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DEC 31 - JAN 06 2015 / ISSUE 401 • WEEKLY

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WHAT DOES 2016 HAVE IN STORE FOR US?

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FO L L O W U S O N :

I don’t know about you, but I have to admit that I’m not a fan of New Year resolutions. When I was younger, I’d ring in the New Year with a whole host of promises, from getting more exercise to being a better person, doing more for others and spending more time with my loved ones. But as the daily pressures of work and home took their toll, my good intentions were often left by the

wayside. These days, I’d like to think that I’m wiser and have resolved to never make a New

Year resolution again. Instead, I try to spend each day doing the best that I possibly can. Sure, nobody is perfect and we all have our bad days. But for me, treating people with respect, kindness and empathy is at the top of my list. And the occasional smile in return is my reward.

This year, however, I do hope for world peace and an end to the terror that seems to have become the norm for news headlines around the globe. It fills my heart with dread and I worry for our future generations, including my daughter, and the world that we will leave them.

But whatever you resolve to do for 2016, may each and every one of you be blessed with good health, happiness and peace.

Happy New Year!

Fast forward

editor@y-oman.com

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EDITOR IN CHIEFSayyida Iman bint Hamad

bin Hamood Al Busaidi

MANAGING EDITORFelicity Glover

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kate Ginn

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

SUB-EDITOR Matt Blackwell

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Feroz Khan

@ytabloid /ytabloid www.y-oman.com

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,

Team Y had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with friends and family,

spent the weekend preparing for a special wedding (good luck, Shaq and

Sajda!) and are looking forward to ringing in the New Year tonight.

THIS WEEK…

GOING UPARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Congratulations to the team of six students from Sultan Qaboos

University, who recently came second at a GCC-wide robotic competition in Kuwait. Their robot cost just RO600

to develop and is capable of a range of tasks, such as moving objects and even

holding plastic balls.

GOING DOWNWATER SUPPLIES

It was bad news for residents of Ruwi, Hamriyah and Hallat Al Sadd, who

found themselves without water at the start of the week after a burst pipeline

cut supplies to homes, according to the Public Authority for Electricity and

Water.

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

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Ways to get your Y fix

THE BAROMETER

US$1

billion

It seems that the new Star Wars film has taken the world by storm, racking

up a whopping US$1 billion (RO385 million) in global ticket sales, taking

the saying, “May the force be with you” to a whole new level.

Sw

contentsD E C 3 1 - J A N 0 6 2 0 1 5

Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Dr Masroor Alam Sohail

08 Voice Of Oman Jane Jaffer

10 News Commemorative Coins

13 Gallery Bollywood Night

14 Gallery Festive Lunch

15 Hyundai – Driven To Success Azzam Al Raessi

T h i s We e k

17 Movies 2016 Preview

18 This Week Support Children

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Winter Blues

34 Beauty After Party

35 Health New Year, New You

10

32

Fe at u r e s20 The Year Ahead What’s In Store For 2016

23 Happy New Year Team Y’s Resolutions

24 2015 In Focus Shaq’s Best Photos

26 Super Women Last In The Series

C a r s a n d A d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Al Hajar

40 Outdoors Night Soccer

42 Postcard From Hot Spots For 2016

44 Y-Fi 2016’s Top Tech

46 Car Of The Week Bentley Flying Spur W12

44

FEATURES / COFFEE WITH DEEBA / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / FOOD / DESTINATION / HEALTH / FASHION

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Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Hot Stuff

30 Taste Test Romano’s Macaroni Grill

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J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 70 6 D E C 3 1 - J A N 0 6 / I S S U E 4 0 10 6

Dr Masroor Alam

Deeba Hasan sits down with Dr Masroor Alam Sohail, a senior consultant and head of Al Nahdha Hospital’s ENT department. A pioneer of keyhole surgery in the Sultanate, he was granted Omani citizenship for his more than 30 years of service to the country

Dr Sohail always knew he would grow up to be a doctor. When he was in primary school

in India, even his grandmother called him “doctor” because he always played with a toy doctor set. “Someone had gifted me a doctor set and I played the role of a doctor to the children who lived in our neighbourhood from a very young age. I always knew I would be a doctor,” he says.

As the years passed, Dr Sohail completed his Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree and Doctor of Medicine degree, got married and then moved to Iran for five years.

Dr Sohail, his wife and young daughter were living in Iran during the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the Iran-Iraq war. He says times were tough then and he saw some terrible injuries. “Life was very difficult. Iran is very cold sometimes and we had central heating that ran on diesel. To get this diesel, we had to go to the governor of the province, plus everything else was in turmoil.”

So moving from Iran to Oman was a relief for the whole family, “When we got here in 1982, we first lived in Muttrah because that was the only developed place and the central shopping place.

“In 1982, there were four doctors in the ENT department at Al Nahdha Hospital and I joined as a junior doctor. There was another ENT doctor in Salalah, so we were responsible for a major part of the country. Now, however, we have 30 doctors in our department alone and there are so many central hospitals and health centres in various parts of the country.”

Dr Sohail’s wife is also a doctor. However, she took early

retirement to take care of her ageing mother. “My wife used to work at Al Nahdha Hospital in the emergency department and she has worked very hard for over 30 years.”

Just as Dr Sohail didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps as a lawyer, his daughters are also working in completely different fields, having studied genetic engineering and chemical engineering; both are now living abroad.

According to Dr Sohail, the biggest change in Oman’s medical sector came when the Royal Hospital was built. “After the opening of the Royal Hospital, Al Nahdha remained a specialised centre for eye care, dental, skin and ENT surgeries and a lot of departments moved to the Royal Hospital. And with the opening of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, a lot of Omanis were being groomed as doctors, which was a welcome move.”

Dr Sohail was a pioneer of keyhole surgery in the Sultanate. “My specialisation since 1989 was keyhole surgery. Previously, people had to make large incisions in the body to treat patients, but with keyhole surgeries, a very small incision needs to be made and I brought keyhole surgery of the nose and sinuses to Oman.”

Although technically demanding, keyhole surgery produces very good results, according to Dr Sohail. In medical terms, the procedure is known as endoscopic surgery. “In the past 20 years, we developed it here and now we are on par with any other centre in the world.”

A strange but common problem that Dr Sohail has witnessed in Oman, particularly among young women, is their scarf pins getting stuck in their lungs. “We get a

lot of cases of young girls with their scarf pins in their lungs. It happens because when they arrange their scarf, they tend to hold their pins in their mouth and if they are pushed and open their mouth, it falls straight in and gets stuck in their lungs, so we have started health education for this matter.”

Originally from Rajasthan, in the west of India, Dr Sohail and his family were granted Omani citizenship in 2003. Dr Sohail enjoys his profession and advises those who want to become doctors to work hard, stay dedicated and love the profession. “Being a doctor is very rewarding, I must say, but you need some patience and perseverance.”

Dr Sohail says he is an avid reader, a habit he inherited from his father. “When I get some time after updating myself with the medical world and the hospital, I read books on history, biographies and religion.”

In a few years’ time, Dr Sohail plans to retire and then hopes to do some social work. He also wants to visit his daughters and travel with his wife, but he calls Oman home.

“I have lived more in Oman than in India, but then in Indian culture we have a mother who has given birth and then they say there might be a woman who has breastfed you, and Oman is like the mother which has fed us; the country has given us everything, people are hospitable and amazing, and when you see that, you feel you are in a good place.”

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

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FLOOD RELIEF

correspondenceTHE VOICE OF OMAN JANE JAFFER PONDERS LIFE’S GOAL

NEXT WEEK: ALI AL RAHMA

At this time of the year, it is good to take stock and re-affirm one’s life purpose. Considering

there are seven billion of us, it is amazing that we are all so unique. I believe that we are here to discover and develop our own individual talents and skills so that we can share them with the world. It’s really not about how we look or what we own, it’s about what we become and what we achieve and contribute during our short stay on our beautiful planet Earth.

If we focus on a goal and work together, there is no end to what we can all achieve. This month (December), it was really heartening to witness an historic achievement: 196 nations attending the COP21 climate meetings outside Paris all voted to adopt an agreement, setting the goal of limiting the world’s rise in average temperature to “well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius”.

In her book, When I Fell from the Sky, Juliane Koepcke tells of her astonishing story of survival in the Peruvian rainforest. As a teenager in 1971, she boarded a flight in Peru with her mother. The plane crashed and Juliane fell 3.2km down into the dense Amazon rainforest, still attached to her seat. The sole survivor of the crash, she then crawled and walked through the green hell of the jungle for 11 days until she was finally rescued. She was bitten half to death by insects and maggots burrowed into her skin. However, she believes the jungle saved her life and for the past 40 years, she has worked tirelessly to achieve her goal to preserve the rainforest. If the rainforests are destroyed, CO2 will be released, temperatures will rise, ground water levels will sink and the entire planet will be at risk.

Let’s all have one goal this year: to save Mother Earth.

I request the Indian Embassy (in Muscat) to intervene and take necessary measures required to do a bit from the expatriate community to help flooded Chennai. Indeed, a few years back, a letter of mine was published in Y Magazine requesting the Indian ambassador to install boxes to collect clothes or other materials in good condition, where expatriates could donate, to be utilised for the needy back home.

Indeed, the Indian Embassy now can consider the same suggestion to install boxes to collect donations from (the) expatriate community here in Oman and to send the material to support flood-hit Chennai. It’s time we, the expatriate community, react to support and join our hands together to bring relief to Chennai victims. We are looking forward to the Indian Embassy’s involvement in this regard!

G V K Durga Ravi, Muscat

They are like angels in times of trouble A rainbow in the sky during a rainThey change our sadness into joy However there are many times of friendsSome are there with you when all is wellOthers are always there with you during all times Be the season sunny or rainySuch friends are our true friendsThey are the ones on whom you can depend They are there whenever you need them They change a rainy (day) into a sunny and happy one

Irene Rose Bency, Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir

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WAFAA EL ANANY My plan is to make myself a better person so the world can have better human beings to develop it into a peaceful and prosperous place to live. Also, develop a culture among my circle to accept differences of opinion and tolerance.

TANVEER HUSSAIN MALIK My resolutions for next year include completion of my studies and love my family and friends more than previous years. Also, I feel the need to be more green to the environment and more kind and generous to others around me.

DR RAO SUDDAPALLI In 2016, I resolve to reduce my body weight further from my present 83kg to 70kg, as I have resolved and succeeded in the last couple of years to bring down my weight by about 20kg. Taking a serious view of the obesity levels in this part of the world, I resolve to go for still stiffer lifestyle habits, knocking down redundancy to the lowest ebb and go full steam with physical exercise and food habits. Last, but not least, is I decided to continue with the herbal combinations, as updated by Dahlia C Castaneda through these columns, which are giving good succour in reducing abdominal fat.

USHA DEVI SUDDAPALLI My New Year 2016 resolution would be not to resolve anything, as more often than not I failed to get past what I have resolved for so far. I would like to follow the policy of thinking about crossing a bridge when I reach it. For me, the 2016 New Year will be just another tomorrow, relegating this social idea of resolving afresh every New Year to the background.

VIJAYASRI PARTHASARATHY After a review of my 2015, I found that I am very impatient and particular about things. Also I always have negative thinking and lose hope very easily. So my New Year resolution will be to overcome all these shortcomings and think positive towards life and emerge as a better person in 2016 because I know that the way I portray myself to my child, he will become the same. So for my child, at least, I will change myself. Hope the year 2016 will be a changed year for me. Thanks for an awesome debate.

SAI ARAVIND ARAVIND My firm New Year’s resolution(s) this year is really a canopy one: to be a lot more calmer when dealing with the children; lend a patient ear and listen from the heart to a friend downloading his grief in my presence instead of constantly butting in to give uncalled-for advice; to give advice on any matter only when

D E C 3 1 - J A N 0 6 / I S S U E 4 0 1 0 9

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WE ASKED: “What are your resolutions for 2016?”

GAUTAM GHOSH DASTIDAR Que sera, sera! Nothing but present continuous constructs the future perfect. Karma and kismet are the sole fortune tellers I believe in. My resolutions for 2016 are thus put off to another year. This year I shall just live my way sans stuff like resolutions!

MOHAMMED SULTAN SHAIKH In today’s world, we are so much engrossed in our work that we forget to be in touch with our loved ones, be it at home or people far way. Modern technologies have brought the world closer, but we still choose to keep ourselves away from our loved ones. My New Year’s resolution would be to connect more with my near and dears.

VIJU PARTHA Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2016, Team Y. My New Year’s resolution will be to make good and perfect decisions. This is not some kind of principle from a management book. I am referring to developing the art of making better decisions in each and every walk of life, whether it is at work, school, college, home or in relationships. Why? Because bad decisions will come back and haunt me later in life! Every time I have to make a decision about even the most miniscule of things, I will ask myself: “What repercussions can this decision have?” By doing so, I shall eliminate substantial risk of making wrong decisions on a daily basis. While this may seem like a tedious thing to do in the beginning, it will only be a matter of time before this New Year’s resolution fits seamlessly into my personality.

MALINA GHOSH Every New Year comes with lots of new hope and enthusiasm and then goes. At the beginning of the year, we gear up with resolution, buy slowly we shape up as usual. So, no point to take fake oaths; my suggestion to all is that we should be happy and spread positivity, helping hands to others – likewise, I will also follow. Happy New Year to all my friends and Y readers.

JASON FELIX NORONHA We all have been guilty year after year of making resolutions, but fading away as the pressures of our daily lives take control. My resolution this year would be to be deeply introspect and find that inner peace. Happy New Year, everyone.

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sought; to keep communication channels always open with my parents; increase family time; spare some “me time” for myself each day to unwind, rewind and enjoy my own company; not think I am a superman and set viable goals for myself; not get depressed if I fail to multitask each time; to keep a sunny disposition each time I answer the doorbell.

BILAL MOIN I want to change the way of life – I will love all of them who are alone in the world and didn’t get love, I will care for who are not being cared, InshaAllah.

SYED BOKHARI My New Year’s resolution would certainly be to see this world free from terrorism, poverty, disease and hatred. I would like to see tolerance, love for all and hatred for none among all the countries so that peace prevails everywhere, no discrimination between any white or black and even religion. That’s my New Year resolution: only to see brotherhood among all.

PRACHI SHARMA To be better in all aspects.

PREETI CHACKO My resolution for 2016 is to eat, love, pray and stay healthy.

ANTONY VETTIYAZHICKAL JOSEPH I resolve to adopt three homeless stray dogs and cats in 2016; provide them housing, food, healthcare and a playing field. These days, we find lots of these hapless animals pushed out to the streets, which are their hideouts being demolished for human inhabitation. They deserve humane care from all quarters.

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Saudi Arabia is increasing the price of petrol by two thirds as part of a massive reform of subsidies in a bid to reduce a record state budget deficit, it was revealed on

Monday (December 28).The Kingdom also announced spending

cuts and plans to raise revenue from taxes in privatisation in the 2016 budget released by the Finance Ministry. It marks the biggest economic policy shake-up for the world’s top crude exporter in more than a decade.

Saudi’s finances have taken a hit from low oil prices. The government deficit ran at a staggering 367 billion riyals (RO37.6bn) in 2015. The 2016 budget aims to cut this to 326 billion riyals.

Petrol prices will increase from 0.45 riyals a litre to 0.75 riyals for 91 Octane fuel, it was reported by a UAE newspaper. Higher electricity, water and gas tariffs will also be introduced.

Saudi Arabia is the latest GCC country to raise fuel prices. The UAE has already cut subsidies on fuel and Abu Dhabi has taken this further to include water and electricity rises for expats.

This week, Bahrain approved cuts to diesel and kerosene subsidies.

Oman, meanwhile, has yet to announce any cut in fuel subsidies – which are said to cost the government

hundreds of millions of rials a year – despite facing a black hole in the budget of RO2.93 billion due to the global slump in oil prices.

This week, the Minister of Finance revealed measures were in place to cover the financial shortfall over the coming year, but there was mention of a cut in subsidies.

“There are measures that have been taken and will be beefed up to cover the deficit,” Darwish bin

Ismaeel al Balushi, Minister Reponsible for Financial Affairs, told reporters on Monday.

“These measures will continue in response to

the current situation. Also, everyone is expected to join

hands as covering the deficit is a joint responsibility. Efforts to

rationalise expenditure are going on.”

Circulars urging a limit on expenditure of unnecessary items

have been sent to government departments, he said.

Oman’s Majlis Al Shura has already voted for a three per cent rise in

corporate tax, which has to be approved by the State Council.

Saudi Arabia also said there were plans to introduce value-added tax (VAT) across the region, including

the GCC, while it would also raise taxes on soft drinks and tobacco.

SAUDI FUEL PRICES TO RISE BY 66%

Oman’s 45th National Day celebrations have continued, with the Central Bank of

Oman (CBO) this week issuing new coins to commemorate the historic occasion.

The new coins – 100, 50, 25, 10 and five baizas – will be circulated as legal tender, while commemorative sets of the coins will be offered for sale at RO6.5 for collectors.

According to the CBO, the front side of the new coins feature the name and title of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, as well as the national emblem, the name of the Central Bank of Oman, the year it was minted and the coin’s denomination in both Arabic and English.

The 45th National Day logo features on the other side of the coins.

The move follows the release of four new RO1 coins by the CBO at the beginning of December, which carry the coat of arms, the name of the country, the CBO and the coin’s value on one side. On the reverse side, two of the coins feature a stunning colour portrait of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos.

NEW COINS FOR OMAN

Oman-born Australian actress Isla Fisher and her British-actor husband Sacha Baron Cohen have donated a whopping US$1 million

(OMR384,500) to Syrian charities, according to aid groups.

The charity organisations said half the money donated will be used to fund vaccinations for more than 250,000 children against a potential measles outbreak in northern Syria. The other

half will be used to help support families in Syria and neighbouring countries with education, health care, shelter and sanitation.

The generous donation was split equally between Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) for the victims of the conflict in Syria, officials of Save the Children confirmed on Monday.

In a statement, Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth said the couple wanted to “highlight the tragedy” in Syria.

“By allowing us to make their generous donation to Syrian children public, Sacha and Isla are helping highlight the tragedy of the Syrian refugee today.

“These are desperate times for Syrian families facing bombs, bullets and torture in Syria. The couple’s donation will save thousands of lives and protect some of the most vulnerable children,”

Forsyth said.In a statement, David Miliband, ex-UK foreign secretary

and IRC chief executive, said: “Sacha and Isla’s donation is a great expression of humanity and a challenge to do more for the most vulnerable. I hope it is an example to many others seeking practical ways of making a difference during the Christmas and New Year season.”

Hollywood actress Fisher was born in 1976 to Scottish parents Elspeth Reid and Brian Fisher in Oman while her father was working for the United Nations as a banker.

D E C 3 1 - J A N 0 6 / I S S U E 4 0 1 0 1 1

MWASALAT EXPANDS TO DUBAI, SALALAH

N E W S

An illegal used-car market, which has sprung up in a parking lot in Wadi Kabir next to the Friday

Market, will be cleared in the next few weeks by the Muscat Municipality.

The Municipality has placed boards in the area banning any sort of vehicle trade on the site.

“The Wadi Kabir parking lot is meant for people to park their vehicles and it is not to be used for any kind of trade. We have advised people not to park their vehicles which are meant to be sold at these spots,” an official at the Muscat Municipality told a local newspaper.

On a normal day, several hundred used cars are parked there, with information about the model, kilometres, price and other details for

It’s been a roaring success since being launched in November and now Mwasalat, Muscat’s official bus service, is expanding its reach to newer and longer-range destinations, including Salalah and Dubai, with a fleet of luxury coaches.

The new high-end bus service, which was launched last week and will use buses similar to the one pictured right, will cover four distant cities: Salalah, Marmul, Fahud and Dubai, with all routes starting from Muscat.

Following the path of its ambitious expansion drive, Mwasalat plans to add more routes to its charter in 2016. “During the first quarter of 2016, we are planning to initiate an Al Amerat-Ruwi service, as well as Muscat-Ruwi in the second quarter of 2016. We are also going to operate on another Al Khoud-SQU stretch,” a Mwasalat official told a local newspaper.

According to the official, the Muscat-Dubai route was launched in response to one of their surveys and the route will start from Ruwi, pass through Burj A’Sahwa, proceed to Mabela, Sohar and finally to Dubai in the UAE. The price for one-way trip will be RO5, while a return ticket will cost RO9. “Buses may stop in some wilayats along the way if necessary,” said an official, adding that more routes will be announced soon.

Welcoming the announcement, Abu Bakar, a resident, said: “Clearly, it is a great improvement in ground transport services. We’ll think twice before booking a flight ticket to Dubai as these buses are very good and spacious.”

An ongoing promotion for the Ruwi-Mabela route costs 100 baiza for a single zone route, and 200 and 300 baizas for the two and three zone routes, respectively, which will continue until February 28, 2016.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning, a Mwasalat bus was involved in a collision with another bus near the Grand Mosque in Ghubra on the Sultan Qaboos Highway, causing a huge traffic jam. Both buses were damaged and passengers were seen standing by the side of the road.

motorists looking to buy a cheap vehicle.The vehicle market has become a source

of livelihood for many vendors, who buy and sell on behalf of the original sellers. These middlemen carry out the sale by charging a certain amount as commission from the original seller.

There are also a lot of people who depend on the market to buy their vehicles. “Banning [the] sale of vehicles being

parked here can be a problem for people like me as the cars are parked before the weekend and the trade is carried out the following day. I know several people who depend on this business,” Wilson, a trader at the market, told a local newspaper.

“There are locals and expatriates alike who act as middlemen here.”

The used-car market is close to the Friday, or Juma, Market. The sale of used cars in the area has been endemic for years, according to one man who sells frankincense at the market. He added that as the years passed, the car market grew bigger and better.

“I have been seeing this car market for more than 25 years, but there used to be hardly a couple of cars and these days the

whole Friday market area is filled with cars,” said Rajab al Hasani, another vendor at the Friday Market.

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YOUR OMAN

What’s this about then?It seems that a mischievous monkey has taken a bus and its driver for a joyride.Really? Where did this happen?In Uttar Pradesh state, northern India.Do they have a problem with monkeys there?You could say that. According to the bus depot manager, monkeys have been a menace in their workshop for the past few years, where they create havoc for workers repairing the buses. That sounds like a serious problem!Yes, more so as this particular monkey climbed into a bus while the driver was taking a nap in the back and drove off. Was anybody hurt?Fortunately, there were no injuries. But the monkey did manage to hit and damage two other buses in the depot before the driver could wrestle back control of the vehicle. It is kind of funny, though.Yes, we have to admit that it is – but at least it didn’t happen on the morning commute. And we’d love to have seen the cheeky monkey driving the bus. Don’t say: “Let’s monkey around.” Do say: “Tickets, please.”

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

MONKEYING AROUND

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

Flood-hit residents of northern Britain are bracing themselves for more misery and bad weather, as forecasters warn that Storm Frank is closing in, with Cumbria and south and Central Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the torrential rain, which has seen thousands of people evacuated from their flooded homes

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been hailed a hero after saving a man who was threatening to jump off the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul. Erdogan has promised to help the man, who was apparently depressed about family issues

A train carrying 819,000 litres of highly corrosive sulphuric acid has derailed in a remote corner of northern Queensland, Australia. An exclusion zone has been set up around the site as authorities battle to limit the damage

The basketball world is in mourning this week after the death of Meadowlark Lemon, who was known as the sport’s “clown prince” and a member of the world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters team. He was 83.

The Environment Society of Oman (ESO) has successfully tagged three Arabian Sea humpback whales in the Gulf of Masirah as part of a survey to better understand

the ecology of the endangered species. The tags will allow the public to track their movements and the research team to further define habitats important to their survival.

The tagging is the first to be done in the Gulf of Masirah and was conducted by a10-person team comprised of ESO staff, partnering agencie and freelancers. Originally launched to understand where these elusive whales spend their time, the tags will transmit their location several times a day, enabling detailed habitat utilisation maps to be drawn up. The tagged whales, one of which is male, have been named Sifa, Hamar an Nafur and Yasser.

The project is being done in collaboration with several global entities and government agencies, including the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Five Oceans Environmental Services in Oman, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the UK’s University of Exeter.

“Obtaining a better understanding of these whales will play a key role in order to boost their welfare and efforts to conserve them. Saving wildlife is at the core of ESO’s vision and this positive step takes us closer to that goal at a critical time with less than 100 Arabian Sea humpback whales left,” said Suaad Al Harthy, ESO’s programme director.

This was the third successful tagging conducted by ESO since their project to study and preserve the Arabian Sea humpback whale began in 2011. The two previous taggings were in Dhofar. To track the whales, visit the following link: seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=1084

SATELLITE TAGGING OF HUMPBACK WHALES

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G A L L E R YSO

NG &

DAN

CE

IT WAS A PACKED

HOUSE AT

THE QURUM

AMPITHEATRE FOR

THE RECENT AMITAB

AUR MAIN CONCERT,

FEATURING

SUDHESH BHOSLE,

WHO SANG A

RANGE OF HITS

FROM POPULAR

BOLLYWOOD

MOVIES

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G A L L E R YTR

ADITI

ONAL

TREA

TS

CHRISTMAS DAY WAS CELEBRATED IN STYLE IN HOTELS AROUND THE CAPITAL, INCLUDING THE GRAND HYATT MUSCAT, WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING A FESTIVE FEAST WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AS WELL AS A SURPRISE VISIT BY SANTA

YOUR OMAN

In association with Genesis

DRIVEN TOSUCCESS

AS I SPENT MORE TIME WITH THE CAR, I

REALISED THAT IT HAS THE ‘COOL QUOTIENT’ AND

IS THE PERFECT LUXURY CAR FOR THE NEW GENERATION

Q: What drives you to success?My motivation is to do something that hasn’t

been done in Oman. I wanted to help people who were, like me, struggling to find a venue to record music or make videos. Money is not the main motivator for me. Of course, I want recognition for what I can do, but it’s just the “feel-good factor” of helping other people as well.

Q: Who or what has been your inspiration in your career?

My eldest brother and my dad would be my inspiration. Whenever I feel stuck or have no idea how to approach a situation, I listen to Tony Robbins [an American motivational speaker]. When it comes to my brother, he basically taught me how to play music. My dad told me anything is possible in life and he was always supportive.

Q: What is your biggest career success to date?

It has to be setting up Studio 43. It’s basically a place where a new artist in town [or] young artists who have the talent to play music can come. We bring them in and record, mix and produce music for them and give it to the

public. We also help video makers, giving them a platform to perform and express their art, and do advertisements for companies and music for filmmakers. It was a struggle to get to that point. In my heart, I knew it would work. It was a risk, but I think it was a risk worth taking. I didn’t want to regret it in 10 years and think what might have been.

Q: What are your goals?I want to be the main person in media when

it comes to Oman. That’s the ultimate goal. It is achievable, there’ s no reason why not. This studio can be a way for me to actually achieve it.

Q: Career-wise, where do you plan to be in 10 years’ time?

The idea is to be the king of the entertainment business here in Oman. If anyone wants any sort of entertainment activities, they can come to my company and we will be able to provide it. I will have a lot of artists under my wing. The idea is to discover new artists and give them a platform to perform.

Q: What do you like about the Genesis, the premium series of Hyundai Motor Company?

The Genesis has all the comforts that can be expected from top-of-the-line cars. Its advanced technologies, like blind spot assist, lane departure warning match the best of luxury cars. To top it all, the Genesis has sporty looks, aesthetic design and handles amazingly. As I spent more time with the car, I realised that it has the “cool quotient” and is the perfect luxury car for the new generation.

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D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 1 6

Wrinkle ChasersThey iron out the wrinkles on shoes or trainers, using just a hand iron and hot air dryer. It pays surprisingly well – between $19,000-$49,000 a year (RO7,315 – RO18,865). Their work helps make shoes look shiny, new and, most importantly, wrinkle-free.

Human MannequinsInvolves staying still for hours on end. The pay is good though – around $100 an hour (RO38.5) – because it’s a job very few people can do. Not good for anyone who gets bored easily or fidgets.

Professional SleeperPerfect for people who like their bed and love to sleep. Hotels pay professional sleepers to test out their beds and then write about their experiences. There are also professional medical sleepers, hired by doctors and researchers and paid to snooze while being hooked up to machines, which test their heart rate and brain activity.

Paint Dry WatchersThere really are people paid to watch paint dry. Their job is to observe how paint dries – both on a wall and under a microscope – and note changing colours and the time taken. Their employed by paint manufacturers. Sounds like the most boring job in the world, but apparently it’s quite fascinating.

Professional QueuerFor $36 (RO13.8) per hour, American company linestanding.com provides someone who will take your place in a queue, meaning you don’t have to be there. There are also freelance professional queuers all over the world who will wait in line for you for anything from the latest iPhone release to travel documents.

Source: Toptenz.net

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GHOSTBUSTERS

Anyone who loves the 1984 original (and who doesn’t?) might be a little dubious at the idea of an all-female Ghostbusters reboot, but a strong

Bollywatch

Finding Dory

It’s been 13 years since Finding Nemo swam onto the big screen so this sequel, set for release in June, has been a long time coming. Disney-Pixar’s Finding Dory reunites the friendly-but-forgetful blue reef fish with her fishy friends, including Nemo, the lovable clown fish, on a search for answers about her past. Along the way, some valuable lessons about the true meaning of family are learnt. With

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

MOVIES 2016Ellen DeGeneres again voicing Dory, Albert Brooks (Marlin) and Alexander Gould as Nemo, it has all the ingredients to make a splash at the box office and exceed the nearly US$1billion (RO385m) made by Finding Nemo.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

It’s a Harry Potter spin-off; need we say more? With these two words alone, it's virtually guaranteed to print money as HP fans clamour to watch anything related to their hero. HP doesn’t actually feature but it’s set in the same universe as the boy wizard. The new hero is Newt Scamander, a young man fascinated with magical creatures. With J K Rowling adapting her 2001 book in her screenwriting debut, David Yates, who directed the last of the Potter films, at the helm, and Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne in the title role, it sounds a mouthwatering prospect.

FAN Bollywood stalwart Shah Rukh Khan is out to show a different side to himself in this clever offbeat offering. He plays two roles as Gaurav, a fan obsessed with a movie star, Aryan Khanna, who looks like himself, and travels to Mumbai to meet his idol. The film had been scheduled for release in early 2015, but was postponed after Khan suffered injuries (to his knee) while filming Happy New Year. Khan is said to have undergone a complete makeover for his role, with special effects involving 3D scanning and prosthetics (for the first time in his career). Exploring the complex star-fan relationships, it’s set to be one of Khan’s most layered roles in recent times. Directed by Maneesh Sharma, it is due for release in April.

* Also look out for: Airlift starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur.

This is one of the four heavyweight contenders that are expected to dominate the box office during the next 12 months.

Due to open in March, the movie seems to have all the qualities of a sure-fire monster hit: two superheroes on screen at the same time (although there are rumours more super characters might well feature), the first big screen Wonder Woman, big name stars and a big budget.

Intended to be a follow-up to 2013’s Man of Steel, the reboot of Superman, which itself made US$668 million (RO257 million) worldwide, it will mark a milestone in DC Comics' history as the first live-action film to feature both Batman and Superman.

This time, our caped heroes are at war with each other as Gotham City-based vigilante Batman (a bulked up Ben Affleck) travels to Metropolis to take on

modern-day saviour Superman (Henry Cavill), fearing the latter could fly out of control if left unchecked. Meanwhile, as these two are battling it out in the skies and on the ground, a sinister menace, Doomsday, emerges to threaten the existence of mankind.

Cue what promises to be some spectacular CGI special effects and stunning sequences in the time immemorial fight between good and evil.

Our super men are joined by Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and the internet has been swirling with speculation about the other action heroes that may pop up, such as Aquaman and The Flash.

Superman’s old foe Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) and love interest Lois Lane (Amy Adams) are also said to be appearing.

Suffice to say, this hotly anticipated movie will be massive.

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN,just answer a question based on the week’s

cinema reviews and send your answer to

info@y-oman.com, along with your name

and contact information.

Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the

terms and conditions, see voucher.

GRAB YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

FOUR CITY CINEMA TICKETS

Brought to you by

Contact: Movie enquiries 24607360

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONBen Afflect plays which character in

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?DECEMBER 17’S WINNER

Mary Lynch

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO:

City Cinema: citycinemaoman.netAl Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net

VOX Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.comStar Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

As the New Year begins, we look ahead to some of the big movie releases of 2016

cast and director (Paul Feig) should help allay any worries it could ruin the franchise. Melissa McCarthy of Spy and Bridesmaids fame, Kristen Wigg, Kate Dippold and Leslie Jones don the boilersuits to they take on ghosts invading Manhattan. Expect lots of laughs and green ectoplasm. Original cast members Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Sigourney Weaver will also appear in cameos.

*Also look out for: The fifth Bourne film (as yet unnamed) starring Matt Damon, X-Men: Apocalypse, Star Trek Beyond, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Jungle Book, The Divergent Series: Allegiant, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Kung Fu Panda 3 and The Angry Birds Movie.

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Plastic Fantastic

THIS WEEKJ A N U A R Y

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Visitors to Oman Plast in Muscat will find the latest technology and machinery for the production of plastics, rubber, packaging and petrochemicals. It is a platform on which experts from the industry can meet and exchange news on the latest developments and is taking place at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. For details, call 2478 8804, or email silverstaroman.com

Be mesmerised by some of India’s renowned melodies from the Raga tradition, performed by one of its greatest interpreters, Anoushka Shankar, daughter of celebrated sitar player Ravi Shankar. The curtain goes up at 7pm, and ticket prices start from RO5. For bookings, visit rohmuscat.org.om

Fancy a tour of the exquisite Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque with the friendly ladies from the Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO)? Here’s your chance, with the WGO kicking off the New Year with a fun visit to the Grand Mosque. The tour kicks off at 9am. For more information and to register your interest, go to womensguildoman.com

05 - 07JAN

IRANIAN DELIGHT

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Here’s a great opportunity for a spot of networking and buying some stunning Iranian products. The five-day Iranian Products Exhibition, which is being held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Muscat, aims to enhance trade between Oman and Iran. Products include Persian carpets, furniture and interior decoration. For details, call 2451 2100, or visit omanexhibitions.com

06 - 10JAN

WOMEN ON TOUR

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

Enjoy a free open-air event showcasing Oman’s diverse folkloric songs, music and dance at a festive evening for families. It’s happening from 7pm in the Maidan at the front of the Royal Opera House Muscat and you need to book. For details and booking, visit rohmuscat.org.om

05JanCelebrate Oman’s traditional music

MuscArt is holding another exciting workshop for children aged between 10 and 14 who are interested in learning how to create clay portraits. Evoke emotion through sculpted self-portraits in this three-day workshop. Students will explore how to build a hollow bust and sculpt their own image with clay. This class is all about function and technique, such as pinching to build a unique 3D form. Minimum class size is three and maximum is 10. Classes will be conducted in English on Wednesdays from 4pm to 6pm at the MuscArt gallery in Ghubra. Workshop fee is RO45 and the cost of materials is included. For more information, call 2449 3912 or visit muscart.net Po

tter A

bout

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14Sunday night witnessed a moment in history when the Orquesta

Buena Vista Social Club graced the stage of the Royal Opera House Muscat for a one-night-only, sell-out performance.

Several of the original members from the 1997 album and film of the same name flew to Muscat for the first – and maybe the last – time, together with a younger set of musicians, for their Adios tour.

The show opened with Havana’s young star pianist Rolando Luna playing a solo of Autumn Leaves, while a projection of the original pianist, Ibrahim Ferrer from 1997, now passed away, whet our appetites for those 1970 Havana classics.

The first half of the concert presented a multigenerational big-band sound of the less familiar and some fresh material, featuring stunning solos from trumpeter Luis Alemany, a laúd (Cuban lute) virtuoso by Barbarito Torres and veteran tres (a guitar-like instrument) player Papi Oviedo. Seminal musician Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabel, 82, now seated and frail, has been playing the trumpet in Havana’s music scene for over 50 years.

Although a youngster at 64 years of age, the proceedings were directed by talented trombonist and bandleader Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos – one of the original artists. If the first half was nostalgic, the second half was breathtaking, opening with a grand entrance of the incomparable diva herself, Omara Portuondo. She immediately stole the hearts of the audience with El Trombon Majadero, rendered in dim light seated beside the piano, and eerily complimented by Jesus Ramos’ sublime playing from a pool of light on the other side of the darkened stage. There are not many singers who get a standing ovation after their first song. Omara did. She immediately invited the audience to join her with the iconic Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps), a Buena Vista classic, while her moody rendering of Veinte Anos was moving and touching.

Encores completed the programme of well-loved songs from the album and here, Havana’s celebrated son singer Carlos Calunga came into his own, summoning the smoke-filled tavernas of yesteryear.

One detraction of an otherwise stellar performance was the accompanying projections of the now-deceased founder musicians, while the superb current band were playing. Audience members said if they watched the photo montage, they lost their concentration of the song. And I wondered whether the show was more of a tribute to an iconic band of the past rather than a wonderful celebration of Cuba’s living best. It would be a shame because the multi-layered richness of Hispanic music deserves to be listened to without any distractions.

For details of forthcoming performances at the Royal Opera House Muscat, visit rohmuscat.org.om

ORQUESTA BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB

Georgina Benison joins a full house to say farewell to some musical greats at the Royal Opera House Muscat

THE YEA

R AHEA

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Get ready for what promises to be quite a thrilling 12 months with the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet rolling into Rio and the election of one of most

powerful people in the world, as the US presidential race reaches a dramatic climax.

Closer to home, Oman will be facing a tough year as the effects of the devastating drop in oil prices – dipping below US$40 a barrel with no sign of a recovery for at least another year or so – begin to resonate around the country. It seems some sort of economic reform is inevitable to maintain the stability the Sultanate enjoys.

2016 is special because it’s a leap year, when another day is added to February, so get ready for February 29 (it’s a Monday this year) and a 366-day year. It only occurs every four years and, according to an age-old tradition, a leap day is when women can propose to their boyfriends, so single men could find themselves becoming fiancés within a few months!

Incidentally, 2016 has been designated as the “International Year of Pulses” by the United Nations. The aim is to promote pulses as the primary source of protein and other essential nutrients, but as the diet here in Oman and the Middle East region is rich in lentils, chickpeas and beans, we’re already flying the flag for pulses.

Let’s turn our attention to the major sporting events that will be gracing the world’s stage this year and they don’t get much bigger than the Olympic Games. It might not seem possible that four years has already elapsed since the London Olympic Games, but it has come round again. All the razzamatazz of the XXXI Olympiad will arrive in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the host city, from August 5 as the South American country steps into the global spotlight. Around 10,500 athletes from more

With an Olympics and US presidential election to come, 2016 already looks like it could be a vintage year. We take a look at what to look forward to in Oman and around the world

than 60 countries, including Oman, will compete over 17 days in 42 different sports in 306 medal events at 32 venues spread across four areas of the city.

These Olympics will also feature two new sporting additions – the inclusion of rugby, returning to the Games after 92 years, and golf, back after 112 years.

So far, Oman has qualified in the Men’s 100m event with Barakat al Harthi, an Omani sprinter who won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in 2010. With more Omani athletes still battling for places at the Olympics, including Fatma al Nabhani in tennis, we should see the national flag around Rio.

These Olympics could also the last time that Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt graces the track at the Games, although the Jamaican star is said to be reconsidering his plans to retire after the 2016 event.

September 7 will see the start of the Paralympic Games, the first time they are being held in South America.

Football fans are also in for a good summer, with Euro 2016 kicking off in France in June. The opening game, France vs Romania, on June 10 will be held at Stade De France, the national stadium where three suicide bombers tried to enter during the Paris attacks that rocked the city in November. The

Words: Kate Ginn

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first of three explosions occurred outside the stadium. Titleholder Spain will be hoping to retain the trophy,

but it faces stiff competition from hosts France, Italy and Germany, the current favourites. While Oman might not be competing, football fans and expats will be crowding around televisions to watch the tournament and the final on July 10.

Earlier in the year, cricket is in the limelight with the ICC World Twenty20 in India, where the

Oman national cricket team is scheduled to appear for the first time after a fairy tale rise saw them

qualify against all the odds with a five-wicket win over Namibia in July. It’s the first time that the Gulf minnows

(as they’ve been called) have reached a major international tournament, so make sure to support our boys as they look to create more upsets at the crease in March.

Oman will also be taking part in the Asian Beach Games in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in September after the Sultanate successfully hosted the 2010 Games in Muscat.

While it’s going to be a thrilling year for sport, we can expect similar drama in the political arena, with the United States heading to the polls to vote for their new leader as Barack Obama bows out after two terms in office. Emerging as the frontrunners in the race to the White House are Republican Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, who would become the first woman president if she wins. We’ll know who has their finger on the power button after November 8 as the 43rd President of the United States is revealed, although the new incumbent won’t be officially

sworn into office until January 20, 2017.Elsewhere and closer to home, December 31 has been

set as the deadline for the withdrawal of the last remaining American troops from Afghanistan after more than a decade of bloody combat. British troops left Helmand for the last time in October 2014.

Regionally, the conflict in Syria rages on and this year will once again see it the focus of renewed attempts to end the killing there and in another hotspot, Yemen. Prayers will also turn towards returning stability and peace across the Middle East after bloodshed in Egypt and Tunisia during 2015.

2016 will also see Oman turn inward. Top of the agenda will be maintaining our economy on an even keel and looking at ways to claw back some of the massive budget deficit, which in the first nine months of 2015 rose to RO2.93 billion, mainly due to plummeting oil prices.

Oman’s Government has indicated that the Sultanate’s oil production will drop slightly in 2016. And the Majlis Al Shura has already voted for major tax reforms, proposing a three per cent hike in corporate income tax and abolishing the tax-free ceiling of RO30,000. The move has to be approved by the State Council.

Speculation also continues that the Sultanate will cut its generous fuel subsidies, following the UAE’s move in 2015 and Saudi Arabia’s decision this week to hike fuel prices, despite assurances from Oman’s Minister for Financial Affairs in November that there were no such plans. Subsidies are estimated to have cost Oman RO900 million in 2015. GCC countries will also be discussing Value Added Tax (VAT) again in 2016. They have reportedly already agreed on key issues regarding the implementation of VAT in the region, but any such move would take years to introduce.

On a lighter note, Oman will be celebrating its 46th National Day and the end of 2016 could finally see the long-awaited opening of the new Muscat International Airport after several delays.

We’ve got this and so much more to come during what should be a memorable 12 months as we welcome in 2016.

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2016 K

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eyond Jan

Jan 14 Start of Muscat Festival (runs until Feb 13)

March 3 Start of cricket T20 World Cup in India (ends April 3)

Feb Feb 29 Leap day

Mar

May

Jun

Mar

March 14 Launch of ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter on a mission to Mars, a joint operation by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos (the Russian Federal Space Agency)

May 9 A full transit of Mercury will occur when the planet will go between the sun and Earth. Mercury will appear as a black dot moving across the face of the sun

June 10 Start of Euro 2016 football championships in France

Jul

Aug

JulJuly 4 NASA’s Juno spacecraft is expected to arrive at Jupiter

Ju ly 23 Renaissance Day in Oman

Aug 5-21 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sept 7-18 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilSept 24

Start of Asian Beach Games in Nha Trang, Vietnam

Sep

Nov

Nov

Sep Nov 1 Sierra Nevada Corporation plans to launch Dream Chaser, a privately built space shuttle, capable of carrying up to seven passengers, on an unmanned debut mission

Nov 8 Presidential election in the United States

Nov

Dec

Dec 31 Deadline for withdrawal of all American troops from Afghanistan

Nov 18 Oman’s 46th National Day

It’s that time of year again for making

promises and setting goals for the next 12

months. Here, Team Y share their resolutions

for 2016

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Felicity Glover – Managing Editor

Kate Ginn – Deputy Editor

I’m one of those people who don’t like making New Year resolutions. They usually fall by the wayside and then make you feel like you’ve failed – and that’s something we can all do without considering our daily pressures and responsibilities. But I do hope for the same thing every year – love, peace and happiness for all. And after the tragic global events of the past year, this is even more poignant and important for 2016. Happy New Year to all!

It’s true that the past year has been a very steep learning curve for me, so 2016 is going to be all about change. I’ve got a lot of work to do personally to get back to where I’d like to be, but things are already in motion and I’m very hopeful that the “old me” will be back this time next year. I’ve also learned that it’s that real friends – the ones who are there for you, through good and bad – who really deserve to be in your life and I’ll be trying to be a better friend to them in the coming months.My bank manager will also thank me for being more frugal and less impulsive when it comes to spending. I’ll be keeping

a firmer grip on my finances and thinking twice before buying anything. No more reckless blowouts! A healthy mind needs a healthy body, so I want to get my poor offering into some sort of shape by exercising, starting with walking on the beach opposite

my flat. I also want some adventures this year, have fun and laugh more. Here’s to a great 2016!

Matthew Herbst – Art Director

New years resolutions. Say what? Clearly hit and miss for me. This past year I achieved one, just one. I made the effort to get hold of my long-lost family in Africa and the ball kept rolling to see as many as I could. This year, to add to my family

resolutions, I wish for a longer and healthy life for my grannie in the Cape and to see my brother after six years of not seeing him at all as we both work on opposite sides of the world. If I can achieve a few more resolutions, it would be to be healthier and happy. Then there is travel – I love travel and that also makes me happy (so I could kill two birds with one stone with resolutions). Lastly, investment is a major goal that I am aiming to achieve, which could be the start of those “roots” I yearn for so much. That shouldn’t be too difficult, I think.

Matt Blackwell – Sub Editor

I think it’s fair to say that I failed at last year’s resolution in spectacular fashion. With this in mind, I’ve decided to stick to several achievable short-term goals this year as opposed to one overarching, ethereal aim. I’m finding that I’ve let a few good habits slip recently, instead falling back into the comforting arms of convenience and ease and I want to rectify

this. I don’t know whether it was a moment of inspiration or madness, but I signed up to compete in a Spartan Sprint race in Dubai at the end of February 2016, which means I’m going to have to go searching for those fitness levels that

I seem to have so carelessly misplaced. When I’m not slogging it out in the gym and providing I survive the 15-object sprint over 5km, I plan to pick up the guitar I was given three years ago and finally finish my tuition. I’m forever singing

and would love to have the ability to back up my slightly questionable vocals with a musical accompaniment.Apart from that, I’d like to cross a couple of countries off my bucket list and see a bit more of the world.

Deeba Hasan – Reporter

Iam glad that I was able to stick to a couple of resolutions of mine from last year: I went to the gym and, although it was only for a few days, it helped me to understand the importance of staying fit. I also cooked a bit, but I want to do these activities more often and also find some more time for myself to unwind. Besides these, I want to focus on improving my writing style, find more personalities for my Coffee with Deeba interviews and try filming short videos. I still want to travel to Turkey and

Australia, so hopefully I can do that this year.

Shaquel al Balsuhi – Photographer

In 2016, the first thing I will do is get married because that’s happening on the first day of the year. Besides that, I also want to improve my fitness level as I was able to achieve only part of what I had aimed for in the past year. In terms of work, I want to improve my photography skills and try out some new techniques, and discover some more hidden jewels in my country for our Destination pages. I also want to travel, but I’m not sure about the destination yet.

D E C 3 1 - 0 6 / I S S U E 4 0 10 24

My first year at Y Magazine has been a rollercoaster ride of emotion, hard work, blood, sweat and tears.

It feels like it was yesterday that I arrived at the office in a suit for my interview and here I am, 12 months later, looking back over a

year’s worth of pictures.People who flick through the magazine may think, “Oh, that’s a nice picture”,

but there is so much more that goes into crafting each shot. From composition to lighting, there are myriad of factors that make a high-quality image fit for publication in Y.

Leaving the comfort of the city once a week to complete my Destination assignments has opened my eyes to the beauty of my country and my favourite image of the year was taken recently at Sifah beach (above).

I love everything about it. To me it encapsulates Oman in a single shot. You have nature in the star-strewn sky and a large, low-hanging moon, you have our tradition in the fishing boat to the left and you have the bond between friends and family in the campsite gathering.

Every picture I take has a story behind it, from a thirsty climb up a mountain in Sur in the height of summer to capture a bird’s-eye shot of an old dhow leading a small wooden fishing boat like a caring parent, to recreating a childhood game in a shower of sparks.

Here, I share my favourite images from my first year with Y with you, our readers. I’m proud of each and every one and I hope you like them, too.

Y photographer Shaquel al Balushi looks back over the year through the lens of his camera

2015in focus

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In the final part of our series, we meet a member of the State

Council and a software engineerInterviews: Deeba Hasan

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Marwa al Habsi, Software Engineer and techie Although Marwa al Habsi is only 25, she has come a long way in the IT world. Her love of technology started at school, where she designed an educational e-book and received several awards for a range of activities she had taken part in. Marwa credits encouragement from school and home, as well as her own interest in technology, that helped her to immerse herself in the sector, leading to her studying software engineering at the Higher College of Technology. “My family has played a big role in what I am today and what I will be in the future,” she says. “The biggest influence has come from them. They always encouraged me to push my limits and reach my full potential and also pursue my dreams.”

Marwa was chosen to represent Oman at Microsoft’s Imagine Cup in St Petersberg, Russia, which is the world’s premier student technology competition. Although her team didn’t win, they brought back some great memories and experiences.

“We were not among the final prizewinners and received a very positive feedback from the judges. Moreover, we also had the opportunity to interact with different technology experts from all around the globe as well as removing the misconception that they had about Arab women,” she says.

She also won a coveted six-month internship with Microsoft Egypt through the Information Technology Authority.

More recently, Marwa and her friend Asya al Jabri opened the Omani chapter of ArabWIC (Arab Women in Computing), which brings together Arab women who are into technology and IT.

“I am an ambassador of ArabWIC and [working] towards strengthening the role of women in computing-related fields and inspiring them to utilise their skills and knowledge to the fullest.”

Although she has made huge strides in the world of technology, she says there is still a lot more to achieve and stay updated with, something she is looking forward to. “We are a generation wherein changes are happening too fast for anyone to fully grasp. Today, we need self-sufficient, self-accepting, self-honest, self-driven and innovative women to take Oman to heights that the world would envy.”

Marwa and her team at ArabWIC – Asya and Safa al Mukhaini – were last year awarded the Al Mar’a Excellence Award for Technology after they created the Windows app, Read X. “This award is definitely a motivation for women to strive for excellence in their professional fields and it has definitely encouraged me to go forward and focus on my work.”

Marwa and Asya were also the first Omani women to attend the Grace Hopper Conference, the world’s largest gathering for women in technology, where they got to hear from women speakers who were leaders in technology. “We flew all the way from Oman to the States to attend the conference back in October 2013 under the theme of ‘Think Big Drive Forward’.”

While women make up 49 per cent of the total population in Oman, Marwa says females have always outnumbered men in college graduation rates, yet still make up only a quarter of the tech industry workforce. “Studies show that women are more vulnerable to unemployment than men as they face harder choices between professional success and personal fulfillment.”

Marwa’s goal is to help women pursue their dreams and never give up and with ArabWIC, she is trying to create a tech atmosphere for females in Oman. “Women inspire women and I hope to expand our community at ArabWIC and create an exciting and collaborative environment for young women to flourish; a place where students and professionals meet, exchange knowledge and experiences, inspire each other, utilise their skills, pursue their passions and get innovative.”

WOMENAT THE TOP

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And her message for young Omani females? “Never give up, look out for opportunities and pursue your dreams. The choices that you make today will determine the outcomes of your tomorrows.”

Naashiah al Kharusi, Member of the State Council, former chairperson of the Omani Women’s Association, first Omani female telecom engineer and entrepreneur

Naashiah al Kharusi is an inspiration, not just for Omani women, but for women the world over. She is the first female telecom engineer in Oman, a Member of the State Council and a former chairperson of the Omani Women’s Association.

After graduating with a degree in electrical engineering with a specialisation in telecom from a prominent university in Egypt in 1972, she came back to Oman and started working for the Government. “I worked as an engineer; I was involved in the establishment of the first infrastructure for national telecom in the country.”

She was the first female engineer in Oman in a sector that was very new to the world at the time. She later pursued her Masters in telecommunications systems engineering from the UK.

In 2002, Naashiah was asked to establish the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), where she worked for nine years before retiring as Commissioner in 2011. She was also on the board of Omantel for 26 years, from 1976 to 2002.

Although she was the only telecom engineer at the TRA in the beginning, she says it was never difficult and she overcame many challenges with ease. “I received very good support from the Government [as] they were in need of telecom engineers then and when I was appointed, I was the only telecom engineer there, so I started everything from scratch. It was only later that other Omani engineers returned from abroad and joined.”

From 2012 to 2014, Naashiah was the chairperson of the Omani Women’s Association, a position she enjoyed but could not continue because of her numerous commitments at the State Council, where she has been a member since 2011. “I didn’t nominate myself in the next term as I was really busy and committed with a lot of work in the State Council.”

Despite her various responsibilities, Naashiah takes pride in identifying herself as a telecom engineer and regulator. “As a regulator, I entered into a lot of legal things and I was also a

member of executive committee of restructuring of the sector. I started to work in the restructuring of the sector from 1996 until setting up the regulator in 2002. I was involved in all areas of telecom, not only on the technical side but costing side, policy and dynamics.”

Although she proved to be a successful engineer, none of Naashiah’s children have followed in her footsteps.

Having been surrounded by men throughout her career, Naashiah wanted to connect more with women and took her love of sewing to a whole new level and started a fashion business, which has been running since 1981. “It was something I was interested in and something which was doing very well, but I made a choice of shrinking it down because I wanted to spend more time with my children,” she says.

It’s not been a bed of roses for Naashiah, especially when she had young children to care for. She also believes that it is very important to have good support when you are busy with work. “I had some support with my first child. I used to leave him at my mother’s place and bring him back on weekends, but the place was close to my home and so I could see him every day. However, when he started going to school, he was with me at home. Besides, the father would also support sometimes.”

When Naashiah went to the UK for her Masters degree, from 1997 to 1998, she took her 10-month-old daughter and a housemaid with her. “My maid came with me to England to take care of my daughter. I would go to the university, study and come back home to be with my daughter.”

Currently, she plays an important role in State Council, where she is responsible for reviewing the work of committees. “I was in the committees earlier and being in the committee requires you to work with the community. I used to be part of the legal, social and economic committees. However, now my work is mostly revolved around reviews and suggestions, but making suggestions means I need to study and research a lot around the subject.”

Naashiah believes in working hard and credits her success to this mantra. She also believes that support is essential and she likes taking care and appreciating people who support

her. Naashiah says there is no difference

between men and women today, but adds that there is a lot of competition. “I would advise females to not wait for support, but initiate things by themselves.”

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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

HEAT FACTORSpicy foods are set to be one of the hottest food trends in 2016, such

as sambal, a traditional Asian delicacy made

with chilli peppers and shrimp paste.

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Food trends come and go and the start of another year means the latest fads hailed as the culinary “must eat” in the coming months are revealed.

Whether hot and spicy or super greens, it’s going to be a bumper season in the larder and your palate can expect to sample some new – and old – delights offered on a plate.

Some of the food stars to look out for are detailed below, although this by far from being a definite list:

VegetablesIt looks like humble vegetables, often just the sideshow

of a meal, could be taking centre stage in 2016. Even self-confessed meat lovers could be swapping their fillets for cauliflower steaks, say those in the know. We could also see standalone vegetarian dishes being served up with tags such as “burnt” or “charred”, according to website purewow.com.

ChickenPoultry could be 2016’s meat of the moment. If you like

your chicken, particularly fried, you’ll be happy to see the bird getting some recognition during the year. Places like Shake Shack – which will open in City Centre Muscat in 2016 – have a new chicken sandwich on the menu.

SpicesSome like it hot and it’s set to heat up in the kitchen

in 2016 with new spices coming to the fore. Omani and Middle Eastern cuisine already sees its far share of sassy seasonings – such as turmeric and black peppercorns – but cooks will be experimenting with new condiments and spices in the coming year. We’re talking Indian ghost pepper (the Bhut Jolokia and the hottest chilli, so you’ll need a strong constitution to stomach this) and Southeast Asian sambal (made with chilli peppers and shrimp paste).

SeaweedTouted as the new superfood on the block, seaweed is

packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, containing high amounts of fibre and a complete protein. It’s also a great source of a nutrient missing in many foods - iodine. The Japanese have known the secret of seaweed for centuries – they eat as much as 4kg of the plant per person per year – and now the rest of us can discover what the fuss is all about. You may already like your seaweed with sushi but be adventurous, try seaweed salad or seaweed soup.

African FlavoursAfrica is going to be big on the menu this year. Inspiration

from the continent, with flavours and textures, is on the rise with 20 per cent of chefs naming flavours from different parts of Africa as a hot trend for 2016, according to the National Restaurant Association. In demand will be spices such as harissa (already big in Oman), dukkah, ras el hanout and tsire, as seasonings for fish, beef, chicken, goat and lamb, couscous, flatbreads and vegetables.

A New Year means some new foods coming into vogue. Here, we look at what could be coming to a supermarket or restaurant near you in 2016

HOT STUFF

Warm spiced cauliflower and chickpea salad with pomegranate seeds

Harissa, a fiery North African paste that is orangey-red in colour, is a mixture of pepper, dried red chillies, garlic, ground cumin and coriander, tomato puree, salt and olive oil, and can be used as a condiment or as an ingredient. Try this:

Ingredients:§ 3 tbsp regular olive oil§ ½ tsp ground cinnamon§ 2 tsp cumin seeds§ 1 small head cauliflower, trimmed and divided into small florets§ 250g home-cooked chickpeas (drained weight) or a 400g tin chickpeas§ 1–2 tbsp harissa, to taste § 4 small ripe vine tomatoes (approximately 150g), quartered§ 1 tsp sea salt flakes, or to taste§ 3–4 tbsp pomegranate seeds§ Large bunch (approximately 100g) flatleaf parsley Method:§ Preheat the oven to 220ºC/200ºC Fan/Gas 7. § Pour the oil into a large bowl, add the cinnamon and cumin seeds, and stir. Tip in the cauliflower and toss to coat. Pour into a small oven tray and place in the oven for 15 minutes. Don’t wash out the bowl you’ve been using.§ Add the chickpeas to the bowl and add the harissa, tasting it first to see if you want to use one or two tablespoons of the paste. Toss to coat. Add the tomatoes to the bowl and stir to mix. § Remove the cauliflower and quickly tip the chickpeas and tomatoes over the cauliflower. Toss to combine and return to the oven for 15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender.§ Remove from the oven and sprinkle the salt over the vegetables, add half of the pomegranate seeds and toss to combine. § Divide between two bowls. Divide the parsley leaves – without chopping them – between the two bowls and toss to mix. Scatter with the remaining pomegranate seeds and serve.

Source: bbc.co.uk/food/receipes

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It had all started so well. With my dad in town visiting Oman for the first time, I had suggested we try out a restaurant recently opened in one of Muscat’s newest malls.

I had waited a long time to sample the food at Romano’s Macaroni Grill, having gone there for a Taste Test in September only to find that it wasn’t yet open, so I was really looking forward to finally getting my feet under the table.

Romano’s is on the ground floor in Oman Avenues Mall, open to the shopping area, so you have a ringside seat for a spot of people watching if that’s something you like to do (which I most certainly do!) to feel part of the action.

This time, however, it was not such a good idea. A children’s activity – Snakes and Ladders – was being held in the space near the escalators in front of us. The intermittent throbbing dance music was so loud that my dad and I could hardly hear the waiter, let alone have a conversation. Not a good place to hold a very noisy event, mall management!

Still, we did receive a very nice welcome from Romano’s, which is brightly decorated in yellow with red booths, and were shown to our chosen table, as the restaurant was still relatively quiet.

Our waiter, Musa, wrote his name upside down on the tablecloth in crayon, which was fun and very impressive. The menu had an excellent mix of food, from pastas to chicken to fish, and you can also create your own pasta to suit your taste, choosing the type of pasta, sauce and toppings, with a salad on the side. It’s a nice idea, giving an interactive customer experience.

For starters, the tapas caught my eye, offering two for RO4.90. While my dad pottered off in search of the restrooms, I picked the mac & cheese bites and goat cheese peppadew peppers, with a fresh raspberry lemonade and thyme rossini (thyme and strawberry) for drinks. Musa returned to say the mac & cheese was not available (disappointing!), so we swapped for pesto shrimp and avocado crostini (on Musa’s recommendation). Both were excellent,

the saltiness of the goat’s cheese offset by the sweetness of the South African peppers, while there was a nice crunch as to the crostini, with the flavours of the shrimp and avocado bouncing off the tongue. It was a good start, although I wasn’t so keen on the main course being delivered while we were still tucking into the tapas, a peculiarity adopted by lots of restaurants in Muscat, which doesn’t sit well with me (I like a bit of space between courses).

Anyway, we were both hungry so tucked into the main event with gusto. My papa went for penne rustica, from the featured board on the wall, a gorgeous creamy sauce with roasted chicken, veal pancetta, chunky shrimp and

Parmesan, which was delicious. Plate cleared, thank you! My mom’s ricotta meatballs & spaghetti with beef and veal and crushed red chilli was equally tasty, the pasta perfectly cooked and the succulent meatballs jostling for my attention. Another cleared plate.

We were so happy with the food that we had almost (but not quite) forgotten the booming music. No one mentioned dessert and we had to ask Musa for the separate menus. Perhaps we should have taken this as an omen, a warning of what was to come, but we both have sweet tooths and ploughed ahead. From the small dolce, or sweet, selection, we ordered the tiramisu (Ginn Senior) and warm berry torta for Junior (me). I had wavered over the New York-style cheesecake, which, in hindsight, might have been the better option.

The tiramisu took ages to come and when it did, Musa was clearly a little uncomfortable, saying it might “still be a bit cold”. Hmm. It was actually frozen solid in the middle, threatening to break the spoon. It’s a shame because my dad said the outside, which had been defrosted properly, tasted great. Mine was not much better. The menu said it was zabaglione (a light Italian dessert made by whisking egg yolks) with pistachios and raspberry sauce. What I actually got was a cold stodgy cake with a dollop of ice cream on top and cold raspberry sauce. I sent both back.

The manager arrived and apologised profusely. He explained that my torta had actually been changed, but the menu hadn’t been updated. In that case, the waiter should have informed us when I ordered, although he didn’t seem to be in the know about the change either. Poor Musa; he had been very sweet and attentive.

Both desserts were deducted from the bill. We left with full stomachs, a headache from the throbbing music and a feeling of disappointment. My advice? Go, but give dessert a miss.

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

LUKEWARM ITALIAN

Info BoxROMANO’S

MACARONI GRILL Oman Avenues Mall, Muscat

Tel: 2200 5650/2200 5651Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs

11am-11pm, Fri 1pm-1am, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm

Dinner and drinks for two: RO27.57Verdict :

7 / 10 Service 6 / 10 Food

6 / 10 AmbienceTop starters and mains

but forget dessertY Magazine reviews anonymously

and pays for its mealsA NEW MALL EATERIE OFFERS EXCELLENT FOOD, BUT IS LET DOWN BY DODGY DESSERTS, FINDS KATE GINN

CASUAL

DINING

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Get The Look

HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

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WINTER BLUESBlue may have been earmarked

as one of the hottest colours for summer 2016, but thanks

to Oman’s fabulous weather at this time of the year, we can be way ahead of the trend. From

classic navy to lighter tones like aquamarine, blue comes in many

different shades and pairs perfectly with a range of colours, like this

blue floral number from Betty Barclay.

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Get The Look

From the high end to the high street,

Felicity Glover helps you to get the look

1. There’s a lot of different shades in the blue family, so find what works best for your skin tone, such as a cooler aquamarine or a warmer baby blue. 2. Navy would have to be the most classic hue on this colour wheel. Break it up with white to avoid wearing one block of colour. 3. Try pairing unexpected colours with blue, including dove grey, pink and silver. HOW TO WEAR BLUE

The pleats in this navy and white midi

dress by Dorothy Perkins have

created a classic striped look, something that never goes out of

style. From RO25.7

A fun take on the tie-dyed look, this Giles/EDITION sundress from Debenhams looks like the sky on a summer’s day. From RO42.85

A versatile addition to any outfit, this blue skinny belt from M&S can be worn with dresses, trousers and jeans. From RO4.5

These chic strappy slider sandals in navy by Dune can be dressed up or down thanks to the embellished heels. From RO33.7

This blue buckle tote from BHS is not only on trend, but also a practical accessory for busy women on the run. From RO12.5

This dark blue H&M long-sleeved dress in soft jersey is perfect for the cooler months in Oman. From RO8.2

An over-indulgent festive season can take its toll on bodies in more ways than one. SensAsia Urban Spa has been boosting, smoothing and sculpting skin for 11 years, and the UAE’s largest independent spa chain’s expert team has put together a go-to list of treatments and products to start 2016 on a beauty high.

1. SHRINK TO FIT AND GET WAISTED BY MAMA MIO AT SENSASIA Lauded by celebrity mums including Stella McCartney, Rachel Weisz and Milla Jovovich – and equally non- mums like Kirsten Dunst and Khloé Kardashian – Mama Mio is an organic, London-born beauty brand with the motto “fit skin for life”, and part of the SensAsia Urban Spa SensConscious menu.Shrink To Fit and Get Waisted treatments target and visibly tighten the common problems of saddlebags, dimpling and love handles on the stomach, hips, thighs and bottom. Highly effective deep tissue and lymphatic massage is combined with exfoliation and Mio products containing powerful actives to increase energy, stimulate circulation, smooth, firm and re-elasticise “spongy” and “lumpy” skin.SensAsia has also created a Mio Home Kit including Neck Firming Cream, Gorgeous Glow Facial Wash, Lucky Legs Cooling Leg Gel and The Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Butter.

2. DR DENNIS GROSS SUPER BOOSTER New York dermatologist to the stars including Olivia Palermo, Dr Dennis Gross is renowned for his result-orientated treatments and products – which is exactly what’s needed to start the new year!The Super Booster facial, a concentrated dose of active ingredients in one treatment, including AHAs, potent antioxidants and soothing botanicals. It gently helps to treat enlarged pores and blackheads, calms redness and reduces breakouts,

pigmentation and acne scarring – for an instantly firming, brightening and anti-ageing effect. * Dr Dennis Gross Super Booster facial – 60 minutes – Dh590 (RO61)

3. ELEMIS WHITE BRIGHTENING FACIAL AT SENSASIA The latest range to launch at SensAsia from its life-long partner Elemis, the White Brightening facial and complete skincare system visibly illuminates and naturally evens the complexion, reduces age spots and discolouration, leaving it translucently clear. Using precise, feather-light movements, SensAsia therapists delicately layer brightening actives onto the skin, which reignite the washed-out melanin and visible dullness that is so common in winter. *Elemis White Brightening Facial – 60 minutes – Dh675 (RO70)

4. EVE LOM CLEANSER – AVAILABLE TO BUY AT SENSASIA The Eve Lom Cleanser was described by Vogue as “probably the best cleanser in the world” and counts Madonna and Kate Hudson among its long list of celebrity fans. With its signature blend of four aromatic plant oils, specially woven 100 percent cotton muslin cloth and quick routine, the result is incredibly glowing, radiant skin with a smoother, more refined texture. Deep cleansing without drying or stripping the skin, it removes all traces of make-up and offers instant results. Unsurprisingly, this global wonder product remains a SensAsia Urban Spa best-seller, year after year. *Eve Lom Cleanser – 50ml at Dh297 (RO31); 100ml at Dh423 (RO44); 200ml at Dh671 (RO70)

For more information, online bookings and purchases, location and contact details for each SensAsia Urban Spa and a full treatment menu, visit www.sensasiaspas.com

D E C 3 1 - J A N 0 6 / I S S U E 4 0 10 3 4

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

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

If you’ve had a bit too much seasonal fun, give your body a much-needed boost

PARTYAFTER

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

D E C 3 1 - J A N 0 6 / I S S U E 4 0 1 0 3 5

A fresh beginning with a New Year is the perfect time for a health assessment to ensure you are ready to make the most of the 12 months ahead. Even if you’re feeling great, it’s a smart practice to take time to identify potential problems before they become more serious health concerns.

Early detection of ailments, such as cardiovascular disease, can significantly impact an individual’s ability to cope with the disease, allowing you to make adjustments such as changes in diet and lifestyle, or when necessary, drug therapies and other medical treatments. Delaying detection of this serious disease until its more advanced stages can have dire consequences.

With these three steps, you can get a better picture of your cardiovascular health and identify silent, hidden risk factors (like plaque in your arteries) that you may not even know are there.

① Get your blood pressure checked. Blood pressure measures how much force a person’s blood is putting on the artery walls as the heart pumps. High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when your heart has to work extra hard to pump blood throughout the body. High

blood pressure often happens when arteries lose their elasticity through hardening caused by cholesterol, plaque or scarring. Many people do not experience symptoms of high blood pressure, so it’s important to have your blood pressure checked periodically. Screening for high blood pressure involves placing a pressure cuff around your upper arm to monitor both diastolic (when the heart rests between beats) and systolic blood pressure (when the heart is beating). A normal systolic reading is between 90 and 119, and a normal diastolic reading is 60-79.

② Get your cholesterol checked. A simple finger-stick screening measures total cholesterol as well as three different kinds of lipids in your blood (HDL, LDL and triglycerides), which are important in determining your heart health. Low-

density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as the “bad” cholesterol and can build up in the walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Along with other substances, it can form plaque – a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as "good” cholesterol because it carries LDL away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. A high HDL level helps prevent heart disease, while a low HDL level increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Triglycerides are the most common type of fat. Like cholesterol, they circulate in blood but are stored in the body for extra energy. A high triglyceride level combined with a low HDL or high LDL can speed up the process of plaque formation in the arteries.

③ Learn about other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Many people in the early stages of cardiovascular disease are asymptomatic, meaning they have no symptoms to indicate their health is at risk. Some common risk factors include age (55 and older), family history, tobacco use and high blood pressure. Other factors, such as high cholesterol, aren’t as easily observed. Preventive health screenings, such as those provided by companies like Life Line Screening, can give you a fuller picture of how risk factors may be stacking up. The screenings are designed by doctors and administered by trained professionals to help detect hidden health issues. Within a couple of weeks, you can receive easy-to-understand test results to share with your doctor so you can work together to prevent serious problems before they start.For more information, visit lifelinescreening.com.

* Family Features

Kick off a year of good health with three easy steps

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

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Center• McDonald’s• Shell Petrol Station• VLCC WellnessSawadi• Al Sawadi Beach

ResortSeeb• Golden Tulip Hotel• McDonald’sShatti Al Qurum• Bareeq Al Shatti

Complex• Caribou Coffee• D’Arcy’s Kitchen• German Eye

Centre• The Indus

Restaurant• InterContinental

Hotel Muscat• Jawharat Al Shatti

Complex• Kaya Skin Clinic• Muscat Eye Laser

Center• Oasis By The Sea• Second Cup • Starbucks• VLCC WellnessSifah• Sifawy Boutique

HotelSQU• Diplomatic Club• College of

Economics and

Political Science• Students Banking

Area• Reception/

CanteenWadi Kabir• Al Maya

Hypermarket• LuLu Hypermarket• Muscat Pharmacy • National

Hospitality Institute

• Pizza Hut • Shell Petrol StationWattayah• Ahli Bank• Best cars• BLS International

Services• Chevorlet/GM

showroom• Ford Showroom• Hatat House• Honda Showroom • Hyundai

showroom• Kia Showroom • Lexus Showroom• National Travel &

Tourism • Passage To India

Restaurant• Shell Petrol Station• Subaru showroom• Suzuki Showroom• Toyota ShowroomThe Wave• Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee• Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co.• The Wave Head

Office

Other RegionsBarka• Al Nahda Spa and

Resort• LuLu HypermarketNizwa• University of

NizwaSohar• Centrepoint

(Splash)• Crowne Plaza• National Gift

Markets• Ooredoo• Pizza Hut• Safeer Mall• Sohar Beach Hotel• Sohar Port and

Freezone• Sohar University

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

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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 FEVER PITCH

A casual football league has taken hold in Muscat,

giving busy players a chance to stay fit without the demands of joining a

formal club.

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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

AL HAJARAN OLD FALAJ SYSTEM RUNS THROUGH THE

HEART OF A SMALL VILLAGE AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAINS, FINDS SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI

Destination

As I was lining up a photograph, my focus was solely on the image that I was about to take, so I was taken by surprise when I heard a voice shouting out to me. Looking up, I saw an elderly lady dressed in vivid blue with a headscarf in the

distance. Her native tongue was a thick Arabic language and one that I didn’t fully understand, being very different from the Muscat dialect that I’m used to. I was worried that she was shouting at me to stop taking photographs but my friend, who understood her words, said she was simply wishing me good day and asking how I was.

Our journey had only taken us 45 minutes from Amerat, where I live, but this felt like another world, a different Oman and one very rich in traditions, where the past lives on.

Al Hajar, a small village, skirts the edge of the mountains. It must have been here for centuries as I found some ruins (probably houses) up on the hillside, crumbling away into the earth from where they once came from. Running through the heart of the place is a falaj, a source of water and life for the inhabitants here.

I shot some images of the falaj, which looks as though it’s been slightly modified and updated since it was first built. At one point, I found some carpets spread out in perfect symmetry on the road by the side of the falaj. I wasn’t sure if these had been left out to dry after being washed in the cool waters or whether they were placed there for people to chill out in the early evening as the sun slipped behind the mountains. Whatever the reason, I liked the contrast of the fabric and water.

I also managed to shoot a nice image of the falaj with the little village mosque in the background, standing out against the bright blue of the sky. But I wanted more, so decided to get creative.

Squatting over the falaj, similar to moves that I use to exercise at the gym, I managed to hold the camera low down, just above the running water, to take some photographs. The result is to make the falaj look like it’s a huge wadi and its stone walls to become towering sides

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of a cliff. I was really pleased with the shot and its clever manipulation of perspective.

While doing this, I noticed that a seat of sorts had been fashioned into the side of the falaj, allowing someone to sit

with their feet dangling into the cooling water. I imagine that it must be particularly refreshing in the hot

summer months. Further along, there were also some pipes with running water

from the falaj, providing a great place for an outdoor shower or washing clothes (perhaps those carpets that I had seen earlier).

A local man we encountered wandering around the village told us that the source of the water was an underground spring, which had long been covered up by earth. Harnessing this water keeps the village and its inhabitants alive, feeds the crops and the animals.

I was also attracted to the small mosque that stood proudly in the village, with its golden dome and single minaret, from where the call to prayer booms across the rooftops. The mosque was made of different stone to the older houses, a darker brown, although it wasn’t like the brooding hue of the omnipresent rocky outcrops of the mountains that stand guard over the village like guardians.

As it was early morning the day before the Prophet’s Birthday when we visited, there wasn’t much sign of life in Al Hajar when we were there, although the people we did happen to come across were very friendly.

Funnily enough, I realised that I had been to the village before, a long time ago when I was a little boy but I couldn’t remember any of the features, only a sense that I had trod these streets before.

My visit back has piqued my interest and I’ll certainly return again, at different times of the day and seasons, to see what more Al Hajar has to offer.

HOW TO GET THERETake Route 17 from Muscat and continue on for around 45 minutes. The village is signposted.

GPS location of Al Hajar: N23º39’51.68” E58º51’71.75”TR

AVEL

GUI

DE

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

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There’s a football revolution of sorts taking Muscat by storm and Y’s photographer Shaquel al Balushi heads out at night to discover what it’s all about

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Get involvedBecause night football is so casual, all you have to do is organise a team of six players, find another team to chal-lenge and then book the pitch on your chosen day and time. You will find the mini pitches dotted all around the capital. Failing that, you can always-head down to one of them and see if any of the teams need a last-minute substitute.

Have you noticed the proliferation of mini football pitches being built around the capital? They are not hard to

spot, especially at night, when the lights are blazing and the shimmering bright green of the artificial grass takes centre stage. They are popping up everywhere, from Seeb to Amerat, and thousands of footballers of all ages and abilities are heading out after Isha prayers to join in casual six-a-side matches.

It’s an informal arrangement, where one team challenges another and they book a pitch for an hour – 25 minutes for each half and a 10-minute break in between – for as little as RO12. With two teams and six players on each side, that’s just RO1 each for an hour of playing their favourite sport.

I headed down to Amerat recently to catch all the action of a night of football and I have to say it was great. The atmosphere was fun, the games were fast and furious – just like a six-a-side match should be – and the players were very friendly.

I wanted to get some good action shots and my favourite is one of a goalkeeper, who is wearing gloves, kicking the ball out of the goal area.

Known locally as “tartan”, there’s no referee, so the players themselves ensure that everybody sticks to the rules. But the idea behind it all is that it’s a friendly, albeit, competitive game.

Some of the players told me it was for people who love the game, but don’t have the time to join an organised league that would also involve training and commitment. Many of the guys who were playing often work long hours and have families, so this was the best way for them to still play the beautiful game.

It’s a fun way to stay fit and as it all happens in the evening, many also play in the summer, making it a year-round sport.

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NATIONAL PRIDEBotswana is blessed

with some of the most spectacular wildlife in the world, while there are many things for

the intrepid traveller to do and see.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

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P O S T C A R D S F R O M

THE HOT DESTINATIONS

FOR 2016Y recommends

A N e w Y e a r m e a n s 1 2 m o r e m o n t h s o f e x p l o r i n g t h e g l o b e , f i n d i n g n e w p l a c e s a n d d i s c o v e r i n g d i ff e r e n t c u l t u r e s .

W i t h a l i tt l e h e l p f r o m L o n e l y P l a n e t , t h e l a r g e s t t r a v e l g u i d e p u b l i s h e r i n t h e w o r l d , Y l o o k s a t t h e m u s t - s e e d e s t i n a t i o n s o f 2 0 1 6 a s w e t r a w l t h e b e s t c o u n t r i e s , c i t i e s a n d r e g i o n s t o v i s i t . M a k e s u r e s o m e o f t h e s e a r e o n y o u r t r a v e l i t i n e r a r y t h i s y e a r a s t h e y t a k e a w e l l - d e s e r v e d t u r n i n t h e l i m e l i g h t .

MOUNT FUJI REFLECTED IN LAKE YAMANAKA AT DAWN

FIN DOME IN THE SIERRA

NEVADA MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA

BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF 70 ISLANDS IN PALAU FROM ABOVE

D 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

BOTSWANA Once one of Africa’s most impoverished countries, Botswana has turned its fortunes around to become of the continent’s most stable, thriving societies with a wealth of things for travellers to see and do. Blessed with some of the best wildlife spectacles on earth, Botswana is one of the great safari destinations in Africa. There are luxury safari camps, hippos, lions, leopards and rhinos. Already in the spotlight thanks to The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency book series by Alexander McCall Smith, we expect it to be even more on the radar this year. As Botswana celebrates its 50th year of independence in 2016, it will be an extra special time to pay a visit.

JAPAN If you’re in search of an otherworldly experience, then Japan is for you. Nowhere else on Earth exemplifies the modern yet ancient blend than the Land of the Rising Sun. With the capital Tokyo successfully bidding to host the Olympics in 2020, interest in the country is hotting up. Tokyo, with its futuristic skyline of metal, glass and neon lights is intoxicating. Step out of the city and there’s the 3,776-metre-high Mount Fuji, ancient wooden temples and shrines to explore. The old capital Kyoto, on the island of Honshu, offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of geishas, Japan’s traditional female entertainers, and a world from another time.

USA This year, it’s all about the great outdoors in the US as it celebrates 100 years of the National Park Service, which oversees the country’s 59 national parks and hundreds of historic landmarks, from the sprawling wilderness of Yellowstone National Park with its gushing geysers (Old Faithful is the most famous) to the iconic towering granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park, set within California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Pull on your hiking boots and explore this vast 340,000 sq/km network of spectacular canyons, alligator-infested swamplands and magical waterfalls.

PALAU This far-flung Pacific archipelago is unquestionably one of the most magical diving and snorkelling destinations in the world with hundreds of species of fish and coral, dolphins, dugongs and turtles. Only eight of the 200 largely unspoilt limestone and volcanic islands that make up Palau are inhabited, blanketed in tropical and mangrove forests and surrounded by water. The marine life is protected, turning the waters into a giant sanctuary. You’ll see things that you won’t find elsewhere in the world. Sights such as the incredible Jellyfish Lake, a lagoon where millions of a sub species of golden jellyfish drift across the lake in a migratory pattern repeated every day. Snorkelling with the jellyfish – you need a permit – is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

LATVIA About to celebrate its silver (25th) anniversary, this Baltic treasure is well and truly emerging from the shadow of Communism to become one of Europe’s trendy hangouts. Soak up the culture of ancient traditions, crumbling castles and manor houses set in lush pine forests. Latvia, which lies between Lithuania and Estonia, has 3,000 lakes, 12,000 rivers and beach resorts (Jurmala is just 25km from the capital). More than 40 per cent of the country is covered by woodland. The city of Riga, which was the Capital of Culture 2014, has Eastern European chic with wooden buildings, art nouveau architecture, museums and a medieval Old Town. The food scene, with a new breed of Nordic chefs, has been compared to Copenhagen and its Michelin-starred restaurants.

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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 D e s t i n a t i o n

D E C 3 1 - J A N 0 6 / I S S U E 4 0 10 4 4

A BIG 2016

EDITO

R’S PI

CK NEW LOOKWE ALL KNOW THAT FITNESS TRACKERS AREN’T EXACTLY NEW, BUT SWAROVSKI’S SHINE ADDS A TOUCH OF ELEGANCE THAT MANY WOMEN MAY PREFER AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE SPORTY, MASCULINE TRACKERS CURRENTLY DOING THE ROUNDS. BUT THERE'S ALSO A PRACTICAL SIDE TO THE BLING: THE CRYSTALS STORE SOLAR ENERGY TO POWER THE TRACKER WITHOUT NEED OF A BATTERY. IT IS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF DESIGN.AVAILABLE AT MISFIT.COM FROM RO65.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOUWith the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens just released, this is sure to be a hot favourite for gadget lovers. The Sphero BB-8 has loads of cool features like holographic communication, which allows the recording, sending and viewing of virtual holographic videos through your smartphone using the app. You can also teach BB-8 to recognise your voice. Smart. Available at Virgin Megastore in City Centre Muscat from around RO80.

WISH UPON A STARWhen living in the city, it’s not always possible to gaze up at the night sky and see the

stars. The reality is that you’d have to escape to the desert

to catch a decent glimpse of a a clear starry night sky, which

isn’t always possible. But all isn't lost, as the folks at Sega have created

a planetarium that allows you to view the stars and constellations from the comfort of your sofa. Surprisingly, the Star Theatre Planetarium uses the same lens as a real planetarium to show the constellations in incredible detail. Its LED technology enables you to see 60,000 stars projected onto your ceiling or wall, while there's a brilliant feature that let's you catch the occasional shooting star. Grab this magical experience at www.amazon.co.uk from RO44.21.

It's shaping up to be an innovative year for tech, with developers pulling out all the stops and guaranteeing a few surprises along the

way, says Matthew Herbst

IN THE FUTUREBack in the day, 3D scanners weren’t just big and heavy but cost a fortune, too. Thanks to today's smart technology, the Fuel3D Scanify changes all of that. This handheld device is designed to scan an object in a few seconds and with just one click, Scanify's full-colour 3D scans capture organic shapes, skin and artefacts or anything else you want in an instant. It costs from RO584.28. Go get your fun at www.fuel-3d.com

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App of the Week

LIFESITE VAULT + MOBILE APPLifeSite aims to provide secure storage for personal information in the LifeSite Vault. The web-based tool and companion mobile app provide a space for storing sensitive data like financial records, legal documents, passwords and emergency contacts. LifeSite claims data is protected by permission-based sharing and high-level document encryption. Users can choose to create a back-up contact in case of emergency. Check out www.lifesite.co to see which plan best suits you.

EAR NOTESHearnotes are a unique set of earbuds that don't need a Bluetooth connection, just a dongle and the accompanying Kleer technology. These are designed to provide wireless listening, likely to be clearer than many Bluetooth headsets.It provides four-plus hours of battery life, inductive charging and up to 50 feet in transmission range, as well as an ergonomic fit. Check them out at www.hearnotes.com. Price available later in 2016.

Over the years, Devialet has proven that it’s got a knack for turning ordinary pieces of technology into beautiful hi-tech equipment. The Phantom is a stunning piece of kit that is a Hi-Fi, dock, speaker, cinema and wireless device rolled into one that can link multiple rooms. The system is pricey, but it looks the business and takes clarity of sound to a new level. At en.devialet.com from RO769.

NEW THE DEVIALET PHANTOM WIRELESS SOUND SYSTEM

ENVIRO SAVERWith the MIITO you can finally get rid of your kettle. But this nifty energy-efficient device doesn't just heat water – it can handle many other liquids as well, such as coffee, soup and even sauces. It is also compatible with many different vessels, which means you can use your favourite mug or even a teapot when you have guests. Available at www.miito.com/reserve/ from RO78.87.

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Matt Blackwell discovers a new meaning to the word luxury when he takes to the wheel of the all-new Bentley Flying Spur

Is there a better way to usher in the New Year than with a test drive of one the most luxurious cars on the road?

No, I didn’t think so either and that’s exactly why I was so looking forward to taking the new Bentley Flying Spur W12 for a spin.

Picking the car up on a mild winter’s day from outside the Al Husn Hotel at Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, it shimmered in the early morning sunlight and just looking at the Flying Spur, I couldn’t help but feel a tingle of excitement. This is a brand with some serious pedigree.

The sharply defined body and broad grille that is synonymous with the brand cut a sophisticated silhouette that wordlessly spoke of refinement and elegance.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the cream-coloured bodywork my model sported, but with more than 100 exterior colours and four paint finishes available, I really don’t think that would be a sticking point. In fact, customisation is one thing Bentley prides itself on; from the choice of 17 hides for seats right down to the kind of cross-stitching used, the ball is well and truly in your court as you pick and choose options to create a completely unique ride.

Inside, the craftsmanship was exquisite, with lavish use of wood throughout and hand-upholstered leather seats. For me, though, it was the little touches that

stood out the most, such as an analogue Breitling clock positioned just above the touchscreen infotainment system and the chrome organ stop air-vent controls.

My rear passengers were afforded just about every comfort possible in a car, including generous amounts of legroom and a touchscreen remote control that they could use to operate the front infotainment system and control climate settings, seat heating and ventilation. If you’re notorious for back-seat driving, this is very much the car for you.

Bentley say that the cabin of the Flying Spur is whisper-quiet and it turns out that this is no mere PR jargon. When I pressed the button to start the engine, I actually had to open the window slightly, just to check the motor was running. Satisfied that everything was in order, I pulled off and headed towards Muttrah.

If the engine is all but noiseless, the Naim for Bentley Premium Audio System was the polar opposite. While blasting I Really Like You by Carly Rae Jepsen through the system’s 11 speakers and dual subwoofers may not have entirely fit in with the cool image of the car, the crispness and clarity of the audio was certainly impressive.

The drive was just about one of the smoothest I’ve experienced, tackling Muscat’s roads and the many speed bumps with ease,

while the power came easily at the slightest press of the accelerator. At one point, I found myself with a stretch of open road and a lorry to overtake, so I took the opportunity to drop the Flying Spur down into Sport mode to see what the car was capable of. Thinking of the result still gives me goosebumps.

If the Flying Spur is the very model of refined luxury, Sport mode is its racy alter ego. Dr Jekyll had been banished and Mr Hyde was firmly in control; the beast was unleashed. The previously silent six-litre W12 engine thundered to life with a throaty roar, utilising every one of the 616 horses constrained beneath the bonnet to throw me back in my seat as the truck quickly dissolved to a dot in my rearview mirror.

Entering bends at speed didn’t prove to be a problem either, with the Flying Spur gripping the road like glue.

Needless to say, driving along the Corniche my ride drew envious glances from tourists checking out the souq and locals going about their daily business and I must admit that I was loving the attention. This car is a definite head-turner.

But perhaps the best thing about the new Bentley Flying Spur is that it doesn’t have to scream and shout about how good it is. Far from an ostentatious sports car, this is the definition of refined luxury and a car that has power, but knows exactly when and where to use it.

Computer controlled self- levelling air suspension

Chrome organ stop air-vent controls

Wi-Fi hub (optional) Hand-upholstered leather

seats Touchscreen control unit 64GB internal storage capacity 11 Naim speakers including

dual Naim subwoofers Variable Displacement System All-wheel drive with 40:60

front to rear torque split

They say: “A finer experience”

We say: “Power refined”

Bentley Flying Spur W12Specifications:

Engine: 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 Horsepower: 616

Torque: 800 Nm from 2,000 rpm

Transmission: 8-speed Quickshift transmission0-100kph: 4.6 secondsPrice: On application

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