Hi weekly april 13 2017 pdf by Muscat Media Group

OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 46,760 COPIES

VOL 10 ISSUE 66 / APRIL 13, 2017

FEAST ON TRADITIONAL FAVOURITES PG12

THIS WEEK IN OMAN

PLAY INDOORS

CUT SHORT

LEAF THROUGH

As the summer sun beats down it is time for some indoor fun in Muscat. Visit Fun Zone in Qurum for some real thrills and frills, all under one roof. PAGE 10

If you ever wanted to have short haircut now is the time to take the plunge as sleek bobs and pixie cuts are in vogue. This season they are bolder than ever. PAGE 16

Peepal leaf painting is an intricate ancient Indian art and Sandesh Rangnekar, based in Muscat, expresses his creativity through this art form. PAGE 18

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 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 Research/Copy Editor Ashish Dubash shruthi@timesofoman.com

ashishdubash@timesofoman.com

Associate Editors Salim Hamood Al Afifi Shruthi Nair

salim@timesofoman.com

Digital Editor gautam@timesofoman.com Gautam Bhargav Viswanathan Chief Creative Officer Adonis Durado 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 Photography by Salim Al Afifi Design by Geri B. Sonny For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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

CIRCULATION 24726600/24726666 Ext 135/136 circulation@timesofoman.com

ADVERTISEMENT 24726600/24726666 exT 435/193 hi7ayam@hotmail.com

SAY “HI” ON SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/hiweekly twitter & instagram: hiweekly_oman

HI WEEKLY

THE WEEKEND LINEUP

What are you doing this weekend? Tweet us @HiWeekly_Oman; tag us in your weekend instagram photos @hiweekly_oman; or share with us on FB/hiweekly

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

THURSDAY 10.00pm Ibiza Music On Join the DJs and groove all night as they play music of all genres. The Oak, The Cave +968 9933 6078, +968 9507 2763

11.00pm Dance All Night Get ready for some great beats and tunes as DJ G Kilogram is all set to drop some serious Hip-Hop musical weight around. Rumba Lattina Muscat +968 9613 6013, +968 9538 6363

Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

FRIDAY 7.00pm Haitham Rafi, Live in Concert For the ﬁrst time in Muscat Haitham Raﬁ, Mohammed Shehhi and Mohammed Al Minji will be perfoming live together. Gates open at 6pm. Al Bustan Palace - A Ritz Carlton Hotel For tickets book online tickets.virginmegastore.me

7.00pm Multicultural Fest Jadavpur University Alumni Association Oman Chapter (JUAAOC) will mark their 12 years of presence in Oman through Sanskriti 2017, a musical programme. Entry is by invitation only. Al Falaj Auditorium +968 9856 6052, +968 9715 8770

SATURDAY 6.00pm On Song ‘T ‘Trinity live in concert’ brings ttogether the three founders of Trinity and their versatile band for their maiden public b performance. Experience the pe magic with eight high school m students from Muscat. The Grand Hall, Al Falaj Hotel +968 9936 2618, +968 9922 9825

10.00am Third International Yoga Day Free session on Super Brain Yoga and Meditation for peace, mental clarity, emotional calmness, and increased learning ability. Indian Embassy Auditorium In Al Khuwair +968 9944 2768, + 968 9936 5048

HI WEEKLY

077

8 08

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

THERE’S PLENTY OF NEWS THAT MADE WAVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK. HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE WERE TUNING IN TO, FINDS GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

GO TO TIMESOFOMAN.COM/HIWEEKLY FOR VIDEOS AND MORE

TR EN DI NG

THIS WEEK IN CASE

YO U M I S S E D I T

HOMELAND SEASON SIX FINALE: Spoiler Alert: Carrie Mathison loses another person who’s close to her in this gripping, season ﬁnale. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD: Another spellbinding rendition of JK Rowling’s magical book won big at the Olivier Awards, the premiere award show for theatre performances. timesofoman.com/hiweekend TOP TRENDING VIDEOS: He’s best known for his ﬁery temperament and brash on-screen persona, but when he’s not screaming at contestants or berating them in front of the camera, turns out chef Gordon Ramsay’s a pretty decent cook. Here he is taking us through some healthy school lunches and how we can make them for our children timesofoman.com/hiweekend

#popularhashtag #HarryPotter #GreatBarrierReef #HomelandSeasonSix

GREAT BARRIER REEF: Time is running out for Australia to tackle the bleaching affecting the Great Barrier Reef, warn scientists. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

TRENDING MUSIC PENTATONIX TO GO PLATINUM? The latest cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, this time by Pentatonix, has taken the internet by storm as the A Capella band from Arlington, Texas, offer their take on the classic rock song by Queen. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

TRENDING MOVIE THE MUMMY RETURNS Tom Cruise takes centre stage as in a rebooted version of the popular historical sci-fi flick, The Mummy, which is set to hit cinemas this June. Also starring Sofia Boutella and Annabelle Wallis. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

TRENDING FASHION KENDALL CREATES A SPLASH Although it’s garnered plenty of controversy online, Kendall Jenner’s advert with Pepsi is still spreading across the web like wildfire. Live Younger, Live Bolder, Live for Now, promises the ad, which is really worth a watch, even if you don’t agree with the execution. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

HI WEEKLY

099

HI WEEKLY

TO D

LIST

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

HI WEEKLY

STORY SHRUTHI NAIR

e are all lazy, looking for a one-stop shop when it comes to anything, be it shopping, information or entertainment. And when it comes to recreation one of the most popular places in Oman is a place that offers you different kinds of entertainment activities, all under one roof. Fun Zone is an all-purpose recreation arena located in Qurum, which makes it an ideal spot for people of all age groups who just want to have some fun indoors. Now that the summer has begun, and the blazing sun would not spare us, Fun Zone can be a great hub for those of you wanting to try out a range of activities in a day without having to travel or move around too much. Some of the activities that I would recommend for you to try out include ice skating, bowling, and pool. Ice Skating: With the brutal 40 degree temperature outside, this might be the best option for both, those who can and those who can’t do ice skating. I am someone who has two left feet when it comes to skating but I try it nonetheless. The 1,200 square metres rink offers an ideal playground to skaters during the summers. It is also a place where you can watch the professional ﬁgure skaters and ice skaters come to practice. And you will be surprised by the amount of talent you’ll ﬁnd there. There is also an option of taking private or group coaching classes if you want to start skating professionally and not recreationally. Bowling: This is my favourite group game that I drag my friends to often. All you have to do is lift a heavy ball and aim it towards the 10 pins at the far end of the alley and hope and pray that the ball doesn’t fall in the gutter or stop midway and end up dropping a few pins while your friends cheer you on. And if at all it is a strike, then do the groove walk and go back to your seat feeling like a hero. What’s not to like? Also, for some bowling is serious business. A lot of Omanis practice bowling professionally and there is a team from Oman that has taken part in the Arab Championship in the past. Pool: This is a game that I am officially bad at and the ones I chill with are addicted to it. But the vibe at a pool table is something that attracts me to go try my hand at it overtime. There are different variations and rules of the game, but in general it involves strategically aiming a white cue ball to pocket your ball, which maybe striped or solid, making sure to avoid the black ball. Well it can be a little more complex than this and you need to remember that snooker and pool aren’t the same. Both the games have different tables, different rules, and snooker is slightly more challenging than pool because of the bigger table, narrower pockets, and stricter rules. —shruthi@timesofoman.com

Sat-Thurs 9:00am-12:00am Fri 2:00pm-1:00am +968 9696 2422 / +968 2466 2928

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

DINING

Old World Charm, Food to Drool Over They weren’t joking when they said that ‘old is gold’. As I walked inside Dukanah Café in Azaiba, I was instantly impressed by the charms of an ancient Oman setting that was muddy, woody, and replete with traditional tapestry. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

et’s start by explaining what Dukanah means. It’s an Omani term used to describe a place that’s tucked between two things, and usually used by men for an afternoon coffee. As soon you enter through the door, you’ll notice how much of a well executed concept this place is, truly taking you back to the olden days. The ambience sports a muddy colour palette, which is how old Omani houses used to look like, a combination of beige and light brown. As for the interior, it is crafted to represent old houses in the villages of Muscat. It has been adorned with raw, unpolished, and rustic materials that elevates the whole concept and make it a true reliving experience. You’ll find unfinished cemented floors, wooden tables that has interesting textures, geometric designs, and stones, wooden chairs with OmaniBedouin traditional fabrics placed on them, lanterns hanged on its ceiling made of trees and branches, packets full of dried lemons and roses resembling those in traditional souqs and a tea corner that serves you hot kahwa and tea. And, to camouflage the use of modern technology, they have used a beige coloured weathered-looking fabric to cover air conditioners. What made me fall in love with this place is their attention to details. They made sure every single item at the restaurant is given a traditional revamp, from tissue boxes and coffee pots, to washing sink to the waiters wearing uniforms with a touch of tradition. Even the main counter gives a souq like feel.

HI WEEKLY

As I sat down, the ever exuberant waiter brought me a hand fan. I sat bemused wondering why would I need one, only to find out that the fan is actually the menu card cleverly designed to fit the theme of the place. Their menu is short and to the point, offering a number of Omani staple dishes, some of which I have never heard of or tried before. I asked the waiter to guide me through, and recommend some of the best on their menu, and I was in for a treat. I was dead thirsty and so I ordered two drinks that seemed unfamiliar to me, the first being rose petals, a drink made of literally fresh rose petals, blended with ice, sugar, and a zest of lime, and garnished with petals on top. This was the highlight; it was refreshing, delicious, and had a unique aftertaste. The second drink was dried lemon, a juice made of ground and boiled Omani dried lemon. These lemons are staples in this part of the world, so I had to give it a try. The drink had a tangy flavour. It’s unusual taste made it ever more interesting. For the mains, I got myself shakshooka, a dish made of scrambled eggs, peppers, mushrooms, and a touch of coriander leaves. The peppers added a sweet crunch to the dish. Then I dived into my second main, I had lentils and beans, served with Omani flat bread or chappati. The beans were magic and tasted delicious. They reminded me of my mother’s cooking, and to me, nothing beats homemade flavours. Now to my absolute favourite part of Dukanah Cafés menu — desserts. If you are a fan of Omani sweets, then

this should be your go-to place in town, as they have a variety of date-infused treats that will entertain your tastebuds. I started with jaula wa asal, an Omani delicacy made of smashed bread, ﬂour, a whole lot of date honey. The dessert is too sweet, a few bites and your palate will turn all sugary, but it’s totally worth a try. Another treat that was fun to savour was quroos, that was mini pancakes served with date honey. They were lip smacking and I could eat date honey all day, everyday. I savoured the mashed dates treat in sheer delight, which, for some reason, reminded me of Ramadan. Make sure to order a gigantic cup of coffee when having these sweets, it’s a match made in heaven. Dukanah Café is without a doubt going to be one of the most visited places in town. They aced their game, their concept, and their food. I cannot wait to come back for more date honey treats and that delicious pink-coloured rose juice. Come here and experience Oman from the past, you won’t regret it. — salim@timesofoman.com Dukanah Café +968 2450 2244 Azaiba, Muscat (Behind GMC showroom) What to Order: Rose petals drink OMR 1.6 Jaula wa asal OMR 3.9 Beans with Omani ﬂat bread OMR 2.9 Quroos OMR 3.6

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

BEAUTY

STORY SALIM AL AFIFI

id you see Kristen Stewart’s new hairstyle? Or let’s say no-hairstyle. The young actress revived a trend that’s been missing in red carpets and fashion scenes for a long time as she pulled a buzzcut hairdo during her latest movie premiere causing the internet to break. The big question is, is short hair for the ladies in trend this year? You bet, from simple bob dos to more daring pixie cuts, the short hair syndrome has officially kicked in for the season, and it’s bolder than ever. Let’s take a look at three promising trends you should be sporting this season. Wear a Sleek Bob Bobs are usually boring, but not this one. This organised looking hairstyle is totally in trend, from Jennifer Lawrence to Kylie Jenner, they’re all rocking it. It gives glamorous vibes and immense personality to those wearing it. Go Jennifer-style by covering one ear, and exposing the other. You’ll need a flat iron, a smoothing cream, a serum, and a final touch of hairspray to keep things together. You know how humid it can get in this part of the world. Get Short ‘N Low Ponytails never run out of style, except this year it is getting shorter and lower, but the essence is still there. This look is very casual, if you are the life of the party, or enjoy killer street style fashion, then this is the ‘do’ for you. Styling it is simple; you’ll need a serum and a smoothing cream of your choice. Blow dry or iron flat the hair towards the back. Apply serum for a shining look, and then tuck your hair smoothly around ears. Use rubber band to stick your short pony downwards, make sure its super low. Lastly, use a bit of hairspray. Go Buzzcut You do not need to get buzzed; all you need is a clipper and some bravado. This trend is hitting 2017 hard, and ever since the Twilight megastar unveiled it earlier this year, it’s been atop must-try hairstyles for the season. For this one, you need to forget about all your shampoos, conditioners, and serums, and just focus on one thing, sunscreen or sun protection spray, as you want to keep that head looking healthy. Put some edge to it and dye it platinum blonde. —salim@timesofoman.com

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

REVIVAL OF AN ANCIENT ART STORY SHRUTHI NAIR

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

he world of art is a vast space of imagination, creativity, expressions, and colours. There are different ways, forms, and styles in which you can pursue your artistic passion and Oman-based creative director Sandesh Rangnekar has found his own way to make his art form distinct in a land where it is so easy to get inspired to pick up your brush. Whenever I would visit an art exhibition or see some amazing paintings, I would appreciate and admire the colours, texture, design of the artwork while paying no heed to the medium it was done in as they were all usually just a normal canvas. But when I saw Sandesh’s artwork for the ﬁrst time, I couldn’t stop ogling his work, not just because of the intricately done painting but mainly because of the medium it was done in. A perfectly

done portrait of a woman minutely done on a peepal leaf is what I saw. Sandesh is a brilliant artist who chooses different mediums to make his work unique. Peepal leaf painting is an ancient Indian art. The canvas itself is a leaf, which you don’t get in store. Painting on a peepal leaf is not an easy task and requires a lot of patience and commitment as it takes atleast 45 to 60 days to get the leaf paint-ready and there of course, is no room for errors. Sandesh started painting at a very young age getting all the inspiration he needed from his father. As a child he would be hesitant to show his works to anyone as he didn’t believe he was good enough. “Once I did something which he (Sandesh’s father) really liked when I was 9 or 10. I did oil painting. He was very impressed and bought me paints and brushes. And that’s how it started,” Sandesh remem-

HI WEEKLY

bered. Being an ardent learner, it didn’t take him much time to get good at it. However, after college Sandesh stopped painting and lost touch with it. After a break of 15 long years, when in Oman, he decided to pick up his brush again. But this time he wanted to make his art special, one that would stand out from the crowd of talented masterpieces that people around him were capable of producing. He started peepal leaf painting. “Since this art is new here, I thought let me try my hand on it. Basically I wanted to promote this art because no one does it here. Doing portrait on peepal leaf makes it more special as it is more difficult and challenging. And I like taking up challenges,” he said. Sandesh had made many peepal leaf paintings that he ought to be proud of. From a series on His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said that shows him in different stages of his life, to a portrait of Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, and even the portrait of Mona Lisa, which for him was very difficult as the job of perfecting her smile was indeed a task. Apart from peepal leaves, Sandesh extends his art skills by carving on squid bones, something he stumbled upon while strolling on the beach. He found the texture and feel of the squid bone very interesting and decided to try it out. There are no special carving tools that he uses and this is no conventional form of art. He makes his own tool each time and sculpts his thoughts away taking his own time. Soap is another medium he uses to express his thoughts in the form of art and the intricacy with which he works leaves me stunned everytime I look at his work. Sandesh continues his quest on ﬁnding new medium and objects in which he can carve his imagination and creativity and provide the world with something precious to just watch and admire. —shruthi@timesofoman.com

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

La Voix Humaine - A French Affair at Grand Hyatt Muscat, sponsored by Bank of Beirut.

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

Talent Hunters Oman organised Minara International Dance Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017, at City Amphitheatre, Qurum.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

Oman Avenues Mall recently hosted a ‘sell out’ show by the Omani performing artist, composer, and guitarist, Haitham Al Raﬁ.

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

Chiru Mega Youth Force organised Muscat Mega Mix for Telugu music lovers at the Al Falaj Hotel.

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 66 APRIL 13, 2017

SUDOKU

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

Level | Easy

8 5

4 8

1 5

2 5

8 6

Level | Moderate

9 7

6 7 8

5 6

1 5

9 3

7 5

Level | Difficult

3 3

1 7

PLAY AND WIN

3 8

2 4

SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF OUR SODOKU POST ON FACEBOOK.COM/ HIWEEKLY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN VOUCHERS FROM PIZZA MUSCAT. SOLUTIONS & WINNERS POSTED EVERY SUNDAY.