Y Magazine #518, May 3, 2018 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

Fast forward M

any young Omani entrepreneurs are taking the street food business to a whole new level by serving scrumptious dishes from kitchens mounted on specially designed trucks. In recent months Muscat has seen a mushrooming of food trucks in several prime localities, including beaches. Surprisingly, most of them are set up and run by young graduates who made a quick shift from classrooms to kitchens to make a living. It gave them a chance to test their entrepreneurial skills and be their own boss rather than wasting time looking for boring, elusive jobs. Ask any street food enthusiast in Oman, and he is certain to be aware of Salsa, one of the most popular food trucks in Muscat launched by a young Omani entrepreneur. Like Salsa there are several food trucks showing up in Oman eager to serve appetising meals to gourmets. Food trucks are throttling up leaving no doubt that the four-wheeled eateries have comfortably got parked in the hearts of gastronomes in Muscat. This week we feature some of the top food truck joints in Oman and their growing popularity in the Sultanate. Happy reading!

editor@y-oman.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR Nishad Padiyarath ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/REPORTER Hasan Al Lawati

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REPORTER Alvin Thomas

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

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Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing & Advertising LLC / Y is a SABCO Media product.

CEO Eihab Abutaha We’d love to hear your news and views. For editorial enquiries, please info@y-oman.com email Want to read Y on the go? Scan our digital issue here: Download any QR reader from iTunes or Google Play to read Y on the go

Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. MAY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 518

contents MAY

Your Oman

2018

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman Prasad Panicker 10 News Muscat Municipality steps up monitoring of warehouses 12 News Consumer watchdog recovers over RO50,000

This Week Over 60 companies are taking part in the Thai trade exhibition at OCEC

Features 20 Feast by the streets Street food business boom in Oman 28

Road Safety Pledge Y calls out children and parents to join the My Road Safety Pledgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and win fabulous prizes

19 Movies I Feel Pretty is set to release in Oman today

20 Cars and Adventures 32 Destination Al Ain Sahban 34 First Drive Ford Ranger Wildtrak 38 Y-Fi Sleep tight

19 Health and Beauty 38 Fashion Hello Yellow 43 Health Sweat with your kids

Food and Drink 44 Food Feature Balanced diet 46 Taste Test Sheraton Oman Hotel

NEXT ISSUE... FEATURES / COFFEE WITH Y / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / BEAUTY / DESTINATION / TRAVEL / FASHION / FIRST DRIVE

COMPETITION

c i g a M m u M

The winners of the Mother’s Day contest recount their labour of love: the time, the effort and the passion that went into the art that moved their mums

hildren spoke of their labour of love — a special card and message they created to express their enduring love for their mothers — and the proud mums basked in the glory and delight of the precious occasion. The setting for the dream moment was provided by the Y magazine. You guessed it right — we are talking about the exciting gathering we had last week to felicitate the winners of our Mother’s Day competition. Children who gave colourful, thoughtful expression to their ever-green love and profound respect for their mothers and won the top prizes in the competition

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organised by the Y magazine in collaboration with PUCK to mark Mother’s Day in the GCC, which was celebrated on March 21, turned up with their mothers, all eager and so excited. As part of the fourth edition of the competition, children had to write their messages in a creative manner for their mothers on a special card inserted into the Y magazine. Hundreds of children from across the capital submitted their entries conveying everlasting love for their mothers on the cards which were judged by a panel of experts. Thanking the Y magazine for organising the contest, 11-year-old Falak Fathma, a student of the Indian School Seeb who won the first prize, said: “The moment I arrived home from school my brother told me that I had won the first prize. I feel very excited. It took me a whole day to finish the special card for my mother. I learned the ‘Pull technique’ from YouTube. Thank you Y for giving an opportunity to convey my love for my mother.” Twelve-year-old Sri Lakshmi of the Indian School Wadi Kabir, who won the second prize, said: “It took me more than two hours to finish the card because it was exam times. I learned the design from my school teacher who taught us arts and crafts. A friend told me about the competition and I thought it won’t be possible to participate because of exams but my mum encouraged me. I just expressed my love to my mother and wrote about what she does as she is a chef, teacher and baby sitter.” Third prize winner Ishrat, 14, thanked the Y magazine for giving a platform to young artists. “I am happy I could convey my love to my mother through the medium of art.” Ten-year-old Matvey Spencer who won a special mention for the card he made for his mother who is battling cancer said: “I wanted to do something for my mum because I really love her, she is really an inspiration.” Matvey’s mother Yana was moved too. “He finished the letter in five minutes and came to show it to me. Boy I was really touched,” his mother said. Nishad Padiyarath, editor of the Y magazine, said: “While the main goal of the competition was to honour mothers, we were able to identify the creative children in the process. Such competitions open up opportunities for the creative development of young minds and increase the level of their performance. Every entry was imaginative and conveyed love for mothers. I would like to place my appreciation for all the children who sent their entries.” The winners were invited to Y magazine’s office and were honoured along with their mothers by Gwenaelle Gautier, Trade Marketing Manager at National Food Products Company.

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THE VOICE OF OMAN THE POWER OF SPORTS AND GAMES TO UNITE PEOPLE IS INCREDIBLE. PRASAD PANICKER GOES DOWN MEMORY LANE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE OMAN-INDIA SPORTS FESTIVAL

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: Using personal connections to make illegitimate gains is wrong and it harms society. Does wasta still exist in Oman? Do you have any such experience? PREETHA VIJAYAKUMAR

his happened somewhere around the time when the world had been in the grip of the Y2K bug fear, or a bit later, but the incident is forever etched in my mind. On that leisurely afternoon I strolled into my cabin after having a re-laxed lunch at a popular restaurant in Ruwi to be welcomed by an Omani gentleman with a not-so-innocent smile. He had been waiting for me for an hour. The reason? He wanted to tell me in person how one of my articles on the sports page, about Indian cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin, hurt and upset him. It took me some time to reason with him and sent him back, pacified. I was amazed by Omani interest in cricket, and the gentleman became one of my good local friends. A few years later in Doha, wild cheers and loud cries coming out of the acting managing editor’s office rocked the whole building. That was quite a crowd: from office boys to drivers, reporters, sub-editors, pho-tographers, translators and graphic designers. Some of them were sworn enemies but the Italy-France final brought them on the same side as they rooted for their favourites. That is the charm of sports and games: divides of all sorts — personal, professional, political, religious or regional — sink and vanish. The six-month-long Oman-India sports festival organised by the Indian Embassy and Oman’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs to celebrate 70 years of Indian independence is beginning tomorrow (May 4). And that’s a wonderful opportunity to further improve the cultural and polit-ical relations between the two countries in the times of growing fears about losing jobs!

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Bribery, or wasta, is thriving in many countries, and Oman is no exception. The lighter side of wasta is that it is convenient for people in some cases but we cannot overlook its ugly aspects. Using personal connections to get things done quicker is quite all right but when a gift of money or other inducement is involved in getting big, bad things done, it is abusing and corrupting the system. For example, there are people who use their wasta to get driving licences, and this is dangerous. Often these are people who fail the tests a few times, and they fail because they need to train more to be eligible to drive safely. These people are playing with their lives as well as those of others because mistakes made by these unskilled drivers on the road could result in fatal consequences. People in authority who are party to this dishonest system are misusing their office and betraying their country.

NABILA ZULKAPELI

When personal connections are exploited it leads to corruption. Wasta means not everybody begins the race at the starting line; there will be a man five steps ahead, a woman maybe 15. And just like any other Arab country, Oman is brimming with wasta. Don’t misunderstand me — I am not denouncing personal connections. (Humans are sociable creatures by nature, in fact.) I am, however, not condoning the use of personal connections to claim illegitimate gains. The nephew of a rich man can have a job fall right into his lap despite his poor work ethic, lack of experience, and capability. On the other hand, the nephew of a man with no connections, of average income, is inclined to

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struggle under the weight of dismissal, despite his excellent work ethic and clear capability. I am not saying I am completely innocent; I doubt any of us is — be it getting front-row tickets to a concert or getting your daughter an internship. Wasta simply confirms that every citizen born at the bottom of the ladder of success won’t ever make it to the top — and I personally don’t think that is what I want for this country (or any country).

CRISSA ESTRERA GONZALES

It exists not just here but the world over. Well, you have some of your relatives in influential positions and they want to help you get a job or get your work done without you going through all the hassles. The sad point is that the wasta system often denies opportunities for deserving people who may not have connections.

SAMEER

Favouritism is common in countries of the Middle East and Asia where it is usually referred to as wasta. There have been many studies done on the impact of wasta on the business climate and how wide-spread favouritism affects businesses. Investors with good wasta can speed up procedures, get exclusive access to services and information and even influence legislation to their advantage. Some entrepreneurs tend to invest their time and money in social relations because their success depends on their wasta rather than the quality of their products or services. Wasta exists in Oman...we need to put an end to this menace.

MOHAN ANANDAN

Of course, using personal connections to make illegitimate gains is certainly wrong and it harms

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

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society. However, it may be mentioned that getting interview calls through known references is not an uncommon practice. Reputed corporations and financial institutions consider candidates through referrals. However, in my experience, the ‘wasta’ ends there, as thereafter the ‘process’ takes over. These companies have well-established screening and recruitment processes, and only competent candidates reach up to the negotiation table and beyond.

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TASNEEM ALBALUSHI was spotted with her favourite Y Magazine in Muscat

DHARA PAREKH

Wasta flourishes where humans exist. Wasta works in two ways: as an innocent favour gained using personal connections and as illegitimate gains paying money. It is hard to root it out but we need to make an honest effort to curtail it as much as possible.

ZAHID SAEED

Wasta exists here because people are not shy of gaining unfair advantage doing whatever it takes to get what they want. The corrupt system thrives because all the parties involved in this “business” feel no regret about their action. Reles are in place but only if people respect values such menaces could be wiped out. This is where the younger generation could make a difference.

New Debate: Muscat Municipality has been monitoring shopping centres to make sure tissue wipes or hand sanitisers are provided at entry points to ensure the health and safety of customers using shopping carts. What are your thoughts? Share your view with us and you could be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

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MAY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 518

NEWS

YOUR

OMAN

NEARLY 70% DROP IN ACCIDENTS

IN FIVE YEARS, SAYS ROP

man’s most senior traffic officer has thanked drivers in the Sultanate for helping the authorities make the roads safer as new statistics reveal accidents and deaths have both dropped dramatically from 2012. The number of road accidents reduced by 67 per cent, injuries by 34 per cent and deaths by 53 per cent since 2012. New traffic amendments and a constant road safety campaign by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) have combined to reduce risks on the roads. Brig Gen Eng Mohammed Al Rawas, director

general of traffic at ROP, thanked motorists for helping to bring down the number of accidents. “Thank you drivers for abiding by traffic rules. Now, help us to help you even more,” he said. According to recent data released by the police, in 2017 a total of 3,845 accidents occurred, down from 4,721 the previous year. Some 640 deaths occurred in 2017, compared with 692 in 2016. And, 3,134 people were injured in 2017, compared to 3,261 people in 2016. Most of the accidents happened during the day in 2017, with 2,124 accidents, compared with 2,584 in 2016. The number of accidents that occurred during night in 2017 stood at 1,721, compared with 2,137 in 2016. As many as 417 Omanis lost their lives in 2017, 89 of them females. The number of expats who lost their lives in road accidents stood at 223. While 2,353 Omanis were injured in road accidents in 2017, the number was 841 for expats. Fridays saw the most deaths from road accidents in 2017, with 109 deaths resulting from 532 accidents. Saturdays came next with 106 deaths, followed by Tuesdays, which recorded 101 deaths from 590 accidents.

MUSCAT MUNICIPALITY STEPS UP

MONITORING OF WAREHOUSES

uscat Municipality has stepped up monitoring of storage facilities in residential areas as they are “prone to fire, unhealthy, and disrupt traffic”. The municipality is working on stopping people from using houses in residential neighbourhoods to store food and other consumer goods on a commercial scale.

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Warehouses in the middle of residential neighbourhoods harm residents. Owners of such warehouses tend to acquire trucks to transport their goods which delay traffic within the neighbourhoods, the municipality said. There are also health hazards caused by insects and rodents attracted to foods stored in warehouses.

EFFORTLESS

GALLERY

DEEPAM ODISSI ACADEMY, THE FIRST ODISSI ACADEMY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN MUSCAT BY DEEPAK ROY IN 1994, RECENTLY CONDUCTED A FOUR-DAY WORKSHOP WITH RENOWNED ODISSI DANCER, ARUSHI MUDGAL, AT KINGS UNITED DANCE ACADEMY.

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YOUR

OMAN T

NEW BMW MODELS UNVEILED IN OMAN

he eagerly anticipated BMW’s latest line-up is now in town. Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, the official BMW Group importer in Oman, showcased the four new models — the BMW X2, BMW X3, BMW M5 and BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo — during an exclusive preview event hosted in its Muscat showroom. Speaking to Y Magazine, Johnny Oommen, CEO at Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, commented: “We have been waiting with great enthusiasm to reveal these new models to our customers in Oman so we are thrilled that they are finally here and we are able to showcase them to our loyal customers. We take pride in creating the ideal platform to give Oman’s BMW fans the best brand experiences – with this exclusive preview we are ensuring they receive a truly handson and up-close experience of the latest line-up.”

CONSUMER WATCHDOG

RECOVERS OVER RO50,000 T he Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) in Sohar has managed to recover over RO50,000 during the first quarter of 2018. The Directorate General for Consumer Protection in North Batinah managed to recover RO44,543.9 for consumers while RO8,230 worth of administrative fines were recovered. According to a report by the Department of Studies and Development, “the money recovered was from a number of sectors. Among them, RO24,815 was from labour services, while RO4,286 was recovered from the aluminium and carpentry sector.” The report also pointed out that the total administrative fines during the first four months of 2018 amounted to RO8,230 which was received through a number of violations, including the sale and supply of expired goods, as well as increasing the price of goods and services without the approval of authorities. 012

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EXPERIENCE THAILAND

GALLERY

MORE THAN 60 TOP THAI COMPANIES ARE TAKING PART AT THE THIRD THAI TRADE EXHIBITION IN OMAN. IT IS BEING HELD AT THE OMAN CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE.

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YOUR

FOCUS ON ENERGY

OMAN

HIS HIGHNESS SAYYID TAIMUR BIN ASAAD BIN TARIQ AL SAID, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATION, THE RESEARCH COUNCIL, INAUGURATED THE THREE-DAY OMAN ENERGY AND WATER CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.

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GALLERY

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YOUR

PLAY & WIN

OMAN

120 HIGH SCHOOL BOYS, REPRESENTING EIGHT COUNTRIES, TOOK PART IN THE INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN BASKETBALL COMPETITION AT THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MUSCAT (TAISM).

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Photo: Shaquel Al Balushi

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspiration: Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.

In a new series, we look for inspiration from a variety of influences around Oman, including its people, places and wildlife.

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

The annual ‘May Queen’ pageant will be held on May 11, according to officials at the Indian Social Club (ISC)Goan Wing. The pageant will be held at Sheraton Hotel from 7 pm to 1 am. The proceeds will go to the Child First Association nongovernmental organisation (NGO) . The pageant will be open to women of all nationalities, and participants who finish in the top three will be awarded prizes.

MAY

WEEK M

MAY

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

Royal Opera House Muscat will host ‘On the Land of Gypsies: A Musical Play’ on May 11 (7:30 PM) and May 12, 2018 (7:30 PM). This spectacular musical play was written, composed and produced by the highly creative Ghadi Rahbani, and directed/co-composed by the renowned Director Marwan Rahbani. Marwan & Ghadi who are acclaimed throughout the Arab World for their outstanding quality of their productions appreciated for originality, imaginative innovation and finesse. On the Land of the Gypsies premiered at Lebanon’s Casino Du Liban Theatre and ran for a solid four months, then was presented for 3 nights in Dubai. The story is about a rich Lebanese-Brazilian expatriate who returns to Lebanon to build a villa for his fiancée on his ancestral land only to discover that Gypsies have established an entrenched community there and have no intention of leaving. As the owner embarks on a quest to regain his land, something unexpected happens

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ON THE LAND OF GYPSIES: A MUSICAL PLAY

THIS

Bringing authentic Thai products and services right to your doorstep, the third Thai Trade Exhibition Oman will be held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 1 to 5. “Thai Trade Exhibition” is an annual trade event bringing authentic Thai products and services right to your door step. It is a business platform where Thai businesses and entrepreneurs from various sectors tap into the lucrative Middle East market, aiming to find their right trade partners in the Middle East.

THAI TRADE EXHIBITION OMAN 2018

MAY QUEEN PAGEANT

MAY

MOVIES MOVIES FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO: City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net VOX Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.com Star Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

(2015), the film features Arvind Swamy and Amala Paul in the lead roles, while Baby Nainika play supporting roles. Oman Release: May 3, 2018

The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear Cast: Alfred Bjerre, Liva Elvira, Jordan Lerdam, Amalie Naseby Fick

Overboard Cast: Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, Eva Longoria Overboard is a American romantic comedy film directed by Rob Greenberg and written by Bob Fisher, Greenberg and Leslie Dixon, and starring Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, Eva Longoria, John Hannah, and Swoosie Kurtz. The film is a remake of the 1987 film of the same name. The story follows Leo (Eugenio Derbez), a spoiled playboy from one of Mexico’s wealthiest families who falls overboard off his yacht and develops amnesia. As Leo’s story makes the local news, Kate’s (Anna Faris) quick-thinking boss Theresa (Eva Longoria) sees a golden opportunity to help her financially

I Feel Pretty Cast: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel, Aidy Bryant

Feel Pretty is a 2018 American comedy film written and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, in their directional debuts. The film stars Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily

Life peacefully passes by in Sunnytown until Mitcho and Sebastian find a message in a bottle by the harbor. The Bottle is from the missing Mayor of Sunnytown with a message that he is on The Mysterious Island and has made a great discovery. They must embark on a great journey to help save the Mayor and bring him home; in the process they uncover something that will bring great pleasure to the city of Sunnytown – a Giant Pear. strapped friend and pretend to be Leo’s wife just for a little while. Oman Release: May 3, 2018

Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel, Aidy Bryant, Busy Philipps, Tom Hopper, Naomi Campbell, and Lauren Hutton. The plot follows an insecure woman who, after suffering a head injury, gains extreme self-confidence and believes she is considerably attractive. Her new confidence empowers her to live fearlessly, but what happens when she realises her appearance never changed. Oman Release: May 3, 2018

Oman Release: May 3, 2018

Bhaskar Oru Rascal

Avengers: Infinity War Cast: Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Russo, Jeo Russo, Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hiddleston

As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet -- the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment- the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain. Still running

Cast: Arvind Swamy and Amala Paul

Bhaskar Oru Rascal (Bhaskar is a rascal) is an Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written and directed by Siddique. A remake of his own Malayalam film Bhaskar the Rascal

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION Who is the director of Bhaskar Oru Rascal? LAST WEEK’S WINNER Vinitha Balan

WIN FREE MOVIE TICKETS! Read our movie section and answer the question to stand a chance to win two tickets to watch movies of your choice! Send your answers to info@y-oman. com, along with your 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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Love movies? Us too! With VOX Rewards you can earn points every time you visit the cinema to use on FREE movie tickets. Join today at voxcinemas.com/rewards VOX Rewards. Another reason to love VOX Cinemas.

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MEALS ON Foodies are hot on the meals on the wheels seeking a delicious, economical alternative to the typical stuff. Hasan al Lawati meets truck owners to get a taste of the treat on the street

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WE DECIDED TO RENT A FOOD TRUCK TO PROMOTE OUR UPCOMING RESTAURANT. BUT WE WERE SURPRISED BY THE DEMAND. WE MADE MORE MONEY FROM THE TRUCK THAN WE NORMALLY MAKE FROM OUR RESTAURANT BUSINESS

s dusk falls a stretch of road in Al Hail slowly comes alive as foodies gather around the Salsa food truck to savour the delicious dishes served at reasonable prices. Like Salsa several food trucks are popping up in Oman eager to dish out appetising meals to share a slice of the sizzling street food market. Many young Omani entrepreneurs are taking the street food business to a whole new level by serving scrumptious dishes from kitchens mounted on specially designed trucks. It is a familiar picture in Muscat and elsewhere in the country now as hungry families and harried office staff line up outside the food trucks to gorge on the treats whipped up by young Omani boys. Ahmed Al Huzaib and his cousin Ali Al Busaidi who started Salsa 14 months ago are excited with the response from foodies. Ask any street food enthusiast in Muscat about Salsa, and he or she shall tell you all you need to know about it, from the menu to the location to the peak hours of business. Salsa serves a variety of delectable dishes, and it attracts around 300 costumers every weekend. “We are delighted to receive a great response from food lovers. With Muscat becoming more and more cosmopolitan, the food truck business is certain to grow big over the next few years,” says Al Huzaib. Young entrepreneurs in Oman are attracted to the food truck business for multiple reasons, including low start-up and overhead costs. “It is really easy and affordable to set up a food truck here. It takes only three weeks to fully set up the business once you have a truck. The best part is that you do not have to pay any rent,” explains Al Huzaib.

Meet, chat and eat

Friends and families flocking around food trucks and tucking into their meals cooked in no time in front of their eyes are a common sight in Muscat’s busy localities now. You get to dig your teeth into an awesome variety of food, from burgers to grills to barbeques, all whipped up within a few minutes of placing the order as you chat with your friend or family. The business is picking up after the government legalised the food truck sector, allowing ambitious entrepreneurs to pitch their carts. The Omani government gave the green signal to food truck businesses in 2016, and a year after Muscat Municipality issued a list of health and safety requirements to regulate the mobile eateries.

Rules and regulations

Just like the brick-and-mortar restaurant, one needs to get a business licence to start the street business. That means food truck owners must obtain a one-year, renewable municipal licence. After getting necessary approvals from the authorities concerned, food trucks can be parked in any public place, including beaches, stadiums, Eid habta locations and parking lots of public parks. Rules, however, stipulate that the truck should not be parked within 200 metres of a restaurant. Qais Al Kushri, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Affairs at Muscat Municipality, says: “Last year the rules related to the food truck business were amended and now the kitchen cabin has to be separate from the part of the vehicle where the driver sits.” The rules also require that the owners should guarantee that the trucks are not be used for any other purpose but cooking and selling food.

Open to Omanis only

At the moment the food truck business is open only to Omanis registered with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises. But Ahmed Al Huzaib is not happy with the 100 per cent Omanisation

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norm for employing staff as well. “I think allowing expats to be employed in this business will help us Omani entrepreneurs. It is difficult for us to find Omani employees. We hire our cousins who join us after college to cook and serve,” he says. He points out that Last Exit, a popular street food truck park in Dubai, has expat workers and it’s now a tourist destination. “I think the authorities should rethink the rule on employing workers. Expatriates should be allowed to work in the street food business. This will help us function better and contribute to attracting tourists too.”

Trendy trucks

The food truck business is thriving because of the vision of entrepreneurs like Abdullah Al Houti, founder of Oman Food Trucks, a consultancy and food truck designing company. The company was established two years ago to cash in on the growing popularity of food trucks. Al Houti’s team designed more than seven food trucks last year. He says: “There is no doubt that the food truck business will continue to grow. I guess it pays off to have a food truck design that delivers.” The trucks come in many sizes and different exterior designs, depending on the scale of operation and the cuisine served. “Many Omanis came up with exceptional ideas and business concepts when it came to designing the trucks. More people here are looking for new food experiences as you can see a restaurant with a new theme opening in Muscat almost every day,” says Houti. Oman Food Trucks also takes part in events. “More than 9,000 people showed up at the Muscat Eat event organised recently. Several food trucks participated and food lovers responded positively,” Al Houti added.

Friendly regulations, please

Al Houti also wants some amendments to the current rules related to running of the business. “The law stipulates that food truck business owners should be working full time on their project and that they should not have any other business registered under their names.” Al Houti argues that such laws restrict Omani businessmen who want to compete locally and export their brands to neighbouring countries. “I think they should allow Omanis to expand their business ideas.”

Dishes galore

Though food trucks started by selling only meat barbeques, locally known as Mashakeek, they are now offering chicken, seafood, vegetarian and sweets dishes. Marine Station, one of the latest additions to the country’s portable food scene, serves juice, burgers, soup and seafood grills and barbeques. Emad Said al Battashi, founder of Marine Station, decided to open a food truck business because it was cheaper than opening a restaurant. “Rents are too expensive in Muscat. A food truck costs less and so we are testing the waters with this project. We might think of starting a restaurant later.” The 33-year-old businessman works with a team of six, all from the same family. The new brand took part in Muscat Eat and received a great response. “We will have another truck near Al Mouj Muscat as soon as we get our municipal licence.”

The challenges

So, is it all that easy to set up the business? Of course not. There are challenges, starting from finding the right truck to getting the staff required. It took seven months for Al Battashi to find a truck that was not expensive and fit the local standards. Hisham Al Jabri, owner of Change, a burger restaurant in Salalah who is set to open a branch in Al Khoudh, rented a food truck for a couple of days during the Muscat Eat event to run a teaser for their upcoming venture. “We decided to rent a food truck to promote our upcoming restaurant. But we were surprised by the demand. We made more money from the truck than we normally make from our restaurant business,” he says. This experience has made Hisham and his partners Ahmed Al Kindi and Salim Al Yahyai to think of entering the food truck business one day. The food trucks business is a happy situation for everyone concerned. While the customers get delectable food at reasonable prices, the owners enjoy low start-up expenditures and rent-free space, and the portable advantage makes it easy for them to pop up just about anywhere they get good business. ■

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Change Restaurant

Location: Salalah near Salalah Gardens Mall and soon in Al Sib Food truck is only available during events. Category: Burger and fast food Top meals: Change Burger - Duritos Chicken Burger Ziggy shrimps Drinks: Mojitos, Shakes and Smoothies

Salsa

Location: Al Hail, near Al Mouj roundabout Category: Burgers and Mishkak Top meals: Salsa fries, Salsa Burger, Crispy Burger, Jalapeno poppers Drinks: Mojitos and soft drinks

Marine Station

Location: Al Hail, near Al Mouj (soon) Category: Burgers, Mishkak and Soups Top meals: Marine Burger, Scuba Burger, Tom Yum Soup Drinks: Bungo juice, passion fruit juice and soft drinks

Wheelyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cafe

Location: Muscat University and Oman Tourism College from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Category: Hot and cold beverages Top drinks: Coffee and mojito

Chocotrailer

Location: My City Centre Surmoves depending on the event Category: Sweets Top meals: Chocolate crepes and waffles, coffee

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May 03

2018

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l Harthy, A d a id W s t e e m Hasan al Lawai covers e m a g o e id v s e is an the lady who Om

bearded Finn the Human? Rick and Morty wearing kummas? An Arab Goku! That’s amusing. And the woman behind this lofty, local transformation of your favourite video game characters is a young Omani artist brimming with new ideas and gifted with a pair of hands that whip up incredible twists to the tales. Widad Al Harthy, 22, is a an artist who enjoys recreating video game covers, and her latest work, Omani Grand Theft Auto, is making ripples on social media. A fan of retro games, like Sonic and Super Mario, the Omani lady has mush-room (pun intended) to spread and sprout: her drawings have been appreciated by international celebrities like Chris Brown and Alfredo Flores. As a kid she was happier playing video games than doing the other usual things kids of her age normally indulged in for fun. “I used to sneak into my mother’s room and just played video games,” she says. Equipped with an iPad and talent, Widad undertakes commissions from individuals and corporations. Celebrated Yemeni singer Balqees Fathy has approached her with a request to use one of the art works in a snap filter. She is not a full-time artist, though. And that means she needs a bit of time to fine-tune the stuff she creates. “It usually takes me seven to ten days to finish a piece,” Widad says. If you had visited the recent 968Gamez event, you would have observed that Oman had loads of gaming fans but very few artists had been painting their favourite characters. Widad is planning to start her own clothing brand featuring her sought-after designs. But, like most Omani artists, she too is disappointed with the lack of local interest and support. “At least 80 per cent of my commissions come from the United States,” she says, explaining that many local companies ask for free designs. “Even if it takes an artist just five minutes to finish a design, he/she studies for five years to master the art, and that costs money,” she argues. Not everyone is closing the door on talent, however. “Some Omani entrepreneurs do support me, like Flaws, Burger Place, and Just Jam,” Widad says with a smile. You may follow Widad on Instagram at @illhueminartsy MAY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 518

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COMPETITION

Presents

s s e l e c i r p e h t r o f e g d e Pl Children will write it and parents will sign it — let’s take the pledge together towards the priceless: safer roads. Y calls out children and parents to join the ‘My Road Safety Pledge’ and win fabulous prizes

oad safety awareness plays a significant role in shaping the attitudes and behaviours of children and young people – guaranteeing they become responsible drivers, passengers and pedestrians in the future. To teach children from a young age to be aware of the traffic rules and regulations, the Y magazine is once again conducting the “My Road Safety Pledge” competition. To participate in the competition children will write a “My Road Safety Pledge” on behalf of their parents

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in a custom-made card printed by Y Magazine. The “My Road Safety Pledge” card has a space wherein children can pen the pledge on behalf of their parents. The Road Safety Pledge has to be counter-signed by their parents as the purpose is also to promote the message of road safety to parents through their children. Nishad Padiyarath, editor of the Y magazine, said: “The authorities in the Sultanate have come up with new rules and are ensuring their implementation to make roads in Oman safe. In our own way we want to

In Association With

support the government in fulfilling its mission to make the country’s roads safer. The intention of this competition is to make sure that children are aware of road safety from a young age. The intention is also to involve the parents as they too need to be reminded of the importance of road safety. We want to make parents more mindful of their behaviour behind the wheel and we believe that parents taking the pledge along with their children is going to help fulfil the objective of this competition. Parents need to be more aware of their role, about crash and injury risk to children, and about behavioural strategies to ascertain safety on roads. Through this activity we hope to make parents better road safety role models for their children. We ask the children to make the pledge as creative and effective as possible as there are attractive prizes to be won.” The best three pledges will win prizes worth RO75 (first place), RO50 (second place) and RO25 (third place). Once the Road Safety Pledge is written on the supplied card, parents are requested to drop the card at designated drop boxes across Muscat before May 26 when the contest closes. An on-ground activation event where children will colour the cards and take the Road Safety Pledge will be held on May 18. The winners of the “My Road Safety Pledge” competition will receive their prizes at a special ceremony to be held on June 9.

■ Children should be taught the correct road crossing technique. ■ Parents or an accompanying adult should always hold hands of children when they are on the road. Children don’t have the understanding to cope in a traffic situation and therefore need to be constantly supervised on the road. ■ Parents or an accompanying adult should always hold hands of children when they are on the road. Children don’t have the understanding to cope in a traffic situation and therefore need to be constantly supervised on the road. ■ Make sure your child gets in and out of the car away from the traffic side. ■ Make sure all passengers including children wear a seat belt or child restraint as the new rules in Oman require back passengers too to wear seat belts. ■ Around schools be extra alert especially when driving past a stationary bus as children often run out in front of and from behind buses to cross the road. ■ As a driver, you should be very careful when reversing. Before you enter the vehicle, walk behind the vehicle to make sure there are no children behind the car and check for children and other pedestrians nearby. ■ As parents, set a good example for your children on how to be safe as a passenger, pedestrian, and driver by not speeding, by not jumping traffic lights, by not overtaking dangerously, by not shouting or yelling at other road users, or by not showing aggressive driving behaviours. ■ Instruct your child to always follow the rules for car safety – even if you are not present.

COMPETITION RULES:

● The competition is open to children aged 16 and under. ● Cards must be completed by children only and then signed by a parent or guardian. Entries will be disqualified if there is evidence of parental involvement. ● Entries received after the closing date of May 26 will not go forward to the judging stage. ● Children of employees of SABCO Media or associated companies are excluded from taking part. ● The editor’s decision is final. ● Winners will be notified by email or telephone. MAY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 518

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PICTURE FROM THE PAST

WHILE THE 2018 EDITION OF THE IPL HAS THROWN UP EXCITING MOMENTS, IT’S TOO EARLY TO MAKE COMPARISON WITH THE LAST 10 EDITIONS. A LOOK BACK INTO SOME OF THE LESS-KNOWN EVENTS IN IPL HISTORY

ricket fans had been entertained to the fullest in the previous 10 editions of the Indian Premier League. There had been plenty of drama within and outside the playing field. Each season had something unusual about it that upped the buzz about the tournament. Four centuries by ViratKohli in a single season, hattricks by several bowlers, unbelievable catches, exciting super overs and much more had been lapped up by millions of thrilled viewers across the globe. Many are the celebrated moments that are still fresh in our minds, but there are numerous exciting facts and happenings that we are unaware of.

#1 No-ball

Piyush Chawla remained the only bowler who hadn’t bowled a no-ball in his IPL career until he bowled one in a match against the Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2016. The first no-ball of the leg-spinner came after bowling almost 386 overs in his IPL career. For eight years of the T20 tournament, Chawla had bowled in the most disciplined manner any bowler can bowl.

#2 Most economical bowler

In the 10 editions of the Indian Premier League, the most

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economical spells ever bowled have been by Ashish Nehra and Fidel Edwards. They share the exact same bowling figures. Both conceded just 6 runs in their 4 overs.

#3 Most number of catches

Indian wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik has held the most number of catches collectively in all the seasons of the IPL. He has held 88 catches in 152 IPL appearances. He also has 26 stumpings to his name.

#4 Fastest delivery

The 10 years of Indian Premier League has witnessed some excellent bowling performances. Aussie pacer Pat Cummins bowled the quickest delivery in the IPL while playing for the Delhi Daredevils in the 2017 edition of the IPL. He bowled the delivery at a destructive pace of 153.56km/h. During the season, he was bowling at an average speed of 145km/h.

#5 Duck disgrace

The Indian off-spinner’s 13 ducks are the most by any player in the history of the tournament. Harbhajan had been part of the Mumbai Indians since the beginning of the tournament until ` this year.

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STABBED IN THE BACK?

C IPL HIGHLIGHTS

ROHIT ENDORSES MID-SEASON TRANSFER WINDOW IN IPL

umbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma has endorsed the idea of having a football-style mid-season transfer window in this IPL. A provision has been made for a short five-day transfer window. Under the rule, only uncapped players who have played no more than two matches at the halfway mark will be eligible for the transfers. “The mid-season transfer window will give the teams an opportunity to see what they need in the squad and other teams will also be looking at what players they can get,” Rohit said. “It completely depends on the franchise if a situation comes when we need to get a player or give a player. It is good for the tournament and will add even more value to the tournament.” Mahela Jayawardene, the head coach, also felt it was “a great option.” “This is the evolution for the franchise model going forward,” he added.

hris Gayle has been in fine form for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, with his pairing at the top of the order with KL Rahul one of the key reasons why the side have begun this campaign so well. However, the self-proclaimed “Universe Boss” almost went unsold at the auction earlier this year, with former side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) deciding not to retain the services of the Jamaican opener. This was something that puzzled Chris Gayle since he said that he was given assurances by the franchise that he was part of their plans. “I was their biggest draw. It was disappointing from that end, because they (RCB) had called me. They wanted me in the team and I was told that I will be retained. But they never called back after that. So that gave me the impression that they didn’t want me and it’s fine,” Gayle said in an interview with Times of India. Gayle admitted that he was surprised by the fact that no franchise seemed keen to procure his services during the auction, with KXIP swooping in to buy him right at the end.

Predict the winners from the matches played in India from May 3 to May 7 to win a SIM with 2GB data pack worth RO 5 from Friendi Mobile. Email us your predictions to editor@yoman.com. *Names of the winners will be announced on May 31st. MAY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 518

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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 • SPAR

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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 • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint (Splash) • SPAR • 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 MSQ • 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 • 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 • 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 • Chevrolet/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 Al Mouj Muscat • Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee • Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co. • Al Mouj Muscat 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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Adventures

Cars

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CARS AND ADVENTURES

BIG & BOLD

This week we explore the bold Ford Ranger Wildtrak â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P34

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

D E S T I N AT I O N C a r s

P o s t c a r d s Fr o m

Y- F i

Gaming

Destination

AL AIN SAHBAN

AFTER A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A STRANGER AND A CASUAL CHAT, SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI JUMPS INTO HIS VEHICLE AND HEADS WEST TO DISCOVER A DREAM, LITTLE-KNOWN SPRING 032

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While you can reach Al Ain Sahban by a sedan, it is preferable to cross the off-road in a 4X4. The moment I set my eyes on the spring I fell in love. Love at first sight, literally and figuratively. The beautiful image of the light blue sky reflected on the transparent water summed up the experience: awesome and incredible, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was no dream. I did not take a swim in the spring but could not resist touching the water. It was pleasantly, refreshingly warm. Of course under the baking sun it was not wise to take a dip. In any case, Al Ain Sahban must be Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coolest winter destination! What I admired most was the falaj that stretched from the spring, snaking through the mountains to feed a nearby village. You cannot help but feel humbled to enjoy the bright colours while surrounded by the dry, dark and mountainous landscape. Soon after I shared some images of the place in some WhatsApp groups a friend from Dubai showed interest in visiting the spring. But why is it that Al Ain Sahban is not a popular tourist destination? Why is it that it still remains unknown? The place has incredible charm to lure in thousands if the authorities would run promotion campaigns. It is less than an hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive from the borders, which means the place can serve as a perfect escape for residents in neighbouring countries. Sadly, the place has no official signboards that lead to it.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

friendly chat in a local gym led us to this hidden gem. I met Heather, a fan of the Y magazine who checks out our destination pieces every week, at a local gymnasium. She was thrilled to know that I write for this page. Helen loves adventure. She showed me a photo of a place she had visited recently. That was a great shot of a lovely place. I needed no further convincing to head west. The place I was headed for was Al Ain Sahban, a water spring near Al Buraimi. No place in Oman may have water as pure and transparent as Al Ain Sahban has. The place is simply mind-blowing. Totally worth every minute of the nearly three-hour drive from Muscat.

Take the road from Muscat to Sohar. After arriving near Sohar, take the turn that leads to Al Buraimi. Follow the road until you find a brown mosque, enter the small tunnel to your right and follow the GPS coordinates to reach the destination.

GPS location: N24.195940.E56.320042

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

hen you boldly name your car a ‘Ranger’, it would be best to assure the buying public that your vehicle is indeed worthy of its nametag. But that’s exactly what Ford has been doing for the last three decades with its Ranger pickup truck. Sitting in the lineup as an underdog to the muchacclaimed F-150 pickup truck, the Ranger may be glossed over as a buying alternative to its larger sibling, but it still offers as much – and maybe even more – grunt for those looking to eke the most out of their utilitarian truck. Introduced to the world sometime in 1983, the Ranger originally took on a more blue-collared approach than the F-150. The latter pickup went on to star in movies, pack shiny and chrome-wrapped V8s under the hood for added jauntiness and then eventually formed the part of an alternative sportsutilitarian lifestyle for the emerging America. But the Ranger remained humble and somewhat subdued… until recently. The current iteration of

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FORD RANGER WILDTRAK

Big and bold, the cute ute has a stack of smart tech and the style of a luxury sedan. Pleased with its urban and suburban manners, Alvin Thomas takes the beast to the wadi for the ultimate test the Ranger took to the showrooms in 2016 after it received a host of much-needed fascia upgrades to differentiate it from its commercial cousins. And for the first time since I can recollect, Ford brings the ‘WildTrak’ moniker into the picture – albeit, I couldn’t be more pleased to see it take shape on the Ranger. This goes to show too. For instance, the heavily revised front end now poses with a blacked-out grille that also extends its way to the extreme ends of the bumper. As expected, the lights – including the foglamps and the Ford logo – are large to add to the truck’s workhorse persona. The WildTrak upgrade includes heavily retuned suspension, which raises the ride height and provides about 237mm of ground clearance. The engineers weren’t messing about when they were designing the elements, either. Look carefully underneath and you’ll find a steel-reinforced skid plate to protect the engine. Despite the addition of a low-lying side step, the side profile remains buff. My bold fiery orange tester also received thick and black faux-aero elements on the sides with the engine capacity etched on it. The ‘WildTrak’ badging also makes its way to either side of the front doors. The rear now poses with new and gallant tail lamps, thereby getting rid of all the displeasing commercial elements from its predecessors. The rear step is also finished in the same dark black paintjob that is seen on the front. But look closely and you can find the parking sensor buttons and the rear camera too. A sliding metal bed cover and a sail pillar round off the exterior of this quirky looking pickup truck. Albeit, there’s nothing quirky about the interior

– and weirdly, that should make the Ranger more appealing to the audience across all age groups. Stepping inside – which will require you to heave yourself in using the side step – you’ll find yourself doubting whether you’re in a full-fledged pickup truck or a fusion sedan; it’s uncanny. Everything is where you would expect things to be. The steering is straight from the Ford Focus, while there are 22 buttons on it to control everything from your music, to the dual 4.2-inch infotainment screens on the instrument cluster and even the radarguided cruise control or the speed limited functions. The interior in my tester was finished in a mix of fabric and leatherette, with the dual-tone stitching matching the exterior colour tone of the truck. Stitched leatherette also makes its way to the top of the dashboard and also parts of the trim on the door – but hard plastics comprise all else. The centre console also harbours Ford’s class-

Destination

P o s t c a r d s Fr o m

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS

FORD RANGER WILDTRAK Specifications: Engine: 3.2-litre in-line five-cylinder turbo-diesel Transmission: Six-speed automatic Horsepower: 197hp Torque: 470Nm Top Speed: 175kph (limited) Four-wheel drive 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC3 18-inch alloy wheels ABS, ESC, BA and EBD Electronically-locking differential Low-range gearing Dual 4.2-inch gauge screens Radar-guided cruise control

FORD IS GUTSY ENOUGH TO POWER THE TRUCK WITH A SOLID DIESEL ENGINE THAT IS ROBUST ENOUGH ON OUR ROADS leading 8-inch touchscreen running on the SYNC3 interface. The screen is receptive to touches and is incredibly easy to navigate through. The threedimensional maps are also a breeze to use, especially in comparison with what you would find in other trucks from Japan and even Europe. The seats are comfortable during normal driving on the highways and supportive when the going gets tough. The sides are moderately bolstered to keep you within the seats while off-roading, and the lumbar support is quite admirable for a vehicle in this class. Space is available in plentiful in both the front and rear, with good legroom and headroom. Of course, the benchtype seats in the rear can come across as a bit too upright for some – but it is light years ahead of other commercialoriented vehicles in this segment. Where the WildTrak scores, though, is in creature comforts: It comes with an array of tech such as blindspot monitoring, auto a/c with dual-zone climate control, automatic headlamps and wipers, six airbags, a 12-volt power outlet, and even 110/240-volt power sockets for rear passengers. However, I can assure you that you will not be bothering with any of that; not when you’re in control of the buttons

that control the differential, the traction control and so on. Powering the Ranger WildTrak is a 3.2-litre in-line five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that puts down 197hp and an impressive 470Nms of twist. The powertrain is furthermore completed by a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to either two (rear wheels) or four wheels, when asked. While the power may not seem as much, it is the torque that takes control of the wheels from about 1,500rpm. The torque band is quite small, and the engine is – almost always – out of steam after 3,800rpm. However, under normal circumstances the gearbox does a great job in switching gears to give you a mix of power and torque, and fuel efficiency (keeping in mind that diesel is the most expensive fuel in Oman). As is now the norm, you also get a manual shifting mode that will allow the engine to hit the redline without changing up. The engine and tranny combination is good enough to power the truck from 0 to 100kph in about 9.8 seconds – and turbo lag is now kept to a minimum thanks to a newer and smaller high-

pressure turbocharger that replaces the older turbo system. To test out the true capabilities of the truck, I took it off the tarmac and onto the wadis in Al Amerat. While there weren’t any surprises on the capabilities of the truck, I found the Ranger taking on all forms of terrain without any hitches. A complete switch to four-wheel-drive mode with a differential lock was only required when I encountered soft and mushy sand on the wadi bed. But, simply keeping the engine revolutions at 1,500rpm on first gear was enough to allow the Ranger to haul itself from the sand. For a pickup truck, the Ranger WildTrak handles quite well, taking corners (even on sand) without much slippage or drama. But, with the power sent only to the rear wheels (in ‘4x2’ mode), you will come across some oversteer action in corners – especially when the torque kicks in. The electric-assisted power steering offers decent feedback, which can aid in countering any form of oversteer you may encounter. This, coupled with the all-around visibility of the truck, makes it a breeze to manoeuvre in city traffic. The Ford Ranger WildTrak may not be as sophisticated as, say, its larger sibling – the Ford F-150. But, as far as entrants in the entry-level luxury pickup truck segment goes, this may very well sit atop any other contenders that currently flank the market. For that very reason – and the fact that Ford is gutsy enough to power the truck with a solid diesel engine that is robust enough on our roads – the Ranger has risen to become one of my mostfavoured vehicles of the year.

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CARS ADVENTURES BEAUTIFUL BRUSSELS

Brussels represents openness, friendliness and freedom and wears its diversity proudly.

1. Feasting on chocolates in Belgium is an obvious choice 2. Comic books are bestsellers here, pick up as many 3. Cycle through Brussels, bikes for rent all over town 4. Spend time at The Grand Place 5. Visit as many from 100 museums present

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Destination

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POSTCARDS FROM

Nirmal Raj recommends

BRUSSELS B

russels, the capital of Belgium, has multiple shining facets and there is something to interest everyone here and to make everyone feel at home. The metropolis is an absolute mixed bag of sights, sounds and even flavour. It has stunning Gothic churches as well as a diversity of medieval buildings. Besides, there are many interesting museums, galleries and attractive green parks. While visitors can shop to their heart’s content, epicures can feast on the Belgium’s gastronomic delights, especially its famous chocolates. Brussels represents openness, friendliness and freedom and wears its diversity proudly. Brussels is a bilingual region (French/Dutch) but most people also speak and understand English. Among the attractions you should not and will not miss is the Unesco World Heritage Site - The Grand Place. This square of gold and stones, stimulating with history, is extraordinary for many reasons, but its extensiveness and charm are what make it a truly remarkable place. Other celebrated spots are the Manneken-Pis, a statue of a little boy with an impressive wardrobe; the Galeries Saint-Hubert, the first covered arcade of its kind in Europe; the Stock Exchange, which resembles a Greek temple, and the surrounding Belle Époque cafés; the opera; La Monnaie; and the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula with its stained-glass windows and grandiose organs. The Art & Design Atomium Museum must certainly be on your ‘to-visit list’. Located at one of Brussels’ major tourism attractions, this new museum puts the spotlight on the glorious years of plastic, alongside art and design from the 20th and 21st centuries. As the space cannot hold all the pieces, exhibits are changed every year, offering new discoveries with each visit, an incentive to come back time and again. An unmistakable symbol of Brussels and an inimitable feat in the history of architecture is the Atomium. Built for the 1958 World’s Fair, it is a model of a crystalline iron molecule magnified 165 billion times. As well as offering a surrealist walk through tubes and spheres, the Atomium has a permanent exhibition about its history and temporary exhibitions for the public. At the foot of the Atomium, Mini-Europe offers a journey across Europe in just a few hours. It’s an invitation to stroll through some of the most beautiful cities in Europe. In total there are 350 scale models and sites to discover. The Musical Instruments Museum occupies the Art Nouveau buildings of the former Old England stores and is one of the biggest collections of instruments in the world. The four exhibition levels have on display nearly 1,200 instruments (from the 7,000 items in the collection), both antique and contemporary. The world of the European Parliament can be discovered at the Parlamentarium, the biggest visitors’ centre of any parliament in Europe. Children over 10 and adults can learn, in 23 languages, how decisions are made and how they influence our daily lives. The Parlamentarium is open every day and its entrance is free. Brussels is the place where many legendary comic book characters - Tintin, Spirou, Gaston Lagaffe, Marsupilami, Blake and Mortimer, Boule et Bill, Lucky Luke and the Smurfs, XIII, Largo Winch, Le Chat and many others - were born or grew up. These characters appear life-sized on the façades of buildings, tell their stories at the Comics Art Museum and the Museum of Original Figurines. Situated in the heart of Europe, Brussels has convenient air, road and rail connections. For those who fly in, it takes only 20 minutes from the airport to the centre of the city. And when you have arrived, it’s easy to move around the compact city, by public transport or on foot. The best times to visit Brussels for ideal weather are between May and October.

THE AT O M IU

R T OU R IS T R R IA G E FO H OR S E C A ND PLACE IN G A T G R A S IG H T S E E RKT) (G R OT E M A

My favourite place The Belgian Comic Strip Centre, a space dedicated to comic strip art, is simply unique. Located in the heart of Brussels, in a majestic Art Nouveau building, created by Victor Horta in 1906, the Belgian Comic Strip Centre opened its doors to the public on October 6, 1989.

Highlights Brussels is relatively small. And you can reach most points of tourist attractions by walk. Lowlights Research about restaurants before you get there. Some can inflate prices if they know you are a tourist and can

offer average food.

Souvenirs Chocolate is undoubtedly the best-known and most-exported gourmet product. World-renowned chocolatiers like Frédéric Blondeel, Godiva, Laurent Gerbaud, Mary, Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini, and Wittamer can be found everywhere. You can also buy beautiful lace hand fans, handmade crystal ornaments, unique trinkets, fridge magnets, artifacts among others. Getting there From Muscat, travellers can take convenient connecting flights on Oman Air via Frankfurt, Zurich, and

London. Flying time from Muscat is nine hours and 15 minutes, including stopovers.

B E L G IA

N CHOC O

LATE

Where to stay Every hotel category is represented here and is ideally located. It is advisable to make the bookings online before you get there.

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Destination

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

SLEEP TIGHT

Sleep is as vital as food for health, but not many are getting the right, peaceful rest. Hasan al Lawati checks out gadgets that offer comprehensive solutions

THE TECH IN YOU STOP SNORING

Many people who snore do not realise they snore but their partner do. Snoring can cause one's partner to wake up multiple times a night, and living with a person who snores can be frustrating — but help is at hand. The Smart Nora offers a comfortable, contact-free solution. Upon inserting the Smart Nora inside the pillow it picks up early sounds of snoring and gets into action before the sounds get louder enough to wake up the sleeping partner. A gentle movement in the pillow insert stops the person from snoring. Buy it from smartnora.com for RO115.

DREEM COME TRUE

SLEEP QUICK, RISE EARLY

EDITOR’S PICK

For all those who toss and turn in bed for minutes, or even hours, before they finally fall asleep, and then get up late, here’s a device that will helps provide both: quick sleep and early rising. The Withings Aura Connected Alarm Clock emits sleep-inducing lights and sounds to help you drift off to sleep quickly and wake you up with full of energy. Buy it from amazon for RO211.

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This is probably one of the most advanced gadgets available to monitor and improve your sleep. The Dreem is a lifestyle enhancement device that records and analyses brain activity, or electroencephalography (EEG). Five precise EEG sensors discreetly monitor your brain waves while others track movement, heart rate and respiration — all working together to deliver a comprehensive understanding of your sleep. The headband comes with an app that will help you better understand your sleeping patterns and give you daily statistics. Buy it from shop.dreem.com for RO192.

AIR OF CONFIDENCE

THE ONE ACTIVITY WE DO WHILE SLEEPING IS BREATHING BUT WE ARE SELDOM AWARE OF THE AIR QUALITY INSIDE OUR HOMES WHILE ASLEEP. THE AWAIR AIR QUALITY MONITOR IS A CUBE-SHAPED DEVICE THAT TRACKS TOXINS AND CHEMICALS IN THE AIR AND GIVES PERSONALISED RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY. YOUR AWAIR SCORE IS A COLOUR-CODED SCALE THAT LETS YOU KNOW THE QUALITY OF YOUR INDOOR ENVIRONMENT. IT’S A 0 TO 100 SCALE, WITH 0 BEING POOR AIR QUALITY AND 100 BEING HEALTHY. BUY IT FROM GETAWAIR.COM FOR RO70. JULY MAY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 518 327

Stone Age

Info Box

BERND BRUNNHOFER

Playing time:

60-120 MINUTES

Genre:

WORKER PLACEMENT AND DICE ROLLING

How about going back in time: hunting and gathering to survive? Hasan al Lawati experiences a taste of tough life our ancestors had

he road to build civilisation was not easy, and in this game you go through the hurdles that primal humans faced thousands of years ago. In Stone Age, you go back to the prehistoric era where you need to gather resources to build huts and trade to keep your people alive. In this worker-placement game, you get to place your tribe members in different areas of the board. Each location has exclusive benefits.

You can assign workers to collect food, wood, clay, rocks or gold. You can also boost your dice roll through enhancing your weapons. Sounds easy? It is not. The game is extremely competitive as players cannot share most of the locations. The starting player occupy a location that prevents other players from utilising its benefits. Players take turns in placing their figures which can be increased through breeding. Upon assigning all of them, the starting player gets to activate the locations in whatever sequence he/she likes. While there are tonnes of strategies to collect points and win the game, it is very important to strike a balance between feeding your tribe and purchasing huts or gathering resources. Designed by Bernd Brunnhofer, the basic games can be played by 2-4 players. A fifth player can be added in its expansion. It might take you around two hours to finish the game on your first attempt but it gets easier and faster as you learn. Easy to learn, Stone Age is just lovely and it includes cute figures. It is also one of those games where you cannot predict the winner until the scoring round. And that part comes after a certain

number of huts are purchased. My tabletop-enthusiast friends agree that it is easily one of the best games of our collection. While it lacks a battling feature, which is a bummer for an overly competitive player like me, Stone Age offers smarter, more peaceful ways to kill your friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dreams of building a civilisation.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

HELLO YELLOW!

Whenever you visit a fashion retailer in Muscat, there is one colour that always stands out: Yellow. Bright, sunny and happy yellow has been a favourite for everyone, including us, and here are some recommendations that you can stock your wardrobe with this summer season.

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Health

Beauty

FASHION

k o o L e h

aran K e tin hris C , t ry tree esto s o h h g s e hi rmy h a t e o t H end e look. ram h g g hi th the to get n Insta m Fro s you tine o is help w Chr o Foll

T t Ge Summer is the perfect time for Pinterest-style brunches and afternoon teas. If you are aiming for that perfect Instagram click, then this floral maxi dress form Miss Selfridge will help the look. Shop it for RO18.5.

This beautiful lime yellow dress with large grey flowers can be worn for day and night. Suitable for any body type, this dress is a must have. Grab it now from M&Co for RO24.

Keeping with the floral theme, we can’t take our eyes off this simple, yet sweet jersey from H&M. With just the detailing of the summer flowers, this is a must have this summer season. Buy it for RO7.

Those who are ‘too cool’ for dresses can go for floral trousers, like this pair from New Look. Pair it with a crop top or a jersey tee, you are ready to go. Pick this up for RO10.5.

Bring contrast to your look by adding even brighter and colourful accessories. We are particularly having a liking toward this pair of tropical-inspired earrings. If you have the same interest in these earrings like us, then grab them from ZARA for RO11. If you are looking for an accessory to serve a real purpose, then look no further. This straw hat from H&M is a must have for the hot climate of Oman. Keep this with you to protect you from the sun when you are on the beach or strolling along the shops of Al Mouj. Buy it for RO7.

Another trend widely seen and popularly welcomed is the asymmetrical dress. We are particularly loving this lime yellow, floral asymmetrical dress from Oasis, available for RO37. This dress surely will give you a modern-day princess look.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

BEAUTY

Fashion

Home

Family

Vanquish

THE ANGUISH Coming to terms with acne is difficult for many young girls but a spotless face is a matter of finding time to take care of a few things, says Gayathri Das

cne is a common problem, especially among teenage girls and young women. Breakouts happen due to various reasons, such as an excess intake of oily food, an inadequate intake of water, climatic conditions, etc. When too much of sebum or oil is produced a plug with dead skin is formed which when infected with bacteria results in swellings. The key factor that triggers acne in most cases is the food you take. A few acne-causing foods are: Bread Gluten in bread causes acne in many people. Studies show that gluten sensitivity is linked to dermatitis herpetiformis. Potato chips The oils used for making potato chips are rich in omega 6 fatty acids which cause acne. They also lack vitamins and minerals, so dump potato chips or any other oil-fried chips for baked items. Milk chocolate If you want to indulge in chocolates go for

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the dark ones. The high sugar content in milk chocolates causes breakouts in some people. Soda This is the worst acne drink. High levels of fructose increase your sugar levels causing the skin to react through acne. Ditch these drinks and your skin will thank you by showing glowing changes. Stress also triggers acne. When you are under high pressure your oil glands get stimulated leading to clogged pores which result in swellings. Home remedies ● Ice: Dab ice over pimples. This will help reduce pain and prevent pimples from becoming larger. ● Tea tree oil: Apply tea tree oil over pimples and keep it for 20 minutes. Wipe it out with a cotton ball. ● Lemon: Mix 2-3 drops of lemon with half a teaspoon honey. Apply it on pimples and leave it for 15 minutes and wash it out. ● Potato juice: Mix half a teaspoon of potato juice with a pinch of cinnamon powder and

apply the mixture over pimples and wash it out after 15 minutes. ● Papaya: Apply raw papaya juice over pimples and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and wash it out. ● Aloe vera: Mix half a teaspoon of aloe vera gel with crushed mint leaves and apply it over pimples and leave it overnight. Pimples will subside. Never ever break pimples with your fingers. That could spread the infection around your face.

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

Home

Family

WORK UP A SWEAT WITH YOUR KIDS

Kids are getting lazier to engage in physical activity, and that’s taking a toll on their all-round development. Gayathri Das on how parents and children together could rediscover the fun

ids of today have little time or interest in running around and spending their energy playing outdoor games that help them tone up their mental and physical abilities. They don’t involve themselves in things that require physical activity as much as children in the olden days did. Of course there is a lot of pressure on children today at school and home. With little exposure to nature and not much physical activity, they end up over time as couch potatoes. Sports and games are ignored these days by a majority of children. They may be talking enthusiastically about a particular game, like cricket, but very few really bother to play it regularly. A balance must be struck between curriculum and extracurricular activities for a child’s proper mental and physical growth. Like adults, kids too need exercise, at least a couple of hours a day.

Stress levels among children are on the rise, and there is no better way for them to relieve the pressure than engaging in regular exercise. It helps them feel better and more confident about themselves, which makes them concentrate better at school. Physical activity also helps them maintain healthy weight as well as keeping their bones and muscles stronger. Also, exercise helps them sleep well at night. Television and other gadgets reduce children’s physical activity, so cut down on the time they spend in front of TV or playing computer games. Parents can set a good example for their children by being active themselves. Exercise along with your children and discover the fun. This is one of the best ways of making your children enjoy what they do. Walking, cycling to school and aerobic dance are some other ways for kids to exercise. Motivate your kids to do physical exercises and watch them grow up strong and healthy. ■ MAY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 516

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FOOD DRINK

Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews

BALANCED DIET

When you purchase brown bread make sure you are picking the one that is labelled whole grain. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of a balanced diet

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BREADY,

goody,

BREAKFAST Bread is an easy and quick meal and when it’s brown and whole grain you get wholesome food rich in nutrients. Gayathri Das whips up a delicious breakfast out of eggs and bread

Brown Bread Egg Upma

rown bread, considered more nutritious than white bread, contains a lot of vitamins and minerals which are important for healthy management of your weight. When you purchase brown bread make sure you are picking the one that is lablled whole grain. It’s part of a balanced diet: rich in vitamins B, E and K and fibre as well as proteins, carbohydrate and fat. Fibre in whole grain brown bread helps bowel movement and keeps the blood sugar level steady. One slice of brown bread contains 15 to 20g of carbohydrate. Egg Egg is a super food. Both the yolk and the white are rich in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids. Regular intakes of eggs help kids gain healthy weight. It is a good source of vitamin D and promotes good heart health. Egg is an essential food during pregnancy as it provides a good quantity of choline. It is good for weight management as it helps you feel full for a long period of time due to the high protein content. Quail eggs and duck eggs are a good option for high protein. Quail eggs have a similar taste to that of chicken eggs. Studies say quail eggs can be used for the treatment of minor wheezing issues. Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs and have more protein. But duck eggs are richer with high fat content and high cholesterol.

Ingredients: § 3 loaves of bread, sliced to small square pieces § 3 eggs § 2 onions, finely chopped § 2 green chillis, finely chopped § 1 tomato, chopped § 4 to 5 mushrooms § 1/4 tsp turmeric powder § ½ tsp ginger garlic paste § 1 tsp soya sauce § 2 tsp oil § A few coriander leaves, finely chopped § Salt to taste Method: § Sauté the onion, tomato, green chilli, tomato, mushroom, turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, soya sauce, coriander leaves, salt, brown bread in the oil on a pan for 5 to 7 minutes and scramble well. Serve this hot for a yummy, delicious breakfast.

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FOOD DRINK

Tr e n d

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

TOPGE RAN Info Box

SHERATON OMAN HOTEL

Ruwi, Muscat Opening hours: 7pm to 11pm Contact: 2 ‫ ‏‬2377777‫‏‬ Dinner for two: RO58

SHERATON OMAN HOTEL

Verdict : 9.510 SERVICE 9.510 FOOD 9.5/10 AMBIENCE Great destination for mouthwatering seafood buffet in a relaxing atmosphere. Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

EIGHT LIVE COOKING STATIONS, A BEVY OF CHEFS AND AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF FRESH CATCH. TEAM Y SITS IT BY THE POOLSIDE TO TUCK INTO AN EXOTIC TASTE OF SEAFOOD — GRILLED, STEAMED AND FRIED

he iconic Sheraton Oman Hotel in Ruwi has the reputation of being one of the leading destinations for epicureans to explore the finest seafood in Muscat. A team of highly skilled chefs present the Seafood THE DELECTABLE OMANI LOBSTERS AND KING SHRIMPS WERE WASHED DOWN WITH Night here every Wednesday. COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF FRESH ORANGE Gourmets can enjoy an unlimited five-star JUICE WHICH WAS SERVED ON THE TABLE dining experience with the finest catch of the day. BY OUR AFFABLE WAITER WHO MADE SURE King shrimps, oysters, mussels, crayfish, Omani OUR EXPERIENCE WAS MEMORABLE lobsters and Alaskan king crabs are just some of the wonderful crustacean delights for guests to experience. As we walked into the poolside table around 9pm, the air was filled with an exciting fusion of flavours and aromas inspired in the deep ocean delights. We straightaway headed to the live cooking stations which had chefs grilling shrimps and lobsters exactly the way you like. Elevating the city’s gastronomic experience, the Seafood Night offers aficionados eight live cooking stations and a bevy of chefs to guide you, impress you and present their flavourful recipe directly to your plate. The ingredients and cooking styles derive from the four corners of the world, offering both variety and the unexpected. From traditional British fish and chips to the wok-fried Far Eastern delights of Thailand, each dish is matched in symphony with the day’s fresh local catch from Oman. Diners can enjoy their favourite catch prepared in their preferred way – grilled, steamed or fried – with a music band playing in the background for company. Diners can choose to be seated indoors or dine al fresco by the poolside terrace with lavish garden views. The epicurean seafood journey also includes fresh sushi selections, Indian and Middle Eastern specialties, salads and bread. For a sweet ending, an array of pies, cakes, mousses and ice creams await foodies. The delectable Omani lobsters and King shrimps were washed down with copious amounts of fresh orange juice which was served on the

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table by our affable waiter who made sure our experience was memorable. We tasted pasta, fish and chips, and some shrimps curry and rice from the Indian counter. Everything we had was so fresh and very tasty. We were impressed by the presentation, cleanliness and variety of food in the buffet counters. The Seafood Night is available every Wednesday from 7pm to 11pm. Buffet packages are priced at RO29 with soft beverages and RO39 with house beverages. Overall, the seafood night at Sheraton Oman Hotel is a fun way to spend a Wednesday evening. The best part of the evening is that the chefs are willing to indulge you with the sauces and spices of your choice for the grills which amplifies the delightful experience of an engaging seafood buffet. We recommend this experience to anyone looking for good seafood in a very casual setting. Be ready to be pampered with a varied selection of seafood delicacies with international flavours. Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com

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