Y Magazine #460, March 2, 2017

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YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

MAR 02 - 08 2017 / ISSUE 460 • WEEKLY

THE MAGIC OF READING

PLUS!

REKINDLING OUR LOVE OF BOOKS

MELLOW YELLOW

01

NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

32

SAIL AWAY

40

ROAD WARRIOR

46

HEALTH GUIDE ASK

THE

EXPERT

ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND HOUSE DUST MITE What are House Dust Mites?

House Dust Mites are very tiny eight–legged creatures (barely visible to the unaided eye) which prey on human and animal skin droppings, dead cells, feathers etc. They reside on the surfaces that provide a reservoir of dead skin cells like beddings, carpets, stuffed toys, couches and sofas. They don’t bite or transmit any disease, the allergy to the proteins in the mite faeces.

What are the symptoms of House Dust Mite Allergy?

Dust Mite allergies mostly extend throughout the year- it is a perennial allergic rhinitis, with frequent sneezing, running nose, itchy nose and eyes. The symptoms worsen when the person comes into contact with dust while cleaning closets, lying on carpets or using old mattresses.

House dust allergy is very common and can also exacerbate asthma and eczema.

How can House Dust Mite be controlled?

The control measures should be directed to areas where the dust mite load would be high, like the bedrooms and living rooms.

Wash the bedding every week, at 60 degree centigrade or above. Encase the mattresses, duets and pillows with allergen proof barriers. Remove all carpets from the floors, if possible. If not, vacuum them regularly with a high filtration (HEPA, S-class filter) vacuum cleaner. The same applies to upholstered furniture also. Wipe the dust/dirt off of all the surfaces regularly. Try to use washable cotton curtains and maintain adequate ventilation in the rooms to reduce the humidity. These steps will be highly effective in reducing the House Dust Mite and will lead to significant improvement in the allergic symptoms.

Dr. Nisha Neelambaran ENT Specialist

M.B.B.S , M.S. (ENT), M.R.C.S. (ENT)

Aster Al Raffah Hospital, Ghubra

ASTER AL RAFFAH HOSPITAL Al Ghobra Roundabout, PO Box: 1262, PC : 133, Gubrah, Sultanate of Oman.

Tel : +968 24618900/1/2/3/4 | Fax : +968 24497210 www.asteroman.com

EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

Fast forward

I

’m not often surprised, but have to say that this week’s Muscat International Book Fair (MIBF) has given me hope for the future of traditional books and encouraging a love of reading for all generations.

In an age when it seemed that the only reading we do was on a Kindle or a tablet, it appeared as though many were no longer interested in hearing a real page being turned or feeling the weight of a book as they became immersed in a story.

But the impressive turnout at the 11-day MBIF, which has attracted thousands of people every day since it opened on February 22, has helped me to understand that this sector still has relevance in the 21st century.

In fact, it speaks volumes when the likes of Amazon.com launch brick and mortar bookstores – which it started to do in the US in 2015.

In our cover story this week, we head to the MBIF and learn that this is one of the most popular fairs for all walks of life in the Sultanate, from budding authors to established writers, publishing houses, children and adults. And the common thread? The written word and the magic of reading.

Elsewhere, we explore the delights of Qafail in Destination, take the Lexus IS350 F-Sport out for a spin in First Drive and bring you the latest on the EFG Sailing Arabia yacht race, which comes to a thrilling finish this week.

Have a great week!

editor@y-oman.com

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

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MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

03

contents MAR

Your Oman

08

2017

10 News

Oman tops GCC in real

wage growth 12 News

SalamAir launches

Dubai service

22 Cover story

The magic of reading

keeps its relevance 26 Tiny world

Putting the insect world

in the spotlight

16 Competition

Y’s Got Talent

08 Voice Of Oman

Ali al Rahma

10

-

This Week

06 Coffee With Y

Joelle Mardinian

14 Faces Of Oman

02

Features

18 This Week

Gourmet Night 21 Movies

Logan: The Wolverine

28 Say it with love

Enter our Mother’s Day competition

22

15 Hyundai – Driven To Success

Humaid al Mujaini

Cars and Adventures

21

Food and Drink 3o Food Feature

Appetite for life

30

38 Destination

Qafail 40 Outdoors

EFG Sailing Arabia

Health and Beauty

42 Postcard From

Gower, Wales

32 Fashion

Mellow yellow

44 Y-Fi

Rich pickings

46 First Drive 34 Beauty Lexus IS350 F-Sport

Scrub up 35 Health

Heart to heart

32

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Joelle

nian

Mardi

Alvin Thomas meets celebrit y Joelle Mardinian whose be auty tips have brightened up the lives of her devoted online followe rs hat’s in a few number

W

s, you most-watched shows in the Middle ask? Well, with 5.6 million she says. Looking at her friend Lin East. Her show has featured celebrit a y followers on Instagram, 2.4 inte with tears in her eyes, she adds: “I rvie love ws with the likes of fashion million followers on Facebook and Lina and I respect her. She is not designer Peter Dubdas, Italian fash just 319,000 (at the time of going to pre ion an employee, she is my sister; my hea ss) journalist Anna Del Russo, rt Kim followers on Twitter, Joelle Mardin and soul and I can never imagine ian Kardashian, actress Eva Lon not goria and having her. And my is far from your average social med team: they are my ia Ivanka Trump. influencer. Who you’re looking at frie nds and my sup por t system.”

Quite a CV, right? But as they here, folks, is a celebrity, television This passion and dedication to her say, “W ith great power comes great personality, entrepreneur and one brand and her family is what she of responsibility”. And Joelle, who is says the most influential Arab women also has made her the woman in she is a tod mo ay. ther of two you ng kids, says that the world today.

But Joelle’s success doesn’t just end she is mo re than up to the task of And if you saw last week’s issue of with her TV show or her cosmetic Y juggling her roles.

Magazine, then you’d know that clin ic brands, Maison de Joelle Joelle “I am only one person at the end was in town for the signing ceremo of and Clinica Joelle, either. Joel ny le has the day,” laughs Joelle. of her new Clinica Joelle cosmetic represented – and featured in glob “Bu al t the sho w has bee n run ning for TV commercials – with surgery clinic; and that is exactly where 13 years, and it is a very brands such as hard show we catch hold of her (with a lot of Max Factor, Pantene and Braun. help to produce as a lot of contest ants from her friend, Lina) for an inte In 2010, she was the recipient of rview. have to stay in the show the for long and Surprisingly, however, Joelle, who Arab Woman of the Year award is som by etim es up to two yea rs.

So it is a now tired after her long day – whi L’Officiel Middle East, and was also ch huge responsibility. included headlining the Influencer nam ed Businesswoman of the Year “When I set out to study make-up Marketing Summit in Dubai and and one of the 100 Most Powerfu then artistry, I never imagined l this amount flying here for Clinica Joelle – is still Arab Women in 2013, 2014 and of succ ess.

I wor ked for two years ready for an interview.

2015 by CEO Middle East and Arab in a salon just to grow my portfoli ian And without any further delay, we o, Bus iness. Joelle was also selected as one sit making no money at all. But it never down to have a chat. of the world’s 500 Most Influential stopped me and it was all in passion Joelle originally hails from Beirut .

Arabs by Forbes. in Eve rything that I do comes from Lebanon, but spent much of her The entrepreneur began her life in passion. It’s never been abo ut money: London, where she grew up. bus iness career with Maison de Joelle it’s been about success and to pro “My love interest for fashion and ve in 200 8. She currently owns 11 that I am capable of being a role make-up grew when I was a little salons in the region, and is curren girl,” model for the younger gen tly eration, to she laughs. “It is in my blood. My expanding in Oman in partnership make them believe in themselves. mum is a make-up artist, and I thin with Perfect Medical Center, a k “For the first eight years of my that’s where my love affair with mak company owned by the SABCO e- career, I gave up all of my tim e. I up started. But I didn’t even put on Group. remember my friends and family lipstick until I was about 16 years used Talking about her new venture in old to travel on holiday, and I used to because I was a very ‘girly’ girl. stay Oman, which will begin ope rations back in Dubai working through the “But I always loved make-up. I love in July in Shatti Al Qurum, she sum mer and the hea t. everything about it, as it helps defi says: “The bigger I grow, the more ne “But then, five years ago, I realised everything that is beautiful. The opp ortunities I get. And I can’t let go that my family and my children wer difference that make-up can mak e of opp ortunities. I am someone who e is growing up. And all I wanted to do amazing, and I love to teach wom exc els at them. God has given me so en was to spend more time with my that make-up is not just about bea many opportunities, and I cannot uty chil dren. So I take time off from my sit and hiding your imperfections, but back and relax. I have to make them , calendar for my kids to spend 24/ a rather, about looking healthy and 7 reality before striving to making them with them . being confident.” successful. Once that happens then “I don’t take nannies or maids. We it Today, the 41-year-old star is also has to be maintained. trav el to som e plac e that they can the host of the makeover TV sho “Opening in Oman is the right w, enjoy like London or Switzerland Joelle, which has been airing on MB .

I dec ision and I am sure that it will be C1 am a very hands-on mum.” a But, she is success story. I will not for the past 13 years – making it one rest unt quic il I mak k to e poin t out that all her success of the longest-running shows of its it a major success. and fam e isn’ t wha t mak es her. kind worldwide. With a daily aud ience “The way that I have suffered is that Have you got a uniq of 120 million, it also one of the ue story to tell? Contact us to I don’t have as many friends as man y,” have coffee with Y and be featured in Y Mag Email: editor@y-oman.com

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MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

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THE VOICE OF OMAN ALI AL RAHMA ON THE PROS AND CONS OF VISAS AND TRAVELLING

A

s we approach the end of the winter season and the start of the summer season, vacation and holiday plans come to mind. From exotic beaches, to the jungles, or cosmopolitan cities, people are ready for a getaway. To plan holidays properly, the first thing to do is to check whether the country you are visiting requires an appointmentbased visa or visa-on-arrival. If it’s an appointment-based visa destination then that has to be taken care of first.

Once that has been completed then planning accommodation and other activities can follow suit.

For Omanis, the most preferred destinations so far seem to be SouthEast Asia, and destinations near the Baltic Sea. This is due to the fact that they are all visa-free or visaon-arrival countries. For example, a newly popular destination, Georgia, has a visa-on-arrival for one year, which I think is a world record for visa duration. With that, all you require is your passport, airplane ticket, and off you go!

Europe is also becoming popular but due to the visa restrictions, application process and the longawaited appointments for the visa, it surely holds people back from going to the West. I’d love to visit castles in Europe that were built in the 14th century, and walk in the narrow alleys in Eastern Europe or cross the border from one country to another. The last time I visited Europe was in 2014, and I’ve never visited again due to the long application process. There are almost 20,000 Omanis who visit Europe each year, and definitely twice that amount who wish to visit but divert their destinations to visa-on-arrival countries. Oman has been in talks with the EU to allow its citizens to travel visa-free since 2014 but we are still waiting for the outcome. Surely it will benefit Oman and the EU once an agreement has taken place, and will boost the economies and tourism. It’s a win-win situation for all! I am ready for a vacation right now, and my mind is thinking: where to next?

NEXT WEEK: KARIMA FARID 08

MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: What punishment should a student receive if they are caught cheating in their exams?

DHARA PAREKH

I know that a culture of cheating has developed of late. A lot of kids think that there is no way they can succeed in school unless they cheat.

They take on large course loads, and then cannot handle them. They feel overwhelmed, and think there is no way out. Sometimes I think they also feel pressure from parents to take courses they can’t handle. Given this, I do think that teachers should counsel students who cheat and teach them right from wrong, if possible. This does not mean there are no consequences. I think the consequences can be severe, but teachers should use common sense. Counselling the student could help in changing the culture of cheating. Good behaviour needs to be silently rewarded.

SANGEETHA SANJEEV

Students who cheat in exams are cheating themselves. Why should a student cheat in their exams? We should get a clear-cut answer for this, firstly. Students are aware of the fact that if they don’t get good marks they will be punished by their parents and scolded by their teachers, and so it goes on. So to escape from all such things they start cheating in their exams. We all can give punishments but by giving punishment can it be cured? Students should be made aware of the consequences of cheating in exams. If a teacher finds a student doing so she should not blame the person in front of the others. Instead, she should have a personal talk with that kid and find the reason behind his or her actions. This can be a good medicine or a sweet punishment for all those who cheat in exams.

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PARUL JAIN

As per old-school thinking, the punishment for cheating is expulsion from school and a FAIL mark.

But in modern times, when educational institutions are considered “A Lighthouse of the Society”, corrective measures need to be adopted instead of harsh punishments.

Schools must find out the cause of this indisciplined behaviour by counselling. There may be various factors that have led the student to cheat. Everyone deserves a second chance. A fresh examination paper and a fresh question paper can be given to the student after seizing his cheating equipment. If the teacher realises that student has cheated while correcting the answer sheet, another can be taken.

Simply expelling him or her from school is just like throwing your burden onto someone else’s shoulder.

On top of that, the student will be filled with anger in some cases, which could lead to serious consequences. On the other hand, making him realise his mistake will mould that unorganised clay into a beautiful human being who, in future, will decorate society with his good deeds. Every student should be made to understand that school rules are meant to be followed and unethical behaviour will always harm their personal self.

WAFAA EL ANANY

Cheating in school may have consequences that are immediate, and some consequences may be long-term. For example, the student who gets caught cheating will or at least should feel an immediate response from his parents and the school. The punishment should vary depending on the age of the student or his school level, of course. After all,

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a fifth grader who sneaks a peek at a spelling word shouldn’t be punished as harshly as a high school student who plagiarises a term paper. Nonetheless, there should be some sort of immediate response, such as: An automatic zero or “F” for an exams project.

If the student is given another chance to do the work without cheating, the final grade might be reduced as punishment.

Detention could be imposed. Also discipline at home is important, such as no after-school activities, no play-time outside after school or on the weekends, no car, etc. For serious or repeated instances of cheating, a student may be suspended from school for a few days or even expelled permanently.

MOHAMMED SHAHIL

Cheating is cheating no matter what the circumstances are all about. So punishing a student for this offence is a must. Many have a misconception that it is just struggling students who cheat but the fact is even high-achieving students resort to nefarious means to succeed.

This is pathetic. Such malpractices should be prevented by imposing penalties on students for doing so. Apart from this, offending students shouldn’t be given permission to undertake any exams for a stipulated period of time. A strict school or college atmosphere can also prevent it. Lastly, parents should be informed about it so that they can also take necessary action to bring their child back on to the right path. In conclusion, a punishment should not ruin a student’s future but it should rather let him or her realise their mistake.

/YTABLOID

common disaster created by cheating in exams. Cheating is common at my school.

In fact, the students of this generation are risk-takers. But, punishing them for cheating will not make them perfect. Teachers and parents should make it clear that cheating is a big mistake and the consequences will dent a student’s self-esteem and self-confidence. And now the punishment for this problem should be to make them write “I will not cheat for any exam” many times over or make them write the entire answer from the exam paper. Only then will they face up to and understand the real consequences of cheating.

@YTABLOID

/YMAGAZINE

RAHUL RAJ KUMAR

Cheating, and getting caught for it is an issue students need to think carefully about. I cheated twice in exams and then realised I had made the biggest mistake of my life. I’d like to say to students: you won’t learn anything in school if you depend on copying. And then in a professional field, you will not have the basic knowledge you are supposed to have so you will just be cheating yourselves. Also by cheating we don’t get to know our capabilities and our capacity for learning. Cheating is not an option. The only thing you need is your basic knowledge in that particular subject.

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MOHAN ANANDAN

If such a situation arises, it is not time for reprisals or punishment but it is time for remedial action to correct the errant behavior of the student by counselling and to make him aware of the implications of such a misdemeanor. It should also raise concerns about how the student spends his study time, whether he is indulging in distractive activities with electronic gadgets under the pretext of studying, the habit of which forces him to go for such malpractices at the exam for securing the pass marks. Again, a look at his circle of friends is also warranted as the pressure to follow his peers is hard to break if left unmonitored. As parents, we must tell the offending student that his actions are a direct commentary on the way he was brought up, which means that their sacrifices and hard work to mould, nurture and nourish their character have not yielded the desired fruits. It is thus an indictment on our parenting, and shows that we have failed somewhere despite our best efforts. He needs to be told again and again that the virtues of integrity and honesty are the loftiest and greatest moral values that must be upheld at all times, and anything achieved through dishonest means for momentary success will bring only negative vibes and will not stand the test of time.

ALEENA SABU KOSHY

I am a student at ISWK, in 7G. When a student cheats for an exam and is caught by the invigilator, the student goes through tough consequences by the invigilator. This is the most

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MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

09

YOUR

OMAN

NEWS

SULTANATE TOPS REAL WAGE GROWTH ACROSS GCC

RANGERS O UNHURT AFTER GUNFIRE INCIDENT

man edged out its neighbours Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and even Saudi Arabia to secure the first spot in the GCC – and a healthy ninth spot worldwide – in annual average real wage growth in 2016, according to the Global Wage Report 2016/17.

The report was published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) – a United nations agency dealing with labour issues such as social protection, equal work rights and labour standards – and was further elucidated by British economic analysts, Touch Stone.

Real wages are essentially wages that are adjusted for inflation, or, equivalently, wages in terms of the amount of goods and services that can be bought by a worker in the country.

The report revealed that Oman showed a steady increase of 7.2 per cent in the average annual real wage growth between 2008 and 2015 – a period

P

ark rangers patrolling Wadi Sareen Nature Reserve in Al Amerat had a miraculous escape after shots were fired at them last Thursday (February 23). The rangers –who were on their lunch break – said they were fired at twice, originating from an unknown source, and that one of the bullets struck their vehicle, while the other “narrowly missed” them.

A spokesman for the Office for Conservation of the Environment at the Diwan of Royal Court was quoted by local media as saying that officers were investigating the incident. He also warned people not to stray into reserve areas.

“They [the rangers] were on their regular patrol in the reserve, and were outside the car when the person fired a bullet and by miracle the ranger survived,” he said.

“We don’t know yet about the person who did the shooting or the reasons behind it. There is no information – why he did that, we don’t know yet.

“The legal procedures are taking place – the inspectors are doing their work to find out who carried out the act.

The spokesperson has asked the public to approach the Diwan of Royal Court if they have any information regarding the shooter.

010

MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

that followed the global financial crisis, which resulted in a drop in real wage growth in many countries such as the UK, Mexico, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece.

“These trends show that global real wage growth dropped sharply during the post-2008 economic crisis, recovered in 2010, but has since decelerated,” Guy Ryder, the director-general of the ILO, said in the report.

Egypt came second in the Arab world with an average growth rate of 6.8 per cent and Saudi Arabia in the third place with an average growth of 6.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan topped the charts with an average growth of 14.4 per cent, followed by Zambia with 12.1 per cent.

Sri Lanka and Jamaica came at the bottom in terms of average wages with a fall of 4.2 per cent, followed by Greece, with a 3.6 per cent decline.

The average wage annual growth in Britain was reported to have suffered a fall of one per cent, while it rose in Turkey by four per cent and China by nine per cent.

The average wage growth across all countries was 2.3 per cent a year.

The ILO Global Wage Report is the fifth in a series that now spans over a decade.

The report aims to present comparative data and information on recent wage trends to governments, social partners, academics and the general public.

FLY DRONES IN OMAN WITH A LICENSE

A

re you a photographer or videographer in need of dramatic shots? Then worry no more, as you could be “legally” flying your very own drone across the skies of Oman soon.

How soon? Come March, the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) should begin processing licences for drones to enter the Omani airspace.

The time taken to process a new drone licence will be 30 days or less – which is three times faster than the current system.

In an interview with a local daily at the Drones Oman conference, which was organised by the International Quality and Productivity Center (IQPC), Anwar al Raisi, the Director-General of PACA said: “The process is being streamlined to make procedures easy to fly drones in the Sultanate if the applicant meets safety and security requirements.

“We are amending the previous law and the draft prepared by the PACA is ready, subject to approval from other authorities. By the end of next month, we will have an application form available on our website.

“Anyone in Oman or abroad who wants to fly

a drone in Oman can fill in the form, providing necessary details and the PACA will take it for further approval from other departments and get back to the client. In a best-case scenario, it will take less than a month to obtain a licence,” he was quoted saying.

The online application fee for the licence will be RO25, along with other procedural fees.

According to al Raisi, the “fee will be nominal for individuals and companies” and the “license price will depend on factors such as weight of a drone, period of license, etc”.

The Drones Oman conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Muscat on February 27-28.

BEATIFIC BAVARIAN

GALLERY

BMW UNVEILED THE SEVENTHGENERATION OF ITS 5 SERIES AT AN EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH EVENT AT AL MOUJ GOLF COURSE IN THE PRESENCE OF NUMEROUS CAR ENTHUSIASTS AND BMW OWNERS. THE EVENT, WHICH WAS HELD THIS WEEK, WAS ATTENDED

BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF AL JENAIBI INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILES, AS WELL AS JOHANNES SEIBERT, THE MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR BMW GROUP MIDDLE EAST. THE BMW 5 SERIES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE BMW SHOWROOMS FROM THIS WEEK.

MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

011

NEWS

YOUR

SALAMAIR BEGINS DUBAI SERVICE HEALTHCARE COSTS TO RISE T

OMAN

Healthcare costs are expected to rise in the Sultanate over the next four years thanks to lifestyle-related diseases, the Ministry of Health warned in a report this week. Sedentary lifestyles, which cause diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer, are to blame, with the Ministry saying that a significant rise in the cost of medicines and treatment is expected.

RENOWNED PROFESSOR DIES Professor Maurizio Tosi, the renowned Italian palaeontologist who headed a variety of groundbreaking archaeological digs and studies in Oman, has passed away, the National Museum of Oman said on Twitter this week. From 1984 to 2004, Professor Tosi headed surveys of the coast of Oman, shining a light on the depth of the Sultanate’s rich history.

he Sultanate’s first budget airline – SalamAir – added another milestone to its name after commencing services to Dubai this week (February 28). SalamAir launched on January 30 with its Muscat-Salalah services.

According to the airlines’ website, the first flight – an Airbus A320 – departed from Muscat International Airport at 5.35pm and landed in Dubai at 6.40pm.

The airline said it would be offering two daily flights to Dubai. The first flight is scheduled for mornings, while another flight is scheduled to leave in the afternoons.

SalamAir has three fare options to Dubai: Light, Friendly and Flexi. Light fares will start from RO21.6, while Friendly will set you back RO25.6 and Flexi, RO33.6.

Under the Light fare, passengers are allowed to carry a total of 7kg as hand luggage. Meanwhile, the Friendly and Flexi fares will assign passengers a total of 20kg of check-in baggage.

Passengers opting for the Flexi fare with receive an option to change flights for free or refund tickets for an added fee. In comparison, passengers would have to pay a fee to switch flights if they opt for the Friendly fare.

In keeping with its tradition of naming its

NEW FLIGHTS FOR SALALAH T H R O U G H Y O U R E Y E S Air Shabelle, based in the city of Bosaso in Somalia, will soon be launching direct flights three times a week to Salalah. The airline’s general manager of Oman operations, Ahmed al Kathiri, was quoted as saying by local press that the aim was to create a hub between East African and Middle Eastern countries.

flights, SalamAir has named its second narrowbody aircraft “Fat’h al Khair”, which means: “The Opening of Goodness”. In a tweet, SalamAir chairman Sheikh Khalid al Yahmadi said the aircraft was named after a renowned ship in Sur. “The name was suggested by a community member on Twitter via a photo, and we will send him a gift for his contribution,” he said.

“We want to assure the community that we are a part of it, and we will continuously serve it to the best of our abilities,” he added in the tweet.

The carrier’s first Airbus A320 aircraft was named “Samharam”.

The airline is expected to operate five aircraft by the end of the year, and has plans to also fly to destinations such as Jeddah, Karachi, Sialkot and Multan, as well as direct flights to India.

SHARE YOUR PHOTO WITH Y TO BE FEATURED IN OUR NEW READER SECTION

PARENTS WELCOME BUS TRACKING The Ministry of Education’s plan to introduce school transport monitoring has been welcomed by parents, local media outlets have reported. The satellite tracking of school buses is aimed at ensuring child safety, while the Ministry has been gradually fitting buses with the technology since last year.

The calm waters of the Arabian Sea at Mina Al Fahal in Muscat is a stunning playground for a lone dolphin and two birds, and was beautifully captured by Kaustubh Pramod Pandid with their Canon 650D.

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.

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PHOTO: Kaustubh Pramod Pandid

f

aces of

Oman

Welcome to Y’s weekly photo series that profiles the diverse characters who call the Sultanate home Name: Nawazudeen Age: 24 From: Bangladesh Occupation: Mason Passion: Football

Photo: Shaquel al Balushi

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

DRIVEN TO

SUCCESS

After serving in the Sultanate’s armed forces, Humaid al Mujaini received a post-graduate qualification in business administration from the University of Cambridge in the UK, and became a tour guide. In 2005, however, the ex-serviceman began his own tourism and transport company, Golden Tours Oman Q: What drives you to success?

I started my company with a vision that I would not make it a competitor to other tour companies in Oman, but rather, an ally to them.

That, I believe has been one of the keys to my success. Currently, we give support to all travel agents here. For example, if someone asks us for advice, I will gladly give them all the assistance they need. I don’t ask them for any payment. I give it to them because we are in the same field.

Because of all that, I have managed to maintain a very nice reputation here and have also managed to build a rapport with local companies and our clients.

Q: Who or what has been your inspiration in your career?

If you want to take someone on as an inspiration in this country, then it would have to be His Majesty. He has taught us that this country is our pride, and that we have to work hard for it. I have travelled all over the world and seen how people live in different areas; I can see the difference. And because of that, I believe that we have to be very grateful for our country and His Majesty. I have also learnt that no matter how much we give to the country, we will still not do as much as His Majesty, because what he has essentially done is give us a safe country and the wisdom that we have to live life protecting and helping one another. I admire him and I try to follow all of his strategies..

my business goal would be to market Oman in a very nice manner because that will help bring in more money for my country, and improve the country’s success over time.

Q: What is your biggest career success to date?

I have had several successes that have helped to improve my life. But my biggest success would have to have been during the National Day of 2010, when I was chosen as one of the main transport contractors. I had the contract to transport more than 5,000 people in a place where there were no bus services, because most of the buses were heading to Hajj. But I took on the challenge and I found the solutions to it.

Q: What are your career goals?

I have two types of goals: one is on a social level and the other is on a business level.

Primarily, my target is to train the highest number of Omanis and help them find success in their work. I have been doing it for a couple of years now, and I try to spend more time on them to help them improve their skills. Apart from that,

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

Today, I am very close to 50, and I am trying to move from managing a company to being a consultant for my company. My target in my next five years would be to move into retirement, because I know that I have put the right people in the right position and that my time with my company is coming to a close. So my target after that would be only to help guide the company in to the years that will follow.

Q: What do you like about the Genesis?

This is the first time that I have driven this car.

And I have to say that I really do like it. I like all the features on it, especially the 360-degree camera system, which lets me see everything around the car. I also feel that the car is very stable and relaxing to drive. I have driven many cars in my time, and I can tell that a lot of effort has gone into the making of this car.

Everything, from the leather interior and the comfortable seats to the layout of buttons, makes driving this car a pleasurable experience. I may be buying this car for my company’s VIP tours in the near future.

MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

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Y IS ON THE HUNT FOR THE KING AND QUEEN OF COOL OF MUSCAT’S COLLEGE CAMPUSES. IMPRESS OUR JUDGES AND BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING A SHARE OF RO4,500 IN PRIZES

A

re you a college student with a hidden talent up your sleeve? Then we are looking for you to enter Y’s Got Talent competition!

Whether you are a singer, a dancer, a musician, a poet, a juggler or even a freestyle footballer, you could find yourself appearing in our college campus auditions and heading to the Grand Finale in April.

Presented by Nestle, powered by Renault, and in association with VLCC, The Sultan Centre and Pizza Muscat, Y’s Got Talent aims to find the most talented university students the city has to offer and reward them with exciting prizes.

“This is a fantastic competition for college students,” says Felicity Glover, the managing

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editor of Y Magazine. “It’s a chance for them to get up on stage and impress our judges with their talents, as well as be in with a chance of winning great prizes.

“This year’s event is promising to be even better than last year, more so as we are inviting first, second and third-year students to enter via their participating colleges.”

In the audition phase, which will be held during March, our talent-hunting MC and panel of judges will scour each of the participating colleges to assess applicants, based on their two minutes in the spotlight.

Once the votes are in, one boy and one girl from each college will go forward to the Grand Finale and compete against winners from the other colleges taking part.

Whoever is named Mr Talented and Ms Talented from each college audition will receive each RO150 worth of vouchers for their efforts, as well as the chance to win even more in the Grand Finale.

The winners of each college audition will then face off against each other for the glory of being crowned Mr and Ms Talented, as well as the opportunity to lay their hands on a cash prize of RO250 each plus RO200 worth of vouchers!

Registration for Y’s Got Talent opens very soon – and Y Magazine will be keeping you up to date with the participating colleges as well as informing you when you can start registering via our website or on campus.

Good luck!

PART ICIPA T

• Wal I NG C jat Co OLLE llege o • Mid GES f A d le E a pplied st Col Scienc • Cale lege es donia n Coll • Om ege an Tou r i s • Scie m Col ntific lege C ollege • Inte of Des rnatio ig nal Co Mana llege o n gemen f Engi t • Nat neerin ional g and H ospita • Col li lege o f Bank ty Institute • Mod ing an ern C d Fina ollege • Om ncial S of Bus an Co tudies i n l e l ege of ss and Techn Mana o gemen Finance • GUT logy t and ech • Bay an Co llege

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THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

A NIGHT OF CLASSICS

FAMILY FUN

MAR

09

The Sultanate’s Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra will be performing Viennese Classics at the Oman Auditorium. Conducted by Justin Bischoff, doors open at 7pm and the concert begins at 7.30pm. Tickets cost RO10 per person. A pre-concert dinner is also available at Al Khiran Terrace for RO26, including a complimentary ticket to the performance. For bookings, call 2476 4000 or email boxoffice.albustan@ritzcarlton.com

THIS

WEEK

WHAT TO DO.

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Head to the Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel for a movie night under the stars! Organised by the Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO), it’s a fun family night that will be held on the hotel’s playing field from 6pm. Just remember to bring your camping chairs and blankets. Adults pay RO10, children aged seven and above pay RO8 while tickets for children under seven cost RO6. The price includes the movie, chicken shawarmas, sandwiches, chicken nuggets and a variety of other snacks. For more information, go to the WGO’s website at www. womensguildoman.com

For a chance to win dinner for two at the NHI’s Gourmet Night on March 8, simply answer the following question: Where will you find the NHI’s classroom restaurant in Muscat?

Email your answer to editor@y-oman. com no later than 5pm, Monday, March 6. Please include your full name and cell phone in your entry. The winner will be notified by telephone, also on March 6.

WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

H

The talented students at the National Hospitality Institute (NHI) are hosting what is promising to be a delicious evening at their upcoming Gourmet Night in their classroom restaurant at Marina Bandar Al Rowdha. Guests will be treated to a four-course meal with specially paired beverages that will delight both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the NHI’s students, who will be putting their theory into practice on the night. The dinner begins at 7.30pm, cost is RO26 per person and for reservations, call 2481 6313.

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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

Before I Fall

Logan: The Wolverine The legendary movie star Bette Davis once proclaimed that “growing old isn’t for sissies”.

And even superheroes can find the onset of middle age a tad unsettling.

In this, the third outing for Hugh Jackman’s X-Men superhero, Logan (aka Wolverine) is a man facing up to middle age, and the only way is down.

It’s 2024, and he is hiding from the world and his legacy by working as a limo driver on the Texas-Mexico border, where a wall appears to have been erected (yes, really). Logan drinks too much, suffers from aches and pains, has fading eyesight and sports an unkempt beard. His infamous Wolverine blade claws are giving him arthritis and to top it off, he is losing his powers.

He now lives with the once wise and now invalid Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) in a dilapidated water tower.

But then an unexpected mission

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 Professor Xavier in Logan: The Wolverine?

LAST WEEK'S WINNER Anthony Carlton

crops up in the case of a young girl called Laura (Dafne Keen) the first new mutant to emerge in 25 years. And for Wolverine, it’s a chance for Logan to prove to himself and others that he’s still got it.

Laura is in the sights of shadowy private military company and the sinister Dr Xander Rice (Richard E Grant).

Logan must get Laura to safety before Pierce and his acolytes use her for their own nefarious ends.

The film paints of a picture of a world in which mutants are extinct, water is scarce, and the world is a very desolate place to be.

And this is the closest thing to a superhero movie for adults: it’s downbeat, thrilling, violent and, in parts, even occasionally poignant. See, enjoy, and don’t feel guilty about it.

Review by Kevin McIndoe

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

When popular high school girl Sam Kingston (Zoey Deutch) wakes up on February 12, it seems like just another day. Until it turns out to be potentially her last and one that she is forced to relive repeatedly. Samantha has to work out what has derailed her life, by delving into the lives of those closest to

her. Only by exploring her own existence can she find out how one day can make a difference to her life, and she must do so before time runs out. This is basically a Groundhog Day for teenage girls, so if that’s your bag then go for it.

Dog Eat Dog Three ex-cons find that going straight is just too much of a challenge, especially in a society that consigns so many people to little more than minimum-wage misery. Troy (Nicolas Cage) the brains of the trio, can’t quite get over his frustration at the cards life has dealt him. Diesel (Christopher Matthew Cook) is on the Mob’s payroll, has a taste for adventure and a growing disenchantment with married life. Mad Dog (Willem Dafoe) lives up to his name.

One more “perfect crime” means one final, big pay day. But they fail to pull it off and find themselves on the run from both the Mob and the police. For gritty thriller fans.

Long View SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE A mysterious map sets Smurfwillow (voiced by Julia Roberts) and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on a thrillsand-spills ride through the Forbidden Forest, which is filled with magical, weird and wonderful creatures. They must find a lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel beats them to it. Their journey is no joy ride but their mission takes them on a path that could lead them to the biggest secret in Smurf history. This is a fresh take on the cuddly blue characters that the kids will love. And if you’re old enough to remember The Smurf Song by Father Abraham, there’s a certain nostalgic element on offer for parents.

Oman Release Date: March 29

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WORD UP In an era of Kindles and tablets, a love of reading is still evident in Oman.

Alvin Thomas attends the Muscat International Book Fair and meets the people for whom a bound copy still speaks volumes 022

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I

t’s 10am on a balmy Saturday: the recent rains have given residents a much-needed drop in the temperature across parts of the capital, making it a perfect day to hit the beach or simply relax in the park to get rid of that weekday stress.

But this is no ordinary week, and today is no ordinary day. And it is not the beaches and parks that are crowded with people, but rather, the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre – a place that is usually deserted at weekends.

And when we say crowded, we actually mean overcrowded because from where we are standing, we could never imagine the amount of people at this location – especially at this time of the day.

The number of people waiting to enter the halls is easily in the tens of thousands, and this time it’s not to witness a car show or a gaming expo, but a book fair. Don’t get us wrong: this is no generic book fair.

This is the Muscat International Book Fair (MIBF), which is the biggest annual book fair in the country.

The Muscat International Book Fair, which is now in its 22nd year, has not only been a source for residents across the country but also a platform for numerous local authors to showcase their works, as well as an opportunity for them to reach a

ALL OF OUR PUBLISHED BOOKS ARE BY OMANIS. AND WE CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OMANI AUTHORS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE IN OUR SOCIETY. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO LAUNCH BOOKS

BY NEW AUTHORS AS WELL AS READING DISCUSSIONS, AND SO FORTH much wider international audience.

Azhaar Ahmed, the manager of the Cultural Club of Oman, says: “The book fair is an annual routine for me and the club and we always make sure to place a stall at their venues. We use this as an opportunity to present the books that have been published with us.

“All of our published books are by Omanis. And we can see an increase in the number of Omani authors who are currently active in our society. Today, we are here to launch books by new authors as well as reading discussions, and so forth,” she says.

In total, more than 750 publishing houses from 28 countries are attending the 11-day event, which began on February 22. A total of 450,000 titles are also on sale. But what’s more interesting is that numerous Omani authors have taken the opportunity to showcase their works directly through their stalls, or indirectly through publishers.

One young Omani, Abdul Karim, an aspiring short story writer, sats: “I have been waiting for this break. I have been writing poems and short stories since I was nine. All of them are in Arabic and have received a very good response from my family, teachers and friends.

“Of course, I don’t have the capabilities to set up a stall on my own so I am here only to showcase my book with my college’s club,” he says.

Abdul’s works includes six short stories about suburban life in Oman, and how a young boy copes with adapting to a faster pace of life when he has to move to the city for higher education.

“We have been taking part in the event for the past few years and we are happy with the response, especially from young people,” Rashid Suleiman, from the Ministry of MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

023

GROWING UP, I DIDN’T HAVE A TELEVISION OR A PLAYSTATIONCONTRAPTION. ALL I HAD WAS THE HOLY BOOK OF QURAN AND SECOND-COPIES OF CLASSICS SUCH AS A CHRISTMAS CAROL AND FRANKENSTEIN. AND THAT LAY THE PATH AHEAD FOR ME

Heritage and Culture, was recently quoted by local media as saying.

“We publish books on the history and culture of various wilayats of the Sultanate. This year, the books are on the dhows of Nizwa and Barka.

Books are an integral part of our history and such books will help young people and tourists learn more about our country.”

Meanwhile, Fadil Hussain Abuaseem, the deputy director of libraries in the eastern zone at the Sharjah Book Authority, says: “We feel that the Muscat International Book Fair is giving local writers a lot of importance and a fair chance for them to compete with the international sellers.”

Fadil and his team are in Oman to show their support for the fair, as well as to promote their campaign of improving book culture across the GCC countries.

“What they [the book fair] do by having it on an annual basis is allow a ground for local writers to flourish. And once these writers build up their confidence here, they can come and showcase their books in other countries.

“What I know about Omani writers is that they hold their culture and tradition very close to their hearts. And that makes them different from many other writers. You and I can write about anything we want but nothing will appeal to a

reader as much as something that the writer has experienced,” adds the deputy director, who is a writer and an avid reader of novels.

When we ask Fadil to comment on the growth of the Muscat International Book Fair, he says: “We have been attending the fair for the past 18 years and we can see a very sizeable growth in the way the book fair has been held.

“A lot more will be done and has to be done.

The difference currently is that the book fair in Sharjah (which is one of the world’s largest book fairs) has authors from 200 nationalities and here it is only 28. So, a few more things have to be done.

But, Muscat is growing so fast and I am sure in the coming years we will see a lot more participation.”

Meanwhile, 55-year-old Arif Mohammed al Zaabi, a visitor, and a self-proclaimed bookworm, only has positive things to say about the book fair.

“There’s a saying: ‘A book is like a garden carried in a pocket.’ To most people that won’t make sense but when my professor – Dr Mohammed –told me that proverb, I changed my life.

“Growing up, I didn’t have a television or a PlayStation-contraption. All I had was the Holy book of Quran and second-copies of classics such as A Christmas Carol and Frankenstein. And that lay the path ahead for me,” says Arif, a resident of Barka.

“But, of course, time goes on and things change.

Today, children learn to use smartphones before they even learn multiplication tables. That’s how advanced we are today, and that is the future of everything.

“When I was a little boy, however, I remember how grateful we were. When we had English books arrive in our school, we would all fight over them,” he reminisces. “But I can tell you that there are a lot of differences with the education system in the early days of the blessed Renaissance, and how it is today.

WHY IS READING IMPORTANT?

1. Exposing Yourself to New Things

Through reading, you expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways of solving a problem, and new ways to achieve one thing.

2. Self-Improvement

Through reading, you begin to have a greater understanding on a topic that interests you. For example: how to build self-confidence, how to make plans better before taking action, how to memorise things better, and more.

All of these self-improvements start from reading.

3. Improve Understanding

The more you read, the more you understand one thing: the A to Z of something.

4. Preparation to Action

In today’s world, getting reviews and feedback from other people can make a big impact on your next decision, and the pros and cons of each choice.

Read about how to cook a meal, how to play chess, or which place is suitable for the family holiday. These can all help you become more prepared before you really get into it.

5. Gain Experience from Other People

When you are reading, you are actually gaining the knowledge and experience of someone. It can hasten your success towards a goal as you don’t need to repeat the same mistake while focusing on the right path in achieving one thing.

6. Tools of Communicating

Communication is the most important tool that can be transmitted through reading. As you communicate through reading, you understand more, and thus you can communicate better with people.

7. Connecting Your Brain

When reading, you’re in full silence because reading connects directly to your brain. In silence, you seek for more; in silence, your brain is clear and focuses. Thus, you learn and grow, and therefore you feel and see from the point of view of the author about everything in life. Hence you shape a better self.

8. Boost Imagination and Creativity

Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible in this world. By reading, you are exploring a different angle to see a thing you’ve known, on how different action leads to different results. Books are beyond imagination.

It’s like a huge spider web, where you keep linking to more and more to things you knew, and things you just learn, structuring new solutions and answers.

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“A big portion of my schooling days were limited to Arabic books and novels. But after 1970, things have changed drastically,” he exclaims.

Arif is correct: it was indeed after the Renaissance in 1970 that the country’s educational system took shape.

The literacy programme began in the Sultanate during the academic years of 1973 and 1974. At the beginning of this programme, the duration of study was two semesters; at the end of which a student was awarded a certificate that granted freedom from illiteracy, which is equivalent to the level of success in the fourth grade (formal education).

The Sultanate’s national educational programme expanded rapidly during the 1970s and the 1980s, and Sultan Qaboos University was founded in 1986.

It was reported that in the academic years of 2006 and 2007, a total of 560,000 students attended 1,053 public schools in the country.

Recent statistics (source: oman.om) show that the illiteracy rate among males stood at about 5.5 per cent and 12.9 per cent for females in 2013.

“You don’t have to be a student or a faculty member. All you have to do is drive down to our library. In the SQU, we have the cultural centre where we have the main library, which can hold up to 750,000 books. Right now, we have 211,000 books and we are upgrading rapidly,” Rashad adds.

When Rashad is asked to comment on the evolution of reading books to online sources and e-books and how SQU has adapted to the 21st century, he says: “From our understanding, we still have a lot of people coming to borrow physical books. But we also do provide digital versions although that is for scientific papers.

Still, the demand we see is for printed books.

“For staff and students, it is just more handy than, say, an electronic book,” he adds, before pointing out that SQU’s library recorded more than 600,000 visitors, in 2016 – a record for the university.

With regards to the evolution of reading, we also ask Express Publishing, a UK-based publisher present at the book fair, to comment on the topic. George Lucas, a company spokesman, says: “We have both printed books and on-screen books. Most of our printed

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A STUDENT OR A FACULTY MEMBER. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE DOWN TO OUR LIBRARY. IN THE SQU, WE HAVE THE CULTURAL CENTRE WHERE WE HAVE THE MAIN LIBRARY, WHICH CAN HOLD UP TO 750,000 BOOKS. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 211,000 BOOKS AND WE ARE UPGRADING RAPIDLY Rashad al Wahaiby, the advertising and promotions specialist at Sultan Qaboos University, who is present at the book fair, says: “We have been a part of the book fair since the beginning and we are here to promote everything we can about education and our services towards the same.

“All of our resources for knowledge are open to all the people of Oman. We have different information centres, which include a total of five libraries that are present in the SQU and across other colleges.

“Anyone who is interested in books can benefit from the resources. In the SQU we have around 53,000 titles and more than one million scientific papers in and around the SQU and from other international institutions. We also have a special group in the humanities research centre and Omani study centre that one can make use of if he or she is interested in doing some research on the country.

materials also have an application tagged along for easier reference.

“It is true that more children are interested in digital media, than say, print media. We are trying to advance along with technology, and kids just appreciate the gamification of education,” he says, before adding that “the actual habit of reading hasn’t gone down at all.

But the habits have changed. Nowadays, most people don’t read from actual books but opt to do so from a digital medium”.

He adds: “Print media will not necessarily die because of this. Without it, you cannot learn how to physically write and read. So habits have changed but the core remains the same. It’s just human habit, and we have to move forward with time.”

Meanwhile, Azhaar Ahmed, the manager of the cultural club, says: “I think the interest for literature and reading is very good in Oman, and this is also the case if you look at things in

a wider perspective. Oman is a big country, and even then, in less than 30 years, we have been able to achieve excellent literacy rates. Above all, many individuals have been inspired to take up research and writing.

“From this book fair, I can see a lot of people coming here not just to walk around but also to actually buy books. It is out of passion and desire for reading that makes them come here. Most of them, I know, were waiting for this book fair to commence.

“Omanis have a very strong link with books.

Because culture is in our blood, documenting it for the future has always been important to us. It is a part of our history.

“Social media and online sources have definitely come up but I am telling you that there is still a strong desire for reading and obtaining physical books. Of course, I cannot predict how it will be in the future but if we maintain our habit then our country is looking at a very bright future.

Azhaar is a children’s book writer, who considers herself “optimistic about a strong literary future for Oman”.

She says: “Because I am a writer myself, I have to be optimistic. I conduct a lot of workshops for reading and writing regularly. From the number of children joining, I can tell you that things are going pretty steadily.”

Top tips for sharing books with your child 1) Sit close together when sharing a book and encourage your child to hold the book themselves and/or turn the pages.

2) Don’t be afraid to use funny voices – it’s a great way to make your child giggle.

And don’t be afraid to sing either. They won’t care whether or not you sing in tune or know the words!

3 When you talk to your child about what’s going on in a book, give them plenty of time to respond. Try to ask questions that don’t require just yes or no answers. For example, ask them what they think will happen next or ask them about how a character might be feeling.

4) Sharing books isn’t just about the words.

Point to the pictures and relate them to something your child knows.

5) Using a puppet to act out a story can help your child to understand what’s going on and learn how to pretend- play.

Why not pick a character from your book and use the puppet to show what they are doing?

6) And lastly – make it fun! It doesn’t matter how you read with a child as long as you both enjoy the time together.

Source: bookstart.org.uk MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

025

The art of the sting Alvin Thomas meets a man who doesn’t mind getting up close and personal with insects, and who has created something of a buzz with his work around bees

M

ost people would shy away from a honey bee or a wasp.

It’s a common human tendency to be afraid of “creepy crawlies” that can hurt you. However, here at Y we have managed to get hold of one person who isn’t afraid of them at all. His name is Bader al Ghailani, and he has only one motto: to “document everything” using his camera.

Bader’s works are quite prominent across the country. In fact, the young Omani, who is also a head nurse at a hospital in Oman, has already clocked up more than 8,000 followers on Instagram (@bader_al_ghailani). It isn’t just his nature photography that has caught the eye of the public, but rather his deft camera skills.

Bader has been known to possess a very keen eye for the objects around him. But this week, he is showcasing another side to his passion: the macro-photography of insects.

“I have a sharp eye,” laughs Bader.

“But at the same time, I am really into nature and small insects. I am always around a lot of these small animals and insects when I go for my trips and adventures around Oman.”

But it is only now that he has started clicking photos of these insects.

“I was spending a lot of time around these insects so one day in 2016, I just decided to pick up my camera and begin documenting it all.

“I am not scared of most insects.

When I was small, I grew up observing them and how they behave.

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“And most Omani houses have lemon trees and date palm trees, and bees are quite common there.

“But it is the bees that visit the “alrehaan” trees, which have aromatic flowers that are used to make fragrances, that really entice me.

“After I finish my work, the first thing I do is go to the tree and wait for the bees to come. I find them there all the time. I like watching them come and take the nectar from these small trees. It is a beautiful feeling,” he explains.

Another one of his favourite shots is of a spider. Explaining his encounter with the arthropods, he says: “We all know that spiders inhabit a house, which hasn’t been occupied by people for long. But, one day, I found a couple of them in my house and they were massive – and indeed very scary,” he laughs.

“I didn’t touch-shoot them, let alone get close to them. However, a couple of days later, I saw two small spiders, and I knew it would be nice to add spiders to my collection of shots.

Bader’s collection of macro shots also include several crickets, moths, dragonflies and snails.

He says: “It is really sad that people kill insects. They really are just a part of the chain of life. I believe that if we don’t trouble them, they won’t bother us either. So, maybe we should all begin to appreciate the various life forms, as opposed to taking the gift of life away from them.”

Photo credit: Bader al Ghailani

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COMPETITION

s i h t e v o l h t i w t i Say y a D s ’ r e h Mot

Celebrate Mother’s Day and enter our great competition to say thanks for all that your mum does for you

I

t’s high time that mothers get the credit they deserve and that is why Y Magazine has teamed up with Puck to show the mums of Oman just how much they are loved by their children.

In this week’s issue, you’ll find a special card to enter our competition, which is being held to coincide with Mother’s Day in the GCC on March 21.

This is the third edition of the competition and last year, we were inundated with hundreds of entries as children across the capital put their feelings down on paper, proving why, in their opinion, their mum was the best in the world.

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It’s not just the title of Oman’s Best Mum that is on the line.

Thanks to Puck, there will be goodie bags and cash prizes for the top three entries, with RO200 going to first place, RO100 for second and RO50 for third. If this isn’t motivation enough to show your love, then we don’t know what is – just think of all the treats you could buy your mum as a thank you to all that she does for you.

“Mother’s Day is a very special occasion,” says Felicity Glover, the managing editor of Y Magazine. “While we thank and appreciate her every day of the year, Mother’s Day is a way to take our appreciation up a level and show our mums just how much we really care.”

To enter this year, you’ll need to be 16 or under. Just take our special card, which you’ll find in this week’s issue of Y Magazine, and fill it with a heartfelt message of love for your mum.

Remember, our judges will be selecting the winners based on content and display so don’t be afraid to get creative. Last year, we received poems, drawings, touching words and simple displays of gratitude for mums just being themselves.

Look out for the card in this week’s issue of Y. Complete your entry and be as creative as you like with words and pictures – good luck and remember to say it with love!

DROP YOUR ENTRIES INTO THE FOLLOWING PIZZA MUSCAT OUTLETS: • MBD • AL HARTHY COMPLEX QURUM • AL KHUWAIR (NEAR RUWASCO) • AL KHOUD SOUQ The top three entries will also be framed and given back to the participants for them to present to their mothers as a keepsake.

The competition closes on March 19 and our winners will be awarded their prizes with their mum at a special ceremony on March 23.

COMPETITION RULES: ● The competition is open to children aged 16 and under. ● Cards must be decorated and written by children only. Entries will be disqualified if there is evidence of parental involvement. ● Entries received after the closing date, March 19, will not go forward to the judging stage. ● Children of employees of SABCO Media or associated companies are excluded from taking part. ● The editor’s decision is final. ● Winners will be notified by email or telephone. ● Winners and their mums must be able to attend the prize ceremony in Muscat on March 23.

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FOOD AND DRINK

HAPPY DAYS

Healthy food is at the top of every parent’s list for their child and getting them involved works wonders for their appetite.

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Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews

APPETITE FOR LIFE W

Junk the chips and ice cream and get kids hooked on healthy fare with these handy recipes

hen it comes to making meals for kids, it can be hard to find things they will enjoy that will also be good for them.

Instead of giving in to burgers and ice cream for every meal or forcing children to eat something they don’t like, there are tasty recipes like Chicken Noodle Soup and Flower Salad that can satisfy appetites without stinting on nutrition. These fun recipes

Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe courtesy of the National Chicken Council

turning the chicken. Add more water if necessary to keep the chicken Ingredients: submerged. § 1 chicken (1.3kg), liver discarded § Remove the chicken with tongs, § 2 litres cold water and cool. Strain the broth through a § 4 carrots, peeled and cut into fine sieve. Discard the celery, herbs bite-size pieces and spices. Reserve the onions and § 2 onions, peeled carrots. Remove any excess fat from § 2 celery stalks with leaves, cut the top of the broth with a spoon. into 4 pieces § Pull the chicken meat from the bones § 6 cloves garlic, peeled and discard the skin and bones. Dice § 2 fresh thyme sprigs or 1/2 the chicken and put to one side. teaspoon dried thyme Quarter the cooked onions, if desired. § 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt § To prepare soup: In a large pot over § 1 tsp whole black peppercorns a high heat, return the strained Soup: chicken broth and bring to a rolling § 1 cup small pasta, cooked boil. Add the reserved onions and § 1 cup frozen peas, thawed carrots. Reduce the heat to low; stir § 1/8 tsp salt in the reserved chicken meat, pasta § 1/8 tsp pepper and frozen peas and cook until warm. § 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped Season well with salt and pepper. § 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped Ladle the soup into bowls and top with dill and parsley.

Method: § To prepare the broth: In a large pot over a high heat, bring the chicken and all the remaining broth ingredients to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and skim the surface of the broth to remove the foam.

Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, skimming occasionally, and

can give kids a chance to help out in the kitchen, and learn some important life skills along the way.

To find more fun, kid-friendly recipes that include both taste and nourishment, visit culinary.net, eatchicken.com and cutiescitrus.com/ our-story. * Family Features

Flower Salad Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger Servings: 1 Flower: Ingredients: § 1 Cuties clementine § 9-10 thinly sliced strips red bell pepper, cut in 2.5cm pieces § 1/2 grape tomato § 1 celery stick, cut to 8cm § 2 small leaves romaine lettuce § 1 piece English cucumber, unpeeled, seeded and cut to 4cm then thinly sliced Dip: § 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt § 1/2 tsp honey § 1/4 tsp fresh lemon juice

Method: § Peel the clementine and separate sections almost all the way, leaving them attached at the base. Place on the plate with the base down.

Place a piece of red bell pepper between each citrus section, and half a tomato in the centre to form a flower. § Place the celery and lettuce leaves underneath as stem and leaves.

Arrange the cucumber slices below to represent grass. § In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, honey and lemon juice. § Serve the dip in a dish alongside the flower or in a mound underneath the cucumber slices.

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031

HEALTH& BEAUTY

MELLOW YELLOW Spring is on the way and the blooming flowers, freshness and festivities call for a vibrant shade to celebrate the coming season. And what better colour is there than sunny yellow, such as with this look from M&S?

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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

These classic black velvet trousers from Next are a great canvas for all things yellow, just don’t go overboard!

From RO26.3

Whether it’s a brunch or a corporate party, this yellow silk skirt from Monsoon is a perfect spring look.

From RO53

With off-the-shoulder being the most trending design of the season, this variation in pastel yellow from H&M is a fun option to wear with jeans. From RO11

Simple, sweet and stylish, this purse from Dune London is a cool and classic accessory.

From RO26

The minimalistic cut of this bright yellow sweater from New Look is sure to take your look up a level in the style stakes. From RO11

When it comes to shoes, ankle boots are the sole survivors.

You can pair them with pretty much everything, and when we found these in a sassy yellow at Zara, we had to grab them.

From RO40

A classic combination of yellow and blue, this H&M headband is sure to add an edge to your outfit.

From RO3

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

BEAUTY

Health Fashion

SCRUB UP WELL

Look no further than your kitchen for some natural facial scrubs to get your skin glowing, writes Christine Karan

T

he beauty market is vast and you really are spoiled for choice for your beauty needs. Take facial scrubs as an example: there are countless brands out there claiming to give you the perfect, clear, “HD” skin. Many also claim the use of “natural” and “organic” ingredients in their products. However, whether they really use natural and organic ingredients is debatable.

What if we told you the ingredients to get your skin glowing are resting in your… kitchen? Yes, you heard that right. Simple items such as brown sugar, egg whites and honey make the best face scrubs that will leave your skin plumper, fresher and younger. And these items will cost you much less than lavishly packaged products.

Here are some beauty recipes that you can just whip up within minutes.

The two-ingredient face scrub Probably the simplest and easiest scrub you could make. This super, easy, all-natural face scrub requires: 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp coconut oil

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Mix them up together and apply on your face and neck. Massage them gently for a minute and wash with warm water. Tell us how brightly your face glowed! Did you know you could also store this mixture for up to three months in a clean and dry place?

some much-needed exfoliation to revitalise and stay bright and healthy the whole day. All you need are: 5 strawberries 1/2 tsp juice of a lime 1 tsp almond oil 4 tbsp salt The chocolate scrub Bring out your blender and break up the berries For those who think chocolates are only meant to (but don’t make them too smooth). Then gently be eaten, this recipe will surprise you. All you need add the lime juice and almond oil. Finally, add the salt and mix well. is: 1/4 tsp teaspoon brown sugar Apply this mixture and rub it into your skin.

1/8 cup olive oil Leave it on your skin for a few minutes or until the 1 tbsp cocoa powder mixture becomes dry. Then slowly wash it off with 1/8 tsp vanilla extract warm water. This will keep your face bright and Mix these ingredients into a smooth mixture and fresh throughout the day. You can also store and apply generously. Massage the mixture into your use the leftovers in a clean and dry place for up to skin and let it rest for about ten minutes. Let the 10 days. chocolate magic work. We know it will be hard to So there you have it. With just a few ingredients resist licking a little! Wash it off with warm water. from your kitchen shelves, you have some secret Say hello to clear skin! recipes that are very natural and will keep your skin young, smooth and healthy!

The strawberry scrub Made with several succulent strawberries and a few teaspoonfuls of salt, this scrub gives the skin Follow Christine on Instagram Hearmyshoestory

• • • •

• • • •

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

HEART OF THE MATTER

Living with heart failure can be an isolating and confusing experience, but these top tips will help you to manage the disease and start living again

T

he most common misconception about having heart failure is that your heart immediately stops beating. The reality is that heart failure can be a slow process that happens over time. Being diagnosed with the disease can be overwhelming but you are not alone. At least one person is diagnosed with heart failure every minute, according to WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, in the United States. While there is no cure for the millions of women living with heart failure, it can be managed with the proper knowledge, treatment and support.

“Successful treatment and management of heart failure must include interventions in the home, community and the doctor’s office. Living with this disease can be a confusing and isolating experience. That’s why we must continue to improve the treatment approach to provide women with heart failure the important tools needed to feel empowered to face the disease each day,” says Mary McGowan, CEO of WomenHeart.

Of those living with heart failure, half are women. More than 2.5 million women in the United States have heart failure, and they often face a very different burden than men. Women tend to develop heart failure at an older age, suffer from depression more frequently and experience a greater number of symptoms than men, including shortness of breath, swelling around the ankles and difficulty exercising.

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, there’s hope. Here are seven tips for managing the disease:

• Find a doctor you trust. If needed, ask whether you should see a cardiologist who is specially trained to treat advanced heart failure • Take your medications correctly. Make sure you understand why

you are taking each medication and how and when to take each one.

Newly adopted guidelines have expanded the list of recommended medications so ask your doctor if these new treatments are right for your individualised treatment plan Make a daily plan for diet and exercise, and stick to it. Play an active role in your care and stay on track with your treatment plan Tune in to your body. Pay close attention to changes such as new symptoms or rapid weight gain Touch base with your emotions. Depression is common in women with heart failure. Don’t let your disease define you. Find the support you need to live a fulfilling and enjoyable life. WomenHeart has a support group for you whether you prefer one-on-one, group settings or virtual options Know your limits. Stay active but don’t overdo it. You might not be able to do everything you used to do. Pace yourself and save your energy for what matters most Don’t go it alone. Seek support. Be honest with your loved ones, and don’t be shy about asking for help. Educate yourself, ask questions and build a strong relationship with your doctor For more information on heart failure, visit www.womenheart.org. * BPT

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GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS… Capital Region Azaiba • Amara

Dermatology Clinic • Audi Showroom • Bentley Showroom • Costa Coffee • Al Fair • Jaguar Showroom • Jeep Showroom • Al Maha Petrol Station • Mazda Showroom • McDonald’s • Mitsubishi Showroom • Oman Arab Bank • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Peugeot Showroom • Range Rover Showroom • Sayarti Auto Care • Shell Select • Skoda Showroom • The Sultan Center • Volkswagen Showroom • Volvo Showroom • Yamaha Showroom Bawshar • College of Banking

and Financial Studies • Dolphin Village • Modern College

of Business and Science • Muscat College • Muscat Private Hospital

(Emergency and Outpatients) • Oman Medical College CBD • Al Maya Hypermarket • Alizz Islamic Bank • Bahwan Travel Agencies • Bank Sohar • Copper Chimney Restaurant • Costa Coffee • HSBC • Lama Polyclinic • NBO • Oman Arab Bank • Standard

Chartered Bank • Woodlands Restaurant Darsait • Indian Social Club • SPAR

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

Al Falaj/Rex Road • Al Falaj Hotel • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Golden Oryx Restaurant • Kamat Restaurant • Toshiba Showroom Ghala • National Mineral Water Ghubra • Al Hayat International Hospital • Al Maya Hypermarket • Bank of Beirut • Costa Coffee • Crêpe Café • GMC Showroom • LuLu Hypermarket • Moka & More • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Park Inn • Porsche Showroom • Al Raffah Hospital • Stationery Hut • The Chedi Muscat Al Hail • Burger King • Caledonian College

of Engineering • Markaz Al Bahja Mall • McDonald’s • Omantel • Starcare Hospital Al Khoudh • Al Fair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Pizza Hut Al Khuwair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Bait Al Reem Mall • Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint (Splash) • Diplomatic Club • Grand Hyatt Muscat • Harley-Davidson Showroom • HSBC • KFC • SPAR • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Landmark Group

• McDonald’s • Muscat Bakery • Oman Bowling Center • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Oman United Insurance • Omran • Pizza Hut • Radisson Blu • Shell Petrol Station • TGI Friday’s • The Great Kabab Factory • The Tikka Place • Zahara Travel • Zakher Mall Mabela • Gulf College Oman Mawalah • Chili’s Restaurant • Costa Coffee • Al Makan Café • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint (Splash) • SPAR • NBO • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Pizza Muscat • Shell Petrol Station MGM • Caribou Coffee • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • Just Falafel • Ooredoo • Paul • Tim Hortons Al Mina • Bait Al Baranda • Bait Al Zubair MSQ • Al Fair • Arab Open University • British Council • Costa Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • Hana’s Slimming &

Skincare Centre • Kargeen Caffe • KFC • MacKenzies Café

& Deli • Mood Café • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Papa John’s Pizza • Pizza Hut

• Saharz Beauty Salon • Starbucks Al Murtafa’a • Bank Muscat • KFC • Muscat Hills Golf &

Country Club Muscat International Airport • Caribou Coffee • Majan Lounge • Plaza Premium Lounge Mussanah • Millennium Resort Muttrah • Shell Petrol Station Qantab • Al Bustan Palace • Marina Bandar Al Rowdha • Oman Dive Center • Shangri-La Qurum • Al Araimi Complex • Balance Health & Fitness • Bank Nizwa • BMW showroom • Burger King • Chili’s Restaurant • Crowne Plaza • Finland Eye Center • Fun Zone • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • The Jungle Restaurant • Left Bank • McDonald’s • Mercedes-Benz Showroom • Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant • Nandos • Nissan Showroom • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Qurum Commercial Complex • Ras Al Hamra Club • SABCO Centre • Second Cup • Starbucks • The Sultan Center • Tche Tche Café Rusayl • Knowledge Oasis Muscat-1 • Knowledge Oasis Muscat-2 • Knowledge Oasis Muscat-3 • Knowledge Oasis

Muscat-4 (ITA) • Middle East College • Omantel • Waljat College of

Applied Sciences Ruwi • Apollo Medical Centre • Kamat Restaurant • KFC • Khimji’s Mega

Store – Swarovski Showroom • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Oman Air • Oman UAE Exchange • Oman Trading Establishment • Saravana Bhavan Sarooj • Al Fair • Al Masa Mall • City Cinema • Ayana Spa • Cosmeclic • Emirates Medical Center • McDonald’s • Shell Petrol Station • VLCC Wellness Sawadi • Al Sawadi Beach Resort Seeb • Golden Tulip Hotel • McDonald’s Shatti Al Qurum • Bareeq Al Shatti Complex • Caribou Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • German Eye Centre • The Indus Restaurant • InterContinental

Hotel Muscat • Jawharat Al Shatti Complex • Kaya Skin Clinic • Muscat Eye Laser Center • Oasis By The Sea • Second Cup • Starbucks • VLCC Wellness Sifah • Sifawy Boutique Hotel SQU • Diplomatic Club • College of

Economics and

Political Science

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

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

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Postcards from

Outdoors

Y- F i

CARS AND ADVENTURES

QUIET QAFAIL

The rocky terrain of Qafail is a perfect spot for off-road enthusiasts.

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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

Y- F i

Indoors

Cars

Destination

QAFAIL A STUNNING VISTA REMINDS SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI WHY HE LIKES TO CAPTURE LIFE AND LANDSCAPES THROUGH A LENS

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A

But what I saw next was my highlight of the trip. It was the landscape of Qafail, and I cannot quite find the words to describe it. It is absolutely stunning, to say the least.

And just as I grabbed my camera and gear, I saw the sun rise above the beautiful rocky horizon just to give me a peek of the day that lay ahead.

The mountains weren’t brown anymore; they seemed to be coloured in an orange and yellow hue, making it seem like the opening sequence of a Paramount movie (sans the snow, obviously). It was breathtaking, and I just couldn’t resist taking photographs. It is moments like these when I am grateful that I am a photographer.

A few moments later, I continued on my path.

Of course, my stop had cost me 15 minutes, and I knew that I couldn’t complete the challenge unless I pushed my Jeep to its limits.

The terrain in Qafail is best suited to this sort of driving. Last month’s rains had washed the paths away so I was exploring the area on my own. I was creating new paths.

Thankfully, my Jeep took the beating and kept going strong. I presume that most off-road enthusiasts will find this sort of terrain best-suited for testing their SUVs. You can really push your vehicle to find its strengths and weaknesses and tune it accordingly.

However, do note that there is no cell-phone reception in the area, possibly because of the uneven terrain and the lack of relay towers.

So make sure you go with a group of friends and with a lot of supplies (water, energy bars and even fuel for your SUV). The last thing you want to do is break down and have no means to contact anyone.

I headed deeper into the village in search of Ain Al Zam but after a few hours of searching, I declared myself lost! It was unfortunate but as the heat blared down, things only got harder. So I decided to ditch my search for the wadi and head back home.

So there you go. Another challenge, another letdown. But, if you look beyond that, I would say that I enjoyed every moment of my time in Qafail.

And I will be heading there again with friends for a night of camping soon.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

fter my failed attempt to find the source of the wadi in Ain Al Zam last week, I was motivated to take up another challenge in my latest adventure just to redeem myself. Choosing a location wasn’t difficult at all: I decided to head towards Ain Al Zam from the opposite side, which meant that I had to head into the mountains through the village of Qafail.

And because my travelling buddy Imran and I took more than four hours to reach the location last week, I decided to set a challenge for myself to reach Ain Al Zam in 30 minutes or less from Qafail. Quite a daunting task, perhaps, but I knew that I could do it if I stuck to the main roads and kept within the routes paved by the villagers.

Sadly, however, I was travelling alone this time around as Imran was caught up with some work of his own. Nevertheless, I set off on my brisk journey before the crack of dawn (at about 5am) to avoid getting caught up in the preweekend traffic that riddles Al Amerat on Thursdays.

It did not take me long to reach Qafail: it’s a fairly straightforward journey if you stick to the highway that leads to Al Amerat. After just 30km, I saw a brown board that pointed towards the village of Qafail. You have to keep an eye out for it, however, as you could miss the signboard very easily and end up mooching around the rather deserted area.

Once I reached there, I knew that I was against the clock. I now had exactly 30 minutes to reach Ain Al Zam. However, almost instantly, I noticed two shepherds herding goats. But it was what I saw next that worried me.

The two shepherds had brought along two of their guard dogs. Now before you judge me, you have to know that guard dogs are quite fierce animals, and they can easily cause havoc if they see an impending threat.

And for them, an open-top Jeep Wrangler with a man holding a camera is definitely a “threat”.

So, without any haste, I quickly (but cautiously) decided to drive away. And thankfully, I managed to escape them without any problems.

A short drive (five minutes or so) later, I stumbled upon 10 to 15 houses – all traditional Omani houses – which seemed to be on their last legs. But because the clock was ticking, I quickly drove off without clicking many photos.

Take the Al Amerat Heights road and continue on Route 17 for 45km. After a while you should be able to see a brown sign board that leads to Qafail.

Follow the road for another

10km to reach the heart of the village.

GPS coordinates: N23°20’41.8” E58°22’10.8”

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

ALL SET FOR SHOWDOWN Oman’s sailors are doing us proud, with two teams currently placed second and third for one of the yachting world’s top prizes

Photo credit: Oman Sail

I

t’s been a thrilling race across the challenging Arabian Gulf for the fleet of yachts competing in this year’s EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2017.

After setting sail from Al Mouj Muscat on February 13 in the 763-nautical-mile race, the eight skippers and their crews headed to picturesque Sohar on the first leg of the challenge, followed by Khasab in Musandam, Doha in Qatar and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The final and longest leg of the race ends at the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The only annual sailing event in the world to offer a combination of inshore and offshore racing, the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2017 has been organised by Oman Sail since its launch in 2011.

Speaking at the start of the race last month, Nasser bin Masoud al Sheibani, the chief

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executive of Al Mouj Muscat, says the race is a great opportunity to showcase the tourism potential of Oman.

“While the mix of professional, amateur sailors and crew participating in the race from across the globe have been spreading the good word about Oman, the international media coverage has always been complimentary.

“The route makes it possible for sailors to discover Oman’s natural beauty during the race.”

With the race ending this week, it’s been a closely matched battle on the high seas, with just four points separating tour leader and reigning champion EFG Bank Monaco from Team Al Mouj Muscat. The battle for third place is expected to be just as thrilling, with Oman’s Team Renaissance edging Kuwait’s Team Zain by only 4.25 points.

“With Team Zain so close to us, we need to make sure they stay behind us,” Team Renaissance skipper Fahad al Hasni said on Sunday as the yachts were about leave for the final leg to Dubai from The Pearl-Qatar.

Meanwhile, Team Al Mouj Muscat crew member Sultan al Balushi said: “We are really proud about where we are but it’s not over yet. People keep telling us that second is a good place to be but we believe we can be first and that’s what we’re going to fight for.”

Good luck to Team Al Mouj Muscat and Team Renaissance!

OVERALL RESULTS (as of February 27) 1. EFG Bank Monaco Country: Monaco Skipper: Thierry Douillard Points: 8 2. Team Al Mouj Muscat Country: Oman Skipper: Christian Ponthieu Points: 12 3. Team Renaissance Country: Oman Skipper: Fahad al Hasni Points: 19.75 4. Team Zain Country: Kuwait Skipper: Cedric Pouligny Points: 24 5. Team Averda Country: Great Britain Skipper: Andrew Baker Points: 36.75 6. Adelasia di Torres Country: Italy Skipper: Renato Azara Points: 36.75 7. Bienne Voile Country: Switzerland Skipper: Lorenz Mueller Points: 37.50 8. DB Schenker Country: Germany Skipper: Annemeike Bes Points: 42.25

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CARS AND ADVENTURES

GO, GO GOWER

The Welsh peninusla is a quiet haven renowned for its pristine landscape.

1) Take a cliff-top walk along the Gower Coastal Path 2) Stroll, jog, run or picnic on Rhossili Beach 3) Cross over the causeway to Worm’s Head 4) Explore the origins of life at Paviland Cave 5) Take a boat trip round the coast, from Mumbles

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Destination

Outdoors

Y-Fi

Cars

POSTCARDS FROM

Michael Smith recommends

GOWER, WALES T

he former US President George W Bush once got a lesson in geography from the Welsh singer Charlotte Church after she had performed for him at the White House.

When Bush asked her which state Wales was in, feisty Charlotte informed him that it was not part of any country but one of four countries that make up the United Kingdom. And Gower is one of the many gems of this beautiful country, the third-largest in the UK, where I was a student (in Cardiff) 20 years ago. Money was tight then but as they say, the best things in life are free. The chance to get away to Gower at the weekend was one of the best things about being there. The Gower Peninsula is basically the piece of land that juts out into the Bristol Channel from south Wales, and was the first part of the UK to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which would explain the lack of reputable high-rise hotels.

The UK does boast some beautiful beaches (which many might find surprising) but there can be few more impressive than these. Gower has one of the most dramatic coastlines in the UK, and its wild and grand landscape is peppered with historical landmarks: monuments, burial tombs, caves and cairns that bring the area’s ancient and glorious past to life. It is also home to an array of wildlife all sharing in the wondrous beauty of the hills, valleys, and woodland that make up this resplendent region.

My favourite place The Gower Coastal Path. Any spot on these cragged, majestic clifftops will make you stand still, stare into the distance and let your thoughts soar. An awe-inspiring experience is the walk along the clifftop of Rhossili. From here, you can gingerly make your way down to Rhossili Beach, a four-mile stretch of sand so unbelievably splendid you’ll never again think the colour of beige is boring. The promontory Worm’s Head is a mile-long isle that is shaped like a snake and marks the westerly tip of Gower. It just has to be seen and savoured for its sheer wildness, as well as for catching glimpses of the baby seals and porpoises that pop up along the shoreline.

Worm’s Head is conjoined to the mainland by a rocky causeway that can only be crossed at low tide (two-and-a-half hours daily). Even Dylan Thomas is said to have missed the tide back from Worm’s Head once after he fell asleep.

You can get some tide tables by nipping into the National Trust Rhossili Shop & Visitor Centre, from where the clifftop walk kicks off.

Highlights

It has to be the 32-kilometre expanse of beaches. The only problem is picking a favourite. While the crown jewel is Rhossili, there’s Llangenith Beach, Caswell Bay, Oxwich Bay, Bracelet Bay and others. As well as its accessibility to woodland, Oxwich Bay is a magnet for surfers and its sweeping flatness make it a safe place to be with the kids. It can also be accessed by wheelchair users. The area is a designated National Nature Reserve and there are plenty of swamps, marshes, dunes and plants to keep nature lovers happy.

Bracelet Bay boasts a rocky shoreline that hardy walkers will enjoy, and kids who have had their fill of beach games can hunt for shells on this pebbly beach and enjoy some of the excellent ice cream shops nearby.

If it rains, Swansea is just five miles away. As the country’s second-largest city (after Cardiff), there’s plenty of food for the mind to be had, at the National Waterfront Museum, the Dylan Thomas Centre, Oystermouth Castle and the Glynn Viviann Art Gallery, Swansea Museum and others. The city’s delightful Maritime Quarter is also well worth a wander, and offers some commendable cafes and restaurants.

P A V IL A

ND CA VE ON T GOWER HE P E N IN S ULA

PEBBLE P IE R W IT H PENARTH T OL D T H E B R IS BEACH AN CHANNEL

Lowlights It is Wales so don’t expect beach-like weather. It can be unpredictable – there might be gales or gorgeous sunshine – but that’s all part of the fun.

Souvenirs There are crafts, artefacts and knitwear to be found in the Rhossili visitor centre but if you find yourself in Swansea then check out Dragon Crafts, in Mumbles Road. The shop aims to find “the spirit of Wales in every gift”, and has an eclectic array that includes Celtic jewellery (for her) and some reasonably priced rugby shirts (for him).

Getting there

After flying from Muscat to London’s Heathrow Airport, take a train from London’s Paddington Station to Swansea. The journey takes about five hours. From there, either hire a car or take the bus to Gower.

SWANS

E A C IT Y

Where to stay

You won’t find major hotel chains here but privately owned establishments to suit every taste and budget: four-star hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs or holiday chalets. Check out Expedia, Kayak or Booking. com for options.

MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

043

-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Outdoors

D e s t i n at i o n

Y-FI

RICH PICKINGS Alvin Thomas takes a look at some of the more opulent kit about TEA TIME Have you ever tasted “regular” tea and thought to yourself: “Hey, this tea could have been much better?”

If so, we have some good news for you: it’s the Teforia Tea Infuser, and it could alter the way you drink tea... forever! For starters, it looks like it belongs in a chemistry lab of sorts but the most amazing feature of this gadget is that it can read tea packages (mostly all renowned brands) and automatically initiate the optimal brewing recipe. And if you thought that was all, you’re wrong. The guys at Teforia have also managed to make the device WiFiready meaning you can control it via your smartphone. All of this is yours for a mere RO577 from amazon.com

PORSCHE DESIGN

EAR CANDY If you’re a music enthusiast, chances are that you’re going to have a neat set of earphones to go along with your phones or iPods. But, a real audiophile would tell you that earphones aren’t ideal, and that you would have to upgrade to headphones to get a feel of what the music composer really intended you to hear. And with that in mind, we present to you the Sennheiser HD 800 Reference Dynamic Headphone and Amplifier. Without a doubt, these are the closest you can get to converting bland digital waves into clear analog waves for that optimum listening experience. The open-back design also contributes to the clarity and detail in the music.

The final product is phenomenal, and you must try it out to believe it. Yours for a hefty RO1155 from amazon.com

Let’s just make a few things clear here: the C SEED 201 is the most expensive television in the world, and even if you have the brass to purchase one, you will still require a private mansion or a yacht to store it in. The television, which is also a part of Porsche Design, measures in at an astonishing 510cm – making this the “world’s largest LED television display”.

The 780,000 LEDs are 10 times brighter than a normal TV display, and also produces crystal-clear images, in bright daylight. Oh, and you can also raise, lower or even rotate the television using your remote control. All of this is yours for RO252,175 (making this the most expensive Porsche on sale today) from cseed.tv

MORE THAN GOLD

EDITOR’S PICK

WHEN COMPARED TO SENNHEISER AND OTHER AUDIO BRANDS, GOLDMUND MAY NOT STRIKE YOU AS A BRAND OF PREFERENCE, SOLELY BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF EXPERIENCE. BUT THAT HAS NOT STOPPED THEM FROM PRODUCING WHAT IS, ARGUABLY, THE MOST EXPENSIVE SET OF SPEAKERS IN THE WORLD. THE GOLDMUND LOGOS ANATTA, IS BASED ON A LIMITED EDITION SET FROM 25 YEARS AGO, AND IT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE “APOLOGUE” THAT WAS DESIGNED BY ITALIAN ARTIST CLAUDIO ROTTA LORIA. THE SPEAKERS ARE ESSENTIALLY THREE CUBES OF VARYING SIZES – ADDING UP TO A TOTAL OF 1.6 METRES – THAT ARE STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER ON A METALLIC FRAME. A FEW MATERIALS THAT GO INTO THE DESIGN INCLUDE HIGH QUALITY STEEL, ULTRA-RIGID BRASS RHODIUM, AND GOLD. THIS COULD BE YOURS FOR RO113,575 (SAME AS A FERRARI 488 SPIDER) FROM GOLDMUND.COM

044

JULY MAR 02 03 - 08 09 / ISSUE 460 327

W

FORZA HORIZON 3

ho in their right minds would say no to driving a Pagani Huayra or a Lykan HyperSport hypercar? Exactly! No one would. However, the chances of you getting to drive one of those exotic Info Box machines are quite slim because, you know, you would FORZA HORIZON 3 have to persuade the car owners to let you take out Platform: PC AND XBOX their prized possessions for a joy ride. And that’s highly Genre: unlikely unless your name starts with Jeremy and ends ARCADE RACING with Clarkson.

Rating: However, you can still quell your passion for driving EVERYONE them – virtually – with the Forza Horizon 3. The game, which is only thwarted by its Xbox and PC exclusivity (thank you Microsoft), is one of the most capable arcade (yes, arcade!) games out there, and manages to remain ahead of the game thanks to some next-level graphics and, above all, sound mixing.

I cannot lie: Forza has done a great job getting the sounds of individual cars precise. And that’s an achievement in itself because there are more than 300 cars for you to mess with. Furthermore, the detailing on each and every car pinpoint is accurate, and the depiction of the scenery, breathtaking. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at some of the in-game screenshots from other gamers.

What makes the game even more enticing is that it can be played at 4K resolution. This is something its rivals (Need for Speed and Gran Turismo) don’t do yet. While all of that is true, I still have to point out that this is an arcade game, and therefore, the handling is a mixed bag. In my opinion, Forza has also deliberately made the handling easier for gamers of all ages to take advantage of and that has definitely taken out some of the fun. You just don’t want to see an all-wheel drive sedan drifting onto the streets or a muscle car take corners like a champ. It’s just unrealistic.

Apart from that, however, Forza Horizon 3 is just a very nice game to play. If you overlook the handling dynamics of the game (mind you, it’s still miles ahead of its rivals Need for Speed and Burnout) then you’re arguably looking at one of the best arcade racing games of this year.

App of the Week

VIP Upset by the number of digits of those gadgets?

Fear not. Maybe this mobile application will make you feel better about yourself. The VIP Black is a simple app that makes use of a unified server, which allows you to hire a new butler or even book private jets. Think of it as Uber with a few more frills attached.

Of course, there’s more to it than that. You can also take private consultation services for your company from other millionaires (or billionaires). But to avail yourself of that, you have to certify that your earnings are above RO580,000. Download from iTunes for a mere RO385.

JULY MAR 02 03 - 08 09 / ISSUE 460 327

045

CARS AND ADVENTURES

Destination

FIRST DRIVE

Postcards from

Alvin Thomas finds he’ll have fun, fun, fun till the salesman takes the Lexus away

W

hen Lexus first broke onto the world’s automotive scene in the early 1990s, the world was shocked to see Toyota – one of the world’s leading brands of the time – come up with a luxury marque.

Undoubtedly, there were a lot of questions: would they be able to keep up with the Germans and British – who had been at their jobs for decades – and why it cost as much as a BMW or MercedesBenz?

However, Lexus kept doing what it did best; creating opulent cars with legendary reliability and it soon etched a bullet-proof name for itself in the industry. A host of sumptuous cars followed and the brand soon became a household name in many countries.

But it is what followed that changed the face of Lexus: by the late 20th century, the brand entered the Middle Eastern market – and it soon became more than a carmaker.

It became a brand that many Arab kids aspired to own one day. And the aspirations of these young people from a region with an emerging economy, dreaming of buying a car from an emerging manufacturer, soon wrote itself into a beautiful love story. Everybody wanted a Lexus, and it soon became a sign of wealth and status.

Almost two decades later, things are still the same, and Lexus is still one of the region’s best-selling luxury carmakers. But if there is anything that has

046

MAR 02 - 08 / ISSUE 460

Outdoors

Y- F i C A R S 2017 Lexus IS350 F-Sport Specifications: Engine: 3.5-litre six-cylinder Transmission: 8-speed automatic Horsepower: 312hp Torque: 375Nm Rear-Wheel Drive F-Sport Package Selectable Driving Modes Electric Power-Assist SpeedSensing Steering Disc Brakes w/ ABS Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Traction Control Reverse camera

bolstered – even in the rear. There’s ample space in the back and it’s on a par – if not more voluminous – than its rivals. changed over the years, it has to be the way Lexus Powering the IS350 F-Sport is a monstrous 3.5-litre has served up its cars to customers.

V6 engine that sends all the power to the rear-wheels And looking at my test IS 350, which also has “F” via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. To be clear, and “Sport” badges tagged along with it, I have to that’s 312hp and 375Nm of torque in a car that say that I am quite confused by what I’m seeing. weighs only 1,600kgs (before I hop in, that is).

Is it a luxury cruiser? Or is it a rival to the BMW The results? Well, they are staggering.

335i M Sport or Cadillac ATS? Because there are no turbochargers, most of the But one thing’s for sure: the Lexus got my power is available throughout the rev range and attention in terms of aesthetics. I must there’s no lag from the engine. And that’s fantastic admit that I wasn’t quite sure of its news because the car redlines at 6,600rpm. This design at first but it did grow on means you will be screaming all the way through the me, and I soon grew to admire gears if you choose to do so. its swooping side-profile and The eight-speed automatic is smooth, but quite the razor-sharp front grille and dictatorial unless you take things manually using rear lights – which descend the paddle-shifters. Upon doing so, we could hit downwards – to blend with the the 100kph mark in a little over six seconds. The side skirts. car, however, is kept sane by computer nannies Even the headlights (along and it does come alive in corners, fighting between with the Nike-esque daytime understeer (if you leave the traction control on) running LEDs) and the and a plateful of oversteer thanks to all the power spindle-like grille makes the IS that is sent to the rear wheels. Mind you, it’s not look like it is frowning down on uncontrollable; it’s just a lot of fun. its competition. It’s all very sporty Handling is further aided by the sharp steering, and bellicose, especially in the graphite which manages to provide decent feedback. The ride colour my tester came in. is smooth despite riding on the GS-inspired 46cms The interior, however, follows a different alloy wheels. Body roll is existent but manageable, approach. Is it avant garde? Yes. Does it complement and the chassis is lively. The brakes are also very the exterior? Perhaps not so much. strong and linear.

Mind you, it’s an amazing place to be in and it all The Lexus IS350 F-Sport has the charisma to put looks attractive. There are a lot of peculiar shapes it into the sporty territory but also the finesse and around the cabin and everything is stretched and grace that keeps it within the luxury segment. But almost rectangular-themed (except for the clock). In what surprised me most was that the boffins from the F-Sport trim, the interior is also complemented Lexus have managed to make this an interesting car with leather trim, a clean centre console and a to drive. multimedia screen that is controlled via a joystickBy doing that, they have managed to put a smile on like mouse set-up. The latter is incredibly finicky and my face. This is not a car you drive; this is a car you will require getting used to. indulge in. The “F” in F-Sport isn’t just for show: it The seats are extremely comfortable and are well clearly denotes “fun”.

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