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OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 46,760 COPIES

VOL 10 ISSUE 35 / SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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THIS WEEK IN OMAN

GO FOR SUSHI

CAMP SANS TENT

RIDE THE WAVES

Sumo Sushi is introducing Muscat to a whole new world of rolls, bento boxes, and other Japanese comfort foods, many with a vegetarian twist.

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From cabins to car cocoons, Hi headed to Jebel Shams in the new Subaru Forester to barbecue, hike, and stargaze, all without the hassle of pitching a tent.

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Jet skiing is the original motorised water sport, and it’s a great way to enjoy the coast of Oman and the cool ocean spray this summer.

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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

ashishdubash@timesofoman.com

salim@timesofoman.com Associate Editors Salim Hamood Al Afifi Shruthi Nair Associate Features Production Editor Mobin Mathew Blesson

shruthi@timesofoman.com

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com Chief Creative Officer Adonis Durado Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphic Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Lead Designer Ali Jani Designers Antonio Ismael Sandiego Geri Batara Sonny 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 Gregory Fernandez For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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THE WEEKEND LINEUP

Tell us what you’re doing this weekend: Tweet us @HiWeekly_Oman; tag us in your weekend instagram photos @hiweekly_oman; or share with us on FB/hiweekly

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01 02 03 THURSDAY Watch a Political Love Story

Enjoy the romantic tale of US President Barack Obama and the First Lady in “Southside With You”, which releases in theatres across Oman this weekend.

VOX Cinemas +968 2234 4444 oman.voxcinemas.com

FRIDAY

10am Find Your Home Sweet Home

Attend the India Homes Fair to interact with 40 Indian developers who can help you find your dream property, starting from Rs2.5m onwards (Open to NRI and PIO).

Al Falaj Hotel, Ruwi +968 9763 5124 hdfc.com/ihfmuscat2016

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SATURDAY

10am Make Your Own Bling Attend a one-day jewellery workshop where you will learn basic beading and wiring from local jewellery designer, Nadia. At the end of the workshop, you will walk away with the custom items you create.

Pre-booking required, class fee is OMR40. +968 9946 9007 mazayen.net

12pm Enjoy an Italian Luncheon 10pm Shake It Skales, one of the best African singers around, is going to be in town this Friday performing his popular tracks including “Shake Body”.

OMR15 for couples and stag entry.

Go to Rossini in the Cave this Saturday and enjoy their pasta lunch, inclusive of a three-course meal and a complimentary drink for OMR 7.900.

Rossini The Cave, Darsait +968 2465 1066

Rumba Lattina The Cave, Darsait +968 2465 1051

PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED

Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

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Have you tried any of these five? What do you think of them? Did we miss any of your favourites? Tag us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

CAMBRIDGE WEIGHT PLAN Shedding pounds with shakes is the concept behind Cambridge Weight Plans. The Lowcalorie diet can jump start one’s weight loss by swapping typical meals for shakes, soups, and chocolate bars for a set period of time.

Cambridge Weight Plan Location: Al Ghubra House, Al Ghubra (above Al Maya supermarket, behind the Porsche showroom) Contact: +968 2461 4261

FIVE T O T RY DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND PLANS

GNC This is a one-stop-shop for everything nutrition-related, from protein shakes to fat burners to energy boosters and multivitamins, and the knowledgeable staff can make recommendations as to which products are best for your fitness goals.

GNC (General Nutrition Centre) Locations: Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre, Kiosk in Avenues Mall Contact: + 968 2455 8222

EAT SMART SUPPLEMENTS Eat Smart supplement store is relatively new in town, but it introduced some interesting healthy snack that are just delicious. Make sure to try their protein coffees and meal replacement products like flavoured porridges, crispy chips, and chocolate bars.

Eat Smart Supplements Location: Qurum Commercial District Contact: + 968 9905 5709; +968 2456 1116

SIDEWALK CAFE Head to Sidewalk Cafe in CCC to enjoy a meal-out without sacrificing your diet. Their extensive menu offers a variety of healthy, calorie-counted dishes, from salads to lowcal biryanis and high protein turkey dinners.

They also have monthly memberships and packages for those interested in having specialised diet-friendly food delivered daily.

Sidewalk Bistro and Health Cafe Location: Al Qurum Complex (CCC), Qurum Commercial District Contact: + 968 9701 6284

PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED

DR. NUTRITION Offering meal plans for weight loss and weight gain, this subscription programme gives you customised meal plans that include when to eat, how much to eat, shopping lists and recipes designed to maximise weight loss during the programme and to improve overall lifestyle in the long term.

Dr. Nutrition Location: Qurum City Centre; The Walk, Almouj, Seeb Contact: +968 9320 2211; +968 9822 9909

HI SOCIAL OMANI YOUTUBE CHANNELS TO FOLLOW

VILLAGE OF WONDER From sharing the top weirdest facts to sharing the top moments that were caught on camera, Village of Wonder is an entertainment channel that will keep you hooked for hours.

‫ | ﺍﺑﺘﻜﺮ ﻋﺎﳌﻚ‬ALMK2 On “Create your own world” the young Omani host teaches his audience about how to make clever inventions right at home. The videos are in Arabic, but English captions and easy to follow steps make it entertaining for everyone.

3LIGAMING This Omani gamer walks viewers through his top picks and offers tutorials and tips on games like the current favourite “Five nights at Freddy’s”. Though in Arabic, the step by step tutorials can be followed by any gamer.

THE SEWIST The Sewist is an Omani YouTube blog run

by Mayya Al Said, her video posts are set to promote and encourage positive attitude, as well as makeup and hijab tutorials along with tons of other cool stuff.

MR_3LEE With his random challenges, a clear love for magic and pranks, and a huge personality, the young Omani kid, Mr. Ali, entertains viewers with his antics (his dialogue is all Arabic, but the pranks need no translation).

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ROAD TRIP OMAN

CAMPING JEBEL SHAMS WITHOUT A TENT A trip to Jebel Shams affords the opportunity to really get away from it all. The range is remote and sprawling, filled with fantastic places to enjoy a cliff-side picnic, hike through abandoned villages, and camp under a spray of stars.

STORY FELICIA CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY MEHDI TAGHAVI

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amping can be a bit of a commitment, especially when it comes to buying the gear. Here in Oman, there are only a few places where you can find camping equipment, the main Sultan Centre in Wattayah and Carrefour markets are where most people go to get their stuff. Another good option is to check OLX, as many people sell their tents and sleeping bags for a song when they leave the country. But, as I began shopping around for the basics, the most expensive of which was the tent, I started to feel a bit commitmentphobic. All I wanted to do was enjoy the great outdoors, go for a hike, and have a nice barbecue. I wasn’t ready for all the equipment it required. So, I began looking into alternatives, and I found two great options that afforded me the easy, gear-free weekend escape I was searching for.

Our escape started with a road test of the new 2016 Subaru Forester. I grew up seeing people using this long, all-wheel drive vehicle not only to transport their coolers and charcoal into the mountains of Colorado, but also as a place to sleep. With the back seats down, all you need are a few blankets and pillows to make a reasonably comfortable bedroom for two adults. My husband and I were confident about our rolling-tent, but as we followed our friends who were driving a monstrous, top-ofthe-line four-wheel drive tank, we wondered if the Forester would be able to follow that beast through uneven terrain of jagged rocks and loose soil in Jebel Shams.

Our Forester was dwarfed by the other vehicle, but thanks to the boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive technology, we found ourselves crawling up the hills with absolute ease. When the going started to get really rough, we decided to try out the X-Mode. I had been told that when X-Mode is activated, electronic control of the engine, transmission, all wheel drive system, brakes, and the vehicle dynamics control system, is optimised to help reduce potential wheel slip on slippery surfaces, while climbing steep inclines, and when navigating rough roads. It

was nothing short of shocking. The technology, which locks any of the wheels that lose contact with the ground and diverts the power to the three tyres still in contact with the earth (the electronic display shows the tyre contact and when the locking system is active), turned this mild-looking cross-over into an off-road hero. The more we drove, the more our confidence grew. Even without the X-Mode activated, when our tyres slipped, the vehicle dynamics control system automatically activated, which is designed to prevent skids and slippage by changing the torque distribution, engine output, and brakes to steady our course. This is a vehicle with an engine that is small and efficient enough to offer fantastic petrol consumption (averaging 8.1 l/100km), while being strong and efficient enough to keep up with the big boys on mountain trails and sandy beaches.

The Forester’s near panoramic windows offered us phenomenal views the entire way up the mountain, the audio system had enough bass to keep us in party mode, and its strength off-road made it possible to explore hiking and camping spots both on and off the beaten track. The Forester is practical, with the value and cost coming from useful, driver-focused technologies rather than frills, and it made for a great “lazy camper’s tent”.

In addition to our tent-on-wheels, we explored another tent-free option at the crest of the mountain at the Jebel Shams Resort.

Not to be confused with the Jebel Shams HEIGHTS Resort (a mistake we made on the way up), this property offers a rustic, camping-like experience for those who don’t even want to haul up a cooler or charcoal. With a row of Sunset Chalets that offer gorgeous mountain views, cabins and air-conditioned tents, and covered “campsites” where you can pitch your own tent, all the cabins and tents feature a private bathroom, perhaps the hardest thing to live without during a camp out. Upon request, a fire pit will be set up in the sitting area behind your room, just be sure to bring your own hot cocoa packets and marshmallows for toasting.

Authorised Dealer: OTE Group Wattayah Showroom +968 2230 7139 CRM@otegroup.com Subaru-oman.com

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The room rate includes a simple buffet breakfast and dinner, but for lunch, you should pack snacks or sandwiches that can be taken with you on a trek along one of the several trail heads surrounding the property. There are also guides onsite who can be hired to show you the way. If you can’t decide between a cabin or a tent on wheels, fear not, your destination is almost the same, and the proverbial “fork in the road”comes only at the end of your accent.

We headed for Jebel Shams early on Friday morning, excited to get our outdoor adventure started. We programmed “Jebel Shams Resort” into our Google maps, and set off towards Nizwa, stopping to order a breakfast of karak tea and Omani bread from a small shop adjacent to the petrol station where we fuelled up along the way.

The road leading up to Jebel Shams is far more rugged than the route up to Jebel Akhdar, but, ironically, it does not officially require an SUV. Partially paved and partially rock and stone, we followed the dust cloud our friends were kicking up, feeling very adventurous, that is until we saw a small sedan puttering down the same route. All the passengers had to get out of the car before it charged up the hill, and though it seemed to be making it up the mountain, I can’t say I recommend trying it if you have any love for your sedan’s suspension and undercarriage. We passed the struggling sedan and watched our friends bounce around on their tight suspension as they flew up the hill, meanwhile, we took the hills at a steady pace, smoothly following behind them, and the AWD Forester didn’t even flinch as we crawled up the rocky, unpaved paths.

We stopped at scenic overlooks along the way to take photos, and at the top of the hill (several kilometres past the Jebel Shams Heights Resort), we came to our fork-in-the-road. To our right was the entrance to the Jebel Shams Resort, and ahead of us and to the left was the dirt path leading to great campsites on the cliffs edge. (We were lucky to enjoy both experiences, with one night under the stars, and the next in a cabin with much-needed shower facilities.)

Around 4pm, as the sun softened, we drove 3km past the Jebel Shams Resort to the parking area and trail head for the W6 Hike. There are a few small village houses, and over by the cliff’s edge, painted rocks mark the beginning of this wellworn donkey trail. Weaving down through the gorge, there were incredible views of the sheer cliffs, and at an abandoned village part way down, we stopped in the shade for snacks and to take in the quiet surroundings. The entire route, there and back, takes about two hours, so we arrived back at the parking lot just as the sun was setting. I was feeling very fit and outdoorsy, never mind the fact that it is one of the easiest rated

trails on the mountain.

We turned right just before we reached the entrance to the Resort, forging our own path through the rocks until we found a reasonably flat area at the edge of the cliff. We pulled out folding chairs and the cool box, a small BBQ grill, and firewood. Once the gear was out of the Forester, I unrolled our blankets and plumped up some pillows so we would be able to go to bed with zero effort later in the evening. (Sleeping bags would have been more appropriate, but hey, I wasn’t ready for all that).

The portable speaker was switched on and music pulsed through the night air as we got the fire raging.

The men began skewering marinated pieces of shrimp, steak, and vegetables to grill and we tossed foil-wrapped potatoes directly in the flames. Then we sat and sipped Nescafé, watching the crackling fire while the kebabs charred and filled the night

air with their savoury aroma.

When we’d eaten our fill, we pulled our chairs closer to the crackling bonfire, and began skewering marshmallows on pointed sticks, holding them over the fire just long enough to brown, but not so long that they caught fire and blackened. After cleaning up our site a bit, we crawled into the warm cocoon we’d made in the back of our Forester, and let the night sounds of the wind rustling in the trees lull us to sleep.

The next day we got up with the sun and enjoyed a quiet breakfast of pastries and tea before breaking camp and heading across the road to check-in at the Jebel Shams Resort. After a much needed shower, we sat at the picnic table behind our cabins, enjoying the fresh, cool mountain breeze, and planning more adventures for the day.

—felicia@timesofoman.com

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Thursday 7pm Do your pre-camping prep: Pack your clothes, hiking gear, and snacks. If you are staying at the Jebel Shams Resort, your job is finished. If you are going to camp in your Forester, then be sure to bring folding chairs and barbecue equipment, as well as pre-sliced and seasoned meat and veggies.

Friday 8am Have a quick breakfast and hit the road. Programme Jebel Shams Resort into your GPS and head towards Nizwa.

Without stops, the drive will take about 3.5 hours, but enjoy the drive and make lots of stops at scenic overlooks, and detours to explore paths and wadis that look interesting.

12pm Stop along the way for a quick lunch at any roadside cafeteria.

2pm Arrive at Jebel Shams Resort. Check-in if you are staying at the resort, or continue down the road, turning left down the dirt path to find a campsite.

3:30pm Grab your backpack, water, snacks, sunscreen, and cellphones, and go back to the “main road” (it is unpaved).

Three kilometres down, the road dead-ends at a parking lot where you will find the W6 trail head.

4pm Take photos at the beautiful cliff edge and on the way back through abandoned villages, stop at one of the shaded picnic benches to have a snack.

6pm Head back to the resort for dinner or to your camp to start the fire for your barbecue.

9pm Spend the evening around the campfire, making s’mores, listening to music, and trading stories.

Saturday 7am Wake up early and have breakfast, then have a leisurely coffee while enjoying the view and taking in the utter silence.

9am There’s plenty of time for another hike or for some offroad exploring before heading back to the city.

12:00pm Pack-up and start your journey home. There are little coffee shops and cafeterias waiting at the bottom of the mountain for a quick road snack or lunch. The drive back will take 3.5 to 4-hours.

4:30pm Arrive home, unload your gear, and start planning next weekend’s outdoor adventure.

NO-TENT-REQUIRED OPTIONS READY-TO-ROLL CAMPING RIDE Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium THE BASICS:

• Engine: Boxer 4 cylinder, horizontally opposed, multi-point sequential fuel injection, 16-valve • Capacity: 2,498 • Output: 171/5,800 ps/rpm • Torque: 24/4,000 kg/rpm • Ground Clearance: 220 • Transmission: Auto, paddle shift, continuous variable with X-Mode • Seating Capacity: 5 (with five-point safety belts for each seat) THE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Designed for uninhibited views from every seat • 18” alloy wheels (and amazingly good tyres provided, even for the base model) • Led headlamps with auto levelizer • Variable intermittent wipers • Power rear gate • 7.0” VGA display audio with USB / iPod jack/

bluetooth • Power 8 way adjustable driver seat • Tilt adjustable and telescopic steering wheel with audio control • One-touch folding rear seats • Cruise control • Rear vision camera • Hill descent control and hill start assist • Anti-lock brake system with EBD • Brake assist and brake override system • Paddle shift • Optional panoramic sunroof • X-Mode button, which activates 5 different forms of control: 1. Engine throttle 2. Transmission 3. All-wheel drive 4.

Vehicle dynamics control system 5. Hill descent control TOP OF THE HILL CABINS Jebel Shams Resort +968 9938 2639 jebelshamsresort.com Rates include breakfast and dinner

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FIRST LOOK

STORY SWATI DASGUPTA | PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E

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Fried or dunked in a rich gravy, there may be no greater love, than the love of us who are from West Bengal, India, have for fish. Whether fried or soaked in a rich gravy, fish was almost all on my lunch menu while growing up.

Mostly fresh water river fish showed up on our table, each time prepared in a different style of curry or stew, so ever present in my childhood memory as macher jhol. Little did I know then that fish could be equally succulent and tasty when served raw.

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hile recently the song ‘macher jhol’ has gone viral, my love for fish has taken a winding path over the years. See, for an Indian palate, no food is palatable, especially fish and meat, if it isn’t marinated in masalas and cooked well.

Hence when I began eating sushi a couple of years back, it was truly an acquired taste for me.

I remember well sitting down for my first bit of sushi. I grimaced. “Ughhhh raw fish,” I quietly complained. But as I bit into the neat roll of sticky rice, avocado, and fresh tuna, which simply melted in my mouth, I immediately realised what I’d been missing out on.

There is more to this Japanese delicacy than just raw fish, as I’ve had the pleasure

of discovering in the years since, and as a converted sushi lover, I was excited to find out that Sumo Sushi, a trendy franchise already popular in Dubai, was opening in Bareeq Al Shatti. I went to visit the newly opened Sumo Sushi, and after I was seated in a well lit corner, I began to wonder what dishes were about to come my way.

Puneet Katiyal, the friendly head chef at Sumo Sushi, appeared, presenting us with a Hawaiian Sushi Roll.

“The Hawaiian Sushi Roll is minced tuna, avocado, and tobiko rolled together, topped with crispy sweet potato strips and drizzled with poke (fish) sauce,” he said in one breath. (If, while reading this you are now wearing a bewildered look, rest assured so was I.) Turns out most sushi rolls are topped with tiny orange, pearllike orbs that are actually flying fish roe

or eggs, which makes them caviar. They are called tobiko and they feature a mild, smokey-salty taste, and a crunchy texture.

I eagerly bit into the roll. With rich, tuna, smokey tobiko, creamy avocado, and crispy sweet potato, it was a delightful burst of flavours and textures.

“There are three main types of sushi – maki, temaki, and nigiri,” Puneet said, explaining that maki is sushi that is wrapped in seaweed, temaki is the hand roll, and the nigiri is sushi made in the traditional way in which the sticky riceis first coated with wasabi sauce and then topped with raw fish. But no matter which sushi you roll, the most important element is perfect sticky rice. “The rice quality has to be good and it should be cooked to perfection. Also, the technique used to roll and cut is equally important, whether

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DISHES (clockwise from top left): Japanese Curry Katsu: OMR 5 Chilli Prawn Bento Box: OMR6 Hawaiian Roll: OMR 5.400 Dragon Roll: OMR 5.500 Samurai Roll: OMR 5.400 Fruit Nigiri; OMR 2.100 ( below) Location: Bareeq Al Shatti Mall Call: + 968 2460 7050 sumosushibento.com

the stuffing is cucumber and avocado or tuna, salmon, and prawn.” Puneet disappeared, returning with a Samurai Roll, which turned out to be shrimp tempura and crabstick salad topped with avocado, cream cheese, and mayonnaise—a very avant-garde rice-less “roll”. This was quickly followed by the popular Dragon Roll, whose main ingredient is Unagi, a fresh water eel, which is wrapped along with crabstick in thin layers of avocado and topped with a blend of spicy mayonnaise and sweet teriyaki sauce.

The delicate flavours of the cheese and avocado tantalised my taste buds, yet the fish remained the hero of these dishes.

Rolling perfectly beautiful sushi that has well-balanced flavours and looks as tantalising as it tastes is no mean feat, and Katiyal proved himself a master of his

craft. But when it comes to raw fish, as important as the chef’s skill is the quality of the ingredients.

“We are sticklers for freshness and here we ensure that all the ingredients that are used maintain that standard,” said Katiyal, when I asked him what made Sumo Sushi stand out from the rest. “During our research when menus were being finalised we realised that Muscat has a considerable number of vegetarians and hence we added quite a few options for vegetarians as well.”

If your perception up until now was that sushi is only for seafood lovers, then it’s time you tried the Forbidden Roll, a decadent sushi roll of avocado, cucumber, and asparagus rolled with black sushi rice and topped with a homemade kozo dressing. Or take an order of Kappa

Maki, simple cucumber wrapped in sushi rice, and nori (edible seaweed).

Beyond rolls, Sumo Sushi also offers Japanese delicacies you’ll have a hard time finding elsewhere, from Japanese Curry Katsu, a breaded deep fried chicken cutlet (katsu) served with a coconut milk-based curry simmered with onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. They also offer a variety of bento boxes, like tempura bento, salmon teriyaki bento, BBQ beef bento, including interesting varieties like their sweet and spicy chilli prawn bento.

Other creations included fruit nigiri, a dessert sushi made of sweet rice and fruit toppings which was nice, but for a fish lover like me, it’s the fresh, creative seafood rolls that will keep me coming back. —swati@timesofoman.com

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TO D LIST

With the heat of summer hanging on, one great way to cool down and have some fun outdoors is to head to the beach for the adrenaline pumping thrill of flying and splashing across the blue ocean waves on a jet ski.

STORY MOHAMMED SHAFEEQE

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arlier called water scootering, motorised watercrafts were introduced in Europe in the mid-nineteen fifties by motorcycle companies looking to expand into new markets. The first models required users to stand or even to hang on from the handles themselves, but over the next decade, new models were introduced which allowed riders to sit down, which helped the pilot stability. New designs not only continued to improve the stability, but also allowed for two riders to enjoy the thrill on one watercraft. But, ‘Jet Skis,’ as they are now

called, is a trademark of the Japanese company Kawasaki for its line of personal motorised watercraft, though their branded name has become synonymous with the water sports favourite.

In Oman, watersports are understandably popular considering our calm, clean waters and thousands of kilometres of shoreline, and jet skiing remains the most popular of the leisure water sports.

On the Qurum beach near the Crowne Plaza Hotel, across the road from Japengo restaurant, the stretch of beach along Shatti Road is one of the most popular places in the city to rent a jet ski, which

typically costs OMR15 for half an hour.

More than just a thrill-ride for speed junkies, jet skis also offer a unique vantage point from which to view the natural beauty of Oman’s coast. Renting Jet Skis from the shop at Sifawy Boutique Hotel, about an hour south of Muscat, allows riders to explore the inlets and secluded beaches of nearby Bandar Khayran.

Nearly every beach has a jet ski rental facility, and each one offers a different way to enjoy this aquatic joyride. Here are a few favourites.

— shafeeq@timesofoman.com

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JET SKI RENTALS QURUM BEACH Al Nimer Tourism jet-ski rental Call: +968 9955 0535 Cost: OMR15 for 30 minutes, OMR25 for 1 hour Weekdays 3pm-6.30pm, weekends and holidays, 8am-sunset SIFAWY Fairtrade Tourism Call: +968 9554 4402 Cost: OMR15 for 30 minutes, OMR30 for 1 hour MUSSANAH (MILLENNIUM RESORT) Sinbad Watersports Call: +968 9523 4401; +968 9523 4409 Cost: OMR30 per hour, OMR15 for 30 minutes

Global Scuba Call: +968 9947 2822 Cost: OMR15 for 30 minutes, OMR25 for 1 hour ALMOUJ MARINA Uniboats Call: +968 92611222 Cost: OMR40 per hour for two people THE GRAND HYATT Watersports Oman Call: +968 9269 4962 Cost: OMR25 for 20 minutes, OMR45 for 1 hour

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A sharp knife, a creative vision, and a whole lot of practice were all Sulaiman Al Harrasi needed to become Oman's most sought-after fruit carver.

STORY SALIM AL AFIFI | PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY THE ARTIST

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olourful, crisp, delicious fresh fruit is one of my favourite things, but I must admit that I rarely admire the beauty of the produce itself. That's probably because I’m already accustomed to how an apple looks and to the lovely form of a slice of melon. So when I first laid eyes on an intricately carved fruit display, which looked too good to be eaten, I was instantly smitten.

Fruit carvers have become a recent obsession for me. These innovative artists can trace their inspiration to Thailand, as this art form finds its roots in Thai culinary culture.

These creations have taken Oman by storm, thanks to Omani fruit carver, Sulaiman Al Harrasi.

Sulaiman was born in 1985, and as far back as he can remember, food was his passion. He studied at the Oman Tourism College and then went on to work at the Ministry of Defence’s culinary school near the Yemen border in Dhofar.

There he started out as a sous chef, before climbing the ranks to become a chef instructor at the catering school.

Being a salad specialist, slicing, chopping, and dicing skills were essential to his daily duties, but what led him to become a professional fruit and vegetable carver, transforming fruits

into artistic, edible treats, was a YouTube video.

“Working at the ministry offered me a lot of free time, so I consumed it in reading about art and poems,” he said, adding that he began watching videos of fruit carving and practising the techniques. “I’d put the knowledge of art in my fruit design.”

When his family and friends realised his potential in this craft, they offered their full support, and encouraged him to continue pursuing his culinary art. Sulaiman began carving fruit for events for his loved ones and close friends, and the requests continued to grow. He opened a small workshop in his father's place, and eventually rented his own space and invested in a professional carving kit as he established his brand as a carving expert.

What started out as a hobby evolved into a successful entrepreneurial enterprise, one which, at this point, enjoys no competition as Sulaiman is the only carver in Oman.

“There is a competition between me and myself,” he laughed. “Some customers pay OMR800 and ask for nothing, they say 'make whatever you want; we want you to surprise us', and this is a tough challenge in itself.”

Overlooking every single detail of a project, from selecting high quality fruit to understanding the theme and

Order a Fruit Sculpture +968 9910 1300 Instagram: @alfawakeh

ambiance of the client’s event, Sulaiman continually strives for perfection. “I ask every detail when preparing an ornate melon for an event; so it can appear like a one-piece corner that blends in well with the other things in the event,” he explained.

“It started off with carving a piece of fruit, to carving a full basket, then developed and became a fruit basket accompanied by a chocolate fountain, now, it became a mix of many things that add artistic touch to the display, from candies, to marshmallows, to putting together a complete table decor setup that’s just beautiful to gaze at – a work of art,” he said. The most common carvings people order are of flowers or birds, but Sulaiman is confident he can carve anyone's concept or vision, adding super cool elements like internal lighting.

Sulaiman continues to take special orders, offer workshops on fruit carving in universities and colleges, as well as carve for charities. He has also begun exploring the more long-lasting art of glass etching, which he offers to special clients as memorable gifts.

Being a fruit carver is truly a wonderful talent as it allows us to see these ordinary, beautiful gifts from nature, transformed into celebratory works of artistic vision.

–salim@timesofoman.com

TRY IT YOURSELF What you need • Apple • Cutting board • Small, sharp knife or toothpick • A bowl filled with cold water with some lemon juice in it (to dunk the sliced apple to stop it from browning).

How it’s done: • Start with a fairly wide apple wedge (you can move up to doing whole apples as you practice). Score the surface with your knife to make an evenly spaced checkerboard pattern.

• Then cut out and peel off alternating squares of apple skin with your knife or, if the checkerboard is very fine, the tip of a toothpick.

• Tidy up any rough edges with the knife, and dunk in lemon water to prevent browning.

Checkerboard apple pattern courtesy of justbento.com

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

A DREAM FOR MANY YEARS, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF OMAN HAS NOW BECOME A REALITY — A WINDOW INTO THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PAST OF THE SULTANATE, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC OLD MUSCAT.

STORY MOHAMMED SHAFEEQE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Architects, Curators, and Designers spent years developing the first museum in Oman to be established based on the International Council of Museum Standards.

Housing more than 7,000 collectables across themed galleries, the 4,000 square metre space was designed with wide areas, spectacular light, and ample height to complement the well selected artefacts. The Museum’s upper level offers a majestic view of the Al Alam Palace, just across the roundabout, demonstrating an architectural vision of highlighting the history not only contained within the walls of this museum, but in its historic surroundings as well.

More than just a beautiful space, the museum is dedicated to incorporating modern technology to make it an interactive experience, with 43 digital interactive media devices, the first full UHD cinema in Oman, Arabic brail at every display, and open displays for direct interaction with the contents. With a fully-equipped learning centre, facilities for heritage preservation, and learning areas for children, the focus of this contemporary museum is on quality, education, and preservation. The result is an awe-inspiring place of dramatic views, spectacular ambiance, and immersive history.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

The museum’s upper level offers a majestic view of the Al Alam Palace, just across the roundabout, demonstrating an architectural vision of highlighting the history not only contained within the walls of this museum, but in its historic surroundings as well.... More than just a beautiful space, the museum is dedicated to incorporating modern technology to make it an interactive experience.

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

A GALLERY TOUR OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

After entering the Central Hall, visitors are encouraged to linger, taking in the artefacts including ancient chests, mandoos dowry boxes studded with metal and stone buttons, ancient utensils, two massive gates believed to have originally served as the main entrances for the Muscat Souq during the 14th century.

Turn left off of the centre court to enter the Maritime History Gallery. The wooden floored gallery has an enchanting ambiance with subtle lighting, housing seven small models of Omani ships and one big vessel, along with artefacts ranging from incense storage jars and maps depicting the old maritime routes, to ancient books and manuscripts on ship building technology, ship building tools and a stone anchor.

The journey continues to a circular, stone-paved hall that houses the Arms and Armour gallery, which traces the cultural aspects of traditional Omani weapons from prehistoric time to the beginning of the 20th century. Divided into two sections, the traditional Arms and Armour section houses swords, spears, battle axes, shields, arrows, archery tools, arrow head with shark teeth, flint drills and pins and Omani khanjars, while the gunpowder and artillery section exhibits firearms such as rifles, pistols, and cannons.

The design of the gallery is inspired by one of the two towers of Al Hazm Fort in South Al Batinah Governorate, which was built in the 17th century, and at the centre of the circular gallery is an amphitheatre, where HD shows are displayed in both Arabic and English on Oman’s military and cultural legacy. The gallery also features a series of shelves which can be pulled out for close-up inspections of items like rifles made by the Royal Small Arms Factory in 1294-95, which were used by the Al Busaid Dynasty.

The ground floor also houses The Land and the People Gallery, the Currency Gallery; and the Timeline Gallery, along with the Civilisation in the Making Gallery, which displays examples of architectural heritage beginning from the 3rd millennium BCE to the modern times, covering more than

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5,000 years. In the Aflaj Gallery, the introduction of the al falaj system, which diverts groundwater for agricultural and domestic use, is attributed to King Solomon, who passed through Oman in ancient times. A three-metre interactive touch screen walks viewers through the scientific process behind the famed aflaj system in Birkat Al Mouz.

Archaeological pieces from various periods of Oman’s history are displayed on the walls along the ramp that leads up to the first floor, where visitors will find the Prehistory and Ancient History Gallery, whose highlights include a stone flint believed to be two million years old — the oldest manmade object found in Oman, and the first throne of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said from 1970. Also on the first floor, visitors will find the Oman and the World Gallery, the Renaissance Gallery, the Intangible Heritage Gallery, and the Splendours of Islam Gallery, which sheds light on Oman’s fourteen-hundred-year relationship with Islam, beginning in 627 CE, including the advent of Islam in Oman and the contributions made by Omani scholars to Islam as revealed through a collection of rare manuscripts. Another gallery section here traces the artistic influence of Islam in the evolution of calligraphic, geometric, floral, and arabesque decorations in the Sultanate.

Finish your visit at the ultra modern Collections Gallery, which features interactive multimedia devises that allow visitors to listen to Omani music, watch the videos of important events from Oman's Renaissance era, and interact with traditional musical instruments and artefacts via computer screens. With a growing collection and room after room of interactive displays, one visit to this museum will not be enough. This is a place to return to often to learn, reflect, and get inspired by the beauty and the history of both the building itself and the treasures it houses.

—shafeeq@timesofoman.com

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM Old Muscat, Al Alam Palace Roundabout

+968 2208 1500 Hours: Saturday-Tuesday, 9am–3pm (closed Wednesday-Friday) Ticket desk closes at 2.30pm Entry fees: OMR1 for Omani and GCC nationals, free for nationals over 60 years old and for children and students up to 25 years old OMR2 for Oman residents OMR5 for non-residents

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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Indian Independence Hockey Festival celebrated its 10th edition at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Baushar under the patronage of Embassy of India and the Oman Hockey Association. Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate was the chief guest of the event.

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Indian Independence Day celebrations were organised at the Indian School Al Seeb.

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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TAISM students go back to school.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Class XII students of Indian School Al Seeb received the Senior Secondary students of Buds Public School, Dubai, recently and had an enriching and fun-filled experience with them.

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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 | Very Easy

Level | Easy

2 4

5 9

5 1

6

3 1

3

1

8

8

2 8

6

1 7

5

9

6

3 8 5

9

2

9

3

7

4

8

9

7

3

7

3

7

9

8

3 6

2

5 6

7

1

4

1

5

6

5

3

1

4

3

2

9

8

8

4

2

9

2

5

6

7

3 5 3

2

2

8 9

6

5

7

4

1

4 2

8

7

6

4

9 4

5

Level | Difficult

1 7

2

4

4 6

5

1

Level | Moderate

7

3

9 6

1

8

7

1 4

2

8

5 1

6

5 4

1 7

6 1

4 4

3

1

2

2

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