T Weekly for August 2, 2018 by Muscat Media Group

VOL 11 ISSUE 33 / AUGUST 2, 2018

R A I L S

O F F R O A D

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 2, 2018 Founder: Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali

Conversations on holidays, work-related burnout, and social media relationships What’s your best holiday moment? Soaking up the sun, sand, and breeze, or taking unlimited selﬁes? While they can make any vacation truly special, waiting for a holiday is also half the fun as it boosts excitement and happiness in people. With the Eid Al Adha holidays just a few weeks away, we too have started thinking of long drives, late night parties, and sleeping late. After all, the holidays are not always about packing your bags and heading off to faraway destinations — they are also about unwinding and rejuvenation. As a result, city-based holidays are becoming increasingly popular among people. A staycation, which means taking a mini-vacation in your own city, is gaining popularity worldwide, and Oman has caught the fever. For a moment, let’s stop looking through hundreds of glossy brochures or scouring for the best travel and ﬂight deals. Let’s have a holiday right here in Oman — and there’s nothing better than going off-road this time. Whether it is revelling in the sandy wilderness of the Sharqiyah Sands, enjoying a rustic lifestyle, or getting face-to-face with the Bedouins, the guided tours organised by Guide Oman have several thrilling plans in store. Known for arranging thrilling desert expeditions, mountain crossings, and other adventurous tours, Guide Oman also offers vacationers the chance to join trips to castles, forts, and mountains. While we’re on the topic of holidays, we’re also curious about where people prefer to spend their weekends or holidays in Oman, so we’re taking a peek into the travels of stars and celebrities based here. But before we get into the holiday mood, let’s address an issue that’s important to all —the telltale signs of burnout. Most of us have started accepting the fact that being overworked at the workplace is normal, but it certainly isn’t, as it can lead to chronic fatigue and other ailments. Find out if you need some down time to feel up to the mark. We also discuss the ever-evolving face of friendship in today’s social media-saturated culture. When it comes to making friends, are we making the most of those around us? It’s time to ponder. — Swati Dasgupta

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

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

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

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WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON 05 THIS WEEK SUNDAY

05.00pm Enjoy a Friendly Race Car aficionados who love the sound of roaring engines should stop by Oman Automobile Association and enjoy a variety of adrenaline-pumping events, from drifting, to karting and everything in between. And, you can even participate in some of them!

THURSDAY

MONDAY

4.00pm Swim with the Dolphins Have yourself a weekend escape to Musandam where you can enjoy a quick holiday away from the city, amid serene oceans and beautiful dolphins.

5.0 5.00pm Explore Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Exp Omani Society for Fine Arts is one Om of the t best places to get a glimpse into the beauty of Oman and its people, through a series of artworks peo painted by talented artists. pai

04 03

FRIDAY 10.00am Climb to the Highest Peak It may not be as green as Jabal Akhdar, but Jabal Shams packs unique charms that makes it a must-visit for tourists, and a perfect camping spot for the locals. Did we mention that it offers the highest peak in the whole country?

SATURDAY 04.00pm Learn All About Dhows Drive to the coastal town of Sur and explore the time-honoured craft of dhow-making at the oldest and only traditional boat factory.

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TUESDAY

Ready Player One (Film) Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to ﬁnd his Easter Egg, which will give the ﬁnder his fortune. .

WEDNESDAY

10.00am Savour a Fresh Catch Oman is known for it’s seafood culture, so head out and buy fresh-out-of-the-water fish from Muttrah or Seeb fish market, and pick a nearby seafood restaurant and ask them to grill it for you. It’s finger-licking good.

Incident in a Ghostland (Film) Genre: Drama, Horror Cast: Crystal Reed, Mylène Farmer, Anastasia Phillips The story follows a mother of two who inherits a home from her aunt. On the ﬁrst night in the new home, she is confronted with murderous intruders and ﬁghts for her daughters’ lives.

06.00pm Visit the Photographic Society of Oman Dive into the world of image making where photographers meet to share their best work and their creative energy.

(Genre

Operation Red Sea (Film) Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller Cast: Yi Zhang, Johnny Huang, Hai-Qing PLA Navy Marine Corps launch a hostage rescue operation in Ihwea and undergo a ﬁerce battle with rebellions and terrorism.

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HOLIDAY AT HOME If you are one of those who search all travel and tourism websites just before a long holiday, it might be worth just sitting back for a bit and acknowledging what our very own Sultanate has to offer. There is something for adventure fanatics, beach chillers, nature admirers, and luxury lovers in this vast nation, which you can take full advantage of during the coming Eid holidays.

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man is certainly an adrenaline junkie’s paradise. That explains why there are some really cool international events taking place in the country, including the kiteboard championship in Masirah, cliff diving competitions in the wadis, mountain biking challenges along the steep Wakan village, and many more. These events attract a number of international athletes from across the globe and make them appreciate the topographical gifts that this nation has. And now, perhaps it’s time for locals to take full advantage of them, too. It is unimaginable how much Oman’s deserts have to offer, given the vast stretches of varied layers and shades of brown sand. You can spend a calm day in the desert, enjoying the peace and serenity while watching the sun set behind the high dunes, or you can take your monster trucks and 4X4s and try your hand at some adrenaline-gushing dune bashing. You can spend a day with Bedouins, the residents of the desert, and learn about their culture or try a camel staycation, making maximum use of the ship of the desert. If you are going for the Guide Oman package tour, you can get a taste of all of this in just two days. En route to Sharqiyah, explore the fortiﬁed villages of Al Minsfah and then enter the Sharqiyah Sands for nature’s roller coaster, where you can ride over the sand dunes, visit a Bedouin home, and ride a camel if you wish. You will be put up at the Sama

IF YOU ARE MORE OF THE NATURE OR ECOLOGY LOVER AND IF YOU STILL HAVEN’T SEEN THE VARIOUS SPECIES OF TURTLES COMING TO THE BEACHES OF OMAN TO HATCH EGGS, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY DO DURING THE COMING HOLIDAYS.

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Al Wasil Desert Camp, where you can enjoy the desert morning sunshine while you savour your breakfast overlooking the dunes. The green mountains of Jabal Akhdar have a lot to offer for adventure nuts. You can experience trekking and hiking at temperatures that are way cooler than Muscat and visit a number of historic locations and villages such as the Al Ayn village, where rose water is made and the process of rose water distillation takes place. However, if you intend on spending a day or two in Jabal Akhdar — which, by the way, makes more sense — it will be worth taking a reliable package. One such package is the castles, forts, and mountains package by Guide Oman. The trip starts at Nizwa and takes you to Jabal Akhdar, where you will have ample time to relax and enjoy a mini staycation. Your journey will start with visits to famous forts, including the Nizwa Round House Fort and Jibreen Castle. You can take a trip to the souq, and if it is a weekend, you can even enjoy the cattle market. Guide Oman will put you up at the Sahab Hotel in Jabal Akhdar, where you can go to the rich fruit plantations and Birkat Al Mauz. If you are more of the nature or ecology lover and if you still haven’t seen the various species of turtles coming to the beaches of Oman to hatch eggs, this is

something you should deﬁnitely do during the coming holidays. Since Ras Al Hadd, which is just after Sur, is a popular spot, it can serve as the spot for a nice one- or twoday-long staycation. On the way to Turtle Beach Resort, you can stop at the Bimmah Sink Hole, the pebbles beach, and the Ancient City of Qalhat, followed by a scenic coastal drive along the Sur corniche and through the iconic Khor Al Batah bridge. It will be at night, however, that you will be able to witness the most soothing and beautiful experience of watching the turtles come ashore into the reserve, lay their eggs in a carefully and patiently planned way, and go back into the sea. All of this is part of the Guide Oman package, along with a second day during which you can have a morning swim at the private beach before departing to Sur, where you will see the ancient Omani dhows.

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WE ASKED A NUMBER OF LOCAL STARS IN OMAN TO SHARE WHERE THEY PREFER TO SPEND THEIR LONG WEEKENDS OR MINI-VACATIONS, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:

GREEN HOLIDAY ATTRACTS My favourite destination in Oman is Salalah but you need to spend three to seven days there. For a mini vacation, I would prefer Jabal Akhdar, because it is not very far, has a pleasant weather, and it reminds me of home (Nepal) sometimes. We have cold places in Nepal too. The greenery and the different plantations also attract me to Jabal Akhdar. My favourite resort is Anantara where I can enjoy my privacy in a serene and meditative environment.

Sarmila Parajuli Nepal Ambassador to Oman

OFF-ROAD TO WADI SHAB

FAMILY TIME IN SALALAH

I think one of the nicest places I’ve been to in Oman that’s a little bit different from everything else is Wadi Shab. It’s all-natural and a great place to explore so I would recommend that everyone must go there this Eid. I think, though, if you’ve got family and kids, the place you’d want to go to is the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah. It’s got great facilities for the family to enjoy. You’ve got a beach where you can spend the day, you’ve got swimming pools, you’ve got loads of things that are going to keep the kids really happy. I have been to other places like Sohar and Saham, and they are okay, but they’re not really places you would go to for a vacation. For me, if you’re looking to go off-road and be one with nature, it would have to be Wadi Shab, but if you are going somewhere nice with the children, it would be Barr Al Jissah. Of course, I have yet to go to Salalah but I really want to go there in the future. That is on my list of places to go to in Oman.

For me, it would have to be Salalah because there are many areas of great cultural and historical significance there. Two of our Prophets (PBUH) are buried in Salalah so that is a place that is really important to me. It is also a place that everyone in the family loves, because you will never find anything like it anywhere else in Oman. You find many families there this time of the year because it is so hot and you want to get away from the heat. It is a vacation spot that is loved by many, because there is something for everybody there. You can just take a four-wheel drive and enjoy a barbecue with some family and friends in some fantastic weather, so what more do you want?

Chuck Martini Head Coach, Muscat Football Academy

BECKONING BEACHES During Eid, the tradition is to go to your native town, and from there, to visit your family and friends who also live in the nearby wilayats. If it is a longer holiday – which this Eid looks to be – then we either go to the beaches, which are always nice even in the summer because they are cool due to their closeness to the sea. Eid is a time when a lot of people eat good food, so we often go for a picnic near the sea. Another place we really like to go to is Salalah, because it is the peak of the Khareef season and the weather is really nice this time of year. It is some 23 or 24 degrees and you have amazing rainfall that you never ﬁnd in other parts of Oman. The rest of the Middle East is so hot during this time of the year and then you have Salalah, which is so different, so it is a place where everyone loves to go for Eid. When it comes to my children, they love water sports, so any place with water is ﬁne for them — whether it is a hotel with a swimming pool or the beach — because they love the sea.

Ali Al Barwani CEO, Oman Road Safety Association

Syed Jameel Manager, Oman national cricket team

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COLD WINDS AND THE RAINS For me, my favourite Eid destination has to be Salalah because of the weather. It’s like nothing else you ﬁnd during this time of the year because of the Khareef season, with the cold winds and the rains. My children also love it because they are not used to seeing this that often, and when we get guests from Dubai or other parts of the GCC, they are shocked to see a place like Salalah simply because there is nothing else like it, and they wonder why they have never seen a place like this before, or even heard of it. I have been to Salalah three times in the past ﬁve years.

NATURE AT ITS BEST If you are into nature and a sea lover like me you must go to Ras Al Hadd, that is almost three hours drive from Muscat. This is one of the best places in Oman where you can experience nature in its most rugged form. The beach in Ras Al Hadd is breathtaking and one can go for beach activities like surfing, windsurfing, and kite surfing along with turtle watching. The weather is pleasant most of the time and ideal for a good swim. Also, you can buy fresh fish from the local fishermen and if you’re into fishing you might join them as well in their small boats for a thrilling fishing adventure.

FOR SOME RELAXING MOMENTS I like The Chedi Muscat because it is very chilled out. It has a nice, peaceful environment and is an amazingly well-kept place. What I really like about The Chedi are the different varieties of food that they have, and they have some really nice facilities as well. I also really like the pool and the beach because they are really great places where you can hang out.

Gerald Lami Senior Coach, Juventus Oman

Fahad Al Abri Omani global handstander

Hemant Mehta Ex-cricketer Oman

GLAMPING AT SIFAH When I think of staycations, Salalah is deﬁnitely one place I always look forward to visit. And now that my friends live there, it has been an even easier trip to take. I took the children there for the ﬁrst time a couple of weeks ago and everything was spectacular to them. The funniest part was trying to convince them that we haven’t left Oman. If I were to choose somewhere closer to home, I would say “glamping” at Sifah with the children and friends has always been a winner.

Dina Al Khalili Unicef Oman

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RECIPES BY ONEZA TABISH

When children move out of their homes for higher studies parents are fraught with innumerable concerns. From safety and security to their daily schedules, they worry about many things and cooking is one of them. After all, no parents would want their children to live off junk food or spend fortune on outside meals on a daily basis. Here are some easy-to-make recipes made with some easy-to-ďŹ nd ingredients.

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SIMPLE CHICKEN MACARONI Making macaroni is easy and can be made for a ﬁlling meal.

EGG BHURJI An Indian take on scrambled eggs that can be made very quickly. Ingredients • 1 tablespoon oil • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds • 2 large onions, finely chopped • 2 green chillies, finely chopped • 1” ginger, finely chopped (or 1 tablespoon minced ginger) • 2 tomatoes, finely chopped • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder • 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala • 5 eggs, lightly whisked • 1/4 cup chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves • Salt to taste Preparation Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Splutter cumin seeds. Add onions, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes or until the onions soften. Add green chillies and ginger. Sauté for a minute or until aromatic. Add tomatoes, and cook for 3-4 minutes or until tomatoes break down and turn mushy. Add ground turmeric, red chilli powder and garam masala. Sauté for a minute. Add eggs. Season with salt. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes or unt until ooked through the eggs are cooked through. Sprinkle with coriander leaves. Stir to combine. Serve hot with rotis.

Ingredients • 2 cups elbow macaroni • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter • 2 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour • 2 1/2 cups of milk • Salt and pepper to season as per taste • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated • 1 cup boiled chicken, shredded or chicken salami (cubed) • 1 tomato, sliced • 1/2 cup mix of green, red and yellow bell peppers, finely chopped • 1 tablespoon of bread crumbs Preparation Cook the macaroni as per packet directions. In a pan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour. Add milk, continue to stir to make sure the flour mixes in smoothly. Bring the milk to a boil and simmer a few seconds more. Add the seasonings of salt and pepper. Take off the fire and stir in the cheese, chicken, and the cooked and drained pasta. Spoon into a baking dish and garnish with the tomato and bell pepper. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on the top. Bake in an oven preheated to 180° C for 20 minutes or till the pasta is bubbling and the top is golden brown.

LENTIL PANCAKES Pancakes made from green lentils topped with grated carrots are power packed with nutrition and taste. Ingredients • 1 cup green moong dal/lentil • 1/4 cup chopped coriander • 2 teaspoons chopped garlic • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 cup water Topping • 2 carrots grated ﬁnely, 1 cup Salt to sprinkle Preparation Wash the lentil well and soak in 2 cups of water for 2 hours. Drain the dal and grind to a paste/batter with coriander, garlic, salt, and 1 cup water, in a blender. Grease a non-stick pan and on medium heat, drop the lentil batter with the help of a spoon and immediately spread with the back of the same into a 3 inch diameter round. Let it cook for a few seconds. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the carrot topping on the pancake and press. Pour 1 teaspoon of oil on the sides and on the top too, so that the pancake turns crispy. When you see brownish patches, ﬂip and turn over and cook till golden brown from both sides. 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.’

EASY CORN QUESADILLAS Easy to make quesadillas loaded with veggies with a burst of cheese. Ingredients • 8 tortillas • 2 teaspoons olive oil • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese • 1/2 small onion, ﬁnely chopped • 2 cups sweet corn • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and ﬁnely chopped • 1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves Preparation Heat oven or toaster oven to 204° C. Brush one side of each tortilla with the oil. Turn the tortillas over and top with the cheese, onion, corn, bell pepper, and coriander. Put the stuffing in the remaining tortillas like a sandwich to grill with the oiled /buttered side up. Working in batches, if necessary, transfer the quesadillas to a foil-lined oven tray. Bake, turning once, until the cheese melts, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve hot.

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5 Signs You Are Overworked

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We bet you’ve come across people at your workplace complaining about their ailments. Maybe you’ve replied doing the same. It’s just so common that we all barely pay heed to it — it’s merely idle conversations. But the truth is, your body is trying to tell you something and you’re just not listening. Long hours at work, tight deadlines and rising stress levels — it’s your body that is paying for this. For a start, recognise these top ﬁve complaints and learn to tackle them.

YOU HAVE A BAD BACK Almost perpetually! And that’s not normal unless you’ve had a deﬁnite injury. The worst thing to do is to ignore these backaches and just wish for it to go away. It’s not a bee that will eventually buzz off if you ignore it. What you should do: Examine your chair and your posture. Bad backs are caused by slouching at your work desk. If your chair has gotten too old and hard, demand a new one. These are basic hygiene needs — you aren’t asking for a raise. Get up and stretch for a few minutes every hour or two. Take a short walk to the pantry or washroom or stand and chat with a colleague.

YOU FEEL DIZZY OR HAVE A HEADACHE There is not much good work that gets done when you’re battling a headache and struggling to remain steady. Save yourself the fight and pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you. What you should do: Keep drinking lots of water, and check your caffeine intake. When we get too absorbed in our work, we often forget to hydrate ourselves. And no, coffees don’t count as fluid intake. Well, technically yes, they are fluids, but they only dehydrate us further. Another reason for headaches can be eye-strain. Long hours of exposure to rays can result in pretty bad headaches. Get your screen fitted with one of those soothing rayfilters. It’s also a good idea to get your eyes checked. Maybe your power has increased.

YOU SNAP EASILY, GET FRUSTRATED AND HAVE FREQUENT OUTBURSTS Petty things that you’d otherwise let slip suddenly seem to be such a big deal. This kind of behaviour is detrimental to your mental health and can really upset those around you too. What you should do: This one’s purely emotional; you’re clearly not handling your stress well. Take some time off work to do something therapeutic. If that’s too

time-consuming, give yourself time in between work to just do nothing. Grab your coffee mug, step out to the balcony and suck in some fresh air. Leave your phone behind and take some time out for yourself. A quick morning meditation can work wonders too. In your head, make a list of situations or things that have been bothering you and ﬁgure out how to tackle them.

YOU’RE PUTTING ON WEIGHT You are either binge-eating comfort food or skipping your physical activity to make room for more time in front of the screen. It is plain unhealthy and ignoring your body in this manner will eventually make you sluggish, affect your personal conﬁdence, and, over a course of time, even make you less productive. What you should do: Take up some form of exercise and follow a healthy meal plan. You don’t have to make phenomenal changes to your schedule. A quick 20-30 minutes work out ﬁrst thing in the morning will ensure you don’t fall prey to skipping workouts because of the ‘end of the day exhaustion’. If workouts aren’t your thing, enrol in a sport. You’ll be more likely to go for it if you’ve paid a handsome advance.

YOU’VE FORGOTTEN IMPORTANT HOME COMMITMENTS Forget getting the gift, the birthday in its entirety has slipped out of your mind. You’ve also forgotten the dinner you promised your folks, the trip to the park your nephews were so looking forward to and a million other things which you can’t even recollect. What you should do: Learn to strike a balance. We know you’ve heard that a million times, but we’ll put it more brutally so you’ll actually remember. If you aren’t going to give time to your loved ones, eventually work is all you’ll have. And there is only so much joy you can derive out of material gains.

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.

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One of the most exciting things about living in an era full of technological advances is the ability to connect with people from almost anywhere in the world, at any given time. But what is the meaning of true friendship in an era of Facebook, Twitter, and other social network platforms?

STORY SALIM AL AFIFI

hrough various social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, people are now closer than ever, with the ability to make new friends and keep old ones alive. In celebration of World Friendship Day, we’re exploring the signiﬁcance of social media in building and strengthening relationships across several contexts. Research published recently in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health claims that our well-being, especially in our midlife years, depends on having a wide circle of friends, while a lack of friends is associated with lower levels of psychological well-being. In this day and age, when our digital networks consist of hundreds of friends, it may only be logical to say that our mental well-being is at its best state ever in the history of humanity. The accessibility of social media, which has been its deﬁning characteristic, has truly elevated the concept of friend-making to another level, where individuals are able to reach out to people around the world instantaneously and remain connected no matter the distance. It is one of the most amazing gifts that the internet age has brought us. So how does social media contribute to building real, substantial relationships? While it’s something that at one time may have seemed totally weird, it has become increasingly normal and even acceptable to meet new people through online channels. It is, without a doubt, a brilliant friendship-forming machine used mainly by teenagers but also appreciated and treasured by adults. Amira H. has been an advocate for making friends online, as she met her best friend on Instagram. “I kept in touch with all my friends from high school, but what makes social media special is that I found my partner-incrime through it, and she is now my best

REDEFINING FRIENDSHIP IN A SOCIAL NETWORKED WORLD

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friend in the whole world,” said Amira. “It blows my mind how a stranger you meet on Instagram can become as dear to heart as your family,” she added. Saif Hamood is another social media enthusiast who spends an average of four to ﬁve hours a day scrolling though photos and instant-messaging his friends. “I have befriended many people online,” he said. “Some of them I have met in person, and we are now the best of friends.” Saif is also able to keep in touch with his long distance friends. To him, social media is a godsend, as he gets to keep up with their lives while updating them with developments in his. “I have travelled a lot, and wherever I went I made sure to make a friend,” he shared. “Now I’m connected to them through Facebook, forever.” Through social media, people build new friendships while maintaining old ones. These newfound relationships are viewed as just as significant as those made in person, and perhaps even more so when it comes to folks who lead busy lives. “As a woman in my 30s, I can testify that my friends from high school are still in touch with me, the good ones and the bullies,” said Jokha Abdullah, who studied her whole life abroad and has formed a private Facebook group for her childhood and school friends where she posts updates regularly. “We constantly text, follow each other’s lives, and even meet from time to

time, but none of it would’ve happened if there were no social media interactions,” she added. “It may not seem as real to some people, but to me it keeps me closer to those I love.” Is meeting people online for the purpose of making friends the only way to build relationships? Not exactly. Some friendships occur as a result of online gaming platforms, something that is more popular than ever in Oman. Most gaming websites are quite interactive, forming communities of players who enjoy having friendly battles over the weekend. Members of these communities end up becoming friends and exchanging social media usernames to further stay connected. Online gamer Issa Al Afifi has met tonnes of friends through gaming platforms. “I play almost everyday at a local gaming centre, and I meet new people on daily basis,” he said. “Some of them reside in Oman, others from the Gulf. I have even travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet a couple of them.” It comes as no surprise that virtual friendships are as valuable and significant as one makes them out to be. So how do people stay connected online? Online groups are some of the best tools that social media has ever blessed us with. From Facebook and WhatsApp, to Yahoo! groups, these networking sites allow you to keep track of your circle of friends in a bubble created by you — one that will hopefully last for ages. Some people may question the “social” aspect of social media relationships, where human interactions are reduced to a minimum, but others agree that the concept of staying connected is far more superior, as many of us share our social media usernames with real-life friends as a way to stay in touch. In the end, even though life happens and takes us away from our friends and loved ones, social media can bring us together in a way that allows us to share our experiences with each other from anywhere and at any time. It may not be the only option to make friends, but it truly is the most reliable and immediate way. —salim@timesofoman.com

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SHOCK AND AWE Cast: Woody Harrelson, James Marsden, Tommy Lee Jones Based on a true story, Shock And Awe follows two determined reporters, Jonathan Landay (Woody Harrelson) and Warren Stroebel (James Marsden); their boss, John Walcott (Rob Reiner), and war correspondent, Joe Galloway (Tommy Lee Jones), who lift the lid on abuse of power at its highest level and expose the truth about what led Americans into the longest and costliest war in their history. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the Bush administration declares war in Iraq. In the tradition of All The President’s Men, the two reporters chase down leads and utilise anonymous government sources to discover the President’s rationale for going to war is based on lies and falsified intelligence. Running At: Vox Cinemas

O T H E R

FANNEY KHAN Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao

THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME Cast: Kate McKinnon, Mila Kunis, Sam Heughan

A struggling singer channels his own dreams through his daughter. Fanney Khan is inspired by the 2000 Dutch ﬁlm, Everybody’s Famous. With a dream in his eyes and a tune in his heart, Anil Kapoor plays father to a teenage daughter who has musical inspirations, while Aishwarya Rai plays the role of a gorgeous singer with Rajkummar Rao as her love interest.

Audrey (Mila Kunis) and Morgan (Kate McKinnon), two thirty-year-old best friends in Los Angeles, are thrust unexpectedly into an international conspiracy when Audrey’s ex-boyfriend shows up at their apartment with a team of deadly assassins on his trail. Surprising even themselves, the duo jump into action, on the run throughout Europe from assassins and a suspicious-butcharming British agent, as they hatch a plan to save the world.

R E L E A S E S

T H I S

W E E K

COMING SOON

THE MEG Cast: Rainn Wilson, Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Ruby Wilson

GOLD Cast: Akshay Kumar, Kunal Kapoor, Mouni Roy

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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

9 3

3 4

TIMES DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

SIMS 4

3 5

1 1

Level | Moderate

3 5

9 9

7 5

2 1

Level | Difficult

5 1 7

7 2

6 5

Difficult

6 3 2 1 7 5 4

1 8 4 7 2 3 6 5

7 3 2 6 1 5 4 8 9

5 6 4 8 3 9 1 7 2

1 4 5 2 8 3 6 9 7

6 8 7 1 9 4 5 2 3

3 2 9 7 5 6 8 4 1

Medium

Easy

4 6 2 3 8 7 5 1 9

1 7 9 5 4 2 3 6 8

5 3 8 1 6 9 2 4 7

6 8 4 9 5 1 7 3 2

7 1 5 2 3 4 9 8 6

9 2 3 8 7 6 4 5 1

8 4 6 7 9 5 1 2 3

2 5 7 6 1 3 8 9 4

3 9 1 4 2 8 6 7 5

8 7 9 4 5 1 3 2 6

3 4 6 9 7 2 1 8 5

2 1 5 3 8 6 7 9 4

5 6 3 2 9 8 4 1 7

9 2 7 1 4 5 8 6 3

4 8 1 6 3 7 9 5 2

7 9 2 5 1 4 6 3 8

1 5 4 8 6 3 2 7 9

6 3 8 7 2 9 5 4 1

THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

IF, LIKE MOST of the people at the in-game, the other five being hunger, hyTimes of Oman newsroom, you are a giene, fun, rest, and er, going to the bathyoung adult who’s on the verge of being room. Of course, there will be times when settled in his/her career, you’ve probyour sim doesn’t want to talk to anyone, ably quite often come across the word but just stay in and read a good book, play ‘adulting’. a game on the computer (that’s doable), or If you’re a bit younger, don’t worry — splash around in the tub. chances are you’ll come across it soon But while your sim is out frolicking enough. If you’re a lot older than us, then either alone or with friends, there’s only you know of the challenges and the roller- so long you can do that without a care in coaster ride that adulting brings to you, on the world. The rent and your bills are due an almost daily basis. Simply put, adulting every week, and if you don’t have enough is the practice of being an adult, for some- to pay for them, you can expect the power one who is new to adultcompany to not very nicely hood. It’s the juggling act of shut things off. And that THE SHORT AND SKINNY balancing work with your often means finding a personal life (I’m sure there job. Many of us have been Name: Sims 4 are few corporate stooges thrust into careers for two Genre: Fantasy/Simulation giggling at this if they’re reasons — it’s either what Produced by: EA Games/Maxis reading it. Personal life? we’ve wanted to do, or Studios What personal life?), it’s what we’ve been told to do. What it’s about: Live the life of the commitment towards Fortunately, Sims 4 allows your dreams in one of the world’s doing things you thought you to exact virtual revenge most popular games, and scale the you’d take for granted to the on those who doubted you heights you’ve always wanted to rest of your life, you know, by offering you a number of Where to buy: Origin, EA Store, tedious things such as wakcareer options, that range PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketplace, ing up on time, prepping for from the conventional (teMicrosoft, Amazon, G2A Games your meals, paying the bills, chie), to the creative (chef, Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, and still having enough writer, painter), the out Xbox One leftover to bank in your there (ever fancied being an IGN Rating: 7.5/10 savings account. astronaut or a spy?) or even To some, this might seem the ridiculous (would you a bit overwhelming, but like to be a thief ? There’s within this social and perplenty of money in it). sonal maelstrom, it is indeed possible to As you advance down your chosen find the perfect balance, and once you have career path, the hours get smaller and the found it, it’s kinda hard to un-find. Truth pay bigger, allowing you to finally live the be told, that’s what Sims 4 is all about — idyllic life you’ve always wanted to. Since finding that elusive perfect balance. the arrival of the original game, EA Games EA Games’ virtual sim game is available have introduced a bunch of add-ons that to play on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One make the game a lot more diverse, immerand Mac, and is one of the most popular sive and fun to play. Sims can now begin games in its genre across the world. lives as toddlers (something tells me Characters in game are referred to as you’ll be spending most of your time in the ‘sims’ and are capable of interacting with customisation screen, looking fondly at you (another sim) on a daily basis, across the tiny virtual fingers of the little one on several tasks, including going for a run screen), while further expansion packs altogether, taking a walk in the park, hanglow you to own businesses and adopt pets. ing out at a hip new nightclub or the new All in all, the Sims series is about keepmuseum around the corner, helping you ing things fresh and fun, and that’s exactly throw a party at home, or even just talking what the game delivers in spades, making things through. Social interaction is one it an evergreen game you can play over of the six cornerstones of your sim’s life and over again.

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 2, 2018

LULU LAUNCHES STUNNING SALALAH KHAREEF FESTIVAL

LULU HYPERMARKETS has launched its Stunning Salalah Khareef 2018 Festival. The Khareef Festival was inaugurated by Abdullah Abubacker Salim Al Kaaf (Asst. Director General for Tourism) and Ali Salim Al Basrawi (PACP Director) at LuLu Hypermarket, Salalah. The event will run till August 4. Salalah, the land of frankincense, is known for its natural attractions and stunning sceneries. Each year, the city is frequented by many visitors from within Oman and the GCC region during the Khareef season, which is considered to be one of the most successful events in the region. The festival is timed to coincide with the Khareef season and to celebrate the monsoon, which

lasts from June to early September. With its array of beaches, lush greenery, natural wonders, and cultural signiﬁcance, Salalah is now establishing itself as a round-theyear holiday destination. The place offers a “great escape” from the heat of the summer. Lulu Salalah will be organising a host of fun activities for customers to enjoy, as part of the Khareef Festival. The event will offer tiny tots as well as grown-ups an opportunity to try their luck by participating in exciting and fun-ﬁlled game sessions, singing contests, and dance competitions. Children between the ages of 9 and 12 can add colours to the event by taking part in ‘Colour the Canvas’ competition on August 2. The Voice of Salalah singing contest

will be held on August 9. Registration for solo and duet performances will be open till August 4. For those who love dance, there will be a Dance Mania competition for both solo and duet performances on August 16, for which registrations will be open till August 11. A special Khareef fun camp will be hosted for all participants on August 3, 10, and 17, and an entertainment show will also be arranged on August 30 as part of the Khareef celebrations. Commenting on the Khareef Festival, Shabeer K.A, Director – Oman of Lulu Group said, “We are happy to organise such an event to entertain our customers during the Khareef season. During the Kha-

reef Festival 2018, Lulu customers can enjoy a range of cool offers at cool prices for the cool season. Customers can make use of this chance to participate in entertainment shows, contests for kids, and singing and dance competitions, and win some cool prizes. We invite all our shoppers to actively involve themselves in all the events and make this festival a huge success,” he added. Lulu hopes to continually set a benchmark by providing the most refreshing and extraordinary all-in-one shopping experience to its customers. There will be special offers, deals, and discounts on a wide assortment of home essentials, food products, and general merchandise as part of the festival.

OMANTEL – the first and leading provider of integrated telecommunications services in the Sultanate — has announced its strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism to further enrich tourism in Oman with digital services. As part of the partnership, tourists will enjoy a new big-data based application that offers a comprehensive travel experience in addition to staying connected through Omantel’s high speed Wi-Fi at a number of most visited forts in the Sultanate. As a leading national company, Omantel plays a major role in supporting the egovernment and actively participates in building bridges between the private and public sectors. Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi, Minister of Tourism, stated “The world continues to witness ongoing developments in telecommunications, and catching up with these developments is essential for Oman’s tourism strategy to meet its targets and increase the influx of tourists to the Sultanate. By offering advanced technologies to tourists, we are helping tourists to communicate more efficiently and easing the process of making reservations, finding information and travel maps. Tourists will also be able to document their journeys while in Oman, which will significantly help us to reach a wider audience”.

He also added, “We value this strategic

deliver services that exceed our customers’

helped the Ministry of Tourism to stay connected with its directorates in various governorates, thanks to the smart solutions that include big-data platform and video conferencing.” Omantel has launched an online platform using big data analytics cutting-edge technology that allows Ministry of Tourism to monitor the traffic behaviour and patterns in Dhofar to enable the ministry with better planning tool on real-time basis, in addition to an effective communication tool with external and internal tourists for awareness purposes. The platform is on its early stages and plethora of additional features are set to be included in later stages, these features include information and statistics on tourist attractions in Dhofar specially in Salalah region that can be extended all over the Sultanate to push together the tourism economy in Oman along with government support. Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the rest of the world. Omantel is the Sultanate’s ﬁrst and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to ﬂourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment.

OMANTEL AND MINISTRY OF TOURISM JOIN HANDS TO ENRICH TOURISM WITH DIGITAL SERVICES He also added, “We value this strategic partnership with Omantel as a leading company in the Sultanate that offers advanced telecommunication services including smart solutions, and we look forward for a greater collaboration that will lead to a further enhancement of current services and bring in new services at various tourist destinations.” Talal Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel, said “We have witnessed a major transformation in the tourism sector during the past few years. The tourism infrastructure has been developed and marketing strategy enhanced, this resulted in an inﬂux of tourists to the Sultanate as well as boosting domestic tourism.” He further said, “We look at this partnership with great importance. As a leading national company, supporting the growth of our nation is a cornerstone of our values, and this is why we are glad to join hands with the Ministry of Tourism and other government bodies, and we always strive to

deliver services that exceed our customers’ expectations.” Fadi Nasser, GM of ICT division at Omantel, commented “Our cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism have reached an important milestone and we continue working together to further empower tourism with digital service. The big-data based application (eConcierge) will allow tourists to plan their journeys beforehand and discover various tourist attractions, activities, beverage and dining options and entertainment events that they can enjoy during their stay. This leading application was developed in partnership with Infoline and the tourism-specialised team out of the National CEO Programme. Furthermore, Bahla Fort and 9 more forts will be equipped with a high-speed Wi-Fi connection.” According to Nasser, Omantel has expanded its networks in some of the most visited tourist attractions, like Jabal Al Akhdar and Jabal Shams. He also said, “Aside from that, we have