Hi weekly july 20 2017 pdf by Muscat Media Group

OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 46,760 COPIES

VOL 10 ISSUE 79 / JULY 20, 2017

Racing Up the Wall PG12

THIS WEEK IN OMAN

UPGRADE YOUR WORKOUT LOOK

SNAP UP THE SNAKE TREND

EAT IN AN ARMY STYLE SETTING

Dressing up for the gym is as important as staying fit. Here’s a quick rundown on what you should be wearing to the gym to look stylish. PAGE 10

Whether as a bag or as a dress, snakeskin is one style statement that has not gone out of fashion. Reptilian way is here to stay. PAGE 14

If you want to take a bite in an adventurous ambiance, then visit Bunker in Qurum and feast on your favourite military style burgers. PAGE 16

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

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 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 214 swati@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

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

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

THURSDAY Catch the Flick Spiderman, after having gained some experience with the Avengers returns home but is under the surveillance of Tony Stark. Yes, you get two superheroes in this one. Watch it this weekend while its still in the cinemas near you City Cinema Vox Cinema +968 2460 7360 +968 2234 4444

FRIDAY 10.00am Click and Shoot Learn the basics of photography with hands-on tutorials. You will learn to use a DSLR and click better pictures and edit photos. Vantage International +968 9343 5226

Kebab Festival There is a culinary treat for all you meat lovers at Yellow Chilli until 31st July. Explore their delicious kebabs straight from the tandoor. Panorama Mall Al Mouj Muscat +968 2454 1717 +968 9490 5460

HI WEEKLY

SATURDAY 7.30pm Tickle Your Funnybone Are you prepared to laugh heartily like no one’s watching? Then head to Monk’s Tap House to witness a new line of comics perform and entertain you. OMR 5 cover charge Monk’s Tap House, The Cave +968 2465 1056

077

THE WEEKEND LINEUP

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

8 08

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

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 & SALIM AL AFIFI

GO TO TIMESOFOMAN.COM/HIWEEKLY FOR VIDEOS AND MORE

TR EN DI NG

THIS WEEK

TOP TRENDING VIDEOS: Has any other press conference attracted this crazy amount of attention ever? I am talking about Mayweather vs McGregor press conferences that are trending this week amongst other videos. Watch them on timesofoman.com/hiweekend.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

HI WEEKLY IN CASE

099

YO U M I S S E D I T

NET NEUTRALITY: The future of the internet was at stake as the Net Neutrality policy was being rolled back and everyone online (rightly so) devoted a huge chunk of time talking about it. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

SIR AND RUMI Beyonce posted a photo of her with her twins on their 1st month anniversary and her fans couldn’t stop drooling over the babies’ cuteness and the mom’s elegance. timesofoman. com/hiweekend

TRENDING MUSIC KE$HA BACK IN BUSINESS The pop sensation is finally back in the studio for her upcoming album ‘Rainbow’ set for an August release, and her fans are in full anticipation mode. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

IT IS A QUALIFICATION There is some good news for social media inﬂuencers. You can now get an Associate degree to be one. Find out more about it on timesofoman.com/hiweekend

#popularhashtag TRENDING MOVIE WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES Here’s another installment of the apes versus humans movie franchise. The film is intense and not to be missed. And, it opened with more than $50 million in America alone. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

TRENDING FASHION COSPLAY AT COMIC CON Comic Con season is in full swing, which means superhero costumes, interesting looks and fashion fails. Thanks to social media, we get a peek too. timesofoman.com/hiweekend

#SorryNotSorry #NotInMyName #WorldFringeDay

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

BEAUTY

STORY ANTARA BOSE

Though the gym isn’t traditionally the place you’d ‘dress to impress’, the unwritten codes of this now evolving social space swanked with judgemental people demand that we get noticed for the right reasons. On a lighter note, we have to admit that feeling conﬁdent gives us the energy to perform better and we could all do with an additional energy boost at the gym.

ADD SOME COLOUR AND FUN Don’t blend in with the gym equipment with monotones of blacks and greys. Gyms are all about energy, vitality and the unbeatable enthusiasm to look better than yesterday. So bring in some life and add colour to your outfits. A bright top with a motivating text or even a pair of eye-catching sneakers in the season’s colour would go to ensure everyone knows your place in the gym. Not just that, it’ll even bring out the vibrancy from within you. HIGHLIGHT AND DOWNPLAY We all have problem areas (that’s why we are at the gym in the first place, right?); and then we have areas that we can naturally show off even if the scales aren’t on our side. Opt for lighter colours for areas you want to highlight and darker ones for the places you want to downplay. If you have great arms and collarbones, by all means, show it off with a well-fitted tank top and let it serve as a personal motivation to bring out those abs next. Tip: If you’re trying to make your legs look slimmer or hide those stubborn love handles and lower belt that simply refuse to shape into abs – wear high rise bottoms in a darker solid colour and instead of wearing bright shoes, go for sneakers in the same colour. Florescent laces or a dash of vibrant colour somewhere

on the sides or along the sole will give it the pop of colour without interrupting the silhouette. An outline of the same colour leads to a smooth, unbroken line from the hip to the ground giving the illusion of sleeker legs. A colour contrast, on the other hand, breaks this line making you look stouter. WEAR A FIT RIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR WORKOUT Fitted gym-wears are encouraged for more reasons than one. If you are into something like yoga or acrobatics, it is essential to wear ﬁts that while allowing you to stretch to your maximum also does not show off what’s more than necessary while you hang in unusual positions. If your routine includes a lot of running, skipping and high intensity cardio, wearing a good sports inner wear is essential not only to give a good shape on the outside but to save you from serious ligament pulls. Being uncomfortable, self-conscious or stopping to tuck things in place every now and then is only going to disrupt your workout; and it’s quite annoying to watch. Tip: Basics that are closest to your body can reach their expiry quicker than others. Watch out for distorted cups, underwire slips or a looser ﬁt. As much as we’d like to believe it has gotten looser because we’ve shed some weight, there’s a pretty high chance it has also lost its elasticity. Go on an immediate shopping expedition and get some more.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

HI WEEKLY

A GOOD CHANGE OF CLOTHES Yes, it is important to come dressed right, but if you want to show everyone you’re just as geared up to take on other fields of your life, make sure you walk out of the shower room with the same preparedness you came in with; which means no pyjamas, old T-shirts or floppy sandals. If you’ve managed to catch some attention in the gym room, there’s a good chance everyone would like to see (and judge) how you are beyond your time in the gym too. WEAR SWEAT-WICKING FABRIC And that’s not 100% cotton. Sweat at the gym is a norm; but there is a very thin line between being the ‘inspiring one’ who’s sweating it out oh-so-marvellously and the smelly ‘repulsive’ one you’d want to maintain safe distance from (and might even resort to sanitising the equipment they touched before getting on it). Though cotton has been the popular choice for comfortable summer wear, we must remember that this fabric also soaks moisture and takes time to dry. What you’ll be left with is a sweat-clad T-shirt that unattractively sticks to your body. This can cause skin irritation and even increased friction in chafeprone areas. Not to mention, those ugly sweat stains that appear in inappropriate places. A lot of sports brands have skilfully engineered useful technical fabrics in varying styles to ensure gym time remains comfortable and stylish. Look out for quick-drying synthetics and ‘breathable’ gym wear. Tip: Gym attires in dry-fit, mesh styles are great not just as a sweat-wicking fabric but also to show off flaunt-able areas without exposing too much. A WELL-SEGMENTED GYM BAG So you aren’t clumsily dropping personal belongings in the locker room. As handy as it is to keep things organised and in the right place (without shampoo stains on your new set of clothes) it’s also a great gym accessory that you can make a statement with. Just like your pretty purse. And in case you forgot where you kept it, be certain your crush will have no difficulty spotting it for you. EXPERIMENT WITH HAIR STYLES Not perms, blowouts or wedding hair-do kind of styles, but smart, sporty, lets-keep-hair-off-my-face ones. High ponytails, simple plaits and buns are common, so try something different like a set of old-school pigtails, a reverse-braid ponytail or even one-sided fish braids. And nothing says ‘I’m off to the gym’ like a perky headband. It looks really cute too and keeps those fringes, bangs and stubborn flicks away from your eyes. Keep a range of colourful headbands at hand — it’s a fun and easy way to colour coordinate outfits and look gym-ready. Don’t be surprised if that weight-pumping big girl stops by to take some styling tips from you instead of commenting on your routine. MAKEUP Don’t get too excited and let us rephrase ‘makeup’ and call it ‘just a little touch up’, shall we? Makeup and gym don’t go together. But if you’re one of those who won’t step out without makeup, don’t worry; there are always those secret hacks. A little clear gel on the eyebrows, some mascara and a rosy lip tint are all that you need to sport a naturally gorgeous face while you sweat it out; and no one will know you have makeup on. Well, as long as you ensure they’re all waterproof. WEAR A SMILE Yes, we know how the ‘I’m-pumping-up’ face looks. We also understand that perspiring like the gym’s water fountain while running like you’re being chased by a tornado aren’t situations where you could be concentrating on a million dollar smile. But keep a happy face and avoid sulking like you’ve been forced to activate the most rusted parts of your body much against your will. A smiling face when everyone is going through the same pain is always a morale booster. Watch the guy next to you run another mile on the treadmill once you’ve given him that empathetically warm ‘I-feel-you’ smile. WORKOUT Yes, workout! Everyone in that room is there for the same reason and daring to be different is probably just going to make people wonder why you came in the first place. Strutting around with your gym wear around each machine isn’t going to impress anyone. Besides, it’s quite distracting for those working out and we don’t mean in an attractive way. Go through the routine you planned and stay focused on 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)

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

verywhere you look in Oman, you will definitely find huge mountains standing tall and strong like guardians. While I have been on a number of hikes and treks (and I’m still unsure if I know what is the difference between the two) here, I have never really gathered the courage to try mountaineering for a number of reasons. Firstly, my upper body, especially my arms are so weak that I’ve almost cried after I was asked to do 5 push-ups in a workout session. Also while I am not really scared of heights, but the insecurity of having by the harness and possibly scraping myself against the rough rocks hasn’t seemed like a pleasant idea. At most of all I’ve never really found a person or a group that can train me to try this out in the wild. So at this level, what I needed was a practice field of sorts. And that came along my way as soon as I discovered Muscat Wall Climbing. While wall climbing can be a lot of fun and may look easy, it is a very physically challenging activity. The first time I had tried wall climbing was outside the Al Hoota Caves while we were waiting for our train to come. There was a kid trying to climb up the wall holding on to the different coloured foot and hand grips. He finally managed to get to the top and pressed on the red buzzer, which is when I noticed the timer on the wall. That got us all excited and my friends and I, one by one, attempted to climb the wall and pressed the buzzers

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

HI WEEKLY

at different times ranging between 7 and 58 seconds. Although I didn’t realise it while climbing due to the time pressure, when I got down I found out that I had worked my arms, legs, and core apart from my mind to strategically place my hands and legs on the grips. This was my cue to look for a climbing centre in Muscat because I could obviously not drive all the way to Nizwa every day. I was grateful to have finally found a fun way to get my pathetically miserable upper body stronger in a fun, sporty way. And Eureka! I found just the best place. Hidden behind the Ghubra Power and Desalination Plant is the Muscat Climbing Centre, a huge space for adventure lovers and strength testers. It is an open hall with different kinds of walls with varied angles of inclinations and differently coloured grippers. There was a lot of energy oozing out of the place, with the bright lights and the pumped up vibes. I was shown around and explained some of the rules of climbing briefly before I decided to try one of the walls out for myself. The first wall I chose was a bad choice for me. It was inclining outwards and had no harness to support. Basically, this was for the pros, which I was not. So then I jumped to the next wall. It had two ropes, one tied on to me and the other one tied on to another person who would stand on the floor whilst I climbed to balance it out. I did have to use my arms, legs, and my mind to get right to the top as climbing a professional wall does require a little bit of strategising when it comes to the placement of hands and legs on grips. While climbing up was a task, coming down was fun too. Just letting go and hanging mid air. There are ways to make this challenging by either setting a time limit or competing with friends or by making sure you use only a single colour of the grip to climb. Wall climbing can also be considered as a warm up for mountain climbing and helps you develop the required skill and strength for it. Well, I am just glad to have found out another activity in Oman that gets added to my weekend workout schedule. —shruthi@timesofoman.com

Muscat Climbing Centre, behind the Ghubra Power and Desalination Plant Sun-Thurs 1:00pm-9:00pm Fri-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm +968 9344 4787

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

FASHION

FEEL THE LUXE STORY SALIM AL AFIFI • PHOTOS SUPPLIED

f you are looking for a mix of exoticism and elegance, then snakeskin is the way to go. The trend never gets old, as designers love it, and fashionistas dig it. Adding these pieces to your wardrobe will add quite a value to its wearer, and rocking it will deﬁnitely make you stand out with a character of your own. In Oman, we have our very own brand that we celebrate with when it comes to this trend. Sadz Designs, a brand so unique you’d want it gracing your closets today before tomorrow. Sadz Design is an accessory brand launched in 2013 by Sara Al Zadjali, offering you leather goods that will give you that sparkle needed to complement your ensemble. Her stuff are made of genuine leathers that include exotic materials from pythons, watersnakes, ayers, and crocodile, giving you a trendy accessory that screams fashion. The designer has a passion for handbags, and she is a perfectionist at heart as you can see from her detailed designs. The brand is manufactured by Italian experts who brought Sara’s vision to life, and today, the brand is one of the best in town. Now, how to strut in these goods you ask? Sadz Designs has a variety of bags that will suit your desired look, you can get a clutch for your elegant date night or keep the strip long for a casual touch. You can also rock the bags with your jeans and crop-tops, too. Also, this is not a women-only brand, which makes us boys happy. You can get killer wallets and cardholders from her men’s collection. The trend has been here and forever will be, now get stylish. —salim@timesofoman.com

THE LOOKOUT The Lookout is an ubercool fashion boutique offering a selection of fashionable pieces from around the globe. The place has a variety of items ranging from simple tees and blazers for him to accessories, handbags, dresses, and swimwear for her. It’s a one-stop-shop for everything fashion, including the leather goods of Sadz Designs. Oman Avenues Mall, Bousher +968 2200 6061

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

story and photography by salim al afifi

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

HI WEEKLY

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a stickler for themed restaurants and my unconditional love for the creativity that goes into making these restaurants is seamless. While in Oman the old favourites continue to attract their patrons, when it comes to concept restaurants thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole new list of options to pick from. From the ones portraying rugged garages and Shakespeare-inspired eateries to trains and forests, theme restaurants are growing in popularity. This week we take you on a camouflaged adventure as we visit Bunker in Qurum, where you will be sheltered only to feast on gourmet burgers in a celebratory ambiance.

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

HI WEEKLY

ticking to the army-style theme, the restaurant has added quirky decorations taking us back to the war era. As I entered the place, I was welcomed in by friendly soldiers (waiters) who were sporting black tees and camouflaged pants. I chose a seat by the window at the left end corner of the place, and glanced around the interior, which had tables with camouflaged stickers, chairs in flashy red, toy tanks, miniature soldiers on walls, massive Jeep poster, wartime photographs, and more camouflaged creations on the ceiling. There were a couple of toy combat helmet for children to play. After having a word with the soldiers I found out that Bunker is not your typical American burger-and-fries joint. The owners took a creative approach with their menu by infusing Asian flavours such as Adobo Korean sauce in the mix. That triggered my excitement to another level. I couldn’t wait to order my pattice. Bunker’s menu is short, simple, and polished, to say in a military lingo. I wasn’t sure if it was hunger or curiosity, but I ended up ordering a couple of sliders, a burger, and an energy drink. The sliders’ presentation was precise, with camouflaged buns and miniature combatants guarding the burgers. The first was ‘the marine’; a shrimp slider deep-fried to crisp, and dipped in a piquant buffalo sauce. The sharp taste of the sauce gave this burger quite a character, and it tasted amazing. Then ‘the general’ arrived on a wooden flat-board; a beef slider topped with a bunch of mushrooms and mild-flavoured Swiss cheese. It tasted amazing. After the sliders I met the star of the show, the ‘blackout’; a juicy beef patty, topped with potato roast and smoky beef bacon, showered with Bunker’s secret sauce, sandwiched in charcoaled bun. This was my absolute favourite; the creamy taste of potatoes mixed with the beef juices and the sauce delivered all that you’d ever want in a burger — a burst of flavours. To seal the deal, I had an imported orange-flavoured Bomba energy drink that was bottled in a grenade shape glass. Not a huge fan of energy drinks but I had to get that grenade, and now it is sitting comfortably on my shelf at home. The concept of Bunkers sets it apart from other burger joints in town, which makes it a great place to have an experience different to the usual classic burger joints. Do I see myself making this place a weekly ritual? Maybe, but one thing for sure is that whenever I would stop by I would have a great time. Apart from the Arabic music in the background, it was a fantastic experience, overall. Can’t wait to come back and explore the other options on the menu. —salim@timesofoman.com

BUNKER Al Masa Mall, Qurum +968 2234 4344 What to Order: Blackout Burger OMR2.300 The Marine Slider OMR2.350 The General slider OMR1

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

Kuwaiti musicians dine with fans at Tableya Masrya restaurant during Flash of Creativity concert press conference.

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

Indian School Salalah, in an initiative to provide safety and security has ﬂagged off its much awaited ‘School Monitored SafeTransport System’ .

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

Bosher Olympic Centre cricket teams recently returned home from the UK after a successful training camp during which they played 22 matches with different cricket academies.

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

Blossom Investiture Ceremony at the Indian School Muscat.

HI WEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 79 J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

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

7 4

5 7

6 2

3 6

Level | Moderate

8 8 9

5 4

6 8

6 2 7

Level | Difficult

7 1

3 4

3 9

7 1

PLAY AND WIN

6 2

2 9

5 6

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.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 78 J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 1 7

HI WEEKLY