hi weekly - january 8, 2016

A ZANZIBARI RESTAURANT IN GHUBRA OFFERS A RICH

TASTE OF THE PAST PAGE 20

PICK A GYMYou’re fi nally ready to commit, but with a growing number of fi tness centre options in Muscat, how do you choose? We rounded up the best of the bunch to help you decide. PAGE 18

UPGRADE YOUR MAN BAGFeel like a boss on Sunday morning when you return to the offi ce sporting a presidentially popular Leather & Lather bag. PAGE 10

THISWEEK IN

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FROM MOMBASA

TOMUSCAT

VOL 10 ISSUE 2 / JANUARY 8, 2016

MEET A RISING STAROne of the darlings of the Muscat art scene, Riham Noor Al Zadjali sees art as a means for insighting global change. PAGE 24

H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 2J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 604

FounderEssa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali

ChairmanMohamed Issa Al Zadjali

CEOAhmed Essa Al Zedjali

Chief Executive EditorScott Armstrong

Executive Features EditorFelicia Campbell

Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta

EditorHubert Vaz

Senior EditorsT. A. Ameerudheen

Faisal Mohammed Naim

Chief Sub-EditorsMohammed Shafeeqe, Ashish Dubash

Online EditorMahran Shaukat Ali

Multimedia Editorial AssistantsShruthi Nair, Asmaa Al Balushi, Salim Hamood Al Aafifi

Chief Creative OfficerAdonis Durado

Associate Art DirectorWaleed Rabin

Graphic EditorAntonio Farach

Design EditorSahir K.M.

Lead DesignerAli Jani

DesignersAntonio Ismael Sandiego

Geri Batara SonnyGregory Fernandez

Director of Digital TelevisionJoe Morrison

PhotographyMMG Photographers

Chief Sales OfficerRichard Pakenham

Head Of Advertising & MarketingAziz K. Baker

Production ManagerShafi Shaik

On The CoverPhotography by Salim Hamood Al Afifi

Design by Ali Jani

For general inquiries or comments:[email protected]

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H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 2J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6 05

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Tell us what you’re doing this weekend:

Tweet us @HiWeekly_Oman; tag us in your weekend

instagram photos @hiweekly_oman;

or share with us on FB/hiweekly

08 09THURSDAY

11.00 am Head to the Track

Go and see The Rotax Max Challenge (RMC)

competition, a motor sport race for karts where top

RMC drivers from Oman and UAE will compete.

Oman Automobile

Association

+968 2451 0239

omanauto.org

FRIDAY SATURDAY

THE WEEKEND

LINEUP Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

7.30 pm Get ZenLearn about a form of

meditation that relaxes the mind and nurtures a healthy

balance between inner and outer worlds during a

complimentary class at Raj Yoga Centre from 7.30 to

9pm.Raj Yoga Centre

Villa No. 3743

2950 Way, Rex Road

+968 2478 2924

rajayogaoman.org

07 6.00pm Watch an Electronic Sports Match

For the first time in Oman Red Bull is venturing into the

world of E-Sports with Red Bull Player One gaming matches.

The top 16 will compete live in final matches at Vox in Seeb.

VOX Cinemas

City Centre Muscat, Seeb

redbull.com/playeroneoman

7.00pm Enjoy Indian Raga Take in melodies from

the Indian Raga tradition performed by Anoushka

Shankar, daughter of sitar player Ravi Shankar, at Royal

Opera House Muscat. +968 2440 3300

rohmuscat.org.om

Geek-Out Over Plastic

Check out the latest technology and machinery

for the production of plastics, rubber, chemicals, printing and

packaging at the 3rd Oman Plast 2016 exhibition.

Oman International

Exhibition Centre

+968 2478 8804

silverstaroman.com


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Going out of town to

see any of these events? Tag us on Instagram

@hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on

facebook.com/hiweekly

Broadcasting the best events in the GCC (January 7, 8, 9)

K H A L E E J I H A P P E N I N G S

FIVETO TRY ANDROID at AL ALAWI

INSTITUTEMaster the art of mobile App

creation using web-based technologies in a 5-day training course from 8am to 3:30pm in

Azaiba, 18th November Street, +968 2449 5526; trainingatc.net

COMPUTER COURSES

[email protected]

ADOBE at VOXLABPerfect your creative abilities in

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign in classes held Sunday

to Thursday, 8:30am to 1pm at Al Hamra House, first floor, MSQ,

+968 2469 3003; voxlaboman.com

MAC OS at POLYGLOT INSTITUTE

Acquaint yourself with Apple’s operating system with a 20-hour

course, from 4 to 6pm or 6 to 9pm, Sunday to Thursday at

Tamimah Complex, Wattayah,+968 2466 6666; pi.om

LINUX at OHI TRAINING ACADEMY

Learn the fundamentals of Linux operating system in a 10-day

course,7:30am to 2:30pm, Sunday toThursday, at Dohat Al Adab

Street, Al Khuwair,+968 2439 7900; iitcoman.com

MS OFFICE PRO (MOS) at PIONEER INSTITUTE

Perk up your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint knowledge from

Sunday to Thursday 8am to 4pm or 3 pm to 7 pm at Al Nahdha

Tower 2, Ghala, +968 2411 7370; pioneerinstitutes.com

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Thursday, January, 07 Beauty And The Beast (Dubai)

Ever watched your favourite Disney characters live on stage? Now you can. Be a part of Disney favourite “Beauty and the Beast”, as the award-winning original Broadway musical comes to Dubai for the very first time. The elaborate theatrical production will run until January 9 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. +971 4338 8125

dubaicalendar.ae

01

Saturday, January 9The Hunt: Princely Pursuits in

Islamic Lands - Art Exhibition (Qatar)Visit Museum of Islamic Art from 12pm-8pm to celebrate the final day of The Hunt exhibition, which explores the rich Islamic portrayal of the sport of hunting, feasting, and fighting with collections from Qatar and Turkey. Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)

+974 4422 4444

mia.org.qa

Thursday, January, 07 Fit 4 life Fitness Retreat (Bahrain)

Get active, back into shape, and work towards to make positive choices about your health and fitness with the all-inclusive fitness retreat programme running from January 7 to 14, 16:30 onwards at Amwaj Islands.

+973 3965 2007

[email protected]

02

Friday, January, 8 Giant Duathlon Race (Abu Dhabi )

Aimed at athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, from beginners to finely tuned athletes, this series is even open to children. You can race as many times you want. Events begin at 7:15am at the Hamdan

Sports Complex.

+971 4306 2666

premieronline.com

03

Saturday, January, 09 Roof Top Movie: Wild (Kuwait)

Cinemagics is organising free events that bring filmmakers and audiences together to increase the public’s appreciation for the art of film-making. Enjoy director Jean-Marc Vallee’s masterpiece at 7:30pm at Old Salmiya (on the rooftop of

Xcite and LG) on Salem Al Mubarak Street.

+965 2572 0945

cinemagics.com

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H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 2J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 608 Where did you escape to this weekend?

Show us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it

on facebook.com/hiweekly

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Drive three hours north to the border

town of Buraimi, a small city that’s rich

in history. Wander around its forts and

markets, find treasures in its antique shops,

and feel like an archaeologist on a dig at the

5,000-year-old, pre-Islamic tombs of the

Umm Al Nar civilisation.

W E E K E N D E S C A P E

EXPLORE THE TOMBS, FORTS, AND ANCIENT MARKETS OF

B U R A I M ISTORY OLGA AYMERICH


SATURDAY09:00 After breakfast, go explore the pre-Islamic tombs of the Umm Al Nar (The Mother of Fire) civilisation. You can spot them from the road just after the Toyota Service Centre; little mountains made of rocks. Climb up the hill to have a closer look at these untouched 5,000-year-old family tombs. (Coordinates 24”16’50.7”N - 55”48’39.6”E )

11:00 Continue on to the open souq in front of Al Hila Fort. Villagers from outside of Buraimi gather at the old souq, sit-ting on the floor, chatting and selling specialties like samak mujafaf (dried fish), giving it a particular charm.

13:00 Explore the Al Hila Fort. Built in the 16th century, the fort is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors. The panoramic view from the roof, which overlooks the neighbouring city of Al Ain, is a must-see.

15:00 Drive an hour south and stop in Sohar for a seafood lunch at Dhow Marina Restaurant (+968 2204 6999, dhow-marina.com) before your final two hour drive home. —[email protected]

FRIDAY07:30 Yallah, wipe the sleep out of your eyes and hit the road early. Head north towards Sohar and immediately after the city take the road to Buraimi.

10:30 As you enter Buraimi from the main road, you will see Jazmine Mall, get your caffeine fix at the modernly decorated Take and Test coffee shop.

11:00 Continue down the road to visit the Al Khandaq Fort, a military fortification square whose towers and main doors are embellished with stylish geometric designs.

12:00 The four buildings of the Buraimi Souq sit just in front of the Al Khandaq Fort. From fruits and vegetables to clothes and furniture, everything is available in this patio-style market. Don’t miss the handicrafts aisle of traditional pottery, baskets, and miniature versions of the traditional Omani Burqa mask.

14:00 Check-in at the Buraimi Hotel (+968 2564 2010, al-buraimihotel.com). The rooms are dated, but clean, and the ho-tel features gardens, a swimming pool, and a lounge. Have lunch and relax, Buraimi is a ghost town from 14.00 to 17.00.

17:00 When the sun goes down, go for a stroll around the deli-cately illuminated Buraimi Sultan Qaboos Mosque.

18:00 Continue walking to Fort Antique shop, just in front of Al Khandaq Fort. Shop for old coins, dresses, and swords.

20:00 Sit outside and have a leisurely dinner at Alhan Al Sharq Turkish restaurant (+968 2565 2226). The specialty is grilled quail, but they also make a fantastic mixed grill.


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BARACK’S BAG

STORY SHRUTHI NAIR | PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.

Men have been complaining since time immemorial about

the lack of options when it comes to jazzing up their looks.

Limited to simple accessories like shoes, watches, belts, and

bags, style-conscious males in Muscat especially bemoan the

lack of options. That is beginning to change with the introduc-

tion of new specialty men’s stores like Leather and Lather, a

highend gents’ store that opened last year in Avenues Mall.

The shop offers luxury grooming products, gift sets, and leather goods, includ-

ing exclusive Frank Clegg Leatherworks. Founded more than 40 years ago, Frank Clegg

leather products are famed for their quality and style, and for the clientelle who wear

them, from international executives, to attorneys and judges, celebrities, and even the

president of the United States, Barack Obama.

Obama’s selection is a ziptop briefcase in navy, shrunken grain suede and soft grain

tumbled leather with handmade belting. The handcrafted design is a subtle, but distinc-

tive head-turner. The bag is available in a variety of colours and can be customised with

etched initials for a powerful, sophisticated addition to the wardrobes of the Sultanate’s

men of style. —shruthi

@timesofoman.co

m

In Oman, Frank Clegg handcrafted leather goods are exclusively available at

Leather & Lather, Avenues Mall, Ghubra, +968 9901 4433, leatherandlather.com

12 H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 2J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

13H I W E E K L Y V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 2J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

MODERNCLASSIC

FIRST LOOK: MESHAN DATES AND SWEETS

STORY ASMAA ALBALUSHIPHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI

If you are in the Middle East, it is almost impos-sible for you not to fall in love with the most prized fruit in the region: the dates. Known for its suc-culent taste and sweetness, dates are a staple of the Arabian diet and are an integral part of the food

culture of Oman. Packed with dietary fi bre, which helps to reduce cholesterol; potassium, an electro-lyte that helps control your heart rate and blood pressure; vitamins that protect the eyes, promote healthy skin, and even help prevent the lungs and mouth cancer; as well as antioxidants that fi ght infection and infl ammation, dates are a powerhouse of nutrition.

In the ancient times, bedouins could survive on nothing but dates and camel’s milk, because the dried fruit contained enough fat, protein, sugar, and nutrients to sustain the body. The fact that dried dates last up to a year made them even more prized in the harsh, arid desert climate where they could be trans-

MODECLAS


ported without fear of spoilage.Even in times of plenty, the date

remained an essential and beloved snack, and today, it is unlikely that you would fi nd a single Omani home in which dates are not on off er.

While traditionally dates have been eaten in their natural state, either fresh or dried, people are now fi nding creative new ways to celebrate them.

At the recently opened Meshan Dates and Sweets in Masa Mall, the Al Jabri sisters, specialises in modern twists, serving Omani cof-fee and unique date desserts.

The sisters strongly felt that Omani dates could be better pre-sented in the market in a modern, international way, so in 2011 they started producing inventive new desserts with local dates and sell-ing them under their aptly named company Meshan, which is the Omani word for the palm frond baskets that Omani farmers use to store the dates until they are ready to sell or consume.

The fl avoured date desserts were a hit, so in 2015 the Al Jabri sisters launched Meshan Café. The café is a wonderful blend of traditional and modern styles, from the contemporary décor peppered with traditional items and an oversized image on one wall of village women during the date harvest. The celebration of Omani heritage is prominent, but subtle, with touches like the use of the royal colours for the walls of the café, antique dallahs displayed on the walls, photographs of meshans and diff erent varieties of Omani dates and a small library of sug-gested works by Omani writers. All of these elements come together in a sophisticated way, giving the café a hip, youthful air.

The menu is equally playful, fea-turing items like fl aky date crois-sants, moist date cake, and their specialty, a unique confection of local dates mashed with fl avours like cappuccino, rose, frankincense and lemon, ginger and more, and then shaped into artful, bite-sized treats. The fl avour of the date itself always shines through, and they are a perfect pairing for the strong, cardamom-heavy Omani coff ee served by the dallah urn. Cappuc-cino and espressos are also on off er to enjoy alongside the European-style date twists. [email protected]

A personal-sized dallah of kahwa (Omani coff ee) comes with three

pieces of fl avoured dates for OMR3, while the specialty date pastries are

all under OMR2

MESHAN CAFÉAl Masa Mall, Muscat

+968 9779 2463Instagram: meshanomanFacebook: MeshanOman

[email protected]


R A C I N G

Oman’s favourite circuit racer, Ahmad Al Harthy, came back to Muscat after securing an excellent third-place in the gruelling season-

ending Gulf 12 Hours race in Abu Dhabi on December 11, along with his Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 teammates, Darren Turner and Jonny Adam. As he prepares for the new race season, the champion driver reflects and shares some thoughts on his sporting journey so far.

Falling for MotorsportI used to play tennis and football as a child, but I developed a strong bond with motorsports when I was introduced to go-karting at the Oman Automobile As-sociation back in 1988 when I was just seven years old.

From Hobby to CareerI took karting as a hobby, and I continued it when I went to the United Kingdom for higher studies. It was in 2004 that I took it seriously, as I figured in the regional competitions. The big step was in 2006 when I raced in Thunder Arabia Middle East Championship. Then I did three

years of Formula Renault organised by the British Automobile Racing Club. I left it as a vice-champion in 2009. Then I did Porsche Carrera GB Championship from 2010 to 2012. I won the Pro-Am category in 2012. Then I went to endurance racing, and I found it as a competition that suited my style. In 2014, we moved to Aston Martin, and I was made the brand ambas-sador for Middle East and North Africa. I am happy to be part of the lone Arab team in the strongest GT3 championship in the world.

Biggest BattleFrankly, I don’t remember my first seri-ous competition, but I do remember the toughest one: a 24-hour endurance race that I took part in when I was 18.

On Setting Personal GoalsI began to set goals from 2006. I fought hard for the silverware. Circuit racing has been exciting me from the beginning.

Struggles Along the WayI would like to forget the difficult stages of my career, instead I see challenges as big opportunities.

About the FansSocial media has given me the opportunity to reach out to followers of my team. I am happy to see the sport is growing in Oman as more people try to understand its nu-ances. We have plans to give more fans the opportunity to watch us in action.

Advice for Young DriversIt is important to start the right way. If you are ambitious, you have to begin with karting. Oman has got an excellent karting facility at the Oman Automobile Associa-tion, where you can sharpen your skills. You need good years of karting before moving to regional level events and international meets. Don’t try to climb the ladder too fast. Drivers who did it before, had failed.

On the Season Just Concluded and Upcoming SeasonWe ended 2015 season the best possible way. It was a tough season, but our perfor-mances were amazing. We got a podium in British GT, top-10 finishes in Europe. We wrapped the season in style when Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 trio secured an excellent third-place result in Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi. The positive results will motivate us in the next season.—[email protected]

For Ahmad Al Harthy, challenges are opportunitiesSTORY T.A. AMEERUDHEEN

PHOTOGRAPHY AHMAD AL HARTHY RACING

LOVE OF THE GAME

WHERE TO PRACTICE MOTORSPORT IN OMAN & UAE

OmanOman Automobile Association+968 2451 0239omanauto.org [email protected]

UAEAl Ain Raceway+971 3768 [email protected]

Emirates Kartzone +971 50426 3424emirateskartzone.net [email protected]

Yas Marina Circuit – Kartzone+971 2659 [email protected]

Rak Track, Ras Al Khaima+971 7222 2128raktrack.com


Where will you be dining this week?

Share your food photos with us on facebook.com/hiweekly, tweet

us your culinary discoveries @HiWeekly_Oman or tag us in your

instagram photos @hiweekly_oman

Gym Memberships

The Wellness CentreThe 3 Studios provides a full group exercise timetable that includes Les Mills Body Pump, RPM, Body Combat, Sha’bam, Body Balance, CXworx, Yoga, and Pilates. It also offers mixed main gym floor and a separate female area. There are REPS-qualified personal trainers to help you reach fitness goals. Besides, the centre has the Cryolounge, the only place in Oman to provide Cryotherapy treatments.

Where The Walk at the Wave, Level 2

How MuchStarting from OMR70 Visit the facility for details on offers and packages

Contact+968 2412 8333 / +968 2412 8444wave-wellness.com

RevGX-FitnessIt was in 2012 that RevGX introduced CrossFit for the first time in Oman, along with several other concepts like TRX, indoor Boot Camp, High Intensity Training. Since then, the centre has caught the attention of fitness freaks for Crossfit, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, HIIT, TRX, Kickboxing, Pilates, Yoga, Aikido and personal train-ings. According to its founder Rashid Al Barwani, RevGX guarantees results as long as people continue exercising and follow healthy lifestyle.

WhereAl Hail North and Azaiba

How MuchSpecial offer: OMR75 (3 months) and OMR200 (1 year)Visit the facility for details on offers and packages

Contact+968 2455 3187 / +968 9976 0621 (Al Hail North)+968 2459 4954 / +968 9781 4636 (Azaiba)revgx.com

Circle Club Fitness CentreThe Circle Club specialises in circuit training. At the core of the circuit are the Milon Gym machines designed and developed in Germany. The innovative system, known as the milonizer is a biometric recognition system that determines the user’s body dimensions automatically. All devices are controlled by smart card which will store settings and information about your training sessions. It offers strength and endurance training, strength circuit training, cardio circuit, Milon vibration circuit and per-sonal training.

WhereQurum, Al Wilaj Street

How MuchOMR207 (3 months); OMR660 (12 months). Visit the facility for details on offers and packages

Contact+968 2465 7801 circle-club.com


Working out and getting fit is a commitment, and the first step is finding the right place to hit the weights, take a class, or run on the treadmill. The membership-only gyms in Muscat are diverse in their offerings and vibes. To help you start your search, we rounded up some top contenders. — [email protected]

Balance Health and Fitness The state-of-the-art facility at Balance Health has separate gyms for men and women, group exercise studios, indoor cycling studio, personal training suites, kinesis machines, Vibrogym, easy line circuits, steam rooms, and luxurious powder rooms. A unique feature is the children’s play zone where parents can leave their children with their nanny while they workout.

WhereAl Raid Business Centre, 3rd FloorQurum, Muscat

How Much Starting from OMR99Visit the facility for details on offers and packages

Contact+968 2456 4132 / 2456 4093balanceoman.com

Horizon Fitness With more than 25 facilities, Horizon Fitness is the largest health club chain in Oman. It offers cardio and strength equipment, fitness group exercise including spinning and zumba, Engine Room bootcamp workouts, saunas, swim-ming pools, squash, tennis, and even beauty treatments at some facilities.

WhereLocations from Salalah to Sohar, and in nearly every neighbourhood in Muscat. See the Horizon website for a location map.

How MuchPackages start at OMR126 Visit the facility for details on offers and packages

Contact+968 2439 0427 / +968 2439 0428horizonoman.com

Hype FitnessThere is no more trial and error or guess work with it comes to getting in shape at Hype Fitness. The trainers follow sci-entific methods of fitness coaching to help clients reach your goals. Services include gym membership, personal training, group classes, and access to the steam rooms.

WhereWay No: 4509, Building No: 935,Al Kuleiah Street, Al Khuwair (Behind Safeer International Hotel)

How MuchSpecial offer: Buy 6 months and get 6 months free for OMR79Visit the facility for details on offers and packages

Contact+968 9137 3720hypefitness.me

Hammer GymHammer Gym is a no-frills gym for those who know what they need to do with cardio and weight training and just need a place to do it, though there is coaching available for weight gain, weight loss, or to give specialised advice on meeting fit-ness or bodybuilding goals.

WhereAmerat, Muttrah, Al Khuwair (two branches; one for male and the other for female), Mabela, Al Mawaleh (women)

How MuchStarting from OMR45 on offerVisit the facility for details on offers and packages

Contact+968 2454 3133hammergym.com


SPICE ISLA


AND Tucked behind the Porsche

showroom in Al Ghubra,

there is a singular restaurant

that offers a true taste of

Africa, celebrating the historic

ties between the Sultanate

and Zanzibar

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHYSALIM AL AFIFI


rom defeating the Portuguese in Mombasa, now known as Kenya, to establishing a Sultanate on the island, the history of connec-tion between Oman and Zanzibar goes back centuries. The cultural exchange between the two was vast, from Omani-inspired architecture

in Zanzibar, to the African kuma cap that has be-come part of Oman’s national dress, to the local taste here in Muscat for coconut milk and chil-lies. Ali Nasser Al Harthy, the owner of Zanzibar Island restaurant, had a keen desire to share his passion for African foods, and in that way, also sharing his heritage through a menu of both lo-cal Omani specialities and Swahili favourites.

Zanzibari cuisine, much like Omani cuisine, is infl uenced by the foods of many cultures, thanks to a prime location on the trade route. And there is no doubt that African cuisine has a distinctive taste with vegetables, fi sh, and meats enhanced with rich coconut milk, chilli, and the spice for which the island was most famous: cloves.

As an Omani born on the oft-called spice island, Ali Nasser moved to Muscat in 1975 and over the years, began developing a unique vision for preserving his heritage and teaching the younger generations about Omani culture

in Zanzibar by enticing crowds with delicious, inexpensive Zanzibari-Omani food and hospi-tality. A visit to the restaurant is more like a visit to a museum with the red and zebra print walls packed with mesmerising vintage photographs and paintings of the Omani royal dynasty and the Sultans of Zanzibar, as well as pottery and handcrafts. The exterior decor is a bit more subdued, a collection of simple metal tables surrounded by mangroves that give the place an exotic, yet traditional, Omani ambience.

Ali’s greatest act of cultural preservation hap-pens in the kitchen where ingredients such as beans, fl our, and the famous chilli called PiliPili-Moni are imported from Tanzania, Burundi, and Congo, and spices and meats are obtained lo-cally. Ali monitors the preparation of the cuisine every day for dishes that truly have a homemade taste. When newcomers enter the restaurant, Ali will walk over from his usual place at the long table in front of the register, and he’ll me-ticulously take their menus, asking if they want African or Omani cuisine. If the request is for the former, he will return with plates teaming with specialities like mohogo, a mild, creamy dish of white cubes of the starchy root vegetable cassava simmered in coconut milk with hot chillies; kisamvu, a green mushy dish made from


cassava leaves blended and cooked with coconut milk, palm oil, or peanut butter; and maharagi,a rich curry dish made of kidney beans cooked with coconut milk and mixed vegetables. These dishes can be served with white rice or African chapatti, a light textured bread made with fl our, and then rolled and folded with ghee. Other items on its extensive menu include mandazi, also known as ‘Swahili bun’, a sweet, cardamom-fl avoured, fried triangular bread. Clove-heavy Zanzibari chicken and fi sh curries served with rice, deep-fried crispy chicken and fi sh, as well as Zanzibari snacks like meat sambusa, a fried pastry fi lled with either spicy chicken or meat; kachori, a tart mash of potato, chilli, and lime dipped in chickpea fl our and fried; and fi sh cutlets, a steamed mince of fi sh, spices, potato that is shaped into cutlets and fried. The snacks are served alongside sweet, tangy Zanzibari achar, a mango chutney. The restaurant also makes Omani dishes like qabuli rice, which is cooked in the broth of meat or chicken and tossed with spices; malleh salted fi sh served with lemon and onions, and biryani with chicken, meat, or fi sh.

Thanks to Ali’s ingenious vision, Zanzibar Island is a place full of nostalgia, history, and great food, where locals, expats, and tourists alike can gather in celebration of the cultural gifts that [email protected]

ZANZIBARI SNACKSMANDAZI 100 BZ per pieceKACHORI 100 BZ per pieceFISH CUTLETS 100 BZ per pieceZANZIBARI SAMBUSA 100 BZ per pieceZANZIBARI ACHAR mango or lemon pickles, OMR1 small bottle, OMR3 for large bottleDATES AND CLOVE-FLAVOURED KAHWA complimentary at the end of your meal

WHAT TO ORDERMOHOGO OMR1.7 per plateMAHARAGI OMR1.7 per plateKISAMVU OMR1.2 per plateCHAPATTI 200 BZ per pieceSAMPLER PLATE OMR3.8


One of Stal Gallery’s emerging artists, Riham Noor Al Zadjali uses her medium to explore global issues, but remains sunny and optimistic, with great hope for the future

ART CAN

CHANGE THE

WORLDO

ex

STORY PATRICIA GROVES PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.


It was a chance encounter. The ribbon had been cut, I had studied the exhibition in advance, and was standing just inside the door as the crowd fl owed into Stal Gallery. I asked a young Omani woman who hap-pened to stop a moment which contender won the Emerging Artist prize.

“Oh, it was Raiya Al Rawahi. I knew she would win! I love her work.” We had a short conversation, but long enough for

me to be impressed by the lovely young lady’s cour-tesy and generosity of spirit.

The next day I phoned Riham Noor Al Zadjali, another Emerging Artist contender who Stal Artistic Director Hassan Meer had suggested I get in touch with. We set a time and when I arrived to meet her, I was surprised to see the charming young woman I had met by chance at the entrance to the exhibition.

We sat and Riham told me about her journey and her early inspirations from her time in Paris where she studied Art History and Fine Art at the American University and the Paris American Academy of Art.

“My favourite place in Paris was the Louvre and I went there at least once a week. I was inspired par-ticularly by the later paintings of Ingres – the almost modern clarity of line, the powerful simplicity and yet the richness of his imagery. My paintings from the Paris period represent a Modernist interpreta-tion of Ingres’ artistry.”

Jean-Auguste-Dominque Ingres (1780-1867) was a neo-classical French painter, a precursor of Modern Art who is admired for purity of form in por-traiture. And as we looked at images of some of her early works, they revealed a wonderful natural talent, beautifully rendered and immediately recognisable in both style and subject as ‘apres Ingres’ (after Ingres).

Committed to humanitarian ideals, Riham’s early paintings were the launching pad for a journey into art that speaks to contemporary global issues.

“Diversity as in the example of refugees is not something to be feared. It is part of the richness of life – something beautiful to be celebrated. We should not have a separatist view. It is not ‘us and them’. Refugees were much like you and me before circumstances forced them to fl ee. This could hap-pen to anyone of us. We share a common reality in today’s global world,” she explained, referring to her installation in the Young Emerging Artist Exhibi-tion, titled ‘Illegal’, which shows the eyes of people crammed together as they stare through the slats of a wooden packing crate. They are refugees trapped in the confi nes of the world political situation today.

“We will fi nd solutions; I have faith in science; and, in my own realm, I believe that, through social commentary and exchange, art can shift people’s at-titudes in the right direction. By providing a neutral ground for the exchange of ideas, art can break down prejudices and alter negative attitudes. It has the power to change the world.”


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Staff Party Annual staff party of Golden Tulip Nizwa Hotel.




New Year concert A concert by famous Indian playback singer, television actor, anchor, and winner of Indian Idol award, Abhijeet Sawant, at City Amphitheatre. Photos: Purushothaman Kunnummal



App for migrants’ connectivity ‘MigCall’, an app to provide better connectivity for Indian migrant workers in GCC, was launched in Oman by Indra Mani Pandey, the Indian ambassador to Oman, at Indian Embassy auditorium.Photos Jus Estrada



1 2

5 3 7 9 8

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8 1 9 6 7

5 8 1

4 9 1

5 8 7 2 6

2 6

2 5 7 6 4

8 3

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4 3 1 9 7

5 1 9 2 3

6 9 8

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8 2 6 3 5

2 8 4 3 6

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3 1 4

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5 9 7 6

4 3 2

6 5 3

2 8 9 7

7 6

6 5 8 3

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8 7 3 9

S U D O K UHOW TO PLAYFill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.

Level | Very Easy

Level | Moderate

Level | Easy

Level | Difficult

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hi weekly - january 8, 2016

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