Y Magazine #498, December 14, 2017

Remembering a legend

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DEC 14 - 20 2017 / ISSUE 498 • WEEKLY

THE NEW-AGE

CLASSROOM

PLUS!

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS RESHAPING TEACHING IN OMAN

SKY IS THE LIMIT

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NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

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OODLES OF DOODLES

28

SUIT YOURSELF

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EDITOR’S

NOTE COMPETITION Send in your answers for our ‘Movie contest’ and stand a chance to win two tickets of your choice from VOX.

THE BAROMETER GOING UP

NUMBER OF TAXIS ON THE ROADS Mwasalat is all set to start its taxi service in the airport and malls across the capital. More than 125 cars have been procured and will begin operations soon. Smartphone applications can be downloaded for the same.

GOING DOWN

TEMPERATURES IN OMAN Winter has set its foot on Oman and temperatures across country are falling.

Certain parts of the capital are now witnessing temperatures below 20°C. The temperature in Jebel Shams was reported to have fallen to minus 1°C.

THIS WEEK…

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

Fast forward

A

couple of weeks ago at a seminar in Muscat I was asked what I thought the future of education will be. It is a really interesting question and one that I am required to think about all the time. All I can say is that education is slowly going digital.

The children now entering schools in Oman are fully fledged digital natives.

According to recent research done in the UK, six-year-olds have the same understanding of communications technology as 45-year-olds, and the ‘millennium generation’ of 14- and 15-year-olds are the most tech savvy. Over four in 10 households now have a tablet, meaning that children are becoming digitally literate before they’ve even started primary school — and we’ve all heard about the techno-babies who can handle an iPad before they have learnt how to tie their own shoelaces.

It is unsurprising, therefore, that technology is playing an increasingly central role in the classroom — not just in ICT lessons, where children have started learning to write code from the age of five, but in English, maths and science lessons as well.

In Oman, technology is slowly revolutionising classrooms. Whether it is submitting assignments and projects, or making classroom teaching more interactive, digital education is now making students’ life easy.

We met Mohammed Al Lawati and his wife Ann Al Farsi who developed Oman’s first e-learning portal to know more about how digital education can be best used. “Digital education is cheaper than the traditional method and digital education is the future,” Al Lawati says.

This week our cover story focuses on how digital education is reshaping teaching in Oman.

Happy reading!

Team Y spent most of the holidays travelling around the Sultanate and exploring new places. Meanwhile, our editor took a trip down to Kerala – ‘God’s Own Country’.

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DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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contents

Features

DECEMBER 14 - 20 2017

Your Oman

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman

Hasan al Lawati 10

News Second successful liver transplant at Royal Hospital

16 News

Affordable art at Bait Al Baranda

18 Homage to Pavarotti

Catch the

memorabilia of late

Pavarotti at the ROHM 21 Movies

Star Wars: The Last

Jedi review

20

The Future is Now We delve into the pros and cons of e-learning and virtual classrooms

26

Tennis championship Players from the Pro Tennis Oman and Oman Tennis Association aim for glory

20

19

10

Food and Drink 44 Food Feature

Say cheese

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Wadi Bani Ghafir

Health and Beauty

34 First Drive

Haval H9 38 Y-Fi

Top gaming gadgets

of 2017

40 Fashion

Christmas wear 42 Health

Dealing with diabetes

46 Taste Test

Kebabs and Curries Store

44

40

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BINGE

Abu Dhabi is decked to dish out an unforgettable New Year experience. On the menu is an incredible feast of food, fun and firecrackers conjured up by celebrity chefs and superstar entertainers from around the world

E

ndless food, fun and frolic! Isn’t that the perfect way to say goodbye to 2017? Well, if you’re thinking the same, then look no further – book your tickets to Abu Dhabi.

The capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is hosting a countless number of events that will combine one’s love for food, street action and other family activities.

This is the city’s greatest festival. It wouldn’t be wise to miss out on an opportunity such as this to bid farewell to 2017 and welcome 2018!

The events are as follows: Abu Dhabi Food Festival: Abu Dhabi – December 7 to 23 Dar Al Zain: Al Ain – December 14 to 23 New Year’s Eve: Abu Dhabi – December 28 to 31 Abu Dhabi Food Festival: Cuisines from around the world at your fingertips: The Abu Dhabi Food Festival (ADFF) will feature a sensational selection of sumptuous food. Spread over a period of 17 days, the ADFF is expected to cook up a storm with 15 events bringing families, foodies and friends together. Several celebrity chefs are expected to showcase some of their masterpieces.

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Dar Al Zain: Spend time with your loved ones at the newly created ‘outdoor village’ at Al Ain. The Dar Al Zain is expected to be packed with entertainment, (yet more) food and activities.

Just a heads-up: Musical superstars Mohammed al Shehhi, Myriam Fares and Balqees Fathi will be taking centre stage.

That’s not all. Shows for kids such as Tweety Cage and My Little Pony, and activities such as colouring, mask-making, learning about outer space, Iftah Ya Simsim songs and dance, cracking the magnetic puzzle wall, giant dice, and invisible ink game will also be organised. Children can also learn about the history, culture and monuments of Al Ain at the Glow Tunnel.

New Year’s Eve: End 2017 with a bang – literally! The first-ever New Year’s Eve countdown village will include a lineup of celebrations.

Of course, the highlight of the event will be the fireworks.

But, families can participate in more fun.

Spread over four days, the Village will host electrifying performances from regional and local performers, bands and DJs, while also featuring an entertaining mix of fun family activities.

The Village will also be home to a dedicated flagship retail zone hosting more than 40 retailers.

Travel Point LLC is offering exclusive packages to these festivals as the travel partner of Abu Dhabi Tourism in Oman. Families interested in attending can contact +968 92821217 or WhatsApp on +968 92087552 or email vacations@atctp.com ■

THE VOICE OF OMAN

OIL HAS FUELLED OMAN’S GROWTH FOR LONG, BUT THERE’S NO NEED TO PANIC ABOUT DRYING WELLS AND A BLEAK POST-OIL FUTURE. PLANS ARE IN PLACE AND THINK TANKS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, SAYS HASAN AL LAWATI

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: Oman is witnessing the construction of a number of retail outlets. Does the market have the ability to sustain numerous malls/ hypermarkets and supermarkets?

What are your thoughts?

DR SUDDAPALLI BHASKARA RAO

O

il has been the backbone of Oman’s GDP for the past five decades but as the crude prices remain woefully low, a million-dollar question pops up: Can the oil-dependent state maintain its economic growth after it bids farewell to the last drop of oil?

We know for a fact that depending on such unsustainable resources can lead the country to a dead end, and many Omanis share the horror of an impending horror of a travel back in time to the pre-1970 era very soon.

My fears, however, faded away when I attended the Future Foresight Forum last week where I saw decision-makers providing brilliant alternatives and practical solutions that could take us to our post-oil future with confidence.

While newspapers published reams of stories about the forum’s agendas, I’ll try to get to the meat of it.

Apart from the economic diversification plans and employment generation strategies, the Sultanate is placing its bet on information technology, and I think we are on the right track.

The government sectors have been increasingly adopting new technology in their everyday transactions.

The country has just started a Blockchain club, and the Manpower Ministry is employing people online, while the tourism ministry is marketing the country across the border and on social media pages.

The increasing availability of internet services and the rapid response rate of public bodies to people’s online voices indicate that the nation is ready to “go digital”.

We just need to gear us up for the Oman Vision 2040 opportunities and challenges to whistle up the transformation.

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What was the population of the Sultanate of Oman in 1950? Just 456,000. It rose to 2,264,000 by 2000 and 4,640,000 by now — more than a tenfold increase in over six decades. In 1998, there was one Sultan shopping centre in Ruwi and another, Sultan Centre, in Al Harthy complex, Qurum. In just less than 20 years there is a quantum increase in the number of malls.

Though the recent economic slowdown saw many expatriate families going back home for good, equal or more number of expatriates have arrived. Given the scenario, despite many retail shops shutting down because of lack of business, there’s space and scope for new malls because they are not confined to just sale of products but are offering entertainment, indoor games, food, etc. Maybe we need major malls open 24x7 to encourage further business as, at times, we witness serpentine lines before weighing and billing counters, especially during weekends and holidays. Also, let there be more malls in the interior.

With many citizens and residents of Oman spending their weekends and holidays shopping out of the country, there is an obvious demand for more malls and outlets. However, those should differ in brands and franchises brought into the country to reflect the latest trends and satisfy various consumers. No wonder they say shopping is the best doping yet we have to be responsible about how we spend.

In recent times Oman has seen a proliferation

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PRASANNA LAKSHMI

Many retail outlets have come up over the last two years, but there’s no significant rise in demand. This demand-and-supply mismatch will force some outlets to close down. Those that offer quality products and services at affordable prices will of course survive.

MANOJ SHARMA

The construction activities are a sign of prosperity and good things that are beginning to shape up. The authorities are committed to providing the people with world-class amenities and facilities. The existing ones have managed to weather the storm and the new ones will have their strategies in place to survive in the long run.

PEREIRA F SAVIO

ALMIRA KARIMOVA

NEERAJ KUMAR

of retail outlets in various malls and hypermarkets.

Although this is an indication of a rise in demand and consumption, there’s tough competition from online businesses that are trying to rope in customers offering better deals. Under the circumstances, I think only the outlets with low-cost operations will survive. Others will have a tough time, especially after the implementation of VAT that may bring down consumer purchase capacity.

The increase in the number of malls has helped to create new employment opportunities and provide more options for youth and families to spend their leisure time. In order to ensure long-term viability, malls need to come up with innovative initiatives.

SHAILLY SINGH

In the short run, malls, hypermarkets and supermarkets may face some trouble because of the oil price crisis but they have the ability to sustain in the long run. Crude oil prices are going up and the government is focusing on sectors such as tourism in

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a big way, as well as promoting industrial, manufacturing and logistics sectors.

The population of Oman is increasing steadily. The recent decision to lower the salary limit for family visas to RO300 will boost demand and consumption.

On the other hand, competition among various stores and malls will help improve the quality of services and promotions they run.

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JASON FELIX NORONHA

Oman has been witnessing a spurt in retail tourism as the government seeks new avenues to generate alternative sources of revenue. While it definitely boosts the economy and provides employment opportunities to the local youth, care should be taken to avoid overkill. The Bausher/Ghubrah area already has three major malls in close vicinity with a fourth one scheduled by 2020. Mall development has to be backed by improvement in basic transport infrastructure and other tourist attractions so that Oman is presented as a complete tourist package on the world map.

GAUTAM GHOSH DASTIDAR

The market here has the ability to sustain numerous malls/hypermarkets and supermarkets as long as Oman doesn’t change its infrastructure as well as outlook.

At the moment, the Sultanate is one of a very few genuinely expat-friendly nations of the world and no legal residents here face any kind of discrimination. Omani market as a whole will keep growing thanks to the strong business ethics and professional ambiance prevailing in the country.

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DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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YOUR

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NEWS SECOND SUCCESSFUL LIVER

TRANSPLANT AT ROYALin thisHOSPITAL field was key to the success

daughter has successfully donated part of her liver to her father in what was the Sultanate’s second successful liver transplant procedure, highlighting the success of the ongoing liver transplantation programme at Royal Hospital.

Royal Hospital performed the procedure on the Omani man who was suffering from cancerous liver tumours by a team led by Prof. Dr Mohamed Rela, one of the world’s top liver transplant surgeons, with the assistance of the RH medical and nursing staff.

Khadija Barwaniyah, the patient’s daughter, said: “When the tests confirmed the possibility of liver donation to my father I immediately agreed. I donated a part of my liver in order to put an end to my father’s suffering from liver cirrhosis and cancer tumours, and express my gratitude to what he has done for us.”

Commenting on the medical achievement, Dr Qasim Al Salmi, RH’s Director General, said the success of the two liver transplantation surgeries was the result of a two-year liver transplantation training programme for the RH cadre in one of world’s most comprehensive liver disease management centres.

Provision of the latest medical equipment and devices utilised

T

he Environment Society of Oman (ESO), in partnership with Five Oceans Environmental Services, has completed the final round of satellite tagging of Arabian Sea humpback whales in Omani waters.

A total of 14 whales have been tagged since whale tagging was initiated in 2014.

Through sponsorship from Renaissance Services SAOG, local and international scientists deployed five satellite transmitters on Arabian Sea humpback whales within the Gulf of Masirah over the last two weeks in order to track their movements.

The use of advanced technologies such as satellite transmitters has enabled researchers to gain valuable information that would otherwise have taken months of field work to obtain. Once deployed, the tags emit a daily signal whenever the whales surface and are expected to transmit for anything between 1-4 months.

Maps will then be generated to depict movements and habits

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of the surgery, he said, adding that the Ministry of Health, represented by RH, would take the lead in performing liver transplantation surgeries in the future to upgrade the Sultanate’s healthcare system and reduce the burden of treatment abroad on patients and their families.

The Living Donor Liver Transplantation involved two phases: pre-operation and the liver transplantation operation itself.

Before performing the operation, the donor should undergo several examinations to assess fitness. The aim of the tests are to confirm that the donor and the patient are blood group compatible, assess the size of the donor liver and health, and ensure that the donor is free of any chronic and communicable diseases.

The liver transplantation procedure is performed by removing the donor’s liver and extracting a portion — 60%-65% — of it. fterwards, a full extraction of the patient’s liver is made and finally the donated liver is connected to the blood vessels and cystic duct of the patient.

of whales, including highlighting of hotspot areas based on where the whales spent most of their time and the pattern of their diving.

The Arabian Sea humpback whale is recognised as a unique subpopulation of humpback whales and is listed as ‘endangered’ under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

However, more recent research continues to suggest a need to re-assess their listing as ‘critically endangered’.The surviving population is estimated to be no more than 100 in Oman.

However, this estimate has been based on photo ID markrecapture analysis using information collected between 2000 and 2004.

The ESO has gathered enough data and is working on a population re-estimation which it hopes to reveal later next year.

This would contribute to our understanding of the population trend, whether it is increasing, decreasing, or stable, and would help to plan conservation efforts to recover and maintain this small, isolated sub-population.

Suaad Al Harthi, ESO Programme Director, commented: “Over the last 10 years, the ESO and its local and international partners have contributed vastly to our knowledge of whales and dolphins in Oman. Specifically, in the case of the Arabian Sea humpback whale we now understand that Oman hosts a unique sub-population, which is genetically distinct and has been isolated for approximately 70,000 years.”

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YOUR

OMAN

T

TWO HIRING AGENCIES SHUT FOR VIOLATING CONTRACT TERMS

wo recruitment agencies have been closed down by Al Buraimi Public Prosecution for not complying with the terms of contracts with several consumers, according to the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP).

The action was taken after a series of complaints were made to the Consumer Protection Department of Al Buraimi against the two agencies.

The consumers had hired a few expatriate workers through these agencies, but the employees refused to work after being hired.

As the expatriate workers refused to provide their service after a certain period, the consumers disengaged their services and sent them back to the agencies.

However, one agency refused to refund the amount paid by a consumer, while the other deducted about one-third of the amount paid by its client, although the contract mandated returning the agreed amounts in case the

recruit refused to work.

As a result, the department was forced to take the necessary procedures.

As the agencies were not responsive and complaints against them piled up, the department approached the Al Buraimi Public Prosecution to request closure of the agencies for violations of Articles 23 and 27 of the Consumer Protection Law and Article 20 of the Regulation of NonOmani Manpower Recruitment Act of the Consumer Protection Law. Accordingly, the public prosecution issued a judicial decision to close the two agencies temporarily.

Embassies regularly blacklist companies if they are found cheating their citizens.

During the blacklisted period, these companies will not be able to recruit workers from those nations, and their representatives will find it hard to get visas to visit those countries.

MWASALAT TAXI FARES ANNOUNCED

M

wasalat taxi fares begin from RO1, the Oman National Transport Company (Mwasalat) has announced.

Operations began on Tuesday and as a promotional offer, the fares begin from RO1 from malls, and RO1.2 for oncall taxi services, Saturday through Thursday from 6am to 10pm.

Passengers will have to pay 300 baisas for every kilometre.

From 10pm to 6am, it will be RO1.3 and RO1.5, with 350 baisas per kilometre.

There will be 125 taxis for operating in the city.

MUSCAT FESTIVAL DATES ANNOUNCED

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he capital’s most popular event – the Muscat Festival – is back, and the Muscat Municipality has announced that it will kick off on January 18.

The 24-day festival concludes on February 10.

The festival will take place at the Amerat Park and Naseem Gardens. However, some events are also slated to be conducted at the all-new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Oman’s largest festival will also showcase mesmerising sights, food, sports, cultural and entertainment for adults and children alike.

Several people have already expressed their interest to visit the capital to take part in the proceedings.

Biju V, a hotel manager from Salalah, says: “I will be flying down with my family for the Muscat Festival, next year. It’s one of those events that we just cannot miss. We mostly visit Amerat Park since it has a lot more activities inside. What’s better is that the temperatures will be lower and pleasant.”

The details of Muscat Festival 2018 was discussed during the 11th board meeting of the first year of the second term of the Municipal Council on Monday, which was presided over

by Eng. Mohsen bin Mohammed Al Shaikh, Chairman of the Municipal Council.

YOUR

THIS IS SPARTA!

OMAN

JEBEL SIFAH WELCOMED OVER 4,000 THRILLSEEKERS FROM 20 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD TO OMAN’S SECOND ANNUAL XDUBAI SPARTAN RACE. THIS YEAR’S EVENT PUSHED THE SPARTAN OMAN TEAM AND THE REGION’S BEST SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN TO COMPETE WITH INTERNATIONAL SPARTANS FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS FRANCE, NORWAY, RUSSIA AND SERBIA, AS WELL AS THE USA.

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GALLERY

YOUR

OMAN

AFFORDABLE ART AT

BAIT AL BARANDA B

ait Al Baranda has offered art lovers a unique opportunity to purchase paintings and sculptures at competitive prices.

The Muttrah-based museum held its first ‘Affordable Art Exhibition’ over the last weekend, featuring works of nine Omani and expatriate artists.

The artists sold their works at half price.

Omani artist and jeweller Naima Al Maimani sold around 40 per cent of her artwork at the two-day event.

“Our goal behind organising an affordable exhibition was to attract different members of society. Holding a light, short and affordable exhibition proved to be very practical, especially amid the current tough economic situation,” she said.

Al Maimani said Friday was a busy day. “Many people of different nationalities visited the gallery yesterday, including school students and tourists.”

British photographer Rachael Maclver, who exhibited her black-and-white photos of Oman as well as her recently published photo-book, said Muscat needed more public art exhibitions “to cross that myth about art and that art is for certain people”.

She emphasized the need to make art more accessible.

Artist Tahira Fida, who displayed her modern art pieces, said no artwork at the exhibition was priced at more than RO150.

“Art is not just for rich people and we need to spread that message through such events. This is why I printed postcards and bookmarks so people can buy art for as cheap as 500 baisas,” she explained, calling upon people to make their gifts more special and sustainable through purchasing unique and affordable art collections.

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THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

DEC

14

14 - 23

WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

D E C E M B E R To mark the 10th anniversary of the death of the legendary Luciano Pavarotti, the Royal Opera House Muscat is organising a fascinating exhibition of treasured Pavarotti memorabilia, displaying costumes and other iconic items, on December 14. The exhibition honours Luciano Pavarotti not only as one of the world’s greatest tenors, but also as the simple yet noble man that he was.

Pavarotti believed in the educational power of music and the emotional importance of involving children in its magic.

HOMAGE TO PAVAROTTI

WEEK

WINTER VILLAGE

Winter Village is a public event that is designed to attract people to come out and enjoy the winter season with family and friends in a uniquely themed environment that will offer great entertainment and amusement for everyone. There will be entertainment for the whole family, besides kids’ shows, winter souq, food and lots of fun. The event will be held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

DEC

THIS

OUTDOOR VILLAGE

Spend time with your loved ones at the newly created ‘outdoor village’ at Al Ain. The Dar Al Zain is expected to be packed with entertainment, food and activities. Just a headsup: Musical superstars Mohammed al Shehhi, Myriam Fares and Balqees Fathi will be taking centre stage. That’s not all. Shows for kids such as Tweety Cage and My Little Pony, and activities such as colouring, mask-making, learning about outer space, Iftah Ya Simsim songs and dance, cracking the magnetic puzzle wall, giant dice, and invisible ink game will also be organised.

DEC

14

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DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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

My Life As A Zucchini Starring: Ellen Page, Will Forte, Nick Offerman and Amy Sedaris

Ghost House

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Starring: Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson and Benicio del Toro The Force is strong with this one.

The first reviews are in for Star Wars: The Last Jedi — and everybody is blown away.

The world premiere of the eighth chapter in the Skywalker saga, directed

by Rian Johnson, took place in Hollywood on Saturday night.

Disney has a strict embargo on full reviews until Thursday, but early spoiler-free Twitter reaction has been universally positive.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi is everything.

Intense, funny, emotional, exciting.

It’s jam-packed with absolutely jawdropping moments and I loved it so, so much. I’m still shaking,” wrote Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier.

“I can’t believe The Last Jedi exists. @ rianjohnson is a madman and I love him for it. He takes Star Wars to the edge and throws it over. What a crazy, awesome movie. We’ll be talking about this one for a long, long time.”

Slash Film’s Peter Sciretta tweeted: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi is so very different, exciting, surprising. So many emotions, so many amazing moments.

Stay away from spoilers.”

Jen Yamato of the LA Times claimed: “StarWars: The Last Jedi is so beautifully human, populist, funny, and surprising. I cried when one POC heroine got her moment because films like these leave their mark on entire generations — and representation matters.”

Fandango managing editor Erik Davis

wrote: “#TheLastJedi is absolutely fantastic — gripping, touching, funny and powerful w/ gorgeous shots and the most badass battles. When it gets going, holy crap does it get going.

Hands down the best #StarWars movie since Empire.”

Besides the direction, cinematography, effects and score, performances were also lauded, especially of veterans Mark Hamill and the late Carrie Fisher. “#The Last Jedi is incredibly satisfying and hands down Mark Hamill’s best performance as Luke Skywalker,” The Hollywood Reporter’s Aaron Couch wrote.

Entertainment Weekly’s Anthony Breznican added: “You may not always feel how you want to feel, but the feelings will be genuine and deep, and I am grateful for them. Especially when it comes to @carrieffisher.”

Even Johnson’s director peers were impressed.

Selma director Ava DuVernay tweeted: “‘Do. Or do not. There is no try.’

Bravo, @RianJohnson. You did that!

The last 40 minutes had me on the edge of my seat in every moment.

Superb storytelling. Exceptional design. I laughed. I cheered. A total joy-ride through the galaxy. So fun. #StarWars.”

Logan director James Mangold wrote: “Massive congrats to my friend @rianjohnson for the dazzling writing and directing work he shared tonight! Yes, a great chapter of a blockbuster franchise, spectacular and unpredictable, but also his own voice shining through... kudos!”

Oman release: December 14

Starring: Scout Taylor-Compton, James Landry and Hebert Mark Boone Junior

After his mother’s sudden death, Zucchini is befriended by a police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home, filled with other orphans his age.

At first he struggles to find his place in this at times strange and hostile environment. But with Raymond’s help and his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love, as he searches for a new family of his own. Brought to life through striking character designs and expressive stopmotion animation, the story soars with laughter, sorrow, and joy, and stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart.

Lost in the Thai countryside, a young American couple find themselves haunted by an evil spirit. Desperate for a solution, they spiral deeper into a surreal, supernatural world that leads them into a frenzied, terrifying confrontation with pure evil.

Oman release: December 14

Oman release: December 14

!

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION Who is the director of the film Star Wars:The Last Jedi ?

LAST WEEK’S WINNER Khadija Thuwein Ali

WIN FREE MOVIE TICKETS! Read our movie section and answer the question to stand a chance to win two tickets to watch movies of your choice! Send your answers to info@y-oman. com, along with your contact information.

Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions, see voucher.

DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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The

future > is now

An American mom saves RO10,000 a year, an Indian lady is happy her child is back in class and a young Omani quits his job to offer students affordable education. Hasan al Lawati and Alvin Thomas get to grips with the pros and cons of e-learning 020

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alika was 14 years old when her father lost his job as an engineer in a petroleum company in Oman. This made her life hard as the teenager had just got to grips with her school in Oman and in a class specifically designed for the disabled.

The teenager has been confined to a wheelchair since childhood owing to clubfoot – a birth defect.

Then, it was up to her mother to provide for the needs of the family as her father looked for a job. This meant the studious teenager – who was touted as a “leading light” in her class – had to leave her school, further putting her studies in jeopardy.

Paying a hefty school fee wasn’t something an interior designer could handle. “We had to make several sacrifices when we landed in this situation,” says Rupa (Malika’s mother).

“I make RO700 a month and it is not enough to cover our living expenses even after we dug deep into our savings.

“It became hard for us to accommodate her schooling – which made us distressed. We were spending more than RO200 a month for the tuition fee alone, and that didn’t even cover other expenses such as transportation and so on.

“We just had to find another way. And that’s when we stumbled upon online schooling,” she tell us.

“It was cheaper and easier for Malika. But before we could enroll her in a new system of learning, we had to learn about its pros and cons.

“We researched for weeks before learning that it wouldn’t be a bad decision. And in the end, we enrolled her in a class called Vedantu – a live online classroom that specialises in Indian curriculum (CBSE).

“She has been taking the class for a year now and has never been happier.

Surprisingly, it’s more than just teaching, though. Students can interact with each other and also the teachers, indulge in co-curricular activities and take regular tests,” she adds.

Malika is only one among several students availing the services of online classes. Statistics from 2016 show that currently more than 5.8 million

students opt to learn from these virtual schools. This is a 263 per cent increase from that of the previous 12 years.

But what is e-learning? According to elearningnc.gov, e-learning is the act of learning by utilising electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom. In most cases, it refers to a course, programme or degree delivered completely online.

While this provides students with access to several curriculums from around the globe, it also opens up the opportunity for students to take classes from their computers or internet-enabled devices at nominal prices.

For example, a student will have to shell out roughly RO8,000 per annum for classes that focus on American or British curriculum here in Oman. In contrast, the price for a student opting for online classes of the same will only be charged RO2,700 per annum.

American expat Jenny Stiller, mother of two, tells us that she enrolled her children in online classes teaching British curriculum in 2016.

“We’re saving close to RO10,000 every year thanks to this. The kids absolutely love studying online as they can work around their comfort zones. Of course, the timings are strict and you really cannot miss any classes; but you really cannot complain when you’re attending classes in your pajamas,” she tells.

“One of the greatest benefits of this is that we can travel. Back when my kids (aged 9 and 14) were in school we had to book our tickets based on the school schedules. Now we can take off and carry on studying on the move. All you need is a stable internet connection and a good laptop or tablet. Most e-classes offer applications for smartphones too,” she adds.

Jenny spends RO150 per child every month, which adds up to RO3,600 per annum for her kids.

Although the price difference between the two modes of learning might be substantial, even RO150 per month can be a tall ask for some.

So, in an effort to make e-learning more accessible to people in the Sultanate, one young Omani, Mohammed al Lawati, has quit his job and is on a mission to promote OMTUT – a first-of-its-kind e-learning website that provides a more affordable alternative for students who are being home-schooled in Oman.

How affordable is it, though? Well, a quick look at the website (omtut. com) shows that students must opt for packages, which will determine the number of subjects – and ultimately the cost.

The cost of the packages can range anywhere between RO10 (Bronze Package), which is for one course from a total selection of 15, and RO30 for five subjects. Currently, several students are enrolled with OMTUT and it continues to grow beyond Mohammed’s expectations, thereby fulfilling the organisation’s motto, ‘Knowledge is power’.

OMTUT had humble beginnings. “During the first two years, we started by producing tutorial videos for grade 12 students only, and gradually added videos until we successfully covered all of the remaining grades (Grade 1 to 11),” he tells us.

We’re saving close to RO10,000 every year thanks to this. The kids absolutely love studying online as they can work around their comfort zones

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“We faced many obstacles along the way. The recent change in the Omani syllabus was one of the challenges we encountered, but thanks to our team we have managed to swiftly adjust our tutorial videos to suit these requirements,” he adds.

“Currently, technology positively assists in improving overall education by allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of a particular topic, especially since schools only cover so much due to limitations in time (seven hours per weekday).

“However, in the future, it wouldn’t be surprising if education becomes fully dependent on the use of technology and traditional methods – i.e. use of books – cease to exist,” Al Lawati explains.

“Unlike schools, e-learning is known for its flexibility, since students can access these videos at any time and place. In addition, the videos can be viewed repeatedly, which improves the student’s understanding of the topic.

“E-learning also acts as a platform for enhancing the student’s research and knowledge skills through acquiring additional information from online academic resources that would not usually be covered in the syllabus.”

But, some schools in Oman are now adopting to newer methods of teaching, too. Al Sahwa Schools is a good example of a school utilising advanced and interactive technology to complement traditional teaching methods.

Chris Bate, the school’s head of technology, says Al Sahwa has implemented the concept of ‘anytime-anywhere learning’ through its Google Classrooms, wherein students can use their Chromebooks (a laptop running the Linux-based Chrome OS as its operating system) to do homework, communicate with teachers, and even interact with their colleagues.

“Google classroom allows teachers and students to collaborate together, like they do on Facebook. This helps us break the traditional barriers between students and teachers, and provide both with the same facilities wherever they are,” Bate explains.

“Although this technology allows students to enjoy more natural way of learning, the teacher will always be there as a guide. This is the digital extension of the traditional classroom,” he explains.

Al Sahwa Schools – which was founded in 1993 – applies the Google Reference School Program, which means that the school is identified

by Google as having adopted new technological practices.

“The school is providing support to other private schools to apply the same system,” reveals Bate.

“It is a reality that students will have to solve their problems with technical solutions. To hide away from that and let students just copy from books is not the reality anymore.”

Matt Ball, a teacher at the Al Sahwa Schools says that the students are also taught about online safety; to equip them with important skills in order to protect themselves from internet threats.

However, one expert believes that e-learning is not ready to take on the traditional method of schooling.

“I believe that solitary home-based e-learning instead of regular schools is not ideal at schooling age when children are at their most vulnerable, formative years,” says Dr BabySam Samuel, the general manager of Intertech LLC. “Education during these years should include a whole lot of diverse

skills in addition to academics, including co-curricular and extra-curricular interests and activities, which together lay the foundation for academic, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

“To the maximum extent possible, children should get to experience learning in a direct, interactive environment, and not just with their teachers but also their peers and other children.

“That said, education is a universal right. And e-learning technologies can greatly add to this cause and ensure that every child can have access to education. This is critical where access to regular schooling is impossible or limited due to ill health; disabilities, remote location; economic limitations etc.” he adds.

As Dr BabySam rightly points out, e-learning has also provided the disabled with an equal opportunity in these virtual classes. And Mohammed believes that his online learning platform is giving these students a chance to learn from the comforts of their homes. “OMTUT is not intended for handicapped students only,” says Mohammed. “It can be used by students who are socially withdrawn or hail from a low-income group (under RO600 per month), school dropouts, and students who have divorced parents or are orphans.

“These students – like all other students – deserve an equal chance to be able to complete their studies and graduate from high school. And we are more than honoured to provide them with free subscriptions,” he reveals.

“In world-leading countries, the use of technology in education has proven to be highly effective in developing student’s knowledge.”

Google, for example, enables students to gather information from various online resources, leading students to have a broader understanding of a particular topic and is less biased in general.

Though this has given rise to another problem: plagiarism. This was recently put to test by Radhakrishna Kurup, a teacher from the Indian School Darsait, in Muscat.

“Recently, I asked students of Class IX to make a project about M.T. Vasudevan Nair – a veteran Malayalam novelist and short story writer.

“I received 24 USBs full of projects,” he says with a smile.

“But, when I went through the projects submitted by the students, I noticed that they had collected the information about the person from the same platform.

“I am all for avoiding papers and plastics. But, on the other hand, I feel sorry to see the projects copied from several apps and Google.

“They don’t understand that much of the content is protected by copyrights. The CBSE (the Central Board of Secondary Education) also revised its policy to bring back the old system of examinations, with slight modifications.

“Yes, the world is changing. Humans are now dependent upon the internet. It has become the forefront of education and we should accept that fact. And there’s nothing but to accept the situation and the demand for this.

“Now the system of education is getting changed; it is being digitalised.

Teachers, parents and thinkers cannot avoid these tools. Education in India – and all over the world – is digitalising fast.

“Byju’s – The Learning App is one of the most sought-after apps for the students hailing from Kerala. This learning app is very popular around the world. These types of apps support students’ quest and curiosity, and saves time and money.

However, in the future, it wouldn't be surprising if education becomes fully dependent on the use of technology and traditional methods – i.e. use of books – cease to exist

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>

Pros of e-learning:

1) Convenience 2) Less expensive 3) Technologically advanced 4) Access to online materials and expert instructors

“Yet, I strongly feel that there are plenty of methods, apps and other methods to educate the students, but of all these become useless without a teacher,” he exclaims.

Further adding to the list of cons of e-learning is Mohammed who, despite believing in his platform, points out some of his apprehensions.

“The benefits of e-learning far outweigh the negatives but there are still a few drawbacks of using e-learning that can be easily avoided by the student.

Headaches and back pains are some common effects of using laptops, tablets and other electronic devices for long periods of time.

“This can be avoided by exercising your muscles between each video (all of OMTUT’s videos have a shorter duration of less than 30 minutes) to keep the blood circulating. It is also important to stay hydrated by constantly drinking water and adjust your sitting posture when using electronic devices to avoid back pains.”

Accessibility is another concern. Oman spans over 309,500 sq.km and internet services are not accessible over all corners. Many rural villages are also devoid of any form of telecommunication networks, thereby making it harder for Mohammed’s OMTUT to penetrate such remote areas.

“It might be true that the availability of internet in rural areas across the Sultanate is very limited, however this shouldn’t act as an obstacle to OMTUT’s objectives,” the optimistic founder says.

“Technology is constantly evolving and so will the development of these areas in the coming years. In fact, e-learning will be the future of education in the Sultanate of Oman and competent authorities will definitely seek to develop these regions once education starts to rely on technology. This is also why it is crucial to continue growing OMTUT,” he adds.

Despite all that, the level of education in Oman needs to be “re-evaluated to be at par with new methods,” says Journalism Professor Sonia Ambrosio from Sultan Qaboos University.

The professor is known for making use of unique methods of technologies in her classes.

“We do use several virtual methods in our media classes, particularly with social media.

“Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, Instagram and podcasts all function as platforms, but direct to theory and practical learning. In addition, these platforms help students develop vocabulary, spelling, grammar and, most of all, revision of subjects as students pick up different aspects of the same subject,” she says, adding that “there is so much to learn for all of us on technologies, on education, on practice.”

But Ambrosio expressed her concern about slow adaption of new technologies of education in the Sultanate.

“If lecturers, professors and teachers cannot work with e-learning, we will not be able to use new technological teaching methods,” she exclaims.

“E-learning will be obsolete in a few decades when technology will almost replace humans in education.

There is a whole new chain coming up on virtual learning,” she discloses.

However, Ambrosio said traditional and advanced means of education could be productive if harmonised.

1) Limited social “There will always be space for interaction traditional learning through debates, 2) Technology cost and high-level conversations and sharing experiences.” scheduling “As we adjust to technologies and 3) Effectiveness of incorporate new teaching methods, assessments the traditional ways will be more 4) Problematic for valuable. We already have the instructors webinars as classes where teachers do not need to be physically present.

“Once students learn to appreciate how to learn, they will enjoy e-learning. Higher institutions also need to rethink its role in society: it’s not just to make money out of education but also prepare students to be ready to be a part of a workforce and help them understand what is happening around the world in education,” Ambrosio adds.

“Nevertheless, in the near future, e-learning will greatly increase the access to basic education globally than is currently imaginable,” Dr BabySam tells Y. “I believe that what we see as e-learning now will drastically change in the coming years – with the advent of affordable technology in areas of Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.

“Artificial Intelligence replacing mainstream jobs is no longer science fiction. We can expect a future where AI based teaching would augment or replace human teachers.

“As with any technology, adoption especially when it comes to children should be thought out with care and caution, carefully balancing the risks of

>

Cons of e-learning:

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MYSTERY DEEPENS!

A FEW, EXCITING DAYS FROM SHOWCASING THE FULL LIST OF 47 FINALISTS, THE JUDGES ARE STILL AT IT, AND THEIR TASK LOOKS AMUSINGLY DIFFICULT. THE ENTRIES THIS YEAR ARE SO INTERESTING THAT IT’S TOUGH TO TAKE THEIR PICK

Associate Sponsor

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DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

Supporting Partner

T

he excitement is at an all-time high as we head deeper into the final stages of Y’s Portrait By A Nation art competition. We’ve whittled down some of the best paintings from the 2,300 entries received throughout the course of the event – but we’re still a few days from revealing our 47 finalists.

So, hold your horses, folks!

The students are being chosen based on their creativity and overall presentation but, this year, the judges are adding some extra brownie points for painting skills and crafts as well.

Still, there can only be three winners, and the pot is overflowing with several prizes that are valued at RO3,150.

This year’s competition was powered by FRiENDi, in association with sponsors Muscat Grand Mall, PUCK, IDdesign and Finland Eye Center. eXtra was the electronics sponsor and

We all have our favourite paintings but at the end of the day, it is the judges who have the final say

Tanuf the supporting partner for the event.

“We all have our favourite paintings but at the end of the day, it is the judges who have the final say,” says Y’s editorial head, Nishad Padiyarath.

“Choosing 47 from the lot has been a daunting task but we did it. It was amazing to see the level of creativity that has been showcased.

“I am proud to say that this was the biggest art contest organised by Y magazine. The response from the students participating in this competition was so overwhelming. We had the highest number of entries compared with that of the previous years and more than 200 spot registrations at the venue. This shows the popularity of this competition,” he added.

This year’s event – touted as the nation’s largest art event of its kind – witnessed a staggering 2,300 young artists take on one other to show their love for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, earlier last month (November 11-12). ■ DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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SKY IS

T I M I L THE

nis stars Oman’s young ten the court of the future take to ills and to showcase their sk s of am keep alive their dre Alvin Wimbledon glory. em Thomas caught th in action

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t’s a showdown between the two finalists in the esteemed tennis Junior Championship: Tyler Blake and Muneer al Rawahi. The expectations are at an all-time high, and the atmosphere at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex is electric as Muneer throws the ball into the air to serve.

It only takes a fraction of a second for the ball to reach Tyler, but the youngster has the perfect reply – a backhand that sends the ball into the far end of the court. Muneer calmly lobs it back.

This marks the start of an hour-long battle that stretches into the later hours of the night – and a remarkable end to the two-day-long tennis championship organised by Pro Tennis Oman and the Oman Tennis Association (OTA).

The game concludes in the second set as Muneer overpowers Tyler with his composure and calmness. A tired and frustrated Tyler admits defeat — but ever so graciously with a handshake.

The final score in the second set is 6-1, taking the young Omani to another 14 and Under championship title. The smile on his face is evident as he says: “I am extremely happy to take this match.”

Muneer’s father – who is a former tennis player himself – is seen standing proud and cheering for his son.

“Tyler played well and we have been playing against each other for a while now. The key was in concentrating and taking every second as it is,” he says.

The 14-year-old boy, who has been playing for the last seven years, has become a prospect for representing Oman in tennis internationally.

Muneer has already represented Oman in a Saudi Arabian tournament where he took gold in the doubles and silver in the singles.

“My dream is to become a tennis player as well as a pilot. I want to be the first professional tennis player who takes to the skies,” says Muneer.

The youngster hopes to play with some of the greats like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Also among the medals column is

Omani talents Aisha al Busaidi, Ali al Busaidi, Marwan al Khanjari and Safana al Riyami.

Several other players training under Pro Tennis Oman and the OTA also took high praise for their performances.

Crowd favourite from last year, Faisal Eihab Abutaha took the first place in the Under 9 (Orange) category. He had finished runnerup in the previous edition of the junior tennis championship.

“What happened this year was absolutely massive. We had children enrolling and many of them were competing last year too,” says Diana Maria, the coordinator of the event.

“We had 170 entries in 10 different categories. I think this is what happens when two dedicated clubs (Pro Tennis Oman and OTA) join forces. All this is to promote and boost tennis in the country.

“It’s the beginning of a great collaboration. Moreover, the courts are beautifully made and the players love it; everybody was impressed,” she adds.

The matches were split into 10 categories, which tested competitors from different age groups as well as offered an opportunity for recreational players to play against each other.

Faiz al Khanjari, father of contestant Marwan al Khanjari, says: “The OTA has helped players so much. A few years ago, my elder children had been to camps outside Oman, but now everything is available here itself.

“We, as parents, are supporting our children to see them in a higher level. For me, I am used to it with my older children (who are also tennis players representing Oman in the Davis Cup). Every day, I drop them for practice and stay with them to give them my full support.

“Tennis is not only dependent on associations. It is reliant on three factors: players, parents and then the association. One cannot work alone to make it big.”

Another believer in the sport is Nasser al Balushi, who is by the side of his nine-year-old son Qais. The two dispute over their favourite players and engage in tennis chats, laughs the father.

“Oman now has some great coaches and that is making training much easier for the kids. Before, they had to travel to other countries like Portugal during the summer for camps. But now, it is as easy as driving towards the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

“And looking at the mini tennis entrants, we can already predict that these kids are going to be raising this country’s sporting pedigree through the roof,” he remarks. ■

nts based on aches that train stude the American co t en fer dif ht eig s Pro Tennis Oman ha regime. The children can be trained at and at the their age and trainingMouj, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Golden Tulip British Academy, Al Ghubra. training grounds in Al to suit different various packages rs fe of an m O is ● Pro Tenn sson in a group requirements ild for an hour’s le ● It’s RO6 per ch s cost up to RO20 for an hour or search ● Individual lessonation, go to protennisoman.com rm fo in e ● For mor on Facebook Pro Tennis Oman DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498 027

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NURSE BY PROFESSION AND DOODLE ARTIST BY PASSION, AMIRA AL MUSALMI HAS SCRIBBLED A NAME FOR HERSELF ON THE WALLS ACROSS OMAN. HASAN AL LAWATI TRIES TO DECIPHER THE HIDDEN HINTS IN HER ABSTRACT LINES

I

interviewed Amira Al Musalmi three years ago. A budding artist then, her work did not amuse me, and I did not feature her. I failed to foresee an amazing doodle artist in the making.

Last week, the 24-year-old Omani artist held her first solo exhibition at a local coffee shop where she displayed her works of art: breathtaking, colourful and full of life. The transformation was incredible.

When you think of the word doodle what comes first to mind are perhaps the striking temporary changes in the logo on Google’s homepages that seek to celebrate people, events and holidays.

Doodles might look simple, but the stories they convey in the small space have a process about them that is not always easy to create. In the words of Amira, “doodle art is nice to see but difficult to compose.”

Amira is a staff nurse in the intensive care unit, one of the “hardest jobs out there”. At the moment, she likes doing both but, obviously, this side of her story points to the financial insecurities being faced by artists in Oman.

Excerpts from the interview: So, what happened in the last three years?

First of all, I am happy that we are meeting again to discuss art after three years. Second, standing in a certain place was not an option for me in order to progress. I have been through lots of experiences and self learning. Besides, I started freelancing a year ago experimenting by trial and error. I feel like I can do art confidently without the insecurities that I had before, like what people will think of my work. On the other hand, I took self learning and self development seriously as I knew that I shouldn’t wait for the opportunities but I create them on my own.

Many people might claim that doodle art is easy. On the other hand, very few people do it despite the fact that it is in demand and many commercial shops use doodles in their decorations. Why doodle art isn’t popular among local artists?

Doodle art is nice to see but difficult to compose, in the sense that one need to have a bunch of different elements and make them roam around or be all on the same topic. I have seen people trying to do it, but they seldom persist with it because of its technical difficulty. And the ones who stick at it lack originality and this is a problem not just in the case of doodle art…it’s a general issue in the new art community here.

Where can people find your works in Muscat? How do you feel when you see your art displayed publicly?

My art is usually on the walls of some of the shops around Muscat.

I share most of them on my social media pages and website. Having them out there was one of my insecurities in the past, I didn’t like people judging my work or criticising it. But today it is an honour to have them in those different places around Oman and even on food trucks in Salalah. It is a pleasure to see my efforts come to reality and my virtual characters live among the public.

Recently you held an exhibition. How did it go?

It was amazing. A small celebration of modern art as well, out of the galleries and classical way that we usually see art. I titled it ‘Obliquity’, a name that I came up with my former teacher. All of the works fell into the same topic. I displayed seven pieces of doodles on canvases, besides some of my merchandise (key chains, stickers, etc.) and an instillation of two doodles on wooden chairs.

Do you have a full-time job? If you have one, do you plan to quit it someday to be a full-time artist?

I am an ICU staff nurse, and I believe it is one of the hardest jobs out there. At the moment, I like doing both as I get inspired by some stories that I come across in the workplace and enjoy saving lives. Well, I don’t know what the future holds for me.

How is the art scene in Oman, financially and support-wise?

Mostly artists here, especially the new ones with new kind of art, have to support and market themselves. They might get some kind of support, but not to the extent that they can do art independently without doing a second job. Most of the financial and publicity support comes from private sector companies once you are recognised to have something cool to offer. The other 90 percent of the job is left to the artist himself or herself in terms of education, marketing, learning and socialising.

Tell us more about your story with art?

Art was and is a space of expression. I like having hidden hints in all of my doodles despite the fact that some of them appear so obviously understood. In the begging I have started trying everything to get into the style I wanted, and to get to the place where people will recognise my art even if my name was not signed on it. Today I am satisfied with what I have achieved. Of course I hope to do more and do better.

What was your most memorable project so far?

I did a project with one of the communication companies in Oman. It’s one of the best projects I have worked on so far. The amount of encouragement was unlimited and I had truly felt that what I did was appreciated. From working on campaigns to creating the Snapchat filters, I really had fun doing this.

There were no conditions and demands and I had the freedom to draw freely.

What’s coming up in the future?

Currently I am taking a break. In 2018 I will get back to freelancing again, hoping to expand my work and participate in more events.

What makes your doodle art different?

The amount of details in it. Each detail makes a difference in the drawing.

And how the details go around together and make a united, single piece of art. ■ DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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

Skincare Centre • Kargeen Caffe • KFC • MacKenzies Café

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

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

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

Adventures

Cars

Y- F i

Gaming

CHINESE WARRIOR

Keep away your prejudice and notions, because the Haval H9 is a brilliant SUV. With its hunky design and frugal engine, this new entrant from China is breaking all stereotypes.

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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

WADI BANI GHAFIR WHAT MADE THE PLACE SPECIAL IN 2015 WAS THE HAPPY, FRIENDLY CROWD WHO OCCUPIED EVERY CAMPING SPOT — BUT THE TRIP THIS TIME AROUND TURNS SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI PHILOSOPHICAL FOR THE WRONG REASON. DISSERTATION UPON A DESERTED WADI 032

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T

he advent of winter in Oman has given me the opportunity to explore so many places around the country – places I couldn’t really visit before, owing to the heat. And one such place that I had reserved for a winter dash was the Wadi Bani Ghafir – one of my favourite camping spots of all time.

My last time at the place was in 2015, and I distinctly remember that it was crowded with people looking for camping and other leisure activities. That has always been the beauty of Wadi Bani Ghafir – its welcoming and entertaining crowd.

It is one of those places where people come in to spend time with their families but actually make more friends and companions. I remember being offered dinner by several families when I was there. The campers weren’t even asking me if I wanted to share their food but rather cooked for me – a dish of my choice – from scratch. I guess that’s Oman for you.

So, with the hopes of meeting more people, I headed there. Joining me on the trip was my best friend Imran.

As always, our trip was filled with a lot of music, banter and an exchange of knowledge; it’s something we take pride in. Let me put it this way: philosophical writers would be so lucky to include some of our thoughts in their books.

But 90 per cent of all we talk is gibberish, so that

TRAVEL GUIDE

negates my earlier claim.

The wadi is close to Rustaq and it took us a couple of hours to reach the locale. If you’re sticking to the highways, it should clock in at about 160km. There’s a beaten-down track that you can take if you’re feeling a bit adventurous.

Upon reaching there, we were treated to a surprise – and a rather unpleasant one at that. Wadi Bani Ghafir was completely deserted!

Apart from that, it was also incredibly dry and lifeless. We even took a moment to check if we were in the right spot.

After learning that we were, I quickly started snapping photos of the rocks and the wadi bed. I tried recreating shots that I had taken before so that you can compare how different things were this time around.

It was upsetting, if I am being honest with you.

The reason for the draught could be put down to the season: wadis typically flourish in the rainy season, but I couldn’t comprehend – not even for a second – why people had given up camping in this wadi.

To break the monotony, Imran and I exited our SUV and treaded on foot. After a few minutes of walking, I stopped at a spot where I had played football with a young Omani kid in 2015. I even remember asking him to freestyle so that I could take some photos. I wondered where the kid would be today.

After trekking for about 20 minutes, we sat down for a quick bite of chips and sip of Mountain Dew (I know, it’s ironic). It was then that I realised something important: we could be exploring the most beautiful place in the whole world, but the need for human companionship is what will make the experience truly incredible.

Sure, we as humans are often linked to sullying mother nature. But I believe that we – as inhabitants – could also be an integral part of what makes earth a gem of a planet in a solar system that harbours nothing but extremities. Just take a moment to think about it.

HOW TO GET THERE From Muscat, take Route 1 past Barka and join Route 11 at Muladdah. Turn on to Route 10 just before you get to Rustaq.

The turning for the wadi is

approximately 21km down this road.

GPS Coordinates: N23° 24’ 19.241”; E57° 16’ 7.871”

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

H AVA L H 9

Alvin Thomas belts along steep rocky terrain and does a 32-degree slope without any drama to deliver the verdict: leave aside the prejudices — the hefty Chinese luxury is a handsome, wholesome SUV for the price you pay

P

rejudice is a major factor when car shopping. For instance, you’re more likely going to buy a car based on an initial impression – you know, brand name, make, market share, and so on – even after you have taken it out for a test drive. It’s just something people do, and there’s no denying that it has spelled success for various car manufacturers.

But keep that aside for a second, and you’ll be treated with a new wave of cars, some from car makers you haven’t even heard of. And that’s also what makes the automotive market all the more exciting; there’s just so much you actually can choose from.

Fitting into this very bill is the new Haval SUV that I was testing this week.

For those of you who don’t know, Haval is a marque owned by renowned Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motors, and it has been operational since 2013. The Haval is the maker’s luxury annex; sort of like what Infiniti is to Nissan, or Genesis

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to Hyundai. Today, however, the company is more known for its urban-focused H2 (not to be confused with the non-urban-focused Hummer H2) and the crossover H8.

But is Haval hard-wearing enough to take on the heavyweights? Well, to find out, I took the keys to the Haval H9 – the largest SUV the brand currently builds.

From the outside, the Haval fits the bill: It looks handsome yet hefty, and has all the right proportions. Heck, it isn’t even plagued by what I like to call the “Chinese façade syndrome” wherein vehicles are morphed to look like their more successful counterparts from Japan and Europe [(cough) Landwind (cough)].

Despite a handful of lines and curves that look generic, the H9 manages to look fairly original.

There are plenty of design elements and character lines that distinguish the fascia. For instance, the front bumper sports several cuts and chisels, and the high approach angle further complements the burly guise. Meanwhile, the front lights – which they term ‘3D headlamps’, are sharp, and the grille undeniably enormous.

If that wasn’t all, the hood is chunky and has four character lines running through it. There are also two non-functional vents on either ends.

The sides are curvaceous and look clean from all angles, and the curves on the doors and the fenders are broken by a sharp line that runs from the front fender all the way to the rear tail lamps. This, coupled with the high-profile 46cm tyres, adds to the overall character of the SUV. The rear end, however, is what splits the audience.

I personally found it to be tasteful, with its elongated

tail lamps and dual-tone bumper. But the tail gate is side-hinged, meaning it’s not as practical. This will also make it harder to open and close depending on the gradient of the terrain. On the upside, the loading height is low, and it is easy to load and unload heavy goods.

With dimensions of 4856mm (length), 1926mm (width), 1900mm (height) and a 2800mm wheelbase, the H9 is about the same size as its competitors from the US. Climbing inside is easy thanks to the rather large side steps, and once you’re in, you’ll find that the cabin is quite refreshing. It’s is neatly laid out, which is unlike what you will find in most SUVs of today. Most vehicles incorporate minimalistic cabins with little or (in some cases) no physical buttons, which can become exasperating – especially

Destination

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

Y- F i

if you’re bouncing around on harsh terrain.

Apart from that, I was also intrigued by the vehicle Not only are there physical buttons on the dashboard functions button – denoted by a ‘*’ – that displays of the H9, they are also large and chunky. These are everything from the air-temperature entering the engine dedicated buttons to control the audio and multimedia to the gearbox temperature, the altitude and steering functions, air conditioner, and even some additional safety lock angle. features. There’s a knob on the centre stack that controls As is expected, the H9 packs a rear-view camera, which the driving modes. is accessible from the infotainment screen. The resolution Most of the car’s interior is finished in dualof the camera is respectable, and it also comes with tone soft plastics. The plastics are high-quality prediction lines to let you know where the vehicle is and feel nice to the touch. Nonetheless, they are headed. Annoyingly, the audio system completely separated by soft and padded leather restarts the song you are playing when you THE HAVAL H9 IS AN inserts on the doors and armrests. use the camera feature.

SUV WITH NOTHING Overall, the fit and finish of the The seats are extremely comfortable and BUT A HOST OF PLUSSES: are wrapped in high-grade faux leather. interior is commendable. All the IT COMES PACKING panels line up smoothly with little or There’s very little bolstering on the ALL THE ESSENTIALS sides but I didn’t find it to be a concern no gaps between them.

THAT YOU WOULD BE during my test drive. Thankfully, the The centrepiece of the dashboard, ABLE TO FIND IN AN however, is a touch-operated 21cmlumbar is adjustable, and you also get a EQUIVALENT JAPANESE commanding driving position. wide infotainment screen. The OR AMERICAN SUV – screen isn’t the brightest, but is quite Passengers aren’t forgotten, either.

AND EVEN BEAT THEM There’s a galore of knee and head room responsive to the user’s touch. The IN PRICING graphics aren’t superlative and the in the second row, and the third row is animations are a bit tacky. Still, it is sufficient for kids and average-sized adults. extremely functional; you can control the a/c functions But, I did find the rear a/c blower struggling to keep the using the screen, if cabin cool. need be.

Underneath the brawny hood, the H9 packs a small and well-refined 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine that is mated to a ‘ZF’ six-speed automatic transmission.

Its high-pressure turbo aids the engine to pump out roughly 215hp and 324Nm of torque.

The torque kicks in at about 2000rpm and keeps its steam until about 4000rpm. Mercifully, the gearbox is quick to shift, so you’ll never find yourself out of twist. The Haval also chucks in steering-mounted paddle shifters if you’re looking to take control of things manually. Although, there seems to be an override feature in the first gear, which bars you from shifting down to first gear using the paddle shifters – thereby hindering effective engine braking.

What the H9 needs, though, is more power. You will have to rev the engine to 5500rpm mark to make use of the available power, thus translating to a 13-second 0-100kph time.

Despite that, there’s plenty of grunt from the engine when you’re on the go.

Your only concern will be that you have to pre-

Gaming

CARS

Haval H9 Specifications: Engine: 2.0-litre ‘turbocharged’ inline four-cylinder Transmission: Six-speed ‘ZF’ automatic Horsepower: 215hp Torque: 324Nm Top speed: 190kph Four-wheel drive Steering-mounted controls Cruise control Traction control 21-cms touchscreen infotainment system Backup camera Zenon headlamps Leatherette seats 10-speaker Infinity audio system Anti-lock braking system Keyless entry Lockable rear differential Fog lamps

plan your manoeuvre in order to keep the vehicle steady.

The SUV rides soft and glides over the bumps rather well courtesy the double wishbone suspension (front) and multilink suspension (rear). But, because the body is mounted onto the chassis, there’s a fair bit of body roll. Still, it’s comparable with that of, say, a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or a Patrol Y61.

This setup makes the H9 quite the formidable off-roader. I did manage to traverse some steep rocky terrain without any drama. Surprisingly, it even handled a 32-degree slope effectively – and only terrified me slightly!

The driver can also select the most appropriate real-time road mode from six options (AUTO, 4L, Sport, Sand, Snow, and Mud Road). There’s a locking rear-differential for the tricky bits, but do keep in mind that this isn’t an SUV designed to take on those steep dunes and soft sands.

The steering on the SUV is vague with a light dead centre. But, mid-way through the corner, I found the steering to gain weight, thereby causing a bit of confusion early on. The brakes on my tester were worn out – presumably by merciless journalists and customers who slammed on the brakes unnecessarily.

The H9 tips the scales at about 2250kg – which is about 100kg less than the V6 Prado – but still provides the driver with 2.2 tonnes of towing capacity – just don’t expect it to do the job quickly.

Nevertheless, the Haval H9 is an SUV with nothing but a host of plusses: It comes packing all the essentials that you can find in an equivalent Japanese or American SUV – and in a package that will have them beat in pricing. But don’t for a second think that the H9 is inferior to the rest; it really is that good a vehicle, if you’re willing to gloss over all your parti pris.

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CARS ADVENTURES SALT FLATS

Salar De Uyuni, in Bolivia, is home to some of Earth’s best-kept secrets – literally! The salt flats are also a paradise for photographers who are looking to improve their portfolio.

1. Visit the train cemetery 2. Take a tour of the salt flats 3. Conduct night photography to catch glimpses of the milky way 4. Visit the Incahuasi island, in the Salar, which is filled with giant cacti 5. Trek across the ancient dead volcanoes

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Destination

Cars

Y-Fi

Gaming

POSTCARDS FROM

Alvin Thomas recommends

SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA H

ardcore fans of the British motoring show, Top Gear, can r e l a t e t o h o w c h u ff e d I w a s w h e n I h e a d e d t o t h e s a l t f l a t s of the ‘Salar’ De Uyuni. Oh, it wasn’t just the excitement of retracing the steps of the three pestering motoring journalists who incidentally were the first to drive across the expanse in cars - but rather the exhilaration that arose from the fact that I was standing in the largest salt flat in the world.

A n d e v e n b e tt e r w a s t h e f a c t t h a t i t h a d j u s t r a i n e d t h e n i g h t b e fo r e , m e a n i n g t h a t t h e s a l t f l a t w a s n ’ t a s a l t f l a t a n y m o r e b u t t h e largest reflective mirror I had ever seen! Of course, walking on the surface requires some level of guts, which I garnered from the several ‘ M u r i c a n t o u r i s t s w h o w e r e fo o l i n g a r o u n d , k i c k i n g s a l t a t e a c h o t h e r and doing other touristy thingamajigs.

There was nothing to fret about, though, as the salt flats expand o v e r 1 0 , 5 8 2 s q . k m , a n d g e tt i n g a w a y f r o m t h e c r o w d s - a n d h e a d i n g into nirvana - is as simple as driving away a few hundred metres with the tour guide alongside, obviously.

To the average passerby, the Salar De Uyuni, in Bolivia, will simply be a vast spread of nothingness, but dig a bit deeper and you’ll realise that it is home to some of the Earth’s well-kept secrets - literally.

T h e S a l a r w a s fo r m e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h e e v a p o r a t i o n o f s e v e r a l prehistoric lakes. Today, it remains covered in a few metres of salt crust - which can prove deadly if you’re driving. In any case, the crust is also incredibly flat, and you can see the curvature of the Earth if you look into the horizon. The ‘Flat Earth Society’ needn’t waste time trying to debunk scientists; they can simply head to Bolivia.

N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e s a l t f l a t s c o n t a i n s e v e r a l fo s s i l s , w h i c h a r e million years or more old, and also nest 50 to 70 per cent of the world’s known lithium reserves. These reserves are in the process of b e i n g e x p l o i t e d , b u t t h a n k fu l l y a r e f a r , f a r a w a y f r o m t h e t o u r i s t spots, of which there are several. Also welcoming you into this geographical marvel is the flora and fauna. Did you know that there’s an island within the Salar that actually has towers of cacti? What a w o n d e r fu l w o r l d w e l i v e i n !

My favourite place Without a doubt, the highlight of the area is the salt flats. I mean, it may seem like an area of emptiness to some. But, you know what they say: one man’s trash is another man’s gold. It’s a bit challenging to traverse, especially because the salt and water form a brine-like goo. But, spend some time digging and you could be rewarded with preserved million-year-old fish bones or even more. Oh, and I cannot deny the eeriness of the train cemetery. Yes! It’s a cemetery of trains. You’d have to walk 3km into the Salar, but upon doing so, you will be treated with the sight of British-built trains and tracks – all abandoned and rusty.

DAKAR

MONUM ENT ON DE UYU SALAR NI SAL T FLAT

T OU R UYUNI JEEP

Highlights

Because the Salar De Uyuni is part of central South America, it receives consistent rainfall. This creates an illusion of staring at a mirror. After a nice shower, you can also recreate some stunning images of the reflections of clouds on the ground. Now, if that isn’t a shot worth being featured in National Geography, I don’t know what is.

The temperature in the region is low, so it’s best to go prepared with several layers of clothes. During the course of my visit, the nights were consistently below 0 degrees Celsius and the days 5-to-9 degrees Celsius. Another interesting fact about the salt flats in the Salar is that they are perfect for calibrating the measuring equipment of satellites. The large, stable surfaces with strong reflection resembles ice sheets, and give the extra-terrestrial devices a stable reference point.

Lowlights There are several to point out. For starters, the mushy salt flats will almost certainly ruin your trekking shoes.

I ruined a perfect set of Caterpillar (!) shoes while there. It’s best to stock up on flip flops while there. Also, carry extra cash in hand as there are no ATMs in the vicinity. Just to be safe, do carry extra set of camera and phone batteries (or portable chargers); hotels charge you to use the power sockets. Lastly, do not forget to bring sweaters or jackets – it gets very cold at night.

Souvenirs There’s a souvenir shop in the Salar that is made up of salt! From there, you can purchase photos of the salt flats, tee-shirts and even some local handicrafts.

Getting there

Qatar Airways operates flights from Muscat to La Paz, in Bolivia. The flights are expensive, but travelling across the country is cheap. You can opt for public transportation, or even flights from La Paz to the Salar. A round-trip should set you back about RO50.5.

Where to stay If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can opt to camp in the salt flats. For all others, there is the Hotel De Sal Luna Salada and the Hotel Palacio De Sal – both of which are made up of salt blocks – and cost roughly RO40 per night.

IN C A H U A S I IS L SALAR A N D , IN , W H IC H THE IS F IL L E D W IT G IA N T C H ACTI

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Destination

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

ULTIMATE GAMING GADGETS

From as little as RO15 to a cool RO1,690 you could lay your hands on the ideal, unrivalled gadgets to play games. Take your pick, from laptop to keyboard, joystick and phone, and enjoy hassle-free fun, says Alvin Thomas

ULTIMATE FANTASY It’s funny how much laptops have progressed over the last decade or so. I still remember when the portable machines were sticking 64Kb RAMs and 6Mb ROMs. In any case, let me specify some of the specs of one the world’s best gaming laptops – the Razer Blade Pro V2: A seventh-generation Intel Core i7 Quad-Core processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX1080 graphics card, 17.3-inch 4K screen and 32gigs of RAM. If all of that weren’t enough, it also comes with two 1TB SSD hard disks, a heat sink for efficient heat dissipation, Thunderbolt3 USB ports and VR capabilities. Buy it from razerone.com for RO1,690

READY, AIM, FIRE Playing with a manual joystick can be a hassle. It’s not the easiest to use when gaming and, honestly, a game controller or mouse can get the job done faster. But there’s something (eerily) cool about owning one. I guess we have the movie ‘Top Gun’ to blame for that. Nevertheless, this menacinglooking Mad Catz Cyborg Fly 5 joystick seems like something the Terminator or a fighter pilot would use to take out the baddies. It has a tilting head mechanism (like in a fighter jet) to allow positioning the buttons where you need them, adjustable head buttons, handle height and angle; twin throttle levels; and 12 buttons.

It also runs through a USB connector, so you don’t have to waste time recharging it. Get it from pc.world.uk for RO15.4

G FOR GAMES Let’s face it: There’s nothing cool about a keyboard. It’s essentially a slab of plastic with buttons on it. However, this new entrant from Logitech – the Logitech G19s Gaming Keyboard – may very well be the fanciest one we have ever seen. The device comes complete with a tilt screen for instant access to in-game stats, VoIP communication and system data, video playback and more without interrupting your gameplay; programmable G-keys that can control up to 36 unique functions; and two high-speed USB 2.0 ports. It looks like something straight out of the Bat Cave (Batman’s safe house), so it will definitely go with your gaming gadgets.

At RO154 it’s pricey but well worth your pennies. Get it from amazon.com

RAZER SHARP

EDITOR’S PICK

IT’S THE PHONE WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: THE RAZER PHONE. ALL RIGHT, SO MAYBE SOME OF YOU APPLE FANS DIDN’T TAKE NOTICE BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS PHONE HAS ENOUGH SPECS TO PUT THE ALL-NEW IPHONE X TO SHAME. FOR STARTERS, IT COMES WITH A 5.7-INCH 120HZ ULTRA MOTION SCREEN, WHICH IS THE FASTEST REFRESH RATE EVER SEEN ON A SMARTPHONE. YOU ALSO GET LOUD DOLBY ATMOS AND THX-CERTIFIED STEREO SPEAKERS, SNAPDRAGON 835 CHIPSET WITH 8GB RAM, 12MP DUAL CAMERAS, 64GB IN-BUILT MEMORY AND A 4,000MAH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY. THE BATTERY SHOULD ALSO LAST YOU TWO DAYS WITH CONSTANT USE, AND REMEMBER THIS: IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL GAMING PHONE YOU CAN CURRENTLY BUY IN THE MARKET. ORDER YOURS FROM RAZERZONE.COM FOR RO270

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Throwback Thursday

From Clementine to Batman to CJ, Alvin Thomas relives the past, getting nostalgically back into his favourite characters and finding it tough to detach and get back to reality

THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON ONE

BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY No one hates Batman; unless you’re the Joker or the Riddler.

But for us geeks, Batman is the ultimate superhero, and there’s nothing swankier than a game wherein we can don the attire of the protector of Gotham. The game takes place in the vicinity of the famed Arkham Asylum, so you spend more time exploring the labyrinthine alleyways adjacent to the looming superstructure. There, you come across a range of villains, including the Penguin, Joker and even Ice Man. Meanwhile, the Riddler keeps you busy with draining but rewarding puzzles. Though, nothing’s arduous once you figure out the charming physics engine and the absurdly complicated tech-toys that are at your disposal.

Year of release: 2011 Drama, dialogue and action: these are the three elements that make The Walking Dead a complete game. As a GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS matter of fact, I think we don’t credit the developers and writers enough for This is the title that changed the way we look at open-world action games. True, GTA: this title. True, there’s an overkill of Vice City laid the framework for this game, but something about the character – Carl conversations throughout the gameplay “CJ” Johnson – made the game more that makes it dialogue-heavy. But enticing. There was a certain sense disregard that and you’re left with a of rawness and rebelliousness that game that not only engages the players made CJ a household name – at with its intricate storyline but also one least among the gaming crowd. But that effectively allows you to morph into that wasn’t all: the large, interactive one of the characters. Needless to say, I world; complicated missions; the found it hard to detach myself from my galore of gangs; and the upbeat role of Lee Everett and back to reality. graphics, aided in making this the Lee and Clementine continue to be my ‘game of the decade’. It’s a pity all-time favourite protagonists, too – Rockstar could never quite capture and that’s high praise. all of this with GTA IV and GTA V. Year of release: 2012

Year of release: 2004 JULY NOV 02 03 - 08 09 / ISSUE 493 327

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

SUIT YOURSELF

Christmas is just around the corner and I’m sure many of you would have already planned your parties, gifts and whatnot. But have you decided what to wear for your Christmas parties? If not, try this chic ensemble from Burton Menswear.

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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

This Christmas, be a little fashion-adventurous. Surprise all your friends and maybe even your boss by donning this stylish, flowing gold shirt. Shop it now at ZARA at RO20.

Are you hosting an outdoor party this year? Need something to keep you warm while you keep your guests entertained? Then this fashionable, yet classic jacket from ZARA is a must buy. Shop it at RO50.

A wristwatch is an intimate fashion accessory. Choose right —choose well, like this automatic, water resistant, 60th anniversary specialSeiko Presage.

The fusion of fun and classic will always result in hitting the right fashion formula.

This classic, grey wool blended trousers from H&M is just what you need to keep it classy and fashion forward. Buy it at RO43.

Add a splash of Christmas colours to your ensemble with this bright bow-tie and handkerchief. The bright Xmas red is sure to be the eyecatcher. Buy it from H&M at RO7.

Be the Christmas vibe and get the energy on at the party with this literal, fun and trendy Christmas-y pullover. Buy it from ZARA at RO13.

Let your choice of footwear tell everyone that you are trendy and timeless with these black lace-up Derby shoes from Marks and Spencer available at RO28.

DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

● The applicator: The wand definitely is different from the regular ones we are used to. It’s bigger and a little oddly shaped. It gives the beginners a good holding to draw on the lips. ● The content: The formula is simply amazing. It’s soft, light and velvety. Though it starts off a little runny, once the product blends in and dries, it’s there to stay.

Simply STUNNING

● The look: Stunna Lip Paint is definitely stunning.

It’s neither gaudy nor ‘Hollywood’. It’s a colour that one could wear day or night.

For a brown-skinned person like me, it fits well. I could see myself wearing this to work almost every day.

● The stay: Claimed to have 12 hours of ‘staying power’ and doesn’t wipe off even when eating, this is a major green signal this product has to get. After 30 minutes of applying the product, I sat down for my first cup of tea. The rim did not have any transfers. I was happy. I was mid-way into my day and slowly I could notice the thin lining of dead skin at the comer of my lip. Apart from that, the colour had not faded. I had another look after lunch, and still there was no colour fade. I was impressed. Finally, just before I could remove my makeup at home, I looked at my lipstick ven if you are not one of the internet-savvy millennials, you may have come across the a little closer. I have to be honest – there was a slight brand Fenty Beauty. Every beauty blogger, vlogger, reviewer – pretty much the entire fading of colour around my inner lips, but from afar it online and offline media – has been talking about the successful launch of Riannah’s looked untouched. .

Fenty Beauty. The brand has recently introduced to the beauty market a vibrant, ● The feel: During the entire day, I did not feel the glamorous, super chic liquid lipstick – Stunna Lip Paint. lipstick. It was very light and natural. No creases or dry The lipstick has been receiving rave reviews and we wanted to try it out IRL. We went (online) skin were found, for which I was really thankful. shopping.

Our Stunna Lip Paint arrived and we started to test. Rightly said by Riannah herself, this ● Final thoughts: This is probably one of the lipstick is universally flattering, that is, the colour will suit every skin tone. best lipsticks I’ve tried in the recent times and a perfect Here is our analysis: accessory for the Christmas season look.

Rihanna’s Lip Paint suits every skin type, but do the lips look just as luscious as they do moments after application? Christine Karan gives it a try in the morning and stays impressed for a whole day

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Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

DEALING

WITH DIABETES Living with diabetes doesn’t mean you need to turn your back on everything. There are ways to strike a balance between boring selfcare and doing what you love

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taying healthy can be a challenge, especially for those living with diabetes. Everyone can have conflicts finding the right balance of partaking in healthy habits, such as exercise, eating well and even keeping your teeth and gums clean. From stress to self-care, life can be up and down when you’re living with diabetes.

These seven tips from Dr Natalie Strand, the winner of season 17 of “The Amazing Race” – an American reality show – who lives with diabetes herself, can help you stay healthy and lead a balanced life while managing your diabetes.

1) Communicate with your care team Make sure you connect with your nurse educator, endocrinologist and dietician. Reach out to them with your questions as they can often help you implement

subtle changes to avoid completely overhauling your lifestyle and routine because of diabetes.

2) Get involved Get a local group together to fundraise, vent or just understand each other. Groups offer ways to connect with others living with diabetes in person or on social media. Connecting with the diabetes community can be a powerful way to help ease the burden of living with diabetes.

3) Keep doing what you love Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you have to give up doing what you love. Make efforts to continue sports, travel and other hobbies, even if there is a learning curve to adapting with diabetes at first.

4) Maintain good oral health People living with diabetes are two times more likely to develop gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Colgate Total toothpaste is FDA-approved to help reverse and prevent gingivitis, an early form of gum disease.

5) Get into a routine Find a routine that works and stick with it. This way you don’t have to make new decisions each day. Anything that can ease the mental burden of diabetes can help. For example, pick a time each year for your annual visits: eye doctor, endocrinologist, renew prescriptions, etc. Picking the same time of year every year can help ensure you don’t forget to take care of yourself.

6) Make self-care a priority It can be hard to keep diabetes care in the forefront. It can be boring, exhausting and also fade into the background. Remind yourself that one of the best things you can do for yourself, and for your loved ones, is stay healthy. Use your family as motivation to exercise daily, eat better-for-you foods and maintain a healthy weight.

7) Manage stress Diabetes can be a big stressor. Add jobs, kids, relationships and it can become overwhelming.

Find an easy and effective tool for stress relief and do it often. Even 5-10 minutes of guided meditation daily can have a big impact on stress management.

For more information and ways to lead a balanced life with diabetes, visit OralHealthandDiabetes.com *Source: Family Features DEC 14 - 20 / ISSUE 498

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FOOD DRINK

Trend

New Restaurant

SAY CHEESE

Reviews

Who doesn’t like cheese?

Nothing spells out ‘comfort food’ more than a melty dish topped with your favourite variety of cheese. Try out some of our favourite recipes featuring cheese.

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Cheese

and CHEERS Tomatoes Gratin Servings: 4 Ingredients: § 4 tomatoes § 60ml balsamic vinegar § 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 120ml, divided § 4 garlic cloves, sliced thin § 4 sprigs fresh thyme (or equivalent dried) § salt, to taste § pepper, to taste § 60g pine (pignoli) nuts § 230g shredded Jarlsberg Cheese

Bake or fry with it, or have it in snacks and crisps or savoury sides, cheese is pure pleasure that leaves a tinge of mystery on both sophisticated and adventurous palates. Relish two cheese delights that would enhance your festive mood

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rom savoury appetisers to delicious holiday delights, cheese takes up a huge slice (pun intended) of winterthemed food. As a matter of fact, cheese is now being considered a must-have holiday ingredient.

These recipes from celebrity Chef George Duran, host of TLC’s “Ultimate Cake Off ”, makes it easy to elevate your cheeseboard. Serve up delightfully delicate puffed pastries or make glass canning jar gifts to give away to guests.

Each dish features Jarlsberg Cheese, which was created in 1956 and remains based on the original Norwegian recipe, offering a slightly nutty, mild and delicious taste that helps every dish live up to festive occasions.

Best known for its classic wedge – think the cheese Jerry (from Tom and Jerry) munches on – Jarlsberg is also available sliced and in snacks and crisps for simple appetisers, savoury sides and even take-home treats your guests will love.

Find more ideas to elevate this holiday season at jarlsberg.com

Source: Family Features

Method: § Heat an oven to 177°C. § Cut tomatoes in half. In a bowl, whisk together vinegar, 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper; gently mix in tomatoes. Transfer to an ovenproof dish. Place tomatoes cut-side up and bake for 15 minutes. § In a pan, toast pine nuts with the remaining olive oil until golden, then set aside. § When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove skins and return to a baking dish. Sprinkle tomatoes with shredded cheese. Return to the oven and broil for about 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Top with toasted pine nuts.

Holiday Devilled Eggs § Scallions

Servings: 12 Ingredients: § 6 eggs § 1/8 tsp salt § 1/8 tsp pepper § 1 tsp white vinegar § 1 tsp mustard § 1/4 cup mayonnaise § 1 cup shredded Jarlsberg Cheese Topping options: § Paprika § Parsley § Beef bacon § Shredded Jarlsberg Cheese § Cooked crab meat

Method: § Boil a large pot of water.

Carefully add eggs and boil on a high temperature for two minutes, then simmer for 13 minutes. § While eggs cook, chop parsley and scallions, if desired. § Once eggs are cooked, transfer to a bowl of ice water; cool for 8-10 minutes. Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Separate egg yolks into another bowl. Reserve egg white halves. § Combine egg yolks with salt, pepper, vinegar and mustard. Add shredded cheese and mayonnaise; mix until smooth. § Spoon about 1 tsp of yolk mixture into each egg white half. § Add toppings, as desired. For classic devilled eggs, sprinkle paprika and chopped parsley over eggs. For a savoury alternative, cook four strips of beef bacon and chop. Top eggs with chopped bacon and shredded cheese.

For a unique variation, try topping eggs with cooked crab meat and chopped scallions.

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FOOD DRINK

Tr e n d

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

t

rke a m d

Mi

Info Box

KEBAB & CURRIES STORE

Bldg. No. 884, Block 241, 4144 Way, Muscat Opening Hours: 12-3pm and 7pm-12am Phone: 24 478373 Buffet for four: RO29.1 Verdict : 7/10 SERVICE 7/10 FOOD 6/10 AMBIENCE

KEBAB & CURRIES STORE

Great kebabs and curries at decent prices.

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

ALVIN THOMAS WALKS IN WITH CURIOUS THOUGHTS ON THE KEBAB AND CURRIES AND INTRIGUING GUESSES ON THE NAME CHANGE, BUT DRIVES BACK HOME SMACKING HIS LIPS

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s a self-proclaimed foodie, I like to classify food into three categories: a) Feel-good foods, b) Everyday bites and c) The right food for every occasion. While the former two are self-explanatory, there’s something about category (c) that needs a bit of explaining.

You see, I hail from India – the homeland of curries – and, as opinionated as I may sound, I’m actually quite right in saying we Indians love our curries. We consider it to be the perfect food for every occasion. Even the British have adopted it (don’t ask why). Today, the chicken tikka masala is considered the most consumed dish in the UK. All of this is could be the reason why an Indian restaurant serving only kebabs wouldn’t flourish.

This is also probably why ‘The Great Kebab Factory’, which was once considered the premier kebab joint in the whole Sultanate, has now been replaced by the ‘Kebab & Curries Store’. I found the change quite hard to digest, and I didn’t know if there was a change in ownership, or if they had cut down on the quality – and quantity – of food in the restaurant.

So, it was with a wave of uncertainty that I visited there.

Thankfully, there’s not much change inside, apart from new placards on the tables and some other brandings on the welcoming desk. Oh, and the waiters also chime that the restaurant now serves curries, and not just kebabs.

Apart from that, everything seems carried over from before. Thus, it was without any haste that I sat down for dinner. Joining me on my escapade was my brother Ninad who had just flown in from Australia.

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and was mild on the seasoning. But the overall presentation of the dish, the strong flavour of herb, and the consistency gave it an edge over the other curries. The Kerala fish curry was a letdown, if I were to nitpick. Hailing from Kerala, I expect the fish curries to be galvanisingly OUR KIND WAITER OFFERED US GULAB JAMUN (MILK-SOLID-BASED spicy and the fish to be marinated in the spices INDIAN SWEET) AND JALEBI. BUT beforehand. Our dish contained only small slices of semi-seasoned boneless and skinned fish, AFTER THEY TOLD US THAT THE SWEETS WERE FRESH, WE GAVE IN. and was definitely a miss. Even the gravy was inconsistent and disappointing.

AND BOY, THEY WERE RIGHT On the upside, the accompanying garlic naan and roti were crispy but soft. We could tell that We opted for two servings of the unlimited grills and curries. Much to our surprise, the meats it was served to us straight from the traditional arrived in a few minutes, and were freshly grilled. tandoori oven.

By then we were stuffed but soon the waiters I was particularly charmed by the portions. Of brought us our lamb biriyani. The lamb was course, you can always ask for more, if need be. delightful, and went well with the seasoned The menu consisted of chicken tikka, chicken basmati rice of the dum biriyani. Sadly, we kebab, mutton kebab, lasooni kebab, grilled couldn’t have it all, and had to call it quits. prawns and breaded fish (!) Just thinking about This was also the case when our kind waiter it now makes my mouth water. We thoroughly offered us gulab jamun (milk-solid-based Indian enjoyed all the items, and asked for a second sweet) and jalebi. But after they told us that serving. The fish was soft and succulent, and didn’t even have the slightest of stench of rawness, the sweets were fresh, we gave in. And boy, the were right. The sweets were enticing, and even and the chicken – all of them – were prime cuts though we only had a couple of bites of each, we (thighs, I suppose) and melt-in-the-mouth soft.

The lasooni kebab in particular stood out from thoroughly enjoyed them.

In all, we relished our late-night escape into an the rest, with its tangy yet spicy flavour from the fresh curd mixed with chilly and garlic seasoning. all-Indian menu. And you know what? After all these years – and a name change – this restaurant The masala on the grill was something Ninad said he enjoyed, especially after two years of eating still manages to be one of the best places for dining. I’ll surely be back for more.

“Aussie” and other oriental cuisines.

The only letdown of the day was the grilled Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see prawns, which seemed to be a bit wet. Perhaps reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com they were left on a plate after they were grilled.

Still, the masala on the grill was enough to conceal the softness of prawns from hydration.

Next to arrive – again as part of the unlimited meal – was the Kerala fish curry, chicken tikka masala and dal fry. The dishes were stupendous, to say the least. The chicken tikka masala was obviously pre-prepared, but it tasted like it was supposed to. The chicken, again, was grilled well and soft, and the masala added to the zest of the dish. I’d only rate it at a 5/10 for spice, though.

The dal came as a complete bombshell – in a great way. It was authentically north Indian,

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