Y Magazine #454, January 19, 2017 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

CLASSIC CARS Y EXPLORES OMAN’S FIRST AUTO MUSEUM THE PLACIDO EFFECT

Legendary tenor performs at ROHM News: MINISTER OF MANPOWER 10 SUPPORTS TWO-YEAR VISA BAN

Free!

EVERY THURSDAY NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR

FOOD: Finding a healthy balance HEALTH: Brittle bones

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

JAN 19 - 25 2017 / ISSUE 454 • WEEKLY

CROSSED WIRES

PLUS!

THE CHALLENGES OF CONNECTING OMAN

KEEP IT CASUAL

NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

FORWARD THINKING

VERY VW

CONGRATULATIONS Great news that Oman’s cricket team bounced back from a five-wicket defeat to the Netherlands at the Desert T20 International Tournament in Abu Dhabi last weekend to beat Hong Kong by seven wickets on Monday.

THE BAROMETER GOING UP

RAIN FORECAST It’s that time of the year again when we begin to brace ourselves for rain around the country. But remember: stay safe on the roads!

GOING DOWN

OIL PRODUCTION Oman has announced new daily oil production quotas as part of its commitment to reduce output by 45,000 barrels a day, according to media reports. The average daily production has been set at 970,094 barrels, down from just over 1 million.

THIS WEEK… Team Y enjoyed the Wildlife of Dhofar exhibition at Bait Al Zubair, did a little sightseeing with a visitor from Australia and had fun on a late-night trip to Al Ansab.

EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

Fast forward

egardless of where we are in the world, we will – at some stage or another – experience difficulties with our internet, landline and mobile phone connections. Not just once, but on numerous occasions. Living in Oman is no different when it comes to this issue, but what makes it a little more difficult is that we have a challenging topography to deal with, as well as overcrowded networks as new players enter the market. Our cover story this week looks at this very issue – consumers are becoming frustrated with high prices and a service, they claim, that doesn’t live up to international standards. While there are numerous issues the sector faces, the main telecommunication players are working hard to bring high-quality services to the country, such as fibre optics, while we are already using 4G technology. It’s an interesting story and very much a trending issue in the Sultanate today. Elsewhere, we head to the beautiful Wadi Al Abyadh in Destination, take the VW Tiguan out for a spin in First Drive and check out an exciting new car museum at Shangri-La Bar Al Jissah Resort & Spa. Have a wonderful week!

editor@y-oman.com

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi REPORTER Alvin Thomas DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

@ytabloid /ytabloid

/ytabloid ymagazine

www.y-oman.com /ymagazine

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

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

Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

contents JAN

Your Oman

2017

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman Emily Shotter 10 News Ministry backs two year visa ban 12 News Muscat Festival begins 14 Faces Of Oman

16 ROHM Review Placido Domingo 18 This Week Art retreat 20 Movies The Family Fang

Features 22 Cover Story Telecoms providers in the spotlight over quality concerns 26 Rainbow Warriors A new car museum opens in Muscat

15 Hyundai â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Driven To Success Ali Khalfan Said Al Hasani

Cars and Adventures Food and Drink 3o Food Feature Healthy balance 33 Taste Test Mai Thai Restaurant

40 Destination Wadi Al Abyadh

Health and Beauty

44 Y-Fi Toys of tomorrow

34 Fashion Keep it casual

46 First Drive VW Tiguan

42 Postcard From Marseille, France

36 Beauty Workout skincare 37 Health Brittle bones

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

‫أستمتع بال‬ ‫مع التطبي مزيد من العروض‬ ‫ق‬ ...‫الذكي الجديد‬

ENJOY MORE DEALS WITH THE NEW APP

‫قم بتحميل‬ ‫تطبيق كارفور عمان‬ Download Carrefour Oman Mobile app

From 19th Jan until 29th Jan 2017

HD Ready

HDMI x2

٢٠١٧ ‫ ينــايـر‬٢٩ ‫ ينــايـر إلى‬١٩ ‫مـن‬

USB

Built in receiver

30.44 % Discount

32.920 RIAL

22.900 RIAL

‫ كيلو‬١0 + ‫ كيلو‬40 )‫أرز بسمتي (المدينة‬

Al Madina basmati rice 40kg + 10kg

frozen

PCS

1.990 RIAL

‫ كيلو‬١ )‫دجاج برازيلي كامل (الفجر‬

Quad core 1.3GHz 1GB RAM 16 GB Memory 7” screen Android

30.40 %

Al-Fajr Brazilian whole chicken 1kg

Discount

RIAL

114.R9I0A0L

79.900

‫تل‬ ‫ (إل‬LED ‫فزيون‬ ‫ بوصة‬٣٢ )‫چي‬ ‫ك‬ ‫م‬ ‫ بيوتر ل‬+ )‫وحي (لينوڤو‬

32LH512U LG LED TV 32” t Tab3 + Lenovo table

50 % Discount

4.720 RIAL

2.360 RIAL

‫ كيلو‬٢,٥ )‫مسحوق لغسيل المالبس (إريال‬

Ariel Platinum detergent powder 2.5kg

Cel-N3350

2GB RAM

32GB HDD

14”

Windows 10

Full HD

49”

200Hz

HDMI x3

USB x2 Full HD

1920x1080

HDMI x2

USB

43”

99.900 20.02 % RIAL RIAL

79.900

Discount

)‫كمبيوتر محمول (إيسر‬

RIAL

114.900

229.900 34.79 % RIAL RIAL

149.900

Discount

)‫ (إل چي‬LED

548V

LG LED TV 43LH

)‫تلفزيون ذكي (فيليبس‬

Acer notebook ESI-432

‫تلفزيون‬

Philips smart TV 49FT6100

Quad core 1.2GHz 2GB RAM 16GB Memory 15MP camera 5” Screen

29.39%

Android

33.44%

Discount

99.000

69.900 RIAL

)‫هاتف ذكي (سامسونج‬

Samsung smartphone SMTJ510

1.440 30.56 %

RIAL

22.900 RIAL

PCS

1.000 RIAL

‫ لتر‬١,٥ )‫مياه معدنية (أروى‬

Arwa mineral water 1.5L

Discount

29.900 RIAL

19.900 RIAL

Discount

)‫جهاز تحضير االطعمة (أوبتيما‬

)‫ماكينة تشذيب الشعر (فيليبس‬

Optima food processor OPFP7OON

Philips trimmer QG3382

2.500 28 % RIAL RIAL

RIAL

Discount

32.600 29.75%

RIAL

PCS

1.800

‫ غرام‬٥00 )‫جبنة قابلة للدهن (بوك‬

Puck cheddar cheese 500g

LOW PRICES AND SO MUCH MORE! All offers on: www.carrefouroman.com

Discount

1.940 35.57 % RIAL

PCS

1.250 RIAL

Discount

‫ لتر متنوع‬٢ )‫عصير (مسافي‬

Masafi juice 2L assorted

!‫أكـثـر بكثـيـــــر مـــن مجـــــرد توفيـــــر‬

www.carrefouroman.com :‫جميع العروض على‬

THE VOICE OF OMAN EMILY SHOTTER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR THE STRAYS OF OMAN

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: “Are you happy with your home internet service provider and the level of customer care they provide, such as promptly fixing technical problems?” EVA MULYANA SETIADY

’m sure many people in Muscat and Oman have seen stray cats and dogs on the streets. Many are permanently hungry and fighting for survival in a harsh environment. I feed a number of strays in our basement car park. It’s an easy thing to do and any strays in the area in need of food know where to come. I’ve even had to help out a few injured or sick animals that come to feed there; they know there is somebody looking out for them. So what can you do to help? “TNR” (trap-neuter-release) is important for controlling the number of kittens and puppies born to a life on the streets. Did you know that one cat can be responsible for up to 100 kittens a year? Just think how many lives could be spared by simply spaying and neutering a couple of cats. Traps can be borrowed from a local vet very easily. The second thing you can do is to provide a ready supply of water. It is also good to feed strays, but remember: if you feed them regularly every day, they will become dependent on you and will lose their ability to hunt and fend for themselves. So every other day is good unless you plan to feed them for life. Then, every day is better. If you feel unsure about what to do, you can always contact your local vet, who will undoubtedly be more than happy to advise. There are also several Facebook pages for animal rescue in Muscat, with a ready supply of expert and experienced help.

NEXT WEEK:

KEVIN MCINDOE

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

So far, I have been happy with my ISP. I haven’t had any significant connectivity issues and their customer care is a service worthy of praise, as they promptly respond to complaints, and the technical team responds to problems within the acceptable time period of waiting. Having said that, there is always room for improvement both for customer care and technical support.

WAFAA EL ANANY

I’m not happy at all. Because most broadband providers do not set out to mislead their customers, they want to deliver a service that you are happy with so you will stay on with them. Many disputes usually arise from the customer not reading the small print of their contract (55 per cent of users surveyed admit to this), and this can often create situations in which customers feel misled by their provider when being hit with a charge, which is usually outlined in the contract. Problems around the kind of service a provider gives a customer exist because there are extenuating circumstances, many of which are not the fault of the provider as they are reliant on other organisations to deliver the service to you.

PARUL JAIN

JASON FELIX NORONHA

On a personal level, yes, I am pretty satisfied with the quality of my broadband connection at home. On a pricing front though, the cost for various services seriously needs to be re-examined as it is way too expensive. On the flip side, data packages offered for mobile phones just do not offer value for money. Almost all of us are hooked on social media via Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. If the data runs out almost as soon as you reload it, frustration is bound to be the result. So it’s a mixed bag, and services need to be regulated more effectively.

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE

I have mixed feelings about the service provided by my ISP in Oman. There are only two major companies that are providing internet services in the Sultanate. I have tried both companies. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Both are expensive when it comes to the internet packages offered to customers but we haven’t had the best service from either. Since I have experienced home internet services

WRITE TO US AND WIN A VOUCHER

in other countries, I cannot help but compare them. Here in Oman, I am sometimes happy with the ISP that we have now but we often experience a slow connection and technical problems. We can call customer service but sometimes their suggestions are not effective and it takes them almost a day to come round and fix any problem.

I have mixed feelings about my service provider. At times, the speed is too slow and then I can’t get connected to my family. The charges are also a little high. Their strength is their customer service, which is always supportive.

NADIR NOORALI DHANANI

I am staying in Al Khuwair behind Oasis Mall. I have an Omantel internet connection at my house. Our area has a poor signal and whenever we complain about it to Omantel, there is only one reply. When you restart your internet after 15 minutes, it works for a short period and again you restart it. Besides, the signal strength is so low that at times the signal is only available in the room where the router is installed. Omantel says there is no tower or booster installed nearby. I hope Omantel understands our problem and takes the necessary action for better customer satisfaction.

MOHAN ANANDAN

As a user, I have mixed feelings about my ISP. Every now and then, the broadband connection at home faces problems and the standard response from customer service operators is that the modem has

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

ebHotel /GoldenTulipSe eb @GoldenTulipSe

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

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

SCAN THESE QR CODES &

not been connected directly! When you try to explain that this is not the case, the other end is firm in its diagnosis of the problem! At times, you get a very soothing and extremely customer-friendly advice to switch off the power connection, wait for five minutes and then switch on again. But, from past experience, you know that that is never going to work. By the time you respond to the suggestion, the phone has been disconnected at the other end! But every time it ends on a happy note – after a few hours of an agonising wait, the connectivity is restored on its own whether you seek the customer care’s help or not.

WWW.Y-OMAN.COM

/YTABLOID

@YTABLOID

/YMAGAZINE

New Debate: What more can be done to encourage the recycling of rubbish in Oman?

Share your view with us on Facebook and you could be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

MOHAMMAD OSAMA RAWAT

I am a customer of Omantel. Fortunately I have not faced any kind of a problem with the speed or delay in attending the complaint.

DINESH THULASIDOSS

Our service needs to be improved. My home internet’s signal strength fluctuates on a daily basis. The modem is installed in the hall and the signal is weak in the bedroom. Earlier in the day, the modem strength will be strong. Recently, the connection totally stopped. After a few attempts, the ISP’s solution of self-settings solved the problem. But we need to review the settings occasionally. The service needs to be improved.

BILAL MOIN

There are only two operators in Oman now and it is therefore a duopoly. In this scenario, users will continue to face a raft of issues unless Awaser (new operator) starts providing services. As far as technical complaints go, it totally depends on third party contractors with limited resources, which are stretched thin because of the daily onslaught of complaints. As a result, the response is slow, and users are not happy.

SAMARTH, HIRANMAYEE AND SACHIT SRINI WERE

SPOTTED WITH THEIR FAVOURITE Y MAGAZINE IN MUSCAT

SYED BOKHARI

Certainly not, because of the slow internet speed and continual technical problems. The companies providing the service pay scant attention to the need of consumers. Their false promises at the time of internet installation and pledges to deal with problems promptly are in words only and not in practice. The authorities should either block these internet companies or take strict action against them to sort out consumers’ problems. They should at least pay attention to solve the problems while they continue to cash the monthly sums customers are paying them.

ELIZABETH JOSEPH

It is well appreciated that Oman is catching up with the fast-moving technology. As said, everything has its pros and cons. In my opinion the internet services provided at home is as slow as a snail. There are connectivity issues and one finds themselves looking into the screen expecting when the buffering will stop and we get to watch what we want. With the introduction of LiFi, the basic connectivity of internet must be sorted out and needs improvement. But when it comes to customer care and fixing of technical problems, I appreciate the telecommunication service department. The customer-care providers are pleasant, well spoken, have good communication skills and respond quickly. Any technical issues are fixed on time and thats well appreciated. To conclude, get things done in the blink of an eye.

THIS IS YOUR SPOT! Just send us your picture with Y Magazine or pose with our photographer and we will publish it on this page

Send it to: info@y-oman.com

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

YOUR

OMAN

RAIN FORECAST

FOR TODAY

solated showers are expected to hit parts of the Sultanate today and over the course of the week, according to a report issued by the Oman Directorate General of Meteorology. However, Muscat may escape with only light showers. A senior official at the meteorology department was quoted by local media as saying: “This is a normal phenomenon. Oman often receives rain during winter. In 2015, it rained in December and last year it was in January,” he said, before adding that the rain would likely bring down the temperature by a few degrees in Muscat. “The temperature will drop by a few degrees and the average day temperature will be around 23°C in and around Muscat. By night, the temperature may fall by three to four degrees further,” he explains. “Strong and cool winds too are expected in the city. The wave height will be three to five metres,” said the official, who warned fishermen against venturing into the sea during windy conditions.

010

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

NEWS

TWO-YEAR VISA BAN BACKED BY MINISTRY

xpatriates leaving their jobs without a No Objection Certificate may continue to have to wait for a period of two-years before they can enter the country, after Oman’s Minister of Manpower, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, called for the law to remain in place. Two Shura members also called on the Minister to retain the controversial visa rule during a council session this week. “We urge the Ministry to keep the two-year visa ban rule to protect Omani business owners of SMEs,” Shura member Mohammed Al Badi was quoted as saying by local media. In response, the Minister of Manpower, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, said he supported this opinion, but also stated that it was the police and other authorities who were directing the plans. In an interview with local daily Times of Oman, trade unionist Mohammed Farji was quoted as saying: “This law keeps a worker bonded to the company. If a worker has completed his job contract with a company, he should be allowed to join a new company without any hassles.” Meanwhile, Shura members also urged companies to stop employing locals “just to meet the minimum legal requirement of Omanisation”. The Minister of Manpower also asked business owners to stop “visual Omanisation” and urged them to give “real opportunities to nationals to compete in the market” before

questioning the suggestion of a Shura member to lift Omanisation requirements in some companies, which could be affected by the rule. “There are 163,000 SMEs in the country which employ only 8,000 Omanis compared to 780,000 expatriates. Do you want the number of expat workers to reach two million?” asked Al Bakri. He also asserted that big business projects coming under Tanfeedh will open job opportunities for Omani nationals, and that Omanis will soon be able to find managerial posts thanks to the education system’s newest graduates. Oman is currently in the process of reforming its Labour Law as the country tackles difficult economic conditions, while the Government is expected to introduce several austerity measures this year to reduce the deficit, which is forecast at RO3 billion. More recently, there have been demands for the law to be changed after complaints that companies were abusing the NOC system surfaced in the media.

OMANIS LACK INCENTIVES IN PRIVATE SECTOR

ore Omanis are opting for positions in the public sector as opposed to the private sector due to lack of incentives that are on offer; a Majlis Al Shura member said at this week’s council sessions that were held with the Minister of Manpower. According to recent statistics, nearly 12,000

Omanis resigned from private firms to apply for vacancies in the public sector, and members of the Shura felt newcomers to the job market should be helped with a number of schemes, such as providing attractive and affordable loan rates to Omanis. They are also urging employers and employees to develop relationships based on mutual trust. The session also highlighted the need to develop 200,000 jobs under the current five-year plan and review the minimum salary. It was revealed that nearly 55 per cent of Omanis working in the private sector receive a monthly salary below RO500. This also comes in the wake of recent statistics that revealed that 5,961 new employees were recruited into the civil service, of which 3,785 were Omanis, while 1,566 were non-Omani.

Rich culture and history, majestic landscapes and people of diverse traditions. Captivate all your senses through Omani’s art, culinary offerings, natural beauty and warm friendly service The spirit of true Omani hospitality

Call: +968 2673 0888 Atana Musandam | +968 267 30777 Atana Khasab stay@atanahotels.com

atanahotels

@atanahotels

atanahotels.com

Well appointed panoramic view rooms • All day dining plus our catch of the day • Outdoor swimming pool • Mountain safari • Onsite diving centre • Dhow cruise and dolphin watching • Fishing • City tour • Nearby museum

YOUR

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

BALANCING ACT

Screen Capture/ Guinness World Records/ YouTube

You mean, not falling over? Precisely! The act of having an unfathomably stable and strong core, as well as a little determination and time… How does one achieve such a thing? Well… get your sibling and stand at the base of Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Girona, Spain. Chuck them on your head, try to focus as everyone stares and films you, and climb some stairs. Simple! Er… and the result? Ninety stairs later, and the siblings now hold the new Guinness World Record for “Most consecutive stairs climbed while balancing a person on the head”. Wow, that’s pretty special… Yeah, well, they quadrupled the last record of two Chinese brothers in 2014! The jump from 25 to 90 stairs left the Mayor of Girona, Marta Madrenas, in awe. She congratulated them at the event. How did they do it? The two have been practising for more than 15 years to get this right although we imagine those glutes would be burning after the 52 seconds it took the circus duo to climb the stairs. Don’t say: “Break a leg!” Do say: “Human possibilities are endless”.

012

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

NEWS

MUSCAT FESTIVAL BEGINS TODAY

he Sultanate will lay witness to its greatest cultural fiesta, the Muscat Festival, when it opens to the public today, The event is promising to enthrall visitors with a host of new activities, cultural events and a range of shopping options. Unlike last year, the festival will only be held for 24 days this year, coming to a close on February 11. From amusement rides to various events showcasing Oman’s art, culture, education and sports, the festival will take place at two main venues – Amerat Park and Naseem Garden. The festival will also see several other special activities that will be held at the Oman Automobile Association, Qurum Cultural Club, Omani Society for Writers and Literati, Photographic Society of Oman and even the Qurum Amphitheatre. Activities such as touring a tropical rain forest, paintball, fireworks, an open theatre, performances of folklore and bands will be on offer, while visitors will also be treated to a variety of performances at this year’s festival, such as a flame show, African show and air-trampoline shows. Besides this, there will be acrobatic events, educational programmes, contests and recreational activities for children, cartoon characters and a large

THROUGH YOUR EYES

number of food courts for visitors at the main venues. The Heritage Village at Al Amerat will be the centrepiece of the festival, highlighting various traditional aspects of the lifestyle of Omani people in rural areas. Daily music and dance performances by Omani and Indian artists will also feature at Al Amerat. A range of other cultural events including seminars, symposiums and workshops on Omani sculpture, theatre, poetry, literature and photography will be held at Amerat Park. Meanwhile, a fireworks show will be held at Naseem Garden every day between 5pm and 8pm. SHARE YOUR PHOTO WITH Y TO BE FEATURED IN OUR NEW READER SECTION

The tranquil waters of Kalbuh Bay Park near Muttrah offer a great opportunity for keen amateur photographers to take some stunning photos. This shot was captured by Sky Guzman on his Huawei Honor 5x smartphone.

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

PHOTO: Sky Guzman

aces of

Oman

Welcome to Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly photo series that profiles the diverse characters who call the Sultanate home Name: Zayed al Balushi Age: 40 From: Oman Occupation: Businessman Passion: Football, fishing, chess

Photo: Shaquel al Balushi

014

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

Name: Zakir al Balushi Age: 40 From: Oman Occupation: Sales representative Passion: Football, fishing, chess

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

DRIVEN TO

SUCCESS

After graduating with a degree in media production from Jordan, Ali Khalfan Said al Hasani, joined Oman TV as an announcer and programme creator, where he served for a period of 12 years. However, in 1999, he shifted to Muscat Municipality and has since taken over the role of senior specialist of studies and the assistant head of media committee for the Muscat Festival Q: What drives you to success? My family and friends are the reason why I am successful today. I think of them when I work, and that allows me to target greater heights. If I am ever questioning myself, I simply think like this: if I work harder, the people around me can benefit from it – and that helps motivate me further. Q: Who or what has been your inspiration in your career? I tend to draw inspiration from the many successful and motivated people who I work with. When an individual is successful, it is a given that they are disciplined and organised. So there is nothing I can lose by learning from them. And in turn, I wish that I can inspire the youngsters who are coming into the field. Q: What is your biggest career success to date? I am always grateful for my time at Oman TV. All the programmes that I created were incredibly successful, and that could be attributed to the many hours I spent fine-tuning things to create a final product that would appeal to the masses. So when that happened, I was able to achieve very high levels of personal and professional growth. My time at Muscat Municipality has also taught me a lot. Today, I take a lot of pride in organising the huge operation, which is the Muscat Festival. Alongside that, I have learnt to deal with the mainstream media outlets such as newspapers, magazines and television, and also

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? Most people just want to relax, visit several countries and places to see the many nice things that God has created – and I would like to do that someday. But before all that, I want to become more successful. I don’t know where my path will take me, but if I am motivated, I will definitely work harder than I do today.

lead a team forward. Of course, in the case of the latter, I have had years of experience from my time as a presenter on Oman TV. Amongst many things, I also learned the value of public opinions and surveys that are associated with my work at Muscat Municipality. Q: What are your career goals? I am over the age of 40 now, and my career path has taken a huge turn since my early days of work at Oman TV. Anywhere I work, I do my best to achieve all my goals, and also be very professional in my approach. It is not because I want the people to know me, or talk about the things that I did during my time here, but because I tend to find satisfaction with the work that I do.

Q: What do you like about the Genesis, the premium series of Hyundai Motor Company? The Genesis has impressed me in many ways. It was my first time behind the wheel of this car, and after spending time with the car, I can assure you that it is an amazing piece of engineering. For starters, the car looks gorgeous. Apart from that, the interiors are extremely spacious, and the attention to detail on the car is commendable too. In terms of driving dynamics, I was particularly enthralled with how smooth the car actually was. The car easily glides over bumps and imperfections on the road. The engineers have done a really good job here. Kudos, Genesis... this is the car for auto lovers! JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

015

THE LEGEND CONTIN

Photo credit: Khalid al Busaidi, ROHM

Placido Domingoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gala concert at the Royal Opera House Muscat means a privileged night of music for the audience, writes Georgina Benison

016

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

NUES

ge might have caught up with him but it can’t yet taint his titanic talent. Whether Placido Domingo carries on performing or not doesn’t matter; his (very prominent) place in the history of opera is assured. The locks might have greyed, the physique may be a little more portly but the stage presence is still there, and then some. I was among a packed audience at the Royal Opera House Muscat enraptured by this music legend. At 75, Domingo strikes a distinguished, sympathetic character on stage, and his voice has lost nothing of the warmth and expression we have come to know and love. What audience members didn’t expect, however, was the guest appearance of the amazing Albanian soprano, Ermonela Jaho, whose vocal control held the audience spellbound. The first half was dedicated to The World of Opera while the second, Favourite Music From Around the World, was much lighter in mood and style. On stage were the 70 Italian members of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Brescia and Bergamo Festival, conducted by the American maestro and long-time collaborator with Domingo, Eugene Kohn. They played some pretty rousing instrumentals, opening the show with Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger. As Domingo entered from stage right there was a palpable silence, and then an eruption of applause before he had even opened his mouth. And then when he did, it was with Nemico della Patria from Giordano’s Andrea Chenier. The first part of the concert remained serious, and firmly within the classical repertoire, culminating in the tender, lyrical final love duet from Massenet’s Thais. Part two included a couple of zarzuelas from Domingo’s native Spain, and some very well-known, popular numbers. From Jaho we enjoyed Delibes’ Les Filles de Cadiz aria, and the impossibly beautiful Vilia from Lehar’s The Merry Widow. The inclusion of Franz Lehar’s delightful light opera brought an almost Viennese New Year’s Eve mood to the programme, with Domingo singing that favourite chestnut, Lippen Schweigen. Then to Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady: Domingo must have read my review last week, as he sang my all-time favourite, On The Street Where You Live following Jaho’s I Could Have Danced All Night, which was as convincing as it was beautifully executed. Unexpectedly, the orchestra’s final overture was The Sound of Music, which was hard not to sing along to, leading seamlessly into Domingo’s Maria from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story and the final, haunting duet, Tonight. But it wasn’t yet the end, and Domingo took the first encore, which was what we had been waiting for: Besame Mucho was beckoning the audience to sing, as his voice was beginning to run out of steam by this time. This was followed by Jaho’s coy rendering of Puccini’s beloved, O Mio Babbino Caro, a favourite encore number, but sung here with exceptional poignancy and careful phrasing. In response to persistent standing ovations and two more curtain calls – another Zarzuela from Domingo and a popular Italian song from Jaho – were followed by the soprano dragging the first violinist off stage so we had no option but to go home! It had been nearly three hours of pure joy, and we still had Placido Domingo conducting ROSO to look forward to. • On a separate night, Domingo took to the podium to conduct the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. The highlights included a rousing version of Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture and the 7th Symphony and a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 by Beatrice Rana, a 23-year-old student from Italy.

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

017

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

EAT TO THE BEAT

JAN

Laval Restaurant Lounge at the Ghala Golf Club is the place for brunch this week. Indulge in a buffet feast and endless beverages from 1pm-5pm while you get down to the cool live beats from their resident DJ. Bookings are encouraged. Telephone 2450 5112 or 9699 4365 to secure your spot.

THIS

WEEK

WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE.

J A N U A R Y

018

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

Think you have what it takes to steal the show at Jebel Sifah’s Signature “Open Mic Weekend”? Let your voice be heard by sharing your singing skills. Families are welcome to play, swim and dance on the idyllic private beaches at Jebel Sifah from 1pm – 10pm. For more information, call 2474 9111. Bookings for overnight private rooms are also available.

Creative escape

WHAT TO HEAR.

You’re in for one of the most inventive days of your life at Gailani Art Retreat. A full day of “creative escape” using art and music is calling, from just RO25. The day includes Morning Meditation, followed by painting to music. Loosen a notch in your belt for a buffet lunch then relax once more through the “tranquillity of innovation”. Bookings are essential, through Huma, on 9760 9925.

STAR SEARCH

JAN

JAN 21

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

The Founder

The Family Fang The Fang family is one whose members have taken dysfunctional to a whole new level. Baxter (Jason Bateman) is a failed academic who is trying to write a book while his sister Annie (Nicole Kidman) has a grip on life that is getting ever more tenuous by the day. Both were brought up by two parents who have persisted in performing practical jokes on society as “art”. While the gags continue, the fallout on both siblings has them both heading for a middle-aged meltdown. Kidman skilfully plays the bitter daughter who wants nothing more to do with her parents while Bateman (who also directs) plays the weak younger brother who (still) can’t stick up for himself. Exploring the nature of damaged psyches during adulthood, moviegoers get an insight into the dynamic between neglected siblings. Flashback scenes depict the borderline insanity of their famous parents Camille

WIN CHANCE TO R U O Y B A R G TS EMA TICKE IN C Y IT C R FOU

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION Who plays Caleb in The Family Fang? LAST WEEK'S WINNER Bill Davis

(Kathryn Hahn) and Caleb (Christopher Walken), whose infamous escapades include an incident in which Baxter “shoots” at a policeman and licks “blood”. After the parents go missing on holiday, Annie and Baxter convince themselves that it’s just another hoax but the police aren’t so sure. The journey of finding their parents allows the main characters to explore their purpose and relationships not only with their parents but also with each other. Based on the novel by Kevin Wilson, Bateman captures themes of parenthood and the definition of art through some exceptional acting scenes peppered with raw emotion. Here, he dishes up a unique comedydrama; a satire of the depths of family ties and imagination. However, the plotline has us a little hesitant about its ability to keep your undivided attention. Buy plenty of popcorn just in case it doesn’t. Review by Taylor Glover

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 2460 7360

020

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

“How does a milkshake salesman build a fast food empire with an annual revenue of seven hundred million dollars?” Director John Lee Hancock, who helmed the marvellous Saving Mr Banks, returns with this, the rags-toriches true story of the McDonalds empire. Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) is coping with the daily struggles of survival while striving to do better. Then he meets two brothers who run a fast

food joint and whose talent for serving up burgers and fries in double-quick time has him intrigued. The question is: how did McDonalds become so… big? Kroc has to face tough decisions, like re-mortgaging his house. But he somehow ends up claiming the double-arched name and turning the culinary world on its head. This may be the film to motivate you this year.

Ballerina Félice and Victor flee from an orphanage in Brittany to fulfil their life-long dreams in Paris. Felice dreams of becoming a ballet dancer while Victor wants to be an inventor. Ballerina is a feel-good family movie to tug at the aspirations of kids everywhere. This animated delight by directors Eric Summer and Eric Warin captures the adventures that life can offer. But it also has a few subtle messages about working for what you want and that things might not always go your way. It’s a fun film that younger moviegoers will enjoy.

Long View HIDDEN FIGURES Based on the true story of three female mathematicians at NASA, this empowering film charts the course of a hitherto unheard of chapter in US history. Feisty trio Katherine (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy (Octavia Spencer) and Mary (Janelle Monae) have an integral role to play in putting a man in space. But NASA is very much an all-male domain and the women have to use all their savvy to fight their corner and get the recognition their talents deserve. Director Theodore Melfi admirably captures their story, and reflects a window on 1960s America that is sometimes less than endearing, to say the least. Oman release date: February 23

WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? Oman’s telecom companies have come under fire for high prices, weak bandwidth and poor customer care. However, the country’s topography and overcrowded networks aren’t helping their cause. Alvin Thomas investigates

hen Fatima al Bahry, 19, received her first smartphone – an iPhone – from her parents after becoming an engineering student at college in Muscat, she was delighted. For Fatima, a smartphone wasn’t merely a gadget, it was a symbol of the trust she had earned from her parents. It also reflected her freedom from the restrictions of childhood, when she wasn’t allowed to have a phone of her own. She could now connect with her friends, some of whom had moved away from Oman for higher education. “A phone was incredibly necessary after my schooling days. During my upbringing, I

022

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

I REMEMBER THAT I WAS GIVEN ONLY 15 MINUTES ON THE PHONE EVERY DAY BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO MY FATHER, TELEPHONE BILLS ARE EXPENSIVE

have a television or a laptop to keep myself busy. Since that was the case, I opted for one of the leading service providers here. “Initially, I wasn’t sure how much to spend on buying an internet data plan here. So, I went with the default, and spent roughly RO5, which provided me with 1GB of internet. Unfortunately, on my iPhone, that just wasn’t enough. Soon, I required a recharge every four days as my phone was eating data quite fast. “College work was demanding, too, and I was soon spending approximately RO50 to recharge my internet every month. This was not only eating into my pocket money but also hindering my other expenses. In September of last year alone, I remember spending RO20 in three days to complete the research for my college assignments. “What’s more annoying is that the network range in my residence is woeful and, therefore, I never receive a stable internet speed for browsing or streaming. The sad thing is that I am still paying in full for a service that is sub-par.” According to Fatima, this was “simply outrageous”, but she says that it was only recently that she became aware of the frustrations of others who are availing themselves of the services from service providers, such as Omantel and Ooredoo, and various other mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), including Friendi, Renna, Allo and the now defunct Samatel – all of which are wireless communication service providers that do not own their own network infrastructure in Oman, and in turn make use of Omantel’s infrastructure to provide consumers with services. But soon, Fatima learned that she wasn’t fighting the battle alone. Early in October, she received a broadcast message from a group of friends who told her about a boycott that was planned against the many service providers in the country.

ALL OF MY FRIENDS DECIDED TO TAKE PART IN THE BOYCOTT, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID TOO. AND ON THE 10TH OF OCTOBER, WE ALL SWITCHED OFF OUR DEVICES TO EXPRESS OUR FRUSTRATION OF RECEIVING SUB-PAR SERVICES HERE “I remember it was sometime in October, and it was a message on WhatsApp that went viral. The message read: ‘A boycott is scheduled on October 10th to push the two companies to provide service worthy of their prices. Between 4-6 pm. We ask you to not make phone calls, not to recharge credits, not to use WiFi or data. If you are at work, set your phone on airplane mode. Also unfollow and block Ooredoo and Omantel’s social media accounts. wasn’t given a mobile phone of my own as it was a luxury to us. However, I was able to use the landline telephone, which was common to me, and my three elder brothers,” she says. “I remember that I was given only 15 minutes on the phone every day because, according to my father, telephone bills are expensive. “So, getting this new device was a blessing; it was a dream come true,” she says. But, as she points out, she was only getting accustomed to the “deep and expensive world of telecommunications”. “I currently live with my relatives away from my own home, which is in Quriyat, so I tend to spend a lot of time connecting with my family members and friends daily. The very first app that I downloaded on my phone was WhatsApp [an instant messaging application]. “I use the app to send texts frequently. However, currently, I also spend a lot of time on YouTube, which is my only form of entertainment. I don’t

“I know it feels like one person won’t make a difference but if we band together, we may coerce these companies to improve phone service in Oman,” the message added. Says Fatima: “All of my friends decided to take part in the boycott, and needless to say, I did too. And on the 10th of October, we all switched off our devices to express our frustration of receiving sub-par services here.” The campaign also gained a lot of traction on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, with “Boycott of Omantel and Ooredoo” becoming the trending hashtag on Twitter in the country for more than a week (from October 13). Numerous residents – mostly youngsters – also took to platforms to express their views on the poor internet packages and customer services, high call prices, as well as the blocking of free-call applications such as Skype and IMO. Abdul Manaf, another student who took part in the boycott, tells Y: “We all had to stand together to teach these companies a lesson. We did that by disconnecting ourselves from them.” Another expatriate student, who wished to remain anonymous, says: “I have just moved to Oman recently, and I find the internet rates, and even the speeds to be quite bad. “I was extremely frustrated initially and just wanted them to take some form of immediate action against these companies.” Following the boycott and the protests, according to media reports, the heads of both Omantel and Ooredoo were summoned by the Majlis Al Shura in late October. In an interview with UAE’s Gulf News in October 2016, Hamood Al Yahya, a Shura member representing Dhank province and chairman of the council’s Services Committee, said that the council was holding a discussion with the telecom companies regarding their “services,

poor telecommunication networks in many areas and internet packages”. Al Yahya added that the council was standing by the demands of nationals and residents who had launched the campaign on social media platforms, and also took part (along with other Shura members) in the boycott to show his support to those in protest. Following the meeting, news of the entry of a third – and new – telecom provider in the Sultanate of Oman broke. In a statement, Oman’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) stated that it had finished all the procedures for a

spoke with Aaron*, an engineer who works in the telecommunications industry in Oman. Talking about the recent boycott, Aaron says: “I can understand the frustration of those who boycotted the services. “But I have to tell you this: not everyone is angry with us. There were those who made their point clear to us, too. From their perspective, they wanted to switch off their phones for two hours so that our resources would remain unused for a period of time. They wanted us to suffer a loss, and make some changes. “But what they forget is that Oman is actually a very well-connected country. We have worked day and night to expand our services across Oman. And this being a very big country, it took decades to reach where we are now. “Many of those who boycotted us made it very clear that they aren’t receiving adequate services, and how neighbours such as the UAE and other countries in the GCC are providing internet at low rates, and adequate customer service too – but that’s not true. “The UAE’s third telecom provider in the country to “enhance telecommunications providers have struggled to the competition in the telecommunications provide services to its users efficiently. And if you sector”. were to check the rates, they are higher than in However, no further details or the name Oman.” of the new telecom provider was provided in A quick check of Etisalat and du’s (the UAE’s the statement. Y contacted the TRA for more leading service providers) rates validates the information on the new telecom service provider, engineer’s comments. The average price of but a spokesperson declined to comment. wireless internet in the UAE is twice as expensive Meanwhile, the TRA is urging telecom companies as it is in Oman. to speed up networks, quality enhancement and “Of course, the speeds there are quite high. But bring down the prices of telecom services. even we are running our towers at 4G capacity, The regulator has urged the telecom firms to meaning we are doing just as well as they are,” conduct surveys in various areas in the country to says Aaron. find out the extent of coverage and follow up on “The reason why people sometimes struggle to performance issues. find stability in connections – especially when they Y also contacted Omantel for a comment, but are on the move – is because of the topography they had not responded to our request at the time of Oman. Even then, we do our best to relay all of going to press. our signals efficiently without causing anyone any To gain more insight into the situation, Y issues,” he adds. This week, we also asked our readers if they were happy with their home internet service providers and the level of customer care that they provided, to which we received mixed comments. Ronneil Sales Valiente says he has used two service providers during his time here in Oman, and has found the services to be, at best, variable. “I have mixed feelings about the service provided by my ISP in Oman,” he says. “There are only two major companies that are providing internet services in the Sultanate. I have tried both companies and both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Both are expensive when it comes to internet packages offered to customers but we haven’t had the best service from either. “Since I have experienced home internet services in other countries, I cannot help but compare them. Here in Oman, I am sometimes happy with the ISP that we have now but we often experience a slow connection and technical problems. “We can call customer service but sometimes their suggestions

WE CAN CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT SOMETIMES THEIR SUGGESTIONS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE AND IT TAKES THEM ALMOST A DAY TO COME AROUND AND FIX ANY PROBLEM

OMAN IS A REALLY BIG COUNTRY AND SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO EVERYBODY

are not effective and it takes them almost a day to come around and fix any problem.” Aaron says that the real reason why customer service receives mixed reviews is because service providers are still “struggling to find a balance between supply and demand”. “Yet again, I have to stress the same point. Oman is a really big country and sometimes we are not able to provide the right amount of customer support to everybody.” He explains: “We classify each and every region as a zone. So, when you first call the customer service department and lodge the complaint, no action is actually taken immediately. “Our first task is to classify what the problem you are facing is. Only then do we issue you with a complaint number. “Once that is done, we forward the complaint to our unified system, which will forward your issue to our respective service departments. For instance: if you call us saying that your internet is slow, we will not send over a technician immediately; it isn’t a viable option. Instead, we give you troubleshooting tips and refresh your signal from our exchange centre. “But if your case genuinely needs attention, then we will send over our technician to your house. This process may take up to 72 hours – and we still cannot assure you a time and date. “We work on backlogs, meaning we are still working on cases that are weeks old. So, we may not be able to respond to your problem immediately. But once our technician is at your place, he will assess the issue and try to rectify it. “Yet again, if the problem is originating from an inaccessible region (underground cables or cables embedded in walls), then the technician will return and forward the issue to a contracting company. This process takes another 48 hours.

“Once the contracting company is notified, they will send over their specialised technician – again – at their pace, to your house. This is probably why people are complaining about our customer and after sales service. “But there are certain areas where we can provide solutions in less than 24 hours too.” Reader Eva Mulyana Setiady is extremely happy with her service provider’s after-sales service. She says: “They [the service provider] promptly respond to complaints, and the technical team responds to problems within the acceptable time period of waiting. Having said that, there is always room for improvement both for customer care and technical support.” Meanwhile, Jason Felix Noronha adds: “I am pretty satisfied with the quality of my broadband connection at home. “On a pricing front though, the cost for various services seriously needs to be re-examined as it is way too expensive,” before pointing out that data packages for mobile phones “do not offer value for money”. A recent report by American networking firm Akamai Technologies put Oman’s average internet speed at 3.1Mbps (Megabits per second), against the global average of 5.6Mbps. This is significantly lower than in other Gulf countries, including the UAE (6.9Mbps), Saudi Arabia (3.4Mbps), Kuwait (4.6Mbps) and Qatar (6.7Mbps). But the inception and rapid expansion towards fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) services aims to boost the figures. Awasr, Oman’s latest internet service provider, as well as Ooredoo, already offer packages starting at 20Mbps, which is three times faster than today’s average. “There’s no doubt that fibre optics is the way ahead. We have all been laying the groundwork for bringing this technology into Oman, and as you can see, the prices are extremely reasonable too. “We are striving to make a change, but as they say: your most unhappy customers are the greatest source to learning. And we are learning, and adapting, to make our customers happy,” says Aaron. * Aaron’s name has been changed for privacy reasons.

Y asked Ooredoo to comment on the future plans of the company in Oman, to which Raed Dawood, the Director of Government Relations and Corporate Affairs, said:

Ooredoo’s network is constantly expanding and today we cover 99 per cent of Oman’s population. Last year alone, we invested RO60 million in expanding our network and enhancing service quality to customers. A substantial amount is being invested in enhancing our 4G internet quality and coverage, with the aim of providing additional value and increasing our 4G and 4G+ footprint, giving speeds of up to 100Mbps and 160Mbps respectively. Our recently completed fibre backbone and unrivalled Superfast Fibre plans provide speeds of up to 1Gbps and we will see up to 180,000 households connected with the service by the end of this year. We are continuously bringing new offers, products and promotions to the market. We are often the first to market and just some of the innovative new services recently launched include Shababiah in July 2016, Ooredoo Talk, new Shahry Business pack plans and new Home Broadband and Superfast Fibre plans with the best value in Oman. Customer experience is at the heart of what we do and we place a great deal of emphasis on listening to what our customers need and want. We reach out to them through a range of channels, including social media and the new Ooredoo Oman app so that they can contact us and provide feedback in a way that is most convenient to them. As part of our ongoing customercentric initiatives, we raised the bar on CEM last year by becoming the first in the region to implement ResponseTek’s CEM software into our customer service infrastructure. This world-class software provides mass feedback across all customer touch points through a “Voice of the Customer” Listening Platform, giving us insight into market trends in real time, ensure consistency in service delivery, and evaluate the impact of products to enrich the customer experience. We also engage with customers through a number of online channels, giving customers the chance to provide feedback and engage with us in a way that is most convenient for them. We have seen continuous growth of online followers on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat.

RAINBOW WARRIORS Alvin Thomas steps back in time to view some vintage cars that can still turn a few petrol headsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; heads

026

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

t’s a common place for exotic cars. As a matter of fact, on a good day, you can spot supercars like Ferraris, Lamborghinis and even Porsches in the car park at the Shangri La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. But visitors to the hotel aren’t stopping by to click photos of these cars anymore. They’ve found something more unique and exotic to photograph. They’ve got the exclusive opportunity to click photos of 13 stunning cars, some of which are one-offs and some more than 80 years old. Among the exclusive collection lies a one-off “Hamad” Jeep Wrangler, which has been named after its owner, Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, aka the “Rainbow Sheikh”. The SUV, which is based on a Jeep Wrangler and a Ford F-550, has since been tagged by many as the “Giant Spider”. Also among the collection lies a giant sixwheeled Nissan Patrol, which is registered in Abu Dhabi. Finished in royal black and wrapped in whitewall tyres, the Patrol is truly a cut above the usual SUVs found on the roads today. However, only when you pass these two gigantic SUVs will you begin to notice the sheer magnificence of what lies beyond. First in line is a blue Bugatti Type 23 from 1926. Once upon a time, the car ruled the racetracks at Le Mans in France but today, the car rests in the safe hands of the caretakers in the hotel’s basement exhibition area. Next in line is a yellow Citroen 2CV alongside a gorgeous red 1964 Volkswagen Beetle. Following that lie two of America’s finest cars – the 1948 Ford Super Deluxe and the 1964 Ford Deluxe – both of which are worth tens of thousands of rials. Also among the collection are two of the very best from Germany – a 1970 BMW 3.0 CSi and a 1990 BMW M3 finished in carmaker’s traditional racing stripes. The 3.0 CSi is also a special edition car with badges commemorating Oman’s 30th National Day. Meanwhile, newer cars such as a 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL600 as well as a souped up 2007 Peugeot 406 coupe are also on display. “New cars may look good and work better but there’s nothing quite like taking the steering of a vintage car. That’s something not many in today’s day and age would know of,” says Solomon, an avid car enthusiast, who was visiting the museum. “As a matter of fact, not many are even blessed with an opportunity to witness the sheer beauty of cars that were made back in the day. It was a time when cars were made by people who actually loved cars.

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

027

“Today, many carmakers solely focus on selling the car and nothing more. The entire feel of owning and driving a car has slowly dissipated. And cars like these are a saving grace. I tend to come here to look at these cars to remind myself of the good old days. “Passion, grace and majesty: that’s what these cars are all about,” he says. This collection of ultra-rare cars is housed in the Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre, which is in the basement of the Shangri La Barr Al Jissah. There is no entrance fee and it is open from 9am to 8pm, seven days a week.

028

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

029

FOOD AND DRINK

RICH PICKINGS

Finding the right balance can be hard, but there are some healthy shortcuts for busy parents.

030

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews

STRIKE A BALANCE A

Get all the family looking forward to meal times with some healthy alternatives that busy parents will love to prepare

ny parent knows how hard it is, at the best of times, to get all the family round the table for dinner these days. And when faced with having to prepare nutritious fare that your youngest won’t make faces at is always a challenge. But don’t let this put you off. This year, a few simple solutions and a little inspiration are all you need to get started. The key to this is to find the right balance of vitamins and nutrients in the meals you serve. While many families try to cook nutritious meals at home, a balanced plate can often be hard to achieve. Educational programmes, such as Nestlé’s Balance Your Plate, make it easy to create delicious and balanced meals. You can do this by pairing prepared frozen meals and pizzas with made-from-scratch side dishes, which makes meeting dietary guidelines a more attainable goal. Frozen starters are often a convenient starting point for a wellrounded meal. The nutritionist Kim Stoegbauer has recognised this, along with the culinary challenges parents can face. “It’s so important to me that we sit down as a family and have a nutritious meal,” says Kim, the

Garlic Roasted Asparagus with Tomatoes and Balsamic Recipe courtesy of The TomKat Studio blog on behalf of Stouffer’s Serves: 6 Ingredients: § 900g asparagus, ends trimmed § 480g cherry tomatoes § 4 garlic cloves, minced § salt, to taste § black pepper, to taste § reduced balsamic vinegar Heat oven to 190C Method: § On a baking tray, toss together all the ingredients except the balsamic vinegar. Roast for 15 minutes or until the asparagus is tender.

Transfer the asparagus and tomatoes to a serving plate. Drizzle with reduced balsamic vinegar to taste, and serve.

Tip: Add some leftover fresh basil to the top of your lasagne for a pretty and flavoursome garnish that complements your sides.

creative director and founder of The TomKat Studio. Kim has created a few easy ways to add some special touches to your next family dinner. By pairing a frozen lasagne with meat and sauce (made with ingredients you can find in your own kitchen cupboard) with a homemade panzanella salad and garlic roasted asparagus (with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar), she shows how easy it is to create a family friendly meal without the hassle. “It’s a frozen entree that you can feel good about feeding the family, especially when paired with some delicious and easy-to-prepare sides,” says Kim. Find more simple, delicious and well-balanced meal ideas to share with your family at nestleusa.com/nutrition/balance. – Family Features

Panzanella Salad Recipe courtesy of The TomKat Studio blog, on behalf of Stouffer’s Serves: 8-10 Ingredients: § 1 whole wheat baguette, cut into 2.5cm cubes § 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided § 2 cloves garlic, minced § 1 tbsp Dijon mustard § 3 tbsp red wine vinegar § salt, to taste § pepper, to taste § 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved § 1 hothouse cucumber, diced § 3 assorted bell peppers, diced § 1/2 red onion, diced § 10 sprigs basil leaves, cut into short, thin strips Heat oven to 180C.

§ In a bowl, whisk together the garlic, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper with the remaining olive oil to make the vinaigrette. § In a large bowl, toss all the ingredients together, making sure you coat all the ingredients with vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

Method: § On a baking tray, spread the bread in a single layer and drizzle with one tablespoon full of olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and set aside.

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

031

STAY CONNECTED With

24/7 /yTaBLoID

www.y-oman.com

/ymaGaZInE

@yTaBLoID

/yTaBLoID

sCaN Our Qr CODEs WITH aNY Qr rEaDEr aPP

FOOD AND DRINK te g Budendly fri

Tr e n d

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

Info Box

MAI THAI RESTAURANT

Al Meera Mall, Azaiba Tel: 2412 7452 Opening hours: 10.30am10.30pm Lunch for seven: RO41.160

TRUE THAI

Verdict : 9/10 SERVICE 8/10 FOOD 7/10 AMBIENCE Great food and quick service at affordable prices. Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

THE SECRET’S OUT: MAI THAI IS SERVING UP SOME OF THE BEST THAI CUISINE IN THE CAPITAL FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE CHARGED BY RIVALS, SAYS FELICITY GLOVER

t’s only been a month or so since I was first introduced to the delights of Mai Thai Restaurant, in Azaiba. Some friends kindly picked up some takeaway for me along with theirs and since then, I’ve been a huge fan, having tried their Phad Thai and Thai green curry chicken (on separate nights, of course). My introduction was the Phad Thai, a delicious melange of tangy tamarind sauce with crunchy peanuts, a nice spicy zing, juicy chicken pieces and some of the best-cooked noodles I’ve had the pleasure of tasting in quite some time. My second outing was the green chicken curry, a creamy, coconut-ty concoction bursting with spices and delicious flavours. And then it occurred to me – why not head down and try Mai Thai in real time based on my positive take-out experience? And so it was at the weekend that we found ourselves in the small food court at Al Meera Mall in Azaiba, where we met some friends for a late lunch. Also along for the ride was Y’s new intern, Taylor, who’s also a big fan of Thai food. There were seven of us in total, and our order, it has

one of my favourites at the moment thanks to its velvety sauce and tangy taste. Less spicy than red curry, Mai Thai’s version was up there with the MAI THAI IS THE REAL DEAL best that I’ve tried. It was a large portion and the AND I THINK IT’S ONE OF THE chicken was very tender while the peanuts added BEST PLACES IN MUSCAT TO GET crunch and a slight sweetness. YOUR THAI FIX The bravest diners were Mr and Mrs P, both of whom ordered very spicy meals – the hot but to be said, was fairly big: four starters and seven very tender basil beef and the spicy noodles with mains plus a few servings of steamed Jasmine rice. prawns, respectively. Both loved their choices but It didn’t take long for us to decide what we I have to say they were so hot that beads of sweat were having for our starters: Goong Thod (fried were spotted on their foreheads! The girls gave prawn tempura), two servings of Pooh Pia Phak their beef in oyster sauce the thumbs up while the (vegetable spring rolls), Pla Muk Thod (fried fried rice was also declared a winner. calamari) and Nuea Daad Diew (crisp fried beef). Overall, it was a delicious lunch. The service We each chose our own mains, from chicken was quick and the food very tasty and fresh. While Gang Pa-nang (otherwise known as Penang curry) they don’t deliver, you can call to make your order to a very spicy beef with hot basil and the Pad Kee and pick it up or simply just head there to eat in. Mao, a spicy rice noodle dish with hot basil and Mai Thai is the real deal and I think it’s one of the prawns. With two teens and a tween in tow; they best places in Muscat to get your Thai fix. opted for less spicy meals, plumping for beef with oyster sauce (two orders) and fried rice. Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see Ready to order, we headed to the counter where reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com five calm chefs were busy in the kitchen. Our order was quickly taken by a very knowledgeable server. Less than 10 minutes later, our order was ready – but we’d forgotten, as usual, to ask for starters first and then mains. But hey, the speed of delivery was impressive – especially considering how much we’d ordered. The food court isn’t the prettiest of places but there is a small dining space attached to Mai Thai where diners can have a more “restaurant” experience. On the day we were there, the three tables were already taken so we opted for “outside” just in front of the serving counter. Table loaded with dishes, it was time to tuck in. First up, the starters. The spring rolls were piping hot, crispy and clearly freshly prepared. A thumbs up from everybody. The prawn tempura was done in panko breadcrumbs but very more-ish all the same while the calamari was slightly overdone and rubbery. The crisp fried beef was also a star starter, especially for the carnivores in our group. But it was the mains that everybody was looking forward to. For me, it was the Pa-nang curry, JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

033

HEALTH& BEAUTY CASUAL CALLING

Kick back and relax in casual wear, from preppy designs and sassy quotes on jackets and T-shirts, such as this biker jacket from Pennys.

034

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

Health

Beauty

FASHION

k o o L e h

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

T t Ge

This charming bomber jacket from H&M is something you need for a Friday night out. With a soft weave and silk matt finish, this will keep you warm and stylish for dinner out with friends and family. From RO21

If you’re not sure what to wear for your weekend brunch, why not don these black and beige embroided trousers from Monsoon? A perfect balance of casualness and elegance, this will add instant style to your look. From RO33

When you decide to make heads turn but don’t want to put on the glitz, this multi-pattern dress from Next is your go-to look and perfect for the cooler weather! From RO31

“When in doubt, wear black” is the mantra of fashion designers and fashionistas. This black shirt with a sprinkling of colours from Zara is, without doubt, a winner in the casual stakes. From RO12.9

A topknot is the easiest hairstyle to sport your day off. Why not add a little glitter to your your relaxed hair vibe with this cute rose-gold hair bun bangle from Clair’s from just RO2

We are not sure if we can find a sassier T-shirt than this from H&M. A perfect balance of fun, fashion and boldness, this casual tee is a must in your wardrobe. From RO4.9

In a world full of hashtags, this #ME tote bag with a detachable fabric purse from Zara is a perfect accessory, especially for all those social media kings and queens. The mustard and leather patch also keeps it simple. From RO14.9

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

035

HEALTH& BEAUTY

BEAUTY

Health Fashion

WORK THAT SKIN Christine Karan offers top tips on taking care of your skin before, during and after your workout

ith the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon 2017 just around the corner, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sure all you Y readers taking part are training hard. We heartily applaud you for your efforts in taking on something physically challenging. However, at Y we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just stop at praising you for your exertions but want you to look and feel your best while you train. While working out is surely a much-needed requirement to take care of your body, skin care is also important. You may have a routine or a customised workout to shape up your muscles but are you taking care of your skin before you hit the gym and afterwards? If not, then here are some tips for you:

Before going to the gym

Dermatologists and beauticians recommend that you refrain from wearing make-up when you work out. During workouts, your skin pores open up, allowing your whole body to breathe. If you are wearing make-up, it is quite possible that your open pores can get clogged up and this can result in pimples or acne. Going directly to the gym after work? No worries. Just make sure to carry a packet of oil-based cleaning tissues, such as Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleansing Facial Wipes to wipe all the make-up and impurities off your skin. If you are having an outdoor workout session, ensure you apply a light layer of sunscreen that will help you protect your skin from sun, and keep it moisturised.

036

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

After the gym

Make sure you are out of your gym kit by no later than half an hour after your workout. Since your clothes are drenched in perspiration, they will be a breeding ground for bacteria. Getting out of them swiftly will stop any sort of irritation or bacterial infections seeping into your skin. Using your glowing or sweat-dry hands on your skin directly is a complete no-no. The direct contact of your unclean hands will transfer germs and bacteria to your naked skin that can cause skin infections or spots. So make sure you always wash your hands after an intense session. Although long, hot showers are irresistible after extensive workouts, it is better to shower in lukewarm water, as hot water can remove natural and vital oils from your body. Once you step out of the shower, make sure to attend to your soft skin immediately. Applying a hydrating moisturiser to your face, such as Garnier Skin Naturals Light & Radiant Day Cream will stop your skin from drying. If you are catching up with friends after your workout, why not skip your regular make-up ritual and spray a face mist like Jason Wu for Caudalie Beauty Elixir, which will immediately hydrate your facial skin and instantly give you an enduring, natural glow. Although your workout is important for your body, the wellbeing of your skin needs to be taken care of. This will result in a better and more beautiful you. Follow Christine on Instagram

Hearmyshoestory

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

A SILENT EPIDEMIC Dr Shriharsha R V, a specialist orthopaedic surgeon at Burjeel Hospital in Al Khuwair, on why osteoporosis is a “silent” disease

e all are familiar with the word “osteoporosis”. It sounds like a mild, simple disorder. Many of us think of it as a common, age-related change, just like the greying of hairs. Yes, we are partially right but the fact is one can easily see greying hairs. Osteoporosis creeps up on people undetected. Most people don’t realise it until they have their first fracture. Here, I have tried to answer some basic questions on this “silent” disease:

What is osteoporosis?

It’s a condition where your bones become weak and can easily become fractured even with a small force that otherwise would not cause a fracture in a normal adult eg sudden coughing or a small jolt while travelling in a car. These fractures are mainly seen in your back bones, hip bones and in your wrist bone. In women, they are commonly seen after the menopause and about 15-20 years later in men. Osteoporosis is a major cause of illness and death in old people. It’s estimated that, of the people surviving to 80 years of age, one in three women and one in five men will suffer from a hip fracture due to osteoporosis.

Why does it occur?

Bone is not an inert tissue, a continuous process of bone building and destruction will be taking place at a microscopic level. In adulthood, this process is balanced. However, some factors can temporarily or permanently change this balance and shift it more towards destruction. Over several cycles this leads to a significant loss of bone, making it fragile.

What are the causes of osteoporosis?

As mentioned above, the change in balance can be due to an increase in age or it can be aggravated by some other causes such as general nutritional deficiency, ill-health, a lack of calcium, vitamin D deficiency, longstanding illness, a high consumption of alcohol, smoking, physical

inactivity and some long-term medications.

Is the age-related bone loss the same for everybody?

No. It depends on the highest level of strength the bones have reached during early adulthood. During childhood one’s bone strength gradually increases to attain a peak. This peak is usually reached by around 20-30 years of age. Later, the bone gradually starts to become weaker and this weakness accelerates as women reach menopause. If the peak bone strength is high, it takes longer to become osteoporotic. If the peak strength is low then it becomes osteoporotic sooner. So the prevention of osteoporosis should start from childhood.

What are the symptoms?

It rarely produces any symptoms in early stages. However, symptoms such as bone pains, back pain, loss of height or a stooped back can occur in later stages.

How to diagnose osteoporosis

Conventional X-ray radiographs cannot detect the early stages. You need to undergo special tests. The commonly-used test is DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). Apart from this, there are other tests like Single Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, Quantitative CT and Quantitative Ultrasound etc. There are also some blood and urine tests that can detect the biochemical markers of bone turnover. What should you do when you have symptoms? Consult your doctor. They will initially try to find out whether your problem is purely age-related or due to some other cause, as mentioned above. These causes will be treated simultaneously. Along with that, your doctor will also start you on some medications for osteoporosis and some general treatment methods.

Is there a specific, single medicine to treat osteoporosis?

No. There are various groups of medications

that can be taken orally or in injectable form. Even the dosage can vary (daily, weekly, monthly or annually) depending on the type of medication. The commonly-used groups include Bisphosphonates, calcium and vitamin D. There are other groups of drugs such as selective oestrogen receptive modulators, hormone replacements etc. Some new groups of medications are believed to increase the bone formation. Your doctor will decide which combination will suit you.

What are the general measures one can follow?

These include adequate dietary calcium intake, vitamin D status maintenance, avoidance of tobacco and alcohol and appropriate levels of physical activity. There are many simple changes that can reduce the chances of a fall and hence the likelihood of fractures in the elderly. Some of these include: • Wearing low-heeled shoes with rubber, firm soles; • Avoiding slippery surfaces both indoors and outdoors; • Using carpets wherever possible; • Using hand rails while going up and down stairs or escalators; • Maintaining adequate light in regular walking areas, avoiding walking in the dark; • Avoiding slopes, steps, bumps and uneven surfaces; • Installing grab bars in shower stalls or in the bath; • Keeping hands free by using shoulder bags, waist pouches while outdoors; • Wearing hip protectors or hip pads for added protection in case of a fall. No doubt, improvements in medical science and technology have added years to the average lifespans of people. Let’s add more life to those added years by observing a few simple changes to avoid osteoporotic fragility fractures. JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

037

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

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

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

@ytabloid

/ytabloid

www.y-oman.com

/ytabloid

ymagazine

/ymagazine

Postcards from

CARS AND ADVENTURES

Outdoors

Y- F i

VERDANT OASIS

Wadi Al Abyadh is a lush escape from the city, where relaxing with friends is a must.

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

039

CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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

Y- F i

Outdoors

Destination

WADI AL ABYADH Shaquel al Balushi casts superstitions aside and returns to Wadi Al Abyadh, where he finds a lush, tranquil landscape 040

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

hose of you who have been following my Destination articles would know by now that I’m a very superstitious guy – and that I believe in all things supernatural. I also make that point clear to those who join me on my weekly Destination trips (Imran, Badr and anyone else). However, when I was brainstorming for a location to visit this week, I was drawn towards Wadi Al Abyadh – a wadi that has been known for its fair share of ghoulish stories. And for some strange reason, I actually settled on the idea of revisiting it. My first trip to the wadi was late in 2014, and back then, we (Taimur, a friend of mine, and I) couldn’t even penetrate the roads in our fully loaded, off-road SUV after it broke down before we could hit the track that led to our destination. We were stuck there without mobile phone reception and therefore lacking the means to contact the outside world. Since that incident, I blacklisted this wadi from my Destination shortlist. However, on hearing of my decision to visit Wadi Al Abyadh, my cousin Hanif and another friend decided to join me even though they were just as concerned about the stories surrounding the area. Our first leg of the journey was fairly straightforward, with no hiccups at all. We opted for the Muscat Expressway, and stuck to the road until we could find the sign that took us to the road towards Abyadh. In all, it was only a two-hour journey to the foot of the wadi but we all had a lot of fun. The atmosphere in my SUV was electric, with lots of singing and friendly banter. This helped us forget about the tribulations that laid ahead. Of course, when you’re driving,

you won’t miss the road that leads to the wadi. The road ahead is quite rocky, and you will require an SUV to conquer this terrain. Surprisingly, we were able to go to the far end of the wadi without any glitches this time round. What’s more interesting is that, when we hit the wadi, we were able to do a lot of puddle dashing. We were having a proper session of extreme off-roading. In a way, we were enjoying and testing the limits of the car before reaching the far corner of the wadi. And it is absolutely stunning – with large clusters of palm trees and verdant wadi grass. Even the water is crystal clear and soothing to be immersed in. Soon, the rains will bring forth the “wadi season”, and this wadi will be completely filled with murky water. But this should also help clean the mud from the waters so I would suggest you visit this region once the rains have subsided and the mud has cleared out. By now, I had taken out my camera and was capturing some terrific pictures. After a few minutes of clicking happily away, and relaxing in the water, we also set up our grill to fry some burgers for lunch. That’s also when we realised that, despite all the stories surrounding the wadi, it is still an amazing place to spend some time with friends. Of

TRAVEL GUIDE

course, I still wouldn’t come here alone. The wadi is an intriguing spot for camping but we had no plans for doing so on this occasion. The weather was definitely on our side as it was neither chilly nor warm but was simply perfect. We didn’t stay for long, though. All of us were eager to leave before dusk because the temperature in the wadi is known to drop below 15 degrees after sunset. I advise anyone visiting the wadi to carry a jacket and even some form of thermal protection to keep safe. In all, we had a great time out at Wadi Al Abyadh. We didn’t come across any spirits, and we also had a very nice time out – both at the wadi and in getting there. Suddenly, I don’t know why I blacklisted this wadi in the first place. Lush greenery, beautiful pebbles and a setting unmatched by any other wadi. That’s what Wadi Al Abyadh is all about.

HOW TO GET THERE

Head towards Barka, and in Barka turn left to Nakhal and Rustaq. Eleven kilometers from Nakhal is a T-junction behind the bus station and road sign to Subaykha. Choose this road and go straight to Wadi Abyad. A 4×4 is needed if you want to get close to the pools.

GPS coordinates: N23°27’45.7” E57°40’01.9” JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

041

CARS AND ADVENTURES SUN & SEA

The city of Marseille is one of the few places in France where you can mix city living with a relaxed beach life.

1.Stroll round Le Vieux Port, and watch the fish traders at work 2. Take a boat trip to the Calanques 3. Relax or play volleyball on one of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many beaches 4. Take the little model train to the Notre Dame de la Garde for panoramic views over the city 5. Have some bouillabaisse at one of many fine restaurants

042

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

Destination

Outdoors

Y-Fi

Cars

POSTCARDS FROM

Kevin McIndoe recommends

MARSEILLE, FRANCE

egendary Hollywood hardman Gene Hackman may have won an Oscar for The French Connection - a Marseille-based thriller that portrayed the murkier aspects of life - but his success certainly didn’t help the coastal city’s image. Its gritty, unsavoury reputation always made it Provence’s poor relation of Riviera role models like Nice, Cannes and St Tropez. Happily, over the past 10 years or so, the municipality of France’s secondlargest city has rolled up its sleeves with a gusto that wouldn’t have gone amiss among its marauding mariners of yesteryear. Buildings have been sandblasted, poor areas spruced up, museums renovated, and expensive yachts now jockey for position in the revamped but still venerable Le Vieux-Port (Old Port) marina. Marseille was voted European Capital of Culture 2013, and it’s one of the few cities that can combine the myriad delights of urban living with a trip to the beach. It’s not Paris, but its cultural treasures are not too shabby either. It’s France’s most multicultural city; an amalgam of the Mediterranean’s rich heritage tinged with North African influences. This is a city with a pulse.

CALAN

QUES N EAR C A S S IS FRANC , E

My favourite place Le Vieux-Port (Old Port). Its pontoons are packed with fishing boats, yachts and motor launches of every size and income bracket. As well as enjoying an eclectic range of market stalls and cafes, visitors can sample the same fish stalls that chefs of local restaurants use to peruse the day’s best catches. The restaurants here vie to bring you the best bouillabaisse (a classic seafood soup) you will ever taste. From here you can take a ferry boat from one end of the port to the other. Or take a trip to the Calanques – a collection of inlets framed by craggy clifftops and stretches of white sand. Of course, the Bay of Marseille is an archipelago made up of four islands, and boat trips are available. The nearest is just a couple of miles away from the Old Port. Here, you will find the city’s fortress prison, the Chateau D’If, which kept Dumas’s anti-hero the Count of Monte Cristo cooped up for 14 years. You can explore the ancient stone fortress for an idea of how horrendous it must have been for its hapless inmates. Highlights

Sitting atop Marseille is the majestic Notre Dame de la Garde. Built in 1864 on the foundations of an ancient fort, it’s a neo-Byzantine church that commandeers the highest point in the city, and offers some pretty impressive views. It’s a must-see on your itinerary and there’s a little model train that will take you there if you can’t quite make it on foot. In a city that is the oldest in France (more than 2,500 years old), you’d expect the museums to cut the mustard. And they do, in spades. The Natural History Museum, the History of Marseille Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Modern Museum of Culture all mean you will be spoilt for choice when you choose your “Museum Day”. For those who prefer stately homes, the Musee Grobet-Labadie houses the art collection, musical instruments, furniture and tapestries of the prominent 19th century businessman Louis Grobet. About five minutes’ walk from the Marseille Cathedral, which is well worth a look, in Le Vieux-Port area you will find a heavenly little café that’s the perfect place for a cuppa when all this tourism malarkey makes you a bit parched. It’s a bit galling for British visitors when they realise that the French can actually make tea as well as (or better than) they can but that’s exactly what Cup Of Tea (1 Rue Casserie) offers: more than 55 varieties of tea, a patisserie loaded with pastries, tarts and gateaux as well as bookcases groaning with Baudelaire and Balzac, among others, for you to read while you take the weight off your feet on one of their sofas. Whether or not you put your milk in first is up to you. Marseille is also a great base from which to explore the more compact but very congenial cities of Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Arles. Each is easily accessible by bus or train and provides the perfect opportunity for a culture rush for visitors. If you fancy a bit of a jaunt to the seaside but would prefer something more family friendly, take the train to Carry le Rouet. It’s a charming little port town about 30km west of Marseille that is famous for its sea urchin season, as well as other shellfish, while one famous habitue was the legendary singer Nina Simone.

CARRY H OU S E A T T H E L IG H T L E R OU E T

Lowlights Big city “rules” apply here more than in other cities in France. Watch your wallet, and don’t spend too much time hanging around or outside Marseille Saint Charles railway station. Don’t travel on buses at night unless you are in a large group. Also, the French authorities insist you carry a form of ID on you at all times.

Souvenirs Sadly, Le Canabiere, which was once the city’s answer to the Champs Elysees, is looking a little careworn these days but it is where you’ll find the scruffy, cut-price outlets or funky, quirky boutiques. Les Terrasses Du Port, a high-end shopping mall right on the waterfront, is where the serious shopping action is. Getting there there.

One option would be to take a Turkish Airlines flight from Muscat to Istanbul, and transfer from

NOTRE DAME DE LA GARD E CHU RCH

Where to stay

As in most European cities, the choice can range from top five-star hotels to delightful, reasonably priced (and often very well-located) little guest houses. Check out the usual sites: Booking.com, Trivago or Hotels. com to get an idea. JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

043

-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Outdoors

D e s t i n at i o n

Y-FI

TOYS OF TOMORROW

Gadget geeks who favour the offbeat or unusual will find something in this week’s collection, compiled by Alvin Thomas AIRPODS

FIRED UP This may not be the most expensive phone in the world but it is close enough to make it to the top. Most phones in this league, however, are simply production phones splashed in Gucci and diamonds. The Solarin Fire, on the other hand – despite being wrapped in carbon-fibre and gold – actually packs some impressive tech. For instance, the phone has a builtin, one-touch security mode, which encrypts all your communication you know – because you’re crazywealthy. What’s even crazier is that if your phone faces any technical glitches, Solarin will fly a technician to your home to fix it. If you’re not interested in that kind of information then you’d be happy to know that the phone does pack a 14cm LED display, 23.8-megapixel (rear) and 8-megapixel (front) cameras, a Snapdragon 810 processor, 4 Gigs of RAM and 4,000 mAh of battery. All this is yours for RO7,700 from sirinlabs.com

The advent of wireless-everything has forced brands to up their game. However, no one has taken this as seriously as Apple – who went as far as getting rid of the headphone jack – from its latest iPhone 7 and 7 Plus variants. This has given birth to something truly extraordinary: the Apple AirPods. Of course, we’ve seen Bluetooth earphones in the past but none quite like this. The AirPods are tiny, and frankly, quite long (although this is to enable microphone functions). They should fit in your ear like regular Apple EarPods (wired earphones). However, you’ll have to try them out in a shop before buying them. Also available is a charging case, which acts as a safe holder for the AirPods. Apart from that, both the AirPods are touch-sensitive, making controls easier for listeners. Yours for RO113, from roumaan.com

COLOUR SENSOR The Nix Pro Colour Sensor is an interesting gadget, and rightly so. What it tells us it that it can scan colours from various objects and can tell users the exact colour scheme of the object. The Nix Pro Color Sensor is incredibly accurate, and pairs with a smartphone app that lets you extract the colour for further use. While the device may seem pointless to many, it could come in handy to interior designers, artists and creative designers. It also is a lot cheaper than industrial-level colour-scanning machines. Get yours for RO135 from amazon.com

BRUSH UP

EDITOR’S PICK

YOU GUESSED RIGHT: IT IS A TOOTHBRUSH. BUT THE REASON WHY WE LOVE IT SO MUCH IS BECAUSE IT IS PACKED WITH TECHNOLOGY – UNLIKE, YOU KNOW – A NORMAL TOOTHBRUSH. THE ORAL-B GENIUS 8000 IS AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH THAT HELPS YOU GET RID OF YOUR BAD BRUSHING HABITS. FOR INSTANCE, THERE’S A 360 SMARTRING WITH LED LIGHTS THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PERSONALISE YOUR BRUSHING EXPERIENCE WITH 12 COLOURS WHILE DELIVERING VISUAL FEEDBACK ON YOUR BRUSHING PRESSURE, BRUSHING TIME AND SELECTED MODE. YOU ALSO GET AN ORAL-B SMARTPHONE APP THAT WILL GIVE YOU REAL-TIME FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR BRUSHING HABITS. OH, AND NOT TO FORGET: YOU GET A SPECIAL BOX ALONG WITH THE TOOTHBRUSH WITH WHICH YOU GET A PHONE DOCK SO THAT YOU CAN ANALYSE YOUR BRUSHING WHILE YOU’RE AT IT. GET THIS FROM ORALB.COM FOR RO98 (OUCH!)

044

JULY JAN 1903- -2509/ /ISSUE ISSUE454 327

TEKKEN 7 Info Box TEKKEN 7

Release date: EARLY 2017

App of the Week

Platforms:

PS4, XBOX ONE, PC

Genre:

SINGLE- AND MULTIPLAYER FIGHTING

Rating:

MATURE (16 AND ABOVE)

wenty-plus years, nine games and seven generations worth of battles later, Tekken is taking its last step in gaming with its Mishima clan. While this may not be the last game from the makers, this will almost certainly be the last to feature superpowers such as Jin Kazama, Yoshimitsu, Nina Williams, Marshall Law and Jack. Released back in 1994, the game easily took over as the best one-on-one combat game of all time. As a matter of fact, this game was known to create many family feuds (between my cousins and me) as we duelled for hours on our PlayStation. Of course, back then, the graphics seemed extraordinary, and the gore, realistic. There was nothing more satisfying than humiliating your opponent player and watching his or her face turn red. Tekken 7, the latest – and last –Tekken game, was initially revealed in 2015 – but only as an arcade game. This year, however, the game will debut on consoles too. The game will focus on one-on-one battles, and will also bring to the table new mechanisms of attack, namely –Rage Art and Power Crush. But it’s best not to go into detail on the fight mechanisms (to keep the magazine family-friendly). The storyline on the other hand, is actually unique – for once. Tekken 7 will be darker than any of its predecessors, as it aims to provide answers regarding the feud between Heihachi Mishima, his son Kazuya Mishima and his grandson, Jin Kazama. The game will also feature Akuma, from the Street Fighter series (Yaay!). Bandai Namco, the developers of the game, will be making use of the Unreal Engine 4 so the game will be slick. Expect movements and damage to be life-like. I’m only hoping this makes way to PlayStation’s new Virtual Reality headset. If it does, expect gamers to be shut in homes for weeks, if not months.

GOOGLE OPINION It has become a general trend that you pay for the apps that you download from online stores. However, how often does the app that you download actually pay you? Exactly! it doesn’t happen very often. Google Opinion, on the other hand, actually does. With this app, you earn money by completing short surveys. The credit will be added to your account, and you can purchase apps from the app store. Download it for free from Google Play.

Review by Alvin Thomas

JULY JAN 03 19 - 25 09 / ISSUE 454 327

045

CARS AND ADVENTURES

Destination

Postcards from

FIRST DRIVE

A revamped VW favourite is veering towards the world’s roads with a vengeance. Alvin Thomas reports

here’s a saying that goes: “The apple does not fall far from the tree.” In short, it means that a successor to something (or someone) is likely to maintain a strong resemblance to its predecessor. This idiom lies true with automobiles too, as manufacturers warp similar engineering and technology into cars to create a common “brand identity” for their companies. The technical boffins at Volkswagen, however, don’t seem to share that ideology; each and every Volkswagen vehicle is unique (at least from my experience driving Volkwagens). And thankfully, this also seems to be the case with the all-new Tiguan. The Tiguan is actually one of Volkswagen’s best-selling SUVs – with more than 2.8 million cars being sold worldwide since its launch in 2007. So, it would only be reasonable if VW retained the original design and elements when they re-engineered this SUV for 2017. But, that’s not what they did. So, after nine whole years, they have come up with a Tiguan that is allnew – from the ground up. And boy, have they got this one right! For 2017, the VW Tiguan shares the “MQB” architecture that underpins everything from the latest Golf and Audi TT, which helps the SUV score some early brownie points in my book. It looks more grown-up than its predecessor too: the styling is sharp, with a lot of clean yet distinct lines running from the doors all the way to the rear tail lamps. The lights are sharp and chiselled, giving it the aura of a premium mid-size SUV. Apart from that, this Tiguan is wider, longer and beefier

046

JAN 19 - 25 / ISSUE 454

than the model it replaces. The interior, however, is typical “VW”. There’s plenty of soft-touch padding on the doors, as well as on the dashboard. There’s a 20cm touch-screen infotainment screen that controls everything from the vehicle dynamic settings, entertainment, and even the interior ambience up front, and the SUV also features – for the first time – a completely digital instrument cluster (measuring 31cm). Because the Tiguan has grown in size, there’s significantly more space inside – even rear passengers can reap the benefits of generous leg and head room. Interestingly, there’s even a food tray attached the rear seats, just in case you’re planning on snacking on your journey. My range-topping Tiguan came with very comfortable leather seats. They don’t offer much side bolstering but that’s typical with SUVs. There are memory functions on the seats, with which you can assign specific settings for different drivers. On the tech front, you also get an around-view 360-degree camera and parking sensors, a gorgeous-looking navigation system and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Powering the Tiguan is VW’s newly tuned 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four cylinder engine. This is the same unit that powers the company’s glorious Golf GTi and even the “new” Beetle. The output is an impressive 180hp (although a 210 version is coming soon) and 280Nm of torque, and the power is put down to the front wheels via a slick seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, although there’s an electronic differential that will send power to the rear wheels in extreme situations. The acceleration from the engine isn’t what I would call savage but power delivery is fairly linear,

Outdoors

Y- F i C A R S Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TSI Specifications: Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four cylinder Transmission: Seven-speed DSG Horsepower: 180hp Torque: 280Nm 4MOTION with active control Volkswagen digital cockpit Eight-inch touchscreen display LED tail lamps Dual-tone interior 360-degree parking sensors and camera

and the Tiguan does hit the 100kph mark in a mere 8.2 seconds, giving it an edge over its Asian rivals. Of course, to achieve that, I had to mimic “launch control” by switching off the traction control – and forcing the clutch to dump – by keeping the revs within the torque band and then launching the car forward. The initial acceleration – when you do that – is definitely hit-you-in-the-head fast, and you will have to be in control of the vehicle at all times. But, as with most turbocharged cars, you will need to keep the gearbox in “Sport” mode or take control of the gearbox manually to make the most of the power. Still, the “DSG” gearbox is smooth, and gear changes are unnoticeable. This has to be the best gearbox I’ve ever come across in an SUV. The Tiguan also corners extremely well. As a matter of fact, it handles better than most sedans of today, thanks to its on-board electronic “nannies”. I could even take sharp bends at nearly unbelievable speeds while still remaining in one piece. Most SUVs would simply roll over at such speeds. I can attribute that to the stiff and well-tuned chassis, which gave me a lot of confidence to play around with. The steering is also extremely welltuned, remaining light at low speeds and gaining weight as you pick up speed. Similarly, the brakes have a very progressive feel to them although they can be a bit unpredictable at low speeds. Despite all this, the ride in the Tiguan is very compliant (even in “Sport” mode) and road harshness is soaked up effortlessly. At high speeds, however, wind noise does penetrate the cabin albeit not by much. The new Tiguan is, by every means, a very well-sorted premium SUV. While its predecessor competed with SUVs such as the Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, this new Tiguan may very well be playing alongside its big cousins from Germany. VW has struck all the right notes here.

Create Memories!! Celebrate This Valentine's Day, the Al Jarwani Hospitality Way! Romantic

Traditional

Send her a box of le praline chocolate and her favourite ďŹ&#x201A;owers

Secret valentine

Will Y ou

Treat her for a candle light dinner at la mer !

Celebrate at home

Valen y M tine? e B

Let us create a private candle light dinner, just for two, at your home

Want to be a secret valentine ? Please order through

Call for more information Toll www.aljarwanihospitality.com

Free: 800 500 44 #aljarwanihospitality

E L A S E L L A A V S I L T S A E V I F T E S R U T I FURN

E L A S E E L R A S U T E I R N U R T U I F N BIGGGEESSTT FMURUSCAT IN E L A S E L N A O S K ON C O T K S W E N ALL