Y Magazine #558, February 21, 2019

Heritage in bloom THE ROSE HARVESTS OF JABAL AL AKHDAR ‘Y’ We Are Soulmates THE 2019 WINNERS’ CIRCLE!

News: OMAN CONDEMNS SINAI 10 TERROR ATTACK

CATCH THE LATEST UPDATES ONLY ON WWW.Y-OMAN.COM

DESTINATION: Salalah TASTE TEST: China Mood YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

FEB 21 - 27 2019 / ISSUE 558 • WEEKLY

PLUS!

NEARLY SIX MONTHS AFTER A DEADLY HOUSE-FIRE IN SAHAM CLAIMED THE LIVES OF TEN PEOPLE IN SEPTEMBER 2018, INCIDENCES OF FIRE-RELATED LOSS AND INJURY CONTINUE TO RISE. WITH OMAN HAVING ONE OF THE MOST RIGID FIRE-SAFETY STANDARDS PROTOCOL IN THE GCC, WE INVESTIGATE WHERE AND WHY THE SYSTEM BREAKS DOWN.

YUMMY OMAN: CELEBRATING CHINESENOVEMBER NEW 24YEAR 01 / ISSUE 258

44

Y-FI: OMAN’S FOUR BEST APPS

38

COFFEE WITH Y: MARIA SARFARAZ

22

EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

IN THIS ISSUE…

T

here’s no smoke without fire. Recently, one of our Team Y members woke up on Friday morning to the cloying smell of burning plastic and overheated wiring. Following their nose into the kitchen they quickly discovered the source of the (alarming!) smell – their newly-bought, twomonth old refrigerator had somehow short-circuited the wall-mounted power outlet. They frantically unplugged it and contacted the building authorities; and we shudder to think what the scenario might have been had they decided to sleep in just an hour longer.

An on-the-fritz fridge and cooler boxes full of ice for a couple of days’ food storage seems a small inconvenience to a larger hazard narrowly-averted – a potential electrical fire. And that got us thinking…

House fires, car fires, restaurant fires, and the like; the list of incendiary incidents in the country seems to be on the rise each year – or at least making the news more often.

Yet, Oman boasts some of the toughest and strictest fire and safety regulations in the GCC. But as the country harkens back to the September 2018 tragedy that took the lives of ten people in a residential fire in Saham, questions are now being raised as to the effectiveness of these laws.

In this week’s cover feature we take to the streets to ask if what’s being done in the name of public protection is enough and, more importantly, to investigate if such laws are in fact being implemented. If not, then it’s our aim to expose the junctures where this system begins to break down. Turn to Page 18 to read on.

Also, in this issue, we take you to the mountains of Jabal Al Akhdar to follow the harvest of the annual rose blossoms as the foothills spring into life; introduce you to a young Omani entrepreneur who’s making inroads in business across the GCC with her award-winning approach to investing in human capital; and, celebrate Chinese New Year with some fashionable and flavoursome tributes in our Fashion and Yummy Oman pages.

Until next week, happy reading!

Team Y EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

ADMIN MANAGER Yousef Al Harrassi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

REPORTER Hassan Al Lawati ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

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FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

03

contents FEB 21 - 27

Your Oman

2019

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman

Ayman al Saidi 10 News

Oman condemns Sinai

terror attack 12 News

Individuals banned

from deploying drones

10

16 The queen of castanets

Virtuosa Lucero

Tena brings her

signature sound to

the Royal Opera

House Muscat on

Thursday,

February 21.

38 Y-Fi

Oman’s four best apps

38

Up in smoke?

In spite of rigid fire safety standards in the Sultanate, incidents of commercial and residential blazes are on the rise. Team Y investigates – what needs to change to protect lives?

Heritage in bloom We head to the mountains of Jabal Al Akhdar where the hills are blooming, to learn how to make rosewater, the traditional way.

‘Y’ We Are Soulmates Y’s annual Valentine’s Day celebration saw the top twosomes in the Sultanate crowned with the title of best couple.

We bring you the full recap!

18

17 Health and Beauty

34 First Drive

Lincoln MKC

18

26

17 Movies

Dwayne ‘The 28

Rock’ Johnson

is back in the ring

in the knockout

flick ‘Fighting

With My Family’.

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Salalah

Features

Food and Drink

40 Fashion

Chinoiserie chic

44 Yummy Oman

A taste of Chinese

New Year

42 Beauty

The eyes have it

46 Taste Test

China Mood

40

44 NEXT ISSUE...

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

brity ch and the latest celeve got at w to ts tis ar e th we’ From ate hits of the week, gossip, to your ultim from the pulse of the music your superstar dose Radio Oman 100.9 FM world, with Virgin

Katy says ‘Yes!’ Pop princess Katy Perry has been dating ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star Orlando Bloom since 2016 and now they’re making it official. Orlando asked Katy to marry him on Valentine’s Day no less, with the singer breaking the news when she uploaded a selfie of the two along with the caption ‘Full Bloom’, showing off a pink engagement ring front and centre that reportedly cost a cool US$5 mill. We’ll say yes to that! #Perrybloom.

Heartbreak for Gaga?

Rumours are flying that Lady Gaga and fiancé Christian Carino split last week – just four short months after getting engaged. Gaga attended the recent Grammy Awards solo and was spotted without her engagement ring.

She also left him out of her thank-you list during her acceptance speech after winning a Grammy for best Pop Duo/ Group Performance for ‘Shallow’ and has reportedly unfollowed him on Instagram.

According to an insider, Carino is desperately trying to get her back. What could have gone wrong?

Sam’s struggle Singer-songwriter Sam Smith has taken to Instagram to speak openly about his struggle with body image issues, posting a picture of himself standing on the beach with the caption: “In the past if I’ve ever done a photoshoot with so much as a T-shirt on, I’ve starved myself for weeks in advance and then picked and prodded at every picture and then, normally, taken the picture down. Yesterday I decided to 06

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

fight back, reclaim my body, and stop trying to change this chest and these hips and these curves that my Mum and Dad made and love so unconditionally.”

Courageous words, Sam! ‘Furious 9’ delayed

The ninth instalment of ‘The Fast and the Furious’ franchise was supposed to hit theatres worldwide on April 10, 2020 – but has now bumped its release date back to May 22, 2020. The last film, ‘The Fate of the Furious’ came out in 2017 and opened to record-breaking box office returns – US$184 million in China alone.

‘Furious 9’ is the second film in a trilogy slated to end the series for good and it has been announced that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson won’t be joining the cast this time.

The end of an era indeed…

The price of fame In a recent interview with Vogue, Justin Bieber opened up about how fame has affected his mental health over the years, saying: “I started feeling myself too much. I got very arrogant and cocky.

I was wearing sunglasses inside, at night inside.”

Justin is reportedly receiving treatment and counselling for depression and is very focused on his mental health. According to sources close to the Biebs, this has nothing to do with wife Hailey Baldwin and he’s very happy being married to her.

They also went on to say that he has good help around him, is receiving treatment, and seems confident he’ll feel better soon. Sending strength, Justin!

Katy Perry and Zedd surprise fans Zedd and Katy Perry have teamed up on a new song called ‘365’. The song was released at the same time as the music video, which shows an A.I. version of Katy who’s obsessed with Zedd. The last time we had new music from Katy was in 2017 after the release of her album ‘Witness’.

Cardi B. and Bruno Mars are back again Bruno and Cardi fans were promised this collab back before the New Year and now it’s finally here. After taking a short hiatus from Instagram, Cardi B. was back to announce her new track with Bruno Mars called ‘Please Me’.

Produced by Bruno, the last time they worked together was on the ‘Finesse’ remix. ‘Please Me’ drops just after Cardi’s first Grammy win for Best Rap Album, where she set a record as the first solo female artist to win that category!

Bebe Rexha drops first single of 2019!

Bebe Rexha is back with ‘Last Hurrah’, a song inspired by a friend of hers.

Bebe explained on Twitter that she had a friend who was dieting and ate a piece of chocolate cake and, when asked about her diet, her answer was that it was her ‘last hurrah’. Bebe liked that and decided to make a song about having one more night of messing up. This is her first solo single since 2018’s massively successful ‘I’m A Mess’.

Be sure to keep it locked to Virgin Radio Oman 100.9 FM, and don’t miss your Tea Time with Maya Noise, daily on Chad in the Morning.

THE VOICE OF OMAN

AYMAN AL SAIDI RUNS ITFA, AN OMANI COMPANY WORKING TO IMPROVE FIRE-FIGHTING TECHNOLOGY. HERE, HE ADDRESSES FIRE SAFETY

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: With a strong framework for fire safety that regulates all properties across the nation, Oman still witnesses several incidents with casualties every year.

Do you think its current fire safety regulations are up to date, or should a more firm hand be set for their governance?

CORRINE JOY RAMOS

W

henever there’s a housefire in Oman, people tend to buy fire safety

equipment to protect themselves from such tragic incidents.

Our emotional response to the news controls the market’s supply and demand.

Residents in Oman need to understand that fire safety equipment is an essential part of our homes and such emotional drive is not enough to raise a culture of safety.

While building their accommodations, house owners in the Sultanate need to invest in fire extinguishers and fire alarm systems.

When building a house in Oman, people often invite friends and family to celebrate the occasion. Guests usually bring gifts such as kitchen sets and furniture.

However, very few people consider buying safety equipment, which house owners actually need.

Oman needs a cultural shift when it comes to house safety. We also need to amend our legislation to encourage people to buy fire alarms.

In some countries, telecommunication companies give away fire safety equipment as a gift when providing internet services.

But here, on the other hand, and to save some cash, many Omani families started buying cheap and unapproved electricity cables, which resulted in an increasing number of housefires, most notably, the one that took place last year in Saham in which 10 people of the same family died of suffocation.

I think the municipality and relevant authorities should step in to make financially-stable houseowners invest in fire safety equipment.

A strong safety culture can only be seen when authorities take part in the change and encourage people to buy the right fire safety equipment.

08

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

I believe the government has strongly laid its fire safety mandate to be strictly followed both by the residential and commercial sectors. However, public awareness should be improved. This issue should be more than the remit of one responsible person; everyone should be responsible for their actions. No matter how strictly the government assesses our premises to abide with fire safety rules, if we are not fully equipped with the attitude and knowledge on how to avoid and deal with these circumstances then disaster could ensue. We should actively hold and participate in fire drills, and take precautions should we be unfortunate enough to encounter a fire.

ANU MANCHANDA

There is no doubt that a strong framework of regulations exists already. One area worth focusing on is creating awareness among citizens.

Regulations need not be followed only on paper.

It is the responsibility of each one of us to keep ourselves and others safe at the same time.

The use of cheap equipment must be avoided.

Standards must be followed not by compulsion but by the willingness of individuals, and it can happen only when citizens are made aware of the necessity of fire safety.

MOHAMMED YASAR

Although active and passive prevention measures for fire safety are being implemented in most buildings and residences, these only help in minimising the fire risk. Measures such as the

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early detection of fire, which helps in preventing one from spreading, do not render us immune from the risks. It is necessary to provide knowledge to the public through various media and road shows about fire safety regulations. This would minimise fire accidents, the occurrence of which depends, in a large part, on public awareness.

AISHA AL BARWANI

There’s no question that a ‘firm hand’ must be set for the governance of fire safety in Oman. I think that when we Omanis built our homes on plots, we thought that they were our homes and ours only. We didn’t consider the other people that live around the area. Fires are common because of electrical issues that consist of poor and cheap materials. I wish people would take these issues more seriously and that the Municipality would deal more severely with violators. This would result in safer homes.

VADIVELU VAITHIANATHAN

Due to a lack of awareness, fire incidents can happen often. In Oman, fire safety measures, regulations and acts have been updated to protect us from the dangers of fire.

Yet there have still been losses of life and serious injuries caused by fire incidents.

We can save lives and help to control the number of incidents if we really take care and have proper awareness. Every individual should know the basic operation and principles about firefighting, how to extinguish a fire properly and how to evacuate in an orderly fashion.

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Relevant lessons on fire safety should be conducted at schools and colleges. Doing so would help to create awareness in people from an early age. All public and private sector firms should conduct workshops and provide training to their employees in handling firefighting equipment.

The government should also be involved in conducting more workshops and public awareness programmes about safety. Another serious issue is poor building maintenance, as many of the public and private sector buildings in Oman are not maintained properly by the owners and appoint unskilled labourers as caretakers. Safety and fire awareness are in our hands. Let’s move towards a safer future!

SANDRA SUDHEER

I think that the minimum level of requirements for designing should include an escape route for residents or users of a building. I think that current regulations do not tackle all these factors. Public awareness should be considered

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MUTHUMARI PANDIAN

To protect human lives, properties and the environment, we must take some responsibility to overcome fire incidents.

Residential buildings have more risk factors than commercial buildings. These include electrical short circuits, gas leakage, ironing, cooking fires etc. Many dangerous fire accidents can be started by a small ignition.

Nowadays a portable fire extinguisher is readily available.

It’s easy to handle and use. Maintaining fire safety in a building is our responsibility.

We must check the batteries of smoke detectors regularly. Before going to bed, we must check gas regulators and switch off unused electrical equipment. We must keep away from flammable items like charcoal and kerosene.

In addition, we need more awareness programmess to train and educate ourselves on the dangers of fire.

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What more can be done to curb this act – and should stricter fines be levied upon violators?

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FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

09

NEWS OMAN CONDEMNS SINAI

TERROR ATTACK

O

n Sunday, Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the terror attack on a security checkpoint north of the Sinai Governorate in Egypt, killing and injuring a number of soldiers, the Oman News Agency reports.

The MoFA stressed Oman’s solidarity with Egypt, expressing condolences and sympathy to families of the victims.

ROP ARREST 27 BIKERS IN RAID

T

he ROP arrested 27 young motorcyclists and seized a haul of unlicensed bikes in Dakhliyah last week.

Officials from the Dakhliyah Police Command took the unlicensed scooters from Nizwa and Izki, Muscat Daily reported.

According to the ROP, accidents caused by unlicensed motorbikes have actually fallen in recent years.

Statistics show that unlicensed bike accidents resulting in deaths fell by 24 per cent with those causing injuries dropping by 25 per cent in 2016, compared to 2015.

However, officers have expressed concern over some riders’ continual flouting of traffic rules.

Ali al Barwani, a member of the Oman Road Safety Association, (ORSA) stressed the use of unlicensed bikes was illegal.

He said: “Teenagers and youth, especially in Nizwa, ride unlicensed motorbikes and bicycles on streets and in densely populated areas without adhering to safety rules.

“They do so because of lack of awareness.

We should conduct campaigns to encourage youth to abide by the law and make them aware of the dangers of riding unlicensed bikes.”

010

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

OMAN’S ECONOMY ON THE UP, SAYS IMF

O

man will become the fastestgrowing economy in the GCC region in 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

According to the IMF, the Sultanate’s real GDP is expected to grow by more than five per cent in 2019, the Oman News Agency reports.

Oman’s public finances are continuing to improve, with the Sultanate’s budget deficit for the full year 2018 falling to the lowest level in four years.

According to government accounts for the fiscal year 2018, Oman’s budget deficit last year fell to RO2.7bn against the RO3bn estimated in 2018’s budget.

The lower deficit was a result of higher-thanexpected revenues during the year, which came in at around RO10.9bn against the RO9.5bn estimated in last year’s budget.

Oman’s annual budget deficit has fallen over the past four years as a result of government moves to mitigate the impact of a sharp drop in oil prices.

The Sultanate’s total expenditure dropped from RO15.2bn in 2014 to about RO13.6bn in 2018, while non-oil revenues increased from RO2.2bn in 2014 to RO2.4bn in 2018.

Global ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service says Oman’s budget deficit is expected to remain at around nine per cent of the country’s GDP in 2019.

RUN FOR A CURE

GALLERY

THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSCAT RECENTLY HOSTED ITS 12TH TERRY FOX RUN FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF OMAN LEUKEMIA

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

011

YOUR

OMAN

INDIVIDUALS BANNED FROM DEPLOYING DRONES

O

nly companies will be allowed to operate unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, in the Sultanate, the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) has

confirmed.

According to a statement by the PACA, companies can approach the regulator for a permit.

The statement said: “Those companies should get a ‘no objection’ certificate from competent authorities prior to submitting an application before PACA. “A permit is required for all drone flights in Oman, and it will be granted only to companies for commercial purposes.”

The other authorities involved in granting of permission include the Royal Oman Police (ROP), Royal Oman Airforce (RAFO) and National Survey Authority (NSA).

According to Article 144 of Oman’s new Penal Code, flying drones without necessary approvals and authorisation of the authorities is against the law.

SULTANATE SLOW IN DOWNLOAD SPEED LEAGUE

D

ownload speeds in Oman are the fourth-fastest in the GCC, a British report says.

It takes nearly three minutes to download a 5GB (HD) movie in Oman as of 2018, according to the Worldwide Broadband League report.

Oman’s time of 02.58.11 compared to 02.59.47 in Qatar, 02.46.49 in Saudi Arabia, 02.36.48 in the UAE, and 02.15.04 in Bahrain.

The longest time to download a similar-sized movie in Kuwait is 04.06.24. Yemen has the lowest speed globally with an average speed of just 0.31Mbps. In Yemen, it would take 36hrs 52mins and 20secs to download a 5GB movie, while in Singapore it takes only 00.11.18, followed by 00.14.50 in Sweden, and 00.15.31 in Denmark.

fastest Internet in the world are likely to be smaller and more developed.

The larger and less developed a nation is, the slower the Internet Europe has the world’s highest concentration is likely to be, the report said. of countries with the fastest Internet.

According to the report, the download/ upload speeds are important because millions of people are working from home or remotely instead of in traditional workplaces.

Sweden, where 60 per cent of homes and businesses enjoy up to 1,000 Mbps (1Gbps), has Europe’s fastest internet, with an average speed of 46Mbps.

Countries with the

OMAN TO HOST MAJOR

OIL AND GAS EVENT

012

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

O

man is to host the prestigious International Gas Union’s 16th International Gas Research Conference (IGRC 2020) in collaboration with Oman LNG and the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) next year.

The event draws senior level executives and technical gas experts from the global gas industry.

And it will be hosted in the Middle East for the first time.

IGRC is a triennial event organised by the International Gas Union (IGU), drawing more than 1,000 delegates from more than 40 countries.

IGRC 2020 will highlight the research, development, and innovation aspects of the ever-growing gas industry.

It should also raise the Sultanate’s profile as a destination for doing business.

EXPRESSIONS

GALLERY

FINALISTS SHOWCASE THEIR WORKS AT THE STAL GALLERY’S RECENT YOUNG EMERGING ARTIST’S PRIZE CEREMONY

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

013

YOUR

OMAN

AS THE AL MOUJ SATURDAY MARKET WINDS DOWN FOR ANOTHER SEASON, SAVIOUR PETER CAPTURES THE LIVELY BUSTLE OF THIS WELL-LOVED COMMUNITY EVENT

014

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

GALLERY

ROHM’S ‘OPERA - 400 YEARS OF PASSION’ EXHIBIT TAKES US ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE ART FORM’S GOLDEN AGE

FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

015

Castanet virtuosa Lucero Tena brings her unique talent to the Royal Opera House Muscat. A former flamenco dancer, Señora Tena has performed around the world with orchestras such as the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tena is credited with having made the castanet a solo instrument in orchestral music and demonstrates an incredible and mesmerizing ability, which is wonderful to watch and listen to. Curtain up, 7:00 p.m. For details and to book, contact the ROHM at (+968) 2440-3332 or online at www.rohmuscat.org.om.

Reconnect above the clouds with a 2-night stay with breakfast and dinner at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort’s mountain haven during the month of February until April. Enjoy an accommodation in a luxury villa inclusive of daily buffet breakfast and dinner for two served at the ONexquisite Al Maisan Restaurant. As part of GOING their stay, guests can savour an intimate Dining by Design Experience in the comfort of their private villa while enjoying the breathtaking canyon views. Guests who stay between now until April 30, 2019 can take advantage of 10 per cent off all spa treatments for an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate their body and mind with a truly delightful escape. For reservations call (+968) 2521-8000 or visit www.anantara.com.

FEB 21

WEEK

The 10th edition of the Tour of Oman officially wraps up on Thursday, February 21 after a six-leg journey that’s taken cyclists from Suhar, to Al Sifah, and Jabal Al Akdhar and Qurrayat. The final leg of the race will run from Al Mouj Muscat to the Muttrah Corniche – clocking in at around 135 kms. Expect some traffic delays and road closures along the route, and spectators who want to catch a glimpse of the action should be sure to stake out a spot early at Al Mouj and Muttrah. Last year’s event saw Kazakhstan’s Alexey Lutsenko hoist the first-place trophy on the winners’ podium – the question is, can he be bested again? For route info and more information on the 2019 Tour of Oman visit www.tour-of-oman.com.

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The Night of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang Cast: Jackie Chan, Elane Zhong, Ethan Juan

Upgrade

Fighting With My Family

Cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Steve Danielsen, Melanie Vellajo

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh Saraya Knight (Pugh) and her brother Jack (Jack Lowden) are two kids from a British wrestling family who dream of going into the family ‘business’.

When they get an offer to train with the WWE, they get to meet their idol, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (playing himself).

The trouble is only one of them is going to make the cut, and in a family

Then Came You Cast: Asa Butterfield, Maisie Williams, Nina Dobrev

as competitive as this one, there will be blood on the carpet never mind the ring. But there’s gold in this comedydrama based on the true life story of WWE star Paige Knight.

Saraya and her family make their living fighting in small-time wrestling leagues in England, but as the Mum (Lena Headey) puts it: “Some people find religion. I found wrestling.”

Funny, quirky and appealing.

Skye (Williams) is a feisty teenager suffering from a terminal disease.

When she runs into Calvin (Butterfield), a hypochondriac baggage handler at the airport, she ropes him to helping her tick off her ‘bucket’ list. Calvin soon learns what’s important in life while Skye finds a companion to help her make the most of what time she has left.

In the wrong hands, this could have been cheesier than a 1970s fondue party.

Happily, this has sterling performances from the leads, who both conjure up a quirky but heart-tugging chemistry – and Butterfield can play the geek-with-a-heart without getting on the audience’s nerves.

This uplifting film deftly handles a tricky subject while navigating the balancing act between comedy and drama.

It neither overdoes the pathos nor attempts to inject humour at inappropriate junctures.

See and enjoy.

Legendary demon hunter Pu Songling (Chan) has to track down any evil forces that threaten humankind, with some help from a rookie lawman and a band of friendly monsters.

When a group of teenaged village girls go missing, it’s up to Pu and hapless cop Fei (Austin Lin) to track them down, in an adventure taking them through a kaleidoscope of amazing backdrops.

Cue Chan’s inimitable brand of lethal moves, playful humour, and sheer charisma.

It’s all harmless fun, and the characters are quirky and charming enough to help carry the whole thing along.

But their efforts are stymied somewhat by a rather tardy sub-plot involving a female ghost and a human.

Still, Chan can do this kind of stuff in his sleep and it’s fairly undemanding stuff as a fantasy martial arts adventure comedy.

!

Set in a utopian future (or should that be dystopian?), Grey Trace (Marshall-Green) works with his hands and is a bit of a technophobe in a world of self-driving cars and fully smart homes.

But when he’s out in his automatic car with his wife Asha (Vellajo), it’s hacked, driven to the middle of nowhere and crashed, killing Asha and leaving Grey paralysed.

After being pulled from the wreckage by some sinister-looking men, he meets a suitably eccentric scientist called Eron (Harrison Gilbertson) who fits him with an implant called STEM that gives him back his movement.

Now Grey can track down the hackers that caused his wife’s death.

This may be a low-budget effort but it’s well done. And any movie that warns of the dangers of over-reliance on technology can’t be a bad thing.

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Which‘Fighting With My Family’ star makes an appearance as himself in the film?

LAST WEEK’S WINNER Alvita Hildegard

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How safe is your house? Despite stricter laws governing fire safety, incidents in Oman have risen by 7 per cent. Team Y investigates why lives are still at risk and what you can do to protect yourself and your family 018

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ragedy can strike anyone and at

any moment in time.

Photographs of 10 members of a family are hanging on a wall; all victims of what turned out to be the greatest tragedy the Sultanate witnessed in 2018.

A family of 12 ripped apart to just two members in a mere 30 minutes.

The cause of all this: the greatest house fire ever recorded in Oman.

Struck down by fumes caused by faulty wiring, the tragedy took the lives of those aged between one and 49 – thereby shaking up the tight-knit community that comprises the small hamlet of Khor al-Hamam, in the otherwise tranquil region of Saham.

News spread quickly and the emotions of residents filled social media spaces for days afterwards.

The tragedy soon took on the title, ‘The Disaster of Saham’, and more importantly, opened a floodgate of questions – primarily those involving fire and fire safety in the country.

And they were valid questions indeed, considering that Oman witnessed nearly 14 fire incidents every day in 2017 and a total of 4,748 cases over the course of that year.

Injuries and deaths correspond to those numbers with the latter touching around the 30s mark every year – all in a country that otherwise boasts of its well-connected fire and safety rescue and iron-clad regulations – and thus led to the public coming together to question where Oman is going wrong with respect to fire and safety.

It’s an answer our source – an engineer at the Royal Oman Police – who wishes to remain unnamed, attempts to clarify in an interview with Y. He says: “Oman falls into a part of land that receives more average sunlight than most other parts of the world.

So, the average temperatures are also quite high.

“This means that a lot of electrical equipment, wiring, motors, and even general elements in a home can be under a lot of stress from the heat. And that makes them (insulation on wires) prone to damage over time due to dryness and cracking, and eventually (in the case of electronics) they can catch fire.

“Electrical fires arising from faulty wires are one of the largest causes of fires in residential homes, followed by gas-related incidents, barbecues, and smoking cigarettes.

“The former, however, is one of the toughest to control as you cannot use water to put them out. Instead, you’d have to use a ‘Class C’ extinguisher to cut off the oxygen supply to the fire and eventually stop it.

“But, if you are to learn more about this, you will learn that Oman has very strict rules and regulations laid down by PACDA concerning the importing of housing equipment, wires, and even cars.

Nothing that fails to meet the basic standards of load and quality will be passed by the municipality when

they conduct their inspections.

“Where this breaks down is when a lot of companies import poor quality wires that are branded with trusted names – or in other words, fakes – and the contractors install them at homes for reducing the overall cost of a house.

“So, in the eyes of the law and the home owner, they look compliant. But, the municipality will generally conduct a thorough analysis of the equipment and then pass the certificate to begin electricity flow to the home.

“PACDA classifies residential complexes as a ‘light hazard’ for fires, so there will be a difference in the classification of equipment that must be used for construction.

“This difference will affect everything from the fire spread control – horizontal, vertical, and external spread; to emergency exits; and the most vital part of it all, firefighting and warning equipment.”

The official’s explanation stands true in the Saham tragedy, as even though the fire was pegged to faulty wiring, the ROP reported that the home lacked a fire alarm system – a required attachment in modern homes.

Moreover, the home in question was also known to be old, thus keeping it spared from modern fire safety equipment.

In a separate incident in Oman in November 2017, eight people were killed when a fire engulfed their home in Barka, of similar causes.

These led to widespread campaigns run by the government and the media on installing battery-operated alarm smoke detectors in 2018 – but the initial hype has since died.

The efforts may come across as a tad late and valiant in the eyes of those left distraught by the tragedy – but it’s one that may change the course of the future of fire safety of residential units in the nation.

It’s also one that several experts are now emphasising as vital, given the current statistics of reported fires in the Sultanate.

The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) recorded 4,748 fire incidents in 2017 as opposed to 4,157 from 2016 – a jump of nearly 7 per cent; a significant number even after the implementation of stricter laws and checks.

To understand the graveness of the situation at hand, we take a trip to Old Muscat – one of the most populated areas in the Sultanate – in search of any fire and safety violations.

Much to our surprise, however, our guide Mujeebul Khan*, a contractor based in Muscat, shows us how underequipped and dangerous homes older than 15 years can be if not fitted with modern fire safety solutions.

Over the course of our trip to 12 homes,

we stumble upon a staggering 41 violations of the fire code – much of which stems from the lack of smoke alarms and fire blankets, expired fire extinguishers, unmarked ‘EXIT’ boards or blocked doors in corridors, a safe housing for LPG gas cylinders, and in some cases, homes where smokers left cigarette buds on the floor or close to the gas stove.

When we ask Mujeebul about why this is the case in these homes, he answers: “If you carefully read the newspapers, you will see that at no point does the PACDA or ROP say that this equipment (smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.) is mandatory.

“In fact, I read one story where the word ‘urged’ was used.

“Would you jump into your car, drive to a fire safety equipment shop or the PACDA and spend hundreds of Riyals on fire extinguishers and smoke alarms?” he asks.

“Honestly, we place them in all our newly-constructed homes, but like we have seen now, there are several homes that

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don’t have them.”

Mujeebul makes a strong point. A 2kgs canister of powder fire extinguisher will set you back RO22, while a more versatile 5kgs Carbon Dioxide canister can cost anywhere between RO95 and 120.

These safety systems are mandatory in commercial buildings and industries – and PACDA, the official body for certifications – issues clearances.

“Taking up commercial contracts is one of the toughest prospects here in Oman but the laws and regulations surrounding fire safety is top-class.

“There’s a building code for every type of property and the PACDA will personally go inch-by-inch to check if the

materials comply with the control sheets and if all the work is done as per the industry-mandated standards.

Despite all the steps taken, though, even newer properties – both residential and commercial – have had their fair share of reported incidents that shed light on the every-growing worry of fire safety.

For instance, the nation began 2019 with fire spreading over a building in Seeb (thankfully, with no injuries), and subsequently this month, an eatery in the bustling mall in Al Mouj went up in flames, which left one injured.

To understand more about fire safety, we meet Mundhir al Zadjali, the founder and fire and safety inspector of Aftech Oman – a newly-established contracting company, which also specialises in safety planning.

He says: “Fire safety is a very important factor in Oman, and our current numbers are really low and doesn’t reflect on the excellent work that is being done by the PACDA, Muscat Municipality, and the ROP. “A reason for this is because there’s no initiative from people to set up fire safety systems and fire retardant systems in residential properties. So, when I’m approached by clients, I am told to reduce the costs as much as possible.

“This means that we cannot install the top safety equipment – and that can lead to a lot of

problems. Moreover, a lot of the people also don’t service or replace fire extinguishers.

“If you look at a canister, you can see a dial showing the pressure inside. It must be within the green for a safe operation – but a lot of people don’t know about that or choose to ignore it.

“As trained professionals who have been operating for nearly two years, we only receive about 20 to 30 per cent customers from residential properties requesting a service of a fire extinguisher.

“This mindset of choosing money over safety must change. It just must. There are people who live around you and you’re also putting them at risk.

“People like us; we’ve undergone years of training to know that an extinguisher and a fire retardant suit must be placed within 30 feet of cooking equipment, and how the seals around the connectors must be fastened properly, among several other protocols.

“So, seeing this attitude towards fire safety is upsetting. The government has set the basic regulations straight but now it’s up to us to take this forward and implement them from our side.”

Mundhir’s then elaborates on lapses in fire safety in Oman, extending it to everything from careless campers to scammers selling improper cars.

While these may seem like lesser concerns when lined up against the fact that 26 per cent of all

Get a home fire extinguisher.

They’re a must-have item, and a great way to either stop a fire before it gets out of hand or control it while you escape. But before you face a potential fire, read the directions. Because more important than just having a fire extinguisher is actually knowing how and when to use it! Most extinguishers in your average hardware store are rated Type A:B:C, which means they’re ok to use on just about any kind of fire. But read the directions on your extinguisher, know which type it is, and know how to use it.

KNOW HOW TO PUT OUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSE FIRES.

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Source: Farmers.com

Small electrical fires – Never use water! Switch off the power to whatever started the fire, and smother it with a clean, non-flammable blanket.

You can also use a Type C fire extinguisher.

Small cooking fires – If a grease fire starts in your kitchen, never try to put it out with water!

Calmly turn the heat off to the pan and try to cover it with a metal lid. If you can’t do that, smother the flames with baking soda (a lot of baking soda!) or use a Type A:B:C fire extinguisher.

Small gas fires – If your home uses gas, you should know how to put out a small gas fire. Immediately shut off the gas supply. You can smother the fire with a thick rug, put it out with cool water, or use a Type B extinguisher. (Again, Type A:B:C extinguishers will work too.)

fires are reported in residential properties and 51 per cent are linked to commercial properties; factors such as negligence, miscalculation and even general ignorance to the topic amount to the remaining 23 per cent of all fires reported in the country.

In fact, the numbers only become prominent when you learn that an overwhelming 2,411 vehicles caught fire in the past three years, according to a report published by the PACDA. Speaking to Y about the subject is veteran safety expert and post-incident analyst of a leading Asian automotive manufacturer, Simon Jones. He explains: “The numbers that are highlighted by PACDA are worrying. In truth, they’re very worrying.

“The numbers amount up to nearly two cars catching fire every day for the last three years. And if we are to sort those out by category, I can say that a lot of these cars have caught fire after a crash.

“That’s the norm – when we hear about a car fire, we immediately turn our attention to collisions. Cars do combust in specific scenarios where petrol is spilled or if there’s damage to certain sections of the body that expose the flammable liquids.

“But then there’s the more worrying prospect: imports coming in from the USA. What people don’t understand is that these cars aren’t designed to operate in hot GCC conditions.

“Cars here have specifically-designed glues, variable engine compression ratios, and many more aspects that keep them from damaging. But, American cars don’t need that extra reinforcement.

“So, what you’re essentially doing is taking a chance and hoping that your new import won’t combust owing to the searing summer heat.

“I wouldn’t go as far as scaring the people from buying American-market cars – but one needs to be aware of the risks involved,” he adds, before emphasising on how even normal cars require periodic maintenance to avoid the chance of a fire and a proper rest between long drives to help keep the engine temperature to an optimum level.

Also among Mundhir’s list of leading causes of injuries from fires are camp and leisure-related fires that arise from improper discarding of firewood or close proximity to fabric tents.

No statistics of fires in wadis or campsites have been reported in the past five years but Mundhir is adamant and believes that several cases go unnoticed.

He says: “When people talk about camp fires, their mind immediately goes to fires in labour camps – which are also a great concern. But, because a lot of people travel for excursions outside the country, there’s a great chance for fires in these remote areas.

“Thankfully, Oman’s barren habitat doesn’t consist of enough arid or dry plants to begin a calamity but it can still affect localised spots. During my outings, I’ve come across several areas that are left charred after a fire.

“This is most likely from campers who probably left the firewood burning close to their tents or plants. This can quickly spread if you’re not careful, and worse still, it can take your life.

“What was intended to become a leisure trip would turn into a nightmarish experience. You can avoid all this by simply setting up fire a metre away from your tent and even farther if there’s wind taking fumes and flames to the tent.

During summer, it’s also best to keep firewood away from tents and flammables in storage compartments.

The ROP official also confirms the lack of reporting of camping-related fires, and tells: “This must be one of the most underreported cases of fires. People simply abandon their tents and run if needed.

“Thankfully, no one has been known to pass away from fumes or fire in campsites yet, but there’s always a likelihood of trouble in places such as those that don’t have regulations.

“It isn’t even necessary to carry extinguishers in a camp – and that must change. People must carry fire retardants with them always. And if you find yourself

struggling to put a fire out, always resort to the fire extinguisher in your car.”

He then goes on to tell us how much of the minor fires in Oman are caused due to negligence.

“Times are changing and we must adapt to them. PACDA and ROP, along with the municipality are considering some great changes to the regulations and we’ll need to evaluate the importance of setting mandates on having firefighting equipment and other safety kits in the house for immediate response.

But he then adds: “Fire safety is not just the concern of the ROP or the fire departments. It should be your concern. You will be the first respondent to such a scenario and it’s how you respond to it that can mean the difference between life and death.

“And if Allah is giving you an opportunity to fix something before it happens, I would suggest you take it up and implement it for yourself and those around you.

“I believe in the saying, ‘Prevention is better than cure’, and if that message can save the life of one soul in Oman, I would consider it a job well done. For all other assistance, we’re available at ‘9999’.

“Life is a one-time gift from above. Don’t let it slip away from you.” ■

HOW TO RESPOND IF THERE IS A FIRE IN YOUR HOME?

If there is a fire, leave your home, stay outside and call 9-9-9-9 for help.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A FIRE: ● Remember to stop, drop and roll if your clothes are on fire. ● Crawl low under smoke. This makes it easier to breathe. ● If you are able, close the doors of your home to contain the fire. ● Do not use elevators to escape, use stairs instead. ● Test door handles and feel the door with the back of your hand before entering another room. If they are hot there may be a fire on the other side. ● Signal to people outside for help if you are not able to leave your home. If you are in a high-rise building, hang a sheet out your window or from your balcony to show emergency personnel where you are.

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RENAISSANCE

WOMAN T

In this week’s Coffee With Y, Hassan Al Lawati talks to Maria Sarfarez Ahmed, the first Omani woman to be honoured at the prestigious MENAA business awards, and learns a little about her strategy for success

he legendary British businessman Sir John Harvey-Jones once remarked that management was never a matter of ‘pulling levers’.

And in his role as a celebrated troubleshooter for companies, the sharp-suited guru conveyed his belief in the value of treating staff well.

It’s a philosophy that the HR professional Maria Sarfarez Ahmed can well relate to, and one that has enabled her to become the first Omani female to win a prestigious MENAA business award. Maria is the Country HR Manager at BRF, one of the world’s largest food processing and distribution companies.

And the welfare, guidance and nurturing of staff is one of her priorities.

However, Maria concedes: “In offices, we deal with all sorts of people and you can’t please everyone, all of the time.”

Ever-shifting work trends remain a challenge to many HR professionals who need to be innovative to keep employees happy in their jobs, says Maria.

Twelve years ago, Maria pioneered the concept of Employee Engagement in the bank she used to work in.

She says: “We were the first Employee Engagement department in Oman.

“Our main outcome was to retain employee welfare and keep them emotionally attached to the place they work in through providing them with exclusive services like discounts and family activities that include arts and crafts, movie

nights and team-building games that teach the power of positive thinking.”

Her background includes more than 11 years’ experience in HR in a variety of industries including the banking sector, and oil and gas.

Thanks to her hard work, innovation and life motto “Skills can be acquired, but attitude cannot”, Maria was recently recognised at the MENAA awards 2018, which was held in the Burj Al Arab, Dubai, in December.

She won the “Customer Delight Award” along with the “Best Business Leaders Award”.

Out of 200 nominees, 40 winners were selected across the MENAA region, based on their excellence in their field.

Maria believes HR has now evolved from a formerly mostly administrative role to a key part of any major business operation.

But everyone knows that staff morale is a key component in a company’s success.

And how management tackles that is a litmus test of both its effectiveness and future strategy.

How do we boost morale in the office? And how do we measure it?

According to Maria, we can’t measure loyalty, but she has come across a reduction in sickleave in some of her most recent positions.

“One way of measuring an employee’s satisfaction is the number of hours they actually spend in the office compared to the number of times they

Maria’s Top 5 tips for HR professionals are: ● Be innovative! Try new things. A lot of people find it difficult in HR because they go by the book. You need to invent your own wheel! ● Don’t stay in one place. Specialising is good but try to generalise your HR experience by working in all HR fields. ● Be more accepting. I worked in a company where the HR door was locked.

That is not ideal. ● Flexibility. HR professionals need to be flexible and allowed to make changes. Many corporates have a very controlling policy procedure.

To change people’s mindset, we need to change that. ● At SMEs, you can do more. Even with fewer resources, SMEs are more accepting of change. It also costs less to engage with a smaller number of employees.

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check out,” she says.

Maria says that the type of excuses offered for absences provide some indication of a person’s morale.

“A headache is not a sickness that prevents people from coming to the office. There are reasons why people suffer from a ‘headache’ and we need to understand that.”

So why do many companies in Oman not follow her example and set up employee-engagement initiatives?

“They do not believe in it. Any change is top to down. If the management does not see value in investing in HR, then there will be no progress.

“We need to change the culture here and try to test it is. It is okay to fail but at least we should try.”

Despite her success, Maria considers cultural factors to be the main challenge to her career.

“It takes people more time to accept others, and new changes.” ■

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soothing spectacle will be played out next month in several hamlets around Jabal Al Akdhar, in the Al Hajar mountains.

From dawn onwards, farmers will be seen hulking baskets of roses for harvesting and rose water extraction.

And here you can witness the practice at firsthand, for which the farmers still deploy some centuries-old techniques.

Between late March and the start of May, one stretch of undulating landscape of Oman’s green mountain is laced with the roses, which provide a feast for the senses.

The landscape is a spectrum of colour, and cliffs laden with roses add to the palette of shades resplendent in around 90 rose orchards. .

Oman’s rose basket The place can rightfully be called the GCC’s ‘Sultanate of fruits’ with a range of luscious fruits like dates, pomegranates, olives, walnuts, pista, almonds, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, figs, grapes, lemons and wild berries grown in different seasons.

But what delights the senses here is the rose season. The cultivation of the Damask rose (Rosa x Damascena trigintipetala), fondly called ‘mountain rose’ is processed into rose water. The roses here are almost similar to the famous Bulgarian ‘kazanlik’ variety. Little wonder then the region is home to 7,000 rose trees scattered in around 90 farms.

Roseate splendors Every year, the delicate pink flowers transform the rural environments in villages like Al Ain, A’Sharija, Al-Fiqaine, Wadi bani Habib, Seeq and Al Qasha in Jabal Al Akhdar into perfumed, roseate splendours.

Throughout the seven-week period rose-pickers wake up just before dawn to pluck the blossoms from the stems and collect them into baskets. The baskets are then brought to a home unit, usually a cliffside settlement, which is equipped with traditional ovens and other rustic equipment to make rose water.

The highland haven of Jabal Al Akhdar is a horticultural delight.

From March to May, roses are harvested and distilled to make delectable rose water, as Aftab H. Kola finds out

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Jabal Al Akhdar’s rose water has won acclaim from all over the GCC as Arabs from the region converge on the mountain villages to buy crates of bottled rosewater. It is a relatively moderately-priced product sold for medicinal, culinary and celebratory purposes.

Traditional rose water distillation Here, farmers still practise the craft of two-step distillation as it was done in bygone eras. The rose petals brought to extraction units are scattered on a mat or cotton cloth to keep them fresh and then poured over the traditional mud ovens, locally called as Al-duhjan.

They are then distilled. After distillation, the petals are allowed to simmer gently for about four hours in a vessel called ‘Al-burmah’, which is covered by another vessel made of copper. As it boils, water flows from the petals into the copper vessel. The old petals are then replaced with fresh petals using a traditional tool. After boiling, the rose water is poured into a large pot known as ‘Al-karas’, where it remains there for at least 30 days. Then, the rose water is ready to use and is bottled and either sold at the place of production or taken for sale. All the roses harvested on that day are processed within the same day. Lots of foreigners buy the bottled rose water from these home units. Each rose bush yields about 15-20kg of petals during the season, while it takes about 2kg of petals to generate 750ml of essence, valued anywhere between RO5 and RO8.

Tradition maintains that rose water is beneficial for the heart and gut. Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps soothe skin irritation and skin conditions. The use of rose water makes one’s skin feel refreshed and nourished instantly. It also finds a place in the preparation of traditional cosmetics.

The black eye-liner called kohl that is used as a sort of medicinal eye shadow, is sometimes mixed into a paste by liberal drops of rose water, which is believed to help impaired vision and counter eye infections.

Hand-held rose-water sprinklers, traditionally crafted with slender straight necks and bulbous bottoms, have a time-honoured role in festivities. To welcome and mark the end of a wedding banquet, rose water is sprinkled on the hands and faces of guests. In the home, an exquisite, rich-looking rose-water sprinkler is a symbol of hospitality.

Nuggets of history Arabs, whose passion for anything fragrant is legendary, have distilled roses and other flowers for making rose water as early as the ninth century.

So, the time has come to engage the senses with Jabal Al Akhdar’s roses and bring home a few bottles of rose water prepared in a traditional way. ■

Rose water production has great potential Rose cultivation and distillation have great potential and can yield revenue. The government, on its part, is also engaged in promoting the manufacture of rose water. It has, under the aegis of the Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI), established a modern distillation plant in Shujeirah in Jabal Al Akhdar. However, tourists still prefer rose water distilled the traditional way.

The authorities believe that improving the incomes of Jabal Al Akhdar farmers will contribute to national efforts to boost the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP. This is in line with the Oman 2020 vision in which the agricultural and fisheries sector is expected to contribute 3.1 per cent to the GDP. For that rosy flavor Its primary use is meant for culinary, medicinal and celebratory purposes. A must in every kitchen in Oman, rose water is used in many meals and for making Omani halwa. During Ramadan, the use of rose water is common. It is often employed as a flavouring agent in sweets, custards, jellies, pastries and in other desserts like sheerkhorma, kunafa and loqaimat etc. Rose water is a great way to refine the everyday glass of tea.

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Presents In association with

’ Y ‘ r u o s a y a D s i n e’ t n e l a V n o s r e i l a p u e o h t c n d i e t s o a v w e d Enduring love s contest played out, and still works te y a n o m l m u i r o t S a e m r f A o e ic W g a m e h t y h w d demonstrate

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f love is a promise and a souvenir to cherish then marriage is its ultimate form of expression.

United by matrimony in a story scripted and honed by their ever-growing love for each other, eight couples arrive in high hopes to prove their love for one another to the judges at the ‘Y’ We Are Soulmates competition on the evening of Valentine’s Day. Love is undoubtedly in the air as couples arrive holding hands and draped in red – all finalists whittled down after a rigorous round of selection that required them to tell us about their soulmates.

The venue – the ballroom at the Centara Muscat Hotel – is also laid out in red with alluring Thai music masking the backdrop ever so slightly with its enchanting melodies to match the theme of the night: love.

But as opposed to keeping them united, the emcee of the night, Merge 104.8’s Chris Fisher, proceeds to split them apart from each other.

It’s a process that baffles the contestants; from a couple of 31 years Sunil and Vineetha Seth, to the newlyweds Rajesh and Swapna who are celebrating their first ever Valentine’s Day together with Y Magazine.

The first couple, however, steals the show with an adorable love story that charms everyone from the sponsors Mitsubishi Motors and Centara Muscat Hotel to the crowd of families present.

Much like the others, they too are vying for a share of the prizes from the prize pool of RO750 with winners and first- and second-runner-ups

taking home gifts worth RO350, RO250, and RO150, respectively.

Thirty-one years in marriage and still in a love story that dates back to the 1980s, the Seths don red tees embroidered with the words: ‘My Valentine’ and their corresponding names in attire that would teach even modern-day romantic Bollywood flicks a lesson.

He says: “It’s hard to say that love at first sight works, and that wasn’t the case for us, either. We knew each other for a very long time as friends but eventually we were set up for marriage by our families in a prearranged manner.

“Love bloomed and we’ve been together ever since,” his wife butts in to say, as they delight the audience with their story.

And following a quick introduction of all the couples, the game begins.

The premise of the contest is simple: a total of 10 questions are asked and couples must match each other’s answers.

The questions – all crafted by the judges and Chris Fisher – cover everything from personality traits, to home politics, and even quirky stumpers that bring a dash of humour to proceedings.

These include brain-teasers such as: three items the husband would grab in the event of them being stranded on a remote island, who their favourite family member is, and the most romantic gesture they’ve had from their spouse’s side.

Much like the underpinnings of a successful marriage, there’s no scope for deceit. So, the contestants are barred from using their mobile phones and eye contact is frowned upon as well – you know – if such a thing as telepathy exists.

Twenty minutes is all it takes for the couples to present all the answers. And then it is time to have them on stage – one couple at a time.

Setting the ball rolling are contestants Ian and Roneth Estanislao, who are brought to the stage to present their answers, followed by the rest.

These are then compared and the scores are tallied amid much amusement that then set the tone for the Valentine’s Day evening, leaving several members of audience on the floor (quite literally) in tears of laughter.

Also, Vani, the two-year-old daughter of contestants Dhaval and Urvashi takes the centre stage with Chris, to whom the mother says: “This is the first time we’ve enjoyed ourselves at a competition.

“Even though it is fierce and everyone wants to win this, there’s so much more we take home from it; the comedy, the atmosphere, and the friendliness of everyone here. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day for us,” she adds.

Soon, however, the excitement is pushed to the edge and tension pervades the room as the judges present the final scores to Chris.

Much to our surprise, there’s a tie for the second and third round between returning couples Rajesh and Swapna, and Manish and Nirmala.

Two tough high-stakes tie-breaker rounds later, it’s Rajesh and Swapna that emerge victorious, and only second to the winners of this year’s Y We Are Soulmates: Sunil and Vineetha.

There’s a secret to their win, though: ‘understanding and willingness to learn more about each other’.

Sunil, a top official with a leading car dealership says that despite his busy schedule, he finds time to learn about his wife’s day and vice versa. “After a long

day, it’s always nice to know that you have someone you love with you as you go to sleep.

“Therefore, we try to go for dates every week even after all these years. Love is embedded in us and even though a marriage is about making things work and understanding, its core is in the affection and love that we share for each other,” the parents of two tell us.

It’s a value echoed by couples Manish and Nirmala, and Rajesh and Swapna – all of whom have been together for more than a decade.

In an earlier interview with Y, Anthony E. Wright, the General Manager of Centara Muscat Hotel shared his message on love: “The world is constantly evolving and perhaps it’s a cliché to say that the only permanent thing in the world is change.

“Being a valued partner and sponsor for this event pulls us back to why we’re all doing what we are doing, and it’s for our loved ones.

“We all have our own soulmates, the loves of our lives, and partners in crime – and so slowing down from our very busy schedule to recognise them in such a fun and endearing event is quite appropriate, to say the least.

“Participating in events such as ‘Y’ We Are Soulmates is pretty much related to that recognition that your spouse or partner deserves. It’s all rooted back to the family, one cannot express outwards if it doesn’t exist in your core.” ■

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

Dermatology Clinic • Audi Showroom • Bentley Showroom • Costa Coffee • Al Fair • Jaguar Showroom • Jeep Showroom • Al Maha Petrol

Station • Mazda Showroom • McDonald’s • Mitsubishi Showroom • Oman Arab Bank • Oman Oil Petrol

Station • Peugeot Showroom • Range Rover Showroom • Sayarti Auto Care • Shell Select • Skoda Showroom • The Sultan Center • Volkswagen Showroom • Volvo Showroom • Yamaha Showroom Bawshar • College of Banking

and Financial Studies • Dolphin Village • Modern College

of Business and Science • Muscat College • Muscat Private Hospital

(Emergency and

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

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

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

Al Falaj/Rex Road • Al Falaj Hotel • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Golden Oryx Restaurant • Kamat Restaurant • Toshiba Showroom Ghala • National Mineral Water Ghubra • 1947 Restaurant • Al Hayat

International Hospital • Al Maya Hypermarket • Bank of Beirut • Costa Coffee • Crêpe Café • GMC Showroom • LuLu Hypermarket • Moka & More • Oman Oil Petrol

Station • Park Inn • Porsche Showroom • Al Raffah Hospital • Stationery Hut • The Chedi Muscat Al Hail • Burger King • Caledonian College

of Engineering • Markaz Al Bahja Mall • McDonald’s • Omantel • Starcare Hospital Al Khoudh • Al Fair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Pizza Hut Al Khuwair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Bait Al Reem Mall • Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint

(Splash) • Diplomatic Club • Grand Hyatt Muscat • Harley-Davidson Showroom • HSBC • KFC • SPAR • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading

• Landmark Group • McDonald’s • Muscat Bakery • Oman Bowling Center • Oman Oil Petrol

Station • Oman United Insurance • Omran • Pizza Hut • Radisson Blu • Shell Petrol Station • TGI Friday’s • The Great Kabab Factory • The Tikka Place • Zahara Travel • Zakher Mall Mabela • Gulf College Oman Mawalah • Chili’s Restaurant • Costa Coffee • Al Makan Café • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint

(Splash) • SPAR • NBO • Oman Oil Petrol

Station • Pizza Hut • Pizza Muscat • Shell Petrol Station MGM • Caribou Coffee • Gloria Jean’s

Coffees • Just Falafel • Ooredoo • Paul • Tim Hortons Al Mina • Bait Al Baranda • Bait Al Zubair MSQ • Al Fair • Arab Open University • British Council • Costa Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • Hana’s Slimming &

Skincare Centre • Kargeen Caffe • KFC • MacKenzies Café

& Deli • Mood Café • Oman Oil Petrol

Station • Papa John’s Pizza

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

Country Club Muscat International Airport • Caribou Coffee • Majan Lounge • Plaza Premium Lounge Mussanah • Millennium Resort Muttrah • Shell Petrol Station Qantab • Al Bustan Palace • Marina Bandar Al Rowdha • Oman Dive Center • Shangri-La Qurum • Al Araimi Complex • Balance Health & Fitness • Bank Nizwa • BMW showroom • Burger King • Chili’s Restaurant • Crowne Plaza • Finland Eye Center • Fun Zone • Gloria Jean’s

Coffees • The Jungle Restaurant • Left Bank • McDonald’s • Mercedes-Benz Showroom • Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant • Nandos • Nissan Showroom • Oman Oil Petrol

Station • Pizza Hut • Qurum Commercial Complex • Ras Al Hamra Club • SABCO Centre • Second Cup • Starbucks • The Sultan Center • Tche Tche Café Rusayl • 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 AND ADVENTURES THE LAND OF FRANKINCENSE

In the footsteps of tradition,Salalah guide Aziz collects the tree’s fragrant gold resin

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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

Y- F i

Outdoors

Destination

SALALAH

IN OMAN’S SOUTHERN DHOFAR GOVERNORATE, ASHLEE STARRATT DISCOVERS A REGION WHOSE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT TO REBUILD AFTER 2018’S DEVASTATING CYCLONE MEKUNU WILL LET NOTHING MAR ITS RUGGED BEAUTY

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Cars

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Known as the ‘Land of Frankincense’, the iconic trees dot the landscape with their gnarled branches, releasing their fragrant resin when harvested by peeling back their bark.

For cultural history enthusiasts, a trip to the Al Baleed Archaeological Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the adjacent Land of Frankincense Museum is a must. At the water’s edge, where the sea meets a lagoon replete with all manner of birdlife, sit the remains of a 2,500-year-old village in an area that was once the centre of the frankincense trade where visitors can walk through along a guided path.

The museum is housed in a fort-like structure with each wing off its central courtyard opening onto a different gallery that highlights Oman’s history and cultural heritage, along with its maritime legacy across the centuries.

Heading back in towards central Salalah, stop at one of the many roadside fruit stands offering up a bounty of local coconuts, bananas, and starfruit. It’s not uncommon to see herds of seemingly wild camels roaming the roads and landscape – a sight which is perhaps one of the most striking visual associations of Salalah. But look closely, and you’ll see there’s always a local herder nearby, guiding the direction of the caravan.

As we head up into the nearby mountain foothills, stunning views unfold. Salalah is a region book-ended by mountains on one side and the sea on the other and from this vantage point it’s a sight to behold. We’re

here at the top to visit one of its most significant religious sites, of importance to both Muslim and Christian faiths – the tomb of the Prophet Job. We join in at the back of a line of European congregants and remove our shoes and cover our heads, taking a moment of silent contemplation in the doorway of the small stone hut that houses the tomb – which has been overlaid with a protective layer of prayer cloths.

Here two faiths come together in joint worship and the solemnity of that beauty isn’t lost on us.

As we make our way back down the camelclogged road onto flat land once again, we visit a wadi along the way with the most crystal-clear waters we’ve ever seen and stop just outside a frankincense plantation to watch as our Omani guide deftly peels back the bark to unveil the golden pearls of resin, the fragrance of which has been coveted throughout the centuries.

Our last stop is Al Mughsail Beach – the most hard-hit area of Salalah in the wake of Cyclone Mekunu. And while the bridge link with Sarfait may still be shattered, there’s still beauty to be found – you just have to take the long way ‘round.

As we reach the beachside cliffs with their famous blowholes, the parking lot is filled with the cars of weekend day-trippers, and families are spreading their picnic blankets to take their lunch with a view. It’s a heartening sight.

After taking in the sea breeze and scanning the jade-green waters of a nearby cove for any wayward sea turtles, we head back the way we came. Passing the remains of the bridge once again, we notice a heron perched on one of the concrete pilings in the middle of the gulf, as if to remind us that life hasn’t just returned after calamity – it never left.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

Photography by Saviour Peter

tanding on the Sarfait side of the bridge that once connected the main coastal road from Salalah to Al Mughsail Beach, the cerulean waters crash and foam between the gulf that now divides them.

Nine months since Cyclone Mekunu brought a tide of destruction to Salalah, and the bridge still remains broken – a final reminder of what was lost in the strongest storm to hit the Dhofar Governorate since 1959.

Yet, what could be battered but never broken was the will to rebuild, from a people as hardy as the land from which they came.

And, returning back to Salalah for the first time since Mekunu made landfall, it’s clear that the area is once again coming back to life.

While the sands and coastal embankments along the road to Al Mughsail Beach may still be upturned, the five-star resorts that front along the palm tree-lined shoreline of this ‘Little Kerala’, have repaired and re-opened and are once again filled with tourists.

During our weekend escape we encounter visitors to Salalah from Germany and Italy in droves, eager to escape Europe’s winter winds.

From the Salalah International Airport it’s just a short 20-minute drive towards the water’s edge, where the Sultanate’s iconic date palms make way for tall, towering coconut trees that set Salalah apart from its neighbouring Governorates.

In addition to its natural beauty – come during monsoon khareef season from July to September and find a land carpeted in verdant green – Salalah is steeped in history.

Both Oman Air and SalamAir operate daily flights to Salalah International Airport – but, if you want to make a weekend road-trip out of it, it’s about a ten-hour drive from Muscat.

Connect onto Route 15 from Muscat International Airport and continue on, connecting onto Route 31 and make the day-long drive until you reach Thumrait. From there, follow the signs and take the exit for Salalah.

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

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L I N C O L N M KC

Team Y finds a SUV that offers affordable luxury and a highly commendable performance

lotting into a range of cars that currently defines the ‘premium’ compact SUV segment, the Lincoln MKC is more than just an alternative to a sedan with a pretty SUV frock for the average joe.

In fact, this may very well be one of the most overlooked and underrated vehicles we’ve stumbled on in a long, long time.

The obvious luxury nametag aside, there’s quite a lot going for the MKC as a value package as opposed to, say, a similarly sized vehicle from Japan and Germany.

The key, then, is to look for these little traits that knit together to craft one of the best American premium vehicles for those on a decent budget.

Looks count for a great part of this too: take, for instance, the hawk-eyed Xenon headlamps and the swooping LED lamps that form the basis of that

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signature Lincoln look. Dare we say, the design language, with those lights and the gaudy but still tasteful grille is rather adventurous and busy.

Meanwhile, the side profile manages to remain quite neat, with only a bold character line emerging from the headlamps and splitting the length of the SUV. Probably taking the throne of the most fetching posterior in the SUV game, the MKC comes packing an LED light bar that runs across the length of the tailgate – it even lifts along with the boot lid.

Then there are the dual exhausts and the prominent badging that clearly showcase how what you’re driving is an all-wheel drive SUV with its ‘AWD’ badging and a few others to help distinguish the SUV you’re driving.

Jumping into the interior opens a whole new world to anyone new to the premium SUV game – and let’s face it: Lincoln is a master at this. Sure, space in the rear may be lacking when stacked up against a few others but there’s plenty of leg and head room to seat five in absolute comfort.

There’s also a decent-sized boot thrown in for good measure; a 713 litre-one, which is almost 20 per cent larger than that of its direct competition – the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. We particularly enjoyed its ergonomics, and made a beeline for it by making camp in it.

Much of all else is a tad subtle except for the added sprinkling of technology, at the forefront of which is the large 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC3 UI and the highly-customisable semi-digital instrument cluster. It’s a breeze to master both and is easily the most user-friendly ones we’ve tried out this year.

Response time to the former is up there with

the best, and aside from the occasional stutter, it performs rather well. It even earns points for its sharp viewing angles and easy-to- read fonts.

In true Lincoln fashion, there’s a plethora of leather and soft-touch surfaces cladding up the interior.

Plush leather and excellent lumbar on the seats, coupled with a virtually noise-free cabin, make this quite the vehicle for road trips, too.

It’s clear that they’ve plastered the car in sound deadening materials to dial down any interference from outside. It isn’t as sophisticated in its attire as, say, the much pricier Navigator – but it still holds its own very well.

The steering is thick-rimmed, and again, leather-clad; and comes with chunky buttons to control everything from your audio to the distance

D e s t i n at i o n

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

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS

LINCOLN MKC Specifications: • Engine: 2.0-litre ‘turbocharged’ in-line four-cylinder • Transmission: Six-speed automatic • Power: 240hp • Torque: 366Nms • Top Speed: 190kph All-wheel drive 8-inch touchscreen w/ SYNC3 Radar-guided cruise control Active Park Assist Lane-Keeping Assist Electric power steering 19-inch alloy wheels Panoramic sunroof MyKey technology Xenon headlamps Collision mitigation system Navigation system Enhanced THX II-certified audio system

you want to maintain between cars on the highway while using the radar-guided cruise control setup.

Maybe because it falls in the line of standing as an everyday-use SUV, but we also particularly loved the placement of all the interior feature controls on the dashboard. Yet again, everything is labelled neatly and well within the reach of your hand… even when driving.

Other perks include a night-time mood lighting with six different colour options, a large pano-roof, THX II-certified audio system (which we couldn’t test due to the lack of volume on the restricted MyKey), heated and ventilated seats, and best of all; pre-collision warning and a slew of other safety systems.

Power is

sourced from a frugal 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder potbanger pumping out 240 horses and 366Nms of torque.

It’s powerful enough to haul the 1.7 tonne SUV from nought to 100kph in about 7.2 seconds (without additional passengers).

It’s a stressed turbo engine that revs higher than it should, especially when carrying a full load – but it always manages to return excellent fuel efficiency.

The accompanying six-speed torque-converter ‘automatic’ is relaxed to help only sip fuel, and you’re required to unsettle the throttle for a kick-down. Still, given the low-end torque that spools up just a shy over 3,000rpm, there’s very little need to floor the pedals at any given moment.

Grip from the 245/45 rubber is linear for most parts, with understeer crouching beneath the surface only to reveal itself ever-soslightly when the all-wheel drivetrain can’t keep up with the burst of torque through a sharp corner.

But, it’s a highly unlikely scenario, and moreover, a brief hint of body roll is invoked when you corner past speeds of 60kph.

The latter is still among the best in its class even if it isn’t built to demolish corners like a purpose-built SUV.

THE MKC IS DEFINITELY AMERICA’S BEST ANSWER TO THE EUROPEANS AND THE ASIANS, WHO HAVE MASTERED THE CRAFT OF BUILDING PREMIUM COMPACT SUVS. IN SHORT, IT’S A JOB WELL DONE In line with cars of today, the electric steering system is light and responsive, and the brakes have a sharp and linear poke to them like a well-built German sedan would have. They’re also wellweighted and precise, making it easy to judge braking.

The ride is smooth and undulations rarely make their way into the cabin, courtesy of the high-profile tyres and the sublime suspension system.

All things considered, the Lincoln MKC presents itself as a value-formoney proposition without removing the bells and whistles that makes this a strong contender in the ever-growing premium SUV segment.

The MKC is definitely America’s best answer to the Europeans and the Asians, who have mastered the craft of building premium compact SUVs. In short, it’s a job well done.

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CARS ADVENTURES

BLISSFUL BAKU Azerbaijan’s coastal capital is a vibrant blend of old and new.

1. Stroll along the Baku Boulevard and take a breather in the Venetian waterpark.

2. Ogle the art treasures in the Zaha Hadiddesigned Heydar Aliyev Center Museum.

3. Celebrate traditional music at the International Mugham Centre.

4. Visit the Carpet Museum to appreciate the intricacies of the ancient art.

5.Wander down Martyr’s Lane, a park area commemorating independence.

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Destination

Cars

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G a m i n g POSTCARDS FROM

Patrick McConnachie recommends

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

W

hat a difference a few years make. It wasn’t so long ago that any country ending in — an’ was considered an off-the-wall holiday choice, even if the BBC’s favourite traveller Michael Palin had happily included it in one of his many wonderful series.

‘You’re going where??’ was a common refrain among friends, many of whom probably would be hard-pushed to place a drawing pin on a map anywhere near it.

Everyone talks about Turkey’s status as a ‘bridge’ between Europe and Asia, but Azerbaijan (a former Soviet state) is an oil-rich nation that straddles Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Baku is a coastal city, lying on the Caspian Sea, and has a population of 2.2 million. It’s a gleaming, modern metropolis giddy with oil wealth while offering some of the world’s most fascinating and enchanting historical treasures.

Its hosting of the (albeit unwatchable) Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 didn’t do its profile any harm, either, and superstars like Rihanna have played its striking Crystal Hall.

The new wealth has endowed this very safe city with a plethora of eateries to satiate the discerning diner. You can sample fare from Georgia, Iran, and Turkey such as lamb saj (a sumptuous lamb and veg stew), fisinjan (meat in a dark sauce made with plums, molasses, and sugar), all with the ubiquitous (and delicious) flatbread. And let’s not forget the Beluga caviar.

Tourists have yet to come in droves, and that’s no bad thing. But that may change, as this is a city that’s making inroads onto the world stage, and in great style, too.

THE HE YD C E N T E A R A L IY E V R MUS EUM

E N T OW E R T H E M A ID

My favourite place The walled Old City is Baku’s must-do. It’s a historical treasure trove of ancient palaces, hammams, and mosques, and has unsurprisingly been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The highlights have to be Shiranvah’s Palace, a 15th century architectural marvel, and the Maiden Tower, a 12th century monument that also houses a fascinating museum. Bukhara Caravaserai is also worth a visit. Now a hotel and restaurant, it was an historic inn and an important stop for travellers on the ancient Silk Route. In the centre of the courtyard stands the fountain from which merchants’ camels would have drunk. Now it’s a refreshing stop for human guests.

Highlights The Flame Towers. Azerbaijan’s nickname is the ‘Land of Fires’ so these three flame-shaped towers that dominate the skyline are as much of a landmark to the city as the Burj Al Arab is to Dubai. At night, the towers are licked by flamelike LED displays that are simply stunning to see.

Lowlights Air quality is not the greatest here.

Souvenirs There are people with deep pockets here, judging by the number of top designer outlets and garages selling luxury cars. Fortunately, numerous shops and markets abound. If buying for a lady you might consider a kelaygayi, an Azerbaijani headdress that comes in the form of a silk scarf with a very stylish design. Hand-made chess and backgammon sets are popular gifts too. Failing that, buy some stained-glass souvenirs emblazoned with the Maiden Tower or, aptly, an oil rig.

Getting there The main GCC-based airlines operate flights from Muscat to Baku, via Dubai, Doha, or Bahrain.

Where to stay All the world’s leading hotel chains have a presence here so check out the usual suspects on

WATER FRONT BAKU

BOULEV ARD

Booking.com, Trivago, Expedia, Kayak, and Hotels.com.

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-FI

THE TECH IN YOU

D e s t i n at i o n

Cars

Gaming

Y- F I

OMAN’S FOUR BEST APPS The Y Geek Squad tries out the latest top additions to your smartphone from the Sultanate

TOUR GUIDE The latest app from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) might be so well-crafted that it could put tour guides out of their jobs. The aptly named app – Tour Oman – chucks a lot of features into the mix.

So, you get a well-marked map with turnby-turn navigation, destination suggestions complete with photos and an attractions list, and our favourite; a one-touch emergency services button. Little wonder then that the free app in iTunes and Play Store has a reassuring four-star rating.

SAFE AND SECURE Forget Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and the like; Omani app Thawani is the way forward for electronic payments in Oman.

While fintech companies such as these are sparse owing to licences governing their existence, Thawani seems to have carved out a niche for itself. Not only is the app now available over multiple platforms, it’s also compatible with vendors such as Omanoil, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Haagen Dasz, Dar al Atta’a and a handful of others in an evergrowing list. Unlike traditional NFC-based apps, this one makes use of secure QR codes to create payments. Download the app for free from Google Play or iTunes.

ONLINE LEARNING Let’s face it: the world is becoming more digitised by the day – and one of the long-talked about byproducts of this phenomenon consists of online classrooms. While a child’s physical presence in a school is the convention in most countries – including Oman – online education could catch on. One such example is OMTUT, an Omani venture, which has grown to become the largest of its kind in the country with more than 3,200 subjective videos, 1,880 interactive learning videos, 1,900 three-dimensional videos – all in over 85 core subjects. The app is available for a free download on Google Play and iTunes but will set you back upwards of RO10 for monthly tutorials.

EDITOR’S PICK

SMART SHOPPER

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TWITTERATI AND OMANI ENTREPRENEUR SHARIFA AL BARAMI’S LATEST VENTURE, MARKEETEX, IS THE LATEST – AND THE ONLY – ALLOMANI ELECTRONIC AND GROCERY ONLINE STORE IN EXISTENCE TODAY. ITS QUICKLY-GROWING INVENTORY PUTS THE ESSENTIALS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. SO, YOU CAN BUY EVERYTHING FROM FRUIT AND VEGGIES TO MORE SOPHISTICATED GADGETS WITHOUT HAVING TO HEAD TO THE MALL. WHAT’S MORE IMPRESSIVE IS THAT IF YOU SPEND MORE THAN RO5 WITH THE APP, THEY’LL DELIVER YOUR ITEMS FOR FREE IN UNDER TWO HOURS. THE FREE APP THAT CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM PLAY STORE OR ITUNES IS THE MOST STABLE ONE WE’VE GOT OUR HANDS ON IN THE SULTANATE. JULY FEB 2103- -2709/ /ISSUE ISSUE558 327

The Occupation

Info Box

The Y Geek Squad tries a game taking you back to the glory (and gory) days of journalism

I

nvestigative journalism is probably at its lowest point – a joke even – if you consider the daredevil magnitude of stories that some of the masters of the game once pulled off compared with the half-baked ‘scoops’ of today.

But, the dying art can be captured once again – as it turns out – through a game.

The fictional story is set in North-West England in 1987 – a part of the UK largely indifferent to the draconian policies being imposed by an unhinged prime minister.

With lines being drawn on police investigations and the imposition of a government act that erodes civil liberties, it’s now up to you to uncover the truth and expose the injustices of the new act.

There’s a level of authenticity to admire; you make do with a pen and paper and your trusty cassette recorder.

You must also sift through important documents that uncover the agenda of your newspaper and the government.

It’s dogged journalism at its finest –

until you get caught.

And given the shoddy early 2000s graphics and dismal physics engine, you’ll find yourself looking at your feet in shame as you’re handed over to the authorities, or worse, back to your deceitful editor.

The shadows and the timings of the characters can be a bit off, thereby nullifying your 15-minute espionage and dragging you back to square one.

But, there’s a plot that spins itself as you progress through the game, and getting caught will not end the story. In fact, the game plays in real time and requires you to make swift decisions that can alter your stance with the government.

The result is a game with several

Developer: WHITE PAPER GAMES Publisher: HUMBLE BUNDLE Engine: UNREAL ENGINE 4 Platforms: PS4 AND PC Release: MARCH 5

endings – some pleasant while others are truly relatable – at least in certain parts concerning wall-building Westerners.

While we’re not great fans of narrative games such as this, it strikes a chord with us here and we think it revolves around what we stand for as journalists: honest reporters inclined to be sceptical about politicians.

‘The Occupation’ is a truly fantastic game that is only marred by sub-par graphics. That said, a strong AI will keep you enthused throughout the gameplay by dragging you through the gutter (figuratively, of course). ■ JULY FEB 0321 - 09 27 / ISSUE 558 327

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HEALTH& BEAUTY EASTERN PROMISES

We’re embracing the colour of luck and prosperity this Chinese New Year with splashes of vermilion and swathes of chinoiserie.

Gong xi fa cai!

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Health

Beauty

FASHION

T t Ge

k o o L e h

, reet t s gh e hi look h t d to get the n e to gh e hi s you h t lp From Y he m Tea

Not ready to commit to full-on chinoiserie-chic? Why not accessorise instead and make a statement with a boldly-beautiful embroidered canvas handbag from none other than Christian Dior? Invest in it for RO1,653.

We’re in love with this investmentpiece of a dream dress from Vivienne Tam with its delicate multi-coloured embroidery on striped lace that requires no accessories at all (although a pair of dangling gold earrings wouldn’t hurt)! Price: RO888.1.

Unleash the dragon in a lightas-air collared tee from Promod that’s both pretty and fierce. Match it with a pair of white skinnies to anchor the look. Own it for RO11.5.

We love the ornate femininity of this icy blue jacquard Mandarin-collared tunic dress from Miss Selfridge – and you will too. Hang it in your closet for RO29.2.

If red is the colour of joy, luck and happiness, then our smiles are pretty wide in these fiery pair of cherryred Corneille pumps from Christian Louboutin. Dare to make them yours for RO267.2.

Make these cotton slim-fit trousers from MANGO your starting point when pulling together a bold top-half.

Pair them with a chinoiseriestyle blazer or flowy silk kimono, and job done!

Grab them for RO15.3.

The more embellished the pattern the more muted your accessories should be.

Balance your Oriental ensemble with an eyecatching pair of gold drop-hoops, like this pair from H&M. Price: RO2.6.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

BEAUTY

Fashion

Home

Family

the ZOEVA Opulence Eyeshadow Palette.

Just as the name suggests, the Opulence palette is very ‘opulent’. There are ten eyeshadow colours resting in a softtouch cardboard covered with art and inspired by ‘Secret Garden,’ which gives it a very feminine feel and look.

As for the shadows, nine out of ten are satin and shimmer shades, with one deep maroon matte shade. But remember this is the Opulence palette, which means more glamour and glitter.

Now, as a convert to the brand, I had to put the product – the Opulence Palette – to the test.

Initially I thought: “No crease shade, no transition shade but only shimmers? How am I going to create THE look?

Maybe the few satin shades can be tried as transition shades?” And that’s what I did.

I started creating my look, and the first thing that stood out for me was that the shades blended amazingly well, even the satin colours. The attraction of the palette was the deep ‘royal’ blue shade, named ‘ Koh-i-Noor’ that had to be used as the ‘spotlight’.

To my surprise, the blue blended well and did so without any lumps. Also, the pigmentation of the shades in the palette is high. I should give a nod to the maroon ‘Get your Glory’ and ‘Koh-I-Noor’ for the amazing colour payoff. The fallout on this palette is so minimal it can be ignored. For this, the palette gets a gold star.

I wore my look at work all day, and my eyes did turn a few heads – thanks to ‘Koh-i-Noor’ and the shimmering gold ‘Sense of Movement’.

Finally, after my day’s work, it was time to inspect my decorated eyes and evaluate the colours:

THE EYES

HAVE IT

Tried and tested: Christine Karan gives the ZOEVA Opulence Eyeshadow Palette the once over

I

’m going to say it. ZOEVA is an underrated brand that needs more recognition in the Middle East.

I first came across it during one of my visits to Sephora. Compared to the other counters, ZOEVA had hardly any visitors, which made it perfect for me to really ‘discover’ the brand.

I checked out its various palettes: face, 042

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eyes, lip colours and numerous (and cute) brush sets.

With one swatch of their eye shadow, I knew I was on to something. I proceeded to swatching all the palettes showcased.

Finally, I made my choice to buy just one –

● Yes, the colours faded a little but remember I didn’t do any touch-ups during the day. ● Koh-i-Noor’ was still prominently seen. However the other lighter satin or shimmer shades were very lightly seen. ● The colours did not crease! For that, the palette deserves plaudits (I had used my usual concealer and not an eyeshadow concealer). ● As I removed the eye colours using a makeup wipe, the colours wiped out easily with the tiniest bit of stain from the blue on the lid. This is usually seen on high pigmented shadows.

The palette is easy to carry in a purse, thanks to this slick, rectangular size. However, it lacks a mirror, which makes it difficult for touchups or doing a quick eye look on-the-go.

As for the product, the shadows are brilliant and it blends well. The lack of matte shades may put off some users but this is heaven to shimmer lovers, and the glow is stunning.

Finally, the price. It’s super-affordable, retailing from RO12.5 from Sephora or online from https://www.zoevacosmetics.com/world1/ ■

Beauty

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THE DIGITAL DE-CLUTTER Is your smartphone putting you, quite literally, at everyone’s beck and call? Gemma Harrison finds a cure for technological torpor and has never felt better

L

ast month, I had a day when I turned my smartphone off.

The world, or at least my world, didn’t come crashing down around my earholes.

When it came to the evening, I was calm, relaxed – almost serene, in fact.

I’d prepared the usual repertoire of lame excuses: ‘that I was recharging it/it was being repaired/ I had left it at a friend’s house’ should a contact, friend or relative indignantly imply negligence on my part for having the temerity not to be instantly available.

Of course, I did have a couple of ‘WILL you turn your phone ON!’ laments (and not from my children, either [no surprise there]!).

And it wasn’t only my mood that improved. My outlook has as well.

The world kept moving on its axis – and my friends/relatives/contacts are still there and (until now) unaware of my brief smartphone sabbatical.

Technology is supposed to make life easier, more manageable and more efficient, isn’t it?

So how on earth did we get to a point where people have withdrawal symptoms if withheld a Wi-Fi connection, or feel their lives are less worthy if every aspect of them is not controlled by a slim, small rectangular object?

And woe betide them if they actually do lose it!

When I heard that the rock star Stevie Nicks once got up and walked out on her lunch date after her friend had checked her phone more than once, I thought: “Good for you, girl.” Now I intend to do the same, politely but firmly.

In the 30 years since the British computer scientist Tim BernersLee invented the World Wide Web, we’ve come a long way.

But progress comes at a price, and this relentless flood of technological tyranny is seemingly unstoppable.

Google, Facebook, and Twitter have become modern-day titans ruling our lives, plundering our attention, and pilfering our free time, daily.

And it’s not me saying this but the American writer Cal Newport, who happens to be a 36-year-old computer scientist; a millennial you might say.

With his book ‘Digital Minimalism: On Living Better With Less Technology’, Dr. Newport opines that the aforementioned tech giants are ‘attention merchants’ seizing control of every idle minute of our day.

His book is a lightning rod for the modern age and suggests that being a ‘digital minimalist’ doesn’t make you a dork.

Dr. Newport’s philosophy is basically about digital housekeeping and scaling back your use of technology to cover the basic essentials.

The IT expert says this approach is not just about getting rid of things but focusing on the

aspects that have real value to your life.

He says: “You should wipe the slate clean, in terms of the technologies you use in your personal life. Get rid of all the clutter.

“So, you have quite a lot of apps, services, and tools all pulling at your time and attention. And the overall combined impact of this is negative.

“You feel constantly distracted, and you feel you’re spending more time on your devices than is healthy or useful. You’re beginning to feel manipulated in terms of what you feel and believe on a day-to-day basis.

“Start from what’s important in your life. What does your life want to be like? And then work backwards and say, ‘there are some big wins here’ where there’s particular technology that I can deploy that will help me.”

In fact, you can be a calm, happy person who can hold a conversation without furtively checking your phone every ten minutes.

You can immerse yourself in a good book (i.e. one with pages), have fun with family and friends without the need to film or comment on it, and be informed on the news of the day without being constantly bombarded it by it.

Are you up for a digital de-clutter? Here are some tips to get you started: Attack those apps As Dr. Newport recommends, get rid of all the apps you don’t use and start re-installing the ones you do. For instance, if you can’t live without your headphones on the move then OK, re-install Spotify.

Schedule social media Confine your social media use to your laptop or tablet. This will control your use, and you can schedule set times to post, message, and catch up on anything you’ve missed.

Take control on texts Make sure you have no notification alerts, even for texts.

And schedule yourself a time for checking and reading texts. If anyone is desperate to contact you, they can always call.

Take up a hobby We all know working with your hands or learning a musical instrument can be therapeutic as well as relaxing and, as Dr. Newport says, is ‘manipulating physical objects in the real world’.

Sources: Afford Anything, Amazon, ‘Digital Minimalism: On Living Better With Less Technology’ by Cal Newport FEB 21 - 27 / ISSUE 558

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YUMMY FOODIE FORTUNE

Chinese New Year offers up a taste of tradition with a multitude of rich offerings shared family-style

Along with luck and prosperity, we’re ushering in good taste this Chinese New Year. Here are a few auspicious dishes!

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Reviews

A Pinch Of Luck Tuck into these plates of good fortune this Chinese New Year Tangyuan (Sweet Rice Balls) – for family togetherness

Sour Plum Duck

Niangao (Glutinous Rice Cake) – for a higher income or job promotion

Juicy and crisp with a tangy-sweet glaze that’s fingerlicking good, we won’t blame you if you go back for a second helping of crackling.

Ingredients: § 1 whole duck, about 2.2kg § 1 tsp salt § ½ tsp white pepper § ¼ tsp ground ginger § 1½ Tbsp canola oil § 2 cloves garlic, minced § 5 shallots, thinlysliced (about ½ cup) § 3 large onions, thinly-sliced (about 4 cups) § 6 salted plums (Koon Chun Brand) § 1½ cups plum sauce (Koon Chun Brand) § 1½ cups low sodium chicken stock § 3 to 4 pieces dried orange or tangerine peel § 1 Tbsp rice vinegar Method: § Remove the giblet packet from the duck, rinse both the inside and outside of the duck thoroughly, and let the water drain out. Pat the duck dry with a paper towel.

Combine the salt, white pepper and ginger in a small bowl, and rub the spice mix evenly all over the duck, both outside and inside the cavity. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes. § Heat 1½ tablespoons canola oil in a large Dutch oven (or other oven-safe pot with a lid) over a medium-high heat. Sear the duck on both sides until lightly browned and transfer the duck to a plate. Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Add the garlic, shallots, and onions to the pot where you seared the duck. Fry for 3-5 minutes, until softened. § Use your hands or a fork to smash the salted plums and add them to the pot. The plums can be destoned at this stage, or not. Also stir in the plum sauce, chicken stock, dried citrus peels, and vinegar. Mix well over a medium heat and simmer. Then, remove from the heat. § Spoon one cup of the onion mixture into the duck cavity, using a spoon to coat the inside of the duck as best as possible.

Spread some of the sauce over the

Good Fortune Fruit – for fullness and wealth Dumplings & Spring Rolls – for wealth

Long Life Noodles dark green parts separated

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outside of the duck so it’s lightly coated. With the onion mixture that’s left in the pot, spread it out evenly across the bottom of the pot and carefully place the duck on top (breast side down). Cover the pot and place into the preheated oven for 60 minutes.

Take the pot out of the oven, and using a large roasting fork, carefully lift the duck up to dump the onions and liquid out of the cavity. Then carefully flip the duck so the breast is facing up.

There should still be plenty of liquid at the bottom of the pan but feel free to add a bit of chicken stock if it’s looking dry.

Cover and return to the oven for another 30 to 60 minutes depending upon how tender you like your duck. Check the duck after 30 minutes for tenderness and add more stock if the sauce is drying out. Once you’re satisfied with the tenderness, cook for another 15 minutes uncovered.

Again, if there is no sauce, add in more chicken stock. Transfer the pot from the oven to the stove-top, and carefully transfer the duck to a serving plate or cutting-board for carving.

Stir the sauce, discarding the tangerine peels and plum pits. The sauce should be a beautiful onion marmalade. Reduce the sauce over the stove-top if it’s too thin or add chicken stock to de-glaze if the sauce is too dry.

Spoon some of the sauce and onions over the top of the duck and serve the rest of the sauce on the side.

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Source: www.thewoksoflife.com

These noodles are a staple at every Chinese New Year banquet table. We’re not sure if they’ll add years to your life, but pleasure to your taste-buds? Yes, indeed.

Ingredients: § 3 quarts water for pre-cooking the noodles § 1 package Yi Mein noodles (340g dry) § ⅛ tsp sugar § ¼ tsp salt, or to taste § 1 Tbsp hot water § 2 tsp regular soy sauce § 2 tsp dark soy sauce § 2 Tbsp oyster sauce § ½ tsp sesame oil § Freshly-ground white pepper § 3-4 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil, divided § 3-5 shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced § 225g Chinese chives, cut into 5cm long pieces, with the light and

Method: § oil 3 quarts of water in a large wok or pot to pre-cook your Yi Mein noodles. Once boiling, add the noodles and boil for no more than 3 to 4 minutes to keep them firm and chewy. § Sample a noodle while cooking, and when it tastes closer to the uncooked side of al dente pasta, it’s ready. When the noodles are done, immediately drain and set aside. § Dissolve the sugar and salt in 1 tablespoon of hot water, and add the regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper. Stir until combined. § Heat the wok until just smoking and spread 2 tablespoons of oil around the perimeter. § Add the mushrooms and the light green parts of the chives and stirfry for 30 seconds. § Add the noodles and stir-fry everything for another 20 seconds. § Spread the prepared sauce mixture evenly over the noodles, and stir-fry everything together for 1 minute, or until the soy sauce mixture is distributed evenly.

Spread another tablespoon of oil around the perimeter of the wok to prevent sticking. § Mix gently so you don’t break up the noodles. § Add in the remaining green parts of the chives and mix until they turn bright green and the noodles are heated through. This will take 1-3 minutes, depending on if your noodles were cold or still warm when you started stir-frying, and how hot your stove and wok can get..

Source: www.thewoksoflife.com

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e ang

CHINA MOOD

R Top-

Lobby level, Al Bustan Palace, Muscat Opening hours: 7:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m., daily Contact: (+968) 2476-4444 Set menu price: RO38 per head Verdict : 9/10 SERVICE 8/10 FOOD 9/10 AMBIENCE A refined take on modern Chinese that heralds traditional ingredients with a focus on regional dishes

CHINA MOOD

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

AUTHENTIC OFFERINGS ABOUND IN CELEBRATION OF CHINESE NEW YEAR AT AN ELEGANTLY FAR EASTERN EATERY THAT MOST DEFINITELY SETS THE MOOD

I

f red had a flavour it would be the singe of the Szechuan chili or the fiery heat of a spoonful of doubanjiang – the fermented spicy bean-paste that’s a staple condiment on every Chinese table. Red is a shade of luck and joy associated with both the Chinese zodiac element of fire and the Lunar New Year, which kicked off on February 5.

And so it was that we brought our appetites to China Mood at Al Bustan Palace – A RitzCarlton Hotel to get things off to an auspicious start. The resort’s premier fine-dining restaurant, it’s an outlet where the chefs have been handpicked because of their ‘allegiance to authentic Chinese cuisine’, and we’re eager to see if it lives up to that claim.

Designed to resemble a traditional Chinese tea house, we pass under its slatted wooden entrance flanked by giant marble lions, and enter its warm depths. With black lacquered screens dividing the private interior dining rooms, the ambience is one of muted elegance steeped in the lush heritage of China’s great dynasties.

Tonight, giant red hanging lanterns cast their glow along the corridor in honour of the New Year as we’re greeted by the restaurant’s hostess and tea sommelier and led to our table on their expansive outdoor patio, where it’s a full house for dinner.

This is due in part to the fact that the restaurant has invited Guest Chef Leo Liang from The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing to craft a special five-course set menu in celebration of the Chinese New Year alongside China Mood’s Chef de Cuisine Sam Peong.

As we wait for the first course to arrive, guests

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are treated to a special ceremonial dance by their tea sommelier, who pours cup after cup full of fragrant green oolong tea from a golden kettle with a metre-long sword-like spout. As she spins and whirls in time to the music, long streams of piping-hot tea are poured from all angles with nary a drop missing the cup.

First up on our culinary journey of traditional Chinese New Year dishes is a trio of plump dim sum of which the duck and foie gras dumpling simply melts in the mouth with a kiss of hoisin sauce while the teriyaki-braised scallop falls away at the touch of our chopsticks like butter.

Next up to warm us from the inside out is a steaming bowl of double-boiled Beijing-style duck soup with oozing morsels of mushroom and crispy wisps of dried scallop that add a pleasant textural element to each spoonful. The flavours mingle and dance off the tongue, both rich and comforting.

As one of our dining party has a shellfish allergy, the staff are incredibly accommodating to the dietary restriction on what us – we admit – woefully short-notice from our side, with the chefs preparing vegetarian alternatives on the fly.

Known for its rather oily texture, reflecting back on our entreés the duck dishes we sample aren’t greasy at all and are absolute standouts. Often, set menus can be hit or miss, and getting every element up to expectation is a culinary feat.

Next up is a tender plate of pan-fried sliced Wagyu beef with sautéed wild mushrooms and

soft baby carrots. Not your traditional Chinese New Year fare we note – but rather a dish catering to those with less adventurous palates seeking a small reprieve from the full-bodied, fermented flavours that are the hallmark of Chinese cuisine.

While unexpected, it’s still incredibly lush.

For our mains, a choice is offered between a fish or lamb option so, naturally, we go for one of each. The stewed organic lamb shank with baby corn is fall-off-the-bone and braised in a rich oyster sauce that somehow complements its gamey essence. Watching us devour it, one of our party has food envy after their portion of wok-fried grouper with home-made XO sauce arrives. The presentation is incredibly plain with a steamed filet overlaid with some stark slices of asparagus. Perhaps the focus is to let the flavours of the fish shine through, but the XO sauce is a bit lost and the dish comes across as somewhat underseasoned. The portion of pan-fried rice with diced chicken, beef, and wild mushroom that comes with it is comfort food at its finest, however.

Rounding off the set menu offering, which runs until February 22, is a light-as-air dessert of what we can only describe as a Chinese version of custard served with slices of fresh fruit. Doubleboiled milk with egg white has been whipped into an almost effervescent consistency and imbued with the lightest touch of sugar. It’s an unusual eat but not at all unpleasant. In fact, we clean our bowls.

We leave feeling not overly full but fully satisfied.

Our first foray to China Mood, it won’t be our last as the restaurant has gone to great lengths to offer up an experience that’s often found lacking in the capital’s ever-evolving foodie scene – something truly unique. ■ Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com

The Art of Contemporary Living The Residences at Kempinski Hotel Muscat feature 77 beachfront apartments and villas, luxuriously designed for comfortable upscale living. Ranging from a cosy Studio to the expansive One-to Three-Bedroom Residences, as well as the luxurious Two- and Three-Bedroom Villas, the Residences are crafted to signify contemporary living in the new heart of Muscat.

For more information please call: M +968 9361 5437 kempinski.com/muscat