Hi Weekly - January 15 2016

OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 54,000 COPIES

VOL 10 ISSUE 3 / JANUARY 15, 2016

ALL ABOARD

RIDE ALONG TO SEE WHAT THE NEW MWASALAT BUSES ARE REALLY LIKE FOR DAILY COMMUTERS PAGE 20

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THIS WEEK IN OMAN

SPRAY IT ON THICK

POP TILL YOU CAN’T STOP

MEET AN OMANI SUPERWOMAN

Go check out a collection of East-meets-West fragrances from Beary, a new Muscat perfume label. PAGE 10

Swap your chips and candy for bags of sweet or savour flavoured popcorn from Let’s Popcorn or mix-up a fancy batch of your own. PAGE 16

Fuelled by love and loss, Lubna Al Zawawi has built her life around the pursuit of passion.

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Give us a shout with questions, comments, compliments, complaints, or just to say “Hi” Founder Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com Chief Executive Editor Scott Armstrong felicia@timesofoman.com

Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta

hubert@timesofoman.com

Editor Hubert Vaz

swati@timesofoman.com

Senior Editors T. A. Ameerudheen Faisal Mohammed Naim ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

faisal@timesofoman.com

Chief Sub-Editors Mohammed Shafeeqe, Ashish Dubash ashishdubash@timesofoman.com

Online Editor Mahran Shaukat Ali

shafeeq@timesofoman.com Multimedia Editorial Assistants Shruthi Nair, Asmaa Al Balushi, Salim Hamood Al Afifi

mahran@timesofoman.com salim@timesofoman.com

shruthi@timesofoman.com

asmaa@timesofoman.com

Chief Creative Officer Adonis Durado Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphic Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Lead Designer Ali Jani Designers Antonio Ismael Sandiego Geri Batara Sonny Gregory Fernandez

Director of Digital Television Joe Morrison richard@timesofoman.com

Photography MMG Photographers Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenham

aziz@timesofoman.com

Head Of Advertising & Marketing Aziz K. Baker Production Manager Shafi Shaik On The Cover Illustration by Winie Ariany Design by Waleed Rabin For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

Muscat Media Group AN ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED COMPANY Post Box: 770, Postal Code: 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman EDITORIAL 24726600/24726666 Ext 235/160 felicia@timesofoman.com

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3 JANUARY 15, 2016

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THE WEEKEND LINEUP Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

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FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Attend Opening Night at the National Carnival

Muscat Contact Centre: 1111 muscat-festival.com

9:00pm Get Your Gangster On

Head to Seeb to enjoy the Hip Hop stylings of DJ Brooklyn at “I am Hip Hop”, a night of urban vibes at On The Rocks.

Golden Tulip, Seeb +968 2434 6765 goldentulipseeb.com

Make a Snowman

Go play in the snow at Fun Zone in Qurum, which has been transformed into a so-called snow village for the month.

Fun Zone, Qurum +968 2466 2951 funzoneoman.com

6:00am Go for a Hike Get your adrenaline pumping on a group trek through Wadi Kabir Hills.

Those who wish to join should meet the group at the Qantab Road car park at the break of dawn. +968 9931 8651 facebook.com/adventureoman

2:00pm Groove on the Beach Like a VIP

7:00pm Watch the Drama Unfold

DJs will be spinning tropical house, old school hip hop, and deep house on the beach at Al Bustan Palace for a crowd lounging on VIP sunbeds and sofas. Book ahead to secure your sofa set or pay OMR 20 at the door (inclusive of two beverages)

Attend Gaetano Lonizetti, a famous opera that tells the story of a woman driven mad, as she is unable to fulfil her dream of love as staged by the famed filmmaker Dario Argento at the Royal Opera House.

Blu Beach, Al Bustan Palace +968 2476 4000 ritzcarlton.com

+968 2440 3300; rohmuscat.org.om

Photography: Supplied

Check out the opening night of the month-long 2016 Muscat Festival at Naseem and Amerat parks from 4:00pm to 11:00pm.

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Going out of town to see any of these events? Tag us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

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KHALEEJI HAPPENINGS Broadcasting the best events in the GCC (January 14, 15, 16)

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FIVE TO TRY MUSCAT FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS hiweekend@timesofoman.com muscat-festival.com

“1001 INVENTIONS”

HERITAGE VILLAGE

DINOSAURS VILLAGE

Explore the golden era of Islamic civilisation and sciences discovered by legendary scientists and intellectuals at the Science, Technology, and Civilisation Exhibit.

Experience life in one of Oman’s ancient villages with open-air museums and displays set up using traditional materials and styling.

Enter the Jurassic world of Oman in an exhibit where you not only can watch recreations of the dinosaurs that once roamed Oman, but you can walk amidst them too.

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10pm, Thursday, January 14 Nick Warren Live Concert (Dubai)

Go and experience explosive house music by legendary English DJ Nick Warren who has been on the music scene for two decades. Ticket prices start from OMR12 with free entry for ladies before midnight. The event will take place from 10:00pm onwards.

Level 41, Media One Hotel +971 4427 1000 mediaonehotel.com; back2basicsdubai.com

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Friday, January 15 Shaun The Sheep Live – Save Our Tree (Kuwait)

Shaun the Sheep and his friends will be performing live at 7:30pm for the first time at the Kuwait City International Fair–Mishref. This family play follows Shaun’s journey to save his precious tree from being chopped down by the villainous farmer.

International Fairs Ground, Mishref +965 2538 7100 kif.net; kuwait.eventboxtickets.com

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8pm, Saturday, January 16 Mirrors Expo (Riyadh)

Attend the Mirrors Expo at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh where latest women’s fashion, jewellery, and perfumes will be presented and showcased by regional designers and brands. The event will have celebrities such as Hind, Amal Al Awadhi, and Shaila Sabt in attendance.

Four Seasons, Riyadh +966 11211 5000; +966 05502 04411 fourseasons.com/riyadh; info@goldengoal-sa.com

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8pm, Saturday, January 16 Russell Peters Almost Famous – World Tour (Kuwait)

Enjoy a two-hour dose of non-stop laughter with the one and only Russell Peters who will be performing his highly praised live stand-up comedy tour, “Almost Famous”.

Kuwait Sporting Club-Kaifan +965 6587 1770; eventat.com

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12pm, Saturday, January 16 Luc Tuymans: Intolerance Art Exhibition (Qatar)

FAMILY VILLAGE

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE

Spend some quality time with your family while shopping for handicrafts, learning how they are made, tasting new foods, and potentially winning exciting prizes as well.

Sit back and enjoy a diverse array of performances by artists from across the GCC, India, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and the Philippines.

Photography: Supplied

Visit Luc Tuymans’ solo art exhibition, “Intolerance,” from 12pm to 8pm at the Qatar Museums Gallery. Titled “Intolerance,” displayed work will include paintings and a new project done in Gulf region called “The Arena.” The exhibition was curated by Lynne Cooke, the Senior Curator of Special Projects in Modern Art at the National Gallery of Art Washington.

Qatar Museums Gallery, Al Riwaq +974 4452 5555 qm.org.qa

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Where did you escape to this weekend?

Show us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

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WEEKEND ESCAPE

SWIMMING AND SOLITUDE

WA D I A L Q A H F I Breathtaking views and undiscovered swimming spots await in a little-known wadi on the northern border of Oman STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY OLGA AYMERICH

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FRIDAY 08:00 Pack your camping gear and a cooler of snacks and barbecue fixings and head north from Muscat towards Sohar. After about two hours, just after Saham and just before Al Qasabiyat, take a right (any right) and drive until the road meets the sea.

10:00 Here, in the middle of nowhere, sits the ruins of a little abandoned tower surrounded by fishermen boats (24.498753, 56.024795). Get a saffron karak tea from the small shop nearby and sip it in the shadow of the tower while savouring the sea breeze.

11:00 Continue heading north. Stop and grab a takeaway lunch in Sohar before turning onto Route 7 towards Buraimi. After about an hour, take the diversion to Mahdah at the roundabout in Humaydah.

12:30 Enjoy the drive between rocky mountains through Wadi Sharm, a narrow valley with breathtaking views. The narrow, winding road will take you straight to Wadi Al Qahfi in Al Fayy.

13:30 Try to find a campsite next to the Nakhal Al Ghafa water pool and enjoy a refreshing dip before setting up camp.

17:00 Make a fire and spend the evening barbecuing and relaxing under the open sky.

SATURDAY 08:00 Wake-up with the sun. Hopefully you didn’t forget your Nescafe and tea pot at home.

09:00 Change into your swimming suit and continue up the road until you see the sign: Wadi Khamis 1 km. Take the dusty road on your right and park next to the falaj (irrigation system).

Swim between the grey stones of the natural pools, and continue up the channel.

11:00 Dry off and drive back through the wadis, past Buraimi, to Hamasa, which was once the capital of the Buraimi area.

Admire the remains of its castle (24.237136, 55.756313) and ruins of what was at one time one of the most famous souks in the Arabian Peninsula (24.143530, 55.764945).

13:30 Start your three-and-a-half hour journey south, and stopping in Buraimi at Caffe Bene (Grand Central Barka, 1st Floor, +968 9514 1225) to refuel with Italian coffees and sandwiches.

—HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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DARK DESIRES STORY FELICIA CAMPBELL | PHOTOGRAPHY ALI JANI

The Noire A romantic combination of French florals with Eastern amber and oud.

OMR 28

Elysium With basenotes of sandalwood, this delicate blend of luban, roses and patchouli is spiced up with pink peppercorns and deepened with the addition of oud.

OMR30

Oud Edit by BEARY A unisex fragrance with the raw intensity of pure oud accented with spicy oriental notes and florals.

OMR 37.5

Tales of the Mediterranean Breezy and light, the soft florals notes of this scent are made more mysterious with woodsy Arabian spices.

OMR22

As someone who is obsessed with oriental scents, from bakhoor to heady perfume oils, I was especially intrigued when I heard about Beary, a new Muscat-based perfume label that has created a line of modern arabesque fragrances that combine breezy florals and sweet frankincense with the unmistakably sensual, dark essence of oud. felicia@timesofoman.com BEARY | thebeary.com | Al Rowdha Boulevard, South Mawaleh, +968 9690 1566 | Souq Al Taybin, Barka, +968 9761 7450

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Drop-in Brazilian Zouk

Drop in Zumba Zumba, a dance-based workout set to Latin and International music, is less about dance technique than it is about having fun and moving your body continuously for an hour.

Unlike a traditional aerobic class, you don’t have to worry about coordinating your steps and doing the movements perfectly. Marissa Pontila has been conducting Zumba classes for more than 2 decades and was the first Zumba instructor in Oman. Her classes are so popular that she offers them nearly every day of the week, with different variations on the workout, like zumba toning (body-sculpting using zumba toning sticks), aqua zumba (basically zumba in a pool), zumba santao (incorporating chairs into the routine), zumba gold (a lighter workout for older adults). Held in the Al Muneif Sports Centre on the Al Khuwair service road, her classic zumba class is a great way to start the week on a Sunday morning.

Al Muneif Sports Centre, Al Khuwair Sunday, 8:45am-9:45am Price: OMR 3.500 +968 9902 0080 marissapontila.zumba.com

Dance is being adopted by many to lose weight, stay in shape, improve posture and muscle strength, maintain strong bones and bust stress, and Brazilian zouk, an energetic social partner dance, is the latest form to be adapted from art form to fitness regime.

The connection between partners in terms of breathing, body contact, flow movements, and energy make the workout an interesting team challenge. Zouk classes are offered at The Champ, a fitness centre in Al Khuwair that focuses exclusively on drop-in classes and supervised training for OMR 3 per hour.

The Champ, Al Khuwair Tuesday, 8:00pm-10:00pm Price: OMR 3 +968 9777 0498 thechampoman.com

Drop-in Pilates Pilates involves a series of movements done in a specific order that will stabilise and strengthen the core. The regime puts a lot of emphasis on technique and takes a lot of precision and control to give you perfectly toned and sculpted muscles and gain flexibility. Pilates is suitable for everyone, especially those who are looking to strengthen their abdomen and pelvis.

Learn to do it right from Amanda an internationally certified body control pilates instructor who takes classes at her studio in Dolphin Village.

Thursday, 8:45am-9:45am Price: OMR 4 +968 9350 9779 dolphinvillagemuscat.com

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Almost every year I make a huge list of New Year resolutions that I jot down on a piece of paper and stick to my wall, you know, for motivation. But this year, I forgot to make one. One thing I don’t need a list to remember is how badly I need to change my sedentary lifestyle and get fit, before I turn into a flabby blob incapable of climbing stairs or hiking or, most importantly, dancing. So, I decided to commit to working out five days a week. To get started, and to avoid getting bored from the get-go, I spent a week trying all the drop-in fitness classes in Muscat. I discovered five fitness routines that are fun and challenging enough in-and-of-themselves to be all the motivation I need to keep moving. — shruthi@timesofoman.com

Drop-in Belly Dancing

Drop-in Yoga The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of yoga are the seemingly impossible postures known as asanas. But yoga is much more than contortionist poses, teaching participants to harmonise the body with the mind through breath and meditation. The routines help to relax the mind and body, improve muscle and bone strength, and can even increase focus and feelings of happiness. For active people, it is a great addition to any fitness regime because it can help to prevent injury and improve overall fitness, which is why it found a place on my drop-in circuit. Since I’ve never practised yoga, I was looking for a class suitable for all levels.

The Palm Beach Club at the InterContinental Muscat Hotel offers several hour-long yoga classes each week, one of which is offered on Friday mornings. Especially rare as most fitness centres are closed or operate with limited hours on Fridays.

InterContinental Muscat, Shatti Al Qurum Friday, 10:15-11:15am Price: OMR 6 +968 2468 0000

Originating in the East, belly dancing is one of the oldest forms of dance in the world. Developed to suite a woman’s bone and muscle structure, all the movements originate in the torso rather than the legs and feet for an incredible abdominal workout that sculpts every single muscle in the core, even the hard-to-target deep transverse abdominals.

The Hyati Spa, which proclaims itself a “guide to beauty and health” offer hour-long belly dancing sessions with experienced instructors each week. Many participants claim to see immediate results, even if you can’t see it, you’ll definitely feel the burn.

Hyati Spa, Shatti Al Qurum Saturday, 6:00pm-7:00pm Price: OMR 3 +968 2460 1255 Instagram: @hayatispa

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LOVE OF THE GAME

G O L F

Azaan Al Rumhy learnt the nuances of the game on sand courses and drove all the way to the UAE to train under qualified coaches. His efforts paid off and he now holds the honour of being the number one golf player in the Sultanate.

STORY T.A. AMEERUDHEEN

Falling for the Game

Most Cherished Victory

A Sportsman’s Life

I was fascinated by the charisma of Tiger Woods after he won the Masters in 1997. His emergence on the golf scene triggered a passion for golf among many youngsters. I also loved watching my father, Mohammed Al Rumhy, the Oil & Gas Minister and patron of Oman Golf Committee, play on courses around the world. Later on, I too fell for the game and began discovering its benefits. I got a chance to play alongside people from all over the world. Golf taught me how to be disciplined, respectful, and patient.

Winning the GCC Individual Nett Golf Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2014 was the highpoint in my career.

I was only two shots away from winning the overall gross title.

I showed sporting prowess at an early age.

When I was just six years old, I entered competitive tennis. At ten, I proudly donned Omani colours in the GCC Junior Championship in the UAE. From then onwards, I loved representing my country, and I am pretty sure not many Omani sports persons can say they have played for the country for more than 21 years, like me.

We didn’t have many young golfers in the past competing for a place in the national team. Now we are beginning to see some good young golfers challenging to be part of the main national team.

It was very challenging in the beginning.

We didn’t have a green golf course in Oman at that time, so we played on sand courses, which was not a pleasant experience. We didn’t have the services of trainers or professionals to take lessons from, so we used to drive to Dubai almost every fortnight to play on grass and get better coaching. I struggled a lot while competing outside Oman on grass surface.

Losing the Muscat Open last year after having taken the lead by one shot with three holes to play was very disappointing, it would have been my chance to win for the 6th time.

WHERE TO HIT THE GREENS IN MUSCAT

Goals for the Future Almouj Golf +968 2200 5990 almoujgolf.com

Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club +968 2451 4080 muscathillsgolf.com

I would like to win all the two-day major golf championships in Oman, especially the Muscat Open, Oman Open, and the National Championship. I would also love to do well in the GCC Championship in Doha, Qatar in March and try to finish at the top in the individual category.

Fans’ Support

Ghala Golf Club

Advice for Aspiring Golfers

Golf is yet to become a popular sport in Oman, but it has a huge growth potential.

There are people who follow my results whenever I take part in local or international tournaments. It feels great when they congratulate me on winning events.

+968 9219 4957 ghalagolf.com

If you want to be successful, you have to have commitment and dedication and you have to be very patient. Follow the instructions of your coaches before implementing on the course.

—ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

Ras Al Hamra Golf Club +968 9910 6039 golfclub.pdorc.com

Photography: Supplied

Early Challenges

Most Bitter Loss

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Crazy Corn STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI

utritious, crunchy, and appealing to nearly everyone at every age, popcorn may be the perfect between-meal treat.

A classic movie-going snack, what most people don't know is that popcorn is a whole grain snack full of healthy carbs, proteins, vitamins, and fibre that is also low in fat and full in volume, making it a favourite among dieters and fitness enthusiasts too.

These days, it is way more than movie munch or diet food, with all kinds of options to jazz up the kernals. Newly opened Let’s Popcorn in Qurum offers a healthy air popped popcorn in over 22 flavours, from savoury variations like salt and vinegar and chilli nacho, as well as sweet versions like 'digestive nutella ninja', which combines cocoa and peanut butter, and my personal favourite, a sweet and savoury caramel sea salt.

Salt-free, air-popped popcorn contains about 30 calories per cup while these flavoured popcorns can reach up to 120 calories per cup, which is still far less than a bag of chips, a slice of cake, or a dish of ice cream. As you work on getting fit, trimming down, or simply eating a bit better this month, these crunchy, spicy, sweet, salty snacks could be the most delicious healthy swap you ever make.

—salim@timesofoman.com

LET'S POPCORN Al Qurum Gardens Complex Qurum, Muscat +968 9444 4006 letspopcorn.com HOURS Daily 10am-2pm and 5pm-10pm PRICES For sweet-flavours OMR 2.850 for small pack OMR 8.8 for large pack For savoury flavours OMR 1.6 for small pack OMR 6.250 for large pack

Where will you be dining this week?

Share your food photos with us on facebook.com/hiweekly, tweet us your culinary discoveries @HiWeekly_Oman or tag us in your instagram photos @hiweekly_oman

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MAKE YOUR OWN PERFECT PARTY POP Spice up home-popped corn by getting creative with toppings like pickled jalapenos, which will add a mild peppery flavour and tang or drizzle salted popcorn with melted dark chocolate for a rich, nutty, salty-bittersweet dessert. For a unique party snack, try this inventive East-meets-West za'atar popcorn.

HI WEEKLY

ZA’ATAR POPCORN Whisk 6tbsp of melted butter Add 2tbsp of blended za’atar spice Add 1tsp of kosher salt Drizzle mixture over 12 cups of hot popcorn Toss with 4 cups of broken pita chips and serve.

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Omani Slang Interspersed erspersed with the Arabic conversations overheard throu throughout ough ghoutt th tthe hee ca capi capital pita tal city,, even native Arabic speakers might be surprised to hear unfamiliar o he earr ssome omee un om unfa fami m liliar ar words. language Sultanate, there ds. Though Arabic is the official lan nguage in the h Sul u taana nate te,, th ther eree ar aree al alll kinds monthly ds of words and phrases that are arre purely pure pu relyy local. loccal a . Here’s Here re’ss your you ourr mo mont nthl hlyy primer prim pr imer er from Afi m Hi team member Salim Al A fifififi. —s —salim@timesofoman.com — alim al im@t @tim messof ofom omann.com om

Wait For Me Ih-roosni

Do you know me?

T’heedni?

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HI WEEKLY

Go Seer

These Al’la

He refused to Ma Taa’

Want to learn a particular Omani phrase or saying?

Get in touch with us on Facebook/HiWeekly and we’ll post your tutorial on our “All-Local Omani Tuesdays”.

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Have you tried the new bus service? What did you think?

Tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

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HI WEEKLY

i Was iN the passEnger seat of mY hirEd caR texTing A friEnd oNe moRning on mY way to woRk

when something huge blocked the sun that had been annoying me for a while. When I looked up I saw red. The signal turned green and my driver took off, I looked back at the massive bus behind us. I turned around and saw another bus sway awkwardly to one side as it stopped.

I turned to my driver and asked him why the bus was tilting like that. He told me that the new buses were “low-floor,” lowering when stopped to make it easier for the elderly and disabled to board.

The next day while I was waiting for a few friends (who were very late) outside of Muscat Grand Mall, I watched a parade of buses pass by. I noticed a woman frantically run behind one, waving her arms. She’ll never make it, I thought. To my surprise the red behemoth screeched to a halt, the door opened and the ramp lowered for her.

A country’s public transport system is a lifeline for the nation, from the local trains of Mumbai, the metros of Paris, or the subways of New York. And now the Mwasalat buses are set to become Muscat’s new lifeline, helping to ease traffic, lower carbon emissions, and give people like me, who don’t have a driving licence or a vehicle, a much needed way to get to where we need to go.

Many suffer due to transport issues in Oman. Taxis can be expensive and inconsistent and without public transportation, a large portion of the population end up depending on spouses, fathers, or friends who drive them around. I personally have had to cancel social plans and reschedule meetings and interviews because I was stuck without a driver. So, I saw these big red buses as a ticket to independence.

But, my hopes were tinged with doubt. What would it be like to ride the bus in Muscat? Would they be ontime and consistent?

Who would I be riding with? Would it be crowded and uncomfortable? How would I know where to go? I decided to find out by spending a week riding the bus everywhere I needed to go.

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For many in Muscat, public transportation is more than an economical way to travel, it is a route to a better, more independent life DAY 1: HURRY UP AND WAIT Day: Monday From: Ruwi To: Ghubra Time: Around 9pm Location: Ruwi I had decided to start travelling in the bus from Saturday, but destiny had other plans. I worked late and forgot to inform my driver. Angry, he left after waiting for me for 20 minutes. Left with little choice, I looked up the closest bus station, which was in Ruwi near the Ruwi mosque. I’d heard the last bus was at 9:00pm. I looked at my watch. It was 8:45pm.

I grabbed my bag and rushed out the door. It was a 20 minute walk or a 10 minute run to the station. Breathless, I reached the row of covered waiting areas in seven.

Wheezing, I asked a man who was sitting on the first row of benches which bus would take me to Ghubra. He walked me down the line of buses to the one under an awning labelled Mabelah.

I jumped in and found a seat in the middle of the bus by the window.

The other passengers were staring at me as I was panting, red-faced from my race to the station. Turns out, I was misinformed about the bus timings, there were buses running until 10:00pm and even later on some routes.

Relieved, I settled in. It was chilly and surprisingly quiet.

Looking out the window I saw a car park and an Indian couple with two young daughters get out and walk towards the bus. They were chatting and laughing as they found their seats. They acted like tourists, taking selfies with the bus logo behind them and checking-in on Facebook.

Behind them, I noticed the signs covering the walls of the bus: “No Drinking, No Smoking, No Eating”. As we pulled away from the stop, none of us were staring down at our phones, instead taking in the view from the huge windows. I noticed new shops and cafes that I hadn’t seen before, despite the fact that I was driven on this very route every day.

In the seat across from me, I watched a mid-aged Pakistani woman in a burqa travelling alone fumble with something next to her, and slowly rise to exit the bus as it came to the next station.

I looked down and saw that there were buttons with “STOP” written at the side of every seat, so the people wouldn’t have to yell at the top of their voices to let the driver know they needed to exit. It was a nice touch.

As the woman alighted, a stop ahead a Filipino couple climbed aboard. They found seats near the back of the bus and sat holding hands and talking quietly as they looked into each other’s eyes, something that wouldn’t be possible if they were driving themselves. Who knew a bus ride could be romantic?

We drew near the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, I pressed the stop button. On my way out of the bus, I smiled at the happy faces of the other passengers.

DAY 2: MOVING OASIS Day: Wednesday From: Ghala To: City Centre Seeb Time: 4pm I stay in Ghala and the bus station there is 20 minutes from my place, but the weather was pleasant, I had the company of my talkative mom, and lord knows I knew I could use the exercise, so I decided to walk to the stop. There have been days when I’ve walked for over half an hour in the blazing heat in search of a taxi, but this wasn’t one of those days, and the walk proved to be an annoyance with what felt like every cab driver in Muscat honking at us and offering us a lift.

I wondered if they were feeling the Mwasalat pressure. We reached the stop as the bus arrived and we rode in subdued silence. It was a pleasant refuge from the loud street we had just been walking on. A few passengers dozed in their seats as I pressed the STOP button (just for kicks), even though the driver was already slowing for City Centre.

DAY 3: A FAMILY REUNION Day: Thursday From: Ghala To: Lulu Time: 11AM After a few days of taking the bus, I was beginning to feel comfortable with my new ride. My curiosity about the other passengers had been building, so I decided to try to find out more about my fellow riders. I got on the bus, heading to Lulu Hypermarket, and found a seat next to a middle-aged grumpy looking lady who reminded me of Gru from the movie Despicable Me. She looked a bit angry and kept staring at me, which was a little creepy.

I tried to talk to her anyway. “Hello,” I said.

No response. “So, which stop are you headed to?” I tried again. She looked away. Though it is only a ten minute ride from Ghala to Lulu, I decided to change my seat and leave the woman to her mood.

I found a seat next to another woman who looked more pleasant and warm. She was probably in her 30s and was carrying a file in her hand which indicated that she was a working woman. I told her about my weeklong experiment. She works in Seeb and relied on her husband to drop her off each morning and pick her up every evening.

Use the interactive time table at mwasalat.om to get the specific timings for your journey and to download the full route map with over 60 stops from Wadi Kabir to Mabelah

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3 JANUARY 15, 2016

“I am not keeping too well today so I decided to just work a half day and go back home and take some rest. If it wasn’t for the bus I would have had to wait for my husband’s lunch break or ask someone at the office to drop me home,” she said. The bus had made life easier for the lady and her husband, and given her the flexibility and freedom she hadn’t been able to enjoy before.

We continued to chat and I asked her where she was from. We narrowed our geographical distinctions, fuelled by exclamations of Me too, Me too! until we discovered that we were actually related. At my stop she gave me her number before we parted ways, but as I hurried off the bus, I realised I’d forgotten her name, so I saved it in my phone under “Bus Cousin”.

DAY 4: DEEP PONDERING Day: Saturday From: Ghala To: Al Khuwair Time: 4pm My friends randomly called me and told me to meet them in Al Khuwair at 3:00pm, sharp. I left from home at 4:00pm. You see, I’m punctual like that. I found myself running for the bus stop for the second time in a week, and when I arrived, I found a crowd waiting.

A few minutes later, the red beauty arrived and we queued up. Surprisingly, the “ladies first” principle was in effect, and we all boarded easily.

I bought my ticket from the driver and a man guided us to our seats. I’d never seen a conductor on the bus before, but his job was to ensure that everyone was seated in an orderly fashion and that the bus decorum was followed, despite it being a busy day.

I sat in one of the centre seats that faced the middle of the bus, while most of the other ladies occupied the forward-facing seats in the front.

The conductor made sure that none of the men sat next to the ladies and when one man didn’t understand and tried to sit next to me, the conductor shouted at him and sent him to the only remaining empty seat in the back of the vehicle.

There were two empty seats facing me and one beside me, but he turned and told the other waiting male passengers to exit the bus and take the next one, scheduled to arrive in 15 minutes.

I reached the Al Khuwair bus station and was welcomed by four angry faces. I was almost an hour late for meeting my friends. After the miraculously good timing and ladies’ preferential seating, I couldn’t bring myself to blame the bus for my tardiness. So I just smiled and shrugged.

—shruthi@timesofoman.com

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THE DETAILS ROUTES Ruwi-Mabelah (Green Line) Ruwi-Al Wadi Al Kabir (Red Line) Ruwi-Wadi Adei (Blue Line) COST (from March 1st) Ruwi-Mabelah Route (Green Line) Single Zone: 200 baisa Two Zones: 300 baisa Three Zones: 500 baisa Ruwi-Al Wadi Al Kabir Route (Red Line) Single Zone: 200 baisa Ruwi-Wadi Adei Route (Blue Line) Single Zone: 200 baisa

GENERAL TIMING Sunday to Thursday Buses depart from Ruwi and Mabelah every 15 minutes from 06:00 until 21:15 Friday, Saturday, & Public Holidays From Ruwi: Buses depart every 15 minutes from 07:00 until 21:15 From Mabelah: Buses depart every 15 minutes from 07:00 until 21:30 CONTACTS Azaiba: +968 2412 1555 Ruwi: +968 2470 8522 mwasalat.om

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REDEFINING SUCCESS STORY SWATI DASGUPTA

I

t is often said that pursuing ones dream is the most powerful path to success. Lubna Al Zawawi’s unconventional path certainly proves this sentiment right. The 38-year-old, mother of three, has an adventurous streak in both business and in life. An avid trekker, she scaled the majestic heights of Jebel Shams, Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains in Peru, Helambu in Nepal, and reached the base camp of Himalayas.

“Now I am aiming to trek Mount Kilimanjaro before I turn 40,” says Lubna, who continues to redefine her life, passion, and work.

“I lost my father when I was just 17, and he was the one who always motivated me in life until the last day. He would say that nothing is impossible and that

if you don’t like doing something, try something else, but don’t just waste time.

I remembered his words all my life.” She fondly remembers her father letting her try snow skiing at the tender age of three, one of many examples of the way she was never held back as a girl.

Though her world was turned upside down when she lost her father, Lubna kept his advice in her heart as she pursued her passions. She studied fashion design in London before shifting to Boston University to study the classical civilisation of Rome and Greece, after which she earned her degree in culinary arts from the acclaimed Le Cordon Bleu in Florence, spawning a life-long passion for food and cooking. But instead of pursuing a career in the arts, Lubna’s heart lead her back to Oman and the family business.

Photography: Shabin E.

Omani entrepreneur, Lubna Al Zawawi, is not your typical business woman, because she has enjoyed anything but a typical life

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Having been born into an entrepreneurial family, business sense is literally in Lubna’s genes. “I was groomed to face the society and the world and was lucky to have the right exposure too. My father would always say that ‘Oman is the best country to be a pioneer because it is young and hungry’, and he was so right.” Her deepest inspiration, through her journey of self-discovery was her late father, Qais bin Abdul Munim Al Zawawi.

She became one of the Board of Directors of Alawi Enterprises LLC, the company her father, the former Deputy Prime Minister for Financial & Economic Affairs, established in 1975. “My father always wanted me to get a business degree as he wanted me to manage Al Alawi Enterprises. And I fulfilled his dreams,” she said with a smile.

While managing the family business tops in her priority list, she hasn’t let her creative passions fall by the wayside, opening three successful restaurants in Muscat and engaging with the emerging artists of the city. “Left Bank was first one, followed by Crafty Kitchen and then Eat Street. It was simply my interest in restaurants that made me start Left Bank,” she said. Next came Crafty Kitchen, a unique café and culinary school. “I

wanted not a usual cooking school, but a place where people could casually go and have lessons from professionals and hone their culinary skills rather than just bake a cake.” As a mother, she was particularly interested in creating a place where youngsters could foster their culinary creativity, so Crafty Kitchen offers courses for children throughout the year.

Her latest venture, Eat Street, is a restaurant built around reimagined street foods from around the world, drawing on the entrepreneurs’ eclectic tastes that developed over her years spent travelling and living abroad.

Collecting art is another of Lubna’s passions, which she is able to reflect in her business ventures. “I love the work of Coco de Paris. She takes old culinary vintage books and paints them. You can see her work on one of the walls at Crafty Kitchen,” she said, noting that she also loves collecting antiques. When it comes to the art scene in Oman, Lubna favours the undiscovered talent who have yet to grab the limelight. “Sara White was my best friend and she taught me lots on art.

She was like my mentor and I learnt how to differentiate between what is good and what is not from her.”

When it comes to family, Lubna

ensures that enough time is dedicated to her husband and three children, no matter how difficult it is to multitask.

“My husband Karl Whelan, founder and president of the Wolf Group of companies, has always been a great support,” she said, adding that she has learned a lot from him about quality control and management.

Ten years into a successful career with abundant passion projects and a wonderful family, most people would be content to rest on their laurels, but Lubna is just getting started. In the coming years Lubna aspires to help people to understand food in a holistic way. “People don’t need to ban things from their diets. Healthy food with occasional indulgences should be the key.” She does wish there was more local produce available in Oman to encourage healthier cooking and eating. “My hope for Oman is to have a bio dynamic farm here,” she said, referring to the extremely natural, holistic farming method that is cleaner than organic farming, adding that, “It is very easy to have ideas, but the real challenge is execution.”

If history is any indication, we should look forward to buying local, bio-dynamic produce in Muscat very soon.

—swati@timesofoman.com

Photography: Supplied

“My father would always say that ‘Oman is the best country to be a pioneer because it is young and hungry’, and he was so right.”

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3 JANUARY 15, 2016

Swimming Championships South Asian Inter-Schools Association (SAISA) Swimming Championships organised by TAISM in Muscat.

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Celebration Christmas and New Year celebrations organised by the Kerala Wing of the Indian Social Club held at ISC multipurpose hall.

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Virsa-Series 4 Pakistan Tujhay Salaam, organised by Alpha Events Oman and sponsored by Syed Fayyaz Group.

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SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.

Level | Very Easy

Level | Easy

3 9

6

7

5 4

9

6

7

4

5

3

3

7 9

2 5

5

2

5

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1

1

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Level | Moderate

1

6

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4

1

7

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8

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3 5

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6 3

7

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7 1

5

1

9 9

6 6

3

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9

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4

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2 7

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2 8

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Level | Difficult

6 8

2

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6

3 3

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2

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9

9 1

8

9 4

6

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4 2

4

8

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7

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5

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6 9

1 5 3

9

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5 9

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9

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9 1

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