Y Magazine #368, April 30, 2015

Page 1

Mane Event

FAST & FURIOUS WITH HORSES Wake The Dragon ON THE WAVES WITH OMAN’S NEW SPORT

Free!

EVERY THURSDAY

10 NEPAL EARTHQUAKE

News: DEATH TOLL RISING IN

NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR

GALLERY: Comex 2015 FOOD: Eating Myths Exposed

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

APR 30 - MAY 06 2015 / ISSUE 368 • WEEKLY

PRECIOUS

CARGO

PLUS!

WHY ARE CHILDREN STILL DYING ON OMAN’S ROADS?

WEDDING BELLES

01

NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

32

FACE OFF

34

WADI ABYAD

38


FRIDAY th

SABRINA TERENCE

8 MAY’15

Most Favorite Lady DJ

Opening set by Entry: OMR 15.000 (with 2 welcome drinks) Ladies, enter free 30% off on selected beverages before 10p.m. Airline crew enters free before 10p.m. Limited VIP Tables! Please call: +968 94299782 Airport Street, Muscat For Reservation: Tel: +968 24346765, GSM: +968 97983333

restaurant and lounge


GREAT KATE WAIT It seems that the newest member of Britain’s royal family is in no hurry to make an appearance, with news that the heavily pregnant Duchess of Cambridge is nearly a week overdue. As Britain holds its breath, we wonder: boy or girl?

THE BAROMETER GOING UP

BROADBAND SPEEDS Great to hear that Omantel and Ooredoo have signed an agreement with Oman Broadband Company to provide customers with more affordable and faster broadband services from the second half of this year. While speeds are not yet known, apparently it will be a “state-of-theart” fibre network.

GOING DOWN

ILLEGAL EXPATS The Ministry of Manpower’s announcement that illegal expats have a three-month amnesty to return to their home countries without penalty could see up to 50,000 undocumented workers leave the Sultanate.

EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

Fast forward

I

f there’s one topic that sparks a strong debate in Oman, it has to be road safety and reckless drivers. Spending even a short time on our roads, it’s hard to ignore the dangerous driving practices many motorists are guilty of. From tailgating to excessive speeding, using mobile phones while driving, not wearing seatbelts to just plain ignorance, it’s no wonder we have one of the highest road death tolls in the world. And with the Third UN Global Road Safety Week kicking off on May 4 with the theme of #SaveKidsLives, Y’s cover story shines the spotlight on Oman’s efforts on child road safety. We look at what provisions have been made to protect children on our roads – and whether or not the Sultanate is on the right track. Protecting future generations is vital, while educating parents and the reckless drivers is just the first step in this important campaign to save lives on our roads. Elsewhere, we find that laughter really is the best medicine in Health, head to the beautiful Wadi Abyad in Destination and check out dragon boating, the latest sport to be introduced to Oman. Have a great week – and don’t forget to buckle up and stay safe on the roads!

THIS WEEK… Team Y attended a moving Anzac Day ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel, enjoyed a barbecue on the beach and had a great day out jet skiing.

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

editor@y-oman.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi MANAGING EDITOR Felicity Glover

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi SUB-EDITOR Matt Blackwell INTERN Deeba Hasan

DEPUTY EDITOR Kate Ginn ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst FOLLOW US ON:

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

@ytabloid

/ytabloid

/ytabloid

ymagazine

www.y-oman.com /ymagazine

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

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

Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

03


contents

APR 30 - MAY 06 2015

Your Oman 06 Coffee With Deeba Srinivas Naidu

10

20 Saving Kids’ Lives Time To Protect Our Children On The Roads 24 Art On Wheels Car Paint Jobs

This week

08 Voice Of Oman Jane Jaffer

15 #FYI The 5 Fastest Police Cruisers

10 News Death Toll In Nepal Quake Rises

17 Movie Listings Barely Lethal

14 Gallery Comex 2015

18 This Week Nice Folk

16 Gallery Green Creativity Fair

Feature

26 Galloping to Victory Equestrian Sport Of Tent Pegging

24

19 Cars and Adventures

Food and Drink

38 Destination Wadi Abyad

28 Food Feature Food Myths 30 Taste Test Curry In Hurry

Health and Beauty

28

32 Fashion Save The Date

40 Outdoors Dragon Boats in Oman 42 Postcard From São Miguel, The Azores 44 Y-Fi Keeping Kids Safe

34 Beauty 46 Car Of The Week Face Off GMC Terrain 35 Health Keep Smiling

33

44

NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE... SUMMER FOOD FOR KIDS / DESTINATION / TOURING WITH A TOUAREG / MOVIES / TASTE TEST / Y-FI / HEALTH


11,599

Free Service & Maintenance

5 YEARS/100,000KM

Up to

Roadside Assistance

5 YEARS/100,000KM

Up to

• SYNC® with MyFord Touch • BLIS® with Cross Traffic Alert • Torque vectoring and Curve control

Disclaimer Customer can choose any one option. *Cash gift amount of RO 750/- for 14MY Taurus; Cash gift of RO 550/- for 14&15MY Fusion, 15MY Taurus OR 3Yrs/60,000Kms (whichever is earlier) on 14MY Fusion & Taurus and 5Yrs / 100,000Kms (whichever is earlier) on 15MY Fusion &Taurus AND #iPad Mini (16 GB only) on Fusion and Taurus. Free Service packages are not applicable for taxis, driving schools, RAC's, Govt departments and any other form of commercial usage. No cash gift and service benefit on other models unless specified. Accessories and specifications may not be part of the standard model. Vehicles shown are for illustration purpose only. Campaign period: Till 14/05/2015. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer.

OMR

STARTING FROM

Ford Taurus

OMR

7,999

STARTING FROM

Ford Fusion


Srinivas Naidu Deeba Hasan sits do w Indian School Musc n with principal Srinivas Naidu to cele brat at teachers in modern ’s 40th anniversary and discuss the role e society of

H

elming the largest coand other schools are als educational institution o in to celebrate the milestone in the pipeline school is currently in the pro the Gulf, it’s fair to say birthday. cess of tha t introducing tablet comp Over the decades, the sch Srinivas Naidu is a busy learning tool for Grade uters as a have spread far and wide ool’s alumni man. I felt somewhat pri successful, the initiative 6 students. If globe and ISM has been around the that he took the time ou vileged then, rea t to ch ha ing ve ou a t to in other classes as well. will be rolled out them via social media, coffee with me and the hoping to tempt me eti ng wa s all som “To be a good leader,” the more poignant given e of the high achievers back for a “people need to take the Srinivas says, reunion. School Muscat (ISM) is that Indian my to the level of the staff mselves down Srinivas started off as a mater, the place that sha alma ph pe ysi d me cs int o A true leader does not they work with. teacher in India, where the person I am today sit he taught for ov er the co urs e or sev of 12 years. her desk and dictate, bubehind his eral years, before movin g to the does the work at the lev t actually administration and ma When I arrived at his offi el nagement side of ce, em aca Srinivas welcomed me ployees,” he tells me. of the other demics. Prior to his big in bre wi th ak a at sm ISM ile. , Srinivas served as the vic As for extracurricular Everything looked very Srinivas is both a budd activities, the Indian School Al Gh e principal at was immediately remindfamiliar and I ub and artist when the belling photographer to see a previous principaed of my visits It might come as a bit of ra. go l a ma sur ny pri yea se to rs en his d of the day. “I have alwes at the ago. students, but Srinivas did n’t alw ay s photography and art, wh ays enjoyed want to be a teacher. “T Srinivas was appointed eaching was to his po siti on ha no in 2013, although he ma ve taken an active part ich is why I t a chosen career for me int ,” ain he say s tha s. t “I clubs in both these activi in setting up actually wanted to join he has merely played a the Indian Navy, tie sm all rol e in he bu the success of the institu doesn’t find as much tims.” Although t I became a physics tea tio ch n, er ins ins isti tea ng d like to draw or paint, Sr e as he’d and that’s where the jou that “the school is a sha ini rney started.” ma principals. What the schdow of the past Nowadays, teaching is kes time for photographvas always his oo l pa is ssi tod on ay an is d even with a hectic sched because of them.” Before I left, Srinivas ex y. ule, Srinivas slig stil ht concern for the currepressed a l manages to find the tim In addition to this, Srini va e to s als tea o ch system in place at schoo nt teaching physics to Grade 12 stu believes that the main str ength of ISM more emphasis needs tols. He feels that huge sense of satisfacti dents. “I get a lies in its legion of dedic teaching morals and va be placed on the classroom with the on when I am in working students, which ated and hard number close finds somewhat lacking lues, which he constant feedback fromstudents, I get to 10,000. the was then that he told methese days. It Technology has come m,” he says. To mark the occasion he always tried to get acr the message bounds since ISM first on leaps and 40th anniversary, a ran of the school’s students: “Before becomioss to his own in 1975 and Srinivas firopened its doors has been announced, asge of activities else in life, try and be a ng anything to be a good teacher, yomly believes that me enthusiastically. “T Srinivas tells being and the rest will good human with the times and constu need to move organising a charity carhis year, we are follow.” your methods. “I am a antly update massive Jhankar competinival and a tec tio h sav n, wh vy pe ich rso wi n Have you got a unique ll and I encourage my sta see participation of stu story do you know someone who to tell or from different countrie dents from schools use technology in classr ff members to oo s in ms the , wh GC ich C. wi ” ll us to have coffee with Deebahas? Contact make learning more int Exchange programmes ere between ISM featured in Y Magazine. Emand be In accordance with his sting.” ail: vision, the editor@y-oman.com

06

APR 30 / ISSUE JULY 03 -- MAY 09 / 06 ISSUE 327 368



THE VOICE OF OMAN JANE JAFFER ON THE NEED FOR EVERYONE IN OMAN TO BELT UP

correspondence MY PRETTY NEW MOON

T

o send something valuable and precious through the post, we carefully wrap the item and label it “fragile”, so that it won’t get damaged or broken along the way. Using the same logic, when we take our most valued possessions, our children, in a speeding car, we should ensure that they are safely buckled up and secure for the journey. It makes my blood boil when I see a mother in the front seat of a car bouncing a child on her lap, or children jumping up and down on the back seat. It doesn’t take much imagination to think what could happen if the driver had to brake suddenly. The child could easily bang its head on the dashboard or, worse, be catapulted through the windscreen and run over by the driver. Why do people fail to think of the consequences of their actions? Some time ago, two of my sons, Sami and Jas, made a short public awareness film with a powerful message for the Salim and Salimah road safety campaign (search for “Hizaamak Amaanak” on YouTube). It shows the dreadful consequences of a thoughtless act as a mother feeds her adult son who is confined to a wheelchair following a tragic car accident. The son’s life is destroyed and his parents’ lives will never be the same again either. Don’t we owe it to our children to drive safely and always buckle up?

NEXT WEEK: ALI AL BALUSHI

08

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

Pretty new moon You are my friend White shiny face Looking at me at night

The white round face Makes me think of My grandmother’s old White plate

The white glitter Sprinkled on your face Makes my eyes shimmer Like yours

Oh! My moon I adore you so much Do not go away from me As your face is unforgettable for me

The white star friends Beside you in the night Make me think of Me and my friends in the dark

By Soorya Dayal Sajeev, Grade 5, Indian School Darsait

DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED:

“Today (Thurs) is World Book Day. What is your alltime favourite book and why?”

‪‪RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE‬‪ ‬‪ ‬

My all-time favourite book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was written in French originally, but was later translated to English. I like this book because the story is philosophical and also includes social criticism. It makes several observations about life and human nature. The story’s essence is contained in the lines uttered by the fox to the little prince, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

‪MARIO PEREIRA‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬

‪‪‪‪SALEHA HAROON‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‬‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‪

My favourite book is The Kite Runner because of its touching story about a young boy, Amir, who lives in Afghanistan. It is basically a fatherson story, set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan’s monarchy through Soviet military intervention, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime.

‪‪HEATHER LOUISE DUNCAN‬‪ ‬‪ ‬

My all-time favourite is Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I read it every single summer. It is a sad but beautifully intriguing story about

WRITE TO US AND WIN A VOUCHER

the life of a young girl who becomes one of Japan’s most famous geishas. It’s an insight into a life that most people aren’t aware of.

The Alchemist is the most awesome book ever written for those who want to understand destiny. The book suggests that if you have a dream and wish for it with all your heart and soul, the whole universe conspires to make your wish come true. It is a very inspiring piece of work.

‪‪MUSHTAQ QAZI‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‬

Thank you for asking this, I’ve been dying to tell everyone. Recently I read The Fault in Our Stars, a book that made me cry so many times. It is a story of Hazel and Gus, two teenagers fighting cancer. Hazel not only provides an insight into what it is like to know you’re dying and to lose someone you love, but she

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

ebHotel /GoldenTulipSe eb @GoldenTulipSe

SEND US YOUR letters, photos, news and views to info@y-oman.com / @ytabloid / /ytabloid. Impress us and the winning correspondent will receive a voucher for dinner at the Golden Tulip. Vouchers must be collected from Y’s

Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions see voucher.


SCAN THESE QR CODES &

FOLLOW US

also decides to love and be loved, even though she knows it will cause pain. The story is both mature and powerful.

‪ ‪ADEEBA FATIMA‬‪ ‬‪ ‬

I just love to read magazines and my all-time favourite is Y Magazine, because its shiny and colourful pages attract me. Although it’s a weekly magazine, I read it daily until the following Thursday. This magazine not only publishes the news of Oman, but also covers various topics like health, fashion, shopping offers, historical places in Oman and much more.

‪‪‪VIBHA SIMHA‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‪

I am an animal lover; the love they pour on us is tremendous. Keeping that in mind, my all-time favourite book is Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.

‪AURÉLIE FOURNET GAGNE‬‪ ‬‬‪‪‬‪ ‬

One of my favourite books is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, but if I had to keep only one book with me, it would have to be The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

‪‪‪RIVANA CHOWDHURY‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a 2007 novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini, who also wrote The Kite Runner. The book is emotional, thought provoking and entertaining to read. I love reading it, which is why it is going on my favourite reading list.

‪‪‪NALIN MISTRY‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‪ ‬

One day I was walking along the road and I saw a book vendor selling old books on the footpath. I went through the titles on offer out of curiosity and found a book titled The Laws of Success by Napoleon Hill. It was an edition from 1938 and I bought it not really for reading, but just to go through and see the kind of things that were written on success in the olden days. I started reading and could not stop until I was finished. It is a very inspiring book and has been my favourite read since then. It is a handy book whenever I want any guidance on self-development.

/YTABLOID

WWW.Y-OMAN.COM

‪ ‪‪SHYAM AGASTHYA‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‬‪

@YTABLOID

/YMAGAZINE

THE QURIYAT HOSPITAL ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY STAFF were spotted at work with their favourite Y Magazine

My childhood would not have been complete without likes of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie books. The Hardy Boys were constantly involved in action and adventure and would never lose their nerve when in danger. The stories kept me on the edge of my seat and that’s what I loved about them.

‪ ‪‪‪SNIGDHA ROY‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‬‪

When it comes to books, it’s hard to decide my all-time favourite. There are so many books I have fallen in love with and keep reading again and again. However, the Feluda series, written by the great Bengali writer, Satyajit Ray has always occupied a special place in my heart. The set of detective stories focus on Feluda, a private detective who solves difficult, interesting and yet baffling crimes with his extraordinary physical and mental skills. Each story starts with Feluda and Tapesh (Feluda’s cousin) at home, when a client arrives to frame the mystery and the trio then set off on their adventures. The structure of the Feluda stories is very similar to that of Sherlock Holmes.

‪ ‪‪‪KRISHNA SANAL‬‪

Every book is my favourite until I finish the next one. Consequently, there’s not one, but a list of favourites.

‪ ‪RASU JOHN‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‬

I came across a book called Five Point Someone in my hostelmate’s cupboard and found the title inviting. This book is my favourite because of its strong message, saying that in life we should not get carried away by our performance reviews or promotions. There are many more things that define us – our family, friends, internal desires and goals. Life is too short and we should enjoy ourselves to the fullest.

THIS IS YOUR PAGE!

Just send us your picture with the free Y magazine or pose with our photographer and we will publish it on this page

Send it to: info@y-oman.com

Experience the exquisite flavours of Thailand. Trader Vic’s presents oriental cuisine prepared with artistry and subtle balance of flavours. Enjoy fresh ingredients and a series of spectacle only associated with Thai. From 1st to 31st May 2015 Daily from 7:00pm to 11:30pm For more information, please call 2468 0080

‪‪‪ANTHONY CARLTON‬‪

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is my favourite book because it makes you believe that if you need something badly you can get it, provided the entire universe puts its weight behind you. It is something very rare for these days.

New Debate: Oman has just been voted the second-happiest Arab nation. What makes you happy? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

09


ASK OUR DOCTOR? Stage two (seven-nine months) Introducing new tastes and textures The second step is to try some new tastes and textures e.g. different fruits and vegetables, lentils, pureed meat etc. Whilst still maintaining a soft smooth consistency, it is important to gradually introduce mashed and minced foods with thicker consistency. The quantity should be decided by your child as he needs. Each day, babies should try to have: • Two or three servings of starchy foods e.g. potato, pasta, rice • Two servings of fruit and vegetables • One serving of meat, fish, pulses e.g. peas, beans, lentils or a well cooked egg with a solid yolk. • 3 to 4 breast feeds or 500-600 ml infant milk If the baby refuses the food it is best to leave it and try again later. It is important to wait for the baby to open his/her mouth before offering the food and to allow them to touch the food and explore. Soft finger foods such as cooked pieces of vegetable or fruit are a good option once the baby is able to hold things. Meals should finish with a drink of breast or infant formula as taken. As more solid food is consumed, less milk will be required. To be continued...

Dr. Askar Kukkadi MBBS, MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), MRCPCH (UK) Sr. Consultant Paediatrician

Send in any queries: askdoctor@y-oman.com

+968 24557200 / 98088705

Organization Accredited by Joint Commission International

010

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

NEWS

THOUSANDS KILLED

IN NEPAL

QUAKE A

s the death toll from the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal at the weekend rises above 4,500, aid agencies have warned that survivors now face being hit by waterborne infectious diseases. The temblor, which struck on Saturday, also triggered a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest, killing 18 people and injuring 61. The Nepalese government said at least 8,000 people were injured and many of Kathmandu’s million-plus residents were homeless and sleeping in the streets of the capital. The quake also killed 66 people across the border in India, while in Tibet, 20 people lost their lives. Shocking footage of the quake, the worst to hit Nepal since 1934, when 8,500 people were

killed, shows historic buildings, including the renowned Dharahara Tower, crumbling to the ground and people racing for safety. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicenter was near the district of Lamjung, about 80 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. Rescuers fear the death toll will rise sharply as they have been unable to reach isolated villages. The district chief administrator of Kathmandu, Ek Narayan Aryal, told the Associated Press that tents and water were being given to survivors in the capital, but aftershocks had left everybody jittery. “There have been nearly 100 earthquakes and aftershocks, which is making rescue work difficult,” he was quoted as saying. “Even the rescuers are scared and running because of them.” Meanwhile, Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said five Omani nationals were in Nepal when the earthquake struck. However, in a tweet on Monday, the Ministry said: “The Ministry’s envoy to Nepal confirms that all Oman citizens are in good health and will be soon returning to the homeland.”


NEWS

Charting Oman’s

Development

A

host of distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the launch of Dr Mohamed bin Musa al Yousef ’s second book, titled From Underdevelopment to Sustainable Development: The Role of State and Market in Oman, 1970-2010, held under the auspices of HE Dr Yahya bin Mahfoud al Manthri at the Crowne Plaza earlier this week. The book chronicles the history of the development process that has taken place in the Sultanate since 1970, resulting in a mature, well-

balanced economy through a series of five-year plans and several other key initiatives, led by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said and his government, in cooperation with the private sector and people of Oman. Speaking at the launch of his book, the former minister and current chairman of the Al Yousef Group said: “Development is a constant process and always remains. However, we can’t expect perfection since the deficiencies are an inherent part of the development process. This book is the book of all Omanis, whether they are members of the public sector or not.” Nick Pattison, former chairman and director of Shell Oman Marketing was also one of the speakers at the unveiling ceremony. “The development of Oman has been a great success story, as the book very clearly demonstrates,” he said. “It also illustrates the underlying and potent combination of clarity of vision and the commitment to succeed by ensuring that the population shares in the benefits. “I believe that Dr al Yousef ’s book will play an invaluable role in defining the platform for Oman’s next leap forward.”

LONGEST FASTING HOURS IN 32 YEARS F asting hours during Ramadan 2015 will the longest in 32 years, the UAE’s Sharjah Planetarium has announced. In an interview with Alroeya newspaper, Ibrahim al Jarwan, a researcher in astronomy and meteorology and a supervisor at the planetarium, said fasting hours were “expected to be 15 hours and 15 minutes, which will be the longest in the last 32 solar years and 33 lunar years”. Al Jarwan added: “Each year, fasting hours increase from that of the previous year. This will continue until the Holy Month in 2018, when the duration of fast will begin to decrease gradually.” Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s director of project management for the Presidency of Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, has confirmed that the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca will be ready this Ramadan. He said the expansion of the mataf – or the circumambulation area around the Kaaba – would increase capacity to 100,000 worshippers per hour. While the start and end dates of the Holy Month vary depending on the sighting of the moon, Ramadan is expected to begin on or around June 18 this year.

FILL SHELL. WIN FERRARI GIFTS. GET THE CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO THE FERRARI FACTORY IN ITALY & FERRARI BRANDED GIFTS. For every RO 3 of Shell Regular or Super petrol purchased, ask for your raffle coupon and get a chance to win a trip for two to the Ferrari Factory at Maranello in Italy. Also win one of the 38 Ferrari-branded watches. Hurry! Don’t let this opportunity get away… www.shelloman.com.om

FERRARI BRANDED WATCHES

C.R. No.1/57123/0

This promotion is applicable only at selected stations in Muscat region. Promotion valid from 1 April to 15 May 2015. Raffle Draw: 25 May 2015.

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

011


Gallery

YOUR

Interview

NEWS

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

HIGH-FLYER MOBILE NUMBER SELLS FOR MILLIONS

F Is this about money? You bet. But more about what money can buy. So how much are we talking about? A tidy sum of £400 million (RO235.1 million). And what can it buy? How about a mansion in the sky? A mansion in the sky? Yep, a Boeing 747 to be exact. Seriously? That really is flying high! That it is. Apparently, a mystery billionaire bought his own Boeing 747 and had it kitted out to include luxe bedrooms, a dining room, a VIP chill-out zone, multiple lounges, an office and conference room and crew quarters. I’m impressed. How long did it take? Three years – and it’s so high end that the plane is being compared with a five-star hotel. Jumbo jets are pretty big, aren’t they? Yes. If they are being used commercially, an airline can cram up to 600 passengers in one. But this customised 747 will only be used by the high-flying tycoon and a dozen or so of his VIP guests at any one time. It’s a far cry from economy class then? Absolutely – but then again, it’s a whole lot pricier. We are guessing this tycoon already has his own superyacht, so wanted to splurge on a new boy’s toy. Don’t say: This way to cattle class. Do say: Goodbye, first class. 012

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

orget paying thousands for unique car registration plates – it seems the latest fad for the wealthy is to own a special mobile phone number, if a recent auction in Dubai is anything to go by. The auction, held by telecommunications provider du at Festival City last weekend, attracted a range of people vying for 70 memorable mobile phone numbers. But there was one number that kicked off a furious bidding war that lasted more than an hour: 052 2222 2222. The auctioneer started bidding at Dh250,000 (RO26,123) for the number, but it quickly hit the Dh1 million mark (RO104,801), with some bidders raising the stakes by Dh500,000 (RO52,400) at a time. However, Mohamed Hilal outbid them all with a final offer of Dh8.01m (RO839,456).

A WEEK IN PICTURES

Speaking to The National newspaper, du chief commercial officer Fahad al Hassani said there was demand in the UAE for unique, memorable numbers. “There is a lot of good numbers for cars and good numbers for mobile phones,” he was quoted as saying. “We have many situations where we can’t give people the numbers they want. We decided that the most fair way to deal with that is to offer 70 distinctive numbers and allow anyone to bid on them.” Other numbers up for grabs at the du auction included combinations such as 2222 or 55555, while the lowest price paid for a number was Dh18,000 (RO1,886) and the second highest was Dh700,000 (RO73,360). As for Mr Hilal, he said: “I’m going to use the number with pride.” But with a number that contains only the digit two, we can imagine there will be a lot of miscalls.

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

Coalition of Arab states vow to restore order in Yemen, according to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Armed Forces Chief of the UAE, as warplanes launch new air strikes on Houthi rebels and fighting rages across several provinces

Hollywood movie star Salma Hayek meets Syrian refugees during a visit with UNICEF to an informal settlement in the Bekaa Valley, in east Lebanon

A huge military parade is part of events lined up today (April 30) for the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), which marked the end of a war that lasted more than 30 years

Tickets for the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas on May 2 sold out in under a minute and immediately appeared on websites for as much as $141,000 (RO54,277) each. The fight has been dubbed “the biggest boxing match of the 21st century”


Live in the excitement of His Majesty’s Cup

www.ofa.om

SEMI FINAL - AWAY 29 APRIL 2015

KICK OFF : 700 PM SUR SPORTS COMPLEX

AL NASR

AL OROUBA 30 APRIL 2015

KICK OFF : 700 PM SUR SPORTS COMPLEX

SEEB

SUR

Doing More, Together Development Partner

Official Media Partners

Official Medical Partner

Official Automotive Partner

Professional League Title Sponsor

Official Radio Partners

Omanfootballassociation

Official Carrier of the Oman National Football Team

Official Partner

OFA Media

Official Sponsor


YOUR

THE FUTURE IS NOW

OMAN

THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN IT, TELECOMS AND TECHNOLOGY WERE SHOWCASED AT COMEX 2015, HELD AT THE OMAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE OVER FIVE EXCITING DAYS

014

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

GALLERY


Fastest Police Cruisers in Emerging Countries

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 (Vietnam)

Bugatti Veyron (UAE) 0-100kph: 2.5 seconds Top speed: 407 kph

The Bugatti Veyron is the successor to Dubai’s previous flagship car – the Aston Martin 177 Q Series. With the fastest production car in the world at their disposal, police officers in Dubai will have no problem chasing down anything else on the road. We assume that with this monster patrolling the streets of Dubai, most people will think twice about running a red light.

0-100kph: 2.9 seconds Top speed: 349kph

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 (Indonesia) 0-100kph: 3.7 seconds Top speed: 330kph

Porsche Panamera (Qatar)

0-100kph: 4.1 seconds Top speed: 318kph

With a top speed of 318kph, the Porsche Panamera is the fastest police cruiser in Qatar. The Qatari government is a shareholder of Porsche and that probably explains the fact that Porsches make up the majority of the Qatari police fleet. The Panamera is not the fastest of the bunch on display here, but it still has more than enough power to catch any criminals easily. Well, unless the pursuit involves a speeding Bugatti Veyron.

Source: www.carmudi.com.sa

The Gallardo LP560-4 police cruiser is currently being showcased inside a shopping mall and has stirred much attention in the country. And although the exotic car is yet to hit Indonesian roads, we included it because of its role as a deterrent for reckless driving. This speed demon is capable of reaching lightning speeds of up to 330kph, although we’re not totally convinced that it would be able to reach such high speeds given the condition of roads in Indonesia.

The Aventador LP700-4 has been added to several police fleets around the world, including Dubai and Europe, and Vietnam looks to continue this trend. With a top speed of 349kph, the Italian car famous for its sleek styling is certainly quick. Lamborghini launched the Aventador series to celebrate its 50th birthday and in Vietnam, the car is mostly used to run down criminals in high-speed sports cars. The supercar aims to discourage the “pedal to the metal” driving ethos.

Chevrolet Camaro (Mexico)

0-100kph: 4.9 seconds Top speed: 249kph

The Camaro is capable of going from 0-100kph in just under five seconds and with a top speed of 249kph, it is undoubtedly the flagship police cruiser of the Mexican police force. Camaros are a popular choice for police fleets around the world and given that it offers the perfect combination of speed and muscle, it doesn’t surprise us one bit. We urge any potential law-breakers to think twice before getting behind the wheel in Mexico.

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

015


GOING GREEN

GALLERY

THE GREEN CREATIVITY FAIR TOOK PLACE AT BROWNIZ COFFEE HOUSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR EARTH DAY AND WORLD CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION DAY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED RECYCLABLE ART WORKSHOPS, A SUNSET YOGA SESSION AND A CHANCE FOR KIDS TO WRITE THEIR OWN CLEAN UP MESSAGE ON A BLANK CANVAS

016

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368


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 Age of Adaline

Barely Lethal In the one high school chick flick that you won’t have seen before, 16-yearold Megan Walsh (Hailee Steinfeld) is an international assassin trained from birth, along with several of her sistersin-arms, by the no nonsense Hardman (Samuel L Jackson). After faking her death to lead a normal life, the accomplished agent finds that high school is the one mission her training didn’t prepare her for and the battles of international espionage are nothing when compared to those of the classroom and playground. Despite having Teen Vogue and Mean Girls on hand as her briefing materials, Megan finds that leaving her old life

behind is easier said than done after a viral video exposes her to her arch enemy Victoria Knox (Jessica Alba). Barely Lethal provides a refreshing change as the girls call (and fire) the shots for once as opposed to the guys and the physicality from the young Steinfeld is impressive during the action scenes. The high school spy comedy drama is firmly aimed at a young teen audience, who will most likely lap it up, while Jackson is on hand in a variety of amusing guises to offer something for older viewers. Review by Matt Blackwell

P RE VI EW

BACKCOUNTRY

When an urban couple Jenn (Missy Peregrym) and Alex (Jeff Roop) lose their trail on what was meant to be an idyllic camping trip amid Canada’s overwhelming natural beauty, they soon find themselves alone, without food and water, lost in the territory of the predatory black bear. This tense nature horror-thriller promises to do for camping trips what Jaws did for late night swims.

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

Blake Lively plays Adaline Bowman, a 107-year-old trapped in the body of a 29-year-old after a freak car accident left her immune to the ravages of time. Keeping her unique condition secret in fear of ridicule, Adaline shuns those who get too close to her, knowing it will only

end in heartbreak. All this changes when she meets the charismatic Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman), who may have the power to reignite her passion for life and love. Providing you suspend your disbelief of the film’s time-defying set up, this is a melodrama that will charm, thanks in no small part to Lively’s subtle and expressive performance.

Danny Collins As a rocker from the 1970s, Danny Collins (Al Pacino) compromised his values and sold his musical soul at a young age, swapping heartfelt lyrics for easy hits. When his manager discovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter written by John Lennon, Danny decides to change course and sets out to find true love and family. The film is as light and bouncy as one of Collins’ tunes, with a charismatic and endearing performance from Pacino, who has great chemistry with the cast around him.

Bollywatch DUM LAGA KE HAISHA

A romantic comedy that follows the fate of newly wed couple Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar) and Prem (Ayushmann Khurrana) as they slowly come to terms with their arranged marriage. Relations are initially frosty, as the slightly chubby Sandhya attempts to find a connection with the reluctant bridegroom, but slowly things begin to warm up over time.

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN, just answer a question based on the week’s cinema reviews and send your answer to info@y-oman.com, along with your name and contact information. Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions, see voucher. Contact: Movie enquiries 24607360

Brought to you by

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

How old is the undelivered letter from John Lennon? LAST WEEK'S WINNER Sarah Jacob Tharakan

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

017


THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

Get The Motor Running

Apr 30

Splash Splosh! Head down to the Al Sawadi Beach Resort & Spa for some wet fun at their Pool Party, the most awaited event of the year. Featuring non-stop beats from local DJ HD and a special celebrity appearance from DJ Litchi, the best female DJ in Russia, making her first visit to Oman. Entry RO10 and ladies go free. Special room rates of RO25 (for early bookings). For details and bookings, contact +968 9455 5600/9455 5611/9899 9256, or go to alsawadibeach. om. Don’t forget your swimsuit!

THIS

WEEK

WHAT TO DO.

APR

MAY

-

May 01

See the launch of the all-new HarleyDavidson Street 750 when it rolls into Muscat. Took a closer look at the newest addition to the legendary motorcycle brand at Al Makan Café on Qurum Corniche, while enjoying a live DJ set at the capital’s most vibrant venue. The engines will be revving from 6pm until 9pm.

May 09

Make Some Dough Why buy bread when you can bake your own fresh batches? Learn how with a Bread Making course at the National Hospitality Institute in Muscat. Discover how to make six different types of bread – gold corn, sesame peanut, baguettes, focaccia, tomato and olive – from chefs at NHI’s Gulf Chef School. Course includes ingredients, preparation, baking methods and finished products to take away and eat! Cost is RO60 for two days, three hours a day, 9.30am-12.30pm. For more info, contact NHI at +968 2481 6313, email businesscentre@nhioman.com or check out nhioman.com

WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

018

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

MAY 06

May

07

The Royal Opera House Muscat welcomes Iran’s folk music ensemble Rastak in a wonderful evening of pure Iranian art. Established in 1997, most of the group’s musicians are graduates of major Iranian universities who researched local folklore songs. Their style, mixing traditional folk songs with modern beats, has earned them a legion of adoring fans. They sing in a variety of original Iranian languages and dialects. The music starts at 7.30pm and tickets are priced from RO5. Head to rohmuscat.org.om to book

There’s a chance to meet Iranian folk group Rastak in person at Persepolis Restaurant in Madinat Qaboos the day before their performance at the ROHM. Members of the group will be appearing at the Iranian restaurant with their instruments and fans will be able to get up close and personal, as well as hear their music. Starts at 7pm with a special buffet laid on for the occasion. Buffet must be paid for.


Movies

MAY 12

Get together with the Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO) for a tour of the Amouage Factory and a visit to the Centre for Omani Dress. Learn the fascinating process of how perfume is made before a cultural journey back into the past and how women’s dress in Oman evolved. Tour starts at 9.30am. Tickets, priced just RO2, are available at the WGO’s Wednesday Coffee Morning on May 6 at Gloria Jean’s Coffees at The Wave, Muscat, from 10am-12 noon. Womensguildoman.com

ON A PLATE MAY 01 - JUNE 15 It serves great food and now Persepolis Restaurant wants everyone to be part of its first anniversary celebrations with a special offer for customers. Until June 15, the restaurant in Madinat Qaboos, which specialises in delicious Persian cuisine, is giving away a free soup or salad as a starter with every meal. For more details or bookings, contact +968 2469 9054 or 9508 6058, email info@persepolis-oman.com, or check out persepolis-oman.com

If you feel in the need of a good chuckle, then this is the event for you. Comedy Galatta, a mega rib tickling show, features a host of funnymen including comedy kings Vivek, Mayil Samy and Bosskey at the Qurum Amphitheatre. Live music by Jeevaraja Shruthi Orchestra from Chennai. Tickets, priced at RO5, RO10, RO20 and RO40, are available from Swagath restaurant in Ruwi, Dasaprakash restaurant in Darsait, near Khimji’s Mart and Priyadarshini restaurant in Al Ghubra. Check out facebook.com/ MuscatComedyGalatta

along with the emotion and enthralled until the curtain went down. I didn’t mind that the magic of the original, which sees mice turned into horses and a pumpkin into a coach, was missing. In this version, a “beggar” who appears at the door looking for food helps Cinderella go to the ball when she gives him some bread and coffee. He also brings her a dress to wear – a thoroughly modern man then. Bringing such a classic to Oman was a great choice for Germany’s Bavarian State Opera’s first visit to Muscat. It was helped by tremendous voices from the main leads, filling up the opera house and making full use of its incredible acoustics. Italian tenor Antonino Siragusa as the prince and American mezzo-soprano Angela Brower in the eponymous role, were both outstanding, as was the stepfather, sung by baritone Lorenzo Regazzo. Japanese soprano Eri Nakamura also stood out as one of the unpleasant stepsisters. At the end of Friday’s show, the cast and orchestra, beautifully led by conductor Antonello Allemandi, were given a standing ovation, which made for a very happy ending for us all.

02

JOIN THE SCENT

I

’m very familiar with the fairytale Cinderella, but wasn’t sure how well it would translate to the stage as an opera. I needn’t have worried, because from the opening bars of the wonderful overture by the Bavarian State Opera orchestra to set the scene and mood at the beginning of the performance, I knew that we were in for something pretty special. Purists might not have liked the quirky changes that mark out Gioachino Rossini’s opera La Cenerentola, which he wrote in 1817, but I enjoyed the twist in the tale. There was still a charming prince and vain stepsisters, as in the traditional story, but there was a wicked stepfather instead of a stepmother and a sort of guru tutor, who offers Cinderella advice, replaces the fairy godmother. The glass slipper is also gone, with the prince using a bracelet to find his true love. There’s also a prince dressed as a servant and a servant dressed as a beggar, all with the aim of discovering the true character of a potential bride. I was gripped from the opening minutes through to the “happy ever after” that we all knew was coming. It’s a testament to the strength of the production that, while the audience knows how the story ends, we were all carried

May

One of the great mezzo-sopranos and finest singers of our time, Joyce DiDonato brings her Grammy-nominated “Drama Queens” project to Muscat. An electrifying programme of glamorous arias from the 17th and 18th centuries will bring the world of baroque opera to life, featuring music by Handel and Vivaldi and lesser known works. Joyce will be joined by Italian ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro with their leader Dmitry Sinkovsky. The evening starts at 7.30pm with ticket prices from RO5. Book now at rohmuscat.org.om

Chris Fisher reviews a very modern take on Cinderella in an operatic version at the Royal Opera House Muscat

YOU’RE HAVING A LAUGH

HIT THE RIGHT NOTE

BELLE OF THE BALL

MAY 04

MAY 01

Gallery

How Bazaar

Platinum Events presents yet another Meena Bazaar, the most-anticipated oneday family shopping event, from 10am-10pm at The Jungle restaurant, Bahja Hall next to Qurum Natural Park. Shop from a wide array of clothes, jewellery, accessories and much more all under one roof. There will also be a food court, henna, face painting and a special kid’s corner. Entry is free for all visitors.

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

019


SAVING KIDS’ LIVES

Every day, more than 500 children die in traffic accidents globally, while thousands are injured. With kids the focus of the Third UN Global Road Safety Week starting on May 4, Y looks at whether Oman is protecting our young ones on the roads Report: Kate Ginn

020

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368


will last forever. You will see them everywhere, at a picnic, within your family. Their picture will never vanish.” During the telling of his story, Ahmed breaks down often and cries for the son he has lost, the man he would have become and the grandchildren that he will now never see. his is the story of Azzan. The hard-hitting video featuring His father, Ahmed al Azzan’s story was part of the “Tell Shukily, is the narrator. a Friend” national road safety “Azzan is my oldest campaign, originally launched son. He was a happy and smiley in February 2013 and backed by kid. Within the whole family Petroleum Development Oman everyone loved him. (PDO). “Everyone used to say ‘he is older The five-year initiative, which than his age’ in terms of the way is still ongoing, aims to lower the he talks. The thing that attracted number of road accidents in the everyone was Azzan’s questions. Sultanate, targeting areas such as He was a smart kid; speed and seat belt he always asks, ‘What usage. is that, dad?’, ‘What is Ahmed’s son that, uncle?’ Azzan was not “I remember I was wearing a seatbelt in a meeting when I at the time of the received a call from his accident, a simple uncle. He said ‘Azzan device that would is injured. He fell have saved his life. down from the car’. Fast-forward “I asked him what two years and the happened to him. He emotive video is said, ‘La Ellah Ella still as relevant as Allah Mohamadan it was then, with Rasool Allah [There is nothing much no God save Allah and changed, despite Muhammed is His high-profile road Prophet]’. safety campaigns by “It was a shock and several organisations I knew Azzan was and a push by Y for chosen by Allah and legislation to make he passed away. It car seats compulsory is difficult when you in the Sultanate for lose a loved one. You children under the were waiting for him age of six. to grow up. It was not With the Third easy for me. UN Global Road Safety “Everyone was trying to Week starting on May calm me down, but I just 4 under the theme of wanted to see my son. #SaveKidsLives, the IT WAS A SHOCK AND “On the day of the spotlight is being shone on accident, Azzan asked him United Nations member I KNEW AZZAN WAS mum to take him to the CHOSEN BY ALLAH grocery store, which is only AND HE PASSED AWAY. 400 metres away. He had IT IS DIFFICULT WHEN bought some stuff while on the YOU LOSE A LOVED way to school and he forgot to ONE. YOU WERE return 100 or 200 baisa and as WAITING FOR HIM TO soon as he got home, he asked GROW UP. IT WAS NOT his mum to take him back to EASY FOR ME. return the remaining money. “His mum said later, but he insisted that they go and return the money. On the way back, just close to the house, while the car is turning, the door opened – how, we don’t know – and he fell down in the road and hit his head. “I would like to say: Parents, please make your children safe. Even if the distance is short from your house, keep your children safe in car seats and fasten their seatbelts. Your children are your life. “You can lose a property and you can lose money, but losing your own child will create a pain that

T

states, of which Oman is one, to assess their track record on child road safety and provisions put in place to protect their younger generations. So is the Sultanate on the right road in this area or heading down a cul de sac? Just this week, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) is reportedly preparing to get tough on bad drivers with harsher penalties and heavier fines for traffic offences as part of a new traffic law. This has to be a two-pronged approach – educating parents and also the drivers on the roads who cause the accidents. Reckless drivers will face jail terms ranging from 10 days to three months along with a fine of up to RO500, according to a local newspaper. Similar punishments await those who speed, overtake dangerously, drive on hard shoulders or use mobile phones while driving. “The new law will rein in offenders who show complete disregard for traffic rules,” Hamed al Wahaibi, former international rally champion and founder of Safety First, Oman’s leading independent community road safety organisation, told the newspaper. “If the number of traffic violations is brought down, instances of injuries and deaths will be reduced accordingly.” The number of traffic violations

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

021


during 2014 was 6,015,323, a staggering increase of more than 64 per cent compared with 2013, according to information released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information on Sunday (April 26). This could be down to more offenders or increased vigilance by police, who are stepping up traffic patrols and their presence on the roads, or a combination of both. More encouraging were the figures showing that road accidents up to March this year (1,275) have dropped by 20.8 per cent compared with the same period last year. Less people lost their lives on the roads, with 816 deaths in 2014, down from 913 in the previous year. This is good news, but it still means that an average of 15 people lost their lives every week in 2014 on the roads or due to traffic accidents. And the fact remains that there is still no legal protection for children in Oman. Regular drivers will be familiar with the sight of unrestrained children jumping around back seats and babies held in their mothers’ arms in the passenger seat. According to ROP statistics from 2012, accidents claimed the lives of 122 children aged between 0 and “We urge the authorities to 16 years old and injured 1,510. It upgrade the current law to means that there are many more include the use of child seats stories like Ahmed al Shukily’s, and and safety belt in the rear seat many more children like his son, and helmet for cyclists and the Azzan, who have lost their lives or presence of a points system suffered life-changing injuries. for offenders. The legislation Speaking in November last year must keep pace with the rapid on World Day of Remembrance developments that occur in the for Road Traffic Victims, a ROP community.” official said: “We urge parents Bernadette Bhacker-Millard, and caretakers to keep a watch on a lawyer and road safety children’s behaviour in vehicles. professional who founded the “The importance of using Salim and seat belts Salimah should not be initiative underestimated.” more than Which is all 10 years ago YOU CAN LOSE A well and good, to educate but road safety PROPERTY AND YOU campaigners CAN LOSE MONEY, BUT parents on the benefits stress that such LOSING YOUR OWN of seat belts, messages must CHILD WILL CREATE A says: “In be backed PAIN THAT WILL LAST by legislation FOREVER. YOU WILL SEE Oman, there requiring parents THEM EVERYWHERE, AT is scarcely a to protect their A PICNIC, WITHIN YOUR family that children on the FAMILY. THEIR PICTURE has not been affected by roads. Merely WILL NEVER VANISH asking or “encouraging” citizens to act as responsible drivers is not enough. “I think it is the time to stop killing innocent people due to recklessness and flexible legislation or implementation of some,” says Shaima Murtadha al Lawati, chief executive officer of Oman Road Safety Association (ORSA), a non-governmental organisation founded in partnership with Shell Development Oman.

022

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

GLOBAL ROAD

DEATHS (PER 100,000) UK 5.4 GLOBAL AVERAGE 19 OMAN 35 * Source: Salim and Salimah

the death of a loved one in a road accident. “Approximately one in five victims is a child or a young man who has died in a car or while walking across roads. Their lives have been cut short by the negligence of a driver. Sadly, many of these deaths are preventable.” Other countries have reduced the death toll and serious injuries among children and young people by enforcing laws mandating the use of child safety seats and seat belts for older children, and Oman should follow suit, believes BhackerMillard. The evidence is certainly there to back up these calls. In a crash, a properly fitted child safety seat reduces the risk of death or injury to a baby or small child by as much as 75 per cent. For an older child, a seat belt cuts the risk by more than 50 per cent.

APPROXIMATELY ONE IN FIVE VICTIMS IS A CHILD OR A YOUNG MAN WHO HAS DIED IN A CAR OR WHILE WALKING ACROSS ROADS. THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN CUT SHORT BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF A DRIVER. SADLY, MANY OF THESE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE


B

in Seconds

A Victim’s Story – One Life Changed

ehind each statistic is a human tragedy, a story of pain and suffering and the struggle to put back together a shattered life. Ahmed al Badi was injured in a car accident at a young age, which left him confined to a wheelchair. “I was sitting in the back and the driver and another passenger were in the front,” he says. “The driver wanted to overtake the car in front, but as he was overtaking, our car hit something on the ground. Ahmed al Shukily is in tears as he talks about losing his son Azzan (left) in an accident in a car “It was a hard collision and all of us were thrown upside down in the car. “In all cases, this is the difference know these tips,” says al Lawati. I found myself flying through the air between life and death,” says In February this year, ORSA and I smashed myself on the car roof or some other hard Bhacker-Millard. donated more than 200 child part of the car. Targeting the drivers who cause restraints for newborns in Oman, to accidents is also vital to bring be distributed through government “The next thing I knew, I was lying with blood pouring statistics down. hospitals throughout the year. out of me, so much blood that I couldn’t open my eyes. Young Omanis aged 16 to 25 Education is also key, with parents “People gathered round and opened the door. I heard years old make up around 20 per receiving help and advice. them say ‘Get the dead one out first.’ They saw me lying cent of the Omani population, yet Road safety campaigners are motionless with my eyes closed covered in blood and these young drivers account for working hard in Oman and the over 31 per cent of road accident ROP is also doing its best. The will thought I was dead, so they dragged me out.” related fatalities and more than 31 to change is there. It now needs a What the rescuers didn’t know was that Ahmed per cent of injuries, according to coordinated approach with decision had broken his neck and moving him could make the an article by Hamed al Reesi and makers in every field in Oman, situation worse. Abdullah al Maniri published in including government and private “They way they did it of course, they didn’t mean to the Oman Medical Journal (OMJ) in sectors, to put child safety at the top hurt me, the important thing to them was to get this September last year. of the road traffic agenda. “Current research is starting Sadly, it is too late for Azzan and person out and to a hospital,” he says. to uncover the seminal role of hundreds more children, but not yet “The pain was unbearable. I had suffered a pretty hard parents as both a role model and for future generations. blow to the head. It broke my neck but thank God it didn’t influence in promoting safe driving At the end of the Tell A Friend cause any brain damage.” behaviour,” said the OMJ article. video, Azzan’s father Ahmed al Ahmed, who comes from the Saham area in Al Batinah In other words, children will Shukily is seen strapping his youngest “copy” or learn driving behaviour son, Mohammed, into a car seat region, was left unable to walk and now uses an electric and habits from their parents. The before driving off. wheelchair. influence of peers is also being * Watch the full video of Azzan’s story by “Of course, I go over and over what happened in my searching “Azzan: The Story” on YouTube looked into. mind. What will become of me? What The UN’s #SaveKidsLives can I do? I had so many things that I campaign is calling for people wanted to do with my life. You cannot around the world to pledge for change by signing a declaration understand something like this until calling for decision makers to save you live it yourself. kids’ lives by putting road safety 60 per cent of all child deaths in Oman occur “It is hard as well for my mother and measures in place. in car crashes family. As the eldest, I was supposed to Already, more than 50,000 provide for the family, to take the place The risk of a child dying on Oman’s roads is people from all over the world have around 42 times that of a child dying on the given their support, standing sideof my father. They were all relying on roads of the UK by-side in a united global call for me but then this happened.” action that is gaining momentum *Source: salimandsalimah.org In a crash at only 50kph, an infant is likely by the day. to be violently catapulted out of the mother’s Efforts are also gathering pace in arms hitting the dashboard or windscreen, the Oman. Last year, ORSA launched equivalent force of dropping him or her from a “Buckle Up” campaign, the fourth floor of an apartment block sponsored by BP Oman, to raise awareness of the importance of If a child is seated in the back when the car seat belts and child restraints. crashes, he or she will hit the seat in front with By the end of 2014, the message a force of 30 times his or her body weight had reached 5,000 students and teachers in Oman, communicating 19 rials is the cost of one of the cheaper child three main messages: every person car seats in Oman, while 35 rials will buy a in should buckle up on every trip; better one that complies to safety standards children below 12 must be seated in back seats with proper child 2011 is the year that the UAE introduced restraints; and there are four types legislation making it compulsory for parents to of child restraints depending on buckle up children under the age of six in a car the child’s weight, height and age. “From our experience and Since 2000, nearly 10,000 men, women talking to many young and older and children have lost their lives in crashes in people, we came to learn that Oman and more than 110,000 have been many people don’t necessarily Ahmed al Badi has been left in a injured, many disabled for life wheelchair after a car accident

In Numbers

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

023


ART Decorating a car to celebrate an event or special occasion is fast becoming big business in Oman, with ever more elaborate ways to show off

Photos: Shaquel al Balushi & Celebration Cars Oman

024

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368


W

Fancy a paint job

for your car?

Celebration Cars:

Phone1: +968 9922 1910 (English) Phone2: +968 9792 2243 (Arabic) Email:celebarationcars@yahoo.com /celebrationcarsoman celebration_cars_oman Celebrationcars.webs.com Hours of Operation: 10am-10pm every day (24 hours’ notice needed to work with a car).

ith delicate brushstrokes, artist Irfan Ali sets about creating another masterpiece, custom-made to a client’s strict specifications. This one is a special order for Y Magazine, featuring our logo, to showcase his work. Usually, it’s something for a wedding, birthday or a celebration of some kind when his incredibly ornate artistry is very much in demand. Only his work does not feature on a canvas, but cars. Decorating vehicles is nothing new and extremely popular in the Sultanate, but stencils or stickers are commonly used, whereas Irfan plies his trade with washable paints. He works for Celebration Cars Oman, which opened its doors for business in January and offers a unique temporary paint job for any vehicle with customised designs to suit any occasion. “We can do designs for weddings, birthdays, anniversary, Eid, a graduation or to welcome a new baby home. Whatever it is, we can make it special,” says Sonia Ali Khan, who handles the business for an Omani owner, Bader al Haddabi. “We were really busy when His Majesty came back from Germany recently, with people wanting to decorate their cars to celebrate. We were doing four to five cars a day.” The finished cars are certainly eye-catching, with the Omani flag decorated on one car’s bonnet and glitter on the front grille and wheel arches. For weddings, one car is adorned with a heart and another has a beautiful flower design. Irfan can also paint intricate Arabic calligraphy on cars. As each design is individually hand-painted, it can take up to 12 hours to “paint” a larger car, while smaller cars are done in around eight hours. That’s a lot of man hours, so it’s clearly a labour of love for Irfan, a professional artist from Pakistan, who is commissioned to work on the vehicles at the company studio in Mabela, Muscat. The idea for the business came from Pakistan, where it is very fashionable on the streets of major cities. “We have introduced it for the first time in Oman and the Middle East, and it is an innovative way to decorate your car,” says Sonia. “Most cars here in Oman are decorated with stickers or stencils, which can scratch the car or cause marks from the glue. Our paints are 100 per cent washable and don’t damage the car or leave any residue. “Some people might be scared to have their cars decorated but a lot of our orders are for expensive cars and it is entirely safe.” Customers can pick from set designs or come up with their own ideas, which are then discussed with Irfan. “All cars are different shapes and sizes and we can modify designs or customise whatever is wanted,” says Sonia. “For one wedding, the groom decorated the car as a surprise for his bride and she was so happy when she saw it. “If you’re stuck for a memorable present for your husband or son, or wife, it can be something different and new. “We even did a logo for Bank Muscat so it’s a way for companies and businesses to promote themselves or a product using a car.” The Royal Oman Police has issued guidelines about decorating cars with stickers, but as long as the decoration is not permanent and does not hinder or obstruct the driver’s view, it is permissible. Prices vary depending on design, but it costs between RO80 and RO100 for a small car, which includes ribbons, or RO120 to RO150 for larger models, such as Range Rovers. Sonia has had interest from outside Oman, including Dubai, Jordan and Jeddah. The beauty of the paint is that when you need it gone, you simply wash it away and the car is back to normal. The impression created, however, might well be more permanent. APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

025


GALLOPIN TO VICTORY

Tent pegging is an ancient sport that the Sultanate excels at and last week saw the conclusion of a hotly contested championship season Photos: Shaquel al Balushi

026

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368


T

he ground rumbles as several graceful animals thunder past at breakneck speeds, their riders each stabbing a tiny target on the ground THE OMANI TEAM with an antique sword in what is an incredible feat of athleticism, SWEPT AWAY THE performed with pinpoint accuracy. COMPETITION TO Testosterone levels were high WIN THE ASIAN as teams of men from across the CHAMPIONSHIP, Sultanate assembled at the Al Rahba PICKING UP A TOTAL Farm in Barka for the conclusion OF 14 MEDALS of the 2014-2015 Tent Pegging FROM THE TWO Championship season. COMPETITIONS OVER Tent pegging is an equestrian SIX DAYS OF ACTION. skill-at-arms sport that dates back hundreds of years and according to the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, is thought to have originated in India in the middle ages as a tactic to counter elephant mounted troops, with horse cavalries aiming to stab the sensitive flesh between an elephant’s toenail in the hope that the mount would throw its riders. In the contemporary sport, mounted horsemen typically display their prowess by using a sword or lance to either pierce or pick up a small ground target or suspended ring, all while riding at a gallop. Oman’s riders are considered to be among the top three in the world and the national team has recently returned from the International and Asian Tent Pegging Championship, which took place simultaneously in India last month. The Omani team swept away the competition to win the Asian championship, picking up a total of 14 medals from the two competitions over six days of action. APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

027


FOOD AND DRINK

NIL BY MOUTH

As the debate rages between those who support science in our food and those who oppose it, many people have been thrown into confusion about what food choices to make.

028

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews


TREND New Restaurant

News

QUEST FOR

HEALTHY

FOOD FUELS

FEAR

With so much conflicting information on what to eat and what not to eat, some people find themselves scared to make choices

A

t a time when people are more concerned than ever about making healthy food choices, a not so healthy mindset has emerged. As people’s interest in food and conversations about food grow, so does an unnecessary – and unhealthy – fear about what to eat and what not to eat. “People have become really afraid of what to eat,” says Robyn Metcalfe, executive director of The Food Lab at the University of Texas. “They ask me what is safe to eat. My answer is to not be fearful and to learn what they can about the food system.” Metcalfe points to a mentality of “right” or “wrong” food choices as a major contributor to this growing fear of food. “That’s really damaging to the future of our food system and how it’s going to look in 2050 when we will have 9 billion mouths to feed,” she says. “The really harmful aspect of our food conversation today is that too many minds are already made up and aren’t open to new solutions and possibilities.” Debates rage about genetically modified foods (GMOs), and the organic movement continues to build momentum, despite conflicting information about the health implications on both sides of these touchy topics. These are prime examples of the factions that create fear and confusion, says Charlie Arnot, chief executive officer of the Center for Food Integrity. Arnot believes the divide on issues such as these actually stem from a broader gap that exists between supporters of science and technology in food production, versus those who feel that science is to be distrusted. Research by The Center for Food Integrity was recently reinforced by the Pew Research Center think tank. What people believe and what science says aren’t always in alignment. “The application of technology in food and agriculture has provided countless benefits to society and helped us meet one of humanity’s most basic needs – to provide safe, nutritious food for our children and our children’s children,” Arnot says. “Today, our

challenge is not just better technology, but finding better ways to enhance public understanding of those technologies and our food production system.” Fundamentally, Metcalfe believes the majority of those engaging in the so-called “food wars” have the same goal in mind: broad access to affordable food. “It’s how we get there that we find ourselves stumbling into these areas of food camps and being polarised,” she says. “Ultimately, I believe that people should take advantage of their innate curiosity and use it as a weapon against the fear of other solutions or ideas. Be curious about every single aspect of the food system, really seize your curiosity and run with it.” Curious consumers can visit bestfoodfacts.org to learn more about food from more than 170 university-based experts and registered dietitians. APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

029


FOOD AND DRINK

Tr e n d

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

t

ge d u B

Info Box

CURRY IN HURRY

Muscat Grand Mall, first floor Opening times: Daily from 11.30am11pm Tel: +968 2200 9696 Lunch for two: RO8

NO HURRY FOR CURRY IN SEARCH OF A QUICK FIX TO SATISFY HIS CURRY CRAVING, MATT BLACKWELL SAMPLES CURRY IN HURRY, BUT FINDS NO SENSE OF URGENCY

I

had a craving for Indian food and I was in somewhat of a rush, in need of an early lunch before a midday film showing. It seemed only natural that this set of combined circumstances would lead me to Curry in Hurry, one of the many outlets Muscat Grand Mall’s food court offers hungry shoppers. Arriving at around 11.40am, the food court was yet to really fill up and while there were a few other diners dotted on tables, we had no problem walking straight up to the counter to assess the menu. The selection of food on offer was impressive, with the menu featuring contemporary Indian classics and everything from tandoor kebabs to biryanis and curries, along with a host of side dishes. Our server was helpful enough, making a few choice recommendations as we took our time glancing over the options. My friend took the server’s advice, opting for a mutton biryani and butter paratha, while I wanted something with a bit more of a sauce and so settled on the butter chicken with a garlic roti. We also ordered a side of dal tadka to share, but I was slightly disappointed that nothing from the starters section, which included samosas, pakoras and several other items, was available. Food ordered, we took a seat and settled in for what turned out to be quite a long wait. Fifteen minutes later, our little electronic device began buzzing, signaling that our meals were ready.

030

APR30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

ALL IN ALL, I’D SAY THAT CURRY IN HURRY SERVES ITS PURPOSE WELL ENOUGH. IT PROVIDES A PLEASANT ALTERNATIVE TO THE INTERNATIONAL BRANDS THAT OFTEN DOMINATE FOOD COURTS While a 15-minute wait for “fast” food, doesn’t resemble anything of a “hurry” to me, I suppose that You’ll Get Your Curry When It’s Ready And Not A Moment Before doesn’t really have the same ring to it. I was hoping for food that would warrant the wait, but sadly, this wasn’t really the case. The restaurant’s website preaches that they are dedicated to serving people who have an appetite and are on the go, and the food, which came served in polystyrene bowls and on plastic plates, certainly reflected this. At least it was not pretending to be something it wasn’t. My curry was swimming in a deep orange sauce and at first glance there was no sign of the actual chicken, although when I began to spoon it over the rice, there was an adequate amount lurking beneath the surface. As for taste, it was pleasant enough and had a nice bite when I tore up and added the green chilli that was served as part of the side salad. The chicken was a bit of a let down, however, lacking that freshly cooked taste. Opposite me, my friend appeared to be enjoying his biryani well enough and after having tasted it, I can confirm that the mutton was cooked to a better standard than my chicken, but the whole dish was only lukewarm. On the bright side, though, the dal was beautiful, with the lentils tempered well with herbs and spices in this staple Indian dish. Both the breads we’d ordered were cooked perfectly

Verdict : 6/ 10 Service 5 / 10 Food 6 / 10 Ambience Serves its purpose well enough for a quick curry fix Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

and acted as the ideal accompaniment to mop up the remaining sauce of the butter chicken and the dal. My roti came with a pleasingly liberal sprinkling of garlic, which would make me unpopular for the next few hours, but was easily worth it. Another pleasant surprise came in the orange juice that I had ordered. While I was expected a sweet-tasting drink from concentrate, it was clearly freshly squeezed and incredibly refreshing. The portion sizes were also impressively large. I battled through to finish my meal, but my friend had to toss in the towel and admit defeat, with his biryani besting him. All in all, I’d say that Curry in Hurry serves its purpose well enough. It provides a pleasant alternative to the international brands that often dominate food courts and business did pick up throughout our stay, with several Omani and expatriate families dropping by to place their lunch orders. The standard of food is not mind blowing, but for the price – RO8 for lunch for two – you get exactly what you pay for and it will certainly succeed in banishing those pangs of hunger. Just make sure you’re not in too much of a rush as there is nothing particularly swift about the experience. Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com


YOUR TEAM YOUR PRIDE

Professional League ‫دوري ﻋﻤﺎﻧﺘﻞ ﻟﻠﻤﺤﺘﺮﻓﻴﻦ‬

W

E

E

K

www.opl.om S AT U R D AY 2 n d M AY 2 0 1 5 5:30

Al Shabab Vs Saham

Seeb Sports Stadium

7:10

Al Khaboura Vs Boushar

Sohar Sports Complex

8:30

Dhofar Vs Al Suwaiq

A'Saada Sports Stadium

S U N D AY 3 e d M AY 2 0 1 5 5:30

Al Seeb Vs Fanja

Seeb Sports Stadium

7:10

Sohar Vs Al Nahda

Sohar Sports Complex

8:30

Al Nasr Vs Al Orouba

7:00

Sur Vs Al Musanaa Oman Professional League

Professional League Title Sponsor

Official Carrier

Official Media Partners

A'Saada Sports Stadium

Sur Sports Complex

@oman_proleague Official Medical Partner

Official Radio Partners

Official Automotive Partner

Official Restaurant

Official Partner


HEALTH& BEAUTY

A FINE ROMANCE

Period drama pieces with high necklines and intricate fabrics are one of this season’s biggest trends and worth considering if you’re getting married and want something a little more sassy than a traditional bridal gown. Both Erdem and Valentino embraced the vintage look with white lace, but Rami al Ali (pictured) gets extra style points for a design that oozes modernity.

032

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

Health

Beauty

FASHION


SAVE THE

DATE Invitations coming thick and fast? Penny Fray picks the perfect wedding guest outfit

Who says you have to be a bride to wear ring bling? Sophie Bille Brahe gives timeless pieces a modern twist. Set with a single Akoya pearl, this minimal 14-carat gold band is designed to sit beautifully on your finger. We love it worn alone or stacked for extra impact. RO230

Victoria Beckham’s minimalist clutch embodies the brand’s classic, pared-back aesthetic. Lined in beige canvas, it has two internal compartments to easily keep your beauty essentials organised. RO245

W

edding season is upon us, and with it comes a whole host of sartorial dilemmas. To hat, or not to hat? To wear black without being blacklisted? And how to look stylish without upstaging the bride? If you’ve got loads of events this season, then invest in something that makes you feel spectacular. Keep the style plain and colour neutral – after all, weddings are expensive enough without adding a designer dress you’ll never wear again to the list. I’m a sucker for big hats, but don’t feel obliged to sport a fascinator or a ridiculously fancy headpiece if it’s not your thing. Comfort, after all, is just as important as looking picture perfect, which brings me on to shoes. Wear a pair that you can endure all day and night – or take some flats with you for when the dance floor beckons. Likewise, make sure your outfit is light and not too tight. Standing around in the scorching desert sunshine can bring on sweat patches, while a generous buffet will bring on a food bump that may get mistaken for a baby. You’ve been warned.

This embroidered lace jacket from Monsoon lies at the chic end of retro boho and can be worn again and again with everything from jeans to a pencil skirt. From RO60

I’m not a big fan of fascinators, but this sculptural headpiece from Accessorize looks far more expensive than its price tag. From RO32

Wide leg trousers are a key style story for the new season. Next’s tailored pair sits high at the waist and fits long through the legs – a silhouette that works best with towering heels. From RO21

WEDDING WONDER

Penny’s extra tips on guest dressing:

With a wrap-around ankle strap and sizable, yet walkable wooden block heel, these Zara leather sandals give a subtle nod to this season’s 70s trend. From RO40 1. Here is one essential thing that I’ve learnt from living in Oman: if you’ve got an amazing new dress from the mall, and it’s still available to buy, there’s a good chance someone else will also have it. So go vintage or search your most fashion-forward friend’s wardrobe for a one-off wonder. Not only will you save money, but you’ll get loads of compliments. 2. Who says you can’t wear black or white? With the right accessories, anything goes. My advice? Go monochrome.

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

033


HEALTH& BEAUTY

BEAUTY

Health Fashion

Face off

Our busy lives often mean compromising our beauty routines. But even if there’s no time to head to the spa, you can still keep your skin looking good from the comfort of your own home

T SCAN OUR QR CODES WITH ANY QR READER APP

034

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

here’s nothing better than a lazy afternoon treating ourselves to a relaxing facial, but sometimes we can’t always find the time to make it to the salon or spa. If you find yourself rushing from pillar to post thanks to your hectic routine, there’s still a way to take time out and detox your tired skin. How, you might ask? All Y needs is 30 minutes of your time, a quiet corner and a promise from you that you will sit still and relax! Why? Because we are going to learn how to give ourselves a mini facial that even the professionals will admire. It doesn’t matter if your skin is looking dull or in need of a hydrating boost to smooth out the fine lines – there’s a plethora of home facials that are suited to all skin types. Even better, if you are strapped for time, they give an instant boost in a matter of minutes and will keep your skin glowing until your next salon appointment. Here’s our top three face masks that suit a range of skin types and budgets:

1

Dry Skin Dry skin can be awful, more so if you are like Team Y and spend a lot of time in air conditioning. Of course, this is hard to avoid during the Sultanate’s summer months. Using a hydrating face mask once a week can help to keep your skin in tip-top condition. One of our favourites is Neal’s Yard Nourishing Orange Flower Face Mask for sensitive, dry

skin. Best of all, you don’t have to wash it off, so you can go straight to bed and let it work its magic overnight. How simple is that?

2

Oily Skin If your skin is oily and prone to breakouts, then a clarifying, claybased mask could do the trick and help to draw out the impurities from your skin. Y likes Clinique’s Acne Solutions OilControl Cleansing Mask because it retains the moisture of your skin, while reducing pore size and controlling blemishes. Cleanse your face, use a toner and then slather on the mask and leave for five minutes before rinsing it off.

3

Anti-ageing For a luxurious face mask to smooth out fine lines, hydrate and boost cell renewal, L’Occitane’s Immortelle Cream Mask is at the top of our list. According to the company, the base of this face mask is Immortelle flowers, which thrive on the Mediterranean coast. Known for its long life, hence the name, the flower’s essential oils apparently stimulate circulation and the skin’s collagen, leading to cell renewal. Used once or twice a week, all you have to do is cleanse and tone as normal, then slather on the mask for 10 minutes. It really doesn’t get any simpler.


Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

KEEP SMILING Laughter, as they say, is the best medicine. It’s not only good for your health but can also boost your mood, so having a good sense of humour can have many benefits

F

eeling unwell, either physically or emotionally, is no laughing matter. But learning to lighten up or have a good belly chuckle has been scientifically proven to trigger healthy changes in the body, meaning that being happy really can make you feel better. Which is why World Laughter Day, celebrated on the first Sunday of May each year (this year, it’s May 3), has a serious edge to it. Humour and laughing can have all sorts of benefits for the mind and body, strengthening the immune system, boosting energy and even diminishing pain. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free and easy to use. And just like anything else, learning to appreciate fun and laughter, can be learned – there are even laugh “coaches” who can help you discover the funnier side of life. People like Steve Wilson, a psychologist (or joyologist) and laugh therapist, who teaches people to get the most out of a laugh and love every minute of it. “I believe that if people can get more laughter in their lives, they are a lot better off,” says Steve. “Laughter is an expression of happiness. If we can learn to laugh unconditionally, our happiness too will become unconditional. “Normally, people look for some reason to laugh, but these days because of the stress and strain of modern living, there are very few reasons which make us laugh and there are hundreds of things which can make us frown, howl and cry.” People who believe in the benefits of laughter say it can be like a mild workout – and may also offer some of the same advantages of a workout. “The effects of laughter and exercise are very similar,” says Wilson. “Combining laughter and movement, like waving your arms, is a great way to boost your heart rate.” One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took 10 minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter. According to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, the data about the positive effects of laughter is mounting. “Laughter isn’t just a quick-me-up, though. It’s also good for you over the long haul,” says the clinic. “Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that’s no joke.” Next time you head off to the gym or a yoga class, perhaps it’s also worth putting in some laughter training. It can make you look and feel better, which should be enough to put a smile on your face. TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP SMILING: • Smile. Smiling is the beginning of laughter. Like laughter, it’s contagious. Pioneers in “laugh therapy,” find it’s possible to laugh without even experiencing a funny event. The same holds for smiling. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling. • Count your blessings. Literally make a list. The simple act of considering the good things in your life will distance you from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humour and laughter. When you’re in a state of sadness, you have further to

travel to before you get to humour and laughter. • When you hear laughter, move towards it. Sometimes humour and laughter are private, a shared joke among a small group, but usually not. More often, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humour you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?” • Spend time with fun, playful people. These are people who laugh easily – both at themselves and at life’s absurdities – and who routinely find the humour in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious. • Bring humour into conversations. Ask people, “What’s the funniest thing that happened to you today? This week? In your life?” THE BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER Physical Health Mental Health Benefits: Benefits:

Social Benefits:

• Boosts immunity • Lowers stress hormones • Decreases pain • Relaxes your muscles • Prevents heart disease

• Strengthens relationships • Attracts others to us • Enhances teamwork • Helps defuse conflict • Promotes group bonding

• Adds joy and zest to life • Eases anxiety and fear • Relieves stress • Improves mood • Enhances resilience

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO LAUGH • Watch a funny movie or TV show • Go to a comedy club or night • Read the funny pages of a newspaper or magazine • Seek out funny people • Share a good joke or a funny story • Check out the humour section of a local bookstore • Play with a pet • Go to a “laughter yoga” class • Goof around with children • Do something silly • Make time for fun activities (e.g. bowling, swimming, karaoke) Sources: helpguide.org stevewilson.com

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

035


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

• •

Khimji’s Mart 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 Ghubra • Al Hayat International Hospital • Al Maya Hypermarket • Bank of Beirut • Costa Coffee • Crêpe Café • GMC Showroom • LuLu Hypermarket • Moka & More • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Park Inn • Porsche Showroom • Al Raffah Hospital • Stationery Hut • The Chedi Muscat Al Hail • Burger King • Caledonian College of Engineering • Markaz Al Bahja Mall • McDonald’s • Omantel • Starcare Hospital Al Khoudh • Al Fair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Pizza Hut Al Khuwair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Bait Al Reem Mall • Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint (Splash) • Diplomatic Club • Grand Hyatt Muscat • Harley-Davidson Showroom • HSBC • KFC • Khimji’s Mart • 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 • The Noodle House • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Khimji’s Mart • NBO • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Pizza Muscat • Shell Petrol Station MGM • Caribou Coffee • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • Just Falafel • Ooredoo • Paul • Tim Hortons Al Mina • Bait Al Baranda • Bait Al Zubair MQ • Al Fair • Arab Open University • British Council • Costa Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • Hana’s Slimming & Skincare Centre • Kargeen Caffe • KFC • MacKenzies Café & Deli • Mood Café • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Papa John’s Pizza

• •

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

Muscat -3 Knowledge Oasis Muscat -4 (ITA) • Middle East College • Omantel • Waljat College of Applied Sciences Ruwi • Apollo Medical Centre • Kamat Restaurant • KFC • Khimji’s Mega Store – Swarovski Showroom • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Oman Air • Oman UAE Exchange • Oman Trading Establishment • Saravana Bhavan Sarooj • Al Fair • Al Masa Mall • City Cinema • Ayana Spa • Cosmeclic • Emirates Medical Center • McDonald’s • Shell Petrol Station • VLCC Wellness Sawadi • Al Sawadi Beach Resort Seeb • Golden Tulip Hotel • McDonald’s Shatti Al Qurum • Bareeq Al Shatti Complex • Caribou Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • German Eye Centre • The Indus Restaurant • InterContinental Hotel Muscat • Jawharat Al Shatti Complex • Kaya Skin Clinic • Muscat Eye Laser Center • Oasis By The Sea • Second Cup • Starbucks • VLCC Wellness Sifa • Sifawy Boutique Hotel SQU • Diplomatic Club •

College of Economics and Political Science • Students Banking Area • Reception/Canteen Wadi Kabir • Al Maya Hypermarket • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Pharmacy • National Hospitality Institute • Pizza Hut • Shell Petrol Station Wattayah • Ahli Bank • Best cars • BLS International Services • Chevorlet/GM showroom • Ford Showroom • Hatat House • Honda Showroom • Hyundai showroom • Kia Showroom • Lexus Showroom • National Travel & Tourism • Passage To India Restaurant • Shell Petrol Station • Subaru showroom • Suzuki Showroom • Toyota Showroom The Wave • Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee • Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co. • The Wave Head Office Other Regions Barka • Al Nahda Spa and Resort • LuLu Hypermarket Nizwa • University of Nizwa Sohar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Crowne Plaza • National Gift Markets • Ooredoo • Pizza Hut • Safeer Mall • Sohar Beach Hotel • Sohar Port and Freezone • Sohar University

TOO LATE? DON’T WORRY. GET Y INSTANTLY ONLINE USING YOUR MOBILE DEVICES & PC

Visit www.y-oman.com/current-issue/ No downloading required FOLLOW US ON:

@ytabloid

/ytabloid

www.y-oman.com

/ytabloid

ymagazine

/ymagazine


Postcards from

Outdoors

Y- F i

Cars

CARS AND ADVENTURES

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Wadis are a great place to have some serious off-road fun, but there are also hidden dangers lurking beneath the water waiting to snare unsuspecting drivers.

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

037


CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

D E S T I N AT I O N P o s t c a r d s f r o m

Y- F i

Outdoors

Destination

WADI ABYAD

DETERMINED TO DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF WADI ABYAD’S CLEAR POOLS, SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI FINDS HIMSELF IN A BIT OF A TRICKY SITUATION 038

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

Cars


M

y visit to Wadi Abyad was an amazing experience, but one of the toughest trips I have ever undertaken. It all started off in a normal enough fashion; I was talking to one of my friends who does a lot of travelling around Oman and he recommended that I check out Wadi Abyad. Always keen to discover new places, I eagerly hopped into his Jeep Wrangler one morning last week and off we went. As we approached the wadi, which is in the shadow of the Jebel Akhdar mountains, we came across a friendly looking group of camels and after passing through a small village, we entered the wadi. The bed of the wadi is very wide, flat and easy to drive on. Its close proximity to Jebel Akhdar, where it frequently rains, means that water often rushes through, which has polished the surrounding stones into smooth shapes. As we drove further along the wadi, the few houses and farms we had seen gave way to the greenery of nature, with rugged mountains rising up to either side. I managed to capture a few nice images of the pretty flowers and a very distinctive dragonfly. We had passed several pools and streams along the way, which we splashed through with no problem in my friend’s Jeep, but after an hour of driving and photographing, everything went wrong. We came across one particular pool that appeared shallow just like all the others, but as we passed through, the right side of the 4x4 took a nosedive into the water and it quickly became apparent that we were well and truly stuck. The drastic change in water depth over the space of just a few metres was unbelievable. I captured one shot of my friend standing by the driver’s side of the jeep in water no more than a few centimetres deep, yet on the other side of the vehicle, the entire wheel was submerged.

TRAVEL GUIDE

Luckily, my friend is a very experienced off-road driver and he kept the engine running to ensure water did not flood the exhaust pipe while we attempted to haul ourselves out using the Jeep’s winch and the surrounding rocks. Despite our best efforts, we were powerless to extricate ourselves and after an hour or so, we set about trying to get signal on our phones to call for help. The bottled water we had with us was heating up and there was very little shade available to shelter from the searing midday heat. After two-and-a-half hours of being stuck, we had a stroke of luck when another car passed through completely by chance. The Omani driver attempted to pull us out, but didn’t have a suitable place to attach the hook to his imported 4x4. In a touching gesture of friendship and goodwill towards complete strangers, he said he would travel to a nearby village and promised to come back with help. Sure enough, he returned behind the wheel of his friend’s enormous four-door Jeep and eventually managed to pull us free. By the time we were on our way again it was 5.30pm and we had been stuck for a little more than five hours. Before our trip, my friend had painted a beautiful picture of the clear, large pools that the wadi leads to, however, after the incredibly strenuous day we’d experienced, we unfortunately had to pass on these and drove home completely exhausted. It was an eventful day to say the least, but despite the hardships we endured it was enjoyable nonetheless and acted as a reminder of the care you must take when driving off-road in Oman, as well as the respect nature deserves at all times.

HOW TO GET THERE Take the highway towards Barka and take the exit for road 13. Exit the road to the right after seven kilometres and pass through the village of Khatum, continuing on towards Labijah. From here, you

can enter the wadi.

GPS location of Wadi Abyad: N23° 27’ 35” E57° 39’ 52”

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

039


CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

WAKING

THE ADRAGON A SPORT MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS IN THE MAKING HAS COME TO THE SULTANATE AND DRAGON BOATS ARE SET TO MAKE WAVES THAT WILL RIPPLE AROUND THE WORLD, FINDS MATT BLACKWELL Photos: Matt Blackwell

040

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

s the silhouette of a long, narrow boat drifts into view at the Almouj Marina at The Wave, Muscat, the details of those on board are indistinct, but their voices are loud, with their synchronised and powerful outbursts carrying across the water, at 8.30 on a Friday morning. Twenty-one paddlers bring the boat slowly into focus and the head of a fearsome-looking dragon can be seen at the bow, along with the beaming faces of all those on board. The concept is not a new one – the first dragon boats have been traced back to China more than 2,500 years ago – but it is certainly new for Oman. And since March 16, when Oman Dragon Boat held its soft launch, they have been offering open days every Friday and Saturday morning for anyone between the ages of 10 and 65, giving them a chance to get out on the water and try their hand at this historic sport. According to Hector Napone, managing partner at Alpha Movement Specialist, the idea of introducing dragon boats to the Sultanate was born of a desire to encourage movement, interaction with nature and to keep the community active. “We are living a box life and we are not moving

enough,” he says. “We wake up in our bedrooms, a box; we sit in a box to have our breakfast; we jump into a box to travel to our office, which is another box, and we don’t take the staircase anymore, we ride in a box. And then we repeat the process. We’ve forgotten about a very important part of nature: movement.” The sport of dragon boat racing is a challenging one, demanding both mental and physical concentration as well as a great deal of discipline and teamwork from its participants, but ultimately, it’s a sport in which everyone must give a little in order to achieve a lot together. Races typically take place over 300 metres and teams are made up of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, along with a steersman at the back and a drummer at the front, who provides the “heartbeat” of the dragon and sets the rhythm of the strokes. Last weekend saw the official inauguration of Oman Dragon Boat, in a special cultural ceremony in which the dragons on each of the club’s four boats had their eyes dotted and were “awoken”, by HE Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, secretary general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In order to introduce the public to the concept of dragon boat racing, Oman Dragon Boat have


organised the first ever Oman International Dragon Boat Festival, which will take place from May 8-9 at the Millennium Resort, Mussanah. The festival will be the first of its kind in the entire Gulf region and has attracted corporate and community teams from around Oman, as well as generating interest from teams from Qatar and the UAE and as far afield as Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Australia. “We’re promoting the festival to the world 24 hours a day through social media. We’re being as loud as we can because the country has so much to offer,” says Andy Tan, the Dubai-based supplying partner of Oman Dragon Boat. “We are encouraging people to see another side of the world and show them that there is so much to be explored. The people of Oman are so warm, you welcome everything; you welcome

the boats, and the idea with open hearts, it’s overwhelming for us.” The festival is set to offer a treat for all the family, with activities for both kids and adults, including a carnival, barbecues, prizes, a live band and of course the showpiece dragon boat races. If successful, the festival could be an annual fixture on the Sultanate’s calendar of events. In Hector’s eyes, the future for dragon boats in Oman is a bright one. “Eventually, we want to build local teams who are able to compete worldwide,” he says. “We hope to tie up with government agencies, which will help us take things to the next level and build a community of paddlers and also an Oman national team,

who will be able to carry the Omani flag all around the world. “We want to host world competitions here in Oman and showcase this beautiful country across the globe.”

The Oman International Dragon Boat Festival will take place at the Millennium Resort, Mussanah from May 8-9 For more information on Oman Dragon Boat, including how to take part in their weekly sessions, go to /Omandragonboat Dragonboatmea.com APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

041


CARS AND ADVENTURES VOLCANIC BEAUTY

The two lakes that sit within the caldera of the Sete Cidades Massif volcano are a mustsee on any visit to the Azores.

TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO: 1. Visit the lakes of Sete Cidades 2. Bathe in the iron-rich water of Furnas 3. Stroll along the waterfront in Ponta Delgada 4. Book a sea tour to catch a glimpse of dolphins and whales 5. Visit the nearby islands if you get time

042

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368


Destination

Outdoors

Y-Fi

Cars

POSTCARDS FROM

Andrew Barrow recommends

SÃO MIGUEL, THE AZORES T

he Azores are one of the two autonomous regions of P o r t u g a l , m a d e u p o f a 6 0 0 k m - l o n g s c a tt e r i n g o f nine small volcanic islands situated roughly halfway between America and Europe and have had a huge meteorological and historical influence over the years. The archipelago is a region of near permanent high pressure and t h e A z o r e s a c t u a l l y h a v e a h u g e e ff e c t o n t h e w e a t h e r o f m u c h of Europe and Africa and provided the Allies with a valuable m i d - A t l a n t i c b a s e i n t h e b a tt l e a g a i n s t G e r m a n U - b o a t s d u r i n g World War Two. I first visited the Azores (or rather just the largest island, São Miguel) in 1970 as a recently graudated zoologist and member of a small scientific expedition, with the aim of trapping blackflies and sending them to a museum back in Britain. My impressions of the island were of its great beauty and the relative poverty of the people, who then subsisted on fishing, agriculture and whaling. However, when I returned almost 40 years l a t e r , I fo u n d m u c h h a d c h a n g e d . T o u r i s m i s n o w a m a j o r p l a y e r i n the Azorean economy, and small wonder, as each island possesses its own unique and stunning scenery.

My favourite place At the island’s western end is one of the Azores’ marvels, the lakes of Sete Cidades (Seven Cities); two volcanic crater lakes linked by a wide but shallow channel. Yet despite being linked in this way, and no matter from which direction they are viewed, one lake is coloured blue and the other lake is coloured green. The two lakes that lie at 500 meters within the crater are referred to by the colour of the waters: the blue one being Lagoa Azul and the green one Lagoa Verde. The volcano that erupted around 500 years ago creating these crater lakes is quiet at the moment, but according to geologists, could erupt at any time. A small village exists at the western end of Lagoa Azul and its inhabitants don’t seem to be overly worried about any imminent eruptions.

FURNA SF WATER UMAROLES, HOT S P R IN G

A A LE S TA R TS A S PE R M W H D EE P D IV E

Highlights

The mid-island thermal resort of Furnas features hot springs, a perpetual smell of sulphur and a huge outdoor swimming pool in which you can bathe in the hot, iron-rich, soupy water. Thankfully, cooling fresh water showers are provided in the changing rooms where you can wash the gooey water off you. Something to be experienced once, but maybe just the once. Ponta Delgada is where most visitors to São Miguel will base themselves and an evening stroll along the waterfront, stopping for a coffee and a wonderful Portuguese pastry along the way, is an excellent way to relax. Bear in mind that there are eight other islands just waiting to be explored and taking a boat between them is a great way to add to the adventure. Inter-island flights are also cheap and easy to arrange.

Lowlights Much of the climate of the Azores is shaped by the Gulf Stream, which, I’m sorry to say, means high rainfall all year round and a mild oceanic climate. The Azores are certainly not the place to go to get a tan, but if you want a refreshing respite from the heat of an Arabian summer you could do very much worse. Souvenirs

Handmade products abound on every island of the Azores and traditional gifts include ceramic items, such as dishes, vases, teapots and mugs, along with wicker baskets and furniture. Embroidered items woven by hand such as sweaters and blankets are also readily available. Tea and pineapples are both grown in the Azores and should be sampled before you leave.

Where to stay

Hotel Marina Atlantico is one of the highest ranked hotels on the island of São Miguel and is conveniently located in Ponta Delgada, offering upmarket, four-star, child friendly accommodation as well as a spa and indoor pool. If you want to base yourself close to the geothermal action in Furnas, then check out the charming Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, which has 81 spacious rooms spread over two wings and a thermal pool with an average temperature of 37°C.

CITY V IEW WIT H HAR PONTA BOUR A DELGA T DA

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

043


-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Postcards from

Cars

Outdoors

Y-FI

KEEPING KIDS SAFE There’s only so much parents can do to keep their little ones safe, but the good news is that there is some technology out there that can provide a helping hand, says Matthew Herbst SAFETY FIRST

IN SAFE HANDS If you’re not keen on giving your child a mobile phone just yet then invest in the Amber Alert GPS. It is small enough to fit in pockets and lets you locate your child anywhere in the world, both indoors and outdoors. Amber’s software allows parents to set safe zones and will send emails or text alerts when the child leaves the given area. Other great features include an SOS button that your child can press in any emergency and the ability for two-way voice communication. Monthly plans are available at amberalertgps.com from as little as RO5.76.

Children’s car seats have come a long way since they were first launched and it was probably inevitable that we’d be given a “smart” option sooner or later. The First Years True Fit iAlert Car Seat wirelessly transmits information to your phone about any potential dangers regarding your little one's wellbeing while in the back. The app will tell you whether they have unbuckled themselves, monitor the back seat temperature and tell you if you have installed the seat properly. Available at amazon. com from RO65.41.

WATER BABY Swimming is an all year round activity in Oman and you can bet that your kids will want to cool off this summer. To ease your nerves, attach a Safety Turtle around their wrists, which is tough enough to withstand outings around pools or a day at the sea. As soon as the Turtle is immersed in water, a loud alarm will sound at the wireless base station that you can carry or have by your side. The alarm continues to sound until it is reset. Available at amazon. com from RO51.96.

EDITOR’S PICK

SUPER DETECTOR

044

FOR ADDED PEACE OF MIND IN ADDITION TO YOUR USUAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEM, WHY NOT ALSO INVEST IN THE KIDSMART VOCAL SMOKE ALARM DETECTOR. THIS GREAT SMOKE DETECTOR ALLOWS YOU TO RECORD INSTRUCTIONS THAT WILL PLAY OUT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. THE MINUTE IT DETECTS A FIRE, IT WILL BLAST A WAKE UP CALL TO GET THE KIDS OUT OF BED AND A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE DANGER IN PLENTY OF TIME. HAVING A FAMILIAR VOICE GIVING INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD HELP TO KEEP YOUR KIDS CALM IN A CRISIS. AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM FROM RO38.48.

JULY APR 3003 -- MAY 09 / 06ISSUE / ISSUE 327 368


SAFE TRACKS If your little angel is notoriously bad at losing or forgetting any tracking devices or gizmos you give them, invest in a pair of Budiu smart shoes. After all, they’ll always have their shoes on when they head out the door. When parents open the companion app, they’ll not only be able to track the location of their child, but can also see the street through the live-view function. The shoes come in some seriously funky designs and an alarm notifies parents when kids leave the pre-determined safe zone. Currently only available in China, prices are yet to be confirmed for the worldwide release later this year. Keep up to date with developments online.

App of the Week

NETSITTER

NEW GIZMOPAL

Net Nanny provides a browser with a parental control system that can be used to restrict access on the internet. The Android version features 18 filtering categories that parents can use to block or warn against certain sites, while the iOS version features a tier system of content filtering. Parents are then able to control settings and receive warnings through their phones. You can purchase Net Nanny for iOS directly from the App Store and through Google Play for Android. Start with a free trial at netnanny.com/trials to see if it works for you and your family.

The market is flooded with kids’ smartwatches offering complicated safety features, but LG is cutting through all this with a simple yet effective wearable device that looks as good as it sounds. The GizmoPal is designed to offer twoway communication between you and your child and also features an easy to use auto answer function as well as single-button calling. You can also keep track of your child’s location with the help of a GizmoPal app. Available soon at lg.com from RO30.78.

FIND ME Not merely a fun addition to your child’s footwear, the Mommy I’m Here Child Locator doubles as an essential safety accessory. The cute teddy bear device can attach to your child's shoes, ankle or wrist and comes with a keychain transmitter for parents to hold. When you get separated from your kid or they play hide and seek, just hit a button on the transmitter and the child's accessory will emit a loud noise, making it easier to find them. Available at amazon.com from RO9.62. APR JULY 30 - MAY 03 - 06 09 / ISSUE 368 327

045


CARS AND ADVENTURES

Destination

Postcards from

Outdoors

Y- F i C A R S

GMC Terrain SLT-2 Specifications: Engine: 3.6L V6 Transmission: 6-speed automatic with Overdrive Horsepower: 301 0-100kph in 7.8 seconds Trailering capability: 1,588kg (3.6L engine)

For a flexible small SUV capable of taking you up mountains and into malls, you should try the GMC Terrain for size, says Chris Fisher

D

riving a GMC Terrain made me feel like a senator or a very important person because the car was so grand and stately. I also pictured being in a Transformers film – the GMC brand features in the movie franchise – only I was transforming into the sort of man who befits a Terrain, who I imagine to be a businessman with a family or someone with an adventurous streak. My first impressions were that the Terrain was smaller and less bulky than I expected. It was also a very good looking car with its shiny metallic paintwork, muscular fender flares, striking grille and chrome alloy wheels, which means you immediately get noticed on the road. It’s quite a bold design and I like that in a car. I’m a larger than life personality, so a shy and retiring type of car doesn’t really suit me. The Terrain looks tough and, as it’s name suggests, seems it could handle all sorts of ground conditions with ease, which makes it perfect for Oman’s varied landscape. Once sitting inside, the immediate thing that strikes you is a sense of security, with the Terrain’s height giving a commanding view of the road ahead. It’s the safest that I’ve felt in a car for a long time. If safety is your prime consideration, I can tell you that the Terrain is fitted with six airbags, including front side046

APR 30 - MAY 06 / ISSUE 368

impact and head curtain. I was a big fan of the rear-view camera, which is cleverly integrated into the rear-view mirror. Another great feature is the Forward Collision Alert. This provides an audible and visual – a beeping noise and red light – warning to give you the heads up that collision may be imminent because the car in front is too close. This is a great way to stop the habit of tailgating, which seems omnipresent among certain drivers on the Sultanate’s roads. It’s also great to get a warning that a car is about to veer in front of you, as can happen on the roads as drivers suddenly cross lanes without indicating their intention to do so. Mind you, when you’re driving such an imposing car as a Terrain you enjoy a certain respect on the road. Families will like the flexible rear seating set up, which can be folded down completely to create more cargo space. You can also make use of the push-button boot access, giving hands-free entry – perfect for when you’re loaded down with shopping or camping equipment. See what I mean about this car being so versatile? It would suit families needing lots of space for children and accouterments or single outdoor types wanting an SUV with style.

The cargo space is also huge, the sort of size you would expect from a larger SUV. The Terrain doesn’t compromise on the interior either. It feels luxurious with a very nice touchscreen and rear LCD screens in the back to keep adult passengers or little monsters alike entertained during journeys. My car (the SLT-2 model) had buttery soft two-tone leather seats with matching colours on the dashboard and a decent enough stereo system. It comes with Bluetooth connectivity and was ridiculously easy to sync with my phone, taking just 30 seconds. There was also plenty of leg and headroom, another feature I appreciate. My only small gripe was that the touchscreen had an awning, which was meant to shield the screen from the glare of the sun, but merely impeded my view of it. As for handling, the 3.6L engine was responsive, though a touch slow shifting between gears, and the handling was smooth and assured. Cruise control allows you to sit back and the let the car do the hard work. The Terrain is designed to be the perfect combination of luxury and utility and it does it very well. If you’re looking for a good value SUV with great safety and finish both inside and out, it could well be the perfect package.

They say: “Practical refinement. Power and efficiency.” We say: “Great value SUV with style.”

Dual 8” flip-up LCD screens in rear Flexible seating Hands-free cargo access Hill start brake assist 18” chrome-clad aluminum wheels (SLT-2) Sunroof, tilt-sliding with express-open and wind deflector (SLT-2) 7” high definition touchscreen with navigation system Six airbags Forward collision alert Bluetooth connectivity Rear vision camera




Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.