Y Magazine #548, December 12, 2018

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FASHION: MODEST CHIC

DEC 13 - 19 2018 / ISSUE 548 • WEEKLY

WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE FOREFRONT OF DEBATE AT THE RECENT G20 SUMMIT, OMAN CONTINUES TO PUSH FORWARD WITH AN AMBITIOUS PLAN TO MOVE AWAY FROM A CARBON-BASED ECONOMY. FROM NEW GREEN TECHNOLOGIES, TO REDUCING RELIANCE ON NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES, WE EXAMINE THE STEPS BEING TAKEN

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

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

IN THIS ISSUE…

I

f there’s one thing Oman doesn’t need more of, it’s vehicles on the road and emissions in the air. Add to that, single-use plastics and over-crowded landfills… and fossil fuels. What if we could plug in our cars instead of pumping them full of fuel? Or energise our cities using wind power technology? Or reduce our carbon footprint by investing in green public transport, and sustainable means of production?

As the end of the oil age fast approaches, and more GCC countries shift away from carbon-based to knowledge-based economies, Oman is pushing its way to the head of the pack. It is achieving this by recognising climate change, global warming and the importance of sustainable living. In the wake of the recent 2018 G20 Summit held recently in Buenos Aires, never have the implications and reality of climate change been so hotly debated.

As we continue to forge ahead with collective actions that have resulted in the acceleration of climate risks, Team Y turns our focus inward by exploring, in this week’s cover feature, the steps the Sultanate is taking to help attain its targets of curbing the country’s carbon footprint. These include reducing our reliance on nonrenewable resources and increasing awareness of practices such as recycling, while eliminating single-use plastics. Flip to Page 20 to see where Oman currently stands.

Also, in this issue, we meet one Oman-based doctor whose talent and passion for art has become more than just a hobby, and is taking her to new heights as the creative mind behind the only known life-like portrait of His Majesty made entirely from string art!

Plus, we’re getting into the festive spirit with some delicious comforting winter warmers over in our Yummy Oman pages, helping you cope with the cracks and pitfalls of winter footcare in our Beauty section, and introducing you to some truly chic modest fashion trends in our weekly style edit.

Until next week, happy reading!

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi ADMIN MANAGER Yousef Al Harrassi ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

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DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

03

contents DEC 13 - 19

Your Oman 08 Voice Of Oman

Andrew Fernandes 10 News

291 workers arrested in

ROP raid 12 News

French yachting star

joins Oman Sail

10

2018

This Week

34 First Drive

2018’s five coolest

concept cars 38 Y-Fi

Kitchen gizmos

20

Coffee with Y We meet Dr. Hafsa Banu Abid, whose unique brand of string art is quickly going viral.

22 The green effect

As Oman works towards

establishing itself as a 18 Festive follies

regional leader in the

Grab your little ones

shift away from a

and head to Al Bustan

carbon-based economy,

Palace every weekend

we examine the steps

in December for

the Sultanate is taking

a festive gingerbread-

towards sustainability

decorating workshop.

in reducing its carbon 19 Movies footprint.

‘Joseph’ is a 28 Best in show

police thriller with

We take you

teeth, as Joju George

inside

stars as a retired

the Muscat

cop who gets pulled

K9 Team’s

back into his old 3rd annual

life after the

Dogs Beauty

murder of his

Contest to

estranged wife.

find out just

what it takes

to earn the

top honour of

prettiest pup.

19

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination

Hail al Ghaf

Features

Health and Beauty

Food and Drink

40 Fashion

Modest chic

44 Yummy Oman

Comforting winter warmers

42 Beauty

Heal those heels

46 Taste Test

Trader Vic’s

39

40

44 NEXT ISSUE...

FEATURES / COFFEE WITH Y / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / BEAUTY / DESTINATION / TRAVEL / FASHION / FIRST DRIVE

M I R R O R L E S S R E I N V E N T E D SEE

THE

FUTURE

IN

DETAIL

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brity ch and the latest celeve got at w to ts tis ar e th we’ From ate hits of the week, gossip, to your ultim from the pulse of the music your superstar dose Radio Oman 100.9 FM world, with Virgin

An Oscar no-go After funnyman Kevin Hart’s recent announcement that he’ll be hosting the upcoming 91st Academy Awards in February, he’s now come under fire from Academy big-wigs for certain comments he made on Twitter back in 2014 that have resurfaced. The Academy gave him an ultimatum – either apologise for your comments or step down as host. Well, Hart refused to apologise and has since stepped down from hosting this year’s Oscars, saying: “I didn’t want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing, talented artists.”

It’s splitsville for Cardi B. Rapper Cardi B. and her husband Offset recently welcomed a baby girl together, back in September.

Now, in a shock to fans, Cardi revealed on her Instagram that she and Offset have separated after one year of marriage. The artist stated that “It was nobody’s fault”, and that she still has love for him as he’s the father of her daughter. We’re sure there’s more to it than she’s letting on so watch this space!

Haters gonna hate Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra celebrated her recent nuptials in India with musician Nick Jonas but it seems not everyone can get behind their happiness. A widelycirculated piece by a prominent New York media outlet suggested their marriage was a sham, with the headline ‘Is Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas’s Love For Real?’

The piece went on to say, “All Nick wanted was a possible fling with Hollywood’s latest ‘it’ woman – but instead, he wound up staring straight at a life sentence with a global scam artist”. Family members of the couple have rallied in the wake of the criticism, with Joe Jonas Tweeting: “This is disgusting. What Nick and Pri have is 06

DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

beautiful love. Thank u, next.” His fiancée Sophie Turner also Tweeted: “This is wildly inappropriate and totally disgusting.”

Put it on silent, Kanye!

During the recent opening night of the new Broadway musical ‘The Cher Show’, Kanye West was called out by one of the musical’s actors for using his phone during the performance. Jarrod Spector, who plays Sonny Bono Tweeted: ‘Hey @kanyewest, so cool you’re here at ‘The Cher Show’. If you look up from your cell-phone you’ll see we’re doing a show up here. It’s opening night, kind of a big deal for us, thanks so much.’ Attending with performance with wife Kim Kardashian, Kanye took the Tweet to heart prompting him to respond back: “The dynamics of Cher and Sonny’s relationship made Kim and I grab each other’s hand and sing ‘I Got You Babe’.

Please pardon my lack of etiquette. We have so much appreciation for the energy you guys put into making this masterpiece.” Nice save, Mr. West.

Man of style Actor and musician Donald Glover, formerly known as Childish Gambino has been named the ‘Best Dressed Man of 2019’ by British GQ. According to the iconic men’s mag, Glover is a ‘new wave renaissance man and his style is superbly wave-y, providing all the 70s-inspired vibes a modern man needs in his wardrobe right now.’

Other dashing gents to earn the accolade in previous years include Jeff Goldblum, Harry Styles, Timothee Chalamet, and David Beckham.

Chance The Rapper drops two new tracks Chance The Rapper has released his first material since July, dropping two new songs, ‘The Man Who Has Everything’ and ‘My Own Thing’ featuring Joey Purp. There has been speculation that Chance was working on a new album with Kanye West, but it turns out that production hasn’t even started. Chance hasn’t released any details on whether or not these two songs will be part of another new album, but for now we won’t complain as long as we continue to get new music from him!

His last album ‘Coloring Book’ was released in 2016 and won him a Grammy award for Best Rap Album.

Los Unidades release song for a cause In case you missed it, Coldplay are now releasing new music under the new moniker ‘Los Unidades’. After releasing track ‘E-Lo’ last week, they’re back with another new song off the ‘Global Citizen EP 1’.

‘Timbuktu’ features Cassper Nyovest and Stormzy. The ‘Global Citizen EP1’ is a charity album, and three of the four tracks on there are by Los Unidades.

KYLE and Lil Yachty collaborate Rapper KYLE, who’s best known for songs like ‘Playinwitme’ featuring Kehlani, is back with a new song – this time teaming up with Lil Yachty on ‘Hey Julie’. This is the second time the rappers have worked their magic together, first collaborating back in 2016 on ‘iSpy’.

Be sure to keep it locked to Virgin Radio Oman 100.9 FM, and don’t miss your Tea Time with Maya Noise, daily on Chad in the Morning.

THE VOICE OF OMAN ANDREW FERNANDES RUNS MUSCAT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES LLC, A COMPANY THAT DEALS WITH RECYCLING. HERE, HE EXPLAINS WHY PLASTICS ARE A MENACE IN OMAN.

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: With more countries jumping on the fight against climate change at the G20 summit, is Oman implementing enough green technologies and how can we take a stand to create a positive change?

SHANTHARAM SHETTY

E

ven though we’re running a business out of recycling plastics of all kinds – lowand high-density, and PET – we’re hoping to see a world that has its plastic problems under control. During our analysis of the region, we have found that plastics are being introduced into the environment by retailers and other businesses that rely on the product.

What happens then is that it all ends up in the landfills around – and that can have detrimental effects on the environment. It’s a well-known fact that plastics, especially PET – the polymer that comprises the water bottles that you drink out of – emits harmful gases when exposed to factors such as heat and sunlight.

Not only will this affect you when you’re drinking water, it usually begins its destruction cycle after it has been disposed of. The effects then increase in huge folds when it ends up in the oceans.

Plastics of low densities such as these and even the micro-plastics that break away from your clothes when washing and end up in the oceans can slowly release these gases, or worse, end up in the systems of marine life.

It was recently found that up to 36.5 per cent of all fish caught in the English Channel had microplastics in them. And to think that we then consume these is shocking.

This has also led to a steady decline in the number of fish that’s readily accessible in the oceans thereby causing problems in the fishing industry.

That said, companies are now recognising the problem and are taking action. Up until a few years ago, we were called by companies who would sell us scrap plastics for recycling but they have now undertaken initiatives that allow them to do the same within their own teams.

These may be small steps but it’s only when such collective efforts take place that we shall see a substantial change.

08

DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

With more countries jumping on the bandwagon against climate change at the G20 summit, is Oman implementing enough green technologies and how can we take a stand to create a positive change? The Green Technology approach has gained importance recently in GCC countries.

Oman has seen rapid growth in the construction industry with a boom in many new infrastructure projects. One of the key challenges currently facing the construction industry is the need to incorporate green technology. Although the country has many environmental laws, more efforts are necessary to push for ‘green’ construction. Moreover, it is the responsibility of every citizen of the country to protect and care for the environment.

DIVYA HARIDAS

As a developing country, Oman is improving its deployment of green technologies, and it has taken a stand in creating a positive change. As per the words of Dr. Mohan Al Hinai, Project Manager of the Environmental Centre of Excellence of be’ah: “Renewables will generate no less than 10 per cent of the electricity produced in Oman by 2030”. There should be many projects and initiatives of renewable based power by 2025. Moreover, a new vision and projects looking at solar power will also help to moderate the climate by the minimal use of

electric power. In short, the new technologies help the Sultanate to fight against climate change.

DR. TAMANNA DALWAI

One of the best assessment measures of green technology adoption is the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). In 2018, Oman ranked 116 out of 180 countries in the EPI rankings.

The rankings are only indicative of Oman’s achievement to date and it has yet to make a more prominent mark. However, it is also important to appreciate the initiatives undertaken at various levels. For example, the Environmental Centre of Excellence of Be’ah was established in 2009 to maximise the utilisation of resources and minimise environmental impact. Since then, investments have been made in renewable based power sources to generate electricity. This year, investments have been made in four biogas plants to produce energy from food waste. Oman Air has invested in modernised fleets and this has resulted in a second ranking for the “Fly Quiet and Green” initiative at Heathrow airport.

Additionally, various research awards have been launched to encourage individuals and new entrepreneurial ventures.

At a personal level, it is important that every family takes initiatives to build a green culture that changes the thought process and evokes the practice of green initiatives at the smallest level possible.

New Debate: With Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) growth declining by 35.6 per cent, fewer Omanis are able to follow their entreprenerial ambitions. How can the government take steps to ensure a more supportive environment for local business development?

Share your view with us and you could be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

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YOUR

OMAN

MAN, 34, ACCUSED OF MURDER

A

34-year-old Wadi Kabir man has been arrested

by Royal Oman Police officers on suspicion of murder after allegedly using a blunt object to strike the victim in the back of the head.

The deceased has been identified as the accused’s father and, according to ROP officials, the incident took place following family and financial disputes. The case has been referred to the Public Prosecution office by the ROP for further investigation.

291 WORKERS ARRESTED IN ROP RAID

GANG ARRESTED IN MOBILE PHONE RAID

G N

early 300 expat workers have been arrested in Salalah suspected of breaking labour and residency laws.

A Royal Oman Police spokesman said that Dhofar Police Command,

in cooperation with the Special Tasks Police Unit in Salalah, had arrested the workers in Salalah City.

A total of 291 were caught on suspicion of violating labour and resident laws.

MUSCAT SMES SUFFER SLIGHT LAPSE IN BUSINESS

S

mall and medium-sized businesses in Muscat are suffering a slight wobble, according to official figures.

In the Governorate of Muscat, the total number of SMEs registered at the end of October saw a 35.6 per cent decline to

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DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

1,716 against 2,666 in 2017, according to data released by NCSI. However, the total number of SMEs in Oman registered in October was 36,433. This meant a slight rise compared to the month of September, when it was 35,994.

ang members have been arrested for allegedly providing illegal international calling services to customers.

Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) officials said it suspected the group of selling unlicensed international calling cards through software installed in mobile phones and computers.

In a statement, the TRA said: “The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) conducted an inspection campaign on a number

of businesses operating in the Sultanate to check their compliance with the Telecommunications Regulatory Act, and its associated regulations and decisions.

“The breach to the law was identified as software installed in mobile phones and computers, and via selling unlicensed international calling cards. The provision of telecommunication services without a licence is deemed illegal, and constitutes a breach of the Telecommunications Regulatory Act.”

KING KHAN

GALLERY

BOLLYWOOD LEGEND SHAH RUKH KHAN GREETS FANS IN MUSCAT AHEAD OF THE OPENING OF HIS LATEST FILM ‘ZERO’ AT VOX CINEMAS CITY CENTRE MUSCAT. PHOTOGRAPHY

BY SAVIOUR PETER.

DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

011

YOUR

OMAN

INFLATION RATE UP TO 1.11% IN NOVEMBER

O

man’s annual inflation is now 1.11 percent, according to official figures.

The figure, which is based on the consumer price index (CPI), increased to 1.11 per cent in November compared to the same month of 2017, according to figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The increase was driven mainly by the higher costs of transportation, fuels, and education segments compared to a year ago.

FRENCH YACHTING STAR JOINS OMAN SAIL O man Sail has hired French sailing star Franck Cammas to manage its Diam 24 multihull and Figaro campaigns next year.

Cammas is one of France’s top yachtsmen and will join the race squads during the 2019 season as Oman Sail looks to build on its successful global sailing program.

Cammas, 45, is a former Jules Verne Trophy holder and has led Groupama Team France in the America’s Cup. He has achieved victories in the Volvo Ocean Race, Tour de France a la Voile, Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Rhum and Solitaire du Figaro, as well as six ORMA trimaran world championships.

A sailor with world records to his credit, he will co-ordinate Oman Sail’s activities in France through his company Franck Cammas Racing.

He will also skipper a Diam 24 team during the season.

Cammas said: “Oman Sail has great vision and potential, so it was an easy and natural decision for me to become involved.

“It’s a big challenge and it marks a turning point in Oman Sail’s history. Until now the program had the ambition to train Omani crew members, but now it wants to produce Omani skippers who are self-sufficient and technically proficient.”

Cammas will join regular members of the Oman Sail team, including Ali al Balushi and Hussein al Jabri among others, on the Diam 24 project which will feature three campaigns – one an all-women team – culminating in the Tour Voile next July.

Racing for the Diam teams kicks-off in February with EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour in Oman, which will include a fourth all-Omani squad.

ATLAS REVEALS RESIDENCY

OF OMAN REPTILES

A

n illuminating window on the world of 100 of Oman’s reptiles can now be viewed online.

The database, comprising 5,359 records of 101 known species of Oman’s terrestrial reptiles, was compiled by a team of scientists.

Called the Atlas of Terrestrial Reptiles of Oman, it’s a database that explains the habitats and lifestyles of each species while defining how we can help to conserve them.

The results also show that reptilian species abound in the Al Hajar and Dhofar mountains, two of the most biodiverse areas in the Arabian Peninsula.

Dr. Salvador Carranza from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF), Spain, told the Muscat Daily newspaper: “The Al Hajar Mountains are unique as they are home to a very high number of endemic species of both plants and animals.

“For instance, there are already 19 species of described reptiles that do not live anywhere else in the world. The reptilian species of the Al Hajar Mountains are unique, and our studies indicate

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that some of the species …have been living in this massif for the past 20 million years. Some areas of Jebel Akhdar have the highest levels of both species richness and endemic species richness.”

Dr. Carranza said the work would help the scientific community and researchers looking for information on biodiversity in Oman.

“To have a good idea of how many species of terrestrial reptiles there are in Oman and where they live is a crucial first step for any ecological, behavioural, and conservation study,” he said.

“Oman has an incredible reptile fauna that does not live anywhere else in the world. Once the Omani people get to know it and learn how to recognise it through studies like the one that we have done, I am sure that they will feel very proud of their unique biodiversity and will do their best to conserve it.”

TICKLNIG THE IVORIES

GALLERY

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM THE BRITISH SCHOOL MUSCAT PERFORM AT THE OPERA GALLERIA AS PART OF THE ‘PIANO TIME’ SERIES. PHOTOGRAPHY

BY SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI.

DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

013

YOUR

ALL THAT GLITTERS

OMAN

THE MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY EXHIBITION CELEBRATED ITS GRAND OPENING ON DECEMBER 11 AT THE OMAN CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE

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BEST OF BRUNCH

GALLERY

AL BUSTAN PALACE’S NEW BEACH PAVILION FRIDAY BRUNCH AMPS UP THE WEEKEND FLAVOUR. PHOTOGRAPHY

BY SAVIOUR PETER.

DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

015

YOUR

PROUD MILESTONES

OMAN

SHELL OMAN CELEBRATED ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A LAVISH RECEPTION HELD AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL MUSCAT.

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GALLERY

DEC

Celebrate the festive season like never before with Al Bustan Palace, a RitzCarlton Hotel. With halls decked in boughs of holly, family, friends, and loved ones can create unforgettable memories by enjoying delectable culinary experiences, entertaining events, Ritz Kids fun, and New Year’s glitter. Sing to your heart’s content along with a children’s choir and enjoy seasonal favourites including mince pies, Christmas cookies, macaroons, delicious hot chocolate, and more. Children can enjoy decorating their own gingerbread delights in the hotel’s Atrium Lobby Lounge under the guidance of the hotel’s extraordinary pastry chefs. On Christmas Eve, palates will be treated to turkey and all the trimmings at Al Khiran Kitchen, while China Mood will offer guests a selection of Asian specialties, and the Beach Pavilion Bar & Grill will provide a lavish five-course set menu. On Christmas Day, Al Khiran Kitchen will also host a festive brunch. Dress up and countdown to 2019 in style with live performances at the hotel’s Gala Dinner.

China Mood and Al Khiran Kitchen, along with the Beach Pavilion Bar & Grill will also be celebrating the New Year in their own distinctive style. For information and details, call 2476-4000 or e-mail: restaurant.reservation.albustanpalace@ ritzcarlton.com.

DEC

7-8

14

THIS

WEEK

DEC

GEMS AND JEWELS

FESTIVE FOLLIES

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE

15

The Muscat International Jewellery Exhibition or MIJEX is a spectacular treasure trove of magnificent gems, propelled by various nations. It’s an open door for exhibitors to grandstand their products and meet potential buyers and traders from all over the GCC. Don’t miss the chance to see these incredible jewels that will take your breath away. The trade show is being held at the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and wraps up on Saturday, December 15.

Log onto its website for information and tickets.

AN EVENING OF TRADITION WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

D E C E M B E R The Royal Opera House Muscat presentation of ‘A Night of Inshad and Sufi Praise’ features excellent religious bands and some highly-respected performers.

Al Masarra, a traditional Yemeni band, presents songs in noble praise of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

Oman’s Al Zawiya Band combines traditional culture with modern Inshad, as members continue their grandfathers’ practice of al Malid, known as ‘the axis of the art of Omani song’. Performing in international festivals, Morocco’s Arhoom Al Baqali band seeks to promote the art of Sufism. Syrian singer Bashar Zarqan draws on Arab poetry from classical to modern times, composing songs based on the content and rhythm of poems. Educated in classical Arab and Sufi music, Tanzanian Yahya Bihaki is a legendary voice in her homeland. It’s an inspiring evening of devotional music. Curtain up, 7:00 p.m. For tickets and information, please call the box office at 2440-3332.

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DEC

14

MOVIES MOVIES FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO: City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net VOX Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.com Star Cinema: Tel +968 2479-1641

Malevolent Cast: Florence Pugh, Ben LloydHughes, Scott Chambers

Joseph

Oru Kuprasidha Payyan

Cast: Joju George, Nedumudi Venu, Dileesh Pothan We all know a policeman’s lot is not a happy one.

Retired copper Joseph (George) is looking back over his life and career to revisit some of the highlights and lowlights of both.

He has become a virtual recluse, and rarely goes out except to mix with some of his old mates on the force.

When his estranged wife Stella dies in an apparent road accident, Joseph plunges into a deep depression.

Second Act Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Milo Ventimiglia

developing – and fast.

It’s a decent enough horror film (Pugh is excellent), and distinguished character actors Celia Imrie and James Cosmo give it some weight it wouldn’t have otherwise.

But as he examines the scene of the incident, his investigative skills kick in and he finds that all is not what it seems.

As his family ends up under investigation, has Joseph still got what it takes to get to the truth both for himself and his wife’s memory?

This is our film of the week: a gritty yet moving thriller for intelligent moviegoers only.

In Malayalam, with English and Arabic subtitles.

Maya (Lopez) is a disillusioned 40-year-old store worker who feels that a career has passed her by.

By cooking up a fictional online profile she somehow finds herself propelled into the corporate world of New York’s Madison Avenue.

Maya shoots from the hip, and her street-smart approach to strategy makes her stand out from her pinstripe-suited peers.

Lopez’s natural charm is endearing enough, sure; but the idea that Maya could cut it as a corporate executive without any experience or training is a bit of a stretch.

This is really a cross between film classics ‘Working Girl’ and ‘Shirley Valentine’, so women moviegoers will go for it.

If you like light comedies that try to make a point (and fail miserably) about our world then this one is for you.

Cast: Tovino Thomas, Nimisha Sajayan, Anu Sithara

Angela (Pugh) and Jackson (LloydHughes) are two siblings who have set up a ghost-busting business.

However, it’s all a bit of a racket, as the pair prepare the paranormal activity themselves: swindling the bereaved, setting up detection devices, and staging Angela’s ‘visions’.

When the two are brought in to investigate a haunted old foster-home, they find that the sheer horror of its past is way worse than anything they have ever pretended to probe.

There’s real evil lurking in this house, and the brother and sister are about to get their come-uppance.

Separating the real from the supernatural is one skill that they had better start

!

Tovino Thomas plays a man who’s being fitted up for a murder he didn’t commit.

Loosely based on real case in Kerala, India, this is another movie that wants to make a point.

This time it’s about the criminal justice system and how an innocent person can go down for crimes they had nothing to do with.

You mean innocent people end up inside for something they didn’t do? Well, let’s all stand back in amazement??!!

But let’s be charitable here: addressing the problem of miscarriages of justice can only be a good thing, right?

However it’s a largely amorphous attempt to tackle a major social and judicial issue.

At Y, we’re surprised the director didn’t ask George Ezra to use his ‘Blame It on Me’ hit on the soundtrack, just for good measure!

In Malayalam, with English and Arabic subtitles.

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Which other 2002 Jennifer Lopez film was also set in New York City?

LAST WEEK’S WINNER Tushar Girase

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professional dentist I’ve always been an artist by soul and haven’t left my passion. String art is a different medium of art altogether. The process is quite tedious but the outcome is overwhelming. String art is an art-form that dates back to the 1960s and since then has been ever -evolving. Mostly string art is geometrical or patterned designs but I like to do things differently and not confine or limit myself.

Initially, I came across this form through my son Eishaan who had an art project of geometrical design made of pins and strings at school. I really loved the concept and tried to take it to a different level with wood, different types of nails, and strings.

I tried incorporating string art into shapes of animals, letters, Arabic calligraphy, portraits and monuments; and not limiting the background to a single colour but instead using different variants.

My first successful attempt was of Arabic calligraphy saying ‘Allahu akbar’. I got a lot of appreciation for it from my family and friends, and this made me take it to another level each time.

Y

: Tell us about the intricacies of string art as a medium, and the finesse it takes to get the detail of the shading when doing portraits with string.

BA: String art is an explicit art-form; the process of which requires a lot of patience yet gives a sense of peace and contentment once completed. From the initial sketching and outline of the pattern to the placement of nails and strings, all have to be very wellplanned and administered.

A string art portrait is even more difficult as it represents a person and it should be completely justified.

While making it, I have to be extra cautious on the fine details of the features; just the outline of facial features feels incomplete unless more shading is added, which I attempt by using different gradients and thickness of strings. Each feature such as the pupil of the eye, the teeth, a lip outline or the folds of the nose can be made with finesse – and only with the use of varying thicknesses of string.

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Coffee with Y meets the expat artist behind one of the most intricately-creative tributes to His Majesty – a life-like portrait made from string art

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entist by day, artist by soul; Dr. Hafsa Banu Abid’s unique brand of string art is quickly going viral. An Indian expat who has called Oman home for more than 30 years, she’s honed her passion into what’s become more than just a hobby. Hafsa is the only known artist to have created a true-to-life, representational portrait of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said made from string art. Coffee with Y sat down with her to find out what it takes to create a 5,000-nail, 900 yards of string masterpiece.

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: String art is an uncommon medium – and a rather unique one at that. Tell us how you came into it?

BA: Art has always been in me since I was a child…the colours and mediums – everything about art used to mesmerise me. As a child, more than reading novels I used to follow works of famous artists through the school library. I would try out new techniques to make different forms of art and I still continue to do so. Even as a

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Y

: What prompted you to make a piece in tribute to His Majesty – and do you know if he’s aware of it?

BA: Having lived most of my life in this beautiful country, I really wanted to express my love for it. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is the epitome of peace, compassion and justice. We, the people of Oman – either expatriates or nationals – are blessed to have such a great ruler. The string art portrait of His Majesty is a humble way of saying thank you to him.

This has been my first attempt at portraiture – and who better than

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His Majesty himself, whom I respect so much. It took me three months, almost 5,000 nails, and 900 yards (820m) of string of different gradients to make the portrait – which gave me a lot of satisfaction when I completed it.

I don’t know if His Majesty is aware it exists but I really hope and pray that this portrait could reach him. It would give me a great sense of happiness if he would accept my efforts for him.

Y

: Do you think Oman can be doing more on a national level to foster and provide a platform for Omani artistic talent?

BA: Oman has so many talented artists – be they nationals or expats. Add to this the country’s beauty and scenic nature, its people and their traditions. Artists have always been fascinated to capture what they see through many different mediums. I’ve seen a lot of displays of art and exhibitions, the latest being the 2018 Oman Affordable Art Show in Qurum. I’m sure Oman can foster and provide a bigger platform for all artists at a national level. There are many art galleries displaying the talents and efforts of artists, and the Sultanate should take a step ahead to include them all and help them display internationally too, to represent Oman.

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Y

: What words of encouragement do you have for young artists who are trying to find their creative voice?

BA: Every human being is special, and everybody has a hidden talent in them that they have to just unravel. If you have an artistic soul, you’re already aware of it; your passion speaks through your work and your creativity knows no bounds. Just listen and try with determination to foster your passion. It doesn’t matter if you fall, you just have to rise up again. Follow your dreams, and the way will unfold on its own.

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Y H

: Is string art your primary medium as an artist – or do you also use other materials too?

BA: Art is so diverse. I’ve never confined myself to one medium and love trying new and different art-forms.

I’ve done painting using water, acrylics, oils, resins on canvas, ceramics, glass and fabrics, pencil and charcoal sketching, sand painting, shell painting, casting hand impressions using plaster and wax, and mirror-works on boards and canvas. I also like to find new, innovative mediums of expression.

String art is by far my signature and gives me the utmost satisfaction in doing it. Most of my works have been gifted to my family and close friends, while others have been donated to the Oman Cancer Association for their recent Breast Cancer Awareness event.

Y

: What do you hope to pass on to the next generation of young artists through your work?

BA: I hope I can encourage more upand-coming artists to see and pursue their passion.

I intend to grow more @gal and do more for society lery._ 27 in the creative arena. Art @My g E a m llery ail : 2 is an ever-evolving talent.

27 7gall ery27 I want to show the next @gm ail.co generation a different m step towards unfolding their creative minds through my work. ■

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View Dr. Ha more of Abid’s fsa Banu work here:

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M In Oman, we can no longer ignore the catastrophe posed by climate change. Team Y investigates how our country is reviewing renewable energy sources and placing a premium on cleaner, more efficient forms of power 022

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elting polar caps in the North and South Poles, a diminishing ozone layer, forest fires that reduce cities to rubble, draughts that result in the death of thousands annually, cyclones that periodically terrorise nations, heat waves that shoot up the mercury to levels unheard of – and yet we still ask: is climate change real?

Why the question is still warranted today baffles scientists and experts alike but the obvious realities surrounding climate change are far from comforting.

If anything, they’re worrisome and terrifying.

And, with evidence surfacing on the dangers of increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, we here in Oman have just as much – if not more – to think about as any other country in the world.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), climate change is caused due to the mind-boggling one million kilograms of smoke – which is comprised of byproducts such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur, nitrogen oxides, and even water vapour – that we add to the atmosphere around the world every second, and 40 billion tonnes annually (!)

Be it the gases emitted from

your car to more large-scale applications such as the gases released during electricity production or water purification, there’s quite a lot we here in the Sultanate must account for, especially as it fits the bill as a country heavily reliant on nonrenewable and unsustainable resources to fuel its energy requirements.

Before the important questions are answered, though, we need to define climate change.

Often termed as one of the most misunderstood terms – mistaken with the term ‘global warming’ – in environmental science, NASA simply outlines it as various factors affecting our planet including rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic, and shifts in flower or plant blooming times, and so on, brought out by climatic changes.

Both ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’ are relatable terms but remain different in a way that the former addresses a broader spectrum than just the warming of the planet over a long period.

But, has climate change affected Oman in any way?

“It has,” says Sultan al Amri, an environmental studies professor and an expert in alternative energy solutions at a leading university in Oman, before adding: “Climate change has definitely brought out several changes – and it has and continues to affect this country in

really enormous ways.

“Take for instance the two cyclones – Mekunu and Luban – that we faced here in Oman, this year alone (2018),” he says.

“The sound of thunder doesn’t lie. In fact, Oman is now considered to have a cyclone season – something it didn’t just a few decades ago. The country’s first cyclone was recorded in 1977 and then in 1996.

“The year 2007 marked a big change in the country, though.

The cyclone Gonu marked the start of annual cyclones and low depression zones in the Arabian Sea. In truth, Oman has witnessed six cyclones since Gonu. But, it’s the two cyclones we witnessed this year that begs the question: “Are cyclones becoming more prevalent in Oman (?)”

“That’s not normal here in Oman,” says the professor.

“So, we took this matter up for study to determine the cause of this phenomenon. We had several teams come from the USA to study this along with the students here and finally it was put down to the climatic changes we’ve been witnessing during the summer months here in the region.

“It’s a very simple explanation.

As the temperatures around land and air Oman increases, so does the temperature of the water bodies. So, we were able to determine that the temperature of the Arabian Sea was much warmer than usual, which – at least in the case of cyclone Gonu – resulted in a longer and more powerful cyclone.

“And that’s the general rule of thumb. As the carbon dioxide and other gases fill up the atmosphere, it heats up the air around us. And this results in warmer oceans, which is the perfect ground for moist air. This can then result in longer rainfalls that will inevitably result in floods and other damages.

In the year 1978, Oman released roughly 7.55 tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, while the number increased to 15.44 tonnes of CO2 in 2014

The wind is a clean, free, and readily available renewable energy source. Each day, around the world, wind turbines are capturing the wind’s power and converting it to electricity.

Source: General Electric

“Even so, that’s just one aspect of global warming that we need to be aware of. What the people need to understand is that the environment should be considered an inter-connected organ that can be affected by even the slightest changes.

“This means, as time goes forward, we’ll experience longer and more hotter days in summer as the greenhouse gases trap the heat above the land of Oman.

Moreover, on a very local scale, anyone staying around areas where there’s heavy carbonbased automation will experience an increase of up to 5-degreeCelsius in the land around them, especially in the months between April and September.

This largely stands true, as we learn from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) that Oman’s average temperature stood at 27.8 degreeCelsius in 2016 as opposed to the 26.3 degree-Celsius from 2007 – a whopping 1.5 degree-Celsius increment in the span of a mere nine years.

In an interview with Y, a spokesperson from the Ministry

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of Environment and Climate Affairs (who wishes to remain anonymous) says: “The data that we receive are by no means surprising to us – especially because our energy demands, manufacturing, and commuting has increased in the time frame.

“For example, in the year 1978, Oman released roughly 7.55 tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, while the number increased to 15.44 tonnes of CO2 in 2014.

“This means, each individual had 15.44 tonnes of carbon dioxide corresponding to them in that year – a shocking number for a country that barely has a population of 4.6million (4.2m in 2014).

“And, the matters only become worse when you realise that the CO2 emissions per capita in Oman was three times higher that year. The CO2 emissions worldwide averaged at 4.97 tonnes per capita, when compared with Oman’s appalling 15.44 tonnes mark,” he remarks, before going on to state that the reasons for the three-fold output are “lack of taxation on cars with high displacement engines, use of fossil fuels for energy generation, and increasing number of industries in the country”.

On the upside, though, this is being recognised in Oman and actions are being taken, says the ministry official.

Currently, nearly 65 per cent of the nation’s energy production relies on crude oil, while the rest is pegged on natural gas.

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However, this is changing, and even as the Sultanate slowly picks itself up from the oil crisis of 2015, we learn that over the next decade, the nation will switch to greener technologies that will help reduce its carbon footprint.

Prof. Sultan is one of the leading advocates of this “green” switch. He says: “The positives of switching from oil and natural gas for electricity production via, say, combustion turbines or gas turbines are immense, and the people are aware of it.

“Simply cutting down production by 40 per cent would significantly reduce the CO2 emissions per capita in Oman by about 20 to 25 per cent. But for that to happen, we’ll need to begin investing heavily in solar power – a concept that will work very well in Oman owing to the solar radiation that we receive currently.

“The government has understood this and there are several solar projects – both on a private and on a business level – being implemented in Oman.”

A few years late to make this

transition when compared with its GCC neighbours, Oman’s first calling for green energy came as early as 2008 at the annual session of the Council of Oman when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said emphasised the importance of utilising “alternatives for generating power”.

It has been a decade since the speech but the results are gradually starting to bear fruit.

For instance, several (private) home owners are now taking it onto themselves to set up solar panels at their homes and utilise the energy generated by the panels to power their everyday requirements.

It’s a viable option when compared with routinely pulling energy from the grid, reads a study published by the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW). It also reveals how Muscat alone could generate a staggering 450 megawatts (MW) of power – which is comparable to a mid-size gas power plant.

With such benefits on offer, even the government is in on the act now. It has begun setting the groundwork for six new projects – three solar and three wind-powered projects – that can generate nearly 2,650 megawatts (MW) of electricity when completed.

The solar projects are expected to be set up at Ibri, Manah, and Adam – three locations that have been touted as ideal for solar applications while the wind farms will be situated in Dhofar and Duqm, with the third location yet

What’s worrisome is that these are all greenhouse gases like methane and ethylene – both of which are extremely harmful to the atmosphere

to be confirmed.

This comes in addition to the 50 MW wind farm that’s currently being set up in Dhofar

by Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAECO) and Abu Dhabi Energy Future Company (Masdar), and a 500 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Ibri.

Even the nation’s leading gas and oil exploration firm Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is investing heavily in solar energy.

Their latest project will aim to develop a 100 MW solar PV power plant to generate power for PDO’s own use. When completed, PDO will have a capacity of over 1,100 MW, with its 1000 MW operational solar facility in the southern region of Amal.

Oman’s push to sell solar energy doesn’t end there, either.

Launched early in 2017, the ‘Sahim’ initiative in Muscat is expected to connect houses powered by solar energy to a grid so that the occupants can supply energy to the grid for an added income.

That said, in a meeting with the Omani business community at the Oman Economic Review Business Summit of 2017, Raoul Restucci, the managing director of Petroleum Development

Oman (PDO) was reportedly quoted as saying that 50 per cent of Omani houses in Muscat will be fitted with a rooftop solar system.

He then takes it one step forward in an interview with a leading solar energy solutions provider, GlassPoint, where he is seen saying: “I think the oil industry will gradually transition into an energy industry, with a shift to solar, wind, and other renewable applications which will shift onto more and more such programmes.”

GlassPoint itself is currently a pioneer in thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) – a system that’s incorporated to provide effective solutions to oil and gas industries using solar power.

Unlike solar panels that generate electricity, however, GlassPoint’s solution makes use of large mirrors that can concentrate sunlight and boil oilfield water directly into steam.

This steam is then used for the extraction of viscous or heavy oil as an alternative to steam generated from natural gas – an effective solution when compared with older techniques.

Oman is also banking on wind energy to fulfill any gap in the energy needs. Feasibility studies have shown mixed results but the government is still investing heavily on the technology to add to the growing list of “green” synergies.

Albeit, there’s much concern surrounding the nation’s first wind farm, which was due to begin operations from Harweel in 2017. With no official date announced for its opening,

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we’re yet to hear back about the operations of the 25-strong wind turbine farm – but sources say that the project is still in full swing with the opening date pushed back to 2020.

Solar and wind energy aside, however, another aspect where Oman is currently focusing on reducing its carbon footprint is on the roads. While a 100 per cent shift from traditional combustion engines is difficult, Oman is slowly beginning to set up a framework for electric vehicles here in Oman – and the first of its initiatives came to light earlier this year when electric carmaker, Tesla, dipped its toes into the country with its Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVERT) that saw the Sultanate as a host.

Showcasing its energy-efficient, zero-emissions cars – the Model X and Model S – at the InterContinental Muscat hotel, which is also the home of the first electric charging station in Oman, Tesla made its debut here.

Several bystanders were clearly intrigued by the innovation and overall effectiveness of the vehicles in reducing one’s carbon footprint.

Solar energy is energy that comes from the sun.

Every day the sun radiates, or sends out, an enormous amount of energy.

In fact, it radiates more energy in one second than people have used since the beginning of time!

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But, Prof. Sultan tells us that going completely carbon-free isn’t possible; not even in a Tesla.

“In Oman, there’ll never be anything called a zero-emissions car until we reduce our reliance on non-renewables to generate our electricity.

“While the obvious benefits are visible in the fact that you’re now driving an electric car as opposed to a traditional vehicle powered by a combustion engine, you’re still deriving the power for your car from the electric grid.

“Not only will that increase your electricity requirements, it will also end up doing more harm than good at this point.

“Still, in the next five years, if homes are powered by renewable energy, these cars would be 100 per cent zero-emission and efficient.”

It’s a thought shared by our source at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) too. He asks: “How can we call a car that’s running off the electricity generated by a grid powered by natural gas be completely green (?)

“That’s ridiculous. Combustion engines will definitely stay for a few more years – at least until we can completely figure out our internal energy crisis, and other factors such as how we can make these batteries last longer, safer – as they tend to explode when they catch fire, and incentives

that can be offered to people who opt for these cars.

“Until then, this will remain an added luxury for those wanting to stand out. These are expensive cars after all,” he adds, before revealing briefly that a framework is being created for electric cars – one that should be revealed to the masses in 2019,” he adds.

In a complete twist, however, our source at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs then comes back to us after our initial interview to reveal another great worry that has been on Oman’s plate recently: plastics.

Plastic, a polymer and a hydrocarbon, poses its own risks – for instance as it’s known for its long half-life; difficulty to contain, especially in the case of low density plastics; its potential to cause cancer; and generally, its harm to the fauna.

But, the official points out another downside to using the polymer: its effect in rushing the process of climate change.

In a telephone interview, he explains: “Plastics are a vile creation – its negatives outweigh its positives. And perhaps, of everything we’d discussed before, this must be the least ‘green’ product we’ve ever dealt with in Oman.

“Now, you would be aware of how seriously the government has taken recycling and other such activities to curb littering and increase the reuse of plastics.

But, even so, there’s just so much out there.

“And these plastics, when they come in contact with the photons from lights, it breaks down into gases or composites. Moreover, when they come under intense sunlight, like it does in Oman, they break down and their size (surface area) increases, releasing more gases.

“What’s worrisome is that these are all greenhouse gases like methane and ethylene – both of which are extremely harmful to the atmosphere. Methane, for instance, is known to be more than 20 times more potent than CO2.

“This gives us more reasons to implement a nationwide plastic ban. But, something on that level would probably take us a few

more months to achieve.”

A quick research into the topic also shows us how nearly 6 per cent of the global oil consumption is diverted towards creating plastics.

The official goes on to add: “The term ‘green’ technology is a notion far away from us. It isn’t even an arm’s length away from us. Countries in Europe have adopted several technologies, experimented with it, and funded billions of Euros in research and development to create a sustainable form of energy extraction or creation.

“We, at this point, can do nothing more than adopt those technologies. And for that very reason, it remains expensive. But, as we go along and implement several of them here, then we will also be able to work on it and develop our own equipment.

“And that’s key to “green” technologies. It doesn’t work when forced upon; it needs to come from within the country.

And for that very reason, a green Oman is a good decade away.

But, I assure you that when we do attain that, we’ll be pioneers in renewable energy and green technology.

“It’s not just empty words that I’m saying here. Oman is really on track for this. And to begin with things we’ve pledged to cut 2 per cent of our greenhouse gases in an action plan submitted to the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) – and we’re well on track to beat our targets.” ■

Top ‘green’ projects in Oman PDO’s 1,000 MW Solar Farm

There’s something oddly satisfying when the nation’s primary oil and gas exploration company begins investing heavily in solar power. Perhaps it’s the faith PDO has in solar technology but there’s no way we’re overlooking the masterpiece that is the 1,000 MW solar farm in the heart of Amal. While this barely scratches the surface, the government has used this project as a platform to learn about the feasibility of solar power in Oman. And thankfully, it’s a green signal for anyone willing to shell out a few thousand bucks to set up their own solar-powered hub on top of their homes.

Oman’s own electric car – Nur Majan

Still in its infant stages, electric cars are a far cry from being a reality here in Oman. Even Tesla is testing the waters in the region, with its Global EVERT road trip drawing to a close in January, this year. But, even during these turbulent times, Omani inventor and carmaker Sultan bin Hamad al Amri is pursuing his dream to create the Middle East’s first electric supercar. The car should be fast – the Sultan claims that it will be powered by motors that can buzz anywhere between 400hp and 1,600hp. ● How does an EV car work?

This brings us back to plug-in electric vehicles. The theory of its operation is simple: there are only three components to an EV – an electric motor, a controller and an array of rechargeable batteries.

It all begins when the batteries in the electric vehicles are charged through

the grid via a wall socket or a dedicated charging unit. This electricity is stored in the battery packs – sometimes in several hundred batteries – for powering the electric motor. Since these cars do not run on petrol or diesel and are powered entirely by electricity, battery electric cars are considered ‘all-electric’ vehicles.

The electric motor gets its power from a controller. This motor then converts the electrical energy into kinetic energy (movement) for the car to begin rolling from its position. From the outside – much like the Tesla – you wouldn’t be able to tell that a car is electric.

However, because there’s no engine to cool down, most electric cars have no intakes upfront. One of the features that raises concern is the eerie silence when the car is in motion, so several manufacturers now provide artificial noise to the exterior to warn pedestrians that an electric car is on its way.

HCT’s GreenNest Eco House

Everybody in Oman knew about the positives of having a solar-powered house, however, none was gutsy enough to shell out money to build the “green” house.

Enter the GreenNest Eco House – the brain child of a professor (Muna al Farsy) and a group of students from the Higher College of Technology. Situated in the heart of the college itself – sitting atop the incline, almost like a jewel in the crown – the house fuses modern design with equally modern technologies. The house is completely off the grid and runs off the electricity its 76 solar panels generate and stores in the batteries.

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TEAM Y MEETS A GROUP KEEN TO PROMOTE A ‘CAN-DO’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS CANINE COMPANIONSHIP

Best in

SHOW

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og owners like to indulge their pets from time to time whether it’s buying furry capes for them in winter or treating them to a juicy steak.

And dog shows like the legendary Crufts give owners a chance to display their canine’s skills as well as their good looks.

But for some owners, the dog show should do more such as showcasing health and welfare towards these

intelligent animals.

Believe it or not, it’s lucrative turf that has grown into a multimillion-dollar industry around the world.

However, an event that’s slated to take place in Oman this week

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aims to achieve something else: to educate us on respecting and sharing space with dogs.

It’s the culmination of the hard work and dedication to dogs of a group of four friends, who founded Oman’s most respected canine club.

For the MCT K9-Team, the conformation dog show is now in its third year, the star turn of which will be a ‘beauty pageant’.

Founder member Musheer al Zadjali is a 32-year-old Omani. He owns Julius-K9, a shop that provides specialised food, equipment and even a restaurant for dogs and cats.

“This dog show stems from our love for animals,” says Musheer with a smile. “We want to use it as a platform to promote a healthy and safer living for dogs in Oman.”

The founder members used to gather at the Burj al Sahwa roundabout – better known as the “Clock Tower Roundabout” – to share their insights on pet ownership, experiences, and to advise newcomers on pet care and safety.

Now the MCT K9-Team has grown quickly after its members decided to register themselves and run dog shows with a difference.

Unlike international events, the group aims to show how to share our living spaces with dogs, break stereotypes on wadi dogs, and persuade Omanis how rewarding caring for dogs can be.

It’s not about making money from events, it’s about promoting the bliss of canine companionship, Masheer says.

“We used to run this for free at the Burj al Sahwa parking lot before deciding to host it as a bigger event near our shop in Seeb. We then graduated to a full-blown show at venues across Oman.

“And, the most heartwarming thing is that the people have accepted our club as a part of their own. So, while we were limited to Omanis initially, we now have expats from various parts of Oman coming together and sharing their love for dogs.”

Musheer’s conformation dog show is expected to take place this Friday (December 15) between 2pm-6pm at the Muscat Hills – and is open to everyone.

You don’t need to have a pet to visit the event. Entry is free while a nominal RO3 will be charged (for service and other amenities) if you’re looking to register your canine pet.

There will be a ‘beauty’ contest, a dog dance show, a race and other activities that are to be a surprise.

With the number of canine contestants topping 80, this could become one of the largest events of its kind in the Sultanate.

It could also give dog lovers the chance to get a first-hand look at rare breeds such as Caucasian Shepherds, Presa Canario, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and more.

Moreover, three judges – including Adil, an international ajudicator with more than 25 years’ experience – will be present. The event will also be presided over by another founding member of the club, Anees al Zadjali; and the dog coach at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), Sami al Wahaibi.

All competing dogs will receive certificates and winners’ medals.

Musheer says: “We hope to see people turn up to see the positives of pet ownership.

There’s a general notion here that people don’t like dogs but that’s not true.

“In fact, there are people who come here who have had pets for decades and love to share their experiences with the people.

“And, who knows, maybe we can change the hearts of people who are even afraid of dogs or scared to adopt one?

Adoption and general well-being tips aside, the MCT K9-Team will also educate the visitors about wadi dogs.

Musheer says: “This is one of the mottos of the club – to tell people that wadi dogs aren’t dangerous.”

“Of late, we’ve come across several instances of violence against dogs – and this upsets us. We’ll be speaking to the public about this during our events, and create a sense of awareness that the people can then spread among each other.”

Hassan al Lawati, an animal enthusiast, says:

“I think this is a brilliant initiative by the MCT K9-Team as it opens up a place where people who have had experience with pets can come and teach each other the highs and lows of dog ownership.

“It’s something we here in Oman require – a common ground where people can meet each other and their pets, and perhaps even show bystanders how they too can adopt a pet and turn their world into a much better place.”

It’s a thought Musheer, the owner of 10 dogs,

We hope to see people turn up to see the positives of pet ownership. There’s a general notion here that people don’t like dogs but that’s not true shares with us, too: “A dog’s smile beats all else.

I fell in love with dogs at a very young age and have always been advocating for animal rights.

“What the MCT K9-Team does is to give us all a platform to stand together and form a bond that we can use to share our insights to change age-old perceptions.

“That’s the goal – a place where animals and humans can live together in peace.” ■ DEC 13 - 19 / ISSUE 548

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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 • SPAR

• 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 • 1947 Restaurant • 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 • SPAR • Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading

• Landmark Group • 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 • Starbucks • Tim Hortons • VLCC Wellness MBD • Bank Dhofar • Centrepoint

(Splash) • SPAR • 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 MSQ • 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

• 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 • Jotun Paints • Knowledge Oasis

Muscat-1 • Knowledge Oasis

Muscat-2 • Knowledge Oasis

Muscat-3 • 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 • Chevrolet/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 Al Mouj Muscat • Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee • Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co. • Al Mouj Muscat

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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Adventures

Cars

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS ADVENTURES

MEAN MACHINES

The futuristic Pininfarina HK GT Concept is just one of the sleek sets of wheels you’ll find this week in First Drive.

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CARS AND OUTDOORS ADVENTURES

D E S T I N AT I O N C a r s

P o s t c a r d s Fr o m

Y- F i

Destination

Hail al Ghaf

SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI REVISITS A VILLAGE WHERE TIME HAS STOOD STILL AND ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY STILL THRIVES 032

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Gaming

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made canals while the more arid areas of the land stay dry.

It’s truly spectacular that people thought about this simple yet effective technology centuries ago – the irrigation system is more than 5,000 years old.

We spent another hour or so lingering on the peak, soaking in the gusts of cold air that made our stopover even more relaxing.

Hail al Ghaf isn’t what I’d call a campers’ paradise – the pebbles make setting up tents a difficult task. Despite that, adventurists, trekkers and birdwatchers should include it their itineraries.

By incorporating all these riveting features with the area’s accessibility and its array of flora and fauna you’re left with an experience you can’t easily forget.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

ith the memories of a hot summer day in the village and wadi of Hail al Ghaf in my mind from a previous trip in 2017, it was clear I had to go again; this time in winter.

Filled with much adventure, laughter and exasperating trekking, it had been one of my favourite trips despite being a tad strenuous.

This time around, however, I kept it simple: explore the village, find how much had changed around the wadis, and retrace the path to the famous peak from which one can gaze upon the entire region.

Reaching Hail al Ghaf is relatively easy – the village is a little way ahead of Wadi Dayqah; a mere 80 minutes’ drive away from the capital. There are well-marked sign boards that will direct you there, too.

Upon reaching the village, my friend Aliston and I were in complete awe.

Essentially a farmers’ town, Hail al Ghaf must be the lushest village I’d ever visited outside of the confines of Salalah.

Everything from banana trees, crops and flowers are grown in the village – and it’s all brought to life by the afalaj that runs through the settlement.

It’s a wonderful sight indeed, and I had to point my camera towards the plots of lands sitting brim with lush green plants.

This also makes the village a haven for a wide variety of birds.

The two of us weren’t nearly as well-equipped as someone like the natural historian David Attenborough but we could identify a few eagles, bee-eaters, desert larks and scaly thrushes (a rare bird to spot in Oman).

After a few hours of attempted birdwatching and blurry bird images – stemming from their quick senses – we gave up and headed to the wadi, which is only a few metres away from the village.

Heading into it would require a decent off-road rig – a truck or an SUV with off-road tyres, at the very least. The combination of pebbles and sharp rocks makes scouting the terrain quite arduous – and could also strain the vehicle if not undertaken properly.

That said, it’s also vital to travel with a few friends that can tow you if you’re stuck, or push you out.

Thankfully, we could navigate through the dry pebbles to safer ground.

From there we could park and head out exploring. The peak we wanted to scale was a long 200-odd metre trek up the mountain but the results were truly mesmerising. From the summit, you can see the entire village, its greenery, and the surrounding wadi.

There, you can also view the intricate afalaj system providing water to the nearby areas. The wadi itself is dry but it should fill up with water in the summer months when the Wadi Dayqah dam is opened. Still, there’s something oddly satisfying watching water flow through the short man-

To reach Hail Al Ghaf, take the exit towards Quriyat from Wadi Al Kabir. Proceed towards Wadi Dayqah, and en route, you will find a sign board that points towards the village.

GPS location: N23°10’00.9”; E58°55’12.7”

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

Team Y unveils the models with which car makers hope to capture motorists’ imagination, if not their cash

T

hey call it the “stepping stone to reality”, but for car enthusiasts all around the globe, auto shows translate to more manufacturers flaunting their concept cars to the masses. Designed and crafted like they were meant to stand out, these concepts have long been known to create a beeline between manufacturers and consumers.

Though touted as one of the oldest trends in the automotive industry, these revealing concepts can have several meanings. They can denote an upcoming model, showcase new technologies and designs, start a pseudo-Cold War between manufacturers or shamelessly trick investors into believing their money isn’t being lavishly invested taking “business” trips around the globe.

Concept cars – when put in production – rarely follow the original design. But that hasn’t stopped carmakers from going gaga with their products.

This week, we highlight some of the top concept cars that made red carpet appearances this year.

Hyundai Le Fil Rouge Concept Oh, how we don’t miss the days when Hyundai was known for its buses and trucks.

This Le Fil Rouge Concept dons the shape of a sedan –

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Pininfarina HK GT Concept Remember the glory days of Pininfarina-designed Ferraris and Alfa Romeos? Those cars were a treat to see prowling the streets. Sadly, however, the design company was slowly stripped down and finally sold off to Indian carmaker Mahindra. Let’s not make it seem like a bad thing, though, because laying before your eyes is the new HK GT Concept

albeit, a very striking one. The ultimate aim of the car is to showcase the Korean carmaker’s future plans in design. However, with its sibling company revealing a hot sedan this year, we wouldn’t be surprised if it were released as a super-sedan, of sorts. As unfeasible as it may seem – owing to the slim A-pillar and lack of B-pillar that will certainly be flagged for its safety – the final product should still maintain cues from this vehicle. Still, with its shark-smile front end and almost disguised rear end, the Le Fil Rouge Concept has us waiting for the final product, whenever that may be.

– a concept unlikely ever to enter production.

But representatives say the car, which reeks of a Mercedes-Benz meets Maserati vibe, will pack 1,072 horses and whizz to 100kph in a mere 2.7 seconds.

As an added treat, the coupe will come with gullwing doors and an equally stunning interior.

Pininfarina will market the car as its own, avoiding any association with its Indian brethren that fund the entire project.

Destination

P o s t c a r d s Fr o m

and 1,004Nms of torque capable electric motors; the e-Tron GT will be gunning for the big boys from Tesla (Roadster), Rimac (Concept One) and Porsche (Taycan). Unlike the other contenders on this list, the e-Tron GT will almost entirely remain unchanged when it goes into production in 2020.

Moreover, it remains the only concept car that can be driven on the roads. This means Audi’s spec sheet holds true on Tarmac just as much as it does on paper. Expect to see this make a cameo in the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ movie.

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS

kidney-shaped/ rodent-teeth grille of any Bimmer – is a step away from the graceful, sporty SUVs we’ve been accustomed to from Bavaria. Sure, it’s still a far cry away from production, meaning that there’s still time for people to sign a petition to the designers to alter the front end. That aside, BMW’s greatest achievement with the concept is showcasing its new approach to interior space. Designed to imitate a 5-star hotel, the (seemingly) electricpowered autonomous car intends to help passengers “interact with each other in an easier way”, with its flexible seating options and integrate “autonomy, connectivity, electric power, and services” – now, we’ve heard it all (!) That said, the materials used in the interior range from wood to beige suede, and even leather.

Infiniti Project Black S

BMW Vision i-Next BMW’s concept SUV – which is arguably known for sporting the largest

The Infiniti Project Black S takes us back to the early days of Infiniti – when their cars were amicably stylish, affordable, and above all, quick as a flash. A tuner favourite from the 1990s and early 2000s, cars like the G35 and G37 set the tone for the brand as it was setting up shop around the world. And, it seems that the company is turning back to its sporty ethos with this new concept. At the heart of this lies Infiniti’s bread and butter: the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 motor, which is powered by a unique dual-hybrid system. This is coupled with F1 tech – notably, a regenerative braking system,

Audi e-Tron GT The future is now. When unveiled as a concept earlier this year, the e-Tron GT (Gran Turismo) provoked mixed emotions among automotive enthusiasts: Audi revealed that its hottest new sports car creation – and a stunning one at that – would be powered by electricity. But, don’t let that fool you, as the e-Tron GT’s specification list will blow your mind. Going naught to 100kph in 2.5 seconds, courtesy of an 804hp

and a pair of MGU-H units that will harvest heat energy from the exhaust gases under heavy acceleration.

These then feed that energy into a “high-rate discharge” 4.4 kWh battery that then feeds an extra 120 kWh into the drivetrain for an added boost. The results are mindboggling: 563hp and a 0-100kph time of under four seconds. The cost of the F1-derived tech makes this an expensive car to make so expect to see this at your local dealership… never. Still, it’s great to see Renault Sport F1 (partners with Nissan and Infiniti) work in tandem with Infiniti to create a masterpiece.

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CARS ADVENTURES PERFECT PERTH

The Australian city has an array of impressive attractions.

1. Chill out on one of the city’s beautiful beaches.

2. View impressive art at the Perth Cultural Centre.

3. Enjoy super views of the city from the Bell Tower.

4. Sample the wonderful wildlife at Perth Zoo. 5. Find out your weight in gold at the Perth Mint.

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Destination

Cars

Y-Fi

Gaming

POSTCARDS FROM

David Hughes recommends

PERTH, AUSTRALIA S

ome TV ads depict the land of Down Under as being one of dynamic diversity in its people, cities, and landscapes.

However, while we all know and love the iconic images of the the Sydney Opera House, Uluru, and Whitehaven Beach, Perth seems just a tad

overlooked.

Australian tennis legend Margaret Court has referred to it as ‘Australia’s most beautiful city’, and who would disagree (except residents of Sydney or Melbourne)?

A KOAL Perth, the capital of Western Australia, sits where the Swan River meets the A PERCH BEAR GUAR south-west coast. With fantastic beaches, impressive urban living, myriad parks D S H IS AT THE PERTH and gardens, and a cultural pulse to rival that of any world metropolis. The city ZOO offers an enviable lifestyle to its two million residents, and an alluring array of attractions for tourists.

As a city lapped by the Indian Ocean and blessed with a climate that is hot without being intoxicating, perhaps those TV ad directors should take note, and give Perth a higher profile.

My favourite place

It was those estimable fellows from the Royal Perth Yacht Club that finally wrestled the America’s Cup away from the United States in 1983, and this is a city that is justifiably proud of its sailing credentials. Hillary’s Boat Harbour, about 20km north-west of the city, is a slick, smart marina groaning with some of the best-looking vessels you’ll ever see while providing a café, shops, and family-friendly attractions for those not naturally nautical. Here, the Aquarium of Western Australia offers a glass tunnel to wander through while you stare at all manner of stingrays, dolphins, sharks, and more than 200 species of fish and mammals. With plenty of paths, biking trails, and inlet beaches to enjoy, relaxing outdoor life doesn’t come much better than this.

Highlights Every urban sprawl worth its salt needs expansive and lush green space for city dwellers to chill out in. The

Kings Park and Botanic Garden is an oasis for people to simply plump themselves down and find the meaning of inner tranquillity.

Most of this 1,000-acre park consists of bush and is replete with flora, fauna, and an impressive array of birds. The Botanic Garden boasts the best in bulging plant specimens from California and South Africa, and sitting next to the water garden (which resembles a creek) and enjoying a few tingling cascades of spray is just perfect for cooling down.

In fact outdoor life is all around here; you simply can’t avoid it. The Swan River is the saving grace at the end of the week for which tired commuters can take their families along the river bank for picnics, go fishing, sail, canoe or swim, or hike and bike along the many trails. Cruise trips up the river abound, where passengers can ogle some rather affluent riverside mansions or disembark for luscious libations at some enticing restaurants and cafés. Boat trips can be taken at Barrack Square jetty.

Although Australia is a relatively new country, its short history is no less fascinating for all that. History buffs can check out the Museum of Perth, and the WA Maritime Museum. Both institutions lift the lid on Perth’s social, cultural, and mercantile heritage as a coastal port. There are many other museums and art gallery options, too. Perth is no cultural backwater, not by any means It’s a city that was made for al fresco dining though, and here diners can delve into all manner of Mediterranean or Asian culinary creations – all lovingly created by members of a multi-cultural population and powered by produce grown locally.

There’s gourmet dining here, sure, but some of the noodle bars offer excellent value for money. You can also enjoy an afternoon tea, which is an elegant English throwback to the city’s colonial past.

P E R T H ’S IC D OW N T OW N R B E L L T OW E

ON IC

Lowlights None.

Souvenirs In case a boomerang has health-and-safety concerns for you, why not choose some sculptures, paintings, and

wood carvings created by Australia’s indigenous population? There are plenty of gift shops around that offer these, as well as tasteful arrays of antiques, artefacts, and rock engravings.

Where to stay All the world’s hotel chains are here so check them out on Booking.com, Trivago, Expedia, and

Kayak.com

How to get there

ONE OF THE M ANY EX QUISITE PERTH BEACH ES

Catch a flight from Muscat to Dubai, then fly directly to Perth. Both Emirates and Cathay Pacific operate a regular service.

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

Destination

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

KITCHEN GIZMOS

The Y Geek Squad tries out devices that help deliver creative genius in the culinary department FLAME KING

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE They say that you can’t put a price on life. That said, the UCE-9000 Under-Counter Water Ionizer is an expensive piece of tech that can come across as a bit unnecessary yet, to the discerning customer looking for clean ionised water, this is gold.

The swanky-looking device harbours nine platinum plates to ensure that users receive acidic or alkaline water for drinking, cleaning, sterilising and disinfecting surfaces. It also comes with “ultra-plus” filtration, with dual filters, which will remove contaminants such as sediments, chlorine, chloramines and metals from your water. This can be especially useful for those cleaning pesticides and herbicides off vegetables.

Get yours from tyentusa.com for RO1,115

Arguably one of the greatest cooking gadgets of all time, these aptly- named Flame King Hybrid BBQ Temperature Tongs are exactly what the meat-loving, PETA-dissing carnivores that love serving up their catches on grills want. Not only will the tongs get you fixed up on a good meal, they will also make sure your meat is done just right, with its array of temperature sensors placed on the forks. They call them digital tongs, which we think may be dragging it a bit too far – but it may very well be right. There’s a large LCD display that will display the temperature of the food, and you can also choose the kind of meat you’re grilling. Rest assured, you won’t be upsetting Gordon Ramsay-wannabes with cold grills anymore. Get this from amazon.com for RO8

CONNECTED COOKING Be it preparing rice or a nice bowl of hot stew, there’s a distinct difference when it’s slow cooked. But, let’s face it: no one has the time to do that anymore. Enter the CrockPot WeMo – a slow cooker that can be controlled via your smartphone, and the cooker is connected to WiFi. You can control everything from the cooking time to the temperature using the WeMo application that you can download for your phone. The device itself is large and should be able to cook large cuts of meat and veggies. All of this will set you back RO143 from amazon.com

GET SMART

EDITOR’S PICK

SOON, THERE WILL COME A POINT IN TIME WHEN WE’LL DRAW A LINE WHEN IT COMES TO ADDING FANCY TECH TO KITCHEN EQUIPMENT. UNTIL THEN, THESE GADGETS WILL ONLY GET SMARTER. CASE IN POINT IS THE SAMSUNG FAMILY HUB REFRIGERATOR. THE UBIQUITOUS NAME ASIDE (HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN A ‘FAMILY HUB’?), SAMSUNG HAS, QUITE LITERALLY, REVAMPED THE REFRIGERATOR – YES, THE SAME APPLIANCE YOU STORE YOUR FOOD IN. THE USUAL COOLING AND FREEZING CAPABILITIES ASIDE, THE GIZMO COMES WITH CAMERAS TO LET YOU MONITOR YOUR FOOD REGULARLY VIA THE LARGE TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO CREATE SHOPPING LISTS ACCORDINGLY, PROVIDE YOU WITH RECIPE RECOMMENDATIONS, STREAM MUSIC AND ORDER FOOD ONLINE. A GENUINE MASTERPIECE BUT ONE THAT MAKES US QUESTION IF THESE FEATURES ARE REALLY NECESSARY. BUY IT FROM LULU ELECTRONICS FOR RO1,730 (OUCH!)

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Top 5 December Releases SUBNAUTICA (2018)

The Y Geek Squad gives filling stockings a fighting chance for the festive season with this lot

Real gamers will tout Subnautica as a wild twist to the Unreal game that hit the shelves back in 1998 – but in a good way. While the latter sets its missions on an alien planet and involves a lot of shooting, Subnautica does the same but in the oceans of an unknown planet. The game heavily relies on exploring the waters and the many, many creatures that lie underneath and often requires you to murder them mercilessly (humans, eh?). The ultimate aim, however, is to protect the underwater base you’ve created using the existing resources from the planet and manage the resources you’ve scalped from the poor aliens. If you’re not into too much violence, you can undertake the exploring missions, which will allow you to have a more relaxed adventure and catch a glimpse of the unknown worlds underneath the oceans of the planet.

Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Android, iOS

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5

JUST CAUSE 4

Appealing to the entomophobia (also known as insectophobia) in Arguably the most Hollywood-ised you, Earth Defense Force 5 pits game of all time, Just Cause 4 brings you against life-sized creepy everything you’d expect from a Just crawlies that’ll scare the living Cause game: blood, violence, action bejesus out of you. Trust us when and a lot of blowing stuff up. Its we say this: unlike games of today greatest strengths, however, also lead that spew gorgeous graphics and detailed cities, this game makes to its weakness: it is indistinguishable use of the PlayStation 4’s computing power – all of its cores and from its predecessors but for a more elaborate map and RAM – to render the vast number of enemies for you to attack. modified graphics. You still play the role of Rico Rodriguez – a It’s unreal – there are moments when you’ll come across several part-human, part Wolverine mutant that can glide around hundreds of giant ants, spiders, slugs, and a plethora of other cities and land some cinematic scenes to bring the game alive. alien creatures. And, more often than not, you’ll find yourself There are sequences that are awe-inspiring, with graphics inclined to shooting aimlessly around you until your ammo runs resembling those of real movies. This latest attempt at a new out or until the enemies are eliminated. It’s an arduous task but Just Cause game by Avalanche Studios suffers from a lack one that’s incredibly satisfying. It’s not the most Christmassy of imagination. But, that doesn’t mean it’s still not one of the game out there, but it should keep the kids glued to the television better third-person shooter games out there. We’re just a bunch (if that’s what you’re after). of sore keyboard warriors cum critics after all.

Platform: Android, iOS Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, PS4

PERSONA DANCING: ENDLESS NIGHT COLLECTION Creative to say the least, Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection is a worthy contender for the best dance game of the year. While its core lies in the narrating sequences from the role-playing anime game, Persona, it does its job in a rather amusing way: with dance. Players can control the various Persona characters to act out their scenes from the original game by making use of the d-pad and controller face buttons to match the inputs displayed on the screen. Perfect scores mean the story is narrated crisply and without any hitches – but failing to do so may result in a tedious repeat of the level. Typically Japanese but with an added touch of Western dance, this is a must-have for dance enthusiasts and anime buffs.

Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Linux

DRAGON MARKED FOR DEATH Taking us back to the early 2000s with its graphics and gameplay – which seemingly is straight out of the Game Boy Advance SP era – the Nintendo Switch-based Dragon Marked for Death game injects a dose of nostalgia to a market that we didn’t particularly ask for. Yet, with an intriguing storyline, human-dragon protagonists evoke a sense of desperation in their fight against a kingdom that destroys their village. With Japanese-inspired music, the game claws into our list of top games for December. Also, with the prices of the Nintendo Switch dropping over the festive season, it only makes sense to invest in one. Fans of games from the early Nintendo epoch will admire this one.

Platform: PC, Mac, Linux

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

Beauty

MODEST CHIC

FASHION

From the runway to reality, modest couture has gone mainstream – smashing any misconceptions along the way that covering up means sacrificing on style. Case in point? These fierce ensembles.

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, reet t s gh e hi look h t d to get the n e to gh e hi s you h t lp From Y he m Tea

We love the idea of a head covering that reflects our personality and can’t get enough of this brightly-hued turban from ModLi. Make it yours for RO19.22.

Go extraglam and offset this punchy geometric print silk shirtdress from Ganni with a pair of gold heels and bangles.

Snag it for RO209.3.

Every girl needs a go-to satchel to stash her stuff. This strappy leather number from Fossil in a dusky rose hue ties any look together nicely. Buy it for RO95.3.

Delicate and demure, not only is this silk chiffon blouse from Erdem in a periwinkle blue floral print breathe-able, it will keep you to look effortlessly cool too. Own it for RO422.

Kick your outfit up a notch in a pair of vibrant two-tone pumps.

We’re drooling over this pair from Aldo in a snakeskin and mustard motif. Price: RO38.4.

Draw the eye upwards from your ensemble with a colourful pair of statement earrings. Match this blueand gold-toned crescent-shaped pair from YouBella with a pastel palette from your wardrobe and make them your ultimate accessory. They’re yours for RO8.07.

Make a statement with a bold pair of trousers that you’ll want to wear straight through till the weekend.

Pair these slacks from Ganni with a black blouse or turtleneck and a gold chain for added ‘oomph’. Walk away with them for RO55.4.

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

BEAUTY

Fashion

Home

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THOSE HEELS

Dry winter skin doing a number on your heels?

Put your best foot forward with our top beauty hacks to beat even the toughest cracked skin

D

oes the thought of stepping out at the festive office party in your strappiest stilettos give you chills? The change in temperature to the dry, arid winters in Oman can be damaging to even the most rigorously moisturised skin – and two areas that tend to suffer most are our feet and our heels.

To avoid dry, thickened and cracked skin that can become unsightly and even painful, keep these homecare hacks in mind: 1. Stay hydrated This may seem like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how few of us are getting our daily recommended intake of H20.

That’s eight glasses a day, in case you were wondering. When our body is nourished and hydrated it reflects on the outside, with skin becoming more supple, glowing, and less prone to abrasions. So, bottoms up!

2. Exfoliate daily If your heels are already in pretty bad shape, we can’t stress enough how important daily exfoliation is to help slough off excess dead skin and calluses. Investing in an electric callus buffer will help your feet feel less like sandpaper and more like satin.

We love: Innoo Tech Electric Callus Remover. Spinning 50 rotations a minute, this tough-yet-gentle buffer is waterproof so you can even use it in the shower if you’re pressed for time. Price: RO8.07.

3. Use a before-bed treatment Your mom’s trick of Vaseline to the heels and a pair of cotton socks overnight isn’t as old-fashioned as you might think. Moisturising your heels with a lotion or oil that’s readily absorbed into the skin and rich in provitamins A, D, or E is essential. Seal in the moisture with a pair of breathable cotton socks and watch the difference a few days of this routine will have on your heels.

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We love: If you’re looking for a non-greasy formula, we’re obsessed with Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream. It’s a combo of exfoliating lactic acid and 10 per cent urea that tackles even the toughest cracked, dry skin. Price: RO2.69.

4. Homemade helper For beauticians on a budget, here’s a footbath that takes minutes to prepare. Chances are you’ve got a carton of good old-fashioned baking soda kicking around in your cupboard or fridge. Take three tablespoons and dissolve it in a bowl of lukewarm water, then soak your feet for 15 minutes.

Baking soda is a natural exfoliant and also contains anti-inflammatory properties. Scrub your heels gently with a pumice stone and watch the dead skin flake away!

We love: Aisilk Earth Lava Pumice Stone is allnatural and comes double-sided with a gentle bristle brush to polish your soles. Price: RO2.64.

5. Go pro For especially problematic cases, sometimes a trip to the spa is in order to let the professionals deal with those stubborn cracks and calluses.

Monthly maintenance in the form of a pedicure is a good way to make sure you stay on top of your foot-care – and the professional expertise of an esthetician can go a long way towards thwarting any future damage that might crop up.

We love: Ayana Spa’s Signature Pedicure. This spa in the Qurum area offers some seriously lush treatments, and their frankincense and 60-minute Signature Pedicure’s shea butter warm wrap will leave your tootsies toasty and soft. Price: RO16.

For bookings call (+968) 2469-3277/3435.

Beauty

HEALTH

Fashion

Home

Family

ONLY THE

LONELY

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The state of being starved of companionship is a health issue that is now being taken seriously. Gemma Harrison reports on how one’s life can be affected by it, and what we can do to help those with no-one around

ongs about loneliness have been among the most beloved of composers since the year dot.

However, in the real world, loneliness is one of the last taboos; one that is all too conveniently linked with the elderly, the homeless, the socially-challenged, and the unemployed.

But is that the full picture? In my own country of the UK, a study by the British Red Cross and The Co-Op has found that there are nine million people (from a population of 65m) that are ‘always or often lonely’. That’s a lot of suffering.

The causes can be from widowhood, poor health, disability, unemployment, or simply the lack of a family or a partner. It doesn’t mean the sufferer is ‘sad’ or socially inept.

And it can happen to anybody. I used to go home to an empty flat every night from a busy job. I was in a new city and didn’t know anyone. Too tired to pick up the phone and arrange to go out, I was also ashamed to admit that I hadn’t got any plans for the weekend, or beyond.

I should have realised that there were plenty of people in the same office in the same position. If only I had ‘fessed up, laughed it off, phoned some of them up and gone out!

But firstly, let’s not confuse ‘alone’ and ‘lonely’. The former is when you got home absolutely whacked and just want to run a hot bath, have a TV dinner, and unwind on the sofa while watching your favourite boxed set.

The latter is when you really would like to have some company, and can’t be bothered to make a proper meal if it’s only you that will be eating it.

The British charity Age UK has also warned that loneliness can ‘seriously affect a person’s health and well-being’.

Vivek Murthy, a former US Surgeon-General, has called loneliness an ‘epidemic’ and has gone as far as saying it can reduce a person’s lifespan.

Dr. Murthy has also called on US companies to make ‘fostering social connections a strategic priority.’

He says: “As a society we have built stronger WiFi connections over time, but our personal connections have deteriorated.

“Well, for many people, admitting that you’re lonely is essentially the equivalent to admitting that you’re not worthy of being loved. “’That’s really what underlies this stigma around loneliness. We are recognising that loneliness is a lot more prevalent than we thought it was. The data is also showing that there are many more adults who are

admitting to being lonely now than two decades ago.”

Modern lifestyles have contributed to this, says Dr. Murthy. These include people moving away from home to work in new cities, substituting online connections for real friendships, and spending time on social media in the belief that it’s equivalent to face-to-face contact.

He is right, of course. But while one can measure other hazards to health such as obesity because we can see it, how can we measure something that is largely abstract?

The former US Surgeon-General’s advice is: ❶ Recognise it If you are feeling lonely you are not the only one. ❷ There is nothing wrong with you It doesn’t mean you are not worthy of friendship or being loved. ❸ Reach out to people If you’re not lonely, it’s very likely that there’s someone around you who is, so that’s why it’s important for us to reach out to them.

Dr. Murthy says: “Loneliness puts us in a stress state. When that happens, that can have an impact on your heath.

“The data around loneliness tells us now is that we are truly interdependent creatures and that we need each other.”

(Sources: Campaign To End Loneliness, Vivek Murthy, Age UK)

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YUMMY HOT TODDIES

Winter weather creeping into your bones? Warm up from the inside out with these stovetop sips that will bring you comfort in a cup.

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New Restaurant

Reviews

Winter

WARMERS

Forget those pricey pumpkin spice lattés – as the cold weather season dips into full swing, cozying up to a comforting cup is as easy as putting the kettle on. Here, Yummy Oman brews up some of the best pick-me-ups for the festive season

Vanilla apple cider They say the snap of the cold makes autumn apples all the more sweet, and we keep going back for seconds of this warming cup of cider laced with vanilla.

Ingredients: § 10 large apples, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala etc. § 1 litre, water § 1 vanilla bean pod § 3 cinnamon sticks § 6 whole cloves § 1 tbsp, brown sugar (optional) § 1 tbsp, maple syrup (optional)

This creamy-fresh cup of the holiday season’s most well-loved beverage will be a hit with both parents and kids alike at your annual Christmas gathering.

Ingredients: § 3 eggs § 1 egg yolk § ¼ cup, white sugar § ¼ tsp, peppermint extract § ½ tbsp, vanilla § 2 cups, whole milk or cream § 8 pieces peppermint candy § 55g white chocolate § Red food colouring § ½ cup, whipped cream Method: § Set up an ice water bath and set aside. § In a saucepan, whisk the eggs, egg yolk, sugar, peppermint and vanilla extracts using a whisk. Pour the milk in, slowly, and whisk constantly over a medium heat. Cook while constantly whisking for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. § Place the mixture in another bowl and set immediately over the ice bath.

Whisk while you do this to ensure the mixture doesn’t congeal or thicken too much. Mix in red food dye to get a pretty pink colour. § Place your peppermint candies in a food processor and pulse until ground. § Melt the chocolate, and place in a shallow bowl. Dip your glasses in white chocolate. Then dip the white chocolate in the crushed candies until you get a rim. § Pour the eggnog into the glasses and garnish with whipped cream and peppermint candies.

(Source: www.chefmom.sheknows.com)

Golden Milk

Method: § Quarter the apples and remove the cores and stems. Place into a large pot and add the water, vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, cloves and sweeteners; if desired. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 30 minutes. § Reduce the heat to low and simmer for two hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so. § Turn off the heat and let cool. Remove the spices and vanilla bean. Using a blender or immersion blender, puree the apple mix until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Store in the fridge for up to one week.

(Source: www.hintofvanilla.blogspot.com)

Chukku kappi A South Indian staple, ‘Chukku kappi’, or dry ginger coffee, is as well-known for its holistic medicinal properties as it is for its caffeine jolt.

This Kerala-style version will light a fire in your belly with a distinctive combination of spice and heat.

Ingredients: § 1 tsp, dried ginger powder § 1 tsp, coffee powder § ½ tsp, black pepper powder § ½ tsp, tulsi (dried holy basil) § 1 tbsp, palm jaggery § 2 cups, water

Peppermint egg nog

Method: § Mix all the ingredients and boil on the stovetop for a couple of minutes. Strain, and serve hot.

(Source: www.kothiyavunu.com)

If the cold and flu seasons have knocked you out for the count, revive yourself with a luscious mug of turmeric-infused golden milk. This simple stovetop tonic is packed with immune-boosting antiinflammatory properties that will set your world to rights in no time.

Ingredients: § 1 cup, unsweetened nondairy milk, preferably coconut milk beverage or almond milk § 1 (7.5cm) cinnamon stick § 1 (2.5cm) piece turmeric, unpeeled, thinly-sliced, or ½ tsp dried turmeric § 1 (1.27cm) piece ginger, unpeeled, thinly sliced § 1 tbsp, honey § 1 tbsp, virgin coconut oil § ½ tsp, whole black peppercorns § 1 cup, water § Ground cinnamon, for serving Method: § Whisk coconut or almond milk, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, honey, coconut oil, peppercorns, and one cup of water in a small saucepan; bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the flavours have melded, for about 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into mugs and top with a dash of cinnamon. § Golden milk can be made five days ahead. Store in an airtight container and chill. Warm before serving.

(Source: www.epicurious.com)

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Lobby level annex, InterContinental Muscat, Al Kharjiya Street Opening hours: 6pm till 12.15am, daily (restaurant) 5pm till 2.30am (Tues-Thurs) & 1.30 a.m. (Fri-Mon) (lounge) 12 noon till 3pm (Saturday lunch) Contact: (+968) 2468-0080 Tradervics.icmuscat@ihg.com Dinner for two: RO30.185 Verdict : 8/10 SERVICE 9/10 FOOD 10/10 AMBIENCE Island-style fusion fare with an emphasis on simmering, sharing-style dishes set amidst a tropical ambience.

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TRADER VIC’S

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

THIS POLYNESIAN POWERHOUSE AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL MUSCAT OFFERS A TASTE OF THE SOUTH SEAS THAT’S PLEASINGLY PALATABLE IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO ORDER Coral Reef, a White Cloud and a Potted Parrot; if visions of tropical islands are running through your head, think again – we’re just scanning the beverage list at Trader Vic’s.

This iconic global franchise has been capitalising on the ethos of island life since its first tropical tiki-shack opened in 1934. Known for its authentic island décor and Polynesian vibes ranging from its South Seas-inspired menu, it’s a popular grub-and-grog spot for both the after-work ‘happy hour’crowds and the weekend warriors. It offers up a Saturday brunch and regular theme nights accompanied by live music throughout the week – most recently launching its Rio Meets Muscat Brazilian Food Festival on December 12.

Located in its own annexe next to the lobby level of the main hotel at the InterContinental Muscat, diners can choose to be seated in the bamboo and tiki-inspired indoor bar and restaurant area – replete with a décor of vibrant Polynesian artefacts to add to the island ambience – or on their expansive outdoor terrace that overlooks the pool and gardens.

It’s early on a Thursday night when we arrive, just ahead of the dinner-time weekend rush.

Opting to dine al fresco, our hostess, who’s decked out in a Mandarin-collared, Polynesianpatterned dress, leads us through the sleek yet rustic interior to the outdoor terrace where we’re seated at a cozy table adorned with tiki-statue lamps at the far end.

Our waiter is quick to come take our drinks

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order and fill us in on the evening’s specials and Chef ’s selection – a lip-smacking woodfire-grilled rib-eye. Throughout the course of the evening, the service is always prompt (though somewhat hurried) and twice the duty manager passes by to check on us and those dining at the surrounding tables.

We begin with a mouthwatering-sounding starter off their ‘Tidbits and Pupus’ menu – a ‘Cosmo Tidbits’ sharing platter for two – an array of the most popular bites from their selection of appetisers. What arrives is a small platter with its choice morsels artfully arranged and set atop a tealight flame to keep the food warm. There are two butterflied and battered Crispy Prawns, two Crab Rangoon parcels, two Jalapeno Cheese Balls and two chargrilled Lamb Ribs.

We’re absolutely famished and wish there were at least four of everything so we could have two each for the price point. The butterflied shrimp are crispy and sweet but somewhat dry, and need a moreish sauce in which to dip and dunk. For accompaniments, we’re provided with Trader Vic’s own version of ketchup and mustard. The ketchup has a nice chili kick to it but the tomato is overpowering and mixed oddly with the flavour of the seafood – we would have preferred a sweet chili sauce outright. The mustard is inedible – overwhelmed with acidic horseradish, it is eyewatering and masks the flavour of anything it touches.

The Crab Rangoon parcels are crunchy on the outside with a silky-smooth centre that is more cream cheese than crustacean – as the delicate sweetness of the crabmeat is lost amid the gloop.

The same goes for the Jalapeno Cheese Balls which go cold and gelatinous with no fiery bite from the peppers that we’d anticipated. The best items off the sharing platter are by far the Lamb Ribs, chargrilled to medium-rare perfection; they are juicy and flavourful – massaged with a Polynesian-style spice-rub.

With the starter letting us down, we take our time carefully considering our options for a main course, as around us we see sizzling island-style platters arriving at tables and the scent of spices

and grilled meats filling our nostrils. Figuring we should stick to what Trader Vic’s does best – flavourful fusion fare – we opt for a hefty helping from their ‘Wok’ menu and order a platter of Singapore Noodles to share.

Upon arrival the aroma of curry and chargrilled meat wafts up from a heaping helping of delicate curried rice noodles tossed with stir-fried veg, succulent prawns, chicken, and spicy-sweet beef char siu. Snapping our chopsticks, we hungrily dive in, pausing every so often to take a sip from our frothy punch-bowl, which is served in a ceramic tiki canoe with straws half-a-metre-long.

The noodles are toothsome and delicate and the flavour profile complex. The beautiful thing about any good wok-fried noodle dish is the depth of flavour imparted by the cast-iron wok…the edges of the beef char siu have that sought-after crispysweet edge, with the prawns and chicken equally succulent. We polish our plates clean just as the live band takes to the stage inside.

While this experience at Trader Vic’s was a little hit-or-miss, there were more redeeming elements from the experience than negative ones – enough that we would come back again and give it another go. It’s certainly a fun place to gather for an evening with friends. With an unmatched ambience and dozens of signature dishes and Trader Vic’s favourites to choose from, the odds of having a repeat of tonight’s duds are lessened – as long as their focus stays honed on quality and culinary craftsmanship.

Let novelty remain in the names on the menu – not haphazardly on the plate.

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