N O V E M B E R 24 / I S S U E 2 5 8 0 1

JAN

9 – 1

5 •

ISSU

E 252

• W

EEKL

Y

Your top guide to the best of oman, everY week

DAZZLE AWAY

MOODY MOUNTAINS

POSH POPP

LU

S!

APR 10 - 16 / ISSUE 315 • WEEKLY

32 28 37

Free!EVERY THURSDAY

NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR

GROOMING: Why Beards Are BigON THE ROAD: With Harley

Career: REINVENTING YOURSELF 26

FoodFashion Destination

GIRL GOLFER / DRIFT DAY / WEEK’S EVENTS / FORD F-150 / MOKA & MORE / OFFICE ON THE MOVE / LATEST FILMS

Ice Cold In Antarctica OUR FREEZING OMANI RETURNS

LOUD LIFEIs the volume beIng turned up?

,

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 3

Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing &

Advertising LLC /Y is a SABCO Media product.

We’d love to hear your news and views. For editorial

enquiries, please email info@y-oman.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to Y Magazine -

your indispensable guide to everything modern Oman has

to offer.

EDITOR IN CHIEFSayyida Iman bint Hamad

bin Hamood Al Busaidi

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Eihab Abutaha

MANAGING EDITORPenny Fray

SECTIONS EDITORKate Ginn

CONTRIBUTORTom Robertson

PHOTOGRAPHER Jerzy Wierzbicki

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Feroz Khan

Write to us at Y Magazine, SABCO Media, PO Box 3779, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman.

@ytabloid facebook.com/ytabloid www.y-oman.comFO L L O W U S O N :

,

Online: Visit y-oman.com for even more inspiration.

Smart device: Catch up with Y on the go at y-oman.com/current-issue

Ways to get your Y fix

Fast forwardThere’s a slight emptiness in Y Towers. And it comes from seeing the recent

departure of our editor, Penny Fray, who has, for so long, steered Y Magazine on towards ever-increasing success. Alarmingly, the annals of history are littered with stories of troops who have collapsed after seeing their leaders

leave the battlefield. Not Team Y (that’s us above). Life in Oman waits for no man – or incoming editor – and the latest exciting stories

have positively bustled on to the pages of Y Magazine. This is no time to be staring at one’s feet, cluelessly shambling around while waiting for the arrival of a new boss.

Team Y has plunged headfirst into this new issue with a vigour and determination to do Miss Fray proud. We haven’t shied away from the hard issues that need tackling. This week it’s the scourge of noise pollution. More than a nuisance that’s deeply upsetting Muscat’s residents, it’s also a menace that undermines people’s well-being and can have dramatic health effects.

So it’s all hands on deck for Y Magazine. Watched from afar by the all-seeing eye of Penny, it’s a packed edition in which Team Y has continued to forge on together.

TEAM Y editor@y-oman.com Team Y has been vanquishing the

snuffles, coughs and sneezes that have wracked the office for the past few weeks. Lemsip goes back in the

drawer, and it’s back to good old tea, rather than honey and lemon. Adios

Rhinovirus.

THIS WEEK…

WIN!

THE BAROMETERGOING Up

Phone Fever Excitement over the next generation of handsets is reaching fever pitch.

The buzz continues to rise as the Samsung Galaxy S5 nears its release date, the iPhone 5s arrives in Oman,

and speculation increases over the specification of Apple’s next generation phone later this year.

GOING DOWNSelfies with World Leaders

The White House is annoyed with Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz

for snapping a selfie with President Obama to shamelessly promote his

phone sponsor. Expect less selfies with high-profile figures as their

press departments try to impose all sorts of bans.

An Easter HamperY Magazine and the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel have teamed up to

offer an Easter Treasure Hunt for children and parents.

Specially made Y Easter Camel Cookies from the hotel will be

hidden in their gardens on Easter Friday (18) and a hunt for the

tasty treats will start at 12.30pm. Participants will have half an hour to find as many concealed Y Camel

Cookies as possible. The one who finds the most cookies wins

an Easter hamper filled with special goodies! (See next week for

the Y Camel Cookie recipe.)

contentsA P R I L 1 0 2 0 1 4

Yo u r O m a n06 The Big Interview Jade Lucas

08 Voice Of Oman Al Sayyida Mayya Al Said

10 News A Growing Oman

Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Popcorn

30 Food Review Moka & More

T h i s w e e k14 The Big Drift Need For Speed

16 Movie Listings Dom Hemingway

18 This Week Love Struck Romeo

C a r s a n d O u t d o o r37 Destination Hail Al Shas

40 Outdoors Road HOGs

42 postcard From Bangkok

44 Y-Fi Office on the Move

46 Car of the Week Ford F-150 FX4

28

Fe at u r e s20 Art Of Noise Noisy Oman

24 In From The Cold Rumaitha al Busaidi’s Antarctic Expedition

SpRING FORWARD WITH OUR EASTER SpECIAL / TREASURE HUNT / GAME pLAYING / SpARKLING GEMS / FREE BIKES / FISHY GADGETS

NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE

44

20

H e a l t h & B e a u t y32 Fashion Razzle-Dazzle

34 Beauty 9/10 Men Prefer Whiskers

18

B u s i n e s s & C a r e e r 26 Success In The City Reinvention10

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 6

How did you first get into golf ? I got into the game by chance when I was very young back in England. At the age of nine, I saw some clubs in a department store and was intrigued by them. My grandparents later bought them for me as a present. Then it was a case of going to the driving range to practise and attending a course of group lessons at a local golf club. How did your game progress to the next level? While at golf lessons, I was spotted by someone who was involved with the Surrey (UK) Girl’s county team who thought I showed promise. They were making a proactive effort to get girls involved in the sport so I was encouraged to play more and more, entering into small, local competitions for juniors. When I was 13, I started playing in the local ladies events. It was then that I started playing at the county (regional) level for juniors as well.Some say it’s quite rare to see young women playing golf. Do you think that’s true? As a young girl I was certainly always told that golf was a man’s game. Perhaps that’s what made me so determined to play. There’s

no doubt that when I first started playing I was the only junior girl at my club, and that was only 11 years ago. Did you ever aspire to compete on the professional golf circuit? Every young girl or boy playing golf likes to think that they’re going to be the next big star on the golf course, so yes. But if I was truly serious about becoming a competitor, I would need to have taken golf far more seriously from a much younger age – to the point where practice almost becomes mechanical. Was there any time when you dramatically improved your game and how did you do it? It sounds funny but it was actually when I got a car and when I was at college. The combination of being mobile with a bit of time to spare meant that I was at the golf club every day, practising on the driving range or playing a few holes. I had made the decision to become a teaching professional so I

practised constantly. How did you qualify to become a teaching professional? I graduated from Birmingham University after a three-year degree in Applied Golf Management, which gives you a bachelor of science but also all the necessary golf teaching qualifications. There were also modules on sports psychology, business management

and golf course management. What led you to

Oman? I had worked abroad before, in both Austria and Bulgaria, and loved the experience so I looked for more

positions in other countries. That’s

when I saw Muscat Hills Golf & Country

Club advertising for a new teaching professional with the Professional Golf Association (PGA). Of all the places that I’ve worked, it’s the place where I’ve felt the most comfortable. Though it is very different here, because golf really isn’t a mainstream sport.What’s one of the biggest

challenges you face here? Sometimes there’s a lack of understanding as to how hard golf is to play. Some people don’t realise how tough it can be. So when a customer tells me that they want to master the game in just eight lessons, I have to manage expectations. Because of my age (23), people are sometimes unsure about being taught by someone so young. But they’re always pleased with the results, so I’m happy to let my coaching do the talking. What do you like the most about your job? I love the social aspect of interacting with, and meeting, new people all the time. It’s also incredibly rewarding to help people who are having problems with their game and turn the situation around so that they can enjoy going out on the course again.

YOUR OMAN

J A D E L U c A S , F R O M M U S C AT H I L L S G O L F & C O U N T R Y C L U B , I S O M A N ’ S F I R S T F E M A L E G O L F P R O F E S S I O N A L

N e w s G a l l e r y I N T E R V I E W

Jade’s advice to new golfers:01 never underestimate the value of golf lessons. 02 Be persistent and don’t be put off; golf is a hard game. 03 Play golf to enjoy it, so relax and have fun.

DRIvEN TO SUCCEED

W O R D S B Y T O M R O B E R T S O N P H O T O : K AT E O S O W S K A

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 8

S.O.S. SKATE pARK

the voice of oman Al Sayyida Mayya Al Said on taking time to disconnect

NExT WEEK: JANE JAFFER

SEND US YOUR letters, photos, news and views to info@y-oman.com / @ytabloid / /ytabloid. Impress us and the winning correspondent will receive a voucher for dinner at the Golden Tulip. Vouchers must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions see voucher.

WRITE TO US AND WIN A VOUcHER

Dear Y, As a parent of an avid skateboarding teenager, I was pleasantly surprised to see your two-page article covering the recent Red Bull Local Hero Tour (Issue 314). It was encouraging to read some positive coverage of a sport that is often frowned upon by many, who don’t really understand it.Skateboarding is a sport just like any other, and is fast becoming a global phenomenon. The fact that Muscat has just hosted a pro skateboarder for the Red Bull event shows this. Skateboarders are very passionate about their sport, and most of them tend to be well-behaved, non-aggressive, clean-living individuals. They are often misunderstood, probably because their sport is noisy and fast, and some people have even called it dangerous. The skateboarding community here in Oman (Oman Skate – check out their

Facebook page) has a particular challenge due to the fact that there is no actual skate park for them to enjoy their sport. They have to skate the streets, walkways and car parks around Muscat and, as a result, they are usually told ‘to move away’ or ‘go somewhere else’ by the general public. It would be wonderful to see Muscat have its own extreme sports park, which would create a safe haven for skateboarders, BMX bikers, kids on rollerblades and other extreme sports that kids enjoy. In many other countries skate parks are in every town, and many are state-of-the art designs, with great facilities where both the boarders and the spectators can hang out. Why don’t we have a skate park in Muscat for these young people to get together and enjoy themselves?

Regards, Sandra, Muscat

In In this day and age we wonder how others lived before technology took over our lives.

For many, our phones have become a part of us, simply because it contains everything that we feel is essential to our lives. It keeps track of our appointments, stores pictures, and we use them to check our emails and chat to friends and family – the list is endless. As handy and convenient as it may seem, I cannot stop thinking that we might not be as connected as we think. I am sure you have come across this scenario: you are out with friends for dinner, you have noticed that some, if not all, have their phones out so they are ‘reachable’. I am sure that at some point during the course of the meal someone will pick their phone up to chat, tweet or Instagram to inform friends of their whereabouts, or to let people know what they are up to, completely ignoring the people they are with.By acting this way, we concentrate more on showing others what we are doing instead of enjoying the company of people who are physically present. I’ll admit I am guilty of such behaviour and have decided that it is time to change. Simply because no message or tweet is more important than being with people we love and having a good time, just like in the old days. Plan an evening out with a group of friends and switch off your phone. It will feel strange at first, but I am sure you will end up enjoying the time spent with family and friends all the more. Try it – I promise it won’t be that hard. Who knows, you might actually have fun. But keep your phone close by – in case of an emergency!

Hello YEarth Hour, recently held in Oman

on March 29, is a great concept all over the world. But then what? What happens afterwards? Why is it that there is so much fuss only on that day and then it is back to the same? All those big monuments and buildings could switch off most of their lights except the bare minimum on a daily basis after midnight. This action would save many watts of electricity every day. That will mean real energy savings and also protect the earth.

Wishes, Dr Vijayalakshmi R Shetty, Muscat

MAKE EVERY HOUR COUNT

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 9

We asked: ‘We all love music but who, in your opinion, is the greatest singer or music act that there’s ever been – and why?’

SHREYA SAMANT   The one and only Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India), Lata Mangeshkar. She was, at one time, the most recorded artist in world history. She has sung in over 36 regional Indian languages and no fewer than 30,000 songs. She is the melody queen.

RAJ SHENOY   In my opinion Michael Jackson’s music video for ‘Black or White’ from the album Dangerous is the best music act ever. It spreads the message of harmony and world peace, which is highly relevant during these dreadful times when many nations in the world today are experiencing wars, communal violence and racism. Beyond doubt MJ is the ‘King of Pop’ and will be missed.

AlE ZAJERMONERONE Madonna. She’s not the world’s greatest singer (for sure). However she’s one of the best dancers in the music industry and has managed to keep her career running successfully longer than anyone. She’s a genius when it comes to reinvention and touring. She’s a genius when it comes to songs and she has the full package when it comes to putting on a show.

ANTHONY CARlTON There has been no music act like the Beatles.The sheer exuberance, energy, joy and happiness that they possessed is unmatched even to this day. A lot of bands that followed used the Beatles as an inspiration, consciously or subconsciously, though they may not admit it for fear of being labelled ‘unoriginal’.

SAM Al-MAIMANI Bob Marley, without question. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him No.11 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. ‘One Love’ was named song of the Millennium by the BBC and Marley was voted as one of the greatest

DEBATE OF THE WEEK

L E T T E R S E - M A I L S F A C E B O O K T W I T T E RYOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US

lyricists of all time by a BBC poll. He had something called ‘art’, which no one had or has had recently. His music is healing not corrupting.

SYED BOKHARI In my opinion, Madam Noor Jehan was the best singer of all time in the subcontinent. She sang in many languages and her melodious voice won the hearts of all. Her national songs in war days brought new vigour and encouragement to not only the public, but to our armed forces too. She will be forever remembered for her sweet and melodious voice.

RODNEY WOODS There has been no band in history like U2. Their performances have been simply scintillating and over the past 35 years, they have just got better. Their image on and off stage has been nothing short of insprational. They have taken up great causes like poverty, awareness of diseases like HIV and AIDS, and injustice, and backed these causes by their own steadfast and wholehearted commitment.

JASMINE PRAJAPATI Michael Jackson is by far the best singer of all time. At the age of eight, his ability to connect to adult-themed music and use trills and runs that veterans who had been singing for decades couldn’t even utilise, is proof in itself of his incredible skill. Michael created his own style. Not only did he have signature dance moves that when seen are instantly recognisable as Michael Jackson’s and a style of clothes that has been forever coined as trademark Michael, his vocal ad-libs can be recognised and recited by toddlers. The pop music and artists of today will never match Michael Jackson and his music.

New debate:If you could reinvent any

part of your life, be it career, appearance or social life,

what would it be? Think big! Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

KATRINA PULUSAN was spotted with her favourite Y Magazine at Grand Hyatt Muscat

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 1 0

The population in Oman is growing fast, inching towards the four million mark, and expatriates account for almost half of those living in the country.

And this figure is increasing all the time, according to a new study.

By the end of February, the number of expats living and working in Oman hit 1.766 million, up by 0.28 per cent from the previous month, said the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Expats now make up 44.2 per cent of the nation’s total population of 3.992 million.

The NCSI was able to break down the figures even further. Of these expats in Oman, 1.535 million are employed and working in various sectors while 232,000 are expat family members living in the Sultanate.

A huge growth in the construction sector, especially infrastructure projects, is believed to be the reason behind the increasing flow of foreign workers into the country. The government has earmarked around RO3.2 billion for investment in major projects.

Of the different nationalities

that make up Oman’s expat population, the NCSI reports that Indians are the largest with a total of 597,334 expatriates, closely followed by Bangladeshis with 508,774. Pakistanis (223,219) and Ethiopians (44,411) are among the largest groups of foreign nationals working in Oman.

A total of 1.25 million expats are working in the private sector, 56,468 in government jobs and almost a quarter of a million are employed by families.

Muscat has the largest expatriate working population with 664,639.

Despite the increase, the government is still intent on reducing the country’s reliance on expats by creating more job opportunities for nationals.

ALMOST 2 MILLION EXPATS

MEET THE ROBOTS

If you want to catch a glimpse of the gadgets of tomorrow, or certainly in the not too distant future, there might just still be time.

These mascot humanoids are among exhibits at the COMEX 2014 exhibition, which celebrates all things technological. All sorts of local and international innovations are being exhibited.

There’s a shopping area too, where you can snap up anything that captures your eye. Sadly, we don’t think these robots are for sale.

Instead, there will be the latest smartphones, Apps, e-services and all sorts of exciting, cutting-edge digital devices.

Such as the smart new free App, GIS (Geographic Information System), launched this week by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), which uses interactive digital maps and satellite imagery to access population figures and other info.

Led by the Information Technology Authority of Oman, the event at the Oman International Exhibition Centre, Muscat, ends April 11. For further information see www.comex.om/2014/en

N E W SYOUR OMAN

It’s time to make a difference to help the environment and where better to start than the most precious resource of all – water.

As one of the drier regions, Oman knows more than most about the need to plan against water scarcity.

Now you can play your part by taking a ‘pledge’ to conserve water in a Facebook campaign launched by the Khimji Ramdas (KR) Group.

Called KR INFRA EcoLife, the aim is to raise awareness and educate people on energy and water conservation on the back of World Water Day, which was on March 22.

Just go to the Facebook page and click on the ‘Like’ icon to take the ‘pledge’ and learn more about steps you can take to save water and promote the cause.

Watery Pledge

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 1 2

G a l l e r y I n t e r v i e w N E W SYOUR OMAN

What is it? If you’re feeling dogged by tiredness and just want to park yourself somewhere to relieve some stress, cruising could be the best thing you’ll ever do.What do you mean? Think as much food as you can eat at extensive buffets, cinemas, swimming pools, shopping, health spas – and all of this aboard a gigantic ship – and you’ve got the makings of a classic cruise.Why don’t we just fly?You’re looking at this the wrong way. You don’t cruise to get somewhere, you cruise for the sake of just cruising. Take your foot off the pedal for a moment, sit back and watch some of the cabaret acts, magic shows, pop concerts and ice skating displays, or go to the waterpark. No, really.Is it a new phenomena? Not at all. Leisure cruising began as early as 1840 when the Peninsula and Orient Steam Company first started offering passenger services from the UK down to the Iberian Peninsula. If it’s not new, why are you telling us this now?Because the Ministry of Tourism has just approved an agreement with the cruise operator Royal Caribbean International. Their ships will now stop at Khasab Port in the Governorate of Musandam. Why is this important? Because it’s time to open a souvenir stand in Khasab port – each ship can hold up to 31,000 passengers, who spend an estimated RO76 to RO270 every time they go to shore. Will other ships come? Yes, they’re on the way. Those involved in the deal are bragging about having struck an agreement with the Italian company Costa Cruises.Costa Cruises? Don’t I know that name?Yes, one of their ships, the Costa Concordia, ran aground and partially sunk in January 2012 with a significant loss of life. The ship’s Italian captain committed the ultimate faux pas and jumped ship before his passengers. They’ll be calling in to Oman soon. Maybe.So a captain isn’t supposed to abandon ship? Absolutely not. So atrocious was the act, that the coastguard dealing with Captain Schettino on the night of the sinking lost his rag. Appalled, he screamed at him to get back on board. Schettino was later charged with manslaughter over the sinking. Do say: Take a chill pill Don’t say: Have we run aground?

A W E E K I N P I C T U R E S

India goes to the polls for the Lok Sabha election with 814 million eligible voters

HEADLINING STORIES FROM OMAN AND BEYOND

Six people killed as 8.2 magnitude earthquake hits Chile, triggering tsunami alert

Possible signal for missing flight MH370’s ‘black box’ detected in southern Indian Ocean

A rare Ming-era Chinese cup set to fetch record $38 million at auction

B i t e S i z e dOUR NEW WEEKLY SLOT TAKES A LIGHTHEARTED

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

CRUISINgIt is it a boat? Is it a plane?

This futuristic vehicle might have an amphibious look about it but it’s definitely built to be on

solid ground. The XL1 by Volkswagen, the world’s most advanced car, began as a concept in 2002.

Now the German carmaker has turned its vision into reality and produced 250 of the revolutionary machines. And one of them is currently on display at the VW Showroom in Azaiba, where Y popped down to snap a photo.

At first sight, it could easily be one of the weird and wonderful gadgets dreamed up by Q for James Bond.

Handcrafted in carbon-fibre reinforced polymer, the two-seater XL1 features a hybrid fuel system and scissor-opening wing doors. Incredible fuel efficiency means it uses just 0.9 litres of petrol per 100km.

In electric mode, it can be driven for up to 50kms.No details on when, or indeed if, the XL1 will go

into full production have been released.A car of the future built for today, it promises to

make quite a spectacular sight on the roads of Oman one day.

VISION OF tHe FUtUre

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 1 40 1 4

YOUR OMAN

Think Fast & Furious and Need for Speed but for real – and even better. It’s frenetic, fun and frenzied. Not only that, but it’s as exciting to watch and makes a great

spectator sport.

Is it any good?

Not quite. While drifting cars are recognisable makes and models, each one has been customised

and upgraded by the driver. One of the most popular cars used by drifters is the Nissan Silvia.

Abdullah al Balushi – known to the drifting community as Abdool – owns a Silvia and he’s the

current Oman Drifting Champion. His car has a souped-up engine, a J2, which can produce

about 400 horsepower. In case you were wondering, that’s around the same power

as a Maserati GranTurismo S, the Porsche 911 GTS R3 and an Aston

Martin V8 Vantage.

Any old car will do then?

NEED FOR SPEED

The cars are red hot and the drivers

are ultra cool. You won’t want to

miss this clash of drifting titans.

Here, Y gives you the lowdown

In simple terms, drifting is a driving technique. Drivers

intentionally (or unintentionally) oversteer, causing all sorts of exciting things to happen, i.e. wheel spins, burning tyres and

cars cornering sideways.

Never heard of drifting?

Some of the best local and international drifters will be competing to prove they’re

the best. It’s all about swagger off the track and then proving

it behind the wheel under pressure.

Tell us more

Its official name is the Oman Extreme Drift

Challenge. We prefer to think of it as adrenaline

on wheels.

What is it?

Any motorsport has a certain edge to it but that’s part of the appeal, especially when you’re

pushing a car to the max at high speed. One top global drifting

star is called ‘Mad Mike’, so you obviously need to be a bit of a

risk taker and adrenaline junkie to take part.

Is it dangerous?

Drifting is a proper motorsport with its own Formula Drift Professional Championship

series, just like the F1 boys, with events in America, Australia,

Malaysia and Thailand.

Anything else?

They’re just as important as the driving. Man and machine need to be as one, a bit like a jockey and his racehorse. The

driver needs to know every nuance of the drift car to

outperform the others.

What about the cars?

A car with 400 horsepower can accelerate from

0-100kph in under five seconds.

How fast are the cars?

The drivers all compete on the same track but individually. They’ll be judged on angle, line, speed and showmanship, plus the look of the car. Let’s just say that lots of smoke and squealing tyres

goes down well with the crowd.

What do the judges

look out for?

At the Oman Automobile Association’s (OAA) special drifting circuit at its home

in Seeb.

Where can I catch the

action?

Friday, April 11. It all starts

at 4pm.

When?

Regular tickets are just RO1. Or go VIP for

only RO3.

Tickets?

Go to www.omanauto.org. The OAA is on www.facebook.com/omanautomobileassociation and

Twitter OAA_omanauto gina@omanauto.org

For more information call +968 92947556.

Where can I Find out more?

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 1 6

Bollywatch

THIS WEEK’S MOVIES

For more information and times, go to:

City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net

Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net

Star Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

Rio 2

It seems that Blu's trip to Rio de Janeiro in the first movie was just the start of his adventure with his partner, Jewel. This time, he's heading into the dangers of the jungle, along with their three children, to find a lost group of macaws. But, when Jewel finds her estranged father deep in the rainforest, it seems that dealing with the wildlife is going to be the

dom Hemingway

MOVIES MOVIESWEEKTHIS

least of Blu's problems, compared to dealing with his new family.

The Last Days on Mars

Yet another attempt by the film industry to come up with an original take on martian exploration. Sadly, the storyline goes something like this; isolated team carries out scientific work, crew member finds alien life form. Life form not friendly, tries to kill all humans. Crew trapped in desperate struggle to survive. It's all been done before and is horribly predictable, but some half-decent acting just about saves the day.

BHOOTHNATH RETURNS Following the success of Bhoothnath, in which a ghost is befriended by a small boy, the veteran Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan returns for another supernatural outing. This time, he's got more problems to worry about than a family living in his old bungalow. With corrupt politicians battling it out for local elections, the film franchise branches into political satire

as it casts Bhoothnath as an opponent of a dodgy candidate played by Boman Irani. It's a welcome distraction from the otherwise serious business of the Indian elections for the 16th Lok Sabha which the film's release has been scheduled to coincide with.

Jude Law like you've never seen him before. Gone are the days of a svelte young Law in The Talented Mr Ripley or as the measured and wise accomplice of Sherlock Holmes. Instead, enter stage right, Law's burly, brash and loud new take on petty gangsters.The film picks up with Dom Hemingway, a former safecracker, leaving prison. He's been in jail for 12 years, and during that time he's been dutifully keeping his silence in order to protect his old crime bosses. And now it's time for them to pay.With Richard E. Grant at his side, playing Hemingway's best friend, Dickie, the two set off for the south of France to collect the money Dom feels he's owed. But with an ego the size of the Arabian Gulf, and as tempestuous as its worst storms, Hemingway finds

himself broke, cast out, and worse still, recovering from a near fatal car crash. Ultimately, it's a paradox of a film. There's some great acting from Law and Grant in a script that has enough twists and plot turns to keep the audience entertained. But Law's character is so utterly dislikeable in his yobbish, outlandish behaviour that the film struggles to create any connection between him and the audience. It's a bizarre situation for the director, Richard Shepard, to create when you consider that most of our favourite and most highly rated films (from Rocky to Dark Knight to Gladiator) have us gunning for the star. You might like the film, but you'd be hard pushed to like the man. Reviewed by Tom Robertson

PREV

IEW

THE RAID 2: BERANDAlHot on the heels of the critically acclaimed 2011 action spectacular, The Raid, director Gareth Evans is back with the next instalment.Having escaped the gangster-filled building in the first movie by the skin of his teeth, the protagonist, Rama (Iko Uwais), is thrown straight back into the fray. Tasked with bringing down the city's top crime bosses, he's sent undercover into a prison to gain the respect of a crime kingpin's son and join a notorious gang.Gratuitous violence won't be to the taste of everyone but for fans of the first film, and the martial arts genre in general, The Raid 2 is non-stop action that almost verges on exhausting.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 1 8

CHARITY BY VANITY

T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

If you want to snap up a future art masterpiece or simply add some colour to your home, the Sultan School is the place to go. It is holding a charity art auction with works by students, staff, families, celebrated artists and photographers, in the school auditorium. doors open at 6.30pm and the bidding starts at 7.30pm. Proceeds will go to dar al Hanan, a home to care for children suffering from cancer provided by the Oman Cancer association.

THIS WEEKA P R I L

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

The celebrated Bavarian State Ballet will bring the timeless love story of Romeo and Juliet to life in a production at the Royal Opera House Muscat. There’s a choice of three evening performances, all starting at 7.30pm. Ticket prices from RO8-RO58. For details, visit www.rohmuscat.org.om

Pinup for Paws (Omani Paws) is a ladies-only fundraiser where girls can glam up while raising money for a worthy cause – our canine and feline friends. Pamper yourself with vintage hair styling, a make-up tutorial and photo shoot. Venue is the Eden Beauty Salon in Azaiba from 10am-2pm. Event limited to 20 participants and entrance is RO35. For registration, call Meagan +968 91381602

Bidding War

Love-struck romeo

doctor Who?

APR16

12A

pr

15-17April

17-19April

Mad about medical matters? Then this is the event for you. The second International Medical Tourism, Equipment, Technology Conference and Exhibition will be held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Seeb, Muscat. Hot topics and latest developments are on the agenda. For more information, visit www.imtecoman.com

APR16

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 019

TRULY THAI

12U

ntil A

pril

The Sri Sri Ayurveda Clinic is hosting a free Diabetes Awareness Event, approved by the Ministry of Health. A workshop will be held in both English and Arabic, focusing on the prevention and management of diabetes with Ayurveda. Al Bahja Hall, Jungle Restaurant, next to Qurum Park, from 6pm-7.30pm. Limited seats so prior registration is mandatory. For information and registration, call +968 99314166/92800793/24480874

16April

HOLISTIC HELP

Celebrate the best of Thai cuisine with the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel’s Majan restaurant as guest chef Supattra Boonsrang returns for a second year from April 8-12. As part of the event, the hotel is offering three people a chance to win a one-night stay at Grand Hyatt Muscat simply by taking part in a social media competition involving some of Muscat’s top bloggers. It’s fun and free. To take part, simply go to http://muscat.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/truly-thai-at-marjan-.html

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 2 0

ART OF

NOISETrying to ke

ep the peace? It seem

s we are

fighting a war against unwanted sound

– and with

Oman facing a constructi

on and tourism boom, it

could be getting louder

. Kate Ginn reports

A monotonous mechanical sound is interspersed with the clank of a dozen or more hammers hitting

metal. From elsewhere, there’s an ear-splitting squeal of brakes followed by the furious honking of horns, replaced by the heavy thud-thud of music blaring from a nearby lorry.

Sound familiar?This cacophony is increasingly becoming the backdrop

to our lives, with our senses assaulted on a daily basis from the commotion of modern living. Walk around Muscat and the startling number of new construction sites that have suddenly sprung up are all too evident.

With an estimated RO8 billion being set aside for future infrastructure projects in the Sultanate, including numerous road projects, bridges, tunnel structures and the Oman National Railway enterprise, we had better get used to the din of building work. But buildings aren't the only things on the rise. Muscat's new airport will handle 12 million passengers a year, meaning more traffic in the air and on the roads. It's going to be a busy time ahead.

You can’t even escape noise in residential areas.New apartment blocks, villas and housing complexes are

going up as fast as they can be built to cope with the growing population.

We may want to wake to the morning chorus of the gentle chirping of birds but it’s more likely to be a soundtrack of workmen, noisy cars or lorries thundering past our bedroom window.

And don’t get us started on the rubbish and sewer trucks that operate day and night.

A Y investigation found that the levels of noise being made at some construction sites in the city were above internationally recognised acceptable levels for long exposure.

The loudness emitting from one site, 92 decibels (the unit of sound), was comparable to the levels of heavy factory machinery.

Recommended exposure time to that volume before possible ear damage is just two hours.

And we spotted that workers exposed to these levels of noise were often not wearing any ear protection.

Not only is a noisy environment unpleasant to be in, it can be bad for your health too.

Road traffic noise has been shown to increase heart disease and high blood pressure, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Other noise-related health effects include cognitive impairment in children, sleep disturbance, tinnitus (ringing or other sounds in the ear) and psychological distress including depression and irritability.

But as one health and safety expert says: “It is a fact of life that we all make noise. Whether we are talking to others, playing music, entertaining, driving in our cars or just going about our daily business, we all generate noise. What is a noise to one person may be pleasurable to another.”

Compared to other GCC countries, Oman fares well in the noise league. A recent survey by Bayt.com, a regional job site, found that 71 per cent of Muscat-based respondents believed the city had low levels of noise disturbance.

Compare this with Dubai, where only 56 per cent thought they lived with low noise levels. Doha, where huge construction projects are underway for the World Cup 2022, echoes with diggers at work.

But it would be naïve to think that the Sultanate is noise-free.

Y reader Ricky Pfleger told us of his pet bugbear – the annoying continuous honking of horns 18 hours a day at local cafes. “The drivers beep their horns, yet are less than five steps from the café,” he says.

“While waiting for their one cup of chai, they empty their car debris and throw it on the street. What a wonderful example they demonstrate for future generations.

“They continue to honk their horns, impatiently waiting for a cup of chai and again start beeping for water.”

His suggestion to get drivers to curb the habit is for the ROP to issue tickets to “these lazy and obnoxious horn honkers who consistently disturb quiet communities.”

Strong words, indeed.But then there is no doubt that being plagued by unwanted

and unacceptable levels of noise is no laughing matter.Worldwide, 16 per cent of disabling hearing loss in adults

is attributed to occupational noise. At times, it can feel like

it is coming from all angles, at home, driving, at work and during leisure time.

So what levels are deemed to be safe?According to WHO guidelines, the noise threshold for

cardiovascular problems is chronic nighttime exposure to 50 decibels or above, the noise of light traffic. For sleep disturbance, the threshold is 42 decibels and for general annoyance, it is 35 decibels, the sound of someone talking.

In Oman, there are statutory regulations, called ‘Noise Pollution Control in Public Environment’, which were ratified under Ministerial Decision 79/94 in March 1994. These set out prescribed noise levels in different public places. According to the regulations, the limit for industrial and construction sites should be no more than 65 decibels during daytime workdays in suburban residential areas.

Y did an experiment. Using a basic noise meter app on a smartphone, we ‘tested’ the levels at some construction sites found near residential homes around Muscat. The measurements were 92 decibels and 93 decibels.

Experts agree that, continued exposure to noise above 85 decibels will eventually harm hearing.

Y put a call in to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs at the time of going to press. We did not get a response.

No one suggests that Oman is anywhere near as bad as other cities in the world, like Delhi, Mumbai, Cairo and Karachi, which regularly appear in the list of the Top 10 Noisiest Cities in the World.

But a little bit of peace and quiet is also welcome.Perhaps we should leave the last word to Y reader, Ricky

Pfleger. “Silence is golden and it costs nothing to create a clean environment. Do you hear me?”

What the Readers SayY readers’ thoughts on noise levels:Mhel Aproda - Stray dogs always fighting and barking so loud late at night, when they are looking for food in the garbage bins.Jasmine Prajapati - Muscat is a busy city so it does have traffic but compared to other countries it’s far more peaceful.Khadija Lovai - I don’t know about the whole of Muscat but the Bawshar sand dunes area is quite noisy with cars making those high-pitched screeching sounds late at night during peak hours of sleep time. the sounds make me wonder sometimes: did a car just crash?Amy Palmer - Muscat’s not that noisy at all. you've got to live in India to know what noisy means. Muscat is peaceful compared to that.Payal Jaiswal - I think at times there’s a pin drop silence in Muscat. I mean it. you can actually hear the clock ticking, though I stay in a crowded place like the Business district. and yeah there are times when you can hear the cars honking, children yelling, but I guess that’s the same everywhere.Mayuri Sawant - at times construction is very noisy and irritating, and the traffic adds to it.Rashmi Dsouza - We are really having a bad time because of the construction going on at all times of the day and night. their heavy machines make so much noise and the building starts vibrating. Construction companies should do something about this.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 2 1

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 2 2

SOUNDING OFFAverage readings:

Whisper 20dBRainfall 45-55dB

Typical Conversation 55-60dBWashing Machine 75dBIdling Bulldozer 85dB

Hairdryer 90dBChainsaw 110dBAmbulance 120dB

Jet Plane (from 100ft) 135dBThreshold of Pain 104dB

A clap of thunder from a nearby storm (120dB) can cause

immediate damage.

How can you tell if a noisy situation is too loud? ● there are two rules.● First, if you have to raise your voice to talk to someone who is an arm’s length away, then the noise is likely to be hazardous.● Second, if your ears are ringing or sounds seem dull or flat after leaving a noisy place, you probably were exposed to hazardous noise.

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP? Not for Team Y, it would appear. Several of us are suffering from a lack of shut-eye

Tom Robertson, Y contributor - I get up at seven every morning not because I want to, but because I have to. With new houses being built

where I live in al ansab, I wake up to circular saws and hammers smashing against wood. By the

end of it, my skull is pounding like a JCB has been bashing me on the head.

Matthew Her

bst,

Y’s Art D

irector - the soundtrack to my

attempts at sleep is a headache-inducing mix

of music blaring from cars, beeping horns by

customers in their vehicles demanding

service from the restaurant next door

and stray dogs barking into the early

hours of the morning.

Kate Ginn,Y’s section editor - When

I first moved into an apartment in Muscat Hills, it was a haven. all that

changed a few months ago with a digger rumbling along to start work on new villas down the road from me. life has never been

the same since. Sleeps are interrupted by clanging, crashing, clanking and

clawing, as machines and men go about their work

from 6.30am.

Jerzy Wierzb

icki,

Y’s Photog

rapher - We have

young men in their sports cars revving

their engines, wheel-spinning and

gunning their exhausts between 3am and

4am. Now you know why I like to go the

peace and quiet of the desert

so often.

Indexing the media landscape

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 24

cool

romfthe cold

In

Tom Robertson talks to Rumaitha al Busaidi, who’s just returned from an expedition to one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable regions

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 2 5

Rumaitha al Busaidi has returned from a successful three-week expedition to the

Antarctic and is keener than ever to forge ahead with environmental sustainability. The trip, from March 1 to 22, saw her not only learn about protecting one of nature’s great wildernesses with top sustainability experts, but also take on storm-force conditions in the Southern Ocean and explore snowbound landscapes.Having landed in Buenos Aeries and battled with punishing jet lag induced by a seven-hour time difference, the 27-year-old Omani – best known as a radio presenter on Merge 104.8 – undertook her acclimatisation, logistic checks and training in preparation for the trip at Ushuaia, in the extreme south of Argentina.“That’s where we met the entire expedition team. There were 88 of us plus crew that took us well above a hundred, the leader being Robert Swan, the famous polar explorer,” recalls Rumaitha.It was also in Ushuaia that she had her first experience of walking on glaciers, when the group trained to deal with the gruelling terrain of the Antarctic. “One of our sponsors, RevGX, did a fantastic job of preparing myself and my fellow Omani explorer Nasser al Kanjiri. We were by far among the fittest Arabs on the trip.” But it was during this preparation phase that the teams were also taught the essentials of life in the ice-bound southern continent.“Antarctica is a fragile and inhospitable environment and there are certain things you simply have to know before going there. For example, you have to decontaminate your footwear before setting foot on land. Also, how to survive in an emergency situation, how to set up tents and the correct knots to use, given the harsh conditions.”But there were also more strategic lessons. “We had lectures on what 2041 (the expedition organisation) alumni have done, such as starting environmental protection programmes and initiatives. That was a great eye-opener, seeing what other people had gone on to do afterwards. It was very inspiring.”But once all the preparation was completed in Argentina and final checks made, there was the not-so-insignificant matter of crossing some of the most unpredictable and dangerous seas in the world. A three-day voyage across Drake Passage would see half of the

contingent bedridden with seasickness as a storm struck and the Southern Ocean swelled to its legendary proportions.“It was like being on a roller coaster for three days,” recalls Rumaitha. “It was the worst experience of my life. It’s not as though you could just lie in bed and try to recover. The sea was so rough that we were constantly having to cling on to avoid being thrown out of the bed. A lot of people were taking some serious seasickness medication, including injections.”But three days later, after waiting on deck for hours in sub-zero temperatures, Rumaitha and her colleagues raised the cry to let the captain know that they had spotted land. Soon after, the Omani explorer was placing her first steps on Antarctica, known as the White Continent.“In keeping with my Islamic beliefs, I just told myself to make sure that I put my right foot on land first. That’s when I stepped in penguin droppings,” she laughs, recalling the moment.“In all seriousness though, I’ve lived in snowy countries before but nothing prepared me for just how ice-clad the whole environment was.“But that’s when I started to get the most out of the expedition in terms of learning about environmental sustainability. I can now look someone square in the eye and say that I’ve seen the effects of climate change firsthand. Icebergs were breaking apart around us – far earlier in the year than they should have done. There was more ice

adrift than there should have been for that time of the season.” But as well as learning about environmental protection in Antarctica, Rumaitha also feels that one of the biggest achievements of the expedition was exporting Oman’s environmental values to others.“I feel as though I was able to act as a kind of ambassador for Oman. A lot of people there didn’t know where Oman was or what it had done for the environment and how it’s a pioneer among Arab countries. “For example, we were the first Gulf country to put environmental protection principles in legislation back in 1979. I was proud to hold up a flag of Oman on the Antarctic ice, as well as that of my major sponsor, SABCO, who made the trip possible.” So where to now for the environmentally conscious Rumaitha? “My next step will be to try and work with the Environment Society of Oman in terms of increasing education and raising awareness of these issues, using the principles and skills I learnt during the expedition. Specifically, I’d like to look at what would get more Omani youngsters involved in environmental work.”

cool ■ at 14 million square kilometres, antarctica is twice the area of australia.

■ 98 per cent of the continent is covered by ice averaging over one-and-a-half kilometres thick.■ due to an absence of significant rainfall, antarctica is actually considered a desert.■ temperatures can reach as low as –89°C.■ the population of humans in antarctica varies between 1,000 to 5,000, depending on the season, and is mainly comprised of researchers and their support staff.

rom

I can now look someone square In

the eye and say that I've seen the effects of clImate change fIrsthand

fact

s

For more amazing oictures go to our online gallery ay Y's facebook page.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 2 6

BUSINESS

CAREER&

BACK YOURSELF

Making a total career change can be a daunting and

challenging process. But find your dream job in a totally different sector, and the

rewards could be great.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 2 7

WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS:

Plan ahead thoroughly “A well thought out, revised and reviewed - and further revised - feasibility study is critical. Ask yourself ‘What research have I conducted that has led me to conclude that this is a good idea? Do I have a concrete skills set for the business or career I want to start?’ and ‘Am I fully prepared to work much, much harder and longer

hours than I did with my last job?” William R. Crew, Inspired Solutions LLC, Training and Consultancy, Muscat

What does it take to bust out of a rut and break into a dream career or make a fresh start? Tom Robertson investigates

T r e n d N e t w o r k i n g M i n u t e M e n t o r i n g

Reinvention

You’re bored with the same old route to the office everyday. You can do it in your sleep and know every bump in the road. You’re

tired of ordering that same old limp salad from the little restaurant by the office. And when you gaze out the window, all you see is the same tired view that greets you – every day of your working life.

Whether you’re sat in the latest ergonomic design of Herman Miller office furniture, or behind the wheel of a JCB, there comes a point when some people say enough is enough – a total change is needed. No matter the obstacles, a career makeover is required for a new professional you. But if necessity is the mother of invention, then what is the father of reinvention?

Speaking from my own personal experience and with the gift of hindsight, I knew there was something that was driving me towards a complete career change. And it had to be significant, because, to the outsider, I was as happy as a bear with a jar of honey.

As a political adviser, the subjects I was working on were interesting enough and I loved working with my colleagues and the politcians. My daily commute to the European Parliament was, according to Google maps, just 700 metres, a pleasant stroll in my tailored loafers. Plus there were all the holidays you could dream of, thanks to a significant amount of leave every year. I had no boss to micromanage me and was free to manage my own time and tasks. Life, in general, was good – but work wasn’t. Why? And what was it that drove me to seek a total career change?

I had an itch. And that itch was this – someone once told me: “If you find a job you love, you’ll never have to work another day in your life.” So here I sit, on the weekend, writing this article, but never at any point feeling as though it’s a chore. And it’s that feeling that I knew I was after. In my former job, I had written articles and speeches occasionally, and I knew that it was writing that I genuinely enjoyed. But it was occasional, and I knew that if I could write for a living, then that would be the career for me.

But it’s not an easy thing to do. First,

you’ve got to know whether you really want to change careers at all. According to career experts, there are a number of things that can help you to decide whether you truly want to start over. “You might come to a point where your salary no longer makes up for the boredom and emptiness you feel,” says Kathy Caprino, who runs a leadership and career success coaching and consulting firm. Other factors she points to include feeling that your work doesn’t suit your natural talents and abilities, as well as feeling constantly depleted and exhausted by work.

So how exactly can we go about making such a radical change? Start by assessing what you really want to do – “And that means looking at what work you would do even if you weren’t paid for it,” says Alexandra Levit, author of New Job, New You. But that’s just one question that needs adressing. Changing your profession is a process of asking some very honest questions and preparing yourself for some brutally frank responses.

For while you may have found out what you want to do, you need to ask yourself, ‘What can I offer?’ It’s a question that applies equally to those seeking to change careers or those wanting to break out and start a venture on their own.

“When thinking of quitting one’s job and starting a career or new business, you must carefully answer the following: ‘What passion and skills set do I have which I can leverage into a new business?’” says William R Crew, CEO of Inspired Solutions in Muscat. “People should also ask, ‘Am I fully prepared to work much, much harder and longer hours than I did with my job? Is my family supportive of this?”

But if you can get beyond the potential pitfalls of risking reinvention, such as losing faith in the long term and not having a concise game plan, the rewards can be great, says Crew: “One of the great things about finding a new career is gaining a new confidence that comes with utilising skills which may have been lying dormant or underutilised in one’s job.”

Let’s face it. If you’re reinventing yourself, that’s probably going to mean some kind of retraining and that may well mean carting around books and a laptop. This Kenneth Cole New York laptop bag will make sure you’re never without those essential learning aids. From Apple.com for RO96

Risking

BUSINESS BUY

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 2 8

FOOD

DRINKAND

T r e n d N e w R e s t a u r a n t R e v i e w s

POP GOES POSH Popcorn, the perennial

favourite movie snack, has gone all gourmet on us. Forget

the plain old sweet or salted varieties, you can now munch on flavours such as Chocolate,

Chili Lime and Cheddar. It’s low in calories too.

N e w sT R E N D N e w R e s t a u r a n t

The world’s favourite movie snack can also be part of a healthy diet, finds Shishira Sreenivas

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 2 9

Have you been doing injustice to your taste buds with bland salads and boring soups in an attempt to cut down a few kilos? Well an age-old delicious snack could add flavour to your diet while also

aiding your weight loss mission. According to a study from the University of Scranton, one serving of plain air-popped popcorn can give your body more antioxidants - called polyphenols - than your usual serving of fruit and veggies.

The study found that plain popcorn had about 300mg of polyphenols when compared to the 114mg found in a serving of fruits and greens.

After all, if Madonna survived on just popcorn in her early years in New York City and looked as fabulous as she did, then surely the popcorn diet must have something going for it.

But before you grab a bag of instant microwavable popcorn, here’s what you need to know about the nutritional benefits of this latest low-calorie craze.

Firstly, since popcorn is 100 per cent whole grain, the snack is full of fibre. By itself, plain air-popped popcorn contains only 31 calories per 8g (1 cup) serving. That’s way better than settling for a bag of crisps or tucking into a plate of oily fries.

One of the biggest reasons why popcorn is a healthy snack is because the crunch and the crisp you experience is good enough to satiate your cravings and can help you avoid that desperate moment when your will power crumbles and you reach for something fattening.

LEMON-PARM POPCORNIngredients:l 2 Teaspoons extra virgin olive oill ½ Teaspoon lemon pepperl A pinch of saltl 3 Cups air-popped popcornl 1 Tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese Method: Whisk the oil, lemon pepper and salt in a small bowl, and then toss it evenly over the air popped popcorn. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and serve right away!

IT’S CRUNCH

Recipe

POP FUN FACTS:l America consumes approximately 17.3 billion litres of popcorn each year.l Unpopped popcorn should be stored in refrigerators as it will dry out the moisture and won’t pop.l popcorn kernels can pop up to one metre in the air!l The first popcorn machine was showcased at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.l The Aztecs of South America used popcorn during ceremonies.l There are six types of corn/maize: Sweet, pod, Dent, Flour, Flint and popcorn. Only popcorn pops!l The world’s largest popcorn ball, created in February 2009 in Sac City, Iowa, weighed 2,267 kg.

TIME

The hulls of the popcorn contain a load of antioxidants and can provide you with up to 70 per cent of the recommended daily wholegrain intake, according to the research.

However, here’s the catch. The buttery popcorn you buy at theatres is full of calories and the amount of salt, butter or caramel in the snack can do more damage to your body than good. The same goes for the additives and preservatives in the instant microwavable popcorn packets you can purchase from the store.

The healthiest way to consume popcorn is to pop the plain corn kernels on a stove or an air popper with a bit of olive oil or vegetable oil and dress it up with some low-cal healthy toppings like pepper, red chilli powder or some parmesan cheese.

While there have been several claims that popcorn can be substituted for meals altogether, the research does point out that while popcorn is rich in fibre and antioxidants, it doesn’t contain the vitamins or nutrients essential for the body that fruits and vegetables can provide.

So next time you’re getting ready to watch a movie at home on Friday night, feel free to make some DIY popcorn with some good fats and a dash of seasoning.

Low calorie popcorn recipe (Source: Kitchen Daily)

(under 150 calories)

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 3 0

Childhood breakfasts were silent, tasteless and compulsory affairs. They involved soggy Weetabix

and weak tea before dashing off to catch the school train at some ungodly hour.

On weekends, things got a bit better with a full fry-up and an abstemious blob of HP Sauce. But then, out of the blue, something special happened to morning meals. The epiphany of brunch came along in the late 1990s with its fresh fruit platters, endless slices of granary toast with lightly salted butter, served with cafetieres of freshly brewed coffee and newspapers.

In my twenties, my friends and I in the UK, would head off to a cool little place in Liverpool called The Egg Cafe. Every Saturday, we would congregate over a feast of the most delicious home-baked pastries, omelettes and salads to catch up on all the gossip. Someone, somewhere would be strumming on a guitar and we would talk for hours while pouring over the weekend supplements. It was terribly indulgent but bliss. Then commitments changed and responsibilities caught up, taking us back to the less than halcyon days

of rushed cereal bowls and gulps of cold tea.

It was during a bout of such nostalgia that I persuaded a friend to come with me for weekend brunch – not the five-star hotel kind with bubbles and a lavish buffet – but the traditional sort with cakes, sandwiches, cappuccinos and a more communal vibe.

Located in Ghubra, just next to the Crêpe Café, the second Moka & More outlet has got the balance of sophistication mixed with an informal atmosphere spot on. Serving up immaculately presented modern fare, the creations tasted every bit as good as they looked in their brightly lit counters.

This was café culture at its finest with comfortable sofas, racks of magazines, interesting artifacts, Italian coffee and general living room chic.

The decor, in my opinion, was the best thing about this spacious joint. Monochrome with flashes of red, it was cool, quirky and reminiscent of some of the European eateries I’ve visited in the past.

Everything was scrupulously clean – verging on the sterile, in fact. And I

guess that’s the problem – there was a general lack of character to this franchised café – the sort that comes with people and clutter rather than disinfectant and chic designer sofas.

Apart from a couple of locals and a rather loud American, the place was empty. There was no background buzz of chatter, Whats-App whistles and the tap-tap-tapping of laptops. The servers were efficient but far from chatty, leaving me

regretting not having gone to Shatti beach instead, where

the vibe’s a bit more hip and happening.

Saying that, the food here was pretty decent and the choice of beverages

positively mind-boggling – especially the shakes, which

came in a variety of exotic flavours. My friend, however, opted for a carrot juice while I grimaced over the bitterness of my bubbly berry concoction.

The food menu was pretty standard with the usual array of sandwiches, salads and hot platters. Fancying some cheese, I chose the halloumi ciabatta, while my pal went for the chicken avocado. I was expecting it to come with a bowl of hot, chunky fries - not crisps.

Descriptive confusion over the word ‘chips’ aside though, it tasted okay, although the sandwich could have done with a bit more sun-dried tomatoes. Fortunately for Kate, her ciabatta oozed filling, prompting her to share her bounty with me.

Still hungry, the cake counter sang its siren call, luring us over to a mouthwatering array of desserts. Everything looked delicious but the carrot cake called me hither with promises of moist sponge and a sweet, calorific cream.

Kate, in the meantime, made her usual order of blueberry cheesecake. And ‘wow’ – both were as magnificently tasty as they looked. The only criticism I could leverage was that the thin film of fresh cream smeared above the perfectly adequate cream cheese topping somehow distracted from the perfection of my cake.

All in all, this was a good experience. And if I had a tick list and clipper board it would have passed the stereotypical café criteria with flying colours – everything was clean, chic, efficient and tasty. But it lacked the laid-back, neighbourhood vibe that made Central Perk in Friends the perfect place for brunch and hanging out.

T r e n d N e w R e s t a u r a n t

Sweet Sorrow Moka & More is bright, spacious and a stylish place to refuel. If only it had a bit more buzz, says Penny Fray

FOOD

DRINKAND

verdict:

Good but could be excellent with more chat and a communal vibe.

7. 5 10

Info Boxmoka & more

Ground FloorAl Assalah Towers

Ghubra South Way, Block 237, Muscat

Price for two (including drinks): RO16

y magazine reviews anonymously and pays

for its meals

A P R 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 1 40 3 2

GILDING THE LILLYEmbellishment is still enriching

our wardrobes this season. Running the gamut from barely-there glimmer to

serious sparkle, the Spring/Summer 2014 collections

offered up a rich feast for the eyes. Marc Jacobs led the way

with his blinged-up dresses (photographed).

HEALTH&BEAUTY

H e a l t h B e a u t y FA S H I O N

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 3 2

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 3 3

RAZZLE-DAZZLE This is your time to shine as embellishment takes a maximalist turn for Spring, says Penny Fray

TWINKLE, TWINKLE

1. Don’t scoff – but the cocktail jacket is the ultimate piece to take you from office to out. Team with Spring’s essential tailored jumpsuit for polish, or go for casual denim and a simple top for a high/low mix. 2. Cuffs are seasonal must-haves. They come super-sized and embossed with pearl and diamond details. Wear one on each arm for a pleasing symmetry or stack for maximum impact. Rolled-up sleeves add a masculine touch. 3. On a budget? Panic not; simply buy some sequins and beads from Daiso and start sewing.

Penny’s tips on embracing

embellishment:

The diamond necklace – see how it sparkles? I’m pairing mine with a Breton top and a pair of jeans because a girl can never have too many sparkles – not this season, anyway.

Fashion houses such as Miu Miu and the ever-popular Peter Pilotto decided that more is definitely more for Spring.

Mary Katrantzou worked with the French atelier Lesage on embroidered flowers that oozed colourful extroversion, while Marc Jacobs embraced head-to-toe embellishment.

Despite being a minimalist, I’m a big fan of statement pieces because it’s an easy way to look amazing without too many styling tricks. Just throw a beaded jacket over a white T-Shirt and you’re ready for a day’s shopping or a grand ball. In other words – this year’s obsession with hi-lo dressing is a dream come true for lazy fashion journalists like me. Even casual sporty pieces can carry some sparkle now, giving a whole new slant on day-to-night dressing.

Of course, there are several ways to take inspiration for this trend: You can try quirky colour combinations à la Marni or Simone Rocha’s subtle, ladylike look. My advice? Express your inner maximalist, not with just a few pieces of bling but by wearing everything together for the ultimate razzle-dazzle.

This necklace from accessorize will lift everything from a plain shirt to an evening dress. Adorable! ro16

oscar de la renta gives the nautical look a high-style spin with this shimmering striped sweater. Knitted with a touch of silk, the Italian-made design features tiny white and black sequins. Okay it’s not cheap at ro956 but you can get your tailor to do something similar with your own Breton number.

Fashionistas adore this gem-covered clutch from accessorize because it ticks two major seasonal trends - sailor and sparkle. From ro21

These point-toe flats from Marco Zanini are crafted from silver-textured leather and decorated with crystals. Wear yours to give daytime looks a luxe twist, or as a comfortable alternative to heels for evening. ro291 from net-a-Porter.

This bright mango bracelet looks amazing when stacked up with other friendship bracelets. ro6.50

Oh Zara, how I love you. Not only do you excel in high street minimalism but you even do statement trousers with added zing. ro19

0 3 4

HEALTH&BEAUTY

H e a l t h B E A U T Y F a s h i o n

Aside from arm wrestling, the quickest way to separate the men from the boys is to examine their facial hair. It

might seem a bit prehistoric but the ability to grow and maintain a beard is still viewed as a sign of masculinity. It’s also super hot right now.

Everywhere you look – from Muscat to Madrid – there’s a bloke with a beard. Even runways and fashion campaigns are full of them.

Models sported facial duvets at both Dunhill and Paul Smith this season. And celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Jude Law have also become fans of facial fluff. It seems that having hair on your chinny chin chin is no longer the preserve of hippies and historians but hip young things.

The return of the retro bristle, championed by both Ricki Hall and Ryan Gosling, marks the end of metrosexuality and the rise of modern masculinity.

“Men want to be men again,” says grooming guru Josh Gibson. “It’s as simple as that.”

Every style – from the designer stubble to Gandalf ’s long flowing number – goes. But tread carefully. Bushy beards may be big but they’re also seen as a symbol of defiance in the corporate world and should therefore be avoided in relatively conservative sectors like law or finance. Also, women aren’t fans – especially if they’re unclean or

real crumb catchers. And if you’re considering growing one because you can’t be bothered shaving, be aware that a good bit of growth requires just as much upkeep as the clean look.

According to experts, you can’t sit back and just let your follicles do the work. Good handling is essential lest you want to look like a mad hermit, so keep length in check with a dedicated trimmer rather than a pair of rusty old scissors.

When it comes to outlining the beard, remember to go easy with the angles or else risk looking like George Michael during his Faith-era. It needs to appear as natural as possible with no hard lines.

Similarly, hair should never hang over the upper lip or grow below the neckline. A small pair of clippers is perfect for tidying stray hairs here. You’ll also need to shampoo and wash your beard regularly to keep it from getting scratchy or coarse. There aren’t many dedicated products out there, but the stuff you use for the hair on your head should suffice, followed by a good quality moisturiser. Also, towel-dry thoroughly after washing or risk shirt drip or ‘beardruff’ because tap water can cause dry skin flakes.

Finally, remember your hair shade and beard don’t need to match – think Ewan McGregor in Star Wars.

Still debating what to do? Then consider the words of this old Spanish proverb: ‘Chins without beards deserve no honour.’

PreFer WHISKerS 9/10 MeN

Keep your hair on because beards are back in vogue, says Penny Fray

tHe deSIgNer StUBBle: This classy etching of a beard is best worn by the likes of Tom Ford and is high maintenance if worn properly.

TOP BEARD STYLES3

tHe HeMINgWay: Think Jake Gyllenhaal and go for something of consistent thickness that stretches to below the Adam’s apple.

tHe gaNdalF: Brad Pitt may get away with straggly tufts but he’s got the world’s best cheekbones to anchor them. The rest of you will end up looking like a homeless person unless you dress immaculately and visit the barbers regularly.

1.

2.

3.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5

PreFer WHISKerS 9/10 MeN

TOO LATE? DON’T WORRY. GET Y INSTANTLY ONLINE USING YOUR MOBILE DEVICES & PCVisit www.y-oman.com/current-issue/

No downloading required

GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS…

Al Mina’a• BaitalBaranda• BaitalZubairMuttrah• ShellSelectQantab• AlBustanPalace

Hotel• MarinaBanderAL

Rowdha• OmanDiveClub• ShangriLaSifa• SifawiBeachHotelWadi Kabir• AlMaya

Hypermarket• LuluHypermarket• MuscatPharmacy• National

HospitalityInstitute

• PizzaHut• ShellSelectMBD• BankDhofar• Centrepoint-

Splash• KhimjiMart• NBO• OmanOilAhlain• PizzaHut• PizzaMuscat• ShellSelectCBD• AlMaya

Hypermarket• AlizzIslamicBank• BahwanTravel

Agencies• BankSohar• CopperChimney• CostaCoffee• HSBC• LamaPolyclinic• NBO• OmanArabBank• Standard

CharteredBank• WoodlandsDarsait• IndianSocialClub• KhimjiMart• KIMSHospital• LuluHypermarket• MuscatBakery• ShellSelectAL Falaj/Rex Road• AlFalajHotel• BadarAlSama• GoldenOryx

Restaurant• KamatRestaurant• ToshibaShowroom

RUWI• ApolloMedical

Centre• KamatRestaurant• KFC• KhimjiMegastore

–SwarovskiShowroom

• Khimji’sWatches-Showroom

• KMTrading• OmanAir• OmanUAE

Exchange,OCC• OTE• SarwanaBhawanWattayah• AhliBank• Bestcars• BLS• FordShowroom• HatatHouse• HondaShowroom• Kia• Lexus• NationalTravel&

Tourism• OTE-Chevorlet/

GMshowroom• OTE-Hyundai

showroom• OTE-Subaru

showroom• PassagetoIndia• ShellSelect• Suzuki-Moosa

AbdulRahmanShowroom

• ToyotaQurum• AlAraimiComplex• BalanceGym• BankNizwa• BMWshowroom• BurgerKing• Chili’s• CrownePlaza• FinlandEyeCenter• FunZone• GloriaJean’s

Coffee• JungleRestaurant• LeftBank• McDonald’s• Mercedes

Showroom• MumtazMahal• Nandoos• NissanShowroom• OmanOilAhlain• PizzaHut• Qurum

CommercialComplex

• RasAlHamraClub• SABCOCentre• SecondCup• Starbucks• SultanCentre

Qurum• TchéTchécoffee

shopShatti Al Qurum• BareeqAlShatti

Complex• CarribouCoffee• Darcy’sKitchen• GermanEyeLaser

Center• IndusRestaurant,

ROHM• Intercontinental

Hotel• JawaharatAlShatti

Complex• KayaSkinClinic• MoreCafé,ROHM• MuscatEyeLaser

Center• OasisByTheSea• SecondCup• StarbucksSarooj• AlFair• AlMasaMall• AlShattiCinema

(DunkinDonuts)• AYANASpa• COSMECLINIC• EmiratesMedical

Center• McDonald’s• ShellSelect• VLCCMQ• AlFair• ArabOpen

University• BritishCouncil• CostaCoffee• Darcy’sKitchen• HanaSlimming

Centre• KargeenCafé• KFC• Mackenzies• MoodCafé• OmanOilAhlain• PapaJohn’s• PizzaHut• SaharzBeauty

Saloon• StarbucksAl Khuwair• BadarAlSama• BaitAlReem• BaitAlReem-

CoffeeShop

• CaféVergnano• Centrepoint-

Splash• DiplomaticClub• GrandHyatt

Muscat• GulfCollege• HarleyDavidson• HSBC• KFC• KhimjiMart• Khimji’sWatches-

Showroom• KMTrading• LandmarkGroup• McDonald’s• MuscatBakery• OmanBowling

Center• OmanOilAhlain• OmanUnited

Insurance• OMRAN• PizzaHut• RadisonBLU• ShellSelect• TGIfridays• TheKebabFactory• TheTikkaPlace• ZaharaTravel• ZakherShopping

MallMGM• CarribouCoffee• GloriaJean’s

Coffee• JustFalafel• Nawras• PaulPatisserie• TimHortonsBousher• Collegefor

Banking&FinancialStudies

• DolphinVillage• ModernCollegeOf

BusinessStudies• MuscatCollege• MuscatPrivate

Hospital-Emergency

• MuscatPrivateHospital-Outpatient

• OmanMedicalCollege

Ghubra• AlHayatPolyclinic• AlMaya

Hypermarket• AsterHospital• BankofBeirut• CoastaCoffee• CrepeCafé

• GMC-MoosaAbdulRahmanShowroom

• LuluHypermarket• Mocha&More

café• OmanOilAhlain• ParkINN• Porsche• StationeryHut• TheChediAzaiba• AlFair• AlMaha• Amara

Dermetology• CostaCoffee• GoldenTulip• Jaguar-MHD• JeepShowroom• McDonald’s• Mitsubishi

Showroom• OmanArabBank• OmanOilAhlain• Peugeot

Showroom• RangeRover-

MHD• Sayarati• ShellSelect• SkodaShowroom• SultanCentre

Azaiba• TowellAutoCentre

-Mazdashowroom• Volvo-MHD• WattayahMotors-

AUDIshowroom• WattayahMotors

-BENTLEYshowroom

• WattayahMotors-VWshowroom

• YamahaAirport• CarribouCoffee• MajanLounge• PlazaPremium

LoungeAl Murtafaa• BankMuscat• KFC• MuscatHillsMawaleh• Chili’s• CostaCoffee• MakkanCafé• NoodleHouse• Starbucks• TimHortonsThe Wave• AlMoujGolfClub• CostaCoffee

• OmanSail• Shakespere&Co.• TheWaveHOHail• BurgerKing• Caledonian

College• MarkazAlBahja• McDonald’s• Omantel• StarcareHospital• VLCCRusayl• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-1• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-2• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-3• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-4(ITA)• MiddleEast

College• Omantel• WaljatCollegeSQU• SQU-Diplomatic

Club• SQU-Collegeof

Commerce• SQU-Students

BankingArea• SQUH-Rception/

CanteenAl Khoud• ALFair• BadarAlSama• PizzaHutSeeb• McDonald’sBarka• AlNahdaSpaand

Resort• LuluHypermarketSawadi• SawadiBeach

ResortMassnaah• MillenniumHotelSohar• Centrepoint-

Splash• CrownePlaza• NationalGift

Market,FalajAlQabail

• Nawras• PizzaHut• SafeerMall• SoharBeachHotel• SoharPort• SoharuniversityNizwa• NizwaUniversity

@ytabloid facebook.com/ytabloid

fo l l o w u s o n :

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 3 7

TOO LATE? DON’T WORRY. GET Y INSTANTLY ONLINE USING YOUR MOBILE DEVICES & PCVisit www.y-oman.com/current-issue/

No downloading required

GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS…

Al Mina’a• BaitalBaranda• BaitalZubairMuttrah• ShellSelectQantab• AlBustanPalace

Hotel• MarinaBanderAL

Rowdha• OmanDiveClub• ShangriLaSifa• SifawiBeachHotelWadi Kabir• AlMaya

Hypermarket• LuluHypermarket• MuscatPharmacy• National

HospitalityInstitute

• PizzaHut• ShellSelectMBD• BankDhofar• Centrepoint-

Splash• KhimjiMart• NBO• OmanOilAhlain• PizzaHut• PizzaMuscat• ShellSelectCBD• AlMaya

Hypermarket• AlizzIslamicBank• BahwanTravel

Agencies• BankSohar• CopperChimney• CostaCoffee• HSBC• LamaPolyclinic• NBO• OmanArabBank• Standard

CharteredBank• WoodlandsDarsait• IndianSocialClub• KhimjiMart• KIMSHospital• LuluHypermarket• MuscatBakery• ShellSelectAL Falaj/Rex Road• AlFalajHotel• BadarAlSama• GoldenOryx

Restaurant• KamatRestaurant• ToshibaShowroom

RUWI• ApolloMedical

Centre• KamatRestaurant• KFC• KhimjiMegastore

–SwarovskiShowroom

• Khimji’sWatches-Showroom

• KMTrading• OmanAir• OmanUAE

Exchange,OCC• OTE• SarwanaBhawanWattayah• AhliBank• Bestcars• BLS• FordShowroom• HatatHouse• HondaShowroom• Kia• Lexus• NationalTravel&

Tourism• OTE-Chevorlet/

GMshowroom• OTE-Hyundai

showroom• OTE-Subaru

showroom• PassagetoIndia• ShellSelect• Suzuki-Moosa

AbdulRahmanShowroom

• ToyotaQurum• AlAraimiComplex• BalanceGym• BankNizwa• BMWshowroom• BurgerKing• Chili’s• CrownePlaza• FinlandEyeCenter• FunZone• GloriaJean’s

Coffee• JungleRestaurant• LeftBank• McDonald’s• Mercedes

Showroom• MumtazMahal• Nandoos• NissanShowroom• OmanOilAhlain• PizzaHut• Qurum

CommercialComplex

• RasAlHamraClub• SABCOCentre• SecondCup• Starbucks• SultanCentre

Qurum• TchéTchécoffee

shopShatti Al Qurum• BareeqAlShatti

Complex• CarribouCoffee• Darcy’sKitchen• GermanEyeLaser

Center• IndusRestaurant,

ROHM• Intercontinental

Hotel• JawaharatAlShatti

Complex• KayaSkinClinic• MoreCafé,ROHM• MuscatEyeLaser

Center• OasisByTheSea• SecondCup• StarbucksSarooj• AlFair• AlMasaMall• AlShattiCinema

(DunkinDonuts)• AYANASpa• COSMECLINIC• EmiratesMedical

Center• McDonald’s• ShellSelect• VLCCMQ• AlFair• ArabOpen

University• BritishCouncil• CostaCoffee• Darcy’sKitchen• HanaSlimming

Centre• KargeenCafé• KFC• Mackenzies• MoodCafé• OmanOilAhlain• PapaJohn’s• PizzaHut• SaharzBeauty

Saloon• StarbucksAl Khuwair• BadarAlSama• BaitAlReem• BaitAlReem-

CoffeeShop

• CaféVergnano• Centrepoint-

Splash• DiplomaticClub• GrandHyatt

Muscat• GulfCollege• HarleyDavidson• HSBC• KFC• KhimjiMart• Khimji’sWatches-

Showroom• KMTrading• LandmarkGroup• McDonald’s• MuscatBakery• OmanBowling

Center• OmanOilAhlain• OmanUnited

Insurance• OMRAN• PizzaHut• RadisonBLU• ShellSelect• TGIfridays• TheKebabFactory• TheTikkaPlace• ZaharaTravel• ZakherShopping

MallMGM• CarribouCoffee• GloriaJean’s

Coffee• JustFalafel• Nawras• PaulPatisserie• TimHortonsBousher• Collegefor

Banking&FinancialStudies

• DolphinVillage• ModernCollegeOf

BusinessStudies• MuscatCollege• MuscatPrivate

Hospital-Emergency

• MuscatPrivateHospital-Outpatient

• OmanMedicalCollege

Ghubra• AlHayatPolyclinic• AlMaya

Hypermarket• AsterHospital• BankofBeirut• CoastaCoffee• CrepeCafé

• GMC-MoosaAbdulRahmanShowroom

• LuluHypermarket• Mocha&More

café• OmanOilAhlain• ParkINN• Porsche• StationeryHut• TheChediAzaiba• AlFair• AlMaha• Amara

Dermetology• CostaCoffee• GoldenTulip• Jaguar-MHD• JeepShowroom• McDonald’s• Mitsubishi

Showroom• OmanArabBank• OmanOilAhlain• Peugeot

Showroom• RangeRover-

MHD• Sayarati• ShellSelect• SkodaShowroom• SultanCentre

Azaiba• TowellAutoCentre

-Mazdashowroom• Volvo-MHD• WattayahMotors-

AUDIshowroom• WattayahMotors

-BENTLEYshowroom

• WattayahMotors-VWshowroom

• YamahaAirport• CarribouCoffee• MajanLounge• PlazaPremium

LoungeAl Murtafaa• BankMuscat• KFC• MuscatHillsMawaleh• Chili’s• CostaCoffee• MakkanCafé• NoodleHouse• Starbucks• TimHortonsThe Wave• AlMoujGolfClub• CostaCoffee

• OmanSail• Shakespere&Co.• TheWaveHOHail• BurgerKing• Caledonian

College• MarkazAlBahja• McDonald’s• Omantel• StarcareHospital• VLCCRusayl• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-1• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-2• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-3• KnowledgeOasis

Muscat-4(ITA)• MiddleEast

College• Omantel• WaljatCollegeSQU• SQU-Diplomatic

Club• SQU-Collegeof

Commerce• SQU-Students

BankingArea• SQUH-Rception/

CanteenAl Khoud• ALFair• BadarAlSama• PizzaHutSeeb• McDonald’sBarka• AlNahdaSpaand

Resort• LuluHypermarketSawadi• SawadiBeach

ResortMassnaah• MillenniumHotelSohar• Centrepoint-

Splash• CrownePlaza• NationalGift

Market,FalajAlQabail

• Nawras• PizzaHut• SafeerMall• SoharBeachHotel• SoharPort• SoharuniversityNizwa• NizwaUniversity

@ytabloid facebook.com/ytabloid

fo l l o w u s o n :

P o s t c a r d s f r o m C a r s Y - F i O u t d o o r s

CARS ANDOUTDOORS

MOODY MOUNTAINS Swirling dark clouds

and bursts of rain overhead produce a dramatic change on

Jebel Shams.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 3 8

CARS ANDOUTDOORS

P o s t c a r d s f r o m C a r s Y - F i O u t d o o r sCARS ANDOUTDOORS

Hail Al ShasJerzy Wierzbicki is back and this time he takes you up into the mountains after the recent rains to see how the landscape had changed

Destination

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 3 9

The stream of muddy water was moving fast, slithering across the road like a lithe brown snake.

Anyone without a 4x4 had no choice but to turn back. Not me though. My trusty Land Cruiser and I plunged straight through and emerged safely on the other side without any adverse effects.

This journey up into the mountains in the northern part of Oman is usually relatively straightforward but after a few days lashed by torrential rains and noisy storms, it was a different story.

I knew, when I set off from Muscat, that it wasn’t going to be a run-of-the-mill trip. I soon found out just how eventful it was going to be. On the road to Nizwa, I turned off at Birkat al Mouz (an oasis and beautiful spot by the way, well worth a visit on its own) into the road that would lead me to the mountains. Overflowing wadis, swollen by the rains, were spewing their contents across the road.

I got through and stopped off in Nizwa to grab some water and fuel before moving to Al Hamra. My final destination was just a few kilometres behind the traditional town. To get there meant navigating through more roads turned into rivers of water. Behind Wadi Tanuf (see Issue 251), the water on the road was too deep for saloon cars and only

4x4s could make it across the dirty streams. The weather reminded me of a summer’s

day in Eastern Europe, where I’m from. It was warm but humid and the sun was completely covered by a fluffy shield of clouds.

In Al Hamra, I couldn’t resist stopping near the old town to see the traditional mud brick houses in one of the most atmospheric parts of Oman. Lonely, narrow streets and completely abandoned ancient houses, along with rainy and grey weather, created a special mood that I really appreciate.

After a short walk into the past, I headed back to my car for the next stage of my adventure. Driving up through the town, I took a muddy track, which would take me to the top of a place called Hail Al Shas.

After a quick check to make sure the 4x4 system was engaged, I was ready to go. A seven kilometre wet and grubby rough track was ahead of me. I climbed slowly, winding up and up, splashing through muddy pools. At the halfway point, I pulled the car over and went to the rocky ledge. The mountain’s peak looked like a massive chimney wreathed in swirls of fog. Due to the rains, the vegetation near the top was an intense and vivid green colour. I was drawn to the freshness of it all. Installing a macro lens on my camera, I captured a few shots.

Al Hamra and the surrounding mountains

were barely visible, only their outlines were revealed, piercing through the mist. The big wadi behind the town looked more like a brownish, torn ribbon. A few minutes later, I parked my car on top of a small plateau, which gave me a fantastic view of the mountains. Even in the cloudy weather, it made an impression. I could also see many of the buildings and streets in Al Hamra along with a massive palm plantation in the centre that looked like a green carpet from the top.

Hail Al Shas is located 1,385 metres above sea level (according my GPS locator). Nearby is a small but luxurious eco-resort called ‘The View’ with spectacular panoramic vistas of the mountains. It’s a perfect place to stay, especially during the cooler season, when you can use it as a base to explore the area and go on expeditions up Jebel Shams. It’s also a good place to stop for a reviving cup of hot tea, as I did. Last week, the temperature in the car park next to the resort was just 18°C.

If you’re planning to go to Al Hamra, this place should be on your list to visit. From here, you can also head for Wadi Ghul, known as the Grand Canyon of Arabia, and Misfah al Abreen, a picturesque village at the foot of Jebel Shams.

Any trip up the mountains is a great experience but the effects of the rain added a new, magical dimension.

HOW TO GET THEREAl Hamra and the rest of the points near the town can be visited with a saloon car but a good 4x4 will be needed for Hail Al Shas. During the rains, using a 4x4 is a must. It will take effort to get there but it’s worth it. Your prize will be the amazing views.Go to Al Hamra and, in the centre

of the town, turn left into the old district. The route to Hail Al Shas is signposted at the top. Just turn on to the track and go seven kilometres. At the end of the road you will see ‘The View’ resort.The total distance from Muscat is around 170 km.

GpS location is: 23° 9’44.25”N 57°15’45.53”ETRAV

EL g

UIDE

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 40 4 0

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDOUTDOORS

Easy

Tom Robertson hops aboard a Harley to get a taste of the open road

RidersThere is no mistaking a Harley-Davidson. Even those of us who

can’t tell a Kawasaki Ninja from a Yamaha Ténéré know what we’re looking at when a Harley’s on the prowl. Sweeping lines, big headlights, wide handlebars and fat tyres all add to the

unmistakable look of the iconic hog. Then, of course, there’s more chrome on display than a Google web browser.

It all contributes to the retro look so inherent to the brand. It’s no coincidence though. Back in the 1980s, Harley-Davidson decided that if they were to survive competition from an influx of Japanese motorcycles, they would have to play to their strengths and assume a leading position in the retro and custom market.

Complimenting the classic styling is the other unique feature, the thumping of that engine. If you can’t see them approaching, you can certainly hear them. Long before you catch sight of these machines coming round the corner, there’s the classic ‘chop chop pop chop’ of a Harley-Davidson V twin. Loud, proud and 100 per cent Harley. It’s such a unique sound that the Wisconsin (US) based company even tried to patent it once.

And here I was, stood in front of the new Harley Road King Classic on which I was about to tear round the roads of Oman.

Matt, a Harley employee and ardent fan with over 20 years motorcycling experience, would be the rider and I his passenger. “Just sit back and enjoy the ride,” he said. “They’re designed to be cruisers on which you can watch

the world go by and admire the scenery.”I was setting off with a group of Harley riders who were showcasing the

latest models from the legendary motorcycle manufacturer. In fact, 2014 is a year in which the company has launched eight new bikes

including the aggressive looking V-Rod Muscle and a more leisurely looking trike, the Tri Glide Ultra Classic. They’re all big beasts, mind, no nimble little scramblers here with Harley only having one sub-700cc engine in their entire line-up.

The moment had arrived. I clambered onto the 2014 Road King, an unmistakable Harley touring bike with a high windshield – to reduce that bane of motorcycling, wind fatigue – and new hard saddlebags for heading out on the open road.

Having donned my helmet and jacket, we prepared for lift off.I don’t think I will ever forget that first feeling of pulling out onto the road

as a member of a Harley convoy. While my knuckles had turned white in preparation for weaving in and out of traffic, such apprehension proved to be totally unnecessary.

It was immediately apparent that this experience was going to be far more comfortable than anticipated. We didn’t roar off like road demons – we just rolled along the road. I didn’t cling on for dear life – I perched comfortably on the passenger seat feeling surprisingly at ease on the bike’s wide and stable frame.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 4 0 4 1

O U T D O O R SP o s t c a r d s f r o m Y - F i C a r s

▲ hollywood hardman sylvester stallone took delivery of a fat Boy, perhaps inspired by his fellow actor george clooney who is also known to be a harley rider.

▲ elvis Presley used to own a Panhead, which, 30 years after his death, led to 30 limited edition replica bikes being made to commemorate the star’s love for Harleys.

▲ arnold schwarzenegger famously rode a softtail fat Boy in terminator 2 but is regularly spotted riding his own harley around malibu, california.

▲ In one of the most famous movies scenes in harley history, dennis hopper rode a chopper in the film Easy Rider, supported by a host of hog riding stars including Jack nicholson.

It’s not just Muscat’s Harley Owners Group that enjoys taking to the road on the iconic motorbikes:

RidersAnd what a feeling to chug along together, as bike after bike roared away while the

trike pumped out music from its onboard entertainment system for all to hear.If there were to be any hair-raising moments though, they were to come from the

other drivers on the road, not from the raw power of the motorcycles themselves. Vehicles regularly pulled out in front of the bikes giving scant regard for the

vulnerability of the riders, while the convoy was regularly split in two by impatient drivers changing lanes. There would even be moments when the bikers would be almost physically pushed aside by cars with the Harley having to give way or be rammed off the road.

But once out into the mountains and wadis, it was a different story as the Harleys found their natural terrain. The bikes thundered up mountain passes with ease. The modern machines are a far cry from William S Harley’s and Arthur Davidson’s first model that failed to climb the hills around Milwaukee back in 1901.

Over a hundred years later, the latest iterations in the Harley range effortlessly ate up reams of smooth tarmac as they snaked along the mountain wadis. We swept gracefully round long corners, one after the other, the engines’ roar echoing off the sheer crags around us.

As the mountains and valleys passed by, my mind was lulled into a kind of beautiful reflective state and I was able to simply appreciate the moment and think clearly.

Gone were office deadlines, vanquished were ringing phones, silenced was the ceaseless ping of incoming messages; here was the therapy of the open road and the essence of the Harley dream.

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 4 2

TOP 5 PLAcES TO VISIT:1. Wat Pho2. the Grand Palace3. the National museum4. Bang khu Wiang Floating market5. Wat arun (the temple of dawn)

THAI SPLENDOUR Crafted from the finest

white Italian carrara marble, the stunning wat Benchamabophit

(nicknamed the marble temple) is a

must-see for visitors to Bangkok.

CARS ANDINDOORS

My favourite place If you don’t suffer from vertigo, the zip lining adventure at the Chonburi National Park is a unique experience, followed by the safari at the open zoo. The drive from Bangkok to the national park is really relaxing with great views of Thailand’s lush greenery. The zip line experience gives you a splendid aerial view of the forest.

Highlights Siam Niramit is a world-class performance of Thailand’s art and cultural heritage and a wonderful insight into Thai culture. It takes place on a huge stage with over 100 performers taking the audience through the history of Thailand. A spectacular and colourful presentation with beautiful backdrops and special effects, it’s a must-see experience. Lowlights Like a lot of metropolitan cities in the world, the traffic in Bangkok is terrible, and it takes hours to reach anywhere. Travelling by taxi is best avoided. Instead, try taking the trains or the ferry service whenever possible.

Souvenirs Most of the street shops and those in front of major tourist attractions sell a wide range of souvenirs, such as silk fabrics, little Buddhas, mango wood carvings and traditional Thai puppets. On the tour of the famous Damnoen Saduak floating canal market, vendors will approach selling everything from fruit and fabrics to souvenirs. Try out the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the biggest in the country, with endless opportunities to pick up souvenirs - bargaining is a must.

Where to stay Sukhumvit Road has everything you could ask for including a wide range of hotels catering to different budgets. It might not have the tourist attractions, but fashionable restaurants, bars, malls, luxury hotels and trendy clubs give it a distinctly modern, cosmopolitan flavour.

P O S T C A R D S F R O MC a r s Y - F i I n d o o r s

BANGKOK, THAILAND

FLOATING MARKET

GRAND PALACE

Lakshmi Ravi, recommends

WAT ARuN (ThE TEMPLE OF DAWN)

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 4 3

S awasdee (greet ings i n Tha i ) . I f you are l o ok ing for a mu l t i faceted exper ience , Bangkok i s the p lace to go . The cap i ta l of th is Southeast As ian nat i on offers h istory , cu l t ure , nature , adventure and re laxat i on a l l i n one dest inat i on .

Arr iv ing at Suvarnabhum i I nternat i ona l A irport i s an amaz ing exper ience i n i tse l f . Des igned by he lmut Jahn , i t ’ s far from sou l l ess - w ith beaut i fu l mura ls dep ict ing a l l wa lks of l i fe and orch ids p lanted a l l around to add a sense of trop i ca l l ushness . The dep ict i on of Samudra Manthan (Churn ing of the Ocean) from h indu mytho l ogy at the huge departure term ina l i s breathtak ing .

Bangkok i s the c i ty of temp les and has a p lethora of them, i nc l ud ing the Go lden Buddha Temp le , Rec l i n i ng Buddha Temp le and the Marb le Temp le . The Grand Pa lace comp lex , the off i c ia l res idence of the roya l fam i l y s ince 1782, i s open to the pub l i c and attracts thousands of v is i t ors to adm ire i ts magn if i cent arch i tecture . The wa l l s of the courtyard are pa inted w ith stunn ing pa int ings dep ict ing the sequences of the h indu ep i c , the Ramayana. I t a ls o conta ins the Temp le of the Emera ld Buddha, w i th i ts 14th Century f i gur ine made of green nephr i te and c l othed i n go ld . Wat Arun , the Temp le of the Dawn, offers a spectacu lar v iew of Bangkok from the top of i ts centra l Khmer-sty le t ower , w i th i ts ma in sp i re decorated in mu l t i c o l o ured ceram ics .

A fun way to get around Bangkok i s by Tuk-Tuk - s im i lar to the autor i ckshaw - j ust remember to hagg le over the pr i ce before you get i n and te l l the dr iver exact ly where you want to go , or you ’ l l end up v is i t i ng var i o us touts and shops try ing to part you from your money . Another opt i on i s the motorcyc le tax i , wh ich i s idea l for a s ing le person want ing to move around the congested traff ic of the c i ty .

No v is i t t o Bangkok i s comp lete w ithout exper ienc ing the famous Tha i massage . These range from a fu l l b ody rubdown to a fo ot massage , a l l o f wh ich are re lax ing . Most shopp ing ma l l s and commerc ia l areas have good , t our ist-fr iend ly par l o urs .

Overa l l , Bangkok guarantees anyone an unforgettab le t ime .

F E B 2 7 – M A R 0 5 / I S S U E 3 0 90 4 4

-FIT H E T E C H I N Y O U

EDITO

R’S P

IcK

OUT OF OFFIcEIn this day and age, there’s no need to be tied to the office

anymore. Matthew Herbst on the best tech for remote working made easy

Y - F IP o s t c a r d s f r o m C a r s I n d o o r s

0 4 4 A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5

SCAN IT, SEND ITPUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE ICONVERT SCANNER, A HANDY TOOL TO WHICH YOU SIMPLY DOCK YOUR IPAD, PRESS A BUTTON AND FEED IN YOUR PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS. THE CLEVER LITTLE MOBILE OFFICE TOOL WILL SCAN THE DOCUMENTS AND CONVERT THE HARD COPIES INTO DIGITAL FORMAT TO BE SAVED ON YOUR TABLET. THE DEVICE IS SMALL ENOUGH TO TAKE WITH YOU WHEN YOU NEED TO SIGN THAT BIG DEAL WITHOUT DELAY. COMPATIBLE WITH IPAD (3RD GENERATION), IPAD 2 AND IPAD TABLETS. FROM rO38 AT www.amazon.com

NEW ECONOMY ALCATEL’s onetouch Pop 7 and Pop 8 Android 4G LTE-capable tablets are the new affordable options that could hit the spot for freelancers on a budget. The LTE version of the cheaper Pop 7 is expected to launch at around rO76. The more premium 8-inch Pop 8 tablet, which touts the same mid-range specifications of its sibling, but with a bigger, sharper IPS display, will cost around rO115. Snap one up at www.alcatelonetouch.com

WIpE OUT The idea of a flexible display is an enthralling one. This roll-up whiteboard is a great tool on which to elaborate all your great ideas at the coffee shop with colleagues.Each Zipboard comes with a dry erase marker that’s located in the base, while there’s also an integrated eraser on the back. Even better, nothing will be erased, even when it retracts, allowing you to ‘save’ whatever you’ve jotted down for another presentation at a later date.www.thegrommet.com/zipboard-whiteboard from rO11.5

pRIVATE EYE La Fonction is a portable workstation ideal for the entrepreneur on the move. Made of leather, it folds out to resemble a desk space, giving you privacy wherever you are. The idea for the expanding partitions was inspired by early photographers’ need to protect their work from light. There’s space for your laptop, phone, pens, paper, and even has a detachable pouch for all of your cables. Starts at around rO384 or more for customised versions. www.la-fonction.com

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 5 0 4 5

F I N D O U T W H A T ’ S H I P & H A P P E N I N G I N G A D G E T S

JUST SIGN ITNo more delays or excuses to close the big one. Here’s a helpful App from Adobe that allows you to electronically sign documents easily and securely. It also records and stores each document’s history, so you have automatic audit trails – saving you precious time and trouble backtracking should the need arise. Free at itunes.com

app of the week

CLOCKING Up THE MONEYThey say that time is money, so why not let the rials add up right in front of your eyes with the Bring TIM! time management clock? This unique timepiece will display the total cost of everyone’s time with each second that passes, clearly displayed to impress upon people’s minds the need to be brief, Doubling up as an office clock, this makes a great gift for any time-conscious entrepreneur on the run. Starts at just rO9.61. See www.maxwideman.com for more information.

COOL STUFFHow much time have we all wasted looking around for that fiddly little USB drive, just to get our hands on some documents? Pogoplug has come up with an igenious solution. Simply connect the little box to the internet and your external hard drive, and you’ll be able to access all your personal files over the Web. And all at the tiny price of rO 30.77. Check it out at www. pogoplug.com

A P R 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 1 50 4 6

It looks a mean machine, handles like a dream and is a big softie at heart. Kate Ginn takes the Ford F-150 for a spin check this out

A 3.68m wheelbase with 1.67m cargo box

Electronic Shift-On-The- Fly 4x4

Trailer tow package 20” six-spoke wheel Body-coloured front and rear

step bumpers Black leather trimmed seats Single-zone temperature

control SYNC MyFord voice-

activated communications and entertainment systems

Rear-view camera with reverse sensing system

Safety canopy system

CARS ANDINDOORS

C A R SP o s t c a r d s f r o m Y - F i I n d o o r s

To be honest, in my line of work I never expected to be driving a pickup truck at any point.

It’s not necessarily the choice for journalists, who often have to blend anonymously into the background, and don’t therefore want to announce their arrival in an absolute monster of a vehicle that’s hard to miss.

Nor was I sure I would even like it. I mean a pickup isn’t exactly girly, is it? There’s nothing feminine, or so I thought, about a beast like that.

How wrong I was.By the end of my few hours

with the Ford F-150, dear reader, I would have happily chucked in the keys of my bland saloon in return for another day with ‘my’ pickup.

For a start, I discovered that I loved having the biggest, toughest, meanest-looking vehicle on the road. The F-150 doesn’t just command respect, it owns the road.

Not a single driver attempted to tailgate me down the Sultan Qaboos Highway – something that anyone who uses it on a regular basis will know is unheard of. All vehicles kept a respectful

distance on all sides. Secondly, despite its large size,

the F-150 is so graceful and smooth, almost gentle, that you forget just how big a vehicle you’re actually driving.

The cab is comfortable with an almost luxury feel, with leather-trimmed bucket seats on my model, and nice little touches like a sunglasses holder. The Ford SYNC system also allows you to pair a device and download contacts and music from a smartphone or iPod, and to make hands-free calls.

It’s spacious inside, with loads of legroom, and acres of room in the back for three adult passengers to relax. The steering wheel is big but the vehicle responds instantly to the lightest of touches.

Of course, it’s off-road where the F-150 really comes into its own. Every engine designed for the F-150 lineup was apparently subjected to millions of kilometres of harsh testing (both in the laboratory and real world) to ensure that they meet the strict Built Ford Tough standards.

So I took mine for a little detour to do my own test. It easily handled a rock-strewn patch of waste ground, the suspension

doing a great job, and laughed in the face of a mound of mud, storming up and over like a tank.

On hard sand at the beach at Seeb, it powered over lumps and bumps ridiculously easy, as if we were on a smooth tarmac road. Large, fat seagulls scattered from our path, their beady black eyes staring as we roared past.

It will come as no surprise that a big market for the F-150 is serious off-roaders who like to drive up towering sand dunes on a weekend.

What did surprise me, however, was finding out that I could use this as my everyday vehicle. True, it can pull up 5,126kg (that’s more than the weight of a female adult elephant) and has a huge cargo box at the back, which could accommodate a whole herd of goats if you so wished.

But the Ford is also elegant and refined. Its ruggedness made me feel safe and secure on the roads, its meaty engine makes for carefree, smooth overtaking, and there’s all that room in the back or the box for your shopping.

Now, just imagine the looks on the other parents’ faces when you turn up on the school run in a F-150.

They say: ‘Tougher than the rest.’

We say: ‘Hard as nails.’

ford f-150 fX4Specification

Engine: 5.0 litre V8Horsepower: 360

Transmission: Six-speed SelectShift automatic with tow/haul mode

Price: From RO16,150 (XLT Chrome Edition)

cAR OF THE WEEK