Y Magazine #494, November 9, 2017

The Journey Begins…

47

PORTRAIT BY A NATION COMPETITION

HUAWEI

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DESTINATION: Yiqa TASTE TEST: Culture of Youth

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

NOV 09 - 15 2017 / ISSUE 494 • WEEKLY

GEAR

PLUS!

FEW TAKERS FOR NEW VEHICLES IN OMAN

MAKING A SPLASH

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NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

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THE QUIZ MASTERS

28

DISCOVER FORT KOCHI

34

COMPETITION

EDITOR’S

NOTE

Send in your answers for our ‘Debate of the Week’ and stand a chance to win a dinner for two at the Golden Tulip Hotel.

THE BAROMETER GOING UP

OMAN CRUDE PRICES The value of Oman Crude stood at its highest in two years when the price per barrel touched US$62.29 (RO23.98).

This is an increase of US$1.37 (530baisas) from last week.

GOING DOWN

JUVENILE CRIMES The Sultanate has witnessed a drop in the number of child offence cases. A total of 445 cases were registered last year as opposed to the 506 that were registered in 2015, said the Ministry of Social Development.

THIS WEEK… Team Y went exploring in the village of Yiqa, headed out of the country for a leisure trip, and also tried out Italian cuisine at a restaurant in the the Oman Avenues Mall.

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

Fast forward This is the best time to buy a car in Oman,” a friend who purchased an SUV recently at a throwaway price told me.

It is proving an extremely slippery time for car sales in the Sultanate... and the weather’s got nothing to do with it. The automotive retail sector remains the worst hit as customers in Oman— and other GCC countries —put the brakes on their spending.

If dealerships and manufacturers were hoping that the first quarter of 2017 might provide some relief, it has not exactly panned out that way. According to the National Centre for Statistical Information (NCSI) survey, there is a 20% drop in sale of private vehicles while a staggering 34.8% dip in sale of commercial vehicles in the country.

The report also states that 45,498 new cars were registered in Oman from January to September this year, as opposed to 56,782 cars registered during the same period last year.

The problems are compounded by several issues. With the Omani economy still on the road to recovery, the government putting the brakes on its spending, job instability, and a rise in fuel prices, many things have become unaffordable for people. “These days people are looking at renting a car than buying a new one or even looking to buy second-hands cars simply because of the current economic woes,” says an automotive journalist in town.

Our cover story this week focuses on the dip in car sales in Oman and how the automotive sector in the country is looking for a rebound.

Have a great week!

editor@y-oman.com

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NOV 09 - 15 / ISSUE 494

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contents

Features 22 Gear Down

Y investigates the drastic

drop in car sales in the Sultanate

NOVEMBER 09 - 15 2017

Your Oman

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman

Hasan al Lawati 10

News Ministry of Manpower all set to introduce wage protection system

11 News

Inflation rises by 1.22

per cent in October

18 Traditional Dances

ROHM to host Igor

Moiseyev troupe in Muscat 19 Movies The Star set to hit

theatres in Oman today

19

10

26 Making a splash

Swimming competiton

at TAISM 28

The Quiz Masters How a young businessman and three of his friends got together to pick others’ brains.

22

Food and Drink 44 Food Feature

Made with Maple

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Yiqa 34 First Drive

Lincoln Navigator 36 Postcard From

Fort Kochi, India 38 Y-Fi

Top game to look out

for this November

46 Taste Test

Culture of Youth

Health and Beauty 40 Fashion

Splurge on scarves 42 Health

Go gaga over yoga

44

39 40 NEXT ISSUE...

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

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WITH THE FIRST PHASE OF Y’S BIGGEST ANNUAL EVENT, PORTRAIT BY A NATION, CONCLUDING AT CROWNE PLAZA SALALAH, THE NEXT ROUND IS ALL SET TO KICK OFF IN THE CAPITAL ON FRIDAY.

Associate Sponsor

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47 Electronics Partner

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O

man’s premier art competition, Portrait By A Nation, is all set to go in the capital; doors to the event open tomorrow [Friday, 10th November] at the Muscat Grand Mall, in Baushar.

The competition will be held over the weekend, and will aim to bring the children of the Sultanate together to mark 47 glorious years under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said.

Building on the historical inaugural event, this year’s instalment is a much bigger competition, as was seen from the turnout of budding artists in Salalah and Nizwa, last week. The event was held in interiors i.e. Salalah (Crowne Plaza) and Nizwa (Golden Tulip) on 3nd November, 2017.

With the ball all set to roll in Muscat, children will be given the opportunity to display their creativity as they paint or decorate a printed canvas of His Majesty in any way they wish as they compete for

huge cash prizes.

The event will be powered by FRiENDi in association with sponsors Muscat Grand Mall, PUCK, IDdesign and Finland Eye Center.

Meanwhile, eXtra will be the electronics sponsor for the event.

National Day is a special time in the Sultanate when everybody joins hands to commemorate the years of Renaissance and the road of evolution Oman has taken to become a nation that can proudly hold its own on the world stage.

The progress and prosperity of the past 47 years has been achieved under the guidance of His Majesty The Sultan, who continues to lead the country with a steady, inspirational hand, and there is no better way to celebrate National Day than by creating a lasting tribute to our visionary leader. Last year’s competition attracted more than 2,200 entries from children across the country, who came together under one designated banner to create their portrait. Now in its fourth year, this year’s Portrait By A Nation could see numbers double as we celebrate this momentous milestone together.

This year’s event will again be open to three age categories, each with prizes for first place, runner-up and second runner-up, giving children more chances to win. The age categories will be five to nine years old, 10 to 13 and 14 to 17. We will also be including a new category this year for children with special needs.

we believe that the 47th National Day will be even more special “Once again, we are very proud to present Y’s the fourth edition of our annual competition, Portrait By A Nation. The past three years of the competition have been a huge success and we have received an overwhelming response from many children across the Sultanate, all of them inspired by the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said,” says Nishad Padiyarath, editorial head of Y Magazine.

“And we believe that the 47th National Day will be even more special.”

At the end of the painting events, 47 finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges that includes representatives from our sponsors and Nishad.

The finalists will then be invited to a special ceremony on November 18 to reveal the winners.

The final 47 portraits will also be collated and spread onto a larger canvas that will act as a collage of the many faces of His Majesty, as seen through the eyes of the nation’s children. This larger piece of art will then be on public display for the duration of the country’s National Day celebrations.

The art competition is a great chance for children to show their pride in the nation they call home and Y is encouraging as many children and parents as possible to get involved and support the initiative.

Portrait By A Nation is a fantastic opportunity for children to display their creative prowess on a wide platform and to also show their love for the nation and express their gratitude to His Majesty The Sultan.

Talking about the event, a spokesperson for Muscat Grand Mall says: “We are proud to be a part of Y’s Portrait By A Nation event, this year.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to showcase their talents and also nab some lucrative prizes.

“We feel this will make way for some healthy competition but also some really striking art,” he adds. ■

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THE VOICE OF OMAN

THE MEDIA NORMALLY BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES. HASAN AL LAWATI LAMENTS THE ARABIC-ENGLISH DIVIDE IN THE PRESS

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED:

L

ast week, the Omani Journalists’ Association and the media houses here signed the first code of conduct for the press in Oman at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).

The initiative, though not legally binding, has been welcomed by media institutions and journalism academics at SQU. Funny enough, while almost half of Omani radio stations and newspapers are in English, the code was published only in Arabic.

This negligence towards “professionals” of English publications shows how divided our society is.

Arabic readers have their own tastes and preferences, and English readers, mostly expatriates, have their own. That’s fine, but when it gets to a stage where what matters to English readers does not all bother Arabic readers, and vice versa, it’s a point of grave concern.

The hurdles faced by Omani teachers who complained about working in schools located hundreds of kilometres away from their homes were widely highlighted by the Omani Arabic media. In contrast, the English media turned a blind eye to the issue.

On the other hand, school bus accidents that involved non-Omani children caused a stir in English newspapers, but they were seldom front-page stories in the Arabic press.

This media bias is alarming, especially in a country with a small population like Oman where breaking news is a tall order.

This can stand in the way of having a united society with shared interests where all that’s happening in the country matters to everyone living here. It is a shame that the monthly announcement of petrol prices gets our collective attention; otherwise it is all either “expat news” or “ Omani news”.

In any case, ignoring the power of the English media reflects the lack of awareness our academics and officials have.

The English media has a louder echo; its outreach is way far and high; and it has a bigger online audience. We desperately need our media professionals to build bridges between the Arabic and the English media in this country.

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A serious fire in a girls’ school in Oman has left 14 people being treated for smoke inhalation. Do schools in the Sultanate have proper safety systems in place to meet such hazards?

FRINCY FRANCIS

Most of the schools in Oman as well as other educational establishments ensure that they adhere to the required safety measures. Accidents are uninvited guests coming in unanticipatedly.

Ensuring to give frequent training to the staff as well as selected senior students regarding the installed safety systems and how to operate them when in need would help in minimising the impact of untoward incidents. Knowledge of basic first aid also comes handy until actual first aiders and the emergency response arrive.

“Presence of safety systems and presence of mind to act immediately” are the key requirements to meet hazards.

PARUL JAIN

Schools in the Sultanate do have safety systems but they need to be checked and maintained time and again. Schools are required to undertake risk assessments to identify fire precautions needed to safeguard the occupants and their safe escape. Schools need to ensure that procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of fire. A proper fire detection and alarm system must be installed. Staff and pupils should be familiar with emergency evacuation procedures. Fire risk assessments need to be kept up to date. They should be reviewed in detail when alterations are made on school premises.

Mock fire drills must be organised and everyone must participate actively in the drills. The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance has stressed the need of closure of all electrical

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appliances after vacating the premises. Smoke detectors must be at the entrance so that they are easily accessible and monitored.

MOHAMMAD OSAMA RAWAT

To the best of my knowledge, almost all schools here have fire safety systems in place. After the recent fire incidence in the girls’ school I checked with some of the community schools to reconfirm and found that the school management committees are geared up to and serious about it. However, apart from keeping the fire safety system in order, it is also important that there should be fire drills in the schools on a fortnightly or monthly basis so that emergencies could be handled properly. Many a time fire safety systems are being damaged just for fun by some naughty students without knowing the serious impact of their action. The school security team must ensure that the system is in good condition and parents should educate their children about the importance of such systems.

PEREIRA F SAVIO

Besides having the fire safety infrastructure in place and regular drills and audits being carried out, the schools should make sure the staff concerned are well trained to meet any fire eventuality. Only by proper training can kids, teachers and other support staff be confident enough to manage such freak accidents.

ENGR. BENJAMIN M. TOMARONG JR.

“Prevention is better than cure” is a common slogan used by safety practitioners. With this in mind, school department heads need to take steps to conduct

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emergency fire drills once every six months. This will help involve students, faculty members and other educational staff in the process and make everyone better prepared to deal with an emergency.

One must know what one need to do in an emergency. Everyone should be clear about the basics: assembly points, purpose of the fire alarm, location and method of using fire extinguishers, etc.

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NANDA I.S was spotted with her favourite Y Magazine in Muscat

JEESMON JOHNSON

Since I work in a company related to the supply of fire and safety equipment, I can confidently say that the schools in Oman have proper safety systems in place. Employers take responsibility for the health and safety of their employees as well as visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public. Most of the schools and companies here have proper safety systems but are unaware of how to use them when needed. That’s why regular training for everyone concerned and maintenance of the safety equipment are important.

MOHAN ANANDAN

The fire incident should warrant the school authorities in Oman to go for a safety audit. The cause of the fire in the particular case was reported to be a short circuit in air conditioning units. This calls for frequent inspection by the safety team, besides ensuring that good quality cables are used for electrical wiring and for electrical equipment such as air conditioners: only manufacturer-specified cables must be used. Regular fire drills, periodic training for fire wardens and safety habits such as switching off electrical equipment when not in use must also be imbibed and practised.

New Debate: The Royal Oman Police has warned the people of serious fatal consequences of leaving children alone inside vehicles.

Do you think strict action should be taken against such parents?

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NOV 09 - 15 / ISSUE 494

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YOUR

OMAN

C

NEWS

NEW SALARY SYSTEM

TO PROTECT EXPAT

WAGES IN OMAN

ompanies in Oman will need to use the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) new wage protection system to ensure that all their employees are paid on time from this month onwards.

Organisations in Oman have three months to conform to the new system and ensure that their work systems are brought up to speed.

In an announcement released on Monday, the Ministry of Manpower said: “The Ministry, in cooperation with the Central Bank of Oman, is upgrading and updating the wage protection system and the launch of unified wages formula in the banking transfer of manpower wages.

“Stemming from Ministry’s keenness to ensure stability of work at private sector establishments and in endeavour to enhance the development of systems and services offered to employers and manpower, to guarantee success of this programme and ensure that it achieves its

desired goals, the ministry calls upon all private sector establishments to use the aforementioned unified formulae to transfer the wages of their employees,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“Employers should also ensure that their establishments are registered in the wages protection system at the bank branches in which their accounts are registered,” it added.

RO1.7 MILLION WHATSAPP USERS

FISH MARKET FOR SEEB EXPERIENCE OUTAGE

A

n agreement to construct the Seeb Fish Market at the Fishing Port in the wilayat of Seeb has been signed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The agreement was signed with Arabian Supplies & Contracting LLC last Sunday.

The project worth about RO1.7 million covers a total area of 7,040 square metres, including the ground and first floors.

The new fish market will have 12 retail outlets, an ice factory, 64 counters for display and 37 counters for fish cutting/slicing, a coffee shop and a restaurant, along other facilities.

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nstant messaging platform WhatsApp has experienced an outage that left users around the world, including Oman, unable to send or receive messages on the app.

While there has been no official word yet from Facebook Inc. that owns WhatsApp, users around the world had taken to Twitter and Facebook to vent their frustration at not being able to get in touch with friends and family on the app.

NEWS

INFLATION RISES BY

1.22 PER CENT LAST MONTH T

he inflation rate in the Sultanate in October increased by 1.22 per cent compared with the same month of 2016, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information’s (NCSI) data on consumer price indices.

This is an increase of 0.1 per cent when compared the rates from September 2017.

The increase in the price index in October has been attributed to the rise in prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 1.5 per cent, food and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.74 per cent and transport by 1.78 per cent.

Meanwhile, the price of education rose 4.90 per cent, restaurants and hotels 0.24 per cent, miscellaneous goods and services 1.63 per cent, culture and entertainment 0.37 per cent, health group 0.41 per cent and tobacco 1.83 per cent.

On the other hand, the price of clothing and footwear decreased 0.10 per cent and communications 0.17 per cent.

North Al Batinah saw the highest rate of inflation (2.27 per cent), followed by North and

South Al Sharqiyah (1.06 per cent) Dhofar (1.04 per cent), Al Dakhiliyah (0.99 per cent), Al Dhahirah (0.89 per cent), Muscat (0.86 per cent) and Al Buraimi (0.23 per cent). Compared with September, the consumer price index rose by 0.10 per cent.

The price of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 0.05 per cent, transport 1 per cent, clothing and footwear 0.04 per cent, education 4.90 per cent, restaurants and hotels 0.32 per cent, and miscellaneous goods and services 0.08 per cent.

In contrast, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased 0.87 per cent and furnishings household equipment and routine household maintenance 0.04 per cent. The price of recreation and culture stabilised.

OMAN CRUDE HITS TWO-YEAR HIGH

M

any in Oman are beginning to breathe sighs of relief after Oman crude touched a two-year high this week (Monday, November 6). The price for a barrel touched US$62.29 (RO23.98), which was a climb of US$1.37 (530 baisas) over the previous day’s closing price, as per the Dubai Mercantile Exchange. Several economists are pointing out that it was July 2015 when Oman crude was last marked above US$60.

Reportedly, this is also instilling renewed confidence in

the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) ability to extend the production cut agreement beyond March 2018 during their meeting in Vienna later this month.

Meanwhile, Brent futures were up 32 cents at US$62.39 per barrel, the highest since July 2015, and US crude added 20 cents to reach US$55.84 per barrel.

Many are also attributing this positive shift to the recent developments in Saudi Arabia, among which is the news of Saudibased oil company Aramco going (partly) public.

Saudi Arabia’s reforms included a plan to publicly list parts of the giant state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco next year.

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YOUR

ITALIAN CUISINE

OMAN

LAST WEEK’S CELEBRATIONS MARKED THE SECOND EDITION OF ‘THE WEEK OF ITALIAN CUISINE IN THE WORLD’, REFERRED TO AS “LO STRAORDINARIO GUSTO ITALIANO - THE EXTRAORDINARY ITALIAN TASTE”, WHERE OVER 300 GUESTS ATTENDED A PRIVATE RECEPTION HELD IN THE BEAUTIFUL SETTING OF THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE, TO PROMOTE ITALIAN GASTRONOMY AND LIFESTYLE.

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GALLERY

NEWS

SORDET SEALS NBO GOLF

style than I was this week!”

Sordet was thrilled to finish his season in style on this spectacular Greg-Norman designed course to earn a winner’s cheque for €71,600. The Frenchman said: “To finish with a win in Oman is amazing. I would say this victory is the highlight of my career so far and is a fantastic way to finish the season.”

Closely behind Sordet was Kinhult who shot a four-under 68 on the final day to finish two behind the leader. The Swedish star climbed from 10th to fifth in the Road to Oman standings and feels the added pressure of playing in a grand final helped him perform to his optimum level.

“I like the big events when the pressure is on like in this NBO Golf Classic Grand Final because it brings the best out in my game,” said the 21 year old.

“The beautiful Al Mouj Golf course was set up great for me so I thoroughly enjoyed the week and got good vibes from this place.”

Drama was inevitable in the Road to Oman final with only 15 European Tour cards up for grabs. The two unlucky professionals that missed out were Sebastian Heisele and Robin Scot-Siegrist as they were replaced by Scott Fernandez, who climbed from 22nd to 14th with a tied-third finish, and Bradley Neil who took the 15th and final spot.

While heartache was inevitable for some, there was far more reason for festivity after an unforgettable week of golf in Oman.

This tournament is just a sign of what’s to come for the burgeoning golf scene in Oman which is capturing the imagination of golf fans around the world.

CLASSIC GRAND FINAL GLORY

O

n a day of jubilation at Al Mouj Golf Clement, Clement Sordet has held his nerve to seal the prestigious NBO Golf Classic Grand Final by two strokes over Marcus Kinhult, while Tapio Pulkkanen was crowned 2017 Road to Oman champion. The pair, along with 12 fellow European Challenge Tour talents, also earned promotion to the European Tour.

Although he finished in the 35th place in Muscat, Pulkkanen topped the Road to Oman rankings with an impressive season total of 210,799 points.

Victory in the Kazakhstan Open and three runner-up finishes were the highlights of a remarkable season. The Finnish star, who is known for his distinctive trilby hat, was delighted to be named Challenge Tour Number One and is relishing a swift return to Muscat when Al Mouj Golf hosts a European Tour tournament for the first time next February.

“I’m so excited to play on the European Tour next season because it’s a whole new world to me,” said Pulkkanen. “I’m looking forward to returning here in Muscat in February 2018 when it hosts a European Tour event for the first time. I’ve just got to make sure I’m a little bit more conservative with my

BAWADER INTERNATIONAL TO MANAGE NIZWA FORT

O

mran, Oman’s tourism development company, has signed an agreement with Bawader International to manage the day-to-day operations of Nizwa Fort. The two Omani companies will work together to maintain and enhance one of country’s national treasures and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Sultanate.

The new partnership will allow visitors to enjoy a world-class heritage destination that celebrates the history of Oman and its local culture, through combining it with modern facilities and services.

Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Omran, said: “The appointment of local company Bawader International demonstrates successful

collaborations between Omran and the private sector to develop the tourism industry and enhance the commercial offering of the Sultanate. Bawader International has a proven track record in Nizwa and a wealth of experience in the management of cultural and historic destinations. We look forward to witnessing their contribution to make this national treasure one of the most visited sites in the Sultanate”.

Bawader International will gradually enhance the experience over the coming months which will see the introduction of a gift shop, restaurant, coffee shop, as well as improved ticketing and online booking services.

EXPATS CAUGHT FOR STEALING

HEAVY METALS FROM WAREHOUSE

T

hree expats have been arrested on the charge of abuse of trust in the town of Yanqul.

The accused – all Asian expatriates – were detained following a complaint received from a company engaged in the work to dual the Ibri-Yanqul road about the

loss of a quantity of reinforcing iron from the warehouse in Yanqul.

The police arrested the suspects after they admitted stealing 32 tonnes of iron and selling it for RO4,800.

They were referred to the judicial authorities to complete the investigation.

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YOUR

MEMORY LANE

OMAN

OMAN AVENUES MALL SUCCESSFULLY HOSTED THE AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAY AT THE MALL GROUNDS, LAST WEEK. THE EVENT WAS ORGANISED IN COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY. HIS EXCELLENCY MARC J. SIEVERS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE SULTANATE OF OMAN, WAS PRESENT AT THE OPENING OF THE EVENT. SEVERAL AMERICAN CARS WERE SHOWCASED.

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GALLERY

NEWS

HUAWEI MATE 10

LAUNCHED IN OMAN

T

he tech scene in Oman is heating up with the launch of Huawei’s new Mate 10. The device was launched last week (November 2) at the Muscat City Centre with much fanfare.

Heralding a new decade of smartphone development, the new Huawei Mate 10, Huawei Mate 10 Pro and the Porsche Design Huawei Mate 10 devices are set to deliver a unique experience for consumers by providing comprehensive mobile intelligence through mobile-based AI. Using this AI application ecosystem, the smartphone will provide the users with tailored AI applications that completely change the userexperience of the phone.

Built with the world’s first AI processor for smartphones, the Huawei Mate 10 sseries also predicts its most efficient mode, optimises performance to keep the phone in prime condition and delivers an allround greater efficiency, with more power at higher speeds.

The Mate 10 sports a large 5.9-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS LCD display, while the Mate 10 Pro comes with a six-inch 2160 x 1080 OLED screen, and is powered by the Kirin 970, Huawei’s new smartphone Systemon-a-Chip (SoC) which combines an 8-core CPU, a new generation 12-core GPU, and a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to power AI computing.

Meanwhile, the camera is designed in partnership with renowned camera maker Leica. The Huawei Mate 10 series features a new Leica SUMMILUX-H camera with an f/1.6 aperture to capture more light for low-light photography.

Buyers can also choose from a wide range of colours.

Commenting on the launch of the flagship Huawei Mate 10 series devices in the region, Gene Jiao, president of Huawei CBG, Middle East & Africa,

PACP HELPS

CAR BUYER GET

said: “Tech-savvy consumers in the Middle East and Africa have a huge appetite for innovative technology that offers increasingly intelligent and seamless solutions for their busy lives.

“The use of AI in the Huawei Mate 10 series allows us to break through boundaries and usher in an era of smartphones that transform human-tomachine interaction and further expand their capabilities. With the boosted performance, speed, power, and infinitely faster connectivity and download speeds, this premium device series delivers the ultimate user experience, and heralds a new decade of smartphone development.”

NEW ROAD CONNECTS

SAHAM AND SOHAR

FULL REIMBURSEMENT

T

he Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has helped a customer to return a faulty car to its dealer in the South Al Sharqiyah and get reimbursed.

As per the statement released by the PACP, the complainant noticed that a sound was coming from the car as the brakes weren’t stable and that air and water were entering from the sills of the rear window.

He reported the matter to the dealer who confirmed that “the vehicle needed technical

examination”. But the problem was still present after the examination.

Following this, the PACP intervened and the dealer agreed to return RO9,150 — the full amount of money paid by the consumer for the purchase of the vehicle.

As per the Consumer Protection Law issued by Royal Decree No. 66/2014, suppliers have been called upon to ensure that new vehicles are free from any problems and to examine them technically before handing them over to consumers.

A

27km stretch of the Al Batinah Expressway from the wilayat of Saham to Sohar has been opened, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The Al Batinah Expressway project has been under way since 2015, and it was the Muscat-Barka section that was opened initially. Following that, the Al Aqr-Khatmat Milahah, the Bakrah-Hazm section, and the Liwa-Shinas section were opened to the public.

The Batinah Expressway is slated to start at the end of the Muscat Expressway and continue till Khatmat Malaha in the wilayat of Shinas.

The total length of the road is 272km. The project includes numerous intersections to meet the traffic needs of the wilayats in the South and North Al Batinah governorates.

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YOUR

IMPRESS & INSPIRE

OMAN

AL GHAD AL MUSHRIQ PRIVATE SCHOOL RECENTLY HELD THE PRIMARY SCHOOL AWARDS CEREMONY FOR THE YEAR 20162017. AS PART OF ITS GLOBAL DIGNITY WEEK CELEBRATIONS, THE STUDENTS ALSO VISITED A LOCAL ORPHANAGE ON 11TH OCTOBER. THE VISIT FILLED THE ENVIRONMENT WITH HAPPINESS, POSITIVITY AND FRIENDLY VIBES.

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GALLERY

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Photo: Shaquel Al Balushi

Today’s inspiration: Going back to a simpler life is not a step backward. - Yvon Chouinard

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

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

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13

THIS

WEEK

THE GLORIOUS NOVEMBER

Join Gulf Diamond Vision and Ibn Ahmed United Enterprises, at the Le Grand Hall Auditorium in the Al Falaj Hotel, for the launch of Flyleaf – The Glorious November.

The event will commence at 7pm, and will be presided over by H.E Indra Mani Pandey, the Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman; H.E. Stefano Lazzarotto, the Swiss Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman and Mr. Ahmed Faisal al-Jhdhamy, the Director of Sports Marketing, Ministry of Sports Affairs.

REGIONAL CYBER SECURITY SUMMIT With cyber hazards evolving and threatening to hit day-today activities of organisations, the cost of implementing IT security solutions has significantly increased.

Considering cyber resilience as the key, and continuing on the success of the previous regional cyber security summits, the ITU Regional Cyber Security Centre (ITU-ARCC) is organising the sixth regional cyber security summit in Oman on November 21 and will be hosted by Oman National CERT in collaboration with White Paper Summits and Nispana Innovative Platforms. The sixth edition will cover a range of topics highlighting the current and future threats that could affect the work of organisations and businesses.

NOV

21

TRADITIONAL DANCES AT ROHM WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

N O V E M B E R The Royal Opera House Muscat will host one of the world’s greatest traditional dance companies on November 9 and 10. Acclaimed by some as the greatest of all, the Igor Moiseyev troupe is renowned for technical brilliance and exuberant virtuosity. Russia’s State Academic Ensemble of Popular Dance is now in its seventh decade and globally popular. Reputed to be the greatest 20-century choreographer of character dance, a style similar to folk dance but with superior theatrics, at the dawn of the 21st century, the late Igor Alexandrovich Moiseyev received the Unesco Mozart Medal for outstanding contribution to world music culture.

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Since then, the 46-year-old art teacher has fallen in love with the Sultanate and its people, and dedicated his work to promote Omani culture.

Grivakis said he was never inspired by a nation like he was when he visited Oman.

“In Oman, I felt at home and not as on holiday. The kindness of Omanis is the thing I like the most. How helpful they were to me,” he said.

He has visited Nizwa, Sur, Wadi Bani Kharus, Wadi Shab, Jabel Shams, Jabal Akhdar, the Dimaniyat islands and Misfat Al Abriyeen.

“For an artist it is the ultimate satisfaction to be inspired so much by something or someone. And for me inspiration came so naturally in Oman. You can tell that looking at my work,” Grivakis added.

Now, he is planning to move into Muscat and has already created a Facebook page to advertise his work: discarded wooden pieces that are painted and turned into Omani male and female figures.

The Greek national is also an avid environmentalist.

“I never buy materials. The only things I buy are the colours. I search for wood at construction sites. There are so much waste of wood there and I turn them into pieces of art,” he explained.

His Oman-inspired artworks are a hit with European buyers.

He said: “I have sent a lot of things to Oman and I’m getting orders every day. Every day, I get so many messages from people who want to join my classes.”

Grivakis said he was planning to hold an exhibition of Omani wooden figures in the Sultanate.

“It would be something people have never seen before,” he promised.

Kostis Grivakis arrived in Oman to see places, but an unpleasant happening set him on a course of true love for the country and its people. Hasan al Lawati welcomes without fear the Greek bearing wooden gifts

S

ometimes events that looked dark and disastrous at the moment they happened take on a pleasant note all of a sudden and set you out on a course of events that open up new experiences to make your life more meaningful than before.

You wouldn’t have had the chance to enjoy the delights you stumbled upon but for that gloomy incident. The moment of bad luck could come in many ways, and in the case of a Greek artist who landed in Oman for a few days of sight-seeing it came in the form a car breakdown in a remote village.

Getting stuck in an unfamiliar place and being in the company of total strangers is a nightmare for any tourist. You lose precious time on your quick schedule, and there is an element of insecurity and helplessness that creep in to make you frustrated.

How such dark moments turn into life-defining experiences is one of the thrilling mysteries of life.

Greek artist Kostis Grivakis was on a visit to Wakan, a mountain village in South Batinah, when his car broke down. He was in Oman for a short visit, and the breakdown meant that he was going to miss a bit of things on his busy itinerary.

But the misfortune soon gave way to events that made him simply fall in love with Oman, its people and their culture, which now finds expression in the form of Omani figures painted on wooden pieces.

Everything started from that car breakdown. Little did he know that his distress would turn into bliss when a group of young Omanis lent him a helping hand.

“Local people helped me to get back to Muscat. I will never forget that,” he said.

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Top

longest-running TV series in the world

➋

❸

❶ Gunsmoke (1955-1975)

WWE Raw (1993-current)

Number of seasons: 20 Number of episodes: 635

Number of seasons: 24 Number of episodes: 1,276

❹

The Simpsons (1989-present)

❺

Number of seasons: 29 Number of episodes: 625

Law & Order (1990-2010) Number of seasons: 20 Number of episodes: 456

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present) Number of seasons: 19 Number of episodes: 415

Source: Wikipedia

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

The Giant King

Justice League

Starring: Bella Thorne, Russell Peters, Meg DeAngelis, Gregg Sulkin and Carlos PenaVega

Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams and J.K. Simmons

The Star Starring: Steven Yeun, Kelly Clarkson, Aidy Bryant, Ving Rhames, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told since the first Christmas.

Oman release: November 9

One thousand years after an epic robot battle, sworn enemies Zork and Pinky wake up with no memory of who they are or how they wound up chained together. In search of answers, they begin wandering the barren wasteland, looking for the creator of all robots and making new friends, as well as a few enemies, along the way. But when they remember their past, will their newfound friendship prove to be stronger than an unbreakable chain?

Oman release: November 9

Qarib Qarib Single Starring: Irfan Khan and Parvathy

Murder on the Orient Express Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Michelle Pfeiffer and Daisy Ridley

Oman release: November 16

Earth: One Amazing Day Starring: Jackie Chan and Robert Redford

What starts out as a lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into one of the most stylish, suspenseful and thrilling mysteries ever told. Based on the novel by best-selling author Agatha Christie, the film tells the tale of 13 strangers stranded on a train, where everyone is a murder suspect. One man must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.

Oman release: November 9

Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists newfound ally Diana Prince to face an even greater threat.

Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to recruit a team to stand against this newly awakened enemy. Despite the formation of an unprecedented league of heroes – Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash – it may be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Jaya and Yogi set out on a short journey to retrace past relationships and end up in the most eventful, strange, crazy trip of their lives. This short journey through Rishikesh, Bikaner and Gangtok with the ups and downs, the missed trains and taxi rides, the heartbreak and the mending of old friendships, the quarrels and selfdiscovery, sweeps Jaya and Yogi away, and indeed us as well, into a very special and unforgettable experience. Through this journey, you wonder if they fall in love. We really hope so!

An astonishing journey revealing the awesome power of the natural world.

Over the course of one single day, we track the sun from the highest mountains to the remotest islands to exotic jungles.

Breakthroughs in filmmaking technology bring you up close with a cast of unforgettable characters. Told with humour, intimacy and a jaw-dropping sense of cinematic splendour, the film highlights how every day is filled with more wonders than you can possibly imagine – until now.

Oman release: November 9

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SLAM ON

the BRAKES Dealers used to sell 40 or more a month are now trading in just about four cars. And that’s a drastic drop. Alvin Thomas tailgates motorists and showroom staff on the road to slowdown

Q

uick question: How often do you see a car sporting a green plate on the roads in the Sultanate? The ‘green-plate cars’, as they are fondly known by the public, are those that are newly registered – fresh from the dealer – and with green number plates. Many in Oman see it as a symbol of status.

A new car on the road draws admiring glances. But the growing consensus is that there is a drop in the number of cars on the streets with green-coloured number plates.

Is that true?

“Yes,” says Ronald (name changed to protect identity), a sales manager who works with one of Oman’s leading luxury automotive showrooms.

“There has been a very sharp dip in the number of cars sold across our showrooms. We operate several brands under our umbrella and they have all been affected in one way or another.

“It’s been the case since the oil price crash of 2014. But even then, I would say the market did hold well until mid-2015. That was when the whole scenario shifted; companies were quickly cutting down on staff and recruitments slowly went down.

“What this meant was fewer expatriates were coming into Oman, and those who did migrate here did not want to invest in a car or take a loan.

“Omanis did continue to keep the market afloat until the latter part of 2015 – September or October – but then the sales really crumbled.”

This, he says, was when everything turned “topsy-turvy”.

“Up until the Ramadan of 2016 (June to July) we were barely attaining our targets.

And remember, our targets were quite high. I remember our sales staff were asked to do

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a minimum of 15-20 (depending on the grade of job) cars a month.

“Ramadan, however, was a great time for us. We were raking in sales, which was good,” Ronald adds.

His company could attain that by providing buyers with lucrative offers. Some of these offers included providing new cars with a free service package, cash-back up to RO2,000 and free registration.

The period after that marked dark times in car sales.

“After July sales came to a standstill, literally. We were registering fewer than 22 cars a month; a trend which continues till today. Remember, back in the days, we were selling roughly 40 cars in a month.

Ronald’s words are proved correct in the new report published by the National Centre for Statistical Information (NCSI), which highlighted a sharp drop in the total number of new cars registered within the country.

For instance, the report states that 45,498 new cars were registered in Oman from January to September this year, as opposed to 56,782 cars registered during the same period last year.

This reflects a 19.9 per cent drop in new car registrations.

Justin*, another car salesman from a Japanese car showroom here, says this is because of the austerity measures taken by expat workers in Oman.

“Who would want to take a new car on a loan in this current market?” he asks.

“It’s like shooting yourself in the feet before running. People have come to terms with the fact that they should hold back from spending until they are stable financially.

When we ask about his company’s car sales, he reveals: “We’re doing good. At least much better than our own car dealer next door.

“They’re selling roughly four cars, while we’re hitting the late 30s in a month. It’s still at the lowest since I came from India to the Middle East, but I feel that we’re blessed when compared to other car dealers,” he tells, before steering our attention towards the dwindling sales of commercial vehicles here in Oman.

Again, we turn to NCSI for the statistics. The statistics are worrying, as the number of newly registered commercial vehicles stood at a mere 10,234 from January to September this year. In contrast, a total of 15,693 commercial vehicles made it to the roads last year during the same period.

All of this has adversely affected the industry.

Forty members from various teams were let go at one of Oman’s largest automotive showrooms in October, marking the beginning of a wave of cost-cutting measures.

I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG I CAN STAY HERE. I AM HERE WITH MY FAMILY AND I AM NOT EVEN THINKING OF BUYING A CAR HERE. I USED TO DRIVE IN THE UAE WHERE I WORKED FOR SIX YEARS. BUT THEN I LOST MY JOB LAST YEAR AND HAD TO SELL MY CAR

IT’S BEEN THE CASE SINCE THE OIL PRICE CRASH OF 2014. BUT EVEN THEN, I WOULD SAY THAT THE MARKET DID HOLD WELL UNTIL MID-2015. THAT WAS WHEN THE WHOLE SCENARIO SHIFTED; OIL COMPANIES WERE QUICKLY CUTTING DOWN ON STAFF, AND RECRUITMENTS SLOWLY WENT DOWN Another company sacked 150 members in a bid to reduce the number of sales, marketing and management-level staff. To understand the situation, we reach out to several members who were recently let go, but to no avail.

But, after promising complete anonymity, a former employee of the firm agrees to speak about the issues he now faces as he is now unemployed.

“A huge cloud had always been above our heads from 2015 onwards,” he tells.

“But when we were given our termination letters, we couldn’t believe it,” says the employee of a company for 18 years.

“My office was like home to me, and we would always work as a team when we would ever fall short of sales. But, I think we had come to a point where we had to let go, or the company would incur more losses in the form of our salaries.

“The letter that we received was mass-printed and did not even have our names on it. It addressed me as ‘Dear Employee’.

There was no sense of thankfulness or even gratitude towards our efforts to make the company the best.

“Even my experience letter was handed over to me only after they cancelled my visa at the airport.

“I’m just hoping that things settle down in Oman, and everything falls in place really soon,” he adds.

While several dealers are struggling to roll their cars out of the showrooms, a handful of dealers – mostly Japanese – are achieving their targets but only barely.

“Each of the staff members in sales has a target of 10 cars a month,” says one salesman from a Japanese luxury car showroom in Oman.

“And thankfully we’re achieving it. But we know our cars are moving slower, because a few years ago, I remember how people would simply walk into the showroom without even the desire to buy a car but eventually go back to their homes with the keys to a brand-new vehicle.

“That doesn’t happen anymore. The number of people walking into the showrooms has reduced drastically but I feel that the conversion rates are higher now as people who do walk in are more serious about buying the cars.

“But one thing I can tell you is that fewer expats are purchasing our cars. Omanis comprise our customers nowadays,” he reveals.

“I think at the end of the day it is the brand name and value that matters. We have been consistently hitting our targets, and

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some of the sales staff in our budget car showroom are achieving 120 per cent every month.”

Sailesh Chandran, a new petro-chemical engineer in a petroleum firm in Oman, however, says he, like many others, is skimming on buying a car just to save money.

“I don’t know how long I can stay here. I am here with my family and I am not even thinking of buying a car here. I used to drive in the UAE where I worked for six years. But then I lost my job last year and had to sell my car.

“I don’t want that to happen again. So, however desperate I am, I have made up my mind that I will not buy another car.”

“Another factor is the fuel. It costs 201 baisas for a litre of premium fuel. That’s quite high for the normal middle-class worker and, therefore, the times are quite unfavourable for us.”

Fatima Moussa, a student at Sultan Qaboos University, echoes Sailesh’s voice. “Taking a car loan and paying EMIs (monthly payments) is risky.

I would rather take a bus or a taxi than buy a car; at least until I am capable of sustaining myself and my family.

Fatima takes the Mwasalat bus to college daily and says she is “extremely happy” with the facilities offered on the buses.

“Youngsters like me, or even young employees like you, can actually try taking the bus. It is very clean, the people are all well-mannered and there’s WiFi. I’m not sure if there’s a better way to travel in style,” she says.

On a positive note, the public transport system in Oman is also on a roll, as it is rapidly developing its fleet of buses. In recent news, it was announced that 98 new buses would join the fleet by August 2018.

If buses aren’t your cup of tea, then you can simply head to the nearest car rental company and sign for a car of your choice. This has slowly become the preferred mode of driving for expatriates in recent times.

Statistics revealed by the NCSI further tell us that a total of 3,271 rental cars were registered in Oman from January to September this year, as opposed to 2,716 from the same period last year. This reflects an increase of 34.8 per cent.

British expat James William, who works in a telecom company, tells us that renting a car can seem a bit expensive at first, but the long-term benefits can be rewarding.

“Today, I drive a Toyota Fortuner rented out from car rental company – Budget. It costs me roughly RO300 every month, and another RO50 in petrol. But all of the mechanical expenses are handled by Budget and I don’t have to worry about anything.

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“When the car is in for service – which by the way is free – I even get a replacement car,” he laughs.

“But the main reason why I drive a rental is because when the time comes for me to leave Oman, I do not have to worry about finding buyers or settling papers with the Royal Oman Police,” he adds.

Melissa Joan, an economist based in Oman, asserts that one of the main reasons for the drop in car sales in Oman is due to the strengthening of the rental car industry.

“A few years ago, buying a car would have made sense, as she or he could be sure that they would be staying here for a period of at least five years.

“Today, people are coming and going quickly, as work could be based on a contract level, or visas are short. This means it’s best for the employee to either obtain a company-provided car (in some cases) or rent a car.

“While renting a car could cost you 25 per cent more than buying a car on a five-year loan, the major benefits can include the lack of any paper trail associated with your bank. You can also simply return the car back to the company and fly out of the country.

“So, why would you buy a car?” asks Joan.

Apart from the residents taking such austerity measures, one Shura member maintains that the total drop in the number of newly registered cars is also because of the strict measures taken by the Omani

IT’S BEEN THE CASE SINCE THE OIL PRICE CRASH OF 2014.

BUT EVEN THEN, I WOULD SAY THAT THE MARKET DID HOLD WELL UNTIL MID-2015.

THAT WAS WHEN THE WHOLE SCENARIO SHIFTED; OIL COMPANIES WERE QUICKLY CUTTING DOWN ON STAFF, AND RECRUITMENTS SLOWLY WENT DOWN

government to cut down on spending.

In an interview with Y, Shura member Mohammed Sulaiman Al Kindi says: “The reason behind the drop in car sales this year is that the government has bought fewer cars compared to previous years due to the austerity measures.

However, the official is keeping his hopes high for the next year.

Still, Sultan Al Kindi, an entrepreneur who runs an aluminium company, tells that certain automotive showrooms in the country are exploiting people’s need for cars by marking up the prices.

“I feel we are paying more to buy cars here in Oman than in the United States or even our neighbouring country UAE. I have seen that the price of the car is at least 10 to 20 per cent more than the original price of the car.

“This is more so in the case of European cars,” he adds.

Al Kindi explains that despite Oman maintaining a zerotaxation agreement with the United States the prices of American cars in the Sultanate are similar to or higher than the prices in other GCC countries, even when some of them do not have the same agreement.

“That is why we met representatives from official car dealers, second-hand sellers, Public Authority for Consumer Protection, Royal Oman Police, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Commerce and Industry to discuss the prices,” he says.

Nevertheless, the total number of cars now on the roads has touched 1,426,350 – an all-time high.

A part of this could be due to the increasing sales of used cars in Oman.

Jameel, a salesman in a used-cars showroom in Baushar, says Indians and British expats now prefer used cars to new ones.

“I have nearly 50 or 60 people walking into the showroom daily asking for cars. Most of the people look for reliable Japanese sedans or SUVs but now people are also coming forward to purchasing American cars.

“We are selling nearly 12 cars a month, which is quite good for a small business like ours. Our arbaab is actually asking us to purchase expensive cars from sellers so that we can put it on sale in our showroom.We’re buying out a Bentley from one businessman, next week.

“Of course, the commission the company takes is now reduced, which could be one reason why people are buying from us,” he adds.

“You can tell that there is a drop in the number of cars being sold, but I think the ideal way to judge the sales would be over the second and third quarter of 2018,” says Ronald.

“You see, the oil prices are still only stabilising and that means things will begin to pick up. But, whether this will reflect in car sales and bring it back to the level it was at five years ago, we should wait and see.” ■ *Name changed to protect identity

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LAS

H

M A A SP KING

Swimmers from schools from across the globe took home not just the medals but great stories to relish forever.

Alvin Thomas watches in awe the ripples of excitement in the TAISM pool

I

t was a balmy Thursday evening but the excitement was at an all-time high at The American International School Muscat (TAISM). Most weeks, such a buzz at the school grounds on a Thursday evening would have been from the approaching weekend; but not today.

Things were a bit different: students, parents, teachers and coaches were all gathered around to do one thing – and one thing only – and that’s to cheer the participants taking part in the SAISA competitive swimming tournament in the school’s pool.

So, what is SAISA? Well, SAISA represents the ‘South Asian Inter-School Association’, and the tournament is held annually over several athletic and non-athletic platforms.

There are roughly 10 schools involved with SAISA, of which nine teams – all prepared to take one another on – participated in competitive swimming last Thursday (and over the weekend) at TAISM. The teams were from Oman, Jordan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Other athletic activities in the SAISA league includes volleyball, soccer (football), basketball, tennis, track and field, and badminton. These events are ongoing in overseas schools.

Looking at the audience I realised that taking part in the SAISA tournament was more than just taking home the trophy; it’s a testament to the healthy competitive spirit inculcated in each of these students.

But before I could even realise, the gun went off, and six swimmers leapt into the pool. The swimmers fought exhaustion from the sun blaring down on them but they kept going in a bid to take on the 400m freestyle.

And what a spectacle it turned out to be. In a mere 1.02.89, Serena Lee, the captain of the TAISM Eagles, got the pole.

But that was not all: she also smashed a SAISA record; the elation on her face was evident.

“Today’s been a good day and I think we achieved a lot,” Serena said.

“We trained very hard and we (from TAISM Eagles) all supported each

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other, which is why we achieved what we did today.

“We all want each other to do very well, so we are hyping one another,” she laughed.

“The competition is fun and all our teammates are doing well. As captain that’s something I am looking for,” she added.

Serena’s efforts were further highlighted when she finished second in the 400m freestyle. She clocked her personal best of 4.55.54 – which was a whole 23.5 seconds faster than her previous best.

Another swimmer who beat his personal record was Agustin Krupka Buendia, another TAISM Eagles member.

“I beat my personal best by 20 seconds,” the second-place holder told me.

“I feel great. All those hours of training and hard work finally paid off,” the youngster beamed with pride.

And why not? With more than 175,000 metres of swimming during practice sessions and more than 5,000,000 metres of swimming as a team, it was only a matter of time before the results started clocking in.

In total, TAISM swimmers broke 196 of their personal best times and won 16 gold medals, 26 silver medals and 7 bronze medals. The swimmers also broke 31 TAISM school records and six SAISA records.

Overall, TAISM Eagles claimed the second spot among the nine competing teams.

Commenting on the league, Luther Rauk, the athletic director at TAISM, said: “SAISA’s been around a long time and it’s been a great league for us to be in. It’s a bunch of like-minded schools with similar philosophies.”

“There are six starting blocks today. Teams can get three entries into each race. And the computer organises their seed time. We then run multiple heats to get all nine schools’ kids into the six lanes in the pool.

“Everybody’s very good here and we’ve already heard a few SAISA records being broken,” he added.

“One thing I love about SAISA is that the children can get to know each other. We see a lot of the kids coming back and they get to build relationships with each other and the coaches.

“So, it’s a really unique situation in our SAISA league.”

Also impressive was the fact that the families of TAISM school students hosted contestants from other schools.

“The swimmers arrived on Wednesday and are staying with host families from TAISM families. The coaches are all hosted with our teachers,” explained the athletic director.

One student coming to Oman from Pakistan said: “SAISA gives us all an opportunity to meet people and form bonds with them.

“Yes, there’s a great competition going on. But I’m going home next week with a great story to tell and, maybe, with a few medals, too,” she laughed. ■

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A young businessman and three of his friends got together to pick others’ brains.

Alvin Thomas quizzes the X-Quizitz brains about their busy journey so far and the ‘mega prelims’ happening today

A

s far as quizmasters go, few would ever imagine seeing a businessman on stage, tickling contestants’ brains. It’s just one of those things businessmen aren’t ordinarily trying their hand at. Creating Machiavellian schemes to take on the market or taking strategic decisions for the company is, though.

Yet, today, a businessman – along with three of his friends – is making a mark on Oman’s quizzing scene. And they’re the best you can find in the Sultanate. As far as breaking typecasts goes, this is up there.

This then is the story of how one established businessman – Hala Jamal – followed his dreams to help shape the minds of young kids for the future.

But he’s not alone in his venture: his friends from his school days Fayas Fazil, Midhun Mukund and Midhun Thomas are all alongside him – sharing work equally – to help build their name in the community.

Together, they started X-Quizitz – an

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annual quizzing event, and Muscat Codex – their quiz company. They are also among only a handful of non-profit quiz organisations in the whole of the Middle East.

“We’ve always wanted to formulate and work as a group. Whatever one person lacks, I think the other person can make up for. Even in college, when we were conducting quizzes, we called ourselves the third eye and went all out,” laughs Fayaz, who is the marketing head of the company.

“This year marks a very important year for us. We are entering our fifth year of quizzing in Oman,” says Hala, the founder and resident quizmaster of the venture, adding that they will be hosting their ‘Mega Prelims’ and ‘Finals’ to their quiz show today and tomorrow (10th November 9 -10) respectively.

Currently, the quizzing squad clocks several thousands of participants with X-Quizitz, but their start in 2013 wasn’t all blissful, points out Hala.

“Initially, there was no funding for us. We have our families here, and we literally took money from them and from our own pockets to fund the show.

“And I can say that the first year was a huge loss. We even rented the Sur Ballroom for the show, and to our misfortune it was raining heavily,” the quizmaster laughs.

But they learnt from their mistakes in the coming years.

“We picked it up after our first stumble,” he asserts.

Where the youngsters prevail is in presentation.

Each of their quizzes are based on a theme, which could be about the current events and occurrences around the world.

Then, Midhun Mukund designs and crafts an in-depth interactive quiz show wherein the participants are taken through a journey. They can click on the screen to reveal the questions and, furthermore, cut-scenes take them to the next round – it’s fan-bleeding-tastic.

They also make use of a live scoring mechanism and a buzzer system. The founders are also proud in revealing that they are the only quizmasters in Oman to have their own buzzers.

And if that isn’t enough, participants can now win prizes as big as LED TVs, smartphones and gaming consoles. The audience isn’t forgotten either; they can win branded tablet-computers if they can answer questions.

“A few companies do give us the gifts. But once the money comes in, we invest in more prizes.

We try to maximise the number of gifts without compromising on the quality, and make sure that it is relevant to give out,” Hala adds.

All of this means Muscat Codex is now the hot commodity in quizzing. They are also asked to

This year marks a very important year for us. We are entering our fifth year of quizzing in Oman host quiz shows for companies, schools and even embassies.

“This year also we have two new schools – Muscat International School and Philippines School – participating with the other schools in our quiz.”

“It is this generation that we are trying to inspire and we want to make sure to keep on inspiring. I remember the first year, we only had 100-odd teams participating. But today, we have created a brand name for ourselves and children are looking forward to it every year,” says Hala.

“Another reason we do it today is because when we conduct the quizzes in schools, and when our teachers see us doing this, they are very proud of us. They give us their blessings for inspiring their students, and that’s what gives us all the happiness,” Fayaz adds, as we end our fruitful conversation. ■

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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 • 1947 Restaurant • 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 • Jotun Paints • 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 AND ADVENTURES

BEND THE KNEE

The ‘Burj Khalifa’ of SUVs is back for a final hurrah before its replacement takes over next year. This time around, the Lincoln Navigator packs some top-class tech and chic exterior tweaks.

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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

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

Y- F i

Gaming

Destination

YIQA

WITH A BURNING DESIRE TO EXPLORE A NEW PLACE, BUT WITHOUT ANY IDEA OF WHAT OR WHERE IT IS, SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI HITS THE MUSCAT EXPRESSWAY AND STUMBLES UPON A SPOT PERFECT FOR EVERYTHING: OFF-ROADING, TREKKING, OR CAMPING 032

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and damp lands for an hour or so. Because we weren’t getting anywhere, we decided to ask directions to the first person we stumbled upon.

He jestingly told us that we were in the complete opposite direction, and had to head all the way back, or trek across a diagonal route, to save a few minutes.

Score: Shaquel 1; Imran 0 Nevertheless, we reached our spot after 30-odd minutes of (banter-filled) driving but was soon brought to a silence by the sheer beauty of the location. We had reached Yiqa.

The two of us simply split in different directions to explore the lands, and quickly found out that the location is perfect for any activity that pleases you. The lands are uneven enough for offroad enthusiasts, challenging for trekkers and hikers, and placid for camping.

It’s truly amazing and beyond what my words can describe. I guess this is one of those instances where my photographs will have to do all the talking.

The trees around the place made way for some striking photos. As you could see here, it looked like I was in paradise.

This was much the feeling while I trekked up the mountain.

The temperature stood at a meagre 26°C, and the strong breeze made us feel like it was much below that. I was shivering throughout my expedition, which made snapping photos especially difficult.

After a few more minutes of exploring, we struck gold (figuratively). We came across a

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

T

he yearning to head someplace new and unexplored has been burning inside of me for quite a while. Keen readers would know that I have been revisiting – and reminiscing about – areas that I had been to before. But, as they say, there are always new things to see and experience.

I’ll stick to the topic, though. Last week, I completely exhausted my Destination bank – meaning that I had no idea of a place to visit. I just picked up my trusty Google Maps – named Imran – and headed straight out of the city for a session of exploring.

We picked the Muscat Expressway for the journey – in our borrowed off-road-ready SUV – and ploughed straight on. It was probably late morning by the time we reached someplace recognisable, and took the next left out so that we could explore someplace fascinating.

Imran suggested we head to Yiqa – a beautiful town in the midst of greenery and nestled safely between the Al Batinah mountains.

We only had one problem: neither of us knew how to get there. So, we did what any explorer would do; go against each other’s advice (pun intended). Imran, in true fashion, stuck to his instincts – which are mostly astoundingly accurate; while I decided to locate the route using my iPhone.

This put us in a limbo. We were both asking to split up in different directions. After a few minutes of friendly debating, though, I decided to take Imran’s route.

This saw us traversing tall mountain rocks (in the SUV, obviously), tree-infested paths

patch of land – which is mostly in ruins now – that seemed to hold some historical importance in Oman.

Imran and I discussed about it and concluded that it was indeed the ruins of the “Omaras” – who were local tribal influencers of their times. Please do not mistake them for your local social media influencers; think of them as the leader of a pack who sustained his people.

These influencers were often linked to the sustenance of their tribes and was also the spokesperson of the group to the local leaders of the land. I guess I could say they were the “ministers” of their times.

I quickly took photographs of the ruins before trying to imagine how life would have been back then. Perhaps much simpler – since technology hadn’t snagged their lives yet. I’m not implying that life was easier then, but how it must have been a lot more systematised.

And just as I thought that, I looked at Imran, and burst out in a fit of laughter. He and his instincts, I tell you.

More adventures of Shaquel and Imran are coming up in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

Take the Muscat Expressway and head towards Rustaq. Keep following the road until you reach the end of the Expressway. From there, head left and follow the road to Al Qabil. Once you reach the roundabout it’s best to ask people for directions or switch on your maps and input these coordinates.

Coordinates: 23°22’52.7”N; 57°12’00.9”E

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CARS ADVENTURES

L I N C O L N N AV I G AT O R

FIRST DRIVE It may be dressed in tonnes of chrome and with copious interior space, but the 2017 Navigator is not just big and beautiful – it’s aggressively quick as well with a new engine. Nostalgia kicks in as Alvin Thomas gets behind the wheel of the Burj Khalifa of cars

T

he Lincoln Navigator is a car that goes by the motto “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. In short, it’s an SUV that has been venturing on the roads for decades without deviating too far from its core purpose: To transport eight people in absolute comfort and carry all their luggage from A to B without any fuss.

This meant the SUV broke many boundaries; mostly in size. Looking at it, there’s no way you can hold yourself from calling it the Empire State Building or Burj Khalifa of cars – it’s indeed that enormous.

And it worked!

In fact, it worked so well that it soon became Lincoln’s most sold car throughout the Middle East.

Beat that, Lincoln Town Car. The people love it, and so do we, the motoring journosaurs.

This is probably why most of the updates to the Navigator have always been cosmetic; a nip there and a tuck elsewhere.

To be completely honest, the only real changes

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that the third-generation SUV saw were a slight redesign of the front headlamps and rear tail lights.

For arguments sake, I’ll concede that Lincoln chucked in new alloys and a host of other interior paraphernalia, too.

Yet, looking at the Navigator – an SUV that I have tested several times before – I couldn’t help but feel overpowered; like I was driving it for the first time.

Don’t judge me: the SUV tips the scales at 2,800kg, and has one of the largest third-row seats in the world.

A few seconds later, however, my head was flooded by the fact that this would be the last time I was driving this particular model-year of the SUV. The replacement Navigator is due for GCC release early next year, and is already on sale in the US. So, it was with a bout of nostalgia that I took the keys over from the folks at Lincoln.

At first glance, I couldn’thelp but notice that the vehicle came with even more chrome (who would’ve thought that possible), larger alloys, retractable sidesteps, and redesigned tail lamps.

The fascia adorns Lincoln’s large and chunky split-wing grille, and brings about some other design changes on the radiator inlets on the bumper. In short, it looks swankier than before.

My tester also came with a thin chrome strip running through the length of the front bumper.

Apart from that, the headlamps now have graceful daytime LED running lights and sharp high intensity discharge (HID) projectors, as opposed to the dreadful halogens from that of yesteryear.

Not much has been changed on the sides. But, you can now opt for the nifty retractable sidestep and solid 56cm chrome alloy wheels. Oh, and yes, you

guessed it: there are thick strips of chrome running across the window sills (duh!).

The rear sees a radical change, though, and I like it. Lincoln has gone for a complete reform of the tail lamps. It’s not revolutionary, but it looks its part, especially at night. The light bar that runs across the tailgate also adds to the overall width of the Navigator.

Contrary to what people may say, it’s easy to get in and out of the SUV. The side steps retract when the doors are opened, following which you can effortlessly haul your body into the cabin.

The cabin by itself is extremely roomy, and you will find yourself – more often than not – having to shout out to the passengers in the third-row. It’s like sitting in different time zones, I tell you.

With the driver seat set all the way back to accommodate me, I learnt that there was still enough real estate for three six-foot tall (or even

Destination

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

Y- F i

more!) adults. This is also the case in the third row; there’s Nevertheless, at no point will you feel like questioning more than adequate head and leg room for three full-size the number of cylinders that are at work. As a matter of adults. The windows in the rear are ginormous, thereby fact, the engine, coupled with the six-speed automatic alleviating any form of claustrophobia for rear-seat gearbox (with manual override), hits the 100kph mark passengers. from a standstill in 6.5 seconds, which is exactly the time The seats are all wrapped in genuine high-grade leather, taken, and in some cases, faster, when compared to its and are soft – which is typical of Lincoln. The bolstering other V8-powered American and Asian rivals. on all the seats are to a minimum, which means things Surprisingly, the gearbox is quick to respond to can get a bit frisky when taking sharp corners at kick-downs, and holds gears when in need of speed. quick overtaking manoeuvres. If you’re feeling The Lincoln Navigator may have remained adventurous, you can also take control of the BEG YOU TO (virtually) unchanged for a whole decade, but shifts manually using the (pointless) buttonASK YOURSELF operated shifters on the gear knob. the differences on the tech front are evident from the very second you step into the cabin. THIS QUESTION, When left alone, however, the gearbox For starters, you get two small but functional REALLY: ARE YOU assumes you’re looking for maximum fuelBUYING A LARGE economy, and short-shifts, meaning you LCD screens on the instrument cluster, SUV OR A TINY get superlative levels of fuel economy. Of which you can use to display several vehicle HOUSE? functions or infotainment readouts. course, take what I say with a pinch of salt; it Then there’s the party piece – the SYNC3 weighs nearly three-tonnes after all. system. The 21cm wide touchscreen is extremely The ride in the Navigator is silky smooth thanks to the responsive to the touch and is quick to respond to the soft shocks. You can cruise over speed bumps without users’ commands. Even the music player and navigation really having to slow down, although that’s not something interface is slick and easy to use. Apple fans can hook up I recommend. their iPhones and use Apple CarPlay. Of course, Android What you gain in ride comfort, you lose in cornering.

Auto is also available on SYNC3, but the Android-based As is characteristic of vehicles with a body-on-frame smartphones here in the Middle East block the services. construction, there’s a fair share of body roll. But, it does Inside the Navigator you get a 14-speaker THX IIhandle itself with grace and will only take you by surprise certified audio system. It booms with sound bass and if you’re asking the tyres to put in some extraordinary sharp trebles for all your tunes. You will have to snoop lateral ‘G’s (gravity). through the tone settings if you’re looking to play some Stick within the 60kph range, though, and you’ll be soft orchestra music. fine. This seems to be the threshold of the new rearMeanwhile, the dashboard and the door are completely independent suspension system. Still, there’s a Roll wrapped in leather, and only the bottom panels (perhaps Stability Control System that should take care of you if as low as your shin) are finished in plastic. you make a hash of things.

Now let’s move over to the powertrain.

The electric-assisted So, what do you think lies underneath the large hood? A power-steering is 5.7-litre V8? A 6.3-litre V8? undeniably Oh, hell no! It packs a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged light ‘Ecoboost’ V6 motor. Don’t at any point judge Lincoln for chucking in a smaller motor because you would be astonished by how much more potent the Navigator has become courtesy the lighter engine.

The engine now pumps out 380hp and 634Nm (!) of blue-blooded torque.

The torque is available from as little as 2750rpm and carries onto 5000odd rpm, after which the motor hits the power crescent. What this means is that the engine will peak at about 6000rpm before the limiter kicks in to save the turbochargers.

Gaming

CARS

Lincoln Navigator Specifications: Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged ‘Ecoboost’ six-cylinder Transmission: Six-speed automatic Horsepower: 380hp Torque: 634Nm Top speed: 163kph (limited) Four-wheel-drive LED daytime running lights HID headlamps Interior ambient lighting 513 litres cargo capacity Ventilated front seats 14-speaker THX audio system Sync3® infotainment system 21cms touch-operated screen LED tail lights with light bar Sunroof Genuine leather upholstery Blind-spot information system Backup camera 3900kgs towing capacity

making the Navigator a breeze to drive within the city. Even the turning circle puts its competitors to shame. The only concern I had was the lack of predictive lines in the backup camera of the SYNC3 system (although I cannot be sure if it was an option that was turned off).

The brakes on the Navigator are a bit spongy at first but were definitely better than what I found on one of its direct competitor from Detroit. Tip the pedal further and the brakes are applied steadily and to full effect.

The Lincoln Navigator – with this new engine – is the most sensible luxury full-size SUV to have come from the stables of Michigan. There’s no getting around the sheer size of the vehicle but if you’re looking for a vehicle to haul eight people around in opulence, then it’s best you write out a check right away.

Begs you to ask yourself this question, really: are you buying a large SUV or a tiny house?

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CARS ADVENTURES DISCOVER FORT KOCHI

Of late, Fort Kochi has been in the spotlight for its progressive approach to social well-being and neoliberalism.

But that’s not all: the town is a hotspot for tourists seeking thrills, adventure and authentic southern cuisines.

1. Try find peace at the St. Francis Church 2. Visit the Indo-Portuguese museum 3. Learn about local dance routines at the Kerala Kathakali Centre 4. Get spooked at the Mattanchery Palace (!)

5. Irritate your peers by getting a tattoo (if you’re into it)

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Destination

Cars

Y-Fi

Gaming

POSTCARDS FROM

Alvin Thomas recommends

FORT KOCHI, INDIA H

ippies with braided hair and sleeve tattoos, deep religious legacies and exquisite fish curries: these are the three things that come to me when I think about Fort Kochi. Nestled safely in the far end of Kochi - which is one of Kerala’s largest port cities - Fort Kochi not only lives up to its name with magnificent forts but also happens to fuel the city’s time-honoured love for art, religion and cuisine - all unified by a level of authenticity unmatchable by other cities in the state.

But, more of all that in a bit.

It’s almost unbelievable how Fort Kochi never etched itself on the map of the ‘Hippie Trail’ (the overland journey between Europe and South Asia). It fulfils everything young backpackers look for: adventure, culture and heritage.

I’m not complaining, though. Today, Fort Kochi remains one of Kerala’s best-kept secrets, and is slowly gaining recognition as a tourist destination. Nevertheless, those visiting from the west find themselves comfortable, thanks to the widespread use of English.

This is partly because the region was once inhabited by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British (in that very order).

Those visiting the region are usually also exposed to the complex British and Portuguese architecture that has stood the test of time. Granted, the lack of public funding means numerous houses are now beaten down, however, the churches, basilicas, museums and squares are all hallowed.

It must also be noted that the renowned Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was buried at the St Francis Church until 1593, after which the remains were transported back to his homeland.

Of late, however, Fort Kochi has been in the spotlight for its progressive approach to social well-being and neoliberalism. This credo has inevitably given birth to a young generation of individuals who express themselves through art and drawings.

This is evident when you walk the streets of Fort Kochi. The walls are bedaubed with striking and creative spray paint graffiti, and every nook and corner entails a tattoo outlet. Some of these artists are over 60 years old, and have much to say. Make sure to soak in the local stories from these knowledge-hoarders.

ST FRA NC

IS C H U RCH

My favourite place

The Vasco da Gama Square is a must-visit for anyone touring Kerala, let alone Fort Kochi. Stand here and you can see the age-old hotels, inns, basilicas, mosques and even the museum. Oh, and while you’re there, make sure to try out the local cuisines, which mostly consist of delicious fish roast and shrimp curry. For those of you who are looking for more adventure, simply head to one of the tattoo parlours and ask for the artists to show you around; they know everything – and everyone – in the region.

MATTANCH

CE ERY PALA

Highlights Everything in Fort Kochi is unique when compared to the rest of Kerala. The people are friendly and speak

several languages (including English, French and even Portuguese). However, it’s best to go with some local friends that you can rely on. Getting around the region is easy and you can tread on foot. Humidity is high but temperatures are low, as Fort Kochi has a wet maritime tropical climate. The mercury is still unrivalled to what we experience here in Oman. Nonetheless, while there, you can engage in talks with the locals about Vasco da Gama, learn about communism or even try your hand at fishing on the beach.

Lowlights Here’s a little something people will not tell you: Fort Kochi is hub to several black magic activities, and it’s best to stay out of it. Also, be aware of pickpockets and greedy taxi drivers. Make sure your hotel books you a driver or tour guide.

Souvenirs Fort Kochi is the Milan of Kerala. It’s dubbed a fashion hub by tourists looking for cheap and durable clothes and accessories. Of course, the trends may not be up to date but there’s nothing like gifting your friends back home clothes from the 1990s (Oops, I said it).

Getting there Flying to Kerala is easy; hop onto the next flight out of Muscat (which is probably every 30 minutes) and land at the most environmentally friendly airport in the world. From there, Fort Kochi is a mere 30-minute bus ride away. You can also take the (orange) air-conditioned buses to get to the county.

Where to stay If you’re looking to experience the “hippie” lifestyle, try staying at one of the many inns in the vicinity. It’s cheap and safe, and lets you socialise with the local crowds. If not, book yourself into one of the three- or four-star hotels.

T R A D IT IO N A L D YEAR ANCE O C A R N IV N NEW A L IN F ORT KO CHI

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Destination

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

NOT SO COOL

Two smartphones, a laptop and a home assistant — and they come out of famous stables.

Alvin Thomas checks out the gadgets that aren’t really truly cool but seem like it X MARKS THE SPOT

ON THE SURFACE You probably were given an option between leather and fabric when you were shopping for a new car. But now, you can choose between having various shades of alcantara (a posh fabric) for your next laptop, if you’re opting for the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, that is. Yes, we can already see the shortfalls: cleanliness and durability. But, if you want your laptop to complement your designer handbag, then things (slowly) start to make sense. Of course, it comes packing a powerful seventh-generation Intel i7 processor (with i5 and m3 options), a 512GB Solid State Drive (!), 16GB of built-in RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 and an 8-megapixel front-facing HD camera. Just make sure to keep your greasy mitts off the panel and the 12.3-inch wide HD screen. It retails for roughly RO538 from roumaan.com

Apple fans can rejoice! The all-new de facto king of the smartphone world has arrived. Yes, it’s the iPhone X, and it’s everything you read about recently, and… well… nothing more. Oh, but you already know that. In any case, the “new” iPhone X (ten) is quite innovative.

For starters, it looks modern, much like the Samsung Galaxy S8. The screen is 5.8 inches wide and wraps around the fascia. It has a mere 82.9 per cent bodyto-screen ratio, too (!) The phone packs a potent Apple A11 Bionic chipset and a tri-core GPU chipset for graphics processing. You will also get 3gigs of RAM, and a neat 12-megapixel and 7-megapixel camera on the front and rear, respectively. The phone will be able to recognise your face for security purposes. Buy it for RO380 from apple.com/shop

A CUT ABOVE Canadian company Blackberry may be out of the tech scene but they’re hoping to stage a comeback with their all-new smartphone – the Blackberry Motion. Sadly, the company hasn’t fulfilled its earlier promise of an all-screen phone and instead only rocks a small 5.5-inch wide scratch-proof screen. The specifications aren’t all too shabby, though. The device is powered by a fairly potent Snapdragon 625 chipset and an octa-core CPU. On the plus side, you get 4gigs of RAM, a decent 8-megapixel snapper and a fingerprint reader.

Ironically, all of its competitors are miles ahead of the game; Huawei has also started artificial-intelligence with its new Mate 10. Get it for RO216 from roumaan.com

ECHOES OF BATTLE

EDITOR’S PICK

FINALLY, A REAL GADGET THAT HAS ME GOING. SURE, HOUSE MONITORS MAY BE A THING OF THE PAST BUT WITH ITS MAMMOTH SEVEN-INCH SCREEN AND 5-MEGAPIXEL ON-BOARD CAMERA, THE AMAZON ECHO SHOW IS STRIKING TO LOOK AT AND FUNCTIONAL TOO. AS EXPECTED, YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT – ALEXA – USING ONLY YOUR VOICE, AND AVAIL HER HELP TO STREAM MUSIC, PLAY VIDEOS, OR EVEN WATCH LIVE FEED FROM YOUR WIRELESS SECURITY CAMERAS. YOU CAN ALSO CONDUCT VIDEO CALLS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH EASE. THE DEVICE LOOKS SLICK AND FEELS PLUSH WITH ITS HIGH-GRADE PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION. BUY IT FOR RO91.9 FROM AMAZON.COM (SHIPPING CHARGES APPLY)

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Need for Speed Payback

Info Box

Initial release date: NOVEMBER 10

Developer:

GHOST GAMES

Publisher:

ELECTRONIC ARTS

Genre:

RACING VIDEO GAME

Designer:

RILEY COOPER

The new NFS series builds on nostalgia and expectation with high-stake heists, intense chases and tonnes of variety. Alvin Thomas gets ready to drift, flip and take down The House

A

ll right, folks! It’s time for Payback; Need For Speed style. The much-awaited game from the NFS series is hitting the shelves in Oman soon.

The campaign mode (or story mode) in the arcade-style racing game will allow you to take on the roles of three characters – Tyler the Racer, Mac the Showman, and Jess the Wheelman.

The storyline goes something like this: the three of you are furious with The House – which

is a cartel that runs the criminal underworld of the fictional city of Fortune Valley – and join hands to take those within the union down.

In true Need for Speed – or shall I say Fast and Furious – fashion, you get a handful of “intense heist missions, high-stake car battles, epic cop pursuits and jaw-dropping set pieces”. If the previous editions of the game (Need for Speed 2014) are something to go by, then prepare yourself for a movie, too. I wish they’d keep Aaron Paul and ditch the others, though.

What else do we know? Well, we are aware that the game will feature a 24-hour day/night cycle, and will focus solely on “action driving”.

The game will also take place in the fictitious city of Fortune Valley (which is presumably in the US), and will focus on the city’s problem with the underworld mafia.

Tune in for the full review in the coming weeks.

Platform:

PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, MICROSOFT WINDOWS

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Beauty

SPLURGE ON SCARVES

FASHION

We have pleasantly stepped into winter. With temperatures dropping, Muscat is definitely cooling down. This calls for opening our winter collection – well, maybe not too intensely.

But how about some light scarves like this bright green knit scarf from M&CO?

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k o o L e h

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

T t Ge

For the pearl lovers and the bling lovers, this embellished grey scarf from Miss Selfridge is any ensemble essential. Shop it now at RO9

Pastel shades and floral – they are always a go-to when it comes to scarves.

They complement any ensemble. So why not pick up something like this from H&M which is only RO5?

Whether you are lounging on the sofa with warm tea in hand or bustling through the city with hot coffee, this V neck grey sweater from Wallis is surely to keep you warm, stylish and chic.

Buy it at RO15

For all those who are like Elsa during winters, but still want to don a scarf for fashion, this funky leopard print scarf from H&M is a must have. Shop them at RO4.5

Who said scarfs have to be in wool or cotton? It can be fun and in (faux) fur – like this pretty and super cozy scarf from Top Shop at a whopping RO38

These vintage type buckle ankle boots from NewLook are super trendy that we may buy more than just a pair. Add them with a pair or rugged jeans or cute pastel pink skirt, with a simple white top, we are ready for a cool #OOTD shot! Shop them at RO30

Do you remember Rebecca Bloomwood, who was also called the ‘Girl in the Green Scarf’ in the move Confessions of a Shopaholic and who was super chic while working in a financial publication.

Well, now you can also be ‘the girl in the green scarf’ with this simple scarf from H&M available at RO8.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Blah to

BRILLIANT

A broad, spontaneous smile is one sure way to express your selfconfidence, and there are simple, invisible options to get teeth straight and bright to transform your smile from boring to charming

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veryone deserves to have a smile that expresses self-confidence and inner beauty. Unfortunately, too many people are insecure about their smile when the sources of their unhappiness can easily be fixed. Turns out, with some simple, cost-effective, and painless cosmetic dentistry, you can dazzle the world with your smile.

Three of the biggest smile inhibitors are yellowing or discoloured teeth, crooked teeth, and gaps. Check out these tips to make sure you have the perfect smile for every occasion.

Teeth whitening There are a number of reasons why teeth become discoloured over time from internal causes to external factors. So, it just makes sense that there are a variety of ways to deal with whitening, from simple do-it-yourself products to more extensive in-office treatments. While a prescription is not needed for the over-the-counter home remedies, it is a good idea to discuss them with your dentist. In-office remedies are typically more effective and better for people with sensitivity issues because the rest of the mouth can be protected.

Crooked teeth While most people instantly picture teens in braces when they think of

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straightening crooked teeth, there are options for adults that are much more subtle than the full-metal braces of the past. Short-term orthodontics can include invisible braces that are placed behind the teeth and which can be a faster alternative to traditional braces; clear aligner therapy – such as Invisalign – a well-known "nearly invisible" treatment that uses trays to gradually create change; and more. With strict compliance, these solutions can create straighter teeth.

Gaps Some gaps between teeth (diastema) can be fixed with the traditional metal braces or other short-term options mentioned above. But there are other methods of fixing gaps that can work almost instantly to give you a smile that you'll want to share. Bonding fills in the space by using a resin, and dental veneers use ceramic or porcelain to subtly widen the teeth to diminish the gap. If your gap is due to missing teeth or dental implants, a bridge or partial dentures can restore the healthy appearance you once had.

Talk to a dentist to find out which treatment(s) are best suited to tackling your smile-inhibitors and take your smile from blah to brilliant.

Source: NewsUSA

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

GO GAGA

OVER YOGA Don’t you love to regain your physical strength, refresh your mind and rebuild the whole of yourself ?

The way forward is yoga. Grab your mat and begin a new life, says Dr Saumyamol Chacko, a bachelor of naturopathy and yogic sciences

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oga is an ancient science developed in India during the Vedic age. It is highly effective in the prevention, treatment and cure of diseases. Yoga creates a union of the body, the mind and the soul and thereby helps one to attain physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Application of yoga in the modern day According to yogic scriptures, our body is divided into five sheaths or koshas. A harmonious balance between them results

in perfect health. An imbalance or negative interactions in them destroys health and brings in diseases.

Therefore, regular practice of yogic techniques will help not only to prevent diseases but also to treat and cure them.

Benefits of yoga The health benefits achieved with regular practice of yoga are innumerable. A few are listed below for a better understanding of the importance of yoga: ● Yoga helps to build a healthy body with flexible and toned muscles, strong bones and an attractive physical appearance. ● Yoga strengthens the immune system of the body and thereby keeps many of the diseases away. ● Certain yogic practices like kriyas, pranayama, etc. help to eliminate toxins accumulated in the body. ● Yogic asanas (postures) help to improve the flexibility, balance, coordination and the beauty of the body. ● Lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, back pain, varicosity, sciatica, thyroid dysfunction, spondylosis, etc. can easily be prevented as well as managed with yogic practices. ● Female disorders like infertility, PCODs, menstrual problems, etc. can be corrected with yoga. ● Practices like dharana and dhyana play on the mental and emotional state of the body and help to balance them. ● Yogic techniques like pranayama and prathyahara will help in the management of stress, anxiety, depression, tension, sleeping problems, etc. ● The breathing exercises, relaxation techniques and meditation will surely boost the mental and emotional health of a person. ● Kids who do yoga regularly can have a boosted memory, better learning skills and understanding capacity, which help them concentrate well in their activities. ● Yoga, unlike other exercises, will help to maintain the youthful vigour of the body even as the age progresses.

Yoga is a vast subject; it can hardly be discussed in a brief way. The advantages obtained from regular yogic practices are vast. It can be better understood if one starts the practice of yoga and has a personal experience of it.

Yoga should always be mastered from a well-versed and trained practitioner. It is not only a form of exercise but a way of life that will offer physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual benefits – but doing it the wrong way can land one in pain and trouble.

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FOOD DRINK

Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews

SWEET TREATS

There’s nothing quite like sitting back on the couch and indulging in your favourite dishes drenched in flavoured maple syrups while gawking at the television. Check out our favourite recipes for this fall.

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M

ade

with

MAPLE

Maple Apple Grilled Cheese Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: § 1/4 cup maple syrup § 1/4 tsp apple pie spice § 3 tbsp butter § 8 slices whole-wheat bread § 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese (283g slices) § 1 medium Golden Delicious apple, cored and cut into 16 thin slices § 4 slices cooked turkey bacon, coarsely chopped

From sweet banana pancakes to grilled cheese sandwiches to bacon dips, maple syrup can be pulled together with or poured over a lot of stuff to make delicious foods

Method: § Mix maple syrup and apple pie spice. Set aside. § Butter one side of each bread slice. Layer two slices of cheese and four slices of apple on each bread slice with the buttered side down. Sprinkle with chopped turkey bacon then drizzle with maple syrup mixture. Top with the remaining bread slices with the buttered side up. § Place sandwiches in a large frying pan or a griddle on a medium-low heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until bread is browned and cheese melted. Cook in batches, if necessary.

Maple Banana Bread Pancakes

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§ tbsp maple extract § 2 tsp pure vanilla extract § tsp cinnamon § 3/4 cup flour § 2 tsp baking powder

utumn is the perfect time to fall in love with maple syrup. The caramelised flavour of syrup pairs well with other fall flavours, like apples, cinnamon and pumpkin.

From spiced syrups to game-day dips, McCormick executive chef Kevan Vetter has tasty ideas for incorporating this fall flavour in dishes throughout the day: ■ Maple syrup is a perfect complement to sweet banana pancakes. Mix mashed bananas into the pancake batter. Once cooked, top with sliced bananas, chopped walnuts and maple syrup.

■ Add maple syrup to a melty grilled cheese sandwich. Layer cheddar cheese, turkey bacon, sliced apples and maple syrup mixed with apple pie spice between two slices of buttered bread.

■ For a twist on a traditional game-day appetiser, drizzle maple syrup over a cheddar turkey bacon dip.

■ For a sweet treat, mix vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice into maple syrup then drizzle over a coconut pumpkin bread pudding.

Source: Family Features

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 12 minutes Servings: 3 Ingredients: § 2 large ripe bananas § 2 eggs § 2 tbsp packed brown sugar § 2 tbsp melted butter

Method: § Heat a lightly greased griddle or a frying pan to a medium heat. § In a large bowl, use a potato masher to mash bananas.

Add eggs, brown sugar, butter, maple extract, vanilla and cinnamon; mix well. Add flour and baking powder; mix until well blended. § Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the griddle or the frying pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, or until golden brown, turning when pancakes begin to bubble.

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FOOD DRINK

Tr e n d

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

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rke a m d

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Info Box

CULTURE OF YOUTH

Second Floor, Oman Avenues Mall, Baushar, Muscat Dinner for four: RO26.670 Verdict : 8/10 SERVICE 7/10 FOOD 8/10 AMBIENCE

CULTURE OF YOUTH

Stick with the starters and you’ll be left with a happy tummy.

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

THE DYNAMITES AND THE MACHINE GUNS WILL FIRE UP THE TASTE BUDS, BUT YOU MIGHT CHICKEN OUT ON THE MAIN COURSE AND BEEF ABOUT WHY IT’S NOT WORTH ITS SALT. ALVIN THOMAS ISN’T COY ABOUT ASKING QUESTIONS

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have questions; so many questions. Firstly, why is the restaurant called the ‘Culture of Youth’? and, secondly, its abbreviation ‘COY’ roughly translates to “a pretence of shyness”; didn’t they think of that? It really breaks all the conventional naming stereotypes associated with restaurants based in malls.

In any case, set all those questions aside and what you’re left with is a place that offers you a decent dining experience and darn good food. But I’m getting ahead of myself here.

It was the weekend, and my brother Allen and friend Jijin were both parched from work and wanted to sit down for a late lunch session. Our immediate decision was to head to one of the restaurants at the Oman Avenues Mall in Baushar.

While at the food court, we noticed that there was one restaurant that we had kept glossing over for the last six months or so – the Culture of Youth. So, we went straight in.

The ambience was superb – even though it was on the darker side – for an eatery based in a mall.

There’s enough seating, too.

The polite waitress handed us our menus and immediately showed us to our seats. Looking at the menu, we realised that the options available for foods were limited, nevertheless those that were in it looked appetising.

We started with a serving of dynamite fries with machine gun chicken (yes, that’s what it is called) and hot chicken wings. As for main course, we chose the beef sizzling sisig, COY super supreme pizza and chicken alfredo pizza.

The dynamite fries were the first to arrive – in

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“The beef is nice and soft and the gravy very similar to what you will find in parts of Kochi. But I think it is too salty and tangy. I can’t finish the dish,” said Allen, before he dug into my pizza.

The pizza was a miss: the crust was too dry, and the toppings cold. All was not lost, though.

The chef was generous with the toppings and the THE MILKSHAKES WERE pepperoni was soft and succulent. I also admired DELIGHTFUL, TO SAY THE LEAST. the unstinting serving of delightful mozzarella THE PRESENTATION WAS cheese on top. Still, much to my dismay, I had to OUTSTANDING send the pizza back to the chef to be re-heated.

After that debacle, all our eyes were on Jijin’s pasta. In his own words, the pasta is “creamy with a nice and consistent sauce base”. Unlike the pizza, the pasta was fresh, thereby saving the day.

To end things, we chose the strawberry cheese loaded and kitty caramel loaded (milkshakes), and a blue frozen (virgin) margarita. The milkshakes were delightful, to say the least. The presentation was outstanding, and we couldn’t help but click photos of it and post it online.

Jijin’s “margarita”, meanwhile, was tangy and five minutes or so – and boy, it was splendid. The exactly how he had perceived it would be. He took three of us dug into it in no time; the plate was it slow, as it was predominantly flavoured shaved empty within a minute or so. But don’t get me ice and soda. wrong: the portions are splendid.

In the end, COY left us with a mixed The spicy sauce and the jalapenos gave the fries experience: the service was top-class, and much of their hotness, while the fries, kidney beans and the the food wonderful. But, iron out our main course caramelised onions and tomatoes mellowed the debacle and you’re left with a diner that offers you heat to a minimum. All of it was then topped up decent food in a quality setting. I still don’t get why with a generous serving of cheese, mayonnaise it’s called the Culture of Youth, though. and ranch sauce. It was a concoction of flavours and we (collectively) loved it.

Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see The hot chicken wings were magnificent. Again reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com – as is the trend – we dug in, making a mess of our plates. The chicken was luscious and the spices devilish – it will appeal to spice lovers and those with a cast-iron stomach.

Next to arrive was the main course.

Allen quickly adjudged his beef to be a revelation, although he felt it too similar to what we would find in our hometown of Kerala. A few minutes later, though, he revoked his earlier remarks. The saltiness of the dish, he said, completely morphed over his initial impressions.

Celebrate with a new car!

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