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VOL 10 ISSUE 56 / FEBRUARY 2, 2017
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THIS WEEK IN OMAN
PICK UP YOUR CHOPSTICKS
SCREAM AT THE MUSCAT FESTIVAL
CHEER FOR AN OMANI SINGER
At Mamasan in Ghubra, no Chinese feast is complete without Jasmine tea and a pair of chopsticks. PAGE 16
The Muscat Festival at Naseem Park is the best place in Oman to try the latest, greatest adrenalinepumping rides. PAGE 10
The Mohammed Rafi Al Balushi family sing for the love of music, and their raw talents have earned them places on the world stage. PAGE 18
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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 scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com Chief Executive Editor Scott Armstrong 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 Bhargav Viswanathan
gautam@timesofoman.com
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
richard@timesofoman.com
Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenham aziz@timesofoman.com
Head Of Advertising & Marketing Aziz K. Baker Production Manager Shafi Shaik On The Cover Design by Geri B. Sonny Photography by Mahmood Al Raisi For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com
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HI WEEKLY
THE WEEKEND LINEUP
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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
PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED
02 03 04 THURSDAY
1:00pm Colour Me Crazy
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
It’s not Holi yet, but do you really need a reason to have some fun with colours and music? Wear white clothes and a bright smile to Al Nahda Resort and Spa for a colour party complete with live DJ’s, crazy competitions, and karaoke. OMR 6 entry includes five colour packs and a water gun. Al Nahda Resort and Spa, Barka +968 9827 3473
6:00am Trek Underground
8:00pm LOL
You might have been to the Al Hoota caves before, but if you want to trek beyond the rope path, you’ll want to go with a certified instructor. Trek and climb through the unexplored sections of the cave on this outdoor (in-cave) adventure.
O’Malley’s is hosting an entertaining stand-up comedy night with some really funny and talented comedians. It’s a great way to end the weekend on a good humored note.
2:00am Late-night Burger Binge
Al Hoota Caves +968 2469 2892 Twenty3extreme.com
Do you ever have desperate burger cravings at night? What about when you’re on the way home from a party and hunger strikes? Fear not, starting this weekend, Burgers and Co are now open until 5am every Thursday and Friday so you can get your fix. Burgers and Co Shatti Al Qurum +968 9411 8855
2:00pm Oman’s First Music Festival 12-hours of music, fun, and food await at the Park Inn rooftop lounge where local and international DJs, an awardwinning band, and a fireshow will keep you grooving all day. Stag entry is OMR 12 (includes 1 beverage), ladies enter free. Sama Terrazza Park Inn, Al Khuwair +968 2450 7888 Parkinn.com
O’Malley’s Radisson Blu, Al Khuwair +968 2448 7777
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WADI AL KHOUDH This is one of the largest wadis in the Sultanate, and it is located within Muscat. Its breezy weather and exotic atmosphere make it a favourite place to have a campfire and barbecue for both locals and expats who know about it, though it remains undiscovered by many. Location: Wadi Al Khoudh, Al Khoudh Village, Seeb
DUNES OF BOUSHER Bousher dunes is the closest thing to a proper desert that you can find within Muscat. The huge sand dune is similar to those in Wahiba Sands, except that it rises above residential areas and busy streets, rather than the expanse of the Empty Quarter. It is a great place to have a dune-top barbecue, if you can get up there in your 4x4. Location: Bousher, Muscat (nearby Expressway)
AL KHOUDH STREET This long road is one of the most popular spots for wintertime campfires. Starting from The University roundabout and running all the way to the Muscat Expressway, the area is mostly occupied by young men who enjoy a late tea and chat by their fires. Location: Al Khoudh Street, Seeb
BEACHES Beaches may be summertime favourites, but in the winter they are some of the best places to set up campfires and enjoy the chilly ocean breeze. Some of the best places for a beach side campfire are nearby Ghubra and Azaiba, Barka’s Sawadi beach, and slightly more remote Yiti and Sifah.
AL MAQAMAT STREET Locally known as ‘racing street’, this Al Mabela thoroughfare stretches from industrial Al Mabela to Sultan Qaboos main road in Barka. What sets this area apart is that it is spacious, relatively quiet, and family-friendly. Watching the cars go by while you enjoy the flames is a bonus. Location: Al Maqamat Street, Al Mabela, Seeb
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A MUSCAT THRILL RIDE (OR THREE) STORY SHRUTHI NAIR
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ho doesn’t like a good, old-fashioned festival? Whether it is a religious function, a cultural tradition, or just an annual event to celebrate as a country, at the end of the day, a festival is a great reason to gather as a family or a group of friends to enjoy a different kind of nightlife. Here in Oman, Muscat Festival is something that we all eagerly look forward to as it offers an array of cultural, educational, and recreational entertainment options that can make anyone feel like a kid again. The activities at Al Amerat Park are cultural, with international and local pavilions, while the ambiance at Naseem Garden in Seeb is more akin to a colourful carnival. Huge stages house various local and international performances, a food court area offers fast food, Indian food, and Arabic food, and as you stroll through the park, you will be greeted by cute mascots and performers walking on sticks. The new rainforest is filled with exotic plants and flowers, ducks and rabbits, all a pleasant change of pace for our desert home. The shopping is also fun, with rows and rows of vendors selling clothing, accessories, fragrances, spices, household items, and food from different regions of the country, as well as small halwa stations scattered in different sections of the park where strong, dishdashaclad men stir and cook the thick sweet and sell it fresh. Being an adrenaline junkie, there is one section, in the noisiest part of the Naseem Garden, that has been my favourite since I was a kid: the rides area. Year after year, I spend hours there, enjoying the childlike joy of the blinking lights and pulse-quickening rides. Every year, Muscat Festival introduces classic and new rides including roller-coasters, electric swings, pendulums, and more. This year, I rode them all, and can tell you, there are three particularly exciting rides you really shouldn’t miss. —shruthi@timesofoman.com
Have you been to Muscat Festival? What are your favourite attractions? Show us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly
VIST THE MUSCAT FESTIVAL Hours: daily from 4pm-11pm Entrance Fee: adults 200 baisa, children 100 baisa Rides and Performances: Naseem Park, Seeb Cultural Pavilions: Al Amerat Park, Al Amerat More Information: Local Contact Centre: 1111, muscat-festival.com
CRAZY DANCE This ride rotates and revolves at very high speeds, so make sure your stomach is relatively empty when you get on. There are four blocks of four two-seater benches, and each of the seats rotate in an haphazard manner, flinging you from side to side at an almost 90-degree inclination. The trippy lights and the music, whose tempo varies with the speed of the ride, makes it all the more fun. You will scream and yell and definitely have loads of fun.
TAGADA This ride is as weird as its name. Essentially a big circle, you need to find a place for yourself along the circumference. Easy enough, right? Well, the catch is that the ride has no belts, just a railing bar behind you that you can hold on to. It feels a bit like sitting on a rickety bus that’s flying down a road with too many potholes. It goes up and down and round and round. Make sure you hold on to the railing tight. The whole experience is hilarious, and you are likely to find yourself laughing all throughout.
SLING SHOT The best of the bunch, as the name suggests, this ride involves two people being propelled upwards in a catapultlike contraption at crazy high speeds. You can never be sure if you’re going to face upwards or downwards while on the ride, making it the most thrilling ride at the festival. Sling Shot is a great combination of height and speed, and it is not for the faint-hearted.
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Body of Work:Mahmood Al Raisi 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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Meet the Photographer Mahmood Al Raisi
Where are you from? Muscat, Oman
Where do you get your inspiration from? I get my inspiration from the beach. The sound of the sea gives me ideas.
What type of photography do you enjoy the most? Fashion, beauty, and social media events.
How can people get in touch with you to learn more about your work? Contact: +968 9879 9599 E-mail: alraisi.photography@outlook.com Instagram: @mh_ph Snapchat: @mh_ph
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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OMANI SLANG
OUTBU R S T S & E X PR E S S IO N S
Interspersed with the Arabic conversations overheard throughout the capital city, even native Arabic speakers might be surprised to hear some unfamiliar words. Though Arabic is the official language in the Sultanate, there are all kinds of words and phrases that are purely local. Here’s your monthly primer from Omani Hi editor, Salim Al Afifi. — hiweekend@timesofoman.com ILLUSTRATION WINIE WIDYA ARIANY
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EDITOR’S LUNCH
MAMASAN’S MEMORABLE CHINESE DINING STORY HI EDITORS • PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI
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his week we headed to Mamasan restaurant in Ghubra, and what we discovered was some of the best Chinese food, and the most charming East Asian dining, in Muscat. From the steamed and fried dumplings to the jasmine tea and chopsticks, this hidden gem had a lot to offer. We loved it all, but each editor walked away with fierce favourites. —hiweekend@timesofoman.com Gautam’s Stir-fried Beef with Oyster Sauce and Black Pepper Tender strips of succulent beef cooked to perfection and tossed with a happy melange of oyster sauce and ground black peppercorns are blissfully delicious. The dish reminds me of Goldilocks from the “Three Bears” story, in that it is not too hot, not too bland, but juuuuuust right. The red and yellow bell peppers tossed in alongside the savoury beef don’t just add to the aesthetics of the plating, but also provide some much-needed crunch and zing to the dish, as do the slivers of carrots and sharp spring onions. The versatile so-called “fusion dish” went great with both rice and noodles, though I would have happily eaten it with a salad or on its own. OMR3.900 Salim’s Sweet and Sour Chicken (or Prawns) A classic Chinese take-away favourite, it wasn’t a surprise to see sweet and sour on the menu. But the execution of the dish was head-turning. The awesome East Asian tang was perfected in the luscious sauce spiked with sugar, rice vinegar, and who-knowns-what else, which coated the crispy pieces of fried chicken (they also make the dish with their tender, perfectly cooked prawns). I loved it. OMR 4.900/7.500 Swati’s Steamed Hamour with Ginger and Spring Onion If you are looking for something simple yet flavourful and wholesome, too, then steamed hamour with spring onions and ginger is a dream dish. As the platter arrives on your table you will see hamour filets neatly arranged in a sea of thin soy sauce, topped with plenty of chopped spring onions. The fillets are fresh and full of flavour in a dish that is light, but also very satisfying. True fish lovers said that steamed fish is the best way to eat fish, and when topped with soy sauce, cilantro, fresh ginger, and slivers of spring onion as it was here, I fully agree. For someone whose palate is attuned to having fish fried and then dunk in rich gravy, this milder and lighter version of fish will be a revelatory and welcome change. OMR 4.900 Shruthi’s Crispy Shredded Shitake Mushrooms Being a hardcore carnivore, rarely do I ever even consider tasting vegetarian dishes. But this beautiful plate of dry black curls intrigued me. I was first bewitched by the unusual look of the dish, but I was totally smitten with the first bite. I spooned the crispy,
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black mushrooms into my mouth and was converted (for at least 15-minutes) into a devout vegetarian. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with an almost meat-like flavour, the shitake mushroom’s rice batter gave it an unbelievably satisfying texture. But what was that taste? I got a hint of soy sauce as I kept chewing, but the savoury dish was also somehow sweet. Upon closer inspection, I discovered fine sugar granules embedded in the crisp batter, but I never did figure out what exactly it was about this vegetarian dish that made it so magically irresistible. OMR 4.900 Felicia’s Dumplings I am crazy about Chinese dumplings. I love the chewy texture and the juicy fillings and all the interesting flavours and combinations that I would find in Chinatown in New York. Here in Oman, there are usually vegetable or chicken gyozas, but it can be hard to find much more than that at most of the Asian restaurants around town. I was thrilled when the baskets of steamed dumplings began parading out of the kitchen towards our table at Mamasan, even more so when the lids were removed. A wonderful array of round, expertly seasoned lobster buns; colourful little open packets that turned out to be a brilliant prawn-and-veggie-twist on shao mai; crescent-shaped, steamed chicken, vegetable, and prawn dumpling; as well as an order of crisp-fried seafood dumplings. I devoured the offerings, slathering the savoury snacks with chilli paste. Honestly, I would have been happy to have continued like that all afternoon, receiving steamer basket after steamer basket full of my favourite Chinese snack. Cantonese Steamed Lobster Buns OMR6.600 Cantonese Shrimp Dumplings OMR 4.500 Shrimp Shao Mai OMR 4.500 Steamed Chicken Dumplings OMR3.500 Pan-fried Seafood Dumplings 4.00 Everyone: Jasmine Tea We don’t often enjoy tea with our meals here in the Middle East. Perhaps some kahwa beforehand, or a nice, sweet mint tea after, but during dinner? It just isn’t done. So sipping on delicate little cups (about twice the size of a fenjan) filled with floral pours of jasmine tea as we ate our meal was a subtle, but extremely pleasant surprise. It was touches of authenticity like this (and our chopstick mishaps) that made Mamasan one of our most memorable editorial lunches to date.
MAMASAN RESTAURANT Sahwa Tower, Ghubra +968 9889 5766, +968 2421 0451 fourseasonsoman.com
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STORY SHRUTHI NAIR
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In the 1970s, a young Omani man sat in the audience of his favourite Indian singer, Mohammed Rafi, at a concert in Abu Dhabi. A message was handed to him. His wife was about to deliver his child. A few hours later, a beautiful baby boy was born, and without a second thought, the proud father named him Mohammed Rafi Al Balushi.
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s the years passed, the boy grew into his legendary name as his talent and love for singing developed and blossomed. Limited means meant there were not opportunities to professionally develop his skills, but that hardly mattered for the natural-born singer. Mohammed Rafi would sit at home and listen to famous Arab and Indian musicians, letting their recorded voices serve as his tutors. He would sing out loud to himself and perform for his family members, who appreciated his efforts and encouraged him to continue to sing, even if only for them. Everything changed when Mohammed met Dr Sanjay Dalal in 2006. Dr Sanjay was the man behind Talent Hunters Oman, a company that promotes and provides a platform for local and expatriate talent in the Sultanate. Dr. Sanjay recognised Mohammed Rafi’s raw talent when the young man took everyone by surprise winning runnerup in a singing competition, Muscat Icon (previously Muscat Idol), after having had no previous professional training. With the help of Dr Sanjay, he began performing in local shows across Muscat, entertaining crowds with both Arabic and Hindi songs. Mohammed Rafi would occasionally bring his own little girl, Asma Mohammed Rafi , with him to rehearsals. She would casually stroll around and hum tunes, and on one such day, Dr Sanjay overheard her and asked her if she enjoyed singing. “Thoda thoda,” she said, indicating that she could sing a bit. She couldn’t speak Hindi well, but she picked up the diction and pronunciation of lyrics flawlessly and started singing with the Muscat Icon Group, thus becoming her family’s second generation of musical talent. A few years later, Zee TV, a popular Indian network channel, began looking for talent from different countries. Asma’s name immediately came up. Her strong voice, beautiful tonal quality, and astonishing confidence won their hearts, and a place in their hugely celebrated talent show, which was broadcast to millions in India and across the world. Her biggest strength in the competition was her supremely confident stage presence, which was unexpected from a young woman who was born in a relatively conservative society. She was an instant sensation in India, with banners carrying her face and name reflecting her huge fan following. People hovered around her for autographs and photographs as they gave her their best wishes. Hundreds of people who had never heard of the Sultanate of Oman,
were now rooting for the young talent from that country. Asma competed well, ending up in the top ten of the overall competition. Her musical career continued for a few years after returning to Oman, where people still recognised her from the show. She was offered professional singing gigs on local shows as a chief guest and as a judge for new competition programmes, however, after getting married, she put down the microphone, ending her musical career. But it was far from the end of the Mohammed Rafi family’s musical legacy. Asma’s younger brother Haitham Mohammed Rafi, developed a passion for singing and playing instruments at a very young age. His father was his inspiration, and like him, Haitham was self-taught. So, when his family’s longtime talent manager, Dr Sanjay, learned of the Dil Hai Hindustani competition, he felt this could be Haitham’s big break. The competition was tough, with thousands of entries coming in from hundreds of countries around the world. Haitham first sent his voice recording to India. After nervous waiting, he learned that he had been shortlisted for the show, making him one among only 400 contestants from around the globe who were selected. He arrived in Mumbai where he received his firstever formal training from mentors in the entertainment industry. It was a huge step for him. After a couple weeks of intense training and scrutiny, it was time for him to perform on the main stage of Dil Hai Hindustani in front of a live audience that numbered in the thousands, as well as millions watching him on television from home. With a humble confidence, donning a crisp dishdasha and colourful mussar, Haitham took the stage. The room was silent as he began to sing. He finished his song and opened his eyes, looking out over the massive crowd. Thunderous applause erupted. Thoroughly impressing the judges, Haitham had secured his place in the competition. Round after round, Haitham kept getting better and more confident, the training and exposure helping him push his talent to the next level. Throughout, his eyes remain fixed on the prize—the chance to sing in a Bollywood film. A life-changing opportunity. Currently, Haitham Mohammed Rafi is one of the top 10 finalists in the competition and is certainly living the dream. He has been meeting and interacting with top names in industry who come on the show as guest judges; etching his name and voice into their minds. In a recent episode Haitham met the legendary actor, Shah Rukh Khan, who performed with him on stage. A dream come true. Though Haitham is now the Rafi family member in the limelight, back home his family legacy continues in a quieter way as his younger siblings, 15-year-old Amin, 14-yearold Basam, and 7-year-old Fatma, begin to hum and sing. As the young Rafi children innocently play and run around the streets of their village, the sound of their sweet songs echo off the stone walls. Their family’s musical legacy may already be established, but their destinies remain yet-to-be discovered. —shruthi@timesofoman.com
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IN FOCUS DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FOCUS? SHARE YOUR PICTURES WITH US ON FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY
Oman Avenues Mall’s inaugural ‘Fashion Season’ campaign was held with a series of stylish events, activities, workshops, and promotions.
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IN FOCUS DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FOCUS? SHARE YOUR PICTURES WITH US ON FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY Indian School Al Maabela celebrated India’s 68th Republic Day.
Kalabhavan School of Music and Arts celebrated its 11th annual day at the Grand Hall in Al Falaj Hotel.
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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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SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF OUR SODOKU POST ON FACEBOOK. COM/HIWEEKLY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN VOUCHERS FROM PIZZA MUSCAT.
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SOLUTIONS & WINNERS POSTED EVERY SUNDAY.