Y Magazine #591, October 31, 2019

Nature’s marvel

THE BLIND FISH OF AL HOOTA CAVE Y Portrait

By A Nation

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OCT 31 - NOV 06 2019 / ISSUE 591 • WEEKLY

A HABITAT FOR HOPE

PLUS!

WITH THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS AT THE FOREFRONT OF RECENT INTERNATIONAL PROTEST AND DEBATE, ACTION ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE IS VITAL AS TIME GROWS EVER SHORTER TO HALT THE EFFECTS OF A PLANET THAT’S BURNING UP. Y MEETS THE GAME-CHANGERS TAKING ACTION TO HELP PLACE THE SULTANATE AT THE HEAD OF THE GCC’S SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT.

FIRST DRIVE: CRUISING IN THE 2019 CADILLACNOVEMBER XT5 24 / ISSUE 258 01

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POSTCARD: NEW YORK CITY, USA

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YUMMY OMAN: SCARY SWEETS AND TREATS

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

IN THIS ISSUE… I

f you’re not keenly following the progress of global space exploration – you should be. Because at the rate we’re destroying our planet, we’re going to need to find a back-up option pretty soon. Perhaps-in-our-children’s-lifetime-soon, if current climate forecasts are anything to go by.

The future is frightening – but all hope, while rapidly dwindling, isn’t yet lost.

But immediate action is required on an unprecedented global scale. And, as the catalyst movement rises worldwide, world leaders and an unsettled public are now finally tuning in to the track that’s been playing on repeat.

We only needed to hear it from the mouth of a child like Greta Thunberg before it finally sunk in.

And, as the world begins to realise the importance of sustainable development, more people are coming forward in its global pursuit. In this week’s cover feature, we take an introspective look into how the Sultanate is taking a stand towards this new goal. We also meet its key players who are upping the game to find alternatives and solutions to old practices that don’t fit into the current global conversation on sustainability. The task is a noble one, a challenging one, and a necessary one: to usher in a ‘green’ revolution in the local market that can, in turn, make waves across the GCC – creating a domino effect that puts Oman on the forefront of an action plan for the planet.

And speaking of perseverance, also in this issue, we’re heading deep into the darkest recesses of Al Hoota Cave to learn about the unique species of blind fish who have adapted to thrive in the most adverse of conditions. Plus, we bring you some of the top Fashion and Beauty trends for fall in our back-of-the-book pages, catch a flight to the Big Apple in Postcard, and bring you some tasty and spooky Halloween treats in Yummy Oman.

Finally, registration for the sixth annual Y Portrait By A Nation competition is still ongoing ahead of the 49th Oman National Day on November 18. Want to know how you can enter? Flip to Page 18 and find out!

Until next week, happy reading!

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

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contents

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Your Oman 08 News Oman hosts GCC Power 2019 Conference & Exhibition 08 News Oman on weather alert amid effects of Cyclone Kyaar

This Week 06 On the air-waves We bring you your weekly dose of celebrity news and everything good from the world of music with 100.9 Virgin Radio Oman’s The Breakfast Show with Dan and Maya!

08 Cars and Adventures 22 Destination

Ibri 24 First Drive

Crossover luxury in

the Cadillac XT5 28 Y-Fi

Travel-smart gadgets

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06 Health and Beauty 29 Beauty How to wear the season’s top trends

Features 12 A habitat for hope We meet the grassroots activists and entrepreneurs making sustainability the order of the day across all sectors of life here in Oman.

Their message? It’s not too late to step up for our planet.

16 Blind attraction The blind Omani garra fish of Al Hoota Cave are one of nature’s most incredible evolutionary marvels unique to the Sultanate – and we’re heading to the underground lake they call home.

18 Y Portrait By A Nation In the lead-up to the 49th Oman National Day, Y’s Portrait By A Nation event gets ready to celebrate its sixth edition of patriotism and portraiture. Find out how to register and take part!

Food and Drink 32 Yummy Oman Scary sweets and treats 34 Taste Test Mani’s

30 Fashion Autumn accessories edit

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

Tainted love After a tumultuous on-again-off-again relationship, popstars Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber split for good in 2017 – with the Biebs linking up with his now-wife Hailey Baldwin just two months after. Now, Selena has released a new track called ‘Lose You To Love Me’ which allegedly takes a dig at her relationship with Justin – and has left fans divided with speculation.

Now, his wife Hailey has taken to social media, recently Tweeting a screenshot of the song ‘I’ll Kill You’ by Summer Walker, leaving her followers to wonder if that wasn’t her alleged response to Selena’s song.

Since making that Tweet, Hailey has clarified that it wasn’t a response and that she ‘doesn’t especially care’. Could there be more drama brewing?

Cryptic much?

A recent Tweet of Lady Gaga’s has left fans scratching their heads as to whether or not it could mean a new album is in the works. The Tweet, which simply read ‘Fame is prison’, sent fans into a flurry that it could be the name of Gaga’s next album – though the popstar had come forward earlier in the month to say it would be called ‘Adele’ in a teasing homage to the British songstress. Gaga’s Tweet also earned a social media clap-back from Amanda Knox who Tweeted back saying ‘I hear you, but… prison is prison.’

Knox spent four years in an Italian prison for the alleged murder of her flatmate Meredith Kercher in 2007. Knox was acquitted and released in 2015.

Smells like… teen spirit?

Twenty-six years ago, back in 1993, Nirvana performed their iconic set on MTV’s Unplugged.

From then on, front-man Kurt Cobain was inducted into the annals of 06

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grunge in his infamous green cardigan.

Now, that very same cardigan he wore 26 years ago has just been sold at auction for $334,000 USD. It hasn’t been washed since then, and still has the cigarette burns in the fabric. While the name of the buyer hasn’t been released, it’s made history as the most expensive sweater ever.

A fine for Felicity ‘Desperate Housewives’ actress Felicity Huffman – who was recently involved a US college bribery scandal by allegedly paying for her daughter’s SAT scores to be doctored, has just been released from jail. Last month, it was reported that the star would allegedly spend 14 days in prison for her involvement – however she’s just been released three days before her two-week sentence was due to end. This is because inmates slated for a weekend release are required to be released on a weekday as per the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons’ policy.

Huffman will also have to pay a $30,000 USD fine and undertake 250 hours of community service.

Bond is back!

Filming has officially wrapped on the 25th instalment of the James Bond franchise of films. ‘No Time To Die’ will be the last film in which fans will see Daniel Craig in the title role of Agent 007. Slated for an April 2020 release, the film is directed by Cary Fukunaga and will co-star Lea Seydoux and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’s Rami Malek.

Double whammy Grammy Awardwinners Coldplay have just announced they’re releasing a double album called ‘Everyday Life’ on November 22. With two singles off the new set already on the airwaves, we’re expecting big things to follow ‘Arabesque’ and ‘Orphans’ – which is the season’s feel-good road-trip tune!

Selena claps back

‘Lose You To Love Me’ is Selena Gomez’s comeback anthem – and it’s not been without its own controversy as you can read here.

An emotional single to say the least, the track is off her upcoming third studio album and, quite frankly, we totally love it!

King Kanye Misfit rapper Kanye West has finally released his new album after teasing fans for month. The album – which was supposed to be released in late September – marks his ninth studio venture and includes tracks like ‘Closed On Sunday’ and ‘Every Hour’.

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 The Breakfast Show with Dan and Maya.

T

OMAN HOSTS GCC POWER 2019 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

he Sultanate kicked off the GCC Power 2019 Conference and Exhibition (CIGRE) on Sunday, October 17, and running until Tuesday, October 29 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre under the patronage of Eng. Salim Bin Nasser Al-Aufi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Reports Oman News Agency, the conference aims at developing the region’s electricity industry by presenting the latest in international innovation and techniques of best practice, while at the same time offering a platform where industry leaders can exchange relevant information in the fields of production, transmission, and distribution of electric power in the GCC countries.

Highlights of the conference included electricity transmission and interconnection, renewable energy developments, and regional solutions. Also explored were new markets for electric power, smart networks and systems that will contribute towards increasing reliability and efficiency of performance.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Eng. Al-Aufi highlighted the necessity of building integral and cooperative efforts among GCC

countries in the electricity sector to fulfill increasing requirements and demands on power.

Also commenting at the conference was Dr. Mohammed bin Falah al-Rashidi, GCC Director of Electricity and Water Department, who stated: “The GCC has made great leaps forward in supporting cooperation in electricity through adopting a number of policies and programs related to the electricity sector, for more progress and development for the GCC states.

Eng. Mohammed bin Hussein al-Juhani, GCC CIGRE Board Chairman also praised the efforts exerted by the Sultanate, stating: “Oman is one of the countries that succeeded in making great leaps forwards in developing its electricity sector, thanks to the wise leadership of its good government.”

SUHAIL BAHWAN GROUP SIGNS MOU WITH HUNGARY’S OMSOL

The MoU was signed by Mr. István Százuj, General Manager of Omsol Ltd., and Mr. Dharmendrapal Singh Kapoor, General Manager of Bilad Oman, one of the flagship companies of Suhail Bahwan Group.

The MoU established cooperation between Omsol Ltd. and Bilad Oman in the field of metal structure fabrication for solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in the Sultanate of Oman.

Omasol Ltd. was founded by Hungarian uhail Bahwan Group, one of the largest private entrepreneurs with decades of experience in business conglomerates in the Sultanate of renewable and conventional power generation, Oman and Omsol Ltd, a Hungarian company transmission, and distribution in Europe, Canada, specializing in renewable and conventional power Australia, and the Middle East, to develop Oman generation, transmission, and distribution, signed a and other GCC markets in PV solar power panels.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October Bilad Oman is the largest structural steel 21 in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Péter fabrication company in the Sultanate of Oman Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade of and the most reputable in the GCC specializing Hungary, and Sheikha Amal Suhail Bahwan, Vice in the design, fabrication, and erection of PreChairperson, Suhail Bahwan Group Holding LLC. Engineered Buildings and structural steel works.

S

OMAN ON WEATHER ALERT AMID EFFECTS OF CYCLONE KYAAR

A

s per the reports of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), the tropical Cyclone Kyaar brought isolated rain over South Al Sharqiyah, Al Wusta, and Dhofar Governorates, and some coastal areas starting on Monday, October 28.

The rains were projected to intensify at the time of press throughout that same evening as the eye of the cyclone – which was 800 kms away out to sea on Monday afternoon – neared the Sultanate.

Wind speed at the eye was measured between 215 and 235 kph.

Oman Meteorology Tweeted on Monday: “The nearest convective cloud bands of the cyclone [are] around 640 kms from Oman coasts, where the

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cyclone direction is west/northwest with wind speed of about 115-125 knots around the centre.

This orbital state is classified as a tropical cyclone at category four.”

Conditions across the Arabian Sea were rough, with waves reaching between three and six metres high, while seas around the Sultanate, including the coast of Musandam, witnessed waves ranging from two to three metres high.

correspondence

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DEBATE OF THE WEEK

WE ASKED:

As the climate crisis continues, time is running out for collective action to reverse its effects on a global scale.

What steps would you like to see Oman take towards greater sustainability?

CHANTAL BLAKE

To adequately respond with the kind of urgency that the Global Climate Crisis demands, we will need an ‘all-handson-deck’ approach towards greater sustainability.

Internationally, government policies have the strongest effect in initiating sweeping changes.

When an entire nation is forced to comply to laws and policies around littering, using plastic, composting, incinerating trash, etc., the populace doesn’t need to fully understand why, but they’re compelled to obey or face fines (if they can be enforced). However, I personally believe the most lasting and transformative type of sustainability is rooted in individual change.

To amplify the work of individuals, organizations, and businesses who are making strides in ecofriendly practices, environmental clean-up, reducing meat consumption, etc., annual sustainability awards can recognize their work and award prizes to incentivize others to lower their carbon footprint and reduce waste. Lastly, the construction industry has great potential for making a significant environmental impact. By standardizing and modernizing earth construction as an alternative

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to concrete and steel construction, houses and buildings can additionally reap the benefits of remaining cooler in hot temperatures which lowers electricity consumption. To offset the cost of earth-building, solar panels, energysaving fixtures, etc., government subsidies can help to make these worthwhile investments more affordable for individual families.

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE

The following steps must be done by residents of Oman, along with the respective and authorities, in order to achieve greater sustainability. First, reduce household energy use by turning off appliances and lights when not in use and by installing energy-efficient appliances. Second, do away with disposables.

Many of our environmental health issues today stem from toxins released into the environment by trash. Even trash that’s properly disposed of – such as that in a landfill, requires careful monitoring to ensure that dangerous chemicals don’t enter the surrounding environment.

Third, plant seeds. Try growing your own food

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by simply planting a few seeds in a corner of your yard or in a container. You don’t need acres to grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Fourth, recycle as much as possible. Fifth, re-sell and donate items that you no longer need but which could have an extended life through resale and donation. By extending the life of any product, you help reduce dependence on disposable or cheaply made single-use products that end up in landfills. Sixth, drink from the tap. Dependence on bottled water has added more than a million tons of plastic to the waste stream every year. If you don’t like the flavour of your tap-water, consider a one-time investment in a filtration system. Seventh, save water. An easy way to live more sustainably is to conserve household water use. Consider installing water-efficient toilets or dual-flush toilets that let you choose whether to use full flush or half-flush.

Eight, rely less on your car. Using fossil fuels to support one person in each car on the road is clearly no longer sustainable. Use the bus system such as Mwasalat or carpool services for commuters instead. When traveling close to home, walk or ride your bicycle. Ninth, purchase fair-trade products. When you purchase items that are imported from all over the world, such as coffee, sugar, tea, chocolate, and fruit, look for the fair-trade certification. This designation tells you that these items were grown using sustainable methods of agriculture.

Finally, always remember the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – all of which can help to cut down on the amount of waste we throw away by conserving natural resources, landfill space, and energy.

New Debate:

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Centara Muscat Hotel. Vouchers must be collected from Y’s Seeb office in person. Only one winner per week; editor’s decision is final. For other terms and conditions, see the Centara Muscat Hotel voucher.

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YOUR

THE CUTTI N G EDGE

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MAZOON PRINTING, PUBLISHING & ADVERTISING UNVEILS ITS NEW STATEOF-THE-ART BOOK-BINDING PRINTING PRESS AT THEIR RECENT ‘PRINT IN ACTION’ OPEN DAY

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A HABITAT FOR HOPE OMAN IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE GCC WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. AS WE ASPIRE TOWARDS A SHIFT FOR A SAFER TOMORROW FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE DIVE INTO THE UNTOLD EFFORTS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COLLECTIVELY SHAPING THIS GOAL

“Y

ou have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. How dare you?”

These words by 16-yearold Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, USA, became the driving force of a great debate; one that focuses on climate change and, more importantly, sustainability.

It’s a simple word with significant meaning.

It describes the act of meeting the needs of the present without compromising on the needs of future generations – a task that would ensure safe and equal sustenance for all.

But our actions, as experts say, are far from sustainable. Whether it’s the petrol we fill our cars with or the products we bag up in plastic, our actions have long disproved our vision to 012

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The bio-degradable, recyclable, and compostable bags are an alternative that’s made from bamboo – and are 100 per cent eco-friendly.

“We care,” he says, in an interview with Y. “This company came to being because of my love for the environment. I grew up around farms, and it had such an impact on me.

“I just couldn’t watch the world progress in such a manner of not caring about how much plastic we dump into the oceans and seas.”

He’s right. An estimated 14 billion pounds make the world a safer place where we and all of trash – most of which is plastic – is dumped living beings can co-exist without a tussle for into the world’s oceans every year as reported by survival.

Sea Stewards, a media company specialising in A simple Google search for ‘plastics in the marine and underwater photography. ocean’ throws open a world of information on In 2012 alone, it was estimated that there was plastic islands – most infamous of which is the approximately 165 million tonnes of plastic Great Pacific garbage patch, which is an 80,000 pollution in the world’s oceans. One study also metric tonne floating body of plastics that now estimated that there are more than five trillion permanently takes up 700,000 sqm of surface area plastic pieces – classified into small micro-plastics, (roughly the size of Texas, USA). large micro-plastics, meso- and macro-plastics – Scratching the surface will also reveal afloat at sea currently. heartbreaking pictures of marine life suffocated to Moreover, in 2015, it was reported that 322 death by plastic or by other imperishables. million metric tonnes of plastic was produced All of this begs us to ask the question: do we globally. And the figure keeps growing; by 2050, really care about Mother Nature and all living it’s expected to be as much as four times higher. things it harbours?

Perhaps this is why entrepreneurs in Oman are One young Omani entrepreneur in the slowly moving towards recyclable alternatives to Sultanate may just have a solution. Husain plastic bags.

Mohammed Baomar sells bags, but they’re not Clinton Povo, 26, plastic. In fact, his product proudly reads: ‘I’m not [pictured right] is another plastic.’ entrepreneur based in the It’s hard to imagine what else it would be. His Sultanate who’s trying bags – named, Sain Bags – has a texture not far to make a move towards from plastic and just as much capacity. But, as he sustainability with his says, it’s as green as bags get. biodegradable bags, sipping straws, and recycled paper pencils named Respirar.

“There’s a problem – and we need to address it. And if it means taking a strong stance to make a difference, then so be it.”

I just couldn’t watch the world progress in such a manner of not caring about how much plastic we dump into the oceans and seas

What I would like to tell people is that in this time that we call the ‘plastic age’, we’re harming the environment with our actions, and we need to understand and discover mechanisms as to how we can avoid plastics.

While both Husain and Clinton make a difference with their products, the impact of their struggles extends beyond the borders of Oman. For instance, Husain’s biodegradable bags have been adopted by all GCC countries and Jordan. Some of his clients include the Petroleum Development of Oman (PDO), L’Oréal Paris, and Dufry, among many others.

It’s also worth noting that hotels such as Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa, and restaurants such as Wagamama have also ditched plastic straws in favour of either paper or metal ones that can be reused.

All of this further falls in-line with Muscat Municipality and Be’ah (Oman Environmental Services Holding Company)’s initiatives to eradicate the use of single-use plastics.

Meanwhile, Oman’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) had also issued a statement in 2018 saying: “The ministry is currently working to complete the regulation on the use of plastic bags to biodegradable ones to limit their hazards on the environment and human health, as well as the sustainability of the ecological system and biodiversity in coordination with other competent authorities.”

Sulaiman al Balushi, a diver and environmentalist based in Oman says that plastics have become a ‘permanent pollution’ to the world. He says: “Plastics can take up to 1,000 years to decompose and, even when they do, they emit harmful gases to the atmosphere.

“When compared with other Asian countries, Oman has done a fantastic job in keeping much of the plastics away from the seas. That’s an achievement. But yes, it still happens – and we must take a stand to avoid that.

“Dumping or littering with plastic is a crime and people know that.”

As per Omani law, those found littering can be fined up to RO1,000; but as per Sulaiman, not all forms of littering or polluting come with a fine.

He explains: “While plastic pollution hurts sustainable development, there are other forms that are recognised, and not much is being done on a global level to reduce that.

“One of the greatest forms of air pollution comes from the fumes from engines, and paint when it reacts with sunlight; and there’s water pollution from the micro-beads in face washes, deforestation, and other forms of pollution that hamper our move towards sustainability.”

Sulaiman’s statement is in-line with Greta’s speech at the UN. While plastic stands as one of the cancers of society, aspects such as air and water pollution are just as dangerous to ourselves and our resources.

A report filed by media company Wired in August of this year [2019], shed light on how diseases caused by pollution took as many as 9 million lives around the world in 2015 alone – marking nearly 16 per cent of all deaths worldwide.

It also told us of the $5 trillion USD loss the world incurred from healthcare and productivity losses arising from pollution. This forms a staggering six per cent of the global economic output.

Perhaps, that’s why Oman’s MECA is also taking a strong stand against air pollution. After receiving complaints from residents in Qurum of a strong odour earlier in September, the ministry conducted a thorough study to pinpoint that the cause of the pollution was, in fact, from shipping crude oil to offshore tankers and ‘emissions from some of the region’s oil establishments.’

In a statement to the media, the ministry wrote: “The ministry followed what has been circulated on social media on the issue of air pollution in the Qurum area, and we would like to confirm that the ministry tracked the issue closely to identify the causes of odours.”

It has since confirmed that it had agreed with the relevant authorities to find a treatment plan to ensure safety of the communities.

As it stands today, Wired found that more than 140,000 untested chemicals and pesticides have entered the environment since 1950. Pollution, as epidemiologists put forward today, is any foreign substance in air, water, or soil that can adversely affect human health.

This has led to the creation of Khimji Paints’ eco-friendly Royal Tuff Stain Resistant Emulsion and Deluxe Matt Emulsion. While it only focuses on one band of chemicals that we’re exposed to in our daily lives – paints – this Oman014

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made product boasts lowVOC (low volatile organic compounds) paint that’s ozone-friendly.

The lack of odour and VOC also means it’s a healthier alternative to regular paints for homes.

Following the lead of ministries and companies, now members of the community have also begun declaring their support for sustainability.

Media personality, Fahad al Abri, famed for his Instagram account, @ cavemangram – a page that focuses on healthy living by creating a balance between everything mental and physical – is among those in the Sultanate who has created a lasting impact on sustainability.

The Omani has also gone on to create a volunteering group with their sights set on green initiatives, Move Green. He’s also since created a song for nature, titled ‘Matloob lil Adaala’, which went viral in Oman, before spreading the message to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and even as far as Egypt.

Fahad’s Instagram page shows videos where community members clean up beaches across Oman while singing the song.

In an exclusive interview with Y, he says: “It’s the love for nature and outdoors, and the belief that I’m a part of the environment and that the environment is part of me, that’s led me to create this community.

“It’s volunteering work. People are putting their hearts in to it. The community forces you to create an individual spirit and team spirit to realise that we’re all together in this and that it’s our responsibility [to rid trash and plastic from beaches].

“What I would like to tell people is that in this time that we call the ‘plastic age’, we’re harming the environment with our actions, and we need to understand and discover mechanisms as to how we can avoid plastics.”

Fahad then goes on to explain how society has begun seeing the environment as a secondary mission, and how people think they’re above Mother Nature.

“I tell people to be civilised and to be a conscious part of the environment. And when you do that, you must be a part of the environment by practice and not by words alone. Be the influence and the change.”

Having merged his handstand initiative with his goal to protect nature, Fahad’s community is now over 1,000 people.

His motto is simple: “If earth connects me with a different stone or a planet, it can connect me with different people. Basically, everything around me is earth. And with my handstands, I’m standing on earth; not anything else.

“If we enforce our morals of saving our planet from the evils of pollution, then that’s the greatest gift we can give Mother Earth.” ■

Blind attraction SWATI BASU DAS HEADS DEEP INTO THE CAVERNS OF AL HOOTA CAVE TO GLIMPSE INTO THE DARK YET VIBRANTLY SENSORY WORLD OF ONE OF THE PLANET’S EVOLUTIONARY MARVELS – THE OMAN GARRA

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hat survives in the dark does so because its’ very being has adapted to thrive in ways we might find unfathomable. If this thought disturbs you, rightly so – as it plants a seed of doubt about our own fragility when faced with adverse conditions.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then adaptation is its by-product. Proof positive can be found deep in the subterranean waters of Al Hamra’s Al Hoota Cave, where an unassuming species of fish continues to validate Charles Darwin’s theory of ‘survival of the fittest’.

Adapted impeccably to its environment, this unique population of Oman garra – or ‘garra barreimiae’ is better known as the ‘Omani blind fish’. With its sightless eyes and striking loss of pigmentation, these almost translucent rayfinned fish have acclimated to the most extreme conditions of darkness over the centuries.

An endemic species in the Sultanate and parts of the UAE, it’s only here in Al Hoota Cave where an enclave of the species has transformed their very nature to their surroundings, making them an exceptional instance of evolution at play – with their altered traits circulated even among their off-spring.

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Two million-years-old, Al Hoota Cave has a fascinating ecosystem, and the blind fish found in the underground lake of this cave chamber are a distinctive natural wonder.

“The blind fish are found only in Oman in the entire region,” says Ibrahim Said Al Wahabi, Asset Manager, OMRAN. “A native to the underground lake of Al Hoota Cave, this species forms an important part of the cave ecosystem – apart from its fascinating rock formations. It’s nothing less than a marvel to a fish with no eyes. The lake is pitch black, and the fish have adapted themselves to such conditions. The cave was opened to tourists in 2006 and it has a unique ecosystem. The cave

is five kilometres long and has three entrances.

The lake in it is formed by flood water, and the blind fish dwelling in this water are a major tourist attraction, as they breed inside the lake.”

Lacking external eyes, their tightly fused eyelids resemble a milky blotch, and scientists believe that their blindness, altered pigmentation, and translucent scales developed over hundreds of years. It’s also believed that these blind cave fish are the same species of garra found in abundance in fresh falaj water.

Researchers believe that the same school of fish that once shoaled through the falaj creeks may have ended up trapped in the natural cistern of Al Hoota Cave.

source of light helps them recover their vision, but when we return them to the lake, they turn blind. Therefore, we ensure to keep the lake area unexposed to any harsh light and let the phenomenon of evolution continue.”

Stepping down the endless stairs to Al Hoota’s underground lake, it takes a minute or two for our own eyes to adapt to darkened conditions. It’s only after some time that we can see them, translucent arrows cutting through the pitch-black waters, survivors by choice, selected by nature. ■

“The species is similar to the one we see in the wadi stream,” explains Sergey Dobretsov, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology at Sultan Qaboos University. “Due to the flow of water, the fish might have entered the cave system through narrow crevices. Blindness doesn’t occur in a day or two, as the evolution takes several hundred years in the absence of sunlight. The lack of light not only makes them blind but in the process of transformation, they lose their pigmentation. Their scales shed all colour and become transparent.”

And thus, the evolutionary journey of the Omani blind cave fish begins in the unlit lakewater of Al Hoota Cave. With little choice but either to adapt to the blackness, or die, they have ingeniously allowed evolution to take away their sight – but not their life; ultimately helping them to survive.

“Over time, to save their energy in the dark, they avoided using certain body parts. In this case, it was their eyes,” says Dr. Dobretsov.

“Saving energy in the dark is the prime reason

behind the shutting the eyelids – and blindness is now the source of their energy. Although sightless, these cave fish can still sense danger and feel the obstacles around them.”

But the marvel of their existence lies in how species without vision, in complete darkness, sustain themselves. Yet these underground cave-dwellers are adept in the dark environment of the cave and nibble on whatever they encounter – having adapted skillfully in an atmosphere where there is no sufficient food source and the oxygen level is low.

To this, Dr. Dobretsov states: “They use their sensors, their nose, and even their scales to sense food around them. Food is scarce in a cave chamber, so they eat almost anything and everything that comes their way.”

A few blind fish on display in the museum at Al Hoota are said to regain their eyesight when exposed to light for several days.

“This transformation is natural,” says Abdul Rahman Maktoom Jaber Al Hinai, Maintenance Manager, Al Hoota Cave. “A

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017

Powered by

Presents

49

In Association with

As the Sultanate gears up to celebrate the 49th Oman National Day, Y Magazine is bringing the nation’s young talent together once again to paint their patriotism with the 6th annual Portrait By A Nation competition.

Y

’s Portrait By A Nation returns for its 6th annual competition alongside Presenting Sponsor Ahlibank in honour of the 49th Oman National Day on November 18. Powered by Mazoon Dairy and Asian Paints Berger, in Association with Mall of Muscat, Minara, OSCO Shapoorji Pallonji, Staedtler, and with Support Partners Nizwa Grand Mall, My City Centre Sur, Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah, and City Centre Sohar, young artists from schools across the Sultanate will come together to create a unique piece of art as a lasting tribute to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

One of the biggest events of the year in Oman, Y’s Portrait By A Nation saw an impressive number of more than 2,800 entries received from children ages 5-17 yearsold from Muscat, Nizwa, Sur, Sohar, and Salalah last year.

Children will receive a different sized canvas and a different portrait of His Majesty, across three age categories of competition: 5-9 years – Canvas size 20cm x 30cm 10-13 years – Canvas size 30cm x 40cm 14-17 years – Canvas size 40cm x 50cm Forty-nine (49) finalists will be selected from participants – 17 from the ages 5-9 category, and 16 each from the ages 10-13 and 14-17 age categories, with three winners chosen among them from each age category, for a chance to win prizes worth a total of RO2,550. Each winner will win a prize worth RO500 in each age category, while runners-up will win prizes valued at RO250 in each age category, and there will be RO100 for third place in each age category.

Championing the patriotic heart of the nation through the artistic expression of the young generation, Y’s Portrait By A Nation will be featured across all of SABCO Media’s platforms, including Y Magazine, Merge 104.8, Al Wisal, and Virgin Radio Oman 100.9 FM.

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Portrait by A Nation Milestones: On-ground competition The competition will be held on Friday, November 8 in Nizwa and Salalah, Saturday, November 9 in Sur and Sohar, and on Friday November 15 and Saturday, November 16 in Muscat as, over two days, hundreds of children create their own special pieces of art on the canvasses given to them with a pre-printed sketch of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. This initiative not only encourages talent but provides children with a platform to bring out their best artistic efforts while taking pride in their work.

Timings

Location Date/Day Nizwa Friday, Nov 8 Salalah Friday, Nov 8 Sohar Saturday, Nov 9 Sur Saturday, Nov 9

Time 1:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

Judging Panel Judging will take place on November 18, and the Y Portrait By A Nation judging panel will include sponsors, eminent local artists, and representatives of Team Y. The panel will select 16 winners from each age group for a total of 49 finalists.

Awards function Conducted in a 5-star venue, the Y Portrait By A Nation awards function will be held on November 25 and will see sponsors interacting with the 49 finalists from the three age categories.

The finalists, along with their families, will be invited to be awarded commendation certificates and prizes. The event will be followed by dinner.

Special Coverage in Y Magazine After the competition, there will be special coverage in Y Magazine’s issue on November 28 which will feature the works of the young artists along with their interviews, and those from sponsors and eminent local artists.

How To Register • Register online at https://www.y-oman.com/pban2019/ • Call (+968) 2442-6900.

• Or scan the QR Code right here Registration for participants in the interiors (Nizwa, Sohar, Sur & Salalah) closes November 2, 2019.

Registration for participants in the capital area of Muscat closes November 9, 2019.

OCT 31 - NOV 06 / ISSUE 591

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

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

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

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

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Muscat-4 (ITA) • Middle East College • Omantel • Waljat College of

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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

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Head Office Other Regions Barka • Al Nahda Spa and Resort • LuLu Hypermarket Nizwa • University of Nizwa Sohar • Centrepoint

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Celebrate Oman’s 49th National Day! Y Magazine is holding its annual painting competition “Portrait by a Nation” for children to create a unique piece of art.

PRESENTS

3 Age Categories 5 - 9 / 10 - 13 / 14 - 17 To register for the event visit:

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

D E S T I N AT I O N C a r s

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

Y- F i

Gaming

Destination

IBRI

Ancient castles and the remains of traditional villages spark a sense of time forgotten, close at hand – as Aftab H. Kola discovers.

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location is strategic – bisected by the highway linking the border town of Buraimi in the northwest with Nizwa in the southeast.

The region – endowed with a rich heritage and culture, has a number of archaeological findings worth exploring. The ancient tombs in Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist attraction.

Together, they represent one of the most complete and wellpreserved ensembles of settlements and necropolises from the third millennium BCE – though it’s the beehive tombs of Bat in Wadi Sharsah, approximately 24 kilometres east of Ibri that are the most unmistakable and wellrecognized, given their unique shape. Rising majestically against the backdrop of Jabal Misht, they’re a spectacular sight.

When visiting the town, Ibri Fort

in the development phase for tourism – so it’s best to venture forth with an experienced local guide here.

Another fascinating place worth viewing is the village of Al Munisifeh, located five kilometres from the main road near Ibri. Its ancient abodes made of mudbrick and stone – while mostly in ruins now, stand in stark contrast to the assorted modern dwellings of rest of the village. Here, the past truly meets the present.

The surrounding mountains around Ibri are known for their rich marble deposits with several veins to be found in the wilayat. Among the most abundant is Hawra mountain in nearby Hajeermat – its marble valued greatly for its high quality, while the town itself enjoys a rich harvest of horticultural crops, including dates, papaya, pineapple, laymoun (Omani lemon), and oranges.

Here in Ibri, an iconic history whispers from an abundant land waiting to be explored and for the modern traveller seeking a unique experience in Oman’s interior governorates, Ibri is as authentic as it comes.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

A

Bedouin stronghold and, once, an ancient caravan stopover, a visit to Ibri is to relive the bygone splendour of Oman’s frontier. And with the opening of the Oman-Saudi land border slated for next year, Ibri is sure to become a destination in its own right as travel between the two countries will be reduced – making this historic caravan hub where traders once sat astride their laden camels slated for further tourism development.

Meaning ‘crossing’ in Arabic, Ibri was a merchant junction where camel caravans would pass like ships of the desert. Wedged between the jagged peaks of Jabal Misht in the Al Gharbi mountains, and the huge expanse of the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al-Khali), Ibri is now witnessing a revival of sorts.

Located in Al Dhahirah Governorate, business opportunities abound in this sprawling town and its

is another must-see stopping point.

In its vicinity lies the Ibri Souq, with its mind-boggling array of wares and treasures that transport visitors back in time. While the Sulaif Fort – built in the 1600s by Al Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yarubi, its battlement ramparts hug the steep cliff on the southern edge of the eastern corridor of a green oasis.

For those who prefer rambles in nature to the confines of history, a detour to nearby Wadi Dhum can be easily accessed from Ibri and an afternoon exploring its rock canyon with its many chutes – all set amidst a backdrop of greenery –is time well-spent.

Equally enticing are the region’s stunning Kah Kittan caves – which house yellow nodular geological formations and rock formations.

Incredibly luminous, these limestone caves have earned the name ‘the marble caves’ for their gorgeous brilliance. But take note – these caves, unlike the well-maintained Al Hoota Caves, Kah Kittan is still

A two-and-a-half-hour drive from Muscat, take Route 1 from Seeb until you reach Barka and connect onto Route 13.

Continue onward until you see the signs to connect onto Route 11 near Al Misfah. Drive down Route 11 until you link up with Route 10 in Rustaq. Journey down Route 10 until it merges into Route 9 near Al Hayyal. Follow the signs for Ibri until you reach your destination.

GPS Coordinates: N23.2359° ; E56.4944°

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CARS ADVENTURES

CADILLAC XT5

FIRST DRIVE

T

eardrop-styled swooping headlights with LEDs, sharp character lines, and an appeasing fascia: the nuances between a classic Caddy from the 60s and a modern one, go beyond its design alone.

From a car tailored for the matured, to one that strikes a fine balance between comfort and sportiness, the ever-changing tale (and face) of Cadillac is one that’ll stand the test of time; much like the cars it put out in its heyday.

Whether modern Caddies are worthy of the museum-collectible tag is debatable, but one thing’s for sure – these cars have never been better. And connoisseurs of crossovers will tell you how the American giant has ditched its muddled identity (from the early 2000s) in favour of luxury to throw its competitors a fistful.

On that front alone, our tester – the Cadillac XT5 – joins a fray of modern luxury crossovers; mostly those from Europe. And, as it scraps the ‘SRX’ nameplate, it’s evident that the car is hard-set about chasing down its rivals.

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America’s best is back at its game with a crossover that blends traditional cues with a touch of technology to steal share in an ever-evolving, lucrative market

Highlighting said design is Cadillac’s new signature look: a tall stance that’s brought to life by accentuating teardrop-shaped headlamps and an ornamental chrome grille. Meanwhile, the all-time running LEDs are quite the spectacle at night, and the side profile, though tall, stays clean with short, sharp window cutouts that angle in to keep the design clean. Despite their initial appearance, the windows are wide and offer great visibility when on the road.

Our tester also came packing sizeable 19-inch chrome alloys that complemented the overall look of the car. Rounding off the design are the highcontrast-red tail-lamps that sit flush around the rather small rear windscreen. Our top-spec variant also had dual exhaust cutouts on the bumper – both chrome-wrapped in true American fashion.

The Caddy also ticks all the boxes when it comes to the interior. Leather-wrapped and tech-led, the cabin is undeniably youthful, even if it’ll take a bit to wrap our head around the plethora of complex light sensitive and soft-touch buttons that control

everything from the audio to the A/C. On the upside, it’s a clean cabin and the buttons relay the functions well. Accident presses are rare, and the tech’s a quick learn if you daily-drive the XT5. On the forefront of all the tech is an 8.2inch touchscreen. It’s a responsive unit running on Cadillac’s CUE system with fluid graphics and relatively quick page turnaround times.

Some other nifty safety tech features include a brilliant head-up display, Lane Keeping Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and a 360-degree bird’s-eye view camera – all of which are accessible with the push of a button. We also took a shine towards an Easter egg that many won’t notice – the A/C will power down to its lowest setting when you receive a call to cut down on the effects of wind noise. In all, the cabin is well thought-out and put-together, with high-quality, premium-feeling plastics flanking much of the dashboard and center console.

The XT5 stays true to its American roots with its spacious interior up front, and in the rear,

D e s t i n at i o n

Po s t c a r d s Fr o m

Y-Fi

Gaming

CARS

CADILLAC XT5 Specifications: • Engine: 3.6-litre V6 • Transmission: Eight-speed automatic • Horsepower: 310hp • Torque: 366Nm • Top speed: 220kph All-wheel drive Rear parking sensors Leatherette upholstery 360-degree camera Traction control Stability control Cadillac CUE infotainment system Lane Keeping Assist Rear Cross Traffic Alert 19-inch alloys Active fuel management system

complete with a dollop of handy features such as a large panoramic moon-roof with a large opening, tri-zone A/C, and USB ports to power up all your gadgets. Boot space is pegged at a generous 850 litres, which may only be an arm’s length from its European competitors, but it stays ahead of most rivals in its class.

On tap is 310hp and 366Nms of torque – all derived from a 3.6-litre V6 engine that can de-activate two cylinders to save fuel. The Cadillac claims 11.5km/l of fuel efficiency, making it one of the most efficient two-tonne SUVs out there today. The cylinder trickery is a piece of tech trickled down from its other GM counterparts, though it isn’t as intrusive as we’d expected, switching to ‘V4’ mode only when you lift off the throttle or are trundling

along the highway at speed.

Power is selectively put down by all four wheels through an eight-speed transmission. Kick-downs are speedy, though not as vigorous as, say, what you’ll find in the sedan – for obvious safety reasons. Still, pushing it into ‘Sport’ mode and poking it with a stick will reveal some quick-fire motion.

What the crossover trades off (marginally) in agility, it gains back in straight-line speed. On a good day, you can hit the early 100s in a mere seven seconds, while the engine comes to life with a raspy roar that’s best associated with American V6 engines (maybe a cue taken from the Chevy Camaro, which shares a re-tuned variant of the same engine in base form).

Cornering is a gentle affair, with traction and ESP controls kicking in early to keep the car steady in fast bends.

Understeer reveals itself if you push it too hard into corners, though body-roll creeps in only when you tussle irresponsibly with the steering – and not so much to irk passengers.

The car also makes use of a twin-clutch design in which

ON THE UPSIDE, THE RIDE IS AMONG THE SMOOTHEST WE’VE EXPERIENCED, THROWING SHADE AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER ‘SPORTIER’ GERMAN SUV WE’VE TESTED IN RECENT TIMES. BUMPS ARE ABSORBED WELL, AND ROAD NOISE IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM, TOO.

the AWD system can transfer up to 100 per cent of available torque to either the front or rear axle, and the electronically-controlled rear differential on the rear axle can direct up to 100 per cent of available torque to either wheel laterally.

On the upside, the ride is among the smoothest we’ve experienced, throwing shade at pretty much every other ‘sportier’ German SUV we’ve tested in recent times. Bumps are absorbed well, and road noise is kept to a minimum, too, with doubleglazed glass and Bose premium audio trickery.

The Cadillac XT5 has a lot going for it: from its quirky design and technology, to its dedicated drive and admirable performance. And even as competition breathes down its neck every so often, the crossover comes through as a well-rounded package that stands its own ground.

On the face of it, the XT5 is Cadillac’s party piece in a crossoverhugging era. Not only does it come through as a cruiser, it does so while swaddling its passengers in luxury, and in a way that only Cadillac knows how.

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CARS ADVENTURES

IN A NEW YORK MINUTE The Big Apple beckons – and there’s some incredible sights to be seen away from the usual tourist traps

1. Brave the crowds in Midtown to take in a Broadway show.

2. Pay your respects at the Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan’s Financial District.

3. Order the steamed crab dumplings at Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown.

4. Hit the boardwalk or ride the ferris wheel at Brooklyn’s Coney Island.

5. Get a dose of nature at Staten Island’s Silver Lake Park.

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Destination

Cars

Y-Fi

Gaming

POSTCARDS FROM

Ashlee Starratt recommends,

NEW YORK CITY, USA N

ew York. There’s not a lot to be said about the concrete jungle where dreams are made of that hasn’t already been written. But each time we’ve found ourselves wheels down in NYC, the city continues to surprise us with its ever-changing face and cast of characters.

It’s a metropolis that can overwhelm, entice, intrigue. It’s also a city that can sweep you up and toss you about. But for all its many moods, New York, inevitably, enthralls.

Start your Big Apple journey by managing your expectations right from the start - you can spend a lifetime in this city and still never see and do everything you’d hoped.

There will always be something new on the scene - so don’t even try to catch-up.

The best way to see New York is to pick a borough and download a handy app like CityMapper to help you navigate. Each of the five boroughs - Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island all have their unique personalities, heritage, and diverse neighbourhoods.

Some up-and-coming ones outside of Manhattan that are worth your time exploring are Brooklyn’s Bushwick area - filled with vintage shopping, hipster coffee shops, gorgeous art galleries, and colourful graffiti streetscapes that were almost made for Instagram.

Or spend an afternoon in one of the city’s largest melting pots - Jackson Heights, in the borough of Queens. With a cacophony of ethnic enclaves, its cultural quotient is high and foodies will want to flock to its ‘Himalayan Heights’ and ‘Little India’ areas for some seriously delicious culinary discoveries.

The Bronx has a long-standing reputation that’s been hard to shake as one of New York’s most dangerous boroughs given its high crime rate. But the Bronx shouldn’t be overlooked as a tourist destination - there are some truly incredible neighbourhoods that warrant the train ride over. Home to New York’s iconic Little Italy, it’s here you’ll find some truly world-class pizzas and so much more.

The Bronx is also home to more than a few New York City icons -including Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Botanical Gardens.

With its historic architecture and Insta-worthy views of the Manhattan cityscape across the Hudson, it’s a wonder more tourists don’t flock to the borough of Staten Island. Grab the Staten Island Ferry from the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and enjoy a free view of the Statue of Liberty along the way - minus the crowds of tourists and tour-boat prices.

Once on the island, make your way to Historic Richmond Town for a glimpse into 17thcentury Staten Island Life at this 100-acre living history village, wander the shoreline ramparts of Fort Wadsworth - guarding the entrance to New York Harbor, or explore the iconic Cass House - renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s only freestanding structure found in New York aside from the Guggenheim.

The takeaway? Avoid the NYC tourist traps of Manhattan - Times Square, Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty - all of which are hurry-up-and-wait hotspots with massive crowds. And while they are iconic Manhattan - they’re not what makes New York. Branch out to the outer boroughs and the city just might show you one of her faces you haven’t seen before.

PE R E S T A K IN G D U C K S H URANT W IN D O W A N G IN A IN C H IN ATOW

N

T H E V IE W T S E N J OY L OC A L G OA FO R T IS L A N D ’S OF S T A T E N TH W A D S W OR

My favourite place The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lovingly known as simply ‘the Met’, New York’s most prolific museum – nay, one of the world’s – stretches along the eastern edge of Manhattan’s Central Park and is a whopping two-million square feet. With over two million works of art, the Met welcomes five million visitors every year, taking them on a journey through 5,000 years of art. Its Medieval, Egyptian, and Contemporary Art wings are not to be missed – especially the jaw-dropping Temple of Dendur.

Highlights Escape from the urban jungle and wander the cool, shady paths of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens – or spend a day among the greenery, people-watching in Manhattan’s Central Park. Art fanatics can also explore the contemporary masterpieces at the Musuem of Modern Art, and foodies can go on a dim-sum bender in Chinatown – and then work off all those dumplings with a bit of Tai Chi in Columbus Park.

Lowlights New Yorkers are blunt to say the least and tend to have a prickly attitude towards tourists – so try not to stop in the middle of the sidewalk taking selfies. Also, pro-tip – taking taxis or Uber in New York is probably the slowest form of transport.

Invest in a MetroCard and use it often. Finally, wait-times at major attractions such as the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty can be a buzzkill. Your time’s better spent branching away from these places.

Souvenirs DKNY fragrances, Dean and Deluca coffee beans, an autographed New York Mets baseball, a New York Knicks basketball jersey, and a jar of Michael’s of Brooklyn pasta sauce.

Getting there Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Emirates all offer service to New York’s JFK Airport, with the latter two also offering service to Newark Liberty and La Guardia.

Where to stay New York is an Airbnb haven, so fill your boots. Or, download an app like HotelTonight to help you

STAR A D O R S O F T H E S IL N A MA VER S RKET C IN L IT T R E E N L E IT A LY

find those last-minute deals. Find all other luxury, budget, or boutique accommodation on Booking.com, Trivago, or Kayak.

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

D e s t i n at i o n

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

TRAVEL SMART Arrive at your destination fresh and recharged with these travel-smart

gadgets that deserve a place in your carry-on on that next long-haul flight SUN’S UP There’s nothing more annoying on a flight (aside from screaming babies or a line-up at the toilets) than having to save juice on your smartphone on an aircraft with no charging ports. The GreenLighting Solar Phone Charger rectifies that situation with a simple yet effective solution: the sun. The device comes with a 1W solar panel that can be attached to the flight’s window to absorb energy and recharge its internal 6,000mAh battery so it can boost your phone up when required.

It’s quite the performer too, with the makers claiming it clocks in one per cent of charge every minute. The device can be purchased from amazon.com with prices starting from RO16.5 (at the date of writing the article).

SLEEP TIGHT

RE-KINDLE

Sleeping on board a long-haul flight can be a tedious ordeal – especially if your plane is chasing daylight for some ten to 12 hours.

That’s where the illumy comes in handy: it’s a smart sleep mask that blocks out unwanted light, but also provides its own light to trigger your body’s natural responses to sleep. For instance, it uses a mild red-toned light to help you fall asleep, while making use of a bluer tone to wake you up gently.

These are effective responses that NASA uses on its astronauts at the space station. The gizmo also comes with a built-in alarm to help you manage your sleep better. It’s all yours for RO38.5 from soundoasis.com.

Re-kindle your love for books with an e-reader – and there’s nothing else out there to rival a fully-loaded Kindle Paperwhite. This modern take on reading can store anywhere between 2,000 and 8,000 books, making it the perfect gadget for the indecisive reader.

Its 6-inch back-lit 300ppi e-ink carta technology screen is crisp and sharp, while its Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities help you manage your books as you go along instead of having to rely on your computer to transfer files. Battery life is rated at some six weeks for a four-hour charge, which makes it the perfect travel companion on a mini-vacation. You can buy the 4GB variant of the device online from luluhypermarket.com for RO55.

SWITCH IT UP

EDITOR’S PICK

EVEN SHORT-HAUL INTERCONTINENTAL FLIGHTS (THINK OMAN TO INDIA FOR EXAMPLE) CAN BE A DRAG IF YOU AREN’T PACKING THE ESSENTIALS. THINGS CAN GET ESPECIALLY MIND-NUMBING IF THE FLIGHT ISN’T EQUIPPED WITH AN ENTERTAINMENT HUB. THAT’S WHERE THE NINTENDO SWITCH COMES IN HANDY. NOT ONLY DOES THIS GAMING CONSOLE TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR GAMING NEEDS, IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO STREAM MOVIES AND PLAY MUSIC. YOU’D HAVE TO SCOUR THE DEPTHS OF THE APP STORE TO DOWNLOAD THE NECESSARY APPS TO DO SO, BUT THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN VERSATILE GAMING DEVICE WHILE ON BOARD A 12-HOUR-LONG FLIGHT. ALSO, WITH BATTERY LIFE PEGGED AT 6.5 HOURS (AT BEST), YOU CAN HAVE IT COVER A GREAT LENGTH OF YOUR JOURNEY BEFORE YOU NEED TO RELY ON MORE (TERRIFYING) SOCIAL ASPECTS – LIKE MAKING SMALL TALK WITH THE PERSON IN THE SEAT NEXT TO YOU! JUST DON’T RAVE ON ABOUT THE 50-PACK GAMES YOU DOWNLOADED FOR YOUR SWITCH – NOBODY WILL FIND IT AMUSING. GET YOURS FOR RO130.9 FROM GEEKAY GAMES.

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HEALTH

&

Health

BEAUTY

Fa s h i o n

Home

Fa m i l y

Fall

FLUSH

From disco-inspired shades of shadow to customized Pantone hues for your hair, Mikaela Estera rounds up fall’s top beauty trends to try

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inter might be around the corner, but who says the change in season has to mark the onset of muted makeup or subdued shades? In fact –the top trends for fall are anything but dull and drab! Here are a few of our autumnal favourites to keep you shining bright and beautiful!

Twinkle in your eye

A good swish of shiny shadow is a gamechanger – pumping up your look and boosting your aura in just a few strokes. We’re obsessed with ColourPop’s Disco Lady Glitter Gel (RO3); it gives you that delicate shimmer that stands out – yet is still subtle enough so you won’t look like you’ve stepped out of 1992. The best part? There’s no need to apply any glitter glue to your skin with the product’s suspended adhesive formula. Order it online from www.colourpop.com.

mouse-y than cocoa rich? Enter L’Oréal’s Color & Co (RO 6.1 ), a new endeavour in hair colour that aims to revolutionise the industry – bespoke products that customize your perfect shade based on Pantones. Order online after a live video consultation with a L’Oréal colorist who mixes up your perfect Pantone-based shade in a long-lasting formula that won’t fade quickly.

To learn more visit www.colorandco.com. Fun fact: the Pantone Color of the Year 2019 is ‘Living Coral’.

Crowning touch

The humble headband is one of the most underrated accessories; it’s also one of the most effortless ways to change up your look. It comes in endless varieties of style, can be colour-coordinated, and can add heaps of femininity to even the shortest of cuts. We love the fuzzy fall vibes of this corduroy-velvet version from H&M (RO3.8) in a gorgeous dusty-rose shade!

Graphic content

Pantone perfect

Ladies –correct us if we’re wrong here. How many times have you shelled out big-bucks to have your hair professionally-coloured, only to leave the chair feeling less than stoked at how your highlights turned out brassier than intended, or your chocolate-hued tresses came off more

Make your peepers pop and jump on the season’s hottest runway trend – graphic eyes. Overly lined, extra smoky, winged, and bold cat’s-eye are just some of the variations to hit the Fall/Winter 2019 catwalks. And while it may not be a trend you’ve put much thought towards – it’s time to spice things up with a little extravagance. To get the look, we recommend a liquid liner with a precision applicator that’s fast-drying and waterproof. Case in point – Rimmel London Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner (RO2.9).

Available on Amazon. ■

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

AUTUMN’S BEST ACCESSORIES

From bows and blossoms, to cinched belts and anklets, accessorise with fall’s hottest cast of supporting characters, in trends you’ll want to sport all year-round – like this oversized boho hat and sleek pair of sunnies.

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Health

Beauty

FASHION

T t Ge

k o o L e h

, 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

2019’s flagship accessory for fall is an oversized tote in soft, quilted fabrics that will make you want to cozy-up to the season. This black all-purpose handbag from Zara will be your ultimate work and weekend errand carryall. Buy it for RO19.9.

Everything old is new again as our favourite middle-school hair accessory gets all-grown-up.

We love the 90s nod to scrunchiestyle fabric in this velvety version from Forever 21 along with its crimson fall hue!

Snag it for RO1.9.

Our feet are so often forgotten when it comes to accessorizing.

Thankfully, in yet another retro revival, anklets are once again in vogue for fall. We love the delicate gold chain and pops of colour on this moon anklet from Claire’s. Get it for just RO3.9.

Hats are hip for fall. Not only do they keep you warm, they keep you looking good too. Opt for a classic style that makes a statement all its own – like the raspberry beret from Debenhams. Don it for RO6.9.

Keep warm in the season’s coziest accessory – the humble, yet everso-versatile scarf. Vintage prints are where it’s at and this lightweight paisley print one from Matalan is bursting with autumnal colour. Get it for RO3.9.

Maybe it’s the cooler weather that makes us nostalgic come fall, as designers are having a field day bringing back the 80s in this season’s accessories edit with bold shapes, patterns – and, yes, even glitter. We’re obsessed with these chunky pair of square gold statement earrings from Aldo Accessories. Wear them for RO3.8.

Pair comfort with the season’s most beguiling trend in footwear – embellished shoes. These pair of sneakers from Aldo are as eyecatching as shimmer on snow with their silvery sequined detailing.

Make them yours for RO34.6.

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New Restaurant

Reviews

BOO-BITES

YUMMY

Halloween is the one time of year when sugar practically becomes its own food group. How scary is that?!

Sweet and scary This Halloween, leave aside the saccharine store-bought candy in favour of some tasty homemade trick-or-treats that will be as fast to disappear as they are to make!

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Mummy Truffles in a small bowl. Use toothpicks to dip each truffle ball into the white chocolate, being sure to coat all sides. Gently shake off excess chocolate. Place chocolate-covered truffle balls on a baking sheet or plate lined with Ingredients: wax paper, parchment paper, or foil. § 1 ½ cups gingersnap cookie Chill for three to five minutes until crumbs chocolate hardens. § ¼ cup canned pumpkin purée § Drizzle more white chocolate over the § 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs truffles. Soak the end of a cotton bud § 3 Tbsp powdered sugar in red food colouring. Dab two dots of § ¼ tsp ground cinnamon food colouring to make the mummy § 1/8 teaspoon salt eyes. Handle carefully so you don’t § 3 ounces cream cheese, softened accidentally wipe off the eyes. Store § ½ cup white chocolate chips chilled in airtight container. § white chocolate chips or white (Source: www.cremedelacrumb.com) dipping chocolate § red food colouring Spend more time practicing your Monster Mash this Halloween than in the kitchen whipping up a storm, with these no-bake bites that are as simple (and delicious) as they come!

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or foodies who mark their calendars for October 31 at the beginning of January – we feel you. Waiting in anticipation for the one day of the year where consuming as much sugar as humanly possible is considered socially acceptable is nothing to be embarrassed about. (Though it’s certainly not healthy…)

Remember the days when hitting the trick-or-treating motherlode as a child was getting a homemade piece of fudge or hand-dipped candy apple from your elderly neighbour who loved to bake?

Now, Halloween has grown over the last half-century to become a commercialized consumer-grab worldwide, with manufacturers pumping out those miniature chocolate bars by the millions. And while it’s okay to indulge – everything in moderation as they say – the additives, chemicals, food colourings, and artificial flavours and preservatives that come with them can make the crash not worth the high of a sugar-rush.

Instead, whether you’re taking your little ones trick-or-treating, or throwing a costume party at home with friends, try out these easy recipes for Halloween treats that are both spooky and scrumptious:

Pumpkin Popcorn Balls Colourful, crunchy, and sweet, these are the perfect Halloween treat to make with the kids – and can be prepared with ingredients you most likely already have in your cupboard!

§ Microwave the whole thing for 30 seconds more.

(Or longer if you prefer it crispy instead of gooey.) § Then, have the kids form them into balls. (Use plastic bags with a little non-stick spray on them Ingredients: as gloves for the kids.) § ½ cup butter § 1 3oz box orange-flavoured Jello § Add Tootsie Roll minis for the stems and shape your green § ¼ cup corn syrup candy for the leaf. Be sure to § ¼ tsp baking soda press the stem in while the § 12 cups popped popcorn popcorn ball is still warm and § Tootsie Roll mini candies pliable. § Green candies (Starburst, green apple Tootsie Rolls, Airheads, or (Source: www.somewhatsimple.com) Laffy Taffy) Method: § In a microwavable bowl, melt ½ cup of butter. § Stir in Jello and corn syrup. § Microwave again until it reaches a full boil (try one minute. then more if needed). Stir again. § Mix in baking soda and stir for two to three minutes. § Mix in popcorn until evenly coated.

Method: § In a large bowl combine gingersnap crumbs, pumpkin purée, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cream cheese. Mix until smooth. Melt ½ cup white chocolate chips and mix into truffle mixture. § Cover and chill until dough is solid enough to roll into balls – about one hour in the fridge or 30 minutes in the freezer. When cold enough, roll mixture into 12-14 balls. Place a toothpick in each ball. § Melt remaining white chocolate chips or white dipping chocolate

Haunted Pizza In search of a savoury option § Meanwhile, thinly slice eight that’s more treat than trick? We olive halves lengthwise into love the creative simplicity of four to make 32 legs for the spider giving this universal comfort (each spider has eight). Dice two more food a cleverly spooky twist. olive halves to make eyes for the Ooey, gooey, and booey! mozzarella ghosts. § Spread the tomato passata over the Ingredients: base, allowing a one-centimetre border. § 200ml tomato passata Top with the beef salami and arrange § 1 Tbsp olive oil the torn mozzarella in ghost shapes § 1 pack pizza-base mix, 145g (with room to spread). Position the § 4 beef salami slices, cut into remaining olives, cut side down, and bat shapes arrange four spidery legs on either side. § 7 pitted black olives, halved § Cook the pizza for 15-18 minutes, until § 125g ball of mozzarella, torn bubbling and golden. Remove from the into pieces oven and leave to cool for one minute, before adding the reserved olive eyes Method: to each melted mozzarella ghost. Serve § Preheat the oven to gas immediately. mark 7, 220° Celsius, fan (Source: www.realfood.tesco.com) 200° Celsius. Put the tomato passata and olive oil in a pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes, or until thickened. § Empty the pizza-base mix into a bowl and stir in 100ml warm water. Mix to a soft dough, then tip out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for five minutes, or until smooth. Roll out the dough to roughly 24cm in diameter. Transfer to a large, greased baking sheet and turn up the edge of the base for a crust. Leave to stand in a warm place for ten minutes.

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FOOD DRINK

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New Restaurant

REVIEWS

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an id-R

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Info Box

MANI’S CAFE First floor, Jawaharat Al Shatti Complex, Qurum Opening hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Contact: (+968) 9813-2155 Breakfast for three: RO32

Verdict : 5/10 SERVICE 9/10 FOOD 9/10 AMBIENCE

Delightful dishes and an equally pleasant ambience marred by sub-par service during peak customer hours

MANI’S CAFÉ TEAM Y SAMPLES A HEALTHY, WHOLESOME BREAKFAST SPOT THAT MAY JUST BE WORTH WAKING UP EARLY FOR ON YOUR WEEKEND

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

Our friend proclaims her eggs ‘perfect’, with the Hollandaise sauce not overpowering the eggs with its stodginess as she polishes off her meal. It’s the perfect mate to the smoked salmon placed on a bed Rounding it all off is a French press coffee, here’s nothing that pleases us more of fresh avocadoes. chocolate milkshake, and their signature drinks than a healthy, hearty breakfast. The Last on the menu is our two-slice club – which first bite of the day brings with it more – a glass of the Detox and Flu Fighter fresh juice arrives after yet another delay when our waite health benefits that we have excuses for skipping blends.

The coffee arrives in 10 minutes, while the drinks brings the wrong order to our table. With just the it. come five more minutes after. Roasted to perfection, right crunch to the bread, the sandwich – which is That being said – nothing could stop us our Americano strikes the perfect balance between filled to the brim with beef bacon and fried eggs this weekend. Buckled up and ready to head and garnished with tomatoes and lettuce – hits all bitterness and smokiness. It goes down easy, and to Mani’s Café in Shatti al Qurum just as the we laud the floral aura of the in-house blend. One the right notes. Overwhelming in size, it doesn’t clock struck eight, we – the writer and two of take long to have us full and waving our hands for press is good enough for two glasses. his mates –arrived at the Jawaharat Al Shatti the bill… but not before we give their notorious Our chocolate milkshake is nothing remarkable, Complex.

It’s a hard find if you’re new to the area – but but it’s the Detox and Flu Fighter juices that put on chocolate cake a go.

The cake (mercifully) arrives quickly, with much of a show. head up the escalator to the first floor of the the restaurant already cleared up by now. Standing Blended with fresh strawberries, watermelon, tired complex and you’ll inevitably stumble upon tall and held in place by a thick layer of dark coco and orange, the Detox is a delight to down; going Mani’s Café.

The only buzzing corner on the floor, the café down easy with just the right kick of tanginess from cream, the sponge is a mere mirage in this otherwise chocolatey dessert. the berries and orange, and a welcome dial-down has a nice vibe to it. Think a Provençal aura Diving into sin without any haste, we uncover from the melon. Our Flu Fighter mocktail is a with its white marble tables, high ceiling, and airy stained-glass windows, that lend an illusion mélange of blueberry, apple, strawberry, raspberry, the truth behind its reputation – it’s one of the best cakes we’ve had in recent memory, second only to and lemongrass – all blended to perfection to of space in the otherwise small and cramped the one we’ve sampled at Qibara restaurant in Seeb present a deep acidic flavour – but with an almost eatery – though, that doesn’t irk its customers. and, possibly, those luscious cakes we’ve gorged on at camouflaged hint of lemongrass as the only drawHit their social pages and you’ll find raving the Cake Gallery. back. reviews of the branch. Some even deem it Call it the perfect end to an almost picture-perfect Our wait after the first round of drinks is among the best breakfast spots in the country. breakfast. In spite of the inordinately long wait agonising; and it’s a full 45 minutes before we’re That’s high praise for a simple eatery, we think. time for our meal, we’ve still relished our time at served our first dish. And with a full-house of There’s nothing simple about the menu, however. Printed on ‘eco-friendly’ paper, there’s customers breathing down the waiters’ necks – and Mani’s Café, with the perfect seaside ambience we’d some even raising their concerns over the wait – we expect from an eatery in Shatti alongside food that’s just about everything you’d expect from a prepped with careful attention to detail. realise the kitchen could be understaffed. breakfast café; eggs Benedict, croque madame, The potential to become one of the top breakfast It’s an unfortunate turn of events hampering an grain bowls, and the like. cafés in Muscat is embedded deep in its roots. And Having worked up quite the appetite, we order otherwise lovely setting. Thankfully, that doesn’t one thing’s for sure: it’ll get there – eventually. ■ extend to the dishes themselves. a portion of the eggs Benedict with Norwegian First to make an appearance are the spicy Turkish smoked salmon and avocado, a croque madame, Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see poached eggs. A lip-smacking dish with a dash of a Mani’s two-slice club, and a plate of spicy reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com. spicy sour cream sauce prepped in-house, it serves Turkish poached eggs to share. up just the right piquancy expected, and we enjoy its mix of flavours thoroughly – from the runny yolks to the spicy sauce.

Next to arrive is the writer’s Croque Madame.

Toasted to perfection with a hint of Parmesan cheese, the whole-wheat bread was stuffed with crispy beef bacon and topped-up with two freshly prepared poached eggs doused in Béchamel sauce.

It’s nothing short of a masterpiece, with enough crunch in the bread and bacon to carry the runny consistency of the eggs and Béchamel sauce well.

While savouring its relish, we’re presented with our eggs Benedict.

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Take a minute.

Take a break.

Take charge.

Choose 100% cows’ milk produced in your home country and take a break the Omani way.

Make your teatime special with some local goodness and taste.

You’ve got it.

Now in-store. /MazoonDairy

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