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ANGELINA RAISES BREAST CANCER AWARENESS IN OMAN Nawras’ Big Boss / Loaf Love Brow Wow / Ghala In Flames
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Your top guide to the best of Oman, every week
MAY 23 - 29 • ISSUE 271 • WEEKLY
PICTURE
THIS Oman On Camera
PLUS!
Fashion
ALL THAT JAZZ
Win
32
WORLD CUP ASIA 03 TICKETS
Outdoors
DUKE OF DUQM
37
WIN
EDITOR’S
NOTE
Welcome to the new look Y Magazine your indispensable guide to everything modern Oman has to offer.
FOOTBALL TICKETS
World Cup fever has already started and it’s about to get a whole lot hotter on June 4, when Oman play Iraq in the Asian qualifiers. The excitement is already palpable and, as we all know, supporters help players win matches. So, be the 12th member of the team by cheering on the home side at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex for a 5pm kick off. We have ten pairs of general tickets to give away, one pair of VIP tickets and a pair of top flight ones with a car pass. To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is like our Facebook page on /ytabloid or follow us on Twitter @ytabloid and we’ll randomly select 12 winners by June 1, giving you plenty of time to collect your tickets at our office. Good luck!
THIS WEEK…
Fast forward S
mile, shoot and send. These days everyone’s a wannabe Magnum photographer. Social media sites like Flickr and Instagram are full of them. And while the basic requirements focus on light and time, a super snapper is also blessed with the gift of imagination. After all, it takes a lot of looking before you can see the extraordinary in the ordinary. In this issue, we celebrate the art of taking an instant out of time and holding it still on paper. During a recent photography summit, the skills and talents of several local students were showcased on home turf, offering us a rare glimpse of something truly special. I particularly loved the way some of the photographs manage to record a moment in time, recording feelings on faces and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. I hope you enjoy these amazing pictures as much as I did. Finally, don’t forget to read the third installment in our child safety seat campaign. It’s strong stuff. Please sign our petition on facebook.com/ytabloid.
Team Y has been visiting the Grand Mosque, buying baby car seats for our safety campaign, swooning over the romanticism of Jay Gatsby in the latest blockbuster and checking out our bespoke Y Cocktail at the Grand Hyatt (but more on that next week!)
Penny Fray
editor@y-oman.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Eihab Abutaha SECTIONS EDITOR Kate Ginn
PHOTOGRAPHER Jerzy Wierzbicki ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan
PAGE EDITOR Joe Gill
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MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
03
contents MAY 23 2013
Features 20 Photo Summit The Eyes Have It 24 Child Seat Safety Picking Up The Pieces
Your Oman
10
06 The Big Interview Ross Cormack
This Week
08 Voice of Oman Readers’ Letters 12 News John Kerry in Oman
14 This Week One for the Heart 16 Movie Listings The Great Gatsby 18 Gallery Camp Fire
Business & Career 26 Picture Perfect Media Photography
Food & Drink 28 Trend Bread and Butter 30 Restaurant Review China Town
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24
14 Health & Beauty
Cars & Outdoors 37 Destination Duke of Duqm 40 Outdoors Beach Footie 42 My Hood Qantab 44 Y-Fi Jog On 46 Car of the Week
32 Fashion Geely Emgrand X7 Get Your Gatsby On 34 Health Breast Cancer 36 Beauty Power Brows
46 NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE...
WOMEN IN DANGER THE BIG WARDROBE PURGE SUPER SUNNIES Y COCKTAILS
YOUR
News
Gallery
INTERVIEW
OMAN
SMARTPHONER ROSS CORMACK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF NAWRAS Words: Penny Fray. Photo: Jerzy Wierzbicki Run through your career in 60 seconds or less I’ve had many years of experience in telecoms. I started my career in the UK but I’ve worked in the US as well as many parts of Europe and Asia. I’ve led four telecom companies, been on the board of six and shareholdermanaged 16 – but this is easily the most fun I’ve ever had. We started with just two people, now we have over a thousand. The telecoms industry is moving at a phenomenal pace. What do you think will happen next? It does now what we said it would do ten years ago. In other words, we always see things ahead of the wave. Whatever device you connect with, it’s the thing you have to take with you in the morning. It used to be your keys and wallet but now it’s this [waves his smartphone]. The whole thing about telecoms is that you should be able to do what you want, whenever you want and get the info you need in an instant. But how do you cope with the potential threats? For instance, there are rumours that Apple are looking to develop a network-free phone. And of course, there are always competitive new apps being created daily. If you stay close to your customers, then you will stay on top of their needs. The fact of the matter is that Apple, Samsung or anyone else needs a network to deliver these services and customers need someone to help them use these services. We interact with tens of thousands of customers every day, whether they call us or visit us in store – that’s how we hand hold them through the customer experience. If a genie popped out of a lamp right now and could grant you any wish regarding Nawras – what would it be? I want us to be the coolest teleco; meaning that people love the way we do business. They associate themselves positively with the brand. They know that we stand for customers and service but they also love our network. We’re already in the middle of a huge network turbocharging programme, making our service faster, deeper and with better ping time. Do you think not having Skype in Oman is a disadvantage? There are many services available that do what customers want, which we embrace and deliver. We have traditional comms that work just fine. We also do an international calling service as a substitute for VoIP. The 0902 service is so popular that we gained a huge amount of international traffic after introducing it. So, people have enough alternatives. This country prides itself on its security and the safety of its people. How would you describe yourself in three words? Passionate, customer-focused and fun.
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MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
Ross’ three tips to success: 1. Customer focus 2. Team work 3. Commitment
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The Voice of Oman Jane Jaffer on why we need to give the youngsters in Oman a sporting chance
correspondence THE NANNY’S STORY Dear Editor,
T
he recent Oman Sail Awards were inspiring. The all-female team is awesome, winning trophies, representing their country and travelling the world. They have undoubtedly become fantastic role models for others. What an amazing opportunity they have been given. Unfortunately, they are the exception; many girls in this country do not even know how to swim. Competitive team sports can be hugely beneficial. When we work hard as part of a team we strive to reach our potential and we see the direct results of our efforts. We develop social skills and a sense of responsibility and empathy towards our team members. Having a sense of pride in our achievements raises self-esteem. It is empowering. Sport is good for our health. We have a growing problem of diabetes and obesity. We can reduce the risk of major illnesses such as these and heart disease, stroke and cancer by taking regular exercise. We need to ensure that all children have the opportunity to develop a love of sport. We need to provide facilities and instruction for everyone to learn to swim. Every year we hear of children drowning. Teaching children to swim will not only improve their health, it could save their lives.
Next week: YUMMY MUMMY RETURNS
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MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
I’m a nanny/babysitter working with a wealthy family. Being a nanny is not an easy job – it’s very tough, challenging and complicated, and requires unlimited patience. It’s not like raising your own children. I had to work abroad after my marriage ended. Despite being a graduate, my first job overseas was in Dubai as a housemaid. This is the only way I could leave my country and work abroad. I have worked all over the world. Now I’m here in Oman. I am a multi-tasking person who can be a housemaid, cook and nanny. One very sad thing I find in Oman is that many children don’t have manners, they threaten their housemaids or nannies and behave badly. I admire the Omani mother who shared her own experience of taking care of her own kids. She never hired a housemaid or nanny. It seems to me that the mother in the family I work for is more interested in her
Winner ! Repl the Wy of eek
career than taking care of her baby. She enjoys her social life and going out. How sad that the baby never has a chance to be with his mother for even a couple of hours a day. Many mothers don’t even have time to educate their own children, and allow their kids to shout and yell at servants. They get away with this now – but they will not be children forever. Most nannies will not work for this kind of family for long because of the children’s behaviour. I believe that the mother is the first teacher of her own children. For me, being a nanny is not only how you change nappies and give them a bottle – it is to educate the baby from the earliest age. It’s very challenging to be a single mother but I’m happy with my accomplishments in life, to have brought up four loving children. More power to Y magazine for writing about this important subject. Name Supplied
BEGGAR THY NEIGHBOUR Begging is a widespread social menace all over the world and Oman is no exception. As responsible residents and citizens of While I was busy working this week at my office, a lady suddenly came into the building Oman, probably the best way to control the menace of begging is by not encouraging it begging for help with some money. and reporting it immediately to the She claimed to be from another country relevant authorities. and was supposedly in deep financial crisis. People who wish to give to people in need I observed her also visiting other offices in should do so through the many legal charity the vicinity. organisations in the country working for I have been similarly approached in the legitimate causes, rather than handing money past, outside shopping malls, parks, filling to beggars. stations and restaurants, by men seeking financial help to pay for medical treatment. Regards, Such situations leave you in a dilemma in Nagaraj Shenoy which you are unable to decide whether to Muscat help them or refrain from doing so. Dear Editor,
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YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US
Debate of the Week We asked:
If you had one magic power, what would it be and why? Piyush Vora I wish to be the glitter of hope in everybody’s life, because where there is hope there is life. Harvesh Modh I wish we had power of Ctrl + Z so can undo all the mistakes of my life. Lorelie Vico Everyone has magical powers. They just don’t know how to use it. They need to have God or Allah in their life. Nass Al Abdul Salam I’d be Spider-man – but then again, there are no tall buildings in Oman to jump off. Dalia Elsawy de Bello The power to rid the world of prejudice, ignorance and discrimination, so we can live in a peaceful world and respect each other. Aarti Vats To reverse all the damage done by man to the earth and its environment so that we are able to again live on a unique planet which nurtures life. Poyal Don I wish I had the power to read others’ minds so I can know their plans to ditch their lover, cheat or commit crimes – and then make others aware of them. Lorraine Sovereign-Smith The power to project thoughts into someone else’s mind. UFO sightings in 3, 2, 1… Maira Saleem I’ll try to remove all the sorrows and problems from the world and spread happiness round the globe.
LETTERS
E-MAILS
Blocking the way Dear Y, I was recently fenced in due to a badly parked vehicle, which obstructed my exit. After a long fruitless wait, I decided to attempt to escape but in the process my vehicle’s rear door was grazed against a lamp post and I also damaged one of my tyres. All this occurred just because of a selfish individual lacking in civic sense. It’s an oft-repeated scenario. One leaves home early in the morning to drive to work, only to find that the previous night some thoughtless person has parked his vehicle in such a manner so as to prevent a person from exiting. Such adversely affected persons have no option but to wait until these uncaring individuals return and remove their cars. In many cases ‘blocked’ people have no option but to face the inconvenience of going and returning to work by alternative means and face the prospect of the undue expense of taxi fares. Many have experienced the ordeal of getting to their place of work unnecessarily late or getting unduly delayed for an appointment due to the thoughtless actions of thoughtless people and due to no fault of their own. Many have work commitments or hospital appointments but get held up due to the lack of road sense by errant motorists who block their exit routes. It is very unfortunate that when such
I'm a reader
FA C E B O O K
incidents occur the concerned culprits usually saunter in smilingly without as much as a word expressing regret, hop in their cars and drive off as if it was the most natural thing to do. In some cases, such habitual culprits leave their visiting card or a notice permanently displayed underneath the windshield as if they are doing a great favour to the drivers who they have casually blocked. This also indicates their ill-intentions – to be prepared to park illegally at whatever costs to other motorists. Do these delusional vandals seriously wonder why anyone should waste their precious time and money calling them back and waiting for these pompous individuals to arrive? In fact, many are such thickskinned rogues, when queried about their behavior by suffering motorists, instead of being sheepish and apologetic about it, they demand why the affected person did not see their card/telephone number and call them. In short, it was not their fault but in fact the suffering motorist who was to blame. The degree of brazenness and lack of common courtesy and road manners leaves an ordinary citizen dumbstruck when thus held to ransom. Uncaring individuals who block the right of way and free movement of other motorists should be dealt with firmly by the authorities through the imposition of strict penalties and – on repeat offences – confiscation of their driving licenses. Such deterrent measures could be a solution to such recurrent vandalism. Yours sincerely, S. Rupchand, Ruwi
Brothers Nishal & Nadeel were spotted in Sohar, with a copy of Y Magazine
Ndayishimiye Mohamed To fly, and travel all over the world for free. Reem Elkashlan I want to be a mind reader to know what people think about.
THIS IS YOUR PAGE!
This Week’s Debate: The 50 billionth app has been downloaded from the Apple App Store. What would be your ultimate app? Tell us on Facebook.
Just send us your picture with the free Y Magazine or pose with our photographer and we will publish it on this page. Send it to: info@y-oman.com
MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
09
NEWS
Gallery
Interview
BREAST CANCER
ON THE RISE
Cases among young women as young as 30 are increasing in Oman
Words: Kate Ginn
Y
oung women aged as young as 30 are being diagnosed with breast cancer in Oman, much earlier than average rates around the world. Breast cancer is the most widespread form of cancer in Oman and represents around 16.4 per cent of all cancers in women. The disease is more common in women over the age of 55, especially post-menopausal. There were 122 cases of breast cancer in the Sultanate in 2010 and the number of cases among the younger generation has gone up with 18.3 cases per 100,000 among women aged between 30-44 years, according to the Ministry of Health. Breast cancer in younger women is usually far more aggressive than in cases where the patient is older. Researchers are now trying to pinpoint possible causes for the alarming figures. “I am doing research to try and find out the reason why women so young are being diagnosed with breast cancer,” says Dr Yasmeen Salim Abdullah al Hatmi, deputy director of quality and development of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH).
“It is usually detected in much older women. “We also need to educate women more about self screening and promote preventative messages that can be taken, such as having a healthy lifestyle, with a good diet and exercise.” Dr al Hatmi, who is also executive board member of the Oman Cancer Association, said work had been done to break the taboo of breast cancer in Oman and target the younger generation. In the last six months, the Association has broken new ground by going into schools and speaking to teenage girls about the disease and looking after their health. Dr Rajyashree Naraayanankutty, specialist surgeon at Barakath Al Noor Clinic, said a fast-food culture could contribute to higher levels of disease in young women. “Their reliance on fast and processed foods is on the rise. If young women are not eating well and are stressed, they increase their risk of getting the disease.” Last week, actress Angelina Jolie, 37, revealed that she had undergone a double mastectomy after discovering she was predisposed to getting breast cancer. * Taking care of your assets, see page 34.
JOHN KERRY IN TOWN US Secretary of State to ink $2.1bn deal
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Photo courtesy of Oman News Agency
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he U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, has been in Oman for a two-day visit to reportedly sign a huge defence deal involving an Americanmade air defence system. Kerry flew into Muscat on Tuesday as part of his whirlwind Middle East tour and was greeted by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said at Bait al Barakah, before discussions were held on a range of issues. Part of this was said to be a substantial deal for the U.S. to supply the Sultanate with a ground-based air defence system made by a company in Kerry’s home state of Massachusetts. Reports in the American media suggested it could be worth in excess $2.1bn. In December 2011, Oman placed a $600 million order to buy 12 U.S F-16 fighter jets. Kerry is due to travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah today (Thursday) to meet the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, where British foreign secretary, William Hague, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos greets John Kerry will join him.
NEWS
YOUR
Gallery
Interview
ALL LIT UP
OMAN
A head for heights is needed for cleaning mosque chandelier
I
Words and photos: Kate Ginn
f you’ve ever wondered how the huge chandelier at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the second biggest in the world, is cleaned or light bulbs are changed, here’s the answer. Suspended high above the ground and weighing a whopping eight tons and measuring 14 metres tall, it takes a cleaner with nerves of steel to polish it. Plus, of course, a helping hand from machinery. These two brave workmen were going about their work on a Friday morning standing in the bucket of a lift, with a dizzyingly high drop just over the side, as they leaned over to carry out some maintenance work. There are 1,175 Swarovski crystals from Austria to be polished and kept sparkling clean on this magnificent chandelier, which was manufactured by German company Faustig, along with gold-plated metalwork. And in case you were thinking where the light switch is – all the lights are turned on and off with a computerised setting. Hanging down from the large dome in the men’s prayer hall, the massive light is replicated with miniature versions dotted along the ceiling. It sits above the second largest single-piece carpet in the world, hand-woven in Iran, and measuring 70 x 60 metres, covering the entire 4,343 square-metre prayer hall. His Majesty inaugurated the Grand Mosque on May 4, 2001. P.S The world’s biggest chandelier, called Reflective Flow, is in an office building in Doha. It weighs 20,000kg, uses 55,000 energy-saving LEDs and measures 38.5 metres long and 12.5 metres wide.
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T H E W H AT ’ S ON G U I D E
Gallery
Movies
June
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Persian Heartbeat Persian artist Marjan Habibian is exhibiting in Oman for the first time at the Omani French Centre on Al Inshirah Road, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, until June 6. The ‘Heartbeat’ collection reflects personal highs and lows as well the artist’s response to contemporary society, using mixed media on large canvasses and monotype prints. Doors open all day; Saturday 5.30-8.30pm only.
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Oman has drawn or won its last four World Cup qualifying games – a good position for its important match against Iraq at the Sultan Qaboos Stadium on Tuesday June 4. Kick-off is at 2pm and the whole country will be hoping for another victory.
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What to do. What to see. What to hear.
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Avis Ellis brings the spirit of the diva to the Grand Hyatt with a concert of timeless classics, including New York, My Baby Just Cares for Me, I’m Every Woman and many more. Call 2464 1234 for reservations, RO10 or RO20 with a glass of fizz.
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DIVA DELIGHTS
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Road to Rio
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Salalah Beach will be the venue for a carnival fiesta on May 25. Circus performers and an Aladdin show are part of the entertainment for all age groups in the picturesque marina plaza, looking out on the Arabian Sea. There will also be cruises around the man-made lagoon and a new hotel complex.
May
Salalah Surprise Heat Busters
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It never ceases to amaze that workers are still out on building sites in these wilting temperatures. Instead of just passing on by you can join in the latest i-Care give water event this Saturday. It starts at Bank Muscat head office in Seeb at 9.30am, before fanning out to distribute 9,000 water bottles to workers toiling in the hot sun. Register at www.i-careoman.org.
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Celebration of Life The Royal Opera House is hosting the Caracalla Dance Theatre’s Kan Ya Ma Kan, a theatrical and ballet trilogy of east meets west. Ivan Caracalla directs this passionate production combining Scheherazade, Bolero and folklore, starring the Caracalla Company dancers choreographed by Alissar Caracalla. The dancers will be accompanied by the Yerevan National Opera and Ballet Symphony Orchestra for what should be a thrilling performance.
One for the Heart Backed by the Ministry of Health, ‘Go Red for Women’ is a chance to get a free cardiovascular checkup while out shopping at Muscat City Centre or Qurum City Centre mall. Blood pressure, blood sugar, Body Mass Index and cholesterol will all be checked and tips offered for staying healthy from 5pm to 8pm.
May
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If you’ve been battling an addiction to all things sweet, you might want to attend Whispers of Serenity Clinic’s latest health workshop. Titled Sugar Blues ‘Health Coaching’, it takes place from 4pm-6pm and costs RO30 – that’s at least a month’s worth of candies, ice cream and chocolates.
Tunisian Dream Bait Muzna Gallery is hosting an exhibition by Oman-based Tunisian artist Riadh Abdi at Bank of Beirut, Al Ghubra. Abdi is a regular participant of the Abu Dhabi Art Fair and has exhibited both solo and in joint shows in Dubai, Muscat, Tunisia, and France. His work is described as a “visual hallucination which moves between the figurative and concept”.
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THIS WEEK
MOVIES MOVIES Dark Skies
The Great Gatsby There’s been a lot of buildup for the latest version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic. The trailers were released more than a year ago, making Baz Luhrmann’s spectacle a source of endless speculation. Would Prada really be designing Daisy’s dresses? Would Leo DiCaprio trump Robert Redford in the role of Jay Gatsby? Would the riot of glitz and glamour undermine the refinement of Fitzgerald’s storytelling? In short, the answers are yes, yes and yes – which makes it a great film. It is a super stylish and visually spectacular affair. And Luhrmann certainly does what he does best in dazzling audiences with flamboyant sets and fast-moving camera work. The film is decadent, dramatic and dripping with Tiffany diamonds – so much so that you sometimes lose the subtler elements of the script. Still, the stellar cast does its best to provide some substance to all that style. DiCaprio flexes his acting muscles more than the rest but there are moments when you wish the director would slow things
down and give him and co-star Carey Mulligan time to explore the emotion of the story. For those of you who haven’t read the book, the story primarily concerns the mysterious millionaire Gatsby and his love for the rich, beautiful and married socialite Daisy Buchanan (played by Mulligan), as told by would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire). Drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, Carraway slowly unravels a less than flattering portrait of the Jazz Age with its excess, deceit and morally dubious behaviour. Of course, there are flaws in Luhrmann’s adaptation. There are a couple of creative embellishments that fans of the cult book will hate, and tragic elements of the love story are somewhat watered down by all the glitz. But not being an overly sentimental type, I quite liked that. All in all, this is a mustsee film that more than lives up to Hollywood’s hype. Review by Penny Fray
PREVIEW The Baytown Outlaws Three dirt-encrusted hillbilly brothers are hired by Eva Longoria to take back her son from drug kingpin Billy Bob Thornton. So begins a blood-spattered comedy of errors, as every cliché of Southern fried foolery is thrown into the mix – biker babes, racial violence, corrupt politicians, hard drinking and crazy driving. Baytown wants cult B-movie status as bad as Boss Hogg likes fried chicken.
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Mother of two Keri Russell is an estate agent trying to sell a house no-one wants, while husband Josh Hamilton just can’t find a job. Life’s tough enough without the fact that the family is being tormented by a mysterious force, and a guy on the internet tells them the aliens are coming for them. There’s nothing here that wasn’t done first and better in Poltergeist or Paranormal Activity – in fact it takes liberally from every other
aliens and exorcism yarn while adding a couple of new touches.
Dino Time (3D) Ernie’s love for adventure gets him into all kinds of scrapes. He and sister Julia discover a time machine their friend Max’s dad has invented in his garage and – whoops – find themselves back in the land of dinosaurs. Adopted by a pink Tyrannosaurus, the gungho gang must try to get back home. Cute.
Y’s Bolly Watch
I Love New Year
Bollywood filmmakers love to take their viewers on a tour of the world’s most sophisticated settings, and this week’s films chose probably the two most romantic cities as their backdrop. After a boozy New Year’s Eve with expat pals, Wall Street banker Sunny Deol wakes up in the New York apartment of musician Kangana Ranaut but can’t remember how he got there. Shot in New York and Mumbai, with very obvious shades of The Hangover, we see the unlikely couple gradually fall in love as they try to piece together the preceding night.
Ishqi in Paris
‘A man (Gaurav Chanana) and a woman (Preity Zinta) meet on a train heading for Paris and end up hanging out in the capital of romance. With the help of a dice of fate, they’re told what to do next – disco dancing, candlelit dinners, walks in the park. Via some big song and dance numbers, we all know where this is leading.
For more information and times, go to: City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net Star Cinema: Tel +968 24791641
THIS WEEK
The What’s On Guide
Movies
GALLERY
GHALA INFERNO
Photos by Jerzy Wierzbicki
fire services moved in as workers’ portacabins caught fire last week and many lost everything
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DESTRUCTION OF A COASTAL IDYLL An escalating litter problem has all but destroyed the beauty of Ras Madrakah. Here, in words and photo, Jerzy Wierzbicki reveals the ruination of a piece of paradise.
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tretching as far as the eye could see, you could be forgiven for thinking that the long trail of litter signified a landfill site of some sort. In fact, the detritus of life is strewn on a beach in a prime tourist stop and what used to be my favourite place to visit. Instead of breathtaking white sands, anyone coming here is greeted by, among other things, discarded plastic bottles, cans and carrier bags, thoughtlessly left by people who ironically were drawn to come because of its natural beauty – a beauty that they have now so selfishly scarred for others. The destruction of this place is a personal affront to me and makes me so sad. Ras Madrakah, in the far south of Duqm, is the first place in the Omani Interior that I visited when I first came to this country more than five years ago. Since then, I’ve returned several times to chronicle with my camera the unique environment and atmosphere I found there. Ras Madrakah’s appeal extends beyond Oman. During some trips, I have seen cars bringing visitors from the Emirates and Kuwait. Unfortunately, this popularity has had negative consequences. The place was never pristine and on a visit in 2010, I noticed bits of litter between rocks on the white beach. I did not return until March the following year, when I found that the rubbish had significantly increased. After that, I rarely visited and only fleetingly if I did. Until recently, with the unusual spell of rain and storms, I suggested to my friends that we take advantage of the cooler weather and visit Ras Madrakah beach. We arrived on a Thursday morning and went straight to the beach behind the village. The view that greeted us was embarrassing for the country and horrifying for me. I hadn’t expected pristine sand but neither had I expected the enormous swathes of plastic, pieces of Styrofoam, old fishing nets and the telltale debris left by campers – papers, foil cups, broken pieces of toys and even used nappies. We had to pick up so much rubbish just to clear a small space for us to pitch our tent. Worse was to come. On an early evening stroll, we found a big dead turtle, rotting and upended in the sea, an ignominious end for such a beautiful creature. In the morning, we grabbed our stuff and left. It was the last time I will ever visit.
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T he Eyes
have it These striking images, mostly taken in the Sultanate, showcase some of the best young Omani talent who exhibited their work at the Third Photography Summit held at the Middle East College in Muscat.
Hajir al Tuwaijri
“This picture reveals a little bit of anger and suffocation. It expresses some emotions that are hidden within the subject. There is always a story behind every picture and perhaps this outlines the starkness of smoking.� Bio: I am 20 years old from Muscat. I started taking photographs at the age of 16. 020
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Students from 18 colleges took part in the Middle East College photography summit, held under the auspices of HE Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, advisor at the Ministry of Sports Affairs. The summit showcased 450 photographs from different regions, including 65 exhibits from the GCC countries.
Hawraa al Fahdi Asmaa al Kharusi
“Children have always been an inspiration to me. This child expresses a lot of innocence with a hidden smile.”
“I met a child in the park. She had the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen. Astonishing features. I believe that the picture speaks a lot just looking through her eyes. This picture won the golden award in the Serbia 2013 photographic competition.” Bio: I am 21 years old from Muscat. I have been taking photographs from the age of 13 and professionally for three years.
Tahani al Huthaili
“This is one of the most inspiring pictures that I have ever captured. The picture reveals a lot of undefined emotions: the loss of love and care, and the scattered innocence of childhood. I wanted something to attract all the senses and I realised that childhood is one of the most touching topics.” Bio: I am 20 years old and originally from Bahla. I have been taking photographs for almost five years.
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Abdulwahed al Masaudi
“I took this picture in the Muscat Festival this year. I was driven by my emotions on that day as I was seeking something extraordinary. Old people and their unique features that express their rich experiences and passions always fascinate me. I thought this picture of an old woman would speak a thousand words.” Bio: I am 28 years old and from Rustaq. I am the founder of the photography club at Middle East College and the main organiser of the Third Photography Summit.
Noufal al Ruzaiqi “This picture was captured in Bidiya, where camel lovers organise an annual camel racing event. During such events, photographers can capture rare pictures that highlight the skills of the camel racers.” Bio: I am 18 years old and I am originally from Al Amerat. I have been interested in photography ever since I was a child. I started taking these pictures in January. The camera I use is a Canon 600D.
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Abdulrahman al Adawi
“This picture highlights splash photography. It’s not an easy style. The first phrase that pops into my mind is ‘the essence of succulence’.” Bio: I am 23 years old and originally from Bahla. I started photography two years ago.
Asmaa al Rashdi
“I was inspired by the Orphan’s Day event that was held recently at our college. The event encouraged me to express my feelings through a picture that identifies the loss of parents and the grief of the child. This picture translates a lot of inner feelings.” Bio: I am 19 years old from Al Mabelah. I have always been interested in photography but I got serious a year ago after being motivated by the Photography Club at Middle East College and got my own camera, a Canon 600D.
One of the challenges for the students at the summit was to find a new way to take images of The Wave, as illustrated here (left). MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
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SUP CAMPA PORT OUR IGN. PETITI SIGN OUR ON O /YTABL N OID
WOULD YOU
RISK
LOSING YOUR
WORLD?
Not using a car seat to protect your child can have far-reaching and devastating consequences – join our campaign to stop it happening.
T
Words: Kate Ginn
he car is mangled almost beyond recognition, a wreckage of twisted metal with debris from the crash scattered across the road, glass and bits of plastic and a child’s shoe. Somewhere amid that devastation will be the driver, passenger and their child. Whether they are alive or dead won’t be known until the fire crew arrives to cut them out of the ruined remains of what was once a car. If the young child has not been strapped into a car seat then they are in all likelihood already beyond saving. This is the scenario that can greet emergency services as they arrive at the scene of a road traffic accident. As Y continues a campaign with the National Youth Commission (NYC) calling for a law to make car seats compulsory in the Sultanate, bringing us in line with the UAE, a health and safety expert describes the devastating aftermath of road traffic accidents. Stephen Parr, a consultant at the Modern Gulf Institute in Muscat, which runs training courses and workshops, has seen first-hand scenes such as the one described above. A former firefighter in the UK, he would often be the first on the scene at car crashes, where people were still trapped inside or, worse, dead. “I can tell you what it smells like, I can tell you about picking up body parts and trying to identify someone from dental records alone because there isn’t enough left. “I’ve been to crashes where children have died and I’ve seen what happens to them when they haven’t been strapped in. It’s not something that you ever want to see or can ever forget.” Parr talks about what happens when a car stops suddenly with a child not restrained in the front or back.
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“If the child is not secured, they will be ejected forward. At 40 km/h, the body mass increases by 40 times so if the mother is holding the baby in her lap, [her weight] would be like the size of a small elephant hitting the baby. The baby would be crushed. “If the airbag is deployed, the weight of the mother could crush or kill the baby. “If the baby is in the back of the car, they could be thrown forward and hit the centre console or windscreen. Because the windscreen is laminated, it doesn’t break but cracks when something hits it. “The skull will crack, the neck will be broken and the face will be shaved off from the splinters of the windscreen. “In most cases, I will just be bagging and tagging.” The hardest outcome of a car crash is if the parents or parent lives but a child dies. "Breaking the news is the hardest thing,” says Parr. “People never get over losing a family member and the grief and guilt if you have caused it can be overwhelming.” Don’t let this be you. Buckle up your children in a car seat, which can cost as little as RO19, and save their lives. • For more information on road safety in Oman go to: www.salimandsalimah.org and http://awladnaoman.com
Modern Gulf Institute: www.moderngulf.com
Here a young girl called Fatma who was involved in a car accident tells her story.
A
day I will never forget. My mom was on her way home from work and at that time she picked me up from school. She was taking her usual route home when I tapped her and said in a calm voice, "Mama there is a car coming and it is on our side of the road." Now her first instinct was to put the car in reverse but she did what she thought was best and she pulled over. By the time her passenger tyres had touched the kerb, we were hit head on with the loudest impact you could ever imagine. I was scared. All I could hear my mother saying was "Oh Lord please don't take my baby." My mother rolled over and the pain tore through her body. She told me ‘I love you’ and to hang on, help would get us out of there. We had to be extracted from the car; I was taken out first, then my mother. Removing my mother was the most difficult because the engine had come in and crushed her from the waist down. The driver who had caused the accident was rushed from the scene to a nearby hospital. He was fighting for his life. My mother had emergency surgery to save her right leg and foot, but it was not until the next day we were told that the driver of the other car had passed away. Doctors told my mother that she would not walk again. Luckily she has recovered enought to walk again. The other driver’s life was taken because of reckless driving. But we are still here and the man’s family still missing and grieving for him. If you have to drive recklessly, do it on the racing tracks. Don't come out on the roads and destroy someone else's life, including yours.
Birth - 12 months A child under age one should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time. 1 - 3 years Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rearfacing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness. 4 - 7 years Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat. 8 - 12 years Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there. Description (Restraint Type) A REAR-FACING CAR SEAT is the best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child’s fragile neck and spinal cord. A BOOSTER SEAT positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body. A FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT has a harness and tether that limits your child’s forward movement during a crash. A SEAT BELT should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain the child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck.
(Courtesy of Awladna campaign in Oman)
Muscat Mums, a non-profit social and support group for parents of pre-school children of all nationalities, held an anonymous online forum for Y on the issue. These are some of their responses, in some cases they're quite provocative:
The worst I saw was an infant, about six months old, on the driver's lap!
If I had the power, I’d take the child away from the parent for putting him or her in danger.
Why not a law that newborn babies can only be discharged from hospital if they are in a car seat? Sometimes the safest place is not a mother's arms.
They should have done it a long time back with the speed limit here and the way people drive. It's high time I pass lots of cars with children going to the school in Al Muna and most are sitting in the front or bouncing around the back. This morning there was a child on a front passenger seat, aged about three or four, with another child sitting on their knee and older ones bouncing around in the back
Children, at the least, should sit in the back seat, with a safety belt on, windows closed, and doors on child locks.
I think it's awful and shocking how people drive around with their children standing between the front seats. My son is my life and I would never put him in danger like that. The decision lies with parents ultimately, they can make the right decision with education. MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
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BUSINESS & CAREER
Trend
Networking
Minute Mentoring
Do you wonder why sites like Pinterest and Instagram are so popular? Photographs. They are the perfect social media-marketing tool for SMEs in that they help you engage with customers. To reduce content creation time, develop an alluring hook or theme relating to your product or business.
Fantastic photos can mean the difference between fame and being forgotten. The perfect publicity picture should capture the best bits of your business, whether it’s food, fashion, art or acting. Convey a message about who you are with clear, confident and creative imagery.
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Trend
Networking
Minute Mentoring
PICTURE Perfect Want positive publicity? Follow our expert tips on getting your photographs published in the press. By Penny Fray
T
he only shots you’ve taken of late are ones at passing colleagues – your tongue, after all, is more lethal than most bullets. But in business terms, a good photograph is worth more than a thousand sarcastic words. Magazines, newspapers, trade publications and blogs will always consider using high-quality images that are supplied to them, especially if they’re accessorised with a decent story. The result? Easy, low-cost publicity. They don’t have to be of Magnum quality (we’re not talking about ice cream here but the global agency famed for its award-winning photography) – but they do have to be relevant. In this regard, it’s always worth studying the publication you’re targeting. After all, what works for a free sheet won’t necessarily appear in a glossy magazine. And there are always set platforms that you can slot your snaps into. It’s all about replicating style and substance. The best way to ensure that your photographs are of an acceptable quality is to learn the basics. After all, the biggest mistake people make is thinking that a decent camera will turn them into a decent photographer. “There are a few fundamental rules you need to abide by like never taking a shot opposite strong light,” says Y photographer Jerzy Wierzbicki. “And try to use natural or ambient light rather than flash when photographing faces.” According to the Oman-based professional, the error most SMEs in search of publicity make is to send in low-resolution images taken by smartphones. “Your photo needs to be high quality – 5MB or more – and in focus,” he says. “Also, when sending photographs to a publication, make sure they’re captioned. State who is shown on the photograph, listing people from left to right.” If you’re emailing them, make sure you have the right recipient and the resolution doesn’t grind everything to a halt. Journalists and designers usually react badly to being delayed on deadline. Huge files should be sent through an online file sharing software like Dropbox or SendSpace or be downloadable from your website. Corporate or group shots are the bane of all editors in that they’re usually boring. Remember, there are hundreds if not thousands of individuals and businesses competing for editorial space, so you need to stand out from the crowd. And that means being a little creative. “A profile image should be a full length portrait and group shots, if possible, should be kept to minimum numbers,” adds Jerzy. “Make sure your subjects don’t stand squarely into the camera. Try experimenting with active rather than posed shots. Get your subjects to show some personality by catching them off guard. Also use a wide-angle lens for a more dynamic perspective.” If you’re at an event, don’t assume you have to take endless people pictures. “Capture the details,” says Jerzy. “Take a close up of the food, flowers and décor. You need to create a sense of ambience.” Finally, be designer friendly. Keep the background of your images plain if possible and make sure there’s enough space for potential cropping. Of course, if your story or subject matter is good enough, most publications will send out their own photographer, especially if there’s a high-profile celebrity involved. So, it’s worth phoning the editor or a publication’s picture desk well in advance to see whether they’ll cover the event. If not, ask them to recommend someone. As industry experts, they’ll know who’s good and who’s not in the region. In the meantime, happy snapping.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY:
STRIKE A POSE “If you need to take a great portrait shot – go outside and use the late afternoon sunlight. The light is softer at this time and far more flattering on your face. It also means that you won’t need a lot of additional equipment like flash.” Jerzy Wierzbicki, photographer for Y magazine.
SPEED OF LIGHT “Moving subjects are more difficult to capture, so you need to adjust your shutter speed accordingly, otherwise you’ll end up with a blurred image.” Abdul Wahid, photographer for Koooora magazine.
BUSINESS BUY
Elegant and expensive, the Smythson notebook is the ultimate creative accessory for those who prefer creating retro-style reminders. Available from Smythson.com
C oNen n e c t e d
twork fro with Y’s newm your desk weekly profile .
Name: Rizwan Position: CEO Sultan Qazi Benefits: Provi Diners Club Oman cards and is willindes Omani consumers with credit with others in the g to share his global experience areas of business Character: Cha management. thinking, and caring rismatic, energetic, forward Would Like T . with similar thinkio Meet: Entrepreneurial people Contact me o ng. n: Rizwan.qazi@ dinerscluboman.com
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food and drink
Trend
New Restaurant
USE YOUR LOAF
The hippest thing since sliced bread is, well, bread – especially when it’s freshly baked, smothered in creamy butter and comes from one of Muscat’s growing number of achingly beautiful boulangeries, including Paul at MGM, BreadTalks and Muscat Bakery.
Did you know… Not only will the smell of freshly baked bread help increase the price of your property, it’ll also make you a kinder, more pleasant person to be around, according to a new psychology study.
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Reviews
BreadTalks, Paul and Muscat Bakeries all make bread buying a chic affair.
Dips are great if you like your loaf to have a little extra kick to it.
First Aid
Fire Safety
W e b s i t e : w w w. m o d e r n g u l f. c o m
This retro style bread bin in enamel is available from Lily and Lime from RO20.
E m a i l : i n f o @ m o d e r n g u l f. c o m
I
t’s made with just four simple ingredients – water, flour, salt and yeast – yet nothing beats the fantastic flavour of a freshly baked loaf smothered with lashings of butter. The very act of tearing into the outer crust to access the warm, soft texture beneath is a joyous affair. Homemade bread may smell and feel good but it tastes even better, conjuring up happy memories of picnics, Parisian boulangeries and baking with mother. It is this sense of nostalgia that has brought bread back into vogue. Forget about some of the manufactured monstrosities that taste like cardboard and stick to the roof of your mouth – we’re talking about the wholesome deliciousness of artisan bread. Designer loaves, crafted from the finest of ingredients, are so hot right now that wannabe domestic goddesses are paying a small fortune for classes and bread makers. Chic bakeries are popping up all over Muscat as hip gourmands move swiftly on from Atkins and back into the benefits of breads packed with fiber, vitamin B and essential fatty acids. “We find that the healthier types of bread such as wholemeal, sunflower seeds and soft French are the most popular here in Muscat,” reveals Jannat Moosa, marketing director of Bin Mirza International, the company behind BreadTalks. “Breads that have grains such as dark rye are also well liked.” According to research, bread lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes, plus it reduces the danger of developing some form of cancers. No wonder BreadTalk is planning to launch a new collection of healthy breads in August. In the meantime, it’s worth baking your own using virtuous ingredients like gluten free flour, green tea and sunflower seeds. “When baking make sure to handle the dough delicately and ensure that the temperature of the water mixed in is not too hot or too cold,” advises Jannat. “And always remember that the higher the quality of the ingredients the better the results.”
Te l : 2 4 5 4 2 7 3 7
Penny Fray discovers why the humble loaf is the sexiest new kid on the baking block.
HSE Courses
BREAD OF HEAVEN
Personnel Development Workshops & Training Courses General English Teambuilding Strategic Planning Supervision Training Needs Analysis (TNA) Customer Care Microsoft Applications IC3 Train the Trainer Business & Report Writing IELTS Preparation Emotional Intelligence Leadership Development
News
TREND New Restaurant
We love traditional bread making books like this one from Eve Parker.
MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
029
food and drink
review N e w R e s t a u r a n t
News VERDICT
8½ 10
:
Super attent b flavours, ive and grservice e value. at
CHINA IN
THEIR HANDS D riving past the China Town restaurant in Al Khoud, it’s easy to look at the uninviting exterior and pass on by. But don’t be put off. China Town’s third outlet – its first opened in Qurum and there’s another in Ruwi – is now a year old and already popular. Inside, the fresh green and white décor is more promising and the manager and staff make you feel welcome. The menu is extensive, including most of the Chinese classics plus some unusual additions. You can also choose fruit cocktails from a separate menu courtesy of the juice bar next door. For starters I chose the hot and sour soup and my friend went for good old prawn sesame toast. The waiters are attentive and unfussy and our first course came in no time. The sesame toast came in a mansized portion, with much thicker slices than normal. They were freshly made and my friend was pleased. As for the soup, it was packed with flavour and spices, and the vegetables were as they should be – al dente with a just-diced tastiness. (From our table it was comforting to hear the chef chopping away like a demon in the kitchen.) So impressed were we both that sharing seemed only natural. For main course I stuck with my chilli
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Don’t be put off by the outside – dismiss this unassuming little eaterie and you’d be missing out on a real treat, says Joe Gill. theme and chose something I had never seen before – spicy prawns with spinach. My friend struggled over the meat and poultry menus and finally opted for Hoi Sin Beef. We shared a steamed rice, which was wise, since it came in a huge portion. The prawns were fat and succulent and, combined with Pop Eye’s favourite greens, made for a zingy and intense treat. By this time I was ready to jump up and kiss the Nepalese chef. My friend was equally happy with his tender slices of beef saturated in a rich, mouth-watering sauce of onions and peppers. Again, we each shared our dishes just to reaffirm our good fortune. The portions were all generous but we were on a roll now and decided to share a dessert, a house speciality – crispy honey flakes. This unusual sweet is a surprising delight – flat, crunchy noodles fried in honey that you can’t stop eating. After the riot of flavours, the sweet topped off the meal perfectly, accompanied by some green tea. When the bill came, it was as reasonable as you could hope for. China Town is no ordinary Chinese takeaway – it’s a real find worth revisiting whenever you can. I certainly will.
Info Box
Address: Al Khoud Street, Near Seeb Club Opening Hours: 11am-3pm / 6pm-midnight Phone number: 2453 5219/5649 www.goldenspoongroup.com Price (for two): RO12
HEALTH& BEAUTY
Health
Beauty
FLAPPER FASHION
Hoorah – the film that everyone’s talking about is finally here. After a long time in the making, the glitz and the glamour of The Great Gatsby has arrived along with deco inspired dresses and oodles of Tiffany diamonds.
Everyone who is anyone is gushing about the Prada pieces worn by the actress Carey Mulligan. They simply ooze Art Deco decadence.
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FASHION
GET YOUR GATSBY ON
Fashion is heading back to the jazz age in celebration of Baz Luhrmann’s new film, says Penny Fray.
This Concord clip from Glitzysecrets. com looks much more expensive than its RO13 price tag.
T
he obsession with 1920s clothes has been simmering away for several seasons. Ever since the fashion pack learnt that the legendary Jazz Age classic by F. Scott Fitzgerald was to hit the big screen, the catwalks have been covered with diamonds and decadent deco dresses. In 2012, Gucci, Fendi and Ralph Lauren all embraced the elegance of a bygone age with monochrome beading, sumptuous silks and fabulous feathers. Fashion, however, is a fickle creature that waits for no film – even one whose wardrobe has been masterminded by Miuccia Prada. And the late screening has been a sartorial disaster for those of us relying on high-street spin offs of all those fabulous on-screen frocks. If you want to recreate the look, both Miu Miu and Nina Ricci offer fringe, flapper dresses, while Monsoon in Muscat City Centre does well on glamorous, retro accessories like beaded belts and feathered clips. For deco-inspired diamonds, head for Tiffany & Co. After all, the iconic label designed an amazing collection of platinum-set sparkles specifically for the film, including Daisy’s headpiece. If you don’t have an oil sheikh as a husband though, head for one of Muscat’s many imitation jewellers for bejewelled clutches and chandelier earrings. Inject a bit of crystalline elegance into your evening repertoire with these black satin pointytoe pumps from Miu Miu. Get them from mytheresa.com From RO320
Penguin book from RO10 at Amazon.
Tiffany & Co designers crafted a magnificent headpiece in platinum for The Great Gatsby, bringing Daisy Buchanan to life. Features a detachable brooch. From RO77000
Do you have a lemonade rather than a bubbly budget? Buy these sparkly clips from RO4 at Accessorize.
This slick stingray leather clutch from Anya Hindmarch screams Art Deco elegance. From RO750
Nina Ricci modernises the flapper dress with this fringe and lace tiered number – from RO2250
All That Jazz: PENNY’S GUIDE TO THE ROARING TWENTIES
1 If you think the retro revival means fringing, feathers and a Louise Brooks bob, think again. A simple string of pearls or a statement necklace will give even the plainest outfit a bit of old-age glamour. 2 Lace continues to stand the test of fashion time, but make it white rather than black this summer. 3 Keep heels mid height with a T-bar or Mary Jane strap. MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
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HEALTH& BEAUTY
H ealth
Beauty
Fashion
TAKING CARE OF
YOUR ASSETS
With the backing of a Hollywood superstar, the fight against breast cancer is back in the spotlight
B
Words: Kate Ginn
reaking taboos and spreading awareness is one of the biggest battles in reducing rates of breast cancer in Oman. Despite advances in treatment and education, the subject remains a sensitive issue among some generations and the message that self-screening can save lives is still not getting across. Experts are hoping, however, that the country can ride the crest of the wave of publicity surrounding the disease after the revelation from Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie that, faced with a risk of cancer, she had undergone a double mastectomy. Jolie, 37, wrote about her difficult decision in a deeply personal and moving account published in The New York Times newspaper last week. With the glamorous star as the new poster girl of breast cancer, there is hope she can break down cultural barriers surrounding the disease and encourage other women to talk about their own experiences of living with and surviving the disease. “It’s amazing that someone like Angelina Jolie has gone public and spoken about this,” says Dr Yasmeen Salim Abdullah al Hatmi, executive board member of the Oman Cancer Association and deputy director of quality and development of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). “I believe that having the status she has as a celebrity can help to make it more acceptable to talk about breast cancer. There are women for whom it is still a sensitive subject. Angelina Jolie has given the world a kick. It has made some women think ‘let’s go back a notch and check ourselves.” “She has helped removed the stigma of a mastectomy.” Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females in Oman, representing about 16.4 per cent of all cancers in women, according to the Ministry of Health. Of even more concern is the statistics showing more young women between the ages of 30 and 45 in the Sultanate are being diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease is more common in women over the age of 55. Angelina Jolie’s own mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. When the actress discovered that she carried the ‘faulty’ gene, BRCA1, which can sharply increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, she decided to act. Doctors estimated that she had an 87 per cent risk of breast cancer. “Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much as I could. I made the decision to have a preventive double mastectomy,” Jolie wrote. In April this year, she finished three months of medical procedures. The mother-of-six, said her decision was motivated by the desire to “tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.” Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. “I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience,” Jolie wrote. “Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness.” “What Angelina Jolie did was quite radical. It’s quite rare to have the BRCA1 defect,” says Dr al Hatmi. Dr Yuthar al Rawahy, a cancer survivor, founded the Oman Cancer Association, formerly the National Association for Cancer Awareness, in 2004. A mother of five, she was working in the College of Medicine at Sultan Qaboos
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H ealth University when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Six months later, she was also found to have breast cancer and during treatment, cancer cells were discovered in her uterus. “Cancer has changed my life forever. I realised that there is a reason why my life was spared while so many of my family member and close friends succumbed to this disease,” she has said. The Association has since won numerous awards and accolades for its work, including introducing a mobile mammography unit, which travels to remote villages in Oman, and offers free screening to all women. “We have made progress but there is still a lot to be done,” says Dr al Hatmi. “Late detection is still a huge problem in Oman. By the time women come forward, it is often in the later stages. They are often in denial that anything is wrong. “Breast cancer is still such a sensitive topic here, particularly with the older
The breast awareness
5 point code
1. You should know what is normal for you. 2. Know what changes to look for.
3. Look and feel. 4. Tell your doctor about any changes
straight away.
5. Go for breast screening when invited. * Source Breast Cancer Care
Beauty
Fashion
How do I check my breasts? There’s no right or wrong way to check your breasts. Try to get used to looking and feeling your breasts regularly. You can do this in the bath or shower, when you use body lotion, or when you get dressed. There’s really no need to change your everyday routine. Just decide what you are comfortable with and what suits you best. Remember to check all parts of your breast, your armpits and up to your collarbone. generation in Oman, they are too shy to talk about it. “We don’t say to women that it’s self-examination, we instead call it self-screening. We don’t mention touching the breast, as some women will be too shy to do that, so we say to check your armpit first and them move around to the front. “The younger generation of Omani kids is not so shy. We need this generation to educate the older ones. “We also need Omanis that have survived cancer to stand up and talk about their experiences in the open.” There are many factors that increase the probability of breast cancer, says the Ministry of Health. Excessive intake of fats and weight gain are known risk factors that can be easily avoided. A woman can detect breast cancer early through regular selfexamination. If a woman finds something abnormal about her breast such as swelling, change of shape or blood discharge from a nipple, she should seek medical help immediately, the Ministry adds. “We need to keep the momentum going now,” says Dr al Hatmi. “Breast cancer is in the public arena again and we need to raise awareness in Oman and keep that awareness going.”
No matter what you’re driving, make your next car a new Audi. There has never been a better time to experince the power of Vorsprung durch Technik.
Now Audi offers Best Trade-in Value for your car. Now you can trade-in your car, any brand, any model, for a new Audi. For more information visit www.audi-oman.
Audi3Oman
The vehicle traded in should not be older than 5 years / 150,000 kms. The vehicle should be free of any major accidents. The vehicle should be of Oman specifications. No cash transaction. Terms and conditions apply.
Tel: +968 24 573 795 | +968 92 22 96 12 | www.audi-oman.com
Audi, Trade-in_Y_H15.5 x W21.5_Q5_indd.indd 1
MAY 23 – 29 / ISSUE 271
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5/20/13 3:05 PM
HEALTH& BEAUTY
Health
ARCH DE TRIUMPH B
ig, bold and reminiscent of Liz Taylor in her heyday – the so-called power brow is back in vogue and has been seen on both models and A-list actresses alike. Everyone from Keira Knightly to the Ashley twins have been rocking the look. Of course, until Stella McCartney and Alexander Wang sent models down the catwalk with big brows, eyebrow maintenance was a much subtler affair. Now, there’s a surge in Muscat for threading, tinting and penciling brows to perfection. Of course, Omani women have recognised the importance of wow brows for years. After all, a good brow stylist can do more for your face than a surgeon – lifting and framing the features as well as opening up the eye area for flawless make-up application. But gone are the days of over-plucking for barely-there brows. Even last summer’s obsession with bleached brows has died a fashion death. These days, everyone who is anyone
B eauty
Fashion
Sporting a pair of strong brows will earn you some serious beauty stripes this season, says Penny Fray. is embracing fuller, darker and flawlessly shaped retro arches or going for the slightly wilder more boyish look of Brit model, Cara Delevingne. But even a fuller brow needs maintaining. If you’ve never shaped with tweezers before, try having them professionally done first, using the line created as a guide when plucking errant hairs. Willing to have a go sans expert? One handy pro tip is to brush brow hairs down to find your natural shape, then fill in sparse areas with a pencil, using short, feathery strokes to even out the contours of your brows. Remember – never pluck from the top. Alternatively, try a stencilling set – there are several excellent versions on the market right now. Struggling to grow your brows? Really skinny ones require a serum that encourages hair growth and prevents fallout, like Rapidlash. Accessorise the look with glowing skin and natural make-up for day, and lashings of lashes and eye make-up for the night. This isn’t a look for the fearful or the fair-haired – not unless you have strong facial features anyway.
Can the catwalk trend for power brows work in real life? Penny Fray and Nada Ali battle it out. No. They make you look like Groucho Marx in drag, says Penny.
The bold brow is the most terrifying beauty trend to hit the high street since the perm. Dark and dramatic, they look like two inky caterpillars resting above your eyes. Of course, my main objection to this movement comes down to colouring – I’m blonde with ghoulishly white skin – so a pair of big, black brows will inevitably make me look like Groucho Marx in drag. But also, I have better things to do with my spare time than preserving a pair of high maintenance brows. Besides, fashion is a fickle mistress and come next season, it’ll probably be all about the lip, relegating the statement brow into beauty’s room 101 – where it belongs.
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Yes. They frame your face and make your eyes look bigger, says Nada.
Happy days – the statement brow is back in vogue – and I have a pair. Of course, I don’t wear them for fashion’s sake but because they frame the face and make more of my eyes. They also look more natural than a severely plucked arch. Obviously, they don’t suit everyone. They work best with strong features and dark colouring. That’s why Arab women have been sporting them for years. But let’s be honest here, they’re a commitment. You have to go through the whole beauty gamut of threading, shading and penciling to end up with catwalk-worthy brows. Otherwise, it’s off for tattoo treatment – and that doesn’t come cheap.
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CARS AND OUTDOORS
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DUKE OF DUQM
This cheeky chappie wasn’t fazed by our photographer’s camera. In fact, he happily posed for several photos, behaving as though he owned this piece of arid land.
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Destination
Duqm The Rock Garden,
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Shaped by wind, water and other natural forces, the limestone and sandstone rocks provide a sublime backdrop for the local habitat, finds Jerzy Wierzbicki
travel guide
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s regular readers will know, I enjoy travelling the country capturing landscapes and the spectacular scenery of Oman. Usually my subjects are inanimate objects. This time, however, I tackled the altogether more challenging area of wildlife photography. Taking photographs of beasts in their natural habitat is one of the most difficult arts to master. First of all, you need to know something about the species you want to photograph. Then you have to research the conditions in which you will be working in, which often requires heavy and expensive equipment. The most important things, however, are patience and time. And adaptability – you never know what can happen in the shooting zone. Because of this, the best wildlife photographers in the world command a lot respect among their peers. For instance, American Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, an award-winning expert dubbed ‘The Indiana Jones of Photography’, whose work has taken him to the most remote corners of the world, and Frans Lanting, a Dutch photographer, both work for, and have had their work published in National Geographic. Here in Oman, wildlife photography is rare. Only a few species can survive the barren and harsh conditions of the desert, and those that do flourish in such a climate are often hard to track down. My best hunting grounds to date have been the bird sanctuary on the Hikman peninsula, where flamingos with pink-tipped wings gather, and Masirah Island, a hatching ground for loggerhead sea turtles. Recently, during a trip to the southern part of the Al Wusta region, we stopped off in one of the country’s foremost areas of natural beauty just a few kilometres from the centre of Duqm – the Rock Garden. I have visited this fascinating site a few times before, with its moonscape-like scenery made by the limestone and sandstone rock formations. It is one of the top 25 sites of geological importance in the country, giving visitors an impressive insight into the wonders of the planet. This time, the weather and light was not perfect for landscape photography. As I walked with a couple of friends around some unusual shaped rocks, we saw a few lizards in the shade. They seemed timid, and approaching them without scaring them off proved a lesson in patience. I tried using a long lens to take photographs from a safe distance but the result was not as interesting as I’d hoped. After half an hour, one of my friends called out that he had found a small lizard, an Agama, sitting on top of a big brown rock. Unlike his fellow lizards, this one seemed unperturbed by our presence and sat surveying our movements. I took some shots from around three metres away but, again, the results were not what I expected. Not wanting to miss this chance, I went back to my car for another lens. When I got back, the lizard had changed position and was much closer to me. Very slowly, I moved in. The little Agama, a long-tailed, insect-eating lizard, stood his ground and appeared not in the least bit afraid of this strange, large creature moving towards it with a camera in hand. As I approached, I continued taking photos while gradually closing in on the subject. The lizard very proudly posed for photographs. Even when I changed the lens again for close-up shots, he remained in place. He obviously enjoyed the attention. I managed to get some amazing, sharp pictures from only 10cm away. When we had finished and got back into our cars, the lizard remained atop his rock, watching us and surveying the land around him, like the ‘Duke of Duqm’ and ruler of the Rock Garden.
Just follow the same route that I’ve been travelling constantly since 2007. Take Road 32 from Muscat to Duqm. Total distance is around 550km, around a sevenhour drive. A 4x4 is not absolutely necessary. You can park your saloon car on the gravel track and go the Rock Garden on foot, a walk of only around 300m. MAY 23 – 29 / ISSUE 271
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OUTDOORS WWi i- -FFi i OUTDOORS
KICKING UP A STORM
ON THE SAND
Who needs grass to play the great game when you have beaches right on your doorstep for football fanatics? Words and Photos: Kate Ginn
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s the sun starts to lower in the sky and the weather cools enough to be comfortable outside, Seeb beach starts to come alive. The sand is cleared and rubbish swept aside. Some of the players are already warming up, jogging along the shoreline or doing stretching exercises. Small wooden goalposts are placed into position. The game is about to begin and the tension is palpable. This is football Omani style, where the action takes place on the sand and everyone wants to show off, preferably in some style. Beach football, in case you hadn’t noticed, is absolutely huge in Oman. Drive past any beach around 4.30pm and the chances are a lively game of sorts will be in progress. Don’t be mistaken, though. While the skills on display might not exactly be of the same standard as Christiano Ronaldo and the game is played using an unofficial rulebook, this is a serious business for the young men sweating it out on the sunbaked sand. Not only is the match at stake but the team’s pride. “We play to win. It means so much to us,” says Mohammed, one of the players taking part in a knockabout game on the weekend.
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“Maybe people see us playing and think it is just for fun, but it is more than that to us.” Just how important the game was could be seen on the sweat-drenched faces of all the players, pushing themselves to the limit on the punishing sandy surface, which quickly saps the strength and energy from aching muscles. This is all about physical stamina, agility and accuracy. Y’s office is just across the road from Seeb beach, so we get a bird’s eye view of the late afternoon’s impromptu football match from our balcony every evening. The shouts for the ball or urging a last-gasp tackle can be heard echoing in the air. Players are clad in makeshift football kits, neither matching with each other or, indeed, with their own tops or shorts. Chelsea F.C. football tops clash with Brazil shorts or a teammate’s Real Madrid top, mixed in with the Iraqi national football team top and Italian strip. These are true rainbow teams, happily playing sideby-side on nature’s pitch. They call to each other in predominantly Arabic but different languages slip in, the odd English word or flutter of Spanish. Most play barefoot, kicking up clouds of sand as they dribble with the ball or slide into a tackle. Next to the adults, a group of little boys are
FOOTIE FACTS Beach soccer started in Brazil, more precisely at Leme beach, Rio de Janeiro, and has grown to be an international game. The laws of the game were set down in 1992. The first time beach football was shown on television was in April 1994 – a game from Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
emulating the grown-ups and their footballing heroes with their own game. Of course, each and every one of them playing, adult or child, dreams of being the next Ali al Habsi, the only Omani to play in the English Premier League so far and the stuff of football legends. With its 1,700km of coastline and endless stretches of sand, it will come as no surprise to learn that it turns out that Oman is quite good at beach football. Our national beach soccer team has won two major titles in the trophy cabinet to boast about – the gold medal at the first Asian Games in Indonesia in 2008 and top spot in the inaugural GCC Beach Games in Bahrain two years ago. Sadly, the dream of victory in the inaugural WAFF Beach Football Championship in Qeshm Island, Iran, at the beginning of the month ended in tears, if you will forgive the football cliché, with a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat in a penalty shootout against Iran. Never mind, there’s always the World Cup. Yes, beach football has it’s own global competition. The current holders are, surprisingly, Russia, who triumphed in Italy in 2011, but, not so surprisingly, Brazil has won the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup four times.
The city then played host to the first Beach Soccer World Championship the following year. The official rules allow for five players on each side, including the goalkeeper. A game lasts 36 minutes, split into three 12-minute periods. Internationally renowned players such as Eric Cantona, Romaro and Zico, have all taken part in beach football at one time.
Oman’s team, which is controlled by the Oman Football Association, the governing body for the game, made its debut in the tournament last year and will be bidding for a place in this year’s event in Tahiti. Beach football is a serious business, then. In fact, even the teams playing to let off steam after a hard day at work can use their silky skills on the sand to good use. More and more competitions and events for amateur beach footballers are being held in Muscat and around Oman, offering cash or other prizes to the winning teams. Hundreds of beach footballers descended on the pristine beaches of Shatti al Qurum in February this year to battle for honours and the RO1,200 top prize in the second Nawras Beach Football Tournament. Bank Dhofar also held its own Beach Five competition in March. Even if you don’t live near a beach, there’s no need to miss out. Makeshift football pitches can be found around the country on any suitable flat surface. There’s even one high up on Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in the country. So what are you waiting for? Grab your football kit and ball and join in the fun. MAY 23 - 29 / ISSUE 271
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EXPLORING
Qantab
Photo by Jerzy Wierzbicki
The LowDown
Qantab is an area of beautiful coastline where locals and foreigners live together happily, but new tourist developments are bringing in big changes.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly The hospitality of locals in the picturesque fishing village can be stretched at weekends when Muscat descends, the beach becomes crowded and parking areas are blocked. News that the municipality is planning a new asphalt road to the village has not been universally welcomed, with many wishing to preserve the area’s unspoilt natural beauty. Unfortunately the entry to the vast Jissah beach has been restricted since the start of works on a major tourist and residential project late last year. Fisherman and visitors can still use the village beach, but the acquisition of the stunning Jissah beach by international hoteliers means it will be changed forever. “It was one of the most adorable public beaches where fisherman worked and people enjoyed time with their families. It’s so sad,” says resident Anita Shuh.
Living There This is a genuine beauty spot only a few kilometres from downtown Muscat – and that is reflected in the relatively high rents. Qantab is home to a traditional fishing community, who live in harmony with a number of foreign residents. It has its share of spacious villas and a school for local children. Residents, families and fishermen go about their daily chores, play football on the beach, fix their fishing nets or go for a swim. Meanwhile around 100 new villas are being built as part of the Saraya Bandar Jissah development, which should be completed in 2014. 042
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For generations a quiet fishing community set amid stunning cliffs and mountains, Qantab has inevitably caught developers’ eyes. Two luxury hotels and more than 100 villas are being built around the beautiful Jissah beach, which has been restricted to visitors since late last year. Boat owners who used to ply the waters on Jissah beach have moved their trade to the Qantab village beach. However, this has led to litter and pollution in the water, and being right on the doorstep of residents, complaints about this issue are growing.
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Why I live here: Living in Qantab is peaceful, safe, relaxing and beautiful – I love the simple laidback life. The people who live here are really nice and friendly. Anita Schuh, travel agent.
Hang Outs It’s all about the beach – but also you are very close to some of the finest hotels and resorts in the Muscat area. These include the Shangri-La resort with its excellent eateries, the Marina Al Bandar, where you can take sea trips or eat in the restaurant, and let’s not forget the Al Bustan Palace for luxury high teas. Closer to home is the Oman Dive Centre, a great place to go snorkelling and swimming in the bay but also a relaxing hangout for families. As for the village, there is supposed to be an authentic Omani restaurant that must be booked in advance, but otherwise, just coffee shops.
Places of Interest Nothing bettered the stunning Jissah beach but unfortunately due to ongoing construction of new villas and hotels, the beach is fenced off to visitors. The new development is not due to be completed until at least 2014. In the village boatyard, there is a small but fascinating museum that shows the traditional methods of building dhow boats – including the Jewel of Muscat that sailed from Oman to Singapore in 2010, which was built here. Local boat owners can still take you out to the secluded islands off the coast for the day, where you can enjoy a picnic and look back at the breathtaking coastline.
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Free services and cash back up to 1000 Rials*
Shopping Qantab has one small supermarket, a few coffee shops and a tailor. Otherwise residents have to drive into Muttrah or Ruwi for the bigger shops. There may be new shopping facilities when the Saraya Bandar Jissar project is completed, but this is yet to be seen.
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-FI THE TECH IN YOU
My Hood
Cars
Outdoors
WI-FI
JOG ON
Dig out your gym shoes and dust down your dumbbells, it’s time to get fit the futuristic way, says Penny Fray.
ROCK & RUN Turn your iPhone or iPod into the perfect running partner with this amazing app and sensor from Nike. Exercise to your favourite music while your device tells you your time, distance, pace and calories burned. It even offers motivation, playing a power song to get your through the toughest bit of your workout. When your run is finished, your workout data is wirelessly sent to nikeplus. com, allowing you to see all your completed runs and link to other global athletes. Apple.com
PLAY HARD Designed for water sports, biking or running, these sleek iSport headphones are super comfortable and work well with helmets, goggles and glasses. Not only are they masterfully engineered for the best sound quality but they’re also sweat-proof and washable. For further information, go to monstercable.com
24/7 TRAINER It may be scorching outside but that doesn’t mean your can morph into a couch potato. The Xbox 360 training bundle offers a massive games and workout portfolio – and now for a limited time, it even comes with Nike + Kinect training. For more information go to xbox.com
EDITOR’S star pick ANALYSE THIS A gigantic leap forward has been made in activity tracking with AmiIgo. This crowd-funded fitness bracelet has the ability to detect more than 100 activities, accurately monitoring whether you’re running, swimming or even doing specific weight workouts. It then correlates these exercises with your body data, such as heart rate and skin temperature and syncs the information via Bluetooth to your smartphone. It’s out next month, so get on the waiting list through amiigo.com 044
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SCULPTED FOR YOUR SMARTPHONE It looks like something that should be displayed in a contemporary gallery but Ty It Vu is not art – it’s a phone charger. Simply drop your smartphone into the colourful cradle and let it power your battery wirelessly. Arriving soon at tyit.com.
APP OF THE WEEK
Android Central’s official app is the news hound’s dream in that it offers the latest stories, reviews, podcasts and videos. Plus, you can play the role of citizen journalist by tipping the site with news – then again, you can do that for Y mag too by emailing us on info@y-oman.com
NEW! AIROCIDE Airocide is different from all other air purifiers because it has no filters. Developed by NASA, it clears the air of virtually all the harmful gases found in your home. This FDA-approved device also completely eliminates all mould, fungi, viruses and bacteria, leaving just clear, crisp air to breathe in. It destroys virtually all germs It’s energy efficient It gets rid of foul smells It’s not effected by humidity Installation is easy It’s clinically recommended For more information, go to airocide.com
THE GIRLY GADGET
Every girl loves a good ballet shoe, especially if it’s comfortable, stylish, absorbs shock and helps tone your legs. Fitflop’s latest design from the due range ticks all those boxes and more. The pony makes its debut here rather than the fashion pages because of its expertly engineered and patentpending technology. In brief, think of it as caffeine for your feet. Go to fitflop.com for more information.
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Wi-Fi
Outdoors
CARS
Geely Emgrand X7 Engine 2.0L / 2.4L Transmission: 4-speed manual / 6-speed automatic Max power: 141 ps / 162 ps Starting price: RO5490
Check this out
Car of the week China’s SUV upstart has arrived in Oman with a price to turn your head
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Safety: ABS + EBD Airbags: front dual, side, curtain (front and rear), and knee Outside rear-view mirror with defogger Six-speaker audio system, with USB in GL model Cruise control (GL only) Removable second-row seats
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hina’s rising SUV brand, the new Geely Emgrand X7, has arrived in the Sultanate, aiming to steal a march on other makes in the segment with its unabashed price appeal. It may sound a little obscure to foreign ears, but the Emgrand took a best ever score for a homegrown brand in the China-New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) safety test – the first was the Honda CR-V. Geely is China’s largest privately owned car manufacturer and, while not quite a household name, its acquisition of Volvo in 2010
put it on the world map. The Emgrand comes in both 2.0 litre manual and 2.4 litre six-speed automatic models. It has won fans for its smooth shift performance, starting acceleration and steering control. Drivetrain Systems International (DSI), the Australian drivetrain maker acquired by Geely in 2009, produces the automatic transmission. Although best known in its domestic market, Geely has been picking up impressive overseas orders, with international sales for 2012 in excess of 100,000 units – out of a total of 460,000.
The X7 claims to have outclassed several best-selling SUV models in the safety department thanks to its ‘6 plus 1’ air bags. These include front, side, curtain and knee air bags. The interior offers plenty of legroom and headroom for both driver and passengers. Tech features include a vehicle Bluetooth system, touch-screen GPS navigator and six-speaker audio system. Starting at RO5490, it is aimed squarely at those consumers who want a value for money SUV. Towell Auto Centre is the sole distributor of the Geely Emgrand in the Sultanate.
Porsche Centre Oman SATA LLC Muscat, Telephone 2449 2544 9277 1887 9222 1225 satallc@omantel.net.om www.porscheoman.com
Carrera S 2012, 8,500 km, Gold Lime Exterior, Black Interior, 44,000 OMR.
Cayenne Turbo 2008, 54,754 km, Green Olive Exterior, Beige Interior, 22,500 OMR.
GTS 2009, 56,094 km, Orange Exterior, Black Interior, 21,000 OMR.
Cayman Sport 2007, 95,000 km, Red Exterior, Beige Interior, 13,500 OMR.
Cayenne S 2008, 78,015 km, Grey Exterior, Maroon Interior, 19,000 OMR.
Cayenne Turbo 2008, 98,648 km, Black Exterior, Maroon Interior, 22,000 OMR.