Y Magazine #327, July 3, 2014

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Your top guide to the best of oman, everY week

StyliSh ScarveS

hiStOric iZKi

FreNch FaNcyP

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JULY 03 - 09 / ISSUE 327 • WEEKLY

3032 38

Free!EVERY THURSDAY

NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR

BEAUTY: The Golden GirlINDOORS: Dancing Under the Stars 2

News: LULU STRIKE CREATES CHAOS FOR SHOPPERS10

THE SPIRIT OF RAMADAN

WORLD CUP / MY IFTAR / FABULOUS FILMS / HOLY MONTH GIVEAWAYS / GOING NATURAL / HEALTHY EATING / POSTCARD FROM RIGA

Win! Galaxy Tab 4the beSt ramadaN gadgetS

Reflect&share

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Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing &

Advertising LLC /Y is a SABCO Media product.

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

enquiries, please email [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to Y Magazine –

your indispensable guide to everything modern Oman has

to offer.

EDITOR IN CHIEFSayyida Iman bint Hamad

bin Hamood Al Busaidi

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Eihab Abutaha

MANAGING EDITORFelicity Glover

SECTIONS EDITORKate Ginn

PHOTOGRAPHER Jerzy Wierzbicki

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

INTERN Deeba Hasan

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Feroz Khan

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

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

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Ways to get your Y fix

Fast forwardThe Holy Month of Ramadan is upon us, marking a time for reflection, good deeds,

fasting and quality time spent with family and friends.They say that every picture tells a thousand words and that is just what Team

Y sets out to do in our cover story this week, with our photographer Jerzy Wierzbicki scouring Muscat to capture how many of you observe Iftar.

As you will see, some are simple affairs, while others are more elaborate – but the common denominator is sharing.

In Destination, we take a walk through history amid the houses and ruins of Izki, believed to be the oldest village in Oman, while our Style Counsel expert Barbra Young treats herself to a gold facial to overcome the effects of jetlag.

Meanwhile, our coverage of the World Cup continues, we check out the best gadgets and apps for Ramadan and explore the meaning behind Iftar in Oman in 43 Objects.

Ramadan Mubarak!

TEAM Y [email protected] Y has sampled its first Iftar of

Ramadan, gone to the new VOX cinema to see How To Train Your Dragon 2 for the

second time (don’t ask) and watching Y mascot Ally the kitten learn new tricks.

THIS WEEK…

the barOmeter

Congratulations to all our competition winners this week. To see the full list, go to P24-25, where you will also find a host of other special Ramadan giveaways – including a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4.

GOInG UPMAKING A DIFFERENCE

Thinking of others during the Holy Month of Ramadan, such as giving to

charity, looking out for your neighbours, being courteous on the roads and sharing Iftar with others less fortunate. There’s a

myriad of ways to make a difference.

GOInG DOWnMAD MOTORISTS

Irresponsible drivers who intentionally slow down to a crawl to irritate the

motorist behind them despite the growing traffic snarl they have created – and then block said motorist’s way when they see them indicating their intention to turn.

d r e a m O v e rTraditional European football

powerhouses are dropping like flies at the World Cup in Brazil, with the likes

of England, Russia, Portugal, Spain and Italy already being knocked out. The Netherlands may have just scraped

through this week, but it will be interesting to see if any European team

will survive much longer.

WiNNerS

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13

yo u r O m a n06 My Iftar Deeba Hasan

08 Voice of Oman Shuena al Mayahi

10 news Lulu Strike

Fo o d a n d d r i n k28 Food Feature Healthy Eating

30 Food Review Anar

t h i s w e e k16 Oman in 43 Objects Iftar

17 Movie Listings Inside Llewyn Davis

18 This Week Monsoon Mania

c a r s a n d a d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Izki

40 Indoors Dancing Stars

42 Postcard From Riga

44 Y-Fi Hi-tech Ramadan

46 Car of the Week BMW 650i

28

44

18

Fe at u r e20 Breaking the Fast Sharing Iftar

h e a l t h a n d b e a u t y32 Fashion Stylish Scarves

35 Style Counsel Barbra Young

GUIDE TO STUDYInG ABROAD / A SURPRISE PACKAGE FROM DHL / HYATT IFTAR / GIVEAWAYS / FILMS

NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE...

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JAGUARGIVES YOU MORE

STARTING FROMRO 18,250**

Inspiring agility and luxury coupled with an impassioned spirit will make you feel alive. This Holy Month, Jaguar will also surprise you with its special offers.

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HOW ALIVE ARE YOU?

MOHSIN HAIDER DARWISH L.L.C.Muscat 24523200, Sohar 26841087, Salalah 23230727

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My IftarThe holy MonTh of RaMadan is oBseRVed aRoUnd The woRld. eaCh weeK,y will Be VisiTinG a hoMe To see how ifTaR is CeleBRaTed in oMan. fiRsT off, iT’s deeBa hassan’s hoUse wiTh heR faMily

In my part of the world, Iftar is a grand affair. With myriad types of food and drink, we tend to make Iftar very

elaborate. Traditionally Iftar was confined to some dates, water and maybe some milk. However, today the concept has been revolutionised and people tend to make it very special for the entire month.

There is also a growing trend, especially in the eastern part of the world, of throwing lavish Iftar parties where you witness elaborately laid out Iftar tables which are a feast to the eyes. And where I come from, north India, is no exception. Our traditional Iftar platters have almost been the same since I became acquainted with them. Although I do now notice a few variations, they mostly reflect the very famous Mughlai cuisine, which is also original to my native home, Lucknow. The only new thing is that we have now tried blending some of our traditional varieties with more modern ones.

Where we have the traditional potato sambosas and pakoras of different types, we also blend our traditional varieties with more modern foods such as lemon mint, custard and other ingredients.

Of course, the first day of Ramadan is always special, simply because it is the first day. In fact, we feel the change of schedule only for the first few days and then it becomes a habit. I normally love being around my family for Iftar and I believe that the Iftar period is a wonderful time for family bonding when everyone is together over the dinner table. On other days, people tend to get busy and eat wherever they can get a quick bite, but when it comes to Iftar, people prefer having it with their families.

Everyone in my family contributes to the Iftar, with my mum spending most of

her time in the kitchen, I help with garnishing and making the cool drinks. My father sort of supervises everything and my brothers take care of setting the table and arranging all the food and crockery on to it. Iftar is also very special because it has a fixed time, therefore every member of the family knows that they have to be at home by a specific time.

For the first day of Iftar, my mother had decided on a few items that we normally make for this occasion, most of them very much from the place where we come from. So we made a delicious Iftar with some custard, sambosas and pakoras. We normally try to drain out the oil after deep frying but, yes, it remains a pretty unhealthy option for Iftar – which is why I eat only a couple.

We also made a nice dish using black chickpeas, in which you soak them in water overnight and later boil them with a few spices. This makes a delicious and healthy snack. Besides this, my mother made some delicious Shami kebabs, which is her signature dish, and we had the usual dates and water.

The custard was made using a lot of seasonal fruits – mostly bananas,

mangos and apples with a beautiful garnish of pomegranate seeds. Fruits are always an essential part of every Iftar in our family, so we had a little fruit basket in one corner of the dining table.

After all those hours of fasting, one really needs some nice drinks to start with to quench an all-day thirst. Therefore we had a couple of cool drinks. Roo Afza, a traditional drink made using rose syrup, is relished all over northern India, where it is usually a part of most Iftars. It can also be mixed with milk and banana puree but that would make it very heavy. The second drink is the refreshing lemon mint.

Iftar is a very spiritual exercise, it helps you control your desires,

buy it also helps you realise the plight of the hungry and poor people.

This is what helps you become one with the feelings of the poor so that you may sympathise with them and help them out in anyway possible.

My little brother, who is only seven years old, still doesn’t fast, but we try to teach him the significance of fasting so that when he grows older and is required to fast, he is ready for it and is also able to appreciate it.

Even though we try to prepare just a little food, our Iftar generally tends to get big because everyone has their preferences and my mother makes something for us all. However, I still think that the Iftar menu should not be very lavish, because during this month we’re supposed to enlighten ourselves spiritually and not focus on the food part of it.

We also need to realise the sufferings of the poor and when we are full with all the delicacies you can think of, it will not really fulfil the real purpose of the Holy Month, as I see it.

I wish Muslims the world over Ramadan Mubarak.

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We asked: “should bachelors be banned from some beaches in Muscat?”

NAHSHON CHETTIARAbsolutely not. A portion of the beach should be allotted so that they do not disturb families. As they do not have their families with them they cannot spend the whole day sitting in their rooms. By going to the beach they can overcome their loneliness and be happy. Loneliness affects many people and carries with it some pretty heavy consequences.

SAJAN ANTONYIt’s unfair. it’s dragging Oman back to the 15th century and will send a negative look to the outside world. I have been to Qurum and Ghubra

DEBATE OF THE WEEK

PROMOTE POOCHY

correspondencethe voice of oman In the first week of Ramadan, Shuena al Mayahi looks at the meaning of charity

NExT WEEK: ALI AL RAHMA

beaches, where bachelors and families coexist without any problems. so let’s maintain the status quo and not build any barriers between bachelors and families. After all, bachelors will not be bachelors for their whole life – they will get their own sweet families one fine day.

AVLINESH KUMARIf they ban bachelors, then how about banning families from some beaches?

BELINDA WALLINGTONThat’s ridiculous. Men are men regardless of their status. I know MANY married men who act like they’re single and available.

NASR HOMOUDBan everything and rule with an iron fist, I say. Freedoms are gained by those who can honour them and not given to those who can’t.

RAHUL CHAKRABORTYYes, if the need arises, this extreme step should be taken. Take the example of Muttrah Corniche. Athough it’s open for all now, how many families do we see strolling around every day? It’s mostly bachelors. In contrast, there is a healthy attendance of bachelors as well as families accessing the Qurum beach, which is indeed a very pleasant place.

Congratulations on Poochy’s now 50 per cent accuracy after Iran’s defeat – and to Y on its honesty regarding the catastrophes last week. Commiseration on the Met Office’s poor predictions for a storm that never happened ... so let’s combine Poochy’s skill with a worthy cause and set her up to make much more accurate climatic predictions – without a paws for thought!

Georgina Benison, Muscat

SEND US YOUR letters, photos, news and views to [email protected] / @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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Charity holds immense importance in Islam and our Prophet Muhammad

emphasised this throughout his life, saying: “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 589).

Charity comes in all shapes and sizes - it is certainly not materialistic. Charity is about care, doing good deeds, keeping away from evil, protecting others from harm, helping the blind and deaf, providing shelter for the homeless.

Prophet Muhammad said: “Smile for your brother and that will be charity for you.” (Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 98).

We buy ourselves fancy cars and expensive clothes, we enjoy fine dining and take exotic holidays. We can find many ways to spend our hard-earned money.

There is nothing wrong with rewarding ourselves for a job well done, but what would happen if we rewarded someone else as well? Helping others creates a better sense of well-being, it gives us, and our money, a higher sense of meaning.

“Charity begins at home” is a well-known quote. But charity is about giving. I feel that if you’re going to help others you should help those in a worse situation than yourself, regardless of who they are.

But you can look closer to home. Who in your family needs help? Who in your neighbourhood needs help?

Giving should not be done to make us feel greater than others, or to make us look good and feel good. When one gives to charity one should not boast about it. You should give because you believe in your heart and soul that it is right to help all those in need.

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

Parth NayaK, aged 3, was spotted with her favourite Y Magazine behind the Grand Hyatt beach

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VIJAYALAKSHMI SHETTYNo, as to err is human. Instead, keep a board with all the discipline of good behaviour mentioned just to remind them. After all, man or woman, we are all human.

ELAINE PARRYIt is wrong to ban anyone. All people are capable of bad behaviour, so policing the beaches may be the answer to avoid this.

RANDALL BERNARDJust have a pay-and-enter beach or provide another beach for bachelors and football.

ABHIJEET SINGH RANANo. I don’t think any bachelor should be banned from going to a beach. We all know that the beach is a place where one goes to unwind and relax. It must be open to all. Everyone must be allowed to go. But at the same time, there should be a set of rules that must be followed by everyone so that no one gets hurt physically or mentally by any other person. Also, decent language must be used when communicating with your friends so that no one feels that he/she is being harassed. The bachelors especially must be told of their limits because on a beach, people come with their family and children and so the behaviour of everyone must be well maintained. Lastly, there must always be some policemen nearby to stop any quarrels and to warn those who are not behaving themselves properly. These are some of my personal views on the topic.

LOUISE HUNTERNo, that’s just silly.

DR KAWTHAR HOFFMAN AL BALUSHINo, it’s a public place. No one should be banned just because of their marital status. It’s really a ridiculous suggestion.

CATHERINE BAKERApart from the “why” of this, how do you prove it? I never take important documents to the beach, so unless you have your civil status tattooed somewhere (and that cannot be changed), I can’t see how.

TARIQ AL MAAWALIAren’t we segregated enough? This started out as banning football from the public beaches, which they should. Now it’s progressed to this. I agree that family sections should be available to those who need it and people should have an open mind in family sections as well ... so will it be a mixed-culture family section or an Arab family-only section? That is the question.

STEVE BARKERIt’s in Omani law. All beaches are public and can be accessed by anyone. End of conversation.

KELLY WEBBI cannot believe that with all the chaos in the world, this is a major point of discussion.

ADAM COLLINSLike riding a motorbike in Muscat, you pick and choose which are the best times and places to ride for increased safety. Ditto for taking your family to the beach.

SADIA SHAMSNo, they shouldn’t because being a bachelor doesn’t mean that they are a person without morals. Until. and unless. a person knows his limits, it doesn’t matter if one is a bachelor or not. Better to tell them to be decent in spite of imposing such useless rules.

SYED BOKHARII think everyone has a right to go to the beach, no matter if one is a bachelor, keeping in mind that he is not making abusive actions or languages and is well behaved. This is because he also belongs to a civilised family, comprising sisters and a mother. So definitely there is no harm for bachelors to go to the beach and enjoy themselves in a cultured manner. Muscat has educated, loving, well-behaved, disciplined and caring people. Beaches are public places for entertainment in this hot and sultry weather of Muscat, so let everyone go as herein lies an opportunity for them to respect and have regard for other families.

JERRY AQUINONope. It’s a public place and it’s not fair to ban them. Maybe they just need to be more respectful to others.

MOH No. 68/2014

New debate:Do you agree that

LuLu Hypermarket employees were right to go on strike for better pay and

other conditions?Tell us on Facebook or Twitter

and be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

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StriKiNg Out. lulu StaFF iN PrOteSt

A three-day strike by staff at LuLu Hypermarkets brought some

stores to a standstill across the capital this week.

There were chaotic scenes as frustrated shoppers formed massive queues as Omani national employees staged protests for three consecutive days calling for better pay, bonuses and working environment.

About 1,300 workers in different LuLu Muscat stores took part in the strikes. Among the stores affected were the Darsait and Bawshar branches.

Photographs that circulated on social media showed women workers, with their faces covered, sitting down in aisles and in front of their tills refusing to work. Employees taking part wore badges stating that they were on strike.

There were reports of customers being stranded at unattended tills with queues

of trolleys pilling up. Some shoppers abandoned their purchases in the store and walked out after waiting to be served.

Behind the scenes, frantic negotiations were taking place to end the protests as LuLu’s trading was hit in the lead-up to Ramadan.

The strike finally ended on Sunday after talks between the government, trade unions and LuLu management.

“The talks turned out to be fruitful. All the parties have reached an amicable solution,” employees were reported as saying.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Manpower, action is being taken to address the concerns of striking staff.

“A solution was reached to provide insurance coverage to all Omani workers at LuLu, regardless of their service status,” said the statement.

It added that a panel would be set up to study the restructuring of salary grades

and another committee will be formed to look into the welfare of workers.

A separate internal panel with members from staff and management will work on job training for Omani employees.

Striking employees were also promised that they would be paid for the days they were protesting.

The LuLu Workers Union had warned management on June 6 that a strike would go ahead on June 26 if their numerous demands were not met.

“We waited for them for 21 days. They didn’t come for talks, so we went on strike,” said one of the striking workers.

A representative of the employees said: “We regret taking a tough decision like this in the scorching summer, but we have our grievances and it remained the only way to bring the management to the table for talks.”

Twitt

er.c

om

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YOUR OMAN

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said exchanges greetings with leaders of Arab and Islamic countries as Ramadan begins in Oman

The Indian Navy has put two warships on standby for evacuation of nationals stranded in civil war-hit Iraq

Legendary soul singer Bobby Womack, who worked with greats such as Aretha Franklin and helped the Rolling Stones, dies aged 70

An Earth-like planet called GJ 832c said to be potentially habitable has been discovered 16 light years away by researchers

A W E E K I N P I C T U R E S HEADLINING STORIES FROM OMAN AND BEYOND

FLYING SAUCERSYou mean a piece of crockery thrown by someone?No, that’s something completely different. We mean a flying craft with a disc or saucer-shaped body, a term first coined back in 1947. You may, however, be more familiar with the expression UFO or “unidentified flying objects”, as the United States Air Force dubbed them.Erm, so what are they exactly?They are supposedly spaceships from far away galaxies being flown by alien life forms exploring our neck of the intergalactic woods. They come either in peace or to forcibly take over Earth and destroy all humans.Charming.That’s interplanetary rivalry for you. Don’t worry, though. Haven’t you watched all those Sci-Fi movies like Independence Day or Men In Black? We always kick the alien’s butts and mankind prevails.Do these flying saucers (and aliens) actually exist?Well, it depends.On what?On who you believe. Sightings of disc-shaped flying objects have been sporadically recorded since the Middle Ages but the first highly publicised report was by Kenneth Arnold on June 24, 1947, an American aviator and businessman who claimed he saw nine unusual objects flying in a chain near Mount Rainier, Washington. He later described the “disc” objects

moving like “saucers skipping across the water”.Is that the only one?Oh no. Arnold’s sighting has been followed by thousands of similar reports across the world. Most of which, it has to be said, have subsequently been dismissed has hoaxes – pie plates, hubcaps and such like thrown into the air and then photographed. Which perhaps explains why so many photographs of UFOs and flying saucers tend to be blurred and in poor focus.Er, why are you telling me all this now? Are we under attack from aliens?Calm down, no need to panic. We’re the ones using flying saucers this time. Nasa, the US government’s space agency, has apparently sent a saucer-like vehicle into the sky to test technology for a future landing on planet Mars.So we are going to be travelling around the universe gatecrashing other planets?Not so fast. The “Low Density Supersonic Decelerator”, as Nasa calls its craft, plunged into the Pacific Ocean during landing after the parachute became tangled. It did reach 54,900 metres into the sky so not bad, but not enough to get to Mars, which is about 56 million kilometres from Earth.What next?Undeterred, Nasa is planning two more flights to test its flying saucer. The first test cost $150 million (RO577,575).do say: Is that a Low Density Supersonic Decelerator?don’t say: Warp speed, Scotty

B i t e S i z e dOUR NEW WEEKLY SLOT TAKES A LIGHTHEARTED LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

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If there’s one place in the world that it might be best to fall sick, then it’s probably over the border in Dubai.

Dubai’s ambulance service has just taken delivery of the newest addition to its fleet, two Ford Mustang cars, which will be used for serious accidents where a rapid response is vital.

As the Ford Mustang is capable of hitting speeds of up to 249kmh in some models, the reaction time is likely to be extremely swift.

It will reportedly be joined for an even more super-charged car, a high-speed Lotus, in the coming days.

Perhaps the ambulance service in Dubai is trying to compete with the emirate’s police, who already boast a seriously impressively line-up of vehicles.

Only last week, the police unveiled their latest capture – the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest street-legal production car made costing a cool RO654,670. Decked out in Dubai police force livery, the long arm of the law would be able to travel at a breakneck top speed of 431kmh in this beast, catching even criminals with the fleetest of foot.

The Veyron joins a long list of super patrol cars in Dubai. Also in the pound are a McLaren MP4-12C, Ferrari FF, a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin One-77, Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes SLS.

It’s not all hard work. Most of the cars

are used to promote the police force in the city to visitors. There’s no escaping on water either as the police recently added a super boat, a Team Victory four-seater considered to be the “Lamborghini of the sea” and believed to be the fastest police craft in the Arabian Gulf.

SUPER CARS ON CALL

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

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T here were 44 cases of the flu virus H1N1 recorded in Oman during the

second half of June, according to the Ministry of Health.

Not all cases diagnosed were severe enough to need treatment, said the ministry, and there were no new deaths attributed to the virus. In May, 82 cases of H1N1 were

registered in the Sultanate, including three deaths, bringing the total number of victims to 35 since the outbreak began in 2009.

The ministry also revealed that there haven’t been any new cases of the lethal coronavirus Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) since last December.

With Umrah and Hajj

seasons fast approaching, flu vaccinations are being provided by government hospitals. Anyone wishing to perform Umrah or Hajj this year are required to comply with requests by Saudi authorities to have a flu vaccination before travelling to avoid the spread of the highly contagious disease.

Those suffering from chronic illness, pregnant women, children and the elderly have been advised to delay performing Hajj.

General advice given by the ministry in Oman is to cover your mouth while sneezing or coughing in public or enclosed spaces and to maintain good personal hygiene, especially by washing hands.

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OMAN IN 43 OBJECTS

Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their

fast at the time of sunset that beckons the Maghrib prayer during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar, which means “breakfast” in Arabic, is celebrated in different ways in Muslim countries but, traditionally, three dates are eaten to break the fast in emulation of the Prophet Muhammad. The dates are usually taken with water. It is not uncommon to see families or individuals breaking fast by the side of the road.

This humble meal is later followed by a more substantial intake of food.

The religious observance is often done communally with people or relatives gathering to break fast together.

Many Muslims believe that feeding someone Iftar is an act of charity and, as such, this is encouraged.

Some charitable organisations in Oman provide Iftar for low-paid expatriate workers or underprivileged families.

IFTAR32.

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INESCAPABLEIt’s taken a couple of years for this Middle east-set thriller to reach Oman, and it hasn’t aged especially well. Alexander Siddig plays a disgraced Syrian intelligence officer who reinvents himself as a banker in Toronto. When his photographer daughter disappears in Damascus he returns home to find her. fans of liam neeson’s Taken will be familiar with the set-up but Inescapable can’t find its way to sustain the tension required.

Y’s Choice

legend of a rabbit

This Chinese-made animation about a rabbit who becomes a martial arts master has more than a passing resemblance to Dreamworks’ hit Kung Fu Panda. It actually bombed in

Llewyn DavisInside

MOVIES MOVIES

its native China – and it’s not hard to see why given the shoddy CGI animation and so-so story. There are some amusing moments but probably the best thing about it is the theme tune, an updating of the classic Kung Fu Fighting.

assassin’s bullet

This would-be Bourne thriller sees FBI agent Christian Slater brought back into the field to solve a series of assassinations in Eastern Europe. Donald Sutherland is cast in his usual role as the intelligence bigwig while heavyweight British thespian, Timothy Spall, somehow ends up playing a therapist called Dr Kahn who hangs out in belly dancing clubs. It’s attractively shot in Bulgaria but otherwise the whole thing is laughably bad and makes no sense at all.

VIKInGDOM 3-D A Viking king, eirick, is dying on a corpse-strewn battlefield, but is given a final quest to fight Thor, the God of Thunder, and save his kingdom. This Malaysian production reaches high with well-executed battle scenes and crashes to Valhalla with everything else. Dominic Purcell as eirick delivers lines like he is already dead from the neck up, while

Thor’s hair is a cartoon red and his hammer made of cardboard. The accents are hilarious, the sets cheap, the script beyond silly and performances beyond wooden.

If you are looking for a nostalgic trip into a golden age of the 1960s music scene, the Coen brothers’

new movie isn’t it. Inside Llewyn Davis is a melancholy road trip with a luckless folk singer who lacks the charm and manners to get others to appreciate his musical genius.

The New York (and Chicago) he wanders through is nothing like the smartly attired and brightly hued metropolis you might find in hit shows like Mad Men. This is a grey and cold city where the hardest thing to find is somewhere warm and a place to stay.

But Davis, played by Oscar Isaac, does himself no favours. He’s a folk singer who has a habit of upsetting his hosts – including Carey Mulligan, the fellow singer he makes pregnant

without ever signalling that he wants to do the right thing by her. Later he accidentally lets a cat out of an apartment and spends half the film trying to find it.

As you would expect in a Coen movie, it is populated by quirky and memorable characters who never do the predictable thing.

What’s lacking is the optimistic feeling of an era of youth and rebellion that we might expect to find in a film about this period. This isn’t so much the 60s as a place outside of time.

This could be seen as a deficit, but there are many odd and amusing treasures as we follow the wanderings of one of life’s outsiders.

PREV

IEW

fOR MORe InfORMATIOn AnD TIMeS, GO TO:

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

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

TO WIN ONE OF 3 PAIRS OF TICKETSjust answer a question based on the week’s

cinema reviews and send your answer to

[email protected], along with your name

and contact information.

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

terms and conditions see voucher.

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THIS WEEKS QUESTIONWhich classic song features in Legend of

a Rabbit?

OMAN IN 43 OBJECTS

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MONSOON MANIA Book now to be part of the Salalah Tourism Festival (formerly known as the Khareef Festival) as Dhofar gears up to welcome about 1.8 million visitors from Oman, the GCC and beyond. This year’s festival will highlight art, cultural heritage and traditions of the Sultanate with more than 1,200 craftsmen and women expected to display their skills. There will also be dancing, music and shows for the children. www.salalahtourismfestival.com

Whether you’re a bowler, fielder or batsmen – or all three – there’s still time to register for the annual Ramadan Cup Floodlight Cricket Tournament organised by the Pakistan Social Club (PSC). Tis year, the event will be held simultaneously in three cities – Muscat, Sohar and Salalah. There is a registration fee of RO50 for each team and the number of teams has been restricted to 64. There are cash prizes for the winners, runner-ups and tournament’s outstanding players. For more information, contact PSC Office Secretary Tahir Mehmood on 2479 5326 or 9289 3063.

THIS WEEK

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

J U L Y

from

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Time To Give Back

JULY UNtIL END

Majlis Meet Celebrate breaking the fast and enjoy great company from the InterNations Muscat group with Iftar at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. There’s a small cover fee for basic members that includes Arabic and Omani Iftar specialties and drinks at The Majlis. It begins at 6.30pm, but please only sign up if you really plan to attend. Go to www.internations.org for details.

15 JUlY

HoWzat!

Next time you visit City Centre Muscat or City Centre Qurum malls in Muscat, don’t just buy but show your charitable side by donating to others less fortunate. For the next month, both malls will again be joining hands for the “Make a Difference” campaign with a collection bin for visitors to give everyday items such as non-perishable food, clothes and toys. Everything collected will be donated to Dar Al Atta’a, who will arrange distribution to underprivileged families in the community.

Time To Give Back

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DUSK BeGInS TO fAll AnD STRAnGeRS COMe TOGeTHeR TO SHARe An IfTAR MeAl AS One, fInDS JeRzY WIeRzBICKI

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Ramadan teaches us humility and

patience. It also teaches us selflessness.

Ramadan is about giving to the less

fortunate, and there are many places

in Muscat where the fortunate among

us can carry out good deeds and share

our wealth. In Al Hail, I found a small

mosque where every year during the Holy

Month the poor people among us wait

for the sun to set when it’s time for Iftar.

The food is simple and usually contains

laban, watermelons, a few dates

and some sweets with a small plastic

container of mineral water.

When I arrive, they are sitting on the

carpet which is spread out proudly

next to the mosque. The mosque helps

deliver the food and the people wait

patiently in silence for Maghrib.

When the call to Iftr rings out, they

eagerly share the food between them.

Even they know it is a time for giving. A

time for humility. They are all equal, all

eating and all counting their blessings.

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The spirit of RamadanWin a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8GB

Y has come up with some exciting new competitions for our readers to enter during the holY month. good luck!

Tablets are all the rage these days and Samsung is giving its rivals a run for their money with its Galaxy Tab 4. Its seven-inch screen means that it fits perfectly in your hands. To enter, all you have to do is take your best selfie that includes a Muscat landmark in the background. It can be just you, having a laugh with your friends or friends, or even taking your favourite pet for a walk. Simply post your selfie on our Facebook page, tweet it to us, or email to [email protected] by July 7 and we’ll take care of the rest.

dr Brown’s gift set up for grabs

Dr Brown’s products are a hit with parents the world over and we have teamed up with the company to offer mums and dads in Oman the chance to win some of the award-winning products. Up for grabs are five fabulous Dr Brown’s Gift Sets – three for girls and two for boys – which contain everything you need to feed your newborn and beyond. To win, answer this easy question: “How many bones are newborn babies born with?” Send your answer, with contact details, to [email protected] by July 7. Terms & Conditions apply. Please visit our website for full details.

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Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa is giving away a voucher for two people to enjoy an Iftar at the Al

Jissah Ballroom – Al Bandar Hotel. To enter, all you have to do is answer the following question: “What is the name of the spa at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort?” Send your answer, with contact details, to [email protected] by July 7. Terms & Conditions apply. Please visit our website for full details.

65C 5M 28Y 0K Pantone 3262C

0C 30M 100Y 10K Pantone 144C

The spirit of RamadanY has come up with some exciting new competitions for our readers to enter during the holY month. good luck!

There’s a new cake shop in town and it’s teamed up with Y to offer readers a fabulous prize. Every week until the end of the year, Cake Gallery is giving away a RO10 voucher to spend at its new Mawaleh café and bakery. To win, all you have to do is answer the following question: “Which country invented the pavlova?” Send your reply, with your name and contact details, to [email protected] by July 7.

There’s still time to enter our competition to find Oman’s top food photographers, who will be in with a chance to win

brilliant prizes courtesy of the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel. The prize is a fantastic one-night weekend stay for two people, including Iftar at The Majlis (Sirj Lounge), which is valid during Ramadan. All you have to do for a chance to win this amazing prize is post your best food pictures

on our social-media sites while you are enjoying Iftar at any of the Grand

Hyatt Muscat’s participating outlets: Mokha Café, Sirj

Lounge and Marjan Lounge. Send your entries by July 6 to [email protected], post your entries on our Facebook or Twitter pages or send us a picture

on Instagram of your fab food and make sure you

follow and tag ytabloid.

Last week’s winners

Congratulations to the following winners!

Cake GaLLery: Joshua Dominic D, who

answered correctly that the British government attempted

to reclassify Jaffa Cakes as biscuits in 1991.

the DrieD Lemon: saif al kindi, who correctly said that it took Salim and amal al kalbani 45 days

to make the perfect Loomi Cookie.

Dr Brown’s Gift set: april Joy Pineda, Dean

Chrighton, ashita Chakraborty, Ramya Kumar

and santhia Powell, all of whom said Dr Brown’s

products helped to reduce colic in babies.

winners b • o • x

snap to itsweet treats

iftar for two

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B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y

A TOURNAMENT WITH SKIll AND A lOT Of BITEMEXICO WAVE GOODBYE,THE UNDERDOGS CAUSEUPSETS, BUT THE BIG BOYSSTAY ON COURSE FORGLORY, SAYS DEEBA HASAN

The World Cup so

far

The past week saw the end of the group stages and the

beginning of the round of 16, where things started to get even more exciting. Lose and you’re out.

We witnessed some incredibly skillful performances from fancied and unfancied teams alike, but we also saw an incident that was to foul a so-far extremely exciting World Cup – Luis Suarez’s infamous bite. There were also some big shocks - Spain, England, Portugal all going out early and some amazing last-minute victories.

All eyes are on the remaining games with fans expecting some further twists and turns. USA put up a good fight against Germany before eventually going

down but not out. The U.S. qualified in second place. So far, the star of the Germany

team has been Thomas

Muller who, at the age of 24, looks to be on his way to

beating the records of Ronaldo

(Brazil) and his teammate Miroslav Klose in the number of World Cup goals scored.

This World Cup has been spoken of by experts as being the best yet, with twists and turns to send shivers down your spine. With second round matches going into extra time and penalty shoot-outs, this World Cup has become all the more captivating, and fans in Oman, in spite of unfavourable kick-off times for some matches, have made a point of not missing any of the action.

The penalty shoot-out between Brazil and Chile was so nerve-racking, but some do say that no matter how much an underdog tries, the cream – the big teams – always makes a way to the top.

The same was the case with the Netherlands and Mexico game. Mexico led 1-0 until the 88th minute, but two last-gasp goals – including a penalty – knocked them out.

Full of surprises and some thrilling performances, we definitely look forward to the quarter-final stage to see how this World Cup will unfold, and which team will be the last one standing.

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B r o u g h t t o y o u b y

readers’ vieW (* pooChy is Taking a CaT nap)

This is surely the most unpredictable, surprising and amazing World Cup tournament since I started following the game. Surrounded with controversy over the stadium construction and the mascot, it started off with a ceremony which was below expectations. However, the games have certainly made up for it by proving once again that it’s not the name and fame but hard work that pays off. With many major teams out and new teams and faces on show, it has become a very interesting tournament. More goals, more passion, more fight and more “bites” have made the World Cup 2014 more adventurous – and I hope Germany win.

rizvi kabirStudent at Sultan QabooS univerSity

Underrated teams have made their way to the last few hurdles of eternal glory on the biggest stage of world football, dispatching pretenders and contenders. They are the reason I’ve enjoyed watching this World Cup so far. Team-based performances, coupled with moments of sheer individual brilliance, have been the template for success this year. While I think one of the few remaining giants might eventually win it, the “minnows” have certainly gained global respect.

I think this World Cup is the best I have ever witnessed so far in terms of tactical and technical play, in addition to the many late goals the tournament has seen. Overall, I think the South American teams have performed the best and I am really hoping for a pure South American final between Brazil and Argentina.

While Brazil have not shown their best so far, seeming to struggle through, I think that this is how they might just win the Cup.

adiTya Murali telecommunicationS engineering Student

ahMed MusTafa al laWaTi civil Planning engineer

I changed my plan to visit Sur this week because the Holy Month of Ramadan had already started.

Ramadan has raised a huge controversy about fasting Muslim players who are playing in the World Cup. It’s the first time since

1982 that we have faced such contention.That made me question what would have happened if the Oman

national team had reached the finals. It’s a tricky question, one that the Algerian team had to face as they qualified for the last 16.

In Algeria, the press was focusing on whether it was prohibited for the players to break the fast or not. On the other hand, no one in France seems to care about it. It’s a religious issue and should not affect the Mundial at all.

Meanwhile, in Oman there are a few clashes with the World Cup, Ramadan shopping and the local football tournaments all in the same month. People in Oman, especially footballers, depend on those tournaments to spend their time during the nights of Ramadan. This will be difficult until July 14. People might not believe it, but the World Cup has changed many habits for Omanis. Markets and public areas are semi-empty from 8pm to 10pm, even in Ramadan. There are no traffic jams in the evening during rush hour and make sure that you subscribed to beIN Sports before you invite someone to take Iftar in your house sothey can enjoy the matches.

My nephew, who you may remember I mentioned in my last article, believes Brazil will win and the final will be 100 per cent Latino. He may be correct, but football is always beyond the limits of prediction.

WHEN TWO OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE CLASH, IT CAN CAUSE A BIT OF A DILEMMA. SAYS KOOOORA MAGAzINE’S FAHAD AL TAMIMI

raMadan vs. World Cup

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While the smells and tastes are indeed irresistible, it is advisable to keep

a little check on what we are stuffing ourselves with. More so because people generally tend to gain calories and not burn them during the Holy Month, making it a case of “feasting” rather than fasting, which is after all what the month is all about. Naturally, fried snacks, high-calorie foods and junk foods might send you into raptures when you munch on them, but the impact they have on your body is in one word - bad.

Since Ramadan has this year coincided with the summer, the fasting period - between the Suhoor or pre-dawn meal and Iftar - has become even longer, is proving to be pretty harsh on even the most hardened fasters.

Nevertheless, a timely intake of healthy food varieties will ensure that you maintain your health and, at the same time, fulfil the purpose of the Holy Month. This doesn’t require you to give up your yummy food varieties, but only consume them in a healthier way.

According to Monika Seth, nutritionist and weight loss Consultant at Al Raffah Hospital: “It is possible to eat healthy without giving up your traditional

Ramadan food varieties; it’s just about adopting healthy cooking methods and taking in your meals with the right portions and at the right time.

“Make it a point not to miss the pre-dawn meal because it prepares the body for a long day of fasting ahead. Skipping this meal would prove to have adverse effects on your body, such as extreme increase or decrease in blood pressure and sugar levels, lethargy and headaches.

“The best foods to have during the pre-dawn meal are slow release foods which contain complex carbohydrates and high-end fibre – a small bowl of porridge, low-fat milk or laban with fruit, whole grain bread and a handful of nuts will stay in your stomach for longer and not make you crave food during the fasting period. At the same time, these varieties also help the body’s metabolism to function well.”

Monika advises healthy liquids and water containing fruits and veggies.

Besides this, she also recommends citrus fruits, such as oranges, herbs, such as parsley, mint and basil. She adds that berries will give your body the essential nutrients and must be a part of your daily diet.

Ramadan DietDURInG THe HOlY MOnTH Of fASTInG AnD IfTARS, IT’S IMPORTAnT TO

MAKe SURe THe BODY GeTS THe RIGHT fUel, SAYS DeeBA HASAn

a SimPle aNd healthy reciPe FOr SuhOOr

Ingredients (Makes 6 servings):

• 2 cups cooked white rice

• 3 tablespoons white sugar

• 15 dates, pitted and chopped

MethodPlace the rice in a food

processor or blender, process until coarse, but not pureed.

Transfer to a saucepan and stir in the milk, sugar and dates. Cook over low heat, stirring

occasionally until the dates are tender, about 20 minutes. Serve

warm or cold.

monika’s dos and don’ts for ramadan

1. Consume lots of healthy liquids during the hours in which you can.

2. Eat a variety of foods, avoid having the same things every day.

3. Choose healthier options such as low-fat milk products, whole grains and olive oil.

4. Adopt healthy cooking methods such as baking, grilling and steaming.

5. Break your fast slowly. First have dates and water and then gradually move on to other items.

6. Avoid foods with a lot of spices and sugar content.

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There are several nicknames for the pomegranate, including “Jewel of Winter”,

“Chinese Apple” and “Love Apple”. It also happens to be the name of the newest culinary arrival at The Wave, Muscat, which came on to my radar after several rave recommendations from friends.

I wasn’t sure what Anar meant until I looked it up on Google. Apparently, it’s the Persian word for pomegranate and a term that has since been borrowed by numerous other languages, including Turkish, Hindi and Urdu.

Now, a pomegranate is known for its juicy flesh and vibrant red colour bursting with a flamboyance that screams “look at me”. In contrast, the interior of Anar is cool and refreshing, all bleached white and neutral shades. It’s like an albino pomegranate.

The fabrics are cotton and linen, the furniture (tables and sofas) is French country house style with a slick, modern twist. It had style, a certain “je ne sais quoi” about it, which, in my book, makes it a welcome change from the ubiquitous chains in Muscat

It was a quiet Friday lunchtime when we visited, with a couple of other customers (you can go for tables or the more casual sofas) but as it opens until 11pm, I imagine it gets much busier later when the temperature cools.

While the owners clearly think big, Anar’s menu is small. Not that my lunch companions and I minded in the least. A humongous menu, in my experience, does not always necessarily mean the food is going to be larger in taste too. Sometimes, it’s far better for the chef to do a small amount of dishes well, rather than grappling with pages and pages.

Still, it doesn’t do to rush whatever the menu size, so we took our time and ordered drinks – fresh lemon and mint and mango for the grown-ups and a strawberry milkshake for little Miss C – while we pondered the options.

Whether to go for one of the all-day breakfast choices or try a sandwich or salad? And what about those delicious-looking waffles I spotted a customer eating as we walked in? Oh woe is me what decisions to make! It all sounded so good that frankly I wanted everything and my stomach could certainly handle it (top tip: always wear loose fitting clothes and preferably stretchy waistbands when doing a taste test). But sadly, it was not to be and a selection had to be made.

Our waiter stood by

patiently ready to pounce in a nice unobtrusive way. All the staff, I have to say, are impeccable from their clothes down to their service.

So, the eggs benedict won the order from me, while on the sofa Miss C went for fluffy pancakes and her mum nailed her colours to the halloumi pesto sandwich mast.

The drinks were excellent, freshly made and full of flavour,

although the little one said her milkshake

was a “bit thick”, which was probably due to the pulp of the real fruit. Anyhow, she gulped it down.

It’s always nice when

your dining companions order

food that you like too, so everyone can dig into

each other’s. As it was, we were all so happy with our own that we gave just cursory glances to other plates. The eggs benedict was cracking (excuse the pun), served on a toasted English muffin with lashings of hollandaise sauce. Now, I like my poached eggs to break when I put my fork in them, sending the yellow centre gushing out in a satisfying stream of gooey goodness, and

these didn’t let me down, covering the turkey bacon in a nice river of yolk. I’m getting hungry writing this.

Next to me, the three pancakes were being devoured after an elaborate decoration of butter, whipped cream, strawberry jam and then swirls of maple syrup. “Awesome” was the verdict. The halloumi sandwich, which arrives beautifully presented on a wooden serving block with a green garnish, met with equal praise, if not expressed in quite the same way.

It’s not hard to miss the fact that Anar has a great cake selection – the freshly baked wares are displayed in a glass case in front of the counter to tempt you as you eat your mains. There is everything from macarons and lemon meringue to tarts and mini cupcakes. Oh my, a sweet tooth’s dream.

With a recommendation from staff, I went for a tropical cake concoction with pineapple and coconut, while Miss C played it safe with a crème brûleé (her mum cried off cake saying she had no appetite for sweeties). Miss C, who had never tried her dish before, announced with a lick of the spoon that it was “crunchy and soft”, which is exactly what you want from a crème brulee. She had the better result, I think. My cake was nothing more than

OK. A quick cappuccino and it was time to say au revoir to

Anar, or rather adieu, as I’ll be back again – very soon. Pomegranates are suddenly my favourite fruit.

Info BoxAnAR RESTAURAnT

The Wave, MuscatTel: 2418 9300

Timings: 8am-11pm, every day

Lunch for three people with

beverages RO24.4

French fancyITS VIBe IS fRenCH AnD ITS nAMeIS ASSOCIAtED wIth LOvE. lITTleWOnDeR THAT KATe GInn fInDSAnAR A fRUITY lITTle nUMBeR

tast

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st

verdict:

fine fare with a très chic

french touch

8 10

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mid market

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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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PeaSaNt chicLike many catwalk trends, the hipster headscarf demands more mirror time than you think. Careful placement and a picture-perfect face are essential for summer’s

peasant trend. Many a Russian fashionista successfully rocked the look last season. Replicate with caution, though, or you’ll look like a Slavic simpleton.

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GET KNOTTEDThe scarf is your must haveaccessory for Ramadan,says Penny fray

1. The best part about the making an accessory your focal point is that the scarf is usually cheaper than buying a new outfit. Invest in a bold piece with a statement print that freshens up your existing wardrobe. fish, florals and fabulous slogans are all big news this season. 2. Orange is the new black when it comes to accessories. The fiery hue has been spotted all over the spring 2014 ready-to-wear shows. 3. Want to experiment with different ways to wear your scarf ? Make Google your new best friend. The internet is literally groaning with helpful video guides.

SARTORIAL SCARVES

Penny’s guide to updating your accessory closet:

There comes a moment in every woman’s life when fashion becomes too much. Too expensive, too time consuming, too sizeist and too immodest.

But when you’re not ready to completely opt out of the trend game, and can no longer justify the expense of an “it” bag, there’s always the scarf.

Designer versions cost a fraction of the price of a Louis Vuitton monogram tote, for instance, and are just as recognisable thanks to endless celebrity endorsements. I mean ,who hasn’t been snapped wearing Alexander McQueen’s skull print or the Leo Stole by Stephen Sprouse?

Everyone from hijab wearers to harassed new mothers are now embracing the cult cover up. And even men have got in on the action with silk scarves and preppy knitted knots.

The big soft bundle that covers all your head, wobbly bits and everything else is my personal favourite. It also offers a designer statement to an otherwise plain outfit. Saying that, there’s a lot to be said about the bag bandanna too. Tying your favourite silk number around the handle of your tote looks très Parisian and is a little less hot than having it smothering your sweat drenched neck.

If you’re young and thinking about attending one of the summer festivals taking place all around the globe, try the hipster headband. The scarf should be vintage and tied at the top of the hairline or turned into a turban. The regal wrap-over was just a passing fad for eccentric fashion editors and should now be ignored, unless you’re a British monarch, of course. Try the peasant look instead.

Marc Jacobs’ tropicana noir print is echoed in this black and white floral scarf from Zara. It’s currently on sale for RO6.5.

A printed scarf is the simplest way to refresh your look. Marc by Marc Jacobs’ version is woven from breathable cotton and emblazoned with the label's graffiti-inspired designer lettering. From RO59.

Add a little colour to your look with Chan Luu’s stone scarf. Trimmed with neon-coral tassels and pompoms, this lightweight style is the perfect layering piece for transitional months. From RO32.6.

Brighten off-duty looks with Accessorize’s bright orange scarf. Lightweight, this RO8.2 number is perfect for teaming with a T-shirt and boyfriend jeans at the weekend.

Horiyoshi The Third’s hand-printed scarves are inspired by Japanese tattoo artwork and are currently trending with the über-hipster set. This semi-sheer, lightweight style has been made by artisans in Mount Fuji and look chic with this season’s obsession with monochrome. Available from Net-A-Porter for RO121.4.

Bored of butterflies and leopard print? Us too. That’s why we adore this dragonfly scarf from Mango, currently on sale online for RO4.2.

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I’m writing this on holiday. I’m sitting by the pool under a blazing ball of heat with clammy face and panda eyes.

I’m melting. And not only do I look ridiculous, but it feels as though I have a duvet on my face. This is clearly not the time or place to wear a couple of layers of Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation, lashings of black mascara and a slash of red lipstick from Chanel. Far better to follow celebrity footsteps and slay those vanity demons by going barefaced.

Everyone’s at it at the moment – and not just because it’s Ramadan.

Ripples of a “natural” rebellion

have hit Hollywood – a place with more plastic faces than a Barbie doll factory.

Gwyneth Paltrow was the first to reach for the cleansing wipes at an author’s night. Then Sarah Jessica Parker caused gasps of horror as she stepped out at the Serpentine Summer Party sans foundation, while pop poppet Cheryl Cole found the experience of ditching the war paint “liberating”.

I don’t agree with her evaluation. Then again, I don’t have flawless olive skin and an army of skin doctors on speed dial. Along with concealer, the hardest product to bid masalama to is mascara, the beauty

equivalent to a coffee lover’s eye opener. This is especially true when you have blonde eyelashes and you look like an albino mouse squinting in the sun.

Thank heavens for lash dye. You can buy a tube of it at the pharmacist for a couple of rials or get it professionally applied at a beauty parlour.

Either way, nosy types should beware because opening your peepers halfway through the treatment could result in the sort of pain only those who have gone through childbirth could endure. OK, I exaggerate but it stings. On the plus side, it does double up to fill the patchy areas of your brow. After all, a bare face needs a strong brow.

For those of you lucky enough to have ebony lashes, invest in an eyelash curler. It can open the eyes much better than mascara.

Face-wise, I was going to try to go au naturale but I got sick of people asking if I was unwell. Besides, bright sunlight is unforgiving. The trick is to look as though you’re not wearing any cosmetics, even though you are. Tinted moisturiser does this perfectly. Get a good one and it makes your skin look perkier and more perfect than it really is. My favourite is Perricone MD “No Foundation” Foundation. You can buy it online from various stockists for about RO30. It’s not cheap, but this multitasking miracle cream imparts a dewy, glowing finish and is scientifically formulated with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C.

Alternatively, try L’Oréal’s Skin Perfection Magic Touch. This was all that came between Cheryl Cole and the camera in the beauty brand’s latest ad. The shine-free formula is supposed to disguise pores and uneven skin tone. And it costs a pocket-friendly RO9.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to hydrate your lips with balm. My personal favourite is the Body Shop’s Chocomania butter, which leaves parched lips silky smooth. Just don’t eat it, no matter how tempted you are – it is after all, Ramadan.


The first rule of summer make-up is less is more, discovers Penny fray

TREN

D ALER

T! A ROSE-TInTED WORLD If you thought rose was only fit for grandmothers and cooking, think again, because rose has become the ingredient du jour for fancy fragrances. Dolce & Gabbana’s Velvet Rose is part of its latest perfume collection and oozes old-school glamour, while Clinique’s Beyond Rose packs a punch with amber, white pepper and benzoin. for those of you with artisan tastes, try Tiziana Terenzi’s Gold Rose with oud. With soothing spices and the evocative power of roses, it evokes a feeling of exotic adventure.

Barefaced Cheek

MUST-HAVE PRODUCTS FOR nATURAL BEAUTY

If you’re addicted to The Body Shop’s brilliant body butters, you’ll love its lip butters. Available from Muscat City Centre for RO3.

This tube of L’Oréal Skin Perfection Magic Touch Instant, from RO9, is enriched with Optical Blur Polymers, reducing the appearance of shine, pores and complexion irregularities for a soft-focus finish. A celebrity favourite.

MAC’s Full Lash Curler not only looks chic but it has a simple “squeeze and release” motion that shapes your natural lashes into a soft upward curl. Prices start from RO11, but you can buy a cheaper alternative from Daiso in MGM for just 700 baisa.

HEALTH&BEAUTY


GOLDEN GIRLY’s style columnist Barbra Young reveals the skin secret that has worked wondersfor her in this dispatch from America

I arrived in LA from Muscat after a 29-hour flight feeling, and looking, like a monster. After checking into the always interesting Beverly Hills

Hilton hotel, I had a shower, looked closely in the mirror and decided that if the bags under my eyes grew any bigger they were going to demand shoes to match and that was never going to be a great outfit.

Time for action.The massive shopping list I

had compiled was going to have to wait – I needed an emergency facial. So, I called Adore Salon & Spa on Rodeo Drive and begged to be seen immediately. The lovely

I am always loathe to promote a product, but this one I promise, is worth every rial (albeit lots of them).

Adore is not available in stores in Oman, nor anywhere in the Middle East. However, they can be ordered online at adorecosmetics.com

Look them up and make up your own mind. Me? I just

have to look in the mirror and I am convinced

PS: If you’re on a budget, try a gold facial for a touch

of luxury on the cheap in one of Muscat’s beauty salons.

STYLE COUNSEL BARBRA YOUNG ANSWERS YOUR FASHION QUESTIONS

people made time for me. After a close examination, they decided a gold facial and neck wrap was my only hope.

I had a facial there years ago – baggy-eye free – and couldn’t imagine spending so much money on my face when there were shoes and pretty frocks calling out to me. This time, the wrinkles came first and, 45 minutes later, I emerged like a butterfly, truly amazed at the transformation. The baggy eyes were gone, my skin was glowing and dewy, better than when I left Muscat.

This miracle was so intense that despite being a notorious cheapskate when it comes to buying high-end skincare, I bought everything they used on me.

I have continued to use the products in the days since with, so far, incredible results; the products I am using enhance the treatment.

If you have any fashion questions for Barbra, email

[email protected] or tweet #style @

ytabloid

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Club• SQU-Collegeof

Commerce• SQU-Students

BankingArea• SQU-Hospital• WaljatCollegeSeeb• McDonald’s• SABCOMediaAl Khoud• BadarAlSama• AlFairS/M• PizzaHutBarka• AlNahdaSpaand

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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 C a r s

CARS ANDADVENTURES

dOOr tO the PaStTake a walk through

history amid the houses and ruins of Izki, said to be one of the oldest towns

in Oman.

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

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GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE

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

HotelQantab• AlBustanPalace

Hotel• MarinaBanderAL

Rowdha• OmanDiveClub• ShangriLa-Barr

AlJissahWadi Kabir• AlMaya

Hypermarket• KhimjiMart• LuluHypermarket• National

HospitalityInstitute

• ShellMBD• BankDhofar• MooreStephens• NBO• OmanOilAhlain• PizzaHut• PizzaMuscat• ShellCBD• AlMaya

Hypermarket• AlizzIslamicBank• BahwanTravel

Agencies• BankSohar• Centrepoint-

Splash• CopperChimney• CostaCoffee• HSBC• LamaPolyclinic• NBO• OmanArabBank• Standard

CharteredBank• Woodlands

RestaurantMuscat• Muscat• BaitalBaranda• BaitalZubair• Diwan• ShellDarsait• CaveRestaurant• IndianSocialClub• KhimjiMart• KIMSHospital• LuluHypermarket• MuscatBakery• ShellAL Falaj/Rex Road• AlFalajHotel• BadarAlSama• GoldenOryx

Restaurant• KamatRestaurant

• ToshibaShowroom

RUWI• KamatRestaurant• KFC• Khimji’sWatches-

Showroom• KMTrading• OmanAir• OmanUAE

Exchange• OTE• SarwanaBhawan• SwaroskiHamriya• ApolloMedical

CentreWattayah• AhliBank• Bestcars• BLS• Ford• GM(Chevrolet)• HatatHouse• Honda• Hyundai• Kia• Lexus• NationalTravel&

Tourism• PassagetoIndia• SABCOGroup• Shell• Subaru• Suzuki• ToyotaQurum• AlAraimiComplex• BalanceGym• BankNizwa• BMWshowroom• BurgerKing• CapitalStore• Chili’s• CrownePlaza• FinlandEye

Center• FunZone• GloriaJean’s

Coffee• JungleRestaurant• LeftBank• McDonald’s• MercedesBenz• MumtazMahal• Nandoos• Nissan• OmanOilAhlain• PizzaHut• Qurum

CommercialComplex(OldCCC)

• SABCOCentre• SecondCup• Starbucks• TchéTchécoffee

shop• TheSultancentre

(TSC)PDO• PDO• OmanOilHead

Office• PDO• RasAlHamraClubRoyal Opera House• IndusRestaurant• MoreCaféShatti Al Qurum• BareeqAlShatti

Complex• CarribouCoffee• Darcy’sKitchen• GermanEyeLaser

Center• Intercontinental

Hotel• JawaharatAl

ShattiComplex• KayaSkinClinic• MuscatEyeLaser

Center• OasisByTheSea• SecondCup• StarbucksSarooj• AlFairS/M• AlMasaMall• AlShattiCinema

(DunkinDonuts)• AyanaSpa• Cosmeclinic• EmiratesMedical

Center• McDonald’s• ShellMQ• AlFairS/M• ArabOpen

University• BritishCouncil• CostaCoffee• Darcy’sKitchen• EmiratesAirlines• HanaSlimming

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

Saloon• Starbucks• TBWAZeenahAl Khuwair• BadarAlSama• BaitAlReem• BaitAlReem-

CoffeeShop• CaféVergnano

• Centrepoint-Splash

• DiplomaticClub• FriendiMobile• GrandHyatt

Muscat• GrandHyatt

Muscat(Saloon)• GulfCollege• HarleyDavidson• HSBC(OldOIB)• KFC• KhimjiMart• Khimji’sWatches-

Showroom• KMTrading• LandmarkGroup• McDonald’s• Ministryof

Information• MuscatBakery• MustafaSultan

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Center• OmanOilAhlain• OmanUnited

Insurance• OMRAN• PizzaHut• RadisonBlu• Shell• TGIfridays• TheKebab

Factory• TheTikkaPlace• VLCC• ZaharaTravel• ZakherShopping

MallMGM• CarribouCoffee• GloriaJean’s

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• CostaCoffee• CrepeCafé• DolphinVillage• ModernCollege

OfBusinessStudies

• Moka&MoreCafé

• MuscatCollege• MuscatPrivate

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• MuscatPrivateHospital-Outpatient

• OmanMedicalCollege

• StationeryHutGhubra• AlHayatPolyclinic• AlMaya

Hypermarket• AsterHospital• BankofBeirut• GMC• LuluHypermarket• OmanOilAhlain• ParkInn• Porsche• TheChediGhala• NationalMineral

Water• TAISMAzaiba• AlFairS/M• AlMaha• AlMeeraH/M• Audi• Bentely• BrandOman• CarribouCoffee• CostaCoffee• GoldenTulip• InfinityService

Station• Jaguar• Jeep• LandRover• Mazda• McDonald’s• Mitsubishi• OmanArabBank• OmanOilAhlain• Peugeot• SevenSeas

Complex• Shell• Skoda• TheSultancentre

(TSC)• Towell• VolksWagon• Volvo• Yamaha• ZubairAutomotive

(Sayarati)Al Murtafaa• BankMuscat• DHL• KFC• MuscatHillsGolf

Club• OmanAirMawaleh• Chili’s• CostaCoffee• MakkanCafé• NoodleHouse• Starbucks• StarcareHospital• TimHortons

• VLCCHail• AlMoujGolfClub• Amouage-Oman

PerfumeryLLC• BaitalHail• BurgerKing• Caledonian

College• CostaCoffee• MarkazAlBahja• McDonald’s• OmanFootball

Association• OmanSail• Shakespere&Co.• TheWaveH.O.Rusayl• KnowledgeOasis




Muscat-4(ITA)• MiddleEast

College• Omantel• SQU-Diplomatic

Club• SQU-Collegeof

Commerce• SQU-Students

BankingArea• SQU-Hospital• WaljatCollegeSeeb• McDonald’s• SABCOMediaAl Khoud• BadarAlSama• AlFairS/M• PizzaHutBarka• AlNahdaSpaand

Resort• LuluHypermarketSawadi• SawadiBeach

ResortMassnaah• MillenniumHotelSohar• Centrepoint-

Splash• CrownePlaza• NationalGift

Market• Nawras• PizzaHut• SafeerMall• SoharBeachHotel• SoharPort• SoharUniversityNizwa• NizwaUniversity

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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 C a r sCARS ANDADVENTURES

DestinationINTRIGUE & HISTORY

A visit to the old town of Izkiis like stepping back in timeto a place barely touched bythe modern world, saysJerzy Wierzbicki

As the afternoon sun began to dip in the sky, the shadows around me seemed to dance in response.

I was wandering amid the ruins of Izki contemplating the sense of history around me as the day slowly slipped away and imagining how life must have been here in the past. There are many places that lay claim to being the oldest in Oman. Izki, perched on a bluff overlooking Wadi Halfayn with mountains on both sides, could well hold the title, at least according to the book The Rough Guide to Oman. Whether it is indeed the oldest or not, Izki provides a fascinating glimpse into a side of the Sultanate that some never see.

A closer look around reminded me of Hamra. It has the same extensive rabbit warren of disintegrating mud brick buildings with the solid defensive wall surrounding it still standing strong. I had travelled through Izki many times on my way to and from the desert but had never actually stopped there. A chance conversation with some friends in a Muscat café brought me here. They wanted me to see somewhere with “pure” Omani culture, an authentic adventure into the true heartland of Oman.

It also needed to be “summer friendly”. Deserts at this time of year are strictly out of bounds, even for a hardened traveller such as myself.

Izki, and whether this old walled town in the Ad Dakhiliyah region could stir my soul like sand in my beloved Empty Quarter, piqued my interest.

I moved from Muscat early afternoon and after an hour of gentle driving I reached the edge of my destination.

The first thing that caught my eye was a lot of palm trees and small green fields spread out around the older part of the ruined town. Parking my car next to the

wall that once protected Izki from invaders, I plunged

straight into the complex of mud brick houses

and empty streets. I have seen a lot of historical locations in Oman and some of them are still viable or at least partly habited by people, for example Hamra

in the shadow of Jebel Shams. But

here in Izki it looks like its inhabitants left

the place many years ago

with their homes long abandoned. These dilapidated houses that once rang with the sounds of a families and children are now empty shells, their secrets crumbling away with the disintegrating mud brick walls. You could be mistaken for thinking that you are walking around an archeological site at times. My break was taken at the abandoned castle, with the remains of the towers still dominating the surrounding area. From here, the vista would have given those in the castle commanding views across the land and of anyone who might seek to breech the defensive walls.

What marks Izki out too is the greenery, which cuts a verdant path through the otherwise unrelentingly brown scenic palette. Typical Omani villas stretched between the small water channels and fields with the palm trees.

I pulled over the car and moved between the streets. After a few minutes what I saw reminded me of a question about the “most Omani place in the Interior”. Well, I can say with certainty now that Izki is one of them. The silence surrounded me from all sides and only gentle gusts of wind moving the leaves of palms made any sounds. I sat on the roadside and photographed lush and colourful flowers called Bougainvillea, a vine-like plant that can burst with bright pink flowers 11 months of the year and is often found in mountain towns around Oman.

Suddenly I noticed how the ray of light was coming through the intensively green and fresh leaves. Immediately I installed a macro lens and got some close-up shots. Returning to the car, I moved to a different side of the town but kept to the oldest part. I heard the noise of running water. Two young boys were using a water pipe for a refreshing dip to cool down. As I prepared to leave, I was sorry to say goodbye to Izki. My experience had been unexpected, and stronger than I imagined it would be. It moved me in a different way from

the desert, but still powerfully. Back in Muscat, an Omani friend told me that Izki is indeed one of the oldest towns in the country, which is quite possibly true considering that one of the oldest mosques in Oman is located close by in Samail.

Will I go back? Definitely. It has a certain something that will draw me again in the near future I’m sure.

HOW TO GET THEREA 4x4 car is not needed and the route is straightforward. From Muscat, set out on the main road to Nizwa and look for road signs to Izki on the left. Total distance from Muscat is only around 100km.

The GPS location of the old town is: 22°55’43.08”N 57°45’56.52”E

TRAV

El G

UIDE

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 7 0 3 9

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 70 4 0

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

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 C a r s

From the 1960s to modern day, children knowjust how to keep adults entertained

Young&giftedDANCING

UNDER THE STARS 2

Keeping a 200-strong audience entertained at

the Cinema Hall in the Ras Al Hamra Recreation Centre was simply child’s play.

Thirty-eight performers impressed with their artistic and graceful movements – and they ranged in age from four to 14 years.

The sold-out show was a riot of sparkling colour with energetic choreography showcasing the children's talents.

The musical inspiration was drawn from classic songs such as Itsy Bitsy

Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini from 1960 to the very more recent Gentleman from PSY.

Intense Latin tunes where interspersed with upbeat numbers by artists such as Katy Perry.

Costumes were designed to complement the music and choreography while allowing the freedom of movement required by the dance steps. The children were grouped according to age and dance experience, each class taking turns on stage. The 35 girls and three boys entertained the audience for one and half hours with energy, enthusiasm and professionalism beyond their years. The hard work and commitment to

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 7 0 4 1

I N D O O R S

regular rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the show ensured that it was an amazing success.

Director and choreographer Giusi Rondinelli congratulated the children on their performance “in dancing passion is just as important as technique, and you saw the girls put their hearts 100 per cent into the dancing”.

In addition to the performers, almost 20 adults contributed to the event, either helping with costumes, make-up, hair, backstage, technical or front of house.

An after-show party was

held to thank everyone for their contribution, not forgetting the support of all the parents in preparing the children for the show.

This year’s production follows the success of the inaugural Dancing Under the Stars, held in June 2013, and the Dance for Kids committee is already looking ahead to Dancing Under the Stars 3 for 2015, for a show that is becoming a much anticipated date in the RAHRC calendar.

Available at:

Trade and Customer Enquiries: Yousef Al Obaidan General TradingP B No.65601, Dubai, U.A.E. Tel: +971 4 3966 558 E-Mail: [email protected]

9 out of 10Health Professionals

recommendDr. Brown's™ for

colicky symptoms*

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 70 4 2

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 C a r s CARS ANDADVENTURES

My favourite place I’m a sucker for old towns, be it Gamla Stan in Stockholm or the stunning medieval city of Visby on the small Swedish island of Gotland. Riga’s charming Old Town, or Vecrīga, is no exception. The Old Town begins in Town Hall Square, where you will also find the Museum of Occupations and the House of Blackheads. Originally owned by a merchant guild, the House of Blackheads was built in 1344, but sadly destroyed in World War II. But to celebrate the city’s 800th anniversary, it was rebuilt and is now a museum. It is worth taking the time to meander about the cobbled streets of the Old Town, where you will find hole in the wall cafes serving delicious cakes and pastries, some of the city’s best restaurants, as well as small artisan boutiques and an odd doll museum tucked away in a back street.

Highlights A visit to Riga wouldn’t be complete without a stroll near the Daugava River to gawk at Riga Castle, which is also known as the “President of Latvia’s crib”. It has been destroyed numerous times, but the current building sits atop the original foundations that were built in the 13th century. These days, it is home to two museums and is also the office and residence of the President of Latvia, currently Andris Bērziņš. It is also worth checking out the historic Swedish Gate and trying to find the remains of Riga’s original city walls, located in the Old Town.

Lowlights There’s an air of former Soviet shabbiness that continues to pervade, more so when it’s a rainy day and the gloom takes hold of what is an otherwise a beautiful city that is beginning to attract film production companies (when we were there, we spotted Kenneth Branagh filming near the Old Town).

Souvenirs Like Estonia, Latvia is renowned for its amber which is available almost everywhere and is relatively cheap. If pottery is your thing, then traditional ceramics from Kurzeme will appeal. The Berga Bazára Centrs, the only covered outdoor antique market in the city, is a great place to pick up Latvian arts and crafts and other antiques, but is only open on the second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Where to stay Because we took the boat over, we picked up a great deal that included a two- night stay in a centrally located hotel. But all budgets are catered for, including the opulent Grand Palace Hotel. Situated in the Old Town, it was built in 1877 and housed the Central Bank of Latvia. But for those on a budget, Funky Hostel is a fun choice, a great way to meet fellow travellers and is also near the Old Town.

RIGA, LATVIAA NArrow medievAl street iN the old towN

populAr lAtviAN hANdcrAfted

souveNirs

Felicity Glover recommends

cAble-stAyed bridge Across dAugAvA river

t he baltic city of riga might not be at the top of your bucket l ist of must-see destinations. And i have to admit that it certainly wasn’t on mine - let alone at the top of it. but sometimes, visiting a new city without any expectations can make for a much more enriched experience.

And so it was with riga, which i happened to visit by chance thanks to a last-minute decision while visiting family and friends in stockholm, sweden.

the connection? stockholm is home to the tall ink silja line, which has a large fleet of passenger ships that ply the scandinavia/baltic route and offers reasonable midweek and weekend breaks to some of the region’s most beautiful cities.

our dec is i on t o try riga came about on ly because our f i rst cho i ce of ta l l i nn , eston ia , was fu l l y bo oked . fortunate ly , o ur last-m inute dec is i on pa id off .

riga has a l ong h i story - more than 800 years - and i t i s ev ident i n i ts arch i tecture , wh ich stretches back to 1201 . there ’s a ls o a strong sov iet i nf l uence ; no surpr ise there cons ider ing the c i ty on ly emerged from the shadow of the former sov iet un i on i n August 199 1 , when i t dec lared de facto i ndependence .

in 1997, the c i ty was named a unesco wor ld her i tage site thanks to i ts stunn ing german art nouveau bu i l d i ngs and a un ique co l l ect i on of qua int wooden houses i n párdaugava, wh ich i s j ust a 40-minute wa lk from the centre of the c i ty .

populAr lAtviAN hANdcrAfted

souveNirs

Indexing the media landscape

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

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

FAMILY FUn The manufacturer of eAlimTV claims it is the world’s first Islamic Android internet TV box. The Islamic factor rings true, but it has to be said that it is modelled on – and looks eerily similar to – Apple TV, which streams a range of channels to your television or computer, including the likes of YouTube, Netflix, Bloomberg TV and your paid-for movies from iTunes. eAlimTV streams live Islamic TV channels and radio stations, as well as offering Quran applications, songs (Nasheeds), games and galleries, eBooks and Islamic application support. It has built-in Wi-Fi, features Google TV, supports Bluetooth keyboard operations and uses the Android 2.2 operating system. Go to www.ecplaza.net for more information.

HI-TECH OffERINGSThere’s a raft of apps and gadgets that can help you to enrich your experience during this year’s Holy Month of Ramadan, says Felicity Glover

IFTAR MADE EASYIT’S ANOTHER NON-GADGET, BUT Y THINKS THIS IS A GREAT IDEA FROM

THE DUBAI-BASED AL ARABIYA NEWS CHANNEL. BY TEAMING UP WITH

TWITTER, AL ARABIYA HAS LAUNCHED A LOCATION-SPECIFIC HASHTAG

THAT ALLOWS USERS TO FIND OUT WHEN THEY CAN BREAK THEIR FAST

EVERY DAY DURING THE HOLY MONTH. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIMPLY

TWEET @ALARABIYA AnD InCLUDE #IFTAR AnD YOUR HASHTAGGED CITY (FOR InSTAnCE, #MUSCAT) AND VOILA, YOU WILL RECEIVE A REPLY

WITH THE CORRECT IFTAR TIME BASED ON YOUR LOCATION. BUT IT’S

NOT JUST ABOUT THE BREAKING OF YOUR FAST. YOU CAN ALSO USE IT FOR

THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY: JUST REPLACE #IFTAR WITH #IMSAK AND YOU

WILL RECEIVE A REPLY FOR THE CORRECT STARTING TIME.

FLAG IT OK, so we know it’s not a gadget, but Twitter has come up with a couple of cool ideas for Ramadan for those marking the Holy Month. Based on its World Cup “Hashflags” campaign, all you have to do is hashtag your tweets with #Ramadan or #Eid to enable an icon of a small crescent moon or an Eid symbol to appear at the end of your tweet. Go to twitter.com and try it out.

PERFECT TIMInG The auto Islamic Azan Clock with

Qibla Direction is a great way to keep you on track with prayer timings,

regardless of where you are in the world. Covering 1,500 cities, it offers seven different dialects or languages

(Makkah, Madinah, Egypt, Al Aqsa, Turkish, Indonesian and Moroccan)

and features the six Azan times (Fajr, Shurook, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and

Isha). You can also locate Qibla after you have set your city simply by turning

the clock to the north and following the direction of the arrow on the clock’s

display screen. Priced at RO30.7 (plus shipping) from Amazon.com.

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The app offers Holy messages and prayer messaging throughout the day, while Ramadan wallpapers are also changed daily.

there’s a prayer schedule and reminders for Iftar, prayer times and fasting times based on your location anywhere in the world.

Also offers an extensive selection of Ramadan songs as ringtones, important health tips for fasting, ability to send Ramadan greetings, plus the dos and don’ts of Ramadan.

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

SAY IT WITH A CARD The popularity of e-greeting cards has taken hold, even during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The Islamic Greeting Cards app allows you to share a range of Islamic-themed cards via Facebook, email and Twitter, whether it be for Eid, Ramadan or if you know somebody who needs a Dua. The app includes more than 170 professionally designed cards and is free on iOS and Android app stores.

App of the week

Forget buying a new smartphone this Ramadan. Instead, head to Google Play – if you are an Android user, that is – and download the Ramadan Phone 2014. Developed by a team of designers, programmers and content producers from the UAE, Italy, India and the US, its patented technology allows the “Islamic faithful to have a rich, immersive experience during the Holy Month”. Launched last week by Carib Publishing, the company says the Ramadan Phone “integrates completely with an Android phone and tablet” and is much more than a simple mobile app. Available on Google Play for about 400 baizas. Go to www.ramadanphone.com for more information.

nEW! RAMADAn PHOnE

FOR HERWear your heart on your sleeve or, in this case, your iPhone with this fun, customisable cover that celebrates the Holy Month of Ramadan. The Case-Mate Vibe iPhone 5/5S Case has a hard-shell plastic exterior and shock-absorbing liner, which protects your smartphone from minor accidents. Best of all, it is sleek, lightweight and stylish. Priced at RO29.44 from www.zazzle.co.uk.

Help your little ones to learn the Quran with this fun, educational device that projects colourful lights on a blank wall and also offers a range of songs at the push of a button. Designed for early learners, the interactive Apple Learning Holy Quran Machine is preloaded with 26 daily Duas, 16 Surahs from the Holy Quran and six children’s songs in both Arabic and English. The daily Duas include one for waking up, another for leaving the house and one for eating. Priced at RO4.76 on Amazon.com.

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InTERACTIVE LEARnInG

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A thrilling ride combining power and luxury all wrapped up in a perfect package. The new BMW 650i is an exceptional drive, finds Kate Ginn

BMW 650i Gran CoupéSpecifications

Engine: TwinPowerTurbo six-cylinder

Horsepower: 450hpTransmission: Eight-speed

Sport AutomaticAcceleration: 0-100kmh

in 4.6 secondsTop Speed: 250kmh

check this out

Integral Active Steering Completely Customisable

Interior High-res 10.2-inch Control

Display leD lights Six airbags 18-inch light alloy wheels Park Assistant Sport leather multifunction

steering wheel Automatic air conditioning

with two-zone regulation (four-zone regulation optional)

Child seat attachment in rear

It is said that there are two types of BMW drivers – those who suit a 7 Series or the other who is more at home in the 6 Series.

There is no doubt that the buyers’ demographic differs for both cars. Corporate executives and dignitaries are drawn to the stately grandeur of the 7 Series while its sporty brother, the 6 Series, is for those who like to live life a little more on the edge and have the money to enjoy a bit of luxury on the side.

As for me, well, I like to flit between the two. Having driven the new 7 Series recently and been won over by the style and grace, it only seemed fitting to liven up things a little with the 650i Gran Coupé.

It’s clear from the outside that is a different beast altogether. True, the same flawless design is there along with the best of German engineering and technical know-how that marks out a BMW.

But the swooping roofline and taut, muscular styling gives it a distinct look. Where the 7 Series is refined elegance, the 650i is full of brash confidence. It’s been lengthened for its 2014 makeover and looks sturdier than before. I love the frameless doors, which add to the showy look while reducing the weight. In another innovation, the brake light stretches right across the full width of the roof.

The famous kidney grille is

more deep-set and the shark-nose front gives it an appearance of a car that’s not to be messed with. Driving this around Muscat was a joy with most cars, even the bullyboy 4x4s, leaving me well alone.

Just as well, because one light touch on the accelerator and within 4.6 seconds, you’ll be hitting 100kmh in one smooth, seamless rush that makes you want to shout out at such automotive perfection. This car certainly gives you bragging rights.

Only fellow BMW drivers might notice the discreet Gran Coupé badge on the window frame, but everyone else on the roads is well aware that you are behind the wheel of something special that commands respect.

Inside, it’s just as aesthetically pleasing with the finest materials and touches. From the high-end Bang & Olufsen stereo to the touch screen display that pops up from the dashboard at the touch of a button, it’s all so gorgeous to look at and touch.

There’s no denying that the smell of money is alluring. The finest wood finishes, all beautifully crafted of course, complement the leather seats.

My favourite “gadget” was the optional extra BMW Head-Up Display, which cleverly allows you to always see where you’re going. Driving information, such

as current speed and navigation instructions,, are projected on to the windscreen in full colour directly in the driver’s line of sight so that there’s no need to take eyes off the road. It’s not distracting, as you might think, but enables you to fully concentrate on the task in hand without fiddling about with controls or casting your eyes around the cockpit to find information you need. In a similar vein, a night vision with pedestrian recognition uses an infrared camera on the front grille to detect people and animals up to a distance of 300 metres. It can also tell if someone is walking close to the road, giving the drive time to react – particularly useful for those Kamikaze pedestrians who try to run across the road at night as cars hurtle past.

Another neat little touch is the Start/Stop function. How does it work? Well, it’s simple really. Every time the car stops, so does the engine, saving you fuel and the environment from emissions. It takes a little time to get used to but is well worth the effort, although it can be switched off for those who prefer it. You can also switch between drive “experiences” allowing a different ride and feel, whether you want Comfort or more Sporty handling.

Whichever you choose, I can assure you of this – a drive in a BMW 650i will be like no other you’ve had before.

They say: “A phenomenon for all the senses.”

We say: “Sporty with

German panache.”

CARS ANDADVENTURES

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

CAR Of THE WEEK

Y Magazine #327, July 3, 2014

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Transcript of Y Magazine #327, July 3, 2014