OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 46,760 COPIES
VOL 10 ISSUE 67 / APRIL 20, 2017
VIEWS OF THE WILD PG10
THIS WEEK IN OMAN
SOAK YOUR SENSES
DIG INTO THIS ROYAL PLATE
FLAUNT THAT BEACHY LOOK
For the ultimate bathing experience drop a bath bomb in the tub and feed your skin with some essential oils. PAGE 12
If you love eating creamy curries, golden fries, and succulent kababs served on a royal platter, visit Maurya’s for a hearty lunch. PAGE 14
Before you get your feet sandy and hair wet make sure you get your beach makeup right. We have rounded up some quick tips. PAGE 16
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 67 APRIL 20, 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 Althaf Abdul Design by Geri B. Sonny For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com
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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
Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend
THE WEEKEND LINEUP
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THURSDAY 10.00am Art for a Cause Tarini Agarwal’s art exhibition, Coloreidoscope, is something all art lovers can look out for this weekend. Her work, which includes abstract paintings and portraits, will be displayed at Majlis Art Cafe until May 2, 2017 Majlis Art Cafe, City Seasons Hotel +968 2439 4800 tariniagarwal.com
21 22 FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4.00pm Fun with Family
7.30pm Music Through the Eras
Enjoy a fun filled summer day with your family this weekend. From jumping castle and face painting to many other activities children and adults can enjoy some great moments along with music with jamming sessions. OMR 2 Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club +968 2451 4080
Attend the ROHM pipe organ concert to witness a rich performance of the four ages of music — the Baroque, Romantic, Classical, and Modern eras. Royal Opera House Muscat +968 2440 3300 Rohmuscat.org
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THERE’S PLENTY OF NEWS THAT MADE WAVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK. HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE WERE TUNING IN TO, FINDS SHRUTHI NAIR
GO TO TIMESOFOMAN.COM/HIWEEKLY FOR VIDEOS AND MORE
TR EN DI NG
THIS WEEK
TOP TRENDING VIDEOS: The Times TV Director takes the Nissan Sentra for a spin and is amazed by its simplicity and efficiency. Check out the video on timesofoman.com
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IN CASE
SNAPCHAT SPAT: Indian social media users went berserk after the CEO of snapchat allegedly called India a poor country. timesofoman.com/hiweekend
YO U M I S S E D I T
UNITED UNHAPPY: United Airlines’ PR disasters just seem to be mounting up. The leggins trouble followed by the infamous forceful (violent) bumping of a passenger, and now the scorpion fall; it’s not a great time for the airline. timesofoman.com/hiweekend
BURGER KING AD: The 15 seconds Burger King ad forced Google Home to fix their device. Find out why. timesofoman.com/hiweekend
#popularhashtag #Coachella2017 #BostonMarathon #HappyEaster
TRENDING MUSIC HARRY STYLES DEBUTS NEW SONG Another member of One Direction started his solo career, Harry Styles, debuting a new track “Sign of the Times”, which knocked off twitterverse. The artist’s new sound is a combination of David Bowie and The Beatles, and people are loving it. timesofoman.com/hiweekend
TRENDING MOVIE FAST 8 MAKES HISTORY The much anticipated movie “The Fate of the Furious” debuts to a huge success worldwide, breaking records held by “Jurassic World” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. The movie debuted with more than half a billion. Now that’s a killer entrance. timesofoman.com/hiweekend
TRENDING FASHION COACHELLA GOERS STRIKE A POSE America’s biggest music festival “Coachella” is taking place this month with an impressive lineup of performances from major music acts, and apparently people don’t go to Coachella for music only. They love the street fashion culture that comes along with it, from springy collections, to summery trends.
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Body of Work: Althaf Abdul A growing community of local photographers in Oman are capturing moments and sharing their unique perspectives on the people, places, and cultures of their homeland through visual stories. Hi Weekly is proud to present photographic selections from local talent that showcase everything that the Sultanate is about, from fashion to food to wildlife. Submissions are welcome.
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Featured Photographer Althaf Abdul Where are you from? I am Indian, currently working in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Where do you get your inspiration from? Bavish - my photography buddy What type of photography do you enjoy the most? Wildlife, birds, and event photography How can people get in touch with you to learn more about your work? Instagram : @althaf_photography Facebook : @Althaf15 Whatsapp : +968 9326 7267
SUBMIT YOUR VISUAL STORIES If you would like your photographic work to be considered for Body of Work, please send a selection of your ten best images (high-resolution), along with answers to the above questions to: salim@timesofoman.com
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WISH LIST
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KAB
BLAST OFF INTO FUNKY LUSH Muscat City Centre, Seeb +968 2454 3364 lushmena.com Instagram: @lushmuscatcitycentre Open from 10am-10pm Sat - Wed; Thurs & Fri 10am till 12 midnight
M IN
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T H E B AT H R STORY SALIM AL AFIFI
Though they do not make explosive noises, they do make a beautiful mess in the water. Settling in for a rewarding soak is always a great idea, and with Lush bath bombs, your senses will be blown up and away to another planet.
BATH BOMBS
are totally in trend at the moment. These bombs do more than blowing up and getting all fizzy in the tub, they actually feed your skin with essential oils that leave your body feeling silky smooth and they produce soothing aromas too. It is undeniably the ultimate bathing experience. What are bath bombs though? Well, these are hard ball-shaped mixture of ingredients that fizz up when it touches water. They are made with oils and a variety of natural ingredients, mixed with acid-based non-harmful chemicals and lathering agents that add a bit of fun to the healthy handmade soaks. Ingredients for these bombs vary, but one thing they have in common is a guaranteed fun experience. I’ve been dying to try these creations ever since Lush opened its door at Muscat City Centre. At the store, they have a ton of scents and oils that will transform your bomb-bathing evening a whole lot of fun. At Lush, they have variety, from fun and whimsical bombs, to more edgy ones. There’s a“big blue” that soften the skin, the floral scented “rose bombshell” that has rose petals, the vanilla scented “think pink”, the spaceinspired “intergalactic” that will take you on a trip to outer space, and the rhapsodic “metamorphosis”. Having a blast in your tub means adding excitement to a rather boring bathing session. It’s time to ditch the bars and dive into the colourful waters in your own bathroom. What else could one ask for. — salim@timesofoman.com
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DINING
RELISH A ROYAL TREAT STORY SWATI DASGUPTA • PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI
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Location: Maurya’s 18th November Street +968 2449 1694 Non Veg Kabab Platter OMR 5.9 Maharaja Non Veg Thali OMR 4.8
I
ndian cuisine, what’s new? That would be the obvious first reaction from anyone who has grown up amidst the aromas and flavours of India if asked to try a new restaurant with Indian flavours. Having been part of the country’s culinary culture despite the varied demographic and ethnic diversity, my reaction was something similar. From the use of spices to the right blend of ingredients, food from the North, South, East, and West India has always been an integral part of my life. But for those unfamiliar with Indian cuisine and having a noticeable love for food in general, the robust delight of Indian cuisine is always welcome. And so as we were heading towards the newly opened café cum restaurant, Maurya’s, that serves a whole array of Indian food, our discussion revolved around creamy curries, golden fries, royal
kababs, and most importantly, on why we all love Indian food. Once at the restaurant, we started with the non veg kabab platter that had the usual mix of fish, prawns, chicken, and mutton kababs. Done to perfection these kababs flood your palate with freshness. Coming to the main course while choices were galore we wanted to go beyond the familiar favourites of chicken tikka masala, mutton rogan josh, koftas, and naans. Giving in to the thrills of thali food, we opted for Maharaja thali that was befitting a king. Thali or a plate is actually a traditional concept of having a complete Indian meal where variety of dishes are served in a huge platter. In short a perfect way to sample a combination of many flavours, in the most functional way.
Over the years this traditional way of eating Indian food has stepped out of the precincts of Indian homes and is now very much a part of restaurant eating. Talk of thali and we had the archetypical imagery in mind — a shining big silvery platter with little bowls and a wide array of food. But to our surprise when the royal platter appeared it was quite a surprise. The gourmet preparations were meticulously arranged on a platter but not on a silvery steel plate as we had expected. Instead they were neatly placed on a beautifully designed bronze plate that caught our attention for its unique shape, good portion size of the food, and to have curries from both North and South India. While you have an option of choosing vegetarian or a non vegetarian thali, either way there is quite a bit of choices. A typical non vegetarian Maharaja thali has two non vegetarian curries, two vegetarian curries with non vegetarian kebabs along with rice, choice of bread, and other accompaniments. The galouti kebabs as starters were perfect melt in mouth. From breakfast and lunch to dinner and other in-between specialities, at Maurya’s there is almost everything that can titillate your Indian palate. Be it the North India’s chole batura or South India’s ubiquitous dosas and idlis, to the shahi kababs and the curries bursting with freshness of the masalas, at Maurya’s there are many dishes to explore. —swati@timesofoman.com
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BEAUTY
STORY ANTARA BOSE
The beach is all about getting your feet sandy, you hair wet and even getting a little salt in your mouth. We all want to flaunt that ‘beachy’ look once we’ve soaked up enough sun (and sea-water); but it takes a lot more than just frolicking at the beach to get that sun-kissed, flawlessly natural, cover-girl-at-the-beach look. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend the day obsessing over your makeup. We’ve rounded up some quick tips to make sure you get your beach makeup just right. —HiWeekend@timesofoman.com
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FACE Beach and foundation don’t go together – not at all. (Unless you plan to sit under an umbrella with hostesses to fan and feed you berries throughout – oh, how majestic.) But we understand that not all of us are blessed with flawless skin that can kiss makeup goodbye. And then there are the UV rays that we all need protection against. SPFs are a must and should be applied before any other product. You can then top it up with a simple BB (beauty-balm) cream for full coverage or just CC (colour -control) creams if you want to only concentrate on particular problem areas. If you don’t have the patience to layer products, simply go for a tinted moisturiser with a good amount of UVA and UVB filters. If you are considering getting a little tan, opt for a tinted moisturiser that is slightly darker than your natural skin tone. This will ensure that you have uniformly toned skin. A particular area you might want to place a little more emphasis on is around the eyes. This delicate and often less focused area is where the first signs of ageing show up and constant unfiltered exposure to sun only catalyses the process. Dabbing on a concealer with some SPF not only protects the skin under the eye but also works to instantly make your face look brighter.
EYEBROWS Probably one of the trickiest makeup spots, (and one that has caused much alarm to the ill-informed but experimental souls) eyebrows are actually ones that need the least amount of time and product. When it comes to eyebrows and beach, there is nothing more comfortable and safer than just ensuring they are well shaped and neatly done. But for those who obsess about eyebrows a wee bit more than required, the best bet would be a clear gel to keep flyaway brows at bay. Powder and liquid brow pencils are a straight no-no. Swap it with a pencil in a shade lighter than the natural brow colour and ensure you’ve grounded it with some waterproof gel on your brow as well as the skin beneath it. A brow wash, though might be hilarious for others, is not going to be a pleasant personal experience. EYELINER Well, we’ll leave that ‘twinkle in your eyes’ to your secret crush; but you can definitely follow our guide to get that right summer sparkle with your eyeliner. Summer is all about colour and the glistening sands demand you bring out your own glitter-andglam. Apply a waterproof pencil liner along the lashes in a darker shade for a fuller base and smudge it up a little to spread it over your eyelid. Now, to bring in the shimmer, top it with a sparkling, more vibrant shade in teal, turquoise or even a violet. And then just let your eyes do the talking. LASHES A day out in the beach demands you to keep your makeup minimal, or at least look like you have minimal makeup on. Mascaras work wonders to give the perfect no-makeup look. Enhance those eyes by applying some heavy-duty waterproof mascara and get ready to flutter away.
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LIPS Lipsticks are for prom nights, lipsticks are for catwalks. For the beach, say hello to lip tints. The summer sun can be quite harsh on skin and dry lips are prone to get flaky. So bring in the best of both worlds — moisturiser with a dash of colour, in the form of a tinted lip balm. It’s important to maintain the right texture to keep your lips looking luscious through the day. Matte finishes will make you look dull while too much gloss is bound to smear all over in a sticky mess. The trick is to maintain a balance. If you really want more colour than what your lip tint is offering, skip the lipstick and use only a lip liner to add that colour over your lip balm. BRONZE AND BLUSH Don’t try any contouring if you intend to stay out on the beach. It’ll look too artificial and probably won’t even last. Use a bronzer to give you that sultry look and remain as natural as possible. Follow the usual pattern - above your cheekbones, right up to your hairline and on the T-zone (nose, temple, and chin). If you love blush, choose a light colour in peach or pink and dust just a little on the apples of your cheek. Make sure you are not using a cream based formula and avoid bronzers which have too much shimmer. Bonus: Don’t forget your nail polish. Ditch the subtle colours and go for something that is more fun. As vivacious as sporting nail art is, if you’d rather spend your time getting your skew sticks and swimwear in place than sitting at a nail spa, just do your nails with the fresh colours of the seasons. Bright yellows, intense oranges or vivid shades of blue – nothing is too bright for the beach.
Hi Beauty Editor, 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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Huawei Consumer Business Group launched the new HUAWEI P10 and HUAWEI P10 Plus.
IN FOCUS DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FOCUS? SHARE YOUR PICTURES WITH US ON FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY
Mohammed Al Shehhi, a singing sensation in the Gulf with 30 million hits on his YouTube, shared the stage with singers, Haitham RaďŹ and Mohammed Al Menji. The event was organised by Axis Events in association with LuLu and Malabar Gold at the Al Bustan Palace- a Ritz Carlton Hotel.
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Hyderabadi Community in Muscat organised a family picnic for their members.
IN FOCUS DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FOCUS? SHARE YOUR PICTURES WITH US ON FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY
A swimming meet was organised by Zoggs and the Nautilus Swimming Club at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
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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
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8 9
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2 5
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9 6
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Level | Moderate
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Level | Difficult
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3 2 4
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PLAY AND WIN
6 2 5
1
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4 3
3 1
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.