Y Magazine #293, November 7 2013

It’s Cool To Care WORLD KINDNESS DAY

SMARTY PANTS / ENTERING THE EMPTY QUARTER / SARAH WHITE GALLERY OPENS BAKER’S DOZEN / Q7 / TABLE TANTRUMS STUB IT OUT: Campaign To Stop Children Smoking LOVE LOYALTY: It Could Save Your Business HOT WHEELS: Give Drift Driving A Go

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NOV 07 - 13 • ISSUE 293 • WEEKLY

ROADS CAN BE

REPLACED LIVES CAN’T driving on oman’s most dangerous highway

PLUS!

Fashion

SOLE SEARCHER

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NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

Events

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DESERT DASH

Destination

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SRI LANKA

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THIS WEEK

EDITOR’S

NOTE

Team Y has been sneezing, doing budgets and scoffing pink cakes at the Grand Hyatt Muscat to help raise money for the Oman Cancer Association.

TREND BAROMETER GOING UP

ROAD SAFETY They usually add some va-va-voom to boring business meetings but projectors are now being used to save lives.

Laservision’s Softstop is a projection that aims to hinder drivers from ignoring stop signs by giving the illusion of a physical barrier across the road. It’s already been used in Australia with much success – but could this kind of false obstacle work in Oman? Find out more about road care at the Traffic Safety Expo from November 11-14.

GOING DOWN

POMEGRANATES Culinary hipsters are a fickle lot. One minute the super fruit du jour is the Omani pomegranate, the next it’s the acai berry. Today, it’s all about the yuzu – a kind of citric hybrid of grapefruit, lemon and mandarin. Not only is it packed with vitamin C, but its collagen boosting properties also help to turn back the clock. Stick a handful of them in your bath for the ultimate treatment of colds and flu.

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

Fast forward

O

h dear. Is dressing your child in an eccentric aunt’s crocheted sweater really necessary? We know you’re big on random acts of kindness but think of the years of therapy you’ll spare little Alice if you just leave it in the drawer. Okay, this wasn’t what my pal really said to another friend, but it was near enough – which got me thinking – we’re a horrible lot aren’t we? That’s why I’m such a fan of World Kindness Day. It takes place every November 13 and forces us to think of others – not just in terms of giving but receiving too. This was hammered home to me recently when I spoke to my Mum on the phone. She’s one of those lovely ladies who would give you her last baisa if you asked her. I’m a little tougher, partly because my childhood was blighted with her giving all my stuff away to the ‘needy’. Anyway, she bumped into a friend’s daughter on the high street and gave her the equivalent of RO5, only to have the said tween look aghast, turn to her friend and say ‘what a weirdo!’

Poor Mum. She was so upset. But before you judge, ask how you would respond if a stranger came up to you and handed over a cake or cup of coffee for no reason?

Would you say ‘thank you’ and chuck it in the nearest trash can for fear of it being ‘dodgy’ or would you think ‘what a wonderful world we live in’?

Yes, it’s time to behave a little better. So, join Y’s campaign to get people to care more – if only for 24 hours.

Penny Fray MANAGING EDITOR editor@y-oman.com

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-issue

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

NOV 07 - 13 / ISSUE 293

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contents

Features

20 Highway To Hell

Deadly Route 31 23 It’s Cool To Be Kind

Kindness Day

NOVEMBER 07 2013

20

Your Oman

06 The Big Interview

Tony Safarian 08 Your Oman

Sayyida Mayya

Al Said 1 0 News

Laser World Championship

12

This Week 14

16

18

This Week Desert Dash Movie Listings The Best Offer Gallery Red Bull Car Park Drift

Business & Career 26 Consumer Loyalty

Many Happy Returns

Food & Drink

28

Trend

The Baker’s Dozen 30 Food Review

Kurkum

28

14 Health & Beauty

Cars & Outdoors

32 Fashion

Shoe You The Way 35 Gallery

Sarah White

Gallery Lauch

37 Destination

Ramlat Fasad

40 Outdoors

Car Crazy

42 Postcard From

Sri Lanka

44 Y-Fi

Smarty Pants 46 Car of the Week

Audi Q7

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32 NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE...

NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL TRADITIONAL DRESS HOW TO THROW A PARTY NOVEMBER STREET

CHARGER-Y MAG-240x340.pdf

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YOUR

News

Gallery

INTERVIEW

OMAN

HOME SWEET

HOME To n y Safarian, General Manager at A largan Towell Investment C ompany Words: Penny Fray / Photo: Jerzy Wierzbicki

Run through your career in 60 seconds or less: I started with an advertising agency (Saatchi & Saatchi) and became one of the youngest managing directors at the age of 30. I then moved into real estate – going from Dubai to Saudi and Kuwait to Bahrain, and finally Oman.

Wow! Advertising to real estate - that’s a bit of a leap.

Not really. Advertising gives you versatility and exposure to various sectors like travel, banking and real estate.

Describe your typical working day.

It’s fairly standard. I have three girls who I drop at school every morning before going to the Crowne Plaza to work out. Exercise gets me ready for the day ahead. I then get to the office by 9am and it’s usually a crazy day – not just with meetings but with all the things that happen in between. I’m also the sort of person who pulls up to take a photo when I see something interesting or stops in unusual places to ask locals for their views. At the end of the day, it’s not just about being an affordable housing provider, it’s about understanding specific needs.

What does your company do differently from your competitors?

We’re customer focused in everything we do from location to design and interior to cost.

If you had a genie in a lamp and you were given any wish, what would it be?

In business? I would go to various locations in Oman, especially touristic ones, and focus on entertainment – something for the family. It’s the one thing we lack in the Sultanate – something like a water park.

What project are you most proud of ?

Every project is different so I couldn’t pinpoint just one specific plan. But giving a family a key and knowing that their expectations have been exceeded is certainly a great feeling.

Describe your character in four words?

I’m personal, creative, curious and caring.

If you weren’t in property, what would you do?

I’d be a pilot. But my dream job would to be an astronaut. If I had 20 or 30 million bucks to visit space, I would go.

What do you do in your spare time?

My time outside work is very family orientated. We go to Dubai, spend time on the beach or just relax outside with a few drinks. I travel mostly for business but we also like to explore.

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What’s tony’s top advice?

1. Practice what you preach. In other words, walk the talk on all levels.

2. Learn. We should always challenge ourselves to study more or learn something from someone with greater experience than ourselves.

3. Stay human. We’re getting too technological and materialistic. We need to take a reality check once in a while and go back to basics.

YTabloid 24x34 E.indd 1

10/22/13 4:08 PM

The Voice of Oman Sayyida Mayya Al Said on counting your blessings

correspondence LITTER BUGS BLIGHT Dear Y,

Be thankful for what you have”, is something I always heard my mother say while growing up.

The strange thing is I didn’t really understand what it truly meant until recently.

As human beings, we always seem to want more than we have and do the impossible to get it. However, what tends to happen is that that we end up focusing all our time and energy on achieving ‘it’ and ignore what we already have.

In reality, it’s the little things we take for granted that matter the most. If we stop and think for a minute about what is really important to us, reflect upon our lives, where we came from and where we are heading, we would realise that life is so much more than what we make of it. When we do that, we will come to understand that we do indeed have so much to be thankful for.

There is quote that puts things into perspective for me. “The things you take for granted, someone else is praying for.” The source of this saying is unknown but the truth is universal and resonates with all of us.

We might think we don’t have enough but in reality we do. We just need to slow down and value it before it is too late. Enjoy and appreciate what you have now, as you never know what the future may hold. What we have today may be gone tomorrow.

Next week: ROSIE IN THE DESERT 08

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I am lucky enough to live opposite a beach in Muscat. There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning and looking out of the window at nature’s best.

However, my enjoyment is being spoiled by the fact that the beach is covered in litter every single day. In the evenings, I realise it’s nice for families to have a meal on the sand together but they never take their rubbish away afterwards.

I see the birds and stray dogs rummaging through discarded food, and bags being dragged into the sea by the tide.

I also notice that the road cleaners start about 4am and do their very best to try and

get it cleared as fast as possible.

But to have this happen every day is such a sad sight.

If you think about it, there are almost 4 million people living in Oman and if all of them dropped at least one piece of rubbish a day, how could the country cope with having to clean that up?

My view is that we need to enforce a spot fine system for anyone who litters.

A minimum of RO20 per item dropped regardless of size would discourage the litterbugs. Oman is a beautiful country; please let’s keep it that way.

Best regards, Robert Glenn, Muscat

A fair wage for workers please Dear Editor, Thank you for your great, thought-provoking article regarding the invisible workforce, poor workers who toil on the lonely night shift, behind the scenes, unsung and unrewarded (‘Night Knights’, Y issue 291).

We need constant reminders as to who the people behind the enormous task of making the wheels churn so effortlessly are. Hats off to these individuals who make so many sacrifices in their lives.

They need to think 100 times before making even a simple telephone call to their loved ones back home.

What they really need is cheaper telephone calls, SMS, and per-second billing tariff rates including cheaper Internet, so that they can keep in touch with their families.

I know of many who brave the blazing heat to walk great distances just to save on expensive transportation. These heroic individuals need to think before buying a bottle of water or a soft drink because they are paid so poorly.

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Employers too need to pay a decent minimum wage to these brave souls.

Can you even imagine how difficult is it to get by on a measly RO60 per month after the wage has been shared with a family?

Many workers try to escape oppressive poverty and lack of stable employment opportunities back home in the poorer Asian economies.

Many pay so-called ‘agents’ who extract money from them to get them a job. Many poor workers end up taking loans or selling their family jewellery to pay such people.

They get a rude shock when they end up working in poor conditions for enormously low remuneration.

I suggest that Y should try to improve the lot of workers by launching a public campaign to this effect.

God bless them and all the other poor and brave, suffering workers.

Thank you, Prabhat Chandrashil, Muscat

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SEND US YOUR letters, photos, news and views to info@y-oman.com / @ytabloid / /ytabloid. Impress us and the winning correspondent will receive a Grand Hyatt voucher. Guests may redeem gift vouchers from the hotel’s reception. For the rest of the terms and conditions see voucher.

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YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US

LETTERS

Debate of the Week WE ASKED:

‘If there was one more hour in the day, what would you do with it?’

Belinda Wallington

I’d have an extra hour in bed.

Ronak Bhatt

A precious one more hour to me means more lovely moments with my family.

EllezAh Miralles

I would take the time to sit and relax in my room and read my favourite magazine, which is Y. I love reading it. It feels like

I’m taking a trip all around Oman every time that I read it.

Nikhat Ali

This hour would be for my parents. I would pray and ask Allah to grant them good health and fulfillment of their dreams, and forgive them their wrongdoings.

Shaidul Ikram

I can’t handle 24 hours, so adding an extra hour would be an overdose for me :-)

Sami Ul Asad

I suffer from sleep deprivation. I only sleep around six hours on most nights. As a result, I feel fatigued and listless during the day. Since sleep is

intensely precious to me, I would use this extra hour to sleep more soundly. Sleep is very beneficial since it provides a much needed, rejuvenating rest for both the heart and the brain, while playing a vital role in removing toxins from the blood.

Jorim Eliezer Getigan

One hour is quite a precious time to waste so, if given that opportunity, I would just sit on a couch and thank God for this rare chance, for the blessings I receive and for always understanding my flaws. Lastly, I would ask forgiveness for what I’ve done wrong

E-MAILS

FA C E B O O K

and for guidance in everything that I do.

loved ones.

Nisar Mohammed

Well, I’m imagining 13-hour watches. Where would this 13th hour be placed? I don’t think I will spend that extra hour doing any one thing.

Maybe I will read, do some writing and sleep.

One thing is sure – I’ll enjoy that extra hour in my own way!

There would never be an extra hour in a day because it would be called 13 o’clock and 13 is considered an unlucky number. People would avoid it.

Irwin Serso Rio

If there was one more hour in a day, I would like to enjoy it with my family, to embrace them and to spend not just valuable, but quality time with them. This is the thing I miss the most in my everyday life. Time is precious but it is more cherished if we use it judiciously.

Venu G Nayer

One more hour would mean a lovely green garden with lights, music and missed issues of Y – then a lot of ‘whys’ from

Sadia Shams

Prajwal Haritsa

One more hour of time would be enough to do things like listening to music, feel real life and enjoy releasing all the stress.

Heetraj Chavda

I would just stay with my family to remember the moments when we stood together as

TWITTER

one against problems.

One hour is enough for remembering every single moment of our lives.

Vijayalakshmi Shetty

Well, I like cleaning up.

So I would clean up the mess in the cupboards, then remove unwanted things and dispose of them properly. Old clothes would go to collection boxes and others for recycling if possible.

Next week’s debate:

On National Day, what makes you most proud to live in Oman? Tell us your views on Facebook.

NOV 07 - 13 / ISSUE 293

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YOUR

OMAN

UP IN SMOKE

Campaign targeting Oman’s teenage smokers

Student doctors have launched an initiative highlighting the rising numbers of children smoking in a bid to persuade them to stub it out.

Nine out of ten smokers started the habit before finishing senior school, according to research.

Smoking in Oman is worse among teenage boys aged between the ages of 12 to 18.

Which is why doctors of the future from the Oman Medical College (OMC) are turning their efforts towards persuading the youth of the country to stay smoke-free in school.

Students from the college’s Bawshar campus held a series of workshops this week for around

120 male pupils from various schools in the Sultanate, warning them about the long-term dangers for their health.

“The campaign aims to educate the youth and create awareness regarding the hazards of smoking,” said Asma al Araimi, from OMC. The campaign, she added, had been chosen due to the ‘alarming rise’ in the number of smokers among school age children. This includes smoking shisha as well as cigarettes and pipes.

Peer pressure plays a big part in children who smoke. “ If their friends are smoking, it can be difficult to say no,” said Al Araimi. “We have to give them advice about the dangers and why they must stop or not smoke.”

Almost 15 per cent of boys aged 13-15 in Oman smoke, according to figures from a new World Health Organisation report. In comparison, only 1.7 per cent of girls in the same age group smoked.

Smoking is a big risk factor for heart disease, lung disease and cancers. More than 20 per cent of deaths from heart disease are due to smoking, according to the Ministry of Health. Thirty per cent of cancer-related deaths involve smokers and 87 per cent of lung cancer deaths.

Research this week also revealed that smoking causes premature ageing and skin damage.

GET TOUGH ON TRAFFIC Harder measures may be needed

Hard-hitting campaigns may be needed to get a Traffic Safety Expo in Muscat focusing on across the message about safe driving in Oman, accident reduction. a leading road safety group has said.

The Royal Oman Police has also said it Sayyid Nasr Albusaidi, who this week joined intends to introduce an Intelligent Transport Safety First as chairman, said the Sultanate may System (ITS) using a more hi-tech approach to have to go down the same route as countries police the roads within two years. such as the UK, which have used more Highway to Hell, p20 graphic advertising to show the consequences of road accidents.

“If we have to become more bold, if we need to be a little more graphic, then we should,” he said.

“There is no point campaigning if the message is not getting across.”

Sayyid Nasr was speaking at the official launch of Safety First’s new management team, with a new board of members, including Eihab Abutaha, CEO of SABCO Group.

Safety First, a non-profit group, was founded last year by rally driver Hamed al Wahaibi and footballer Ali al Habsi.

Monday (11) sees the start of Sayyid Nasr Albusaidi (second from right)

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YOUR

OMAN

Gallery

Interview

NEWS

Oman gears up to host Laser Championship

MusSanah will see battle on the waves with hundreds of world-class sailors

Hussain al Jabri is one of three Omani sailors competing in the event

Vacancies for Dermatologist A Dermatology clinic in Muscat is in need of:  Dermatologist /

Nearly 400 of the world’s top sailors are descending on Mussanah Sports City next week as Oman becomes the first Middle Eastern nation to host the Laser World Championship.

In its 39th year, it is one of the largest dinghy sailing events in the competitive sailing calendar.

Starting on November 14, sailors will be contesting in three consecutive events – Laser Standard Men’s, Laser Masters and Laser Radial Youth – concluding on January 3.

Among them, three of Oman’s best sailors will have a chance to show how far the country has advanced in sailing prowess since Oman Sail launched its youth sailing programme in 2008.

Oman’s Hussain al Jabri, Ahmed al Balushi and Ahmed al Hasni were selected to represent the Sultanate in the event while 48 Omani instructors will act as race officials.

His Excellency Rashad al Hinai, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports Affairs, said: “We feel a lot of pride in holding the 39th Laser World Championship in this country.

“It is a huge achievement that Oman won the bid to be the first Middle Eastern country to host this event.

“Our expectations are realistic,” he said of the Oman Sail team’s prospects. “These guys have only been sailing for two years, so by the standards of the sport, they are very new. Their chances are enhanced because they are competing on home waters.

“It’s more of an opportunity to compete and benefit from being part of a field including so many world-class and Olympic sailors.”

The Undersecretary said Oman had proven its ability to host such a major sporting event. “Our bid was successful thanks to our state of the art facilities, our heritage as a sailing nation, and our record in holding previous events such as Extreme Sailing and the 2011 Beach Football World Cup Asian qualifiers.

“There are a lot of other goals to hosting this event, including promoting and showcasing our world-class marine infrastructure, and positioning the Sultanate on the international map for sailing.”

cosmetologist with minimum 3 years

experience having MOH License.

 Nurses with MOH License having

experience in Dermatology and laser Dermatology.

Please send C.V to: Email: nawael_elesawy@yahoo.com Fax no: 00968 24561132

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THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE Nov 09

Wonderful Women

Nov 06

The Wimpy Kid is back! If you’re over the age of 12, you probably won’t know what we’re talking about but every self-respecting tween or teenager will. The latest in the global best-selling series of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney has been released. Book 8 called Hard Luck is out now with a November 6 release date. Buy on Amazon or pre order for Kindle.

There are also three smash-hit films to watch.

You know summer is well and truly over when the first of the Winter Bazaars start. Help the Women’s Group of Oman celebrate its 40th anniversary with this event at Bahja Hall, Jungle Restaurant, Qurum, from 9am1pm. Stalls include handmade jewellery, gift tags, toys, soap and more. Children welcome.

Entrance RO2 on the door.

IT’S BAZAAR

One For The Kids

Nov 19

THIS

WEEK

SMART STUDENTS

Celebrate Omani Women’s Day and the achievements of ladies in the Sultanate by joining The Omani Society for Professional Women (OSPW). The event runs from 9am to 1pm at the OSPW Muscat Branch next to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with panel discussions and more. Twitter @OmanProfWomen

What to do.

What to see.

What to hear.

N O V E M B E R November

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DESERT DASH Have you got what it takes to conquer the sandy challenge of Oman’s first Desert Marathon?

It’s an extreme test of physical and mental stamina over 165km in five stages. Runners carry their own equipment, sleeping bags and food. www.marathonoman.com

Nov

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Sultan Qaboos University is hosting a fair to help students think about where their future may lie.

Called ‘Your Discipline Is Your Career’, the event, held under the patronage of university vice chancellor, Dr Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, will showcase the courses SQU offers and possible career choices. See www.squ.edu.om

If you want to conquer Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman, but would prefer some company on the way, sign up for a hike with expat group InterNations. Led by Omani Mohammed al Habsi, who has just been at the summit of Kilimanjaro, it will take five hours to reach the top of the 3028m mountain and another five to get back down.

Leave 6am. Register with www.internations. org to find out more.

Nov 8-9

The Big Hike

Olé. If you’re pining for fiestas and tapas, soak up the feel of Spanish sun at the Royal Opera House Muscat. Join the National Orchestra of Spain for an evening of music highlighting beautiful melodies with a Mediterranean vibe. Grammy-nominated maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya has the baton, conducting favourites such as Joaquin Turina and Georges Bizet. Starts 6pm. www.rohmuscat.org.om

GIRL RACERS

Movies

Nov 14

Show the boys how it’s done on Ladies Night at Oman’s Karting track. From 6pm-9pm, the circuit at the Oman Automobile Association will be roaring with girl power.

Dress Code: sports wear and closed shoes. Check out www.facebook.com/OmanAutomobileAssociation

Nov 08

Gallery

Spanish Delight

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THIS WEEK

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

Romeo & Juliet

The Best Offer “There is always something authentic concealed in every forgery,” is the tagline for this intriguing drama about artistic beauty and emotional deceit.

Geoffrey Rush stars as an eccentric art auctioneer called Oldman who is called to the villa of a mysterious young heiress (Sylvia Hoeks) who wants him to value her late parents’ art collection.

Guiseppe Tornatore, best known for writing and directing Cinema Paradiso, steps away from his familiar Sicilian territory and takes us into the moneyed world of north European art collecting.

Claiming to “admire but fear women,” Oldman has never had a relationship in his life. Until, that is, he meets Hoeks.

He is tantalised by his encounter with the woman who hides behind a screen due to a mysterious illness.

As she plays with the idea of selling off her heirlooms, he becomes obsessed with seeing her.

Before he visits his late blooming amour, he spends some time in his secret vault of great female portraits, where he admires the many beauties painted by old masters.

Rush’s character is running something of a scam by underselling valuable paintings to his scoundrel of an art dealer friend played by Donald Sutherland.

Meantime, he manages to filch pieces of an 18th century automaton from Sylvia’s cellar, which he has a young mechanical genius (Jim Sturgess) gradually reconstruct.

This is a slow moving but beautifully constructed drama lifted by a hugely sympathetic portrayal from Rush and the supporting cast of Sutherland and Sturgess.

Review by Joe Gill

PREVIEW All is Lost

Robert Redford plays a lone yachtsman who collides with a floating container and finds himself stranded in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It’s a one man survival tale with a script of very few words but a lot of tension. A happy ending is not guaranteed.

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Julian Fellowes, writer of British TV hit costume drama Downton Abbey, has a crack at Shakespeare’s love story in a handsomely mounted, all-star production. Hailee Steinfield and Douglas Booth play the star-crossed lovers. Fellowes has shed most of the bard’s script but in its place is Twilightstyle stodge – and the passion of the lovers just doesn’t convince.

Thor: The Dark World (3D) As big budget comic adaptations go, Thor has a fair amount going for it,

although I found Kenneth Brannagh’s first outing a bit of an effects-laden yawn. The series has come on a bit with the relationship between Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki providing the dramatic meat to this second installment (excluding the superior Avengers Assemble). However, it’s still a blockbuster by numbers.

Hatchet III The legend of swamp killer Victor Crowley returns with another gore fest. It starts where the last film ended with Marybeth handing herself into the police after claiming to have finally killed the beast that took her father and brother. But not quite. While Hatchet II was actually pulled from cinemas for being too gruesome, this is just slightly less blood spattered.

Krrish 3 The huge success of the Bollywood superhero franchise brings it back for a third outing. Krrish is now happily married to Priyanka Chopra but a new battle lies ahead. This time the hero, played by Hrithick Roshan, must face an army of mutant human-animals led by a superbad villain Vivek Oberoi. Krrish 3 vanquishes any doubt that India can match Hollywood in producing big budget special effects adventures with an emotional punch.

Y’s Film Choice Last Vegas

Since The Hangover, Las Vegas has become the place to set buddy comedies. The twist in Last Vegas is that the good time gang are all heading toward retirement with various ailments and should know better.

It’s a chance to see post-cancer Michael Douglas, playing a tanned millionaire about to marry a much younger wife, who hauls his friends Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline off for a bachelor weekend.

“Tonight we’re going to party like its 1959,” is one line that sums up the movie’s running joke about

old guys slipping into the bad grandpa routine.

Predictable with each star playing to their stereotype – but it’s a crowd pleaser.

THIS WEEK

The What’s On Guide

Movies

GALLERY

RED BULL CAR PARK DRIFT

Photos by:Jerzy Wierzbiecki

A battle of spins and swerves at the OAA

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H hell

ighway to

Cutting through the vast expanse of desert, Route 31 from Muscat to Salalah is a notoriously demanding drive. And not everyone’s car makes it in one piece.

Is it time to take action, asks Kate Ginn?

Photographed by: Jerzy Wierzbicki

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twisted wreck lies on its side, left to the mercy of the elements. The story of this car crash will probably never be told.

Unceremoniously abandoned where it flipped over on the side of the road, the Toyota 4x4 is now just a broken shell with a crushed roof, shattered glass and crumpled metal.

One can only wonder whether the occupants survived. Pieces of the windscreen lie several metres away, leaving a gaping hole like a mouth where the protective glass used to be.

Ahmer Amin is someone who knows the appalling toll that this road can inflict. He lost three members of his family as they travelled back from Salalah to Dubai on Route 31, the monotonous highway that stretches like a tarmac spine along almost the entire length of the country. “I lost my mother, mother-in-law and wife on the same day,” he says. “My life has changed forever.”

Amin’s story made the newspapers, but many of the vehicles lying wrecked along this notorious stretch keep their secrets.

Whatever happened to the owners of the Toyota, they never came back for the vehicle, leaving it where it’s last journey ended.

What was once perhaps a family car is now just another statistic on the road that has become infamous for claiming cars. Route 31 is a challenge for even the most experienced of drivers, with a crumbling surface in some parts and a reckless approach shown by some behind the wheel.

Ghosts of car wrecks – the relics of accidents – can be found littering the barren landscape.

When Y’s photographer Jerzy Wierzbicki recently drove the route for a work assignment, he captured the remains of some of these misadventures on a stretch of road between Muqshin and Qatbit, around 64km long.

A Toyota Prado with UAE registration plates is a write-off with a cracked windscreen and squashed doors, the result of a trip to Oman that ended badly. Half a bumper hangs off, while rubbish from the car is scattered around on the gravelly plain. A Mercedes got off rather more lightly but was damaged enough for the

Route 31, the monotonous road that stretches like a tarmac spine along the almost entire length of the country. is a challenge for even the most experienced of drivers, with a crumbling surface in some parts and a reckless approach by some behind the wheel.

Sections of Route 31 are crumbling away with cracking tarmac and large potholes

owners to leave it in the wilderness. Perhaps it is more expensive to tow the wrecks away than the car is worth.

There’s even a lorry with a trailer, its front embedded in the sand of the Empty Quarter by the side of the road, with the green tarpaulin still covering the back where the cargo was once stored.

“The super bad stretch is between Al Ghaftayn and Hayma. It’s really bad,” says Ahmad Zamri Zahidin, who drove from Salalah to Muscat in November last year.

“When I had to go again in January this year, I bypassed this stretch. The distance is more but it’s worth it.”

When Jerzy went, he photographed parts of the tarmac road crumbling and cracking away, creating hazardous potholes in the road for unsuspecting drivers. Coupled with driving that can at times flout the traffic rulebook and a perpetual risk of sandstorms, the conditions can be challenging to say the least.

Trying to police the road, where you can go for over an hour without seeing another car and the view from the window in all four directions is nothing but desolate, flat desert, is not easy.

Only the dark hue of the mountains of Dhofar on the approach to Salalah break up the relentless sandy brown vista for the thousands of tourists who travel to Salalah by road each year during Khareef season.

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If the roads aren’t safe, it’s hazardous . Just installing road cameras cannot solve the issue of road safety in Oman.

It’s not the only answer.

Roads need to be regularly maintained.

We need to look at speed bumps and potholes.

on the road

Earlier this week, the National Committee for Road Safety met at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) headquarters in Muscat to discuss ways of improving traffic safety. While new figures for January 1 until the end of October this year show a drop in accidents (7 per cent) compared to the same period last year, it is clear there is still a lot of work to be done.

In May, Y launched a campaign along with the National Youth Commission (NYC) of Oman, calling for child safety car seats to be compulsory.

Sayyid Nasr Albusaidi, who joined Y’s campaign in his role of chair of the NYC’s communications committee, was this week unveiled as the new chairman of Safety First, the non-profit organisation campaigning for road safety, founded last May by international rally driver Hamed al Wahaibi and Oman football star Ali al Habsi.

“It is not just about changing the behaviour of drivers, we also need to look at the state of the roads,” says Sayyid Nasr. “If the roads aren’t safe, it’s hazardous. Just installing road cameras cannot solve the issue of road safety in Oman.

It’s not the only answer.

“Roads need to be regularly maintained. We need to look at speed bumps and potholes.”

While parts of Route 31 have undoubtedly been improved, several badly damaged segments of the highway remain constantly “under maintenance”. There are no speed cameras on the route while camels routinely wander onto the road.

Long boring stretches of it are also dangerous, with police saying drivers falling asleep or not resting during long drives is a big problem.

Hamed al Wahaibi agrees the issue of good driving is a concern. “The ROP does a good job but it is hard to police such a road. In somewhere like America, there would be a helicopter patrolling the route. There needs to be more police cars on the ground too, enforcing traffic law. It is a terrible road.”

There is, of course, always more that can be done. If Oman wants to position itself on the global tourism stage, it needs a road network that is well maintained, well policed and that enables visitors to see the best that the country has to offer in safety.

Perhaps the last word should go to Ahmer Amin, whose family was devastated on Route 31: “Please drive safely on that highway.”

 Every eight hours, a person dies on Oman’s roads.  1139 people were killed on the roads last year.  11,000 people were injured in road accidents last year – that’s around one an hour.  More than 120 children

died in traffic accidents in the Sultanate last year.  From January to August

this year, there were 5221 accidents, killing 622 people and injuring 7000 more.  Oman has the second

highest death rate from road accidents in the GCC, after the UAE, and third highest in the

Eastern Mediterranean region, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).  Statistics showed that in 2010, Oman registered 30.4 deaths per 100,000 people.  In the GCC, Bahrain

recorded the lowest rate of 10.5 deaths per 100,000 people.  Road accidents in Oman cost local insurance firms an average of RO25 million per year, according to official figures.  10,000 new vehicles are registered every month on average.  Among the top causes of road accidents in Oman are using a mobile phone while driving, talking to passengers, speeding and fatigue.

IT'S

COOL

to be

kind Just in case you missed the memo – NovembeR13 is World Kindness Day. Penny Fray investigates the importance of receiving as well as giving

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If you’re ready to think and do good deeds – you’ve come to the right place. Here are 7 ways to celebrate World Kindness Day:

P

icking up litter, buying strangers treats or just doling out free hugs. There’s a growing movement of people doing nice things for strangers – but have we become too cynical for kindness? I only ask because the last time I paid someone a compliment, I received a suspicious look instead of thanks. And when I bought someone a cup of coffee in Starbucks, the recipient actually asked me: “What’s the catch?” ‘There isn’t one,” I replied. “I just thought it would be pleasant to pass it forward.”

Of course, there was an agenda. I was preparing this article on celebrating World Kindness Day on November 13. But who would have thought that an act of benevolence had become so unpalatable?

During a day of doing random acts of kindness, my colleagues and I were amazed about how frightened people were of friendly gestures – from the mother who whipped away her child when given a toy to the old man who scowled when offered a seat.

Then again, maybe it’s not that surprising. When an Omani guy tried to pay for my Diet Coke in a busy grocery store in Seeb a couple of weeks ago, I thought, in no particular order, lech, loon or where’s the camera? Why? Well, because where I come from there’s no such thing as a free lunch, latte or can of fizzy pop. And if there is, a sales pitch usually follows.

Living in a competitive environment that encourages winning at any cost, thoughtfulness is naturally met with suspicion or out-andout hostility. According to psychologists, we’ve been conditioned to think people are out to get us. (Consider all those childhood warnings about not taking sweets from strangers.) We believe bad things happen because painful events leave stronger impressions on the mind than happy ones.

“One wicked action cancels out, in our perception, 10,000 acts of kindness,” says evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould. But being in a permanent state of mistrust and fear is exhausting, and doesn’t help us at all. We are social beings and our happiness depends on the positive relations we have with others.

Of course, you don’t have to be a psychologist to realise that being good and grateful makes us, if not happier, then certainly better people. And working like crazy to have more material stuff doesn’t. I know this because endless surveys say that what makes us truly content include health, family and friends.

But how do we overcome the innate distrust or discomfort that kicks in when someone offers to pay for our coffee, or in my case a can of Coke? Well, it helps to disassociate receiving with weakness and realise that ‘taking’ takes guts. It means being vulnerable, open and willing to trust another human being. Of course, we will, from time to time, inevitably be let down, but holding people at arm’s length is infinitely more damaging.

Kindness, both giving and receiving it, can make us happy.

One wicked action cancels out, in our perception, 10,000 acts of kindness 024

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p Let someone go in line before you With technology becoming more and more

advanced, as a society we get used to doing everything as quickly as possible and getting everything we want instantaneously. So next time you’re in a hurry, slow down and go out of your way to be courteous, even if that means letting the person behind you go in front of you. p Fill a box The Box Appeal is a charitable initiative backed by our sister radio station Merge 104.8. It involves giving something to Oman’s construction workers to show that you care. Just pick up a box at Radisson Blu Hotel and fill it with practical stuff. p Pay the bill for someone behind you Have you ever experienced kindness from someone you don’t know? Celebrate those around you by doing random acts of kindness for strangers, just for the sake of making them smile. Pay the tab for someone behind you in line at the coffee shop, gas station or drive- through. It doesn’t have to be costly, just nice. p Be friendly Introduce yourself to a stranger and strike up a

conversation. Get out of your comfort zone and say ‘hello’. p Do a free favour It’s easy to put both time and effort into tasks if you’re getting paid to do them – but what about cleaning the house, doing the accounts or babysitting for someone without charge? p Write a letter to someone who made a difference in your life “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” - philosopher Albert Schweitzer.

Has someone made a difference in your life? Maybe it’s a teacher or coach who believed in you and inspired you to do your best. Why not tell that person in a letter or card how they have inspired you? p Pick litter up Beautify your surroundings. Be kind to the environment and those around you by picking up rubbish when you see it lying around. It doesn’t matter who left it there, just pick it up.

For more ideas go to http://www.randomactsofkindness.org

Tanushka Marah wonders what happened to kindness on a hot day in Seeb

I

am standing on a hot, dusty street in Seeb carrying several heavy bags of shopping with my daughter clinging to me as I look for a taxi. Men in cars are shouting and gesticulating at me angrily. I have no idea why.

All I want is to get home. I vainly hope that a kind female driver will stop and offer me a ride to the nearest cab rank but no one stops.

Whatever happened to the joy of helping someone?

I have often found in Arabic countries that people fall over themselves to be kind, but today in Oman it’s been sadly different. I don’t know if this is something to do with car culture or the fact that I am a woman with a child out on my own.

I see a lot of deference with people calling me ‘madam’ and doing things that I am happy to do myself, like packing my shopping. But this is not kindness – it’s obedience, even if it is performed with consideration. Kindness is simply a person giving of their own free will and opening their heart to bring joy and relief to a fellow human being. The rewards? Whether they are immediate, spiritual or never to be witnessed, they are rarely material. As a mother who is often out and about with my young daughter, there are many occasions when I need help, for example, getting a buggy up the stairs, or getting myself and daughter in and out of taxis.

There are of course, kind and helpful people in Oman, just as there are elsewhere. It’s just that they seem to be few and far between. Or at least that’s what I thought until one day, I’m standing inside the Muscat Grand Mall car park, not knowing where the taxi rank is, steaming hot with child and a trolley full of melting food, as taxi after taxi tried to charge me double the standard fare as they knew I had no choice. Eventually, a stranger came and gave me a lift all the way home. I will never forget his kindness, though I’ve forgotten his name – he works at Bank Muscat – thank you.

Sadly, I recently suffered a bereavement. Being new in this country, I felt vulnerable and terribly sad. The kindness of others really did make a difference. I was blown away by the compassion of new friends. One came knocking on my door the moment she heard. I didn’t answer, so two hours later she sent round a Moroccan feast with her maid, fresh from the oven, followed an hour later by mint tea, which she knows I love. As I put the first spoonful of couscous in my mouth I wept – I could taste the love and it healed me. It was like my mother, who was thousands of miles away, giving me a big hug.

I have been the receiver of a lot of kindness in my life from friends, family and strangers. Like a happy virus, once infected you need to spread it. So maybe on November 13, we should look up from our smartphones and turn down our headsets.

There are people out there who need a little kindness. They are all around us, and in the moment you help them, you feel a connection to the human race that obliterates isolation and spreads something greater than anything you can buy.

THE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS FOUNDATION

How will you celebrate World Kindness Day?

Send your stories and photographs to /ytabloid @ytabloid.

The best entry will appear on our letters’ page and win a dinner for two at the Grand Hyatt.

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p The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was started in the United States, in response to Denver’s Summer of Violence. In 1993, dozens of people were killed in gang-related shootings, including several children. p A call for people to practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty as a result of the tragedy started a revolution in compassion. p The phrase has since been popularised on posters, doormats and bumper stickers across the globe, with two annual events, including World Kindness Day, encouraging people to surprise one another with good deeds. p The Foundation advocates activities such as cleaning up litter and paying for the person queuing behind you at a coffee shop. p ”It’s not just about single acts,” says a spokeswoman.

“It’s about changing your mentality from day to day.” p The Foundation is privately funded and has no religious or organisational affiliations. p “We encourage the practice of kindness in all sectors of society,” says the spokeswoman. “As people from different cultures and from all walks of life join to spread kindness, they are creating a powerful, synergistic action throughout the world. Please join us in bringing kindness and compassion to our local and global communities.”

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BUSINESS & CAREER

Trend

Networking

Minute Mentoring

a y o L

Every day, every business must strive to find, capture and keep customers.

You find customers by advertising or publicising your products and services to your market area.

You capture customers by having great products and services.

You keep customers by communicating and rewarding them.

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y t l

Trend

Networking

Minute Mentoring

MANY Happy Returns Penny Fray discovers how you can earn and keep customer loyalty

WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS: Measure and monitor for success

I

n good times reliability is important; in challenging times it’s essential. If you think the only thing that keeps a customer coming back to you is price, you’re wrong. Loyalty lives on but in today’s unforgiving marketplace, creating and maintaining it is a challenge.

After all, the average company loses a third of its customers every year, and replacing them is no small matter.

Winning a new client costs five times more than simply holding on to an existing one, and with the rise of online commerce as well as changing spending patterns, businesses have to work harder than ever to fight off buyer apathy.

In fact, recent research from Epsilon provides an interesting insight into changing consumer attitudes. According to the study, people were less confident about their financial situation and claimed to be more cautious spenders as a result.

Only 22 percent felt strongly about their own or their family’s economic prospects, 57 percent admitted they will go to great lengths to find the best deal for an item, and only 15 percent said they were willing to pay the premium associated with luxury or new-to-market products.

More worryingly, less than a quarter of respondents believed strongly that it pays to be loyal to their favourite brands. And one of the key tools for generating loyalty in business is waning in terms of its effectiveness.

Loyalty schemes seem to have reached saturation point and it is not unusual for the average consumer to be signed up to several such schemes, morphing them into a commodity when there is no significant added value to differentiate between the schemes.

“The loyalty landscape has certainly changed dramatically over the past 25 years,” says Dion Maritz, a Middle East manager for ICLP, consultants in customer relationship management. “That’s why it’s important to put your customer at the heart of everything you do. It sounds obvious but it’s worth saying.”

This means matching customer expectations, improving their journey and developing a more unified multi-channel experience.

Here, Dion goes through his top tips to win and keep consumer loyalty in Oman:

1. Unlock the power of customer data

Data is valuable capital, but it’s what you do with it that really counts.

Smart companies mine their data for the details and insights that get them closer to their customers. Some companies may even use predictive modeling to stay ahead. This means: £ Using data intelligently £ Identifying potential value £ Predicting behaviour

2. Don’t stand still – continue to create value

“Ask yourself ‘how am I doing?’ Maximising the return of your loyalty marketing investment means understanding your performance – both the big picture and the fine detail.”

Dion Maritz, Middle East manager for ICLP

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Market situations change constantly. Think big and keep evolving your proposition to continue to demonstrate value and relevance to customers. £ Continue to evolve the loyalty proposition £ Think global but act local

£ Use trust to breed advocacy £ Motivate consumers to become promoters £ Facilitate dialogue – listen and respond £ Embrace digital convergence

3. Truly, madly, deeply – inspiring deeper engagement

4. Up your game – harness technology and interactivity to pull customers closer

Brands that inspire the deepest loyalty find ways to interact intelligently across multiple platforms. Work, rest and play, brands are striking up real conversations with consumers that resonate and are remembered. £ Encourage early engagement and redemption £ Make loyalty more emotional

Mobile technology is a loyalty game changer. Capitalise on the world’s love affair with its smartphones, and get up close and personal with your customers. £ Mobilise loyalty £ Extend your reach £ Foster more fun and enjoyment.

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food and drink

Trend

New Restaurant

BAKER’S DOZEN

Reviews

Despite our best efforts, we are yet to produce a convincing loaf of bread here at Y Towers. Cakes appear to be less of a problem, which makes us think perhaps it’s a question of enthusiasm. To redress the balance, we’re eyeing up the free breadmaking classes on http://www.craftsy. com/class/artisan-bread-making/104.

Also, we’ve convinced the executive chef at the Grand Hyatt to share his best bread recipe – check it out at y-oman.com.

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TREND New Restaurant

News

KNEAD THE DOUGH

There is bread, then there is freshly baked Middle Eastern bread. Tanushka Marah rediscovers the joys of all the old favourites at a Lebanese bakery in Al Khoud

Visit our new showroom at Merbat Towers in Gubrah (Tel: 24499396)

H

ere in Muscat, I’ve been on a glutinous odyssey of the Levant and the Gulf, tasting breads from Turkey, Yemen, Oman and now Lebanon.

By now, I’m at peace with myself and, if I rise up two dress sizes and someone tells me I’ve got a wheat intolerance, I’ll thump them.

Yes I’m one of those bores who try and give up bread now and again, but it’s like trying to give up cuddles.

That soft, warm comfort fills you and makes you feel all is fine in the world and in your tummy. Nothing does this like fresh bread straight from the oven.

No matter what the trends might be – yes I’ve even tried green bread – nothing beats the ancient ways, passed down from generation to generation.

With World Bread Day on November 17, I head to the Al Khoud branch of Al Fawaris, tucked off the high street at the end of the souq, to get my wheat fix.

The Lebanese baker, with branches in Madinat Qaboos and Azaiba, has been feeding Muscat for 32 years.

Everything is produced on site. “We are trying to bring Lebanon to Oman,” says Eddie Younes, whose father started the business.

As my eyes scale this den of a thousand and one doughy delights.

With Lebanese singer Fairuz playing in the background, I spy and sample the softest, floppiest pitta bread, Kashk, safeeha, fatayer, sandwiches and kaak.

The latter is a Beirut favourite, a croissant-like bread made with a hole, where it used to hang on a pole and be sold by a guy on a scooter to passing customers.

There is also Eddie’s favourite, zaatar manakish, a flat, round bread soaked in olive oil and thyme, sesame seeds and sumac.

All of this is kneaded, allowed to rise and baked by veteran Lebanese bakers.

Al Fawaris is waiting to get permission to have tables and chairs outside to recreate the authentic Beirut vibe.

As Eddie says it, for a moment, I imagine myself sitting under the trees feasting on a traditional Lebanese breakfast of Zeit ou Zaatar with mint tea and warm bread.

I’d definitely recommend a freshly made sandwich with such choices as liver, aubergines, fired cauliflower and melted halloumi cheese.

And, if you’re a secret midnight bread eater, no worries, it’s open 24 hours a day. I might just have to nip in for a sfiha (Arabic pizza) and a piece of Kunafe – I nearly sang soprano when I tasted the latter from a big pan.

With dried bread sticks, biscuits, as well as homemade classics such as makdous – and the ingredients to make your own – there is something for every type of wheat addiction.

So forget about buying your weekly wheat supply down at the supermarket. Come on, I dare you head to a real bakery and see if you don’t come out with less than two shopping bags, An even bigger dare: try and get to your car without tearing open a packet and stuffing some in your mouth.

Have a great bread recipe? Share it with Y Magazine. Email editor@y-oman.com

OUR OTHER SHOWROOMS: OC CENTRE, RUWI (TEL: 24786596) CENTRE POINT, AL KHUWAIR (TEL: 24603542), FANJA HOUSE, QURUM OPP AL KHAMIS PLAZA (TEL: 24560086)

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New Restaurant

Reviews

Info Box

Kurkum Corniche, Muscat Opening Hours: Daily, 11.30am-10.30pm Telephone: 24714114 Meal for two including soft drinks: RO64

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

VERDICT

7

EASTERN PROMISES An impromptu dinner at a recommended Indian restaurant results in a table turning tantrum, says an embarrassed Joe Gill 030

NOV 07 - 13 / ISSUE 293

word of warning – this pristine white, upmarket Indian restaurant is not a place to bring young children. It’s ideal for an intimate dinner with your loved one – but the refined atmosphere is easily shattered if you have a toddler in tow having a tantrum.

Kurkum’s staff are hugely attentive, almost painfully so, and as the place was empty when we arrived early in the evening, we took one of the alcove tables looking out onto the Corniche.

We ordered two lassi drinks, mango and saffron, which were definitely made on the premises and tasted delicious.

Everything was set for an evening of fine dining and hushed conversation, but our daughter was in a foul mood and determined to wreck the vibe.

As our glasses of complimentary rose drinks were brought to the table in champagne flutes, our daughter went under the table to continue her brat act.

My wife went to retrieve her and managed to pull the whole tablecloth down with her to the sound of Beethoven’s cascading piano music.

This was a real test of the service, which couldn’t have been better, removing all traces of embarrassment as well as shattered glass and spilt drinks.

So that we didn’t ruin the other guests’ evening, we re-established ourselves outside where the waiters very thoughtfully brought some chocolate truffles to placate our demon child. It didn’t work.

For starters we had the squid and rocket salad and samosas. The squid rings were lightly battered and perfectly cooked, with a tasty sweet chilli sauce to top them off. By contrast, the samosas were disappointing – a good pastry but the filling was a dull, mushy paste. More exciting was the hot coriander dip that accompanied them.

For mains, we ordered the Kurkum seafood special with green mango and coconut and the tandoori quail.

The headwaiter told us that these came without sides, so we ordered a julienned hot cabbage plus naan breads.

The style of the restaurant suggested nouveau cuisine, and as everyone knows, that means aesthetic

:

10

Roya pas l treatme Extrsaable foodnt, . p servoicint for e

presentation rather than ample portions.

While the family drama continued on the pavement – this was an epic effort of attention seeking – our meals arrived.

The seafood came in a delicately flavoured coconut curry paste. King-sized prawns, squid and a variety of fish, including salmon, made for a filling but not especially flavoursome course. If you call something special, the expectation is heightened and in this case, it did not live up to the name tag. I wanted zingy and fresh, and instead I got a mild and indistinct mélange.

The quail was only moderately tasty and had enough flesh on it for a couple of large mouthfuls. It had a smoky flavour but wasn’t singed like something straight from the tandoor oven.

The hot cabbage was merely diced with onions and nothing spectacular. I feel sorry for any vegetarian who orders it expecting a main course. It could only be enlivened with a lot of sauce.

The naan breads were the size of large cookies, and okay.

Still hungry after the quail, my wife ordered date ice cream. It was tasty and intense, but she was disappointed to find herself crunching on ice particles, which is not how a good ice cream should be served.

A final surprise, and probably the highlight of the meal, was a complimentary carrot dessert. It was shredded and soaked in sugar, milk and cardamom and rose with crushed pistachios. Excellent.

Throughout the evening, the staff could not have been more attentive and helpful.

Then came the bill – more than expected, but it was that kind of place. I have no objection to paying over the odds if the food is out of the ordinary (although it does feel a bit much to be charged RO4 for a small plain naan or plain rice).

Unfortunately, aside from the carrot dessert, there was nothing to especially savour in the meal, so we did feel a little underwhelmed, despite the excellent service.

Kurkum wants to be an exclusive, upmarket restaurant – and everything except the food says it is.

As a result, it feels like a destination for unwary tourists.

Trend

THE FOODIE FILES

New Restaurant

Reviews

Sebastien Vincent, general manager, Ibis Muscat

What was your favourite food as a child?

A simple omelette made with fresh girolle mushrooms and black trumpet mushrooms harvested during the day in the forest nearby. Seasonal products always remain my best memories and favourite food.

by my mother to remember my childhood and family gatherings.

Where is the best restaurant that you’ve ever been to and why was it so good?

I have been a chef for about 18 years so obviously I cook very often. I usually try to have food that brings people together, a dish placed in the middle of the table to share or a BBQ. What is important during a dinner party is not always the food but rather the time shared among friends or family members. Food is a way to bind people together and create conviviality.

I would not consider any restaurant to be the best as there are so many choices available around the world. You might like a restaurant for various reasons and not always for the food.

I would mention a few such as Restaurant Baud et Millet in Bordeaux, France, due to the amazing cheese cellar, décor and warm welcome of Gerard, but also Nolita in Shanghai (a small Italian trattoria) where Domenico Patruno, the chef and partner, ensures you feel at home. His truffle pasta is just delicious. Also a winstub in the centre of Strasbourg in France, my home town, serving traditional Alsatian dishes.

Who would be your dream dinner party guests – dead or alive?

If you could have any chef in the world cook you a meal, who would it be?

Do you cook? (If so what dish can you rustle up for a dinner party?)

My dream would be one day to have all my close friends and family reunited from different parts of the world.

Tell us what you would choose for your last meal (a starter, main and dessert)?

To start with it would be six fresh oysters, just to tease my taste buds, then a slice of goose liver with some toasted brioche.

Main course would be beef ribeye, rare, with sautéed potatoes and Béarnaise sauce and for the dessert, a nice apple tart made

Paul Haeberlin in Alsace, France, who has had 3 stars in the Michelin Guide for over 30 years. He’s a humble chef using fresh, regional and seasonal products.

Chocolate or cheese: which one would you give up if you had to choose one?

I would give up chocolate without any problem. As for cheese, being French, it is part of our DNA so there is no way that I cannot have it.

Audi3Oman

3943_Audi Relocation_Y Magazine_15.5h x 21w-.indd 1

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Health

Beauty

BORROWED FROM THE BOYS

fashion

Masculine flats are the coolest counterpoint to ladylike cocktail dresses this autumn. Lanvin and Miu Miu both paired glossy brogues and monochrome lace-ups with full circle skirts and demure dresses for a modern, carefree contrast. For ultimate dayto-night versatility, try the gilded glamour of these ‘boyfriend’ shoes from laredoute.com

SOLE SEARCHING We all know the importance of attention to detail. In part one of our accessory special, Penny Fray picks the season’s most sensational shoes

Sometimes it’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.”

These are the wise words of Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character who persuaded a whole generation of women to spend silly money on fancy footwear. Thanks to her, some of us morphed into Imelda Marcos wannabes, spending obscene amounts of money on Jimmy Choo shoes and Louboutin heels.

But how many pairs do we really need as opposed to want?

According to my highly scientific research (otherwise known as my opinion), the answer is five, starting with flats. This season it’s all about the brogue. The ‘boyfriend’ shoe dominated autumn’s catwalks, with everyone from Dries Van Noten to Maison Martin Margiela embracing the masculine trend. Next up are slippers. Okay, they’ve been around for a couple of seasons but they’re still comfortable and look great in zebra or leopard print.

On the other side of the sartorial coin, there’s always room in the closet for a pair of super sultry stilettos. Black heels are a must but don’t dismiss the nude patent for leg lengthening purposes or scarlet heels for a little va-va-voom.

Can’t walk in vertigo inducing shoes?

Don’t worry, for those of a more practical persuasion, the stacked heel is not only super stylish but ‘walkable’. They’re also bang on trend thanks to Hermès and Balenciaga.

I particularly rate the ankle boot, especially if they’re from either Céline or Chloé’s latest collection – although Zara does a great high street version.

Last but not least is the Mary Jane – the perfect accompaniment to a tea dress or 1940s-inspired skirt suit.

Gucci’s patent pieces are good but Marc Jacobs’ medium-heeled ones are better.

Mary Jane shoes are all the rage this season and we especially love Nine West’s version – Available from RO32 at the SABCO Centre.

SHOE ME THE WAY:

Penny’s guide to updating your shoe closet

Work comfort and pattern into your look with H&M’s zebra slippers.

From RO11

These ankle boots from Zara boast an easy chunky heel and a must-have metallic sheen – perfect for winter wardrobes everywhere. RO59.90

Timelessly chic, these Jimmy Choo heels promise to be a treasureforever staple in your closet.

RO190

Impeccably crafted – these polished pair of brogues from M&S at Muscat City Centre are a stylish investment from RO101. Slip them on to give everyday outfits a borrowedfrom-the-boys twist.

1 The wedge boot is the intersection of style and substance. One of the most talked-about versions at Paris Fashion Week was Isabel Marant’s Sebay. Team the suede version with a pair of skinny jeans and a tee for urban weekends. 2 Thanks to a certain designer (cough, Valentino), studded details and ankle straps are all the rage this year. 3 Black may be back but red is even hotter – so make sure you buy a pair of scarlet stilettos this season.

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CARS AND OUTDOORS

SHIFTING SANDS

Changing shapes in the dunes on the edge of the Empty Quarter are waiting to be explored at Ramlat Fasad

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Destination

Ramlat Fasad

FOR SPACE, STILLNESS AND SERENE BEAUTY ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST SAND DESERT, FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JERZY WIERZBICKI 038

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or some, the desert offers little has a specific character, which appeals to variety for the eye. When they look photographers. at the Empty Quarter, for instance, Here, unlike deeper into the desert, the hills they only see a homogeneous terrain are not very high. Their uniqueness is the stretching far into the distance. perfectly uniform shapes in which the sand “There is nothing in the desert,” said Prince seems to randomly form.

Faisal, the future King of Iraq, to T.E Lawrence I reached the last petrol pump in a small (Lawrence of Arabia) in the book, Seven Pillars of village called Shasar (the official name of Shisr) Wisdom. in the late afternoon. Filling up with petrol, I Yet as I stood on the edge of the Rub’ al moved quickly to the main track. Just 60km Khali, I had to disagree. Spread out before me ahead of me were the first dunes of Ramlat was not a monotonous vista but an undulating Fasad. I reached the first dune after sunset but and beautifully proportioned harmony of land. the full moon, a shimmering disc hanging in the The dunes looked like golden sculptures, sky, was bright enough to illuminate the desert carved out of sand by nature, with curving surface and visibility was excellent. contours and smooth lines in perfect symmetry.

We camped, before Trop and I shared Other times, the shifting sand, moving with the a dinner of fresh bread bought in Shasar. wind, seemed to be alive, like a lithe animal Afterwards, we took a short walk around the crawling on the ground. area and found many interesting small dunes, There is nothing boring or uniform about the looking like loaves lying on a wooden table at a desert. Its unique topography is matched by a bakery. One by one, they had the same perfect palette of colours that can vary according to the shape and size. time of day, the season, the country and region.

After a long, intense day in the heat, we Here in the Empty Quarter, I identified turned in early. I awoke shortly after sunrise four different types of sand – though I’m sure following a cold night. The desert heat drops the local Bedouins can recognise many more. surprisingly sharply as darkness descends.

Others, of course, may only see one – sand One strong coffee and a snack for breakfast colour. It’s a subjective thing. Apparently, people later, and I was ready to start exploring with my from Scandinavian countries recognise many camera. On the horizon, we could see the bigger different colours of snow. I see just one. White. dunes, an area known as Ramlat Hashman.

At dawn, the sand of the Empty Quarter is The light was strong and even in late October, golden, changing to pale yellow as the sun moves the temperature was still searing deep into the across the sky, before turning a fiery orange at sand, making it too hot for little dog’s paws. sunset.

Trop was sent to sit in the I have visited the Empty car, cooled by air con, Quarter many times, where he happily watched While Ramlat Fasad is only traversing a tiny part of everything from the on the edge of the Empty its enormous, sprawling window.

Quarter, never forget 650,000 square kilometres It seemed like I was that you are in a desert surface. This time I standing amidst thousands environment. A good 4x4 car was alone with only my of small sand dunes, is absolutely compulsory. dog, Trop, for company. carefully placed by Do not forget water and fuel.

Travelling deep into the Mother Nature as a living Before you go between the dunes solo is not advisable. piece of art. These shifting dunes, make sure to reduce Instead, we skimmed the sands eventually combine the pressure in the tyres. outskirts. There’s no need to together to create the It will make your journey feel that you’re missing out towering mounds seen at much safer. here with an environment Ramlat Hashman. as unique and interesting as Equipped with an going deeper into the desert. extreme ultra wide angle and super telephoto There is another good reason to come here. lens, I started capturing the shapes of the sandy The edge of the Empty Quarter is reasonably landscape. I was captivated by the geometric close to the last petrol station and human forms created by a unique ‘artist’, the constantly settlement. For those relatively inexperienced in blowing wind. desert trips, it’s a good place to start. Even better, Deeper into the desert, the shape of the sands you can park up and explore this particular area are more random and irregular but Ramlat on foot.

Fasad is different. If you’re a fan of a clean but Known as Ramlat Fasad, this first raw landscape, then a visit to this area will be concentration of dunes in the Empty Quarter one you’ll remember.

travel guide

ADVICE

Go to road number 31, on the way from Muscat to Salalah. As you enter a small village called Dawkah, just turn right into a gravel track. After around 70km, you will reach a village named Shasar. Remember, you must refuel your car here. Head to the track (road number 43) and drive on. After 60km, you will see the start of the dunes.

GPS location of the start of Ramlat Fasad: E18°26’1. 24” N53°9’1.69”

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CAR CRAZY

Fast, furious and fun – and strictly for the boys. It must be the Red Bull Car Park Drift

Words: Kate Ginn Photos: Jerzy Wierzbicki

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here’s an ear-splitting squeal of tyres, smoke pours into the sky is studying engineering, finished third at the end of the day and looked and the acrid smell of burning rubber fills the air, as the first car delighted to be on the podium. roars into the arena in a wheel-spinning frenzy.

Before the drifting track was opened at the Oman Automobile Navigating at speed through some traffic cones, the driver Association (OAA) in April, many of the drivers would practice on roads, performs a ‘donut’ around an oil drum, leaving behind a circular skid mark which is strictly illegal. But everything was above board for the Red Bull scored into the tarmac. The noise from the exhaust is so deafening, it’s event on Saturday. With their specially modified cars, these drivers are able hard to hear yourself think, let alone make out the cheers emitting from the to take on the twists and turns of the track with exceptional precision. It’s enthusiastic crowd in the stands. not just about the driving, of course.

This is not just drifting; this is drifting Red Bull style. High-octane, Judges, including Abdo Feghali, Lebanese rally driver and triple national flooded with adrenaline and fuelled by testosterone, the sport is hugely champion, and Omani rally star, Ahmad al Harthy, were also looking popular in Oman among young men, who learn the art on the streets or at engine sound, car appearance and the reaction of the crowd. Feghali off-road on different terrains. knows a thing or two about drifting – in February last year, he broke the Back for the fourth consecutive year, the Red Bull Car Park Drift Oman world record for the longest drift, doubling the previous record, with 11,180 offers the drifters a chance to show off this talent in a safe environment and metres of continuous drift at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. in front of an audience.

“To be a good drifter, you need a cool and calm mind,” he says. “You Only 14 of the Sultanate’s most elite drivers were selected to compete have to be in control of the car, not the other way round. for a coveted place in the regional “I’m impressed by the level final in Dubai later this month. and ability here. I know the GET THE DRIFT – A hardcore 4x4 driver, Y’s photographer Hours before the 2pm start, the Oman drivers will give 100 Jerzy Wierzbicki tries out something new in the passenger seat drivers and their precious cars per cent in the final.” had arrived. Bonnets were up, Back on the track, the Strapped into the special sports engines being revved, tyres being drivers were doing their best bucket seat with a crash helmet on, checked and final preparations to capture the eyes of judging I was about to find out what this underway to ensure the vehicle panel and audience. White drifting was all about. My driver, was in the best working order smoke billowing behind, the Abdo, is a champion at the sport possible. cars were a blur of colour. A so I was in good hands. A burst of These are not mere cars. cacophony of engines, cheers speed and we were off. Our car, a From the garish exterior, with and backfiring exhausts Chevrolet, was whipping around decorations such as skulls stenciled reached a crescendo. the track. The noise is so loud onto bonnets, to the stripped out The reek of engine oil hung as the massive engine roars with interior, these mean machines are heavy in the air. Cars pushed power. As we spun round, I tried to keep my bearings by looking for serious drivers. to the limit were overheating for the sun. I never felt afraid because Abdo was always in control Mubarak bin Salim Mubarak with drivers and their of everything that he was doing. Every slide or skid was under had a round-trip of more than mechanics frantically trying his control. It was an unusual experience for me to be in the 700km from his home in a village to cool down the engine with passenger seat and not in a 4x4. I spend all my driving time in a past Sur to take part in the event. bottled water.

4x4, so this was dramatically different. There is less chance to be He poses proudly with his bright Simultaneously, drift drivers flamboyant off road because the surface is more unpredictable. green Nissan Silvia, clearly a were fighting it out in Red I really enjoyed my trip in the Red Bull car. It was fantastic and labour of love.

Bull events around the region, thrilling. Was it good enough to persuade me to swap my trusty “I have been involved in drifting in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordon, Toyota Land Cruiser? No, but I would definitely try drifting again. since I was really young, about Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Who knows, maybe next time I can be in the driving seat? nine years old,” he says. “I enjoy it Arabia, for a place in the a lot, it’s addictive.” final.

In all, the car has cost him “Drifting is not just a sport, around RO8000 – wheels alone it is a lifestyle,” says Ahmed al can set him back RO40 each and then there’s the annual maintenance. It’s Ameri, the UAE drifting champ, who had popped across the border to lend not a cheap pastime by any means. “I am not sure how much longer I can his support. “It’s like a community. I call it motorainment, because while continue. I don’t have a sponsor, so I have to pay everything out of my own it’s an extreme motorsport, it is also theatrical, like a show. Without the pocket. It will be hard to give up because I love it.” spectators and the crowd, you are nothing.”

Inside, the car has been reduced to a shell with the passenger and back Behind him, Asim al Wahaibi gives the thumbs up as he prepares to go seats ripped out. When every ounce counts, anything superfluous or into the drifting ring like a gladiator going into battle. If his name sounds without a practical use has been removed. familiar, it’s because he’s in the same family as Hamad al Wahaibi, Oman’s Further down, Mohammed al Hinai, 22, is supervising last-minute checks international rally champion. Asim, 26, didn’t get through to the final on his striking bright-blue Dodge Charger, which has been painted with the stages but there’s always next year. red and yellow Superman motif. His car is the only one that is road legal; After three-and-a-half hours of sweat, oil and tears, Ali al Balushi is underneath those colourful stickers it remains a sensible black. crowned ‘King of Drift’. Along with second placed Sami al Shaibani, he will “I love the adrenaline and the buzz,” he says. “I like to drive a car that represent the Sultanate in the regional finals in Dubai on Friday (Nov 8). demands respect.”

“I’m very happy. I thought I had a good chance but I didn’t know if I With a throaty roar from the huge 6.1L engine, he heads off to the could win,” says a jubilant Ali, 26, who works as a drift instructor at the starting grid. During the event, he’ll be driving at speeds of around OAA. “I hope that I can do Oman proud in the final.”

100kmph, no mean feat when you’re tearing round obstacles at acute As darkness settles, the drift drivers head off into the night, headlights angles and careering around corners at some pace. flashing, horns tooting and exhausts gunning loudly. *For photos and videos of the event, visit www.redbullmea.com Mohammed, who when he is not being a self-confessed petrolhead

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CARS AND

OUTDOORS Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy

The tooth of Buddha is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous relics and, while you can’t actually see it in the casket, it’s almost impossible to overestimate the importance of this temple to local Buddhists, who believe they must complete at least one pilgrimage here in their lifetime.

Top 5 Places To Visit: 1. Temple Of The Sacred Tooth Relic 2. Yala National Park 3. Pinnawela National Park 4. Old Batti 5. Unawatuna

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Cars

Wi-Fi

O u t d o o r s postcards from

Silviu Mihai Catoiu, photographer, recommends:

SRI LANKA

Welcome to an overlooked paradise full of beautiful beaches, ancient sites, famous tea plantations and flavoursome food. Few places boast as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as Sri Lanka. Its 2000-year history can be discovered everywhere - from legendary temples and monasteries to mysterious plains and modern museums.

Thanks to years of war and frightening reports of tsunamis, this tropical island has evaded the usual tourist overload. And like most people, this unique country had escaped my notice. So, when a couple of friends recently invited me to join them there for Eid, I found myself saying ‘why not?’ And thank heavens I did because it was a chance to snap legendary shrines, colourful markets, verdant hills, exotic animals and stunning coastal scenes.

If you decide to visit, don’t miss the sacred home of the world’s oldest living tree in Anuradhapura or the sight of elephants gathering in Minneriya. Stroll past colonial gems in Colombo, eat spicy curry and hit some epic surf.

Sri Lanka is stunning, affordable and authentic. And did I mention it’s only a four-or so-hour flight from Muscat? The only downside to my trip was leaving.

JUNGLE

BEACH

My Favourite Place:

Where do I begin? Yala National Park was pretty special because it was just like jumping straight into one of Rudyard Kipling’s famous tales in The Jungle Book. Imagine a real-life place surrounded by trumpeting elephants, stealthy leopards and around 100 species of birds. There were other nature reserves to explore, including Udawalawe and World’s End – the only national park in Sri Lanka where visitors are permitted to walk on their own. If only there had been time to visit them all as well as go eyeball to eyeball with the residents of an elephant sanctuary. Next time, maybe.

Highlights: The beaches here are almost unrivalled for their beauty. Unawatuna is the default destination for people like me who are on a short hop. It can be walked from end to end in under 15 minutes, and the small bay there keeps the waves relatively tame. It’s not ideal for surfing but it does offer calm waters and soft sand for sunset strolls.

For a good selection of shops, restaurants and boutique hotels, visit the walled fort town of Galle – a historic stop colonised by the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and English, all of whom managed to leave their indelible stamp on the site. Situated within the 400-year-old fort, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find an amazing hotel called Amangalla. It’s the ultimate colonial hideaway with rattan chairs, large fans and an exquisite spa, offering everything from Ayurvedic massages to hydrotherapy baths. Alternatively, take a tour of the Handunugoda Tea Estate, where you can watch glove-clad women clip white tea leaf by leaf with small scissors and learn how it is harvested, dried and aged.

Kingfishe r beach

Lowlights:

There aren’t many apart from the fact that the only places that really accept credit cards are hotels, so make sure you change your money beforehand. Also, save time and cash by getting your visa online. If you don’t have a Tethlon stomach, I suggest you stick to recommended restaurants and hotels for your meals, otherwise you may spend most of your holiday on the toilet.

Souvenirs:

Handunugoda brews make great gifts, as do bottles of arak, but for something longer lasting, pick up hand-woven napkins and coconut shell spoons at Barefoot or 100 per cent handmade cottons at Vyanni.

Where to stay: The Kingfisher Hotel & Restaurant (kingfisherunawatuna.com), located on a beautiful bay, offers great sea vistas and the freshest seafood. They’re a family-run business that started from scratch after the tsunami disaster. My other recommendation is The Three

By TPV (thethreebytpv.com). This boutique hotel offers tranquility, lush Asian décor and a spectacular view over the deep blue Indian Ocean – amazing!

Histor

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Postcards from

Cars

Outdoors

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SMARTY PANTS

In the age of ever changing technology, Matt Herbst finds the latest gadgets for growing geeks of all ages Business as usual

Every child wants to be like mum and dad and with the VTech Brilliant Creations Advanced Notebook they can be just as ‘busy with business’. Vtech’s advanced version is a step up from the basic, providing kids with a 4.5” colour LCD screen, mouse, touchpad, animations and 120 learning activities that will get them to the top of the class in no time, leaving your hard drive safe from crashing. RO15.5 www.amazon.com

MY GENERATION

DIGITAL LEAP

The LeapPad Ultra is the ultimate children’s tablet on the market. Loaded with a kid-safe web browser known as LeapSearch, it offers a quality Internet browsing experience which can be trusted by parents. The 7” high-resolution display will help children learn to write using a stylus and includes App interactive touch experiences. It even has wi-fi.

Hardware specifications include a long-lasting rechargeable battery, 8GB of internal memory, and front and back cameras for video recording. RO58 from www.leapfrog.com

EDITOR’S PICK sky’s the limit

Who can forget their first visit to A planetarium? Now imagine exploring the night sky anytime you like . the skyscout IS an electronic, astronomical instrument that uses advanced GPS technology with point and click convenience to identify thousands of stars, planets and constellations. an object is identified simply by pinpointing it in the device’s zero-power optical finder and pressing a button. The LCD screen displays the name of the object (star, planet, deep sky object, etc.) and other relevant data. An audio presentation is available via earphones on 200 of the most popular celestial objects.

RO64 FIND OUT MORE AT www.celestron.com.

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The classic Rubik’s Cube is no longer just a frightening 3-D cube of impossibilities. 30 years later and it has been reinvented into a 2-D mind challenging toy. It is played by sliding the top up, down, left, right, clockwise and counterclockwise. The kids will love the new generation Rubik’s – although they might have to wrestle it from adult hands for play time. www.amazon.com RO2.3

FIND OUT WHAT’S HIP & HAPPENING IN GADGETS

It’s electric

This Electric Paint Pen can be used as both a liquid wire and a conductive adhesive. It allows you to draw circuits and attach small components to your projects. It is non-toxic, solvent-free and water soluble. This handy pen is great for experiments and for tool makers of all ages. Once applied, the paint dries quickly at room temperature but can be removed with soap and water. www.thinkgeek.com RO11

NEW! IPAD AIR The power of lightness has arrived and comes in Space Grey or Silver colour with wi-fi or wi-fi + cellular. The new Air offers 16GB for approx RO244.81, 32GB RO293.90, 64GB RO342.98 and 128GB RO392.07 capacities. Apple claims it is less than 0.5kg, 28 percent lighter and 20 percent thinner than other models. See the full specifications and features at www.apple.com.

Retina display and 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit multi‑touch display with IPS technology.

APP OF THE WEEK

Children of all ages love puzzle games.

Puzzingo is an interactive App that includes a game where you can build a jet and fly it - totally cool. Its puzzles are full of interactivity, animations and sounds that build vocabulary, memory and cognitive skills while playing. It also offers a daily preview of new puzzles that your child can look forward to every day. Free at www.itunes.com.

Facetime HD camera, iSight camera and video recording.

Applications include Safari, Newsstand, Videos, Photo Booth, Mail, Messages, Siri, iBooks, iTunes Store, Game Center, Photos, App Store, iPhoto, iTunes U, iMovie, GarageBand and many more.

Sensors - Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer and ambient light sensor.

Operating system - iOS7 – which includes AirDrop, AirPlay, AirPrint, Control Centre, Notification Centre, Spotlight Search, Facebook Integration, Twitter Integration, iCloud, Keychain, Multitasking and Passbook.

THE GIRLY GADGET

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness, Denon and other leading brands have released a huge range of women’s gadgets with all proceeds going towards the Susan G Komen charity. The Exercise Freak Fight Kit is Denon’s latest product dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

It includes several pink accessories for fitness: a water bottle, an absorbent gym towel, a wrist sweatband, an armband smartphone holder with Velcro closure, and the Susan G. Komen Wireless Exercise Freak Headphones, all in the pink Denon Fight Bag. Go to www.shopkomen.com for RO57.38 to purchase and see more gadgets.

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CARS AND OUTDOORS

Postcards from

Wi-Fi

Outdoors

C ars

Audi Q7 4.2 TDI

Engine: 3.0-litre turbodiesel V-6 Transmission: 8-speed automatic (manual optional) Horse Power: 340 Torque: [Nm at rpm] 800 Top Speed: 242 km/h Acceleration 0-100 km/h 6.4 seconds Starts from: RO23,010

Car of the Week

They say: ‘An inspiring driving machine’ We say: ‘Luxury and superb road control’

Check this out

It’s a powerful and stylish family SUV with a surprising intelligence to match, discovers Joe Gill

I

f first impressions count, the Audi Q7 TDI had me from the moment I laid eyes on it.

The all-black finish of the model I tested created a kind of frisson around the car that is hard to describe. Its compact solidity, smooth lines and curves give off an aura of extreme elegance.

It’s gravitas is nothing less than presidential – so much so, you expect a supermodel or movie star to step out of it.

Everything about it says you will be driving a seriously classy SUV that should rightly have the words ‘VIP’ etched somewhere.

Inside one is immediately both comfortable and in control.

The Q7’s Internet-connected interface includes Google Maps, a navigation system, Bluetooth phone and music player wireless connection and, on the premium option, a Bang & Olufson audio system. It also allows you to create a wireless zone for all your devices.

With all this technology at your disposal, it’s hard not to feel like an astronaut in charge of a space capsule, with buttons overhead and in front of you to adjust your course, change driving mode and

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the vehicle height for different road conditions.

It might be the name, but I expected James Bond’s gadget boffin Q to appear and tell you about the hidden missile console behind the driver’s mirror.

Whether it is the adaptive lighting that dips as soon as you enter a street-lit area, or the fob key that automatically unlocks the vehicle as you approach it, the Q7 seems to have a mind of its own.

It takes a little road time and some exploring to discover all the clever things that the car is capable of. I was only in the foothills during our weekend trip to the mountains.

Which brings me to the driving.

On the road, the steering and road traction are close to perfect – at high speeds and on twisty mountain roads, one feels in full control and secure at all times.

It also helps to feel like you are inside an armour-plated vehicle.

Whenever I made a tricky manouevre, I felt absolutely confident in saying to my wife “don’t worry, we’re safe.”

Those that know about these things speak in awed tones about the impressive torque of the Q7

– at 800 Nm (whatever that is) it packs a fearsome punch.

I can certainly vouch for smooth and, if need be, fierce acceleration that lets you overtake with consummate ease. Brakes are ultra responsive, reinforcing the overall sense of road safety.

It has to be noted, though, that this SUV is not geared up for offroading. The shallow tyres, while aesthetically pleasing with a stylish tread and designer hub, are not suitable for wadi or dune bashing.

This gives some other luxury SUVs like the VW Touareg an edge for those who do want to stray off the highway.

Also, I did occasionally find that the blind spot created by the block between front and rear doors was a little wider than on other vehicles.

The wide leather upholstery can only be described as luxurious.

Using the electronically reclining seats, we had a nap on the mountainside in the late afternoon and awoke without a cramped leg between us. That’s a first.

Overall, the Q7 is an astoundingly good drive and a pleasure to take the family out in.

Dual-zone automatic climate control Four-spoke multifunction steering wheel Power tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column Power windows with one touch up/down operation and pinch protection Decorative interior inlays Panoramic sunroof Dual front sun visors with lighted vanity mirrors Auto-dimming interior rear view mirror with digital compass Aluminum door still inlays Adaptive lighting LED lights All wheel drive Electronic sunroof Automatic remote lock / unlock

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