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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.

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FO L L O W U S O N :

Fast forwardThe issue of food poisoning is back on the table after 20 Omanis were

recently taken ill after eating contaminated food at a restaurant in Saham. Thankfully, all have recovered, but not before they were forced to seek emergency hospital treatment.

While many cases of food poisoning go unreported in the Sultanate, Y’s cover story this week reveals that it is a lot more common than many believe. Did you know that last year alone, there were 60 cases of food poisoning, while in 2013, it reached an alarming 360 cases? We discover that ignorance, cutting corners to save money and poor food safety standards are mostly to blame. But even more startling is the fact that these woeful standards and attitude can damage our highly regarded tourism industry in the eyes of the world. The quicker we do something about it, the better it will be – not to mention preventing us from getting sick!

Elsewhere, we reveal the winner of our Back to School competition, who has scooped RO500 to go towards their tuition fees, head to Macedonia in Postcard and explore the stunning Khor Yiti in Destination. And don’t forget to try out our augmented reality app, OMAR. Just look out for the logo to view our interactive videos in this week’s issue.

Have a wonderful week!

editor@y-oman.com

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 had an amazing time exploring Taipei, the capital of

Taiwan, on a press trip, caught up on some much needed sleep and said

goodbye to another old friend.

THIS WEEK…

Are you the lucky winner of our RO500

Back to School competition?

Turn to P24 and all will be revealed!

GOING UPHOSPITALS

Ten new hospitals and a Medical City on the outskirts of Muscat are in the

pipeline as part of the Sultanate’s Vision 2050 plan, the Minister of

Health, HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, confirmed this week.

GOING DOWNPETROL SUBSIDIES

The UAE has already cut its petrol subsidies and we hear that Saudi Arabia is also mulling it over. Is it now only a matter of time before

Oman follows suit? It’s worth keeping an eye on.

COMPETITION

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Got the OMAR App? Then hover your device over the OMAR symbol on the left to see the video

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contentsS E P T 1 0 - 1 6 2 0 1 5

Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Marius Wolmarans

08 Voice Of Oman Ali Al Balushi

10 News Girl Suffocates In Bus

15 Gallery Taiwan Comes To BSM

16 Gallery Health Expo

T h i s We e k

17 Movie Listings The Transporter Refueled

18 This Week Tennis Camp

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Tops Appeal

34 Beauty Busy Day Tips

35 Health Bodybuilding Makeover

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Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Pasta Night

30 Taste Test Begum’s

28

Fe at u r e s20 Meal To Die For Is Your Food Safe?

24 Winner Revealed Have You Won Our Back To School Competition?

26 Capturing The Moment Oman On Camera

C a r s a n d A d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Khor Yiti

40 Outdoors The Road To Russia 2018

42 Postcard From Macedonia

44 Y-Fi Just For Men

46 Photo Of The Week Sunday Saviour

44

OMAN OYSTERS / COFFEE WITH DEEBA / NEWS / FASHION / FOOD / MOVIES / Y-FI

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He is sleek, smart and perfectly suited for his role of general

manager of a hotel. As we sit down for a cup of coffee at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Marius instantly begins opening up about his passion for the hotel industry and the drive behind introducing the Box Appeal to Oman.

Marius first came to the Sultanate in 2012, which, incidentally, was also his first experience of the Middle East. “I came as a first time general manager, fresh from finishing a GM certification programme in Cape Town,” he says. “It was a great leap for my career and I was lucky enough to land up in Oman.”

Although he’s only been in Oman for three years, Marius has been in the hospitality industry for the last 20, working for various hotels in his native South Africa before joining the

Radisson group in 2009.For Marius, the biggest

satisfaction comes from seeing a pleased guest. “It’s about seeing other people happy,” he tells me. “Like a doctor treating his patients, for me, enjoyment comes from seeing other people enjoying themselves.”

Marius met his wife while working in a junior position in the hotel industry and together they have three children – a 12-year-old daughter and two sons aged nine and eight. “I met my wife when I was working evenings and weekends, so she’s used to seeing me at odd times and has always been very supportive of it.”

Equally, his children are also loving life in Oman, especially because of the numerous outdoor and water activities on offer here. “This year, we had a great summer as a family. You just do fun stuff all the time; the Daymaniyat Islands, Ras al Jinz and

This week Deeba Hasan sits down with Marius Wolmarans, general manager at Radisson Blu Hotel, Muscat, who speaks about the Box Appeal campaign, launched to help the labourers of Oman

different wadis are

all close by.”Back at work,

Marius is putting the finishing touches

to 2015’s Box Appeal, an annual campaign that

looks to provide Muscat’s construction workers with basic items such as soap, deodorant and toothbrushes.

Conceived and put into action in 2008 by one of Dubai’s Radisson Blu hotels, the initiative soon caught on, spreading first around the UAE before arriving in Oman. The Box Appeal now runs in seven countries.

“What made me really kick it off here was when we hosted the I-Care water distribution event and I actually went on to building sites and saw the migrant workers and the conditions that they work in,” Marius says.

“Last year we had a lot of support from Merge 104.8 and Y Magazine and we really got people behind the drive and were able to more than double the 1,000 boxes we collected in 2013, which was incredible.”

Between September 15 and October 15, Marius and his team will be hard at work on the road drumming up support, but his favourite part is always the school visits. “I do a lot of talks for the Box Appeal. We go to the schools and I talk to the young kids, who are so amazing and eager to learn. They always ask the

best questions,” he says. As with his

work, the only reward Marius needs from the

Box Appeal is the smiles of those they help.

“When you walk up to a guy who is cleaning the street and you say ‘here’s a box for you’, they first look at you like you are slightly crazy and then they open it and when they realise what’s in it, the smiles are just incredible,” he says.

According to Marius, some labourers have kept their boxes and the items within for up to a year. Although confined to Muscat at the moment, the Box Appeal might also expand to Sohar by next year when a new Radisson Blu Hotel opens there.

Most of the sponsorship money received for the campaign goes into printing the boxes and the balance is used to supplement the purchase of the items that go into them. “One amazing thing about this project is that there are no administrative costs involved and whatever we get, it all goes back into the challenge. This year’s target is to collect 4,000 boxes,” says Marius with a smile.

Boxes can be collected from the Radisson Blu and Park Inn hotels, as well as Gloria Jean’s Coffees outlets. Boxes need to be returned to these points by October 15 and distribution will take place in November, once all the boxes have been catalogued. Keep an eye out in Y Magazine for further updates, or go to facebook.com/theboxappeal.

Have you got a unique story to tell or do you know someone who has? Contact us to have coffee with Deeba and be featured in Y Magazine. Email: editor@y-oman.com

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FEELING UNWELCOME

correspondenceTHE VOICE OF OMAN ALI AL BALUSHI ON MARKETING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA FIGURES

NEXT WEEK: MATT BLACKWELL

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

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It is doubtless that social media has become part of our daily lives. We interact with Twitter,

Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and many others at different times throughout the day. We meet friends through this virtual environment and it’s a way to find out what is happening around the world.

Due to the content they share, many people now follow prominent social media figures and some have achieved fame on the back of their active use and participation in social media. Followers are often influenced by different social media personalities and this has created an opportunity for some businesses to utilise social media as a channel to promote their products and services.

Marketing through these social media figures has become a trend, particularly in the GCC. Companies, businesses and even individuals have started to attract their customers through different marketing campaigns led by a social media figure. Surprisingly, most of the advertisements are casually designed and simply rolled out and that’s what makes them attractive to customers.

Some tourism departments within the GCC have started to jump on this trend by bringing a group of social media figures and take them around the city to Instagram the city’s attractions and activities, as this will boost tourism in the Sultanate.

Promoting your business, event or charity campaign through social media is a golden opportunity, but you need to play it smart by utilising the right channel. Using social media figures is a smart way to take your business to the next level.

WE ASKED: “If you could be given another talent or ability, what would it be and why?”

ARUNA RAMACHANDRAN I know exactly what ability I want – to be able to jump out of an aircraft without fear! It would be wonderful if

DEBATE OF THE WEEK

I could do it as a profession and work as an instructor. It is such a unique thing to do and I would be proud of my achievement.

KOKILA ASHAR If I could be given another talent or ability, I would spread literacy and remove communal disharmony.

FARZANA FATHIMA I wish to have the ability to pick winning lottery numbers so that I could pay most of it to needy people.

IRWIN SERSO RIO The ability to travel through space and time would be nice. If I could go back into the past I would be able to get the definite facts of what did and did not happen in our history.

RIZWAN KHAN The ability to live forever would be great, providing you can live with your loved ones.

Dear Editor,

As a UK citizen holding an Omani Resident’s card, I am beginning to feel unwelcome here with all the hype about how expats are no longer required in many areas.

My husband works long, hard hours and I would doubt any local person would a) have the experience and b) be prepared to do what my husband does. What, I ask myself, would happen if every single expat were to go on holiday next summer for four weeks? Answers, please!

I hasten to add that we love our life here in Oman – if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here – but some recognition and gratitude for what expats do needs to be shown. They’re not all here to line their own pockets, but to help train and guide the local

workforce, on all levels. It is very disheartening.

Best regards,Gertrude, Ghala

MOHAMMAD OSAMA RAWAT If blessed with another ability or talent, I would love to be able to eradicate hatred and greed from this planet, so that we all can live in peace.

MOHAMMED SULTAN SHAIKH I would like to be “Dismantle Man” and have the ability to dismantle all the weaponry of the world. Be it the single bullet of a pistol or weapons of mass destruction. Human life is a most precious thing, but of late it has become cheap.

MAHALAKSHMI VINAYAKRISHNAN If I could be given an extra ability, I would like to control the weather. Nowadays, global warming is on the increase and we are living through extreme weather conditions. I would like to make it rain more in Oman and transform it into a green country. In addition, I would like to preserve natural resources for upcoming generations.

FAREEN SHAREEF I would want healing abilities, because if I had the power to heal wounds, cuts and other injuries and get rid of coughs, throat infections and colds during winter, I would never sit at home and sacrifice parties, weddings or office outings. I would definitely heal all the dangerous diseases that are spreading throughout the world, taking thousands of lives every day. Diseases such as

cancer, Alzheimer’s, tuberculosis, HIV and so on would literally be history.

NITYA BALAJI If I could acquire an ability or talent, it would be the ability to make anyone laugh in any situation. There is a lot of despair and negativity around us that needs to be eliminated. Laughter can solve any problem and can bring happiness and hope in the most dire and depressing situations. This ability would help anyone let go of their misery and be gleeful.

VIKRAM GOKHALE I think in today’s world being a good judge of people and their intentions is an ability that all would desire. It not only saves time and effort, but also ensures that we are able to resolve complex issues much more systematically and positively.

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE I would choose to have the ability to see and control what will happen in the next 24 hours in any part of the world. I would stop the event occurring if it was detrimental to the majority of people. Through this ability, I could be of help in attaining peace and order all over the world.

BALAJI VISWA If I could obtain any ability, it would be the power to remove illiteracy from this world.

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Knowledge and education are the greatest gifts for a human being. In this world there where some people are deprived of this wonderful gift, this ability would help impart knowledge to each and every person. It would help in building a brighter and stronger future for mankind.

SHAILSUMAN SINGH I would love to be a superwoman and hence do whatever I want beyond human limitations! I would love to fly like a free bird, hopping over high-rise buildings and help anyone in need.

AYESHA SIDDIQA I want the ability to read people’s minds so that I get to know what people think about me and get to improve myself in any possible way.

MOHAMMAD ALI I would want to be a footballer like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Thousands of school buses equipped with the latest safety technology will be on the roads across Oman by next year, it was revealed this week.

Over 3,000 new government school buses with front and rear sensors, extinguishers, first aid kits and cameras among other features will replace the old mid-sized 25 to 35-seater buses to address the issue of transportation, according to Mustafa bin Ali bin Abdullatif, undersecretary at the Ministry of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs.

The Ministry of Finance has earmarked RO9.8 million to replace the public buses. “The

owners of the old school buses selected will be given a one-year grace period to replace their old buses with 2015 models buses and if they fail to do so during the academic year 2015-2016, they will be given another one-year extension,” Abdullatif was quoted as saying in a local newspaper.

“The rest of the old buses will be replaced gradually depending on the financial allocations,” he added. According to Abdullatif RO2,494,525 has been set aside to rent 416 buses in all the Sultanate’s governorates. The Ministry of Education has also put out tenders for the new specification buses.

GIRL SUFFOCATES

IN BUSCalls for monitors to be stationed in all buses have been

made this week after a four-year-old girl died after allegedly being left in a vehicle.

The youngster, who had just started school, was reportedly left unattended in a bus owned by a training centre

in Bidbid and suffocated to death. Police investigations into the tragedy on Monday are ongoing.

According to reports, the girl from Samayil, in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, was attending a

kindergarten class at a private school. Questions are now being asked about how

another young life has been lost on a bus. Three years ago, another four-year-old girl

died on a school bus in Muscat after falling asleep and being forgotten when the rest of the

students got out at a school in Al Khoudh. A school bus supervisor was on the vehicle.

Last year, two school children died after being locked in a school bus and another child, a girl at kindergarten, was left unattended on a bus in Darsait for nearly three hours after being locked in by the driver. She was saved when another parent saw the child banging on the bus windows.

In most cases, children left behind in buses have fallen asleep and are forgotten. The rising temperature and lack

of oxygen in the locked bus quickly causes the youngster to lose consciousness and suffocate.

Rules for school buses state that a supervisor should be present on each bus. However, the Ministry of Education told a local newspaper that the training centre involved in

the latest case was not under its remit. The Ministry also revealed it was part of a team, which included the Royal

Oman Police, looking at introducing regulations for such centres.“In future, the Ministry of Education might play the role of supervising these

centres,” a Ministry source told the newspaper.“Unfortunately, these centres are not inspected because they work in certain

areas and at a certain time of the year. They do not take the regular shape of schools and are, therefore, not registered as schools.”

N E W SYOUR OMAN

NEW SCHOOL BUSES TO BE INTRODUCED

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

Welcome to the future of publishing, a world in

which Y Magazine’s stories will be brought to life in the palm of your hand via an exciting augmented reality app called OMAR. As the world’s first dual-language augmented reality app, OMAR offers an interactive 3D video experience, where Y readers can go behind the scenes and watch Team Y in action as we head out on stories around the city and beyond.

The app will allow readers to bring Y Magazine to virtual life on their mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets and wearable devices.

“Augmented reality is probably the best thing that has happened to the print and publishing industry,” says Satyabrata Acharya, the chief technology officer at Eminnova Technology, the company behind the OMAR app.

OMAR features the best image recognition technology, nearby places of interest based on geo-tracking, while it can also recognise objects and shapes, and supports 3D interactive content.

To experience Y’s exciting new development, all you have to do is download the app and follow the instructions on this page.

The future of Y is in the palm of your hand!

Hover your device over the OMAR symbol below

Scan the QR code (right) to download OMAR – the Augmented Reality Browser App for iOS and Android.

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

Who’s too cool for school?Imagine being so smart that you ace the Mensa IQ test with a perfect score of 162 and even beat out geniuses like Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein – at the ripe old age of 12.That must be one smart kid.You could say that. But Lydia Sebastian, the British schoolgirl from Essex who is now officially smarter than Einstein, said the Mensa test was “easy”. That’s easy for Lydia to say!Well, the 150-question Mensa IQ test is renowned for being “fiendishly difficult” for even the best of us. But for Lydia, it was a breeze, despite her admission that she was pretty nervous to begin with.What’s the Mensa IQ test about?There are actually two tests that British Mensa offers: the 150-question Cattell III B paper, which Lydia did, to measure verbal reasoning ability. The other one is the Cattell Culture Fair III A test, which is more suited to people who are not native English-language speakers or have problems such as dyslexia. This test focuses on diagrams and images, rather than words.So is Lydia a child prodigy?One would assume so – she started playing the violin at the age of four, while she uttered her first words at six months.Don’t say: “Smarty pants.” Do say: “I’m channelling my inner Einstein.”

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL

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

The UAE has three days of national mourning for 45 soldiers killed in Yemen during the deadliest day so far for the Arab coalition as Qatar announces it is sending 1,000 troops into battle

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

Thousands of migrants fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa walked 241km along a motorway to Austria after being refused entry by train as the refugee crisis in Europe threatens to spiral out of control

Apple prepares for the biggest launch in its history with the unveiling of a new iPhone 6s and other products, rumoured to include a big screen iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV

British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton takes a step closer to the Drivers’ Championship after victory in the Italian GP to extend his title lead to 53 points

Have you ever wanted to play a fun role on stage, but never got the chance? Well, here’s your opportunity to make

that dream come true, as the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) is once again on the hunt for extras. This time, they need nine males for Arena di Verona’s production of Puccini’s Turandot, the

opening opera of the 2015-2016 season.

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Searching For

S t a rsIf you want to grab this exciting, perhaps once in a lifetime

opportunity, to perform on stage with some big opera names and make it to stardom, check out the criteria for applications. If you’re aged between 18 and 45 years old, with a height of between 1.72m and 1.9m, and are of an average build, you could fit the bill. The closing date for applications is September 14 and auditions for the roles will be conducted on September 15 at 6pm at the ROHM.

Selected extras need to be available for all the scheduled rehearsals (this doesn’t mean you will be required at all times, but may need to come in earlier before some rehearsals to get into costume).

“If you would like to take part in this production, please send us a full length photograph of yourself plus one head shot photograph to extras@rohmuscat.org.om with a covering e-mail telling us a little bit about yourself [including your name, age, height, clothing size, contact telephone number] and why would you like to be involved,” the ROHM said.

Selected candidates will be informed through e-mail shortly after the auditions. Applicants will need to be based locally and be able to provide a copy of an ID card.

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YOUR OMAN

Five people died and two people are still missing after torrential rain lashed the capital and northern region of the Sultanate last Friday (Sept 4), causing widespread damage, landslides and flash flooding.

Royal Oman Police (ROP) said two women and two children died after their car was washed away in flash flooding in Wadi al Huqain, while rescue teams continued to search for two people who were swept away by flood waters in separate incidents.

“We are still continuing our search and rescue operatioins to find one [person] who drowned in Ibri Wadi, [and] one in Wattayah,” a police official told a local newspaper. Meanwhile, the ROP has identified the body of one teenager who was

2 STILL MISSING

IN STORM AFTERMATH

washed away along the Muttrah Corniche.Officials were forced to close the stretch of road

between Amerat and Bausher on Friday after the rain caused widespread landslides. A section of Sultan Qaboos Highway was also closed in Al Khuwair because of severe flooding – in some cases, the water was almost reaching car roofs.

Elsewhere, a section of a ceiling in Muscat Grand Mall collapsed late last Friday after a build-up of water.

Many have blamed the Sultanate’s poor drainage system for the flooding and called on the authorities to revamp basic infrastructure and build flood resistant roads.

“We need to have better roads designed to withstand rains and flashfloods and an effective and highly scientific flood drainage system are the need of the hour for Oman,” said Dr Saleh Shidani of the Oman Astronomical Society.

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A DELEGATION OF YOUTH AMDASSADORS FROM TAIWAN VISITED BRITISH SCHOOL MUSCAT RECENTLY, SHOWCASING THE CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR COUNTRY THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF DANCE, DRAMA AND MUSIC

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G A L L E R YYOUR OMAN

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THE FIFTH OMAN HEALTH EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE WAS HELD EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE EXHIBITION TARGETS ALL AREAS OF THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY AND INTRODUCES NEW PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND FACILITIES

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LET US PREY

A mysterious stranger appears in a Scottish backwater town and soon finds himself in the cells of a local prison, where rookie cop, Rachel (Pollyanna McIntosh) is starting her first night shift. Known only as Six (Liam Cunningham), it soon becomes clear that his appearance is no accident and that divine retribution is on the cards for the prison’s twisted inmates.

Bollywatch

Lila & Eve

Distraught in the aftermath of her son’s death, Lila (Viola Davis) attends a support group and meets Eve (Jennifer Lopez), who has recently lost her daughter. Fed up with apathetic authorities that have made few inroads into her son’s case, Lila is persuaded by Eve to go vigilante and comb the criminal underworld in search of justice. Davis puts in a

The Transporter Refueled

MOVIES MOVIES

wrenching performance and proves that a grieving mother is a force to be reckoned with, although the “big twist” can be predicted ahead of time.

Barbie Rock ‘N Royals

In her latest outing, Barbie (voiced by Kelly Sheridan) stars as Courtney, a princess who finds her life of protocol and appearances a tad dull. Everything is flipped on its head when a mix-up sees her swap lives with a young rocker, Erika (voiced by Chiara Zanni), after the pair are sent to the wrong summer camps. With both camps facing closure, the pair decide to put their differences aside and their voices together to achieve the impossible. Catchy songs, but ultimately a film that is clearly geared towards a certain demographic.

WELCOME BACK The sequel to the hit action comedy Welcome, Welcome Back follows the exploits of a bumbling family of gangsters, with Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor and Paresh Rawal reprising their roles from the 2007 film. According to the veteran actor Kapoor, “it is not a great film”, but it offers good, clean family fun.

The Transporter is back, but not as you know him. Still the most extreme courier driver around, Frank Martin is played by British newcomer Ed Skrein, who steps in for Jason Statham as a suitably smooth-talking, former special-ops mercenary, who now spends his days delivering suspicious packages to shady customers with no questions asked.

Martin’s simple rules for his transportation business are thrown out the window when he becomes caught up with a team of dangerous women out for revenge, which leads to his father (Ray Stevenson) being kidnapped and held to ensure the transporter does exactly as they say.

The action scenes that follow, as Martin fights for what he loves are

so slick and stylish it hurts, and often involve the young Brit dispatching enemies through increasingly ingenious means, including rope and drawers – yes drawers.

This is not a subtle film by any means and while there are flaws, mostly in dialogue and a few slight plot holes, a series of stunts involving a jumbo jet that even The Fast and the Furious and Mission Impossible franchises would be proud of make it difficult not to like this film.

Diehards will ask whether The Transporter can realistically survive without Statham, but Skrein certainly does his amiable best to ensure the legacy lives on.

Review by Matt Blackwell

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DISCO NIGHTT H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Enjoy a party night out with friends and dance till 3am with the upcoming Big Bang Thursday at On The Rocks Restaurant & Lounge, Muscat. With international DJ HD bringing you the best music from around the world, you’re sure to have a rocking time. Event starts at 7pm and tickets are RO10 per person. For details call +968 9880 5071 or search for Axis Events on Facebook.

10Sep

19SEP

Tennis Camp

If you are between five and 16 years old and looking to take part in a fun activity, why not try the tennis camp for juniors at the Ras al Hamra Recreation Centre in the PDO complex, Muscat, where you can learn some useful beginner tennis skills and develop an interest for the game. Tennis training, mini tennis and junior match time will be the focus of this camp. Classes are held every Saturday from 8.30am to 10am. For more information, email rahrctenniscoach@gmail.com

With Oman’s infrastructure entering a huge expansion phase, which will see the Sultanate’s transport system change dramatically over the next five years, Bridges and Highways Oman 2015 brings together the project owners, contractors, consultants, equipment suppliers and technology providers to share knowledge and network. The summit will support Oman’s development of infrastructure projects by implementing state-of-the-art technologies and products. It’s happening at the Crowne Plaza Muscat Hotel. Make sure you don’t miss it. For details visit bridgeshighwaysoman.com

INFRASTRUCTURE

EXPO

13-15SEP

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ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD

This fascinating workshop will take children on a journey around the world to explore and discover how different cultures and nations practice art. Art inspired by popular artists including Martin Bulinya and Frida Khalo will be included. Open to children aged between six and nine, the minimum group size is five and the maximum is 12. It’s happening at the MuscArt Gallery in Al Ghubrah. The workshop will be conducted in English on Wednesdays from 3.30pm to 5pm on four days. Price per entry is RO80, which covers cost of materials. For details, visit muscart.net or call +968 2449 3912.

Grab some friends, jump in your car and head up to Musandam for a fabulous ferry trip to Khasab with InterNations. Enjoy a half-day dhow cruise on Friday morning with dolphins as companions in the beautiful fjords. Relax in a local café, sampling the local fare and shisha. Only your passport is required to travel, there are no visas to pay for. Exact dates to be confirmed by National Ferries two weeks before travel. For details visit internations.org

FERRY FUN IN MUSANDAM 30SEP

24 - 26Sep

PHOTO WALKThe Global photo walk is back! If you have the eye of a photographer, or just want to capture beautiful shots from around the city, this is your chance. Get out, meet fellow photographers in your community who share your passion and, of course, shoot some inspiring images in line with this year’s theme, “Explore with Friends”. So grab your camera and show the world what makes your city special. You don’t have to be a pro to join in, just go along with your camera (DSLR, mobile phone, point-and-shoot) and have fun. Timing and route will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit allevents.in/muscat for details.

The popular and versatile Bollywood playback singer, Javed Ali, is coming to Oman for the first time to perform a live concert. Besides lending his voice to some fabulous songs, he has been travelling all over the world doing live shows and winning the hearts of millions with his singing. This will be his debut performance in Oman, happening at City Amphitheatre in Qurum from 6pm. For tickets and other details, call +968 9521 3710.

JAV

ED

AL

I L

IVE

09OCT

26SEP

MOH/304/2015

95961234

sundentalghubra@hotmail.com

www.sundentalmuscat.com

facebook.com/sundentalcentre

ADDRESS: AL KHUWAIR PLAZA, NEXT TO MCDONALDS,

NEAR SHELL GAS STATION, AL KHUWAIR MAIN ROAD,

MUSCAT

Last month, 20 Omanis were taken ill after they ate contaminated food at a restaurant in Saham. What started with stomach discomfort, soon progressed to

continuous vomiting and diarrhoea, until the sufferers had no choice but to turn to hospital for further treatment.

While a local newspaper reported shortly after this incident that cases related to food poisoning are “not that common” in Oman, a bit of digging by Y suggests otherwise. Last year, 60 people became ill after eating tainted food at restaurants around the country, while the year before more than 360 people fell victim to food poisoning. And these are just the reported cases.

Thankfully, none of the cases of food poisoning in Oman have caused deaths over recent years, although the figures do make for alarming reading.

Food-borne illnesses are on the increase around the globe according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The latest worldwide data available was released in April this year and revealed that 582 million cases of 22 different food-borne diseases were experienced in 2010, which led to 351,000 deaths. A full report is set to follow next month, but in the meantime, the implications for Oman could be more than a few upset stomachs.

The fact is that poor standards regarding food safety could actually damage the Sultanate’s tourism industry, a sector that is being heavily relied on to pull in extra income in light of falling oil prices and a ballooning national deficit.

“In some cases, foreign tour companies will employ food safety experts and send them to countries like Oman to assess standards in order for them to verify whether they want to send their tourists,” says Rob MacLean, principal of Oman’s National Hospitality Institute (NHI). “A tour company

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Food poisoning has resurfaced in Oman, forcing people to

ask the question: just how safe is the food on their plate?

Matt Blackwell and Deeba Hasan reportTO DIE FOR?TO DIE FOR?A MEAL

could quite easily turn around and say that they would no longer send tourists to a particular resort or country based on the reports they get back.”

To ensure such a fate does not befall Oman, the NHI has been working to increase food safety standards in the Sultanate since 1997, providing internationally recognised food safety certification up to level four as well as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) training. After starting the training part-time 18 years ago, it has grown to become a significant part of the NHI’s business and MacLean believes that this is proof that hygiene, health and safety are being given increased importance by food

restaurants and coffee shops can also present dangers from lack of hygiene knowledge to downright disregard for regulations. The problem here is that when the establishment is smaller, the staff are forced to multi-task, which means they could be the cleaner one minute and the chef the next, handling food without having washed their hands between duties.

Food regulations exist in Oman and can be found online at the website of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR), but according to one source within the industry, they are not very explicit and do not go far enough. It falls to the Muscat Municipality to conduct inspections and pull up underperforming establishments, but with hundreds of restaurants registered in Muscat alone, monitoring all the outlets that serve food can

establishments in Oman. “Originally, we delivered training, but then we found that a lot of people were then going back to their companies and there were no systems in place. So because of this, we now put food safety management systems into properties,” he says.

“We have put them into several four and five-star hotels as well as restaurant chains. We are training people to international standards, we install food safety management systems and we also go back and complete auditing and inspections.”

That said, there is still a worryingly high amount of cases in the Sultanate. One small restaurant in Muscat was guilty of turning off the power overnight to save money, leaving the contents of the freezers to defrost, before switching it all back on and refreezing the next morning. Stories like this show that awareness and knowledge of food safety just isn’t there yet.

Oman has a mixture of both old and new properties, but just because a place is new or belongs to a large five-star hotel, it doesn’t mean it’s automatically safe. The fact is, the bigger the operation, the more difficult the smaller aspects are to control. For instance, the site may be split over several locations, there are more people to organise and employing staff from around the world raises language barrier issues.

Equally though, the smaller-scale

TO DIE FOR?TO DIE FOR?

be a difficult task. “Muscat Municipality will send inspectors round on a regular basis, but they’re not always as thorough as they should be and they can be inconsistent. I’ve known of one inspector to go to a five-star hotel and pick them up on the smallest of things, while another inspector went back the next month and said something completely different,” the source tells Y.

“What’s more is that you can come out of that hotel, drive five minutes down the road and pass a shawarma stand that nobody says anything to. If you look at the levels of danger there, one is clearly higher.”

Y reached out to the Muscat Municipality for comment on our story and was assured we would be given an interview, although the Municipality were not able to schedule one by the time we went to print.

Mesud is the manager of a popular beachside restaurant in Muscat who spoke to Y. He says Municipality checks can sometimes be few and far between. “There are times when they come four or five times within one month and then there are months that they don’t come at all. There is no fixed amount of visits, it seems they appear randomly. You never really know,” he says.

“The main things the inspection teams check is that the food is stored correctly and safely, the overall cleanliness and whether all the machines work. If there is any problem, they will give a notice of warning and then return after a week or two to check whether the problem is solved. If not, the restaurant

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IN SOME CASES, FOREIGN TOUR COMPANIES WILL EMPLOY FOOD SAFETY

EXPERTS AND SEND THEM TO COUNTRIES LIKE OMAN TO ASSESS STANDARDS IN

ORDER FOR THEM TO VERIFY WHETHER THEY WANT TO

SEND THEIR TOURISTS

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“While I will generally eat anywhere, a lot of my friends have become more wary recently after everything that has been in the news and will not eat at roadside cafés and coffee shops any more.”

After the number of Oman’s food poisoning cases hit triple figures in 2013, it was announced that the MRMWR would be increasing the amount of inspections and the Council of Ministers gave approval for the establishment of a National Food Quality and Safety Centre, which is due to begin operations later this year.

The centre aims to bring all food inspection and regulatory bodies under one umbrella and will test imported and locally produced food items for contaminants, according to HE Hamad al Gharibi, the Undersecretary for Regional Municipalities Affairs at the MRMWR.

And in the wake of last year’s food poisoning cases, an official at the Public Authority for Consumer Protection told local media that the New Consumer Act aimed to rein in instances of restaurants flouting the rules by increasing the penalties dished out for violations, but to date only three workers in Ibri have been landed with a jail sentence (see right), with nominal fines being the norm.

The NHI has also worked with Muscat Municipality on a Ministry of Manpower-endorsed initiative, coming up with a 50-hour mandatory training programme for anyone supervising a coffee shop or food outlet.

The idea is that wherever there is food and drink being consumed by the public, the manager should have a minimum amount of training or risk having their food licence revoked. The NHI is also in the process of introducing stickers for those establishments that meet food hygiene and safety standards.

When it comes to food safety, there are standards in place in Muscat and around Oman and the authorities are starting to clamp down on rogue restaurants and enforcing a more stringent system of checks, but change takes time and it seems that unsuspecting diners may have to suffer a few more upset stomachs before all of Oman’s eateries get a full clean bill of health.

January 2013: 300 PDO employees are affected by food poisoning at the Qarn Alam Permanent Accommodation Camp in central Oman, 400km from Muscat. The Ministry of Health sends a team to investigate the issue.

May 2013: A World Health Organization mission visits Oman to support the Food Poisoning Workshop organised by The College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University. The aim is to raise awareness and update about emerging pathogens and identification techniques.

August 2013: More than 60 members of a wedding party in Rustaq fall ill in a mass food poisoning. The source of the contaminated food is believed to be a local bakery, which is then investigated by the Ministry of Health’s Communicable Diseases Control and Surveillance Department.

September 2013: The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources announce that they plan to increase the number of health inspections to prevent cases of food poisoning.

April 2014: 20 fall ill after having breakfast at a restaurant in the Qurum area. Following complaints, the restaurant is investigated by Muscat Municipality, but is found to be adhering to all health and safety norms.

August 2014: A restaurant in Ibri is forced to close when 40 people fall ill in a week after eating at there. The worst affected require three days of hospital treatment.

December 2014: Three people working in the Ibri restaurant are fined in excess of RO1,000 and given a one-year jail term. The court also ordered that the three accused are to be deported.

August 2015: 20 Omanis are taken ill after eating contaminated food at a restaurant in Saham, some requiring hospital treatment. Despite the incident, the restaurant remains open.

FOOD P

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What is food poisoning? Food poisoning is an illness caused by food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins. Most people recover after a few days, but hospital treatment is required sometimes and some cases can be fatal.

What causes food poisoning? ● In the majority of food poisoning cases, it’s gastroenteritis – an irritation of the stomach and intestines. ● Typically caused by bacteria (such as salmonella, E. coli, or campylobacter) or a virus (like norovirus).● Food poisoning generally comes from food you have ingested, however, you can also contract gastroenteritis from coming in contact with an infected person who has not washed their hands.

Symptoms:The signs of food poisoning can range from very mild (a passing stomach ache) to severe (fever and non-stop diarrhoea). Depending on which bug you’ve picked up, symptoms start in as little as eight hours, but you may not see the effects for up to two weeks. You might have:● Nausea● Abdominal pain● Low fever

● Diarrhoea● Vomiting● Cramps● Bloating How to treat food poisoning:● DON’T take an over-the-counter anti-diarrhoea drug without a doctor’s permission. Your body is trying to expel the bugs that are making you sick, and you don’t want to interfere with the natural healing process.● DO stay hydrated. You’ll need to replenish all the fluids you’re losing to avoid serious dehydration. Sip electrolyte-rich liquids, like coconut water. If you’re keeping down fluids, slowly introduce easy-to-digest foods, like bananas, rice and toast.● If you’re a healthy adult with a solid immune system, most bouts of food poisoning will pass on their own after a couple of days. In general, there’s nothing you can do to speed the healing. The best thing is to rehydrate and rest.● All food poisoning cases – minor or major – should be reported within 24 hours to the regional health authorities.Source: news.health.com

FOOD POISONING FACTS

will pay a fine.” But the question remains: is a fine – normally a few hundred rials – enough to force the owner of a business to change his ways and adopt new practices, or do stricter measures need to be implemented?

Although Mesud’s restaurant has only ever received one fine in its five years of business (for a faulty electrical insect killer), he says that some of his fellow Muscat-based restaurateurs are not so diligent with their cleanliness and there are places where he deems the food inedible.

Some of the most common faults in restaurants are temperature control, particularly when dealing with buffets; lack of care with deliveries, which are sometimes left out for a long time; not checking the standard of food when it comes in; cross contamination between food, surfaces and equipment, undercooking of food, defrosting and refreezing and even seemingly basic hygiene points like washing hands.

One Muscat resident who lives in Qurum had to wait two hours for his food delivery to arrive recently. After suffering food poisoning, he has been put off pizza and is reluctant to order food for delivery ever again. “Making deliveries at 10pm at night in 40-degree heat after being stuck in traffic for half an hour or more does make you wonder,” he says.

Dr Hari Prasad, a general practitioner at Badr Al Samaa hospital in Ruwi, tells Y he sees three to four instances of food poisoning every day. “The cases increase with summer, but it can be an issue all year round because it’s hot here most of the time,” the GP says. “Normally, patients can take medications at home, but when it gets serious and they start vomiting, they need to consult a doctor. Sometimes we get extreme cases at our hospital.

“To avoid food poisoning, I would recommend that people eat at a good restaurant once during a week, rather than eating at small coffee shops or restaurants every day.”

It seems that Omanis are also becoming wise to this advice and paying more heed to the cleanliness of the establishments that they choose to give their business. “Me and my friends go on a lot of weekend trips, often into the Interior,” says Said.

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Located at Al Sawadi Beach Resort

WEEKDAYS5 pm - 9 pm

WEEKENDS4 pm - 10 pm

Level 1 Food Safety

Suitable for: New employees with minimal or no prior food safety knowledge.

Assessment: Multi-choice examination Duration: Six hours (one day)

Level 2 Food Safety

Suitable for: Anyone working in catering where food is prepared, cooked and handled.

Assessment: Multi-choice examinationDuration: 12 hours (two days)

Level 3 Food Safety

Suitable for: Managers and supervisors. Particularly relevant for those who have to develop and monitor a HACCP based procedure system.

Assessment: Multi-choice examinationDuration: 21 hours (3 ½ days)

Level 4 Food Safety

Suitable for: Managers, supervisors and senior hygiene personnel.

Assessment: Assignment and examination Duration: Five days

THE

TRAI

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G A

VAIL

ABLE

:

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Winner!

His jokes were so terrible they made the whole class groan, bu

t then as I

possess an equally terrible sense o

f humour, they used to make me laugh.

Our "bad joke" competitions were legendary, although everyone else

was probably sick of them! At the end of the year, as a treat he'd let us

watch a film, the whole class watching, the room dark, then AARGH! He'd

creeped up and scared me. I tried and tried to get revenge but never

succeeded except one victorious instance. My old languages teacher, Mr

Mackay, who has retired now, was my favourite teacher.

- Faaris Kukkadi, Year 10, British School Muscat

BEST OF THE REST

Y MAGAZINE WAS FLOODED WITH ENTRIES FOR OUR BACK TO SCHOOL COMPETITION, AS SCHOOLCHILDREN AS FAR AWAY AS SUR AND ACROSS THE CAPITAL VIED TO WIN RO500 TOWARDS THEIR

TUITION FEES. OUR MANAGING EDITOR, FELICITY, HAD A DIFFICULT TIME SIFTING THROUGH ALL THE ENTRIES – AND HAS DECIDED THAT THERE ARE MANY TEACHERS IN THE SULTANATE

WHO ARE MUCH LOVED BY THEIR STUDENTS! BUT THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WINNER AND IN THE END,

FELICITY WAS IMPRESSED BY THE STERLING EFFORTS OF ENAAS AQEEL ALBALUSHI, WHO IS IN 4TH GRADE AT AL WATTAYAH PRIVATE SCHOOL IN AMERAT. CONGRATULATIONS TO ENAAS – AND A JOB WELL DONE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT SHE SWITCHED

TO AN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SCHOOL A YEAR AGO. IT’S NO WONDER YOU NOMINATED YOUR ENGLISH TEACHER AS YOUR

FAVOURITE!

CONGRATULATIONS!

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My favourite teacher is Jennifer of grade three. She is so sweet and caring. I thank her for teaching me good thingsevery day. I thank her for her guidance, patience and love. She makes my day happy. I thank her for teaching interesting things. I love her, she justinspired me a lot. I thank her for supporting me. I thank her for motivating me. With love, Fiona.- Fiona Achsha, Grade 4

My favourite teacher is my maths teacher Puthul. Thanks to Y for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to write about my favourite teacher. Her eyes never see me angry. When I am down and out, she gives me the boost and makes me more organised. Her motherly attention towards everybody gives me security and purpose to study. When I am naughty in the class, her kind and soft words never allow to repeat it again. When my grades were low, her encouraging words helped me to achieve more. When she was absent, my mood will go off the whole day.T – TalentedE – EfficientA – AwesomeC – CharmingH – HumbleE – ExcellentR – Remarkable- Anirudh A, Grade 4, Indian School – Wadi Al Kabir

Focusing on integral parts of Omani culture and heritage, Ahmed al Toqi’s photographs are so expertly composed and edited that many could pass for real life masterpieces, painted a hundred years ago or more by someone documenting the Sultanate’s history.

In 2009, he made the audacious decision to leave his job as a lawyer with one of the government’s ministries to pursue his passion full-time and become a professional photographer and has not looked back since. “I didn’t like my job at all,” he tells Y. “You work for a long time so you have to do what you love. Photography is my passion.”

The gamble paid off for the 34 year old, who recently won third place in a National Geographic Traveler competition for his photograph, Camel Adrah. Taken in Bidiyah, the image [far top right] depicts a father and son Bedouin duo as they battle to stay atop their steeds in a race that is more a display of the rider’s skills than the camel’s speed.

“I like to capture the moment. I focus on people’s lives and I like to capture them doing something,” Ahmed says. “My photography is about Oman. We have a lot of heritage, culture and history to be proud of. I am like a messenger and I see it as my job to capture this with modern tools and show Oman to the people.”

Although Ahmed has tasted award success at home and around the GCC, the National Geographic Traveler contest marks the first time the photographer has earned international exposure and is his proudest achievement to date. Nevertheless, he maintains: “The real prize for me is thousands of people around the world will have heard about Oman for the first time.”

Y’s cover image this week is one of Ahmed’s photos and depicts a colourfully dressed woman from the Interior moving house by traditional means, carrying a basket of possessions on her head and family heirlooms, which include an antique rifle and sword, resting on her shoulder.

Ahmed believes that it is not the camera that defines a good photographer, it is the passion the person behind the lens has. “If you have the passion and love photography then you will want to do everything you can to be successful,” he says.

With one book on photography to his name already, Ahmed is currently working on his second, which he says will be an essential purchase for those visiting Oman for the first time. To see more of Ahmed’s work, go to ahmedaltoqi.com

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After claiming third prize in a prestigious National Geographic competition last month, Ahmed al Toqi is following up on the success with an exhibition at the

City Seasons Hotel Muscat

CAPTURINGTHE MOMENT

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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

PASTA POWERMixing vegetables with

pasta is a great and tasty way to ensure both you and your

kids are getting your nutritional fix.

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Introduce some new flavours to everybody’s teatime favourite

I f you’re looking for new ways to enjoy the delightful flavours of veggies, you may find inspiration in unexpected places. Pasta provides the perfect backdrop for a medley of your favourite garden flavours, but you can take those dishes to a whole new level with a little update to your everyday meal.

Building your dish around flavoured pasta allows you to instantly create layers of deliciously palate-pleasing tastes and textures. One way to brighten up your flavour is with vegetable-infused pasta.

This unique style of pasta is created by folding real vegetables into the dough for a visually stunning pasta.

For example, the pasta in this recipe for red pepper ravioli with pan-roasted corn features pureed sweet red pepper incorporated directly into the dough for a rich combination of colour and flavour.

Find more ideas to enhance your everyday meals at buitoni.com

ENHANCE PASTA NIGHT

Red Pepper Ravioli with Pan-Roasted CornPrep time: 10 minutesTotal time: 30 minutesServes: 4

Ingredients:§ 1 pkt of Buitoni Refrigerated Sweet Bell Pepper & Roasted Chicken Ravioli (or one of your favourites) § 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided§ 2 tbsp unsalted butter, dividedsea salt and ground black pepper§ 1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed§ 1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped§ 2 tbsp torn fresh basil leaves§ 1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

Method:§ Prepare pasta according to package directions, reserving 1 cup cooking water. Transfer pasta back to saucepan; add 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm. § In large skillet over medium heat, add remaining 2 tbsp oil with remaining 1 tbsp butter. Add corn; cook without stirring 10 to 15 minutes or until brown around edges. Add garlic; cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute or until corn is uniformly browned.

§ Stir in 1/2 cup reserved cooking water. Cook 2 minutes, stirring to loosen brown bits. § Pour corn mixture over pasta; toss gently to coat. Add remaining pasta water if needed. § Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with basil. Serve with cheese.

Ravioli with Brown Butter and AsparagusPrep time: 5 minutesTotal time: 15 minutesServes: 8

Ingredients:§ 1 package Buitoni Refrigerated Three Cheese Asparagus Ravioli, 226g thin asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces (tough ends discarded)§ 4 tbsp unsalted butter§ Sea salt to taste§ 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes§ 2 tbsp freshly shredded Parmesan cheese § 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, chervil or basil

Method:§ Prepare pasta according to package directions, adding asparagus during last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain. § In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, whisking occasionally, until butter solids turn golden brown. Season with salt and red pepper flakes; add asparagus and cooked pasta. Toss gently to coat. § Top with cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.

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Expectations can be a dangerous thing. I first visited Begum’s in Al Khuwair back in February and had some of the best Indian food I’ve tasted during my

time in Muscat. I’ve been scrabbling around for a reason to revisit ever since and finally found one last weekend, taking the same dining companion along to relive the feast.

Begum’s ranks an impressive fifth out of the 224 restaurants in Muscat that are rated on TripAdvisor.com, beating high end hotel heavyweights and respected eateries alike, but from its location – a side street in Al Khuwair – and it’s outward appearance, you would never guess.

We entered just after its 7pm opening time on a Saturday night and with only one solitary patron populating the downstairs dining area, were immediately ushered up to the first floor where a small army of serving staff awaited us. We were given free choice over which table we wanted; well, almost free choice, as despite the fact there were no other customers yet, five tables had “reserved” signs on them. A rare sight in Muscat, but an encouraging one nonetheless, silently speaking of the restaurant’s revered status.

From the information available on the internet, I’d established that the restaurant was famed for its biryanis and so we ordered the Begum’s tikka variety, along with one of the chef ’s specials, a mutton lahori. A tandoori roti and garlic naan would be the accompaniments and drinks were a salty lassi and an orange juice.

Shortly after, our waiter brought over a small dish of sliced red onions, raita and chili pickle. I thought poppadoms may follow, but the next things to arrive at our table were the mains. That’s right, before the drinks were served. Okay, so when they did come, the orange juice was freshly squeezed and the lassi very tasty, but having the mains arrive before the drinks order is a cardinal sin in my book. Especially when there is only one other diner in the entire building.

While the service may have lacked slightly, there

was no disputing the quality of the food – it was absolutely delicious. While perpetually popular, biryani is a tricky dish to truly master and if not given the proper care and attention can easily succumb to becoming dry and unappealing, but the chefs at Begum’s have hit the nail squarely on the head. We’d opted for the boneless version and the resulting pieces of tikka chicken were delicately spiced and incredibly succulent, with a hint of sauce that ensured the whole dish had just enough moisture.

Lahori was a dish that neither my dining partner, Niki, or myself were familiar with, but

the mild and slightly creamy offering that was presented at our table went down a treat. The meat was so tender that it fell apart in the mouth and the rich cashew gravy was bursting with fantastic flavours.

The breads were ideal to mop up what remained and we even went for an extra round of garlic naan when the server returned to check our table halfway through the meal.

While I’m often guilty of overindulging at Indian restaurants, the portion size at Begum’s was just right, to the point that we were actually fighting over who would get to finish those final few spoonfuls of rice and that last morsel of mutton. Dessert was definitely on the cards then.

With only five options on the menu in terms of dessert (one of them being ice cream), we weren’t exactly spoilt for choice and it didn’t take long to decide. We settled on the classic gulab jamun and another first for the pair of us – shahi tukra. The fried milk khoya balls that made up the gulab jamun were nice and spongy and the syrup they were doused in was decadently sweet. The verdict is still out on the shahi tukra though, which turned out to be a traditional form of bread pudding. The saffron it was infused with gave the dessert a pleasant flavour, but the consistency took some getting used to. While the gulab jamun was piping hot, the shahi tukra’s temperature fluctuated greatly from warm in places to stone cold in others, hinting at the use of a nine-lettered, box-shaped appliance that starts with “M” and ends with “E”.

The service on our second visit was a far cry from the warm and hospitable welcome we experienced the first time around, when the waiter made his own recommendations and offered us a list of specials, but the astounding quality of food and incredible value for money offered at Begum’s clearly demonstrates why it remains a firm fan favourite on Muscat’s dining scene.

Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com

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

DRINKAND R E V I E W S

STAR OF THE SIDE STREET

Info BoxBEGUM’S

3521 Way, Al KhuwairTel: +968 2448 2299

Opening hours: Sat-Thu 12pm-3pm, 7pm-11pm, Fri 1pm-3pm,

7.30pm-11pmDinner and drinks for two:

RO11.5

Verdict :5 / 10 Service

8 / 10 Food 7 / 10 Ambience

Incredible value for great food

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

BUDGET

WHILE THE FOOD IS FANTASTIC, MATT BLACKWELL FINDS THE SERVICE AT BEGUM’S DETRACTS FROM WHAT WOULD BE AN OTHERWISE FIVE-STAR EXPERIENCE

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WCQ 2015 Vs Iran V2-PRESS.pdf 1 9/6/15 2:29 PM

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HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

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BIG GIRL’S BLOUSEThe blouse has undergone

something of a transformation from frumpy to fashionable, with

designers giving it a modern twist. But you can’t beat classic white. Sophisticated, elegant and timeless, this design from German-based brand Eterna

works on every level. Dress up or down depending on

your mood.

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TOPS APPEALOnce the preserve of ladies of a certain age, the blouse has reinvented itself as a wardrobe must-have

1. Depending on how you wear it, the blouse can give you different looks. So experiment with rolled up sleeves, button or open your collar and try different lengths. 2. The fluidity of a blouse depends on the fabric. Silk and thin cotton or linen will slip in your hands and hang beautifully. 3. Choose a style to fit your body type. Petite frames can be swamped in oversize styles, while taller women suit more tailored blouses.

There was a time when a blouse was viewed as a fashion garment

worn only by mumsy types who had chosen comfort over style.

Those days are long gone and the blouse has made a comeback, holding its own on this season’s catwalks and embraced by designers from Helmut Lang to Joseph.

Gone is the frumpy image of old, with the humble blouse morphed into chic designs with billowing sleeves, the softest of silks, sharp styling and vibrant hues.

The appeal of the blouse – whatever you go for – is that it can be dressed up or down, taking you from the office to a social gathering with ease.

Team it with a pencil skirt or sleek trouser suit for the ultimate in power dressing.

White or cream are the classic colours but if you’re feeling daring, opt for vibrant shades of yellow or pink.

With its digital rose-print design, round neckline and cap sleeves, this Apricot blouse ticks all the boxes. Wear with skinny jeans for lunch with the girls or smart trousers for the office. A steal at RO10.58

To make a statement at a meeting or night out try this gorgeous silk georgette Paisley print blouse from designer Barbara Bui. The flowing, loose, slit sleeves give it a modern look, while the colours give it an edgy feel. If the RO223 price tag is a bit too steep, check out high street brands such as Mango or Zara for cheaper alternatives

Follow these tips on how to

be top of the blouses:BE A BLOUSED

You can’t go far wrong with Marks & Spencer for separates and this longer length blouse works for more formal occasions or nights out. Dark blue is flattering for most body types. RO17.34

Add a subtle pop of colour with this dark red blouse by Klaus Dilkrath The autumnal shade is bang on trend for the winter months and is smart enough for evening wear. Great value at RO34.33

For something different, try this denim pussy-bow blouse. Feminine and chic, it has a sleek Parisian feel with the cuffs and tailored style. Vintage Collection from La Redoute. RO40

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

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

TIME SAVING BEAUTY TIPS FOR A BUSY DAY

Throw your hair in a bun before

showering and skip the wash. If your hair looks dirty and you don’t have time for a full wash and blow-dry, you can give your top roots and crown a quick wash in the sink. Freshening up this most visible part of your hair helps create the illusion of clean hair.

It’s inevitable: the morning you oversleep is the day you have someplace important to be. Fortunately, there are plenty of short-cuts to your morning

beauty routine that will have you out the door looking great and feeling confident in no time.

Learn some get-ready-quick tips from Andrea Brooks, one of the top subscribed beauty gurus on YouTube. Best known for her DIY, beauty, fashion and how-to videos, which have earned her nearly 200 million views to date, she also has appeared on MTV and been featured in celebrity blogs.

Time is money these days, so check out these tips for a hassle-free beauty regime that will have you looking great in a flash

Make short work of the shower with a

quick scrub to

your face and body. Shorten shave

time with a razor that has moisturiser and shaving cream built in.

When you don’t have time for your regular body butter routine, use a moisturiser

that locks in hydration before you even step out of the shower. Jergens Wet Skin Moisturiser is applied at your skin’s peak moisture moment – right after you shower. After applying all over, towel off and you’ll have luminous skin all day long. “My skin is super soft all day long,” Brooks says. “I’m kind of addicted; I use it every single day instead of just when I’m in a hurry.”

Let moisturiser soak in while you choose an outfit for the day. Save time on colour

coordinating by selecting a one-piece

such as a dress or romper, and set it aside while you apply makeup to avoid smudges and stains.

You don’t need much

makeup for a

finished look. Apply makeup in a location with plenty of natural light, and use a powder foundation for a smooth base. Add some colour definition to your brows with a matching shadow. Save time and avoid mistakes by placing a piece of paper or index card behind your lashes as you apply mascara. Finish with some lip balm and a setting spray.

If you have long hair, a messy bun or side braid are pretty options. Or twist and pin back your bangs and short layers for a softer look.

Add clothes, some fun accessories and a spritz of perfume or body spray, and you’re ready to go.

For more ideas to help save time with your morning beauty routine, visit jergens.com.Source: Jergens

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

Here’s an insight into Heather’s schedule:

A typical day: As a mother, my days can get pretty hectic. I have to be structured and organised to keep

everything running smoothly. Because my meals have to be eaten at designated times, they often require preparation ahead of time.

6.30am: Wake up and get Spencer ready for nursery. Eat first meal (salmon and egg whites)8am: Drop Spencer to nursery8.30am: Reply to emails, organise house and get ready for gym9.30am: Second meal (banana) and head to the gym10am: Arrive at gym for workout12pm: Finish gym and pick Spencer up, head home for lunch together and my third meal

(protein shake)2pm: Fun time and run errands, have fourth meal (chicken, broccoli and brown rice)6pm: Make everyone dinner, have fifth meal (white fish, broccoli and brown rice)7.30pm: Put Spencer to bed8.30pm: Walk the dogs for more cardio9pm: Sixth meal (high protein fromage)10pm: Bed time

The diet:I eat “clean” foods, high in protein and low in carbs. A lot of my protein comes from eggs,

fish and chicken, while the carbs come in the form of brown rice. The vegetables I have are broccoli and carrot and my fat intake comes from olive oil. I have a small meal every three hours to keep my energy up. I’m allowed one “cheat” meal a week to eat whatever I want and indulge in all the things I’ve been dreaming of throughout the week. This is what keeps me from straying for the other six-and-a-half days of the week.

Positives:Muscles are starting to appear that I never even knew I had and my body feels like it’s

awake, like it is functioning in a way it never has done before. I love the routine of knowing what my day will consist of.

Negatives:This is a huge lifestyle overhaul that requires 100 per cent dedication. If you slack on one

part you just make it harder on yourself. You need to train hard, eat well and on time and you need to sleep well. This doesn’t leave much opportunity for social meals with friends and relaxed days.

Keep your eye out for an update from Heather in a few weeks’ time

Check out Heather’s blog at theduncanadventures.com

Bodybuilding MakeoverHeather Duncan, a Muscat-based blogger, writes about the complete overhaul she is giving her body with a new fitness regime

While I know I’m not dangerously overweight and that I’m a physically active person, I just can’t help feeling that I don’t like what I see in the mirror.

Like many people, I’ve moaned about it for years – even more so after the birth of my son, Spencer, in January 2014 – and my body always has a softness that I just can’t get rid of.

I’ve had gym memberships in the past, but they weren’t helping me achieve my goals and so I signed up with the man in demand, Yoka, at Elite Gym. Certified by the Professional Personal Trainers Association, Yoka has more than 25 years of experience in fitness and bodybuilding and is now the one who trains the trainers.

My aim is simple – to push my body to see what it can achieve. Not necessarily to lose weight – my aim isn’t to be skinny – I want to be strong and healthy with defined muscles. This isn’t just for my own health; it’s also for the sake of my family, to set my child a good example when it comes to healthy eating and leading an active lifestyle. Last year, my friend invited me to join the Spartan Race in Dubai, a gruelling set of obstacles set out over a five, 13 or 20km course, and I had to decline because I was embarrassed at my lack of fitness and stamina. This year, however, I’ve got the Spartan in my sights and am aiming to be in peak condition for the race in November.

I’m training five days a week at the moment. Each session is around 50 minutes of weights and strength training followed by 30 to 40 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of stretching out the muscles. There have been a lot of changes in my body in just a few weeks, but I’m not happy to just stop at this point – there is still a long way to go.

I think weight training is rare for girls; they seem to think that lifting weights will make them bulky and manly but it’s quite the opposite. With the right training they can make their shape even more sculpted and put curves in the right places.

At first I found it very intimidating to enter a gym with so many men because I felt weak in comparison to them, but after a few weeks I got stronger and more confident in what I was doing and how my body was changing. The people in the gym, especially the men, don’t care how much I can lift in comparison to them. They are just impressed that I’m there giving it 100 per cent. It really helps to be surrounded by like-minded people who only encourage, not judge.

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GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS…Capital RegionAzaiba• Amara

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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

CARS ANDADVENTURES

TIDE OUTExplore the bay at Yiti when the water has receded to get up close to fishing

boats, old dhows and marine life.

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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 CARS ANDADVENTURES

Destination

KHOR YITIIt’s the perfect place to relax and have some personal time – just make sure not to get lost on the way, say Shaquel al Balushi and

Shamsa al Mahrooqi

It’s roughly six in the morning and in front of me is nothing less than a mini paradise, an expanse of burnt orange sand with chocolate-brown layers of cliffs. Welcome to Yiti Bay or Khor Yiti (to

use its Arabic name), a picturesque spot on the way to Sifah. My partner in crime, Y’s photographic intern Shamsa, once again accompanied me on the adventure, for what would be her last outing with us. We started out about 5am from Muttrah and reached Khor Yiti an hour later, although we did get lost a couple of times on our way, until finally finding the right route.

Nestled between two steep valley sides, Yiti is a small fishing village that ends in a wide bay. Although I did notice the spot a few times before, I never had the time or inclination to go down and check it out. I was glad we finally did – Khor Yiti is one of the most beautiful sights I have seen in Oman. Wherever you look, there is something to capture your eye and imagination. It’s also very serene, allowing your mind’s troubles to slip away and, for a moment at least, be forgotten. This is why I can recommend Khor Yiti to anyone who needs a break from the city or some personal space to unwind.

One piece of advice, though. You’ll obviously need a car to drive to the khor but as you get close, be on the lookout for a signboard warning that vehicles should not go beyond that point. I guess some highly adventurous drivers may want to take their four-wheel cars beyond this point, but it’s not safe. You can’t predict the level of water in the khor, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The first and most obvious thing we noticed when we arrived were the crabs. Not only were they scuttling all over the beach, but they were also very colourful; some were orange and white, others were white and brown and a couple of them had a bright blue shell with vivid red claws. While I was taking a short video of the crustaceans, Shamsa just came in and stamped her foot really hard on the sand which scared all the crabs away, sending them rushing into numerous crab holes spread all over the sand. Within seconds, they were all gone.

While I was busy observing the crabs, Shamsa went off to explore further. When she got back she told me of other creatures she had encountered, apparently there were birds wading in mud, herons and flying fish in some parts of the bay.

The mountains surrounding the turquoise waters looked very distinct and were mostly layered, as if washed out due to the rise and fall in the water level. I am not sure if they would be suitable for trekking. The sparkling blue waters of the khor also offered a strong contrast to the dark mountains and brown shacks on the shore (probably used by fishermen). We noticed some fishermen setting up their nets for the day’s start, but despite their presence, the place was absolutely calm and we could even hear the birds chirping. Another interesting thing I noticed was an old dhow stranded in the sand. Its bottom was covered in algae, there were holes in the hull and the motor below the deck looked rusty. I wondered to whom it belonged.

Although it was really humid all the time we were there, we were still able to enjoy the trip. I would recommend a visit during the early morning, especially if you are looking to chill out when it’s still peaceful, because I can imagine it gets busier as the day goes on.

The magic of Khor Yiti certainly worked on me. I can definitely say this was my favourite destination out of the many others I have ventured to over the past nine months. I will almost certainly go back and maybe do another photo shoot there.

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HOW TO GET THEREFrom Muscat, pass through Hamriya and take Yiti Street, exiting right at the first rounadabout you come to. Turn right 4.7km further on and this road will bring you directly to the khor (on the left).

GPS location of Khor Yiti:N23° 31’ 2.371 E58° 42’ 18.209TR

AVEL

GUI

DE

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

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The Red Warriors brushed aside Turkmenistan in their second World Cup 2018 Qualifier to go to the top of Group D. Matt Blackwell was there for Y

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hour mark for Emad al Hosni to further the advantage, smartly slotting home to bag his second goal of the qualifiers and put Oman three nil up and, realistically, out of sight for the visitors. As the game entered its final stages, manager Paul le Guen was able to rest players, including his two goal scorers, and give valuable game time to some of the squad’s younger members.

The commanding position that Oman found themselves in did cause a spot of complacency to creep in though. Perhaps tired legs had something to do with it, but as the final whistle approached Turkmenistan found themselves with several opportunities in the home team’s box, with Oman’s defence and even the mighty Ali al Habsi powerless to prevent Arslanmyrat Amanow from grabbing a late consolation goal seven minutes from time, which took some of the sheen off the victory, but did little to affect the tie.

Decked out in the national colours, complete with face paint and a rather fetching Omani-themed hat, Abdullah al Balushi was in the thick of the action, cheering his team on from a raucous and packed out stand. “I am very happy with the score,” he tells Y. “It wasn’t the most exciting game, but the important thing is the result and I hope we can go on and win lots more games.”

Does he think the Red Warriors have what it takes to go the distance and qualify for a World Cup for the first time in the team’s history? “Inshallah,” he says with a coy smile. “There is a long time to go, but if we keep winning like this, then you never know.”

After their midweek trip to the western Pacific and a goalless draw against Guam, Paul le Guen’s men will now look ahead to their next match and biggest challenge yet – a home tie against Iran, who sit at 40 in the FIFA rankings (60 places higher than Oman), on October 8.

A writhing sea of red, white and green fills your field of vision, while a relentless rhythm is beat out on a combination

of traditional drums and symbols. A continuous stream of Arabic singing comes out over a PA, getting the crowd fired up, as 22 men go head-to-head on the pitch below with the pride of their respective nations at stake.

This is what it is like to watch Oman’s national team in action as they look to book their place in 2018’s World Cup, which will be held in Russia. Starting in June of this year, the second round of preliminary qualification for the tournament will see 40 teams battle it out in eight groups between now and March next year, with qualification for the biggest tournament in world football as the motivational glimmer on the horizon.

Oman’s national team got their qualifying campaign off to a winning start in India back in June, and last weekend saw them take on Turkmenistan at Seeb Sports Stadium.

It took just seven minutes for Raed Ibrahim Saleh to get the scoring under way, as many fans were still filing through the gates and others were settling into their seats for the spectacle ahead. The 23-year-old Fanja winger was on hand to neatly slot away a loose ball after Abdulaziz al Muqbali’s shot ricocheted off the post and into his path, laying down a clear marker of Oman’s intentions at an early stage.

The score was doubled three minutes later when Turkmenistan’s Mekan Saparow inadvertently put the ball into his own net after a mix up in defence. From here on, the momentum was only

ever flowing in one direction, with the Red Warriors dominating possession

through some sublime passing and creating chances almost at will.

With a bit more concentration, the home team could have

been three or four up by the break. As it happens, they had to wait until the

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TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO:1. Wander the Old Bazaar in Skopje2. Ski or enjoy the view at Mavrovo National Park3. Take a boat trip on Lake Ohrid4. Check out the Sultan Murat Mosque5. Try syrup cake with Macedonian coffee

MOUNTAINS HIGHDiscover snow-

capped peaks and stunning scenery in Macedonia’s

Mavrovo National Park.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

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

My favourite place It’s fair to say that I was blown away by Macedonia’s unexpectedly spectacular mountain ranges, taking in sublime scenery featuring anything from waterfalls to forests smelling of sweet pine. In the winter, it’s all about the skiing and, from what I was told, the slopes offer some marvellous off-piste fun. We made a trip to Mavrovo National Park, the country’s biggest ski resort just one hour’s drive from Skopje, and found gorges, plains and Macedonia’s highest peak, Mount Korab (2,764m), which sits on the border with neighbouring Albania. The resort might not rival those of Italy or France but the views are stunning all year round. Go in the spring and you’ll be rewarded with lush greenery and the freshest air you can imagine.

Highlights I loved Skopje, with its appeal of eccentricity and modernity, and evident desire to become a hip city. An extensive – and expensive – makeover during the past five years has seen it dubbed “Europe’s new capital of kitsch” with a gaudy style of baroque meets Las Vegas. The redesign included hundreds of statues and excessive monuments, my personal favourite being the 22m-high Warrior on a Horse complete with a fountain and musical light show. Look beyond all this, however, and discover the authentic city and one of the best value breaks in Europe. Skopje’s old town is charming with quaint shops and paved pedestrian streets. Take a walking tour, as we did, and see the impressive Tvrdina Kale Fortress and the striking Stone Bridge, which takes you over to the Old Bazaar, where you can browse Bezisten, a covered market. A visit to the Sultan Murat Mosque, built in the 15th century, is also a must. If you have time, go to Lake Ohrid in the south of the country. At 300m deep and three million years old (making it Europe’s oldest), the lake was made a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1979. Wherever you go in Macedonia expect a warm Balkan welcome. Don’t be surprised to be invited into a stranger’s house for a Macedonian coffee and syrup cake, and a chat (if you can’t speak the language, don’t worry, as hand gestures and lots of smiles will get you through).

Lowlights Chances are you won’t speak the lingo, which can be frustrating, but simply download a translating app before you go or rely on good old Google Translate. Outside Skopje, the more rural areas can be basic to say the least and the food can be hit and miss. Souvenirs Snap up some jars of the local honey – it’s delicious and cheap. In Skopje’s bazaars bag some handmade quilts and embroidered textiles. Best buys in Ohrid are the region’s famous pearls, found in necklaces and other jewellery.

Where to stay Hotels in Skopje can be expensive but there are other options, such as private rooms and a thriving Airbnb scene (a website offering local rooms and apartments around the world). Those on a budget can try one of the many hostels. Book ahead for busy summer months (July and August). For Lake Ohrid, try the elegant four-star Hotel Aleksandrija right on the bank of the lake.

MACEDONIAKate Ginn recommends

T h e R e p u b l i c o f M a c e d o n i a - t o u s e i t s fu l l n a m e - h a s b e e n i n t h e n e w s l a t e l y a s t h e m i g r a n t c r i s i s o v e r w h e l m i n g E u r o p e s p i l l s a c r o s s t h e i r b o r d e r s . I t ’ s a s h a m e , i n a w a y , t h a t t h e c o u n t r y

h a s o n l y c o m e t o m a n y p e o p l e ’ s a tt e n t i o n i n s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a s i t d e s e r v e s r e c o g n i t i o n i n i t s o w n r i g h t fo r b e i n g a g r e a t h o l i d a y d e s t i n a t i o n . O f t e n o v e r l o o k e d i n t h e r e g i o n i n f a v o u r o f t h e m o r e p h o t o g e n i c C r o a t i a , M a c e d o n i a h a s m u c h t o o ff e r t h e t r a v e l l e r w h o m a k e s t h e i r w a y t o t h i s n e c k o f t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n E u r o p e w o o d s . O n c e p a r t o f t h e fo r m e r Y u g o s l a v i a ( i t d e c l a r e d i n d e p e n d e n c e i n 1 9 9 1 ) t h i s l a n d l o c k e d - s a n d w i c h e d b e t w e e n A l b a n i a , G r e e c e , S e r b i a , B u l g a r i a a n d K o s o v o - B a l k a n n a t i o n o ff e r s m o u n t a i n s , l a k e s a n d a n c i e n t t o w n s w i t h O tt o m a n a r c h i t e c t u r e , m a k i n g fo r a c o m p l e x a n d f a s c i n a t i n g h i s t o r y . I t ’ s h a d i t s f a r s h a r e o f t r o u b l e s - m o s t n o t a b l y i n 2 0 0 1 w h e n i t w a s o n t h e v e r g e o f c i v i l w a r - b u t n o w e n j o y s r e l a t i v e s t a b i l i t y .

D e s p i t e i t s t i n y s i z e ( a t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n a l i tt l e o v e r t w o m i l l i o n ) , M a c e d o n i a p a c k s i n a s u r p r i s i n g l y l a r g e a m o u n t , f r o m a b u z z i n g c a p i t a l c i t y ( S k o p j e ) t o a n c i e n t fo r t r e s s e s , s k i i n g i n t h e w i n t e r a n d a l p i n e h i k i n g t r a i l s . I t c a n a l s o b o a s t 5 0 l a k e s a n d 1 6 p e a k s h i g h e r t h a n 2 , 0 0 0 m , m a k i n g i t i d e a l fo r a n y o n e w i t h a s e n s e o f a d v e n t u r e a n d y e a r n i n g fo r s o m e t h i n g a l i tt l e b i t d i ff e r e n t .

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CK EXTRA LARGESURPRISE YOUR FRIENDS WHEN THEY COME OVER FOR MOVIE NIGHT BY SWAPPING OUT YOUR SMART TV AND INTRODUCING A 4K ULTRA SHORT THROW PROJECTOR. THE VERY CLEVER PEOPLE AT SONY HAVE DISGUISED THIS PIECE OF TECH TO LOOK LIKE A PIECE OF FURNITURE. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY ABLE TO DELIVER A CRISP, BEAUTIFUL IMAGE OVER 147-INCHES. THE ONLY QUESTION IS: DO YOU HAVE THE WALL SPACE? SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE SHOW AT SONY.COM FROM RO11,554.50.

Boys never really grow out of their toys and it only gets better as you grow older thanks to the selection of seriously cool gadgets out there, says Matthew Herbst

KING OF HIS CASTLEEvery man wants to keep his family safe and secure. So why not invest in the Izon Stem White Wi-Fi Video Monitor Surveillance Camera to ensure they are safe when you are away? You can place the camera anywhere in your house and once it’s connected to your wireless internet, you can see what’s going on in the room through your smartphone from anywhere in the world. Available at amazon.com from RO38.50.

JUST IN TIMELG’s G Watch R smartwatch is a rugged and masculine-looking time piece, boasting a

fully circular display and a design that makes you look

like you're actually wearing a watch as opposed to a

tablet on your wrist. It has a Snapdragon 400 processor paired with 512MB RAM

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LIGHT IT UPA much-needed boys toy when you are outdoors at night. Not only is the Midland ER200 going to illuminate your path, it's also an AM/FM NOAA Weather Emergency Crank Radio and has an SOS flashlight beacon that flashes Morse code. The nifty part is that it contains a 2000mAh portable power bank with a USB charging port and cable for emergency mobile phone charging. You'll be happy to know it's also waterproof, making it perfect for those wadi and beach camping trips. Available at amazon.com from RO16.50.

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 7 0 4 5S E P 1 0 - 1 6 / I S S U E 3 8 6 0 4 5

App of the Week

ART OF MANLINESSAs its name suggests, this is probably the manliest app out there. In fact, your testosterone levels may well increase right after you download it, giving you instant access to podcasts and videos providing advice on things like how to jump from a speeding car and a man's guide to dining etiquette. Go on, be a man and get the app; it's free at itunes.com

RUGGED SOUNDOutdoor Tech has come up

with the awesome Chips headphones, which deliver great

sound directly into any helmet. Ideal for the guy who hates being

tangled up in wires while doing anything extreme outdoors, the

headphones consist of 40mm drivers that can be inserted into headbands or snapped into any headphone frame. They’ll stay on your ears without interfering with your helmet and the built-in mic lets you take calls or summon Siri at your command. Its oversized buttons let you control the audio or call connections with gloved hands. Snap a set up at outdoortechnology.com from RO50.50.

DJI is what you are looking for when it comes to consumer drones and this brand is definitely turning heads with the incredibly futuristic-looking Inspire 1. This drone has carbon fibre arms that give you a 360-degree view, an integrated 4K camera that boasts 12-million pixels and a nine-element lens that captures footage at 30fps. What more could you ask for in a drone? DJI’s fantastic mobile app gives you full control and can be powered simultaneously by two remotes if you’re looking to make things more interesting. Available at store.dji.com from RO1,518.50.

BOY'S TOYDitch the car and go super mobile on this Boosted Electric Skateboard. It's so small you can literally take it anywhere, unlike your car. If you’re worried about keeping your balance don’t worry, Boosted Boards make learning to skate easy. Simply hop on the board's bamboo deck and use the small handheld remote to slowly accelerate and brake. You'll be cruising around Muscat at up to 35kph within minutes. Just a single charge of the lithium battery will give you a 12km range from its powerful electric motors. Available at boostedboards.com from RO385.50.

NEW DJI DRONE

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