Y Magazine #562, March 21, 2019

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MAR 21 - 27 2019 / ISSUE 562 • WEEKLY

LEFT BEHIND

PLUS!

AS MORE ELDERLY IN THE SULTANATE ARE BEING LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR VULNERABLE YEARS, WE EXPLORE THE SHIFTING TREND IN LOCAL SOCIETY TOWARDS ITS AGING POPULATION AS A GENERATION TURNS ITS BACK ON THEIR PARENTS

YUMMY OMAN: MOTHER’S DAY24MEALS 01 NOVEMBER / ISSUE 258

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

IN THIS ISSUE…

H

ow often do we take for granted the people who raised us? For those of us who have lived a long time abroad, there can be a certain sense of distance that develops as, over the years, those long family calls home become more infrequent. Time differences prevail, the pace of life takes over, and before you know it time comes to claim its dues. But in the end, after all else – family matters.

In fact, the givers of life – our parents – begin their journey with us as our teachers, mentors, guardians, cooks, and best friends. As time passes, however, their roles change – and so does our perception of who they are and the place they hold in our lives. But, would you go as far as abandoning them when the time comes? It’s a difficult question we’re addressing in this week’s cover feature as we learn that an astounding number of elderly parents in Oman are being abandoned in old-age homes, on the streets, or some simply kept locked away in their own secluded rooms – all left without adequate financial aid to even take care of their health. Turn to Page 16 to read more, as we lock down our focus on the Sultanate’s elderly who are left stranded by their own kin – their kids.

Also, in this issue, we’re taking you to some truly weird and wacky corners of the Sultanate that make up Oman’s very own version of ‘Believe It Or Not’! From a gravity-defying ‘magnetic hill’ in Dhofar, to one of the country’s biggest sinkholes in Bimmah, we’re heading off the beaten path!

Plus, be sure to grab the Mother’s Day card in this issue and take part to enter our annual Y Mother’s Day competition for a chance to crown your Mother, ‘Oman’s Best Mum’! Flip to Page 28 for details on how to take part!

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

MANAGER – DIGITAL MEDIA SALES Umair Mehmood

Cover Image: For illustrative purposes only. Photo credit: Katiekk / Shutterstock.com

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MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

03

contents MAR

Your Oman

21

-

27

2019

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman

Jokha Al Farsi 10 News

EU targets Oman in tax crackdown 12 News

Mall of Muscat to open

next month

12

14

True colours The Festival of Colours is back this Friday for the third year in a row at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel to paint the town every colour of the rainbow!

34 First Drive

Maserati Levante GTS 38 Y-Fi

Omani innovations

16

Left behind As more of the nation’s elderly end up in care homes – or, worse, on the streets, we dig deeper to find out why attitudes towards the aged and our responsibilities for them are changing in Oman.

20 Quirky Oman

We hit the road to find

some of the Sultanate’s

most oddball attractions

that will leave you

guessing ‘Believe it or not!’

15 Movies

Dev Patel stars 28 Mum’s the word

as a waiter caught

Want to show the

up in a terrorist

world that you’ve

takeover in the

got ‘Oman’s Best

gripping, edge-of-

Mum’? Then grab

your-seat thriller

our Mother’s Day

‘Hotel Mumbai’.

card in this issue and

enter to win with Y’s

annual Mother’s Day competition!

15

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Tawi Al Saih

Features

Health and Beauty 40 Fashion

Modern man

Food and Drink 44 Yummy Oman

Mother’s Day meals 46 Taste Test

Saravana Bhavan

42 Beauty

High-brow chic

38

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

Daddy Drake

You might remember the drama between rappers Drake and Pusha T. last year, when Pusha outed Drake as having a son named Adonis – info the ‘God’s Plan’ singer was trying to keep private and on the downlow. Since then, according to sources close to the star, Drake is growing closer to his one-year-old infant son, telling everyone how much he loves him.

Slowly opening up and becoming more public about his relationship with Adonis, he sends pictures of him to his friends, has made his image his phone wallpaper, and he even got a tattoo of him on his arm! We love seeing Drake embrace his role as a father!

T-Swift gets serious Taylor Swift and actor Joe Alwyn (‘The Favourite’, ‘Mary Queen of Scots’) have been dating for almost two years, and though they’ve tried their best to keep their relationship out of the public eye, things are definitely getting more serious for the young couple as news broke that both their families approve of the union. According to sources close to Swift, “Taylor’s parents love Joe, and Joe’s parents love Taylor – and if they decide to get married, they have everyone’s blessing.” Taylor’s been vocal of late as to how she feels Joe is the one for her. Awwwww! We sense wedding bells soon!

‘Guardians’ returns amid controversy After being fired last year in the wake of a scandal surrounding a series of offensive Tweets he posted back in 2009, director James Gunn has since been re-hired by Disney-Marvel to lead the 06

MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

third instalment of the ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ franchise. After it was announced initially that the production would be put on-hold indefinitely, it seems filming will go ahead with a bumped back release date.

After the announcement, Gunn Tweeted: “I am tremendously grateful to every person out there who has supported me over the past few months. I appreciate Disney’s decision and I’m excited to continue making films.’ Gunn is also set to direct the upcoming sequel, ‘Suicide Squad 2’.

Alicia the author Singer/ songwriter Alicia Keys has announced she’ll publish her memoir, ‘More Myself: A Journey’ this coming fall 2019. Sharing the news with fans while on a lunch date with Oprah Winfrey, Keys’ book will be part-autobiography and part-narrative documentary that follows her through her childhood through to becoming a 15-time Grammy Awardwinning artist. How do we get on the preorder list?!

Britney does Broadway?

It’s just been announced that Britney Spears will helm a brand-new Broadway musical comedy called ‘Once Upon A One More Time’ – featuring all her greatest hits, while the storyline will revolve around classic fairytale characters such as Cinderella and Snow White who see their lives reimagined through Britney’s music. ‘Interesting’…we say.

Working closely with her creative team on the concept for the past three years, Britney said in a recent statement: “I’m so excited to have a musical with my songs – especially one that takes place in such a magical world filled with characters that I grew up on, who I love and adore.’ Let’s see how this turns out!

J Balvin and Sean Paul are at it again!

The duo’s new track ‘Contra La Pared’ is already being dubbed the ‘song of the summer’! Meaning ‘Against The Wall’, it’s a bilingual song with a reggaetón/dance-hall beat that will have the club shaking! The last time the two artists collaborated together was on Major Lazer’s 2017 track ‘Buscando Huellas’.

LSD return with a bouncy new tune

Labrinth, Sia and Diplo, aka LSD, are back with a new song titled ‘No New Friends’. The song has a catchy sound with island vibes and it’s all about celebrating the friends we already have. Its release comes after they announced that their début album will be released on April 12.

Iggy Azalea drops the new ‘Sally Walker’ Iggy Azalea is back with a new release titled ‘Sally Walker – the first single from her upcoming new album ‘In My Defense’. Since its release, the song has already reached Number 4 on the US iTunes US charts and is the rapper’s first single since parting ways with Island Records last year.

She’s now signed with Empire Records.

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

JOKHA AL FARSI, THE HEAD OF THE IHSAAN ASSOCIATION, ON WHY WE NEED TO DO MORE TO LOOK AFTER THE ELDERLY

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: Adult children ‘abandoning’ their aged parents and asking them to fend for themselves has become a matter of concern in the GCC, with instances rising in Oman. What’s causing this disconnect towards the elderly and how can we stop it?

MIMI REGNER

It’s heartbreaking to witness these cases escalating in Oman. I think one of the reasons could be the lack or absence of a strong bond with the parents.

Children were not able to cultivate a rock-solid loving relationship that could stand the test of time and life’s adversities.

JAISRIRAM V.

C

hanging values and urbanisation are taking a toll on families in Oman and especially those with ageing relatives. It’s inevitable but it is happening due to modern lifestyles.

The key to tackling this situation is education: teaching the people of this country about how they must take care of their parents and avoid neglecting them, even if the parent is staying with their children.

This comes to light as we recently learned about a visually-impaired father who was mistreated by domestic staff in the house. This was only discovered when someone saw his throat was scarred and noticed dark bruises on his body.

Children need to come forward and listen to the needs of their parents. This means taking steps such as installing their room in a very accessible location in the house.

Meanwhile, there are several families out there that see elderly parents as a blessing. So, we have introduced the ‘alternative family’ concept, which allows distant family members to adopt the elderly and take care of them.

Even the kids of today need an older role-model to learn from – and there’s no better way to do this than to look after one and help them with their daily tasks.

08

MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

We are seeing a shift in the social fabric of Omani society. Improvements in education mean women who traditionally would have stayed at home to look after their parents or their in-laws, are now working. They now don’t have time for looking after the aged parents or in-laws. Men are usually focused on their careers and give even less importance to the care of their elderly parents.

Whatever the reason, our parents looked after us when we were children so it’s time for us to pay them back and look after them. Adults should remember how they actually managed to grow up; it wasn’t by accident. Looking after an oldaged person is part of our service to God.

SARASWATHI M.V.

It is a really painful thing for any elderly person to realise they have been abandoned by their children. It is totally unacceptable for this to happen, whatever the reasons behind it are.

No parent should ever be abandoned by their children, given the years of selfless sacrifice they have put into raising their children into being responsible and productive adults. It’s the duty of children to ensure their parents can live out their

WRITE TO US AND YOU COULD WIN

final years in a comfortable and caring environment.

God will not forgive children who abandon their parents, and these same heartless individuals will soon be treated by their own offspring in the same way in due time. Family values and respect for the elderly need to be impressed on the younger generation if we wish to avoid this most distressing state of affairs.

BRINDA RAMAN

Adult children are abandoning parents and this is a sad part of the developing Oman. Busy working couples often have little time for their parents.

There are sad incidents in which adult children literally abandon their old-aged parents in hospital, and will sneak away without informing the hospital authorities. We have witnessed hospital staff begging these people to please come and collect them. The culture of the present era demands that, as both husband and wife work, their kids are left with housemaids and therefore the question of taking care of the elderly does not arise.

This can be partially prevented with more education and awareness. The cultural spirit and religious responsibility of elderly care and repaying our parents for everything they have done for us need to be emphasised through social media.

MOHAMED ABDOULMAGUID

Any human being must be aware that you reap what you sow. We were looked after by our parents as children so we must look after them when we are adults. And as parents, we hope that our children will look after us.

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

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DR. RAO BHASKARA SUDDAPALLI

treating their daughters-in-law.

Some have subjected them to cruelty and turned them into This social problem virtual domestic ‘slaves’. With the is percolating fast in education and empowerment of our land, and it has women throwing up a little light long been a worry in countries like India. The present- at the end of the tunnel; younger women are entering the world day trend in living standards of employment, and successfully. that exerts so much pressure on This has resulted in the very our purses is one of the reasons opposite situation, in which for ‘abandoning’ aged parents. some daughters-in-law ill-treat Regrettably, more and more their mothers-on-law. This has ‘nuclear’ families are indulging brought huge issues to bear for in this inhumane scenario. families, as the male head of the Although it has been the norm family has to tread a precarious in the West for elderly parents path to preserve family peace; to reside in sheltered housing one that sees his loyalties divided or care homes post-retirement, between his obligations to this is an alien concept in the his family and his duty to his GCC. Gone are the days when parents. It is indeed a vicious parents were given the role of mentors to guide grandchildren. circle. Youngsters who call the These days, most families prefer shots today will be tomorrow’s elderly victims. If we face up to a cozy unit i.e just the wife, this very real human cycle with husband and their children. the honesty it calls for then, to Firstly, some mothers-in-law an extent, the problem can be are to blame for this, as a result tackled. of their strong-arm methods in

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MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

09

NEWS

CRUISE SHIPS KEEP

F

TOURISTS FLOODING IN

our cruise ships full of tourists docked at Port Sultan Qaboos (PSQ) last week, the Ministry of Tourism confirmed.

These ships carried 9,864 tourists from different countries.

The Italian cruise ship AIDAblu visited the Port of Salalah on Sunday with 2,042 passengers on board.

Passengers visited the most important archaeological and historical landmarks in the Governorate of Dhofar, and went on to visit beaches and traditional markets in Salalah.

The ship sailed from Aqaba Port in Jordan and it will head to Port of Victoria in the Seychelles, as part of its itinerary.

EU TARGETS OMAN IN TAX CRACKDOWN

T

he EU has included Oman on a list of nations it considers to lack transparency on tax matters.

Listed are countries that EU officials say are falling short of acceptable international standards for clarity on the issue.

Oman was added to a revised list of noncooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes last week. The UAE was also added.

Ministry of Finance officials responded to the inclusion on the list in a statement published by the Oman News Agency.

It read: “The Ministry expressed its regret over the decision, in light of the continuous communication between the Sultanate and the European Union to combat tax evasion and strengthen cooperation between the tax authorities.”

The Ministry of Finance says it is continuing to meet the criteria stipulated in the agreements and treaties that will enhance cooperation with the tax authorities

of other countries.

This process has yet to be completed due to the legislative cycle in the Sultanate, officials say.

The statement said: “The Sultanate has made great strides in this regard, and these steps will be completed in the near future as the EU continues to be informed of the Sultanate’s progress in this regard.

“As soon as the requirements are met, the Ministry looks forward to the effective response of the EU in removing the Sultanate from that list.”

THREE ARRESTED

FOR ‘DRIFTING’ DRIVING STUNTS

T

hree people have been arrested for allegedly performing drifting stunts in the wilayat of Khabourah in North Batinah.

An official from the ROP said it had repeatedly warned motorists, especially younger drivers, to refrain from drifting in unauthorised areas.

The stunt is performed when a driver deliberately oversteers, losing traction in the tyres while seeking to maintain control of the vehicle throughout.

ROP officers want the public to cooperate with them to help stamp out the practice, which it says is a major cause of accidents.

010

MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

A YEAR OF SUCCESS

GALLERY

THE KEMPINSKI HOTEL MUSCAT CELEBRATED ITS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH A RECENT GATHERING OF APPRECIATION. THE HOTEL OPENED ITS DOORS LAST MARCH ON THE AL MOUJ MUSCAT DEVELOPMENT

MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

011

YOUR

OMAN

WATCHDOG BARS SALES OF TWO HONEY BRANDS

C

onsumer watchdogs have pulled two brands of honey off the Sultanate’s shop shelves.

For health reasons, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) ordered the withdrawal of honey made by Golden Wells, and Shifa.

Dr. Said bin Khamis al Kaabi, PACP Chairman issued Decision No 86/2019, which applies to Royal Golden Wells honey (produced on 1/2/2016 and expiry date 1/2/2021) in cartons weighing 450g and Shifa honey (produced on 1/9/2018 and expiry date 31/8/2023) in glass jars weighing 3kg.

The decision orders that the products be removed from the shelves and destroyed.

Anyone who fails to do so faces a fine, in accordance with Article 51 of the executive regulations of the Consumer Protection Law. The authority urges citizens and residents to report any complaints by calling 8007-9009.

MALL OF MUSCAT TO OPEN NEXT MONTH

T

he much-awaited Mall of Muscat will officially open on April 15, along with the largest aquarium in the Middle East, the Oman Observer reports.

Most of the retail outlets have been leased for the Mabela mall, which will include a new 14-screen cinema complex and some major leisure facilities for children of all ages.

The aquarium has been designed by the Australian company Whitewater International.

‘GREEN POTATO’ ALERT

FROM AGRICULTURE BOSSES

012

MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

S

hoppers have been warned to keep their potatoes away from heat after reports of the vegetable turning green.

Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries say they have been alerted, and stress that all potato shipments into Oman are subjected to rigorous tests at border controls.

The Ministry says potatoes turn green due to the formation of the chlorophyll substance.

This happens when potatoes are exposed to light either on farms or in warehouses, or during storage in the home.

Chlorophyll formation on the skin of potatoes is usually associated with the formation of solanine, MoAF officials say.

The solanine substance can be poisonous when concentrated on the outer skin of potatoes.

Consumers should store their potatoes in dark and dry conditions at a temperature below 20C, officials say, as the heat is also another factor that causes potatoes to turn green.

ALL ITALIANO!

GALLERY

TOMATO RESTAURANT AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL MUSCAT UNVEILED ITS NEW MENU COURTESY OF ITALIAN CHEF LUIGI FERRERA

MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

013

Muscat is all set to be multi-hued once again, with the Festival of Colours coming to the city for the third time.

It all kicks off this Friday on the beach at Al Bustan Palace – A Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Activities for all age groups will be on offer, along with artists performing live music and dance.

There will also be a kids’ fun area and a food court with many varieties of sumptuous ‘street food’ to be sampled.

Last year’s event saw 5,000 guests, and organisers are hoping to top that this year.

Tickets are available online via Virgin Megastore as well as Platinum List.

M

A

R

OPERATIC OVERTURES

WEEK

UNTIL MARCH 25

Until March 25 the Wetskills Water Challenge will take place in Oman at Sultan Qaboos University for the second time as 25 students and young water professionals from Oman, the Gulf region and The Netherlands work in international teams on challenging water cases during a two-week event. Their goal: finding innovative solutions for current water challenges. This year’s Wetskills event will be dedicated to the ‘WaterEnergy-Food Nexus’ – a central theme of the WorldExpo Dubai 2020, where the Wetskills Foundation is also aiming to organize a Wetskills Water Challenge. The program is committed to creating an international community of young talents and supporting partners, as the Wetskills Foundation organizes the event, in collaboration with The Embassy of The Kingdom of The Netherlands, and Omani partners MEDRC, PDO, Haya Water, and Oman Water Society. For more information visit www.wetskills.com.

MAR 22

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T R U E C O LO U R S

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

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

C

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The Royal Opera House Muscat is staging Leo Delibes’ ‘Lakme’ in collaboration with eight other international partners.

This beautiful opera tells the story of how in the era of the British Raj in India, a lovely Hindu Priestess Lakme and a British officer fall in love, with tragic consequences.

This is the world premiere for this production, which is directed by Davide Livermore.

For tickets contact the Box Office at 2440-3332 or log on to the ROHM website at www.rohmuscat.org.om.

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Us Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss

Manou the Swift

The Aftermath

Cast: Kate Winslet, Willem Dafoe, Josh Keaton

Cast: Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgard, Jason Clarke In post-war Germany in 1946, Rachael Morgan (Knightley) arrives in Hamburg in the middle of winter.

Her husband Lewis (Clarke) is a British army colonel in charge of rebuilding the ruined city, and the couple has been allocated a grand house to live in. But there’s an unpleasant surprise in store – Rachael and Lewis must share their new home with its widowed owner Stephen Lubert (Skarsgard) and his troubled daughter.

Like his countrymen, Stephen has

Hotel Mumbai Cast: Armie Hammer, Dev Patel, Jason Isaacs

to face up to the harsh realities of the war’s aftermath, with all the seething antipathy of the allies being displayed on a daily basis.

This is an elegant and moving drama-romance with Knightley doing what she does best i.e. giving a brilliant, smouldering-but-nuanced performance.

Well-acted and well-shot, sure; but Knightley’s mega-watt screen presence proves once again why she has no peer in roles like this.

In 2008, a group of terrorists stormed the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai, as part of an attack on several of the city’s key locations.

During a four-day siege, 31 people were killed. This true story recounts the fateful day through the eyes of hotel staff and survivors.

Earnest waiter Arjun (Patel) puts his own life at risk to help the victims of the unimaginable horror.

The heart-clutching action and ever-present tension doesn’t stint on the authenticity. This is a tough watch but that’s how it should be.

It’s a tense, relentless portrayal of an act of pure evil as well as the selfless heroism of those who have to deal with it.

Adelaide Wilson (Nyong’o) returns to her Californian holiday home for the first time for a long time.

This time, though, she has her husband Gabe (Duke) and two daughters in tow, and hopes that a strange incident that afflicted her as a child will not bring back bad memories.

But a trip to the beach is a tricky day out for Adelaide, and uncomprehending Gabe can’t see what the fuss is about.

When the family returns home, they find several sinister-looking silhouettes on their driveway: four dangerous-looking doppelgangers that happen to be their doubles.

They’ve taken a shine to Adelaide and Gabe’s place; and they aren’t going away anytime soon.

As with all good horror-thrillers, this calm-before-the-storm style of suspense is great fun, and the pay-off is not bad, too.

!

Manou is a little swift who has grown up thinking he’s a seagull.

And if he’s going to be ready for the annual flight south his ability through the air is going to have to improve, doublequick.

But after several mishaps, he realises his wings are too short and narrow to be a seagull’s.

Distraught Manou flies away from home on a journey of self-discovery.

When he finds birds of his own species, he joins them as they get ready to stand up to a dangerous threat.

It all makes for a delightfully colourful animated offering that younger movie-goers will love.

It’s quirky, witty, and manages to avoid sinking into a morass of mawkishness.

And with Hollywood titans of the calibre of Winslet and Dafoe voicing, the dialogue is razor-sharp with lines that don’t treat younger viewers like idiots.

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

‘Hotel Mumbai’s Dev Patel starred in which 2008 Oscar-winning 2008 film?

LAST WEEK’S WINNER Mohammad Alim

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

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Experience more VOX Cinemas magic! Discover

Now open near you at VOX Cinemas, Muscat Grand Mall Book your tickets at voxcinemas.com or the VOX app MAR 21 - 27 / ISSUE 562

015

Oman’s elderly population is increasing. But many of our senior citizens struggle in their twilight years – ignored by society, abandoned by their families, and worse, even suffer abuse. Team Y reports on why we need a reality check on how we treat our loved ones later in life

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Images for illustrative purposes only. Photo credit: Katiekk / Shutterstock

LEFT BEHIND

W

hat age we are often determines our standing in society, whether we like it or not.

Getting old shouldn’t mean being lonely or abandoned yet that is the reality facing so many of our senior citizens.

The sad fact is that many of our old people face their final years struggling to survive having been rendered ‘surplus to requirements’ by society or worse, by their families.

Take Ret. Brig. Gen. Fahad bin Ahmad al Jenaibi. The retired army general considers himself a lucky man despite misfortune, and rejection from his own family.

On the walls of his home in Barka hang family photos of his two children – twins, he proudly says – and his beloved wife.

He enthusiastically shows us around his humble abode, describing the circumstances behind the now fungus-ridden photos.

Pointing at one image which his friend clicked in 1965, he says: “These are my two children on their fourth birthday.

“It was a very nice day. We didn’t have money to make a cake so we had bread instead and used candles that we would use to light up the room when the electricity went,” laughs the 85-year-old Omani.

He then handles another photo – one in which the family takes a trip to the Al Amerat wadi.

“This was in 1972,” he tells our translator, before adding: “I couldn’t stand being away from my family. So, on that day, I took the call to quit the army and become more responsible as a father and husband.”

Tears roll down his cheeks as he looks at the photos, reminiscing. He lost his wife to breast cancer in 1995 and since became reliant on his children.

But that didn’t last long, as he was asked to leave his house, was taken away from his home town of Amerat, and then abandoned at the age of 81.

Today, Ret. Brig. Gen. Fahad lives in a mud house in a hamlet in Barka alone and wholly dependent on a handful of expats from the souk and the imam of a nearby mosque. These people provide him with food daily and collect RO35 every month for the upkeep of his home.

And it’s not just the retired army general who lives under such conditions. More elderly people in Oman are slowly being abandoned by their kin; being confined within their own homes or left to fend for themselves.

It’s a state of affairs that one official from the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD), Ahmed al Mahrooqi calls “heartless”.

While the topic is now gaining traction as a controversial news item, with Y’s sister company Al Wisal exposing another angle – on how elderly Omanis are being mistreated in homes and not given proper medication – there’s more pressure from the ministry to understand how many people are affected.

The answer to that, says Madiha al Balushi, a social worker and statistician for the Electronic Census for Population, Housing and Establishments 2020 – E-Census – is “one that needs careful analysis before publishing”.

In an exclusive interview with Y, she says “It’s impossible to put down numbers on how many elderlies have been abandoned. In fact, I do know that it’s something that’s being considered by the Ministry of Social Development to officiate.

“But, there are several roadblocks that will come along its way – the first being the lack of a tracking system to see whether the parents are actually away from their kids by their own will or by force.

“That can only be put into perspective if society comes together and forms a committee to report on such heinous acts against humanity, and more sadly, their own parents.

She then recalls an incident from 2011, when one parent was

abandoned on the streets of Qarn al Alam – a small pass-by for travellers from Muscat to Salalah – where she was helped by truck drivers and the shopkeeper at the petrol station in the town.

“This was one of the more widely-publicised incidents that showed us how family culture and life was changing. Abandoning the elderly can be for many reasons, but here in Oman, we rarely come across such cases.

“But since about the early 2000s, I’ve been getting reports of such acts. It’s upsetting to see, and it must be stopped.

Madiha cannot confirm whether the abandoned mother from Qarn al Alam found her way back home or not but does reveal that there is a substantial number of similar cases now being reported, as the number of Oman’s elderly increases.

By late 2018 nearly 253,725 residents in Oman were above the age of 55. What’s more staggering is that, as Oman’s healthcare and social welfare systems improve, more than 75,000 more will be added to the mix by 2025.

According to the MOSD, by 2050, the elderly will form nearly 20.5 per cent of the total population of Oman – a near 14.6 per cent increase from the current number.

It’s a trend that Ahmed from the MOSD finds reassuring for the nation but worrying when coupled with the issue of abandonment and healthcare provision.

Ahmed, a young Omani, is also a volunteer at the Sultan Qaboos Hospital. He says: “We want to see more people live longer lives in Oman and, to an extent, we are gearing up for these changes in almost all regards except in providing adequate shelter for the elderly.

“It’s something that we are working towards – we cannot lie. Our current facility runs quite full on most occasions and expansion is something the ministry may be considering but that’s not something that I can reveal or confirm.”

Our interview with Ahmed raises several red flags, as we learn that the only social care home for the elderly remains in Rustaq, where the last known statistics were published in 2015.

As per MOSD figures, the care facility was home to only 31 individuals – of which 25 were males and six were females – who had no relatives to rely on. The care home also aims to offer social, psychological, health and recreational care services to the ‘guests’.

Sadly for several of these guests, there’s no returning back to a conventional life.

All our efforts to contact the care home are in vain.

Even Ahmed rebuffs our request for an interview with the elderly, citing privacy concerns. He also avoids our questions on whether there’s an increase in Omanis opting to have elderly parents reside in the care home and if the home is at full capacity.

But, Aisha al Barwani, a social worker, psychologist, and life coach who frequents homes that request help has much to say about these changing trends.

She explains: “The term ‘Westernisation’ is perhaps the wrong term that classifies this act but it is sadly the one that is being used today. While this can mean adopting new cultures – and this cruel act certainly fits the bill – there’s a lot at play here when we look at things.

“One of the greatest reasons for this is the adoption of nuclear families (a couple and their dependent children, regarded as a basic

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social unit), which leaves no space for the elderly.

“Moreover, with both the husband and the wife taking up the roles of breadwinners in their search for economic stability, family values and life has to take a backseat.

“Up to an extent, this leaves a little bit of room for Omani mothers.

“But for fathers, it’s a whole different story. In my town in Muttrah, I remember one Omani father who ran away from home because he was being mistreated and abused by his son. He was reportedly termed ‘useless’ by his own child.

“He sought refuge in our home for a few days before one of the banks in Oman hired him as a security guard and provided him with accommodation.

“He died two years later from heatstroke while on duty. There’s just no time to look after your own parents even if they’re with you,” a visibly-upset Aisha reveals.

Aisha has a point. As we investigate further, we learn that many Omanis refuse to abandon their parents for fear of tarnishing their reputation in living circle public but instead opt to have hired help take care of their parents – often in grow.” small secluded rooms and away from the main rooms.

As per a The Ihsaan Association is one of the few non-profit organisations that United Nations’ offer help to the elderly in need of everything from housing to medical resolution, the country equipment – all for free. also commemorates the While this aims to reduce the burden of an aged adult on their children, ‘International Day of Older Persons’ it’s an organisation created to help the aged feel at home… and wanted. annually.

However, our meeting with the head of the Ihsaan Association, Jokha al In view of this, the MOSD holds a Farsi, leads to some shocking and sombre revelations. celebration that covers several subjects, The first among these is the plea of one visually-impaired father who including ‘inauguration of new enterprises in had complained of mistreatment by his domestic staff but this had not been the field of elderly care, studies and research in heeded by his sons. The staff would constantly torture the man by pouring the field of elderly care to develop the provided scalding hot tea down his throat. services, media aspects on the central A few months later, however, his throat was completely and local levels, honoring the distinguished impaired and dark bruises were found on his wrinkled body. elderly who have given a lot to the community But, in the end, as per Jokha, it was a hidden camera that and have prominent role in the society, honoring revealed the disturbing footage of the abuse. The video further the units of distinguished services by the competent revealed how hot tea was forced down his throat every single authorities and honoring some individuals interested in day. providing services to the elderly’.

THAT CAN ONLY BE She then adds that more cases of abuse are being Whether this is why organisations such as the uncovered in the Sultanate.

PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE Ihsaan Association and other private groups are “Somehow, today, people do not have time to spend looking after elderly people is not known but some IF SOCIETY COMES with their parents. And when they do, they do not know people are going that extra mile – by taking in the TOGETHER AND how to take good care of them,” she says, stressing how FORMS A COMMITTEE parents of others. her organisation provides free courses on caring for an One example of this is Mubashir and Salwa al TO REPORT ON SUCH elderly relative.

HEINOUS ACTS AGAINST Harthy, who is introduced to us by our guide in Barka.

Sharing some tips with Y, she points out: “The rooms HUMANITY, AND MORE The couple wed in an arranged marriage six years ago. (of the elderly parents) should be located in the middle While neither had known the other before the wedding, SADLY, THEIR OWN of the house, with a window and a television. We need to they had one thing in common: they were both orphans.

PARENTS install CCTV cameras to check on them and view how Mubashir says: “As kids, we had never found ourselves they are being treated. lacking anything. The people around us were kind enough to let us grow The Ihsaan Association has gone as far as demonstrating a ‘perfect room’ and follow our dreams but as we embarked on family life, we realised that in their headquarters in Mabelah – translated from ‘Aunt Naseera Room’ – having children wouldn’t complete our family but having parents would. in a bid to raise awareness.

“It sounded silly to us and we got into a lot of trouble with our uncles and The association also has two ambulances, which are driven by licensed aunts for raising this. volunteers, and is providing free services to more than 500 elderly patients “Eventually, however, we spoke about it and eventually took in our across Muscat and its surrounding areas every year. mother – whose name is also, coincidentally, Salwa.”

It’s an effort that the government of Oman is also extensively Salwa, who turns 72 this May, came to the family in 2017 and has been undertaking, albeit with discretion. with it ever since. Today, she goes shopping, and goes out to movies and So, aside from home care, officials aim to instill in the younger generation restaurants with her new ‘children’. However, she is shy, and refrains from a sense of respect towards the elderly, through school lessons and other an interview with us. social studies.

It’s a joyful story when compared with many of the others we come across During our interview, Aisha al Barwani pointedly says: “The family abides during our investigation. It’s a beacon of hope in what is otherwise an everby the orders and advice of their parents – that’s how it must be. Give them worrying situation. the leading role in your family and watch the respect within your social and But we are still haunted by Ret. Brig. Gen. Fahad’s last words to us before we leave him on a cold Saturday morning.

He holds our hand and says with tears in his eyes: “Always love your parents. Always,” before our guide and translator slowly tugs him away and seats him on his straw cot.

We later learn he has run away from his home in Barka and cannot be traced.

His strong piercing eyes, which reflected a full and once happy life, will always be in our thoughts. ■

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OMAN

The Sultanate is spellbinding – a land blessed with outstanding natural beauty, heritage, and wonder. Here, Team Y’s Aftab H. Kola rediscovers those enigmatic nuggets of interest that may have been forgotten but have definitely not gone

hofar’s (zero) Gravity Point Can there be a place on Earth where normal rules of gravitational pull don’t apply? We all know that no vehicle can ascend a slope if you switch off its engine but it will go down one.

However, there is a point in Oman where if you switch off your car engine on a slope, your car WILL climb it, at a speed of 25-30 km/hr!

Unbelievable but true.

From Taqah on the way to Mirbat, near Tawi Attair (a 210 metre-deep sinkhole); take a left and you will reach Gravity Point, where your vehicle will be pulled uphill even if you switch off its engine.

Turn the ignition off, release the brakes and your car will start to move uphill for about 150 metres, seemingly defying the laws of gravity. This is due to an optical illusion in neuroscience, which means that a very slight gradient appears to be an uphill slope.

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man’s oldest tree: 260 million years-old A fossilised tree can be found displayed loftily at the front entrance of the Natural History Museum at Al Khuwayr.

Plucked from the desert at Al Huqf in Wusta Region, it is believed to be 260 million years-old or as old as the universe.

It was discovered by geologists and then meticulously transported to the museum.

The tree, it is believed, fell into a stream and became buried in channel sands. Sometimes, a natural disaster like an earthquake or a sudden volcanic eruption buries large swathes of trees in soft sediment.

This leads to petrification, a process of fossilisation in which dissolved minerals replace organic matter.

Trapped and devoid of oxygen, the tree ended up being preserved almost intact, even after millions of years.

immah sink hole: Nature’s miracle Oman is not short of some pretty impressive sinkholes but Bimmah sinkhole (The Hawiyat Najm) is unique.

Not far away from Quriyat, about 40km towards Sur, is where you will find Oman’s second-biggest sinkhole.

The big depression on the surface makes for an amazing view. This is a natural phenomenon and is due to the erosion of limestone and the caving of the rocks around it.

Some believe that this strange, deep hole was created after a meteorite pounded the area.

Fairly deep crystal-clear, turquoise waters make it ideal for a swim. A flight of 80 steps with side railings will lead you to the bottom.

It’s also a great place to bring the family for a day out, where you can enjoy the adjoining gardens.

And the Bimmah sink hole became something of a star turn after being featured in the Nike commercial ‘Make It Count’ in which the actor (or stuntman) dived from the top right part into the waters below (not recommended).

undial survives passage of time Watches were first created in the 17th century, when the invention of the first self-winding mechanism in the UK freed clockmakers from weight-driven mechanisms.

Arabia had different ways of keeping time. Muslim astronomers and engineers developed a string of dials for timekeeping and for determining the times of the five daily prayers.

Sundials are the oldest known devices used to measure time. They lost their importance with the extensive use of mechanical clocks after the 17th century, and have largely been eroded due to wear and tear down the centuries.

A sundial depends on the rotation and movement of the sun. As the sun moves from east to west, the shadows formed project the time of day.

There is still a sundial proudly nestled within the campus of Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat. Let’s hope the students know what it is.

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ALL THE WORLD’S A CIRCUS! A circus is all about artists, athletes, and entertainers par excellence. Team Y finds out what it takes to be a Cirque du Soleil performer, as the world-famous production company prepares for its first visit to Oman

T

he life of a circus performer is one that has long been known to be something of an enigma.

And it’s our job as audience members to attend, enjoy the performances, and leave the artists be.

It’s a tried-and-tested model that has been in place for centuries.

But when you highlight an entertainment company such as Cirque du Soleil, there’s no denying that it does whisk up a dash of intrigue in the minds of its spectators.

After all, Cirque du Soleil is the largest entertainment company in the world and is home to more than 5,000 employees. That’s more staff than most multi-national companies have here in the Sultanate.

What’s more astonishing is that the troop features performers from around the globe – all of whom have come together and put aside their cultural differences to develop an artistic feast for our eyes and ears.

It’s only fitting, then, that we ask just who these performers are and what goes on behind the curtain – away from the spotlight.

Answering our questions – and that of several Y readers – this week is Samantha Pitard, an artist of the act, 'hairceau'.

To give readers an idea, this daredevil act is one that features a woman suspended by a metal loop that’s embedded in her topknot.

Here is an excerpt from our interview:

Q A

Y: Being a performer at Cirque du Soleil must be a challenge but how does it feel being accepted into a company of more than 5,000 artists?

Samantha Pitard: This company is a great supporter of dreams. I feel blessed because I can work with the BAZZAR cast and crew and they are the best in the business. I never stop learning in this company! I love how they challenge me to keep pushing my boundaries.

Y: What does it take to join Cirque du Soleil?

SP: At Cirque du Soleil, more than 60 per cent of the artists come from a sports background such as gymnastics, trampoline, tumbling, acro-sport, diving, martial arts and synchronized swimming. Cirque also hires professional athletes to work behind the scenes. The cast of BAZZAR is showcasing a full range of different disciplines, including Mallakhamb, for the first time at Cirque du Soleil.

Q A

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Y: What diet do you follow to keep healthy and in shape for events, and more importantly, what are your training and practice regimes like?

SP: As artists, we perform around 10 shows a week, including weekends, which make our routines extremely hectic. To maintain a balance for a healthy lifestyle, we get fitness training and are all taught breathing exercises. One month before a première, we start training and rehearsing for our shows. The entire Cirque du Soleil team works together to be ready to offer the audience an awe-inspiring experience.

Q A

Q A

Y: Safety is a priority in all your productions. But what runs through your mind just as you begin your routine?

SP: I have been training for countless hours over many years to develop the skills to perform the acts the audience will see on stage. I have complete trust in my capacities and experience, as in that of the highly professional team that surrounds me. We are dedicated and work hard to put together the best show possible every night in the safest environment possible. Cirque du Soleil is known in the industry as one of the safest companies to work for. We are all highly trained and experienced professionals. I personally have performed my act hundreds of times already. Of course, circus arts come with a certain level of residual risk. As artists, it’s something we learn to live with very early on and its part of what we thrive on. Being aware of the risk is part of keeping safe. ■

Cirque du Soleil’s ‘BAZZAR’ will kick off on March 28 and proceed until April 6 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Those interested can purchase tickets from tixbox.com.

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COMPETITION

Presented by

In Association With

e m i t e f i L A f O e g d Ple Children will write it and parents will sign it – let’s take the pledge together towards safer roads. In celebration of the recent GCC Traffic Week held on March 10-17, Y calls out for families to join the ‘My Road Safety Pledge’ and stand a chance to win a top prize.

R

oad safety awareness plays a significant role in shaping the attitudes and behaviour of children and young people – guaranteeing they become responsible drivers, passengers and pedestrians in the future.

With the highest number of deaths on the road in the GCC, figures for the Sultanate are staggering – with one death for every ten accidents, and 3,845 accidents occurring in 2017 alone, based on the latest available data. Of those incidents, 640 resulted in fatalities.

To teach children from a young age to be aware of traffic rules and regulations, Y

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Magazine is once again conducting the ‘My Road Safety Pledge’ competition in conjunction with the regional GCC Traffic Week.

To participate in the competition, children will write a ‘My Road Safety Pledge’ on behalf of their parents in a custom-made card. We hope you picked up yours already in the March 7 issue of Y Magazine! The ‘My Road Safety Pledge’ card has a space where children can pen the pledge on behalf of their parents.

The Road Safety Pledge has to be countersigned by their parents as the purpose is also to promote the message of road safety to parents through their children. The best three pledges

will win a cash reward.

Once the Road Safety Pledge is written on the supplied card, parents are requested to drop the card at designated drop-boxes coming soon across Muscat.

Participants can also look forward to a soon-tobe-announced on-ground activation event where children will colour the cards and take the Road Safety Pledge, with the winners being announced at a special upcoming ceremony where they’ll receive their prizes. More details will be coming soon – so be sure to pick up your latest copy of Y Magazine every week at select locations across Muscat! ■

SPONSORS’ CORNER Honda’s National Sales Manager in Oman, Sulaiman al Rashdi, a pioneer with over two decades of experience in the automotive industry as a brand development manager across several carmakers, talks about how Honda has been able to achieve its safety goals while still sticking to the vision of its forefathers

In Association With

Honda’s philosophy has been the same since it was founded in 1948 – ‘The power of dreams’ – and what started from a normal bicycle soon changed into cars, aircrafts, and Formula One engines. The first pillar of the Honda Philosophy is ‘Respect for the Individual’, the second is ‘the Three Joys’. Honda stands or falls on the knowledge, expertise and skills of its staff. Honda wants to be a company in which employees can take the initiative, in which equality is a tangible asset and in which people can trust each other.

But its legacy, which was set down by its founders – Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa – was to follow its core values at all times. The ‘Three Joys’ are: one, the joy of buying; two, the joy of selling; and three, the joy of creating.

The joy felt by a person who has bought a car is the fairest measure of the value of the product – and we here at OMASCO have been following these principles since our inception in 1975. This has been a driving force at large for both Honda and our company.

It also falls in line with the brand’s goal to provide customers with the highest quality product at a reasonable price. In fact, this is also what has led to making Honda one of the safest brands in the automotive industry.

Since I joined at Honda, the brand has never stopped surprising us. And the Civic, Accord, CR-V, HR-V, Pilot, and Odyssey have all been truly phenomenal – from the safety aspect, to the features and comfort that you can find in these segments.

Some of the safety features you find in these cars include Honda Sensing, Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, air-bags (including driver and passenger knee air-bags), rain-sensing windshield wipers, electric parking brake, LED headlamps, Driver Attention Monitor, and more.

Safety is more than just an added feature, today. It must be integrated into every car as a basic piece of kit – and every car you’ll see in our line-up will have some form of these features added across its variants.

So, setting aside the engineers, designers, and marketers from Honda itself, even the employees of OMASCO are trained extensively to be a part of the selling process with each person being made aware of the technology behind each feature through training processes.

This is why you’ll find a common quality of service no matter who you approach or whichever car you buy. And this has been Honda’s biggest selling point in this region.”

HERE’S WHY YOU’RE ALWAYS SAFE IN A HONDA WITH HONDA SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSIST ACETM Body Structure

COMPETITION RULES:

● The competition is open to children ages 16 and under. ● Cards must be completed by children only and then signed by a parent or guardian. Entries will be disqualified if there is evidence of parental involvement. ● Entries received after the closing date of March 30 will not go forward to the judging stage. ● Children of employees of SABCO Media or associated companies are excluded from taking part. ● The editor’s decision is final. ● Winners will be notified by email or telephone.

ACE™ stands for Advanced Compatibility Engineering™, and it’s a Honda-exclusive body design that uses a network of front frame structures to absorb and deflect the energy from a frontal collision. This helps reduce the force transferred to the cabin and more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles involved. That means it’s not just Honda drivers that are safer in the event of a collision—it’s everybody.

To help us create a safer driving experience for our customers—and to continue refining the ACE™ Body Structure—Honda operates two of the world’s most sophisticated crash safety research and testing facilities, in Ohio and Japan. This includes the world’s first multidirectional crash test facility at our automobile R&D center in

Japan. Not all collisions in the real world are head-on, so Honda didn’t want to test only head-on collisions, but many types of crash scenarios including: car-to-car impacts, car-tobarrier collisions, front, side ,and rear impacts, and offset and oblique-angle collisions.

Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ body structure with new crash-stroke design helps enhance occupant protection and cabin integrity by distributing frontal impact energy more evenly throughout the vehicle.

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COMPETITION

Presented by

In Association With

d r o w e h t s ’ m Mu

Calling all children across Oman! Show us just how much you love your mummy this Mother’s Day and enter for a chance to crown her as ‘Oman’s Best Mum’, as we kick off our annual competition once again!

M

others are the lifeline of the family – there’s no denying that, and it is high time we give our mums the credit they deserve. That is why Y Magazine has teamed up with PUCK to show the mums of Oman just how much they’re loved by their children, in a special competition to coincide with Mother’s Day in the GCC, which is celebrated on March 21.

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This is the fifth edition of the competition – and following trend, this year’s will even be bigger and better than ever!

In 2018, we saw our boxes inundated with hundreds of entries as children across the capital put their feelings down on paper, proving why, in their opinion, their mum was the best in the world.

It’s not just the title of Oman’s Best Mum that’s on the line. Thanks to PUCK, there will be several valuable prizes up for grabs for the

top three entries. And, if this isn’t motivation enough to show your love, then we don’t know what is – just think of all the treats you could buy your Mum as a thank you for all that she does for you.

The first real human interaction a child has once they’re born is with their mother. It’s a bond that’s strong and beyond what words can convey. But, every now and then, we must try and express our love for our beloved mothers. And Team Y is thrilled to bring our loyal readers a competition that will do just that!

To enter, you’ll need to be age 16 or under. Just pick up a special card, which will be slotted into this issue of Y Magazine and fill it with a heartfelt message of love for your mum.

Remember, our judges will be selecting the winners based on content and creativity so don’t be afraid to get artistic Last year, we received poems, drawings, touching words and simple displays of gratitude, so getting creative is a must.

Look out for the A5 card in this issue of Y. Complete your entry and be as creative as you like with words and pictures – good luck and remember to say it with love!

AND FINALLY: ● The top three entries will also be framed and given back to the participants for them to present to their mothers as a keepsake. ● The competition closes on March 30 and our winners will be awarded their prizes with their mum at a special ceremony.

m u m u yo e v o L

COMPETITION RULES: ● The competition is open to children aged 16 and under. ● Cards must be decorated and written by children only. Entries will be disqualified if there is evidence of parental involvement. ● Entries received after the closing date, March 30, will not go forward to the judging stage. ● Children of employees of SABCO Media or associated companies are excluded from taking part. ● The editor’s decision is final. ● Winners will be notified by email or telephone. ● Winners and their mums must be able to attend the prize ceremony in Muscat on a date to be confirmed.

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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 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

TAWI AL SAIH OFF-ROADING NEAR RUSTAQ HAS SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI STUMBLING UPON A RUIN-FILLED WADI WHERE ECHOES OF THE PAST CAN STILL BE HEARD 032

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Cars

place.

This was the case as our wheels rolled north towards the Rustaq area as we made time along the Muscat Expressway on a Thursday morning, leaving the rush hour crush behind us as the weekend ticked down.

Our intent was to head farther, towards the historical town of Al Awabi in the heart of the Al Batinah region. We intended to spend the day exploring its wadis as we were on the trail of finding a ship-shaped ruin hidden in one of its green oases.

From the start, things began to go offtrack – no pun intended – as we veered left at a roundabout that we thought would take us in the direction of Al Awabi, when in fact we continued on down the highway a few clicks too far.

So it was that we ended up completely lost for bearings – mile-markers tend to be an afterthought in the interiors – and heading westward towards Tawi Al Saih.

Located down a ridge and in a wadi, it’s a secluded village of ruins that carries a heavy energy.

People once lived here and, wandering through its abandoned structures, history still speaks amid every stone. The ruins are typical of the old mud-and-stone homes built at least three or four generations ago – or around 100 years back. While the sun beat down upon our faces, we gazed up at the tall, scrappy stands of date palms that seemed to be standing sentinel, looking at

us as though we were interlopers.

Though dry, as we stood on the lip of the wadi, we imagined what life would have been like for the villagers who had lived here during times of plenty. When the wadi was full, their crops would have thriven, their livestock would have been watered, and life along its banks would have been plentiful.

What was left offered us only faded snapshots of a bygone era – as a little farther up the path carved by the wadi’s stream, was a small reservoir area with a dry well and a small hut of a ruin that now serves as a small pumphouse. Fresh cement bolstered the old structure, and a small generator unit was affixed to the side of the building while, oddly, two megaphones pointed skywards from the roof.

As we trekked back up the ravine to the cliff-top above the village, we noticed a man seated on the ground under a scrub tree, the branches of which were weighted down at the top by dozens of colourful fabrics tied to its limbs. How they got there, or what purpose they served…we didn’t know.

Perhaps the tree itself held some significance to the villagers who call this rugged area home. Or, perhaps, its function was to serve as an added makeshift shade for the shepherds and goat-herds whose animals forage the rocky terrain.

As he gazed out across the valley below, his canteen slung over his shoulder, we couldn’t help but feel that we were intruding on the solace of the scene – strangers, though in a familiar land, separated by different experiences yet bound by a shared history.

TRAVEL GUIDE

S

ometimes, most times, the experiences we carry with us longest – the ones that linger on – are those we never hoped to find in the first

HOW TO GET THERE From Qurum, take the Muscat Expressway all the way to Rustaq – about an hour’s drive. Take the exit for Rustaq and pass through it until you reach the town of Al Awabi. Just past Al Awabi keep your eye out for the signboard for Tawi Al Saih. Take the exit at the roundabout and follow the road until you reach the village and the wadi.

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

E

ver since its launch two years ago, the Levante became Maserati’s answer to the SUV market. It’s a striking SUV with the character of its much snazzier sports car siblings – the GranTurismo and the Quattroporte.

Speed, charm and appeal; it had it all. However, it still lacked one main aspect: a touch of Ferrari – a twin-turbocharged V8.

And that’s exactly what Maserati is addressing with this mid-life refresh. Underneath it all now lies a fullblown Italian V8 that breathes out enough muscle to outsmart its new rivals – the Lamborghini Urus, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, and perhaps even the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

What you’re looking at here, then, is a track-ready monster that will smoke most sports car offerings from the UK, the US, and even Italy – and those too by some margin.

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M AS E R AT I L E VA N T E GTS

Team Y tests an SUV that blends Italian styling with performance and practicality at a (relatively) affordable price For the most part, the Levante resembles its leaner six-cylinder offerings as it still comes with the sleek headlamps and signature grille.

Mind you, it tends to stand out with a much more aggressive body kit; carbon fibre lip and side skirts; and wider tyres to put down the entire grunt.

It’s understated in its appearance yet overpowering in its overall stance. Other cues include wider intakes upfront to channel in more air into the engine, GTS badging in the rear, and some sharp lines that separate it from its counterpart.

This translates to the interior too: there are carbon accents everywhere – from the large carbon paddles affixed to the column to the center console and other accents on the dashboard.

There’s no mucking about here. The Levante GTS knows it’s a different beast to the regular ‘S’ and it wants everyone in the cabin to know it. Even the leather feels plusher and the seats a bit more snug.

Whether or not it’s as race-ready as its brawnier sibling – the Levante Trofeo (which we’ll be driving soon) – we don’t yet know but there’s still enough to blow the socks off your passengers.

Impressive, yes, but not as remarkable as how well-specced the car is even with all the added super-SUV. There are no unnecessary efforts to save weight: you still get the 8.4-inch TFT touchscreen sporting Maserati’s own skin and user interface, radar-guided cruise control, collision mitigation system, blind-spot monitoring and a host of other safety features.

Space inside is still aimed at pleasing five passengers and the boot space is still pegged at 580 litres. It also comes with the power-operated tailgate to appease families.

Despite all that, however, the most pacifying

feature must be what’s underneath the hood. So, the long front now houses a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from Ferrari underneath its bonnet.

It turns the engine bay into a covenant that breathes out 550hp and an earth-shattering 730Nms of torque. The powertrain is further completed with an eight-speed ‘ZF’ tranny that drives all four wheels.

The results are staggering, frankly. Naught to 100kph is achieved in a mere 4.2 seconds and it will even go on to hit 291kph. There are several aero elements to keep it stable at high speeds; namely, a spoiler and vents that close at high speeds to help keep the car planted on the road.

And planted it remains.

We got to test the performance briefly at the launch event – where we could push the car through tight corners, and gun it on the straights.

Aside from the screaming V8 that bellows upfront, there’s a performance that’ll keep you on your toes at any given moment. The way the Levante GTS

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

MASERATI LEVANTE GTS Specifications: • Engine: 3.8-litre ‘twinturbocharged’ V8 • Transmission: Eight-speed ‘ZF’ automatic • Power: 550hp • Torque: 730Nms • Top Speed: 291kph All-wheel drive 8.4-inch TFT touchscreen Radar-guided cruise control Electric power steering Bowers & Wilkins audio system Surround view camera 20-inch alloy wheels Lane Keeping Assist Full-LED headlamps 580-litres boot space Integrated Vehicle Control Navigation system Six airbags

goes through the digits is utterly mindboggling.

Slamming the pedal to the metal reveals acceleration that can (nearly) lift the front from the ground. It’s an illusion that beggars belief.

The sheer torque that’s spun from as low as 2,000rpm is hard to explain. Perhaps comparing it with the effect of thrusting down the runway in a jet plane would be the nearest comparison.

We know it’s a bit juvenile to compare performances of a flight and an SUV but it’s the effect of hauling a heavybodied (at about two tonnes) piece of aluminium down the tarmac that truly staggers us.

It’s also incredibly controllable and safe to push hard, with a new electric steering added to the mix. While this makes the SUV less predictable initially, we could pin the vehicle down in a matter of minutes.

No corner is too tight for the GTS, and no straight too long.

And coupled with the heavy and responsive steering, we could eke out every bit of performance from this capable SUV. The turn-in and attacking nature of the Levante is probably what helps it power through the corners. It’ll take a bit of confidence to still plant your foot on the gas pedal through the bend but once you begin to trust the ESP, traction control, and all-wheel drive system thoroughly, you’ll realise that there’s no scope of rolling over.

Even body roll is kept to a minimum. However, we found a bit of understeer to creep in through the tightest of turns; probably a feature dialled in to avoid the SUV from landing on its head.

It’s pushing the very laws of physics to its limits, we must say.

Aside from that, the gearbox is better tuned than its V6 siblings, switching gears with ferocity and eagerness. It even likes to hit the rev limiter at 6,000rpm often before the popoff valves come into play.

It’s a fun vehicle to play with after a long, hard day at work. Just keep in mind that the fight between

yaw and pitch on the vehicle will probably be a tad taxing on your body. After all, it’s a two-plus tonne vehicle and it’s always best to respect that.

Still, we don’t suppose its drivers will expect top-dog performance from it at every moment.

And that’s where its soul lies: in cruising up and down the highways with little to no fatigue. Then there’s the soulful soundtrack that pounces on you from the exhaust.

It’s a blend of the flat-plane crank from the American muscle coupled with the soul and depth of an Italian supercar. The resulting symphony is eye-wateringly beautiful; even comparable to some of the finest sports cars we’ve ever driven.

From a fierce note that’s analogous to eight-cylinder engines to the accompanying low notes that you’d perhaps expect from a Pink Floyd song playing from the exhaust, it’s nothing short of a masterpiece waiting to be composed.

This is perhaps what separates the Levante from its rivals.

There isn’t any sense of pretension as to what it can do.

There aren’t any unnecessary frills to make it look like a million dollars but when you want it to, it can rival the performance of some of those cars that do cost as much.

Is this the finest

FROM A FIERCE NOTE THAT’S ANALOGOUS TO EIGHT-CYLINDER ENGINES TO THE ACCOMPANYING LOW NOTES THAT YOU’D PERHAPS EXPECT FROM A PINK FLOYD SONG PLAYING FROM THE EXHAUST, IT’S NOTHING SHORT OF A MASTERPIECE WAITING TO BE COMPOSED. performance SUV ever made? The answer to that we’ll never know but we’ll tell you this: it has already risen to the top as the fastest and most capable one we’ve ever tested.

We’re in love – and that’s high praise for an SUV that deserves the accolade.

But it’ll not live for long; we’ll be hopping into its tauter brother – the Levante Trofeo next week.

Stay tuned!

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CARS ADVENTURES

MAGICAL MALDIVES The island nation continues to

balance a demand for five-star luxury amid an unparalleled natural beauty threatened by climate change.

1. Go snorkelling amid some of the clearest waters on the planet.

2. Indulge yourself with a sumptuous dinner of island cuisine.

3. Take a flight to get the best views of the many colourful atolls.

4. Experience your stay in a resort that offers an over-water ocean villa.

5. Stroll barefoot on the sands, chill out, relax, and read.

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Cars

Y- F i

G a m i n g POSTCARDS FROM

Swati Basu Das recommends

THE MALDIVES T

he Maldives is where you can realise your longing for luxury - and if you come here you certainly won’t be disappointed. A highlyrecommended glitzy honeymoon destination, its atolls are adored by newly-weds and under-water explorers alike. To gaze in wonder at these ringed coral reefs is one of the world’s greatest travel experiences.

Bathing in the vastness of the Indian Ocean, and with turquoise waters caressing its pristine sands, the sun-kissed ivory-white beaches of the Maldives serve up a slice of paradise.

Ruled by an endless seascape, each isolated isle enlightens your senses and aligns them to the sheer tranquility of cobalt-blue sea and beyond.

Luxury here means lying close to nature.

An airstrip surrounded by the ocean offers a spectacular view before landing. The Velana International Airport takes over an entire island, making this part of the world even more exotic. Ferries outside the airport wait to transport tourists to the capital, Malé. The world’s smallest national capital, Malé has an esplanade that sees a constant stream of ferries shuttling to and from those aforementioned atolls. Visiting the National Museum and strolling around the capital’s arcade illuminates the lifestyles of Maldivians and their special culture.

Highly dependent on an ecosystem of the coral reef islands and the marine lifecycle, the Maldives have come roaring back into life even after being swamped by the infamous 2004 tsunami.

Its status as a tourism destination is beyond doubt. The 105 atolls of the Maldives continue to be feted and celebrated, with a steady influx of tourists all year round.

SNORK E ABUND L THE CORA L A N T W IT H MAR REEFS IN E L IF E

IN T H E G MARKET A B U S T L IN MALE C A P IT A L OF

My favourite place

It’s a secluded and quaint luxury resort in the North Male Atoll, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi (meaning ‘white gold’) on Lhohifushi Island. Here, dawn and dusk paint the sky and ocean with rich colours that blend into an impeccable collage. This white coral reef attracts those out to enjoy its pristine beaches, water sports like surfing and diving, and exotic gourmet cuisine. The quirky waterside bungalows that teeter on the shallow ocean bed really do give off a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. Relaxing on a private deck surrounded by water can’t fail to put you in a placid mood, with a few energetic bouts of swimming enjoyed at regular intervals. This island resort offers beachfront rooms and ocean villas far from the hustle and bustle of Malé, and it really does do what it says on the tin.

Highlights The Maldives has the most exciting and lavish taxis in the world – the sea-planes. You name it, and they will fly you to an isolated isle straight from the airport. Depending on your location, the flight times will vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. The resorts are all geared up to pampering their guests. The underwater charm of the reefs of the Maldives beckons snorkellers and divers, and each species of coral, fish, manta rays or the turtles will be sure to amaze you. A pod of playful dolphins is a real show-stopper while enjoying a day-cruise.

Lowlights None, but if you can’t swim you might find yourself at a disadvantage. Check the weather and tide reports before going into the sea.

Souvenirs Dhonis or miniatures of Maldivian sailboats, neckpieces and bracelets made from sea-shells and stones can be found, and pretty pink and red coral necklaces are very popular buys, too

Getting there Oman Air operates direct flights to The Maldives from Muscat International Airport.

Where to stay The phrase ‘embarrassment of riches’ is one that comes to mind. Most of the

MALD IVIAN C OCO THE BR NUTS RIPEN ON ANCH

islands offer accommodation that is the last word in either lavish or understated luxury. It’s simply a matter of logging on to the usual websites such as Trivago, Expedia, Kayak etc and trawling through the options. It’s a highly enjoyable search, though.

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THE TECH IN YOU

D e s t i n at i o n

Cars

Gaming

Y- F I

OMANI INNOVATIONS

The Y Geek Squad previews some tasty new bits of tech, as unveiled by the IT entrepreneurs of tomorrow BRAN PLATES Eating food on food?

One product will help you say goodbye to plastic plates! These environmentallyfriendly plates are made from 100 per cent natural ingredients and can be safely microwaved.

Designed by students from Al Musanna College of Technology, the bran-made plates cost RO1.5 for six pieces.

They can be disposed of and used later as fodder for cattle or as plant fertilisers because they degrade within 30 days. This student-run start-up is planning to expand its line of products to include a range of kitchen utensils.

A TRUE CONTENDER More than 600 people lost their lives on Oman’s roads in 2017. To help cut down on fatalities, students from the International College for Engineering and Management have developed a device that alerts police and the ambulance service about any serious road accident before they get the official call. The idea is that a small chip is installed behind a car’s front window so that when an accident happens, it evaluates the impact and sends signals to the nearest relevant authorities. The solar-powered device is fire-proof and unbreakable, according to its creators, Al Thiqa. In case there’s an issue with the chip, the company has designed an app that notifies drivers of any possible problem with it.

RESIZABLE SANDALS Tired of spending a fortune on sandals that wear out in less than six months? Cobbler, a student company, has just unveiled some sandals for men that have an adjustable belt that can expand to three different sizes. The company was established in September 2018 by a team from Sultan Qaboos University. The made-in-Oman sandals come with replaceable belts of different colours so that the customer can redesign the sandal’s look. For RO35, you can buy a sandal that never ages!

SMART ADAPTER

EDITOR’S PICK

AFTER AN ALARMING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSE FIRES IN OMAN DUE TO OVERCHARGING PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES, STUDENTS FROM THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HAVE CREATED ‘PLUGGUS’, A SMART ADAPTER THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED THROUGH A MOBILE APP TO GO ON AND OFF AS PER THE USER’S SCHEDULE. THE TIMER CAN BE SET VIA AN ANDROID APP THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION. THIRTEEN STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT ENGINEERING BACKGROUNDS HAVE JOINED FORCES TO START THE ELECTRONICO COMPANY. PLUGGUS IS ITS FIRST PRODUCT, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE

RELEASED SOON ONTO THE MARKET. 038

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Forbidden Forgiveness

Info Box

The Y Geek Squad has a wicked and wonderful time with the scariest game we’ve ever played

other game would, but also sprinkles in alternative fiction such as the addition of multiverses and flip realities.

Complicated, yes, but it’s a genre that hasn’t been put to the test in recent times. emember games like The gameplay by itself is nothing short Slenderman, Resident Evil, and of nightmarish – the fluidic graphics Silent Hill? renders monsters with the efficacy you’d Classics by their own normally expect from a James Wan flick standards, these titles define horror while the controllability of the character games so much that new titles often lack – whose name we’re still a bit unsure of the sheer thrills that their forerunners – is one that demands applause. used to offer.

This game can alter your perception on There’s something alluring about concepts such as heaven and hell – with choppy graphics and neatly-crafted the latter receiving much of the focus, of storylines from the 1990s that trumps course. the cheap chills that newer titles tend to It’s not for the squeamish, as cut-scenes offer. and gameplay, along with the dark colour But every so often, we find a new schemes and grim soundtracks can have a player slipping between the cracks and into the realms of these time-tested masterpieces – and Forbidden Forgiveness, a game developed by Geeky Mouse, has all the makings of one.

While it’s still too early to test our theory, we recently tried out the beta version of the game in anticipation of its debut on Steam later this year.

Off the bat, Forbidden Forgiveness ticks so many boxes often left untouched by developers. The resulting game is a fantastic rendition of a psychological thriller -cum-puzzle and problemsolving skills.

The storyline, from our brief encounter with the game, is one that deserves much applause, too. It pits you against the usual monsters and freaky creatures that any

R

Developer: GEEKY MOUSE Producer: GEEKY MOUSE Genre: PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR Platforms: PC (CONFIRMED), PS4 AND XBOX ONE (EXPECTED)

lasting impact on gamers.

To put things into perspective, there’s a scene with human kidneys hanging from the ceiling and other body parts embedded in the walls, and one in which a covered-up torture victim has syringes inserted into their brain.

Decisions of players can also result in alternative endings – if that’s what you expect from your game.

We aren’t exaggerating: this may very well be the scariest game that we’ve ever got our hands on. Forbidden Forgiveness, aside from its asinine title, is a surreal and grotesque psychological horror adventure not for the faint-hearted.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Beauty

FASHION

MODERN MAN

From fresh prints and shades of sage to exaggerated lines and the return of the bucket hat, the runways of Spring Fashion Week saw the ultimate post-modern revival of men’s couture – like this sleek ensemble from Fendi

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More compact than a carry-all and sportier than a ‘man-purse’, cross-body bags were taking over the catwalks as one of Spring/Summer’s hottest trends in menswear accessories. And c’mon guys – do you really want to keeping stuffing your keys, phone, and oversized wallet in your pants pocket? Sling on this monogram cross-body bag from River Island for RO7.6 and be on your way!

, reet ook t s l gh e hi get the h t d to you to n e gh ps e hi att hel h t rr Fromlee Sta Ash

Re-live those formative years of ‘Teen Spirit’ and embrace the 90s as grunge chic and rave revival come full circle once again.

Think oversized, bold apparel, and big-collared shirts. This coral-stripe short-sleeve shirt from River Island will have you ‘Big Lebowski’-ing all the way to the bowling alley.

Snag it for RO12.7.

Unexpected shirting had us doing a double-take at the Alexander McQueen and Lanvin shows – but untucked doesn’t have to mean unkempt. Keep your tails and cuffs flapping in this asymmetric heapfront shirt from Dresslily for just RO19.1.

Spring/Summer’s go-to guy accessory is less your father’s fly-fishing kit, and more ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’. It will, however, keep you looking fly – as this season’s bucket hats will have you brimming with style (all puns intended). Don this black jewel print version from Versace for RO108.

There were some serious kicks stomping out the men’s footwear edit for Spring/Summer.

Topping them all was the iconic cowboy boot.

Bold, brash, and brave, it’s a look that takes confidence to pull off. Not ready to go full frontier? These dark tan leather ankle boots from Clark’s are the perfect starter kit. Own them for RO48.5.

Everything old was new again across the season’s top fashion houses as the retro watch revival brought a subtle touch of hipster to the wrists of this season’s menswear models. Strap on this steampunk-inspired goldleaf sun-and-moon version from Mr. Jones for RO133.4 and never be late on style.

Of all the earth tones to strut down the menswear runways this season, nothing caught our eye more than the gorgeously versatile sage green.

The perfect shade; dress it up or down – especially on a pair of trousers, like these fivepocket straightleg stretch-twill ones from Faherty. Own them for RO61.41.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

BEAUTY

Fashion

Home

Family

Going au naturel?

From celebs like Jennifer Connolly and Lily Collins to models such as Cara Delevingne, Hollywood has never been shy about making a statement.

It’s a look we love, as naturally thick brows are not only gorgeous but can also offset and soften a heavy jawline or balance out rounder face shapes. They also give you more to work with when it comes to shaping them in the way that suits you best. To give them that strikingly voluptuous look, a brow gel and a good pair of tweezers will be your go-to tools. We love Innisfree Ultrafine Browscara to ensure all those stray hairs stay in place while adding definition to your arches! Grab it for RO2.6.

Eyebrow architecture When it comes to filling in eyebrows, it’s always best to go with your natural face shape. But if yours have become patchy and thinned after years of threading or over-plucking then you might want to look into the benefits of micro-blading – a minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure where your brows are filled in using a semi-permanent ‘tattooing’ method. How does it work? A pen-like tool with a dozen small needles at the end is used to gently ‘scratch’ rather than penetrate the skin with a medical-grade pigment, creating realistic hair strokes along the brow. It’s a costly procedure but one that can be customised to the client, based on the shape and colour that works best for them. A microblading treatment at London’s SumanBrows Beauty Atelier, for example, will cost you a cool RO255.6. Here in Muscat you can get them done at Boudoir Boutique in Shatti Al Qurum.

Thin vs. thick Growing in sparse brows may seem like an uphill battle but it doesn’t have to be. Instead, arm yourself with a good brow kit and a few tricks of the trade. It’s always a good idea to keep your eyebrows as close to their natural shape as possible and use filler shadows or pencils that are just a few shades darker than your natural tone for added definition (but avoid using overly dark pencils or liners that will leave you looking vampy). If your brows are arched differently or vary in length or shape due to sparse hair growth, you can help make them look even by picturing a straight line that begins directly above your nostril and goes upward to your brow. This is where you’ll want to begin filling in. When it comes to the right kit, we love the workhorse of the luxury brow world – Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Kit. Buy it for RO24.9.

The Y beauty team offers up our ultimate grooming tips and trends for the most expressive part of your face!

T

hreading vs. waxing vs. plucking? Or how about just leaving them au naturel?

Feeling a little thinned out from it all? We hear you. Without a doubt our brows are one of the fundamental facets that make up our face’s emotional barometer.

We furrow them when we frown, we raise them in surprise, and you best believe we cock them when we’re on the receiving end of something we just don’t like.

In short, our eyebrows help us express our feelings and reactions to the world around us. Without them, we’d have a permanent case of resting mannequin face. Full or feathered, plucked or drawn-on – all brows, however you choose to grow them – are beautiful and expressive. Here are a few ways to highlight and take care of your visage’s most unique emotional landscape.

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Tinted love Unlike threading or waxing, brow tinting is a way of making your eyebrows appear more enhanced or defined via a colour boost – and minus the hair removal. However, it’s a process best left to the pros, and you can choose from a range of shade options that best suit your natural tone or offer up a hit of contrast. Darker brows, for example, can help to accentuate lighter coloured eyes. Most treatments use non-harsh vegetable-based dyes, and it’s a process that can also help sparse arches appear thicker. Expect monthly upkeep though, so if you want to test drive a tint at-home before committing, we recommend a tinted eyebrow gel such as Maybelline TattooStudio Waterproof Gel Makeup which you can grab for RO6.5.

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Getting over an illness takes longer than we think, says Martina Mason. Here, she explains why our recovery time should be respected

L

ast month, I had a bout of flu that was so bad I thought the end was nigh.

You know, the type that renders you completely helpless: shivering one minute, burning up the next; unable to eat anything; head pounding; and almost so incapacitating you can’t navigate a straight line from the bedroom to the bathroom.

So in the midst of all that come the calls (woe betide you if you turn off your phone) and the demands.

The boss rather plaintively-but-pointedly asks: “So when do you think you’ll be back in?”

The husband tries to be helpful but secretly thinks you’re being a drama queen (pity he’s a bear with a sore head when he has a mere cold); and the kids carry on regardless (although they do miss my cooking).

The trouble is, we simply don’t take enough time to recover from the ailments that can lay us low.

It seems the reasoning is that unless we are in hospital, we can’t possibly be sick enough to be off work or absent from our daily duties.

I once threw a cushion at the TV after seeing a commercial for a brand of cold and flu cure that depicted a man calling off the dogs at work by drinking this apparent elixir of a medicine. The ad bore the slogan: “Sorts the men from the boys”.

How offensive and irresponsible is that? Is everybody’s body chemistry identical? Is everybody’s workload or personal circumstances the same? I don’t think so.

I’ve known friends coming back to work after chemotherapy or cardiac surgery who have all been hit with a sense of uncertainty about their

prospects, and whether or not they can still perform as before.

A boss will say “Take all the time you need” (but he doesn’t mean it) and a doctor will say “Time to get on with your life” (it’s your body he’s fixed not your mind).

But the issue of sick leave (paid or otherwise) can be a serious one for many workers, and particularly the low-paid.

In the United States, the supermarket giant Walmart has been accused of penalising (and even firing) staff for taking days off sick, and US Senator and presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has criticised the company for its sick leave policy.

This is why a more sensitive doctor sees the fear in patients’ eyes when he or she tells them they need more time to get well.

Mercifully, my doctor believes that convalescence is as crucial as any appropriate medication.

She says: “Resting is not ‘doing nothing’. It’s about getting your energy levels back. If you feel hungry, eat. If you feel tired, sleep. And if you

don’t feel like doing something then don’t do it.

Listen to your body, and don’t fight it.”

Mind you, I think football managers have the right idea.

A savvy boss will give an injured player all the recovery time he needs because what matters is his performance for the whole season not just one game.

Therefore, these wealthy players get all the time they need because they need to perform at their best to justify the huge sums invested in them.

Fixing ourselves is not like rebooting our computers.

Going back to work without being fully well is unfair to our colleagues as well as ourselves.

And the boss that exhorts you back too early will certainly not thank you if you pass on a virus that then takes down many of your colleagues.

But this ‘sickness-equals-weakness’ mentality that is so prevalent today certainly doesn’t help matters, and impedes one’s road to recovery.

It’s actually quite disheartening to see that YouTube is full of clips that demonise sick employees as devious, mendacious miscreants.

Those loaded with alleged experts’ advice on how to ‘never get sick again’ or ‘how to get better fast’ are doing us all a great disservice and I think they should be moderated, quite literally.

So, let us ignore them and learn a little lesson from the world of football: it’s common sense to convalesce.

Editor’s Note: Team Y says: “This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Please seek the advice of a medical expert if you have any questions regarding a health issue.”

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HEARTY & HEARTFELT

Put your love on a plate this Mother’s Day with these simple recipes to wow her taste-buds and win her heart!

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Reviews

reat your T Mother right!

Mother’s Day means a chance to give Mum a rest from the kitchen. Here are some recipes to really treat her with this weekend, but don’t forget to do the washing-up.

Swati Basu Das reports

E

veryone has their own take on what makes a good mother.

She’s the ace driver who navigates busy rush-hour traffic every morning on the school-run, the counsellor who advises troubled teenagers, the laundress who keeps her kids looking great or the electrician who mends their gadgets.

But there’s one place where all mums rule supreme, and that is in the kitchen.

OK, she might not be Mary Berry but when it comes to celebrating and sharing healthy food with her family she’s the domestic goddess we adore.

Remember all the times she slaved in the

kitchen to ensure you had a birthday to remember? And how proud you were when you saw all your friends eating the cake that your mum had made?

Of course you do, as Oneza Tabish, founder of Facebook page What’s Cooking Oman, acknowledges.

She says: “Yes, our mother pleases our taste buds and introduces us to new and traditional tastes. Cooking for kids and passing on secret family recipes for generations to follow is one of life’s great pleasures.”

So, with that in mind, Team Y serves up some sumptuously tasty and easy-todo recipes to treat your mum with, and to say thank you for all she has done for you.

Herb-Roasted Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes

For the perfect Mother’s Day munchies, take your five-a-day further with this creamy, zingy dip that takes minutes to make!

Ingredients: § 225g fresh goat cheese, at room temperature § 1/2 carton of ricotta cheese § 1 scallion, finely chopped § 1/2 small clove garlic, finely grated § 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus more for sprinkling § 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped § 2 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped, plus more for sprinkling § 2 tsp finely-grated lemon zest plus 2 Tbsp lemon juice (from 2 lemons) § salt § pepper § Cut vegetables, for serving (such as radishes, carrots, endive, snap peas, and seedless cucumber) Method: § In a food processor, pulse the goat cheese and ricotta until smooth. § Transfer to a bowl and fold in scallion and garlic.

Fold in the parsley, mint, chives, lemon zest, and juice with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. § Spoon into a serving bowl and sprinkle with more parsley and chives if desired. Serve with cut vegetables.

(Source: www.goodhousekeeping.com)

Roasted Cauliflower Pizza For a simple, light-hearted lunch, impress your mum with this healthier take on a family favourite.

Ingredients: § 454g pizza dough § 1/2 medium head (about 454g) cauliflower, thinly sliced § 1 small red onion, thinly sliced § 1/2 cup fresh flatleaf parsley § 113g Gruyère cheese (coarsely grated) § 2 Tbsp. olive oil § 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional) § 1/2 tsp salt

This comfort food classic has a herbaceous depth of flavour thanks to the addition of fresh rosemary and crushed fennel.

Ingredients: § 1 Tbsp oil § 2 large bone-in chicken breasts (about 340g each) § 3/4 tsp salt § 3/4 tsp pepper § 454g cherry tomatoes (halved) § 1 sprig rosemary § 1 tsp fennel seeds (crushed) § 1 cup instant polenta § 1 tsp red balsamic vinegar § 1/4 cup parsley (chopped) Method: § Heat the oven to 230°C. Heat one teaspoon of oil in a large, oven-safe frying pan on a medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cook, skin sides down, until golden brown and crisp, in 5-7 minutes. § Turn, then add the cherry tomatoes, the rosemary and fennel seeds and drizzle with one tablespoon of oil, and season with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Roast until the chicken is just cooked through and the tomatoes have begun to break down; for 12 to 15 minutes. § Meanwhile, prepare the polenta.

Spring Crudités with Herbed Cheese Dip

§ Discard the rosemary; transfer the chicken to a chopping board and let it stand for five minutes. Stir the red balsamic vinegar into the tomatoes then toss with parsley. Remove the bone from the chicken and then slice and serve on polenta. Top with the tomatoes.

Method: § Heat the oven to 220°C. Dust the baking sheet with cornmeal. Shape the pizza dough into a 40cm oval and place on a prepared baking tray § In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower, red onion and fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves with olive oil, crushed red pepper (optional) and salt. Fold in the Gruyère cheese. § Scatter the vegetable mixture over the dough.

Bake until the cauliflower is tender and the crust is golden brown and crisp, for 20 to 25 minutes.

(Source: www.goodhousekeeping.com)

(Source: www.goodhousekeeping.com)

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N e w R e s t a u r a n t REVIEWS Info Box

SARAVANA BHAVAN Next to Safeer International Hotel, Al Khuwair Opening hours: 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., & 6:00- p.m.-1:30 p.m. (weekdays).

8:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (Fridays).

Contact: (+968) 2448-7873 Dinner for two: RO11.403

t

ge Bud

Verdict : 7/10 SERVICE 8/10 FOOD 5/10 AMBIENCE

SARAVANA BHAVAN TEAM Y RELISHES VERITABLE VEGETARIAN DELIGHTS IN A SUPPER OF SEISMIC PROPORTIONS, AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

O

ne man’s dream turned into a global business – that’s the story of Saravana Bhavan, a South-Indian “pure” vegetarian restaurant themed around Tamilian cuisine.

In fact, what once started as an affordable restaurant in Chennai in India has now taken over much of the world.

From world cities like London, New York and Dubai to Muscat and Brussels; there’s a Saravana Bhavan to douse your appetite for authentic South Indian food.

With that in mind, we head to the decade or so-old outlet in Al Khuwair expecting nothing but the best.

Next to the highway and against the backdrop of Al Khuwair makes parking a challenge, though. Let your guardian angels guide you to a spot even if it means cramming into a tight one in front of the restaurant.

Nevertheless, once in you’ll find that there’s plenty of space. As is the case with Tamilian hospitality, we are courteously led to our table and handed the menu.

Simple and well-demarcated, the menu only shows food relevant to what customers in the region would normally opt for. So, along with the usual Tamilian food, you’ll also receive North Indian and Indo-Chinese options.

We opt for portions of sweetcorn soup, and a plate of spring rolls and paneer tikka to kick things off. We then dive into the main course with a plain dosa (a fermented batter pancake) and a North-Indian thali (a platter of Indian dishes).

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In little over five minutes, we’re served our soups. A scrummy thick vegetable broth peppered generously with corn and mushrooms makes this one of the best bang-for-your-buck options on the menu.

Moreover, the consistency of the broth along with the crunch of the fresh corn makes for a flavoursome fiesta that we didn’t quite expect for 800 baisas.

The spring rolls and the paneer (fresh cheese) tikka arrive in speedy succession.

How a traditional Chinese dish (the spring rolls) became so popular in India is a mystery. However, there’s a dash of Indian flavours that make these stand out.

We gorge on them, enjoying every bit of the crunchy crust and savouring the fresh veggies (finely-chopped cabbage, carrots and a touch of paneer) but we are a little taken aback by the grease on the rolls. Still, for a deep fried dish, it holds up well. It’s just not meant for health watchers.

Meanwhile, the paneer tikka is a fiery affair; with a healthy dose of chilly-heavy gravy marinate added to the cheese to feed in tang. It’s a tad too hot for our liking but spice aficionados will love it.

Next up is our dosa and thali – both arriving in thin steel plates synonymous with Indian eateries: it’s like taking a trip to a train station or food market and having a quick bite before heading back to the grind.

Presentation isn’t a matter of concern here as much as serving the customer with freshly-cooked food is.

There’s no pretension in the way you’re served your meal. And even though you’re provided cutlery, the right way to attack the food is with your hand – and a loose belt can help you put

Scrumptious dishes perfected over decades leaves India’s take on soul food reigning over the rest Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

away as much as you possibly can.

The dosa, as requested by the writer, is done just right – crunchy on the outside and mildly soft on the inside – and without the slightest hint of grease. The accompanying sambar (lentil-based vegetable stew) and coconut, mint and tomato chutneys are lip-smackingly delicious.

We even ask for a second serving of the same dish – and they get it perfect for us again.

Our thali is brought to life with 11 dishes (!), ghee rotis (wheat flatbread), puri (deep-fried flatbread), rice – all with an ‘ask and ye shall receive’ policy that will render the average diner replete.

The 11 dishes consist of dal (lentil soup), cauliflower curry, paneer masala, potato masala, potato and green peas curry, curd rice, curd salad, a savoury snack, lemon pickle, gulab jamun (milksolid-based sweet), and barfi (dense milk sweet).

Each dish comes with its own relish that we thoroughly enjoy but it’s the dal and potato masala that are the showstoppers. They are an absolute treat to down if a little heavy on the tummy. It’s best to come here after a day of fasting to make the most of your money.

Even the gulab jamun and barfi – both considerably expensive dishes in comparison – are finished to perfection. Both go easy on the sugar and sit strong as palate cleansers.

Consistency and the motivation to serve the masses – with hearty and wholesome meals at astoundingly low prices is probably what makes Saravana Bhavan one of the best vegetarian Indian restaurants in the world.

This then is India’s answer to the American concept of ‘soul food’. ■ Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com.

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