FACES Issue No. 120

Issue 120, January 2017

Family Attitude Class Entertainment Success

Editor’s Note

When was the last time you said ‘I love you’ to the people who matter in your life?

Founder / Essa Bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman & Editor-in-Chief / Mohammed Issa Al Zedjali Chief Executive Officer / Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Business Director / Sophia Raman Editorial Consultant / Suzy Fontes Art Director / Pushpender K. Sharma Head of Advertising & Marketing / Aziz K. Baker

Our cover story is a venture in that direction, as we present the perspectives of love from a few opinion makers in the society. Whether it is their passion for business that brings to the fore this endearing emotion, whether it is an attitude of philanthropy, a sporting connection or a personal rendition on the subject, love and its all conquering power is celebrated here to infuse the pages with the palpable love energy. glitzy

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Published By / Muscat Media Group

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January 2017

We have peppered the different sections of this issue with flavours of the Valentine’s season to permeate your life with its goodness. Find out how to make the most of this day with ideas for gifts, the quintessential candlelight dinner and even apps that help set the mood. Get an update on the emotional upheavals men face and assess your understanding of your partner with a fun quiz.

Come along and savour the joys of love, in an ambience of fun and excitement.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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If it was recent, good for you; but if you cannot remember or are aware that you have never, ever, uttered those three little words, this issue of FACES might help prod you in the right direction. It may not get you up and running to the people you love to proclaim your feelings, but it will, hopefully, make you explore ways to find expressions for that endearing emotion.

Celebrate January 2017

LOVE 34

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Website www.facesoman.com

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‘FACES Magazine, Oman’

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January 2017

Copyright 2017 FACES / All material published remains the copyright of FACES. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. FACES cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material.

FACES Features 14 Cover Story

Snippets of the eternal ebb and flow of love, as opinion makers from different walks of life press the pause button on their busy schedules to reflect on the all-pervading emotion called love

20 In Conversation

A stroll down the memory lane with octogenarian Sneh Sunder, as she travels back in time to recount the old world charm of life in the 1930s, in her hometown in India, and traces her endearing bond with Oman, which she calls home

22 In The Spotlight

Muscat Festival 2017, a celebration of Oman in all its glory, with a lineup of events that are designed to accentuate the festivities

24 Centre Stage

Oman’s first ever drones workshop, to be held on February 27 and 28 at PACA Ballroom, will discuss commercial operations and safe use of drones

26 Feast On

Sheraton Hotel’s perfectly orchestrated Seafood Night is what a foodie doctor would have ordered to appease lovers of seafood and indulge foodies who have a refined taste for all things divine

FACES Health 30 Health Check

Marriage (a happy one) has a big say on the overall health of the partners

FACES Travel

36 Explore Oman

Whether you are a long time resident of Oman or a visitor on a holiday, you would have driven by or walked along the popular ‘love street’ and enjoyed its enticing notes of positivity

38 Just Travel

If you relate to the romantic connotations pegged on to the Valentine’s Day, you may want to mark these destinations in your Valentine’s itinerary

FACES Style 34 In The Luxe

As the season of gift giving marches on to greet Valentine’s Day with all things roses and candies, here is a take on lavish gifts that are created to convey your feelings in ways that only money can

40 Look Good

Give your hair the style of the season with trends that are creating waves in the celebrity circuit this year

42 Style File -

Enjoy a sneak peak into Mango’s Spring/Summer 2017 Campaign Make your loved one feel special this Valentine’s Day with the Valentine Collection from Malabar Gold and Diamonds

FACES Elements 54 At Home

Infuse your home in hues and shades of romance with some tried and tested décor ideas

56 Relatively Speaking Mindfulness is a mental state where one’s awareness is focused on the present moment

58 Man Date

Men don’t cry, men rarely say I-love-you, men are afraid to reveal their emotions…

FACES SPECIAL

48 Valentine’s Special

Find out if you know your partner well, as we set the mood for the Valentine’s Day with a well-planned candlelight dinner and open the world of apps that are designed to permeate your life with myriad hues and shades of love

FACES Razzmatazz 10 Star Light

From Marky Mark the rapper to an actor, producer and businessman, Mark Wahlberg has beaten all odds to make it big in the business of entertainment

12 Razzle Dazzle Latest celebrity gossip from the world of Hollywood

13 Tittle Tattle

Heard through the grapevine...

FACES Digest

64 Movies & Books Reviews of upcoming movies and books

67 Gadget Notes Roundup of new gadgets in the market

GET HOME SAFE

HANDS ON THE WHEEL EYES ON THE ROAD Safe MIND ON DRIVING

Indulge in romance at Al Bustan Palace Hotel Get pampered at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, this Valentine’s Day. The beachfront resort is giving couples the opportunity to spend quality time together and reconnect in a romantic one-on-one over a weekend escape on the shores of Oman. Their Valentine package includes Overnight stay in a luxury suite, breakfast in bed for two, and romantic dinner on the beachfront at Beach Pavilion Bar & Grill, among others. At the Six Senses Spa the package includes Signature Hammam and Balinese Massage; and the Scrub, Holistic Massage & Anti-aging Facial.

Mountain Romance at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Embark on a mountain romance at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, the highest five-star resort in the Middle East. The special Valentine package includes two nights’ accommodation or more in either a luxurious room overlooking the dramatic canyon or a secluded villa complete with a private infinity pool with views of the cliffs or hidden in an exotic garden. Couples can embark on a range of activities available at the resort allowing them to explore the nearby culture, history and landscape. With options to hike through valleys bursting with date palms and orchards of pomegranate, haggle over a silk scarf in the souks and wander through gardens of sweet scented roses there is something for all couples to enjoy

Special Valentine’s Week at MRM Enjoy a Valentine’s getaway at Millennium Resort Musannah, which has on offer week-long (February 10 – 17) romantic dinner options at its food destinations, in addition to special room rates with breakfast and dinner and ‘Weekend Stay’, where you stay two nights and pay for one. The Zayna Spa will have a 25 per cent off on all spa treatments too. The Special Romantic Dinner at the GCC lawn next to marina will feature a four-course set menu, while the Beach Front, with personal butler service, will include a four-course romantic candlelight set dinner. The Compass Bar will be the venue for fun karaoke romantic night with a special Valentine’s Day menu.

Spar’s sub-licensing Retail Model launched Oman became the first country in the Middle East to launch Spar’s sub-licensing Retail Model, following an agreement with Nakheel United Enterprises LLC. As a result of this partnership, 15 Marhaba Quick-shops at Al Maha filling stations in Muscat will soon be converted to Spar Express outlets. This strategic initiative will make Spar Oman a pioneer in the entire Middle-East region to introduce a voluntary trading model that promotes the cascading Spar Global knowledge and learning about store formats and design, supply processes, training, retail software and cost efficiency to entrepreneurs, by the master licensee (viz Spar Oman), within the country. Speaking at a press conference held to announce the tie-up, M. Sridhar, CEO, Spar Oman, said, “We encourage investors and entrepreneurs who have the willingness to engage in a mutually beneficial partnership to come forward and participate in rolling out this commendable Spar concept across the entire length and breadth of Oman”.

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January 2017

SalamAir launches ticket sales SalamAir, Oman’s first budget airline, is inviting passengers

Pizza Hut’s X-treme Pizza

Experience the extraordinary with Pizza Hut’s ‘X-treme Pizza’.

Available at Pizza Hut Outlets throughout the Sultanate, the X-treme Pizza, as the name suggests - is extreme in size, variety and taste; and is available for Dine-In, Delivery and Take-Away customers.

The X-treme pizza is a result of Pizza Hut’s focus on innovation and growth; and comes with some of the company’s most popular signature toppings in one pizza (vegetarian options included), namely the Pepperoni, Super Supreme, Very Veggie and Margherita. The X-treme Pizza can be upgraded to an X-treme Meal that includes all-time favorites such as garlic bread, potato wedges, large salad, 2.25 liter Pepsi - making it even more perfect for an entire family or group of friends.

to experience a new world of choice. It has launched ticket sales for flights between Salalah and Muscat as of the 30th January 2017, followed by flights from Muscat to Dubai from mid-February 2017. It is available through the user-friendly SalamAir.com website, and a number of affiliated travel agents.

Support is offered to customers through the SalamAir Call Centre via live chat, email and phone. SalamAir has introduced three easy fare options: Light, Friendly and Flexi.

Light, the airline’s lowest fare family, has been designed for customers who travel light and only require hand baggage.

Offering great value is the Friendly fare, which includes 20kg of checked luggage plus 7kg of hand baggage. For maximum passenger convenience and value, Flexi, has all the advantages of Friendly along with priority check-in and the possibility to change flights at no extra cost.

Angelina to open at MGM

Tea lovers can look forward to the opening of Angelina teahouse and boutique outlet at the Muscat Grand Mall. Angelina will bring with it a range of world famous pastries, macaroons and chocolates, along with a wide range of teas. The menu will also include Angelina’s world renowned African Hot Chocolate, considered to be amongst the best hot chocolate in the world, alongside its trademark Mont-Blanc pastry. The Parisian teahouse is most famous for its African Hot Chocolate and its Mont-Blanc pastry. The secret recipe for this chocolate mix is specially put together for Angelina. The iconic Mont-Blanc pastry, on the other hand, combines meringue, light whipped cream and chestnut paste vermicelli to delight even the keenest of palates.

Home Centre’s Catalogue features 850 new style inspirations 125 showcased rooms, 50 brand new ranges and 25 exciting ideas for kids are part of Home Centre’s latest 140-page catalogue, which was released recently. With over 850 new inspiring styles, this catalogue promises to let customers rediscover the joy of shopping for their homes. The catalogue is also available online and features interactive elements and new-age technological components such as a mobile responsive design and informative embedded videos. A new addition this year are the modular and mix-and-match solutions like the Blend table, Signature sofa, Stellar bed and Infinity wardrobe, which enable customers to select components that perfectly suit their space and personalities. This year, Home Centre has introduced three breathtaking collections – Arabesque, Marrakesh and Majestic - each of them inspired by distinctive styles and curated to create beautiful homes. The new catalogue also features ‘Great Deals’, offering customers a selection of best priced products.

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January 2017

M

ark Robert Michael Wahlberg has a magic formula for success.

It appears so… For the 45-year old American actor, producer, businessman, former model and rapper has found his niche in every domain of entertainment. He began his tryst as Marky Mark, the front man of the band ‘Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’, with the release of ‘Music for the People’ and ‘You Gotta Believe’. He later transitioned to acting; he made his big screen debut in the ‘Renaissance Man’ after appearing in the television movie ‘The Substitute’ in 1993.

But what makes his inception in the entertainment industry striking is the 45-day jail term he served as a 16-year old, just before his entry into the music fold. Born in a poor working class district of Boston, Massachusetts, Mark, the youngest of nine children, grew up in a difficult home, especially after his parents divorced when he was eleven. He dropped out of high school when he was14 (he did get his GED later) and took up a life of petty crime and drugs. During those days he also indulged his violent streak; when he was 16, he was convicted of attacking two men from a minority community after attempting to rob them.

Fortunately, the jail term proved to be an eye opener. Wahlberg has also pointed out that the jail time was his motivation to improve his lifestyle and leave the crime behind him. With the help of his brother Donnie, who was then a member of ‘New Kids on the Block’, Wahlberg turned his life around and became a rapper. Around this time he also signed a two-year contract with Calvin Klein to model their underwear.

Soon, Hollywood called and he has not looked back since. The major turning point in his career came with the role of troubled porn star Dirk Diggler in Paul Thomas

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January 2017

Marky Mark’s Success Story From Marky Mark the rapper to an actor, producer and businessman, Mark Wahlberg has beaten all odds to make it big in the business of entertainment Anderson’s Boogie Nights. He has since starred in such acclaimed movies as Three Kings, The Perfect Storm, Planet of the Apes and Contraband.

Things were, indeed, moving in the right direction for Wahlberg. “I did a lot of things that I regretted and I certainly paid for my mistakes. You have to go and ask for forgiveness and it wasn’t until I really started doing good and doing right, by other people as well as myself, that I really started to feel that guilt go away.

So I don’t have a problem going to sleep at night,” he is quoted to have said.

He then ventured into production and was involved in television series as ‘Boardwalk Empire’, ‘In Treatment’ and Entourage. He is also the co-owner of Wahlburgers chain and stars in the reality TV series about it.

Wahlberg and his wife Rhea Durham have four children and he has, obviously, learnt to excel in fatherhood as in business. As he says, “If I succeed in business but fail as a father, then I have failed.”

Jerry Seinfeld under fire

Orlando Bloom teaches drama to high school students

Pirates of the Caribbean actor Orlando Bloom may not be swapping his Hollywood career for a teaching job, but he just took a break from his busy schedule to teach drama to students at Cheadle Hulme High School in England. The actor has been involved with the launching of Laurus Trust schools, helping to co-create a curriculum and run workshops with the help of his former drama teacher.

Jerry Seinfeld’s inappropriate ‘Black Lives Matter’ joke has gotten him flak from all quarters. In his web series called Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry drives around a comedian and they talk about things while they drink coffee. The latest episode of the show features Lewis Black, and Jerry made the faux pas when he promoted it with these lines: ‘New! Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. Lewis Black. Black’s life matters.’ By making a pun out of a movement (Black Lives Matter) that began as an attempt to stop racism and police brutality, he has gotten himself in a racist row.

Princess Diana statue to be erected at Kensington Palace

At the request of Prince William and Prince Harry, a statue of their mother, the Princess of Wales, is set to be erected on the grounds of Kensington Palace, before the end of the year.

Diana lived in a Kensington Palace apartment and raised her sons there. At present the Palace complex contains the princes’ homes Harry lives alone while William shares an apartment with his family.

One Direction reunion?

A One Direction reunion is not out of

the question, feel industry observers, more so following Louis Tomlinson’s admission to the possibility. Tomlinson, who is busy promoting his new single, ‘Just Hold On’, with Steve Aoki, talked about the possibility of One Direction getting back together.

“There’s time for that. Nobody knows when. I think we’re enjoying a bit of time to ourselves, exploring our own solo things,” he said. His band mate Niall Horan has already released his track ‘This Town’ and Zayn Malik’s album ‘Mind Of Mine’ came out in 2016.

Rod Stewart to perform in Abu Dhabi

Mark March 2 on your calendars and get ready to go to Abu Dhabi. Rod Stewart is all set to make his first Abu Dhabi appearance as part of the ‘The Hits 2017 Tour’ on 2 March at the du Arena, Yas Island. “Fasten your seat belts. I’m pulling out all the stops,” he is quoted to have said ahead of his scheduled show. He promises to deliver a fun, energetic, show. “I’ll be playing your favourite hits, with a few surprises too,” he said.

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Tittle

a

“It came in the middle of this moment in my life where I had let myself go due to personal circumstances. And I thought I could come alive with Sheila. It was a really great goal line for me, because as much as the weight loss, everything’s very subtle — it’s attitudinal, it’s empowerment, it’s confidence.”

Drew Barrymore credits her character Sheila, in the show ‘The Santa Clarita Diet’, as the main inspiration for shedding extra weight “I just love what I do.

I feel very fortunate. To now be here launching my own shoe collection with an amazing artist and being able to work with amazing artists and do what I love, that’s where I get my stamina.”

Jennifer Lopez says she is always ready to give all she has, at the launch of her new capsule footwear and accessories collection, in collaboration with Giuseppe Zanotti

“She’s an amazing person, there’s no way I would be at 23 without her. She’s my inspiration.

She’s the only reason I’m standing here today and the only reason that the Williams’ sisters exist.”

Serena Williams called her sister Venus her inspiration after winning the Australian Open to win record 23rd major

“No, no, no, no, it’s definitely still a lot more modeling. I’m nonstop. But (photography is) just something I like to do that I’m pursuing, I guess.”

Kendall Jenner denies that she is concentrating more on photography than modeling

“I do have elements of the helicopter parent that I grapple with. When my daughters are playing on the monkey bars I try not to hover and say, ‘be careful’. I want them to find their own way and not feel over parented, but I still have that balance of knowing I am there when they need me.”

Nicole Kidman admits that she struggles with being an overprotective parent to her two daughters January 2017

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cover STORY

I-LOVE-you

Snippets of love and fragments of the ebb and flow of emotions, as opinion makers from different walks of life press the pause button on their busy schedules to reflect on love and its all-pervading powers

What is LOVE?

Ponderous question, we agree. For although everyone has a finger on the pulse of this universal emotion and, presumably, has an understanding of what it entails, there is no formula to govern its manifestations.

While literary giants over the years have found inspirational ways to describe and define this emotion and indulge lovers with doses of quotable quotes, it is the everyday expressions of love that keeps us captivated. How one perceives and translates this emotion is, in many ways, a voyage into human wants and needs.

With the approaching Valentine’s Day sounding the love gong loud and clear, we invited opinion makers from different walks of life to share their perspectives on this all-conquering emotion.

Here are their LOVE frames‌

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January 2017

cover STORY

LOVE is respect

Respect is one of the main pillars of love, states Sayyida Basma Al Said, Mental Health Counsellor and Psychotherapist We usually associate true love with red roses, candle light dinners and words of love. At times, we equate it with songs that make us yearn to be with the one we adore…and there are movies that talk about romance and how beautiful it is to fall in love.

As teenagers, we are, often, preoccupied with thoughts of finding our true love and that amazing husband. It is a basic human want to look for love; we are on the lookout for true love and we want to find the one that will truly love us, cherish us and look after us all our life.

It is one of those dreams that we all have as teenagers and even as we grow up - may be a bit more among females.

So what really is true love? Is it all that I said above or is it something more deeper and more sincere?

From my point of view, it is being with the person you care about, in happiness, in sorrow, in anger and in dismay. True love is respecting that person, which may not be obvious as a teenager, when love is all about the lovely flowers and movies. I think true love is respect and it is one of the main pillars of love. To me, love is knowing when the other person is happy or sad; it is when you know the other person needs support and you are there to give it. True love is eternal.

There are some movies that come to my mind when I think of love, and ‘The Notebook’ is one of them. It makes you feel as if you have got the whole world in your hand. In The Notebook, the part that interested me the most, was the protagonist’s true love for the lady... To me, to have that time and respect and patience is true love, and, I think, the movie showed that in an amazing way.

As we grow up, we notice that our understanding of love changes at every age. When you are a child you have a certain kind of love and when you are a teenager it grows into something else. It keeps changing as you pass through different stages of life...

Recently, I enjoyed a new kind of love. May be I have seen it before, but I didn’t realise it. It was when I had my daughter. Every time she looked at me as an infant – she is one year old now - I felt love through her eyes. I actually felt she loves me. Even though she couldn’t talk, I could see it. I can see love through my kids’ eyes. I can see it in my husband’s eyes at times… It’s not the same kind of love I felt when I was a teenager. It is more mature, more rational and more calmer - and I hope it will be infinite. *Sayyida Basma Al Said is the founder of the Whispers of Serenity Clinic for Mental Health

LOVE your business

Businessman and entrepreneur Qais Al Khonji presents a professional take on love and career success Your business should always be treated like a grownup child of yours, and, therefore, loving your business and seeing it grow should be a loveable feeling of pride and joy, despite the tough times it went through.

Seeing how far you have come can be an amazing feeling. In the present situation, some things have become easier, with more inflow, while other aspects seem tough to deal with.

There are, however, a few things you can do to fall in love again with your business… l l l l

Join a professional networking group of like-minded people, such as EO Oman chapter, of which I am a member.

Find new opportunities and challenges that will always keep you motivated.

Keep reminding yourself of the good stuff that has happened in the past and repeat with the new challenges you decided to get into.

Remember that failure is a first step towards success. Don’t give up; follow your dreams.

* Qais Mahmood Al-Khonji is the founder of Qais United Enterprises Trading and Genesis International; he serves as a board member for many Omani companies and is known for assisting Omani citizens in starting small businesses in the country.

January 2017

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cover STORY

LOVE is all we need

If everyone focused on peace and love, the world would be a wonderful place, says Jane Jaffer When it comes down to it, nearly all our thoughts and actions are governed by one of two opposing, powerful emotions: love or fear. An underlying fear of vulnerability, a fear of rejection, or a fear of failure, will lead us to think and act in negative ways – or not act at all. Fear paralyses us. We harm others and ourselves.

Love, on the other hand, is really all we need. But learning to love your friends and family is just the easy part. Loving your enemies is a far more challenging task.

Forgiveness is the key. An eye for an eye just makes everyone blind.

Jane Jaffer

But it’s not just a case of giving love to friends and foes alike.We must also learn to accept and receive love ourselves.

We all have baggage from childhood. Times when adults left us feeling hurt, neglected or misunderstood. We often carry these emotional scars into our adult relationships by developing defence mechanisms. Having a neglectful parent in childhood, may lead us to exaggerate our responses to our partner in order to seek attention. An intrusive parent in childhood may lead one to withdraw or not respond at all. We either maximise or minimise our responses. Sometimes we reject loving gestures because we feel unworthy or because we want to play the victim.

Analysing why we think and act the way we do can lead to greater self-awareness and, ultimately, improve our relationships. Being aware of negative thought patterns and asking this question before taking any major decision, can really help. Am I acting out of love or out of fear? * Jane Jaffer is a writer and therapeutic counsellor.

LOVE of the game

All golfers in the world have this unique love relationship with the game of golf, maintains Azaan Al Rumhy, Oman’s leading amateur golfer Being a passionate sportsman since I was a little kid of six years got me to devote a lot of my time to practice and compete in tournaments. I have always loved sports in general, but particularly tennis, when I was really young; that was till I switched to golf when I was 14 years old.

Pretty much all golfers in the world have this unique love relationship with the game of golf and there have been many jokes about how golfers love the game even more than their wives (ha ha) and find any reason to spare time to have a round of golf! It is even known that ladies who have husbands that play golf are called Golf Widows…

It’s so easy to get addicted to the game once you get the hang of it and start hitting good shots that make you want to come back and play again for the love of the game. For me, personally, being supposedly the best Omani golfer, I feel responsible to practice harder and play better for me to represent my country Oman in the best possible way in regional championships. * Azaan Al Rumhy is Oman’s leading golfer

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January 2017

Azaan Al Rumhy

cover STORY

LOVE is energy

Learn how to love your own self in a humbling way, is the advice from Rym Aoudia of Knowledge Oman You are love. I am love. To love is to both give and receive. To love is to uplift. To love is an energy that awakens, connects and transforms. Simply said, yet not easily applied, and that itself is a journey.

To love is to also overcome the barriers that get in the way of truly loving.

To authentically love and not just love the concept of love, is to first learn how to love our own self in a humbling grateful way, to tap into love within and not seek it in external matters, and from there we are able to channel out this flow of love to the peo ple and world around us.

Rym Aoudia

Diverse concepts have been moulded to fit the frame of love. Find love within, savour it, be in the moment with it, you will taste it, you will realise and appreciate when you receive it from others and be open to embracing it, you will give it to others; you will be love.

Let us all awaken the love within, give and receive, and live life from the loving vibes. * Rym Aoudia is an entrepreneur, coach, TV news anchor, and is actively engaged in community leadership and development through Knowledge Oman. She is involved in capacity building and has facilitated sessions in youth empowerment, personal development, creativity and innovation, and entrepreneurship.

LOVE is all conquering

Love makes life easier to comprehend, feels Saif Al Kindi, author of Tales of Zenus Love is a word that equals the world to us. It is one of the greatest feelings of existence. It is the core that all relationships evolve around. It is a force that we need to make the world as better as we need to. It conquers both heart and soul, smoothing our conscience to realise what it means to live.

With love, life is easier to comprehend and things become meaningful. The more you give love to others, the more you express it to others; the more you feel it, the more you value yourself. Love is a sign of a good heart.

It is the air humanity needs to breathe.

Without love, humankind would live in endless turmoil and chaos. We depend on love for living, as it is the water that fills our emotions. It is what makes our bonds exist and grow stronger. In life, one should hold on to those who love them. Nothing can make our lives worth living like the inner feeling we realise as love. If I would write a serenade of love, a thousand words wouldn’t be enough to describe what it really means to be touched by love.

Plant the seeds of love in your heart and water your existence with the love you have from those around you. It is never fair to live your life alone if you want to enjoy every moment of it. Love and spread love to others for life is about love. * Saif Al Kindi is a teacher of English language. He wrote his first novel in 2007 and published it as a booklet for the students of SQU. His first published book, ‘Tales of Zenus’, is a fantasy novel. He is currently working on two new books.

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cover STORY

LOVE and leadership Shatha Al Maskiry, Managing Director of Protiviti, equates leadership with sincere love Leadership today is just like sincere love. You need purpose and passion to fuel your potential. Your vision and values create the environmental culture and it is in your power to tactfully foster that positive climate. Any misalignment between your values and your actions results in consequences that are tough to sustain because progress is usually at the speed of trust.

Good love is sometimes tough love, and it is the same with leadership. Just like lovers, leaders who try to be pleasers end up diluting their essence; without essence, you lose your purpose.

Strong leaders always aim high with a need to play a transformational role, which requires authenticity, compassion and strong ethics. We all fail sometimes, be it in romantic relationships or friendships, and the same applies in business relationships. But we can change our mindsets and view such experiences as valuable feedback and lessons to educate others.

What differentiates great leaders is the level of emotional intelligence that they tap into, as it is the core binder of making relationships work, just like it would make a friendship or romantic

LOVE and

responsibility

An unconditional love for the less privileged has defined the lives and goals of Barka Al Bakry, founder member of the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children, and Tariq Jawad Al Khabori, founder of Oman Disabled Divers Association, who present their perspectives on the importance of love in the care of handicapped children

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or Barka Al Bakry love is a sense of giving. “It is an acknowledgement that you have enough and are able to give a little back,” she says, pointing out that that ‘giving back’ may manifest in a variety of voluntary works – whether it is cleaning the beaches or volunteering in places like old age homes, handicapped centres, etc. were love and dedication is essential. “You have to have an interest and you have to enjoy the act of giving,” she maintains.

Reiterating similar sentiments, Tariq Al Khabori equates love with responsibility. “It is a part of my social responsibility which I have to fulfil, irrespective of the religion I follow,” he stresses.

It was this sense of responsibility that spurred him to initiate events like Race Aid, which saw the publication of a booklet, way back in the 1980s, to raise funds for the handicapped children. He became a part of the Welfare of Handicapped Children with Barka Bakry and Raya Al Riyami and conceived ways to generate funds, one of which was the picture postcards, created from art works made by the handicapped children.

He attributes his long association with NGOs dedicated to help handicapped children to his personal belief that it is a duty to fulfil. Pondering over the subject, he states: “I do not know if it was love for the children or a sense of duty, but thanks to like-minded friends I have been able to do whatever best I could.”

The objective, in all the welfare projects undertaken, is to see that somebody benefits from the ‘giving’, maintains Barka, stressing that love is all about making life a little more easy for the other person. The element of giving was the inspiration that drove her and the team, including Raya and Tariq, to establish a handicapped centre in Quriyat. Narrating the events leading to its set up, in the early 1990s, she explains: “We knew there were a few handicapped children in Quriyat, but what roused our interest was the story of a 12-year-old boy who was deaf and was regarded as mad by the community.

They threw stones at him and he used to, naturally, react violently, as he couldn’t talk. We went there and started an ad hoc school with two children (Raya did the initial work) behind the wall of the government school.

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January 2017

Those who succeed in life and business keep an eye on the big picture. This means letting go of petty perceived slights and road bumps that present themselves each and every day. When you keep the end goal at the top of your mind, it is easier to negotiate with a difficult client, create successful win-win partnerships, and focus your energy on what is most important.

cover STORY

relationship work. We have heard, many times, that talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. This is a great reminder that lip service does not give any weight to commitment or accountability. It all boils down to the commitments you honour, the deals you close and the people you help.

Good business feeds off good energy - and negative people can destroy an organisation. Entrepreneurs with high Emotional Quotients know there are enough positive people in the world that there is no need to waste valuable energy managing the toxic ones. Sometimes even high performers are not a good fit if they are manipulative, combative or otherwise a negative force in the office.

Ditto for your love life and business relationships. If someone zaps your energy or otherwise makes you feel bad about yourself, have the strength to move on. Emotionally intelligent people have little tolerance for others who are insincere (or downright lie), critical, needy or have addictive habits.

Just because a relationship ends doesn’t mean that you have to obliterate the bridge. Even if a deal falls apart on a sour note, emotionally intelligent people make all efforts to take the high road and keep the connection alive and positive. You never know when you may cross paths again - or need that person in the future. *Shatha Al Maskiry leads a multi discipline consulting practice and has 18 years of experience with global firms. She devises strategies to lead with impact through client service excellence across a spectrum of innovative business solutions.

“But we soon had to move from there as the weather was getting warm and the school was reopening for the new term. The local Omani Women’s Association gave us a room, as their activities were limited during summer. But we had to give that up too in October when they started their programmes…”

The team then enlisted the help of mothers to look for a place and picked the old office of the Wali. It was in a decrepit state with broken windows and rusted pipes, but the ladies agreed to turn that into a centre and got together to clean it up and make it habitable.

The core team then went about collecting funds for the renovation and, with the help of some benevolent individuals, managed to open it with a grand inauguration at the hands of Sayyid Bargash Bin Said, the then deputy governor. Barka however recalls that the renovation had happened despite the orders for demolition of the structure by Sayyid Bargash. “I explained to him about the children and he expressed his helplessness as he could not legally give us that place. So I said ok, I will rent it for one rial a month and we signed a contract…” she recalls, adding that the structure later was converted into a library.

There were, however, several snags in the completion of the renovation work. One that she remembers distinctly involved a municipality personnel, who called her up to vent his anger for undertaking the work when they had orders for demolition. “After he finished his rant, I asked him, do you have a handicapped child. ‘Do you think parents who have handicapped children asked for them?’ I said, ‘don’t think you are above anybody. It could happen to you, it could happen to me. If you think you are strong today you never know what could happen tomorrow to you.’ And then I banged the phone down.

In half an hour he called me back…very apologetic.

He said you told me something very painful. Please go ahead with the work,” she recounts, adding that it is basic human love that helps us in identifying the goodness in others.

But she feels that the ‘giving’ is never enough. “Sometimes you cannot do everything, but if it is within your power and ability then you are called upon. If somebody needs and calls you, will you have the peace of mind to ignore…?” she asks.

The essence of giving is resplendent in all their activities. There have been many success stories since, but what makes Tariq emotional, even today, is the story of a young handicapped child, whose father approached the Association asking for a wheelchair for her, as she had to, otherwise, crawl everywhere. The girl was so passionate about her studies that she passed out with the top 95 per cent, he points out, proudly.

In all the positive stories he acknowledges the help rendered by individuals and companies in meeting the needs of the disabled children - whether it is a pharmacy supplying a wheelchair or the Municipality hosting the children at the annual Muscat Festival. “It is always a team work,” he states, crediting the sentiments of care and giving shared by people in the society.

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in CONVERSATION 20

In love with Oman A stroll down the memory lane with octogenarian Sneh Sunder, as she travels back in time to recount the old world charm of life in the 1930s, in her hometown in India, and traces her endearing bond with Oman, which she calls home “I led a very secluded life,” muses Sneh Sunder, as she settles down in her backyard to narrate her life story, which has, paradoxically, witnessed the chaotic days of World War II and the aftermath of partition between India and Pakistan. “I was brought up in a very old fashioned manner…there was nothing modern about us,” she continues, in a clear modulated voice that belies her age, which she points out, later, as 86!

Dressed in an elegant off-white sari, she carries an aura of contentment, which, obviously, stems from her treasure box of pleasant memories that marked her early childhood and shaped her enduring passion for creative pursuits and a desire to connect with people around her.

While the latter is obvious in the coterie of friends she has made in her neighbourhood here, hints of her creativity are spread all over the house and her garden, which is resplendent with flowering shrubs, vegetable patches and the quintessential lime tree.

The cool winter breeze and the chirping birds in the garden present a perfect setting for a nostalgic trip down the memory lane. And as Sneh continues to reminisce about her early childhood and self-inspired growth in the field of art, there is an overwhelming desire to disengage from the present and go back in time to piece her words with sepia-toned visuals.

Born and brought up in

January 2017

Ranchi, India, life was a flow of simple events, governed more by nature, as they lived in the forest area (her father was a forest officer). There was only one school in the locality; but following the World War II in 1939 that school too was gradually turned into a hospital, and they had to rely on private tuitions.

Around this time, Loreto Convent nuns came from Calcutta and opened a school in one of the private homes that was previously occupied by an English lady. Sneh completed her Junior Cambridge and Senior Cambridge at this coeducational school, but had to leave home soon after, as there was no college in Ranchi. It was decided that she would go to Lady Irwin in Delhi. The year was 1947 and the time coincided with India-Pakistan partition…

Sneh can vividly recall that period of her life as if it happened recently.

Narrating the turn of events when they landed in Delhi, she points out that they were not aware that the partition had taken

place… There was curfew and they couldn’t leave the old Delhi station, where they were stuck for three days. “The army officer with whom I travelled was trying his level best to get us out,” she recalls, pointing out that a cousin, who was in the Indian Army Corps of Signals, somehow managed to get them out.

At the college, the students were required to work round the clock to cook for the refugees. “All of us who could cook and make rotis were left in the college,” she adds, pointing out that the senior students were, at the request of Lady Mountbatten, asked to join the Red Cross and care for the hospital patients.

Soon Sneh became the editor of the college newspaper, which she called ‘Renaissance’, and her long tryst with writing found a firm footing. She also took up special classes to give vent to her passion for drawing and painting.

However, reflecting on her domestic science course at college, she quips: “I thought it a complete waste as we were well trained in the house by our mother who drove us crazy teaching cooking and all the housework.”

Used to the archaic way of life, they made do without electricity during the early years. “That was the simple

in CONVERSATION

life we were brought up in,” she sighs.

She lived in Ranchi till her marriage in 1954, following which she came to Delhi “and to civilisation”, she chuckles.

Pan to the present and she is filled with a sense of total contentment.

Sipping ‘nimbu paani’ (lemonade) prepared from the limes in her garden, she contemplates on the old days and draws a parallel with her life now. Oman happened when her son Sumant took up a posting here in the early 1990s and she found an immediate connect with the land and the people. And since, Oman has become her second home. “I am here more than I am in Delhi,” she muses. Her youngest son lives in Delhi with his wife and two sons and her daughter is in Chicago with her family.

“That’s my story… People here are lovely… They keep me feeling young and loved and I am very happy and very proud,” states Sneh, who brings

Up Close & Personal With The home I grew up in...

Was in Ranchi. There used to be lovely old homes with huge gardens...every six miles out of Ranchi was a picnic spot. As my father was a forest officer, we accompanied him on the big shoots with British guests... Those days there were no cinemas and no restaurants; even cakes and pastries were homemade. There were no boutiques and tailors came by to take our orders.

Nobody had phones…we were all made to write. I am still in the habit of writing letters to all my friends. I draw my own cards. I don’t use computers; I don’t know how.

When I was a child I wanted to...

Be a vet. My cousin and me didn’t want to get married - we wanted to take care of animals. During those days in Ranchi there was a blind school and a place for animals. On weekends my mother used to send us to serve food to the blind children and, once or twice a month, during holidays, we worked in the veterinary place.

The moment that changed me forever...

I suppose marriage, because I didn’t ever think I would get married to a Punjabi, having lived in Bihar all my life. I did not know Punjabi or the customs. My mother wasn’t very keen, but my aunt and uncle had given their word and that was the end of it.

a fresh whiff of old charm to every activity she indulges in, even making pickles and jams with her friends.

Sneh Sunder

My greatest inspiration...

I have been greatly inspired by all the people I met; one of them was Major Osmani, who was a very close family friend.

My hero…

My hero was my oldest brother Amrith.

He was like a father figure after my father passed away.

If I could change one thing about myself...

Nothing. I have adjusted myself to everyone, easily.

I dream of...

Dying peacefully.

My favourite holiday destination...

Muscat - it’s both a home and a holiday destination.

I will not leave my house without…

My medicines.

Things I like about Oman…

Everything…the place, the house, the people and the environment.

On top of my wish/bucket list is...

Everything I wished for has been given to me by God’s grace.

My success mantra is...

Keep busy… I think the Gayatri Mantra keeps me going.

What I see when I look in the mirror...

I don’t look in the mirror anymore.

My greatest regret...

Nothing. I am very well taken care of by my children, in every sense of the word.

You may not know it but I’m no good at...

Many things.

You may not know it but I’m very good at…

Nothing.

If I have time to myself...

I write letters, or write some part of my life.

January 2017

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in the SPOTLIGHT 22

Celebrate Oman Muscat Festival 2017 is a celebration of Oman in all its glory, with a lineup of events that are designed to accentuate the festivities

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he 24-day Muscat Festival 2017, which kicked off earlier this month, will shift gears, literally, to open the arena for racing fans with a host of activities at the Oman Automobile Association, including super car show, sprint race and endurance challenge, among others.

The festival will conclude on February 11 and open the roads for the popular ‘Tour of Oman’, which is scheduled to take place from 14 to 19. Tour of Oman has achieved remarkable success in the past editions and has attracted the attention of global sport community of the Sultanate in general and Muscat in particular. The racing tracks of the 2017 version are

January 2017

designated to include other sites, opening up the scenic panorama of the Sultanate for contestants to explore.

The main festival, which is currently unfolding at Naseem and Al Amerat parks also feature a host of newer activities, mainly tropical rain forest, paintball and an educational exhibition on aviation. Besides, visitors can enjoy daily fireworks at both the venues.

The Festival includes, amongst others, a Heritage Village, which has been the cynosure of all eyes since it was first presented. Regulars at Muscat Festival, since its inception in 1998, would know that the Festival has proved to be more than just a celebratory, cultural and artistic event, or merely an entertaining forum in which people come together. During

the Festival, people of all nationalities and income brackets come together to celebrate the events and be entertained. It is also an opportunity for local entertainers to perform in their native language and show off traditional art.

It is a festival of myriad colours.

Thanks to the gaiety and warmth of the place, various people from different nationalities are able to enjoy the diversity of performances and events that unfold everyday.

in the SPOTLIGHT Events at Naseem Park l The Tropical Rainforest l Paintball l Consumer Exhibition l Fireworks l The Open Theater l Children’s Theater l The Tents of public and private participants l The Park of Entertainment Arts l The squares of Folklore and musical bands l Skills Plaza

Upcoming cultural events:

l Oman is the Land of Peace’ - Presented by sculptors Ayoub Al Balushi and Kholoud Alshaebyia until February 11 at Naseem Park l Omani forum for female Gulf photographers - Presented by a group of female Gulf photographers, from February 2 to 7 at the headquarters of Photographic Society of Oman l ‘An Interactive dialogue: The Difference ... Coexistence: Images from the Cinema and Theater’ - Presented by Dr. Abdulkarim Al Lawati, Dr. Khalid Al Zadjali and Rahima Al Jabri on February 6 in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sultan Qaboos l ‘Workshop: The short story from idea to text’ - presented by Bushra Al Wahibeya from February 6 to 9 (on personal invitation)

Events at Amerat Park l The Trade Exhibition l Electric Games l The Main Theater l The Heritage Village l Performance Square l Cultural Activities Corner

Opening hours: Naseem and Amerat – 4 to 11 pm Entrance cost: Adults - 200 Bzs Children - 100 Bzs

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Centre STAGE

Drones

Oman Oman’s first ever drones workshop and live demonstration, to be held on February 27 and 28 at PACA Ballroom, will discuss commercial operations and safe use of drones

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fter the success of the drones’ series of events in UAE, IQPC (International Quality and Productivity Center) is all set to present the ‘Drones Oman Workshop and Live Demonstrations’ event on 27 and 28 February. Given the potential of UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), the Public Authority for Civil Aviation, National Survey Authority, Royal Oman Police and Royal Oman Airforce has been taking huge steps towards releasing drone regulations to ensure safe and legal use of drones in the country; the workshop will be a step towards integrating drones into the commercial airspace.

In the following interview,Lt.ColYousuf Bin Harith Bin Nassir Al-Nabhani, Staff Officer 1 – Geographical Names, National Survey Authority Oman, talks about the future of UAV’s and the procedures involved in getting requisite approvals, among other related topics.

Is this (Drones Oman Workshop) the first such event being held in Oman?

Yes, this is the first event running in Oman, which will discuss commercial operations of drone. This event is put together to promote the correct

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January 2017

approval process for companies wishing to use drones for their operations. The event will also discuss safe use of drones and the different applications that this technology can be used for.

What is the future of drones in Oman?

Oman is an open market. Use of drones for hobbyists is currently Yousuf Bin Harith Bin Nassir Al-Nabhani prohibited; however, drones can be used for commercial and industrial projects after the approvals have been obtained.

Are drones currently in use on a commercial basis?

Yes, drones are already being used for various activities such as monitoring, inspection surveillance and more. Industries such as construction, oil and gas and environment are using these machines to improve their operations.

What are the rules and guidelines in place for individuals/corporates wanting to explore the potentials of drones in Oman?

There are a few steps that companies need to follow in order to get the approvals for using drones: l Send a request letter to NSA identifying the purpose of use l Provide a supporting letter from the company that they plan to work with l Provide full details about the project that will be undertaken Globally, drones are being seen as useful tools, whether it is surveillance, disaster relief or even delivery service.

What is your perspective on this?

Drones are very promising and we expect that they will be used in Oman for various commercial and industrial activities. Currently, those who wish to use drones for their business in Oman, are asked to provide the under mentioned documents: l A letter of request by the concerned company l A supporting letter from any government body (compulsory) l Full details of the drones and its accessories to be used l Full details of the operators (passport - expatriate, license, telephones and ID copy for Omani) l Full details of the aerial photography operation programme (where, when…)

How do you expect drones to be marketed and utilised in Oman?

Drones will soon be used for various commercial applications such as asset tracking, 3D modeling, geospatial activities, infrastructure inspection, surveillance and many more. * Prior to joining NSA, Yousuf Al-Nabhani worked in Geographic support section involved in archiving of aerial photos, maps, geographic library and geographical names. He received his degree in Geographic Science from Sultan Qaboos University in 1994. He also has a Diploma in Geography from Egypt and MSC in Geographic Names from Glasgow University in UK.

Centre STAGE

l Obtainment of Operation air permit (OAP) from PACA and AOP NOC from NSA. l Payment for the license fees

s re ’ n a utu mF OV A U

Extracts from a document produced by IQPC Middle East for the upcoming Drones Oman workshop

Smart City Initiatives

With a 153 percent mobile penetration rate, a 77 percent mobile broadband penetration rate and a large youth population willing to embrace technology, Oman is well positioned to achieve its smart city ambitions.

Drones are a vital part of the Omani Government’s smart city initiatives, as they will form a link in the ICT chain that connects every part of a city’s public services, governance and infrastructure. From carrying out monitoring tasks, remote inspections and repair works to city infrastructure, to delivering medical supplies to hospitals and citizens’ homes, the potential applications of UAV in the smart cities of Oman’s future are near limitless.

3D Mapping

The latest generation of drones have already proved their significant worth as 3D mapping tools, due to their ability to make controlled aerial sweeps of an area or even hover at the desired height while recording images with advanced camera technology. This allows drones to

produce high-resolution, accurate and low-cost datasets of complex environments and terrain types.

While the military applications of such an achievement are immediately apparent, Omani and other Middle Eastern operators are finding a much wider range of uses for 3D mapping drones. Farming, search and rescue, construction and civic planning operations are a few of the areas that are benefitting from this technology.

Challenges

Since the inauguration of drones for commercial, personal and general non-military use, there have been a number of arguments raised against the proliferation of this cuttingedge technology. Principally, these arguments have focused on the issues of privacy and safety, since the inappropriate or criminal use of drones is a genuine danger.

Up until very recently, there has been a countrywide ban on the sale and flying of drones in Oman, either for recreational or commercial purposes.

However, licensing of drones for both types of usage has begun and each

case is considered by a specially constituted panel comprising representatives from the Royal Oman Police, Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), and the Public Authority for Civil Defence and other agencies.

Initial distrust of UAV technology seems to be lessening in Oman though government organisations still maintain that its inherent risk of misuse means that diligence is vital when considering drone regulation.

Sky’s the limit...

It’s clear that the Omani government, in line with many of the Middle East’s commercial and governmental institutions, understand and are prepared to endorse drone technology for its many economic benefits.

Given the wide range of potential applications of UAV technology, practically every Omani organisation – both private and public – should be analysing its potential impact in their sector and, if necessary, should prepare to incorporate it in a manner that will grant the greatest longterm benefit with the least amount of change resistance.

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feast ON

Hooked on Seafood

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laskan crabs, Gillardeau oysters, giant prawns, and the whole gamut of clams, mussels and scallops…

Sheraton Hotel’s perfectly orchestrated Seafood Night is what a foodie doctor would have ordered to appease lovers of seafood and indulge foodies who have a refined taste for all things divine

These are a few of the seafood snippets that flavour the Courtyard every Wednesday. Snippets that tease your appetite and unfold exotic lures to lead you on a culinary trip of seafood.

A whole lot of seafood… From the shores of faraway lands and from local fisher folk who never fail to deliver fresh fare.

Laid out in perfect symphony with the well-manicured lawns around the poolside, the food stations are a treat for seafood lovers and gourmands seeking to pamper their palates with elements of food novelties and dishes that are designed to set a taste benchmark. Whether you are tucking into exotic varieties of oysters or relishing a fried pomfret, it is the perfectly crafted palate-pleasing element that eggs you on to pause and continue on your fish trip.

With variety adding spice to the night, it is haven for those endowed with ravenous appetites. There are around 50 different dishes on the agenda of the theme night, Jeremie Lannoy, Director of Marketing, tells us as we walk around the food stations to mentally note the ‘must taste’ dishes.

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January 2017

feast ON “Oysters are a must,” orders Jeremie and we heed, happily. Of the different varieties of oysters on offer on the night we made a date with the Seafood Night, we picked the Gillardeau (a brand of edible oysters that are produced by the Gillardeau family and their small private company in France), topped it with a tangy sauce and sucked it in one go.

Perfect!

While we didn’t make an inventory of the number or the variety of dishes created for the theme of the night, we had a fair inkling that it was going to be a long and scrumptious evening, with food stretching from the cold section to the appetisers and hors devours to the cheese zone to the grills to the fish-and-chips to the curry place and the not-to-be-missed desserts.

As if cued by an old quote, ‘The sea hath fish for every man,’ Sheraton Hotel’s Seafood Night is put together to cater to every kind of diner, with fine edible seafood that the world of food has to offer. There is, apparently, a counter for every palate.

Long time residents of Oman, who grew up or grew old, using Sheraton as a metaphor for all things Ruwi (heart of the city, at one time), would recall the popularity of the seafood night of those days. While the pricing was more in tune to the times, one thing that the hotel has retained from then is the novelty, whether it’s the array of food, the cooking expertise or the presentation itself. Live cooking is a forte that continues to bring in diners, even new ones who have a cultured taste for seafood.

He believes diners are ready for newer culinary experiences that are designed to shift away from dishes that keep getting repeated in menu after menu, for sheer lack of creativity and the comfort-in-familiarity factor.

With fish grills and cold sections adding a fresh appeal to the evening, Sheraton has initiated the change to cater to diners who want to up their dining quotient with exciting new fare.

The theme night was and is popular.

This time around, there is live music to set the mood and permeate the air with a festive flavour. Thanae Pachiyannakis of Classic Music and Arts and her team made the evening all the more beautiful.

Our long and relaxed dinner at Sheraton saw us tucking into food from every station – be it oysters and crabs or the curry flavours. The elaborate starter section had us savouring a little of everything – from fresh salads to prawn cocktail; the grills got us working on squid, lobster and fish on a bed of mango salsa; and the curries beckoned us with a Goan variety of prawn curry and steamed rice.

Interestingly, the Seafood Night has found an immediate connect with foodies seeking that much more from their dining out experience. The flow of repeat customers is an indication, maintains Jeremie, while hinting that the theme night getting copied by other outlets in the industry is further proof.

And then the desserts happened.

The array of pastries, cakes and sweetmeats at the counter vied for our attention, begging us to devour every one. If only the tummy had relented…

We tried the chocolate cake with mango tucked in, alongside a lemon meringue and orange cheesecake.

Bliss…

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let’s COOK

Chocolates and Creams Get into a Valentine’s mood with winning recipes from Simran Dhanju

Chocolate Brownies with Sour Cream Frosting Ingredients:

For Cranberry Sauce: l 185g dark chocolate, chopped l 125g butter l 2 eggs l 1 ½tsp vanilla essence l 3/4 cup caster sugar l 1 cup all-purpose flour l 1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped For Ganache: l 100g dark chocolate l 2tbsp sour cream l 2tbsp icing sugar l Few drops of water Method: 1 Pre-heat oven to 170-degree Celsius and line 9” square baking pan with parchment paper.

2 Melt butter and chocolate together in a bowl over double boiler, remove from heat and add sugar and vanilla essence. Lightly beat the eggs, pour it in the mix and combine well.

3 Sift flour, add to the chocolate mix, and fold it gently until well combined.

4 Add chopped walnuts and mix well. Pour in prepared pan, bake for 23-25 minutes. Leave in pan for 5 minutes, invert on rack and cool completely.

5 To make chocolate ganache, melt chocolate in double boiler and remove; add sour cream and combine well.

6 Pour sour cream frosting on top of the cake, level with flat spatula. Keep in refrigerator for 30 minutes to set frosting. Cut in squares, hearts or desired shapes.

7 Mix sugar and water to make paste, pour in piping bag, cut the tip and pipelines or swirls or design your own. Garnish with strawberries and raspberries.

Chocolate Orange Truffles Ingredients: For the pastry: l 12oz dark chocolate, chopped l 4oz cream l 1tbsp orange zest from one orange l 3tbsp pistachios, chopped l 3-4tbsp desiccated coconut l 2tbsp cocoa powder Method: 1 In a heavy based saucepan, pour cream and bring to boil.

2 In a heatproof bowl put chocolate and pour hot cream on it; cover with plastic wrap, stand 5 minutes until chocolate is melted.

3 Uncover, gently mix chocolate with rubber spatula, incase of chocolate lumps, heat bowl over double boiler and melt the remaining chocolate bits; remove from heat.

4 Cover bowl with plastic wrap, leave to cool at room temperature for 4-5 hours.

5 Once cool, add orange zest and combine well.

6 Line baking sheet with parchment paper, with the help of two dessert spoons, make mounds of chocolate about 1” big. Leave to cool in refrigerator for 10 minutes.

7 In separate bowls put cocoa powder, pistachios and coconut.

8 Roll each mound in your hands and shape them into balls, drop them in either cocoa, pistachio or coconut to coat well and place them on decorative foil cups and impress your loved ones.

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Simran is a celebrated chef and a winner of multi cooking competitions; she creates visual delights artfully by merging traditional flavours.

let’s COOK

Food for LOVE

Right, not everyone wants to make a dinner reservation; some of us like to cook up and have a private dinner at home. Here are a few recipes to get you set for Valentine’s Day Red velvet French toast

Ingredients: (For the toast) l 4 eggs l 1 cup buttermilk l 2 tablespoons sugar l 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract l 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder l 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons red food colouring l 8 slices bread, halved (For vanilla bean cheesecake filling) l 250gms low fat cream cheese l 2 tablespoons sugar l 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste l Fresh raspberries Method: (For French toast) l Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, sugar, vanilla, food colouring and cocoa in a shallow bowl. Make sure it is smooth and lump free before transferring it to a large shallow bowl. l Dip bread slices in this egg wash and press it, lightly, to soak through completely. Flip each slice and repeat until all slices are evenly coated. l Heat a large nonstick pan/skillet over lowmedium heat and fry the bread in batches, turning until just cooked through. Remove and place it onto a warmed plate.

Roasted heart potatoes

(For cheesecake filling) l Combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla paste in a medium sized bowl, and whip until light and fluffy. l Spoon a couple of tablespoons of filling onto 6 toast halves and coat it evenly. l Top it with the remaining toast halves to create a sandwich. l Drizzle it with melted chocolate and top with remaining cream. l Now dust it with icing/confectioners sugar and serve with berries.

Ingredients: l 6 large potatoes l Heart-shaped cookie cutter l 1/4cup olive oil l 1 to 2tsp kosher salt l Freshly ground pepper l 2tsp caraway seeds l 1/2tsp paprika (optional) Method: To make heart cutouts l Preheat oven to 400F. l Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil and grease it with non-stick spray or brush oil. l Fill a pot with about 1 to 2 quarts of water, add salt and bring to boil; reduce heat and allow to gently simmer. l Peel potatoes and slice them; use a small metal cookie cutter to cut out as many hearts as you can. l Cook potatoes in simmering water for 3 minutes, drain potatoes and let cool slightly. l Combine all the ingredients for the marinade - olive oil, salt, caraway seed, pepper and paprika. l Pour marinade over potatoes, stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. l Spread marinaded potatoes evenly onto the baking sheet. l Roast them for 20-25 minutes and carefully turn them. l Broil potatoes for additional 5 minutes or until they are golden on brown.

Valentine’s Day Red Chilli

Ingredients: l 2tsp ground cumin l 1tsp dried oregano l ½tsp chipotle chilli powder l 2tbsp vegetable oil l 3 large beets l 1 large red pepper l Pepper l 4 cloves garlic l 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes l 1½ cup cooked black beans l 1½ cup cooked red kidney beans l 1½ cup cooked Pinto beans l 1 cup water l 1 cup reduced-fat sour cream l ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves l Cornbread Method: l In a heavy saucepot, combine cumin, oregano, and chilli powder.

Cook on medium for a couple of minutes or until toasted. Transfer to a sheet of waxed paper and set aside. l Heat oil on medium until hot. Add beetroot, onion, pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Cook for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. l Add garlic and reserved spice mixture. Cook for two minutes, stirring constantly. l Add tomatoes, beans, and water. Heat to boiling on medium-high.

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 30 minutes, stirring and mashing some beans occasionally. l Season with 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. l Pour it into serving bowls and top with sour cream and cilantro. l Serve with cornbread.

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Health CHECK

Marriage and your Health

Marriage (a happy one) has a big say on the overall health of the partners Want health?

Get married‌

That, in a capsule, is the crux of the matter - an upshot from all the studies that have explored the connection between marriage and health.

There are, apparently, strong links between marriage and health, which help foster overall wellbeing, especially among men.

Although there is no single formula to ensure health on the altar of marriage, the general consensus, garnered from several studies on the subject, is that married people experience lower levels of morbidity and mortality across such diverse health threats as cancer, heart attacks and even surgeries.

Men, in fact, benefit more from marriages. As one major study in America found, married men were healthier than men who never married or men whose marriages ended in divorce or death of spouse. Health was found to be beneficial when the age at marriage was 25 or more; the longer a man stays married, the greater his survival advantage.

Another study by Japanese scientists found that men who had never married were three times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than their married counterparts. The Framingham Offspring Study, in fact, found that married men had a 46 per cent lower rate of death than married men.

The list goes on‌ There is no denying that a happy marriage has a positive effect on a variety of health outcomes, most importantly mental health; married men have a lower risk of depression, say studies. But then there are counter studies, which have found a link between marital unhappiness/work stress and hypertension. This places the onus on fostering a healthy relationship; one that demands conditions that are positive.

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January 2017

Stay fit

For some reason, couples tend to forget their fitness regimen post marriage; as if all their fitness requirements concluded with marriage. This is probably why wedded couples tend to have fatter waistlines. A study, in fact, found that one’s chance of becoming fat increases by 37 per cent if the spouse becomes obese. Eating with the spouse or a friend can cause one to consume 33 per cent more than when one is alone.

Be active

Regular exercise may not guarantee a disease-free life, but it will create opportunities to infuse your marriage with happiness, say experts. So, whether you have been working out before marriage or not, incorporate an exercise regimen in your couple time. For, couples that work out together are said to be more likely to stick with an exercise programme.

Money matters

Having a financial plan is highly important, as most marriages succumb to fights concerning money.

While one study found that nearly 40

Health CHECK

If health is on your mind, get your marriage to work for you with tips from marriage counsellors per cent of married people lie to their spouse about a purchase, another learnt that money is the number one reason for marital fights. Before you tie the knot, put together a financial plan, one that helps find a balance between the monthly purchases and savings and ways to keep a track of all the spending.

Stay flexible

Making a financial plan before tying the knot is important, but there should be room in every plan for changes that crop up with time and situation and with your age too. Ensure an element of flexibility in the financial and household arrangements; have family discussions on how household duties can be adapted to suit the changing times.

Make rules

Granted, there is no one rule that can be applied to all marriages.

What works for one couple may not necessarily apply to another... Often, it is the unresolved little issues that pile up and blow into major fights, more so following parenthood. According to a recent study, how a couple manages

parenting responsibilities when the child is an infant is associated with the quality of their marriage two-and-ahalf years later. The objective should be to arrive at a consensus on how to care for your child and how to make family time happy.

Couple time

Make time to rediscover each other as a couple. Throw the spotlight on quality time, which, surprisingly, could happen when children leave home. A study, in fact, found that marital satisfaction improves during the so-called empty nest syndrome.

The opposite, however, could be true if you are already facing marital problems. An empty nest can lay bare all the serious issues.

Health benefits of marriage l Marriage reduces the risk of heart attacks for both men and women. l Married couples are considerably less likely to engage in risky behaviour – be it substance abuse or dangerous driving. l Married men have a 64 per cent lower chance of fatal strokes than single men. l Marriage can lower stress levels, rather, it makes it easier for people to handle other stressors in their lives. l Marriage can improve the chance of recovering from major surgery if there is a supportive spouse. l Married men and women are also considerably less likely to develop severe mental illness. l Happy marriage can lead to better sleeping patterns; it also ensures longevity.

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Too much sitting can age you

Healthy TIDINGS

Sitting too much can age you by eight years, says a study, which also found that this effect could be countered with dedicated exercise. Sitting too much during the day has been linked to a host of diseases, from obesity to heart problems and diabetes, as well as early death. Scientists traced the impact of sitting on the chromosomes; they studied chronic diseases in post-menopausal women, and focused on the telomeres (an essential part of human cells that affect how the cells age). They found that women who did not meet the recommended 30 minutes of moderate-tovigorous physical activity daily had shorter telomeres than those who spent less time sitting everyday. This meant that inactive women who spent more time sitting were about eight years older, on average, than those who were inactive but spent less time sedentary.

Depression is bad for heart

Depression is as bad for the heart as obesity or high cholesterol.

Although heart attacks are commonly associated with smoking, high cholesterol or obesity, new research suggests that depression poses just as great a risk to the heart. Depression accounted for about 15 per cent of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease deaths, while high cholesterol and obesity accounted for 8 per cent to 21 per cent.

Mental-health screenings should be standard in patients who have classic heart disease risk factors, researchers advice.

Conversely, suffering from a serious heart condition could also lead to depression; in turn, depression can impair recovery.

Baker’s yeast to treat leukaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukaemia, could be treated with baker’s yeast enzyme, says a study. Researchers have revealed how a compound isolated from baker’s yeast can help to treat the disease. According to a co-author of the study, an enzyme isolated from the bacteria, ‘Escherichia coli’ and ‘Erwinia chrysanthemi’ (called L-asparaginase), has been used in the treatment of ALL for decades. The team found that the purified, yeast-derived L-asparaginase killed approximately 70-80 percent of MOLT4 cells, compared with 90 percent for E. coli-derived L-asparaginase.

Drink coffee for longevity

Coffee drinkers may live longer, says a recent study. Researchers have revealed the discovery of an inflammatory process that might drive the development of cardiovascular disease later in life.

They also found that caffeine consumption could counter this inflammatory process. Coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks and chocolates contain caffeine - a compound best known for its brain-stimulating abilities. There is, however, much more to caffeine than simply providing a morning energy boost.

Researchers say that they may have pinpointed one way by which caffeine consumption increases lifespan, and it may be down to its anti-inflammatory properties.

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January 2017

healthy TIDINGS

Parkinson’s treated with shark compound

Squalamine, a chemical compound found in dogfish sharks, has the potential to reduce the formation of toxic proteins related to the development of Parkinson’s disease, new research suggests. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition characterised by tremors, movement problems, limb stiffness, and problems with balance and coordination. While the precise causes of Parkinson’s remain unclear, studies have suggested that the buildup of synuclein in the brain could play a role in its development. Squalamine has been shown to possess strong antimicrobial properties.

Eat hot chilli and live longer

Go on, eat all the hot red chilli peppers. New research has found that eating hot red chilli peppers (from capsicum plant) might help to extend lifespan.

The study revealed that individuals who consumed red chilli peppers had a lower risk of death from all causes over an average of 18 years than those who did not eat the spicy food. There are many types of chilli peppers, all of which have different heat levels - in jalapeños, the fiery flavour comes from a compound called capsaicin. Studies have suggested that this compound can offer a wealth of health benefits.

Artificial intelligence predicts heart failure

Artificial intelligence could predict when patients with a heart disorder would die, say scientists. The software has been taught to analyse blood tests and scans of beating hearts to spot signs that the organ was about to fail. Researchers believe that the technology could save lives by finding patients that need more aggressive treatment. They now want to use the technology in other forms of heart failure, such as cardiomyopathy, to see who might need a pacemaker or other forms of treatment.

Postpartum depression affects men too Men could also suffer from postpartum depression after the birth of their baby. Research has shown that as many as one in ten new dads struggle with depression after childbirth. New dads, like new moms, can experience mood-altering hormonal changes, such as extreme fatigue and changes in eating or sleep habits. Although men are less likely to be weepy, with postpartum depression they may need family support along with professional treatment, including psychotherapy, medication and exercises. Men who are most likely to develop postpartum depression include those who have struggled with depression or have a family history of the condition, and also those who feel distanced from their baby and the mother of their child.

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Ritzy glitzy in the luxe

gifts

As the season of gift giving marches on to greet Valentine’s Day with all things roses and candies, here is a take on lavish gifts that are created to convey your feelings in ways that only money can

Say it with Chevron

It is not always about 24-carat gold, as proven by this Memphis Chevron Ring. The 14-carat gold ring, which is cast and hand lacquered, enables the wearer to create totemic stacks of colour. There is metal and there is colour that work together in the Memphis collection from Alice Cicolini. They can be made to measure and, as a buyer, you could choose stones and colours to order.

Price: $2,700

For the book collector

Watch love

Exclusive is always expensive, like this Montegrappa Chaos Gold and Enamel Automatic Watch, which has wooed celebrities like Sylvester Stallone with its striking case - signature skull-and-serpent motifs around the case, including a small, engraved skull on the winding crown. The watch itself is hand-made in northern Italy by skilled artisans.

Price: $85,666.00

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January 2017

‘A Bigger Book’ is a perfect gift for connoisseurs of art and photography. Big in size and format, it is a David Hockney monograph, in which the artist traces more than 60 years of his work, from teenage days at the Bradford School of Art up to his recent series of portraits, iPad drawings, and Yorkshire landscapes. It is supplemented by an illustrated chronology of more than 600 pages, which help contextualise Hockney’s art with drawings, graphic work, portrait photos and text based on his writings as well as contemporary reviews.

Price: $2,123

in the luxe

TV time

If your valentine is a television addict, this Sony Bravia Z9D 4K TV will prove to be a winner. But if you have the moolah and are all out to splurge, then the XBR-100Z9D is the one to opt for.

This 99.5-inch set from Sony has a 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme powering a Backlight Master Drive to provide deep blacks and sharp colours.

Price: $5,499.99 for 65-inch set; $59,999 for XBR-100Z9D

It’s ‘Safe’

Here is a gift that demonstrates you care for the recipient. Kairos Luxury Safe K2 is designed not only to safekeep important documents and precious jewellery, but also protect them from fire. The 61-inch high unit has 3.25-inch thick fire-retardant steel walls that can handle 1,850 degrees F; inside it are multiple drawers, spaces, and 16 watch winders. The choice of colour and even the type of combination lock is yours.

Price: $8,000

Chair it

When desk job proves to be a bane on the spine, you need an intelligent chair. Although this LimbIC Intelligent Chair looks something like a torture device from days gone, it is designed to take care of your back’s every need, with dual shells that let your body move in the seat.

It is created by hand from carbon fibre and aluminium for individually measured customers.

Price: $8,500

Photo call

The XF 100MP from Phase One is a perfect gift for a photography buff – that is if price is not a constraint.

Priced nearly $50K it may come across as one of the most expensive medium format cameras, but with 100MP resolution and fullframe 645-image sensor, it is a deal. Its features include 16-bit Raw image capture, removable digital back and viewfinder and built in Profoto flash controller, among others.

Price: $48,990

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explore OMAN 36

Love Street

Whether you are a long time resident of Oman or a visitor on a holiday, you would have driven by or walked along the popular ‘love street’ and enjoyed its enticing notes of vibrancy

W

hy or how the picturesque Qurum promenade earned the tag of ‘love street’ is anyone’s guess, but what is certain is its endearing bond with residents and even visitors who mark it as a must-visit destination in their itinerary. It has remained one of the most popular beaches in the capital, from the days when it was defined by lush mangroves and vacant lots, to its current sprawling

January 2017

panorama of structured walkways and popular eateries along the road.

There is a palpable livewire energy around this place that seems to take on an all new avatar in the evenings, when it, seemingly, comes alive from every direction. The steady stream of motorists, people strolling or jogging along the corniche and beach lovers catching the last rays of the sun from vantage points on the pathway and the shoreline,

And with popular cafés and restaurants opening shop on one stretch of the road, it is proving to be a major draw for even busy office goers who can unwind and relax with food of their choice.

The vibrancy of the place is best experienced with a walk along the road. Find a parking spot away from the central attraction of the beach and food outlets and give in to the lure of the weather with a leisurely walk that stretches from Crowne Plaza to the Hotel Intercontinental.

But if it’s the sun gliding into the ocean that you want to seize, it is best to find a spot on the low wall hemming the walkway. The long stretch of beach is equally enticing for a commune with nature – sea, sand and the sun.

Seen in the context of its popularity as a family destination or a hangout for the youth, the sobriquet ‘love street’ may seem misplaced, but if you are a regular here, you would

understand the essence of love attributed to this road. Stretching from the Crowne Plaza to the Hotel Intercontinental Muscat, the road has very distinctive features that have helped shape its love connotations.

The shaded footpath leading away from the Crowne Plaza and opening on to the azure sea and the arched road unfolding the road to Hotel Intercontinental has positive vibes about it, which has, possibly, earned it the love tag.

explore OMAN

give it a festive look, more so during the pleasant winter months when dinners, literally, become outdoor affairs. That festive mood and the picnic atmosphere is not restricted to weekends alone, when the story is altogether new; weekdays are equally enticing for families who roll out their mats, bring out their food baskets and give in to the lure of the place and the beach to experience that oneness with Qurum.

But if you are willing to give the tag a spin on its head, make way to this central location on Valentine’s Day and check out its endearing features.

Walk along this celebrated road with your partner or find a perfect spot on the beach to get into the mood of the day

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Just TRAVEL

A Valentine Rendezvous

If you relate to the romantic connotations pegged on to the Valentine’s Day, you may want to mark one of these destinations in your Valentine’s itinerary

Maldives

Postcards are made of images that Maldives conjures up - white sands, lush palm trees and shimmery blue waters. This striking tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka, has well established its romantic ties, having found a beautiful connect with honeymooners and couples seeking alone time. Its sun soaked islands have been described as idyllic honeymoon-haven. It is a massive archipelago comprising 1,190 islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. Added to its natural splendour are the luxurious villas and resorts, which will cater to all your needs.

Greece

If your idea of romance is watching the sun set in the horizon with the love of your life, visit Santorini in Greece and return totally love-struck. The Santorini sunset, Oia in particular, is endorsed as one of the world’s most famous and most romantic sunsets. Oia is the famous town on the Island; it is renowned, besides its sunset, for the awe-inspiring buildings, bewitching panoramic views and Greek cuisine.

Thailand

For those with adventure in their veins, Thailand’s Koh Tao is the place to visit for a diving spree. This wooded mountainous island is surrounded by spectacular coral reefs and has earned repute as the best dive location in the Gulf of Thailand. It has eleven bays and ten rocky headlands; you could explore the bay’s rocky headlands by kayak. While inland, you could hike the rainforest trails to Koh Tao’s highest peak - Two Views - located in the middle of the island.

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January 2017

Take a break in Argentina’s Ushuaia if you want to walk, literally, to the end of the world with your partner.

This southernmost city in the world can open up a bouquet of options to utter the three beautiful words, which are eternal and universally understood. It is here that the snowcapped Andes meet the icy currents of the Beagle Channel turning the weather cold and chilly all through the year, making it perfect for couples to cozy up around a fire.

Italy

An interlude with art and history is what Italy’s Florence promises for couples intellectually oriented.

Whether it is architectural beauty or works of art, Florence promises to fulfill all artistic quests with its museums and even boulevards.

There is the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Botticelli’s Primavera, Michelangelo’s David…to explore and experience. Even long walks with your partner will prove to be an invigorating experience with history presenting its myriad facets everywhere.

Argentina

Spain

Visit Majorca (Mallorca) in Spain for a warm Valentine holiday, as it boasts pleasant weather even during winter when the rest of Europe is freezing. This beautiful island has hundreds of miles of beaches, which are interspersed with small towns.

You could avail short bus or train rides to the interior or northern parts of the island, which lead to beautiful mountains that are lush with olive and orange trees. It also has several hiking and biking trails if you are inclined to go biking with your partner.

Hawaii

There is a possibility of deep bonding in isolation...and Hawaii’s remote Kauai offers just that. Coupled with vivid natural landscapes and inviting isolation, this ‘Garden Isle’ creates a sense of closeness. It is endowed with striking

mountaintops that present dramatic views of the island and its beautiful beaches, stretching from Hanalei to Poipu Beach. For hiking enthusiasts, there is Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park, which present pictureperfect trails to explore.

Japan

Dubbed as a lover’s paradise, Japan’s Kyoto can easily woo lovers with its special blend of inspiring history and natural beauty. Its long history is packed in every edifice, both natural and manmade.

It has so many ancient temples, shrines, palaces and castles that a visit to this place is a must if you love all things history. Gion, which is located in the centre of Kyoto city, has its share of quaint wooden houses and local eateries that add to the charm of this place.

Just TRAVEL

Argentina

Paris

A trip to Paris has to be magical and if you are looking to impress the love of your life, where better than Paris, the world’s most romantic city... According to fans of Paris, the romance is in wandering along the ancient streets that have layers of history amid its fascinating metropolis.

Hawaii

Italy

Japan Spain

January 2017

39

look GOOD

Give your hair the style of the season with trends that are creating waves in the celebrity circuit this year

Ha

e l ir and Sty

Following up on the brief snapshot of hairstyle trends in the previous issue, check out some of the interesting styles and cuts that are here to rock the year.

Stay natural: Natural hair texture is in this year. So go on, flaunt your style.

Mid length: If your hair refuses to grow long, opt for a mid-length chop, which has taken on a new flavour, with the incorporation of several layers.

Chop-chop: Feeling bold?

Go on take the plunge. 2017 is all about going bold and incorporating graphic cuts.

Go sleek: Go very sleek, for straight, shiny and centre-parted hair is big on the trend counter this year.

Slick shiny hair is perfect for any occasion. With some styling cream you will get the shine that you want.

Fringe it: Get eye-length fringe; it will give you an all new look without having to take a big cut from the length.

Long and shiny: This year, let it grow long, in a one length style.

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January 2017

Side-swept: The hair flip is big this year, with runway models sporting a variety of side-swept looks. It is all about simply flipping the hair on to one side, even extreme side parting, thereby creating volume.

High pony: The higher the better‌ Whether it is done in a rumpled style or straight, the high ponytail is about elegance.

lifestyle mantra its Bronde: The shade in between blonde and golden brown is the new ‘bronde’; it is the colour that comes through with right lighting. It has been defined as the perfect warmtoned hair colour that can be adjusted to work on all skin tones

Lady in Red

By Sophia Raman CelebraTe red, The Colour oF ValeNTINe’S day aNd all ThINGS loVe…

Curl right: Not just plain curls, go for the corkscrew ones that you can easily get at your salon if you are not naturally endowed.

accessorise: adapt

jewellery on to your hair without making your hairstyle look too ostentatious. a simple sparkly clip or slide is all that is needed to up your hairstyle.

Topknot: If you are looking for a style that never fails, go for a topknot in a messy style and enjoy its glam appeal.

a recent research has reaffirmed the well-established fact that red, indeed, is the ultimate date dress colour. Men are more attracted to a woman wearing red, according to researchers from New york’s university of rochester. although experts studying the psychology of colours have defined red as an intense colour, with an ability to evoke even aggression in others, the underlying belief that red is energising and that it can motivate one to take action is what has helped it find such a strong stance in the world of fashion…and even love. The latter more for its emotional connect. but what makes red the winning colour on all counts of fashion is its seemingly universal appeal. For, red looks good on everyone - if you pick the right shade of red, you will, definitely, not go wrong.

With several shades of red to choose from, picking the one that is perfect for your skin tone could seem tricky. begin by differentiating warm reds from cool reds – warm reds have yellow hue in them while cool reds have more of blue – and find out which red suits you best. If browns, oranges, yellows and chocolate shades flatter you, opt for warm reds; go for cool reds if your shades are bright magenta, dark blue, purple and blacks… May be you are the lucky one who can rock both warm and cool reds. having said that, what is more important to remember here is the way you personally feel when you wear red. Is it the colour that you enjoy wearing…?

If you answered yes, go ahead, rock the Valentine’s day in a red outfit.

Wet look: Slicked back hair is all the rage this season. Go for it…

January 2017

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style FILe

MANGO

Trends Enjoy a sneak peak into Mango’s Spring/Summer 2017 Campaign

Mango launched its latest Spring/Summer 2017 campaign featuring models Mica Arganaraz and Frederikke Sofie in a mix of airy dresses, lightweight jackets and cool separates.

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January 2017

Style FILe January 2017

43

style FILe 44

Welcome to a new season with outfits full of personality and key garments and accessories that will revolutionise your wardrobe

January 2017

Style FILe January 2017

45

46 vibrant colours that will make you dream of the tropics

Prints, frills and pastel tones...

style FILe

Urban

SCENES

January 2017

Valentine

Hearts

Make your loved one feel special this Valentine’s Day with the Special Valentine Collection from Malabar Gold and Diamonds

(WCNKSPHTPL04) 18-carat Necklace (VL1702) Pendant with Chain – RO75

(VL1728) Finger Ring – RO110

esque It wIth ALe

BriNg BaCk my… faNNy paCk! AlE Al ZAdJAli iS CAlliNG All FASHiONiSTAS TO GiVE iN TO THE lurE OF FANNy pACkS THiS SEASON No i’m not sitting here with a crystal ball or anything; but if i were to control what 2017 fashion is going to bring to the world...i would choose to re-introduce the fanny pack.

From the md 80’s to the early 90’s they were All the rage. i can’t confirm that because i wasn’t even born during their peak but i recently decided to invest in a couple.

How can you make fanny packs work?

The first thing you need to realise is that they are the equivalent of your purse/wallet. if you are the type of girl/guy who loves a good designer handbag/wallet…look no further than Balenciaga and Alexander Wang who introduced them during their 2016 collections. if you are tacky and feel the need to flaunt your purchase then you are in luck because louis Vuitton and Gucci have them in full print. if your style is a bit more subtle then the world is your oyster! it might be a hunt, but shops do have them… even Claires! However, remember to make sure it shows off your style, wear it proudly and walk into every room, fanny pack first!

(VL1718) Pendant with Chain – RO175

(VL1710) Pendant with Chain – RO155

Ale Al Zadjali is a 23 year-old award-winning fashion designer; he is the brain behind the ‘Esque By Ale’ line of clothing

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47

Valentine’s Special 48

Celebrate

LOVE

Find out how well you know your partner, as we set the mood for the Valentine’s Day with a well-planned candlelight dinner and open the world of apps that are designed to permeate your life with myriad hues and shades of love

January 2017

Valentine’s Special

For the LOVE of…

How well do you know your partner?

Take this quiz and find out…

1.

Do you know the names of your partner's best friends?

Yes

2.

3.

No

Do you know your partner's basic philosophy of life?

Yes

6.

No

Do you know what is that one dream that your partner has been nursing all his/her life?

Yes

5.

No

Would you know names of the people who are causing concern in his/her life?

Yes

4.

No

Can you confidently say you know what is causing stress in your partner’s life at present?

Yes

No

Can you list the names of relatives your partner does not like?

Yes

7.

No

Would you say your partner knows you quite well?

Yes

No

8. Does he/she know your food likes and dislikes?

Yes 9.

No

When you are apart, do you often think fondly of your partner?

Yes

No

10. Does your partner truly respect you?

Yes

No

11. Would you describe your relationship as passionate?

Yes

No

12. Is romance still a part of your relationship?

Yes

No

13. Does your partner appreciate the things you do for your relationship?

Yes

No

14. Would you say your partner likes your personality?

Yes

No

15. Do you think your partner is glad to see you when you return home in the evening?

Yes

No

16. Would you say your partner is one of your best friends?

Yes

No

17. Do you and your partner love talking to each other?

Yes

No

18. Does your partner listen to you respectfully, even when you two disagree?

Yes

No

19. Would you say your partner is, usually, a great help as a problem solver?

Yes

No

20. Do you, generally, connect well on basic values and goals in life?

Yes No

Quiz Score: Give yourself 1 point for every ‘yes’ answer. Calculate the number of ‘yes’ and see where you fall.

13 or more yes answers: You are in a strong and endearing relationship.You and your partner have found the right connect in your relationship; one that will last a very long time.

7 to 12: This is a critical time in your relationship. While there are several strengths you can build upon, there are also some weaknesses that can help your relationship grow.

6 or less: Looks like your relationship may be in some serious trouble. But if you have taken this quiz, it shows you value your relationship and want to make it work. It is best to seek help…

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Valentine’s Special

Candles and Dinners Candlelight dinner is a perfect foil for a romantic interlude this Valentine

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rand it trite or simply obvious, but there is something about a candlelight dinner that has an element of romance pegged on to it. Whether that idea was spawned by chic flicks or by romantic novels that celebrate love with food spread on a table lit with the warm glow of candles, you cannot shake away the essence of romance that that image evokes.

But it is not just about arranging candles around the table. For an ambience that spells romance, whether it is an exclusive dinner with your partner or one with close friends/family, requires perfection that helps the evening to unfold with delicate moves.

Here is a quick guideline to get creative while setting the table:

or assessing the number of candles to use should be in creating the right ambience with the candle glow. You could complement the candles with dimmed out lights or only go for candlelight by placing enough in all the right places.

Floral tribute

Give candles the company of fresh flowers to make your evening just right. With red roses symbolising all things love, it is best to pick a few stems from the neighbourhood supermarket, which is sure to stock up for the season of love. Place the vase where it can easily soak up the

Candle talk

Candles are, obviously, the most important feature of your proposed dinner plan. You could bring out the classic ornate stands passed on by your grandparents, opt for simple ones or even convert your beverage glasses into special candleholders. White or cream colours will easily blend with the dĂŠcor of the room, but it is best to avoid scented candles or go for subtler aromas. If you have guests coming over, place individual tea lights, in the holder you have chosen, at each place setting. Your objective while placing

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Valentine’s Special

does that give you an excuse to sit down for your Valentine dinner in your house wear? Don’t let the venue take away your reason to dress up for the occasion. Dress up as if you are going out for a dinner at one of the fine dining outlets in the city.

Add a dash of red in your ensemble to complement the day of love, or wear something that your partner likes. And, if your partner is up for a good time, go on, have a dress code for the evening.

Food notes glow of the candle light; find a vase that complements your dinner set.

Spreading a few petals around the candle stand could add to your décor element.

Dinner set

Ensure perfection by bringing out your fine dinnerware. A formal touch to the evening’s proceedings is a must to get it off on a right footing. Go all the way by arranging the cutlery around the tablemats in a way that is reminiscent of a fine dining outlet.

Do not fret over cleaning or the effort involved in hauling your set out from its hibernation. It is for occasions like these that you picked it in the first place.

Sweet music

After all is said and done there is nothing better than music to hoist your evening up and sway you with its power. Select some romantic numbers and keep the volume low to make it seem like a natural backdrop for your evening. It would help to make a playlist of your (and your partner’s) favourite songs to keep the evening on a romantic tone. And while on music, it would do you and your partner a whole lot of good to either switch off your mobile phones or set the ringer tone to low.

Food may be the last thing on your mind on such a romantic day, but starters and appetisers are the key to any party, even a twosome dinner.

If you don’t want to stress it out in the kitchen, order from your favourite restaurant or follow our recipe guide to put together a few interesting dishes that are apt for the day. For the main, stick to a simple menu with food cooked ahead or picked from the shop. Do not forget dessert, as it adds a semblance of perfection to any meal.

Dress up

Alright, it is only a dinner at home, but

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Valentine’s Special

Love in the world of Apps

Give your love a tech boost with apps that are designed to get your relationship on the right footing In the world of virtual romance, dating apps and online sites are becoming important, with many users finding their match and even consummating it with marriage. Here is a quick roundup of some interesting apps to inject your life with a neat dose of love.

Couple

‘Couple’ is a relationship app or the ‘app for two’, which helps you connect with your loved one through a private timeline. The app helps you share photos, plans, ideas and the like…it also allows you to find restaurants in the neighbourhood and even create a to-do list together.

Love Maps

‘Love Maps’ helps you to track whatever you may know about your partner’s inner world and experiences - from day to day events to the major hopes and dreams. The app is designed around the premise that the more you know about what’s important to your partner, the more likely your relationship will work.

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Valentine’s Special Avocado

Happy Habits

On the lines of ‘Couple’ is the ‘Avocado’ app, which can set you up with your partner to send text messages, share photographs and anything that is important to the two of you. It has a built-in calendar for reminders of important dates and can offer virtual hugs if you are in a long distance relationship.

Based on the principles of cognitive-behavioural therapy, the Happy Habits app, an exclusive personal app, contains tools to create the conditions for happiness in your life.

The toolkit includes a test to assess your happiness, audio guides for relaxing and creating happiness, a journal for affirmations, a ‘Happy To Do’ list, and graphs to keep track of your happiness levels.

eHarmony

Happy Now

This paid app ($59 per month!) is designed to give you an insight into your own personality and help you find your right match. Based on your responses to an extensive questionnaire, the app will present potential matches that you can check out using secure messaging.

TheIceBreak

This is an iOS app, which offers daily questions for couples, focusing on their life. Partners can also share photos and posts on their private virtual walls.

Romeo To Go

‘Romeo To Go’, featuring tips for people who get nervous on dates and guidelines on conversation starters, is for those who need a little help in the romance department.

What is more, it will also ping a romantic idea every day and suggest gifts for important occasions.

‘Happy Now’ is another happiness app that will help you assess what it is that makes you happy, by correlating your mood, health, energy and overall vibe with the things you do. The app will track your feelings with your actions and, having recognised your patterns, will send affirmations and suggestions to get your happiness quota.

iLoveNote

As the app name suggests, it is all about cherishing your love life by documenting the important dates and events. Whether it is your date nights, your to-do list, or secret desires, you can keep a track of all things that define your love life, which you can share with your partner.

Glide

This one is a video messaging app for couples that love to share things that they see and experience everyday. It could be a funny joke or

January 2017

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at HOME

Home Love Infuse your home in hues and shades of romance with some tried and tested décor ideas

all of which can rob the essence of romance from your home. One way to de-clutter and make space for items that you want to decorate your home with is to put things in a box and store them under your bed or in places hidden from sight.

Colour of romance

Colours, apparently, have a direct connection with emotions. Ask any home décor expert and they will reel out the colour codes for different rooms and moods. Red for warmth, yellow for energy... But the underlying message that comes from all the literature on colours in homes is the definitive dictum that one must follow ones heart. Whatever be the trend in the market, filling your home with colours, whether on the wall or in furnishings and accessories, that you and your family love, is all that matters.

Clutter never helps

Like all things about your home, even romantic interludes require clutter to be minimised or completely removed. It could be the bills on the table, dishes in the sink or clothes piling up for wash -

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January 2017

But when doing this, do not fall prey to the idea of clearing clutter from one room to move it to the other.

Usually, the bedroom becomes a victim, thereby pushing all your thoughts of romance out of the window. Make an inventory of all the stored items in the bedroom and bin it if you feel they have outlived their purpose or have no clear requirement, even to trigger memories. Make space for important items by creating storage boxes under the bed or investing in trunks that can double up as tables in the room.

Bedroom décor

Typically, most households utilise their interior décor budget in adorning the living/sitting room and kitchen - rooms that are likely to be frequented by guests. Other rooms are, generally, forgotten.

Why bother if it is only for you and your partner?

All the more reason… A home is where the heart is and that brings the focus to the bedroom, the space that fosters physical and emotional connect. Create your own special nook by filling the living space with décor elements that have memories connected to them. And, during your next visit to the home décor store, look out for items to build your bedroom ambience. Find simple ways to enhance the look; aroma candles are your best bet.

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Curtains in sheer material also have a special appeal.

Flowers have an eternal hold on all things romance. Even a single stem of rose in a vase could do the trick.

Mirrors can infuse the room with a magical charm.

Soft lighting is what the dĂŠcor guru would have ordered to transform your bedroom into a cosy den.

Pay attention to little details, whether it is cute accents or little accessories.

at HOME

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Candles are magical. The warm golden glow emanating from candles is said to evoke romantic thoughts.

Even the colour of the candle chosen can have a big say in the emotional interplay: red candles for love, vigour and health; pink for affection and success; white for purity and spiritual essence.

Romance shares a close bond with certain colours; identify the one that reflects your mood or go by the trends in the market, which give credit to pinks, reds and even whites.

Alongside the colours you choose for the walls and/or the furnishings, pay heed also to the texture of fabrics used. For example, satin and silky fabrics are said to be sensual.

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Relatively SPEAKING

Be mindful… be very mindful

Mindfulness is a mental state where one’s awareness is focused on the present moment

S

ay ‘mindful’ and experience its onomatopoeic effect spill on to your life in lucid tones of peace and oneness with the environment. For a starter, it may feel like a complex maze of thoughts and feelings leading to a channel of peace, but the process, according to experts, is about relying on basic human ability. One that requires you to be fully present in the present and be aware of where you are and what you are doing, while not getting overwhelmed by things around you.

Although it is classified as a natural process, it demands practice, everyday, to derive any benefit.

Mindfulness requires you to bring awareness to your state of mind through thoughts and emotions.

The objective is to achieve a state of alertness and focused relaxation.

Eating

Begin with mindful eating; it is all about choosing foods with deliberate intention and being aware of the texture and taste of it in your mouth. This is followed by being aware of the sensations aroused in your body while chewing, swallowing and even digesting it. Eating with such deliberation is expected to increase your enjoyment of the food and subsequently help you maintain a healthy weight, as the focus is on eating each morsel slowly.

Showering

Like eating, showering too is a perfect everyday activity to practice mindfulness.

Make it a habit to pay attention to every detail of the task at hand. Start by feeling the water sliding down your skin, assess its temperature and pressure as it hits your body. Also, pay attention to your body movements and joints as you continue washing. People who regularly practice mindfulness say the experience is almost sublime, inducing a feeling of mental cleanliness even.

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Surprisingly, even mundane chores like dusting, sweeping and mopping the house could act as a practice ground for mindfulness. When you pay attention to your bodily movements, as you move around the room cleaning, can induce mindfulness. The element of focus moves according to the physical motions of cleaning.

Soon you will notice how the tools you use to clean become an extension of yourself.

Mindful technique

Relatively SPEAKING

Cleaning

A quick checklist of easy mindfulness exercises to get you going. l

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When brushing your hair or teeth, concentrate completely on the task at hand. Observe the movement of your hand and feel the taste of toothpaste in your mouth.

Grasp your hands tightly for a few seconds and then release it; now pay attention to how your hands feel and keep your focus on that sensation.

Staring fixedly at an object can also prove effective in getting on the mindful track. Remain focused on that object; the longer you remain focused, the more your mindfulness grows.

Alternately, light a candle in the room and stare fixedly at it for ten minutes. If you find your mind wandering, realise it is happening and bring it back to the candle.

Keep a clock or a watch in front of you to time the passing of a minute. Use that minute to focus only on your breathing.

When listening to your favourite song, concentrate on how it makes you feel emotionally and what memories it triggers.

On a weekend, when time permits, watch a movie and keep a tab on your emotions.

Make time for silence and simply absorb your surroundings. Doing nothing can be a positively defining exercise.

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Whether at work, home or outdoors, become aware of the ‘I’ word in your conversation. This will help you assess how self-centred you are.

Turn everyday household chores into mindful practice sessions. Focus all your awareness on the task at hand.

Utilise the time in the traffic to practice mindfulness, beginning with simple breathing exercise to bring your body and mind to a relaxed state.

Every once in a while, pay attention to the present moment without being judgemental about it.

Sniff the air and become sensitive to the strong smell in the air; it could be a perfume, a beverage or some food item. Now pay attention to the feelings that that scent evokes.

Find some quiet time during the day to focus on your breathing; notice how the air fills you up when you inhale and how stomach caves in while you exhale

January 2017

57

man date

Emotionally challenged?

Men don’t cry, men rarely say I-love-you, men are afraid to reveal their emotions…

Men, typically, do not express their emotions.

Agree?

Social media may have provided a platform to prove otherwise with a slew of emoticons to redress that issue, but, generally speaking, men have a knack for withholding emotions.

Some men say it with flowers...

Can that be blamed on the stereotypes established by the society or traced back to the childhood days when every display of emotion was chastised with a ‘boys don’t…?

While sporting events have men go over the top with their demonstrations of joy or disappointment, it is the mundane, everyday events that fail to evoke the appropriate emotion.

There are various theories for the marked difference in emotional displays between men and women. One psychologist attributed it to a general transference of strong emotions with socially acceptable anger - say for example, sadness expressed as anger; while another

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January 2017

Saying it with food...

Somewhere along the line, men have found themselves in a double bind as the society, on one hand, encourages them to express their emotions, while hinting that they need to honour the general belief that men who are macho do not fall prey to emotional displays. And so it continues…men who deviate from the traditional masculine bounds by being emotionally expressive or verbalising their fears are often judged as being poorly adjusted.

man date

highlighted the pattern of emotional expressions only in places where they feel is safe and acceptable.

Of course men also experience intense emotions, but, as a psychologist noted, men tend to bury their emotions, as they are not trained adequately to display them. But there are ways to assess emotions, especially of the heart, with cues from the body language and little actions.

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Remember the stereotypical image of a gentleman laying his jacket on a puddle for the lady to cross? That may seem over the top in the present context, but the gist of the matter is that men just know how to make their loved ones safe by simply being close to them.

You can be assured of his affection if he makes your favourite beverage and brings it to you, even without you asking for it.

When he asks your advice about something that relates to his office work or even general topic, it is an indication of his respect for your input.

Taking you out to dinner has its own charm, but a man who cooks for you is telling you in no uncertain terms that he cares for you.

When he fixes things around the house, instead of calling a mechanic or a professional fixer, you can be assured that he has your interests at heart. l l l

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You know that you have a special place in his heart when he shares things from his past or reveals a secret.

He definitely loves you if he has a special name for you.

Remember to be there for him when he is silent or retreats into his man cave; give him the space he requires but understand that he needs your help.

Call him traditional or romantic, gifts, even flowers, are his way of pleasing you - of saying those three precious words.

And if he is listening to you, intently, he is telling you that he values your words. l

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Physical proximity is another indication of his feelings for you, more so when you are at a party in his friend’s house.

If he holds your hand while watching television at home or out shopping in the mall, he is expressing his joy of being with you.

Tagging along with you even if it is to pick up the weekly grocery is his way of expressing his desire to spend time with you.

Another interesting measure of his feelings is when he subconsciously imitates your little actions: whether it is touching your arm or leaning towards you.

When he gives a peck on your cheek or forehead, he is telling you that he simply adores you.

Be assured of his feelings for you if he randomly calls or messages you to ask how you are…

January 2017

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Bank Muscat’s RO10 millionprize money

Khimji Ramdas Calendar celebrates Omani poets

Khimji Ramdas has launched its calendar for the current year, celebrating Oman’s rich cultural heritage. This year, as part of its culture and heritage focus, the Khimji Ramdas calendar has chosen to shine the spotlight on 13 illustrious Omani poets, Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Harthy, Hibal Bin Bader Al Bausaidi, and Abdullah Bin Ali Al Sadrani, and many others whose works have been widely appreciated and honoured throughout Oman. The calendar has an avant-garde look and feel, enhanced with special gold printing and droplet UV effects.

Some of the Sultanate’s literary geniuses have received honourable mentions in the KR annual calendar.

Bank Muscat is back with RO 10 millionprize money for 2017 al Mazyona savings scheme.

The 2017 scheme was unveiled and the 2016 al Mazyona year-end prizes, totaling RO1 million, was picked

by H.H. Mohammed bin Thuwaini Al Said at a grand ceremony attended by dignitaries, management team members led by AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive, and the media at Al Mouj Golf.

The highlights of al Mazyona savings scheme include high value prizes for different segments, including women, children, youth and high saving customers, ranging from RO1,000 weekly prizes to RO10,000 monthly prizes, RO25,000 quarterly prizes and RO100,000 annual prizes.

High savings customers of asalah Priority Banking have chances to win RO30,000 monthly prizes, RO100,000 quarterly prizes, and RO250,000 year-end prizes. Prizes reserved for al Jawhar Privilege Banking customers include RO20,000 monthly prizes and RO50,000 quarterly prizes.

City Centre Qurum completes RO5 million project

City Centre Qurum has announced the completion of the final stage of its OMR 5 million redevelopment project. The redevelopment work, which began in April 2016, includes 3150 square meters Centrepoint - the multi-brand retail concept of Landmark Group, which includes Babyshop, Splash, Lifestyle and Shoe Mart. These new retail outlets add to an already strong line-up of retail, restaurant and entertainment options including Carrefour Hypermarket, VOX Cinemas, H&M and Magic Planet. The expansion also includes 177 additional car parking spaces, bringing the total number of parking spaces available to shoppers to 1055 spaces.

Oman Avenues Mall’s ‘Fashion Season’ campaign

The Oman Avenues Mall lived a month’s glam, glitz and fun with its inaugural ‘Fashion Season’ that was celebrated at the mall the entire month of January.

The ‘Fashion Season’ was attended by customers, fashionistas, social media influencers, VIPs and guests from all over the Sultanate, who enjoyed an incredible fashion experience vis-à-vis a series of stylish events, activities, workshops and promotions at the mall.

Customers who spent RO15 or more, shopping at the mall, were entitled to a free ‘scratch & win card’, providing them the opportunity to win from a range of more than 800 prizes. The ‘Fashion Season’ came to a close with a glitterati event featuring a beautifully choreographed fashion runway show designed to showcase products from the mall’s top brands Matalan, Brands, Desigual, Empora, Skechers, LC Waikiki, Sara Plaza, Sana, and Superdry.

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ESO & PDO raise future Environmental Ambassadors

The Environment Society of Oman (ESO), in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), continues to spread awareness of sustainable practices through a campaign designed to inspire the next generation to be responsible environmental stewards. The ESO Education Program, started in 2016, aims to cover over 100 middle schools in several governorates, empowering thousands of students aged between 11 and 14 years old with knowledge of conservation techniques, sustainable practices, climate change and the importance of biodiversity.

ESO will also be hosting its 4th Eco Summer programme in July 2017, engaging children in environmentally themed games, art and activities.

Alfardan Properties’ development project

Alfardan Properties have announced the construction commencement of a mixed-use development at a prime location on the Sultan Qaboos Highway, close to the Muscat International Airport. The 10,000 square feet project features luxury residential apartments, commercial office spaces and showrooms of Alfardan Motors. The apartments at the mixed-use development offers spacious floor plans ranging from one to three bedrooms along with amenities such as swimming pools, fully equipped gym, children’s play area and coffee shop. Speaking about the project, Wael Jamal, General Manager of Alfardan Properties, said: “We envision a multi-faceted development that respects and responds to the preferences of the community.”

Apollo Hospital Muscat launches super specialty clinics

Apollo Hospital Muscat announced the introduction of two super specialty clinics in Oman - Paediatric Urology and Reproductive Medicine - at a seminar organised recently at the Hotel Crowne Plaza. Dr. V Sripathy- Sr. Consultant Paediatric Urologist and Dr. Sumana Manohar-Sr. Consultant– Reproductive Medicine Specialist, graced the seminar. V.T. Saileswaran, Managing Director of Apollo Muscat stated that this would officially be the first-ever Paediatric Urology Clinic in the private sector and the Hospital’s focus would be on introducing such super specialty and sub specialty services in the Sultanate. 2017 would see at least two more such specialty clinics at Apollo Muscat in association with Apollo Hospitals, India, he added.

‘Eyes Wide Open’ with Splash Calendar

The Splash Calendar 2017 attempts to capture the raw emotions one feels incorporating the core elements of nature. The thought provoking calendar was unveiled by Reem Acra the Lebanese fashion designer, Renuka Jagtiani, Vice-Chairperson of Landmark Group and Raza Beig, CEO-Splash and ICONIC and Director of Landmark Group. “The 2017 calendar is powered with emotions and reflects on the hurricane of sentiments we feel weaved into the fashion route that Splash knows so well. It is also a very unique calendar where we have on board 12 of our customers carefully chosen to experience this journey of the brand that they have loved for years,” said Raza Beig.

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Maserati’s new Quattroporte arrives in Oman

After three and a half years of unprecedented success in the international markets, the Quattroporte undergoes a substantial restyling that accentuates its elegance and its signature Maserati personality. The restyled flagship will be available in Muscat as of now and is destined to continue a success story that commenced over 50 years ago. “The Quattroporte was born when Maserati decided to lower the engine of a race car into a four-door – ‘quattro porte’ - salon car in 1963,” said Alfardan Motors’ Assistant General Manager, Mohamed El Zawawy. With the restyling of the Quattroporte, Maserati offers the additional choice of two unique trim lines that emphasize the two key pillars of the brand’s DNA: GranLusso and GranSport.

Audi RS 3 LMS celebrates class victory

Audi Sport customer racing started the 2017 racing season with a strong result: In its first race in the hands of a customer and on making its debut in a 24-hour race, the new Audi RS 3 LMS celebrated a class victory during the 24H Dubai. Of the five Audi Sport customer racing teams that competed in the Hankook 24H Dubai 2017, three were rewarded with top 10 places from a field of 92 entrants overall. During 2017, Audi Sport customer racing is supporting two customer-racing projects with the new Audi RS 3 LMS and the new Audi R8 LMS for the first time.

Hyundai Veloster adjudged the ‘Best Small Hatchback’

The Hyundai Veloster won the ‘Best Small Hatchback’ award at the recently concluded Oman Auto Excellence Awards.

It won the award for its unique styling, its 2+1 door concept and its refinement and superior performance. Featuring a 1591 cc MPI Engine and 6 Speed Automatic transmission, it delivers 130ps and a torque of 16.0 kgf.m. The Veloster offers convenience, safety and performance. The trendy car appeals to youthful customers by combining excellent fuel economy, spirited performance and low emissions without compromise.

For 2017, all Veloster models offer an 18-inch alloy wheels with colour inserts.

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New 1.4L Tiguan now available in Oman

Volkswagen Oman, represented by Wattayah Motors, has announced the availability of the 1.4L Tiguan at Volkswagen showrooms across the Sultanate. The 1.4L Tiguan is the entry-level model for the recently launched Tiguan, with prices starting from RO9,760. The new model is powered by a 1.4L engine producing 150HP, and mated to a six-speed DSG transmission and completes the new Tiguan’s full engine line up; S 1.4L, SE 1.4L, SE 2.0L, SEL 2.0L and Sport 2.0L. The award-winning model is packed with performance, comfort, safety, and cutting-edge technology. The new Tiguan is the first Volkswagen SUV built on the state-of-theart MQB platform, and features new technology completely unique in the compact class.

Mazda’s all-new CX-3 Compact SUV The new stylish Fun Utility Vehicle from Mazda is making ripples across the market. Launched earlier this month, the new Mazda CX-3 Compact SUV caters to the rising demand for luxury compact crossover SUV in Oman. Available in Luxury, Prestige and Comfort variants, the vehicles have a classy look that is perfectly complemented with a simple yet elegant interior design. Mazda CX-3 Compact SUV also has a sports drive mode; powered by 2.0 litre Mazda’s patented Skyactiv engine, it comes with a promise of high performance and quality. The All-wheel drive feature of the car also adds to the driving experience as well as safety and fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Furthermore, Mazda CX 3 has also been fitted with front, side and curtain airbags for added safety.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks launches special edition Actros truck

Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ MENA, have launched a special edition Actros truck in celebration of the model’s 20th anniversary. The launch event included a live demonstration of the Actros 3844 S 6x4 tractor-head model and of its state-of-the-art equipment and innovative safety systems by professional Mercedes-Benz driver trainers from Germany and the Training and Product Management team of Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA. Powered by a highly fuel-efficient 6-cylinder engine (Euro 3) boosting 435 horsepower and 2,100 NM of torque, the heavyduty truck delivers great performance thanks to the power transfer to the two driven rear axles via a twin-plate clutch and the reliable and efficient 16-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated gearbox. Mercedes PowerShift provides specific driving modes that support the driver in mastering all traffic situations.

Infiniti campaign winner drives F1 car in Spain

It was a dream come true opportunity for Aiman Mohammed Al Salmi, the lucky motorist from Oman who got the chance to get behind the wheel of a real Renault Sports Formula One car in Valencia, Spain. He was among eight lucky winners of Infiniti ‘Ultimate Test Drive’ campaign. The winners got the opportunity to perfect their driving skills on one of the world’s most challenging racetracks before making their dream a reality behind the wheel of a race-prepared Grand Prix machine.

Talking about his Formula One driving experience, Aiman, who is also a drag racer, drifter and a karting driver, said he was thrilled and lucky to be part of the team that visited Valencia.

Nissan Oman announces special scheme for customers

Nissan Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA), has announced a special offer on all its models.

The promotion, which offers several benefits on all of its cars, will go on till March 23, 2017. Nissan Oman is offering assured cash back gift, extended mileage warranty, periodic maintenance service package and free registration. On select versions of Tiida and Navara, Nissan Oman is also offering free insurance for the first year. The campaign also offers low EMIs (starting from RO80) and attractive cash-back amounts (upto RO4000).

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Chill Out

Movies

MOVIE REVIEW

Director Chris McKay

Cast

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CHART TOPPERS

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Jenny Slate (Harley Quinn) Ralph Fiennes Alfred Pennyworth Rosario Dawson (Batgirl / Barbara Gordon) Zach Galifianakis (The Joker) Michael Cera (Robin / Dick Grayson) Will Arnett (Batman / Bruce Wayne) Mariah Carey (Mayor McCaskill) Billy Dee Williams (Two-Face)

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Bad And Boujee - Migos & Lil Uzi Vert

2. Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran 3.

Black Beatles - Rae Sremmurd & Gucci Mane

4. Closer - Chainsmokers & Halsey 5. Starboy - Weeknd & Daft Punk 6. Bad Things - Machine Gun Kelly

The Lego Batman Movie The Lego Batman Movie is an upcoming 2017 AmericanDanish 3D computeranimated action-comedy superhero film Batman is the crime-fighting vigilante everyone can count on to save the day.

So when Gotham City is threatened again, the Dark Knight is forced to work with a new police commissioner and a young orphan to save the day. But working alone may not be the answer this time, as there are big changes brewing in Gotham. To save the city from The

7. Paris - Chainsmokers

Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop his lone vigilante style and

8. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars

him find new friends and happiness along the way.

9. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever - Zayn & Taylor

In this Spinoff of 2014 film ‘The Lego Movie’, Bruce Wayne is not only

10. Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran

It is Batman’s personal journey to find himself and learn the importance of

try to work with others. And, learning to work as part of a team just might help

dealing with the criminals of Gotham City, but also raising his adopted son. teamwork and friendship while saving Gotham City.

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Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget UPCOMING RELEASES

John Wick: Chapter 2 The Great Wall

Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau, Tian Jing, Ryan Cheng When a mercenary warrior is imprisoned within The Great Wall, he discovers the mystery behind one of the greatest wonders of our world. As wave after wave of marauding beasts besiege the massive structure, his quest for fortune turns into a journey toward heroism as he joins a huge army of elite warriors to confront this unimaginable and seemingly unstoppable force.

BOOK REVIEW

The English Patient Author: Michael Ondaatje This award-winning novel tells the story of four war-damaged people – a Canadian nurse, a Sikh British Army sapper, a Canadian thief and a badly burned Englishman (the titular patient) - living in an Italian monastery at the end of WWII. The story unfolds during the North African Campaign and centres on the revelations of the patient’s life and the emotional effects of these revelations on the other characters.

The Space Between Us

Gary Oldman, Carla Gugino, Asa Butterfield, Britt Robertson, Janet Montgomery, BD Wong Gardner Elliot, the first human born on Mars, begins an online friendship with Tulsa, a teen in Colorado. On his maiden voyage to Earth, the 16-year-old finally gets to experience all the joys and wonders of a world he could only read about. Problems arise when scientists discover that Gardner’s organs can’t withstand the atmosphere. United with Tulsa and on the run, the interplanetary visitor races against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.

Keanu Reeves, Common, Ruby Rose, Riccardo Scamarcio, Peter Stormare, Ian McShane Keanu Reeves returns in the sequel to the 2014 hit as legendary hit man John Wick who is forced to back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers. The film zeroes on the drama that unfolds in Rome.

The Thorn Birds

Author: Colleen McCullough The Thorn Birds is the epic saga of a family rooted in the Australia. It is set in 1915 in Drogheda, a fictional sheep station in the Australian Outback.

The story focuses on the Cleary family and spans the years 1915 to 1969; it narrates the forbidden love between the beautiful and headstrong young girl Meghann ‘Meggie’ Cleary and the ambitious priest Ralph de Bricassart.

Love Story Author: Erich Segal This 1970 romance novel was released on February 14, Valentine’s Day, and has since remained a testament to the very concept of love. It tells the story of wealthy Oliver Barrett IV, who is on his way to a Harvard degree and a career in law and Jenny Cavilleri, a music student at Radcliffe. The two belong to different worlds, but have fallen deeply in love with each other. They share a passion for each other and explore the wonder of love… one that is set to end too soon.

January 2017

65

Chill Out

Movies Movies Books Book

WEB WORLD

Chill crafts outdoors Love and activities for kids Inculcate the importance of love in your children with some easy to create crafts and activities Log on to handsonaswegrow.com/20love-crafts-activities-kids/ and get into the season of love with your kids. Make the most of this beautiful time of the year with crafts and activities that are designed to foster a spirit of love.

The craft ideas presented on the website focus on the word ‘love’.

They are the crafts that have the word love in them and are exemplified by their cuteness. From love banners to sun-catchers and footprints, love is celebrated in these crafts that demonstrate, with step-by-step pictures, how to put the craft together.

You could also involve kids in love activities, which are certain to kindle the spirit of love in everyone involved. The website suggests a ‘Love Scavenger Hunt’, with ideas to create your own. There are more such games and activities to spell out love in their lives.

Riddle Time

1 2 3 4 5 66

How do crazy people go through the forest?

What do you call a musician with problems?

Did you hear about the Italian chef that died?

Where do snowmen keep their money?

What did the tie say to the hat?

January 2017

Riddle Time Answers (December 2016)

1 2

What stays in the corner and travels all over the world?

Answer: A stamp.

What do you call a man with no body and just a nose?

Answer: Nobody nose.

How do you make an Octupus laugh?

Answer: With ten-tickles.

What do you call an illegally parked frog?

Answer:Toad.

Why did the cross-eyed teacher lose her job?

Answer: Because she couldn’t control her pupils?

3 4 5

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget GADGET NOTES Samsung’s Welt smart belt

Wearable tech gets to an all new level with Samsung’s Welt belt, which has been described as one of the smartest wearable health-tracking products. Samsung C-Lab’s Welt is designed to track your waist size! Studies have shown that the size of the midsection can predict the risk of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. The smart belt is equipped with magnetic sensors in the buckle to measure the size of the waist. It tracks changes in waist size over time and can make the wearer aware of bad eating habits or even minor waist gains. The Welt also doubles as a standard fitness tracker, logging daily steps, as well as idle time and estimated calories.

Hoverboards making a comeback?

Remember the flashy hoverboards, which became a big hit in 2015 as a personal transport gizmo? Yes, they were recalled after a series of battery fires and injuries, but if a recent electronics show is a gauge of things to come, Hoverboards are all set to make a comeback. Hoverboard Technologies founder Robert Bigler unveiled his singlewheeled GeoBlade, proclaiming it to be the future of personal urban mobility. The singlewheeled board is harder to master but offers advantages over those using two wheels; it has a narrower stance and allows the rider to navigate more easily.

The Vobot Clock

Now wakeup easy with the Vobot Clock, a cost-effective smart alarm, which comes with a slew of creative features. Vobot’s Amazon Alexaenabled clock is known as the Vobot Clock; it will be integrated with Amazon Alexa Voice Services to deliver voice experiences for the Vobot Clock. Its pre-set wakeup and bedtime solution will assist users to fall asleep faster and wake up earlier. The proactive reminder function will then inform or show users the right things at the right time. There is also a customisable alarm that allows consumers to wake up to their favourite tunes, a dot matrix display that makes everything clear at first sight.

5e NannyBot

Good news for parents. Five Elements Robotics has found a way to help busy parents get through the day. 5e NannyBot, the latest innovation from Five Elements Robotics, boasts an integrated camera that allows parents to keep an eye out on their children. The NannyBot is also able to follow the children, projecting video and audio back to the parent’s smartphone or computer, while letting the parent control the robot remotely in order to have a better look around the child’s environment.

The device comes with an optional basket accessory that will be able to hold children’s toys as it moves around the home.

Bites

“Oh it helps a lot,” he replied, “it’s the only way I can see the numbers!” **

Mary caught her husband on the weight scale, with his stomach sucked in.

She giggled and said: “Joe, you know that won’t help, don’t you?”

Steve, a young doctor, was just setting up his first office when his secretary told him there was a man to see him. The good doctor wanted to make a good first impression. The best way to do it was by having

the patient think he was successful and very busy. He told his secretary to show the man in. And, just as the man was entering the room, the doctor picked up the telephone and pretended to be having a conversation with a patient. The man waited until the doctor finished his telephone ‘conversation’. The doctor maintained his busy look as he put the telephone down and asked, ‘Can I help you?’

The man, with a half suppressed laugh, said: “I’m just here to connect your telephone.”

January 2017

67

Chill Out February 2017

Movies

FUTURESCOPE

Aquarius

(January 21 – February 19) If you have been contemplating business, rest assured, this is the best time of the year to start a new business or new venture. There is great career activity and the demands of the career seem strong, but it is time to shift some energy and attention to the home, family and your emotional needs. This is your happy and prosperous period and you will continue having a life more or less on your own terms. You can count on the support of your spouse or partner.

Aries

Enjoy good health and energy, as it is considerably improved this month. Career is always good, although not as active as the past two months. Bosses and parent figures are sympathetic to your financial goals. There is monetary good luck on its way… Your love life seems happy this month as well. This is also a good time to get involved in group activities.

Taurus

Health may seem delicate, but the most important thing is maintaining your high energy levels. Learn to press brakes on overwork and pay attention to the spine, knees and also the skin. Avoid unnecessary foreign travel in the first week. Finances will get a lot better this month than last. Look for monetary opportunity in distant lands and with foreign companies.

Gemini

Health, energy and self-confidence are considerably improved over last month.

But remember, the most important thing is to have sufficient rest - don’t overdo things. Your love life seems more active this month; there are several romantic opportunities for singles and family connections are playing a part here. You

Bob Marley

are in a yearly career peak, and it will continue well into next month.

Cancer

Look forward to important financial implications as money is poised to enter your life through insurance claims, trust funds or tax refunds. If you have estate, tax or insurance claims, make time to deal with them during this month. This is a critical period to pay down debts or to borrow money, depending on your need. Find prosperity by cutting back on unnecessary things.

Leo

This is an excellent month for starting new projects or launching new products.

Health, however, needs watching and it is important that you get more rest. Finances are considerably improved but there is some monetary disturbance early in the month and changes need to be done.

This is a great period to start a savings or investment programme.

Virgo

If you have plans to launch new products or start a new business/project, this is the time to initiate your venture. You will soon be moving towards your goals. Look forward to a happy month ahead, even if you are a job seeker. There are several opportunities coming up. You will be meeting spiritual and artistic kinds of people.

Libra

Like Leo and Virgo, this month will prove to be a great start for new projects and ventures. Although you are the romantic type, you will find yourself becoming more practical. If you are single, romantic opportunities will come by, as you pursue your normal financial goals. Interestingly, much of your socialising this month seems business related.

(February 6, 1945) Top of Form Born Nesta Robert Marley, Bob became known as the Ambassador of Third World for his music and sold over 75 million reggae albums worldwide. He died of cancer at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida, on May 11, 1981. He was a big supporter of the Back to Africa movement and the Rastafari movement. His hits include ‘No Woman, No Cry,’ ‘Could You Be Loved,’ ‘Get Up Stand Up,’ and ‘Redemption Song’.

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January 2017

Scorpio Things seem more complicated this month. However, it is best to make time to focus on others and their needs; it is a time to tone down self-will and achieve goals by consensus. Home and family are your real career goals, the actual mission now. You have to find your emotional comfort zone and function from there. This is a great month for psychological therapies.

Sagittarius

You are in a period of intense personal power and independence and this will provide you with an opportunity to take personal responsibility for your own happiness and the conditions of your life.

It might seem selfish, but your happiness helps everyone around you. What is more, your love life is improved; look forward to a happy romantic experience.

Capricorn

As a Capricorn, you have always been ambitious, but now is the time to focus on home and family. Financially you are still enjoying a yearly financial peak. This is a time for a confidential career profile. Focus on the things that make career success possible, including emotional wellness and a stable home and family life.

Pisces

Prosperity is strong this month. Be ready for favourable job opportunities that are on their way. Career-wise you are overcoming more obstacles and there is a methodical progress. Love is playing a balancing act this month as your interests and the interests of the spouse or partner seem diametrically opposed to each other.

Compromise will be essential.

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget

WEIRD NEWS

Valentine’s Notes Did you know that in Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card…?

Thumbs Down…

l

A new online craze has teens dislocating thumbs. A horrifying new trend that surfaced on Twitter has teenagers breaking the ligaments in their thumbs as part of an online challenge. The craze, apparently, came after two friends initiated their dislocation and posted it on Twitter. Following that, people are photographing their attempts and tweeting them, fuelling the craze. One twitter user posted a screenshot of his friend’s broken hand along with a step-by-step guide. l

Fish priced more than half a million dollars

l

How much are you willing to pay for a fish? A Japanese buyer crossed all bounds when he paid more than half a million dollars for a single Bluefin tuna at an auction. Kiyoshi Kimura, owner of Kiyomura Co, bought the 467-pound Bluefin for 74.2 million yen (about $642,000) during Tsukiji fish market’s first auction, recently. It is the second highest bid ever recorded at Tsukiji. The top bid of all time, of $1.8 million in 2013, also belongs to Kimura.

l

l

Mystery Kinder Eggs

Thousands of Kinder Eggs washed up on Langeoog, a small island off the coast of northeast Germany, creating frenzy among kids, who flocked the beach to enjoy an early Easter. However, mystery surrounds how thousands of Kinder Eggs came to be washed up on the beach of a remote island. It is believed they were cargo that toppled overboard from a ship sailing from China to Germany under the flag of Denmark.

l

You have heard of the expression ‘wearing your heart on your sleeve’, but did you know it came about in the Middle Ages when young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine and then pinned the name on their sleeves for a week?

With Romeo and Juliet symbolising love, is it any surprise that the Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet, every Valentine’s Day? For South Koreans, romance is not an annual affair; the 14th of every month marks a romantic holiday of sorts: Candle Day, Valentine’s Day, White Day, Rose Day, Kiss Day, Silver Day, Green Day, Music Day, Movie Day, Hug Day...

In the 1700s in England, a girl would pin four bay leaves to her pillow and eat a hard-boiled egg, including the shell, on the eve of St. Valentine’s Day. Superstition has it that if she dreamed of a boy that night, she would soon marry him.

It was physicians who, in the 1800s, advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love.

Not surprisingly, it was Richard Cadbury who produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800s.

January 2017

69

Airlines

SEARCHING

1

Airlines Emergency Cinema Beauty

70

Oman on your fingertips

Airlines Flight information ....................... 24519456 Aeroflot ....................................... 24704455 Ahlan Lounge ............................. 24519088 Air Arabia ................................... 24700828 Air France ................................... 24562153 Air India...................................... 24762111 Air Maldives ............................... 24566046 Air New Zealand ......................... 24700326 Bangladesh Airlines.................... 24701128 British Airways............................ 24568777 Cathay Pacific ............................. 24789818 Continental Airlines.................... 24816565 Egypt Air .................................... 24794113 Emirates Airlines ........................ 24404444 Ethiopia Airlines ......................... 24660314 Gulf Air .......................24703222, 80072424 Iran Aseman ............................... 24660313 Japan Airlines ............................. 24704455 Jet Airways ..................24787248/24787246 Kenya Airways ............................ 24660317 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines ........... 24566737 Kuwait Airways ........................... 24701262 Lufthansa..................................... 24796692 Malaysian Airlines ...................... 24560796 Middle East Airlines ................... 24796680 Oman Air .................................... 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines................... .................................................... 24792471 Qatar Airways ............................ 24771900 Qantas ........................................ 24559941 Royal Jordanian ........................... 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines ................ 24789485 Shaheen Air International ........... 24817021 Singapore Airlines ...................... 24791233 Sri Lankan Airlines ..................... 24784545 Swiss International Air Lines ...... 24796692 Syrian Airlines ............................ 24797567 Thai Airways ............................... 24705934 Turkish Airways ................ 24703033/ 2778

January 2017

Emergency Hospitals

Al Nahdha Hospital ..................... 24837800 Khoula Hospital........................... 24560455 Muscat Private Hospital .............. 24583600 Royal Hospital ............................. 24599000 Al Raffah Hospital .................. 98294371/70 KIMS Oman Hospital ................... 24760100 Burjeel Medical Centre .............. 22085252

Electricity

Muscat / Muttrah ........................ 24714300 Ruwi ............................................ 24701821 Salalah ........................................ 23219188

Water

General Enquiries ..............................1442 Muttrah ...................................... 24795775 Salalah ....................................... 23290222

Cinema

City Cinema Ruwi ................. 2456 7664/68 City Cinema Al Shatti ........... 2456 7664/68 City Cinema MGM................ 2456 7664/68 City Cinema Sohar ............... 2456 7664/68 Star Cinema ................................ 24791641 Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540855 VOX Cinemas - MCC...................22344444

SEARCHING

Emergency Cinema Beauty Health Clubs Hotel & Hotel Apartments Retail Sports Travel & Tour Operators Eat Out

Beauty Al Lilac Beauty Center ................ 24483994 Al Nahda Resort and Spa, Barka ................

26883710 Ayana Spa ................................... 24693435 Beauty Centre ............................. 24697585 Beauty Today .............................. 24568991 Chi Spa, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa ....................................... 24776666 Daksha’s Salon ............................ 24562596 Emirates Medical Center............ 24604540 Essence Spa................................ 24603225 Europe Beauty Centre & Health .................

Club, CBD ................................... 24797813 Europe Beauty Centre & Spa ....................

Wadi Kabir.................................. 24815805 Grand Spa................................... 24695766 Grand Spa (Bareeq Al Shatti)...... 95588880 Hana’s Slimming & Skincare ....... 24697270 Holistic Skin & Hair Care ............ 24601134 Hollywood Beauty Centre ........... 24568292 Kaya Skin Clinic ................ 24601700/4300 Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala ........... 24701555 Manal Beautician ........................ 24479655 Muscat Beauty Salon ................... 24562541 Muscat Slimming Centre ............ 24565687 Nadia Beauty Salon ..................... 24689777 Nails Spa ..................................... 24699440 Raz Hair and Beauty Salon .......... 24692219 Saharz Beauty Centre ................................ ................................24695151 / 24696161 Signature .................................... 24490282 Sri Sri Ayurveda..........24480874, 92800793 The Chedi, The Spa .................... 24524400 Tips & Toes Nails Spa.................. 24603969 The Spa Bar for Men ................... 24698681 Touch & Glow Beauty.................. 24791979 VLCC .............................. Qurum 24695157 VLCC............................Mawaleh 24553535 Perry's Saloon ............................. 24538539 Zayna Spa, MRM ..........................26871555

Airlines Airlines Emergency Emergency Cinema Cinema Beauty Beauty Health Health Clubs Clubs Hotel Hotel && Hotel Hotel Apartments Apartments Retail Retail Sports Sports Travel Travel & Tour & Tour Operators Operators EatEat Out Out

Health Clubs

Hotel & Hotel Apartments Muscat Region

Al Bustan Palace Hotel ................ 24799666 Al Bahjah Hotel ........................... 24424400 Al-Khuwayr Hotel Apts ............... 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn ................ 24596400 Al Fanar Hotel ............................. 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel .............................. 24702311 Azaiba Hotel Apartments........................... ................................24490979 / 99424470 Beach Hotel ................................ 24696601 Bowshar Hotel............................. 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat ..................... 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat.................. 24660660 Golden Tulip Seeb...................... 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat .................... 24641234 Haffa House Hotel ....................... 24707207 Holiday Inn Muscat ..................... 24487123 InterContinental Muscat ............. 24680000 Best Western Hotel ..................... 24692121 Majan Continental Hotel ............. 24592900 Marina Hotel ............................... 24711711 Mina Hotel .................................. 24711828 Muttrah Hotel .............................. 24798401 Nuzha Hotel Apts ........................ 24789199 Oman Dive Center...................... 24824240 Park Inn ...................................... 24507888 Qurm Beach House Hotel ........... 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat.......... 24487777 Ramada Qurm Beach .................. 24603555 Ramee Guestline Hotel ............... 24564443 Ramee Dream Resort .................. 24453399 Ruwi Hotel .................................. 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites...................... 24691200 Qurum Beach Resort Hotel ......... 24605945 Shangri La’s Barr Al JissahResort and Spa .....................24776666, 800708102 The Chedi Muscat....................... 24524400 Al Hedayet Int'l Hotel al-khoud, kakoot round about..... 24549945

Al Dhakliya

Nizwa Hotel................................. 25431616 Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel............. 25410500 Adam Motel ................................ 25434975 Al Diyar Hotel ............................. 25412402 Bader Aslam Motel ..................... 25435007 Bahla Hotel ................................. 25420211 Matan Motel ................................ 99062641 Majan Guest House..................... 25431910 Tanoof Guest House.................... 25411601

Al Batinah

Al Nahda Resort & Spa ............... 26883710 Al Wadi Hotel .............................. 26840058 Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545 Al Suwaiq Hotel .......................... 26862241 Green Oasis Motel ...................... 26846442 Ghurnata Hotel Apartments........ 26844539 Millennium Resort ...................... 26871555 Sohar Beach Hotel ...................... 26841111

Al Sharqiya

Al Ashkara .................................. 25566266 Al Qabil Resthouse ..................... 25581243 Al Raha Tourism Camp ............... 99343851 Al Sharqiya Gardens................... 99332264 Al Sharqiya Sands Hotel ............. 99205112 Al Wasil Camp ............................ 99332264 Desert Safaris ............................. 25593232 Golden Sands Camp................... 99445092 Ibra Hotel.................................... 25571873 Mahoot Hotel .............................. 25504401 Marsa Sur Hotel Apartments....... 25540784 Masirah Motel ............................. 25504401 Ras Al Hadd Beach Hotel ........... 25542031

Musandam

2

Al Wusta

Ghaftain Rest House ................... 99485881 Ghaba Rest House ...................... 99358639 Haima Motel ............................... 23436061 Qatbit Motel................................ 99085686

Dhofar

Al Hanna Hotel............................ 23290274 Al Jabal Hotel .............................. 23210611 Al Mazyuna Hotel........................ 23293340 Al Nassr Hotel ............................. 23294815 Al Saada Tourism Complex ........ 23225250 Bamasir Hotel ............................. 23293340 Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah ...... 23235333 Darbat Hotel ............................... 23295877 Dhofar Tourist Hotel.................... 23282300 Fanar Hotel & Residences............23276800 Hilton Hotel Salalah .................... 23211234 Haffa House Hotel Salalah........... 23295444 Redan Hotel ................................ 23292255 Salalah Beach Hotel Apts ............ 23235999 Salalah Hotel ............................... 23295332 Samahram Hotel Apts ................. 23295444 Thumrit Tourist Hotel .................. 23279371

SEARCHING

Your Fitness Quotient....

Al Falaj Health Club ........................24702311 Al Majan Hotel ................................24592900 Al Qurum Resort .............................24605945 Adam’s Fitness Center ....................24684989 Balance Health & Fitness ...............24564132 Bodylines, Al Sawadi ......................26795545 Body Speak ......................................24765578 Crowne Plaza...................................24660660 Fitbody Gym....................................24601970 Fontana Club Radisson Blu ...........24487777 Future Health Club .........................24600030 Grand Hyatt Club Olympus ...........24641234 Golden Tulip ....................................24510300 Hammer Gym .................................24483399 Horizon Fitness Center ..................24571337 InterContinental Muscat ...............24680000 Muscat Holiday Inn ........................24487123 Samaa Health Club .........................24694892 Qurum Beach Resort Hotel ...........24605945 Crowne Plaza Salalah .....................23235333 Hilton Salalah ..................................23211234 Sohar Beach Resort.........................26841111 Sky Club, Park Inn ..........................24507888 GYM, MRM .....................................26871555

Health Clubs

Al Dhahira

Al Buraimi Hotel.......................... 25652010 Abha Hotel.................................. 25654700 Al Aeilat Hotel Apts .................... 25654330 Al Baraka Oasis Hotel Apts ......... 25650955 Al Dhahira Hotel ......................... 25650492 Al Masah Hotel ........................... 25653007 Al Raha Hotel Apts ...................... 24701898 Al Sharq House Hotel Apts ......... 24702399 Hamasa Hotel.............................. 25651200 Ibri Oasis Hotel........................... 25489955 Nafahat Al Burami Hotel Flats ..... 25654777

Hotel & Hotel Apartments

Khasab Hotel .............................. 26730267 Qada Hotel ................................. 26731664 Isra Hotel Apartments................. 26730562

January 2017

71

Sports Basketball

Oman Basketball Association .... 24796780

Boating

SEARCHING

3

Retail Sports

Retail Al Araimi Complex ..................... 24566180 Al Khamis Plaza .......................... 24562791 Al Harthy Complex ..................... 24564481 Al Wadi Commercial Centre ...................... .................................................. 24564782 Alasfoor Plaza ............................. 24564686 Capital Commercial Complex (CCC) ...... .................................................. 24567338 Jawaharat A’Shatti Complex ....... 24692113 Khimji Megastore........................ 24708075 Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540222 Sabco Center .............................. 24562761

Muscat City Centre

Muscat Grand Mall

Muscat Grand Mall ..................... 22000000

January 2017

Kayaking

Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545 Muscat Diving and Adventure Center ...... .................................................. 24485663 Rob Gardner ............................... 99239658 Oman Dive Center...................... 24824240

Motor Sports

Classes

Rock Climbing

Al Falaj Hotel (Martial Arts, Tennis, ...........

Swimming).................................. 24702311 Grand Hyatt Muscat (Aerobics, Ballet, Salsa, Yoga for women) ............... 24641234 InterContinental Muscat (Fitness workouts, Aqua Aerobics, Spin, Pilates+) ... 24680000

Muscat Diving and Adventure Center ........................................ 24485663 Rob Gardner ............................... 99239658

Rugby

Muscat Rugby Club .................... 24604890

Cricket

Running

Cycling

Sailing

Diving & Snorkeling

Al Khuwair ..................96473101, 24601569 Fahad Plaza, Ruwi ....................... 96725845 Muscat City Centre .................................... ..................................96473113, 24558063 Sohar .......................................... 95119656 Salalah ........................................ 23289260

Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545

Al Masa Bowling ......................... 24693991 Oman Bowling Centre ................ 24480747 Seeb Novotel .............................. 24510300

Muscat Cycling ........................... 98453580

Centrepoint

Jet Skiing

Bikers Oman ............................... 99556430 Harley Davidson Owners Group ............... .................................................. 99310853 Oman Automobile Association ................. .................................................. 24510239

Bowling

Oman Cricket Club .................... 24703142

Muscat City Centre (Mall) .......... 24558888 Bata (Footwear) ........................... 24558855 Emax (Electronics) ..................... 24558062 Home Centre .............................. 24558063 Max (Fashion) ........................ 24558981/82 Origem (Fashion)........................ 92648542 Oysho (Fashion).......................... 24558865 Rado (Watches) ........... 9776492, 92247101 Salsa (Fashion) ............................ 24558631 Sunglass Hut ............................... 24558869 Zara (Fashion) ............................. 24558887 Zara Home .................................. 24558869

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Capital are Yacht club ................. 24737712 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Grand Hyatt Boat House ............. 24641234 Gulf Leisure ................................ 99819005 Marina Bander Al Rowdha .......... 24737288 Ocean Boats Diving and Sea Tours ............ .................................................. 92645889 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107

Ice Skating Centre ...................... 24489492

Euro Divers Oman ...................... 98194444 Desert Adventures ...................... 95201107 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Dimaniyat Diving ........................ 24795545 Global Scuba .............................. 99317518 Gulf Leisure ................................ 24693561 Musandam Extra Divers.............. 99877957 Muscat Divers ............................. 99355671 Muscat Diving and Adventure Cente......... .................................................. 24485663 Ocean Boats Diving and Sea Tours ........... .................................................. 92645889 Muscat Hills Dive Centre ............ 24824240 SEAOMAN, MRM .........................24181400

Golf

Almouj Golf Club........................ 22005990 Ghala Valley Golf Club ............... 24591248 Muscat Hills Golf Club ................ 24510065 Mini Golf, MRM ...........................26871555

Hiking

Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Muscat Diving and Adventure Center .......

24485663 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107

Horse Riding

Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545 Al Sawahil Horse Riding ............. 95177557 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Qurum Equestrian School........... 99832199

Ice Sports

Muscat Road Runners ................. 24692903 Castaways Sailing Club ............. 24594613 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153

Sport Fishing

Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Grand Hyatt Boathouse ............... 24641234 Gulf Leisure ................................ 99819006 Muscat Diving and Adventure Center ...... .................................................. 24485663 Oman Dive Center...................... 24824240 Marina Bandar Al Rowdha .......... 24737288 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107 Water World Marine ................... 24737438

Squash

Al Falaj Hotel .............................. 24702311 Al Sawadi .................................... 26795545 Crowne Plaza Muscat.................. 24660660 Grand Hyatt Muscat .................... 24641234

Tennis

Oman Tennis Association ........... 24751902

TYC Faces Strip Adverts 2 FINAL.pdf 1 20/04/2016 12:02:30

4 ABC Tourism ............................. 244582663 Adonis Oman Travel & Tours 24693371 Advantage Travel & Tours ........... 95220095 Airborne Travels......................... 24479295 Al Azure Tours .......................... 244565745 Amazing Arabia ..........24701454/99310005 Al Ahlam Tours ......................... 244892612 Al Areesh Wahiba Camp ............ 99317107 Al Daleel Tours ........................... 23296503 Al Ghadeer ................................. 99325441 Al Ghubayra ............................... 24812874 Al Haditha ................................... 24603587 Al Hashar Tourism & Travels ....... 24836100 Al Hasn Araimi Travel ................. 24799966 Al Maskry Tourism & Travels ...... 24595241 Al Naheem .................................. 24478192 Al Noor ....................................... 99318822 Al-Qandeel Travel & Tourism ..... 24643877 Al Raha Tourism Camp ............... 99343851 Al Sawson ................................... 24485637 Arabian Sands Tour Services ...... 24785027 Arabian Sea Safaris..................... 24693223 Arabian Trails ............................. 24475437 Arise Travel and Tour ................. 24605825 AST Tours ....................24571311, 23298085 Bahwan Travel Agencies............. 24797405 Choice Holidays ......................24660364/7 Desert Discovery ........................ 24493232 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Eihab Travels .............................. 24683900 Elite Travel & Tourism................. 24485020 Empty Quarter Tours .................. 99387654 Ena Tourism ................................ 23298500 Global Tours ............................... 24484156 Golden Oryx Tours ..................... 24489853 Gulf Leisure ................................ 24693561 Gulf Ventures .............................. 24559985

Kanoo Travel ............................... 24700249 Khasab Travel and Tours............................

26730464 Kurban Tours & Travel ................ 24699886 Mark Tours .................................. 24782727 Marmul Travel and Tours ............ 24482868 Majan Travel ............................... 24785728 Mezoon Travel ............................ 24796680 Midland Tourism......................... 24566524 Moon Travels ............................. 24793551 Nahar Tourism Oasis .................. 99387654 National Travels & Tourism (NTT) ..............

24660376 Nomad Tours .............................. 95495240 Nomadic Adventures and Tours.................

99336273 NTT Tours............................... 24660378/70 OTTB ........................................... 24789845 Oasis Tours .................24499922, 99440441 Oman Geo Tours......................... 24600914 Oman Discovery ......................... 24706424 Oman National Transport ........... 24490046 Oman World Tourism .................. 99252680 Orient Holidays .......................... 24478902 OUA Travel ................................. 24559900 Premier Tours ............................. 99222620 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107 Remal Al Sharqiya Tourism......... 24544525 Rusayl Travel .............................. 24510012 Salalah City Services .................. 23299663 Salalah Tourism........................... 23292289 Sama Al Wasil Tourism Village...................

99604004 Shanfari Travel and Tours ........... 27602710 Sumahram Falcon ....................... 95774166 Sun and Sand Tours .................... 99373928 Sunny Day Tours, Travel & Adventure ........

24490055 Steps Travel and Tourism............ 24488891 Tour Oman .................................. 24799966 United Tours ............................... 24787448 Zahara Tours ............................... 24400844

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Travel & Tour Operators

Travel & Tour Operators

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5 Arabian Al Deyar ...........................................24603553 Next to Shatti Plaza Al Khanjar ........................................24795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Kargeen Café AL Harthy Complex ........................24560531 Centrepoint .................................... 24694048 MQ Complex ...................................24692269

Al Istanbuli ......................................24480900 Next to Rawasco, Al Khuwair

Samar .............................................992RELAX Al Nahda Resort & Spa

Al Reef Al Lebnani ..........................24485775 Al Khuwair, Opp Safeer Bld

Samat (Iranian food) MQ.....................................................99 889394 Qurum............................................... 24605515

Al Tanoor .........................................24776540 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Al Zafran ..........................................26841111 Sohar Beach Hotel Arab World Al Ghubrah ......................................24491734 Ruwi High St. ...................................24798119 Automatic Al Khuwair .......................................24487200 Azaiba...............................................24499981 Bareeq Al Shatti...............................24605735 Qurum..............................................24561500 Seeb ..................................................24424343

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

Beirut Restaurant ............................24568411 Near Qurum Roundabout Bab Idris .................................... 22060075 Oman Avenues Mall 3rd floor Bin Ateeq Al Khuwair .......................................24478225 CBD ..................................................24702727

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January 2017

Falafel & More ................................22060065 Risail Complex

Shahrazad ........................................24776565 Al Husn Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Shiraz................................................24660660 Crowne Plaza Hotel Tarboosh Opp Sabco Centre...........................24565673 Al Ghubrah ......................................24498553 The Arabian Courtyard .................24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Khanjar Omani Cuisine ..........24795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort Turkish House .................................24488071 Al Khuwair Ubhar ...............................................24565689 Bareeq Al Shatti Wadi Hadramout Restaurant Al Khuwair ......................................24475282 Al Bahar, MRM ................................26871553

Cafe’s

Al Ahli Cafe ................................ 24424400 Al Bahjah Hotel Al Falaj Coffee Shop ................... 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel Al Fursan ................................... 24603555 Ramada Beach Hotel Al Maha ...................................... 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn Al Makan Café Muscat City Centre ..................... 24545311 Shatti Al Qurum .......................... 24404200 Al Mas......................................... 24491105 Bowsher Hotel Deluxe Atrium Tea Lounge ..................... 24764000 Al Bustan Palace Barista ......................................... 24571531 Sabco Centre Cafe Barbera .............................. 24603505 Near Shatti Cinema, Shatti Al Qurum Café Capuccino .......................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel Café Ceramique ......................... 24566617 Al Araimi Complex, Qurum

Caribou Coffee........................... 24694473 Bareeq Al Shatti

Mood Café Madinat Plaza ............................. 92125639 Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24538752

Casa de Cafe .............................. 24499565 Midan Hotel Suites

Patisserie .................................... 24479344 Risail Complex, Seeb

Colombian Aroma Cafe .............. 24693131 Bareeq Al Shatti

Petit Café .................................... 24603555 Ramada Beach Hotel

Coffee Republic........................ 244703739 Qurum City Centre

Pink Berry................................... 24558113 Muscat City Centre

Costa Coffee Seeb Intnl Airport ....................... 24519734 MQ .............................................. 24692858 Muscat City Center..................... 24535895 Oasis by the Sea ......................... 24605574 Alasfoor Plaza ............................. 24571236 Lulu Bowsher .............................. 24503861 Bareeq Al Shatti .......................... 24692699 MBD ............................................ 24793169

Pooldeck ..................................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Chado Tea Lounge..................... 24500773 Oasis By The Sea D’Arcy’s Kitchen Jawaharat A Shatti ....................... 24600234 MQ .............................................. 24699119 Glacier Café Markaz Al Bahja ......................... 24540200 Zakher Mall ................................ 24540391

Café de Lotus.............................. 24560439 Al Khamis Plaza

Gloria Jean's Coffees .................. 24662940 Fun Zone, Qurum, MGM........................................... 22009295

Café G Patisserie ........................ 99531999 Madinat as Sultan Qaboos

Golden Bean Café ..................... 96969645 Al Araimi Complex, Qurum

Café Samaharam......................... 24707207 Haffa House Hotel

Grind Floor ................................. 24487777 Radisson Blu

Café Torque ................................ 24500773 Azaiba

Le Mermaid Café ........................ 24602327 Near Grand Hyatt Muscat

Café Unique................................ 96684686 Ruwi

Majlis al Shams ........................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Richoux cafe .............................. 22005165 Opera Galleria Ground Floor Rumours Cafe ............................. 24692121 Coral Hotel Muscat Second Cup CCC, Qurm ................................. 24566616 Shatti Al-Qurum .......................... 24699951 Bareeq Al Shatti .......................... 24697776 Sirj Tea Lounge ........................... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat Shalashil Café ............................ 24498008 Star Hotel Apartments, Ghubra Starbucks Ernst and Young bldg ................. 24567644 Jawaharat A’Shatti ....................... 24601457 Muscat City Centre ..................... 24558861 MQ .............................................. 24699367 Borders, Muscat City Centre....... 24558636 Qurum City Centre ..................... 24470588 Surf Cafe ..................................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Sidewalk Cafe and Deli .............. 24563058 CCC, Qurm Naseem Lounge, MRM .................26871553

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Café Vergnano 1882.................... 24692370 Madinat as Sultan Qaboos

Mokha Cafe ................................ 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

Mokha Cafe ................................ 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat

January 2017

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Far Eastern

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A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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Bamboo Kitchen ......................... 96969645 Al Araimi Complex, Qurum China Mood ................................ 24764000 Al Bustan Palace InterContinental - Muscat China Town ................................. 24567974 CCC, Qurm Chinese Durbar .......................... 24486688 Al Khuwair Chinese Garden ......................... 24489414 Al Khuwair, Near Ice Skating Rink Chinese Palace ........................... 99563368 Al Wadi Commercial Centre Pal Meera.................................... 24692368 Shatti Al Qurum Golden Dragon ........................... 24697374 Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos Golden Oryx .............................. 24702266 Rex Road Jade Garden................................ 24605945 Al Qurm Resort Magic Wok Muscat City Centre ..................... 24537118 Qurum City Centre ..................... 24470596 Mamasan .................................... 24210452 Marjan Rest. and Pool Bar ........... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat Meji’s Aroy Thai .......................... 99839595 Shatti Al Qurum Palayok ....................................... 24797290 Ruwi High Street, opp. OC Centre & Al Khuwair Shang Thai ................................. 24483083 Al Khuwair slip road Silk Route Chinese & Thai........... 24696967 Al Noor Plaza, Madinat As Sultan Qaboos Royal China ............................... 24571339 Shatti Al Qurum Hot Pot & Grills ........................... 24404291 Bareeq Al Shatti Thai Basil .................................... 24499565 Midan Hotel Suites, Ghubrah The Noodle House ...................... 24558377 Muscat City Centre Tokyo Taro .................................. 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel Wasabi Sushi............................... 24699490 Bareeq Al Shatti Mydan, MRM ...............................26871553

January 2017

Fast Food Chicking Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540200 Muscat City Centre ..................... 24489575 Cold Stone Creamery ................................

24470614, 95202436 Qurum City Centre Coral Express ............................. 24540200 Markaz Al Bahja Dairy Queen Jawaharat A’Shatti ....................... 24693031 Lulu, Ghubrah ............................. 24504504 Seeb Intnl Airport ....................... 24519468 DQ Grill & Chill .......................... 24693031 Jawaharat A’Shatti Domino’s Pizza ............................ 24479111 Al Khuwair Dunkin’ Donuts Ghala .......................................... 96177967 MQ .............................................. 96177967 Shatti Cinema ............................. 96177967 Gourmet Burger Kitchen............. 24558065 Muscat City Centre Il Gelato Di Bruno ....................... 95275987 Oasis By the Sea Hardees ...................................... 24477774 Al Khuwair, Wattyah, Al Khoud, City Centre One number for all the four stores Hot and Crispy ........................... 24699524 Al Masa Mall, Sarooj Just Falafel................................... 22009922 Muscat Grand Mall KFC ............................................. 24477777 One number for all the 21 stores Ruwi, Qurum, Al Khuwair, MCC, QCC, Lulu Ghubra and Darsait, Near Airport, Azaiba Roundabout

McDonald’s Al Khuwair .................................. 24482046 As Sarooj..................................24691033/4 Muscat City Center..................... 24545773 Book Roundabout ....................... 24421119 Qurm Behind CCC ..................... 24565798 Papa John’s Pizza Lulu, Ghubrah ............................. 24501111 MQ .............................................. 24697220 Qurum ........................................ 24571100 Muscat Intl Airport...................... 24519468 Ruwi ............................................ 24793153 Al Khoudh ................................... 24546516 Penguin Ghubrah ..................................... 24493963 Seeb............................................ 24422004 Sultan Qaboos University ........... 24413144 Pizza Inn Ruwi ............................................ 24784555 Al Araimi Compex, Qurum ......... 24566661 Pizza Muscat Al Khuwair .................................. 24483393 Al Harthy Complex ..................... 24565618 MBD ............................................ 24817715 Pizza Hut ..................................... 24822500 Wadi Kabir, MBD, Rex Road, Qurum, CCC, QCC, MSQ, Al Khuwair, Ghala, Bowsher, Ghoubra, Airport, Al Khoud, Mawallah, Mabella, Barka Subway Oman Oil, Qurum Jabal .............. 24666704 Al Khuwair .................................. 24593963 Al Masa Mall ............................... 24604664 CCC............................................ 24560327 MQ .............................................. 24694774 Muscat City Centre ..................... 24558080 Wally’s Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540200 Al Masa Mall ............................... 24543154 Al Khuwair .................................. 24502929

Indian Annapoorna ............................... 24810396 MBD Biryani House ............................. 24488478 Al Khuwayr Copper Chimney........................ 24780207 CBD Curry House ............................... 24564033 Wattayah Daawat ........................................ 24787980 Ruwi Divine ......................................... 24705070 Ruwi Dosteen Restaurant ..................... 24622850 Seeb

Omar Al Khayyam Restaurant ....................

Ruwi ..........................24703035/ 24707082 Al Khoudh ..................24535001/ 24539718 Passage To India ......................... 24568480 Behind Hatat House Princess ...................................... 24482213 Al Khuwair Punjabi Dhaba ............................ 91000603 Wadi Kabir Sagar .......................................... 24794114 Ruwi Saravanaa Bhavan ................ 24704502 / 07 Near Ruwi Roundabout Sayujya Restaurant...................... 24816909 MBD

Horizon Restaurant ..................... 24798252 Ruwi

Spicy Village..............................................

Al Khuwair .................................. 24475518 Rusayl ........................................ 24510120 Nizwa ......................................... 25431694 Sohar ......................................... 24843238 Sur ............................................. 25544594 Customer Care ............... 800spicy (77429)

Hot Pot Restaurant...................... 24700691 Near Khimji’s Mart, Darsait

Swagath Veg Restaurant.............. 24707676 Ruwi

It’s Mirchi ................................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel

The Bollywood ............................ 24565653 Qurm, Behind CCC

Kamat Al Khuwair .................................. 24479243 Ruwi ............................................ 24783300

The Indus Restaurant .................. 22022888 Opera Gallaria - Shatti Al Qurum

Happy Village ............................. 24564995 Qurum

Keranadu .................................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel Khana Khazana............................ 24813466 Ruwi Khyber ........................................ 24781901 CBD Koliwada .................................... 99421778 MBD Kumkum...................................... 24714114 Muttrah Lazeez ........................................ 26 883710 Al Nahda Resort & Spa Mumtaz Mahal ............................ 24605907 Qurum Mughlai Zaika ............................. 24568200 Wattayah

Tawa Magic ................................ 24703300 CBD The Great Kabab Factory............ 24478373 Al Khuwair The Taj ........................................ 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

8 Italian Capri Court ................................ 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Come Prima................................ 24660660 Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat

Woodlands.................................. 24700192 MBD, Ruwi

Eatalian ....................................... 22060025 Oman Avenues Mall, 3rd floor

GRILL HOUSE 1 AL-QURUM............................ 24563383 2 MADINA SULTAN QABOO ...... 24603660 3 AL-RUMAIS ............................. 26893147 4 AL-KHOUD .............................. 24541502 5 OPP. MUSCAT INT'L AIRPORT 24511337 6 BARKA..................................... 22043415 7 KAKOOT ROUND ABOUT......... 24548834

Mediterranean Grill.................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat O Sole Mio .................................. 24487777 Radisson Blu - Muscat Trattoria ...................................... 24210451 Pane Caldo ................................. 24698697 Jawaharat A’Shatti Complex Pizza Express .............................. 24696169 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al-Qurum Tuscany....................................... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat

January 2017

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Ananthapuri .............................. 24706226 Opp. Muscat Municipality, Darsait

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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International

Hamburger Nation ...................... 24558077 Muscat City Centre

Al Bandar Lounge ....................... 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

iFoods ......................................... 24121114 18 November St, near Sultan Centre, Azaiba

Al Aktham ................................... 24489292 Al Khuwair, behind OIB A’Rifaak ...................................... 92558842 Al Khoud, Main Street

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A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

AlExandria.................................. 24561611 Qurum, next to Sabco Center Al Khiran Terrace Restaurant .....................

Al Bustan Palace ......................... 24764000 Al Waha Lounge ......................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Assira Pool Bar............................ 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Bait Al Bahar ............................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Jean’s Grill .................................. 24567666 Sultan Center Jungle ......................................... 24561600 Qurum Rose Garden Khaboura Cafe............................ 24592900 Majan Hotel Khalab .......................................992RELAX Al Nahda Resort & Spa La Brassiere ............................... 2471 3707 Muttrah La Mer ........................................ 95038487 Shatti Al Qurum Left Bank ..................................... 24693699 Below Mumtaz Mahal restaurant, Qurum

Beach Pavilion Restaurant and Bar Al Bustan Palace ......................... 24764000

Le Jardin...................................... 24510300 Golden Tulip Seeb

B+F Roadside Diner................... 24698836 Bareeq Al Shatti

Love At First Bite ......................... 24601737 Shatti Al Qurum

Blue Marlin ................................. 24737940 Marina bander Al Rowdha

Musandam Café.......................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

BreadTalk.................................... 24603033 Bareeq Al Shatti

Musandam Restaurant ................ 26730267 Khasab Hotel

Bread and Co.............................. 24698379 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al-Qurum

Nando’s ....................................... 24561818 Opp CCC Muscat City Centre

Buffet Restaurant ......................... 24697967 Bareeq Al Shatti Casper & Gambini’s ................... 22060085 Oman Avenues Mall, 2nd floor Chilli’s Muscat City Center .................... 24558815 Qurum City Center .................... 24470700 Circles ........................................ 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Class Room ................................. 24813141 National Hospitality Institute, Wadi Kabir Coral Reef Cafe .......................... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Neptune Bar................................ 24795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort Nouras Al Shatti .......................... 24603555 Ramada Beach Hotel Odyssey ...................................... 24824240 Oman Dive Centre, Bandar Jissa Olivos.......................................... 24487777 Radisson Blu Retro ........................................... 24571339 Shatti AL Qurum RBG Grill .................................... 24507888 Park Inn Muscat

Coffee Shop ................................ 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel

Samba ......................................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Four Seasons ............................... 24707207 Haffa House Hotel

Slider Station .............................. 24698990 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al Qurum

From the tree .............................. 22060095 Oman Avenues Mall, 2nd floor

Stomach ...................................... 24692486 Jawaharat A’Shatti Complex

Golden Spoon Al Khuwair .................................. 24482263 Seeb Souq................................... 24424204

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Japengo....................................... 92892868 Qurum

January 2017

Sultanah ...................................... 24776666 Al Husn Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Sundowner’s Beach Bar............... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort TGIF ............................................ 24488899 Al Khuwair, City Seasons Hotel The Beach Restaurant ................. 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Chedi Pool Cabana.............. 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Crepe Cafe .......................... 24558530 Muscat City Centre The Serai Pool Cabana ............... 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Restaurant ............................ 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Coffee Shop ......................... 24704244 Ruwi Hotel Tinello......................................... 24502570 The Treasurebox Hotel Trader Vic’s................................. 24680000 InterContinental Muscat Tropicana.................................... 24660660 Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat

Long Bar and Xyro ...................... 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah

Mediterranean

Nirvana ......................24781901/ 97015530 CBD

Bellapais .................................... 24521100 Risail Complex

O'Malleys .................................... 24487777 Radisson Blu

Mediterranean Grill ................. 246803000 InterContinental Muscat

Periwinkle’s Pub ......................... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Tapas & Sablah ........................... 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Piano Lounge .............................. 26776666 Al Bander Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah

Tomato ........................................ 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Rock Bottom Cafe’ ...................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel

Pubs & Lounge Al Ghazal .................................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat Al Jizzi Lounge ............................ 26841111 Sohar Beach Hotel Al Marrah Pub ............................ 24424404 Al Bahjah Hotel Barrio Fiesta ............................... 24592900 Majan Hotel Churchill’s Pub............................ 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn

Sama Terazza ............................. 24507888 Park Inn Muscat Sports Bar ................................... 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn The Hut ....................................... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort The Lazy Lizard ........................... 24487777 Radisson Blu The Wahiba ................................. 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Club Bar ..................................... 24704244 Ruwi Hotel

Mexican

Club Safari.................................. 24602327 Grand Hyatt Muscat

Pavo Real .................................... 24602603 MQ

Copacabana ............................... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat

Senor Pico................................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Duke’s Bar ................................... 24660660 Crowne Plaza

Mydan, MRM ...............................26871553

Feeney’s Irish Pub....................... 99262821 Al Qurum Resort Habana Cafe ............................... 24602327 Grand Hyatt Muscat John Barry Bar............................. 24641234 Grand Hyatt Layalina Bar ................................ 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn

Steak & Grill Grill House ................................. 24603660 Just Grilled.................................. 24601290 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al Qurum Kobe’s Sizzlers .........24563220 / 24564092 GBM Building, Qurum The Safari Rooftop Grill .............24641234, .................................................. 24641114 Grand Hyatt Muscat

Le Pub......................................... 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel

Is your enterprise missing in our lists?

Please mail us the details editor@facesoman.com or call us on: + 968 244 98722 For a Quick Entry!

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Azure, MRM .................................26871553

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

January 2017

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