wind conditions caused by the city’s high-rise buildings saw Oman Air in an unfamiliar fifth place after the first day’s racing.
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Oman Adventure the team leap up the leaderboard to finish on the podium in third place.
“We had a real stinker,” admitted skipper Phil Robertson. The New Zealand ace added, “The conditions were extremely difficult. It’s really frustrating when it’s like that because you can go from first to last really quickly.”
“We had a lot to do but Oman Air is a great team and we fought for every inch out on the race course,” said Oman’s elite bowman, Nasser Al Mashari. “The next round is in Madeira, Portugal, at the end of June and we will be going all out for a win.” With two of the eight Extreme Sailing Series Acts completed, Oman Air is in third place overall, with everything to play for!
A second day of mixed results saw Oman Air slip further to sixth place. However, a win in the last race indicated a change in fortunes. This was confirmed on the final day of racing when two more victories, including the double-points final race, saw
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Oman Heritage
Treasures from the National Museum: Safeguarding Treasure
In the past, Oman’s al-mandūs wooden chests were used to safeguard valuable items, and to store the dowry gifts of a bride-to-be. Here, the National Museum’s Director-General, Jamal al-Moosawi, as well as the Museum’s Head of Curatorial Unit, Moza al-Wardi, explore these wonderful Omani artefacts in more detail. (With photography by Saleh al-Ruzaqi/The National Museum). The al-mandūs, a lockable wooden chest fitted with drawers, including sometimes a secret drawer, was once the primary means of safeguarding jewellery, expensive aromatics, coins, fine articles of clothing and other valuables in an Omani household. Wooden chests
Wooden storage chest (mandūs/sandūq) Origin: Southern Oman Materials: Wood, with brass decoration Period: 13th -14th century AH/19th - 20th century CE Description: This is a ‘Bombay’-style chest. While the mandūs
also served as repositories for weaponry and for the dowry gifts of a bride-to-be, and were often used at sea to safeguard navigational charts and instruments, and the ship's log. Such chests were produced locally and also imported as treasures of trade from distant ports of call.
has been made in Oman for centuries, the majority of chests found throughout the country are treasures of trade, produced elsewhere. Many chests were produced by artisans living in the former Omani territories of Gwadur, Lamu, Pate or Zanzibar, or made to commission in other parts of the Middle East or the Indian subcontinent.
Malabar-style chest (mandūs) Origin: Probably Dhofar (Oman) Materials: Teakwood, rosewood, shisham wood and brass Period: 13th c AH/19th c CE (Sultanate of Zanzibar)
The National Museum: Visitor Information Telephone: (+968) 22081500 Facebook: NationalMuseumOman Twitter: NM_OMAN Instagram: NM_OMAN E-mail: booking@nm.gov.om The National Museum is open daily from 10:00am – 5:00pm (except on Fridays 2:00pm – 6:00pm). These timings are effective from the 1st of May until the 31st of December 2017. The ticket desk closes half an hour before the Museum’s closing times. Ramadan Timings: Daily from 9:00am – 2:00pm.
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Landmark Travels
Hop aboard a Kerala houseboat cruise!
The magnificent ‘kettuvallam’ houseboats in India’s beautiful state of Kerala provide an opportunity to explore the region’s backwaters in a way that would not be possible with any other mode of transport. So come hop aboard – and let your captain and crew take you on a luxurious, water-based adventure with a difference... There are dozens of tour operators and charter companies that offer single and multiple-day houseboat cruises on Kerala’s backwaters, and who provide an authentic experience of what life is like in and around the region’s spectacularly beautiful backwaters, rural villages, and lush green landscape.
years to transport cargoes of rice and spices around Kerala’s extensive backwaters. The story goes that when more efficient boats and land-based trucks began to appear in modern times, the kettuvallams began to be replaced. So at this time, a number of local kettuvallam owners began adding living rooms aboard their boats, to convert them into exotic-style river cruisers that could accommodate what were an increasing number of travellers making their way to the region at the time.
These days, while many of these kettuvallam houseboats are still made in the traditional way using planks of jack-wood and bamboo tied together with coir, and sealed and finished with a black resin made from boiled cashew kernels; some also feature a more modern, luxury design.
The concept worked well, and many travellers began exploring the region on these re-fitted houseboats. It also meant that
You and your family and friends can expect all of the creature comforts of a luxury hotel, including furnished bedroom-cabins, air-con, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, high-speed internet, private balconies, and gourmet meals from the on-board kitchen.
‘You can expect all of the creature comforts of a luxury hotel, including furnished bedroomcabins, air-con, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, high-speed internet, private balconies, and gourmet meals from the on-board kitchen’
According to Kerala’s official tourism info guide, the kettuvallam houseboats currently being used in the region are in fact reworked versions of the original boats, which were used for hundreds of
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Landmark Travels these magnificent old boats – some of which were already over a hundred years old – were thankfully saved from extinction. If you’re heading to India’s beautiful state of Kerala this year, hop aboard a kettuvallam houseboat – and let your captain and crew take you on a luxurious, water-based adventure that you won’t forget. Find out more… There are dozens of tour operators and charter companies that offer single and multiple-day houseboat cruises on Kerala’s backwaters, who you can find out more about online. For more information on travelling in the region, you can also visit Kerala’s official tourism site, www.keralatourism.org
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Travel Guide
Savvy Traveller
The Sultanate of Oman is on the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west and Yemen in the southwest. It also has two enclaves – the Musandam Peninsula and Madha – which are separated by the UAE. Oman’s 3 165 kilometre coastline spans the Gulf of Oman in the north and the Sea of Oman (which forms part of the Arabian Sea) in the east.
For the traveller, the Sultanate of Oman has a large variety of experiences:
There are currently four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Sultanate of Oman
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
• Aflaj Irrigation Systems • Archaeological Sites of Bat
A wide variety of pristine beaches and islands Spectacular mountains, canyons and wadis World class diving, snorkelling, and other water sports Turtle, dolphin and whale watching Wildlife tours in the Sultanate’s nature reserves and biodiversity spots Cultural sites including forts, ancient tombs and prehistoric cities Desert safaris and adventures A large variety of markets and souqs Museums and art galleries Trekking, rock climbing and caving adventures Horse and camel racing events Golf courses Various festivals, including the popular Muscat Festival and Salalah Festival.
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• Frankincense Trail • Bahla Fort
Sultanate of Oman: Fact Sheet Area : 3 09 500 km2 Population : 4 568 003 (2 094 616 expatriates) (2017) Language : Arabic (official) English (widely spoken) Capital : Muscat Local Time : GMT +4 Currency : Omani Rial, which equates to US$ 2.58
Travel Guide
Currency
The local currency is the Omani Rial (referred to as RO or OR or OMR). It is further divided into 1000 Baizas. Currency denominations are available in 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Rial and 500 and 100 Baiza notes. Coins are available in 50, 25, 10 and 5 Baizas.
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Welcome Aboard
Experience Oman Air’s Award-winning Services Welcome aboard! Oman Air is committed to providing you with a safe, reliable and seamless flying experience – enhanced by warm and friendly customer service.
Book and Check-In Online
Oman Air offers an interactive online booking check-in facility for convenient, stressfree airport checkins. The check-in facility is available for departures from Muscat International Airport, as well as a selection of airports on the worldwide Oman Air network. Online check-in is available between 24 hours and 90 minutes before your departure time.
Exclusive First Class and Business Class Check-In
With its own entrance and sumptuous lounge area, dedicated staff, and fast-track security clearance and baggage drop, the First Class and Business Class Check-In service provides an ideal introduction to Oman Air’s extremely high standards of service. These facilities set the tone of refined elegance and luxury which stays with the traveller throughout their journey.
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Welcome Aboard
In-flight Connectivity
Whichever cabin you are travelling in, you can send SMS or make calls to your friends, family or colleagues with our OnAir mobile services. Log-on and check emails, surf the web and update your social media with Oman Air’s WY-Fi internet services. And our greatvalue, flexible pricing means that you can chose the level of connectivity you want whenever you fly on our Airbus A330 or Boeing 787 fully connected flights.
Chauffeur Services Oman Air offers premium travellers a host of distinctive services that will enhance their travel experience. First and Business Class passengers can now take advantage of our complimentary Chauffeur Drive airport transfer service at select destinations across our network. With an attentive service that comes with a personal chauffeur, luxury vehicles and speedy door-todoor transfers, you can now travel in comfort and style with Oman Air.
In-flight Entertainment
Sit back and enjoy your journey in comfort, with a great range of the latest Arabic and international movies, up-to-the-minute TV shows, including satellite TV news, as well as music and games – all at your fingertips, and all on demand.
Oman Air Lounges If you want to experience the privileges of Oman Air’s famous standards of superior comfort and indulge yourself in a relaxing experince before you travel, enjoy a hearty meal, or simply unwind, our lounges ensure a relaxing start to your journey that reflects the outstanding Omani hospitality you will enjoy aboard our aircraft, all whilst preserving key elements of our deeprooted culture and heritage. Relax in our First and Business Class Lounges’ elegant environment and enjoy the very best in hospitality and service as you prepare for your flight. Our Bangkok lounge is designed for customers travelling in First or Business Class, and for those holding Gold and Silver Sindbad cards, and can be used and enjoyed at a minor cost. The Majan Lounge is open to Premium customers travelling on airlines operating from Muscat International Airport and for Oman Air passengers holding Gold and Silver Sindbad membership who are travelling in Economy Class, and can be used and enjoyed at a minor cost. Each lounge also has an experienced and professional team of customer service staff on hand to look after you before you board your flight.
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Oman Air News
Oman Air Launches its CSR Guide strategy, which focuses on supporting a range of sectors including SMEs, environmental protection, tourism and education.
Under the theme of “building a brighter future, together”, Oman Air recently launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Oman Air Cargo’s successful participation at Air Cargo Europe 2017 Oman Air Cargo, one of the most innovative and fastest growing cargo carriers in the world, recently brought its participation at Air Cargo Europe 2017 to a successful conclusion. The event is the world’s leading trade fair for air cargo and logistics, and was held in Munich from the 9th to the 12th May. More than 55 000 visitors from 124 countries attended the event.
Sindbad and Kaligo launch new offering to earn loyalty miles on hotel bookings Oman Air’s Sindbad program in partnership with Kaligo Travel Solutions, the leading innovator in travel and loyalty technology, has launched a new hotel rewards programme to enable Sindbad members to earn miles on hotel bookings at Kaligo.com. The partnership empowers Sindbad’s frequent flyers to earn up to 15 Sindbad Miles per US$1 spent on hotel bookings.
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On Board
In-flight Entertainment
Welcome to the world of In-flight Entertainment on Oman Air. Sit back, relax and travel in comfort with a specially curated selection of Western, Arabic and International movies, television and music - all to be enjoyed at your fingertips.
Movies Hollywood Hugh Jackman returns for the final chapter of Wolverine in the bloodthirsty, no-holdsbarred masterpiece that is Logan. Shifting the comic book genre and putting a refreshing spin on superhero conventions, the film has received both critical praise and one of the biggest R-rated opening weekends of all time.
With exquisite visual effects, a star-studded cast, and a tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast is sure to please audiences of all ages. Emma Watson shines as the intelligent, caring protagonist, supported by a stellar cast ranging from Kevin Kline to Audra McDonald. Relive the Disney classic that has already garnered over $1 billion worldwide!
Beauty and the Beast
Logan
Fist Fight
Harry and Snowman
John Wick: Chapter 2
Personal Shopper
Table 19
The Last Word
The Lego Batman Movie
Worlds Apart
*Entertainment Programme varies by aircraft type
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On Board Movies Hollywood Box Office Favourites
Hidden Figures
XXX: Return of Xander Cage
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
BOX OFFICE FAVOURITES
Gangster Squad
A Monster Calls
Hitchcock
Becoming Warren Buffett
The Blind Side
I, Daniel Blake
The Fault in Our Stars
Life, Animated
MODERN CLASSICS
Lion
A Perfect Murder
Live by Night
Addicted to Love
Miss Sloane
August Rush
Passengers
Batman Begins
Rise of the Sufferfests
City of Angels
Silence
Girl with a Pearl Earring Millions Ocean’s Twelve Runaway Jury
Fences
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
And many more... Please see the on-screen guide for your full entertainment line-up
Split The Founder Why Him?
The Darjeeling Limited
SILVER SCREEN CLASSICS
KIDS
Anastasia (1956)
Ice Age: Collision Course
Casablanca
The Iron Giant
Key Largo
The Secret Garden
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
Movies International BOLLYWOOD NEW Akira Dear Zindagi
Experience the deathdefying action and breathtaking Himalayan backdrop of Shivaay. Accomplished Hindi actor Ajay Devgn directs and stars in his highest budgeted film to date, melding family drama with thrilling car chases and epic mountain climbing in a performance that has been likened to Liam Neeson’s Taken franchise.
Shivaay
BOLLYWOOD CLASSIC Malamaal Weekly Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani BENGALI Haripada Bandwala Prem Ki Bujhini KANNADA Santhu Straight Forward Suli
Conni & Co
MALAYALAM Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol Thoppil Joppan
Tiger-hunting film Pulimurugan tops the charts as the highest grossing Malayalam film of all time. After almost 2 years of production with jaw-dropping CGI work and gorgeous cinematography, director Vysakh and lead actor Mohanlal have created a movie with heart and soul that will delight hardcore Bollywood fans and genre newcomers alike.
Pulimurugan
MARATHI Kanha Sairat TAMIL Bairavaa Chennai 600028 II
My Ex and Whys
And many more... Please see the on-screen guide for your full entertainment line-up
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TELUGU Jyo Achyutananda Pelli Choopulu URDU Ek Thi Marium Sultanat
FRENCH Le Coeur En Braille AKA Heartstrings Mes Trésors GERMAN 24 Weeks Original Bliss ITALIAN Fraùlein – A Winter Tale The Space Between INDONESIAN Melbourne Rewind Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan 2 MALAY Radhi Rudy Bin Dadu Upin & Ipin Jeng Jeng Jeng CHINESE Show me your love Suddenly Seventeen THAI Deadstock Suddenly Twenty KOREAN Because I Love You Split NIGERIAN Misconception Wives on Strike PERSIAN Inadaptable Spare Tyre
On Board TV Western
Westworld
KIDS Dora & Friends The Tom and Jerry Show
BUSINESS Marketplace Middle East
LIFESTYLE Inside Dior
Tech Transformers
Luxury Homes Revealed
BOX SET The Big Bang Theory
Million Dollar Critic
Legion
Premier League Legends
Critically-acclaimed Legion features the talents of Dan Stevens, Rachel Kelley, and Aubrey Plaza, and is directed by the meticulous eye of Fargo (2014) director Noah Hawley. Based on a character from the X-Men Comics, the series has been applauded for its examination of mental illness and identity.
Andy Cole has been a household name for Premier League fans ever since he won the Premier League Golden Boot as the leading goalscorer in 1993/1994. Though his professional football career ended in 2008, Cole’s impressive 187-goal record and 127 assists paved the way for the successes of Manchester United and for English football as a whole.
The Grinder
COMEDY Black-ish Fawlty Towers
And many more... Please see the on-screen guide for your full entertainment line-up
Tanked
DOCUMENTARY
MUSIC & ARTS Michael Buble: Live at the BBC
A Day in Lego
Talking Books
We Will Rise The Cars that Made Us The Great Math Mystery DISCOVERY CHANNEL Harley and the Davidsons Hello World Trailblazers Wondernasia DRAMA House of Cards Lethal Weapon Sherlock The Durrells
Peeta Planet
Stars Of The Silver Screen
SPORT HSBC Golfing World Project Acheron Royal Ascot: Like Nowhere Else Tour of Oman TRAVEL Great Escapes Masters of the Truffle Next Stop Planet Food Tales from the Bush Larder The Chronicles of Nadiya
TV International HINDI Mazaak Mazaak Mein The Kapil Sharma Show
MARATHI Chala Hawa Yeu Dya Tujhya Vachun Karmena
KANNADA Chinnara Chillipilli
TAGALOG Gandang Gabi Vice (GGV) Green Living
Naati Mane Punch Kajjaya TELUGU Boom Boom
Koffee with Karan
Fabel
Pillalu Pidugulu
Super Taste
TAMIL Kallaka Povathu Yaaru Pudhu Padam Eppadi Irukku Sunday Galatta MALAYALAM Comedy Stars Malayalam Comedy Clips BENGALI Didi No .1 Rannaghar
1992
Buyur Bi’ De Burdan Bak
2017 Super Star
And many more... Please see the on-screen guide for your full entertainment line-up
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URDU Chand Aur Chanda Honey Moon
CHINESE KKBOX Music Awards Tiger Mom INDONESIAN Indonesia Bagus The East KOREAN Another Miss Oh Devil’s Runway TURKISH Çok Güzel Hareketler Bunlar Gulduy Gulduy GERMAN Barbra Streisand - Becoming an Icon Hotel Sacher ITALIAN Gomorrah Romanzo Criminale FRENCH A Cottage Life The Olivier Pere Interviews
On Board Audio Western George Ezra
Wanted On Voyage
Pablo Martos & Alberto Martos
Depeche Mode Spirit
Franz Joseph Haydn: Violin and Cello Concertos
Boom Boom Satellites
Miles Davis Quintet
Shine Like A Billion Suns
Neil Sekada Love Songs
Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 5
Rick Ross
Rather You Than Me
Deacon Blue Raintown
Jonsi
We Bought a Zoo
Dolly Parton
The Essential Dolly Parton
Court Yard Hounds
Kelsea Ballerini
Coleman Hell
Court Yard Hounds
The First Time
Summerland
Marco Beltrami Logan
Johnny Cash
The Essential Johnny Cash
And many more... Please see the on-screen guide for your full entertainment line-up
Audio International Various Artists
Various Artists
Agrajan
Best of Bollywood: Wedding Beats
Various Artists Highway
Javed Akhtar
Jagjit Singh
MasterWorks - Javed Akhtar
MasterWorks - Jagjit Singh
Various Artists
Happiness GIRLZ N EFFECT
Police Quarters
Various Artists The Big 20 (Love Hits)
Various Artists
Got7
Yuvanshankar Raja
Essential Bollywood
Flight Log: Arrival
MasterWorks - Yuvanshankar Raja
Mika Singh Ishq Brandy
Leo Kottke That’s What
Astrid Astrid
And many more... Please see the on-screen guide for your full entertainment line-up
Radio Western & International WESTERN
INTERNATIONAL Oman Unlimited
Malayalam Chart Busters
Maestro Fatafati Hits
Cool Jazz Golden Oldies
H!TO Japan
Melodica
Easy Listening
London Calling
Chennai Parade
Bollywood Masala
Hipster Party
Gaon Countdown Africana Beatz
Top Hitz Sufi For The Soul
The Beat Eurosonic
Urban Vibes
Sinhalese Mix
Mando Blitz
Tollywood Tadka 45