Y Magazine #434, August 25, 2016 by SABCO Press, Publishing and Advertising

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

Welcome to Y Magazine – your top guide to the best of Oman every week.

Fast forward

any residents in Oman are familiar with the positives of online shopping, with a large slice of the population using the likes of Amazon, eBay and other services to order anything from music to books, clothes, jewellery and gadgets. But one element of e-commerce that’s been sorely missed from the Sultanate’s growing digital marketplace has been groceries. I don’t know about you, but there are some days I just can’t face an overcrowded supermarket and long checkout lines – and would rather be doing other things with my time. While online delivery services are a dime a dozen in the West, we discover in our cover story this week that Oman is fast catching up to the world when it comes to e-commerce, with a raft of local online services – including groceries – now available to consumers. It’s a brave new world and the future has definitely arrived, especially in terms of grocery shopping. Elsewhere, we road test the impressive Jaguar F-Pace in Car of the Week, head to a new Lebanese restaurant in Taste Test and continue with our fantastic competitions with Dovecote Nursery and The Butcher’s Block. Have a wonderful week!

editor@y-oman.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

MANAGING EDITOR Felicity Glover

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contents

AUGUST 25 - 31 2016

Your Oman 08 Voice Of Oman Felicity Glover 10 News Banned E-cigarettes Causing Concern

Features 20 The Future Is Now Online Shopping Comes Of Age In Oman

This Week

24 Meet BB Man Enter our new Superhero competition

16 #FYI World’s Top 10 Friendliest Cities

26 Dovecote Nursery Enter Our Healthy Eating Challenge for Children

17 Movies War Dogs 10 News Indian Expats On The 18 This Week Rise In The GCC AGS Open Day 12 News Al Hoota Cave to Reopen

13 Faces of Oman

14 Gallery OmanTalent Hunt 15 Hyundai – Driven To Success Wessam Osman

Cars and Adventures

Food and Drink 28 Food Feature Feed Your Fitness 30 Taste Test Al Mukhtar

38 Destination Suhailah 40 Outdoors Underwater Adventures

Health and Beauty

44 Y-Fi Pump Up The Volume

32 Fashion Bold Patterns

46 Car Of The Week Jaguar F-Pace

34 Beauty Mother Nature 35 Health Surviving Sandstorms

NEXT ISSUE... FEATURES / COFFEE WITH Y / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / FOOD / DESTINATION / TRAVEL / FASHION / OUTDOORS

A master of fla his roots in c vours, Ronald William M o of Sense on th oking, and the road that cKinlay talks to Alvin T h led him to be e Edge at Six coming the c omas about Senses Zigh f you have visi h y Bay ef de cuisine Senses Zighy ted the Six starte

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AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

tured in Email: editor@ y-oman.com Y Magazine.

INTERN AT Y

re you a college or university student hungry to work with the best magazine in Oman? Y is looking for bright and ambitious interns to join us and learn the journalism ropes. This is very much a handson role with plenty of scope to get your name into print. You won’t just be making the tea – we all take turns doing that on Y – but given exciting chances to get involved on real assignments, write stories and take photographs.

One day you could be attending a press conference and the next, trying out the latest adventure sport. Knowledge of social media is a must, as is a “can do” attitude and willingness to get stuck in. While the position is unpaid, the opportunities are huge. If you are up to the challenge, email your CV and cover letter explaining why you’d be the best intern to editior@y-oman.com

THE VOICE OF OMAN FELICITY GLOVER ON THE PERILS OF EARLY MORNINGS

correspondence EDUCATION NEEDED Dear Editor,

t’s a looming dread that’s been building over the past couple of weeks – that inevitable moment when you realise summer is over and soon you’ll be setting the alarm for the start of the new school year. Yes, it’s that time of the year again; when bleary-eyed mums and dads drag themselves out of bed at the crack of dawn to get their children ready for school and on the road to beat the dreaded bell. It seems like only yesterday that it was June and we were winding up for the holidays, a time you anticipate with happiness and gratitude that you’d finally get a much-needed break from the blaring alarm at 5am – and that you’d made it to the end of the final term with only using the snooze button a few times. At least that’s how it is in our house. While I know many schools have already started back this month, we’ve still got a few more days up our sleeve to prepare ourselves. That means rushing about this weekend to pick up last-minute supplies and then heading off to bed early in anticipation of the 5am alarm. Since the summer started, I’ve had the luxury of an extra 90 minutes’ sleep every day. And waking up with the sun already up is still a novelty. Come this Sunday that luxury will no longer be there and we’ll be getting up before the birds and the sun. Let’s hope I don’t accidently turn off the alarm in the belief that I’ve actually pressed the snooze button. After all, we don’t want to be late on the first day back.

NEXT WEEK:

FAHMI AL MA’AWALI

AUG 25 - 30 / ISSUE 434

The cover story “Super Size Me” (Issue 432) could certainly serve as an eye-opener for the parents of schoolchildren, who are aware of the risk of unhealthy eating but are not taking the issue seriously. In fact, it is not the fast-food courts of the shopping malls that are responsible for provoking small children to eat junk food; the blame must lie with parents and teachers. It is adults who have failed to generate awareness among children about the problem. We should not expect the government of Oman to come out with a Royal Decree on each and every social and health issue. It is a well-known, research-oriented medical fact that fat children are more likely to be sick, be absent from school due to illness, experience health-related limitations and require more medical care than children who are their correct weight. Overweight children are also more likely to become obese adults, and have a higher risk of morbidity, disability and premature mortality in adulthood. Some researchers have reported that apart from Type II diabetes, obese children are likely to develop obstructive sleeping disorders, asthma, muscular disorders, cardiovascular problems and mental disorders

DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED:

“Is school detention an effective way to punish students?” MEHUL UDESHI

I think making a child as young as 11 sit on their own, in silence, doing absolutely nothing is not effective at all and is actually quite inhumane. I am

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than can endure into adulthood. It is very important that parents and teachers ensure that children are aware of the dangers of junk food in the same way as being made aware of health and safety in the home eg against fire, household electrical gadgets, kitchen knives, scissors and blades etc. At the same time, all kinds of modern ready meals and deep-fried food should not be made at home or sold in school canteens. To be frank, the junk food outlets will automatically pack their bags if they don’t have enough customers to run a profit. However, to save our innocent children from obesity we, the parents, have to discipline our eating habits. That is the bottom line, otherwise nothing will work. Regards, Mohammad Osama Rawat, Ruwi not against discipline but if you are going to punish a child, do it in a way they can actually learn from their mistakes. Most detentions are completely unjust anyway, as teachers use them just to basically assert their authority and to “scare” the child. From personal experience, detentions did nothing for me. I sat there, in silence, not being able to go to the toilet or anything. I wasn’t even allowed to do homework, revise or do anything productive. I just had to sit and think. However, just thinking isn’t going to achieve anything, not if the child thinks he is in the right!

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE

Detention is one of the sanctions schools can use in the case of a student’s serious misbehaviour. I think

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it is ineffective and inhumane to detain misbehaving pupils during or after school hours. It has a psychological, moral, and social impact on the life of a child or student in the latter part of his life. The student should be obliged to discuss, with his teacher and perhaps his parents also, how his or her conduct affects him and others. He should be made aware of the consequences of his actions and be held accountable for them. We should always remember that open communication is one of the best ways to maintain good, lasting, and harmonious relationships.

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JORDAN MERCADO was spotted with his favourite Y Magazine in Mawaleh

USHA DEVI SUDDAPALLI

No, not at all. I think school detention is most ineffective, highly unwarranted, inhumane and above all, a colossal waste of what should be productive years of an academic career.

RUSHIN KANABAR

In school suspensions, time-outs or detentions have been the age-old solutions for troubled students. Yet today, many students don’t mind them, preferring them to going home to an empty or abusive household. Many consider time-outs a quiet time to work. Detention lets them socialise after school. And both time-outs and detentions bring them attention from teachers. For school discipline to be successful, we need to restore those relationships.

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DR RAO SUDDAPALLI

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

I am not for detention of any kind to punish school children for fear they might be bruised at a very young age. Ultimately, the aim of detentions is to deter by causing discomfort to an erring child. Though detention is deemed to be unpleasant, most people feel they are a great way of discouraging disruptive behaviour. At the end of the day, the question remains over the rights to sanction children in the form of detention.

Send it to: info@y-oman.com

ANTONY VETTIYAZHICKAL JOSEPH

Yes, detention can be an effective deterrent. Seeing the way that bullies can intimidate other children by pouring ink on them, spitting on them, snatching, tearing their books, even opening their meal boxes are all forms of woeful indiscipline. Such incidents are rampant in schools in which privileged pupils can become hooligans and for which teachers cannot get them to toe the line. These forms of deplorable conduct, ugly manners, browbeating and irresponsible attitudes can only corrected by detention if it is implemented without fear or favour. To me, it is an evil though necessary.

SYED BOKHARI

I don’t think detention is an effective way to punish students. It leaves a mark on students that would affect their progress to their next class, and embarrass them among their classmates. It would be better to give them extra homework as this would strengthen their studies and have no bearing on their health.

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MOHAMMAD OSAMA RAWAT

School detention is not at all the solution to the problems posed by misbehaviour. All kinds of class punishments are demotivating and demoralising. At the same time, punishments lead to the distortion of the student-teacher relationship.

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AUG 25 - 30 / ISSUE 434

YOUR

OMAN

rom illegal “bootleg” salesmen to online websites, residents in Oman have been using unlawful methods to get access to imported electronic cigarettes and shishas, according to an official from the Ministry of Health. The Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) banned the sale and importation of electronic cigarettes and shishas in the Sultanate last December after allegations that these devices were causing more harm to people’s health than helping them to overcome their addiction to smoking. Some studies suggest that e-cigarettes have a higher chance of causing lung cancer. Speaking to local media on how electronic cigarettes make their way into Oman, Dr Jawad al Lawati, a senior consultant at the National Tobacco Control of the

NEWS

OMAN WORRIED

OVER SALE OF ILLEGAL

E-CIGARETTES

Ministry of Health, said: “One [method] is through the internet and the other is when people go abroad they bring two or three pieces with them. He added that customs officials would confiscate such products if they were identified. “It is not commercially or legally available in Oman. Yet people... you know... it’s called bootlegging. “They bring it with them. You can’t screen everybody at airports. People do get away with it,” he said. Dr Lawati added that many cases of deadly explosions had been reported due to people smoking e-cigarettes. “Sometimes it blows up in faces and pockets,” he said. Currently, a fine of RO500 is slapped on violators who engage in the illegal trade of electronic cigarettes. The fine is doubled in cases of repeat violations. These laws also apply to anyone bringing vaping devices or e-cigarettes into the country. However, vaping is not a crime in Oman and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has stated that it does not arrest people for smoking e-cigarettes. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has announced a plan to conduct a nationwide study to determine the volume of e-cigarette and shisha users in the Sultanate.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

ore Indians are calling Oman “home”, with new statistics revealing that the number of expats in the Sultanate has risen sharply since last year. According to recent statistics, more than 795,082 Indians reside in Oman, a 12 per cent increase in the number of non-resident Indians (NRI) from January 2015. However, Saudi Arabia hosts the biggest number of expats from India, with nearly 2.96 million NRIs residing there, marking a 5.7 per cent rise from the previous year. The UAE follows with more than 2.6m NRIs, a 30 per cent jump from previous years. Meanwhile, 880,567 NRIs reside in Kuwait.

Oman comes in fourth on the list and is followed by Qatar with 630,000 NRIs. With only 295,504 NRIs, Bahrain is home to the least number of Indians compared with other GCC countries. Bahrain is also the only GCC country where the NRI population has fallen by more than 15 per cent, from 350,000 in January 2015. Official figures state that more than 8.1m NRIs currently reside in the GCC, a rise of more than 13 per cent from previous years. The GCC figure represents 72 per cent of the total 11.42m NRI diaspora living around the world.

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AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

011

YOUR

OMAN

AL HOOTA CAVE

Bite Sized

OUR WEEKLY SLOT TAKES A LIGHTHEARTED LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

CLUELESS

What’s this about? The stuff of nightmares for any teenager worth their salt. That sounds interesting! It depends on who you ask. Why’s that? Ok, so imagine you are a 15-year-old girl, it’s summertime … and you have to go on holiday with your parents. That’s not a nightmare! We have to agree with you on that one. But hey, some teens just find it difficult to spend an entire summer holiday with mum and dad in a cottage on a river in Canada. So what happened? This particular teenager from Mississauga, Ontario, decided she’d, ahem, call the police and make an official complaint about her situation. Are you serious? Absolutely. We think it was a nightmare for her parents, to be honest! What did the police do? Well, like any good police force, they checked out her story with her mum and dad to establish everything was OK. And, of course, they decided not to take any action, telling the Toronto Star newspaper: “This appeared to be a case of a teenager being a teenager”. Don’t say: “Busted.” Do say: “You’re grounded.” 012

AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

SLATED TO REOPEN

xtending five kilometers below ground and with stunning rock formations and spectacularly calm waters, the two-millionyear-old Al Hoota Cave is a haven for adventure enthusiasts and visitors alike. After closing down to the public for renovation several years ago, tourists and residents will be happy to hear that Al Hoota Cave will reopen on September 5. Salah al Ghazali, the chief operating officer of the Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), made the announcement earlier this week. The opening is also expected to coincide with the Eid Al Adha holidays. Located in a mountain in the Tanuf Valley in Al Hamra district, at the foothills of the central Al Hajar Mountains, Al Hoota Cave offers a fascinating insight into the development of landforms in Oman. Due to the nature of its location, the cave has faced

A WEEK IN PICTURES

major challenges, such as flooding, since it opened in 2006. Visiting hours are from Saturday to Thursday, from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.15pm. On Friday, the timings change to 9am to 12 noon and 2pm to 5.15pm. The entry fee is RO5 and the tour is expected to take about 40 minutes to complete. Al Hoota Cave was discovered hundreds of years ago by local residents, while it is named after a nearby village.

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

The 2016 Olympics in Rio came to a colourful close in Maracan Stadium on Sunday, marking the end of 16-day sporting extravaganza that saw the US come out on top of the medals table, followed by the UK and China.

Inspirated by the blockbuster film Avatar, China has opened the world’s biggest glassbottom bridge in the Zhangjiajie Mountains in Hunan province. Measuring 430 metres long and suspended 300m above the ground, the bridge is made up of 99 panels of glass and can carry 800 people at a time.

Surprised doctors in Amritsar, India, have surgically removed 40 knives from the stomach of a 42-year-old father of two who said he had a sudden urge to swallow metal.

Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that he will try to win back the French presidency, which he lost in 2012, saying he will run in next year’s election.

aces of

Oman

Welcome to Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly photo series that profiles the diverse characters who call the Sultanate home Name: Carlos Ferrer Age: 23 From: Venezuela Occupation: Works as a waiter at Rumba Lattina

Photo: Shaquel al Balushi

AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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YOUR

TOP TALENT

OMAN

TALENT HUNTERS OMAN RECENTLY CELEBRATED INDIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 70TH INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH AN EVENING OF PATRIOTIC SONGS AND PERFORMANCES. IN ATTENDANCE WAS THE AMBASSADOR OF INDIA TO OMAN, INDRA MANI PANDEY

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AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

GALLERY

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

DRIVEN TO

SUCCESS

A graduate of Sultan Qaboos University’s College of Medicine, Wessam Osman entered the Oman Medical Speciality Board and completed his training in Internal Medicine. He intends to specialise in endocrinology Q: What drives you to success? My passion to succeed stems from my innate nature to want to help people as much as possible. Seeing my father, who is also a physician, help people throughout their ailments has given me some insight on this divine goal. There is nothing quite as satisfactory as resolving a patient’s ailment, and being thanked genuinely afterwards. Nothing compares to the purity of this selfless act. Perfecting it though is an art that is acquired by only a few, and that is what I have aimed all my life to attain. Oman’s healthcare system needs all the help it can get as the population grows. Young physicians such as us become pillars of medical advancements in the country. Q: Who or what has been your inspiration? Other than my talented father, who has been the most relentless driving force in my life, I believe my family and my wife are

my source of inspiration. We are a family that strives for perfection, which we have aimed for all our lives. Even my father’s retirement was nothing more than a new chapter, in which we opened up his private practice to continue to help as many people as he can through his life. Insurmountable challenges in our lives have only been defeated through each other’s unity, and my family represents the core example of such seamless success.

THE CAR’S EFFORTLESS GRACE IS SO SOOTHING; YOU FORGET YOU ARE DRIVING SUCH A BIG CAR. ALL THE AMENITIES AND LUXURY FEATURES IN THE CABIN ADD TO THAT HIGHEND-CAR-EFFECT

Q: What is your biggest career success to date? Completing my training in the American Certified residency in Internal Medicine was a tough challenge, and I am glad it is over. Successfully helping us set up our own health centre was a boon to our future. I shall be pursuing my studies in Ireland, which is also a big step in my career.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? I aim to make our practice an integral constituent of Oman’s private healthcare sector. Expanding our services to franchises, while recruiting the most talented professionals to offer their experience will be the ultimate goal for me over the next few years. Reaching this goal in a reputable and unblemished manner will be the challenge on this rough economic terrain we are currently in, and maintaining the quality of our service will be what we strive for.

Q: What are your career goals? Continuing in my father’s footsteps may sound like the most mundane and clichéd reply to this question, but he has definitely made it challenging for me to fill his shoes. My family’s insatiable need to serve our nation needs to see the light. Our training reveals to us how much work and collaboration is needed for this country’s healthcare system to revamp and continue to serve its people. Unification of Government and private healthcare is inevitable, and I aim to bridge that divide by expanding our private practice while working in Government institutes. Holistic care of patients is my ultimate goal, and providing world-class services to them so they do not have to seek them abroad.

Q: What do you like about the Genesis, the premium series of Hyundai Motor Company? The Genesis is one of the most comfortable rides I have had in a while. The car’s effortless grace is so soothing; you forget you are driving such a big car. All the amenities and luxury features in the cabin add to that high-endcar-effect. The Genesis also has such a long list of features that it matches with many cars above its price range, all with unquestionable authority. The engine is throttle-y enough for my taste, too! AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

015

Friendliest Cities in the world

➊ ➌

Charleston, South Carolina, US

Dublin, Ireland

➋ ➍

➎

➏

➐

➑

➒

➓

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AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 423

Sydney, Australia

Source: Condé Nast Traveler

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War Dogs It’s a rollicking ride as a few of the cast and the director from The Hangover trilogy reunite for War Dogs, which is based on a true story published in Rolling Stone magazine in 2011. In true Hangover form, this movie is a comedy starring the brilliant Jonah Hill as Efraim Diveroli and Miles Teller as David Packouz, old high school buddies who team up to win a dodgy US$300 million (RO115m) contract to arm US allies in Afghanistan – after undercutting the big guns by a massive US$54 billion. What follows is a comedy of errors and plain dumb luck as Diveroli and

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Who plays Happy in Happy Bhag Jayegi? LAST WEEK'S WINNER Tina Alice Raiju

Packouz head off on a hilarious journey that takes them from Miami to Albania and, of course, Afghanistan and on to living the high life. Think Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure – but in a war zone. Throw in some shady characters, such as the sleazy arms dealer Henry Girard (Bradley Cooper), add a touch of Scarface and Goodfellas and you’ve got yourself a winning movie – but will their luck win out? Directed by the talented Todd Phillips, this is a definite must-see Review by Felicity Glover

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN, just answer a question based on the week’s cinema reviews and send your answer to info@y-oman.com, along with your name and contact information. Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions, see voucher. Contact: Movie enquiries 2460 7360

animated comedy is a treat for kids and adults alike thanks to its stellar voiceover cast featuring the likes of Kevin Hart, Albert Brooks and Lake Bell.

Skiptrace Fans of Jackie Chan will be happy to see the martial arts superstar back on the big screen and still in fine form. Chan plays Bennie Chan, a Hong Kong detective on a 10-year crusade to track down slippery crime boss Victor Wong. But when complications arise, in comes fast-talking American Connor Watts (Johnny Knoxville). Chan has lost none of his charm while the stunts are just as fun as ever.

Bollywatch HAPPY BHAG JAYEGI A romantic comedy starring Diana Penty, Abhay Deol and Jimmy Shergill, Happy Bhag Jayegi follows the adventures of a runaway bride who accidently lands in Lahore, Pakistan, causing a whole lot of mayhem along the way. Penty is brilliant as Happy and her one-liners come thick and fast. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, this Hindi-language film is a fun-filled escape but perhaps a little too long at two hours and 25 minutes. Unfortunately, the Hindustan Times reported that the film had been banned in Pakistan for showing a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 423

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THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

Now that school’s back, it’s time to get out and about and meet new friends – especially if you are new in town. The ladies at Women’s Guild in Oman will be hosting their regular coffee morning from 10am to 12 noon at McKenzie’s Café and Deli in MSQ. You can also register for the 2016/17 membership year, which comes with a raft of benefits. Go to womensguildoman.com for details.

THIS

WEEK AUG

AUG

WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

SEPT

A’soud Global School (AGS) in Seeb is hosting a special open day from 10am to 4pm for parents, and pupils interested in attending Muscat’s newest British curriculum school for the “leaders of tomorrow”. Tours of the school and its 21st-century facilities, including state-of-theart classrooms, will be on offer as well as an opportunity to meet the teachers and headmaster Andrew Hurst. For more information, call 2428 7916 or email registrar@agsmuscat.com.

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NETWORKING NIGHT

Meet new friends

AUG

As part of its popular The Drum seminar series, the Australian Business Group Oman is hosting a presentation by Austrade commissioners at the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel. The event, which will feature Austrade commissioners from around the region updating their GCC strategy, starts at 6pm in the Habrout and Labaan Room. This will be following by networking in the John Barry Bar. Attendance is complimentary for ABGO members. RSVP is essential and seats are limited. Email admin@abgoman.com for details.

AUG 25 - 30 / ISSUE 434

Open day

SEP

Gallery

Movies

High notes

SEP 04

Now that the summer break is over, the Muscat Singers Community Choir will kick off its new rehearsal season at 7.30pm at The American International School Muscat (TAISM) in Ghala. New members are welcome and the ability to read music is an advantage, but certainly not essential. Check out the Muscat Singers Facebook page for details.

Escape with art

FUNK FEST

AUG

Get your funk on with 2 Faced Funks at On The Rocks restaurant and lounge at the Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel, Muscat. The popular DJs from Amsterdam, renowned for their pink masks and mystery identities, will be spinning their electrifying house music from 10pm. Free entry for ladies and cabin crew. For more information, call 9798 3333.

SEP 03

Gailani Art Retreat is celebrating a milestone this month, marking its four-year anniversary since the unique creative escapes began. Join in the fun at this session, which is being held at the Hormuz Grand Hotel in Seeb. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be a trained artist to enrol, just a desire to express your feelings on canvas at this full-day retreat that focuses on music and art. The cost is RO20, but does not include art supplies or materials. It starts at 8.30am and ends at 5.30pm. Contact Huma on 9760 9925 or email gailani.art@gmail.com for details. AUG 25 - 30 / ISSUE 434

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t’s a hot Tuesday in Azaiba, with the temperature soaring to 39 degrees Celsius. It has left 38-year-old stay-at-home mum Leena in limbo. She needs to go shopping for her weekly groceries to prepare dinner for her three children, husband and sister-in-law, who lives with the family. But the intense midday heat forces her to stay at home until her husband returns as the nearest shopping mart – Rawasco – is 15 minutes’ walk away. A month ago, she would simply have headed to LuLu Hypermarket in Bausher with her friend, who has a car. But since her shopping companion left for her summer vacation, Leena has been struggling to do her household shopping. But Leena has a plan. She switches on her laptop and logs on to online webstore Shop On Click, a grocery shopping website based in the UAE and Oman that delivers all the groceries she requires. “I came to know about Shop On Click through a flyer I found on the road in Al Khuwair when my husband and I were out and about,” says Leena. “It seemed like a good option to try it out, especially when no one is at home and when the heat is unbearable. “Plus, it would save me some time,” she laughs. Completing the transaction is fairly straightforward: Leena simply logs onto the website (shoponclick.me),

THE FU

which poses as a virtual market for goods and groceries, complete with pictures of the items and their prices. She also saves time by typing out her list of groceries in a virtual “Shopping List” on the website, thus eliminating the need for paper and a pen. After that, she simply scrolls through the vast number of groceries on offer in the digital store. Nestlé Cerelac and Nido, check; 1kg Sadia chicken, check; Al

Rawabi milk, check; assorted vegetables and fruits, check; Galaxy Minis chocolate, check and one packet of London Dairy ice cream, check. Her total amounts to RO11.825. Next, she simply types in her location, apartment number, building name, street name and additional instructions on how to get to her apartment, and clicks on “Checkout”. In less than an hour, a delivery boy arrives with her groceries

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– all packed and all fresh. She also pays the bill on delivery, using her debit card. A surcharge of 400 baisa is charged for delivery and processing. “I could get used to this system of shopping online and I may avail myself of their services from now on. I would also like to see the service catch on,” says Leena. The reality of this scenario is a welcome change to the way we shop in Oman as e-commerce takes hold in the Sultanate. The future is now: all the technology that Leena uses to purchase her groceries today is readily available at her fingertips through the

UTURE IS NOW ONLINE SHOPPING HAS COME OF AGE IN OMAN, WRITES ALVIN THOMAS

highest smartphone penetration rates in the Middle East. Oman and its neighbour, the UAE, has the highest smartphone penetration in the GCC region after Qatar, which has a 79 per cent reach. Only eight per cent of the population was recorded as using their mobile devices for mobile and online shopping. The list of items bought in Oman from online stores range from clothing to groceries and music, while more than 25 per cent of the population have made purchases from foreign websites such as Google, Souq, eBay, AliBaba and Amazon. However, consumers in the Sultanate are now “gradually exploring online shopping” options locally as well. According to an Online Shopping Behaviour Study carried out by financial services company MasterCard, nearly 25 per cent of those surveyed in the country said they accessed the internet for online shopping, of which 76 per cent said they were highly satisfied with their online shopping experience. Consumers also said they spend most of their money on clothing, airlines, travel, beauty care, and medicine; followed by coupons and deals, hotels and groceries. It was also noted that more than one in three respondents made a purchase online during the three months prior to the study being undertaken. Aaron Oliver, the head of emerging payments (Middle East and Africa) at MasterCard says: “It is encouraging to see that online shopping in Oman is gradually increasing in popularity. “Consumers value the safety and security of online payment facilities and the convenience of being able to shop on the go. “Considering Oman’s high mobile penetration rate, and the unbeatable convenience of being able to shop anywhere and anytime, it is not surprising to see that rates of shopping online via mobile are also steadily rising.” Airline tickets were found to have the highest spend rate when compared to other leading services including travel products, home appliances and electronic products.

comforts of home and via her laptop and smartphone. In fact, Shop on Click is only one among a sea of other online shopping retailers that have started to get a foothold in the Omani retail market today. But as the chief executive of Shop on Click, Mohamed Saleh al Araimi, says: “Oman is still only taking baby steps in e-commerce and online shopping. Our country is still only slowly adopting online shopping. But the process has been steady, and more and more people have started using it.” According to a recent survey carried out by Mordor Intelligence, the e-commerce market in Oman only accounted for one per cent of the total sale of marketed goods in the region this year. The study shows that approximately 20 per cent of residents here have made at least one purchase over the internet since 2014. But the figures are still lower by 50 per cent than that of the United States and 75 per cent lower than that of the United Kingdom. The statistics are a surprise considering that Sultanate has one of the FEB 18 - 24 / ISSUE 408

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MOST SOUGHT AFTER ITEMS (eBay):

Electronics: ● Dell laptops ● PS4 console ● Samsung Smart TV ● iPhone 5

Fashion: ● Breitling watch ● Michael Kors handbag ● TAG Heuer watch ● Nike Men’s sneakers

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Nearly 15 per cent of the respondents in the survey also identified the Oman Air website as the most commonly visited portal for ticket procurement. But for everything else, eBay was the most commonly visited site for online shopping, followed by Yallahoman, Muscat360, Amazon and UAE-based Alshop. The sudden boom of social media in Oman has also seen a host of local companies taking to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to offer their services to local residents. Compared to international vendors, these local dealers also provide potential customers with exclusive benefits and lower costs. However, this has also given rise to a number of illegal home businesses in Oman. For example, it was recently reported by local press that a number of expatriate women were operating small businesses from home without legal documents and visas. These businesses include food (cakes, home-cooked meals, etc), dress jewellery and goods, as well as other services. “But for consumers in the Sultanate, the key considerations while making an online purchase include security of the payment facility, the availability of the product and the convenience of payment,” says Mohamed from Shop On Click. “Our company is registered with the authorities, and we have grown over 300 per cent since the day we started.” Shedding light on the growth of legal online shopping, Muzafir, a software developer in Muscat, says: “Online shopping will certainly grow in Oman in the coming years but I feel that if a company has to grow within this market, it has to be established too. “For example, the new LuLu Webstore and Amazon portals are great for making purchases. But someone who is new to Oman would think twice before investing in a product from someone who is selling it on Instagram. “People are well aware of scams now and perhaps they can distinguish between a fake service and a real one. For example, if you go to Instagram and type in ‘Oman Shop’, you can see a lot of local products made good. Most of these are real, and made in Oman. “However, at the same time, there may be an advertisement of someone selling you a fake limitededition Seven Friday watch. That’s something you need to be careful of. “A lot of people are there to take advantage of your lack of knowledge but it is really up to you to make the decision.” However, in MasterCard’s survey, Omani consumers were asked to include the factors that influenced their decisions when making online purchases. They cited price, exchange policy and online reviews as the most important considerations before making a digital transaction. When asked how online shopping could be improved in the future, 31 per cent of shoppers in Oman said this could be accomplished by websites creating more userfriendly platforms. The global e-commerce market has been booming, and is expected to hit US$2 trillion (RO770 billion) by 2020 and also account for a total of 7.8 per cent of market sales. And one thing is for sure: Even though Oman lags behind countries such as the UAE, Qatar, India and even China, e-commerce and online and mobile shopping are here to say. And who knows, maybe Oman will be the base for the next billion-rial shopping website.

TOP ONLINE SHOPPING WEBSITES IN OMAN: eBay Country of Origin: USA The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest platform for buying and selling electronics, cars, fashion apparel, collectables, sporting goods, digital cameras, baby items, coupons and everything else you can imagine. www.ebay.com

Amazon Country of Origin: USA

Online retailer of books, movies, music and games along with electronics, toys, apparel, sports, tools, groceries and general home and garden items. www.amazon.com

LuLu Webstore Country of Origin: UAE appliances and groceries. www.luluwebstore.com

Online shopping store in the Middle East for everything from mobile phones, computers, laptops, electronics, toys, home

Roumaan Country of Origin: UAE

One of the best online shopping stores in Oman. It offers mobile phones, laptops, sunglasses, cosmetics, watches and much more, along with discounted prices. www.roumaan.com

YallaOman Country of Origin: Oman own gift store. www.yallaoman.com

YallahOman offers personal and health care products, home appliances, cakes and flowers, electronics, fashion, and has its

JadoPado Country of Origin: UAE www.jadopado.com

A portal to shop for everything from electronics, to home products, fashion and beauty.

Alatool Muscat Country of Origin: Oman getaways and more. www.alatoolmuscat.com

Alatool offers coupons for shopping, meals, spas, massages, clubbing, recreation, adventure sports, weekend

Shop On Click Country of origin: UAE/ Oman www.shoponclick.me

Shop On Click is the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first fully fledged online grocery store.

FEB 18 - 24 / ISSUE 408

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PROTEIN er Pow

WITH

It’s time to get creative and discover your amazing superpowers!

ntries are flying in from children from around the Sultanate, all of whom have discovered their superpowers with the help of our superhero, Butcher’s Block Man, otherwise known as BB MAN! To find your superpowers, all you have to do is enter our exciting competition, sponsored by The Butcher’s Block, and you could win a RO350 cash prize and a RO150 gift voucher from Oman’s premier butchery! Launched in 2013, The Butcher’s Block is owned by Al Rahba Integrated

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in association with

BB MAN Projects. With two outlets in the capital – one in Al Mawaleh, opposite The Wave, Muscat, and a new branch at Al Noor Plaza in Madinat Sultan Qaboos, The Butcher’s Block is renowned for its top-quality products. This ranges from natural and fresh chicken, lamb, beef and steak cuts from the US, Australia and South Africa. The Butcher’s Block also offers customers a delicious range of ready-to-cook meat products, including marinated meat and chicken, kebabs, burgers and sausages made with world-class spices. It has recently added some of South Africa’s most popular meat snacks to its extensive range: biltong, a dry cured beef, and droewors, dry cured sausages. Individually packed, they are the perfect onthe-go healthy snack for kids and adults alike as an alternative to junk food and a great protein! Their highly selected and internationally trained butchers provide the best services and also guide customers on the best type of meat or cut to choose.

Q UALIT Y CUTS

In last week’s issue of Y Magazine, there was a card insert featuring our superhero, BB MAN. If you missed the card, all you have to do is pick one up from The Butcher’s Block outlets in either Al Mawaleh or Madinat Sultan Qaboos. Once filled out, drop it back into The Butcher’s Block. The competition ends on September 10 and is open to children aged 12 years and under. Remember, the card has to be completed by children – no help from mums and dads! Good luck finding your superpowers and may the best superhero win! Follow The Butcher’s Block on @thebutchersblockoman @thebutchersblockoman

Scan the QR code for The Butcher’s Block locations

DON'T FORGET WHEN YOU DROP YOUR CARD INTO A DROP BOX AT ANY BUTCHER’S BLOCK BRANCH, YOU WILL RECEIVE A SLIDER BURGER, HOT DOG OR BILTONG BAG TO GIVE YOU BB MAN PROTEIN POWER AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

The #DovecoteLunchboxChallenge

COMPETITION Every parent wants their child to grow up healthy and strong. One of the most important things that a parent can do is to make sure that their child eats a varied, balanced diet packed with all the nutrients needed for their healthy development.

Research shows that what children

eat and drink during their early years can affect their health and eating habits for many years to come and well into adulthood.

TO TAKE PART IN #DOVECOTELUNCHBOXCHALLENGE COMPETITION PARENTS NEED TO:

Eating habits are formed in the first few years of life. It is essential to encourage children to eat good, healthy, nutritional food from a young age. Dovecote Nursery in Muscat, a top childcare facility offering a premium, British Early Years Foundation School (EYFS) curriculum, values the benefits of healthy eating for little ones in Oman. And, with the new academic year around the corner, wants to help others see value in healthy eating, too. This is why the nursery, based in Shatti Al Qurum, is launching the #DovecoteLunchboxChallenge, an initiative to motivate the Sultanate’s youngsters into eating healthy food.

TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR CHILD AGED 4 AND UNDER WITH A HEALTHY SNACK

UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO ON ytabloid

USE THE HASHTAG #DOVECOTELUNCHBOXCHALLENGE

@ymagazine @ytabloid

WINNERS

WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN OUR SEPTEMBER 8 ISSUE

Let your imagination and that of your child’s shine!

“Here at Dovecote, we see children’s health and well-being as an important part of their learning and development. Education around food and healthy eating forms a part of our curriculum and daily routine. We provide healthy snacks each day eaten in groups, strengthening the relationship between staff and children. We often cook together or taste different foods together. It is really important for us to encourage children and families to cook and eat together using healthy food and fresh, nutritious ingredients.” Helen Cairns - Manager of Dovecote Nursery

“I’m really looking forward to seeing some amazing entries in the competition,” - says Helen. “We encourage children to enjoy their favourite snacks. The more creative and imaginative the better. Why not try making your favourite animal or cartoon character out of fruit and veggies or some healthy cereal bars using fresh ingredients? We’re looking forward to seeing all the entries!”

The judges — a panel of school practitioners and senior leadership staff of Dovecote Nursery and its stakeholders - will choose three winners.

THERE ARE GREAT PRIZES UP FOR GRABS, SO DON’T MISS OUT!

PRIZES

1 +2

Two-week taster at Dovecote + lunchbox and a toy

Sent by pare Piyush Sinhant –

other winners

One-week taster at Dovecote + lunchbox and a toy

Dovecote Nursery Muscat Villa No. 3422 & 3422A, Way № 3044 Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat, Oman T: +968 24 604041 E: infomuscat@dovecotenursery.org W: www.dovecotenursery.org

Sent by parent – Aleem ul Islam

FOOD AND DRINK

SIMPLY SEAFOOD

There’s no denying the health benefits of fish, and if you’re an athlete, this should be one of the foundations of your diet.

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Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews

FEED YOUR FITNESS Seafood is a lean protein that’s not only good for athletes but also for anyone seeking a healthy diet

hether you’re a competitive sprinter chasing a new record or an everyday gym junkie looking to get the most from your workout, seafood is among the best foods to support an athletic lifestyle. It not only delivers great-tasting nutrition but also provides exceptional health benefits. The combination of lean protein, antiinflammatory Omega-3s and musclebuilding nutrients found in Alaska seafood are why it’s a staple for athletes such as American middle-distance runners Ryan and Sara Hall. “We like to incorporate Alaska seafood in our daily diet because it’s a really highquality protein that helps to repair our muscles on a daily basis,” says Ryan, a two-time Olympian and holder of the US half-marathon record. After a run, Sara Hall – a 3,000-metre steeplechase and marathon runner – relies on seafood as a go-to for low-fat meals with protein and simple-to-digest carbs. Sample this dish straight from the Hall kitchen, and find more recipes and nutritional values for your favourite seafood at wildalaskaseafood.com.

Pan-Seared Cod over Minted Pea Puree Serves: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Ingredients: § 1/2 cup water § 900g frozen or fresh peas, blanched § 1 package fresh mint, leaves only salt, to taste § 4 Alaska cod fillets, fresh, frozen or thawed § Olive oil § 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning Method: § Add water, peas and mint to a blender or food processor and season with salt. Puree until almost smooth. Cover and keep warm.

§ If frozen, rinse the ice glaze from the cod under cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel. Heat a heavy, nonstick pan over a medium-high heat. Brush both sides of the fillets with olive oil. § In a heated frying pan, cook the cod, uncovered, for about 3-4 minutes until browned. Shake the pan occasionally to keep the fish from sticking. Turn the cod over and sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning. Cover the pan tightly and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for an additional 6-9 minutes for frozen cod or 3-4 minutes for fresh/thawed fish. Cook until the fish is opaque throughout. § To serve, spoon the pea puree onto four plates. Top each with a cod fillet and serve immediately.

* Family Features AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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FOOD AND DRINK

Tr e n d

al u s Ca ning Di

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

Info Box

AL MUKHTAR

Al Mouj Road, Mawalah North Tel: 9316 1616 Opening Hours: 12noonmidnight Lunch for four: RO20.50

A HEALTHY CHOICE

Verdict : 9 / 10 Service 9 / 10 Food 9 / 10 Ambience Delicious, healthy alternative for lovers of Lebanese food Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

FELICITY GLOVER DISCOVERS A NEW LEBANESE RESTAURANT THAT SERVES UP A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND THE PALATE

t’s hard to resist the deliciously simple flavours of Lebanese cuisine. From the lemon to the garlic, olive oil, herbs and spices, which combine to enhance the fresh flavours of the produce; whether it’s lamb or chicken grilled to juicy perfection, the creamy smokiness of the moutabel or even the simplicity of a tart tabbouleh. And so it was on a recent weekday that Team Y and I headed off to try a relatively new Lebanese restaurant, Al Mukhtar, for lunch. Close to our office, our aim was to enjoy a quick, healthy meal that wouldn’t leave us feeling too full – especially as there was still a lot of work to do in the afternoon. Located between Al Mouj, Muscat and Markaz Al Bahja Mall in Mawalah North, Al Mukhtar – which translates as “The Chosen” – is easy to spot. Walking up the steps towards the restaurant, there’s a large terrace for diners to enjoy the weather during the cooler months. Inside, it’s a tasteful dining space, enhanced with modern touches and splashes of purple. We were a little late for lunch and there weren’t any other customers, which meant our pick of tables and a very diligent waiter, who greeted us warmly and had a large bottle of water on the table within minutes. Thankfully, the menu isn’t huge despite the

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European influences in the first half, and our party of four – Y’s art director Matt, reporter Alvin and my daughter, Cia – didn’t take long to choose their favourite dishes. First up, of course, was hummus. Unfortunately, there was no baba ghanoush on the day we were there but we settled for the next best thing: moutabel – a creamy concoction of smoky eggplant. Planning to share the dishes, we also ordered a mixed grill, a cheese manakish and a tabbouleh, while the obligatory bread was included. We were served complimentary green olives and a small dish of pickled vegetables; always a must when eating Lebanese food. The zingy tart taste of the tiny morsels woke up our palates, preparing us for what turned out to be a delicious meal. Cia ordered a fresh mango juice, Alvin the watermelon juice and Matt plumped for the lemon with mint drink. All three said their drinks were delicious, while I was happy to stay with water. Service was very quick and before we knew it, our starters had arrived. Attractively presented, the hummus, moutabel and tabbouleh comprised a delicate feast for the senses while the bread was piping hot and fresh from the oven. I think it’s safe to say that the basics of Lebanese cuisine usually set the standard for the entire meal – and all three were delicious, with the hummus and moutabel given the thumbs up by everybody. The sweet pop of pomegranate seeds on the moutabel were a delight to the tastebuds while the hummus was one of the best we’ve ever tried.

Cia’s favourite was the moutabel – a dip she has only recently discovered having always preferred the humble hummus over its smoky sister. Next up was the Al Mukhtar mix, or mixed grill, and the cheese manakish, a favourite comfort food of Cia’s for years now. The mixed grill was a fragrant mélange of grilled chicken, lamb and arais – stuffed flatbread with lamb, tomato and warm spices. The chicken was succulent, its juiciness enhanced by a splash of lemon and a small kick of spice. The boys declared the lamb delicious, tender and moreish but the arais was the star of the grill. The manakish was also a hit. Warm and soft, it’s the ultimate comfort food thanks to the salty cheese that’s enhanced when you add the lemony tabbouleh to the bread. We were beginning to slow down by now and had no room for dessert, which was probably a good thing. It has to be said that the freshness of the meal, the stunning flavours and distinct lack of oil, which can be a little overwhelming in Lebanese cooking, combined for a healthy, delicious lunch. And we are already planning our next visit. Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Beauty

BOLD STEP

FASHION

Leap into the cooler months with bold patterns and bright colours. Think dramatic geometric prints, enhanced with stunning reds, bold burgundies and a splash of black for good measure, such as this look from Oliver Bonas.

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k o o L e h

This striped rib â&#x20AC;&#x153;cold shoulderâ&#x20AC;? top from Matalan in black, burgundy and red is perfect for a fun evening out with friends. From RO7

, reet look t s igh t the h e th to ge o t end ps you h g l i e h ver he h t Glo From y t i c Feli

T t Ge

An A-line cord skirt is just the ticket for the preppy look and also bang on trend this season, such as this one from Matalan. From RO6

Make a statement in this sleeveless, colour block geometric top from Jigsaw. From RO60.3

We love the geo shape of these orbital short drop earrings, also from Accessorize. From RO4

Jazz up your look with an Elizie Pave Stone Cuff from Accessorize. From RO7.5 This tassel zip hobo bag from M&Co is an enduring design and one that will never go out of style. From RO14.5

Put your best foot forward in a pair of black patent block heel loafers from New Look. From RO12.5

AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

BEAUTY

Health Fashion provide fast-cooling relief for eight symptoms. “People want a multi-symptom eye care solution that is as on-the-go as they are,” says Erick Estrada, director of marketing for the ROHTO brand, the No. 1 over-the-counter global eye drop brand. “ROHTO Ice All-in-One Cooling eye drops are a quick fix for anything Mother Nature throws your way.”

Soothe and Smooth Your Skin Whether it’s hot summer sun or dry winter air, keeping your skin smooth requires special care and attention. Although it’s more likely you’ll remember the sunblock when temperatures are rising, you need plenty of sunblock during the winter months, too; especially if your activities involve highly reflective surfaces, such as snow. Avoid dry, scaly skin by regularly exfoliating and applying lotion just after you step out of the shower when pores are open and more readily soak up the moisture.

hether an outdoor concert-goer, sports fan or avid holidaymaker, Mother Nature can be harsh on your eyes, skin and hair, regardless of the season. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect and rejuvenate your features so you can enjoy your favourite outdoor activities in Oman. Be prepared for whatever the elements throw at you, and learn how to counteract weather-related wear and tear, with these smart self-care tips. . Get From There to Hair Keep your hairdo healthy come rain or shine by properly maintaining it with the right products. A regular haircare routine that matches the unique needs of your hair will help ensure it is in peak condition to face any weather-related distress. Specialised shampoos, conditioners and hair-styling products can lend a boost of hydration, calm frizzy strands or help control excess oil. When you venture out, take precautions such as tying long hair back or braiding it to prevent tangles. Also, a hat can help tame your locks in case of rain, snow or wind. Keep a Clear Eye on Weather Your eyes are particularly sensitive to changes in weather, and whether you’re dealing with irritated eyes at a summer cookout, itchy eyes during spring pollen season or dry eyes during the cold winter months, you need an eye care solution you can depend on. ROHTO Ice All-in-One Cooling eye drops contain a mix of fast-acting and highly effective ingredients that

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Treat Your Feet Plan the proper footwear to protect your feet whether that’s a trek through the woods, a trip along the beach or trudging through the snow. Adequate arch support and an overall solid fit will help ensure your feet don’t take any harder hits than necessary. On the beach, opt for shoes that will make the transition well from walkways to sand to water. When a fuller coverage shoe or hiking boot is more the ticket, don’t overlook the importance of adding high-quality socks, which will not only add cushioning but will also help to lick away moisture. For more tips to stay ahead of the elements, visit rohtoeyedrops.com. * Family Features

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

TOP TIPS

TO SURVIVE THE

SANDSTORM SEASON

Dust storms herald health alert for asthma sufferers

sthma awareness is crucial when we live in a climate that has significant environmental triggers such as sandstorms, a common occurrence in Oman. Several studies carried out in GCC countries with a high rate of sandstorms have confirmed the increased prevalence of asthma. It has also been reported that sandstorms frequently cause adverse health effects on the respiratory function. Just 15 minutes of exposure to smaller-size sandstorm dust particles carry a substantial risk of asthma. The condition requires long-term treatment. However, it can be managed if precautions are taken to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Knowing how to control your asthma during sandstorms can provide sufferers with a better quality of life. Mohamed Samir, regional medical director at Mundipharma Medical Company, shares six health and safety tips to survive the sandstorm season: 1. Stay Indoors: Stay indoors as much as possible during sandstorms and keep windows and doors closed. Reduce exposure to common allergens during the sandstorms that may provoke asthmatic attacks. 2. Check weather and pollution forecasts: Asthmatics should regularly check daily weather and air quality reports, especially during the sandstorm

season. Tuning in to your local weather station can help you plan ahead and manage daily activities. 3. Clean air conditioner vents: Living in a hot climate means we are indoors more often and use air conditioning regularly. Dust collection in air conditioning vents can be a harmful trigger if they are not cleaned and checked regularly. Air conditioning units need to be regularly maintained and cleaned every six months to avoid accumulation of dust in ducts and vents. 4. Use an air-purifier: Sandstorms affect allergy and asthma sufferers the most. An air purifier can help reduce indoor pollution and help you breathe more easily. Although air purifiers are by no means a cure for asthma, they can help to remove the allergens and particles that can trigger symptoms by directing air through a filter. If you are asthmatic, an air purifier can help you breathe more easily by improving indoor air quality. 5. Consider wearing a face mask outdoors: Consider wearing a medical face mask or use a wet towel during sandstorms to prevent inhaling the dust particles. Do not forget to regularly change face masks. 6. Stay hydrated: Fluids, especially water, are just as important during sandstorms. Remember to keep hydrated or even spray water on the face and eyes if you come into direct contact with dust. AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS… Capital Region Azaiba • Amara Dermatology Clinic • Audi showroom • Bentley showroom • Costa Coffee • Al Fair • Jaguar Showroom • Jeep Showroom • Al Maha Petrol Station • Mazda showroom • McDonald’s • Mitsubishi Showroom • Oman Arab Bank • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Peugeot Showroom • Range Rover Showroom • Sayarti Auto Care • Shell Select • Skoda Showroom • The Sultan Center • Volkswagen showroom • Volvo Showroom • Yamaha Showroom Bawshar • College of Banking and Financial Studies • Dolphin Village • Modern College of Business and Science • Muscat College • Muscat Private Hospital (Emergency and Outpatients) • Oman Medical College CBD • Al Maya Hypermarket • Alizz Islamic Bank • Bahwan Travel Agencies • Bank Sohar • Copper Chimney Restaurant • Costa Coffee • HSBC • Lama Polyclinic • NBO • Oman Arab Bank • Standard Chartered Bank • Woodlands Restaurant Darsait • Indian Social Club • Khimji’s Mart

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KIMS Oman Hospital • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Bakery • Shell Petrol Station Al Falaj/Rex Road • Al Falaj Hotel • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Golden Oryx Restaurant • Kamat Restaurant • Toshiba Showroom Ghala • National Mineral Water Ghubra • Al Hayat International Hospital • Al Maya Hypermarket • Bank of Beirut • Costa Coffee • Crêpe Café • GMC Showroom • LuLu Hypermarket • Moka & More • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Park Inn • Porsche Showroom • Al Raffah Hospital • Stationery Hut • The Chedi Muscat Al Hail • Burger King • Caledonian College of Engineering • Markaz Al Bahja Mall • McDonald’s • Omantel • Starcare Hospital Al Khoudh • Al Fair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Pizza Hut Al Khuwair • Badr Al Samaa Hospital • Bait Al Reem Mall • Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint (Splash) • Diplomatic Club • Grand Hyatt Muscat • Harley-Davidson Showroom • HSBC • KFC • Khimji’s Mart • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Landmark Group

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McDonald’s Muscat Bakery Oman Bowling Center • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Oman United Insurance • Omran • Pizza Hut • Radisson Blu • Shell Petrol Station • TGI Friday’s • The Great Kabab Factory • The Tikka Place • Zahara Travel • Zakher Mall Mabela • Gulf College Oman Mawalah • Chili’s Restaurant • Costa Coffee • Al Makan Café • The Noodle House • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Khimji’s Mart • NBO • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Pizza Muscat • Shell Petrol Station MGM • Caribou Coffee • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • Just Falafel • Ooredoo • Paul • Tim Hortons Al Mina • Bait Al Baranda • Bait Al Zubair MQ • Al Fair • Arab Open University • British Council • Costa Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • Hana’s Slimming & Skincare Centre • Kargeen Caffe • KFC • MacKenzies Café & Deli • Mood Café • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Papa John’s Pizza

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Pizza Hut Saharz Beauty Salon • Starbucks Al Murtafa’a • Bank Muscat • KFC • Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club Muscat International Airport • Caribou Coffee • Majan Lounge • Plaza Premium Lounge Mussanah • Millennium Resort Muttrah • Shell Petrol Station Qantab • Al Bustan Palace • Marina Bandar Al Rowdha • Oman Dive Center • Shangri-La Qurum • Al Araimi Complex • Balance Health & Fitness • Bank Nizwa • BMW showroom • Burger King • Chili’s Restaurant • Crowne Plaza • Finland Eye Center • Fun Zone • Gloria Jean’s Coffees • The Jungle Restaurant • Left Bank • McDonald’s • Mercedes-Benz Showroom • Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant • Nandos • Nissan Showroom • Oman Oil Petrol Station • Pizza Hut • Qurum Commercial Complex • Ras Al Hamra Club • SABCO Centre • Second Cup • Starbucks • The Sultan Center • Tche Tche Café Rusayl • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -1 • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -2 • Knowledge Oasis Muscat -3

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Knowledge Oasis Muscat -4 (ITA) • Middle East College • Omantel • Waljat College of Applied Sciences Ruwi • Apollo Medical Centre • Kamat Restaurant • KFC • Khimji’s Mega Store – Swarovski Showroom • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading • Oman Air • Oman UAE Exchange • Oman Trading Establishment • Saravana Bhavan Sarooj • Al Fair • Al Masa Mall • City Cinema • Ayana Spa • Cosmeclic • Emirates Medical Center • McDonald’s • Shell Petrol Station • VLCC Wellness Sawadi • Al Sawadi Beach Resort Seeb • Golden Tulip Hotel • McDonald’s Shatti Al Qurum • Bareeq Al Shatti Complex • Caribou Coffee • D’Arcy’s Kitchen • German Eye Centre • The Indus Restaurant • InterContinental Hotel Muscat • Jawharat Al Shatti Complex • Kaya Skin Clinic • Muscat Eye Laser Center • Oasis By The Sea • Second Cup • Starbucks • VLCC Wellness Sifah • Sifawy Boutique Hotel SQU • Diplomatic Club • College of Economics and

Political Science Students Banking Area • Reception/ Canteen Wadi Kabir • Al Maya Hypermarket • LuLu Hypermarket • Muscat Pharmacy • National Hospitality Institute • Pizza Hut • Shell Petrol Station Wattayah • Ahli Bank • Best cars • BLS International Services • Chevorlet/GM showroom • Ford Showroom • Hatat House • Honda Showroom • Hyundai showroom • Kia Showroom • Lexus Showroom • National Travel & Tourism • Passage To India Restaurant • Shell Petrol Station • Subaru showroom • Suzuki Showroom • Toyota Showroom The Wave • Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee • Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co. • The Wave Head Office •

Other Regions Barka • Al Nahda Spa and Resort • LuLu Hypermarket Nizwa • University of Nizwa Sohar • Centrepoint (Splash) • Crowne Plaza • National Gift Markets • Ooredoo • Pizza Hut • Safeer Mall • Sohar Beach Hotel • Sohar Port and Freezone • Sohar University

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Postcards from

Outdoors

Y- F i

CARS AND ADVENTURES

PARADISE LOST

A wrong turn can lead you to an incredible discovery, such as this wadi in Suhailah.

AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

D E S T I N AT I O N P o s t c a r d s f r o m

Y- F i

Outdoors

Destination

SUHAILAH Shaquel al Balushi heads to a small village in the Batinah region, where he discovers a stunning wadi 038

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henever I head towards the UAE border for Destination, I tend to leave as early as possible. This enables my friend Imran and I to attend morning prayers on the way, which lets us experience an unfamiliar mosque and meet new people. It’s something we love to do, and it gives us renewed energy for our journey. In this case, we set out at 2am. On this particular day, our original aim was to explore a dam in the Batinah region, off the SoharBuraimi Road. However, we found ourselves, once again, completely lost despite spotting a sign pointing towards the dam. But when we took this road, all we could find was a factory and digging work that was being undertaken on a mountain. No dam in sight, which was a pity! Like many of our plans for Destination, our day took a twist for the positive. Just as the sun started rising over the mountains, I asked Imran to stop the Pajero. And here’s where our luck began again – giving me the opportunity, as the saying goes, to kill two birds with one stone as I was also on the lookout for some good photo opportunities for my daily social media posts. The rising sun had cast a golden hue over the rocky landscape and I jumped out of the car to take a few photos. Then suddenly, I spotted a turn-off that would take us to a village and a cooling wadi filled with clear, sparkling water. The small village of Suhailah sits on the banks of the wadi and the villagers use the ancient falaj system as their main source of water. We could hear the sound of the water moving over the rocks, which was invigorating and helped to recharge us after our long drive. We entered the wadi on foot and I decided to sit down and watch the water while Imran did his usual disappearing act. I was there for nearly an hour. The water was pleasantly cold but I didn’t take a swim this time. Instead, I was content to watch the passing water parade as it made its swirling, gurgling way over the rocks.

I started taking pictures of the wadi and the surrounding landscape. I was very intrigued with the details on this trip, focusing on small water holes and undulating grey rocks that looked almost like waves that had been frozen in time. I finally caught up with Imran at the deep end of the wadi and we decided to head to Buraimi for breakfast, about an hour’s drive from where we were. During breakfast, I asked the waiter how far it was to drive to Al Ain in the UAE. He replied: “Walking or driving?” We thought he was being funny, but then he added: “Walking is two minutes and driving a few seconds.” And then it hit us: we didn’t realise how far we’d driven and were so close to the UAE. So we headed over the border, where I took some more pictures and then headed home about lunchtime – but not before stopping to buy an abaya for my wife, who had asked me to get one for her there. It was an amazing but exhausting adventure. And I found it hard to stay awake on the way home – much to Imran’s amusement. But our journey was incomplete – we still have to go back and find the dam. But that’s for another Destination.

TRAVEL GUIDE

HOW TO GET THERE

Head out of Muscat on the road to Sohar. When you reach the main roundabout in Sohar, continue driving straight until you get to the Sohar-Buraimi Road turn-off. Take this route and drive towards Buraimi for about an hour or so.

GPS coordinates: N24°20’16.6” E56°30’11.0” AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

way to the r e t t e b t Wha uty of a e b e h t explore than beneath e Sultanat t, blue waters of t h e b r i gh l i n e t our coas

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ith thousands of kilometres of coastline, there’s no shortage of water-based activities in Oman. From sailing to kite-surfing, diving, snorkelling and jet-skiing to just simply taking a dip in the sea, there’s something out there for everybody and all budgets. A recent weekend saw Y’s photographer Shaquel al Balushi and a group of friends take a spontaneous trip to Jebel Sifah beach and then on to the stunning Bandar Al Khiran for a spot of snorkelling. While the trip was unplanned and not everybody had their snorkelling gear, we think that’s one of the best things about Oman: being able to jump in the car and head to your favourite beach for a day of fun in the sun to explore the stunning beauty beneath the waves. Armed with his trusty GoPro, Shaq captured some great shots of his friends in and under the water, where they spotted a range of colourful sea life darting in and out of the rocks – and even a sea snake or two. With its crystal-clear waters, Bandar Al Khiran is the perfect spot for families and friends to enjoy a day out at the beach. And because it’s a short drive from the city, it’s easy to reach – just don’t forget to bring everything you need, including your snorkelling gear!

AUG 25 - 31 / ISSUE 434

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Outdoors

D e s t i n at i o n

Y-FI

PUMP UP THE VOLUME If retro rocks for you, then bring back the sounds of yesteryear with these ultra-modern gadgets. Matthew Herbst sounds them out BACK TO BASS This Sony ZSBTG900 Boombox is lightweight but very powerful. It features stereo component speakers with a power drive woofer as well as a six-function equaliser to enhance your listening experience just the way you like it. Dig out your sound from way back when because it also plays CDs. For those who are ahead with the times, don’t worry: your MP3s and WMA files are still the in thing. At www.amazon.com, from RO135

WORKTOP METAL

BIG CHOON

If your job involves power tools then you’ll appreciate the DeWalt DCR0015 Worksite’s cool design. It is a dual function bit of kit that plays just as hard as it looks, with its durable and rugged exterior. It plays AM/ FM radio and MP3s and runs off AC power as well as batteries. At www.amazon.com, from RO45.80

If you’re a fan of the 1980s and its music has you feeling somewhat nostalgic, then add some extra volume to your life with the Monster Blaster. Get the party started around the pool and family barbecues, and let this portable, rechargeable, Bluetooth/ NFC speaker set the stage for fun. It’s built especially for outdoor use with its power bass and integrated sub-woofer. However, it also features an indoor EQ mode for when the party moves inside. You won’t be disappointed. At www.monsterproducts.com, from RO153.50

EDITOR’S PICK

JAMMING

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THE HOUSE OF MARLEY EM-JA006MI COMES WITH A SOLID BAMBOO BAFFLE-COVERED REAR HOUSING, AND ITS DESIGN FEATURES A CUSTOM-TUNED BASS REFLEX ENCLOSURE. A BASS REFLEX SYSTEM IS A TYPE OF LOUDSPEAKER ENCLOSURE THAT USES THE SOUND FROM THE REAR SIDE INSTEAD OF THE FRONT. PLUG AND PLAY YOUR MP3S WITH STYLE AND ENJOY ITS EIGHT-HOUR BATTERY LIFE. AT WWW.AMAZON.COM, FROM RO57.80 JULY AUG 2503 - - 3109/ /ISSUE ISSUE434 327

PURPLE POWER

NEW

Many of us have our music stored on our phones. Why not amplify your beats from your mobile by combining the iHome Bluetooth Portable stereo boombox technology with its retro style? It features a smartphone dock, and comes with a magnetised remote control that you can perch just about anywhere. At www. amazon.com, from RO115.50

NAXA ELECTRONICS NPB-262

App of the Week

RETRO BOOMBOX Retro Boombox is a multi-purpose music player app exclusively for iPad. It shows real graphics with movable dials and switches and is likely to make you feel nostalgic and take you back decades. It features AM/FM radio, voice recorder, iTunes library and is visually able to change backgrounds. At iTunes.com, from around 500 baiza

ALL-IN-ONE The NAXA Electronics NPB-262 is a music fanaticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and musicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream boombox. It allows you not only to stream music but it can also be an amplifier for your range of electric instruments. It has five EQ settings that allow you to customise the music you play or create. At www.amazon.com, from RO35.50

Meet the Magnasonic MAG-MDVD500. This power-packed and versatile system can play CDs, DVDs, MP3s, AM/FM stereo radio and, believe it or not, also serves as a karaoke machine. Just hide it from the kids at the weekend if you want some peace. At www.amazon.com, from RO191.50 JULY AUG 03 25 -- 09 31 / ISSUE 434 327

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CARS AND ADVENTURES

Destination

Postcards from

Outdoors

The Jaguar F-Pace is an all-rounder that can plunder lap times at racetracks or cruise on highways – all with the simple push of a button, finds Alvin Thomas uick! Can you name some of the quickest SUVs that grace the roads of Oman today? Chances are you’ve named the Porsche Macan Turbo, Range Rover Sport SVR, MercedesBenz GLE63 S and even the BMW X5M. However, there’s a surprise new addition to that list – a Jaguar. That’s right. For the first time in almost a century of existence, the British marque has opted for an SUV, and a super sporty one at that. Going by the name – F-Pace – the aggressivelooking SUV looks nothing like any other car on the road except maybe the F-Type, which it is based on. Yes, folks. The F-Pace is essentially a four-door, five-seater family version of the much-loved Jaguar F-Type sportscar, the fastest road car Jaguar currently makes. The F-Pace snips the F-type’s gorgeous guise from almost every angle, too. However, the F-Pace embodies Jaguar’s corporate demeanor. The headlights resemble those of the company’s very own XE sedan, while the thin-strip LED rearlight is clearly from an F-Type. But, unlike most “inspired” SUVs ([cough] Porsche Cayenne [cough]), the F-Pace actually pulls off its amplified dimensions. I think this is the prettiest SUV I have ever seen. The “R-Sport” variant I received also came in Italian racing red with the “Black Pack S” kit, complete with a blacked-out grille, side vents and window surrounds. The insides get typical “Jaaag” treatment too,

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with Jet Red Perforated Taurus Leather seats, a responsive 20cm touchscreen, a full-sized panoramic moonroof, an outstanding 380W Meridian sound system, interior mood lighting, excellent AC and a well-rounded leather-covered interior. But, getting behind the wheel of the F-Pace makes you realise how much none of those aforementioned features really matter because between you and the road lies an astoundingly welltuned 3.0-litre supercharged V6 (soul, as I called it), pumping out 335 meaty ponies and 450 Nm of torque. The F-Pace is like a ballerina wearing a breakdancer’s outfit. I say that because there’s no other SUV in the market today that changes direction with as much urgency as the F-Pace does. And this being a vehicle that weighs almost 1.8 tonnes makes that all the more surprising. Chucking the vehicle into corners revealed no real drama except for a bit of oversteer in corners (because most of the power is sent to the rear wheels under normal circumstances), which proved to be great fun. The throttle response in “Dynamic” mode is phenomenal, too. Keep the revs near the redline (4500 rpm) and the supercharger will chuck in almost all of its torque instantly, shoving you to the back of your seat like you’re driving a two-door sports car. Transferring power to all four-wheels is an eight-speed ZF gearbox. It isn’t the fastest of gearboxes, but it is almost in sync with Porsche’s PDK gearbox. Mind you, it still isn’t as dimwitted as that of many other SUVs out there.

Y- F i C A R S

Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport Specifications: Engine: 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 Transmission: 8-speed automatic Horsepower: 335 hp Torque: 450 Nm Panoramic moonroof 50cm alloy wheels 380W Meridian sound system 20cm InControl touchsrceen 10-way electric front seats Black pack LED daytime running lights Push-button start Front and rear-parking sensors Rear camera Rear AC vents Radar-guided cruise control Adaptive surface response Drive mode select Interior mood lighting

However, if you’re looking for the added oomph, it’s wise to engage “Dynamic” mode and take control of the gearshifts. It certainly spruces things up, holding gears until you decide to shift up with the paddle shifters. But shift up, I did not. Holding gears revealed a loud wail from the V6 engine. Plant your foot down further and you’ll hear loud “crackles” and “pops” from the exhaust – a feature that came in handy to woo audiences at Shatti Beach in Qurum. Nevertheless, if you change gears like a normal person, you’ll find yourself sprinting from 0-100kph in about six seconds – an impressive feat considering the size of the vehicle. However, if I were to nitpick, the steering wheel is a tad too small for my liking and the brakes feel a bit mushy during spirited driving, although that could just be due to some wear in the brake pads, courtesy of other lead-footed motoring journalists who probably pushed this F-Pace to its limits. Apart from that, the entire glove compartment is a storage unit for the fire extinguisher, and the boot space is on the smaller side because the dealer throws in a full-size 50cm spare alloy wheel. But, none of that really matters when you’re in the vehicle because the F-Pace does what it does best - making you feel special. I can see this car setting the trend for future offerings from the company. It really is the ideal practical sportscar.