Issue 97, February 2015
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Issue 97, February 2015
Family Attitude Class Entertainment Success th
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Founder / Essa Bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman & Editor-in-Chief / Mohammed Issa Al Zedjali
Editor’s Note
Chief Executive Officer / Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Business Director / Sophia Raman Editorial Consultant / Suzy Fontes Art Director / Pushpender K. Sharma Head of Advertising & Marketing / Aziz K. Baker Advertising / Avril D’souza Operations / M.V.V. Sagar
Published By / Muscat Press & Publishing House (SAoc) PB 770, Pc 112, Ruwi, oman Tel: +968 24 811953 . Fax: +968 24 813153 Printed At / Ruwi Modern Printers LLc Tel: +968 24798157 / 24794167
Contact Telephone +968 24563382/24563385 Fascimile +968 24566014 Email - Editorial editor@facesoman.com Email - Sales sales@facesoman.com Website www.facesoman.com
FAcES is 8…and happening! We hit the eighth milestone with gumption, seasoning the celebratory mood with an editorial trek along the disability road. We took the less trodden path to get a first hand account of the challenges faced by children with disabilities and cheer their determination to find a niche in the society, which is, seemingly, in a state of inertia. Be it awareness, acceptance or accessibility, the need to bridge gaps in all the different areas that touch the lives of disabled people is palpable. As you turn the pages of this special anniversary issue, take time to reflect on the little problems that people with disabilities tackle everyday (many a Down syndrome child and children with severe disabilities find even the mundane everyday task an ordeal). Read about the parents’ outlook on the challenges their disabled children face and how they have overcome or mitigated the problems to help integrate their children into the society. As is tradition with FAcES, this anniversary issue is adorned with a special contests section. It is our way of saying ‘Thank you’ to you, our dear reader; you motivate our every move. Mail your entries to the contest and get ready for some exciting prizes from our dear patrons. come along and enjoy this anniversary indulgence. Happy 8th Anniversary to us!
We are on Facebook! ‘FACES Magazine, Oman’
Copyright 2015 FACES / All material published remains the copyright of FACES. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. FACES cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material.
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Contents
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Anniversary
In This Issue FACES Features 16 cover Story
A ‘disabled/challenged’ diagnosis isn’t an easy one to accept, but parents need to accept and adapt to help their disabled child find his/her niche
26 In conversation Jork Bosselaar, General Manager of Alila Jabal Akhdar talks about the property’s successes and reflects on his career and life in oman
28 In The Spotlight Kaleit Dates, a date fruit confectionary initiative from omani entrepreneur Hamida Said Al Esry, is all set to take the quintessential dates to another level
FACES Foodie 30 Feast on
Savour all that Muttrah has to offer from its picturesque new landmark – Bait Al Luban
FACES Health
34 Health check Disability does not necessarily equate with poor health…
FACES Style 40 In The Luxe
Make the woman in your life happy with a chic gift on ‘International Women’s Day’, which is celebrating women power this year with the slogan ‘Make it Happen’
FACES Travel
52 Explore oman With the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence in Duqm, weekend travellers have an exciting new destination to explore
42 Look Good
54 Just Travel
44 Style File
FACES Razzmatazz
check out an array of new beauty products to watch out for in 2015
As winter makes way for the warmer months, Babyshop gives mothers the perfect chance to acquire a lighter, more comfortable wardrobe for their kids
FACES Elements 56 Man Date
Does the old oft-repeated cliché, ‘boys don’t cry’, have any relevance in today’s complex, modern world?
58 Relatively Speaking
Most people shy away from the prospect of interacting with disabled people for the fear of saying something wrong
60 At Home
convert your home into an ‘accessible’ one so as to make your friends and/or family members in wheelchairs feel welcome
FACES Contests 64 Win Win...
Participate in the Annual FAcES Anniversary contest and win a host of gift vouchers
Are all holiday destinations around the world disable-friendly?
10 Star Light
When Eddie Redmayne picked the Best Actor oscar for his role in ‘The Theory of Everything’, his acceptance speech drew attention to people battling ALS, notably the movie’s protagonist - Stephen Hawking
12 Razzle Dazzle Latest celebrity gossip from the world of Hollywood
14 Tittle Tattle Heard through the grapevine...
FACES Digest
74 Movies & Books Reviews of upcoming movies and books
76 Gadget Notes Roundup of new gadgets in the market
Turkish apparel brand ‘Mavi’ now at MGM
Find the perfect gift for the perfect mother
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reat your mum this Mother’s Day with a gift from the BMW lifestyle collection. From bikes to bags to watches, BMW lifestyle has a host of gifts to cater to the sporty mum, shopaholic mum and the stylish mum. Alternately, you could gift your mum the MINI way this Mother’s Day. Whether she leads an active lifestyle and is looking to head out on her own MINI adventure with MINI’s folding bike, or if she is looking to jet away on an overnight getaway with a MINI duffle bag, MINI has Mother’s D a y covered with an exciting selection of gift ideas. These products and more a re available at Al Jenaibi International Automobiles or you could visit the BMW/ MINI store at: http://shop. bmw.com/
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hopping at Muscat Grand Mall has become all the more exciting following the opening of Mavi – the Turkish apparel manufacturer and retailer. Mavi Jeans is a brand of denim jeans founded in 1991, in Istanbul, Turkey. The company manufactures jeans for both women and men, targeting a younger age group. Mavi, which means ‘blue’ in Turkish, is known for high-quality, great-fitting and fashion-forward premium denim and has created splashes across the globe with flagship stores in New York, Vancouver, Istanbul, Berlin, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. The label is casual and approachable and the look has a distinctly all-American feel. Denim is their staple, and a vast array of jeans, in every imaginable style, rise and rinse is available in men’s and women’s collections.
Best Western Premier Muscat opens ‘Moza Wa Khamis’
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he busy Al Khuwair area has a new food destination to frequent, following the opening of ‘Moza Wa Khamis’, a new Omani Fusion Café at the Best Western Premier Muscat. Serving Omani favourites, some with an added modern twist, the restaurant will cater to people from all walks of life; it is open from 12noon to 11pm on weekdays, and until 12 midnight on weekends. “We are offering diners a fresh and thrilling casual dining restaurant, inspired by Omani youth aptly named ‘Moza’ and ‘Khamis’,” said Yusra Jaffer, Director of Hotel Operations. The menu includes items such as ‘Moza’s Greek Adventures’ toast with cheese spread, halloumi and chips in panini; ‘Khamis Firestarter’ – 100 percent ground meat patty with spicy chutney burger; and ‘Popeye’s Spinach’ eggs with spinach, Arabic bread, grilled tomato and chips, among others. Also on the menu are Omani specials: Rakhal with cheese and egg; Shuwa Salad with tomato, lettuce, feta, walnut and herb dressing; and dinner specials: ribeye steak, Iranian lamb kebab and prawns biryani. Mocktails such as pina colada, mojito, apple and pineapple, fruit punch are also on offer.
Mother’s Day at Millennium Resort Mussanah
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how your appreciation to the most important woman in your life with a surprise visit to Millennium Resort Mussanah, this year. The Stay & SPA offer, valid for booking during 19-21 March 2015, includes one night stay in deluxe room, breakfast and dinner for two persons and back or leg revival massage for two persons. You could also opt for the Special Spa offer for Mom, which includes a 60 minutes massage and a 60 minutes facial at the Zayna Spa. The ‘Brunch with Mom’ on 21 March will be held at Mydan Restaurant, where the whole family can enjoy a Mother’s Day brunch on the private terrace overlooking the marina, with treats ranging from fruity waffles with a cappuccino to a succulent plate of roasted beef paired with a Mimosa. You could follow that with Dinner with Mom in Mydan Restaurant, which will include a special Italian night buffet, Mamma Mia Pizza Pasta. And if you decide to order a la carte in Al Bahar Restaurant, moms pay just half price when a two-course meal is ordered by each person dining.
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PAUL introduces gourmet club sandwiches
ife in the foodie lane has gotten scrumptious with the introduction of gourmet club sandwiches from PAUL Bakery & Restaurant. The new offer, which will be available on a selection of sandwiches in all outlets during the months of February and March, includes options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners. The offerings include a chicken based ‘Club Poulet’ (a combination of grilled chicken marinated in mustard and mayonnaise mixed with lettuce, pickles, avocado and tomatoes slices), seafood based ‘Club Saumon Crabe’ (a blend of smoked salmon and crab sticks in lemon and fresh dill with cucumber, fresh tomatoes, fresh rocca leaves on cream cheese spread) and cheese based ‘Club Halloumi Légumes’ (a cheesy combination of grilled halloumi cheese with grilled vegetables marinated in balsamic vinegar pesto sauce, fresh tomatoes, fresh rocca leaves on olive spread).
Mikimoto’s BRIO necklace
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ood news for connoisseurs of jewellery…Mikimoto has launched its latest BRIO necklace, which demonstrates its expertise in designing and creating magnificent cultured pearl jewellery. BRIO is a new and energetic style of necklace that can be arranged in various unprecedented ways. It can be enjoyed in an unlimited number of styles such as doubling it and bringing the clasp to the front, simply wearing it as a 7-layered necklace or hanging it on one shoulder to produce an avant-garde appearance. It is a design, which can assume a completely different style depending on your fashion, personality and your taste. To view Mikimoto collections, visit the Khimji’s Watches showroom at Shatti Al Qurum.
KR opens Bait Al Ahlam showroom at Al Seeb
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t is ‘All about your dream home’ at Bait Al Ahlam, the retail destination of the KR Infra Group. The new 4000sqm showroom, which opened earlier this month, is slated to be one of the largest showrooms of its kind in Oman. With over 3000sqm dedicated to displaying the most eclectic range of home furniture from around the world, coupled with 1000sqm to air conditioning, home appliances and ‘Paint a Home Lounge’, the new showroom promises to be a favourite destination. More than 50 percent of the home furniture essentials have been sourced from Europe and customers are sure to be spoilt for choice with a wide range of home furniture and accessories.
Live music back at Trader Vic’s
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he Cuban ‘Ire Band’ is back at InterContinental Muscat, performing everyday except Saturdays at the Trader Vic’s restaurant, from 8pm to 12 midnight. The ‘Ire Band’ has a wide repertoire of music, including popular international songs, Salsa, Bachata, Meringue, Cumbia, Zouk, Bolero, Mambo and Latin Jazz. The trio has been performing in Cuba and Middle East – Oman, Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt. Each band member plays more than two instruments, combining excellent musical sound with sweet voice and great expression of their art.
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February 2015
Brief History of Stephen Hawking
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n an article titled ‘Handicapped People and Science’, published in the 1984 issue of the ‘Science Digest’, Stephen Hawking wrote: “If you are disabled, it is probably not your fault, but it is no good blaming the world or expecting it to take pity on you... My disabilities have not been a significant handicap in my field, which is theoretical physics. Indeed, they have helped me in a way by shielding me from lecturing and administrative work that I would otherwise have been involved in. I have managed, however, only because of the large amount of help I have received from my wife, children, colleagues and students.” It was in 1963 that Hawking contracted motor neurone disease and was given two years to live. But he went on to Cambridge to become a researcher and Professorial Fellow at Gonville and Caius College - from 1979 to 2009 he held the post of Lucasian Professor at Cambridge, the chair held by Isaac Newton in 1663. He has over a dozen honorary degrees and was awarded the CBE in 1982. He is a fellow of the
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When Eddie Redmayne picked the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in ‘The Theory of Everything’, his acceptance speech drew attention to people battling ALS, notably the movie’s protagonist - Stephen Hawking
Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Science. Stephen Hawking is regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein. Born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England, Hawking showed a passion for science and the sky at an early age. The eldest of Frank and Isobel Hawking’s four children, Stephen William Hawking was born into a family of thinkers. His Scottish mother had earned her way into Oxford University in the 1930s—a time when few women were able to go to college. His father, another Oxford graduate, was a respected medical researcher with a specialty in tropical diseases. Hawking showed a passion for science and the sky from the very beginning. His mother, who observed this, once said, “Stephen always had a strong sense of wonder. And I could see that the stars would draw him.” During his teens, Hawking, along with several friends, constructed a computer out of recycled parts for solving rudimentary mathematical equations. But the most significant change in his life was the fact that he was in love. At a New Year’s party in 1963, shortly before he had been diagnosed with ALS, Hawking met a young languages undergraduate named Jane Wilde. They got married in 1965. According to his biologists’, Hawking’s disease helped him become the noted scientist he is today. Before the diagnosis, Hawking hadn’t always focused on his studies.
‘Before my condition was diagnosed, I had been very bored with life,’ he’d said. ‘There had not seemed to be anything worth doing.’ With the sudden realization that he might not even live long enough to earn his PhD, Hawking poured himself into his work and research. In his bestselling book ‘A Brief History of Time’, he recounts his improbable journey, from his post-war London boyhood to his years of international acclaim and celebrity. Illustrated with rarely seen photographs, this concise, witty and candid account introduces readers to the inquisitive schoolboy whose classmates nicknamed him ‘Einstein’; the jokester who once placed a bet with a colleague over the existence of a black hole; and the young husband and father striving to gain a foothold in the world of academia
Taylor Kinney shares engagement photo with Lady Gaga 33-year-old Chicago Fire actor Taylor Kinney popped the question to Lady Gaga, 28, on Valentine’s Day and they both confirmed the news by posting on their Instagram accounts. “She said YES on Valentine’s Day,” Taylor captioned his photo. And Gaga wrote: “He gave me his heart on Valentine’s Day, and I said YES!” with a close-up photo of the heart-shaped ring.
SNL marks 40 years
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elebrities from the world of entertainment and sports turned out in force for a special broadcast celebrating the 40th anniversary of the seminal late night comedy programme, ‘Saturday Night Live’. The three-andhalf-hour show on NBC, which has aired the Saturday night staple since 1975 and launched the careers of comedy stars ranging from Eddie Murphy to Martin Short, featured a series of rapid-fire clips of classic SNL bits, with the show’s veterans reprising or reinventing their most-loved sketches. Hosted by Steve Martin, the anniversary show included appearances by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Tom Hanks.
Sam Smith on a roll after Grammy
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ays after 22-year-old Sam Smith won four Grammy awards, including record and song of the year, his ‘In The Lonely Hour’ returned to the top of the British album chart. The British soul singer’s million-selling debut, which climbed from four back to the top of the rankings, has yet to leave the top 10 since it was released in May 2014. Ed Sheeran’s ‘X’ was in second place, while the third and fourth spots were new entries: ‘If You’re Reading This You’re Too Late’, a surprise release by Canadian rapper Drake on Friday, and the Irish quartet Kodaline’s second studio album, ‘Coming Up For Air’.
Khloe Kardashian vs Amber Rose
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he big tiff between Khloe Kardashian and Amber Rose is out in the open with both turning it into a social media fight. It started when Amber trashed Kylie Jenner and Tyga during a recent radio interview. Her criticism may have been valid, considering that Kylie is 17 and Tyga 25, but the remark was little more than a malicious attempt to publicly bash the Kardashians, opine many. Soon Khloe took to Twitter to express her thoughts about Amber’s comments. “‘I was a stripper when I was 15,’ Amber Rose told Foxx, please don’t worry about my sister who has a career… at only 17,” Khloe tweeted. Amber replied: “I’m happy that u brought up the fact that I was a stripper at 15.”
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Lindsay Lohan prosecutor to push for jail time
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indsay Lohan has had several run-ins with the law, with the recent one requiring her to be involved in community service. Last month, however, she lied about her community service, got caught and was given additional time to prove that she met the requirements. But she has yet to provide the documents requested by the judge and, to set the balance right, the prosecutor was expected to ask the judge to terminate her probation and recommend that she serve jail time due to lack of transparency regarding the completion of community service hours.
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“I think it’s suddenly getting up to 30 as well and you’re just like ‘Argh! I need to do loads of stuff!’ So I’m definitely going to be much more productive.” - Robert Pattinson talks about turning 30 (in 2016) and getting older
“We go through so much together – it’s a miracle that we could stay together this long… It’s good to have those days when we both do our own things. I think that’s what keeps relationships going, when both people can be themselves and have their own individuality.” - No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, who married Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale in 2002 talks about their relationship
“Maybe wearing them makes me feel subconsciously like I have a proper job.” - Eddie Redmayne on why he’s not complaining about dressing up in suits
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“Look, but you can’t touch…”
- Channing Tatum reveals the new poster for ‘Magic Mike XXL’
“This year, I’m getting the greatest gift ever. Can’t wait. #BoyOrGirl #YouNeverKnow #WeDontEVenKnow #WeAreTakingBets” - Justin Timberlake confirms he is expecting his first child with wife Jessica Biel on Instagram.
“There is nothing wrong with avoiding people who hurt you.” - Taylor Swift giving advice to a fan
“The truest meaning of unconditional love is my child. I thought I love Ashton, I thought I loved my parents, my dogs. I was like, ‘I know love.’ It’s such a different aspect, though. It’s not like its greater or lesser. It’s just in a whole other effect.” - Mila Kunis talks about what she has learned from motherhood on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
“When I was signing autographs, this girl came up to me bawling and said, ‘You make me feel pretty again. Thank you’.” - Meghan Trainor opines that staying body positive is a ‘mental thing’.
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Mission
Possible Tread softly on the ‘disability’ trail… reflect proactively on the challenges posed by nature and life, and imbue the horizon with hues of acceptance and accessibility at every juncture
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hock, denial, anger, depression, acceptance… A ‘disabled/challenged’ diagnosis isn’t an easy one to accept at any stage, more so for parents who learn, early on, that their child has to contend with a disability or developmental problem for life. From the emotionally draining ‘why me/us’ stage to a resigned acceptance of the situation, life in the disability path is riddled with frustrations, disappointments and even guilt that they, as parents, may be, in some way, responsible for the disability. Even the gradual acceptance of the child’s condition may be induced by a feeling of neutrality than an appreciation of his/her coping techniques. The acceptance stage has different connotations for different parents, however, many in the present context, reach that stage with an understanding of the problem that translates into strengthening the child’s skills in coping with life in general. For Ali Ahmed, father of a visual impairment son, Taghlib, the process of acceptance was set rolling from the very first assessment. It was an acceptance that was based on the belief that ‘everythinghappens-for-a-reason’; one that induced him to research the topic extensively online, explore avenues for betterment and ensure that his son received the best assistance to overcome challenges. It is this positive outlook - shared by his family - that helped foster a well-rounded development in Taghlib, who turns 10 in March this year. “He is dynamic, active and a very social boy; he likes people and is always telling stories,” he points out.
Taghlib
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A fourth grade student of Omar Bin Al Khattab Institute for the Blind, Taghlib has had to overcome a variety of hurdles and challenges to reach the present level. Narrating his story, Ali Ahmed says: “He is the second child among four sons, and to us, as parents, he was a very normal toddler. Everything was fine in his development process and we did not notice anything amiss until he was about two-and-a-half years old. But we started observing that when he was watching television he would seat himself very close to the set, which, again, we dismissed as a kid thing. Like any parent, we used to repeatedly ask him to get away from the set and he, like any child, would move back towards the set…” It wasn’t until Taghlib’s grandmother pointed out that there might be something wrong with Taghlib’s eyes that things seemed to fall in place. It was during a visit to their hometown in Ibra, Sharqiya region, that his grandmother noticed Taghlib’s television viewing habits and made the observation. Recounting those days, Taghlib’s father says, reflectively, “Although me and my wife have university degrees - I am an engineer and she a teacher – it was my mother’s experience that was a winner here. We realised that there was something wrong and decided to get him checked…” As an engineer in a reputed oil and gas company he could avail good medical facilities and he took the private route hoping to cut down on the waiting period and enlist the best assistance for his son. They did a round of all the top medical centres dedicated specifically to eyes, and all of them reassured the family that Taghlib’s case is a normal one and that there was no reason to worry. “We were worried as no one in the family has this condition – even his grandmothers from both sides are fine…no one wears glasses. His great grandmother used to read Quran even when she was 90,” Ali Ahmed points out. The doctors diagnosed that Taghlib has ‘short-sight’ issue also known as Myopia, which is a common and normal finding in about one in every twenty children, and that the issue could be corrected with laser treatment when he turned 18. He was advised glasses and the initial months went in selecting and buying glasses… But things didn’t seem to improve and they blamed it on the comfort factor. They noticed that his proximity to the TV while watching cartoons had not altered. “We then made television an indicator to see whether he was progressing or not, as everything else was normal as far as his mobility was concerned.
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We were worried and decided to get another opinion…” points out Ali Ahmed, adding that they did another round of checkups with no changes in the initial diagnosis. But he was not convinced and following his insistence to review the diagnosis, a doctor recommended further tests, for which Taghlib would have to be taken to Al Nahda Hospital or Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. As expected, it was a nightmare of delays for appointment and he had to rely on his network to speed up the process. In the days to follow Taghlib’s eyes were tested and the good doctor diagnosed that it was more than ‘short-sighted’ issue, which is why the glasses did not help. Tests also found that the problem was concentrated in the centre of the eye and whatever little he sees is from the periphery. The fact that Taghlib turns his head to the sides to see and do things explained the doctor’s observation. Based on the assessment, the doctor noted that there was no cure for it and that Taghlib would remain a low vision kid. He advised him to focus on getting his education sorted with the hope that technology might help him in the future. According to the doctor, Taghlib’s issue was similar to the problems faced by older people, in whose case it is referred to as vision degeneration, which over time is lost completely. “This is very rare in kids and his diagnosis was rare, genetic low vision,” states his father, adding that the deterioration of vision in the future was a topic that was too early to consider. However, it made simple tasks like reading and writing very challenging. He was now four years old and was still wearing glasses as suggested by the doctor. For the next three years there were regular follow-ups and reviews and his vision remained unchanged. That was the year he was to start his kindergarten education and they opted for an international school. The first year seemed fine, but things started becoming bumpy in the next, despite his excellent capabilities at understanding things. Here, the big challenge was finding the right school, as the difficulty level of finding the right niche for kids who do not fall in a particular segment is high. As Ali Ahmed notes, “There are so many disabilities that are neither here nor there… It is a big problem when you are in between, especially in a small country like Oman, with lesser percentage of people like this.” The core of his challenge was realising the learning and teaching discrepancies that are bound to arise when low vision students are put in the same class with blind children. But he accepted and learnt to deal with the challenge instead of grieving over the ‘why me’ question.
Turning point
Although the family had accepted Taghlib’s problem and embraced all avenues of hope, it was the initial diagnosis following tests in the government hospital that turned things around. They had just got the diagnosis about his low vision and were on their way out of the hospital. “He was walking behind me… I was a bit faster and, instead of following me, he went on a different path. When I looked behind he was not there…I heard him asking ‘Baba…baba…where are you?’ It was that moment that seemed to reaffirm the problem. I sat in the car trying to just hold my tears but I could not…” he states pensively. On his return home he explained the scenario to his wife and talked about preparing for any eventuality. As expected, there was acceptance.
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It was expected, he maintains, adding: “As Muslims we believe things happen for the good…may be to remind us to be good citizens. We moved on and we started the second battle – education.” Soon they found another international school for grade one but the school couldn’t manage owing to various limitations, most importantly safety. However, around this time, Taghlib was demonstrating his independence. He was using bicycle within and outside the house and somehow managing himself. He seemed to have developed a system to manage places even going to the mosque and parks on bicycle. But reading and writing proved to be a major challenge. Finding a right school was proving to be a challenge and since public schools have special education teachers, his wife suggested moving to a public school. He was in grade two when they moved him to a public school, which again proved detrimental with several issues (including safety) and they were back hunting for a right school. In the next grade they moved him to a private school, which was not of international standards, before finalising on Omar Bin Al Khattab Institute for the Blind. Around this time Ali Ahmed took Taghlib to Boston children’s hospital where a complete test was done on him. Although they came to the same conclusion as the doctor in the public hospital here, he got an outlook of the immense progress and availability of technology for kids with various levels of visual challenges. One ray of hope came following the reference to the genetic doctor, which resulted in tests that proved genetics was indeed responsible for the problem.
Knowledge sharing
While in Boston, he was introduced to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which holds conferences every year; he plans to attend one this year as his larger objective is to share his knowledge. His focus is on ensuring that the educational institutes have trained specialists and that they move away from the reliance of volunteers who, he believes, should be involved only in support tasks and not teaching. It is all about adding little touches, he notes, to create a whole lot of difference. “We should be equipped to provide best services so that the patient can positively contribute to the society and feel and live like a normal person. We need to equip them with right knowledge and right exposure,” he states, pointing out his plans to send Taghlib during the coming summer or the next to Boston and introducing changes in the curriculum or syllabus of the school to meet the requirements of different people
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LearningCurve Early intervention is all about accepting the disability and creating avenues to help develop the child’s capabilities
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ith the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities taking on the onus of creating awareness among parents and providing developmental opportunities for children with disabilities, the circle of ‘acceptance’ has gotten wider. Parents are willing to break the shackles of the so-called stigma to embrace their child’s disability and talk about it, even if it is only to throw the spotlight on the larger issue of children with disabilities, most of who need to overcome their inhibitions and grow in a positive environment. Here are three stories from parents who have, with the help of therapists and specialists, developed a manageable set of routines to help pave the way for further studies and even handle day to day activities independently…
Meerah Al Balushi
Meerah is a six-year old girl who has Global Development Delay. Her speech is limited to monosyllables. She is still in the growing stage and is getting better with time, despite all the delays in development. We were aware of her condition even before her first birthday and the same was confirmed to us when she was about one-and-a-half-years old. But we didn’t realise that we were facing a much bigger problem, as there is no actual medication for these cases. Initially, we took her to India and, when she was three
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years old, to United Kingdom to seek medication and carry out all the diagnosis. Unfortunately, all of the tests ended without any solution; being asthmatic made her case difficult. I have to admit here that it wasn’t easy to accept her condition at first. However, with support from friends and family, we soon accepted it and managed fine. We moved to a home near the school to make things easy for our daughter, but this proved to be financially taxing, as our rent was two and a half times higher than what we were paying earlier. The issue looming large today is finding a school or centre that is appropriate for her condition and, more importantly, finding one that is within our budget. On a general level, there is an immediate need for special schools that cater to children who have development delays, rather than handicaps alone. The media needs to play a role in creating awareness and ensuring that schools have well trained and experienced teachers.
Khalid Awad Al Shanfari
Seven-year old Khalid has Down syndrome, which was diagnosed at birth. I accepted it with faith, but I know his mother found it difficult in the initial days. He is a loved child and, despite the initial hiccups, we did not face any problem bringing him up. Fortunately, we found him a school that could provide the right foundation and we have done our best to help him lead a normal life. But, of course, there are challenges... mainly teaching him to rely on himself to use toilet and also in developing his speech, so that we can understand his needs better. I am sure we can create positive awareness to this issue through outreach offices in hospitals and through intensified campaigns in media and other forums.
Issa
My son, Issa, is a 8-year old boy who was diagnosed with mild Down Syndrome at birth. It wasn’t easy to accept his condition in the beginning, but the response from other family members was very encouraging. They were cooperative and so were the
neighbours... But that doesn’t give the true picture as far as the stigma is concerned, as I believe the society is still not ready to accept a Down syndrome child. Initially, I faced a lot of strange questions with people wanting explanations about my child’s disability. Following the birth of Issa, I resigned from my job, as he required all my time and attention. His father and me shared in all the tasks related to his care and nourishment. And, fortunately, from the very beginning he endeared himself to everyone in the family…everybody loves him. However, one of the main challenges that we encountered was in toilet training. Social interaction also proved to be a hurdle. I strongly believe that life would be much easier if government institutions, hospitals, schools, etc., did their bit to help and assist parents of disabled children. Media needs to play a proactive role in creating better awareness to the problems faced by disabled children and the schools need to alter the curriculum to suit the needs of the children today
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Diving into Hope Simon, an autistic child, found his niche when he took to swimming and followed it with easy diving strokes “There are no limits, no restrictions to what you can achieve if you listen… In Simon’s case, it was to listen to his silence,” muses Juan Chavez, father of Simon, a 15-year old autistic child, as he talks about his son’s challenging journey, which found profound eloquence with swimming and diving. “He is really good in communicating what he feels by actions…which is what we observe in the swimming pool,” he adds. Reflecting upon this journey, Simon’s parents, Maria Jimenez Chavez and Juan Chavez, who work at the PDO (Petroleum Development of Oman), narrate their story in a quest to create awareness regarding autism and to demonstrate the exciting avenues to help autistic children in the country realise their true potentials. Their objective is to reach out to other parents of autistic children with the help of InterContinental Hotel Muscat acting as a medium. Tracing the early years in their hometown in Venezuela, Maria recalls: “Simon was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old. Up to that point it was difficult for us to determine that there was a problem, as he was behaving like a normal toddler… until the time when he should have developed speech and he didn’t.” One of the specialist’s they visited diagnosed it as a pervasive development disorder, and their reaction was, ‘Ok, lets do something’. This led them to
February 2015
do extensive research online and find ways and means to help Simon. Soon after, they moved to Aberdeen in Scotland and began life afresh with biological and educational interventions to help Simon. “We never stopped trying… He is a teenager now and he is non-verbal; maybe one or two words sometimes, but mainly non-verbal,” she explains matter-of-factly. Being non-verbal meant Simon could not go out and play with kids or establish relations with people, unless he found a connect. Like he did with his swimming teacher Maria Villafane - he feels secure and safe with her.
Special Autistic Ability
It was when the Chavez’s came to Oman, three and a half years ago, that they discovered where his main abilities lay. They were aware that all kids in general, specifically autistics, have some skill that can be exploited or developed further, and, in Simon’s case, it was swimming and diving. Although he did go to the swimming pools in Scotland, they didn’t realise he had skills in that field, until Maria Villafane insisted on teaching him the ropes of swimming. Pondering over those initial days here, his mother explains:“We took him to the swimming pool the first time here and Maria Villafane let him in the deeper end of the swimming
Centre STAGE pool, and he was floating. He was comfortable, as if he belonged. He didn’t know swimming before this… In Scotland he attended a special school and although the teachers there said he was very comfortable in the pool, we didn’t really know how comfortable he would be.” Simon trained with Villafane for three times a week and in a couple of week’s time he was swimming without any aids or devices. Juan, who is a swimming enthusiast, noticed that he likes swimming and is comfortable under water. He observed his skills in diving without any equipment and initiated regular practices with him.
The Chavez family
Looking back, he observes: “What is interesting is that it wasn’t a surprise for us that he had this attitude… I used to love to create activities for him to dive, but owing to the challenges in terms of communication, we could not explain the techniques involved in diving. Surprisingly though, he came with his own method to be able to go down the water and go deeper - he can go up to 4 to 5 metres and he is really comfortable doing that. It is like a secure environment for him.” “We are doing a lot of activities together…doing weights and stamina exercises in the pool. But it is all about how he has managed to reach and is still progressing into that activity with his own curiosity,” explains Juan, who continues working with Simon (going to the sea or practicing in the pool at least five times a week). Pointing out that all kids have huge potentials, he laments that lack of social understanding of autism has instilled fear among some parents to go out and explore alternative avenues for their kids. Whether it is painting, skateboarding or music, it is about identifying the capabilities of different kids. “Our brain is very adaptable and if there is an area that, for some reason, is impaired, then the other part will take care of it...that’s why some of these kids show excellente abilities for certain activities,” notes Simon’s mother, Maria. In Simon’s case, they realised very early on that his gross motor skills are over the average, while his communication skills are underdeveloped. “But we never underestimated Simon. We were always looking for something for him to do... And, in his case, it was a proof that any kid with autism can do something well, even better than other kids; they have a special kind of intuition…” she maintains. Reiterating similar sentiments, Juan adds, “When they find that niche they can get so focused on that and they probably will see details that are normally not visible for us. Simon can stand on the beach and watch the waves and the
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sand moving around. It is like he is meditating. And when he is in the water it looks like he is doing yoga… It is not how deeper he goes; it is how relaxed he is in the water. Looks like he is in a meditative stance and that’s what he is achieving.” Juan has created Instagram accounts (#simondiving, autistic_soul_diver) capturing his forays in swimming and diving and the feedback from around the world has been very encouraging. Simon is home-schooled by a group of professionals – educational psychologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist and a specialist for general activities – who follow a programme and regularly discuss the progress and changes with the family. “In autism it has to be one to one,” points out Maria, adding the importance of biological interventions through special diets, which the family, including their two younger daughters, Sandra, 10, and Camilla, 6, also follow.
Awareness building
While there is no denying the importance of the role parents are called on to play to help their autistic children find that special niche, the onus is also on the society to understand the complexities of the
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problem. “They need to understand that autism is a condition; it is not an illness and it is not contagious. You can probably learn a lot from those kids and you need to embrace that opportunity,” observes Juan. Exhorting the importance of family connect, Maria highlights the effect of parents’ stress on the child, who can sense it in his/her own ways. “The most important thing here is for the parents themselves to feel comfortable with it and not to feel ashamed in front of others. Finding that niche in which your kid is good at and enjoys, will definitely lead to that situation. To reach that point you have
to engage in that activity with him as a family. The more confident the kid is, the more he is able to explore the world around him and that confidence comes with things that you excel in,” she states. Interestingly, the confidence gained from his diving ventures has had a positive impact on his overall learning phase. His speech therapist has noticed that he is willing to repeat words, although it is difficult for him to articulate after so many years of silence. But hope is not waning… As Juan quips, “If your kid with special needs is not giving up, why are you…? The important thing is that it is not the end of the world; it is the beginning of something fantastic!”
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The Colours of
CoBrA
Experience snippets of Cobra art movement at Bait al Zubair
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or the first time, highlights of the international Cobra art movement will be presented in Oman from 11 March to 7 May 2015. Bait al Zubair, in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is working with the Cobra Museum of Modern Art near Amsterdam to bring what can only be called a breath taking international exhibition to Muscat. Cobra was founded in Paris (France) in 1948 and lasted until 1951. CoBrA is an acronym for the three capital cities where the artists lived and worked: Copenhagen (Denmark), Brussels (Belgium) and Amsterdam (the Netherlands). As their motto, they chose the ancient symbolism of the snake. The Cobra artists all strove to create a new, free and expressive art, rooted in experiment and the real experiences of life itself. Cobra wanted to liberate the artistic creativity that is hidden in every human being. Cobra artists were inspired by a multifaceted ‘primitivism’, comprised of myths, children’s drawings, folk art, prehistoric artefacts, oriental calligraphy and tribal art. Their art was direct and spontaneous. They worked without a preconceived plan, using their imagination, bright colours and new materials. Experimentation was crucial. Some of the recurring themes are animals, fantastic creatures, landscapes and mythical tales. In the 1940s, the then conservative press and viewers were by no means charmed by the richly imaginative and childlike spontaneity of the new Cobra art. They believed art should be classical and realistic. Paul Doubleday Director of Bait al Zubair says: “‘The Colours of Cobra’ being exhibited in Bait al Zubair next month is a landmark in international co-operation within the contemporary art scene in Oman. As one of the first major European exhibitions to be hosted in the country, the collaboration between the Cobra Museum of Modern Art and Bait al Zubair will kick start a new understanding of twentieth century art in the country, allowing artists, the general public and school children alike to experience the vivid colours, the child like qualities and vibrant hues of Cobra.” Today, more than 65 years after the founding of Cobra, this exciting movement has not lost any of its power or meaning. Cobra has been accepted into the canon of the history of 20th century art.
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in CONVERSATION
Hospitality To The Fore
As Alila Jabal Akhdar continues to earn accolades from the global media, its General Manager Jork Bosselaar, takes time to ponder over the property’s streak of successes and reflect on his career and life in Oman
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ast month, CNN placed Alila Jabal Akhdar in the list of 23 ‘Amazing Hotels’ that opened in 2014, adding to its spree of awards, which includes the Conde Nast Gold Award and the Travel + Leisure IT List 2015. “These are great achievements for the team and Omran as developer,” notes Jork Bosselaar, General Manager of the Hotel, who has had a long stint with Alila Hotels and Resorts. He joined the Alila group when he relocated to Bali, Indonesia, following a long eight-year stint in Thailand’s various resorts, including small boutique resorts and the Amanpuri Villas from the Aman Hotels group. However, he initiated his career in the hospitality industry in the Caribbean Island of Aruba, after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from Stenden University, Netherlands. In Bali he joined Alila Hotels and Resorts in the capacity of General Manager of Alila Manggis, followed by Alila Ubud, before Oman happened… “After my 5-year tenure at the lovely Alila Ubud, I moved to Oman to open the Alila Jabal Akhdar as General Manager,” he points out, proud at the progress the property has achieved in the short span of time. It was in August 2013 that he first came to Oman, starting off with Muscat as the base. That same year, in November, he moved to the stunning site of Alila Jabal Akdhar and, in a matter of few months, was at the forefront to announce
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the formal opening of the property. “My most memorable moment was welcoming our first guests in the newly established Alila Jabal Akhdar and receiving their positive responses,” he muses. The accolades are a proof of the success the property has achieved in a short span, but it hasn’t been an easy task, points out Jork. “Starting up a new resort, high up in the remote mountains of the Al Hajar mountain range offers its own unique challenges with regard to logistics and putting the resort on the world-wide luxury resort market map,” he explains. But he is confident that these challenges are only short-term… “The overall responses and number of awards showcase that we are on the right track!” he quips.
in CONVERSATION
Plans are in place to continue to develop the resort’s products and services to higher levels and expand collaborations with local community and stakeholders to create unique experiences and moments for the guests. “I expect that this will put the resort and the region on the worldwide map as a ‘must visit’ destination,” he states, reflectively, expressing the expectations of the resort to develop and contribute to the future of Sultanate, along with other passionate hoteliers who see the value of sustainable tourism. Having travelled to different parts of the world and having imbibed the essence of world culture, it wasn’t difficult to make the transition to Oman, he notes. “It was a complete change of scenery, culture and the island life; yet, I found no issues at all in my transition,” he maintains, adding that the friendly laid-back society and its safety features, combined with stunning nature and strong culture made it a seamless transition.
Before his current stint in Oman, he’d lived in different parts of Netherlands, followed by a few years on the tropical Island of Aruba, Phuket and Bali. Travel hasn’t been a constraint, as his wife also works in the hospitality industry. She will soon be taking up the post of general manager of a wellness retreat back in Bali, after spending a year with Jork in Oman
Up Close & Personal with
Jork Bosselaar The home I grew up in... Was floating on the water...a typical living boat in a Dutch river. When I was a child I wanted to... Visit all the places I saw on exotic postcards from all over the world. The moment that changed me forever... Still to come. My greatest inspiration... The unlimited beauty and variety of life on earth. My hero… All the people who do what they truly love to do and are successful in doing so… Oh, and the first person to figure out how to brew coffee legend! I dream of... Seeing most of the world’s most stunning locations and places. What I see when I look in the mirror... A reminder to enjoy life to the fullest, as the newly arrived grey hairs indicate that time continues...
It’s not fashionable but I like... Old-fashioned apple pie - any time of the day! If I have time to myself... I enjoy trail running the stunning surrounding of Al Jabal Al Akhdar My house is... Good question... Where is my house? I spend too much time at the resort. My favourite haunt/holiday destination... Love travelling to Indonesia’s rich archipelago and Bali feels like home. Niseko Japan used to be an annual base to enjoy top quality snowboarding trips. My favourite weekend spot in Oman… Wrong question to ask a hotelier, as weekends are busy and thus spending them in the resort. Outside of that, I must admit that I have yet to enjoy the best places to visit in Oman, something I hope the future will allow me to explore. Can’t wait to visit the desert, the various stunning wadis, camping areas and more. I will not leave my house without… Wallet, phone, adapter to plug in music in the car and my wife, as she will always remember what to bring!
Five things I like about Oman… 1. Extremely friendly and open people 2. Stunning natural beauty and variety of the landscape 3. Rich traditions and heritage 4. The gentle pace of life 5. Its humble approach to showcase the beauty of the Sultanate On top of my wish/bucket list is... A journey on hand-built wooden yacht in Raja Ampat, East Indonesia; one that will be ticked off the list soon. In 10 years’ time, I hope to be... Looking back with a big smile and looking forward with a greater smile!
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in the SPOTLIGHT 28
Have you eaten
DATES?
Kaleit Dates, a date fruit confectionary initiative from Omani entrepreneur Hamida Said Al Esry, is all set to take the quintessential dates to another level “I want to replace chocolates with dates…” states Hamida Said Al Esry, a culinary enthusiast turned entrepreneur, as she delves into her favourite topic of dates - cooking dates, rather. Having set up a small business enterprise under the banner of ‘Khaleit Dates’ about a year ago, she is all set to expand her business network in the country. Her prime objective is to reach tourists and make her presence felt in the corporate sector through her chic gift boxes in varying sizes to suit different budgets and requirements. She has already begun the process of expansion with the opening of a small factory in Falaj Sham near Al Ansab, recently. Although a professional kitchen is currently out of her budget, things are looking bright, she notes, following the
February 2015
Muscat Festival, where she participated in the Date Souq at Amerat, which was a part of the initiative by Ministry of Agriculture. Talking about her business venture, she notes that the inspiration to dabble in dates comes from the importance attributed to date palm in Oman. Date palms enjoy a significant presence in the society and the fruit is valued for its social, religious and agricultural importance. “The date tree has been intertwined in the Arab culture for many years and has been highly revered in the holy books. The countless health benefits of the date fruit are compellingly verifying what has been written on them,” she explains, pointing out that dates also serve as an important item of hospitality in Arab households. Although still in its nascent stage, Khaleit – which translates as ‘Have you eaten?’ – Dates has found a niche in the market, more so with date lovers, who believe in the health benefits of the fruit. Her experiments in the kitchen
in the SPOTLIGHT
with dates, nuts and seeds have taken the everyday date to another level, reaching out to even children who, otherwise, have a penchant for chocolates. It was her love for cooking that set her on the dates trail. Having grown up in Mombasa she was privy to her grandmother’s cooking style, which involved the use of ghee and spices to create exotic dishes. She soon learnt to adapt that style into her culinary experiments. “I do traditional cooking, but put a modern twist to it,” she notes. Her date fruit confectionery items feature dates filled with dried strawberries, apricots, bananas, mangoes and oranges, with toppings of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame, walnuts, zatar and apricots, almonds, desiccated coconut, cashew nuts and pistachios. Every date product is hand made – from the deseeding, pasting and the finishing. “It takes approximately three minutes to do each piece,” adds Hamida, who continues to create her culinary delights from the confines of her home. To add to the exclusivity factor, the items are packed in neat gift boxes, topped with a ribbon and a little logo sticker. She has
plans to introduce more professional branding and take Khaleit Dates to a commercial level. Currently the Dates are available in three gift boxes – small with 7 dates, which is priced at RO1.8; medium containing 48 pieces for RO9.9; and large packed with 99 dates at RO14.9. “My target is to reach the offices – the corporate sector – and tourists who can take them back as souvenirs of Oman…I want to replace chocolates with dates,” she reiterates. Alongside gift-packed date confectioneries, she is also producing
Hamida Said Al Esry
jams in combination with dates and fruits like oranges, strawberries and figs. These items are sold in small containers and have become quite a hit with her patrons. She has also experimented with date and oatmeal cookies and Maamoul, shortbread cookies with date filling and date cakes and breads, which have proved to be quite a success. She has now set her sight on making date pickles, giving dates a totally new flavour. “I am constantly experimenting with dates… If it works I add it to my line of products. The confectionary items are put together as a healthy gift option,” she explains, pointing out that they could easily replace chocolates. Hamida uses Khalas dates, which are said to be the best in Oman. She says: “My dates come from a farmer in Ibri – I source them directly.” There are many varieties of the dates in Oman, where the type and name changes from location to location; however it is ‘Khalas’ that is best known for its distinctively superior taste, she points out, hastening to add that varieities like Fardh or Khinazy have their own special attributes. Fardh is a relatively more drier date, thus it tends to keep its shape, and also has less sugar content. “It is a good package for diabetics and also fantastic for presentation purposes and adding to recipes as chunky fruit,” she states, inferring her intent to create better exposure for Omani products.
Photographs: Pushpender Sharma
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feast ON
Bait Al Luban Striking remnants of traditional artefacts, a panorama of historical vistas, a boulevard of laidback life… savour all that Muttrah has to offer from its picturesque new landmark – Bait Al Luban
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hen nature perfectly blends with structural edifices, it creates an overwhelming sense of old world charm, as if life has taken a long pause to reflect on nature and suspend reality. The newly opened Bait Al Luban does exactly that, as it takes you on a laidback trip of Oman’s authentic culinary treats. Located plum opposite the famous Muttrah fish market, with its wooden latticed balcony opening up to the sweeping Corniche and the subdued waters with little foamy lines marking the embankment, the new eatery has all that is needed for a sensorial experience – visually gratifying symmetry between the sea and the mountains, aesthetic décor and furnishing, soothing strains of oudh in the background, the distinct aroma of frankincense and the whiff of Omani cuisine. The short walk from the car park to the sidewalk leading to the restaurant on the second floor, adds to the charm of the old structure. The quaint setting within is reflective of a traditional Omani home with the unadorned cement flooring complementing the furnishing and the seating arrangement; it is designed to infuse a wholesome effect to the very act of dining out in an authentic Omani restaurant.
Central to the restaurant is the slightly raised Jalsa section with floor seating infusing an element of an Omani home in its setup and ambience. On one end of the restaurant are two Majlis rooms, which can cater to a large group in each or broken into separate sections for smaller groups. The main restaurant area looks out to the old fish market and the panorama of Muttrah, with the balcony, which can accommodate two diners at each table, taking the experience one notch higher. As the Food and Beverage Manager, Sameer Parkar, points out, the restaurant has proven to be a big draw for tourists seeking to savour Oman. The constant flow of diners, both expatriates and Omanis, even on a weekday does demonstrate the significance of Bait Al Luban’s culinary expertise under its head chef Malik Al Jahdhami. Even before the restaurant made a formal announcement of its launch, it has been catering to diners from all walks of life. The feel of Oman is
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feast ON resplendent in every element of the restaurant and the friendly manager, Sameer, goes on to list the distinct colours of the furnishings, showpieces on the walls, lighting and the inspired uniforms of the waiters, among others. With wooden panelled doors and windows providing a confluence of natural light and breeze, you would be tempted to give into the holiday ambience that Muttrah is known to infuse. We did… The lull in the noontime traffic outdoors adding to the effect. Our luncheon – an Omani feast, rather – began with Malik’s creation, ‘Ambah Ghudh’, a concoction of green mango and ginger juice, which is unique in its flavours. The tanginess of raw mango and the digestive properties of ginger act as a perfect start for the meal. The chef intends to use local produce, as far as possible, to create all his tried and tested dishes. We also savoured Omani date milk shake, which is rich and could, easily, act as a meal in itself. This was followed by ‘Awal Salad’ – a salad put together with locally fished and preserved salt shark, which is a staple of the interior, mixed with white onion and local tomatoes and dressed in a lemon and garlic vinaigrette; and ‘Eggplant Clouds’ – a dish of fresh eggplant sliced, roasted and layered with a creamy yoghurt sauce and
f inished with garlic oil. Vegetarians have several options to satiate their taste buds, whether it’s the salads, appetisers or the mains. Our starter platter had a mix of both vegetarian and nonvegetarian items. We tucked into the popular ‘Pakora’, Omani vegetable dumplings, fried and served with a tangy coconut and mint chutney; and ‘Sambusa’, filo pastry filled with
spiced meat and served with sweet tomato and coriander relish. And if that was not filling enough, we took our holiday mood forward with an array of mains: ‘Bamya’ – okra stew served with a choice of rice or bread (we opted for the bread basket which also included mandazi and succulent date bread ‘Muradhaf’); ‘Mahrage’ sandwich – red kidney beans cooked in a coconut curry
base a n d avocado slices served in a bread wrap; ‘Arsiya’ – a traditional dish of slow cooked rice and meat served with Torsha, a savoury date sauce; and ‘Makbus Dijaj’ – spiced rice cooked with fresh vegetables and
topped with oven roasted chicken. The finale was made special with ‘Khbeesa’, a sweet roux, and ‘Luqaimat’, dumplings soaked in condensed milk, honey, saffron and date syrup and served with a scoop of ice cream…not forgetting the aromatic karak tea that followed.
February 2015 Photographs: Pushpender Sharma
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let’s cOOk
Taste of Oman Tried and tested recipes from Bait Al Luban’s Head Chef Malik Al Jahdhami
Amba Ghudh (Green Mango Juice)
Ingredients l 2 Green mangoes l Ginger (a small piece or a teaspoon of chopped ginger) l Water l Sugar syrup l Ice cubes (optional) Method 1. In a blender add peeled green mango, ginger, sugar syrup and 500ml water and blend. 2. Strain and serve. 3. You could add ice cubes while blending or after.
Arsiya Ingredients l l l l l
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1 Small leg of lamb 2 to 3 Cups of rice Salt (to taste) 5gms Whole cardamom 2 Cloves garlic
February 2015
Method: l l l l l l l
Boil the lamb leg in a pot with cardamom. Wash the rice and soak for at least an hour (preferably soak overnight). When the lamb is cooked and tender, remove the bones and add the rice and garlic into the pot. Cook on low fire till the rice is overcooked, adding water if its dry. Using a wooden spatula, stir the mixer till the meat and rice are combined to make a very thick porridge like consistency. Add salt to taste. Serve with ghee and torsh (savory date paste).
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Health CHECK
Disability & Health Disability does not necessarily equate with poor health…
Key facts
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Over a billion people, about 15 percent of the world’s population, have some form of disability. Between 110 million and 190 million adults have significant difficulties in functioning. Rates of disability are increasing due to population ageing and increases in chronic health conditions, among other causes.
The figures are ominous, but they do not, necessarily, depict an alarming health scenario, for, disability does not necessarily mean poor health. Generally speaking, health is increasingly conceptualised in terms of people’s quality of life, what activities they can do, in what areas of life they are able to participate as they wish, and what long-term supports they need for living in the community at large. It cannot be denied, though, that people with disabilities face many barriers to good health. Studies show that individuals with disabilities are more likely than people without disabilities to: l Having poorer overall health l Skipping medical care owing to the cost l Having no access to health insurance l Having less access to adequate health care l Engaging in risky health behaviours, including smoking and physical inactivity However, studies have also shown that people with disabilities can lead long healthy lives. Many lead normal lives – attending school and finding gainful employment… having a disability does not mean a person cannot be healthy.
Disability and health
While some health conditions associated with disability result in poor health and extensive health care needs, not all do. But health factors among the disabled people are compounded by behaviours that are risky for health. Some studies have indicated that people with disabilities have higher rates of risky behaviours such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity. On another level, barriers to health care facilities are imposed by physical structures. For example, uneven access to buildings (hospitals and health centres), inaccessible medical equipment, poor signage, narrow doorways, internal steps, inadequate bathroom facilities, and inaccessible parking areas create barriers to health care facilities. What further compounds the health issues are the inadequate skills and knowledge of health workers. Studies prove that people with disabilities are more than twice as likely to report finding health care provider’s skills inadequate to meet their needs, four times more likely to report being treated badly and nearly three times more likely to report being denied care.
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Risky health behaviours
People with disabilities are at risk of being overweight or obese. Environmental factors are known to make it difficult or dangerous for people with disabilities to exercise, opening up the risk of obesity. Functional limitations could play a role in how people with disabilities interact with their environment; in fact, they face many of the same factors that put the general public at risk of obesity. However, for people with disabilities, maintaining healthy weight could pose challenges that go beyond those faced by the general population. They may be at a greater risk of being overweight or obese due to a variety of factors, including: l Difficulty with chewing or swallowing food l Medications that can contribute to weight gain/loss, and/ or changes in appetite
Physical limitations that reduce his/her ability to exercise l Pain l Lack of energy l Lack of accessible environments or equipment that can enable exercise l Lack of access to healthier food To maintain a healthy lifestyle, one needs to include a combination of the following: l Eat healthier food in appropriate portion sizes l Engage in moderate physical activities on a daily basis or as per the condition l Get regular check-ups l Consult health professionals to help with medication or pain management l
Health CHECK
Obesity and disability
Children with disabilities Children with physical disabilities, like any other children, need opportunities to make choices and do things for themselves, within the limits of their ability. To make this possible, as much as possible: l Resist the temptation to do everything for the child. l Provide appropriate help, but encourage children to try to do things themselves. l Provide encouragement and patience, and help the other children do the same. As a parent or a childcare provider, you could support the learning process of children with physical disabilities, by‌ l Making play areas easy to move around. l Using heavy, stable furniture/ equipment that cannot be easily knocked over. l Removing rugs that can be tripped over, or taping them down. l Ensuring the aisle is wide while arranging furniture and equipment so children can move
around more freely. l Providing a safe place for walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, or canes so other children do not trip over them. l Making objects more steady. l Providing tools, which children with motor disabilities can use for grasping, holding, transferring and releasing. l Providing materials of different textures - such as play dough, fabric swatches, ribbon, corrugated cardboard and sandpaper - to stimulate the sense of touch. l Ensuring that activity areas are well-lit. l Planning activities to encourage all children to move all body parts.
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Advertorial
The hidden secrets of Vitamin D and skin health
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Kaya Skin Clinic Oman demonstrates the importance of Vitamin D
V
itamin D is the sunshine vitamin that has been produced on this earth for more than 500 million years. During exposure to sunlight inactive vitamin in the skin absorbs ultraviolet B (UV B) radiation and is converted to pre-vitamin D3 which in turn into vitamin D3. Previtamin D3 and vitamin D3 also absorb UV B radiation. Sun induced vitamin D synthesis is greatly influenced by season, time of day, latitude, altitude, air pollution, skin pigmentation, sunscreen use, passing through glass and plastic, and aging. Most studies showed that higher blood levels of Vit D are associated with less risk of developing various types of cancer. Furthermore, Vit D supplement reduces the risks of serious infections as well as some immune disorders. There has been a lot of discussion as to whether ingesting vitamin D from the diet or from a supplement is the same as producing vitamin D3 in the skin. Vitamin D3 produced in the skin last 2–3 times longer in the circulation when compared with ingesting it orally. Furthermore, when vitamin D3 is produced in the skin 100 percent of it is potentially functioning. When vitamin D3 is ingested from the diet or supplement, approximately 60 percent of the vitamin D3 is effective. Therefore, it is better to have rich vitamin D food and expose to sun than to take supplement tablets. Is it unsafe to take additional Vit D supplement? Vitamin D intoxication is one of the rarest medical conditions and is often caused by inadvertent or intentional ingestion of extremely high doses
February 2015
of vitamin D for prolonged periods of time. Vitamin D intoxication is associated with high blood calcium and phosphate levels that can lead to kidney damage and skin diseases. Adults that ingest up to 1 million IUs of vitamin D3 daily for several months can seriously raise blood levels of vit D and calcium. How to avoid Vitamin D deficiency? It’s important to realise that although we live in a generally sunny country, many things can affect the amount of exposure to UV radiation and vit D synthesis in the body. Sun exposure for approximately 5–20 minutes, between 9am and 3pm at least twice a week, to the face, arms, legs, or back, without sunscreen, usually leads to sufficient Vit D synthesis. Vitamin D is also available through a small number of foods. The best food sources of vitamin D are fatty fish (sardines, herring, mackerel, tuna and salmon), milk (especially milks with added vitamin D), and vitamin D fortified soy drinks, margarines and dairy blend spreads. Red meat and eggs contain very small amounts of vitamin D. It is important to know that dietary sources alone rarely provide enough vitamin D to meet daily requirements. The third source of vitamin D is from a vitamin supplement. Supplements are a convenient way to ensure you are getting enough D vitamin. Supplements are available in many forms including tablets, capsules and liquids. The strength will vary but vitamin D is commonly available in a 1000 IU dose. A three-part strategy of increasing food fortification programs with vitamin D, sensible sun exposure recommendations and encouraging ingestion of a vitamin D supplement when needed will help to prevent global vitamin D deficiency and its negative health consequences.
Flummoxed by all the detox plans churned out by the media? Here are some easy to follow detox tips and guidelines from Anu Bahl, Dietician and Clinical Nutritionist.
While it is true that our system needs cleansing from time to time, it is not from eating too much carbs or fats, as much as it is from the toxins, which, surprisingly, does not always come from foods
What are toxins?
l Your body is very much like a sponge, soaking up bits and pieces of just about everything it’s exposed to - and in our modern world, our body is bombarded with toxins on a daily basis. Even the umbilical cord contains 200 chemicals! l Natural food has no toxins but unfortunately there is nothing natural about it anymore unless it is labelled organic. Our main toxins are fertilisers and pesticides. l Food packaging is the next culprit: the better and smarter the packaging, more the toxins we are exposed too. l From air pollution: pollutants from vehicles and industries. l Pollutants in our drinking water: even after purification water contains toxins. l Home care products and personal care products without which our life seems impossible contribute to 50 percent of toxins.
What to do?
Your liver has an incredibly important job, especially when it comes to detoxification. Along with filtering your blood to remove toxins, your liver uses an enzymatic process to break down chemicals and for that process it requires all nutrients. l Drink plenty of water, as your body depends on water to eliminate waste and flush out toxins. l Exercise: Your skin is an important route of elimination, and your body is capable of removing many toxins through your sweat. Vigorous exercise can help your body to sweat more while also enhancing circulation. l Include all coloured fruits and vegetables in your diet try to buy organic as they contain all Vitamins minerals, flavanoids. l Include animal protein for good quality protein like lean meat, eggs, fish. l Include seeds and sprouts. l Include wheat germ, quinoa, millets in your diet.
healthy bites
DETOX!
What not to do?
l Avoid a diet of largely processed foods, high in sugar and unhealthy fats, along with alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and other highly refined food additives. l Don’t go for restrictive diet for a long period. l Don’t overuse laxatives. Body will lose nutrients . l Fasting a day in a week is good if accompanied by water and fresh fruits and vegetables otherwise it will damage metabolism. Detoxification is not appropriate for pregnant or nursing women, however most others can benefit from a detox, one to four times a year. Traditionally, this is done at the changing of the seasons, for instance at the end of summer/ beginning of fall or, particularly, as winter transitions into spring.
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Health TIDINGS
Light activities to boost hearts in seniors For older people who have some trouble getting around, even
light activity like household chores may be better for the heart than no activity, according to a new study. Researchers profiled seniors’ risk of heart disease complications - including heart attack - over a 10-year period and found their risk rose along with the amount of time they were inactive each day. Conversely, the more active time they had - regardless of intensity - the lower their risk. However, one of the limitations of the study is that the results don’t prove that inactivity causes heart attacks or other complications from heart disease.
Napping preschoolers may sleep worse at night If you are a parent of young children and rely on their naptime for some peace and quiet in the house, you may need to change your daily roster. A new review from researchers in Australia has found that those daytime naps could make young children less likely to sleep as well at night. The team found that among children ages 2 and up, those who napped were more likely to have trouble falling asleep at night, and to have more fitful sleep.
Kids can get migraines too Migraines aren’t just a problem faced by adults - about 6 percent of children and more than onequarter of teens aged 15 to 17 have migraines, according to the American Migraine Foundation (AMF). If you suspect your child has migraines, take him or her to a doctor to be assessed and receive treatment if necessary. Options include treatment to stop the pain and prevent a migraine from getting worse, along with measures to prevent or reduce the frequency, severity and duration of migraines.
Late night snacking may disrupt learning & memory
Experts studying our body’s internal clock have discovered that eating at the ‘wrong time’ of the day, especially munching when you should normally be sleeping, may disrupt learning and memory. The research involved mice, but the general principles apply to people, said one of the experts. Even though modern society demands long and odd work schedules, and makes lights and food available 24/7, your body needs to stick to a specific cycle to stay healthy. The circadian rhythm follows a 24-hour cycle and regulates pretty much everything in our body, from our behaviour and the release of hormones to letting us know when it’s time to go to bed.
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Health TIDINGS
Weekly ‘happiness’ lessons for children Children of all ages should be given an hour’s ‘happiness lessons’ every week to nurture their development and stop the schools from behaving as ‘exams factories’, a major report in Britain has warned. The report comes in the wake of figures that show the number of children receiving counselling sessions owing of exam stress has tripled in just one year. Under the proposals, school pupils from the age of 5 would spend at least one hour a week discussing their emotions, setting positive life goals, and learning how to cope with everyday pressures and social media. The report suggests schools, which push children too hard, can end up getting worse academic results, as well as damaging their pupils.
Three-parent babies to be born in Britain Three-parent babies could be born in Britain as early as next year after MPs voted to change the law to allow the controversial IVF technique. The procedure, which was developed by British scientists, is currently banned, but ministers’ say new legislation will prevent children suffering debilitating conditions like muscular dystrophy. It is controversial because it would result in babies having DNA from three people – and effectively, two mothers. Experts from across the world warned that Britain would be making a ‘historic mistake’ by amending the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 and said children born from the procedure were at risk of cancer and disability.
Circumcision benefits outweigh the risks U.S. health officials have released a draft of long-awaited federal guidelines on circumcision, saying medical evidence supports having the procedure done and that health insurers should pay for it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines stop short of telling parente to get their newborn sons circumcised. The CDC started working on the guidelines about seven years ago, when a cluster of influential studies in Africa indicated circumcision might help stop spread of the AIDS virus.
All about ‘Y’ you should quit smoking Smoking may kill off the Y chromosome in men’s blood cells, say researchers, based on a finding that may explain why men are more likely to die from smoking-related illnesses than women. The team of researchers looked at blood samples from about 6,000 men taking part in other health studies and looked at their blood samples and lifestyle factors including age, blood pressure, diabetes and drinking. The more the men smoked, the more likely they were to be missing the Y chromosome in blood cells. But men who had quit smoking seemed to get the Y chromosome back, they found.
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in the luxe
When money can buy happiness… Make the woman in your life happy with a chic gift on ‘International Women’s Day’ (March 8), which is celebrating women power this year with the slogan ‘Make it Happen’
Gigayacht Eclipse
If she loves sailing, rent Abramovich’s gigantic gigayacht ‘Eclipse’. This large 163-meter-long private yacht is said to feature around 24 guest cabins, two swimming pools and a mini-submarine. It is also equipped with three launch boats and a mini submarine, which is capable of submerging 50 metres. This gigantic gigayacht is, indeed, the ultimate in luxury living, and you could rent it for a week or so for the lady in your life. Price: $2 million per week
Dancing Fountains
Unique…that’s what this gift is all about. Created by WET (of the Dubai fountain fame), these Dancing Fountains are a treat if the recipient of your gift has a big backyard or garden and loves the idea of a private fountain. This dancing fountain with robotic features, has special nozzles that spray water in such a fashion that it appears like a couple dancing to the western art forms – enchanting the audience with bows, twirls and sweeps. Price: $1 million
Night out
Here’s a plush hotel that can be owned for a night… Buy the Hotel Saint Cecilia for an evening…and what a gift it would turn into. The buyout ensures total privacy at this beautiful Travis Heights Hotel, and includes exclusive access to the hotel’s five suites, six poolside bungalows and three intimate studios. Plus, the recipient of your gift could enjoy the hustle and bustle of South Congress or retreat to lush grounds where she can revel in all the luxe offerings of the Saint Cecilia. Price: $20,000 per night
Patek Philippe
Perfect gift for a connoisseur of watch, this Patek Philippe Ladies Complicated Watch comes with a mechanical manual winding movement and features a case made of rose gold that weighs 18 karats. The watch has a chronograph and hours, minutes and seconds functions. The silvery white opaline dial has brown painted hour markers and alligator band. Price: $98,000
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in the luxe
Luxury, hospitality & Formula 1
Get a seat on the 10th Annual My Yacht Monaco, the four-day event, which is scheduled from May 21 to 24, 2015. It will feature four days of luxury, hospitality and Formula 1 race viewing, held on board a private superyacht moored in Port Hercule harbour. All your whims will be catered to during a weekend that also includes access to the My Yacht Monaco Royal reception and party. Price: $13,000 per person ($25,000 per couple)
All that sparkles is diamond
If the clichéd ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ is true, you will not go wrong with this diamond bracelet stunner from Benold’s Jewelers. It is an 18-karat white, rose and yellow gold bracelet dripping with more than seven karats of diamonds. Price: $24,900
Alligator Backpack
Dream on…
‘Dream Folly Tent’ is the best gift you could give your glamping (luxury camping) enthusiast fan. It is a lavish outdoors home that measures 18-feet in diameter and offers a range of expensive furnishings and goodies inside. It is adorned with bespoke crystal chandelier from Julie Neill Designs. Price: $75,000
A backpack that has ‘moolah’ written all over it… The Row’s Alligator Backpack from MaryKate and Ashley Olsen’s label, The Row, is made of alligator leather. The simple design makes it a perfect fit for any casual chic look. Price: $39,000
For the chef
Get a fitted kitchen by Marazzi Design to complete ‘Her’ home. A luxury mansion demands a wellequipped kitchen. Created by UK-based firm Marazzi Design, this luxury kitchen features an array of superexpensive equipment, including a $10,357 two-tonne Rorgue cooker from Gordon Ramsay. Price: $463,625
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look GOOD
Beauty Bets For 2015 Gorgeous new beauty products to watch out for in 2015
Ace it
Flawless complexion can easily be faked with Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet Foundation, which covers without covering up. It is a lightweight, oil-free fluid foundation, which provides you with a gorgeous, long-lasting matte-velvet finish for complexion perfection. The soft-focus pigments smooth and perfect the skin for a flawless look that lasts all day.
Brighten up
Shiseido White Lucent All-Day Brightener SPF 22 ultra-hydrating cream provides a light coverage, making the skin feel lightweight. It is an advanced daytime moisturiser that promises to minimise the appearance of existing sun damage while helping to prevent future discolouration. It targets dark spots and evens out the appearance of skin tone. Apply it on top of the toner and use it as a moisturiser and base makeup.
Glowing cheek
Dior Cheek & Lip Glow, a first of its kind cheek and lip blush from Dior, helps to create a flush of pink on the skin. The 2-in1-hybrid formula has a sheer, watery gel texture that instantly reacts to the moisture in the skin and lips to give it a luminous
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custom pink glow. Fresh and ultralight, its fluid embellishing gel formula blends seamlessly with the skin, giving you a weightless veil of a healthy glow.
lifestyle mantra Volume filler
L’oréal Paris Advanced haircare Volume Filler Thickening Shampoo is just what the hair expert would have ordered to correct fine and thin hair. This filler is said to increase the diameter of each hair follicle and create voluptuous and volumeinfused hair. It penetrates the hair fibre from root to core to tip for healthier looking hair and it works to create texture from within to generate a thicker feel.
Lash it up
here’s an innovative design for those seeking perfectly made-up eyes. The swan neck and angled brush of Lancome’s Grandiose mascara is said to reach even the tiniest of lashes for maximum lengthening. It is bent to work with the shape of the face for unprecedented access to all lashes – corner-to-corner and root-to-tip for length, lift and volume.
Oil’s well
‘hairdresser’s Invisible oil Conditioner’ from Bumble and bumble is a blend of six oils coconut, argon, macadamia nut, sweet almond, safflower seed and grape seed oils; it promises to undo months of heat-tool damage with just one use. It is lightweight yet luxurious, and created to completely transform the texture of hair, while protecting it from the damaging effects of heat styling as well as other environmental factors.
Water beauty
Chanel has reinvented hydration with its new hydra Beauty micro Sérum, which is composed of camellia micro-droplets. These droplets fuse with the skin, releasing their precious camellia extracts for continuous hydration and an intense plumping effect. It is designed to offer a completely new sensory experience. It comes in a water-light formula.
Brow Art
By Sophia Raman I WAnT To LITerALLy rAISe The eyeBroWS oF my FrIenDS WITh A TrenDy BroW… WhAT’S The neW STATemenT BroW For The SeASon? most of us, often, rely on our beauty salon to pluck and shape our eyebrows to suit the shape of our face and match with the trends. There is always that one beautician who seems to know just what will please you and heighten your looks. While those with scanty eyebrows have no choice but to stick to one style, the ones endowed with fuller brows can consider going with the trend, whether it is bushy, bleached, soft, spiky, tapered or pencil-thin. According to makeup artist Wendy rowe, though, going too skinny overall is not flattering at all. her advice is to have a gradually tapered one. on the other hand, she believes that a fuller brow indicates youth. Interestingly, a variety of brow styles have been in and out of fashion. During the renaissance period it was a near-invisible brow, to give the illusion of chastity and innocence. This style swung to the other extreme in the eighteenth century. And today…? nancy etcoff, author of ‘Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty’, who stated that that brows are ‘the one bit of permissible hair on a female face’ has an intriguing analysis of the contemporary fashion phenomenon. “It’s moving away from the strictly female to something slightly more androgynous. But then again, they are perfectly arched, so it’s a mixture of masculine and feminine…” Going by the media alerts, the hottest trend for 2015 is thicker, fuller and bold eyebrows with a slight arch – check out the ones worn by megan Fox and Camilla Belle.
Look like a VIP
January 2015
Kérastase V.I.P. Volume In Powder, a combination of dry shampoo and texture spray, is perfect if you are looking for immediate b o d y, volume and grip. you can create either structured or tousled tresses and look like a VIP all day
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style FILe
Spring 2015 from Babyshop
As winter makes way for the warmer months, Babyshop gives mothers the perfect chance to acquire a lighter, more comfortable wardrobe for their kids
S
pring is nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party’! It’s that time of the year, when children are most keen to explore the great outdoors and be one with nature. With this in mind, the new Spring Collection has aptly been presented under the theme ‘Back to Nature’. The range is available across all Babyshop and Centrepoint stores across Oman and will bring customers a wide selection of designs that reflect the latest spring trends from around the world. This season’s trends are dominated by vibrant graphics, combined with appealing and contrasting colors.
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style FILe
Girls-wear this spring includes lace dresses, relaxed shorts, peplum tops, midi dresses and skirts, short overalls and tee-shirt dresses. The collection features a mix of casual and dressy themes combining the ‘boho meets dressy’ look like never before. Ditzy floral prints in soft pastel colors dominate the collection and lace features heavily, either as a formal embellishment on pretty retro dresses or to decorate the sleeves of tough denim and leather jackets. Colours are vivid and strong with brights being balanced by neutrals and prints kept to retro vibe with superior quality fabric. Boys wear features high impact trends with a stronger presence of tropical floral prints.Variants of camouflage in all colour combinations with all over prints on shirts and tees reflect the trend. Loosely themed to recreate the look of a seaport worker, one of the lines offers a profusion of indigo and blue tones. For those who feel more grounded the collection also offers a country farm look using warm earth colors, as well as a casual, tropical look featuring lots of bright colors. Items that strongly feature this year are one-pocket tees, knit shorts, slim s we a t p a n t s and straight leg jeans
February 2015
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February 2015
esque It wIth Ale
AwArdS SeASon ALe ZADjALe ThrOWS The SpOTLIGhT ON The hOTTeST TreNDS CApTureD FrOm The 2015 GrAmmy AWArDS
L
Taylor Swift
Rihanna
et’s talk about the hottest trends from this year’s Grammy Awards, and the awards’ season over all! Let’s kick things off with the men. BLue was a stand out color this year, along with plaid in various shades colours that made the men worthy of finding a place in the best-dressed list. Sam Smith, ryan Seacrest and more managed to make it seem like black is un-cool in 2015. Black may have been un-cool for the guys but the girls took full advantage of it and it was one of the hottest trends for women; an even hotter trend was black lace! The big names - from Beyonce to Nicki minaj - all rocked black. Another big trend was metallic! The women in black stood out, but the ones that topped the best-dressed list were the ones that donned metallic, from Lady Gaga (who ended the night in black) to Kim Kardashian, everyone was amazed by the metallic. Sure, not everyone went for the most obvious of metallic (silver and gold), but even Taylor Swift, who was the night’s best dressed, donned a metallic shaded dress. The worst trend from the 2015 Grammys…? rihanna’s pink fluff of a dress, which was one big NO that she made up for, with her performance suit.
Ale Zadjale is a 21 year-old award-winning fashion designer; he is the brain behind the ‘Esque By Ale’ line of clothing
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February 2015
Lupita Nyong›o in custom Calvin Klein Collection
Dakota Johnson in a red Saint Laurent column dress
Jennifer Aniston in Atelier Versace
Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph & Russo Couture
Scarlett Johansson in Versace
Rosamund Pike wears Givenchy Haute Couture
Reese Witherspoon in a custom Tom Ford gown
Emma Stone in Elie Saab
style FILe
OSCAR Red carpet roundup of the 87th Annual Academy Awards that brought together who’s who of entertainment industry in bespoke gowns from top fashion designers
Fashion
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Meryl Streep in Lanvin
Jenn ifer L Elie Saab
Jessica Chastain in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci
opez in
Nicole Kidman in Louis Vuitton
Lady Gaga in Alaia
Julianne Moore in Chanel couture
Anna Kendrick in Thakoon
style FILe
take a SPIN BMW X6… Uniquely different!
It is an impressive road beast in every sense of the word, commanding grudging respect from all road users
‘Admittedly, modesty is not one of the strong points of the BMW X6’, begins the editorial of the BMW X6 catalogue, as it goes on to assure, ‘But then it needn’t be’. And, having just returned from a test drive around the city highways and byroads, you know just where that comes from. For BMW X6 does not shy away from demonstrating its power, both in its bold appearance and its brawny structure, which give it a look of a winner standing with the trophy on a podium. Be it the sturdy lines running along the exterior or the go-getter façade that it projects from the front, this is one machine that can earn envious looks even when it is discreetly
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parked. You simply can’t miss out the feel of command in its bulky frame that seems to usurp everything in its visual periphery. We unashamedly stood admiring the BMW X6 (with individual pearl silver metallic paint finish, as the catalogue explained) that we picked for the test drive from Al Jenaibi International Automobiles LLC, exclusive dealers of BMW in Oman. Its self-confident appearance is more than justified… It combines a sports car with the elegance of a coupe and the adventurous spirit of an off-roader, which is why BMW has categorised it as the Sports Activity Coupe. It, seemingly, unites apparent opposites – size with agility and sportiness
with elegance. The interior is an eyeball grabber. Many details stand out - significantly, the headlights. The striking light design creates an unmistakable front end, while the bright light of the optional Adaptive LED headlights provide optimum visibility. If you are one of those who love to press the accelerator and indulge your spirit of adventure, this machine can demonstrate its outstanding driving dynamics on every stretch of road. Manoeuvring corners is a breeze and you are bound to wonder if it is overriding the laws of physics. Even at high speed it steers with ease into any curve and provides perfect directional stability. And this,
we are told, is possible not only thanks to the intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system, but also to Dynamic Performance Control. With its optional Adaptive Drive (standard for the BMW X6 M50d) chassis control system this driving dynamics is enhanced further. It is all about precision, agility and comfort, as its reduced rolling resistance tyres ensure that the machine glides over the road even more efficiently. Added to that is the air vent control to further improve the aerodynamics of the Sports Activity Coupe. Alongside the driving ease is its effortless parking feature; beginning from Real Time Parking Information to the optional Rear View camera with Top View and Park Distance Control, parking, even in the tightest spot, seems simple. The support of optional driver assistance systems, including Active Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning, is all that you need to enjoy stress-free driving. It is easy to see why you are always the focal point with BMW X6. In addition to a host of features, you will notice that all vehicle functions are displayed on the optimally positioned Control Display, from the radio through to Google™ services. The raised seating, obviously, gives a clear overview, but the same can be increased further by the optional BMW Head-Up Display.
take a SPIN
The seats are all about luxury and the spacious interior is symbolic of its comfort and quality. It captures elegance in every element of its interiors and even its exterior; it boasts a distinguished selection of fine woods for trims, each with a typical and unique grain. All this is perfectly complemented by BMW Individual
High End audio system with its powerful loudspeakers and extremely stiff hexagonal membranes, adding to the concert experience‌ If envious looks are any indication of popularity or success, this machine will earn you more than your share every time you take it for a spin
Photographs: Pushpender Sharma
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explore OMAN
Out & About in
DUQM
With the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence in Duqm, recently, weekend travellers have an exciting new destination to explore
F
or the uninitiated, Duqm, meaning ‘snout’, is a quaint beachside destination, located in the South Eastern corner of Al Wusta region – bordering the Wilayat of Mahut in the North, Wilayat of Jazur in the South, Wilayat of Haima in the West and the Arabian Sea in the East. It has, recently, come under the scanner of travel and tourism buffs, both international and domestic, thanks to its unique geographical features and the economic and industrial developments that have given it exciting new flavours. Whether one is drawn to its pristine beaches, spectacular wadis or the unique rock garden, Duqm will not disappoint. Its natural scenery and rare geological formations have imbued it with the masterstrokes of an artist. While beaches, characterised by caves, present an all-new outlook of the Wilayat of Duqm, places like the Ashtaan area (20 km from the centre
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explore OMAN
of Duqm), a vast low area covered with green trees and surrounded by rocky mountains, add an element of novelty. But it is Duqm’s geological wonder, the ‘Rock Garden’, that beckons tourists from all walks of life. It is a three-square kilometre area filled with oddly shaped sandstone and limestone formations that stand as sentinels. Believed to have been formed approximately 46 million years ago in a freshwater aquifer, these rocks have taken strangely magical shapes with the handiwork of wind, rain, heat and frost. Historically speaking, Duqm was a small fishing settlement of the Janubah tribe and still retains remnants of the laidback lifestyle of times gone by. The scenic coast is still home to a few vibrant fishing villages and scenes of fishermen engaged in their daily task adds to the romance of the place. Although elements of modernisation are making inroads into the Wilayat, the old world charm of the place is distinct in its natural and man-made edifices. Located about 557kms from the capital Muscat, it may not seem like an ideal day trip if driving is on the agenda, but with two-day weekends opening up new avenues for those wanting to savour Oman, it is an easily doable trip, more so with the addition of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Duqm offering convenient options for overnight stay – and even longer for leisurely holidays. Described as an urban oasis alongside sandy beaches, it is an attraction in itself with several options to relax and get pampered with nature setting the tone. It is ideally located for those seeking exploration, whether it is the
picturesque beaches or the striking wadis, including Wadi Naqaw, Wadi Al Dabak and Wadi Saai, which are about two kilometres from the centre of the Wilayat. The Hotel was opened last month, with the Park Inn by Radisson and Musstir, the property development arm of MB Group (Chairman Dr. Mohammed Al-Barwani) formally announcing the opening of the new hotel and residence in Duqm. Part of the Carlson Rezidor hotel group, the Duqm property is the brand’s third hotel in Oman, and the first location outside the capital. Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Duqm is located ten kilometres from the Port of Duqm, and features 73 accommodation units including 50 one-bedroom chalets, 8 two-bedroom villas, 13 one-bedroom and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The future-forward and trendsetting property provides an all-day dining restaurant, free wireless internet throughout the hotel, indoor and outdoor bars, as well as an outdoor swimming pool and a gym. Targeting business and leisure travellers, the Park Inn by Radisson
Hotel & Residence Duqm also features a ladies salon, tennis court and children’s playground. The hotel has also been earmarked for future development plans over the next few years. With Duqm’s horizon undergoing palpable changes following the opening of the port, the focus has shifted sharply on developing tourism and the plans towards realising its tourism potentials are bearing fruit. Duqm has become an important destination in the travel itinerary of visitors and the same has been boosted following the opening of Al Duqm Airport. Besides, the planned Oman Railways project will also include a link to Duqm Port, cutting down distance and making it an easily accessible destination. As the second largest dry dock in the Middle East, Duqm has the potential for massive development. It is ideally placed on the main shipping routes from Europe, Africa and Asia and looks all set to become a tourism hub. The Government’s development plan, Special Economic Zone, is expected to make it the trading hub of the region.
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Just TRAVEL
‘Accessible’
Holidays
Are all holiday destinations around the world disable-friendly?
A
ccessibility…that’s the key word in planning a vacation with a person who has special needs. Be it wheelchair accessibility, accessibility to medical needs, accessibility to sightseeing spots or even conducive environment, accessibility is the main deciding factor when it comes to planning a holiday abroad with a disabled person. Interestingly though, this accessibility factor, rather lack of it, hasn’t proven to be a deterrent for those with daredevilry in their veins. The adventurous few have demonstrated that no destination and no daredevilry is beyond their scope of adventure holiday. These are the ones who have inspired others to travel to even the most exotic destinations and live a life that is as close to the ‘normal’ codes set by the society. But for others, who have travel in their minds and a wheelchair to rely on or a disability to contend, here are a few tried and tested online recommendations to enable a proper holiday.
Africa safaris
In the book ‘Access Africa – Safaris for People with Limited Mobility’, author Gordon Rattray recommends ‘Go Africa Safaris’, which specialises in east African trips; ‘Endeavour Safaris’ for South African safaris; and ‘Epic Enabled’, a southern African operator offering overland adventures. While in Zambia, he recommends Norman Carr Safaris’ main lodge, Kapani, on the banks of the Luangwa River, which is wheelchair-accessible. Even in
Kenya’s Masai Mara, Olonana, a riverside camp with opportunities to spot the big five, there are wheelchair-accessible pathways. And to accommodate the less able-bodied patrons who want an up close and personal experience of gorillas, the Gorilla Forest Camp in Uganda’s remote Bwindi offers customised sedan chairs on its walking safaris, where guests can be carried into the rainforest to track gorillas.
American adventure
Utah is a good bet for a perfectly accessible destination, with access to thrilling activities such as skiing, exploring the five national parks, and white-water rafting on the Colorado river. Online resources will help plan a perfect holiday. While ‘Trails’ (Therapeutic Recreation And Independent Life Styles), a travel organisation, offers programmes for those with spinal cord injuries; Splore (splore.org) organises rafting, rock-climbing and more.
Canada for sports
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For those with sports holidays in their minds Whistler, a mountain resort in British Columbia, has on offer a variety of accessible sports venues and public spaces. In winter, the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program offers skiing and snowboarding lessons, and, in summer, kayaking, canoeing, hand cycling and hiking; it can also arrange wheelchair bungee jumps on request. In summer it runs the free three-day Freewheel Whistler Camp (liveitloveit. org) for people who have recently sustained spinal injuries, offering kayaking, trail rider hiking,
Just TRAVEL
bungee jumping, ziplining, rock climbing and mentoring workshops.
Caribbean beaches
If beach holiday is beckoning, check out the options from Virgin Holidays, which offers free use of special beach wheelchairs in selected hotels in Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia.
China
It’s a cultural odyssey with travel agencies like The China Guide providing customised trips for wheelchair users. From day excursions to long holidays, visitors can travel around the country’s cultural attractions and cities, such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and in a cable car up to the Great Wall.
Egypt
Be it history, nature or culture, majority of the main attractions in Egypt are accessible. These include Cairo Egyptian Museum, ground floor of Coptic Museum, Islamic Museum, Khan El Khalili, Citadel, Giza Pyramids (from outside), Valley Temple, Sakkara (Step Pyramid), Memphis, Sound and Light Show, Temple of Luxor, Temple of Karnak, Luxor Museum, Temple of Hatshepsut, Temple of Horus, Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Temple of Komombo, Aswan High Dam, Temple of Philae, Botanical Gardens, Agha Khan, Temple of Abusimble, among others.
Germany
Interestingly, Germany’s tourist board (germany. travel) is on a ‘barrierfree’ travel promotion with suggestions that include exploring the North Sea landscape on a mudflat buggy across the Wadden Sea mudflats, and rail journeys with DB Bahn. And for those - hearing impaired, blind people and wheelchair users - seeking guided tours, check out the options in Düsseldorf (duesseldorf-barrierefrei.de).
United Kingdom
Travel to the UK has been made easy following the launch of Accessible B&B Collection by enjoybedandbreakfast. com; it features places that can offer support for the hearing/visually
impaired or those with mobility problems, who might need wet rooms or wheelchair access. While in Cornwall, check in at the St Moritz hotel, which has developed a fully accessible area with a main suite and two additional rooms for family, friends or carers, a low oven and kitchen units for wheelchair users. In Bournemouth, the seven-mile beach has lifts all along its cliff-top for easy access, and specially designed beach wheelchairs for hire. Accessible beach huts, with mobility scooter charging points, accessible public toilet and shower, and changing rooms with a ceiling-mounted tracking hoist, are also available for daily or weekly hire.
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man date
The
Crying Game
Does the old, oft-repeated cliché, ‘boys don’t cry’, have any relevance in today’s complex, modern world? ‘No…boys don’t cry’ chides a mother, as her tearyeyed kindergartener son stands weepy outside his school. It is an unveiled message that is carried through the short advertisement, with different people – friends, colleagues and relatives - goading the growing boy to hold those tears and get on with life. While the larger message of domestic violence, conveyed by this advertisement that is regularly aired on cable channels catering to Indian viewers, has no bearing on the overriding ‘boys don’t cry’ barb, it does expose the existence of stereotypes that label tears as unmanly. Despite all semblance of modernisation and globalisation, cultural dictates see crying as a sign of weakness in men. Even though science has demonstrated that crying is natural, culture-shackled people are wont to look at the positive elements of releasing tears to vent out physical and mental pains and aches. Many parents, even today, raise their sons to hold back their tears or to cry privately. They uphold the thought that masculine identity means holding back the tears, except when they are exposed to extreme grief. Strangely, this unwritten dictum is completely reversed in the case of women, who are given the liberty to cry at the, so-called, drop of a hat. However, it is women who have come out in support of removing such stereotypes, and many have voiced, at various platforms, their belief that men and boys should be encouraged to express sensitive emotions. But it isn’t as easy as it seems, as most men have been told, from early on, that crying is for the weak and the coward. The health benefits from crying, however, are many; being lachrymose, apparently, can help keep body and mind healthy. According to studies, nine out of ten people claim to feel better after crying.
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Whether it is the grief over the loss of a loved one or a mundane bad day at work, crying is known to provide a better perspective of life and things can even seem to look better. Psychologists believe emotional or stress-related tears can help one through difficult times in different ways.
Stress relief
Crying is thought to help reduce stress, which has been linked to a number of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes and obesity. A study has also found that crying can help
wash chemicals linked to stress out of our body, which, probably, explains why we feel much better after a good cry.
Dealing with sorrow
Crying has psychological benefits as well, importantly lifting mood and helping deal with painful situations. In fact, deep crying is said to be good as it exposes and expresses deep emotions. Even Freudian theory highlights the benefits of getting the feelings out, which could otherwise affect you physically and psychologically. While public crying is shunned by many, unless the situation is out of
ones control, crying, per se, could be seen as a signal for help. It is human nature to offer help to someone who is in tears. A shoulder to cry on is a universal symbol of reassurance.
Learning to Cry
If you belong to the large tribe of men who keep a check on their tears, it may help to follow a few tried and tested steps to give into your emotions and experience the benefits of crying. 1. It is important to feel comfortable with crying and for that to happen you have to forget all the stereotypes associated with crying and weakness. 2. Remember the benefits of crying and do the needful to help relieve your growing stress and even alleviate your mood. 3. A little retrospection behind your dry eyes could help work those tear glands. May be it is reflective of your difficulty in expressing feelings in general…? 4. Find a comfortable place to give in to the tears so that you do not have to bother about what people think or give reasons for your crying. 5. Ponder over the issues that have made you sad; let the emotion take over you. 6. Going through old pictures or watching a sad movie could help. 7. Write down your feelings; it might help provide a better perspective.
man date
Health benefits of crying
Crying facts
l 88.8 percent of people feel better after crying, with 8.4 percent feeling worse. l On average, women cry 47 times a year and men only seven. l Until puberty, crying levels are much the same for each gender – testosterone may reduce crying in boys while oestrogen and prolactin increases the tendency in girls. l Men may excrete more of the toxins related to emotional stress in their sweat because they have higher sweat levels than women. l The mantra to children ‘Be brave, don’t cry’ might not be the most helpful because some believe crying can actually help reduce pain
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Relatively SPEAKING 58
Positive
Interaction Whether the stigma associated with disabilities is a palpable part of our society or not, most people, even today, shy away from the prospect of interacting with disabled people for the fear of saying something wrong
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t is, perhaps, an innate human tendency that makes us stare at things that do not fit into the ‘normal’ scope of things, for, there is no better excuse to explain the conspicuous looks we are wont to throw at people with disabilities when we encounter them in public places. Even the most pragmatic amongst us may be caught giving the disabled person a second look, before better sense makes us shift our eyes. While this tendency is not reflective of the stigma (unless the stare continues with shocking interest), it does demonstrate the general discomfort that some people experience while interacting with people with disabilities. This discomfort could stem from many reasons… One of them could be that some people feel sorry for people with disabilities and assume that they are bitter about their disabilities, which, however, is far from the truth, as many people with disabilities feel that their lives are enriched by their experiences with disability. Discomfort could also arise from fear among some people that they may say the wrong things.
February 2015
If you have experienced discomfort around people with disabilities or are keen to interact better with them, check out the tips below for an enriching positive interaction: 1. Always use widely accepted terminology to avoid upsetting anyone. 2. Remember, just like all other people, they too are very different in different aspect of their lives, including disability issues. 3. Don’t make assumptions about people or their disabilities or about what they want or feel; everyone has his/her own preferences. 4. If you have a question about what to do or what assistance to offer, ask him/her directly. 5. Do not offer unsolicited help; ask before you help, for, even though a person with disability might seem to be struggling, he/she might prefer to complete the task on his/her own. And, importantly, do not be offended if someone declines your offer of assistance.
MIND & BODY
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Always talk directly to the user and not to the interpreter, attendant, or friend. 7. In conversation with a person in a wheelchair, it is best to sit down so that you are at eye level and he/she doesn’t have to strain his/her neck to look up at you. 8. Do not talk louder or slower to people with disabilities; do not assume that simply because a person has one disability he/she also has a cognitive disability or is hard of hearing. 9. Do not consciously avoid words like ‘see’ or ‘look’ while talking to a visually impaired person. 10. use ‘people-first’ language (where you put the person first and the disability second) when referring to people with disabilities. This means substituting phrases like ‘a blind man’ with ‘a man who is blind’… 11. Avoid potentially offensive terms or euphemisms. Some of the commonly accepted terminologies include: ‘people with disabilities’ and ‘a person with a visual / hearing / physical / speech / cognitive impairment’. When in doubt, it is best to ask the person with a disability what terminology he/she prefers. 12. Be aware of the personal space of people who use a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair, walker, or cane. Do not touch, move or lean on them as they see it as part of their personal space. Despite these guidelines and your personal experience, if you feel you have offended anyone or made a mistake in a conversation, simply apologise. According to experts, most people who live with disabilities learn early on that some people are frequently uncomfortable interacting with them. A conversational error will not be a harsh experience suffered by any person living with a disability, as most, especially those who have lived with birth related disabilities, have experienced some form of bullying and harassment due to a variety of factors, importantly ignorance.
StreSS: How to deal witH it ? STRESS RElIEF guIDElInES FROm SuRA Al muScATI, PSychOlOgIST, AT WhISPERS OF SEREnITy
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tress is a normal physical reaction to an event that causes you to feel threatened or upset. When you sense danger, your body goes into the flight or fight response. The flight or fight response is your body’s way of protecting itself. In emergency situations, the flight or fight response often acts to provide you with extra energy, enabling you to save yourself from danger. Stress can have detrimental effects on your work, your relationships and your family. It is important to learn how to manage and cope with your stress levels. managing stress is all about taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions and the way you deal with your problems. A healthy lifestyle is essential for reducing stress. You can enhance your general health and stress resistance by: Getting Physical Exercise a) Exercise is an effective distraction from stressful events b) Exercise protects the heart: as exercise may directly blunt the harmful effect of stress on blood pressure and the heart c) Exercise releases endorphins: Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in our body, as well as interact with the receptors in our brain to reduce the perception of pain Eating a Healthy Diet a) Start your day with a healthy breakfast b) Eat a diet rich with a variety of whole grains, vegetables and fruits c) Reduce your sugar and caffeine intake Being Positive a) meditate or do yoga b) Smile c) Surround yourself with positive people d) help others and get involved in charity work or simply help someone you know
(sura.almuscati@whispers-of-serenity.com)
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at HOME
Make Homes ‘Accessible’ Convert your home into an ‘accessible’ one so as to make your friends and/or family members in wheelchairs feel welcome
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disability-accessible home is defined as one where ‘anyone is able to enter and use locations of a home, necessary for a visit or short stay’. What this means is that your home is accessible, rather ‘visitable’, even if your guests are using wheelchairs, walkers or have some mobility impairment, such as stiffness, weakness or poor balance. Although designing a house to fit in all the necessary wheelchair accommodations is a long process, involving time and money, you could accomplish most of the requirements by making some basic adjustments. The objective should be to ensure easy manoeuvrability, safe environment and a sense of independence.
Entrance
Begin the modification process from the entrance of your home. Ensure that different entrances to your home have wheelchair ramps with a pathway that is wide enough; you could also consider adding handrails and a non-slip surface. If not all the entrances, at least the main one needs to be accessible and provide convenient mobility to interior rooms. A concrete, wooden or aluminium wheelchair ramp allows easy access. Wooden ramp may require you to apply grit strips or a coating with sand paint to make the surface resistant to slipping.
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at HOME You could, alternately, look for portable ramps that can be unfolded or stored according to need. Another option, especially if a ramp is causing congestion, is a vertical platform lift.
Stairs
Navigating stairs on a wheelchair is, probably, one of the most frightening prospects. However, you could simplify the task by installing a vertical platform lift or stairway lift at every staircase. Ensure that the stairway lifts swivel, so as to allow the operator to safely get in and out of the chair.
Floors
Homes decorated with rugs and carpets make wheelchair maneuvering difficult. Ideally, chose tile or hardwood flooring; you could also opt for a low-pile carpet. Additionally, install rubber ramps to make thresholds safer and do not leave any chords and wires exposed on the floor.
Doorways
Navigating through a doorway is one of the most difficult areas while in a wheelchair. One easy way to add to the safety element and make the experience pleasant is to widen the doorways. You could remove frames, take the doors off, or even reverse how a door opens, to turn the doorway into an approachable space. Remember that a doorframe needs to be at least 32 inches wide to accommodate a wheelchair.
Doorknobs
Although doorknobs may seem inconsequential, it is important to place it lower or install automatic door openers for added accessibility. Knob handles could pose difficulty for people with disabilities and even the elderly at home. You could easily replace them with pull handles, which are easy and inexpensive.
Bathrooms
For ease and convenience of the wheelchair user, it is imperative that you have at least one full bathroom on the main access floor. Fit it with a walk-in bathtub or lower the threshold for the shower to make it secure and eliminate danger points. Install handrails or grab bars for stability and safety and replace a lowlevel toilet with a specially-designed model. If the bathroom is small in size, install the door to swing outdoors to make it easy to enter and close the door.
Kitchen
Some of the changes in the kitchen that you could easily establish are lowering the countertops, installing appliances that are easy to reach and incorporating rollout storage units. Besides, you could also install a sink that allows the individual to roll his or her wheelchair underneath it. Also, adjust the location of all controls and outlets, and use rocker switches for lighting.
Phones & switches
One easy way to go about making phones easy to handle is by replacing corded phones with cellular units or cordless handsets. And, if the light switches or thermostats are too high, consider installing or replacing the existing fittings with remote control units. Additionally, you could also lower them or have switches installed at a more accessible height.
Footnote: Your home should have at least one clear path of travel, without stairs, leading from the front door to kitchen, dining area, bedroom, bathroom, living room and storage areas.
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F
or the EIGHTH YEAR in a row, FACES brings you a winning bouquet of contests! Enter the contest and mail us your right answer to win a host of gift vouchers from restaurants, spas, gadgets and more with our Annual Anniversary Contest.
TERMS & CONDITIONS l l l l
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All citizens and residents of the Sultanate of Oman, aged 18 and above, are eligible to participate. Employees and families of MPPH/Times of Oman and the sponsoring company/ brand of the particular contest are NOT eligible to participate. Entries must be submitted on or before March 15, 2015, in order to be eligible. Only email entries with participant’s full information (name, age and contact details) will be considered. Only ONE entry and ONE prize per person (per contest) will be allowed. Winners sending multiple entries will be disqualified. Incomplete or incomprehensible entries will be deemed invalid. Winners will be announced in the March 2015 issue of FACES; they will also be informed through email and on the contact number provided. Prizes must be collected by the stipulated date, after which they will be forfeited. No claims, queries or correspondence will be entertained afterwards. Prize, or any unused portion of the prize, is not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be redeemed as cash. Proof of age and identity must be provided while collecting prizes. FACES does not take responsibility for missing entries and emails. All decisions, made by FACES, with regard to prizes and winners, will be final and binding. All photographs shown in the contest pages are for illustrative purpose only.
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WINNERS Send in the right answers with “Holiday Inn Muscat” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
Prize: Two meal vouchers - for two each - at Omede, all day dining restaurant at Holiday Inn 1) Where is the Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb located in Oman? 1. Seeb 2. Al Khuwair 3. Muttrah 2) On which day of the week is ‘Surf & Turf’ evening at Omede, all day dining? 1. Monday 2. Wednesday 3. Thursday
3) How many residential suites does the Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb have? 1. 9 One Bed Room Residential Suite & 2 Two Bedroom Residential Suite 2. 15 One Bed Room Residential Suite & 5 Two Bedroom Residential Suite 3. 10 One Bed Room Residential Suite & 2 Two Bedroom Residential Suite
Prize: One weekend stay (single or double occupancy) with breakfast at Park Inn Duqm
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WINNER
Send in the right answers with “Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Duqm” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
1) How many room accommodation does Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Duqm offer? 1. 73 chalets and apartments 2. 90 chalets and apartments 3. 100 chalets and apartments
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Prize: Two weekend breakfast vouchers - for two each - at Park Inn Muscat
MUSCAT
WINNERS Send in the right answers with “Park Inn by Radisson Muscat” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
1) What is the signature restaurant of Park Inn by Radisson Muscat? 1. The Palm Restaurant 2. RBG Grill Restaurant 3. Sama Terrazza rooftop lounge
2) How many comfortable and bright rooms Park Inn by Radisson Muscat has? 1. 175 rooms 2. 180 rooms 3. 200 rooms
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Prize: Two vouchers for three-course meal - for two - at Qureshi restaurant.
1) Name the Master Chef - the Living Legend - who influences the cooking style in Qureshi at the Hormuz Grand? 1. Ashfaque Qureshi 2. Imran Qureshi 3. Imtiaz Qureshi 2) What is the cooking style he introduced to the world? 1. Tandoori 2. Dumpukht 3. Wazwan
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WINNERS Send in the right answers with “Qureshi” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
Prize: Two winners will get a 30 minute foot/hand/back/ shoulder massage at I Spa
WINNERS
Send in the right answers with “I Spa” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
1) Which is first location in the Middle East to boast the presence of I-SPA? 1. Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai, Deira Creek 2. Hormuz Grand, Muscat 3. Crowne Plaza, Bahrain
Prize: One voucher for an overnight stay at a standard chalet of Sama al Wasil Desert Camp
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WINNER
1) How Many rooms does Sama al Waisl Desert Camp have in total at present? 2) What does Sama al Wasil mean in English?
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February 2015
Send in the right answers with “Sama Al Wasil” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
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Prize: Two winners will get Pizza Hut vouchers worth 10 rials each
WINNERS Send in the right answers with “Pizza Hut” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
1) What is Pizza Hut Hotline Number? 2) What is the Online Ordering Site for Pizza Hut?
Prize: Two winners will get The Bollywood Restaurant vouchers, worth 10 rials, each
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WINNERS
1) Name a product from our Cook Off Section Menu? 2) What is the colour of ‘The Bollywood’ Logo Signage?
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Send in the right answers with “The Bollywood” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
Prize: Two winners will get Caffé Vergnano vouchers worth 10 rials, each
WINNERS Send in the right answers with “Caffé Vergnano” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
1) Where is the new Caffé Vergnano 1882 outlet located? 2) What is the Signature drink in the special coffee section menu of Caffe Vergnano 1882?
February 2015
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Prize: Two gift vouchers valued at 25 rials, each from Supa Sports
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WINNERS 1) Which country has won the maximum cricket world cup titles in limited (50) overs format? 1. South Africa 2. India 3. Australia 2) What was the name of the ball used in 2014 FIFA world cup? 1. Brazuca 2. Jabulani 3. Fevernova
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Send in the right answers with “Supa” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
Prize: One winner will get a Stress Away Massage voucher from Essence Spa
WINNER Send in the right answers with “Esence Spa” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
1) What is the name of our Facial, which 2) is good for lifting the sagging jowls, cheeks, chin and neck? 1. Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial 2. Elemis Pro-Intense Lift Effect Facial 3. Elemis Visible Brilliance
Prize: Four winners will get vouchers worth 10 rials, each, from Puranmal
What is this herbal drink that we always serve our guest as their welcome drink? 1. Lemongrass Tea 2. Hibiscus/Karkade juice 3. Green tea
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WINNERS 1) Apni Indian Thali served during lunch at Puranmal is priced at... 1. 2 rials 2. 1.900 rials 3. 2.200 rials 4. 1.600 rials
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2) The nett weight of Nuterrys and Dateberrys large packet at Puranmal is... 1. 450gms 2. 500gms 3. 750gms 4. 1kg
Send in the right answers with “Puranmal” as the Subject to: contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
Bumper
Prize
Win 16GB iPhone 6 from
1. Ooredoo Shahry plans offer the best postpaid value in Oman, but how much data there is per month in the Shahry Mazeed plan? a) None b) 1GB c) 100GB d) 3GB plus an additional 10GB to use at the weekends 2. Ooredoo ‘More’ recharges come in 3 flavours, but can you tell us the options? a) More Internet, More Credit and More International (each offering up to 25% bonus) b) More Devices, More Calls and More International c) More Credit, More International Travel and More Talking 3. Omanis love their smartphones and the best place in the sultanate to get one is in one of the stores. Why is this? a) When taken with one of our Shahry plans we give you the 3rd months’ subscription free for up to 2 years (so you get the smartphone for almost nothing) b) Because we have an amazing range of smartphones which meet every budget (so you get a great choice) c) Because our modernised network means you’ll get an amazing smartphone experience with Ooredoo (so you can do more and faster) d) All of the above
Send in the right answers with “OOREDOO” contests@facesoman.com with your Name, Age Location & Contact Details
Omantel revenues grows by 4 percent
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EXPO Milano names Oman Air as Preferred Authorised Reseller
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s EXPO Milano 2015 prepares to open its doors to an expected 20 million visitors, Oman Air has been named as the event’s Preferred Authorised Reseller for the Sultanate of Oman. As a Preferred Authorised Reseller, Oman Air will sell tickets for EXPO Milano 2015 to tour operators, travel agents, government offices, companies, schools, colleges and individual travellers. The event will take place between 1st May and 31st October 2015 and will follow the theme of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’. The event will last for six months and is dedicated to the challenges of nutrition and sustainable development. It will provide a neutral global platform upon which all stakeholders can gather to share common goals and combine the best ideas and contributions to create a useful legacy for the future. Around 148 countries, including the Sultanate of Oman, will take part in the event.
‘The Links’ at Muscat Hills launches sales
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nitiating the first phase of sales for ‘The Links’ development in Muscat Hills, Savills Oman have now commenced sales for one, two and three bedroom apartments in Muscat Hills. Savills was, recently, appointed as the exclusive agent for The Links at Muscat Hills. Located in the newly announced ‘New Downtown’ area of Al Irfan, The Links is comprised of over 260 apartments, recreational facilities, in addition to an extensive array of restaurants and shops. The development has full Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) status and is part of the master-planned Muscat Hills development, offering the opportunity for all nationalities to own competitively priced freehold property in the desirable Al Irfan precinct.
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man Telecommunications Company S.A.O.G (Omantel. MSM: OTEL) has revealed that the Company’s audited financial results for the period ended on 31st December 2014 has recorded an increase in revenues of 4 percent to RO 481.2 million compared with RO 462.9 million in the corresponding period of 2013. Expenses for the period have grown by 2.8 percent to RO 350.8 million from RO 341.4 million in 2013. Company’s net profit witnessed an increase of 2.6 percent and reached RO 122.4mn compared to R.O 119.3 million in 2013. This is the highest net profit achieved in last 5 years. Commenting on the results, Talal Said Al Mamari, Omantel Chief Executive Officer said “Omantel recorded a positive growth across all business lines and was able to close the year with a 4 percent growth in revenues and 2.6 percent increase in the net profit”.
3rd edition of Extraordinary Women Conference
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etting influential women take the centre stage, the 3rd edition of the Extraordinary Women Conference (EWC) will take place from 17-18 March 2015. Under the theme ‘Inspiring Journeys’, the Conference will address the development of women in their personal and professional walks of life. Some of the confirmed speakers at EWC 2015 include Safiya Al Bahlani, a self-taught artist and graphic designer; Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Co-Founder and President of a nonprofit school – SOLA (School of Leadership, Afghanistan) that provides college preparatory courses and helps graduates enter universities worldwide; Suzanne Talhouk, President and Founder of the Feil Amer NGO; and Asma Khader, Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW); Dr. Asma Siddiki, Education Management Consultant and CEO of Alpha1Education, among others.
Almouj Marina launches seaside event venue
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lmouj Marina has launched an exclusive venue, capable of hosting events amidst the Gulf of Oman. Characterised by 372 square metres, and accommodating up to 65 seated people, the lounge is suspended seaside of the marina’s main facility, offering a unique space for a diverse range of events, including meetings, seminars, photo-shoots and receptions. The facility combines the picturesque view of Oman’s pristine waters with a multipurpose option that can cater for individually tailored events. Designed and operated by Mourjan Marinas, Almouj Marina is located at The Wave, Muscat and accommodates yachts from 10 to 40 metres.
ahlibank achieves 26 percent growth in loans & advances
ISM’s 40th anniversary celebrations
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hlibank has disclosed its financial results for the year ended 31st December 2014, which revealed another year of consistent growth, built upon diversified risk management, focused client centric marketing and prudent expenditure. The bank’s net profit after tax increased by 9 percent to RO 25.1 million in 2014, as compared to RO 23.0 million in the previous year. The bank’s Total Assets stood at RO 1,645 million from RO 1,339 million last year, depicting an increase of 23 percent, while Loans and Advances increased by 26 percent, to RO 1,389 million from RO 1,105 million. Continued focus through diversification business and enhanced productivity resulted in an improvement in the Operating Income by 11 percent. (RO 51.6 million in 2014, as compared to RO 46.6 million in 2013).
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elebration is in the air at Indian School Muscat (ISM), which is marking its 40th anniversary with a host of programmes, spread all through the year. The events on the agenda include a German exchange programme, blood donation camp, photography exhibition, drama fest, rock fest and sports fest along with an international study tour and a mega carnival in December. Plans are also being finalised to invite the school alumni and ex-staffers to attend a host of programmes, including a TED type event featuring successful ex-students from around the globe. ISM, which began its operations in 1975 with 135 children, has today grown into the largest co-educational institution in the Gulf with over 9,200 students, serving the Indian diaspora.
City Centre Qurum welcomes new stores
ity Centre Qurum has demonstrated its commitment in sustaining the ever-changing demands of the community with the addition of three new retailers - PappaRoti; skin clinic with comprehensive facility, Obagi Medispa for its debut in the Sultanate; and the recently rebranded telecommunications operator, Ooredoo Oman. PappaRoti, renowned for its worldfamous buns and signature drinks, features the only outdoor seating area located at the ground level of the mall, providing a beautiful roadside view. Obagi Medispa, is the first medical spa in the Middle East solely devoted to Obagi skin health restoration treatments. Ooredoo Oman has opened a new branch with bigger space and more offerings presenting a revamped design to provide a smoother experience to visitors.
Shopping for kids exciting at MGM
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ith summer fast approaching, Muscat Grand Mall’s apparel outlets are showcasing an enviable collection of outlets with fashionable clothes, shoes, accessories and fun activities for children to ensure they feel unique from head to toe. Among many of the recently opened stores are Gymboree, Monsoon Children, Original Marines, The Children’s Place, R&B, Monalisa, Joe Bloggs and U.S. Polo Association, which house a wide ranging collection of casual and party wear, accessories and shoes for newborns, toddlers and children up to age 12. Parents can shop for back-to-school clothes or casual, playtime clothes at fashionable children›s stores to find the perfect look that everyone is happy with.
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Middle East leads G 63 AMG 6x6 sales worldwide
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ercedes-Benz is calling the final chapter in the production lifespan of the G 63 AMG 6x6. Having enjoyed two years of immense success in the region, the company will stop the 6x6 production from May 2015. In a niche class of its own, the G 63 AMG 6x6 is a show vehicle that brings together the best of worlds, and has enjoyed its reign as the biggest, most rugged off roader Mercedes-Benz has ever produced. The G 63 AMG 6x6 took the region by storm when it was introduced in early 2013. It has been a successful model from the start and has strengthened Mercedes-Benz’s leadership in the SUV segment. The Middle East has proved to be the most crucial sales market for the vehicle. The 6x6 comes with an all-wheel drive technology, AMG V8 biturbo power and looks that leave no room for doubt.
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The new Audi A7 model now in the Middle East
udi has spared no effort in revising the A7. The spacious fivedoor coupe is now even more powerful and attractive – thanks to new engine configurations, new transmissions, new headlights, taillights and new infotainment systems. The new A7 combines the emotional appeal and sportiness of a coupe with the comfort of a sedan and the functional benefits of an Avant. The body of the new Audi A7 consists primarily of aluminum and high tech steel grades. It is extraordinarily lightweight and designed for maximum comfort in terms of noise. The cargo space under the long, electrically driven trunk lid has a base capacity of 535 liters. The new Audi A7, Audi S7 and Audi RS7 are now available in the Middle East.
Experience Sierra Nevada with the new Volkswagen Touareg
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olkswagen Oman, in collaboration with Swiss International Air Lines AG (Swissair), is offering customers an opportunity to win a unique off-road adventure in Spain with the Volkswagen Driving Experience team in the all-new Touareg. All adventure enthusiasts in Oman who test drive the new 2015 Touareg until March 15 will be entered into a draw on March 16, 2015, where one lucky winner and their partner will fly SwissAir Business class and have an experience of a lifetime driving through the breathtaking Sierra Nevada. The selected winner will travel from Muscat to Malaga via Zurich on Swissair, and will enjoy an accompanied journey off-roading and exploring more of the south of Spain with the Volkswagen Touareg between April 16 and 19, 2015.
Maserati at the IDF Exhibition
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lfardan Motors, the Official importer of Ferrari and Maserati in Oman, recently sponsored the Italian Pavilion ‘Casa Médinit’, at the second Interior Design, Decor & Furniture (IDF) Exhibition. Under the patronage of H.E. Paola Amadei, the Italian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Maserati showcased the luxurious Quattroporte and Ghibli. The ‘Casa Médinit’, managed by Médinit SRL, featured more than 35 Italian companies from diverse interior design sectors, presented under an ‘Opera, a living taste’ theme that stimulates cognizance on the excellence and charm of Italian design.
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Infiniti strengthens position
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nfiniti strengthened its position as the region’s fastest growing premium automotive brand in the Middle East, registering a growth of 26 percent for calendar year 2014. Infiniti’s exceptional performance is further underlined by the fact that its growth is more than double the pace of the regional premium automotive market. Infiniti’s strategic strides towards broadening its product portfolio and network expansion have resulted in the brand delivering 7,062 vehicles to customers. Over the last month, the brand launched a total of three new showrooms, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Key drivers of growth for the brand were its SUV range. Infiniti’s QX80 continued to build on its regional success registering a sales increase of 46 percent, delivering 1,421 vehicles to customers.
Guaranteed cash gift promotion on Higer pick-ups
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he guaranteed cash gift promotion by Towell Auto Centre (TAC) on its range of Higer pick-ups will end on March 14, 2015. Delivering an impressive combination of power, capability and efficiency, Higer pick-up is a high-grade light duty vehicle, with new generation appearance. TAC is offering a guaranteed cash gift of RO 450 on all its 2015 models. The Higer pick-up is available in single and double cabins with new enhanced interiors. The powerful 2.2 litre 4 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual transmission helps drivers in long drives to faraway destinations or even for hauling heavy loads.
Hyundai Motor Group joins fight against Ebola in West Africa
Hyundai Motor Group announced that it would donate 21 H-1-based ambulances to the United Nations (UN) in support of the Global Ebola Response activities in West Africa, particularly in Liberia. The vehicles, equipped with respirators, oxygen tanks and other medical kits, will be delivered to the Liberian government through the UN to support medical activities. The deadly Ebola virus, which broke out in Guinea last year, is currently spreading over several West African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, with some cases in the United States and Spain.
Mitsubishi’s Team Pajero adventures
General Automotive Company (GAC), exclusive dealers for Mitsubishi in Oman, concluded all six rounds of its desert excursions for Pajero owners and enthusiasts. Titled ‘Team Pajero Adventure’, the desert adventure gave drivers the unique opportunity to experience the Wahiba Sands in the highly capable Mitsubishi Pajero. The Team Pajero Adventure was initially split across three weekends beginning on December 12 and concluding on December 27. Due to the overwhelming demand from customers and desert driving enthusiasts, GAC decided to run three more excursions in January and February 2015. In total, over 1,530 people in over 336 Pajeros visited the Wahiba sands as part of the Team Pajero Desert Adventure in six batches over the past three months.
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Movies
Movie Review
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Cast
Cate Blanchett Lily James Richard Madden Helena Bonham Carter Stellan Skarsgard Sophie McShera Holliday Grainger
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Cinderella O
CHART TOPPERS
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1. Uptown Funk -Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars 2. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
3. Take Me To Church - Hozier 4. Sugar - Maroon 5 5. Blank Space - Taylor Swift 6. FourFiveSeconds - Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney 7. I’m Not The Only One - Sam Smith 8. Lips Are Movin - Meghan Trainor 9. Earned It - Weeknd 10. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
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This live-action feature, inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella, brings to life those timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece
he story of ‘Cinderella’ follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries after the death of her mother. Eager to support her father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined not to give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her... and there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena BonhamCarter) steps forward and changes Cinderella’s life forever.
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Upcoming Releases Run All Night
Liam Neeson, G e n e s i s Rodriguez, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ed Harris, Boyd Holbrook
Brooklyn mobster and prolific hit man Jimmy Conlon (Liam Neeson), once known as The Gravedigger, has seen better days. A long time best friend of mob boss Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris), Jimmy, now 55, is haunted by the sins of his past—as well as a dogged police detective who’s been one step behind Jimmy for 30 years. When Jimmy’s estranged son, Mike (Joel Kinnaman), becomes a target, Jimmy must make a choice between the crime family he chose and the real family he abandoned long ago.
Book Review
While We’re Young
Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried, Jesse Eisenberg
‘Life never gets old…’ reads the tagline of this upcoming movie, which revolves around an uptight documentary filmmaker Josh (Ben Stiller) and his wife Cornelia (Naomi Watts) - a childless New York married couple in their mid-forties. They find their lives loosened up a bit after befriending a free-spirited younger couple Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried). But, eventually, Josh begins to suspect his new best friend might not be as straightforward and trustworthy as he thought.
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, Kate Winslet, Mekhi Phifer
Insurgent raises the stakes for Tris (Woodley) as she searches for allies and answers in the dystopian ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris and Four (James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Winslet), the leader of the powerhungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris’ family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them.
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery
Author: Henry Marsh Readers who think that brain surgery is a precise and exquisite craft, practised by calm and detached surgeons, this gripping, brutally honest account will make them think again. With astonishing compassion and candour, one of the country’s leading neurosurgeons reveals the fierce joy of operating, the profoundly moving triumphs, the harrowing disasters, the haunting regrets and the moments of black humour that characterise a brain surgeon’s life. ‘Do No Harm’ is an unforgettable insight into the countless human dramas that take place in a busy modern hospital.
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
Author: Karen Joy Fowler Meet the Cooke family: Mother and Dad, brother Lowell, sister Fern, and Rosemary, who begins her story in the middle. She has her reasons. “I was raised with a chimpanzee,” she explains. “I tell you Fern was a chimp and already you aren’t thinking of her as my sister. But until Fern’s expulsion … she was my twin, my funhouse mirror, my whirlwind other half and I loved her as a sister.” As a child, Rosemary never stopped talking. Then, something happened, and Rosemary wrapped herself in silence.
All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorise it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure’s story converges with that of Werner, a German orphan.
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Movies
Web World
Your Online Safety Guide At a time and age when kids know more about the computers and Internet then you, it is time to learn how to keep children safe on the Internet
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ids today are more computer savvy than you. They know how to easily sign up for a game or subscribe to a chat room service. What most of them do not understand, though, is the consequence of revealing personal information to strangers. As a rule, children should not reveal personal information – be it email address, telephone number, postal address or school address about themselves online without a parent’s permission; this is what you need to apprise your kids about. Browse http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/ to get an inkling of the import and dangers of sharing personal information. It will provide you with guidelines and tips to teach them about some of the risks involved in giving out personal details. You could even print the general rules and pin it on the computer table to follow as and when they surf online. The privacy-wise section will help you teach them to protect their privacy and themselves. GetNetWise has inputs for both preteens and teens. ‘Safety by Age’ has segments for different age groups, beginning from 2 to 4 up to 14 to 17; another on ‘Risks by Technology’ covers social networking sites, chats, emails, instant messaging, and the like. The ‘What Kinds of Risks Are There?’ has answers relating to a host of topics, including:
Riddle Time
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Why did the belt go to jail? Did you hear about the calendar thief? Who can shave 10 times a day and still have a beard? What did the stamp say to the envelope? Which month do soldiers hate most?
February 2015
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Meeting someone online
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Loss of privacy
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Getting into online fights
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File-sharing/peer-to-peer programmes
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Making threats/law breaking
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Inappropriate material
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Putting people in jeopardy
Riddle Time Answers (January 2015)
1 2
Why did the boy sprinkle sugar on his pillow before he went to sleep? Answer: So he could have sweet dreams. Did you hear about the painter who was hospitalised? Answer: Reports say it was due to too many strokes.
3 4
Why did the robber take a bath? Answer: Because he wanted to make a clean getaway.
Why did the boy tiptoe past the medicine cabinet? Answer: He didn’t want to wake the sleeping pills! What goes up when the rain comes down? Answer: An umbrella
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Book
s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget 4 gadgets of 2014 Top
Gadget Notes
Now a smart measuring tape
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his is just what the fashion doctor would have advocated for an online shopper - a smart measuring tape that takes the guesswork out of online shopping. Italian fashion startup Xyze (pronounced ‘size’) is currently running a crowd funding campaign for a smart measuring tape that records your body’s dimensions and translates this to a particular brand’s size chart. Simply called On, the tape pulls out of its casing to form a 160 cm (63 in) retractable loop, which can be slipped over your head and around your chest, hips, waist and anything else that might need measuring. This data is then shared with a companion iOS app over Bluetooth, which applies your body measurements to each clothing label’s size charts to find you a fitting garment.
Honey on tap
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ere’s a new invention by two Australian beekeepers who claim to be able to siphon honey straight from a beehive without opening the lid or disturbing the bees inside. When a tap attached to a specifically developed honeycomb ‘Flow’ frame (created by father and son team, Stuart and Cedar Anderson) within the hive is opened, the bee-formed cells are split slightly open inside the comb, thereby allowing channels to form through which the honey flows down to a sealed trough and out of the hive straight into collecting jars. All the while, the bees are virtually undisturbed on the surface of the comb.
Saliva test to simplify autism diagnosis
A
lthough physicians rely on assessments of behavioural patterns and social skills to diagnose autism, instead of medical tests alone, there is new hope for a simpler process following research by a team of scientists. They have identified biomarkers in the saliva of children with the condition, potentially paving the way for earlier, and more reliable, diagnoses. Using a technique known as mass spectrometry, the team examined the protein levels in the saliva of each subject (aged between six and 16), observing notable differences between the two groups - children with autism, alongside children without.
Video selfies for mental health monitoring
While there is no denying that images of oneself, recorded through cameras on smartphones and laptops, adds to the fun element in communicating with friends, the world of selfies is not restricted to social media alone. A team of researchers at the University of Rochester has developed a computer programme that can help health professionals monitor a person’s mental health through the images from selfie videos the patient records while engaging in social media activity. No extra information about how the user is feeling needs to be provided. No special a c c e s s o r i e s are required, either. The user just needs to go about his/her computer routine as usual.
Bites
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little boy asked his grandmother how old she was. “39 and holding,” she replied. The little boy pondered over that for a minute, and asked: “Well then, how old would you be if you let go?”
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little boy watched, fascinated, as his mother covered her face in cold cream. “Why do you do that?” he asked. “To make myself beautiful,” she replied and began to rub it off. The boy looked perplexed, as he queried: “Why are you doing that? Did you give up?”
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hungry lion was roaming through the jungle looking for something to
eat. He came across two men. One was sitting under a tree reading a book; the other was typing away on his typewriter. The lion quickly pounced on the man reading the book and devoured him. Even the king of the jungle knows that readers digest and writers cramp!
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February 2015
FUTURESCOPE Aries
Virgo
That special someone who looks to you as a mentor, will ask for advice - present both sides of the story and take a balanced approach. If you are bogged down by too many things that are seeking your attention, take some time off for yourself. There is good news in the horizon for Virgos saving towards a big purchase.
There might be a disappointment early in the month, which will make you realise that you don’t have control over everything. Don’t fret; instead of letting it get you down, focus on what you can control. It’s a much better way to deal with letdowns. Change is on the way.
Taurus
Be ready to dish out advice, as a younger work associate might seek yours in a matter related to work. Be fair and truthful and you will help this person a great deal. In matters of the heart, a look to the past will help you make a decision for today. Your travel plans need some attention.
Gemini
A change in a friend’s behaviour could provide clues into his/ her past, but don’t become judgemental. Be diplomatic when giving advice – especially if you’re giving it to someone in a situation much different from your own. At work, all eyes will be on you and you may be approached with a new opportunity.
Cancer
This is the time to be supportive of a loved one who is going through changes. All that you need to do is listen... An unexpected windfall will make an upcoming trip more enjoyable and you will have something special to look forward to. Do not mix business and pleasure this month.
Leo
Lately it may have seemed as if the world has been caving in on you, but you will be happy to learn that you could make your way through the rubble. Things will come a little easier now and you’ll be able to reap the rewards of hard work. So relax and enjoy your weekend outing.
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February 2015
Movies
Brian Quinn March 14, 1976
Comedian Brian Quinn is a producer and actor, known for Impractical Jokers, Class of Nuke ‘Em High and Jokers Wild. He is a member of the comedy troupe The Tenderloins who are known for their TruTV television series The Impractical Jokers. He first joined The Tenderloins in 2007 after the troupe decided to transition from live shows to filmed sketches.
PISCES
(February 19 – March 20) Don’t let self-doubt get the better of you. Success is very near; you simply need to hold on to your confidence in order to attain it. Understanding is the key to happiness in a love relationship. Being a good listener is more important than you realise. Your diligence will be recognised and you will be financially rewarded generously. You may change your job for better prospects and you will have your way at the work place. Business will be prosperous with excellent returns. Your outlook towards life will undergo a major change during this period and you may have a strong urge to be free from all your attachments.
Aquarius
It is time to learn how to say ‘no’. There’s nothing wrong with being nice, but being too nice is as good as inviting others to take advantage of you. Take charge and you will gain respect. Anticipation of an upcoming event may give you some anxiety. Seek meditation as a way to relax.
Libra
Refrain from taking sides in a family fight, unless you like playing with fire. Remember, even the most diplomatic Libran could get burned. An old friend may resurface when you least expect it and an Aries acquaintance will come to you for advice. Rely on common sense when making financial decisions.
Scorpio
Things may not go your way, especially with the planned getaway. Several unexpected delays could put a damper on your spirits. Try to make the best of it. This month, you’ll see a different side of someone you thought you knew. Be ready for unforeseen expenses later in the month.
Sagittarius
There is an opportunity for career advancement pegged to March. But it is best to weigh all your options before jumping at something you know nothing about. News of a breakup will come out of nowhere. Even if you’re disappointed, you won’t be surprised. Be honest in a love relationship.
Capricorn
What seemed like a hopeless situation last month, will take a positive turn in early March. You’ll have something more to look forward to. If a new romance is what you’re looking for, this could be a promising month. Keep an eye out for a charming Leo. Health concerns prove unwarranted.
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Weird News Street sign warns of Facebook dangers
Chronic speeding, a persistent problem along a busy street in a Bay Area city, has been addressed by officials, who have installed unconventional safety signs, one of which is also aimed at curing the problem of habitual Facebook updating. Since early last month, Hayward Boulevard in Hayward has boasted attention-grabbing signs urging pedestrians to ignore their smartphones for a minute while crossing the block, and telling drivers that speed limits are not optional. One sign tells pedestrians: ‘Heads up! Cross the street. Then update Facebook.’
Bostonians urged to quit leaping out of windows
The mayor of Boston is urging cabin fever-crazed residents to stop hurling themselves from their windows into snow banks. “It’s a foolish thing to do and you could kill yourself,” Mayor Marty Walsh said in a speech that was reported in the local daily. His admonition was in response to a rash of Bostonians filming themselves jumping out of windows or from second-story decks into huge piles of snow and posting the videos online.
Florida ‘zombie cat’ in custody motion A Florida cat that crawled out of its
grave after a traffic accident is now ensnared in a legal dispute over custody involving its owner and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Bart the cat, nicknamed ‘zombie cat’ on social media, made international headlines last month when he surfaced five days after he was hit by a car and buried for dead. He was initially expected to return home after surgery at the Humane Society’s veterinary clinic, where Bart was treated for a broken jaw and facial injuries. But the agency, which is chronicling Bart’s recovery online in a blog, humanesocietytampa.org/blog/, decided not to return the cat to its owner after learning more about ‘circumstances leading up to his burial,’ the agency said.
37 years in solitary confinement for secret Facebook posts
A South Carolina inmate faces 37 years in solitary confinement as punishment for accessing the social network while behind bars. Tyheem Henry secretly sent out the 38 posts, including photos from his cell, using a contraband mobile phone. The gang member also lost 74 years worth of telephone, visitation and canteen privileges as punishment. Henry was jailed for his involvement in a gang attack on a man who was almost beaten to death. A right-wing blog called Charleston Thug Life highlighted how he had been smoking marijuana and posting selfies from Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina.
Successful people with disabilities From inventors and entrepreneurs to performers and artists, here are some successful stories of disabled people Stephen Hawking: He is one of the most well known physicists in the world, and he was able to achieve that in spite of being diagnosed with ALS when he was 21. His best-selling work, A Brief History of Time, stayed on the Sunday Times bestsellers list for 237 weeks. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: US President FDR, who helped guide the nation successfully through World War II, was a wheelchair-user. He contracted polio while drinking water at a campground and became paralysed from the waist down. Ralph Braun: Born with muscular dystrophy, Ralph started his career in 1966 when he created the first wheelchair accessible van with hand controls and in 1991, his company, BraunAbility, created the first accessible minivan. John Hockenberry: An American journalist and author, four-time Emmy Award winner and threetime Peabody Award winner, John Hockenberry is one of the most successful journalists with a spinal cord injury. Marlee Matlin: An Academy Award winning actress for her leading role in Children of a Lesser God (1986), Marlee Matlin is one of the most successful actresses who’s deaf. She has been deaf since she was 18 months old due to a genetically malformed cochlea. Stevie Wonder: A musician, singer and songwriter, Stevie Wonder, was born blind. Considered a child prodigy, Stevie signed with his first record label at age 11, and he has been performing since. Frida Kahlo: Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, one of the most well known artists with disabilities, was injured in a trolley accident when she was a teenager and was never fully healed. She also contracted polio when she was six and had a misshapen leg. Helen Keller: An American author, political activist and lecturer, Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to earn a college degree. She wrote 12 books, including her spiritual autobiography, ‘My Religion’. Lenin Moreno: Lenin Moreno, the Vice President of Ecuador from 2007 to 2013, was injured in a shooting before getting involved in politics. He made history and brought attention to the needs of the disabled people in his country.
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