Y Magazine #566, April 25, 2019

Oman’s endangered dialect

THE LANGUAGE OF THE KUMZARI Digital doctor

MANAGING YOUR HEALTH WITH A NEW LOCAL APP

News: SRI LANKA ATTACKS 10 CONDEMNED

BY MINISTRY

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

DESTINATION: Al Gefr TASTE TEST: Marlin’s Restaurant & Bar APR 25 - MAY 01 2019 / ISSUE 566 • WEEKLY

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

PLUS!

Y INVESTIGATES THE DARK SIDE OF THE SULTANATE’S APPETITE FOR THE EXOTIC AS THE BLACK MARKET FOR ILLEGAL ANIMALS CONTINUES TO THRIVE IN THE SHADOWS OF ITS ECONOMY. AND, FOR THOSE CAUGHT UP IN IT, ARE THE RISKS INVOLVED TO LIFE AND LIMB WORTH TAKING THE GAMBLE ON NATURE VS. NURTURE?

Y GEEK SQUAD: THE BEST OF THE 2019 MIDDLE EAST FILM & COMIC 01 NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUECON 258

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YUMMY OMAN: A TASTE OF SPRING

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FIRST DRIVE: THE SOLID CHEVROLET EQUINOX

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

IN THIS ISSUE…

T

hey’re our shadows, ever by our side. They’re our comfort during hard times and our sidekicks in celebration during the good; and, they’re as much a part of our families as any human counterpart. They’re our pets – beloved and cherished.

The delights of adopting a pet can overshadow much else, and the bond shared between a human and their pet is one of the purest forms of affection. But how far would you go to adopt what you deem to be the perfect pet?

It’s a question with several possible answers, and one that dances around the topic of legality.

Currently in Oman, more residents are being found guilty of importing or purchasing exotic pets and endangered animals that can cost up to several thousands of riyals. While the prevalence of such cases rings in the matter of relaxed laws, it also sheds light on a much deeper issue – a black market for animals in the Sultanate. This week, we take a trip to the ends of Muscat to find out what the reality is, in our cover story. Flip to Page 18 to read on.

Also in this issue, we’re taking you to the most isolated corners of Musandam to introduce you to a tribe whose language is one of the world’s most endangered. Plus, we introduce you to one Omani entrepreneur whose new app aims to change how we access healthcare in the Sultanate.

Finally, we have to give a huge Team Y shoutout of thanks to all those who took part in our annual ‘Love You Mum’ competition, as children from across the capital came out last week to decoratively declare their love for their mum! Stay tuned over the coming weeks as we gear up to announce the winners!

Until next week, happy reading!

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

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

ADMIN MANAGER Yousef al Harrassi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

REPORTER Hassan al Lawati ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

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APR 25 - MAY 01 / ISSUE 566

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contents

APR 25 - MAY 01 2019

Your Oman

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman

Nada al Moosa 10 News

Sri Lanka attacks

condemned by Minstry 12 News

Omantel launchs eSIM card

10

16

Bookfest 2019 Head out to the Indian Social Club Muscat this weekend and browse over 100,000 titles on display!

17 Movies A routine hospital inspection takes a dark twist in the Malayalam thriller ‘Athiran’.

17

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Al Gefr 34 First Drive

Chevrolet Equinox 38 Y-Fi

Gadgets for summer

Health and Beauty 40 Fashion

Delightful daffodil

Features 18

Against nature We investigate the risky underbelly of Oman’s illegal import market for exotic pets.

24 Downloading health

We meet the Omani

entrepreneur whose

new app is changing

the way we access

healthcare in the Sultanate.

28

Mum’s the word The highlights and memorable moments from Y’s annual ‘Love You Mum’ competition. Stay tuned for the winners!

Food and Drink 44 Yummy Oman

Spring treats and eats 46 Taste Test

Marlin’s Restaurant

& Bar

42 Beauty

Beards vs. barbers

39

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

The price of fame Actress Sophie Turner grew up in the public eye in her role as Sansa Stark on HBO’s hit series ‘Game of Thrones’. Now, she’s opening up about the effects of fame that the role has brought on, and how negative criticism and comments she has received over the years on social media have affected her mental health. She says: “I’ve suffered with my depression for five or six years now. The biggest challenge for me is getting out of bed and getting out of the house. Learning to love yourself is the biggest challenge.” Sophie, 23, credits her fiancé, singer/songwriter Joe Jonas, for helping her climb out of her depression to a happier place.

TIME’s top 100 TIME Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ issue for this year is on news-stands now and we’ve got a roundup of some the A-list superstars who made the cut! Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, BTS, Lady Gaga and Khalid are just a handful of music industry figures who are featured – and here’s what Shawn Mendes had to say about Taylor Swift’s inclusion: “Taylor makes anyone older feel young again and anyone young feel they can do anything.” Others included in the list were actor Rami Malek, tennis star Naomi Osaka, actresses Michelle Oh and Emilia Clarke, film director Spike Lee, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Beyoncé opens up When Beyoncé gave birth to twins Rumi and Sir on June 13, 2017, she’d kept her pregnancy low-key and out of the public eye as much as possible.

Now, she’s just revealed for the 06

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first time that her pregnancy was much more difficult than her fans knew and that she suffered from several medical conditions that occur only during pregnancy which caused her to have high blood pressure and other ‘bodily damage’. Beyoncé also went on to describe how she needed an emergency C-section after one of the twins’ heartbeats paused more than once.

Kings of K-Pop South Korean superstar boy band BTS released their new album ‘Map of the Soul: Persona’ earlier this month and made history as it’s their third Number 1 album on the Billboard 200 Charts in just 11 months.

Some bands take years to get three Number 1 albums, with the last solo artist to hold the record being Future – achieving the record in just six months and three weeks. The last group to earn three No.1 albums faster than South Korea’s BTS were The Monkees back in 1967 when they made the score in just nine months and three weeks.

Heartbreak for Adele It’s just been announced that superstar songstress Adele and her husband Simon Konecki have separated. Adele’s representatives confirmed the news last week saying: “Adele and her partner have separated. They’re committed to raising their son together lovingly.

As always they ask for privacy.” Adele and Simon have been together for seven years.

New sounds from Rita We know Rita Ora from songs like ‘Let You Love Me’ and ‘For You’; but now, she and Kygo have teamed up on a new track called ‘Carry On’ which is off the soundtrack from the upcoming live-action film ‘Pokémon: Detective Pikachu’, which is voiced by Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith and will hit theatres on May 2! We can’t wait!

Madonna set for a come-back?

Madonna and Maluma have released a new collaborative track called ‘Medellin’, making it Madge’s first single in four years.

The song will appear on her upcoming new 13-track album ‘Madame X’, slated for a June 14 release. This is her first studio album since her 2015 release ‘Rebel Heart’.

A star-studded collab Lil Dicky has just dropped his newest single ‘Earth’ with Justin Bieber and it’s a who’s-who of musical cameo appearances!

We’re talking Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Yachty, John Legend, Shawn Mendes, Halsey – the list goes on. During a recent interview with talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, Lil Dicky spoke out about how the song is about loving the Earth and saving it: “We have 12 years to completely change the way we do so many things on Earth or the damage is irreversible.”

A portion of the profits from the song will go to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

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

NADA AL MOOSA, THE FOUNDER OF THE OMANI PAWS AND AN ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, TALKS ABOUT THE MATTER OF ETHICS BEHIND BRINGING EXOTIC PETS INTO THE SULTANATE

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: How far would you go to adopt the pet of your choice? With more exotic pets being exploited on Oman’s black market for illegal animal imports, how can we work towards changing the mentality of those who would put the well-being of an animal – and sometimes their own lives at risk, for the sake of a status symbol?

NAZEER MUKADAM

B

ringing in exotic pets has always been a matter of concern in the Sultanate as it has been around the GCC region.

And from our experience dealing with such cases, we learn that several of these animals and birds are smuggled in through roads from the borders. So, they stuff them in the trunks of cars or trucks and drive them into the country.

So, there is a black market for these animals. But all of this happens behind closed doors – and it’s all hush-hush.

One of the animals that has been commonly imported like this is the monkey. It’s very sad if you think about it; ripping them from their natural habitat and keeping them in an environment that isn’t suited to their needs.

This will have endless consequences on the animals, too. Another matter that should be discussed is how (rare) dogs are bred and sold online for very cheap prices.

Some of these include the huskies or the St. Bernard that are not suitable for the hot weathers of Oman.

We hope that the government will take steps to work with the people and educate them on the harms of bringing these animals into the country.

But, the laws are all there. It just has to be implemented in a stricter manner so as to instill some fear in the minds of the offenders.

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Coming to the unethical trade and fancy for exotic breeds; I feel it’s a sad feature that we are inheriting from West and America where this has been an expensive passion to many celebrities as well rich, whose only way of living is projecting a status symbol using pets, and some even going to the extent of misusing, abusing, sadistic too with them for their nocturnal desires, but luckily we in Oman are beyond such wild, crazy, inhumane, beasty pleasures of lowest human order.

I am sure the government authorities, NGOs, animal activists, pet well-wishers are doing best in bringing awareness among all population, by various possible means; besides enforcing the relevant laws in force. but I feel deterrence in full vigor is time taking as it mostly to do with mighty. But I am sure that our law enforcement machinery is too determined to act and arrest it.

So, let us hope sanity prevails in such who can only change their mindset by sheer humane realisation but not by force.

HUNAINA MURAD

In my opinion, right to life, freedom from violence and sufferings is the fundamental right that need to be enjoyed by both humans and animals. I would prefer keeping a pet of my choice, buying it legally and providing all the necessary needs required for a good life including proper per food, shelter, care and affection that are the basic needs.

Moreover, it is completely unethical to promote black marketing for the pets just for the sake of earning some money, ignoring the psychological trauma, stress that poor animals had to go through because of these illegal activities.

I believe there are few strategies, that can be helpful towards changing the mentality of people who put theirs’ as well as animal’s well- being at

WRITE TO US AND YOU COULD WIN

risk for the sake of status symbol. Firstly, awareness among the general public and specifically in schools should be given regarding the animal rights, specific positive behaviours that need to be adopted by the people when considering pets is the most helpful tool towards changing the mentality of the individuals.

Secondly, the concerned authorities responsible for the protection of animal rights should take action against the illegal animal imports and ban the black markets for a better tomorrow. Thirdly, proper registration and policy rights should be followed when animals/pets are the subject of buying and selling. Furthermore, all ports of entires should keep a strict eye on the import and export of illegal animal smuggling. In my opinion, these are some of the ways that can be somewhat helpful to avoid illegal animal imports and can help the country to prosper well.

New Debate: What does Ramadan mean to you? For those marking the occasion, tell us the importance and impact the observances of the Holy Month have had on your life.

Share your view with us and you could be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

BBQ dinner for two at The Roof restaurant

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YOUR

OMAN

SRI LANKA ATTACKS CONDEMNED BY MINISTRY

O

man has condemned the terrorist explosions that struck Colombo and other cities in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

The attacks targeted churches and hotels, which has so far led to the deaths of more than 200 innocent people and left scores injured.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Oman affirmed its stance rejecting such criminal acts against innocent people at all times and in all places.

Oman also expressed its solidarity with Sri Lanka, praying to Allah the Almighty to rest the departed souls in peace and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Omani citizens in Sri Lanka have been urged to avoid crowded places and communicate with the embassy when needed.

The MoFa Tweeted: “Omanis can contact through 0094112301278 and 0094112301279”.

FISHERMEN HELPED TO ARAB OPERA SET TO TOW THE LINE BY MOAF TAKE STAGE AT ROHM

A

n Arab opera, ‘Antar and Abla’ will be performed by Opera Lebanon at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) next month.

At a press conference, the ROHM Director General, Umberto Fanni confirmed that the production will be performed on May 3 and May 4.

Based on a famous tale passed down through the ages from the Arab medieval era, ‘Antar and Abla’ is a ballad opera in two acts.

It has been created and performed by Opera Lebanon with a cast of more than a hundred solo and choral singers, dancers, and musicians.

Set in the desert domain of the Bani Abas tribe at a time of tribal conflict with the Tati Tribe, the plot revolves around the love and bravery of Antar: a poet and hero of mixed Arab and slave blood, the tournaments he contests, and the battles he fights for the honour of his tribe and to win his beloved Abla.

The story represents several themes, including discrimination, racism, honour, and heroism. The opera will begin at 7:30 p.m.

T

o support fishermen, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) plans to provide 21 towing machines for fishing boats in North and South Batinah.

An official at MoAF said: “The project aims to install 21 towing machines to help fishing boats. These machines are operated by the hydraulic system with the towing power of 2.5 tonnes per boat.”

He added: “The project team conducted field visits to coastal towns in North and South Batinah and met with fishermen and specialists to identify the project and determine the locations of the towing machines’ installation in each state.

“The fishermen are relying on the traditional way of pulling a fishing boat but the new project will save time and effort for the fishermen while maintaining the quality of fish.”

After the completion of installation of towing machines, the Ministry will train 80 fishermen in how to use and maintain them, the official said.

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GRAND INAUGURATION

GALLERY

THE OMAN MINING EXPO GOT UNDERWAY AT OCEC LAST WEEK IN THE PRESENCE OF VIP DIGNITARIES, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS

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YOUR

OMAN O

OMANTEL LAUNCHES eSIM CARD

mantel has launched a digital-embedded SIM card (eSIM) for the first time in the Sultanate, Muscat Daily reports.

The device will allow customers with eSIM-supported smartphones to use more than one SIM card at the same time, without having to physically swap SIMs in the phone.

Samy Ahmed al Ghassany, Chief Operating Officer at Omantel says: “The launch of eSIM comes in line with Omantel’s strategy to lead digital transformation and partake in bridging the digital divide in the Sultanate.”

Omantel customers will be the first to enjoy eSIM in Oman.

They will be able to use up to nine numbers at the same time without the need to physically swap SIM cards whenever they want to use a different mobile number.

Ghassany added that more smart devices will be compatible with eSIM in the future.

Haitham Abdullah al Kharusi, Vice President of the Consumer Business Unit at Omantel said: “We are proud of being the first operator to launch eSIM in Oman and make it available for our customers.

“The devices that are currently compatible with eSIM are iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. In future, it’s expected that all devices will have the eSIM feature enabled including smart home devices.”

He added: “The eSIM will be very useful for customers using different numbers for business and personal use. There is no need to carry more than one device, not any more.

“Customers can use multiple phone numbers in one device. Adding,

deleting and configuring the SIMs can be done right from the phone’s settings, in addition to selecting a favourite roaming network.”

The newly launched eSIM will be available across all Omantel outlets. All customers need to do is visit their nearest Omantel outlet to opt for the new eSIM.

1,000 BANANA SAPLINGS GIVEN TO FARMERS BY MOAF

T

o support farmers, raise output, and cultivate highquality bananas, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) has distributed 1,000 banana saplings to Omani farmers in Dhofar.

The scheme is part of the Ministry’s efforts to reduce the gap between local production and imports.

MoAF will distribute about 9,000 banana seedlings across Dhofar over the coming months.

More than 92,000 seedlings were distributed to farmers in 2018 alone, according to the Ministry.

An official at MoAF said: “The Directorate General of Agricultural and Livestock Research distributed 92,201 seedlings to farmers in different parts of the Sultanate in 2018.”

SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEME BY MOT

AIMS TO BOOST TOURISM

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he Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Tourism Communication Partners’ scheme to attract ‘social media influencers’ to promote tourism.

Its aim, in partnership with the National Youth Committee, is to form a community partnership between the tourism sector and young people.

The program aims to boost tourism by engaging the viewpoint and input of the country’s youth.

Registration for the initiative has started on www.nyc.om and will continue till May 6.

SKILLBUILDERS

GALLERY

THE 2019 GLOBAL HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINEX EXHIBITIONS SAW THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW GATHER AT OCEC TO SHARE INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

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YOUR

OMAN

THE MUSCAT SALSA RUEDA DANCE TROUPE GOT THE CROWD ON THEIR FEET DURING A FLASH MOB EVENT AT DOLPHIN VILLAGE

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GALLERY

VOICES IN HARMONY

GALLERY

MORE THAN 300 STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE GATHER TO RAISE THEIR VOICES IN SONG AT THE ANNUAL TAISM FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS

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A TAST E O F M E X I C O

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE Head out to the Crowne Plaza OCEC this Wednesday and revel in some true South-of-the-Border flavours at their ‘Happy Cactus’ night! From 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. guests can indulge in a specially curated Mexican food and beverage menu for RO15. To book your table now, call (+968) 9065-4364 or email dine.cpmuscatocec@ihg.com.

BOOKFEST 2019 The Indian Social Club (ISC) Oman is holding an exhibition and sale of books at its premises Called ‘Bookfest 2019,’ the event will be held under the auspices of the Indian Embassy and in partnership with Al Bhaj Books.

Al Bhaj Books is bringing in more than 100,000 books for the event.

Apart from English books there will also be books in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu, and Arabic.

PM Shoukathali, Managing Director, Al Bhaj Books said: “It will be exciting to have an exhibition again for the second time. Last year was a grand success and this year we expect the event to be a success as well.”

For more information visit www.iscmuscat.com.

APR 26-27

MAY

01

CHARITY BALL THIS

WEEK APRIL

-

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

MAY

A very special evening with all proceeds going to a good cause is sure to be one of this year’s best nights out.

A spring charity ball to raise money for the conservation of wildlife is being held at Al Bustan Palace – A Ritz-Carlton Hotel, on Friday, April 26 from 7:00 p.m. onwards.

Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner, and live entertainment in the Majan Ballroom.

It costs RO49 per person (including drinks) and RO4 per ticket will be donated to the Environment Society of Oman. Dress code: Black tie. To book, call (+974) 2476-4444.

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APR 26

MOVIES MOVIES FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO: City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net VOX Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.com Star Cinema: Tel +968 2479-1641

a realistic, authentic nostalgic element to proceedings rather than a rose-tinted one.

It all combines to produce a classy film of an era when life was a lot more simple, but love was more complicated amid a culture of duty and tradition.

See and enjoy. In Punjabi, with subtitles.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile

Athiran

Cast: Lily Collins, Zac Efron, Angela Sarafyan

Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Sai Pallavi, Prakash Raj In an isolated hospital in the high ranges of Kerala, MK Nair (Faasil) shows up to carry out a government inspection.

As the staff go into overdrive to keep up appearances, the young doctor is less than impressed with the treatment on offer and the lack of proper paperwork.

And while institute head Dr. Benjamin seeks to run the asylum along military lines (he’s a former army veteran) he can’t stop Nair from

Muklawa Cast: Sonam Bajwa, Ammy Virk, Gurpreet Ghuggi

In pre-partitioned India, a newlywed bride (Bajwa) is taken to her marital home to meet her husband’s

encountering a troubled young woman called Nithya (Pallavi) languishing in a small room at the top.

When he starts delving in to her past, the lines become blurred as to who’s investigating whom.

While there’s more than a nod or two to ‘Shutter Island’ in this horror-thriller, there’s enough chilling moments to keep you interested, and guessing till the end.

In Mayalam, with subtitles.

relatives for the first time.

And Muklawa (Virk) has never actually seen his bride’s face, in a time when it was forbidden for the groom to actually enter his wife’s village.

This attractive young couple start their journey of falling in love against a backdrop when social norms were very different to those of today.

This is beautifully shot and exquisitely-acted with subtle, nuanced performances. There’s also

And that adds an extra, sinister element to this portrait of a murderer.

And Efron is terrific. We all know his character is guilty, but nothing is black and white as we all know; and Ted is energetic, often endearing, and occasionally really rather charming.

But then, he is a psychopath.

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Suki Waterhouse, Justice Smith

When young, single mother Liz Kloepfer meets a young, charismatic Ted Bundy (Efron), she’s bowled over by his charm.

Their home life is a picture of domestic bliss until Ted is arrested and charged with a number of grisly murders.

Liz finds herself coming to terms with the fact that the man who shares her life is in fact a serial killer.

But in this film based on a true story, do we really believe that Liz didn’t know what was going on?

!

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Which Pokémon-related reality mobile game went viral in 2016?

LAST WEEK’S WINNER Parag Zoting

Younger movie-goers are looking forward to this, the first cinematic outing for the crafty creatures and their human trainers.

After his father goes missing, Tim Goodman (voiced by Smith) sets out to find him, with the help of sassy, wise-cracking wannabe ‘tec Pikachu (Reynolds).

While on the hunt for Tim’s Dad, the duo come across a plot to destroy their town while chasing clues though the streets of Ryme City.

Mind you, Detective Pikachu’s speech is unintelligible to anyone other than Tim, which doesn’t make the course of justice an easy one.

But, it’s still a heck of a ride for us, as well as them.

Although based on a child-friendly Nintendo game, this movie is on the slightlyedgy side, and therefore unsuitable for really young viewers.

Expect some raunchy humour along with a few fight sequences amid the pulsating action.

WIN FREE MOVIE TICKETS! Read our movie section and answer the question to stand a chance to win two tickets to watch movies of your choice!

Send your answers to info@y-oman.com, along with your contact information.

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

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AGAINST NATURE

KEEPING EXOTIC PETS IS LARGELY ILLEGAL IN OMAN BUT THE DESIRE

BY SOME TO HAVE ONE AS A STATUS SYMBOL HAS GIVEN RISE TO A TACKY TRADE, ONE THAT CAN THREATEN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THE ANIMALS AND THEIR OWNERS, BUT ALSO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. TEAM Y INVESTIGATES HOW AFFLUENCE AND ONLINE EGOTISM ARE FUELLING THE ILLICIT IMPORTS OF ANIMALS, REPTILES, AND INSECTS 018

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All images for illustrative purposes only. Photo credit: Shutterstock

H

ow far would you go for the ultimate picture on social media?

Some would opt for snapping images of their chow while others may stick to simple yet tasteful nature shots.

But then comes along a bunch of social media aficionados from Oman that take things to a whole new level with the ultimate trump card – one beyond one’s wildest imagination: exotic pets.

They deem themselves ‘animal lovers’ – and it’s a label that hasn’t been used in vain – but these have-itall folks take the concept of pet ownership to heights never seen before; levels that the law deems illegal and a criminal offence.

It’s something we stumble upon on the private page of an Omani man on Instagram.

Yaqoub*, a 23-year-old Omani youth, seems to have it all. Luxury cars, watches, a stunning villa, trips abroad that would put foreign delegates of countries to shame, and his very own duo of African leopards.

Unlike several of his counterparts, however, Yaqoub – who claims to be from the higher echelons of society – doesn’t flaunt his pets publicly. Instead, he shares his moments with the two felidae with his close contacts only through a private account that requires his authorisation to view.

It’s a list – mostly packed with the priveleged – that we (unexpectedly) get to infiltrate by posing as an animal lover and collector of rare and exotic animals.

Our attempts to connect with him

directly through personal messages turn out to be futile but we manage to eke out information – from images posted – that the Omani also holds turtles, birds such as macaws and parakeets; and even a collection of snakes brought in from the southern parts of India.

But exceeding our expectations and spearheading to the top position is Yaqoub’s very own chimpanzee and baboon –both of which are illegal to have as pets in Oman, as Imran al Balushi, an official from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, confirms.

“Is he an animal lover?” asks the ministry official, before answering: “Not at all.

I think that anyone who buys pets or keeps such animals that are not [indigenous] to this region must be tried, and their collection of animals and birds confiscated.”

In fact, the law states that it is prohibited for an individual or a company to hold exotic animals for personal or commercial purposes in the country.

“We keep a strict check of the animals, birds, and other living species that are imported and bred here,” the ministry official says. “So, if you were looking to bring one over to Oman, you would need to obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs along with one from CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

Currently, anyone holding exotic pets risks having their pet confiscated and the owner can also receive a fine, although the official fails to specify the amount.

Not only does bringing animals that are not native to this part of the world harm their health. It will kill them

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I have a friend who spends nearly RO700 on her pet tiger per week. She received it as a gift during her wedding and has tended to its needs ever since

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Oman fails to define exotic pets, but going by international standards, an exotic pet is one that rarely classifies as a domesticated or farm animal. This covers snakes, lizards, big cats, primates, and the like. Even animals such as gazelles and leopards, which are native to the region, are deemed exotic – even though possessing them is illegal.

There’s a general lack of confusion among all official parties we speak to during the course of our investigation, most likely owing to the rarity of the incident.

However, owing exotic animals is still a habit that’s gaining traction among the wealthy in Oman as the ultimate show of opulence.

Omani camel trainer Khalfan al Kharusi, whose camel was also the winner of the 2015 camel race in Barka, says that while camel ownership – a hallmark of Bedouin culture – can be an expensive ordeal, exotic pets can have “higher costs of maintenance”.

He says: “I have a friend who spends nearly RO700 on her pet tiger per week. She received it as a gift during her wedding and has tended to its needs ever since.

“So, it’s not something that’s possible for everyone to do. But, it is definitely becoming so popular among the rich that they’re now flying to countries in Africa to buy them and import them.

“This now overshadows camel ownership, which is unlike Omani tradition. Somehow, people’s wealth and status now revolves around cats and birds,” he adds disapprovingly.

Exotic pet ownership is also

an act that Simon Roy, an ecologist with a leading international environmental agency based in the Sultanate, condemns during his interview with Y – no matter how many online likes it can earn the individual.

He says: “Not only does bringing animals that are not native to this part of the world harm their health. It will kill them. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs rarely offers certificates if ever for exotic pets.

“So, I’m very shocked to see the photos of the animals that you are showing me. There is definitely foul play here – and I’m not sure if it’s through a dealer who is importing them here or the individual itself using ‘wasta’ (influence) – but I’m not sure if people want to take that level of risk anymore.”

Simon is right, as a quick walk through several pet stores in Oman show us several offerings that the law deems illegal – turtles for instance.

Costing anywhere between RO8 and RO120, depending on the age of the turtle, you can pick one up from select pet stores that keep them stowed away in the corners of their shops, away from the wandering eyes of the officials.

Our efforts to expose a larger racket is foiled as we learn that pet shop salesmen interact frequently with each other. Our questions were shared and suspicion was raised, resulting in them asking us to leave.

However, this is not before we’re offered a King Snake imported from Ecuador as a pet by one oblivious salesman.

He nonchalantly parades the reptile in a glass cage before telling us (translated from Urdu): “This [snake] is what people love the most now. It is the number one form of pet for those looking for something different.

“The snakes are not venomous so they cannot harm you. But, it’s also very nice to look at if you have friends coming over to your home,” he adds.

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TOP 5

out how smaller pet shops often fail to avail themselves of the licence.

He then reveals that several pet shops import smaller exotic animals through the UAE or Yemen borders or through cargo containers, disguised and often stowed away from the eyes of the authorities.

“Would you trust what a man trying to make a sale is telling you or your gut instinct?” asks the official.

He then advises anyone against adopting or buying such unpredictable pets that can pose trouble to both the pet owner and the public at large if it escapes from captivity.

It’s a situation that has been brought to light in recent news when Omani researchers revealed that they found two different species of the black widow spider, also known as the ‘Latrodectus’ – a venomous spider that can potentially kill humans.

Researchers believe that this species wasn’t previously known to be native to Oman but instead could have made its way to the country He then goes on to reveal how the through packing containers, or worse, when snakes are brought in from central they escaped as pets.

Africa and that they’ve all been Miriam al Zadjali, an entomologist working cleared by customs. with a leading university in the country, believes “We have paperwork to prove that the insect has been brought in from that it is legal in Oman,” he another country by adherents. exclaims, when we ask him of the “Arachnophobia alert. Spiders are simple legality of keeping a snake as a arthropods – they have their set patterns of likes pet. and dislikes with respect to the environment and However, our source Imran from they don’t budge much from that,” she says. the ministry thinks otherwise.

“So, you can understand why I was surprised “Snakes fall into a category to see them in Oman. The species is quite of exotic pets and are illegal common in North America and also Australia unless you’ve been certified by but it’s a bit odd to see them here in Oman. the ministry to run a breeding “There are three possibilities to its finding centre,” he says, before pointing its way here: one, it has always existed in the

❸ TURTLES

EXOTIC ANIMALS

IMPORTED INTO OMAN

❶ TIGER

❷ LEOPARD

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❹ MACAW

❺ KING SNAKE

Sultanate and we’re only finding about it now – which is quite unbelievable; two, it came through cartons of foods such as bananas; or three, and my most-backed belief, it has been brought in by someone as pets in their luggage.”

Characterised by its black body and hourglass-shaped red mark on its lower abdomen, the spider has been known to be venomous although the Oman government hasn’t issued any warnings to this effect.

Fatality rates have been reported to stand between 0.5 and 12 per cent for every 100 bites although several people have been known to keep them as pets due to their docile character.

Nonetheless, housing colonies such as those in Al Mouj have issued warnings to residents asking them to keep an eye out for the black widow spider.

But, it’s not just these creatures that can kill.

In fact, the turtles that we know and love can be just as deadly – if not more so!

Miriam explains: “Keeping turtles as pets is illegal in Oman for several reasons. And the most obvious reason for it is to help them survive out in the wild. A turtle that has been taken in and then let go into the wild stands less chance of survival than one that has always been in the wild.

“But, turtles also carry Salmonella. It’s bacteria that is often overlooked – because it usually only causes infections that can lead to fever and diarrhoea. But, what we need to realise is that it can also potentially cause life-threatening conditions.

“Unlike what people think, it’s also very easy to transmit the disease – and it’s possible to contract it from even a small turtle. A lot of people look at little turtles and think they’re very cute – and for the most part, they are – but you’ll need to know that they’re also incredibly infectious.

“They’re so infectious that it’s illegal in countries such as the US and Canada to sell small turtles.

“Big cats such as tigers, meanwhile, are very volatile and can attack by instinct – sometimes even their trainers. Not only is it difficult to fend off such an attack from such a large animal, it can probably result in serious injuries to both the person and the creature.”

That said, it’s not just the pet owner and the people who risk their health. The creature too can undergo severe physical and mental issues.

Simon tells us: “Animals and birds that cannot exist in this part of the world cannot survive the temperature and terrain change alongside the much more dangerous drop in pathogen resistance.

“Some animals and birds may not have the resistance to different forms of diseases that several of the indigenous species here have developed over the years.

“So, starting from the difference in climate to the possibility that they could pick up on different infections; there’s just a lot that can go wrong,” Simon asserts.

“Then there’s the whole problem of showmanship. Parading these animals in the name of social media or love for animals can do them more mental harm than one can ever think.

“There’s something very demeaning seeing a chimpanzee being paraded around in nappies by a trainer. It just doesn’t look natural.

“You can think that you’re providing these animals with the very best life – the food, shelter, and even healthcare. But by ripping them away from their homes in the wild, you’re essentially booking them a one-way ticket for a poor-quality life.

“These animals essentially become pet slaves that are then used for the benefit of a select group of people. For them it’s a hobby – but for the animal, bird or insect, it’s a struggle for existence in an orderly world.

One that’s different from the wild but with its own set of challenges.” ■ * Name changed

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DOWNLOADING

HEALTH

FINDING A DOCTOR IN OMAN HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER THANKS TO AN APP THAT AIMS TO TAKE THE DRAMA OUT OF A DOMESTIC AILMENT. TEAM Y REPORTS

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Ahmed Mustafa

expect from the hospital or the doctor.

In what can be deemed a first in the country, the app also features an insurance-based search for those using specific services, and once all the inputs have been made, you can also click to see the services that the doctors offer before contacting them.

The COO adds: “What this does is that it diversifies beyond what the people can see. The medical industry in Oman is currently dominated by the glitzy and glamorous hospitals that spend OUR COUNTRY IS WHAT tens of thousands of Riyals on MOTIVATES US TO KEEP marketing – and that’s fine.

GOING. IT HAS GIVEN US “But, what we need to show is SO MUCH IN TERMS OF that there are other clinics and WHAT WE EXPERIENCE doctors working even harder and IN OUR DAILY LIVES, AND doing great jobs for the public. And WITH A CONCEPT SUCH we intend to show the residents that AS THIS, WE INTEND these places exist too.

TO GIVE BACK TO OUR “That way, not only can one avail BEAUTIFUL NATION a great service, they can form a very strong bond with the doctor too.”

Coming into the field armed with a Master’s Degree in engineering management from the Penn State University in the USA and experience working as a consulting manager in one of the world’s largest consultancy firms and oil and gas, and banking industries, Nasr doesn’t skimp on the business skills either.

And with the support of his colleague Ahmed, who holds the position of the CEO of the firm, he intends to use his adept knowledge in business and technology to take the app to country,” he asks. greater heights; namely, by starting Nasr is right, as countries a comment-based system where – including those in Asia – have users can comment on the services already begun making the switch of a doctor, receive and send to mHealth apps. It is believed that medical reports via the app, and there are more than 318,000 health initiate a pharmacy with online apps across the top app stores, delivery capabilities (following worldwide – and a staggering 200 approvals from the Ministry of apps are added each day (!)

Health).

It’s also a lucrative market, as “We live in a time when it is collectively valued at adding everyone’s best friend is their US$28.3bn (RO10.9bn) to the smartphone. So, why not put it medical industry last year – but an to complete use and provide a app of its kind was always lacking value-added service that was once in Oman. not available to the people of the “There are challenges and there Nasr al Saleh

T

he internet can be your best or worst source for medical advice.

While doctors will often play down your interest in seeking medical information from online sources – mostly due to self-analysing hypochondriacs who assume the worst at even the slightest of symptoms – there’s an obvious advantage in having medical resources at your fingertips.

That’s where the idea of Omanis, Nasr al Saleh and his friend Ahmed Mustafa, comes into being.

Blending an idea that culminated from a quandary, these problemsolving engineers are now delving into the medical industry – and changing the face of the industry in the Sultanate in the process.

Their app, Doctory, takes the very notion of medical care – forging an inter-personal relation with the doctor – and blends it with a sprinkle of technology to create what has become the largest and most elaborate medical app in the country.

In an interview with Y, Nasr, 30, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company that was launched earlier this year, tells us: “The idea for this app came out of necessity – and the funding is from their own pockets for now.

“Both Ahmed and I didn’t know which doctors to approach when it came to taking care of our kids when they got sick – and in came the idea of solving that problem by providing an app that could be a one-stop shop for all medical needs; not just for us, but for the whole nation.

“A framework was slowly set with the developers and we began compiling data that would then cover the Muscat area first.”

Since its launch, Doctory has accumulated data of more than 600 doctors in the Muscat Governorate, complete with their bio, place of practice, location, phone numbers, location and even star ratings to show the users the service they can

have been quite a few while setting it up too,” says Nasr.

“Firstly, we needed to convince hospitals about our business model and the pros of affiliating with a service that offers free services to the people such as ours. Prior to this, they would use time-worn technologies for everything from their websites to their booking systems. But, by using a facility such as ours, not only can they move ahead on that front, but it can minimise the waiting times in hospitals.

“That way, hospitals can operate more efficiently and people can save time too.”

“Our country is what motivates us to keep going. It has given us so much in terms of what we experience in our daily lives, and with a concept such as this, we intend to give back to our beautiful nation.

“Even though we operate with the intention of revolutionising the medical industry, we pray and hope that you won’t require the services of the app and that you’ll be healthy and alright.” ■

Download the Doctory app from Google Play and iTunes for free.

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It’s rare to find a place where old dialects die hard, but in the Musandam Peninsula Swati Basu Das finds a community with its own distinct tongue that has survived generations, and isn’t going away anytime soon 026

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D

escribed as the “Norway of Arabia,” the Musandam Peninsula offers up the azure waters of the Arabian Sea amid steep facades that rise a few thousand metres above the ocean.

A three-hour trip by ferry from Shinas harbour to Khasab is a voyage to be treasured.

A dramatic landscape located on the Strait of Hormuz known for its fjords, crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life, this diving and snorkelling spot is an enclave where its century-old civilisation is as unique as its topography.

A traditional dhow cruise from Khasab harbour offers a closer view of the majestic khors/fjords of this peninsula that jut into the vastness of the mesmerising ocean.

The Al Dhahhori, Al Shehhi and Al Kumzari tribes dwelling in three significant fjords of Khor Shem, Khor Najd and Khor Ghob Ali and the Kumzar village, are living proof of a particular style of survival.

Accessible only by boats, the thousandyear-old villages located in these inlets have a population estimated to be between 500 and 5000, depending on the size of the communities.

Sustaining their livelihoods by fishing, farming or herding, the dwellers here follow the traditions that are true to their land, heritage and neighbouring countries.

So, what makes Kumzar distinct? Of course, it’s the language that has made the Kumzari tribe stand out not only in Oman but across borders.

“A different language is a different vision of life.” This quote from the legendary Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini is verifiable in this northernmost tip of the Sultanate of Oman.

Welcome to Kumzar – a land of linguistic distinction.

Apart from being the ordinary countrymen to the land where they were born; members of the Kumzari tribe have a robust ethno-lingual base that predominantly is non-Arabic.

Often termed as Oman’s last village, it leaves an impression on anyone who visits this quaint and languorous hamlet. Heavily guarded by high rugged terrains from all three sides, and with fishing boats anchored along its shore, Kumzar is like a pearl on the bay. Its denizens

Learn a little Kumzari: Namto Kah? What is your name?

Shabeye kwashi? How are you?

Al humdullah kwashom. I am fine.

Amesy biy gya? Where are you from?

Shu lugayte majmtke? What is your language?

Kumzar malee! Kumzar is beautiful! else in the world. Most importantly it is not written and is just colloquial.”

It can be termed code-switching (mixing two or three languages from various other languages) usual among multilingual people, which most experts believe are a common psycholinguistic phenomenon. depend mostly on fishing and farming. Summer is when Kumzaris vacate A few ‘stolen’ words in English like ‘chocolate’ that passes their village and move to Khasab to escape the scorching heat. Winter is through Spanish, ‘thypoon’ which has a Chinese influence or the time to taste some fresh figs from their orchards or trek through the even ‘lemon’ which is an Arabic term ‘laymuun’ found their way village and follow the mountain trails or go fishing. into the dictionary.

It’s not only its natural charisma but the settlers of Kumzar who, over Similarly, the word ‘better’ is a common term used in the centuries, have made this part of the Gulf pre-eminent.

Kumzari without any significant variations.

So, what language do Kumzaris speak? What could be its possible Lathifa says: “In case of a numeral, we utter them in English lingual history? No, the journey of this dialect isn’t entirely out of the blue. and not in Arabic. That has become the Kumzari way of saying Remember, Oman is a seafaring nation. Be it the ancient trade routes numbers. ‘Namto kah’ (what is your name?) is Indian.” or the fables of Sindbad the Sailor or Ibn Battuta the explorer; sea routes Is there a risk of it becoming extinct? to Oman have greeted travellers and even embraced traders from faraway Although it’s not a written language, Kumzaris believe the lands since time immemorial. style of it will stay forever, says Lathifa.

Lathifa Kumzari, who lives in Kumzar, says: “Many traders from Though learning Arabic is mandatory in schools and for a Europe and even the Far East have ventured to this land and found it a printed format, the beauty of the Kumzari tongue is colloquially good trading spot. well-maintained.

“The presence of natural water in the mountains of Kumzar was a “These are words that have been passed over to us by our blessing for the weary travellers who halted here. ancestors without any external threats,” says Lathifa. “The “Over time, the land captivated them, and many among them settled language has not changed its form. It will be passed on by us here. Hence their culture and even their languages made a mark in our to our children and so on. Trust me it’s not vulnerable. It will present-day life, making it unique.” remain forever.”

Thus, the Kumzari language came into existence with loanwords from Wherever you are from, your visit to Kumzar and your people sailing here from different nations. encounters with Kumzaris may present to you your native A tribal dialect – Kumzari – contains ‘stolen’ words from people sailing tongue as they speak. to this khor from different nations, influencing the dwellers who currently claim to own words that are a fusion of English, French, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Indian, Arabic and even Japanese. That’s a linguist’s bouquet!

“Yes, we speak a language that is not Arabic but is pure ‘Kumzari’,” says Lathifa.

“Kumzari is a language which is only spoken in Kumzar and nowhere

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COMPETITION

Presented by

In Association With

d r o w e h t s ’ Mum Who will win the title of ‘Oman’s Best Mum’? The jury is out, and will soon decide as all the entries are in for Y’s annual competition, now in its fifth year

S

he’s the driving force of the family, the multi-tasking domestic goddess who keeps our lives on an even keel; in every way.

It is with that in mind that scores of children turn up at the ‘Love You Mum’ initiative launched by Y Magazine at the MG Motors showroom in Wattayah – all armed with creative tools to craft a letter of love and gratitude to their beloved mothers.

And that they do. Thursday, April 18 is a day filled with conveying the adoration these kids have for their mums.

“I love you, Mum”, reads a card designed by Jhanvi Shankar, an 11-yearold pupil with an Indian school in the Sultanate.

Studded with what appear to be pearls, and finished with bold colours and glitter, it’s hard to say if the mother is more impressed by her daughter’s

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creativity or the touching message that spans another page.

In fact, it’s not just Jhanvi who expresses her love for her mother. Many of those present are awestruck by the beautiful messages their children have crafted to commemorate the ‘Mothers’ Day’ that was celebrated on March 21.

Presented by PUCK and in association with MG Motors, the special competition – which is now in its fifth year – is also the biggest competition of its kind in the country. Children up to the age of 16 from all around the nation take part – irrespective of their nationality.

The enthusiasm in the air is palpable, and parent Zeeshan Malik is all smiles.

He says: “In a time where the bond between parents and children are

tested, it’s nice to see kids taking the initiative to come forward, spend time and show love for their mothers.

“Keep in mind that this is the future of society in the making. There’s no better way to show love than with a competition so that the kids are also motivated to do their best.”

Much of the cards returned to us are filled with heartfelt messages and it’s difficult to choose the best.

However, a panel of judges will soon declare the winners of the contest, and those chosen stand a chance of winning prizes.

Feroz Khan, Director of Sales & Marketing for SABCO Media says: “The bond that a mother and child shares is very special. It’s the first form of love the child will ever receive and it also forms the strongest bond in their early formative years.

“Simple words cannot signify the love they hold and share for one another. But, we’re delighted to give these kids the opportunity and a platform to express themselves.

“The response from the children has been incredible and some of the creative works will make it particularly difficult for us to choose a winner “But, whether you’ve gone the creative route to decorate your card with flowers or glitter, or simply flooded your card with messages, there’ll be a winner – and that we’ll announce in the coming weeks.

“Whatever the case may be, these cards – the words and the decorations – can surely make their Mum’s heart melt.”

Y’s ‘Love You Mum’ 2019 Event

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029

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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

AL GEFR

SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI FINDS NEW PERSPECTIVES DOWN THE TRAILS LESS TRODDEN IN THIS INTERIOR HIDEAWAY 032

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Cars

your own risk when hiking – and always with a buddy or group. GPS will be your best friend in this remote interior region, and, for the most part, our mobile signals remained up and running. There are patches, like in the thick crevices of the ‘Mountain Gate’ for example, where you can expect not to have any bars on your phone.

As its name suggests, the ‘Mountain Gate’ seems to be a doorway into the rock itself – but is actually an optical illusion that gives the impression of a closed, confined space. In actual fact there’s a trail large enough for a vehicle to pass through that runs directly through the crevice of the rock and brings you out on the opposite side of the mountain.

Intrepid outdoor types will find ample spots at the foot of the mountains for barbecuing or camping – though take note; while the recent rains hadn’t yet hit this far inland the risk of flash wadis remains ever-present so it’s always good to exercise caution.

The village of Al Gefr itself is a place where time stands still. As we passed through its small farm-yards we noticed a cluster of peacocks scratching in the dirt under a cluster of nearby trees – a sight you don’t see often in Oman. What is as common as karak are the rambunctious gangs of goats that clamber about the rocky steppes and hillocks as though they were kings of the castle.

And let’s face it – out here, where the air is pure and the land ancient, aren’t they? It’s us who are the interlopers, outlanders out of place in these Omani pastoral tableaux.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

S

ometimes life throws us unexpected detours. Other times, we choose to take them. Such was the case when, last weekend, we decided to venture out of the city and deep into the interiors, on an off-road adventure to the isolated mountain stretches of Al Gefr in the South Al Batinah Governorate.

A two-hour drive from Muscat – of which an hour of that is off-road, it’s a small mountain enclave around 49km from Al Hamra and a mere 18km from Hatt and Wadi A’Sahaten – both popular tourist and camping sites. It’s a trek best made in a 4x4, but sedan cars can venture forth along the flattened trails.

After an hour’s drive along the Sultan Qaboos Highway towards Rustaq, we took the exit just ahead of Rustaq onto Route 13 before letting the asphalt slip away from under us as we veered off-road near the large municipal water facility a little way down the road – following our GPS coordinates on what would end up being a sojourn through a mountain moonscape.

As every bump and hump took us a little farther away from civilisation, we rolled down the window to reclaim what’s so often lost to us in our urban existence – the sound of silence, and the scent of nature. Greenery engulfed us as the date palms and indigenous trees of the area encroached upon our trail through the mountains.

Lost amid the sounds of nature, the Al Gefr area is a trekker’s paradise but, with many of the pathways being old goat trails, it’s best to use caution and go at

From Muscat, take the Sultan Qaboos Highway onwards out of Seeb and continue onwards as though you’re heading to Rustaq. Just south of the exit to Rustaq, take the turn-off onto Route 13 instead. Follow the road for a few kilometres until you see the municipal

water storage facilities on your right.

It’s here where you’ll turn off road and follow the below GPS coordinates to Al Gefr.

Coordinates: 23°16’09.1”N 57°23’27.0”E

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

G

M knows a thing or two when it comes to making cars – after all, they’ve been doing it for more than 110 years.

Not only do they know the secret sauce behind car building, they also know full well how cars – the smaller kind that we call ‘sedans’ – aren’t the future of motoring as they’ve since gone on to slash eight sedans from their lineup.

Eight – that’s far more than the steps any automaker has taken… ever (!)

What it does, however, is leave open a lineup to SUVs and a couple of other sports coupes and drop-tops.

That’s also why Chevy’s new Equinox fits neatly into a range of cars that slots in between their gargantuan products, such as the Tahoe and the Traverse; or the smaller ones, like the Trax.

A perfect blend indeed, if you think how buyers – whether you like it or not – are now flocking

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C H E V RO L E T E Q U I N OX

Team Y tests a solid, attractive crossover, ideal for your first foray into the SUV market towards wheels that offer bang-for-buck deals; five seats, a touch of off-road ability, and a cracking engine.

The Equinox serves up all that plus Chevy’s design mantra, which has grown on us.

While it isn’t as sharp as, say, their own product, the Blazer; the Equinox does win points for its wedge-shaped lights, large signature grille, and subtle yet visible styling elements that elevate it as a stylish prospect on the market.

In fact, spec it in the right tone and it’ll even set in a boyish charm that most players in the stronghold lack –aside from the new Toyota RAV-4, perhaps.

A sense of airiness belies the exterior of the car: there are large windows, tapered edges that ease into the body ever so slightly so as not to overdo the makeover, and just enough plastic panels that effectively keep the coloured portions (white in the case of our tester) as the highlights.

Moving inside confirms our initial thoughts on the roominess of the SUV. Space is plentiful for both first and second row passengers – which can comfortably seat five – while eight full-size suitcases can be stowed into the 847-litre boot.

The fabric seats in our tester are comfortable and supportive, serving up plenty of lumbar support even if it’s only limited bi-directionally.

Meanwhile, the interior is constructed with durable materials – if mostly with hard plastics and soft-touch inserts only flanking the door panels and dashboard. Cup holders and storage compartments are placed all around the car, making it a great vehicle to crunch up the miles with a family.

At the forefront of it all lies the 7-inch touchscreen running MyLink, Chevrolet’s infotainment software.

The user interface of the screen is on the easier

side, with menus simplified to appease those not technologically sound, but while still offering a suite of features such as screen mirroring and Apple CarPlay.

Those looking for the full experience can spec the car with an 8-inch screen and other goodies, which will also include an upgraded audio unit. Mind you, we find the standard options, with Bluetooth and AUX audio, adept and fitting in with our requirements.

Two engine units are offered from the onset – 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder forcefully-induced engines – that pump out 170hp and 275Nms of torque, and 252hp and 352Nms of

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

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CHEVROLET EQUINOX Specifications: • Engine: 1.5-litre ‘turbocharged’ in-line four-cylinder • Transmission: Six-speed automatic • Power: 170hp • Torque: 275Nms • Top Speed: 200kph Front-wheel drive Cruise control 7-inch infotainment screen Multi-information display 17-inch alloy wheels 847-litre boot capacity 18-inch alloy wheels Leatherette upholstery Traction and Stability controls 6-way power driver seat (Optional) 9-speaker Bose premium audio system Remote starter Rear parking camera assist

torque, respectively.

The former unit is mated to a traditional six-speed automatic while the punchier one gets a nine-speed auto.

We find our tester, which is fitted with a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit and a six-speed auto, to be potent enough in stop-start traffic and just about capable on the highways.

On the upside, the compact SUV keeps its composure at high speeds, settling into its speed with grace and only losing a bit of steam when you pump the gas beyond speeds of 120kph.

The gearbox, with tiptronic functionality, shifts with ease and upshifts regularly to keep the revs low, and subsequently, the fuel efficiency high. Through the course of our drive, we achieve figures as high as 13.2km/l – an admirable figure even by economy-minded sedan standards. Taking control of the gear shifts manually can

throw these numbers out of the door, as the changes are subjected to an ECU (engine control unit) that keeps a strong hand over the final shift ratios.

Handling dynamics is in line with its competitors – the Equinox boasts very little body roll and excellent amounts of grip with little to no understeer, despite its front-wheel drive setup, during spirited driving.

The steering, on the other hand, is light, making the SUV easy to manoeuvre in the city, and the brakes are strong and with great pedal feel.

Road imperfections hardly translate into the cabin owing to the high-profile rubber wrapped around the 17-inch alloys, and the soft but off-road capable suspension setup.

In many ways, the Equinox – even with the frugal engine – is the perfect entry point for a family into the

ROAD IMPERFECTIONS HARDLY TRANSLATE INTO THE CABIN OWING TO THE HIGH-PROFILE RUBBER WRAPPED AROUND THE 17INCH ALLOYS, AND THE SOFT BUT OFF-ROAD CAPABLE SUSPENSION SETUP SUV segment. Not only does its thrifty attitude help in putting a smile on the faces of penny-pinchers, it also serves just about enough space and off-road prowess to keep everyone else fascinated.

Think of it as an amalgamation of two very different worlds. And on that level, we think the Equinox scores big.

We can’t deny the facts: this is what the people want.

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&

CARS ADVENTURES

HISTORIC AMSTERDAM The waterways of the

city’s iconic canal system glimmer in the light of a Dutch dawn

1. Ride a bicycle to get a feel for the city streets.

2. Cruise down the canals and watch the city float by.

3. Taste Dutch delicacies at the Albert Cuyp Street Market.

4. Experience blooming Dutch tulips with a trip to Keukenhof Gardens.

5. Visit the museums and the legendary Anne Frank House.

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Destination

Cars

Y- F i

G a m i n g POSTCARDS FROM

Swati Basu Das recommends

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS A

quixotic, state-of-the-art destination, Amsterdam will never fail to go beyond ‘all the’ Rembrandts and Van Goghs.

Apart from producing some of the world’s greatest painters and housing the fine museums showcasing their work, Amsterdam is naturally, and artistically, gorgeous. An open square, Museumplein, is where Dutch paintings find their place of honour in museums like the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum.

Marking the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt in 2019, from February 15 to June 10, with ‘the year of Rembrandt’, an exhibition of some of his remarkable paintings at Rijksmuseum was something I had my eye on during my six-day stay.

But museums are not the only thing Amsterdam has to offer. This city, built on water, is validated by the Dutch saying “God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands”.

This European gem is the ‘city of cycles’ and is best explored by riding one. Bicycles outnumber cars on city roads by a ratio of four-to-one. Bike lanes and bike-specific traffic lights make riding safe and fun, and if you are in the saddle, make sure you don’t stop unless you have to, and ring your bell to keep pedestrians at bay.

Paying close attention to the architecture while walking or cycling, the skewed houses that lean on one another by the side of a canal can never go unnoticed.

Well-connected by buses and trams, the city and its outskirts are accessible, easily navigable and convenient. The Line 14 tram from Amsterdam Central Station will take you to the city’s focal point - Dam Square - in not more than three minutes. From malls and souvenir shops to numerous food joints, this public square witnesses major celebrations and carnivals all year round. A 15-minute stroll to the west of the square will take you to the multi-cultural Jordaan area, which includes Ann Frank House. The legendary teenage diarist lived here during World War II. Retaining its medieval flavour, the fairytale town of Haarlem is 17 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central. A dream-like destination with its vast square dominated by the Grote Kerk (a Gothic church), a day trip to this quaint town highlights the medieval Hofjes (enclosed courtyards), and a windmill. A canal cruise meandering through the waterways is another relaxing way to explore the area.

Be it for the 17 th century Rembrandt’s works of art or those marvellous movie sets recognisable from films such as those in ‘The Fault In Our Stars’, Amsterdam and its environs provoke a sense of anticipation, and excitement.

STROO

My favourite place The traditional working windmill at Zaanse Schans is a sight that’s quintessentially Dutch. A 35-minute train ride from Amsterdam Central via Sloterdijk, the place firmly recalls life in the 17th century Netherlands. This very first industrial zone has a number of the old wind-powered mustard mill, sawmill, oil mill and even dye mills, and is named De Huisman (the Houseman), Het Jonge Schaap (the young sheep), De Os (the Ox) or De Kat (the cat), respectively. Witnessing these iconic machines as they work even today is an experience. Located on the River Zaan, there are also museums and a chocolate factory. After smelling some freshly-baked, luscious fresh cookies, a visit to the clog (Dutch style wooden shoes) making warehouse makes for a fantastic day trip.

PWAFFL ES - A TY DUTCH T R E A T P IC A L

L OO M IN G FI E L D OF B OW B IN A R A IP S DUTCH TUL

Highlights Tulips are what makes this part of the world adorable and if you are prepared to make a journey here in spring, you can take a trip to Keukenhof Gardens, which is about an hour’s train ride away from Amsterdam. In this park, a bewildering, bewitching array awaits you; the results of the seven millions bulbs that are planted here annually and showcased at the Amsterdam Tulip Festival, which this year is on until May 19. Then there is the street food, especially at Albert Cuyp market near Museumplein. The Dutch stroopwaffle with crunchy waffle and gooey stroop syrup within and poffertjes (fluffy mini pancakes) are sweet wonders. Be it the raw herring (Dutch style marinated raw fish) served with raw onions and pickles or the delicious kibbeling (fried cod fish) teeming with tartar sauce, these are delicacies not to be ignored. The not-so-Dutch vlaamse friets (French fries) served with 24 different sauces at MannekenPis near Amsterdam Central are a perennial favourite with tourists.

Lowlights Streets are over-crowded on weekends so keep a close eye on your belongings. Do carry an umbrella as the weather is pretty unpredictable.

Souvenirs Wooden clogs, Delft pottery, Zaanse Molen Dutch Mustard. Don’t forget to bring home the flavoured Dutch cheese from the cheese city - Alkamar.

Getting there KLM flies directly to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from Muscat.

Where to stay Hotels to suit all budgets abound here. However, it’s essential to book early as Amsterdam is popular

A PAIR OF CLOGS TRADITIONA L DUTC MAKE TH H SOUVE E PERFECT NIR

with travellers from all over the world, from spring to autumn.

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THE TECH IN YOU

D e s t i n at i o n

Cars

Gaming

Y- F I

WHATEVER THE WEATHER The Y Geek Squad tries out some tech to keep you cool, both in body and mind this coming summer

STAY COOL No matter where you are and what you do, the Omani summer will inevitably catch up with you. With temperatures expected to soar as high as 40-degreesCelsius, it seems only right to invest in this personal portable air conditioner – the Culer SOLO FlushEvaporative Air Cooler. Unlike traditional air conditioners, it doesn’t make use of a compressor unit so, perhaps it does fall into a clan of air coolers like its name suggests, but with a modern twist. The one-gallon tank can provide up to 10 hours of cooling, and it can also spray a mist of cool water into the air to cool the surroundings. It’s an effective piece of technology that is also quite energy-efficient. Get this from amazon.com for RO33.5.

EXPLORE THE SEAS INSTANT ICE CREAM There are very few things on the planet that would entice us on a hot summer’s day in Oman. A plane ticket to the North Pole would be one, but since that’d cost us some serious brass, we’ll stick to the obvious choice: ice cream (we know you’re judging us). While you can simply go out and buy some, we suggest you give making it on your own. We particularly dig this gadget – the Gourmia GSI170 Automatic Ice Cream Maker – which is a device that can make 1.4-litres of ice cream, yoghurt, and sorbet of your choice. For the most part, it only relies on your adding the ingredients and hitting the ‘start’ button – and the process only takes an hour. At RO30, it’s a steal from gourmia.com.

It’s a tough contraption to put into perspective, but the Yamaha Explorer Seascooter is best described as a tag-along scooter for beginners who can’t be bothered to go swimming. With cruising speeds of up to 4kph and a depth rating of 10m, the sea scooter is slow but perfect for diving, snorkelling and generally exploring the shorelines and some deeper wadis. As expected, the construction of the device is solid and it also has a safety grille, auto shut-off, and a dual trigger operation. It’s all yours for RO115 from yamahaseascooters.com.

MIRACLE CUSHION

EDITOR’S PICK

WE’VE ALL EXPERIENCED IT: STEPPING INTO WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A FURNACE WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOORS TO YOUR CAR THAT HAS BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE EXPOSED TO THE SUN LIKE A GREENHOUSE. AVOID SUCH SCENARIOS BY INSTALLING THE ZONE TECH BREATHABLE COOLING CAR SEAT CUSHION. IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN – IT ACTS LIKE A COOLING PAD FOR THE SEATS WHEN PLUGGED INTO THE 12V SOCKET. IT DOES ITS JOB WITH A FAN THAT DRAWS IN COOL AIR FROM THE LOWER PORTIONS OF THE CAR AND CIRCULATES IT AROUND THE PADS ON THE SEATS. IN SHORT, IT ACTS AS A MAKESHIFT SEAT VENTILATOR THAT CAN COST UPWARDS OF SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF RIYALS WHEN OPTED FROM THE CAR MANUFACTURER. THIS ADD-ON WILL ONLY SET YOU BACK RO34.1 FROM AMAZON.IN.

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Middle East Film & Comic Con

The Middle East Film & Comic Con 2019 last weekend was a runaway hit. The Y Geek Squad was there to rub shoulders with the fans of all things animated

T

he biggest pop culture and gaming event in the region, the Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC), finished up last weekend in the UAE at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center. And Y was there to capture the vibe and celebrate with the craziest geeks and anime fans! In addition to the funky merchandise and celebrities present, here are the top five things we loved most about MEFCC: SHEIKH THANOS While the convention centre was abuzz with loud cosplayers who mimicked fictional characters, a man wearing traditional Emirati dress stole the show despite his late arrival.

From the back he looked like any GCC citizen, but from the front, he was

Thanos, a fictional supervillain with enormous powers and abilities. This unlikely combination that merged comic culture with Arab heritage drew lots of attention and in few minutes, he became the star of Comic Con 2019!

CAPTAIN TSUBASA TOURNAMENT Before choosing sides between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, we all agreed that Captain Tsubasa was the greatest footballer ever! Arab children born in the late 80s and early 90s call him Captain Majid, a fictional character from a long-running manga series. A huge e-sport tournament was held in MEFCC for fans who play the mobile-game ‘Captain Tsubasa Dream Team’!

COSPLAY COMPETITION Ask any visitor about their favourite part of MEFCC and most would cite the cosplay competition. In addition to the great dresses and makeup, cosplayers in MEFCC took it to a whole

new level this year with outstanding stage performances, where they acted to a scripted play to bring their characters to life. Famous anime heroes and video game characters were on-stage including Hell Girl (Jigoku Shouji), Snake from ‘Metal Gear’ and Wargreymon from ‘Digimon’.

FANCY SCULPTURES If you can shell out a couple of thousand riyals to buy a headsize sculpture, then MEFCC is the place for you. Famous sculptors displayed a wide range of highlydetailed figures made of expensive materials. While most of them were on sale, it was clear that visitors were avoiding any contact with the sculptures after seeing the price tags – we clocked one that cost RO3,000.

RAIN DRAMA It rained heavily on Saturday, 13 April, the last day of the event. Saudi cosplayer Saud Al Hazzani took the opportunity to pose for a dramatic shot in which he played video game character ‘Sekiro’ under the cloudy skyline of Dubai. The video, taken

by Maha Dahlan, was easily the best clip of MEFCC 2019!

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

DAFFODIL DANDY

It’s bright, it’s shiny – and spring is here, which only means one thing for the fashion world: it’s time to bring the summer dresses out. If you're planning to shop for a new one, then go for mellow yellow, such as with this number from Dorothy Perkins.

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aran K e tin hris C , t ry tree esto s o h h g s e hi rmy h a t e o t H end e look. ram h g g hi th the to get n Insta m Fro s you tine o is help w Chr o Foll

T t e G

Maxi dresses are still in trend, and this ankle-grazing, off-shoulder linen number from F&F is our frock of choice this season. Vibing a summery feel, this one is a must-have. Buy it for RO11.

Front tie-up shirts have been making the rounds for a while now and we don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon.

This stylish striped shirt is perfect for those mall strolls or brunch with girlfriends. It costs RO11 from Dorothy Perkins.

Accessories can always elevate your outfit from ‘Okay’ to ‘wow’. This pair of diamante parrot earrings will take you from ‘wow’ to ‘fab’!

Grab them from New Look at RO4.

Gold necklaces are very versatile can morph very well to your style. This gold necklace from NEXT is so edgy that it can be worn in numerous ways and with abundant styles.

Make it yours for RO7.

Yes, we agree that styling yellow shoes can be a tad bit tough. But once you get the formula right, you will have your friends asking you to be their personal stylist. So don’t fret, just grab from Marks & Spencer at RO12.5.

Much needed for the summer evenings with friends or for an office gathering, this yellow shirt dress will make you fashionably stand out yet stay mellow. Buy this jacquard shirt dress from Wallis at RO24.

This summer, we're strutting to work in bright yellow trousers.

Pair them with a white cotton shirt and white stilettos, and you are ready to win the day! Grab this pair from NEXT for RO24.1.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Face A

VALUE

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The Beard Game “Trends have shifted and the beard now gets so much attention – if even a bit more – than hair. Barbers now must up their beard game if they need to stand out with the public,” says Qais.

“Here, we keep it simple. So, we use different levels of trimmers to get the right shade on the sideburns and even keep updating ourselves with what the latest trends are right now. So, this could be something inspired by a movie or a music video or something.

“The goatee and the balbo are currently in – and several customers, mostly younger ones, opt for them.”

Our top product pick: Beardoholic Not only does the oil eliminate dandruff, it also reduces itch and stimulates beard growth. Think of it as the best of both worlds. Orders yours from amazon.com for RO9.6. *Not affiliated with Ques Barbershop Hairstyle “The age-old tradition – your hairstyle. It’s what keeps us barbers on our feet,” says Qais.

APR 25 - MAY 01 / ISSUE 566

Home

Family

Beards may be in but need careful grooming to keep you looking good.

Chris Ford volunteers his visage to a master barber, and reports back

s much as one tries to deny it: a man’s style is often a reflection of his character and personality. Often, it’s the time you take to deck yourself up for the day ahead – with the right hairdo, clothes or a stylised beard – that can set you apart from those who prefer the more lived-in (or scruffy) look. However, if you, like me, can’t stand to pick up a razor and begin picking on those straggling strands of beard hair, there are tons of options out there to help you get the look. One place where you can achieve that is at the newlyopened Ques Barbershop – a family-run business that has come to life in the corners of the Al Hail section, away from the hustle and bustle of the highway.

It is there that Qais al Kindi intends to build his empire, one that he says was inspired by the movie ‘The Barbershop’.This also claims to be the first allOmani barbershop of its kind – stocking only Omani products and staffed by Omani barbers. “We’re artists, you know,” Qais says. The Western influence in his tone seems to be a borrowed amalgamation from the US and UK… much like the style of his shop. With Hollywood studio-like lights on the mirrors, vinyl records playing in the background and a PlayStation to keep customers busy – he has everything to make you believe that there’s more to the barber shop experience than what meets the eye. Donning a cap to promote the brand but with just the right amount of verve to keep customers enthralled, the young Omani then sets about creating his “art”. But what is art? Barbers Qais, and his colleague, Shaikhan Al Yarubi, proceed to explain what’s ‘with-it’ in the industry:

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Fashion

“If you’re not a good barber, the people all around will come to know about it because there’s no better marketing for a barber than his customers.

“One of the coolest trends currently in is the fade. It’s evergreen and is hard to get – it can take a good hour depending on the length of the hair.

“Also popping up right now among Omanis is the style of the R&B singer, The Weeknd. So, it’s a blend of an Afro with a fade, which gives the hair quite a lot of character.”

Our top product pick: Nucleus Organic Dandruff Treatment This all-Omani product is a blessing in disguise. Not only is its dandruff-fighting element a cheap alternative to otherwise expensive medical treatments, it also stimulates growth in the active hair follicles. Get the treatment done at the Ques Barbershop for RO5 (up to RO10).

Oil-free skin Skin care is a concept lost to many men, even in this day and age. While winters can mean dry skin, the Omani summers can switch it up to oily skin. Not only does this clog pores that are meant to aerate the skin, it can also make you tan faster while still making your face look unpleasantly shiny.

Our top product pick: Nivea Men Oil-Control Face Wash This is a charcoal-face wash lotion that also helps you slow the ageing process right down while also fortifying your face with Vitamin C and E, and Whitanat. Buy it from LuLu Hypermarket for RO1.2 *Not affiliated with Ques Barbershop In conclusion, Qais says: “When it comes to services, the customer always walks in with a look that he wants. So, it’s then up to us to either do it as it is for him, or also offer our input and work together to find a suitable look. That’s the challenge.”

“But no challenge is ever too difficult when you do what you’ve always worked towards doing: creating masterpieces.”

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STAND, AND DELIVER

Modern times mean we spend more time sitting than ever before. But sedentary lifestyles can lead to a whole host of physical ailments.

Here, Gemma Harrison reports on why more time upright is all right

A

re you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. And you might not be by the time you’ve finished reading this.

Sitting for too long (particularly in front of a screen) is bad for your health in all sorts of ways.

Some years ago when I was working in Denmark, I noticed how many of the staff liked to stand at their desks, which were fully adjustable to an occupant’s preferred height.

When I queried this, I learned that the Danes believe that too much sitting is bad for them, and is part-and-parcel of their approach to healthy lifestyles both at home and at work.

Ah yes, the Danes are well-known for their advanced attitudes and forward-thinking.

But the rest of us are finally catching up. In my own country of the UK, recent findings have revealed that sedentary lifestyles helped to contribute to 70,000 deaths in the UK in 2016.

The report was carried out by Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University and published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

The Northern Ireland study is significant because, up to now, studies have only shown a link between excessive sitting and poor health but not a direct cause.

We clearly all need to sit up (quite literally) to the hazards of our sedentary jobs and lifestyles.

And that means changing our habits, such as getting up and walking over to your work colleague to ask them what they want from Subway for lunch instead of emailing them.

Yes, workplace traits like these have become commonplace, and it’s time we wised up.

It’s not just that sitting for too long means you’re not moving enough, using less energy and therefore becoming more susceptible to weight gain.

Being continually seated can result in a whole host of health problems; from slowing down our metabolism to more serious issues including joint inflammation, back trouble, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

And according to the Northern Ireland

researchers, not even regular gym users are immune. A couple of hours’ workout will not compensate for a whole day and evening spent on your backside.

The UK’s Chief Medical Officer issued a report a few years ago called ‘Start Active, Stay Active’ in which Professor Stuart Biddle recommended that we “take an active break from sitting every 30 minutes”.

However, there have been no findings offering any guidelines on just exactly how much time we should sit each day, Some health experts in Australia recommend that children and young people’s screen time on TV and digital devices should be restricted to two hours a day.

Well, good luck with that; I say. Most parents with children would struggle to restrict their offspring to three or four hours, and that on a good day.

How times have changed. When I was a child, I was told that staring at a screen for too long (in those days, a [remote-less] television) would give me ‘square’ eyes, and I was frequently ushered outside to play in the back garden or told to do something with my hands. Kids were also frequently told to “stop fidgeting” at the dinner table, and to “sit in peace”.

Now, health experts say foot tapping and fidgeting while sitting can both burn more

calories and stimulate blood flow (good for the heart).

According to Professor Biddle, too much sitting slows down the metabolism. This means we are less able to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure and break down fat, which can lead to weaker muscles and bones.

“Essentially, the body is shutting down while sitting and there is little muscle activity,” he says.

It’s clear then. Whatever your age or circumstances, we all need to get moving a bit more.

Here are some tips to get us back on our feet: For office workers: ● When at your desk, get up, and take a phone call standing up or even walking around the office. ● When sitting, swirl your feet around and do foot exercises, or fidget to get the blood flowing in your legs. ● Walk to a co-worker’s desk instead of emailing them or calling them.

For the kids: ● Keep a room in the house devoid of digital devices or a television. ● Consider ways for kids to ‘earn’ screen time by helping out in the house (ambitious, I know). ● Try and encourage them to take up a hobby that will take them outside, and away from screens.

For the rest of us: ● Set a reminder to get up and walk around every half-an-hour or so. ● Set up a TV in the kitchen so you can watch while standing and doing other tasks. ● If watching TV while sitting, stand up and walk around during the ad breaks.

Editor’s Note: ‘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.’

(Sources: NHS UK, The Mayo Clinic, The Age) APR 25 - MAY 01 / ISSUE 566

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YUMMY FLAVOUR IN BLOOM

Leave winter in your wake and indulge with these delightfully light farm-fresh recipes!

pring treats Sand eats Spring has sprung and that means light, fresh fare that heralds the best of the season’s first harvest. Here are some of our favourite recipes that will pack a tasty punch to your Sunday lunch!

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Colourful Deviled Eggs

Pretty up these Sunday-lunch fingerfood favourites with a few drops of light food colouring for a spring-time pastel touch.

Ingredients: (one cup = 240g) § 7 hard-cooked eggs, peeled § ¼ cup mayonnaise § 1 tsp, Dijon mustard § ½ tsp, ground mustard § ½ tsp, parsley flakes McCormick® Parsley Flakes § ¼, tsp, seasoned salt § Pinch of paprika § One box, McCormick Assorted Food Colors & Egg Dye Method: § Slice eggs in half lengthwise. § Remove yolks and place in a small bowl. Mash yolks with a fork or potato masher. § Stir in mayonnaise, Dijon and ground mustard, parsley, and seasoned salt until smooth and creamy. § Spoon or pipe yolk mixture into egg white halves. Sprinkle with paprika. § Refrigerate for one hour or until ready to serve.

How to boil eggs for deviled eggs (and egg salad): § Add eggs to an empty saucepan in one layer. Cover with water and add a little bit of salt. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. § Turn off the heat, and allow to sit on the burner for 15 minutes. § Strain the liquid and run cold water over the eggs. Allow them to cool for 15 to 20 minutes before refrigerating for at least 30 to 60 minutes before peeling. This can be done the day before. (If you need to peel the eggs, run the eggs under cold, running water until cool to the touch and then peel.)

How to apply the food colouring: § Drop the food colouring into clear glasses and then add water. § Once you’ve scooped out the yolks from the hard-boiled eggs, add the egg white halves into the glasses with the food colouring. The longer you let the eggs sit in the food colouring, the darker the colours will be.

Colour wheel: § Dusty Rose: 7 drops of red + 3 drops of blue § Orange: 4 to 5 drops of yellow + 1 drop of red § Purple: 6 drops of red + 7 drops of blue § Mint Green: 7 drops of green + 3 drops of yellow

(Source: www.thelittlekitchen.net)

Rack of Lamb with Garlic and Herbs It doesn’t get more deliciously pastoral than a rack of spring lamb with all the trimmings. Trust us, it’ll be the centrepiece of your dinner-table spread!

Ingredients: For lamb § 2 (8-rib) Frenched racks of lamb (each rack 1 ½ lbs), trimmed of all but a thin layer of fat § 1 ½ tsp, salt § ¾ tsp, black pepper § 1 tsp, vegetable oil For herb coating § ½ head new garlic or 3 large regular garlic cloves, minced § ¼ cup finely-chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley § 1 Tbsp finely-chopped fresh thyme § 2 tsp finely-chopped fresh rosemary § ½ tsp, salt § ½ tsp, black pepper § 1 ½ Tbsp, extra-virgin olive oil Special Equipment § An instant-read thermometer Method: Brown lamb § Heat a dry 30cm heavy frying pan over high heat until hot, for at least two minutes. Meanwhile, pat lamb dry and rub meat all over with salt and pepper. Add oil to a hot frying pan, then brown the racks, in two

batches if necessary, on all sides (not ends) for about 10 minutes per batch. § Transfer racks to a small (7cm by 22cm) roasting pan.

Coat and roast lamb: § Put oven rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 180°C. • Stir together the garlic, herbs, salt, pepper, and oil. Coat the meaty parts of lamb with the herb mixture, pressing to help mesh together. Roast for 15 minutes, then cover the lamb loosely with foil, and roast until the thermometer inserted diagonally into the centre of meat registers 48°C, five to 10 minutes more. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to 50 to 55°C for medium-rare while lamb stands.) § Cut each rack into four double chops.

(Source: www.epicurious.com)

Bunny Buns with butter. Put the dough in the bowl, turning to coat lightly with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, for about 1 hour 30 minutes. (If you have a marker, trace a circle the size of the dough on the plastic and note the time to help you keep track.) § Lightly butter a 22cm-by33cm baking tray.

This adorable take on sticky-sweet hot-cross buns is almost too cute to eat. Little kids will love these adorable Peter Cottontails with a tall glass of pink lemonade, and big § To form the rolls: pat and roll kids will love them with a piping the dough with a rolling pin hot cuppa! into a 10cm by-25cm rectangle.

Cut off a 5cm-wide strip of Ingredients: dough across the short side Yeast Mixture: and set aside. (If the remaining (one cup = 240ml) dough has sprung back a bit, pat it back out to a 30-by-25cm § ½ cup, whole milk rectangle.) Cut the large dough § 4 ½ tsp, active dry yeast (two 6g rectangle in half lengthwise, packages) then cut each smaller rectangle § Pinch granulated sugar into six 12cm-by-5cm pieces, § Pinch all-purpose flour for a total of 12 pieces. Gather each piece and roll into a tight Buns: oval-shaped ball, closing any § 1/3 cup (5 Tbsp, plus 1 tsp) seams as best you can. Arrange unsalted butter, melted, plus in the prepared baking dish in more for the bowl and baking three rows of four, with any dish remaining seams tucked under. § 1 ½ tsp, pure vanilla extract § For the ears, cut the reserved § 1 large egg, plus 1 yolk strip of dough into 24 pieces. § 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus Roll each piece into a 7cm log, more for dusting fold in half and pinch the ends § ½ cup granulated sugar together to form an ear. Pinch § ¾ tsp, fine salt two ears together so they look § ½ tsp, ground cinnamon slightly like a heart. Repeat with § ¼ tsp, ground nutmeg the remaining logs to make 12 § ¼ tsp, ground ginger sets of ears. Hold each set of § ½ cup, raisins ears from the front where the § 24 mini chocolate chips ears come to a point and pinch them onto the front third of a Glaze: dough round to secure. Cover § ½ cup confectioners’ sugar with plastic wrap and let sit at § 1 ½ tsp, whole milk room temperature until doubled § ¼ tsp, pure vanilla extract in size, about 45 minutes. (A § 1/8 tsp, finely-grated lemon zest small indent will remain in the § 1 drop light pink gel food dough if you poke it with your colouring finger.) § ¼ cup, shredded coconut § Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees°C. Beat the remaining Method: whole egg with one tablespoon § For the yeast mixture: combine water in a small bowl. Remove the milk and ½ cup water in a the plastic wrap and brush the medium sauce-pan and warm tops of the dough balls and ears over low heat until about 38 with the egg wash. degrees°C (do not heat above § Bake the rolls until very 43 degrees°C). Remove the pan golden brown and puffy, 22 from the heat and sprinkle the to 25 minutes. Let cool for 20 yeast, sugar, and flour over the minutes, then insert two mini surface of the liquid. Set aside chocolate chips beneath each without stirring until foamy and set of ears for the bunnies’ eyes. rising up the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. § Transfer racks to a small (7cm by § For the glaze: Stir together the confectioners’ sugar, milk, 22cm) roasting pan. vanilla, and lemon zest in a bowl until smooth. Transfer § For the buns:: cwhisk the butter, half of the glaze to a small vanilla, and egg yolk into the piping bag or re-sealable plastic yeast mixture. Whisk together bag and make a small cut in the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, the corner. Add the pink food nutmeg, and ginger in a large colouring to the remaining bowl. Make a well in the centre glaze and stir to combine. of the flour mixture and stir Transfer the pink glaze to a in the yeast mixture with a small piping bag. Pipe the pink wooden spoon to make a thick icing inside of the ears. Pipe a and slightly sticky dough. Stir in big dollop of white glaze where the raisins. Turn the dough out the bunnies’ tails would be. onto a generously-floured work Cover the white icing with the surface and knead until soft and shredded coconut. elastic, for about eight minutes.

Shape into a ball. . § Grease the inside of a large bowl (Source: www.foodnetwork.com)

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

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Info Box

MARLIN’S RESTAURANT & BAR Main waterfront complex, Marina Bandar Al-Rowdha Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m., daily Contact: (+968) 2473-7286 Lunch for two: RO38.7

Verdict : 7/10 SERVICE 8/10 FOOD 9/10 AMBIENCE

MARLIN’S RESTAURANT & BAR TEAM Y REVELS IN THEIR CATCH OF THE DAY AT THIS WATERFRONT EATERY WHERE THE FARE IS FRESH AND THE DRINKS COLD

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resh off the boat at Marina Bandar Al-Rowdha, and the sun-soaked crowds come flocking in droves to the pier’s local watering hole, appetites freshened by the salt air and sea breeze. An afternoon on the water at the capital’s most bustling marina is thirsty work, and you don’t have to be a club member to enjoy the fresh breeze and waterfront views from the terrace at Marlin’s Restaurant & Bar. A cut above your average wharf-side grog spot, it’s an unpretentious hangout offering up an eclectic menu with all the usual crowd-pleasers and, as expected, the seafood steals the show. It’s a little after lunch-time when we arrive on a busy Friday afternoon. Replete with watersport tour operators, Marina Bandar Al-Rowdha acts as the launching pad for Muscat’s marine tourism; with angling, diving, snorkelling and dolphin-watching excursions taking centre-stage.

As the morning tours return to dock midday, the tables at Marlin’s quickly fill up. Marina club members can access the adjacent pool, and tuck into some light bar bites and cold bevvies from the comfort of their sun-loungers. The winds of fortune are blowing in our favour, as we manage to snag the last outdoor table on their breezycovered terrace overlooking the water.

Quick to be seated we’re presented with the menu, our drinks order jotted down by our waiter as we scan their expansive list of dining options. If you want burgers/sandwiches with a side of chips – you can have them. Ditto, for pasta and steak – they’ve got it all. Aside from their standout seafood selections (fresh and grilled

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APR 25 - MAY 01 / ISSUE 566

Waterfront eatery offering up world fare done well (if a little on the pricier side), and where seafood is the star.

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

and opt for the kale, papaya and pomegranate salad instead, at our waiter’s recommendation.

It’s here where the service tapers off somewhat.

We wait a long time for our mains and our glasses stand empty as we spend the better portion of the wait trying to flag down a member of staff for a refill instead of making conversation and enjoying the view. Top tip: it’s better (and faster) to just sidle up to the bar for a self-serve. While the restaurant was busy, a few extra staff on hand to ease the flow wouldn’t have hurt.

When our mains do finally arrive, it’s another set of winners. The fish ‘n chips are golden perfection – the tender filets of hammour are dusted lightly with batter and not at all greasy or oily. Here, the fish is allowed to shine. Complementing the fish are huge hunks of hand-cut chips that are perfectly crisp on the outside and as fluffy as a cloud on the inside – a sign the potatoes have been soaked in cold water before hitting the fryer.

The only letdown is the mushy peas which are mouth-puckeringly salty.

The kale, papaya and pomegranate salad arrives at the table looking like a bowl of tabbouleh – not what we expected, though the flavour is promising.

The dressing is a tomato concasse reduction that is bit overly-sweet as though extra sugar has been added. The pomegranates add a much-needed balance of tartness but the papaya has been diced in such a miniscule way it can hardly be found.

Healthy, yes; filling, no.

Were there some hits and misses at Marlin’s?

Yes. Do they outweigh the positive elements of the experience? Not by a long shot. After all, on the high seas, you don’t reel in the biggest catch on your first try. ■

to order), we’re feeling peckish for something fresh to match the salt-air ambience.

Scrolling their bar bites section, we opt for a sharing classic – a platter of golden calamari, along with a portion of the unique-sounding beetroot falafel with basil hummus. For our mains we order a seaside classic of fish ‘n’ chips, and a peach and rocket salad with fresh goat’s cheese and balsamic reduction to balance it out.

Our starters arrive shortly – both earning top marks for presentation and taste. The beetroot falafel was the star of the meal, and we would definitely order it again upon a return visit.

Lightly-crisp and well-seasoned patties of beetroot and chickpea falafel sit atop a bed of creamy house-made hummus with crisped basil leaves incorporated throughout. The depth of flavour is stunning and the presentation something you’d expect to see in a five-star restaurant.

We both let out a collective ‘OMG wow!’ at the first bite. The falafel, though made with beetroot, matches in texture and consistency its original incarnation; while the silky-smooth hummus carries an ever-so-slight herbaceous hit from the crispy basil. In fact, we even forgo the deliciously Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see on-point tartar sauce that comes with the calamari reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com.

– opting instead to dunk the sweetly-fried rings in the basil hummus.

Also a standout, the calamari is perfectly toothsome and not overly rubbery, though the golden batter it is deep-fried in is a little oilier than we would have liked. While we’re polishing off our appetisers, our waiter returns to tell us that the kitchen has run out of goat’s cheese for the peach and rocket salad and would we mind swapping it for Parmesan instead? Not keen on the substitution pairing, we scan the menu once more

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