Y issue 522, 31 May 2018 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

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GERMAN BLOGGER CAPTURES OMAN’S BEAUTY Smart & Sporty

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DONATIONS POUR IN FOR 10 News: CYCLONE-HIT DHOFAR

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DESTINATION: Souq Nizwa TASTE TEST: Muscat Hills Resort YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

MAY 31 - JUN 06 2018 / ISSUE 522 • WEEKLY

IN THE EYE

OF THE

STORM

PLUS!

OMAN UNITES IN THE SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL AFTER CYCLONE MEKUNU

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

Fast forward F

or people in Muscat Friday was just another weekend but for those in Salalah it was a day of impending devastation they were getting ready to face. The country is still coming to terms with the trail of devastation left behind as Cyclone Mekunu tore through the Dhofar region, causing widespread flooding in its southern areas. The rains started on Wednesday, May 23, and continued up to May 27, pouring down solid. Five years’ worth in five days. As the winds rose and the seas swelled, a community mobilised against the galeforce winds and flooding. People were evacuated from their homes; Salalah airport was closed; and critical care patients in hospital were airlifted to Muscat before the worst cyclone in Oman’s recorded history made landfall. Team Y flew in to Salalah to analyse the situation. How does the place look like now? How long will it take to repair the damage left behind by the storm? Read our cover story to find out. Happy reading!

editor@y-oman.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR Nishad Padiyarath ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/REPORTER Hasan Al Lawati

@ytabloid /ytabloid

REPORTER Alvin Thomas

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

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www.y-oman.com /ymagazine

Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing & Advertising LLC / Y is a SABCO Media product.

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Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman. MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

contents

MAY 31 - JUN 06 2018

Your Oman

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman Robin Sebastian 10 News Search and rescue operation ongoing in Dhofar

12 Movies Veeri Di Wedding to release in Oman today 19 Ramadan Car Guide We feature the BMW 7 Series in this edition of Ramadan auto guide

Features 24 Calm after storm Community camaraderie smiles as Cyclone Mekunu retreats 28 Exploring Oman Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sabine Reining talks about her 30,000 km journey to capture the heart of a nation

28 Cars and Adventures 32 Destination Souq Nizwa

Food and Drink 44 Food Feature Are oats healthy? 46 Taste Test

Muscat Hills Resort

Health and Beauty

34 First Drive Kia Stinger 38 Y-Fi Fund what you fancy

40 Fashion One-piece posh 43 Health Terrific turmeric

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

Move goes i over mach at ‘Ha nto the ma ines — the heart nd Made f king of the process th o al Au and hands r Ramada stunning wat l passioaqi talks to. Sheikha S n’ is a mat orks te a n for f N ashio ishad Pad rah Ahmedr of n and i ifteen designyarath abo Farid Farid aminutes is a ut her s for t meetin l Aulaqi ha ll Sheikha S h e a s g . r s f a S hA uture he awaite with her d ‘Han team f is bustling th hmed ex ar o r d

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MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

THE VOICE OF OMAN

ROBIN SEBASTIAN ON HOW DIGITAL MARKETING HAS BECOME A GAME CHANGER FOR COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY THE SMALL AND MEDIUM ONES

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: Food accounts for 27 per cent of the municipal waste worth RO57 million a year in Oman. Share with us your tips on how to prevent food wastage during Ramadan GEORGINA BENISON

igital marketing is a new world of opportunity for small and medium companies to compete with larger organisations in their sector. Though global digital marketing spend is growing very fast to reach around $270 billion by end of 2018, Omani market is only in its nascent stage in terms of adopting this new technological advancement. Advertising was considered as luxury accessible only to multinational companies with huge marketing budgets until the beginning of the 21st century. But, with the entrance of digital giants like Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. in the affordable digital marketing arena, even the smallest companies could afford to advertise their products and services. Google is providing the Google Search and Display Network advertising opportunity for companies to promote their brands to a target audience through their network websites and YouTube channels, while Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. offer paid opportunities to promote products and services to a target audience at an affordable rate. Beauty of this digital advertising is that each penny spent for promotion can be measured in terms of impressions, views, clicks, conversion, etc.

MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

The Y magazine covered the issue of food wastage during Ramadan in an excellent article last week, Food for Thought. It’s sad to learn that Oman wastes RO57 million worth of food a year, and most of it during the holy month of fasting. We could reduce food wastage by shopping wisely and using everything purchased. Uneaten food can be refrigerated to use later. Supermarkets, instead of sending items past their ‘best before’ dates to landfill, could give them away to charitable organisations for distribution to the needy. The worst offenders are hotels during iftar buffets. A huge quantity of uneaten, cooked food is thrown in the trash every day. Solution? Stop buffets, prepare food on order, and encourage people to bring takeaway containers. Also, unconsumed cooked food may be given away. Maybe next year extravagant hotel feasts could be banned by municipal authorities for being ‘against the spirit of Ramadan’ while cash donations to charities be encouraged.

REEJA C V

The best way to reduce food wastage is to plan ahead the meals as well as preferring to cook food than ordering home delivery from restaurants. Even when you have to resort to home delivery once in a while make sure you order a little less than you require so you don’t waste even a morsel of it. Food banks should be set up in public places so extra food can be conveniently given away. More awareness need to be spread among people to stop wasting food. When attending iftar buffets, fill your plate with small portions of what you really want to eat.

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ZAHID SAEED

Wastage of food is no good at all just cook food according to the requirement if you like to care hungers in the fasting month just give them food in time no need to decorate all variety of foods on 8 person table 20% food should be eaten other after fasting going as you can think any thing sharp hungers NGO can help to collect the extra food to make plan how to distribute in the areas who are needy more hungry.it is best time to make more care about the expensive high price food make more workshops in the schools to give good education to the children how to help hungers in the holly month of Ramadan.best NGO Can solve this problem by hook by crook to safe RO 57 Million worth in the trash for through food should be logo of NGO;during holly month check every day food and distribute to the hungers birds and animals also according to the status of food to get back from the supply.

AMITA NAGPAL

Very, very sad to read about mindless wastage of food. Millions of people around the world sleep on their empty stomachs unable to find even a one-time meal.

MOHAN ANANDAN

Wasting food is indeed unpardonable. You can fathom the magnitude of the problem very well if you care to think that 25,000 people are dying every day due to hunger. Let us do our mite by not contributing to the problem by not cooking more than what is actually required. Keep the menu simpler with essential items rather than being pompous. Plan every meal clearly knowing the expected guests and invitees. Just because you

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

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got the extra stuff on promotion should not be the reason to cook and waste. If at all any food item is left, give it to the needy or store it for re-use.

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RAIS TAQVI was spotted with his favourite Y Magazine in Muscat

JESSE C. ESTANDARTE

People need to be educated about the importance of not wasting food, not just during Ramadan but at all times. Restaurants should be encouraged to donate food to charities and there must be a system to monitor eateries that think it is easier to dump uneaten food in the bin than making an effort to donate to charities.

ASGHAR ALI

It is our individual and collective responsibility to control and eliminate food wastage. The best way to do this is to keep tabs on the source of the problem, which is the kitchen. That’s where it begins, so that’s the place where stricter controls could be exercised.

JASON FELIX NORONHA

Be grateful to God when you have a plateful of food — millions around the world go without food. When you cook more than needed for whatever reason, either store it for use the next day or give it away to the needy. Throwing away food is criminal, and more so during the holy month of Ramadan.

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MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

YOUR

OMAN

AID POUR IN FOR CYCLONE-HIT

DHOFAR AND AL WUSTA

he devastation caused by Cyclone Mekunu that hit Dhofar could be felt throughout the Sultanate. In response to this, numerous public and private businesses provided financial aid and equipment to help ease the lives of those affected. Their contribution towards helping Dhofar could be attributed to the sense of social responsibility and national duty that many businesses felt; as a result, bodies such as Oman’s Chamber of Commerce in Muscat and Dhofar, the municipal council, and charities received tremendous aid from all the members of society. Salalah Airport donated OMR100,000 to help the people in Dhofar affected by cyclone Mekunu. Oman Airports announced that the financial aid is in accordance with the commitment of Salalah Airport towards ensuring the safety of the people of Dhofar, following cyclone Mekunu. In a statement online, Oman Airports said: “Through Salalah Airport, we are pleased to make a financial contribution of OMR100,000 as a part of our national duty and social responsibility.” On the other hand, more than 15 private businesses from Northern Batinah, Muscat, Al Wusta and Dhofar have donated to the Mekunu relief fund, via various Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) branches. “We have received a lot of aid from many businesses in the private sector. Since food was not scarce in Dhofar, we have been encouraging donations such as equipment that can help in the clearing up of roads,” said Ahmed Al Hooti, board member of OCCI. On Saturday, Omantel announced that it will be allocating OMR100,000 to help families affected by Mekunu in Dhofar and Wusta. There have been companies that opted to donate hardware rather than funds, and provided buses to transport people, equipment to clear the

ROP ORGANISING

24X7 SEARCH-AND-RESCUE FLIGHTS

olice helicopters stationed in wilayat Thumrait are conducting several round-the-clock flights to support relief efforts in the aftermath of cyclone Mekunu, according to Oman’s National Emergency Management Centre. In a statement released on Twitter, the centre said: “A number of police helicopters are stationed in wilayat Thumrait. They are performing flights around the clock to transport supplies to affected areas and transfer engineers and technicians to various parts of Dhofar to restore basic services to normal conditions.” Rescue and support operations have continued, with the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) reporting the rescue of a person trapped in water this morning.

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residue from the cyclone, and trucks filled with bread. “We are waiting for authorities such as the Royal Oman Police to tell us what equipment they need so that we can support them in any way we can,” Al Hooti added. “Iftar and Suhoor meals for families in shelters were provided by Bank Dhofar in cooperation with the Oman Charity Organisation,” according to OCCI. In addition, military forces and locals also provided food.

IFTAR NIGHT

GALLERY

QATAR AIRWAYS HOSTED AN IFTAR EVENT AT GRAND MILLENIUM MUSCAT HOTEL. THE EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA.

RAMADAN

ǓǸ ǟǭǷǭǺ ǕǭǲǱ ǵǿ ǲǭǹǻȁǿ ǲǻǾ ǿǱȀȀǵǺǳ ȁǼ ǻǺǱ ǻǲ ȀǴǱ ǮǵǳǳǱǿȀ ǤǭǹǭǰǭǺ ǵǘȀǭǾ ǭǺǰ ǥǻǴȁǾ ǮȁǲǲǱȀǿ ǵǺ ǡǹǭǺ˙˘Ƕ ȃǵȀǴ ǭ ȃǵǰǱ ǿǱǸǱǯȀǵǻǺ ǻǲ ǥǻȁǼǿ˙ ǥǭǸǭǰǿ˙ ǚǻȀ ǭǺǰ ǕǻǸǰ ǓǼǼǱȀǵȆǱǾǿ˙ ǟǭǵǺ ǕǻȁǾǿǱǿ˙ ǖǱǿǿǱǾȀǿ ǭǺǰ ǹǻǾǱ˜ǺǴ ǵǘȀǭǾ ǮȁǲǲǱȀ ȃǵǸǸ ǮǱ ǭȂǭǵǸǭǮǸǱ ǱȂǱǾȅǰǭȅ ǰȁǾǵǺǳ ȀǴǱ ǚǻǸǸȅ ǹǻǺȀǴ ǻǲ ǤǭǹǭǰǭǺ ǭȀ ǓǸ ǥǱǱǮ ˁ ǣȁǾȁǹ ǔǾǭǺǯǴǱǿ ȁǺȀǵǸ ˊ˚˅˂Ǽǹ ǭǺǰ ȀǴǱ Ǔ Ǟǭ ǕǭǾȀǱ ǟǱǺȁ ˴ǥǻǴȁǾ˵ ȃǵǸǸ ǮǱ ǭȂǭǵǸǭǮǸǱ ǰǭǵǸȅ ǲǾǻǹ ˋ˚˂˂Ǽǹ ȁǺȀǵǸ ˄˚˅˂ǭǹ˘Ǵ ǥǭǸǭǸǭǴ ǮǾǭǺǯǴ ȃǵǸǸ ǮǱ ǿǱǾȂǵǺǳ ǭ ǵǘȀǭǾ ˁ ǥǻǴȁǾ ǔȁǲǲǱȀ ǭǿǵǰǱ Ȁǻ ȀǴǱ Ǔ Ǟǭ ǕǭǾȀǱ ǟǱǺȁ˘ Ƕ Rooftop, Muscat Grand Mall 22097777 Al Seeb, Beside City Center 93965992 Shatti Al Qurum (Le Makan)j 22098888

Al Dahariz

23236673

99738158

ǭǸǹǭǷǭǺ̞ǯǭǲǱ ǓǸǟǭǷǭǺǕǭǲǱǡǹǭǺ ǓǸ ǟǭǷǭǺ ǕǭǲǱ MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

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YOUR

OMAN

OMANI STUDENTS BAG AWARDS IN ARAB PACKAGING CONTEST

hree Omani students have won the best model award at the Arab regional packaging contest, “Arab Student StarPack 2018”, in structural packaging and visual packaging categories. Safiya bint Ali Al Hatmiyah won the best model award in the structural packaging category while Asmaa bint Salem Al Hatmiyah and Juhaina bint Salem Al Yahya’eyah from Ibri won the best model in visual packaging. The awards will be distributed to winners next May in a special ceremony in Lebanon. The winners have qualified for the international competition organised by the World Packaging Organisation. The competition was organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and LibanPack, in coordination with the Public Authority for SMEs Development. More as 860 university students from 10 Arab countries took part in the competition. The number of students participated from the Sultanate stood at 89.

THREE MONTHS’ JAIL, RO500

FOR CROSSING WADIS

man’s first public autism centre will be able to help more than 200 patients when it opens next year. Work began on the National Autism Centre in Al Khoud on Sunday morning when Minister of Social Development Shaikh Mohammed bin Said bin Saif Al Kalbani laid the foundation stone for the building. The project is funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Oman LNG, which generously contributed RO2.3 million. “The company has been operating for the last 20 years and supports large development projects every five years that serves the community at large, including Sur Hospital, Turtle Centre in Ras Al Hadd, the establishment of the sailing school and provided 26 ambulances to the Ministry of Health and the Royal Oman Police.” said Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Masn, CEO of the Oman LNG Development Corporation. “This time, Oman LNG invested in the establishment of the National Autism Centre with the hope that it will serve a wide range of Omanis,” he added.

VERBEEK TO REMAIN OMAN

COACH TILL 2020

he Oman Football Association (OFA) has extended the contract of Oman national team coach Pim Verbeek. According to information shared by the OFA on its official twitter account, the experienced Dutchman will be in charge of the Sultanate’s squad till June 2020. The new contract keeps Verbeek in charge of the Omani team till the first round of qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. The OFA roped in Verbeek in December 2016 on a two-year contract. During his stint, the Dutchman has guided Oman to the 2019 Asian Cup finals in the UAE and the Gulf Cup glory early this year.

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White is the new black Photography and concept by: Yamin albalushi Makeup artist: Miad Hassan Henna artist: Sara albalushi Model: Tanya Asif

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YOUR

STAY FIT

OMAN

STAYING FIT DURING RAMADAN IS THE KEY. OUR PHOTOGRAPHER SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI CAPTURES THE MOOD IN THE CITY AFTER IFTAR.

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GALLERY

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015

THE WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON GUIDE

SPORTS LAYALI

SOUQ LAYALI RAMADAN Souq Layali will be held at the Exhibition Hall 5 at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. It will be a place to shop at Ramadan - a market featuring Omani specialities, clothing, jewellery and accessories, beauty products, personal care, perfumes, home appliances, electronics, handicrafts, souvenirs and collectibles.

MAY

THIS

WEEK MAY

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

JUNE

The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre will host Layali Ramadan once again with a variety of activities. Combining traditional celebrations with state-of-the-art facilities, Layali Ramadan which began on May 17 will run up till June 6, providing a warm and welcoming place to families, friends and colleagues. Layali Ramadan is an event where you will find a warm and welcoming place for everyone - corporations, families, children, sports enthusiasts, shoppers and friends gathering to rejoice during the holy month of Ramadan.

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MAY

LAYALI RAMADAN

Escape the summer heat and come join the Sports Layali at the Exhibition Hall 2 of Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. Book the only indoor air-conditioned football pitch in Muscat for your friends or colleagues. Visit our sports zone for fun filled activities for the whole family.

MAY

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

Show Dogs Cast: Will Arnett, Natasha Lyonne, Omar Chaparro, Oliver Tompsett and Andy Beckwith

Veere Di Wedding Cast: Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan Veere Di Wedding is an Indian Hindi female buddy comedy film, directed by Shashanka Ghosh. The film is co-produced by Rhea Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor and Nikhil Dwivedi and stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania in lead roles, as four friends attending a wedding.

After a failed attempt to recover a stolen baby panda, police dog Max reluctantly teams up with a human FBI agent named Frank. A hot tip leads Max and Frank to Las Vegas for the world’s most exclusive dog show. To find the panda, Max goes undercover as a contestant to get the lowdown from his fellow canines. With help from their new friends, the crime-fighting duo must now foil another kidnapping plot and rescue other valuable animals from a gang of greedy smugglers.

military compound after its artificial intelligence is suddenly shut down. There, they begin to experience strange and horrific phenomena as they attempt to uncover what killed the previous team. Oman Release: May 31, 2018

Naa Nuvve Cast: Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Tamannaah, Tanikella Bharani, Posani Krishna Murali

Meera is a happy go lucky radio jockey who ends up falling in love with a very confident Varun who is nothing like Meera in life. How far will Varun and Meera go to get their love that truly completes them. Naa Nuvve is a Telugulanguage romantic comedy film written and directed by Jayendra Panchapakesan and produced by Kiran Muppavarapu and Vijay Kumar Vattikuti under Cool Breeze Cinemas banner while Mahesh S Koneru is presenting the film on East Coast Productions banner. It features Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and Tamannaah in the lead roles. Oman Release: May 31, 2018

Oman Release: May 10, 2018

Oman Release: May 31, 2018

Armed Response

Bhavesh Joshi - Superhero Cast: Vikramaditya Motwane, Harshvardhan Kapoor, Nishikant Kamat, Priyanshu Painyuli

film about group of young friends who want to continue doing the right and challenge the wrong. And on this journey, discover that they are destined to do bigger things, which will transform him from a common man into a Superhero.

Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is an action

Oman Release: May 31, 2018

Cast: John Stockwell, Wesley Snipes, Anne Heche

A team of trained operatives find themselves trapped inside an isolated

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Who is the director of Armed Response LAST WEEK’S WINNER Kauthar.H

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Love movies? Us too!

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YOUR

IFTAR FEAST

OMAN

SHERATON OMAN HOTEL ORGANISED A LARGE CORPORATE IFTAR IN THE BALLROOM RECENTLY. THE GUESTS WERE INVITED TO BREAK THEIR FAST TOGETHER.

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O T E D I U G D A E R T S U M G N Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S I R U D S L A E D O T U A P THE TO H T N O M Y L O H E TH

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PREMIUM

SEDAN

With the new BMW 7 Series, BMW has redefined what an exclusive, luxurious driving experience looks like in contemporary, pioneering form. Ground-breaking technologies in the areas of lightweight design, powertrains, chassis, operating systems, intelligent connectivity and interior ambience underline its mission to bring together unbeatable driving pleasure and long-distance comfort in a luxury sedan

he handing over of the baton from one generation to the next at the top end of BMW’s model line-up sees the brand presenting a raft of innovations unmatched by any of its rivals. Key factors in enhancing dynamics, efficiency, comfort and safety while on the move are the use of carbon-fibrereinforced plastic (CFRP) in the body structure, engines from the BMW Group’s new generation of power units, the plug-in hybrid system in the new BMW 740e, the Executive Drive Pro active chassis system, the Driving Experience Control switch with ADAPTIVE mode and BMW Laserlight.

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As Cyclone Mekunu battered Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dhofar region over the weekend, Y Magazine was on the ground inSalalah to chronicle a community that came together in the spirit of survival amid the wake of destruction

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s the winds surged, seas swelled up and waves rose menacingly, Oman was fully mobilised and security agencies were on high alert to deal with Cyclone Mekunu. The rains started on Wednesday, May 23, and continued up to Sunday, pouring down five years’ worth of water in five days. People at risk were evacuated from their homes, Salalah airport was closed, and critical care patients in hospitals were airlifted to Muscat before Mekunu made landfall. The Sultanate is still coming to terms with the devastation left behind by the cyclone that tore through the Dhofar region causing widespread flooding in southern areas. Video footage that went viral minutes after the storm had wrought havoc showed buildings collapsing and dozens of cars being swept away by the floodwaters. In the aftermath of the storm, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said declared a three-day holiday in the Dhofar region to facilitate rescue and relief operations.

We are all same

The rescue and relief efforts witnessed in the aftermath of the storms and rains were unprecedented as security agencies, corporate houses and common people joined hands together to offer help for the needy. An elderly man stranded in his vehicle by rising floodwaters was saved by passersby who risked their lives to rescue him. “It shows how we the people in Oman can come together as one,” said Manpreet Singh, chairman of the Indian Social Club in Salalah. “We will pull through this as one.” According to the Directorate General of Meteorology, 278.2mm of rain fell on Salalah in 24 hours. The death toll from Cyclone Mekunu so far has been put at five, and search is on for the missing. The government was better prepared to face the situation, wise from the experience of dealing with Cyclone Gonu 11 years ago. The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulances (PACDA) evacuated more than 300 people threatened by floodwaters to safe zones and shelters. People were regularly informed to stay indoors while volunteer associations and community organisations came together to help the flood-hit. “This time we were in a better position because of what we had experienced during the time of Gonu,” said Singh who was at the forefront of helping people. “On Friday and Saturday I was getting phone calls every five minutes for help. We coordinated our efforts with the help of the embassy of India. Around 50 people who were staying in low-lying areas were moved to a rental apartment.”

Sea of volunteers

According to Dr Rashid Al Hajri, chairman of the National Youth Commission, around 6,000 people have registered to help Salalah recover from the aftermath of Cyclone Mekunu. “It surprised us. The kind of support we are receiving from volunteers is overwhelming. These registered volunteers will support administrative authorities and the armed forces in restoring normalcy in the affected areas.” Rehabilitation works are continuing, according to an official at the National Emergency Management Centre. The roads have been badly damaged making accessibility to places impossible, and rains continue to be a hindrance. Three roads have been closed in Dhofar, while two others have been cleared and reopened, the Ministry of Transport and Communication announced. The HimaThumrait, Hima-Marmul roads and the one that passes through Qantabit have been closed for traffic.

Worst in history

Mekunu was the most powerful cyclone in Oman’s recorded history. Government agencies thanked people for their cooperation and adherence to the warnings and guidelines issued by authorities which resulted in a significant reduction in loss of lives. “Efforts cannot be limited to volunteers. Every individual in Oman has played a role in these conditions by praying, communicating and listening to instructions. I would like to thank everyone, including all the volunteers. With the efforts of everyone Dhofar will be even better than it was,” Manpreet said. The National Youth Commission has been in contact with the National Committee for Civil Defence and the Ministry of Social Development to organise and supervise volunteer efforts. The Y magazine flew in to Salalah as soon as the airport reopened and was pleased to see volunteers from the private sector, municipal council members and MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

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businessmen gathered at the chamber of a commerce office to do their bit in relief and rescue operations. We met there Ahmed Bait Ali Sulaiman, a member of the municipal council in Salalah who headed the Food Supply Committee of the main voluntary group in the southern region. “Every afternoon we send a group of people to check the number of requests so we can order food from restaurants,” he told Y. The Food Supply Committee sends 15 marjals (massive pots that can serve up to 300 meals) to the ones in need. “We are planning to provide 4,500 meals a day,” Sulaiman said, adding that restaurants had been serving food in bulk throughout the cyclone. The committee has only six people but works with volunteers from Dhofar and Muscat to deliver food.

Praise for expats

On our way to a restaurant that serves food to the needy we caught up with Omar Al Shanfari, head of the Dhofar voluntary group. “What expatriates did during the crisis was amazing. We had a Kerala-based group that volunteered all night during the cyclone to help us. It’s our responsibility as hosts to keep them safe,” he said. The Food Supply Committee is one of

Efforts cannot be limited to volunteers. Every individual in Oman has played a role in these conditions by praying, communicating and listening to instructions. I would like to thank everyone the four main committees created two days ahead of the cyclone: Evacuation, Transport, and On-Field are the others. Until Sunday, there were 1,698 people, mostly Omanis, staying in shelters across Salalah. The number has dropped from 7,000 since Friday. Figures in other governorates are still unavailable as they are out of reach.

Areas out of reach

At the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) branch in Salalah, municipal council member Mohammed Kashoub said accommodation for the victims was being provided in a number of hotels and apartments. He pointed out that Sadah was still out of reach and water and power supplies had been cut off for more than four days. “Western areas like Dhalkout and Mughsail remain cut off. Roads are badly damaged so we are thinking of sending aid via sea through Raisut port if it is safe,” Kashub explained. “It is not just the rescue team who saved lives but people themselves who with God’s grace listened to the warnings, supported each other, and stayed patient,” he added, pointing out that neighbours shared food and houses during the cyclone.

Thumbs up for Khareef season

Kashub was optimistic about the upcoming Khareef season. “If the government has started fixing the roads and other infrastructure facilities I believe that we will be ready to welcome

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Western areas like Dhalkout and Mughsail remain cut off. Roads are badly damaged so we are thinking of sending aid via sea through Raisut port if it is safe the tourism season. We have the capability to restore everything. It is just a matter of time.” The Ministry of Transport and Communications said it would report on the approximate amount of damage caused by Cyclone Mikunu in the coming days. Engineer Said bin Mohammed Tabuk, Director General of the General Directorate of Roads and Land Transport in Dhofar, said the cyclone had caused severe damage and all the roads in the province had been affected. “It is difficult to give a time period to assess the extent of damage as some areas are still submerged.” He said the ministry was able to open the Taqa-Mirbat-Hasak road and several alternative routes to facilitate traffic from Salalah to Thumrait on the first day after the cyclone had ended. “The ministry, in cooperation with several contractors, has repaired 70 percent of the dirt roads so far.” Speaking about the affected areas, Tabuk said Qatabit had become “a sea” and that several workers were unable to exit. Helicopters are being used to supply them with food. “We will carry out evacuations and repairs as soon as the water level in the area recedes.” He said the roads leading from Salalah to Raysut and from there to the western region had been completely cut off. Khor al-Mughsail “is now part of the sea”. After alerting the police about rising water levels in the street of Haima-Thumrait, Tabuk said, the Thamrit-Marmol road was opened as an alternative route to and from the capital. The ministry will accelerate processing contracts for reconstruction of the main roads, he said, praising the role of contractors in providing equipment free of charge to clear debris. Rent for a bulldozer ranges from RO100 to RO200 a day. Engineer Saeed too stressed Salalah would be ready for the Khareef season, noting that “all the main areas have been linked by asphalt roads that are capable of serving tourists who are expected to come to the southern areas during the Khareef season, which will begin by end of June.” ■

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Love at Midnight Hasan al Lawati meets German blogger Sabine Reining who, when homesick for Oman, would lie on a couch, burn a bit of frankincense, read her book on the Sultanate, and feel fantastic

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Do yourecommend Oman for solo female travellers? Omanis are so friendly and respectful. They really go out of their way to be helpful. I remember one day I was in the small fishing village of Shana looking for turtles when my car got stuck in the worst mud hole ever. Local fishermen and policemen spent hours pulling my car out. Their commitment turned this horrible situation into one of my favourite Omani memories. Oh, and they informed me afterwards that no turtles lived in that place!

he came (by chance), she saw (the Through her blog, more people are showing magic) and she was conquered (by all interest in visiting Oman. “People often tell me that’s Oman). Seven years on, absence how much blogs influence them in choosing their — of the warmth of the people and next travel destination and help them plan their the beauty of the place — makes the trip.” German tourist’s heart grow fonder, “Blogs are – in my opinion – the best way to and distance — a tiring 6,000km of it — frustrates get an idea of a country and its people,” she her. says. “My blog seeks to engage adventurous This is an incredible tale of love at first sight, travellers in the planning of their own journey and ever after, when Sabine Reining spied with to Oman. It’s a record of my experiences and wide eyes sitting on a plane hovering over the skies encounters on my trips; it offers first-hand tips for of Oman to make a landing. The view below was sightseeing, suggested routes, recommendations breathtaking. The love was for restaurants and hotels, as well as insights into instant, infectious and forever. the culture and traditions of Oman. That’s why It was during a random they’re exceptionally valuable when it comes to layover in 2011 when Reining, promoting tourism.” 33, flew over Muscat. “I didn’t I WISH Y sat down with Sabine to know much about the Sultanate prior OMAN WASN‘T learn more about her passion for to that day. When the pilot prepared for photography and love for Oman. 6,000KM landing I was looking down at a world AWAY FROM Excerpts: of magic. Oman has truly become my As a social media-based blogger, GERMANY home away from home and a place I does it still feel good to have a never want to miss again,” she says. printed book in your name? Reining has recently published her first book It’s a dream come true! Each of as a result of her exploration of the Sultanate. us probably has 10,000 pictures on Simply titled Oman, it’s a photographic diary of our smartphone — but when do we actually take her 30,000km journey across the country. the time to look at them and remember the place The book covers almost every inch of the or feeling? It’s nice to have created something Sultanate – from north to south, east to west, sustainable in this fast-paced time where the valley to mountain, and desert to coast. latest Instagram photo becomes irrelevant after “My book documents my travels through Oman five minutes. When I feel very homesick for and shows a wide selection of famous sights and Oman I lie down on the couch, burn a bit of hidden treasures,” she explains. frankincense, read my book, and revel in the Many of her images can be seen on her @ most beautiful memories. It feels fantastic! midnightoman or on her blog midnightoman. com, which is entirely dedicated to portraying the So why ‘Midnight Oman‘ for your web beauty of Oman. andsocial media handles? Working as a project manager for a non-profit I’m a great admirer of His Majesty Sultan organisation, “we educate and qualify long-term Qaboos. The development that Oman has unemployed people and help them to find a job,” taken under his reign is absolutely breathtaking. Sabine tells Y. Now, she is an avid promoter of I’ve spent a lot of time reading his speeches… tourism in Oman. there’s one quotation from his inaugural speech “It saddens me that so many people in the of 1970 I remember in particular: “Yesterday western world have completely wrong ideas about was dark, but with God’s help a new dawn will the Middle East. I remember very well how rise in Oman.” An Omani friend of mine once shocked some people were when I told them I was said to me that His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has going to travel Oman by myself. It’s because they led Oman out of the darkness into the light. don’t know anything about the country. I wish they I wanted to create a name that refers to this all could experience what I‘ve experienced: an beautiful metaphor. Midnight is the doorstep into oasis of peace and people who receive their guests the new day, the dawn of light…and Midnight with open hearts.” Oman was born.

Quick, tell us the top five things you love about Oman! 1. The people: I don’t get tired of saying this…I have never met such friendly and warmhearted people anywhere else in the world. 2. The adventures: I often describe Oman as a magic box. For those who dare to travel Oman off the beaten track, a new adventure awaits at every turn. 3. Its natural diversity: A cyan-coloured ocean, endless white beaches, clay cottages barely holding on to mountains reaching thousands of metres into the sky, green havens next to vast desert. Where else can you find such diversity? 4. Its heritage: Oman combines the old with the new in a wonderful and unique way. I hope with all the tourists coming to the country, Oman will find a way to preserve this. 5. The food: I love Omani food. Every time I return to Germany I try to cook my food Omani style – but I always fail and go back to Schnitzel! Well, is there anything you dislike about Oman? 1. The distance: I wish Oman wasn‘t 6,000km from Germany. 2. The heat: As a German girl who’s used to rain and cold weather, 40+°C sometimes kills me… 3. The waste of plastic: This is actually a quite serious matter. When I go shopping in Oman I try not to use any plastic bags and usually get the weirdest looks. One day a hypermarket even sent its manager after me to ask if everything was all right, because I simply didn’t want to take a plastic bag for my purchase. I really think that a greater environmental awareness has to be developed to protect Omani nature. It breaks my heart to see all the plastic trash in the most beautiful places. ■

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WHISTLE OF THE CHAMPS

AS IT’S CURTAINS ON THE 11TH EDITION OF THE IPL AND TIME TO WHISTLE FOR THE CSK, LISTEN TO SOME INTERESTING SOUND BITES FROM DHONI AND CO

hennai Super Kings completed their comeback in style by clinching their third Indian Premier League title after thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (April 27). Shane Watson stole the show with a majestic unbeaten ton on the night of the final. Here’s how the CSK players reacted after the title triumph: MS Dhoni “A lot of people talk about stats, so tonight is 27th, my jersey number is seven and this is the seventh final for us. Enough reasons to win it. But none of these reasons matter, what matters is that we’ve won it in the end. We talked a lot about age but what matters is the fitness. Rayudu for example is 33, he’s someone who is fit, covers a lot of ground. Even if he plays a few games where he spends a lot of time in the ground and in the field he never complains. No plans to celebrate as of now. We are going to Chennai tomorrow (Monday), meet a few people, the fans and some people who are close to the franchise. But we’ll have a get-together in the hotel and celebrate.” Stephen Fleming “Each year has been different for us. We stayed pretty consistent with the core of our team when others kept chopping and changing. It’s one thing that

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players are older, but it’s the professionalism that we got to look into as well. MS Dhoni handles me (smiles). It’s about man-management. When he goes on the field he can do the things. There’s a lot of trust as well and it’s a nice relationship to have with him.” Shane Watson “It’s been a special season to be honest. To get a special season especially after the last season with RCB. It means a lot to be with a franchise like CSK. Throughout the back end of the tournament I was hanging on for dear life, Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni have been looking after me really well and I am really glad to contribute like I did tonight.” Dwayne Bravo “It has been good. This is a special moment. The team did not play together for the last two years. We had to move from Chennai after one game. For most of the guys, this is their first time. We were able to keep focus and do it. Nothing is better than winning finals” Harbhajan Singh “Brilliant... the way we came out and chased it down. To see what Watson, what he brings to the table, you know how many runs you might get, it is always chaseable. Fourth IPL title for me and I am glad.”

Brought to you by

EXPERIENCE

TRIUMPHS A

CSK RECEIVES HEROES’ WELCOME

hennai Super Kings’ return to the city following a fairytale Indian Premier League (IPL) triumph received the rapturous welcome it deserved, even as murmurs of scaling down an elaborate reception plan swirled in the wake of the Tuticorin tragedy. CSK beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in an authoritative display in the final last night to win the trophy on its return after serving a two-year suspension. Australian all-rounder Shane Watson did the star turn with a blistering century. A large number of fans were waiting at the city airport to welcome the team members and went into raptures when the players emerged. CSK officials were at hand to receive the players. Later, the players were welcomed at Crowne Plaza hotel by the staff with garlands.

t the time IPL auctions had just gotten over in January, the joke during the rounds was how Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had managed to bid for a bunch of players above 30 years of age. The CSK management had invested in a core team comprising skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (36), his deputy Suresh Raina (31), Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson (37), Harbhajan Singh (37), West Indian Dwayne Bravo (34) and Ambati Rayudu (32). Despite having a total of nine players over 30 years of age and the team’s average age being 34 and a half years, they proved experience can be the difference between reaching a final and winning it. When CSK were chasing a competitive total of 179 in Sunday’s final and opener Watson took as many as 10 balls to get off the mark, it appeared that Dhoni’s gambit of senior players had backfired. But it turned out to be a one-sided affair after that as Watson alone hammered 117 runs off just 57 balls as CSK cantered home in the 19th over with eight wickets to spare. CSK relied on experience delivering the results in T20s – a format tailor-made for youngsters. Conversely, Delhi Daredevils had nine players below 26 years of age and ended up last on the points table. Dhoni now joins Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma as only the second skipper to win the IPL trophy thrice.

Thank you for participating in our contest. Here are the winners: 1. Rahul Gopalakrishnan 2. Sushil Kumar 3. Anoop Sashidharan 4. Merin Vineeth 5. Mohammed Siraj *Winners can contact Y magazine’s office to collect the prizes. MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

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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 • SPAR

•

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 • 1947 Restaurant • 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 • SPAR • 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 • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint (Splash) • SPAR • 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 MSQ • 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 • Jotun Paints • 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 • Chevrolet/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 Al Mouj Muscat • Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee • Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co. • Al Mouj Muscat Head Office •

Other Regions Barka • Al Nahda Spa and Resort • LuLu Hypermarket Nizwa • University of Nizwa Sohar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Crowne Plaza • National Gift Markets • Ooredoo • Pizza Hut • Safeer Mall • Sohar Beach Hotel • Sohar Port and Freezone • Sohar University

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Adventures

Cars

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS ADVENTURES SPLENDID STINGER The Kia Stinger is a lot more than just fantastic. - P34

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

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

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

Y- F i

Destination

NIZWA AT NIGHT

Shaquel al Balushi continues with his journeys into the souqs, and this time he is pleased with the sights and sounds both on the way and at the destination

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Gaming

ife never fails to amaze. On this planet, we see humans recover after months of illness and deserts flourish after years of drought. I’ve always been humbled by the wonders of Earth, and this contrast of life and death was visible on trip to Souq Nizwa. We left Muscat around 5pm but bad traffic forced us to break our fast on the road. We parked by a wadi and had refreshing laban and a handful of dates before going to a nearby small coffee shop for some tea. While cupping the warm tea, we observed a group of Asian expats playing football as the Isha Azan call to prayer echoed in our ears. Wandering over to the souq, we began snapping photos in the quiet space…empty at iftar as though it were a space long-abandoned. We waited for Taraweeh prayers to end, and then headed to an adjacent coffee shop where my friend and I met two western tourists who, of all things, spoke Swahili! After a nice chat with the tourists, which included some destination recommendations for their stay in Oman, we stepped out of the café and were immediately

left in awe. The market had returned to life as a deluge of shoppers started flocking to the souq filling the air with the sounds of people bargaining, cars honking, kids cycling….the whole atmosphere changed in a mere matter of minutes. After snapping away with our cameras we used the opportunity to further explore the souq’s vibrant street commerce and buy some goods. I picked up some coffee while my friend bought some local Omani rosewater, watermelon, potatoes, onions, and more. If you come to Nizwa, one of its hallmark scenes is its cacophony of scooter drivers: young Omanis in dishdashas (the official uniform of the Gulf) skillfully snaking through the narrow allies of the souq to reach their destinations. This special means of commuting can only be seen in the wilaya of Nizwa. So popular is this mode of transport that there’s even a beautiful artwork installed in the souq that depicts a young Omani child on a scooter. I’d like it more if they had their helmets on though!

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

KIA STINGER

A smart, sporty, svelte South Korean assault on the prestige market dominated by the famed German brands. Alvin Thomas on why you shouldn’t be put off by the badge

he word ‘fantastic’ is defined as “extraordinarily good or attractive” in the Cambridge dictionary. If you are wondering why I would begin a car review with a lesson in English, then bear with me; for the car I reviewed this week is nothing short of fantastic. Or wait, maybe the Kia Stinger is a lot more than just fantastic; the car is fan-bleeding-tastic. As I would say: There’s literally no better word to describe it. In any case, let me run you through the Stinger. It’s a front-engined grand tourer that pumps out 365hp to the rear wheels or (optionally) to all four wheels. Yes, yes, there’s no real way that you would have guessed the car to be a Kia; even if you real stare at the car. There’s definitely a whiff of German-ness to the car – and that’s more than what the car’s fastidious German designer – Peter Schreyer – brings to the table. Case in point: The exterior design of the car is in line with the best in the business. Heck, I would think that the Stinger looks much better than most

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German and American sports sedans and fastbacks currently out there. Everything, from the ‘Tiger Nose’ grille to the wedge-shaped headlamps and tasteful yet sharp and gaping intakes, reeks of sportiness. Much of this carries onwards to the side profile too: It’s the perfect embodiment of a larger-than-life car that a car-fanatic student would sketch on the back of their textbooks. The sides are sleek, and the fastback profile is rather subdued. The posterior of the car is splendid, save for the generic tail lamps. However, it does redeem itself with the quad-exhausts fixed in conjunction with the gloss black diffuser, and the staggered 19-inch alloys wrapped around sticky Continental tyres. Moving over to the interior, the fit and finish is as good as that of any other car from Europe. Albeit, once you’re inside, it’s familiar territory, especially if you’ve driven a Kia before. Mind you: All I’m trying to say is that all the buttons and screens are placed where you’d normally expect to see them. The rotary a/c vents are a great addition, while the eight-inch touchscreen and the 720 Watts 15-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system are a blast… figuratively, of course! Nevertheless, all the upper portions of the cabin are wrapped in soft leatherette surfaces, while the lower panels – as you’d expect in any car of this segment – are completed in harder plastics. Still, the noise you get when you thump your hands on the dashboard are reminiscent of the aristocratic “whump” that you receive when you do the same in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz. The front seats are cushy and sizeable and offer excellent levels of side bolstering and lumbar support. This can also be said about the rear bench,

although it does offer superior head and leg room than most of its competitors. Speaking of which, the boot – courtesy the hatchback-style liftgate – provides easy access to the inside. It’s big enough – at 406 litres – to lumber along about six suitcases at any given time. The Koreans haven’t skimped out on the safety features either. They include front, side and knee airbags, ABS, ESP, traction control and brake assist. Meanwhile, optional

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KIA STINGER Specifications: • Engine: Lambda 3.3 T-GDI • Max Power: 365/6,000 rpm • Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission Electronic Stability Control Drive Select Mode Around View Monitor with parking guidance (AVM) Rear Cross Traffic Collion Warning (RCCW) Head-Up Display Smart Power Trunk 15-Speaker Harman/Kardon premium sound 406 litres of cargo capacity Paddle shift levers Wireless smartphone charger Ventilated front seats

MUCH PRAISE CAN ALSO BE SUNG ABOUT THE BREMBO BRAKES: IT’S POWERFUL AND LINEAR, BUT ALSO QUITE EFFICIENT IN THE WAY IT PERFORMS, ESPECIALLY DURING NORMAL ROAD DRIVING

safety features include blind spot monition, front collision warning, parking distance warning front and back and rear cross-traffic alert. Now let’s move over to the front end – the side of the car that houses the superb 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 that pumps out 365 horses and 510Nms of torque. This layout is further complemented – to an extent – by an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual override capability. The result of all this maniacal power and torque is a 0-100kph time of 4.9 seconds. But simple figures don’t tell you the whole story. Where the Kia Stinger… well… stings is in drivability. To drive, the Stinger is sorted on all fronts. The initially unassuming chassis turned out to be quite charming a few minutes into my drive,

while the forgiving suspension and the decently tuned gearbox worked in tandem to keep the car hide its weight (approximately 1,800kg) and keep the car quick on its feet in sharp corners. Oversteer is attainable if you dare to push the car into a corner hard, but for most parts, the car progresses on the road with neutral (but still sporty) characteristics. Of course, Kia allows you to alter the driving, engine response and even the steering modes with the pushes of buttons, but there’s not a great distance between each setting save for ‘Eco’ perhaps. There’s also a ‘Sport Plus’ setting that sharpens up the engine, tranny and suspension and adds weight to the steering. That, alongside the disabled ESP system (in this mode), makes for a rather fun drive. The limits are well within reach, and the drive is on a par with certain rivals from the German stables. But should things go out of hand midway through a corner, keep in mind that you can only work with the variable-ratio electric

steering and the merciful Continental tyres to bring you back into the line. It’s a sharp and intuitive system, but – like all electric layouts – it doesn’t translate much road feel to the driver. Thankfully, and unlike the Alfa Romeo Giulia we tested earlier, the quick-ratio steering responds with grace, as opposed to simply locking out the front wheels with a simple twitch of the steering. Much praise can also be sung about the Brembo brakes: It’s powerful and linear, but also quite efficient in the way it performs, especially during normal road driving. Au contraire, it offers superb stopping force when you need it – which is commendable when you take the overall weight of the car into consideration. South Korea has produced some fine cars over the years, but a grand tourer to rival – and on many levels edge out – cars of the likes of the Porsche Panamera or the BMW 4 Series was quite a shocking revelation. While that may come across as high praise, I must point out that the Kia Stinger stands out in my books because it delivers on all its promises. And when you’re shelling out only a portion of what you normally would over any other German car, this comes to me as more than just your run-of-the-mill grand tourer. This may very well be the bargain of the decade. Well done, Kia. Well done.

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CARS ADVENTURES STUNNING TOKYO It’s easy to get lost in Tokyo. Home to massive skyscrapers and countless restaurants

1. Shop at Ginza — Tokyo’s busiest shopping area 2. Check out the National Museum of Tokyo 3. Stay at Ryokan, the Japanesestyle inns 4. Watch sumo wrestling 5. When in Japan, have sushi

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TOKYO W

hen you think of Tokyo you might imagine a concrete jungle with skyscrapers and buildings, but Japan’s capital offers a seemingly unlimited choice for tourists: excellent museums, green spaces, historic temples, gardens and shopping venues, among others. Over 13 million people live in Tokyo, making it one of the most populous cities in the world. In central Tokyo you can visit the Akihabara district for electronic and otaku goods and Koishikawa Korakuen Garden. In Northern Tokyo you must check out the Tokyo’s National Museum, one of Japan’s oldest and best museums; Tokyo Skytree, a 634-metre-tall tower with observation decks; Sensoji Temple, a large temple in the Asakusa district; and Rikugien, a beautiful Japanese-style landscape garden. In Southern Tokyo revel in the Institute for Nature which is a quiet nature reserve in the middle of Tokyo and the Tokyo Tower, a 333-metre-tall symbol of the stunning city. Don’t miss the Buddhist temple - Zojoji Temple - at the base of the Tokyo Tower. In Western Tokyo make it a point to visit the Meiji Shrine dedicated to the deity of Emperor Meiji, Harajuku Centre of teenage fashion and cosplay culture and Nakano Broadway, a shopping mall with lots of anime-related stores. Tokyo offers a wide range of lodging choices. Ryokan are Japanese-style inns found throughout the country, especially in hot spring resorts. More than just a place to sleep, ryokan is an opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality. You can visit Tokyo at any time of year because the weather is temperate. The best times to visit Tokyo are fall (late September to November) and spring (March to May). During the cherry season the whole country is swept by a sort of festival atmosphere that lasts from the first flowering down in southerly Okinawa to the last petal drops in northern Hokkaido. The best place to experience cherry blossoms in Tokyo is at Shinjuku Gyoen. This park features more than 1,000 cherry trees of over a dozen varieties, including numerous early and late blooming trees. in Tokyo is at Shinjuku Gyoen. This park features more than one thousand cherry trees of over a dozen varieties, including numerous early and late blooming trees. Over 600 cherry trees are planted around the spacious Yoyogi Park, offering pleasant picnic opportunities too. Tokyo is a big city, and so taking a tour is a smart and efficient way to see the top sites and one of the best ways to learn about what you are seeing. There is only one official language spoken in Japan, which is of course Japanese. However, many Japanese are able to understand English to a certain extent since English is the foreign language that everyone must learn as part of compulsory education.

TEMPL

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K IN T OK Y O FU C H I P A R C H ID OR IG A S ON KURA SEA D U R IN G S A

My favourite place

The main appeal of Tokyo’s Marunouchi district is the Imperial Palace with its stunning 17thcentury parks. The palace is encircled by a water-filled moat and tree-covered grounds — a stunning natural view within the bustling metropolitan city. Kokyo Gaien (Imperial Palace Outer Garden), Kokyo Higashi Gyoen (Imperial Palace East Garden) and Kita-no-maru-koen Park are all open to the public free of charge.

Highlights

Rising high above the city, Tokyo Skytree is the capital’s greatest attraction, considered the tallest tower in the world. The 634-metre-tall tower stands out in Tokyo’s skyline. The wide windows of the observation decks offer panoramic vistas stretching all the way out to Mt Fuji. After visiting the tower, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy in the Solamachi complex right at the foot of Skytree. Besides a fancy planetarium, the Sumida Aquarium and pocket-sized Postal Museum, you will also find over 300 shopping and dining options.

Lowlights If you are allergy prone, the cherry blossoms season may not be the best season to visit Tokyo. Souvenirs Tokyo is a great place to buy some interesting Japanese souvenirs. Pick up a yukata, which is a casual version of

the kimono made of cotton fabric, wrapped around the body and fastened with a sash. Don’t forget to buy the Kabuki Face Pack which comes as a set of two colourful masks that help rejuvenate your skin. The Kabuki Face Pack designs are inspired by actual makeup designs from the classic kabuki plays, ‘Funabenkei’ and ‘Shibaraku’. So they can rejuvenate your skin and celebrate traditional Japanese culture. Japanese lacquerware, Japanese cooking knives, Japanese paper Washi, unique flavoured kit kats, chopsticks, origami papers, paper fans are the other souvenirs you can pick.

Getting there From Muscat, travellers can take convenient connecting flights via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Bangkok. Flying time from Muscat is 12 hours and 5 minutes, including stopovers.

Where to stay Every hotel category is represented here and is ideally located. It is advisable to make the bookings

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OARD S IN S H IN J U K KABUK U ’S I- C H O D IS T R IC T

online before you get there.

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

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Y-FI

FUND WHAT YOU FANCY

Crowdfunding website kickstarter.com has a collection of upcoming devices hugely funded by people. Back them up and enjoy some extra benefits, says Hasan al Lawati

TRAVEL WITH A TRANSLATOR Travelling nowadays is cheaper and easier than it has ever been. However, many still avoid visiting countries that communicate in a tongue they don’t understand. But imagine understanding 16 languages without the need to go through any learning process! Mesay 2.0 is a portable machine that instantly translates into 16 languages. The usage of artificial intelligence for translation guarantees that 97 percent of the translations is accurate. The languages Mesay 2.0 deals with are English, Chinese, Cantonese, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Russian and Greek — all of which can be translated simultaneously back and forth. What an easy way to make foreign friends!

KEEP A TAG ON FOOD WASTAGE

COOL DOG

EDITOR’S PICK

When humans are shifting from playing yoyos to more sophisticated, high-tech video games, it is time the dogs followed in our footsteps. Wickedbone, an intelligent and interactive device, will save you from buying real bones for your dog to play with. The gadget features an emotional system that can react to different actions of your dog. It also entices the dog to play by moving around on its own. Wickedbone is also easy to clean: its detachable tires and protective cover are very easy to remove and clean.

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Studies have revealed that in Oman we throw in the trash food worth RO57 million a year. While hotels and restaurants can be blamed for much of this monstrous wastage, common men too contribute to this mountain of waste. Just check your fridge and count the food items that have been there for so long that there is no way you are putting them in your mouth. OvieSmarterware comes with a practical solution to keep track of your food. The device, a smart tag, can be attached to your food packs and, based on a data base, it will send notifications to your phone to let you know about the state of the food. The LED light ring on the tag changes as time passes to visually alert you about the food. Basically, the device helps you remember to use or eat food you have stored in the fridge and thus cut down on food wastage.

HEAD START ON THE ROAD

HUD NEOTOKYO IS A CAR HEAD-UP DISPLAY THAT HELPS YOU DRIVE SAFELY WITHOUT TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD. IT DISPLAYS DRIVING INFORMATION WITHIN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION AND ENABLES ONE TO CHECK IMPORTANT ASPECTS SUCH AS SPEED WHILE KEEPING ONE’S ATTENTION FIXED ON WHAT IS IN FRONT. SUCH FEATURES HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH-END CARS, BUT THIS MODEL OF THE HUD NEOTOKYO LINE ALLOWS YOU TO INSTAL IT INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE AS AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT.

JULY MAY 3103 - - JUN 09 /06ISSUE / ISSUE 327522

Twilight Imperium (Fourth Edition)

Info Box Gameplay: 4.6/5 Art Work: 4.0/5 Complexity: 4.5/5 (1 THE LEAST)

The galaxy is yours to own and dominate but you need to brave complex, fearsome challenges of monstrous propositions. Hasan al Lawati tries to craft and dominate the galaxy

he throne of the vast galaxy is on the line; Mecatol Rex, the central and most influential planet of the galaxy, is vacant; and the clans are ready to do the impossible to claim the throne and be the new masters of the galaxy. This is not a sci-fi movie: it’s a galaxy in a box. Twilight Imperium (Fourth Edition) is a game of galactic conquest in which three to six players take on the role of one of 17 factions vying for galactic domination through military might and fire power, political manoeuvring and tactical expansion, strategic decisions, and economic bargaining. Every faction offers a completely different play experience. Each player must play according to one’s strategy and constantly update, tweak and come up with new strategies based on opponent’s actions. Expanding, producing more units, upgrading units and structures, researching new technologies, attacking and get attacked, trade, fulfil objectives, score points, vote for laws among the galactic councils, build alliances and indeed enemies, backstab others — all of this and more make TI4

a non-stopping rollercoaster of thrill, action and unpredictable journey until one player scores 10 victory points (14 VP for advanced game play) and gain the throne of the galaxy. No two games of Twilight Imperium are ever identical. Starting from the phase of creating the galaxy (the board) from a total of 51 hexes, randomly selecting the factions, randomly revealing public and personal objectives… all of that is random until players engage themselves in an epic experience. Each turn of TI4 consists of three phases and the fourth is added midway through the game. Players usually start

with the Strategy Phase followed by the Action Phase, the Status Phase and, finally, the Agenda Phase where Mecatol Rex is occupied by one of the players announcing the formation of the galactic council. The insane mechanics, the complex game play and tons of rules, the quality of components, the huge amount of tokens cards and pieces, the 24 learn-to-play guides all say one thing: this game is a monster. Twilight Imperium 4 — the 4 to 10 hours, three to six +14 years players’ game — was designed by Dane Beltrami, Corey Konieczka and Christian T. Petersen. Art work by Scott Schomburg and published in 2017 by Fantasy Flight games with six other companies, it is recognised as one of the best board games in history.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

ONE-PIECE POSH We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of all-in-one jumpsuits for new season styling. Check out some of the latest collections available in stores

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k o o L e h

t righ e h t n ing chose k c i p lly lass tastefu c d e an yle ith som t s s rtles allure w o f f ith e to the ri Das w s h ead nd add Gayat h n Tur suit a , says s p jum ssorie e acc

T t Ge

Pair your jumpsuit with this mini jute crossbody bag. The multicoloured bag goes well with any outfit. The jute exterior has shiny beads and the interior is lined, with an extra pocket. The magnetic closure and the chain shoulder strap add to the comfort. Walk around with this trendy bag for RO19.90.

Look dashing with Zaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new collection of jumpsuits. This grey, roundnecked jumpsuit with double cap sleeves comes decorated with elegant sequins. The back zip is invisible. Buy this for RO59.90.

Go for this pair of dangling earrings that will go with any outfit. The multi-coloured earrings come with clip closure for easy wear and squareshaped pieces of rhinestones. Grab them from Zara for only RO10.90.

The glossy, black belt comes with a rectangular buckle. You could mix and match this belt with your outfit and make your style statement. Own this special braided stretch belt from Zara for just RO12.90.

Walk with grace and confidence wearing this pair of leather sandals. The stiletto heels come in various colours and the buckled ankle strap gives you comfort. This perfect pair is available for RO27.90 at Zara.

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DISAPPOINTMENTS

HEALTH& BEAUTY

From minor setbacks to major life events disappointments are part of growing up. Gayathri Das tells us how parents could help kids bounce back

s a family it’s the parents’ responsibility to help children handle disappointments at an early stage. This is something which cannot be taught but learnt. They need to come up with their coping skills. Often parents rush into situations to not let their child feel bad. That is a wrong move. Let them be in that understanding or feeling. Support them to overcome it rather than not letting them face it at all. Understand what it will take for the child to put the situation in place or help them to take corrective steps so that next time they will be able to handle it on their own. We should not go into sympathy mode. Instead get into

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empathy mode where you talk to them and understand their situation. Ask them what they are feeling. When kids are hurt, and they won’t open up and talk to you, make sure you don’t start advising. Instead listen patiently to them without interrupting. Make them feel comfortable with a pat on the back or a kiss. Discuss later when they are in good mood. But if they are crying or low defocus them from that situation. You can tell them stories of how you handled your situations alone — this could encourage them to handle the situation on their own, making you the role model.

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TURMERIC

Turmeric isn’t just for cooking — a pinch of it in your beauty routine could get you glowing again, says Gayathri Das

urmeric is a super food — for health and beauty care — found in every kitchen. Its antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are well documented. Try out these simple tricks and save the money you would spend on beauty parlour visits for waxing and threading. Oily skin Make a face pack with one-and-a-half tablespoon sandalwood powder, three to four pinches of turmeric powder and three tablespoon orange juice. Apply the paste and let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it out with lukewarm water. The antiseptic and antibacterial properties of turmeric that fight pimples and breakouts will give you a youthful, glowing skin. Dry skin Mix one egg white, half teaspoon lemon juice, half teaspoon rose water, a few drops of olive oil and four to five pinches of turmeric powder to make a paste. Apply this on your face, let it dry and wash it out with cold water to see the natural glow on your face. Make a paste of four pinches of turmeric

powder, an equal quantity of rice powder, half teaspoon milk and tomato juice. Apply a thin layer of the paste on your face and leave it for 30 minutes before rinsing with water to get rid of wrinkles. Acne Add a few pinches of turmeric powder with 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon cucumber juice. Apply this on your acnes, blemishes or pigmentations and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes and wash it off with cold water. The turmeric face mask helps not only to clear acne marks but also to reduce oil secretion. Facial hair Add one teaspoon gram flour to a few pinches of turmeric powder and use this as a scrub on your face daily for a month and see the difference on your facial hair. Night cream Make a paste of a few pinches of turmeric powder with milk or yoghurt and apply this face mask overnight. Do not wash your face with water in the morning — instead remove it with a mild cleanser and see the glow on your face. MAY 31 - JUN 06 / ISSUE 522

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FOOD DRINK

ARE OATS HEALTHY? Adding oats to your daily diet helps reduce high blood pressure. Oats contain a wide array of vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates and iron.

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Oats laddu § 1/4 cup jaggery § A pinch of salt § 2 tbsp chia seeds Method: § Roast the dry fruits over a low flame and keep aside. Roast oats in ghee till light brown and keep it aside. Add cinnamon, coconut, dates, jiggery and salt to the oats and blend all these coarsely. Add the chia seeds to this and mix well. Grease your palm with a little ghee and make the mixture into balls.

Ingredients § 1 cup almonds, chopped § 1/4 cup pistachios § 1 tsp ghee § 1 cup oats § ½ tsp cinnamon § 1 cup desiccated coconut § 3 pieces of dates, chopped

Peanut chutney § 1/4 cup water § A pinch of mustard seeds § 1 tsp ghee

WHAT YOU

oat to have A quick meal for your breakfast that’s healthy, tasty and good for your cholesterol and weight management ideas, oats are what you ought to have at least once a week, says Gayathri Das

ats are rich in fibre and perfect for healthy weight management. Starting your day with oatmeal can help maintain healthy weight. It gives you a feeling of fullness. The beta glucan in oats reduces LDL cholesterol in those with high cholesterol levels. Adding oats to your daily diet helps reduce high blood pressure. Oats contain a wide array of vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates and iron.

Ingredients § 3/4 cup roast peanuts § 1 green chilli, chopped § Salt to taste § 1 tsp garlic, chopped § 1 tsp ginger, chopped § 1/4 tsp roast cumin seeds § 1/3 tsp coriander powder

Method: § Grind the peanuts, green chilli, salt, ginger, garlic, cumin seeds and coriander powder with the water and make it into a chutney consistency. Heat the ghee and splutter the mustard seeds and add them to the chutney and enjoy it with hot dosas.

Oats dosa Dressing ingredients § 1 cup quick oats § 3/4 cup semolina § 1 cup curd § Salt to taste § 1/2 tsp cumin seeds powder § 1/2 tsp coriander powder § 1/4 tsp red chilli powder § 1 cup water § Oil, as required Method: § Grind the oats into fine flour. Mix the flour, semolina, beaten curd, salt, cumin seeds

powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder and water and make it into a smooth consistency without any lumps. Keep it aside for 10 minutes and the dosa batter is ready. Serve it with peanut chutney.

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TOPGE RAN Info Box

MUSCAT HILLS RESORT

Situated within the idyllic private bay of Al Jissah. Contact: 2 ‫ ‏‬4 853000‫‏‬ Iftar for two: RO39

MUSCAT HILLS RESORT

Verdict : 8/10 SERVICE 7/10 FOOD 8/10 AMBIENCE Large variety of delicious dishes on offer in a beautiful and tranquil setting Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

WITH RAMADAN WELL UNDER WAY, MATTHEW HERBST DECIDED TO COMBINE A RELAXING DAY BY THE SEASIDE WITH BREAKING FAST AT A BEAUTIFUL RESORT WITH HIS NEAREST AND DEAREST

he day started more than perfect with a beautiful drive towards Muscat Hills Resort, dipping in and out of the hills of Muscat and being presented with turquoise waters. Upon arrival at Muscat Hills Resort the main intention was just to chillax next to the water which would assist enduring a day of no beverages or snacks seeing that it was Ramadan after all. With having an iftar in mind for later, my girlfriend Carolin and I were not sure where exactly our iftar would be enjoyed. We were pleasantly surprised to hear about what was on offer at the resort and had our hearts and minds set on giving their iftar a go. The surroundings make it ideal, with lit-up mountains and lawned seating areas outside of the tent for those not wanting an iftar but looking to enjoy mocktails with shisha. After our glorious day in the sun we headed off towards the lawns to take in all the beauty on an unusually cooler evening than most. In front of us was a red carpet that led us to the entrance of what looked like an average-sized tent but upon entering was quite vast and filled with a huge buffet spread. We were hungry and to see all that was on offer made our stomachs grumble even more in anticipation. The tables were beautifully set up and the background music was very much part of the flow. We didn’t waste any time in heading towards our starters. In front of us was a huge selection of salads and dips of every kind of

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EVERY MOUTHFUL WAS AS DELICIOUS AS IT LOOKED AND EVEN THOUGH I THOUGHT MY TASTE SAMPLES OF EVERYTHING LOOKED LIKE A FAIR PORTION, I CAN SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT IT WAS MORE THAN I COULD CHEW

with sauce and melted in my mouth. My girlfriend isn’t much of a fish lover but took a bite regardless. Even after my recommendation, nothing could persuade her to like the dish. Carolin opted for a vegetable curry which she said was delicious and went back for a couple of rounds of different things like tofu. Sensibly she feasted on much smaller portions than I did. Smart move. Every mouthful was as delicious as it looked and even though I thought my taste samples of everything looked like a fair portion, I can say without a doubt it was more than I could chew and was ready to burst at the seams. Despite this, Carolin was keen on the desserts. I knew I could only stretch a little more before I had to give in, so opted for light fruits of the melon variety and a cheese cake slice. I admit I also threw in a small slice of Kunafa but by the end of my sweet adventure there was no way that kunafa made it towards my mouth. The cheesecake was unusual and not your average type so only managed half of it as it was a little too sweet for my liking. We were then offered Omani coffee to close off what was undeniably a massive feast of the finest kind. The resort met our expectations on the quality of food and service. And we were told their restaurant during the year was fantastic as well. I will return to check out the restaurant when Ramadan is over and look forward to sampling Italian cuisine.

variety you can imagine. We loaded our plates with a little bit of everything as you do on a buffet. From fresh salads to the hummus and different types of breads on offer we knew our stomachs were going to burst when leaving later. However, we continued without fear. We then loaded up on the tastiest of soups. Carolin opted for chicken while I without fail knew the wild mushroom soup would be a major hit. It was that much of a hit that Carolin had her eyes on mine, and shortly after decided to have a bowl as part of her main dish. We requested some soft drinks and water to help wash down the feast and it was welcoming to know that the first round was included in the price of the iftar. Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see We quickly cleared our starters of salads and reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com soups to head toward the main event of the buffet. It was dish after dish of every kind of meal you could think of to cater for everyone’s taste buds. I chose to take a little of everything again except rice or anything too starchy. On offer was a range from meat to fish, vegetarian and even vegan, from tuna to hammour smothered in a yellow saffron sauce, biryani, curries, chicken kebabs, chicken pieces, kibba, varities of pastries, chicken harees, steamed vegetables, tofu, the list was endless. I settled on that the best dish for me was the fish in saffron sauce. It fell apart on the plate oozing

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