T weekly march 29 2018 by Muscat Media Group

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 15 MARCH 29, 2018

Founder: Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali

Reviving the reading habit among children OF THE MANY MESSAGES that keep ﬂooding our phones, the one that amused us most was a story about an English literature student candidly admitting during an interview he hadn’t read any novels in the past few years when asked for a favourite. Quite amused by his honesty, the interviewer probed further and he answered saying he had no time. This may be passed off as just a forwarded text with no authenticity, but it is also an example of the stark reality of today’s generation — the sharp decline in the number of children who read. Among the factors contributing to this are the growing use of technology; the constant pressure to perform better, academically compelling children to shuttle from one thing to another, leaving no extra time to read; and of course, the non availability of books or good libraries. But what has really weaned children off reading is the fact that we as parents aren’t encouraging them to inculcate the habit of reading. So, whatever little time a child gets from regular school and activities goes into watching cartoons or playing video games.

There is hope when people like Nuzha Mohamed pledge to promote reading among children. Her voluntary efforts in encouraging reading habits among children in Oman are truly commendable. Once Upon a Time: Muscat is her initiative, where parents and children gather once every month to read out loud their favourite books. It is heartening to know that in spite of the drop, books continue to ﬁnd their way to those who are truly in love with them. We were glad to meet some ardent readers as well in the midst of this disappointment. Our Cover Story this week describes how to foster a passion for reading and we found the best way to do so is by modelling our own love for it. When you’re taking a break from reading, head out this summer and explore Oman’s natural beauty. The rugged mountains, the golden desert sands or the rolling waves hitting the shores of pristine beaches — they’re all calling out to you. This week, our special feature unravels some of the coolest retreats. — Swati Dasgupta

Editor: Charles Lavery Features Editor: Swati Dasgupta Research Editor: Ashish Dubash Associate Editors: Salem Afifi, Shruthi Nair Copy Editor: Gautam Bhargav Viswanathan Online Editor: Christopher Isaac Chief Sales Officer: Richard Pakenham Production Manager: Shafi Shaik Graphics Editor: Antonio Farach Design Editor: Sahir K.M. Lead Designer: Geri B. Sonny Designer: Gregory Fernandez Photography: MMG Photographers On The Cover: Design by Geri B. Sonny 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

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 15 MARCH 29, 2018

WHAT’S ON 30 THIS WEEK FRIDAY

06.00am Explore a Cave Have you heard of the 7th Hole? Well join this bunch of adventure-loving folks to explore the cave, inside out, in a two-day trip. Ticket available at twenty3extreme.com Twenty3 Extreme Muscat, Oman +968 9068 9823

29 THURSDAY

04.30pm Join the Fat Fighters Club Care for some exciting educational and active session full of informative material on healthy living and proper exercise? Then don’t miss out on this talk-event. Entry is free but registration is required. The Champ Sports and Arts Al Khuwair, Bousher +968 9777 0498

FRIDAY

05.00pm Attend a Music Festival Join all the music lovers of different cultures and dance away the evening at the Sunset Music Festival 2018. International act Mohombi will be headlining the concert, alongside local and international DJ’s. Intercontinental Muscat Garden Qurum, Muscat +968 9709 8681

07.00pm Laugh It Up in Hindi Oman’s ﬁrst ever local Hinglish (Hindi & English) comedy night is taking place at Rumba Lattina. Pay them a visit if you speak the language and let Abbas and his team tickle your ribs. Rumba Lattina The Cave, Darsait +968 9695 3709

30 FRIDAY

06.30pm Savour Omani Delicacies Embrace the rich heritage of Oman with a traditional dinner in an open-air setting. An evening you wouldn’t want to miss out on. Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah + 968 2477 6565

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STREAM YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS

01 SUNDAY

04:00pm Decorate for Easter Let your children unleash their inner artists as they work to decorate their own Easter cupcakes while having a good time. The event will take place at Majlis Al Shams. InterContinental Muscat Qurum, Muscat +968 9137 3243

WEDNESDAY 07:30pm Enjoy Russian Orchestra Enjoy a one-of-a-kind performance with one of the world’s top symphonies, the Russian National Orchestra as they hit the stage at the Royal Opera House here in Muscat. Not to be missed if you love musical art. Royal Opera House Muscat Qurum, Muscat +968 2440 3300

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Season 2) Genre: Adventure, Family Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton Synopsis: After the loss of their parents in a mysterious ﬁre, the three Baudelaire children face trials and tribulations attempting to uncover dark family secrets. Santa Clarita Diet (Season 2) Genre: Comedy, Horror Cast: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson Synopsis: Sheila and Joel are married real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies, their lives take a dark turn. Rapture (Season 1) Genre: Documentary Cast: 2 Chainz, Just Blaze Synopsis: Rapture stares directly into the bright light that hip hop culture shines on the world and doesn’t blink. Throughout 8 episodes Rapture dives into artists’ lives, to experiencing the ecstatic power of moving the crowd. Trailer Park Boys (Season 12) Genre: Comedy, Crime Cast: John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells, Mike Smith Synopsis: Three petty felons have a documentary made about their life in a trailer park.

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EXPLORE THE BEAUTY OF OMAN THIS SUMMER

People flock to Oman to experience a serene kind of getaway that’s filled with adventure atop spectacular mountain peaks and deep into grand canyons and deserted lands. Whether you get a kick out of hiking, enjoy exploring fortresses and historic monuments across town, or like to mingle with the fish while diving deep into the blue: This country has it all. And as summer is approaching, we round up six of our favourite spots that are popular, yet unexplored. Forget about Jabal Akhdar and Sharqiyah Sands for a second and get to know these golden gems through the summer.

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Masirah Island Another island has made it to our list— who would have thought Oman has so many islands. Well, Masirah Island is a less dangerous and much more preferred amongst locals. It sports desolated and deserted spaces, giving you the feeling of being alone in the middle of nowhere, though it has its season where folks head there for camping. Given that not many people visit this place, its beaches remain somewhat unexplored as well. When coming here, visit Ras Hilf, where abandoned boats and a shipwreck adorn its stretched beach. It’s an interesting sight you wouldn’t want to miss, especially if you love adventure.

Duqm Beach You may recognise Duqm for its port and its newly developed oil and gas industry, but the place has hidden gems tucked within. From mysterious, uncharted silky sands and sapphire waters, to beaches that stretch miles upon miles, unexplored. The place has gained popularity amongst locals and residents of Muscat as the go-to place for seafood and ﬁshing activities, which explains its rich, ﬂavourful oceanic culinary. After indulging in a seaside activity, head over to Duqm’s Rock Park, where limestone formations that date back to more than 45 million years will make your imagination run wild.

Mirbat Mirbat is what we call the “Pearl of Oman”. Situated at the very edge of Oman, in Dhofar, it carries quite a story. It used to be a trading spot for frankincense, and was also known for being a ﬁshing village and old capital of the southern governorate. All that is interesting, but what makes it a must-visit place is its coral beauty that promises a wonderful beach experience. The place is a great spot for snorkelling and exploring the aquatic life of Dhofar. You do not need to wait till fall to visit this place. Its charms can be seen yearround, from ancient sights and military castles, to succulent local dishes. You will ﬁnd something memorable to add to your diary. And, make sure to pay a visit to the anti-gravity point. Leave your car in neutral and watch it drift uphill, all by itself. How cool.

Wadi Al Khoudh Did you know we have a massive wadi stretched from Al Khoudh all the way to Al Mabela, here in the capital? Yes, Wadi Al Khoudh is a true hidden gem treasured by locals who love a quick weekend escape without leaving the city. It is situated by Al Khoudh village, on the left of the expressway (if you’re coming from Qurum), and is a 30-minute ride from the city centre. The place does not have any fascinating attractions other than being an isolated space where you could enjoy a barbecue amid unique-looking plants and a small oasis of dirt-coloured waters scattered all over the wadi.

Hallaniyat Islands Talking about unexplored territories, the Hallaniyat islands (some 40km from the Dhofari coast) are perfect for adventurers and die-hard explorers. The islands host some of the world’s most untouched fisheries in the world, and sea creatures such as dolphins, turtles, and manta rays. And, if fishing is your thing, you’ll get to catch almost any kind, from Billfish, Tuna and Dorado to the monstrous Trevally that weighs more than 60kg. In the inhabited islands, you can find a variety of water sports to add fun to your adventure. Kayaks and surf boards are some of the sports on offer. Note that the Hallaniyat Islands are categorised amongst extreme destinations. This journey is not for the faint hearted and may be physically challenging.

Sugar Dunes and Khaluf Beach Sharqiyah Sands may be the go-to place for tourists and locals who love a sandy escapade atop dunes, but there is another desert that’s undiscovered with sugar dunes and a beach, too. Khaluf Beach is simply a jewel of a spot. It boasts of a 50km seafront, and is located some 450km south of Muscat. The place is absolutely beautiful and polar opposite to Al Sharqiyah Sands. Here, the place combines two of our favourite destinations, beaches, and deserts. Its desert is graced with silky white sands and pristine dune formations that will remind you of how beautiful and geographically diverse Oman is. The desert is stretched all the way to untouched beaches, giving campers a spot to relax away from touristic attractions. The area is relatively empty, with a few fishing villages here and there. So, be cautious when travelling, and ensure your trip consists of two 4x4 vehicles. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, alone.

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PHOTOGRAPHY SALEM AFIFI

sian cuisine serves up quite an entertaining show for every palate. It’s a culinary journey that explores a variety of distinctive ﬂavours, leaving a memorable taste that adds a zing to your dining experience. This weekend, we are taking you to Sheraton Hotel for a quick trip to Asia, where spicy Thai signatures, Chinese stir-fry, and Japanese rolls are dished up and served in a beautiful atmosphere in the backdrop of saucy aromas and delicate sounds from South East Asia. A culinary journey to Asia works as a constant reminder of how ﬂavourful

and diverse their kitchen is, and at The Courtyard restaurant, the “Taste of Asia” experience is elevated with local connoisseurs of Asian cuisine who promise an authentic and traditional moment for diners. For those who are yet to visit the Courtyard, the place is showered with a beautiful aura. The space is surrounded with pink-leafed branches that give us a Japanese cherry-blossom spring feel. We, however, decided to sit outside, where the magic happens. As we stepped out to the terrace, aromas of stir-fried goodness ﬁlled our nostrils. We went straight to the cooking stations to explore the menu.

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There is a sushi bar, a soup station for Tom Yum and other Asian soupy creations, a dedicated corner for assorted dim sums, and a live stir-fried station with various ingredients, sauces, and spices for every palate. We started our dining session with a platter full of assorted sushi and rolls made with ingredients such as crab, prawns, avocado, tempura vegetables, and salmon, and savoured with soya sauce, spicy wasabi, and a tangy ginger pickle. These were delicious and perfect as starters. Our second stop was the live cooking station, where we indulged in a stir-fry affair. There were a tonne of options and colours to add to our stir-fried dish. Bok choy, celery, carrots, spinach, green beans, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, chicken, turkey, ﬂank steak, scallops, lobster, shrimps, assorted noodles, and jasmine rice were all on offer. After making a selection, the dish is prepared with teppanyaki sauce, giving a true taste of Asia. The dish oozed appetising ﬂavours, from tender pieces of meat bathed in soy sauce to springy seafood. All in all, it was a great session. We had two plates full of succulent treats. It was a much-needed meaty escape. We ordered ours mild, but the chef can prepare it hot if desired. The “Taste of Asia” is definitely worth trying. The buffet is full of flavours that will transport you to Asia for a quick, unforgettable trip. Make sure to try their sake, a traditional Asian bubbly drink served warm in a miniature cup. It’s delicious. We will visit again, and perhaps try their Tom Yum soup.

TASTE OF ASIA Every Sunday 7pm to 11pm The Courtyard, Sheraton Hotel

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HURRICANE HEIST

PETER RABBIT

BAAGHI 2

Cast: Toby Kebbell, Maggie Grace and Ryan Kwanten

Voice Overs: James Corden, Rose Byrne, and Daisy Ridley

Cast: Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee, Prateik and Lakshmi Manchu

Thieves attempt a massive heist against the US Treasury as a Category 5 hurricane approaches one of its mint facilities.

In the ﬁlm, Peter’s feud with Mr McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) escalates to greater heights than ever before as they rival for the affections of the warm-hearted animal lover who lives next door (Rose Byrne). James Corden voices the character of Peter with playful spirit and wild charm.

Ronny, is hired by ex-lover Neha, to track down her daughter Riya, who has been kidnapped.

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READY PLAYER ONE Cast: Olivia Cooke, Tye Sheridan and Hannah John-Kamen Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Steven Spielberg film, “Ready Player One.” It is based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. In the year 2045, the real world is a harsh place. The only time Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) truly feels alive is when he escapes to the Oasis, an immersive virtual universe where most of humanity spend their days. In the Oasis, you can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone — the only limits are your own imagination. The Oasis was created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance), who left his immense fortune and total control of the Oasis to the winner of a three-part contest he designed to find a worthy heir. When Wade conquers the first challenge of the reality-bending treasure hunt, he and his friends — known as the High Five — are hurled into a fantastical universe of discovery and danger to save the Oasis and their world.

Running at: Vox Cinemas, City Cinemas

Cast: Kalidasan Jayaram, Kunchacko Boban, Meera Jasmine and Lijo Jose Poomaram marks the debut of Jayaram’s son Kalidas Jayaram. The story revolves around an incident at a ‘kalolsavam’ (college fest). The festival kicks off and two rival colleges are putting in all that they have got to win the champion’s trophy. A few things go awry due to unexpected turn of events.

BEYOND THE EDGE Cast: Antonio Banderas and Milos Bikovic A talented gambler gathers a team of people to win big at a casino. But they ﬁnd a much stronger mystical rival.

COMING SOON

POOMARAM (MALAYALAM)

YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov and Alessandro Nivola

BLACK WATER Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren

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Get a Fresh Look With a New Hairstyle W

e’ve seen some outrageous hair transformations last year, and the catwalks have ﬂaunted some pretty bold hairstyles too. But we aren’t going into any one of those. Because let’s be real, would you really walk around the city with your hair in the shape of a bow like Lady Gaga did? But that doesn’t mean we can’t talk trending hairstyles. Here are 6 easy hairstyles that are ﬂaunt-able, fashionable and yet ‘everyday’.

DEEP SIDE PART Though the middle partition is trending too, if you really want to try something easy, new, and make your hair look voluminous naturally, a deep side part is an excellent option. If this is something you haven’t been doing, your hair will have a tendency to jump back to follow its original partition; so make sure you clip it down well.

THE PIXIE CUT There’s something tomboyish yet feminine about this hairstyle. With popular celebs like Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson and Cara Delevingne all going ‘chopchop’ off late, this style ensures it’s suitable for all types of hair – brunette or blonde, curly or straight, ﬁne or thick. It’s come a long way from the short pixie cut though. Now it’s all about a longer, more voluminous, and tousled hair. Just make sure your hair stylist knows what would look good, given your face structure.

THE BANGS There are so many ways you can do your bangs. There is the boyish bang if you want something perkier, the bob-plus-bang if you are looking at more volume or even a simple side bang if you don’t want to experiment too much. Bangs are an excellent way to give you a whole new look and stylists believe it actually makes you look younger too.

COLLARBONE GRAZING BOB There are two ways you could sport this trending hairstyle. If you’re going for the high-maintenance version, remember to keep it sleek with hair mousse and curl your hair inwards on both sides. If you want the easier do, simply roll out of bed, ruffle it up, and sport the messy look. But keep in mind - this works well mostly on wavy hair.

PLAITS AND BRAIDS Fishtail, Dutch, messy, loose, French…the list goes on. But don’t worry; you don’t have to master them all. As a matter of fact, we bet you possibly can’t; because the truth is, we still haven’t reached the end of that list yet. Braids and plaits are all the rage right now – there is simply so much you can do. However, if you just can’t get past your regular three strand braid, the good news is that this classic look is just as fashionable. What’s more? You can wear it messy. Just making it easier for you girls.

STICK STRAIGHT HAIR If we had something for the curly-haired, we’ve got something for the straighthaired too. This classic style can never go out of fashion. Simply pull your hair back in a sleek, high and tight ponytail. This works especially well for those with long, straight hair. If your hair tends to go ﬂat, you can add a little volume to the roots by teasing it just a bit. Bonus: Add an accessory! Our pick: Barrettes Surely, you know what we are talking about, don’t you? The deﬁnition says barrettes are essentially hair-slides. And who would have thought that these simple hair clips could become a prized ornament in itself. Well, the fashion catwalks sure proved the importance of these little slides. You could wear a pair, or sport a single on your better side (hey, mismatched earrings were in too). Simply slide a barrette behind your ear and let it work its magic, even if your hairstyle is otherwise simple. You can keep it subtle with sleeker pieces or go bold with chunkier barrettes – the choice is yours.

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.

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 15 MARCH 29, 2018

SUDOKU

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

Level | Easy

6 4

1 7

MASS EFFECT 3

8 1

3 6 5

2 9

Level | Moderate

2 5

4 8

2 7 1

8 4

Level | Difficult

5 9

6 4

6 3

2 3

3 8

Easy

2 5

7 7

THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

when the Reapers finally hit Earth, hard. IT’S ALL COME DOWN TO THIS. Millions are slaughtered in a matter of There is, simply no turning back. You eiminutes, and the Commander, together ther stand side by side with the rest of the galaxy to stop the Milky Way from burning, with his old squad mate Ashley Williams and new arrival James Vega, has to hot or you watch from the sidelines, and wait foot it to the Council to ask for aid. His old for the flames to inevitably reach you. comrade-in-arms, Admiral David AnderThat, in a nutshell, is the crux of Mass son, stays behind on Earth, determined Effect 3, the glorious climax of Bioware’s to organise a resistance and stymie the legendary sci-fi role-playing game. Reapers for as long as possible. At the end of Mass Effect 2, after not so En route to the Citadel, Shepard is politely tendering his resignation to the asked by Admiral Steven Illusive Man, the head of Hackett, the commander the pro-human organisaTHE SHORT AND SKINNY of Earth’s forces, to head to tion named Cerberus, Name: Mass Effect 3 Mars, where recent disCommander Shepard — Genre: Sci-Fi/Action RPG coveries made by a certain the hero of our story — is Produced by: Bioware & EA Games Dr Liara T’Soni may just brought back to Earth to What it’s about: The final chapter hold the ticket to salvation stand trial for going AWOL of the legendary Mass Effect series for humanity and its allies. with Cerberus, though is about to be written. The fate of the While the council are willthat may depend on other galaxy hangs in the balance and you’ve ing to listen to Shepard, they actions you commit in been asked to lead the fight to save it. are unable to provide them your previous games. Will you answer the call? their forces. But there is something Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Their own planets are unfar more dangerous PlayStation 4, Xbox One der attack, and they need to literally looming over the Where to buy: Origin, Amazon, commit to saving their own horizon. Shepard and his PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketforces first. squad mates have discovplace, masseffect.com, Humble Bundle, But the galaxy does realise ered that the Reapers — a EA.com they need to put aside their highly advanced race of IGN Rating: 9.1/10 differences and band tomachines that systematigether for the greater good. cally destroys all advanced Only then can they hope civilisations every 50,000 to withstand the merciless years — are returning, onslaught on the Reapers. Even those who and this time, Earth is squarely in their would normally be found on the fringes crosshairs. of the law — whatever side that may be on The same is true for other planets such — have returned to help. Zaeed Massani as Palaven, home to the militaristic Tuis back leading mercenaries to slow down rians, Thessia, the primary planet of the the Reapers’ inexorable advance, while wise asari, Tuchanka, the battle scarred expert thief Kasumi Goto is busy conductbirthplace of the reptilian Krogan, and ing sabotage missions behind enemy lines. Suurkesh, which spawned the brilliant But it’s not just a handful of people joining Salarians, are all under attack. forces. The entire galaxy is helping, with The Citadel Council, the seat of the some old allies, some new friends, and galactic government, and the Systems even an ancient warrior everyone thought Alliance, Earth’s unified government, continues to disbelieve Shepard, reducing was long gone. Previous Reaper invasions his warning to the invisible threat of a few may have been overwhelmingly successful, but this time around, the entire galaxy bogeymen. is going to be fighting back. Until of course, it stares them in the And you get to lead them. face. Shepard’s trial has barely begun,

3 3

Medium

Difficult

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Opening ceremony of Muscat International Film Festival held at PACA auditorium. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Photos by Shabin E.

Kuwait Airways hosted football tournament for travel agents in Muscat.

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BODY OF WORK SALEM AFIFI My photography sessions are quite experimental with hints of spontaneity. This photograph is one of my absolute favourite. It tells a story of an androgynous dancer who lives to entertain, but his talent began to take a backseat as he grew up. Titled ‘The Forgotten Dancer’, I wanted to portray a vulnerable human being who is eager to prove to the world that he is still in charge. He puts on his statement puffy designer shirt, wears his makeup, and gets into his dancing shoes to put on a private show, alone, in his weathered dance studio; to remind himself that he still exists. I wouldn’t go into the intricate details on the techniques of how this particular shot was taken, as I perform my shoots mostly with a creative eye rather than calculated methods. Out of the eight editorial photos, this one stood out the most, as the sharp, perfectly captured pose revealed a passionate artist who is hungry for redemption. And there isn’t a better way to make a statement than publishing the photo in black and white. After the colour correction, I collaborated with a talented graphic designer to help me bring out the ﬁerceness out of this miserable dancer. How? Glitter and more glitter. We adorned his shirt and dancing shoes with red glitter to complement his ﬂamboyant nature, and crossed his eyes to resemble his inner feelings about himself, which questions his existence.

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AMERICAN TOURISTER ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL LEGEND CRISTIANO RONALDO AS ITS 2018 BRAND AMBASSADOR

merican Tourister, world’s leading fashionable, youthful, international luggage brand, is proud to announce the signing of international football superstar and fashion icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, as its new brand ambassador for 2018. His appointment also comes as football fever begins to grip global audiences ahead of the Fifa World Cup, which kicks off in Moscow, Russia on June 14, 2018. Expressing his excitement on the signing of Cristiano, Subrata Dutta, President of Asia Paciﬁc at Samsonite, said, “There couldn’t be a better time to bring Cristiano on-board. His lively and vivacious personality, on and off the ﬁeld, resonates perfectly with our fun-loving, vibrant brand personality. His presence will help bring American Tourister to a whole new audience, allowing us to stand out from the competition, and enabling us to take the brand to the next level.” Equally delighted to join the American Tourister family, Cristiano said, “American Tourister is a functional yet cool

brand that appeals to everyone. I’m delighted to be the face of the brand for 2018. As a frequent traveller myself, I appreciate the need for high quality luggage that still allows you to express your personality.” Speaking on the association, Syed Shaheen Jamil, Business Head for Middle East, Africa, CIS and Saarc countries, said “Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the most popular football star in our region. We hope to leverage his popularity, in a football-crazy region, especially when the Fifa World Cup is just around the corner, to strengthen our brand’s connection with all his fans.” “We are excited to welcome Cristiano Ronaldo as our new brand ambassador for 2018. As the authorised distributor for American Tourister in Oman, Khimji Ramdas is proud to be part of this unique campaign. This travelinspiring brand is available at all major hypermarkets and Aalami stores across Oman,”said Sachin Malhotra, Chief Operating Officer, Khimji Ramdas Lifestyle Group.”

LULU KICKS OFF ANNUAL DISCOUNT SALE 2018

ulu Hypermarkets is back with its ‘Annual Discount Sale,’ which is launched in all its outlets across the Sultanate. The sale, which started on March 21 will continue till April 16, 2018, covering all items under the categories of garments, footwear, ladies bags, and selected items under the luggage category. Customers can make use of this opportunity to avail a discount of 20 to 50 per cent on the above-mentioned product categories. The discount sale offers customers an opportunity to stock up on clothing and accessories. Featuring an extensive range of products at reasonable prices under the speciﬁed categories, the sale holds something for all. Savvy shoppers can look forward to update their wardrobe with the latest collection of fashionable garments and accessories from top brands. Those getting ready for the holiday

season can also ﬁnd an array of trendy travel bags, handbags, and backpacks at cool prizes. On the whole, the sale will give bargain-hunters the chance to snap up incredible offers within easy reach. Commenting on the promotion, Shabeer K.A., Regional Director, Lulu Hypermarkets Oman, said “Lulu has been organising the discount sale throughout the past years as part of its innovative strategies to make shopping more pleasurable and affordable. We are glad that all our initiatives receive overwhelming response from customers as they not only provide them fair-priced and quality products but also an all-new shopping experience. Through exciting discounts and deals on the widest range of products, Lulu aims to create new standards in the retail sector. We are sure that these schemes re-establish our commitment to make Lulu the one-stop shopping destination,” he added.