Y Magazine #397, December 3, 2015

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SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

GALLERY: City Centre Muscat Fashion Show

News: THE GREAT HOLIDAY GETAWAY10

DESTINATION: Camping at Sifah Beach

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DEC 03 - 09 2015 / ISSUE 397 • WEEKLY

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NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR

WHY OMAN IS FACING AN OBESITY TIME BOMB

OMAN STYLE

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Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing &

Advertising LLC / Y is a SABCO Media product.

CEO Eihab Abutaha

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

email [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to Y Magazine – your top

guide to the best of Oman every week.

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

/ytabloid ymagazine

FO L L O W U S O N :

A shocking new report has found that Oman has the 14th highest obesity rate in the world. The report, by HealthGrove.com, a health news and information site, has found that Oman has an obesity rate of 30.9 per cent, putting it ahead

of the likes of Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and New Zealand. To put this into perspective, the country with the highest obesity rate is the tiny

Pacific island nation of Samoa at 43. 4 per cent. Rounding out the top five is Qatar at number two (42.3 per cent), Kuwait (39.7), the UAE (37.2) and Fiji (36.4).

As you can see, Oman is not far behind the top five and it is only a matter of time before we catch up.

In our cover story this week, we discover that health experts and government bodies are struggling to change ingrained attitudes and cultural norms towards unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyles – both of which are to blame for the Sultanate’s obesity epidemic. It begins with education at the grassroots level, particularly the children of the nation.

Meanwhile, we put the new Volvo XC90 through its paces in Car of the Week, head to a fun rollerblading race in Outdoors and take in our first camping trip of the season in Destination.

Have a great week and we hope you enjoy the long weekend to celebrate National Day!

Fast forward

[email protected]

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

EDITOR IN CHIEFSayyida Iman bint Hamad

bin Hamood Al Busaidi

MANAGING EDITORFelicity Glover

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kate Ginn

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

SUB-EDITOR Matt Blackwell

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Feroz Khan

@ytabloid /ytabloid www.y-oman.com

/ymagazine

,

Team Y has started shopping for the festive season, showed family from the UK the sights of Muscat and is

looking forward to the National Day holidays.

THIS WEEK…

Y’s Coolest Fresher competition is

hotting up and auditions will be

taking place very soon. Turn to P26-27 for

details.

GOING UPSTAYCATIONS

Many residents have chosen to take a “staycation” over the National Day

holidays and during the school winter break later this month thanks to

skyrocketing airfares (see P10). But with the Sultanate’s perfect weather at

the moment, we know who the winners are!

GOING DOWNINFLATION

Great news to hear that PPI inflation – that’s the general cost of living to

you and me – has dropped by 13.9 per cent in the second quarter of this year,

according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information. Have you

noticed a difference in prices?

C O M P E T I T I O N

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

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

Ways to get your Y fix

Got the OMAR App? Then hover your device over any pages marked with the OMAR symbol to see the video

THE BAROMETER

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Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Tracey Curtis-Taylor

08 Voice Of Oman Sayyida Mayya Al Said

10 News The Great Escape

11 Gallery Tech and Cars

14 Gallery Mall Fashion Show

15 Hyundai – Driven To Success Sayyid Nassir Al Busaidi

T h i s We e k

16 #FYI 10 Friendliest Countries In The World

17 Movie Listings Bridge Of Spies

18 This Week Beat Diabetes

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Weekend Wear

34 Beauty Ageing Gracefully

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Fe at u r e s20 Super Sized The Weighty Problem Facing Oman

26 Y’s Coolest Fresher Join The Talent Hunt

C a r s a n d A d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Sifah Beach

40 Outdoors Skater Boys (and Girls)

42 Postcard From Krakow, Poland

44 Y-Fi Toddler Tech

46 Car Of The Week Volvo XC90

44

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

NEXT ISSUE...

18

20

Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Brunch

30 Taste Test The Steak Company

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The skies above Muscat International Airport are clear at 7.20am, but

the aircraft Tracey Curtis-Taylor arrives in is far from conventional. She touches down in a special open cockpit vintage biplane, which she is using to retrace a journey first made by Amy Johnson back in the 1930s.

Johnson, a pioneering English aviator, was the first female pilot to fly solo from Britain to Australia in 19 days and is the inspiration behind Tracey’s current endeavour

“For me, it’s one of the greatest solo achievements in history,” Tracey tells me. “She was a pioneer, but I think as a 20th-century icon, she cuts a very powerful figure as both an aviator and one of the first female engineers. So she wasn’t just flying; she was also fixing her airplane on the way.”

It took Johnson just under three weeks to complete the 15,000km journey and, according to Tracey, made a fantastic statement to the world about what women were capable of, as well as proving that aviation was safe.

The craft taking Tracey, 53, on her historical expedition is a restored 1942 Boeing Stearman, which was originally used as a World War Two military training plane.

Apart from encouraging people to fly, Tracey is hoping to promote women in the fields of engineering and

aerospace. “In my day, my male classmates could study navigation or could go gliding solo. I never had that option because I was a female.”

Despite the advancements in gender equality made over the years, Tracey still thinks there is much to be done and often reaches out to women’s groups in different countries. “It hasn’t changed enough. We have made some real advancements [and] now [there are] women fighter pilots, but we are still hugely under represented,” she says.

From an early age, Tracey knew she did not want a conventional career and considered becoming a journalist before joining the UK’s Foreign Office in the 1970s, where she says she struggled with some prejudiced attitudes before eventually leaving.

Tracey tells me she wasn’t willing to waste her youth struggling against chauvinistic mentalities and wanted to be out in the world, living her life instead. “I went to Africa, where I was doing waitressing, modelling, doing door-to-door sales and travelling. It took me five months of camping on organised tours to get from Johannesburg back to London overland,” she says.

It was around this time that Tracey decided to pursue her dream of flying and embarked on a career in aerial photography and mapping.

In 2009, she decided to set up her first historical flight, this time following in the footsteps of Lady Mary Heath, an Irish

aviator and the first person to fly solo from Cape Town to England in 1928.

Tracey reveals it was a fascination with Africa’s prehistoric landscape and a desire to put Lady Heath’s name back in popular memory that led to her embarking on this first trip. The journey actually took four years to plan, with her team having to find and restore a suitable airplane and locate a film crew.

Her current trip is also being recorded by a small support crew, which is following Tracey in a light modern aircraft, capturing the essence of her vintage journey as she flies.

Amy’s original route took her through Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and India; a route that Tracey cannot follow exactly due to certain political instabilities. “From Pakistan on, I can follow her route. I followed it all through Europe and then I diverged,” she says. “I have come through the west side of Turkey and the Turkish bombing happened only three days before I got there, so I always have to be politically conscious.”

Nevertheless, Tracey’s last words before we part are very inspirational. “What I am doing is risky and I know I am taking a huge risk, but if you want to do great things, you have to take risks.”

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]

Deeba Hasan meets Tracey Curtis-Taylor, an aviator and adventurer, who was in Muscat for a quick pit stop as she

reenacts a great historical journey

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JOURNEY TO ONENESS

correspondenceTHE VOICE OF OMAN SAYYIDA MAYYA AL SAID ON THE MANY FACES OF BEAUTY

NEXT WEEK: MATT BLACKWELL

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.

WRITE TO US AND WIN A VOUCHER

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

/GoldenTulipSeebHotel

@GoldenTulipSeeb

It’s such a shame that many women don’t realise how beautiful they are. I can’t blame them for feeling that way; just look at what the media is promoting. You

are only considered “beautiful” if you have a certain skin colour or straight or wavy hair and basically fit into their definition of beauty. I think this is so degrading for the rest of the women who don’t fit into those standards!

God created us all different for a reason, to accept one another and to show us that beauty comes in different shapes and forms. We all know that we are not perfect, but just think about it for a moment, are we meant to be?

Every woman is beautiful, it just takes the right mind to see it. We need to get rid of the stereotypes that surround us and learn to accept that there is beauty in all of us.

It’s a fact that most men focus on physical beauty, which is sad because what we don’t realise is that a person may have a beautiful outward apperance, but an ugly inside.

As hard as it may be, don’t judge a book by its cover and remember that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

WE ASKED: “If you could change anything in the world, what would it be and why?”

DEBATE OF THE WEEK

WAFAA EL ANANY I would get rid of racism. People just don’t know how much stress it creates, making you believe you’re inferior because you were born a certain way. We all should get along in my opinion, no matter what race you are.

AARTI VATSI would have reverted all the damage that technological advancement has caused to our planet, so that coming generations are able to experience a great life and Earth remains a habitable planet.

I will see you where there is no cageBeyond cultural conditioning and wealth gauge

Where human spirit will dance without thought plagueJoy of nature’s being will take centre stage.

I will see you where you can see me in pure lightWhere you romance with your own soul day bright

Love in your heart and hug so tightTears of joy meeting soul mates giving delight

Everything seems perfect and so right

But till that time I will see you with my baby eyesWithout fear and friendship ties

Peeping inside your wonderful heart with surpriseUnderstanding your craving for love and replies

Hug you tightly to make you aware of allies

The bond we signed to meet here on earth before we were bornThe body you chose for the purpose and to adorn

We decided to play separate when first born

Now I am aware of your divine presence in my lifeBut why you forgot your real nature and took a knife?

To stab me in the back and end my blissful life

I have to leave you till you know about right to lifeI will wait for you in the dimension of eternal life

Come my friend enjoy the gift of lifeYour angelic nature and soothing vibes

Relive your infinite self and mine Reality of being one is not a lie.

By ShailSuman Singh

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FOLLOW USSCAN THESE QR CODES &

WWW.Y-OMAN.COM /YTABLOID @YTABLOID /YMAGAZINE

New Debate:“How can Oman avert an

obesity crisis?” Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a

chance of winning dinner for two.

NATASHA GLORIA was spotted with her favourite Y Magazine at her birthday party with friends in Muttrah

THIS IS YOUR SPOT! Just send us your picture with Y Magazine or pose

with our photographer and we will publish it on

this page

Send it to:[email protected]

unprompted equality, liberty and fraternity.

IRWIN SERSO RIO I would remove all kinds of hatred towards everyone. As we all know, hatred is the root cause of conflict and war between people and countries. If there’s no hatred then there’s peace in the world.

KRISHNA SANAL I would convince every person on the planet to turn vegetarian. Humanity lies in being human to the things we share the planet with. So I guess it has to start with acknowledging another life and its right to exist. That would be equality.

SHIKHA BAFNA GUPTA Everyone has a right to live peacefully with essential living standards, so poverty should be removed. If everyone were equal in all manners then there would be no war, only peace.

YUSUF AL SALAMI I am a big believer in green technologies and I don’t think we should be so shortsighted when it comes to deciding when to start developing them for our future, as it is only a matter of time before these will be essential.

LIBA KHAN I would simply shut down the all weapons and explosives in the world. Eventually the world would be blessed with peace and prosperity.

DIMPLE GANATRA I’d get rid of every disease in the world, including mental illness. I think people deserve to live their lives and I could never see them pass away because of an illness they can’t help. I would also make all natural resources unlimited. Believe me, if we run out of one resource, humans are at major risk.

ROSHINI NAIR If I could change one thing it would be the mindset of people. Once everyone believes that peace is of utmost necessity for a country’s progress, they will give up their ego and often their territories for the sake of world peace. The world would become a wonderful place to live and the newspaper headings would come up with happier and positive news instead of bomb blasts and murders.

EMILY SHOTTER I would bring in global animal welfare legislation that had to apply to all countries.

MUHAMMAD NADEEM ALVI I’ll try my best to change the thinking of people. They should love and respect others, irrespective of religion, culture, colour and country.

RONAK BHATT No visa required to travel anywhere around the world so that I could be a globetrotter or perhaps a global citizen.

ADIL SAIYEDEach of us can change the world by choosing to use our resources in a way that counteracts the influence of greed and selfishness. One way is by manifesting qualities like compassion, charity, and generosity. This will have a direct influence on everyone we interact with and will encourage them to embrace a higher standard. But we can and should do more to make this world a beautiful place to live in.

CHARLIE SY BULFANGO If I could change anything in the world, I would simply spread love to all human beings and creatures that exist in this world, creating peace for all.

ELIZABETH JOSEPH If I was given the chance to change anything in the world it would be the human mind. This world is trapped in a rat race, where sympathy and empathy has been erased from our minds. As a result, man experiences wars, corruption, racial discrimination, slavery, terrorism, poverty, uncleanliness, bridges between rich and poor and more. If we want a happy world, it’s us who need to change.

SOPHIA TAYCO I will change the heart of every human so that they have good vibes, positivity and humility. The world would surely be a good place to live with good human beings living on it.

SAM AZHAR I would like everyone to have the same status, because the poor people are really struggling out there, but the rich people are too busy to realise this.

MONIKA KAUSHIK I would change the Earth into a really green planet where the surroundings are clear and natural. Everything would be pure and hygienic. I would remove the calamities of society and all will be calm and prosperous. There would be no war, no fighting, no struggle, no poverty, no torture, no suffering and no hatred. All will live peacefully and smoothly.

RODNEY WOODS The merciless killing of unborn babies and innocent children.

GAUTAM GHOSH DASTIDAR The world would be one single nation ruled by HM Sultan Qaboos to let all the residents share

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With the long holiday weekend to mark National Day finally here, thousands

will be making the most of four days off and head out of the cities in droves.

Road border crossings into Dubai are expected to be extremely busy over the break, with drivers warned to prepare for long delays heading in and out of the UAE. The UAE’s break for its 44th National Day falls on the same days as the Sultanate, with December 2 and 3 both declared as public holidays.

On top of this, the three-day Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament also starts today (Dec 3) and traditionally attracts a big audience from Muscat.

Airports in Oman, Muscat International and Salalah, were also gearing up to deal with large passenger numbers, with the UAE and India the most popular destinations for getaways.

It could be a frustrating time for some. The border crossing at Hatta has been causing drivers problems after the road into the UAE was closed unexpectedly last week. While the border apparently remains open, drivers have to divert through Sharjah to get to and from Dubai, putting up to an extra hour on their journey, likely to take even longer during the holiday.

Postings on social media forum What’s Happening

Muscat, Oman? say drivers passing through have not required an

e-visa, but residence visas must be valid for

more than three months.But there are reports of expats being turned

away from the Hatta border completely. “A friend of mine (South African) has just been turned away from the Hatta border and told to go to Fujairah,” said one user.

So the advice to drivers is to factor in for delays. The Al Ain crossing is open for business as usual.

Those flying won’t have it easy either.Flights to Dubai from Muscat with some airlines

have sold out or are restricted for the holidays, leaving people with no option but to brave the road in some cases.

Airfares also shot up once the holidays were announced, with return tickets to India reportedly costing up to RO310.

“Holidays for the National Day were announced two weeks ago and most of the tickets have sold out,” one airline ticket executive told a local newspaper.

She added: “What is happening now is some last moment travel plans decisions.” This is due to the factor that some people were expecting the holidays the week before and there have been cancellations and changes after the holiday dates were revealed.

Those who want to stay closer to home are expected to head to Oman’s beaches, wadis and mountains during the long break for camping trips and staycations.

As the Sultanate celebrated its 45th National Day in lots of unique ways, Oman Avenues Mall came up with something a little different for visitors to express their gratitude

to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said. A 12-metre wall was put up in the mall, on which

people could write a message on the theme of “My Sultan My Nation”, expressing their thoughts on the special occasion.

Everyone writing a message received national day goodies including flags, badges and scarves. Almost 3,000 free gifts were given away during three days from November 18.

Schoolchildren were also invited to sing the Omani National Anthem, before 100kg of cake, decorated in the Sultanate’s colours of red, white and green, was cut in front of the children and their parents.

Other entertainment included face painting, a performance by an Omani band complete with bagpipes and a display of sand art based around National Day.

Ben Watson, general manager of the mall, said National Day is etched in the mind of every Omani and represents the prosperity and good life that everybody is leading today under the wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan.

Oman Avenues Mall, with its assortment of retail options and leading brands, has become one of Muscat’s premier shopping destinations.

MESSAGES OF LOVE

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VISITORS TO OMAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE WERE GIVEN A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY AT I-TECH, WHICH SHOWCASED GAMES, ROBOTS, INVENTIONS AND MORE

FAST

CAR THE ASTON

MARTIN DB10 THAT WAS BUILT FOR THE LATEST JAMES BOND FILM, SPECTRE, WAS ON DISPLAY AT THE ASTON MARTIN SHOWROOM IN MUSCAT

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YOUR OMAN

This sounds serious!So much so that the incident drew carloads of police to an apartment in Sydney, Australia.Really? What happenedAfter hearing a “woman’s” screams and threats of “I’m going to kill you” coming from a flat, one passersby called police fearing the worst.And was it?That depends on how you feel about arachnids. It turned out the screams and shouting were coming from a sheepish 30-year-old guy who was terrified after discovering a rather large spider in his apartment. And as it is Australia, it’s safe to say that it probably was huge and quite frightening. They have some very poisonous spiders there, right?Absolutely! Australia has the most poisonous spider in the world: the funnel web. And everybody is taught from an early age to be very careful around all types of arachnids. So what happened to the spider?It turns out that it eventually died after being sprayed with what is believed to be an entire can of insect spray. In fact, the police were so worried about the “fog” in the apartment that they thought it might blow up.Don’t say: “Incy wincy spider.” Do say: “Run for the hills!”

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

FIGHT TO THE DEATH

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

World leaders vow to save the planet from catastrophic climate change at a historic summit in France with the heads of more than 150 nations, including a representative from Oman. Among matters discussed were fossil fuels blamed for global warming

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

Pope Francis urges Muslim and Christian “brothers and sisters” to unite against violence and hatred during a visit to a mosque in Bangui in the Central African Republic, the last leg of a three-nation tour of Africa by the leader of the Catholic church

The body of a pilot killed last week after Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian warplane is returned to Moscow. A second pilot was rescued. Turkey has refused to apologise, saying the Russians ignored several warnings after entering Turkish airspace from Syria

Saudi Arabia secures funding to finish building the Jeddah Tower, a $1.2 billion project that, at 3,280 feet, will become the tallest building in the world, beating Dubai’s Burj Khalifa (a mere 2,722 feet)

JOIN THE CLUBY is teeing off a fun golf

competition to mark the Europcar Open 2015 tournament at Almouj Golf.

Y magazine is a media partner for the tournament being held on December 11 and we’ve teamed up with Europcar, the car rental company, to offer our readers some great prizes.

All you have to do to enter is send us your favourite golf-related selfie. It could be you posing with a famous golfer or even teeing off at your favourite golf course in Oman, we want you to get as creative as you can with this one! As long as you are in the picture and it is related to golf, you qualify to enter.

First prize is an exclusive invitation for two to the gala presentation dinner for the Europcar Open 2015, which is being held at Almouj Golf ’s Academy Restaurant on December 11. Second prize is a a complimentary voucher for a weekend car hire in Muscat of a Mitsubishi Outlander (or similar car), while third prize is a Greg Norman T-shirt and cap and fourth is a Europcar T-shirt and mug.

To enter, just email your photo to [email protected] by 5pm, Monday, December 7.

Good luck!

COMP

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EMPTY QUARTER TRIO GET READY

There’s only seven days left until a team of three embark on an epic journey to recreate history and retrace the first crossing of the mighty Empty Quarter.

The trio from Outward Bound Oman leave from Salalah on December 10 for a 1,300km trip by camel and foot, following in the footsteps of Bertram Thomas and Sheikh Saleh bin Kalut al Rashidi al Kahthiri, who walked the same route in 1930.

With excitement mounting, the new intrepid exploreres assembed in Muscat this week to make their last public appearance before heading south on Saturday (Dec 5).

Mark Evans, general manager at Outward Bound Oman, Mohammed al Zadjali and Amour al Wahaibi, all of whom have been training hard for the last few months, hope to arrive in Doha the first week of February 2016.

They will be be followed on the 60-day trek by two mini trucks carrying all the supplies – including food, fuel, water, blankets, first aid boxes and other essentials.

The support crew will be uploading daily photographs and a blog diary about the journey,

which will help people to track the route and their progress. There will also be the option to track the team via Google Earth and GPS as they cross the Empty Quarter.

The Empty Quarter, or Rub Al Khali, is one of the last great wildernesses, a vast desert stretching across four countries.

Word of the expedition is spreading and the website established to cover the crossing has already received hits from more than 80 different countries according to Evans.

And the list of supporters is also growing, with patrons of the journey including Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture in Oman, and Prince Charles from the UK. Qatar has also appointed a patron, although Saudi Arabia is yet to name one.

“Towards the end of our journey, we will be received by a group of young Qataris who will lead us to the heart of Doha, where there will be a large celebration with fireworks. Back in Oman there will be a grand celebration as well where Royal patrons, ambassadors and ministers will be present,” said Evans, 54, speaking at the final press conference.

Al Wahaibi, 38, is from Bidiyah and has spent his life in and around the sand. The local community of his village excited about him making this crossing. “Half the people think I am crazy because I am throwing myself into this long and risky expedition, however there are others who are really proud of me on taking up this challenge,” he said.

His main concern is the welfare of the camels. “My life is safe in the hands of God, but I am worried if any camels break a leg or get injured midway.”

Another interesting aspect of the journey is that all three (human) participants will be used as case studies for a psychology study, which will test how humans respond to extreme environments. To follow the journey and for more information, visit crossingtheemptyquarter.com

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G A L L E R YON

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CITY CENTRE MUSCAT SHOWCASED A VARIETY OF RETAILERS AT THE MALL AT A THREE-DAY FASHION AND BEAUTY EVENT. HELD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 26 AND 28, MUSCAT FASHION WEEKEND SHOWCASED THE LATEST AUTUMN/WINTER TRENDS AND MUST-HAVE PIECES, ALL AVAILABLE AT THE MALL

YOUR OMAN

In association with Centennial

DRIVEN TOSUCCESS

THE TECHNOLOGY AND FEATURES ENSURE IT

IS A STEADY, SAFE AND

COMFORTABLE CAR

Q: What drives you to success?The satisfaction of people around me is

what drives me. Money doesn’t make you control things; it’s how you behave with people around you. Your smile is 50 per cent of your success and if you use it properly, you can run things smoothly. I am also fond of innovation and I like to be with my people all the time, so that I am aware of their needs and can get feedback from them.

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

His Majesty is my inspiration. We build our success from his success and the country is built on everybody’s success together. Our leader is putting himself in all corners of Oman, visiting everywhere, going to different places, taking care of people and giving them what they want. If you want to be a good leader, be like him. He has modelled the way for so many people.

Q: What is your biggest career success to date?

It is seeing the company grow; comparing what is was before to what it is like now. Also,

when things are growing, it’s not only because of me, but the team: the board of directors, management and technical people who work together to accomplish our strategy and targets. The other part of my success is my family. If you have good children who love you, see you as their leader and want to become better than you in life, it is your success.

Q: What are your goals?Our goal is to see satisfaction on the faces

of customers and our staff because their satisfaction is our success. If you need to change, set up a committee, study it and make the necessary changes through feedback. If you take immediate action, it will kill the problem, but make the disease worse.

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

I want to see Oman United Insurance Company as one of the leading insurance companies in Oman, providing excellent service to its customers and staff. I won’t change in the next 10 years – I just want to see this success grow; I am satisfied with life.

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

After driving the Centennial on different kinds of roads, I have thoroughly experienced it. I would easily rate it four out of five. Why do I say that? It’s about the feeling I get of always being in control. This feeling is not just as you push the accelerator, but the technology and features ensure it is a steady, safe and comfortable car.

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

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* Source: InterNations (based on study)

1. MyanmarFormerly known as Burma, this once closed Southeast Asian nation is now opening up to tourism.

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2. MexicoA country of mountains, deserts, jungles, beaches and Aztec history.

3. PortugalSouthern European country with stunning beaches.

4. IrelandThe "Emerald Isle" is famous for its hospitality and lush rolling green hills.

5. Colombia On the northern tip of South America with rainforests, towering mountains and coffee plantations.

6. EcuadorSits on South America’s west coast and has the Amazon Jungle and Andean foothills.

10. BrazilVast South American coun-try with legendary beaches and the famous Rio Carnival.

9. Indonesia Known for its beaches, volcanoes and jungles sheltering elephants, tigers and Komodo dragons.

8. Philippines Made up of more than 7,000 islands nestled in the Western Pacific with incredible beaches and greenery.

7. OmanBreathtaking landscapes of desert, wadis, beaches and mountains with the warmest-natured people in the GCC (but we all knew that already!)

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A SECOND CHANCE

The much-awaited sequel of the 2007 hit Filipino movie One More Chance sees John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo reprise their roles of Popoy and Basha. The original film set the standard for a generation of love stories and this sequel will answer the ultimate question for fans: Did Popoy and Basha live happily ever after?

Bollywatch

Creed

This is a film that many might think shouldn’t have been made. Indeed, the common view is that the Rocky franchise should have stopped at Rocky IV. However, the series does get a bit of a shot in the arm in this latest pugilistic offering, which sees Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) agreeing to mentor Adonis Johnson, the son of his former rival in the ring, Apollo Creed. Adonis (Michael

Bridge of Spies

MOVIES MOVIESB Jordan putting in a terrific turn as the son trying to live up to the family legacy), who never met his famous father, gets a go at the world heavyweight title, but does he have the true heart of a fighter to take his chance? We all know the answer, but this is a decent addition to the Rocky films.

Blinky Bill the Movie

An adventurous young koala embarks on a journey across the wild and dangerous Australian outback in the hope of finding his missing father in this charming CGI version of a children’s book series by Dorothy Wall from 1993. While it suffers from limitations of a relatively low budget, it’s great cartoon fun with an Aussie accent and you can’t help but root for the cute battling marsupial. Voiced by Ryan Kwanten (Blinky) and the talented Toni Collette (who gives life to two emus) among others, it’s a lovely way to spend two hours with the kids or on your own for the young at heart.

PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO Like Hanks and Spielberg, Bollywood megastar Salman Khan has forged a lucrative partnership with director Sooraj Barjatya. Their fourth collaboration has reaped box office gold again, grossing a whopping two billion rupees in India in two weeks, the third of Salman Khan’s films in a row to do so. That it did so despite less than enthusiastic reviews by critics highlights how Khan’s pulling power remains as strong as ever. Here he takes on a dual role as the stern Prince Vijay who survives an assassination attempt four days before his coronation and is replaced by a good-hearted lookalike commoner, Prem, who sets out to win the heart of the princess (Sonam Kapoor).

The collaboration of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg has been a fruitful one over the years, producing such cinematic gems as Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me If You Can.

In this tension-filled drama based on true events – their fourth film together – the pair prove once again that they bring out the best in each other.

Hanks plays successful New York insurance lawyer James B Donovan, who is recruited by the CIA at the height of the Cold War to defend accused Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (excellently played by Mark Rylance). So far, so straightforward, but the stakes are raised when a US pilot is shot down in his spy plane by the Russians and suddenly Donovan is thrust into a tense game of cat and mouse to negotiate a prisoner exchange.

Hanks is in reliably fine form as an upstanding family man who sticks by his

catchphrase: “Every person matters”. Donovan is determined to see justice and, more importantly, truth prevail.

Scenes in war-torn Berlin are suitably grey and bleak, the visuals contrasting with the bright tones used when the storyline switches to the US, while Spielberg masterfully balances the story, resisting the urge to portray the two sides as hammed up enemies.

The story moves along at a comfortable pace, helped by the input of award-winning screenwriters Joel and Ethan Coen, who built on a script by up-and-coming British playwright Matt Charman.

Don’t expect thrilling twists and turns or dramatic denouements. Bridge of Spies is a powerful piece of filmmaking that tells a story, simply and beautifully, without any fuss.

Review by Kate Ginn

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LADIES WHO LUNCH

THIS WEEKD E C E M B E R

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Fancy having a sumptuous Christmas lunch with the friendly ladies from the Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO)? Book your place at the table with the WGO’s seasonal outing to the Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel. Tickets for a three-course traditional turkey lunch with all the trimmings are priced at RO17 for members and RO20 for non-members. There will also be a Christmas quiz and lucky draw. Lunch starts at 11am. For more information, visit womensguildoman.com

Willing to walk for a cause? Join the Beat Diabetes walkathon, a Landmark Group initiative, to raise awareness of the disease at Qurum Natural Park. The walk starts at 8am, but you can collect a free t-shirt and cap from 7am onwards. There’s fun for all, with music, a kid’s zone, sports zone, aerobic sessions and free blood glucose tests. Online registration is open now at beatdiabetes.me. For more information, visit axisroyal.com/events

Looking for successful business opportunities, expanding your network or just individual home requirements? The Home Show at Oman International Exhibition Centre in Seeb, Muscat, should be in your diary. Find top brands, industry experts and hundreds of ideas for both builders and homeowners, along with displays from manufacturers and suppliers of home improvement products services and innovations in home renovation. From 10am to 8.30pm daily. For more information, visit homeshow-oman.com

07 - 09DEC Ole!

Make A Home

08

Dec

Beat Diabetes

04Dec

This musical stroll through Madrid brings together highlights from the most popular zarzuelas with lively melodies and lavish costumes. Viva Madrid is a unique show celebrating the Spanish lyric tradition. Fun to watch for audiences of all ages, it is on at the Royal Opera House Muscat. The show is from 7pm on all three days, with ticket prices starting at RO10. For bookings and further information, visit rohmuscat.org.om

13DEC 14 15

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

Beat Diabetes To mark the beginning of the festive season, pop down to Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, for a magical tree lighting ceremony. Starts at 5pm in the hotel’s Atrium with the Students Christmas Choir from British School Muscat providing the musical entertainment with traditional carols. The Festive Sweets Trolley is also being wheeled out on the same day, offering holiday sweets and cookies with tea or coffee in the Atrium daily from 8am-10pm from December 10-31. For info, check out ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/AlBustan

SEE THE LIGHT10Dec

It’s time for you to shop till you drop and have fun with the family at the Meena Bazaar, Muscat’s most popular shopping fair for women presented by Platinum Events. Held at the Bahja Hall at The Jungle restaurant next to Qurum Natural Park. More than 70 stalls will be under one roof, providing an exclusive platform for home-based female entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services. There will also be a good selection of wedding dresses, jewellery, handbags, shoes and gift collections for brides. Food stalls and baked goodies also available. Open from 10am-10pm and entry is free. For more information and for booking of stalls, call 9871 3403.

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On Sunday and Monday, audiences attending the Royal Opera House Muscat were treated not so much to a classical ballet performance, but to a “choreographic poem in three acts with an epilogue”. The result was a rather disjointed series of scenes

in a curiously Ottoman style from the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, which is itself a branch of the famous Kirov, now the Mariinsky Theatre, in St Petersburg.

The Fountain is based on the 1823 poem of the same title by Alexander Pushkin and tells a dark tale of a beautiful Polish princess, Maria, her fiance, Vaslav, who is felled in battle, and her abduction to the Turkish harem of Khan Girey, the Tatar chief of Crimea – the very man who slayed her lover. Despite the subject matter, the ballet opens in a surprisingly light vein and a ball at the palace provides a fitting vehicle for pastiche performances in 18th-century costume of a lively polonaise, a romantic cracovienne and a mazurka (Polish dances) to follow. This act concludes with an escape from the burning palace – a fine piece of staging with realistic effect.

The score, composed especially for The Fountain by Boris Asafiev in 1934, is sublime and compelling. With hints of Prokofiev and Stravinsky, it provides the unifying narrative of an increasingly psychological drama. The Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra excelled in the highly rhythmic and sometimes lyrical accompaniment from the pit, under the youthful baton of Damir Maksutov. Act three draws us into Maria’s captivity in a luxurious bedchamber, danced exquisitely by Natalia Moiseeva on Monday night, and the spurned advances of Khan – a dramatic rather than dancing role that was executed full of powerful gesture by Sergei Mershin. The Khan’s favourite wife, Zarema, becomes possessed with uncontrollable jealousy and viciously plunges a dagger at Maria. This rejected woman unusually performs on her own in much of the production and she was portrayed superbly by Natalia Makina, hurled to her death from the precipice by unforgiving executioners.

The final scene, paradoxically returning to a more Russian theme at Girey’s palace, is the most balletic of the production and the male chorus gave an athletic show in the Cossack dance, intended to distract the increasingly depressed Khan. His military chief, Nurali, was danced by Taras Tovstyuk in dazzling leaps, back bends and vaults, which certainly captivated the audience, even if they failed to have the same effect on his sovereign. The thread of the plot, culminating in the haunting epilogue, is not of happiness, dancing or lovers – there were few pas de deux to recall – but the tormented mind of a melancholy prince who cannot attain love and peace despite all his wealth and fortune.

For details of forthcoming performances at the Royal Opera

House Muscat, visit rohmuscat.org.om

Georgina Benison enjoys a powerful and exotic tale of love and abduction, performed by one of Russia’s oldest ballet theatres at the Royal Opera House Muscat

THE FOUNTAIN OF BAKHCHISARAI

As achievements go, it is not one that Oman will trumpet as one of its finest moments. Sitting at 14th place in a league table of the most

obese nations in the world in a recently published survey is certainly not something to be proud of. Perhaps one consolation is that we’re not alone.

Every single one of the six Gulf Cooperation Council members make the list released by news and information

website HealthGrove, with five in the top eight fattest countries. Qatar, Kuwait

and the United Arab Emirates occupy second, third and fourth

place, alarming news for their respective health ministries.

Oman’s health crisis comes as no surprise to medical professionals and experts who are well aware of the problems, described by one expert as a “ticking time bomb”, which is likely to explode sometime around 2030 when the number of diabetics in the Sultanate is forecast to rise a staggering 124 per cent, according to the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF).

Oman is getting bigger – and we don’t mean the population. Obesity and diabetes rates are soaring, along with levels of high blood pressure and heart disease.

Oman’s vital statistics make for uncomfortable reading. An estimated 30.9

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SUPER SIZESUPER SIZE

Oman and the rest of the GCC are facing a battle to control the expanding waistlines of their populations and it’s getting worse

Report: Kate Ginn, Deeba Hasan and Matt Blackwell

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per cent of the country’s population is classified as obese. More than 37.7 per cent of Oman’s female residents tip the obesity scales, while men are not far behind at 27.7 per cent. The result is 1,400 deaths from cardiovascular diseases each year and another 1,000 lives lost due to diabetes-related illnesses.

Children growing up on fast food diets are being classed as obese as young as five years old. And high cholesterol and heart disease are seen in people in their early 20s.

You don’t need to be a doctor to realise that the state of the nation’s health is critical and those working on the frontline in Oman’s hospitals and clinics agree the current diagnosis is not good.

“Obesity has become a real problem in the modern day world, fast food is so easily available to everyone and it comes cheap,” says Dr Dhanya Umanath, an Ayurvedic medicine doctor in Muscat.

“This is why people are inclined to having junk food. It’s happening all over the world and the GCC as well, because we are not monitoring our eating habits.

“It is really important that we watch what we are eating, otherwise in a few years time this will create a huge problem.”

The challenge for Oman’s government is how to stem the tide. Aside from the personal implications, the cost of treating weight-related illnesses are taking their toll on the health of the nation’s finances. Most Omani diabetic patients have associated hypertension (high blood pressure) and obesity, and can eventually suffer from chronic conditions such as renal failure or cancers, which are costly to treat. This year, the Omani government allocated RO684 million for total medical care, most of which is for treating rather than preventing disease.

Fitness professional Dave Wentzel, 24, sees firsthand what an unhealthy lifestyle can do. He’s the head of Horizon Fitness’s Engine Room, a hardcore training programme, and is at the sharp end of getting people fit and healthy, sometimes undoing the damage that a sedentary regime has done.

“The lifestyle here is based on convenience,” he says. “People tend to go for whatever is easiest and this is increasingly the case everywhere in the world.

“People are becoming more aware of the risks of obesity here and getting more engaged, but it is happening very slowly.

“Often, it’s a matter of laziness that is stopping a lot of people. Many have never been involved in any form of physical exercise from a schooling level.

“Some of the younger people that come to the gym can hardly do anything because their school did not offer enough activity.”

Ahmed, 28, who works at one of the ministries, is a case in point. Growing up in Muscat, his unhealthy habits began as a child and continued from there.

“It all started when I was 10 years old. All I did was eat and sleep, I did not play outside like my other siblings or do any form of exercise, and I would take all my meals twice a day, so lunch twice, and dinner twice.

“I started feeling abnormal, as my weight was increasing.”

By the time he reached his early 20s, he had, in his own words, “blown up” and realised drastic action was needed.

“At 25, I consulted a doctor who asked me to have an operation to reduce the size of my stomach. I obviously had to study the risks involved and so I did not say yes immediately, but I really wanted to get lighter.”

Ahmed eventually went ahead with the operation. Three years ago he weighed in at 175kg, but is now a slimline 75kg

and happier in his body and mind. It’s not just a physical transformation, but also an emotional and psychological one.

“It was hard at first, to not be able to eat food in the amounts that I used to before, but I think it was a good decision,” says Ahmed.

“I now take my meals six to eight times a day, but in tiny quantities. My stomach can’t take beyond a certain amount of food.”

Not everyone would feel comfortable taking such dramatic steps as Ahmed, but finding the willpower to do it without help can be daunting. The task facing the government is persuading people that change is needed and to do this, it means shifting society’s attitudes and a lifestyle that has, it would seem, become part of the fabric of Omani culture.

“It’s about educating and raising awareness of better and healthier living when it comes to food and what you choose to eat,” agrees Wentzel.

“There are convenience restaurants that serve healthy food. If people were more aware of these places and what they are eating it would be helpful for them.

“I think the people who have obesity and diabetes still aren’t coming to the gym. It’s a matter of educating them that exercise can help them with these things.”

According to Dr Umanath, who works at Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala in Ruwi, a sedentary lifestyle, the seeds of which are planted in childhood, is to blame. “It is

OBESITY HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM IN THE MODERN DAY WORLD,

FAST FOOD IS SO EASILY AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE

AND IT COMES CHEAP

contributing to obesity and the diseases that come along with it,” she says.

Deepti grew up in a family of five, where standard Indian fare was served on the table. “We were always asked to finish our food on the plate and portions were decided by my parents. I doubt we learnt the concept of control or to recognise when your body is full,” she says.

“My mother is obese. I believe she, like me, uses food as comfort.”

In May 2012, Deepti reached her heaviest at 155.55kg with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 52. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

When she became pregnant, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It was the catalyst to kick-start change. “I guess it was time. I got sick of being overweight, I was sick of snide remarks and stares, I was sick of wondering if that chair could hold my weight and I wanted to be able to be there for my child without medical complications,” says Deepti.

With diet changes and exercise – walking and swimming with cardio and muscle work – she weighs a healthy 82kg today, shedding 73.5kg.

“I’ve never been happier, more confident and more in love with myself. I think I was always a thin person trapped inside a large body. It feels freeing,” she says.

Eradicating obesity in Oman and the rest of the GCC is a weighty task, she agrees

“Obesity is seeping in slowly, like mold. As we adapt and evolve with other cultures and with lifestyle changes, we are slowly eating more processed food and that’s a sad fact. The amount of garbage we put in our system is incredible and it’s not like we aren’t aware of the dangers. We just don’t care.”

Stroll around one of the mall food courts in Oman

and the myriad fast food outlets tell a story. It’s not uncommon to see toddlers in high chairs being fed chips or a burger.

“I feel really sad when I see young children eating so much junk food, I am reminded of my days as a child,” says Ahmed. “I wish parents would teach their children about the

negative impact of eating junk food; it causes so much harm to the body.”

Deepti feels the same, saying: “Every time I see a kid eating junk I want to shake them and say ‘please don’t end up like

me’. But then I realise I am projecting my issues and I shouldn’t judge anyone.”

She does, however, try to make sure her young daughter, who is in Year 1 at school, eats healthy.

“She had no idea what fizzy drinks or chocolate were until her second birthday.

Kids really don’t need all that extra salt and sugar. At the same time, I’m not going to deny her a few simple treats now and then.”

There seems a consensus that the future – and hope for Oman – rests with the children and education at a young age is key, which the government is taking on board, putting in work at grassroots level, in the schools and colleges.

For adults, the inspiration could be someone like Ahmed, who uses his need to turn surgery to press home his message.

“Now that I am in line with my weight, I want to advise people to eat right. No one wants to undergo

what I went through, it was embarrassing and painful.

“Try to stay away from an operation as far as possible, and try to reduce weight by natural

methods, exercise and a balanced diet.”

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Lee Brent Galotera, 28I used to weigh 220 pounds (99.7kg) and now I have

reduced to 165 pounds (74.8kg). It all started when I was in the United States for my studies. The studies were demanding and the university environment was full of pressure, so when I got back home, I used to order a large pizza with 40 pieces of buffalo wings. I was always looking for comfort food because of the classroom stress.

I ate a lot of greasy stuff and gained a lot of weight, which was very unhealthy. I didn’t have issues because of my weight gain immediately, but when I graduated in 2012 and moved to my home in the Philippines, it all started. I had an accident in 2012 and then I learnt that I had a fatty liver. When I did some research on it, I realised how bad it was for my body and learnt about the diseases associated with having a fatty liver, so that became my motivation to reduce. I also started getting gout attacks, so I couldn’t stand or walk properly.

From then on I started changing my diet and exercising. When I ran, my feet hurt because of the excess weight that

I had. I used to dance as well to reduce my weight and stay healthy.

I’ve been in Oman two years now and when I went back to the Philippines last year, my family was surprised to see me all slim and fit. They don’t believe it and still call me fat. I got rid of my fatty liver this year and after all my exercises and workouts, I feel fit and really good about my body. I wouldn’t say I

am there yet, because I keep changing my goals every time, just trying to be better.

I used to crave junk food, but I don’t anymore. Saying that, I think it’s good to treat yourself with comfort food once or twice a month as that increases the body’s fat burning power.

I eat a lot of veggies now and if I’m busy and on the run, I try to get a healthy sandwich.

I live in Azaiba and I run to the gym (Horizon Fitness), which is in Ghubra, work out and walk back home. It is not something obligatory for me anymore; it is more of a stress releasing exercise. I don’t think getting fit is about looking good, it’s about being happy with your overall health.

#1. Samoa#2. Qatar#3. Kuwait#4. United Arab Emirates#5. Fiji#6. Bahamas#7. Bahrain#8. Saudi Arabia#9. United States#10. Libya#11. Lebanon#12. Barbados#13. Trinidad and Tobago#14. Oman#15. Jordan#16. Turkey#17. New Zealand#18. Egypt#19. Australia#20. United Kingdom#21. Mexico#22. Canada#23. Papua New Guinea#24. Chile#25. Solomon Islands

Source: HealthGrove

TOP 25 MOST OBESE COUNTRIES

Sahara Hamayon, 25“I was 115kg until last summer,

now I have reduced to 70. I decided to reduce mainly because of the insecurities being overweight came with. I am also an emcee and sometimes when I would be doing a show, I felt like resting every five minutes. I suffered from knee pain and heart pain, which was too much for someone of my age.

However, last summer I took a conscious decision to reduce my weight and practice healthy living. After losing weight I feel so much better, my confidence levels are high and I am now exploring different fitness and sports activities that I never thought I would be able to do. I have been exercising in the Engine Room at Horizon Fitness, which is a rigorous 30-minute workout session,

and I also play sports and do martial arts. I practice Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu and am flying out of Oman for a fight next year. It feels really nice to be able to explore things that I never knew I had the ability to.

Ever since I have lost weight and become fit, I feel great. I have incorporated a lot of healthy and nutritious stuff into my diet and I eat organic and fresh food. I eat six to eight times a day, which is about every two hours. My mother has supported me a lot through it. Because I eat only steamed or grilled stuff, my mother started incorporating that in the family lunch and dinner. I am

happy that they have also been influenced and my mother has been working on her weight loss as well.

I started an Instagram account called @fitandneat, where I post about healthy eating options. I think in Oman we lack awareness about the healthy eating options that are available in restaurants. When people are heading to a burger and fries joint, they just think of it as unhealthy, but then there are healthier options on offer as well in those restaurants, which I try and tell people about.”

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RATE OF OBESITY AROUND

THE REGION:

● Afghanistan 2.9%● Egypt 28.9%● India 4.9%● Iran 26.1%● Iraq 23.8%● Jordan 30.5%● Oman 30.9%● Saudi Arabia 34.7%● Syria 23.5%● Yemen 17.2%

Source: World Health Organization (Data for 2014)

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OMAN – THE VITAL STATISTICS

● 14th in global obesity rankings

● 28.4% obesity rate in Oman in 2010● 30.9% obesity rate in Oman in 2014● 37.7% of Oman’s female residents are obese

● 27.7% of Oman’s

male residents are obese

● 30% of Omani population overweight in 2014 (according to SQU)

● 20% of Omanis obese (according to SQU)

● 1,220 adult deaths due to diabetes in 2014

● $1,068.5 cost per person with diabetes

(Oman)(Oman)

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AMG - DPS Y Magazine.pdf 1 12/1/15 1:50 PM

D E C 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 9 70 2 6

READY FORARE YOUIn Association with

Presents

Registrations have closed for

Y’s Coolest Fresher and now it’s

time for the fun part – finding

the most talented first -year

college students

Team Y has been out and about this week,

meeting first-year college students

and finding out about their special

talents that will see them enter

Y’s Coolest Fresher competition to vie for

RO3,000 worth of prizes.

Along the way, we’ve discovered there’s a

lot of college students in Muscat with that

special star quality, with talents ranging

from singing to dancing, reciting their own

poetry and playing musical instruments.

Y has been trawling 10 colleges in Muscat to

unearth talented gems among first-year students

with that “Y Factor” star-quality to win great cash

prizes or a spot on the catwalk of a fashion show.

We’ve already had lots of applications from

students eager to prove they’ve got what it takes –

and now the fun begins with auditions to be held

at each college to find the king and queen of the

campus in Muscat.Y’s Coolest Fresher is presented by

Splash, the Middle East’s largest fashion

retailer and part of the Landmark

Group, is powered by Ford Figo and is

in association with NESCAFE 3 in 1.

We’re looking for the most gifted

freshers the city has to offer. Whether

it’s a star turn in singing, dancing,

football freestyles or some other

exceptional talent, we are hoping

to see an array of skills at the

auditions.Those who impress our

judging panel and show

they have the Y

Factor could win

cash or be selected to

take part in a super cool

fashion show at the Grand

Finale. Excitement is building and we’re

expecting the standard to be high as students strut their

stuff on stage. Auditions will be held at all 10 colleges, so if

you attend any of them, come and support your fellow students

in the spotlight and cheer them on to reach the final.

But only two can ultimately win. By the end of the

competition, the male and female students will be crowned

the coolest freshers in Muscat and walk away with RO250

cash each. On top of that, they’ll have the

street cred of knowing that they are the

talk of their college. Good luck and we look

forward to seeing you at the auditions!

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Are You Cool Enough?If you attend any of the following colleges and

know anyone who is taking part in Y’s Coolest

Fresher, make sure you’re there at the auditions to

show your support and cheer them on their journey

to the Grand Finale.

1) Waljat College of Applied Sciences

2) Middle East College

3) Oman Tourism College

4) College of Banking and Financial Studies

5) Modern College of Business & Science

6) GUtech

7) International College of Engineering

and Management

8) Mazoon University College

9) National Hospitality Institute

10) Oman College of Management and Technology

● You can log on to y-oman.com for more

information on the competition, or alternatively call

9405 1770

● The auditions will be held from December 9 to

January 13

● The Grand Finale will be held at a special

venue on January 20

Ford Oman is giving away

a free iPad at each of the

10 colleges taking part in

the Coolest Fresher. All

you have to do to be in

with a chance of

winning this cool prize

is take a test drive of

the exciting new Ford

Figo at your college.

Ford will be showcasing the new Figo at

each of the colleges during the auditions and offering

test drives. Any student who takes a test drive will be entered

into a raffle to win an iPad.

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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

BETTER BRUNCHBreakfast is one of the most important meals

of the day and the weekend is the perfect time to get creative and experiment with some

great brunch ideas.

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We’re all familiar with the traditional brunch fare of strata, quiche, eggs Benedict, omelettes, scrambled eggs, toast, sausages and the like,

all of which are delicious choices. But if it’s time for a brunch reboot to wow your guests and their taste buds, Aunt Nellie’s has the perfect suggestion: baby beet and potato hash with chicken chorizo. One skillet makes one delicious brunch dish.

Chopped red-skinned potatoes and chicken chorizo seasoned with thyme, cumin and chilli powder cook into a tasty, hearty hash, but

that’s just the beginning. Bite-sized baby whole pickled beets top the hash; their homemade tangy-sweetness adding an unexpected but complementary punch of flavour and colour to the subtly spicy dish.

Serve straight from the skillet for a rustic yet impressive presentation, accompanied by juice, coffee and seasonal fruit to finish.

Visit auntnellies.com for more brunch ideas, as well as recipes for other meal occasions from soup to supper, even dessert.

* Family Features

WAKE UP

Baby Beet and Potato Hash with Chicken Chorizo

Brunch is a leisurely and festive way to start a weekend day, no special occasion needed. The main requirement is simple: great food to share with family and friends

Prep time: 15 minutesCook time: 25 minutesServes: 6

Ingredients:§ 1 jar Aunt Nellie’s Baby Whole Pickled Beets (or other brand)§ 225g chicken chorizo or breakfast sausage§ 1/2 cup chopped red onion§ 1/2 tsp salt and coarse ground black pepper§ 1 tsp ground cumin (optional)§ 1/2 tsp chipotle chilli powder (optional)§ 450g red-skinned potatoes, unpeeled, chopped (about 1/2-inch pieces)§ 2 tbsp water§ 1/2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped or 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves§ 1-2 tsp olive oil, if needed§ 6 large pasteurised eggs§ Chopped fresh thyme or parsley (optional) Method:§ Drain beets well. Pat dry. Cut larger beets in half. § Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken chorizo; cook until browned. Add onion, salt and pepper, and cumin and chilli powder, if desired. Cook another three to five minutes, or until the chicken chorizo is cooked and onion is tender, stirring frequently. Remove from skillet; reserve one tablespoon drippings from the pan and return to skillet. Set chicken chorizo aside.§ Meanwhile, place potatoes in microwave-safe bowl; add water. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave on high two to three minutes, or until almost tender. § Drain potatoes; add to skillet with thyme. Cook about five minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through, stirring occasionally, adding olive oil to skillet if necessary. § Return chicken chorizo mixture to skillet with potatoes. With spatula, press into even layer; cook three to four minutes to brown. Stir, press into layer and cook three to four more minutes to brown. Add beets to skillet. § With back of spoon, make six indentations in potato-beet mixture.

Crack eggs into small custard cup or bowl and pour into each indentation. Cover skillet; cook until eggs reach desired firmness. § Season with additional salt and pepper, as desired. Garnish with thyme or parsley, if desired.

Nutrition information per serving: § 340 calories, 17g protein, 21g carbohydrate, 19g total fat, 820mg sodium, 220mg cholesterol, 2g dietary fibre, 2mg iron, 0.32mg thiamin, 285 IU vitamin A, 4mg vitamin C.

WITH BRUNCHTHE WEEKEND

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What to do when you review a restaurant that serves up some excellent food but the service is as rotten as a piece of meat that has

gone off ? That’s the dilemma that I’m facing this week.

It had all started so well. Whenever I mentioned this steak restaurant in Bareeq Al Shatti to someone, they would inevitably reply, “I’ve heard good things about it” and although I’d not met anyone who had actually eaten there, the talk around it seemed to bode well.

Arriving on a Friday night around 8.30, we were met by a presentable waiter dressed all in black who ushered us in. As there were only a few other tables occupied, we had the pick of the choicest seats and opted for a bench between two booths, all with a mock cowhide back covering.

One side of the restaurant is open to the small mall and there are a few tables outside on the other side for al fresco dining.

Menus were quickly produced. With dark wood, glass and chrome, the décor is rustic bistro meets modern (we liked the sci-fi dome lights), creating quite an elegant feel overall.

So far, so good, we thought.Our waiter returned after we’d had a suitable

amount of time to browse a good-looking menu, extensive but not overwhelming. We dithered over the drinks and the waiter made some mocktail recommendations when asked, guiding me towards the “Shirley Temple” (a mix of

pomegranate and 7 Up), while my companion, Mr Slowcoach, went for a standard Cherry Coke.

A born and bred South African, Slowcoach was ecstatic to find boerewors, a traditional braai sausage from his homeland, in the starters selection and he wasn’t disappointed, saying the coarsely minced beef and spices, served with smoky basting sauce, was fantastic, tasting just like home. We were equally impressed with the fiery Wagyu meatballs, though a warning; these have a real kick, with a slow burn on the tongue, so be prepared.

Our drinks didn’t seem to be materialising and only came when I asked where they were. Irritating, but nothing major. For mains, they do serve salads and poultry, but we felt we had to go for red meat, given that we were in a steak restaurant. Ribeye was my choice, while Slowcoach went for the larger 500g T-bone, which was certainly a monster when it arrived, almost taking up the whole wooden board it was served on. Sides (chunky chips, jacket potato and vegetables) are extra.

If you’re a real carnivore, you can always go for the 1.3kg tomahawk, a super-sized prime rib, or the RO34.9 Wagyu ribeye.

We were told the steaks are imported from the US, from cattle fed on grass, which was evident in the wonderful meat, so tender, juicy and rich in flavour, and cooked to perfection. I could run out of superlatives to describe the meat, but it was the best that I’ve tasted in Muscat.

Sadly, the service failed to match up. No one came back to ask if we wanted dessert, even

though the restaurant was not exactly busy. The four staff seemed more intent on chatting by the bar area or standing around than serving. We had to call out to ask someone to take our order.

There was no attempt to clear the dirty plates from our table; again we had to ask. We ordered more drinks, but only on our own initiative as the waiter didn’t seem interested in upselling. The dirty plates were eventually cleaned away but not the bits of food on the table – I had to do that myself with a paper napkin.

Desserts arrived. Two chocolate fondues when we had actually asked for one fondue and one strawberry cheesecake. They brought the cheesecake and said the other fondue was on the house, as were the two coffees. The milk we had asked for was forgotten. I would have given a mark of 4/10 for service if they hadn’t waived the price of the coffees and extra fondue.

For the record, the fondue and cheesecake were just as amazing as the steaks. Such a shame, then, that the food was let down by the service, particularly given the fact it’s not the cheapest of eateries.

I’d read before going that The Steak Company prided itself on offering “excellent customer service in an intimate, friendly and relaxed environment”. There’s a bit of work to be done to achieve this from my experience.

Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at [email protected]

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

THE GREAT STEAK

Info BoxTHE STEAK COMPANY

Bareeq Al Shatti, next to Royal Opera House Muscat

Tel: 9411 6600Opening Hours: 11am-11pm

every dayDinner and mocktails for two: RO49.350 (including taxes)

Verdict :5 / 10 Service

9 / 10 Food 7 / 10 Ambience

Great food spoilt by poor service

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

MID

MARKET

WONDERFUL FOOD WITH SOME OF THE BEST MEAT TO BE FOUND IN MUSCAT IS RUINED BY CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WAS DISTINCTLY OFF, FINDS KATE GINN

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Get The Look

HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

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CASUAL MOVESIt’s time to trash the grubby

T-shirt and baggy jeans, guys. Instead, step out in

style and retain that much-loved comfort level in a

pair of skinny jeans and an edgy checked shirt – after

all, it’s the weekend!

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Get The Look

From the high end to the high street,

Felicity Glover helps you to get the look

1. Find a style of jeans that suit your body shape. While trends come and go, a classic boot cut is sometimes best. 2. Avoid anything distressed and large logos on the back pockets – unless you want to look like you are still in school. 3. Jeans can be dressed up or down; pair an unbuttoned checked shirt with a stylish T-shirt for a more casual look or team a classic white T-shirt with a blazer for a sharper look.

Rock theHOW TO WEAR

You can’t go wrong with a pair of Aviator sunglasses. This blue mirror pair from Bailey Nelson London is a playful interpretation of the original design. From RO56.9

These brown suede Bermuda loafers by Dune are perfect for weekends. Teamed with a pair of jeans with the cuffs rolled up, it’s a bang on trend look being seen everywhere. From RO37.7

These dark blue jeans by Next suit any occasion and can be dressed up with a jacket or blazer if needed. Just remember to roll down the cuffs. From RO26

The weave belt is a classic weekend touch, especially this one from Next that features a touch of burgundy. From RO11.6

A fitted checked shirt is a must-have in every guy’s wardrobe. This one from M&S is not only subtle, but also stylish. From RO14.5

Find your inner lumberjack in this North Coast long sleeve buffalo check shirt by M&S. From RO20.3

weekend

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

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

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

AGEING Y helps you to find a skincare routine that suits your age

GRACEFULLY

When you’re constantly bombarded with messages and news about the latest anti-ageing treatments and methods, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How can you maintain a skincare routine

when the rules seem to be ever-changing? It might be simpler than you think. By separating the hype from reality, you can come up with a core skincare routine to perfectly suit the skin you’re in.

“As you age, your skin changes,” says Dr Jeanine Downie, board-certified dermatologist from Image Dermatology PC in the US. “When it comes to supporting skin and its care, women [and men] need to understand that ageing is complex and it varies greatly by individual. Genetics, tanning and smoking also influence the health of your skin.” She also notes that with skincare, there are a range of choices to consider, such as topicals, injectables, cosmetic treatments, surgery and even oral anti-ageing skincare supplements. Additionally, Dr Downie says it’s important to adjust your skincare routine throughout the years – what worked in your and 20s may not have your skin glowing into your 30s and beyond.

Many women don’t know where to start. They don’t know what types of anti-ageing skincare products might be right for them and what the choices are when it comes to these products.

Dr Jeanine provides her tips for ageing beautifully from your 20s to 50s and each decade in between:

20s: Preserve and protect. It’s never too early to start ageing prevention. Hectic schedules, late nights out and days spent on the beach can wreak havoc on your skin. This stress shows up in the form of dark circles, under-eye bags, and dull or puffy skin. Fine lines begin to creep up as early as your late 20s, so a quality skin care routine is key. Start with a glycolic acid

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based cleanser and an oil-free moisturiser. Dr Downie recommends a separate sunscreen with an SPF 30 or above, rain or shine, January through December, regardless of your ethnicity. Sunscreen only works if you reapply it every two hours, according to skincancer.org. Sun protection forms the foundation of any anti-ageing skincare plan, according to the American Academy of Dermatology and The Skin Cancer Foundation, as the sun’s rays make our skin age more quickly – so regular use of daily sun protection is essential at all ages.

30s: Exfoliate. Once you hit your 30s, your skin’s natural exfoliation process begins to slow down. The growth factor in your skin also decreases. This means that you start to lose a teaspoon of collagen from your face every year by the time you are 30. Continue with your glycolic acid base cleanser. You also need an oil-free make-up remover. Using an eye cream both day and night might help to increase moisture and suppleness around the eye area. Dr Downie recommends a dual-pronged approach to help address some of the first signs of ageing using topicals plus

Imedeen Derma One, an anti-ageing oral supplement that provides nutrients from within, targeted to the dermal skin layers where creams and lotions can’t reach. This supports hydration and helps to create a radiant glow.

40s: Strengthen. As you enter your 40s, your estrogen levels begin to change, resulting in dryer and thinner skin. Anti-ageing products and creams with ingredients like retinoids and peptides are must-haves and always make sure to apply sunblock. Moisturise with serums containing growth factors and hyaluronic acid. Exfoliate using a gentle face cleansing brush to help get rid of dead skin cells. Be sure to extend your skincare down to your neck and décolleté (upper chest) area. There are specifically formulated products to soothe and ease discoloration in this area. While you work hard to care for your skin on the outside, add Imedeen Time Perfection. This age-adjusted anti-ageing supplement formula helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, so add it to your daily routine to nourish your skin from within. Nourishment from within supports the whole body, including the back of hands and upper chest.

50s: Beyond Hydration and Prevention. You should already be on a steady anti-ageing regimen. As soon as you count 50 candles on your birthday cake, moisturising should be your top skincare priority. Look for products with retinoids, peptides, alpha hydroxy and amino acids. You should be keeping vigilant with your sunscreen and moisturisers. You could always consider laser treatment surgery, Botox with filler or other non-invasive treatments. Imedeen Prime Renewal, the anti-ageing skincare formula for women 50 and older, is a dietary supplement that helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and age spots as it protects and repairs the skin, stimulating collagen production, and is a convenient addition to your daily skincare routine.

Most importantly, Dr Downie says true beauty comes from within, so embrace your age throughout your life. Try to avoid excessive sun exposure (and indoor tanning as these rays may accelerate skin ageing), moisturise daily and consider an anti-ageing oral supplement. Exercise, eat healthy foods, don’t forget to get enough sleep (it’s called beauty rest for a reason) and if you smoke, stop.

Follow this guide and take steps to shift you skincare routine throughout the decades to feel as beautiful as you look – both inside and out.

In addition to Dr Downie’s dermatology practice, she is also a paid researcher for the Imedeen product line. For more information about Imedeen, visit Imedeen.com.

* BPT

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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

EMPTY-HANDEDThe waters around Sifah teem with life,

but choppy seas reduce visibility on this occasion, with the fish eluding their would-be

hunter.

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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

SIFAH BEACH MAKING THE HOUR-LONG JOURNEY TO SIFAH BEACH, SHAQUEL

AL BALUSHI FINDS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A SPOT OF CAMPING

With a bright full moon hanging low in the sky and a scattering of stars providing nearly as much light as the sun, I was

able to encapsulate what I love about Sifah beach.

A wooden fishing boat was to the left and our organised camp on the right and in that moment I was glad of the last-minute change of location our group had decided on. The aim of my most recent Destination was to capture the essence of a proper camping trip and I think I just about managed to succeed.

The original plan was to head to an island just off the coast of Quriyat, but the local fisherman had advised us against the journey due to rough seas. Eventually, our party settled on a slightly lesser know part of the beach in Sifah, just down from the Sifawy Boutique Hotel and the Jebel Sifah complex.

The area we’d chosen was slightly stonier than our usual spot, but it was also flatter, which made for a simpler drive. There were three saloons and three four-wheel drives in our convoy, carrying 11 people in total and a weekend’s worth of provisions.

With most of the group arriving as darkness descended on Thursday evening, there wasn’t much exploring to be done and we set about establishing the perimeter of our camp with lit torches. Next came the unloading of the vehicles, with mats, gazebos, tents, pots, pans and camping stoves all pouring out.

On the menu were traditional Balushi dishes of barbecued marinated meats on skewers, fish and rice dishes. One member of the group was a chef at one of Muscat’s hotels and was able to rustle us up some mouth-watering, tasty treats.

We finished our meal with some tea brewed

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Camping spots on Sifah beach are easy to find. Head towards Yiti and follow the signs for Jebel Sifah. Enter the complex and go right at the third roundabout. Drive past the apartment buildings and the beach will be on your left. Choose the most suitable looking site.

GPS location of our camping spot: N23° 23’ 47.87” E58° 48’ 12.737”TR

AVEL

GUI

DE

HOW TO GET THERE

with cardamom and talked the evening away. The group had come together from around Muscat, but we have all been friends for a long time and swapped stories of work and marriage for hours. I was on the receiving end of a lot of advice with my own wedding approaching on the horizon.

Breakfast was eggs cooked the Canadian way by one member of the party who was born and raised there, after which I could explore our surroundings a bit more.

The section of Sifah beach we found ourselves on was a long thin stretch, broken up by a few rocky outcrops that reached out into the sea. Crabs scuttled to and fro along the craggy rocks, washed over by the occasional foam of the surf, and the area was the perfect spot for snorkelling.

An intrepid pair ventured into the water with the hope of catching some fish or squid for lunch. The waves were nearly as high as them, which made visibility poor beneath the water and ultimately they came back empty-handed, but still smiling.

We enjoyed the tranquillity of the beach most of the day, occasionally sharing the area with families and other groups of friends coming to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, complete with camping chairs and barbecues.

Just before sunset on Friday, we started to think about heading home. As we began packing away our equipment and collecting all our rubbish someone mentioned about staying another night, which was very tempting, but unfortunately I had an assignment that needed covering back in Muscat, so had to decline.

This was my first camping trip of the season; an amazing experience made all the more pleasant by mild temperatures and a cool breeze, and I can’t wait for many more over the months to come.

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

Kate Ginn watches the first Oman Skate Championship as hundreds of rollerbladers showcase their skills in a unique setting

In a blur of motion, Mohammed al Abdulsalam takes a perfect line on a tricky corner at the go-kart track at the Oman Automobile Association, before streaking down the home straight to take the tape and victory in front of the cheering crowd.

The track in Seeb is used to similar scenes on an almost daily basis, but this time there was a difference. Mohammed was not navigating the bends in a go-kart, but skating round the track under his own steam on rollerblades taking part in the Oman Skate Championship, the first event of its kind in the Sultanate organised to harness the growing skate scene.

Crossing the finishing line, Mohammed dropped to the track, exhausted but elated after the gruelling 8km race. “It was so difficult because it was too long and hot,” says Mohammed, dripping with sweat and with a wide smile on his face.

“I didn’t count the laps, I just kept skating until they said it was time to stop. I just tried to enjoy my skating. I’m really so excited – and tired!”

Mohammed is no stranger to the sport, having been skating for almost four years, practicing in the park and around the beach, or even at home, basically wherever there’s enough space.

It turned out later that Mohammed didn’t win after all as he received some time penalties for crossing over the perimeter line while skating round the track and was overtaken in the final timings (for the record his time was a little over 25 minutes).

Still, he seemed to enjoy the taking part, which is what really counted.Mohammed certainly wasn’t the only one. More than 100 skaters

turned up to compete in the event at the weekend, which was organised by Excellence Performance, a company set up to encourage Omani youth to take part in sports through events. They were responsible for the first ever Oman’s girls cross country race in Mussanah in October.

“When we spoke to the Ministry [of Sports Affairs] about getting a dedicated space for the kids to skate, they said to prove that there is demand and I think we have proved that today,” says Rashid Ibrahim al Kindi, founder and executive director of Excellence Performance.

“There is nothing for them in Oman. If you go to Natural Park [in Qurum] they are distracting families from having fun. They need their own space.

“With this event, we wanted to show that there is a need and also to give the kids a chance to have some fun in a safe environment.”

More than 81 rollerblade enthusiasts were on the starting line for the 8km race – eight laps of the go-kart track – while around 46 registered for the 3km fun race, including al Kindi’s daughter, Raned, who, at six years old,

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was one of the youngest competitors.“I like to go fast,” she says, kitted out in her

pink rollerblades [with stabiliser], complete with matching pink elbow and kneepads. Her mother says she’s told her not to go too fast. Raned completes the race without any mishaps.

Rollerblading, also known as inline skating, is not a new sport or trend in Oman but it’s certainly growing with a hardcore group in Muscat, who can often be seen practicing in places like Seeb, Al Khuwair and Amerat.

A bunch have even got together to form Oman Boys Skater (OBS), a group that also has female members and is dedicated to raising awareness of the sport in the Sultanate.

The sport’s appeal extends beyond the capital to Sur and Samail.

Mohammed, 18, gracefully glides up to the rest area to check over his skates before the start. A student from Middle East College in Muscat, he’s a big skating fanatic, as is his friend Mazen. “I can get up to speeds of around 15kph,” he says.

These are not the old-style skates with two front and two rear skates that older readers might be familiar with, but sleek, streamlined inline skates with the wheels arranged in a single row, originally developed for use by a Russian ice skater while training on solid ground for Olympic long track speeding events. Mohammed’s pair cost RO30, but prices can soar to more than RO200 for skates designed for speed or tricks. “I love the sense of freedom when you skate,” says Mohammed. “You feel free. It’s amazing.”

Age, it seems, is no hindrance to being a skater either, with 40-year-old Assim al Rashdi taking his place on the track

alongside much younger competitors.“I haven’t done any skating for a while, so I was

acting as a beginner,” he says after finishing the 8km.

“I really enjoyed it. Everyone kept calling me ‘uncle’ and they respected me.”

Unlike the younger skaters, Assim hasn’t even broken sweat.

“Some people here said, ‘He doesn’t know how to skate’, but it was harder for them.

“I do cycling long distance, so I’m used to endurance. I go out on the bike twice a week and I also go to the gym. I don’t even feel tired.”

Also out with something to prove was Balqees, who wanted to show that girls can be top skaters.

“Skating is my life,” she says. “I started when I was five. I used to skate for fun and then about four years ago, it became serious.”

Balqees, 17, is a member of OBS and says proudly: “I can skate as good as the boys.”

There have been falls – she broke a hand – but shrugs it off, saying: “You have to fall

to learn to get up. It’s dangerous but you just have to practice, just like any sport.”

Her passion is trick skating; skating through small cones, which is a test of

skill, precision and balance.“We hope this will encourage the

sport,” says Ahmed, a fellow member of OBS. “We want to show the government that we really need a skate park.”

Judging by the success of this event, they should get their wish soon.

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TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO:1. Enjoy a horse-drawn tour of Old Town 2. Make the journey to visit Auschwitz3. Enjoy some traditional Polish food4. Go for a stroll along the river5. Sample the famous Krakow nightlife

STEP BACK IN TIMEA walk around

Krakow’s Old Town is like being transported back in history, with beautiful medieval

buildings and majestic horse-drawn carriages.

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

My favourite place The Historic Centre of Krakow is a Unesco World Heritage Site and offers some spectacular sights from soaring churches to national monuments, as well as Europe’s largest medieval market square. The Main Square is the beating heart of this historic district and is often filled with florists and traditional food vendors. Picturesque bars and cafés line the edge of the square offering a variety of Polish delicacies (look out for the potato pancakes and traditional Polish dumplings called pierogi), but you will pay a (small) premium for dining on the edge of the square, with cheaper eateries just waiting to be discovered down narrow side streets. Horse-drawn carriages also dot the the square, offering a leisurely way to take in the impressive surroundings.

Highlights If time is of the essence on your trip and you don’t quite have time for a meandering horse-drawn journey, flag down one of the small golf cart-like vehicles that zip around for a whistle stop tour of Krakow’s key sights. Prices are reasonable and the amount of stops can be negotiated to suit your tastes. The picturesque Wawel Castle is well worth a visit, as is the factory of Oskar Schindler, who saved the lives of thousands during World War Two. Taking the short train ride west to Auschwitz, one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps of the Second World War, is a harrowing but worthwhile trip, if only to have a moment of reflection on the atrocities that were committed there. A unsettling silence now falls over the area and even the birdsong has to be artificially created and played over a tannoy system occasionally. If you’re something of a night owl, you certainly won’t be strapped for a choice of lively bars and restaurants, as Krakow offers hundreds, often within close proximity of one another.

Lowlights As Poland is not part of the Euro, prices of everything from food and drink to accommodation are significantly lower than its European neighbours. The knock-on effect of this is that Krakow has become a popular weekend getaway for crowds of rowdy twentysomethings, often celebrating stag or hen parties. As a result, something of the city’s charm can be lost as the evening draws in and the revellers come out to play.

Souvenirs Traditional souvenirs include dolls clad in the regional folk costume, but needlework, pottery, wooden toys, metal works and colourful blankets all make for great keepsakes, as do the miniature versions of famous landmarks and buildings. All these and more can be easily found in and around the Old Town.

Where to stay As the numbers of tourists that flock to the city increase, so too does the price of accommodation. However, coming from Oman, the exchange rate is likely to be favourable. All the usual chains can be found close to the centre and there are some little gems in the Old Town, such as Hotel Copernicus and Hotel Wentzl. Hostels are also available for those on a tighter budget and quality apartments can be rented if visiting in a larger group, as I was.

KRAKOW, POLANDMatt Blackwell recommends

If t h e t e m p e r a t u r e s i n M u s c a t a r e n ’ t c o o l i n g f a s t e n o u g h fo r y o u r l i k i n g , t h e n m a y b e a t r i p t o t h e p e r p e t u a l l y c h i l l y P o l a n d c o u l d b e i n o r d e r . W i t h a v e r a g e s u m m e r h i g h s o f j u s t 1 9 d e g r e e s

C e l s i u s a n d t h e m e r c u r y f r e q u e n t l y d r o p p i n g b e l o w z e r o i n w i n t e r , t h i s E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n c o u n t r y c e r t a i n l y p r o v i d e s s o m e t h i n g o f a c o n t r a s t t o t h e S u l t a n a t e .

T o p o f m y l i s t fo r a v i s i t w a s K r a k o w , o n e o f P o l a n d ’ s o l d e s t c i t i e s , w i t h a h i s t o r y t h a t c a n b e t r a c e d b a c k t o t h e 7 t h c e n t u r y . I f t h e l e g e n d s a r e t o b e b e l i e v e d , t h e c i t y w a s fo u n d e d fo l l o w i n g t h e d e f e a t o f a d r a g o n , b u t e v e n s c e p t i c s c a n n o t d e n y t h e m y t h i c a l a t m o s p h e r e t h a t p e r m e a t e s P o l a n d ’ s s e c o n d - l a r g e s t c i t y , p r e d o m i n a n t l y t h a n k s t o a n a b u n d a n c e o f m e d i e v a l a r c h i t e c t u r e .

B u i l t o n t h e b a n k s o f t h e V i s t u l a R i v e r , t h e c i t y h a s e x p a n d e d o v e r t h e y e a r s t o b e c o m e a n i m p o r t a n t e c o n o m i c h u b , b u t r e t a i n s e n o u g h q u a i n t c h a r m t o m a k e i t a h i t w i t h t o u r i s t s f r o m a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d .

WAWEL CASTLE AND VISTULA RIVER

BIGOS (HUNTER’S STEW)

MAIN ENTRANCE TO AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP

D e s t i n a t i o n O u t d o o r s Y - F i C a r s

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

Y - F IP o s t c a r d s f r o m D e s t i n a t i o n

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TODDLER TECH

EDITO

R’S PI

CK MAGIC MIRRORAS FAR AS KIDS’ TV PROGRAMMES GO, IN THE NIGHT GARDEN IS A FIRM FAVOURITE FOR LITTLE ONES AND THIS MAGIC MIRROR WILL DEFINITELY AMUSE. SUITABLE FOR TODDLERS, THE IN THE NIGHT GARDEN MAGIC MIRROR HAS TWO MODES: DISCOVERY AND QUIZ, BOTH OF WHICH HELP THEM LEARN NUMBERS AND COLOURS. THEY'LL LOVE SINGING ALONG TO THE ORIGINAL SONGS, BUT IT'S THE MIRROR THAT'S PARTICULARLY CLEVER, AS THE SHOW’S CHARACTERS MAGICALLY APPEAR IN IT ALONGSIDE YOUR CHILD’S REFLECTION. AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.CO.UK FROM RO14.01.

DANCING KIDDoes your toddler love music? If so, the SweetPea3 2GB MP3 player is the gadget for them. It’s lead-free and specifically designed for little hands and rough play. It comes with pre-downloaded songs and stories and there’s also space for extra downloads. The SweetPea3 is compatible with Macs and PCs and the three buttons make it easy for little ones to navigate through their playlists and pick their favourite tunes or story. Perfect for preserving the peace and quiet on road trips. Available at sweetpeatoyco.com from RO38.43.

BLOOMING SNAPPERYou don’t want to miss a single precious moment of your baby’s life, but as they get older, you might find them becoming curious about your costly digital camera. Encourage their interest with the VTech-Kidizoom Spin & Smile Digital Camera, which offers a great introduction to photography. The durable and fun camera has 4X digital zoom, 2.0 megapixels and 256MB of internal memory with an SD card slot in case extra storage is needed. Available at amazon.com from RO18.10.

If you have a tech savvy toddler at home laying claim to your gadgets, you will definitely want to check out these child-friendly options says

Matthew Herbst

MINI PRINTSThe Little Printer was specially designed with little people in mind. Just link this up to your phone and you can schedule messages and puzzles that will print out on bits of paper when your busy bees press the button. Available at bergcloud.com/littleprinter from RO116.22.

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App of the Week

LEGO DUPLO TRAINLego’s Duplo Train is a sweet animated kids' activity app that lets your toddler build and drive their own toy train. Your child takes the role of a train engineer, choosing what carts to bring along, as well as playing simple mini-games, as the train makes its journey. Free for iOS and Android.

TECH FINGERSIf you child has taken a liking to the TV remote and you’re worried that their tendency to channel surf may lead them to inappropriate content, you’ll be pleased to hear that Sony has created the RM-KZ1 Universal Kids TV Remote. This innovative device has hidden buttons for easy parental programming, meaning your kids will only be able to watch what you deem appropriate. The remote works with most TV and cable boxes and is splash resistant. Available at amazon.com from RO3.85.

The first LeapPad was last year’s big gift for little people. This year,

the LeapPad2 looks set to recreate the trend. It’s a battery-powered tablet that is far less breakable and easier to hold than the iPad and other “grown up” products. It has a camera, educational apps and games, meaning your tablet should be safe from little hands. Available

at leapfrogstore.co.uk from RO52.55.

NEW LEAPFROG LEAPPAD2

LEAP FORWARDIs it a constant struggle to keep your toddler away from your laptop? Leapfrog has created the perfect solution: My Own Leaptop. Designed to look and function like a real laptop, this child-friendly version is the perfect introduction to technology for them. It features email, music playlists, blog icons and games that provide an introduction to animals, music and the alphabet. Available at leapfrog.com from RO6.91.

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The 2016 Volvo XC90 sets the bar high when it comes to a comfortable and stylish SUV driving experience, finds Matt Blackwell

I would have to go back 15 years for my last experience of a Volvo. One of my grandparents used to drive a

1980s model; a faithful machine with the structural integrity of a tank, which was eventually retired from use after many years of loyal service.

Leaping forward into 2016 and everything has changed. It’s fair to say that I was out of touch with the brand, which only made my experience with the 2016 XC90 all the more enjoyable.

Outside, it looked chunky and utilitarian, in keeping with stereotypes surrounding the Swedish carmaker, but the interior was like a world of luxury. Mine for the day was the XC90 Inscription, one of five trims available and second only to the range-topping Excellence.

What first grabbed my attention – and held it for the duration of our time together – was the portrait-format 12.3-inch centre display. As with most cars, this is where you control the navigation, media and climate control, but what I found so impressive was that it was all touchscreen, like a miniature tablet. With the flick of a wrist I was flitting between scrolling through my phone’s messages (connected via Bluetooth) and key car information such as tyre pressure and so on.

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to the interior styling of the XC90 that I can’t really put into words. From the smallest of touches, like a sleek-looking rear view mirror to generous usage of leather and wood, it all spoke of chic indulgence.

Sitting atop 20-inch alloy wheels, I felt in a suitably commanding position as I travelled up and down Sultan Qaboos highway, with an impressive array of technical sensors delivering numerous alerts and warnings, such as lane departure and blind spot information.

As for the drive itself, it was smooth and pleasant no matter the quality of the road surface I found myself on. The two-litre engine provided enough punch for the XC90 to hold its own in the fast lane, although we’re not talking any kind of throw-you-back-in-your-seat exhilarating acceleration here.

Although not specifically geared for off-road driving, you can select between different drive modes, including one for looser surfaces like sand or gravel. Despite not being a serious rough rider, the XC90 managed to negotiate the mini dunes close to Al Mouj Muscat just fine during a slight detour back to Y HQ via Seeb beach.

Calling the office to check in on my travels, the XC90’s Bluetooth

calling system proved to be of a great quality, with the audio crisp and clear at both ends. What perhaps is even more impressive is that the voice recognition software was able to pick out my commands first time, with no trouble whatsoever.

The audio system was another feature that seriously impressed me, delivering great sound, even when playing through an AUX cable, as I was. You can also play your tunes through USB, Bluetooth or even good old CD if you wish.

Unfortunately I never got the chance to fully utilise the Park Assist Pilot, a mind-blowing feature that actually parallel parks the car for you in even the tightest of spots, but the Park Assist Camera did come in handy several times.

Safety is one of Volvo’s primary concerns, which is admirable, but I must admit I found the several second pause in the music every time I travelled just one kilometre an hour over the speed limit (no matter what the limit was) a little grating. But apart from this, I really have nothing negative to say about the XC90. It blew away my out-dated preconceptions of Volvo and replaced them with admiration for a thoroughly modern brand with some impressive technological extras.

LED Headlamps Power operated tailgate 20-inch alloy wheels Power parking brake Parking Assist Pilot Lane Departure Warning Leather seats 12.3-inch driver display Active bending lights Power driver seat with memory

function Power passenger seat Panoramic sunroof with power

operation

They say: “Be impressed, quite

simply”

We say: “I am, don’t worry”

Volvo XC90 T6 InscriptionSpecifications:

Engine: 2.0L 4 CylinderHorsepower: 320

Transmission: 8-speed automatic gearbox

0-100kph: 6.5 secondsTop Speed: 230kph

Price: RO24,995

CARS ANDADVENTURES

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

NowBREWING... SALALAH BEACH RESORT

Qurum (Fun Zone) I Muscat Grand Mall I Al Mouj, Muscat (The Walk) Knowledge Oasis, Muscat (Facility Building) I Salalah Beach Resort, Salalah

/GJCOman /gloriajeansoman /gloriajeansoman

Y Magazine #397, December 3, 2015

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Transcript of Y Magazine #397, December 3, 2015