Y Magazine #334, August 28, 2014

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Your top guide to the best of oman, everY week

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AUG 28 - SEPT 03 / ISSUE 334 • WEEKLY

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School’S In

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FOOD: Luscious lunchboxesDESTINATION: Cinnamon Desert

News: Meters in airport taxis10LINcOLN cOmpETITION / cOOL gAdgETS / TEAcHER TRENdS

Back-to-school specialY’s Done all the homeworkRO500 tuition feewINNEr rEvEALED

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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

DEPUTY EDITORKate Ginn

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

CONTRIBUTOR Matt Blackwell

PHOTOGRAPHER Jerzy Wierzbicki

INTERNS Deeba Hasan

Khalfan al IsmailiGhada al Harthy

Nabaa Baqir

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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fast forwardThe long summer holidays are over and it’s finally back to school for students in

Oman. Parents might be relieved, but we can hear many kids groaning already at the thought of early mornings and homework as they struggle to get back into their routines.

Y is celebrating the new school year with a special themed issue packed full of tips and tricks for students and parents alike, whether you’re heading abroad for college, starting school for the first time or simply moving up a grade.

From the best gadgets to help you stay on top of your studies in Y-Fi, to healthy lunchbox ideas in Food, a stress-free start in Health and the coolest after-school clothes in Fashion, we will help you start the new school year in style.

Finally, congratulations to 16-year-old Mahmood Tariq Jalal, the winner of our Back To School competition. Mahmood, who is in Grade 11 at Anas bin Al-Nadher School in Seeb, has won RO500 to go towards his school fees, courtesy of Oman Tourism College.

Enjoy the week and stay safe on the roads – now that school’s back, there will be a lot more cars to deal with!

[email protected]

Team Y has been watching The 7th Dwarf, scuba diving in

the beautiful waters off Sifawy

Boutique Hotel and farewelling Y photographer

Jerzy Wierzbicki, who we wish

all the best for his future endeavours.

THIS WEEK…

the barometer

Are you the lucky winner of our iPad mini 2? Check out this week’s Lincoln selfie winner – and the

best of the rest – on P26. The winner of the RO500 Back To School competition is also announced in this issue. Turn to P24-25 to read the winner’s entry – as well as our favourite runners-up.

GoinG UpDOCUMENTATION FEES

Applying for a range of government services, such as visas and resident

cards, could soon cost more, with fees reportedly being raised by between

500-800 baisa.

GoinG DoWnROAD ACCIDENTS

It’s good to see that the number of road accidents in the first six months of the year has fallen by 32.8 per cent, while the number of road deaths dropped by

10.2 per cent, according to the latest figures from the National Centre for

Statistics and Information.

winners

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

contentsA U g 2 8 - S E p T 0 3 2 0 1 4

Yo u r o m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Priya Murali

08 Voice of oman Cia Glover

10 news Students Head Abroad On Scholarships

16 oman in 43 objects Salalah Bananas

17 Gallery Jaguar F-Type Launch

Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Adding Balance

30 taste test Nando’s

t h i s w e e k18 Movie Listings The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet

19 this Week Learn The Lingo

C a r s a n d a d v e n t u r e s38 Destination A Fond Farewell To My ‘Cinnamon Desert’

40 outdoors Underwater Safari

42 postcard From Dubai

44 Y-Fi Back To School Is Cool

46 Car of the Week Mitsubishi 2015 Pajero

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Fe at u r e20 studying abroad The Survival Guide

24 Back to school The Winner Revealed

26 Lincoln Competition End Of The Road To Win an iPad mini 2

h e a l t h a n d b e a u t y32 Fashion Back To School Brights

34 Health Stress Busters

35 style Counsel Barbra Young

sWiMMinG Hero / FaBULoUs FasHion / Latest MoVies / WaterY GaDGets / Last ipaD Mini 2 Winner / Destination saMaD / taste test

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As the new school year begins, Deeba Hasan sits down for coffee with Priya Murali, the vice principal at Indian School Muscat, to talk about life as a teacher in Oman

Priya Murali has achieved what many women of her cultural background could only dream of – a successful career. When she was growing up in the male-dominated city of Madurai, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, girls were allowed an education, but were not encouraged to work after leaving school. Her family were close-knit and did not allow the girls out after 6pm, but were progressive enough to let her cross some cultural boundaries. She attended school and college in Mumbai – her impressive credentials include a Bachelor of Science in microbiology, a Bachelor’s degree in education, a diploma in pathology, a Master’s of Science in curriculum development and a certificate course in library science. After studying, she taught in Mumbai for a few years. “I got married at the young age of 21, but I was very sure about my goals,” Priya says. “I knew I wanted to work and pursue more courses to enhance my education and I did that.”Her love of children motivated her to pursue teaching and she has worked in education for more than 22 years, changing the lives of many of her students. Many of them still thank her on social media.

Priya believes being a teacher these days is challenging given the advancements in technology and the need to remain up-to-date with the latest teaching methods. “Back in my time, it was a chalk-and-talk method of

teaching, but today it has changed a lot,” she says. “Technology holds a major place in education today and students are well-versed with technology, which is why the teachers also need to know about using that in education. “Education today is also very pupil friendly and it is important for a teacher and their students to have a good rapport.” Priya has spent 15 years as a teacher at the Indian School Muscat, which opened in 1975, and has seen students excel in many different areas. She advises parents not to force their children towards certain subjects or career paths. “Every child is talented in something,” she says. “There is no need to push children towards engineering or medicine only. I was never pushed by my parents, it all came naturally to me.”As well as her academic achievements, Priya is also a ranked tennis player, a painter and a writer, but says her greatest accomplishment is her home with her husband and two children; one of whom recently completed a Master’s in Communications Engineering from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, while the other is still at school. “Teachers have a big role to play in the lives of their students because children spend half a day in school with them,” she says. “They can inspire students, motivate them, be best friends with them and guide them whenever required.“A teacher is someone who should play the role of a magnet when it comes to a child’s

learning. Teachers should attract the students towards their studies and that can only be done by building a friendly rapport with the students. If there is no rapport, hardly any learning takes place.”Priya has also contributed to The Hindu, a daily newspaper in India. “There was a time when my articles used to be returned by post because they were not good enough, but that did not stop me from writing,” she says. “I wrote until I mastered the art of writing.”

Even before school reopens after the holidays, Priya and her team of teachers work hard to welcome the students back. “There is a series of things to do – special concerts and assemblies for the students and other things have to be planned beforehand, so that once the students come back, things start at a good pace. “Indian School Muscat is such a wonderful institution and has so many facilities and services for the students. We have to plan things way in advance to execute them at the given time.”Priya became vice principal of the primary section a few years ago, but she still teaches classes. She proudly says she has a class of fourth standard pupils she adores.

“Do things with passion and the results will definitely be great,” she says.

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: [email protected]

Priya Murali

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sCintiLLa

correspondencethe voice of oman Cia Glover on getting back into the school routine

NExt WEEK: SAlAlAH ScENE WItH SHElINE

(A poem for the people of Gaza)

Sleep soundly, ye child!More peaceful a world shall you know;

The smoke and dust of gunfire,Is but a blanket for your soul.

Let the tears fall, dear sister!For the agony that you feel;

Missiles of hate light up the skies,But the light will set you free.

Fall bravely, o brother!With hardened will, though unsure foot;

The enemy’s armour shall show you,A reflection of your truth.

The air of innocence is burning now.Man speaks of love, but breaks his vows.

Mellifluous words can ravel them not,But a scintilla of Hope is easily got.

By Samawiyah Nadeem, (Student of Indian School Muscat, Grade XI)

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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M y mum asked me the other day if I was looking forward to going back to school.

I just looked at her. It has been a loooong holiday and I hadn’t thought about school for a while.

Don’t get me wrong, I like school. But when you’re on holiday, you can go to bed late and sleep in.

Children here have to get up really early for school. My mum wakes me at about 6am and I never want to get out of bed.

But it is better here than in some other countries. When I was going to school in Denmark, my mum would wake me up at 7.30am and it was still dark. I would walk to school in the dark and sometimes it was snowing. When my mum would pick me up in the afternoons, it was dark again. It is very dark there in the winter.

I was really confused about this for a little while and would fall asleep on the sofa when I got home from school because I thought it was nighttime. But it was only 5pm. Then I couldn’t go to sleep when it was bedtime and I hadn’t finished my homework because I was sleeping at the wrong time.

I like it that it is light here when I have to get up for school. And it is still light when I get home.

We moved to Muscat in May and I was at the Royal Flight School for only a month before the holidays started, so I am a little bit worried about going back.

But I know that it will be ok and that I will make some really good friends there.

We asked: “Is it more important to do things right or to do the right things?”

AlEx cHAcKo Do the right things and things will fall right.

AFrAH ZAHID I find this topic very interesting because some people do the right things, but it requires courage to accept your mistakes and do things right. There is a big difference between doing the right thing and making things right when they have

DeBate oF tHe Weekbeen done wrongly. It’s more important to do things right because once you start fixing your mistakes, life eventually gets better.

KrISHNA SANAl It’s all relative and ultimately doesn’t matter. Life is too short to worry about right and wrong. Listen to your heart and the rest will take care of itself.

GAutAM GHoSH DAStIDAr I am glad to see this question. It’s not a just a play on words, rather a very down-to-earth debate. I would love to quote from William Cowper: “A fool must now and then be

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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

New debate:“In the age of technology, is social media damaging

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interaction?” Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance of

winning dinner for two.

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right, by chance.” Our fast-food-oriented world is rapidly turning into a fool’s paradise. We all pertain to the clappers surrounding our own puppet play. I strongly believe we have done the right things enough, now it’s more important to do things right. That may not initially fit the world, but that is what ought to be. Let’s live our ideal now.

PIyuSH VorA For me, the answer is both. I don’t think the two can be separated, at least not for me. I feel compelled to do the right things and once I make the decision to do something, I want to do it the right way.

roNNEIl SAlES VAlIENtE It is more important to do the right things because our society is governed by a set of laws, policies, rules and regulations, norms, traditions, and religious beliefs. Sadly, we are judged and labelled by others based on the things that we do. There is a famous saying: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” We should always respect the culture and laws of the country in which we live. Whatever we decide to do, whether it is right or wrong, as long as you listen to what your heart dictates and it makes you happy, there is nothing to worry about.

SHylA IVAN Doing the right thing sounds better. I may fail, but at least I have tried to make it right and if I manage to do things in the right way, well, that’s a bonus.

SANDHyA VorA I believe in doing the right thing no matter what obstacles are placed in my path. Although doing things the right way is not always the easy way to do things, the results are always rewarding in all aspects of life.

ANDrEW cAtlI AluDINo Both actions are equally important. You can’t do one without the other. It’s like asking which side of a coin is more valuable. The word “right” is the coin value. Whether you pay face up or down doesn’t really matter.

roNAK BHAtt Listen to your heart and do what makes you truly happy, it will automatically become the right thing to do and the thing done rightly, too.

rAZMEENA JEMSHEEr Always do the right things. There

will be difficulties and hard choices along this path, but ultimately it is the right one to take.

lorElIE VIco ArMAMENto Do the right things always and God will do the rest.

Ar SoFI Efficiency is doing things right, and effectiveness is doing the right things.

rISHIKESH cHIDHAMBArANAtHAN This question is like asking what came first, the chicken or the egg?

AlI FArEED Al-lAWAtI It’s important to do the right things right otherwise everything will be wrong.

SHAMIJA SurESH To err is human, so doing things right is beyond our control. One might be sowing a seed of right with chances of it growing to become wrong. It is divine to identify the seed of right deeds. Be human and always try to do things right.

DAWooD ASGHAr AlI Doing things the right way is very important, but if we don’t do the right things we will not respect anything in society.

SADIA SHAMS Doing the right thing is more important because it will save us from any type of regret or loss. Whether it is a personal or professional matter, whatever we are doing or want to do, we know the results intuitively. It’s better to sit down and think before taking a step forward and making a decision.

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taXi! with a meter, Please

Students in Oman are spreading their wings, with the Ministry of Higher Education offering 1,643 scholarships for studies abroad this year.

The list of potential destinations includes India, Jordan and Malaysia, as well as institutions in countries such as the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The ministry has held a series of orientation programmes in conjunction with the embassies of the various host countries to give the students an idea of the rules and regulations, as well as the social and cultural practices of their chosen destinations.

This news comes as the government this week announced that a new national education strategy is to be implemented before the end of the year.

The plan is yet to be discussed at a national workshop, but it’s thought that it will propose a closer working relationship and increased coordination between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. The aim is to improve the quality of graduates and address certain challenges faced by Oman’s educational system, particularly the standard of English in Omani schools.

Dr Tess Goodliffe, Deputy CEO of Technical Affairs at the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority, which monitors the quality of educational programmes, told Y that Oman was in need of

diversification when it came to subjects taught and skills gained from higher education.

“We also need to support international recognition of Omani qualifications to support student and employee mobility.

“There will also be a greater focus on research and liaison with industry and employers to ensure that higher education is really serving the needs of Oman.

“The future is changing and we need to ensure that we are educating the young people of today to face the unforeseen challenges of tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, as thousands of children prepare to return to school in the coming days – some are already back – the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has issued a set of tips to save parents from “unnecessary spending”.

Cartoons and infographics have been posted on social media as part of a campaign to raise awareness on curbing excess at this time of year. “There is always a difference between what you want and what you actually need,” said the PACP.

• If you are interested in studying abroad, check out Y’s essential guide on P20 as part of our Back to School special

• Want to get the lowdown on how to be cool at school? Penny Fray tells you how in Fashion on P32

DestinatiOn abrOaD fOr OMan’s stuDents

A ll airport taxis in Muscat will have working meters in two months as installation begins at long last, it has been confirmed.

About 50-55 taxis at the airport have already had their meters fitted and the remaining 100 will follow, according to the Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC).

The news is long overdue. A decision to introduce meters in taxis was approved several

years ago, but progress at putting the plan into action has been slow.

Customers and tourists arriving at Muscat International Airport can finally expect to see metered taxis within two months.

However, details of the fare structure have not yet been revealed.

“In the next two months, airport users will be treated to an organised taxi service with meters,” said Saeed Khamis al Zadjali, the acting chief executive of OAMC.

“If you visit some of the airport taxis parked at the bay, you may come across some vehicles with meters installed, though they are not in use right now.”

Meters are being phased in and the contractors are working daily on the installation.

Speaking to a local newspaper, Mr al Zadjali added: “I want to tell you that the metered taxi scheme is beneficial to everyone – passengers, taxi operators and also the OAMC because it will enhance our brand value and help ease congestion by private cars at the forecourt.”

Calls continue for meters to be installed in every taxi on Oman’s roads, similar to a very successful scheme rolled out in Abu Dhabi a couple of years ago.

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

Words: Matt Blackwell & Deeba Hasan

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Pester what?A phenomenon known only to parents, pester power is a trait commonly found in 21st-century, consumer-savvy kids who direct how – and what – mums and dads buy.They what? Yep, it’s a sad day when your kid decides what colour and make of car you buy, let alone having the final say on what house, gadgets, smart TVs et al you were planning to splash out on.How did it happen?Anecdotal evidence suggests pester power originated in the confectionery aisles of supermarkets, which cleverly place delectable treats at the eye-level of toddlers perched in shopping trolleys. Those very same toddlers, apparently more clever than their parents, understand that if they don’t get that Chupa Chup, a tantrum should do the trick. From a lollypop to a car, that’s pretty extreme! That it is. But many parents live in fear of that public tantrum and will do almost anything to avoid one – rather than simply playing the game and pretending they don’t know that crazy kid in the middle of the aisle. Who takes the blame?That depends. Of course, parents giving into the kids aren’t helping matters. But we also have to say a big thank you to the savvy marketers and conglomerates of this world, which have conducted study after study to identify the so-called spending power of kids – or rather, the kids who control the spending habits of their parents. And then what happens? These marketers then spend a tonne of money targeting the “I want, I want” kids of this world to boost profits.So that’s what it all comes down to?Profits rule, right? It’s a vicious circle. And they are playing their cards right. With busy parents feeling guilty for working long hours and not spending enough downtime with their families, it’s one way to appease everybody. Not to mention avoid a tantrum. Is anybody doing something about it? Well, Oman’s Public Authority for Consumer Protection issued a warning this week that advises parents not to be tempted to overspend during the rush to buy back-to-school supplies. Hopefully, some parents will heed the warning and avoid going into debt just because Junior wants a Macbook Air rather than a notepad and pen.Don’t say: Yes, darling. Anything you want.Do say: No. End of discussion!

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE Of THE WEEK.

PESTER POWER Got a big idea and the know-how to turn it

around in just two days?If you’re Omani and can meet the

above, then the Information Technology Authority (ITA) would like to hear from you.

The ITA is launching the Sas48H contest, a first of its kind for Oman, challenging Omani youth to come up with ideas for web series and mobile services and turn them into reality in just 48 hours. Registration is now open and the hunt on for 100 participants. It’s not just for fun, though, with prizes of up to RO10,000 up for grabs, so get your thinking caps on and be part of something unique.

Sas48H is taken from the Garage48 initiative, which started in Estonia in April 2010 and has subsequently expanded to other countries.

“It aims to nurture the culture of entrepreneurs among Omani youth,” a spokesperson for the ITA said.

“It’s also to encourage champions to think creatively and establish new businesses, focus on developing start-up companies in the most demanded sectors nowadays – mobile apps – and create and develop Omani products and promote Intellectual Property.”

Participants are needed from various backgrounds with different skills, ranging from software development to design, marketing, sales and entrepreneurship. Teams will have 48 hours of continuous work to make their ideas a reality.

Mentors will be on hand to support them with business skills and technical issues.

The event will be held from September 18 to September 20 at Almouj Golf, The Wave, Muscat.

48 hours For ChanGe

A W E E K I N p I c T U R E S

British film director/actor Richard Attenborough dies at the age of 90. He won two Oscars for his epic Gandhi and appeared in notable films including The Great Escape and blockbuster Jurassic Park.

HEADLINING STORIES FROM OMAN AND BEYOND

The hunt continues for the masked man with British accent who beheaded captive American journalist James Foley in a video released by Islamic State (IS) militants.

Mozilla, best known for its Firefox browser, launches its first low-cost smartphone in India, retailing for 1,999 rupees (RO12.7).

Maverick striker Mario Balotelli joins English Premier League Club Liverpool in a surprise £16 million (RO10.2m) move. The Italian spent two-and-a-half years at Manchester City.

Words: Ghada al Harthy

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Richard Branson describes himself as a “tie-loathing adventurer and thrill seeker, who believes in turning ideas into reality”. Branson founded Virgin Records, which went on to sign household names like The Rolling Stones to become the biggest independent label in the world. Then, he founded Virgin Atlantic in 1984, Virgin Australia, Virgin America, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Limited Edition, Virgin Trains, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Galactic. Branson is the only person to build eight billion dollar companies in eight different sectors. He has challenged himself with many record breaking adventures, including the fastest ever Atlantic Ocean crossing, a series of hot air balloon adventures and kite surng across the English Channel. He was awarded a knighthood in 1999 for services to entrepreneurship.

Richard BransonEntrepreneurSpeaker: September 3, 2014

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A two-day thought leadership forum. Created with an objective to transfer knowledge to young entrepreneurs. Featuring 10 iconic speakers. Set to Synergise, Motivate and Educate!

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Entrepreneur Richard Branson, Lonely Planet Founder Tony Wheeler, Writer-Cum-Activist HRH Basmah bint Saud Al Saud, Author/Orator Lord Jeffrey Archer, Omani Scholar Sheikh Khalfan Al Esry, Amputee Mountaineer Tom Whittaker, Telecommunication Expert Candace Johnson, Speed Painter Brad Blaze,

Entrepreneur Sahar Hashemi, Beat Boxer Tom Thum and more…

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It’s the challenge that has got thousands around the world and a host of celebrities tipping freezing cold water over their heads.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a phenomenon that just keeps spreading – and now it’s reached our neck of the woods.

But this is a dare with a difference. A group in Dubai has set up a huge group event inviting people to gather for a huge communal ice bucket drenching on the beach on Friday (August 29).

Participants won’t be using icy water either. To highlight the scarcity of clean water in some parts of the world, ocean water will be used. There’s plenty of that in Dubai. The Ice Bucket Challenge aims to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) disease, also known as Motor Neurone Disease.

Everyone from film stars such as Matt Damon, Bill Gates and even former presidents (George W Bush) have braved a dousing – and nominated famous friends to take part, too.

To find out more about DubaiALSicebucketchallenge, check out the group’s Facebook page.

Then again, being in a desert region, perhaps we should be trying a Sand Bucket Challenge instead?

Also making a splash have been guests and staff at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. Nominated by Al Nadha Resort & Spa, a team of 35 staff and 40 participants made up of hotel guests and local residents, braved the icy dare with 200 buckets of icy water poured over their heads. Footage of the challenge has already gone viral – reaching more 28,000 people worldwide.

• Residents in Gaza have come up with their own version – The Rubble Bucket Challenge. Rather than tipping water – a precious resource in the conflict-stricken territory – people are being filmed pouring rubble over their heads. Search social media for hashtags #rubblebucketchallenge #dustbucketchallenge and #RemainsBucketChallenge

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iCe, iCe MaYbe?g a l l e r y I n t e r v i e w N E W SYOUR

OMAN

CraFtY kiDsIt could end up the early work of a new Picasso or mark the

start of the next Ibrahim Gailani’s career. Even if they don’t follow in the footsteps of the renowned

contemporary artist living and working in Muscat, the 120 children who took part in a two-week summer art and craft workshop at the Bait al Baranda have had the results of their hard work put up on display at the museum.

They were also presented with a certificate of participation along with gifts during a ceremony this week.

Malik al Hinai, director of the Bait al Baranda, said that as well as cultivating their talent for art, the workshop helps to develop social skills and can improve confidence and self-esteem in young children.

Held for the past eight years during the long summer break, the workshop is open to children between six and 16.

iCe, iCe MaYbe? Get Connected with Leading

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STUDY IN

Date

Oman International Exhibition Centre

Timings

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09:30am - 01:00pm 04:30pm - 09:00pm

22 - 24 September 2014(Monday to Wednesday)

Discover the best UK Study options for you.

Get information on courses, accomodation and visa requirements.

Meet UK Universities’ representatives for admission interviews and applications.

List of Exhibitors

UNIVERSITIES

Aston University

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( Next to Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel )

OMAN IN 43 OBJECTS

Small and super sweet, Salalah bananas are famous throughout the country and beyond.

Dhofar is the centre of banana production and Salalah is the main supplier, with the yellow fruit cultivated in plantations scattered through the area. Watered by the local falaj irrigation system, these farms also grow coconut and papaya.

These lush plantations give Salalah’s coastal strip a distinct tropical appearance, which sets it apart from the rest of the Middle East.

Salalah bananas are readily available from roadside stalls for most of the year and the fruit is so cheap – a kilogram will set you back just 200-300 baisas – that you can buy a whole bunch.

Banana production is important for the local economy and passing trade is big business, so stop and grab a couple next time you're out.

Salalah has about 300 hectares of banana plantations that produce 9,000 tonnes of the fruit every year. Bananas grown here have a smooth texture and creamy taste.

The fruit is taken to banana factories in Salalah and Suwaiq, where it is treated with fungicides and packed into 10kg boxes, before being sent to ripening rooms.

Once ripe, the produce is distributed around the Sultanate in refrigerated trucks and eventually ends up in your local supermarket.

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SALALAH BANANAS

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SALALAH BANANAS

g A L L E R Y

c O O L c O U p É JAGUAR'S MOST DYNAMICALLY CAPABLE AND PERFORMANCE-FOCUSED MODEL COMES TO OMAN WITH THE UNvEILING OF THE F-TYPE COUPÉ

Scan thiS to view Y'S onLine GaLLeRY

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tEENAGE MutANt NINJA turtlESProducer Michael Bay breathes new life into the beloved 1980s franchise as the Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles come to the big screen for the fourth time. Leonardo (Johnny Knoxville), Michelangelo (Noel Fisher), Donatello (Jeremy Howard), and Raphael (Alan Ritchson) are four genetically engineered turtles who use the wisdom of their sensei, Splinter (Tony Shalhoub), and the help of intrepid reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) to take on villain Shredder (Tohoru Masamune) and his Foot Clan, who are threatening to hold New York City to ransom.

Y’s Choice

belle and sebastian

Set in the French Alps during the Second World War, this film follows the unbreakable bond created between lonely six-year-old Sebastian and a wild dog, Belle. Despite repeated warnings from villagers, friendship

the Young and Prodigious t.s. spivet

MOVIES MOVIESblossoms between the pair and ultimately they become pivotal in the successful escape of refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. On the surface, it might look like a clichéd cross between Lassie and The Sound of Music, but it’s actually a touching tale of innocence and companionship.

the 7th Dwarf

When Bobo, the youngest of the seven dwarves, accidentally sends Princess Rose – and the entire royal household – into a century-long slumber, he and the other six dwarves embark on a quest that brings them face to face with an evil witch, Dellamorta, to put things right. A mildly amusing romp through just about every fairytale you’ve ever read, with a few catchy songs thrown in for good measure. The only problem? Shrek did this first.

tHe sinGLe MoMs CLUB If your little ones have been wearing you out over the summer break, then join the club! Tyler Perry’s comedy follows five struggling single mothers who have to work together to plan a fundraiser after their children are

caught vandalising school property. They put aside their differences and form a support group to voice their problems and collectively overcome them.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet makes a triumphant return from the directing wilderness with this visually impressive drama based on Reif Larsen’s 2009 novel.T.S. (Kyle Catlett) is a 10-year-old boy with a unique gift for science who lives on a ranch in Montana with his eccentric parents (Helena Bonham Carter and Callum Keith Rennie), who have largely ignored him since the death of his brother. When one of his inventions is awarded a prestigious prize by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the young T.S. decides

to board a freight train and travel across the United States to the country’s capital to claim what’s his. Jeunet faithfully reproduces the visual elements of his source material, creating an offbeat world with the kind of trademark magic that made earlier films such as Amélie and Micmacs so endearing.All in all, The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet is a fantastic cinematic experience with colourful characters and a warm heart. It’s perfect viewing for the whole family.

Review by Matt Blackwell

PREV

IEW

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

cinema reviews and send your answer to

[email protected], along with your name

and contact information.

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terms and conditions, see voucher.

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Vox Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.comstar Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

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LEARN THE LINgO

Lovers of Urdu poetry are in for a real treat when world-renowned poet Noshi Gilani performs in Oman for recitals and ghazals from her wide collection. The event marks the poet’s first visit to the Sultanate and will be held at the Al Falaj Hotel. Other well-known local poets will also recite at the event. For more info, visit www.facebook.com/alphaeventsoman1

THIS WEEK

WHAT TO dO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

Perfect PoetryDance the night away to the tunes of DJ Patrick Hagennar at the Music Anthem party at Copacabana, Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel. The event is on August 28 and starts at 9pm, closing at 3am. Entry costs RO10 per person. For more information, check out the Facebook page of Axis Events, www.facebook.com/axisgroupevents

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AUG 29

Choose from a varied collection of clothing, accessories, jewellery, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family from stalls run by home-based entrepreneurs at Meena Bazaar. There’s a chance to win a dinner set every hour while shopping or munching on savoury snacks from food stalls. Organised by Platinum Events, the event runs from 10am-10pm at Al Bahja Hall, Jungle Restaurant, Qurum. For more information, call 9581 2004.

NIgHT ANTHEm

Jung

le F

ever

SEPT05

LAUgH A mINUTEIf you need to lighten up, this play could be just the tonic. Jeni Pase Paisa Chhe Ene Toh Bhai Jalsa Chhe, described as a “super-duper, non-

stop comedy”, is about a journalist who figures out

a quick way to make a lot of money. The show is being staged

for one night only and starts at 8pm. It’s open only to members of the Indian Social Club Gujarati Wing. For tickets and enquiries, call 9988 2735.

AU

G29

Are you new to Oman and want to learn some Arabic? Perhaps you are keen to brush up on your existing skills? The good news is that Amideast Oman is offering language courses. Bring a friend along and you can both save up to 10 per cent on the course fees. The last date for registration is August 30, so you’ll need to hurry and enrol soon to avoid disappointment. Classes are at Amideast Oman, Al Jami’a Al Akbar Street, Airport Heights. For more information, visit www.amideast.org/oman or call 2459 0309.

22OCt

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starting college can be a daunting prospect, more so if you are moving countries and leaving home for the first time. get through this nerve-racking time with ali al rahma’s survival guide to studying abroad

Leaving home to study and live in a new country with a new culture is incredibly exciting and full of adventure – but the prospect can be daunting for those embarking on an independent life away from friends, parents and familiarity for the first time.

The world is shrinking, with a global classroom on offer. Students from all over the world choose their destinations based on cost, lifestyle, accreditation and educational strength. You can find Chinese students studying in North America, Middle Eastern students in Eastern Europe and North Africa, and Europeans studying in the Far East. It all depends

on your taste, passion and chosen field. Typically, Omani students favour countries where the mother tongue

is English, simply because it makes communication easier. These include Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Malaysia, although some students prefer to study in an enriched Arabian country, such as Lebanon, Egypt or Morocco. In all cases, they have left their homes and families to start an independent life.

My guide to living and studying abroad aims to benefit Omani nationals and expatriates who have grown up in the Sultanate and are preparing to go to college overseas.

LeapUnknown

INTO THE

> Me I decided to go to the US for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees and attended Michigan Technological University to study business administration. My academic adviser warned me that the winters were harsh and extremely cold, but I was up for the challenge.

My family accompanied me to help me settle and to tour the US – it was their first visit to America. We flew to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to get a connecting flight to Houghton, Michigan. The aircraft was a small, 20-seater plane and my family started to worry about the place I had chosen to move to. As for me, I was enjoying the flight, excited to see my new home. When we landed, the airport seemed

so small – some of Muscat’s shopping malls are larger than the entire terminal. The luggage carousel was a small storage area where passengers picked up their luggage manually. There were three taxis in the entire city and you had to call ahead to arrange a ride.

I remember it was drizzling – soft, subtle raindrops fell for that whole week. The roads were quiet and the nearest big city was 320 kilometres away. But I soon came to love living in a small town – it had friendly people, an easy and economical lifestyle, and it was safe. I even moved to a similar town in Ohio to complete my postgraduate studies.

> Experiences When my family left, I had to challenge myself to expand my social network by getting to know my fellow students, the administration staff, and anyone who could help me settle in.

Another test came in the form of the harsh winters, but I chose Michigan because of the outdoor activities this weather enabled, such as skiing and sledding.

As for my studies, it was a very flexible, credit-based system in which I could select classes and manage the workload accordingly.

> Places to studyI recommend selecting your major before choosing where to study. Hundreds of universities in college towns or city suburbs offer a high standard of education in a very safe, friendly environment.

This helps international students to integrate with the local community. You can find great universities right next to an Amish settlement, or beside a Native American reservation, offering you the chance to learn more about their culture.

Choose a place where you will enjoy the weather, as it will help to keep you focused on your studies throughout the year. Go for a town or city that offers numerous outdoor or indoor activities.

A small town can be a very safe place to live. I never locked my apartment door and my car keys were left inside my vehicle – regular habits of the locals.

> Living expenses Living in a small college town is much less expensive than a major city. In the small town of Ashland, Ohio, a two-bedroom apartment would cost about $500 (RO192) a month compared with $1,200 for a one-bedroom place in central Chicago. Taxi fares are much cheaper, too.

> What to expect when living abroad Most Omani students don’t know what to expect when living abroad, especially those who have never travelled. There are cultural and social differences to prepare for if you intend to live in a western society.

Getting involved with the local community or taking up activities will help students to learn more about western culture and will help others to find out about Oman. I hosted a show for the university’s radio station and would play some Arabic music, which people really liked.

Western society is more independent compared with the Middle East. People eat alone and don’t always have a lot to do with their neighbours or extended families. Learn how to do things for yourself, whether it’s doing your own laundry, fixing pieces of furniture, or cleaning your apartment. This may seem quite isolating, but it has its advantages – it encourages you to be independent.

> Where to get funding It’s possible for Omanis to get funding to complete undergraduate and postgraduate studies abroad through the AMIDEAST Fulbright Foreign Student Programme (www.amideast.org).

Students have to apply online by the organisation’s deadline and submit letters of recommendation from employers and/or academic institutions. They also have to submit different essays, which include a statement of purpose. Getting the funding is quite competitive and selected students are those who have a good transcript with good grades and who are involved in the local community, whether through volunteering or helping with a business.

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Shortlisted students will be interviewed and must show the panel why they are the best candidate for the scholarship. If you successfully pass the interview, you then need to get a place at a university.

> What to study Pick a subject you are passionate about. Oman is a developing nation, so there is more interest in science and business than the arts. I once dreamed of becoming a percussionist, but after a great deal of thought about my future, I decided that it would be a very difficult, if not impossible, path because the Sultanate does not have a great deal of interest in music. So I went for a safer bet, business.

> What to expect on completionStudents may no longer feel that their country of origin is home. This is called reverse culture shock. When you first leave, you feel homesick and would love to go back as soon as possible, but after years of wonderful experiences, you may develop a greater affinity with your place of study.

This is normal, but you can reduce the feeling by having regular contact with your family and preparing for a new life when you return.

Since returning to the Sultanate, I joined a group of Omanis who also studied in the US, as well as a group hosted by the American Embassy. I take part in their events and share similar interests with those who lived in the same country of study. This helped me to avoid any feelings of reverse culture shock.

College life is great and living this life to the fullest is even better.

* Ali al Rahma is a corporate account relationship manager for Meethaq Islamic Banking Group, part of Bank Muscat, and a Voice of Oman columnist for Y Magazine

IN T

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Deeba Hasan speaks to some students who left Oman to study overseasAlena Dique, an Indian expatriate who lived in Oman all her life, went to the UK to study for a master’s degree at the University of Wales. “Studying abroad is one of the most enriching experiences a student can have,” she says. “My journey began with the daunting task of completing a series of applications and interviews, which paved the way for me today – I am now pursuing a career in my research field of human resources and SME development.“The transition from home to abroad is never easy. My advice would be to make at least one local friend on arrival and do tonnes of research about the destination.“Student life abroad is equivalent to local student life on

steroids – your aim should be play hard and definitely work harder.”

lamiyah al Abri, has just graduated from the Avans University of Applied Science in the Netherlands.“It was a culture shock for me at the beginning – the atmosphere didn’t match my religious or cultural beliefs and it took me about a year to adjust,” she says. “Then I started making friends with people from different nations and I was more comfortable. “I still kept my hijab because I believe in the principle. Everyone respected my religion and culture and I found that wonderful. “When you go abroad to study, you are representing your country to an extent because of your nationality, so make wise decisions and make your country proud.“Try to learn about the country you are going to beforehand – finding out about their culture helps a lot, especially when you are going there for a long time.”

Wahida Nasser al rawahi, is studying computer science at a university in the Netherlands.“It has been a good experience for me so far and not much of a culture shock because I lived with my family in France for a while,” she says. “I came to the Netherlands on a study scholarship granted to me by the Ministry of Higher Education in Oman. I was 18 when I started and I still have a year and a half to go.“The Dutch system of education was a bit tricky at first, but I love being in an international environment. “My advice to all those who want to pursue their studies abroad

is to keep moving forward no matter what challenges you face because at the end of every difficulty,

you’ll learn something new.”

My name is Khalfan al Ismaili. I’m 21 and studying business at the Higher College of Technology, in the second year of a degree in marketing. After graduation, I hope to go abroad to study for a master’s in international business studies.Time passed quickly this summer and my three-month holiday is almost over. It’s time to prepare to return to college, start a new timetable, set more goals to achieve – such as getting a higher grade point average (GPA) – and get ready mentally for my studies.My month-long summer internship at Y has really helped my writing and researching skills and, most importantly, enhanced my communication skills with different nationalities.I also managed to take short trips to Dubai and around Oman, Wadi Tanuf in Nizwa, and Wakan Village in Nakhal for hiking trips. These fun but dangerous excursions taught me that facing your fears makes you stronger – I was always afraid of heights before, but now I am willing to tackle any challenge.I can’t wait until my first semester starts next month so that I can focus this energy into my studies. I’ve missed my friends and I’m excited about meeting my new lecturers and finding out about my upcoming projects.I plan to arrange my classes for the morning rather than evenings or the afternoon because I find my brain functions much better at the start of the day.I hope to meet new people this year who are as well prepared for the new semester as I am. I want to achieve high grades to make my parents happy and proud, and to make the most of my time at college – time passes so quickly, so I want to enjoy my education while I can.I wish everyone the best in the new semester. T

HE

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As cOlleges pRepARe fOR THe new TeRm, TwO sTudenTs wHO HAve Been InTeRnIng AT Y OveR THe summeR As pART Of THe RIYAdA 2014 pROgRAmme, Run BY ITHRAA, gIve THeIR THOugHTs On THe YeAR AHeAd

KHALFAN

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My name is Ghada al Harthy and I am about to begin my fourth year studying education at Sultan Qaboos University.Having a long break can make you lazy unless you spend your time wisely and productively.I was too lazy at the beginning of my break, sleeping very late. I didn’t read a single paper except for some headlines and I told myself my head needed time off after the burden of the school year. I was wrong.Instead, I began preparing for my next semester’s research project, collecting sources and considering questions to build my investigation upon. I also applied to be join SABCO Media as a member of Y’s team, and sent photos to an Omani Female Photographers’ Exhibition, to be held in October, in the hope they will display one of them. I had to register for the coming semester on August 12 and nearly half of the courses I wanted were already full, which I found annoying. But if you want to get things done exactly the way you want, then life will be always be a challenge and it will add nothing to your own perspective. I have a month left before I return to SQU and the hostel life. I have missed my friends and my busy schedule, so I am looking forward to starting my fourth year.My experience at Y has improved my ability to communicate with others, to write for specific purposes, to be more open and to give my opinion freely. I also received valuable advice from the team here. Photographer Jerzy Wierzbicki helped me to improve my photos, while managing editor Felicity Glover emphasised the importance of having goals. I also learnt about creative concepts and design from art director Matthew Herbst, and discovered the value of being calm to achieve more, like sub-editor Matt Blackwell. Deeba Hasan inspired me to use my initiative, while the sweet and very responsible Kate Ginn went to a lot of effort to welcome and assist me in many different ways. Thank you all.

GHADA

My experience at Y has improved

my ability to communicate with others, to write for specific purposes, to be more open,

and to give my opinion freely

Win RO500 towards your tuition fees

To help you kick off The new

academic year on a winning

noTe, oman Tourism college

is giving one lucky sTudenT

a chance To win ro500 To go

Towards Their TuiTion fees.

How to enterall you have To do is Tell us in 100 words or less whaT your favouriTe place is in oman and why.

Terms and Conditions

• The competition is open to all students attending a reco

gnised

school in Oman, from primary school age to college age.

• Only one entry per child. Entries must be completed by a child

with no parental input.

• The competition is not open to employees or students of O

man

Tourism College or Sabco Media employees.

• The winner will be chosen by Y Magazine and Oman Tourism

College and the judges’ decision is final.

• The Back to School Competition starts on Augus

t 14, 2014, and all

entries must be received by 5pm on Sunday, August 24.

• Email your entries to [email protected].

• The winner will be announced in the August 28 issue of

Y Magazine.

About oman tourism College oman tourism College, in association with Dublin Institute of technology, Ireland, offers Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Diploma in International Hospitality and Management. Admissions are open to all nationalities for the new academic year from August 17, 2014. In addition, the college has short courses in languages (english, Spanish, German and French), as well as culinary skills (Cook at Home Series: omani, Indian, Lebanese and Italian cuisine) and in hospitality-related topics. For more information, go to www.otc.edu.om











gnised





man





t 14, 2014, and all




Y Magazine.


STAR STUDENTIt’s almost tIme to get back to school or college, whIch, for parents, can mean only one thIng – tuItIon fee payment tIme.one lucky student and hIs famIly, however, don’t need to worry so much about the fInancIal burden now after wInnIng y and oman tourIsm college’s fabulous competItIon offerIng fInancIal help for theIr educatIon.we were Inundated wIth entrIes rangIng from young pupIls up to those at college, all keen to claIm the ro500 prIze, put up by oman tourIsm college. entry was easy, wIth students just havIng to tell us In 100 words or less what theIr favourIte place In oman Is and why.wadIng through the entrIes was a task In Itself, but only one could emerge trIumphant.In the end, It was mahmood tarIq jalal, 16, a grade 11 student at anas bIn al nadher school In seeb, who Impressed the maIn judge, dr abdulkareem sultan al mughaIry, the dean of oman tourIsm college, wIth hIs beautIful poem about oman.“there was a lovely collectIon of storIes about the most cherIshed places In oman. the varIety really showed how much the beauty of the country Is apprecIated,” saId jaana raIsanen, dIrector of qualIty for professIonal and vocatIonal studIes at oman tourIsm college. “the wInnIng entry caught the essence of It all – It’s the entIre country as a sIngle destInatIon comprIsIng of so many attractIons and experIences to try out. “

congratulatIons, mahmood! we’ll be In touch to arrange collectIon of your ro500 soon.

My favourite place in Oman is the

Marina. Whenever we go there, we

swim in the pool. I also like the boats

surrounding the place. Even though the

boats are really noisy sometimes, I want

to ride in one. I also like the fishes that swim

around in the water. I like the view there too. I

like swimming in the Marina because it lets me have

time with my sisters. But the thing that made me a

little sad and disappointed is that when we visited again

(August 15), the water was dirty and we didn’t see any fishes.

That made me sad because the dirt was bothering me and I

really enjoy looking at the fishes every time I go.

Denise Anne Mills, aged 10, Philippine School

My favorite place in Oman? Well, that would be my small little world Seeb. I don’t reside in Seeb but my school is in Seeb which makes it my favorite place. No kiddin’... I ’ve been studying in this school for the past 5 years

and all that I am today is only because of my school, my teachers and my dearest friends. If I had never met them my life would have been so different and I don’t even wish to imagine it. I ’ve got the best

bunch of friends anyone could ever get in this world and everyday I wake up wishing its not another stupid holiday in which I would have to simply sit at home. Baisil Kunjumon, aged 14, Grade 10, Indian School, Seeb

Mahmood’s Ode to Oman

Oman is my favourite place,

wherever I go I find a trace.

I love everything in it,

from sunshine to sunset.

I like the mountains, the deserts

and the running water in the wadis.

I like the crowded places in the city

and the calm villages of Sur and Yity.

I like the date trees in Nakhal,

and the high mountains of Yanqul.

I like the green majestic landscape

of Salalah

with its serenity and beauty.

All in all, I like Oman in summer,

winter, spring and in fall.

mahmood was chosen from a shortlIst of 12, whIttled down from all the entrIes.here’s some of the best of the rest, those that made the shortlIst deserve praIse too –

they have made themselves and theIr parents proud. well done!

www.otc.edu.om

There are many tourist visiting places in Oman like Jebel Shams, Jebel Akhtar, Royal Opera House, Grand Mosque, several museums, planetoriam etc. I like all of them but I feel that Grand Mosque is one of the best places I have ever visited in my life. It is so big and also beautiful. It is so big that many Muslims can come there and pray. It is made of white marble so it shines and attracts many tourists. There is a single-piece carpet laid along the whole mosque, which makes it much cleaner.

There is a big huge chandelier, which increases its beauty highly. Especially at night, it glows so bright that it looks very beautiful from outside also. Muslims as well as non-Muslims can come and visit it. It has a library also which has many Islamic books, which give knowledge about Islam. Hence I love going to the Grand Mosque.

Esha Jain, aged 12, Grade 7, Indian School Muscat

MY LIFE, MY HOUSEI have been in Oman from 16 years. I have seen all types of weather

like winter, summer, enjoyed the rain of Oman, been to all places like

the malls, forts, beaches etc, but the place I love the most is my life,

my house where I sit with my family and enjoy the time we all have.

It’s not that I don’t travel with my friends but the happiness you get

in your house, you will not get anywhere. You go to a mall or forts or

anything, you have to pay for it and have happiness for some hours

but happiness from family is priceless and it remains for life. Just want to conclude it by saying we go anywhere, spend as much money

we can but love from our family you can’t buy from anywhere.Hardik Anup Bhatia, aged 20, Waljat Colleges of Applied Sciences

My favourite place in Oman is Qantab

beach. I like because of its scenic

beauty, shallow waters and clean

sands. Especially the route to Qantab,

which makes me feel that this beach

is located on high hills. There I can find

number of five star resorts surrounding

the beach which adds more value to the

beach. On weekends I visit this beach to

have a look at the beautiful sunset.

Now my worry is, due to rise in real

estate development in Oman this beach

will soon be used for constructional

activities, which I read in the news. I

feel this will destroy the picturesque of

the beach. As this beach is very close

to my heart I would like to suggest to

concerned authorities to use the

unused land around it and let the beach

continue to be Paradise On Earth.

Krithivaas Vijay, aged 12,

Indian School Muscat

Today I will tell you about my favorite place in Oman, which is Salalah and how wonderful it is. It is a really green place and with lots of rain and fog. Wadi Darbat has very beautiful green nature and many camels, cows and goats along the road. At the top of the foggy mountains is Nabi Aiobs grave. Ain Athoom is also another wonderful place in Salalah with waterfalls and a dark cave.I liked Salalah because of its nature, it’s delicious fresh fruits especially the coconut and its tasty camel meat. Because of its unique nature, Salalah is the best place to make barbeque. I also liked the traditional souq, malls and festivals there.

Mariam Dawood al Raisi, aged 10, Grade 5, The Sultan’s School

❂ specIal y shout out to tImothy taylor, aged 11, In year 7, at brItIsh school muscat. we loved your handwrItten entry. It was a bIt over 100 words, but your story about a mammoth trIp to ras al jInz turtle reserve wIth your famIly made us smIle. we dIdn’t have room to prInt your story here, but we’ll put It up on facebook for everyone to read. well done, tIm!

C o m P e t i t i o n

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gnised





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Y Magazine.


STAR STUDENTIt’s almost tIme to get back to school or college, whIch, for parents, can mean only one thIng – tuItIon fee payment tIme.one lucky student and hIs famIly, however, don’t need to worry so much about the fInancIal burden now after wInnIng y and oman tourIsm college’s fabulous competItIon offerIng fInancIal help for theIr educatIon.we were Inundated wIth entrIes rangIng from young pupIls up to those at college, all keen to claIm the ro500 prIze, put up by oman tourIsm college. entry was easy, wIth students just havIng to tell us In 100 words or less what theIr favourIte place In oman Is and why.wadIng through the entrIes was a task In Itself, but only one could emerge trIumphant.In the end, It was mahmood tarIq jalal, 16, a grade 11 student at anas bIn al nadher school In seeb, who Impressed the maIn judge, dr abdulkareem sultan al mughaIry, the dean of oman tourIsm college, wIth hIs beautIful poem about oman.“there was a lovely collectIon of storIes about the most cherIshed places In oman. the varIety really showed how much the beauty of the country Is apprecIated,” saId jaana raIsanen, dIrector of qualIty for professIonal and vocatIonal studIes at oman tourIsm college. “the wInnIng entry caught the essence of It all – It’s the entIre country as a sIngle destInatIon comprIsIng of so many attractIons and experIences to try out. “

congratulatIons, mahmood! we’ll be In touch to arrange collectIon of your ro500 soon.

My favourite place in Oman is the

Marina. Whenever we go there, we

swim in the pool. I also like the boats

surrounding the place. Even though the

boats are really noisy sometimes, I want

to ride in one. I also like the fishes that swim

around in the water. I like the view there too. I

like swimming in the Marina because it lets me have

time with my sisters. But the thing that made me a

little sad and disappointed is that when we visited again

(August 15), the water was dirty and we didn’t see any fishes.

That made me sad because the dirt was bothering me and I

really enjoy looking at the fishes every time I go.

Denise Anne Mills, aged 10, Philippine School

My favorite place in Oman? Well, that would be my small little world Seeb. I don’t reside in Seeb but my school is in Seeb which makes it my favorite place. No kiddin’... I ’ve been studying in this school for the past 5 years

and all that I am today is only because of my school, my teachers and my dearest friends. If I had never met them my life would have been so different and I don’t even wish to imagine it. I ’ve got the best

bunch of friends anyone could ever get in this world and everyday I wake up wishing its not another stupid holiday in which I would have to simply sit at home. Baisil Kunjumon, aged 14, Grade 10, Indian School, Seeb

Mahmood’s Ode to Oman

Oman is my favourite place,

wherever I go I find a trace.

I love everything in it,

from sunshine to sunset.

I like the mountains, the deserts

and the running water in the wadis.

I like the crowded places in the city

and the calm villages of Sur and Yity.

I like the date trees in Nakhal,

and the high mountains of Yanqul.

I like the green majestic landscape

of Salalah

with its serenity and beauty.

All in all, I like Oman in summer,

winter, spring and in fall.

mahmood was chosen from a shortlIst of 12, whIttled down from all the entrIes.here’s some of the best of the rest, those that made the shortlIst deserve praIse too –

they have made themselves and theIr parents proud. well done!

www.otc.edu.om

There are many tourist visiting places in Oman like Jebel Shams, Jebel Akhtar, Royal Opera House, Grand Mosque, several museums, planetoriam etc. I like all of them but I feel that Grand Mosque is one of the best places I have ever visited in my life. It is so big and also beautiful. It is so big that many Muslims can come there and pray. It is made of white marble so it shines and attracts many tourists. There is a single-piece carpet laid along the whole mosque, which makes it much cleaner.

There is a big huge chandelier, which increases its beauty highly. Especially at night, it glows so bright that it looks very beautiful from outside also. Muslims as well as non-Muslims can come and visit it. It has a library also which has many Islamic books, which give knowledge about Islam. Hence I love going to the Grand Mosque.

Esha Jain, aged 12, Grade 7, Indian School Muscat

MY LIFE, MY HOUSEI have been in Oman from 16 years. I have seen all types of weather

like winter, summer, enjoyed the rain of Oman, been to all places like

the malls, forts, beaches etc, but the place I love the most is my life,

my house where I sit with my family and enjoy the time we all have.

It’s not that I don’t travel with my friends but the happiness you get

in your house, you will not get anywhere. You go to a mall or forts or

anything, you have to pay for it and have happiness for some hours

but happiness from family is priceless and it remains for life. Just want to conclude it by saying we go anywhere, spend as much money

we can but love from our family you can’t buy from anywhere.Hardik Anup Bhatia, aged 20, Waljat Colleges of Applied Sciences

My favourite place in Oman is Qantab

beach. I like because of its scenic

beauty, shallow waters and clean

sands. Especially the route to Qantab,

which makes me feel that this beach

is located on high hills. There I can find

number of five star resorts surrounding

the beach which adds more value to the

beach. On weekends I visit this beach to

have a look at the beautiful sunset.

Now my worry is, due to rise in real

estate development in Oman this beach

will soon be used for constructional

activities, which I read in the news. I

feel this will destroy the picturesque of

the beach. As this beach is very close

to my heart I would like to suggest to

concerned authorities to use the

unused land around it and let the beach

continue to be Paradise On Earth.

Krithivaas Vijay, aged 12,

Indian School Muscat

Today I will tell you about my favorite place in Oman, which is Salalah and how wonderful it is. It is a really green place and with lots of rain and fog. Wadi Darbat has very beautiful green nature and many camels, cows and goats along the road. At the top of the foggy mountains is Nabi Aiobs grave. Ain Athoom is also another wonderful place in Salalah with waterfalls and a dark cave.I liked Salalah because of its nature, it’s delicious fresh fruits especially the coconut and its tasty camel meat. Because of its unique nature, Salalah is the best place to make barbeque. I also liked the traditional souq, malls and festivals there.

Mariam Dawood al Raisi, aged 10, Grade 5, The Sultan’s School

❂ specIal y shout out to tImothy taylor, aged 11, In year 7, at brItIsh school muscat. we loved your handwrItten entry. It was a bIt over 100 words, but your story about a mammoth trIp to ras al jInz turtle reserve wIth your famIly made us smIle. we dIdn’t have room to prInt your story here, but we’ll put It up on facebook for everyone to read. well done, tIm!

A U g 2 8 - S E p T 0 3 / I S S U E 3 3 4 0 2 5

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Y still has one iPad mini 2 to give away.Our competition, held in conjunction with Lincoln Oman, is now

approaching the end of the journey. The entries have been fantastic so far, but with just one more iPad mini 2 up for grabs, time is running out!

Well done to everyone who has submitted an entry – it’s been yet another great week, with Y readers and Lincoln fans responding to the challenge to take a Lincoln selfie.

But there can only be one winner and Lincoln Oman have spoken, naming Ronak Bhatt as this week’s victor. Well done Ronak! You’ve won a 16GB iPad mini 2 and we’ll be in touch soon.

With so many Lincoln selfies flooding into Y and on to Lincoln Oman’s Facebook and Instagram pages, we’re also publishing three “best of the rests” chosen by the guys from Lincoln. Congratulations to Anfalolo Mawa, Dilreba Thanvi, Kuldeep Bhatt, Miles Marquez, Calum Ross and Sarwat Mohammed.

Didn’t win or get featured this week? Don’t fret, we have one final iPad mini 2 to give away and it’s simple to enter. For your chance to win, send in a selfie of you that relates to the iconic Lincoln. This could be a picture of you posing with one of the cars, or holding a photo of the car. How about posing for a selfie with Lincoln-branded merchandise, such as a mug, cap, or t-shirt, or even the famous Lincoln logo. Use the internet and the entries from previous weeks for inspiration.

The more creative you are, the more impressed our judges will be. But you must remember to include the Lincoln brand in your photo, otherwise you won’t qualify to enter the competition.

To help you, there is a Lincoln luxury SUV Navigator on display at Marina Bandar Al Rowdha. Alternatively, you can pop into the Ford showroom at Wattayah, where you’ll find a range of Lincolns to pose with.

Be innovative, think outside the box and come up with some quirky ways to stand out from the crowd. But no Photoshop, please!

To enter and stake your claim for the fourth and final iPad mini 2, simply post your selfie on Y’s Facebook page and hashtag it with #lincolnoman or send it to our Instagram account – but don’t forget to follow and tag @ytabloid.

You can also post it on the Lincoln Oman Facebook page – ensure you follow the account and include the hashtag #lincolnoman – or send it to Lincoln’s Instagram account. Just make sure you follow and tag @lincoln_oman.

The winner will be judged on their creativity, while the prize will have to be collected at the Ford showroom in Wattayah.

See, it’s really simple. Send your entries by September 1 (late entries will not be entertained) and don’t forget to include your name and contact details.

Good luck!

C o m P e t i t i o n

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OmanHealth2014-Ymag_240x340mm.pdf 1 8/24/14 8:53 PM

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fOOd

dRINKANd

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

GoinG GreenThe food that we put

into our children’s bodies has a huge effect on their

capacity to learn and concentrate, as well

as their energy levels.

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

When you give children nutritious and sensible choices, you’re ensuring a productive day in the classroom and beyond. It’s simple to make lunch and snack time fun by tossing in new, wholesome options that add variety and appeal to your

little learner. But one Muscat mum, Anna Gardiner, confesses that it is a challenge to

tempt her child with healthy, tasty snacks and school lunches.“I am sure many mums experience the same daily battle as me,” she

says. “My daughter is a creature of habit and will have the same thing for school lunch day in and day out, until one day she’ll come home with an untouched lunch box because she suddenly doesn’t like it any more.

“It is frustrating as you worry about what they eating at school, especially if her classmates are bringing in junk food and they are sharing, which they inevitably do.”

The most important nutrients parents seek when selecting the foods they feed their children are protein, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin D and iron.

While stocking up on foods rich in these nourishing elements is certainly helpful, there’s no way to ensure your child will eat them. But recent studies have found that children are actually more likely than their parents to be the first of their friends to try new foods or nutrition products.

Start nutritious eating habits at a young age by using flavourful food combinations that create balance at snack and meal times. For instance, pair a Mini Babybel cheese with their favourite fruit or vegetable – a recent study found that replacing snack foods that aren’t rich in nutrients, such as chips, with a combination of cheese and vegetables can help reduce calories by 72 per cent and keep youngsters feeling fuller for longer.

To help parents make better choices while grocery shopping, Catherine McCord, author of Weelicious Lunches and Weelicious.com, and an advocate of the Mini Babybel brand, offers these tasty ideas to make lunches and snacks more wholesome for the whole family:

Protein Picks: To keep them feeling satisfied and fuller for longer, include a few protein-packed choices in their lunch bag. Some options include roasted chicken, legumes – such as chickpeas – hard-boiled eggs, or a Mini Babybel cheese.

Sweet Additions: Make their midday meal and snack time more complete with the addition of one or two servings of fruit. Some delicious options include apples, apricots, strawberries, blueberries, kiwis or pears. And if they don’t appeal, you can rely on the old standby of a banana.

Fresh Finds: Many vegetables offer fibre and other nutrients not found in

Healthy lunches and snacks are a must for all schoolchildren, but getting them to eat up can often be easier said than done. Y has compiled some great tips to help you get them on trackAddINg BALANcE

other snacks. Team a bag of chopped veggies, such as baby carrots, broccoli florets, celery, red bell peppers or sugar snap peas with a small serving of child-friendly hummus for a healthy snack that is easy to prepare for busy parents.

With a balanced approach to eating, you’ll be able to send the whole family off to school or work prepared for whatever their busy day brings. And you never know – they may discover some new favourite foods!

Five-minute Carrot anD avoCaDo DiPingredients • 1 avocado• 1 large carrot (or 2 small ones)• Juice of 1/2 a lemon• 1 garlic clove• Small bunch of fresh parsley• 3 tbsp of olive oil• Pinch of sea salt• Choice of veggies for dipping (such as carrot sticks, celery and cucumber)

MethodWith a sharp knife, slice all the way around the avocado lengthwise, twist and open into two halves. Use a spoon to remove the pit and flesh. Grate the carrots and roughly chop the garlic and parsley. Mix the avocado, grated carrots, garlic, parsley and lemon juice and blend. Taste and add some sea salt if you think it necessary to enhance the taste. Serve with a choice of thinly sliced veggie sticks. Source: www.inhabitots.com

Recipe

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If you have children, the chances are that you are already well acquainted with the delights of Nando’s and every other restaurant that comes under the “child-friendly” umbrella.

Even if you don’t have little ones, you’ve probably still had a meal there. It’s not a prerequisite to have children to eat in Nando’s, although it certainly does help if you want to fully immerse yourself.

Funnily enough, my dining companions – a friend and her tween daughter – had never stepped inside a Nando’s, whereas I, the childless one, am a veteran of its menus.

Never heard of Nando’s either? Let me give you the lowdown. It’s a South African restaurant group (from Johannesburg) influenced by Portugal and on a mission, so they say, to take the best-tasting chicken to the world.

This isn’t any old chicken – this fowl has been elevated to new levels thanks to the authentic PERi-PERi sauce, a spice also known as “African bird’s-eye chilli”. It will, so the saying goes, put fire in your belly and ignite passion in your soul.

You might recognise the famous Nando’s logo, the Barceló’s Cockerel, quite a handsome chap who hails from Portugal and is, apparently, a symbol of faith, justice and good fortune. Google him, there’s a sweet little fable about him.

Nando’s is usually sited in or near a mall, all the better to snare hungry shoppers laden down with bags and/

or children and looking for a way out of having to cook dinner that evening.

The one in City Centre Muscat – there’s another at Qurum Commercial Complex – was a case in point, bustling with trade when we arrived after 9pm in need of a serious refuel after some intensive retail action.

Now, hungry and tired can be an explosive combination in an 11-year-old girl, as you may well know. She needed feeding – and quick.

While we browsed the menus, I enjoyed people watching. This Nando’s is open-fronted, so you can watch the world go by and vice versa. Not everyone likes the idea of being gawped at as they eat but I quite like the sense of being part of mall life. It’s like having a front-row seat.

As expected, the restaurant was filled with families, making the noise level high, but comfortable.

Nando’s generic décor is easy on the eye, if a little kitsch, with a touch of the Mediterranean in the design along with Portuguese art. There are earthy textures and colours to reflect the Afro-Portuguese heritage.

The premise of Nando’s is simple. You decide what chicken you want (plain or with add-ons) and how you would like it (in a burger, pita or wrap). Then it’s all about how spicy you want the sauce. Scaredy cats can go for mild lemon and herb on a PERi-ometer scale that goes up the way up to extra hot for the masochists.

Whatever you go for, the chicken has been marinated

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

Info BoxNaNdo’s

city centre muscat, first floor, As seeb, muscatTel: 2456 1818

Opening times: 11am-12am dailydinner for three (one child): RO31.9

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

PERI-PERI GOODTHERE’S SOMETHING FOR LITTLE KIDS AND BIG ONES, TOO — AS LONG AS YOU LIKE CHICKEN — WHEN YOU TRY THE NANDO’S ExPERIENCE, SAYS KATE GINN

overnight and then flame-grilled to lock in the flavour.

Once the tween had worked out the menu, she went for chicken with cheese in a wrap with lemon and herb sauce, plus a side of fries. Her mum went for the more daring espetada, a typical Portuguese kebab served on an upright metal skewer, with sides of spicy rice and corn on the cob. Yours truly turned up the heat with chicken in a pita with the mild sauce.

A starter of hummus dip with warm pita went down very nicely. The dip was creamy with a nice swirl of hot sauce providing an occasional hit of heat at the back of the throat.

A veggie dip at another table looked equally impressive. We also had a chicken wing each to get in the mood for bird.

Nando’s is all about the chicken. If you’re a purist, you can get a hunk of chicken – or a whole bird – without any of the other fuss.

Tween devoured her wrap and pronounced it “awesome” (her favourite adjective) and I was equally happy with my pita. It was

nothing spectacular, but good, honest, tasty food is exactly what customers at Nando’s want.

Tween’s mum was not so enamoured with her espetada,

finding it fiddly to eat, but she made a good attempt at finishing it. The spicy rice was fine but the corn on the cob was, sadly, overcooked and a little tough.

By now, the noise was ratcheting up as sugar, fizzy drinks and lots of chicken got into the bloodstreams of the younger customers. A few ankle biters were on the move around the restaurant, while two others were exercising their lungs. But you don’t go to Nando’s expecting absolute quiet – the raucous atmosphere is all part of the fun.

Stuffed, we managed to squeeze in a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake – the standout dish for me – and a seriously chocolatey pudding, which overwhelmed even the sweet-toothed tween.

As we left, more families with offspring of assorted ages were arriving to taste the home-from-home comforts. As the Portuguese say, minha casa é sua casa, or “our home is your home”.

verdict:

Great for children

7 10

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HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

A U g 2 8 – S E p T 0 3 / I S S U E 3 3 40 3 2

toP marks Did you know that school uniforms

help to increase discipline and reduce violence? Several studies

have found that students from poorer backgrounds are less likely to feel anxious about not having the latest gear. with less tension,

pupils are more likely to focus on their studies. This practical

ensemble is from M&S.

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BACK TO SCHOOL BRIGHTSFrom practical to fun and everything in between, Penny Fray discovers all you need to get children prepped for their first day of term

1. Before you hit the mall with your shopping list, send the children on a scavenger hunt – you might be surprised by how much you already have at home. 2. If you have a smartphone, use price-comparison apps to ensure you are getting the best deal. 3. Some children may be so focused on a Bratz backpack or a LEGO lunchbox that they are willing to throw the mother of all tantrums to get one. Figure out your stance to child-targeted advertising before you hit the mall. WISE OWL:

Penny’s guide to shopping smarter

for school

vibrant and fun, your little one will love keeping their favourite school treats in this foxy sandwich case, RO2 from Tiger. Most supermarkets and children’s stores carry similar funky lunch boxes. Our favourite is the colourful tiffin boxes at Daiso at 700 baisa

The twice daily dash to the school gate sends stress levels soaring, according to a new study.

It’s even worse on the first day of term with the added the pressure of making sure that your children

keep up with their peers in the style stakes.Don’t panic – helping kids to stay as trendy as their friends is

easy if they are brave enough to make a statement. Cat prints, neon brights, scribble patterns and graphic designs

are among the current fashion fads in children’s wear. Junior fashion shows were awash with bright colours – no great

departure from what we have seen for the past few seasons – but this season the neon colours are stronger than ever.

So when it comes to back-to-school shopping, have fun. Pick strong primary colours and choose witty stationary and accessories. Teenagers will love the designer obsession with comedy clutches, from Anya Hindmarch’s cereal box bags to Moschino’s takeaway treat. The malls have plenty of copycat versions and bright satchels that scream school chic. Little ones will love the animal-print bags available.

Finally, if your style-savvy youngsters complain about having to wear a uniform, tell them they’re actually tapping into this season’s top trend of normcore. Perfect, boring, normal, whatever you want to call it, there’s no getting away from fashion’s fascination with the mundane this season. It’s very Chanel, darling.

Banish bad hair days by mastering the fashion ponytail with these colourful hairbands from H&M, from RO1.6

Expertly fusing form and function, these leather satchels from cuckooland.com are modern classics. Re-imagined for the new season in bright hues, this school staple will make every outfit pop. From RO54

You don’t have to spend a fortune to lift your little one’s style cred. These gel-ink pens from Muji are brilliantly bright. Even better, the ink and mechanism have been designed to give a smooth writing action. They cost about RO1 each but you can get similar sets from Daiso for 700 baisa

Babyshop, part of the Landmark Group, has an exclusive range of Oops bags, with extra-soft fabric and tactile, colourful animal images that are uber cool for children. Get this owl trolley from RO12.9

moleskine’s iconic notebooks are bound by an elastic band and boast a built-in bookmark. They also feature a pocket inside the back cover that is perfect for keeping loose notes and clippings safe. They come in a variety of sizes and colours and cost from RO6 at Borders and Oman’s major stationary shops.

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HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

Many mums say the back-to-school season rivals the holidays as the most stressful time of the year. The whirlwind spans from shopping

for supplies to scheduling new autumn activities. Whether you’re a single parent or part of a pair, everyone can benefit from reducing stress during this busy time of year.

One full-time working mum who lives in Muscat admits she is dreading the start of the new school year, saying that getting back into the swing of a stricter routine is stressful for her family.

Thanks to the long summer holidays enjoyed by students in Oman, she says her children resist the earlier bedtime and wake-up times, while the school run is a nightmare.

“We have to be on the road by 7.15am to get to school on time,” she says. “So being super organised in the evening is a must if we are to make it in time.

“The crazy drivers and traffic jams do nothing for my stress levels and I still have to get to work myself ! I race back to school for the afternoon pick-up and drop them at home before heading back to the office again.

“Then there’s homework, after-school clubs, play dates and all those other school-related activities that parents have to attend.

“Every day is busy, but it is much more difficult for the first month or so of the new school year.”

Nancy Peplinsky, founder and executive director of Holistic Moms Network, a US-based non-

profit organisation, offers some of her favourite ways to relax and stay calm as the family gears up for the new school year.

“There are some very simple and inexpensive things every busy mum can do in just a few minutes to reduce stress,” she says, including:

* Breathe deeply: Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a teaspoon of organic olive oil. Rub it into your temples, on the back of your neck (where many of us feel stress), or on the soles of your feet. Cup your hands in front of your face and breathe deeply for 30 seconds to inhale the scent and grab a little calm. Try it before chauffeuring the kids to school and from their after-school activities in rush-hour traffic.

* Try tea time: After yet another hectic day, brew yourself a cup of chamomile tea. Add some honey and enjoy. If you can find the time to sit down for 10 minutes to drink it, even better.

* Create calm: Lying awake at night thinking about the next day’s schedule? For sleeplessness due to mental hyperactivity, try a relaxing herbal tea and avoid drinking caffeinated coffee or tea, which only serves to heighten alertness.

* Take a time-out: When you find yourself worrying about the costs of school supplies, extracurricular activities and tuition, stop! Devote 10 minutes to quiet meditation. Relax your mind and focus on breathing. Check out great apps such as Headspace to get you started and to guide you.

* Defuse arguments: Communication is key. Set up a strategy before you go out shopping

and share it with the children. Explain that there is a financial limit for spending, and guide them to stay within the budget by presenting choices between items, including the expensive, trendy clothes they want. This will make them feel empowered and help them to grow. Also discuss and agree on bedtime before school starts.

* Power down: Sleep is vital for anyone to function optimally. Parents and children alike should get into the habit of powering down all electronics at least an hour before bed to decrease sleep disturbances. Research shows these devices stimulate the brain, so should be avoided at bedtime. Also, cut out caffeine and sugar after a certain time and avoid eating a heavy meal before bed.

“Mums need to be healthy to support their families,” Peplinksy says. “Reducing stress keeps mums healthy so we can be more effective parents.”

Our Muscat mum agrees. “There’s a lot I should be doing to make going

back to school a more relaxing experience for my family,” she says. “As a working mum, sometimes it is hard to take a step back and see the forest for the trees.

“But this year, I will be trying to make an extra effort to keep everybody calm, happy and looking forward to going back to school – even if it means stopping for 15 minutes to take a deep breath and slow down.

“If only I could do the same with the traffic.”

The start of the new school year can be a stressful time for the whole family, but Y has found there are ways to keep your cool

BAG LADY

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

STYLE COUNSEL

Barbra Young, a former designer and retailer

BARBRA YOUNG ANSWERS YOUR FASHION QUESTIONS

Dear Emer,Expats are often confused about what to wear when they first arrive in Oman. The key is modesty, cover

from clavicles, to elbows and to below knees. Nothing too sheer or tight. Don’t worry though, you’re not expected to emulate Omanis by covering your hair or wearing an abaya.Try plain black, black with a stripe or check and navy blue trousers. These can be paired with cotton shirts, plain and patterned.Go for comfort in shoes, I find wedges are best and can be teamed well with below-the-knee length skirts.If you don’t already have a big leather bag, invest in one now, it will help you keep all your paperwork together. Keep your hair neat and the make-up subtle. Zara is great for the basics, plus they always have something on sale!

If you have any fashion questions for Barbra, email

[email protected] or tweet #style

@ytabloid

Dear Barbra,I’m a newly arrived teacher at an international high school in Muscat. I want to look good in the classroom

but also be comfortable as I’m on my feet most of the day. Having never lived in the Middle East, I also want to respect the dress code. What would you suggest? Emer, Muscat (formerly Ireland).

Q.

A.

Carry IN ELEGANT STYLE

TEACHER TOTELook the part on the first day of term with this great Zara leather shopping bag from its “Basic” range. Made of soft leather, it’s big enough to hold the school schedule and pupils’ papers waiting to be marked as well as your personal possessions. Also available in black, it will also cut a dash at the weekend when school’s out.You can get similar ones at high street stores like Mango or check out Centrepoint. If you have cash to splash, try the sublime Miranda bag by Michael Kors, beloved by celebrities such as Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio and American actress Zoe Saldana (pictured above). We love the pop of colour with the vibrant green shade!

Mira

nda

bag b

y Mich

ael K

ors

Show the kids how it’s done with a stylish and fun laptop bag. Campo Marzio in Muscat Grand Mall has some super-cool laptop bags in a range of colours, including bright orange. We’re big fans of this purple Moda computer bag (also available in large).

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

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fo l l o w u s o n :

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p o s t c a r d s f r o m O u t d o o r s Y - f i c a r s

cARS ANdAdVENTURES suGar anD sPiCe

weathered rocks, green trees and cinnamon sands

merge seamlessly to create a unique

desert.

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cARS ANdOUTdOORS

d E S T I N A T I O N p o s t c a r d s f r o m Y - f i O u t d o o r s c a r scARS ANdAdVENTURES

Destination

A FOND FAREWELL TO MY ‘CINNAMON DESERT’

after an inCreDible 264 triPs, JERzY WIERzBICKI refleCts ON THE LOCATION THAT

igniteD his lOve fOr OMan’s interiOr, TELLING THE STORY OF the Desert that beCaMe ‘his’

Almost seven years ago, I travelled with a friend into the Omani interior for the first time.

We were heading for the well-known fishing village of Ras Al Madrakah on the coast but, for me, the trip was all about the journey as opposed to the final destination.

Everything I saw amazed me – from the mountains on the road to Sinaw, to the flat, sandy desert before Mahoot and the rocks near Duqm – it was all so new. But one place stood out from the rest.

About 70 kilometres from Mahout on the way to Duqm, near road 32, you’ll find sand dunes spread out in the distance between dark rocks and small green trees.

In the warm light of the late afternoon it looked marvellous, but we were just passing through. Little did I know I would return here many more times, discovering one of the most fantastic deserts in Oman.

Months went by and I kept seeing that place in my dreams, but having only a basic 4x4 system in my SUV and lacking desert driving experience, the trip into “my” desert remained a pipe dream, earmarked for future exploration.

I bought my first serious 4x4 in 2009 – a Toyota Land Cruiser 80 with a 4.2L diesel engine – and was finally ready to hit the dunes.

My first destination was that same area between Mahout and Duqm. The dunes are stunning and delightfully distinctive when compared with the rest of Oman’s deserts. The dunes are not huge and the desert is not sprawling, but the green trees and weathered rocks that merge the terrain with the sand give the place a special feeling.

This trip convinced me to return to this magical place as often as I could. When I arrived back in Muscat, I researched the area, but neither books nor locals could tell me its name.

A few months later, I travelled to

the Al Wusta region to spend a night in “my” desert. When I awoke in the morning, I found that the dunes had an incredibly deep orange colour that was enhanced by the warm yellow of the sunrise.

It reminded me of the cinnamon sold in an Oriental shop when I was a child, so I started calling the place the “Cinnamon Desert”, using this reference in my subsequent articles and photographs.

Nowadays, I often plan my trips to the Interior to include a night in this area and I have stayed there more than 30 times.

In late 2011, I travelled to the Cinnamon Desert with a small group of European 4x4 fans so that I could explore the area fully.

The conditions were unforgettable – cold nights, weak winds and the full moon created an atmosphere in which I took one of the best shots of my career.

Three years later and my trip companions still talk about our night in the Cinnamon Desert, despite the fact we visited the Empty Quarter, the Dhofar mountains and many other breathtaking places.

On another trip there last year, I experienced a strong wind that was unusual for that particular time of year. Millions of grains of sand were whipped up into a mini sandstorm, obscuring everything but the trees from view.

Warm lighting and low contrast made for some atmospheric shots, so I picked up my camera straight away. Yet again, it was a case of being in the right place at the right

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The Cinnamon Desert is between Mahout and Duqm. The dunes are next to road 32 in a few spots, but the most fantastic part of the desert is found further off the beaten track.

A 4x4 and careful driving are compulsory. A GPS will take you to a spot where the rocks create something like a gate to the desert, with the dunes just a few hundred metres from the tarmac road.

Gps location of the Cinnamon Desert: N 20’ 27’ 58” E 57’ 52’ 03”TRAV

EL G

UIDE

time in the Cinnamon Desert.I took many trips there last year,

trying to gauge the scale of the desert and I experienced some of my hottest days in Oman, with my car’s thermometer reaching 50°C.

A few months ago, I was on my way back from Salalah and decided to take a one-day break in the Cinnamon Desert to prepare photographs for my last article as Y’s staff photographer.

I turned off from the asphalt road neat the small Bedouin settlement of Ar Rumailiyah and reached a long, reddish sand dune only eight kilometres from the road.

The silence was incredible and I found a good spot under a big tree to camp overnight. The cinnamon sands looked majestic, as always, and I used what was left of the afternoon light to take some photos on the dunes.

Hundreds of trees dotted the landscape and I couldn’t see a single sign of civilisation, which meant there was little more to do than sit in peace at the campfire with my faithful dachshund, Trop, until late into the night.

It was a fantastic and fitting way to draw my tenure as Y’s photographer to a close.

HoW to Get tHere

0 4 0

cARS ANdOUTdOORScARS ANdAdVENTURES

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Breathing underwater for the first time is a feeling you’ll never forget. Matt Blackwell went to explore the watery world that lies below Oman’s waves

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O U T d O O 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 Y - f i c a r s

A comforting silence descends, punctured only by the occasional sound of your own slow, methodical breathing.

Lying suspended in the crystal-clear azure water, brightly coloured corals and twisted rock formations fill your field of vision, creating an almost alien landscape through which myriad of fish dart back and forth. To scuba dive is to enter another world in which we are mere guests.

Water covers about 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface and the sea has always held a fascinating allure for me, tempered by a deep respect for its, at times, frightening power.

With stunning dive sites and a huge variety of marine life, it was only a matter of time before I would give in to the call of Oman’s waters, submerging myself to discover what lies beneath.

After a leisurely and scenic 40-minute boat trip from Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, I arrived at the Jebel Sifah resort. An early morning fine fog was settling, shrouding the tops of the surrounding mountains and hills from view. This did nothing to dampen my spirits, however, as my attention would be focused exclusively below the waves.

Nestled within the luscious grounds of the Sifawy Boutique Hotel is the Extra Divers Sifah dive centre, my base for the day’s operations. The friendly staff greeted me with huge smiles as they handed over the mandatory paperwork to fill in and began the process of kitting me out in the necessary gear.

Buoyancy control device and wetsuit fitted, I joined the other divers and enjoyed a sumptuous three-course lunch in the hotel’s Al Sabla restaurant. We were treated to warm, marinated prawns served on a zucchini carpaccio with saffron vinaigrette to start, followed by grilled rack of lamb with vegetable ratatouille and a trio of crème brûlée to finish. After such a feast, I don’t think any of our party needed the weight belt to counteract the buoyancy of our bodies – the amount of food we’d consumed would surely see to that.

Returning to the dive centre, I boarded my second boat of the day and, after a short equipment and safety demonstration, was skimming the waves on the relatively calm sea, heading out towards the designated dive site.

Along the way, the three dive instructors separated the group into pairs – selecting their victims as they playfully called it – and gave us a further briefing on what to expect, along with a rundown of the various hand signals used to communicate underwater.

Our instructor was the incredibly knowledgeable Heike Trohorsch, who has been diving since 1997 and come face-to-face with whale sharks, dolphins, rays and a whole host of other marine life around the world.

All three inhabit the seas around Oman, but it was unlikely we would encounter them, having opted for the centre’s introductory Discover Scuba Diving course, which gives you the option of either one or two dives at a secluded cove location.

“It’s a feeling like no other,” Heike told us, as we donned our fins and sat on the side of the boat, ready to drop into the water below. “It’s as if you are flying.” And she was right.

After demonstrating a suitable proficiency in using the breathing regulator and controlling our buoyancy in the shallows, Heike set off ahead, guiding us into the depths.

The sensation of weightlessness was fantastic and it was easy to manipulate my movement through the water simply by angling my head in the desired direction and kicking in long strokes.

Dozens of species of fish and other forms of marine life were visible as I glided gracefully through the water, going down to a depth of about five metres below the surface.

More experienced divers may scoff, but it was perfect when you consider that most of our group were scuba diving for the first time.

A pleasant sense of serenity settled in me as I explored the underwater world that surrounded me and although I completely lost track of time – along with life’s worries – I guess I spent somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes in the water.

It wasn’t enough – I found myself hooked and in need of more. In fact, I spent the entire duration of our return boat trip quizzing the instructors on how I could go about getting my scuba fix and the further services they offered.

Open Water Diver course, here I come!

Extra Divers have dive centres across the world, including five in Oman. The Sifah branch is under professional German management and the international team speaks German, English and Arabic. A Discover Scuba Diving course costs RO45 for one dive and RO70 for two.To find out more about Extra Divers and to book a dive, visit www. extradivers-worldwide.com For more information on Sifawy Boutique Hotel, log on to www.sifawyhotel.com

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TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT:1. Wild Wadi Water Park 2. dubai aquarium and Underwater Zoo3. kidzania4. dubai fountains5. desert safari

ChilD’s PlaY Offering everything from water parks to

wild accommodation, Dubai is a city of

adventures for young and old alike.

cARS ANdAdVENTURES

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p O S T c A R d S f R O md e s t i n a t i o n O u t d o o r s Y - f i c a r s

my favourite place I’m a bit of a water baby at heart, which naturally made Wild Wadi Water Park the obvious choice for a day of wet and wonderful, adrenaline-fuelled fun. With 30 rides and attractions, there is something to suit all ages and sizes, but the standout for me has to be the Jumeirah Sceirah. Standing 32 metres high, it’s the tallest free-fall slide outside of North America and will have you plummeting at speeds of up to 80kph – not for the faint hearted, but an amazing rush for thrill seekers.It’s not all about getting the endorphins flowing, though. Juha’s Dhow and Lagoon was specially designed with little ones in mind, or try Juha’s Journey, a 360-metre lazy river where you can kick back and float around the park in tranquil solitude – and that’s just to name a few.The park follows an Arabian folklore theme and some of the design is stunning. Entry fees are based on height, costing AED295 (RO30.92) for those above 1.1 metres and AED235 (RO24.63) for those below. Guests staying at selected Jumeirah hotels enjoy free admission.

Highlights Children are so well catered for in Dubai that it’s impossible to cram it all into just one weekend. If time is of the essence, don’t miss Kidzania, a large educational centre for children that helps them to develop as they play, and the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Located on the ground floor of Dubai Mall, it is the largest suspended aquarium in the world, with 33,000 aquatic animals from more than 140 species. Snorkelling and shark-cage diving are on offer if you’re feeling brave!If you find yourself craving some downtime, drop in at Kiddies Café in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, where the attentive staff will watch your child’s every move as they explore the playhouse, soft play area and art and craft room, giving you time to relax and enjoy a coffee. Lowlights Dubai is not the cheapest of places at the best of times. Add to this many hungry mouths and entrance fees to the various attractions and costs can soon escalate. Souvenirs If you’re visiting the likes of theme parks, aquariums and zoos, then the chances are they will have their own gift shops filled with branded merchandise. The choice is yours, but I like to go for something a little more personal – a photo keyring, for example.

Where to stay Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to hotels in Dubai. Obviously, there is the instantly recognisable Burj Al Arab, but when it comes to children’s facilities there really is nowhere better than Atlantis The Palm. Based on the mythical city of the same name, the hotel features its own water playground and an open-air marine habitat that is home to several hundred species of ocean life.

dUBAI, UNITEd ARAB EmIRATES

Wild Wadi Water Park

UnderWater Zoo

Matt Blackwell recommends

dUbai foUntains

l ying a few hundred k i l ometres from Muscat - a f i ve-hour dr ive or j ust an hour by p lane - i s duba i , the largest c i ty i n the Uae. drawn by the br ight l i ghts and fast pace of th is desert metropo l i s , many of us f l ock to the em irate for weekend tr i ps f i l l ed w ith shopp ing ,

party ing and f ine d in ing . a c i ty of super lat ives - fastest , ta l l est , largest - you cou ld ca l l i t an

adu l t ’ s p layground . but p laygrounds are unden iab ly the doma in of ch i l dren and the same is true of duba i . scratch s l i ght ly be l ow the extravagant exter i or and there are a wea lth of act iv i t i es and opportun i t i es for the youngest members of the fam i l y that w i l l make for an unforgettab le tr i p .

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Y - f Ip o s t c a r d s f r o m c a r s O u t d o o r s

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sUperCHarGeD

The anker astro Mini 3000mah compact charger is an essential piece of kit for students who are in constant search of electricity sockets for their various smart gadgets. Having a second source of power for when devices run out of juice is wise – it means you’ll always be powered up in case of emergency. All you have to do is charge it up then plug it into your device as if charging by socket. The Anker Astro charger is lightweight, can be thrown into a bag and fits in pockets, plus it comes at a price that suits any student budget. www.amazon.com for ro8.92.

BACK TO SCHOOL IS COOL

in sHape THIS FUNKY Moshi iGlaze VersaCover origami Case IS A PROTECTIVE COVER AND STAND FOR TABLETS. IT’S SIMPLE AND STYLISH ENOUGH FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. THIS MODERN PIECE IS INSPIRED BY ORIGAMI AND CAN BE TWISTED AND MOVED FOR DIFFERENT VIEWING ANGLES. YOU’LL CERTAINLY STAND OUT FROM YOUR PEERS WITH ONE OF THESE ON

YOUR DESK. www.aMazOn.COM FOR ro23.07.

EDITO

R’S PI

CK

neVer Miss a WorD Taking notes during class – even with a fast-talking teacher – just got easier. The Livescribe pulse smartpen looks like a regular pen, but this magical device has a voice recorder and up to 2GB of storage. Sounds too good to be true? We haven’t even mentioned the best part yet. Not only does the Pulse record everything being said, but it also keeps track of everything you’ve written in digital form. You can sync your handwritten notes on to your PC or Mac and all you have to do is tap a word to hear what Professor Motormouth was saying at that specific moment. The trick is that the Pulse’s infrared sensor uses tiny dots on the custom – and required – Livescribe notebook paper as reference points. Passing classes just became a breeze. visit www.amazon.com to get one, prices start at ro57.35.

Data DraMa Imagine it’s late at night and the laborious essay you’ve just completed – yes, the one it took an entire weekend to write – is gone. Perhaps you spilt coffee on your keyboard, or maybe the continuously spinning gear on your Macbook is hinting at hard-drive doom and gloom. The loss of data is heartbreaking, so investing in an external hard drive such as the WD Mypassport Ultra 1tB to back-up work and free up space on computers by storing videos, music and photos is always a good idea. A portable hard drive is probably the best investment you can make while in school or college. www.wdc.com from ro35.78.

tech-savvy students can make the most of their classes thanks to the latest gadgets. matthew Herbst

rates this year’s must-have devices

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neW Build your own watch with the help of the nifty LeGo® Creator kids’ 4250341 Make-n-Create Watch. It is water resistant to 50 metres and has a bright, cheery style that all ages are sure to love. The watch has a

fun, interlocking strap made from interchangeable links in yellow, green, blue and red. This fun timepiece has a dial with clear, easy-to-read numbers and minute track – perfect

for those learning to tell the time. It is nickel and PVC-free and comes with a non-allergenic, polycarbonate case. For added fun, the watch also includes a “Make-N-Create” fish model. Other models feature different characters, including heroes such as Superman, with a bedside clock inside the lego figure. www.amazon.com, from RO9.61.

LeGo® Creator kiDs’ WatCH WitH BUiLDinG toY

App of the Week

For tHe YoUnGer stUDent With many children heading back to school, all eyes are on the latest educational gadgets, such as this colourful and functional Crayola keyboard, mouse, and mousepad bundle. The keyboard features large, brightly coloured keys to help little hands find their way around a QWERTY keyboard. It also eliminates many of the higher-tech functions, with a giant escape button in case it all goes wrong. The bundles are child-friendly tools that make using a computer for learning a lot more fun and enjoyable. Consider adding the reader rabbit Learn to read With phonics as the perfect companion to the bundle. Check out www.amazon.com and get it all from ro20.78.

easY Does it So much to do and so little time, not to mention trying to remember every homework request. If Post-it notes litter your bedroom, we may just have found you a solution. This homework helper app has features that help you to keep track of assignments, stay focused and reduce anxiety. Using myHomework as a daily organiser makes school schedules and workloads much more manageable. Download it from the app store for iOS and google Play for Android, with the choice of an advert-free premium app or the ad-laden freebie.

LoUD anD CLear

The ampridge MightyMic s is ideal for older students at university. It’s a professional grade microphone that allows you to record high-quality audio using a smartphone or tablet. The ultra-compact design makes it easliy portable and you can mount the microphone using your smartphone’s headphone jack. You can rotate the mic to avoid unwanted background noise and the built-in headphone jack comes in handy, allowing you to hear what you have recorded so you can adjust it during recording. It’s brilliant for lectures. www.mightymics.com, from ro26.94.

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It’s the car of choice for many expat families — beloved by mums for the school run and by dads for its rugged look — and the new Pajero doesn’t disappoint, says Kate Ginn

Mitsubishi 2015 Pajerospecifications:

engine: 3.5l/3.8l v6 lwB (long wheelbase)Horsepower: 184/250Transmission: four/five

automaticTop Speed:

180kmh/200kmhSeven seats, three rows

There’s an old adage that goes along the lines of, “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it”.

It appears that the boffins from Mitsubishi had this in mind when designing the latest incarnation of the best-selling Pajero.

Already a phenomenal success, they clearly felt it wasn’t wise to tinker with the brand and risk alienating an extremely loyal customer base.

There were some who believed the dated model needed a facelift and possibly drastic changes, but they were in the minority.

Ostensibly, the 2015 Pajero looks almost exactly the same, with only minor imperceptible tweaks, such as a larger grille, new front fascia and new spare-tyre cover.

You may, however, be in the majority who would abhor the mere thought of fiddling with this cherished icon and for whom the song Just The Way You Are – with lyrics like “Don’t go changing to try to please me… I love you just the way you are” – will no doubt resonate.

The Pajero is a true off-roader and a legend in its own right. Look around next time you’re driving on the Sultanate’s roads and see how many Pajeros you can spot. You’ll lose count.

It scores high for its versatility, off-road capability and generous legroom. On-road, the Pajero’s critics claim that it can be a touch sluggish, but no one buys this car for speed.

It’s solid and dependable, durable and uncompromising, while still having a touch of luxury thanks to its soft leather seats and clean lines.

With the new Pajero, the higher variants get an interior upgrade with piano-black accents or sophisticated wood-grain trim.

Sitting in a Pajero, you get the feeling that you can conquer mountains and malls, scale heights and multi-storey car parks with ease, explore the furthest corners of Oman and still have a car wanting more.

This vehicle loves a challenge and rewards those who push it further. Little wonder that it holds the record for being the most successful car in the Dakar Rally, the famous off-road race, winning its class in seven out of the past 10 races. That’s not to say that it isn’t happy pottering around Muscat and it behaves very well on city roads.

There’s plenty of head and legroom for up to seven – big or small – so it’s ideal for school runs with the accompanying baggage of satchels, gym kits, packed lunches and younger siblings. Road trips to Dubai or

Salalah are a breeze. The rear DVD/video really comes into its own here in keeping younger passengers occupied.

What’s particularly great about the Pajero for families is the seating arrangements, which can be switched around to suit your needs.

The seats in the third row, for instance, can be stowed under the floor to create a wide, flat storage space for suitcases, or can be removed completely.

For even larger items, the seats in the second row can be folded down to accommodate just about anything. This, as any parent will know, is hugely important when you have children, bikes, endless toys and the pet dog to fit in for a journey just to the beach.

When you get to the beach, the superior handling and safety features, such as traction and slip control, will ensure a smooth drive. A really neat touch is the INVECS-II system, which studies driving habits and conditions, learns to anticipate driver actions and then adjusts the car accordingly.

Who needs a drastic makeover? As the song says, “Don’t imagine you’re too familiar, and I don’t see you any more … I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times. I’ll take you just the way you are.”

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

Versatile seating arrangements

Leather seats Automatic AC Leather-wrapped controls All-wheel control (AWC) Active stability control system Flexible utility space Powerful Rockford Acoustic

Design sound system Rear DVD/video screen 17-inch wheels

They say: “Beginning of a

whole new chapter”We say:

“Family favourite gets better”

Y Magazine #334, August 28, 2014

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Transcript of Y Magazine #334, August 28, 2014