Y Magazine #389, October 8, 2015

transcript

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YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

FEATURE: A Spark In The Dark

News: SMART PARKING ON THE CARDS FOR MUSCAT10

DESTINATION: Wadi Bani Kharus

EAST MEETS WEST

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OCT 08 - 14 2015 / ISSUE 389 • WEEKLY

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guide to the best of Oman every week.

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FO L L O W U S O N :

Fast forwardI

t’s on again – Y Magazine’s Portrait By A Nation event! As the nation comes together to mark 45 glorious years on November 18, Y Magazine will be joining in the celebrations with our second historical art project for National Day.

Designed to allow the nation’s children to creat a unique piece of art as a lasting tribute to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, this year’s competition will be bigger and better than ever before.

We’ve extended the age range to allow more children to enter and boosted the cash prize kitty so there will be more winners. Team Y will also be travelling around the country to cities including Sur, Nizwa, Sohar and Salalah to host the event in the lead-up to the finale and winners’ ceremony in the capital.

If last year’s event is anything to go by, this year’s Portrait By A Nation will be one of the biggest events on the National Day calendar and we hope you will be joining us to celebrate this wonderful country of ours.

Have a great week!

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 has been celebrating a very special occasion after learning that

our photographer, Shaquel al Balushi, has finally gotten engaged, while

some of us moved house (again!) and our Aussie editor, Felicity, was over the moon when Australia thrashed England in the Rugby World Cup.

THIS WEEK…

There’s still time to join one of Y’s favourite worthy causes – the

annual Box Appeal, which is organised by

the Radisson Blu Hotel. All you have to do is pick up a box

from collection points around the city and fill it with essential items for expat labourers. Even one box makes a world of difference!

GOING UPHEAT INDEX

Has anybody noticed a rise in the temperature over the past few days? It seems that we are now in summer déjà vu mode with 40-plus degrees

and even higher humidity, making it a sweltering time for all.

GOING DOWNSINKHOLES

Police are warning the public to take care after a sinkhole suddenly

appeared in Hafeet in Buraimi. At eight metres wide and 10 metres deep, police have cordoned off the area and say it is

expanding every day. Stay safe!

SUPPORT THE BOX APPEAL

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

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contentsO C T O B E R 0 8 - 1 4 2 0 1 5

Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Professor Ahmed Al Naamany

08 Voice Of Oman Ali Al Rahma

10 News Smart Parking

14 Gallery Go-Kart Glory

15 Hyundai - Driven To Success Amir Al Habib

16 Gallery Six Senses Spa

T h i s We e k

17 Movie Listings Black Mass

18 This Week Desert Driving

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Orient Express

34 Beauty Treat Your Feet

35 Health Migraine Meltdown

Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Perfect Picnics

30 Taste Test Sakura

Fe at u r e s20 Portait By A Nation Y’s Historic Art Competition Launches

24 Future Football Star Omani Footballer Trials In The UK

26 Spark In The Dark Homemade Light Show

C a r s a n d A d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Wadi Bani Kharus

40 Indoors Doodle Day

42 Postcard From Barbados

44 Y-Fi Just For Fun

46 Photo Of The Week Tall Order

FEATURES / COFFEE WITH DEEBA / HEALTH /NEWS / FASHION / FOOD / MOVIES / Y-FI

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Professor Ahmed al Naamany

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Although Professor

Ahmed al Naamany

has been the dean of

Modern College of

Business & Science (MCBS),

a prestigious higher education

institution in Oman, for almost

four years now, he admits that he

didn’t envision his life taking the

course it did. Nevertheless he’s

glad that he entered education,

a choice that is now benefitting

his country as he oversees the

education of Oman’s future

business leaders.In typical boyish fashion,

Professor Ahmed wanted to be

a pilot or the captain of a ship

when he was younger. “I always

wanted to be a leader,” he tells

me. “To do this, I knew that I

needed to work hard in life and

build on my knowledge and

capabilities and, ultimately, I

think it’s this that has led me to

where I am today.”

Professor Ahmed’s family

moved to Zanzibar, a Tanzanian

archipelago once under Omani

control, before he was born and

the East African island paradise

is where he grew up. “I think my

grandfather left Oman to go to

Zanzibar,” he recalls. “At least

that’s the story I got from the

family. He married while he was

in Zanzibar and the rest of the

family continued there.”

However, Professor Ahmed left

Zanzibar as a young man and

went to Saudi Arabia, where he

worked in a technical capacity

at the airport in Jeddah, before

becoming a supervisor. All the

while he was saving up towards

his studies. His next stop was the United

States, where he first started

with an associate degree, but

applied for a scholarship at the

Omani Embassy on the strength

of his excellent results and was

successful.

This week Deeba Hasan sits down with Professor Ahmed al Naamany,

dean at the Modern College of Business & Science, who shares stories

from his career and talks about the art of leadership

Unsure what to specialise in,

Professor Ahmed sought the

advice of education officials

at the embassy, who told him

to go with his instincts and

study whatever he wanted.

“I did two Bachelor’s degrees

simultaneously, one in Electrical

and Computer Engineering and

the other in Multidisciplinary

Engineering,” he tells me.

Although life in America was a

big change to what he was used

to in Zanzibar and Saudi Arabia,

Professor Ahmed was able to

adapt quickly without any serious

problems and enjoyed his stay

there. Some of Professor Ahmed’s

family remained in Oman,

but he had never visited the

Sultanate before coming to live

here after finishing his degrees in

1983. As he began to settle in his

fourth country, Professor Ahmed

found himself becoming adept

in cultural and social transitions

and says that “it was not difficult

to adapt, it was quite smooth”.

After deciding on a career in

academia, Professor Ahmed says

he was faced with a choice: either

become an instructor at the

Sultanate’s military academy, join

Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)

or Petroleum Development of

Oman. Although he initially

chose the military academy,

he later left because it was a

prerequisite that he undergo

officer’s training, which was a

problem for Professor Ahmed

due to a health issue. In the

end, he opted for SQU and was

made the director general for

maintenance before joining the

College of Engineering as an

academic. After two years at SQU,

Professor Ahmed was on the

move once more, this time

heading to the UK to complete

his PhD. He returned to SQU

afterwards and by the time

he parted with the university,

he was the director at the

Communication and Information

Research Centre and an associate

professor. He also worked at the

Arab Open University in Oman

and Kuwait before joining MCBS,

where he has been for the past

four years. His schedule at MCBS is all

about meeting people and making

important decisions. “My children

ask me sometimes what I do at the

college and I say that I talk a lot,

that’s my job,” he laughs.

According to Professor Ahmed,

a good dean has to understand

the scope of his work, while

supporting those below who look

up to him for guidance. “I am in

a position where I can help my

subordinates to raise their calibre,

improve their capabilities and

really flourish. That’s what a good

dean must be doing, you don’t just

boss people around,” he says.

One achievement that this

visionary man is proud of above

the others is the partnership

MCBS has with Franklin

University in Ohio, in the United

States. “This relationship has

enabled us to develop a leading

MBA programme in Oman,

which is accredited and of very

good value,” says Professor

Ahmed.The dean is very focused on

his students and wants them to

graduate with the right knowledge

and skills, as opposed to just a

piece of paper. “We want our

students to be successful and

knowledgeable, we don’t just want

to give them a certificate, but also

the know-how and skills necessary

to be successful in life.”

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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SPREADING JOY

correspondenceTHE VOICE OF OMAN ALI AL RAHMA ON DRESSING WELL

NEXT WEEK: HEATHER DUNCAN

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

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Feeling good is not only about having good health and a peaceful state of mind; it’s

about sleeping in peace, behaving well, showing respect and, most importantly, looking good. By looking good, I don’t mean dressing to the nines for a walk on the beach, or dousing yourself in a gallon of perfume. Looking good simply means wearing decent clothes when going out.

There have been numerous requests from shop owners in Muttrah Souq to inform tourists who arrive in Oman about dressing conservatively as a mark of courtesy and respect towards the Sultanate’s culture.

I agree with this in the sense that there are dress codes anywhere you go throughout the world, whether it’s in a lounge, a restaurant or even the gym, and people should respect that.

However, what I don’t agree with is a complaint in one of the local newspapers about a tourist wearing shorts in the mall. If this is a problem, then what about the men who roam around the malls wearing their pyjamas or home dress? Isn’t that degrading one’s image in front of the public?

Wearing home clothes and walking around the malls or going to the cinema should be considered dressing badly and not the tourists who wear decent clothing in public.

One should feel happy and content with the way they dress and shouldn’t have to face unnecessary criticism. Help yourself to feel good by dressing well and styling up your life!

Dear Editor,

The story “Innocence Protected” [Issue 388] was indeed a “Journey of Hope”, as voiced on the cover.

The story shows that all of us, without exception, can easily renovate ourselves into a Sue Hall, Robert Fleming or a Bea. They are the hidden treasures of society.

There’s always a Malayaka House or similar establishment in the neighbourhood – it’s just for us to seek it out. No matter where we are, be it Oman, the United States, Germany, Uganda or India, it is time we respond to these calls of

humanity! It’s time we give another Patricia a chance to live her life.

Best wishes from the core of my heart to Sue and you all.

Gautam Ghosh-Dastidar, Muscat

Dear Editor,

This week saw a momentous day in England in the battle for a cleaner, more environmentally conscious world.

You now have to pay to get a plastic bag in supermarkets, in line with similar regulations in the rest of the UK.

How many decades of accumulated rubbish will we have to wait here, until Oman introduces restrictions on the thousands of plastic bags that are dished out by grocery stores each year?

Regards,Georgina Benison, Muscat

PLASTIC PROBLEMS

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WE ASKED: “If stealing were the only way to feed a starving child, would it still be immoral?”

KAMAL GANATRAI believe it is moral to steal food if it is necessary to save a starving child, because human life outweighs monetary gain. Morality is a personal consideration that we all have, and one that differs from one person to the next. In the case of a starving child, if the only way to get food to save that life, or help make it better in the time they have left, was stealing, I feel it would be morally justified. If we do not feed the starving child then how will he feed himself ?

NALIN MISTRY Human life is worth more than money! If we are stealing food so that a human’s life can be saved it is morally justified. If the child really was starving, you could say that stealing is more moral than allowing them to die. However, this still does not change the fact that stealing is immoral. It may be the proper thing to do, but it is not moral.

AYESHA SIDDIQA If it’s for a good cause, nothing can stop you. Perhaps it is not terribly moral, but there is a difference between stealing a car and stealing food because you are hungry. I think God knows the difference, and would forgive you if you asked. He forgives all, so why not this as well?

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE Stealing in any form is an immoral act. There is an old saying that states: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. However, when a child is starving, it’s not the time to fill their head with knowledge. The right thing to do is to give the person a fish to banish their hunger, and only then teach them how to fish. Helping a starving child by giving him food acquired by good means is better than stealing food for them.

SYED BOKHARI Stealing is by no means a way to feed a starving child, as it will become a permanent habit. There is no religion that teaches, encourages or allows stealing. It is a practice that would groom the child into a criminal.

MALINA GHOSH People can survive without clothes and

New Debate:“Does failure make you a weaker

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

BOBICHEN was spotted with his favourite Y Magazine at home in Muscat

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shelter, but food is essential for all. Hunger can force us to do things, whether they are moral or not. It is heartbreaking to know that children in Ethiopia, Somalia and many other countries are suffering through a lack of proper food. Though this is not the correct path, if the outcome is saving someone’s life we all can and should make some exceptions.

KAMAL DILIP Stealing is morally wrong and it corrupts the child who is being helped, going against the heart and mind of the child who is starving. All the Holy Books urge not to steal. The person who would be stealing food for the starving child is in a position to help and should be able to do this without breaking the law. If someone were asking for food to feed a starving child, many people or places would help. If the person helping went to jail for stealing, then what would the child do? It would be more hurtful than helping and there is always a price to pay for our actions.

VIBHA SIMHA “Stealing” food indicates ownership of it, which also indicates that someone is purposely and knowingly withholding the food. The phrasing cleverly detracts from a much more serious issue involving humanity. The real moral question would be: “is it moral to withhold food from a starving person?” Only when this question arises will we find out who actually cares about human beings.

SHAWN ALVA If there were a source to find food, then there would definitely be ways to earn it. By stealing and feeding a child you would not commit a sin, but the thought would definitely be conflicting the lesson you would want the child to learn. I hope to never be in such a situation, it’s a tough question for a common scenario.

ADEEBA FATIMA First of all, I am unable to understand, why this question of stealing arose. If people in this world would help each other in every matter without any expectations, then the question of stealing or immorality wouldn’t arise. So, be kind towards humanity and feed the hungry. No one has ever become poor by giving.

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YOUR OMANIn an attempt to eliminate

parking issues across Muscat, a smart parking system will be installed in 25 different locations in the next few days, a top official announced this week.

This new system will save space by introducing multiple parking levels, allowing more cars to be parked in a smaller space. “Smart parking is an efficient mechanised system from the point of view of space used and total cost of ownership. This system can increase the parking capacity by up to eight times,” Mohamed al Siyabi, president of Al Siyabi United, the company that will be installing the new parking system, was quoted as saying in a local newspaper.

It is the first time such a system is being installed in Oman, according to Praveen Kumar, vice-president at Al Siyabi United. He added that company planned to install an eight-level parking system in which 16 cars could be parked.

“We can park 100 cars in the space of 13 cars or park 800 cars in the space of 100 cars. The system is fully automated, can be installed in five days and can be moved and relocated easily according to your requirements,” said Kumar.

The latest announcemnet comes after a Muscat Municipality study in which plans to

introduce surface, multi-storey parking

spaces and automated car parks were explored to relieve

parking congestion in several parts of the city. “We understand the problems that drivers, especially

those who commute every day, are facing. The Municipality is making every effort to provide better services to both citizens and tourists,” Al Tayeb Mohammed Al Harthy, director of the Technical Studies Department at the Municipality told local media.

SMART SYSTEM TO EASE PARKING ISSUES

AFTERNOON TEA WINNERS ANNOUNCED

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Y Magazine has joined the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel

to be part of its yearly Pink Afternoon Tea Fundraiser. As the event has proved so popular in the past, two teas will be held this year, on October 8 and October 28.

We had two places on a table with Team Y up for grabs at the October 8 Pink Afternoon Tea Fundraiser and it is with great pleasure that we announce Marwa al Wadhahi and Dorothy Newberry as the winners, after they correctly guessed how often mammogram examinations are recommended for women over the age of 40. Congratulations to you both.

Featuring an array of sumptuous pink treats, the delicacies on offer at the Pink Afternoon Tea will include Y cakes, especially created by the Hyatt’s expert pastry chefs, all served up in the five-star hotel’s Sirj Tea Lounge.

“Y is a proud supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we

are looking forward to meeting our winners at the afternoon tea,” said Felicity Golver, Y’s managing editor.

For those of you who were not able to win a place in this competition, make sure you check the upcoming issues of Y, in which we will be launching another competition for the October 28 Pink Afternoon Tea.

In case you don’t already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual global campaign to highlight the disease and the need for early detection.

*If are not a winner, please still join us at one of the Pink Afternoon Teas, which run from 3pm-8pm. Cost is RO8.8 per person, which includes a glass of pink sparkling. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Oman Cancer Association.

To book your spot on October 28, call the Hyatt on +968 2464 1137 or email muscat.dining@hyatt.com

For information about breast cancer, visit breastcancer.org

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N E W SG a l l e r y I n t e r v i e w

TWO-YEAR BAN IN DOUBT

A top official at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) has asked for clarity on the two-year

visa ban, after the recent news of talks between the Ministry of Manpower and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) over the “controversial” ban.

“The government should clarify the two-year ban rule. Even among the government departments, many are confused. Public are lost as the two concerned authorities have different views about the rule,” the offical was quoted by local media as saying.

Last year, the ROP announced that no employment visa would be issued after July 1, 2014, to any expatriate who had worked previously in the Sultanate and had not completed two years from the date of their last departure.

However, those possessing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their existing employers are free to return to Oman to join their new employers.

“The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry will definitely open this issue as soon as the Ministry of Manpower or ROP come forward for a meeting,” Mohammed Hassan al Ansi, vice chairman of the Committee for Logistics and Transportation Affairs at the OCCI, told a local newspaper.

While authorities are asking for

clarifications, experts also believe it is a wise decision to allow expats who have completed their contracts at a specific company to change their jobs. “It would indeed be great news both for expats and companies in Oman if expats who complete their contracts are allowed to change their jobs,” Tonia Gray, general manager at Competence HR, told local media.

It was reported earlier this week that Said bin Naser al Sadi, adviser to the Minister of Manpower, said the Ministry would make it clear to the departments concerned that expat employees might be allowed to change their jobs if they have completed their contract without restrictions.

Al Sadi said there would only be an issue when the employee quit without honouring their full contract, but otherwise it was fine. “If an expatriate employee completes his contract, he will be free to decide whether he wants to continue with the same employer or move to another company,” he was quoted as saying.

Expatriates are facing a tough time due to the ban and are sometimes mistreated by employers. A representative from the Indian expatriate community said the two-year ban was forcing many workers to stay with employers even if they wanted to move on after completing their contract.

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

What’s this about, then?It’s the stuff of nightmares, not to mention bad taste.Do tell!It seems that a woman in the UK was using a rather unattractive vase for 30 years, not twigging that it was actually an unexploded bombshell from World War I.Seriously? How could you not know that?That thought also crossed our minds, but Kathryn Rawlins, who is now 45, found the shell in the grounds of her school when she was a teenager. Why the bomb squad wasn’t called is unclear, but we are guessing age was a factor.So what happened next?She took it home and decided to use it as a vase, filling it with fresh flowers until she finally saw a documentary on World War One bombs. It was only then that she realised she’d been living, literally, on eggshells for the past 30 years. Why didn’t it explode?We suspect that is down to sheer luck. According to experts at the Ministry of Defence, the bombshell had the capacity to kill people within a 32-kilometre radius if it exploded.That is very lucky! Where is the shell now?The ministry took the bombshell away and worked their magic on it, managing to defuse it and make it safe. It is now back on Kathryn’s mantelpiece in the living room.Don’t say: Throw us the vase, honey.” Do say: “Call the bomb squad ASAP!”

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

WALKING ON EGGSHELLS

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

The French government has declared a natural disaster after torrential rain and flash floods kill at least 17 people on the French Riveria earlier this week. The deluge in France’s southeastern tourist region, which includes the ritzy city of Cannes, also caused mass blackouts and widespread looting

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

After consecutive losses to Wales and Australia, England’s Rugby World Cup hopes are dashed, making it the first host team in the cup’s history to fail to make it to the knock-out rounds

Russia vows to step up airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria despite widespread condemnation from global leaders, who say they are aimed at supporting President Bashar al Assad

Nine people are killed at a college in Oregon in the United States, making it the country’s worse mass shooting since 2013 and sparking outrage over the country’s gun control laws

Muscat Festival will be making a welcome return once more next year, it was

announced recently. The highly anticipated shopping

and entertainment extravaganza will be held from January 14 to February 13, 2016.

Venues for the events include Al Naseem Park, Al Amerat Park and other sites such as Al Hail

Beach and the Oman Automobile Association among others.

During its first meeting of the year and under the chair of Mohsen bin Mohammed al Sheikh, Chairman of Muscat Municipality, the Muscat Festival Main Committee 2016 approved the organisation of Muscat Festival 2016.

As with previous years, exciting events and exhibitions including the Heritage Village, commercial displays, electronic rides, fireworks and many others will be held over the month-long festival at various locations.

Last year, major attractions included the Snow Village and the Dinasour Village, both of which attracted huge crowds.

Whether we are in for more new and exciting treats is unclear as the itinerary of the festival has not been released, but people are already looking forward to the event as it offers a selection of fun activities in central locations.

During the meeting, the Committee also approved the Muscat Festival 2016 budget.

WCQ 2015 Vs Iran V2-Ymag-OTP.pdf 1 9/28/15 11:46 AM

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G A L L E R YYOUR OMAN

THE HOTLY CONTESTED SWS SPRINT RACE RD3 2015-2016 TOOK PLACE AT THE OMAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION RECENTLY, WITH DRIVERS BATTLING FOR A PLACE ON THE PODIUM

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DRIVEN TOSUCCESS

WHEN COMPARING IT TO HIGH-TECH CARS, IT’S UP

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THE INTERIOR IS SPACIOUS AND THE COMBINATION OF

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Q: What drives you to success?I would love to leave a mark on history. I am a

“can-do” kind of guy and I hate the idea that I might just be taking up space behind a desk. I was not as academically orientated as my classmates in high school – they were focused on getting scholarships to study abroad, but I couldn’t sit still that long. My need to move is expressed through my hands. I’m very tactile-orientated.

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

I always looked up to my uncle as my mentor. He is the director of one of the biggest companies in Oman and I wanted to live the lifestyle he did, with expensive cars and nice clothes, so I grabbed opportunities to sit and talk to him. Of course, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said has always been one of the people I looked up to because of his wisdom. What I am today is also a reflection of my experiences with my

grandpa, who headed the media department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Q: What is your biggest career success to date?I definitely hope that my best achievements are ahead of

me, but I believe that heading my department at ahlibank is an achievement. I’m very proud of my team and our work. I was given the opportunity to manage a large company meeting two years ago and I was very pleased with the results. The regional and deputy CEOs flew into Oman for the meeting and I was the project manager, responsible for organising the agenda, visas, accommodations, transportation and food. The event tested my skills in operations, event management, hospitality and communications. I enjoyed the challenge very much.

Q: What are your goals?In the future, I want to be a recognised professional project

manager and I am taking courses to become certified. I want to focus on my education and wish to enhance my skills. In the long run, I would love to work on some international projects to get a broader experience.

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

Ten years from now I might do some freelancing. The Public Authority for SME Development recently invited me to do some coaching and I see myself coaching people for a really long time, even after my retirement. I love sharing information and the lessons I’ve learned in a way that helps people. It all comes back to communication and transferring knowledge.

Q: What do you like about the Genesis?I loved it; the drive was very smooth. When comparing it to

high-tech cars, it’s up there and has great touches of luxury. The interior is spacious and the combination of colours is beautiful.

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G A L L E R YYOUR OMAN

SIX SENSES OPENED ITS SECOND LOCATION IN OMAN THIS WEEK, BASED AT AL BUSTAN PALACE, A RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL, MUSCAT. THE SPA COVERS 3,066 SQUARE METRES AND THE CEREMONY WAS ATTENDED BY MINISTER OF TOURISM, HE AHMED BIN NASSER AL MAHRAZI

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OPERATOR

Pamela (Mischa Barton) is a 911 operator who takes her job very seriously. When her line is intercepted by a mysterious man who has kidnapped her daughter she has no choice other than to comply with his demands, but ultimately finds herself faced with a difficult decision – save the city from the biggest crime in its history, or save her daughter.

Bollywatch

The Walk

On August 7, 1974, French high-wire artist, Philippe Petit, (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) set up a wire between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The Walk tells the story of this seemingly impossible and illegal task. Thanks to 3D technology, audiences are given a vertigo inducing, all-angle view that puts them right on the wire

Black Mass

MOVIES MOVIESwith Petit, hearing every creak, feeling every gust of wind and enjoying a view that until now, only one man in the world has experienced. If you can sit through Gordon-Levitt’s patchy French accent and have no problem with heights, The Walk is worth a watch.

Wicked Flying Monkeys

Although a Wizard of Oz spin-off, Wicked Flying Monkeys, a Mexican-Indian film, is an original story with original characters. After being punished by the evil witch Eviline (Susana Zavaleta), Ozzy (Héctor Emmanuel Gómez), decides to steal her magic broom and go on a quest to find the Champions of Oz, but is beset by the witch’s winged monkeys along the way. The animation is good, but the story does lack some solidity, as does the script. Nevertheless, it is likely to fulfil its task of entertaining kids for an hour and a half.

TALVAR A large step away from the traditional song and dance-fuelled escapism of Bollywood, Talvar focuses on the mysteries of the 2008 Aarushi Talwar-Hemraj double murder case, presenting several contrasting views as to who killed teenager, Shruti Tandon, and domestic help, Khempal. Starring Irrfan Khan, Ayesha Parveen, Neeraj Kabi and Konkona Sen Sharma, Talvar is sure to get minds ticking over.

Old-school gangster movies are 10 a penny these days, but for the first time in a long time, something fresh and original has been added to the canon, in the form of Scott Cooper’s Black Mass.

The film tells the true story of James “Whitey” Bulger (an almost unrecognisable Johnny Depp), the brother of a state senator who rose to prominence in Boston’s Irish mafia in the 1970s and 80s, becoming the most violent criminal in the city’s history in the process.

After growing up together, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) and James Bulger walked very different paths, one becoming a FBI agent and the other succumbing to a life of crime. But in return for the protection he received as a kid and in honour of their childhood

bond, Connolly agrees to cover Bulger’s crimes – essentially becoming his lapdog – in return for information on the Italian mafia that is encroaching on the kingpin’s territory.

One look at the cast, which includes Depp, Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch and Kevin Bacon among many others, and you could say that Black Mass was bound to succeed. A film is not always the sum of its starring parts, though, and a decent screenplay, script and direction is also required, all of which are on point in this true crime drama.

The violence is visceral and the script shocking at times, but strangely, this just makes it all the more watchable.

Review by Matt Blackwell

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Party Night

THIS WEEKO C T O B E R

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

Give yourself a taste of Germany at the special Oktoberfest event taking place every day at the InterContinental Hotel Muscat for nine days. Enjoy the European ambience with German chefs cooking up some exclusive delicacies and a German band playing from 7pm to 11pm on weekdays and until after midnight on weekends. Prices on weekdays are RO12 per person and on weekends, it is RO16 per person. There is a discount available for groups. For bookings and more information, call +968 2468 0627 or email jill.katimbang@ihg.com

T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Looking forward to a happening Thursday night in Oman? Axis Events brings you another evening full of music, dance and fun with DJ SHAA taking to the decks for the first time ever in the Sultanate, only at On The Rocks Muscat. It’s free entry for ladies and cabin crew until 11pm. Tickets are priced at RO10 per person, event starts at 8.30pm. For ticket and enquiries, contact + 968 9880 5071 or search for Axis Events on Facebook.

Desert

If you’re up for the challenge of crossing the sands, then join The Guide Oman in their next exciting Desert Safari from Al Kamil to Al Khuwaymah. You’ll be driving across dunes and soaking up the spectacular landscape. Registration and dinner will take place at the Rimal al Kamil from 7pm to 9.30pm on October 15. Bookings close by 8pm on October 13. Fee is RO45 per adult and RO30 per child from seven to 12 years, while children below six go free. For booking and event details, call +968 9228 5813 or +968 9803 8820, or email info@theguideoman.com or Rmayston@theguideoman.com

Mark Omani Women’s Day in style with a colourful performance dedicated to the Sultanate’s ladies, featuring local and international stars with a guest appearance by Egyptian singer Hani Shaker. It’s all happening at the Royal Opera House Muscat from 7pm onwards. Prices start from RO3. For seating plans and bookings, visit rohmuscat.org.om

Oktoberfest

Celebrate WomenDriving

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

Exactly four years after the Royal Opera House Muscat first opened its doors with a production of Turandot, the curtain rose last Saturday night to reveal once again the inaugural scene of Franco Zeffirelli’s dark and forlorn production of

Puccini’s final opera.This opera, left unfinished at the time of Puccini’s death in 1924, is

undoubtedly his most dramatic and finest piece for two reasons: it transports the audience to the feudal times of Peking under a brutal dynasty, not by set and costume alone, but through the music itself; in Puccini’s careful attention to Eastern scales, percussion instruments and folk melodies. The audience is drawn into the unfolding tale of a cold-hearted princess who seeks vengeance, not love; that is until she meets her match in the form of Prince Calaf.

More than 50 Muscat residents were used as extras in this year’s production. Children dressed in dazzling white and courtiers of the Royal Household stood majestically upstage, in contrast with the chorus itself, which portrays the sackcloth crowd of serfs, always at the front of the stage, grovelling, and in shadows.

There is comic relief in the form of three ministers, Ping, Pang and Pong, who have a whole scene to themselves later in the opera.

The second act was so different in mood and style as the scene inside the Royal Palace is ablaze in brilliant whiteness and then, at last, we see and hear Turandot herself (a imperious Iréne Theorin). A glacial figure, but her arias transform that frosted armour as she soars above all the other voices, sometimes with cruel accusations, yet sometimes so tender, so heart-rending we almost weep in sympathy, as she recalls her long-gone ancestor for whom vengeance is her only quest in life.

But, of course, there is one who falls in love with her for her beauty and his willingness to die for her finally melts that icy soul. Calaf (two different soloists played the part on different nights) presents a warmth and soul missing in the chilling Peking court, and when he declares his love in that most beloved of operatic arias, Nessun Dorma, the auditorium was filled with resounding rapture.

Irina Lungu as the servant girl, Liu, who gives her life for love was also outstanding.

The opening night performance on Thursday ended with a standing ovation that went on for more than five minutes.

It was well deserved.

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

Join InterNations for a dhow sailing trip to the picturesque Daymaniyat Islands, which boasts spectacular coral reefs and a rich marine life. Camp under the stars enjoying some music and sipping island drinks. It’s RO30 for the dhow trip and evening barbeque (tea, coffee and dates are complimentary). There’s an extra RO15 for sleeping on the dhow instead of the camping and RO5 for the camping permit. All nationalities are encouraged to attend. There’s only space for 50 people, so hurry before bookings run out. Go along with friends and make it a memorable trip. For more information, visit internations.org

Georgina Benison reviews the return of the Puccini masterpiece at the Royal Opera House Muscat

Island Tripping

Driving

The world’s top-ranked windsurfers will descend on Al Musannah Sports City, a purpose-built venue around 100km from Muscat this month for the 2015 RS:X World Windsurfing Championships, the final major meeting before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year. The event will kick off with an opening ceremony and racing will continue through to the medal race on Saturday (October 24) with regular news updates provided by Oman Sail to local, regional and international followers. With the RS:X class celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the event is expected to draw competitors from 32 nations. Everyone’s invited to attend. For more information, visit rsxclass.com or email george@omansail.com

A NATIONA NATIONPORTRAIT BY

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A NATIONA NATIONPORTRAIT BY

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Powered by

After the fantastic success of last year’s first-of-its-kind art event, Portrait By A Nation is back, bringing the children of the Sultanate together

to mark 45 glorious years under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said.

Building on the historical inaugural event, 2015’s instalment is set to be a much bigger competition, taking place in cities across the country, including Sur, Nizwa, Sohar and Salalah, as well as the capital. Young minds from all regions in Oman will be given the opportunity to display their creativity as they colour, paint or decorate a printed canvas of His Majesty in any way they wish as they compete for huge cash prizes.

Powered by Al Mouj Muscat, with associate sponsors IDdesign, Gloria Jean’s Coffees and Salalah Marriott Resort, the event will be held on November 6 and 7 in the interior regions and on November 13 and 14 at Al Mouj Muscat.

National Day is a special time in the Sultanate when every citizen and resident of the country joins hands to commemorate the years of Renaissance and the road of evolution Oman has taken in order to become a nation that can proudly hold its own on the world stage.

The progress and prosperity of the past 45

years has been achieved under the guidance of His Majesty The Sultan, who continues to lead the country with a steady, inspirational hand, and there is no better way to celebrate National Day than by creating a lasting tribute to our visionary leader.

Last year’s competition attracted more than 900 entries from children across the country, who came together under one designated roof to create their portrait. Judging by the overwhelming response to the first year’s competition, this year’s Portrait By A Nation could see numbers double as we celebrate this momentous milestone together.

Seeking to expand the appeal of the art competition, this year’s event will see the addition of a third age category, each with prizes for first place, runner-up and second runner-up, giving children more chances to win. The age categories will be five to nine years old, 10 to 13 and 14 to 17.

“We are very proud once again to present our annual competition, Portrait By A Nation. After last year’s overwhelming response, where children of all ages from all over the country gathered to pay homage to their beloved leader, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, we think the 45th National Day will be even more special,” says Y’s managing editor, Felicity Glover. “It gives us great pride that Y is leading the way in marking the celebrations

Celebrate Oman’s 45th National Day and show your pride by being part of Portrait By A Nation, Y’s biggest annual event, giving young artists a chance to share a total cash prize of RO2,550

In Association withWords: Deeba Hasan

and I look forward to seeing lots of children at the competition.”When the final portrait has been completed and the paintbrushes laid

down to rest, 45 finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges that includes art experts, representatives from our sponsors and Felicity, and invited to a special ceremony held on November 18 to reveal the winners. Nine pieces of art will be awarded cash prizes, but all 45 portraits will be put up on public display at Al Mouj Muscat for the entire community to enjoy. Additionally, the final 45 portraits will be collated and spread onto a larger canvas that will act as a collage of the many faces of His Majesty, as seen through the eyes of the nation’s children. This larger piece of art will then be on display for the duration of the country’s National Day celebrations.

The art competition is a great chance for anyone to show their pride in the nation they call home and Y is encouraging as many children and parents as possible to get involved and support the initiative. “The things His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said has done for this country are countless and it’s my personal pride and for Gloria Jean’s Coffees to be part of this event and share the occasion of the 45th National Day,” says Leena Jubair al Bastaki, managing director of Gloria Jean’s Coffees Oman, and one of Portrait By A Nation’s associate sponsors. “An event like this builds the interest and patriotism of the children who are participating. The competition gets them to express their love for His Majesty The Sultan and it’s a fun way to celebrate as well. High numbers of participants and spectators to celebrate this special occasion are what we are looking forward to.”

Ronnie Pascual, an art teacher based in Oman and a mentor from last year’s event, has nothing but praise for Portrait By A Nation. “The event is a great opportunity for the children who are interested in arts to enhance their skills and take part in such activities related to the nation’s leader, culture and heritage,” he says. “It also creates a dialogue between the locals and expats who share a common interest.

“Last year, the kids were so excited, enthusiastic and displayed impressive creativity when completing their portraits of His Majesty.”

The event last year saw some children express themselves through different techniques, including finger painting, charcoal and blow painting, as well as using imaginative materials such as bottle tops, buttons, fabrics and woodblock. The judges this year will be on the lookout for similar markers of individual flair and unique appeal.

Portrait By A Nation is a great opportunity for children with creative talent in art to display their prowess on a wide platform and to also show their love for the nation and express their gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan.

Al Mouj Muscat will play host to the event in the capital and Murtadha al Lawati, head of Corporate Communications, says that they are excited to be involved with Portrait By A Nation for the first time.

“We wanted to help showcase the talents of children in the country and I think Portrait By A Nation is the best way of celebrating His Majesty and this wonderful occasion,” he tells Y.

“It gives children a unique platform to create something tangible. I am hoping to see lot of participation, regardless of nationality – we are all going to celebrate an historic occasion.”

To take part, children need to register their interest and select the correct age category they will be entering. Entrants will be invited to take part in the event hosted by SABCO Media, Y Magazine’s parent company, at a designated venue depending on where they live.

Supervised by professional art teachers, the children will be able to let their creativity run free and create a piece of history in their own style. In the lead up to the event, Y Magazine will be providing weekly hints and tips, along with ideas on how to let young imaginations flourish. We will also be sharing the experiences and and handy advice from last year’s winners – which means you can start practising now!

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Simply pick up a registration form from Y’s office in Seeb and complete the form and post it in the drop box on site.

You will also find a registration form on Y’s website: y-oman.com/register. We will need various details, such as your name, age and contact number, to verify your registration and add you to the event.

• Parents may complete the registration form – but remember: the children must complete the actual portrait.

• Entry is restricted to children aged between five and 17 years old.

• There are three categories to enter: one for five to nine year olds, another for 10-13 year olds and a third category is open to teenagers aged from 14 -17.

• Only one entry per child.• Paints and other materials needed for the

painting/decorating of the pre-printed canvas must be brought by the child to the event.

• Y Magazine will supply the pre-printed canvases depicting His Majesty’s portrait used by the entrants.

• Children selected to go forward for the painting event will be notified and must be free to attend on November 6-7 for all regional cities and November 13-14 for Muscat.

• The judges’ decision is final.

WANT TO TAKE PART?

TIPS FROM A WINNER

I found out about the competition while leafing through the pages of Y Magazine and decided to get involved. It was tough competition for

me, but it was the best thing I did last year and it certainly was a great achievement. I feel like I have become more confident now after my success.

“I felt like the time was running quickly while I was working on the portrait, but when I was announced as a winner, it felt great and that made me believe in myself. I was really excited and my parents were very proud of me after this huge competition.

“My parents continue to encourage me through my art journey. With the prize money, I bought a gift of RO50 for my mother, as she had helped me in each step, and I bought small gifts for my brothers with the remaining money. I also treated myself to some new art materials.

“I’ll be taking part again this year and would advise other participants to prepare before the competition and to think of new ideas that can really help improve their portraits and make them look unique. This will also improve their art abilities.”

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Located at Al Sawadi Beach Resort

WEEKDAYS5 pm - 9 pm

WEEKENDS4 pm - 10 pm

RIYAM AL RIYAMI, 13, WAS A RUNNER-UP IN THE SENIOR CATEGORY OF PORTAIT BY A NATION 2014. HERE, SHE SHARES HER ADVICE TO FUTURE CONTESTANTS

FUTURE FOOTBALL

Ali al Habsi may be the poster boy of Omani football, but there’s

a new kid on the pitch, pushing to compete in the top flights of

European football. Matt Blackwell catches up with Sultan al Harthy,

fresh from trials in the UK

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The moment Jay Wynter, head coach at The Mosaic Football Academy in Muscat, saw Sultan al Harthy kick a ball, taking control of his side’s defensive line with an authority and maturity well in excess of his 16 years, he

knew he was watching a seriously hot footballing prospect. As well as a playing career that lasted nine years at Arsenal, one

of the top teams in the English Premier League, Coach Jay also represented his country at Under 16 level before embarking on a coaching career that has seen him train elite players around the world, as far afield as Japan, Sweden, Italy, Turkey and Greece among others, before arriving in the Sultanate. As a UEFA B Licence coach who specialises in youth development, it’s fair to say that he has seen his fair share of talented young footballers and knows his stuff.

And this is what makes it all the more exciting when he says that Sultan has a real shot at playing competitively in Europe’s top leagues.

“As a scout, the first thing you look at in a player is their attitude. It was obvious straight away that Sultan’s attitude was first class, as was his work rate. You get to see players at close quarters while training and it was clear to see that his ability was of a very high level.”

Sultan, who is in his senior year at high school, has a tall frame that would give him a strong physical presence on the pitch, along with a firm handshake and a confident manner. He plays in the centre of defence or in midfield and has been enamoured with the beautiful game for as long as he can remember, seizing the opportunity to train at The Mosaic Football Academy with both hands when it was offered to him.

Football schools can be a costly affair in Oman and while a child may be talented, there’s a possibility that their parents may not be able to afford the large financial commitment. This concern was what drove Coach Jay to seek permission to establish The Mosaic Football Academy last year. The academy is a not-for-profit development centre that enables under 17s and Under 13s to train and play without paying.

Not just anyone can attend, however, as all the players at the academy have undergone rigorous trials before being selected by the coaching staff to take part.

“The players come to us one day a week and because they’re all elite, we’re able to give them better-quality training,” says Coach Jay. “I just want to help the talent in Muscat and help kids to improve and develop as much as they can.”

After a year of Sultan training at the academy, Coach Jay felt he had seen enough to utilise the contacts from his playing career and set up two weeks’ worth of trials for the young Omani at Reading Football Club, the same team Ali al Habsi is currently contracted with.

During his time with the second-tier British club, Sultan took part in a number of training and fitness drills that focused on off-the-ball movement, fast footwork and game scenarios.

“The level is much better than here in Oman. For me, going to the UK was a big step forward; I have learned a lot and think I have grown as a player,” says Sultan.

The academy at Reading trains separately from the senior squad, which meant Sultan wasn’t able to rub shoulders or take tips

from his fellow countryman and national team captain, Ali al Habsi. However, when it comes to sporting icons, there is only one name on

Sultan’s lips: Diego Mardona, the legendary Argentinian number 10. “For me, no one can beat Maradona,” he tells me without hesitation.

Coach Jay, who accompanied Sultan to the UK, watched all the training sessions at Reading and believes that there was “no difference” between Sultan and his fellow players, proving that he can cut it with the best of his age group.

“The feedback from Reading was very good, just as I thought it would be,” says Coach Jay. “The first thing they said was that Sultan

is a natural athlete and a technically gifted player with a first-class attitude.

“The club said if he were a resident in the UK, he would’ve been offered a year contract on the spot.” As it happens though, the 16 year old had to return to Oman due to educational obligations.

I ask Sultan whether football is a career he would like to pursue professionally, to which his immediate answer is, “No doubt about it”. However, displaying the same maturity he shows on the pitch, he quickly follows up with: “I just have to finish high school. Then my dad says I can play football as much as I want.

“I need a back-up plan in case something happened and I didn’t get what I wanted out of football. It’s

important that I have something to fall back on.”Sultan was even approached by a professional club here in Muscat, but

decided to turn them down due to his commitment to his studies.Sultan finishes school next summer and if his development continues

along its current trajectory, the future is looking bright. His dream is to play professional football in a stadium filled with 40,000 people,

all cheering his name. “I don’t mind what team I play for, I just want to score one goal in the Champions League and then I would be happy,” he says with a big grin.

While this is a fantasy that many of us may harbour, for Sultan, it’s a dream that could realistically come true. It’s just a

matter of time, patience and playing.

GOT THE SKILLS?• If you think you’ve got what it takes to join Sultan and

train at The Mosaic Football Academy, search for them on Facebook or email jay@mosaic.om

• The Mosaic Football Academy works closely with the PE departments of most schools in Muscat and players are often put forward for trial by their teachers

• /Mosaic_Footabll_Academy_Oman

I don’t mind what team I play for, I just want

to score one goal in the Champions League and then I would be happy

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High up in the mountains, in a safe place far away from people and plant life, two friends and I attempted a

little experiment, the results of which I’m sure you’ll agree are quite stunning.

When we were all seven or eight years old, it was customary for us to celebrate the first night of Ramadan with a fantastic homemade light show and I thought it would be great if we could recreate these memories of showering sparks and use the knowledge I have gained over my career in photography to record them.

The perfect times for low-shutter

speed shoots like this are in what photographers call the “blue hours”, ideally first thing in the morning before the sun comes up or after it goes down in the evening. During these times, the sky is a very deep blue, although it appears black to the naked eye. Timing is incredibly important here. You can’t do it in daylight, as you won’t be able to get the effect.

To best capture the beauty of these cascading lines of light, the first thing I had to do was set the shutter speed on my camera quite low. It’s subjective as per your personal taste, but for these images, I experimented with speeds

AFTER-DARKRECREATING CELEBRATIONS FROM HIS CHILDHOOD, SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI PRODUCES A STUNNING PHOTO FEATURE THAT CONTRASTS LIGHT AND DARK IN THE MOUNTAINS OF OMAN

SPARKS

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ranging from half a second to three seconds. There is no specific rule, but ideally you don’t want to go beyond five seconds.

When using low-shutter speeds, you either need to use a tripod with a timer or remote, because even the force of pressing the shutter release button shakes the camera ever so slightly and jeopardises the photo.

Having my camera set on a timer meant that I could quite literally sit back and enjoy this breathtaking show from a safe distance. It reminded me of a firework display with the volume on mute and for those few moments the entire space around us was illuminated in the darkness.

Although it may look like the figures below the sparks are in danger, they are in fact perfectly safe as they whirl the flaming object above their heads, causing the sparks to fan out around them in a majestic shower.

Naturally, we still took all the safety precautions we could, with two fire extinguishers on site and I used a zoom lens so I could shoot the show from a safe distance.

I’m very pleased with how our experiment turned out, especially seeing as this was the first time I’d attempted to capture the magic on camera, and it certainly brought back plenty of happy childhood memories.

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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

EATING OUTMoving into the winter months, eating outside once again becomes a

feasible option and there is no better way to appreciate Oman’s outdoors than with

a good old picnic.

Picnic-Wiches with Greek Artichoke-Beet Relish

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With temperatures easing in the Sultanate, it’s time to start venturing back into the great outdoors, which means eating al fresco

There’s nothing like a day out at the beach, exploring a wadi or heading up a mountain to work up an appetite. But instead of taking the easy way out with a container of hummus, some flatbread and a

supermarket-cooked chicken, why not perk up your next picnic with these deliciously different sandwiches and salads? They are super easy to prepare and – best of all – can be made ahead.

From tortilla wraps to tasty, rustic salads, these top picnic picks are certain to bring compliments to the chef. Just don’t let on how easy it was!

For additional recipes and serving suggestions, visit auntnellies.com or readsalads.com.

* Family Features

PERFECT PICNICS

Serves: 4Preparation Time: 30 minutesIngredients:§ 1 jar Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets or canned beetroot§ 2 tbsp finely chopped red onion§ 1–2 tbsp capers§ 1–2 tsp lemon zest§ 1/2 cup spreadable chive cream cheese§ 2 large soft flour tortillas (15cm in diameter)§ 8 slices smoked salmon§ 1/2 cup baby spinach leaves

Method:§ Drain beets; chop. Discard beet liquid. In medium bowl, combine beets, onion, capers and lemon zest.§ Spread 1/4 cup cream cheese evenly over each tortilla, leaving 2.5cm

border. Place four salmon slices over cream cheese; press lightly. Top each with spinach. Sprinkle beet mixture evenly over spinach.§ Roll up. Wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to four hours. § To serve, remove plastic wrap; cut each tortilla into two pieces.

Note: Can be made with other meats.

Serves: 6Ingredients:§ 1 jar Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets or canned beetroot§ 1 jar marinated artichoke hearts§ ½ cup pitted kalamata or ripe olives, sliced§ 3 tbsp sliced green onions§ Freshly ground black pepper to taste§ 6 romaine lettuce leaves§ 450g thinly sliced deli turkey§ 6 ciabatta or sandwich rolls, sliced horizontally in half§ 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese§ ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted

Method:§ Drain beets and artichoke hearts, reserving 1/4 cup liquid from each. Coarsely chop beets and

artichoke hearts. Combine beets, artichokes, olives and green onions in medium bowl; set aside.§ Whisk together reserved beet and artichoke liquids in a small bowl. Pour over beet mixture; toss gently to coat. Season with black pepper, if desired.§ Layer lettuce and turkey on bottom halves of rolls. Top with relish, feta cheese and pine nuts. Top with remaining halves of rolls. Wrap tightly; chill for up to four hours until ready to serve. Serve with the remaining relish.

Bean, Tortellini & Pesto SaladServes: 6Ingredients:§ 2 cans (425g each) 3 or 4 Bean Salad§ 1/4 cup prepared basil pesto§ 1/2 tsp salt (optional)§ 1 package (255g) refrigerated tortellini, any variety

Method:§ Drain bean salad; reserve 1/2 cup liquid. § Combine reserved liquid, pesto and salt, if desired; set aside.§ Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain, rinse in cold water and drain again. Add pesto dressing; toss to coat. Add stir-ins if desired.

Toss with bean salad.§ Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Note: Recipe can be doubled.Optional Stir-Ins: grape tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes, chopped bell pepper and thinly sliced green onion.

Smoked Salmon & Beet Wraps

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It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve been waiting months to try Sakura, an Asian cuisine and sushi eaterie, ideally placed not far from my home in Al Hail North.

I’ve been driving past it for ages, watching it taking shape from a shell of a building to a fully functioning restaurant but, frustratingly, it never seemed to actually be open for business. Finally, I glanced over on the way home a few weeks ago and saw bright lights shining in the night and a definite sign of life inside.

Without further ado, I persuaded Y’s managing editor, Felicity, and her daughter Miss C (aged 12 but “almost 13”) to come along for the culinary ride; as the boss used to live in Hong Kong, I figured that she would know a thing or two about Asian food.

Arriving relatively early on a Friday night, I managed to bag one of the outside tables (there’s two levels of dining indoors with chic Japanese interior styling) and ordered a Sakura Lemongrass special drink (very sweet but good) while waiting for my fellow gourmands.

The head chef was sitting at the next table and during a chat he explained the delay in opening was due to his services also being required in Dubai, and also revealed that the restaurant name comes from the Japanese tradition of picnicking under the sakura (cherry blossom) tree.

As soon as the girls arrived, a waiter brought along menus and took the drinks order. A steady stream of diners wandered past, so clearly I wasn’t the only one who had been waiting to try it out – not surprising, given its proximity to the residential complex, Al Mouj, which is just down the road – and one passerby, who had been picking up a takeaway at the restaurant next door, even darted in and asked us what it was like, so there seems to be an expectant buzz about the place.

Glancing at the menu, we found a mix of

different Asian food influences taking you on an edible journey sweeping across different countries, from Japan’s sushi and miso soup, via China’s dumplings, to Thai Green Curry. Hungry, we ordered prawns with wasabi mayonnaise, chicken teriyaki maki rolls, a type of sushi, and chicken dumplings (a favourite of Miss C) for starters, and I would have added vegetable spring rolls to the table, except they were unavailable.

For mains, we settled on sweet and sour chicken (Miss C’s choice) and beef teriyaki, along with several bowls of steamed rice. As we waited, snacking on prawn crackers with chilli sauce and rice vinegar dips, it was nice to enjoy eating al fresco after the long summer and although the outlook isn’t great (onto a service road), it was still

liberating after those months stuck inside.Then in a sudden flurry, all the food starting

arriving at the same time. Now, call me old fashioned, but I like my starters to come first, followed (after a respectable wait) by the main course. I don’t like everything coming at the same time, as it did at Sakura, so you have the maki rolls fighting for space on a crowded table with the sweet and sour chicken. That said, the food was all excellent. Miss C gobbled up the dumplings, showing off her skills with the chopsticks, while the adults feasted on the wasabi prawns, which were a little light on wasabi taste but delicious nonetheless. The standout for me, however, was the maki rolls, looking like small pieces of art on a plate and tasting even better, with a perfect balance of flavours, which also were a hit with my discerning boss. Star of the show for Miss C was clearly the sweet and sour chicken, scooped up with steamed rice. The beef wasn’t half bad either, tender and well cooked, with delicate seasoning, not too overpowering for the palate.

Thank goodness the vegetable spring rolls were not available after all, as our stomachs were filling fast. Still, we left space to squeeze in a dessert. The waiter recommended the banana spring roll and who was I to argue? It arrived promptly, looking exactly like a spring roll, but filled with hot banana and served with ice cream. Miss C and I made light work of it and very nice it was, too.

Just as we left, someone from the kitchen came out and did the rounds of the outside tables, asking if guests were pleased with their meals. We were very happy and, bearing in mind that it’s still in the launch stage and overcoming teething problems, I have high hopes for Sakura becoming part of my regular culinary circuit in the future.

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

ASIAN DELIGHT

Info BoxSAKURA

Al Mouj Street, MuscatTel: +968 2428 4645

Opening Hours: 12pm to 11pm daily

Dinner and drinks for three: RO30.6

Verdict :7.5 / 10 Service

8 / 10 Food 8 / 10 Ambience

Promising start for a newbie on the Muscat culinary scene

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

MARKET

IT’S NAME MEANS CHERRY BLOSSOM AND SAKURA LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BLOOM INTO A GREAT RESTAURANT, FINDS KATE GINN

WCQ 2015 Vs India-V2-Ymag-OTP.pdf 1 9/28/15 11:47 AM

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HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

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EAST MEETS WESTKnown for her mixed cultural

aesthetic, Chinese-born designer Vivienne Tam’s autumn collection takes

inspiration from chinoiserie – the European impression

of China in the 17th century – with a modern twist.

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ORIENTEXPRESSCapture some Eastern magic with the hot look on this autumn’s catwalks

1. Keep it simple with elegant lines and chic tailoring. 2. Don’t overdo the Eastern influence. Sometime less is definitely more, so channel the look with accessories or key pieces, rather than head-to-toe. 3. Watch those clashing colours and prints. Vibrant red is great, but not when it sits next to orange.

There was no doubting the Chinese influence this season when the collections hit the catwalk. From dragons unfurling down the front

of a gown at Valentino to crimson columns of lace (tiered at Alexander McQueen, straight at Diane Von Furstenberg, embroidered at Roberto Cavalli) and limitless amounts of gold, the runways were awash with Eastern magic. We’re not talking Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon here, but rich colours and indulgent fabrics. Seen in Spring shows, from Prada among others (layered oriental silk shirts), the look has crossed over into the winter months.

Look out for silks and colourful piping to Japanese motif prints and other far-flung destinations of the Orient on anything from dresses to T-shirts. Browse the high street, malls in Muscat and souks of Oman to unearth some Eastern gems that catch your eye.

How to make it

work:TURNING JAPANESE

This charming Naoki print tunic dress from Phase Eight with a design of flowers and butterflies gives a touch of the East without going over the top. The three-quarter length angel sleeves, round neckline and soft jersey bodice flatters most shapes. RO58

Add a sprinkling of the East to your outfit any way you can. This white oriental fringed poncho works well with smart jeans or trousers and will help keep you toasty warm during the cooler Omani winter. Available at Accessorize (there’s one in City Centre Muscat) RO23

Every woman should have a pair shoes by the iconic designer Jimmy Choo during her lifetime, although most of us may not be able to afford it. Still, if you can push the boat out, the Darylin is made from glossy

patent-leather and the softest suede in the rich crimson red hue of the Orient with

a gold panel at the heel. RO267 from net-a-porter.com

Traditional Japanese kimonos, or variations of them, are popping up all over labels this season. We love this Biba Kimono dress by House of Fraser combining the Orient with the ongoing fringed 1970s boho. RO58. Check out House of Fraser stores in Dubai Mall or World Trade Center Mall, Abu Dhabi

We’re a fan of these and it’s easy to see why. Keep cool and look the part with a Chinese bamboo-folding fan, an absolute bargain at RO1.14. Available in black, red, white and pink from dotcomgiftshop.com

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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

TREAT YOUR Leave stereotypes of masculinity behind and take the pampering plunge with a pedicure, recommends Matt Blackwell

Hair and beards tend to steal the spotlight when it comes to male grooming, but if you really think about it, it’s our

feet that do all the hard work. They carry us from A to B, day in, day out, all the while keeping enough in the tank to kick a football around come the evening or weekend.

And what do they get in return for all this work? Generally nothing. However, this is changing, with pedicures and other traditionally female-orientated beauty treatments becoming more readily available for men at spas and salons around the capital.

“Guys should take good care of their body, especially their face and feet,” says Rail L Iligan, manager of Spaloon, the male-only salon and day spa in Qurum. “I think it’s all about proper education and how you inform men of the benefits of treatment. Slowly, they are starting to learn and some men now spend more on grooming than women.”

I consider myself as something of a modern man; I’ve had waxing treatments in the past and back home in the UK, I used to regularly spend in the region of RO15 on getting my hair cut each month. But years of sports, together with wearing closed shoes and socks daily, have taken their toll on my feet and I must admit that their maintenance and upkeep had fallen by the wayside somewhat.

Coerced by changing attitudes and a trend that is seeing increasing amounts of men taking care of their tootsies, I found myself walking into Spaloon, the brightly lit, bustling palace of male pampering nestled in Qurum Heights.

After opening Spaloon back in November 2011, Rail has seen business flourish as demand for grooming soars among Muscat’s male population.

“When I first opened this branch, I wasn’t really expecting that the men in Oman would really go for this kind of pampering, but as the years have gone by, I’ve seen an increased demand and we are looking at opening a second branch later this year,” he says. “More guys are starting to take care of their feet, which is really important because many men here wear open-toed sandals so they need to have nails that are clean.

“Also, having clean feet keeps away all fungus and bacteria, so it’s a hygiene thing as well.”

Pedicures were a completely foreign concept to me and I had no idea what lay in store, but it all began innocently enough with a foot soak while seated in a suitably plush chair.

Five minutes later, a young gentleman entered the room, bringing with him a host of equipment and creams. Brandishing something similar to miniature grater, he began to remove the tough dead skin with a vigorous motion before pulling out a large filing paddle, which was used on the hardest areas of the foot, around the heel, ball and big toe. While it may sound uncomfortable, the

sensation actually tickled more than anything.

Next, a miniature scalpel-like device was produced to scrape the surface of the nails and cuticles to remove dirt, before finishing up with a clipping and shaping. I happened to glance down and my feet were almost unrecognisable.

Just when I thought everything had come to an end, the beauty therapist proceeded to lather my feet in exfoliating cream and give them a good hard scrub before applying a moisturising cream to imbue them with a healthy sheen and leave them looking better than they had done in years.

While I may have had my reservations going in, these were soon scrubbed away with all the dirt and impurities and it almost seemed a shame to cover up my new-look feet with shoes and socks when the time came to pay and leave.

As I began walking again, the difference was immediately noticeable; it felt like I was walking on a layer of soft carpet – and that’s a feeling I could easily get used to.

Why have a pedicure?

1. Improves foot health2. Helps release stress3. Removes foot odours4. Prevents ingrown toenails5. Makes you look and feel good

*Photos for illustrative purposes only

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

They can strike without warning and last for days. Here, Y looks at what can be done to manage migraines

MIGRAINE

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With nearly 900 million sufferers around the world, migraines are one of the most common health conditions affecting people today. They can range from mild to debilitating and cause people to suffer from a variety of

problems, ranging from blurred vision to nausea among others. Dr Atta G A Alkaznaji, a specialist in neurology at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi explains what migraines are, what causes them and how they can be managed.

What is a migraine and what are some of the symptoms?Migraine is a chronic condition, and usually presents itself as headaches that are experienced on one side, or both sides of

the head. The pain experienced can be intense and throbbing, and may also be felt in the temples, or behind the eye/s. These headaches can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, spots in the vision, blurred vision and sensitivity to smells, light and sound. A migraine can occur any time of the day; most people tend to get them in the mornings, with the pain lasting for anywhere from an hour to 72 hours. People who suffer from them can get them twice a week, or even twice a year.

People can also suffer from a migraine with an aura. In such a scenario, a person might have certain sensory symptoms, such as flashing lights, blind spots, numbness, or tingling in the face and hands, irregularities in their sense of taste and smell, or feeling fuzzy, 10 minutes to half an hour before the onset of a headache. Some people could also experience hyperactivity, food cravings, irritability, depression, stiffness in the neck, or constant yawning a day or two prior to the onset of a migraine. Fatigue and general exhaustion are also typical when a migraine attack is over.

What causes a migraine attack? The exact cause of a migraine is not very clear; the reasons could range from genetic factors to having a brain that is more

sensitive to certain stimuli compared to others. Migraines are also linked

to an imbalance in brain chemicals such as serotonin, as the levels of serotonin drop during migraines. Women are also more likely to have migraines compared to men, and their migraines are often triggered by hormonal changes.

There are certain triggers that cause migraines. These include a lack of or too much sleep, irregular eating habits, certain food or food additives, sensory stimuli such as bright lights, loud sounds and strong odours, stress, weather changes, alcohol and caffeine, or changes in lifestyle such as those brought on by travel.

What is the treatment for migraines?There’s no cure for migraines. However, people suffering from migraines have to learn to manage them with the help of their

regular doctor. Doctors could prescribe OTC (over-the-counter) analgesics such as

aspirin, acetaminophen, or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen, which can provide relief from the headaches when taken in the right dose at the right time. Doctors can prescribe stronger mediation for those who don’t respond to the OTCs. Medication can be given as a preventive measure to curb symptoms of the condition as well. Hormone therapy may also be suggested for women whose migraines are triggered by hormonal changes.

Lifestyle changes play a great role in curbing triggers. These include a regular schedule with set times for meals, complemented with exercise and adequate sleep. Reduced caffeine and alcohol intake is recommended. Relaxation techniques and yoga can also help to reduce stress, which is a known trigger for migraines.

However, it is very important that you seek medical attention if the symptoms get worse, as they could indicate something more serious. Headaches that worsen with movement, or come on suddenly; headaches that bring on fever and seizures, or those experienced after an injury shouldn’t be ignored.

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P o s t c a r d s f r o m I n d o o r s Y - F i

CARS ANDADVENTURES SPLASHING AROUND

This lazy frog enjoys a lift from his friend as they swim through the

water at Wadi Bani Kharus.

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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 I n d o o r s CARS ANDADVENTURES

Destination

WADI BANI KHARUSAfter a busy morning, Shaquel al Balushi finds that

Wadi Bani Kharus is the perfect place to get some much-needed headspace

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Wadi Bani Kharus is a long and winding waterway that

snakes its way over 30km, all the way from Jebel Akhdar to the village of Al Awabi. It’s pretty well known and is popular with weekend visitors, but I decided to visit a much lesser explored part for my latest Destination. This was the first time I’d been and I took inspiration from a fantastic photography book I have at home, which had some inviting photos of the wadi.

It’s about a 90-minute drive from the capital and as we approached, we passed through a string of small villages until the road began to alternate between blacktop and dirt track before eventually giving way to the nature. Luckily, I was riding shotgun in my friend’s 4x4, so this didn’t stop us from delving deeper into the wild.

When we could take our 4x4 no further, we parked and began walking. While the weather was glorious earlier that morning, it was now 1pm and more and more clouds were beginning to form, which made the temperature very

mild and pleasant. In fact, one of the first photos I took wasn’t of the wadi at all, as I turned my camera towards the sky and snapped some interesting cloud formations with the sun peeking out from behind.

The terrain got rocky quickly with the boulders growing in size, many of which had been washed smooth by the passage of water through the wadi in times of heavy rain. There were also pools of calm water that increased in frequency and size the further along we trekked. They were largely shallow – barely deep enough for a paddle above the ankles – but did get deeper in places.

My friend and I had already visited Wadi Bani Ghafir that day [Issue 387] and although quite close to each other, the two wadis could not have been more different. Wadi Bani Ghafir had been filled with the sounds and smells of families cooking up delicious foods and kids frolicking in the water, but all I could hear at Wadi Bani

From Muscat, take Route 1, exiting left onto Route 13 when you get to Barka. Stay on this road all the way to Al Awabi. The wadi can be reached via a track behind the old fort.

GPS location: N23° 17’ 59.873” E57° 31’ 50.253”TRAV

HOW TO GET THERE

Kharus was the sound of silence, punctuated every now and then by the gentle sound of water as it trickled past in a slow moving stream. We were the only souls there and I loved it; it was so tranquil.

At one point, we came across a tent that was set up alongside a large rock formation and what looked like a living area, with a kettle and other cooking items. I assume they were Bedouins because it looked like a semi-permanent fixture, but we didn’t see the occupants on our travels, so I wasn’t able to confirm this.

We did see a couple of frogs splashing about in one of the shallow pools, but apart from that, there

weren’t any signs of animal life either.

There were a few times when the thorns and brush blocked our path, although we pushed our way through, getting a few scratches and scrapes for our troubles, but it was all worth it. The sights that met my eyes were

beautiful. The composition of the scenery before me was close to perfect, with the combination of water, mountains and sky that really took my breath away.

Doing some further reading about my destination, I found that the range of rock formations at Wadi Bani Kharus date back more than 500 million years, making it an area of great geological importance. I also heard that the deeper into the wadi you venture, you can find fossils of ancient snails and clams, but we didn’t see any on our visit.

Our pace was a meandering one due to frequent stops to take pictures of little details along the way. We wound our way further into the wadi over several hours and although we weren’t following any specific path, we eventually found ourselves looping back towards the location of our car.

Wadi Bani Kharus is a beautiful place, especially now that the weather is starting to cool slightly, and I would wholeheartedly recommend a visit to this little undiscovered corner of Oman.

Doodle

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT RANDOM

SCRIBBLES DON’T COUNT AS ART, BUT IT’S A GROWING FORM OF SELF-

EXPRESSION. IT’S ALSO FUNKY, COOL

AND CREATIVE AND CAN HELP

WITH ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION. DEEBA HASAN TRIES IT OUT

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

O C T 0 8 - 1 4 / I S S U E 3 8 90 4 0

As soon as the doodle art session started at The Lounge, a very creative and colourful space in Ghala where artists and students meet up regularly for

discussions and workshops, all the participants had only one thing in mind – creativity. We knew we had to be as creative as possible to match the expectations of our 22-year-old instructor, Amira al Musalmi, a nurse by profession, but a brilliant doodle artist on the side.

According to Amira, we are all doodle artists, in that we scribble or draw something in our notebooks when we are otherwise occupied with something else. Examples could be doodling in school notebooks when we are bored or just not interested in a lesson being taught by the teacher. “Sometimes you would doodle over a long telephone conversation or a boring office meeting, so that makes us all doodle artists but, some of us take it more seriously than the others and develop it,” says Amira.

The young instructor started doodling when she was about 15 years old, but she gave it up shortly after that. “I was into doodling as a teenager, but I really thought my art wasn’t very nice back then and so decided to quit. A few years later, though, I decided to study art properly and then got into doodling again.”

Doodles are simple or complex sketches that can have a specific or abstract meaning, as interpreted by the viewer. A lot of them are fairly evident, but many others are subtle and that is exactly what Amira likes about doodle art.

“When I was younger, art was like an escape or a process of relaxation for me, but when I discovered doodle art, it added more mystery without looking mysterious – it’s fun and looks very happy. If I draw a leaf, it can resemble life, depending on what I draw around it,” she says.

Another aspect about doodle art that Amira likes is the thought process involved, “With normal art, you draw something and it’s over, but with doodle

art, you keep adding stuff to your drawing and the thought process is complex at times because you have to add objects and so you need to think.”

In the workshop, Amira first told all of us to draw a closed, solid object. It could be a leaf, cloud, face, anything we fancied. I drew a sun and bordered it with triangles.

Next she asked us to draw another object, but this time she wanted us to draw around it. I drew a square and squeezed in many more squares within it, trying to be as creative as I could. Next, I drew a few hearts and wings on the side but didn’t feel satisfied enough and so drew a leaf and many leaves inside it. But I still wasn’t satisfied because I couldn’t add much around it.

For Amira, doodle art is a form of expression. She doodles when she hears about things trending on social media, or when she feels strongly about something. “I was going through a bad time and I created a doodle design that was sort of coming out of an eye. It was a time when nothing was working out for me and I just expressed it all there. I did that doodle with darker colours as well. It was a weird one, but it expressed my thoughts well,” she tells me.

Amira tends to use clouds in her doodles because to her, the fact that they bring rain symbolises growth.

This young artist doodles to express her thoughts, relax and be creative, but she has also taken it up as a side business and doodles for paying customers. The minimum cost per doodle is RO15 and Amira charges money because she is self-taught and doodling takes up a lot of time and effort. “I have had a few customers come up and ask me to design some stuff for them. They give me the theme and I have to come up with the objects and the final design.”

When she is working on a special doodle for a client, it takes Amira about four days, with five hours per day of work, depending on the size and intensity of the design.

While I was feeling lost staring at my doodle, Amira showed us one particular doodle design she had done for a client. It was quite evident from the art that it was all about love, with cute hearts and love messages flying all over the space, some of them hidden in small shapes. I grew really inspired by this – and started drawing something similar, but with my own shapes and words.

P o s t c a r d s f r o m Y - F i I N D O O R S

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Amira told us we need to be completely engrossed in our artwork if we wanted it to be good. “It’s all about the focus and for how long you can keep that focus.” she says.

Another thing Amira likes about doodle art is that it can also help with hiding messages or making words less prominent. “Sometimes when you don’t want the message to be very clear, you can hide it in doodles. This way you can express yourself without imparting the idea and people will also appreciate your design.”

An important tip we got from the workshop was that the look of the doodles depends on how dark or light you make it and you would normally do that using a pen. Towards the end of the session, Amira gave us tips on what pens to use for different types of doodling (the best ones are those with a small tip, 0.5 or below) and showed us her personal collection that she uses on her designs.

At the end of the workshop, all the participants had come up with their own designs. “It was a great session, I learnt some amazing tips and I can improve my doodles a great deal now,” says one participant who has been doodling on and off for the past year.

I drew a heart in a quote shaped object and started filling it up with whatever I had in mind – a bottle, some words like hello and smile – then added a few hearts and other shapes to it. To round it off, I highlighted certain parts with a black pen and was quite impressed with the final result. I was really proud of my design and while it wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, I think it wasn’t a bad attempt for a first-timer.

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TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO:1. Visit the wild north coast where the

Atlantic Ocean crashes onto the shore

2. Have dinner at The Cliff Restaurant

in St James

3. Scuba dive with turtles at Dottins Reef

4. Explore the amazing Harrison’s Caves

5. Eat the Bajan national dish, the flying fish

PARADISE FOUNDThe beaches in the parish of St James

are some of the most stunning Barbados

has to offer. Clear blue waters lazily lapping perfect white sands,

fringed by green palm trees are a common

sight.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

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

My favourite place There’s no arguing the beauty of Barbados’ beaches. As an island, it has an abundance of places to lay your beach mat and soak up the rays as the hours slip blissfully past. Crane Beach, on the south coast, was once voted one of the 10 best beaches in the world. My top spot for sun worshipping, however, was at St James, once known as the “Gold Coast”, but now referred to as the “Platinum Coast” due to its magnificent beach-front mansions, billionaire residents and luxury hotels. It also has great restaurants – a trip to Barbados is not complete without a meal at The Cliff Restaurant in St James, where you dine perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the beach, lit up by the glow of torchlights at night. The area is far from exclusive, though, and you’ll be made to feel at home whatever your holiday budget. Away from the glitz, Portvale Sugar Factory – one of the few remaining operational sugar factories on the island – is well worth a visit.

Highlights I loved the contrast between the calmer coast on the Caribbean Sea side and the wild, untamed east coast, which is pounded by the altogether more ferocious Atlantic Ocean (check out the fishing village of Bathsheba). The best spot to see the Atlantic Ocean meeting the coast, though, is the north side. While here, visit Animal Flower Cave, descended into by a narrow steep stairwell, where you can take a dip in clear water pools with only crabs for company. Stop off at the old café (rebuilt following a storm in 1962) for a cuppa and don’t forget to add your business card to the thousands stuck on the walls and roof by visitors (mine is there somewhere). You must also visit Harrison’s Cave, a massive underground stream system, with incredible crystallised formations. There’s a tram tour through the caves if you don’t fancy walking. I would also recommend hiring a car and taking a tour of the island, or book onto a 4x4 Jeep Safari to see all the attractions. The Bajan food was also a real highlight: don’t leave without trying the flying fish with cou cou (made with cornmeal and okra) and served with gravy. Party central is St Lawrence Gap, a 1.3km stretch of road in Christ Church with fine restaurants and lively nightlife.

Lowlights Wet season is June to November, so you have been warned. I also wasn’t a fan of Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, although it’s a staple stop-off for cruise ships and is the main shopping destination. Hawkers peddling anything from suntan lotion to massages on the beaches can also be a bit of a nuisance. Souvenirs Spend your Barbadian dollars (US dollars are also widely accepted) on leather goods and handmade jewellery, all at very reasonable prices. The wood carvings are equally cool. Broad Street is the main shopping area in Bridgetown.

Where to stay If you’ve got rials to burn, then it has to be Sandy Lane, a luxurious hotel that has hosted monarchs, heads of state and Hollywood stars. The oceanfront property with 112 plantation-style rooms has four restaurants, seven bars and three golf courses. With a double room costing up to RO429 per night (including breakfast), you’ll need that credit card. All inclusive resorts such as the Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa are popular, but there are also a host of cheaper guesthouses and self-catering places for more down-to-earth living.

BARBADOSKate Ginn recommends

Wa r m e d b y t h e C a r i b b e a n s u n , w i t h t e m p e r a t u r e s r a r e l y r i s i n g a b o v e a p l e a s a n t 3 1 d e g r e e s C e l s i u s , a n d w i t h l o n g s t r e t c h e s o f i n v i t i n g s a n d y b e a c h e s f r i n g e d w i t h s w a y i n g p a l m t r e e s o v e r l o o k i n g

s p a r k l i n g b l u e w a t e r s , i t ’ s l i tt l e w o n d e r t h a t t h e s m a l l i s l a n d n a t i o n o f B a r b a d o s i s s u c h a f a v o u r i t e w i t h t o u r i s t s . I t o n l y t a k e s o n e v i s i t t o b e s e d u c e d b y t h e c h a r m , r i c h c u l t u r e a n d t r o p i c a l b e a u t y .

A l t h o u g h s m a l l - j u s t 3 4 k m l o n g a n d 2 3 k m w i d e - i t ’ s p e r f e c t l y fo r m e d a n d o ff e r s a n i n c r e d i b l y d i v e r s e r a n g e o f h o l i d a y s , f r o m s i m p l y s u n b a t h i n g t o a c t i o n - p a c k e d ( w a t e r s p o r t s a n d t r e k k i n g t o n a m e a f e w ) , a n d i t s c o l o n i a l p a s t p r o v i d e s p l e n t y fo r h i s t o r y b u ff s .

A l l fo u r s i d e s o f t h e i s l a n d a r e a l s o d i s t i n c t l y d i ff e r e n t ; t h e w e s t c o a s t , l a p p e d b y t h e C a r i b b e a n S e a , h a s w h i t e s h o r e s ; t h e e a s t c o a s t i s g r e a t fo r w a l k i n g ; w h i l e t h e r u g g e d n o r t h c o a s t e n j o y s s p e c t a c u l a r p a n o r a m i c v i e w s , p r i v a t e c o v e s a n d i n t i m a t e b a y s a n d t h e s o u t h c o a s t i s a h a v e n fo r w i n d s u r f e r s .

C h i c a n d s t y l i s h , t h e i s l a n d i s b e l o v e d b y t h e r i c h a n d f a m o u s , w i t h c e l e b r i t i e s o f t e n s p o tt e d o n t h e b e a c h e s .

A s i t ’ s p a r t o f t h e B r i t i s h C o m m o n w e a l t h - a l t h o u g h a n i n d e p e n d e n t n a t i o n - y o u a l s o g e t t h e c h a n c e t o t r y q u i n t e s s e n t i a l E n g l i s h p u r s u i t s s u c h a s a f t e r n o o n t e a a n d c r i c k e t ( t h e B a r b a d i a n n a t i o n a l s p o r t ) , w h e r e y o u c a n m e e t t h e l o c a l s , w h o a r e f r i e n d l y , w a r m a n d w e l c o m i n g , w i t h a h u g e a p p e t i t e fo r fu n !

DIVING WITH TURTLES

THE CLIFF RESTAURANT

IN ST JAMES

BAJAN NATIONAL DISH, THE FLYING FISH

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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

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JUST FOR FUN

R’S PI

CK DO IT YOURSELFFANCY YOURSELF AS SOMETHING OF AN ENGINEER OR SCIENTIST? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, YOU NEED TO GIVE THE SMART HOME KIT FROM LITTLEBITS A SHOT. DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU THE POWER TO CONTROL TECHNOLOGY AND INVENT AT HOME, THE KIT INCLUDES EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BUILD AN INTERNET CONNECTED DEVICE WITHOUT PROGRAMMING OR WIRING. WHETHER YOU WANT TO TURN YOUR OLD AC UNIT INTO A SMART ONE, OR ARE KEEN FOR YOUR CURTAINS TO AUTOMATICALLY OPEN AT SUNRISE, THIS SMART HOME KIT IS JUST THE TICKET TO REALISE YOUR VISION. AVAILABLE AT LITTLEBITS.CC FROM RO96.27.

Not every piece of technology is useful, so why not invest in some just for fun? After all, life is too short says Matthew Herbst

HOVER LIGHT Integrating sculpture with cutting-edge technology, the Levitron Lamp features a revolving shade that miraculously levitates more than three centimetres above its base. The six cool white, high-intensity LEDs provide accent lighting to further the futuristic ambience. You can even use the lamp magnet to levitate personal objects using the magnet-positioning tool (included). Available at amazon.com from RO57.74.

PEW PEW It may look like your run-of-the-mill fitness tracker, but the Moff is far from it. A wearable smart toy for your little busy body kids, Moff comes with its own accelerometer and gyroscope to track the child's movements across a 3D plane. It will pair with a smartphone app via Bluetooth, through which kids choose what sounds to assign to specific motions, such as triggering laser sounds when firing an invisible gun. It’s the perfect way to get kids off the sofa and keep them fit with cool sounds. Each one comes with a battery that lasts for up to 30 hours of continuous play. Currently a Kickstarter project, but will be available from RO17.32 eventually. Check out kickstarter.com to learn more.

IREPTILE Stay in touch with your inner child and adopt a little MiPosaur. You can control this modern-day dinosaur robot with 10 different hand gestures and download the free app to train, tame and game using your smart device. Alternatively, use the TrackBall to take your MiPosaur for a walk on a virtual leash, play games including fetch or “dino in the middle” and turn the ball into his favourite new toy. You can also feed him, watch him dance or even beatbox. Available at amazon.com from RO49.67.

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App of the Week

BUBBLE POP ACTIONIf you loved getting hold of bubble wrap as a child and couldn’t contain the urge to pop it all, listen up. Action Bubble Pop Race has made it into a competitive activity and you can take on similar addicts around the world. Pop 25 bubbles as fast as you can, and adjust the speed if you have lightning fingers – it’s a great stress reliever! Free for iOS and Android users.

UP IN THE AIR The portable WEATHERmeter from WeatherFlow plugs into the audio port of your smartphone and transforms it into your own personal weather station, with real time updates on wind, temperature, humidity and pressure. Data is recorded directly to the accompanying app and all devices have been calibrated at the University of Florida’s Aerospace Engineering Department, so it’s probably the most accurate handheld weather device on the commercial market. Just hold your smartphone up high and let the app do the rest. Great for sailing, fishing, golfing and other outdoor activities. Available at weatherflow.com from RO30.79.

Remember the View-Master from the 1980s? Well, meet the 2015 version. Similar to the View-Masters of yesteryear, the updated product still comes with its trademark reels. In this version, however, you simply put the reels on a surface and look at them while wearing the headset. From there, an augmented reality system will be activated that turns the reel into an interactive viewing platform that lets you explore a 360-degree view of famous cities, landmarks and even alien planets, with nothing more than a head movement. Available at view-master.com, with headsets starting at RO11.55 and reels available for RO5.77.

NEW VIRTUAL VIEW MASTER

SMARTPLANEBaffle your work colleagues by sneaking the world’s first smartphone-controlled plane into the office one day. The SmartPlane is ultra-light and specifically designed for indoor use, with a range of more than 60 metres. Hallways, living rooms and meeting rooms will never be the same again. It responds to hand movements in real time and automatically adjusts after analysing situations to assist your flying, all you have to do is tilt, turn and increase the throttle – it doesn’t get much easier than that. Available at amazon.co.uk from RO26.93.

Tall Order: Bahla Fort is an enduring reminder of the power of the Banu Nebhan tribe, who built the imposing adobe structure between the 13th and 14th centuries. The Unesco World Heritage Site is the biggest fort in the Sultanate, while its towers rise up to 50 metres above the foundations. Photo by Felicity Glover

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P I C T U R E O F T H E W E E K

Y Magazine #389, October 8, 2015

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