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YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK MAY 28 - JUN 03 2015 / ISSUE 372 • WEEKLY

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

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FO L L O W U S O N :

,

Fast forwardI’ve spent a lot of years writing about scammers, who I reckon are one of the scourges

of society. Unfortunately, these people continue to do what they do because they are still duping gullible victims into coughing up their hard-earned cash in exchange for a too-good-to-be-true tale that usually involves millions of dollars.

Oman is no different to the rest of the world when it comes to scammers. In fact, Y’s cover story this week has found that phone scams in the Sultanate have been on the rise over the past two years, with the activity intensifying during Ramadan, Eid and other holidays. It doesn’t matter if you are well educated or not – many people are lured into these scams on the promise of a get-rich-quick scheme. And who doesn’t want to make easy money, right?

Even Team Y hasn’t been immune to the scammers. One contacted us recently with a promise of RO20,000. What the scammer didn’t know, however, was that we were on to him. We had a great time badgering him with questions about his scam. As he became increasingly frustrated and flustered with us, it was clear he also didn’t want to throw in the towel. But he did hang up quickly when we threatened to report his number to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

There’s no law that protects residents against these scammers. After all, victims have “willingly” transferred money to them. Anti-spam draft legislation has been on the table since 2012, but until it is introduced, there will continue to be more victims – and ever more scammers.

In the meantime, always remember: never give out your personal information, ignore those spam messages that promise untold riches and stay alert. Have a great week!

editor@y-oman.com

Want to read Y on the go? Scan our digital issue here:Download any QR reader from iTunes or Google Play to read Y on the go

Team Y had a great weekend in Dubai catching up with old friends, headed off to a farm near Barka and braved the crowds at The Avenues Mall.

THIS WEEK…

GOING UPTEMPERATURES

The heat has been almost unbearable of late, which can only mean one thing:

summer has arrived early this year. And if it’s this hot now, imagine what

it’s going to be like in July.

GOING DOWNTHE GREAT OUTDOORS

The rise in the temperature means there’s less to do outdoors, so it’s a

perfect time to start stocking up on all your favourite TV series and

heading to the movies to catch the latest blockbusters. It’s all about

staying cool now!

COMPETITION

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

Smart device: Catch up with Y on the go by scanning the QR code below

Ways to get your Y fix EDITOR IN CHIEFSayyida Iman bint Hamad

bin Hamood Al Busaidi

MANAGING EDITORFelicity Glover

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Kate Ginn

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THE BAROMETER

Our Chatime competition continues this week. Have you got a great idea for a new flavour? Turn to P29 for details and to check if you are this week’s winner. Good luck!

contentsM A Y 2 8 - J U N 0 3 2 0 1 5

Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Dr Nadiya Al Saady

08 Voice Of Oman Ali Al Rahma

10 News Illegal Airport Workers Arrested

14 Gallery Takatuf Scholars

16 Gallery Young Omani Author Competition & Let’s Read Children’s Writing Competition

T h i s w e e k15 #FYI What US$1 Million Buys In Property Around The World

17 Movie Listings Poltergeist

18 This Week Final Curtain

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Getting Shirty

34 Beauty 10 Years Younger

35 Health Smart Diet For Mums To Be

11

33

Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Mango Mania

30 Taste Test La Cigalo

28

Fe at u r e20 Daylight Robbery Highlighting Oman’s Phone Scams

24 Digital Detox Switch Off And Declutter Your Life

26 Men In Blue Muscat’s Construction Workers

C a r s a n d A d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Sur From Above

40 Outdoors Into The Deep

42 Postcard From The Shetland Islands, UK

44 Y-Fi Golden Touch

46 Car Of The Week Mazda 6

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With a vast bank of in-depth knowledge, a very friendly personality and a talent for narrating, Dr Nadiya al Saady had me captivated from the moment we met. Originally a lecturer and a researcher, Dr Nadiya took a secondment from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), joining The Research Council in 2010 and was asked to take up her current role when the Animal and Plant Genetic Research Center (APGRC) was founded under Royal Decree in 2012.

The core responsibility of the centre is to make sure that the natural resources in the country – its animals, plants, micro-organisms and marine life – are utilised in a sustainable way to benefit the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, as well as society as a whole. “We have a wealth of untapped genetic resources in Oman that we really need to bring out the potential of, and also to make people aware about how they can contribute to the conservation of these resources,” says Dr Nadiya.

As the centre is still relatively new, many of its activities are about creating awareness of the different flora, fauna and marine life the country has to offer. “One programme which helped us create awareness among school children was called the ‘Treasures of Oman’, in which we visited different regions over a two-month period bringing interactive games to students. We also gave some fun talks to help them become more aware and responsible when it comes to their environment.” One dilemma faced by the centre is where to place its priority. When it comes to choosing whether to focus on economically important species, such as those in our food chain, or endangered species, Dr Nadiya believes that a balance needs to be struck. “Sometimes it is a plant that carries the cure for a future disease, so we have to conserve and protect equally,” she says.

Dr Nadiya also told me about some interesting genetic findings in which new varieties of wheat and banana were discovered in Oman. “We have species that have adapted to the hot conditions,” she says. “That makes them important globally because people will now want our species to be incorporated into their varieties because these have survived such harsh conditions.“They could be carrying potential genes for other types of characteristics such as disease tolerance, heat tolerance or some other useful property.”Studying and working with students has been her passion for many years and Dr Nadiya has spent a great deal of her life with her head buried in research in order to further Oman’s scientific progress. “I did my bachelors in the College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences at SQU, and then went on to complete my masters and PhD at the University of Minnesota in the US, focusing on plant genetics.” Upon returning to Oman, Dr Nadiya taught genetics and biotechnology at SQU before being made the university’s assistant dean for postgraduate studies and research.

“I enjoyed teaching biotechnology because genetically modified organisms are always a topic of controversy. I used to divide my class into those who were for and against it and was amazed how much I learnt from that debate.”Married with three kids, Dr Nadiya tries her best to not bring her work into the home, but it’s not always possible. “I feel guilty sometimes because I am so involved in my work and I probably need more of a balance, but I try my best to do it right,” she says Although her family has been supportive, her children still panic occasionally when they see a suitcase around the house because it indicates that their mum will be travelling again soon. “When I went to study in the US my husband came along and supported me all through it. My kids were born there and it wasn’t an easy time, so I am glad he was by my side.” While Dr Nadiya’s kids are interested

in the work of their mother, they will not necessarily be following her career path. “They are more inclined to physics, IT and law. That’s why I needed ‘Treasures of Oman’ to bring other kids on board,” she laughs.After studying abroad and visiting various countries for both work and leisure, it’s fair to say that travel is in Dr Nadiya’s blood. “If I don’t travel for a while, I will just visit Dubai for the sake of travelling. I enjoy seeing new cultures and discovering new places,” she tells me.“The genetic industry”, Dr Nadiya says, “is very important for any country as it contributes to the national economy and also to the fishing and agriculture communities among others. This is an initiative that cannot be done by one organisation, there are projects in place by the ministries and NGOs as well as private sector and academic institutions and the APGRC was set up to coordinate this and ensure that we can all work together.”She wishes to see more and more Omani youth in the field so that they can become increasingly responsible for sustainability and bear the torch for generations to come.

Have you got a unique story to tell or do you know someone who has? Contact us to have coffee with Deeba and be featured in Y Magazine. Email: editor@y-oman.com

Deeba Hasan sits down with Dr Nadiya al Saady, the executive director at Oman’s Animal and Plant Genetic Research Center, who shares insights from an interesting industry

Dr Nadiya al Saady

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We are living in an era of ultimate change. Technology

and a “show off” ethos have shaped our current lifestyles. Life is so fast that we try to reduce human interaction. For example, in the West, there are special express checkout counters in different supermarkets that allow customers to check out their items without the need of a cashier. Here in Oman and in the region, there are electronic kiosks for various bill payments such as electricity, water and telephone bills. There is no longer a need to wait in a queue or have a conversation with another person. You can pay your bills online as well.

Furthermore, our lifestyles have changed dramatically from the past. Our life is a facade and not representative of who we really are. For example, some people show off by taking photos of their branded watches, cellphones, shoes or handbags, but in reality, some of them don’t even have enough money to take care of themselves because all is spent on materialistic items.

When that person is in trouble, there is no one to take care of them because all the people they surrounded themselves with are about image and fakeness.

Unfortunately, this is what is gradually happening in Oman. Being proud of your achievements (which is different to showing off) is fine, but forcing yourself to be part of a fake environment, surrounded by materialistic people, creates an ache in one’s soul that can easily lead to intense envy.

Be yourself, be the humble person that you are and be proud of your achievements.

WE ASKED: “Friday (May 22) is Food Revolution Day. How do you think schools in Oman can encourage children to eat healthier?”

ADEEBA FATIMA School is a time when children start to make independent choices about their lifestyles.

DEBATE OF THE WEEK

This is an important time to talk about and encourage healthy food habits as they learn quickly and are influenced by friends and popular trends. Involving children in planning their own diet gives them the opportunity to learn about healthy eating, and also gives them a chance to make autonomous decisions about what they will be eating during the day. Parents and teachers need to encourage balanced diets that include all the essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals in every meal.

SPARSHA VYAS Primary schools in Oman can encourage children to eat healthier by introducing a compulsory snack timetable at break time that includes healthy food. They could also discuss and differentiate healthy from unhealthy food by giving worksheets to pupils. Taking students to markets

Dear Team Y,

Fudge came to us when he was a tiny golden ball, just six weeks old. Since then, he’s become an inseparable part of our life. We almost lost him a year ago in a freak accident when his paw caught in a wire fence and was so badly mangled he had to have surgery.

Thankfully, after two months of daily dressing and intensive TLC, he got his mojo back and his limp hasn’t dampened his spirits at all!

Leaving Oman after all these years will be a little less heartbreaking if we are able to find a loving home for Fudge. He’s always been a family guy who loves to snooze on the couch and enjoys a good meal of sausages and mushy peas. He is peaceful, gentle and quick to purr.

It would be wonderful if you could help us find a home for Fudge as I have approached a couple of shelters and clinics, but they have declined, saying that they have too many on their hands already.

Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated.

Warm regards,Nandita, Muscat.

FIND A HOME FOR FUDGE

ALI AL RAHMA ON BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF

would make them appreciate and understand the value of eating and fresh food. At secondary school, kitchen gardens and poultry farms could be developed with the support of students. Healthy food options should be available in canteens and unhealthy junk food banned on school premises. Older students could mentor younger ones and encourage them to develop healthy food habits.

SHYAM AGASTHYA As the name suggests, it’s Food Revolution Day. There has to be a major revolution in our homes first in terms of what we eat. Children learn from adults and so if we stick to a healthy lifestyle, they are more likely to do so themselves. Dependency on junk food and eating out at malls should be minimised and healthy eating habits cultivated at home. Schools should also play an important role in educating students on being healthy through workshops and moral education classes.

SALEHA HAROON In western countries the food children eat during their lunch break is provided by the schools themselves. They should choose the most healthy and hygienic options for students and train them to eat healthy instead of unhealthy fast food. Also, all schools should have a separate subject for children that emphasises the importance of healthy eating. Children will then grow up in an environment of healthy eating.

NAMITA PANDEYSchools should introduce two breaks; one in the early morning for fruits and nuts and parents should be advised to provide these. The other break should be for cereals that provide protein and carbs. Parents should try to make recipes interesting by introducing variety and teachers should encourage students to eat the fruits and cereals they are sent with.

KHUSHBOO UDESHICookery classes should be introduced as part of the curriculum. Teach children to cook healthy food so that they indirectly learn to eat healthier things.

VIBHA SIMHA Parents, teachers and students can work together to develop a policy on healthy eating at school without sacrificing variety and choice. Snacks and lunches

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prepared at home as well as food sold and served at school all offer opportunities to encourage healthy eating. Junk food shouldn’t be banned outright, children should be encouraged to eat smart at school, unhealthy foods should not be bought in bulk, fruits and vegetables should be promoted at dinner with parents setting a good example, portions should be small and a strict meal and snack schedule adhered to.

SAMREEN ATIQ School age is the perfect time for children to learn about healthy food, bodies and activity. Many schools across Oman have a canteen that offers a range of food and most schools follow government guidelines to encourage healthy choices. An alternative is a packed lunch from home, which is a great way for your child to learn about healthy food and to help with preparation. Lunch box suggestions include sandwiches or pita bread with cheese, lean meat, hummus and salad. Cheese slices, crackers with spread and fresh or dried fruits, or washed and chopped raw vegetables or fresh fruits. I hope that Oman can be a more perfect country with a healthy generation of children.

SUNIL D’CRUZ Schools should teach students the benefits of eating natural food such as fruits and vegetables, instead of fast food, which is essentially junk food.

MONIKA KAUSHIK As a teacher, I will say that schools can tell children the importance of health and hygiene, but the revolution comes from home. If the parents are teaching good habits and providing healthy food from a young age, the child will follow the same. Nowadays children eat a lot of junk food and it is increasing their weight and not giving them proper nourishment.

New Debate:June 5 is World Environment

Day. What more can be done in Oman to protect the

environment?Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

JURISPOT AND TALPOT were spotted with their favourite Y Magazine in Muscat

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N E W S

Work on the new Muscat airport continues despite the arrest of 1,000

expatriates working illegally on the construction site, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said this week.

The revelation that workers without proper paperwork were employed on a high-profile government project is something of an embarrassment after authorities pledged to crack down on such practices in Oman.

Those arrested working on the multi-billion rial project included workers holding visas for jobs such as barbers, restaurant and café work, and domestic staff.

They were apparently employed to work on the new terminal building at the site in Seeb.

Talking to a local Arabic newspaper this week, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim al Futaisi, said work on the new airport would be unaffected.

“This [arrest] will neither hamper the construction nor will it delay the opening of the new airport, which is expected to be opened at the end of 2016.”

In a separate official statement, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said: “Hiring unauthorised workers by some companies is unacceptable.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Manpower will take necessary actions in this regard and the

contracting companies have to be committed and hire their employees through proper procedures and we will not accept otherwise.”

Those arrested will be deported and the company employing them will be fined, added the Ministry.

The arrests of the workers on Sunday (24) was the result of a campaign by a joint inspection team affiliated to the Ministry of Manpower, which had launched four days earlier.

Around 20,000 workers employed by different firms are working on the massive airport project, which is taking shape in the shadow of the existing airport. Keeping track of such numbers is not an easy task, said the Ministry of Transport and Communications

“The details of every worker cannot be scrutinised. The Ministry only does full inspection for senior positions,” said a statement.

The new airport was originally due to be fully operational by now but has been hit by delays. However, the new runway and control tower are both open and working and the terminal building is said to be more than 75 per cent completed.

Just when we thought the water crisis, which has seen taps running dry across Muscat and beyond,

couldn’t get any worse – get ready for more disruptions to your supply over the weekend.

Water to several parts of Muscat Governorate will be disconnected on Thursday and Friday (May 28-29) for 24 hours as pipes affected by the Muscat International Airport’s flyovers are transferred, the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) announced this week.

“The authority would like to apologise for any shortage in water supply that might possibly take place, and requests all subscribers to take every necessary precaution and continue rationalising consumption,” said the PAEW in a statement.

In a special investigation last week, Y reported that thousands of homes across the capital and further afield were suffering recurring problems, with low pressure or their water cut without warning, sometimes for days on end.

Some residents were resorting to paying inflated prices for supplies from private water tanker drivers.

Earlier this week, the PAEW said an emergency water tank with free supplies was available but admitted it could take several hours to reach homes due to demand, which may be too long for some people to wait.

Once the new Ghubra Desalination Plant – capable of churning out 42 million gallons of water to the main grid – opens in September, the situation should

WEEKEND WATER WOES FOR MUSCAT

ILLEGAL WORKERS CAUGHT AT NEW AIRPORT

Areas to be without water for 24 hours from 7pm on Thursday (May 28) in Muscat are:

● Al Ansab● The Air Force base in Al Ansab● The Airport● Azaiba● Al Bilad● Al Fatah● Al Muna● Bawshar 35 & 36● Bawshar Al Balad● Bawshar Heights● Ghala● Industrial Ghala● North and South Ghubra● Lejfar● Muaskar Al Murtafa’a● Saad● Sanab

ease. Three emergency storage tanks in Ruwi, Wadi Kabir and Wattayah, with enough water for seven days in the event of a breakdown, will be also ready at the same time, said the PAEW.

GIRL POWER IN ENTREPRENEUR CONTEST

and Zahir Ali al Naamani of Vertex LLC. After initial applications, 20 of the most promising were selected

to take part in the next stage up Jebel Akhdar, where they were teamed up with already established entrepreneurs to solve tests and develop SME business models to bring people and money to the mountain.

All this was packaged with a challenging hike up the scenic slopes of the Green Mountain, which gave participants an opportunity to interact and network with each other informally.

The seven finalists then attended a workshop and mentoring session held by senior entrepreneurs, where they were given tips on presentation skills before the finale to help them showcase their existing business to the judges: a group of investors, corporate CEOs and government funding organisations.

The judging panel also included Felicity Glover, Y’s managing editor.

“It was a very difficult event to judge,” said Felicity. “Each finalist presented very compelling reasons as to why they should win, but at the end of the day, it was Jokha who edged out the competition. That said, each finalist will take away a life-changing experience and I am sure it will help them to take their companies to a whole new level.”

As the winner, Jokha can now launch her company’s website, which will be hosted for free as part of the prize. She also wins a company brochure designed to her requirements, a commercial video for her company, which will be created and showcased at City Cinema Oman for four weeks, and a radio package for a whole month. SABCO Media also awarded Jokha with RO5,000 worth of advertising on its media platforms: Y Magazine, Koooora, Merge 104.8 and Al Wisal.

“The idea of having a special activity is to help provide young entrepreneurs with increased access to networking, mentoring, a platform to connect with investors and efficient instruments for the realisation of their business projects,” said Zameel Ameen, founder and managing director of Experiment Events, which is behind the Entrepreneur’s Conclave.

It was a close call and tough decision for the judges. But in the end, the verdict was unanimous as women scooped the top three places in the final of the Entrepreneur’s Conclave 2015 this week.

A qualified female engineer beat the boys and fellow girls to emerge victorious from the final seven.

Jokha Nasser al Hussaini, CEO and engineer at Shumookh Engineering Consultancy, was revealed as the winner after her pitch and performance over two months of assessment, which included a trek up Jebel Akhdar.

Hundreds of young entrepreneurs with the brightest brains in the country had applied to take part in the event. They were whittled down to the seven who stood before the judges at the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel on Sunday (May 24) to make a five-minute presentation of their business.

In second place was Nadia Maqbool, 34, of 23 Degrees North, an award-winning architectural start-up, while Shatha al Jabri, 29, clinched third spot with her company, Meshan, which offers luxury dates and sweets in modern, innovative ways.

After being announced the winner in a tense final, a delighted Jokha, 36, said: “This was a big surprise. We simply did not believe we would be picking up this prestigious award today.

“This was a great platform to connect, network, share experiences with the different SMEs as well as a great marketing platform. Entrepreneur’s Conclave 2015 has helped me learn how to work in a team, manage a team and it has also helped me to ideate in a creative manner.”

She said the victory was a big boost to her self-confidence and has given her inspiration to go for bigger projects for her business.

Jokha has already made a name for herself after becoming the first Omani female engineer to enter the cost and contract (the management of a project’s costs) side of consulting.

The other four finalists were Ali al Khalili of Green Galaxy, Muneer al Marhoobi of Brilliant Pilot Projects, Turki Said al Maskary of Awtaad private school in Ibra,

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The National Museum of Oman should be ready to accept visitors by the end of the year after a trial opening at the end of 2014, it was announced this week.

Situated opposite Al Alam Palace in Muttrah, the museum will bring to life the Sultanate’s history with more than 6,000 objects on display. It will also feature the first Ultra High Definition (UHD) cinema hall in the country.

According to the Spanish firm behind the project – said to be costing nearly $25 million (RO9.6 million) – the museum will also be the first in the Middle East that is adapted for blind people. This will include using Braille in Arabic.

Jamal bin Hassan al Moussawi, director

MUSEUM OPEN BY END OF YEAR of the National Museum at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, said in a statement to the Oman News Agency (ONA) that the official opening of the museum is expected to be at the end of 2015.

A trial opening of the museum was held in November last year, during which selected visitors, locals and expats, were invited to look round and give feedback, added al Moussawi.

With archaeological antiques, documents, old publications, models of ships and boats, and craft industries, the museum will take people on a tour of Oman’s heritage and culture, with interactive and audiovisual elements.

A 12-minute presentation, “Oman in History”, will be screened in UHD (four times the usual HD quality) on a screen in the museum’s theatre.

A website will also be launched, allowing researchers and scholars around the world to access the museum’s contents.

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

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

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman vows to punish those behind a suicide bombing at a mosque in Al Qadeeh, in the east of the country, during Friday prayers which killed 21 people, one of the worst attacks in the Kingdom for years

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

At least 500 people are reported to have died in a heatwave sweeping India, with temperatures reaching 48˚C (118˚F) in some areas

A 65-year-old German woman, already a mother of 13, gives birth to quads after undergoing fertility treatment. Annegret Raunigk had three boys and one girl, born premature at 26 weeks in a Berlin hospital

Residents of a suburban neighbourhood in Brisbane, Australia, report being terrorised by a giant kangaroo, standing two metres tall and weighing 95kg, which is stalking dog walkers and golfers

THE SHIP OF GOODWILL

Oman’s rich maritime history was in the spotlight last week with the launch of a book that celebrates the life and times of “Captain

Chris” and Shabab Oman, one of the world’s most famous tall ships.

The book, The Voyages of Shabab Oman with Captain Chris and her Crew, traces the tall ship’s global adventures from 1987 to 2009, in which she and her crew won the hearts of many around the world and became famous for its walima breakfasts.

“Shabab Oman”, which means “Youth of Oman”, was built in Scotland in 1971 and sold to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said in 1977. Two years later, she was transferred over to the Royal Navy of Oman to be used as a sail training ship.

At the heart of Shabab Oman was its captain, Chris Biggins, who sadly passed away in 2011 at just 58 years of age. Author Nigel “Bernie” Bruen, who was also a crewmember of Shabab Oman, says the book is based on the journals, or logs, of Captain Chris during his 22 years as commander of the wooden tall ship.

“The story needed to be told … and there is much more to tell,” he told Y at the book launch, hinting that there might be a second version of the book sometime in the future.

Shabab Oman, which was replaced by Shabab Oman 2 last year, was used as a training ship for the youth of Oman and sailed around the world as a vessel of “goodwill”, taking part

in tall ship events in countries as far afield as the United States, Australia, Europe and Asia.

“It’s an amazing ship and is purpose built for what Shabab Oman spent a lifetime doing – the young men with their dancing and singing and they welcomed everybody who came onboard. It is the top tall ship in the world and Chris was the top captain.”

His Highness Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq Al Said, who officially launched the book, paid tribute to Captain Chris.

“He fell in love with Oman and stayed to serve for 30 years and he was honoured by The Sultan with Omani citizenship,” he told guests, which included Captain Chris’ family who had flown in from the UK, as well as former crewmembers from Royal Navy of Oman and many of his friends living here.

“Captain Chris was in charge of Shabab Oman for 22 years, making him the longest and

most experienced captain of a tall ship in the world. [While] I want to see a record of the successes of Shabab Oman, I also want to honour the life and work of a gifted sailor, a maritime

colleague.”Under Captain Chris’

leadership, Shabab Oman won the prestigious Cutty Sark Trophy, which is now known as the Friendship Trophy, an unprecedented four times. While the tall ship has been retired, there are plans to convert it into a museum.

The Voyages of Shabab Oman with Captain Chris and her Crew is available at all good bookshops.

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G A L L E R YYOUR OMAN

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A CEREMONY WAS HELD AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL MUSCAT TO HONOUR THE 131 BRIGHT YOUNG OMANIS WHO TOOK PART IN THE 2014-2015 TAKATUF SCHOLARS PROGRAMME. OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED THE ENRICHMENT SCHEME, 35 WERE AWARDED AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

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Source: Lamudi

Penthouse in Metro Manila, the Philippines Price: $984,350 (RO379,437)

This 290 square metre condominium is located in the ultra-indulgent Essensa East Forbes development in Metro Manila. The lower penthouse unit offers three bedrooms, four bathrooms and sweeping views over the surrounding Makati district thanks to the

floor-to-ceiling aluminium and glass windows. There are wooden floorboards, granite worktops and high-end finishes throughout, ensuring the ultimate in luxury living.

A brand new apartment located in Bay La Sun within the King Abdullah Economic City megaproject could be yours for a little less than $1 million. Measuring 198 square metres, the unit has three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, staff quarters and stunning sea views. Residents enjoy access to a swimming pool, gym, children’s play area and several great restaurants.

This four-bedroom luxury residence is located in the sought-after area of Brawa, within walking distance of the beach and a short drive to Seminyak’s shopping and dining district. The property offers spacious open-plan living areas, a modern kitchen with quality applianc-

es, two upstairs master suites with walk-in wardrobes and seating areas, two guest bedrooms with ensuites, and a covered outdoor lounge area overlooking the pool and gardens.

Facing the spectacular Atlas Mountains, this single-storey contemporary villa is built on a 2,244 square metre block, landscaped with a wide variety of Moroccan plants. Features include a spacious reception room with fireplace, three large suites each with their own bathroom, a well-equipped kitchen and a terrace looking over the garden and swimming pool. The property is part of the Domaine Royal Palm estate, which contains a restaurant, clubhouse and fitness centre for residents’ use.

Tucked away in the leafy suburb of Runda in the capital and largest city in Kenya is this gorgeous four-bedroom, Scandinavian-style household. The property has a spacious kitchen and breakfast area, a living room with great garden views, a master bedroom with

ensuite, a large family room, an office and sizeable staff quarters, not to mention wood finishings throughout.

Waterfront apartment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Price: $933,245 (RO359,290)

Contemporary villa by the beach in Bali, IndonesiaPrice: $1.04 million (RO402,511)

Luxury living with mountain views in Marrakesh, Morocco Price: $923,370 (RO353,061)

Four-bedroom house with gardens in Nairobi, Kenya Price: $1.02 million (RO388,332)

What US$1 million buys in property around the world

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G A L L E R YYOUR OMAN

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THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY

The charismatic, wealthy and morally dubious Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) visits Athens with his wife (Kirsten Dunst) in 1962 and soon becomes embroiled with Rydal (Oscar Isaac), a conman turned tour guide, who unwittingly becomes an accessory to accidental murder. The trio soon find themselves in a love triangle rife with paranoia and obsession.

Y’s Choice

Tomorrowland

The ever scientifically curious Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) ends up on the doorstep of a disillusioned former boy-genius inventor, Frank Walker (George Clooney), after a mysterious pin gives her fleeting glimpses of a place somewhere in time and space known only as Tomorrowland. The Poltergeist

MOVIES MOVIESadventure the pair embark upon has the ability to change both themselves and the world forever. With slick production values, this sci-fi mystery romp will likely be a family friendly crowd-pleaser able to distract viewers from the occasionally clunky storytelling and a narrative thread that is somewhat thin.

Spooks: The Greater Good

Nearly four years after the globally popular British spy series left TV screens, it’s back with a spin-off film. When top terrorist Adem Qasim (Elyes Gabel) escapes MI5 custody during a routine handover, the blame is laid on the familiar face of Harry Pearce (Peter Firth), head of counter terrorism at MI5. Harry goes off the grid and it falls to Will Holloway (Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington) to return from decommissioned exile and track down the escapee, eliminating the threat to London. Twists and turns abound as with any good spy drama and there are enough shootouts to keep you engaged for the duration.

ROBOSAPIEN: REBOOTED Taking inspiration from the biomorphic robot toy of the same name, Robosapien: Rebooted tells the story of Cody, a search and rescue machine that escapes from its development facility when it is revealed he is to be used for military purposes. Henry Keller (Bobby Coleman), a young inventor, discovers and befriends Cody and between them they set out to bring down the immoral Kinetech Labs.

The original Poltergeist was nominated for three Academy Awards and has ranked highly on numerous film institution and critics association scariest films lists since its release in 1982.

Gil Kenan’s 2015 revisionist reboot had its work cut out then, if it was to surpass, or even equal its predecessor.

The film loosely follows the plot of the original as it tells story of a young family whose suburban home is invaded by malevolent spirits, leading to a series of inexplicable and disturbing events that culminate in the abduction of the family’s youngest daughter, Madison (Kennedi Clements), forcing the Bowen

family to consult the help of a local paranormal research team.

Focusing less on out-and-out scares and jumpy moments, one thing Poltergeist does excel in is creating several subtly unsettling scenes that will genuinely have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end.

However, with the arrival of Carrigan Burke (Jared Harris), the medium brought in to cleanse the house and rescue Madison, the action takes a turn towards the implausible, greatly diminishing the scare value and before you know it, it’s all over.

Review by Matt Blackwell

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TOTALLY TURTLE

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THIS WEEKM A Y - J U N E

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Journey to the world-famous turtle reserve at Ras Al Hadd in a brand new dhow boat. It’s the perfect time of year for turtle watching and you’ll also visit the nearby turtle scientific research centre. The seven-hour trip by boat should be an adventure in itself. You’ll have the choice of sleeping in air-conditioned cabins onboard the dhow or stay at the Turtle Beach Resort (prices to be negotiated). Set off at 8am on Friday and return Saturday. Register or sign up at internations.org/muscat-expats

If you like reading and coffee (or tea), then combine both at the Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO) Book Club. Meeting at Gloria Jean’s Coffees in The Wave, Muscat, the group will be discussing the book, Honour, a novel of love, betrayal and a clash of cultures, by the award-winning author Elif Shafak. Meeting from 7.30pm. If you’re interested, please email Ayshe on aysheismail@gmail.com to register or check out womensguildoman.com

Enjoy the last performance of the season at the Royal Opera House Muscat with this extra show added on to bring the calendar of events to a close with style. Ibn Battuta is a colourful spectacle following the footsteps of the great explorer of the Arab world, showcasing the cultures, costumes, music and dance of Morocco, Syria, Egypt and Oman. More than 170 Arab and European artists will feature in the new Arabesque International production, which is on for two nights. Show starts 7.30pm, tickets from RO5. Check rohmuscat.org.om for special promotional code discounts.

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G a l l e r y M o v i e s

Another Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO) event, this time it’s something to get your teeth into. Join the WGO at the Millennium Hotel, Mussanah, for Afternoon High Tea from 2pm-6pm, for a very civilised way to pass the time. Tickets are RO5 for members and RO7 for non-members. A coach departs from Pizza Hut in Madinat Qaboos at 12.45pm and Markaz Al Bahja Mall at 1pm, returning to Muscat after the tea. Check out womensguildoman.com for details of where to buy tickets

TIM

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The rhythmic drumming increased in tempo until it reached a crashing crescendo, which had the audience

clapping along as enthusiastically as the drummers were playing on stage.

This outfit from Japan was definitely the highlight of the opening night of the International Rhythm Festival, which brought groups and ensembles from different parts of the world together over the course of three days.

It was like being taken on a tour of the globe while sitting in the comfort of your seat at the Royal Opera House Muscat, dipping your toe into the culture of each country through its music.

The Japanese drumming group Gonna stole the show for me, their muscles straining in the lights as they pounded dramatically away on their giant drums, wadaiko (or taiko for short), which sound like rumbling thunder. Their dynamic and energetic performance was

matched in physicality only by the German performers. The Alpine Drums ensemble brought an authentic taste of Bavaria to Oman, delighting theatregoers with their folk dancing – which heralded much stomping and slapping in a display of agility of strength – and oompah music on accordions, all the while dressed in traditional costume. It was all great fun.

I also enjoyed the Spanish group with their colourful backing flamenco dancers, and the Omani military band was as wonderful as ever.

The Americans also did an entertaining turn with a high energy showing that also got the audience involved for a bit of interactive activity.

Unfortunately the Indian and African rhythm participants – who I had been keen to see – weren’t on the bill the night I attended but I heard from a friend that they were both amazing.

At the end of each concert, all the groups performed together in a spectacular finale of percussion, dancing, music and beat. Politeness and social etiquette luckily stopped me from getting up on my feet, as I was itching to dance.

All in all, it was another great evening at the opera house. I can’t wait for the season’s closing show, Ibn Battuta.

INTO THE RHYTHMMerge 104.8’s Chris Fisher enjoys a trip around the world without leaving Muscat at the Royal Opera House

It’s due to be a full moon on June 2 and perfect to light the way for an evening trek. Join members from the InterNations group for a Full Moon Walk in the hills between Qantab and Al Hamriya. Good shoes are recommended and lots of water is necessary. Picnicking is optional. Walk starts at 7pm and should be finished by 9pm. Check out internations.org/muscat-expats. If you haven’t signed up to InterNations yet, simply register and join in

Moon Walking

Marvellous ShowYoung fans of the genius Roald Dahl can see a wonderful adaption of his book George’s Marvellous Medicine on stage, brought to Oman by Alive Entertainment. Performed by the UK’s Birmingham Stage Company, the children’s show tells the story of a young boy who makes a new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper. But when she drinks the special potion, the most incredible things start to happen. It promises some fizz-tickling fun and whiz-popping magic for the whole family. Show timings are 11am and 4pm on June 3 and 4pm on June 4, all at Al Bustan Palace Hotel Auditorium. Tickets cost RO15 and can be purchased at Mackenzie Cafe & Deli and Gorgeous Hair & Beauty, both in Madinat Qaboos, Muscat.

LOOKING GOODTake some time out to look the business by picking up some tips, products and insight at the Fashion and Beauty Show in the Sohar branch of the Oman International Exhibition Centre from 10am. Organised by Future Events Enterprise. Go to omanexhibitions.com for info.Ju

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DAYLIGHTROBBERY

Phone scams have recently spiked in Oman, with some victims losing thousands of rials

in the process. But with few legal restrictions in place to stop scammers, many are getting

away with it. Matt Blackwell and Deeba Hasan investigate for Y

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Dear customer, you have won 20,000 OMR in a raffle draw, congratulations.” Tempting to reply, isn’t it? Think of those credit-card debts you could settle, not to mention

the new wardrobe you could kit yourself out with or that new car you’ve had your eye on that has suddenly become a feasible reality. It almost sounds too good to be true. And 99.9 per cent of the time, when you receive a text message like this on your phone, that’s exactly what it is.

While the majority of people may realise that something is amiss given the incorrect spelling and poor grammar of the message received, there are still those who, blinded by the prospect of an overnight cash windfall, respond to the scam and follow the instructions that are given by the caller.

Arjun is a labourer who works on a construction site in Muscat. After receiving a call from a number he did not know, he was eventually convinced to transfer a large amount of money – around RO600 – into an account in order to receive his even greater cash prize, only to realise that he had fallen victim to a scam. While his money is gone and Arjun understands and accepts that the chances are high that he will never see it again, he simply wants to prevent the culprit from going any further and wrongfully taking any more money.

Taking his complaint to Omantel, his network provider, Arjun was then directed on to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which, in turn, recommended he take his case to the Royal Oman Police (ROP). The investigation has since hit a wall.

While the flood of unskilled and uneducated expatriate workers may seem the obvious targets of such mobile phone scams due to their limited grasp of English and Arabic, this is not actually the case.

One doctor who works in Muscat was conned into paying out RO400 in what turned out to be a scam. While she contacted the TRA for advice, she was reluctant to go to the ROP with her case as she thought it would damage her reputation.

“In Oman, it is becoming a real problem and it won’t stop until people stop falling for such scams,” says Majid Khalid al Balushi, a specialist in Consumer Affairs at the TRA.

“It is obvious that there are people paying, which is why scammers are still operating.”

From the bottom of the social ladder to the top, phone scammers target all classes of society. Phone frauds have spiked sharply over the past two years, particularly in recent months in Oman, according to a source within the fraud and investigations department of a local bank.

“It’s peaks and troughs,” the source says. “Sometimes we can have nothing, but coming up to holidays like Ramadan and Eid you tend to get a bit more activity with fraud. It’s the same in the UK around Christmas or Thanksgiving in the US.”

Al Balushi explained the mechanics of one of the most common scams used in Oman to Y.

“To ensure that they [the scammers] have your confidence, they will ask you to open your phone to find a 14-digit serial number on the back of the SIM card.

“They will say, ‘I will give you the number of the winner and if it is yours, you are the winner’. Most people don’t know this, but if you use the SIM card of a certain telecom provider, this number will be the same for all SIMs issued by that specific provider. People think this is a unique number for them only, but it’s not.

“Basically, they will give you the SIM card number that makes sense for you and will say that to receive that prize you have to send them a recharge card.”

It is here that the banks come into play as the victims are asked to go to an ATM or CDM and top up a particular phone number with a certain amount of money in order to receive their cash prize. Needless to say, it is a prize that never materialises.

Olivia, a Muscat resident, was the target of one such con, with the caller saying he was from Nawras.

“I hung up, but after 10 minutes he called me back and continued to tell me I had won RO20,000,” she says.

“I reminded him that Nawras didn’t exist any more and that every Ooredoo SIM has the same digits on it, so the information he was providing me with was not unique

“Then he began to tell me that he was sorry and even admitted it was a fraud. He said he was only telling me this because I was western and smart and that their targets were Omanis and Indians. He was laughing on the phone.”

SOMETIMES WE CAN HAVE NOTHING, BUT COMING UP

TO HOLIDAYS LIKE RAMADAN AND EID YOU TEND TO GET

A BIT MORE ACTIVITY WITH FRAUD. IT’S THE SAME IN THE UK AROUND CHRISTMAS OR

THANKSGIVING IN THE US

Once they have hooked a victim and received the money, scammers are quick to redistribute it from the mobile numbers they provide, which makes it incredibly hard to trace.

“You can send money on using phones and that is how the funds are distributed,” explains the bank source. “It goes to one number and then they will send it on to another, then another until it has moved hundreds of times, which makes it next to impossible to recover.

“When we realised people were being targeted like this, we reduced the amount that people could top up in one go to limit the amount of money that people could actually transfer.

“It begs belief that someone would stand in front of a CDM and put thousands onto a phone, but they would.”

Quite often, the first place a victim will contact after realising they have been scammed is their bank.

“They will ring the call centre and say they have had money taken from their account. When you explore the issue, it normally turns out that it all originated when they received an SMS message saying that they’ve won X amount.”

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However, as the money is generally transferred willingly, with the expectation of a fictitious cash prize in return, the banks run into problems when attempting to recover their customers’ funds.

“We can’t actually give the money back legally because essentially it was paid in good faith and we would get in trouble with the Central Bank of Oman. You would have to raise a civil case with a prosecutor to try and demonstrate that the money was taken in an underhand way and make a claim against the person. Or you could try and contact the person and ask for your money back.”

Of course, the latter is never met with much success as by this time, the scammers are likely to have moved on to their next victim.

“That’s where it becomes difficult for the people in the call centre because they have to essentially explain to someone that they’re not going to get their money back, which can be quite a challenge.”

Reeling in the aftermath of their financial loss and the struggle to recover the money, many customers turn to the TRA, but as al Balushi points out, there is relatively little they can do. “The TRA is not the right entity to approach after a fraud happens. If it’s a crime, you have to approach the ROP or the Public Prosecution.”

However, according to Reetika Walia, a lawyer with Al Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Co, the victims of scams may run into further problems. “There is no specific law at the moment which deals with such scams,” she says. “The only law that may be applied in such situations is the Oman Penal Code – the Criminal Law RD 7/74 [Article 288] – that sets out ‘Fraud’ as a crime. The penalty is imposition of a fine of RO10 to RO300 and an imprisonment from three months to two years.

“We are not aware of any persons being prosecuted for such a crime,” she tells Y.

Victims are advised to report all cases to the ROP, which will investigate the matter further and in some instances file a case with the Public Prosecution. However, after working closely with the ROP for seven years on fraud cases, the source at the bank says the Public Prosecution has not, to date, accepted one case because it is not classified as a crime.

“The reason it is not classified as a crime is because the person has willingly given all this information or willingly visited an ATM or CDM to deposit the money and then realised they’ve been scammed.

“I have a letter from the ROP that effectively says there is no point reporting it to them because it is not classified as a crime. They’ve tried to help out by arresting people and then sending the case to the Public Prosecution, but on the other side of the coin, the member of the public has provided all this information willingly. Essentially it’s a no-win situation for them.”

Y contacted the Public Prosecution for clarification and comment on this matter, but it had not responded to our questions at the time of going to print.

Network operators in Oman are aware of the scams that are carried out, with offenders posing as employees, but due to the current legal situation, their hands remain tied.

“We have warned people several times that they should not reply to such calls or messages,” Haider Jawad Sultan, senior media and press spokesperson

for Omantel, told a local newspaper last month in response to the case of a phone scam that went public.

“If there were contests or any competitions by Omantel, we would announce it to the public through proper channels like newspapers, radios and our official social media. We would also SMS people through proper channels. We request people not to fall for such calls and not respond to them,” he said.

Similarly, Ooredoo relates the following information on its website under the heading of “Avoid Fraud”.

“Never entertain calls from people you don’t know who are telling you that you have won something if you have not entered a competition or draw. Ooredoo does not give out cash prizes and if you do win something from Ooredoo, you are always welcome to visit any Ooredoo Store or call a Customer Champion to confirm the validity of your win.

“The fraudsters may call claiming that they are representatives of Ooredoo and

then ask you for your personal details. Please remember that Ooredoo already has your personal details and would never ask for this kind of information over the phone. If we need any verification of your details, this would take place through a face-to-face meeting.

“Ooredoo will never ask for bank details, recharge card numbers or personal information as part of any promotion or phone conversation.

“While we would be extremely sympathetic if you were to be unfortunately cheated in a phone scam, as this is not specifically a telecom fraud, we regret that we would not be able to assist you.”

Mobile numbers are readily available through the National Numbering Plan, which is an open resource that scammers will make use of. The plan is available to the public and details the first two digits of numbers registered on either Omantel or Ooredoo, leaving the conmen to fill in the remaining six digits, something they often do by using random number generating applications.

“If they send a million messages and out of that around 2 per cent respond, then

THEY WILL SAY, ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE NUMBER OF THE

WINNER AND IF IT IS YOURS, YOU ARE THE WINNER’.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT IF YOU USE THE SIM CARD OF A CERTAIN

TELECOM PROVIDER, THIS NUMBER WILL BE THE SAME

FOR ALL SIMS ISSUED BY THAT SPECIFIC PROVIDER.

PEOPLE THINK THIS IS A UNIQUE NUMBER FOR THEM

ONLY, BUT IT’S NOT

M AY 2 8 - J U N 0 3 / I S S U E 3 72 0 2 3

they achieve their target,” says Hilal al Siyabi, international relations and media manager at the TRA, illustrating what a vast scale these scammers will work on.

As technology evolves, so do the methods through which to deceive innocent victims out of money, with reports of scammers recently making use of social media and voice calls, providing ever more elaborate problems for the authorities trying to reduce the number of cases. “It is difficult to control them because the messages are coming from everywhere,” admits al Balushi.

Reporting all forms of spam is essential if the TRA, banks and the ROP are to remain effective lines of defence in the war on hoaxers. This is something that the source at a local bank agrees with, saying: “It’s important that people actually continue to report all cases to their banks as it helps keep us updated with the new methods that the scammers are developing.”

Olivia was also the victim of a scam that, to this day, no one has an answer or explanation for.

When an Omantel worker came to her house last November to install a broadband package that offered unlimited internet for RO25 per month as well as a landline, he did not have the correct cable to fix the landline to the wall.

Not really needing a landline due to her reliance on mobiles, she left it unconnected. When she went to pay her bill at the end of February, she was told it was more than RO350.

“I asked the Omantel customer service person why and after checking my bill he said there were more than 300 calls to Nigeria, Kenya and other African countries over the past three months.

“I asked them how this was possible when my landline isn’t even connected to the wall and given the fact I was away for two weeks in December when some of the calls were recorded.

She was advised not to pay her bills until the issue was fully investigated.

“I have called over the last two months to find out what’s happened and it seems no one has an answer,” she says. “I’m sure my bill must now be way over RO500, but I refuse to pay it and would even go to court if I had to, as this is surely an Omantel security issue.”

According to Reetika Walia, the TRA published a consultation paper on the Draft Anti-Spam Regulation in July 2012, but there has been no update on it since.

“Amongst other things, the TRA recognised the rampant growth of circulation of unwanted messages that emerged as commercial and advertising messages,” she says. “Therefore, the TRA considered the importance of legal protection through issuing a legislation that will combat spam messages.

“We are hopeful that the legislation will be promulgated soon.”

With phone scams currently occupying something of a grey area in terms of the law in Oman, it seems that increased awareness of the way scammers operate is the way forward to stop members of the public making the transfers in the first place as once they cross that line, it is hard to exact the justice they will feel is owed to them.

The TRA has launched several awareness campaigns in the past, in addition to advertisements and press releases. Banks also try to play their part through posters in branches as well as sending bulk SMSs to customers.

While there is a great deal of information out there on avoiding scams and fraud, it is a case of whether it is reaching, being read and understood by the right people.

“I think it could help if the ministries get involved because sometimes people tend to listen more,” says the bank source. “Unfortunately, though, you can’t hold the customer’s hand all the time.”

Common sense and a clear head are essential if you receive any suspicious looking messages or calls, which you should always ignore. And it goes without saying that you should never give out your personal details, such as your bank account number, passwords or pin to anybody.

WHILE WE WOULD BE EXTREMELY SYMPATHETIC

IF YOU WERE TO BE UNFORTUNATELY CHEATED

IN A PHONE SCAM, AS THIS IS NOT SPECIFICALLY

A TELECOM FRAUD, WE REGRET THAT WE WOULD

NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU

TIM

E FO

R A

With summer fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start thinking about switching off and decluttering our lives

DIG

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Changing timesSmartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop, GPS device –

are you drowning in digital clutter? If so, you’re not alone. According to a survey by mobile phone giant Nokia, the average person checks their

phone every six-and-a-half minutes. This adds up to a total of 150 times a day over 16 hours.

If this sounds like you, then yes: it is time to start thinking about getting your life back. While this may cause you some anxiety, you can take comfort in the fact that another study has found Twitter and Facebook are more addictive than smoking – which means you are not the only person in the world who may find a digital detox difficult.

One Muscat resident, Anna Gardiner, says she is guilty of having too many devices – and spends hours on the internet. While this has a lot to do with her job as a media specialist, she says she has noticed a huge change in her online habits over the past few years.

“In my house, we have three Mac laptops, three iPhones, three other laptops that we don’t use, a couple of obsolete BlackBerrys and other mobile phones, two iPods, an iPad and Apple TV.

“While the amount of devices we have in our home may indicate a large family, I have to say that there’s just the two of us. It’s a little embarrassing now that I’ve taken stock of just how many devices we own, many of which we don’t use.”

With nearly 80 per cent of Oman connected to the internet, it’s no wonder that we are finding ourselves drowning in so many devices and spending too much time surfing the web. A survey conducted by Arab Advisors Group last year found that 78.6 per cent of internet users in the Sultanate accessed it through their mobile operators’ networks, while 96.5 per cent of us own a smartphone.

Head over to the US and you’ll discover that Americans spend more than 43 hours per week on a variety of devices and nearly half (47 per cent) have one or more device that they no longer use at all, a survey by Intel revealed.

But decluttering your digital life doesn’t mean you have to give up your technology, throw devices away or spend a packet on replacements. Here are three easy ways to spring clean your digital life this year:

Choose more flexible devicesTechnology is getting more impressive every

year and keeping pace is essential in both the personal and professional realms. Beyond only going for this year’s hottest new tech, look for devices that do more. Tablets, two-in-one devices and portable all-in-ones pack versatility and power into a single compact device.

Donate old devicesYou can spring clean your digital devices and give back

at the same time when you donate older devices. From smartphones to desktop PCs, numerous organisations facilitate getting older, no-longer used devices from donors and putting them in the hands of people who need technology but can’t afford to buy the latest tech items. Check with your local electronics retailer, school, or other community organisations to see if they accept device donations.

Recycle old devicesRecycling cellphones and other devices allows

for the recovery of a number of valuable metals, including copper, silver and gold. Recycling devices also keeps them out of landfills.

Before you donate or recycle, be sure to remove personal information from the device in addition to the battery, which may need to be recycled separately. If you don’t relish the idea of letting go of the device altogether, consider recycling it within your own home. Your old smartphone may no longer meet your needs but it could be a great starter phone for your pre-teen, and that laptop you find too heavy to lug from meeting to meeting may work just fine as a device for your children.

Are you the family member or friend who is always called when someone’s computer breaks or starts acting up? Do you have a person on speed dial whenever you need a website created or program updated? The old stereotype of a computer geek who’s always wearing a pocket protector and glasses with taped-together frames is quickly becoming a

thing of the past.

These days, men and women who are able to speak “tech” and fix those pesky computer

programs are in high demand, both professionally and among friends and family. And with nearly 80 per cent of

Oman connected to the internet, when those computers don’t work, who are you

going to call? It’s a no-brainer.

When someone calls a person a “tech geek” these days, it’s meant to be a compliment, according to

a new survey conducted by the US-based GMI Research and commissioned by Crucial.com.

“[Many] recognise how prevalent tech has become in everyday life,” says Ed

Walker, Crucial.com marketing manager. “These findings demonstrate that society has

warmed to people who are the most capable at fixing and improving the devices we rely on, both

in our personal and professional lives.”

It’s not just that people want to be friends with tech geeks – they

want to become one themselves, the survey found. A majority of men and

women are interested in improving their personal tech savviness, even if it’s

so they don’t have to constantly bug a friend for help. And while the percentage

of people who claim to be tech savvy is heavily male, a significant number of women are showing

interest, too, making the term “tech geek” more gender neutral.

There’s a good chance you have a tech-geek friend, both in your personal life and at the office. In fact, you might have several at the office. Most industries

these days rely on technology to survive, and survey respondents say job candidates

with tech skills have a stronger resume than those who don’t.

Having a strong list of tech geeks handy is important if you are not one yourself. So the next time someone is introduced to you as being a geek, be sure to get his or her number! And if you can call yourself a tech geek, wear the title like a badge of honour – and depending on how popular you want to be, you may want to protect your mobile phone

number.

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MEN

INBLUEY’s photographer Shaquel al Balushi captures the expatriate labourers of Muscat

An army of men in blue boiler suits toil away under the sun every day, building the future of Oman’s capital city.

Dressed in the same distinctive outfit of boiler suit and heavy black boots, these men are the unsung workforce shaping the modern Muscat that is rising among the sand and construction sites.

Many have left behind families and children in countries such as India and Bangladesh to find work thousands of kilometres away from their homes. Up to six days a week, these men are labouring away, often in testing conditions and harsh temperatures.

Y’s photographer Shaquel al Balushi was

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WE DRIVE PAST THESE MEN EVERY DAY AND MANY PEOPLE

DON’T EVEN NOTICE THEM, THEY ARE ALMOST INVISIBLE,

I WANTED TO STEP INSIDE THEIR LIVES FOR A MOMENT.

I SET OUT TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM AT WORK AND REST

fascinated with the concept of this blue-clad brigade of workers and wanted to capture their everyday lives.

“We drive past these men every day and many people don’t even notice them, they are almost invisible,” says Shaquel. “I wanted to step inside their lives for a moment. I set out to

photograph them at work and rest.”

His images, taken around Muscat, including Azaiba, show a band of brothers who often work, live and socialise together, bonded by a common aim. Their

camaraderie was evident, as was their indomitable spirit in the face of hardship, homesickness and, sometimes, harsh judgement.

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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

MARVELLOUS MANGOSweet and succulent, this tropical fruit also

packs a vitamin punch that will help keep you

in tip-top health.

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

MANGO MANIAIt’s known as the “King of Fruits”, so sink your teeth into the juiciest of super-healthy tropical fruits

For your chance to win a RO10 voucher, simply come up with a

new idea for a tea, coffee or smoothie flavour that would give Chatime customers a

taste sensation. The competition will run for 12 weeks and every winner will go forward to be considered for the Grand Prize. Send your entries

to info@y-oman.com by June 1.

SPONSORED BY

Mangoes have been around for thousands of years and are cultivated around in the world in diverse places from Oman to the Philippines, and Brazil to Uganda.

Little wonder that this exotic fruit with its sweet taste and texture has remained so popular, with its enduring appeal down to its versatility – it can be used in everything from salads to smoothies. The skin of unripe, picked or cooked mango can also be eaten. You can find mango products ranging from jams, pickles, pulps and chutneys, along with ice cream and cakes. It’s great in curries and dried mango is also a lush snack. You can even spice it up with a sweet chili sauce.

And did you know that there are more than 400 varieties of mangoes, many of which ripen in summer? You can see them in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours, including the more common orange, yellow, red or green, all of which have the same distinct mango aroma.

A celebration of the humble – or not so humble given its royal nickname – mango is currently running at LuLu Hypermarkets in the Sultanate, honouring all things mango. The festival, which started last week, runs until May 30. You’ll be able to look, touch, eat and buy locally sourced mangoes and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

Mangoes take three to six months to ripen and it’s well worth the wait. They’re often called the “King of Fruits” because they have been named as the most widely consumed fruit in the world.

Mangoes are also packed with vitamins, including C and A, along with calcium and iron, as well as antioxidants. So the fruit doesn’t only taste great, it’s also good for your health, aiding health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and bad digestion.

Learn to Love Mangoes How to incorporate more mangoes into our diet:

Do not judge the ripeness of a mango by its colour. Look for fresh mangoes that yield slightly to pressure when ripe. Avoid fruits with many black freckles on the skin. Mangoes will

This week’s winner

Jason Noronha

Winning flavour: Strawberry White Chocolate Infused

Smoothie with Coconut Jelly

Serves: 1

Ingredients:§ One green apple, peeled, cored and sliced§ 1/2 lemon, peeled§ 1/2 lime, peeled§ 1/2 banana, peeled§ Handful of frozen mango cubes § 2/3 cup water

Method:§ Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse a few times and blend until smooth.

(Source: meganwarerd.com)

Mango-Citrus Banan-za smoothie

continue to ripen at room temperature. When at the desired ripeness, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for two to three days. Mangoes taste best when slightly chilled.

§ One of the best ways to enjoy a mango is by itself, diced and fresh.§ Make a tropical fruit salad with fresh papaya, pineapple and mango.§ Muddle mango into your glass of lemonade, iced tea or water for a burst of fresh fruity flavour.§ Make a fresh salsa with papaya, mango, jalapeño, red peppers and chipotle pepper and use as a topper for your favourite fish tacos.§ Add a few slices of frozen mango to your smoothies. Combine with pineapple juice, frozen strawberries and Greek yoghurt for a sweet tropical treat.

(*Source: medicalnewstoday.com)

Try the recipe below for a Mango-Citrus Banan-za smoothie.

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La Cigalo, which opened in Qurum in November last year, bills itself as an Italian restaurant, a French restaurant and a coffee shop all rolled into one.

That’s a lot to live up to, not least that Italian and French are two of the world’s most classical and celebrated cuisines – and both nations would argue they do cafés better than the other.

The restaurant has been in my sights for a couple of months now, highlighted by the owner’s engaging social media nous – which goes a long way in terms of customer service these days.

And so it was that we found ourselves winding our way down to Qurum recently for a late Friday afternoon lunch. Unfortunately, I’m still getting my bearings around Muscat and we got lost. So our expected 30-minute journey morphed into an hour and 15 minutes. But hey, the good news was that we finally found the restaurant tucked away on a slip road near the large roundabout in Qurum.

At first, we thought it was closed as we couldn’t see any diners, but we spotted a waiter and headed in. We were greeted politely and had our choice of tables thanks to the empty dining room, which I blame on the fact that it was a hot Friday afternoon.

The dining room itself is large and has been split into two – when you enter, it is café style with large glass shelves containing a stunning

choice of cakes and pastries. Turn left and you enter the dining room, decorated in pinks and golds and, I assume, themed around a French salon.

First up was a complimentary basket of bread and a tapenade of olives, basil, finely chopped carrot and tomato. I’m not sure if the bread had been toasted slightly or left out to the elements for too long, but it did have a toasty crunch.

The tapenade was slightly spicy and salty from the olives, but would have worked better on fresh bread.

We ordered our drinks – a fresh mango juice for Miss 12 and a non-alcoholic berry mojito for me, as well as sparkling water. The mango juice was delicious, but the mojito was too sweet for me.

The menu is extensive – from soups to starters to pizzas, pastas, risottos, mains and desserts – and each one carries either a French or Italian influence.

We kicked off with a rosemary focaccia, a thin pizza dough topped with fresh rosemary, garlic and olive oil and baked until it was crispy and golden. The garlic slightly overpowered the rosemary, but it was a good enough start.

For mains, Miss 12 decided to stay in her comfort zone and stick to the Italian influences, ordering her usual spaghetti bolognaise. However, she wanted penne rather than spaghetti – the waiter took it in his stride and assured us it wouldn’t be a problem.

I plumped for the Nicoise salad, which came with lettuce, quail eggs, grilled marinated fresh salmon (rather than the classic tuna), green beans, cubed potatoes, black olives, radishes and cherry tomatoes. There was little waiting time for

our mains. The bolognaise looked great, stylishly served in a large white bowl and topped with a baked pastry twirl with flecks of fresh flat-leaf parsley and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar on the side. Miss 12 gave it 7.5 out of 10 – and finished it all, despite saying halfway through that it was very filling.

Unfortunately, the Nicoise salad was disappointing – the two tiny pieces of salmon were overcooked and very dry. In fact, one was burnt on the bottom – both made me think of a small Lego bricks. The majority of the salad was a mix of limp lettuce. There were a couple of green beans, while the sliced olives were clearly from a jar and lacked flavour, while the thinly sliced radishes had seen better days.

The yolks of the quail eggs were rimmed in an unappetising grey, clearly lacking the finesse of a chef who knows how to cook a boiled egg. The only highlight was the sharp tang of the apple cider vinegar dressing, but even that couldn’t lift the salad out of its limp, flavourless funk.

While the desserts were tempting, we decided to forego a sweet treat and asked for the bill. La Cigalo shows promise, but sometimes it helps to focus on just one thing and to do it exceptionally well. And I plan to head back in a few months to see if that’s the case.

Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com

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

DRINKAND R E V I E W S

CONFUSING FUSION

Info BoxLA CIGALO

Building number 993, Way 1013, Qurum

Tel: +968 2457 1501 / 1860Opening hours: Daily from

7am to 1am Price: Lunch for two

(including drinks): RO18.6 Verdict :

7.5 / 10 Service 6 / 10 Food

7.5 / 10 AmbienceShows promise, but food was

disappointing

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

LA CIGALO SHOWS PROMISE, BUT SOMETIMES IT HELPS TO FOCUS ON JUST ONE THING AND DO IT

EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. AND I PLAN TO HEAD BACK IN A FEW MONTHS

TO SEE IF THAT’S THE CASE

Mid

Market

LA CIGALO IS A HIT AND MISS AFFAIR, BUT THAT COULD BE BECAUSE IT’S DOING TOO MUCH, FINDS FELICITY GLOVER

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HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

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DO IT IN DENIMThe denim shirt dress is a

cool alternative to jeans this season. This fitted silhouette from Miss Selfridge is smart

enough for work or can be worn with trainers and a crossbody bag at the

weekend.

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GETTING

SHIRTYLook effortlessly cool this summer in a classic cotton number cut to perfection, says Penny Fray

1. The fashion forward should consider allowing their shirt tails to peek cheekily from below the hem of their skirt. Sounds odd but it looks youthful. No wonder so many celebrities have been seen sporting the look. 2. Ironing your own? Say hello to spray-on starch. Crisps up a shirt nicely.

HOT UNDER THE COLLARTips on

updating your shirt:

Define and accentuate your waist with Mango’s timeless leather belt. Wear this obi-style accessory with everything from tailored dresses to casual kaftans. From RO18

Monsoon’s feminine shirt dress is the key

to an effortless weekday-to-weekend look. The art motif gives it an added edge. From RO62

Cut from airy cotton-poplin, this white shirt dress from Acne Studios is loose and lightweight – perfect for warm weather. The curved hem keeps the oversized silhouette flattering. Style this piece for the beach with bare legs and a pair of sandals. From RO164

The three biggest fashion mistakes are cheap suits, shoes

and shirts, according to the Italian designer Donatella Versace, and I have to say I agree. If you’re going back to basics, you need to spend more. And there is no better casual summer staple than the so-called boyfriend shirt.

Crisp cotton and longer in length, layer yours over jeans for that casual but cool vibe or, if you have youth and a decent pair of pins on your side, go it alone and make accessories your new fashion buddies.

Prefer something pretty and prim with the potential for a little provocation? Let me introduce you to this season’s latest wardrobe “must have” – the shirt dress. It was spotted on several runway shows in denim, gingham and stripes.

Designers have re-imagined this classic silhouette with drop waists, high splits and more. Charlotte Ronson gave a regulation collared number a sporty twist with a ruched waistline and pockets, while Altuzarra injected extra va-va-voom to a 1950s silhouette by leaving the buttons undone. How you wear yours is up to you – just make sure it’s pressed to perfection.

Make a statement with this Parfois necklace.

Intricate strands of faux pearls, beads and gems are intertwined

with metal chains. Wear this boho design against an understated

shirt. From RO16.9

These new Zara sandals have a comfortable block heel for a touch of height and cool. From RO32

S C A N O U R Q R C O D E S

W I T H A N Y Q R R E A D E R A P P

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

Do you have friends or family members who seem to never age? No matter how old they get, their appearance is youthful and

glowing. While genes play a role in how the body ages, they are not the only factor in aging gracefully. In fact, erasing years from your appearance is actually simpler than most people think.

“When a person is young, it’s easy to have clear, translucent skin. Keeping it that way is a lifelong commitment,” says Veronica Barton-Schwartz, a leading expert in skin care with more than 30 years of experience and owner of Veronica Malibu Skin and Body Care Center in Malibu, California. “Age is just a number when it comes to good skin care. My skin at 66 is better than it was at 30. I believe that all of us can age with grace and help delay the onset of age-related disease with a healthy lifestyle.”

Barton-Schwartz’s clientele includes everyone from surfers who have sun-damaged skin to aging Hollywood actresses who are trying to maintain an edge in their career. She notes that repairing skin must happen from the inside out. Here are her top recommendations for maintaining that coveted youthful glow:

● Steer clear of skin saboteurs“Smoking and sun damage accelerate aging and put you at risk for certain cancers,” says Barton-Schwartz. “Apply sunscreen faithfully. Opt for broad-spectrum formulas with antioxidants, such as vitamin C, to offset

ultraviolet light. Be sure to wear a four-inch brim hat, UV sunglasses and UV clothing when in the mid-day sun.”

● Stay hydrated“I can always tell when someone isn’t drinking enough water from the condition of their skin,” says Barton-Schwartz. “Water protects cardiovascular health, keeps the brain in

top working condition, facilitates weight loss and promotes detoxification. Water also

transports oxygen to our cells, removes waste and protects our joints and organs.”

● Eat smart“What benefits the skin the most is eliminating sugar and white flour from your diet. You should also increase your consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables

and lean protein,” Barton-Schwartz says. “Then, add in an omega-3 supplement

every day. My favourite brand is Nordic Naturals. Most associate omega-3s with

cardiovascular health, but the benefits go far beyond the heart. Omega-3s benefit brain and cognitive function, joint mobility, eye health and healthy skin and hair, too. My skin looks better

and I feel better when I take my omega-3 supplements.”

● Exfoliate regularly “A weekly buffing of the skin gets rid of dead

skin and stimulates cell turnover,” says Barton-Schwartz. “This helps your skin produce new collagen, leaving your face and body feeling smooth and refreshed. I recommend nonabrasive peels.”

● Break a sweat“Exercise improves circulation, increasing

the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells and tissues, and it also reduces

wrinkle-causing inflammation,” Barton-Schwartz says.● Apply food-based nutrients “Research has shown that many food-based nutrients provide anti-

inflammatory and antioxidant activity when applied topically,” says Barton-

Schwartz. “Topical antioxidants work synergistically to enhance the natural health

of the skin alongside a healthy diet and supplements. Our most popular antioxidant moisturiser contains ingredients like grape seed oil, orange flower, neroli, chamomile, sage, bergamot tea, avocado oil and soy.”

● Sleep wellBarton-Schwartz notes the term “beauty

sleep” actually has some science behind it. “Certain hormones are released during

specific stages of sleep. A lack of consistent sleep disrupts the normal release of those hormones, impacting every single biological process,” she says. “This leads to an increase in inflammatory substances

in your blood stream that damage your skin on a cellular lever, as well as accelerate

aging.”● Prioritise oral health

“Poor oral health is linked to everything from heart disease to rheumatoid arthritis,” Barton-Schwartz says. “I work with a dentist and when someone thinks they need a facelift, what they really need

is to get their teeth fixed. Nothing is more youthful than a healthy, beautiful smile.”

While the elixir of life may be a mythical fable, there are a number of tips that you can put into practice to retain your skin's youthful glow

Simple nutritional tips for a healthy pregnancy

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“You are what you eat” goes the saying, but to slightly modify it “your child is what you eat”. A healthy, balanced diet is important for maintaining optimal health throughout life and good nutrition is important

for preparing the body for the demands of pregnancy.

EAT RIGHT – EAT WISE!The preparation for a safe, nutritious and healthy

motherhood begins well in advance, during the adolescent period itself. The nutritional status during pregnancy depends on the availability of nutritional reserves. Micronutrients like iron and calcium are essential for the pregnant woman as well as the growing baby. As reserves of these micronutrients build up before a woman becomes pregnant, maintaining good nutrition prior to conception is vital for ensuring adequate nutritional status during pregnancy. Women rarely catch up with deficient nutrients leading to complications like iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy, which could take a toll on the growing foetus.

A woman’s diet before pregnancy definitely determines the health status of the baby to be born. Poor nutrition as well as the consumption of high calorie diets based on junk foods have a direct impact on the course of pregnancy. A recently published Australian research report in the Journal of Nutrition states that high calorie diets that include lots of sugars, fats and fried foods are linked to preterm delivery. New findings from another research study of the same type conducted among Norwegian pregnant women also concluded that a low preterm birth rate was found among women who consumed a normal balanced diet with more vegetables and fats than processed foods.

B e a u t y H E A LT H F a s h i o n

Many women tend to overeat during pregnancy with a belief that the weight gain is compulsory and helps to meet foetal demands. According to the World Health Organization, it is ideal to increase the weight based on one’s Body Mass Index (BMI).

IF YOU'RE PREGNANT AND WORRIED ABOUT RESCHEDULING YOUR DIET PATTERNS, JUST REMEMBER: “SMART DIET”

S– Sip Smart. Drink fresh fruit juices with honey and avoid beverages and canned juices that are high in calories. Honey contains natural sugars and

essential micronutrients.

M – Milk is a good source of calcium. Drink a minimum of two glasses a day. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of calcium is 1,200 milligrams

per day for a pregnant women.

A – Avoid junk foods like processed foods and other fried foods that are rich in fat.

R – Reach out for more vegetables and fruits that promote easy digestion as well as relieve constipation, which is a common minor disorder during

pregnancy.

T – Take in more iron-rich foods like dates, pomegranates and green leafy vegetables to prevent complications of iron deficiency anaemia.

D – Diets should include macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals in the right proportion to

make it a balanced one.

I – Insist on small frequent meals. For instance instead of three full meals have six small meals. This promotes faster digestion and also relieves heartburn.

E – Egg-ceptional superfood. Hard boiled eggs are the largest multivitamin capsules offering 23 per cent of RDA of vitamin B12, 8 per cent of vitamin

A, 7 per cent of vitamin D and 6 per cent of folate (folic acid) essential for preventing neural tube defects.

T – Time waits for no one. Start while young and follow a healthy lifestyle.

By Frincy Francis and Sheeba Joel Lecturers, College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University

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

CARS ANDADVENTURES

THE VIEW FROM UP HIGHIf you’re willing to put

in the legwork and do a bit of climbing, you will be rewarded with some

fantastic panoramic views of Sur and the landscape

beyond.

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CARS ANDOUTDOORS

D E S T I N A T I O N P o s t c a r d s f r o m Y - F i O u t d o o r s C a r sCARS ANDADVENTURES

THE OTHER SIDE OF FINSIF YOU’RE LOOKING TO ESCAPE THE CROWDS AT POPULAR

WEEKEND CAMPING SPOTS, TRY EXPLORING THE SECRET SIDE OF FINS, SAYS SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI

SUR FROM ABOVEAFTER AN EXHAUSTING CLIMB, SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI FINDS

HIMSELF IN THE PERFECT POSITION TO CAPTURE SOME STUNNING ELEVATED IMAGES OF THE COASTAL CITY OF SUR

Destination

Although I have passed through the capital of the Ash Sharqiyah region several times – mostly en route to visit the turtle beach at Ras Al Jinz – I’m not terribly

well acquainted with the city of Sur and have never stopped to explore it properly. With this in mind, I felt it was high time that I make the 200km journey southeast of Muscat and venture there for one of my Destination pieces.

I called a friend of mine, who is also a photographer, asking for some advice on places to check out during my trip and he put me in touch with the head of the photography association in Sur, who very kindly organised for two of his young protégés to meet me and act as my guides.

I was excited in anticipation of the insider’s view they would give me into their city, showing me the prime spots to get the best shots.

After parking my car opposite an Oman Oil station and meeting my two guides, they certainly did not disappoint me.

The place they showed me translates into English as Alaga and although this is not an official name, nor is it signposted, my guides assured me that if you ask anyone in Sur, from a local who has lived there all their life to an attendant at one of the petrol stations, they will all be familiar with the lookout point, which is also the site of a restored watchtower, and know how to direct you there.

Before I could get my camera out and start snapping away, though, I had a hefty climb to deal with. My eager guides bounded off full of energy, but I made the journey up the momentously large stairs at a more sedate pace. The workout was strenuous and if you are anything like me, you will need a good rest once you reach the top.

Luckily, the views made all the exertion worth it.High up on Alaga point, I was afforded

breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of Sur and, reaching for my camera, began snapping

away with the same enthusiasm that my guides had bounded up the stairs. I soon realised that Sur is a very beautiful city and Alaga is a perfect peaceful place from which to capture the essence of this beauty.

I could quite literally see for miles, from the curving bay and its lighthouse and ancient watchtowers to the buildings and houses that sprawl inland and make up the majority of the city. I also caught several glimpses of the traditional dhows that Sur is so famous for, given its rich seafaring heritage.

The main thing that appealed to me about this shoot were the colours. It sounds pretty obvious, but the white of the houses was so white, the sea was several shades of turquoise, deepening in colour the further out it went, and the blue of the sky was so blue. That’s what I love about the images, the crispness and clarity of the colour; it was all so clear. I also liked the fact that there was very little evidence of pollution in the water, which you can sometimes see around Muscat.

One of my favourite shots of the day followed something we call the rule of thirds in photography, in that all the linear features in the image flow from section to section. In this case it was the houses in the foreground, the sea in the middle, which then ran seamlessly into the sky above (below).

By the time I reached Alaga, it was early afternoon, as I had spent the morning exploring a few other places the city had to offer, but I would say that the best times to visit are either very early in the morning or in the evening, just before sunset. At these times, the lighting should be perfect and allow you to capture some fantastic photographs.

It was fascinating to see a side of Sur that I had never really experienced before and my recent visit has undoubtedly inspired me to return to this wonderfully vibrant coastal city and study it in further photographic detail.

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HOW TO GET THEREThe route to Sur is very simple. From Muscat, take road 17 all the way until it meets road 23. Take a left and head into Sur, travelling on the beach road with the sea on your left until you cross the

suspension bridge. Take the first right at the roundabout and park at the Al Ayjah Plaza Hotel.

GPS Location of Alaga: N22° 33’ 43” E59° 32’ 23”TR

AVEL

GUI

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CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

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A NEW DIVE CENTRE, SEAOMAN, HAS OPENED AT THE WAVE, MUSCAT, OFFERING EXPLORATION OF THE SEA ON ITS DOORSTEP. BRYAN RICHARDS TRIES IT OUT FOR YPhotos: Bryan Richards

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With tentacles reaching out into the water, the two cuttlefish engaged in a stunning courting dance, flashing vibrant fluorescent multi-coloured

skirts and bodies at each other. All this was happening under the waves just off the coast of Muscat and it was quite a sight for my first dive in a while.

When Y called to check on my availability, I was asked: “What are you doing on Saturday?”

I’ve learnt now to reply, “I don’t know, what am I doing?”

“We need a qualified diver to take a press dive with the new SEAOMAN dive centre at Oman Sail in The Wave, and you’re it!” I was told.

I had no idea that there was a dive centre in The Wave, so, as I know one of the managers, I popped down to scope it out.

The boat was at the jetty, but no equipment as yet, and the novice pool was in the process of being constructed.

I took a quick look at the boat and it appeared fit for purpose. Tank racks all installed, a two-level deck both with plenty of shaded cover and enough room on the lower deck for divers to “kit up”.

Arriving at Oman Sail at 9am on Saturday I found the outdoor beginners’ pools working, with tanks and all the kit required to dive ready, and after a briefing and exchange of diving qualifications, we loaded up the dive boat.

It turned out that I was the only one there. The SEAOMAN staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and after an hour, you feel as if you’ve known them for years, not minutes.

The dive boat captain, Fahad – aka Captain Pugwash – has been working with Oman Sail in the other dive centre in Mussanah for over three years and knows these waters very well, as does Azzan, the dive master and instructor, who has been diving for about 19 years in Oman and around the Middle East.

Their excitement and enthusiasm for this, their second dive centre, was obvious and they came across as very experienced and knowledgeable of the area and dive sites.

Oman Sail and SEAOMAN already have one dive centre serving the Millennium Resort and surrounding areas.

The only downside to the original location is that its 45 to 55 minutes outside Muscat and, with increasing tourist numbers, the existing centre is almost at saturation point, and might not be able to cope.

This means the dive centre at The Wave will benefit from all the experience and knowledge of running a successful centre, without the start-up teething problems.

It means Muscat now has a dive centre in its own backyard – and the sea on its doorstep. Under the water is an amazing array of undiscovered dive sites and a rich variety of marine life waiting to be explored.

With the boat all loaded, we cast off and headed to the rocky crop, Mina Al Fahal Island, that can be seen from most of Muscat off PDO.

The trip takes about 45 minutes depending on the currents and on the way you get a great view of Muscat.

Unfortunately, a heat haze covered the mountains, but landmarks such as the Grand Mosque, MGM and the InterContinental Hotel could clearly be seen from the boat.

Arriving at the dive site, we slowly puttered to the sheltered cove where we would start the dive.

● SEAOMAN, Almouj Marina, The Wave, Muscat● seaoman.com● Tel: +968 2418 1400● Email: dive@seaoman.com● Open for dive trips seven days a week from 8am-5pm● Dive equipment available to rent● PADI courses available

Dive Date: May 23, 2015Dive Location: Mina Al Fahal Island, MuscatMeeting Time: 0900hrsStart Dive: 1130hrsEnd Dive: 1210hrsMax Depth: Eight metresVisibility: Clear up to 20 metres at eight metres

● Fitted with twin straight 6 diesel engines, twin props, with a top speed of 16 knots producing 600hp● Working onboard toilet● Below deck galley● Fresh water shower on deck● POB (Persons on Board) Max 20, but limited to 12 divers with full kit and bottle racks for 30 cylinders. So with 12 divers, you can get two dives

I’m a seasoned diver, having taken the plunge in the waters of Oman, Saudi Arabia and Libya among many, but I was still looking forward to this. My dive buddy Azzan gave me a pre-dive briefing and outlined the dive plan. The water temperature at surface is close to being hot but once in and under, it soon cools down.

Those who have dived in and around Muscat, will know how clear the water can be, and my dive was no different, with good visibility to see abundant fish and coral life, with very few signs of coral damage.

There was no sign of any turtles and the sharks (reef or whale) known to inhabit these waters didn’t materialise either.

Without doubt, though, the highlight of my dive was watching the two cuttlefish in the

throes of their courting dance. It could only be described as fantastic. The large male kept a watchful eye on me, possibly putting him off his stride, as I observed the unique spectacle from a respectable distance.

Other sights were a rather large moray eel feeding, very large sea anemones and their bodyguard clownfish (think Finding Nemo), which chased me off !

After 40 minutes at eight metres, we surfaced to find the boat waiting. A quick partial de-kit in the water and we were back on board for a wash down, cold bottle of water and lunch.

Our return journey to the jetty was eventful, with plenty to see and an encounter with a school of flying fish.

Back at base, the training pool was in full swing with Richard, the instructor, up to his waist in the water with two learners.

I had a quick chat with the novices, who both loved the experience and now can’t wait to do their open-water dive.

The team can’t promise that they’ll see dancing cuttlefish, Nemos or moray eels, as I did, but they can guarantee it will be an unforgettable experience.

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TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO:1. See puffins at Sumburgh Head2. Take a trip to Unst, one of the North Isles of Shetland, and the most northerly populated island in the British Isles3. Try the local seafood4. Visit Jarlshof, a prehistoric and Norse settlement5. Buy a Shetland wool jumper

NATURE UNCOVEREDA huge colony of puffins, a seabird, are among the diverse range of wildlife that call the Shetland

Islands home.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

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P O S T C A R D S F R O MD e s t i n a t i o n O u t d o o r s Y - F i C a r s

My favourite place I’m a sucker for nature and as one of Europe’s most accessible wildernesses; Shetland is an absolute gem for discovering the great outdoors and its inhabitants. Within a few kilometres of the main port of Lerwick, you can sail in a boat right alongside seabird cliffs almost 180 metres high. My top place is the bird reserve at Sumburgh Head, where you can get up close and personal with the local puffin colony. For the uninitiated, puffins are a small, predominantly black and white bird, with a brightly-coloured orange beak and matching webbed feet, which dwell on cliffs or offshore islands. Shetland is home to around 200,000 puffins during peak season. At Sumburgh Head you can actually drive to the edge of a puffin colony (a car makes a good hide) and watch these intriguing birds in action. Patience will be rewarded with some wonderful photographs.

Highlights Shetland is not all about the puffins – you’re guaranteed close encounters with common and grey seals at some point during your trip thanks to the 2,700km of coastline and 138 sandy beaches. During one stay, we were kept awake at night by seals “singing” on the beach near our bed and breakfast home. There are also otters (albeit shy ones) and the occasional dolphin or orca (killer whale). If you like being active, you won’t be disappointed. There’s something for everyone, from mountain biking to fishing, and scuba diving to round-the-clock golf. During midsummer, the sun is above the horizon for almost 19 hours and it never really gets dark. Shetland is not just a one trick pony – although the miniature Shetland ponies are incredibly cute to interact with – and there’s loads more than just nature. The local seafood is spectacularly fresh (I recommend the king scallops or haddock) as is the Shetland lamb, and the nightlife is far more bustling than you might imagine. Famous events include the Shetland Folk Festival, in which the fiddle, a local tradition, features prominently. A host of winter fire festivals (from its Norse heritage) culminate in the unforgettable Up Helly Aa, a series of marches ending in a torch-lit procession and burning of a boat (best known as the Viking longship), held on the last Tuesday in January every year.

Lowlights The weather. If you like long scalding hot days lazing on a beach, Shetland might not suit. Temperatures over 25˚C (77˚F) are rare – the highest temperature on record was only 28.4˚C (83.1˚F) – though coming from Oman, this will be a much welcome respite. Winters here can be much milder than the rest of the UK, too, making it an ideal year-round destination. Souvenirs Shetland as a whole is known worldwide for its knitwear. Buy directly from the knitter for the genuine article. There are some great contemporary designs. I picked up a jumper and cardigan, which are both still going strong. Or go on the Shetland Craft Trail to see 30 workshops and studios of local artists for some unique work.

Where to stay Choose from hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, hostels and campsites and camping böds (a building once used to house fishermen and now used for those who want more basic accommodation on a budget). Sumburgh Hotel has 32 rooms, half of which offer sea views. I stayed in Busta House Hotel in Brae, a 16th century building overlooking the shores of Busta Voe, a sea inlet. Alternatively, try one of the Scandinavian-style self-catering lodges.

THE SHETLAND ISLANDS, UKKate Ginn recommends

St a n d i n g o n t o p o f a c l i ff , w i t h t h e w i n d w h i p p i n g a c r o s s m y f a c e a n d t h e s a l t y t a s t e o f t h e N o r t h S e a o n m y l i p s f r o m t h e w a v e s b e l o w , t h e j o u r n e y t o g e t h e r e s u d d e n l y s e e m e d w o r t h i t .

S o m e 1 6 0 k m f r o m t h e n e a r e s t p o i n t o f t h e S c o tt i s h m a i n l a n d b u t s t i l l p a r t o f t h e U K , S h e t l a n d h a s i t s o w n u n i q u e c u l t u r e

a n d g e o g r a p h y , m a k i n g i t d i s t i n c t f r o m t h e r e s t o f t h e c o u n t r y .D e s p i t e b e i n g c a l l e d a n i s l a n d , i t i s i n r e a l i t y a n a r c h i p e l a g o - w i t h

m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 i s l a n d s , j u s t 1 5 o f t h e m i n h a b i t e d - l y i n g a t a N o r t h A t l a n t i c c r o s s r o a d s ; w h e r e S c o t l a n d m e e t s S c a n d i n a v i a a n d t h e N o r t h S e a m e e t s t h e A t l a n t i c O c e a n .

I h a v e b e e n l u c k y e n o u g h t o v i s i t s e v e r a l t i m e s , fo r w o r k a n d p l e a s u r e , a n d l o v e d e a c h t r i p , fo r d i ff e r e n t r e a s o n s . I t ’ s r u g g e d l a n d s c a p e a n d s p e c t a c u l a r c o a s t l i n e a p p e a l s t o m y s e a - l o v i n g n a t u r e , w h i l e t h e d i v e r s e w i l d l i f e , i n c l u d i n g b r e e d i n g c o l o n i e s o f p u ff i n s ( m o r e o n t h o s e l a t e r ) a n d S h e t l a n d p o n i e s , i s e q u a l l y s t u n n i n g .

D u e t o i t s l o c a t i o n , t h e S h e t l a n d I s l e s i s a f a s c i n a t i n g m i x o f N o r d i c a n d B r i t i s h i n f l u e n c e s , f r o m i t s fo o d t o s c e n e r y , s p a r k i n g t h e i m a g i n a t i o n w i t h i t s r i c h h i s t o r y . T h i s m i x e d h e r i t a g e i s e v i d e n t i n p l a c e n a m e s a n d t h e d e s i g n o f m o r e r e c e n t b u i l d i n g s . S u r r o u n d e d b y f e r t i l e f i s h i n g g r o u n d s a n d o i l a n d g a s f i e l d s , t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f S h e t l a n d - a r o u n d 2 2 , 5 0 0 p e o p l e - h a s e n j o y e d S c a n d i n a v i a n - s t y l e p r o s p e r i t y fo r t h e p a s t q u a r t e r - c e n t u r y .

JARLSHOF, A PREHISTORIC AND NORSE SETTLEMENT

SHETLAND PONY

SUMBURGH, SHETLAND

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

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

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ALL THAT GLITTERS

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If you have cash to splash and feel like a change of colour in your gadget collection, then lavish yourself in gold, says Matthew Herbst

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GOLDEN APPLETired of staring at silver? Then head on over to Apple.com where new colour options are being introduced to the MacBook range, If you prefer the real deal, check out goldstriker.co.uk for a fully embelleshed 24-carat option with all the usual specs and features. The laptop has been perfectly polished to give it a mirror-like appearance and you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of RO2,976.33 for the privilege.

THE GOLDEN TOUCHIf you're looking for a mobile with a bit more pizazz, then this Apple iPhone 6 that comes fully embellished in 24-carat gold is for you. Not only does it look superb, with a hefty 128GB of memory and the ability to be used on any network worldwide, it's also incredibly functional.Available at goldstriker.co.uk from RO1,188.74

GOLDEN EYE Brikk is known for creating golden versions of popular electronics, including phones and tablets, and has recently released a luxe camera in conjunction with Nikon called the Brikk Nikon Df. The Df wouldn't look out of place on an oversized Monopoly board, but it also functions as a perfectly normal camera. Despite its body and Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8 lens being coated with pure 24-carat yellow gold, all the camera's specs remain unchanged. If you want to shoot in style, be prepared to shell out RO16,157.40 at brikk.com

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App of the Week

GO FOR GOLD If you are a keen gold investor and need to know how your precious metal is doing on the market then download Kitco’s Gold Live! app to stay in the know. The app offers comprehensive coverage and full control as it provides live prices and other critical market information regarding gold, silver and similar precious metals. Get notifications by email or in-app on as many devices as you want. Available for free on iOS and Android.

GOLDEN NUGGETSIf you’re a fan of gold computer accessories and high-end German cars, then you’re in luck. Designed in the studio of Porsche Weissach, Germany, this gold-plated mouse comes in the same shape as the iconic Porsche 911. It is Mac and PC compatible and comes with a small dongle in case you want to go wireless. Available at porsche.com from RO38.08.

GOLD PLAYERIf you're a serious game player and have a cool RO5,385.80 in your pocket, then you are eligible to buy a Gold PlayStation 4 from gattiluxurylab.com. This unique games console is made with 226g of nine-carat gold and comes straight out of a workshop in the Italian city of San Benedetto del Tronto, where it is lovingly crafted by the Gatti brothers, all of whom are skilled goldsmiths. If Playstation isn't your console of choice, then you'll be pleased to know they also make a gold Xbox One.

GOLD APPLE WATCHIt’s no secret that the price of an Apple Watch Edition with an 18-carat rose gold case starts at RO3,847.00 and prices range to RO6,539.90 for yellow gold models complete with a gold-plated band. However, if you can't quite afford these prices but still want to look the part, you should probably consider cashing in on the latest trend and take your Apple Watch to a jeweller. Shops around the world have now started offering their own take on the gold Apple Watch and as long as you can provide the timepiece, some jewellers are offering to transform it from bland to bling by dipping the device in gold for as little as RO115.41.

NEW

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Approaching his task with an open mind, Matt Blackwell finds the Mazda 6 Luxury to be something of a surprise package

Mazda 6 Luxury Specifications:Engine: 2.5L

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Horsepower: 183Torque: 250Nm @ 3250rpm

I have a long association with Mazdas. Going back a few years, my dad drove a Mazda 6 and so I have extensive experience

of travelling the length and breadth of the UK cocooned in the comfort afforded by the Japanese automaker.

Although my father has since upgraded to a Mercedes C-Class followed by an Audi A6, he still maintains that the Mazda 6 is one of the better cars he has driven. And after spending 24 hours in the tender embrace of the new 2015 Mazda 6 Luxury, the top trim of the four 2.5-litre models available, I was beginning to see the logic of his argument.

Upon first glance, the mid-sized sedan did not strike me as a head-turner. However, the longer I spent looking at the car, the more my opinion began to change.

Mazda claims that its design “embodies the dynamic beauty of life” and describes the 6 as having “the power and elegance of a wild animal in the instant when it pounces on its prey” and all ostentatious metaphors aside, it’s not actually far from the truth – if that is at all possible.

The car I remembered had changed irrevocably for the better, and where once a chunky, functional vehicle had occupied my memory, I was now faced with a sleek and muscular-looking machine, complete with smooth, flowing curves and a low, wide stance that together both suggested athletic power and a graceful beauty.

Inside, the pleasant surprises continued, with the cream leather seats contrasting nicely with the dark

paintwork of my model, adding to the overall feel of luxury.

The infotainment area offered nothing groundbreaking, but included everything you would expect, such as the usual phone syncing, media playback and navigation options all displayed on a seven-inch LCD screen mounted on top of the dashboard in the centre and controlled via a commander control on the floor console. One thing that did impress me was the quality of sound provided by the 11-speaker set-up of the Bose premium sound-system package, although this audio extravagance is limited to the Luxury model.

I had more than enough room to drive in comfort, but a quick glance over my shoulder evoked a feeling that any more than two adults would not fare so well in the rear. Space did seem to come at a bit of a premium, although children shouldn’t suffer, making it a suitable vehicle for families.

Of course while important factors, how a car looks and feels is not the be all and end all, it ultimately comes down to the driving experience. And I can report that the new Mazda 6 scores well in this department as well.

Mazda prides itself on the technical expertise that goes into creating its cars and thanks to the breakthrough Skyactiv Technology, the Mazda 6 was able to respond precisely to my every wish, accelerating and breaking smoothly, putting me as closely in touch with the vehicle as possible. Mazda says that this helps to create an emotional bond between car and driver, not dissimilar to that between a horse

and rider. More of those strangely apt animal metaphors again, then.

On my travels around Muscat, I noticed a Sport button next to the gear selection lever and couldn’t help but press it. At this point the performance and handling all tightened up slightly and I was pressed back into my seat as the Mazda 6 shot forward in response to my pressure on the accelerator, all set to the glorious throaty gurgle of a tuned exhaust, which only added to the exhilaration. You can even jump in and control gear changes manually thanks to the paddles behind the steering wheel, should you be so inclined.

If I didn’t previously consider the Mazda 6 as a “look at me” car, I certainly did now, with heads physically turning as I roared by, only for the figures of curious onlookers to rapidly diminish in my rear-view mirror.

I was a big fan of the Active Driving Display mounted on the dashboard directly in the driver’s line of vision, which minimises the need to take your eyes off the road by projecting speed and traffic warnings in front of you. The only small criticism would be the slight glare I encountered when glancing at the instrument panel.

I’d never really noticed Mazdas on Oman’s roads before my test drive, but in the days since I seem to see them everywhere and, in all honesty, I’m not really surprised. The Mazda 6 Luxury was a pleasure to drive and most definitely a grower in terms of aesthetics, both of which combined to provide me with an eye-opening experience.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

C A R SD e s t i n a t i o n P o s t c a r d s f r o m O u t d o o r s Y - F i

Push button start 11-speaker Bose sound

system LED head lamps Keyless entry Rear View Camera 19-inch alloy wheels Dual Zone AC with rear AC

blowers Head Up Display Paddle shift gears Lane Departure Warning Cruise control Sunroof

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excitement”

We say: “Pleasantly surprising”

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