T Weekly for September 6, 2018

VOL 11 ISSUE 37 / SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

FROM OMAN TO THE WORLD OMAN’S ROYAL CAVALRY JOINS ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 Founder: Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali

Oman’s Royal Cavalry gives stellar performance in Edinburgh THE ENERGY LEVELS were raised as the Royal Cavalry of the Sultanate along with its all-female band marched at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo held in August in Edinburgh. The Royal Cavalry, representing Oman at this season’s Tattoo, was indeed a sight to behold, and certainly a moment of great pride for Oman.

The vibrant and world-class performance by the band took the audience on an incredible journey. Reminiscing some of the remarkable moments of the show, Brigadier David Allfrey, chief executive and producer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, spoke about the majestic ceremony, his warm connection with Oman and its people, and how he bonded with everyone here.

From something as down-to-earth as going fishing and sharing coffee with the local boys during his visit and befriending a mountain herder up in the Jabal, to having illustrious meetings with senior officials, Allfrey says, “Everyone in Oman has an elegance about them which is special.” Our Cover Story this week re-lives some of the stunning moments of the event.

And when we talk about Oman and the pride that comes with being part of this beautiful nation, we think of all the things that are unique here. From the countryside to the cities, there is something special about Oman and that includes the shopping experience too. And now with the trend of online shopping fast catching up, Oman too, is gradually getting accustomed to the changing trend. While online shopping is easy and accessible where you don’t end up with aching feet, some ardent shoppers still prefer shopping the traditional way. Our Special Feature tries to understand how to strike the right balance between the two.—Swati Dasgupta

Editor: Charles Lavery Features Editor: Swati Dasgupta Research Editor: Ashish Dubash Associate Editor: Shruthi Nair Copy Editor: Gautam Bhargav Viswanathan Online Editor: Christopher Isaac

Graphics Editor: Antonio Farach Design Editor: Sahir K.M. Lead Designer: Gregory Fernandez Designer: Geri B. Sonny, Jerrard Cedro Production Manager: Shafi Shaik Photography: MMG Photographers On The Cover: Design by Gregory Fernandez

For general enquiries or comments: swati@timesofoman.com

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10 WHAT’S ON

MONDAY 10.00am Learn a New Language Learning a new language doesn’t just make you stronger linguistically, but also improves your brain functioning. In Oman, you can either join a vernacular institute that teaches different languages or subscribe to online tutorials.

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SUNDAY 6.00am The Sunrise Climb You will not run out of hills and mountains to climb in Oman. Plan a hike with a group of friends and head out early in the morning to sweat it out at sunrise.

THURSDAY 10.00pm It’s Party Time After a long week of slogging and working real hard, it’s now time to forget everything and party equally hard, if not harder. Head over to one of Oman’s lounges or pubs and dance your heart out.

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FRIDAY 7.00pm Extravagant Performances Now that the Royal Opera House season has begun again, if you are a lover of the arts, you know where to go.

08 SATURDAY 7.00pm LOL Be it local comedians or international artists, as long as they can make you laugh, you need to go for their shows.

After all laughter is the best medicine.

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TUESDAY 7.00am Get Fit Join a gym, crossfit, zumba, yoga, or any combat sport class so you can consistently maintain your fitness without getting bored.

WEDNESDAY 8.00pm Try Out a New Restaurant With tons of new restaurants mushrooming across Muscat, dine out in a restaurant especially if they have a theme night going on.

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We Own The Night (Film) Genre: Drama Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes It is a hard-nosed, Brooklyn-centered police story, starring Joaquin Phoenix as a night-club manager with big ideas who is the black sheep of his family.

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Succession (TV Series) Genre: Drama Cast: Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox

Castle Rock (TV Series) Genre: Horror Cast: André Holland, Melanie Lynskey, Bill Skarsgård

Despite the incessant emotional maiming and psychic bloodshed, “Succession” has been a progression rather than a departure from the earlier comic work of its creator and writer.

On the new Hulu series, the plenitude of incident creates an effect more like dilution than density, and it’s hard to see the trees for the forest of allusion.

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

FLYING OMAN’S FLAG AT THE WORLD’S BIGGEST MILITARY MUSIC FESTIVAL

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Oman’ Royal Cavalry makes nation proud by participating in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

T weekly recently spoke to Brigadier David Allfrey, chief executive and producer of the Military Tattoo, about the breaking of barriers, the aim of the military music festival, and his fond memories of Oman.

s cool and snazzy as the digital world we live in is, there is nothing quite like the pomp and ceremony of the old.

Sure, some might think that old parades may be showy, the props ostentatious, and the entire spectacle too expensive to throw in the first place, but parades have never been about what is just on the surface. There is a lot of history to the pageantry and pomp that reminds us of yesteryear.

Every banner flapping in the breeze, every pennant being happily waved by the participants and by those who watch such parades, and every symbol, badge and emblem, each of these has a deep meaning that goes back eons, and reminds all of us of who we are and what we represent. Parades are a source of great pride and joy to all of us, or should be anyway.

The Sultanate of Oman’s Royal Cavalry brought great pride to the nation when they represented the country at the recently held Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the world’s oldest military music festivals. Although Oman had been previously represented by other regiments of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ Armed Forces, this was the first time the Royal Cavalry had been invited.

Seeing the Royal Cavalry fly the flag for Oman was special for a number of reasons: His Majesty’s Royal Cavalry represents perhaps the only mounted pipes and drums band across

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the world, and the representation of yet another branch of the Sultanate’s Armed Forces only strengthened the relationship between Oman and the United Kingdom (UK).

It is this cross-connection beyond borders, which allows people to gain perspective into their fellow human beings from across the world that is central to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s formation. T weekly spoke to Brigadier David Allfrey, chief executive and producer of the Military Tattoo.

“The breaking of barriers and bringing people together are central to the Tattoo’s work, said Brigadier Allfrey.

“We have, so far, had people from 55 different countries, and it’s very easy to see that the Tattoo brings everyone together. Everyone has something special about their own country, but we all want the same things. We want our children to do well at school, we want them to grow into fine adults, we want them to look after us when we are old, we want to do good work, we want to be rewarded for our work in terms of pay and recognition, we want a house that is cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and we want to grow old gracefully; so no matter where we are from and what language we speak, we all want these simple things.”

“Part of the job of the Tattoo is bringing the richness and colour of the different people together, so as to promote different cultures,” he added. With

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Oman, for example, we’ve got wonderful instances of the sharing of Arabian food, Arabian culture, religion and attitudes, and in the same way, people from Oman could enjoy the attitudes of people from Scotland, their culture and their food, and exchange ideas on these things.”

“The lovely thing about the Tattoo is that we have between 11 and 15 countries coming here every year as representatives, so the possibility of a cross-cultural exchange is great. After the performances, it was amazing to see gestures of warmth and affection between all the countries; it was really something,” said Allfrey.

And what of exporting Scottish culture to Oman? Allfrey had much to say about that.

“I can’t guarantee that the Omanis got to taste haggis when they were in Scotland, but it is barley and lamb and spices, so I think it would go very well with the Omani palate,” he said. “Perhaps we will see a demand for haggis in the Omani market, where crates of haggis are shipped to Muscat.

It is a delicious dish and served with minced turnips and mashed potatoes, or neeps and tatties, as they are called here.

It is a lovely dish and very filling. It’s got a good deal of good meat in it, as well as barley and cereals, and it tastes good.”

It was, in hindsight, easy for Allfrey to know what the Omanis would love, given that he has very fond memories of his visits to the Sultanate.

“I have visited all the Gulf countries now for a short time,” he said. “What you get in Oman when you visit there, is a tremendous sense of warmth and hospitality, and this is special, because you get a sense of it the moment you get off a plane in Muscat. The sense of how people interact with you among the clans and villages and up on the mountains is great. I have two great memories of my time in Oman: one was fishing with some men and boys with hand-drawn fishing lines on the road that runs along the edge of the harbour.”

“I found myself sitting on the wall, sharing a coffee and fishing,” he added.

“That was a great experience. I was also looked after very well by a mountain herder up in the Jabal, who tended to sheep and goats and other animals.

Between all of the officers and the pipe bands, I met some senior people as well, and everyone was so welcoming and elegant. Everyone in Oman has an elegance about them which is special.”

“I am happy to say that all of these feelings that I had during my journey to Oman, were experienced by all the people in Edinburgh, whether they came from Scotland, America, Switzerland, Canada, the Czech Republic; all of the many countries that were represented on our show had nothing but good words to say about the Omani contingent,” said Allfrey.

The theme this year was “the sky is the limit” and this theme was designed to celebrate the Royal Air Force, but also, it was the year of young people here in Scotland. Allfrey said he decided to shape this theme around the idea of manned flight, so it would begin with birds and insects, and go on to gliders

and balloons and kites, and then to propeller airplanes, jet aircraft, and finally, space travel.

“The theme we asked the Royal Cavalry of Oman to follow was the night sky, because when I was in Oman, I was in the desert for one night and I was struck by how wide the sky was. Oman has the most brilliant night sky, from horizon to

horizon, and I asked them to do a piece that ended up with us imagining that we were looking up at the night sky,” he added. “They did that really well indeed, with the procession and the music, but what was really special about this collaboration was how easy and warm and wonderful the Omani soldiers and their horses were,” he said.

“It was a complete pleasure to be with them. They are very professional, very creative and an absolute pleasure to be around,” admitted Brigadier Allfrey. “The final salute was attended

by His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture, and that was the one royal visit we had this year. He was greeted in Scotland by members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, which was my old regiment. So that makes me very proud, and he was accompanied by our ambassador to Oman and Oman’s ambassador to London, so it was a very special evening.”

But how did one of Oman’s most famed regiments end up participating in this world-famous music festival?

“There is a very special place in our hearts for Oman, as a result of which all military officers in the UK have personal friends among officers in the Omani defence forces, and this endeavour to bring the Royal Cavalry here began some fourand-a-half years ago,” recalled Allfrey.

“It was agreed that the Royal Cavalry would represent Oman at this season’s Tattoo, along with an all-female military band — which sends a tremendous mes-

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THE TATTOO WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, WHICH WAS STARTED IN 1947 TO LIFT THE SPIRITS OF THE CITIZENS OF EDINBURGH AFTER WORLD WAR II BRIGADIER DAVID ALLFREY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND PRODUCER OF THE MILITARY TATTOO

THE SHOW GOES LIVE TO SOME

220,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR

sage of what people are capable of, along with 30 horses, and three drum horses, named Sam, Tom, and Joe.” “They are fantastic animals, as are the 27 Arabian horses, each with their own mounted piper,” he added. “So not only did Oman come with its own pipes and drums band, it came with what I think is the only mounted pipes and drums band in the world and that is fantastic.”

Despite all the technological advances that have been made, there is a special sentiment that only comes to the fore when we see horses galloping in unison.

“I served several years as a cavalry officer, a long time of my military life was spent with horses,” said Allfrey, sharing some fond memories of his years in the British Army.

“Each evening, I would enjoy a short conversation with the drum horses each night. Very often, the drum horses were more interested in other things, such as when they were to go on stage, or the riders they had, but speaking to them gave me great pleasure. I am not sure the horses felt the same way,” he joked.

“I think everyone was fascinated by the equestrian aspect, in terms of how

they were looked after, how they were ridden, in terms of their saddles and their tacks, which are really different from British saddles and bridles, and the drum horses again were steered by the feet of their riders, and at the same time, they banged the drums and kept the beat, so I think everyone was really interested to see how they would manage all that,” he added.

“When everyone arrived, we had a couple of days to get to know the city and the cast, and the Omanis worked incredibly hard during rehearsals,” he recalled.

“The Tattoo is a world-class event, so we have very exacting standards, and the way they worked on the music, on the rehearsals, and indeed, the riding, was fantastic. The contingent understood what was needed, and they relaxed and really began to enjoy the atmosphere. They made some very close friends among not just the cast, but among all the international teams that were here.”

“We have had a wonderful visit from His Majesty’s Royal Cavalry and the military band,” he said. “This is the first time the Royal Cavalry visited here.

We’ve previously had contingents from the Royal Army of Oman, as well as the

Royal Guard.

There is a very long and a very deep relationship between the UK and the Sultanate, and we are very, very close over foreign affairs, trade and tourism, and in the exchange of culture and heritage and the arts.”

Allfrey also shed some light on the origins of this famous festival.

“The Tattoo was originally part of the Edinburgh International Festival, which was started in 1947 to lift the spirits of the citizens of Edinburgh after World War II,” said Allfrey. “It was designed to bring people together and lift people’s spirits. In 1950, the Military Tattoo split from the rest of the festivals and went its own way. There are 11 festivals, of which, we are one and the biggest. This is now our 69th season and we have been sold out for the last 20 seasons, which is amazing. The show goes live to some 220,000 people every year.”

“We will almost certainly have the Royal Cavalry back in Edinburgh very soon. We have wonderful relationships now with the Omani Army, the Royal Guard and the Royal Cavalry, and we will have them back in the future as well,” he said. –gautam@timesofoman.com

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ONLINE SHOPPING, SLOWLY BUT SURELY CATCHING UP IN OMAN Are you one of those for whom shopping is therapy after a painful breakup, extreme stress and work pressure, a fight or any other inconvenience? Don’t worry, you don’t have to feel guilty to accept that you are a shopaholic. In fact, with the advent of e-commerce, it is close to impossible not to fall prey to the traps set up by the thousands of online shopping websites offering very attractive deals on the uber enticing items that you just can’t say no to.

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n 2017, an estimated 1.66 billion people worldwide purchased goods online. During the same year, global e-retail sales amounted to $2.3 trillion and projections showed a growth of up to $4.48 trillion by 2021. Online spending has also grown considerably in the region with the UAE being in the lead, with spending expected to reach AED36 billion.

When online shopping initially started just a few decades ago, it was accepted with a lot of scepticism and even a small of amount of incredulity, where people could not think of trusting the virtual medium to spend money. And now, in Oman, even groceries are being bought online.

Shopping is undoubtedly a big deal in Oman. With more malls, hypermarkets, and department stores springing up across the length and breadth of Oman, it is evident that there is a strong demand among the people living in Oman. Although it can’t be compared to Dubai, which is slowly emerging as the fashion capital of the world, Oman has its own scene. And e-commerce is slowly but surely emerging here too.

It is surprising how major retailers don’t really see e-commerce or the digital medium as competition, and rather, view it as an opportunity for them. In an interview with Times TV, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding had said that e-commerce was an opportunity that they and all retailers are trying to take advantage of.

Affordability and convenience have been two key enticers of e-commerce globally since its inception but there were multiple reasons why it took the advent of better and secure technology for it to get popular.

Although online shopping portals such as Amazon existed in the 90s, people were understandably sceptical to shop online, as there were a lot of unanswered questions, confusion and insecurity. Unlike now, where we have apps and stipulated websites, back then, there were internet pages that people could access and items for sale would be posted onto them.

Secondly, there’s no such thing as 100 per cent privacy on the internet. If it can’t be guaranteed in 2018, imagine how it would’ve been in the 90s. Back in the days, electronic payment and plastic money weren’t the norm. So, the payment method was another issue.

Since most of these problems have been addressed with regards to user-friendly apps with the simplest user interface, improved privacy of data and quicker handling of breaches, and credit and debit cards, ewallets, and other innovative payment options such as Thawani, the pros have started outweighing the cons.

When we talk about online shopping, it includes everything, from using an airline’s website to buy tickets to buying huge home appliances that are promptly delivered to your doorstep.

However, conventional shopping is still more popular than online shopping in Oman mainly because there aren’t as many local e-commerce websites compared to other countries or compared to the physical stores available in Oman. But more and more options are being made available every year and the consumer shift is clearly noticeable.

Some of the popular local shopping sites in the country include Roumaan, Namshi, Ourshopee and JollyChic.

—shruthi@timesofoman.com

1.66 bn people worldwide purchased goods online in 2017

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Don’t throw away those leftover fruit and vegetable peels. Turn them into delicious treats.

RECIPES ONEZA TABISH

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

GINGER CHICKEN IN ORANGE PEEL SAUCE

BANANA PEEL SABZI

A delectable chicken dish from the Sichuan province that has ginger and orange as its main ingredients.

The orange peel lends an incredible zest and zing to this recipe and a must try.

Banana peel sabzi or dry curry is not only a good way to reduce food wastage but also a healthy and delicious recipe that’s cooked in a jiffy.

Ingredients

Ingredients

VEGGIE POTATO SKIN

Classic potato skins are stuffed with vegetables and loaded with cheese for a satisfying snack sure to please everyone at home or a party.

Ingredients • 6 medium potatoes • 1 tablespoon butter, melted • 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce • 1 cup spring onions, finely chopped • 1 large red bell pepper, finely chopped • ½ cup fresh broccoli florets, finely chopped • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation • Wash and pierce potatoes. Bake at 200°C for 40-50 minutes or until tender. Cool slightly; cut each potato in half lengthwise.

• Scoop out the pulp. Combine butter and 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce and brush over the skins.

• Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the spring onions, red bell pepper, broccoli, cheese and remaining sauce and spoon into potato skins.

Place the potato skins on a baking sheet. Broil for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

• 1 large orange • 2 chicken breasts • 1 tablespoon light soya sauce • 4 spring onions, thinly chopped • 1 teaspoon ginger finely chopped • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper • 2 ½ teaspoons cornstarch • ½ teaspoon sugar • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ cup orange juice • 1/4 cup oil

Preparation • With the help of a vegetable peeler, peel from the orange, strips into 1 ½ inch pieces.

• In an oven set to 200 degrees bake the peels for ½ hour. Cut the chicken breasts into cubes. Marinate chicken with soya sauce, spring onions, ginger, and red pepper.

• In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch, sugar, salt, and orange juice. Heat oil and stir fry orange peels – remove and drain on paper towels.

• In the remaining oil, stir fry chicken. Add the cornstarch mixture and pour over chicken.

Stir-fry till it thickens and coats the chicken well.

• Add the orange peels and mix well. Garnish with spring onion greens.

• Serve with rice or noodles.

LEMON PEEL PICKLE

An interesting pickle or achar recipe, the lemon skin achar is sure to add the zing to your routine menu.

Savour this best with paranthas or dal and rice.

Ingredients • 1 and ½ cups of chopped lemon peel • 1 pinch of turmeric powder • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds • ½ teaspoon fenugreek/methi seeds • 2 teaspoons oil • ½ to 1 teaspoon red chilli powder (adjust to taste) • Salt to taste

Preparation • Chop the lime peel and pressure cook adding turmeric powder and salt until it softens to a good extent.

• Dry roast 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and ½ teaspoon methi seeds on a griddle and blend to powder them once cool.

• In a pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds and allow to crackle, add red chilli powder, the cooked lemon peel, the roasted ground powder, salt if required.

• Mix and cook for about 10 minutes till the spices combine well with the lemon peel.

• Once cool, store in an air tight container.

• 3-4 peels of ripe banana • 1 tablespoon oil • ½ teaspoon carom/cumin seeds (ajwain) • Salt to taste • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder • ½ teaspoon coriander powder • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder • ½ teaspoon amchur (dried mango powder) or 1 tablespoon tamarind water

Preparation • Cut the ends of banana peels.

Chop them into ½ - 1 inch pieces.

• Boil 2 cups of water in a pan and add banana peels. Bring it to a roaring boil and drain.

• Heat oil in a pan or a wok. Add ajwain/cumin and sauté lightly till fragrant.

• Add boiled peel pieces. Add salt, turmeric, coriander, and red chilli powder.

• Mix well and cook on low flame, stirring occasionally.

• Increase heat to dry up the water till subzi becomes dry and crisp.

• Add dried mango powder/tamarind water and mix well. Serve hot.

Oneza Tabish is a food blogger, consultant, and columnist based in Oman.

She is also the owner of Oman’s popular Facebook group ‘What’s Cooking Oman.’

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

STORY ANTARA BOSE

HOW WE ARE SIMILAR, YET DIFFERENT he perception of beauty is subjective; and also depends on where the ‘beholder’ hails from.

While sultry makeup scores beauty points in one corner, the porcelain skin is a much more desirous trait at the other.

With a strange fetish to explore beauty and fashion in different parts of the world, I got an opportunity to connect with talented industry specialists in Indonesia who taught me more about the Southeast Asian beauty industry in a 3-hour session than I had learnt through my independent observations, assumptions, and debates with a fellow mate who found more amusement in technology than humans.

However, talking about technology and innovation, I have to admit, I found myself quite enthralled with the beauty gears and techniques of Indonesian makeup artists.

But as they say, ‘a drive is nothing without the driver’; a zillion brushes, expensive palettes and cutting-edge technology cannot

create a work of beauty unless entrusted in the hands of someone who has truly acquired the art of makeup. I’ve always been fascinated with beauty transformations — the magic a few strokes of brushes can create. In Indonesia, I soaked in the bliss of a perfect makeover in the hands of Jakarta’s popular makeup artist who had been enhancing beauties from catwalks to weddings for over two decades —Erika Jennings.

THE PREPARATION: Before the actual makeup process began, Erika decided she needed to prep my face first (and that included eyelids and lips too). There is a lot of emphasis on hydration in the Indonesian beauty industry. From water sleeping-masks to dewy textures, the range of products available to get that fresh, water-thin finish was something that really appealed to me. Coming from a place that has everyone fretting over moisturisers to combat the dry heat, I thought to pay atten-

tion to hydration levels for your skin was a beauty tip that I could take back right away (and implement too, of course). ‘Fresh and flawless’ was the look Erika was aiming for.

THE BROWS: There was a valid reason why we started with eyebrows. It would give enough time for my hydrating primer to seep into my skin before we started dabbing in the foundation. Indonesian women usually have thin eyebrows; but just like Middle Eastern ladies, the trend for thicker eyebrows has caught on there too. Eyebrows help to frame the face which is why a makeup is never complete unless we ensure that we have tamed any flyaway strays and filled any unwanted gap in the brows.

THE EYESHADOWS: When we came to the eyeshadows, I was thrilled to see familiar names. Huda and Naked — two beauty brands that had makeup artists raving even in Oman was something that was equally popular there too. We opted for a blend of

golden and terracotta — a combination that was rich yet subtle.

THE LASHES: Indonesians tend to have eyelashes that are shorter and tend to go flat easily. (Yes, take a moment and flutter those lashes you are blessed with naturally.) The technique, however, to combat this issue was something that I was in awe of. It is undoubtedly time-consuming and requires an immense amount of patience, concentration and precision, but the results are phenomenal. The name, you ask?

It’s called lash-layering.

As the name suggests, instead of using a single lash strip, multiple strips are layered over one another for the upper eyelids. The trick is starting from the waterline and gradually proceeding upwards which results in making the lashes look more voluminous.

For the lower lids, individual lashes are used instead of a single strip. Though it is used more sparingly, it fills the empty

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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.

spaces in between the lashes so it looks natural as compared to a single lash strip.

This technique makes the eyes look more open while preventing droopy lashes.

It is then finished with liquid liner and oodles of mascara to keep up that perfect curl.

tion can be too heavy for it to break down).

A few drops of the foundation is added to the cup mounted on top of the airbrushgun and then the lever pulled back to release the foundation. The foundation is released in the form of a lightweight mist.

THE AIRBRUSH: This was probably the most sensational part of the entire routine; this is where we capitalised on technological innovation – the airbrush. The technique has definitely changed the face of the beauty industry and a lot of international makeup artists completely swear by it. And what’s more, it takes care of contouring and highlighting as well. For those still new to the technique, here’s how it works:

HOW DO WE USE IT? As simple as it may sound, using an airbrush does require some skill. But hey, with a technique that’s so much fun, who would mind going for a few practice sessions!

It’s always a good idea to start testing the spray first on the back of your palm and then a small patch below your lower cheekbone. This helps determine the texture and also ensures you are using the right shade of foundation according to your skin colour. Keep the brush at a distance of about 6-12 inches from the skin and spray it in a circular motion. For targeted areas, bring the airbrush closer and spray lightly. The best part is you can also use the airbrush to contour, highlight and

WHAT IS IT? The airbrush, in itself, is a stainless steel gun with a hose and an air compressor.

The airbrush kit comes with your choice of foundation shade as it only works with a particular formula (any ordinary founda-

even add a little blush to the skin.

WHAT IS THE FINAL RESULT LIKE? It gives pretty much the best finish you can dream of, if you’ve got it right of course. Airbrush technique helps to achieve a flawless, even-toned and lightweight cover that lasts all day looking as natural as ever.

We finished the entire look with a dewy nude lipstick, a setting spray to keep the makeup from running and a hearty squeal of delight from Erika.

It was now time to capture the work of Erika through the lenses of Indonesia’s popular photographer, Anthony Chiputra. Anthony was mentored by Jakarta’s well-acclaimed photography guru, Yessica Riany. Coupling the technical knowledge with the creative thinking of modern times, Anthony brought to the table an unmistakable energy that transcended into each one of us. A few thousand clicks later, I left the studio

with an excited anticipation of seeing what the final photos look like.

Indonesians prefer a dewy, rather porcelain finish that is commonly seen in the Korean beauty industry. And I found the very same example of flawless perfection in the final edits that Anthony produced.

The skin texture was distinctly smooth, a few tones fairer, and had an unmistakable radiance that highlighted dominant features like the jawline, eyes and brows.

I was, of course, more than elated with the result.

I brought back home not just some great photos but an experience that taught me that though there may be a lot of similarities along with its share of differences to the very concept of beauty across various regions, there is one fundamental thing that binds industry specialists together – and that is the skill of identifying, enhancing and bringing out one’s inner beauty so they fall in love with the best possible version of themselves.

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 36 AUGUST 30, 2018

THE MERCY Cast: Colin Firth, David Thewlis, Rachel Weisz

MARADONA Malayalam Cast: Leona Lishoy, Tovino Thomas, Tito Wilson

The Mercy is an incredible story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst and his solo attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The struggles he confronted on the journey while his family awaited his return is one of the most enduring mysteries of recent times.

O T H E R

R E L E A S E S

Maradona, a young man, due to some dangerous situations, moves out of his hometown and reaches Bangalore to stay with his distant relatives.

However, during his stay there, his situation worsens further.

T H I S

W E E K

ALPHA Cast: Jens Hultén, Kodi SmitMcPhee, Leonor Varela After a Steppe bison hunting expedition 20,000 years ago in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic period goes awry, a young man struggles against the elements to find his way home, all the while developing a friendship with a grey wolf. This forges the tentative first bond between man and canine.

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

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THE NUN Cast: Bonnie Aarons, Jonny Coyne, Taissa Farmiga

New Line Cinema’s horror thriller “The Nun” explores another dark corner of the “Conjuring” universe, whose recordsetting films have terrified audiences around the globe.

The new fright-fest, directed by Corin Hardy and produced by James Wan, and Peter Safran, the latter of whom has produced all the films in “The Conjuring” franchise, delves into the shocking origin of the demonic Nun Valak, who first made her evil presence known in “The Conjuring 2.”

When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret.

Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of a nun, as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned.

ENCHANTED PRINCESS Cast: Aleksandr Pozharov, Anton Makarsky, Irina Medvedeva, Natalya Medvedeva

PALTAN Cast: Suniel Shetty, Arjun Rampal, Jackie Shroff, Gurmeet Choudhary, Esha Gupta

A family comedy about a young prince, who sets on a mission to find a missing princess from the neighbourhood kingdom.

Along the journey prince meets a doopie dragon who joins him on the adventure.

Paltan, a war drama, tells the untold story of the Indian forces facing off against a Chinese infiltration along the Sikkim border.

COMING SOON

Running At: Vox Cinemas, City Cinemas, Al Bahja Cinema

THE PREDATOR Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Jacob Tremblay, Trevante Rhodes

FINAL SCORE Cast: Dave Bautista, Pierce Brosnan

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

SUDOKU

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

Level | Easy

8

5

9

4

3 1

2

5

7

3

6

TIMES DIGITAL DOWNLOAD 8

8

9

3

5

1 6

6 9

3

1 2

4

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5

Level | Moderate

3

1

9

6

6

2

1

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9

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5 8

5

3

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8

6

3

9 1 5

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9

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6

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9

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Level | Difficult

8

2 4

9

6

2

6

1

7

8 2

7

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9

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9 6

8

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2

Difficult

6

7

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6

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8

9

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9

3

1

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9 4 7 3 2 6 8

8 3 1 2 6 4 5

1 4 9 6 8 3 7 2

6 2 3 5 4 7 1 8 9

3 8 5 7 9 6 4 2 1

4 6 2 8 5 1 7 9 3

7 9 1 2 3 4 8 5 6

Medium

5

Easy

7

2 6 9 7 3 1 5 4 8

5 8 7 6 9 4 1 3 2

4 1 3 5 2 8 6 9 7

9 3 1 8 7 5 2 6 4

7 5 8 2 4 6 9 1 3

6 4 2 3 1 9 7 8 5

1 2 6 4 8 7 3 5 9

8 7 5 9 6 3 4 2 1

3 9 4 1 5 2 8 7 6

3 6 1 7 5 2 4 9 8

4 9 5 8 6 3 1 7 2

2 7 8 1 9 4 5 3 6

6 3 4 9 2 7 8 1 5

8 5 9 3 1 6 2 4 7

1 2 7 4 8 5 9 6 3

9 1 6 2 7 8 3 5 4

7 8 3 5 4 9 6 2 1

5 4 2 6 3 1 7 8 9

THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

3

9

5

5

9

1

1

4

2

1

8

There’s always something ridiculously hilarious about him trying to prepare a “Gautam, you’re so hyper. Relax.” turkey for Christmas, only to end up with Yes, I was hyper. I’d just seen Mr Bean. the entire bird stuck on his head, scaring Not watched him on TV. I’d just seen him the living daylights out of his girlfriend, as on the cover of a DVD. The ridiculously he desperately tried to get it off himself, odd look on his face made me burst out having initially won the giant piece of laughing. Even before I’d managed to pop poultry at a fair earlier that year. the disc into my player, I couldn’t help but These are but a couple of mishaps break out into giggles.

Mr Bean seems to unfortunately suffer That’s the power of Mr Bean and his when he’s out and about, trying to do the funny-looking face. Created by legendthings you and I would normally do on an ary British comedian Rowan Atkinson, ordinary day. The idea of Mr Bean came to Mr Bean is odd-looking man, who not Rowan Atkinson – a member of the famed knowing the way society works, behaves Cambridge University Footlights theatre in odd ways, causing untold mayhem and club, which included such luminaries as destruction wherever he goes.

Hugh Laurie, David Mitchell, Clive AnWhether it’s unplugging a giant Christderson, Richard Ayoade, and Sue Perkins mas tree to see if his lights among others – when he work, or blowing up a paint was asked to perform at a THE SHORT AND SKINNY can in his house, just so he comedy festival in Frenchcan avoid several hours’ speaking Montreal.

Name: Mr Bean worth of whitewashing With all of his comedic Genre: Comedy his flat himself, Mr Bean’s work being in English, What it’s about: Mr Bean, simply absurd and hilarious antics Atkinson decided to give put, is a man like no other. Sit back are sure to have your sides them a preview of Mr Bean, and step into his world of hilarious aching with laughter. a character he had been absurdity. Trust us, it’s worth Mr Bean was first created developing for some time. the watch

by Rowan Atkinson way The audience loved it, and Produced for: ITV back in 1990, and continhaving successfully passed Produced by: Tiger Aspect ues to be a world-favourite its litmus test in Canada, Productions show even today. But why is Bean was ready to take on Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, the weebly little man with the world.

Amazon, Boomerang, various the rubber face so insanely And it has: Mr Bean streaming sites famous the world over? has not just given rise to a IMDB Rating: 8.5/10 “Whenever I am dehilarious series of episodes pressed, I watch Mr Bean. that first ran in the UK, but He makes me forget all my a spin-off cartoon series as troubles.” That’s not me well as two feature-length saying it. I was (I think) seven or eight movies that were universally praised years old at the time, and a 40-year-old for the hilarity and humour it brought to doctor, married and with two children, audiences the world over. In addition, the was telling me why Mr Bean appealed to original Mr Bean series is now still broadhim. That was the universal appeal of the cast the world over, where it continues guy: Mr Bean made all of us laugh, whether to be happily watched by people from all young or old. walks of life.

Because most of the humour involved So the next time you want to tune in the show was of a physical nature, it cut out everything else and tune into pure, across all cultural and linguistic barriers. unadulterated hilarious fun, remember Whether you’re from America or Argenthat on a screen not so far away from you tina, Uruguay or Uganda, Peru or the Philis an odd-looking, oddly-behaved man in ippines, there’s always something funny a skinny tie and brown suit. For that man about a man getting caught in a washing is Mr Bean, and you’re about to step into machine because he fell in while trying to his hilariously absurd world, one you will wash his clothes. never forget.—gautam@timesofoman.com

2

9

3

Times News Service

5

2

MR BEAN

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

IN FOCUS A flower arrangement workshop was held by Devyani Sampat, an lkebana teacher based in Muscat.

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

MAZDA 6 WINS IIHS’ 2018 TOP SAFETY PICK AWARD T

he 2018 Mazda 6 sedan has earned the Top Safety Pick award from America’s prestigious Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), when equipped with optional curve-adaptive headlights in the US. The 2018 test places more importance on active safety technology, headlight ratings and a new passenger side small overlap test. The more stringent award criteria have forced several previous winners out of the reckoning this year, but Mazda 6 has stood its ground.

In the IIHS’ tests, Mazda 6’s i-Activesense suite of active safety technology garnered a “Superior” rating in the front crash prevention test, thanks to its automatic emergency braking system. When equipped with optional smart brake support and standard smart city brake support, the Mazda 6 earned a superior rating for front crash prevention. The technology prevented a collision in the 12mph IIHS track test. In the 25mph test, it reduced the impact speed by an average of 24mph.

The midsize sedan also includes a forward collision warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.

Moreover, Mazda 6 managed “Good” crash test scores all around, including the new passenger side small overlap test, the side and roof strength test and the head restraints and seats test. The curve-adaptive LED headlights on the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims earned an acceptable rating. Highbeam assist, a system that automatically switches between high beams and low beams, depending on the presence of other vehicles, boosted the rating.

To earn the 2018 Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must have good ratings in the

driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, plus available front crash prevention that earns an advanced or superior rating and available acceptable or good-rated headlights. The turbocharged Mazda 6 topped in these criteria in the US. In Oman, Mazda 6 specifications are different as it follows the GSO standards as applicable in the GCC region. Mazda 6 is available in 2.0 and 2.5L engine variants, and has impressive features like Adaptive Front Lighting System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Smart Key and Rear and Front Parking Sensors.

According to Towell Auto Centre (TAC), the sole distributor of Mazda vehicles in the Sultanate of Oman, “Mazda believes in innovation and is committed to provide our customers good results in the real world. Besides the Mazda 6, there are a wide range of luxury vehicles with advanced SKYACTIV technology and global appeal. Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology assures fuel efficiency without compromising on safety and performance. The Mazda 6 is big on performance and at the same time gives drivers a premium feel, thanks to its plush interiors combined with a sporty feel behind the wheel. It

comes as no surprise that Mazda 6 has won the Top Safety Pick Award.”

Mazda has brought quality to the roads of Oman, and TAC has made owning a Mazda an absolute joy, thanks to their excellent after-sales service, availability of genuine parts for all Mazda models, their efficient staff and amazing promotions for customers.

To find out more about Towell Auto Centre’s amazing range of Mazda vehicles, log on to mazdaoman.com, or just walk into any one of TAC’s 10 Mazda showrooms situated across the Sultanate of Oman.

GITI TYRES DELIVER DURABILITY, SAFETY, HIGH VALUE FOR DRIVERS IN OMAN

G

iti, one of the world’s largest tyre manufacturers, who serve customers in more than 130 markets across the globe, is now delivering on its promise of durability, safety, and high value for owners and drivers of passenger cars, trucks, and buses in the Sultanate of Oman.

The Singapore-based global tyre company has been in the tyre business for more than 60 years, and currently, its R&D facilities bring together the latest advanced technology resources from across North America, Europe, China, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom to develop products tailored to the most demanding requirements of customers.

Durability, safety, and efficiency are paramount to passenger car drivers, as well as Oman-based companies doing business in the region. With this in mind, the manufacturer states that they are committed to helping achieve these aims — and to

providing sustainable transportation combined with premium performance.

Giti currently has a large range of tyre patterns available for the Middle East market — all designed to provide longer mileage and operating life, lower fuel consumption, superior traction, excellent

handling, and outstanding damage resistance, among other benefits.

The company offers optimum design characteristics when it comes to six key elements in each tyre’s construction: Tread contact width; footprint and ground contact pressure area; under tread rubber

depth; belt layout; bead construction; and casing cords/bead wire.

With the manufacturer’s six-step SIMPLE Tyre Maintenance guide, Giti also provides valuable after-sales advice on how owners of trucks and buses, and daily drivers, can prolong the life and enhance the performance of their vehicle’s tyres.

Giti has earned extensive recognition, including multiple top-supplier awards, from highly accredited organisations around the world, and some of the automotive industry’s largest names.

In addition, Giti’s motorsports activities have become a vital proving ground where tyres are pushed beyond design limits to generate valuable engineering data for tyres in all industries.

In the Sultanate of Oman, Giti Tyres can be purchased from EINT Automotive LLC — and their approved dealers — across the country.