Y Magazine #273, 6 June 2013

Jet Set. Go!

What Muscat’s Glam Globe Trotters Are Packing For Their Great Get Away

Kayaking Kicks / Smart Specs After Earth / Hot Haramel

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Culture Vulture: Christina Scheppelmann 06 on ROHM’s new programme

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GREEN FOR GO: The virtue of envy in business LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU: Muscat’s week ahead

Your top guide to the best of Oman, every week

JUN 06 - 12 • ISSUE 273 • WEEKLY

FAST

MONEY

Is it time to put the brakes on easy credit in Oman?

PLUS!

Fashion

EMERALD CITY

Food

30

CHOCCY DIET

Outdoors

26

SUR IN STARS

36

Trend Barometer GOING UP Making Merry Birthday parties, unlike their guests, never get old. That’s why we’ll be celebrating Merge 104.8’s big day in style. Our sister radio station is turning two this week – woo-hoo!

Congratulations Nadim, Chris, Neil, Rumaitha and the gang.

GOING DOWN The Smell of Summer Top notes of sweat and sunscreen enveloped in a smoky, charcoal base with hints of fish and tiki torch – always effective in keeping both mosquitoes and potential suitors away.

THIS WEEK… Team Y has been working and playing hard, attending the launches of several new boutiques including Vivid and V eye P, as well as sampling Y’s new cocktail at the Grand Hyatt’s John Barry Bar.

EDITOR’S

NOTE

Welcome to the new look Y Magazine your indispensable guide to everything modern Oman has to offer.

Fast forward N

either a borrower nor a lender be – that’s always been my motto - but for many Omanis staying out of debt is becoming nigh impossible. The prevalent attitude is ‘buy now, pay later’ because people are no longer prepared to save and wait for what they want. So is it time for dame austerity to reign supreme in Muscat, curbing consumerism and increasing self-sufficiency? The simple answer should be a loud, screeching ‘yes’ – except things are a little more complicated than that when it comes to the economy. If we stopped spending and just saved, it would be a potential disaster.

After all, consumer spending is essential to growth and jobs, and banks enable people to purchase goods by offering them credit. But that’s not to say that both financial institutions and their customers should not take a responsible approach to lending and learn the recent lessons of both Dubai and Europe. In this edition, we explore the issue of fiscal accountability and what happens when the bubble bursts. Also in this week’s mag, we explore Sur under the moonlight and celebrate the fact that chocolate is not so bad for us after all. Now someone pass me that Mars bar.

Ways to get your Y fix Online: Visit y-oman.com for even more inspiration.

Smart device: Catch up with Y on the go at y-oman.com/current/issuu

Penny Fray

editor@y-oman.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Eihab Abutaha MANAGING EDITOR Penny Fray SECTIONS EDITOR Kate Ginn

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PAGE EDITOR Joe Gill PHOTOGRAPHER Jerzy Wierzbicki ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Feroz Khan

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Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing & Advertising LLC /Y is a SABCO Media product.

We’d love to hear your news and views. For editorial enquiries, please email info@y-oman.com

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

JUN 06 - 12 / ISSUE 273

03

contents JUNE 06 2013

Your Oman

10

06 The Big Interview Christina Scheppelmann 08 Letters

‘Truth is Beauty’ 10 News

Joy On Their Faces

Food & Drink 26 Trend

Hot Chocolate 28 Restaurant Review

Paul Cafe

28

This Week 14 This Week

Oman vs Jordan 16 Movie Listings

After Earth 18 Gallery Royal Opera House

14

Features 22 Oman In Debt

The Price of Credit

22 Business & Career 20 The Virtue Of Envy

Jealousy’s Slighty

Nicer Sister

Cars & Outdoors 37 Destination

Sur By Night 40 Outdoors

Kayak Crazy 42 My Hood Haramel

44 Y-Fi

Google Glass

46 Car of the Week 30 Fashion Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis

Green is Good

Health & Beauty

32 Holiday Special

Pack and Go

44 NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE...

fashion healer baby it’s hot outside seats in SALALAH colour crazed

YOUR

OMAN

CULTURE CHIEF

CHRISTINA SCHEPPELMANN, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE MUSCAT

Words: Penny Fray Photo: Jerzy Wierzbicki

Tell me about you career in 60 seconds or less: I went from finance and banking at Bankhaus Hesse Newman/ Handelsschule Hamburg to becoming an agent in Milan and then working in opera houses in Venice, Barcelona, San Francisco, Washington DC and now Muscat.

What particularly drew you to the Royal Opera House Muscat?

Everything! I specially love the fact that it is a unique and beautiful theatre.

The new season has been announced (and being Welsh, I’m naturally thrilled about the Welsh National Opera Orchestra coming over). What are your personal highlights?

To be honest, I have many favourites next season – but Majida, Kadim, Wiener Staatsoper, Claudio Abbado and Maurizio Pollini are fabulous artists and an opera company of the highest level.

You can’t please all of the people, all of the time. In brief, how does the programme selection process work?

I try to make sure we have high quality artists and companies over the course of the season. For Arabic events and education, I have the expert assistance of Prof. Issam Al-Mallah and Dr. Nasser Al Taee as well as three other collaborators. This is the nutshell answer – anything else would take up three pages in your magazine!

If you had a time machine and could go to any point or place in time, which performance would you go and see?

I would go very far back and not so far. First, I’d go to the Epidaurus Amphitheatre in 4th Century BC Greece to see the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides when created, and then to the 1960s to see Georg Solti’s Ring Of The Nibelung.

Royal opera houses are often seen as intimidating, elitist venues. You have made some steps to be more accessible with free tours, educational programmes and cheaper tickets – but can more be done?

There is always more that can be done as one also never stops learning – but being only 19 months old, we have done a lot and will do more. In addition, we need to continue reminding audiences that tickets start at RO3 upwards, so ROHM is open, welcoming and affordable to anybody interested and curious.

If time and resources weren’t issues, what would you like to achieve by this time next year?

This is not a question I like because we would be talking about a multitude of things. I would like to finalise season 14/15 a little earlier, so that by this time next year I’ll already be further along with 15/16. All international theatres and artists plan two to four years ahead and I would like us to be in sync with that.

Describe your character in three words?

An eternal optimist.

What do you do when you’re not working?

Travel, play golf, go to the gym, walk on the beach, read and enjoy the company of good friends.

CHRISTINA’S TOP TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THE INDUSTRY 1. ALWAYS BE OPEN MINDED AND CURIOUS 2. PERFORMING ART IS COMPLEX AND REQUIRES TEAM WORK. DON’T EVER THINK YOU ARE ALONE, IMPORTANT OR INDISPENSABLE. 3. THE AUDIENCE SENSES QUALITY. DON’T FORGET THIS OR UNDERESTIMATE YOUR AUDIENCE.

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JUN 06 - 12 / ISSUE 273

News

Gallery

INTERVIEW

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correspondence Y HighLIGHTS A SCANDAL Dear Editor, I was going through your recent publication and I was amazed to see the write up on the Ethiopian maid that you covered in your magazine. Kudos goes to you and to your team.

It opens up our minds and tells us the things that are happening all around us

POWERFUL PIECE – I WANT TO READ MORE...

It is disgusting that acts like this are happening in Oman (‘Maid to Suffer’), an absolute disgrace. Sad that there are countless stories like this not only in Oman, but all across the Middle East.

Kudos to Y-Oman for telling it like it is.

The fact that even one vulnerable girl would be used and abused like this and the sponsor would get away with it should make someone’s blood boil.

Andy Brown via Twitter

WRITE TO US AND WIN A VOUCHER

that we are not aware of. I really appreciate the good work you all are doing.The new look Y Magazine is amazing with really good articles throughout. I like the career coverage too. Quotes from experts are a refreshing move.

All the best and please continue to excel.

Mala Vyas, College of Banking and Financial Studies

Thanks to Y for the great article on the maid scandal.

Is there any way of accessing previous issues of Y magazine online?

Cheers, C Baker via Twitter

Editor’s Response I’m so glad that you’ve discovered Y and enjoyed it. Fortunately, we’ve put every single issue of the new-look magazine online. For a handy gallery you can see on your computer, tablet or smartphone, go to y-oman.com/archives/ Scan the virtual bookshelf and simply click on the cover you want to read. Remember, you can flick through it as you would a printed copy of the magazine. Enjoy!

Dinner For Two

SEND US YOUR letters, photos, news and views to info@y-oman.com / @ytabloid / www.facebook.com/ytabloid. Impress us and the winning correspondent will receive a RO20 voucher towards lunch or dinner at Park Inn. Terms and conditions apply.

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JUN 06 - 12 / ISSUE 273

YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US

Debate of the Week We asked:

Have you ever been in debt and why?

Jomari Somontina Sagal Almost all the time that I’ve been here in Oman, I have been in debt. Luckily, I have always found ways to pay it back.

Shyam Karani Winner!

I tried hard not to be in debt. It is a Reply of very uncomfortable feeling and keeps the Week hanging like a sword over one’s head.

Again, if one borrows from friends, it tends to spoil the relationships. Better to forgo an immediate pleasure and instead save up for it.

Dahlia C Castaneda I was in debt during the hardest days of my life because I was a single mother to my four kids. Thank God I overcame my trials and was able to pay all my debts, even though it took a long time to do it. I’m thankful for the trust the lenders had in me that I would pay it back.

LETTERS

E-MAILS

Beauty is truth, truth beauty ‘Poetry is the antithesis of science – having for its object pleasure, not truth.’

So said the early 19th century poet Coleridge. But was he right?

Art and science, though fundamentally different activities, have not been at daggers drawn with each other in society.

In fact, each influences the other and cannot be measured in isolation.

Many great scientists have been men of letters. Darwin admitted to have been delighted by the dramas of Shakespeare and the poems of Milton, Wordsworth and Shelley.

Humphry Davy, Rowan Hamilton and Thomas Huxley were interested in literature and art despite being scientists. In the second century, Ptolemy the astronomer was a poet too, as expressed in the following lines he wrote in the praise of heavenly bodies: ‘Mortal tho’ I be, yea ephemeral, if but a moment

I'm a reader

FA C E B O O K

TWITTER

I gaze up to the night’s starry domain of heaven, Then no longer on earth I stand: I touch the Creator And my lively spirit drinketh immortality.’

Literary men and artists have likewise been devotees of science. Literature has always changed in tone in obedience to the various scientific discoveries and theories of the time.

In England, the scientific spirit blossomed in the 17th century – and it is significant to note that the genius of Isaac Newton was much influenced by the essays of Francis Bacon, a great essayist. Since man is a thinking animal, he needs judgement, introspection and analysis which is provided by science.

God has also given him a heart to imagine, feel and touch all the colours of life and, through art, make his life meaningful. So art and science each sustain the philosophy of life by combining the harmony of the heart and brain.

Dr Ritu Bali, Al Khuwair.

SAIF EMAD was spotted in a gym in Muscat with a copy of Y Magazine

Venu G Nayer Debit and credit are not just found in accounts, they are there in life too. A bank balance is the best example. As the prices rise, the value of cash falls, leading to a debit on the balance.

Mayuri Sawant Yes, I am in the debt of the love and affection of my parents and all the struggle they have gone through to bring me up. I can pay my debt by doing even more for them.

Ahmed Al badai Yes, I have been in debt since I was just a foetus of 120 days old. I entered into a contract with my God who gave me a soul so that I can worship and obey him. As you know, the soul is Allah’s creation. He gave it to me as a debt to Him. It remains inside my body throughout its life on earth till the day of submission of my soul back to the owner.

THIS IS YOUR PAGE!

This Week’s Debate: What is the best way to escape the summer heat?

Tell us about it on Facebook.

Just send us your picture with the free Y Magazine or pose with our photographer and we will publish it on this page.

Send it to: info@y-oman.com

JUN 06 - 12 / ISSUE 273

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NEWS

YOUR

OMAN

Gallery

Interview

Joy on their faces

Down’s syndrome children enjoy fun day at TAISM Words: Joe Gill

T

hese children were playing ball games, watching a magic show and meeting cartoon characters – and enjoying every minute of it.

They happened to be Down’s syndrome children who came with their parents and siblings to an annual fun day organised by The American International School Muscat’s community support group.

“It’s remarkable how the kids looked so relaxed – they’re comfortable coming here and the families are so grateful,” said Keya Lahiri, community service and student support teacher at TAISM. Teachers from the school and parents from the Down’s Syndrome Parents Support Group (DSPSG) volunteered to make the day a success. One in 400 children in Oman are born with the syndrome, at least double the worldwide average, according to the group.

“The principal and directors at the school are fully supportive of the work the high school support group is doing with Downs Syndrome children,” said Lahiri. “I hope the event will grow and improve every year.”

McDonald’s and Papa John’s provided food for the children on the day, and two of the school’s gyms were opened for the families.

The school does not have any pupils with the condition, explained TAISM’s communications consultant Nicole BradburyBecx. “The event helps to give the children recognition. They don’t get the support they need in society,” she said.

Many parents of Down’s syndrome children struggle to find appropriate education and support for their children in Oman, explained DSPSG co-chair Zuwaina Barwani, a PDO accountant whose daughter Ruiya has the condition.

“We want recognition and then we want acceptance. We have a very high prevalence of Down’s syndrome in Oman. The number of children being born with Down’s increases every year.

“Officially it is 100-120 a year but those are just the ones who go to hospital to have the test. I am sure there are many more.”

She said 190 children were registered with the association from the capital, and a few from outside.

The DSPSG has been trying to obtain recognition from the Ministry of Social Development for several years, said Barwani.

Currently it meets once a week at the Early Intervention Centre in Azaiba.

“I tried everything for my daughter,” said Barwani. “I put her in a government school with a class for special needs but it was a failure. She was coming home with bad behaviour, so I took her out. Now she attends the Rehabilitation Centre in Mawaleh.

“Those who are well off can pay for private help or take their children out of the country where facilities are better.

“People often keep their children at home. Most parents suffer a stigma about Down’s syndrome, so they don’t want people to know their children have it.

“We are trying to change that but it will take time. We would like to have more openness, more publicity about the condition.

“The community needs to be educated and awareness needs to be raised within schools. Information about Down’s syndrome in society right now is, in my opinion, zero.”

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YOUR

NEWS

Gallery

Interview

CALLING TOMORROW’S TYCOONS OMAN

Forget about The Apprentice – a new enterprise centre has been launched to help small businesses flourish in Oman. Penny Fray reports

T

en of Oman’s most promising entrepreneurs are to be launched into business by a new initiative.

The Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (SEC) in Muscat will create a hothouse for the growth of small businesses to be run by the successful applicants.

Zubair Corporation says its non-profit SEC will provide all the necessary tools to help these fledgling ventures grow, succeed and become stable contributors to the Omani economy.

The ten entrepreneurs will be supported by professional consultancy services in law, finance, HR, administration and marketing.

The initiative will help each project build a strategy for sustainable success, and provide them with an interest-free loan as start-up capital. The centre will also help them access additional funding from other sources if they need it.

In addition, the centre will examine if there is a market among the Zubair Corporation’s own companies for the products or services being offered by the new businesses.

Launching the scheme at a press conference at the Shangri-La’s Ba AlJissah Resort and Spa, Zubair chairman Rashad Al-Zubair said the vision of the SEC came from the belief of the important role that small businesses play in securing a diverse, stable, sustainable and prosperous economy.

“This centre is set to become a home for young Omanis with big ideas and limitless innovation,” he said.

The initiative is in line with the Royal Decree from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, which called for all businesses to intensify their contribution to the national economy by supporting small and medium enterprises, which in turn will provide more job opportunities for Omanis.

The first five entrepreneurs were chosen from a workshop of 100 entrepreneurs on Sunday. The other five will be selected after a second workshop to be held later in the year.

The SEC will also provide social and educational activities for small businesses in general, including training workshops, seminars, orientation sessions and a creative centre.

CELEBRITIES JOIN Y IN A CAMPAIGN TO KEEP KIDS SAFE IN OMAN

Y

magazine gave away ten child car seats on Wednesday in a new safety campaign championed by the National Youth Committee (NYC) and Safety First.

The donation was made by SABCO Media as part of an awareness-raising event to encourage Oman’s parents to protect their children from the risk of death or injury in a car crash. Celebrities Ali Al Habsi (pictured), Hamed Al Wahaibi and NYCs Sayyid Nasr Albusaidi all reinforced the safety message at the Muscat Grand Mall presentation.

“Driving with our children not restrained in a car seat is the gravest mistake that we as parents can make,” said Sayyid Nasr. “We must collectively work super hard when it comes to promoting road safety for children.”

For more interviews, photographs and videos from the event, go to y-oman.com

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T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

BESPOKE BUYS

Got creative inclinations, want to save money or just prefer the personal touch? It’s time to get crafty in Oman with the big summer fair. Buy homemade gifts, cards and lots more at the Dolphin Village’s Banquet Hall on June 8, from 9am to 1pm.

For more information, go to facebook.com/groups/craftmomsoman

June

THIS

WEEK J

u

08

What to do.

What to see.

What to hear.

ne

WE ARE SAILING

Go on, rock the boat this summer – youngsters between the ages of 8-15 can now learn how to sail at either The Wave or Mussanah Marina with qualified instructors. The Summer Sailing Camp offers students a chance to learn new skills such as leadership, teamwork and problem solving. Plus, it’s a great way to cool down in the summer heat.

The two day course costs RO40 and can be booked on 24554216 or sail@seaoman.com.

June - July

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Gallery

Movies

June 08

COOL CHOIRS Move over book clubs and cup cake baking because choirs have never been cooler this season. Get into the groove with The Muscat Singers’ spring concert on June 8 at The Bosch Center for the Performing Arts at TAISM in Ghala. The performance starts at 4pm, but due to limited seating you’ll have to get your tickets in advance.

Call 9557 4887 (after 4pm on weekdays and 8am – 10pm on weekends)

June

08

Blue is the new green on World Ocean Day, so make sure you do your bit to protect one of the planet’s greatest resources on June 8. If you live near one of Oman’s many beaches, why not organise an aquatic clean up or pledge to reduce your carbon footprint? For more inspirational ideas go to worldoceansday.org.

BRIGHT ART Give your eyes a treat with Emanare - Diane Kazakis’ new exhibition at the MuscART Gallery on 18 November Street, Ghubra Plaza.

June 11 - 15

He gives great gifts and he’s better than any taxi service – it’s time to say thank you to your practically perfect pop on Father’s Day (June 16). Send in a picture of you and your dad to Radisson Park Inn Muscat along with a caption

by June 14 to info.muscat@rezidorparkinn. com and get a chance to win a family weekend breakfast for four at the hotel.

June Who needs Cannes when you have Spanish Cinema Week?

Improve your linguistic skills by settling down to some películas españolas at City Cinema in Shatti Al Qurum on June 10, 11 and 12 at 7.30pm. Screened films include Pan Negro and Mataharis. Entry is free.

LOVELY TO LEARN Looking for new ways to keep the kids entertained? Your search is over. The American Lycetuff School is having a Summer Fun day from June 15 onwards. It’s open to all schools and activities include swimming, art, music and mental math.

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Who says learning has to be lame? To register call either 24488462, 92641830 or 98129888.

Soccer On Screen June 18

Doting On Dad

POPCORN & SUBTITLES

10-12

June

SAVE OUR SEAS

Get ready to cheer the home side once again as Oman plays Jordan in the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup.

vs

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THIS WEEK

MOVIES MOVIES

After Earth Set on an abandoned Earth 1000 years in the future, this is a star and his son vehicle, with Will Smith also acting as producer and co-writer. M. Night Shyamalan is director for hire – his trademark atmospherics seem to be almost totally absent. What we get is a generic Hollywood blockbuster.

An awful lot rides on the chemistry and performances of the father and son leads, since the scenario of an earth abandoned due to environmental destruction (seen recently in Tom Cruise’s Oblivion) is now almost passé.

Smith is military hero Cypher Raige, who is seriously injured in a forced landing on Earth, which kills all the crew of the spaceship except he and son Kitai (Jaden Smith).

He sends Smith junior out on a dangerous mission to find the beacon that can save them, while all around the boy must ward off

the planet’s dangerously evolved species, as well as the deadly alien that was on board the ship and escaped in the crash.

It’s a familiar set up with a stern military father trying to discipline his rebellious son – while a wise mother knows that what the boy really needs is his father’s love.

Jaden Smith is by turns terrified or angry, while his pa remains stuck in tough commander mode.

Smith senior obviously enjoys playing the part of the last man on Earth, as in 2007’s I Am Legend.

The comparison is not flattering.

AE is at turns convoluted and predictable and relies too heavily on overfamiliar sci-fi scenarios.

Star power just isn’t enough to carry it through its brief 90 minutes – and you’ll probably see the ending coming a mile off.

Reviews by Joe Gill

B O L LY WATC H

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (‘This Youth is Crazy’)

‘You can never be wise and old if you’ve never been young and crazy’ is the motto of this. romantic Bollywood comedy. It stars Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in their second film together after the 2008 hit Bachna Ae Haseeno. After meeting at a train station, a friendship and romance develops as the pair take off with friends on some wild adventures to India’s top tourism spots, from Mumbai via Udaipur, the mountains of Manali and Kashmir and then globetrotting off to Paris and Argentina.

Among the dance routines, Madhuri Dixit makes an appearance in a big number with Kapoor.

THIS WEEK’S MOVIES 016

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Straight As

Now You See Me

Ryan Phillippe plays an inappropriate uncle – Scott - who is told by his dead mother to go home to the family and mend some fences. He turns up with a bag of dope and pills, and begins to exert a wayward influence on the children of his brother Luke Wilson and wife Anna Pacquin. It’s a charminhg little film with some strong performances but somewhat let down by the routine direction, script and some jumpy editing.

Four illusionists attract the attention of an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) and an Interpol detective who are looking for suspects in a series of bank heists. After Conception and The Illusionist, audiences are primed for tricksy movies that explore the extremes of the magician’s art. The Four Horseman are certainly able to do what appears to be impossible. A tremendous cast is brought together, including Oman-born Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine.

But the more that is revealed, the more we realise there’s nothing behind the curtain.

Y’s Top Two The Dyatlov 1 Pass Incident A real-life mystery in which nine young people died in 1959 is the starting point for this found footage thriller. It looks and feels rather like the first of the genre - The Blair Witch Project – but this time the setting is stunning Russian mountains , and with a bigger budget, better script and stronger ending, it is possibly superior to the original.

Siberian Education

John Malkovich stars in this drama about life among criminals in a remote Russian community at the time of the fall of communism. Based on the novel by the same name, director Gabriele Salvatores follows the friendship between the two main characters.

Despite the gritty setting, he gives us some unforgettable moments such as a piano floating down a river and joyful pranks in the snow.

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For more information and times, go to: City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net Star Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

THIS WEEK

The What’s On Guide

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

Movies

New season unveiled before summer break

Dr. Nasser al Taee

HH Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd Al Said Prof. Issam el Mallah

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GALLERY

BUSINESS & CAREER

Psychologists agree that a little envy can be a good thing. It acts as a signpost to the things that are missing in your life. So, rather than keeping your covetous feelings under cover – put them under the spotlight and interrogate them thoroughly before taking positive action to improve things.

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Trend

Networking

Minute Mentoring

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Trend

Networking

Minute Mentoring

THE VIRTUE Of Envy Penny Fray discovers how to use jealousy’s slightly nicer sister to find success.

O

kay, you’re no stranger to the seven deadly sins. Vanity? That explains the obscene amount of rials you spend every season in Amouage. Gluttony? You practically have shares in LuLu’s bakery section. And sloth is simply a way of life. But your current spiritual copy paper is blotted by one transgression in particular – envy.

The philosopher Aristotle once defined it as pain at the good fortune of others. And while a touch of the green-eyed monster is never pleasant, especially when followed by a sense of your own imagined failure, it can change your career for the better.

According to psychologist Dr Steve Wooding, all emotions, even negative ones, are designed to draw our attention to something that needs rectifying in our lives.

“Regret brings an opportunity to reflect and ask ourselves if we’re really doing the best we can with what we have, and if not, question what we are going to do about it,” he says.

“The problem with both envy and regret is that when we don’t follow them with reflection and action, they develop and distort quite destructively.

Envy tends to be focused outwards and leads into anger, while regret focuses inwards and slowly eats away at us, hollowing us out.”

While Steve believes we should avoid making comparisons in the first place, the only cure for regret is action. Also, remember everything has its price. It’s important to look at the bigger picture.

“Often those that we may envy have paid a price in other areas of their lives that we’re just not aware of, or have put in huge amounts of time and effort earlier on in their career in order to get where they are now. And sometimes the price of their success has been paid by someone else.”

According to the expert, we often have to make a trade off or strike a balance and that’s down to values.

“If you really value a solid, stable family life, then a career that involves constant early starts, late nights and endless hours on the iPhone is going to be tricky,” he says. “On the flip side, if it’s a high powered career you’re after, then relationships usually have to take second place.”

So, the moral of this tale is to stop thinking about what your competitor or colleague has and start concentrating on your own talents, opportunities and blessings. Spend enough time thinking about the positives, and the negatives will soon dwindle, leaving you feeling happier, wealthier and wiser.

WHAT THE EXECUTIVES SAY: If you share in their success, envy evaporates “When you feel envious of something good happening to another person, the best way to receive it is to believe that the person is reaping the fruits of his/her good actions, which should inspire you to do likewise. If you see them as a part of you, envy evaporates. You would never envy your own child for something good happening, would you?” Rajive Ahuja, head of corporate communications, Khimji Ramdas

Try to turn the negative into a positive “Envy can be a negative emotion where we can’t control our feelings – but we can control our deeds. It’s how we react to it that matters. We can either let it destroy us (and others) or we can use it to help motivate us to change our lives for the better. I know which option I prefer.” Abdullah Al-Rashdi, account executive at Zeenah

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C oNen n e c t e d

twork fro with Y’s newm your desk weekly profile .

Name: Iyad Abb Position: Regio as and Distinct Dar nal Director of V eye P Boutique Benefits: The Muscat Galleria is ideal fonewly opened store at the Opera sunglasses and framr anyone looking for stylish Character: D es for their eye care needs.

Would Like Tynamic, energetic and ambitious. of frames or sunglao Meet: Anyone who wants a pa ir Contact me o sses, of course. n: eyad@daroptic s.com

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MR. MAX A. MILLION

t’s the easy answer to the question – how can you get the stuff you really want? The new SUV, that beautiful necklace for your sister’s wedding, and that amazing flatscreen television.

Most of your salary goes on the basics so there’s not much over for luxuries. You’ve tried saving, but it takes time and life is short. You want to get your hands on the goodies now.

Then you see a bank loan advertisement offering cheap finance for new customers. You call the number on the ad, tell them how much you want, and they offer you a deal. You bring in your salary certificate to the bank. They don’t ask too many questions, and you only tell them what they need to know.

It all seems so easy. As one bank website says: “No waiting period, no cumbersome procedures – your loan is processed quickly and efficiently.

If you wish, our sales representative will visit you to make it even easier!”

There is the small print about your obligations as a borrower, but you don’t worry about that

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now. In a few days, the money appears magically in your account.

Soon a souped up SUV is parked outside and the shiny new flat-screen television is on its way, and there’s enough over on the loan to get that necklace too.

Paying back the loan is the last thing on your mind today. But that will change. Banks, like elephants, never forget.

Unexpected things happen that deplete your ability to service the loan. The question is – how are you ever going to pay it back?

It’s a story Maria knows only too well. “I had a good job in Dubai. I had two bank accounts, two bank loans, and four credit cards,” she says.

Getting credit was no problem. “When I took the loans out, there was no security check to see what other debts or loans I had. The banks don’t do the checks in my experience,” she explains Things seemed to be fine until Maria lost her job. Then her wild spending and borrowing finally caught up with her.

“The four banks wanted to see cash going into

the accounts but they weren’t willing to let me readjust the payments.

“They just insisted they wanted it all paid back in one go or they would put a travel ban in place, and bring a legal case against me.”

“All the banks had the same attitude – get the money from a rich relative or friend. I know loads of people who were in the same situation.

Lots of them left their debts behind,” explains Maria.

“I took a loan here to pay back one of my Dubai debts.” Maria says. “The Omani bank didn’t even ask what I wanted the loan for.”

As Y reader Jomari Somontina Sagal says: “Almost all the time that I’ve been here in Oman, I have been in debt. Luckily I always found ways to pay it back.”

Others are not so lucky. For them, it’s a stressful and worrying situation. In the worst-case scenario, up to 70 percent of monthly salary goes to pay off the credit card or loan.

Following similar moves in the UAE, Oman’s Central Bank governors agreed last month to a

PAYBACK TIME Easy credit has helped fuel consumer spending in recent years. But new statements from the Central Bank suggest the party may soon be coming to an end. Joe Gill reports

new cap on consumer loan payments that means borrowers should not pay more than 50 per cent of their monthly salary for personal loans.

The Central Bank has also decided to impose a ceiling of 35 per cent on the proportion of personal loans within banks’ lending portfolios, reducing it from 40 per cent from June 30 2014.

All this follows a period of sustained growth in bank lending, with bank credit expanding year on year on the back of rising consumer demand and big increases in public spending.

More than 46 percent of total bank credit is in the household sector. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, the banks’ personal loan balance stood at RO5.7258 billion.

Some in the retail sector fear that efforts to tighten credit will hit spending in the shops, as consumers are forced to forego expensive items.

“Definitely any tightening of credit availability will affect demand,” said one retail manager.

“Most of the consumers are salaried employees so when they go to buy luxury goods they use the loan facilities. If it is restricted, they will not be able to purchase the consumer durables.”

He added: “We don’t know what the impact on us will be of any change to credit regulations, but we appreciate that the government will make decisions in the interests of the general public.”

His company uses a consumer credit specialist that offers short-term credit for up to 90 days.

Consumer bank loans can have much longer repayment periods of up to 180 months.

So are banks in danger of ignoring the lessons from other countries and lending recklessly to those who can’t afford to pay back their loans?

Ubiquitous bank ads offering easy access to personal loans seem to suggest they are.

Tony Mahoney, chief executive of Bank Dhofar, insists this is not the case for his bank.

“We are a responsible lender and so have very few problem loans, and always seek to support customers needing some help with repayments.

“We focus on quick decisions but good ones and have seen strong growth in well structured housing loans.”

He adds that current regulations of personal loans are “sound”.

The CBO recently issued its first ever Financial Stability Report on the nation’s financial health. It joins more than 80 countries around the world that issue such reports to give signals to policymakers about the financial stability of the country, and any potential threats.

However, it should be noted that such reports in other countries failed to prevent the massive financial crises that swept the world five years

ago. One of the victims was Dubai, whose borrowing and spending spree eventually caught up with it in spectacular style.

In 2009, Dubai’s property bubble burst and the state investment company found itself unable to service its $59 billion debt mountain. In the end, Abu Dhabi had to bail it out.

Across Europe and America, a huge housing bubble was followed by the banking crisis of 2007-9 and a deep recession, which in turn saw government revenues plummet. What followed was an extended period of austerity – spending cuts – that has yet to end.

All this seems very far away from Oman, with its robust economic growth rate and government spending underpinned by buoyant oil revenues.

But the lesson from other countries is that banking and debt crises can emerge as if from nowhere. An economic slowdown can reveal problems that remain hidden when growth is high and credit is easy. Like a tide going out, the onset of tough times has a tendency to reveal the bodies on the beach.

Maria has learnt her lesson about the dangers of easy credit. “Don’t live beyond your means. If you’re going to do it, take the responsibility by staying in touch with the banks and paying back the loans.”

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023

‘I blew $10,000 in a week’ A binge on credit cards and loans caught up with Maria* and she eventually had to leave the country.

I

Words: Joe Gill

took one loan to finance the purchase of a property.

With one bank I had two credit cards and a loan, and with the other bank one card and a loan.

Before the Dubai crash I had gone on holiday to Las Vegas and blew $10,000 in a week.

At the time I had a good job so I could make the payments. When I lost my job I used the cards to finance myself in the hope I would get another job.

I didn’t actually see a problem until the last ten months in Dubai. With the financial crash in 2008 the company I was working for went bust so I had no means to prove an income, even though I had income from other sources.

I tried to negotiate with the banks. At that point I hadn’t broken any laws. If you have defaulted for three months, they can bring a case against you.

To borrow you have to sign a check for the amount you have borrowed.

After them not agreeing to reschedule payments, I asked to consolidate the loans.

You are trying to stay in the system, keep them happy by paying down one loan with the credit cards. The loans were going down but the cards were going up.

When you are just making the minimum interest payments, the amount goes up each month and you are not paying down the amount borrowed.

I hadn’t defaulted when I left the country. I told them I was going to leave. If the banks would not be help me consolidate the payments, and are going to force me to stay in a country until they seize my passport, then I will leave.

They become really threatening but then they will negotiate. The same agencies do the collecting for different banks, so you get to know them.

One bank said I could make a one-off payment for 180,000 dirhams and write off half the loan. It was better to pay it off in one payment than just pay interest each month.

I stayed open with the banks and told them where I went. I have cleared two of the debts and I am still clearing the others. I went back to Dubai recently and paid my installment in cash.

What do I take away from all this? Don’t live beyond your means. If you’re going to do it, take the responsibility by staying in touch with the banks and paying back the loans.

I knew at some point it would come back and catch me if I ignored it. It would never be an option not to pay or disappear, even as nasty as they get. I’ll still clear it. *The name of the interviewee has been changed to protect her identity

MR. MAX A. MILLION

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NEITHER A BORROWER NOR A LENDER BE, SAYS PENNY FRAY

T

here are some things, even in this carefree, modern world, that a lady still keeps to herself – like how much she spends and, above all, how much she owes.

In my case, I probably squander too much of my hard earned rials on handbags and holidays – but I’ve paid for them all myself. I don’t borrow money. In fact, I’m one of the few people I know who has never taken out a loan. I don’t even have a credit card. It’s not that I’m rich. My parents aren’t millionaires and I’ve never won the lottery. I’ve just been brought up with old-fashioned values.

Since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and demanding the most expensive toys in the shop, I’ve been told that you can’t have what you can’t afford.

My mother, a Welsh Methodist with firm morals, was an avid advocate of cutting your cloth according to your means – and if that meant wearing a five-year-old coat and foregoing a foreign holiday, so be it. In short, she did thrift before it became fashionable. And while I like Prada too much to follow in her prudent footsteps, she taught me a valuable lesson in self-sufficiency. Working hard to own something makes you appreciate it all the more.

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food and drink

Did you know?

Chocolate, especially the good stuff containing more than 70 per cent pure cocoa, is rich in flavonoids – helping to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

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Trend

New Restaurant SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE

Reviews

Not yet learned to love artisan chocolate? One visit to Le Palais Du Chocolat and you’ll be converted.

Inside their Opera Galleria boutique, you’ll find glass counters filled with lovingly crafted treats from Switzerland, France and Belgium.

We can’t get enough of their giandujas. And if they don’t win you over, their French macarons are pretty special too.

&

CHOC AWE

TREND New Restaurant

News

Chocoholics rejoice – a new study shows eating more of the sweet stuff might actually help you stay slim. Penny Fray celebrates by scoffing several bars.

I

f a giant bar of chocolate disappears from the fridge in the middle of the night but no one remembers eating it – were calories actually consumed? The answer is as clear as your muffin top – or at least that it used to be the case. Recently, we’ve been hit by a slew of fabulous – if slightly unbelievable – food news. Wait for it.

Chocolate can help you stay slim.

Although it contains more calories than most other foods, those who eat chocolate regularly have less body fat than those who don’t, according to a new scientific study.

Having analysed the diet, calorie intake and body mass index of a thousand people, it was discovered that a small amount of chocolate eaten throughout the week could help your body burn off fat.

Other studies have found that the benefits of chocolate can include a drop in the risk of heart disease and strokes, a reduction in blood pressure and a cut in the risk of diabetes. The only fly in the ointment is that it has to be eaten in moderation.

Never mind, in celebration of these nice nuggets – check out our gratuitous selection of sweet treats.

y’s top choc TreatS ROCOCO

Once bitten, you’ll be truly smitten because Rococo makes the most amazing artisan chocolates using perfume grade essential oils and fragrances. The dark chocolate blend is made from the Grococo project in northern Grenada. For more information, go to rococochocolates.com

CHARBONNEL ET WALKER

Who says diamonds are a girl’s best friend?

I’d argue that shoes and chocolates trump the bling. This sweet-shaped shoe from the purveyors of posh English chocolate, Charbonnel at Walker, is presented in a stylish handbag for extra brownie points – available in most upmarket food and gift shops.

GODIVA

When it comes to premium chocolate in posh packaging, Godiva, in the SABCO Centre Qurum, is the place to go. In addition to Belgium chocolate, the store sells truffles, cocoa, biscuits and dipped fruits. We seriously heart.

ENJOY MEGA SAVINGS OF THIS SEASON! Shop at any K.M. TRADING & K.M. HYPERMARKET Outlets across OMAN and Enjoy discounts on

20% Disc

ount

GARMENTS | SHIRTINGS | SUITINGS | SAREES | CHURIDAR MATERIAL FOOTWEAR | NOVELTIES & PREMIUM PERFUMES www.kmtrading.com www.kmtrading.com

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food and drink

review N e w R e s t a u r a n t

News

Mid Market

Info Box

LET THEM EAT CAKE

F

Address: Muscat Grand Mall, Al Khuwayr Al Janubiyyah, Muscat, Oman Opening Times: 8am – 11pm daily (11.30pm on the weekend) Phone number: 22009583 Price (dinner for three people with drinks): RO40

A French haven for those seeking sweet sanctuary from the MGM crowds - but expect to wait, says Penny Fray.

our years of classes and all I’ve got down is ‘oui’, ‘non’ and ‘je voudrais un sac de Chanel, merci’. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate all things French. I mean can you imagine a world without couture, pastries or perfume? Of course not, that’s why I was ‘extatique’ when I discovered that Paul, one my favourite French pâtisserie places, had opened a café in Muscat Grand Mall.

No sooner than it had opened its doors earlier this year, I was queuing for fresh bread and boxes of beautiful macarons (cup cakes are so passé – non?).

For those of you not in the know, the history of Paul is the story of a family’s passionate commitment to old-style baking methods. In 1889, a small local bakery opened in Croix, near Lille, in northern France. Four generations later and the name ‘Paul’ is known throughout France and, increasingly, around the world – including Oman.

So, if you’re after some pain artisanal or something pretty and sugary, this place has got it covered, making it a must stop for ladies who lunch.

The venue is chic in an understated way and reminiscent of a Parisian café with traditional tables, smartly dressed staff and a front counter crammed with freshly baked breads and pastries.

The look is uniform and heavily branded, so there is little to differentiate it from its counterparts in Dubai, London or Washington. The menu is the same, which is both a blessing and a curse, depending on which side of the foodie spectrum you fall into.

On the weekend, there are queues of people all hungry for their posh sandwiches, coffee and mouth-watering cakes – myself included. So, imagine my disappointment when I invited a couple of friends to dine there and – tragédie – it’s not quite up to scratch.

I was late, due to the fact that I can never figure out how to get into MGM let alone find parking space, while my companions had already arrived and bagged one of the coveted al fresco tables. Chilling out by a giant fan, drinks in hand, they looked perfectly contented while I tried to catch the waiter’s attention for

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review N e w R e s t a u r a n t

News

VERDIC

7

T:

10 a Diet Coke. Slow service in this place is a major A chic st o drawback due to its popularity – luckily there’s and casu p for cakes a but serv l dining – always the most amazing breadbasket to stave off ice can b e sl ow. hunger pangs while you wait.

I had already scoffed half a colleague’s pizza shortly before arriving and was fine twiddling my thumbs while my companions shared a starter of Caesar salad, which looked delicious. No complaints so far, except for the less than ideal view of piled up chairs and the bang, bang banging of a maintenance man in the background.

For mains, I had my usual chicken sandwich with salad and chunky chips, a dish that never disappoints during my lunchtime outings. This particular evening, however, the chicken wasn’t as warm or succulent as usual. It wasn’t bad just not amazing.

My friends both ordered the salmon fillet, which was nicely cooked but there was way too much beetroot on the plate and the mash was slightly on the heavy side.

Everyone was feeling a bit full afterwards but it would have been a sin not to come to Paul’s without sampling one of their famous cakes. I had a raspberry tart, which was simply stunning, and persuaded one of my companions to join me. None of his choices were available, so he went with the waiter’s recommendation of a flan slice. He said it was good, but that doesn’t mean much from a man who has little interest in dessert. As a selfconfessed sugar fiend, I tried it and it was lovely – albeit not as sweet as I had hoped.

All in all it was an okay experience but the food was a little less luscious than usual and the service was painfully slow – so slow in fact that I nearly missed the beginning of Iron Man 3 waiting for the bill. Also, they make you wait yonks for change, so don’t pay with big notes otherwise you may end up giving them a 50 per cent tip if you’re in a rush.

Light At Heart Chocolate Tart Ingredients: 90g porridge oats / 50g plain flour / 25g Tate & Lyle Light at Heart white sugar / 60g unsalted butter, cubed.

For the filling: 150g dark chocolate, broken into pieces / 60g Tate & Lyle Light at Heart brown sugar / 50g unsalted butter / 50g plain flour / four medium free range eggs, beaten / half fat crème fraîche, to serve.

Method R Heat the oven to 180ºC, gas mark 4. Place the oats, flour, white sugar and butter in a food processor and whizz to make crumbs. Add 3–4 tbsp of cold water and whizz again until the mixture starts to stick together.

R Press firmly into the base of a 20cm non-stick, loose-bottomed tart tin. Sit the tin on a baking sheet and bake for ten minutes until just set but still pale.

R Meanwhile, for the filling, gently heat the chocolate, brown sugar and butter in a small pan until melted then pour into a large bowl and leave to cool for five minutes.

Beat in the flour and eggs.

R Pour the chocolate mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 15 minutes until just set. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes then lift out and cool on a wire rack. R Slice and serve with crème fraîche and berries.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Beauty

FASHION

Not only do emerald gems make amazing jewellery – they’re also reputed to bolster the wearer’s concentration and brainpower.

GREEN SHOOTS

Hipsters look to Pantone for the official word on what shades we’ll be seeing in the shops and on the catwalks next season. And this year, emerald has become the hue du jour for the global intelligence company. Expect to see it on everything from frocks to fingernails soon.

Model wears lace dress from M&Co

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EMERALD CITY

This two-tone dress with sheer inserts made fashion headlines this season. Smart enough for the office and sufficiently sexy for evening – it oozes versatility. RO400 from Harvey Nichols, Dubai.

Green went from envy to enviable after being named Pantone’s colour of the year, reveals Penny Fray.

From catwalk to closet

G

reen may be the colour of grass, leprechauns and envy but it’s also this year’s hottest hue. Last month, Pantone, a global authority on tint, unveiled emerald has its shade of 2013.

Described as radiant and lush, this green gem has already shown up on several catwalk shows and red carpets but come next season, you can expect to see it everywhere. At the moment though, lighter, brighter shades like apple, lime and mint are dominating Muscat’s malls and souks. Colour block it for ultimate cool, otherwise add drama to neutrals with a pop of neon.

Green may be the new black – but it’s not just about colour. This year, ethical and environmentally aware style has never been sassier. Clothes with conscience are seen as chic thanks to pioneering brands like Stella McCartney, Edun and Vivienne Westwood.

High street companies like H&M are also embracing the trend for responsible trade. So, what are you waiting for? Be good.

Be green.

Gorgeous green colour? Check.

Gladiator style design?

Check. Day to evening heels? Check.

What’s not to love about these statement sandals from Steve Madden?

You don’t have to be a green-eyed monster to wear emeralds on your lids with this powder compact from The Body Shop in Muscat City Centre.

This Mango foulard is a fabulous way to lift a plain t-shirt. RO12.95 Cute and colourful – this DKNY clutch is a must buy.

RO95

Simple and stylish – this enamel bracelet from Chloe tops my bliss list. RO99

Going Green: PENNY’S GUIDE TO WEARING THIS YEAR’S COOLEST COLOUR

1 The most fashion forward way to wear green is from head to toe or by colour blocking it with another primary hue. It’s all about making a statement this season. 2 Don’t fancy looking like a children’s TV presenter? Fear not because emerald green also looks gorgeous with neutrals. Wear a pair of emerald ‘skinnies’ with a breezy white blouse and nude sandals.

3 Update your wardrobe with green accessories. A pair of emerald shoes or earrings, for instance, gives a glamorous edge to the little black dress.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

B ea u ty

Fashion

GLOBE TROTTERS

We asked three Muscat jet setters what essentials they’ll be taking on their travels this summer. By Penny Fray.

Hanadi Al Zadjali, creative director and co-founder of Boutique Muscat

Dream Destination: Monaco and Cannes during the film festival. But, if I escape work, the plan is to head for Barcelona and Madrid.

Suitcase Essentials: A summer dress, a light cardigan, a pair of linen pants and a few versatile tops – plus a large hat and pair of stylish sunglasses. The main goal is to leave enough space in the suitcase to bring back some shopping.

Destination Stores: Obviously, I love Boutique Muscat’s summer accessories - the PVC bags with Arabic phrases and Liliaya tops in particular. They are perfect for travelling. I also have my eye on Totem’s new sandals and a few tops from H&M. Beauty Basics: My new summer make-up routine includes Christian Dior’s BB Crème. I also love the eye-shadow palette – naked 2 – from Sephora.

Both have to be in my bag this summer for a day to night look.

Sunblock is also a must-have item.

Top travel tips: ❂ Pack light. ❂ Make sure the pieces you take are versatile and actually try them on beforehand to see which pieces go with what. ❂ Take care of your skin. It’s easy to get laid-back about your skincare whilst on holiday but find an easy cleansing and protecting routine. ❂ Have lots of fun.

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Nerry Toledo, consultant for Muscat and Qurum City Centres

Dream Destination: Every place I visit is a dream destination as the world is just too beautiful a place not to explore.

Next month I will be travelling to Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Venice and hopefully Paris, depending on my schedule.

Suitcase Essentials: It’s summer time in Europe, so I will bring light dresses, shorts, tops, flip flops, a pair of Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses and sunscreen lotion.

Beauty Basics: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil from Boots Pharmacy; Sante Bio-Acai lip balm from an organic shop; a shimmering nude lipstick from MAC; Sensai’s SPF 15 Fond de Teint Poundre and fluid foundation; Johnson’s Daily Essentials Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover; Boi-ing concealer by Benefit and 24/7 Glide-on Eye pencil by Urban Decay.

Top travel tips: ❂ Check the weather forecast earlier in the week. ❂ Be active on your trip. Integrate physical activity into the itinerary.

Walking aimlessly will cost you nothing and it’s a great way to get in shape. Allow yourself to get lost and you may discover some amazing things. ❂ Try local food as it will tell you more about their culture but don’t forget to take digestive enzyme tablets.

HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

B ea u ty

Fashion

Gurdeep Singh Multani,

brand manager for European Motors

Dream Destination: Las Vegas is great for entertainment, shopping and luxury but this year, I’m hoping to spend the summer on the Italian Riviera.

Suitcase Essentials: Weather appropriate clothes, my iPad and my BlackBerry!

Destination Stores: Tommy Hilfiger for my clothes and Puma for shoes and luggage.

Beauty Basics: Sunscreen and ‘Cool Water’ by Davidoff Top travel tips: ❂ Be sure to carry your medication, travelling is no fun if you’re unwell. ❂ Make sure you explore the lengths and breadths of the place you visit, but always remember to stay safe. ❂ Always keep a spare credit card, in a place away from your wallet.

This way, in case of a mishap, you’re always covered.

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My Hood

CARS AND OUTDOORS

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Cars

Wi-Fi

OUTDOORS

SUR THING

The breeze off the sea adds to the quiet pleasures of walking around the harbour at Sur in the evening.

Boats and lights on the new bridge all add to the atmosphere.

My Hood

Sur in the night

Cars

Wi-Fi

OUTDOORS

Destination The port town is not necessarily on the must visit list, but the harbour at night is a pleasure for the senses, says Jerzy Wierzbicki

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CARS AND OUTDOORS

My Hood

Cars

I

Wi-Fi

OUTDOORS

was born in a port town and it’s probably for this reason that Sur has a special attraction for me.

Last weekend, I decided to visit Sur during the night of the full moon and take some shots of the Al Ayjah harbour. Madness?

Maybe.

I brought only one camera with two fixed lenses – a wide angle and a short telephoto. I double-checked to make sure the tripod was in the car because it’s essential for night shots.

After driving along and watching the sunset over the mountains, with my dog Tropp sitting beside me, I reached Sur at dusk.

I waited until it was dark and the moon was high in the sky. The port was empty. Everyone had gone home to their families, including the fishermen. The working boats lay still on the banks of the harbour.

I set up my tripod next to the big watchtowers at the end of the port to capture Sur at night.

A breeze rolled in off the sea making for perfect conditions. I took my first shot of the streetlights shining from the main road, exposed for about half a minute – which is long enough for a night cityscape.

The artificial light mixed with the moonlight

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produced an attractive effect. The white orb cast a powerful radiance so I had to change my position, moving my tripod next to two large wooden boats anchored in the port.

With a long exposure, I was able to capture the slight movements of the boats due to the wind and small waves. The sodium lamps in the port cast an intense yellowish pall over the place, adding atmosphere to the images.

The minaret of the mosque beside the port was illuminated green, making a fine contrast against the moonlight and the dark blue sky.

The last location I really wanted to photograph was the new bridge connecting the centre of Sur with the Ayjah port.

The red lights of the bridge and the bright yellow street lamps were reflected in the harbour’s water making a kind of tricolour in the bay – an ideal subject for some long exposure shots.

Sur harbour is a good place to visit at night in the summer, when it benefits from the sea air and is not too hot. There are some tourist facilities for visitors, including a new hotel with a good restaurant.

Whether you take photographs or not, the 260 kilometre trip down the new highway is definitely worth the effort.

travel guide

HOW TO GET THERE Head down the coast on the new highway for 260 kilometres and you will reach Sur. GPS location of the Ayjah port N22’33’54 E59’32’25 JUN 06 - 12 / ISSUE 273

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MMyy HHoooodd

CCaarrss

SHORE THING What better way to get right up close to Oman’s glorious sea life than kayaking?

Heather Duncan gets ready to roll.

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OUTDOORS WWi i- -FFi i OUTDOORS

O

man has it all – a vast rugged coastline that just one clumsy nudge could tip over the kayak. leading to crystal clear waters and packed Fortunately, the fish didn’t even seem to notice we with amazing marine life. And what better were there, leaving us to persevere undisturbed way to explore it than kayaking? through the waters.

The silent, eco friendly way of sailing is super trendy After crossing the bay at the Dive Centre to the right now, with everyone from comedian Miranda wave breaker of the Shangri La marina, we were Hart and Kate Hudson being treated to even more diverse spotted doing it. marine life. There, I saw a large Deciding not to beat the usual octopus pass right under the front tourist path of going on a costly of my kayak. Seeing these creatures boat trip, I headed to the Oman in their natural habitat made me  Kayaks were designed by the Inuit, who built the Dive Centre instead. feel like the famous naturalist David original boats from seal skins Here, my companion and I Attenborough. It was phenomenal. stretched over wood and bone could rent the necessary equipment After an hour of paddling in the frames, using them for hunting mid-day sun we were ready to head from six rials each, and paddle amongst the ice flows. out of the bay through amazing back to shore. It’s hard work and  In a canoe you only have aquamarine waters. you can easily burn between 300 one blade on your paddle to It was so simple a child could and 450 calories in this relatively propel yourself, so you are do it – and they frequently do. I short time frame – just remember swapping sides. On a kayak was given a one-person kayak and to wear sunscreen and bring plenty you have two blades. paddle, which I pushed out into of water with you. Thankfully,  An ‘Eskimo roll’ is the name given to capsizing in a the water before getting in and we had both worn sensible UV kayak. This is also how you get protective tops to shield us from learning the rhythm of the row. back to an upright position.

Despite being a novice, after a the harsh heat. After all, it’s easy  Kayaking became an few wobbly minutes, I got the hang to forget the soaring temperatures official Olympic sport in the of it. And boy, it was wonderful. when you are out there on the 1936 Games.

As I paddled, the surrounding water splashing around. It also pays water was so clear that I could see to be careful where you’re going. all the way down to the coral reefs Hollywood star Russell Crowe had and was privileged to see the fantastic fish swimming to be rescued recently by the coast guard after he got among the stony colonies. lost during a kayaking trip. If you don’t have a buddy I stopped for a couple of minutes just to observe to paddle with, then let someone know where you all the different creatures going about their business. are going, even though the sea here is serene, it is still Big whoppers were spotted in the shadows of a dangerous place. the overhanging cliffs. Being so close to us, I was My next challenge is to convince my husband to gobsmacked by their size and possibly a bit scared buy me a kayak so I can make this a regular sport.

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CARS AND OUTDOORS

EXPLORING

Haramel The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Life in Haramel is not necessarily that easy for its residents, particularly those living in run-down accommodation in its narrow streets and alleys. It makes up for this with a strong sense of community, and a living, breathing connection with the sea. Nearby hotels and resorts provide employment for those who can’t afford to live by fishing alone.

When it rains the inadequate drainage system can lead to a very unpleasant smell, some residents say.

Living There There is a mosque and, of course, Haramel’s working beach where life continues as it has for many years. A couple of expatriates are building properties here, although for the most part this is a place where people are born and stay. There isn’t much to do here but you are on a stunning stretch of coast, close to Muttrah and Ruwi, and away from the hubbub and pollution of the city, even though it is just up the road. The nearest school is in Sidab.

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Photo by Jerzy Wierzbicki

The LowDown A small community that makes its living from the sea, Haramel lies on that stretch of beautiful rocky coast from Bandar Najih through Muttrah and Sidab down to al Sifa.

The turn off on the road from Al Bustan on Sidab Street is easily missed. Before the road was built, the village was cut off from the rest of the coast except by boat. There is nothing particularly modern or happening in Haramel, and that’s probably for the best, as it has a charm all of its own.

It’s one of the oldest communities in the Wilayat of Muscat that still looks and feels like a traditional fishing village.

Cars

Wi-Fi

Outdoors

My Hood

Why I live here: I was born here. Life can be difficult. The streets are very small and the houses are old. The water is not clean. I was a fisherman before I started working as a diver. I still have a boat. For shopping you have to go to Sidab or Ruwi. Muneer, diver

HangOuts Head down to the beach, check your engine, make some nets, perhaps take out your boat for fishing or a trip to a nearby beach. Truth is, there is not much else to do in Haramel. Things are a little more lively in nearby Sidab, but if you want to go out you have Muttrah and Ruwi just up the road. Park your yacht in the nearby Capital Area Yacht Club, have a picnic in the pretty park under the mountains by Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, or head down the coast for an al fresco barbecue.

Places of Interest Haramel is not only a working fishing village with a lot of atmosphere – it’s close to the old port town of Sidab, with its longstanding fishing community and salty seafaring spirit. On the other side of Haramel is the old British Ambassador’s residence, the Capital Area Yacht Club, Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, the new Majlis and the Ministry of Fisheries buildings

by Al Bustan.

Shopping The village has one convenience store, a barber, a coffee shop and two taylors. A few building contractors are based here. For more substantial shopping than tea and biscuits, you can head into neighbouring Sidab or drive up to Ruwi.

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-FI

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WI-FI

SMART SPECS

With the much-hyped Google Glass on the cusp of release, Penny Fray discovers how smart glasses are redefining our digital interfacing.

THE TECH IN YOU

3D DRAMA Dive into a brave new world of film and video with these multimedia glasses from Carl Zeiss. The cinemizer OLED projects a 40-inch image into the glasses and offers superb stereo sound for the ultimate 3D experience. Even better for you bats out there – it comes with prescription glasses. Go to cinemizer.zeiss.com

BORG ME These may look like something from an episode of Star Trek but Vuzix’ M100 is actually the world’s first hands-free smartphone display system. In other words, you can email, text, video and map on the go with voice or gesture commands. With applications floating in front of your eyes, it’s futuristic, freaky but utterly fabulous. For more information go to vuzix.com

FORGET PRINTERS The future meets reality with the new Moverio BT-100. This portable controller and headset from Epson allows you to browse, shop and stay connected while still being part of your environment.

SCI-FI-TASTIC! It’s become one of the most talked about gadgets of the year – and no wonder!

Google’s latest offering combines a transparent video screen with a microphone so you can read emails, make video calls, get directions and do loads more – virtually.

Join the growing waiting list at google.com

EDITOR’S fantasy THE FILM GADGET YOU WISH WERE REAL The fantasy gadgets of filmmakers are rapidly finding their way into reality.

But which piece of imaginary kit would you like to see designed next? Apart from making chocolate appear out of thin air a la Star Trek’s replicator, I think I’d like Men In Black’s neuralyser – that way I could eliminate all my most cringe-worthy moments with a click of a button.

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FIND OUT WHAT’S HIP & HAPPENING IN GADGETS BREAKFAST IN iBED Check your emails over a morning mug of coffee and bowl of cereal.

The iBed not only looks cool but it comfortably rests on your lap for the ultimate lazy breakfast – available from RO9 online.

NEW! THE STOR.E CANVIO Toshiba launches its first portable HDD with 10GB of free cloud storage Powered by new USB 3.0 technology, these portable hard drives are super fast. And that’s important for a speedy transfer when organising your files.

APP OF THE WEEK

Creative types can rejoice as Adobe® Kuler lets them browse, create and customise themes for their designs – all on their smartphone. Capture colours from a store or garden with a simple snap of the camera. Free from Apple store.

With pre-loaded backup software that provides file, folder and full system backup and recovery, you can finally have peace of mind when it comes to the contents of your computer. Also, password encryption keeps unauthorised users from accessing your valuable data.

Expect high capacity storage in a conveniently compact casing, featuring a glossy texture finish in four different colours.

THE GIRLY GADGET

This adorable bunny won’t distract you from your dissertations, chew up paperwork or have a little accident on the floor. Instead, he will do the exact opposite by keeping your desk a tidier place thanks to his hidden scissors, magnets and paper clips.

Packaged in a cute cardboard box, which has a tiny breathing hole to make sure he has a safe journey to your desk, the white rabbit is available from red5.

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My Hood

Car of the week Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis Engine 1.8 Litre Horsepower: 140 Transmission: six-speed CVT Starting Price: RO6100

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Outdoors

CARS

The new Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis goes the extra mile for a mid-sized family car

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t has a new 1.8 litre engine, higher horsepower and impressive torque, and all at a price pitched to please customers.

The makers saw a gap in the mid-sized family car segment and the new Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis aims to fill it.

Launched at the Motor Show Oman in December, the Lancer Fortis has experienced strong demand in the Sultanate from private and fleet customers, according to General Automotive Company general manager Mark Tomlinson.

A new elegant exterior design features the trademark Mitsubishi gaping grille and sleek

headlamps. At the rear end the stylish lamp cluster makes the most of nighttime visibility.

It is one of the longest vehicles in the compact sedan class, offering a spacious cabin with ergonomic design and enhanced comfort as well as safety.

Other features include 16-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, a CD/MP3 radio with six speakers, colour-coded body panels and dual-covered visor vanity mirrors.

The starting price for the Lancer Fortis is a very reasonable RO6100, including six-year roadside assistance and a two-year / 30,000 kilometre service package.