Y Magazine #551, January 3, 2019

6 Unique Facts About The Omani Mussar and Kuma My Oman

A LOOK BACK AT 2018 IN PICTURES

MINISTRY CRACKS DOWN ON 12 News: STUDENT CHEATS

CATCH THE LATEST UPDATES ONLY ON WWW.Y-OMAN.COM

DESTINATION: Huqum TASTE TEST: Shabestan

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

JAN 03 - 09 2019 / ISSUE 551 • WEEKLY

ONE NATION,

ONE GOAL

PLUS!

AS ‘VISION 2020’ LOOMS, WE REVIEW SOME OF OMAN’S GREATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN 2019 THAT WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF THE COUNTRY

FIRST DRIVE: FLAWLESS ITALIAN 01 NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUEHERO 258

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FASHION: DRESS TO PERFECTION

40

YUMMY OMAN: KICKSTART TO HEALTH

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

IN THIS ISSUE…

H

appy New Year, folks!

And just like that it all happened again. Another 365 days swept by – and here we are, smack-dab at the start of a whole new year – 2019 – awaiting a slew of new challenges, anticipating a few setbacks, but hopefully a bag full of good things.

That said, this year’s going to be huge for us. No, we here at Y aren’t turning into motivational speakers (at least not yet) but something tells us that 2019 is going to be the year of reward for those of us here in Oman. Maybe it’s the fact that ‘Vision 2020’ looms in the air – a mere 363 days to go… and counting. Whether our nation will deliver or not is one question we ask in our cover story but there are positive signs as a highpoint: Oman is in overdrive to fulfill its targets and goals set aside by the councils, making 2019 the final battleground for the government to impress us and prove its mettle.

What does all that mean for us? In the short term, it means that amenities that weren’t available before in the country are now wide-open for us to experience. A move forward, yes; but one that we’ve had to fight for against dwindling oil returns and an ever-increasing budget deficit.

Turning things completely around is our fact-finding story to decode the meaning behind the mussar and kuma – the famous signature headdresses that throw light on Oman’s sense in fashion that keeps spots open for cultural and traditional values. If that isn’t enough, you can also turn to our Fashion and Beauty pages for more insight into the world of glamour.

Speaking of which, we have an all-Italian hot-hatchback in store for you in First Drive. Poised, composed, and incredibly red carpet-worthy, the car takes the fight to the Germans – and wins! Plus, switch over to P38 for an exclusive insight into some of the meanest and greenest gadgets in Y-Fi. Until next week, happy reading!

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi ADMIN MANAGER Yousef Al Harrassi ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

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Team Y PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

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JAN 03 - 09 / ISSUE 551

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contents JAN 03 - 09

Your Oman

2019

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman

Nadir al Azri 10 News

Ministry to cracks down

on cheating students 12 News

Taxi fares raised in

price review

10

18

Sharing the Stage Saudi singer and composer Abadi al Johar and Yemeni artist Ahmed Fathi perform at the Royal Opera House Muscat.

34 First Drive

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 38 Y-Fi

Green gadgets

20

26

19 Movies

Get in to the New Year

spirit with the feel

good film that is ‘Mia

and the While Lion’,

one to warm hearts 28 everywhere.

Our Land, Our Vision The Sultanate enters 2019 with new hopes and a list of targets to fulfill as the deadline for the ‘Vision 2020’ looms.

This week, we look at some of the developments that will start up this year.

Six Facts You Didn’t Know About Mussars Famously known as the “crown” of the Omani man, mussars have gone on to become part of the distinctive Omani style. Here, we look at six lesser-known facts about the headgear.

My Oman A review of 2018 in pictures by Y photographer Shaquel al Balushi

19

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Huqum

Features

Health and Beauty

Food and Drink

40 Fashion

2019 trends for men

44 Yummy Oman

Healthy eating resolutions

42 Beauty

Makeup forecast

46 Taste Test Shabestan

40

39 44 NEXT ISSUE...

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

brity ch and the latest celeve got at w to ts tis ar e th we’ From ate hits of the week, gossip, to your ultim from the pulse of the music your superstar dose Radio Oman 100.9 FM world, with Virgin

Miley and Liam get hitched Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth finally tied the knot after ten years of their on-off relationship. The ceremony took place at Miley’s home in Franklin, Tennessee, United States.

It was a small and intimate affair with just close friends and family attending. The news broke after the couple uploaded pictures of themselves embracing on the day. Miley wore a simple, ivory-white, off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood gown while Liam looked the business in his tuxedo.

Instagram backlash Instagram had us all worried for a few hours when it updated the application to reveal a swipebased action to scroll through posts like it does for its stories.

This meant that instead of scrolling down (vertically), the app was changed to horizontal scrolling, where users had to tap an image to browse through the posts. The backlash that Instagram got from users about the new feature forced the company to ensure the app reverted to the normal way of scrolling. An Instagram spokesman blamed the change on a bug and a small test that ‘went broader than expected’.

Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar has been the ultimate music tease of 2018.

There’s been speculation that he might be getting an album ready for 2019. In a recent interview he said that he was not working on a new

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project but, according to Polydor Records, he’s doing the opposite. The record label posted an Instagram story of artists expected to drop projects this year and one of them was Lamar. The post was deleted, which means the information may have been inaccurate or not intended for the public.

Kanye West and Drake The feud between Kanye West and Drake seems to have reignited.

Back in September, Kim Kardashian shut down speculation that she and Drake were once romantically linked. Kanye West took to Twitter to reveal that he had no idea Drake was following Kim Kardashian on Instagram, and he did so in the midst of their feud. Kanye tweeted: “I had to bring it up because it’s the most messed up thing of all and I just saw it this morning…

Imagine having a problem with somebody and they follow your wife on Instagram.”

The tweets have since been deleted and Drake has yet to comment.

Lil Wayne and Jay-Z Lil Wayne released his album ‘Tha Carter V’ a few months ago, and it was years in the making, but Lil Wayne was tied up in legal battles. Well, Lil Wayne has opened up about his relationship with Jay-Z and called him a “real friend” for helping pay off a massive tax bill US$7.72 million (RO2.97m). The two have feuded in the past, and they have both exchanged mutual diss tracks but Lil Wayne revealed during a show in Chicago that Jay-Z helped him out.

‘Mine’ – Bazzi This romantic song by Bazzi entered the charts on February 3 and peaked at No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100 after becoming an internet favourite.

The song went certified platinum in the US, Australia, Canada and Sweden.

It can be found on Bazzi’s debut album ‘Cosmic’.

‘IDGAF’ – Dua Lipa

The break-up anthem of 2018 sung by Dua Lipa from her debut, eponymous album reached No.1 on the Irish Singles Chart and No.3 on the UK Singles Chart. The song’s video clip was nominated for best Choreography at the MTV Video Music Awards 2018. It offers a decent set of rules to avoid falling back into the clutches of an unwanted ex.

‘God’s Plan’ – Drake Drake had graced us with a two-track EP called ‘Scary Hours’, and the single ‘God’s Plan’ was the first on it. It became the 29th song to debut at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and stayed there for 11 weeks.

The song was also featured on his fifth studio album ‘Scorpion’. The video for the song had footage of Drake handing out a million dollars to deserving people.

Be sure to keep it locked to Virgin Radio Oman 100.9 FM, and don’t miss your Tea Time with Maya Noise, daily on Chad in the Morning.

THE VOICE OF OMAN

NADIR AL AZRI, THE ACTING CEO OF THE OMAN CANCER ASSOCIATION, TALKS ABOUT SPREADING AWARENESS OF CANCER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERISM

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: With the deadline for Oman’s ‘Vision 2020’ fastapproaching, the country is now in its final stages of wrapping up its plans for a sustainable and diversified economy. Do you think this has attracted more SMEs and foreign companies to the country – and if so, why?

DR. TAMANNA DALWAI

A

s we enter 2019, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone reading this, and to all the people residing in Oman, a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Time flies – and I remember being in this position last year wishing people the same.

Same thoughts, same goals but different actions: that’s what this year is going to be for us at the Oman Cancer Association (OCA). Last year turned out to be one of our greatest through our outreach programmes and events – and we’re expecting 2019 to be no lesser.

In 2018, we broke into new horizons thanks to all the people of Oman coming together to make all our initiatives a success. Thanks to that, Oman will play host to the World Cancer Congress in 2020. Another feat we achieved was that our chairman, Dr Wahid al Kharusi, was elected onto the Board of Directors (BoD) at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) last year.

To keep this momentum going, a slew of events will follow but we need your support to help us achieve our goal of letting it be known how important early detection is.

For that, we’ll need more people to help us, more people to participate in our events and above all, more people to spread the word across the nation.

Word of mouth – that’s important to the success of our initiatives.

This is true especially this year, as we’re extending our programmes from breast cancer to cervical cancer as well. Moreover, we’ll be observing the ‘World Cancer Day’ of February 4, for which we’ll be coming up with themes such as ‘#IAm’ and ‘#IWill’ that are intended to extend a helping hand to those in need and to create a sense of knowledge about the topic.

Giving back to society should be our primary goal this year. It’s something I found peace in myself a while ago before I took over the position of the acting CEO of the organisation, and it’s something that can help you transform yourself and bring you to greater heights as an individual.

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Does Oman offer a winning formula that can attract SMEs and foreign companies? As of now, the answer to this question would be ‘in transition’. Among the top countries to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2018, Oman does not feature in the list of the top 20 countries.

The nations that did offered ease of doing business, tax incentives, ease of investment and/ or natural resources. World Bank rankings for countries offering ease of doing business places Oman at 71st out of 190 countries. The rankings are based on a country’s effort in providing an environment to promote enterprise and SMEs. The World Bank report also commended Oman for introducing reforms to ease trade across borders. Oman continued to attract FDI in 2018 and the highest investment was received for the oil and gas sector followed by financial brokerage.

Unfortunately, SME registrations fell by 39 per cent till October this year. Statistics suggest that Oman is yet to be the favoured destination for investments locally and internationally. Therefore, continual efforts to learn from experienced and leading economies and creating its own formula would pave the way for attracting SMEs and foreign companies.

has drawn up four-point plan to address the needs of the SME sector and to encourage enterprise among the youth and experienced people in Oman. Another reason is the national programme, named ‘Tanfeedh’ for enhancing economic growth with targeted sectors, especially SMEs as areas for expansion and funding. Moreover, the SME Development Fund has tailored a set of products specially designed to provide SMEs with flexible funding to meet their needs with a loan amount of RO50,000 up to RO500,000, at a subsidised rate of interest and also providing accounting support with software. In addition, the CBO mandated all banks in Oman to allocate a minimum of 5 per cent of their total credit to SME in 2014 and recommended all licenced banks to show more concern in financing SMEs. The government created a new fund, called the Al Rafd Fund, and Oman is becoming as an open market for the foreign companies by the new Laws of the Government.

DIVYA HARIDAS

Vision 2020 has definitely been assisting in the development of the nation. This attracts SMEs and foreign companies to Oman that act as pillars for development. Firstly, this creates a confidence in foreign companies to invest in Oman. This creates chances for SME. When His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said took the reins of the Renaissance in 1970, SANDRA SUDHEER he envisioned a strong, self-sustainable Oman, which Economic diversity across a wide at its core, consisted of eager, hardworking men and range of profitable sectors and the women who strove to always achieve the best. Today, plans for sustainability in ‘Vision 2020’ are intrinsically linked and are key to a sustainable Oman’s SME Development Fund (SMEF) is one economy in Oman, which directly attracted more of many grassroots development organisations that are leading the economic and social growth of the SMEs and foreign companies. In my view, the Sultanate.

‘Vision 2020’ attracted more SMEs and foreign companies for many reasons. The first reason is SANGEETHA S that Oman’s SMEF (SME Development Fund)

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The Sultanate is currently working on National Spatial Strategy, which creates a huge impact on the future of spatial development of the country. Today, Oman’s SME Development Fund (SMEF) is one of many grassroots development organisations that are leading the economic and social growth of the Sultanate. The future vision (Oman 2020) is an approach that guides the Sultanate towards a sustainable and diversified economy. It aims primarily to ensure that per capita income remains at its 1995 level as a minimum while pursuing to double it in real terms by 2020. This shows a golden future of Oman, which attracts other countries to invest in Oman.

MUTHUMARI PANDIAN

Yes. The ‘Vision 2020’ has encouraged the existing private sectors in an effective and competitive way. And the diversified economical plans and the robust strategy have attracted both a number of small and medium enterprises and foreign companies

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infrastructure and seaports also play an important economic role in to the country. The government has Oman. Now, non-oil sectors are playing an increasingly prominent role been taking several measures to improve in the country’s economic profile. its economy. When the country met the challenge of falling oil prices, it changed its view from core sector (oil) to other promoting sectors. Five promoting sector’s such as manufacturing, transport and logistic services, tourism, fisheries and mining were selected to support and THIS IS contribute country’s economic growth.

YOUR SPOT! This plan has been leading the country Just send us your picture with Y Magazine or pose in a tremendous success. Furthermore, with our photographer and we will publish it on the implementation of ‘Tanfeedh’ to this page enhance economic diversification has Send it to: info@y-oman.com achieved financial soundness, increased work opportunities and an increased number of entrepreneurs. Many foreign countries prefer Oman because of its admirable factors such as Government support, the strength of the rule of law, strong contractual laws, property rights and beneficial trade agreements. In addition, feedstock pricing, strategic location, integral part of decision-making, modern

VINAYAK DEVIDAS was spotted with his favourite Y Magazine in Muscat.

New Debate: The municipality is in overdrive to shut down restaurants violating the health and hygiene code, but several still beat the system. Do you think restaurant and cafeteria owners are complying with the law – and have you come across any case of negligence in the Sultanate?

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THROUGH YOUR EYES

SHARE YOUR PHOTO WITH Y TO BE FEATURED IN OUR NEW READER SECTION Y Reader Johanne Bawden captures glimpses of life in an Omani house, using her Canon EOS 80D, during a trip to the outskirts of Muscat.

Send your photo to editor@y-oman.com to be featured in our new section, Through Your Eyes. Include where it was taken, your name and a few details about your photograph, such as the camera used.

PHOTO: Johanne Bawden

JAN 03 - 09 / ISSUE 551

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YOUR

OMAN

S

STUDENT CHEATS FACE EXPULSION, MINISTRY WARNS

tudents who pay others to do their course work for them could face fines or even expulsion, Oman’s Ministry of Higher Education has warned.

Officials issued the warning because of the practice known as ‘contract cheating’ becoming rife in higher education, the Times of Oman reported.

The concept has grown in popularity with the arrival of social media, which gives contract

cheaters anonymity.

Those who offer to do students’ assignments for them for a fee are posting their services on social media platforms on which they can be contacted.

Moza Ahmed Al Weshahi, Director of the Academic Programmes Department at the Ministry of Higher Education said: “Colleges and universities in Oman apply a number of accountability procedures for plagiarism

because this action affects the students’ true achievements in education.

“Academic impersonations are referred to the Student Accountability Committee, which may result in the sentencing of any of the penalties referred to in the student accountability law, such as students being punished by suspension for a semester from their studies, if the charges are proven.”

Awareness campaigns have been organised to combat the problem such as an International Day of Action recently held by Majan University College.

The Ministry of Higher Education says that colleges and universities in the country have used measures to detect contract cheating, including running checks for plagiarism, and detecting similarities in content between assignment submissions.

Students’ assignments that have been undertaken using a service often have repetitive patterns that plagiarism detection software can find.

Al Weshahi said: “Colleges use an electronic system to verify the efficiency of students’ work.

“Students have to submit their quarterly work (research, study, and reports) through the SafeAssign programme within the Blackboard e-learning system, which is applied to the colleges.

“This reveals the rates of plagiarism, if any.

The ministry has implemented a number of awareness-raising measures to reduce the phenomenon of plagiarism.

“Colleges and universities have introduced the concept of informing students about academic plagiarism in their induction programme for new students.”

WATER OUTPUT UP BY NEARLY 6% W

ater production in the Sultanate reached 351.3 million cubic metres, at the end of September 2018 .

This was a rise of 5.7 per cent from the same period in 2017 when it was 332.3 million cubic metres, according to figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) In Muscat, water production grew by 4.9 per cent to reach 155.9 million cubic metres compared to 148.7 million cubic metres at the end of September 2017.

Total water output of other governorates at the end of September 2018 was 148.5 million cubic metres, a rise of 6 per cent from the end of September 2017, when the production reached 140.1 million cubic metres.

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ARTS & CRAFTS

GALLERY

KEEPING THE KIDS OF OMAN BUSY ON WEEKENDS IS THE ‘MAGICAL ART STUDIO’ AT THE OPERA GALLERIA. ORGANISED BY CRAFTERINA AND JUMPING CLAY, THE FUN-FILLED EVENT ALLOWS CHILDREN TO HONE THEIR ARTISTIC SKILLS AND ALSO TRY THEIR HAND AT MUSIC.

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OMAN

MOFA CONDEMNS EGYPT BUS BOMBING

T

he bombing of a tourist bus in Egypt has been condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

In a Tweet, the MoFA said: “Oman strongly condemns the bombing of a tourist bus in the Giza governorate of Egypt that led to deaths and injuries.”

MoFA added that Oman rejects all forms of violence and expresses solidarity with Egypt, Muscat Daily reports.

Egyptian security officers killed 40 alleged ‘terrorists’ in a crackdown last Saturday after a roadside bomb hit a tour bus, claiming the lives of three Vietnamese holidaymakers and an Egyptian guide.

The suspects were killed in separate raids in Giza, the scene of Friday’s deadly bombing and in the Sinai Peninsula, officials said.

Thirty ‘terrorists’ were killed in two raids in Giza and the remaining ten were killed in the North Sinai, a statement said without directly linking them to the bus bombing.

It said the authorities had received information the suspects were preparing for attacks against the state, tourist institutions and churches.

NEW RULES OVER TAXI FARES ANNOUNCED

T

he Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has issued a decision fixing the base and minimum fare for orange taxis operating in the country.

The base fare has been fixed at 300bz, after which customers will be charged 130bz for every kilometre.

However, taxis can charge a minimum fare of RO1 for every trip.

H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications announced the decision, which will

come into force in June.

It is based on the Land Transport Law and its Executive Regulations issued in November this year.

The ministry statement said: “In case of multiple passengers, fares will be divided among them. Waiting charges will be 50bz per minute, while the first five minutes will be free.”

Taxi drivers will also be obliged to turn the meter on at the start of every journey.

“The trip will be deemed free if the taxi driver refuses to turn on the meter,” the statement said.

MORE THAN 68,000 RECRUITED IN OMAN IN 2018

T

he Ministry of Manpower and the Public Authority for Manpower Register (PAMR) announced that 64,386 citizens were recruited by private companies, and 4,125 in the public sector over the past 12 months.

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SELF-DRIVE VEHICLES A FUTURE PROSPECT, SAYS SCP

S

elf-driving vehicles are being studied as a real possibility by the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP).

The revelation comes after a report published by the Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) assessed how well Oman is prepared for introducing electric vehicles (EVs).

In the report published on its website, AER said: “The Supreme Council for Planning is currently investigating the potential for automated vehicles as part of the Sultanate’s long-term plans.”

In the short term, the report recommended that the SCP, municipalities, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MoTC) and other government bodies should learn from cities and regulators elsewhere on regulations for autonomous vehicles and shared mobility services.

FUN DAY OUT

GALLERY

A DAY OF FUN AND FROLIC ENSUED AS THE ‘TELEMATCH FAMILY DAY 2018’ KICKED OFF AT THE SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY (SQU)GROUNDS, ATTRACTING CHILDREN OF ALL AGE GROUPS TO TAKE PART IN THE PROCEEDINGS. ASIDE FROM THE ACTIVITIES, THERE WERE ALSO SMES SHOWCASING THEIR PRODUCTS TO THE CROWDS.

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YOUR

THE STORYTELLER

OMAN

SETTING ASIDE HER DAILY ROUTINE, AWARDWINNING CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER – FARZEEN ASHIK – TOURS ACROSS THE SULTANATE, VISITING SCHOOLS AND READING TO THE YOUTH IN THE HOPE OF INSPIRING A NEW WAVE OF YOUNG AUTHORS.

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GRADUATION DAY

GALLERY

CONTINUING ITS PROMISE OF SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OMAN, TELECOM PROVIDER OOREDOO, HAS AIDED IN THE GRADUATION OF 71 WOMEN AND 157 MEN AND WOMEN IN THEIR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMES – SPRINGBOARD AND SPRINGFORWARD – RESPECTIVELY.

JAN 03 - 09 / ISSUE 551

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YOUR

GALLERY

PERSONAL ASSISTANT

OMAN

THE TORCHBEARERS

INTERNATIONAL LOUNGE AND PRIVATE AIRCRAFT GROUND HANDLING SERVICE PROVIDER, JETEX, LAUNCHED ITS OPERATIONS AT THE NEW MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE SALALAH AIRPORT, LAST MONTH.

IN A SPECIAL FUNCTION HELD AT THE SABCO MEDIA OFFICES, Y MAGAZINE AWARDED THE WINNERS OF THE ‘Y ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN’ GIFT VOUCHERS WORTH RO175.

THE FINALISTS WERE SELECTED BASED ON THEIR CREATIVITY AND THEIR MESSAGE ON ROAD SAFETY.

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Photography by: Shaquel al Balushi Location: Seeb Beach Style: Portrait Innocence takes the form of the eyes of a little child, spreading hope for a world so tranquil and peaceful... as it should be.

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Still got an appetite after all your hearty festive eating?

If so, The Sheraton’s South American steakhouse Asado is running its Gaucho nights every Thursday.

Guests into Brazilian dining can indulge themselves with some meats carved straight off the skewer and a banquet offering all-you-can-eat grilled goodies.

You can also enjoy some funky South American beats straight from the streets of Sao Paulo, from a talented saxophonist/guitarist. Gaucho Thursday is definitely a go-to, where fire-kissed meats will be served up with passion and a pulsating energy. The price ranges from RO23-33, depending on drink choices. To book, contact 7111-9006

JAN

03

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

A TASTE OF SAO PAULO

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

JAN

06 Two of the Arab World’s greatest artists are sharing the stage at the Royal Opera House Muscat: Saudi singer and composer, Abadi Al Johar and Yemeni singer and composer, Ahmed Fathi. They will perform some of their famous compositions and songs, and display their artistry on the oud. Al Johar’s most celebrated song is Twelah Ya Duroub al Ashikin, which he composed for the acclaimed Saudi star, Talal Maddah in 1987. Al Johar has composed songs for other top artists such as Najat Al Saghira, Samira Said and others. Contact the Box Office on 2440 3332.

JAN 10

THIS

WEEK

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

J A N U A R Y Oman’s annual Muscat Festival is scheduled to kick off on January 10, and end on February 9, according to officials. Visitors can attend the festival from 4pm to 11pm every day and the event will go on until midnight at the weekend. This year’s event should have many cultural, sporting and entertainment events. There will also be many exciting competitions to enter, as well as nightly firework displays. It will take place at the joint venues of Naseem Garden and Amerat Park.

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MUSCAT FESTIVAL 2019

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 2479-1641

Backtrace Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Matthew Modine, Ryan Guzman

Mia and the White Lion

Ente Ummante Peru

Cast: Daniah de Villiers, Melanie Laurent, Langley Kirkwood Mia (de Villiers) is a rebellious teenager who is not thrilled about moving from London with her parents for a new life in South Africa.

However, entranced by her new surroundings, Mia forms an attachment to a white lion cub that she calls Charlie.

But as Charlie grows up over three years, Mia learns her father aims to sell him to trophy hunters.

To save him she will have to get him

The Sisters Brothers Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly, Jake Gyllenhaal

to safety, and that means running away with him.

This movie was actually shot over three years so we see de Villiers actually growing up and bonding with the animals used in the film.

Normally, several animals would be used to portray one animal character.

It’s a unique approach that has paid off for this wonderful film.

In English, with Arabic subtitles.

Just when we thought we hadn’t seen a good ol’ western in years (or since 2012’s Django Unchained), along comes this to ensure the genre is alive and kicking.

Charlie Sisters (Phoenix) and his brother Eli (Reilly) are two bounty hunters who go about their business efficiently, and brutally.

As the Gold Rush hits in 1851, they ride from Oregon to San Francisco, and as they say, when the going gets tough… the tough run into a couple of rivals. John Morris (Gyllenhaal) and Hermann Kermit Warm (Riz Ahmed) are a more cerebral pairing but they sure know how to get down and dirty when looking for gold.

The storyline is a little woolly for a western (like what is it?) but there’s enough rip-roaring action, snappy dialogue and stunning cinematography to keep us satisfied.

Cast: Tovino Thomas, Urvashi, Mammukoya

Ex-armed robber MacDonald (Modine) is on a prison psychiatric ward and can’t recall much of his colourful past.

But the ears of fellow inmate Lucas (Guzman) prick up when Mac reveals he once buried $20million after a heist went belly up seven years before.

Lucas conspires with a prison nurse to have him injected with a serum to restore his memory.

Then it’s a matter for his mates on the outside to spring him and Mac out to find the buried millions.

Detective Sykes (Stallone) was on the case and then it went cold but now it’s he’s very much back on it.

It all makes for an unintentionally funny amnesiac thriller. And it’s all pretty forgettable, which is somewhat ironic.

But with this amount of star power and talent, it all seems a bit of a waste.

!

Hameed (Thomas) has never known who his mother was.

And after his beloved father passes away, he becomes the butt of jokes from some mean villagers who tell him he is now an ‘orphan’.

And in his Keralan village, not having a mother is going to make life hard for him when it comes to legalising his future marriage.

Hameed is determined to prove them wrong, and sets off to find his mother whomever and wherever she may be.

Enter his long-lost mum (Urvashi). Well is she or isn’t she?

Any film that can make you laugh and cry inside the same half-an-hour shows that this really is movie making as it should be.

So if it’s a feel-good movie want this New Year, then this it.

In Malayalam, with English/Arabic subtitles.

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

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OUR LAND,

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Despite tough economic times, Oman is building for the future. Developments in construction, hospitality, telecommunications and tourism mean the Sultanate stands on the brink of a new era. Team Y reports on some of the projects

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utlandish towers that reach for the skies, ostentatious buildings that almost defy the laws of physics, and gilded hotel rooms that even the affluent deem ridiculous – it seems the GCC nations take things too far when it comes to showing off their wealth.

But that’s not how we like to do things in Oman. Rising from amid mountain ranges – not monolithic steel and glass buildings – the Sultanate’s cities encompass a platform for growth that has turned the nation into a powerhouse, one that offers both local and foreign patrons equal bites of the development cherry.

This week, we look at some of the top projects that should help transform the face of Oman – and subsequently, elevate its position not just in the GCC but across the entire Middle East.

Oman’s development dates back just a few decades – to 1970, to be exact – since it began expanding on its greatest assets: oil and gas.

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Peaks and troughs have hit these volatile sectors many times over since, with dropping prices; to about US$25 per barrel of crude in the early 2000s, then a rise to a stout US$142 in mid-2008 before finally crashing down to less than US$20 a barrel in 2015.

While recent times mean a tough slump in the economy for all countries across the GCC, including Oman, the Sultanate edged out all of its GCC neighbours in the development of its construction sector in 2018 – a feat that the nation will extend into 2019 as well.

As per a report published by BMI Research

by Fitch Ratings – a research firm that provides macroeconomic, industry and financial market analysis – the Sultanate recorded a growth of 10.4 per cent in the sector in 2018 as opposed to the 7.1 per cent shown by the other GCC states.

The number is expected to increase to 11.5 per cent this year, when compared to the predicted 7.3 per cent that our neighbours will witness.

Shahswar al Balushi, the CEO of the Oman’s Society of Contractors says: “We’re keeping our hopes very high in the construction sector for 2019 as we had a relatively better year in 2018 than the years before.

“This can be put down to the slowly recovering oil prices but more so to the success of the taxation systems and the eradication of the subsidy system to help fund more money into the government.”

All of this has translated to a plunge of 36.1 per cent to RO2.04bn in the budget deficit from January to October 2018 and a surge of 32.2

per cent to RO8.69bn in the total revenue of the Oman government – a reprieve of sorts after four tough years.

All of this means Shahswar can say that the government isn’t focusing on just one sector.

“We hope to improve across a range of sectors in 2019. Several projects are already underway and are expected to finish their initial phase of implementation by the end of the year.

“These are not just in the construction sector.

For instance, the telecom and the hospitality industries are also booming in Oman – and while that translates to more facilities in their respective sectors, it also extends to more jobs being created, and consequently, also to improving the construction industry.”

Moreover, the latest statistics revealed by Trade Economics, show that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – which is an investment in the form of ownership by entities from a foreign country – currently stands at RO1.12bn.

“All of this should in turn make life for the 4.6million residents of the country a lot easier as more companies are formed and more job opportunities are created. Of course, this is still with a focus on Omanisation.”

Shahswar’s right. It’s not just the construction sector that will see a boom this year. As it turns out, the Sultanate is going all out with a slew of new developments and projects opening to the public or commencing to take shape for future use.

Here are some of them:

2) Madinat al Irfan – City of the Future

Possibly the most ambitious project in Oman after the newly-opened Muscat International Airport; this billion-Riyal development houses everything from the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) to five-star hotels and a smart, planned city. The latter will set the investors – Majid al Futtaim and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) – back RO5billion. The project is expected to start early this year but should take up to five years to complete. The housing project, which is nicknamed ‘City of the Future’, will span over 250,000 square metres and will include everything from service plots, commercial, residential, educational, healthcare, leisure and hospitality facilities.

3) Al Mahalab Towers and BBH Office Towers

The face of Al Ansab and Rusayl is expected to receive a thorough facelift following the opening of the Al Mahalab Towers and BBH Office Towers late in 2019. Offering apartments and office space, the projects will be worth roughly RO20million. An additional RO20m will be dedicated to the second phase of the Al Arfan City – an integrated residential city project.

Telecom 1) Fibre optic services for all in the capital

With nearly 65 per cent of the whole of Muscat covered under fibre optics by Oman Broadband, there’s no reason to doubt that the services will be extended to newer areas such

Construction 1) Madinat Sandan

Imagine an environment that’s a beacon for business and a home for the staff. That’s what the ‘Sandan Industrial Park’ aims to become once it opens its doors to companies.

Spanning over 250,000 square metres, the industrial zone can house nearly 2,400 outlets – including 400 offices and 1,250 residential units. The area will also have its own ‘Auto World’ and ‘Construction World’. Sandan Development LLC’s goal here is to become the nation’s largest shopping mall for construction and automotive equipment. The industrial park will open in the first half of 2019.

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Automotive as Al Khoudh, Mabelah, Baushar, Al Ansab, Ruwi, and Qurum over the course of this year.

The company also reveals that 2019 will be a crucial year for the brand, as they aim to cover 85 per cent of the entire country by the year 2020.

1) Oman-made Chinese car

Known for its endless possibilities thanks to its strategic location, Duqm is currently hailed as the hub for industries in Oman. Little wonder then that Wuhan Xiao Long Automotive Technologies Co. Ltd – a Chinese manufacturer

– signed a deal with Oman Wanfang to begin laying the groundwork for an automotive manufacturing plant. The construction is expected to take place in various phases, with each having a capital expenditure of US$84million. The production capacity of the facility would stand at 10,000 units per annum – 9,000 for civil use and 1,000 for military use.

2) 5G in Oman

Before you get excited, we must let known that 5G is still in its initial phases in Oman. Moreover, with only a handful of devices supporting the band, there’s still a long way to go before 5G becomes a reality. Still, the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued a national level team to develop a 5G strategy and deploy the network in the Sultanate. The service is expected to begin rolling out late this year or by early 2020 – and should support speeds of up to 1.4gbps.

Hospitality 1) Jumeirah Muscat Bay Oman

UAE’s finest will be entering Oman soon. The Muscat Bay, which is expected to open early this year, is situated at Saraya Bandar Jissah.

Overlooking the pristine waters of the Arabian Sea, the hotel will comprise a decked-out resort, boutique hotel and freehold properties (villas and duplexes). Yes, these hotels will be for those with deep pockets but it’s arguably another step closer to Oman’s goal of expanding its tourism sector.

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Tourism 1) Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront

The Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront aims to blend traditional Omani heritage with modern technology, albeit with a focus on sustainability and the environment. Situated in Old Muscat, the new project will turn the existing Sultan Qaboos Port into a waterfront destination and a hub for tourism. The underlying Muttrah Souk will remain untouched but the surrounding areas will be packed by residential units, retail and offices, hotels, and entertainment attractions. The project began the first of its four US$390million phases in 2015 and is expected to be opened later this year or early 2020.

2) JW Marriott Hotel

This is another boutique hotel, except that it is in the heart of the Madinat al Irfan development next to the OCEC. When opened this year, the hotel will feature 305 rooms and over 1,200 square metres of flexible space connected to the

OCEC’s event and exhibition rooms. This will also be the first JW Marriott hotel in the country, and it sits with the government’s plan to facilitate the opening of 55 new hotels over two years (2018 and 2019).

2) Duqm

The home of Oman’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Duqm, will lay witness to the development of nearly 20 tourism projects starting this year.

The applicants have all reportedly lined up to invest in projects in the SEZ, taking up a massive 2.8million square metres in the area. No more details have been revealed as yet.

3) Intercontinental Tilal Muscat

Taking all five stars to its name, the Intercontinental Tilal Muscat hotel is scheduled to open by the end of this year and will feature a total of 244 rooms. No further details have been released – not even its location.

4) Swiss-Belinn Muscat

The Swiss-Belinn Muscat will be a three-star property that, when it opens this year, aims to provide value-for-money accommodation.

It is close to the new Muscat International Airport and will be operated by Swiss-Belhotel International (SBI) and owned by local firm Al Salaam International Hotel LLC.

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Jobs 1) Travel and tourism

The Ministry of Manpower is all set to increase the nationalisation quota for the travel and tourism sector, starting this month. The goal is to increase the number of Omanis working in the sector from 42.1 per cent in 2018 to 43.1 per cent in 2019, and finally to 44.1 per cent by 2020.

2) New points system for companies

Omanis may soon be subjected to a pointsbased system to streamline the Omanisation system. This means, an Omani would be enlisted with their skillset so that the company showing interest in them can be sure they can actually do the job. Moreover, Omanis with lower points will receive lower roles, while those with more points could be placed in more senior positions.

2) Dhofar Wind Farm

Thirteen turbines at a capacity of 50MW: the Dhofar Wind Farm project is definitely worth talking about. Funded in entirety by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and set up by Masdar – the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – the wind farm will be completed by March, this year, and furthermore, operational in the months to follow.

3) A new system to hire expats

Hiring expats in Oman may just have become harder with the Ministry of Manpower working hard to set its new app rolling. A piece of software that uses a light-based system will inform employers immediately whether they can hire an expat or not. So, a green light would mean that the employer can hire expats while a red light would mean he can’t.

Sustainable practices 1) Rusayl Industrial City

The skies above Rusayl should soon be rid of pollutants – or at least much cleaner than before – as the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) signs an agreement with Oman Investment and Development Holding Company (Mubadrah) to transform the Rusayl Industrial City into a smarter development. As a part of this, the city will be fitting solar panels above its buildings to generate electricity that it will use for its own purposes and also send back to the grid to complement the nation’s energy production.

3) Rooftop solar panels

After nearly three years of silence after an emphatic announcement to the media, the rooftop solar project is back on… and this time for good. A tender for the installation of the panels – which will comprise a batch of 3,000 initially for the residential buildings in the Sultanate – will be floated in the first half of 2019. Monitored by the Authority for Electricity Regulation Oman (AER), the project is dubbed ‘Sahim’ and is intended to promote the use of clean energy resources.

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6 THINGS MUSSARS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT

Headgear for Omani men is distinctive, distinguished, and delivers a sense of purpose. Team Y takes a look at why it cuts a dash for its wearers

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very nation carves out its own image through its attire: whether it’s the hand-woven sarees worn by Indian or Pakistani women or the kimono worn by the Japanese on special occasions, there’s an unambiguous reference to tradition, culture and heritage in the clothes worn by a country’s people.

In the Sultanate, this honour goes to the traditional ‘kuma’ – a cap that comes embroidered with design elements, or the ‘mussar’ – a headdress finished in unique shades to represent anything from one’s tribe to an occasion in the community.

Coupled with the dishdasha, the headgears – or as they fondly call them, the “crowns” – form the attire of the Omani man – be it one hailing from the city or the outskirts. And, whether he’s set for a day of work or for a night out; there’s always a “special” kuma or mussar for every occasion.

This week, we take a closer look at some of the lesser-known facts about kumas and mussars – and finally answer the longstanding question: how does it feel to wear the headgear every day?

1) His Majesty has his own style of mussar – and it’s illegal to copy it The elegance with which His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said takes centre stage gives onlookers goosebumps. While much of that has to do with his wise words and actions, there’s no denying that his attire, completed by the mussar – the iconic one finished in red, purple, blue, and orange – has its own presence. Famously known as the ‘Saidi mussar’ – the headdress is thicker than normal and has maintained its pattern for more than three centuries. It can only be worn

by His Majesty, aside from other members of the Al Said family. Penalties levied on violators can be strict, and breaking the law can land you in hot water with the Royal Office. Purchasing the mussar is a tricky affair, too, since only authorised sellers can get their hands on it.

2) The Dhofari mussar: colourful and elegant Finished in colours ranging from garnet-red to shades of green, the Dhofari mussar blends

the best of Omani mussar design with a touch of their own style: the characteristic dangling threads and no inscriptions. There are several variations of the Dhofari mussar, one of which includes wrapping a part of the neck and ears with cloth, or some that drape over the corner of your head.

3) The finest mussars are handcrafted in Kashmir Believe it or not: the most expensive and premium mussars are those handcrafted in Kashmir. In fact, not many know that the link between Oman and India dates back centuries before Indians landed on Omani soil. The mussars are traditionally woven in pashmina – Kashmiri wool – and finished with the designs of the customer’s choice. Today, Kashmiri mussars are mass-made and can cost anything between RO10 and RO1,000 although there have been reports of exclusive ones auctioned for more than RO5,000.

4) Events and meetings require the “official” mussar Omanis are required to arrive at work in official attire, especially during high-profile meetings or public events. In such instances, Omani men are expected to wear the official mussar – “Al Rafiniyah” – which has special designs and colours to accentuate the dishdasha. Most men play it safe and opt for a golden or multi-coloured mussar for the day while some try to match it with the design on their khanjar (dagger).

5) It can take up to 15 minutes to doup a mussar Those used to tying a mussar can be proud of themselves because it can take some people up to 15 minutes or more to tie the headdress. The art of tying a mussar is taught to a child from a young age – but with several young Omanis heading out of the country for studies, it’s inevitable that there needs to be tutorials for the task. However, there are shops in the Muttrah and Seeb souks that offer pre-tied mussars that are styled on a mannequin.

6) Kumas are just as difficult to manufacture It is becoming increasingly clear that kumas have been adopted by most Omanis as their work uniform.

However, did you know that kumas are made in Bangladesh and some parts of Oman, and arrive dismantled into two pieces? As it turns out, the seller must take measurements of your head before selling you the kuma. After that, they must stitch the top half with the design-heavy sides (borders) to create a kuma of the perfect fit.

How does it feel wearing a mussar?

Bader al Suleimani, 32, ministry official, fills us in. He says: “Empowered. Strong. Cultured. That’s how I feel wearing a mussar or a kuma. I won’t lie: I spent my early days fighting against wearing a mussar – I thought it was too hot to wear anything on the head. But, growing up in an Omani family, I came to terms with wearing it not just

because everyone else was doing it but because I felt a sense of purpose by wearing it.

Today, I occupy a strong position in my company and must wear the mussar daily. I find that it helps me get through various instances in life, like a lucky charm. Of course, there’s also the sense of solidarity that it brings.

So, if I were to see someone on the streets wearing a mussar, I would be obliged to greet him like I would a member of my family.”

PPerfect

icture

Team Y takes a look at our favourite pictures from 2018, from the lens of Shaquel al Balushi

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here’s an undeniable correlation between words and pictures; and that has been reiterated countless times through an astute if overused quotation: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

But put everything together and you realise that those are indeed words of wisdom – words that intend to draw a picture of life within the ecosphere that the lens captured at the time.

Here, you’ll find eight of Y’s favourite photographs from 2018 that deviate from our usual diet of investigations and hard-hitting cover stories. They showcase the beauty of Oman; the colours reproduced by the sun at dawn, exceptional architecture, wonderful landscapes drawn up by Mother Nature herself, and a bunch of others that pits our best against her finest work.

We also take a peak into the lives of a select few – seeing things from their point of view before reproducing it all for you to enjoy.

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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

• KIMS Oman Hospital • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Bakery • Shell Petrol Station

Al Falaj/Rex Road • Al Falaj Hotel • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Golden Oryx Restaurant • Kamat Restaurant • Toshiba Showroom Ghala • National Mineral Water Ghubra • Al Hayat

International Hospital • Al Maya Hypermarket • Bank of Beirut • Costa Coffee • Crêpe Café • GMC Showroom • LuLu Hypermarket • Moka & More • Oman Oil Petrol

Station • Park Inn • Porsche Showroom • Al Raffah Hospital • Stationery Hut • The Chedi Muscat Al Hail • Burger King • Caledonian College

of Engineering • Markaz Al Bahja Mall • McDonald’s • Omantel • Starcare Hospital Al Khoudh • Al Fair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Pizza Hut Al Khuwair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Bait Al Reem Mall • Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint

(Splash) • Diplomatic Club • Grand Hyatt Muscat • Harley-Davidson Showroom • HSBC • KFC • SPAR • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Landmark Group

• 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

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS ADVENTURES SUPER VELOCE

Looks can be deceiving. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce is the latest in mean and green hatchbacks.

Turn to P34 for the full scoop.

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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

Destination

HUQUM

SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI RESOLVES TO KEEP ON TRACK AND CLICKING AWAY AT LOCATIONS TO LIGHT UP THE MOST JADED OF LENSES 032

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Gaming

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ew Year poses a lot of significant questions but one that often lingers in my mind is how to find a location that is sufficiently tranquil, desolate or different.

Call me superstitious but I believe in setting the tone for the year ahead right from the very first day.

Thus, it was a no-brainer this week for me to head to Huqum – one of the most tranquil spots I have seen, if a bit mysteriously abandoned. It lies just a few kilometres away from my hometown in Al Amerat.

Given that it is a mere 30 minutes’ drive away from my home, I headed there for a spot of rest and recuperation – something that has been missing from my routine for a while.

The drive to Huqum is as straightforward as it gets.

Those wishing to enter should head to Al Amerat and continue onwards for about 22km. Then, you should see a signboard that points towards Huqum.

What lies ahead is a sandy path so those looking to head there should be armed with an SUV at the very least. Even so, cars can circumnavigate the locale without too much hassle.

Unperturbed by the sandy and rocky terrain, I dived straight in.

From the entry point, it’s a stout 8km drive through a narrow but safe path to head to the heart of the wadi, and a few more steps to the secluded village.

But, at no point did I feel claustrophobic, as the sky – especially the one I came across on the day – was as clear as it could get.

A few minutes later, I reached the foothills of the mountains and set up camp for the morning.

Call me crazy, but I think Huqum is one of those spots that comes alive every winter. From the cold breeze circulating through the tall peaks to the smell of green grass and fresh flora in the wadi, there’s much for one to experience.

And armed with my Nikon cameras, I decided to climb the mountain as much as I could for a few aerial shots. Perhaps it’s one of those areas that could make do with a drone camera of some kind.

Nevertheless, that was not to be in my case. So, all I could do was climb

– and ascend as far up as I could to catch a glimpse of the village in the horizon.

There, using a zoom lens, I clicked many photos of the houses and the mosque.

Incidentally, the latter also turned out to be my most favourite click: finished in an almost rustic manner, with elements that are normally visible in ancient mosques from other eras; the local holy ground definitely stands out when compared with the otherwise mundane-looking houses.

Huqum’s greatest asset is the sheer size of the wadi and its seclusion from the public. The grounds have a great potential to become one of the best spots for campers and trekkers looking to scale the mountain.

Untouched lands with favourable temperatures and flat grounds (save for the odd electric pole delivering power to the village): experts will assure you that it’s the dream location for a camp-out. And by all accounts, Huqum fits the bill.

TRAVEL GUIDE

HOW TO GET THERE

If you are travelling from Muscat, head to Al Amerat, and keep following the road that leads to the heart of the suburb. Roughly 22km into your journey, you will see a board that points towards Huqum.

Follow the road until you hit the gravel road.

GPS Coordinates: N23°20’42.4”; E58°23’03.9”

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

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A L FA R O M E O G I U L I E T TA V E L O C E

Team Y tests a hot hatchback that deserves to be taken seriously – and above all – as a genuine Alfa Romeo

t takes a lot of mettle for a car to wear an Alfa Romeo badge and even more for one to pass itself off as a true version of the breed.

This car was originally known for its stirring drivetrains – made known by its characteristic rear-wheel-drive layout, 50-50 weight distribution and V6 baritone exhaust.

These can even conjure the hearts of American muscle car-hugging rednecks, and today the Italian marque is something of a cult icon.

That said, what’s an Alfa Romeo badge doing on our tester – a four-door, front-wheel-drive hatchback?

As it turns out, it’s not out of place.

Named with true Italian passion as the Giulietta (pronounced: “Juliet-a”), the hatchback can be classified as an entrant into the brand’s ecosphere – albeit with a lot of perks you’d receive as you progress through their current range of

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performance cars.

To start things off, the Giulietta, despite its eight-year-old design, still manages to remain fresh when compared with its German rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

A slew of LEDs upfront on the oval lamps salvage an otherwise dull fascia while the signature Alfa Romeo grille, the “scudetto” (little shield), provides the hatchback with its much-needed mojo.

Our ‘Veloce’ variant also came studded with carbon-fibre elements on the side mirrors, the lip of the bumper and on the outer edge of grille to distinguish it from the regular variants.

The side profile is made aggressive by the 18-inch inspired alloys and Brembo brakes, even if many of the elements – the bold character line that runs the length of the car and the disguised door handled on the rear – are designed to keep things rather simple and elegant.

It’s a thought that doesn’t extend to the posterior: bulky lights fitted with LEDs can really be a hit or miss depending on the colour you spec your car in. For instance, we found that our white tester accentuated the large lights while photos of the car in darker colours concealed any of

its awkwardness.

It’s still positively striking to look at – and the rear end is rounded off with a pair of chrome-tipped exhausts and a cosmetic diffuser.

Moving over to the interior, we were greeted by a quirky yet simple cabin layout that was crafted, for the most part, in faux-carbon-fibre and high-quality plastics.

There’s also an easy-to-use 6.5-inch touchscreen on the centre console and a few physical knobs to master your HVAC controls.

Apart from that you’ll get a large steering wheel with just a handful of options to switch between music, comfortable seats that lean a bit towards sportiness from the onset, and just about enough space for

Destination

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

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS

ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA VELOCE Specifications: • Engine: 1.8-litre ‘turbocharged’ in-line four-cylinder • Transmission: Six-speed dualclutch auto-manual • Power: 240hp • Torque: 340Nms Front-wheel-drive Electronic differential 18-inch alloy wheels 6.5-inch infotainment screen Bose audio system Faux-carbon-fibre trim Brembo brakes Traction and stability controls Parking sensors Sports-tuned exhaust Cruise control Steering-mounted controls Panaromic sunroof

four full-size adults.

The latter can be a bit constraining, especially when you try to cram in two tall adults into the rear. Still, during the course of our test, we could haul four passengers up and down the Al Batinah Expressway without too much hassle.

With a capacity of 350-litres, boot space in the Giulietta is reasonable, with it only slightly falling short to that of the Golf. But, with its seats folded down, you can easily take in some bulky baggage.

For the current Model Year, the Giulietta packs a surprise underneath the hood: a 1.8-litre (1.75-litre, to be accurate) in-line four-cylinder turbo engine that’s derived from their supercar – the 4C. The resulting output is 240hp and 340Nms of torque, all of which is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch auto-manual that sends power to the front wheels via the ‘Q2’ electronic differential.

While it lacks the grunt of, say, a Volkswagen Golf GTi; from the get-go, the Giulietta can still keep up with the former. In fact,

once the turbo has spooled up, it can rout its German rival.

The car’s ally – its stout power and torque – is also its greatest enemy: kicking past the 2,000rpm mark from a standstill will inevitably result in a wild bout of wheelspin and violent torque-steer to the right.

Nevertheless, it will do the 0-100kph run in about six seconds – a whole 0.5 seconds faster than the Golf GTI. Thankfully, Alfa’s engineers seem to have found some middle ground with the tuning of the “new” Giulietta Veloce, with the engine offering a decent amount of grunt even in the mid ranges where both the A-Class’ and the Golf GTI’s turbo engines lose steam.

Then there’s the ‘DNA’ system – with the alphabets denoting ‘Dynamic’, ‘Neutral’, and All-weather’ – that changes the characteristics of the car depending on your driving requirements.

In ‘Neutral’ mode, the shifts are timely if a bit economyminded. However, they are still snappy enough to respond to quick throttle changes while the focus shifts to aggression and sharpness when switched to ‘Dynamic’ mode.

The latter hastens gear shifts and throttle response, and adds a bit more weight to the steering wheel. It’s one of the better steering systems we’ve tried out in a long time – with excellent response and a substantial amount of heft added to make you feel comfortable in corners.

We couldn’t eke out the performance we’d hoped for during the course of our test but found that the car

MIND YOU, IT’S NOT A QUADRIFOGLIO. IT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE. BUT, WHEN CRUISING ALONG ON THE HIGHWAY AND IMMERSED IN THE INDUCTION NOISE FUNNELLED INTO THE CABIN BY THE ENGINE, THERE’LL BE NO ONE TO WIPE THAT SMUG SMILE OFF YOUR FACE hugged the corners – albeit with a bit of body roll – when pushed with the electronic nannies kept on to keep things in check.

Even so, the systems weren’t as intrusive as that of the A-Class, with the ESP system only kicking in once we streamed past the limits of grip from the sticky 225/40 tyres and into the realms of understeer.

Is the Giulietta Veloce a worthy contender for the Alfa Romeo badge?

Yes. Sure, it may not possess the driving prowess of, say, its larger siblings like the Giulia or the Stelvio but then it stays within a reasonable budget that can undercut all its rivals by a stout margin.

There’s nothing humdrum about the Giulietta: it’s fast, fun to drive, and flatteringly aggressive when you need it to be.

Mind you, it’s not a Quadrifoglio. It’s not even close. But, when cruising along on the highway and immersed in the induction noise funnelled into the cabin by the engine, there’ll be no one to wipe that smug smile off your face.

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CARS ADVENTURES

MAGICAL MADEIRA

This Mediterranean island is re-inventing itself as an adventure playground.

1. Visit the Valley of the Nuns, a village built on an extinct volcano crater.

2. Take a tour to the mountain magnificence of Pico do Areiro.

3. Chill out at the marina to ogle yachts and book whale-watching trips.

4. Go hiking on the Vereda do Pico Ruivo for a spectacular panorama.

5. Visit the Botanical Garden for its bird park, museums and sea views.

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POSTCARDS FROM

Michael Smith recommends

MADEIRA M

adeira. Some of us 80s geeks can remember the ‘Trivial Pursuit’ question: what can be an island, a drink or a cake?

Well, the first option is a Portuguese island 250 miles north of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

The island has had a bit of an image ‘problem’ as a stop-off for cruise ships or a package deal destination for retired couples.

But its profile is set for a rocket boost, as Madeira been named by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) as a destination to watch in 2019.

ABTA’s 2019 Travel Trends report says the island is “gaining a reputation for adventure and activity holidays; with mountain biking, canyoning and climbing in its dramatic landscapes. Madeira is criss-crossed by mountain trails that offer unrivalled trekking opportunities, some passing through lengthy tunnels or over deep canyons”.

And if you’re a Manchester United/Real Madrid/Juventus fan you have come to the right place, because the image of the island’s most famous son one Cristiano Ronaldo - is everywhere. Even the airport is named after him!

Madeira’s array of rugged yet verdant mountain-scapes and plunging valleys mean the traveller can choose to chill out or be energetic. There are guided tours for those too reticent to strike out on their own.

There’s a rawness about the landscape here, which is hardly surprising as so much of it has been carved out of ancient volcanoes.

Most attractions can be found in Funchal, the capital, and there’s no shortage of restaurants offering an eclectic range of seafood. Here, the favourite is black scabbard fish and it is ubiquitous; from its unpromising and sinister incarnation on market stall displays (black snake-like body with bulging eyes and razor-like teeth) to its final destination on your plate, often accompanied by fried bananas.

Wash them down with a refreshing glass of poncha, an enticing soft cocktail of sugar cane juice and fruit.

Funchal is very walkable, and if you want to go farther afield there’s a reasonable bus service. Failing that, hire a car. If you take a taxi you’ll find the driver chatty and keen to sing the praises of his enchanting island home.

My favourite place The black lava bathing pools of Porto Moniz. It used to take hours of driving from Funchal on undulating

and hazardous mountain roads to reach them. Now you can get there by a network of roads and tunnels cut through island rock. The incoming tides from the Atlantic Ocean paired with a little volcanic action from yesteryear means that circles of black lava lap up the seafront. It all means the most weird and wonderful swimming: 4,000m of pools cut off from the ocean by the lava walls and which are as calm as a mill pond.

STATU E OF CR IS T IA N RONAL O D O IN F UNCHA L

S H ON A B B A R D FI BLACK SC RKET A M H E FI S H SALE AT T

Highlights Even if

you’re not a Ronaldo fan you can’t help but pay homage to the footballer. There’s a statue of him on Funchal’s quayside but go early if you want to avoid fans all looking for a selfie and who are willing to, quite literally, lick his boots. Then there’s the Museu CR7, which is packed with models of him and computer simulations. The building itself is unassuming; it looks rather like a russet coloured storage warehouse, and can be found at Praca do Mar – a square that stretches along the port. What is undeniably impressive are the display cabinets all bearing glittering silverware, an array of signed shirts and memorabilia. Even the doors to the museum toilets are shaped like his hands. OK, we get it; he’s a good player. From one great man to another; you can follow in the footsteps of the great World War II leader Winston Churchill to the pretty and picturesque fishing village of Camara de Lobos, where he used to paint watercolours.

Lowlights None.

Souvenirs There are plenty of quaint gift shops in Funchal selling locally-made ceramics, etchings and intricate artefacts.

Don’t forget the farmers’ market, where the stalls are shielded from the sun by brightly-coloured umbrellas. There’s a bewildering assortment of tropical fruit, and lethally-large sized portions of the day’s catch being massacred by machete-wielding trawlermen.

Getting there Lufthansa operates flights to Funchal from Dubai.

Where to stay Belmond Reid’s Palace is set in clifftop gardens, and includes the aforementioned Sir Winston among

TREK U P THE M OUNTA PICO D O AREIR INS OF O

its former guests. But non-residents can enjoy afternoon tea on a black-and-white marble terrace. A more modest option, and set within lush gardens about five minutes away, is Pestana Village. Rooms are comfortable, and come with their own galley kitchens. Guests can enjoy an outdoor pool and a spa.

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

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Y-FI

GREEN GADGETS Team Y takes a look at the latest trend – eco-friendly devices that deliver on performance

MORE THAN JUST HOT AIR

THE PERFECT DUO If you’re looking for a fashionable if a bit eco-friendly keyboard-mouse duo, then look no further – the Natural Bamboo set by Blue Bambu is the way to go ahead. As the name suggests, both devices are crafted out of bamboo, save for a small metal bottom holding the electronic board and power supply in place.

It’s also not as polished to use as, say, a mechanical keyboard from this era but the membranestyle keyboard still holds its own when compared to chiclet-style laptop keyboards. How you use the device is up to you. However, when paired with a PC, it still warrants respect as something more than a novelty gizmo with collectors’ status. Buy this for RO23 from amazon.com

WATCH OUT The hand-crafted Foremast Silver Choco Wood Watch made by WeWood, an Australian company specialising in wooden timepieces, won’t be giving your run-of-the-mill Swiss giants a run for their money. But, there’s no telling how much longer plastic and steel watches will survive. The watch will come packing a premium Miyota skeleton automatic movement – a tried-and-tested Japanese movement – and an elastic wooden strap that can fit most wrists with ease. What’s more, the wood on the watch will be treated to be hypoallergenic and brushed to avoid any unwanted splinters. It’s all yours for RO149.8 from we-wood.com.au

HOUSE OF MARLEY

EDITOR’S PICK 038

Apple’s on a roll now – and for once we won’t be following that up with a joke.

After becoming the first company to run their manufacturing on 100 per cent recycled energy, they’re now extending the cause to their products as well.

The MacBook Air, Apple’s smallest laptop, will now come with 100 per cent recycled aluminium.

While this allows for a sizeable chunk of the world’s electronic aluminium discards to be cleaned up, refurbished, and then moulded to be used as Macs, it won’t be addressing the issue posed by the greater of the evils: used soda cans. Either way, the device will come packing a 13.3-inch Retina display, an 8th Gen Intel dual-core i5 processor, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. Get a well-specced variant of the laptop for about RO500 from LuLu Electronics

THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE FOLKS FROM THE HOUSE OF MARLEY WHO WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO INCLUDE GREEN INITIATIVES INTO THEIR PRODUCTS – IN THIS CASE, HEADPHONES. WHILE THAT MAKES THE BRAND THE LEADERS IN ECO-FRIENDLY AUDIO SOLUTIONS, IT ALSO RAISES THE QUESTION: WHY AREN’T OTHER MANUFACTURERS FOLLOWING SUIT? THESE BUFFALO SOLDIER BT HEADPHONES COME ENCRUSTED IN A WOODEN HOUSING, WHICH IS FURTHER ENFORCED BY 60-PER CENT BIO-ENGINEERED PLASTIC. THE DEVICE PROVIDES TOP-CLASS SOUND QUALITY, WITH EQUALLY EXCELLENT BASS AND TREBLE REPRODUCTION FROM THE ONSET; AND ADMIRABLE BUILD QUALITY, COURTESY BRAIDED CABLES. OH, AND FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE COMPANY WILL PLANT A TREE FOR EACH ONE IT CUTS DOWN. GET YOURS FROM THEHOUSEOFMARLEY.COM/HEADPHONES FOR RO57.75 JULY JAN 0303- -0909/ /ISSUE ISSUE551 327

Top 5 Game Releases for 2019

Team Y keeps its gaming habit alive as the onset of New Year delivers a dearth of fresh releases

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s much as we hate saying it, the onset of the new year means the holiday season is almost at a close.

And, while that translates to a new work term for most people here, it also means game developers are finally resting their eyes for the first time since July last year.

January – as always – will be a slow month, save for a slew of low-key releases that should keep the keen occupied… if you couldn’t find something late in 2018, that is.

Here’s our list of top games for this month:

THE WALKING DEAD: THE FINAL SEASON

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hen announced as a four-partepisode series back in 2018 – with two of the episodes already hitting the online stores as early as Info Box September – there Platform: was much fanfare PS4, XBOX ONE, PC, surrounding the NINTENDO SWITCH release of ‘The Final Season’. But, with the two episodes – ‘Done Running’ and ‘Suffer the Children’ – only receiving average to mildly positive reviews when ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES made public, we aren’t pinning our hopes UNKNOWN on the latest episode. Sure, with its classic graphic-adventure-style gameplay and Info Box rom the most enthusing narratives, the game should Platform: soughtstill make way for a good 12 to 20 hours PS4, XBOX ONE, PC after flight of gaming. Only download this if you’ve combat simulator already played the rest of the games from in the late 1990s to a relatively unknown the series. Otherwise, it’s best you skip gaming franchise in 2019, Ace Combat over to the next game. has really bitten the dust since its previous release. Perhaps it has much to do with the long five-year hiatus in the development of a sequel than the overall game itself. The latest release – Skies Unknown – will be set in modern times and in a conflict between the Osean Federation and the Kingdom of Erusea.

It’s a clichéd story – but the graphics (from what we see in the trailer), coupled with Unreal Engine 4, should make way for a classic dogfight. If that isn’t enough, the developers will let you play ONIMUSHA: WARLORDS the game in VR. Just make sure you keep f mastering complicated animea bucket so that you avoid nuking your styled games are your forte then roll PS4 console and anything nearby. up your sleeves and try your hand at Onimusha: Warlords. Originally launched back in 2002, the game stole the hearts (and hundreds of hours) of young gamers trying to figure out the intricate, if a bit dense, storyline. All we can say after about 40 hours of intense gameplay Info Box on a PlayStation 2 Platform: is that the game is PS4, XBOX ONE, PC, set in the Sengoku NINTENDO SWITCH era and that

you play the role of Samanosuke Akechi, a Samurai who is on a quest to save Princess Yuki from the demons. We’re sure there’s more to the storyline than that, though – and we hope the remastered edition of the game will make gaming a bit simpler.

TROPICO 6

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Info Box Platform:

his is possibly PS4, XBOX ONE, PC, the only game OS X, LINUX we’re looking forward to this month. Announced back in 2017, the sixth edition of the construction and management simulation game, Tropico, will finally hit the stores later this month; January 25 to be specific. Just like its previous titles, the game lets you master lands, and build towns and cities in various real-world eras. It’s a challenging aim but one that is incredibly rewarding when it plays out. Prepare yourself for the thousands of hours that the game will inevitably pin you down for.

F

I

TRAVIS STRIKES AGAIN: NO MORE HEROES

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f you thought that Onimusha had a complicated storyline, get a load of this: No More Heroes revolves around a baseball player turned assassin, Badman, who looks to seek revenge against a middle-aged assassin turned gamer, Travis Touchdown, for killing his daughter. Oddly enough, you’ll find yourself butting heads with logic when you realise that you play Info Box the role of the latter Platform: i.e. trying to challenge NINTENDO SWITCH Badman.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

JACKET REQUIRED

Classic tailoring with accessories are making a comeback in 2019. Forget the dress-down, ‘anything goes’ look of Google HQ wannabes. Get a well-cut, traditional-looking jacket and don with a pair of pristine jeans. This classic, pure wool blazer can be yours from Next’s Signature range.

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FASHION

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k o o L e h

, reet t s gh e hi look h t d to get the n e to gh e hi s you h t lp From Y he m Tea

Who wants to go open-necked shirt anymore? Unless it’s a summer ensemble it’s bad for business in every possible way. This crisp, white shirt and bold burgundy tie set comes with a tie clip and will look sharp underneath your new wool blazer. Buy it at Next

What fuses casual and classic better than a crisp polo shirt? And fashionistas have selected sage-green as a go-to hue this year. This one is 100 per cent cotton, machinewashable and available in other colours if catwalk colour tips aren’t your thing. Buy it at Next

A black waistcoat will add just that extra bit of sleek savvy to any jacket or shirt you want to wear, providing you can button it up after all the mince pies you scoffed over Christmas.

This wool-blend one can be found at H&M You got plenty of practice opening your front door to the Amazon delivery driver over the festive season.

This year look woken up and ‘with it’ even if you aren’t. And no, you won’t sign for your neighbour’s huge, heavy parcel. Send it packing while donning this royal-blue pure cotton one from Marks & Spencer

A mini-suitcase on castors isn’t going to cut it for a quick weekend trip, is it?

Instead, invest in something altogether more manly for your stuff. This imitation leather one comes in black or brown, has two compartments and a detachable, adjustable strap.

Find it at H&M

It’s a big mistake to think people don’t notice your footwear, they do. So take a step in the right direction with a classic pair of Oxford brogues. Worn with indigo jeans slightly turned up, take everything in your stride, quite literally. This brown pair can be found at Marks & Spencer

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Health

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This year’s

LOVES

What are the trends to take on in 2019?

Christine Karan predicts the creative concepts and products that will burn holes in our pockets while keeping us looking good

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018 was the year of mattes and highlighters.

With Rihanna stirring up the beauty industry with Fenty beauty and the introduction of 40 shades of foundations, 2018 saw many other brands following the same path, with diverse ranges in concealers, foundations and even loosesetting powder.

But, what does 2019 look like? Will matte still hold the crown? Will highlighters be the product? Here are our predictions:

Eyeshadows

2018 was the year of nudes! Beloved brands such as Huda Beauty and Urban Decay came out with ‘everyday’, and ‘morning’ colours that were big hits. While these nude palettes consisted mostly of matt shades, there was a small contribution of metallic/shimmery shades too. So typically, the 2018 palette saw 70 per cent matte shades with the rest 30 per cent shimmery.

While eyeshadow palettes boasted shimmery shades, highlighters played a dual role of being a highlighter as well as an eyeshadow giving the eyes a pop of bling.

Now, it looks like matte lovers will take a back seat, because for 2019, we predict a complete new eye-look is ready to take over the glossy eye-look. With MAC having already set the stage with their product ‘Face Glass’, beauty lovers can get ready to know the techniques from their favourite beauty gurus.

Lip Gloss

The fantastical follower of matte liquid 042

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lip was started by one of the Kardashians, Kylie Jenner. Her matte lips were indeed revolutionary.

However, will matte liquid lip still hold a place in 2019? Well, we think not.

Lip glosses are making a comeback. Many brands have already got on this bandwagon including Kylie Cosmetics. Unlike the earlier round of lip gloss, this time, brands are keen on a gloss that gives sheen, is moisturising and at the same time is super shimmery. Some products in the gloss section we love are Fenty Beauty ‘Gloss Bomb Lip Illuminizer’ and Clinique’s ‘Chubby Plump and Shine Liquid Lip’.

Hair

Hair colour trends are some of the most creative in the beauty industry. From single tone hair

colours to rainbow (for those who are not aware, that is colouring your hair in all the colours of the rainbow), we have seen it all and we predict that more will come.

But as for 2019, we predict pastel greys to come back into trend. Silver hair or pastel grey has slowly become a favourite among bloggers/ vloggers and it looks like their followers have started shadowing the trend too.

Our recommendation for this cool tone hair colour: L’Oreal Paris ‘Colorista’ collection. The collection offers you a temporary spray on dye for those who doubt the pastel colour. For the determined, try the semi-permanent dye.

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BEAT THE

BULGE New year, new start, new you.

Gemma Harrison finds ways to get your body moving and shifting those festive pounds in time for summer

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’ve always thought the tradition of making New Year resolutions should be banned.

While we all like to bask in the glow of an untarnished new year and a fresh new start, chances are our best intentions will peter out by the end of January.

Any gym manager will tell you it’s his peak time for attracting new members, as we all try to make up for over-indulging during the festive period.

But finding the motivation to straddle the ski trainer and exercise bike after being handed execrable exercise sheets from unctuous but earnest young instructors can be a struggle.

Yet most of us must follow them if we want to look as good as we can both now and for our later years.

The only way to fight off the festive flab is to adopt a regime that’s going to fit in with you and your needs.

There is no one size fits all. And are you looking to drop the pounds and/ or build up strength and resistance?

You don’t have to hit the gym to do it. Most contestants on the BBC’s 'Strictly Come Dancing' show end up shedding the pounds by the truckload – so there’s ballroom dancing, pilates, cycling, martial arts, boxing, and swimming; to name but a few.

Now, first of all, don’t go throwing good money after bad by going out and buying the latest celebrity “I lost 30 pounds in three months” book/DVD. Most of these ‘C’listers only end up putting the weight back on.

Numerous videos are available online. If you can’t make it to a class just log on, look on, and join in. To keep your motivation going, cut out a photo of a well-preserved and fit celebrity on your fridge next to a selfie of yourself in a swimsuit. That should do the trick.

According to the British National Health Service website, adults between

the ages of 19 and 64 should undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, even if it’s just walking briskly. We should all also be doing some exercises on two or more days a week to work all the major muscles in our legs, hips, back, shoulders, chest, stomach, and arms.

Try and do half an hour daily, the NHS says, and break up long periods of sitting with light activity.

But we need to keep ourselves supple too. And if you don’t fancy lifting weights, why not take up yoga, pilates, working with resistance bands, or get out and dig the garden?

The doyenne of celebrity fitness trainers, Jane Fonda, once told women: “If I’ve got time, you’ve got time.” I have to admit Miss Fonda, now 81, does look good. However, most of us don’t have her wealth or army of personal assistants.

To make the most of your time, your gym trainer might recommend a regime that combines aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening. This could include aerobics, rugby, football, hockey, and netball.

But it will all be for nothing if you don’t alter your eating habits. The trouble with expending masses of energy down the gym is that you end up coming home ravenous and devouring the first thing you can find in the fridge, which is not always the healthiest option.

So this means actually following all those nutrition tips you’ve heard so many times: smaller portion sizes, eating smaller meals more regularly, more fruit, veg and wholegrain products; less dairy, sugar, and salt. Your cuts of meat, poultry, and fish can be leaner, too.

And don’t forget the water.

Drink lots of it. Good luck!

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Please seek the advice of a medical expert if you have any questions regarding a health issue.

(Sources: NHS, UK) JAN 03 - 09 / ISSUE 551

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New Restaurant

Reviews

2019: A YUMMY YEAR

While resolutions come and go, staying ontrack with healthy eating should be a year-round commitment. And sticking to it is easier than you think!

YUMMY

Kickstart TO HEALTH Start as you mean to go on this New Year’s with these resolution-busting recipes that pack a nutritional punch and don’t skimp on flavour!

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t’s with all our best intentions that we vow to go further and do better each New Year. Gym memberships sell like hotcakes, produce and protein powders fly off the shelves, and for the first few weeks of January we suddenly don’t mind the idea of green smoothies.

But nine times out of ten by the time Valentine’s Day rolls round, we’re first in line for the discount chocolates on February 15.

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Why do we punish ourselves with achievable goals in unrealistic time-frames? Instead, opt for slow and sustainable – taking the time to form lasting healthy habits that will carry you through the year and, hopefully, for life. Here are some of our favourite recipes that don’t shy away from indulgence or flavour to kickstart you on your way!

Coconut Chicken Soup with Zucchini and Mushrooms

Blueberry Super Smoothie Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: § 300 g chicken breast, cut into thin slices § 1 can (400 ml) of coconut milk § 1 medium zucchini, diced § 150 g of mushrooms, sliced § 1 Tbsp of green curry paste § 1 clove of garlic, chopped § 1 chilli pepper, finely chopped § 3 cm of fresh ginger, grated § 2 tsp of vegetable oil § 2 cups of chicken broth (or more if you like less dense soups) § a handful of chopped fresh basil to serve

§ lemon juice, sugar, salt, pepper to taste Preparation: 1. In a medium saucepan, warm the oil over medium heat. Add chicken, curry paste and chili and stir for 2 minutes.

2. Add the broth and the rest of the vegetables and cook for about 15 minutes or until they soften.

Add coconut milk and cook for another 5 minutes.

3. Season with sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper and serve the soup sprinkled with basil.

(Source: www.karmelowy.pl)

Salmon Sandwiches

If you can’t help but jump on the smoothie bandwagon, get yourself started with this creamy-delicious, nutrientpacked glass of goodness to start the day or for a post-workout boost.

Prep time: 35 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Serves: 1 Ingredients: § 100g cashews § 1 cup water § 70g frozen blueberries § ½ tsp beetroot powder* § ½ tsp baobab powder* § 1 tsp lucuma powder* *(Available in health food supplement stores, or online)

Preparation: 1. Soak the cashews in the water for at least 30 minutes. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, soak for 2 hours as they will blend more smoothly.

2. Blend the frozen blueberries, beetroot powder and baobab powder until they form a smooth paste. Pour into the bottom of a glass then wash the blender out.

3. Pour the cashews, and the water they were soaking in, into the blender with the lucuma powder.

Blend until a smooth milky texture forms. If it’s too thick, just add a small amount of water at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

4. Pour the ‘milk’ over the top of the blueberry mixture slowly to create the marbled effect in the glass.

(Source: www.honestlyhealthyfood.com)

The ultimate comfort food in grab-andgo format. These lusciously-creamy sandwiches make the perfect lunchtime companion and are packed with protein and Omega 3s.

Prep time: 5 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: § 250 g hot smoked salmon (boneless) § 100 g crème fraîche § 2 Tbsp lemon juice § black pepper § 2 Tbsp chives (chopped) § a handful of rocket salad § 8 slices of whole wheat bread Preparation: 1. Prepare salmon paste by mixing together the salmon, crème fraiche and lemon juice. Season

with black pepper and a pinch of salt if your salmon is not already salted.

2. Add chopped chives.

3. Fill your sandwiches by adding some salmon paste on four slices of bread. Add rocket salad and cover with the remaining slices of bread. Cut in half.

(Source: www.kiddieliciouskitchen.com)

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New Restaurant

REVIEWS

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Ran p o T

Info Box

SHABESTAN

Opposite Grand Hyatt Hotel, Shatti al Qurum Opening hours: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. daily.

Contact: (+968) 2469-6000 Snacks for two: RO45 Verdict : 9/10 SERVICE 9.5/10 FOOD 10/10 AMBIENCE Top-class Mid-Eastern served amid authentic, captivating Iranian décor.

SHABESTAN

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

TEAM Y FAILS TO DRESS FOR DINNER BUT FINDS THIS IRANIAN EATERY OFFERS THE LAST WORD IN FINE DINING

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ooks can be a bit deceptive – especially if you’re judging Shabestan solely by its outer appearance. From up front, the restaurant keeps things stark: there’s a fancy wooden door, and signage that points to the Iranian eatery that, time and again, we’ve overlooked when dining out in Shatti al Qurum.

But after stumbling upon a plethora of images online and rave reviews on Google, we decide to head there one Thursday evening.

Dressing casually for our visit turns out to be a huge mistake as we realise we’re in what can only be described as an Iranian palace. However, the waiters are courteous enough to seat us in one of the corners (as per our request).

There’s also no escaping the slightly reproving eyes of some of the other diners, who have dressed up to the nines. At one point, we even encounter a friend – a minister – dining with his family.

Our host for the evening kindly talks us through the makings of the restaurant – how everything is set like it would be in an Iranian fortress and how there are (inspired) murals from the early days of the ‘Shah Dynasties’ in the VIP rooms.

Call us crazy but somehow we feel that eating at Shabestan is something akin to the dining habits of princes and kings – it’s that exquisite (!)

Either way, keeping our embarrassment aside, we realise that our choice of attire is not a factor in the service we receive. We’re treated with

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nothing but respect by our waiter – who describes each dish to perfection.

And after what seems to be a five-minute masterclass on Iranian cuisine, we order our starters: a plate of kashkeh-e-bademjan – an eggplant puree mixed with yoghurt, walnuts, onions, dry mint and fresh labneh; a nargesi – fresh spinach sautéed with garlic and kashek and garnished with fried onions; zeytoon parvardeh – a puree of green olives mixed with pomegranate syrup, olive oil, walnuts, parsley, garlic and coriander; and a glass of pineapple and passion fruit juice, and lemon mint.

It doesn’t take more than 10 minutes for the dishes to arrive – a surprising feat considering everything is freshly cooked and to the finest standards.

The starters are accompanied by a serving of freshly-baked bread – but the standout dish is the kashkeh-e-bademjan, which with its fine blend of fresh eggplants and simple yet soothing undertone of yoghurt, wins us over.

The accompanying zeytoon parvardeh is unrivalled too; an Iranian classic that’s accentuated by the fresh bread. The dish can come across as an acquired taste but the chef tones down the sour tendencies of the olives with a healthy dose of pomegranate syrup. It’s an unlikely match but one that we end up savouring.

Next, we opt for main course: the Shabestan royal platter, with a serving of their signature rice offerings.

The main course takes a good 15 minutes to

be served – which is understandable, considering how all the ingredients are gathered fresh, and prepared with meticulous attention to detail.

That precision is seen in everything from the presentation of the dishes to the aroma emanating from the mix of meats and seafood that’s served up on the fancy china.

Once set on the table, our eyes immediately wander off course and to the sizzling kabab-ekubideh – a meat kabab created with ground lamb; and the kabab-e-barg – a slice of the finest beef tenderloin beaten to achieve consistency and maintain a strong zest of the Iranian spices.

Both sit well with us. We even ask for second servings while munching down on the succulent and fresh slices of chicken, prawns, and hammour (brown spotted grouper), along with a healthy serving of spiced rice.

Despite being crammed to the brim, we ask for takeaway too; knowing fully well that it will go down our tummies the second we hit home.

Is it the exquisite food or the amalgamation of fine Iranian fare with the splendour of an equally captivating décor that makes Shabestan special?

It’s an easy call: go for the full-blown Iranian experience as opposed to take-out – but let that not undercut the level at which the chefs operate.

This is one of the finest restaurants we’ve come across in Oman. It’s high praise, but then again, Shabestan is nothing short of a first-rate dining experience – unrivalled and unparalleled across all ranks.

Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com