Y Magazine #490, October 12, 2017

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DESTINATION: Wadi Lahloo TASTE TEST: Crepe Café

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

OCT 12 - 18 2017 / ISSUE 490 • WEEKLY

BACK IN

CONTROL?

PLUS!

ALARMING RISE IN SERIOUS WORK-RELATED INJURIES

FAMILY VISA RULES

01

NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

26

COMIC CONSTRAINTS

28

POSE FOR PEACE

42

COMPETITION

EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

THE BAROMETER GOING UP

NEW PAVED ROADS Yes, folks! You can safely discover places in Oman even more so than before. As per recent statistics, there has been a 66 per cent increase in paved roads, than in 2015.

GOING DOWN

OIL PRICE The price of Oman oil declined by US$1.42 to US$53.94, last Friday [October 6, 2017].

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

Fast forward

L

et’s face it. Work can be a pain sometimes. The full-time office life often threatens to squelch even the cheeriest of employees. Now new research is proving what many of us have suspected for years — work can be a literal pain, too. Back pain in the workplace is a common occurrence, and yet few workers (and even fewer employers) know what to do to combat it beyond the occasional fiveminute stretch at the water cooler.

It’s easy to make light of something we are usually able to just mentally push past, but the truth of the matter is, desk life is accelerating damage and even death to our bodies, and our work culture must be revamped for many to get out alive.

While it may sound dramatic, both professional statistics and the everyday experience of many office workers currently prove that back pain is an incredibly common problem in the office, and that it can often lead to more dire consequences.

Backs are complex structures comprising the interlinking vertebrae bones of the spine, cartilage or discs, muscles, tendons and nerves, and backs play a central role in supporting, moving and protecting our bodies. Any problems with our backs can have a debilitating impact on us physically and mentally.

In our cover story this week, we talk to people affected with back pain issues in Oman and doctors who are dealing with patients with back complaints, and we find solutions to improve your back.

Have a great week!

THIS WEEK… Team Y headed to the beautiful waters of Sifah for a session of deep-sea fishing. We also pushed three Ferraris – the 488GTB, the GTC4LussoT and the 812 Superfast – to its limits, during a test drive event, at the Muscat Bay.

Ways to get your Y fix Online: Visit y-oman.com for even more inspiration.

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editor@y-oman.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR Nishad Padiyarath ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

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

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OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

03

contents

OCTOBER 12 - 18 2017

Your Oman 08 Voice Of Oman

Nishad Padiyarath 10 News

RO26,400 as

compensation for consumers 13 News

Doctors perform 50,883

major surgeries in Oman

Features 22 Trail of Pain

Rise in work-related

injuries in Oman

This Week

26 Families Reunite

Expats hail new rule on

family visas

18

28

Mesmerising Music Alexandrov Red Army chorus to perform at Royal Opera House Muscat

Comic Constraints Comedians in town fight tougher odds to stand up and deliver

21 Movies Renegades to hit

theatres in Oman

22

15 Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Wadi Lahloo

21 Health and Beauty

34 First Drive

Audi SQ5

40 Fashion

If it fits

36 Postcard From

Bhutan 38 Y-Fi

Google gadgets

39

42 Health

A healthy balance for

your body

Food and Drink 44 Food Feature

Easy desserts 46 Taste Test

Crepe Cafe

44

40

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THE VOICE OF OMAN

WHAT SPREAD THE SMILE AND WHAT MADE SOCIAL MEDIA ABUZZ LAST WEEK WAS THE NEW NORM FOR A FAMILY VISA. NISHAD PADIYARATH HAS HIS FINGERS ON THE PULSE OF EXPATRIATES’ EXCITEMENT

W

hat is the biggest compromise made by an expatriate living in Oman? Leaving his family back home, isn’t it? So, the good news was out last week! An expatriate employee now needs only RO300 as salary to bring his family members to Oman, according to a new amendment, confirmed an official source at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) last week.

Earlier, the minimum salary for a family joining visa was RO600.

Expatriates across the country have wholeheartedly welcomed the ROP decision, saying it will further boost the Omani economy.

Figures from the Central Bank of Oman showed a 6.5 per cent decline in expatriate remittances in 2016, compared to that of 2015. RO4.2 billion was remitted overseas in 2015, whereas the amount fell to RO3.95 billion in 2016.

Experts say the new decision will help to have these amounts remain in the Sultanate. With this rule, expatriates can also bring their children under the age of 21 under the ‘family joining visa’. I know a friend who was struggling to bring in his family last year as he was drawing a salary just below the RO 600 mark and who ultimately quit his job to move to Dubai. The decision will certainly encourage fresh, skilled expatriate workers who have just come to Oman and wants to bring in their family.

This will also enable them to spend more in Oman which will directly impact the economy.

Soon after the decision was made public, social media was abuzz with people rejoicing over the happy piece of information.

This news is here to stay and it will certainly benefit the retail and real estate sectors in Oman.

08

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: Grocery budgets have gone up due to a rise in the price of food. Is your weekly shop costing more?

If so, what are you doing to adapt?

ELIZABETH JOSEPH

As the prices of grocery items have increased, the budget has been rising and this has made life tough for the common man. It’s a blow to families where there is only a single bread winner. Survival is at stake. Families with low incomes cannot cope with this price rise. When it comes to my family, though three of us are earning, our salaries are designated for various purposes. It’s not just the grocery part that we have to account for, but water and electricity bills, house rents, loans and education of the siblings as well. So, when the expenses go up and the salaries remain the same, life becomes impossible. As the budget fluctuates, so does our planning. One can’t stop eating or clothing oneself, so the only option is to try to adapt and plan accordingly. Prioritise your spending — we are left with no choice.

MOHAMED ABDOULMAGUID

There is no doubt that the greed of the traders is leading to the rise in prices. Monopolisation is one of the main reasons for the rise in food prices. Customers need to prioritise their purchases and go for what’s seasonal, available in plenty and cheap.

MOHAN ANANDAN

The price increase has hit the salaried class hard. Sourcing alternatives is a viable means to encounter the price rise. Super markets have

WRITE TO US AND YOU COULD WIN

sensed the mood of the public and come out with novel ways to bring some cheers to the consumers.

The weekend offers are attracting a lot of enthusiasts — the rush and noise near the areas where such promotional offers are made is proof. I know a friend who buys his weekly quota only during the ‘weekend offer period’ and gleefully says it is quite ‘cheap’!

So, the price rise can be overcome by making some realignment of options and priorities.

USHA DEVI SUDDAPALLI

We have been living in Muscat for about two decades, but have never felt the need to keep track of our monthly spending on groceries for the reason that our expenses on this account are minimal, so a 15-20 per cent increase in the prices does not pinch us much. However, that’s not the case with some of the families I know about.

Most of them have made budget cuts to meet the inflation, which in essence means minimising on the food needs and curbing extravaganzas. In this process, it is the growing children or convalescing elders or pregnant mothers whose needs are curtailed by the force of circumstances. They are compelled to lead a hand-to-mouth existence.

BENSON CRUZ

Yes! To lower our weekly/monthly spending, since 2014, we have not been buying or consuming liquor, carbonated drinks and tobacco. It is a healthy option and one that helps us save a lot on spending. Instead of increasing the petrol prices, they should impose a

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

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hefty tax on liquor, carbonated drinks and tobacco.

SYED BOKHARI

Prices of commodities depend on the petrol prices. The ones who are hit hard by the price rise are the low-income families. One should be prepared to meet such tough situations by way of saving for the hard times and planning wisely, keeping in mind that time never remains the same.

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MISS YAMI ARUN DEV was spotted with her favourite Y Magazine in Muscat

MOHAMMAD OSAMA RAWAT

The price index of not only the groceries but also the other essential commodities have gone up and, to be honest, there is no choice but to stock only those items without which we cannot lead a healthy life. Nowadays, I avoid special offers so I do not buy more than my usual monthly consumption and, at the same time, I look for special weekly super market offers .To add to my saving, I have started avoiding expensive dinner outings during weekends. However, there is no choice... one has to eat to survive.

ZAHID SAEED

Food budgets are fluctuating with the petrol prices. People are forced to cut down on the amount of money they spend on eating out or they try to completely avoid such spending habits. We are looking for weekly offers announced by supermarkets to get the maximum value for our money.

New Debate: The Royal Oman Police has confirmed that the minimum salary requirement for an expatriate to bring his family to the Sultanate has been reduced from RO600 to RO300.

What do you think about the move?

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The Qurum Heights Mosque beautifully captured by Aminah Yunus using her Canon 70D camera.

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PHOTO: Aminah Yunus

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

09

YOUR

OMAN

T

NEWS

OMAN’S LARGEST

HEALTH EXHIBITION

A GRAND SUCCESS

he seventh edition of the Sultanate’s premier health exhibition – the Oman Health Exhibition and Conference – has been touted as a grand success. Close to 200 exhibiting partners from 18 countries displayed the latest technologies in the field of healthcare to the visitors.

The three-day event was organised by the Oman Expo and was inaugurated by Sayyid Dr Sultan bin Yarub Al Busaidi, Adviser, Ministry of Health for Health on Monday on October 9. It was conducted at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) at the Airport Heights.

Significantly, the India Health Plus pavilion promoted several top medical consultants and specialists from more than 30 leading hospitals in India. Apart from that, national pavilions of Germany, Thailand and Iran were also on display at the event.

This year’s edition saw the show’s first-time association with Turkey as a country partner offering healthcare and medical services from 20 local health establishments.

A three-day scientific conference, organised in association with the Ministry of Health and the Oman Medical Association, featured several “highly acclaimed” speakers from the local and international sphere.

RO26,400 AS COMPENSATION

FOR CONSUMERS C onsumer protection authorities have helped consumers get RO26,400 as compensation in Al Dhahirah during July and August.

“The Department of Consumer Protection in Al Dhahirah governorate was able to recover RO26,400 during the months of July and August of 2017,” the Public Authority for Consumer Protection has said.

The amounts were recovered from various

010

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

sectors such as services, vehicles, electrical equipment, and aluminium and blacksmithing services.

During the same period, the department also imposed fines of RO7,503 on commercial establishments in the governorate for violations ranging from raising the prices of goods without getting the approval of the authorities to removing price tags on goods to not issuing bills.

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GALLERY

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BY NIKON. THE CAMERA WAS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC, LAST WEEK, AT AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT.

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

011

YOUR

HEALTH WATCH

OMAN

MAJID AL FUTTAIM GROUP SUCCESSFULLY ORGANISED THE ‘FEEL THE BEAT’ CAMPAIGN, AIMED TO SPREAD AWARENESS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, IN OMAN.

012

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

GALLERY

NEWS

DOCTORS PERFORM

50,883

MAJOR SURGERIES

O

man doctors had been at the service of more than 100,000 patients awaiting surgery in the country, last year. In all, 111,313 surgeries – including 50,883 major ones – were conducted, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Khoula Hospital carried out the maximum number of major operations (8,644), accounting for approximately 17 per cent of the major operations carried out in the Sultanate, and a total of 12,798 surgeries were conducted in the health centres, accounting for 21.2 per cent of the minor operations in 2016.

The Health Statistics Bulletin stated that the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) outpatient clinics registered 15,616,509 outpatient visits, including 14,801,984 Omani and 814,525 expatriate patients.

The bulletin also revealed that outpatient clinics in the private sector recorded 4,014,725 visits, including 2,051,481 Omani and 1,962,776 expatriate patients.

The number of hospitals affiliated to the MoH across governorates reached 49 with 5,034 beds, while the number of health centres reached 23 complexes and 183 health centres.

The number of employees in these institutions was marked at 39,197 and the number of doctors at 5,875, which included 2,455 specialists and consultants.

The number of dentists was 323, while there were 526 pharmacists and 14,587 nurses.

The number of physiotherapists stood at 349, while there were 774 X-Ray technicians and radiographers.

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

013

YOUR

STAY CONNECTED

OMAN

OOREDOO CEO IAN DENCH ANNOUNCED, LAST WEEK, HOW THE OPERATOR IS TAKING DATA EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH NETWORK BOOST, DIGITAL EXPERIENCE AND THE LAUNCH OF THE ‘ENJOY THE INTERNET’ CAMPAIGN.

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OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

GALLERY

NEWS

VET PEEVES HAVING A PET TO KEEP COMPANY WITH IS A WONDERFUL FEELING, BUT YOU NEED TO DO A BIT OF HOMEWORK BEFORE BUYING OR ADOPTING ONE. HASAN ALI SHABAN AL LAWATI LISTENS TO PET TALKS FROM VETS AND ANIMAL LOVERS

H

umidity and heat in Oman pose risks of serious diseases to pets, vets at a well-known clinic in Muscat have said, advising animal lovers to educate themselves before buying or adopting a cat or a dog.

Many animal owners do not regularly vaccinate their pets, according to Dr Pavle Blagojevic at Sama Veterinary Clinic.

“Unprotected pets are usually prone to infections which could be fatal even with the most aggressive treatment. Due to the weather conditions in Oman, cats and dogs often suffer from heatstroke and skin issues,” Dr Blagojevic said.

“While most of our clients bring us animals for vaccination and regular treatment, we often receive stray dogs and cats hit by cars or shot by the police. It is a very common problem in Oman,” Dr Blagojevic added.

But dogs and cats are not the only animals being treated in the clinic.

“Recently a good Samaritan saw a seagull chocking on a fishing hook at Azaiba beach. He brought us the bird and we released the hook and saved its life,” Dr Ninko Marijanovic, another vet at the clinic, said.

He said he had seen some exotic pets recently.

“We treated a baby gazelle, turtles, monkeys and wild cats. Once we fixed a limping white lion too,” he added.

As part of its responsibility to preserve wildlife in Oman, the clinic offers a 30 per cent discount for treating wild animals and strays.

Veterinaries get busier in the Sultanate during Eid holidays, Christmas and New Year.

“We work seven days a week and have a 24/7 emergency service,” the doctor said.

Animals that need to stay under observation for a long period of time are also kept in the clinic.

Healthy ones, on the other hand, are sent to Sama Kennel at Misfat.

“Some pet owners like to keep their

animals in Oman when they travel abroad. The kennel gets fully occupied during holidays,” Ali Ahmed Sulaiman, owner of the kennel, said.

The kennel charges RO5-7 a day for a pet, depending on its size and the services it needs.

“However, some people abandon their cats and dogs and leave the country. In such cases, we put the pets up for adoption,” he explained.

The clinic is also supporting neutering.

An expatriate lady (refused to be named) said she had been neutering cats in Muscat for 25 years. “I have been working closely with Sama Veterinary Clinic that offers discounts for such operations,” she said.

Neutering is the best method to ensure a better quality of life for the strays and to control their growing population, she said, adding that “neutered cats live longer, bond as a family and fight less”.

Post neutering, vets remove a quarter of an inch from a cat’s left ear to mark it as sterilised.

Ear-tipping is a widely accepted way of identifying a neutered, freeroaming cat to ensure it does not get trapped again.

Despite the limited funds, she fought against the odds for more than two decades to care for Muscat’s street cats.

Over 25 years, the English national has neutered around 6,500 cats in Muscat.

Animal activist Antonija Stanich, who has been supporting neutering in Oman, said neutering was just very practical. “The main issue started when expats came to settle and make money but, as years go by, they leave and abandon their pets due to the high cost of transporting them and other factors,” she explained.

“There are lots of works to be done here. It’s a combination between legislation and money. It’s important to start a registered group which is legally allowed to raise money and work in an organised manner,” Stanich added.

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

015

YOUR

A TOUCH OF ART

OMAN

ART AND MUSICAL INSTITUTE KALAMANDALAM - ORGANISED A MEET AND GREET FOR THE STUDENTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORKS, LAST WEEK.

016

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

GALLERY

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

017

Photo: Shaquel Al Balushi

Today’s inspiration: Each morning we are born again.

What we do today is what matters the most.

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

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

OCT

13

THIS

WEEK

WHAT TO DO.

WINTER STORM AT PARK INN

After successfully organising some of the best party events in Muscat, Spirals Group will host ‘Winter Storm’, a music festival, at Park Inn Rooftop on October 13. The event starring DJ Sem Thomasson is expected to be a full house. Those interested can book for the party by calling 97098681 / 96584858.

COMPLIMENTARY HEALTH TESTS FOR WOMEN

OCT

13

As part of the ‘Feel the Beat’ health awareness campaign

by Majid Al Futtaim, the City Centre Qurum is organising complimentary health tests for women on October 13-14 from 4pm to 10pm. Medical professionals from Sultan Qaboos University will do health tests and conduct screenings for women. Visitors will be able to check their blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI) to determine if they are at risk for cardiovascular diseases and if they would require a follow-up consultation. In addition, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training sessions will be conducted during the initiative.

ROHM TO PRESENT ALEXANDROV RED ARMY CHORUS

WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

O C T O B E R World-famous Alexandrov Red Army Chorus will perform at the Royal Opera House Muscat. In a magnificent, heart-stirring show that will be entertaining as well as inspiring, the famed chorus will appear on Thursday at 7pm. Founded in Moscow in 1928, the choir was the brainchild of Alexander Alexandrov who first achieved fame as the composer of the national anthem of the Soviet Union. The chorus gave more than 1,500 performances during World War II.

OCT

12

018

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

After rubbing shoulders with over 100 bright minds from around Asia, the young Omani student is in awe of her moments in Singapore. Hasan al Lawati meets the Muscat girl to share her life in the fast lane

D

riving a car you have designed and built from scratch is an incredible experience, but when you need to take the machine you have breathed life into all the way to Singapore and hit the tracks there, the thrills come with a round of tough tests, stiff challenges and inherent uncertainties.

The 22-year-old student from Oman did just that in March, but the excitement of living a dream along with and against more than a hundred like-minded guys and girls from around Asia is still fresh in her mind, six months down the line.

When Alshifa Abdullah al Hadi, dressed in heavy overalls, hit the Shell Eco-marathon track in Singapore, she became the first Omani girl to drive at the Asian round of the global competition.

Shell Eco-marathon is a fierce yet friendly contest that attracts young engineers and students from around the world to show off their skills at designing and building vehicles that would go the farthest miles on the least amount of fuel.

It was so hot and humid in Singapore that the organisers brought down the number of laps the contestants had to do.

Only months before graduating from Gutech, the young lady had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in Asia’s biggest eco-friendly car competition.

The computer science student is not just a good driver: she is a good designer, too.

Alshifaa designed the car’s engine using Arduino, an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software.

She wanted to program the whole car but abandoned the idea to focus on the diesel-run engine, which is the most important part of a vehicle.

Alshifaa took three months to design the engine, while the team needed six months to build the car.

“It was a very challenging competition.

Despite the limited time and equipment in Oman, we managed to pass eight of the ten stages at technical instruction level,” she said.

Unfortunately, the engine malfunctioned at the eighth stage.

It was her first time to compete in Shell Eco-marathon, and while she has

a driving licence in Oman, she was chosen to be the team’s designated driver for another reason as well.

Alshifaa weighed only 53kg at that time, which was only 3kg above the minimum allowed weight (50kg). “The lighter the driver the faster the car goes,” she said.

“Most drivers this year were females, and the ones who weighed below 50kg were asked to add extra (sandbags) weight to the vehicle,” she added.

Alshiffa is thrilled about the support she had received from her family and friends.

The Muscat-born girl said everyone in the university had encouraged her to compete and win. Even the cleaning staff at her college were clapping their hands for the young student to do well in Singapore. “I do remember the cleaning staff who also wished us to make our college proud,” Alshiffa said.

“The event was well-organised and the officials were very strict over the timings,” she said.

“It’s an honour to be part of this whole initiative and it’s a proud moment for me and my family,” she added.

Her team was honoured by Shell Oman in September at a ceremony to appreciate the student’s teams that represented Oman in Shell Ecomarathon 2017.

The event was held

under the patronage of Sayyida Mona Al Said, assistant vice chancellor for international cooperation, Sultan Qaboos University.

The teams from Sultan Qaboos University and German University of Technology were among more than 120 teams from various colleges in Asia, Middle East, and Australia who gathered for a four-day event to showcase, test and compete with their eco-friendly and fuel-efficient cars.

At the ceremony, the Omani teams presented their experience from the competition in Singapore. Following that, they were recognised at the ceremony for their participation in the global challenge.

Oman Air was also recognised for the logistical support it provided to the two teams.

A group of Omani enterprises such as Engineering for Kids and Innovation Factory, Oman Cables and Turbo team have partnered with the teams and sponsored them.

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

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Top

Most Watched TV Shows of 2017

➋

➊

The Walking Dead

■ Where to Watch: AMC ■ Average demand expressions: 11.11mn

Game of Thrones

■ Where to Watch: HBO ■ Average demand expressions: 11.28mn

➌

Pretty Little Liars

■ Where to Watch: Freeform ■ Average demand expressions: 7.61mn

➎

Vikings

➍

■ Where to Watch: History ■ Average demand expressions: 6.16mn

Prison Break

■ Where to Watch: FOX ■ Average demand expressions: 6.81mn

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*Source: businessinsider.com

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

The Snowman

Ramaleela Starring: Dileep, Mukesh, Prayaga Martin, Radhika Sarathkumar, and Siddique

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson and Chloë Sevigny

Renegades Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, J.K. Simmons, Sylvia Hoeks and Ewen Bremner A team of Navy SEALs on assignment in the war-torn Europe discovers a treasure of gold rumoured to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars at the bottom of a lake. In an effort to help the locals, they go rogue and engineer a heist to retrieve the gold and return it to its rightful owners. But in a deadly turn of events, they are detected by the enemy and left with only 10 hours to carry out their mission. The film stars J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) & Sullivan Stapleton (300: Rise of an Empire), is directed by Steven Quale (Final Destination 5 and Into the Storm) and is an original story written by Luc Besson (Taken and Lucy).

Directed by Arun Gopy, the film is a political thriller. Advocate Ramanunni, who is offered a ticket to contest the election to the legislative assembly, is thrown headfirst in to the dirty abyss of politics. What ensues is a cloak-and-dagger game where it is impossible to survive unless he plays along.

Watch how Sakhavu Ramanunni ‘Dileep’ plans his moves to play the fine line between politics and family.

Oman release: October 12, 2017

Oman release: October 12

Udaharanam Sujatha

6 Below: Miracle on the mountain Starring: Josh Hartnett, Mira Sorvino, Sarah Dumont and Jason Cottle

A brutal snowstorm has Josh Hartnett fighting for his life in 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain. Hartnett plays former hockey player Eric LeMarque, who, for eight days, must survive on top of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

When he’s all alone and nearing death, he starts looking to the past, wrestling with his demons and, maybe, rediscovering his faith.

Oman releasing: October 12

Starring: Manju Warrier, Joju George and Mamta Mohandas

It’s based on a Jo Nesbo thriller about a serial killer with a disturbingly unique calling card: he leaves snowmen next to his victims. Originally due to be directed

by Martin Scorsese, it’s a movie from Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) that stars Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, JK Simmons, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Toby Jones, with a score composed by Jonny Greenwood. The message is clear: this is a serious film made by serious people. As its new trailer demonstrates, The Snowman is intended to be taken very seriously indeed. It’s got loads of snowmen in it, which is a risk, because it’s hard to make a snowman dramatically meaningful or ominous.

Think of snowmen and you’ll think of Aled Jones warbling as a little boy flying through the air with his chilly best friend.

Worse, you’ll think of the Michael Keaton movie Jack Frost. For The Snowman to work, it needs to employ some masterful production design: these snowmen have a lot to sell.

Sujatha, mother of a teenaged girl, nurses a dream to educate her daughter by doing multiple jobs at houses and factories.

However, her daughter Athira doesn’t take education seriously, believing that being the off spring of a domestic help, she too will end up the same. A dismayed Sujatha is on the lookout for ways to rouse Athira’s competitive spirit. Manju Warrier plays the role of Sujatha.

Oman release: October 12

Oman release: October 12 OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

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sh y. e r da f 50 es a mas r ve cas ho o th lder in T s i w ou Alv ain l ea sh at. ce p d n zen ce la w o fro ima rkp t in nd gr wo s t ist ne a er to ou l ia pi b ab c pe ed s num talk s th eez ing ple l ea squ rm eo h t k, la to p s a o c M ne an ens ff t’s ist i t s ha l T 022

OCT 12 -18 / ISSUE 490

W

hen

23-yearold Benjamin George signed a work contract with a telecommunication company in Oman as the support engineer of a project, he was over the moon. The young, fresh engineer had just arrived from India after his graduation to join the team.

It had been his lifelong dream to settle down outside of his hometown in India, and he was ecstatic to be a part of the company.

His first few weeks of work – as he points out – comprised scouting round the locations he would be working in. This meant he was travelling from city to city by car.

It was all “fun and games” for the adventurist… at first.

But, as luck had it, Benjamin was assigned the position of a junior supervisor – meaning he had to travel hundreds of kilometres every day to inspect worksites.

“Work was a challenge but a good one. Not everyone gets to drive from Muscat to Kalba, Ibri or Suhar, daily,” he says.

A few weeks into his job, however, Benjamin began to feel the stresses of driving his sedan all over the country. It all started with a stiff neck and a slight spasm on his lower back.

“It wasn’t something I took heed of,” he says, adding that he continued working normally, due to his strict schedules.

Things took a turn for the worse one evening when he was driving from his company’s site in Kalba (near the Oman-UAE border) back to his home in Wadi Al Kabir – which is a 330km long journey.

“The stiffness of my neck had spread and my head started aching very badly. Soon, I found it very hard to concentrate on the road. I had my thumb and my index finger pressed hard on my temples to keep the pain at bay.

“Soon, I could take it no more and stopped the car at a petrol station and purchased some Panadol (paracetamol) to ease the pain. It worked in a few minutes but I felt that my neck was very stiff. So, I began cracking it by turning it left and right briskly.”

Benjamin ignored the calls of his body and carried on. He also refused to go to an orthopedic doctor owing to his busy work schedules.

He continued his practice of popping painkillers for the next eight months but, after that, he could take no more.

“My body stopped responding to the paracetamol efficiently. I was taking three pills (more than 1.5g of paracetamol) at a time and I

OCT 12 -18 / ISSUE 490

023

6 EASY TIPS TO REDUCE BACK AND NECK PAIN AT WORK 1. Setting up your desk A typical ergonomic evaluation at work will likely focus on providing a comfortable, adjustable chair, with or without appropriate education on how to adjust it to fit you, and a keyboard tray.

2. Sitting with support Your optimal ergonomic setup should start with your sitting position.

When sitting at your desk, your feet should be flat on the floor, and the height of the chair should allow your thighs to angle down slightly.

3. Adjusting keyboard tray height Set the keyboard high enough so when your elbows are bent approximately 90 degrees, you aren’t forced to slump down through your shoulders to touch the keys. If the tray is too low and cannot be adjusted, place the keyboard on your desk.

4. Looking straight at your monitor Almost everyone has a monitor that sits too low. Place the monitor so the bottom is approximately at the level of your chin.

5. Avoiding your cell phone for emails Cellphones and tablets are most likely to cause problems when people use them for email and texting and screen time.

6. Getting up and walking around Sitting in an office chair seems simple, but it can be fatiguing. Your posture suffers the longer you sit. If you have back, neck, and/or shoulder pain, it’s best to stand up and walk around the office every half hour.

Source: spine-health.com

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feared that I would overdose,” he reveals.

He then consulted a doctor at one of the country’s leading hospitals. And there, his worst fears came true: he was diagnosed with spondylosis – an incurable disorder that affects the patient’s spinal joints.

This devastated him and he had to take a break for rehabilitation.

Fast forward to today and Benjamin is unsure of whether he will be able to completely recover from his injury and carry on his work.

“It’s the biggest mistake I have ever made. All I had to do was go to the doctor and get myself checked.

And now, I cannot conduct tasks like a normal person of my age would,” he tells us in a broken tone.

Benjamin is just one among a “sea of people who are pushing their bodies to the limit of breaking” due to long hours and the pressures of work.

It is not just people travelling for long hours in cars that are under threat; those sitting in offices without breaks or spending long hours in erroneous postures are also prone to being affected by such injuries.

How do you know if you are at risk?

Simple. Ask yourself these questions: After a day at work, do you usually have terrible neck and shoulder pains? Do eyes turn red or hurt? Do you have frequent headaches?

If you answered with a “yes” to the above questions, then it is time you headed to an orthopedic surgeon.

Neck pains usually arise from muscles, tendons and ligaments – commonly referred to as the soft tissues in our bodies – that are in and around the cervical spine (the neck).

As per Medical News Today, pain in the lower back can be linked to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, lower back muscles, abdomen and pelvic internal organs, and the skin around the lumbar area. Pain in the upper back may be due to disorders of the aorta, tumours in the chest and spine inflammation – and are much more serious.

“Prevention is definitely better than cure,” says Dr Rajagopal T. Naganathan, orthopedic surgeon at the NMC Specialty Hospital, in Ruwi; a new multi-specialty hospital offering affordable world-class healthcare to the residents of Oman.

The doctor says the issues of workplacerelated incidents are on the rise and that the numbers are staggering. He deals with more

than 30 patients who come with neck and back pains, daily.

The number is higher with renowned physiotherapist Suneel George who practises in a reputed hospital in the country. Suneel receives more than 50 patients every day.

“Most of these incidents are caused by the lack of workplace ergonomics. People who tend to spend a lot of time on the computer, sit for too long in one position, or travel long distances in their cars can face such neck and back pains,” says Dr Rajagopal.

Spending seven to eight hours seated in front of a computer every day, looking at the monitor with a slouch, sitting in a chair that is not designed to the shape of your body, or not correctly resting your hands on the desk while typing or working are some of the main reasons that office-goers develop neck and back pain.

While age is a contributing factor to such injuries, the doctor says nowadays youngsters in the age bracket of 20 (and above) are also prone to neck and back pains. He puts it down to the excessive use of smartphones.

“Smartphones have also contributed to this problem: people spend a lot of time looking at their phones texting, playing games and what not. This means their head is fixed in one position for a long time and this can result in creating pains.

“The term used to describe the neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at your cell phone, tablet, or other wireless devices too frequently and for too long is Text Neck.”

Sedentary routines and the constant need to look at your smartphone (or other devices) have led to a huge rise in the number of young people who are experiencing back and neck pain. While statistics aren’t readily available in the Sultanate, 45 per cent of the 16- to 24-year-olds surveyed by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) said they were living with neck or back pain, compared with 28 per cent of the 18-to 24-year-olds, in 2014 alone. Experts believe that the figures have since risen.

The question, however, is this: when do you know that you are in trouble?

The answer is simple, says Dr Rajagopal. “The symptoms for this sort of injury can be numbness and pain in the neck and back. While it could be only an isolated case of spasm at first, you must heed it if you feel the pain radiating to other parts of your body,

such as your hands.

“This means the nerves in that part of your body are affected and being irritated. A remedy has to be found out. Else, the whole situation could get out of hand.”

Labourers, contractors, engineers and anyone working outside are prone to injuries, too. But such cases are put down to trauma caused by accidents.

Suneel says most labourers working outside visit him for cut-related injuries.

“This is the third highest case of occupation-related injuries,” Suneel points out.

“Such incidents can result in the hand being completely numb post-trauma. So, careful rehabilitation must be provided in such cases.

“The best way to protect yourself is by wearing thick gloves, boots and hard hats. There is only so much we can do to protect ourselves when exposed to the elements,” he adds.

Incidents pertaining to patients whose problems stem from work can be classified as ‘non-trauma’ cases.

Although, these are more prevalent today and must be taken seriously.

How can you avoid such injuries?

“The best way to avoid this would be to move around – stand up from your chair and walk every 15 or 20 minutes. This will aid in the blood circulation around your body. Use as many movements as possible during this break,” the doctor says.

Jeremy, a 42-year-old British expat working in the petroleum industry, says he keeps in mind such rules when spending time in office.

“People like us – employees of a company – are more prone to such discomforts as we tend to sit down a lot and work. While you and I may feel fit, we must realise that there are ways to tone down the stresses on our body.

“I usually walk around every 30 minutes and have friendly conversations with my colleague. It works for me as it not only allows my body to relax but also improves my relationship with my mates.

“Try it out.”

This method of moving around in between work is also recommended by Suneel.

“It is important to take a break. But you can also do some light exercises to help your blood circulation. This will help your muscles stretch and subsequently relax, too,” he tells.

“Back pain and cervical spondylosis (neck arthritis) are caused due to the way we maintain our postures: for example, those working with computers must sit right in front of the screen.

“Care must also be taken to not have the air conditioner blow straight at your neck. This could stiffen the muscles there, causing massive discomfort.

So, rehabilitation starts from within your office.”

Prior to starting any treatment, however, it is always advisable to first see a specialist.

Suneel also recommends hitting the gym, especially for those with beginning stages of neck and back pains.

“The gym is a perfect place to get your back and neck muscles strengthened. This can also help you reduce your body weight and bring your body’s rhythm back on track. But you should note that if you are having chronic pain, you must visit an orthopedic doctor, first.” ■

Care must also be taken to not have the air conditioner blow straight at your neck. This could stiffen the muscles there, causing massive discomfort.

So, rehabilitation starts from within your office

OCT 12 -18 / ISSUE 490

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ctober 3, 2017, marked a very important day in the life of Christin Jacob. He has just learnt that he could finally do something that had been on his mind for long; bring his wife and two children to Oman for the very first time – and have them stay at home in Al Khuwair for as long as he held his job.

The 35-year-old car salesman has been living in the Sultanate alone for the last four years, and the strains of his work life is usually shared with his wife who is residing in her hometown in India over WhatsApp. The only time the family meets is when Christin is granted his annual leave.

He takes home RO520 and was ineligible to get a family joining visa, but now things have changed ‘for the better’.

Christin – and several others – who are earning RO300 and above can now bring their families here and revive their life together.

This comes following a new decision by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) that revised the minimum salary required for bringing a family to Oman to RO300.

“When a couple of my colleagues called me up to say that the law had been changed, I didn’t believe them. I simply sat down on my chair and began daydreaming about what I would do when they are here,” says the salesman.

“Not having your family here is like missing an arm or a leg. I used to chat with my wife over WhatsApp after work and throughout the night; it’s something we had accepted and got

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used to. But now she can come here,” he smiles, not being able to hold back his excitement.

This is also the case with Dilhara, a Sri Lankan expatriate engineer working in Oman.

The 24-year-old tied the knot only months ago but was unable to apply for a family visa for his wife as his salary was only RO450.

The youngster has already applied for the family visa through his company and is expecting to see his wife in the coming weeks.

Of course, we must note that Dilhara and

Christin are all salaried employees who have received housing as part of their package from the company.

And this is in line with the ROP regulations related to the new change.

“Regulations on family residency to foreign employees. The expat that wants to bring his family, must have an income of no less than RO300 per month,” read a tweet by the ROP. “The expat’s Ministry of Manpower information form will be consulted in addition to a bank statement showing the expat’s salary deposit for at least the past three months.

The expat must have a residence rented in

his/her (sic.) name or the name of the employer, the contract will be consulted by the appropriate authority for confirmation,” it added.

But what is the reason for the sudden move?

According to Melissa Joan, an economist based in Oman, this is to keep the remittance within the country.

“I personally think this is a smart move. It’s something that should have happened three or four years ago but better late than never.

“This means that the people will spend their money within Oman.

This should aid in strengthening our economy and also broaden the prospects of our growth annually.

“Until now, men and women working here had been sending their hard-earned money back to their hometowns in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, etc. But with their families here, I think they would have to increase their local spending, thereby reducing the flux of remittances outside Oman,” she tells us.

This is reflected in an online statement released by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI): “The OCCI expresses its deepest thanks to the Royal Oman Police for their contribution to the amendment of the salary clause in the conditions for the issuance of a family visa for expats from RO600 to RO300, as this decision will lead to the growth of the real estate, tourism, and commercial sector, and increase the rate of power and the circulation of money within the Sultanate, in addition to attracting foreign capital.”

However, Joan feels that results will still take time.

“Someone with a salary of RO300 will find it hard to sustain themselves and their families in this current market. It would definitely work in cases where the company is providing the employee with free accommodation.”

Based on a survey conducted by international website numbeo.com, the average rent for a onebedroom house within the Muscat city and outside the city is RO232.8 and RO162.5, respectively.

“Let’s wait to see how it will all work out,” she says.

Even though the rule has been amended, several expats are saying it is not the right time to bring their families.

Mahesh*, a mechanical engineer with a petroleum firm in Oman, says he sent back his family after he felt his job was “unstable”.

“I could lose my job anytime,” he tells us.

“Why uproot everyone (his three children, wife and aged mother) and send them back abruptly if I were to lose my job,” he asks.

“I sent them back 14 months ago and I’m also sending all my savings back home. Being an NRI (non-resident Indian: an expat working or residing outside India) has its perks. I can send my savings to India and deposit it as with a fixed interest.

“This way, I can ensure I am looking after the future of my family.”

The engineer takes home RO1,350 monthly and is also allotted a house.

But, recent figures revealed by regional (UAE) newspaper, Gulf News, points out that the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) showed a decline of 6.5 per cent in expat remittances in 2016, compared to that of 2015: RO4.2 billion was remitted overseas in 2015, whereas the amount fell to RO3.95 billion in 2016.

“Some of us do not care whether we’re earning RO100 or RO1,000. We just want to be with our families,” says Justin, a Filipino expat working as a malenurse.

“We are willing to share the struggle no matter what. It’s a promise I made to my wife. So, the moment I get the visa for her I will bring her here. It doesn’t matter if she has a job or not; we should be happy and together.

“That’s why it’s called a family, right?” ■

Not having your family here is like missing an arm or a leg. I used to chat with my wife over WhatsApp after work and throughout the night; it’s something we had accepted and got used to

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

027

Joe

Putting a smile on the faces of others is a stiff job but comedians in town fight tougher odds to stand up and deliver. Hasan al Lawati shares their laughs and limits

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OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

Sa m

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i

o you are hanging out with a group of friends when you tell a joke you think is funny.

You are expecting the room to burst into laughter but instead you are greeted by silence.

You can almost hear the chirping crickets, and you realise that your potential comedy career is dead.

It is a nightmarish situation for any person, but those young comedians dared their stage-fear and have been successfully making multinational audiences laugh to tears for eight years.

Today we talk to nine stand-up comedians of the Sultanate’s first comedy group ‘Oman Comedy Central’ to know how hard is it to be a comedian here.

The group was founded in 2009, featuring talents from Oman, USA, Sudan, Bahrain, India and Egypt.

We spoke to Indian comic Neston Moras, who joined the comedy industry to fulfill his “need to be liked by strangers.”

“I do not like public speaking, before going on stage,

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working on a weekly basis with the team, helped me overcome it.” he said.

OCC meets every Monday to go through material, plan shows, workshops and auditions.

“I was impressed with the way they organise weekly workshops and how the whole team helps each other to grow,” says Vikas Rajput, another new member of the OCC. “There is no better feeling than the ability to make someone laugh,” the Indian national added.

It was February 2016 when Amr Abdullah was attending stand-up comedy event, he decided to give it a shot and be on the other side of the stage.

And eight months following that night, Abdullah performed for the first time with OCC. The Sudani youngster said that the group helped him improve his cynical, slow paced to comedy style.

Asked about his biggest challenge, he answered:”Sharing my material with my family, because a lot of my jokes are about them.”

Sami Al Asmi is a natural comic. He is all about “quality over quantity”.

“At the moment, the interest in Oman’s standup comedy scene is greed and profit. People involved in organising the big shows just want the quick buck, instead of building something tangible and developing local talent,” he claims.

His love affair with stand-up comedy started in 2010 when he did his first show.

I love standup comedy, because from all platforms available I get to voice my own cynical opinion on everyday matters which resonates with people.

Most of the comics agree that comedy is not very popular in Oman yet.

All of OCC members have full time jobs and do comedy overtime.

Bahraini comic Khalid Al Tattan, a new OCC face complained about the lack of dedicated standup venues in Oman.

“We need a space for performers to go try out their material on a daily basis,” he says.

Inspired by renowned comedians Kevin Hart and Russel Peters, this young man auditioned for a large comedy show in Muscat few years ago.

Joseph Sims won, and he created Oman Comedy Central.

His club grooms young comedians and help them to develop their own style.

“You don’t have to have any experience.

You have to have the desire to try,” Sims says.

“You start to see comedy at the mall, in the airport, at the grocery store. These are the same places that our audience visits. So it makes it easier for them to visualise the situations we are talking about,” the American national explained.

The founder of OCC said that generating new material is challenging. “Our comedy market is very small. So each show we have to come up with new material. Where in other countries with larger markets, your material may be good for three months. As different people show up for different shows,” he said.

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I am always a nervous wreck. But once I’m there and the audience is laughing, everything falls in place,” Moras says.

The observational and sarcastic comic moved to Oman in 2010 and his comedy is inspired by everyday-life, nature, dreams and of course, his job.

Noor Al Mahrouqi is a new Omani face in the local comedy scene. She made her debut in September 2017.

“Writing material is one of the things I struggled with in my first set. I learned that you don’t have to be relatable to be funny. I enjoy telling stories and it was a matter of taking one of my stories and telling it in a way that would make people laugh,” she said.

“Stand-up comedy is still a very new thing in Oman,” says Al Mahrouqi “..well, performing arts in general is a new thing here.

For this industry to grow, it needs acceptance and endorsement from the community.”

But to Indian comic Krushika Patankar, comedy serves as a stress-ball.

“I was having a rough time in my last year of my undergraduate degrees and that’s where I started to go up on stage, airing my worries out by making fun of them,” the Indian national says.

She joined OCC in December 2016 and since then she has been throwing jokes that women can relate to.

“Comedy is comedy when it stems from commonality, from a shared understanding of events and experiences. I think women in Oman really did need someone talking about the funny things that happen to women and I wanted to bring something fresh and interesting to the table,” she said.

Patankar believes that life is “pretty funny all around us”.

“We just don’t have our eyes open to how absurd it really can be.” she added.

But how hard is it for a female to survive in a maledominant industry?

“Comedy in Oman is a boys club and while people love that women are showing up on stage, it doesn’t mean they’re accepting of them as they are.” she explains.

Patankar stressed that there are unwritten rules for how female comedians are expected to talk and carry themselves.

“When it doesn’t meet the standards of being womanly, people, specifically men, are quick to offer unsolicited opinions and advice.” she said.

“I think the struggle really is putting my foot down and saying that I really do have the right to say what I want to say and it doesn’t matter that it doesn’t fit your definition of what women should be like.”

“There is no prescribed rule for women should be like anyway. “ she emphasised.

Egyptian comic Kamal Mustafa is one of the freshest faces in OCC and his goal is to make people smile.

Following the steps of his role model, Louis CK, Mustafa presents an improvisation, observational and blue genre of comedy.

Overcoming stage freight, however, is his biggest challenge. “But

Khali

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Anyone interested in doing standup comedy can get in touch via facebook or Instagram @ omancomedycentral or call +968 96659666 OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489

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al

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

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& 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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Adventures

CARS AND ADVENTURES

Cars

Y- F i

Gaming

QUATTRO POWER

There’s something appealing about driving around in a power-packed SUV. Not only can it ferry five passengers in comfort, but also leave sportscars in its dust. -P34

Photo: Alvin Thomas

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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

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

Y- F i

Gaming

Destination

LAHLUA

THE WADI THAT LIES WITHIN EASY ACCESS TO THE CAPITAL CITY IS A DREAM PLACE WHERE YOU COULD BE ONE WITH NATURE AND ENJOY A PERFECT DAWN. SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI SETS OUT TO REDISCOVER THE HIDDEN GEM 032

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into one of the nearby villages.

By the time I reached my location, the purple hues of the morning sky hard already started seeping in through the clouds. We photographers call it the ‘blue hour’, which is a period of twilight just before sunrise.

Upon arriving at my destination, I quickly shifted my gear into the four-wheel-drive mode and carried onwards to the top the mountain.

It’s an extra half-an-hour drive but is worth it if you want to see the landscape and the horizon.

It also gave me time to explore the capabilities of my SUV although I have been doing that a lot of late. The pathway is winding and it is best to have a professional off-road driver take control of the wheel.

Keep in mind that off-roading is a skilled task and any rescue effort would take several minutes, if not a few hours.

Taking extra care to travel across the right path, I carried onwards.

This is when you

TRAVEL GUIDE

N

ature transcends everything else; that is something I truly believe in.

If not, my job of going across to the ends of the Sultanate and coming back to narrate a story about it wouldn’t be so much fun – no jokes!

This week’s Destination is a prime example of what I just said: it’s an area I consider to be one of the hidden gems of Oman. No, it’s not Salalah (although it is touted as the “hidden gem of Oman”) but is someplace more indigenous; a setting that is accessible by anyone living within the capital of the city. It goes by the name Wadi Lahloo.

While its name might come across as a tad amusing, there’s more to Lahloo than just its name. It’s an area that I frequent, especially when I feel like I need some alone time. It’s secluded, quiet and sheltered from all the elements – literally.

I started my journey before the break of dawn – around 4am to be precise. I figured it would be best to head out before heavy traffic would kick in and ruin my day.

To reach the wadi, you must first take the road to Quriyat and turn off at the Al Saleel signpost to Yiti. After a few metres, you will come across a board that points towards Wadi Lahloo. However, you must be careful not to miss the signboard, else you will end up riding

get to experience Wadi Lahloo to its fullest. It’s a deserted site and there are not many houses in the vicinity. I could only count 13 houses in total – although the superstitious head of mine was trying to find another house just to get the number up to 14.

Nevertheless, most homes today are abandoned and dishevelled as they are situated at the foothills of the rocky mountains.

Still, the view was nothing short of breathtaking.

Looking at the horizon, I saw the mountains sketch itself into the beautiful setting – like what an artist would paint on his canvas. The rocks are of a faded ochre colour with a glaring sheen, which could be because they were dispersed in water and dried over time.

If that wasn’t enough, I also came across several camels, donkeys and other wildlife within the wadi. It’s teeming with life, and one will not feel alone.

While that is true, Wadi Lahloo is also a place where you can come to find tranquillity and peace. The last time I was there, I mentioned that the setting was “solemn”, and I completely stand by what I said.

Wadi Lahloo is definitely the destination to go to kick back, relax and experience a degree of serenity.

Ah, I wish I could live there.

HOW TO GET THERE It’s about a 40-minute Follow the signs to Yiti. drive to Yiti from Muscat.

From Sultan Qaboos GPS location: Highway, take Al Bustan N23°22’15.1”; Road and then exit at E58°40’41.0” the turn-off to Qantab.

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

T

AU D I S Q 5

The front end of the spiced-up version is aggressive, but it’s the rear where things begin to take shape. Alvin Thomas zips past the Salalah streets on the all-new SQ5 with a knowing smile on the face

he automotive industry has become one stale locus: there’s nothing exciting or stupefying happening. Car manufacturers keep rolling out their products in large numbers to satisfy us, and we keep buying these without even blinking an eye.

Let me ask you this: when was the last time you looked at a car at a launch event and said: “Oh, yeah! I did not see this one coming.” Mind you, I am not suggesting that there aren’t any exhilarating cars to drive; I’m telling you that there’s no element of surprise anymore; a zing, if I may point out.

While most of it can be donned on to the fact that cars (not supercars, just cars) of today are made for sales numbers and targets – as opposed to dropping the jaws of boisterous teenagers and residing on the walls as posters – I have noticed that engineers are slowly vying for prominence over their overly conspicuous accountants – it’s a war that’s bringing

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back the fun in cars.

Oddly enough, one of the candidates of this metamorphosis is Audi.

That’s right, the boffins from Germany have just rolled out the SQ5 – a spiced-up, hardcore version of the regular Q5 SUV that was launched recently.

It’s nothing short of a bombshell; a real surprise for all of us keeping track of the automotive world.

You can tell it’s a different car just by looking at it.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: much like the Q5, the SQ5 looks magnificent!

There’s not much in line of cosmetic changes between the two SUVs except for some red “SQ5” badging and brushed aluminium-covered side mirrors. My tester had also received the chrome treatment upfront, which I quite liked. However, I hear you can black out the panels for a much stealthier look.

The fascia is very much in tone with Audi’s lineup of cars: you still get the large hexagonal grille upfront, which is complemented by the sharp headlamps with Matrix LEDs built in. There are also massive air intakes on either side of the front bumper; it fits in perfectly with the design of the SQ5.

Overall, the front end is aggressive.

The side profile of the SQ5 is elegant but subtle. If it weren’t for the attractive 10-spoke 54cm alloys and the “V6 T” (which presumably stands for the turbocharged V6), not many could distinguish between the regular and the spruced-up brother.

On the plus side, the Q5 gains a whole 3.3cm of

Destination

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

Y- F i

length over its predecessor, thereby translating to better marks on the road during vigorous driving. legroom in the interior.

Of course, since this was a regional launch event with The posterior, however, is where things really start to high-profile guests, I decided against leaving rubber marks take shape. For starters, you get a massive, chiselled spoiler on the road… at first. When I did get the opportunity on top of the tail gate, beautiful rear tail lights that wraps to slam the pedal to the metal, however, I was surprised around the C-pillar, and a grey-coloured strip that runs by the initial tip-in of torque by the engine. This makes throughout the bottom end of the SQ5. Ironically, this accelerating a momentous affair every single time. strip is designed to look like faux quad-exhausts. The real On Dynamic mode, the SUV takes bumps hard but exhausts are buried under the bodywork. manages to keep things in check within the cabin. On the The latter is a shame because I feel that the SQ5 has a up side, the harder suspension means there is very little symphonious exhaust note. body roll when you take corners.

During my drive in the open and picturesque twisty The car grips like glue to the road, because power roads of Salalah, I was able to push the SQ5 to its limits. is being shifted between the front and back wheels. I Powered by a smooth-as-silk 3.0-litre ‘TFSI’ suppose you can only slide the car around after turbocharged V6 pumping out a stout 354hp and switching off the traction and stability controls. I 500Nm of torque (!), the SUV is far ahead of its refrained from doing so, though. less-endowed brother (the Q5).

Nevertheless, as is characteristic THE AUDI MAY NOT BE I found the car to be very punchy with most all-wheel-drive cars, the – with torque cranking its way to AS OUTLANDISH AS THE Audi SQ5 tends to understeer upon the wheels from a mere 1,200rpm breaking the limits of grip. Ah, but FORMER, BUT I’LL TELL (or so) all the way to the 4,500rpm YOU THIS: THE OVERALL you see, the limit is well beyond the range. The gearbox – an eight-speed 80kph mark, so you would have to FEEL YOU GET WHILE dual-clutch transmission – is mighty take sharp corners at really high quick to respond to gear changes. It’s BEHIND THE WHEEL OR AS speeds to find yourself straying past A PASSENGER IS MUCH, quite brutal in its shifts when set in line. Albeit, a dab on the brakes MUCH MORE REWARDING should pull you back into the corner.

“Dynamic” mode but settles down and short-shifts when set in “Eco” or The steering rack is electric, as “Comfort” modes. is the case with most cars of today, but it is dynamic; Nevertheless, I was able to hit the 100kph mark – on a meaning, it adapts its ratios based on the driving speed straight stretch of road – in a mere 5.8 seconds! Now, if and steering angles. It was a bit preternatural at first but that isn’t impressive, I don’t know what is. Think of the it grew on me with time. What this means is that you now SQ5 as a wolf in sheep’s clothing – and with the MLBevo get better straight line stability at higher speeds, while still platform that the SUV is based on, the SQ5 drives and maintaining a direct steering ratio at low speeds to help takes off like a sedan, more than an SUV. increase steering response. This should make parking and Audi’s Quattro system comes as standard on the SUV manoeuvring tight corners easier. but it graciously switches power between wheels, Gimmick? Possibly, but it could come in handy for some. when required. Thankfully, the system is The brakes are incredibly progressive, just like what I designed to send up to 85 per cent had expected. The pedal feel is great and the ABS isn’t of the power to the rear wheels, too intrusive like that of its competitor from Italy. which should translate to Unlike its Italian and American rivals, though, the SQ5 a lot more smiles and comes with numerous tech toys; starting with the brilliant rubber 32cm-wide Audi virtual cockpit and the neatly-laid-out heads-up display.

I don’t intend to sound corny, but it’s the sort of graphics you would find on superhero Iron Man’s helmet. It’s pretty darn good. Apart from that, you also get a large 22cm screen in the middle of the dashboard for your infotainment and navigation needs.

The interior of the SQ5 is a nice place to be. There’s plenty of real estate – both

Gaming

CARS

Audi SQ5 Specifications: Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged ‘TFSI’ V6 Transmission: Eight-speed dualclutch automatic Horsepower: 354hp Torque: 500Nm Top speed: 250kph (limited) “Quattro” all-wheel drive Parking sensors Matrix LED headlights Audi Virtual Cockpit Head-up display Bang & Olufsen sound system Hill descent assist Parking assist Adaptive air suspension Selective drive modes Blind-spot monitoring Collision avoidance assist MMI Navigation Plus 22cms infotainment screen

head and knee room – for five full-sized adults. Seats upfront are comfortable and supportive, with excellent lumbar support, and shoulder and hip bolstering. However, I must point out that I found the seats to hug my shoulders too tightly, although that could be because the seats were new and not broken into (worn in).

The boot is sizeable, and the seats should fold into segments to make way for more storage space. Audi’s engineer told me that there is a good 610 litres of space for stowing away your goods – which makes it quite the all-rounder.

Audi’s all-new SQ5 may come as a revelation to all of us in the automotive industry; not simply because it was received well last time around, but because the new (regular) Q5 is also a phenomenal SUV to drive on a day-today basis.

Still, the new SQ5 scores in all-round performance and driving sensation.

It may not be as competitive as its cousin – the Porsche Macan – around a racetrack, but it is nearly up there.

Outlandishness is not built into the SQ5’s DNA, but I’ll tell you this: the overall feel you get while behind the wheel or as a passenger is much, much more rewarding. And this is exactly why Audi – in my opinion – will continue its success story with the SQ5… again.

Bravo, Audi!

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

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CARS ADVENTURES THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM

When you think of Bhutan, your mind immediately wanders into the artistically designed monastries, amazing looking dzongs, and scenic treks.

As you can see here, it doesn’t dissapoint, either.

1. Step off the plane and breathe in the freshest air on the planet 2. Trek up 3,000 feet to experience peace at the Tiger’s Nest 3. Hike up to Jomolhari and enjoy breathtaking views of the snowcapped mountains 4. Get a real feel of the virgin forests 5. Slip into the Gho or the Kira, the traditional wear

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Destination

Cars

Y-Fi

Gaming

POSTCARDS FROM

John Lewis recommends

BHUTAN T

he moment you land here, you breathe in fresh air, you find people curiously looking at you and happily smiling. You hear high clear notes of the ceremonial trumpet. You will also see Buddhist pilgrims gravitating toward the sound – welcome to The Forbidden Kingdom called Bhutan! Even though only a few people travel here, it’s an exotic land and a place that could hold an important key to human happiness.

The story of this ancient country goes like this: For more than a thousand years, this tiny place on earth – known by locals as Druk Yul (land of the thunder dragon) – has survived in splendid isolation, a place the size of Switzerland stuck into the mountainous fold between two powerful neighbours China and India. Until the 1960s, the country which was closed off from the outside world had no roads, no electricity, no motor vehicles, no telephones, no postal service. But it’s the mesmerising landscape that caught global attention. Ancient temples perched high on mist-shrouded cliffs; unconquered peaks rising above pristine rivers and forests make you feel heavenly. No wonder visitors can’t resist calling Bhutan the last Shangri-la.

Bhutan’s economy is still based on agriculture, and its constitution mandates that 60 per cent of the land must be forest; the actual figure is 72 per cent – no overdevelopment here. That’s why Bhutan is one of the few remaining global biodiversity hotspots in the world, and that’s why Bhutan is a carbon neutral country. In a world that is threatened by climate change, Bhutan is a carbon neutral country. So, coming off the plane you breathe in some of the freshest air on the planet as you drift into a past that is always present.

Nearly 70 per cent of the population lives in villages like Nabji, cradled by virgin forest and vertiginous mountains, six hours on foot from the nearest road. And some things have not changed still. When British Royals William and Kate visited recently, she dressed in a Kira, a blouse and skirt combination that is Bhutan’s age-old style for women. For men, the traditional wear is called a Gho – a complicated belted robe.

But to go to Bhutan? Not that easy. It limits international tourists. There were 57,000 last year.

Education in this tiny nation is completely free and all citizens are guaranteed free school education, and those that work hard are given free college education. Healthcare is also completely free. Medical consultation, medical treatment, medicines: they are all provided by the state.

VALLE

Y IN B H UTAN N EAR P W IT H R UNAKH IC E F IE A LDS

B R ID G E U S P E N S IO N W A L K IN G S L OF C OL OR FU W IT H A L OT AGS P R A Y E R FL

My favourite place Paro Taktsang (also known as the Tiger’s Nest) is Bhutan’s number one tourist attraction. And when they say the journey is half the fun, that’s not the half of it for the journey to get here. It is a trek up 3,000 feet of elevation!

Highlights Bhutan exports most of the renewable electricity it generates from its fast-flowing rivers. By 2020, Bhutan will be exporting enough electricity to offset 17 million tons of carbon dioxide. Bhutan is working to build clean, green energy that would offset something like 50 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. That is more CO2 than what the entire city of New York generates in one year.

Lowlights

Climate change is affecting Bhutan. Its glaciers are melting, causing flash floods and landslides, which in turn are causing disaster and widespread destruction in the country.

Souvenirs Shopping in Bhutan is very region centric as not every kind of item is found in equal abundance or ease everywhere. Bhutan is not a cheap shopper’s paradise, so do not expect to find throw-away deals here… you can however find some reasonably priced souvenirs, including hologram stamps and stamps you can play on a record player.

Getting there

There are no flights from Muscat to Bhutan. Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines fly to Paro in Bhutan direct from Kathmandu, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. Fly Dubai flies direct to Delhi from Dubai.

Where to stay Aman Resorts was the first foreign company allowed to build a hotel in Bhutan; it now has a series of lodges across the country, including one in the beautiful Paro Valley which sits against the backdrop of the snow-capped Jomolhari peak.

WEEKL Y FARM ERS M THE CA ARKET P IT A L IN OF WAN PHODR GDUE ANG AK A WAN GDI

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Destination

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

GOOGLE GALORE It’s Google all the way, from smartphone to laptop to speaker to headset. Alvin Thomas takes a close look at the new offerings set to turn heads in the right places

A BOOK FOR EVERYONE Believe it or not, the Google Pixelbook is the Chromebook we have been waiting for since… err… the original Chromebook that was revealed back in 2011. It may not look like an Apple MacBook Pro anymore but it boasts of specs even a MacBook could only dream of.

You can configure the laptop with either a Core i5 or Core i7 processor and a whooping 16GB of on-board RAM (!) In short, this thing is an absolute beast. On top of all that, you can charge the Pixelbook with a traditional USB-C charger – the same one you use for your smartphones (no, not your Apple) nowadays. The only downside is that the laptop wears a relatively small 31cm diagonal-wide screen. Buy it for RO384 (the same price as an iPhone X) from all leading electronic stores.

PIXEL PERFECT It’s embarrassing plugging the products of a particular brand, especially when it’s not paid advertisement. However, there’s no glossing over Google’s all-new lineup of products. To be honest, it’s what we tech-enthusiasts have been longing for.

Let’s start with the Pixel 2 – Google’s answer to Samsung and Apple. It’s not a real looker, with its dualtone colour design (tri-tone, if you consider the power button) and large circular camera on the rear, but what it loses in appearance, it gains in specs and performance. For instance, the phone packs a powerful Snapdragon 835 chipset and a staggering 4 gigs of RAM to fullfil all your processing needs. You also get a brilliant 12-megapixel shooter and a full-HD 13cm AMOLED display. And, if the previous iteration of the device is something to go by, the new phone will soon be stamped as the leader in smartphone photography. The phone has large bezels on both ends but sports two stereo speakers on it, thus making it less noticeable. It’s a winner on all fronts and is a must have. Buy it for RO250 from Carrefour after its official regional release.

MAX IT OUT If you weren’t happy with your Google Home, you should invest in the all-new Google Home Max. It’s everything your Home is and more (no pun intended).

For starters, the Home Max packs two 12cm wide sub-woofers and a rigid housing for deep bass and tricky beats. You also get a tweeter for those crisp and clear audio highs. Of course, like its less endowed brother, the Home Max can also control several of your Google-ready gadgets and also conduct searches and play music for you. Best of all, it looks beautiful and should blend in with your home décor. Buy it for RO154 from roumaan.com after regional release.

KEEP DAYDREAMING

EDITOR’S PICK

A VR HEADSET FEATURING AS THE ‘EDITOR’S PICK’ OVER A SMARTPHONE – BLASPHEMOUS, ISN’T IT? WELL, THERE’S A REASON WHY WE LOVE IT SO MUCH. THE GOOGLE DAYDREAM VIEW VR HEADSET MAY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN THE LEADER IN AFFORDABLE VIRTUAL REALITY HEADGEARS OUT THERE BUT IT HAD ONE SHORTFALL: CHEAP BUILD QUALITY. THE NEW DEVICE ADDRESSES THAT AND BRINGS TO THE TABLE A WELL-ROUNDED AND STRIKING PRODUCT. LIKE BEFORE, YOU STILL GET A REMOTE CONTROLLER TO POINT AT THINGS AND ACCESS SEVERAL FUNCTIONS. THANKFULLY, THERE’S VERY LITTLE LIGHT BLEEDING COMING IN FROM THE ACCESS POINTS, TOO. IT’S PERFECT! GET YOURS FOR A REASONABLE RO38 FROM STORE.GOOGLE.COM.

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Forza Motorsport 7

Info Box Developer:

TURN 10 STUDIOS

Director:

BILL GIESE

Publisher:

With an incredible number of vehicles and wacky ways to tweak your ride, Forza Motorsport 7 is fun and thrill unlimited. Alvin Thomas is in awe after logging a few hours in zippy cars

S

even-hundred cars, more than 200 different race configurations, and over 32 locations at launch: that’s what Forza is bringing to the table this year with its Motorsport 7. And you know what? Those are just a start of things to come because, gosh, after spending three hours with this game, I could see that the game was nothing short of (as Mary Poppins would put it) supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – or in short – superb.

No, really! Starting from the slick and polished graphics, the easyto-use interface and the expertly engineered physics engine, Forza

Motorsport 7 is light years ahead of its competitors – if you can manage the tacky gaming experience Xbox provides you with.

True, Gran Turismo and Project Cars may appeal to a broader audience, thanks to its almost-cult-like fan-following and availability on the much superior PlayStation 4 platform (that’s right, I said it), but Forza scores where the former duo don’t; considering the intricate details when putting together a game.

While all games of today packs a lively weather system, Forza Motorsport 7 takes it one step further with the livelier “dynamic weather system”, which can change the weather settings during a race. The racetracks and the cars are also complexly designed to simulate realworld driving.

The designers (or shall I say engineers) have mastered each bump and crevice on the racetrack with efficacy. Even the exhaust notes of the cars are spot-on.

Car enthusiasts (or “fanatics”, as we call ourselves) like us tend to appreciate such minute details.

Further enhancing the experience is the 4K or 1080p (Full HD at 60 frames per seconds) rendition; depending on your Xbox’s capabilities. The visuals are striking, even on the standard console.

As expected, you can take control of the game online or offline.The latter offers you hours of rampant gametime. You can opt for six championship tiers of increased difficulty and commitment, with a satisfying variety of racing series in each – should you want to take it up.

MICROSOFT STUDIOS

Thankfully Platform: XBOX ONE, – and unlike MICROSOFT WINDOWS GranTurismo Genre: – you can RACING VIDEO GAME choose exciting championships as you jump into the game. This means you can hop right into a 1960s Maserati 250F F1 racecar and zoom past the screaming audience as you aquaplane over the soaking wet and unforgiving Monza racetrack.

I can imagine that being quite an exhilarating experience – even for a sofaridden gamer.

And that’s what makes this game special: it caters to the needs of every gamer. You can be a professional racer or a noob at the wheel; there is a setting for you.

It has everything GranTurismo brings to the world of simulation gaming, but takes it one step further and makes it accessible by giving players the ability to switch from a hardcore racing experience to a more arcade-style and forgiving setup.

I never thought I would say this, but Forza may have created the world’s best car-racing game. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go back to my hot-hatchback championship race in the streets of Dubai (in the game, obviously). Adios!

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

IF IT FITS!

Shoes have the power to change the look of one’s attire.

Whether you’re looking for a classic, funky or an edgy look, you can switch your boots to match your mood. Pair these red boots from Next with a classic blue skirt and blouse to create a timeless ensemble.

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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

Simple words cannot describe how striking these boots are.

With its thin heels and slender profile, it may very well be the Ferrari of the boot world. Shop them now from Miss Selfridge for RO17.5

Are you looking for a beautiful and show-stopping pair of shoes for all those special occasions? If you said “yes”, then these white gemmed red leather shoes from ZARA are a musthave. Buy them now and thank us later! Available for RO33 If you love experimenting with your shoes, then this snakeskin red studded shoes from River Island are for you. We look forward to seeing how creative you can get with this AvantGarde design.

Make a bold statement with these pumps.They’re tall, striking and frankly very, very red. Shop this from Debenhams for RO19.6

Spruce up your attire with these Medusa-approved block-heel fur red shoes from Office.

The fur may be turn-off for many but choose the occassion wisely and you will steal the limelight.

Buy these for RO29.

This pair of velvet shoes is a must-have in any fashionista’s shoe cupboard. The rhinestone-ed heels give the classic design a unique edge making it a perfect wear for any special occasion.

Available from Dune at whopping RO75.

Incredibly soft and fashionably edgy, these velvet loafers should be your go-to shoes for a dayto-day casual look – despite its cartoonish looks. Shop these from ZARA at RO18

OCT 12 - 18 / ISSUE 490

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

Peace

Photos: Alvin Thomas

Pose for

Casa Yoga is a choice made by a couple born out of extreme necessity. Alvin Thomas pauses by the house of yoga to know more about the poses and the process Yoga takes you into the present moment; the only place where life exists,” reads a quote describing the concomitant of yoga on those who practice the age-old art.

While yoga itself is known to be more than 10,000 years old, do not – not even for a second – think that it has vanished with time.

How can I be so sure of that? Well, standing before me is a couple – Asma Rizvi and Ali al Lawati – who have just effectuated their idea of bringing the art of yoga – better known as a group of physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines – to the masses in the Sultanate and subsequently, to spread the word across the whole globe.

Their goal may sound confounding but the couple is confident in their new startup – Casa Yoga Detox and Wellness – carefully placed in the bowels of Shatti Al Qurum, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. With the striking 042

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Arabian Sea as a backdrop, it’s something you must see to believe.

The sea breeze blowing up against your hair, the smell of the freshly watered grass in the dawn and the birds chirping away at each other are something you cannot orchestrate: it’s a scenery painted by Mother Nature herself.

I ask Asma about the benefits of yoga and the road that led to the creation of their wonderful new venture, and she begins with her own experience: “I began yoga by reading books and following each step carefully. The benefits of yoga are what motivated me to start doing yoga.”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

“Many people started noticing it in me; they started seeing that my face started glowing,” she explains.

But, as time went by, Asma started getting enveloped into the various

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stages of life, which slowly threw her ‘chakras’ (cycles) out of position.

That is when the mother of three came up with the idea of opening her own yoga institute.

“Soon after the birth of my third baby I had to undergo another serious surgery. That left me devastated. I couldn’t walk properly or even work peacefully. So I started searching online for yoga classes.”

Her queries online were only answered with posts of “yoga retreats” abroad (and not in the Sultanate).

“And then I thought: If I am in need, then there are other people in need, too. So I started talking with my husband about setting up such an institute here. He was very supportive about it, and so we started planning it out.”

Casa YogaDetox and Wellness opened doors to the public on September 9, 2017, and has seen over 50 registered participants.

“Yoga is very important in today’s life,” Asma points out.

“Just working out or going for a walk isn’t going to cure any of the stresses of your daily life. Yoga can completely heal you from the inside — and not just the body but your mind and spirit also.

“My goal was to bring the people to Oman to do this. But once our roots are stronger, we will start advertising it outside Oman as a Yoga and Detox retreat,” smiles the young entrepreneur.

Talking about why Shatti Al Qurum was chosen as a location for their venture, Ali says: “Oman has beautiful beaches and excellent weather post-October. It is also one of the most peaceful countries in the Middle East.

“Choosing a location wasn’t the easiest part of setting up the business.

But when you get a view such as this and facilities such as these, we just wanted to utilise them to the fullest potential. We want to thank Crowne Plaza. It’s perfect for practising yoga.”

Asma has an ulterior motive: bringing Oman to the forefront of yoga in the world.

“In the entire GCC, Oman is the only country where the beaches are untouched. We want to make Oman at the forefront of yoga in the world by showing them of the wonderful facilities that we have to offer,” Asma explains.

Another challenge while setting up the institute was coming up with a logo, says Asma.

“I wanted to avoid any logo that touched religion. I also didn’t want the lotus since it has been overused.

“The ideal logo was the mandala – a symbol representing the universe.”

Casa Yoga Detox and Wellness offers a spacious studio for practising yoga but participants can also head to the private beach or the garden, if need be.

The institute also benefits from the experience of Tetyana Boyko – a Increased flexibility well-trained and certified instructor from Ukraine.

Increased muscle strength and tone The yogi has acquired more Improved respiration, energy and vitality than 1000 hours of teachers training from India — 200 Maintaining a balanced metabolism hundred hours from the Weight reduction Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Cardio and circulatory health in Bengaluru; and 900 hours Improved athletic performance from an institute in Mumbai.

She is also a level-two Protection from injury Reiki healer.

Asma assures that a second team member is due to join the team: “We are going to have Ayurveda included in our institute. There will also be a certified therapist who will treat the back, neck and face; migraines and other illnesses.

This should start within a month.

“Asanas shows different variations in one’s body. Many people who come for their first-time say after the classes that the experience was ‘interesting’ and ‘something new’. It makes you calm in the end; even in the dynamic classes. The calmness is what makes the experience more special,” Tetyana points out Casa Yoga roughly translates to “house of Yoga” in Spanish. And, looking at the people practising the art, I’m convinced that it’s more of a home for people to come and relieve their stress than just a house of yoga.

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SUGAR TREATS

The secret to having a hearty meal is to close with a sweet but healthy treat. These desserts are relatively easy to prepare and should have your kids’ attention.

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Caramel Crumble Bars

Ingredients: § 1 box (432g) yellow cake mix, dry § 1/2 cup butter, softened, plus 2 tbsp, divided § 3/4 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter, plus 3 tbsp § 1 egg § 1 package (312g) caramels, unwrapped § 2/3 cup walnuts, chopped § 2/3 cup flaked coconut, sweetened § 2 tbsp butter, melted

Raising

Method: § Heat an oven to 177°C. Grease a 13-by9-inch baking pan.

Try out two easy-to-make desserts that will help you finish your meals on a happy bite

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§ § §

Easy Apple Pie Bars

the Bar

hat makes a dessert just right for everyone: the one who whip it up and the ones who lap it up? It must be easy to cook and it should satisfy the taste buds.

A really delicious dessert that we love to stuff in our mouth actually takes a great deal of time to prepare and it may not be that easy to make.

Here are two recipes that will help you finish your meals on a delicious note, and a secret ingredient makes them quick and easy so you have plenty of free time to work up an appetite and earn an extra bite (or two).

Apple butter is more than just a spread for toast; it’s a versatile ingredient that can enhance your favourite recipes. With Musselman’s Apple Butter, made the old-fashioned way for perfect texture and a deep, rich flavour, you can make it simple to satisfy your craving for a taste of autumn at its best. * Source: Family Features

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§ With an electric mixer on a low speed, beat the dry cake mix and the 1/2 cup softened butter until the mixture is crumbly.

Spoon 1 cup cake mix mixture into a medium bowl; set aside. § Add the 3/4 cup apple butter and egg to the remaining mixture. Beat on a medium speed until smooth and creamy. § Spread evenly into a pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until starting to brown and the top is set. § Place the caramels, 2tbs butter and the remaining apple butter in the microwavable bowl. Microwave on a high temperature for 3-4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and melted.

Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the partially baked crust. If the caramel has cooled and set, microwave for 1 minute until soft and pourable.

Combine the walnuts, coconut and 2tbsp melted butter with the reserved cake mix mixture. Mix until crumbly.

Break up the topping and sprinkle evenly over the caramel.

Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the topping is starting to brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Servings: 20 Ingredients: § Nonstick cooking spray § 7 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced § 1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter § 1 1/2tsp vanilla extract, divided § 1/2 cup brown sugar § 2 frozen pie crusts, defrosted § 1 egg white § 2 tbsp sugar § 1/2tsp ground cinnamon § 1 cup powdered sugar § 2 tbsp milk

Method: § Heat an oven to 177°C. Grease a 9-by13-inch pan with the nonstick cooking spray. § Place the diced apples in a large mixing bowl. Add apple butter, 1tsp vanilla and brown sugar. Mix until apples are evenly coated. § Place one pie crust in the bottom of the greased pan. Slowly stretch out the crust to cover the pan’s bottom.

Cut some edges off, if necessary. Spread the apple filling evenly over the crust. § With a rolling pin, roll the second crust to make it same size as the pan. Place the second crust on top of the apple pie filling and tuck down edges to cover. § To make topping: In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until foamy and brush over the crust. In another bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over the crust. § Bake for 50-60 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before cutting. § To make glaze: In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk and remaining vanilla, and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled bars and serve.

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CRÊPE CAFÉ

Near The Walk, Al Mouj Opening Hours: 8:30am to midnight (A heavy) breakfast for two: RO26.5 Verdict : 8.5/10 SERVICE 8.5/10 FOOD 7/10 AMBIENCE

THE CRÊPE CAFÉ

Scrumptious foods and topclass service. Oh, they also have some of the best crepes in town Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU SKIP PROPER BREAKFAST FOR QUITE SOME DAYS AND THEN FIND YOURSELF IN THE MELLOW YELLOW MOOD OF THE MORNING AT A POPULAR RESTAURANT? JUST BINGE, LIKE ALVIN THOMAS DID AT CRÊPE CAFÉ

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t has been a while (a few months at least) since I headed for a session of breakfast with my buddies. Albeit, I cannot recall the last time I actually indulged in a hearty breakfast. Work has been so hectic that breakfasts have become a luxury. Sitting in my car and munching on a dry slice of bread is my take on “eating like a king” for breakfast.

I’m not complaining, though, because this week I made up for all those skipped meals. My decision to stop by for breakfast was supported by my friend and colleague Matthew Herbst – the Art Director of Y Magazine. Of course, he also decided to join me on my latest quest.

The Crêpe Café outlet in Al Mouj was our point of interest. It is nestled in the heart of Al Mouj, right next to The Walk, and in the immediate proximity of several other restaurants. But you cannot miss the yellow board and fancy outside seating.

The overall ambience inside is quite striking.

Everything is yellow – starting from the seats, all the way to the interior lights. While it may blend in with the morning atmosphere, it wouldn’t be very apt for a dinner, later in the night.

Matt and I quickly went through the menu and went on an ordering spree – taking one of each item from the sub-menus. In total, we had six dishes (!): a strawberry fields waffle, stuffed Nutella pancake, herbs and cheese omlette, croque madame, Lotus Nutella crepe and chicken farmhouse crepe.

We decided to wash things down with a serving of spiced tea and a glass of fresh orange juice.

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long, either.

Next to arrive was our chicken farmhouse crepe. As expected, it was succulent – thanks to its generous portion of cheese, mushrooms and fresh chicken. However, if I were to complain, I would have to say the portion is not enough to fill one’s tummy on its own.

WHILE MATT’S HERBS AND Ten minutes later, our main course – the sweet CHEESE OMELETTE WAS FRESHLY crepes and waffles – arrived. Matt and I concurred PREPARED AND (ARGUABLY) VERY that the waffles weren’t worth writing home about TASTY, THE STAR OF THE DAY WAS as they were soft and “too bready”. Matt said he MY CROQUE MADAME liked his waffles biscuit-like and crispy.

But the crepes were delicious and mouthwateringly luscious. I understand that it is high praise for a serving of crepes, but they were (hands down) the best crepes I had ever had in my life. Matt agreed with me on that, too.

The crepes were crispy and thin but soft enough for our knives to slide through, and the generous serving on Nutella kept our taste buds engaged.

At no point did I feel like daubing vanilla ice cream (that was provided along with the dish) on Understandably, the waiter was quite surprised the crepes. And that’s high praise from a person with our rather extravagant order. who adores ice cream.

Sadly, Crêpe Café doesn’t offer you plat du In all, both of us were happy with our jour where you can choose from a set of exclusive experience at the restaurant. It may not have the dishes; everything is set and has to be picked from best waffles in town but, hey, now we know why it’s the menu. called Crêpe Café and not Waffle Café.

Still, the menu is vast and with plenty of options Do stop by and have a serving of crepes to know for waffles, pancakes, eggs and crepes. It is also what I’m raving on about. It’s that great. The bar a delight to scour through as there are several has been set, folks. images of the foods on it.

The eggs were the first to arrive.

Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see While Matt’s herbs and cheese omelette was reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com freshly prepared and (arguably) very tasty, the star of the day was my croque madame.

The latter comprises two slices of toasted bread stacked between a layer of béchamel, turkey and cheese, topped with a beautiful bull’s eyestyled egg.

I found the bread to be crunchy and the turkey and cheese combination splendid. It was the best croque madame I had ever eaten – and, for once, I cannot top that up with a joke.

Needless to say, it didn’t last on my plate for