T Weekly for August 30, 2018

VOL 11 ISSUE 36 / AUGUST 30, 2018

SCALING NEW HEIGH S RAISING HOPE AND AWARENESS FOR CANCER

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 36 AUGUST 30, 2018 Founder: Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali

From life after cancer to men’s grooming habits and self confidence NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE in this world and Juzer Nawab has rightly proven that.

From the hospital bed to the top of the world, Juzer, a cancer survivor, fulfilled his dream as he conquered Mt Kilimanjaro. Led by Nasser Al Azri, a volunteer at Oman Cancer Association, Juzer wanted to be a part of this noble cause and hence joined the group of people from Oman who went on an adventurous expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for cancer awareness. Our Cover Story this week sends a loud and clear message —that there is a life after cancer and one can do many great things despite going through the long and arduous treatment process.

And while we mention life, we take a small detour and look at the world of style and beauty. This week, in our Special Feature, we focus on men who are now gradually paying more and more attention to their looks, thanks to the growing men’s grooming industry, and in Oman, it’s no different. Most international brands now have products dedicated to men, thus making grooming a serious business for men.

Life throws at us several challenges and they can often affect our self-confidence.

From having a spat with a colleague or an argument with the boss or a personal crisis, there are many things that lead to a decrease in our self-confidence. But if you consciously choose to deflect negativity and adopt positivity, if you don’t accept failures and have faith in yourself, you can boost your confidence.

—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

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

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03 WHAT’S ON

MONDAY 5.30pm Cruise down the Corniche Corniches are some of the most beautiful places for afternoon cruising, you can drive to the vibrant Muttrah Corniche, the calm and family-oriented Seeb Corniche, or Al Hail Corniche for some delicious mishkak.

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THURSDAY 9.00am Swim in a Sinkhole Take a dip in the dazzling turquoise water of the Bimmah sinkhole that has now turned into a swimming hole. The place is a must-visit.

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FRIDAY 10.00am Explore Hidden Gems How about spending the night at Bandar Al Khayyran, one of Oman’s best hidden gems, located between Barr Al Jissah and Sifah. It’s a perfect spot for picnics, camping, and BBQ.

7.00pm Bowl Away Take your friends to one of Muscat’s bowling centres for a session full of good times and friendly battles.

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SATURDAY 7.00am Go to Bahla Bahla is a town that carries significant history. Drive to Ad Dakhiliyah and visit Bahla Fort, the souq, and many other places.

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WEDNESDAY 10.00am Go Gallery Hopping Oman’s art scene is flourishing, with contemporary artists and local creatives share their best creations for you to explore. You can check Stal Gallery, Bait Al Zubair, Bait Adam, Bait Al Baranda, and many more.

TUESDAY 7.00pm Go Beyond the Old Airport Seeb boasts a number of great dining and entertainment spots that many people are yet to explore. Head over to the North and visit Barka’s Zoo, Wadi Al Khoudh, Africa Restaurant, and camel breeders, to name a few.

S T R

Planetarium (Film) Genre: Thriller Cast: Natalie Portman, Lily-Rose Depp, Emmanuel Salinger Natalie Portman gives one of her best recent performances in “Planetarium,” an eerie historical drama directed by Rebecca Zlotowski.

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Mr Mercedes (TV Series) Genre: Thriller Cast: Harry Treadaway, Holland Taylor, Justine Lupe It tells the story of a psychopathic killer who drives a stolen Mercedes into a crowd and a recently retired detective who tries to bring him down.

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Entertainment (Film) Genre: Drama Cast: Gregg Turkington, Amy Seimetz The intentionally, repulsively unfunny comedian Neil Hamburger — the character played by Gregg Turkington — is front and centre in Rick Alverson’s wildly imaginative, grimly sardonic anticomedy “Entertainment.”

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NO MOUNTAIN IS TOO HIGH

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A group of 20 people from Oman went on an adventurous expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for cancer awareness. Among the others who joined this exciting expedition was Juzer Nawab, a cancer survivor himself.

Juzer has proved to the world that people can accomplish anything if they set their mind to it.

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ny terminal illness that makes you feel as though the countdown to your last days has begun is terrifying.

There are different ways in which people have dealt with such earth-shattering information, upon hearing it. We have heard and read about people’s brave battles against cancer and how these warriors have come out triumphant, giving hopes and inspiring many in the process. In Oman itself, there are a number of cancer survivors, who have openly spoken about their tumultuous journeys with the disease.

One of the most iconic of them would be the four-time cancer survivor, Yuthar Al Rawahi, who started the Oman Cancer Association (OCA) nearly two decades ago. Since its inception, the non-profit organisation has undertaken numerous projects and initiatives to raise funds, as well as create awareness.

Recently, another one of their muchdiscussed landmark events took place, where a group of 20 people went on an adventurous expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for cancer awareness. The team was led by Nasser Al Azri, a volunteer at OCA who had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro back in 2016. People of mixed nationalities and backgrounds joined the trek for their own reasons with a common aim of conquering the peak of the highest mountain in Africa. Since the responsibility of the whole group was on Nasser, he wanted to make sure that all those joining him were completely committed and serious about this expedition. Before

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THE PURPOSE OF THE TREK WAS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND IN THE PROCESS RAISE FUNDS FOR A NOBLE CAUSE.

going on the trek they had intense training sessions, team building exercises, and mostly importantly, yoga. Nasser and all the volunteers who joined unanimously agreed how important yoga was as more than physical training, it was their mental strength that was being put to test. They started their meetings and training weeks before going to Tanzania here in Muscat by doing exercises or long walks from Sifah to Quriyat just to get into the groove of things. Apart from maintaining positivity throughout their summit days and nights, another difficult challenge they faced was weather as the team was braving temperatures as low as -26 degrees.

Among the others who joined this exciting expedition for a noble cause was Juzer Nawab, a cancer survivor himself.

During Nawab’s battle with cancer, he realised the importance of physical activity, which helped him tremendously.

Hence, when such an opportunity arose along after his long haul with cancer, he grabbed it, although he realised the challenges it posed. He had never been on a trek of this scale, he was the only cancer survivor in the bunch, which meant his stamina was perhaps not on par with the rest of the group, and it was his first time.

“It was a challenging trek and I knew my limitations. Mentally, I was prepared before going on the trek and physically, I was hoping that things would work out for me,” he said.

The purpose of the trek was to promote a healthy lifestyle and in the process raise funds for a noble cause. Since OCA has always believed that physical activity is an important component in preventing

cancer, activities such as this one, that are not just challenging but are also a lot of fun and give an adrenaline boost, fall perfectly in line.

According to the World Health Organisation, between 30-50 per cent of all cancer cases are preventable. Tobacco use is the single greatest risk factor for cancer mortality and kills approximately six million people each year, from cancer and other diseases. Dietary modification is another important approach to control cancer. There is also a link between being overweight and obesity to many types of cancers such as that of the oesophagus, colorectum, breast, endometrium, and

kidney. Regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet, considerably reduce the risk of cancer.

It is such preventive measures that the OCA is aiming to bring to the fore through this activity. “Cancer is an ailment that can be prevented. An unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle that doesn’t involve a lot of physical activity could result in triggering cancer. The Oman Cancer Association aims to create awareness about this fact,” said Nawab, the cancer survivor who was part of the expedition. In today’s day and age, when people are bogged down with office work that usually revolves around a desk,

stuff their faces with a lot of junk food, and avoid any kind of physical activity and are lethargic, obesity and the subsequent cardiovascular diseases are not uncommon.

It is this culture that the OCA is trying to change for all people.

All volunteers, including Juzer said that when they reached the peak and saw the view beneath, all the hard work, time, and energy given to this was totally worth it.

Although they had scaled one of the highest mountains in the world, for many in the team, they had more importantly conquered their own respective metaphorical mountains.

-shruthi@timesofoman.com

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his billion-dollar industry has been consistently growing in other parts of the world, with astonishing (and bankable) results. Mrporter.com, the highend menswear online retailer, reported a 300 per cent growth in men’s beauty and grooming products in 2015, and in our neighbouring city, Dubai, the culture is already booming. But are the Omani gentlemen catching up?

Many people in societies, irrespective of gender, want to look like models. Perhaps they believe that the key to a happy life is concealed in perfectly cleansed skin and an ideal body. And this concept does not rule out men, including our fellow Omani folks, who are now exploring a masculine identity that’s shaped with real products and skin treatments. What was once seen as a predominantly feminine industry is starting to cater to rugged, testosteronefilled occupants.

Skin and cosmetic specialists at Kaya Skin Clinic said the grooming culture in Oman is, without a doubt, growing, especially on the cosmetic side of things.

The clinic has witnessed a great deal of male clients who come in for a variety of procedures, from skin lasers, hair removals and pigmentation issues, to more cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers for anti-ageing and other beautifying purposes.

“Male clients come here for various procedures, but many visit our centre for hyper pigmentation treatment,” said a specialist.

Nadeem Ahmed, an expat who’s been a barber for a few years in the country, has witnessed the attitudes of grooming and how they change each year. “A few years ago, men would walk into the barbershop for a quick haircut and shave. Now, many of them seek other treatments such as hair and beard dying, facial treatments, hairstyling, and hair relaxing,” he said, adding that “it’s great that men are now familiar with beauty and grooming and their importance”.

As men in Oman are starting to get more and more knowledgeable about beauty and are paying attention to their looks, many international brands have began to emphasise on their men’s collections. Beauty shops such as the Korean brand, The Face Shop, has a dedicated collection for men that includes skin products and makeup.

While most of the major beauty and personal care product companies have already created dedicated brands or sub-brands for their male grooming products, a number of male grooming start-ups have emerged in recent years, successfully tapping into the unmet needs and growing trends in this field. In Oman, we have Leather and Lather, which is luxury brand that’s dedicated to men, offering various beard, hair, and body products.

So what contributes to this market change in Oman?

Fashion and beauty blogger Ahmed Al Balushi said, “Social media has become a platform for people to learn about grooming: from hairstyles to cosmetic procedures,” said Al Balushi, adding, “It is an industry that’s growing in Oman, as everyone is becoming more aware about their looks and how it plays

MEN’S GROOMING IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS

STORY SALIM AL AFIFI

The concept of grooming has grown to become an important part of men’s ever-changing lifestyle, from face creams and cleansers that fight ageing, to hair gels and waxes. Has the cultural acceptance of men’s skin care and other cosmetic products grown? The answer is simple: Yes.

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a role in expressing their personalities.”

The era of social media has truly contributed to the matter, where influencers become beauty and grooming ambassadors, sharing their experiences, endorsing their opinions, and encouraging others to be aware of their appearance, making it an ever-evolving industry.

In Oman, the likes of Al Balushi are tremendously appreciated, as they help shape up men’s opinions on what’s tending, whether in grooming or style.

Another factor that helps men subscribe to grooming is the media in general. Influenced by adverts, television shows and models, young men are aware of their looks, now more than ever, as they are, perhaps, too exposed to incredibly good looking men on TV (debatable, but true).

The male figures on magazines and TV have appearances that trigger men to want more. Gone are the days when men would hit the gym just to obtain a great physique; now, it’s the whole package that’s sought after, from body and skin to good hair too.

Now that we’ve established that men in Oman care about their looks, where do they go for treatments? As men-only spas are growing in popularity, most men are managing to fit in a session of grooming into their busy schedules.

Most barbershops in town offer skin and hair treatments, from cheaper Indianowned barbers to the high-end men’s salons.

There’s Spaloon, a one-stop-shop that offers an endless list of services that will get you well-groomed and ready to go. They have fantastic packages for full body treatment, as well as full body waxing, hair treatment, hairstyling and shaving products, manicures and pedicures, a variety of facial masks, body polish, body wraps, hot hammams, and popular spa massages such as bamboo fusion and the hot stone massage.

Spa Bar for Men in Qurum also offers a wide variety of treatments for men and their nails, from essential manicures and pedicures to massages and amazing spa treatments for hands and feet, as well as whitening and oxygenating facial masks.

As men in Oman continue to pay expensive gym memberships, buy a plethora of skin products, spend hours at the salon, and opt for laser treatments, there’s no doubt that the grooming industry will continue to grow and become a leading one in Oman.

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Healthy alternatives to fries RECIPES ONEZA TABISH

Make healthy, baked versions of your favourite fried foods than your typical greasy ones. These healthy alternatives are just as delicious and better for you.

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BAKED ZUCCHINI FRIES These baked zucchini fries make a great side to any meal or a fun snack. If you are looking for a healthy alternative to fries, give these zucchini fries a try.

BAKED CARROT FRIES Delicious, homemade carrot fries that are not only fun to eat and quick to make but also loaded with good health.

Ingredients 2 large egg whites, beaten 1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs 1/4 teaspoon dried basil Pinch of dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper, to taste 3 medium zucchini, sliced into skinny sticks

Preparation Preheat oven to 220° C. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Set aside. In a small bowl, beat egg whites with a fork until frothy. Put the breadcrumbs, basil, oregano, garlic powder, cheese, and salt and pepper, to taste on a flat plate. Mix well. Dip the zucchini sticks in the egg whites and then into the breadcrumb mixture, make sure all sides get coated well. Place the sticks on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and a little crispy. Serve hot.

BAKED CINNAMON APPLE FRIES

SWEET POTATO FRIES Sticks of sweet potatoes, tossed with oil, seasoned with just salt and pepper, and baked on high heat until browned and crispy at the edges are addictive but one healthy delight.

These baked cinnamon apple fries are a wonderful snack that’s easy to dish out within minutes. With just three ingredients and a lot of flavour, these will be devoured by one and all.

Ingredients 2 apples 1/2 tablespoon butter Pinch of cinnamon

Ingredients

Preparation

4 medium sweet potatoes 3 tablespoons olive oil 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Preheat oven to 190° C. Peel apples and slice them into approximately 1/2-inch fries. Melt butter in small bowl, and toss apples with the butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon, toss to mix well. Place apples on baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Serve fries with a dash of cinnamon or salt on top.

Preparation Preheat oven to 220° C. Line a baking tray with aluminium foil. Cut the sweet potatoes after scrubbing them well into 1/2-inch sticks. Add to a large bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the sweet potato sticks on the baking tray. Bake fries, turning once until edges are lightly browned and centres are tender; 15 to 25 minutes.

The fries are done when the surface looks dry and the fries have puffed up a little.

Ingredients 500g fresh carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch sticks 2 teaspoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation Place carrots in a greased baking pan. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt; toss to coat. Bake, uncovered, at 200° C for 10-12 minutes or until crisp-tender.

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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HOW TO INS

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TANTLY FEEL MORE CONFIDENT F

eeling a little less than perfect? Even if we come across as the most confident person in the room, there will always be those times when we are thrown out of our comfort zone and end up feeling a little anxious, nervous and low on the confidence-meter. Here are 10 ways you can work your way up again: 1) Remind yourself of your best attributes – We’ve all enjoyed those moments of power, authority and pride.

Reminisce of those moments when you need a quick confidence boost. Remind yourself of all those things that you find easy and that has others marvelling at your skills.

2) Get a pep talk – Sometimes though, we can get a little critical about ourselves and point number one doesn’t seem to work. Reach out to a loved one or go for a quick coffee with your best friend. They’re the best people to make you feel like a million bucks.

3) Do something you’re naturally good at – Say you’ve been having a bad day at work, and no matter how hard you try, there is no way you’re meeting that target. If that’s working against your confidence, take a break and indulge in something you know you are good at. If you’re a good singer, visit a karaoke night and simply do what you do best. The rush, the applause and the

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feeling of random people appreciating your skills will help you bring back your lost positivity.

4) Dress up – You can’t give yourself a confidence boost if the reflection staring back at you is sloppy, uninteresting and dull. If you have a meeting lined up, put together an ensemble that is going to make you feel like you’ve already aced it. Looking confident will make you feel the same instantly.

5) Stand tall – Correct your posture.

Usually when we are feeling low on confidence, esteem or spirit, we tend to get slouchy. Straighten up, pull your shoulders back and stand tall. Posture can really give people around a cue of how confident a person you are.

6) Turn up the volume – Going in for something that needs you to show off your energetic self ? Build on that energy by playing your favourite numbers that you can really headbang to. Turn up the volume, strum your air-guitar and sing along. We guarantee you’ll be all pumped-up by the end of just three songs.

7) Talk to strangers – Socialising is great way to build confidence. And what’s even better? When you can have a smooth conversation with a random stranger. You might even learn something your everyday routine never taught you.

8) Get some cardio – Get that adrenalin rushing with some good workout.

Dance, go for a run, or practice some boxing. Once you’re done, you’re bound to feel more alive, confident and happy.

9) Random act of kindness – Whenever you feel like the world doesn’t appreciate your efforts, go out of the way and do something nice for someone who wasn’t expecting it. It could be as simple as getting treats for the community dogs or giving an elderly a lift.

10) Volunteer for a difficult task – It gives a feeling of accomplishment once you successfully execute it. It’s a good idea to pick something you secretly know you can fulfil with a little extra effort.

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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O T H E R

THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS

SUPER TROOPERS 2

STREE

Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Joel McHale, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy

Cast: Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme

Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi

In a world where puppets co-exist with humans as second class citizens, Phil Phillips, puppet private eye and disgraced ex-cop, is hot on the trail of the serial killer who murdered his brother and is now targeting the cast members of the 1980s television series The Happytime Gang.

Everyone’s favourite law enforcement team is back by popular demand with the long anticipated follow up to the cult comedy classic‌Super Troopers.

R E L E A S E S

T H I S

W E E K

Set in Chanderi, where men get abducted by a strange woman only to return home with intense fear in their eyes and stories.

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SLENDER MAN Cast: Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Javier Botet The Slender Man is a tall, thin, horrific figure with preternaturally long arms and a featureless face. He is thought to be responsible for the haunting, stalking, and disappearance of countless victims. In the movie, Slender Man supernaturally and psychologically haunts some teenage girls after a friend of theirs goes missing.

YAMLA PAGALA DEEWANA: PHIR SE

NATSAMRAT (Gujarati)

Cast: Dharmendra, Boby Deol, Sunny Deol, Kriti Kharbanda

Cast: Manoj Joshi, Siddharth Randeria, Hemang Shah

Inheriting from the ancestors, the legacy of the Ayurveda panacea ‘Vajrakavach’, a famed and effective remedy for all ills, the brother duo Puran and Kala use the kavach with varied intentions.

Harindra Pathak’s (Siddharth Randeria) life misconceptions shatters after he retires from his onstage career.

COMING SOON

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

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

ALPHA Cast: Jens Hultén, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leonor Varela

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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

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TIMES DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

PHARAOH

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Times News Service

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3 6 7 8 5 4 9 1 2

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2 9 1 7 4 3 6 8 5

6 8 4 2 9 5 1 7 3

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9 3 6 4 2 8 7 5 1

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THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

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important projects, some of which involve creating sprawling cities, others centre BUILD A KINGDOM, RULE THE NILE, around guarding Egypt’s borders against LIVE FOREVER. her enemies from Canaan, Nubia and Sounds like a nice dream, doesn’t it? After Libya, to mention but a few of the adverall, who doesn’t want to be remembered saries you will meet. for their deeds through the annals of time?

But the most prestigious of assignments But how will you choose to be rememinvolve ensuring the kingdom’s legacy bered? Will you be a benevolent ruler, lives on forever: Ancient Egypt was famed who diligently looked after the needs of for its amazing monuments built to honhis subjects, the grand architect, whose our the dead, some of which remain standstaggering monuments pointing skyward ing even today, and draw tourists from all remain a testament to his time, or the around the world. While the tasks Pharaoh mighty warrior, whose name filled his assigns you may start small, keep in mind, enemies with fear that made them quake that as the architect of his kingdom, there in their boots? are more honours on the horizon. One of In the world of Pharaoh, you can be the first projects you will be asked to take remembered for all three of these achieve- on in a simple brick mastaba, a multiments and many, many layer burial tomb to honour more. City-building games nobles and their families, may be among the most THE SHORT AND SKINNY before moving on to stone popular genres today, but pyramids, sandstone temthis blast from the past Name: Pharaoh ples, and granite obelisks.

Genre: History/City-building (Pharaoh was released in It is these which constiProduced by: Sierra Entertainment 1999), set in Ancient Egypt, tute the most challenging What it’s about: Build a Kingdom, was light-years ahead of of tasks given to you. These Rule the Nile, Live Forever. The its time, providing people projects involve the transPharaoh of Ancient Egypt has chosen with the ability to manportation of raw materials your family to bring glory to the age almost everything as across Egypt’s stinging empire. Will you take this chance they set about building the desert sands, where they to ensure you are remembered metropolis of their dreams. are then lovingly shaped by throughout history?

An integral part of game artisans and masons, who Platforms: Windows developer Sierra’s City alongside labourers, are the Where to buy: GOG Games, Steam, Building Series (which lifeblood of your city, with Games Nostalgia, Amazon, eBay includes other titles set in every new layer of your IGN Rating: 9/10 Ancient Greece and China), monument giving you the Pharaoh broke new ground impetus to carry on further. in the city-building genre But the objectives Pharof video games and remains aoh gives you are not your an extremely popular title nearly two only responsibility – keep in mind that decades later. you are running a city, whose people need Players who turn the clock back and access to clean drinking water, fresh food, enter the fascinating, stunning world of sanitation, entertainment, and above all, Ancient Egypt find themselves taking jobs. They are the beating heart of your charge of a head of a family whose only city, and their needs must be looked after. claim to fame is that they are a rather The better care you provide your people, prominent household in the village they the more prestige you earn across Egypt. live in. Pharaoh himself has hand-picked As your city grows in size and prosperyou to settle the rather nomadic village of ity and begins to teem with life, you will Nubt. Little do you know, however, that have the opportunity to make it an even this fledgling community will be your first more notable one. Sierra introduced trade milestone on the path to glory. among other cities in Pharaoh, allowing Filling the royal Egyptian coffers comes you the chance to help out those in need, next, as your family are asked to spearhead allow your craftsmen to make a name for efforts in the town of Thinis, which lies in themselves, and make your city among the the background of Egypt’s gold mines. As finest in the ancient world. your family’s reputation grows, Pharaoh Not a bad way to spend your weekend, is places you in charge of more and more it? – gautam@timesofoman.com

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IN FOCUS Summer camp held at Tulip Inn

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GEELY SERVICE CENTRES IN MUSCAT PROVIDE ULTIMATE CUSTOMER CONVENIENCE T

owell Auto Centre (TAC), the sole distributor of Geely vehicles in Oman, believes in convenient aftersales service for their customers through their Authorised Service Centres with well-trained technicians providing the highest quality of service.

In Muscat, the well-equipped Geely Service Centres with state-of-the-art equipment are located at Ghubra, Ghala, Wadi Kabir, besides two new service centres at Amerat and Al Hail which were opened this year. The new service centre at Al Hail has a special 3S facility, which caters to sales, service and spare parts. It greatly improves the convenience of customers living in the New Muscat areas, beyond Seeb.

With the five service centres across Muscat, TAC ensures that customers always have a service centre near their locality which will save them the time and trouble of having to travel long distances for servicing.

Towell Auto Centre has added value to the owners of Geely by reassessing service centres for them. Now, customers have a service centre much closer to them.

In addition to the advantage of proximity, customers can avail of the 3S facility which covers sales, servicing and spare parts for their Geely vehicles all under one roof at the new Al Hail service centre.

TAC also has Service Centres in Barka,

Sohar, Nizwa (Karsha), Ibri, Sur, Ibra, and Salalah.

According to TAC, “Geely and TAC believe in giving our customers an experience to cherish. Our Service Centres ensure that Geely vehicles perform smoothly and efficiently, day in and day

out, and provide the joy of ownership.”

To find out more about TAC’s showrooms and service centres, log on to geelyoman.com or just walk into any one of them situated across Muscat and the Sultanate.

Customers can now ‘Explore a New

World with Geely’, known for their innovative technology and safety, having taken over Volvo, Terrafugia flying cars, Lotus racing cars, London Taxi Company and Proton, besides recently launching their first electric car, Polestar 1, in China.

A’Saffa Foods’ farm-to-table chicken, the right choice for the health conscious

A

s the acknowledged market leader in Oman in the poultry sector, A’Saffa Foods, the Sultanate’s largest fully integrated poultry project, snacks and allied foods brand is a clear provider of valuable protein, backed by the superior quality of its fresh and frozen chicken that continues to delight health-conscious customers, as it reaches supermarkets and grocery stores in the shortest possible time.

A’Saffa Foods has consistently been implementing its “farm to table” promise that demands following strictly defined standards and principles, from the primary production (Parent farms, hatching, breeding, feeding, processing and transportation) to the final stage when the end consumer purchases the product.

It is essential that while buying chicken, a consumer should also take into consideration that imported chicken takes more than a month to reach the GCC, and cannot be considered fresh. A completely home-grown Omani brand on the other hand — A’Saffa chicken comes out fresh

daily from the farms to reach one’s nearest shopping outlet.

The farm to table progression which A’Saffa chicken undergo is a fully vertically integrated process meaning the brand owns the processes under one roof and have control over every step of the process, including the parent farms. A’Saffa Foods know how their chicken are being raised

and what they’re fed. This provides them with a level of traceability and accountability that is unparalleled. From the parent farms to hatchery, and from the hatchery to the broiler farms and to a consumer’s kitchen, the brand hence has an unbroken chain of quality and food safety.

Sidhartha Lenka, Head of Marketing and Sales, A’Saffa Foods elucidated, “More and more consumers want fresh, healthy, and nearly organic food that fit their lifestyles; hereby making A’Saffa Foods their perfect partner, as our chicken have no steroids, no growth hormones, no artificial flavour, no preservatives and no injection of water is used to increase bird’s weight. That’s not all – our chickens are fed with natural yellow corn and soya; and prepared for consumption using true halal techniques that add to their health quotient.”

He added, “At A’Saffa Foods, our bird nutritionists create an all-natural, high quality diet (yellow corn and soya) for our bird flocks which is formulated in our own feed mills and delivered to the farms. The

diet ensures healthy, optimal growth, and has no growth hormones or steroids. Each and every product coming out of our farm is produced in line with strict production standards in conformance with local, regional and as well as global standards and regulations. Thanks to which the consumer is sure that the chicken they finally receive is a high quality and safe product.”

Through its core values, of ‘healthy food, health and happiness’ — A’Saffa Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, employees, communities and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

It is noteworthy that A’Saffa Foods’ Board of Directors have approved an expansion plan to raise chicken meat production capacity by 100 per cent and continue in their endeavour to foster and support food security, self-sufficiency and increased employment opportunities in the Sultanate.

The total capital expenditure outlay of the expansion is OMR45 million.