T weekly april 26 2018 by Muscat Media Group

VOL 11 ISSUE 19 / APRIL 26, 2018

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 19 APRIL 26, 2018 Founder: Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Editor: Charles Lavery Features Editor: Swati Dasgupta Research Editor: Ashish Dubash Associate Editors: Salim Al Afifi, Shruthi Nair Copy Editor: Gautam Bhargav Viswanathan Online Editor: Christopher Isaac

Travel, tolerance, and fashion

Chief Sales Officer: Richard Pakenham Production Manager: Shafi Shaik

WITH THE EID HOLIDAYS less than two months away, people are drawing up their travel plans. The snow-clad Swiss Alps and cooler places far away beckon vacationers from the blistering heat of Muscat. But travel to these places requires a lot of planning, which includes queuing up outside visa offices and embassies, and a lot of money as well. Take heart now. You can still have a great time without breaking the bank. Tour operators in Oman have lined up summer holiday packages, for individuals and groups, to cost-effective destinations such as Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, which don’t have cumbersome visa processes either. From travel, we shift our focus to tolerance: a relevant issue to discuss when it comes to raising children in an age of growing intolerance. No one is born intolerant; it’s a learned behaviour that children imbibe from their parents, the people they mingle with, and society at large. Our parenting column this week tries to convey the important message that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and should treat others with respect as well. Meet Ahmed Al Balushi, founder and designer of Kash5aful brand, who is the ﬁrst from the country to showcase at the 2018 Autumn-Winter London Fashion Week. The designer, who made his foray into the fashion industry at a very young age, talks about his designs, his inspirations and how he plans to showcase Omani fashion to the world. — Swati Dasgupta

Graphics Editor: Antonio Farach Design Editor: Sahir K.M. Lead Designer: Gregory Fernandez Designer: Geri B. Sonny Photography: MMG Photographers

On The Cover: Design by Gregory Fernandez For general enquiries or comments: swati@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 ADVERTISEMENT 24726600/24726666 Ext 432 ajayraj@timesofoman.com

CIRCULATION 24726600/24726666 Ext 135/136 circulation@timesofoman.com

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14 MARCH 22, 2018

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WHAT’S ON 28 THIS WEEK SATURDAY

04.00pm Shake It, Bollywood Style Learn some hip Bollywood moves at Juthoor Dance Fitness Studio in Azaiba. The event is for women only and costs OMR7 per person. Juthoor Dance Fitness Studio Azaiba, Bousher +968 9612 3134

THURSDAY

11.00am Shop for Big Brands Fan of designer bags and luxury perfumes? Then head to this exhibition and explore great deals with up to 70% discount. The event will take place from April 24 to 28. Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre Madinat Al Irfan, Muscat, +968 2423 3800

27 FRIDAY

06.00pm Dance by the Beach Join musician Damian D’Costa for a party-atthe-beach at Muscat Hills Beach Club where great music will be played, and new exciting lights will be showcased. Admission after 6pm costs OMR15 for men, and free for ladies. Muscat Hills Resort Al Jassah، Muscat +968 2485 3000

Enjoy a Jazz Performance 07.30pm International jazz sensation and Grammy winning vocalist Dianne Reeves will be performing at the Royal Opera House Muscat for all the jazz afficionados in town. It’s a show not to be missed. Royal Opera House Muscat Qurum, Muscat +968 2440 3300

07.00pm Have a Seafood Extravaganza One of the most extensive buffets in town, filled with fresh, locally caught seafood is on offer for all seafood lovers, while enjoying a live performance. The buffet is priced at OMR 29 per person. Crowne Plaza Muscat, Qurum +968 9508 7517

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TUESDAY 10.00am Attend a Trade Fair The Thai Trade Exhibition Oman 2018 (TXO) trade fair for Thai SMEs is coming to town for investors to explore business opportunities in Oman and introduce their products and services to the Sultanate. The event will take place from May 1-5. Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre Madinat Al Irfan, Muscat +968 2423 3800 +971 4251 0451 (WhatsApp)

MONDAY

09.00am Experience Oman Through Art Visit City Seasons Hotel in Al Khuwair and explore beautiful artworks by Erica Barrow and Pragya Bhatnagar as they conclude their month-long exhibition. City Seasons Hotel, Al Khuwair +968 2439 4800

S TREA M YO UR FAVO UR IT E S HOW S

Killjoys (Season 3) Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Cast: Hannah John-Kamen, Aaron Ashmore, Luke Macfarlane Synopsis: In the Quad, a planetary system on the brink of a bloody interplanetary class war, a fun loving trio of bounty hunters attempt to remain impartial as they chase deadly warrants. The Greatest Showman (Film) Genre: Biography, Drama, Musical Cast: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron Synopsis: Celebrates the birth of show business, and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

Deep Blue Sea 2 (Film) Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi Cast: Danielle Savre, Rob Mayes, Michael Beach Synopsis: A brilliant billionaire named Carl Durant is experimenting on bull sharks, which soon rebel to cause havoc for a group of scientists. Phantom Thread (Film) Genre: Drama, Romance Cast: Vicky Krieps, Daniel DayLewis, Lesley Manville Synopsis: Set in 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.

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STORY SALIM AL AFIFI

Holidays does not always mean travelling to far off destinations. Sometimes, short and quick trips are the best journeys especially when you do not have much time to plan your itinerary. This summer travel to one of the easy destinations that are close and amazing as well.

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t the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia lies a beautiful region full of historic monuments and picturesque mountain views. It is here, nestled in the Caucasus Mountains, that lie three countries that have become the tourist destinations of choice for Omanis and expats: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. So, what makes these quaint places the number one choice for Oman residents? Let’s ﬁnd out. The three countries are opening up to the tourism industry, and they are succeeding. They are cost-effective for the average tourist. You can holiday with the family without breaking the bank. From accommodation to food, and everything in between, these three countries are far more affordable than, say, Spain, France or Italy. “People can now experience Europe by paying far less compared to what they used to pay to travel to dominant European countries,” said chief operating officer of Mezoon International Travel and Tours Riyaz Kuttery. Another reason is that Omanis and residents of the Sultanate can obtain a visa on arrival in Georgia or Armenia, which makes travel faster and hassle-free. For Azerbaijan, Omanis get a visa on arrival, and expats (such as Indian nationals) can

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ARMENIA, A TINY COUNTRY TUCKED BEHIND TURKEY, IS FULL OF MYSTICAL SPACES THAT CARRY ANCIENT STORIES. AND IT IS STILL UNSPOILT BY MASSIVE CROWDS OF TOURISTS, MAKING IT A GREAT DESTINATION FOR THE ADVENTUROUS.

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apply and get it online, swiftly. The visas also cost a lot less. “We wanted to go to a place where we could experience snow and that was, at the same time, easy on the pocket. Plus, as the trip was planned all of a sudden, we could not go to places where visas were difficult to process,” said one of the visitors, Nikitha Eliza Mathew. “The visa takes only three working days to process and it costs around $23, and an urgent visa option is also available, which is done in four hours and costs around $50.” Marketing Manager at Sunny Island Travel and Tours Masud Rana said, “They are trying to boost the sector, and the fastest route to boost the sector is easy access.” The cherry on top is the availability of budget airlines that ﬂy to all three destinations. From Flydubai to our very own SalamAir, which offers a direct ﬂight to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. Now that we know the ease of visiting these fabulous Eastern Europe locales, let’s dive deeper into what each one has to offer. If you are headed to Georgia, you will be moved by its culture that carries hints of Middle

Eastern hospitality. “The culture is almost the same as the Middle Eastern culture,” said Masud. Georgia has everything a traveller can ask for: Mountains and sea sides for nature-loving folks, besides breathtaking landscapes and ancient churches. Make sure to stop by the remote region of Svaneti, where you can climb medieval watchtowers. In the summer, it’s a great place for hiking, while the winter attracts skiers from around the globe. Austin Rebello, who visited Georgia recently, said, “Meeting people, learning about their culture, exploring, and spreading peace and love summed up my trip.” Adjara is another must-visit place, where you can enjoy water sports, relax on pebbled beaches, and walk around parks full of fountains and dancing people. The sunny region is ﬁlled with restaurants and cafes. And, speaking of food, make sure to try the breads and cheeses around Georgia. Armenia, a tiny country tucked behind Turkey, is full of mystical spaces that carry ancient stories. And it is still unspoilt by massive crowds of tourists, making

it a great destination for the adventurous. The architecture and the ruins will be etched on your mind for years to come, especially Haghpat, a Unesco monastery situated near Alaverdi. The locals are so friendly they’d be willing to show you around and invite you home for a cup of tea. Azerbaijan has a rich history, absorbing culture, fascinating architecture, and great cuisine. You can stay in the old town of Baku or wander across the country and stop by the mud volcanoes of Gobustan and the mountain villages of Northern Azerbaijan near Quba. Nikitha travelled to Azerbaijan for an unparalleled snowy vacation. “The experience was amazing as it was our ﬁrst time experiencing snow, and the place has a lot of Persian architecture and the building designed by Zaha Hadid, the Iraqi-British architect, is a mustsee. It’s called the Heydar Aliyev Centre,” she recalled. Overall, a trip to any of these places promises to be an unforgettable one. Let’s hope the holidays will be longer this Eid, because my itinerary is all set. Is yours? –salim@timesofoman.com

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It brings joy knowing that we have evolved in our perception over the art of fashion and have become more open to change, especially for one that challenges the status quo. In Oman, fashion has been a female-dominated ﬁeld for years, until the likes of Ahmed Al Balushi proved to society that men can become headliners in such ﬁelds, and even reach new and exciting heights.

FASHION IN THE AGE OF

STORY SALIM AL AFIFI PHOTOS MAZIN AL AWIRA

any people view the world of fashion as an elegant industry full of elegant people, but if we put aside the glitz and the glamour, we’d see that it has a deeper substance that transcends the idea of clothing. It represents responsibility, seeking perfection, working hard, solving problems, and standing out in a crowd. And that is exactly who Ahmed Al Balushi is. “Being a fashion designer is more than fabrics and sketches, it’s about feeding your soul with creative energy and introducing beautiful creations to the world,” he said. Ahmed is a fashion designer and the founder of Kash5aful, a brand that specialises in designing ready-to-wear and capsule collections that carry the identity of modern Arabia accompanied with high-end, contemporary aesthetics. The name is pronounced “Kashkhaful” and is a wordplay in Arabic that means very chic: chic-ful. The young designer started his journey at the age of 18 and decided to chase his dream of becoming a successful designer. Even though he studied engineering in college, it did not stand in the way of reaching his goal. Ever since he was a kid, he had a unique personality that portrayed this young kid who danced to the beats of a different drummer. His fashionable character and fascination with fabrics drew him into fashion. He began viewing the world from a fashion angle, literally. Before diving into ateliers, Ahmed began

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As we entered 2017, Kash5aful saw a revamp for Ahmed and his brand’s identity. It was the same hardworking, loving and social Ahmed that we know, except this time around, he had his head in the game, targeting global success. He did more collections, runway shows, and trunk shows to showcase his edgy creations, letting us know that he truly is a force to be reckoned with, and given the fact that he’s a male designer, it added a tonne of credit to his name. In November 2017, his global journey took off. He participated in his ﬁrst European fashion show at Geneva, where he showcased his black-and-gold collection and got introduced to European media, which led to something even bigger: A dream for every living and breathing designer on this planet. As he continued to work on his clothes, something unexpected took place. He was invited to take part in a fashion show that is the pinnacle of fashion designing and a runway to some of the world’s biggest fashion houses: The 2018 London Fashion Week. At the event, he revealed his latest collection in a themed runway segment called “Stories from Arabia”, where contemporary Arab designers are carefully selected to present their high-end createsting his creative brushes in digital art, tions on the runways of one of fashion’s where he’d graphically design beautiful most celebrated events. shapes that later became part of his very The collection introduced us to a new and first collection. daring side of Ahmed. His pieces sported red, “I’ve always loved design. Anything that black, and nude palettes, and carried bold had colours in it, I had to put my head into cuts and designs that were made with hints it and explore it,” said Ahmed. of glamour. It was a collection What many of his current everyone was waiting to see, a buyers might not know is that collection that portrayed his he started designing casual Tpotential and creativity as an shirts with his digital art beartiste. “I can neither explain fore moving to more elaborate nor describe the feeling of what pieces. His debut collection I have achieved or where I am comprised t-shirts with Arastanding now,” said Ahmed, bic calligraphy and nuances. adding, “I always knew that I He started slow. Took his will get somewhere someday, time. And studied the market but never thought it would hapideally and equipped himself pen this soon.” with the fundamentals of Ahmed Al Balushi is defiAhmed Al Balushi fashion before upgrading his nitely paving the way for other Designer craft. “I wanted to see if I have young male Omani designers the strength required to do this, and wanted who aspire to become leaders in this field, to see how people would accept it,” he and proving to them that men can also beexplained. come household names in Oman. After releasing another collection of TSome of his future plans are to share his shirts with 3D designs, his brand became knowledge of fashion with fellow male acknowledged by many street-fashion lovdesigners in Oman who are as passionate ers around Muscat. He realised that there and dedicated as he is. His work and brand was loads of potential to turn his dream have already been featured in business curinto reality, which was designing ready-toriculums of local colleges across Muscat as a wear pieces that screamed elegance. successful case study. He is a true role modIn 2016, he decided to market his brand el. Though it is challenging and competitive, on a larger scale and give his loyal followAhmed is determined to continue climbing ers a peek into his new world, which was the ladder of success and become the best elevated with contemporary designs and ar- fashion designer Oman will ever witness. chitectural pieces for both men and women. —salim@timesofoman.com

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STORY FARZEEN ASHIK

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man is a great place to live and we do so in a mixed race community; Omanis, Arabs, Europeans, Africans, Americans, Asians — we have it all. And our children have been exposed to these different cultures and people at an age much younger than most of us have. This would obviously lead to more questions and challenges. At a young age your children may ask you honest questions about the appearance or behaviour of their friends or yours, but remember that they are just ‘asking’, not ‘judging’. In this day and age we see so many biases and prejudices based on race, ethnicity, gender, ability, religion, class and so on; and we also live in a world where children can ﬁnd out anything they want to with a few clicks or taps. And believe me, it’s never too early to teach them a thing or two about respect and sensitivity. So, how do we go about it? Watch yourself: Children mirror your actions and words. They are like sponges just waiting to soak up all that information. So, the next time you want to poke fun at someone who looks different or speaks with an accent different from your own, think twice. Your child will be doing the same in school and in other social circles. Explore your own biases and prejudices ﬁrst. No one is without them. Once you understand what you are doing wrong, you will be more careful. We all have struggles, in which we try to cope and understand. Teach by example: Show your children the right attitude and they will pick it up from a young age. Do not stereotype. Speak with respect about people different from yourself. Be sensitive to diverse cultures, religions, attitudes and personalities. People from different parts of the world think and act differently, they even have a different sense of humour. Make your child understand that it’s ok for people to be different from him or her, and that he needs to embrace these diversities. Honesty is the best policy: Younger children are usually very honest. I remember when my three-year-old pointed to a chubby man at school and said very loudly, ‘Look mummy he has a big tummy!’ The poor man heard it and we were all so embarrassed. Your children will come to you

We have a huge responsibility to raise our children right, in a world that is becoming increasingly mired with conﬂicts, differences, biases, and prejudices. With some people becoming insensitive and disrespectful of differences and encouraging disparaging behaviour and attitudes, it becomes more important to step into the scene and teach children the greatest value of them all — tolerance.

with questions galore of why people look the way they do or why they are better at sports or studies or why they reacted differently to a joke in class. The best way to handle these questions is to sit them down and be honest with them. Stand up for what’s not right: Being tolerant does not mean putting up with bullies or allowing oneself or others to be ridiculed. Help your children understand what’s a no-no. Help them to be confident enough to stand up for what’s not right. The more happy your child is, the greater will be his self-esteem. Such children will automatically step in if they feel someone is being wronged. They will also be confident debating ideas and differences. Also, it’s usually the unhappy children who poke fun at others and make them hurt, because misery loves company. Expose them to diversity: Travel more and expose your children to different cultures, religions, beliefs and ways of life. Even here in Oman, try to make friends with people of different countries so you, as a family, can get to know and understand their culture. You have to give children opportunities to interact with diverse cultures. Read up more and encourage them to read both fiction and non-fiction by authors of different countries. This will give them a real view of the world out there.

Farzeen Ashik is the author of the prizewinning novel ‘Rainbow Dorm Diaries–The Yellow Dorm’.

Point out the stereotypes: When other people say or do things on TV or radio that are impolite and insensitive to others, you must point out and tell them that is not the way to express one’s feelings. The media plays a huge role in inﬂuencing how our children think and act. They might think it’s cool to say some derogatory remark their ‘idol’ said on Twitter or Instagram, but if it is mean and disrespectful, then you need to tell them that. If not, come tomorrow they will be saying similar things to their peers. Be careful what movies, programmes, and games you expose them to. Young minds can get easily warped.

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STORY ANTARA BOSE

The most exciting thing about going over hair colours every season is the burst of a fresh new set of shades. While some hues leave us wondering if we really learnt all the colours urs in the palette, others have us rushing to the stylist for an inspired new look. Yes, I admit, mit, I’ve probably turned green with envy for all the times I’ve come ‘hair-to-hair’ with perfectly fectly maintained mermaid jewel-tones but I’m pretty certain I’m not letting anything green get to my head yet. But for all those who don’t mind experimenting a little (or maybe even some more), here are some shades you’d want to look up for summer:

BRONDE – Can’t make up your mind between brown and blonde? Don’t! Because with this evergreen shade that makes it to every season’s top trends, you can have the best of both. And it is absolutely low-maintenance. Let’s say it can mature with you. It works for natural blondes who seek some deep colours, added richness and lustre, and goes equally well for natural brunettes who just want some highlights to liven up their look. It lets you retain your colour but still experiment with something new.

E – Sounds refreshing, PINK LEMONADE doesn’t it? Well, it deﬁnitely is a refreshing new colour to try on your hair. It works by blendingg a shade of pink with ed hair. You can either blonde or bleached use the pink as a vibrant highlight if you ed hair or have it fade have light-coloured nk to a pastel yellow. from a bright pink Pro-tip: If you don’t want to go highd have naturally light maintenance and ing the pink halfway hair, start blending through your hairr instead of starting at the roots. That way, you won’t have to touching the roots. worry about retouching

SUN-KISSED BRUNETTE OMBRE – You just can’t go through summer without being sun-kissed, can you? Add a little warmth to your brunette ombre hair by adding tones of honey throughout your hair. Not only will it look like your hair got a vitamin lift, the colour will have a noticeable effect on your face too. Call it the effect of contrast or just sheer happiness — you’ll see the difference for sure.

ULTRAVIOLET – Not your ordinary violet, this was Pantone’s ‘Colour of the Year’. There’s really no looking back once you’ve committed to this shade, so instead of experimenting with streaks, we recommend going all out with colouring your entire hair. Bold, alluring and radiant, you’ll be sure to turn heads and raise some brows.

ROSE GOLD – From phones to jewellery to a million other things, this colour has really caught on. So why leave your hair out from soaking in its brilliance. It’s a perfect blend of red, pink and blonde. And the best part is you can keep this as bold as you want or go mellow enough to sport it to the office.

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TOASTED ORANGE – Bring in the brilliance of the orange and ﬁre it up with some red. That’s the colour you should be aiming for if you’re leaning towards being anything close to a ginger. It’ll give you the feeling of being ﬁerce but grounded at the same time – a mysterious combination.

EXPOSED PLATINUM – If you aren’t over your platinum shade (and we really don’t blame you for that) but are tired of it being so demanding, this new trend was probably designed for your type. Simply let your roots grow out. This works especially well if you have dark hair as the contrast is what adds the spark to this look. LIGHT BROWN/HONEY HIGHLIGHTS – If you aren’t feeling bold enough to try something radical, opt for these subtle highlights. You can go for just a few streaks initially and if you like how it looks, you can always add a few more. Pick a highlight that isn’t too far from your original shade to give yourself a mellow change.

ASH BROWN – IIt’s the perfect amalgamation of silver aand brown. If you have brown hair, this is a look to deﬁnitely try. Go for darker root roots and let the ashen look get lighter as it n nears the end. The best thing about this look is its variations – you can tone it up or down to get a fresh new look in any season.

RAINBOW ROOTS – If you don’t want your entire hair coloured in brilliant shades of the rainbow, why not just stick to the roots. Contrary to dip-dyed hair, colouring your roots is a bolder way of trying something new. It means you are ready to embrace the colour and are not just at an experimental stage where you’d cut off the ends if things don’t unfold as planned.

Antara B Bose is a model turned fashion aand beauty consultant. popular blogger, anchor, and A popula over artist, she maintains a voice ov connection with the local deep con and is passionate fashion industry i about discovering and celebrating aspiring talent as well as fashion updates with a side of promoting animal rights. For fash Antara on instagram humour and sarcasm follow Anta Bose. @antarabose and on Facebook: Antara A

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HALEMO Arabic Cast: Mohamed Saied, Bayoumi Fouad, Nermin Maher, Talaat Zakaria

HERE COMES THE GRUMP Voice Overs: Toby Kebbell, Lily Collins, Ian McShane

Halemo (Talaat Zakaria), is a lifeguard on one of Alexandria’s beaches, who cannot swim, which puts him in many comic situations.

From the writer of Ice Age The Meltdown, a teenage boy named Terry has been transported into a magical land where he must stop a mean-spirited wizard called “The Grump”.

MOHANLAL Malayalam Cast: Sajid Yahiya, Salim Kumar, Manju Warrier “Mohanlal” the ﬁlm is about how a little girl’s fandom turned to become her life. Meenu was born on the same day when the superstar Mohanlal appeared for the ﬁrst time on the silver screens across Kerala, through the iconic movie Manjil Virinja Pookal.

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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Cast: Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlet Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

THE TITAN Cast: Sam Worthington, Taylor Schilling and Tom Wilkinson

THE BIG BAD FOX Voice Overs: Guillaume Bouchède, Jules Bienvenu, Kamel Abdessadok

A military family takes part in a ground-breaking experiment of genetic evolution and space exploration.

Whoever thinks that the countryside is calm and peaceful is mistaken. In it we ﬁnd especially agitated animals, a fox that thinks it’s a chicken, a rabbit that acts like a stork, and a duck who wants to replace Father Christmas. If you want to take a va-

COMING SOON

Running at: Vox Cinemas, City Cinemas

I FEEL PRETTY Cast: Emily Ratajkowski, Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams

OVERBOARD Cast: Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, Eva Longoria

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Cartier held a watchmaking event in Muscat for the first time at the Chedi Hotel alongside Khimji’s Watches, the Maison’s trusted partner.

Shankar Yoga Kendra under the patronage of Indian Embassy Oman conducted a workshop on women’s wellness at the Indian Embassy Auditorium.

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SUDOKU

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

Level | Easy

2 6

7 3 1

7 3 2

2 6

Level | Moderate

5 9

1 4

Level | Difficult

2 5

Difficult

7 5 6 4 2 1 9

2 5 4 9 6 3 8 7

3 9 8 2 7 1 5 6 4

4 7 6 8 5 3 1 9 2

2 8 3 1 4 5 9 7 6

9 6 1 7 8 2 4 5 3

7 5 4 6 3 9 8 2 1

Medium

Easy

4 8 3 6 5 9 2 1 7

1 7 5 8 6 4 3 2 9

9 2 4 3 1 7 6 5 8

3 6 8 9 2 5 1 7 4

8 1 6 4 9 2 7 3 5

5 4 9 7 3 1 8 6 2

7 3 2 5 8 6 4 9 1

8 6 5 1 4 3 2 9 7

3 9 2 6 1 7 8 4 5

6 7 1 8 5 4 9 3 2

4 5 8 3 9 2 7 6 1

7 8 6 5 3 1 4 2 9

5 2 3 4 6 9 1 7 8

9 1 4 2 7 8 3 5 6

THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

now needs to forge on, and hope that the WHEN YOU FIRST glance at the title Jaraci Object can help solve her growing of this game, it doesn’t seem like one that worries. Repelling the Gaalsien, Rachel will inspire you to – depending on how old and her fellow Hiigarans stumble upon you are – drag mummy and daddy towards the Ifriit Nabal, the flagship of the first the shelves and eagerly point to it, or get expedition all those years ago. To Rachel, excited and whip out your credit card and this expedition means more than just watch with glee as your purchase is rung salvation for her people. up on the register. Jacob, her elder brother, had been the It’s a good thing, though, that the commanding officer on that mission. He image on the cover is fantastic. But learns that Jacob withstood several years let’s not get too hasty and judge a book of Gaalsien incarceration, and that the (in this case, game) by its cover. It’s reason the Gaalsien are at war with the what’s on the inside that really matters, Hiigarans is because they believe that the and Homeworld, Deserts latter’s use of technology of Kharak delivers rich, and satellites strongly goes immersive gameplay in against their faith. Rachel is THE SHORT AND spades. not the only one hoping this The game is set 106 object gives them salvation SKINNY Name: Homeworld Deserts of years before its pre– the Gaalsien believe that Kharak quel, Homeworld, and securing the Jaraci Object Genre: Fantasy/Real Time Strategy centres around the dying will make them rulers of all Produced by: Blackbird Interactive world of Kharak. The wastof Kharak. and Gearbox Software ing land is now the home Facing a race against time What it’s about: Kharak has of the banished Hiigaran with a militarily superior always been a harsh and desolate people, whose conflicts opposition, Rachel knows world, and while many clans do among various splinter that the object, which has battle it out for supremacy on the factions increase as steadliterally mobilised everyone ground and in the air, none of them ily as the ever-expanding on the planet, is now her call the planet home. Great Banded Desert. only priority. While still Where to buy: Steam store, Humble Tracking stations set up under siege by the Gaalsien, Bundle, GOG.com by the Hiigarans detect an the Hiigaran rulers underPlatforms: Windows, Max OSX object that is widely bestand this as well, and send lieved to reverse the death her whatever aid they can and violence on Kharak. spare; there are several more To some, it may seem like a wild-goose factions scattered across the desert willchase, but this is not the first time the ing to aid her. Jaraci Object has been spotted. Hiigarans All of this aid turns out to be pretty from the polar north of the planet had sizeable in the end: Rachel has at her previously sent an expedition to uncover disposal several fleets of ships, rangthe object, but the team had mysteriously ing from heavy spacefaring frigates and vanished. cruisers, to more nimble attack fighters This second expedition is spearheaded and land-based artillery, tanks and some by Rachel S’jet, who assembles a team of the Hiigaran Coalition’s best infantry, onboard her ship, the Kapisi, which deall of whom know what is at stake and parts Epsilon base in search of this object. are more than willing to put their lives However, shortly after Rachel departs, on the line for the salvation and safety of another faction, the Gaalsien, a group of their people. fanatics who’ve been exiled from the main Deserts of Kharak may not have the body of Kharak’s societal structure, asnicest of titles, but it certainly is one of sault the Hiigaran people and lay siege to the best games to come out in the realthe planetary capital. time strategy genre, and will live long in Cut off from supplies and intel, Rachel the memory of gamers everywhere.

TIMES DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

HOMEWORLD: DESERTS OF KHARAK

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 19 APRIL 26, 2018

KEMPINSKI HOTEL OFFERS UNPARALLELED LEISURE EXPERIENCES

esigned with a variety of local Omani inﬂuences, Kempinski Hotel Muscat — the modern urban resort — welcomed the local community and guests visiting the Sultanate of Oman with a grand opening on April 4. The event saw members of the press, dignitaries, socialites, and VIPs experience traditional Omani hospitality blended with luxury European ﬂair. Hosting two events – an official VIP launch during the day, followed by a party in the evening — the hotel welcomed over 400 guests. Under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said, a plaque model of the ballroom was unveiled. Carsten Wiegandt, General Manager of Kempinski Hotel Muscat, said, “The grand opening of our hotel marks an important day for the Kempinski brand. Being the latest hotel addition in Al Mouj Muscat, Oman’s lifestyle and leisure destination in the new heart of Muscat, we aim to provide our guests with a memorable and authentic Omani experience, merged with over 120 years of European luxury, while contributing to the successful growth of the tourism sector in the Sultanate.”

Designed by Woods Bagot, Kempinski Hotel Muscat is a modern interpretation of Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman, with stand-out elements that are truly Omani in nature. The hotel’s buildings, with the façade inspired by the landscape of Old Muscat — such as the Muttrah Corniche — are a matrix of structures, outlining what was once a commercial centre. The design of the lobby originates from the nature of lilies in a lily pond,

and is inspired by the Al Alam Palace, the ceremonial palace of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The prominent location of the ballroom — wherein the Muscat Ballroom is situated — establishes a strong ﬁrst impression, with an architectural design inspired by Arabic lanterns, illuminated in the evening to reinforce the hotel as a landmark in Al Mouj Muscat community. With 310 rooms and suites, state-ofthe-art meeting facilities, 10 world-class

restaurants and bars, a fully equipped health club and an authentic spa experience, Kempinski Hotel Muscat will be a gateway to an authentic Omani adventure, where guests can experience a mélange of local traditions blended with world-class European luxury guaranteed to create unforgettable memories. For families travelling with kids, the hotel’s kids club provides the perfect haven for children. The 1,100 sqm pillarless ballroom can accommodate up to 700 guests and can be divided into three sections. The striking diamond-shaped building also hosts 11 separate function rooms, featuring natural daylight and conveniently equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. Kempinski Hotel Muscat is nestled in Al Mouj Muscat, a world-class waterfront development that offers unparalleled lifestyle and leisure experiences. Located within this thriving waterfront community, guests will have access to exciting retail and dining facilities at Boulevard, The Walk and Marsa Promenade with a 400-berth Al Mouj Marina, and a signature PGA-standard 18-hole links-style course at Al Mouj Golf minutes away.