Y Magazine #458, February 16, 2017 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

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HEALTH GUIDE ASK

THE

EXPERT

What is eczema? Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation (dermatitis) including atopic dermatitis (most common), contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, etc. People with eczema often have a family history of eczema or other allergic conditions, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis or hay fever. Eczema is not contagious but is a recurrent phenomenon. It generally aggravates in cold climate. What are the causes of eczema? A defective skin barrier function combined with an abnormal function of the immune system, are believed to be important factors. There is also a genetic basis to it. Some forms of eczema can be triggered by substances that come in contact with skin, such as soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry, or sweat. Environmental allergens, changes in temperature or humidity, or even psychological stress, can lead to exacerbation of eczema. What are the symptoms & signs of eczema? Eczema most commonly causes itchy dry, reddened skin, scaly, sometimes blistering & oozing lesions. Repeated scratching may lead to thickened, crusty skin. In children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles, whereas in infants, it occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. How is eczema diagnosed? To diagnose eczema, a thorough history physical examination of the skin as well as the patient's account of the history of the condition. There is no laboratory or blood tests that can be used to establish the diagnosis of eczema. What is the treatment for eczema & measures for preventing it? Emollients & topical corticosteroids form the mainstay of treatment. Your doctor decides the line of treatment for you. Some remedies to reduce the severity of eczema includes: avoid precipitating factor (if any) , refrain from scratching, moisturize your skin well, wear cool cotton clothing & avoid over- bathing. There is no cure for eczema, you can take steps to reduce symptoms & lessen severity of recurrence.

Dr. Dhwani Shah, Senior Dermatologist M.B.B.S , D.V.D Aster Al Raffah Hospital, Ghubra ASTER AL RAFFAH HOSPITAL Al Ghobra Roundabout, PO Box: 1262, PC : 133, Gubrah, Sultanate of Oman. Tel : +968 24618900/1/2/3/4 | Fax : +968 24497210 www.asteroman.com

EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

Fast forward

belated Happy Valentine’s Day to all! Love is definitely in the air this week and with Y’s We Are Soulmates competition being held tomorrow evening (February 17) at Markaz Al Bahja Mall, we will finally get to meet Muscat’s most perfectly matched couples! With prizes totalling RO1,500, we are sure that the tensions will be high as our 10 finalists go head-to-head in a series of compatibility questions that will test their knowledge of each other. It’s promising to be a fun evening and we’d love for you to come by and check it out yourself – we have a surprise up our sleeves and it involves the audience! Meanwhile, in our cover story this week, we head to a camel beauty contest and meet the desert beauties of Barka and beyond, while we remain on the lookout for talented college students to enter our Y’s Got Talent competition. Elsewhere, we head to Huqum in Destination, take the Hyundai Santa Fe for a spin in First Drive and check out some fun gadgets in Y-Fi. Have a great week and we are looking forward to meeting many of you at Y We Are Soulmates!

editor@y-oman.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi MANAGING EDITOR Felicity Glover

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi REPORTER Alvin Thomas DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

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Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

contents FEB

Your Oman

2017

16 Competition Y’s Got Talent

08 Voice Of Oman Ibrahim Gailani

18 This Week One Star House Party

10 News Mwasalat unveils taxi branding 12 News New Muscat Airport set to open later this year 14 Faces Of Oman

22 Doyennes of the Desert We meet Oman’s most beautiful camels 26 Rich pickings Annual seafood treats

This Week

06 Coffee With Y Malvika Asher

Features

28 Love is in the Air Y’s We Are Soulmates

21 Movies The Salesman

15 Hyundai – Driven To Success Abdul Karim al Balushi

Cars and Adventures

Food and Drink 3o Food Feature Sweet beets 33 Taste Test OMNY Brasserie

40 Destination Huqum 42 Postcard From Dresden, Germany

Health and Beauty

44 Y-Fi Objects of desire

34 Fashion Retro flair

46 First Drive Hyundai Santa Fe

36 Beauty Combatting sunspots 37 Health Pearly whites

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

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2017 / 18

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AGS is a Bri�sh Interna�onal Preparatory and Senior School priding itself on the warmth of its welcome to pupils and parents from around the world. The mul�-na�onal community represented at AGS by children and their families, helps to create a learning environment which fosters a global understanding and apprecia�on for diversity and each other. We are proud of our pupil’s high academic standards, and encourage them to achieve their best in all aspects of the curriculum. Academics are supported by a strong expressive arts specialist programme which is further fostered by our extensive extracurricular ac�vi�es, encouraging pupils to expand and explore their talents. Essen�al values of caring, self-discipline, respect, humour, a love of learning and a sense of discovery are embedded in AGS life. These a�ributes are vitally important to a child’s overall personal and social development needed in today’s ever-changing global society. T: +968 24423952 | E: registrar@agsmuscat.com

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ka Ash

Malvi

Alvin Thomas meets a youn g digital artist who got a gig with Google and has presented her work to Bob Marley’s son

ost of you reading this “At that time I didn’t heed it too I did not know anything about her, probably already know seriously,” laughs Malvika, who goe then s on chances are that many oth Malvika Asher, or would ers wou to tell ldn’ me t that she only began pursuing either. have at least viewed one of her wor So, I took this as an opportunity ks art full time when she cam e back to in recent times. Don’t believe me to learn about her and, in the pro when Muscat in 2014. cess, I say that? Neither did I until I saw also reach out to many people and tell one “I was unemployed for seven mo of her illustrations in person. nths them of the stor y of Savitribai Phule. after my return to Oman,” she exp And according to her friends who lains. So, armed with Adobe Illustrator, But Ma lvik a didn ’t lose hope and phoned me up to pitch Malvika’s Photoshop and her WACOM tabl used the tim e to her et, ben efit. In just a portfolio – without her knowledge she began sketching various mood – as few days, she launched her Facebook a surprise to her for her birthday, boards and experimenting with colo the page (Malvika Asher), to create a urs. young digital artist has not only bee brand n “I described her life [which has bar nam e for her self. ely featured in Oman, but also on an any content published online] in “I started putting up really simple seven international level. stages: I began with her birth, whi works at the beginning to test the ch So, without any further ado, I waters and I illustrated with very vibrant colours; see how things are,” she says. decided to set up an interview. And as luck may have it, Malvika’s then I portrayed an image of Sav Our meeting point is a coffee out itribai let page took off with flying colo Phu le’s husband [Jyotirao Phule] urs – at the central business district area in literally! Her art works are more Muscat. And after we sit down with avant- teaching her, with cold and dark colours our garde than traditional, and are mostly overlooking a bright lamp [they were orange juices (nope, Malvika doe sn’t saturated with beautiful neon colo drink coffee either), we settle dow urs married when she was only nine]; third n to that portray a very vibrant was of her setting up her school; image – chat. fourth highlighting her bold imagination was an image of her receiving praise Malvika is a very outgoing and and love of colour. from the British government for her friendly and I discover that we hav e In the span of 18 months, the selfworks; fifth was of the orphanage numerous mutual friends. she taught artist received more than 4,70 “I have lived all my life here in 0 had set up, and how she was central to followers. Today, however, she focu Oman,” chuckles Malvika, who ses it; sixth was of her lighting the funeral on other platforms such as Instagr also tells me that she completed her am. pyre of her husband – something that This newfound traction also attracte was education at the Indian School Al not heard of at that time; and d Wadi a big following. “I believe it is luck Al Kabir, before moving on to do finally there was an image celebra a ting alongside the hard work that I do, course in mass media from a univ her legacy, where she is seen protect ersity which has brought me succ ing ess, ” she in Mumbai. a young girl. says. “Ever since I can remember, I She points out: “If you share The artist has personally presented wanted to become a journalist. I som ething of social relevance, it has was her works to celebrities such as Kri also a member of the editorial boa stian to be heard on a pub rd lic platform. And Nai rn, aka Hodor in Game of Thrones and a badge holder in my school. , we are currently at But Badshah, one of India’s top a time where we rappers, after graduating from school, I real do have to voice our opinions in ord ised and more recently, Bob Ma er rley’s son that there is much more to journali to make a difference. And that’s why sm Ky-Mani Marley. than meets the eye. So, I decided I believe that these paintings are to Malvika’s works first travelled of do a general course in media and imp ortance. ove rsea s whe n an inte rna tion al advertising. “I had a colleague at work, Navnee magazine published her illustration t, But even then, Malvika says she she comes from a very difficult of the late sing er Prince in May hadn’t completely come into term s background and has seen a lot of 2016. Following that, in Novemb with her passion for art until she er, was pain, and it is she who inspires me she rece ived her grea test acc olad 18. And she only began her love e in affair – a chance to work with sear my works towards empowerment chwith art in 2014, when she received of engine giant Google for its women women, or anybody who is in nee an illustration project from an Ind d of ian empowerment project. hav ing a voice in our society. multi-national company. “I was allocated the great Savitrib Malvika’s work received top spot “My project with the client didn’t ai Phule, who was a social reformer whe n it was published as a Google pan out. But one day, I received a and very poet who played a role in imp doodle earlier this year. roving nice personal email from the client, women’s rights in India during Brit who pointed out that I had a spec ish ial rule Have you got a unique story to tell or do . you talent for illustration and that I had someone who has? Contact us to have coffe know to “I was not very awa re e with Y of her continue pursuing it. and be featured in Y Magazin achievements then, but I realised that if Email: editor@y-oman.com e.

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

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THE VOICE OF OMAN IBRAHIM GAILANI ON POLITICISING ART ON THE WORLD STAGE

olitics and art have always overlapped, from as early as Michelangelo’s work in the Vatican, which was commissioned to depict the Catholic church’s views, to the 1930s when Diego Rivera’s mural The History of Mexico recalled the Mexican Revolution. The 1943 iconic image of Rosie the Riveter by the US artist Norman Rockwell will forever be etched in pop art history to recall the role of women during WWII. Today, it seems that some artists, masquerading as activists, have left behind all semblance of taste and gone for the shockingly vulgar. Two examples of artists to have played this card are Brett Murray and Joshua Monroe. Murray painted an unflattering portrait of the South African president Jacob Zuma in 2012, while last year Monroe presented an uncomplimentary sculpture of the then US presidential candidate Donald Trump. The result was a field day on social media: instant notoriety, an outcry by loyalists of both political figures and a very dark stain on the arts. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t authentic artists making a political point without compromising on taste. Last year at Art Berlin, the chilling installation of thousands of used life jackets of 14,000 refugees, by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, was probably the most powerful statement of the plight of the refugee crisis facing the world today. Hence, it begs the question: how far do we entertain this departure of taste by artists playing the political card? Do we exercise their worst fear – ignorance – on social networks? My recommendation is a resounding “yes”.

NEXT WEEK: ALVIN THOMAS 08

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

correspondence A GREAT FESTIVAL Dear Editor, I would like to express my sincere joy in seeing the Muscat Festival in Amerat. Honestly, it was the first time I had seen it at Amerat Park, which was better than Naseem Gardens. I was in a sad mood upon approaching. I began to notice the organised, spacious parking. As we entered, we noticed the Lights and Fire performance of the Russians, I presumed. My mood changed, and thank God for such delights of happiness. We roamed and enjoyed every piece of entertainment, food and bargains. It was like home. To my great surprise at the Heritage area, I saw the locals selling street food, which were really well-organised, and included traditional bread. It definitely reminded me of my youth. I was overjoyed to see local businesses sell garments, Omani products and other stuff being supported and recognised by local government. This should empower local industries towards striving for and maintaining

DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: The cost of petrol is at an all-time high, but there have been calls to fix the price of fuel annually rather than monthly. Do you agree that this is the way forward? SYED BOKHARI

Well, to fix fuel prices annually rather than monthly seems very unfair or stupid, as no

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a market share. I think they should be given subsidies or free rent in malls, supermarkets and strategic business areas to retain Omani traditions and make them available on the market for us all to enjoy. Traditions must keep up with the fast pace of business market strategies. More power to small local industries, I say. Sincerely, Jesus Cruz Estandarte Muscat country has done so although Oman’s main income is from this product. However, one cannot dictate terms with the global oil prices that keep on fluctuating every now and then and one has to keep an eye on them and fix their country’s oil price accordingly. It would be far better to fix them monthly bearing in mind the low- paid and poor classes who have left their families behind to solve their problems. So I think the oil and regulatory authorities should spare a thought about the poor and low-paid who already are living from hand-tomouth.

AWAIS KHAN

The fuel price should be capped at a price that is affordable for everyone. The monthly rise in the cost of fuel disturbs the planning of an individual as well as that of the business owner. Therefore, the idea

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of fixing the price annually would be great. People would comprehend the change and would get used to it. Many who complain about high fuel prices drive around in V8s.

NIKHIL RAINA

An increase in fuel prices would also extend to food prices and other everyday things. This would have a severe impact on poor/middle-class people because needy households spend more than half of their income on food and only a tenth on fuel. It is a chain reaction that, once started, would affect us all. An increase in the price of petrol would increase transportation costs, an increase in transportation costs would cause a rise in the price of goods, and this rise in the price of goods would gradually force people to tighten their belts even more. And so, a chain reaction would be the result. These ups and downs push more people into complicated situations and lead to even more pathetic conditions than those currently being endured by many people. The possibility of such a move has obviously sent shock waves to the common man who is trying hard to make both ends meet. Price hikes tend to hit the low-waged or fixed salaried middle class families more than others.

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of such a decision could be that people would know that the price is not going to be changed for a year and can plan their monthly bills accordingly. However, gauging decisive factors such as an unstable oil market, ever-fluctuating oil prices, etc would make it challenging to arrive at the price to be fixed for a year.

KAMAL GANATRA

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The process of revising the fuel price structure will also involve some reform of the administrative mechanism. Careful consideration will need to be given to the administrative costs as the process will require close tracking of international prices, collection of data, calculating the averages and passing on the information to retailers. The time period over which the reference price is averaged is an important aspect that needs to be carefully considered. In the context of volatile movements in international prices it may be wise to take a moving average of actual prices spread over a reasonably longer period of a few months.

USHA DEVI SUDDAPALLI

MUHAMMAD JEREMIE AND MUHAMMAD SYAMIL WERE

I do not agree to the calls to fix the fuel price annually, as no country can practically adhere to such a move, for several reasons. With Brent Crude prices that are globally dictated, paid in US$ with a varying production strategy; fixing prices annually is ill-conceived. Besides, every country, especially The Sultanate, has a plan dictated by the quantum of crude produced from month to month. Oman’s major income is from this output and so, at most, it can fix prices on month-to-month basis. As far as compensating poorer sections of society, fixing prices annually may not offer any panacea. Instead the government should consider other options such as subsidies.

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MOHAMMED SHAHIL

Yes, I do agree with it because when prices of petrol are fixed monthly then there are constant fluctuations in price. The economy will undergo change every month, which can be erratic over short periods. If there is a monthly fixing of price then this will affect prices of transportation and food etc. Apart from this, people would see a frequent change in their salaries. Entrepreneurs would also be adversely affected as they would have to change their techniques of productions, policy and principles of management and also the mode of transport very often because of it. Laterally, the government financial condition would become affected as there would be changes in people’s income. In conclusion, the price of petrol should be fixed annually and not monthly to avoid frequent changes in the economy.

MOHAN ANANDAN

The call to fix the price of fuel annually is ostensibly to help “vulnerable sections of society”. While their needs must be taken notice of, what mechanism is in place to reach the targeted segment and how it could be accomplished are not clear at this stage. The only positive aspect

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FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

YOUR

OMAN

NEWS

MWASALAT REVEALS BRAND IDENTITY FOR TAXI SERVICE

STRICT T

FINES

FOR STOPPING AT NOPARKING ZONES

otorists who break the law by stopping their cars in no-parking zones will now face strict fines from Royal Oman Police (ROP), with officers carrying out random spot-checks across various locations in an effort to catch offenders and reduce congestion. The ROP has also warned drivers to avoid parking on yellow-striped lines or near chevron signs, failing which a fine ranging from RO35 to RO50 will be levied on the offender. Previously, the ROP noted that many drivers thought that they weren’t in the wrong for using these zones for waiting and other purposes. In some cases, the cars were parked in no-parking zones in front of small grocery stores or restaurants. “Stopping by the yellow striped lined areas even for a short period and drivers remaining seated inside is against the law, and will be fined,” an ROP official was quoted as telling the Oman Observer. “In such cases, the person driving the vehicle should find a parking place close by,” he added. Of late, many motorists have also been fined for parking their vehicles on yellow checkered lines.

010

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

he dream of having metered taxis to travel around the capital is one step closer to reality as Mwasalat, Oman’s national transport company, this week revealed its new brand identity for its taxi service. The brand identity of the new taxis is red and white, while Mwasalat also said it wanted to hire 400 drivers for the new service. Speaking to media at the UITP Mena Seminar and Assembly, Ahmed Ali al Balushi, the chief executive of Mwasalat said: “Our next step is to contract these drivers [owners of taxis] and the service will be mostly from the airport and malls. “We will apply the same theme on their vehicles, train them and conduct medical check-ups to see that they are medically fit to become taxi drivers,” he added. The metered taxi service is expected to commence in the near future, although the official dates haven’t been revealed yet. But according to Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim al Futaisi, the Minister of Transport and Communications, the company expects services to commence after the Ministry announces its regulations on the service. Mwasalat is also developing an application that will include a booking service to further improve the efficiency of the taxis. This will be made available towards the end of the third quarter of this year. “Passengers can use the application for using the service and it is similar to Uber,” al Balushi stated. The company also revealed plans to increase the frequency of its bus service across the capital. To aid the cause, Mwasalat will be purchasing 118 new buses to operate on

eight new routes. “We have already tendered for 118 buses and it is in the final stages. Hopefully, the award will take place before the end of the month or early next month,” al Balushi said, adding that the buses would arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. “Once the new fleet arrives, we will be operating eight new routes. Also, we will enhance the frequency of bus services in existing routes,” he said. Mwasalat is aiming to acquire 350 new buses, in an estimated US$300 million investment, in the next three to five years, while it forecast that it would carry five million passengers this year alone with its existing fleet. “We started with 5,000 passenger per day and today, we are carrying 12,000 passengers a day. We need to create the demand,” the Mwasalat chief was quoted as saying. “Mwasalat is the youngest and technologically advanced bus network in the entire GCC after we introduced our new buses in 2015,” said Ken Jackson, Mwasalat’s engineering manager, in an interview with Y last week. “We are also achieving immense engineering efficiency with our buses, which is five to 10 per cent higher than any other transport operator in the GCC,” he added.

TOUR OF OMAN KICKS OFF IN GRAND STYLE

he competition is fierce and the stakes are high, with some of the world’s top cyclists vying for pole position at the eighth edition of the Tour of Oman, which started on Tuesday (February 14). This year’s competition will see144 cyclists competing over a challenging 885 kilometre course – which includes steep mountain climbs. The starting point for the event was at Al Sawadi beach, and the cyclists will be covering the race across six competitive stages. In the first stage, the riders covered a total of 176.5kms that ended at Naseem Garden. The riders then proceeded to take the twisty routes through Mussanah, Muladdah and Misfah. They will finally move on to Al Rustaq, Wadi Bani Awf, and then loop back through Nakhal, Al Taww and Halban to reach the finish line. The Chairman of Muscat Municipality, Mohsin bin Mohammed bin Ali al Shaikh, said: “Year after year, since it first started in 2010, the Tour of Oman has grown to become a major race in the Middle East and a pivotal event where competitors go head-to-head to

grab a prestigious win.” Tour committee member Salim bin Mubarak al Hasani was also quoted as saying that the level of competition this year was at an all-time high, with previous stage winners of the Tour of France and Tour of Spain among some of the star cyclists competing in this year’s race. The Tour of Oman will come to a close on the Sunday (February 19).

NEWS

YOUR

MUSCAT AIRPORT TO OPEN END OF 2017 TWITTER STOUSH W

OMAN

Oman Air has confirmed it will take legal action against a fake Twitter account to protect its reputation, according to local media reports. “Any information or communiation coming from the account @omanairline is unauthorised and should be disregarded,” Oman Air said in a statement. “ Followers and valued guests have been informed that @omanair is the airline’s only official account.

POULTRY BAN The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) has extended its ban on poultry imports to include Greece, Italy, Uganda, Kuwait and the state of Gujarat in India after more reports of the highly contagious H5N8 bird flu virus. The extension follows the MoAF’s ban in December and January of imports from 10 European countries, as well as Japan and three states in India.

ork on the new Muscat International Airport terminal building is almost complete and will be operational by the end of this year, the Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed earlier this week. Speaking to local media, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, the Minister of Transport and Communications, said: “The new airport is 96 per cent complete and we expect to operate the terminal by the end of this year.” Dr Mohammed bin Nasser bin Ali al Zaabi, the chief executive of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), also confirmed that the majority of airport ground work was nearly complete. “The tower, fuel ramp and other ground work is nearing full completion,” he was quoted as saying by local media. “At the moment, operational tests are being conducted to ensure efficiency. As for the airport, as His Excellency said, it is 96 per cent complete.” The new Muscat International Airport aims to cater to 12 million passengers annually when it commences operations. However, the RO1.85 billion project has suffered a series of delays and setbacks that have delayed the airport’s opening by up to two years. The new airport has also been built to accommodate heavy aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380. The airport’s four-kilometre long and 75-metre wide runway opened in 2014. The complex includes three piers with eight to 10 gate lounges in each, which

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP T H R O U G H Y O U R E Y E S A new report has found that Omani women represent 30 per cent of senior management roles at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), making it a leader in female leadership roles in the workplace in the GCC. The study, by The Pearl Initiative, said changing perceptions of women in leadership roles was a key issue many employers faced in the GCC.

will be connected to passenger boarding bridges. There will also be 82 ROP check-in counters, 118 airline check-in counters, a number of e-gates, 40 aerobridges and 29 boarding gates.

The new Muscat International Airport will have: • Total capacity of passengers on opening: 12 million annually • Total capacity after development of other stages: 48 million annually • A passenger terminal area of 580,000 square metres • 118 booths for passport check-in • 82 counters for travel related procedures run by Royal Oman Police (ROP). • Retail space of 12,000 square metres • Restaurants and dining lounges • Two big aircraft gates dedicated for planes like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 • 10 luggage belts capable of handling more than 5,200 bags per hour • Lounges for first and business class passengers • Tourism information booth

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OIL PRODUCTION DOWN

Oil production in the Sultanate continued to drop in January, with 29.9 million barrels produced. The fall comes after the decision by oil producing countries to cut back on production in an effort to boost the price of crude in the wake of record low prices in 2016. 012

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

The golden, undulating dunes of Wahiba Sands provided a picturesque backdrop for Erwen HB, who used a Casio Exilim digital camera (in Art Mode) to capture this shot.

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PHOTO: Erwen HB

NEW TAXIS

GALLERY

MWASALAT LAUNCHED THE BRAND IDENTITY FOR ITS NEW TAXI SERVICE AT THE SEVENTH EDITION OF THE UITP MENA SEMINAR & ASSEMBLY ON MONDAY. THE EVENT WAS HOSTED BY THE OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY, KNOWN AS MWASALAT, AT THE NEW OMAN CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE (OCEC), UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS. THE COMPANY ALSO REVEALED ITS NEW TAXIS AND GAVE VISITORS A PEEK INTO THE FUTURE PLANS FOR TRANSPORTATION IN THE SULTANATE.

Tacos & Margaritas

Spend the evening by the poolside at Al Bustan Palace and enjoy a night of all-you-can-eat tacos and a variety of margaritas at BLU Bar. Every Saturday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. OMR 11 per person, including unlimited tacos (veg, chicken, beef) and three kinds of margaritas. Information: 2476 4000 or email boxoffice.albustan@ritzcarlton.com.

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

013

aces of

Oman

Welcome to Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly photo series that profiles the diverse characters who call the Sultanate home Name: Ania Delia Gonzalez Age: 25 From: Cuba Occupation: Musician/music teacher Passion: Music and the oboe

Photo: Shaquel al Balushi

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FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

DRIVEN TO

SUCCESS

After finishing school in 1997, Abdul Karim al Balushi went to work for Group 4 Securitas, a sub-contractor for Halliburton. In 2002, he worked for the parent company itself before moving into the hospitality industry. In 2004, he joined Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel as a telephone operator and now works as their senior sales manager first goal, and I am currently striving to achieve my next goal.

Q: What drives you to success? I believe that one of the most important keys towards attaining success is having the right kind of leader to guide you in your path. He or she can not only motivate you to keep moving forward but also inspire you to achieve goals that you set for yourself. In my case, I would also like to commend my family for pushing and encouraging me to attain success.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? I would strive to achieve the position of directing the department of sales and marketing. However, if I work hard enough, I know that I can be the general manager of the hotel.

Q: Who or what has been your inspiration in your career? I don’t think I have a role model as such. However, I have received a lot of motivation from my seniors and other colleagues. One person who has always stood by my side and persuaded me to set my goals and priorities in the right direction is my friend, Issam al Jamali, who is a hardworking man himself – and I have learned a lot from him over the years. Q: What is your biggest career success to date? I think working in His Majesty’s palace as the senior sales manager is something I take a lot of pride in. Without a doubt, that has to be my greatest success to date.

Q: What are your career goals? Everybody has goals in life. For me, I set two targets in mind when I started with the sales division: in the short term, I wanted to run sales and marketing and in the long term it is to run the hotel. Thankfully, I have already attained my

Q: What do you like about the Genesis? I think that the Genesis is a beautiful car with a lot of grace and elegance. It rides extremely smoothly on the highways and, therefore, I believe that this will be a car that is perfect for long journeys. The technology that has been fitted to this car is also something that I really grew to enjoy – and the kind of interior space and the technology makes the Genesis one of the best sedans in the market in my opinion. I would definitely recommend this car to my friends and family members, and I cannot even think of one aspect where the Genesis falls short.

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Calling all college students: have you got what it takes to enter Y’s Got Talent and claim your share of RO4,500 worth of prizes?

’s Got Talent Season 2 is back, bigger and better than before – and with a new name to boot. That’s right, Y’s Coolest Fresher has been renamed and also expanded to include first, second and third-year college students. And no matter what your talent is, we want to hear from you. Whether you are a singer, a dancer, a musician, a poet, a juggler or even a freestyle footballer, you could find yourself appearing in our college campus auditions and heading to the Grand Finale in April. Presented by Nestle, powered by Renault, and in association with VLCC, The Sultan Centre and Pizza Muscat, Y’s Got Talent aims to find the most talented university students the city has to offer and reward them with exciting prizes. In the audition phase, which will be held during March, our talent-hunting MC and panel of judges will scour each of the participating colleges to assess applicants, based on their two minutes in the spotlight. Once the votes are in, one boy and

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one girl from each college will go forward to the Grand Finale and compete against winners from the other colleges taking part. Whoever is named Mr Talented and Ms Talented from each college audition will receive each RO150 worth of vouchers for their efforts, as well as the chance to win even more in the finale. The winners of each college audition will then face off against each other for the glory of being crowned Mr and Ms Talented, as well as the opportunity to lay their hands on a cash prize of RO250 each plus RO200 worth of vouchers! Registration for Y’s Got Talent opens later this month – and Y Magazine will be keeping you up to date with the participating colleges (see the current list on the next page) as well as when you can start registering via our website or on campus. But in the meantime, you’ll need to start practising your routines! Good luck!

PARTICIPATING COLLEGES • Waljat College of Applied Sciences • Middle East College • Caledonian College • Oman Tourism College • Scientific College of Design • International College of Engineering and Management

• National Hospitality Institute • College of Banking and Financial Studies • Modern College of Business and Finance • Oman College of Management and Technology • GUTech • Bayan College

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THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

BEACH PARTY

FEB

Head to Muscat Hills Resort for its second beach club party of the year. This time, it features DJ Juliet Sikora on the decks. Spinning her favourite Deep House, House and Tech House tunes, it’s sure to be a night of good vibes and music. Ladies enter free while guys pay RO8. The fun kicks off at 2pm and ends at midnight. For details, search for Muscat Hills Resort on Facebook.

SNAP HAPPY

FEB 21

Are you a budding photojournalist? Then this is the course for you! Award-winning Greek photojournalist Maro Kouri is holding a six-day workshop in Muscat in conjunction with the Photographic Society of Oman (PSO), from February 21 to February 27. Participants will travel around Muscat and beyond and will also get hands-on experience in photo editing and writing. For more information, email marokouri2@gmail.com.

FEB

THIS

WEEK

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

F E B R U A R Y Kids will love Igudesman & Joo: And Now Mozart – a hilarious show by two talented men who met at Yehudi Menuhin’s school for gifted young musicians at the age of 12. Now adults, Aleksey Igudesman and Hyungki Joo are thrilling audiences worldwide with their theatrical performances on violin and piano as they aim to make classical music accessible to everybody. Igudesman and Joo can play their instruments upside down and backwards while talking, singing and dancing; creating a wonderfully rich and inspirational form of entertainment. A mustsee for families. The show starts at 4pm. For bookings and details, go to www.rohmuscat. org.om.

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Thrilling beats

Gallery

Movies

One Star House Party, led by celebrity chef James Sharman, is a unique concept that will see a team of chefs travel to 20 countries over 20 months to set up 20 pop-up restaurants. Oman is the sixth country on the chefsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; global quest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; after Beijing, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Nepal (Base Camp Everest) and Mumbai. Now in Muscat, the team will be hosting their One Star House Party on the beach at Al Bustan Palace, a RitzCarlton Hotel, where they will be creating a unique dining experience for just 35 guests per night for seven days. For bookings, go to www. onestarhouseparty.com.

FEB

17-23

Star of the Week

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Top

❶ Hong Kong, China

cities with the most skyscrapers ❷ New York City, USA

Number of skyscrapers: 310

Number of skyscrapers: 238

❸

Dubai, UAE

Number of skyscrapers: 149

❺ Chicago, USA Number of skyscrapers: 116

❹ Shanghai, China Number of skyscrapers: 127 020

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Source: www.statista.com

MOVIES MOVIES FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO: City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net VOX Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.com Star Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

Fences

The Salesman A salesman’s lot is not always a happy one. The hapless Willy Loman found the going too tough in Death of a Salesman, and the play has never been the most uplifting of dramas. Rana Etesami (Taraneh Alidoosti) and her husband Emad (Shahab Hosseini) are a respectable, middle-class couple in Tehran simply getting on with their day-to-day lives. Both are ardent members of their local am-dram group and have taken the starring roles in Arthur Miller’s classic play. When Emad takes the role of the beleaguered Willy Loman and Rana, his long-suffering wife Linda; they find their roles resonate and typify some of the nascent dissatisfaction in their own lives. While Emad works as a teacher, Rana is a housewife harbouring thoughts of starting a family. After they are forced to flee their flat due to a construction calamity with the block next door, the cracks in the ceiling

WIN CHANCE TO R U O Y B A R G TS EMA TICKE IN C Y IT C R FOU

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION Who plays Emad in The Salesman? LAST WEEK'S WINNER Siyad Azeez

are nothing compared to those that are soon going to afflict their relationship. On taking the keys to their new place, the couple find out its previous resident was a lady of the night. When an incident related to her comes to their door, their lives are turned upside down. In this gripping film, the couple’s travails are juxtaposed to the proceedings unfolding in the Miller play they are performing in. While Emad wonders why Willy Loman can’t protect or provide for his wife and family, he rather forgets about his own shortcomings. What unfolds is an examination of frustration, desperation, anger and retribution. Director Asghar Farhadi’s film won two prizes at Cannes (Best Actor; Best Screenplay) this year and has been Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Review by Kevin McIndoe

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN, just answer a question based on the week’s cinema reviews and send your answer to info@y-oman.com, along with your name and contact information. Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions, see voucher. Contact: Movie enquiries 2460 7360

Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) missed the boat when the baseball leagues of 1950s America started admitting black athletes. The bin man’s bitterness spills over to his relationship with his wife Rose (Viola Davis) and his family. When his son gets the chance to meet a top football scout, he puts the mockers on it; a decision that doesn’t exactly lend itself to family harmony.

There are soon plenty of repressed emotions, rows and recrimination to go around. Some highly charged scenes ensue, and there’s no mawkish mediocrity on show in this. With two such powerhouse actors such as these you’d expect a treat. And you get it, as Washington and Davis really deliver.

Gold Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey) is a not-very-likeable gold prospector. He’s also a washed-up company director with a cash-flow problem and an ever-decreasing circle of contacts to pitch to. When he gets wind of a possible money-making venture in Indonesia, he is more than up for it. After teaming up with Michael (Edgar Ramirez) whose expertise with copper has garnered him a fervent local following, it looks like his luck could change. Not much glitters in this, though. It can’t make up its mind whether it’s an action adventure with something to say about the American Dream or simply an enjoyable romp with no pretensions whatsoever. For McConaughey fans only.

Long View BEAUTY AND THE BEAST When the feisty, young and aptly named Belle (Emma Watson) is taken captive by a Beast (Dan Evans) in his castle, she is forced to make the best of it. By making friends with his servants, she learns that it’s what inside that matters. It’s pretty brave of Disney to revisit this classic fairy tale given the standing of its barnstorming 1991 effort (the only cartoon ever to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture). However, this could even surpass it, even though moviegoers might find Watson’s occasionally simpering performance a bit hard-going at times. Still, there’s another session of well-choreographed crockery to look forward to. And this is a really ugly beast. Oman release date: March 16

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DOYENNES DESERT OF THE

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Age cannot wither them. The camels’ status may have faded in the modern age but their value to their owners is as enduring as ever, not to mention their beauty. Alvin Thomas reports

he dusty roads that lead you to the outskirts of Barka may hardly qualify as a path to the grounds of a beauty pageant. But then again, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill supermodels with perfect skin and slender figures. These are the dwellers of the desert and today, they’re here to do just one thing: impress the judges. Without further ado, the gates are thrown wide open for the six beautiful doe-eyed contestants who will be taking part in this round of the beauty pageant – better known around town as the Muzayna. By now the crowd goes ballistic, shouting cheers and praises for their favourite four-legged lovelies. The camels, however, have nothing on the crowd that has gathered around the “maidhaan” (grounds), as they lightly canter before the judges almost in perfect sync with each other, and in tune to the loud traditional Arabic music that is blaring out from the voluminous speakers. The tension, however, is very visible in the eyes of the camel owners and the trainers. After all, more than a year of training and preparation has gone into each of these camels. This anxiety is also a testament to the strong bond that exists between the owners and their “doyennes of the desert”. Camel beauty contests have long been a part of traditional Bedouin festivals that have been held across various parts of the Arabian Peninsula. The beauty competition, which comes under the “Annual Festival of the National Camel Race Programme” is only a part of the entire festival. Historically, however, Bedouins were known to pit their camels against one another to compete in front of a judging panel of camel experts in a bid to see who owned the prettiest camel. Much of the excitement and enthusiasm remains the same today. As a matter of fact, people have come in from as far as Salalah and Buraimi to compete with their camels in today’s competition. By now, the music has faded out and the announcer takes control of the microphone, asking the owners and trainers multiple questions about the camel, as well as giving the evincing audience details of the six camels that have now taken centre stage. The camels – mostly females – are all sporting silver accessories and hump embellishments. However, “originality and natural beauty” are the qualities that the judges will look for in the camels. And according to Qaiser Salem, from the Royal Camel Corps (RCC), the organiser of the annual event, there are more stringent rules to follow if an individual wants to enrol his camel in the beauty pageant. “The parameters that we set are designed to make the competition as fair as possible for everyone,” explains Qaiser.

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Furthermore, we have set age limits for each of the beauty contest. So the participating camel must fall within that age group if it wants to enter the competition grounds

“Our intentions are to keep the camel as natural as we possibly can. We will not allow any form of hybrid breeds in the competitions. We will also check to see if there are any forms of fur-dyeing and tattooing on the camel’s body. “Furthermore, we have set age limits for each of the beauty contest. So the participating camel must fall within that age group if it wants to enter the competition grounds,” he tells Y. The ages of camels are verified by checking the teeth. The age of the camels can be estimated by the number of teeth and the wear on them. For example, a camel that is 11 years old will have worn out central and second incisors. Moreover, there will also be a separation between the second and third incisor. Qaiser goes on to explain that the camels have to be pure-bred and Omani. Both male and female camels can participate but the owners are made to swear under oath of the authenticity of their camel’s origins.

“If you ask any Omani, he or she will tell you how much they love camels. The reason for that is camels have been with us and our ancestors for centuries. I believe that it is because of them that we were able to traverse the deserts and the treacherous lands centuries ago,” Qaiser says. The judging criteria is fairly complex. Once the camel meets all the aforementioned, the judges then crack open their scoresheets to pin-point each and every feature of the camel. A well-propotioned body and face, a huge hump, a long gharib (the distance between the hump and neck), a long body, firm ears, broad cheeks, straight neck, long and slender legs and a long body are a few features that the judges look for in a camel before rating it. Even the size of its toe clefts are taken into account. Qaiser adds that the bigger the camel, the more the chances it has of winning. Apart from that, body strength and a good posture are also factors, which will affect the camel’s chances

If you ask any Omani, he or she will tell you how much they love camels. The reason for that is camels have been with us and our ancestors for centuries. I believe that it is because of them that we were able to traverse the deserts and the treacherous lands centuries ago 024

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of climbing onto the winner’s podium. But Fahd, a camel owner and aficionado who is a spectator in today’s competition says: “The colour of the camel is extremely important.” Qaiser clarifies by saying: “One thing the judges look for in a camel is the colour. In Oman, camels usually come in a very light shade. It is because the shade of the camel changes according to the weather and change in the climate. “During the summer months, the coats of the camels become lighter. It is a natural process, and the camel does this to feel cooler during the summer months,” explains Qaiser. But one judge tells Y his list of most desirable attributes in a camel: “The size of the bones, the foot, the height of the camel and the neck is what I look at.” It doesn’t take us long to realise that it’s a job he takes seriously, as he looks at another camel – his last tally for the day. By now, the other judges have also drawn up the final scores and are walking up to the stage to announce the winners. The music is back on and is in full-blast. This time around, even the announcer jumps in to cheer with the crowds, creating an almost festival-like atmosphere. A few of the youngsters have also started dancing to the tunes. But as soon as the judges begin tallying up their final scores, the crowd goes quiet in anticipation of the winner’s announcement. Without much ado, the judges announce that the winner of this round of the beauty pageant is a camel named Farhat al Khaleej – making this her seventh victory in beauty pageants. Her owner, who hails from Khaboura, soon receives the keys to a spanking-new Toyota pick-up truck – the prize for the winner. Participants are also allowed to sell their camels to the public. The winning camel with the highest bid was “Tasira”, which was sold for a whopping RO15,000. “Camels that take part in beauty contests usually go around this price bracket. And a

number of participants are also keeping a keen eye on these camels as a number of them are interested to purchase camels. However, most of them prefer going for race-bred camels,” says Qaiser. “A race-bred camel can go for anywhere between RO100,000 and 300,000, which is more than many cars of today,” he says, adding that these prices are still reasonable when compared with the cost of camels from Saudi Arabia. In 2013, Nasser al Hajri, a wealthy Saudi oil contractor and devoted collector of animals, reportedly paid a record USD2.5 million (RO960,000) for a beautiful four-year-old camel called Gaooda. Qaiser also tells us that more than 70 camels were registered in the camel beauty competition and that the prestigious six-day contest is divided into six different age categories. There will also be camel racing, milking and performance-based competitions, which are expected to conclude by March. Abdullah, the owner of three camels and a participant in the beauty competition says: “Today, we all drive SUVs. We do not require the services of the camel anymore. And for me that is wrong because I saw my father ride a camel when

I was a little boy. If there was no camel, there was no trip to the market, and there would be no food for us that night. “So when people ask me why I spend so much money on them, I tell them that these are not just animals but rather a part of our culture. “They were our lifeline. And it is my duty to preserve and glorify the ancient Arabian culture of herding camels,” he says. Qaiser, who has also helped to translate much of my interviews, goes on to say: “The Annual Festival of the National Camel Race Programme is organised so that Omanis can showcase their love for the animal. “And as we progress towards a modern future, we must keep in mind our roots. And our roots can be attributed to this beautiful mammal.”

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BEACH TREATS A day out at the beach provides some extra pickings for the family table, as well as an insight into our culinary heritage, find Shaquel al Balushi and Alvin Thomas

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t’s an average Sunday morning for everyone in and around Muscat and it’s time to head back to work after the weekend. But for those staying around Seeb Beach, today’s more than just a work day. It’s a day to scour the beach for delicious ma’awanneh shells. Numerous families and friends have gathered on the beach armed with plastic bags and buckets, all with the aim of finding as many ma’awanneh shells as they can. Today, it’s a clear case of finders keepers as children and adults alike scramble over the wet sand as the tide makes its retreat. Most of those out at the beach today are working in groups to make their harvest more efficient. After all, this is an annual occurrence, and there’s no clear answer as to when this will happen again. Jamaal al Amry is out with his friends and son and daughter. Together, they have collected nearly a hundred shells and are on their way to store their catch safely in their SUV. “As people who live by the beach, we always keep our eye out for this phenomenon. A few years back, the ma’awanneh shells stopped washing onto the shore, and we thought that it had ended. But then it started happening again in 2013,” says Jamaal. “Ever since that we have been lucky.” The ma’awanneh shells usually wash onto the shores of Oman during the winter months, and mostly in the aftermath of strong winds. But the locals say that it is a combination of the rain, cool conditions and wind that usually bring these shells to the shores. According to Rashid, the shells are placed into boiling water before being seasoned with salt, lemon and spices or simply garnished in gravy and then served with rice. The mollusc within the shells are said to taste like squid. Rashid, a young Omani, and his friends say that they hit the beach as soon as they heard about the phenomenon. “We have been here since 9am. One of my friends has also cancelled work for today,” laughs Rashid. “Our bags are all full, and we have another three bags in my Jeep. This should be enough to last us a whole week. My family will be happy. People don’t usually sell the ma’awanneh shells in the market but we do share them with our neighbours. It’s something we have learnt from our past generations.”

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Presents

WIN A SHARE O F PRIZES WORTH RO 1,500!

S E T A M L U O S E R A E “Y” W

d a e h o t d a e h g n i o g e b l l i w o h w s e l p u o c We reveal the 10 e r A e W Y r u o n i 0 0 5 , 1 O R h t r o w s e z to win a share of pri Soulmates competition

Associate Sponsors

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OUR 10 FINALISTS

Sarah A. Mohamedein Tabassum Sadik Mohamed Abdelmaguid Mahmoud Amogh Karvekar manwara begum

Sunil Seth Amogh Karvekar Mary Jane Ledesma Sanjeev Vyas Winkle Banga

e may have celebrated the day of love two days ago, but our very own Valentine’s Day contest is heating up, with the live final of “Y We Are Soulmates” being held tomorrow evening (February 17). We’ve whittled down dozens of entries from couples who think they’ve got the love factor and can lay claim to being the most well-matched pair in the country. Now we have the super 10 who have impressed enough to book their place in the showdown and take a step closer to claiming a share of amazing prizes totalling RO1,500. These special couples have already proved that romance is still alive and well in their relationships by telling us in 50 words or less who their soulmate is and why, but a harder challenge is to come. Presented by Mitsubishi Motors and in association with Markaz Al Bahja Mall and Golden Tulip See Hotel, “Y We Are Soulmates” will see the 10 doting partners go head-to-head to test how well they know each other at our grand finale tomorrow. Our finalists will answer a series of questions about their spouses in a compatibility test like no other. Adding to the pressure will be a live crowd watching their every move.

The stakes are high. The winning couple will receive RO750 worth of prizes, with the two runners-up winning RO500 and RO250 worth of rewards. In our first three seasons, we found some amazingly well-matched couples, and this year looks to be raising the bar even higher. “Congratulations to the 10 couples who made the final of ‘Y We Are Soulmates’!” says Felicity Glover, Y’s Managing Editor. “We are very much looking forward to our live event on Friday and hope they are ready for some tough questions as we search for Oman’s best-matched couple. Good luck!” Why not come along and feel the love by cheering on our 10 couples in the live finale at Markaz Al Bahja Mall on Friday from 6pm. Love is in the air and we’ll see you there!

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FOOD AND DRINK

SWEET BEETS

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just save them for the salad; beets are a versatile ingredient that pack a nutritious punch of flavour.

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Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews

BEET PETITE This little purple vegetable is full of flavour and packed with nutrients for any dish you want to rustle up

pice things up this season with some uniquely delicious recipe options that are perfect for any meal occasion. Quick Sausage and German Potato Salad can be on the lunch or dinner table in 20 minutes, thanks to pre-cooked sausages and a can of heat-and-eat READ German Potato Salad. Sides are easy, too. If roasted vegetables are more your style, try

Thyme-Scented Roasted Vegetables and Beets Servings: 4 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes

sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat. § Roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Add garlic to Ingredients: § 1 jar (450g) Aunt Nellie’s Whole vegetables and toss well. Return to the oven and Pickled Beets, drained and continue roasting for halved 15 minutes or until the § 225g baby carrots vegetables are tender and § 1 medium onion, cut through to lightly browned. the core into 1cm wedges Note: 1 tablespoon of chopped, § 225g shallots, peeled and fresh thyme may be substituted halved if large for dried thyme leaves. § 1 tbsp olive oil § 1 tsp dried thyme leaves § 1/2 tsp salt § 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper § 1 clove of garlic, minced Heat oven to 200C.

Method: § Line a 38cm-by-25cm jelly roll pan with aluminium foil. Add the beets, carrots, onion and shallots. Drizzle with oil;

Thyme-Scented Roasted Vegetables, accented with sweet, tangy pickled beets. For more seasonal recipes featuring beets, visit AuntNellies.com and READsalads.com. * Family Features

Quick Sausage and German Potato Salad the sausages; continue cooking for five minutes until browned and heated through, turning occasionally. Remove Ingredients: the sausages from the pan. § 2 tsp olive or vegetable oil § Add the potato salad and § 1 medium-red or yellow onion, the black pepper to the pan. cut into 1cm thick wedges Stir to combine with the § 1 cup chopped red bell pepper onion mixture. Return the § 340g pre-cooked smoked sausages to the pan and cook chicken or turkey sausage links for 2-3 minutes until heated 400g can READ German Potato through. Sprinkle with Salad parsley, if desired. § 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper chopped parsley (optional) Servings: 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes

Method: § In a large frying pan, heat the oil over a medium heat. Add the onion and the bell pepper. Cook and stir for one minute. Add

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OMNY BRASSERIE

Hormuz Grand Hotel Al Matar Street, Seeb Tel: 2435 0506 Opening Hours: 12noon to 10.30pm

OMNY-IFEROUS BUT JUST OK

Verdict : 7/10 SERVICE 7/10 FOOD 9/10 AMBIENCE Good food, friendly service and great potential. Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

A NEW BRASSERIE HAS AN ECLECTIC ARRAY OF DISHES AND FRIENDLY SERVICE BUT NEEDS TO DELIVER ON TIMING, SAYS FELICITY GLOVER

t’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed an evening out with grown-ups, let alone dinner sans children. Not that that’s a bad thing but sometimes taking a break from parental duties for a short while can be a breath of fresh air. And so it was on a recent Thursday evening that I found myself heading with two friends to the newly opened OMNY Brasserie at the Hormuz Grand Hotel in Seeb. But before I begin, a disclaimer: this was an invitation to the restaurant’s soft opening and while we didn’t pay for our food, we did pay for our drinks. OMNY is on the lower ground floor of the hotel and opens out to the pool area where diners can sit outside during the cooler months. Entering the restaurant, we were greeted warmly and ushered into a modern, inviting dining space and given a choice of seating – indoors or out. And as it’s perfect weather for the great outdoors at the moment, we opted to sit outside – where stylish tables and chairs had been arranged parallel to the infinity pool. Our waiter for the evening introduced himself to us and brought the menus quite quickly, and also provided small lamps that attached to the folders so we could read everything clearly – a nice touch! The menu is not overwhelming, providing a good balance between starters, soups and salads, mains, sides, a “raw” bar (think oysters and other seafood) and desserts. But the choices were difficult

Cooked to perfection, it had a wonderful flavour of warm Omani spices. Unfortunately, we had to ask for the dauphinoise potatoes, which were THE QUALITY OF THE also cold despite the waiter telling us they were INGREDIENTS AND THE still cooking. We should have sent them back, PRESENTATION OF THE FOOD ARE but didn’t want to make a fuss as this was a soft VERY HIGH, WHICH MEANS I’LL BE opening. The other two mains came quickly and GIVING IT ANOTHER SHOT AND my corn-fed chicken with sweet ‘n’ sour beets and HEADING BACK THERE ... corn was delicious – tender, tasty and very moreish, it complemented the beets and corn very well. The ribeye was cooked exactly as ordered – and after quite a few questions and a trip to the medium – but was still a little chewy, according to ice-laden “catch of the day” table, we finally my friend. ordered. Soft openings are always a testing ground for Only two of us wanted starters: I chose the halloumi soufflé, while one of my friends plumped new restaurants – and it’s where problems arise that may not have been anticipated by the team, for the chargrilled baby octopus. For mains, I settled for the corn-fed chicken, one friend for the either in the kitchen or out on the floor. Sorting out what is a main and what is a starter, such as salt-baked parrot fish with a potato and truffle what happened with us, is important. And while dauphinoise on the side, while the other ordered there is room for improvement, I think there is the beef ribeye. Orders taken, we were quickly served our drinks and a basket of bread with small great potential for OMNY Brasserie. pots of balsamic vinegar and olive oil to dip in. The staff are friendly and efficient, the dining We weren’t keeping our eye on the clock but space warm and inviting, while the quality of the starters took quite a while to arrive. And when the ingredients and the presentation of the food they did, we understood why: it appeared they are very high, which means that I’ll be giving it had been held back to wait for the salt-baked another shot and heading back there in a month parrot fish, which was ordered as a main course. or so. While the fish was piping hot, our starters suffered – especially the chargrilled baby octopus, which Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see was served with small slices of beef chorizo and reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com shitake mushrooms in a seaweed tea. It was cold, while my halloumi soufflé was just warm. We didn’t quite understand why the main was being served with our starters and later, it was even more glaring as our friend had almost finished eating by the time our two mains were served. Perhaps it was an oversight from the server or the kitchen, but it would be good to get these hiccups ironed out quickly. My soufflé was cooked very well; slightly buttery and golden, it was delicious but lacked any taste of the sharp, salty halloumi that I was anticipating, while the chorizo in the octopus dish was overcooked and a little tough. Meanwhile, the salt-baked parrot fish was going down a treat and was so far the star of the night. FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

RETRO FLAIR

History repeats itself and so do fashion trends. Long, flowy, casual dresses are back with a millennial twist, such as with this look from Miss Selfridge.

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Health

Beauty

FASHION

k o o L e h

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

T t Ge

Head back in time in this fun, floral number from Matalan. From RO9.6

Make a statement; make a mark. This block print, yellow and black dress from Next can be worn up or down; to work or for brunch, making it a perfect, must-have this season. From RO20.8

We absolutely love this checked, asymmetrical dress from ZARA. It’s a classic piece that can be converted into party wear by combining black pumps or a casual look enhanced by black boots. From RO26

For those who really want to reflect their “chill” attitude, this might just be the right fashion expression. Buy this chic piece at H&M. From RO11

Ditch your large, neutral bags for the weekend. Add colours, tassels and an on-trend vibe with this cute purse from Matalan. From RO9.6

Step out in style and rock the floral look in these fun boots from New Look. From RO15.8

These butterfly-inspired sunglasses from Miu Miu are cute and sassy, and should bring out the fashionista in you. From RO97

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

BEAUTY

Health Fashion

ON THE SPOT

Sun spots and uneven skin tone are problems you can face off with a few handy tips

omen aged 30 and over can become increasingly aware of fresh wrinkles with each passing year. Yet evidence suggests that sun spots may have as much of an impact on one’s appearance as wrinkles. Nearly 63 per cent of women over 35 in the United States experience age or sun spots, discolorations and uneven skin tone. The dark side? The problem reflects your apparent age. “Getting a clear, even skin tone without discoloration is just as important as wrinklefighting to achieving a rejuvenated, youthful appearance,” says Dr Ellen Marmur, a New York dermatologist and author of Simple Skin Beauty. “To some patients, it’s even more important.” Dermatologists like Marmur call it hyperpigmentation but its various types are commonly known as age spots (sun spots, liver spots, freckles and melisma) i.e. brown patches 036

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

of skin triggered by a hormone imbalance. Age spots, sun spots and liver spots are all the same ailment – pouches of melanin where the skin pigment has overproduced and dumped uneven amounts, most of which are as a result of sun damage. According to Marmur, the two most used topical treatments for discoloration are hydroquinone and retinoids, both of which may have irritating side effects and require a prescription. However, a new alternative, StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum (available on Amazon), is an over-the-counter solution that’s clinically proven to work quickly without the same risky side effects. “StriVectin-EV Get Even products; both the serum and new Get Even Spot Repair combine natural ingredients like willow bark, vitamin C and liquorice with our unique, patented form of niacin for the most even supply of pigment, skin

repair and anti-ageing effects,” says leading US scientist Myron Jacobson. “Studies reveal 85 per cent of women see reduced sun spots and more even skin colour after eight weeks of use.” But to treat the long-term problem, sufferers of dark spots should also heed the following advice: • Wear sunscreen all year round with an SPF of 30 • For prolonged sun exposure, get a widebrimmed hat to wear outdoors • Neutralise stubborn spots with peach-toned concealer while using StriVectin-EV Get Even products to slow down melanin production • Beware of products that bleach skin, as this can cause white spots, another form of discoloration. For more information, go to www.strivectin. com/promo/get_even. * NewsUSA

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

THE BRIGHT STUFF Keeping kids’ teeth white and filling-free is a challenge. Here are a few tips for avoiding that dentist’s drill

e all want our kids to have moviestar smiles as adults. As parents, this means knowing how to protect their teeth when they’re young while ensuring that they practise good dental health care for a lifetime. Because February is National Children’s Dental Health Month in some parts of the world, Y thinks it’s the perfect time to “brush up” on instilling good oral-hygiene habits. Consider this: according to the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD), nearly one in three children aged two to five years old in the US are affected by tooth decay, which is one of the top chronic infectious diseases among children. It can compromise their health, development, and quality of life in both the short and long term. “Parents are bombarded with unsolicited advice

and health findings that are constantly with a bottle, the sugar coats their teeth while changing,” says Dr Jade Miller, AAPD President. they are sleeping, causing tooth decay. If you “We don’t want to add to that stress but there are a use a bottle before sleep, opt for water. few common misconceptions that could help make • Do wean children off dummies by the age of a huge difference in your child’s oral health, which three. Dummies are a natural way for children is linked to their overall health and wellness.” to self-soothe. However, prolonged use can The good news is that tooth decay is nearly 100 increase the risk of cavities, and affect the way per cent preventable. The following a child’s teeth bite together, often causing an Dos and don’ts from the AAPD can keep tooth overbite. decay at bay and keep kids smiling for years: • Do avoid topical teething gels and rings. • Cut down on sugar. Children shouldn’t The US Food and Drug Administration consume too many sweets and sugary warns against using teething gels that contain drinks (including sports drinks and juice). benzocaine or lidocaine because they can harm That prolonged exposure to sugar and acid your child. Parents and caregivers should can wreak havoc on teeth. Instead, stick to stay away from teething rings that contain designated meal and snack times and have chemicals. them drink plenty of water throughout the day. For more information about children’s oral • Don’t put babies to bed with a bottle. Milk and health, visit www.mychildrensteeth.org. juice contain sugar. When babies are put to bed * NewsUSA FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

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GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS… Capital Region Azaiba • Amara Dermatology Clinic • Audi showroom • Bentley showroom • Costa Coffee • Al Fair • Jaguar Showroom • Jeep Showroom • Al Maha Petrol Station • Mazda showroom • McDonald’s • Mitsubishi Showroom • Oman Arab Bank • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Peugeot Showroom • Range Rover Showroom • Sayarti Auto Care • Shell Select • Skoda Showroom • The Sultan Center • Volkswagen showroom • Volvo Showroom • Yamaha Showroom Bawshar • College of Banking and Financial Studies • Dolphin Village • Modern College of Business and Science • Muscat College • Muscat Private Hospital (Emergency and Outpatients) • Oman Medical College CBD • Al Maya Hypermarket • Alizz Islamic Bank • Bahwan Travel Agencies • Bank Sohar • Copper Chimney Restaurant • Costa Coffee • HSBC • Lama Polyclinic • NBO • Oman Arab Bank • Standard Chartered Bank • Woodlands Restaurant Darsait • Indian Social Club • 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 Ghala • National Mineral Water 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 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 Sifah • Sifawy Boutique Hotel SQU • Diplomatic Club • College of Economics and

Political Science Students Banking Area • Reception/ Canteen Wadi Kabir • Al Maya Hypermarket • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Pharmacy • National Hospitality Institute • Pizza Hut • Shell Petrol Station Wattayah • Ahli Bank • Best cars • BLS International Services • 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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Postcards from

CARS AND ADVENTURES

Outdoors

Y- F i

GREY DAYS

Head to Huqum, where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find great hiking trails and fun camping spots.

FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

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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

HUQUM Shaquel al Balushi keeps the romance alive and takes to the road for some R&R with his wife 040

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f you have known me long enough, you will know that, to me, adventure and travel are more than just an act of going someplace and spending time exploring the surroundings. Instead, I often try to head towards my Destinations with a travel buddy or someone with whom I can spend some quality time. Basically, I like to use my trips as a time to bond with my companion and share thoughts and interests, and that makes the usual chore of finding a location all the more interesting. Surprisingly, however, my “travel buddy” for the week wasn’t one of my friends or cousins. Instead, it was my beloved wife. This was also her first time out with me for a Destination and our point of interest was Huqum, which is an area quite close to where we live in Al Amerat. It is only a 30-minute drive from Al Amerat to Huqum, and it is also surprisingly close to an animal reserve, so if you’re planning to head there you can visit both locations. But we were only concentrating on Huqum and it sure turned out to be the right decision. Huqum has become one of my favourite Destinations of all time, and that is all thanks to my wife. In fact, this has to be one of my most romantic trips ever. I have to admit that I was quite ill during this trip so I let her take control of my Jeep, which she handled very well. Of course, the area isn’t what I would call an off-road haven but it is still an astonishing setting if you are an off-road enthusiast. I also wouldn’t mind saying that Huqum is a perfect destination for a morning or evening trek – it has definitely made it onto my list of top 10 places to hike in the Sultanate.

The mountains in the backdrop of the area also gave us a feeling of being in an artist’s painting. The view is stunning, and if you manage to catch the sunrise like we did, then rest assured: your day will go splendidly. Currently, Huqum is quite dry (and the whole area is draped in ochre). But as soon as the March rains pour down, greenery will begin to kick in and the entire area should transform into a lush and picturesque setting. Another feature of this area is the sense of its sheer expansive dimensions. As a result, you can simply drive towards the far end of Huqum, where there is little evidence of human activity. My advice would be to head there to camp out. But make sure that you carry adequate supplies and fluids, as a run down to a nearby shop would still take you an hour or so (depending on where you set up). We only decided to go half way into Huqum before settling down to capture a few pictures of our surroundings. But, since I was not feeling well, I found that working in the below 10-degree temperature to be quite a daunting task. Nevertheless, I quickly snapped a few pictures, and retreated towards the Jeep for refuge. One of my favourite pictures from this outing would have to be the mosque of Huqum. I was amazed

TRAVEL GUIDE

to see how unchanged it was despite the many years it has been in service. I also remember how enchanted I was by this mosque during my last trip to Huqum in the early months of 2016. By now, we had been sitting in the Jeep and were chatting away for hours, not knowing what the time was. And it was only when a group of bikers came trashing along one of the countless trekking paths on their Harleys and mountain bikes when we realised how quickly the time had passed. Thick clouds were also forming behind the mountains, so we decided to make a sharp exit. For those of you drawn to trekking and camping, head to Huqum. Not only is the area accessible by road, it is also very close to the city, making it the perfect destination for a quick weekend getaway.

HOW TO GET THERE

If you are travelling from Muscat, head to Al Amerat, and keep following the road that leads to the heart of the suburb. Roughly 22km into your journey, you will see a board that points towards Huqum. Follow the road until you hit the gravel road.

GPS coordinates: N23°20’42.4” E58°23’03.9” FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

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CARS AND ADVENTURES

OLD & NEW

Delightful Dresden has undergone a dramatic overhaul, morphing into a must-visit city for travellers.

1. Ascend to the top of Frauenkirche for wonderful views of the city 2. Visit Zwinger, a magnificent 18th-century palace and open area 3. Amble along Bruhlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Terrace on the shore of the Elbe 4. Gaze at the Procession of Princes, a 100m-long mural along city walls 5. Take a break in The Great Garden, with its zoo, heath and woodland

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Destination

Outdoors

Y-Fi

Cars

POSTCARDS FROM

Patrick McConnochie recommends

DRESDEN, GERMANY D

resden used to be known for two things in our house: for Granny’s best china and for being bombed out of sight during the Second World

War. In fact, Dresden was a byword for the tragic destruction of a beautiful city for long enough. But after 1989 and German re-unification, its city fathers set to work on the most rigorous of restoration projects: to make this Saxony capital on the River Elbe look as regal as it used to be, and resemble its glorious past. And such is the end result is that a better example of German efficiency would be hard to find. The Old Town is bursting with so much Baroque architecture it feels like a “mini-me” Munich that has been sandblasted. And the New Town has a grungy, bohemian feel about it that (East) Berlin is starting to lose as gentrification gathers pace. For such a compact city of around half a million residents, its array of more than 40 museums, art galleries and stately homes is drop-dead impressive. With a pristine, highly efficient public transport system (the trams are great), getting around is ridiculously simple although the city is easily explored on foot. There are enough expansive green and woodland areas for the kids to let off steam in, and the Altmarkt Galerie mall, which wouldn’t look out of place in Dubai, makes coming home empty handed unlikely. But this is a working city, with a palpable sense of can-do. It is home to several illustrious research institutes and 10 universities and colleges. This is a place that sank about as low as you can go. It is no longer forlorn and forgotten but is a forward-looking city that can now hold its (very pretty) head up high.

SAXON

Y DRE SD

My favourite place For me, it’s the Dresden Transport Museum, which can be found in a listed Renaissance building in Neumarkt (the city’s main square, in the Old Town) and offers a veritable odyssey though Germany’s aviation, maritime, rail and automotive heritage. You don’t have to be a historian to bemoan the bygone era of steam engines, and here some of Germany’s most magnificent locomotives bestride the second floor like the totems of transport they once were. Car buffs can peruse the spartan interior of that infamous East German icon of inefficiency, the Trabant, while marvelling at some top-range Mercedes of yesteryear that some hapless chauffeur had to drive Stasi top brass around in. If you’re feeling brave, give the Penny Farthing a spin.

EN CAS TLE

Z W IN G E R

PALACE

Highlights

The sheer contrast of the Old Town and New Town can’t fail to fascinate. You needn’t be an architecture acolyte to be blown away by the magnificence of the Old Town’s Neumarkt square. Neither do you need to be a beatnik in a black polo-necked jumper to enjoy the labyrinth of streets that makes up the New Town; a haven for hipster cafes, edgy galleries and funky shops. One must-see is, of course, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) with its stunning dome (from which you can view the city) that dominates the Old Town. The church was only consecrated in 2005 after a 15-year restoration project. Another unmissable attraction is Dresden Castle, to the west of Neumarkt. The eclecticism and opulence of the artefacts to be found in the Baroque royal palace’s Green Vault chamber will simply knock your socks off. It’s a treasure chest of 17th and 18th century jewels, paintings and objets d’art all created with a craftsmanship and artistry that the world will never see again. And the very walkable area around the castle is so replete with Renaissance architecture (restored or otherwise) it stands up to anything you can find in Italy.

Lowlights The Old Town can be a bit quiet at the start of the week. and most of the shops are closed on Monday afternoons. Souvenirs Well, obviously, china. In Altmarkt Galerie, the Newstadt Market Hall and in some of the quirky shops in the New Town, you can find traditional Dresden figurines or Bohemian glassware. Getting there

By train, Dresden is approximately three hours from Berlin and roughly three hours from Prague (in the Czech Republic), which makes it easy to reach as trains from both cities run every hour. Turkish Airlines and British Airways operate flights from Muscat to Berlin. You can also fly to Prague from Muscat, with Oman Air.

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DEN T RANS PORT MUSE UM

Where to stay I’d recommend the Hotel Elbflorenz, an Italian-style four-star establishment that is a 10-minute walk or very brief tram ride from the Old Town (the stop is just around the corner). For other hotel options, check out the usual suspects: Trivago, Expedia, Kayak, Hotels.com, Booking.com and the others. FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Outdoors

D e s t i n at i o n

Y-FI

OBJECTS OF DESIRE Control your home from your phone or let words speak louder than actions. Alvin Thomas reports GOOGLE HOME Home is where the heart is. And in a few years’ time, Google will pretty much be the heart of your home. And what you’re looking at here is essentially the company’s first steps into making an entry into your homes – and yes, you heard that right! Google’s new Home may seem just like a speaker but underneath its slick frame lies a voice-activated speaker that not only helps you conduct tasks such as playing music, carrying out complex web searches and making small talk, but – if enabled – also operate various functions in your house using only your voice. This is the future of interactive homes, and be the first to get it. Buy yours from store.google.com for a mere RO50

LIFE’S GREAT BE THE PRO The PlayStation Pro has been selling like hot cakes since its release late last year, and why wouldn’t it? Inside the familiar-looking shell lies an octacore AMD Jaguar CPU, which has been overclocked to 2.1Ghz and a GPU that can run at 4.2 teraflops, which is twice as fast as its predecessor. The results, however, speak for themselves: the PS4 Pro can take on ultra-high definition gaming to a whole new and immersive level. Couple that with the new PS4 Virtual Reality headset and you will not be leaving your home anytime soon. Yours for RO160 from Geekay Games

CONTROL EVERYTHING

EDITOR’S PICK 044

There’s only so much we can put into words when it comes to reviewing a product; and the LG C6 Curved OLED 4K HDR Smart TV is the perfect testament to that. It really has to be seen to be believed. The television has been crafted to reproduce a pitch-perfect black range for infinite viewing contrast, allowing viewers to experience videos like nothing else on the market. The C6 also supports HDR plus Dolby Vision technology and sports nearly 8.3 million pixels across its 140cm or 165cm screen for a near-cinematic viewing experience. Yours for RO1155 from all leading electronic stores

HURRAH! LOGITECH HAS (FINALLY!) ANSWERED THE PRAYERS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO ARE TIRED OF HAVING MULTIPLE REMOTE CONTROLS TO CONTROL THEIR DEVICES. THE HARMONY ELITE, AS IT IS CALLED, IS ARGUABLY THE BEST UNIVERSAL REMOTE YOU CAN CURRENTLY PURCHASE – AND IT ALSO COMES WITH ITS VERY OWN TOUCHSCREEN! THE DEVICE CAN CONTROL EVERYTHING FROM YOUR TELEVISIONS TO GAMING CONSOLES, STREAMING DEVICES, SOUND SYSTEMS AND ANYTHING THAT CAN SEND AND RECEIVE INFORMATION. IT ALSO HAS BUILT-IN WI-FI SHOULD YOU REQUIRE IT. BUY YOURS FROM AMAZON.COM FOR RO114

JULY FEB 1603- -2209/ /ISSUE ISSUE458 327

HITMAN

f Agent 007 is the slick, stealthy and crafty Info Box instrument of the British Secret Intelligence Service HITMAN (MI6) then Agent 47 has to be his alternative Developer: manifestation with a darker, colder and psychotic IO INTERACTIVE mentality, which can even give Mr Bond the chills. Director: Trust me when I say this: you don’t want to be on CHRISTIAN ELVERDAM Agent 47’s list. Genre: And as Agent 47 aka The Hitman wears his signature STEALTH, ACTION Rating: coat, red tie, leather gloves, AMT Hardballers pistol and 18+ (BLOOD, STRONG fibre-wire garrote, you know it is time for some firstLANGUAGE) class action gaming. And the all-new Hitman game doesn’t disappoint. Of course, as a trained assassin you’re not going to be putting a bullet into your opponents' heads. Instead, you will find yourself solving intricate puzzles, blending and interacting with people, sneaking into rooms and knocking the lights out of security guards. The game is also split into six episodes that will take you all over the world – from a hotel resort in Bangkok to a Paris art museum, and even to a state-ofthe-art medical facility in Hokkaido, Japan – in a web of political espionage that requires you to remain undercover at all times. Your tasks as Agent 47 are quite tedious, and frankly ambitious. But as always, you are in control of the game, and you get to choose your assassination strategies. But, because there is no margin for error, you will find yourself hitting the save button more often than not. You don’t want to be replaying a mission from the start every time you blow your cover, do you? There’s also something oddly satisfying about exposing a mad scientist to a biological weapon he created, or electrocuting a famous rock star with a faulty microphone in his personal studio in Thailand. Overall, the storylines (all six of them) are very well laid out, and even though the connection between each episode is vague, it still captures the true essence of what the story has to portray. The graphics are extremely crisp, and the physics engine (Glacier Engine) is nothing short of slick. Play the Hitman to get a taste of the drama you’re missing from Agent 007’s missions. There’s something oddly cool and satisfying about taking control of a psychotic serial-killing agent. Or is it just me?

App of the Week

MAXIMUM SAVINGS If you’ve lived in Oman long enough, you would know that internet access is quite a pricy affair. However, you can now cut back on your internet spending by a long margin by opting for Opera Max over your stock smartphone browser. It effectively crunches down the size of images and videos, thus reducing load times as well as keeping a tab on the date use. Opera claims that its app can save you three times the data you would normally use every month. Download for free from Google Play and iTunes.

JULY FEB 03 16 - 22 09 / ISSUE 458 327

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CARS AND ADVENTURES

Destination

FIRST DRIVE

Postcards from

An SUV that doesn’t stint on the style front is also a practical seven-seater, finds Alvin Thomas

hether you like it or not, commuters have been swiftly swapping their sedans and luxury limos for sportsutility-vehicles (SUVs), and 2017 is going to be no different. It has been predicted that SUVs will slowly edge out sedan sales and in the coming years, they will become the most common form of vehicle to buy. A case in point was our test car last week: the Maserati Levante. You know that there has been a shift in the tide when a manufacturer deviates from its usual path to create an SUV – a concept that was hitherto alien to the brand. But as more manufacturers are increasingly inclined to concentrate on SUVs, the technology and the engineering that goes into each of these machines are also being perfected. As a result of this, SUVs are becoming just as efficient as well as engaging to drive as any of their sedan counterparts. But Hyundai, as we all know, has been playing the SUV game far too long to get this wrong. And their expertise does show in the way our test-car – the Hyundai Santa Fe – has been laid out for 2017. For starters, its curvaceous body is very much in tune with Hyundai’s love-it-or-hate-it design language. But, I have to admit that in this SUV format, the Santa Fe looks absolutely gorgeous; maybe even more striking and sophisticated to look at than any of its European counterparts.

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FEB 16 - 22 / ISSUE 458

Outdoors

Y- F i C A R S 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Specifications: Engine: 3.3-litre six-cylinder Transmission: 6-speed automatic Horsepower: 266hp Torque: 318Nm Panoramic moonroof Infinity sound system 46cm alloy wheels Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Leather seats Third-row seating Traction control Reverse camera Auto folding mirrors

Our top-spec Santa Fe is powered by a smoothrunning 3.3-litre V6, producing an impressive 266hp and 318Nm of torque, and is mated to a six-speed Every element on the outside of the car is automatic transmission that sends power to all fouraccentuated with bold lines and curves to present wheels. a very tidy exterior. Even the headlights are pulled Acceleration figures aren’t what I would call back and chamfered towards the edges to give the blistering but the Santa Fe is definitely brisk for its SUV a sporty front fascia. Adding more aggression hefty size. You can also take control of the shifts to the exterior are the sharp LED turn-signals, 46cm manually to override the gearbox presets. On doing alloys and dual-exhaust tips. this, you can hold the power in lower gears for The vivacious design-language carries into longer; making quick manoeuvres on the highway an the interior of the car. It is unlike any I’ve easy task. seen in any other car, and it definitely Gear shifts aren’t the quickest but the gear ratios stands out. are very good, and should provide you with adequate The interior is a fusion of shapes: fuel efficiency should you decide to keep things for example, the air-conditioning mellow. vents up front are shaped like The ride in the Santa Fe is extremely compliant: it boomerangs, and all the buttons soaks up bumps and crevices on the road with ease. on the dashboard take up their But at Y, we test cars to their limits. And on doing own specific shape. There’s also so, we learnt that the SUV grips the road, with ease a well-sized 20cm touchscreen on almost, at corners. But dabbing the throttle for long the dashboard, which controls all the can invoke understeer. After all, power is sent to all navigation and entertainment. four wheels. Much of the dashboard and the doors Due to its size, there is a hint of body roll but it’s are also lined up with soft-touch surfaces, as nothing the electronic stability programme (ESP) opposed to hard plastics, as seen in various other cannot handle. As a matter of fact, I felt extremely rival cars on the market. You also get leatherette confident behind the wheel of the Santa Fe. If you’re seats, a full-sized panoramic glass roof and a decent- in the mood for a spot of fun, you can also toggle sounding Infinity premium sound system to go with between the “Sport”, “Normal” and “Eco” modes. myriad other tech features. Sport mode essentially holds gears for longer and Where the Santa Fe truly outshines its competition, firms up the otherwise light steering wheel. However, however, is in its interior spacing. There’s plenty of there is no feedback from the steering wheel, which leg and head room for both passengers in the front is normal for most cars of today. and rear. Third-row seating is also available but it is The Hyundai Santa Fe is an excellent package best reserved for children – as adults will struggle to for anyone looking for an SUV that can haul seven fit in the rear. people around in absolute comfort, and its sales Fold the third-row seats down and you’re treated figures do reflect our experience. And the SUV – to an enormous boot. Additionally, you can also fold now in its second generation (if you neglect the slight down the second-row seats flat for more cargo space. facelift) – is a true testament to how good the South The space is beyond that of any other compact SUV Korean manufacturer has become in such a short I have tested in quite some time. period of time.

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