Y Magazine #404, January 21, 2016 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

Y turns eight next week! Join our birthday celebrations with a weeklong prize giveaway. We’ve got vouchers, gym memberships and dinner up for grabs. See P12 for details.

THE BAROMETER GOING UP PETROL PRICE The rise in petrol prices has kicked in at the pumps with drivers in the Sultanate paying more to fill up for the first time in 17 years.

GOING DOWN STOCK MARKET Oman’s stock market suffered its worst day on Sunday, as prices on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) hit a sevenyear low with an estimated RO675m wiped off shares in just 11 days of trading. See P10.

THIS WEEK… Team Y has been celebrating our editor Felicity’s birthday, checking out the Muscat Festival and exploring wadis with four-legged friends.

Welcome to Y Magazine – your top guide to the best of Oman every week.

Fast forward W

e can all remember the thrill of being a child when the latest must-have toy emerged and a campaign of pleading with your parents to procure you whatever it was followed until the prize was yours. These days the stakes tend to be higher. We recall dolls and roller skates as the fads, but kids often want something more hi-tech now, such as the two-wheeled battery powered hoverboards that suddenly seem to be everywhere. If, like us, you have had to dodge out of the way of kids zooming around on these devices on pavements, parks and streets, you’ll know how annoying they can be. But rather more serious safety concerns have been raised about the gadgets following several deaths linked to accidents on the boards, including two in the UAE, and reports of cheaper devices exploding into flames. Several countries have now banned the Chinese-made hoverboards from any public places and major airlines have refused to allow the boards on their aircraft. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also looking at introducing strict regulations. In our cover story this week, we investigate what Oman is doing to tackle the hoverboard menace and find that officials and police are yet to react. Thankfully, most malls in Muscat have banished hoverboards from their premises. We also speak to parents about their views. Elsewhere, we meet Muscat Festival’s dinosaurs face-to-face, try out the new Nissan Altima for our Car of the Week and start preparations for the Grand Finale of our Coolest Fresher competition, which is being held today (21). Enjoy the magazine! Team Y P.s. Our managing editor, Felicity, is on holiday, enjoying a well-earned rest. She’ll be back next week. editor@y-oman.com

Ways to get your Y fix Online: Visit y-oman.com for even more inspiration. Smart device: Catch up with Y on the go by scanning the QR code below

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi MANAGING EDITOR Felicity Glover DEPUTY EDITOR Kate Ginn ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst FOLLOW US ON:

SUB-EDITOR Matt Blackwell

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

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Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. JAN 21 - 27 ISSUE 404

contents

Features 20 Off Balance Menace Of Hoverboards

JANUARY 21 - 27 2016

Your Oman 06 Coffee With Deeba Madhursinh Jesrani 08 Voice Of Oman Yummy Mummy

26 Y’s Coolest Fresher The Finalists

This Week 16 Movies The 5th Wave 18 This Week Having A Laugh

10 News Markets Tumble 13 Gallery Gulf Craft Yachts 14 Gallery French School Opening/ Equestrian

15 Hyundai – Driven To Success Ali Al Rahma

20 Cars and Adventures 38 Destination Wadi Amerat

Food and Drink

40 Feature Y We Are Soulmates

28 Food Feature Cooking Delights 30 Taste Test Palm Restaurant

Health and Beauty

42 Outdoors Muscat Festival

32 Fashion Winter Warmers For Men

44 Y-Fi Quirky Tech

34 Beauty Hair 2016

46 Car Of The Week Nissan Altima

35 Health Diabetes - Kids At Risk

33 NEXT ISSUE...

Y TURNS 8 / COFFEE WITH DEEBA / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / FOOD / DESTINATION / HEALTH / FASHION

cretary of Oman se i, n a sr Je h in rs ets Madhu Deeba Hasan me es, who speaks h tc a W ’s ji im h K ral manager at Cricket and gene et in the country k ic cr r fo n d sacrifices. io is v of commitment an some have about his

People are working, family more seriously now.is to develop , on ted ot sp et lly rg ua ta us xt is the education load en comes e “Our ne , th ns d of gio s an re ge ts r io pa en commitm the sports cricket in the Inter d Sohar as the to balance all rs, ed pe ne pa ey ws th ne an so ’s ah et, an lal m ick Sa O cr g in ep ke rt e us.” often giving his expeet these things, just lika good job with priority.” ng way ick lo s cr a r ha e fo m s he co an s gh pl ha ou re th m tu Al The tea views and fu Madhursinh work and g, which Khimji’s Watches, through sheer hard rsinh has in Oman, somethin , fondly be the secretary still volunteered to d he reveals practice and Madhu in the future. Madhursinh Jesrani ai, has an et em ick of Oman Cr high hopes for th Ireland and known as Madhubh. ion that keeps him “We went to play inwere underdogs, it’s the appreciat n encourages me dedicated his life to ed in Oman tio going. “Motiva Scotland [and] we d. [Now] we His ancestors arriv n in India nning, I have and keeps my life ruger because of but we still qualifie gers crossed, from the Kutch regioo according on fin r become much str different things. need to keep ou ed very hard,” around 250 years aghis family has the boys have work my involvement in and we are to Madhursinh, so home for te na lta Su . e ys th sa d he People appreciate us growing calle e th s nt wa is . nh ns rsi tio hu ra All Mad happy that cricket mitment,” he several gene from their gely rn lar lea s m is ha co r do nh ou to rsi s of hu er e ad ay us pl M beca nces and Omani mistakes and experiee have big become the face of ing as a says. the “W . play accordingly ing [in] Asia Madhursinh recalls team cricket, initially joins financial ay e pl hi th e to ar en e e es wh hopes. W treasurer du for the World Cup. tough tim moving on to struggle to qualify dously Cup qualifiers plus r month for to background before ry in 2005. ed us ajo en m m eta ry tre cr ve is t se a e March is become th competitions, bu hope they Oman, ve now fallen team Oman and we Born and raised in here until happy that things ha m has ed di ll.” stu tea we e perform Madhursinh into place and th gardless of ich he in the 2016 Madhursinh says reupcoming grade seven, after whIndia, for earned their place 20, which will in ce i, an ba rm um rfo ty their pe moved to M ICC World Twen venues across ll continue to mpetitions, they wi co further studies. t lo be held at different to April 3, a ay t pl 8 move forward. Although he did noboy, mainly d India from March has clicked. work an g e it “After so much hardnever go tim s of cricket as a younhe went to in hi “T . 16 20 ll l commitment, we wiw looking at the Our team has done a wonderfu because the school on hockey, no e e or ar r m ou we d d se to an cu es fo ck go a it ba di In job [and] cred nt to build and a casual itment from future plan; we wa neration,” he cricket was always rsinh and players, [the] comm ort staff and ge xt hu ne ad e M th r p fo lo t ve pp es su de inter the committee, played in his have employed tells me. something that he her boys. s er ay pl as the companies that se er ot ov l e ra th ve th se wi e ith W tim e fre rsinh faces the players.” graduating re parting in the team, Madhulem of players Immediately after umbai, His last words befo content he ob M pr in al ty etu rsi rp ive pe un e w m th ho fro ing to their home really showed me serving the man and leaving and return e transient he came back to ORamdas th is as a person. “I amd the name of is ji countries, such joined the Khim cle, Kanak t bu e, e lif sports of Oman an e world map nature of expatriat s they have Group with his un has two an is now on th ve nh lie Madhursinh be n. “We have now Om use of this – what Khimji. Madhursi arried and beca identified a solutio local talent,” daughters; one is m ile the other I p lo wh else can I wish for? ve i, de ba to um ed M cid in de es liv to m e lif tea on y h ssi m ut pa en yo a her’s he says. “We made ers are Omanis have givand I am now has followed her fatanager of the ay pl m 14 e cricket th to e 13 m e co er be wh d an y the flag man. rr O ca in to m s ha tea m the happiest person. et ick tea cr is and th women’s and e m rm so s rfo ha pe to nh ve rsi ha hu ry forward, they Now 65, Mad ve you got a unique sto e icket in the eon som make us proud.” ks that although Ha w bright visions for crOmanis to be kno you do to tell or Madhursinh thin g people to ct us to have country and wants nta Co s? ha o wh un be it is not easy for yo begin with, part of the team. alifying for the coffee with Deeba and e. Email: zin aga M Y do well in cricket tohigh standard “I think after qu r team has in featured ou they can achieve a dication. “To World Cup (T20), ost,” he says. editor@y-oman.com de bo th al wi t or m or sp ge e hu th a in t go need a lot to senior reach that level you “People from juniortaking cricket d levels have starte

JULY2103- -2709/ /ISSUE JAN ISSUE404 327

THE VOICE OF OMAN KARIMA FARID ON MAKING A DIFFERENCE

correspondence TESTING TIMES Dear Editor,

thought I was in a dream when I read a friend’s Instagram post saying car seats are on the verge of becoming mandatory in Oman, as is buckling up in the back seat. I couldn’t believe my eyes and so I rushed to the nearest newspaper and skimmed through it and sure enough, there it was! This is a fantastic idea, if it is implemented correctly, and will surely not only save lives, but also spread the growth of a culture of safety within the nation. A large number of Omanis today are more safety conscious and are aware of the impact of not buckling up correctly. However, while many of us can afford car seats, some can’t. Also, lots of families have young children but not all do; plus we all come from different backgrounds, so how can we support this change? Here’s a simple plan on how we can actively make a difference. Are you a safety advocate within your company? How about taking up the initiative to “gift” your fellow new parent a car seat from your work colleagues? Do you have children in school? Follow up with the school’s headteacher and management on how to support them. Does your kid use a school bus and does it have seatbelts? Does the caretaker on the bus know first aid? Can they motivate students to wear seatbelts? There are lots of changes that need to be made, but I think if we put our hands together we can see this positive step through. Here’s to a safer year ahead, and may our children always be protected in the right manner.

NEXT WEEK: ALI AL BALUSHI

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

This refers to your cover story, “Tough Times Ahead” [Issue 403]. The article is timely and apt as the talk of the town is about the economic crisis that the region, as well as the other parts of the world, is going to face. The rising cost of living has always been a concern. Now the alarming predictions about the economic crisis will force everyone to follow austerity measures taken individually or on a Government level. We have to appreciate the Government of Oman for taking cautious

steps to avert more financial burden on its citizens, as well as expats. It’s our civil obligation to support the Government by following the economic measures taken by it. These are testing times, but they will hopefully pass without any hurdles, as Oman’s economy has always been steady and balanced. Thanks and regards, P A Jacob Muscat.

DO YOUR BIT Dear Editor, “Tough Times Ahead” [Issue 403] by Matt Blackwell made good reading, with opinions from a cross section of citizens and residents of the Sultanate on Oman. It voices concerns about what is in the offing for all of us. This write up is a clarion call of sorts to everyone, especially the salaried class, business community and those getting Government grants, who should fall in line with the changing scenario that comes as a result of steep falls in crude oil prices globally. In fact, this article made me recall the words of the former US president John F Kennedy, who said: “Ask not what your country can do to you – ask what you can do for your country.” At this hour, there is a great need for everyone concerned to add their might to this country, even if it is just a little, like cutting down on the usage of the internet and long phone conversations. The alarming scenario of inflation going up needs to be faced with brave minds. We all enjoyed a status quo on these prices for decades and now is the time we pay back. The Government has braced up to contain expenditure more wisely, as seen with the

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Sultanate’s budget for 2016. A popular adage says, “A country is not just landmass, but the people who live in it”, so in essence, it is the people who should stand up and be part of the structural and financial reform process in critical times of this kind. On my part, I decided to stop using our car and walk those extra miles, cut down on eating, use of power, water and entertainment, while also dispensing with the services of a domestic helper and gardener. Regards, Usha Devi Rao Suddapalli.Ruwi

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

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DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED:

“Do you think a salary tax should be introduced to help raise funds for the Government in light of low oil prices?” SYED BOKHARI‬‪ ‬‬‬

The country has given us everything and so when the country demands from us, we must be ever ready to sacrifice ourselves and not hesitate about salary taxes to help raise funds for the Government in light of low oil prices. This will definitely raise the image of the country in the community of nations. It’s our moral duty too.

UMESH GUPTA

I would accept a salary tax, providing it is not too much. If you look at the situation the Government finds itself in and the wider economic climate, I think we all have to pitch in and do our bit to get this country out of a slump and back on the path to development and progress.

‪

HUDA KHAN‪ ‬‬

I don’t think introducing a salary tax is such a great idea. Locally and internationally, the Omani economy has been attractive from the very beginning because of its tax-free status. Introducing a direct personal income tax in these already sensitive economic times would create unnecessary negative first impressions for the country’s economy. If necessary, the Government can try to raise income through indirect taxing, which already exists in the country.

‪ ANTONY VETTIYAZHICKAL JOSEPH‪ ‬‬

Salary tax is imminent and it has to be introduced, but that shall be for high gross income earners. The cost of living is climbing up, with a small family needing a four digit monthly salary to sustain themselves, while an absence of an equal work, equal salary norm, is crumbling the lower salaried class. My opinion is that those getting a monthly gross pay of RO2,000 and above must be taxed to about 35 per cent and those drawing RO5,000 may be levied 50 per cent of their salary. Reducing the economic divide by making the elite salaried class pay tax in turn helps to beef up the exchequer.

New Debate: Are hoverboards a dangerous toy for children and should they be banned in Oman? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

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JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

YOUR

OMAN

NEWS

TWO-YEAR

EXPAT WORK BAN GETS STRICT

he latest news from the Royal Oman police (ROP) has been met with disappointment by expatriates working across the Sultanate. It was announced this week that foreign workers who leave their job to go to another country won’t be able to come back to work in Oman or two years, even if they have a No Objection Certificate (NOC). According to an ROP official, it makes no difference whether employees complete their contract or not, they will be denied a clearance to work in Oman for the two-year period regardless of their service and any NOC they may hold. “The immigration department has stressed that the NOC letter is not valid anymore in this matter. Any expatriate worker who leaves Oman has to spend two years abroad before joining another company in Oman,” the official was quoted as saying in a local newspaper. The decision was taken based on Article 11 of the Immigration Code, which states that an expatriate worker who leaves has to spend two years abroad before returning to Oman. “However, if he has plans to join the same employer, he can do it without waiting for two years,” the official added. “This decision was taken by the ROP and has nothing to do with the Ministry of Manpower,” said Said bin Naser al Sadi, adviser to the Minister of Manpower. The ROP later clarified that the only way an expat employee could return before the two years is if the former and new sponsor visit immigration in person to sign an NOC for

approval by the ROP. Social media was abuzz with concerns about the latest ruling. “So what happens if a person ends a contract, gets an NOC, gets a job which begins a month later, and goes on holiday?” questioned an expatriate resident in Oman on the popular Facebook page What’s Happening Muscat, Oman? “This came all of a sudden as a surprise as our PRO was at the airport yesterday for a change over. As it stands now, we can’t employ anyone based on NOCs/release system,” said another concerned expat in Oman. Previously, the ROP had said that if an expat left the Sultanate on good terms, the former employer would not lose his clearance enabling them to employ a new worker, while the leaving expat would be able to return to work in Oman at any time without the need to spend two years outside the country.

Meanwhile, the Sultanate has borrowed money to meet the state budget deficit, according to a report from the Oman News Agency (ONA). The Ministry of Finance announced that it has signed a $1 billion loan facility agreement with 11 international banks, including two regional banks to finance the eeling the financial requirements of the state budget. crunch due to the fall The Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohammad bin in oil prices, Oman’s Hamad al Rumhy, also said this week that stock market plummeted Oman would be prepared to cut its oil this week, suffering its worst start output by up to 10 per cent, as the price in years, with investors seeing an of oil dropped again amid fears estimated RO675m wiped off total that Iran will flood the market shares in just 11 days of trading. with oil following the lifting of Early this week (Sunday) was perhaps the international sanctions over the worst of the New Year, as share prices on the weekend. Muscat Securities Market (MSM) hit a sevenA senior member of the Oman year low, knocking off around RO250 million Chamber of Commerce and Industry in share values in just one day. (OCCI) has said there was no reason for The MSM index fell by 3.21 per cent to close companies to increase of their products below the 5,000 mark at 4,948.44 points amid due to the recent rise in fuel prices. global crude prices touching a 12-year low, “The Omani rial is quite strong presently, which engendered fears of further economic making it cheaper for companies to buy products from decline. This is the biggest loss on the local the global market. The 14 baisa rise in the diesel price bourse on a single day in the past year, after a can be compensated since the Omani rial has been 4.2 per cent plunge on December 11, 2014. going up in the recent months,” said Ahmed al Hooti, Other regional markets have also fallen a member of the OCCI. steeply this year, with Doha stocks tumbling The Public Authority for Consumer Protection also 18 per cent and Dubai’s main index dropping stressed that any attempt to increase prices of any down by 15 per cent in value. Saudi Arabia was market products without obtaining approval from the also hit badly. concerned authorities will prompt legal action.

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OMAN Bite Sized OUR WEEKLY SLOT TAKES A LIGHTHEARTED LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

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What’s this all about then? A 45-year-old man wanted in connection to several charges in America has unwittingly helped the authorities with his own arrest. Really? How did he do that? Donald “Chip” Pugh wasn’t a fan of the mugshot released by Ohio police and took it upon himself to send them a selfie, in which he is wearing a stylish jacket and sunglasses. Not the smartest move, what happened next? Using social media, Ohio police thanked him for “being helpful” and said they would “appreciate it” if he would speak to them about his charges. And did he? Not entirely, but the photo did lead to Pugh’s arrest in Florida. Needless to say, he made sure he smiled for the new mugshot. Where is he now? Pugh is in custody, but he has become something of a social media star. The police post received almost 3,500 shares on Facebook in a week and he has even given an interview on local radio. Don’t say: Smile for the camera Do say: Vanity costs 012

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

elieve it or not, Y Magazine is turning eight years old next week! It seems only yesterday that we launched into the market, bringing Oman a new, fresh approach to life in the Sultanate. Eight years on and we’re at the top of our game as the best magazine in the country with unparalleled quality of writing and photography, bringing you the perfect package each week. Bold, innovative and engaging, we set the trends for others to follow. Y covers Oman’s vibrant scene with in-depth features, interviews, lifestyle and news. We’ve made it our mission to be the ultimate source for all that Oman has to offer, from news to views, fashion, food, beauty, health, travel, the arts, film, gadgets, motoring and more. As you, our readers, have been vital to our success we want you to be part of our birthday celebrations. And we’re giving back to you. To mark our eight year milestone, we will be running a week-long prize giveaway on social media. Each day, for seven days, there’ll be one prize given away through our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, starting from today (Jan 21). We’ve got all sorts of prizes from shopping vouchers to gym membership and dinners. This will culminate in our grand prize on the 8th day (Jan 28) to be given away in the birthday edition. To be in a with a chance of winning, keep an eye out for our prize giveaways on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (ytabloid) and Instagram (ymagazine) for the next seven days.

WIN! WITH A WEEK-LONG PRIZE GIVEAWAY!

WIN COFFEE WITH DEEBA! Are you Y’s biggest fan? Do you wake up every Thursday and dash out to get your copy of Y or go online to read our digital edition? To celebrate our birthday, we want to find our most loyal and best reader. Whoever it is will win the ultimate prize – to be interviewed by our writer Deeba Hasan for our Coffee With Deeba page. The interview will be published in our birthday issue on Jan 28. To enter and prove why you should meet Deeba, please tell us in no more than 100 words why or how you’re Y’s biggest fan. Email to editor@y-oman.com by the end of Sunday, January 24.

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JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

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GALLERY

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HORSES ON SHOW

THE LYCÉE FRANÇAIS DE MASCATE WAS INAUGURATED IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF ROLAND DUBERTRAND, AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE TO THE SULTANATE OF OMAN

OMAN’S FOURTH NATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP TOOK PLACE AT AL RAHBA EQUESTRIAN FARM IN MUSCAT LAST WEEKEND, WITH A PROGRAMME OF EVENTS THAT INCLUDED AN EQUINE BEAUTY CONTEST AMONG OTHER THINGS

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Photos: ONA

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

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Q: What are your career goals? Apart from growing and developing my career and skills, I also want to mentor other people so that they too can grow and succeed. Everyone has a talent, sometimes they just need others to mentor them to help groom their talent and bring it out. Besides this, I also want to open several local franchises and cafés with global standards. Q: Career-wise, where do you plan to be in 10 years’ time? In 10 years time, I don’t want to be working for someone else. I love food and I want to open my own restaurants and be running my own businesses. For me, I think a small entrepreneur is much better than being some senior guy at a bank; I think it’s much more respected. Q: What do you like about the Centennial, the premium series of Hyundai Motor Company? I think the Centennial is a lovely car in terms of design and fabulous as a complete package. The projection display on the windshield gives me the speedometer reading on the windscreen – a feature I found extremely useful. Other features like seat belt pretension, blind spot assist, as well as the comfort and suspension, make it a refined drive with high safety standards for those seeking a premium luxury vehicle. JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

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Norm of the North

The 5th Wave Just when you thought it was safe to go to the cinema without encountering an adaptation of a young-adult dystopian sci-fi novel, Chloë Grace Moretz bursts onto the screen as a 16-year-old girl turned guerrilla fighter in the big screen version of Rick Yancey’s novel, The 5th Wave. Shortly after an alien craft appeared in orbit over the Earth, its occupants – known only as the Others – release a series of deadly waves, from pestilence to flooding, that wipe out the majority of the population. With humanity knocked back to the Stone Age, those that survive are forced to band together in the hope of surviving the 5th wave, aimed at eliminating the final few that remain.

With all this going on, Cassie Sullivan (Moretz) embarks on a mission of her own to rescue her brother with the help of the strong but mysterious Evan (Alex Roe). The characters are largely the stock variety, but despite still only being 18, Moretz is believable in her portrayal of Sullivan, making the transition from schoolgirl to strong fighter while retaining certain vulnerability. If you’re a fan of sci-fi, you’ll notice more than a passing similarity to everything from Alien and Independence Day to Starship Troopers. Forget the aliens, it’s a lack of originality that ultimately defeats this film. Review by Matt Blackwell

P RE VI EW

EXPOSED When a police detective is killed in a shocking murder, his partner (Keanu Reeves) begins to investigate. The deeper he delves into the case, the more evidence he digs up of police corruption and soon comes to realise that the key to unravelling the entire mystery may lie with an unlikely woman with a dangerous secret.

IN W O T E C N A CH R U O Y B A R G TS E K C I T A M INE C Y T I C R U FO

When a corrupt corporation plans to settle and populate the Arctic, displacing its natural animal inhabitants, it falls to Norm (voiced by Rob Schneider), a loveable misfit of a polar bear, to travel to the concrete jungle of New York and save his homeland in a righteous crusade. The film wears its environmentalism and political leanings proudly on its sleeve, perhaps in an attempt for

adult audiences to take the film at least semi-seriously, but a twerking polar bear able to converse with humans is probably a step too far for parents. Norm may be from the north, but the only direction this furry fellow is heading is south.

Ride Along 2 For those of you who didn’t know that there was a first Ride Along, apparently that happened around this time last year. The sequel picks up pretty much where its predecessor left off, with fast talking, slow thinking rookie police officer, Ben Barber (Kevin Hart), once again teaming up with James Payton (Ice Cube), this time on the eve of his wedding to his partner’s sister. The pair make their way to Miami to bring down a drug lord with plenty of slapstick shenanigans along the way that will have you chuckling throughout. No matter what’s thrown your way though, you can’t shake the feeling that you’ve been on this ride before.

Bollywatch AIRLIFT

Based on real life events, Airlift tells the story of Ranjit Katyal (played by Akshay Kumar), the influential businessman who became the sole hope of 170,000 Indians trapped in Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. Against all odds, Katyal helped to organise the largest and most successful evacuation ever attempted by any country, with 488 flights in 59 days.

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN, just answer a question based on the week’s cinema reviews and send your answer to info@y-oman.com, along with your name and contact information. Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions, see voucher.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION Who is Cassie trying to rescue? LAST WEEK'S WINNER LESLIE S SOAN

Contact: Movie enquiries 24607360

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

016

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE TURN IT UP!

JAN

Golden Voice Listen to the fascinating and captivating sound of Salif Keïta, “The Golden Voice of Africa”, in a one-night only concert at the Royal Opera House Muscat. Known as Mali’s music ambassador to the world, the singer-songwriter will bring his passion alive on stage. Throughout his career, the 66-year-old has produced fascinating music by exploring the boundaries in the afro-jazz traditions. Curtain rises at 7pm and ticket prices start from RO5. For details and to book, visit rohmuscat.org.om

Jan 29

Turn up the music with DJ SoSo coming in all the way from Dubai to rock the house in Muscat as Titan Events & Entertainment brings you a party you don’t want to miss. Enjoy a happening Friday night at the Mirage Ballroom at Al Qurum Resort next to Route 66 and shed those workday clothes to dance the night away with friends. Tickets are RO10 for men, while women enter for free. All the fun starts at 10pm. For details call 2461 5560 or search for Titan Events & Entertainment on Facebook.

JAN 24 26 28

MONO MAGIC

Enrol your kids in a fun workshop, organised by MuscArt for children aged between 10 and 12, which this time is all about about monoprinting. Each session will explore two different monoprinting techniques, promising lots of fun and surprises along the way. Minimum class size is three and the maximum is 10. Classes will be conducted in English on Wednesdays from 4pm-6pm at the MuscArt Gallery in Ghubra. Workshop fee is RO45 and the cost of materials is included. For more information, call 2449 3912 or visit muscart.net

BELLY LAUGHS

THIS

WEEK

JAN 23

WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

J A N U A R Y Having spent a few weeks back at work after the seasonal break, the chances are an evening of laughter is just what you need to lighten your mood. Join Oman Comedy Central once again as they take you to a whole new location for their stand-up comedy night. Witness your favourite comedians perform at the Mirage Ballroom at Al Qurum Resort. Joe Sims, Asma, Sam.I.Am and Neston Moras will have you and your friends laughing out loud. It’s RO5 per entry and starts at 7pm, finishing at 9pm. For details contact 9338 0147 or 9986 5867

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JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

A STUNNING PRODUCTION TELLING A STORY OF UNREQUITED LOVE IS SO GOOD THAT GEORGINA BENISON WATCHED IT TWICE

onizetti’s prophetic opera of 1835, Lucia di Lammermoor, is based on Walter Scott’s quintessentially romantic Scottish novel, The Bride of Lammermoor, set in 1669. It is an almost Shakespearean tragedy, with parallels to Romeo and Juliet involving star-struck lovers, madness, a ghost and a scheming brother. So far so dark, one might think. But Donizetti’s music in the Bel Canto style is so infinitely singable, beautiful and memorable that last weekend’s production at the Royal Opera House by the Teatro Carlo Felice from Genoa (Italy) met with huge delight and praise from all three audiences. The style of Bel Canto (literally “beautiful singing”) can only enrapture opera-goers if the songs are lyrical and accessible, and Donizetti has that gift to perfection. The music was cathartic, not morbid as the subject matter might suggest. The opera opened with a foreboding overture, under the world-renowned conductor Giampaolo Bisanti, with a black and white projection of a crumbling Highland castle overlooking a lake under a stormy sky, setting the scene with dramatic poignancy. This was balanced in the final scene with brooding clouds rolling appropriately over the graveyard where Edgardo stabs himself in despair. The scenery in the other acts was static and simple, not so much 17th century Scotland as minimalist to give a feeling of the mood. Donizetti was himself to suffer from dementia and ended his days in a mental asylum, alone and poor. This whole work seems to be an eerie portent of his own destiny. The title role on Thursday and Saturday was taken by the Romanian Elena Mosuc, and her performance was superb. Her reputation as one of the world’s most versatile and expressive sopranos was easy to believe as she rendered long, ornamented passages with such control and flexibility. But her performance in Act lll, when Lucia becomes insane through unrequited love was so sustained and meandering with acrobatic displays in her highest range, convincing us of her complete distraction, that even Ophelia’s derangement in Hamlet paled by comparison. The scene culminates in a duet for voice and flute which was exquisite and intense for which the flautist, Francesco Loi, was given a special ovation. Baritone Marco Caria, as Lucia’s conniving brother, was brilliant in his portrayal of a man driven by selfish ambition, and his young voice was both beautiful and imposing. Giacomo Prestia had a very strong presence throughout the work as Raimondo, the chaplain and tutor to Lucia, and his rich bass voice was powerful and reassuring in this complex role. The costumes were effective, but rather inconsistent. The men were in Dickensian attire, wearing bowler hats and Sherlock Holmes-esque suits in the first and last scenes, while the ladies dressed in a style between medieval Scotland and the pre-Raphaelites, suggesting a timeless fluidity, but in lush reds, the effect was colourful and dramatic. The appearance of a ghost in the fountain scene brought to the fore a sense of the supernatural, so central in the Romantic era. The final aria, Bell’alma Innamorata, performed by Piero Pretti’s heartbroken lover Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood, was so plaintive and moving that we left our seats with the belief that love can transcend cruelty on earth and be united in heaven.

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

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F F O

E C N A L

y fears t e f a s ds, but E have i k r o f ned. UA n gets e a d h b a t r g n o e i st-hav f two riders be regulated u m e so to e th They’r ing the death overboards man h follow ted calls for s the fad in O promp investigate n a Hasa Y b e e m D a Te ell and : Report

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werving in and out of pedestrians, Omar and Sadiq effortlessly navigate around the pathway near Almouj Marina before spinning around and stopping in perfect tandem. Despite their tender years (both are still at primary school), they’re clearly very skilled at handling hoverboards, the two-wheeled toy that has taken Oman and the rest of the world by storm. “Both my children have hoverboards,” says their mum, Fatma. “They live to ride it and we bought it for them from Dubai. Most of their friends have it, so they wanted to buy one as well.” Chances are you’ve seen a child like Omar or Sadiq on one of these hoverboards at some point in the last few months. It seemed that overnight the boards appeared everywhere, a ubiquitous sight on pavements

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JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

c att Bla

and streets and in parks and shopping areas in Muscat and beyond. From toddlers to teenagers, the fascination with the self-balancing two-wheel scooters just kept gaining traction – and quickly became something of a menace in the process, with people and traffic having to dodge children zooming around on the shiny machines, some of which are capable of a top speed of around 16kph. As the market was flooded with cheap Chinese imports – some available for as little as RO60 – the popularity surged. But serious concerns have been raised about the battery-powered boards posing a risk to public safety, fuelled by reports of low-cost products apparently exploding into flames while charging or being ridden. In the US, there have been 12 incidents where the lithium ion batteries in the boards reportedly caught fire – destroying bedrooms and even

entire homes. There have been several other hoverboard fires reported in the UK and at least one in Hong Kong. And in the UAE, two deaths have been linked to the boards, including a six-year-boy allegedly run over by a car in Abu Dhabi in October last year. In Dubai the death of a Filipino man, who died at the beginning of this year after an accident on a hoverboard when he hit a lamppost, prompted the police to ban the boards on public roads, with Colonel Saif Muhair al Mazroui, head of the Dubai Traffic Police, saying there had been other cases of riders sustaining serious injuries after the board stopped abruptly. Major General Mohammed Saif al Zafin, chairman of the Federal Traffic Council and assistant commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, went further, calling the boards “very dangerous”. Hospitals also reported multiple broken bones

and injuries from hoverboard accidents. In the UK, where a 15-year-old old boy died in a hoverboard accident, it is now illegal to ride hoverboards on roads and pavements with their use restricted to private land only. Several major British stores, including John Lewis, also pulled stocks from their shelves after concerns over the quality of the boards, which are predominantly made in China. There have been claims that the cheaper Chinese copies have not been put through adequate testing. There are also no set regulation or international standards to monitor the safety of the devices. More than 60 airlines have banned hoverboards from being taken on flights. These include Air France, American Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Jet Airways and Qatar Airways. It’s clear, then, that there is widespread concern about hoverboards, but there has, Y has found, been no official move yet in Oman to outlaw the boards on our roads. Y contacted the Royal Oman Police (ROP) this week to ask if there are any plans to enforce a countrywide ban, but was told that there is nothing in the pipeline, and that it was down to the parents to ensure the safety of their children. “When parents buy a hoverboard for their children, they need to ensure that the child knows how to use it,” said an ROP official. We also spoke to Muscat Municipality who told us: “There have been no set rules with regards to hoverboards yet.” And, despite ongoing concerns about the safety, boards are still openly for

sale in shops around Muscat, including the major supermarkets, where we saw a “Skid Fusion” double wheel scooter with a top speed of 10kph for RO114.9. Virgin Megastore in City Centre Muscat also had versions for sale, but at much higher prices, presumably reflecting better quality. Part of the appeal of the boards is the cheap cost. And since concerns about safety started appearing in public, the price of some boards in Muscat has dropped, some by as much as half. Many parents in Muscat have chosen to travel across the border and buy the boards in Dubai, where they are competitively priced. Ali, a resident in Muscat, bought his 10-year-old son a hoverboard from Dubai for RO100 around five months ago, before the craze really took off in Oman. “He uses it every day and enjoys playing with it very much. Sometimes we take it to the beach because there are some nice places to play – it is good.” He hadn’t heard about the recent death in the UAE, but was not surprised to learn of it, admitting that the boards are “dangerous”. “My brother’s son has the same board and one time he went very fast and the tyres hit something on the road and he fell down and injured himself. Really, I think they are dangerous. “Of course I am worried about my son’s safety and I don’t like him to go outside without me. We should be together. He is allowed any place close to the house, but I say that he has to take care about

WHAT IS A HOVERBOARD? Despite its name, it’s not like a flying “hoverboard” from the film Back to the Future, but a two-wheeled electric scooter, which is like a small, lightweight version of the Segway. The board moves by weight distribution. To move forward, the user leans forward and to slow down, stop or move backwards, they lean back. Angling feet downwards allows users to turn left or right. Hoverboards first surfaced in the US, but Chinese factories were soon churning out copies at a rapid rate.Their popularity skyrocketed, with celebrities such as singer Justin Bieber seen using them. JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

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the cars.” Some parents have tired to ensure they are buying the best boards possible. Andy and Tina Squires, who live in Muscat Hills, researched extensively on the internet before deciding to buy two boards in Dubai for their children. “I read a lot about it before we bought the boards,” says Andy. “Even then, you can’t be 100 per cent sure. All the boards seem to be made in China. I noticed that the charger doesn’t have an automatic cut off if it overheats. “We do keep a very close eye on the boards, when they’re charging or even just sitting unused.” Tina adds: “The girls have only really been using the boards in the house, but the younger one did have a fall the other day against the sofa. “They have only been outside once and that was to ride six houses up to see a neighbour. We’re lucky in that we live in a quiet cul-de-sac, so there aren’t many cars around.” Her husband believes that rules need to be set to control the sale and quality of hoverboards. “There needs to be regulations so that everyone knows these boards are made to strict guidelines and are safe.” Some users in the city have been spotted making modifications to their hoverboards. For instance one board Y saw had been wrapped in adhesive tape so that a Bluetooth speaker could be attached, while others use their boards to carry both themselves and younger siblings. This makes balance incredibly difficult and highly increases the likelihood of an accident occurring. Alarmingly, very few of the children that Y has spotted in recent weeks using the boards were wearing protective equipment, such as a helmet or knee and elbow pads. One hoverboard Y looked at did come with a User’s Manual, which has a section on safe driving and battery use, including recharging. Malls in Muscat have followed moves in Dubai and Abu Dhabi by implementing board bans. “We have banned

hoverboards from the mall completely, so if you are a customer riding on a hoverboard, you will not be allowed to enter the mall,” says Husam al Mandhari, mall manager at City Centre Muscat. “We just wanted to make sure that the place is safe for our shoppers and when we saw that hoverboards were trending, we put a ban on them two months ago. We put up signs in the mall as well. There have been no mishaps, but we wanted to make sure that our customers have a safe shopping experience and so we wanted to be proactive about the issue and decided to put a ban on it. It is the same with City Centre Qurum as well.” In Al Mouj Muscat, where Omar and his brother Sadiq were spotted, the management told Y that The Walk and the surrounding area is a “no hoverboard” zone. “We are trying our best to make sure that it remains that way, even though some people are breaking the rules,” says an Al Mouj Muscat official. “There are some real issues with the hoverboards. My son wanted a hoverboard but I clearly said no to him. I think a lot depends on the parents. If they say no to their children, the kids will never get them, but if the parents allow it, they need to take responsibility for their action,” the official added on a personal note. “I don’t advise it for so many reasons. First of all there is no physical activity on hoverboards; it’s not a tool for you to go to the grocery store, you should walk instead. Children these days need more physical activity and when you give them a hoverboard, that just makes it worse. Besides, you can lose your balance, fall over and hurt yourself. These shouldn’t be allowed in the country. “Apart from this, if parents really tell their children the negative effects of hoverboards, maybe the child will understand and decide they don’t want to go for it. I think it’s really important that parents impart some awareness about the hoverboards to their children.” For her part, Omar and Sadiq’s mum says that she’s aware of the dangers and that the boys are always supervised when on the boards. So, it seems the brakes are finally starting to be put on hoverboards in the Gulf region and beyond. For the parents of the six-year-old Emirati boy who died in Abu Dhabi after being hit by a car while on a board, however, it’s a little late.

Hoverboards: A Global Danger?

Oman, 2016 Dubai, January 2016

Abu Dhabi, October 2015 US, December 2015

The Cconsumer Product Safety Commission investigates 22 hoverboard fires in 17 states.

A six-year-old boy is run over by a car and dies, prompting local police to warn people of safety concerns, saying using hoverboards in public areas and on roads may result in accidents.

A Filipino man hits a lamppost, loses his balance and dies riding a hoverboard in Mushrif Park. The Federal Traffic Council bans the use of hoverboards on public roads.

Could the Sultanate be the next country to be hit with a hoverboard tragedy?

Australia, January 2016

A hoverboard catches fire while charging, leading to a blaze that destroys an entire house and leaves a family homeless.

UK, October 2015

The Crown Prosecution Service confirm that riding hoverboards in public is illegal in line with a 2011 ruling on Segways, a similar motorised vehicle.

UK, December 2015

While riding a hoeverboard in the evening, a 15-year-old boy is hit and killed by a bus. He is pronounced dead at the scene.

Saudi Arabia, September 2015

A video emerges of a man circling Islam’s holiest site in Mecca on a hoverboard. The images divide opinion and spark debate.

UK and US, December 2015

Amazon pulls hoverboards from its UK and US sites amid safety concerns over the batteries, offering full refunds to customers who have bought them.

Hoverboard Safety Tips

•Always wear a helmet and protective clothing when riding a hoverboard •Do not ride on the road and be mindful of cars and pedestrians at all times •Do not turn sharply at high speed •Do not drive and turn around quickly on slopes •Always operate hoverboards on even ground •Hoverboards are not designed to carry more than one person •Avoid distractions such as the use of mobile phones and listening to music Do not use hoverboards on slippery surfaces Be mindful of small debris such as twigs, litter and small stones in your path Avoid use around flammable gas, steam, and dust, which could cause explosions Keep an eye on hoverboards when charging

• •

•

Put right foot forward to turn left Put left forward to turn right JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

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Presents

In Association with

E L A N I THE F

ion to t i t e p m o c , Y’s g n i h c r a scat e u s f M o n s i k s t e e n tude s r After w a e e y t m s o r s fi o t t s k e l a o e o we sp e r e find the c H . x a he m t i l l c a s e t v i e d r e o h t pare e r has reac p e w s a lists a n issue fi s r ’ u k o e f e o w t x ne winners in 026

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

ith his moves and grooves, dancing to the tune of African music, Haitham, a student at the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS), completely stole the show. Although his audition came at the end of proceedings, the judges and audience were fascinated and forced to crown him Mr Coolest Fresher of MCBS. In the last few weeks, we’ve visited different colleges aound Muscat for the auditions of Y’s Coolest Fresher competition and witnessed some great performances. From singing, dancing, beat boxing, playing guitar and poetry recitation, to name but a few acts, we’ve seen some pretty amazing talents. With only the brightest and best progressing through to the finale, which is being held today (21), there were a few heartbreaks along the way and the judges had some tough choices to make. Sameera Yasmin, a student at Mazoon University College (MUC) who took part in the competition, was delighted at the concept. “This is a whole new platform for us and I am very happy that something like this has been brought onto the scene. I had so much fun performing at the auditions at our college and want to see more of such events around Muscat,” she says. While confidence flowed from some of the performers, others were in need of a bit of a push. “I didn’t register before because I was very shy. I knew I could sing, but after some encouragement from the Y team and my own friends, I thought why not give this a try and I had fun,” says one student at MCBS. Needless to say, our chosen finalists were jubilant upon learning they were through. “I am feeling very happy to be able to qualify into the next round,” says Samar Hamad, a finalist from MUC, who sang in Arabic. “I had so much fun, the competition is

really nice and very encouraging.” Teachers, faculty and other staff members who witnessed the auditions at different colleges were unanimous in agreeing that the competition opened their eyes to the number of talents they have at their colleges. “I think this is a wonderful event, it encourages students to show their talent,” says Mohammed al Amin, head of the foundation department at MUC. “At our college we have so many talented students and I am very happy that we had the chance to listen to some of them. Next season I think this will be a super hit programme. I would like to congratulate the finalists and I enjoyed every bit of it,” Besides the talent contest we were chosing students to be models in the Splash Fashion Show due to be held at the finale. Some colleges even went to the extent of organising special fashion walks at the talent hunt auditions. Nashwa al Sharji, a finalist from MCBS, who wowed the judges with her beautiful singing was delighted and said that she felt like she was taking part in a very well organised talent show. “At first I loved this competition because it’s the first one that actually gave college students an opportunity to perform and show their talents. “I enjoyed it very much; it’s a much bigger than usual and for the first time there are judges and I feel like I am in a professional talent contest.” Y’s Coolest Fresher is presented by Splash, the Middle East’s largest fashion retailer and part of the Landmark Group, is powered by Ford Figo and is in association with NESCAFE 3 in 1. By the end, the best male and female student will be crowned the coolest fresher in Muscat and walk away with RO250 cash each. Make sure to check out the next issue of Y Magazine for the winners!

? h g u o n E l o o Are You C

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JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

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FOOD AND DRINK

Trend

New Restaurant

KITCHEN BONDING

With the right ingredients, cooking can provide a recipe to bring your family and loved ones together.

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Reviews

COOKING DELIGHTS Creating good food is all about being versatile in the kitchen and making the most of your ingredients

here’s nothing more satisfying than spending time preparing some tasty food and then serving up your home-cooked dishes to family and friends. Having someone else appreciate your efforts makes all the time in the kitchen worthwhile. Having all the right elements close to hand to create your masterpiece is part of the recipe of success. Which is where favourite, reliable brands can really come into their own. Along with the right ingredients, a sprinkle of inspiration mixed with a dash of imagination can make any dish special, whether it’s for an informal dinner or more elaborate occasion. Try out this recipe for a great snack – perfect for the cooler winter months – and impress your loved ones. Next week, we’ll have a recipe for a starter dish. Happy cooking!

Cheese Rolls These crispy cheese snacks melt in your mouth with every bite Ingredients: § 1 packet Puck white cheese § 3 cups flour § ½ tsp salt § 1 cup warm water § ½ cup olive oil § 1 cup Puck white cheese § 1 cup milk § 1 tbsp dry mint § ¼ cup chopped parsley § 1 egg Method: § Mix the flour in a large bowl with a teaspoon of olive oil and salt. § Pour in the warm water gradually and start kneading the mixture until the dough gets smooth and does not stick to your hands. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 30-45 minutes. § In another bowl, add the cheese, milk, mint and parsley. Mix to combine. § When the dough size doubles, roll it on a floured surface and cut it into equal rectangular pieces. § Put one tablespoon of the cheese mix in the centre of the dough piece. Fold the edges to form a triangle or semi-circle. § Beat the egg and brush the cheese rolls with it then sprinkle them with nigella seeds. § Heat the oil in medium-size pan on high heat and fry the cheese rolls until golden brown and a bit crispy. § Remove the cheese rolls from the pan and place them on paper towels to drain. Serve hot.

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FOOD AND DRINK

Tr e n d

New Restaurant Info Box

REVIEWS

because they were not extremely spicy and came Darsait, opp Kahwa roundabout with an incredibly creamy Tel: 2447 9580 and delicious mint chutney. Opening hours: Daily from 12.30pm-3.30pm (lunch), 7pm- In fact, they were that good that we asked for a 12am (dinner) Dinner and drinks for three: second round. RO12 AL We were still busy U S savouring the last of these VERDICT: CA NING Service: 8.5/10 crispy treats when our food DI Food: 6/10 arrived. The breads looked Ambience: 7/10 great; there was garlic Excellent service, food naan, butter naan, plain needs to improve naan and roomali roti, Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals all of which looked very appetising. We tucked into our dishes without further ado and the paneer was nice, nothing extraordinary, but good, although the gravy was almost negligible. It was mildly spiced, but a little more would have made it a lot better. The chilli chicken was rather bland, but the chicken itself was well cooked and tender. My friend was struggling with her achari mutton, apparently because it was not terribly well cooked and came with no gravy. I tried some of it and agree that it was a total disappointment. At this time we realised that the prawns were getting cold to one side of the table, so basically my friend missed our starter, but she got back to it and stat munching away. I tried a miniature portion and found it to be very oily, not really my type of thing at all – although like I said earlier, I’m not big on seafood. After a mixed bag of mains, I’d say that the papads and the breads were probably the best things about the meal. The breads brought out the flavour in the food, particularly the garlic naan, and it was kind of the waiting staff to give us the second basket of papads we asked for absolutely free. When we asked for more chutney, it was there in HIGH EXPECTATIONS CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO DISAPPOINTMENT. seconds, so I think in terms of service, the restaurant HOWEVER, GOOD SERVICE AND A RELAXING AMBIENCE CAN MAKE UP deserves a very good score. Right through from the waiters to the supervisors, everyone was very FOR IT, AS DEEBA HASAN FINDS AT PALM RESTAURANT cooperative and at their best. However, the food lets lthough I’ve been driving past The waiter suggested their special menu for them down at the moment. Palm Restaurant for several years the day, which included fish, crab and other The overall experience was pleasant, but we did as I go through Darsait, I’d never seafood items, however, because I’m not the find the food hit and miss – probably because our happened to eat there. It looks biggest fan of seafood and nor was one of my expectations were too high from the beginning, or quite fancy, but it’s just one of those places friends, we opted out and ordered what we maybe because we just made the wrong choices and that you see without really seeing, at least for felt was right. should’ve gone with our waiter’s recommendation. me anyway. I have however, sampled their My other friend went for golden fried fare at various events they’ve catered and I’ll prawns as the starter, while we tried paneer Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? admit that the food was delicious each time, tikka masala (cubes of cottage cheese cooked Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com which is probably why my expectations were in thick tomato gravy), achari mutton (spiced sky high. mutton cooked with tomatoes and onions) I went into the restaurant with two friends and a Chinese-style chilli chicken for the on a Thursday night at around 9.30pm and mains. We also ordered two bread baskets so it seemed relatively quiet for the start of that we could try the variety on offer. the weekend, when restaurants are usually While we were having a good conversation bustling with both noise and people. One of about the interior of the restaurant, and the waiters held the door open when he saw life in general, some complimentary papads us approaching, which I thought was a nice (poppadums) with chutney were brought to gesture. us. If I’m being honest, I’m generally not too On entering the restaurant, we started keen on papads, but these ones were amazing looking for a nice place to get seated and although one of the waiters pointed to a cosy corner, we chose to sit at another slightly larger table. Within minutes of settling down, the menus were brought to us and we quickly started browsing through them. There was a range of different items from Chinese to north and south Indian delicacies. I know Palm Restaurant is quite famous for its Kerala-style food and I asked for dosas, but to my disappointment, they didn’t have them. PALM RESTAURANT

PLAIN PALM

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

WINTER WARMERS Unless you live up Jebel Shams or Jebel Akhdar, the chances are youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to need a scarf and gloves in Oman, even in winter. However, the temperatures will be low enough for the next few months, particularly in the evenings, to warrant investing in a light jacket, a jumper and a sturdy pair of shoes. Something like this outfit from G-LAB would be perfect.

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Health

Beauty

FASHION

k o o L e h

att M , t tree s h k g e hi the loo h t d to to get n Quilted jackets are a e gh s you i style staple you will h e elp h find in most shops, t h particularly around Fromckwell this time of year. This Bla tailored fit jacket from

T t Ge

This Horizon jumper from River Island is a stylish way to keep warm when temperatures drop at night. From 19.4

M&S is from RO32.7

A pair of dark straight cut jeans should be in every manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe. Try this pair available at HouseofFraser.co.uk for effortless versatility. From 33.3 Complete your winter look with this knitted beanie hat for the bargain price of just RO2.77 from New Look

The Sultanateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sun demands the use of sunglasses all year round and you can never go wrong with a trusty pair of aviators. From RO7.7 at River Island

Keep all your things in one place with this understated rucksack from Next. The neutral grey colouring will go with almost anything. From 13.8

Winter calls for robust and solid footwear and this Storm Trooper shoe from Dune fits the bill perfectly. From RO47

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

BEAUTY

Health Fashion

NEW YEAR,

NEW HAIR Update your tresses for 2016 with the latest looks

ith 2016 underway, it’s time to take a look at what will be on trend with hair over the next 12 months. It can be difficult to know which hairstyle to try next or what’s currently big in the salons. Help is at hand though. Hairstylist to the stars Asgar Saboo, who’s worked with everyone from supermodel Cindy Crawford to Hollywood actress Eva Longoria, shares his hair predictions for 2016 to give you some inspiration. You’ll be looking and feeling camera ready throughout the year, whether you want to look fabulous at work, a hit out socially or simply feel the need for a new image. Try these ideas: 1. Baby-lights A new term for highlights in 2016, it’s a technique, which includes applying colour to very fine strands of hair, helping it to look multidimensional and more natural than regular highlights. We’ve seen this look on celebrities including Allison Williams, Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria, and you can also ask your stylist to hand paint the colour on for an even more natural effect. Baby-lights are a subtle but gorgeous look, which is great for anyone who wants to try highlights for the first time, or someone who wants to tone down their colour and go for something natural.

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2. Let’s Twist Again We’ve seen hair twists slowly making their way onto the trend radar, and they’re set to be one of the biggest hair looks for 2016. These are surprisingly easy to do too, and their versatility means that the hair twist is perfect for any occasion. Start by brushing any tangles out of your hair and then place both hands where you want the twisted bun to be. At the nape of the neck looks elegant, or go for a top knot if you want something fun and modern. Simply twist the hair in one direction into a bun and then fix with hairspray and hair grips. 3.Crimp It Crimping is a fun look that feels fresh and funky for

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JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

2016, as seen on Gigi Hadid. This is perfect for straight hair and will look good for a night out or day of shopping. Hair crimping irons are not expensive and are so simple to use – simply section the hair and place the irons on the hair for five to 10 seconds at a time, making sure you don’t go too close to the root to keep the look modern rather than dated. Just crimp random parts of the hair for something more subtle but just as quirky. You can also cheat your way to this look by plaiting your hair before bed. Releasing the plaits will give your hair a kink, which is very similar to crimping. 4. Go for Grunge Grungy hair is surprisingly easy to wear and is reminiscent of style icons like supermodel Kate Moss. Of course it will suit a casual fashion look, but it also makes a great contrast to a glam or very elegant look, as seen on Rita Ora and Kristen Stewart. This looks best on hair that hasn’t been washed recently, which is perfect for anyone feeling lazy. You can use a dry shampoo to add body, or gently backcomb at the crown of the hair for some extra volume. Then use a salt spray or texturising product through the mid-ends and bottom of the hair, which will add texture and attitude to your look. 5. Accessorise Accessories are going to be the main attraction for next season, and this can make your hairstyle more versatile than you might initially think. To tone down a masculine look, add a fun tiara or sparkly slide, or add a vintage inspired hair-band or grip for a classic and glamorous feel. You can also modernise your locks with a slide in silver or rose gold or a metallic hair tie, as seen on catwalks including Chloé and Lanvin. asgarboo.com

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

WEIGHTY ISSUE

Higher obesity rates among children in the Gulf is putting them at risk of developing diabetes

ost of us are already aware of the effects that poor diets and a sedentary lifestyle have on adults, with increased chances of illnesses such as heart disease being just one. But doctors are also warning that the damage can start from a young age. High levels of obesity among youngsters in the Middle East region, including Oman and the UAE, leaves them open to developing diabetes and the associated health conditions. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there were 803,900 diabetics in the UAE last year. This is almost 20 per cent of the population. Chad, a country with a slighter larger population than the UAE, reported just 264,600 cases of diabetes in 2014. This makes for compelling reading, especially since it suggests that the lifestyle and diet in the Gulf region is not only posing serious health risks to its residents, but that the area is lagging behind globally in its efforts to curb the disease. In Oman, the figures are no less alarming. Children as young as 10 are being classed as obese and heart disease victims are getting younger. Obese adolescents are more likely to have pre-diabetes, a condition where blood glucose levels suggest future development of diabetes. Arabian countries are, research has shown, more genetically predisposed to diseases such as diabetes. One of the risk factors for the chronic condition is obesity and results from the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2013, conducted by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, reveal that more than 66 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women are obese. Statistics from the World

Health Organization reveal that 30 percent of the world’s population is obese, meaning that the obesity rate in the UAE is double the world average. Alarmingly, a study conducted by the Public Health Research Centre, part of the New York University Abu Dhabi, last year revealed that the incidence of obesity in the age group six to 10 years old is 20 per cent and at 40 per cent in the 11-19 years age group in the UAE. “These figures are staggering and are a clear indicator why the UAE has such a high rate of the chronic, debilitating condition,” says Dr Nashwa Bahaa el Din, a specialist in pediatrics at Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel Hospital, which also operates in Muscat. “Many people don’t even know they have the disease, which is why awareness is so important. If we don’t act now to prevent diabetes, by 2035, one in every 10 people in the world will have the disease. “Aside from the devastating health consequences for people with unmanaged diabetes, the economic impact will be considerable,” she continues. Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly prevalent across the UAE and GCC countries and is starting to affect all age groups, including the very young. Insulin resistance is usually associated with obesity, stress and physical inactivity. Dr Nashwa attributes these factors to causing an increase of type 2 diabetes in the country, especially with the emergence and popularity of fast food and the hot summer months acting as a deterrent to exercise. “With both parents usually working, families opt for pre-cooked or packaged meals which are high in bad fats, sugar and sodium,” adds Dr Nashwa. “Children start eating unhealthy at an early age and as they usually kill time with video games or with computers, the sedentary lifestyle

leads to obesity, hence puts them at major risk for diabetes.” Recently, approximately 50 per cent of parents interviewed for a study said that they regularly give their young kids unhealthy food, including those high in sugars, because their children asked for it. They said they did so in spite of knowing the harmful effects of sugar. The study was done by YouGov for Al Aan TV’s programme, Nabd Al Arab (Arab’s Pulse) and English daily newspaper, The National. “It is important for parents to start inculcating healthy dietary habits amongst children at an early age to curb the diabetes epidemic,” advises Dr Nashwa. “Children look to emulate parents so they should set a good example by adopting an active lifestyle. For example take your child to the park every evening to ride your bicycles together, this would keep them active and you also get to spend quality time with your kids.” While there is no recognised cure for the condition, Dr Nashwa recommends getting checked if you or your children have any one of the following symptoms: Increased hunger and thirst Excessive urination, Unable to concentrate Lack of interest Unusual weight loss Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet Blurred vision If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure and cardiovascular disease. Once diagnosed, the best way to manage diabetes is through exercise and diet. “But diabetes can be avoided through a healthy lifestyle and living environments that encourage healthy habits,” says Dr Nashwa. JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

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GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS… Capital Region Azaiba • Amara Dermatology Clinic • Audi showroom • Bentley showroom • Costa Coffee • Al Fair • Jaguar Showroom • Jeep Showroom • Al Maha Petrol Station • Mazda showroom • McDonald’s • Mitsubishi Showroom • Oman Arab Bank • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Peugeot Showroom • Range Rover Showroom • Sayarti Auto Care • Shell Select • Skoda Showroom • The Sultan Center • Volkswagen showroom • Volvo Showroom • Yamaha Showroom Bawshar • College of Banking and Financial Studies • Dolphin Village • Modern College of Business and Science • Muscat College • Muscat Private Hospital (Emergency and Outpatients) • Oman Medical College CBD • Al Maya Hypermarket • Alizz Islamic Bank • Bahwan Travel Agencies • Bank Sohar • Copper Chimney Restaurant • Costa Coffee • HSBC • Lama Polyclinic • NBO • Oman Arab Bank • Standard Chartered Bank • Woodlands Restaurant Darsait • Indian Social Club • Khimji’s Mart

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McDonald’s Muscat Bakery Oman Bowling Center • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Oman United Insurance • Omran • Pizza Hut • Radisson Blu • Shell Petrol Station • TGI Friday’s • The Great Kabab Factory • The Tikka Place • Zahara Travel • Zakher Mall Mabela • Gulf College Oman Mawalah • Chili’s Restaurant • Costa Coffee • Al Makan Café • The Noodle House • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Khimji’s Mart • NBO • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Pizza Muscat • Shell Petrol Station MGM • Caribou Coffee • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • Just Falafel • Ooredoo • Paul • Tim Hortons Al Mina • Bait Al Baranda • Bait Al Zubair MQ • Al Fair • Arab Open University • British Council • Costa Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • Hana’s Slimming & Skincare Centre • Kargeen Caffe • KFC • MacKenzies Café & Deli • Mood Café • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Papa John’s Pizza

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Pizza Hut Saharz Beauty Salon • Starbucks Al Murtafa’a • Bank Muscat • KFC • Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club Muscat International Airport • Caribou Coffee • Majan Lounge • Plaza Premium Lounge Mussanah • Millennium Resort Muttrah • Shell Petrol Station Qantab • Al Bustan Palace • Marina Bandar Al Rowdha • Oman Dive Center • Shangri-La Qurum • Al Araimi Complex • Balance Health & Fitness • Bank Nizwa • BMW showroom • Burger King • Chili’s Restaurant • Crowne Plaza • Finland Eye Center • Fun Zone • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • The Jungle Restaurant • Left Bank • McDonald’s • Mercedes-Benz Showroom • Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant • Nandos • Nissan Showroom • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Qurum Commercial Complex • Ras Al Hamra Club • SABCO Centre • Second Cup • Starbucks • The Sultan Center • Tche Tche Café Rusayl • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -1 • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -2 • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -3

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Knowledge Oasis Muscat -4 (ITA) • Middle East College • Omantel • Waljat College of Applied Sciences Ruwi • Apollo Medical Centre • Kamat Restaurant • KFC • Khimji’s Mega Store – Swarovski Showroom • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Oman Air • Oman UAE Exchange • Oman Trading Establishment • Saravana Bhavan Sarooj • Al Fair • Al Masa Mall • City Cinema • Ayana Spa • Cosmeclic • Emirates Medical Center • McDonald’s • Shell Petrol Station • VLCC Wellness Sawadi • Al Sawadi Beach Resort Seeb • Golden Tulip Hotel • McDonald’s Shatti Al Qurum • Bareeq Al Shatti Complex • Caribou Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • German Eye Centre • The Indus Restaurant • InterContinental Hotel Muscat • Jawharat Al Shatti Complex • Kaya Skin Clinic • Muscat Eye Laser Center • Oasis By The Sea • Second Cup • Starbucks • VLCC Wellness Sifah • Sifawy Boutique Hotel SQU • Diplomatic Club • College of Economics and

Political Science Students Banking Area • Reception/ Canteen Wadi Kabir • Al Maya Hypermarket • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Pharmacy • National Hospitality Institute • Pizza Hut • Shell Petrol Station Wattayah • Ahli Bank • Best cars • BLS International Services • Chevorlet/GM showroom • Ford Showroom • Hatat House • Honda Showroom • Hyundai showroom • Kia Showroom • Lexus Showroom • National Travel & Tourism • Passage To India Restaurant • Shell Petrol Station • Subaru showroom • Suzuki Showroom • Toyota Showroom The Wave • Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee • Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co. • The Wave Head Office •

Other Regions Barka • Al Nahda Spa and Resort • LuLu Hypermarket Nizwa • University of Nizwa Sohar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Crowne Plaza • National Gift Markets • Ooredoo • Pizza Hut • Safeer Mall • Sohar Beach Hotel • Sohar Port and Freezone • Sohar University

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NATURE MOVEIS IN

Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Gonu in 2007, nature has moved back in and reclaimed the wadi between Amerat and Wadi Adai.

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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WADI AMERAT If you need a reminder of how powerful nature can be, try taking a trek through the wadi at Amerat, says Shaquel al Balushi 038

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE404

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his is the story of how nature took over Wadi Amerat in an impressive show of force, reclaiming what was rightfully hers. Cyclone Gonu changed Oman forever when it struck in the summer of 2007 and one of the areas that was altered irrevocably was the wadi close to my home in Amerat. Now, the road that links Wadi Adai and Amerat cuts a smooth path between the mountains, but the valley below harbours a dark secret. It was once a place where the mark of man was everywhere, but Gonu changed all that. Taking the first exit at the first roundabout you come to when travelling from Muscat towards Amerat, I doubled back on myself and was able to locate the old road through the wadi. A little further on though, the road comes to an abrupt end as nature has moved back in. Nowadays, this is a route only travelled by campers and those looking to explore the wadi. My cousin had his 4x4 with him so we could’ve tackled the off-road terrain, but we both fancied a trek down memory lane and I headed off, camera in hand. Before Gonu hit, it was a road that everyone used and I remember how it was a nightmare to travel into Muscat, particularly in the morning. Everywhere I looked I saw glimpses of the things I remembered from when I was a kid – some palm trees that marked the location of a showroom and traces of the old road – but there were clear signs that nature has well and truly taken over. Rubble and debris now lay where buildings once stood – it’s as if it were nature’s way of saying enough is enough, now it is time to cleanse. Along the way I passed a flat rock face that used to be a well-known spot for climbers, but now you cannot even reach it. Tall grass and reeds block your path, as if they are guarding the rock, and if you do somehow make it through, you will find a deep pool of water at the base, almost like the moat that surrounds a castle. It was as if Mother Nature has claimed back this land and is reluctant to let it go, so that man can spoil it once more. The newly built road was visible in the distance throughout the walk, but in spite of this the whole area retains a sense of tranquillity and calm. All you can hear is the sound of trickling water and other noises of nature, as opposed to that of traffic and engines. Due to its proximity to the city I would compare it to somewhere like Wadi Al Khoudh, although that is a much drier wadi, whereas the wadi at Amerat now has water flowing throughout the year. It’s shallow and great for a paddle if you’re looking to cool down, although not quite deep enough to swim in. A trip to the wadi actually makes for a nice outing and during the weekend you will see families there barbecuing food or relaxing and enjoying their break from work. I wasn’t there to relax though, as nostalgic as this trip was proving. The distance from Amerat to Wadi Adai through the wadi is around 8km and we trekked it from start to finish. It took around four hours, but that was at a slow amble, frequently stopping to capture my surroundings with my camera. I think if you put your mind to it you could do it in a great deal less time and you could even set yourself a time trial challenge if you’re into fitness. This wadi offers a great environment for moderate trekking. I’d recommend anyone to park their car at one end, walk all the way through and catch a cab back, just as I did. I promise you won’t regret it and if you knew the area before, you will emerge with a newfound appreciation for the power of nature.

The wadi is very easy to reach and only takes around 15 minutes from Muscat. Turn right at the Shell petrol station next to the highway in Wattayah and head towards Amerat. Once you’ve driven through the mountains take the first exit at the first roundabout you come to. Double back on yourself and you will find the old road next to the new one.

GPS location of the old road: N23° 32’ 22.758” E58° 30’ 59.202”

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alling all lovebirds. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and love is definitely in the air. To get into the mood, Y has launched a search for the best couples as our popular “Y We Are Soulmates” competition makes a return. Are you and your partner more in love than ever? If you’ve still got the spark, then we want to hear from you as the call for contestants begins. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve just got together or have been married for 50 years; the most important thing is that you’ve got the right recipe for love and all the ingredients for a long life together. Presented by Mitsubishi Motors and in association with Panorama Mall, and Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel, we’ve got a total of RO850 worth of prizes up for grabs. Doting couples will have a chance to test their compatibility in front of an audience with the ultimate live quiz show. Entry is open now and we’ll be whittling down our pairs to 10 finalists who will answer a series of questions about their spouses to prove how well they know each other. If you think that you know your husband or wife well, this is your chance to show them in the most romantic of ways – and win some suitably dreamy prizes. The winning couple will get RO500 worth of prizes, with two runners-up winning RO250 and RO100 worth of rewards. In our first two seasons, the last pictured here, we

found some amazingly well matched couples and we’re expecting this year to be even better. “Y is excited to bring you once again our special competition in the spirit of love and romance,” says Felicity Glover, Y’s managing editor. “It’s a chance for couples to show us how much they love each other. The big question is: How well do you know your soulmate? Enter our competition to find out.” For a chance to become one of our 10 contestants in the live final at Panorama Mall on February 13, simply tell us in 50 words or less who is your soulmate and why. Send your answer to editor@y-oman.com by February 8. We’ll choose the best answers and invite these couples to be part of our exciting and fun final to find out if they really are soulmates and select the winners. Good luck and we look forward to your entry!

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

FESTIVAL TIME

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JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

Back for its 16th edition, Matt Blackwell sees what the Muscat Festival 2016 has to offer visitors

etting up close and personal with ferocious dinosaurs, fireworks shows and a glimpse into the historic crafts of Oman. All this can only mean one thing – the Muscat Festival is back for 2016 and the gates are open for business. Hoping to build on the one million visitors that passed through its doors last year, the theme of this year’s festival is “Live Oman” and it will feature a number of educational, cultural and sporting programmes at different locations over the next month. There is also an international flavour to this year’s Muscat Festival, with traditional folk acts from India, the Philippines, Lebanon and beyond. As in previous years, Amerat Park and Naseem Park will play host to the bulk of the action with a wide variety of live performances, but events have also been organised for additional venues, including a tattoo display of the Royal Guard of Oman and a water sports experience courtesy of Oman sail. Fun Zone in Qurum is being turned into a Snow Village using the ice rink – complete with “snow” showers. Visitors to Amerat Park will be transported back millions of years to when dinosaurs roamed the land, with the opportunity to get face to face with 15 species in the Middle East’s largest Dinosaur Village. This location also includes the popular Heritage Village, at which you can watch traditional artisans at work, carefully crafting everything from fishing nets to jewellery. It’s like a window through time and a fascinating insight into the country’s past. Naseem Gardens hosts several exhibits that are new for 2016, including the Jungle Village, which offers replicas of some of nature’s most formidable creatures, including a gorilla and a polar bear, and the Illuminated Village, best viewed when the

sun goes down for a dramatic effect. Moses, an Indian expat, has been living in Oman for almost a year, but the visit to Amerat Park with his wife and child on Saturday was his first experience of the Muscat Festival. “I think it is a good idea because it offers a get together for everyone. Families and friends can all meet here and enjoy the weekend,” he says. “I’m looking forward to taking a look around and will probably schedule in a visit to Naseem Park for next weekend.” Aman on the other hand is visiting Muscat Festival for the third consecutive year and says that it has improved each time. Old favourites such as the Muscat Marathon and the Tour of Oman, which brings some of the biggest names in cycling to the Sultanate, are also making a welcome return, so make sure you don’t miss out on what promises to be another great year for the Muscat Festival – you’ve got until February 13 to pay a visit.

CHECK IT OUT:

will run until ● Muscat Festival February 13. d Naseem Park will ● Amerat Park an between 4pm be open for visitors Thursday to and 11pm Sunday kends). ee (4pm-12am on w d baisa per adult an ● Tickets are 200 . 100 baisa per child troduced special ● Mwasalat have in rt festival goers services to transpo . to the two locations ation, go to ● For more inform muscat-festival.com

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Outdoors

D e s t i n at i o n

Y-FI

QUIRKY TECH

There’s a gadget for almost everything in the 21st century. Matthew Herbst does some digging and comes up with a few of the quirkier offerings BENDY PICS Pic is a long, narrow device made of flexible material that allows it to be wrapped or wound around anything and positioned to film whatever you’re doing. Capable of shooting full high definition video and capturing 8-megapixel images, Pic has a 16GB internal memory with a simple one-button operation and is also splash proof. Users are also able to activate the shutter remotely through an app. When you’re done, you just transfer the content to your computer using a USB cable. It’s available from next month in five funky colours at boudpic.com. Prices to be confirmed.

QUIT IT Monitoring and ultimately kicking your smoking habit just became a whole lot easier thanks to Quitbit. The advanced lighter automatically tracks every cigarette you have a puff and syncs with your smartphone to give you a series of graphs showing your smoking habits in detail. You can also set a limit, with Quitbit refusing to light if you overdo it. This potential lifesaver contains a heating coil and needs charging once a week. Available at quitbitlighter.com from RO49.65.

Those who suffer with motion sickness will be pleased to know that the Relief Band eliminates the need for copious amounts of pills to curb your illness. It straps to the underside of your wrist and uses neuro technology to work in conjunction with the body and help prevent nausea. Available at shop.reliefband.com from RO34.50.

ON THE WAIST

EDITOR’S PICK 044

BIG RELIEF

IMAGINE A MOTORISED BELT THAT ADJUSTS TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU SIT DOWN, EXPANDING AS YOU EXPAND. FRENCH COMPANY EMIOTA HAS REALISED THE DREAM, CREATING THE WORLD’S FIRST SMART BELTS. BUT IT DOESN’T END THERE, BECAUSE BELTY CAN ALSO TRACK YOUR WAISTLINE AND MEASURE YOUR ACTIVITY. ALONGSIDE THE TINY MOTORS, THERE’S AN ACCELEROMETER AND A GYROSCOPE. AVAILABLE AT WEARBELTY.COM FROM RO151.50. JULY JAN 2103- -2709/ /ISSUE ISSUE404 327

App of the Week

SMELL THE COFFEE

Alarm clocks don’t always work as efficiently as we would like and even when they do, the noise can be unbearable. Imagine if your senses were triggered by smell instead of sound? The Sensorwake is the world’s first olfactory alarm clock, which basically means it wakes you with pleasant scents instead of piercing beeps. Pick your preffered aroma from espresso, croissant, seaside, lush jungle, chocolate or invigorating peppermint and make waking up a more enjoyable experience. Available at sensorwake.com from RO34.

FAMILY HUB NEW SAMSUNG REFRIGERATOR This is no normal fridge. The Family Hub Refrigerator from Samsung comes complete with multiple sensors, three interior cameras, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 55cm touchscreen display. You are also able to mirror the video feed from your Samsung smart TV to the display and use it to show family photos and messages, YouTube videos, recipes, shared calendars and weather information. Perhaps the best part is that you can use the display to order groceries thanks to a new app developed by Samsung and MasterCard. Available later this year for around RO1,924.50. Check out samsung.com for more information.

FACEGOO FaceGoo is a fun photo app that allows you to stretch, pinch and twist your photos in all sorts of crazy ways. It’s great for a bit of lighthearted diversion and can be used to make you and your friends look silly. Free for iOS users.

RAINBOW WATER The Hydrao is a smart showerhead that tracks your water consumption and guides you through colour to ensure you don’t waste water. A companion app allows Hydrao users to set water thresholds that are tracked and indicated at each level by different colours, which in turn helps you know when it’s time to end your shower. Available for pre-order at hydrao.fr, but prices yet to be released. JULY JAN 03 21 - 27 09 / ISSUE 404 327

045

CARS AND ADVENTURES

Destination

Outdoors

Y- F i C A R S

Nissan Altima 2016 SL P1 Specifications: Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder Transmission: Xtronic CVT Horsepower: 182 Price: Starting from RO9,200 for base and RO11,260 for top trim

It might look restrained, but the new Nissan Altima has a few surprises under its bonnet, finds Kate Ginn

“

Never judge a book by its cover” as the old adage implores and I would ask you apply this to the Nissan Altima before passing any judgement, or at least read this review before making up your mind. At first glance, the Altima might come across as a rather sedate, unpretentious family saloon, ready to provide years of undemanding service. It is unquestionably that, but it’s also so much more. I’m not often taken by surprise with cars, but I have to say that the Altima had a couple of tricks up its sleeve that I wasn’t expecting. For a start, it is surprisingly fast. After a slight hesitation when you put your foot down, it really gets going as the 2.5-litre engine does its work and the 182 horses are released into a gallop. There’s not so much a throaty roar but a gentle whisper; this car is ridiculously quiet and smooth, even at full speed, so it’s a bit of a shock when you glance at the speedometer and realise just how fast you’re actually going (sorry Nissan if there are any speeding tickets!). To me, that’s the essence of the Altima. It’s not one for ostentatiousness or bragging about its abilities; it prefers a low-key approach and lets the performance do the talking. It’s like the reserved partygoer who spends all night talking quietly in the corner and then later, to everyone’s surprise, at the end of the evening turns out to the best dancer at the party. I was driving the top of the 046

JAN 21 - 27 / ISSUE 404

range 2.5 model, the SL P1, which comes fully loaded with an impressive spec sheet. The trim below, the SV P8, apparently sells very well, but I like the sporty touches that your extra rials buy, such as the leather-wrapped steering wheel, a Bose sound system and seven-inch touchscreen. Outwardly, as I’ve said, it looks anything but racy – those in need of something flashier should probably look elsewhere – but this is pitched at the family segment, so it does need to be fairly reserved. Where it will excite you is the space and performance. Inside, it’s absolutely cavernous. I’m tall and still had acres of room to stretch my legs in the sprawling cabin. Even the rear seats, which can be a bit mean with leg space in saloons, were exceptionally generous with ample room for three adults to feel more than comfortable on a long journey. Rear passengers also enjoy air conditioning. The boot is massive, stretching on and on. You could rent it out as a room it’s so big. And it can easily swallow up the usual family paraphernalia, from pushchairs to scooters and bikes. This top trim Altima came with lots of goodies, such as a rear view camera and moving object detection, along with blind spot detection. Also useful is the lane departure warning, although as I’m a bit “loose” with my driving sometimes it kept beeping, which was annoying, but also kept me on the straight and narrow, quite

literally. The active understeer control is also pretty neat, sensing under or oversteer and subtly applying brake power to correct it, giving the driver an invisible hand. I didn’t notice it happening, but I’m sure the system was working overtime with me at the wheel. There’s Bluetooth, with my iPhone connecting easily, allowing access to phone contacts and music, and a terrific Bose system with top sound quality (and thumping bass). I also liked the funky 3D TFT display above the dials, giving driver information. The navigation system was easy to work and delivered me safely from A to B with the minimum of fuss. Even better was the smart key entry, which allows you to open and close the car doors without the need to have the key in your hand. Struggling with bags of shopping while trying to find the key, I really appreciated this function. The remote engine starter is also very useful, especially handy during the summer months when it allows you to get the air conditioning on and the car cooled for your arrival. By the end of a day with the Altima I felt very attached to it. Which is strange as it’s not my usual type of car with my preference for sportier models, but the Altima is just so easy to like. It’s great to drive, incredibly comfortable and very driver friendly. Beneath the ordinary façade is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and you don’t need a family to appreciate it.

They say: “Born with special powers” We say: “Wolf in sheep’s clothing”

17-inch alloy wheels Blind spot warning Moving object detection Departure Lane Warning Active understeer control Dual zone auto A/C Leather wrapped steering wheel Sunroof Bose audio system with nine speakers 7-inch colour screen for navigation 3D TFT display Remote engine starter Rear view camera

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