Hi sept 28 2017 pdf by Muscat Media Group

THIS WEEK IN OMAN

START CYCLING OUTDOORS

IN THE COMPANY OF GOOD FRIENDS

TIME TO SHAKE, STIR, AND SIP

If you want a good way to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, go cycling and burn the extra fat. PAGE 8

A best friend loves the side you don’t show the world. Rejoice that special bonding that you share with your best buddy. PAGE 10

Don’t neglect the mocktails, and juices that are served with your meals for a great dining experience. PAGE 12

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 89 SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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

Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta swati@timesofoman.com

ashishdubash@timesofoman.com

Research/Copy Editor Ashish Dubash shruthi@timesofoman.com

Associate Editors Salem Afifi Shruthi Nair

salim@timesofoman.com

Digital Editor Gautam Viswanathan Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphics Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Lead Designer Geri B. Sonny Designers Antonio Ismael Sandiego Gregory Fernandez Director of Digital Television Joe Morrison Photography MMG Photographers Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenham

richard@timesofoman.com

Production Manager Shafi Shaik On The Cover Design by Geri B. Sonny

For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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FRIDAY

SATURDAY

7.00pm Swan Lake

6.30pm Let’s Laugh

7.00pm Jenga Champion

One of the greatest classics of the 19th century will be brought to life on Oman’s grand stage this weekend. Royal Opera House Muscat +968 2440 3300

Award winning comedian Nitin Mirani will be in Oman with his hit “Let’s Talk About Them” stand-up act. Do not miss hhis show if you want to laugh until u your stomach hurts. stoma Sheraton Oman Sherato +968 22237 7777

It’s time to test your Jenga skills and knock your opponent out and win exciting prizes. OMR 5 Monk’s Tap House, The Cave +968 9497 3786

Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

THE WEEKEND LINEUP

Photo by : Geril Ventura

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YO U M I S S E D I T

THERE’S PLENTY OF NEWS THAT MADE WAVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK. HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE WERE TUNING IN TO. COMPILED BY SHRUTHI NAIR & SALEM AFIFI GO TO TIMESOFOMAN.COM/HIWEEKLY FOR VIDEOS AND MORE

KYLIE JENNER’S BABY: Everyone is talking about baby Kardashian being pregnant. Is it true or is it just a rumour? timesofoman.com/hiweekend

TRENDING THIS WEEK YOUNG SHELDON: We might know Sheldon Cooper from his hit show, but Young Sheldon is trending with secrets. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

RELIEF FOR MEXICO: After the tragic earthquake of Mexico, celebrities are sending their love and support to the nation in hopes for a relief. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

TOP TRENDING VIDEOS: We know that everyone is familiar with iPhone X by Apple, but have you heard about iPhone X by Pineapple? timesofoman.com/hiweekend

TRENDING MUSIC

FERGIE IS BACK The Black Eyed Peas member has released a visual album after 10 long years. The album features collaborations from Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, and her son Axl James.

TRENDING MOVIE

NEW MAZE RUNNER TRAILER The third ﬁlm from Maze Runner franchise is ﬁnally coming, and the trailer has already created quite a buzz on social media.

#popularhashtag

TRENDING FASHION

VERSACE PAYS TRIBUTE The house of Versace rocked the runway earlier this week with an epic closing of legendary supermodels, wearing the iconic metal collection.

#Iraqi #RecycleWeek #MyTipsForMentalHealth

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STORY SALEM AFIFI

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Riding a bicycle is one of the ﬁrst recreational activities that we learnt when we were children, and cycling was always fun with friends. A signiﬁcant sport that contributes to a better and healthier lifestyle, there’s no better way to enjoy this twowheeled sport than on the hilly roads of Oman.

ow did this activity come to existence? Well, it all started in the 19th century when bicycles were made using material such as wood. The first bike with pedals was made in Scotland, followed by other inventors and developers in Paris. It started off as a toy for the rich, then became a common means of transport and then to more comfortable rides. Today, bicycles have evolved and have become more aerodynamic with safety breaks and helmets, which have made people from all walks of life enjoy this recreational activity, and most importantly has become a sport in itself. Here in the Sultanate we have some of the best streets where you can have the ride of your life. You can ride while enjoying mountainous views of Qantab or on the busy streets of Qurum, either way you are guaranteed a dose of fat-burning fun. If you happen to have no buddies to join you for a ride in the city, we got you covered. There are a few local clubs dedicated to cycling aficionados. My favourite is the Muscat Cycling, as they do many trips around the city and beyond. You’ll not only get to explore interesting places but also meet cool people in a community. But if cycling with strangers isn’t your cup of tea then grab your bike and join your friends. Here are some favourite spots to pedal away the weekend. 1. Muttrah Corniche Starting at Bait Al Baranda Museum, ride up to the Muttrah Corniche, all the way to Al Alam Palace in Old Muscat. This ride has challenging hills and beautiful oceanfront views. 2. Qantab Road Qantab has one of the best and most challenging biking spots, thanks to the steep hills that require great stamina. From Wadi Kabir, start off on Al Bustan Street heading towards the Al Bustan Palace roundabout; turn to take Qantab road just before the roundabout. Ride straight up and down the mountains, passing a couple of roundabouts, until you reach the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah entrance. 3. Shatti Street Hit Shatti Street in Qurum for a lively seaside ride. Start off at the Crowne Plaza and head down the hill, past the coffee shops on Love Street, and continue towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs roundabout. Go left at the round about and turn right at the traffic light to get on Al Kharijiya Street. Ride past Bareeq Al Shatti and Al Masa Mall until you reach the Al Saroj petrol station. 4. Al Khoudh Street The roads near Sultan Qaboos University are a popular route for an afternoon cycling session. Start off at the Mazoon Roundabout at Al Khoudh Street; pass the “book roundabout,” and ride all the way to the next and last roundabout, just before the Expressway. A left from there, leads you down another long road winding back to the SQU entrance number two, and continues to the Armed Forces Hospital. 5. 18 November Street This long, straight, relatively flat street is popular among cyclists in Oman. Start at the Almouj roundabout in Al Hail and ride all the way to The Chedi Hotel in Al Ghubra. If you love pure, long distance biking, and don’t mind sharing the road with passing cars, then this is the best route in the city for working on speed. —salim@timesofoman.com Join Muscat Cycling: muscatcyclingc@gmail.com

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LIFE SKILLS

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STORY ANTARA BOSE

While the world sees the side you choose to show them, a best friend loves the side you don’t. To all those who thrive on the true joy of having that one close buddy, here are 10 things you can totally relate to. Go on, give your buddy a high five! Your scores in mid school Sure, it’s funny now. But way back, when school was your everyday battleground, there was no way you could possibly take those horrifying grades back home without a really good justification for your miserable failure. When all seemed bleak, only the best friend could be turned to for comfort. Though chances are your buddy’s excuses didn’t spare you from getting grounded, at least you mustered up the courage to tell your folks without considering fleeing to the woods. That ghastly plot against the sibling We’ve all had that one brainy cousin we detest but everyone else seems to be in complete awe of; or that younger sibling who keeps getting away with everything (but you, on the other hand, are supposed to behave like a responsible adult). If someone ever had to be taught a lesson the hard way, your best buddy has always been your primary sidekick. (We do hope there were no ugly ends though.) The truth behind your million dollar speeches Oh yes, you have been such a smooth talker. Everyone thinks it just comes to you naturally. But it’s the best friend who’s heard your routine infinite number of times (they probably know every word by heart), calmed you down in the event of a lastminute panic attack in the bathroom, and given you the pep talk of being ‘awesome’ a zillion times over. However, best friends can also foresee how much of those statements you are actually planning to honour. They know the whole truth behind your ‘half lies’; but hey, best friends don’t judge! Things you are conscious about Like speaking a foreign language, singing a duet at karaoke nights and even something as trivial as wearing a red skirt or saying the word ‘Mississippi’ – you can always count on your buddy to ease the discomfort. As you maintain your calm composure on the outside, your buddy knows exactly how the butterflies in the stomach have a battle of flutters. Your real colour It could be your hair, your eyes or even your soul — the best friend knows the true you. And no matter how dark it might be (no pun intended) they’d still love you unconditionally. There is never a need to explicitly mention things to them because they just know, and there is never a reason to hide because they’re bound to find out anyway. Besides, you need someone you can shamelessly be yourself around and vent your confessions to. The secrets of the bloodline How lousy a businessman your famous uncle actually is, how your cousin really landed that scholarship, or what exactly happens at the family holiday home every summer — your best friend

has a complete lowdown of everything (or has lived them with you as another unfortunate victim of your family’s flip side). All those things that your family keeps under wraps, your best friend keeps them private too. The minute you fell in love Your best buddy would always be the first to know. It didn’t matter even if they were in the middle of creating history, but not being physically present at the moment Cupid struck you with his bow, means they would have to listen to every minute detail of the rendezvous a million times over. …and the minute you fell out of it – Your best friend instantly took over the role of your advocate, confidante, and therapist; and till date solemnly maintains the fact that it was never your fault (well, at least to the rest of the world). The times you’ve been turned down It takes courage to handle rejection and most often than not, we keep it to ourselves. While you shrug off the rejections and pretend that ‘it’s all good’, your best friend has witnessed all that happens behind closed doors. Their ears have fallen prey to the most horrifying things you would have liked to do to the opponent; but without secretly clambering out of the window to escape this monstrous side, they’ve sat you down and told you, ‘you’re better than that’! How leaky you can get We don’t mean your bladder issues, though we’re pretty certain the buddy knows that too; here we’re talking about all those times you’ve really let those tears flow. While everyone’s had those embarrassing teary moments in public, not everyone has witnessed how you look when you howl, wail and ugly-cry like a child. A shoulder, a tight hug, and a genuine assurance that everything would be fine — your old buddy has seen you through your worst. They know how pathetic you look with a running nose, red-eyes, and a twisted-face. And you’re still friends. How much you really love them You don’t have to say it; the love goes beyond words, continuous announcements and ‘bff ’ hashtags on social media. They know you love them to the moon and back, even if you are way cool to say it. —HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

Antara Bose is a model turned fashion and beauty consultant. A popular blogger, anchor, and voice over artist, she maintains a deep connection with the local fashion industry and is passionate about discovering and celebrating aspiring talent as well as promoting animal rights. For fashion updates with a side of humour and sarcasm follow Antara on instagram @antarabose and on Facebook (Antara Bose)

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DINING

Five Sips To Try This Weekend STORY SALEM AFIFI

e often don’t give enough credit to drinks while trying a new restaurant. For some reason mocktails and shakes take a backseat. So this week we decided to round up five favourite drinks that will make your dining experience thrilling. Being a food writer and reviewer, I have passed quite a number of restaurants that offered me interesting sips with flavours to remember. Though ordering drinks can be a hit-or-a-miss kind of a situation, but once you find that ultimate drink, your day just becomes better. From fine dining restaurants, to burger joints, to affordable binge-on-a-budget places, there’s always that one drink that you can’t get enough of, making it a staple whenever you visit that place. With these five drinks, I bet your list of favourite drinks will be extended, because these are selections that are different, tasty, and the real thirst quencher, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. —salim@timesofoman.com

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Rose Water Juice at Dukanah Café If you fancy trying something local, this is for you. The drink is quite a thirst-quencher. I have tried many rose water-infused drink but there’s something extra special about this one; it’s made of real, fresh rose petals blended with sugar, a bunch of ice, and a touch of lime. It’s refreshing, zesty, and very delicious. And, its presentation that comes in a gigantic glass full of rose pink colour and petals bedded on a foamy top is just perfection.

Dukanah Café Azaiba (Behind GMC Showroom) +968 2450 2244 Lindt Zesty Orange at The Chocolate Room Any chocoholics in the house? I got you covered. This zestybut-sweet cocoa shake is the business. It’s made of famous Lindt chocolates, blended with a citrusy ﬂavour of orange, and topped with whipped cream and a zest of orange. The taste of dark chocolate and sweet orange leaves bittersweet aftertaste that will keep you coming back here for more.

The Chocolate Room Al Ghubra, Bousher +968 2449 9922 Biscky at Bistro 64 Now, let’s talk about the sweet stuff. You all know that I could die for anything lotus. My eyes went straight to this beverageslash-dessert during my last visit to Bistro 64. The drink is a treat for those with a sweet-tooth; it’s a creamy milkshake made of vanilla ice cream blended with lotus biscuits, tossed with bits of crushed biscuit on top, and drizzled with caramel sauce. This is the pinnacle of milkshakes; it’s cookie ﬂavour makes it a favourite atop my list of thick beverages.

Bistro 64 Jawharat Al Shatti, Qurum +968 9628 6783 The Lantern at Maya I fell in love with the drink before taking a sip because I was so fascinated by the lantern. One of the best drink presentations ever. The drink is inspired by modern India, serving ﬂavours and style, and sipping on it will shoot euphoric sparks to your mood instantly. Its zesty mix of cherry, orange juice, and marmalade will leave your tastebuds entertained.

Maya The Cave, Darsait +968 9469 5055 Dried Lime Juice at Dukanah Café What are the odds of having two of my favourite drinks from the same place? Yes, this is another traditional sip served at Dukanah. The juice is made of ground-then-boiled Omani dried lemon. These dry lemons are staple in traditional Omani households, making it a must-try delicacy, especially for expats who wish to taste an authentic local ﬂavour. The taste has a tangy zing and takes a dark brown colour similar to that of tamarind. Its unusual taste makes it ever more interesting.

Dukanah Café Azaiba (Behind GMC Showroom) +968 2450 2244

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STORY SHRUTHI NAIR

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bunch a d n ﬁ o t urant a t s king e o r o l a t e n d i a s s n a all ple alked i t w a I d d n n a e r k on te h g n g i u c a n l u h Last wee o t i b e and sting w n r o u h b p e l o ckling r p u c o i h c m e a h of pe t g n o i lking t at hold a t h e a l i h h t dn’t i l w w u y o g c r t e s man n u e j lot of r but I a a i l h i t i m w a f t e y d ver his fe e k o o l e re... c o a f f e e b h n T a . m crowd en the e s d a h I re place whe

or the next 45 minutes or so I was one of the many who was laughing, hooting, and clapping vigorously on the many relatable jokes that were being cracked by the talented comedians on stage. After the final act, the man who introduced himself as Abbas Al Lawati, the founder of Humour Infection, came down and made sure he greeted every single person in the audience and patiently listened to whatever each one of them had to say. I was impressed right there. He finally came to my table and started having a conversation with my friends, which is when I realised that he is the same guy who made me sweat and cry after my super rigorous kickboxing session a few months back. The man wears (literally and figuratively) many hats.

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Abbas Al Lawati is a 31 years old full-time comedian who started his journey with comedy 10 years back. Like most comedians, he would always be the funniest guy on the table and was asked by his persistent friends to give it a try. “My ﬁrst official introduction to comedy was Russell Peters’ videos,” Abbas recalls. However, 10 years back, stand-up comedy wasn’t really a thing in Oman. Not many people were doing it and it deﬁnitively wasn’t an organised sector in Oman’s non-existent entertainment industry. So making a name for himself and taking it up as a profession didn’t seem like an option back in 2007. But for Abbas, comedy was a necessity. “I needed it. I did have anger issues and other problems. I always needed a pen and paper to put down my thoughts.” Most of the times he would end up scripting things that were funny. “So comedy became my escape,” he said. Slowly he started attending events and started doing stand-up in restaurants and clubs and during events and realised that there was a demand for this art in Oman. Abbas too, wanted people to try out something other than going to a club and just dancing all night and instead have a great laugh on some quality jokes instead. “I’ve saved many people from going home with the wrong people so many times,” he smirks.

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On the ﬂipside, there were a lot of people who weren’t accepting or supportive of his talent, including his own parents. “I am half Pakistani and half Omani. My parents sitting in the front row for my show is not something I can expect and I have come to terms with that.” He understands that his parents will never be able to comprehend his passion for comedy and take it seriously but that doesn’t upset him anymore as long as he is able to pursue it without any problem. Slowly the comedy scene in Oman started expanding and Abbas noticed that the one thing he needed right now was more stage time. And since he didn’t have more than 24 hours in a day most of which was taken up by his day job as a banker, he decided it was time to quit and give this profession the time and importance it deserved. He started doing more shows, trying to gauge what the audience enjoyed or what they disliked. “Local content was always welcomed. Anything about the locals or anything that had a local connection is what brought the loudest laughs,” he said. I recalled the time when Russell Peters was in Oman a couple of years back. While performing in this part of the world a comedian has to respect the societal norms and I thought that this was restricting their creative freedom. On this Abbas explained how he perceived it differently. “If I crack a joke on stage and out of the 10 people in the audience eight people laugh and two are upset or offended, I wouldn’t want that.” He explained how it is more challenging to suit the taste of the audience. “The audience is never wrong. If your joke didn’t work for a few, it simply means that it wasn’t good enough for them.” Abbas himself has had numerous hits and misses over the last 10 years and has now understood what his audience enjoys, which he is trying to impart to the 11 recruits of Humour Infection. “However, the golden rule is to never ever copy a joke,” he asserts. Abbas and his team are clearly people of strong principals. They meet every week, discuss the technical details and jokes, and rehearse well before their gig. He is open to welcoming new talent and wants to encourage all those who have the comic bug to come to the fore and entertain people of Oman. The Humour Infection has spread its contagious infection to a lot of people in Muscat who just can’t stop going for their shows. Well, it is about spreading the ‘disease’ further and ﬁnding more ‘germs’ who can do the job effectively well. —shruthi@timesofoman.com

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Directed by David Dhawan, Judwaa 2 is a story of two brothers who are twins. Born to a honest businessman they get separated at birth when their father exposes a smuggling racket and a king pin. One of the brothers is thought to be dead but after living life on the streets he reunites with his family over a sequence of events and twist of fate. Prem and Raja are uniquely connected to each other owing to their reflexes. They together fight with the underworld. The film is a reprise of Salman Khan’s 1997 blockbuster ‘Judwaa’, This time with all-new cast and crew, the sequel has flavours of the original film. Cast: Varun Dhawan, Tapasee Pannu, and Jacqueline Fernandez Running At: City Cinemas, Vox Oman

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OTHER RELEASES THIS WEEK

Spyder Cast: Mahesh Babu, Rakul Preet Singh, S. J. Surya, Bharath, Priyadarshi Pullikondamaj, and RJ Balaji Directed by A.R. Murugadoss this film is about Shiva, an Intelligence Bureau Officer, who tries to stop a biological war and bio-terrorism in India. Mahesh Babu plays an intelligence bureau officer in the film. It is said to be a Rs125 crore Telugu-Tamil film, where Mahesh Babu is on a mission to save the world from a serial killer, played by SJ Surya.

The Son of Big Foot Voice overs: Cinda Adams, Bob Barlen, and Cal Brunker Directed by Ben Stassen and Jeremy Degruson this is a Belgian and French computer-animated comedy ﬁlm in which a teenage boy journeys to ﬁnd his missing father only to discover that he’s actually Bigfoot. Hiding in the forest for years to protect himself and his family he soon discovers that he too is gifted with superpowers beyond his imagination that are similar to his dad like speaking to animals.

Nick Off Duty Cast: Til Schweiger, Fahri Yardim, and Luna Schweiger

Dance to Death Cast: Ivan Zhevakin, and Lukeria Ilyashenko

Directed by Christian Alvart, this is a story of a daughter of the German LKA agent Nick, who wants to kill the murderer of her mum. She has contacts with the Turkish crime organisation but the plan doesn’t succeed and Nick worries about the whereabouts of his daughter. The agent quickly locates her in Istanbul.

Directed by Andrey Volgin, this ﬁlm takes you back to year 2070 in Moscow where the world is all ruined after a nuclear war. The survival of mankind depends on the energy given by the participants in the cruel dance tournament. But when one of the applicants falls in love with a girl participant in the contest, and decides at any cost to save her life, a well-functioning system is under threat.

Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House Cast: Liam Neeson, Diane Lane, and Maika Monroe Directed and written by Peter Landesman this film is a biographical spy thriller film based on a true story of the most famous anonymous man in American history: Mark Felt, the FBI second-in-command the whistleblower in the 1970s Watergate scandal. Felt risked and ultimately sacrificed everything, including his family, career, and his freedom, to bring what he knew to light.

Ya Thadi Ya Taadi Cast: : Ayten Amer, Mohamed Shahin, Salwa Khattab, and Edward Directed by Khaled El Halafawy this Arabic ﬁlm is about a young man looking for a good teacher to drive a car for his mother wishing to learn to drive. He receives a recommendation by an employee in one of the specialised driving schools to hire Hend (Ayten Amer), but he soon starts falling in love with her.

COMING SOON BLADE RUNNER 2049

6 BELOW: MIRACLE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto, and Ana De Armas

Cast: Josh Hartnett, Mira Sorvino, Sarah Dumont and Jason Cottle

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Inﬂuencers Evening - Seafood Night on Wednesday’s at Sheraton Oman.

IN FOCUS DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FOCUS? SHARE YOUR PICTURES WITH US ON FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY

British Business Forum sponsored by Unity Fire and Safety, held at The Bank Oman.

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Hindi Divas was celebrated at Indian School Salalah. The week long Hindi language celebration (Hindi Saptah) concluded on September 14 (Hindi Divas) in grandeur and fervour amidst dances, music and plays.

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