FACES Issue No. 121 by FACES OMAN

Issue 121, February 2017

Family Attitude Class Entertainment Success

Editor’s Note FACES is TEN!

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

You have been a witness to this growth… You have kept us on our editorial toes, helping us shape our journey with your feedback – both bouquets and brickbats.

Art Director / Pushpender K. Sharma Head of Advertising & Marketing / Aziz K. Baker Operations / M.V.V. Sagar

DIGITAL

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As we get set to begin another innings in the industry that is wrought with uncertainties, we are comforted by our past accomplishments and assured of future successes. We have, and will always, strive to keep the momentum going with stories that reflect the changing paradigms of lifestyle, especially in Oman. 48

Published By / Muscat Media Group

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PB 770, PC 112, Ruwi, Oman Tel: +968 24 811953 . Fax: +968 24 813153 Printed At / Oriental Printing Press Tel: +968 24816952, 24815330

Contact Email - Editorial editor@facesoman.com Email - Sales sales@facesoman.com

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February 2017 marked the tenth anniversary of FACES, which began its journey in a A5 format in 2007, creating vibrant ripples in the market with its novelty in style and presentation, and freshness in its content and reach. It has, over the years, adapted to the changes in the market, with a finger on the pulse of its readers and a harmonious coordination with its patrons, who have helped shape its growth and popularity.

Website www.facesoman.com

We are on Facebook! ‘FACES Magazine, Oman’

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And, in tune with the palpable fluctuations in the market and the global predictions of an impending digital media onslaught, we have taken the digital route in this anniversary issue to bring home truths about the future of traditional media. We invited experts from the world of Information Technology and Social Media to share their perspectives on the changes in the media and highlight the pros and cons of digital media and its manifestation in the local market.

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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

With the digital evolution getting all prepped to shake the very premise of traditional media with a ‘smart’ underscore, is it time to bid adieu to all things conventional in the world of media?

20 In Conversation

Zak Pachiyannakis, Founder and General Manager of Tunes Trading and Services, shares, albeit reluctantly, his foray into the business of musical instruments

22 In The Spotlight

The Bradt Guide to Oman, which was first published in 2006, has been fully revised for 2017 by Tony Walsh a former resident of Oman

24 Centre Stage

Paint the World project is a fun initiative aimed at uniting the youth on a platform that is designed to make a difference in the lives of the people it touches

26 Feast On

OMNY, the new acronym for all things festive, is a vibrant brasserie that has neatly fused cuisines from Europe and the Mediterranean, in flavours that are typically Omani

FACES Health

38 Just Travel

As the World Wildlife Day* pursues its 2017 theme ‘Listen to the Young Voice’, give your itinerant spirit a new lease of life with a wildlife holiday

FACES Style

34 In The Luxe As the app industry moves on top gear

to add ease to everyday tasks with free to download options, check out what’s in store for those who want to up their app quotient with some expensive and exclusive apps

40 Look Good

With the cosmetic industry upping the beauty quotient with products that are becoming increasingly specific for skin types, age and even climes, you better be armed with products that are trending this season

42 Style File

Introducing ‘2017 Spring Collection’ from Babyshop, featuring the brightest kids, freshest colours, and loads of fun

FACES Elements 54 At Home

Go window-shopping, literally, to treat your window with a pleasant makeover that is easy on your pocket

30 Health Check

56 Relatively Speaking

FACES Travel

58 Man Date

Does social media have the power to affect our mental health and overall wellness…?

36 Explore Oman

Whiffs of history continue to waft in the corridors of the picturesque Muttrah Souq, beckoning even old timers to come and relive its vibrant richness

How do you make relationships work in the digital era?

Whether the hipster beard trend is on its way out or continues to rule the fashion scene, growing facial hair requires you to be cued on a thing or two about your style quotient

FACES SPECIAL 46 Digital Special

A quick reality check to assess the metamorphosis of the media following the evolution of digital media

FACES Razzmatazz 10 Star Light

Selena Gomez’s upcoming ‘13 Reasons Why’ is a reality check for teens who need episodes of fear to make them care for their lives

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

Hip Hop & UK Garage legends to perform at Barr Al Jissah Six globally acclaimed acts will come together for one unforgettable

Meethaq launches exclusive Visa Signature credit card Meethaq, in line with its commitment to redefining exclusive and relationship based Islamic banking experience, has launched an exclusive Visa Signature credit card for Hafawa Priority Banking customers. Offering a world of privileges and conveniences designed around the values and discerning needs of Hafawa customers, the Visa Signature card serves as the Priority identification card for Hafawa customers along with Signature debit cards. The exclusive benefits of the free-for-life card include 24-hour global concierge service, unlimited access to premium airport lounges, travel insurance and purchase protection to name a few. With worldwide acceptance, the Hafawa Visa Signature credit card facilitates exclusive access to over 500 airport lounges around the world through Lounge Key, which allows customers to just display their card and walk in.

night at Barr Al Jissah’s Al Mazaar open air amphitheatre on March 10. The show will see performers from the London, NYC and Muscat converge for one night only at Al Mazaar. Headlining the evening’s line-up will be the ‘Undisputed Voice of the Club’ Fatman Scoop, whose booming baritone voice and catchy hooks never go unnoticed. UK Garage fans will get to see Artful Dodger with their amazing string of chart topping hits that include ‘Re-rewind’ with Craig David. DJ Luck & MC Neat, notoriously known for their hit ‹With a little bit of luck› and their Garage rendition of Stevie Wonder’s ‹Masterblaster› are also featured on the line up. House music fans will not be left behind as resident from London’s Rinse FM, Sam Supplier, will feature, alongside DJ Bluey. Rounding out the lineup is Oman’s own DJ AA.

Al Bustan Palace Hotel to undergo enhancements Renowned as The Jewel of the Sultanate, Al Bustan Palace, a RitzCarlton Hotel, has revealed plans for extensive restorations. Set to start in Spring 2017, the multi-phase transformation is anticipated to come to an end by early 2018. The ambitious project builds on the luxury resort’s positioning as the premier destination for affluent travellers, including royalty and heads of state in Muscat. Facilities such as the recreation centre and fitness will be refreshed and upgraded with state-of-the-art equipment. The journey of the hotel will be charted in an exhibition showcasing a selection of renderings and pictures from the project’s creative vision. The resort’s outdoor recreation and beach facilities, as well as the beachfront specialty restaurants, will remain open to the public during this time.

Sheraton Oman launches exclusive gym & spa packages Fitness enthusiasts have a new reason to frequent The Sheraton Oman Hotel. The newly opened Sheraton Fitness & Spa is offering exclusive spa and fitness packages. The health club includes a range of the latest techno-gym equipment, a one of a kind kinesis studio for exercise and group classes, an indoor and outdoor pool, four spa treatment rooms, jacuzzi, steam and sauna and an expert team of personal trainers to help set and achieve goals. Female guests can enjoy the luxury of privacy in a dedicated gym facility and avail exclusive access to the indoor pool, Mondays through Wednesdays. On offer are a variety of classes, including Pilates, Hardcore – a 30-minute work-out targeting core muscles, Kinesis – a circuit training for the whole body, and karate as well as swimming lessons.

February 2017

Oman Air’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

New visiting orthopaedic surgeon at Aster Al Raffah Dr. George Varghese, an internationally experienced Orthopaedic Surgeon, with over 26 years of diagnostic and surgical experience, and more than 6000 knee replacement surgeries to his credit, has joined Aster Al Raffah Oman as the new Visiting Orthopaedic Surgeon. At a press conference held to introduce Dr. Varghese, the COO of Aster Al Raffah Hospitals and Clinics, Seeniya Biju said, “The appointment of an experienced surgeon such as Dr. George Varghese to the orthopaedic team at Aster Al Raffah Oman, is another initiative to provide the residents of Oman with world class Orthopaedic medical and surgical care.” Dr. Varghese elaborated on the technicalities involved in managing Total Hip and Knee Replacement Procedures, Arthroscopic Procedures and Sports Injuries and Reconstruction Procedures. Dr. Varghese will be available for consultations at the Aster Al Raffah, Ghubra branch.

Oman Air continues its ambitious expansion plans in 2017 with three new additions to the fleet already this year. The latest aircraft is the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which joined the fleet on 23rd February; this is in addition to the two new 737-800s, which were added to the fleet in 2017. The wide-body Boeing 787-9 is a stretched version of the advanced long-range twin engine B787-8. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft is configured with 30 award-winning flatbed Business Class suites, designed by BE Aerospace and 258 Economy Class seats. All classes feature the state-of-the-art Thales Integrated In-Flight Entertainment System, which allows access to a wide selection of on-demand entertainment delivered through a passenger experience interface developed specifically with Oman Air. This aircraft will be utilised on Oman Air’s European and FarEastern sectors. A second new Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be joining Oman Air’s fleet in April 2017.

Mall Warriors Challenge at Oman Avenues Mall After kicking off the first set of fitness challenges and events in late February, Oman Avenues Mall is all set to continue with its action packed Mall Warriors Challenge (#WarriorsChallenge) calendar. The key message of the Challenge is to promote benefits of living a healthy and active lifestyle. With the support of Oman Ministry of Health BDI division, Oman Heart Association and Oman Cancer Association, visitors to the mall as well as participants in the Mall Warriors Challenge can make the most of the free health checks by Burjeel hospital who are on site, and free health and wellness workshops that various organisations will be making available. Visitors to the Mall can also look forward to an exciting line-up of events and activities. There will be group fitness classes and demos, Yoga sessions, Zumba dance workshops; indoor cricket, mini golf, fun inflatable sumo wrestling, B-Boy artist performances, football freestyle coaching, a giant balloon flight and a family bowling tournament, among others.

February 2017

Selena has her reasons Selena Gomez’s upcoming ‘13 Reasons Why’ is a reality check for teens who need episodes of fear to make them care for their lives 90 days rehabilitation has, apparently, given Selena Gomez a deep insight into teen psyche, on issues that are similar to those that the characters in her upcoming series ‘13 Reasons Why’ face. The topics that the Netflix show will discuss include suicide, depression, bullying and emotional abuse. “I was actually going through a really difficult time when they started production. I went away for 90 days and I actually met tons of kids in this place that we’re talking about (with) a lot of the issues that these characters are experiencing,” Selena is quoted to have said. What irked her was the obvious indifference among the kids. “They don’t care. They have to see something that’s going to scare them. They need to see something that’s frightening. I want them to understand it…” she’d said. She has lots of hopes for this Netflix series, which is being produced under her production house, ‘July Moon Productions’. The series is her way of leveraging her influence on the teenagers. “I would do anything to be able to have a good influence on this generation... I was there for the last episode and I was a mess just seeing it all come to life because I have experienced that. Whether I like it or not, people have seen my mistakes and I have to use that as a good thing. It definitely hits home. That’s why I wanted to make sure I was still apart of this project in any way,” she told an entertainment magazine.

February 2017

24-year old Selena Marie Gomez is an American actress and singer, who appeared as a child in the children’s television series ‘Barney & Friends’. She found fame with her leading role in the Disney Channel series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’. In 2008 she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records in 2008 and subsequently formed her band Selena Gomez & the Scene the following year. But the lure of films saw her continuing her tryst with films in ‘Ramona and Beezus’ and ‘Monte Carlo’, among others. Around this time, in 2013 to be specific, she released her solo debut album ‘Stars Dance’, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 in the United States. Shortly after, she fired her parents as her managers and signed with the WME and Brillstein companies. She also signed a new recording contract with Interscope Records, releasing a compilation album as her fifth and final release through Hollywood Records. Her second album, ‘Revival’, also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. She is currently working on her third studio album. Selena has sold over 7 million albums and 22 million singles worldwide, since the start of

her career. She has several awards and nominations in her kitty and was the most followed Instagram user in 2016. She has to her credit her own clothing line and a self-titled fragrance. A go-getter, she has made success her mantra. As she says, “The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned that I have to open myself up to all opportunities. Maybe I’ll get burned and not meet the right people, but I won’t know until I do it.”

Janet Jackson’s alleged daughter? Chris Brown in another scandal Chris Brown’s cup of woes is forever brimming. He is now in the middle of another scandal involving domestic violence allegations. His ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran had recently filed a restraining order against him, claiming that he physically assaulted and threatened to kill her. Following that, his neighbour, singer Kay Cola, is providing details of the situation, saying the ‘Kiss Kiss’ singer needs to be held accountable for his actions

Janet Jackson may be focused on her duties as a new mother, but her former mother-in-law, Etterlene DeBarge, apparently, has some axe to grind. She is claiming that the pop icon had given birth 31 years ago to a baby girl, and that she has DNA evidence to back it up. However, Etterlene›s daughter Bunny DeBarge has come forward to slam her mothe’s claims and defend Jackson.

Justin Bieber joins DJ Khaled Justin Bieber is said to be hard at work on a new ‘top secret’ project, with news of his association with DJ Khaled trickling in. The 22-year-old singer was spotted rocking two different looks while filming a new music video for DJ Khaled at a mansion lined with palm trees in Malibu. They were joined in the work by Lil Wayne, Chance the Rapper, and Migos.

Simon Cowell’s house burgled 33-year old Darren February is guilty of stealing £1m worth of jewellery from Simon Cowell›s house while he slept. The burglar has denied clambering over walls to break into Cowell’s mansion in west London in December 2015, but he was found guilty of taking jewellery and two passports from an open safe while a security guard was in the toilet in December 2015. The serial burglar was previously convicted of 37 burglaries…

Ben Affleck back with Jennifer Garner? Two years after Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner separated, rumours of a possible reunion are cropping up. Although recent reports that Garner had decided to file for divorce from Affleck surfaced in the media, Affleck is, apparently, moving back in with his estranged wife. According to one online publication, the duo are once again living together, which could be seen as a sign that the two are officially back on.

February 2017

Tittle

“I never buy a ton of anything because I’m hardly ever home; but some essentials I HAVE to have: I love fresh fruit so I can grab it and go; cereal and milk are also musts for a quick breakfast; and, of course, I need to be stocked up on bottled water!” - Kendall Jenner shares her shopping list on her personal website and app.

“I’m sure you have at least heard that ‘La La Land’ was simultaneously the biggest winner and loser last night…You know it’s a strange night when the word ‘envelope’ is trending on Twitter.” - Jimmy Kimmel speaks out about the Oscar mix-up.

“Well I guess you all heard what happened… I had a heart attack. I am feeling better. I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of messages and support.” - Bob Harper, host of the ‘The Biggest Loser’, is back home and feeling better after suffering a heart attack.

“I was excited to see Sam Jackson, but then he scolded me for not sending him enough pictures of my kid…” - Scarlett Johansson says she was ‘scolded’ by Samuel L. Jackson at the Oscars.

“I don’t even want to bring this up too much, but whatever, we are obviously talking about it, the New Year›s Eve situation - that couldn›t be helped. It’s just something where if I can›t explain it to the entire world, then they are not going to understand it, because it›s not what they do. …I literally am incapable of being in the real world and surviving.” - Mariah Carey opens up about her disastrous New Year›s Eve performance. February 2017

cover STORY

The Changing Media Landscape With the digital evolution getting all prepped to shake the very premise of traditional media with a ‘smart’ underscore, is it time to bid adieu to all things conventional in the world of media?

he digital era has, of course, no bearing on the so-called missing link in human evolution, but it has, in its own way, found a parallel in the evolutionary process of primates (from knuckle-walking apes to erect homo sapiens), with tech geeks spearheading the digital evolution, which began with the humble transistor in 1947. That little transistor has shed its knuckle stance eons ago to fly into uncharted territories and digitise the world that has, as quickly, adopted all things digital. From smartphones to smart cities, the world has been taken over, literally,

Tariq Al-Barwani

is a creative technologist, social entrepreneur, business investor, public speaker, radio host and knowledge contributor who strongly believes in digital dominance.

February 2017

by ‘digital’ masters who wield their tech powers and keep raising the digital bar with every new invention. Whether this stupefying journey, leading to machines communicating with each other, is the equivalent of anatomically modern humans is something we can all wait and watch. But in the meanwhile, take a pause from all things digital, rewind to the seemingly quixotic days when ‘smart’ was a human trait to define brightness, and then pan to the present to fathom the changes that have been brandished by the digital wand, before pressing the fastforward control to assess the changes that our media is witnessing.

Saba Al Busaidi

started her career as a civil engineer, then followed her passion in the field of social media and was voted the youngest entrepreneur in Oman; she won the Omani Women’s Excellence award in the field of technology in 2014 and is the first in the region to be certified as a Social Media Strategist.

In the following pages, as we take a wide-eyed look at the transition to digital media, check out what experts from the new world of digital communication have to say about the emerging changes… Presenting the changing paradigms of media, from print and broadcast to digital, through the eyes of Tariq Al Barwani, Founder of Knowledge Oman, Saba Al Busaidi, Social Media Strategist, Baby Sam Samuel, Entrepreneur, Management Consultant and Business Mentor, and Amour Abdullah Mohammed Al Sharji, Managing Director of Elite Security Solutions.

Baby Sam Samuel

is the General Manager & Business Designer for Intertech LLC; Organization mentor for the design house Adventz; Director in charge of Branding & Enterprise for Knowledge Oman; and the Director of Indian Schools in Oman.

Amour Al Sharji

(aka Abu Laith Al Sharji) is the Founder and Managing Director of Elite Security Solutions; he started his journey of Electronics & Security at the age of seven.

What are the implications of the increasing digital dominance on our everyday lives? Tariq: Digital dominance is already impacting our lives in several ways – be it everyday interaction, business or information seeking. From the way we interact with friends, family, colleagues and the world as a whole, utilising the ever-growing social networking tools to the way we start, engage and launch a business via the digital media, as opposed to the traditional mortar and brick fashion. I actually feel there will be less and less of physical driven businesses in the future, yet more of digital models of the same. Finally, the way we get our news and also interact with them (two-way as opposed to the one-way communication). Digital dominance will continue to impact every facet of our lives, including education, health, sports and other fields as well. Information overload, however, will be a challenge and a distraction to be tackled.

Saba: I think we can already feel the implications of the digital world invading our lives. I mean it is sad to see a family out for dinner where everyone is on their phone. Personally, I try to silence my phone and detach so we can have real conversations. On the other end, the exposure for kids is no longer limited or easily managed like earlier… It has definitely invaded our lives; we spend so much time on, say our Tablet, then having a one-toone conversation. Amour: The implications of our increasingly smart world are both inspiring and frightening (as a copywriter, hearing that machines are making their way into the content realm is particularly scary!). As I started thinking about 2016 trends, it quickly became apparent that many of these same digital themes are making their way into the content marketing and social media spaces — and have been for some time.

Future of media

cover STORY

Digital Dominance

Do you agree that the future of media is changing right before our eyes with smartphones, computers, and tablets becoming the primary outlets for media consumption…? Baby Sam: The technology being flaunted in recent years is futuristic; the kind that was only captured in science fiction up until a few years ago. The world we see today, this instant, is not the world of tomorrow. The generation of Baby Boomers got to witness the amazing transformation of the world from telegrams to telephones to computers to smartphones and now smart homes, Internet of things, self-driving cars, consumer drones, 3D printers, and virtual reality. A seemingly endless array of amazing innovations has already been introduced; and they are still evolving rapidly. Technology is

February 2017

cover STORY

not just transforming; it is also diversifying. All this does indeed make this evolution appear to happen right in front of our eyes. With globalisation, consumerisation, and Internet enabled interconnectivity, these technologies are also reaching the consumers and their minds faster than ever, while in previous generations the technological breakthroughs were slower to reach its intended target audience. The impact of these developments on media landscape has been massive. Just a century ago, the world had only been introduced to radio. One-half of the worlds’ population, amounting to around 3.5 billion are now Internet users. The Internet and social media have altered the way people

consume and share information, with smartphones and social media being the main source of media consumption for many.

current generation is still loyal to old and traditional media, the future generation will be completely adopting digital media.

As history shows us, every wave of innovation – whether industrial revolution or digital revolution produces changes that improve lives, but also causes destruction and disruption during the period of rapid adoption and rapid change. The 21st-century innovations are also disruptors, changing old economic structures and transforming society.

Saba: Yes, I completely agree this is the digital age. Everyone we know has a smart phone; the future is mobile. A lot of companies are switching their focus from computer screens to smartphones as, statistically, smartphones are used much more for apps, messages and notifications. I personally use my smartphone as my personal assistant, to check my calendar, emails, messages and social media.

Tariq: Yes… Gone are the days when TV, print and radio were the only sources of information, especially with the dynamic and rapid speed of information delivery of the new digital medium; needless to mention, the simplicity and outreach these media offer are massive, as opposed to the traditional media. While the

Print Media Is there any truth in the popular perception that the newspaper industry is slowly dying? Amour: This is certainly true in the case of newspapers - print newspapers are on the way out. However, it is wrong to say they are ‘dying’, not because the industry will be led to revitalise the press, but because the things were never alive in the first place. Newspapers are papers, a substance once organic, now wholly dead and made unnatural.

February 2017

Amour: The future of media is rapidly evolving right before our very eyes. Digital is taking over the world, and the generational shift is in full swing as millennials and Generation X age up and smartphones, computers and tablets become their primary tools for media consumption.

Tariq: Despite still being loyal to print media - books and magazines, there is no denying that electronic medium is getting simpler, interactive and dynamic in the way it delivers the news. I actually see it happening. Saba: Yes, there is some truth, as I mentioned, there are global newspapers that have closed down. However, it will still take time in Oman.

Baby Sam: Circulation decline, coupled with decreasing revenue streams from print advertising, have resulted in many newspapers, even established ones, feeling the pinch. As a result, many newspapers are diversifying into other outlets that make use of the connected world. Although there is a general perception that newspaper industry seems to be dying, it would, however, be the ‘paper’ in newspaper industry that is on the losing end. Journalism is as relevant today as it was in the past. In fact, there has been an increase in online viewership for newspapers. While last year social media overtook television as the most popular source of news, the past year also saw many scandals involving fake news, especially regarding its influence on public opinions, like the outcome of US elections. In the time of ‘alternative facts’, there is thus a very gaping need for real and reliable information, for which consumers still look up to renowned newspapers worldwide.

Will social media become more influential than print and broadcast media? Do you see it happening in Oman? Saba: Social Media has become more influential around the world. Yes, some newspapers closed down and went online, but I do not see it happening in the near future in Oman. It would take time. The recent statistics show that Oman’s population still depends or believes the news coming out of their TVs or the newspaper, which they consider to be much more reliable than the Social Media. Tariq: Yes it is influential in many countries already, and yes, I see it happening in Oman as well. Baby Sam: Social media, when compared to traditional print and broadcast media, enjoys a distinct advantage. Social media is multi-

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Social Media

directional while traditional media is unidirectional. In the hands of increasingly educated, increasingly self-aware and demanding consumer, the need to connect with the brands of their choice and also wield power and influence is set to increase. Nevertheless, traditional media and advertising still hold power as a larger part of the global audience still has greater faith in the authority of traditional media. In Oman, social media is a growing phenomenon, and that will certainly change the commercial ecosystem here. This will have the most impact on e-commerce, with more such ventures becoming a fast reality. Social media is also aiding in connecting Omani audience with each other as well as with a global field, which is beneficial for the development of the nation. As far as the influence on the general public is concerned, all media, whether digital or print media or broadcast media will certainly have its own advantages and will, therefore, wield power. Amour: The Internet and social media have, perhaps, in more ways than we can imagine, become prominent. It has become an integral part of the youth.

Generational shift

Can the social media influence be classified as a generational shift…? Saba: I do not think it is a generational shift; I think most of the current generation is digitally invaded. I never thought that my mum would be watching a sitcom on YouTube, but she does. It has got in its fold more age groups than we thought it would. However, youngsters are definitely the main drivers to this shift. With all the new online platforms that are available, there is a lot of moving away from a lot of things…even from ordering food over the phone. Now you have apps that can do that for you! Tariq: Although the old generation is accepting and slowly adopting it, the new generation is more conversant and dependent on it.

February 2017

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Popular Platforms Which are the popular social media platforms in Oman that are being relied on by the corporate sector to reach their target audience? Saba: Twitter is considered a very important tool for corporate and government agencies, as there is a perception that Twitter is the fastest and most used platform in Oman to deliver any messages. However, that perception is wrong. Business and corporates need to understand what type of channels/ platforms work best for business. Baby Sam: Social media is diverse, and each platform offers a different and distinctive advantage for a company depending on their business, products or service. Facebook, being the undisputed leader in social media, is popular in Oman too - both among businesses and the public. One common misconception, however, is that Facebook is the solution to all social media. Another equally wrong tactic is to jump on the newest or trendiest social media bandwagon without really understanding the unique proposition each platform presents, in terms of its operations, trends, audience and reach. Larger or experienced corporate and organisations in Oman have begun to explore platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat. Effective utilization of LinkedIn, which is the global B2B leader, however, is rarely seen in Oman. Tariq: Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Amour: Twitter and Instagram

Social Media Influencers What do you have to say about the growing role played by social media influencers in our society? Tariq: The role played by social media influencers is exactly that of brand ambassadors, but as a larger and economical option. You can easily find influencers today at a very low price, as opposed to brand ambassadors who were hard to reach. Saba: It is growing slowly but surely. There is a steady growth in Oman and the social media personalities are starting to slowly understand how to have monetary value out of their following.

February 2017

People in Oman, unfortunately, do not understand the need to pay an Omani social media personality and would rather pay someone who is from the GCC or the Arab world, which is very unfortunate. But it also goes to show that we have a lot of people who have major following; they may not be specialists in specific fields, but are more of jack-ofall-trades. Also, if we really go down to the real meaning of influencers it is someone who can influence one’s behaviour, lifestyle, buying power or restaurant views… In that sense, finding one in Oman is a bit early at this stage - again owing to the lack of expertise. Studies show that a person who advertises about everything loses his/her credibility. This is something very important to consider while trying to become an influencer.

Digital Marketing Do you think digital marketing will prove to be a threat to conventional marketing? Tariq: Definitely. The low cost (affordable), the mass reach (local and global), and the simplicity (from options and ease in ordering to administering and managing) is incomparable. Saba: I think digital marketing is a complement to any marketing; it’s an additional effort to emphasise on your marketing campaigns, they usually work congruent to each other. It is definitely a faster way to send out your message or create a campaign, but we cannot deny the impact that conventional marketing has as well. Baby Sam: This question arises from the misconception that digital marketing is an alternative to conventional marketing. Globally, companies have indeed increased their marketing spend on digital media, but they have not replaced mainstream marketing techniques. Digital marketing is never an all-encompassing solution. It should never be seen as a threat or an alternative to conventional marketing. It is a complementary marketing approach that should be utilised in sync with all other marketing tactics, including conventional marketing. Amour: What threats – and what opportunities – are waiting ahead is secondary to what content marketing can look like and do for you.

Digital Media

Is the global digital industry poised to experience an explosion of apps?

Any predictions on the future of digital media in Oman…

Amour: The mobile advertising market is poised for exponential growth over the next several years. There are many obvious reasons for this growth; the most often cited one is the rate of mobile phone adoption itself, with global penetration of mobile phones on track to surpass three billion in the next few years, according to industry estimates. As is often the case with advertising, it is the lure of massive numbers of eyeballs fixed on a ‘third screen’ that is drawing brand marketers to this medium.

Saba: The digital media in Oman is still considered a niche, but we are seeing great interest from different entities and government authorities to not only have presence on social media, but also train their staff in this field and create operating procedures for them to follow. It will definitely see a great shift in Oman in the coming years.

Saba: Yes, definitely, as we have seen apps ruling the mobile industry and that’s all we look at and use. However, only the strong ones will create a definite change. Just like when Instagram started, it created a whole new meaning to home businesses and ‘influencers’. Baby Sam: On a global scale, the developed nations have already witnessed an explosion of apps. The developing nations too are fast catching up when it comes to creating and consuming apps for myriad purposes. Ultimately, only the apps that provide tangible value will flourish, given that the average user is now bombarded with choices. On a local scale, apps developed by and for the nation is set to grow as businesses and organizations find newer ways to reach and engage their customers and users. Tariq: Yes.

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Digital Apps

Baby Sam: Digital media as a whole is slowly gaining acceptance in Oman. There are, however, still companies and businesses in Oman without any kind of digital presence. Nevertheless, this section of the market is gradually decreasing, with many choosing to focus on a company website as their first entry into digital space. Social media, which is only a part of the wider spectrum of digital media, has gained much traction among the population, and the trend is set to grow. While the primary use of social media and digital media in Oman seems to be entertainment and connectivity, businesses have steadily begun to understand the importance of digital presence. Social Media will be an equaliser, enabling everyone with a smartphone and Internet to consume and disperse information. It will create a new generation of youth with a global outlook. In the immediate future, social media will be a key driver in advertising and e-commerce in Oman and will lead to entirely different business models. Digital media and allied technologies thus pose opportunities for entrepreneurship that can greatly benefit SME’s, bring about e-commerce, and aid in sustaining the nation’s economy. In the current wave of technological revolution, Oman is riding on the safety of the tried and tested technologies. The nation can with the support and government utilize these to create a diversified economy that utilizes the power of the technologies, and yet does not bring about the same risk as cutting edge innovations. We can learn from the economic disruption we witness in developed nations and choose the technologies that fit our gradual model of growth. Amour: While digital media has become a must-have in the basket of any organisation, I predict a very bright future for digital advertising in Oman

February 2017

Tunes of Glory Zak Pachiyannakis, Founder and General Manager of Tunes Trading and Services, shares, albeit reluctantly, his foray into the business of musical instruments

t was the chance purchase of an extra piano that helped fine-tune Zak Pachiyannakis penchant for classical music and establish his business venture, which has, since grown into a stronghold of music in Muscat. From a humble store in Qurum, Tunes and its outlets have taken Muscat’s music scene to new levels, providing avenues for aficionados to buy quality products and learn instruments, even unique ones like Oboe, Double Bass and Euphonium. But getting the self-effacing Zak to talk about his achievements isn’t an easy chore. ‘I-don’t-like-totalk-about-myself’ is his constant refrain, as we sit facing an impressive array of musical instruments at his main Tunes Centre in Al Khuwair.

His tryst with music can be traced to the 80s, when his search for a music school for his children ended in disappointment. On a whim, he purchased three acoustic pianos from the manufacturer, as the private music teacher expressed his difficulty in teaching piano on a regular keyboard. Of the three, one stayed at home, a friend picked one, and the third found a buyer. “I liked the outcome, and so I went ahead and ordered eight more,” he quips. The pianos, packed in individual cartons, were put in the corridor of his house, four on each side. “They were big and bulky and my wife was complaining,” he states, with a grin, adding that it left him with no choice but to open a shop. And thus began Tunes… The year was 1991. Around this time, there were a lot of local musicians who were doing their purchase of instruments from the neighbouring Dubai and his store soon became the focal point for musicians of different

ilk. He catered to their demands by widening the range of products at affordable prices and incorporating products that weren’t available in UAE too. “My first customers were all Omanis,” he recalls, pointing out that there were over 40 Omani live bands during that time. Zak followed this venture by opening the Classic Music and Arts school to train interested music students and is proud that he could make success without having a business acumen or musical proficiency. At present, he has four branches – Tunes and Guitar Centre in Al Khuwair, Music Souq in Qurum, and the recently opened branch in Ruwi (Rex road area), which is catering to the large student community in the vicinity. The main Tunes showroom in Al Khuwair is a large 400sqm facility, structured to international standards. “To grow so immensely in such a small market is indeed an achievement,” he admits, albeit grudgingly, as he hastens to add that ‘unfortunately’, he does ‘not have any musical talent’.

Zak Pachiyannakis with his daughter, Thanae

February 2017 Photographs: Pushpender Sharma

He also made an unsuccessful attempt to learn piano when he was around 12years old, travelling for an hour by bus to central Athens, as there were no music schools in his neighbourhood. His love of classical music, however, grew unhindered and, in a way, got

influenced by the creative family he grew up in– his brother played the harmonica, while his father, a police officer by profession, was an established amateur Hagiographer (a painter of icons).

days it took 15 days to get hold of a Greek newspaper and telephone calls were expensive, but with Internet and television bridging the gap, things have eased considerably, he notes.

Zak was one of the first Greeks in Oman, when he travelled here with his Omani wife. They had met while studying in a catering college in London and had planned to settle in Greece, where the hotel industry was booming, following a brief detour to Oman. But fate, as they say, had other plans…

Today, he is a proud businessman, a husband and a father. Thanae his youngest daughter, who runs the two music schools – Classic in Qurum and Play Tunes in Al Hail, has established a name for herself in the musical horizon of Muscat and has chartered her career as a vocalist and events manager. Two of her siblings have taken up medicine, while one is an engineer.

Oman soon became home, although Greece was beckoning. In the initial

in CONVERSATION

But the supportive presence of his musically gifted daughter Thanae at the Tunes Showroom, helped coax him to share his love for classical music, which shaped his early years. “As a teenager, I used to go regularly to the opera house in Athens and symphonic performances, which, I know, was very unusual for a teenager to follow,” states Zak, a native of Piraeus in Greece.

Up Close & Personal With

Zak Pachiyannakis The home I grew up in... Was in Piraeus, the port of Athens. When I was a child I wanted to... Be a baritone singer. (Thanae recalls him singing in operatic tones, as he dropped and picked them from the school). I used to put a lot of classical pieces in this 20 minutes trip to the school. (‘I try to sing them now and I realise the lyrics were so wrong’ quips Thanae, to which Zak responds: ‘But the tune was correct…the lyrics were my own – converted from Greek.’) The moment that changed me forever... I would say purchase of the three pianos. People change their original job, on average, three times. I wanted to be a math teacher but instead I

studied hotel management, as I did not manage to get math as my first choice in the university; however I did COBOL programming in the UK, but, accidentally, music happened… My hero… Hercules. My love for ancient Greece and its rich history is unending. If I could change one thing about myself... May be become healthier. I dream of... Retiring in a small village in Crete. What I see when I look in the mirror... That time has passed by so quickly. You may not know it but I’m no good at... Playing a musical instrument. You may not know it but I’m very good at… Mathematics.

My house is... A simple abode in Qurum. My favourite haunt/holiday destination... The island of Crete. My favourite weekend spot in Oman… Al Shatti Qurum. In recent times, the Greek café in Gubrah called ‘Greek Way’. Things I like about Oman… Omani hospitality, the sea, the mountains, the desert and the roads. A book that changed me... Socrates’ Apology! Everyone should read this book. On top of my wish/bucket list is... Nostos... (In Homer’s Odyssey, there is this word ‘nostos’, which describes Ulysses yearning to return home.) In 10 years› time, I hope to be... Alive.

Zak Pachiyannakis

February 2017

in the SPOTLIGHT 22

The Bradt Guide to Oman The Bradt Guide to Oman, which was first published in 2006, has been fully revised for 2017 by Tony Walsh a former resident of Oman

ith 360 pages of interesting information, catering to visitors and tourists, the Bradt Guide to Oman covers Oman from the border with Yemen to Kumzar, the most northerly village in Oman. This revised edition from Tony Walsh includes suggested itineraries, local restaurant and accommodation recommendations and a selection of helpful Arabic phrases Tony, who lived in Oman from 1986, explored Oman since then visiting unusual regional areas including the Al Hallaniyyat Islands and has been privileged to enter Al Jalali Fort many times when he worked in tourism in Oman. These insights enabled him to make the guide detailed

February 2017

in the SPOTLIGHT and, using the reaction of tourists as well as his own experience at specific locations, make suggestions and place inclusions and exclusions. According to him, the multi award winning Bradt Guides is probably the largest independent guidebook publisher in the world. Based in a small English town the company’s publications literally cover the world with 216 guides; it reaches the parts of the world that other publishers might only dream of. The Bradt Guide to Oman, which was first published in 2006, has been fully revised for 2017 by Tony Walsh a former resident in Oman and the book is now available in Muscat. In an email interview with FACES, Tony said he was delighted that he could spend the summer of 2016 updating the Oman guidebook. “With new roads that had opened since the third edition, such as the Hasik to Ash Shuwaymiyyah road, there were lots of geographical updating needed. To make navigation easy place names correspond to those on Oman government maps, so Ar Rustaq rather than Rustaq and As Sib rather than Seeb, and where a location is isolated distances are given, not least to ensure petrol refilling stops can be anticipated,” he explained.

Tony wants the book to encourage residents and visitors to see both the main sights and off the beaten track ones. “In some cases, such as the National Museum, it was easy to include, in others, perhaps, because the routes are dangerous for inexperienced drivers, they were not. Other considerations might have been that the place was so isolated that it would not fit comfortably within the guide book’s routings or even that, despite a location’s attraction, it might not comfortably accommodate many visitors making a decision not to include them important,” he states. Though for many residents of Oman picnics are an ideal opportunity to eat home-cooked meal, there are many who prefer to stop at a restaurant and relax while somebody else looks after the food. The guidebook makes restaurant suggestions not only in Muscat but also along most routes. Tony has used all of them, often for more than 20 years, and though they

range from Al Angham to a small twoman restaurant in Haytam they are detailed with equal pleasure. The Bradt Oman Guide Book is available in Oman through Al Manahil Books Muscat, www.almanahil-books. com, and at the National Museum shop

The book has its own maps all of which Tony updated using the Open Street Map as their mapping base. To achieve the detail needed, many map sections were ‘stitched’ together in Photoshop by Tony to make a single map and the individual locations were placed on the maps and crossreferenced on a spreadsheet and then within the book’s text. Tony’s maps were then reformatted by Bradt Guides own graphic cartographer to their In-House style.

February 2017

Centre STAGE

OMAN

Paint the World project is a fun initiative aimed at uniting the youth on a platform that is designed to make a difference in the lives of the people it touches

chance meeting with the founders of Paint The World (PTW) Georgia and an invite to attend their annual event in Malaysia, inspired young Adam Al Riyami to give wings to his dreams of making a difference in his society. Buoyed by the ideals and objectives of the project, he returned home to spread the idea among his friends and find the right footing to initiate the Oman chapter of PTW. “In August 2016 we formed a team of friends, and began calling educational and charitable centres to book dates for us to visit and entertain the children,” states Adam, who wasted no time in putting the project to action. PTW Oman is currently managed by a team of 11 enthusiastic friends, who, as Adam points out, “have ideas that they are excited to implement during

The Team From the left (standing)- Shahad Al Barakat, Rimaaz Al Riyami, Adam Al Riyami, Siham Al Jahdhami, Sabrina Al Riyami; from the left (on knees)- Ahmed Al Jahdhami, Safwaan Al-Amin.psd

Paint The World

February 2017

this upcoming summer break… In the summer of 2017, we are planning an event to invite all the children from all centres to a location where we will bring games, toys and performances to entertain the children; we will use Oman’s youth as volunteers to this event, to help in on the fun,” he adds. When young minds fuse together to spread ideas of unification on platforms that are diverse and vibrant, their passion and energy is palpable even in little details. At present, one of their proactive members, Siham Al Jahdhami, is organising visits to different associations and centres around Muscat with a team that she has formed at ‘The Sultan’s School’.

About PTW

PTW started in 2014, in Tbilisi Georgia, by a group of 14-year olds who wanted to put smiles on the less privileged children’s faces. It then

expanded and spread around the world. In Oman, PTW project aims to unite the youth of Oman, regardless of their differences. The main objective is to expand the team, raise awareness and give back to the community. Explaining further, Adam says: “The purpose of this movement is to encourage, push and inspire the youth of Oman to use their time and efforts on things that would matter, which, in this case, is spreading love and smiles to those who don’t have the privileges and health that we have!”

PTW team drawing with the children

Centre STAGE Personally, he got inspired to start the movement in Oman when he witnessed such activities in Malaysia and realised that Oman does not have many youth contributing to the unfortunate and underprivileged children. In line with the structure of the movement, the local chapter consists of teenagers ranging from 17 to 21 years old - some still in high school, some in universities. “It started when I contacted my friends and cousins with this idea, and they all showed an immediate interest and were eager to help,” says Adam. The team currently consists of Ahmed Al Jahdhami, Siham Al Jahdhami, Rimaaz Al Riyami, Sabrina Al Riyami, Safwaan Amin, Hajer Al Yahyai, Shahad Al Barakat, Ziyad Al Harthi, Mohammed Awad, Majid Al Lawati and Junaid Al Said, in addition to Adam. While Ziyad Al Harthi decided to join the PTW to invest time in helping and bringing joy to the less fortunate, Mohammed Awad’s objective was to become a more productive

member of society and to give back to the community that raised him. As co-founder Ahmed states, the movement has given the team a chance to contribute to the community. For Junaid, the experience has proven to be an eye-opener. Besides, as he points out, “The group is not led by the opinion of one person, all of our views and opinions are taken into thought, creating an atmosphere of teamwork!” The team made their first visit to Dar Al Hanan last August, spending time with the children in a variety of activities. “It is amazing to see how happy they got when they saw the balloons, cupcakes and guitar we brought for them, and how happy they were knowing that we wanted to spend quality time with them,” enthuses Adam. Generally, the team undertakes activities that include face painting, guitar playing and drawing, along with balloons, toys and snacks, which they take along for distribution. With more such events lined up for the year, PTW Oman is geared to make our society that much more beautiful. Interested youth can join by simply sending a message on www.facebook.com/painttheworldoman or www.Instagram.com/painttheworldoman

February 2017

feast ON

OMNY-potent

OMNY, the new acronym for all things festive, is a vibrant brasserie that has neatly fused cuisines from Europe and the Mediterranean, in flavours that are typically Omani

uscat’s food-scape has moved several notches higher with the opening of OMNY restaurant at Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat. It is hauntingly refreshing in its setting and ambience, and completely satiating in its culinary presentation. OMNY is a quaint New York style brasserie, with a deliberate focus on providing a global urban experience alongside a modern appearance to suit its Quorvus Collection portfolio. The dreamy interiors reflect a typical brasserie style, in a heightened mix of colours and textures that show attention to detail and comfort, be in its white table linen, soft velvets or the brushed brass and weathered mirrors. ‘Corn fed chicken with beets and corn

With large glass windows opening to the outdoor seating and the impressive façade of the hotel, it is easy to soak up the energizing effect of the restaurant from any corner of the sprawling facility. Leafy plants add to the fresh appeal of the place, as chefs busy themselves in the open kitchen, to greet you with flavours and aromas that have promises of a satisfying meal. It is a cool February noon, as we make our way to this exciting new food destination in the capital. We are, of course, familiar with the hotel, but the new restaurant is something else. As we make ourselves comfortable in our seats, with the perfect view of the kitchen and the outdoors, we

are joined by Executive Chef Luke Borg, who brings with him a wealth of experience in the culinary field. He tells us that the restaurant is based on a New York theme with Mediterranean techniques and local flavours and seasonings. The team of chefs is young and lively, with Sous Chef Ashleena Pillay typifying it. It is, indeed, a friendly place – ‘a place to meet and socialise,’ as Shafaque Ahsan, Director of Food and Beverage, points out. The menu has also been carved out to project a friendly mien, with dishes that are flexible, or ‘nonpretentious’, as the team puts it. We went in with chef Luke’s choice of dishes and he ensured that we were pampered all the way. Salad Nicoise

Photographs: Pushpender Sharma

February 2017

Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Pate with local Date

feast ON

Bouillabaisse

We have large appetites and he found a way to give us a varied taste of OMNY dishes to get us to crave for more when we visit it next time. We began with ‘Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Pate with local Date’, a dish that originated in France. “A lot of influences took over the original recipe - we looked at the New York concept,” explained Chef Luke, adding they gave the original recipe a symbolic Omani twist with saffron and dates. Next on our lunch agenda was ‘Sambusak’, filled with local market vegetables, and ‘Minestrone with poached egg’, an Italian classic. The latter has been incorporated by many cultures, but at OMNY it is presented with local seasonings to make it taste Omani. We also tucked into ‘Smoked lamb sausage with tomato jam’, for a Middle East touch to our luncheon. While the lamb is smoked with rosewood to give it a local touch, it presented in the old heavy based dishes, which are symbolic to New York. It was a festive spread in every sense of the word, as we followed that with ‘Bouillabaisse’. Educating us about the dish, the chef described it as a French classic fish stew for the ‘poorer’ social class in the 17th century. Explaining about the OMNY take, he said: “Our story for this is that we are using luxury shellfish, like Omani lobsters, Omani crab and scallops and converting the stew into local delicacy.”

Our menu also included ‘Salad Nicoise’, a local tuna dish with a New Yorkish approach and ‘Omani lobster croque monsieur’, which, as the chef notes, is a classic 18th century dish, originating from the ancient classic bistros from Paris. “We brought it to Oman by introducing lobster in the bread which is local and saffron powder which is a complex new technique yet local,” he adds.

carob and halwa to kick in the Omani flavours, but it was the crème brulee that got us wishing we had more tummy space to eat an entire bowlful. Looking back on that long luncheon, we can probably compare the aftereffects of OMNY to a good book that remains with you, long after you have turned the last page

The ‘Haloumi Soufflé’, served with local greens and nuts, was a dish made divine with the fluffy pillow of Haloumi cheese; ‘Corn fed chicken with beets and corn’ was tender, juicy and healthy, with beets and corn adding to the health factor; the ‘Omani red mullet al cartoccio’ had very local flavours, as it was wrapped in banana leaves along with the parchment paper; ‘Risotto Milanese with lamb ossobuco’, is a signature dish, made interesting with the chef coming to the table to explains the nuances of the dish… Did we have space for more? Well, the desserts were inviting. They are all very French based with extra condiments like dates, saffron, ginger,

Haloumi Soufflé

February 2017

let’s COOK

Festive Spread from

OMNY Experts

Hormuz Grand Hotel chefs - Executive Chef Luke Borg and Sous Chef Ashleena Pillay – present scrumptious recipes

Lamb Loin & Fillet ‘En Crepinette’ Almond and Sweetbread Tart - Raspberry Vinegar Reduction (From Luke Borg) l l l l l l l

1 Whole lamb rack (butchered) 120g lamb sweetbreads 100g puff pastry 2 local asparagus 150g parsnips 100g crepinette 1 red pepper

l l l l l l

1 yellow pepper 6 slices of white bread, without crust 25g toasted almonds 2 leeks 2 tomatoes 400ml raspberry vinegar

Method: For the parsnip mash – Peel the parsnips, and in a pan sweat the finely cut leeks and parsnips, without colour. Fill the pan with chicken stock until you immerse the parsnips, and cook all the way trough. When ready blend in a liquidiser For the Lamb – Ask your butcher to clean a whole rack of lamb and clean any excess fat from the loin. Tie the loin with a butcher’s string, and seal both the loin and fillet quickly, until it has a nice golden brown colour. Cook the loin for 15 min on 185 C and the fillet for 6 minutes. Take out of the oven and rest for 10 minutes. For the puff pastry – Roll out the puff pastry and dock with a fork from both sides. Cook whole with some weight on top of the puff to rise evenly. Cook for 24 minutes on 165 C. When golden brown take out of the oven and cut into slices of 8 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width.

Seafood Ciopinno (From Ashleena Pillay)

Ingredients (for 2) l 80g onion finely diced l 2g thyme finely chopped l 2g basil finely chopped l 2g coriander finely chopped l 20g butter l 1g cumin seed l 1 chili finely chopped l 2x 200g tin tomato (blended) l 100ml water (as required) l 1 lobster tail cut in large chunks (crayfish can also be used) l 12 mussels (with shell)

l l l

l l l l l

8 clams (with shell) 200g hommour fillet cubed 400g prawns deveined and shell removed except from tail 20g chopped garlic 20ml fresh cream 5ml lemon juice Sliced sour dough toasted as garnish 1 star anise

Method 1. In a large deep saucepan, melt your butter and add your onions, cumin, chopped chili, star anise, garlic and thyme and allow to simmer without letting it turn to brown. This allows all the flavors to pull out. 2.

For the sweetbreads – Leave the sweetbreads in cold water for 6 hours beforehand and change the water frequently. Poach the sweetbreads from cold water until it almost boils, and leave under cold running water to cool off. Remove the membrane on top of the sweetbreads carefully without puncturing the meat, and dry out on a kitchen towel. Warm a pot with butter and seal the sweetbreads with the butter frothing for a nice golden colour. Do this quickly or it will over cook.

Now add in the hommour fillet, prawns, and lobster tail with lemon juice until it starts to firm up.

For the rest – Peel the asparagus and boil quickly in salted water. Cut the peppers, leeks and tomatoes into a fine brunoise, and sweat nicely without giving colour. Mix the ingredients with fresh breadcrumbs and cover the fillet with it. Reduce the vinegar until you get a glaze consistency.

Once firm, add in your pureed tomato and allow to simmer. Use water as needed if the stew becomes to dry. Add in the cream as well as fresh cream to taste.

Five minutes before switching off for sering, throw in the clams, mussels, basil and coriander and give a quick stir, seal lid to ensure the clams and mussels open, discard what doesn’t.

To plate, use a deep stew bowl, and ladle in fish at the bottom to make a pyramid at the center.

Place about 3 toasted slices of sour dough around or any bread available.

Rice can be used and served with a side salad if it’s a preferred choice.

Assembling the plate – Put some mash in the bottom of the plate horizontally. Cut the loin in a thick slice and place it on the left hand side. Fill the tart with almonds, sweetbreads and cress, place in the middle. Trim the edges of the fillet and top with the peppers and place on the right of the plate. Place the asparagus and other vegetables accordingly and dress with the raspberry glaze.

(You could play around with the spices to suit your own pallet.)

February 2017

feast ON

Veggie Delights Tired of convincing your children to eat their vegetables? Check out these two recipes from Simran Dhanju, which are sure to make that task easier…

Broccoli and Mushroom Crepes Ingredients: For crepes: l 2 eggs l 1 cup plain flour l ¼ cup milk l 2tbsp vegetable oil/sunflower oil l ¼tsp salt For stuffing: l 1 cup broccoli, thinly sliced l 150g mushroom, thinly sliced l 2tbsp chopped parsley leaves l 1 small onion, sliced l 1-2tbsp oil l Salt to taste l Freshly ground black pepper l Red chili flakes (optional) l ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated l ½ cup mozzarella cheese, grated Method: 1. In a bowl, sieve flour; add salt and mix. 2. Whisk eggs, milk and oil together with a wire whisker, pour into flour mix and make a smooth batter. Keep aside for 10 minutes. 3. Heat crepe pan on a low flame, drizzle little oil and wipe the excess oil with paper towel. Pour a ladle of batter in the pan and spread quickly with the back of the ladle to make a thin crepe. 4. Now on one half of the crepe, sprinkle broccoli, mushrooms, onions, cheese, parsley, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Fold the other half on top and gently turn it over. Cook on both sides for a minute until the cheese melts. 5. Serve hot with any sauce of your choice.

Tofu Lettuce Cups Ingredients: l 400g firm tofu, diced in small cubes l 1 iceburg lettuce l 1 red onion, finely chopped l 1-2 green chilli, finely chopped l 3tbsp spring onion, chopped l 1tsp ginger, finely chopped l 1tsp garlic, finely chopped l ½ cup mixed bell peppers, finely chopped l 2tbsp pine nuts, toasted l 2tbsp coriander leaves, chopped l 1tbsp soy sauce l 2tsp malt vinegar l 2-3tsp Worcestershire sauce l 1tsp sugar l 2-3tbsp oil l Salt to taste l 1tsp freshly ground black pepper Method: 1. Carefully, remove lettuce leaves from the core and dip in ice-cold water. 2. Heat oil in wok; add ginger, garlic, onion and green chilli, and sauté for few minutes until translucent. Add bell peppers and toss for 2 minutes. 3. Add tofu, soy and Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper mix them all together and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. 4. Now add spring onion, coriander leaves and pine nuts. Give a quick toss. 5. Remove lettuce leaves from water, pat dry; fill the lettuce cups with tofu filling and serve.

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

February 2017

Health CHECK

Social Media and Health

Do socia es lm have edia t powe he r affec to to ment ur healt al ha overa nd welln ll essâ&#x20AC;Ś ?

pparently yes, as studies have demonstrated the possibility of spawning a host of mental health issues simply by getting addicted to the social media. Although there are counter claims, again based on research, which take the social media route to show how it can add vibrancy to the most mundane of lives, there is little doubt that over indulgence could prove to be a bane in your overall wellness. While the act of using social media to check updates and track friends does seem harmless, researchers have found that social media may affect our mental health and general well being. From feeding anxiety to increasing oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feeling of inadequacy, Facebook and other social media platforms have been blamed for nurturing a variety of stress factors. These platforms are known to lead to severe addiction, which can cause mental health problems as discussed here.

Anxiety

Social anxiety could grow from an over-dependency on social media, say experts, who blame it on the apparent lack of human interaction perpetrated by such media. People who already have anxiety issues could find it difficult, and even scary, to indulge in human interaction, they feel.

Fatigue

Multitasking on social media is said to induce exhaustion and put one under a lot of stress, thereby affecting concentration. There is fatigue and then there is stress that is brought on by constant stimulation, rather information abundance, from different platforms.

February 2017

Pressure

Facebook posts are generally a glorification of the self. They are, often, idealised versions of people, things and events. The danger though is in the constant comparison that it could provoke in followers. Besides, it can create the fear of missing out and the general peer pressure, especially among teenagers. Fear of missing out has been described as a ‘phenomenon that occurs when you feel pressure to be doing what everyone else is doing, attend every event, and share every life experience.’ This could be a cause for anxiety.

Depression

Whether such insecurities cause depression or the stress factors prompt it, the fact that social media creates opportunities to exaggerate the situation and provide platforms to display holidays, fine dining and shopping ventures can act as reminders about the paucity of such excitement in ones life and further deplete self-confidence. Studies have shown that absence of face-to-face communication can, often, make it easy for people to indulge in unfriendly exchanges.

Loneliness

Health CHECK

Restlessness

Social media is a great distraction. Subscribers are known to log into their social media accounts when everyday chores seem tedious. But this can rob productivity and add to restlessness, say studies, which found that majority of people have difficultly relaxing when unable to use their social media accounts.

One of the paradoxes emanating from all the popular social media platforms, which are designed to make interactions effortless, is the abject lack of direct communication. It has, instead, throttled verbal communication and isolated people behind online identities.

Insecurity

Concurrent to peer pressure is the feeling of personal insecurity when viewing posts of friends that show them in ideal situations. It is easy to think that they have no problems or difficulties and feel envious and even insecure about oneself. Research has shown that widespread use of social media can demotivate people and even lead to a decline in confidence.

Are you addicted to Facebook?

esearchers in Norway have published a psychological scale to measure Facebook addiction called the BFAS (Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale). This scale, created by Dr. Cecilie Andraessen and colleagues, found that respondents who scored high had altered sleeping habits – late to bed and late to rise - in addition to other addictive patterns.

Find out if you are addicted to Facebook using the BFAS: Give one of the following responses and the respective score to each statement: l Very rarely – 1 l Rarely – 2 l Sometimes – 3 l Often – 4 l Very often - 5 1. 2. 3. 4.

You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or planning how to use it. You feel an urge to use Facebook more and more. You use Facebook in order to forget about personal problems. You have tried to cut down on the use of Facebook without success. 5. You become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook. 6. You use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/ studies. Calculate your score and see if you are on the addictive zone. If you scored ‘often’ or ‘very often’ on at least four of the six items you may be addicted to Facebook say researchers.

February 2017

Healthy TIDINGS

Brain scans detect signs of autism in high-risk babies The possibility of detecting autism in babies, even before their first birthday, has come to light. Using magnetic-resonance imaging scans, researchers at the University of North Carolina were able to predict (with 80 percent accuracy), which babies who had an older sibling with autism would be later diagnosed with the disorder. The brain imaging scans, taken at 6 months, at 12 months and again at 2 years, showed significant growth in brain volume during the first year in babies who would later meet the criteria for autism - not making eye contact, delaying speech or displaying other developmental delays.

Cats not responsible for mental illness Good news for cat owners. A study has found that cats do not cause mental illness. Researchers looked for evidence that a common parasite carried by cats might affect the developing brain, making people susceptible to schizophrenia, psychosis and other symptoms of mental illness; they found no connection. The suspected culprit is a parasite called ‘Toxoplasma gondii’, which is commonly found in soil and in cat poop. T. gondii has some strange effects on rodents, causing them to lose their innate fear of the smell of cat urine. And since the parasite goes into the brains of rodents, it became a suspect for human brain damage, too. However, researchers didn’t find any connection.

Oversleeping may be indicative of dementia

Sleeping late may just prove to be an early warning for dementia… A new study has found that older adults who slept more than nine hours a night were at double the risk of developing Alzheimer›s and other neurological disorders. This could be pronounced if the sleeping time is increased with age, since it does not reflect dementia in sleep-lovers who have always enjoyed late mornings. The change in sleep patterns is likely a symptom rather than a cause of dementia, note researchers.

Excess sugar linked to Alzheimer’s

Sugar has found another victim; this time it is Alzheimer’s. Scientists have found that Alzheimer’s disease could be caused by excess sugar; they have established a ‘tipping point’ link between the blood sugar glucose and the disease. This means people with high sugar diets could be at a greater risk of developing the degenerative neurological condition. Researchers found that excess glucose damages a vital enzyme involved with inflammation response to the early stage of the disease.

February 2017

healthy TIDINGS

Intermittent fasting is beneficial

With evidence growing that occasional fasting can actually help lose pounds and make people healthier, there is new hope for people exploring weight loss measures. Studies have shown that people, who ate a special low-calorie diet, five days a month, not only lost weight, but also lowered their cholesterol, blood pressure and body fat measurements. On average, dieters lost around five pounds after three months on the diet! What is more, they also experienced less evidence of inflammation, which is linked with cancer, heart disease and obesity and appeared to have better control of blood sugar, which is a risk factor for diabetes.

Even ‘mild’ heart defects may affect school performance

According to a new study, children born with heart defects, even minor ones, perform worse than other kids on thirdgrade reading and math tests. It found that children with critical congenital heart defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome or transposition of the great arteries, who require surgery in infancy, are at high risk for poor neurocognitive outcomes in childhood. The researchers used records from databases to identify 2,807 children with congenital heart defects and 6,355 children without them, then compared the kids› performance on standardized reading and math tests given at the end of third grade.

Exercise more and lessen chronic pain

The easiest answer to lessen chronic pain is exercise, a study found. Researchers have learnt that older adults who are physically active may have a lower risk of chronic pain. They tracked the activity of 51 healthy adults, aged 60 to 77, and then conducted two tests on them to measure their pain modulation (perception of pain by the central nervous system). In both tests - to measure production of pain and assess pain reduction in response to stimuli - pain levels were directly related to the participants’ physical activity level.

What do your coworkers think about you?

That was the focus of a study done by researchers in the US. The study, undertaken to shed light on what one’s coworkers really think about them, rather, find out whether employees could tell which of their coworkers liked them and which did not, found that most are clueless about the coworkers competing against them. While people knew which colleagues liked them, they had no idea about which were competing against them for a raise, promotion, bonus or more recognition in the office. This, say researchers, is because people tend to mask their negative feelings in workplaces.

February 2017

in the luxe

Apps to rock your world As the app industry moves on top gear to add ease to everyday tasks with free to download options, check out what’s in store for those who want to up their app quotient with some expensive and exclusive apps Abu Moo Collection

The Abu Moo Collection is said to be the most expensive app available on Google Play; it is a collection of six individual apps that was developed by Abu Moo in Hollywood. The apps are named after gems - Amethyst, Aquamarine, Black Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald – which, curiously, have been designed with the sole purpose of adding a gem widget on to the Android device’s background. It is an exercise in arrogance, as its creator invites users to purchase the suite to simply brag about it to others. Price: $3,300 ($550 each)

CyberTuner

The CyberTuner from Reyburn Piano Service Inc. has been specifically designed for professional piano players who possess basic piano tuning skills and personal tuning equipment. This app’s function is to primarily add to the ease of use and provide clarity of functions. Professional pianists can rely on it to ensure that the piano is pitchperfect. Price: $1,000 (Plus an annual CyberCare subscription of $109 for updates)

iVIP Black

When an app is referred to as ‘The Millionaire App’, you could be certain that it costs big money. The iVIP Black is, basically, an upscale membership card, rather an access card to the luxurious world of the rich. From access to private jets and on-demand concierges to priority access and complimentary upgrades through iVIP’s international partners, it is all about living the rich life. There is a hitch though; you have to certify that you have assets or income that exceeds $1,246,398. Price: $1,288

February 2017

Ignition

This iOS-based app is used in combination with LogMeIn software for PC and Mac. It will provide users with access to the files on their computer, through their phone; it can even restart or shutdown the computers remotely. Price: $1,000 (LogMeIn - $149 a year)

Here is an iOS-based application for law students. Designed by a former Harvard Law student, it is believed to be one of the most comprehensive Bar exam review course. It is a combination of audio lectures with multiple choice questions, essays and performance tests designed to help law student prepare for the bar exam. Price: $1,000

in the luxe

BarMax

Alpha-Trader

This app is a trading suite for savvy investors and investment professionals. It gives real-time stock prices, price alerts, portfolio risk indications and asset correlation and asset category charts. Alpha-Trader also provides the risk control information, such as asset expected return, asset risk, portfolio risk, Value at Risk and Conditional Value at Risk. Price: $999.99

Mobile Cam Viewer Enterprise Basic Version

Want to keep an eye on your house and business? This app could be your answer. It allows you to watch and control your surveillance cameras on your iPhone or Android device, with promise of providing peace of mind and business intelligence at all times. The app also assures your privacy as access information is encrypted. Created by mobiDEOS, the app is available as a 7-day trial version on Google Play. Price: $428.98

Boffo Fun Time Game Pax 2

An app for gamers... Developed by Ubiquitous Muffin, it consists of five â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;simpleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; games that are age appropriate for kids: Boingg, a typical pachinko machine; Wormz, an arcade/puzzle game; Clown bop, a punching bag designed as a clown; Zooblz, a puzzle game that involves spinning the blocks and matching the patterns; and Beez and Bubbles, which involves using muffin guns and lasers to protect a misty bubble homeland against the killer beez. Price: $368.98

February 2017

Muttrah Souq explore OMAN

Whiffs of history continue to waft in the corridors of the picturesque Muttrah Souq, beckoning even old timers to come and relive its vibrant richness

f old is indeed gold, Muttrah Souq is a mandoos overflowing with the precious metal. Believed to be one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arabian world, it encapsulates the laidback life of the days gone by and resonates the old world charm that remains captured in its labyrinthine alleys and wooden roof. Although the shops retain the same flavours and the wide products are mainly designed to cater to tourists, the Souq is a constant fixture in the itinerary of travellers as well as residents who keep making a date with this popular Corniche destination, when driving off to the desert or the mountains is not appealing. With little coffee shops and eateries dotting this striking Corniche area, it is a perfect weekend (and even weekday) spot with its share of beach, park, fort, museums and even unending series of shopping within and outside the Souq. A quick stroll inside this quaintly designed maze of shops establishes the fact that it has and will remain a major point of contact for all who have a relationship with the city. It continues to remain popular; it can be easily

February 2017

discerned in the endless stream of cars that cruise the stretch in search of a spot to park. If a fully occupied parking lot is any indication of the popularity of a place, Muttrah Souq and the Corniche win with a long margin. The Souq has, over the years, undergone renovations (mainly to ensure rainwaters did not hamper the activities of the Souq or cause damages for the shopkeepers), but the structure and the profile of the shops has remained almost constant, retaining that element of familiarity for regulars. It is the palpable bygone spirit of the Souq that draws locals, expatriates and tourists to this striking destination. The Souq is accessible from the main Corniche area as well as the congested Muttrah, where shops and old homes make movement of cars difficult, especially during the busy hours. With items ranging from gold to vegetables, the Souq is a veritable shoppersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; den. Serious shoppers can look for bargain deals on items including gold and silver antique pieces, frankincense and myrrh, sheesha pipes, ceramics and pottery, woven baskets, spices and dates, dishdashas and embroidered kummars, carpets, walking sticks, handicraft items, and artefacts, in addition to household goods, electronic items, chunky beaded costume jewellery, and colourful handbags and shoes. What makes shopping interesting here is the possibility of haggling, which has not waned despite modernisation making fixed price the norm elsewhere.

explore OMAN There is a touch of leisureliness in all the proceedings within this maze, whether you are a shopper or a casual visitor. Most are, in fact, content to simply window shop and experience the magic of suspending reality within its arched entryway. Come evening and the distinctly adorned dome in one section of the Souq tends to attract seniors who have seen life pass them by as they sipped coffee and exchanged greetings in a scene reminiscent of the days gone by.

Until the 1970s, the Souq acted as a meeting point for traders from Asia and Africa and camel caravans were unloaded in front of it. However, in those days the Souq itself comprised of shops made with mud and leaves and the place resembled a village corner with men meeting up to chat and drink kahwa. That the scene can still be vividly captured in the present day Souq adds to the charm of the place. For despite the presence of large shopping malls in and around the capital, most locals come shopping here, especially during feasts.

The closely woven matchbox size shops on both sides of the winding alleyways are beckoning, even if shopping is the last thing on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind. A long stroll from the arch entrance through to the arteries of alleys that take one from artefacts to toys and gadgets is perfect if you are seeking to leave all things modern outside the bounds of the Souq and experience sights and sounds that ring in tune to the history that it has been witness to. It is deceptively large and you could while away an entire evening simply walking along the alleys of shops

February 2017

Just TRAVEL

In the Wild

As the World Wildlife Day* pursues its 2017 theme ‘Listen to the Young Voice’, give your itinerant spirit a new lease of life with a wildlife holiday

African Safari

To state the obvious, an African safari is one of the most varied of all wildlife experiences. Responsible Travel, an online travel agency, recommends going for a classic jeep safari in East Africa or a self-drive holiday in South Africa and Namibia. You could opt for a Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black rhino - bush walk with an expert guide or in a pole dugout canoe along the Okavango Delta.

Galapagos Islands

Although tourism poses a significant threat to the delicate ecosystem

February 2017

of Galapagos, this is a mustvisit destination for all wildlife enthusiasts. The animals are endemic to the island and, interestingly, are used to the presence of tourists, which makes it easy to photograph them without being intrusive. Snorkelers can also find interesting spots from the beaches.

The Arctic

If bear watching is on your bucket list, why not go on an Arctic cruise to see polar bears, which have become iconic symbols of climate change? Make it into a responsible holiday for the family by doing your bit to minimise environmental impacts and help conserve the creatures. You could enjoy the wild polar bear experience with wildlife experts, researchers and conservationists.

Just TRAVEL Rainforests in Madagascar

Tanzania’s Serengeti

Visit Serengeti for the safari of a lifetime at one of its national parks (Serengeti National Park in Tanzania) and other game reserves. It hosts the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world and is renowned for its large lion population; it is home to 70 large mammal and 500 bird species. The Great Migration herds typically inhabit the Serengeti from November to June/July, but you will not be disappointed at any time of the year as the region offers year-round game viewing.

Jim Corbett National Park

India’s Jim Corbett National Park, a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, is well known for its tigers. It has become a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts with its healthy population of tigers, as well as the rare species like Otters and the endemic fish eating crocodile. A visit to Dhikala is prescribed if you are looking to enjoy some scenic delights alongside the abundance of wildlife present. It is also a haven for bird watchers with more than 650 species of resident and migratory birds. Avail the option to stay overnight in the park and increase your chance of spotting tigers.

Madagascar’s popularity may have spiralled following the release of Madagascar, a computer-animated film, and the sequels, but wildlife enthusiasts have been flocking the rainforests of the Atsinanana, Madagascar for its diverse and rich ecosystem. There are six national parks in Madagascar and in each of the parks visitors could see as many as ten different types of lemur.

Gorilla tracking

A holiday in Rwanda cannot be complete without gorilla watching at the safari in Volcanoes National Park; it is the most famous of Rwanda’s three parks. Watching mountain gorillas is described as the most life changing of all wildlife experiences; you could indulge your itinerant spirit with guided gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda and Uganda. For a more traditional safari, visit the Akagera National Park, which has its share of wildlife opportunities, but has remained popular for its beautiful scenery

* World Wildlife Day 2017 encourages youth around the world to rally together to address ongoing major threats to wildlife including habitat change, over-exploitation or illicit trafficking. Youth are the agents of change.

February 2017

look GOOD

Beauty Checklist for the Season With the cosmetic industry upping the beauty quotient with products that are becoming increasingly specific for skin types, age and even climes, you better be armed with products that are trending this season Prime Time

Bad face day, like a bad hair day, can make all the tasks seem dull and boring, even wearisome if you have formal meetings or business luncheons lined up. You need an instant complexion refresh, which is assured by Becca First Light Priming Filter; it lives up to its skin-awakening claim by instantly erasing all signs of a bad day. The primer will add a cool lavender cast to your skin, removing any signs of dullness and fatigue.

Blot it out

If your skin has a way of bringing out oil at the first sign of sun on your face, you could do those pores a favour with Murad MattEffect Blotting Perfector. Designed as a cushion compact, the Perfector contains a serum that can absorb grease and instantly refresh and set it with this liquid blotting formula. You could use it as a touch up all through the day, or use on bare skin for a natural, matte look; it absorbs oil, minimises pores and perfects the skin. It works on all skin tones.

Moisture bomb

Face boost

Renew and rejuvenate is what the Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Concentrate promises to do with Glyco-Repair, which is said to boost skin’s production of natural growth factors. If it delivers as it promises, this will help reduce your fine lines and wrinkles.

Don’t over do…that’s the message to heed with Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Hydrating Lotion. This 3-in-1 moisturiser recharges the skin, hydrates it and leaves it feeling protected from heat and humidity. Packed with extracts of antioxidants amla and pomegranate, it creates a fresh texture on the skin.

February 2017

lifestyle mantra Power Fabric

not just any foundation, this… It is a high cover foundation! Called Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Longwear High-Cover Foundation SPF 25, it comes in 20 shades to suit different skin tones, offering perfect cover with sun protection, and a matte finish that lasts a full day. It is a concentration of oils with no greasy effect, which delivers a velvet matte finish.

dynamic lift

It’s all about antiageing with Shiseido Bio-Performance LiftDynamic Cream. This rich moisturising multibenefit cream is designed to energise your skin’s natural restorative ability to give you a youthful look. To be applied both during the day and night, the formula can plump up the facial contours.

rescue mask

when your sensitive skin displays the stress you are enduring, you could do with the Ren Evercalm ultra Comforting Rescue Mask, which is described as a super-soothing mask. It is a 10-minute facemask, used three times weekly, to instantly reduce redness, irritation, itchiness and inflammation.

Hydro boost

Imperfections can be masked, and how… neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer, a thirst quencher for your skin, will help mask imperfections by applying flawlessly on to the skin. Its non-greasy, lightweight formula will easily glide on your skin, giving it a smooth and natural looking cover

Men and Skincare By Sophia Raman

DO YOu SHY AwAY FROM uSInG SkInCARE PRODuCTS On THE GROunDS THAT THE EnTIRE COSMETIC InDuSTRY IS, SEEMInGLY, GEARED TOwARDS wOMEn? Yes…? Or, perhaps, you feel that you have been doing justice to your face by lathering it with some face wash to get a squeaky clean look? The fact that most skincare and beauty products are geared towards women has, somehow, made men like you hesitate when shopping for skincare products - even those that are specifically designed for you. Many of you are still shy, rather wary of products that have beauty underscored on them. But like women, men’s skin also requires daily care and occasional pampering to look fresh and radiant. That cleanser, moisturiser and toner is not the prerogative of women alone… Although most skincare products can easily cut through gender differences, your best bet is to go for a product that suits your skin type - dry, oily and normal or combination. The skincare product you choose should, accordingly, match the skin type. If you are still undecided, go for one that is natural and contains plant-derived ingredients; a quick consultation with the brand expert or the staff manning the skincare department could act as a guide. The best way to initiate your skincare regimen is to begin by washing your face and patting it dry with a soft towel. Follow that with toner and a moisturiser that is right for your skin type. Choosing the right moisturiser, especially for men who have drier skin, is very important. Complete the procedure with a sunscreen lotion; alternately, you could rely on a moisturiser that contains an SPF.

February 2017

style FILe Spring in the Air

February 2017

Introducing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;2017 Spring Collectionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from Babyshop, featuring the brightest kids, freshest colours, and loads of fun

Style FILe February 2017

style FILe 44

February 2017

esque It wIth Ale

The 2017 Grammy awards Ale Al ZAdjAli tAkes A dig At the glAmour-less grAmmy AwArds And A quick look At the FAshion highs And lows thAt mArked the ceremony usually, the grammy awards are one of the most eventful fashion carpets of a year; however, that fell short this year. despite being jam-packed with high profile nominees, performers and attendees, the show failed to bring up anything refreshing in the fashion department. most attendees neglected the prestigious level that we once tied the show to; you know…gowns, silks and sequins. maybe the times are changing, but i still don’t think that the looks should be stripped of all glamour. the highs included caroline d’Amore, mya, Beyonce, demi lovato, rihanna, jennifer lopez, charli XcX and cynthia erivo. now there’s not much to all of their looks as almost all of them stuck to simple and safe looks (yes, demi’s sheer dress was as safe as her music). the lows are truly where the grammys peaked this year, it was as if everyone wanted to be ‘edgy’ but didn’t know how. the biggest problem was that most of them didn’t even know how to carry it off - lady gaga was ‘edgy’ but she carried it off like she was the belle of the ball. the worst, for me, would be all two of Andre soriano’s ‘designs’, the ball pit dress, taraji P. henson, katy Perry and the star of the night…Adele. the dress was fine, but the second you pair a dress with a sleeved top, to ‘censor’ the look, you kill the design. i’m sure she had other designs to choose from.

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

February 2017

Digital Special

Let’s get DIGITAL

‘The digital revolution has not just arrived, it has well and truly settled in. Traditional communications channels have mutated, fragmented and diversified to create a spectrum of media experiences that give consumers unparalleled options and freedom of choice.’ – Cate Connolly, consumer insights manager, Universal McCann London 46

February 2017

A quick reality check to assess the metamorphosis of the media following the evolution of digital media The media landscape has changed, and how… Ever since the world went digital, the global media has shed its traditional stance to act as an infinite resource for information, leading to staggering growth of smartphones and social media consumption. Some of the most significant changes include: l Coming of age of a choice based media landscape; it is now for the user to decide the media he/she wants to consume. l Specialisation of media advertisers are able to target specific individuals and groups on a very wide scale. l Unbundling - everything is unbundled (unbundling is a neologism to describe how the digital world is affecting older institutions by breaking up the packages), whether it is downloading tracks over albums

l l

or finding links to stories instead of buying papers. Consumers can choose what they do online - they can switch the media and the brands to one that matches their values. Content production – since everyone is producing content, it is essential to find ways to turn ones story into viable, search engine and mobile friendly shareable content. Brands can communicate directly with their audience. Transforming the concept of traditional entertainment industry to make distribution limitless and highly efficient. Growth of online communities, with the social media typifying this growth. Online communities are sources for revenue creation, where brands can access their audience and add value to the products.

Digital Special

Digital catharsis Growth of the Fifth Estate While the 2013 film ‘The Fifth Estate’ presented the online media, specifically the WikiLeaks website, as being ‘the fifth estate’, today it is mainly associated with bloggers and journalists using non-mainstream media outlets. For the uninitiated, the so-called Fifth Estate is a socio-cultural reference to groupings of nonconformist viewpoints in the society; it is the collective ability to share information, to create communities and to organise social movements through online networks. According to media observers, it is the evolution of Internet media that has shaken up traditional journalism. As is obvious, online news is currently surpassing almost every media, and, as the traditional print, and broadcast media weakens, the Fifth Estate, or the online content creation, is getting stronger. What is interesting is the growing pool of Fifth Estate bloggers who are using a variety of social media tools, including mobile phones, to report and post their stories.

February 2017

Digital Special

DIGITAL Trends With half of the world’s population connected to the Internet, 2017 promises to continue earning tech mileage

s Bill Gates’ said, ‘the Internet is, indeed, becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.’ Today, 50 percent of the world’s population is connected to the Internet! According to the latest digital trends in Internet, mobile and social media usage, compiled by the creative agency ‘We Are Social’, in association with the social media help tool ‘Hootsuite’, 2017 marks a major milestone in web usage, with half of the world’s population using it; it marks a 10 percent increase in the total number of web users since last last year.

Other milestones include… l l l

More than 3.75 billion people are online today. Internet use is growing all over the world, with growth of eight percent year-on-year. Mobile browsing currently accounts for half of the world’s web traffic; 55 percent of all active connections now comes from smartphones.

February 2017

Conversely, laptop and desktop devices marked a 20-percent decrease in usage, dropping to 45 percent of the entire web traffic around the globe. The number of social media users grew by more than 20 percent over the last 12 months – over one-third of the population is now using social media every month. The United Arab Emirates is on top of the chart for Internet access, with 99 percent of its citizens surfing the web. On the other extreme, North Korea is the world’s least connected country with Internet users making for less than one percent of its total population. With Internet of Things (IoT) growing as an important marketing technology, there are expected to be 75 billion connected devices by 2020.

Digital media and our world today

Blame it on the spiralling growth of technology or our wanton desire for information overdose, our world will never be the same. Technology has,

seemingly, changed our lives forever. For beginners, ‘post’ is a phrase now restricted to online activities. Somewhere along the lines of Internet growth, people have stopped paying for postage to send birthday cards through traditional post. It is all about e-cards, emails or WhatsApp messages now. With social media opening the field to share information, the traditional route has all but vanished. Communication has become the easiest, cheapest and most convenient with smartphones changing the very concept of time and space. And, although television is still a pertinent tool in the house, it is no longer a dictator when it comes to news or entertainment programmes. Smart TVs have opened up smart options to decide what to watch, when and how… Reading books has also become less cumbersome with smartphones, tablets and e-readers giving the traditional book a backseat. Interestingly, it has also had an impact on parenting. Children today have to understand digital etiquette and adopt it to ensure online safety.

Digital Special

Digital Etiquette Digital etiquette or netiquette as it is referred to, is a basic set of rules one should follow to make the Internet better for oneself and others First things first… As in real life so while online: treat people with courtesy and respect, while you are messaging, chatting or emailing. The rule of the game is to treat others, as you want to be treated. Remember, the Internet is a powerful tool when it comes to circulation of information or opinion; so be responsible in your actions.

Netiquette guidelines:

If business gurus are to be believed, cell phone etiquette is fast becoming a major issue in business, as people have forgotten the importance of etiquette when it comes to cell phone use. Follow the basic dos and don’ts while using cell phones... l Turn your phone ringer to vibrate/ silent when you are in public areas, say a restaurant or theatre. l Keep your conversation private by speaking softly or moving away from others. l Do not have loud cell phone conversations in crowded areas or at public performances. l While at formal meetings or at restaurants or social occasions, answer only if it is an emergency. l If you are conducting business on phone, be brief and to the point. l Do not use earphones if you are not talking on the phone, especially during a meeting. l Since text messaging is also a form of phone use, be discrete if you have to text message a friend/colleague while you are with another friend/colleague. l Avoid checking notifications while talking with a friend or in any such situation.

Social Media Etiquette 1. 2.

Do no post anything you would not say in real life. Plagiarizing could be an issue if you are borrowing ideas and images and not crediting it to the creator. Do not get tempted to overshare every aspect of your life. Also, avoid comments that are controversial or offensive. Before sharing any post, check the facts to avoid embarrassment. Internet is a hotpot of information; but not all of it is accurate. Use discretion when posting photographs of you and your family. Select a few instead of posting the entire album. And, most importantly, check your privacy settings to avoid unwanted attention.

While emailing… 1. 2.

Keep it short and to the point. Use the subject line to specify the action you want the recipient to take. Check grammar and spellings. Instant messaging may have made you ignore grammar and spelling, but you cannot follow the same with emails. Check the content before you press the ‘send’ button. It is prudent to be cautious. You may be able to recall a message but you cannot undo the email sent. Be courteous – although email communication is considered informal, you need to be courteous and reply in a timely manner.

February 2017

Digital Special

Are you digitally savvy? You may be online all the time, but that, obviously, is no indication of your digital knowledge

A digital savvy person… 1.

Always thinks before posting anything on a social media platform, especially twitter, as there is no delete button. 2. Does not rush to capture every moment of life in a photograph only to post it on Instagram. 3. Is aware that the so-called ‘private groups’ on Facebook aren’t really private and that free websites aren’t really free as they get hold of one’s email address. 4. Knows why a particular brand or company is popping up advertisements on every page one checks, simply by tracking actions using cookies. 5. Does not believe when Snapchat says that the messages disappear in 10 seconds. 6. Keeps a check of the privacy settings frequently and keeps ensuring that it was not reset to the network’s default setting while upgrading the system. 7. Understands that social media is all about making communication with another easy and convenient, not about replacing people. 8. Knows that people can easily search one’s name online to see what or who he/she is. 9. Is in tune with his/her digital needs and knows the importance of switching the device off when needed, 10. Wants to tell people to be smart in their lives and give one-to-one time to their friends and family.

Take this quiz to find out if you are social media savvy 1. The term 'like farming' refers to?

a) Generating Facebook likes. b) A social media post on ‘Farming’. c) Building an appealing Facebook page to attract likes and then using that page for something else. d) A group that practices farming as a hobby.

2. What does the term 'trolling' mean? a) b) c) d)

Toll free online call service. A poll using social media. Exchanging emails. Starting a confrontational social media conversation.

3. What is 'social proof'? a) b) c) d)

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Proof of product quality on social media. Gaining support on social media. Demonstrating popularity on social media. Proving knowledge of social media.

a) When it is short staffed. b) When it is attempting to grow their social media presence. c) When it needs to send a personal message to a customer. d) When it has gone bankrupt.

5. Which of the following is the correct match of social media network-to-feature? a) b) c) d)

Facebook - tell a visual story. YouTube - target professionals. Twitter - real time communication. LinkedIn - the front face of a company.

6. Which of these is a Pinterest feature?

a) A forum for bloggers. b) Visual bookmarking. c) Following people with similar interests. d) Saving images to interest boards.

Digital Special

4. In what situation does a business implement 'scaling' in their social media efforts?

8. When someone responds to and likes comments posted by one’s social media followers, what technique is he/she using? a) b) c) d)

Liking Scarcity Support Reciprocity

9. What is the job title of a person who sifts through and organises social media content? a) Social Media Specialist b) Designer c) Content Curator d) Accountant 10. Which is a recognised technique for increasing retweets? a) A tweet using hashtags. b) A tweet in many languages. c) Adding one’s name to tweets. d) Tweeting once a month only.

7. Which of these is a micro-video social network owned by Twitter? a) Pinterest b) Vine c) Reddit d) Snapchat

The correct answers are… 1-

2– 3– 4– 5– 6– 7– 8– 9– 10 –

a (Like farming is a system of generating fake Facebook likes using bots that represent fake profiles. Businesses can pay ‘like farms’ to generate fake likes for their pages or they can purchase existing blank pages that have already been populated with large numbers of fake likes.) d (Trolling is the practice of starting a confrontational social media conversation and trying to stir the pot.) b (Social proof is evidence of social media support, which can be used to enhance the power of one’s social media presence.) b (Scaling is a process of expanding social media efforts, using multiple platforms, and then repurposing content across various networks to reach a wider audience.) c (Twitter provides near real-time communication; it can spread news like a wildfire.) b (Pinterest is a ‘visual bookmarking tool’ and is, in essence, a virtual pinboard.) b (Vine is a micro-video social network owned by Twitter, and like Twitter's 140 character limit, it has a six second limit for video clips.) d (Social media relationships require acts of reciprocation.) c (Content curator is a new role in social media; it involves sifting through social media content and organising it into relevant subject areas.) a (Tweets with hashtags are known to receive 6 percent more attention over those without. Twitter recommends not using more than 2 per Tweet as overusing them is said to reduce the retweets.)

How many did you get right?

If you managed even five right answers, you are definitely getting there. Less then that and you can consider yourself a digital rookie. (Quiz Source: richmedia.com)

February 2017

Digital Special

The Emoji

Story

When in doubt, insert an emoji…

ow often do you use emojis, those cute little digital images/icons, which demonstrate a host of emotions? Do you know what each of those images signifies, rather when to insert one in a post or as a reply in your chats and social media posts? If you have been relying on the all-too common smiley as an easy way out, the following might act as a guide the next time you open the emoji counter to affix your feeling/emotion. While it is common to confuse emojis with the emoticons, as the symbols were known before the onset of emojis, the two, apparently are different in their approach and reach. Emojis are images used in text-based communication that express an idea or concept, and emoticons are characters or images that express an

February 2017

emotion. The range of emoji is broader than emoticons and includes pictures of animals, transportation and business icons among others. Interestingly, the emoticons are nearly 35 years old. Whether it was the common ‘colon-hyphen-close bracket’ sign, indicating smile :-) or the ‘colonhyphen-capital D’ to display laughter, emoticons helped exercise flexibility in creating emotional expressions. Today, the distinctly discernible emojis have replaced emoticons, as they have become easy crutches in almost every digital communication, more so in WhatsApp. Smartphones have helped propel them into the mainstream media. But how well do you know what each one indicates…? Here’s a little guideline to help you decipher the commonly accepted meanings of some popular emojis: Smiley Faces: The two most common emojis, the Smiling face and the Smiling face with smiling eyes, denote happiness or positivity. In addition to these two smiley faces, there are a few others, which are equally used

to express happiness. These include Smiling face with open mouth, Smiling face with open mouth and smiling eyes, Grinning face, and Smiling face with open mouth and tightly closed eyes. Smiling face with open mouth and cold sweat: This also shows happiness along with an element of relief. Face with tears of joy: This emoji is a symbolic representation of LOL; it is commonly used to show laughter, in response to a joke or a funny picture. Flushed face: Although this is used self-deprecatingly, it is relied on to show embarrassment over a mistake or an awkward situation. Smiling face with sunglasses: This one is all about showing that things are cool. Smirking face: This may seem like an innocent emoji, but it is seen to possess sexual connotations. Winking face: When a message accompanies this emoji, the recipient is clearly stating that the intent is humour and it should not be taken seriously.

Digital Special Stuck-out tongue faces: This emoji includes Face with stuck-out tongue, Face with stuck-out tongue and winking eye and Face with stuck-out tongue and tightly closed eyes, all of which also show humor. Relieved face: As the name suggests, this is also meant to indicate relief, but is commonly used to show contentment or calmness. Smiling face with halo: This shows innocence, but many do use it as humour. Devil faces: There are two - smiling face with horns and Imp, both of which are used to show mischief. Kissing faces: Whether it is the Kissing face, Face throwing a kiss, Kissing face with smiling eyes, and Kissing face with closed eyes, they are all about romance and affection.

Tired faces: Including Weary face and Tired face, is an expression of stress. Sleepy face: This is supposed to indicate that the sender is unwell. Sleeping face: This one is a show of tiredness. Confused and Confounded faces: Both these emojis are used interchangeably to show confusion. Face with look of triumph: For some reason, this emoji is misused to show anger or frustration. Angry and Pouting faces: It is all for anger; the pouting one is stronger of the two.

Smiling face with heart-shaped eyes: This shows love, adoration or gratitude.

Persevering face: This show stress towards a situation.

Blank faces: Neutral face and Expressionless face shows a deliberate lack of emotion, effective in showing indifference.

Shocked faces: Frowning face with open mouth and Anguished face, both show shock and disappointment.

Victory hand: Used more often to represent peace symbol, it does indicate satisfaction. Person raising both hands in celebration: Called praise hands, it is more commonly used to show appreciation or celebration. Person with folded hands: It is commonly used to show prayer.

Hearts

Red heart: This is the classic love heart emoticon. Colored hearts (Purple heart, Yellow heart, Green heart and Blue heart) are all similar to Red heart; however the target of their affection is normally related to the color of the heart. Broken heart: This is the ultimate expression of sadness.

Unamused face: This is a negative emotion, used to show dissatisfaction or even suspicion. Face with cold sweat: This emoji shows stress or hard work and is situation-specific. Sad faces: There is no confusion in the Pensive face and the Disappointed face emojis, which are used to convey sadness. Disappointed but relieved face: Although there is disappointment, it is commonly used to show fear or hurt. Crying face: It shows a strong sense of hurt. Loudly crying face: Another version of hurt and pain, however, this one may be used to show irony. Worried face: It is all about disgust and fear.

Scared faces: Showing varying levels of fear are Fearful face, Face with open mouth and cold sweat, and Face screaming in fear.

Hand Symbols Thumbs up sign: This shows acceptance or agreement. Thumbs down sign: This shows rejection, dislike or disagreement. Ok hand sign: Everything is ok is what this emoji indicates.

If you are still in doubt, check out the emoji search engine - emojipedia.org

February 2017

at HOME

Window Dressing Go window-shopping, literally, to treat your window with a pleasant makeover that is easy on your pocket Think beyond the regular drapes, shades and blinds for a creative twist on your window treatment plans with little dĂŠcor inspirations from experts and some online browsing help.

To begin, follow the simple rules of the dĂŠcor game: 1. 2. 3.

When shopping for curtains, choose fabric that is neither too heavy nor too light, so that it drapes just right on your window frame. Hang the curtains as close to the ceiling as possible. When panels are higher than the windows they add to the height of the room. Although curtain length is a personal choice, you could achieve a cleaner look with a length that just skims the floor. You could, alternately, get a more classic look by having it slightly puddled on the floor.

February 2017

4. 5. 6. 7.

For a more customised look, get it tailored to your window size, as if it has been fitted to suit the window. Find curtains that complement your furniture or the walls. Assess the requirement before zeroing on, say, slatted blinds or Roman shades. Opt for blackout blinds or heavier curtains in the bedroom. Ensure that the curtain gives you proper fullness by picking one that is twice or more than twice the width of your window.

at HOME

Window Treatment: Shades and Blinds Neutral look: When classic tones rule your décor style, it is best to take the neutral path to infuse elegance into your room. Go for neutral tones if your idea of window treatment is floor-toceiling. Trim up: Contrasts always work, whether it’s about making a fashion statement or rocking the interiors of your home. Curtains with contrasting trims have an exclusive look and feel about them. Give it a try… Layer it: Layers can easily give you a chic look. Simply layer a mixture of curtains to create a modern look. Frill fun: Frills are all about giving the room a feminine look, but if you want to keep it subtle, get puff-top silk draperies. Flower style: Floral patterns have a universal appeal and can look perfect for every season. Larger print curtains would be better if you want to keep the look sober. Faux shade: The faux shade, as the name suggest, has no role to play, except look pretty. It is just right if you are looking to have some colour in your window, without actually getting it covered. Touch of shimmer: If you like the idea of beads in your curtain and some sparkle in your living room,

get a beaded curtain or make your own with some DIY kit from your neighbourhood store. Wood appendage: A wide window can easily accommodate a neat valance. It could be a simple wooden awning or an asymmetrical wood sculpture picked from the flea market or the weekly souq or even collected during your travels abroad. However, the idea should be to blend in with the overall look and not stand out awkwardly. Up and down: Top-down, bottom-up, that is… When natural light is what you want to enjoy in your living room, the top-down, bottom-up shade is what will guarantee you a whole load of it. These semi-opaque shades cut out the glare but let some warm light seep through into the room. Roll them: With home sizes shrinking and windows becoming compact, it is best to opt for roller shades, which are sleek and ideal for smaller windows. They are available in customisable colours and patterns to add to your décor element. Roman shades: Again, if the windows in your home are small, go for Roman shades which come in exciting colours and textures. They can easily infuse vibrancy to your room

February 2017

Relatively SPEAKING

Digital Relationships

How do you make relationships work in the digital era?

With social media redefining every aspect of our lives, is it any wonder that our relationships are also toeing the digital line…? We are, increasingly, governed by our smartphones and are, apparently, fine with it. Although it may not conform to the traditional concept of a chaperone, the smartphone has, in the twinkling of an eye, become our escort everywhere and anywhere – even the restroom. It has outgrown its role as a tool of communication to become the centre of our lives. And we are not complaining…rather, we have given it the leeway to dissuade us from doing or conducting anything that does not involve its presence. Even our relationships! It may have opened the Pandora’s box of relationship issues with its easy reach and accessibility to connect with old friends and even strangers, but it is a veritable pool of valuable resources if the usage is aligned with the values instilled. So, if you are

February 2017

seeking ways to create meaningful connections, here is a quick guide, harvested from online experts.

Do establish your levels of social media interactions

Social media is all pervasive and that makes it important to discuss, not simply presume, that your partner is comfortable with your open communications with others on social media. Arrive at a consensus with your partner to establish the acceptable levels of interaction so as to foster a healthy relationship, one that is not troubled by the likes and emoticons posted by the other.

Do not be afraid to unfollow/ unfriend

Social media, it appears, is often detached from reality. Take for example the friends one has on Facebook; is the number any indication of actual friendships one has made over the years…? Hardly. Most are friends of mutual friends or brief acquaintances who would never have mattered if not for social media. While an occasional like or a birthday

wish helps keep a relationship alive, there is no harm in simply unfriending or un-following someone to make way for stronger and more meaningful relationships with people who do matter.

Don’t bash your partner on social media

Washing dirty linen is public is never okay. Giving vent to anger or distress as status updates on social media can only aggravate the situation. Using the social media to rave and rant about your partner or your relationship problems will lead to more trouble. On the same count, do not go overboard with your mushy messages or images that show the two of you in intimate moments. Certain things are best kept private.

Do not impulsively change your relationship status

Talk to your partner before changing your relationship status on social media - whether you are changing it to a serious relationship or single. Your partner needs to be aware that his/her name is being inserted in your

Relatively SPEAKING

relationship profile to start things on a right note.

Do not stalk and investigate

Jealousy can take ugly turn on social media, as it is home to a variety of resources about the user – from pictures and posts to comments and emoticons. According to experts, partners could have issues when information that is not normally shared becomes public knowledge on social media; it could be even a tagged picture from earlier days. And if it creates feelings of jealousy and makes you dig into his/her social media account, it may be time to take a closer look at your relationship.

Do rely on text messages

Forget the forwarded messages from WhatsApp that are meant to give

you a laugh or ponder about serious issues. Short sweet text messages, sent to your partner in the course of a busy day, can go a long way in making him/her smile and reassure your feelings for him/her. Steal time between meetings and mundane chores to send quick messages that show you are thinking of him/her.

Do respond

When you receive a message from your partner, do take a minute or two to respond to it or at least send a ‘I will get back to you soon’ message. Silence can be disconcerting.

Do take occasional breaks from social media

When things seem to be going out of hand in your relationship status, it is best to take a break from the digital world. Even otherwise, it is advisable to limit the daily and weekly use so that you can have time for one-to-one communication with each other. Keep your smartphone away when you are ‘talking’ and do not get tempted to check it for messages. Sometimes, even a silent phone can become a distraction; just disconnect and keep it out of your visual periphery

February 2017

man date

Let’s moustache and beard it

Whether the hipster beard trend is on its way out or continues to rule the fashion scene, growing facial hair requires you to be cued on a thing or two about your style quotient

o give credit to all the idealistic discourses glorifying men’s facial hair, let’s assume that for men, beard is, indeed, what make up is to women. A veneer of perfection to hide facial flaws; be it uneven jawline, bad skin or even unsightly scars from earlier cuts/ falls. But like makeup that cannot do justice to every face, not every male face can rock a beard. Some faces are just not made for facial hairs… And if it doesn’t complement your facial features or, rather, makes the imperfect aspects stand out starker, it is best to keep that razor in business. But if you are willing to give it a try and check out for yourself before saying amen to facial hair for good, here is a checklist of dos and don’ts to keep you on the right track. To begin from the beginning, the best cue to follow comes from experts who have identified square face as the most desirable shape on men, followed by oval shape. While

February 2017

some are naturally endowed, most can achieve this with some basic facial hair sculpting. It calls for some perseverance, though. For the most common complaint coming from men interested in growing a beard is that facial hair growth is not even; that it is rarely even or uniform. Often, there could be even bald patches

that may make you give up your quest. Be patient and you will soon see all the patches covered and your beard shaping up. But if you are follicly challenged, you could, on an ambitious side, opt for a hair transplant or, better still, learn to sculpt around them by opting for a goatee or a chinstrap, may be.

Beard styles are, generally, dictated by the shape of the face. The idea is to ensure that the beard and the jaw work in tandem to create an oval shape. This means a fuller, chinheavy beard if you have a square or a round jaw so as to elongate your face, and a side-heavy beard if you have an oblong or a rectangular face. A round face also demands a beard that is longer on the bottom and shorter on the sides. Oval shaped faces are able to rock any styles. For a long and narrow face, keep the hair on your chin to a minimum length. Remember, the longer the beard, the more elongated your face will tend to look; it is best to keep hair in the chin area shorter. You could also rely on subtle stubble styling to soften the narrow look.

Style Dictates

Do not go for long full beards with bushy side burns if you have a round face; it will only make your face look more round. l Go for a goatee if you want to make your face look narrow at the sides. Let the moustache connect the goatee without extending past the corners of the mouth to give your face a narrow look. l A goatee is also ideal for a round or square face as it helps add length to it. Taper it to make it look crisper around the cheek. l Soften the square face shape with an all over beard that is clipped close to the face, making the face appear slightly rounded. A chin-curtain or a short l box beard can help soften the jaw line if you have a rectangular face. l Mutton-chop beard is best suited to narrow faces with weak jaws, as it is designed to make your face look wider and the chin more prominent.

man date

Beard styles

The idea is to grow a full beard before chopping out the middle. A full beard that extends beyond the jawline can make smaller face appear longer and a pointed chin more rounder. Conversely, if the pointed chin is accompanied by a long narrow face, go for a goatee styling to get a rounded chin.

Stubble it out

If a full-grown beard is not on your style agenda, check out the combinations and permutations of wearing a stubble without adopting a ‘I-don’t-care’ attitude

Tips for that perfect stubble l

Like beard, your face shape also has a say on the stubble. Find your perfect stubble length by first growing a short beard and trimming it until you are satisfied with it. To keep your stubble soft and itch-free, use facial cleanser daily and a stubble softener as often as required. To maintain uniform length, use an electric trimmer with adjustable lengths; keep it trimmed regularly. Give the stubble a natural fade by using a shorter length when trimming the edges.

While a distinctly shaped face can easily adapt one style or the other, the problem arises when you have a combination face or are not sure what shape your face fits into. The best way to get your beard style sorted in this case is to start with a stubble to find the one that best suits you. For, after all is said and done, beard, like any other aspect of fashion, can be changed as and when you feel like it; simply shave off and begin on an all new canvas.

February 2017

Omantel Launches ‘Edlal’ Knowledge Platform Omantel, in partnership with ‘Rudha’ and ‘Point’, celebrated the launch of the first Omani open e-learning platform ‘Edlal’, recently. The event highlighted visions and plans of the project in the coming stages, which will contribute in growing a knowledge-based economy, built on innovation, engagement and new technologies. This knowledgebased platform aims to contribute in preparing young Omanis to join the workforce by equipping them with the required skills and knowledge for the market. ‘Edlal’ approves Arabic as the main language of the platform which is an added feature, increasing the importance of this initiative and enhancing the levels of participation by Omani youth, while at the same time highlighting the Omani contribution in boosting the Arabic content on Internet.

Al Mouj Golf wins it all

2016 has been a year of awards, recognition and achievements for Al Mouj Golf. Ending the year on a high note, Al Mouj Golf won the ‘Best Golf Course of the Year 2016, under 500 AED’ category in the prestigious Middle East Golf Awards (MEGAs), cementing its position as one of the top golf courses in the region. The MEGAs, now in its fourth edition, received an impressive 156 submissions to the various categories. Al Mouj Golf was ranked the No.2 golf course in the Middle East by the Golf Digest judging panel of top golf journalists, industry professionals and golf event organisers. In January, Al Mouj Golf launched a Loyal Member Programme, starting with a discount on membership and plans for fun competitions and rewards throughout this year and following years.

Turkish Food Festival at Park Inn

The Turkish food festival, organised by Park Inn Muscat Hotel in collaboration with Turkish Airlines and Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Istanbul, Tuzla Turkey, brought together food enthusiasts for a ten-day festivity, which began on 23rd February. Turkish Ambassador to Oman, H.E. Atilay Ersan and Turkish Airlines General Manager, Abdullah Omer Celik, inaugurated the Turkish Food Festival. For the first time at Park Inn Muscat Hotel, food fanatics will taste the most authentic buffet including Kebabs, Doner, Turkish Delights and more by Turkish guest Chefs from Turkey.

Oman Air’s new incentive schemes for travel agents In a unique event, aptly named ‘Together we succeed’, Oman Air welcomed one of its most important stakeholder segment in Oman, the travel agents. The Airline awarded the 2016 top performing agents and unveiled its new loyalty scheme for travel agents. As per the new scheme, the best selling travel agent staff of every quarter will receive a grand prize of a Mini Cooper, apart from other attractive cash support to the agency for training and joint marketing.

February 2017

Jashn’s Chefs’ Meet celebrates Omani and Indian Cuisine Chef Ajay Chopra and Chef Essa Al-Lamki hosted Oman’s most respectable chefs for a memorable ‘Chef’s Meet’ evening at Jashn Restaurant, recently. The duo took the food scene by storm, putting together mind blowing dishes from both Indian and Omani cuisines for over fifteen guests - all very talented chefs heading the best kitchens in Oman, including The Chedi, Crowne Plaza, Golden Tulip, Park Inn and Al Manjur, among others. The event was a fun-filled one with the chefs sharing their journeys and inspirations while savouring the scrumptious spread. The welcome drink, Omani Luban Ice Tea, itself was a very impressive start to the special 7-course menu that included absolutely modern plates of art.

‘Mama and Baby month’ at Lifeline Hospital, Salalah

Lilfeline Hospital, Salalah, is celebrating women’s month as ‘Mama and Baby month’. The celebration, based on creating awareness of importance of health of mothers and babies in the society, was inaugurated by Noor Hassan Salim Al Ghassani, Head of Omani Women›s Association, Salalah, and Batool Ali Al Ajmi, Director of Private Schools, Ministry of Education, Salalah. Following the inauguration, Lifeline Hospital is launching many preventive health and antenatal packages for the expecting mothers and the children. These packages shall cover the whole journey from the time of conception till the delivery. There are lots of attractive discounts and offers on the delivery packages, vaccination packages, antenatal packages, breast-feeding counselling and other health screenings.

Shell Oman Supports Oman Association for Disabled

Shell Oman Marketing Company announced an initiative to support the Oman Association for Disabled (OAD), during a visit to the Association by a delegate from Shell Oman, led by Mohammed Mahmood Al Balushi, CEO at Shell Oman, along with representatives from the senior management and staff from the two organizations. The partnership will help the Association’s efforts to procure therapeutic devices and wheelchairs needed for people with disabilities. The Oman Association for Disabled is a Non-Government Organization established to provide support, education, and recreational activities for people with disabilities. In addition, OAD works to increase social awareness and encourage the community to play a proactive role towards people with disability.

Oman Geological Field Guide launched

Under the auspices of H.E. Ahmed bin Naser Al Mahrizi, Minister of Tourism, the ‘Field Guide to the Geology of Northeastern Oman’ was officially launched during the Annual General Meeting of the Geological Society of Oman (GSO), at the Crown Plaza Hotel. The publication is a joint effort of members of the GSO and the German Geological Society (DGGV). The authors of the 283-pages field guide are Prof. Dr. Gösta Hoffmann of the Departments of Geoscience (GUtech and University of Bonn/Germany), as well as Prof. Dr. Martin Meschede (University of Greifswald/Germany), Dr. Anne Zacke (University of Bonn) and Mohammed Al Kindi, former president of GSO. The book was published by Borntraeger Science Publisher and is available internationally. The field guide is written in a textbook style, presenting geology in a comprehensible way.

February 2017

Maserati’s new special edition GranTurismo Sport

Alfardan Motors, the official importer of Maserati in Oman, announced the arrival of Maserati’s new special edition GranTurismo Sport to Oman. Maserati’s new special edition GranTurismo Sport has undergone thorough restyling and comprises a host of new technical features that further enhance its sporty nature in terms of performance and design – inside and out. GranTurismo Sport is available in Grigio Lava colour. With sporty handling and high-performance on one side, without compromising on elegance and passenger comfort on the other, GranTurismo Sport remains high-class. The hood, made entirely in carbon fibre, produces the additional down force at the front, improving the steering feeling and the driving control at high speed.

Chevrolet presents Limited Edition Tahoe Midnight

Chevrolet is taking black back to the dark side in the new Tahoe Midnight special edition. A perfect blend of contemporary design, legendary capability and performance, the 2017 Tahoe offers a premium driving experience and dark visual hues that complement its imposing presence on the road, both when driving and static. The 2017 Tahoe boasts updated features, including front active aero shutters bringing enhanced aerodynamics on the highway for the driver; further new features include Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking and standard cooled and heated front seats. The new Midnight Edition Tahoe is looking bolder than ever, the special visual treatment builds on Tahoe’s success in the market, offering customers the chance to stand out from the crowd in this limited edition vehicle. Including blacked out wheels, blacked out Chevrolet bow tie and black exterior, because black is the new black as far as Chevrolet is concerned.

The Porsche Panamera

The new Porsche Panamera now reconciles two contrasting characteristics more than ever before: the performance of a genuine sports car and the comfort of a luxury saloon. In its second generation, Porsche’s Gran Turismo has been redefined and realigned, advancing to become a performance icon of the luxury class. With the latest transformation, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer has systematically improved the Panamera concept and is therefore introducing a fourdoor car that has been redeveloped and redesigned down to every last detail. This includes wholesale changes to the engine and transmission, a perfected chassis, and an interior concept reinterpreted for the future. The new Panamera also bridges the world of ambitious sports cars and that of comfortable cruising cars, with a range of newly implemented features such as rear axle steering, active roll compensation and three-chamber air suspension.

February 2017

BAIC SUV BJ40 launched in Oman Gulf Great Sands LLC, the exclusive importer of BAIC Passenger Cars, SUVs and LCVs in Oman, launched BJ40, the legendary 4-wheel drive SUV from BAIC, recently. With a robust SUV styling, smart functionality and a powerful SAAB engine, the BJ40 packs excellent performance and control to explore all types of terrain on-road and off-road. BJ40 from BAIC has a glorious past, spanning more than half a century of tough Allterrain experience. It comes in 2-Door and 4-Door options to cater to the customers looking for an SUV, which is strong, simple and imposing. Its engine is designed to deliver almost 90 percent of its peak torque at very low rpm ensuring large availability of torque at low vehicle speed.

Two wins for Audi in ‘Best Cars 2017’

Audi has driven home two overall wins in the ‘Best Cars 2017’ competition. The Audi A1 triumphed in the ‘Small Car’ category in the reader survey conducted by ‘auto motor und sport’ magazine, and the Audi A3 won the ‘Compact Car’ class. Besides, the Audi Q2 won Gold in the German Design Award; the compact SUV secured the highest award for ‘Excellent Production Design – Transportation.’ The German Design Award is presented by the German Design Council and is one of the most prestigious competitions in the design industry. With the prize, the international jury panel recognizes innovative products and projects that break new ground in the German and international design world.

Mercedes-Benz Oman’s offers on selected Cabriolets and Coupés

Mercedes-Benz Oman is making it even more attractive to own one of the brand’s iconic cabriolets and coupés with a cash gift and additional generous incentives, which are available on selected models until April 30th. This offer will give customers RO2,000 cash back, 4 years/60,000km service package, 3 years unlimited mileage warranty and 1 year Mobilo on-road assistance to help customers drive away in style. This exclusive offer applies to the coveted C300 Cabriolet AMG, C43 Cabriolet AMG, E400 Cabriolet AMG, E400 Coupé AMG, CLS 400 Coupé AMG, CLS 400 Coupé AMG Designo and the Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 Coupé

Exciting offers on Renault Koleos

Renault Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, has announced an exciting offer on Renault Koleos for the benefit of customers. Renault’s new promotion, which has already begun, will go on till March 23. Customers who purchase Renault Koleos 2.5 litre will be entitled to receive assured cash gift of RO2000. They will be eligible for free first year vehicle registration and for six-years/unlimited mileage warranty. Customers of Renault Koleos in the scheme period will get free periodic vehicle maintenance of two years/20,000 kms (whichever is earlier - excluding battery). Free AAA/Road Assistance card will be given on the purchase of Renault Koleos for the first year only and as supported by AAA Oman.

February 2017

Chill Out

Movies

MOVIE REVIEW

Director : Bill Condon Cast

ND I N G

CHART TOPPERS

Emma Watson Dan Stevens Luke Evans Ewan Mcgregor Emma Thompson Gugu Mbatha-Raw Josh Gad Ian Mckellen Stanley Tucci Kevin Kline

Bad And Boujee - Migos & Lil Uzi Vert

2. Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran 3.

Black Beatles - Rae Sremmurd & Gucci Mane

4. Closer - Chainsmokers & Halsey

Beauty And The Beast Disney’s animated classic takes on a new turn…

eauty and the Beast’, a live-action of

classic, American

5. Starboy - Weeknd & Daft Punk

adaptation

Disney’s is

animated upcoming

romantic

fantasy

musical film that brings to life the popular story and all the loved characters. It is the incredible

6. Bad Things - Machine Gun Kelly 7. Paris - Chainsmokers 8. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars 9. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever - Zayn & Taylor 10. Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran

February 2017

journey of Belle, a bright and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she soon makes friends with enchanted staff in the castle and finds ways to look beyond the hideous appearance of the Beast and realise the kind heart of the true Prince within. The young prince has been imprisoned in the form of a beast and can be freed only by true love. What may be his only opportunity arrives when he meets Belle, the only human girl to ever visit the castle since it was enchanted.

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget UPCOMING RELEASES

Life

Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare, Olga Dihovichnaya, Alexandre Nguyen Life, a sci-fi thriller, tells the story of the sixmember crew of the International Space Station that is on the cutting edge of one of the most important discoveries in human history: the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars. As the crew begins to conduct research, their methods end up having unintended consequences and the life form proves more intelligent than anyone ever expected.

BOOK REVIEW

I Let You Go

Author: Clare Mackintosh ‘I Let You Go’ tells the story of Jenna Gray as she moves to a ramshackle cottage on the remote Welsh coast, in a bid to escape the memory of the car accident. She is haunted by the recurring scene of that rainy afternoon when she lost her son in the accident. While she desperately tries to heal from the loss the rest of her painful past, police investigators trying to get to the bottom of this hit-and-run.

Logan

The Shack

With the mutant population shrinking and Logan’s self-healing powers dwindling, he is left caring for the ailing old Professor X, whom he keeps hidden away. But his attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces. Laura is in many ways like Wolverine and the superheroes are beset by everyday problems. It would appear as if their telepathic powers are over…

After suffering a family tragedy, Mack Phillips spirals into a deep depression causing him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Despite his doubts, Mack journeys to the shack and encounters an enigmatic trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa. Through this meeting, Mack finds important truths that will transform his understanding of his tragedy and change his life forever.

Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Dafne Keen

Sam Worthington, Radha Mitchell, Octavia Spencer, Graham Greene, Ryan Robbins, Megan Charpentier

When Breath Becomes Air

Author: Paul Kalanithi At the age of 36, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. In the autobiographical book ‘When Breath Becomes Air’, Kalanithi chronicles his transformation from a naïve medical student into a neurosurgeon at Stanford and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. In the process, he wrestles with questions on life and the impending death in a moving memoir.

We Were the Lucky Ones

Author: Georgia Hunter Based on a true story, this novel tells the tale of how the Polish, Jewish Kurc family was separated by World War Two and eventually found its way back together, traveling across continents and years and through all manner of hostility. The novel spans five continents and six years, and demonstrates how the human spirit can find a way to survive and even triumph.

February 2017

Chill Out

Movies Movies Books Book

WEB WORLD

Children and Media Are you seeking tips and strategies to raise your child in a digital age? It is easy to blame all the parenting woes on modernisation and the ever-growing digital media platforms with the trite, ‘in my time, life was so simple…’ It may have been simple and less complicated, but your children are not responsible for the spiralling influence of digital media in their lives. Log in to http://www.pbs.org/parents/childrenandmedia/ for interesting and easy to adapt resources. It includes age-by-age tips on how your child can get the most out of media and technology, among a host of other strategies for children of all ages.

The http://www.readingrockets.org/article/ children-and-digital-media-rethinkingparent-roles is another site to explore for tips on children and digital media. Quoting expert suggestions, the website urges parents, teachers and librarians to consider their role as ‘media mentors’, who can engage with children to help them use technology in creative and interesting ways, going beyond games and flashing lights. Go also on to https://www.healthychildren. org and check the ‘Family’ menu (https:// www.healthychildren.org/English/familylife/Media/Pages/Tips-for-Parents-DigitalAge.aspx) for a host of tips for parents in the digital age. As the website states, “In a world where children are ‘growing up digital,’ it’s important to help them learn healthy concepts of digital use and citizenship.” As a parent, you play an important role in teaching these skills…

Riddle Time

1 2 3 4 5 66

What goes through towns, up & over hills, but doesn’t move? Why was there thunder and lightning in the lab? Why couldn’t the pirate play cards? What did the blanket say to the bed? What do you call a ghosts mom and dad?

February 2017

Riddle Time Answers (January 2017)

1 2

How do crazy people go through the forest? Answer: They take the psycho path. What do you call a musician with problems? Answer: a trebled man. Did you hear about the Italian chef that died? Answer: He pasta way. Where do snowmen keep their money? Answer: In snow banks. What did the tie say to the hat? Answer: You go on ahead and I’ll hang around

3 4 5

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget GADGET NOTES Stay in ‘touch’

Now you could literally stay in touch with your partner... Using new technologies being developed in Carman Neustaedter’s Simon Fraser University lab, long-distance couples can share a walk and watch movies together - even give each other a massage. Researchers have designed a pair of interconnected gloves called Flex-N-Feel. When fingers ‘flex’ in one glove, the actions are transmitted to a remote partner wearing the other. The glove’s tactile sensors allow the wearer to ‘feel’ the movements. The gloves are currently a prototype and testing continues.

‘Brilliant’ way to control your home

Eco-battery that runs on seawater

The name is ‘Brilliant Control’; it’s a new way for controlling your home in a smarter method. It will allow just about anyone in the home to gain access to music, climate, and other common smart home devices using nothing more than just a standard touch or voice command without the need for a smartphone to function as an intermediary device. It will render current light switches obsolete as it takes mere minutes to install; it will also come with a touchscreen, which can operate intuitively. Individual Brilliant Control units will be accompanied by a built-in camera, privacy cover and microphone, which will make it easy to include video or voice intercom to a house.

Researchers in South Korea are developing a new type of eco-friendly batteries that can store and produce electricity using seawater. It is much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than lithium and will offer a low-cost route to large-scale energy storage. Seawater batteries operate without auxiliary loads or an external power supply, except for water and salt and will considerably reduce fire risks, as it keeps the thermal fluid in good condition. They can be applied as energy storage systems (ESS) for homes and industries or as emergency power supplies.

From rubber to ‘thubber’

Say welcome to ‘thubber’, the thermally-conductive rubber, that can take the heat off flexible electronics. Designed by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University, thubber consists of a soft elastomer with non-toxic, liquid metal microdroplets suspended within it. When prestretched at room temperature – up to six times its initial length – those droplets form into elongated pathways that heat can easily travel through. This means that scientists can create stretchable mounts for LED lights or computer processors that enable high performance without overheating in applications that demand flexibility.

Bites At an art gallery, a woman and her ten-year-old son were having a tough time choosing between the works of two artists – Lisa and Jane. They

finally went with Lisa’s. “I guess you decided you prefer an autumn scene to a floral,” said Lisa. “No,” said the boy. “Your painting’s wider, so it’ll cover three holes in our wall.” ** Brian, one of the worlds greatest hypochondriacs,

bumped into his Dr. one day at the supermarket. “Doc!” Brian exclaimed, “I’ve been meaning to tell you, remember those voices I kept on hearing in my head? I haven’t heard them in over a week!” “Wow! What wonderful news Brian! I’m so happy for you!” his Dr. exclaimed. “Wonderful?” asked a dismal looking Brian. “There’s nothing wonderful about it. I’m afraid my hearing is starting to go now!”

February 2017

Chill Out February 2017

Movies

FUTURESCOPE

Pisces

(February 19 – March 20) This is a bittersweet kind of month, one that is cheerful but eventful. Over the next six months you would be inspired to adopt a new look. There would be career changes and shake-ups in your company or industry and there are chances of dramas in the lives of bosses, parents and parent figures. The job change may be within your present company or in a new one. They may be health scares, but your overall health is excellent this month.

Aries

You are at an exceptional period for starting new projects or launching new products, especially if your birthday is from March 20 to March 31. Take it nice and easy. Work collaboratively with others and enjoy relaxing time at home. Be more patient with family members as well. Health is good this month.

Taurus

love may be forced to make dramatic financial changes.

shake-ups in your company and industry that change the rules of the game.

Cancer

Scorpio

Be more patient with family members this month, as the passions are running high. Your sense of self and of identity may get challenged by people or events. There is a requirement to redefine yourself, your self-concept and the way you want others to have you. You need to rest and relax more - spend more relaxing time at home.

Leo

This will be a great month for borrowing or to pay down debt – according to your need. It is a great month to make a checklist of your possessions and get rid of what you don’t need or use. This is just clutter. Make way for new things. The spouse or partner has some monetary upheaval now and has to be done in dramatic changes.

Virgo

Career is still blissful and you still seem on top of your world. However, the focus this month is more on friends, groups and group activities - there is romance, but it is not the main focus. It is more about friendship, mixing with people of like mind and like interests. The month ahead is also highly spiritual. It can bring dramas in their lives and the life of a parent or parent figure.

Health and energy are delicate in March. Forget the trivial things in your life and concentrate on what is really important. Your social life has been active. New relationships may have been set; now is the time they get tested. There are dramas and upheavals in spiritual or charitable organisations you are involved with. There are also family dramas, and dramas with the children or children figures in your life.

Gemini

Libra

March is a fast paced, hectic kind of month; it is retained, but frenetic. There is excellent career advancement until the 20th. There could be dramas in the lives of siblings and sibling figures in your life and there could be upheavals in the neighbourhood. Flawed relationships could be in trouble. The spouse or current

Daniel Craig

The month ahead is busy and eventful - it is likely to be the busiest time of your year. There are liable to be major changes in your health regime as well. If there are flaws in your home, you find out about them now. Be more patient with family members and friends during this period. You can change careers, or there might be

(March 2, 1968) Daniel Wroughton Craig, who waited tables as a struggling teenage actor with the National Youth Theatre, went on to star as James Bond in ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Quantum of Solace’, ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre’. He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991, before beginning his career on stage. His film debut was in the drama ‘The Power of One’ in 1992. Other early appearances were in the Disney family film ‘A Kid in King Arthur’s Court’ and the biographical film ‘Elizabeth’, as well as in the historical war drama television series ‘Sharpe’s Eagle’ and the action-adventure drama series ‘Zorro’.

February 2017

Conflicts of last month are finished and it is easier now to develop social skills and to put others first. It is not difficult to take a vacation from yourself. You have been making financial changes for over a year, which could be enhanced now. There are intimate dramas in the lives of bosses, parents or parent figures. You may be forced to confront your own mortality.

Sagittarius

You are in the midnight hour of your year. Things may seem dormant on the outside, but there are many wonderful things happening inside. Make emotional wellness and domestic harmony your main concern now. You may be under an obligation to redefine yourself for yourself. Health needs watching this month – especially until the 20th.

Capricorn

Most of your short-term financial goals have been achieved and it is time to shift your interests to the intellectual realm. The month ahead is good for taking courses or teaching courses in your area of expertise, reading and keeping abreast on all the letters, texts, emails and calls that you own. Sales and marketing people are better at what they do.

Aquarius

Things have gone easy so far this year; it’s time to have a few challenges to keep you from becoming too complacent. If the relationship is fundamentally sound, it will get even better, but if it’s flawed, it could be in danger. There are dramas in the lives of siblings, sibling figures and neighbours. There could be shake-ups in the place of work.

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget

WEIRD NEWS Nailed with skull

A man seeking a world record in his name hammered 38 nails with his skull. John Ferraro, dubbed ‘Hammer Head’, made his way to the record on the Guinness World Records Italian Show. He also holds the one-minute record (13 nails) and the world record for “Most concrete blocks broken on the head with a bowling ball in three minutes (male). Ferraro broke 45 blocks in that timeframe back in April 2011.

‘Digital’ check

Interesting facts and figures about digital media from the world of Internet l

‘Evil does in fact die’

In a bizarre obituary, a family recounts its relief, following the death of their ‘Evil’ father. The obituary of a 75-year-old Texas, man who died of cancer last month is getting a lot of attention for its brutal description of the deceased. In it the family write: “Leslie Ray ‘Popeye’ Charping lived 29 years longer than expected and much longer than he deserved… With Leslie’s passing he will be missed only for what he never did - being a loving husband, father and good friend. No services will be held; there will be no prayers for eternal peace and no apologies to the family he tortured…”

l l

Facebook accounts for approximately 21 percent of all social media referral traffic in the world. It takes 26 hours for the average person to report a lost wallet. It takes 68 minutes for them to report a lost phone. There are 6.8 billion people on the planet. 5.1 billion of them own a cell phone. The bird featured in Twitter’s iconic logo and branding is called Larry. It takes 90 minutes for the average person to respond to an email. It takes 90 seconds for the average person to respond to a text message. There are more mobile phones on the planet than there are television sets. More than 16 billion photos have been uploaded to Instagram since its launch on October 6, 2010. Instagram’s per-follower engagement rate is 58 times higher than Facebook’s and 120 times higher than Twitter’s First free email service started in 1996, with Hotmail. 89 percent of all emails sent are spam, majority of them from pharmaceutical companies.

Marathon runner gets lost

Florida marathon runner Melissa Kitcher got lost and ended up six to seven miles off course — with no phone. She went missing for nearly 12 hours after running off the trail during the Trail Hog Half-Marathon at the Carlton Reserve near Venice in Sarasota County, Florida. Kitcher said there was no marking to indicate or properly direct her. She ended running over 16 miles before the park’s department located her in the reserve about 7:30 p.m.

February 2017

Airlines

SEARCHING

Airlines Emergency Cinema Beauty

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

February 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 Emergency Cinema Beauty Health Clubs Hotel & Hotel Apartments Retail Sports Travel & Tour Operators Eat 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 Laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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 Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 24487777 Future Health Club .........................24600030 24600030 Grand Hyatt Club Olympus ...........24641234 24641234 Golden Tulip ....................................24510300 24510300 Hammer Gym .................................24483399 24483399 Horizon Fitness Center ..................24571337 24571337 InterContinental Muscat ...............24680000 24680000 Muscat Holiday Inn ........................24487123 24487123 Samaa Health Club .........................24694892 24694892 Qurum Beach Resort Hotel ...........24605945 24605945 Crowne Plaza Salalah .....................23235333 23235333 Hilton Salalah ..................................23211234 23211234 Sohar Beach Resort.........................26841111 Resort 26841111 Sky Club, Park Inn ..........................24507888 24507888 GYM, MRM .....................................26871555 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

February 2017

Sports Basketball

Oman Basketball Association .... 24796780

Boating

SEARCHING

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 Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shatti Complex ....... 24692113 Khimji Megastore........................ 24708075 Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540222 Sabco Center .............................. 24562761

Muscat City Centre

Muscat Grand Mall

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

February 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

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

SEARCHING

Travel & Tour Operators

February 2017

Faces Strip Adverts 1.pdf 1 25/01/2016 17:53:34

CMY

SEARCHING

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

February 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

6 SEARCHING

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

February 2017

Far Eastern

SEARCHING

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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

February 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

February 2017

SEARCHING

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

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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

SEARCHING

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 .......................................... 24487777 Olivos.......................................... 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

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

February 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!

10 SEARCHING

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

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

February 2017