Y Magazine #385, September 3, 2015 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

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YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

SEP 03 - 09 2015 / ISSUE 385 • WEEKLY

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JUST HOW SAFE ARE OMAN’S BUILDING SITES?

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You’ve got a few days left to enter our Back to School competition, in which you can win RO500 towards your school fees. You’ll find details on how to enter on P24.

THE BAROMETER GOING UP

HAJJ PILGRIMAGE A new social media campaign, #MakeItAffordable, is going viral after it was revealed that the cost of making the Hajj pilgrimage has skyrocketed from RO230 in 2006 to RO2,000 today.

GOING DOWN

THE MIDDAY BREAK The compulsory midday break for outside workers may have come to an end this week, but unfortunately the temperature remains high, raising concerns that it is still too hot for labourers to return to their regular working hours.

THIS WEEK… Team Y has been getting back into the swing of the school run, chilling out at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa and heading over to Dubai for lunch with friends.

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

Fast forward

ou see them everywhere: construction workers toiling away in the heat and humidity, often without safety equipment, despite Government regulations requiring companies to protect their workers. Worse, there has been an alarming rate of construction site deaths and serious injuries in the spotlight this year. In our cover story this week, Y investigates the working conditions of construction site workers, many of whom lack the qualifications to work in the industry. We speak to two labourers who share their experiences with us, while the Ministry of Manpower also gives us an insight into what workers can do to protect themselves, as well as what is required by law from a company’s side. Elsewhere, we head to the medieval city of Bruges in Postcard, attend a beautiful Omani wedding and try our hand at making sushi. And don’t forget to try out our new augmented reality app, which we are launching in this week’s issue. If you hover over the OMAR symbol below, you’ll get to meet Team Y in virtual reality. But first, turn to P11 to learn more about this exciting new technology and how you can interact with it. Have a wonderful week! Got the OMAR App? Then hover your device over the OMAR symbol on the left to see the video

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

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PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

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contents

Features 20 Proceed With Caution How Safe Are Oman’s Building Sites?

SEPT 03 - 09 2015

Your Oman 06 Coffee With Deeba Sanjeev Kapoor 08 Voice Of Oman Jane Jaffer 10 News Tourist Dies On Hike

24 Competition Win RO500 Towards Your Tuition Fees

This Week

26 Omani Bride Behind The Scenes At A Traditional Wedding

17 Movie Listings Southpaw 18 This Week On The Ball

14 Gallery Young Art

20 Cars and Adventures 38 Destination Wadi Hatta

Food and Drink 28 Food Feature Pomegranate Power 30 Taste Test Barbeque Nation

40 Indoors Roll With It

Health and Beauty

42 Postcard From Bruges, Belgium

32 Fashion Military Man

44 Y-Fi Mobile Lifestyle

46 Photo Of The Week 34 Beauty Ruffled Feathers For Women Only 35 Health Keep Smiling

NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE... BODY TRANSFORMATION / COFFEE WITH DEEBA / NEWS / FASHION / FOOD / MOVIES / Y-FI

This week Deeba Hasan sits down with the renowned chef, Sanjeev Kapoor, who was in Muscat for the launch of his restaurant, The Yellow Chilli, and recently cooked for the Indian Prime Minister

e is friendly, warm and welcoming; exactly how he comes across on television over the 10 years that I have followed Sanjeev Kapoor’s culinary exploits. The 51-year-old chef ’s career spans much longer than the time I have spent watching him, though. Sanjeev is a household name in India and one of the most celebrated faces of the country’s cuisine. His TV show, Khana Khazana, paved the way for similar cooking programmes and is the longest-running show of its kind in Asia, broadcasting in 120 countries and pulling in more than 500 million viewers. Outside the kitchen, Sanjeev is an entrepreneur, an author of cookbooks, a restaurant consultant and he launched his 24-hour cooking channel in 2011. Sanjeev was at The Wave, Muscat, for the launch of his restaurant The Yellow Chilli, a casual dining chain that first opened its doors in Dubai in the early 1990s and has since expanded across the GCC to Bahrain, Doha and most recently Oman, as well as numerous branches across India. With The Yellow Chilli, Sanjeev wants to redefine Indian food as preferences change but keep the “Indian-ness” alive in everything on the menu. “I want to serve highquality Indian food at affordable prices and change the perception of normal Indian-style restaurant food,” he tells me. His earliest memories of the kitchen are from when he was a little under 10 years old and used to make chapattis and tea. Although no one in his family was a professional chef, many of his relatives are passionate about cooking and he was surrounded by it from an early age. “My brother’s hobby is

JULY0303- -0909//ISSUE SEP ISSUE385 327

cooking, my father was very creative when it came to cooking and my mother always cooked,” he says. Sanjeev’s main motivation in becoming a chef was to do something different. “I wanted to do something that none of my family members, relatives, friends or neighbours had done,” he says. Although with good grades at school, he tells me how a lot of people expected him to go into engineering. Friends told him he was wasting his time but his family was supportive, he reveals. “My family were okay with me doing what I loved because they were used to my slightly unusual behaviour. My father did warn me about the discouraging remarks I would get on the way, but that did not keep me from reaching my goal,” he says proudly. To ensure there is always a spark in his cooking, Sanjeev tries to create something innovative every time he enters the kitchen. “I am highly unpredictable and always in adventure mode,” he says. And this ethos extends to his personal life; with the chef telling me he frequently won’t book a hotel for a family vacation until the last minute, when they are in the air on route to their destination. Sanjeev is clearly extremely calm about everything in life. Despite his busy schedule, Sanjeev always makes time to see his loved ones and describes himself as a very family orientated person. Although Sanjeev’s two daughters can cook well, it seems they won’t be following in their father’s footsteps in terms of their careers. “One of my daughters is studying to be a lawyer and the younger one is very active in athletics and sports,” he tells me. Sanjeev has no single favourite food; instead he enjoys anything

that is homemade because of the emotion that is involved in the cooking process. “Food prepared in restaurants often lacks this emotion because the chefs don’t know who they are cooking for,” he says. “However, homemade food is always prepared with a great deal of love and care.” Sanjeev recently had the honour of rustling up a multi-course vegetarian feast that included a Royal Gujarati Thali for the India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, when he visited to the UAE last month. “This was a menu full of surprises and although I roughly knew what our PM likes, I still thought it best to update myself with his current preferences by asking a close friend at the PM’s house in Delhi,” the chef says. His choices seemed to go down well, as the chef tweeted a picture of the pair shaking hands and thanked the Indian PM for his kind words. Have you got a unique story to tell or do you know someone who has? Contact us to have coffee with Deeba and be featured in Y Magazine. Email: editor@y-oman.com

THE VOICE OF OMAN JANE JAFFER ON LOSING A PART OF HISTORY

correspondence INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL Dear Editor,

his month our book club is reading Mary S Lovell’s wonderful biography of 19th century English aristocrat, Jane Digby. Born in 1807, Jane led an independent life of romantic adventure, travelling alone to foreign lands long before it was acceptable to do so. She spoke nine languages and could shoot a partridge at a gallop. Jane arrived in Damascus in May 1853, an intrepid Victorian lady determined to reach Palmyra to see the Roman remains of Queen Zenobia’s city. Tadmur, Palmyra’s ancient name, was and still remains, one of the greatest historical UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Middle East. Archaeological finds in Palmyra date back to the Neolithic. Jane left Damascus in June 1853 and set out on what she later called her “greatest adventure”. Her personal caravan included a dozen bodyguards, 40 camels and 20 valets, as well as cooks, tent pitchers and grooms. Her guide, Sheikh Medjuel el Mezrab, became the love of Jane’s life. They married under Muslim law and she took the name Jane Elizabeth Digby el Mezrab. Their marriage was a happy one and lasted until her death 28 years later. She learned to milk a camel and deliver a foal. She became the tribe’s doctor, nurse and teacher, and was a diplomatic politician to its many factions. It is easy to understand why Jane Digby loved Palmyra. I personally found it absolutely stunning and deeply spiritual, having been a place of prayer for centuries. To learn that this treasured ancient site has been deliberately destroyed is beyond comprehension. Jane Digby would be turning in her grave.

NEXT WEEK: ALI AL BALUSHI

SEP 03 - 09 / ISSUE 385

The article about Oman’s “Pebble Beach” that appeared in the Destination section of Issue 383 gave me a relaxed weekend read. Your Destination pieces again and again prove that Oman is a naturally blessed place with inherent beauty that never fails to attract people who love nature in every aspect. The pebble beach and its surrounding area is place imbued with a great recipe of natural ingredients. Despite being so close to Muscat, the beach is not so commonly known to people. As residents always plan their trips during the weekends and frequently falling holidays, yet another location has now been added to their list of places to visit in Oman. The travel features appearing in this

DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED:

section help enthusiastic tourists as well as residents to plan trips to places that they are unaware of. Perhaps adding some safety guidelines would be helpful for those wishing to visit. Best regards, Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi

financial crisis is on the horizon because of the prevailing situation in Greece and the falling prices of crude oil. These are forcing many countries to rethink the subsidy spending on fuel and other essential commodities.

‪VIJAYALAKSHMI SHETTY‬‪ ‬‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‪ ‬‬‬‬

True, another global financial crisis will happen in the near future with the oil prices falling and stocks crashing down. It’s a doomed recession in the making.

“Are you concerned that a new global financial crisis is on the horizon – or is this an extension of 2009?”

The crash in the global market that has started in China is very scary and could affect the business and gold markets around the world. I hope it won’t happen.

‪‪‪‪MOHAMMED SULTAN SHAIKH‬‪ ‬‬‬‪ ‬‬ ‬‬‪ ‬‪ ‬

Naturally I am deeply affected and concerned regarding the financial crisis that is on the horizon. It has made a huge impact throughout the world, from the US to Europe and even Asia beginning last month when China

I certainly feel that a new global

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devalued its currency to boost exports. The result was a worldwide decline in oil prices that made a vast difference in the depreciation of both Asian and worldwide currencies. It has signalled an alarm all over the world due to stocks crashing, which is not likely to improve soon.

‪‪‪WILLIAM SMITH‬‬‪ ‪

Call me optimistic, but I think that global markets will rally and recover, just as they have started to show signs of doing. To stay in the clear, Oman needs to cut its heaviest subsidies, like those on electricity and petrol, which will help the government claw back some of the huge deficit they have on their plate.

‪‪HENRY MATTHEWS‬‪

I think that we are currently witnessing the birth of a new kind of wealth. China has manipulated the world market by buying and selling certain shares. A lot of people got very wealthy in the recovery that followed immediately after “Black Monday” because they bought failing shares at low prices and became millionaires when markets rallied the next day. China is slowly but surey taking control of the world’s finances and before you know it, they’ll own everything and everyone.

‪‪‪MAX POWTER

In my opinion, the crisis that began in 2009 never really went away. It originated in America and subsequently spread to the UK and the rest of Europe. Now it is finally

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reaching Asia and Australia, which, until now have remained safe from recession. The UK’s economy is slowly picking up, but Europe is still in a state, as evidenced by Greece and the precarious state of other countries like Spain and Italy.

New Debate: “If you could be given another talent or ability, what would it be and why?”

JILL SAUNDERS ‬‪

Think about it: Greece in crisis, continuously falling oil prices and China’s currency devaluing; a brand new financial crisis has been on the cards for some time now. What happened in China a few weeks back and the aftermath of that could prove to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and plunge countries around the world straight back into recession, just as they are beginning to climb out of it.

‪‪RAJESH CHOWDRY‬‪

While I admit the current situation isn’t great, I think that warning about a global financial crisis is exaggerating things a bit. Lots of countries, including Oman, have certain imbalances that need to be addressed, but providing they realise this and take action then I think everything should be okay. Oman should follow in the footsteps of the UAE and consider cutting some subsidies.

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Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance of winning dinner for two. ANNA CHIA

Of course I am worried about the global economy. But I have always wondered if the 2009 crisis ever ended – and if what we are facing now is simply an extension of that. It is like dominoes are falling around the world and every economy is being hit. I also worry that people haven’t learned the lessons of the 2009 financial crisis and are heavily in debt, have no savings and are living from pay cheque to pay cheque. All it takes is for them to lose their job and they face losing everything – like many people experienced in 2009. Ensuring that we understand the difference between good and bad debt is vital, while teaching our children about financial literacy from an early age is essential for them to grow up to be financially responsible adults.

HARVINDER SINGH

Sell your stocks and invest in gold instead. The world economy is doomed.

SYED MOHAMMED AYUB was spotted with his favourite Y Magazine at home in Azaiba

“Driving is an adventure and Shell Super is the partner I trust on & off-road.” Ten years ago, Shell Oman introduced Shell Super with a special formula designed to give extra kilometres at no extra cost. Today, we look back with pride and thank all our customers for their support over the years. Shell Super is the only petrol in Oman, designed for extra kilometres at no extra cost to the customer. That, along with our friendly service gives you more reason to return to a Shell service station. www.shelloman.com.om

Musab Amur Al Ghaithi Four Wheel Adventurer

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*Comparison between a standard fuel and that same standard fuel containing our fuel economy formula. Actual benefits may vary according to vehicle, driving conditions and driving style. C.R. No.1/57123/0

SEP 03 - 09 / ISSUE 385

YOUR

OMAN WOMAN DIES ON FATAL HIKING TRIP

British woman was found dead in Wadi Samini, close to Mahdha in Buraimi, earlier this week. The woman was part of a group of 12 hikers, all expatriates, who had taken a trip into the mountains last weekend. The Ministry of Tourism released a statement to the Oman News Agency following the discovery, saying that the hikers were on an unauthorised trip. On the return leg of their hike, some members of the group, including women and a child, took a different

Mahdha in Buraimi Governorate resulted in the death of one of the tourists. This was not an authorised hiking trip as per the standards set by the Ministry.” The Ministry statement said that it would issue guidelines, advisories and start awareness campaigns at all border posts, through travel agents, tourism agencies and licensed tour guides as well as social networks to highlight the importance of safety and proper planning on such trips. The ministry also extended thanks to citizens, residents and tourism establishments as well as the ROP and PACDA for ensuring the safety of tourists and visitors alike. route and lost their way. After the Royal Oman Police (ROP) was alerted to the group’s disappearance, they mounted a joint search operation with an ROP helicopter and Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) patrols. They managed to rescue eight hikers by 4.45pm on Saturday and three others were found alive later that evening. The search for the one remaining woman continued into the next day and her body was eventually found in the morning. She was declared dead after being dehydrated as a result of exposure to extreme heat and her body was transferred to a hospital. The Ministry of Tourism has expressed sorrow over the incident and said it hoped that tourists and visitors complied with the guidelines and awareness messages to ensure the safety of everyone and prevent tragic injuries and further loss of life. “The incident which occurred in Wadi Samini near

he Sultanate’s loyal football fans have finally got something to celebrate after the Under 17 national team won the GCC Under 17 Football Championship in a gripping penalty shootout finale against neighbours and arch rivals Saudi Arabia. While it might not be the senior team, the news that an Omani team has triumphed in football has got the country shouting in a collective cheer of red and white. The junior Red Warriors were crowned GCC Under 17 Football Champions in Qatar on Saturday, 14 years since they

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last won the cup way back in 2001. They did come close to winning a second one in 2013 but fumbled in the final when they were beaten by the UAE in a penalty shootout. This time, however, they kept their cool to finish the job. In the final showdown in the Qatari capital of Doha, it went to extra time and then penalties as neither side could break the deadlock. Omani goalkeeper Yousuf al Sheyadi – who won the best goalkeeper of the tournament award – was the hero of the hour when he saved Saudi Arabia’s first penalty kick. From then on, there was going to be only one winner as the jubilant Omanis converted all their penalties to claim the trophy. The boys arrived home to a rapturous reception at Muscat International Airport, where fans waving Omani flags to welcome their heroes back greeted them. Sayyid Khalid Bin Hamad al Busaidi, the Oman Football Association (OFA) chairman, congratulated the young team in a statement and added: “Yet another victory added to the Omani sports excellence in this prosperous era of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ reign whose endless support is paying off in all aspects of Omani sports, and we are pledged to continue the hard work for more success and victories to come.” “A word of appreciation goes to the young heroes along with the technical and administrative staff who fought till the end and in spite of all the challenges and obstacles, took the full responsibility and proved that they were up to the challenge. Wishing them all the best in your future endeavors. “This achievement reaffirms the clarity of goals being put for the development of age groups and young players in the Sultanate. It’s now another responsibility on the OFA to work harder and continue with the winning streak.”

Gallery

elcome to the future of publishing, a world in which Y Magazine’s stories will be brought to life in the palm of your hand via an exciting augmented reality app called OMAR. As the world’s first duallanguage augmented reality app, OMAR offers an interactive 3D video experience, where Y readers can go behind the scenes and and watch Team Y in action as we head out on stories around the city and beyond. The app will allow readers to bring Y Magazine to virtual life on their mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets and wearable devices.

“Augmented reality is probably the best thing that has happened to the print and publishing industry,” says Satyabrata Acharya, the chief technology officer at Eminnova Technology, the company behind the OMAR app. OMAR features the best image recognition technology, nearby places of interest based on geotracking, while it can also recognise objects and shapes, and supports 3D interactive content. To experience Y’s exciting new development, all you have to do is download the app and follow the instructions on this page. The future of Y is in the palm of your hand!

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YOUR

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

SCHOOL OF

SIRENS

You mean a police siren? Ha! No. In Greek mythology, mermaids are also known as sirens, who would sit on rocks and lure sailors to their deaths. Really? So what’s it all about then? Budding little mermaids, it seems, can actually make their dream a reality and head off to a special school to become a real-life Ariel, from Disney’s hit movie The Little Mermaid. Wow! Where do I sign up? Unfortunately, the Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy is in Manila. But hey, maybe it’s a plan for your next vacation? How much does it cost? Students pay 1,800 pesos, or RO14.80. And what do you get for that? We hear that you learn how to do dolphin kicks, create bubble rings, do handstands and blow kisses under water – all in true Ariel style, of course! Anything else I should know? Mermaid wannabes also receive mono fins, complete with a realistic scale pattern, to help them complete their transformation into a “siren of the sea”. The aquatic school also promotes a marine conservation message to its students, many of whom are grown women wanting to dip back into their childhood dreams. Don’t say: “The seaweed is greener on the other side!” Do say: “Look, it’s Ariel!” 012

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Gallery

TOO-WIT TOO-WOO

t has been an elusive creature, in Oman at least, since it was first identified two years ago. But now it seems that the Omani Owl is not a new species after all but a descendant of a strain of bird first discovered 135 years ago. To help solve the tawny mystery and arrive at the conclusion announced this week, some skillful ornithological detective work and clever technology was needed. It all began back in 2013 when British ornithologist Magnus Robb first discovered the Omani Owl during a trip to Jebel Akhdar to record bird song. An unfamiliar hoot, something he had never heard before, reached his ears. “I know the other Arabian owls’ sounds quite well and this was clearly something that didn’t fit. I had a good inkling straight away that this could be something new,” Robb said at the time. Using only sound recordings and photographs, the experts concluded that they had found a new species, a bird the size of a barn owl, and named it strix omanensis. Their find – and the extraordinary thought that such a large bird had evaded discovery for so long – created quite a stir among bird experts and biologists. But to be sure, Robb

A WEEK IN PICTURES

Interview

NEWS

and his colleagues from The Sound Approach, a UK independent publishing company set up to popularise bird song, needed to examine the bird’s DNA and for that, they needed a live specimen. The team struck lucky. On March 2 this year, they finally caught an Omani Owl on the Green Mountain using a special net, recordings of several CD tracks of an owl hoot and a decoy owl. After taking measurements, feathers, blood samples, photographs and more sound recordings, the bird was set free. What their data proved is that strix omanensis is not a new species but is, in fact, a “rediscovery” of an owl species known as strix butleri, which was said to be from Pakistan with the only known example being a rather tatty old specimen in the Natural History Museum at Tring in the UK. Furthermore, it seems the “Omani Owl” has a bigger range than first thought. A bird trapped in Mashhad in northeast Iran in January this year is the same species, while the same owl was also discovered in mountains in the UAE on March 8 this year. “Robb is delighted that his discovery in 2013 has led to a great increase in knowledge,” said George Sangster, a colleague from The Sound Approach who co-wrote a paper on the latest find. “Indeed, more has been learned about the Omani Owl during the last two to three years than in the 130 years preceding it. We hope this continues to snowball and leads to further discoveries.”

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

The United Nations (UN) confirms that the ancient city of Palmyra in northern Syria has been completely destroyed by Islamic State militants. After viewing satellite images, UN analysts say that almost nothing remains of the historic city

Ten people are killed and 259 injured in a residential compound fire in the Saudi Arabian city of Khobar. According to a civil defence spokesman, the compound housed workers for state oil giant Saudi Aramco

Bodies of 71 refugees, thought to be from Syria or Afghanistan, are found in the back of an abandoned truck in Austria. The dead include 59 men, eight women and four children

A glamorous young mayor is still on the run in Brazil. Lidiane Leite, 25, is accused of running her town via WhatsApp and is wanted on charges of embezzlement

YOUR

OMAN

fter 10 years of operating in the Omani market as The Wave, Muscat, it has been announced that the Sultanate’s leading integrated tourism complex will be embracing its local heritage and rebranding itself as Al Mouj Muscat. The new logo was unveiled at a press conference earlier this week and incorporates three key elements – the Arabic and calligraphy is used to reflect its Omani roots and also the rising number of Arabic residents in the complex, the typeface and colours are derived from the Ministry of Tourism logo, and the “M” is taken

THE WAVE REBRANDS AS

from the new logo of the UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim, which has a 50 per cent share in Al Mouj Muscat. “Today marks a new phase of the project’s maturity as we celebrate the depth of our Arabian heritage and the strength of our joint venture partners in an all-encompassing modern visual identity,” said Hawazen Esber, the CEO of Al Mouj Muscat.

In its initial days, Al Mouj Muscat was thought to be a major attraction for Oman’s expat community, but over the years more Omanis and Arabs have invested in it. Today, the integrated lifestyle experience has appealed to people from 69 different nationalities with Omani citizens representing the largest single nationality. The falling price of oil is not much of a concern for Al Mouj Muscat, as David Stafford, VP of sales and marketing, said people were now switching from investing in the equity market to the property market. “We’re having a record year this year. We’re on target to having one of the biggest years we have ever had,” Stafford said. The rebranding is believed to strengthen the Al Mouj brand as it continues to add more variety in terms of a tourism complex with hotels, food and beverage and retail outlets. The much-awaited Kempinski Hotel is expected to open in the latter half of 2016 and Shaza Hotels is expected to complete its marinafront property within two years’ time.

DUBIZZLE BECOMES

hen it comes to buying and selling in the Sultanate, it’s the go-to site for expatriates and Omanis alike. No matter what you’re looking to get your hands on or get rid of, the chances are you will have visited the weird and wonderful world of Dubizzle. But in a press conference earlier this week, it was revealed that the well-known site would be completing a rebrand and changing its name to OLX, of which Dubizzle has been a part since 2013. All traffic generated towards dubizzle.com will now be directed to olx.com.om instead. 014

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Regular users needn’t panic, though, as it has been assured that everything remains the same, from account details to adverts; the only thing that changes is the name. “This will not affect our product – the user experience remains the same, our service, our team, and our passion, we’ve only changed the name,” said Abdallah Touqan, the senior PR and communications lead at OLX. OLX is the world’s leading classifieds platform in growth markets, available in more than 50 countries and languages. Ten Middle Eastern markets are now operating under the OLX brand and are part of a global network that reaches more than 240 million users every month. A campaign called “dubizzle is now OLX” is now under way to communicate the change quickly and a new app, OLX Arabia, is available for free download from the app store for iOS users and Google Play for Android.

Natura Vive Skylodge, Sacred Valley, Peru

Cost: RO261 a night (per pod)

For one of the most terrifyingly thrilling hotel rooms ever constructed, try one of these transparent glass pods. Clinging to the edge of one of Peru’s highest mountains. A vertigo-inducing 1,200ft (365m) above the valley, it must lay claim to be the ultimate overnight stay for adrenaline-seekers. For those brave enough to try, getting to the pods involves climbing a 400ft (121m) rock face and hiking along a trail using zip lines. Each pod comes with soft beds, cotton sheets, an ecological toilet and sink, a gourmet dinner and breakfast and staggering uninterrupted views across the Incan Empire.

Treehotel, Harads, Sweden

Cost: Around RO211 a night (per pod, plus breakfast) Located in a pine forest near Harads in northern Sweden can be found a stunning new concept in the world of boutique hotels. Think your childhood treehouse all grown up with luxury touches. Designed by renowned Swedish architects, the six individual “treerooms” are suspended high in the trees above the forest floor. Choose from the Bird’s Nest and the mind-blowing reflective Mirrorcube or The UFO. Inside, you’ll find comfortable, modern interiors with bathrooms.

Hotel de Glace, Quebec, Canada

Cost: RO279 per night for regular room (as part of Discovery package) This incredible ice hotel, constructed by artists, is open for just two months a year from January to March. Made from 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow, it has to be redesigned and rebuilt every year. Everything within the structure is made of ice, including the fireplaces and glasses to drink from. There’s even a chapel made of ice to get married in! All rooms have mattress beds on foundations of ice, with arctic sleeping bags for staying warm. During the day, guests can enjoy ice fishing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. Sounds like a great place to just chill out!

No Man’s Fort, Solent, Portsmouth, England

Cost: From RO271 a night (for two, full board) How about staying overnight in the middle of the sea? Book a room at this Victorian-era fort off the coast of England, which was originally built between 1867-1880 to protect the land from an attack by Napoleon III. After an extensive renovation, the manmade island was transformed into a luxury hotel with 22 rooms, all decked out in nautical style. At the top is a glass-floored penthouse suite. Guests can also make use of a helipad, a hot tub, nightclub and spa treatments with salt from the surrounding water. Transfers are from mainland by small boat. Checking out in the middle of the night might be a problem though…

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Lapland, Finland

Cost: From RO77 a night (per person in winter high season) *Source: tripstodiscover.com

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in an igloo, here’s your chance. This remote location is home to the famous Igloo Village with glass and snow igloos, as well as the world’s largest snow restaurant. Built of thermal glass, you’ll be snug and cosy with the snow muffling out any sounds from the outside world. Go in late August to late April and watch the Northern Lights – commonly known as the Aurora Borealis and one of nature’s most spectacular light shows – from the comfort of your own bed. During the day, there’s a reindeer-pulled sled tour or an excursion to the nearby Arctic Circle to stop you getting bored. SEP 03 - 09 / ISSUE 385

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YOUR

YO U N G A R T

OMAN

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF AVIGYAN BHATTACHARYA, 13, WHICH INCLUDED OIL PAINTINGS, ACRYLICS AND CHARCOAL PIECES, WERE DISPLAYED AT AL MASA HALL IN RUWI IN THE YOUNG ARTIST'S FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION

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GALLERY

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

Hitman: Agent 47

Southpaw Rising from a troubled upbringing to achieve boxing greatness, Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) has everything he could hope for, including a loving wife, Maureen (Rachel McAdams) and a young daughter (Oona Laurence). His boxing style is relentless and this anger and aggression bubbles over into his private life as he reels from a personal tragedy that sees his daughter taken into care and leaves Hope with nothing. Seemingly at rock bottom, Hope starts training at a local gym owned by seasoned boxer Titus Wills (Forest Whitaker) in the hope of gaining a shot at redemption and settling a score with fate. At times, director Antonie Fuqua

is guilty of heavy-handed melodrama as he creates a rollercoaster of visceral emotions, but the strength of performances from Gyllenhaal, Whitaker and McAdams goes a good way in atoning for this. One thing that Southpaw gets right – and you’d hope it would – are the boxing scenes. Fuqua is a boxer himself and employs a range of camera angles that put you right in the ring, taking the punches along with Hope. Expect few narrative surprises – this is not a film that reinvents the wheel – but what it does, it does strongly and fluidly, just like a good boxer. Review by Matt Blackwell

P RE VI EW

THE GAMES MAKER

Enthralled by board games, Ivan Drago (David Mazouz) enters the fantastical world of inventing them, which leads to many adventures with his grandfather who, as it turns out, was once a legendary games maker himself. With a dark Harry Potter-esque feel at times, The Games Maker is bound to be a hit with kids.

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

Genetically engineered assassin Agent 47 (Rupert Friend) is death personified, undergoing intense training (and 46 previous versions) to become a cold and unfeeling executioner. His latest assignment sees him in pursuit of the creator of the Agent programme, Dr Litvenko (Ciaran Hinds), before a mysterious mega-corporation can get their hands

on him and create an army of killers. Fully loaded with action, Hitman: Agent 47 is exercised with impressive visual flair, but ultimately suffers from a lack of personality. Still, it’s not quite as bad as the miserable failure to bring the video game to the screen back in 2007.

We Are Your Friends Cole (Zac Efron) is a struggling DJ, desperate to make a name for himself in the world of electronic dance music. As he searches for the “one track” that will change everything for him, he is taken under the wing of a disillusioned older DJ, James (Wes Bentley), who becomes his mentor. Matters are complicated when Cole and James’ girlfriend (Emily Ratajkowski) find themselves drawn into a forbidden relationship that will ultimately lead to some tough choices for the aspiring star. The emotional tempo of this film is set high and the music is bound to move you.

Bollywatch PHANTOM

A political thriller that spans India, Europe, America and the Middle East, Phantom follows former army officer Daniyal Khan (Saif Ali Khan) as he is contracted to kill a group of terrorists. Approaching the often difficult issue of crossborder terrorism, Phantom deserves praise for its vision and the resulting film is a powerful and gripping piece of cinema.

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

Which seasoned boxer does Billy Hope start training with? LAST WEEK'S WINNER Marwa Al Wadhahi

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THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

FUN FUSION Sep

04 Enjoy a beautiful fusion of Arabic and Khaliji music at the Arabic night happening at On The Rocks, Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel from 7pm onwards. Tickets are priced at RO10 per person and the line up of DJs will be announced shortly. For details and ticket enquiries, call +968 9880 5071 or +968 9344 0865 or search for Arabic Night on Facebook.

SEP

Sep 06

Muscat Singers, Muscat’s longstanding choir, is back with their first rehearsal of the season, starting at 7.30pm on Sunday. The enthusiastic group of singers has an exciting, innovative programme lined up for a December performance, under the baton of their new, inspiring musical conductor. New members are welcome. If you would like to join and sing on a regular basis, check out the website muscatsingers.org or search for Muscat Singers on Facebook.

Time for a tee

SONG BIRDS

If you want to keep the little ones amused with a new activity, enroll them to become junior golfers at the Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club. Novice and intermediate classes are available for all ages and all equipment is provided. Programme fee is RO60 per entry, but Omani nationals can enroll for RO30. For more information, email academy@muscatgolf.com or call +968 9892 2580.

On the Ball

THIS

WEEK SEP

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WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE.

If your child likes playing football and is looking to enhance their skills, send them along to Arsenal Soccer School’s upcoming 10-week programme, where professional coaches will mentor them. Classes start from RO100 with options between one or two classes per week. Open for 3 year olds to 17 year olds. First timers will be provided with a full soccer kit, excluding shoes. For details and booking visit arsenalsoccerschooloman.com or call +968 2448 3344.

WHAT TO HEAR.

OCT

SEP

Ceramics come to life in this one-day course about the basic principles of the craft that is mosaic making. You will be creating one small piece of work and take away the skills to do your own tabletops, wall hangings, decorative ornaments and artworks. The possibilities are endless. The instructor will guide you through the steps – using pieces of glass, ceramic and different tools and techniques. Open to ages 15 and over, minimum group size is 10 and maximum is 15. It’s happening at the MuscArt Gallery in Ghubra. Workshop will be conducted in English or Arabic from 1pm to 5pm. Price per person is RO60, which covers the cost of materials. For details, visit muscart.net or call +968 2449 3912.

OCT

03 PADDLE TO

THE BEAT

SEP

14-16

WORKPLACE DESIGN

MAGICAL MOSAICS

If you are looking to find workplace solutions that will create a focused business environment, then the 4th International Exhibition for Office and Commercial Design, Décor & Interiors is the perfect place to go. The exhibition will display a wide spectrum of products for offices, commercial complexes, malls, airports, hotels and resorts, hospitals and museums. It’s happening at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from 10am to 1.30pm and then again from 4pm to 8.30pm. For details, visit omanofficeshow.com or call +968 2478 3800

BLENDED ECHOES

The popular Dragon Boat Festival is happening once again at the Millennium Resort Mussanah and will include the famous dragon boat racing as a main attraction, along with the first stand-up paddle sprint race, a tug-of-war competition, family carnival and BBQ party, making it a fun-filled event for the whole family. The festival is open to paddlers of all levels, local and international, with special accommodation rates for participants and spectators offered by the hotel during the festival weekend. For Dragon Boat Festival registration information, visit dragonboatmea.com and call +968 2687 1518 for room reservations.

SEP

18-19

SEP

09-11 Unwind at the first joint art exhibition of top and emerging artists from Malaysia and Oman, showcased at the Opera Galleria of the Royal Opera House Muscat. Opens at 7.30pm on Wednesday and will remain on display until Friday from 10am to 10pm. The event will include Malay music, costumes and cultural dance, along with all the vibrant art pieces on display, and will feature 25 Malaysian paintings and 25 Omani paintings. Ibrahim Gailani, a popular Oman-based artist, is the curator of the exhibition. For details, search for Blended Echoes Oman on Facebook.

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PROCEED

WITH CAUTION

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Amid an increase in injuries at construction sites, Y looks into health and safety in Oman and finds that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often an accident waiting to happen. Deeba Hasan reports

Y presented this case to the Ministry of riving past a construction site, two Manpower, which asked us for the location workers can be seen standing on of the site. A Ministry of Manpower official the second floor of a half-built also said they would look into the case. “The house wearing their own clothes. Ministry of Manpower regularly inspects There's no sign of any overalls, hard hats or different construction sites, where we make safety shoes. They are standing on what will sure that the workers have all the required be the ledge of a window when finished, but HSE [Health, Safety and Environmental] at only a handful of centimetres wide, there facilities and adequate food and water. is barely enough room for one, let alone two If companies are not following our strict fully grown men. guidelines and flouting rules, we ask them to Nevertheless, they work away, seemingly pay fines,” the official told Y. indifferent to the fact that one small slip or a Over recent weeks, six workers have strong gust of wind could send both of them suffered injuries at construction sites, with a tumbling down to the rough surface below, a building collapse in Seeb hospitalising four fall that could easily kill or at least seriously people, while two workers were injured in a injure them. It may sound like a nightmarish vision of a similar accident in Buraimi. In the Buraimi working environment, but sadly, similar sights incident, 12 workers narrowly escaped injury, while the two men who were wounded were plague construction sites all over Muscat and rescued by the police and subsequently a spate of serious accidents in recent weeks has put the industry in the spotlight regarding rushed to hospital for treatment. “We get from four to six construction the health and safety of workers. Labourers who work for small construction workers everyday with back pain, body pain companies on smaller sites are often the most or strain. When there’s an injury, it’s mostly falling from heights, picking up a heavy at risk, putting their lives in the hands of object or an injury inflicted from machinery,” fate on a daily basis as they work in horrific says Dr Ranjan Babu, an orthopedic conditions, deprived of any form of safety specialist at Badr Al Samaa Hospital in Ruwi. equipment. “These days, the Ministry of Manpower is “Our sponsor has given us no safety gear, strict on medical insurance for construction so we have to buy our own helmets and workers, so most of them don’t have to pay safety shoes,” Ahmed*, a labourer at a site in for themselves. Those who do often get help Seeb, tells Y. “The shoes cost around RO2 from friends and their community. We also and wear away within a week, but with what give discounts to poor patients,” he adds. we earn, we can’t afford anything more In light of the increase in accidents and than that. It’s the same for the helmets and as fears for workers’ safety rise, the General so eventually we stopped buying anything Federation of Oman at all and now just do Trade Unions (GFOTU) our work without the has been taking a necessary safety gear.” more active role as Ahmed earns RO6 a mediator, sending per day and gets no dedicated teams to visit other compensation or construction workers on facilities. His company certain projects. “There THE GFOTU ALWAYS fails to provide him are more cases from with water, food, SEEKS TO PROTECT construction workers medical facilities, WORKERS’ RIGHTS in terms of nonaccommodation and AND DEFEND THEIR compliance with the health insurance. “We INTERESTS, AND provision of health and live in the house that CONSTRUCTION safety equipment, as well we are constructing,” WORKERS IN as working in the sun he says. “There is no PARTICULAR BECAUSE for long periods without security, we have to THEY ARE PRONE TO A taking rest times,” work all the days of RANGE OF RISKS AND Mohammed al Khaldi, the week, without any HARSH CONDITIONS a board member at the rest days or time off, GFTOU tells Y. “In not even for our Friday April, the GFTOU issued a statement calling prayers. If we take that off, they cut it from on all parties to carry out their responsibilities our daily wages.” and ensure the availability of the conditions Ahmed and his four colleagues came to and standards of occupational health and Oman about eight months ago and have safety.” been working on the same site ever since. He Protecting workers is one of the inherent spent RO800 (excluding ticket costs) to come responsibilities of the GFOTU and it to Oman for a brighter future and for the chance to provide for his family back home in does this by reviewing legislation and legal frameworks, as well as attempting to raise India by sending some of his wages home. awareness and education among business When Ahmed was injured while working owners and workers. Like the Ministry of on the site just two months into his new job, Manpower, it also carries out independent he had to go to a hospital in Ruwi, pay for inspections to ensure that facilities comply the consultation, vaccination and medicines with health and safety standards. himself. “The GFOTU always seeks to protect According to a decree issued by the workers’ rights and defend their interests, and Ministry of Manpower in 2008 dealing with occupational safety and health, employers are construction workers in particular because they are prone to a range of risks and harsh bound to provide workers with “work clothes conditions,” says al Khaldi. and personal protection equipment adequate Not all construction sites in Oman ignore to the nature of work performed”, as well the regulations; large companies with more as “providing the workers with sufficient resources often pay more heed to health and drinkable water within easy reach”. These safety measures, providing their workers are just two of many rules that Ahmed’s with helmets, safety shoes, overalls and other employer is believed to be breaching. SEP 03 - 09 / ISSUE 385

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equipment. They also provide Manpower. Sometimes, he also raises money to cover medical costs and workers with food, water and repatriation in the case of major injuries. shelter, the likes of which Ahmed “If someone knows of a site that is not following the safety regulations and his colleagues are denied. for its workers, then they should inform the Ministry of Manpower and Kumar*, a construction worker someone from our inspection department will go to the site and check on one of the bigger sites, says: “I the facilities there,” says Shameer. “If there are violations of the law, we am not happy here. Our salary is act as a mediator between the sponsor and the employees and push the very low and the facilities are almost sponsor to give the facilities to the employee. If they still don’t, we leave negligible, but when I see the conditions the case to the court and let them decide.” of some other workers in different parts But not all cases are black and white and it can be difficult for of the city, I feel more privileged. At least workers to escape the rut they have fallen into as they become trapped we have our breaks, we are transported in in a vicious cycle, too scared to speak out. As Shameer explains, “No buses, given food and sometimes medical employer would have the worker in their accommodation or give them facilities.” any money if they were to complain about them, and so they are literally According to al Khaldi, any workers thrown on the streets with absolutely nothing but gloom. unhappy with the state of their working “We sometimes take care of such workers and provide them shelter environment should until the court decides something. That sometimes start by confronting their takes up to six months or longer and even if the employers. “If the workers hearing is in favour of the worker, the sponsor has are in trouble, they should the right to go to the higher court, and that takes address the company’s even longer. management and labour union “Sometimes the worker is no longer in the [if any].” country by the time a final hearing is given.” The Ministry of Manpower When asked about the the GFOTU's attempts urges all workers who feel they to contact the sponsors of different are in trouble to contact its Labour construction companies, al Khaldi Department in Ruwi, from where all says: “The GFOTU connects cases will be investigated. SOME OF THE BIGGER continuously with all the But the problem is that many sponsors in all sectors, and in CONSTRUCTION workers are reluctant to confront their many cases, we are met with COMPANIES HAVE companies or file cases against them in respect and understanding SOME FACILITIES FOR fear of losing their only source of income from the business owners. A NAMESAKE, BUT THE and being faced with the bleak prospect host of companies correct SMALLER ONES ARE of being alone in a foreign country with no the situation of workers in NOT BOTHERED AT ALL job, while their family back home depends terms of the concept of on their monthly remittance. occupational health and A Muscat-based social worker who supports troubled workers safety.” says he is disappointed with some sponsors, who he feels are guilty He adds that there are some anomalies that of neglecting any health and safety measures when it comes to do not welcome correction proposals, which the working environment of labourers, which has led to a rise in means that some unfortunate workers will have accidents on construction sites. to endure their conditions indefinitely. “Some of the bigger construction companies have some facilities “In the GFOTU and social workers, for namesake, but the smaller ones are not bothered at all. The labourers have an outlet to make their workers do not have the most basic of mandatory facilities – no proper voices heard and express their concerns HSE, no gloves, helmets or any other safety gear and there are a lot of regarding their own situations, but occupational hazards. I get about four to five cases per month,” says ultimately everything ends up at the door Shameer PTK. of the Ministry of Manpower,” he says. According to Shameer, there are several health hazards that result “And with the recent rise in accidents, from negligence in terms of health and safety measures. “Sometimes it seems that the desks at the Ministry they fall from heights and sometimes a brick falls on them. Anything can will be piled high with cases, meaning happen at such sites if construction workers are not made aware of the that workers will have no choice but dangers and not provided the right gear for safety,” he says. to sit and wait their turn. When Shameer gets a call from a troubled worker, one of the first things he does is inform the Labour Department at the Ministry of * Names changed to protect privacy 022

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In 2008, the Ministry of Manpower issued Ministerial Decision no 286/2008, introducing the Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health for Establishments Governed by the Labour Law. Among other things, it stated that: 1

Health and Safety in the Workplace

Work uniform and equipment for personal protection must comply with the specified standards of safety required depending on the actual hazards the workers are being exposed to. The employer should train the workers on the best ways of using, maintaining and storing equipment. Most importantly, workers must not work on construction sites or open, uncovered areas of high temperature at noon, from 12.30pm up to 3.30pm throughout June, July and August; subject to certain exemptions for establishments providing essential public services. The employer must also provide workers with sufficient potable water within easy reach and a reasonable number of water coolers proportionate to the number of workers. If food is provided for workers, employers should ensure that food safety measures are strictly observed.

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023

n i W

RO500 YOUR TUI

Y’S POPULAR BACK TO SCHO YOU KICK OFF THE NEW ACA IS GIVING ONE LUCKY STUD TOWARDS THEIR TUITION FEES DEADLINE TO ENTER I

HOW TO ENTER ALL YOU HAVE IS TELL US IN TO DO WORDS OR LESS100 YOUR FAVOURI WHO TEACHER IS ANTE D WHY.

024

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TOWARDS ITION FEES

OOL COMPETITION IS BACK! TO HELP ADEMIC YEAR ON A WINNING NOTE, Y DENT A CHANCE TO WIN RO500 TO GO S. BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO BE QUICK – THE IS THIS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7.

ing ond itions n to all stu dents attend ho o l C d n a s m er e sc T ition is op Oman, fro m primary • The co mpet scho o l in lete d by a recognise d e age. ust be co mp eg m ll s ie co tr to n E e . g d a ntr y per chil • Only one e ith no parental input. agazine and the w M d Y il h n by the c w ill be chose 27, • The w innercision is final. rts on August a st e d n s io r’ it o it et p d e Scho o l Co m st be receive d by 5pm • The Back to entries mu 2015, and allSeptember 7, 2015. an.co m on Monday, entries to e d itor@y-o m e September 10, th r u unce d in • Email yo w ill be anno • The w inner of Y Magazine. nter 2015, issue f Sabco Me d ia cannot e o • Employees ition. the co mpet

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PHOTOS: SHAMSA AL MAHROOQI

ith intricate patterns of henna on her hands and delicate gold jewellery glittering on her fingers, the bride looked beautiful in a traditional Omani dress of burnt orange and turquoise. As Nasra bathed in the glow of officially being married, more than 800 guests – all women – celebrated at a reception in Al Noor Hall in Ghubra, Muscat, with dancing, eating and entertainment. For Nasra, 24, her wedding day a week ago was the culmination of a long process, which began 12 months earlier when she became engaged to her betrothed, Ahmed, in a ritual known as “Malka”. Marriage traditions in Oman vary from one city or region to another but, throughout the Sultanate, Malka is a binding agreement of marriage. Usually, the intended bride is not involved in the ceremony – her groom, his father and a representative of the girl visit the mosque to see the Imam. From there, it was a long wait until August this year for the next stages, during which time the groom was busy preparing the marital home in Mawaleh, while Nasra continued living in her family home with her two sisters, Shamsa and the youngest girl, 18. In a rare insight of an Omani wedding, Y’s intern photographer Shamsa al Mahrooqi captured her sister’s wedding – from the bridal shower, cake and the wedding dress. Custom begins with a henna day, when the bride and her female relatives receive designs on their hands, arms and feet; incredibly complex decorations of swirling patterns and entwined flowers, done with a paste made primarily of dried ground henna leaves. The bride will also have henna on her body and legs. This is followed by a pamper day when the bride and female party have facials. Often the bride has been rubbing turmeric – a spice said to rejuvenate the skin – for weeks or months leading up to the big day. For her bridal shower, Nasra wore a traditional handmade white wedding dress, beautifully adorned with thousands of tiny shimmering beads and hand stitched with delicate embroidery. It is not unusual for Omani women to wear a white dress for their wedding day, which is customary in the West. According to Shamsa, bridal showers are not traditional in Oman but have been adopted by the younger generation. It’s a big affair and there were about 200 guests at Nasra’s shower. Shamsa’s photographs show a table groaning with sweets and a cake decorated with bright red fondant poppy flowers with “Nasra’s bridal shower” written in icing. In one photo, Nasra is captured holding hands

ortrait of an

Omani Wedding

Getting married is a special moment in any person’s life and in Oman, it comes with centuries old rituals. In this stunning photo feature, Y’s intern Shamsa al Mahrooqi captures her sister’s union 026

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with a man in a dishdasha, presumably her groom, and later clutching her wedding bouquet, dark red roses with vivid green stems. On the morning of her wedding, Nasra rose early to begin a routine of beautifying herself, rubbing a special perfume on her body and oil in her long dark hair, which was not covered but left to flow loose. Her traditional Omani outfit, known as a Dhofari dress, was handmade and the gold jewellery was all wedding gifts. It is tradition for Omani couples to be given gold and money as gifts, while the bride can also receive perfume and make-up. The parents of the bride and groom almost always give gold and other expensive items, while flight tickets for the honeymoon are also given to celebrate the union and wish the couple lasting joy. When the bride arrives at the venue, guests often throw money (100 baisa notes) like confetti. Again, it’s strictly women only, although Nasra had earlier posed for private wedding photos with her father and brothers in a studio. Once the formalities are over, it’s time for fun with dancing under flashing disco lights. This continues until about midnight, when the groom arrives to “collect” his bride. Each stage of an Omani wedding – different days such as the bridal shower – can cost anything from RO5,000 up to RO20,000 and more for grander affairs. Nasra and Ahmed are currently on their honeymoon in Turkey for a month. When they return, they can finally begin their life as husband and wife together.

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FOOD AND DRINK

Trend

New Restaurant

PERFECTLY POMEGRANATE

Reviews

The familiar red fruit is grown right here in Oman and packs a serious nutritional punch.

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TREND New Restaurant

News

POMEGRANATE

POWER The locally grown superfood is packed full of nutritional value and is coming into season in Oman

hey may look like little red apples, but slice a pomegranate open and inside you’ll literally find the fruit of your labours – hundreds a tiny tasty seeds, or arils as they’re officially known. While the leathery skin is inedible, the clusters of rubyred seeds inside are the real stars of the pomegranate, providing a sweet taste, balanced with a slight tartness. Originating in the region of modern day Iran, pomegranates have always been popular throughout the Middle East and their recent emergence as a nutritious superfood packed with antioxidants and vitamins has catapulted them into the global spotlight. The best thing is, this sweet and juicy fruit is grown right here in Oman, on the slopes of Jebel Akhdar, making them readily available at local supermarkets. What’s even better is that pomegranate season is upon us. Pomegranates grow on deciduous shrubs or small trees between five and eight metres tall and Oman’s crops are harvested between September and October, meaning they’ll be making their way to a market near you very soon. Good quality, reasonably priced pomegranates can be found at Nizwa Souq, but a pleasant weekend trip up the Green Mountain can be rounded off perfectly with some delicious freshly picked pomegranates bought directly from the farmers themselves, who sell their produce at the roadside. One of the oldest fruits around, the use of pomegranates can be traced back to ancient times and the fruit has long been revered as a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life in cultures around the world, according to Dr Joel Fuhrman, an American doctor and author who specialises in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Pomegranate seeds provide a fruity crunch and are a great addition to cold dishes and salads, or can be juiced to create nutrient dense smoothies and other drinks. Another great use of pomegranates is to create a sticky glaze when roasting meats like lamb and duck. Preparing pomegranates can often seem like a lot of effort for little reward. Both the skin and the creamy yellow pith are inedible, leaving only the seeds, but if you put in the work, not only your taste buds, but also your body will be more than well compensated. One cup of pomegranate seeds (174g) contains: ● Fibre: 7g ● Protein: 3g ● Vitamin C: 30 per cent of RDA* ● Vitamin K: 36 per cent of RDA ● Folate: 16 per cent of RDA ● Potassium: 12 per cent of RDA *Recommended Dietary Allowance

Why Pomegranate? ① Regular intake of pomegranate juice has been shown to lower blood pressure levels in as little as two weeks. ② There is preliminary evidence that pomegranate juice can be useful in men with prostate cancer, potentially inhibiting cancer growth and lowering the risk of death. ③ The punicalagins (a chemical compound) in pomegranate juice have been shown to reduce inflammation, one of the leading drivers of many killer diseases. ④ Studies in animals and isolated cells have shown that pomegranate extract may be beneficial against several forms of arthritis. ⑤ Some evidence shows that pomegranate can improve memory in the elderly and post-surgery, and studies in mice suggest that it can protect against Alzheimer’s disease. ⑥ Several human studies have shown that pomegranate can have benefits against heart disease. Source: authoritynutrition.com

Pomegranate and Mint Sorbet Ingredients: § 1 cup mint syrup § 2 cups 100 per cent pomegranate juice § 1 cup orange juice § 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips § Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish § 1 cup sugar § 1/2 cup water § 1 packed cup packed fresh mint leaves

combine the mint syrup, pomegranate juice, and orange juice. Pour the pomegranate mixture in an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. During the last 10 minutes of freezing time, add the chocolate chips. § Scoop the sorbet into dessert bowls and garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

Method: § To make the mint syrup, combine sugar, water, and mint leaves in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for 20 minutes. Strain before using. § In a glass pitcher,

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FOOD AND DRINK

Tr e n d

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

could be described as an overwhelming BARBEQUE NATION D I menu that consisted of T M KE South Mawaleh, near the 536 items, including Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb R A drinks, juices and Tel: +968 9179 8999, M Opening hours: Daily from desserts. There 11am-1am was no description Dinner for three adults and accompanying each three children: RO39 menu item – and Verdict : that’s where seeing 7.5 / 10 Service what other diners have 6.5 / 10 Food ordered comes into 6 / 10 Ambience Good value and great for large play. Call it foodie inspiration, if you will, families seeking privacy but when you see a waiter fly past with a Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals delicious-looking dish, you are likely to follow suit and order the same. The menu is split into a number of sections, kicking off with soups, salads, appetisers, Turkish kebabs, Turkish cuisine, pizzas and snacks – 122 choices to be exact. Next up, comes the Indian section, which covers the usual favourites such as chicken tandoori, paneer tikka, a variety of seafood and other meats and curries, as well as breads, rice and raita. By the time we wade through this, we’ve hit number 344. This is followed by the Chinese Cuisine section, again offering a wealth of choice, from rice and noodles to chicken in garlic and ginger, dry chilli lamb, lobster schezwan and spring rolls. Surprisingly short, we find ourselves heading into the Continental Cuisine section at just number 443. Here you’ll find anything from chicken stroganoff to pasta alla romana. As you can imagine, we found it difficult to choose. I took the easy way out and stuck to the beginning of the menu and ordered from the Turkish section: chicken tikka with yoghurt, a FELICITY GLOVER CHECKS OUT BARBEQUE NATION, tabouleh and hummus with flatbread. The three girls chose a mozzarella pizza and fresh juices: one A NEW RESTAURANT IN SEEB THAT HAS AN mango, another orange and the third a cocktail INCREDIBLE 536 ITEMS ON THE MENU AND WHERE juice – a mélange of mango, what tasted like strawberry jam at the top and what we think was a “DINING IN” TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING creamy avocado juice in the middle. s an Australian, standing at the start of a The other two grown-ups went for the Indian I think it’s safe long corridor, which ran cuisine: a chicken do pyaza with the Barbeque to say that I almost the length of the special family naan and chicken bhuna with butter come from a IF YOU ARE HOPING TO SIT IN restaurant, and on either naan. barbeque nation. side, there were numbered A BUZZING DINING ROOM, The food came quickly once we’d pressed the Sure, a lot of Australians doors. We counted 19 THEN THIS MAY NOT BE THE buzzer and it didn’t take long for us to figure out own a barbeque, but it’s PLACE FOR YOU. THAT SAID, IT’S doors, or at least that is that we’d ordered way too much – the Barbeque not the be all and end all GREAT FOR BUSINESS LUNCHES the highest number we special family naan was huge: fit for a large family. in life. Or at least that’s AND FAMILIES LOOKING FOR A spotted. It was, however, one of the favourites of the night, how it was when I was last That said, we couldn’t PRIVATE PLACE TO DINE along with the chicken tikka in the fresh and there. That said, though, I spot the dining room – or zingy yoghurt. The chicken do pyaza had a lovely did go to a couple of barbies during that visit. any diners, for that matter. And then it dawned kick, but it was rather boney, while there were So when I noticed Barbeque Nation was on us: those doors were the entrance to private no complaints about the chicken bhuna. We also preparing to open near The Holiday Inn in Seeb, booths. ordered the Turkish lamb chops as a starter – while I have to admit that I was convinced it was a We were shown to our booth and the waiter tasty, everybody agreed they were a little too chewy. restaurant specialising in all things barbeque. But, switched it to “occupied”, all the while explaining The pizzas were good, but for two of the girls, as the saying goes, you should never judge a book that when we were ready to order, all we had to the olives were a turn off. This is where it would be by its cover. do was ring a bell and a waiter would appear. We good to have descriptions so you can request that Barbeque Nation opened only a week or two were given our menus and before we knew it, the they be left off – especially for children. ago, so it probably wasn’t the best time to head door had been closed. All in all, it was an interesting experience. But there for a review. But it is close to home and It was a little off-putting and, as one of our if you are hoping to sit in a buzzing dining room, appeared to be a family friendly restaurant, friends pointed out, we may as well have been then this may not be the place for you. That said, which meant it was a good excuse to invite dining out at home. One of the fun things about it’s great for business lunches and families looking friends for a post-holiday catch up before the kids eating in a restaurant is the buzz, while seeing for a private place to dine. started the new school year. other diners and what they’ve ordered is also Upon entering, it was a little confusing. We another plus. Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see were greeted by a number of waiters who were But in here, it was just us – contemplating what reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Beauty

STYLISH SOLDIER

FASHION

In theory, camouflage and florals may not seem like the easiest prints to wear, but with such a variety of pieces available at all price points in Muscat’s malls, it’s worth experimenting. If you’re feeling extra brave, try mixing the two patterns together, as seen here from M&S, adding textures like denim and leather for added interest.

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MILITARY

Stylishly understated and convenient to carry, this camouflage backpack from Zara is the quintessential companion for commuters and cadet wannabes. From RO30.5

MAN

In olive-green with a contrasting grosgrain waistband, Alexander McQueen’s trousers are a slick nod to this season’s military trend. The sharp cut and neat detailing keeps the effect marvellously modern. RO242 from Mr Porter

Firmly established in the modern man’s offduty wardrobe, military pieces are ideal for the transitional months when weather conditions prove unpredictable, says Penny Fray

he army has always influenced fashion. And every autumn, military inspired designs hit the catwalk. This year is no different as everyone from Coach to Alexander McQueen adopted khaki as the colour du jour. Meanwhile, camouflage shed its classic form to be cool once again. At Dsquared2, Dean and Dan Caten put their signature spin on the military print, showing a shocking neon pink, yellow, purple and green version on swim shorts, blazers and shirts. Even Valentino gave the timeless military motif a modern twist by applying a rich burgundy variant to traditional tailoring and evening wear. But if you want to keep things a little less outré, stick to the usual bomber and army jackets over tailored trousers in olive or moss green.

M&S’s fabulous field jacket will add utilitarian urban style to your autumn wardrobe. From RO42

A timeless summer classic originally created by Ray-Ban for pilots in 1936, these aviator sunglasses take your warm weather ensembles to new heights of cool. From RO95

How to wear military gear without looking like you’ve signed up for service:

Every man needs a good desert boot and these military inspired ones by Rick Owen top the list. The RO600 price tag may be a bit steep but set on durable Goodyear welter soles, they’ll last for years

1. Camouflage has infiltrated every part of the wardrobe but wearing it head-to-toe is a no no. Try freshening up your look with a printed accessory instead. So long as you keep the rest of your ensemble simple, you can’t go wrong with a cool camo backpack or sturdy pair of desert boots. 2. A casual top in military colours could easily become your new go-to piece for the remainder of the year. Khaki green can be classified as a neutral and will slot seamlessly into your wardrobe.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

BEAUTY

Health Fashion

FOR WOMEN

ONLY Getting rid of unwanted hair needn’t be a chore

air removal is part of many women’s regular beauty routine. While some might find the whole process easy, others struggle. It could mean using different methods on different parts of the face and body, and finding out which one works best for you. To give you a helping hand to smooth-as-a-baby skin, we look at some of the options available:

Tweezing

Pulling out individual hairs by the root with tweezers, best for small areas of the face, lasting three to eight weeks. Tip: Clean tweezers before and after each use to lower your chance of infection.

Shaving

Using a razor or electric shaver, you cut the hair very close to the skin. Works anywhere and lasts one to three days. Tip: If you use disposable razors or blades, wet your skin and use soap or shaving cream. Shave in the direction the hair grows. Replace your razor often – you can cut yourself with a dull one.

Waxing

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Sticky wax is spread on the skin and covered with cloth strips. When the wax dries, the strips are quickly pulled off, taking the hair with them. Some types of wax can be pulled off without cloth strips. Good for anywhere on the body, including the face, underarms, legs and bikini area. Lasts around three to six weeks. Tip: Hair has to be at least 1/4 inch long for the wax to grab it. So let your hair grow for a few weeks before waxing. Over-the-counter creams Depilatory creams or lotions dissolve proteins that make up hair. Works well for legs, underarms and bikini area. The effect can last a couple of days to a couple of weeks Tip: There are special formulas for the face, but they sometimes don’t work well on coarse hair. Electrolysis A trained expert places a tiny needle inside each hair follicle to destroy the root with an electric current. Best for the upper lip or chin. You’ll probably need treatments every one to two weeks until the hair is mostly gone.

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Laser/Pulsed Light How it works: A technician destroys the roots with strong beams of light. It’s the most effective way to have long-term hair reduction. Works anywhere on the body and is best for women with dark hair. May take six to 12 treatments to see results. Tip: Oman has just got the next generation hair laser removal technique. Kaya, the largest international skincare clinic in the region, has just launched its Ultima Laser Hair Removal in Muscat and parts of the UAE. Kaya Ultima is faster as it targets larger areas with a single beam and unveils smooth skin in a single pass. Even better, it’s painless thanks to a special cryogen-based Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD) that delivers cooling to the epidermal level of skin in the very same instant as the laser pulse. It also keeps skin smoother for longer, delaying hair re-growth by the longest period ever known. It does so by penetrating deeper into skin tissue and directing a controlled amount of therapeutic heat at the hair root. Dr Muzna al Taie, Dermatologist at Kaya Skin Clinic, says: “Kaya Ultima offers us the flexibility to adapt our technology for the benefit of our customers in an effective, painless and smoother way. “Unlike other laser hair removal technologies, you feel a cool rush instead of a heat rush thanks to the Cryogen-based DCD cooling. The biggest USP of this treatment is the time taken to treat larger areas by almost one third the time as compared to other laser technologies.” The technique needs three to six sessions, or a bit more depending on the skin colour, coarseness of hair, and the area of the body being treated, besides gender and underlying health conditions. Technologies at Kaya Skin Clinic are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and conform to the highest international quality standards.

HEALTH

Fashion

KEEP SMILING

Beauty

Take steps to make your pearly whites look their best

ot everyone is blessed with a perfect set of teeth. In fact, most people have had to work hard – or had work done – to perfect that big winning smile. Most Hollywood actors and actresses have had help to get those teeth so white they’re almost shining in the dark. Glossy veneers can work wonders. However, you don’t need to be earning a Hollywood salary to achieve the same with enhancing treatments such as teeth whitening within reach for even those on a budget. Cosmetic dentistry is an art and science, which can reverse dental imperfections and craft a brilliant and a natural looking smile, according to Dr Saritha Venkat, MDS, BDS, a Muscatbased dentist. “Cosmetic dentistry is dental face lift,” she says. “It makes you look younger and can quickly reverse the natural ageing process of the teeth. A healthy smile means better quality of life and make it much easier to maintain good oral health.” Cosmetic dentistry is a term generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums or bite. If you have stained, broken or uneven teeth, it can help with subtle changes or major work. It differs from orthodontics, which fixes or straightens teeth with braces and other devices. Cosmetic dentistry is more about making your smile look good or aesthetically pleasing. “A smile is something that is understood by everyone regardless of culture, race or religion,” says Dr Venkat, who

has a clinic at the Medical CARE Centre in Seeb. The importance of having a good smile can be borne out by the increasing number of treatments like whitening and bleaching, aesthetic crowns, veneers, laminates, dental jewellery, dental implants offered all over the world these days. Teeth with protrusions, spacing, crowding, or discoloration can be easily and effectively corrected or rather camouflaged with cosmetic dentistry, says Dr Venkat, a specialist in prosthodontics (dental prosthetics) and implants. “A positive smile can have a positive change to your life. A skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist can improve your appearance, your smile, self-esteem and confidence. Smile enhancement can have a dramatic effect on overall appearance.” Common cosmetic dental procedures include: ● Bleaching to make teeth whiter ● Repairing chips or rough spots with fillings that match teeth ● Filling cavities with tooth-coloured materials ● Reshaping teeth that don’t match the others ● Closing gaps between teeth ● Covering broken teeth with porcelain crowns Tooth whitening is becoming increasingly popular and affordable. Over time, teeth can become stained or discoloured, due to smoking, taking certain medications or consuming foods such as coffee and tea. Dentists can bleach teeth, either in-office or by supplying a system for their patients to use at home to revive the sparkle. It can take several treatments to see any change and remember, results can vary from person to person. Keep in mind your teeth can become stained again if you continue exposing them to the same substances that originally stained them. It can often take a few weeks or months to see improvements in your smile and you need to be realistic about what can be achieved. Dentists, even with the new techniques and tools at their disposal, cannot work miracles. Any improvement, however small, can make a difference, points out Dr Venkat. “There’s a a saying by an unknown perfectionist that a smile is the one curve that sets all things straight.” • Medical CARE Centre, Al Seeb Tel: +968 2442 1057 or 9788 4856 SEP 03 - 09 / ISSUE 385

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

•

KIMS Oman Hospital • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Bakery • Shell Petrol Station Al Falaj/Rex Road • Al Falaj Hotel • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Golden Oryx Restaurant • Kamat Restaurant • Toshiba Showroom Ghala • National Mineral Water Ghubra • Al Hayat International Hospital • Al Maya Hypermarket • Bank of Beirut • Costa Coffee • Crêpe Café • GMC Showroom • LuLu Hypermarket • Moka & More • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Park Inn • Porsche Showroom • Al Raffah Hospital • Stationery Hut • The Chedi Muscat Al Hail • Burger King • Caledonian College of Engineering • Markaz Al Bahja Mall • McDonald’s • Omantel • Starcare Hospital Al Khoudh • Al Fair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Pizza Hut Al Khuwair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Bait Al Reem Mall • Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint (Splash) • Diplomatic Club • Grand Hyatt Muscat • Harley-Davidson Showroom • HSBC • KFC • 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 Sifah • Sifawy Boutique Hotel SQU • Diplomatic Club • College of Economics and

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

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

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Postcards from

Indoors

Y- F i

CARS AND ADVENTURES DRY AND CRACKED

Where once there was a fertile land filled with deep pools, only parched earth remains at this lesser explored part of Wadi Hatta.

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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

Destination

WADI HATTA TAKING A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH A VISIT TO WADI HATTA, SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI FINDS THAT ALL IS NOT AS HE REMEMBERS 038

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Indoors

point we took a dirt track on the left and entered the wilderness. We followed the path for a while, but eventually parked to walk the rest of the way when the terrain became too challenging for our saloon car. The clouds and fog had both burned away by the time we arrived, but the atmosphere was still quiet and eerie, despite the fact the main road was very close by. The only signs of life we saw were the birds that wheeled overhead and the fish that darted round in the collected pockets of water. I tried to snap them both, but they moved too fast. The difference between 1995 and 2015 was quite staggering. The sandy-coloured peaks of the surrounding hills and mountains remained, but the water was all but gone, it seemed. We trekked the area in search of the deep pools that we had been able to dive into all those years ago, but often just found dry and cracked mud in its place. Eventually we found a trickle and were able to follow it downstream as it grew larger, eventually opening out into a small waterfall and a pool large enough to swim in. The same friend who recommended the place when we were kids wasted no time in taking a dip as he strove to relive his past. One good thing that remains is the greenery. Trees and shrubbery abound and offer shade for those who go to relax there. From the look of things, this part of Wadi Hatta has become a lot more popular with

TRAVEL GUIDE

xactly 20 years ago, my friends and I were at Qurum Beach on a Thursday, which was the first day of the weekend back then. We decided we’d had enough of saltwater and were in need of fresh water for a change. While most people may have settled for one of the wadis close to the capital, myself and two of my friends – the Three Amigos as we’re known – had grand ambitions and a love of discovering new places, which took us way up north to a lesser explored part of Wadi Hatta, just before the Oman-UAE border. We spent half the day here, splashing around and jumping into the huge pools before having some lunch and driving back home to Amerat. Last week – on a Thursday again, as fate would have it – one of my Amigos, along with a newer recruit, began to reminisce about “the good old days” and decided to head back to see what, if anything, had changed. It was a very personal journey for me, like a trip down memory lane. We set off in the very early hours of Friday morning and at a little under 300km, the journey should have taken around three hours or so. There was absolutely no traffic on the roads at that time, but it still took us closer to four hours to reach our destination, as we were taking it very easy, laughing and joking along the way and stopped once so that my friend could perform his morning prayers. I was hoping to get some great pictures of the sun coming up as we drove, but unfortunately it was cloudy and a light fog lay on the ground, obscuring the sun. Our destination can be found around 30 seconds from the Al Wajaja Border Post, driving in the direction of the UAE, at which

visitors and in all honesty, it was sad to see. I don’t mind people enjoying the area – that’s the whole idea of exploring Oman’s great outdoors – but they should respect the environment and take their rubbish with them when they leave. It was a little disappointing to see bottles and other trash carelessly strewn about, but we still managed to have just about as much fun as we did the first time around, as we remembered and retold the stories from our glory days. It’s a good place for walking trips and the vast expanse of land makes it a good playground to test your 4x4 if you have one. Once we’d had our fun, we decided that it would be a shame not to visit Dubai, given that fact that we were so close. The plan was to do some shopping, but in our soaking wet clothes we weren’t a fit sight for civilised society and ended up going for lunch at a mall just across the border before turning our car around and making the long, long trip back towards Muscat.

HOW TO GET THERE From Muscat, take Route 1 north, passing through the Shinas Gateway. Take a left at the Al Aqar roundabout and join Route 5. This road takes you all the way to the dirt track, which can be found on the left about 30 seconds after passing through the Al Wajaja Border Post.

GPS location of the dirt track: N24° 47’ 23.991” E56° 14’ 38.013” SEPT 03 - 09 / ISSUE 385

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

If you’re serious about sushi, you need to learn how to make it, says Matt Blackwell after sampling a master class at Chez Sushi

ushi is cool. Even if the classic Japanese combination of raw fish and rice doesn’t appeal to your taste buds, you have to admire at the artistry that goes into creating it, with bundles of fish and vegetables tightly packed into each neat little roll. Sometimes it seems a shame to eat what you could simply sit and marvel at, given the amount of craftsmanship that goes into constructing this particular kind of cuisine. Whether you like to stare at your

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sushi or scoff it down in one, you’ll be as interested as I was to hear that Chez Sushi at The Wave, Muscat, runs monthly sushi-making master classes. At the end of our session, dozens of trays of painstakingly presented sushi lay across several tables in the middle of the restaurant, but in order to get to this point, you have to rewind two hours for an understanding of all the wasabi, rice and tears that went into putting on this sumptuous spread. Sushi’s history can be traced all the

Postcards from way back to second-century Southeast Asia and it has since grown to become a staple in Japan, but has taken on a lot of foreign influences over the centuries in the evolution to becoming the dish known and loved around the world today. On the menu at the Chez Sushi master class were some of their signature rolls including the Philly Maki, California Maki, Spicy Tuna Temaki and some salmon and tuna nigiri sushi (an oblong-shaped piece of sushi made of just rice and fish), which executive chef Benny – a sushi specialist with more than 12 years of experience around the GCC – and his duo of supporting chefs would teach the fully booked class of 15 people. The necessary elements were provided at each station, including a box of sushi rice, sesame seeds, ginger, wasabi and spring onion to garnish, with the main ingredients – the fish and vegetables brought round as each dish was prepared. Wearing a branded white apron and stylish black hat, with a formidable-looking specialised sushi knife in hand, I felt the part and was ready for instruction from chef Benny. “As a chef, the hardest part is slicing the fish into the thin strips; you have to be very precise,” Benny tells me midway through the class. “But I enjoy teaching people and passing on my knowledge at these classes so much,” he says. Taking a sheet of nori seaweed, we were told to spread a portion of sushi rice on one side, before flipping it over on the bamboo rolling mat and adding our fillings – salmon, strips of cucumber, spring onions and cream cheese. Next came the hard part of using the bamboo mat to roll everything into a tight cylinder ready for cutting. There is definitely an art to the use of the mat and needless to say my first attempt bordered on woeful. I broke my intense concentration to look around at how my fellow fledgling sushi chefs were faring and was comforted by the fact that they too seemed to be struggling at this early stage. As with everything in life, practice makes perfect, and everyone began to pick up the knack as we progressed, moving on to the California Maki and beyond with increased confidence. The next stumbling block would prove to be the temaki, which is hand rolled into one big piece. If what we had done up to this point was an art form, then temaki would be a masterpiece, with cubes of spicy tuna, cucumber and spring onions

● When dipping nigiri sushi in soy sauce, just dip the fish, not the rice, otherwise the sushi may fall to pieces ● Nigiri sushi should be eaten in one bite (if possible) to avoid the rice breaking up into pieces ● It is not rude to eat sushi with your fingers – using chopsticks or your fingers are both perfectly acceptable

● If a friend offers a piece of sushi from their plate, it is polite to pick it up with the opposite end of the chopsticks to the end that you put in your mouth ● Use a plate to pass a piece of sushi to a dining companion, not your own chopsticks ● Ginger is supposed to be eaten between pieces of sushi, as it cleanses the palate, rather than at the same time

Y- F i INDOORS

rolled into a cone shape and placed in a special holder to varying degrees of success around the class. Nevertheless, it was all smiles on the faces of the sushi students. “The hand roll was tricky, but was probably my favourite part. I didn’t think the class would be that advanced but it was brilliant, I loved it,” says Lauren Rasmussen, a Muscatborn British expat. “It was really, really good,” echoes her friend, Melodi Marx from South Africa, just after the pair pose for a photo proudly displaying their creations. “I love sushi and it’s definitely something different to do in Muscat. “Overall, it’s exceeded my expectations – there were more chefs on hand to help than I thought there would be. And there was a lot more sushi than I thought there would be,” she laughs. The classes have been running for the past six months and were initiated after repeated interest from customers in the sushi-making process, according to branch manager Rajesh Radhakrishnan. “The response has been absolutely fantastic. Within two or three days of announcing the date of our sushi classes, they are usually fully booked,” he says. Perhaps the best thing about the master class is that you get to eat everything you make in a grand sushi feast that closes proceedings. The volume of food alone easily justifies the RO20 outlay, not to mention the new set of skills you walk away with. But the big question is, will the students continue to roll? “I’d like to think we will use the skills we’ve learned,” both Lauren and Melodi agree. “In fact, I’m half tempted to buy a sushi-making kit,” adds Lauren as she eyes up the last roll on the tray in front of her.

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CARS AND ADVENTURES

MEDIEVAL MARVEL

Take a trip back in time in Bruges, with its stunning architecture and extensive system of canals.

TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO: 1. Take a boat trip down the canal 2. Try the moules and frites 3. Climb to the top of the Belfry 4. Book a Battlefields tour 5. Hang out in the Markt

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Destination

Indoors

Y-Fi

POSTCARDS FROM

Kate Ginn recommends

BRUGES, BELGIUM

isitors to Paris often jump on the Eurostar train to take the two-hour journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and home to the headquarters of the European Union. I w o u l d a d v i s e a n y o n e t o c o n t i n u e o n fo r a n o t h e r h o u r t o B r u g e s , a medieval city that looks like the backdrop to a fairy tale and will have you enchanted within minutes. With canals, cobbled streets and ornate buildings, it is steeped in fascinating historical, architectural and artistic wonders. Bruges is a capital in its own right, being the main city in the region of Belgium known as West Flanders, and its port, Z e e b r u g g e , i s a n i m p o r t a n t c e n t r e fo r f i s h i n g a n d t r a d e . The whole city emanates a feel of the past, a love of the p r e s e n t a n d a n e n t h u s i a s m fo r t h e fu t u r e . Its historic city centre is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the canal, which winds its way through Bruges, is the reason why it is sometimes referred to as “The Venice of the North”, along with Amsterdam and Stockholm. There’s so much to see and do - from exploring the narrow back streets, to taking in the culture, marvelling at the beauty of its buildings such as the 13th-century Belfry of Bruges, or simply enjoying the city’s famous cuisine (more on this later). Often seen as just a weekend destination, you can easily spend a week here - as I did - and still not see everything.

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My favourite place This was a tough one but it has to be the Markt (Market Square), located in the heart of the city, where some of the wonderful classic buildings such as the Belfry, with its 47-bell carillon and 83m-tall tower, and the Provincial Court can be found. Sit at one of the pavement cafés or restaurants (17th-century houses which have been restored) and just people watch or take a horse-drawn carriage ride and clip-clop your way around at a sedate pace. The Markt was completely renovated in 1995 and became mostly trafficfree so it’s pedestrian friendly, which is just as well as you’ll spend most of the time craning your neck to look up at the architecture rather than at the ground and what might be coming towards you. Highlights A visit to Bruges isn’t complete without a boat trip along its famous canal. Drift along the water for around 30 minutes seeing some of those fantastic medieval buildings up close. Or try a tour on two wheels. We hired a bike for a day and cycled around the city, stopping off for a picnic lunch by the water. If you’re feeling energetic, you can climb a narrow, steep staircase consisting of 366 steps to the top of the Belfry and enjoy panoramic views of the city. The building is a central feature of the 2008 film In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell. For history buffs, Bruges is also within easy reach of the First World War battlefields, cemeteries and memorials. We took a Flanders Fields Battlefield Tour, which included bunkers, restored trenches and Ypres. For culture, try my favourite, the Absolute Art Gallery, with contemporary paintings, sculptures and photos by renowned Belgian and international artists, and the Groeninge Museum. The Church of Our Lady is also very impressive. Last but not least, you must have the moules and frites (mussels and chips), a Belgian national dish. Served with mayonnaise and a suitable beverage, it’s a simple but amazingly tasty treat that is available in every café and restaurant in the city.

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Lowlights It can get very crowded during peak season (June-Aug) and don’t expect blazing sunshine. Even in summer, temperatures only reach around 25 degrees Celsius and a rain shower is always a possibility. Avoid winter, unless you like it chilly and damp. Souvenirs

Belgian chocolates make great gifts for folks back home, as do handmade items featuring traditional Belgian lace, such as delicate table linens and handkerchiefs. Modern art is also a good buy, as are beautifully embroidered pillows and cushions.

Where to stay

We stayed in a great room for a very reasonable rate above a chic café just round the corner from the Markt, so perfect for sightseeing. There are plenty of options, from budget hotels to more luxurious offerings. If you want historic, The Pand Hotel, an 18th-century carriage house converted into a 26-bedroom boutique hotel is charming. Hotel Adornes, situated along the canal, is also in a picturesque location.

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Postcards from

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MOBILE LIFESTYLE

Keep looking stylish and stay connected with Matthew Herbst’s picks of the best gadgets for life on the go TUNES ON THE GO Kick back in style with your favourite tunes, audiobooks and more with this Flip 2 Portable Wireless Speaker by JBL that features dual drivers and a bass port for rich audio. It uses Bluetooth technology to give you hours of listening on a single charge and lets you wirelessly connect to Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, tablets and more. Available at jbl.com from RO34.50.

WALK AND SURF These secret agentworthy cufflinks let you wear a mobile hotspot on one wrist and carry around 2GB of important files on the other. One of the cufflinks contains a miniature router, while the other has a USB Flash Drive; plug them both into a laptop or computer and you’re ready to roll, making them great for businessmen on the go. The perfect fusion of geek and chic, available at brookstone.com from RO96.50.

The Sanctuary4 Charging Station has been completely re-engineered to become a comprehensive charging device with enough juice to swiftly recharge up to four devices at once. It’s also got an angle-adjustable tablet stand built in, giving you a dedicated space to charge your tablet alongside all other devices. One Micro USB cable comes with each Sanctuary4 for your convenience. Available at amazon.com from RO30.50.

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EDITOR’S PICK 044

ON THE DOCKS

DO YOU SPEND HALF YOUR DAY LOOKING FOR KEYS OR OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE YOUR WALLET OR PURSE? WELL, THAT COULD SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST THANKS TO CHIPOLO, A SIMPLE BLUETOOTH-BASED ITEM FINDER FOR IPHONE, ANDROID AND WINDOWS PHONE 8.1 DEVICES. EASILY ATTACHABLE TO A KEYRING AND SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT INSIDE A WALLET, THE IDEA WITH CHIPOLO IS THAT YOU’RE CONNECTED 24/7. IF THE ITEM THAT YOUR CHIPOLO IS ATTACHED TO GOES OUT OF RANGE FROM YOUR PHONE AND DISCONNECTS, THE APP WILL PINPOINT THE LAST LOCATION ON A MAP AND SEND YOU A NOTIFICATION TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR ITEM MAY BE LOST. AVAILABLE AT CHIPOLO.NET FROM RO11.50. JULY SEP 0303- -0909//ISSUE ISSUE385 327

App of the Week

IT’S WRITE FOR ME It may look like an ordinary writing instrument, but look carefully and you’ll see it's much more than that. The Smartphone Power Boost Pen is a portable back-up power source for almost any type of mobile device. Separate the two halves to reveal its power plugs and simply hook up your device using its multihead charging cable to give you an additional 33 per cent of battery life. Available at sharperimage. com from RO19.50.

NEW MYIDKEY Keeping hundreds of passwords and usernames safe can be quite a challenge in the digital age. With this in mind, the boffins at myIDkey came up with a safe solution for securely saving, managing, displaying and protecting personal IDs, passwords and files. Using biometric technology, myIDkey authenticates your identity and safely displays your information on the go. Available at myidkey.com from RO95.86.

COMICS BY COMIXOLOGY Just like books, comics have also gone digital, meaning your bags will be a whole load lighter. There are many comic apps on the market, but one that stands out among the rest is Comics by ComiXology. It is one of the most popular digital comic platforms online, featuring content from major publishers such as Marvel, DC and Image. The company's mobile app, Comics, is an outstanding mobile comic reader, allowing users to download and read their ComiXology purchases without constantly needing the website. The app is free to download for iOS and Android, but can only be used with purchases made from comixology.com

CONNECTED Take control of your power outlets wirelessly with this WeMo Switch Wi-Fi integrated outlet from Belkin. It works together with the free WeMo app to let you turn electronics on or off from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch wherever you are. No matter if it's a lamp, fan, heater, curling iron or stereo, providing it is plugged in via the WeMo Switch, you can activate it or put it on a schedule. WeMo uses your home Wi-Fi network and also operates over mobile internet, giving you complete control, even when you’re travelling. Available at belkin.com from RO18.50. JULY SEP 03 - 09 / ISSUE 385 327

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Photo by Shaquel al Balushi

Ruffled Feathers: This little bird looked like he was struggling to keep warm perched atop a concrete post close to the water at Muttrah. Or perhaps he was just a little ruffled at being spotted by our photographer.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK