FACES Issue No. 117

Issue 117, October 2016

The Art of

Manliness

Fight Like

A Man

Get

Fighting Fit Brunch at

Copper Restaurant Simply scan this QR code with your smartphone and see the FACES website online

Qasimi:

Middle East Meets West WATCH FACES COME ALIVE. FOR INSTRUCTION TURN TO PAGE 11

Issue 117, October 2016

Family Attitude Class Entertainment Success

Editor’s Note Men…

Chief Executive Officer / Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Business Director / Sophia Raman Editorial Consultant / Suzy Fontes Art Director / Pushpender K. Sharma Head of Advertising & Marketing / Aziz K. Baker Operations / M.V.V. Sagar

‘Qasimi’, n the fashio house of established fashion i, has designer d Al Qasm Sheikh Khali a celebrity and n many ed of fashio dress red the world nuances, has inspi le Eastern with Midd t the designer’s roots In which reflec bouring Sharjah. in the neigh e-interview with to ing t his plans the follow abou talks the FACES he wear and es women’s re-launch he experienc shift that paradigm menswear. in designing start ibe your d you descr and the try How woul indus on label in the fashi success of your t subsequen ‘Qasimi’? enough to be able ht out I was lucky brand straig is to start my and its success put in of university the hard work I out to testament some time n. I took any a few each seaso the comp time to restructureThis gave me the ago. ns seaso decide which to really I got and room it to go in; I wanted the tion rve direc obse rtunity to really the oppo der’ and as an ‘outsi d the brand to try indus I wante age analyse what what our mess and represent

WH ER QAS E I ME MIDMI: ETS DL WE E EA ST ST

Chairman & Editor-in-Chief / Mohammed Issa Al Zedjali

MENSWEAR QASIMI SS17

AGE Centre ST

Founder / Essa Bin Mohammed Al Zedjali

We have raised the platform and laid the canvas, so to say, to take a shot at the fighting spirit that defines most men - whether instinctive or learned, men, are, generally known to live up to the ‘fight it out’ expression.

Our cover story explores the broad concept of ‘fight’ on a martial arts platform.

It is a tribute to the spirit of fight that men, seemingly, nurture all their lives, dropping their guard in confrontational situations.

Featuring experts and champions from the field of kickboxing, the cover story throws the spotlight on men who are inspired by fights, albeit in a ring. They may have been spurred by health and fitness to take up martial arts, but it is the adrenalinepumping experience in the ring and the mental development through disciplined practice that has won them over to this sport. ion Emirati fash Sheikh designer imi lid Al Qas

Kha tecture ut the est in archi talks abo Is your inter your fashion in of reflected assimilation works? re is tern architectu n Middle Eas Studying cle of desig ve the pinna ents in his and I belie elem ation educ the from it. a lot stems at works and look s of I alway as a challenges the body and within landscape the operating g meters highlightin n creative paraswear constructio my men is key in to design work.

was.

42

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

Contact Telephone +968 24498722 Email - Editorial editor@facesoman.com

October

2016

Sheikh Khalid

i

Al Qasim

This issue of FACES is for men who make life and living exciting. It is packed with stories and feature articles that will explore the world of men: from automobiles and gadgets to fashion and modern elements of lifestyle. In keeping with the interests of young and trendy men, our pages capture what best appeals to masculine needs, including the metrosexual urge for personal care and grooming.

Enjoy!

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‘FACES Magazine, Oman’

Copyright 2016 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.

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Contents FACES Features 14 Cover Story

Men are not categorically confrontational, but in the biological scheme of things, the male primal instinct to fight it out out is distinctly evinced in mixed martial arts

20 In Conversation

Muscat Hills’ Director of Golf, Ray Stopforth, shares his hopes of putting Oman on the world golfing map

42 Centre Stage

Emirati fashion designer Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi talks about the assimilation of Middle Eastern elements in his works and the challenges of operating within creative parameters to design menswear

22 In The Spotlight

‘The Melody of Beauty’ exhibition brings together an array of Omani artist Raya Al Manji’s extraordinary works, which she has created over the past few years

24 Feast On

Copper Restaurant - on Qurum’s PDO road, has been wowing diners from all walks of life with its peppy décor concepts and Asian influenced food

FACES Health 28 Health Check Breast cancer in men is rare, but it does happen

FACES Travel

36 Explore Oman

Bring out your trekking shoes and stretch those summer lazy muscles to explore exciting new trekking routes in the popular Jabal Akhdar mountain range

38 Just Travel

Taking a cue from National Geographic’s ultimate road trips, we present a roundup of interesting destinations to appease your itinerant spirit

FACES Style 32 In The Luxe

A quick peek at some of the uber luxurious timepieces from top watch manufacturers around the world to rekindle that bond

40 Look Good

Calling all men…get on the grooming bandwagon with a host of skin care products from cosmetic manufacturers around the world

44 Style File -

Fall-winter with Mango Winter collection from Max Black by Splash

FACES Elements 54 At Home

With winter finally making a hesitant entry, it is time to bring out the deck chairs and enjoy the weather on your porch

56 Relatively Speaking Find out how you could make little adjustments to make your retirement years happy and healthy

58 Man Date

Take the quiz and find out your manliness quotient

FACES SPECIAL 50 Men’s Special

Appease your style gods with accessories that are distinctly male in their appeal and trendy in their approach

FACES Razzmatazz 10 Star Light

American actor, filmmaker, director, and producer, Denzel Washington, has another winner on his hands, with his upcoming ‘Fences’ expected to earn him his third Oscar

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

66 Gadget Notes Roundup of new gadgets in the market

SalamAir Debuts its Brand Identity Capturing the essence of Oman and demonstrating its commitment to the future of aviation industry, SalamAir, Oman’s first budget airline, revealed its brand identity at a formal event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Asad Al Said, Assistant Secretary General for Communications and Branding at The Research Council. Inspired by the soul of Oman and its people, the airline’s promise of ‘Always Welcome’ encapsulates its customerfocused philosophy whereas the logo pays tribute to the Sultanate’s diverse architectural forms. The brand colours, derived from Oman’s picturesque landscapes, mirror the tones of the sea and lush flora and fauna. The debut was attended by representatives of ASAAS and SalamAir as well government officials, shareholders, members of the travel and tourism industry and media.

Sheraton Oman Reopens Muscat’s towering landmark, Sheraton Oman Hotel, was formally reopened earlier this month at a glittering function. The opening, announced

by Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, comes after a transformative renovation of its guestrooms, public spaces and food and beverage offerings. Owned by Al Hashar Hotels LLC, under the umbrella of Al Hashar Group, and in association with Twenty14 Holdings, the 230-room hotel has been a landmark in Muscat for over three decades, ensuring that guests can experience more in the heart of the city. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Al Muhannad Al Hashar said, “Sheraton Oman, the tallest building in the country, has played a key role in shaping the hospitality sector in Oman since it first started business in 1985.”

Showcasing interiors with distinctive touches of Omani culture, all rooms are outfitted with the Sheraton brand’s signature amenities and services, including the Sheraton Signature Sleep Experience.

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Opens Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, described as Middle East’s highest five-star resort, opened its doors recently. Perched 2,000 metres above sea level on the curving rim of a great canyon, the luxurious resort beckons the discerning and intrepid traveller with an array of inspirational experiences, immersing them in the rich culture, history and adventure that is on offer in this extraordinary corner of Oman. A total of 115 luxury guest rooms and villas overlook either the dramatic canyon or tranquil gardens. The resort’s 82 Premier and Deluxe Rooms boast a spacious bedroom, amongst the largest in the country, and a spa-like bathroom complete with a rain shower and separate bath alongside a balcony. The 33 one- or two-bedroom villas grant guests an intimate escape, each with personal villa host services and a private infinity pool overlooking the cliffs or hidden in an exotic garden.

Semsom opens at Shatti Al Qurum Popular Lebanese cuisine restaurant Semsom has opened the doors of its second casual dining haven at Shatti Al Qurum. Semsom, meaning ‘sesame’ in Arabic, is known for serving authentic Lebanese delicacies with a vibrant and healthy twist.

Strategically located near Shatti Cinema the new Semsom restaurant is easily accessible, and is in close proximity to the Shatti beach. It is a sit-down restaurant with a warm décor, well-spaced tables, professional service, and a lovely outdoor area, perfect for a leisurely family meal or an informal tête-à-tête with friends.

Similar to the branch at MGM - Semsom’s Shatti Al Qurum branch has stylish interiors that coexist in perfect harmony with classic memorabilia, reminiscent of the history and culture of Lebanon. For those who seek a gastronomic adventure, Semsom has an assortment of signature dishes that add a modern spin to wellknown classics. Exotic spices like sumac, thyme and rosemary, add a twist to the traditional hummus.

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October 2016

Oman Air Awards Loyalty After the successful

Charming Charlie Opens at MGM Charming Charlie, the rapidly growing women’s contemporary jewellery and accessory retailer, has opened in Muscat Grand Mall. The store was officially inaugurated by Ann Mason, Economic and Commercial Officer of the United States Embassy in Muscat and media personality, Ibtihal Zadjali. Known for carrying a wide array of accessible fashion accessories merchandised by colour, the Charming Charlie store in Oman offers a full range of products, including fashion jewellery, handbags, apparel, small leather goods, scarves, watches, sunglasses, a special occasion collection, and more. Each location showcases the brand’s newest retail concept with signature double doors in vibrant pink lacquer and a residential-style interior that mixes feminine, midcentury accents with luxe materials and whimsical details.

introduction of the National Day fares to Salalah and Khasab, with discounts up to 50 percent on specific flights and dates, Oman Air has announced the introduction of the new ‘Flight Pass’ prepurchase offer. With this new offer, regular travellers between Khasab and Muscat and Salalah and Muscat will be able to pre-purchase an online booklet of 5 to 10 travel vouchers at discounts of up to 30 percent off the standard fare for travel in specific booking classes, without further restrictions. The booklets can be purchased via the Oman Air web site from November 18, 2016 for travel anytime starting in December 2016.

Grand Millennium Muscat welcomes first guests Designed as a tribute to the rich culture and heritage of the Sultanate, the 5 Star Grand Millennium Muscat has begun welcoming guests to the newest hotel in Oman. Centrally located in Bausher and seamlessly connected to Muscat Grand Mall, the hotel offers a world of possibilities and entertainment options for both local residents and visitors to Oman. The seven-floor Grand Millennium Muscat offers a mix of 296 Classic Rooms, Club Rooms, Royal Suites and Executive Suites, which are complemented by 32 spacious apartments, six of which boost private outside terrace and swimming pools. The sixth and seventh floors are dedicated executive floors including an exclusive ‘Business Lounge’ on the seventh floor with panoramic views across the city. For fun and relaxation, a rooftop swimming pool area offers stunning views of Muscat, while a separate ladies pool offers assured privacy for women and their young children.

Caramel Restaurant & Lounge Oman’s hospitality scene is set to receive a boost with the opening of Caramel Restaurant & Lounge – Muscat. The upscale dining and entertainment lounge from UAE based Caramel Group will be located at the Opera Galleria and will offer patrons the latest American contemporary cuisine and a creative combination of global favourites. The establishment will also offer a full range of beverages with the resident DJ setting the scene with sophisticated and eclectic beats. The Lounge will embody the signature style and chic décor characteristic of the Caramel Group. Including both terrace and indoor seating options, set within the luxurious Opera Galleria Muscat, the restaurant-lounge is expected to become the capital’s go-to venue for tantalizing dining and entertainment.

Caramel Restaurant & Lounge – Muscat will open its doors to the public next month with a grand opening expected before the end of the year.

8

October 2016

T

he recent release of ‘Fences’ trailer, which is set to hit the screens this Christmas, has won rave reviews from both critics and fans of the charismatic star, who feel Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is set to receive his third Oscar with the film. The American-Canadian drama film, directed by Washington and written by August Wilson - based on his play of the same name - stars Washington and Viola Davis, among others.

Washington is a recipient of three Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy: Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film ‘Glory’ (1989) and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller ‘Training Day (2001).

Fans would remember that the actor has been receiving critical acclaim for his film work since the 1980s.

Most prominent among them are his portrayals of real-life figures such as South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in ‘Cry Freedom’, Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X in ‘Malcolm X’, boxer Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter in ‘The Hurricane’, football coach Herman Boone in ‘Remember the Titans’, poet and educator Melvin B. Tolson in ‘The Great Debaters’, and drug kingpin Frank Lucas in ‘American Gangster’.

The forthcoming film, ‘Fences’, set in 1950s Pittsburgh, tells the story of an African-American father, a former league baseball player, who is struggling with race relations in the United States, while trying to

10

October 2016

Denzel Hayes Washington American actor, filmmaker, director, and producer, Denzel Washington, has another winner on his hands, with his upcoming ‘Fences’ expected to earn him his third Oscar raise his family and coming to terms with the events of his life.

Washington has also been a featured actor in the films produced

by Jerry Bruckheimer and has been a frequent collaborator of directors Spike Lee and the late Tony Scott. In 2016, Washington was selected as the recipient for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards.

He has, apparently, dreamed big and followed it through, which comes out vividly in his popular advice: ‘Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big, but remember, dreams without goals, are just dreams. And they ultimately fuel disappointment... I try to give myself a goal every day, sometimes it’s just not to curse somebody out.’

Born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York, Denzel Washington is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr. After graduating from high school, Denzel enrolled at Fordham University for a career in journalism. However, things turned out differently after a stint in student drama productions.

Following graduation, he moved to San Francisco and enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater, but gave it up after a year as he was aching to seek work as an actor. His first paid acting role was in a summer stock theater stage production in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, but it was the big screen that was beckoning.

It was in 1981 that he made his first big screen appearance in ‘Carbon Copy’ with George Segal and, within a year, got a major career break when he starred as Dr. Phillip Chandler in NBC’s television hospital drama ‘St. Elsewhere’.

Washington, who lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Pauletta and their four children, has, indeed, savoured success on all fronts - as actor, filmmaker, director and producer. But he is not ready to retire yet; for, he says, he’d be more frightened of not using whatever abilities he has been given. “I’d be more frightened by procrastination and laziness…”

Katie Price and Kieran Hayler to renew wedding vows Just when rumour mills were strongly hinting at an imminent breakup between Katie Price and her husband Kieran Hayler, the two have announced their plans to renew their wedding vows for the third time. They went on a ‘belated honeymoon’ to Barbados for a ‘make or break’ time, after mother-of-five Katie revealed the marriage was under strain from her book tour, which had opened ‘old wounds’. Katie, 38, was staying with her husband Kieran at a luxury hotel while they try to fix their marriage.

Matthew Perry is a Batman fan Friends star Mathew Perry is candid about Kendall Jenner testifies against alleged stalker ‘I’ve never been so scared in my life’, Kendall Jenner told the jury, at the trial of her accused stalker, Shavaughn McKenzie. The 20-year-old model described to the jury how she felt when she saw McKenzie outside her Hollywood Hills home. “I was literally traumatised… It has definitely put me even more on edge. I definitely don’t feel safe in my own house anymore,” she said. McKenzie was arrested outside her home in August and charged with misdemeanour stalking and trespassing. Jenner said that she first noticed the man parked outside of her home and that he somehow followed her into her gated driveway and banged on the window of her car after she pulled up to her house.

his admiration for the DC Comics hero, Batman. He admitted on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he has a room completely devoted to the Gotham City protagonist in his $8.65 million Hollywood home. “I have had the Batman room, sir, for about three years to four years,” he told. He is into Christian Bale’s version of Batman the most. “I’m an insomniac, so in the middle of the night, I just go on eBay and buy all this Batman stuff and just throw it in a room. But, I want to point out, it’s not dorky. It’s actually a cool Batman room,” he said.

Jaden Smith: I Used to Be a Vampire!

Jaden Smith did his best to demonstrate his bizarre celeb offspring bit at a sit down interview with France’s ‘Numéro’ magazine. “During a period of my life, I was Gothic,” Jaden said. “I was only wearing black and I was hiding from the sun because I was a vampire…for real,” he claimed. “I could not expose myself to the sun, and I was only wearing black trench coats.” He’s not a vampire, anymore, though – “I open myself up to wear brighter things,” he said, and claimed that he’s no longer a vampire. “I go out in daylight. I share much more mixed energy.”

Beyonce and Jay Z are planning to adopt?

Right, Beyonce is not pregnant, but she and husband Jay Z are planning to expand their family in the near future, say sources. According to an entertainment magazine, Beyonce and Jay Z are serious about adopting a sibling for Blue Ivy. “They always planned on having more than one child, and they don’t want a huge age gap between Blue Ivy and the baby,” said a source.

12

October 2016

Tittle

a

“To anyone who’s ever felt like they are different or don’t fit in, I want you to take that as a victory and know you are not alone.

I want to send love into the universe because we desperately need it.”

- Miley Cyrus at Variety’s Power of Women Luncheon in Los Angeles

“It’s been interesting… It’s been a good year. And sad. Pros and cons.”

- Emma Stone talks about spending the last year single

“That was an extremely rare kinda thing that isn’t likely to happen very often in anyone’s life, that’s a one-in-a-billion situation, so you don’t want to go through life expecting one-in-a-billion things to happen to you all the time…”

- John Legend says friend Kim Kardashian’s robbery was a one-in-a-billion situation

“It was an honor to be able to work with Staples and DonorsChoose.org again this year, and I am delighted that our efforts have helped pave the way for students to realise their dreams.”

- Katy Perry, while presenting scholarships at Staples for Students Celebration

Venus Williams: “I think all lives matter, so...

I can’t really comment.”

Laila Ali: “Yes, Black lives matter. Yes, white lives matter, Asian lives matter.

All lives matter. And that’s kind of what my focus is…”

- Venus Williams and Laila Ali admit that they don’t support the #BlackLivesMatter movement October 2016

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cover STORY

FIGHT like a MAN

Men are not categorically confrontational, but in the biological scheme of things, the male primal instinct to fight it out is distinctly evinced in mixed martial arts competitions, which are described as adrenaline pumping experiences that target both the mind and the body



B

orrowing a cue or two from the ‘fight like a man’ adage that is thrown at even young boys when faced with confrontational situations, this cover story treads along the martial arts zone to present a candid look at the seemingly macho ‘fighting spirit’, which bears as much relevance today as it did in the cave-dwelling days.

While the present day man is not, literally pushed into everyday situations that call him to fight it out or demonstrate his manliness on a fair fighting ground, the primal instinct to mentally keep the claws sharpened and the body prepped for a fight is, apparently, waiting to surface and find an avenue to give the energy boost a right platform.

Whether indulging in games that are stereotypically seen as men’s domain, say like soccer, or engaging in fitness activities that are defined by fighting, like kickboxing, the bottom-line is that men have a penchant for all things action. That is, of course, not to take away from women their love for sports of all kinds and their inclination to try mixed martial arts, but the focus here is on men who demonstrate a spontaneous need to gear up for a fight and enjoy the adrenaline rush that spreads from the sparring ring to their everyday affairs; permeating their lives with maturity and confidence in handling situations.

As Baqar Haider, President of Oman Fighting Championship (OFC) and Coach and Founder of Oman Kickboxing Club (OKC), states, “It is very disciplining…”

Explaining it further, he says, “As men, we want to channelize our energies, though not necessarily through aggression.

Martial arts helps do

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October 2016

Baqar Haider

cover STORY

that. And, I believe, if this energy is not channelized, it could open up avenues for unhealthy habits or antisocial activities. It is all about taking advantage of the health and social benefits.”

The general consensus that it is a man’s game is rarely, if ever, challenged. But for Jessica Hern, ladies coach at OKC, that stereotype does not take away from women their desire to spar and demonstrate their keenness to jump into the ring, given an opportunity.

She, however, concedes that the level of aggression differs. “For example, after we (in ladies only class) have sparred, we are quick to ask ‘are you ok?’ - while men are like,‘whatever’…” she quips.

For Hamood Ali Tuhami, winner of the first Oman Fighting Championship, the element of respect for the game and for people involved in it overrides the stereotypes of machismo. “When I joined the club, I was, initially, driven by the notion that it is a man’s sport.

But I have to admit that it also helped me feel confident, be gentle with people and respect anyone who tries this game - because it is not easy at all,” he says.

But when it comes to a sparring event, it is all about relying on the mental strength that the sport imparts, states Fayyad Samara, fight coordinator of

OFC. “In these kinds of sports, more than the amount of exercises you do, it is the pressure of performing, especially the mental stress while facing the public at a show, which demands you to be extra prepared. Mentally stronger, so to say,” he stresses.

Reiterating similar sentiments, Nidhal Aouali, Assistant Coach at OKC explains: “Kickboxing and martial arts, in general, doesn’t stop at the point where you kick and punch and learn how to defend yourself or how to protect yourself or be physical when the situation forces you to; it is as much about training the mind and helping yourself, knowing your abilities and what you are physically capable of doing. It is also knowing what that physical capacity will allow you to do that boosts your confidence, your self esteem and helps you look at the situation from a more mature stand and take a more consequences-oriented decision.”

The following is a blow-by-blow account (rather qualified takes from experts), of the fighting spirit that is celebrated by men on a martial arts platform. It brings to fore the planetary inferences that men are, indeed, different from women in the way they perceive and handle things, more so in their masculine manifestations of strength and energy.

Jessica Hern

October 2016

15

cover STORY

Fighting Fit

The training done through martial arts, boxing and kickboxing is well documented as the best form of full body exercise,” says Baqar Haider who got hooked on to martial arts as a young teen. He has been training for more than two decades, having taken to coaching in the last ten years. “We train for self-defence,” he states, hastening to add that it is the sporting element, which, in fact, acts as a big draw. You are getting into the ring knowing that’s what is going to happen – that is the element of the sport,” he says.

He is, however, concerned about parents wanting to get their children into martial arts. “Parents may want their kids to be stronger and handle themselves. But at the age of 8 or 9 a kid should not be thinking about these things. If you want your kid to be active, get them outdoors. Even if the issue is of raising their confidence, fighting

should not be the platform at that age,” he states, adding that the best option is to move towards other, less aggressive, sports. The minimum age for kickboxing at OKC is 15 years – there is no upper limit, as the oldest trainer is 75 years old!

OKC has been in operation for over six years. The OFC was set up as a separate federation with The Agency Design and Promo Works, involving all the local clubs, with the intention of hosting fighting events, which didn’t exist in Oman, prior to 2015 championship.

The OFC events, says Baqar, are “platforms to promote local fighters.” The main objective was to create a local avenue to showcase the fighting talents here.

“In the past we were going to Dubai and winning titles, but not all fighters had the support and the infrastructure to travel,” he states, emphasising that the OFC is a completely private, non-profit outfit and it is not associated with the Ministry of Sports or the Olympic Committee. However, since OFC acts as an event company, the championships are executed through it; but are, however, sanctioned by the WKBF (World Kick Boxing Federation). The pool of local fighters here has yet to grow, but the number of enthusiasts training at the club is quite impressive. Their level of potential is good, maintains Baqar, pointing out that the mainstream clubs – OKC, RX Gym, 3Mac, Blue Sharks and the Rolling Gym – produce all the fighters with the experiences ranging from six months to six years.

“However, the sport is not as developed here as other GCC countries. It will take time... We are fully dedicated to do what it takes to put ourselves on the regional map. The focus of OKC now is to get a new venue and get some kind of recognition from the Ministry of Sports and the Olympic Committee. That’s our main objective. All of us have full time jobs and this is a hobby to promote sports, fight obesity and achieve a higher quality of life. I believe the country also can enjoy the socio-economic benefits from this. If Oman suddenly gets on the agenda for large international sporting events, hosting the events will help the country as well. It will also boost tourism,” he explains.

Coordinating Fights

It is all about training, maintains Fayyad Samara, OFC fight coordinator, pointing out that it helps increase stamina and endurance. “The training that the fighters go through before a fight is so brutal, it is close to a military training,” he adds.

As the fight coordinator, he follows up on the training of

16

October 2016

Fayyad Samara

cover STORY

different fighters from different clubs to match them up according to their background and experience. “We basically look at the weight, of course, and experience or the record of the fighter… The amount of pressure they are exposed to is unbelievable. So we have to match people who have close records,” he states.

According to him it is undeniably a men’s sport as fighting comes naturally to men. “Kickboxing is a healthy way of expressing our primal energy. The sport is expanding, with more youth joining the clubs; it is becoming popular as people look at it as a tool to defend themselves, keep fit and have fun. We have a lot of young people in the society and there is a lot of potential, as most of them are athletes. They have been newly introduced to boxing and kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts, and are enjoying it.

“We followed up with the pace of training for some of the Omani fighters from different clubs and we saw how they changed completely over a period of two to three months. They became different people – strong, physically and mentally as well. Once you train and watch others training you respect yourself and respect others; you will be stronger and you will try to continuously reach your goal,” he explains.

As far as actual fights are concerned, he places the stress on breathing and stamina. “You can be much stronger than your opponent but you may lose all your energy if you are not used to breathing properly or not having the proper stamina in a fight. I have seen many fights when someone is weaker than the other, but because the rounds keep going. the other person starts collapsing and it becomes a matter of will,” he points out.

Professional Fights

Nidhal Aouali, a professional fighter and assistant coach at OKC, ascribes the stereotyping of the sport as a male domain to the aggresion involved in it.

“Martial arts has always been promoted as a manly sport...but when I started training, I found out that it is only in the head. Yeah, it is only a notion. When the adrenaline starts rushing in your body and the testosterone is pumping your veins, you feel the manly part; but if you approach it from a sports angle, it is the benefits you will be counting. What you can learn and improve by doing these kinds of stuff is really good,” he opines.

As one of the first few professional fighters who represented Oman in Dubai, he sees kickboxing as an extension of his passion for sports. Having been raised on a sports diet, he was forced to seek out opportunities to fuel his love for sports, and OKC proved to be a perfect ground. He gave it a try with his friend and found the training measures fitting in with his requirements. “We were looking to be in good shape, to look good, train fine, feel fine, feel fit…and that is exactly what it gave us. Kickboxing changed my approach itself for training,” he states.

With every passing phase he got more motivated and involved in the sport and has since done three professional fights, the last one was the Middle East Championship, a year or so ago. Plans are on to have a fight with titleholders in other federations in Dubai, early next year. “When that happens you will see me on the fight card!” he quips.

Nidhal Aouali

October 2016

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Punch Line

Jessica, another volunteer at OKC and OFC, admits that the perception that kickboxing is a man’s sport made her wonder, initially, if she would be up for it, as she had never ventured into cardio exercises “never really been hit,” she quips.

But once she learnt the ropes of the sport (boxing, kickboxing and also Muay Thai), what began as a weight loss initiative turned into a sparring

exercise in the ring. And she is not alone... According to her, all the ladies learning kickboxing want to savour the energy boost while sparring in a ring. “I think the girls want to do the same things as guys,” she muses.

routinely spar in mixed classes and Jessica, having, reached the coaching stage, spars even with advanced men.

The general preference is, of course, to spar with women, as they are more equal on a variety of counts.

The ladies only classes handled by Jessica, targets local Omani women who are more comfortable working out and sparring with other women.

But there is no limiting the options for sparring, as men and women

She is, however, not willing to classify it as a purely men’s sport and believes the difference lies in the approach women take. “May be a lot of women use it as a confidence building measure - to feel a little stronger and more powerful. Maybe they enjoy that more as opposed to the need to hurt someone or be aggressive. The feeling of power and strength you get from defending yourself is a great attraction,” she states.

Fighting Champions Hamood Ali Tuhami

It was weight loss quest that got Hamood Ali Tuhami interested in kickboxing in 2011, and he did lose more than 20 kilogrammes; but it was the passion for the game that got him hooked to continue and explore the opportunities to fight in competitions in the neighbouring Dubai.

Recalling his victory in the first Oman Fighting Championship in 2015, he points out that it was all about preparation. “I prepared really hard. We had a really good team; we had a good programme, which helped,” he contends.

But he admits that it required more than physical training, as the pressure of winning was hanging heavily on him – and he aced it, thanks to the coaches and friends who supported him. “It is not just about the physical elements; it is very important for mental development too,” he says.

“There are safety gears - guards and gloves - so no one gets injured while training,” he adds.

Calling it a sport, as members never use the fight tactics anywhere except in the ring, he maintains that he is not learning it to fight with anyone. He has been training in the sport for the last six years and has also started coaching others and has found his calling in training the new generation. “I always feel that the game is a challenge; it is a new challenge, a new style, a new movement… It helps me breathe better, sleep better and strengthens my body. It also helps me to work harder and be consistent,” he notes, pointing out that he practices regularly, even if it is to only do warm-ups.

He attributes his success to the coaching and training. “We are lucky to have someone like Baqar. He has developed the team and taught us all to be coaches as well,” he maintains.

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October 2016

cover STORY Vinod Kumar

A childhood passion for martial arts and a never-say-die attitude found an unlikely winner in Vinod Kumar, at the second Oman Fighting Championship, early this year.

Shy and unassuming, Vinod, who works as a mason at a construction company, says he is spurred by the power and strength wielded by the sport of kickboxing. It was his dedication to martial arts that made him seek out opportunities here to continue his school training. He chanced upon the OKC website during an online search with his friend, about two and a half year ago, and has since made time from his work and budgeted his salary to fit kickboxing in his schedule.

Vinod Kumar has, definitely, come a long way since his school days when he regularly practiced Wushu (a series of fighting styles, involving mixed martial arts, kickboxing, judo and taekwondo).

His newfound success in the local championship, following his victory in a Dubai fight a couple of years ago, has bolstered his hopes and strengthened his resolve to go places, literally and figuratively, in this sport. Top on that list is his quest to represent Oman in fights within the region and around the globe.

He credits his success to his coach, Baqar and a circle of friends, whose faith in his skills have propelled his kickboxing passion.

October 2016

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in CONVERSATION

Teeing up with

Ray Stopforth Muscat Hills’ Director of Golf, Ray Stopforth, shares his hopes of putting Oman on the world golfing map and reflects over his childhood dreams of playing professional golf

W

hether the traditional perception that golf is a ‘gentleman’s game’ holds true today or not, in Oman, where the first grassed course came about six years or so ago, it is very much a gentleman’s game. Even people helming the affairs of the golf courses are... Ray Stopforth, Director of Golf at Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club, is a perfect example.

Actively involved in the general management of the Golf Department at Muscat Hills, his main concern is to foster the game here, including growing the business and the game of golf locally, while also internationally raising awareness that Oman is a golfing destination. “It is exciting to see how golf has developed and grown in the Sultanate since we opened our golf course for general play in January 2010,” he states.

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October 2016

Muscat Hills Golf Course, which holds the distinction of being Oman’s first 18-hole grassed golf course, is gearing up to brighten the economic horizon of the country with a host of projects, including Phase 2 of the housing project, which just got completed. Explaining about the plans in the offing, Stopforth pointed out that Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club is going through a transition period with various projects in different stages of finishing, while continuing its efforts to grow the game of golf in the country at school and university level.

From a personal career perspective, he is currently studying through the Club Managers Association of Europe to achieve Club Managers Certification, which, he notes, is an achievement recognised worldwide. “I hope to accomplish my certification by the end of 2017, once I have attended the Club Managers Association of America, World Conference in Orlando in February 2017,” he adds.

His future plan is to continue working on growing Muscat Hills as a business and golfing venue, through the Golf Academy. And that means, “growing the game of golf in the Sultanate of

Oman at schools and universities getting the youth of the country involved at grass roots level,” he states.

The prospects are bright, he contends, as Muscat Hills, along with the Ministry of Tourism continues to promote Oman as a golfing destination internationally. Further, talking about the general expectations, he makes a note of the various projects, which are in different stages of finishing and starting, like the start of construction for the new Intercontinental Hotel at Muscat Hills. “The future at Muscat Hills golf course and housing estate looks very promising locally and internationally, promoting investors’ confidence in the country as an ITC project, which ticks all the boxes,” he states.

A proud family man, Stopforth and his wife became grandparents a year ago. “Our first grandson, Philip, is an absolute bundle of joy,” he states, adding, contentedly, that both his daughter and son have successful working careers.

in CONVERSATION

The home I grew up in…

Was loving…a close-knit family in a small town called Gwelo, in a country, which is now known as Zimbabwe.

When I was a child I wanted to…

Be a golfer and play as a professional all over the world. Part of that dream came true.

The moment that changed me forever...

Losing my mother at a very young age in a car accident and then my father, some years later, to illness.

My greatest inspirations in life…

My wife Brenda; my daughter Janine; and my son Warren.

My heroes…

Are my eldest brother Ian, my sister Shan and my youngest brother Mark, who sadly is not with us anymore. RIP. If I could change one thing about myself…

Being more patient in achieving set goals!

I dream of…

A future where family and friends are happy and content.

What I see when I look in the mirror…

A person who wants to make a difference in the chosen career.

It’s not fashionable but I like…

Old music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

My greatest regret…

Is not making the best of my chances in life when presented, which could have influenced the outcome of my future and my career.

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

Baking!

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

Cooking!

If I have time to myself…

I like to work out in the gym!

Up Close & Personal With

Ray Stopforth My house is…

My sanctuary; a private domain where I spend time relaxing with my wife!

My favourite haunt/holiday destination…

Singapore.

My favourite weekend spot in Oman…

Muscat Hills Golf Course!

Five things I like about Oman…

Golf, beaches, wadis, mountain range and the people.

A book that changed me…

‘The unwritten laws of business’

by W. J. King - Revision and Additions by James Skakoon.

On top of my wish/bucket list is…

Orlando, Florida, USA! My success mantra is…

Quality time with my family!

In 10 years’ time, I hope to be…

Healthy and happily retired, enjoying life!

October 2016

21

in the SPOTLIGHT

The Melody of Beauty ‘The Melody of Beauty’ exhibition brings together an array of Omani artist Raya Al Manji’s extraordinary works, which she has created over the past few years

‘The Melody of Beauty’, which opened earlier this month at Gallery Sarah, marks Omani artist, Raya Al Manji’s first solo exhibition. A highly realistic painter and an accomplished artist, Raya has been a member of The Omani Society of Fine Arts since 2002; a member of the Kuwait Fine Art Association since 2012 and a member of the Taiwan Artist Residency.

together like a beautiful melody.

Raya was the first Omani artist to participate in an international artist residency in Taiwan at the Taipei Treasure Hill Artist Village, she has also exhibited in various group exhibitions in Oman, Europe, Africa and South America and has an illustration published in the American book: ‘My Very Own World Adventure’ published by ‘I See Me! Inc. USA’.

Her focus revolves around still life of Omani objects as well as landscapes and figurative painting. These works reflect the influence of a rich culture of Omani heritage, a passion for fantasy and Raya’s appreciation for classical music. Using her unique vision and great draftsmanship Raya is able to use her skills to capture moments of the true beauty of Oman with vivid reality.

Located in the historical part of Old Muscat and part of the Bait Al Zubair Museum complex, Gallery Sarah is a unique contemporary art gallery, which opened its doors in 2013.

The gallery exhibits artworks including, but not limited to paintings, graphics, calligraphy, installations, sculpture and photography.

Apart from trying to create a strong connection between established and emerging Omani artists and

As a self-taught full time artist, expressing her vision of the world through paint is her primary goal. Her works reflect a harmony between the significance of her environment, nature and natural elements, as well as her ability to pull every detail of her stunning paintings

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October 2016

the international art world, Gallery Sarah also supports and has an appreciation for work by a wide variety of talented Arab artists from around the Gulf and international artists.

The Melody of Beauty will be on display from the 10th of October till the 2nd of November 2016 from 9.30am till 6pm, Saturday till Thursday at Gallery Sarah at Bait Al Zubair.

GET HOME SAFE

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

feast ON

The taste is in the

The reference, in the headline, is to the new hip urban restaurant – Copper Restaurant - on Qurum’s PDO road, which has been wowing diners from all walks of life with its peppy décor concepts and Asian influenced food

Y

ou know a restaurant has made a mark and has found its fan following when it is buzzing with action even during brunch time on a weekday. It was only 11 in the morning when we traced our way to the new ‘Copper Restaurant’ on the Sayh Al Malih Street in Qurum, but there was no semblance of a dull weekday in the comforting sound of happy guests, perky baristas, beaming attendants and the vibrant music floating in to greet us.

The

Mush

room

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October 2016

Copper

Restaurant may have opened its doors only in April this year, but it has found an immediate connect with young and hip diners who are, apparently, drawn in to its unrestrained interiors, the unconventional presentation of motorbikes and biking gear and the carefree abandonment in the copper ensembles and little touches of metallic fare in the décor elements. Be it the corrugated roof sheets lining the open kitchen counter or the copper blends on the ceiling. There are 15 different metals, from steel and copper to

burg e

r

Photographs: Pushpender Sharma

feast ON

Cape Malay Chicken

Ozzie Rissole’s

brass and zinc, quips Gregory McLean, who conceived the restaurant, a year ago, with his partner, bringing to fore his Australian leanings, his culinary expertise and his love for motorbikes in all things ‘Copper Restaurant’.

The youthful concept, creating a perfect blend of bikes, metals and wooden notes is designed to meet the aspirations of young and even older diners seeking to celebrate their tastes in a setting that is reflective of all things fun and happening. The décor, possibly inspired by Feng shui, creates right vibes and spreads the feel good factor in the taste of the food laid out on the table, the inspiring décor and the friendly mien of the staff manning the restaurant. As Gregory points out, the young team knows how to up the fun quotient and entice people to savour the food and also check out the clothing line from Totem, which occupies one segment of the restaurant.

Streams of light, reminiscent of a bike ride in the night, lead to the Totem logo from the Copper board on the right side of the restaurant.

There is comfort also in the little details that have been consciously heeded to make it a comfortable den for foodies and fashion lovers. The yearlong planning to put the restaurant together, from the time it was visualised during a beach outing, to location

hunting and re g i s t e r i n g of name, has borne fruit.

The focus is on casual dining and the stress is on relaxation with foods that are predominantly Asian influenced.

Although the menu is not elaborate, it has been designed to suit the palates of young diners who have a penchant for all things burgers, salads, coffees and juices. Come November and the menu will undergo a major modification, states Gregory, who has brought to Copper his long years of culinary expertise as a chef, in Australia as well as Oman.

The current menu is a pun lover’s delight, with items like ‘Golden Coppertunity’, ‘Avo Word’, and the like peppering the creatively designed menu.

We set up on our leisurely brunch with a fresh juice called ‘Carroting the Calories’ (blend of carrot, orange juice, kiwi and a kick of ginger with a slice of dehydrated kiwi adorning the top) and ‘Betsy Rose’ iced tea, packed with red berry and rose, lemon and dry hibiscus syrup.

Next on our list was ‘Ozzie Rissole’s’ with prawns, which look like fish cakes; the garlic and piri piri mayo bed add to the flavours, giving the dish a spicy kick, tempered with salads on the side. Taking our love for

all things prawns, we also tucked in to ‘Jumbo Prawns’, which are marinated with chilli garlic and presented with green salad. ‘Miso Salmon’ was another seafood item on our agenda.

It is served with wild mushrooms, which are divinely delicious.

It was the scrumptious ‘Cape Malay Chicken’ that won our votes on all counts – whether it is the presentation, the perfectly cooked tender pieces of chicken breasts, the sweet corn relish or the mango chutney. This is a musttry item if seafood does not suit your palate.

The ‘Mushroom burger’, which followed next, was a food craft for sure, with the onion rings creating an instant appeal. It is packed to satiate any levels of appetite with its size and variety. The burger features Portobello mushroom burger with onion rings, jalapeno, mayo and Parmesan. The sweet fries on the side are a delight, topped with honey or plain and crispy.

With the right kind of food and a warm urban-themed appeal, the Copper Restaurant has definitely arrived!

Miso Salmon

October 2016

25

let’s COOK

Chicken Mince Recipes

Simran Dhanju presents recipes using variations of chicken mince

Chicken Stuffed Marrow

Ingredients l 1kg marrow, medium sized l 500g chicken mince l 1 onion, medium, finely chopped l 2 cloves garlic, bruised and chopped l 1 inch piece ginger, finely chopped l 2-3tbsp flat leek parsley, finely chopped l 1 ½ cup fresh white bread crumbs (3 white bread slices) l 1 extra slice of white bread l 1tbsp parsley, extra, chopped l ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated finely l Salt and pepper to taste l 2 ½tbsp olive oil l 1 green chilli, finely chopped (optional) Method: 1 Wash marrows, wipe and cut them in half, lengthwise.

2 With a small spoon, scoop out flesh from the centre of each marrow to make the cavity for stuffing. Make sure to keep the edges of the marrow about 4mm thick.

3 Chop the scooped out flesh to use later.

4 In a large pan, heat 2 ½ tbsp. olive oil, add onion, garlic, ginger and green chilli; sauté for 2 minutes until onions become translucent.

Add the reserved chopped flesh and cook for 4-5 minutes.

5 Now add chicken mince and cook stirring in well to break lumps of chicken mince. Add breadcrumbs, parsley and mix them all together; season it well with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

6 Divide the chicken mix and stuff the marrow cavities. Grease large baking dish with extra olive oil; place all the stuffed marrows in it.

7 Blend the slice of bread to make breadcrumbs, add extra parsley, Parmesan cheese and give a quick blend. Sprinkle a spoonful on each marrow to cover the chicken stuffing. Drizzle little olive oil on top.

8 Now cover the baking dish with aluminium foil and bake in pre-heated oven at 240 degree Celsius for 25- 30 minutes. Remove the foil, uncover and bake further for 7-10 minutes to let the crumbs turn golden and crispy on top. Serve hot.

Tarragon Chicken Kebabs With Chilli Aioli Ingredients

For Kebabs: l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

500g chicken mince 2tbsp fresh tarragon leaves, chopped 1tbsp coriander leaves chopped 2tsp fennel powder ¾ cup fresh breadcrumbs 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped 2tbsp red bell pepper, finely chopped 1tsp garlic, minced 1tsp ginger, grated 1tbsp oil ½ cup dried tarragon leaves Salt and black pepper Oil for shallow frying 10-12 wooden skewers

For Chilli Aioli: l l l l l

2-3 green chillies ½ cup mayonnaise 1tbsp lemon juice ¼tsp salt 1 clove of garlic

For Garnish: l l l

1tsp red bell pepper, finely chopped 2 green chillies 1 lime

Method 1 2 3 4 5 6

In a bowl, add chicken, garlic, ginger, chilli, fresh tarragon and coriander leaves, breadcrumbs, fennel powder, red bell pepper, oil, salt and pepper. Mix them together well.

Divide the mixture into 10-12 equal portions. With wet hands, take each portion and form a ball; thread them on wooden skewers and shape them into kebabs. Repeat with rest of the portions.

Spread dried tarragon leaves on a plate; roll each kebab on the leaves to coat well.

In a shallow pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil, place 4-5 kebabs and cook on all sides on a medium flame turning them frequently for 5-6 minutes until cooked. Repeat with rest of the kebabs.

For aioli, put all the ingredients in a blender and blend well.

Serve hot kebabs with chilli aioli garnished with lime, chilli and red bell pepper.

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

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October 2016

Health CHECK

Breast Cancer in Men Breast cancer in men is rare, but it is not uncommon

M

ale breast cancer is very rare. According to statistics, less than one per cent of all breast cancer cases develop in men and only one in a thousand men will ever be diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola. Survival rates for men are about the same as for women with the same stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis. However, men are often diagnosed at a later stage, which could be because men are less likely than women to report symptoms, leading to delays in diagnosis.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men

Although the most common sign of breast cancer in men is a painless lump or thickening in the breast or chest area, any of the following changes in the breast or nipple can be a warning sign: l l l l l l

Lump, hard knot or thickening in the breast, chest or underarm area - usually painless.

Change in the size or shape of the breast.

Dimpling, puckering or redness of the skin of the breast.

Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple.

Pulling in of the nipple (inverted nipple) or other parts of the breast.

Discharge from the nipple.

These symptoms may also be signs of a benign breast condition. However, it is important to see a health care provider without delay, as some of these signs can be easier to notice in men since they have much less breast tissue compared to women.

Types of breast cancer in men

Most breast cancers, for both men and women, begin in the milk ducts of the breast (invasive ductal carcinomas, which means cells in or around the ducts begin to invade the surrounding tissue). Fewer than 2 per cent of breast cancers in men begin in the lobules of the breast (invasive lobular carcinoma).

Risk Factors l l l l l

Radiation exposure High levels of the hormone oestrogen Family history of breast cancer Age (most cases affect men over the age of 60) Obesity (a Body Mass Index of 30 or more)

Treatment

The treatments used for breast cancer in men are same as for women.

Treatment is decided by the stage (size) of the cancer and whether the cancer cells have receptors for particular hormones or biological therapies.

In most cases, surgery is used to remove the cancer, along with a section of the breast. This may be followed by a long-term course of hormone-blocking therapy using medication, usually a drug called Tamoxifen (it helps block the effects of hormones known to stimulate the growth of cancerous cells in breast tissue).

For men diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, the surgeon may remove some of the lymph nodes from the armpit or the surgeon may check the lymph nodes closest to the breast using a procedure called sentinel node biopsy.

In some cases, radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be used for the same purpose. Hormone therapy and Biological therapy are also seen as treatment options.

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October 2016

Dr. Ashik Sainu K.M, Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist and Medical Director of Al Raffah Hospital, answers frequently asked questions on gastroenterology

Could you explain gastroenterology in layman terms?

Very simply put, the field of Gastroenterology deals with all the organs in the digestive system and its diseases. So we are talking about everything that is involved when you eat or drink anything.

Starting from the oesophagus (or food pipe), to your stomach, small intestine, large intestine, colon and finally the rectum, we cover the whole digestive tract to start with. And let’s not forget some other critical organs as well, like the liver, biliary tract and the pancreas. So be it ‘too much’ food and drink, or ‘too little’, we have a variety of problems that come our way everyday.

When should a patient see a gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterology is a very vast field and since we cover so many organs and an important system in the body, we get a wide spectrum of cases as well. We get simple complaints like the common heartburn, food poisoning and diarrhoea, and complex ones like patients’ vomiting blood (hematemesis) or having blood in their stool. We often see cases of intestinal obstruction due to varying causes.

We also get a lot of cases of patients with ulcers in their intestines that cause pain and other problems. Another common case is gall bladder stones; patients who have this problem need to get them removed. Then, of course, we see a host of diseases associated with the liver, like hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis etc.

Also we diagnose and treat patients with infections and tumours of the liver and pancreas.

What are some of the common GI (gastrointestinal) problems?

When it comes to the most frequently seen cases, I must say it would be GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), which is the ubiquitous ‘heartburn’ that a lot of people constantly complain about. We also get a lot of gallstones and patients

with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) who have ulcers in their large intestine. Our Department also handles bleeders, where a patient is bleeding copiously from somewhere in the digestive tract.

What are the treatment options?

Treatment options vary with each diagnosis, of course. But to start with, we pay a lot of attention to the patient history. Then depending on the need, we may suggest imaging (CT, MRI, etc.), laboratory tests or different kinds of endoscopy, to arrive at a final diagnosis. An upper GI endoscopy is done if the patient is suffering from problems in the stomach and small intestine. A capsule endoscopy (where the patient swallows the capsule) is done when further imaging of the small intestine is needed. A colonoscopy is often recommended for issues in the large intestine. For complex cases involving the liver or pancreas, we usually resort to ERCP or EUS, which are highly complex procedures. If we feel the need to monitor the function of the GI system of a patient, we resort to Manometry and 24-hour PH-metry.

We have a wide array of tools to choose from, in order to meet the needs of each individual patient.

October 2016 Dr. Ashik Sainu

Health CHECK

GY

STROE A G

N

O R E LO T

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Healthy TIDINGS

Don’t stress and lose ‘good’ fats Stress could erase the benefits of eating ‘good’ fats, suggests a study. While it is known that certain fats - monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are better than others, and so branded ‘good’, their effect could simply be cancelled in the presence of stress. Researchers were aware that diet and stress can change inflammation in the body, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis; however, they wanted to examine the interaction between stress, diet, and inflammatory markers that they could measure in the bloodstream. They found that stress put ‘good’ fat breakfast on par with ‘bad’ fat breakfast…

Peanuts and eggs can lower allergy risks Babies fed peanut between 4-11 months of age and egg between the ages of 4-6 months may be at lower risk of developing allergies to these foods later on. Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly launches an attack in response to harmless proteins in certain foods, according to a recent study. This can lead to symptoms such as hives, eczema, itchy mouth, nausea and vomiting, and, in severe cases, anaphylactic shock, which can be life threatening.

A number of studies have suggested that early childhood exposure to allergenic foods may significantly reduce the risk of developing an allergy to these foods. Others, however, have identified no such link.

Anxious men ‘twice as likely to die from cancer’ Men who suffer from severe anxiety are more than twice

Fitness trackers promote weight loss?

Wearing an activity device that counts how many steps you have taken does not appear to improve the chances of losing weight, research suggests. The two-year long study included nearly 500 overweight volunteers who were asked to diet and exercise more. Half were given a fitness tracker to help them keep tabs. The latter group had lost less weight than the former one by the end of the trial. The study authors say this does not mean people should ditch the technology altogether, but neither should they put too much faith in them, at least as a slimming aid. Manufacturers, however, believe that the technology has moved on since the study, and that their own research suggests activity trackers can help with weight loss alongside diet and exercise regimes.

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October 2016

as likely to die from cancer as men who do not, a major new study has found. However, researchers found no such association between anxiety and cancer in women.

The study focused on general anxiety disorder (GAD), a common mental health condition characterised by uncontrollable worry, insomnia and restlessness that can be debilitating. While the investigation could not prove that anxiety causes cancer, experts have speculated that stress weakens the immune system. There is not yet an explanation as to why the association was not found in women. Over the 15-year period experts found men with GAD were twice as likely to die of cancer than those who did not have anxiety.

people, suggests a new research. In the study of more than 12,000 people, both intense activity and intense emotions each seemed to double the odds of suffering a heart attack in the next hour. That risk rose about threefold when people were upset and exerted themselves at the same time. Although it does not mean that everyone who gets angry will see a spike in their heart attack risks, researchers found that people were over two times more likely to suffer a heart attack in the hour after a bout of intense emotions or activity, versus the same hour a day before. In all, almost 14 per cent of study participants said they had exerted themselves in the hour before their heart attack symptoms arose. A similar number said they had been angry or upset.

healthy TIDINGS

Heart attack triggers Intense anger or heavy physical exertion may be triggers for a first heart attack in some

‘Mindful Eating’ can keep kids slim While most childhood obesity-prevention programmes focus on calorie counting and exercise, one medical expert is stressing on an approach called ‘mindful eating’. Mindful eating is a holistic way to approach healthy eating; it not only focuses on what foods we eat, but on how our bodies feel. Mindful eating focuses on positives, not negatives; it requires thinking about why you eat and when, says Dr. Lenna Liu, a paediatrician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She noted that hunger develops slowly, but the urge to eat due to emotions can occur suddenly and urgently. Learn to recognise the difference and to help your children to do the same, she suggested. Mindful eating is part of a healthy lifestyle that helps prevent obesity and its harmful health effects, she added.

High blood pressure may hike dementia risk High blood pressure, particularly in middle age, might open the door to dementia, which affects around 30 million to 40 million people worldwide. That number is expected to triple by 2050, as the world’s population ages and treatments remain elusive, says a study, which found that people with high blood pressure tend to have more dementia. High blood pressure has been described as the ‘worst possible thing for the brain’, as it damages the blood vessels in the brain and leads to hardening of the arteries; it then affects tiny blood vessels and the brain’s ability to control blood flow, which is essential to keep it working normally. However, the study also maintains that it has not been proven whether controlling high blood pressure reduces the odds of developing dementia.

Birth control linked to depression Taking hormonal birth control might be associated with an increased risk for depression, compared with those who don’t use contraception, says a new study.

Researchers tracked the health of more than 1 million Danish women between the ages of 15 and 34 over 14 years, using data from the National Prescription Register and the Psychiatric Central Research Register in Denmark. They found that the use of hormonal birth control was positively linked to a subsequent depression diagnosis and use of antidepressants. Among all hormonal birth control users in the study, there was a 40 per cent increased risk of depression after six months, compared to women who did not use hormonal birth control, the researchers found.

October 2016

31

in the luxe

WATCH this space ‘Watches are the only jewellery men can wear, unless you are Mr. T.’ - Gordon Bethune

Men and watches… There is an endearing bond that men share with this timeless piece of jewellery; one that cuts through all inhibitions against jewellery while manifesting an underlying desire to indulge the art of manliness with specific wrist wear.

Here’s a quick peek at some of the uber luxurious timepieces from top watch manufacturers around the world to rekindle that bond.

Big Bang with diamonds

The Hublot Big Bang is a diamond fiesta, with Hublot taking its quest to pack the timepiece with diamonds to an all-new level - embedding it with 1280 diamonds, to be precise. These include six stones that each weigh at least three carats. According to the company website, the manufacturer assigned 17 people to the project and it took them 14 months to finish creating the watch. Enhancing its glamour element is a little tidbit that American superstar Beyonce Knowles purchased one for her husband Jay-Z. Price: $5 million

Dedicated to Schumacher

Zeitwerk Minute Repeater

This is the first timepiece to feature a ‘decimal’ minute-reading mechanism, which sounds the time exactly as it is shown on the jumping numerals display. Following the opening of a new manufacturing facility, A. Lange & Sohne created this extra-special watch in the form of the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, which takes the concept into a more ‘collector’ direction, with its increased complexity and functionality.

Price: $467,700.

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The Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher is an extension of the long-standing relationship the watchmaker shares with legendary driver Michael Schumacher. It is a ground breaking mechanical chronograph that was developed at the request of the Formula One legend.

Described as a horological first, it features two central hands that can be repeatedly stopped, started and reset independently to allow continuous, accurate, consecutive timing of individual laps. The watch has a 44mm forged-carbon case with titanium and pink-gold detailing. According to the watchmaker, only 221 examples were made, reflecting the number of World Championship point-winning races in which Schumacher competed.

Price: $229,500

in the luxe It’s a Breguet From Bell & Ross

This new generation BR-X1 Tourbillon Mono-Pusher Chronograph is a limited edition magnum opus from Bell & Ross. It features an eye-catching column wheel movement, which displays the hours and minutes in the traditional way as well as a 4-day power reserve indicator. The Bell & Ross timepiece comes with a grade 5 titanium or 18-carat rose-gold case, measuring 45 mm; it also features double sapphire crystals. There is more…buyers who seek a touch of glitz and glam can have the bezel made with 46 baguette diamonds.

Price: $155,600

Breguet celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Breguet Tradition collection, last year, with Breguet Tradition 7087 Minute Repeater Tourbillon, which has been described as a marriage between the brand’s most historically significant complications and modern technologies. This striking timepiece isn’t just a minute repeater; there is also a 60-second tourbillon complication at 6 o’clock.

Its symphonic design has also been enhanced by digitally simulating nearly a hundred thousand different chime sounds and singling out those, which were deemed to carry the most pleasing psychoacoustic criteria.

Price: $463,000

Blue Moon

Once in a blue moon comes a watch like the ingenious Klepcys White Gold Blue Moon from Cyrus - a brand that was formed five years ago by cousins Laurent and Julien LeCamp. Named after the founder of the Persian empire, each Cyrus watch has an exact replica of a 2,500-year-old coin from the reign of Cyrus embedded in the case back. In the Klepcys White Gold Blue Moon, virtually every component of the dial revolves, including the three-dimensional, spherical moon.

For interested buyers, titanium-cased versions are also available.

Price: $129,600

On Sail…

Following the successful launch of women’s timepieces, Richard Mille has created RM 60-01 Regatta Flyback Chronograph, presenting his first navigation technical watch for men.

Created to mark the Voiles de SaintBarth regatta, of which Richard Mille is the main sponsor, the RM 60-01 includes a host of navigational features that determine the wearer’s position at sea, in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. It is equipped with a special locking system that prevents water entering through the chronograph push pieces, and the orange UTC hand can be used as both a second time-zone indicator and a compass pointer.

Price: $150,000

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Ahem…it’s the new

TIGUAN

From the busy Muscat roads to the stunning locales of Jabal Akhar, the new Tiguan personified its tagline - ‘Expect some attention’

I

t was more than ‘some’ attention that our SUV earned on our long test drive to the luxurious Alila Jabal Akhdar. We wore our unsuppressed smug expressions as we caught other road users giving our Tiguan a look over. For this first Volkswagen SUV, built on the stateof-the-art MQB platform, is an eyegrabber on all counts.

We got behind the wheel at the VW Showroom in Azaiba, following a briefing on the safety features of Tiguan from Andrew Squires, General Manager of Wattayah Motors. The new model is spacious, flexible and appealing, he pointed out, and we experienced it first hand from the word go.

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October 2016

The noontime traffic thinned as we crossed Burj Al Sahwa Roundabout, begging us to let our guard down. But of course… We soon got a feel of its safety standards with Drive Alert System and Adaptive Cruise Control; the magnificent beast demonstrated why driving the right vehicle is such a pleasure. Our drive took us straight to Bayt Al Ridaydah Castle, about 24kms from Nizwa, the first stop for the Tiguan cavalcade from Muscat.

It was a short break to swap drivers and give the muscles a stretch after the hour-long drive. But we found comfort behind the wheel and continued the drive until we reached the spectacular Alila Jabal Akdhar resort, which has a dramatic effect, whether you are a first-timer or a repeat visitor. The stone façade of the resort, featuring rocks and stones from the area, had a perfect welcoming effect on us.

Surprisingly though, there was no sign of driver fatigue, despite the long winding drive from the checkpoint at the base of the mountain. The photo opportunity along the road, probably added to the excitement of this beautiful destination,

take a SPIN whose cool climes well complement the natural scenic attractions.

We checked in at the resort and freshened up for the lavish dinner at Juniper, before retiring for the night, content in the knowledge that the return back on Tiguan would be as vibrant.

The new Tiguan lives up to its distinction as an all-rounder. It is the first sport utility vehicle from VW to be based on the modular transverse matrix and it sets new standards in design, comfort and functionality.

And, as we experienced, it remains capable off-road, with a rugged allwheel drive system that includes premium class technology for use on and off the highway.

With the 4MOTION Active Control, the Tiguan guarantees superior acceleration capability and tremendous driving fun in every situation and on every type of driving surface. It has individual tuning options

and the driving comfort can reach a new level, especially in conjunction with the optionally available adaptive chassis control (DCC).

The spacious interior is well complemented with generous boot space, making it convenient and practical for everyday use as well as weekend trips out of the city.

Added to the attractions of the SUV is the Active Info Display, a digital instrument cluster, which features a specific off-road profile.

Before our drive back to Muscat, following a heavy breakfast, we made time to explore the plains of Jabal Akhdar and savour the joys of driving the Tiguan afresh.

If test drives can be described as memorable, this one definitely was.

Photographs: Pushpender Sharma

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explore OMAN

Trekking season is here Bring out your trekking shoes and stretch those summer lazy muscles to explore exciting new trekking routes in the popular Jabal Akhdar mountain range

Jabal Akhdar, the popular summer destination, has several aces up its sleeves to make it a year round attraction, more so for trekkers seeking adrenaline-boosting experiences. In the wake of the development of a 7.5km long trekking path earlier this year, Alila Jabal Akhdar has introduced six new routes that take hikers on an adventure through Oman’s magnificent mountain landscape.

Interestingly, these routes are ideal for trekkers of all levels of fitness, providing access points to explore the surrounding areas on their own or with the expertise of a guide. All the trails are well marked, traversing through the stunning scenery of the mountain; it winds into the wadi and through canyons, caves, abandoned villages, farms and plantations. Alila has also opened its new Via Ferrata,

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October 2016

which goes through the canyon side.

Offering experiences to suit every taste, the trails include different levels of difficulty, whether it is the gentle three-hour hike, which most will find manageable, or the longer, more challenging routes that will satisfy and even challenge those with previous mountain hiking experience.

Mirage in the Mountains

This is a beautiful walk that takes you to the abandoned village of Sirab.

Once home to the original members

explore OMAN

through the rocky canyons to Masirat Al Jawamid, a remarkable abandoned village in Oman located at the bottom of the wadi. The trail continues to the top of some Bedouin steps that lead down to the gardens below, ending at the top of a jaw-dropping waterfall.

Many of these sights can also be experienced on The Donkey Trail, which starts at Aqbat Al Biyut, about a 40-minute drive from the resort. As its name suggests, it follows a well-marked donkey trail, covering 8.6km with even more stunning views across the valley.

Lost Village Hike

of the community, Sirab is said to have provided much inspiration for Alila Jabal Akhdar’s design. Keep a lookout for herds of goats and sheep that roam wild, while you make your way to Ali’s cave, which is a 60m deep pothole, featuring breathtaking formations, and also Wadi Tallah, a fresh wadi that gives guests a chance to enjoy a cool swim in its pools.

most stunning mountain scenery to the hidden village of Al Khutaymi located in a cave on the wadi floor.

Walk a little further and discover the best swimming pool in the Green Mountain.

This 7.5km Lost Village Hike starts at the small village of Mahaibis five minutes from the resort. Passing through the abandoned cave village of Al Khutaymi, the trail then drops dramatically by 600m to the beautiful plantations of Masirat Ash Shuraqiyn that lie below. Here, deep in the wadi, you can swim and refresh yourself in preparation for the uphill hike back

The Discovery Trail

The Discovery Trail starts from the nearby village of Hayl Al Hadab.

From there it heads deeper into the mountain backdrop taking you on a fairly gentle 8km hike, passing by two abandoned villages as well as a small but very picturesque dam, and Ali’s cave.

The Adventure Trek

This is a 4-hour guided trek down an easy via ferrata (iron road) that is sure to get one’s adrenaline pumping right from the start with a steep descent and the aid of climbing equipment.

The path then leads steadily down into the wadi, passing some of the

Aqbat Steps Trail

Trekkers looking for daylong trips should opt for the 5 to 7-hour routes, which are packed with spectacular sights along the way. One such leads from the Aqbat Steps Trail. Follow the trail down a steep slope, passing

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Just TRAVEL

Country

Roads…

Taking a cue from National Geographic’s ultimate road trips, we present a roundup of interesting destinations to appease your itinerant spirit Virginia-North Carolina

Ever had the urge to drive nonstop, without stopping at any traffic light or stop signs? If you answered yes, you would want to indulge your fancy driving along farms, fields and small town in this 469-mile road trip that spans two states. You will, of course, be forgiven for wanting to stop by and savour the visual delights on your way. The winding Blue Ridge Parkway opens up a panorama of ridge-tops, valleys and mountains as it links Waynesboro, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Mountains to Cherokee, North Carolina, in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Virginia-North Carolina

Morocco

Get set for a magic carpet ride on Morocco’s Atlas Mountain Road, which is designed to test your driving skills, with blind curves and guardrail-free lanes on the 117-mile route. The Tizi-n’Tichka Pass will make it all worth the while. Here the road climbs more than 6,000 feet from ancient Marrakech, over the High Atlas Mountains and back down to the desert oasis of Ouarzazate.

Watch out for goats, camels, mules and the rough road surface.

Morocco

Virginia-North Carolina

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October 2016

Romania

Experience adventure on Romania’s Transfagarasan Road, which is said to give chills-down-the-spine with its twists and drops. Winding between Romania’s two top peaks, this road reaches more than a mile high – traversing along the Arges River, rim of Vidraru Dam and the Vidraru Lake. This adventure called road trip will take you along the two-lane road, crossing 27 bridges and aqueducts, including an unlit, half-mile-long tunnel. To give a twist to your trip, you could stop by the ruins of 700-year-old Poenari Castle, Dracula›s onetime home atop some 1,480 stairs in the Arefu commune.

Chile-Argentina

If theme park rides excite you, the Trans-Andean Highway is the trip for you, with curves and turns, reminiscent of a rollercoaster ride, along the 226 miles of mountain passes between Santiago and Mendoza. And, at Christ the Redeemer International Pass, you will drive along nearly two-milelong tunnel, which cuts through the rugged mountains. The tunnel presents two totally separate ecosystems - while the Argentine

Just TRAVEL

Romania

China

the entrance, notes that the nearly mile-long tunnel took six years to dig using eight-pound hammers and steel drill rods. The twisting tunnel, which is 19-feet wide and 13-feet high, has a series of rough, open spaces that peer out to the sheer gorge below. side is desert, with rock formations in different colours, the Chilean side is a blanket of greenery. What is more, from the Argentine side of the tunnel you can catch a glimpse of the four-mile-high Mount Aconcagua.

China

A human marvel awaits you at Taihang Mountains in northeastern China, where the villagers of Guoliang had previously relied on a steep mountain trail, popularly referred to as ‘heaven ladder’. The Guoliang Tunnel Road, hand-carved by 12 local men, features an amazing recess that cuts through the mountain. The passageway, located in a remote corner of west Beijing, will take your breath away. A plaque placed at

New Zealand

Experience the drive of your life on New Zealand’s South Island, with wide roads (of Milford Road or Highway 94) that are, seemingly, made for speeding. But of course you will have to stick to the speed limit (62 miles an hour) even if the mountains and the river urge you to give in to your desire to speed. The winding drive from Queenstown, on Lake Wakatipu, will present a perfect opening to the glacier-carved Milford Sound, which Rudyard Kipling described as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. You will drive through rain forests, around the perpetually white-capped Ailsa Mountains, along the shores of Lake Te Anau

Chile-Argentine

New Zealand

October 2016

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look GOOD

Masked armour

Give your face a protective shield with Clarifying Clay Mask from Malin+Goetz. This deep cleansing and exfoliating mask is ideal for oil or acne prone skin. Packed with oil-absorbing kaolin clay (to help absorb excess oil and draw out impurities), powderlike pumice (to gently polish away dead skin), and witchhazel and arnica extract (for their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties), this poreminimising mask (10-minute) is created to keep your skin in the clear. It is non-irritating and suitable for all skin types.

Age control

Erase ageing signs and other skin damages with GOA Skincare’s Collagen Control Facial Serum, which can act as a multivitamin for your skin. The serum contains all natural active ingredients, including vitamin E, which is known to work on wrinkles, eliminating signs of tiredness, acne, puffiness and

deeper expression lines, while forming a protective moisture barrier on the skin. Whether it is wrinkles, pores or degradation of collagen, this serum could have a say on visible signs of ageing.

Brush up

When face cleaning demands an effective external aid, you may want to give Clinique For Men Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush a try. This dermatologist-developed tool comes with a purifying brush head with charcoal grey bristles that clean better than your hands; thanks to the head which features more than

9,000 sonic vibrations per minute.

It deploys two different kinds of charcoal-infused bristles to unclog pores and prep up your skin.

Shine bright

Enjoy a brighter smile with Intelliwhite Platinum Teeth Whitening System, which can erase stains with only a few swipes of the gel pen. The teeth whitening kit includes a Whitening Gel Pen, a Platinum Stain Eraser and a mouth guard to help hold back lips for easier application. It is convenient to use and is known to whiten teeth by 6 shades after 4 days and 8 shades after 7 days.

Shaving grace

That beard acting tough with you…?

Find a match with Panasonic Arc5 Electric Shaver, which has been described as a shower-friendly electric razor. Its five blades are set at 30-degree angles, with each one making 14,000 cuts per minute.

Groom and Clean

Calling all men…get on the grooming bandwagon with a host of skin care products from cosmetic manufacturers around the world 40

October 2016

lifestyle mantra Keep it trimmed

This one is for metrosexuals.

The remington Xr1410 Verso Wet & Dry Men’s Shaver &Trimmer is ideal for face, neck and chest trimming. The Verso’s threeblade head delivers a clean close shave and its trimming head works perfectly in clearing neckline or excess body hair. It comes with three brushes, each for a specific purpose: daily cleaning, deep cleansing and preshave scrub.

Clean pate

Get a clean head with headblade ATX, which fits comfortably in your fingers and is easy to use, unlike the conventional razors. The ATX All Terrain razor uses a new multi-blade technology and can prove equally effective in shaving face, body and legs.

Powder puff

It is ‘Gold’, it is strong, and it is medicated.

The Gold Bond Extra Strength Medicated Body Powder is unashamedly manly in its packaging and content. Designed to cool and relieve even the toughest skin irritation, by soothing, cooling and absorbing moisture, it ensures all that without taking away gentle qualities to make it an everyday product. You could use it after shower or exercise or even to enjoy its deodorant protection.

Face it

here’s a ‘recipe for Men’… An Energizing Bronze Cream to help if your complexion is pale, ashy or blotchy – all thanks to the regular shaving, dust and pollution in the air and even work/family stress. It will moisturise and even out your skin tone with a touch of self-tanner, giving you a natural glow and a healthy looking skin.

Hair care

A pAnt-shirt AffAir

By Sophia Raman MATChInG Or COnTrASTInG, WhICh ShIrT-PAnT COMBInATIOn WIll WOrk BEST FOr OFFICE…?

A pair of trousers and a shirt - that, basically, is the office gear for most men, unless an official meeting calls for the formal suit. The quintessential black pant and white shirt will, of course, do the trick, when you are in doubt; but, there is no reason to restrict your choice when a variety of colours, prints and fabrics can also have a big say on your perfect pant shirt combination. here are a few tried and tested styles to help you get started.

Colour, colour…

The first rule of matching your shirt with your pant is finding the right contrasts. A perfect contrast is one which balances between a light and a dark tone. The guideline is to either pair a light shaded shirt with a darker pant or a darker shirt with a light toned pant. light shirts could be in white, beige, sky blue or even baby pink. These could be complemented with darker trousers in chocolate, navy, camel or black colours. But if you want to wear a dark shirt, opt for shades like maroon, purple, and dark blue or black with the pant in beige, blue, cream, khaki or grey shade.

Checks & patterns

Checks and stripes will depend on your girth - bigger checks if you are slim and stripes if you are on the fatter side. If the patterned or checked shirt is in a lighter shade, pick one of the dark shades from the shirt and match your pant with that and vice versa.

fabric check

The fabric you choose also has a say on your shirt-pant combination. remember, denim shirts go perfectly with khakis and chinos. Plain shirts are best in linen fabric and you could wear it with linen or denim pants.

If the biggest lament of your grooming regimen is falling hair, check out Aveda Invati Men Exfoliating Shampoo & Scalp revitaliser, which works effectively (only when used together) to invigorate your scalp and encourage hair growth. It is a twostep system – begin by washing your hair with the Exfoliating shampoo and then apply the Scalp revitaliser when your hair is still damp.

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‘Qasimi’, the fashion house of established fashion designer Sheikh Khalid Al Qasmi, has dressed many a celebrity and has inspired the world of fashion with Middle Eastern nuances, which reflect the designer’s roots in the neighbouring Sharjah. In the following e-interview with FACES he talks about his plans to re-launch women’s wear and the paradigm shift that he experiences in designing menswear.

How would you describe your start in the fashion industry and the subsequent success of your label ‘Qasimi’?

I was lucky enough to be able to start my brand straight out of university and its success is testament to the hard work I put in each season. I took some time out to restructure the company a few seasons ago. This gave me the time and room to really decide which direction I wanted it to go in; I got the opportunity to observe the industry as an ‘outsider’ and really analyse what I wanted the brand to represent and what our message was.

WH ER QA E M M SIM EE ID I: TS DL WE E E ST AS T

Centre STAGE

QASIMI SS17 MENSWEAR

Emirati fashion designer Sheikh Is your interest in architecture Khalid Al Qasimi reflected in your fashion talks about the works?

Studying architecture is assimilation of the pinnacle of design Middle Eastern education and I believe a lot stems from it. elements in his I always look at works and the the body as a landscape and challenges of highlighting the operating within construction is key in my creative parameters work. to design menswear

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October 2016 Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi

You are known to incorporate Middle Eastern elements in your work. Tell us more about the concept of ‘Middle East Meets West’ in your design elements.

Shapes and silhouettes in the collection are intentionally referenced by Middle Eastern dress, while the choice of technical fabrics, voiles and drill cottons aren’t typically Middle Eastern and are more inspired by London.

You started off with the Qasimi women’s wear in 2008, before expanding into menswear in 2010.

Is ‘Qasimi’ today only about men’s wear? Tell us more about your brand.

With menswear I feel that it is important to design and be creative within certain parameters, there are

rules to follow and it is interesting to slowly break them over time.

Women’s wear is less restrictive but can easily be over designed.

I have learned to constantly strip back and edit over the course of the season. For me, it’s always been about the construction of the garment and highlighting it has a purpose and function; I steer away from decoration. The Qasimi silhouettes are fluid, oversized and languid and our colours are always optimistic and fresh. I get asked all of the time when we are bringing back the women’s collections and it is in the overall plan for the next few years, but I’d like to perfect our men’s collection before re-launching womenswear.

Global fashion observers have described you as a young Emirati designer who was born in the UAE and raised in the UK. How much of the Emirati or the regional connect can be discerned in your line of clothing?

I was born in the Middle East, but I grew up and studied in London and it continues to be one of my most important sources of inspiration and there will always be that juxtaposition of both cultures in my work. As

I mentioned earlier, there are references to both running through every collection.

Fashion in our part of the world is dictated by culture and tradition; although women’s fashion has incorporated a range of fusion elements and western touches, men’s wear has, perceptibly, remained stagnant. Do you see the status quo changing?

Centre STAGE

How has your heritage influenced your label?

I feel that it is extremely important to discuss and debate about my cultural heritage and the political discourse that surrounds it. The media is generally very biased towards a certain agenda and it is key for me to voice my views through the medium of my collections.

I think over time we will see the same incorporation of different elements in menswear as we have in women’s fashion, but it will be at a much slower pace, as that is the nature of menswear as a whole. It has always been much slower to adopt new ideas.

Is it difficult for a designer from our part of the world to make it big in Europe?

No more difficult than it is for any emerging designer, you have to be true to your vision and work hard.

Is ‘Qasimi’ available in the Gulf?

Qasimi is available globally as we have a fully transactional e-commerce section to our website

QASIMI SS17 MENSWEAR

October 2016

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style FILe

Fall-Winter with Mango Street style and retro fashion mark the latest collection from Mango

I

t is the season of velvets with wool and faux leather, in dungarees and plaids, at Mango, which has infused the new collection with urban outfits like plisse (puckered or crinkled fabric) dresses, velvet military coat with floral dress as well as preppy style, checkered pattern blazers and pants. The faux leather skirts are paired with soft shirts‌ The collection also includes voluminous dresses with riffle details and motorbike jackets worn with high waist jeans.

There is a distinct Boho-chic touch, without going overboard, making it easily adjustable for every occasion – office-wear to weekend dos or parties. The retro vibe is evident, but just enough to pay a tribute to the famous 70s; it is the urban and modern touch that comes out starkly.

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October 2016

Style FILe October 2016

45

Max

style FILe

Winter collection from

T

he new Max Winter 2016 collection for men, women and children borrows its theme from the fashionable bygone era of the 1970s. The collection features a range of apparel and diverse colour palate that epitomise the casual style of daytime and the classic sophistication of the evening.

The ladies range has adopted a relaxed look to capture the beautiful spirit of the winter season.

The focus is on rich browns, ochres and camel tones and muted greys. There is a hint of midnight blue, offering an urbane statement; the use of teal and dark espresso brings depth to the collection.

This season also sees the return of the layered look, with longer hemlines and belted waistlines paying homage to the classic silhouette. The line between casual and formal attire, however, is blurred, with luxury applications such as embellishment and dulled metallics adding appeal to daywear items.

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The 1970s retro era inspired collection is available in all the Max stores in the country

October 2016

Style FIL The men’s range of smart casual styling reverberates the retro theme.

The collection has a relaxed feel, accentuated by comfortable shapes and cuts that have continued to be a trend for the past couple of seasons. The combination of gunmetal and lumberjack red has become an essential theme colour for the season. Harmonised with the fashion range for women, camel brown emerges as an important accent tone for menswear. The collection embodies casual understatement with pine green and an injection of mustard yellow adds brightness and vitality.

The fashion collection for children features fun hues of sour green, teals and rusted woodland dark hues. There is quilt detailing in dresses, trousers and skirts, suggesting a strong comeback of the 70s fashion era.

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BLACK by

Splash

It’s the return of the grunge - sharper, edgier with a dash of oomph

T

he BLACK by Splash capsule collection takes you on a journey of textures and embellishments that will get you sorted from day to night. The premium collection is focused on straightforward silhouettes, layered shapes and a lot of detailing to help you channel the grunge vibe.

With around 30 pieces on display, including apparel and accessories, the collection promises an array of fabrics to experiment with. You will find leather, satin, silk georgette and spandex in key pieces like jackets, skirts, dresses and shirts. The line also has a monochrome element, which will be updated depending on the seasonality.

The rebel attitude is highlighted further with the use of intricate details and embellishments like zippers, chains, studs and mirrors. Catering to women within the age group 16-40 the focal point for the range will be evening wear and accessories.

The niche products are available in Splash stores.

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October 2016

esque It wIth Ale

Big Names iN FashioN Fashio PeOPLe OFTen undereSTIMATe THe POWer OF A BIg nAMe In FASHIOn, OBServeS ALe AL ZAdjALI

P

eople constantly underestimate the power of a big name in fashion; I’m guilty of that too, but I knew that Tommy Hilfiger recruited gigi Hadid to ‘design’ a collection because of just that. gigi isn’t exactly the smartest person out there (she did think that her Pakistani/ British boyfriend is half Middle eastern), which is the greatest testament to the power of her name. earlier this month, gigi headed to dubai to launch her Tommy X gigi collection and thousands of people showed up just to see a glimpse of her as she walked into the private event. Those 30 seconds she took walking into the private launch went international, making headlines everywhere, and this is the perfect reasoning I can provide for anyone who underestimates her power and influence in fashion, even if she’s not that good of a model.

Her BFF, Kendall, was also in dubai and while her visit wasn’t as publicised as gigi’s, a single picture of her in a niqab in front of the Burj Khalifa spread like wild fire through the Internet. The comments may have been mostly pandering but hey, all press is good press, right?

Kendall and gigi are the new definition of what a supermodel is because their names can help you sell and that’s the tactic designers’ want. until you see it in action, you might have your doubts too.

Ale Al Zadjali is a 22 year-old award-winning fashion designer; he is the brain behind the ‘Esque By Ale’ line of clothing

October 2016

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Fashion Special

Men‌

they are

Special Appease your style gods with accessories that are distinctly male in their appeal and trendy in their approach

Scarf

Out

It’s that time of the year again; that time when scarves become fashionable and give you an edge on the fashion circuit

S

carves, like history, have a way of repeating themselves. Whether it is the demand of the season or the ongoing trend, its universal appeal kind of makes it a quintessential item of every wardrobe. Best described as a functional accessory, it can work perfectly for any occasion (and season). With winter making outdoor parties popular, the scarf could easily become your fashion statement.

This season, watch out for scarves in strong fabric canvases. These can give you a whole new look when twisted or draped around the neck. The designs range from the fluttery, earth-toned patterns to postcard-theme scarves. Even silk scarves could work perfectly for Oman weather, as the temperature hardly gets to biting-cold level, unless a trip to the mountains is on the cards.

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October 2016

But if you want to make a bold fashion statement, go on; grab a coloured or patterned scarf. Although it can seem tricky to don brightly coloured/ patterned scarf, you could give it a structure by pairing it with a neutral outfit – all-black or grey colour should work well. Stick to a simple knot; complicated knots will make it the colours seem louder. Conversely, a black scarf can be paired with any outfit. Do not, however, fret over matching the tones, as the idea is to give it a wholesome look and a little clash in colours could, actually, do your look some good. If you are a firsttimer on the scarf zone, remember, a solid colour will never fail you. But it is a no-no to pair a printed scarf with a printed shirt.

According to stylists, the scarf you pick should be at least 140cms long to maximise your stylish look.

The best part of this unassuming scarf is that you can wear it over a T-shirt or a shirt – but not if you are pairing it with shorts.

Fashion Special

Described as a perfect bridge between your smart formals and weekend casuals, the scarf can turn even the simplest jeans and a T-shirt look cool and trendy. Whether you opt for a lightweight cotton scarf or a winter woolly one, you can easily go for the classic drape. This knot is ideal for the city weather, as the temperature rarely drops to chilly levels, making you wrap it all around.

Keep the scarf loose and relaxed for that perfect look.

Trendy knots

The drape: Yes, as the name suggests, you simply hang the scarf over your neck and let the two ends fall loosely in the front. The drape is ideal for a formal look, as you can tuck the ends into your suit, and let it peak from the lapels.

The toss: Drape the scarf around your neck and casually toss one end of it over the right or left shoulder.

The once around: As simple as the drape knot, the once around requires you to keep one end of the scarf longer on one side and take it around your neck to get a covered look.

The all around knot: Again, you start with ‘the drape’, leaving one end much longer than the other. Now wrap the longer side around your neck a couple of times, so that the end hangs down your back.

Parisian: Begin by folding your scarf in half - end to end; next throw the folded side around your neck in a drape. Now thread the loose ends through the loop and pull to tighten.

The ascot: The ascot or the overhand knot also starts with the regular drape.

Follow that by crossing one end over the other and finish it by threading it under and over.

Fake knot: First drape the scarf around your neck, leaving one end longer than the other. Next, tie a loose knot on the longer side by taking the end under and over itself to create a loop and then loosely pull the end through. Thread the other end of the scarf through the loop and tighten to adjust.

The four-in-hand: This is a statement knot that requires a little practice.

Begin by giving your scarf the Parisian knot, but only pull the top piece through the loop. Twist the loop and create a second opening just below the first, getting a figure 8 look. Pull the other end through the second loop and tighten.

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Fashion Special

A Touch of Accessories Welcome the pleasant outdoor weather with accessories that are designed to add finishing touches to your fall/winter outfit Baseball Caps

Caps may have been designed for summer, but in countries like Oman, which enjoy sunny climes all through the year, winter is the right time to bring out the caps and enjoy the weather, morning or noontime. And with fashion designers giving a thumbs up for the nineties street style for this season, darker hued caps will up your look. You could opt for a washed out baseball cap to keep things casual or find a balance with black and navy caps. Make the most of the sporty trend in menswear by going for leather or wool caps.

Backpacks

It may seem irrelevant to call backpack a trend for this season, but who can argue with fashion dictates… The stress is on the classy boardroom backpack, which has been gaining popularity everywhere. With fashion brands going all out to polish and give the quintessential backpack a ‘grown up’ look, this season demands a backpack to complete your accessory list. Look for leather ones which are less oversized and are low-slung in comparison with the school ones. A functional accessory is what a trendy backpack is.

Sunglasses

Like we said earlier, Oman’s weather makes some of the accessories year-round affairs and sunglasses are one of them. The winter sun demands a cool cover to venture out without hurting your eyes under the direct sunlight. But for this season, fashion experts recommend investing in one of the variations of round sunglasses – vintage with a traditional round or a subtler one with demi-rounds. If you are endowed with a round face you may need to overlook this trend in favour of angular frames.

Jewellery

You read that right; men’s jewellery is here…maybe to stay. The focus of this season is on bling. Bracelets are still popular, but have found perfect partners in necklaces. If you feel bold you could go for a layered look on your wrist or the neck and accompany it with your watch.

Slip on

The reference here is to the popular slip on shoes, which help you maintain a casual, yet put together look. These are available in a range of materials for this season, providing you with several options in styles and shapes. Your best bet is to keep things classic by pairing slippers with traditional jacket or combine the slipper with more colourful look.

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October 2016

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October 2016

53

at HOME

DECK

it up

With winter finally making a hesitant entry, it is time to bring out the deck chairs and enjoy the weather on your porch/balcony/patio/deck

W

hether you belong to the privileged class of homeowners with large living areas and picturesque veranda/porch or have to contend with a small kitchen balcony in the residential complex, the idea of having your own little window to the outside world can be a boon (Not, if you have been using the balcony space to accommodate the washing machine, the clothesline or to store your junk, though).

This winter, make the most of your balcony with a few budget-friendly dĂŠcor ideas to make it a proper extension of your home and to enjoy fresh air and the new weather. Even if your balcony is tiny, with barely enough space to step outside, there are ways to make it your relaxation zone.

Seating

A balcony without proper seating is not beckoning enough to make you spend time there. But if you are working on a tight budget, you might want to consider some do-it-yourself projects to turn wooden pallets into comfortable furniture - may be convert cheap crates into seats. Even your old sofas or chairs could get a new lease of life as balcony furniture.

And if the space is really small, opt for folding benches or chairs and even folding tables. Upturned crates can also act as tables. A hanging lounge chair or a hammock swing could brighten up the space.

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October 2016

at HOME Accessories

Consider your balcony a complete extension of your home and decorate it with interesting and colourful accessories - be it cushions, tablecloth or rug. Keep the tone brighter with colours that give you an outdoorsy ambience. You could also add colour accents with flowerpots and creeper plants. But if the whole idea of a balcony is to create your quiet space for relaxation, keep it simple. Do not indulge your fancy for dĂŠcor with unnecessary pieces.

Gardening

For most city folks, balcony is the only avenue for gardening, albeit limited to pots. If space does not permit it, get pots that you can hang from the top or from the outside. Creepers could add an element of privacy and give you a natural screen, while adding to the ambience of your balcony. Look for

fast growing plants to get started with your gardening plans. If you have the time, explore creative gardening ideas to give your balcony more character.

You could have plants at various levels on the wall and thereby heighten the look. While a few carefully selected plants can help make a statement, tiers of plants can create the illusion of being in a lush garden.

Designing

Before you place the seats, the plants and the accessories, make a designing or the layout plan. Make the ambience interesting and even dramatic by incorporating design details of various heights in the available space. A potted topiary will establish your garden style.

Lighting

If relaxation is what you seek in your balcony, you would probably want to do away with the bright overhead lamp. Candles, of course, could work magic, but there are several DIY ideas to create the lighting effect you would want, with easily available items from your craft shop. String lights can also up the magic quotient of your balcony

October 2016

55

Relatively SPEAKING

Retire and

Relax

Happy retirement is not a myth…

L

ife in the retirement path is, seemingly, paved with peace, relaxation and simple pleasures of life. For, isn’t retirement all about doing what you always wanted to do – whether it is going off on a trip somewhere far, taking up a new hobby or waking up at your own sweet time?

Yes…if you have made crucial pre-retirement plans and appropriate adjustments for the years to follow.

Finance would, obviously, top the list of plans required to make your retirement a breeze; but even if you have retired by choice and have saved a substantial amount, you would have a whole lot of issues to face, in addition to finances.

The absence of a structured schedule to a day does tend to lose its romantic appeal when you are faced with endless hours of nothingness…

Find out how you could make little adjustments to make your retirement years happy and healthy.

Make a budget

Making and sticking to a budget may seem difficult, but that is the ONLY way to initiate your life in the retirement stage. Budgeting will help you maintain the lifestyle you have been accustomed to and stretch your retirement saving. As an expert pointed out, creating a responsible financial plan before retirement will help you track where you are, where you need to go and, also, if you are on track to get there. Identify areas where you can cut back and make a list of expenses that will disappear after retirement. Place extra emphasis on clearing your debts before retirement.

Get a new job

Retirement need not mean complete termination of employment. Take a cue from the movie ‘The Intern’, where Robert De Niro as Ben Whittaker takes on the opportunity to become a senior intern at an online fashion site. If you have the capability

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October 2016

Go back to school

Right, it is never too late to go back to school, whether it is to take up an additional degree, a diploma or even hobby classes. Having spent all your adult life rushing between home and office, now is the time to explore your academic interests.

Interestingly, there are many senior citizens seeking undergraduate or graduate degrees around the world.

In fact, some colleges have provisions for senior citizens to audit classes, whereby they attend and participate in the classes but do not take exams or receive grades. Seeking education is not only about fulfilling a desire; it is also about keeping your mind sharp.

Share knowledge

If you are not getting back to school to study, you could get back there to share the knowledge you have acquired over the years. Even if you do not have teaching experience, you could find avenues to get into the teaching fold – at school or at some institution. There are many technical institutions and even colleges, which seek out experienced folks to share their real world experiences with students in similar line of study.

Companies are also known to employ career coaches or speakers to talk about their experiences. Teaching the skills that you have mastered over the years could be another option to consider.

Hobby time

With hobbies taking a backseat amidst everyday work stress, now is your chance to get back to the hobby you fostered early in life. It could be a keen interest to learn a musical instrument, a dance style or cooking. The avenues to learn or hone your skills in any particular field are immense. You could even find classes that are designed for seniors; making it easy for you to learn at the pace you want to. If learning is not

your cup of tea, find other options to develop a hobby.

Be active

You may have been waiting all your life for retirement to enjoy much needed rest and relaxation, but do not let your idea of relaxation create a channel for boredom. Some form of exercise or activity level is essential at every phase of our lives. For, sitting idle is not only bad for your mental health, it is equally bad for your physical health. If mobility is an issue, find ways to ensure fitness by working out at home. Check online for a host of exercise regimens designed for seniors; your neighbourhood gym might also have facilities that cater to older citizens.

Relatively SPEAKING

to continue working in some capacity, go on, find your calling; it will not only bolster your finances but also help you make the most of your earning life, and clear off the debts, if any.

Getting back to the post retirement schedule could be good for your emotional and mental health. You could even look for part time options if you want to pursue some hobby or other.

See places

Include travel on your retirement agenda to make the best use of your, seemingly, endless free time. Do a quick check of the travel industry to find out best deals and options for seniors. Look for all-inclusive packages or structured trips - like cruises - to make your travel easy and convenient. And, remember, most hotels offer discounts to senior citizens

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57

man date

The Art of Manliness ‘The opposite of ‘manliness’ isn’t cowardice; it’s technology’ – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

M

anliness, according to an online dictionary, is the traditional male quality of being brave and strong.

It has been conventionally celebrated as an asset. While ancient Romans equated manliness as living a life of virtue, for Aristotle, it meant being the best man you can be.

But what about the present day man; does that concept of manliness still hold good?

Men, today, are not called on to demonstrate their bravery or strength, and many may be even relieved that the much hyped chivalry is dead. The ideals of strength and bravery, pegged on to manliness, have, apparently, found alteration, rather redefined in the context of modernisation. What was perceived as strength earlier may today find resonance in acts of resilience and integrity, and bravery could be reflected in little sacrifices made...

But, personally, would you say you have mastered the art of manliness – one that differentiates men from the boys?

Take this quiz and find out how manly you are.

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October 2016

1. Have you ever built anything from scratch? a. I am a master carpenter. b. I am quite good at DIY projects. c. I have not tried anything beyond flat pack furniture. d. No, I have never made anything from scratch - or even otherwise.

2. What was the last thing you fixed?

a. A vehicle – I like getting my hands dirty. b. A household gadget. c. I changed a light bulb. Anything bigger than that and I call in the professionals. d. I listened to ‘Fix You’…

3. Can you change a car tyre? a. b. c. d.

Of course… I can change a tyre blindfolded!

Yes, but I have only had to do it once.

No, but I don’t think it is too hard to do.

I will call AA.

4. Do you know how to wire a plug? a. b. c. d.

Yes. I have wired many plugs in my time.

I have done it once or twice.

No, but I would have a go at it.

No. I don’t have a clue.

5. Do you own any power tools? a. b. c. d.

Yes, my garage is filled with power tools.

I have a few around the house somewhere.

No, but I have used a drill before.

Sorry, I don’t think I have even held a hammer.

6. Do you follow any sports team? a. b. c. l

Yes… Will support my team till I die.

Yes, but I wouldn’t jump in front of a bus for them.

Not really; but I do like sports.

I couldn’t care less about sport.

7. What position did/do you play in football? a. Centre-back, centre forward, centre-mid – in the thick of the action. b. Fullback or winger. c. Wherever they put me. I often get picked towards the end. d. I didn’t... I preferred reading, skipping or practising the clarinet.

8. Which items would you take with you to a desert island? a. b. c. d.

A hunting knife. That’s all I would need.

Food, drinks and my sunglasses.

I will take a few books from my shelf.

Suntan lotion!

man date

The Man Quiz

9. What do you do when you are invited to a house party?

a. Invite all my buddies along and cause a scene. b. I will attend alone, but will meet new people while I am there. c. Go alone and stand awkwardly in a corner. d. I will take a rain check and then proceed to spend the evening playing games on my computer.

10. Can you run a decent barbecue? a. b. c. d.

I run the best barbecue in town.

Yes I can, except for a few burnt sausages.

I burned everything last time I tried.

I have never barbecued anything.

Score:

Give yourself 4 points for every a. answer; 3 for b; 2 for c and 1 point for every d answer

If you scored 32-40 points: You are, undoubtedly a manly man. You are good with your hands and are handy around the house. But do not be afraid of your more feminine side.

24-31 points: You are manly without being a

caricature – you are capable, cool and confident; you are popular with both the lads and the ladies. But don’t try too hard and remember to be yourself.

16-23 points: Not bad, but you are still a boy rather than a man. Be braver, more spontaneous and less of an overgrown student. Men will respect you more and women will notice.

0-15 points: You really need to sort things out. You seem to have the tastes and opinions of an old age pensioner.

October 2016

59

Omantel Named ‘Brand of the Year’

Omantel has been recognised as the ‘Brand of the Year’ by the World Branding Forum at the World Branding Awards. The prestigious award was conferred at a glittering ceremony that was held in London to celebrate and recognise the achievements of some of the best brands in the world. The event was attended by global industry leaders representing a wide variety of sectors. The nominees for the World Branding Awards are judged according to three categories; brand valuation, consumer market research and public online voting.

Omantel was selected as winner of this award along with 210 global brands from 31 countries. A number of renowned global brands including Apple, Google and Facebook have been winners of this prestigious brand in the past few years.

Al Mouj Muscat launches Oman Investment Handbook

Al Mouj Muscat launched the Oman Investment Handbook, recently.

The handbook was developed in collaboration with The Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Exports Development (Ithraa) and KPMG Oman.

The handbook provides a very high level summary of Oman’s economic and legal frameworks and important factors that should be considered prior to investing in Oman. Explaining on the motive of developing the handbook, Nasser bin Masoud Al Sheibani, CEO of Al Mouj Muscat said: “The idea behind developing this handbook emerged out of our goal to primarily promote Oman as tourist and investment destination, Muscat as a jewel of Arabia and then Al Mouj Muscat, Oman’s lifestyle destination and the first Integrated Tourism Complex in the Sultanate.”

Bank Muscat’s new customer care initiatives

Bank Muscat, in line with its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in banking service excellence, has launched a new initiative for employees across the Sultanate as part of its customer-centric strategies. The CareMore campaign marks a new phase aimed at steering the bank to greater heights in serving the largest banking family in Oman as well as contributing to the development march of the nation. The bank has organised CareMore workshops, conducted by etiquette and protocol experts, to cover employees in all branches across Oman. Besides etiquette and protocol training, at the core of the campaign is a new communication channel for customers on Twitter @bankmuscatcare for achieving higher levels of customer satisfaction. The first dedicated social media account in the banking sector in Oman for customer service launched by Bank Muscat has evoked strong response addressing customer requirements within the fastest possible response time.

Muriya welcomes first Wide Body Flight

Muriya welcomed the arrival of the first wide body aircraft directly connecting tourists from Germany to the Governorate of Dhofar. Some 320 European visitors arrived aboard the Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings’ A330-200 jetliner early Sunday morning. The guests were greeted by Salalah airport authority, Muriya and representatives of FTI, the leading German tour operator organizing the trip. To mark the occasion, the group of tourists, who will be vacationing in different hotels across Dhofar Governorate, were invited for a commemorative gathering at the Fanar Hotel & Residences to mark the milestone trip. With a route that is scheduled twice weekly to Salalah and a capacity that is almost double the size of previous planes, the arrival of this flight is another indication of the continuous growth in tourists arrivals to Salalah. In addition to its large capacity, the plane with its First and Business class seats, will provide more options to the high end tourists already visiting Salalah.

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October 2016

Major land investment opportunities from Madinat Al Irfan

Omran has announced that it is making available significant investment opportunities at Madinat Al Irfan, the country’s biggest urban development, with the release of ten major land plots. This move by Omran is part of the company’s strategic efforts to make Madinat Al Irfan the country’s new bespoke central business hub.

Omran is actively encouraging new and existing businesses, especially in the fields of oil and gas, banking, aviation, logistics and other services, to see the potential of Madinat al Irfan, and Oman, as a viable hub for their regional operations. On completion, Madinat Al Irfan, will essentially be a city within a city. It is being developed on a site extending to over 7.4 million square metres, and will have business parks, hospitals, schools, mixed housing and strategic link and transport to Muscat International Airport.

MRM’s Healthy Meetings Concept

Promoting health and well being in and out of the workplace, Millennium Resort Mussanah announced the introduction of the first-of-its-kind ‘Vitamin C Delegate’ package. Combining seamless corporate room technology with a professionally structured set of healthy activities, the package promises to deliver a fresher experience to all attendees with 100 percent healthy menu options, exercise breaks, and massages.

As part of the new package, delegates will be provided with access to the resorts meeting rooms, healthy beverages for the two breaks, free wifi, and stand-up style lunch specially prepared by dieticians for 9.99 OMR per delegate with a minimum of 20 guests. Additionally, a five minute stretching class will be held before every meeting alongside walking exercises during lunchtime and a one minute destressing massage during breaks.

Golf Oman launches School Programme

As part of the drive to turn golf into one of the leading National sports, the Oman Golf Committee has launched a new school initiative across the Sultanate to introduce Soft Golf into both Government and private schools. By introducing the sport of golf as an extracurricular activity, the Oman Golf Committee is working to have golf become an integral part of the PE curriculum in schools. Soft Golf is a ‘mini’ version of golf specifically for use by children in primary and junior schools in smaller areas. This involves developing youngster-friendly golfing equipment, which has proved to be popular with children, beneficial for schools, and easy for teachers to use.

In addition, Golf Oman is provided teacher resources giving fresh ideas for games and activities can be linked with the PE session and educational curriculum.

Ultimate Planner geared up for wedding season

Ultimate Planner, the exclusive high-end shop, is poised to cater to brides planning their weddings in the near future. The differentiating factor that Ultimate Planner offers is the stunning selection of flowers especially brought in from Holland and the 38 years of experience in floral artistry and weddings by Dutch Floral Master Narayano Vrolijks. Ultimate Planner is renowned for creating a fairytale wedding experience drawing from years of expertise in handling high-end weddings in different parts of the world. Narayano along with his team are geared up to introduce a new level of floral artistry for the first time in Oman and to give brides here options like never before. Ultimate Planner is centrally located in the bustling Qurum complex next to Ocean Mall, Qurum.

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61

OBO celebrates 75 years of operations

5th Inter-College Environmental Public Speaking Competition

The Environment Society of Oman (ESO), in collaboration with Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), opened the 5th edition of the Inter-College Environmental Public Speaking Competition (ICEPSC), recently. Held under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Rawya bint Saud al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education, the competition challenged students from across Oman to address important environmental issues in front of an expert panel of judges. Students were tasked with covering the themes ‘Climate Change: Impact on Water Security’, ‘Alternative Energy Resources: A Viable Option?’, ‘Sustainable Development Goals: A New Course For Humanity’, and ‘E-Waste: Where’s The Green?’

Participants were judged based on their ability to present an effective argument.

Oman, home to the first and only Outward Bound operation in the Middle East, celebrated 75 years of the organisation, which began on October 4th 1941 in the small community of Aberdovey on the west coast of Wales.

A group of young men assembled for the start of a 21-day course that would transform their lives. The course was an experiment, based on the vision of a German educationalist called Kurt Hahn. Hahn’s vision was that core life skills could only really be learnt through practical experience. The course was a great success, and the organization rapidly grew into a global movement, with many countries choosing Outward Bound as the vehicle to nurture the youth of the nation, and instill key characters and values.

Today, there are Outward Bound training centres operating in 32 different countries, and 230,000 people attend courses each year. It was launched in Oman in 2009 by the Minister of Education and set up by founding partners Shell, Dentons and Sheikh Suhail Bahwan.

First-of-its-kind Handicraft Instagram Competition

Oman Oil Marketing Company (omanoil) has joined hands with the Information Technology Authority (ITA) and the Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI) for a first-of-itskind handicraft social media competition.

Designed to facilitate the growth of small businesses in a cost-effective way, the digital contest will challenge traditional artisans to promote their products on Instagram and subsequently increase their visibility on social media. Jaber Al Busaidi corporate affairs manager, said, “This competition is aiming to empower small businesses in the Sultanate with the skills and know-how required to achieve sustainable success.”A team of judges will grade contestants based on their communications skills, ability to engage customers and the creativity displayed while marketing their products on Instagram. Additionally, 60 contestants will be selected to take part in a series of special workshops designed to equip them with in-demand digital marketing techniques

Danube Home launches all-new Garden Collection

Danube Home has announced that its new Garden Collection is now available at its outlets all across the GCC. As part of the new launch, a new 2017/18 catalog was introduced; it is a 83-page, full-colour book featuring more than 1,500 items serving as a complete resource guide for outdoor furniture and accessories. The collection includes outdoor sofas, swings, barbecue sets, outdoor lights, outdoor umbrellas, fountains, cushions, Gazebos and much more. The new catalog incorporates the use of detailed product descriptions, giving customers easy access to information. The catalog includes handy tips on how to maintain outdoor furniture, cleaning hacks, alternative furniture options, etc. This years’ collection has been curated based on a number of themes and colors, including hues of Lavender, Fuchsia, red, etc. The trend so far has been to use neutral colors such as beige and brown in the garden.

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October 2016

Alfardan Motors organises ‘Ferrari Parade’

A gathering of one of the world’s most iconic sports car marques took place in Muscat earlier this month. Alfardan Motors, the official importer of Ferrari in the Sultanate, organised a special parade for Ferrari owners in Oman where Alfardan customers were invited to join the parade from Muscat to Dubai to participate in the ‘Passione Ferrari’ track event at Dubai Autodrome. Ferrari owners from across Oman gathered at Ferrari’s showroom in Muscat to showcase some of the rare and exotic cars that have been manufactured by the Italian sports car maker and to take a road trip through the beautiful roads of Oman to reach central Dubai.

Gulf Great Sands brings BAIC to Oman

Gulf Great Sands LLC has announced a partnership with a leading international automotive group BAIC for its range of Passenger and Light commercial vehicles.

BAIC (Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation) is the fourth largest automotive group in China with a comprehensive portfolio of products, from Passenger Cars to Light Commercial Vehicles and Heavy Commercial Vehicles. BAIC Group has selected Oman as one of its core markets for international business expansion. BAIC Group, having a history of over 58 years, has its headquarter in Beijing (China), State of the art R&D Center in Beijing, Styling Center in Turin (Italy), 8 major production bases all over China, Ranks 160th among Fortune’s Global 500 companies (2016), Since 1980 - BAIC has initiated cooperation with many internationally reputed automobile manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz, Daimler AG, Hyundai and Suzuki.

The iconic Aston Martin DB11 makes its debut

The all-new Aston Martin DB11 was unveiled for the first time in Oman at a private reception hosted by local Aston Martin distributor Al Hashar Group, recently. The first product launched under the company’s ‘Second Century’ plan, DB11 is the bold new figurehead of the illustrious ‘DB’ bloodline and an authentic, dynamic sporting GT in the finest Aston Martin tradition. The DB11 showcases a fresh and distinctive design language, pioneering aerodynamics, and is powered by a potent new in-house designed 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine. Built upon a new lighter, stronger, and more space efficient bonded aluminium structure, DB11 is the most powerful, most efficient and most dynamically gifted DB model in Aston Martin’s history.

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet

The new Cabriolet is the sixth variant of the current S-Class family and the first open-top luxury four-seater from MercedesBenz since 1971. For the first time in 45 years, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet returns to reach for the sky. Following its convertible ancestors, the all new S-Class Cabriolet raises the pinnacle of desire with unmatched style, craftsmanship, innovation and luxury. With the new S-Class Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz lays claim to building the world›s most comfortable convertible. When it comes to climate comfort the enhanced automatic wind protection system AIRCAP with AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, together the intelligent fully automatic climate control ensures that the classic beauty cuts the convertible edge. The V8 engine of the S 500 Cabriolet has an output of 335 kW (455 hp). The displacement stands at 4663 cc and the engine produces peak torque of 700 Nm from 1800 rpm.

October 2016

63

Chill Out

Movies

MOVIE REVIEW

Director David Yates

Cast

T

RE

ND I N G

1.

Closer – Chainsmokers & Halsey

2.

Starboy – Weeknd & Daft Punk

3.

Heathens – Twenty One Pilots

O

CHART TOPPERS

W

Eddie Redmayne Katherine Waterston Dan Fogler Alison Sudol Colin Farrell Carmen Ejogo Samantha Morton Ezra Miller Ron Perlman Jon Voight

N

4. Cold Water – Major Lazer, Justin Beiber & M 5. Let Me Love You – DJ Snake & Justin Beiber 6. Broccoli – D.R.A.M. & Lil Yachty 7. Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes 8. I Hate U, I Love U – Gnash & Olivia O’Brien 9. Sucker For Pain – Lil Wayne…

10. Cheap Thrills - Sia

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October 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, inspired by J. K. Rowling’s book of the same name, is a BritishAmerican fantasy action film

by Rowling, who is making her screenwriting debut Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Newt Scamander is described as a ‘magiczoologist,’ which in the Harry Potter realm is a person who studies magical creatures. He arrives at the Magical Congress of the United States of America for a meeting with an important official.

At this meeting is a magically expanded briefcase, which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. When the creatures escape from the briefcase, it sends the American wizarding authorities after Newt. The situation threatens to strain even further the state of magical and non-magical relations, which is already in a dangerous place, due to the threatening presence of the fanatical New Salem Philanthropic Society, an extremist organisation dedicated to the eradication of wizard-kind. Newt battles to correct the mistake and the horrors of the resultant increase in violence, fear and tension felt between magical and non-magical people.

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget UPCOMING RELEASES

Doctor Strange

Rachel McAdams, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Scott Adkins, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Moana

Trolls

In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, an adventurous teenager and a born navigator, sets sail on a daring mission in search of a fabled island that will help save her people. During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breath-taking underworlds and ancient folklore. Along the way, Moana fulfils the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.

After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly cautious cranky Branch (Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends.

Together, this mismatched duo embark on a rescue mission full of adventure and mishaps - trying to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done. Featuring original music from Justin Timberlake, and soon-to-be classic mash-ups of songs from other popular artists, Trolls is a fresh comedy filled with music and hair-raising adventures.

Dwayne Johnson (Maui), Alan Tudyk (Hei Hei the Rooster), Nicole Scherzinger (Sina), Jemaine Clement (Tamatoa), Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), Temuera Morrison (Chief Tui)

Dr. Stephen Strange, a young, arrogant surgeon with a promising career, loses his ability to operate after a terrible accident. With his hands too damaged to perform surgery, Dr. Strange is driven to desperate measures to try and heal himself. After a stint as a wandering derelict, he encounters a healer in the Himalayas and learns to tap into psychic powers to battle wrongdoers. It is through his discovery of the mystical arts that he ultimately earns the ‘Sorcerer Supreme’ moniker; it is through his new role as Earth’s protector that he becomes a better man.

BOOK REVIEW

Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, James Corden, Kunal Nayyar, Gwen Stefani, Russell Brand

Steve Jobs

Author: Walter Isaacson This book is based on more than forty interviews Isaacson conducted with Steve Jobs, over a period of two years - in addition to interviews with more than one hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues. Jobs is said to have encouraged the people interviewed to speak honestly. Although Jobs cooperated with the book, he asked for no control over its content other than the book’s cover, and waived the right to read it before it was published.

The Call of the Wild

The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry The novel follows a 12-year-old boy named Jonas. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to ‘Sameness’, a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of Receiver of Memory, the person who stores all the past memories of the time before Sameness, as there may be times where one must draw upon the wisdom gained from history to aid the community’s decision making. Slowly he begins to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.

Author: Jack London The story is set in Yukon, Canada, during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, when strong sled dogs were in high demand. The central character of the novel is a dog named Buck.

The story opens at a ranch in Santa Clara Valley, California, when Buck is stolen from his home and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. He becomes progressively feral in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs. By the end, he sheds the veneer of civilisation, and relies on primordial instinct and learned experience to emerge as a leader in the wild.

October 2016

65

Chill Out

Movies

WEB WORLD

There’s hope for children Hope for children – because every child deserves a childhood

L

og on to hope-for-children. org and find a host of positive ways to inculcate the spirit of giving and discover the joys of sharing. As the website advocates, the idea is to ensure that every child enjoys a childhood. Their mission is to enable vulnerable children experience a positive childhood by improving their access to education and healthcare, while empowering their families to support themselves.

Hope for Children is an international charity that passionately believes every child has the right to a happy, healthy and positive childhood.

‘Almost half of the world’s children are vulnerable and living in poverty. We are changing this by making a safe and fulfilling childhood a reality for more of the world’s children. We are improving their access to education and healthcare, empowering their

families to support themselves whilst developing their confidence and self-esteem. Most importantly we are giving them hope,’ states the website.

Towards this have created will help fulfil children with

Riddle Time

1 2 3 4 5 66

What do you call sad coffee?

What’s the first bet that most people make in their lives?

How do you organise a space party?

Why did the man put his money in the freezer?

What do you call a bee that lives in America?

October 2016

end, the organisers a 5-year strategy that the ideals of providing access to education.

For example, to help them give children the childhood they deserve, all that you need to do is give £5 a month to keep children off the street and in a safe and loving environment. You could also take on a challenge and make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged children.

Riddle Time Answers (September 2016)

1 2

What do you call a baby monkey?

Answer: A chimp off the old block Did you hear about the race between the lettuce and the tomato?

Answer: The lettuce was a ‘head’ and the tomato was trying to ‘ketchup’!

Did you hear about the hungry clock?

Answer:It went back four seconds.

What did the baby corn say to the mama corn?

Answer: ‘Where’s popcorn?’

What happened to the dog that swallowed a firefly?

Answer: It barked with de-light!

3 4 5

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget GADGET NOTES Turn your car into a smart car with Vinli

If a new car is not on your budget for this year or the next, you might want to consider the vast potentials of Vinli in enhancing the features of your car. The Vinli is a small device that takes advantage of the OBDII (On Board Diagnostics socket), which is generally located under the dash and used by mechanics to diagnose problems with your vehicle, and to provide analysis of the engine’s performance. The Vinli is paired with the smartphone via Bluetooth. You can create a free account on the vin.li website in order to gain access to their app store. It allows you to create a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot (if you subscribe to pay as you go data), setup accident detection and notification and view advanced diagnostic information about your vehicle.

New Teddy Ruxpin has LCD Eyes

For all Teddy Ruxpin fans… The new version of Teddy Ruxpin, now owned by a company called Wicked Cool Toys, features interesting upgrades over the original. The classic cassette tapes have been replaced with 4 GBs of on-board storage that can hold somewhere around 40 different stories at a time. It also connects to a free accompanying smartphone app over Bluetooth and can not only download new content, but also allow kids to read along with an interactive book that stays synced to what Ruxpin is saying.

The new Teddy Ruxpin, showing the improved animatronics of the toy, will be available only in 2017. The toy’s moving eyelids and eyes are replaced with tiny round LCD displays showing full-colour animations of Teddy blinking and looking around.

Bites An elderly couple noticed that they were getting a lot more forgetful than before and so decided to go to the doctor. The doctor told them that they should start writing things down so they don’t forget.

Camera Bag with a Reflector

Take the burden of weight away from photography with this camera bag, which has a built in reflector. Of course, the reflector is not a perfect substitute for a well-placed flash when trying to snap photos of poorly lit subjects, but opening the Flash Bag reveals a foil print under the flap that will help you redirect some additional light onto whatever you have got in frame. You don’t necessarily have to use it with a fancy DSLR - the bag can be just as useful at improving the quality of the photos you are snapping with your smartphone. It’s also useful for carrying stuff, with eight pockets that can be further compartmentalised using velcro dividers, enough room to hold a 15-inch laptop, and a water-resistant fabric on the outside to keep everything dry.

R2-D2 Coffee Press

Could this R2-D2 Coffee Press be the best part of waking up yet…? This new coffee press is a Star Wars creation designed for your kitchen. Like any coffee press, you add your grounds and boiling water and after a few minutes of brewing, followed by a quick plunge, you get 32-ounces of coffee - about four cups. The press will be available from early November for $40.

The couple went home and the old lady told her husband to get her a bowl of ice cream.

‘You might want to write it down,’ she said.

The husband said, ‘No, I can remember that you want a bowl of ice cream.’ She then told her husband she wanted a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream. ‘Write it down,’ she told him, and again he said, ‘No, no, I can

remember: you want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream.’ Then the old lady said she wants a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top. ‘Write it down,’ she told her husband and again he said, ‘No, I got it. You want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top.’

He goes to the kitchen to get her the ice cream and spends an unusually long time in there. After about 30 minutes, he comes back to his wife and hands her a plate of eggs and sausages. The old wife stares at the plate for a moment, then looks at her husband and asks, ‘Where’s the toast?’

October 2016

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Chill Out November 2016

Movies

FUTURESCOPE

Scorpio

(October 23 – November 21) This is a wonderful period for getting the body and your personal image the way you want it.

Go ahead, spruce up the image and pamper your body. On the 22nd you will begin a yearly financial peak. Finances may have felt tight this year, but this month there is prosperity. You obtain the pecuniary favour of parents, parent figures, bosses and elders. Your good career reputation supports the bottom line. Often this transit shows pay rises – either monetary or in kind. A happy love opportunity will come on the 24th and 25th. Be more patient with the beloved.

Aries

If you are involved in personal transformation and renovation, this could prove to be a more productive month. Health and energy are valuable all month. You can enhance it further through detox regimes. There is travel or happy travel opportunities from 22nd. There is a considerable ‘outside the box’ things to try and enjoy. You are at the top of your game, but you haven’t really hit our career peak yet – wait for the next month!

Taurus

Use your psychic insight and understanding to solve many of your career problems. If you are involved in a worldly career, enhance it by participating in charitable and altruistic activities - these appear to be more important than your professional achievements. You are in the middle of a yearly love and social peak this month. Romance will bloom. Health is more delicate this month – until the 22nd.

Gemini

You will soon enter your yearly love and social peak. Singles will be attending more parties and gatherings - that applies also to those still in relationships. It is good that you have placed more emphasis on your health; this will stand you in good stead for later this month. Always

ensure that you get enough sleep and rest. If a pre-existing condition acts up, because of low energy, chances are that a fair night’s sleep will ease things.

Cancer

You might find that your personal independence and personal power are starting to decline this month. This will induce you to cultivate your social skills, including your ability to move forward with others and obtain their cooperation. You have considerable personal skills and gifts, and your approach might be the most effective way these days. Let others seek their way, so long as it isn’t destructive.

Leo

There are various monetary changes happening this month. There may be more confrontations with your personal mortality as well. Insurance and tax issues seem rocky and unstable, but they will work themselves out in the end. Keep your focus on home, family and emotional wellness rather than on the career.

This is a wonderful month to become more emotionally honest. This doesn’t mean the expression of negativity, though…

Virgo

This is a time where you achieve your goals by dreaming, visualising and speaking the word.

Remember, the deeper mind is not limited by time or space, or by your present condition.

This is also a time to focus on the home, family and your personal emotional wellness. Career success is based on a stable and harmonious home life and a sense of emotional wellness. If your emotions are in proper order, everything else will be in place.

Libra

Your home and family is very strong this month. This sends a clear message to let go of career issues for a while and concentrate on the home, family and your emotional wellness.

You are in the right time of your year. Get into the ‘mood, feeling’ of what you want: whether it

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (October 26, 1947)

Hillary Clinton is an American politician and the nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States in the 2016 election. She served as the 67th United States Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, the junior United States Senator representing New York from 2001 to 2009, First Lady of the United States during the presidency of husband Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001, and First Lady of Arkansas during his governorship from 1979 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1992.

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October 2016

is physical things or situations. You are still at a yearly financial peak until the 22nd.

Sagittarius

This is a period for spiritual breakthroughs.

Often, most of the problems that people face are in reality spiritual and theological problems. Thus, when understanding comes all these other things are inclined to fall into place. Learn to rise above the problems to get them solved. It gives a higher perspective on things, almost like watching the world from the sky rather than from the ground.

Capricorn

This month also is beneficial to enhance your career through charitable work and through non-profit kinds of projects. A friend or a shared connection will prove to be very helpful in your career from the 24th to the 25th. After the 12th career opportunities seek you out. You are seen as successful by others and you dress and act the part. Finance also is much improved over previous month.

Aquarius

Continue to watch your health until the 22nd. Lack of energy is your main problem.

Remember, when this happens a person becomes more susceptible to all kinds of things.

Often, if there are pre-existing conditions, they are inclined to act up under these aspects. A good night’s sleep will most likely do more good than a visit to the doctor. The good news is that you are more independent and dynamic in this period.

Pisces

Stay out of harm’s way as much as possible.

And that involves driving more carefully and avoiding confrontations. This is sound advice for the entire month, but more so after the 22nd when health and energy need to be more delicate. As always the important thing is to get enough rest. You’re very ambitious this month, becoming a workaholic but, you have to remember that you can only do so much.

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget

WEIRD NEWS Men…

Some obvious and some quaintly interesting fun facts about men

Steve the cat has become a lamb

Steve the cat has achieved his lifelong goal of becoming a lamb, say his owners, who claim that Steve had set a goal and achieved it. He not only became an honorary lamb who was accepted by the rest of the flock at his New Zealand home, he also turned into its leader. According to Steve’s owner, Amanda Whitlock, “He’ll just be walking around the yard and they (lamb) will be following him.” Steve shot to fame last month after Whitlock posted an image of Steve blending into the flock.

Nuptial on Valentine’s Day? Think again…

l According to a survey, men spend almost a year of their lives staring at women. l Men lie six times a day, which is twice as often as women. l Men spend almost six months of their lifetime shaving. l Men were the first to wear high heels around the 1600s. Women began wearing them to look more masculine. l Men with shaved heads are perceived as an inch taller and 13 percent stronger than men with hair. l Women blink 19 times per minute, compared to 11 for men. l Men are more likely to commit suicide then women – in countries like Russia and Brazil the rates are up to six times higher than those for women. l The first Father’s Day celebration was held on June 19, 1910 in the US. l Men account for more on-the-job fatalities they account 94 percent of all on-the-job fatalities. l Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder than girls, the chances are three times more likely for these disorders. l Scientists have discovered that women’s and men’s brain function somewhat differently. Men tend to use only one side of their brain at a time, when focused on a task, devoting all of their concentration and attention to the task at hand.

If you are planning to get married on Valentine’s Day you might want to reconsider your plans following a new study, which suggests that people who marry on Valentine’s Day and other fancy dates face a higher risk of divorce. The study also states that weddings that take place on Valentine’s Day or special-number dates like 9/9/99 or 1/2/03 are 18 to 36 percent more likely to end in divorce than weddings on ordinary dates.

Researchers have, of course, pointed out that the divorces have little to do with dates and more to do with some particular characteristics of the couples.

Missing 100-year-old dog tag returned to veteran’s family

Police in Massachusetts used social media to return a missing piece of war memorabilia to a local veteran’s family. The police department released a public appeal to search for the family of a war veteran Joseph E. Hughes whose 100-year-old dog tag was found on the side of the road. Within 24 hours the police department was able to discover Hughes was deployed to Europe between September 07, 1917 and April 05, 1919 and injured twice before returning to Massachusetts where he was married and had three children. In an official note, a department official wrote, “As a result, a priceless piece of U.S. History, a World War 1 dog tag issued to Joseph E. Hughes, will be returned to the veteran’s eldest grandson of Hughes’ namesake.”

October 2016

69

Airlines

SEARCHING

1

Airlines Emergency Cinema Beauty

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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

October 2016

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 La’s Barr Al JissahResort and Spa .....................24776666, 800708102 The Chedi Muscat....................... 24524400 Al Hedayet Int'l Hotel al-khoud, kakoot round about..... 24549945

Al Dhakliya

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

Al Batinah

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

Al Sharqiya

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

Musandam

2

Al Wusta

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

Dhofar

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

SEARCHING

Your Fitness Quotient....

Al Falaj Health Club ........................24702311 Al Majan Hotel ................................24592900 Al Qurum Resort .............................24605945 Adam’s Fitness Center ....................24684989 Balance Health & Fitness ...............24564132 Bodylines, Al Sawadi ......................26795545 Body Speak ......................................24765578 Crowne Plaza...................................24660660 Fitbody Gym....................................24601970 Fontana Club Radisson Blu ...........24487777 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

October 2016

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Sports Basketball

Oman Basketball Association .... 24796780

Boating

SEARCHING

3

Retail Sports

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

Muscat City Centre

Muscat Grand Mall

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

October 2016

Kayaking

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

Motor Sports

Classes

Rock Climbing

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

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

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

Rugby

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

Cricket

Running

Cycling

Sailing

Diving & Snorkeling

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

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

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

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

Centrepoint

Jet Skiing

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

Bowling

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

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

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

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

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

Golf

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

Hiking

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

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

Horse Riding

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

Ice Sports

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

Sport Fishing

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

Squash

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

Tennis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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

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October 2016

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

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Cafe’s

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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

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Presents these Amazing Offer’s and many more!

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15 Off %

For Members only

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Far Eastern

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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

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

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October 2016

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

October 2016

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

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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International

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

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

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

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

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A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Neptune Bar................................ 24795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort Nouras Al Shatti .......................... 24603555 Ramada Beach Hotel Odyssey ...................................... 24824240 Oman Dive Centre, Bandar Jissa .......................................... 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

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

October 2016

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

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

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

Mediterranean

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mexican

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is your enterprise missing in our lists?

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

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

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

October 2016

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