Y Magazine #573, June 20, 2019 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

Coffee with Y

THE LITERARY WORLD OF AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR JOKHA AL HARTHI A sterling history THE CULTURE AND CRAFT OF OMANI SILVER

OMAN CITIZENSHIP 12 News: DIRECTIVE ANNOUNCED

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DESTINATION: Misfat Al Abriyeen TASTE TEST: MOOYAH YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

JUN 20 - 26 2019 / ISSUE 573 • WEEKLY

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IS MASS MEDIA STAGNATING IN THE SULTANATE? WITH ADVERTISING RATES ON THE DECLINE ACROSS MAINSTREAM MEDIA OUTLETS AND READER DEMAND GOING DIGITAL, IS PRINT MEDIA ON ITS LAST LEGS IN OMAN? Y PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON OUR OWN INDUSTRY TO SEE IF IT’S READY TO KEEP UP WITH THE PRESSING PACE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

IN THIS ISSUE…

It’s time for a little self-reflection. After all, very little growth comes without it. So, it’s with openness and transparency in mind that we turn our lens inward this week towards our own industry, zooming in on the state of Oman’s media in a shifting age of digital transformation. From fake news to propaganda and false information, mainstream and digital media globally has, in the court of public opinion, long been marred by its own shortfalls in upholding journalistic values. This, coupled with falling advertising revenue, has resulted in a perceived sense of decline. Yet, experts believe that the phenomenon that’s now affecting Oman has different roots – leading us to ask the question: are we, as members of the media, doing justice to our craft to retain a loyal audience in an ever-evolving industry? In our cover story we head on an introspective mission to understand the factors at play that are leading to the stagnation of media in the Sultanate. Is it a lack of authentic journalism at play? Or an institutionalised resistance towards the shift from print to digital that’s leaving readers wanting more? And, if the medium is the message, who is stepping in to fill the gaps – the social media influencers waiting in the wings? We also question whether the Omani market is ripe for a mass digital transformation, and if we’re really ready to ditch the longest-running form of media – print. Flip to Page 18 to read on. Also, in this issue, Coffee with Y sits down with Omani author Jokha al Harthi, whose acclaimed novel ‘Celestial Bodies’ earned her the esteemed 2019 Man Booker International prize. We’re also bringing you tips and advice on summer pet-care in the Sultanate for animal-owners who will be travelling over the hot months and leaving their four-legged family members behind; plus, we’re diving deep over in Yummy Oman to hero the Sultanate’s maritime bounty with a showcase of some of the best Omani seafood! Until next week, happy reading!

Team Y EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi ADMIN MANAGER Yousef al Harrassi REPORTER Hassan al Lawati

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PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan MANAGER – DIGITAL MEDIA SALES Umair Mehmood

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Acting General Manager Salim al Amri We’d love to hear your news and views. For editorial enquiries, please info@y-oman.com email Want to read Y on the go? Scan our digital issue here: Download any QR reader from iTunes or Google Play to read Y on the go

Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. JUN 20 - 26 / ISSUE 573

contents JUN

Your Oman

2019

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman Haris Aslam 10 News Muscat to host tourism ‘Oscars’ at ROHM 12 News Oman citizenship directive announced

16 17

A yen for yoga Stretch it out in celebration of the International Day of Yoga on Friday, June 21 at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre

34 First Drive Ferrari Portofino 38 Y-Fi The ultimate consoles

17 Health and Beauty 40 Fashion Kids’ summer essentials

A war of words We shine the spotlight on our own industry to learn why media in Oman is facing a crisis in the break-neck race towards digital transformation.

24 Passion and prose Coffee with Y talks literature, and the spotlight falls on award winning ‘Celestial Bodies’ author Jokha al Harthi.

Movies 28 Woody, Buzz, and the gang are back and on an adventurous road trip to find an old friend in ‘Toy Story 4’.

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination Misfat Al Abriyeen

Features

A sterling history We explore the craftsmanship and culture of traditional Omani silver jewellery.

Food and Drink 44 Yummy Oman Omani seafood: A briny bounty 46 Taste Test MOOYAH

42 Beauty Glam eyes with Inglot

44 NEXT ISSUE... FEATURES / COFFEE WITH Y / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / BEAUTY / DESTINATION / TRAVEL / FASHION / FIRST DRIVE

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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

Show him the money! ‘Forbes’ has just released its 2019 rankings of the richest rappers in the biz, with Jay-Z taking the crown as hiphop’s first billionaire. But now, King Kanye is moving further up the ranks, with West nudging ahead to surpass Drake as the highest-earning rapper of 2019 so far with a whopping US$240 million dollars (RO92.4m). This puts Kanye firmly in fourth place, after Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and Diddy. Dollar, dollar bills y’all! A milestone for Missy First lady of hip-hop, Miss Elliott has just been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame – making her the first female rapper to earn the honour. The historymaking Elliott is best known for tracks like ‘Get Ur Freak On’, ‘Work It’, and ‘Lose Control. She’s also written hit songs for numerous other female artists and is a five-time Grammy Award recipient. In her speech at the ceremony Missy said: “I want to say one thing to the writers, the upcoming writers… Do not give up. We all go through writer’s block. Sometimes you just have to walk away from a record and come back to it. But don’t give up because I’m standing here. And this is big for hip-hop too.” You’re givin’ us all the feels Missy! An historic sequel? When ‘Gladiator’ hit the big screen in 2000, it became a box office smash and won five Oscars including ‘Best Supporting Actor’, ‘Best Director’, and ‘Best Actor’. The historical epic that starred Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix has a sequel in the works. 06

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It has been confirmed that director Ridley Scott will be back in the saddle to lead the project more than 20 years after the release of the first film. Also, the sequel is set to jump ahead in time too, and will pick up the storyline 25 years on. A ‘Swift’ peace? Taylor Swift and Katy Perry’s near decadelong feud has been notorious. But now, it seems the two stellar songstresses have finally buried the hatchet – and not in each other’s backs! Taylor recently added Katy’s new track ‘Never Really Over’ to her new ME! Apple Playlist and, shortly after, Katy took to Instagram – uploading a pic of a plate of chocolate chip cookies with the words ‘Peace At Last’ written on the side of the plate in frosting and sprinkles. Turns out it seems the cookies were a token from Taylor, and the two have been all over each other’s social media since, leaving fans wondering if a possible music collaboration might soon be in the works! Sorry spice Spice Girl Geri Horner, aka ‘Ginger Spice’ has recently apologised to fans for leaving the group. The girls (minus Victoria Beckham) are currently on their muchanticipated reunion tour after breaking up and breaking hearts in 1998. During the final show of their reunion, Horner spoke out to fans in the audience at London’s Wembley Stadium apologising for walking away from the group in ’98 when they were at their peak, and said: “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I left. I was just being a brat. It’s so good to be back with the girls that I love.” We’re sure all’s forgiven, Ginger!

Mason’s début Remember that viral video of the kid who sang and yodelled at Walmart? Well, that was 12-year-old Mason Ramsey and after going viral and being featured on ‘Ellen’ and snagging a set at Coachella, he’s out with his first single called ‘Twang’. It’s a country song that’s a fun and innocent ode to a girl he has a crush on and, with infectiously catchy chords, it’s a great ear-worm to lift your mood! An ode to Mac Free Nationals and Kali Uchis have released a collaborative track featuring the late Mac Miller called ‘Time’. Miller’s verse on the song was recorded in May 2018, four months before his passing. Set to appear on the Free Nationals upcoming album, due out later this year, both Anderson .Paak and Kali Uchis decided to move ahead with Mac’s recording posthumously. Just 26-years-old, Mac Miller passed away in September 2018, but his musical legacy should continue to live on. Miley’s on a roll And that’s the name of her latest track to boot as Miley Cyrus drops her latest single ‘On a Roll’ under the guise of Ashley O. her character on Netflix’s ‘Black Mirror’. In the show’s fifth season episode entitled ‘Rachel, Jack, Ashley Too’, Miley play a pop-star called Ashley O. who struggles with her mental health. In the episode, viewers can hear a song that Ashley O. (aka Miley) performs, and now the official video clip has just been released too. Reminiscent of Miley’s ‘Hannah Montana’ days, it’s a refreshing track with a super upbeat and empowering feel. 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 ENTREPRENEUR HARIS ASLAM DISCUSSES THE DIGITAL VS. PRINT WAR

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: Digital media is leaving print in the dust, globally. How has this trend affected your consumption of print media? Is Oman ready to fully embrace a digital transformation or is there still room left for newspapers? SINTHIA CHAKRABORTY

nline media is changing the way news and information is consumed. If we look at it today, news reaches out to us before we are even looking for it. That’s the power of fast-paced media. Now, the race is all about who manages to bring the news first to their platform and who can reach out to potential audiences. So yes, it is changing at large but I still believe that the desire for other forms of media and, more specifically, print is still out there. Digital also cannot replace print completely. The consumption of print may have reduced but it’s now time for the old medium to get smarter by using digital as its source of inspiration. There are several ways to do this and it’s up to companies to find a way and utilise their ideas. Also, content plays an important role in print; how that is aligned with today’s audience – who are very different than the older generation in their consumption of information. People like to view videos about news rather than read about it. Therefore, the next step would be to learn about these changing consumer trends. Still, print drives the strongest purchase intent for advertisers if used in the right way. When was the last time we saw an initiative by a print media house collaborating with, let’s say, an airline in a marketing campaign? One that would entice audiences to only get a discounted product if a couple of welldistributed QR codes are released in a daily? So, if print has to continue its existence in the media, some brainstorming has to be done –and it needs to happen within this decade.

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Digital media has gained popularity in recent years throughout the world and Oman is no exception. However, it is accessed by a particular age group whereas print media is the favourite among all age groups and demand for it cannot be ruled out. The joy and pleasure of holding and reading a hard copy cannot be compared to its digital version. Many people today still start their day by reading a printed newspaper along with a cup of coffee. It also inculcates the habit of reading, which cannot be achieved by digital media enthusiasts. Many people still doubt the authenticity of digital news displayed on various platforms. The content can be altered anytime by the authors. Printed media holds an authentic image in the minds of readers. Oman has a huge number of readers who depend on printed media. It’s still going to remain popular and in demand in Oman.

USHA DEVI RAO SUDDAPALLI

I am truly optimistic of print media, which is like a wholesome full meal in comparison to digital media, which is more like fast food. Yes, I do feel sad that with the advent of digital media, the content in quality as well as the quality of print media has been drastically coming down but I stick to the print media of my choice, like Y – The Pulse of Oman, which still provides

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rich fare free to all its readers, come what may. With print media being more physical, tangible and easily distributable, it can make leisurely reading healthier and more personal. So what’s not to like? Therefore, despite the threat imposed by digital media, print is here to stay.

DR. KAMESWARAO M.

When it comes to the quality aspect of the news, print media always stands as a comprehensive, trustworthy source and doesn’t offer any scope for rumour or gossip. Oman’s significant growth in digital media is quite remarkable and has become accessible to all. With the current regulations by Government on print and digital media in Oman, I don’t see much difference in the quality of news published on print and digital media.

ASHISH DUBASH

Young people love digital media as everything is at their fingertips. But the older generation tends to prefer traditional media. It’s still a nice thing to hold a newspaper in your hands and read articles from page to page. For older readers, the bigger fonts and pictures in the newspapers are a pleasure. Digital media has been in Oman for a few years now but print media will never totally die out.

MOHAN ANANDAN

Print media is here to stay. There is still plenty of

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room left for this form of mass communication. The problem with digital media is that it throws out a tremendous amount of information, the correctness or authenticity of which nobody bothers to verify. This leads to mis-information with attendant consequences. I still have my favourite newspapers delivered at my doorstep every day!

SHABEER RAHMAN

In print media, there are sections for everyone and so people love to explore it whether in the form of newspapers, books, magazines, advertisements or events. Print media has extensive coverage for all segments of society, while digital media is accessible to a part of the population connected to the net. Articles in print media cannot be rectified once they have been published while editorial in digital media can be changed at the touch of a button. Oman is always ready for both forms of media, with each working in tandem with one another to meet the requirements of everybody.

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE

Print media is still here to stay. Oman is not yet ready to fully embrace digital media since not every Omani household has access to the internet and WiFi, especially those who are living outside the Muscat region. It is mostly millennials and the

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younger generation who like digital media since they are computer literate. On the other hand, most members of the older generation, such as our parents and grandparents, prefer to read and have books, magazines, and newspapers on their tables every day. For me, I prefer to use both digital and print media.

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MOHAMMAD OSAMA RAWAT

Digital media has come to stay but print media too cannot be ruled out. Digital media mostly attracts the youth of today who are more computer-literate. Your average educated person still likes to read the newspaper in the morning with a cup of tea or coffee. Therefore, I think print media will remain in Oman for the foreseeable future.

SUNIL JOHN MARTIN

For me, reading the newspaper has become a daily habit since my childhood. So even if I have instant access to digital news, I still look forward to reading the daily newspaper in the same way as I anticipate my first cup of coffee in the morning. My 83- year-old mother also cannot do without holding the daily newspaper in her hand. The same goes for my 15-year-old daughter who likes to read a book rather than scroll down the screen of a digital device.

THROUGH YOUR EYES SHARE YOUR PHOTO WITH Y TO BE FEATURED IN OUR NEW READER SECTION

New Debate: Old habits and traditional practices die hard. But as the custom of drinking unpasteurised milk in Oman has been linked to new cases of animal-tohuman tuberculosis transmission, what should health authorities in the Sultanate be doing to curb this risky practice? Share your view with us and you could be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

Y reader Johanne Bawden captures a taste of traditional Oman at the Bait al Safah Living Museum with her Canon EOS 80D.

Send your photo to editor@y-oman.com to be featured in our new section, Through Your Eyes. Include where it was taken, your name and a few details about your photograph, such as the camera used.

JUN 20 - JUN 26 / ISSUE 573

YOUR

OMAN

SALALAH RESORT CLEARS OUT PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

s the war on eliminating plastic continues, one hotel chain is bringing an end to its use of single-use plastic. Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara has eliminated all plastic water bottles in the resort. The move follows on from the resort’s removal of plastic straws late last year. Its General Manager James Hewitson said: “Salalah is known for its natural beauty, which we are fortunate to be able to share with our guests from around the world. “As part of the community, it’s imperative that we all work together to preserve this unique destination so that it can be enjoyed for generations to come, and eliminating plastic is one step toward achieving this.” Guests will now be provided with purified water in reusable glass bottles. Plastic waste takes thousands of years to biodegrade and most of it does not get re-used or recycled. Environmental experts believe that half of all plastic is only used once before it’s discarded. It gets dumped in landfills polluting the natural environment and adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans, as well as having a significant impact on our oceans.

MUSCAT TO HOST TOURISM ‘OSCARS’ AT ROHM

SWIMMING WITH PETS COULD GET OWNERS FINED RO50

wimming with your beloved pet in the sea could land you in hot water, Muscat Daily reports. The Muscat Municipality says pet owners are not allowed to take their furry friends into the sea. Those who do will face fines of RO50, a MM official confirmed.

man’s global tourism profile is ready for a rocket boost as Muscat will host the 2019 World Travel Awards. The awards, billed as the ‘Oscars’ of the industry, will be held in Muscat later this year, at the Royal Opera House on November 28. The Grand Final ceremony is 010

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expected to be attended by industry insiders, VIPs, ministers, tourist board bosses, and travel experts. Winners will be announced on the night, as gongs for Leading Airline-Business Class, Leading Airline-First Class, and Leading Airport will be among the eagerlyanticipated categories.

The spokesman said: “This is in violation of Local Order No 21/011 and any owner found taking their pets to the sea in Oman will be fined RO50.” The official added that a permit from the veterinary authority at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) was required to take pets to any public place.

ALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ITALIANA

GALLERY

THE ITALIAN EMBASSY MUSCAT CELEBRATED ITALIAN NATIONAL DAY AT A VIP-FILLED EVENT AT THE RESIDENCE OF THE AMBASSADOR

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011

YOUR

OMAN

SALAMAIR TO LAUNCH TWO TURKEY FLIGHTS FROM JULY

alamAir has announced the launch of two flights to Turkey from July, the ONA reports. Capt. Mohammed Ahmed, the CEO of SalamAir, said that from July, the company will operate flights to Trabzon and Istanbul in Turkey. He confirmed that SalamAir will run three direct flights a week between Muscat and Trabzon in Turkey from July 1. He said: “On July 3, the company will operate a direct flight to the Turkish City of Istanbul, linking Muscat International Airport to Sabiha Airport with two flights per week.”

OMAN CITIZENSHIP APPLY WITHIN: APP APPEAL DIRECTIVE ANNOUNCED FOR ALL JOB SEEKERS

oreigners who apply for Omani citizenship and a passport will have to fulfil a number of criteria for their application to be considered. An executive order was issued on Sunday by Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy, Minister

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of Interior, through ministerial decision, No. 92/2019. A Ministry statement says: “The cost of the application for obtaining Omani citizenship will be RO600, while the application for a foreign wife, widow, or divorcee of an Omani citizen will be RO300. The same is applicable for an underage child of an Omani woman.” According to the decision, the applicants will need to prove that they have been residing in Oman. The order also says: “They (applicants) should also affirm that they do not have any legal cases filed against them, in addition to confirming with a medical certificate that they do not have any transmittable disease.” Apart from fees, applicants should fulfil a number of other requirements that mean including an attachment of 12 mandatory documents along with the application.

n Omani entrepreneur has developed an app that provides job postings for graduates and experienced and retired workers, Muscat Daily reports. The ‘Dawam’ app could be a boon for many Omanis who are looking for openings on a full-time, part-time, or temporary basis. As well as posting jobs, the app offers listings for fresh graduates and those who want to supplement

their income with part-time work. Speaking to Muscat Daily, Msellem al Harthy, CEO of Malks Group and the brain behind the app said: “Technology helps people plan their lives and is a part of our everyday lives. “The app is catering to the experienced and retired employees who in most cases are required for consultancy or other roles for short periods of time. This is a win-win situation for both employers and employees.”

SPIRIT OF GIVING

GALLERY

THE KEMPINSKI HOTEL MUSCAT HELD A FUNDRAISER EVENT OVER RAMADAN IN SUPPORT OF THE AL KHAIR WAAFI CHARITY

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YOUR

MOVIE MANIA

OMAN

NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN TREATED 100 OF ITS CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS TO A SPECIAL SCREENING OF ‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’

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GALLERY

CLASS OF 2019

GALLERY

THE AMERICAN INTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;L SCHOOL MUSCAT CELEBRATED ITS GRADUATING CLASS DURING ITS ANNUAL CEREMONY

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015

A YEN FOR YOGA

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE It’s the International Day of Yoga, and the Embassy of India is holding a special session to help spread the message of its health and spiritual benefits. Anyone can come along, and children above the age of 11 are welcome to join in at the event to be held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information visit www. indemb-oman-gov.in, or call (+968) 2468-4517.

JUNE 21

THE ULTIMATE BRUNCH

The Grand Millennium Muscat is inviting families on a global adventure of gastronomy, with a new Friday brunch at their Taybat Restaurant. The Millennium Brunch, held between 1pm and 6pm, features cuisines from around the world as well as live cooking stations and fun-filled activities. You can choose from delights such as freshly-caught Omani seafood or an Italian celebration of charcuterie and cold cuts. It costs RO20 per person, with children ages six-12 can enjoy a 50 per cent discount, while children under six dine for free. For more information or to reserve a table, call (+968) 2234-2222, or email fb.gmm@millenniumhotels.com.

JUNE 21

GET ‘CURRIED’ AWAY

THIS

WHAT TO DO.

WEEK J

WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

Curry lovers can get their spice on at the Crowne Plaza OCEC with their new ‘We Love Curry’ night held every Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. at their Mosaic Restaurant. Featuring a delectable array of global curries, salads, bread, soup, and a dessert buffet this all you-can-eat celebration is RO15 per person with enhanced beverage package. For reservations call (+968) 9065-4364.

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JUNE 25

MOVIES MOVIES mother would foist such a ghastly gargoyle on her son is beyond me. In this, we can’t wait to see how Mark Hamill tackles voicing the demon doll. At least his dialogue can’t be any less wooden than that of his most famous character – Luke Skywalker in ‘Star Wars’.

The Dead Don’t Die Cast: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Iggy Pop

Toy Story 4 Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Christina Hendricks Woody (Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Allen) and the rest of the gang are on a road-trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The journey throws up a bit of nostalgia when Woody takes a slight detour that leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep. But people (or toys) move on, and the two soon realise they’re polar opposites when it comes to what they want for the future. The fourth film in this ever-popular franchise, you can see this

Men In Black: International Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Liam Neeson

and make sense of it even if you haven’t seen any if its three forerunners. Of course, after more than 20 years of use, you’d expect this lot to be looking a little, well, shabby. But let’s not be cynical adults here. It’s a film about magic toys, and its power to enthrall younger viewers is as spellbinding as ever.

The Men In Black have always been happy to protect the universe from its most dastardly villains (including aliens with bad breath). In this, agents High T (Hemsworth) and H (Neeson) have to fend off an attack from the dastardly Hive at the Eiffel Tower in Paris,

as well as get on with rookie agent M (Thompson) who has been obsessed with the MiB since childhood. Meantime, their boss, agent O (Emma Thompson) has got an in-tray full of problems that is a veritable can of worms. It’s a passable reboot but a little underwhelming. Without the charisma and star power of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, it never really catches fire. In a sign of the times, there’s even a little speech about ‘people in black’. Yawn!.

‘We thought zombie movies were a bit old hat but then that shows just how much we know. In this, the US town of Centerville is overrun by a horde of zombies who start rising from their graves, albeit without the fancy footwork of their forebears in Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video. Poor police chief Cliff Robertson (Murray) is facing one heck of a ‘high noon’, and the enormity of his task hasn’t dented his deadpan humour one iota in this horror-comedy. We’re bemused (and amused) as to why music legends like Tom Waits and Iggy Pop decided to do this. Both have arguably looked dead for years but they certainly pull their weight in this star-studded cast, which includes Danny Glover, Tilda Swinton, and Steve Buscemi. Good fun.

Child’s Play Cast: Mark Hamill, Aubrey Plaza, Gabriel Bateman

While at Y we like to give you the heads-up on films, this one’s distributor hasn’t offered any preview screenings. We won’t say we smell a rat but this fad of trying to fend off online trolls is a tad, well, suspicious. Release it and let the audience decide if it’s a turkey, we say. Still, it’s a reboot of the classic horror where a mother (Plaza) gives her young son (Bateman) a young toy doll blissfully unaware of its supernatural powers. Mind you, why any self-respecting

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

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A war of

words THE INTERNET IS HAMMERING THE FINAL NAILS IN THE COFFIN FOR NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES. BUT AS OUR READING HABITS CHANGE, OUR TRUST IN THE NAKED TRUTH OF ISSUES IS BEING TESTED AS ‘FAKE NEWS’ DISTORTS THE DAILY AGENDA OF INFORMATION. THIS WEEK, TEAM Y ASSESSES IF TRADITIONAL MEDIA CAN STILL BE A MAINSTREAM FORCE AMID AN ONSLAUGHT OF ONLINE OPTIONS 018

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ou are what you read. Whether you’re cozying up to your favourite magazine or soaking up global news from the newspaper, reading defines the world around you. It also acts as a source of information, and can instill a level of intellect – or so it was believed until about a decade ago. Since then, however, print media – one of the oldest forms of communication – in the form of newspapers and magazines has since taken a back seat. The culprit? The internet, and a relatively new if highly controversial phenomenon – the social media ‘influencer’. What was once seen as a staple of news and information has largely been pushed aside thereby ending what has been a threecentury-strong tradition. Even in the Sultanate, several leading publications have closed, leaving readers to rely on digital forms of media. Changing times have meant our lifestyles have altered and that affects how we consume media. When our parents once bought a newspaper hot off the press with the latest news, we now reach for our smartphones, tablets or laptops for our early-morning read.

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Websites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, Snapchat all ensure that there is no shortage of platforms that can substitute for mainstream media. The results are clear, too, as statistics show that the leading markets for print – the UK, USA, India, Japan and Australia –are all reporting steady declines in readership, and circulation as advertisement revenues have fallen. The UK, for instance, has seen nearly 200 fewer regional and local newspapers as of this year than in 2005, while print circulation in the United States has shrunk from its peak of 60million copies in 1994 to a meagre 35m as of 2018, as per data revealed by Forbes. This has also led to a fall in advertising revenue in the US –with a fall of US$65bn (RO31.8bn) in 2000 to less than US$19bn in 2015. Stats aren’t readily available in Oman, but our research shows that there are currently 16 publications operating within the country – an insignificant number when compared with the bigger players. But what’s alarming is that, at its peak in 2004, even the Sultanate had nearly 50 publications – from fully-fledged tech and automotive magazines to substantive periodicals and newspapers – which stood as a healthy number in a market serving nearly 2.4m residents at that time. The fall – which accounts for about 68 per cent – is one of the largest in the region. It is second only to the UAE, which also registers high turnover rates for media houses and publications. But, the UAE has seen newer print players entering the market despite the media rut. Oman’s current media situation, however, is a concern not only for the established order of journalists but also for those of tomorrow. As Khalfan al Balushi, a journalism professor with a leading university in the country tells us, Oman’s media scene is raising a red flag.

ON AVERAGE, ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE SULTANATE CAN BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60 TO 80 PER CENT CHEAPER THAN A PRINT ADVERTISEMENT SO THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT DIGITAL ADS ARE HERE TO STAY

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Khalfan says: “I’m torn between sugarcoating the reality to instill confidence in my students and sticking to my morals and exposing the truth. “I do not intend to lower the spirits of those studying to become journalists and PR executives in the country but there’s a major issue we’re seeing with the media scene here in Oman – and that has completely killed the market. “In 2017, we saw the exit of one of Oman’s best newspapers, which opened our eyes to the stark reality the media had always relied on to live in… advertisers. “Once these advertisers saw other opportunities to invest in, these newspapers began struggling to cope with the dropping revenues, and eventually, had to shut their operations down. It’s really sad.” On average, between 85 to 98 per cent – as per information revealed by our media sources – of media revenue for the top print media houses in Oman come from advertising. But, Khalfan’s revelation also shed light on how advertising revenues had dropped by 60 per cent by 2015, when compared with 2012, as more companies opted for digital forms of advertising. A leading Oman car company told us its change in focus from print to online advertising meant nearly 60 per cent of its budget has been diverted to websites and digital platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. A global trend by all means, digitalisation – which is the switch from more traditional form of media to newer forms of online media – has been a boon for advertisers looking to reach large numbers of readers for relatively little outlay. On average, online advertisements in the Sultanate can be anywhere between 60 to 80 per cent cheaper than a print advertisement so there’s no doubt that digital ads are here to stay.

In the US alone, Google advertisements (to the US) led the whole print advertising avenue by US$2.94bn in 2011, and grew its lead to a massive US$65.75bn in 2017, as per the Silicon Valley Innovation Center’s statistics. The stats in the Sultanate further make the point. A survey conducted by Y Magazine shows how websites, blogs, apps and social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account for 79.86 per cent of news readership by all 1,685 respondents in the country. Meanwhile, in a separate poll, 36.48 per cent of respondents said that they still rely on newspapers and magazines for their daily dose of news and entertainment in Oman, leaving the rest to social media, television, online websites, and radio. “This should never have been the case here in Oman,” says James* a veteran British journalist and former editor of a now-defunct magazine. “At its peak, the Omani media scene was comparably strong to that of the UAE – of course, in relation with the size of the two markets. “As hard as it is to believe, digitalisation of the media began as early as the 1940s in the US when television news began broadcasting to the masses. However, the times were such that they had always co-existed and respected each other. “But, the case with smaller markets such as that of Oman is that when a new technology presents itself, even a slight shift will take away a chunk of the focus group.” He’s right, as we learn that in a market such as the US (as per Pew Research Center), 20 per cent of all adult respondents acknowledged social media as their source of news and 16 per cent said they relied on print media – showing a smaller gap when compared with Oman. These stats, however, also depend on the age of the reader.

So, a young adult aged between 18 and 35 will read more online, as per data revealed by Forbes, when compared with those aged between 36 and above. Yet, James goes on to reveal how his circulation of 25,000 copies was reduced to 8,000 in the span of one year, and to 650, before finally shutting operations in 2015 in the wake of the final nail to the coffin – the oil crisis. But, Laila al Lawati, the former Omani editor of a GCC-wide Arabic health magazine, ‘Dawa’ based out of the UAE, believes that the death of “mainstream media” comes from factors beyond readership. She says: “Readership is only one of the factors that dictate the life of a print publication. “The rest of it depends on the income from advertising, support from the management, high printing costs; and the greatest factor, openness to adapt to changes in digital media. “In the case of our publication, it was the former two that clashed. The coming of several Arabic medical portals meant that people were relying on faster and more easily accessible websites than waiting for our magazine.

“But, we still had carved out a niche audience for ourselves, and we brought along with us a wealth of experienced writers putting out our credible content. “Still, the management believed that we wouldn’t continue surviving in the market because of the competition, and before we could even prove ourselves, both the advertisers and management cut the cord in 2016 with us and let all 60 (staff members) go,” she adds. James echoes this in his statement: “When things go awry in this market – which solely consists of advertisers than subscribers – managers quickly lose focus on their brand and either try to reinvent themselves digitally overnight or exit the game. “The power of digital media is all well-warranted. There’s only one problem: digital media in Oman is virtually in its infancy stages when compared with most parts of the world. “So, even in 2015 when we were then left scrambling to create websites and online versions of our magazines – it was a great push for us into the digital world – it soon became a matter of who had the most amount of money to shell out into a market with only a few readers. James then goes on to relate on how staying alive in such an atmosphere meant pushing out the flashiest websites with “fluff stories” – stories with little to no news value, and “clickbait” – content with the main purpose of drawing an audience using unethical journalistic tactics. This is a matter discussed by Mohammed al Maskari, a former civil servant with the Diwan, who believes that several print and digital publications have split the audience to further an agenda of gaining more readers. He discloses how one publication (name withheld to protect identity) published a story on the lifting of the no-objection certificates (NOC)’s law in Oman to garner a strong expat readership. “This website used to publish a story every week using government sources to create a divide among the people in the country. Not only is this practice vile, it also takes away the ethics in the field. “And after months of news on the removal of the law, nothing happened. It left the people cheated. “Because of mainstream media’s approach to clickbait and false news, there now exists a divide among the Omanis and the expats living here. It may not seem to be the case on the face of things but it exists. “There are several people here – both expats and Omanis – who have been hurt by such news stories.

THE STATS IN THE SULTANATE FURTHER MAKE THE POINT. A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY Y MAGAZINE SHOWS HOW WEBSITES, BLOGS, APPS AND SOCIAL PLATFORMS SUCH AS FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT FOR 79.86 PER CENT OF NEWS READERSHIP BY ALL 1,685 RESPONDENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

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“When you run a media company, you need to be unbiased and present opinions that are credible – that should be the key to journalism,” he says, before adding, “There used to be a time when sincerity and trust ran in the media blood – and I grew up in an era where that used to be the case. “And that’s why I trust print media in this region more than online media – a material once printed always exists but these can be changed on a website. “Advertisers were few, but they knew which newspaper and magazine presented the best facts and information, and would do their market study on which audience they would target. “Today, money has somehow become the leader in this game and the more readers there are on paper, the better it is. “This means, several companies and websites are now buying fake followers for their website; and Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages – and you can see that there is no engagement to those pages all. “I urge you to look at the number of followers of a page and compare it with the actual number of people who like or comment – that shows who is buying followers and who isn’t.

“And those that do, milk the most out of their pages using clickbait content. It’s a vicious circle and this needs to be changed if you want to see any difference in the media,” he adds. While several people have now learnt to look past clickbait content and determine fake news, our investigation leads to a clan of people who still rely on newspapers and magazines for their information. Mahesh Nair, a 58-year-old expat, considers himself a media purist. He says: “I frequently read newspapers and magazines, and I have since I was a child. Having done that, I can say that I’d like to keep myself updated with content that is more credible than what is published immediately but may be false. “I do not intend to be a prig, and I do keep an eye on social media for news from time to time. Still, social media in my opinion has been the leader in fake news propagation – as most of the content can be easily altered by the time you have read it and shared it, or may intend to create confusion to begin with.

I FREQUENTLY READ NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES, AND I HAVE SINCE I WAS A CHILD. HAVING DONE THAT, I CAN SAY THAT I’D LIKE TO KEEP MYSELF UPDATED WITH CONTENT THAT IS MORE CREDIBLE THAN WHAT IS PUBLISHED IMMEDIATELY BUT MAY BE FALSE

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“This is especially great on WhatsApp, which has turned into a major player in the spreading of fake news,” he says, before opening his smartphone and showing us his inbox from a group of his friends who share content with each other. Among the messages are fake videos and news stories, one of which even included false information on the marriage laws of Oman – a story debunked by the Oman government last year. It’s turning into a matter of grave concern, as Oman stands third in the world for its mobile penetration rate (the number of SIM cards or mobile phone numbers in a certain country) – at 152.3 per cent as per Statista (a research an information company), and despite being ranked most expensive in the region (173rd in the world). As one Royal Oman Police (ROP) official (who wishes to remain unnamed) says: “The more people we have online, the more chances there are for the spreading of fake news. That doesn’t mean we can simply bar people from going online but we need to know where to draw the line and how we can spot fake news.

Cons of print media 1. Cost

Printing is an additional expense that the reader must bear. While print media has its pluses, having to pay for physical copies of a media may seem redundant when the content is available online.

2. Speed

Digital sites offer breaking news at any point in the day. Years ago, readers would have to wait for mornings to receive yesterday’s news, but today updates come at the swipe of a finger.

3. Opportunities and Outlets

The internet offers relatively higher freedom of speech than a print publication. It also gives anyone with a penchant for writing an opportunity to publish content online. The digital world holds numerous opportunities for everyone to dabble in the writing world, regardless of whether they have any aptitude for it. There’s no longer a requirement to be an author or journalist to have work published.

“It is only by educating the people of this country about sticking with reputable media sources such as yourselves that we can really start creating a change in the atmosphere.” In an earlier investigation, we found statistics that one fake news item was published every three days in Oman – further highlighting the importance of mainstream and trustworthy media outlets. Journalism professor Khalfan, however, is still optimistic about the future of journalism and mainstream media. He believes a mutual respect will be shared as time goes on. He says: “In many ways, social and online media have been seen as evils when looked at in relation with print media, which has a relatively better credibility. “That in no way takes away the power of the internet and the worthiness of digital media as a source of news. No form of print media can ever beat online and social media in speed and access to the masses. “And that’s why I think we need to rethink how print media works in this part of the world. It’s perhaps time for us to acknowledge the pros of online media and work towards making it a better place – getting rid of the fake news and bringing more credibility to the published materials. “For newspapers and magazines to work, I think it needs to complement the latter. So, we’d like to see the print media implementing richer and more readerfriendly and exclusive content while promoting the same on its website using videos and other interactive forms of mass media. “Otherwise, it will continue to be bullied by its younger counterpart and come to a stage wherein it just can’t compete with – and soon, cease to exist. “Or in simple terms, as several journalists are now saying, print media will go extinct.” * Name changed to protect identity

Cons of online media 1. Reliability and Accuracy

With the speed the digital world brings, providing news anytime and anywhere, the rapidness begs the question: is this news reliable? There have been many instances on sites like Twitter, for example, in which people and platforms in authority tweet news without dependable sources backing up their information. Instances of spreading unreliable information create the “fake news” label various journalists experience daily. As the race to be first to break the news continues, writers sometimes skip the steps of fact checking, as they would for print, casing the endless cycle of what’s true or not.

2. Losing a Brand

Because of all the smaller publications, the established players struggle for their viewers and readers. With all the options out there for people to find their news and entertainment, brands struggle to make a true impact in the industry. It’s slowly becoming a competition for the most clicks, shares and traffic, which can sometimes ruin the reputation of a brand.

(Source: Study Breaks)

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PASSION and PR P AWARD-WINNING OMANI AUTHOR JOKHA AL HARTHI TELLS COFFEE WITH Y HOW SHE TAKES FICTION IN HER STRIDE, AND WHY CELEBRITY STATUS ISN’T FOR HER

hile the 21st century may not have augured well for Arab authors – with a dwindling reading culture among the youth and the rise of digital media – there’s a wind of change lurking in the air; a change in the form of Jokha al Harthi. And the 40-year-old Omani woman may very well be the one that puts modern Arab literature on the map. Today, she is known for bagging the Man Booker International Prize – arguably the most estimable award for an author in modern times – with her work of fiction ‘Celestial Bodies’ (translated from ‘Sayyidat al-Qamar’), but her road to success is nothing short of inspirational. Despite undertaking a PhD in classical Arabic Literature in the UK city of Edinburgh, Jokha maintains a deep bond with Oman – and all her 10 books are in Arabic and based in the Sultanate. In an interview (translated from Arabic) at the Bait al Zubair Museum in Oman, she says: “I consider myself lucky, as from a very young age, I heard a lot of stories from older women in households here in the Sultanate. “These have all been connected with the stories in my books.” Jokha’s literary journey began more than a decade ago, and her work – Celestial Bodies – as it stands today, is more than 10 years’ old. However, its recognition came after it was translated into English by the British translator Marilyn Booth. The novel depicts an Omani theme. Set in the village of al-Awafi, the book tells the stories of three sisters in the colonial era: Mayya, Asma and Khawla. With twists and turns that follow their lives and relationships, Jokha’s book extends an intellectual yet emotional reach into the hearts of its readers. The three sisters have their own stories to tell – one of heartbreak, love, and the journey towards forging bonds – but the underlying premise of how they evolve amid an ever-changing landscape of mindsets, culture, and regimes is thought-provoking. Jokha has also garnered praise from international writers. Professor Angie Hobbs (also a recipient of the Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts) says: “This book tells us about the extreme complexity of the emotional relationships that we have and our engagement with history.” Amid the plaudits from readers around the globe, there are those in Oman who have criticised the book for portraying intimate moments – ones between the sisters and their partners. However, Jokha refuses to take the criticism to heart. She says: “The book is intended in good spirits, and I hope Omani readers treat is as a book; as literature, and not life.” Jokha then reveals how she thinks it might have an impact on the Arabic literature scene. She says: “I am thrilled that a window has been opened on the richness of Arabic culture.”

ROSE PROSE

But, she advises for the Omani youth, saying: “The book [‘Celestial Bodies’] is more than 10 years’ old and was translated into English only recently. No one should write a language book expecting it to be translated into other languages. “To gain recognition, one needs to produce a good book. If a book is not good in the language it has been written in, then it won’t be good in any other language, either.” Jokha currently works as a professor at the Sultan Qaboos University, where she helps to foster a new wave of aspiring writers – both Omani or otherwise. Since receiving the award she has also become something of a local celebrity, and that means doing interviews with international journalists – but it’s a life she says she can’t relate to. “The fact is that I want to be away from the media. I was interviewed 14 times on the day after my award, and I am not really a media person. I suppose, it is fine for footballers and actors to

appear in front of the media – it’s part of their job. “But, I am a writer, and I am supposed to be on the other side,” she laughs. The new book will be an addition to her 10 other published novels – some of which have been translated into languages such as English, Serbian, Korean, Italian, and German. Before receiving this award, Jokha was also the recipient of the well-regarded Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature for her novel Narinjah (‘Bitter Orange’) in 2016. Jokha’s books are available for purchase at local book stores, but ‘Celestial Bodies’ – her latest international release – can be bought on amazon.com for a reasonable RO4.3. She also reveals her new project: a novel. “I have been working on a new book for the last two to three years, but I’ve only finished about 40 to 50 pages. So, I’m taking my time on this one.” ■ JUN 20 - 26 / ISSUE 573

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PET PATROL

Nikitha Sudhir finds five tips for holiday pet care to help owners relax when the cat (or dog) is away

t’s the dilemma that is a downer for all pet lovers: how to ensure your furry, feathered or scaled friend is well-looked after while you’re away on holiday. It can be a challenge. While dog owners have usually relied on kennels or dog minders; owners of cats, tortoises, rabbits, hamsters, cockatiels, goldfish or whatever have always had to think outside the box. That usually means handing over the keys to the house so that your ‘minder’ can feed and attend to your pet’s needs while you’re away. As well as having to be provided for, a pet needs to feel it hasn’t been abandoned while you go off somewhere to enjoy yourself. But don’t feel guilty as help is at hand. Here are some tips to adopt for ensuring your pet is in peak condition in mind and body on your return.

1. Sort out serene surroundings Pets often suffer from a syndrome known as ‘separation anxiety’, which is as valid in animals as it can be for humans. In fact, it is often more serious in animals as it can affect their physical and emotional health. So ensuring their comfort while you’re away is really important. You should know how adept your pet is in unknown surroundings, and if they need a lot of space, constant attention and what food they will or 026

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won’t eat. Therefore, cockatiels or budgerigars can be left alone providing they are fed daily and their cages cleaned out a couple of times a week. Cats can largely be left alone providing they are fed twice a day and stroked now and again. Dogs need a ‘minder’ who is committed to feeding, exercising and playing with them; either in your home or at his or hers.

2. Sift out safe sitters Pet sitters can be a great choice for pets who can’t adjust to a strange environment. There are organisations with websites that provide sitters for this purpose, for short durations. You can also check for references from local vets to get the lowdown on which agency has a good or not-sogood reputation. This option ensures that there is someone on hand to take care of any medical emergency that arises in your absence.

3. Keep kennel options open Kennels are usually the safest and most convenient option for dog and cat owners. They provide a social environment for your pet, and

the company of their peers is likely to detract from any despondency they feel at being away from you. Kennels or catteries are usually staffed by experienced workers who understand pets’ needs be they nutritional, medical, psychological or recreational. If your pet becomes ill its ailment might be a threat to other animals so it’s important that you have kept up with all necessary vaccinations and inform staff of any problem you are aware of.

4. Find a facility that fits The first thing to do is to take a tour of the facility and talk to the staff. There are various factors to consider such as hygiene and sanitation. Clean water, good food and adequate space are pre-requisites, but do quiz staff on whether or not they can accommodate your pet’s nutritional needs and find out how much time your pet will be left unsupervised. Every legitimate kennel will need proof of routine checkups and prior warning as to whether or not the pet has any medical condition.

5. Ask the experts’ opinion

Varsha Karni, who works in Qurm Veterinary Clinic and is a member of Omani Paws, a rescue centre for stray cats and dogs, says: “There are a few boarding kennels in Muscat and most of these are places where the pets are kept in enclosures. Dogs are taken out a few times a day. Cats, of course, don’t have that option. Not all are safe or hygienic, of course. “The reputable ones are the only ones we would recommend. There are lots of people who prefer to have their pets stay at home, and have someone come over to stay with the animals, or even just visit to feed them and clean up after them. “If the facility is clean and the person who is looking after the pets actually likes animals, then the animals will be happier. Not all pets are used to being away from their family, so it is a good idea to try to get them used to being alone. “With cats, staying at home is better than to be moved, a lot of the time. I would never recommend a place where animals are cooped up in a very small space.”

A sterling history Omani jewellery owes a debt to the precious metal that has predominated for centuries but has never been the most sought after â&#x20AC;&#x201C; silver. Swati Basu Das examines the evolution of the pieces that never seem to go out of style

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earing her traditional dress and her face veiled under a “batoola” (black mask or burqa), a typical Bedouin lady of Oman stands aloft with all her embellishments. Her ears are studded with hefty silver earrings that are tied with a string on her head to support the weight on either side. She is flaunting her makhnak (silver choker), manthura (silver necklace) and two to three Sumpts (antique Omani necklaces). Her feet are adorned with broad silver anklets, the ends of which are shaped like a snake’s head to apparently ward off evil. D-shaped bracelets and rings complete her look. With all this and more, she might seem a bit tangled and unconventional but she certainly doesn’t look dowdy. Deeply rooted in the history of Oman, the aesthetics of its traditional silver jewellery have always displayed a vibrant fashion statement. A traditional Omani woman’s outfit is never complete without the extravagant silver ornaments that bejewel their wearer from head to toe. And silver accessories are not just confined to the fairer gender, either. Every Omani man can proudly flaunt an intricately-carved Omani Khanjar – a silver accessory that holds a dagger in it and is wrapped by leather belts over his white dishdasha. A symbol of pride and manhood, men fasten the silver Khanjar to their waists during weddings and national ceremonies. Traditionally silver jewellery was always part of a bride’s dowry and was given to her for her financial security. The tradition continues but with a slight twist. Silver may have been largely replaced by gold yet the love for antique pieces of silver jewellery is still high. Omani women like to preserve these antique pieces and flaunt them when desired. Even today, Bedouin women in the Sharqiyah region continue to flaunt these silver pieces. Mohammed Bin Salem, a silversmith based in Al Rustaq, says: “In the past, they not only used these heavy and sturdy silver accessories to adorn themselves during marriages, but these were also exchanged for goods and currencies in times of need.” ‘Sumpt’ or ‘altah’ is a typical antique necklace with a neilloed pendant in the centre and silver spacer beads strung to the sturdy piece of rope with several silver coins attached to it. It’s a popular design favoured by women

across the Wahiba region that goes well with embroidered dresses. Pure silver now extracted from sulphite ore used to be obtained from silver coins and carved into fashionable accessories. Mohammed says: “The coins fixed to these neckpieces were the tradable Maria Theresa Thaler (a silver bullion coin named after Empress Maria Theresa of Austria). As a source of silver in the Arabian Peninsula, this currency was used in world trade during that period. “As it is now easily obtained from mines, the designs have evolved with time. The modern designs are trendy and clutter-free unlike the old designs which many modern women find difficult to carry.” One of the most dominant of the metal industries in Oman, the silverware industry dates back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Omani silver craftsmen of Nizwa and Al Rustaq were masters of their trade and passed their skills down to their descendants. Now, the current generation’s craftsmen meticulously carve intricate designs on each piece of jewellery they create. Mohammed says: “However, in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the silver craftsmen also included a few expelled jewellers from Baghdad. Many of them were based in Muscat and were trained silversmiths.” Often reflecting an affluent socio-religious symbol, a piece of Omani silver can add glamour to every social occasion while claiming a history dating back several centuries; and some designs are unique. Melting, hammering and welding the metal to give the jewellery its perfection, silversmiths can painstakingly engrave Holy Scriptures on them or carve them into geometrical or floral shapes. Though there has been an evolution in the jewellery trade in which gold has a significant share, there’s still a prominent place for silver. It’s not blingy, it exudes an understated elegance, and it continues to offer wearers the chance to display their good taste rather than their affluence. ■

Based on their designs and the region where they are most popular, these ornaments derive from their phenomenal Arab names. Manthura - A silver necklace highly cherished by the Bedouin women of Wahiba and northern Oman. Maknakh – A silver choker commonly known as the pearl of the neck. It is popular among the women of the Al Dakhiliyah region. Malketeh – A silver necklace predominant in the Dohfar region. Sumpt – A typical Omani silver necklace worn throughout the region. It has a neilloed pendant and Maria Theresa coins attached to its sturdy rope. Tok – Designed for young girls and boys, its pattern has a strong Indian influence. Hanesheh – Popular in the Dhofar region, this Dhofari silver bead necklace have red corals strung to it.

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Khimji’s Mart KIMS Oman Hospital • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Bakery • Shell Petrol Station Al Falaj/Rex Road • Al Falaj Hotel • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Golden Oryx Restaurant • Kamat Restaurant • Toshiba Showroom Ghubra • Al Hayat International Hospital • Al Maya Hypermarket • Bank of Beirut • Costa Coffee • Crêpe Café • GMC Showroom • LuLu Hypermarket • Moka & More • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Park Inn • Porsche Showroom • Al Raffah Hospital • Stationery Hut • The Chedi Muscat Al Hail • Burger King • Caledonian College of Engineering • Markaz Al Bahja Mall • McDonald’s • Omantel • Starcare Hospital Al Khoudh • Al Fair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Pizza Hut Al Khuwair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Bait Al Reem Mall • Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint (Splash) • Diplomatic Club • Grand Hyatt Muscat • Harley-Davidson Showroom • HSBC • KFC • Khimji’s Mart • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Landmark Group • McDonald’s

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

• •

Pizza Hut Saharz Beauty Salon • Starbucks Al Murtafa’a • Bank Muscat • KFC • Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club Muscat International Airport • Caribou Coffee • Majan Lounge • Plaza Premium Lounge Mussanah • Millennium Resort Muttrah • Shell Petrol Station Qantab • Al Bustan Palace • Marina Bandar Al Rowdha • Oman Dive Center • Shangri-La Qurum • Al Araimi Complex • Balance Health & Fitness • Bank Nizwa • BMW showroom • Burger King • Chili’s Restaurant • Crowne Plaza • Finland Eye Center • Fun Zone • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • The Jungle Restaurant • Left Bank • McDonald’s • Mercedes-Benz Showroom • Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant • Nandos • Nissan Showroom • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Qurum Commercial Complex • Ras Al Hamra Club • SABCO Centre • Second Cup • Starbucks • The Sultan Center • Tche Tche Café Rusayl • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -1 • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -2 • Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -3 Knowledge Oasis Muscat -4 (ITA) • Middle East College • Omantel • Waljat College of Applied Sciences Ruwi • Apollo Medical Centre • Kamat Restaurant • KFC • Khimji’s Mega Store – Swarovski Showroom • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Oman Air • Oman UAE Exchange • Oman Trading Establishment • Saravana Bhavan Sarooj • Al Fair • Al Masa Mall • City Cinema • Ayana Spa • Cosmeclic • Emirates Medical Center • McDonald’s • Shell Petrol Station • VLCC Wellness Sawadi • Al Sawadi Beach Resort Seeb • Golden Tulip Hotel • McDonald’s Shatti Al Qurum • Bareeq Al Shatti Complex • Caribou Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • German Eye Centre • The Indus Restaurant • InterContinental Hotel Muscat • Jawharat Al Shatti Complex • Kaya Skin Clinic • Muscat Eye Laser Center • Oasis By The Sea • Second Cup • Starbucks • VLCC Wellness Sifa • Sifawy Boutique Hotel SQU • Diplomatic Club •

•

College of Economics and Political Science • Students Banking Area • Reception/Canteen Wadi Kabir • Al Maya Hypermarket • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Pharmacy • National Hospitality Institute • Pizza Hut • Shell Petrol Station Wattayah • Ahli Bank • Best cars • BLS International Services • Chevorlet/GM showroom • Ford Showroom • Hatat House • Honda Showroom • Hyundai showroom • Kia Showroom • Lexus Showroom • National Travel & Tourism • Passage To India Restaurant • Shell Petrol Station • Subaru showroom • Suzuki Showroom • Toyota Showroom The Wave • Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee • Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co. • The Wave Head Office Other Regions Barka • Al Nahda Spa and Resort • LuLu Hypermarket Nizwa • University of Nizwa Sohar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Crowne Plaza • National Gift Markets • Ooredoo • Pizza Hut • Safeer Mall • Sohar Beach Hotel • Sohar Port and Freezone • Sohar University

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Adventures

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CARS AND ADVENTURES

SLEEK SPEED

The candy-apple red all-new Ferrari Portofino blends ultimate power and performance

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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

Y- F i

Outdoors

Destination

MISFAT AL ABRIYEEN SWATI BASU DAS FINDS A UNIQUE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE WHOSE RESIDENTS AIM TO MAINTAIN TRADITIONS, WITH THE OCCASIONAL MODERN TWIST

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Cars

More than 300 years old, the village porch has conquered time and stands upright despite its tattered looks. This enormous doorless gateway greets all and welcomes them to encounter a legacy as precious as time. The roof above the entry path is hollow, and natural light gleams through, illuminating the alleyway. The lane meanders through a mazelike path where old mud homes stand embedded on either side of the cobbled steps. A pedestrian-friendly location, Misfat Al Abriyeen is best explored at your own pace as you smell and inhale fresh earthy breezes. The aroma of the mud, the soft burbles of the aflaj streaming by, the soothing green shades of mango trees and date palms all contribute to beckoning every nostalgic soul. As quaint as can be, Misfat Al Abriyeen takes you back into the past. Discovered 2000 years ago, Misfat Al Abriyeen is a unique mountain village. This well-maintained, age-old place showcases a charm that blends the rich traditionalism of Oman with a challenging mountain life made easier by its diligent denizens. Haitham says: “It was the Al Abri tribe who discovered this land nearly two thousand ago. The village derives its name from the Al Abri tribe who settled here. Our ancestors came from the other side of the mountain in search of food and water. “The fresh water from the mountains and the green oasis gave them their home. Since then there was no looking back.”

The paved, cobbled path winding up and down the whole territory leads to farmland. The healthy plants of Misfat Al Abriyeen yield mellow fruits in every corner of this village, which are then meticulously picked. A sizeable open reservoir collects water before it is released into the aflaj every morning to irrigate the plantations. The water flows into it from a mountain spring, the origin of which is a well-kept secret. When we asked about its source Haitham smiles: “It is somewhere in the mountains. Only the oldest men alive in this village know the source and its location. They never reveal it to anybody. Even we won’t query its location. We all respect this secrecy.” Best known for its quirky mud architecture, both single and multistoreyed houses here are made up of boulder stones, rocks, and clay soil sourced from the mountains. All of these houses are perfectly melded into one another, making the whole landscape look seamless. Some mud homes have collapsed over time while others are still well maintained. A few windows have broken frames; others are tightly shut while some have clay pots lined up on their sill. The doors of each home are wellcarved and brightly-painted. The

open terrace of each house throws up a vista of an all-encompassing booming oasis. While a few homes are left abandoned by their owners settling in new houses built nearby, some still retain their old charm and welcome guests, beckoning them to enjoy the traditional hospitality of the Al Abri tribes but with a modern twist. Haitham says: “The Old House Misfah is a 450 year- old mud house. We want the heritage to bloom with time and not fade away. Rather than deserting this ancestral property, we have transformed it into a guesthouse. Each room now has air-conditioning and a satellite dish. Rest all is oldfashioned. People come here to stay and enjoy our traditional way of life.” With all its well-kept but fertile secrets and its primal traditions blending evenly into the rough terrain, Misfat Al Abriyeen is sure to keep its enduring place in Oman’s heritage for many more centuries to come.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

very place we visit is unique in one way or another. Be it the parched desert sands or more refreshing pastures, the high mountain ranges or the deep blue ocean, the cityscapes or the rustic milieus; they all boast their own elements of uniqueness. Two hundred and forty kilometres away from Muscat, this location is perched a thousand metres above sea level. Cradled in the lap of the rugged Al Hamra range, Misfat Al Abriyeen, with its craggy backdrop, is a mountain settlement nurtured by its lush plantations and entwined by the falaj system irrigating the terraced farms. But there is more than this that makes Misfat Al Abriyeen distinct. As our car ascends along a meandering minor road, my companion and I feel the bliss of solitude. Reaching our destination, we witness high cliffs with massive boulders forming a rocky mountain trail. The boulders maintain their natural balance by leaning on one another. Parking our car somewhere near one of those boulders, we step out and the panoramic view soaks us in its calm serenity. Haitham Al Abri, a local guide and manager of Old House Misfah, says: “You have to walk down to witness the beauty of this village. Explore the place on foot or a donkey. For some nature lovers this is a hidden trekking route.” Walking a few metres ahead, we reach the entrance to the village.

Drive 200 kilometres Bahla. Approximately six kilometres from Muscat to Al from Al Hamra, drive up till the village Hamra following the entrance. main highway that connects Muscat to Coordinates: Nizwa and continue all 23°06’60.00”N 57°17’21.00”E the way Al Hamra via

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CARS ADVENTURES

FERRARI PORTOFINO

FIRST DRIVE

errari is to Italy and the world of supercars what Android is to the smartphone industry. A sense of pre-eminence always permeates the air when we catch a flash of that iconic emblem of the silhouetted prancing horse on a yellow backdrop. But, as the saying goes, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’, and thus begins one of the world’s largest game of cat-and-mouse. Perhaps it’s with that intention – to reach out to the masses – that there exists a fresh convertible grand tourer – the Ferrari Portofino. Essentially, a replacement to the long-running, if a bit worn, California and California T, the Portofino tinkers with Ferrari’s style-and drive-guides – and golly, it shows. And, even if the car was intended to sit atop the (sales) volume pyramid, there exists no finer droptop car with the heart and soul of a true sports car

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The Italian giant goes mainstream with a model that’s stylish and super-fast senza the cost

than this one. It’s time, then, to leave California and inhale a fresh breath of Portofino – the picturesque Italian Riviera town. Perhaps this is why the Portofino strikes the right aesthetical chords with us. It’s just more ‘Italian’ than its predecessor. In comes Ferrari’s signature boomerang-shaped LED headlamps and grinning grille, and out go the drooping, hippie eyes from its hillbilly ancestor. Every chamfer on the aluminium bodywork is tasteful without being gaudy. It’s an aggressive take on car design – even though we agree that not all angry faces are pretty – we’d like to think of the Portofino as a furious Matt Le Blanc or Scarlett Johansson. You’ll still find them appealing, irrespective of everything else. Even the sharp winglet that sucks out the highpressure air from between the wheel well during runabouts is disguised ever so well – beginning at the front arch and fusing into the long door – to keep its understated look going. That is of course, until you get up close to the sports car. Photos don’t quite do it justice. The Portofino draws wide tracks with its bulging hips to encompass the wide, staggered Pirelli P Zero 285/35 tyres in the rear. Meanwhile, the front-end benefits from leaner 245/35 rubber. Both sets are wrapped around 20inch alloys. No intake is too delusive and no curve deceptive. There’s a sense of purpose to each air vent and a depth to the curves that will inevitably aid aerodynamics in its fight against a slew of sophisticated British GTs – the Bentley Continental GTC and the Aston Martin DB11.

This time around, they mean business. But, building a GT doesn’t end with reconciling with Ferrari’s on-track competence and marring the predecessor’s athletic shortcomings as the perfect grand tourer is also expected to blend dynamism with versatility, refinement and the convenience of an everyday car. To add to this, you get a folding metal roof – one that’s nearly as quick as the car itself, pulling itself up from the latches and down into the safe and padded housing in the 292-litre boot, in a mere 14 seconds. As is the case with most cars of today, you can engage or retract the roof while driving at speeds of up to 40kph. It’s a far cry from the 50kph that the Bentley can pull, but hey, with an operation time of 19 seconds, you’ll be zooming past the car even before you know it.

D e s t i n at i o n

Po s t c a r d s Fr o m

Y-Fi

as the nimble (and frankly) plebian Lotus Evora sports car, but at 1.6 tonnes, it’s nearly a tonne lighter than most of its competitors. From a lambasted car in the early 2000s to one that’s earned its place at the Ferrari museum in Maranello, Italy; the humble Ferrari grand tourer has come a long way. Whether it’s sheer engineering or passion that has gone into the production of this car, we don’t know quite yet. But, getting your hands dirty with 600 horses and 760Nms of brunt force is no joke. The Portofino is the perfect GT car – and while that’s tall praise for a baby Fezza (slang for Ferrari), it’s a car that warrants no less. Boot space is comparable with segment-topping convertibles, and should be perfect for two sets of golf bags (assuming that’s what the average Portofino buyer will be into) or a large suitcase if there’s no space-saving spare stuffed into the boot. Despite all this, the car is light. It’s perhaps not as light

Gaming

CARS

FERRARI PORTOFINO Specifications: • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 • Transmission: Seven-speed ‘dual-clutch’ automatic • Power: 600hp • Torque: 760Nms • Top Speed: 320kph Rear-wheel drive Cruise control 10.2-inch infotainment screen 18-way adjustable seats F1-trac traction control E-Diff3 electronic differential Exclusive leather upholstery Manettino dial w/ selective driving modes 20-inch alloy wheels Folding metal roof 292-litre boot Navigation system Quad exhausts

ESSENTIALLY, A REPLACEMENT TO THE LONG-RUNNING, IF A BIT WORN, CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIA T, THE PORTOFINO TINKERS WITH FERRARI’S STYLE-AND DRIVEGUIDES – AND GOLLY, IT SHOWS. For more impressions on the on-board technology, cabin, and driving dynamics, stay tuned for the follow-up story.

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CARS ADVENTURES

JERSEY SHORE The island life has its perks in this idyllic corner of Britain

1. Swim in the octopus pool near Greve de Lecq. 2. Stroll along the ramparts at Fort Regent fort. 3. Hug a tree in the verdant St. Catherineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Woods. 4. Take a stroll out to Seymour Tower (but watch the tides!) 5. Let off steam with the rides at aMaizin! Adventure Park

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Destination

Cars

Y-Fi

Gaming

POSTCARDS FROM

Emma Rafferty recommends

JERSEY, UNITED KINGDOM A

round 30 years ago tourism bosses on Jersey decided to promote their enchanting island with the slogan ‘where Britain blends with France’. Given Britain’s current political battle with the rest of Europe (led by France and Germany), it might have something of a hollow ring to it these

days. But don’t let this put you off, as Jersey is a fabulous holiday option. It’s packed with pristine beaches, historical sites, buzzing cafés and restaurants, quirky shops, and plenty to see and do for all ages. It’s the largest of a group of islands nestling in the English Channel and sits around 22km off the coast of France. Jersey, which sits in the Bay of St. Malo, enjoys a southerly position offering way better weather than what you’d expect in the rest of the UK. Except that technically it’s not part of the UK. Like its neighbour, Guernsey, it’s what’s known as a British Crown Dependency. Jersey has its own self-governing assembly and legal system but its residents are British citizens. After years of being known for being occupied by the Nazis in World War II, for a ground-breaking animal sanctuary run by the legendary zoologist Gerald Durrell, and for being a popular offshore banking haven, the island’s popularity got a rocket boost in the 1980s after the huge success of the Jersey-based TV detective series ‘Bergerac’. After a tourism lull in recent years, it’s re-inventing itself as a haven for outdoor lovers, who find the temperate climate ideal for walking, surfing, kayaking, and sailing around an abundant array of immaculate beaches, bays, and coves. This stunning island is compact, at 8km by 14.5km, but as they say, ‘small is beautiful’.

T H E H IS TOR E L IZ A IC R A M P A R TS BETH C ASTLE OF

My favourite place I’ve been lucky enough to have relaxed on some really great beaches but here there’s a variety here that I’ve never found anywhere else. There are eight main beaches that all offer something different in terms of views, recreation, and atmosphere. My favourite is Plemont Bay, on the island’s northwestern coast. As well as being relatively off the beaten track, its golden sands are flanked by majestic cliffs as well as the island’s most impressive caves and rock pools. Step inside a cave and watch the coruscating, natural waterfalls trickle over your head as your camera goes into overdrive. There’s also a café at the top of the steps leading to the beach offering a lush array of snacks and meals, from burgers to brioche; all with lip-smacking fillings. Highlights While zoos have become unfashionable in recent years, Jersey Zoo, now in its 60th year, was the first animal

sanctuary to really show us how to witness, learn about, and cherish other species. Here, animals, mammals, and insects rule the roost, and the 170,000-or-so annual visitors privileged to see them are ‘honoured guests’. You can easily spend a whole day here, secure in the knowledge that every one of the zoo’s denizens really are well looked after. For such a small place, Jersey is generously endowed with historical castles, forts and watchtowers. One treat is Elizabeth Castle, a 16th century fortress that can only be reached by boat or ferry and was named after England’s Tudor Queen Elizabeth I by Walter Raleigh, one of her favourite courtiers. It ticks all the boxes; delighting the history buffs while offering the kids all manner of nooks and crannies to explore and play in, as well as the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing stroll along the parapets while taking in glorious views of the English Channel. History buffs can have their ‘museum day’ exploring the Maritime Museum, the Jersey Museum & Art Gallery, or the Hamptonne Country Life Museum but there’s yet another museum (of rural life) at The Botanic Gardens at Samares Manor. It’s only 2.5km from St. Helier by bus and you can easily spend an afternoon here ambling around the lush yet tranquil Japanese or herb gardens while your kids let off steam in the play area.

FO U N D A T L E V IE W S UNBEATAB AY P L E M ON T B

Lowlights None Souvenirs With a high number of

very wealthy residents, you’d expect a fair number of designer stores and outlets in St. Helier, the island’s largest town, and you will find them. But there’re some chic but cheerful shops offering ceramics, artefacts, and hand-made jewellery.

Getting there Oman Air and Lufthansa offer flights to Jersey Airport, with two stopovers, in Frankfurt and London’s Heathrow. Total time is 11hr 35minutes. Yes, it’s long but why not break your journey with a few days in London? Jersey is just an hour away by plane from the UK’s capital city. Where to stay Whether your bag is a coastal campsite or five-star luxury in an impressive Victorian hotel, you pay your money and take your choice. Throw immaculate boutique hotels, homely guesthouses, or basic but comfortable B&Bs into the mix and you’ll find plenty to choose from. Check out Booking.com, Trivago, or Expedia for options.

T U C K IN TO A TRAD IT IO N A L P L A T T E R OF F IS H A ND CH IP S

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

‘X’ MARKS THE SPOT A rivalry that goes back to the early days of console gaming itself, the Sony-Microsoft war is the Silicon Valley’s equivalent to the Chevy-Ford competition from the motoring world. This makes the Microsoft Xbox One X a whizz-buzz and a worthy contender for the top spot in this game of thrones. Its specs have the PS4 beat: underneath the attractive exterior lies an eight-core 2.3GHz processor paired with a sixteraflop graphics processor and 12GB of GDDR5 RAM. All that big talk results in 4K gaming at an astounding 60fps; a feat most PS4 games fail to achieve (though game developers are to blame here). This also makes it the most powerful gaming console ever made. Whether you like it or not, the Xbox One X will set you back more dough – it’s marked at RO200 to be precise, from its retailers at SharafDG.

D e s t i n at i o n

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

GAME FOR ANYTHING

The Y Geek Squad squares up to the stars from the market’s biggest players PRO GAMER A revolution in the gaming arena to say the least, Sony’s PlayStation has remained a market leader for decades – and for good reason. The current-gen console – the PlayStation 4 – may have been on the market for the better part of six years now but it remains a wolf in sheep’s clothing or, in this context, a gaming rig in a console’s outfit. Packed underneath the slim shell is a GPU with a processing power of 4.2 teraflops and a high-clock CPU to give you a smooth gaming experience. Sprinkle in features such as 4K rendering and streaming, VR connectivity and Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities, and you’re quite possibly left with the best gaming console you can currently buy. At RO169.9, the PS4 has also held its value over the years. Get yours from eXtra Stores.

SWITCH IT UP A go-anywhere portable console with the heart and soul of a Nintendo Game Boy or a DS but the internals of a prominent gaming console, the Nintendo Switch is the best of both worlds. That said, it’d be unjust to compare the Switch to, say, the PS4 or Xbox One but if you did, it would still emerge from the battle unscathed. The handheld device brings a level of portability that you can expect from devices such as Apple’s iPad Pro or Samsung’s Tab but it scores bigger on the versatility front with the Joy-Cons – physical control devices that attach to either side of the handheld console. While this bucks the Plain Jane trend we’d seen with the DS range of devices, it does offer users a better gaming experience. Couple that with the ever-increasing range of games and you have one of the best handheld gaming devices ever made. Get it from Geekay Games for RO136.2.

MAGIC IS IN THE AIR

EDITOR’S PICK

EVERY GAMER HAS A DREAM: TO GAME FOR DAYS ON END WITHOUT INTERRUPTION AND NO LOSS OF FRAMES (NO LAG) AMID A GAMING MARATHON. WHILE MOST CONSOLES AND PCS ACHIEVE THIS WITHOUT BREAKING SWEAT, SMARTPHONES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GREY AREA; SOME EVEN FACE THROTTLING (OVERHEATING) ISSUES THAT CAN LEAD TO THE DEVICE FORCECLOSING GAMES MIDWAY A GAMING SESSION. ENTER THE ZTE NUBIA RED MAGIC 3, THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN GAMING SMARTPHONES. PACKED WITH INTERNALS THAT RIVAL THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS – NAMELY, PHONES SUCH AS THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S10, APPLE IPHONE XS, AND THE ONEPLUS 7 PRO – THE RED MAGIC 3 COMES WITH A SNAPDRAGON 855 PROCESSOR, RAM INPUTS BETWEEN 6 AND 12GIGS, AN ADRENO 640 GPU AND A 90HZ QUICK-REFRESH AMOLED DISPLAY. ALL OF THIS IS THEN TAMED BY A MECHANICAL COOLING FAN – A WORLD-FIRST IN A SMARTPHONE. YOU CAN BUY THIS FROM AMAZON.COM FOR A VERY REASONABLE RO182.

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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Info Box

Developer: UBISOFT Engine: ANVILNEXT Genre: ACTION-ADVENTURE Platforms: PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH, PC

The Y Geek Squad finds Greeks bearing gifts with Ubisoft’s latest offering

bisoft have really kicked it up a notch with their latest release, ‘Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’. The game is set in ancient Greece and provides a vast world of wonder to explore. You’ll find yourself travelling from every inch of a golden age fighting all kinds of enemies and going through a rollercoaster of plottwists. It starts off slowly waiting for you to catch up with it then it just plummets you so deep into the story that you’ll have to take a minute and think ‘what just happened?’. It’s Ubisoft’s attempt at an RPG game and they have truly nailed it. The ‘Assassin’s Creed’ franchise had disappointed us before with rushed releases and clichéd storylines but I

they’ve won our loyalty back with this one. Firstly, it gives us the option to play as either Alexios or Kassandra, the brothersister combo. I chose Kassandra but the storylines for both are the same. They follow the tough choices we have to take to save the whole ancient world or to choose family. To select both means you have even more formidable obstacles to face. This is one of the only games I’ve ever seen in which the game developers have given so much attention to the side quests, which are usually skipped by us and deemed

irrelevant. Even comparing the game to ‘God of War’, this one is impressive. In fact it gave me the same satisfaction that ‘Skyrim’ treated me to, which was an open world that hooks you in right off the bat. Decisions, decisions; this game is so deeprooted with the choices you make that every decision you take in this will affect the outcome. However, the loading time is over-long and the story is structured in such a fragmented way that it feels scattered. It doesn’t let characters develop their emotional background due to the fastpaced dialogue. Any first-timer can play ‘Odyssey’ and it seems the structure of the assassins has been diminished, as if the game’s creators are embarrassed to acknowledge the Assassins Creed. ‘Assassins Creed 2’ and ‘3’ were better at character development but this one truly teaches us that everybody has a good and bad side to them. This game gives you the chance to fight with legendary heroes; from the Spartans and Athenians, to mythological creatures and ship missions to actual philosophers that existed in 47BC that include the father of medicine and father of philosophy. It truly is an odyssey of an experience. JUN JULY 20 - 03JUN- 26 09 / ISSUE 573 327

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Beauty

FASHION

SUMMER COOL

Kids sure have it rough these long summer months â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what with endless days at the beach, family road-trips, nights out at the movies, and more outdoor activities than we can count. Sounds daunting, right? Make sure their wardrobe can stand the heat with these stylish selections that are virtually summer-proof!

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Spending an afternoon outdoors? Keep the sun out of their eyes and their faces protected with a little extra shade. A good ‘olfashioned ball cap is just the ticket. Don this ‘Epic’ version from M&S for RO7.7.

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

When it comes to summerwear that’s light, breathable and active – cotton is king. Slip into this colourful dino-print number from Max and get ready to shine! Price: RO1.5.

A light jacket in a pastelpopsicle hue will keep a summer sunburn cool while at the movies or under the A/C. This lilac-wash denim version from Old Navy is prettyas-punch. Grab it for RO13.4.

Instead of sitting indoors in front of the PlayStation this summer, help your kids keep track of how much exercise they’re getting from playing outdoors or indulging in a physical activity. The Garmin Vivosmart 4 Activity Tracker logs their heart rate, oxygen levels, and more! Buy it from Virgin Megastore for RO65.8.

Because summer is all about sand between your toes and grass beneath your feet, that means you’ll want (and your kids will need!) a good pair of easyon, easy-off footwear. These buttercup yellow woven sandals from Aldo are a stylish fit. Bag them for RO15.3.

From the beach to badminton practice, your little one will want to live in these comfy coral-coloured jersey shorts from H&M all summer long! And at RO1.9 they’re a steal!

Nothing screams tropical like juicy pineapple! Make a statement by wearing summer’s most quintessential fruit in this adorably-patterned cinched-waist sundress from GAP. Own it for RO9.5.

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EYE UP

THE INSTA-GLAM Christine Karan checks out some of the eyeshadow options for ensuring the eyes have it, if you have the vision

hile matte has been ruling the roost for quite some time as our eyeshadow of choice, the trend of shimmer and glitter has become a hit again in (or on) our eyes. Inglot has recently launched its Freedom System Partylicious Palette. A pack of 10 creamy, glittery shades, this limited-edition palette guarantees to give you that feeling of getting the party started. It claims to be pigmented, and offers a duo-sparkle effect. This means the colour of shine depends on the angle of the light. So does the palette deliver what is says? At Y, we just had to find out. Right off the bat, this is a full-on glitter palette so there are no crease or transition shades. I swatched some onto my hand to see how pigmented they actually were. I wasn’t disappointed but the question was whether or not the pigment would apply to the eyes.

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There are three ways you can apply: with a dry brush, a wet brush and with your fingers. Though the shades have a creamy look, once applied with a dry brush, the effect is a powdery finish on the eye with the shimmer sitting well despite a little bit of fall out. Make sure you have your powder brush with you to touch it up. With a wet brush, the application is much smoother and the colour payoff is brilliant. The intensity of the shades is much higher and the sparkle is brilliant. If you apply using your fingers, with one swipe you can pick up a lot. The shadow applies easily and it blends well when applying the shades on wellprimed eyes. Of the three ways, the best method of sampling the intensity of the shimmer is with a wet brush. Just as the product promises, it does have a duo sparkle, offering you different colours with varying angles of light.

The shades of the Partylicious palette are also available individually, enabling you to create your own palette! So if you don’t like the shades you see, then simply formulate your own formidable collection. Inglot deserves a gold star for enabling customers to customise. However, it’s a bit lacking in the versatility department. If you’re looking for an eye palette that enables you to create a minimum of three looks then it doesn’t deliver. With not a single matte shade to be used on the crease or for transition, I will not be reaching for it too often. But we have to give a huge shoutout to the shimmery shades in the palette. The shades are fantastic! And the duo chrome effect is something new. Available at RO25, this limited edition eye shadow palette is a ‘grabnow’ product- if you’re a shimmer/ glitter lover! ■

Beauty

Dizzy, nauseous, disoriented? Panic attacks are a very real health alert. They’re not dangerous but can be very unsettling. Gemma Harrison reports on an often misunderstood condition, how to recognise the signs and what to do about them

he trouble with the internet age is that there’s seemingly an explanation for everything. But some ailments do fall into a grey area, where no straightforward solution is available. I’ve been lucky enough to have had good health for practically all my life. So when I found myself felled and turned into a shivering, quivering, hyperventilating wreck in a matter of seconds I got one heck of a shock. I had been caring for my father in my home city in the UK, and it had been a stressful morning. Having reached one of the main thoroughfares in the city centre, I sat down on one of the black blocks of granite that enable grateful and exhausted shoppers to take the weight off their feet. Two minutes later, I stood up and nearly keeled over. Everything went black and swirling. My head was dizzy, my knees locked, and a numbness engulfed the whole of my body. In a split second I thought I was having a stroke, or worse, a heart attack. It felt like some kind of internal nuclear explosion; one I’d never experienced before. The resultant anxiety meant I could hardly catch a breath, or put one foot in front of the other. I simply slumped back down on the seat again. For a brief moment, I also didn’t know where on earth I was even though I was in a street I must have walked down a thousand times. I sat there for five minutes, sipped some water and tried to focus. I phoned the friend I was meeting for lunch and asked her to come and meet me where I was. After gulping down a hastily-gotten beaker of Starbucks (a large one with lots of sugar), wolfing down a Snickers bar (for a glucose rush), and chatting (to check I was still ‘with it’) I got to my feet and that was that. But what was it all about? A consultation with my doctor a week later revealed that I had had what had appeared to have been a panic attack

HEALTH

Fa s h i o n

Home

Fa m i l y

THE PANIC BUTTON

– a feeling of immediate and intense anxiety. The symptoms, as described, can be at best unsettling and at worst, frightening. Anxiety and stress are what triggered them, according to my doctor, and apparently there are no hard and fast rules as to how they occur, how often they occur, and if they’re a sign of another condition such as agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) or panic disorder (regular attacks of panic or fear). American psychotherapist Dr. Roberta Marowitz says panic attacks can be scary. Dr. Marowitz, who runs a counselling centre in Florida, says: “If one catches you off-guard and you have never experienced panic before then it very often feels like you’re having a heart attack. “It’s paralysing for many people, and they get short of breath and they’re not sure what to do. They could be driving, they could be sitting around doing nothing, they could be in the middle of a meeting; it could be anywhere. “If you have the ability to walk outside, get a little fresh air, change your scenery then do it. Listen to the birds, look up at the sky, and look

at a tree and the sway of the leaves. Pay some attention to your breathing when it comes to the panic because what you’re trying to do is to slow yourself down, and taking deep breaths is helpful. “It’s difficult sometimes. One of the things you must tell yourself is that it will pass. Keep talking to yourself. The more you can slow yourself down, the more rhythm you will get. There are a lot of people who are soothed by music so if you have an iPod try to listen to meditative-type music or the type of sounds you would hear in a spa.” As Dr. Marowitz says, there are ways of dealing with a panic attack, which include: 1. DURING AN ATTACK Concentrate on breathing Breathe in slowly, deeply and gently through your nose, concentrating on each breath. Close your eyes if necessary, and count from one to five when you inhale, and again when you exhale. 2. TO PREVENT AN ATTACK Healthy habits Eat properly to boost your blood-sugar levels, take plenty of exercise, and do daily breathing exercises. These habits can help to manage stress levels, release tension, and improve your mood. Therapy/counselling Your doctor can advise on any course of action, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that can help identify the thought patterns that can bring about a panic attack. 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, eHow Health, Dr. Roberta Marowitz) JUN 20 - 26 / ISSUE 573

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New Restaurant

Reviews

YUMMY

A taste of THE DEEP

BRINY BOUNTY

Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coastal waters offer up a marine harvest unrivalled in the region.

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Tuna Omania bil sumac

Fresh filets of Omani tuna seasoned with fragrant sumac powder and served on a fluffy bed of makbous rice. Ingredients: § 150g yellowfin tuna loin filets § 5g sea salt § 25g sumac powder § 10ml corn oil

From prawns and lobsters to shellfish and crustaceans, Oman offers a platter full of seafood delicacies, says Aftab H. Kola

ood mirrors a culture, and Arabic food is a reflection of the Middle East’s history and its people’s customs, culture and way of life. With its trademark dash of spices, Arabic cuisine has become a global hit with gourmands around the world. Omani fare is a key element of Arabic cuisine and can offer its own take on tasty yet simple dishes that incorporate Iamb, chicken, lentils and vegetables. However, it is Oman’s seafood delicacies that will leave your taste buds angling for more, and your palate hooked.

A taste of tradition

A perennial favourite, the samak bil narjeel is a fish marinated in spices and topped with rice coconut sauce. Mazoor (boiled shark) is usually served cold, while kana’d (kingfish) is used in preparing mashwai, a whole fish roasted on a burning coal and served with rice and lemon juice. Fish curry dishes can include sahwa (a curry with large sardines) and seema (with small sardines). For non-coastal regions, whether in Sharqiyah, Al Wusta or Al Dhahirah; Oual (small sharks, dried) is a staple. Oual is best served with plain white rice. Baby shark is also sometimes dried for use in stews. Tuna is always a hit grilled or salted, and Tuna Omania bil sumac (seared Omani tuna with sumac powder on makbous rice) is particularly delish, delectable and easy-to-do. Tuna salads can’t fail to be mouthwatering mainstays in Oman’s star restaurants while Omani purslane (Farfina ou qash’a) and dried fish salad is an evergreen hit in Omani homes. Soup fiends are bound to plump for Paplou, which is made with fish stock, lemon juice, cilantro, fennel, turmeric and garlic with soft, sautéed chunks of onion and tuna. It is a bright but sumptuous broth and a suitable starter for a main course consisting of the ever-popular hammour. This ubiquitous favourite can be grilled or fried and has enough taste to obviate going over the top with the spices. Alternatively, it can be minced to make fish kebabs; perfect for a late-night (and healthy) snack. Mackerel and sardines abound here in Oman, and can be fried or grilled the Arabic way, or crushed into madqouka kashie (pounded dried sardines) using red chilies and cardamom. Alternatively, they might be pressed with oil to make the Gulf-wide delicacy mehyawa, which is then spread on flatbread for a crispy snack. Shrimps and squids are easily available in Oman and you can often find spelt and rosemary risotto with prawn and bisque served as a delicacy (though not a local recipe), rustled up in few hotels in Oman.

Method: § Mix the sumac powder and the sea salt together and roll the tuna loins in it until they’re evenly-coated. In a pan, heat the oil and sear the tuna for two minutes on each side. Remove and let rest for few minutes. Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side. (Source: Adapted from ‘Tagine to Masala’ by Mike Harrison (2004) Photo credit: www.goodfood.com.au)

Pan-fried fish with pine nuts and tomato sauce Plenty of protein meets Italian flavour in this family-friendly weeknight favourite. Ingredients: § 1kg, whole fish, cleaned (red snapper or sea bream) § A pinch, turmeric § Salt, to taste § 1 tsp, pepper powder § 100 ml, lemon juice § 100 ml, olive oil § 2 Tbsp, oil for frying For the sauce: § 180ml, chopped tomatoes § 2 Tbsp, tomato paste § A pinch, saffron § 25g, pine nuts § 1 onion, chopped § 3-4 garlic cloves, chopped § Salt, to taste

olive oil. Keep aside for 30 minutes. § Prepare the sauce by sautéing the onions, garlic, chopped tomato, and tomato paste. § Add in the saffron, pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. § Heat the pan and add in the oil. Place the fish in the pan and cook evenly on both sides. § Remove from the pan, put in a serving dish and pour the sauce over top. Serve immediately.

Method: § Wash and clean the fish and marinate with salt, pepper, (Source: Chef Akash Srivastava, Al Bustan Palace – A Ritz-Carlton Hotel) lemon juice, turmeric and

Prized delicacy

Sea lobster is one of the most sought-after seafood items in Oman. It is usually fished from the first week of March until the end of April. After that, no catch is permitted legally. Therefore, it’s a bit of a delicacy. Skilled chefs might grill it using light spices or adopt it into mouth-watering curries or into intricate and luscious salads. The Omani Rock Lobster Salad and Omani Lobster with Za’atar and crushed garlic with a dash of mustard seeds are just heavenly. Oman can also lay claim to catches of clams, oysters, crabs and abalones. The Governorate of Dhofar is known for its abalone, a marine gastropod mollusk, which was banned for harvest, sale and export in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to conserve its supply. As a result, a few hotels in Dhofar might serve it, but it has become something of a rare (and expensive) treat. Happily, sampling the best of Oman’s seafood options can be straightforward. Here are some easy recipes to have the family ‘reeling’ for seconds. JUN 20 - 26 / ISSUE 573

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REVIEWS

an id-R

New Restaurant

Info Box

MOOYAH Top floor, Panorama Mall, Al Ghubrah Opening hours: Noon to 11:00 p.m. daily Contact: (+968) 2423-0003 Lunch for two: RO10.3

Verdict : 8/10 SERVICE 6/10 FOOD 7/10 AMBIENCE

American fast-food classics with stacked toppings and ample portions at a mid-range price-point.

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

MOOYAH TEAM Y GETS OUR GRILL ON WITH SOME ALL-AMERICAN PATTIES THAT LEAVE US WANTING, WELL, MORE

ometimes nothing fills the hunger void quite like a good old-fashioned burger lodged between two buns that you need to eat with both hands and a collar stuffed full of napkins, juice running down your chin and a side of hot, crisp fries at the ready. It was with this expectation in mind that we bee-lined it over to MOOYAH at Panorama Mall to satisfy our after-work fast-food craving. Located on the top floor in the mall’s ‘restaurant rotunda’ we hoped this American import could slay the beast in our bellies with its catchy streetstyle sounding name, and freakishly-stacked burgers. While technically an order-at-the-counter, pickup to the side type of locale, with a fill-your-own soda fountain (dangerously tempting!) and an interior décor awash in bright, primary colours that draw in the eye to – presumably – whet the appetite, MOOYAH still feels a little bit more sitdown/dine-in than its average cohort. Offering all manner of burgers, hotdogs and deliciously artery-clogging sides, perusing their menu we’re like a kid in a candy store. Should we go for a ‘Cluck & Moo’ (a sautéed mushroomtopped patty crowned with a fried egg)? Or, a ‘Hamburdog’ perhaps – an all-beef frankfurter topped with everything but the kitchen sink, including fried onion strings and fresh jalapeños? In the end, we opt to try an array of their best burgers with a slider sampler platter of minibuns, an order of their buffalo-tossed chicken

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tenders, and a guilt-inducing basket of their loaded fries. If you’re already having chest pains, note that MOOYAH also offers a salad menu, and an ‘Iceburger’ option where you can swap out the bun for a burger wrapped in slabs of iceberg lettuce, and sweet potato fries for the slightly more health-conscious. Our orders are quick to arrive and to our hungry eyes, look a treat. Tucking our napkins and readying our forks, we plunge into the basket of piping hot loaded fries first. The potatoes are crisp and fresh from the fryer – so hot at first that our tastebuds fail to register that something’s missing. Topped with cheese sauce, ranch, beef bacon bits, and fresh jalapeños you’d think them completely overindulgent – and you’d be right. But they simply lacked flavour and punch. The fries themselves could have used a few lashings of salt or other savoury seasoning, while the cheese sauce – which was gloopy and artificial, quickly became stodgy and lacked any real flavour to balance out the ranch dressing. This is a dish that could easily become a fan-favourite menu staple if they’d only consider swapping out the fake fromage for some shredded, melted cheese. Even the freshly-chopped jalapeños didn’t cut the mustard, adding surprisingly little ‘oomph’ to the dish and leading us to wonder if ‘jalapeño’ was a typo on the menu. The slider sampler platter redeemed things on the other hand, as we bit into a trio of three succulent patties – The Classic, topped with their house MOOYAH Sauce and lettuce, tomato, and cheese; the MOOYAH Style, same as the Classic

but with the addition of tangy pickles and savoury grilled onions; and the Texas, which came laden with fiery peppers. All fillings were juicy, patties perfectly charred, and a good sauce-to-toppings ratio – though the buns were a little on the dry side and could have used an extra minute toasting on the grill. In fact, a brioche bun would have been the perfect vehicle for these flavour heavyweights. The basket of chicken tenders were tossed in a zingy buffalo sauce and were equally generous in portion, with long thick-cut strips served with a side of ranch for dipping. While the flavour was there, the letdown was in the execution – the strips had been overcooked with some pieces too tough and hard to bit through while the batter was a bit soggy in parts rather than toothsome and crisp. Eating around those bits, we managed to finish the basket and wash it down with some sweet pink lemonade but were left lingering over how something good could have been something great with a little bit more care in the kitchen. Though we see why MOOYAH is, overall, a people-pleaser. As we watched more diners come in and out for a quick eat-in or a takeaway, all left smiling and seemingly satisfied. The hits and misses we had could have been the result of a line cook that was having an ‘off’ night or order, and we’d be willing to come back again to suss out a round two. Because after all, good fast food should make you want to ultimately slow down and savour it. ■ Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com.

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