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News: EXPATS WITH SALARY RO300 13 CAN BRING FAMILIES TO OMAN
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DESTINATION: Wadi Al Amerat TASTE TEST: Salalah Rotana
YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK
OCT 05 - 11 2017 / ISSUE 489 • WEEKLY
RUNNING ON EMPTY
PLUS!
HOW RISING PRICES ARE HITTING OUR POCKETS
THE HOUSE OF MIRTH
01
NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258
26
SURGICAL STRIKES
28
MANGO MARVELS
44
COMPETITION
EDITOR’S
NOTE
Send in your answers for our ‘Debate of the Week’ and stand a chance to win a dinner for two at the Golden Tulip Hotel.
THE BAROMETER GOING UP
FUEL PRICES Motorists across Oman are feeling the pinch after the petrol and diesel prices were hiked. Premium-grade M95 petrol now costs 205 baisas per litre, while M91 fuel remains fixed at 186 baisas per litre. The price of diesel was also increased to 211 baisas per litre.
Welcome to Y Magazine – your top guide to the best of Oman every week.
Fast forward
I GOING DOWN
COST OF VEGETABLES Grocery prices are shooting up but the cost of vegetables has dropped by 1.36 per cent. It’s time to fill up your trolleys, folks!
THIS WEEK…
nflation affects everyone. As prices rise, an individual’s ability to afford goods diminishes unless his income increases proportionately. Yet, it has become so common to see prices rise over time that inflation is consider normal, and even harmless. In fact, most economists today agree that a moderate price inflation is a sign of a healthy economy with sufficient demand to keep everyone employed. The most common cause of inflation is the increase in the total money supply in the economy. “Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon,” economist Milton Friedman famously said to emphasise the influence of money supply on prices. In Oman, shoppers are paying up to 20 per cent more for a range of consumer goods. An investigation by Y Magazine team shows that the greatest differences are in the cost of fuel, groceries and food. Last week, the announcement of fuel prices for the month of October shocked everyone. M95 petrol will now cost 205 baisas per litre, compared with 196 baisas a litre last month. Since subsidies were removed, fuel prices have increased in line with international crude prices. Oman crude reached the highest in more than two years when it was traded at $56.82 on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange. Education has become 2.84 per cent costlier this year compared with the previous year. Nevertheless, according to experts, prices for goods will continue to rise in the coming months and consumers are concerned. This week, our cover story talks about how rising prices are hitting our pockets! Have a great week!
Team Y had a wonderful night out at the Nitin Mirani comedy show, which was held at the Sheraton Oman Hotel. We also spent time wandering along the stunning wadi of Al Amerat and exploring the grasslands in Salalah, during a surprise event organised by Audi Middle East.
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Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
03
contents
OCTOBER 05 - 11 2017
Your Oman 08 Voice Of Oman Her Highnness Sayyida Mayya al Said 10 News His Majesty the Sultan meets Iran foreign minister
This Week 18
Legend in Muscat Catch Sir Cliff Richard live at the Royal Opera House Muscat
Features 22 Rising Prices How rising prices are hitting our pockets 26
Laugh Riot Indian comedian Nitin Mirani enthralls audience in Oman
28 Surgical Strikes In conversation with Dr.C.Thomas
13 News SalamAir launches flights to Dubai
22
13 Cars and Adventures 32 Destination Wadi Al Amerat
18 Health and Beauty
34 First Drive Nissan Kicks
40 Fashion Staying in style
36 Postcard From Kandy 38 Y-Fi Prestige projection
42 Beauty Spot-on
Food and Drink 44 Food Feature Mango Mania 46 Taste Test Salalah Rotana
44
43 Health Cold comfort
39
40
NEXT ISSUE... FEATURES / COFFEE WITH Y / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / BEAUTY / DESTINATION / TRAVEL / FASHION / FIRST DRIVE
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Ordering food o nli one young entre ne is becoming more popular in p O as eating out. Alv reneur aims to make dining in a man, and s appealing in Thomas met h im
H
ow great is technol But this is not U Today, anything is ogy? attempt at establishtkarsh’s first online. Be it resear possible players,” he answer ing his own ching s. a topic or simply sh bu sin pl es ayers from Egypt th“We have s. Th e youngster – at th e possibilities are endlopping, the ag e of do minating the markeat are currently 17 – ran an e-com m er ce the invention of th ess; all thanks to website (with two ot not here to dethrone t. And we are e in them but rather And boy, some peopternet. providing financiallyher friends) to capitalise on their sh -ch all en ge d know how to capita le really do students cheaper “u “Because they are ortcomings. lis sed” books and My latest interviewee on it. sta tio co nery equipment, wh untry, we have the based in another advantage of en he wa example of a perso e is a prime s working for his degr ee in engineering being localised. We offer technical powers of the inter n using the fro m su the esteemed pport and also liv passion: food. He isnet to fuel his Technology – one Birla Institute of It’s everything you e-chat options. th e of sta In ke di ho a’s lder most and partner in the prestigious universi quality restaurant incould get from a ties. delivery company online food Today, Utkarsh an Utkarsh then says the country.” Fo d his partner – that being an While the concept odfila. Za id ex alpat startup owner ha Shukaili – own and op er at my head, 25-year-o is well over e their website and ap challenge but a good s been a plication on the Utkarsh Gupta, str ld entrepreneur sa m e model – being the “Omanis are really one. moderator there really is a marongly believes that for customers lo people. They do no supportive ket for it in ok t the Sultanate. food from a restauring to purchase ag e or my experience.judge me by my ant in Oman. They always The amalgamation “We are also one of share their experie nces with me and Oman’s first technology may se of food and in de I pe lea ndent onlin rn from them. me) but there’s greaem a bit odd (to and have over 45 ree food platforms chain owner actuallOne restaurant t po ten sta ur tia an l in ts. it, as than 75 loy Utkarsh explains. me for an hour-and y sat down with al customers also taMore ke “You see, there is a orders from Foodfil knowledge on the m-a-half to give me a regularly.” ar people who now wa market for Th am an azing,” he exclaim ket – it’s truly ks to the pair’s persi ste nc online; the kind of nt to order food e, more restaurants ar “Acceptance to the s. e soon to jump on the food to be deliv people who want bo ar wh d their website too. at makes Oman susociety is doorstep without thered at their “The vision is clear, country. The peop ch a beautiful ” says Utkarsh. le ar phone call. Brillian e need for a “R es an ta d they all wish you e hospitable urants who cannot t, isn’t it? No more af fo rd screaming your orde to have an online busin if you don’t particu well, even r over larly know the phone.” as this can come to ess solution such each other. us an d re gis ter . Suddenly, all of it m We will provide them “I strongly believe akes sense to me. services. It’s fairly ea with our stepping stone for ou Oman can be a sy. But before I delve Talking about the re ” there couldn’t be a r business, and cent changing be Utkarsh’s idea, I qu into the tre nd an of d atmosphere than tter location people dining out, U tk ar his decision to start estion him on sh says: “More Oman starter like me,” he this for a is and expats are sa own in Oman – es a business of his op tin hi g m an important qu ys as I ask to order in and dine in pecially given the th e current market scen co mfort of their own the online platform estion: “Is ar homes. he He answers: “Optimio. “I t’s He looks at me and re to stay?” so mething that is happ ism is key en in when you want to g all over the world. Peop “There’s only mov smiles: ing le want to your own. Of courstart something of ex pe fro rie m here on. It’s all abforward nc e what they want wi th ou fact that when you se, that and the t ac tually expend life easier for one an out making ot truly love, you will do something you all started with ing much energy. It if someone thinks the her. And su shopping; you can Utkarsh says that hicceed. bu y everything necessary, they will service is us food-delivery webs s idea to start a electronics onlinfrom groceries to be ats the experience e it. Nothing e, today so why no stems from his loveite and application food, too?” t outside and dining of going . Bu began his website infor food. He U tk op ar portunity to choose t, the sh began his career as a da “I cannot lie: my idJuly this year. ta an alyst for an interna online is an experie your food tional firm, nce in itself.” platform came from ea for such a ba se d in India, dealing with cli en that I used to order a food website ts Ha ve su you got a unique story ch as Home Dep to tell or do you studying in India. It from when I was Fortune 500 compaot and many other know someone who has? Conta wa ct us to s ni a es sa . ving cof fee wi grace for me, as it ha th Y an d be featured in Y Magahave He then explains: “S s sa ve zine. d uc m h e a m m an odel y therefore work a time from starvin s in Oman.” Yo u ca n it was late at night g, especially when ac ce But what are the ss Foodfila’s and restaurants were closed.” faces on a daily ba challenges that he services at foodfila.com or sis? si mply downloa “Competition from outside iTunes or Googl d the app on e Play
06
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
THE VOICE OF OMAN
HER HIGHNESS SAYYIDA MAYYA AL SAID ON WHY HAPPINESS CAN’T BE MEASURED WITH MONEY
correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: The unemployment rate in Oman is at an all-time high. Around 50,000 Omanis are looking for jobs, according to the latest government data. Are expats given preference over locals? What are your thoughts?
L
ife is not meant to be easy; it’s meant to be Iived. Sometimes I wish I could explain that to people, especially to the ones who never seem to be happy or the ones who are always complaining about how unfair life is. Let’s not forget the ungrateful ones, either. In all honesty, it is never about what kind of life we live. In my opinion, it’s all about the mindset. I believe some people have everything they need and are nowhere near being happy despite having everything. On the other hand, there are some who have next to nothing and are the happiest people you will ever meet. So clearly money doesn’t buy happiness even to those who know where to shop. Simply put, contrary to what others may think, happiness is neither something you can buy nor is it something that someone gives you. Happiness is created by you, and only you have the power to create it. Yes, we all know that money is essential to live but let us not become so focused on chasing it that we forget to make time to be with our family, friends, practise our religion and simply enjoy all the blessings life has to offer. The moral of my words today is to remind you that some people are so poor, all they have is money.
08
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
MOHAN ANANDAN
As per the statistics, the government sector is already employing 86 per cent Omanis while the figure is just 10 per cent in the private sector, and there is a drive to increase this ratio to 35 per cent. The private sector, being the backbone of the economy, certainly needs a skilled and experienced workforce to drive economic growth, which fresh graduates cannot provide at this stage. Therefore, the experience and skills of expatriates are preferred. To take Omanisation further, what is required is to train new entrants in the job market side-byside with expats and then gradually increase the percentage of Omanisation to the desired level. Any attempt to increase this percentage drastically may not be in the interests of the private sector in particular or the economy as a whole.
MOHAMMAD OSAMA RAWAT
It really is quite disturbing but for sure expats are not given preference over locals. It is only experienced and skilled expatriates who are given employment here and not unskilled and the fresh college/ university graduates. Organisations in the private sector are more productivity- oriented and are usually always interested in employing trained staff instead of taking freshers and spending time and money to train them unless there is a special scheme for them from the government to train new entrants. However, unskilled and fresh graduates should be ready to take up any kind of entrylevel job to start with and should not be too choosy when it comes to selecting their first job.
WRITE TO US AND YOU COULD WIN
JASON FELIX NORONHA
In the current economic slowdown, it is essential to have the right mix of experience and skilled labour to get through tough times. If a certain position calls for an experienced hand it would not be wise to employ a fresh graduate and expect the desired results. Although the private sector has a responsibility to bring in fresh talent it cannot be done at the expense of productivity and loss of profits. Efficient and results-oriented people are the need of the hour and if a local graduate can fulfil this demand, so be it. At the same time, fresh graduates need to understand that the corporate ladder is a tall, greasy pole to climb and they need to be prepared to grind their way up through hard work, sincerity and passion to succeed. It would be an absolute delight to have locals and expats working together at a uniform skill level and achieve greater heights. The road is long and arduous, the question is: are we prepared to make the journey?
JOM SAGAL
Fresh Omani graduates need to understand that they have to be at entry level. This means that they will have to accept low-to medium salaries. Most of the Omanis I have known or worked with tend to ask for way more salary than experienced expatriates who are on higher levels.
JULIE GOPINATHAN
To ensure equality in all fields I believe the policy of positive discrimination needs to be applied. This should ensure that in every field one national at least will be there to represent his country in which the firm operates while the rest of the staff are appointed on the basis of merit.
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JACKY MAPANAO
Unemployment in Oman may be down to several factors. One reason may be because some want a certain position for which they are not yet qualified. Graduates should start at the bottom to gain the knowledge and skills that would help them achieve the job they actually want. Another reason, as based on my observation, is that some keep changing jobs. They don’t take their work seriously, which leads to unemployment. I strongly disagree that expats are preferred to Omanis. In every company, an applicant who has more knowledge and skills, regardless of nationality, will be chosen. Most skilled expats in Oman already have years of experience and are knowledgeable of the specific job they are applying for. I believe that having a sense of responsibility and passion for your work will help one’s career growth.
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TANIYA AKTHER
It is unwise to generalise about companies when it comes to making a judgement about their preferences on recruitment. Companies prioritise the skills over all other dimensions including ethnicity. The companies that require the skills from an Omani, such as speaking Arabic, will have more Omani employees. Likewise, the companies that require the skills from an expatriate will have more expatriates in the workplace. I do not agree with the notion that locals are preferred over expatriates and the fact that expatriates are still being hired clearly implies that companies hire employees on the basis of their skills, competence and experience.
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Juvenile Flamingos in a playfull fight, at Sur beach. Y Reader, Ashik Beshra captures this beautiful picture using his Nikon D500 camera.
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PHOTO: Ashik Beshra
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
09
YOUR
OMAN
HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN
GRANTS AUDIENCE TO IRAN
FOREIGN MINISTER
H
is Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said met Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, at Hisn al Shomoukh, on Monday. The meeting reviewed aspects of existing cooperation between the Sultanate and Iran in various spheres to serve the joint interests of Oman and Iran. In addition, a number of matters in light of the current developments in the regional and international arenas too were discussed. The meeting was attended by Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs and the delegation accompanying the guest.
BARKA FORT TO REMAIN
THREE SUFFOCATE
CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
TO DEATH ON CARGO
SHIP ANCHORED AT SOHAR PORT
B
T
hree people died from suffocation on a cargo ship, the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) said on Sunday [October 1, 2017]. “These people got trapped after they fell inside a storage compartment of a cargo ship, which was anchored at the port of Sohar,” PACDA tweeted. “The accident resulted in the death of three Asian nationals, who died due to suffocation after inhaling the chemicals used to preserve wood inside the ship,” PACDA added. In a statement, Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC) said: “It is very sad to announce the unfortunate death of three workers due to an accident onboard a general cargo ship in the port on Saturday evening at 9.30 p.m.” “This was an isolated incident and did not have any further safety or environmental impact 010
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
on other people onboard the ship, in the port or in the surrounding communities. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the deceased at this difficult time. SIPC is working closely with the concerned authorities to investigate the precise cause of the accident. SIPC reaffirms its commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety in all port operations,” it said in its statement.
arka Fort has been closed for renovation, and tourist and government bodies are advised not to visit the historical site until further notice, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) announced. The MoT in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture announced that it shut doors on October 1: “We will be closing Barka Fort in Wilayat Barka in the governorate of South Al Batinah, in order to carry out maintenance work.” “The ministry would like to inform any interested individuals or governmental institutions,
not to visit or include the fort within their programs or visits.” Since the summer, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture has been working on the restoration of Al Khabourah Fort, in North Al Batinah, which has been affected by salinity and humidity on its internal and external walls due to its proximity to the coastal strip of the Sea of Oman.
LAUGH RIOT
GALLERY
MORE THAN 800 SPECTATORS WERE LEFT WITH TEARS OF LAUGHTER AFTER WORLDRENOWNED COMEDIAN, NITIN MIRANI, TOOK TO THE STAGE AT THE SHERATON OMAN HOTEL, LAST WEEK [SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH]. THE NIGHT - WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE SULTANATE ALSO WITNESSED ACTS BY LOCAL OMANI AND INDIAN STARS PERFORMING WITHIN THE COUNTRY
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
011
YOUR
AVANT-GARDE
OMAN
THE FIRST EDITION OF THE ‘DESIGN CHALLENGE’ BY ROCA, IN OMAN, WAS A GRAND SUCCESS. SEVERAL PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN THE ONE-DAY EVENT.
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OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
GALLERY
NEWS
SALAM DUBAI!
S
alamAir, Oman’s first budget airline, will start operating daily flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB) on October 8.The new route will complement SalamAir’s current flight to Al Maktoum International Airport until October 28 when the airline has set plans re-route all flights to DXB. SalamAir will be operating daily morning and evening services to and from Terminal 2 with the first flight departing Muscat at 8:30 and departing DXB at 10:50. The evening flight is scheduled to depart Muscat at 17:30 and depart DXB heading back to the Sultanate’s capital at 20:00. With prices starting from just under RO49 (Return), guests can now book their tickets on www.SalamAir.com
Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said: “The addition of flights to DXB is in response to our guests’ requests and the growing demand for an affordable alternative to this popular destination. Dubai International Airport is one of the most prominent hubs in the region and we are in negotiations with some of the city’s tourism and business attraction to offer our guests even more value-added services. This new route will not only capitalise on Dubai’s wider international network and economic position but also further increase the connectivity between Oman and the United Arab Emirates.” He added, “We are constantly striving to provide choice and flexibility to our guests and are committed to enhancing our
service offering, allowing more people to fly more often, without compromising on quality and comfort.” SalamAir has negotiated with the management of Dubai International Airport and respective authorities for the past few months to secure suitable time-slots for the airline in the airport’s busy schedule. Providing added convenience and efficiency to travellers, Terminal 2 (T2) will allow SalamAir’s guests to go from arrivals to the city within 15 minutes. Since its launch, SalamAir has been committed to redefining budget air travel and increasing connectivity across the region. As the destination network continues to expand, SalamAir will continue to follow its customer-centric philosophy in serving the needs and demands of its guests on under-served and popular short-haul routes. Today, SalamAir’s network includes Muscat, Salalah and Suhar, in Oman, and Dubai, Jeddah, Karachi and Sialkot.
RO300 PEGGED MINIMUM SALARY FOR FAMILY STATUS
E
xpats, rejoice! You can now bring your families to Oman if you are earning a salary of RO300 and above. The news of the amended law was revealed by an official in the Royal Oman Police (ROP), to local daily, Al Shabiba, earlier this week [October 2]. Previously, the minimum salary for attaining the family status was RO600, meaning numerous expats had to resort to staying alone in the Sultanate, as their families were back at home. In a tweet, the Shura Council Member, Sultan bin Majid al Abri, stated: “The visa condition for family members joining an expatriate employee has been amended from a minimum salary of RO600 to RO300.” Al Abri was also quoted as saying that the decision had been made on a recommendation of the Shura Council, and as part of one of the initiatives of the Tanfeedh programme. The decision is expected to boost the local economy and revitalise several sectors, including real estate, retail, insurance and others. OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
013
YOUR
A CLASS APART
OMAN
MERCEDES-BENZ LAUNCHED ITS ALL-NEW S-CLASS SEDAN, IN OMAN, LAST WEEK [WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27]. THE EVENT WAS HELD AT THE MUSCAT BAY.
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OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
GALLERY
NEWS
OMAN CRICKET JOIN
HANDS WITH MCC
C
ricket in Oman is all set to receive a facelift as the Oman Cricket (OC) has signed a ‘Letter of Friendship’ with the esteemed Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) – the owners of the Lord’s cricket ground and the guardian of the Laws of the Game. The signing was conducted in a special ceremony at the Al Amerat Oman Cricket ground, on Saturday [September 30], and was attended by HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York; and His Highness Sayyif Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the Patron-in-Chief of Oman Cricket. Oman’s national teams, both men and women’s, National Youth Development Team, OC Board members and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. The move should aid in preparing the cricketers for national and international assignments by providing them with world class infrastructure it has planned to put in place in the coming few months. Kanak Khimji, Chairman of Oman Cricket, and John Stephenson, MCC’s Secretary of Cricket, exchanged the signed ‘Letters of Friendship’. Moved by the beautiful cricket ground at Al Amerat, Prince Andrew remarked: “I am very impressed, very
impressed indeed.” Commenting on the association between MCC and Oman Cricket, Stephenson said: “This beautiful ground reflects the ambition and vision of Oman Cricket. Having played beautiful cricket at international level, Oman has come a long way in the last three years. “It has shown incredible energy, incredible ambition and it is part of our role at MCC to help cricket-playing nations develop in every way we can.” Commenting on the association, Pankaj Khimji said: “Oman needs expert hands charting its future course of action. Setting up the Club House and Oman Cricket Academy is one step towards realizing that goal. “But building an infrastructure does not mean that you have accomplished that goal. You need the soft skills, the ability to make the best use of the facility and the technical know-how to groom the youngster for tomorrow. Who better than MCC to achieve all this? The Spirit of Cricket programme they are running over there is so intense, so articulated that it suits us best. “So, we approached MCC to assist us and it readily agreed, looking at the kind of development that we are doing, looking at the way Oman has been playing and growing as a cricket playing country in the last three years,” he added. All of this means Oman Cricket will now benefit from experienced coaching staff visiting the Sultanate to help design its curriculum for the academy.
INTERNATIONAL U19 FOOTBALL
TOURNAMENT IN OMAN
I
n an effort to provide the national team good preparations for the forthcoming Asian (AFC) U19 Championship qualifiers later this month, the Oman Football Association (OFA) is set to host a three-nation international friendly tournament in Muscat from October 5-9. The OFA had initially planned to host a four-nation meet but a last-minute pullout of Uzbekistan has left the tournament with only three teams – Oman, Egypt and Syria. The friendly tournament will kick off on October 5 with the opening match to be played between Oman and Egypt at the Seeb Sports Stadium. The match begins at 6.30pm. Egypt will meet Syria on October 8 followed by Oman’s game against Syria the next day. Oman is pooled in Group A along with Bahrain, UAE, Nepal and hosts Kyrgyz Republic in the AFC qualifiers that will be played in Bishkek from October 31-November 8. Oman meets UAE in its opening game on October 31.
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
015
YOUR
BORN TO RACE
OMAN
MUSCAT SPEEDWAY AND AL AIN RACEWAY OF UAE JOINED HANDS TO ANNOUNCE THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW ELITE 4 ROUND KARTING ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP, GKEC, THIS WEEK.
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OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
GALLERY
In a new series, we look for inspiration from a variety of influences around Oman, including its people, places and wildlife. Today’s inspiration: The poetry of the earth is never dead.
Photo: Shaquel Al Balushi
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
017
THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE
ARMY CHORUS AT ROHM
THE ALEXANDROV RED
OCT
07
WEEK
WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.
O C T O B E R For the first time, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) will bring legendary British pop superstar Sir Cliff Richard to the stage on Saturday. Sir Cliff, whose career spans more than five decades, has sold 250 million records worldwide with hits such as Living Doll, Congratulations and We Don’t Talk Anymore.
OCT
Founded close to a century ago, the Alexandrov Red Army Chorus has gained tremendous popularity worldwide with the rousing voices of its male singers. This impressive male voice choir gave 1,500 performances in World War II, has performed throughout the Soviet Union, and is the official choir of Russia’s Armed Forces. The team is now set to perform in Muscat at the Royal Opera House Muscat, on October 12.
12
The seventh Oman Health Exhibition and Conference is taking place from October 9 to 11 at the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. The conference will feature government and industry experts, and leaders who will share their insight on the challenges, solutions and opportunities accompanying the most critical and current issues in Oman’s healthcare sector.
OCT
09
SIR CLIFF RICHARD TO PERFORM AT ROHM
THIS
HEALTH CONFERENCE
COMEDY SHOW
Zimbabwe’s popular comedian Carl Ncube will take the stage at the Oman Comedy Central Show at Radisson Blu’s O’Malley on Saturday. Oman Comedy Central takes raw talent and primes them with hours of coaching, preparation and professional tips on material preparation and delivery. The entry for the show is RO3.
OCT
07
018
OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
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OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
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Quincy Jones Total: 27
❺
Stevie Wonder Total: 25 *Source: grammy.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
Solo Starring: Dulquer Salmaan, Sai Tamhankar and Ann Augustine
Blade Runner 2049 Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto and Ana De Armas Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K , unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner, who has been missing for 30 years.
Release date: October 5, 2017 Dulquer Salmaan’s upcoming film Solo is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated films of the year. Solo is an anthology that will have four different stories of Rudra, Siva, Shekhar and Trilok representing the four elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Wind. Three teasers of
The Foreigner
My Little Pony
Starring: Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan and Charlie Murphy
Starring: Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth and Liev Schreiber
A humble businessman with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-andmouse conflict ensues with a government official, whose past may hold clues to the killers’ identities.
A dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship to save their home.
Release date: October 5, 2017
Release date: October 6,2017
WIN CHANCE TO GRAB YOUR MA TICKETS CINE FOUR CITY
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION Who is the director of Solo? LAST WEEK'S WINNER Sanora Samson
the film representing The World of Rudra, The World of Shiva and The World of Shekar have been released so far. Earlier, the film’s director had said that the anthology would comprise two stories on love and two stories on rage. Bejoy Nambiar, known for his work in Hindi films such as Shaitan, David and Wazir, will be making his debut in Mollywood with Solo. Touted to hit the silver screens on October 5, Solo has a bevy of stars in the cast including Neha Sharma, Dino Morea, Nassar, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Sruthi Hariharan, Manoj K. Jayan, Sao Dhansika and Arthi Venkatesh. On the film’s music, the director has revealed that several noted musicians were a part of the project and it has as many as 21 songs! Confirming this through a tweet, Bejoy Nambiar posted: “There was some news that SOLO has 15 songs. That is ridiculous! How can we have so many songs? Tamil & Malayalam put together we only have 21.” The film has been produced in Malayalam by Bejoy Nambiar and Anil Jain and in Tamil by Bejoy Nambiar and Abraham Mathew under the banners Getaway Films, Abaam Films and Refex Entertainment.
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
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Money’s Too Tight
(TO MENTION)
Rising food and fuel prices, raised rents and a hike in household bills are testing the nerves of Omanis and expats alike. Alvin Thomas examines why balancing the books has become a burden for the Sultanate’s hard-working majority, and why more needs to be done to address the problem
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Picture this scenario: you have dressed up in your favourite suit for work, grabbed the keys to your prized car that you worked hard to buy, and begin your journey to work. Of course, on the way you must pick up your breakfast from the convenience store at the petrol station. While there, you decide to top-up your tank with some high-grade M95 petrol – you know, the kind that your dealer told you that your “engine deserves”. All goes as planned: you fill up with 50 litres of fuel, and you hand the tired-looking fuel station attendant your bank card. You expect the cost of your purchase to be RO9.300 – the amount you just paid a few weeks ago to fill the tank to the brim. However, the SMS (text message) you receive on your phone says a different story. It reads: “Card of a/c 03XXXXX011 used for RO10.250 at Oman Oil” – which is a whole RO1.050 more than what you paid for fuel last time. You think it is a mistake but then carefully read the prices on the Oman Oil banner outside the station. It clearly states: M91 – 186 baisas per litre, M95 – 205 baisas per litre and Diesel – 211 baisas per litre. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the price of fuel, today. And by the looks of things, the recently-revealed prices are here to stay. Unhappy with the surprise increase, scores of residents have taken to the social media platforms Facebook and Twitter to express their frustrations. “Atrocious,” writes Dr Kevin Sebastien on Twitter. “Remember when fuel was cheaper than water?” he then asks. Before the oil crisis of 2015, the price of fuel was pegged at 120 baisas per litre for M95 and 114 baisas per litre for M91 – both slightly lower than the price of a litre of mineral water from the shelves. Last year, Oman removed its fuel subsidies that led to fuel prices rising by more than 50 per cent. As a result of that, Oman cut its fuel subsidy bill by more than half a billion riyals. Meanwhile, Omani Ahmed Saleh al Bulushi, a student in Oman, questions the Ministry of Oil and Gas’ move to raise the rates beyond 200 baisas per litre of M95 fuel, through his post on Facebook. “If careful planning was conducted they (the People are not in a ministry of oil and gas) would realise that state to pay such high people are not in a amounts for fuel state to pay such high in Oman amounts for fuel. “There has been no form of study done – at least one that I know of – whether the people working in Oman are witnessing a change in their salaries.
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“Being a student, it is even harder because we have to drive all the way from the city to the college. And car-pooling is frowned upon by the Royal Oman Police (ROP). A few months back, I was stopped by them and asked if The current market I was ferrying people for money. situation is tough, sure. “Where is the solution?” he asks. But, people are going to “You cannot simply throw us into the pit and expect us to crawl out of it.” be taking the brunt of this One British expat who wishes not to be named tells Y: “I have switched fuels. I run my Volkswagen Golf GTi hatchback on M91 – the low-grade fuel. “It’s a sacrifice I have to make if I want to live my lifestyle like I used to. I love travelling around the country and it was something I did with my wife, spontaneously. “Now, however, I must make plans and think if I can sustain myself before jumping into my car and going for a road-trip. “To avert that situation by a bit, I now fill up with M91. My car runs fine but the quality of the fuel is terrible. It is just a matter of time before the fuel pump in my car goes berserk,” he says. His sentiments are echoed by several others as new data reveals how motorists are ditching the higher-grade M95 fuel for the cheaper alternative. As per the data from the National Centre of Statistical Information (NCSI) the sale of M91 rose by 30 per cent, to 5.1 million barrels, between January and August this year, compared with last year. In contrast, M95 sales declined by 14 per cent to 10.2 million barrels this year. But, making this switch could harm your car and lead to burning deeper holes in your pocket, points out Sami Ali al Zadjali, a chemical engineer working with a petroleum refinery in the Sultanate. “As it is, the fuel in Oman is of very low grade. It has been noted to be of lesser quality than that available in the UAE and even Saudi Arabia. Moreover, people are only given the choice of RON91 and RON95 (or M91 or M95) – two fuels that are considered to be unfit for performance cars. “In the UAE, they charge high fuel prices because they provide actual high-grade fuel like RON98 (M98). They are not giving you any sub-standard fuel when you are giving them your hard-earned money. “This means that a car that ages in Oman will be prone to more damage due to impurities in the fuel or the lack of power due to lesser burning efficiency of the fuel. Because of this, you may have to replace your cylinders or even your fuel pump, especially if you are driving a car with a turbocharged engine or even any performance engine. “My advice would be to stick to M95,” he says. In an interview with local daily Times of Oman, Ahmed al Hooti, a member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) says: “Most people in Oman use their own cars to travel and their salary isn’t a lot so there is an effect on residents. Therefore, we see people trying to cope with this issue using M91.” Compromises made in fuel expenses is only one side of the story, though, as the residents of the country are now saying that they are now shelling out more riyals than ever before when it comes to purchasing goods and services used for living. In the span of a few months – since the drop of fuel prices in 2015 – Oman witnessed an increase in the price of food, water, electricity, gas and even housing (real estate). Farah al Riyami, an analyst who aids in preparing data says: “Oman is expected to see a rise in salaries next year. The rise is expected to be between 3.9 and 4.3 per cent. But, several companies will freeze salaries (not bringing about any change). “The current market situation is tough, sure. But, people are going to be taking the brunt of this because they have a fixed income and the prices of goods and commodities – not just petrol and diesel – are fluctuating, consistently. “This instability means more people are confused over their future in the country. Still, there is hope as new laws dictating the payment of salaries on time are expected to begin taking effect,” she adds. Talking to us, P Sadhashivan, the project manager for a leading telecommunciations company in Oman, says: “It is strange how I have barely been able to save any money ever since November 2015. “Since then, my rent went up by RO50, the prices of groceries shot up marginally and so has the school fees of my three children.” Sadhashivan says that he now must “find” an extra RO144 every year for the tuition fees of his children. “Times are tough, and the schools have also gone on to increment the fee. I am not sure if it is because the teachers have received a raise. I highly doubt that. I would really like to know where all this money is going. It’s hurting our monthly savings very much. “Also, the rent for my two-bedroom flat, in Wadi al Kabir, has increased by RO50. This has not brought us any change in our living conditions,” he points out. Christopher, a Scottish resident in Oman, says that he can’t see the benefit
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The inflation rate is quite low in Oman but so are the salaries. It´s funny how no one takes that into account
of working in Oman anymore. He says: “The inflation rate is quite low in Oman but so are the salaries. It’s funny how no one takes that into account. I used to pay RO450 for my flat, in Seeb, but now have to give RO590. The change took place in November of 2016 and the rent has remained the same ever since. “My wife, who compiles all the household expenses, says that we are also paying more than RO100 in groceries now. We’re not buying any more goods than we did before but it seems as if the prices across several outlets have increased.” As per the information revealed by the NCSI, the Sultanate’s year-on-year inflation in the month of August, this year, stood at 1.03 per cent. The major cause of the prices rise was a 3.45 per cent rise in furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, in the month, compared to the same period of 2016. Education has become 2.84 per cent costlier this year, too, the report points out. Meanwhile, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels witnessed a 1.47 per cent rise while that of foods and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 1.09 per cent. Prices of clothing and footwear rose slightly by 0.25 per cent rise compared to August 2016, while education witnessed a 2.84 per cent jump compared to the same period last year. Health prices rose by 0.39 per cent, those of recreation and culture went up by 0.33 per cent in August this year compared to the same period of 2016. In response to inflation on food, however, several local hypermarkets have come up with initiatives to help customers. For instance, more products are being offered in bulk. The footfall in several new outlets such as Mars Hypermarket and Nesto Hypermarket are on the rise after setting up daily and weekly offers for customers.
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Times are tough, and the schools have also gone on to INCREASE the fee. I am not sure if it is because the teachers have received a raise
This also coincides with the price drop on vegetables by 1.36 per cent, which has made several shoppers happier. However, the biggest upset came in Oman when the prices of fruits shot up by 3.48 per cent, and fish by a whopping 6.49 per cent. The price of fish has increased “substantially” says expat Abraham Matthew. “I used to pay RO3.5 for a kilo of King Fish (King Mackerel) but now it is RO5. This is the case if you go to the local fish market in Seeb or Muttrah. If you shop in the local supermarkets here, the prices will be much higher. “The price of prawns has shot up to RO4 per kilo, as opposed to the RO3 that I used to pay a few months back. “This is definitely a problem for us who cannot exclude seafood from our diet,” Abraham adds. Talking to us, Farah al Riyami, says: “Times are tough now and we don’t expect things to get better overnight. From my 15-years of experience in the field, I have never seen the market take such a blow. “Oman has always been a country reliant on oil for its income. And as long as the price of oil hovers and remains below the US$60 (RO23.1) mark, things are going to be hard for us. “Of course, we are slowly shifting our focus to tourism and other fields. But that will take, at the very least, half a decade for us to completely capitalise on that. “So the answer to all our woes is clear: keep your money close to you and lock it up if you can.” ■
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THE HOUSE
H T R I M F O Funnyman Nitin Mirani wins over Omanis with a unique blend of self-effacing, side-splitting humour. Alvin Thomas chats to the Indian comedian
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hen we are asked to keep our “laughing hats ready for a night of comedy” by Joseph Sims – a comedian from Oman Comedy Central, and the MC for the Let’s Talk About Them comedy show – not everyone from the audience is sure what he means. As a matter of fact, many are doubtful as they sit back in their seats at the Sheraton Oman Hotel for the headline act: a night of comedy with Nitin Mirani aka The Komic Sutra. “Calling yourself the Komic Sutra is like naming your son Barack Obama. He will have to live up to that name,” says Rupert, an audience member. “I don’t think he can capture the Omani audience that easily,” a sceptical Rupert tells me. “We need people who can understand and relate to us,” he explains to his friend who is anxious that Nitin will prove Rupert wrong. And, boy, Rupert – along with the 800-strong audience – is in for a treat when curtain up reveals one of “Oman’s most memorable comedy nights”, to date. Starting off the night by catching on Oman’s beloved city ‘Muttrah’, Nitin Mirani grabs his audience by the throat and doesn’t let go. Roughly translated from Arabic, ‘Muttrah’, means “place”. “Just imagine the meeting where the people were naming this city,” Nitin asks us all, as his eyebrows get lost in thought. “Imagine how deep the person who named the place had thought before coming up with the name. And then think of what his boss from the naming committee would have told him,” he then asks, as the audience bursts out laughing. Several Omanis slap their thighs in laughter as he carries on. I soon realise that Nitin’s comedy doesn’t stop with words. His actions and expressions are key elements of his performance, too. Nitin’s strengths, however, aren’t tailored jokes, but rather, candid ones that are crafted by interviewing the audience. Throughout his show, Nitin constantly involves two characters: one, an Indian man in his early 40s, whom Nitin says looks “depressed” following his wedding; and two, a young Omani “grumpy” student, Mohammed, who soon turns into the butt of all of Nitin’s jokes. Several audience members are seen rolling on the floor in laughter. It was all in good sport, though, as the duo enjoy every moment of the night without any complaints. It’s easy to see why Nitin was voted one of the funniest comedians alive by legendary Hollywood comedian and actor Richard Lewis. He came fourth in the Laugh Factory’s ‘Funniest Person in the World 2015’, a comedy talent hunt. After the show, I grab Nitin for a quick interview. When I ask him about his presence in the latter show, Nitin’s answer was simple: “I came in fourth in the competition… obviously. “I am an Indian. I arrived late for the event.” Comedy, it seems, doesn’t simply end with his show, then. “It was always my dream to make people laugh,” Nitin tells me. “I had a calling for this. Of course, it’s something that comes to me naturally. A real comedian has to observe his or her surroundings and craft the jokes but also keep the audience gripped at all times. “It’s not an easy task,” he tells me. Talking about the Omani audience, Nitin says: “An Omani audience is very different from the UAE audience that I usually deal with. Yes, the nationalities of the people are roughly the same, but people here enjoy my jokes because they can really relate to them. “I will definitely be back in Oman, again. It has to be one of my most favourite events, to date,” he says.
■ Let’s Talk About Them was organised by SABCO Art, and presented by Omantel. BMW, Huawei and Omasco was the Gold Sponsor for the event, while Mazoon Printing, Publishing and Advertising and Desert Dreams LLC were the Silver Sponsors.
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Surgical strikes
If medicine is an art based on science, surgery is its most wonderful expression. Alvin Thomas meets a Muscat doctor who has performed more than 10,000 plastic surgeries and is still counting
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simple Google search with the tag ‘top plastic surgeons in Oman’ will present you a list of websites talking about some of the most prolific doctors currently operating in the country. The lists are long, but if you look closely, you will see that there is one doctor whose name stands out on top of all the lists: Dr C. Thomas. Impressive, right? Oh, but I haven’t even started, yet. It’s not just in Oman that Dr Thomas is revered as one of the top surgeons; it’s all around the world. A quick glimpse of his triumphs is a testament to what this man has achieved, so getting him for an interview was not easy, owing to his tight schedules at the Aster Al Raffah Hospital in Al Ghubra where he currently operates. But we make it happen and, in the process, get to hear a side of the doctor that no one knows. Here is his story: Born to a family in the humble town of Kaipattoor, in Kerala, India, Dr Chona Thomas did his early schooling in the small locality before opting for medical studies in the Government Medical College in Trivandrum. Following his graduation (in 1971), he left for Oman. “It was always my dream to become a doctor,” he says. “I came to Oman as a locum surgeon in the American Mission Hospital (which is now defunct) on the 18th of April 1971 for a period of two months. “It was the only hospital in the whole of Oman. But, after two months, I was asked by the chief medical officer Dr. Donald T. Bosch to join the team permanently. I did not hesitate, and soon I was the only Asian surgeon there. Soon after the ascension of His Majesty the Sultan to the throne, however, the health industry in Oman was reformed, thus giving birth to the Khoula Hospital –the first surgical hospital in the country. “I was invited to join the hospital as a general surgeon,” he recalls. “After becoming a doctor, it became my goal to become a surgeon. After achieving that, I decided to become a plastic surgeon.” To fulfil his goal, he resigned from his position and took up an offer to train as a plastic surgeon at the Oxford Plastic Surgery Centre in the UK. “There, I completed my FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons). “I could have continued my job in the UK. But then I got an invitation from the then Health Minister to professionally start plastic surgery in Oman.” There was no looking back for Dr Thomas. “I started the plastic surgery unit with 10 beds and one assistant doctor. That became the largest facility in the whole of the Middle East with over 100 beds and 25 doctors by the time I relinquished my service from the Ministry of Health in 2012.” Since 1998, Khoula Hospital is now recognised as a centre for higher surgical training in plastic surgery after official inspection by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Talking about the challenges that he faced during his early days, Dr Thomas says: “Of course, I was the only chap there and I didn’t have support from the doctors or paramedical side. So, it was a tough climb. But there were plenty of cases to tend to. “The cases that were first reported were the cleft palate and other congenital abnormalities on the ears, hands and fingers; aside from a high number of hypospadias (a disorder of the urethra where the urinary opening is not at the usual location) in addition to accidents, Cancer and Burn patients. “The growth of plastic surgery in Oman was not in an oblique way, but rather in a vertical way. Soon, the number of beds increased and so did the number of doctors.
“Oman’s medical and other services were the last to develop compared to other GCC countries; but it developed in a fantastic manner,” he tells, before going on to thank His Majesty the Sultan Bin Said Al-Said and H.E. The Minister of Health for all their support. Dr Thomas’ relation to His Majesty the Sultan does not end there. For his services to the nation, His Majesty conferred the civil service award, Order of Oman, and granted citizenship to the doctor and his family in 1991. “I was invited to become a citizen, and when the news was broken to me, I said that I love and I like Oman. He is also a visiting Senior Consultant in Plastic Surgery to the Aster Medcity in Kochi, Kerala. Despite all of his fame and success, however, the doctor remains humble. “Today’s theme is teamwork,” he points out. “If the team is good the service will be good. This is a principle I have believed in from the beginning. So, wherever I go, I try to develop a team. “By doing it, we are also laying the foundation for the future generations. If you develop something and there is no one to follow that, then it is of no use to humanity. “You have to contribute to the knowledge of our successors.” Dr Thomas says he has taught several doctors his techniques for cleft Lip and palate surgery. Today, his technique of Repair of Cleft Lip and Nose correction has been recognised worldwide and Dr Thomas holds the record for performing the highest number of such surgeries in the world. “I was invited to perform this surgery in front of a world group of plastic surgeons of 5000, at the World Conference of Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery, Texas, USA in 2008which was an incredible way to let the world know of this technique to perform the surgery. When I ask Dr Thomas about the number of operations he has conducted over the years, he laughs: “Maybe more than 10,000 operations for cleft lip alone. At Khoula Hospital, emphasis is given to Reconstructive Functional operations, whereas in private hospitals like Aster Al Raffah hospital and Aster Medcity, Kerala, India, more cosmetic operations such as Rhinoplasty (Nose Correction), Facial Rejuvenation for facial wrinkles and aging, Blepharoplasty (Eyelid reduction), Mammoplasty (Augmentation and Reduction), Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Body Contouring, Liposuction, Gynaecomastia Correction (Male Breast enlargement) and so on are done on a regular basis. Dr Thomas was awarded the distinguished Alumni Award from the Government Medical College, Trivandrum, and the Dr Bhiman Das Bilwani Oration Award from the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. He also remains a permanent guest surgeon of Operation Smile Mission in Norfolk, USA and Advisor to Smile Train, USA. Setting aside all of his accolades and awards, however, one thing is for sure: Dr Thomas is enjoying his profession and that is for the service of his fellow human beings.
Meet Dr. C Thomas the pioneering force in the field of Plastic Surgery, in Oman.
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The Nissan Kicks may seem like an average sub-compact cruiser. But there’s nothing normal about this SUV: it’s brimming with features and packs quite a punch. -P34
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Wadi Al Amerat SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI SEEKS OUT ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE SPOTS FOR SOME R&R AND BLISSFUL SOLITUDE 032
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Gaming
replenished by the source, making it sterile for relaxing and thereby, a perfect spot for camping overnight. Still, I carried onwards. In a few metres, I came across a very attractive bird; unlike anything I had seen in this region. I presumed it to be a Grey Heron – the species of bird found only in northern parts of the Sultanate – and was amazed to see it here. So, I tried capturing it with my DSLR camera. And with the aperture set to 1/8000 I was all set to chase the bird down. Surprisingly, every time I got close to the bird, it took off. I would then rush back to my Jeep and chase it down before repeating the whole sequence again. In the end, all I had was a blurry picture of the wily bird, which is why there are no photos of it here. In some ways, I think it was teasing me. I soon gave up and decided to simply enjoy the scenery and capture it for the magazine before heading back home. But then all of a sudden – just as I was leaving – it came and stood by me. I thought of it as a peace offering and snapped an image while I could. I then looked around to find that I was deep inside the wadi – the most I had ever gone into… ever. And the setting was simply spectacular. Patches of water flanked the rocks, moistening the surface ever so slightly to make the rocks shine in the afternoon sun. The temperature is also perfect, and the humidity is low, making it a breeze for me to shoot. I would have already melted into a puddle of my own perspiration
in most other locations. But, thanks to Mother Nature’s strategic placement of the rocks, I was always in the shade, being protected from the villainous afternoon rays. It was then that I realised the wadi would be perfect for a spot of overnight camping. It is far from civilisation making it secluded, the temperature is moderate and the rocks are perfect for a tent and chair. The presence of water also means it is a perfect ground for some light (and lazy) fishing. The resulting catch can then be set on some fire and grilled. Just the thought of all that made my mouth water. So, I swiftly went back to my car for a drive back home. All my supplies – the potato chips, peanuts and sodas – soon didn’t seem enough to satisfy my hunger. I needed to have some freshly grilled fish. My drive back took 50 minutes but when I was back, I knew that it wasn’t the last time I would be heading there. As a matter of fact, I have already planned a camping session with my friends for this week. Life is good.
HOW TO GET THERE
TRAVEL GUIDE
H
ow often have you had to look for something for hours before realising that what you were looking for was just under your nose – somewhere close by and obvious? Well, it happens to me always, and this was also the case for me this week. Except, I did not lose anything but rather was on the lookout for a place to visit for my Destination outing. After hours of pondering where I would head to, I simply looked out of the window of my house and realised that I hadn’t been to Wadi Al Amerat in ages! It was also 11am by the time I had made up my mind – a whole five hours ahead of my usual start – when I usually head someplace outside the capital. So, I decided that it was best I stuck to a place I knew very well. And in a few minutes, I was out to explore the wadi. As opposed to exploring it on foot, I decided to put my (recently) not-so-trusty Jeep to the test as it had come back from the repair shop. A bit of a challenge but one that I knew I would enjoy nonetheless. I was also alone this time, and thought it be best because I could take my time and explore every corner; no more of being bossed around by friends, deadlines or curfews. Upon entering the wadi, I realised that there was still a lot of water. This is also typical of the wadi in Al Amerat; it is always teeming with wildlife thanks to the fresh water. I then came across a beautiful lagoon, separated by the few patches of rocks. The water here is constantly
The wadi is very easy to reach and only takes around 15 minutes from Muscat. Turn right at the Shell petrol station next to the highway in Wattayah and head towards Amerat. Once you’ve driven through the mountains, take the first exit at the first roundabout you come to. Double back on yourself and you will find the old road next to the new one.
GPS Coordinates: N23° 32’ 22.758” E58° 30’ 59.202”
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CARS ADVENTURES
C
NISSAN KICKS
Y’s motoring expert Alvin Thomas tries a low-cost compact SUV that is handsome in looks, spacious in size and is actually a delight to drive
an 118hp driving the front-wheels of a sub-compact Japanese SUV be a recipe for fun? While the answer to that may seem like an obvious “no”, there’s nothing drab or dreary (as you might think) about the test car that I was given the keys to, this week. Ladies and gentlemen: for the first time ever, I may have found an SUV that actually inspires the driver to trash the pedal to the metal, and stay within the limits of the law. Well, I’m not keeping it away from you any longer: it’s the all-new Nissan Kicks. Does the name ring a bell with you? Probably not. And there is a very good reason for that. You see, the Kicks is a new product for the brand, and it has been designated to kick (sorry, not sorry) away the existing Nissan Juke from the market, here. While you may sigh at that now, I can safely report that the Juke was never a crowd favourite; often
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being touted as the “ugly duckling” or the “joke” in a family of otherwise curvy sedans and brawny SUVs. There really was no place for a car that looked like an egg with circular headlights and four wheels. And that’s where the Kicks shines. For starters, it looks fantastic. Now, I cannot lie: it does share a couple of lines from the new Maxima (a car that I own), and incorporates it very well on the front fascia but that’s where the similarities between the two cars end. Keeping in line with Nissan’s new corporate fascia, the Kicks slaps on a large grille upfront, garnished with a fair amount of chrome and a large “Nissan” badge. Meanwhile, the lip of the spoiler is differentiated by a black plastic panel, further giving it a sportier look. The headlamps, however, is a cross between – if you look closely – the Nissan Maxima and the Altima sedans. Mind you, it looks great (!) From the side, it’s very evident that the Kicks grows in size over its relative (the Juke): the wheelbase has been extended by 8cm and it stands taller by 2cm. Thankfully, however, the engineers have managed to shave off more than 200kg from the overall weight of the SUV, which is impressive. Moreover, the flare on the fender is accentuated by a line that runs from the doors all the way to the rear tail lamps. The lamps, themselves, are sculpted into a wedgelike shape. It’s a very confused design-language but it works for the benefit of the Kicks. Thanks to the rear lamps, the Kicks looks wider than it should. The rear glass is tall and slanted but merges
Destination
P o s t c a r d s Fr o m
Y- F i
Gaming
CARS
Nissan Kicks Specifications: Engine: 1.6-litre in-line four cylinder Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Horsepower: 118hp Torque: 149Nm Top speed: 180kph Front-wheel drive Parking sensors Around View Monitor Push-button start 43cms alloys Active Trace Control Electronic Stability Control Moving Object Detection 18cms touchscreen head unit Digital instrument cluster Blind-spot monitoring ‘Floating roof’ design LED daytime running lights Climate control
efficiently with the “floating roof ” design. user-friendly. The modish design is carried over to the interior too: My tester also came with a brilliant Around View it is easily the most upscale-looking cabin design I have Monitor (AVM) and the Moving Object Detection system ever seen on a sub-compact SUV, that helps make manoeuvering at low in this price point. Starting from the speeds easy. The former gives you a flat-bottom steering-wheel, to the 360-degree view around the car. semi-digital instrument cluster and The seats are soft and supple and are the responsive 18cm touchscreen, the supportive enough in corners. My car design is fabulous. Also impressive are was finished in fabric, although the the circular air-vents and the stitched customers can opt for leather, if need be. leatherette panels on the dashboard Space upfront is decent, with good THE TRANSMISSION and the armrests on the doors. No knee and headroom. However, SWITCHES RATIOS WITHIN I did notice my knee hitting the other car in this segment – apart THE BLINK OF AN EYE, from the pricier Audi Q2 – sports centre console tunnel while driving; DEPENDING ON YOUR such equipment. Both the Koreans it’s a small but noticeable niggle. THROTTLE INPUTS. THIS and the Americans still use plastic The space in the back is plentiful, MEANS, THE ENGINE IS on their dashboards. though. There was enough knee and ALWAYS WITHIN THE POWER headroom even after I had set the Of course, the lower portions AND TORQUE BANDS, READY front seats in my desired position. of the SUV – the doors and the TO LUNGE YOU ONWARDS upper part of the dashboard – are Being a sub-compact SUV, the exclusively made up of hard plastic. Kicks does come with plenty of boot The dashboard layout is splendid to say the least: it is space. It should be enough for a couple of large bags. And minimalistic in design with only a handful of buttons to because the loading height is low, it will be easy to load take care of the infotainment controls on the touchscreen, and unload. and the air-conditioner controls Now let’s get to the interesting bits: the powertrain. The – it’s phenomenally Kicks packs a superb and refined 1.6-litre in-line fourcylinder engine underneath the hood. I know what you’re thinking: “Superb?”. Yes it is. Yes, the engine may only pump out 118hp and a little over 149Nm of torque – both very uninspiring numbers for an SUV. But, do keep in mind that at 1,100kg, the Kicks is very well one of the lightest SUVs you can currently buy. This – coupled with Nissan’s continually variable transmission (CVT) – means the car easily hauls itself on the road. Zero to 100kph is attained in a little over 11 seconds but the engine does rev its nuts out, often hitting the 7000rpm mark in its efforts. It sounds rather nice, too; if you’re into fourcylinder engine noises. Where the Kicks excels, though, is during highway cruising. The CVT and the engine combo not only produces superior fuel-economy results
but also aids in a pulling out of tight situations on the road (overtaking, fast acceleration, etc.) with efficacy. It’s not Altima-quick, but is brisk enough to cruise on the fast-lane on the highway. The transmission switches ratios within the blink of an eye, depending on your throttle inputs. This means, the engine is always within the power and torque bands, ready to lunge you onwards. Nissan have added artificial “steps” to simulate gear changes and alleviate the “rubber band” effect characteristic of cars with CVT trannies. All they have managed to do, however, is create a null point in acceleration, because the engine is made to drop its revolutions. People often mistake small-engined cars for being too unexciting to drive. But, the Kicks definitely isn’t one of them. The SUV handles rather well for its size. The reason for this is that the 43cm alloys that come wrapped in grippy 205/55 Continental tyres. The vehicle sticks to its line like glue when you put it around a sharp corner. There is also very little understeer when you push the SUV hard around a bend. However, that could be due to the ‘Active Trace Control’ feature, which pulls the vehicle into line when it detects slip. Kudos (!) to the engineers for that. The ride is comfortable on smooth roads but there is a fair bit of road noise entering the cabin at high speeds. The steering is a bit on the light side and offers minimal feedback, but it does the job fine, as do the progressive brakes. Overall, the Kicks – with its techtoys and well-rounded interior – is an enticing package for anyone looking for a sub-compact SUV. Will it turn heads? Probably not. But, it does what it does best: carry five people in absolute comfort and safety, while giving the driver the perception of commanding a decent-sized SUV. It’s flipping brilliant, this SUV!
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CARS ADVENTURES KANDYLICIOUS
Believe it or not: what you are looking at here is not a picture of the lush green mountains of Vietnam or Munnar, India. It’s the mountain fortress of Sigiriya, in Kandy. Stunning, isn’t it?
1. Explore the ruins of the Sigiriya fortress 2. Meditate at the Temple of Tooth with other tourists and monks 3. Visit several other temples in the vicinity 4. Go hiking on the Hanthana mountain ranges 5. Take a tour around the New Shrine Room & Museum
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Destination
Cars
Y-Fi
Gaming
POSTCARDS FROM
Alvin Thomas recommends
KANDY, SRI LANKA W
hen I think about Sri Lanka, my mind immediately screams “LTTE” - short for Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam- a terrorist organisation that gripped the country for decades. But, what’s funny is that Sri Lanka’s most feared terrorist group solely exists as a Wikipedia page today although their acts have left millions scarred for life. Setting the tragic stories of the past aside, however, you have an island country that is teeming with wildlife and marine life, long and striking shorelines that belong on the front of postcards, ancient sites with stories to narrate, divine temples, plantations that people all over the world visit to indulge in voracious tea-drinking, and flavoursome food. Come to think of it: my God, Sri Lanka is fan-bleeding-tastic! What’s even more amazing is that the country’s 2000-year history is welldocumented in the many temples and monasteries dotted around the country. My point of interest for this week, however, is the city of Kandy - situated in the central part of Sri Lanka. It does not have the charm and allure of the coastal areas but what Kandy loses in access to beaches, it makes up for in the majestic (yet mysterious) plains, temples and the Sigiriya - the ruins of a 5th-century city that are anchored by a towering rock fortress and which can be accessed by climbing steep stairs. Kandy is essentially an administrative and religious city, which happens to house some of the most important temples of worship. The ‘Temple of the Tooth Relic’, for example, is one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. If that wasn’t enough, Kandy is also the nourishing ground for some of the biggest tea plantations in the world. Let’s just put it this way: if it weren’t for Kandy, tea-lovers would be dishing out a lot more dough (money) for their Lipton and Bushell sachets. Oh, and not to mention, “Kandy” is an incredibly cool name for a city.
TEMPL
E OF TH E SAC RED TOOTH R E L IC
My favourite place
Oh my! Where do I begin? Well, let us start with the obvious: the Temple of the Tooth Relic looks like it belongs on the set of a movie. It is still active so you can take part in rituals and maybe even reflect with the monks in the monastery. Meanwhile, the ruins of the Sigiriya fortress resemble the set from the first of Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies; it’s unbelievably stunning. The idea of standing among something truly as great as this makes me feel truly blessed; almost like it was destined to happen. And the looks on the faces of other tourists radiate the same impression.
A N IC A L R OY A L B OT
GARDEN
Highlights Kandy is one of the central provinces of Sri Lanka so it does not have access to the beach. However, it more
than makes up for this with vast green plains that flank the area. These plains – known as the Horton Plains National Park – are covered in montane grasslands and cloud forests. It is rich in biodiversity and is known to be home to leopards, wild boards, mongooses, chevrotains and so much more. The plains also contain several waterfalls and rivers. Since much of Kandy is a tropical rainforest, the temperatures fluctuate from 25-degrees-Celsius to 30-degreeCelsius, yearly. The region is also prone to its monsoon season starting from May, all the way to December. Make sure to pack umbrellas when visiting Kandy.
Lowlights
While Sri Lanka is devoid of any terrorist activity today, the constant thought of safety lingers in the minds of tourists. But, today, all the citizens care about is the welfare of their country and cricket. No matter what, do not insult their cricket players. Remember: Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are regarded with the same reverence as political leaders.
Souvenirs Handunugoda or Dilmah brews are a must-buy from Kandy. Don’t even think about leaving the city without stashing up on sachets. Apart from that, pick up hand-woven napkins and coconut shell spoons from local street vendors. Getting there Sri Lanka is only a four-hour flight from Muscat. An Oman Air flight from Muscat to Colombo costs a mere RO120 (depending on the season). From Colombo you can take another flight to Kandy. However, the distance is a mere 113kms and is only a train or bus ride away.
ELEPH
A N T S IN KANDY
Where to stay If you’re planning on returning to Colombo, the Kingfisher Hotel & Restaurant (kingfisherunawatuna.com), located on a beautiful bay, offers great sea vistas and the freshest seafood. However, only local hotels operate out of Kandy. The Hotel Topaz Kandy is a decent hotel for a night’s stay. OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
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-FI THE TECH IN YOU
Destination
Cars
Gaming
Y-FI
PRESTIGE PROJECTION When shopping for a projector, consider its brightness as one of its key selling points, despite delivering a larger picture size than the most expensive TVs on the market. Matthew Herbst checks out what’s available, from affordable HD models to high-end offerings on the market
ITS IN THE COLOURS The BenQ HT2050 works like a dream. Offering an easy setup, including 3D support, the HT2050 can display images with a diagonal of up to 250cm by being only 240cm away from the screen, which is handy and less fiddly when getting to grips with technology. It’s another great option with minimal fan noise and impressive colours to choose from. At www.amazon.com from RO270
BIG ’N BRIGHT The Sony VPLHW45ES is a solid premium proposition that is affordable if you’re investing in a projector that will last. It can display 1080p content, as well as 3D footage. Two further major pluses is its long-lasting lamp (up to 6,000 hours) and the built-in fan that’s incredibly quiet, thank goodness. Image calibration features are available with a robust threeyear warranty. Sign me up. At www.amazon.com from RO769
IN THE GAME This Epson Home Cinema has a few cheaper options but only offer a resolution of 720p. However, if you shell out a few more riyals you can get yourself the Epson Home Cinema 1040. It offers a much stronger picture quality and can project video at up to 762cm in size. The 1040 is a gamers’ dream because it’s much brighter and has two HDMI ports. The Epson Home Cinema 1040 is still affordable and feature-rich. Go for it. At www.amazon.com from RO230
EDITOR’S PICK
CHEAP AS CHIPS
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MEET THE PYLE PRO PRJLE55, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST FUNCTIONAL AND MOST AFFORDABLE HOME PROJECTORS ON THE MARKET. IT HAS A RESOLUTION OF 800 BY 480 PIXELS, BUT ALSO OFFERS 1080P CONTENT. YOU COULD PROBABLY TRASH YOUR TV WITH ITS MAXIMUM SCREEN SIZE OF 250CM BUT THE QUALITY MIGHT NOT BE AS CRISP AS YOUR 42 INCH (106CM) LCD OR LED, THOUGH. AT WWW.AMAZON.COM FROM RO65
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Call of Duty: WWII
Alvin Thomas picks out the top game to look forward to this month
B
e it timing or coincidence, the release of the new Call of Duty: WWII game certainly ties in with the ongoing political warfare between… well… you know who. While many conspiracy theorists have already passed their inane judgement on the game, we gamers think that this title will raise the Call of Duty franchise to a whole new level – one that is far and beyond its Microsoft competitor Battlefield. Rumour has it the game will also incorporate a ‘boots to the ground’-style physics engine, which gets rid of the unlife-like and 90s-Bollywoodaction-flick-esque double jumping and wall running styles, and replaces it with more traditional moves. Keeping in line with realism, the game will also refrain from featuring health regeneration as in the previous iterations of the game; you will have to rely on the in-game medics (mostly squad mates in multi-player mode) to provide you with health kits and even ammunition. We’re not giving any more details away but do keep in mind that there will also be a very intuitive multiplayer
Info Box Engine:
SLEDGEHAMMER GAMES
mode (if previous Developers: versions are ACTIVISION anything to go by) Series: and an intricate CALL OF DUTY map. We also Platform: hear that you can PS4, MICROSOFT now take on the WINDOWS, XBOX ONE role of a spotter (a Genre: FIRST-PERSON person assigned SHOOTER the task of spotting enemies and revealing their positions); fun and definitely versatile. Call of Duty: WWII is due to be released mid-October and should hit the shelves in Oman soon after. I’m getting in the queue for this one, I assure you, assuming of course, World War III doesn’t break out and ruin it for all for us.
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HEALTH& BEAUTY
Health
Beauty
STYLE IN YOUR SUITCASE
FASHION
We know you’re planning your winter holidays and we are here to recommend an ensemble that is fun, fashionable and will make a few heads turn, such as this jumper from M&Co. It’s time to break a few fashion rules.
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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
Keep it simple and colour-coordinated. Combine this Norwegianstyle sweater with black trousers or jeans and you’ll be ready to hit the club or take your special someone for dinner. Buy this from F&F at RO9.
You are a shining star at work and will be one while on the go in this black and white jumper from Topman. It’s fun, simple, bold and edgy. So you. Buy it for RO20.6
Simple, classic jeans go a long way. You can pair them up with anything and dress down or dress up. These dark, ink-blue jeans from Topman are an essential for any man.
You are on holiday and it’s the perfect time to bend the rules of fashion. A single T-shirt pattern? No, that’s dull. But how about three T-shirts made into one? Now that is fashion forward! Buy this from New Look at RO8.
If you’re heading out to a cold destination, scarves should be part of your daily ensemble. They not only keep you warm but give that fashionable edge to casual wear. Buy this block design scarf from Accessorize at RO11.
Keep it cool and stylish with these sunny specs from New Look. Ultramodern and chic, these sunglasses will keep you protected from the sun while making sure you look groovy.
Lock up the blacks and browns and let the colours loose. These canvaspatterned shoes from Tiger Stores are the perfect fashion footwear you need to pack for your holiday. Buy them for RO2.
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HEALTH& BEAUTY
W
ON THE
SPOT
Treating sun spots is just as important as dealing with wrinkles. Here, Y offers some tips that are, well, spot on
omen aged 30 and older are increasingly aware of new wrinkles with each passing year. Yet, evidence suggests that sun spots may have as much of an impact on age-related appearance as wrinkles. Nearly 63 per cent of women older than 35 experience sun or age spots, discolourations and uneven skin. The dark side? The problem reflects your apparent age or lack of youth. Dr Ellen Marmur, a prominent New York City dermatologist and author of Simple Skin Beauty, says: “Getting a clear, even skin tone without discolouration is just as important as wrinkle-fighting to achieving a rejuvenated, youthful appearance. To some patients, it’s even more important.” Dermatologists like Dr Marmur call it hyper-pigmentation but its various types are commonly known as age spots, sun spots, liver spots, freckles and melisma; brown patches 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 a result of sun damage. According to Dr Marmur, the two most used topical treatments for discoloration are hydroquinone and retinoids, which both may have irritating side effects and require a prescription. However, a new alternative, StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum, is an over-the-counter solution that has been clinically proven to work quickly minus the same risky side effects. Myron Jacobson, chief scientist and professor of Medicinal Chemistry, says: “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. Studies reveal 85 per cent of women see reduced sun spots and a more even skin color after eight weeks of use.” But to treat the long-term problem, sufferers of dark spots should also heed the following sun-related advice: ● Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 all year-round ● For prolonged sun exposure, get a wide-brimmed hat to wear outdoors ● Neutralise stubborn spots with peach-toned concealer ● Beware of products that bleach skin, as this can cause white spots StriVectin is available at www. strivectin.com Source: NewsUSA
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Beauty
HEALTH
Fashion
COLD COMFORT Autumn beckons a change in climate. This can bring a whole host of health problems. Here Y offers some handy tips to help you breathe more easily and adapt your home to an allergy-free zone
S
tuffy and runny nose? Sneezing? Itchy nose and eyes? Having allergies in the autumn can make the season a bit miserable. While you can’t control Mother Nature, you can monitor the conditions of your indoor environment. We all know that Omanis spend a lot of time indoors, even as the weather cools. Indoors, the concentration of some pollutants are two to five times higher than they are outdoors. Your home should be a haven for you and your family; not a trigger for allergies and asthma. To help everyone breathe more easily and increase indoor air quality, consider these smart and simple ideas: Be smart with bedding To ensure you sleep well and can breathe easily all night long, invest in allergen-barrier bedding and pillow covers. Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 55C. This will kill dust mites and remove allergens. For items that can’t be washed (eg children’s stuffed toys), place in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 55C. Install a whole-home air cleaner Home air cleaners work with your existing duct work to filter out nearly all allergens. For example, CleanEffects(TM) whole home air cleaner from Trane (R) removes up to 99.98 percent of allergens like household dust, mould spores and certain bacteria and viruses so you don’t have to worry about breathing in harmful bacteria or allergy triggers. What’s more, it’s the first whole home air cleaner to receive the asthma and allergy (R) Certification.
Use a HEPA-filtered vacuum often No matter the type of flooring in your home, vacuum regularly with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner to remove as many allergens as you can. The Carpet and Rug Institute in the USA recommends vacuuming daily in high-traffic or pet areas, vacuuming twice weekly in medium-traffic areas and vacuuming weekly in light-traffic areas, using attachments at the carpet’s edges. Hire professional carpet cleaners Many people with allergies choose to remove carpets and replace them with hardwood or tile flooring that doesn’t collect allergens as quickly. However, this is not always possible, so if you have carpet in your home, regularly hire professional carpet cleaners to deeply clean carpet to remove embedded particles and other allergy triggers lurking within. Choose VOC-free paints Craving a new wall colour? When buying paint, look for VOC-free options. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, and these can trigger allergies. To ensure nobody in your family gets itchy eyes or a runny nose when they spend time in your remodelled space, shop diligently and always choose VOC-free paints. These simple tips should dramatically improve your indoor air quality. That means every time your family is at home, everyone can breathe more easily, in every sense. Source: BPT
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FOOD DRINK
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New Restaurant
Reviews
MANGO MANIA
The world’s most popular fruit is making a comeback as one of the most integral ingredients in many cuisines. And why not? Everyone loves it. 044
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Mango
Marvels
Rustle up some tasty dishes with a fruit that is in season, all-year round, with a little help from Ayesha Curry
Jerk-Rubbed Chicken Skewers with Mango Salsa
C
anadian-born chef Ayesha Curry’s culinary skills with all things Caribbean didn’t happen by accident. The 28-year old celebrity cook grew up with a Jamaican grandmother, who passed on to her the pearls of wisdom gleaned from years of catering to often large families and their needs. But even Ayesha still has to come up with new, wholesome and delicious meals to bring to her table. When seeking inspiration, her Jamaican heritage comes to the fore and that starts with managing the mango. Mango is the world’s most popular fruit and an integral ingredient in many cuisines across the globe. While its sweetness and versatility make it the perfect addition to any dish, it is delicious on its own or when included in spicy dishes. At 100 calories per cup, mangoes are packed with vitamins and nutrients, and are a good source of fibre. Here, Ayesha displays a taster of her formidable talent with food, with the recipes below. * Source: BPT
Servings: 4-6 skewers Ingredients: Mango Salsa § 2 cups mango, chopped § 1/4 cup red onion § 1/4 cup cilantro § 1/2 tbsp lime juice § 1 tsp jalapeno, finely diced § 1/4 tsp salt and pepper Jerk Chicken Rub & Skewers § 3 cloves minced garlic § 3 tbsp olive oil § 1 shallot, finely minced § 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, finely minced § 1 tbsp brown sugar § 1 tsp paprika § 1/2 tsp ground clove § 1/2 tsp ground all spice § 1/2 tsp onion powder § 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
§ 1/2 tsp ground black pepper § 454g chicken breast, cubed § Skewers, soaked in water Method: Mango Salsa § Combine all the ingredients. Let sit and allow the flavours to fuse while you prepare the chicken. Jerk Chicken Rub & Skewers § Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Coat the cubed chicken well with the rub. Marinate for 30 minutes or more. Skewer 4-6 pieces of chicken per stick. Cook on a grill pan at a medium high heat. Turn frequently to avoid burning. Cook for about 15 minutes or until the juices run clear. Place the chicken on or off the skewer and spoon the Mango Salsa on top. Serve, and enjoy
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REVIEWS
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Info Box
SALALAH ROTANA RESORT
Taqah Road, Al Saadah, Salalah, Oman Opening Hours: 24 hours (A heavy) dinner for one: RO24.5 Verdict : 8/10 SERVICE 6/10 FOOD 9/10 AMBIENCE
SALALAH ROTANA RESORT
Excellent service and ambience. Midnight foods needs some working though. Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals
ALVIN THOMAS HAS NO PROBLEM EATING LATE AND ENJOYS EXCELLENT ROOM SERVICE AND A DINNER THAT DOESN’T DISAPPOINT DESPITE THE HOUR
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t’s something only a few of us can dream of: a night out dining in the beautiful city of Salalah – a location often touted as “Oman’s best kept secret”. It’s a “dream” partly because most people procrastinate about visiting the city, before ditching plans and simply heading to Dubai, and secondly because it’s a long, long way from Muscat. So, most people wouldn’t dare drive down there for sightseeing... let alone just to have dinner, like I did. Of course, I am not daft enough to have simply driven down to Salalah – a trip that usually takes more than 12 hours – for a spot of dinner. I was in the city, last week, for the launch of the all-new Audi Q5 (which you shall read of in the coming issue of Y). But, during my time there, I had the opportunity to try out the food at the Salalah Rotana Resort – a five-star hotel – which is in the heart of Salalah. The resort itself boasts six individual restaurants for visitors. Each restaurant has its own set of perks but because I had reached the hotel at 2am, I had to opt for the only one operating – room service. Most hotels shut their restaurants after 12am but Salalah Rotana Resort thankfully serves food all-day long. I quickly jumped into the menu to find that there were quite a lot of options. To start things off, I asked the waiter – a very polite and patient man – for a lemon lentil soup and a basket of bread. For main course, I quickly
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OCT 05 - 11 / ISSUE 489
ABOVE ALL, THOUGH, I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM EXHIBITED BY THE CHEFS AND THE WAITERS, DESPITE THE (ODD) HOUR I HAD CHECKED IN
masked the shortcomings of the other meats. The mutton was soft and succulent, and the knife effortlessly ran through the meat to split the kebab into two halves. The hummus was tasty and consistent but was nothing to write home about. I put that down to the time I had ordered the food at. Most chefs prepare hummus in batches and I presumed I was served one that had been prepared in the evening, at the very least. Meanwhile, I washed down the main course with a glass of orange juice, before deciding to close the meal with a slice of chocolate cake. The cake slice was massive – the serving was almost half the size of a regular-sized cake. It was cold, which I appreciated, and very creamy. The chocolate was fresh, if a bit too much on the darker side for my liking. The cake, however, was spongy and melt-in-your-mouth soft. In all, I enjoyed my late-night indulgence before concluding that the cake was definitely worth its price tag. Above all, though, I was blown away by the level of professionalism exhibited by the chefs and the waiters, despite the (odd) hour I had checked in. Now, that’s the mark of a hotel that is willing to serve its customers and work towards their satisfaction. That’s precisely why Salalah Rotana Resort earns my mark of approval.
asked for a platter of Arabic grills and a side of hummus. Predictably, the soup was the first to arrive. It was thick and flavoursome but with a touch of tanginess thanks to the lemon juice that was added Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see to the soup. It was incredibly refreshing to have reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com after my long day of travelling. The soup was also of the right temperature, and very fresh. The bread was also soft and spongy, as was characterised by the invariable smell of freshlybaked bread. Without hesitating, I smeared some of the packeted Lurpak butter on it and munched on. The Arabic grill arrived next. Now, this had to be the most disappointing part of my meal. The grill was a bit cold, almost like it had been prepared first; before the soup and the bread. The beef was hard and the chicken dry, adding to my disappointment. Thankfully, the accompanying mutton kebab was splendid and
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