N O V E M B E R 24 / I S S U E 2 5 8 0 1

BEAUTY: 50 Shades Of Grey

News: CUSTOMERS HIT AS NEW AIRPORT TAX TAKES OFF10

Alley CatsTEAM Y IS BOWLED OVERWeighting TimeY’S SLIM TO WIN

Free!EVERY THURSDAY

NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR

PL

US

!

SKINDEEP

TEENTECH

KEEPINGTIME 3235 44

FOOD: Kids In The Kitchen

YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK MAR 05 - 11 / ISSUE 360 • WEEKLY

YOU ARELIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

Managed by In Association with

Engineering ConsultantContractorArchitect &InteriorDesigner

Refined lifestyle in the heart of Muscat

Developer

Disclaimer: The quoted built up area is only an estimate, actual sizes may vary and are subject to change. The floor plan and concept designs are only an artist’s impression of the final executed plan and may be subject to change. The above prices are subject to change without prior notice. Computer generated images are for illustartion purpose only. The actual sizes and details may vary.

www.mumtazresidence.coma r c h i t e c t u r e . i n t e r i o r s

Readyto

Occupy

O M A N

CONSERO LIVING

2BHKLEASING

1BHK

LAUNCH PRICE(OMR)

Front View Back View 495 475 350 325

TOTAL FLOOR AREA : 125m2 TOTAL FLOOR AREA : 78m2

RUWI ST

RUWI ST

AL JAMI ST

BAIT AL FALAJ ST

AL BURJ ST

CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MUSCAT STOCK

CHURCH

MOSQUE

MOSQUE

TEMPLE

MINISTRY OF SPORTS

SHERATON MUSCAT

HOSPITAL

GARDEN

ARMED FORCES MUSEUM

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

SHOPPING CENTER

PAKISTAN SCHOOL

MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

SUPERMARKETINDIAN SCHOOL

MUSCAT SPORTS CLUB

For Viewing & Leasing - 910 22222 | 955 55973 | 944 40777 | 960 09996 | 930 33333 Email: mumtaz@alraidgroup.com

State-of-the-art Facilities • 24-Hour Security & Controlled Access • 24-Hour On-Site Maintenance Team • 400 nos. Car Parking Facility • Volley Ball Court • Basket Ball Court • Children Playground • Outdoor BBQ Club • Gym • Pharmacy • Business Centre with Concierge • Entertainment Hall • Nursery • Bakery • Fine Dining • Department Store • Café • Dry Clean and Laundry Service

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 3

Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing &

Advertising LLC / Y is a SABCO Media product.

CEO Eihab Abutaha

We’d love to hear your news and views. For editorial enquiries, please

email info@y-oman.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to Y Magazine – your

indispensable guide to everything modern Oman

has to offer.

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

/ytabloid ymagazine

FO L L O W U S O N :

,

Fast forwardIt’s a very rare person these days whose life has not been touched by a mental

health illness. Whether it is you personally, a family member or friend, there are millions of people around the world who suffer from a variety of mental health illnesses, spanning from depression to anxiety, eating disorders and bipolar, just

to name a few.Sadly, mental illness is often a taboo subject and sufferers feel alone and unable to

talk about their situation.In our cover story this week, Y tackles the difficult topic of mental illness and finds

that Oman is no different to many other countries. Yes, even here, many sufferers of mental illnesses find that it is taboo to talk about.

There’s an element of ignorance when it comes to understanding mental illness, which means the sufferers Y spoke to feel alone and often stigmatised. They say it is time to stand up and talk about mental health, as there’s nothing to be ashamed of – it is an illness like any other.

Pushing for a change of mindset in Oman is Whispers of Serenity, a mental health clinic in Muscat, which has launched a new initiative called Not Alone. This is the first time a programme like this has been kicked off in the Sultanate – and we truly hope that it makes a difference and creates a better understanding of mental health issues.

After all, good health comes from both mind and body.

editor@y-oman.com

Want to read Y on the go? Scan our digital issue here:Download any QR reader from iTunes or Google Play to read Y on the go

Team Y spent a great weekend in Dubai, tried our

hand at emceeing a concert at Al Falaj Hotel and enjoyed a glitzy night out to see

The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House Muscat.

THIS WEEK…

There’s still time to enter our fantastic competition

to win tickets to see Canadian crooner Michael Bublé or hip-hop sensation Drake in concert in Dubai. Turn to P11 for details, but be quick – the

competition closes on March 8.

GOING UPAIR TRAVEL

Passengers flying from Muscat and Salalah will be slugged an extra RO3

in flight taxes to leave the country. The rise in flight tax from RO5 to RO8

was introduced by Oman Airports Management Company and came into

effect this week. See the full story on P10.

GOING DOWNINFLATION

Here’s some good news: Oman has been ranked as having the lowest

inflation rate in the world, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global

Competitiveness Report.

COMPETITION

Online: Visit y-oman.com for even more inspiration.

Smart device: Catch up with Y on the go by scanning the QR code below

Ways to get your Y fix EDITOR IN CHIEFSayyida Iman bint Hamad

bin Hamood Al Busaidi

MANAGING EDITORFelicity Glover

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kate Ginn

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

CONTRIBUTOR Matt Blackwell

INTERN

Deeba Hasan

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Feroz Khan

Managed by In Association with

Engineering ConsultantContractorArchitect &InteriorDesigner

Refined lifestyle in the heart of Muscat

Developer

Disclaimer: The quoted built up area is only an estimate, actual sizes may vary and are subject to change. The floor plan and concept designs are only an artist’s impression of the final executed plan and may be subject to change. The above prices are subject to change without prior notice. Computer generated images are for illustartion purpose only. The actual sizes and details may vary.

www.mumtazresidence.coma r c h i t e c t u r e . i n t e r i o r s

Readyto

Occupy

O M A N

CONSERO LIVING

2BHKLEASING

1BHK

LAUNCH PRICE(OMR)

Front View Back View 495 475 350 325

TOTAL FLOOR AREA : 125m2 TOTAL FLOOR AREA : 78m2

RUWI ST

RUWI ST

AL JAMI ST

BAIT AL FALAJ ST

AL BURJ ST

CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MUSCAT STOCK

CHURCH

MOSQUE

MOSQUE

TEMPLE

MINISTRY OF SPORTS

SHERATON MUSCAT

HOSPITAL

GARDEN

ARMED FORCES MUSEUM

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

SHOPPING CENTER

PAKISTAN SCHOOL

MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

SUPERMARKETINDIAN SCHOOL

MUSCAT SPORTS CLUB

For Viewing & Leasing - 910 22222 | 955 55973 | 944 40777 | 960 09996 | 930 33333 Email: mumtaz@alraidgroup.com

State-of-the-art Facilities • 24-Hour Security & Controlled Access • 24-Hour On-Site Maintenance Team • 400 nos. Car Parking Facility • Volley Ball Court • Basket Ball Court • Children Playground • Outdoor BBQ Club • Gym • Pharmacy • Business Centre with Concierge • Entertainment Hall • Nursery • Bakery • Fine Dining • Department Store • Café • Dry Clean and Laundry Service

@ytabloid /ytabloid www.y-oman.com

/ymagazine

THE BAROMETER

contentsM A R C H 0 5 - 1 1 2 0 1 5

Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Jane Jaffer

08 Voice Of Oman Ali Al Balushi

10 News RO3 Airport Tax Raise

13 Gallery St David’s Day

14 Gallery Muscat International Book Fair & Red Bull Football

T h i s w e e k16 Movie Listings Focus

18 This Week Beach Party

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Time Is Of The Essence

34 Beauty 50 Shades Of Grey

35 Health Skin Deep

YUMMY MUMMIES / INFINITI QX80 / PROTEIN POWER / MOVIES / TASTE TEST / EVENTS / POSTCARD / GADGETS

NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE...

14

33

Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Snack Time

30 Taste Test Volare Pizzeria

28

18

Fe at u r e20 Changing Minds Mental Illness Taboo

24 24 Hour Go-Kart Endurance Race

26 The Weight Is Over Slim To Win RO500

20

C a r s a n d A d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Finding Fanja

40 Indoors Alley Cats

42 Postcard From Vancouver

44 Y-Fi Teen Tech

46 Car Of The Week Volvo XC60

44

SHAHRY YTabloid 24x34 E.indd 3 1/14/15 5:12 PM

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 70 60 6

It’s always a delight having a story

narrated to you by the book’s author

and that’s exactly what happened

when I met Jane Jaffer. I could see

the happiness in her eyes as she moved

from one topic to another.

Jane is nearly halfway through her

fourth decade of living in the Sultanate

and has three children with her Omani

husband. Jane’s own tale of love and moving

to an unfamiliar environment is one

reflected in her latest book, Love in the

Time of Zanzibar, which tells the story of

two real life women – the Omani princess

Sayyida Salme, daughter of Sayyid

Said bin Sultan Al Busaid, the Sultan of

Oman and Zanzibar from 1807 to 1856,

and her mother, Djilfidan, who lived as

a concubine. Sayyida Salme moved to

Germany out of love, while her mother

was abducted as a child.

“The two women are linked by their

ability to overcome adversity because they

both had to adapt to living in a completely

different environment from the one that

they grew up in,” says Jane. “They were

both suddenly thrown into a society with

different values, a different language,

different climate and religion. They had to

be resilient in order to survive.”

Much of Jane’s research was based

around reading Sayyida Salme’s memoirs,

which she wrote in Germany in 1888.

“She probably was the first Arab and

certainly the first Omani woman to write

her memoirs and she gave us a fly on the

wall account of palace life in the 19th

century.”Jane, who also has a day job as a teacher

and is the founder of the Let’s Read

campaign for children, says that the book

took three years to write. “The book was

a weekend project,” she says, “but I made

myself write something every day.”

The idea for the book actually came

to her when she was assisting Saud bin

Ahmed al Busaidi, an Omani man from

Zanzibar, write his own memoirs. She sat

with Saud every week for a whole year to

help him write the book and he told Jane

of all his experiences from Zanzibar. “It

was Saud who mentioned Zohra, an old

woman who lived with them while he

was growing up. Zohra was a

confidante of Sayyida Salme

in her younger days, so that’s

the kind of link between the one

book and the other and it really

whet my appetite.”

There was also a book on

Sayyida Salme that Jane read,

which was written in German and

translated to English. “Sayyida

Salme was not submissive, which is

why she got into problems,” Jane tells

me.“The other person, Djilfidan, was

Sayyida Salme’s mother, but in her

memoirs there is only one paragraph

about her. Djilfidan was actually stolen

from her village at the age of eight and

brought to Zanzibar and she became a

concubine.” With so little written about

her mother in the memoirs, it took all

of Jane’s artistic licence and creative

imagination to fill in the gaps. “When

a character was ill, I tried to look up

how they would have treated that kind

of patient in 19th century Zanzibar, for

example.”Writing the book took Jane to Zanzibar,

where two people from Oman played

host to her and showed her around. “The

time when all this was happening was

very interesting because ivory was very

much in demand for piano keys and other

things. I only stayed in Zanzibar for a

week and I am dying to go back there.”

Interestingly, Jane was lucky enough

to meet three descendants of Sayyida

Salme who recently came from

Washington in the US to visit Oman.

“I met Sayyida Salme’s granddaughter,

great granddaughter and great-great

granddaughter. I was at the end of

writing the book and remember thinking,

‘if only if I had met them earlier’,” she

laughs.Love in the Time of Zanzibar is out now

and available from the Let’s Read book

shop in Qurum, while a percentage of

the proceeds will go to the charity. You

can also find it at WHSmith.

Deeba Hasan sits down with Jane Jaffer, an author

who has lived in Oman for the past 34 years and

has just launched her second novel

Have you got a unique story to tell or do you know

someone who has? Contact us to have coffee with

Deeba and be featured in Y Magazine. Email:

editor@y-oman.com

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0

Jane Jaffer

Use your HSBC Credit Card to benefit from exclusive offers Apply now and spend OMR 700 until 31 March 2015 and get a chance to win OMR 300

• No annual fee for HSBC Premier and Advance Credit Cards• Exclusive HSBC Entertainer booklet with ‘Buy 1 get 1 free’ vouchers worth OMR 2,000• Free travel insurance1

• Free lounge access at Muscat International Airport and select lounges worldwide for Premier and Advance Credit Card holders

Credit Cards and offer terms and conditions, fees and charges apply.

1 Travel insurance is provided by AIG MEA Limited (Oman Branch) and subject to policy terms and conditions.Issued by HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G, P.O. Box 1727 PC 111 CPO-Seeb, Sultanate of Oman. OMM/CMP/140079© Copyright. HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G. 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G.

#NoBetterTimeThanNow

Call 800 7 4722Click www.hsbc.co.om/cardscampaign

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 8

THE VOICE OF OMAN Ali al Balushi on the importance of the Muscat International Book Fair

NEXT WEEK: KARIMA FARID

There is something special happening in Muscat right now. It’s considered by many

to be a glorious event and one that they have waited a whole year for. I am, of course, talking about the Muscat International Book Fair 2015. Now in its 20th year, the book fair is an essential pilgrimage for all lovers of reading. It’s thrilling to watch both Omanis and other nationalities excitedly visit the fair and then leave with a pile of books to take home.

I witnessed on the night of the opening ceremony and celebration how important an event it is to Omani culture. New countries have participated this year, bringing new books with them, and a number of Omani books have been published at this year’s fair, which is a valuable addition to our beloved country.

The book fair is rich with a lot of books to feed our minds and widen our pool of knowledge. However, I have noticed that there were two huge sections missing this time – English books and children’s books, which both used to be present at the fair. I do hope that both sections are part of the next book fair, along with some related activities that will interest kids and encourage them to visit and explore the book fair. I would also love to see more consortiums and conferences held as part of the book fair, using it as a hub to share knowledge.

The more that you read, the more things you will know and the more things you learn, the more places you will go. Take advantage of this great event, visit the book fair and grab some books to expand your knowledge and expose yourself to different angles of life.

correspondence

WE ASKED: “A minimum wage for maids is back in the news. What do you think is the minimum amount an employer should pay per month?”

DEBATE OF THE WEEK

DRIFTING DANGER

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

WRITE TO US AND WIN A VOUCHER

As salamu aleikum,

I was really touched by the article about the accident caused by reckless driving on the beach [Issue #359]. I feel sorry for the loss of lives and know that nothing can undo this.

Yet I have to speak on behalf of those youngsters. Prohibiting driving on the beach is like prohibiting football. What other opportunities do they have? What can they do that is exciting and entertaining and does not cause harm? Play on the PlayStation perhaps?

In Europe, people go out with girls instead, cause havoc, get drunk and take drugs. Is that what people would prefer?

Would a show arena be an option for these car freaks? It’s dangerous, but then so is every sport. So why not see it as a sport – create a proper space with an arena for those who love to watch. There are huge areas for playing golf, tennis and bowling, so why not an arena for those drivers?

Kids watch TV, cities grow smaller, people become isolated, eat junk food and generations are torn apart. I don’t think it was like this before and why? It is the result of growth and development, which is good, but maybe Oman can find a unique way to engage the youth, to give them space and to take responsibility.

Regards,Ute, Muscat

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

/GoldenTulipSeebHotel

@GoldenTulipSeeb

MANUEL MASCARDO   The minimum wage or entry-level salary is always debatable. An employee wants higher, while an employer would prefer lower to start with. Having this in mind, most countries legislate minimum wages to guide both parties. It would be a “win-win” situation if employers would comply with the minimum wage law, unless employers would give higher depending on the maid’s experience and the nature of the tasks. On top of the minimum wage, benefits like medical insurance, paid leave, rest days and free plane tickets are good motivators.

DAHLIA C CASTANEDA   It was already RO160, but employers do not follow this and we don’t get compensation.

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 9

FOLLOW USSCAN THESE QR CODES &

WWW.Y-OMAN.COM /YTABLOID @YTABLOID /YMAGAZINE

New Debate:“Do you think mental illness is a

taboo subject and if so, why?” Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance to win a dinner for two.

It’s more of a formality in order to process documents like contracts. English people give a high salary and I’m sad because I work for a high-level employer, who doesn’t follow the salary rules. I called the Philippine Embassy and apparently the wage will be implemented and mandatory as of this month. If sponsors do not pay the said salary of RO160, maids are obliged to file complaints against them. Thanks Y for posting.

DEPU SEN Yes, it’s a high time to have a rethink about those maids who, through their services, have made our lives easier and more comfortable. The maids must be given a minimum wage of RO160 each month along with general allowances such as free medical treatments, basic necessities like clothes, proper food and free air tickets for a vacation once in two years in recognition of their 24/7 service. They must be informed of all the conditions and clauses while making an agreement and a copy must be presented to them. In case of any fraud they can always keep it as a proof and approach the local authority to protect their rights. The women work really hard and in return they deserve to be well paid by their employers in order to support their families back home. Why do these so-called “well-off ” employers become so selfish when they are requested by their maids to make an increment in their salaries after years of faithful service? The maids come from average families and thus slavery has become their unfortunate fate. The government must take the necessary actions to protect the rights of maids and we all must cooperate with the law. This would not only make their lives better, but will also inspire them to work harder and offer their best services.

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE Working as a maid is a noble profession and it is a must that they have a minimum wage. In my opinion, the minimum starting salary of RO160 is enough, providing they are given health insurance, at least one day off during the week and a vacation after every two years, with free flight tickets provided by their employer. However, some maids should be paid higher than the minimum wage depending on their working experience and loyalty in terms of the years of service to their employer. The maid should be given a duplicate copy, written

in English, of the job contract. Each government of the two countries involved should keenly monitor the situation to ensure that the minimum wage is properly implemented.

SHERWIN ALEJANDRO A minimum wage has always been part of the law; it is up to the government to monitor the employers and make sure that they are giving the required salary to their employees.

NALIN MISTRY Many ladies who work as maids are supporting their family back home, so the money you pay them will be going to put food in mouths, clothes on backs, pay school fees and essential rent. It can be very tough for the ladies who come here, as the family members will be asking for money from them, seeing them almost as the “better off ” ones and the main provider. If every employer remembers this there will not be a question of fixing a minimum pay for maids. Paying according to minimum wage fixed by the respective countries is the proper solution for such an issue.

RUSHIN KANABAR Maids are often paid peanuts for round the clock work. They certainly ought to be paid more. They are also human beings and are trying to provide for their families just like rest of us. They should get all the benefits of a white-collar job.

SYED BOKHARI The maids have to work round the clock for this minimum amount of RO160 and should be compensated for their hard work as they come from poor countries. The government should monitor and keep an eye on employers to check whether they are paying them the specified amount.

KHAITRUL AMEEN was spotted with his favourite Y Magazine at work in Muscat

THIS IS YOUR PAGE! Just send us your picture

with the free Y magazine or pose with our photographer

and we will publish it on this page

Send it to:info@y-oman.com

WE ARE HIRINGHorizon Kids Nursery, located in the prestigious Wave development in Muscat, is an EYFS curriculum nursery introducing the ethos and culture of the ‘Horizon’ brand in Oman. Member of NDNA and under the supervi-sion of the Ministry of Social Development Sultanate of Oman, the nurs-ery offers some of the best facilities in Oman. We invite dynamic and en-thusiastic people exploring new opportunities and keen to work in a con-genial environment with attractive remuneration packages.

NURSERY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Exciting opportunity for a candidate that can manage every aspect of the nursery including leading and monitoring EYFS and local childcare stand-ards, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Budget management and occupancy. Local experience is essential and CACHE level NVQ4 or above or similar qualiiication is preferred.

HEAD TEACHERS & TEACHERS

New opportunities for candidates with a passion for child care and teach-ing experience with children either via a college / university placement or employment, plus one of the following:• Teaching degree or PGCE.• BA in Early Childhood Studies.• CACHE - NVQ 3 or above for the Head Teacher; NVQ 3 for Teachers.

English native speakers preferred. Please forward current Curriculum Vitae with experience details to: info.oman@alnajaheducation.comwww.horizonkidsmuscat.com | www.alnajaheducation.com

Expat workers caught working in roles other than those specified on their resident cards will be fined, jailed and deported in a fresh

crackdown to find violators and streamline the labour market.

An expatriate found flouting Omani labour laws will be now jailed for one month and fined between RO400 and RO800, a source at the Ministry of Manpower has revealed.

“In most cases, the worker is duped and forced to work in a job other than the one mentioned on the resident card. The worker also lives in fear of losing his or her earnings,” Shaji Sebastin, a Muscat-based social worker, told a local newspaper recently.

Any employers who hire non-Omani workers in violation of the licence issued could be fined up to RO2,000 for each worker and those who intentionally let an expatriate work for someone else will spend up to a month in jail and will be fined RO1,000 per worker, or will be subject to one

of the two punishments. Between February 15 and 21, a joint team from

the Ministry of Manpower, the Royal Oman Police and Muscat Municipality conducted raids that resulted in 467 expatriate workers being detained and 260 deported. Many private establishments, including expatriate-run schools, were penalised for violating the labour law.

In 2014, around 22,000 expatriate workers were arrested, while in 2013 the number of arrests was 17,000.

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 1 0

N E W S

AIRPORT TAX RAISED

CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL WORKERS

If you’re flying abroad

from Muscat or Salalah, make sure you have some extra rials, as the Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) has recently increased the passenger flight tax.

A circular was sent to all airlines operating out of both airports by the OAMC stating that all international departing passengers will now have to pay RO8, a rise of RO3. The circular added that transfer passengers would have to pay RO1 as part of the new passenger charges, with the exception of infants under two years of age and aircraft crew on duty travelling in uniform with a valid airline ID.

However, it’s not only the passenger charges that have increased. The OAMC has also introduced new landing charges at all airports, which took effect from March 2.

Those who booked their flight tickets before the new tax came into force on March 1 have been forced to pay the extra RO3 at either the check-in counter at the airport, or at the office of the airline they booked their tickets with.

Some may view the increase as relatively small, but multiply this by the amount of traffic that comes through the two airports and suddenly the figure is not so minute. The OAMC has revealed

that the tax could earn Muscat and Salalah airports more than RO3.1 million each month, representing a monthly increase of more than RO1.2 million.

Statistics reveal that Muscat International Airport received more than 8.7 million passengers (including arrivals and departures) last year against 8.3 million in 2013, while 841,970 passenger arrivals and departures were logged at Salalah airport in 2014, up from 745,372 the year before.

Muscat’s new RO1.85 billion airport was set to have opened in 2014, but has now been delayed to sometime in 2016. When it does finally open for business, it will have the capacity to handle 12 million passengers per annum.

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 1 1

If you think it’s been a little chilly where you live in Oman of late, spare a thought for the folks in the mountains, who have been enduring temperatures as low as -5.5º Celsius.

Residents and visitors to Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar have witnessed freezing conditions and unwelcome weather extremes. Early morning

hailstones were reported on Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman, with photographs showing cars covered in a white dusting and large pellets of ice on the ground. There was also talk of snowfall near the 3,028-metre summit.

Sub-zero temperatures were also recorded on Jebel Akhdar, along with thick fog that reduced visibility to less than a few metres in places.

The dust-generating wind, which swept across Oman earlier in the week, was blamed for the bitter cold over the Hajar Mountains, although those up high did avoid the rain that lashed many parts of the country.

The forecast has been looking brighter of late, however. Temperatures in the early evening on Jebel Shams this week were a less bone-chilling 8º Celsius.

N E W S

IT’S

UP THERE!

BUBLÉ & DRAKE TICKETS!

Michael Bublé will

be bringing his smooth vocals and

Grammy Award-

winning To Be Loved World

Tour to the UAE.Taking place at the state-of-

the-art Dubai International

Stadium, Sports City, he will

perform on March 12 and 13,

2015.To be in with a chance of

winning the tickets for you and

a friend to see Michael Bublé

perform live on Thursday,

March 12, simply answer the

following question:

Q: What’s the name of

Michael Bublé’s Grammy-

winning tour?

a) To Be Loved Tour

b) She Loves Me Not Tour

c) I Love You Tour

Send your answer with your

contact details to

editor@y-oman.com by

March 8.

Michael Buble-

Drake

Grammy award-winning, Drake, will be

bringing his Would You like a Tour? show to

the UAE for the first time.

Taking place on March 14, 2015 at

Dubai International Stadium, Drake will be wowing the

crowds with hit records including Take Care and The Motto,

along with brand new material from his Views from the 6

album.To be in with a chance of winning the tickets for you

and a friend to see Drake perform live on Saturday, March

14, just answer the following question:

Q. Where will the Drake concert be taking place?

a) Dubai Metro Station

b) Dubai International Stadium

c) Dubai Media City Amphitheatre

Send your answer with your contact details to

editor@y-oman.com by March 8.

Concertgoers and competition entrants must be

over 16. It is not possible to exchange your tickets,

nor are they transferable or refundable.

Competition winners will be announced on Y’s Facebook

and Twitter pages and published in the March 12 edition.

All competition prizes should be collected from

the Time Out Tickets Box Office the day of the

concert. This will be next to the main entrance of

the Dubai International Stadium.

louderentertainment.com

/louderdubai

@louderdubai@louderdubai

Booked your tickets to see legendary Canadian crooner, Michael Bublé, or hip-hop sensation Drake in concert in Dubai yet? Don’t worry if you haven’t, as we have a pair of tickets to give away for the coolest concerts this month across the border.

Y has partnered up with LOUDER Entertainment to offer two upper grandstand tickets to two of the hottest acts coming to the Middle East.There are just a few days left to enter before the deadline on March 8, so you’ll have to hurry.

● Do you fancy your own trek to a mountain summit? In June 2015, Outward Bound Oman will lead a team to the top of Africa’s Kilimanjaro, which, at 5,894 metres, is the highest freestanding mountain in the world, to kick off the 45th National Day celebrations. Open to individuals or companies to develop their talent. For further details contact Salwa al Balushi at Outward Bound Oman on 2453 9788 or email admin@outwardboundoman.com

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 1 2

Does this have anything to do with Bill Clinton?Er, no! This is about an innocent post on Tumblr that ended up taking social media by storm. That said, it is about a dress.What was the post?It was about a two-tone dress bought for 50 quid (RO29.7) at Roman Originals in the UK. After seeing a picture of it, some people couldn’t decide which colour it was. So musician Caitlin McNeill asked: “Guys please help me – is this dress white and gold, or blue and black?” Of course, it went viral, with what seemed to be millions weighing in on the debate, including Y’s managing editor, Felicity. Did you see a picture of the dress?Yes, and Felicity reckons it was duck egg blue and taupe. Others thought the taupe was the same colour as Weetabix, the breakfast cereal, or even gold. Then there were tweets that said the dress was copper and ivory, and gold and white. So what colour is the dress?The overwhelming vote was that it was black and blue. But only after a massive global debate on the likes of Twitter and Facebook (even celebs and politicians joined in) about how differently people can perceive something. Light and shadow came into play, while science also had its time in the spotlight. Don’t say: Duck egg blue and taupe. Do say: Black and blue.

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

#DRESSGATE2015

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

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

Tens of thousands of Russians take to the streets in Moscow to protest against the assassination of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, 55, who was shot dead in the street while walking home from dinner with his girlfriend

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy is laid to rest in Los Angeles after dying at the age of 83. Nimoy was famous for playing Spock, the science expert and first officer on the Starship Enterprise

The accused in the case of the Al Reem Island murder has been referred to the UAE’s Federal Supreme Court. Alaa Bader Abdullah is charged with allegedly stabbing an Amercian schoolteacher to death. CCTV footage showed a figure dressed in an abaya fleeing the scene

HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who has served in the UAE Federal Government for more than 10 years, has topped the CEO Middle East’s list of the 100 Most Powerful Arab Women 2015 for the fifth year in a row

There could soon be even more motivation for motorists to abide by the traffic safety rules and refrain from committing violations – free licence renewal.

Muscat Municipality has revealed it is looking at introducing a scheme to exempt good drivers from paying a fee for renewing their licence, currently RO20 for a light vehicle. Those who adhere to safety regulations and never break the traffic law would benefit, with the aim of encouraging road users to behave better behind the wheel.

In October last year, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) launched a campaign called ‘Thanks For Abiding by the Speed Limit’, calling for motorists to slow down, and this week revealed that accidents decreased by 30 per cent between 2013 and 2014. This drop comes despite a 20 per cent increase in the number of new vehicles on the road and a 20 per cent increase in driving licence recipients.

According to ROP records, 1,001 people were fined for jumping traffic signals, while 3,889,301 fines were imposed for various traffic offences in 2013. Statistics also show that 70 people die every month on Oman’s roads from 530 accidents, with speeding, texting while driving and general

negligence forming the primary causes.Another possible surprise move mooted by the

municipality will see men given the option of completing their driving test in either a manual or an automatic car, a privilege reserved for females only at the moment. Proposals are also under consideration to introduce a written test for driving licence applicants.

DRIVE SAFELY, GET REWARDED

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 1 3

G A L L E R Y I n t e r v i e w N e w s

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La draws inspiration from the origins of the

Shangri-La legend, a place of personal peace, enchantment and

well-being.

Revive your body’s energy and balance your

soul with our 90-minute “Herbal Compress”

massage incorporating traditional Thai

techniques dating back over 250 years.

To book or learn more about this treatment,

please call us at 2477 6828 or e-mail us at

chi.muscat@shangri-la.com

www.shangri-la.com/muscat

Spa Special

ENTE

R TH

E DRA

GON

THE WELSH SOCIETY MUSCAT CELEBRATED ST DAVID’S DAY WITH A DINNER & DANCE BALL AT THE GRAND HYATT MUSCAT HOTEL

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 1 4

G A L L E R YYOUR OMAN

BOOK

WOR

MS

THE 20TH MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED LAST WEEK, CONTINUES TO DRAW CROWDS OF ALL AGES AS IT SHOWCASES A RANGE OF TITLES AND GENRES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

FREE

STYL

E SK

ILLS

INTERNATIONAL

FREESTYLE

FOOTBALLER AND

RED BULL ATHLETE

KOTARO TOKUDA

WAS THE STAR

ATTRACTION OF A

TWO-WEEK TOUR

OF SHOWS AROUND

THE SULTANATE

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 1 6

DEMONIC

From the mind of accomplished horror director and producer James Wan comes Demonic. John (Dustin Milligan) is found by the police in an abandoned house and turns out to be the sole survivor of a group who met there to perform a séance. Detective Mark Louis (Frank Grillo) and Dr Elizabeth Klein (Maria Bello) must piece together what happened by interviewing the shocked survivor and watching videotapes that are found strewn around the building.

Y’s Choice

The Boys of Abu Ghraib

Jack Farmer (Luke Moran) is a soldier posted to a US Army detainment centre in Iraq. His superior regards the captives with contempt, but Farmer has more compassion and talks to one of the detainees, despite strict instruction not to. Over the course of the film, Focus

MOVIES MOVIEShe becomes convinced of the inmate’s innocence and begins to protest more vocally. The Boys of Abu Ghraib highlights the degrading treatment detainees experienced at the hands of US soldiers in the years following 9/11, but ultimately lacks enough depth to make it as effective as it should be.

Captain Sabertooth and the Treasure of Lama Rama

This Norwegian swashbuckling adventure sees orphan Pinky (Vinjar Pettersen), follow a captain on a perilous journey to the exotic kingdom of Lama Rama in search of the truth about his missing father. Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper pirate movie without a treasure hunt thrown in for good measure. Captain Sabertooth and the Treasure of Lama Rama is not going to win any awards and you can’t help but think Pirates of the Caribbean, but as far as harmless fun goes, it’s okay.

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER The world’s favourite sea-dwelling invertebrate leaves his pineapple home and comes ashore to our world in the attempt to reclaim the secret Krabby Patty formula that has been stolen by a diabolical pirate (Antonio Banderas). SpongeBob’s second big-screen outing sees him team up with his nemesis Plankton in order to save Bikini Bottom from chaos.

It’s been a year since Will Smith was last on the big screen, but he’s back. And if it’s possible, the 46-year-old actor is smoother and sleeker than ever.

Focus is a film about a group of honourable conmen and women – if such a thing exists. They operate along a clearly defined set of rules: they never steal from the vulnerable, prefer dozens of pretty thefts over one big heist and never let sentiment cloud their judgment.

Smith plays Nicky Spurgeon, a seasoned conman who takes on a sassy protégée (Margot Robbie), but ultimately finds himself falling for her charms, which contravenes his own rules and threatens to destroy everything he has

worked to build over the years. Robbie came to the world’s attention

starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street and the Australian actress does a similarly impressive job creating some sizzling on-screen chemistry with veteran Smith.

The only problem with the film is that you never know whether to believe what you’re seeing – they are conmen after all – and you’re constantly expecting the old switcheroo. This being said, Focus reveals its cards slightly early on in the final act and the denouement can be predicted ahead of time. Review by Matt Blackwell

PREV

IEW

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN,just answer a question based on the week’s

cinema reviews and send your answer to

info@y-oman.com, along with your name

and contact information.

Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the

terms and conditions, see voucher.

GRAB YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

TWO CITY CINEMA TICKETS

Brought to you by

Contact: Movie enquiries 24607360

THIS WEEKS QUESTIONWhich kingdom does Pinky journey to?

LAST WEEK'S WINNERMarie Goetze

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO:

City Cinema: citycinemaoman.netAl Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net

VOX Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.comStar Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 1 8

JAZZ LOVERST H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

THIS WEEKM A R C H

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

Starring two internationally renowned Arab talents – Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and Tunisian violinist Yasmine Azaiez – this night of Arabic jazz is sure to offer a real treat. Combining classical music with jazz and Syrian influences, Kinan returns to Muscat with his famous ensemble, Kinan Azneh’s City Band. Yasmine started playing the violin when she was four and at 17 was named Young Musician of the Year at a UK violin playing competition. Ticket prices from RO3. Curtain goes up 7.30pm; rohmuscat.org.om

Mind Your LanguageSign up with the British Council, the world’s English experts, and improve your language skills. They’re offering a free IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Orientation session conducted by an experienced IELTS examiner, but hurry, seats are limited and given on a first come, first served basis. There are flexible test dates and options for test venues. Receive your test results within 13 days. The next IELTS exams are March 14, 21 and 28, and April 11, 18 and 25. Register online at britishcouncil.om/en or call toll free on 800 24680.10

Mar

FromMar 14

06

Mar

Vocal

Making his debut at the Royal Opera House Muscat, Marcel Khalife, a Lebanese composer, singer and oud player, will be showing his sublime skills over two nights. Known for his amazing voice and magical music, Khalife is one of the most celebrated Arab artists in the field of musical composition in the past 40 years. His long career has taken him all over the world, from North America to Australia. His performances in Muscat will premiere his new orchestral composition The Symphony of Return under the baton of Lebanese-Armenian conductor Harout Fazlian. Concerts start at 7.30pm with an intermission of 20 minutes. Ticket prices from RO5. Book and find out more at rohmuscat.org.om

The wildness is back and it’s time for another unforgettable day of sets on the beach. It’s back, bigger and better than ever. Kick up the bass, pump up the music and get ready for some serious dancing with DJ Ahmed Pharaoh, Dub Bass and DJ HD and JR Lee. The venue is Oman Dive Center and the party will be rocking from 12pm to 12am. Tickets are RO12 per person. Age 21+. Brought to you by Ghazal Events. For further information and ticket availability, contact Annie on +968 9516 9411 or HD on +968 9547 0613.

05 - 07Mar

SA

ND

PA

RT

Y

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 1 9

Deadline Mar 26

REVIE

W

While it’s true that you really can’t go wrong with a production of Tchaikovsky’s charming family favourite, The Nutcracker, it still requires something special to bring it alive.

The Hamburg Ballet did just that with two evening performances that enthralled the crowds and drew a standing ovation of more than five minutes at the end of the Friday show that I attended. It deserved nothing less. I have seen several ballets performed at the Royal Opera House Muscat and this was one of the best.

It’s notoriously difficult to keep young children entertained for long periods, but the youngsters a few seats along from me were so mesmerised by the spectacle playing out on the stage that I didn’t hear a peep from them during the 55-minute and 60-minute acts. They were as quiet as mice.

The adults were equally rapt.The Nutcracker originally premiered in

1892, but the story still has relevance

CRACKING SHOWKate Ginn reviews The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House Muscat

today with its themes of awakening and leaving childhood behind. The classical ballet tells the tale of Marie, a girl who is given a nutcracker and ballet slippers for her 12th birthday. After her party, she falls asleep wearing the slippers and dreams of being in a ballet production.

A ballet within a ballet, we are slowly drawn into the world of the mysterious ballet master Drosselmeier.

What followed were some wonderfully choreographed dances showcasing the talents of The Hamburg Ballet. All the magic and childlike wonder was captured.

The Nutcracker is often held at Christmas, but John Neumeier’s version avoids any direct reference to the seasonal holiday.

There were some extraordinary solo dances and duets. I particularly enjoyed the segment with a Russian Cossack dance routine, which made full use of the male ballet dancers’ athleticism.

Two of the principal dancers, Lloyd Riggins, and Alexandr Trusch, from Ukraine, made a real impression in some demanding set pieces. Equally impressive were the sets and costumes, transporting the audience into Marie’s dreams.

With a sparkling score featuring some of the most famous music ever written for the ballet stage – Waltz of the Snowflakes and Waltz of the Flowers – and the metaphorical story of a young girl’s fragile transition into adolescence, the production weaved its spell and had everyone transfixed by the middle of Act Two. An enchanting Marie struck the right balance of childlike curiosity and burgeoning independence.

The thunderous applause at the end and sustained standing ovation made it clear just how much the sell-out Muscat audience had been won over.

The next performance will be the operatic comedy Don Pasquale on March 19, 21 and 23. For tickets and details, go to rohmuscat.org.om

07March

MAMA MANIA

For a day full of shopping for mums and dads plus lots of activities for the kids, this should be on your to-do list this Saturday. Mama’s Bazaar & Family Fun Weekend promises to keep the big ones and little ones entertained from 9am-4pm. Browse up to 70 stalls and take a break at the food court. Venue is the Bahja Hall, The Jungle restaurant near the entrance to Qurum Natural Park. Free entry. Held in association with the Creative Centre for Rehabilitation. For information, email mamanmeoman@gmail.com

06Mar

Don an apron, brush up your culinary skills and learn a few things in the kitchen while you’re at it. The Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO) is holding an Omani cooking demonstration, showing some of the best dishes from the Sultanate including Um Ali (a sort of bread pudding). Join the fun at Kargeen Caffe from 9.30am-12 noon. Ticket price RO7 for members and RO9 for non-members, which includes brunch. Check out womensguildoman.com

WHAT’S COOKING?

Juni

or W

rite

rs

If you’ve got a junior J K Rowling in your household, this could be their chance to shine. The Let’s Read Committee, in conjunction with Sweets of Oman, is holding the 9th Children’s Writing Competition, supported by Chiko. Young writers are invited to submit a maximum of 500 words, in English or Arabic, on the subject of “My Home Town”. Entries should include some factual information about the town’s location, geographical features, its population and history, and reasons why it is so special (for example, someone famous was born there or an historic event took place there) with descriptions. A map showing the location of the town and a picture or photo of the town, person or special feature must also be included. Entries will be judged in four age groups: 5-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-18.

Prizes for the winners include an opportunity to see their work in print. All entries should be submitted to the Let’s Read Book Shop in Al Qurum Complex (shop 116, 1st floor) or Dar Al Atta’a, Building 119, Bashaer Street, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, tel: 2469 2996. Or send by post to PO Box 156, Jawarat Al Shatti, PC 134 Muscat. Deadline for submissions is March 26. For more details, contact letsreadoman@gmail.com

MENTAL ILLNESS IS STILL A TABOO SUBJECT IN OMAN, WITH MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING IN SILENCE. A NEW CAMPAIGN AIMS TO CHANGE THAT BY GETTING THOSE AFFECTED TO SPEAK OUT, REPORT KATE GINN AND DEEBA HASAN

In a restaurant in Muscat at the end of last month, three people took an incredibly brave step. Standing up in front of a small audience, they spoke openly for the first time about how their lives had been touched by mental illness. They were very personal stories told simply without the aid of prompts, notes or PowerPoint. These were words straight from the heart.

Two women and one man told of their individual journeys to recovery, acceptance and the battle to get well.

The unique night was the first of its kind in the Sultanate, with people speaking openly and publicly about how mental illness has affected their lives, either directly or through family members. It should be the first of many.

The evening was part of a campaign called “Not Alone”, launched by the Whispers of Serenity Clinic in Muscat to create awareness about mental diseases and support patients and their families.

Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are often still stigmatised in Oman, a country that is slowly showing cultural acceptance of something that was previously kept behind closed doors.

“I think that there is a taboo when it comes to speaking of mental illnesses and it’s not only in this part of the world, it’s a global thing. I

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 2 0

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 2 1

do agree that there is more awareness in the west, but the taboo remains everywhere. We are missing out the awareness bit here,” says Sayyida Basma Al Said, founder of Whispers of Serenity and a mental health counsellor and psychotherapist.

The figures available show it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Doctors at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Hospital revealed in 2009 that

they diagnosed 2,200 women with depression, an increase of more than 20 per cent on the previous year. In May last year, a study conducted on students by the Department of Behavioural Medicine at SQU showed that 27 per cent had depression of varying grades. Another study investigating the rate of depression among secondary school students in Oman found that 17 per cent of the respondents showed symptoms.

Whispers of Serenity is working on its own study and the results should be revealed later this year.

More events encouraging people affected by mental illness in Oman to speak out as part of the “Not Alone” initiative will be held next month and in May,

which is officially Mental Health Month. “We want to spread awareness from the ‘Not Alone’ stories.

We want to say that if you are hurt or are suffering, you are not the only one and that there are other people going through it,” says Sayyida Basma.

“We want to tell them that there is help available.”Here, we let the three participants in the first “Not Alone”

event tell their stories in their own words:

MANASIK SHARAF, 34, A MARKETING OFFICER WITH RENNA MOBILE, TALKS ABOUT HER STRUGGLE WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, AND HER BATTLE TO REGAIN HER LIFE

“Looking at me, people would not know that I suffered from mental illness. I am no different from anyone else.

In 2009 I had it all: a job I loved with Bank Muscat; my daughter, who I’d adopted the year before when she was one; and an active life. I was into sports and going trekking in the mountains at the weekends. I was a high achiever in my workplace and in my personal life.

I started at Bank Muscat as a processor and worked my way up to assistant manager. I was the ideas person; people would come to me for creativity. I had bought a house and had a maid for my daughter. The three of us were settled. I was independent.

Anxiety ran in the family – my brother had it and so did my mother. I had my first panic attack in 1997 when I was in high school. I was just watching TV and suddenly I was outside the house on the floor and it was dark and I was crying and screaming.

I used to get one panic attack in a week, but it wasn’t affecting my life, so I just lived with it. I used to get the blues, when I would feel sad for no reason, and I was okay with that. Being a bit sad helped me in my art (I’m a digital artist, too) and I expressed how I felt in my pieces.

My mum passed away in 2007. She was 67. She had been ill, but it still came as a shock. I was living with her at the time so it was a big change. She was the one I relied on and then she wasn’t there anymore. It was a challenge, but I wanted to prove to my brothers that I could cope.

In 2011, things started to slide. I begin getting symptoms such as heart palpitations and breathing problems. I thought it was my heart and I went to hospital several times, but it wasn’t physical. It was my anxiety and slowly, it was starting to build. By 2012, I was having five panic attacks a day. I would become disorientated for three or four hours and I couldn’t focus.

Then in that year [2011] my brother died. He was a diabetic and suffered from severe anxiety. I couldn’t really get over the fact that he was gone. Whenever I got a panic attack, he was the one I would call.

In 2012, I was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), which can cause depression and weight gain. In late 2012, my panic attacks and anxiety got even worse and I wasn’t getting any help. I put on so much weight and became an insomniac. I wouldn’t sleep for two days and then I’d collapse and sleep for the next two. I would hear this humming and a woman’s voice screaming inside my head, along with terrible nightmares, which felt so real.

I wanted it to all end. My daughter, Zainab, who is seven-and-a-half now, was the only thing that kept me going. Each

time I felt bad I would go to her and give her a hug. The most important thing for me was, and still is, my daughter. Every smile that I forced was for her. I lost touch with my friends and some of my family, but my daughter’s love was constant. I think she knew and she tried to help as much as possible. When I had a panic attack, I would go outside for fresh air. She would come out with a glass of water and ask, ‘Are you okay?’

I took two months off work and when I returned, they said I needed to move to another department. It felt like I was losing my career and that everything was closing in on me. My doctor was giving me long leaves and one day my manager said they simply couldn’t tolerate it anymore. I resigned in April 2014 and was devastated. I’d been with Bank Muscat for 12 years. I loved it and it was my second home. Everyone at the bank was my friend; we grew up together. I didn’t fight for it, I was a quitter. I had been defeated.

After that, my daughter became my only purpose in life. I developed social anxiety and couldn’t go out. I just sat at home and my sister would come and take my daughter out.

Sometimes you get attached to your pain and loneliness. You sink and you can’t get out, but you don’t want to because you feel comfortable.

In June last year, I began taking medication for my thyroid problem, depression, anxiety and panic attacks. Within a short space of time, I began to feel better and in October 2014, I got a new job. When I have a panic attack now I can really control it and I got over the social anxiety.

It’s very hard reaching out to people. You are tagged as this ‘crazy person’ and people deal with you differently. They are cautious and don’t want their family or children to be near you. They don’t understand that it is an illness like any other. With mental illness, people can’t see or feel what you do.

I was really nervous talking at the ‘Not Alone’ event, but it was a relief to finally share my story. I had kept it in so long. Some of my friends were in the audience and they heard my story for the first time.

We have to speak out. Our generation has to come forward and talk about it freely. We don’t have to be like our fathers and mothers who suffered in silence. I want to help others to come forward, I want to tell them that they don’t have to be ashamed of the way they feel and I want to help change people’s mindsets.

I am better than I was, but there is still a long way to go. I’m not sure what will happen with my illness in the future, but I am going to fight it by reaching out and seeking help. I still have my daily battles, but there is no way that I am ever going back to how I was before.”

MOHAMMED AL LAWATI, 28, A FULL-TIME PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PART-TIME AT THE WHISPERS OF SERENITY CLINIC, WENT THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME IN HIS TEENAGE YEARS, WHICH LED TO A DEPENDENCE ON DRUGS

“I was a regular kid when I was little, I grew up with three sisters and we lived with our parents. As I got older, I became more rebellious. My family was very protective

of me and showed concern. They didn’t want me to fall into bad ways. I was around 13 or 14 when things gathered momentum and I started hanging out with the wrong people. The reason I started rebelling was not only because of my parents, it was because I was getting bullied at school. I was very short and thin. People called me names like ‘dwarf ’ or ‘shorty’, very hurtful things. When you can’t fight back, people think you are weak.

As a child, you need someone to talk to and explain that it’s not your fault and that you are good. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anybody to talk to. My mother was under a lot of pressure, she was working and raising kids and also going through personal problems and my dad was very busy. They come from a generation who didn’t know how to talk to their kids. I see this a lot in my day-to-day work, my generation is full of people with similar experiences.

When I was growing up, it was like being a jungle; you had to fight to survive. I didn’t have brothers, only sisters and no cousins my age and so I started hanging out with people who others saw as ‘bad’.

One thing led to another and I got into drugs. When I was in high school I smoked hashish because someone told me to. I actually threw up the first time and shouldn’t have tried it again, but I liked the way it made me feel. I’d recently gone through a relationship break-up and I was upset with the way my life was going. I couldn’t maintain a relationship because I was insecure. I was worried she would leave me, so I became very obsessive.

There were a lot of issues even before I picked up hashish. It’s a scientifically proven fact that an addiction or substance dependency is a psychological disorder. It’s not about what society thinks; it’s what science says. It was a very difficult time in my life, I felt like I’d lost myself. I also started to take heroin.

I took up drugs because I felt low about myself and there was nobody I

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 2 2

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 2 3

could talk to. There was a time when I thought there was no point in living a life like that and thought of ending it all. I remember having a car accident as a result of those feelings, it was almost like a suicide attempt, as I was driving very dangerously on the roads.

My sister started to suspect my drug use because when I came home, my eyes would often be red and I’d look tired. She started to search my room and one day she found the substances that I took.

She told my parents and they were both very disappointed. I remember my mother crying and I was hit twice. I told my parents I was taking drugs because I was depressed, which made them feel helpless too.

The turning point was in 2008. I realised that this was not the life I wanted and asked my father for help after I saw an advert about rehab in Jordan. I went there, but unfortunately the centre didn’t have the facilities to treat people like me. They gave me a lot of medicine, but when I returned to Oman, I went back to using drugs.

I went to another rehab centre in India for one year and this was much better. They advised people and treated them psychologically because if you do not teach people how to deal with life without drugs, they’re not going to improve.

I have now been clean since February 3, 2010. I even stopped smoking three years back and haven’t touched anything since.

In every family, there is someone who has problems with addiction or some sort of compulsive behaviour and it’s not just in Oman; it’s worldwide. It’s the main cause of many other illnesses and a very serious thing, so it’s important to speak of it openly. I couldn’t do this earlier because I wasn’t confident enough, but after five years I feel like I am in a position where I understand why I was doing all this.

My advice is instead of lecturing someone who has a problem or judging him or her, why don’t you try embracing them and showing some care? If you are not qualified to give advice, then you shouldn’t lecture people because that only makes it worse. They are not happy doing what they are doing and if you have nothing to offer, pray for them or just embrace them.”

“Losing my closest brother 14 years ago was one of the toughest moments of my life. Stephen was different from

his five boisterous older brothers – he had severe learning difficulties, was bullied as a young boy and his gentle, vulnerable nature made it especially hard for him to face the challenges of adulthood. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20s. The years that followed were difficult ones not only for Stephen, but also for our whole family and especially my parents. I spent as much time as I could with him, visiting him during his many long spells in hospital psychiatric wards, but after a while my work took me away from the family home on the island of Jersey, part of the UK, and I left for London.

I clearly remember the day when a friend called me saying she thought that Stephen was about to commit suicide and asked me to spend some time with him. There were no flights available and I felt desperate. I shared my concern with a friend, who asked me if I had tried sending thoughts of love to my brother. That night I sat alone silently in my room and imagined that Stephen was there with me and that I was talking to him, telling him he would be fine. I was totally focused as I spoke, and had a powerful feeling, as if he was really there and was hearing me. After a few minutes I stopped, felt very peaceful and went to sleep. The next morning Stephen phoned me. ‘Hi, Helen, thanks for your prayers, I feel really great today,’ he said. I was amazed. Later that day, my mother called me to say that Stephen had told her that he had heard Helen praying for him. For me, this was a wonderful confirmation of the reality of soul-to-soul communication and the power of thought.

The years went by and Stephen steadily managed to cope with his illness, made many friends and loved to make others happy through his generous nature and great sense

of humour. I learned many things through our interactions and through conversations with other mentally challenged people whom I would meet when visiting Stephen. They told me about their feelings and many talked about spirituality. It was during this time that I started my own personal search for inner peace and I took up meditation.

Then one day, my father called me to say that Stephen had passed away. I was devastated. Our family came together and we tried to cope with our grief in different ways. By now, I was convinced in the existence of the soul – that it was the body that had died and the soul had passed on to the next chapter in life’s journey. This understanding helped me to reassure and console my family, to help them to come to terms with what had happened. The church where the funeral was held was packed. His family, friends, doctors, nurses – hundreds – had come to say goodbye to the ‘gentle giant’ who had brought happiness to so many people.

A week after the funeral, I decided that I no longer needed to grieve, that Stephen’s soul had moved on and was probably very happy. I opened up my computer and saw a notice saying that there was a printing job waiting. I hadn’t given the order for anything to print, but slowly a white sheet of paper curled out of the printer. I picked it up and saw a tiny heart at the top left corner of an otherwise blank

page. My heart leapt. I turned around and the bright morning light was streaming through the window.

Was this Stephen’s parting message to me? Was this Stephen praying for me? Was this the telepathy of our eternal relationship?

I thank Stephen for playing such an important role in my life – for being a special and wise soul who taught me things that I never learned at school.

When I look at children, I feel that I am communicating with the soul. Sometimes that soul seems much wiser than the young body it is contained in, and I often remember my brother.”

Mental illnesses can come in many different forms, including:

Fear of Flying, Panic Attacks, Hysteria, Mood Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Paranoia, Shyness, Claustrophobia, Stress, Social Phobia, Self-harm, Obsession, Anger, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, Separation Anxiety, Depression, Psychosis, Stuttering, Multiple Personality Disorder, Impulsive, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Amnesia, Insomnia, Pain Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Low Self-confidence, Hallucinations, Pessimism, Introversion, Anxiety, Delusion, Anorexia, Emotional Eating, Neurosis, Nightmare Disorder and Fear.

Where To Get Help● If you, a family member or friend need to talk to someone about mental illness there is help. ● Oman has a dedicated hospital to treat psychological disorders, Al Massarah in Al Amerat, which opened in April 2013. Sultan Qaboos University Hospital or clinics like Whispers of Serenity in Azaiba, Muscat, can also help with treatment and counselling. You can also speak to your general doctor.

The VideoTo get across the message that mental illness can affect any one of us, Whispers of Serenity released a video in November last year to launch the “Not Alone” or “Nahnu Maak” (We are with you) campaign. Featuring members of the Royal family, actors, media professionals, artists and students, it was screened at cinemas across Oman.To view the video, go to Serenity Clinic’s YouTube channel or Y’s Facebook page.

0 24 M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0

At 10am on March 13, the buzz of go-kart engines will fill the air at the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) go-karting track as they usually do.

The only difference is that on this occasion, they won’t stop for a full 24 hours. It’s the last event in the karting season and boy is it a big one. Endurance racing is back in Oman.

Last year saw the rebirth of the 24-hour endurance race at Muscat Speedway after an absence of nine years and the stage is now set for 2015’s event. Today (Thurs) is the final day for teams to register for the challenge and the response so far has been phenomenal according to Sulaiman al Rawahi, the OAA’s managing director. The numbers of drivers and teams registered had already surpassed that of last year’s event when Y spoke to al Rawahi earlier this week.

“The event went very well last year. It was special that it was returning after nine years,” says al Rawahi. “When you organise events such as this, you face many challenges. The most important thing is that you can overcome them and gain experience, which we have done.

“The preparation is going well so far and we have a lot of new teams coming in. We are expecting somewhere in the region of 20 teams on the grid.”

The event draws both professional and amateur teams of between five and 10 members from around the region and the world, who descend upon the track to clock up way over 1,000 laps during the 24-hour racing period. Last year, the trophy went to Batelco Racing Team of Bahrain, which managed an impressive 1,457 laps.

Among the teams racing this year will be one representing Y’s sister radio station Merge 104.8.

While claiming the title would be a huge honour for any of the teams and drivers involved, there is actually something more at stake. The endurance event is part of the Sodi World Series (SWS), an international karting series, and drivers earn points based on their performances. At the end of the season, the top-ranked drivers will come together to compete in a final held at the world-renowned Le Mans racetrack in France.

For some however, winning is not the main attraction at all. “It is also a great tool for team

The SWS Endurance Championship is back in Muscat for 2015. Y finds out what’s in store for both drivers and spectators

0 2 5M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0

has a very important role to play in society and hopes that the Muscat Speedway SWS Endurance Championship will help to achieve some of the OAA’s educational goals. “Karting goes beyond leisure, it is the foundation of motor sport,” he says. “There are so many things that motor sport teaches you; discipline, respect and stamina.

“Events like this allow the media, companies and the youth to come together; it’s a great combination to create better citizens for tomorrow. We teach them about everything from looking after the environment through to proper safety.”

So dust off your helmet and gloves and we’ll see you in the pit lane.

Anyone wishing to enter a team should contact loay@omanauto.org or call +968 9659 0300.

KARTING GOES BEYOND LEISURE, IT IS THE

FOUNDATION OF MOTOR SPORT. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT MOTOR SPORT

TEACHES YOU; DISCIPLINE, RESPECT AND STAMINA.

building,” says al Rawahi, adding that many companies enter teams of employees. “A lot of people will work for the same company, but may not see each other on a day-to-day basis. They come here to train and race and they get to know each other. They build a rapport in this way, which in turn is good for their professional relationships.”

Obviously, 24 hours is a long time to stay focused and the organisers at the OAA will ensure there is a great deal going on to keep both drivers and spectators entertained. While the details were still being finalised when Y spoke to al Rawahi, we did manage to glean some information from him. “We’re going to have a DJ and some more traditional things going on to ensure we occupy people while they’re waiting,” he says. “We will also have a driver camp with a restaurant and entertainment. Basically, there will be something for everyone – families, kids and the drivers themselves.”

Al Rawahi believes that go-karting

It’s the start of the final week for participants in “The Weight Is Over” and with the halfway point weighing sessions completed last weekend, the final weigh-in and the Grand Reveal looms large on the horizon.

When Y spoke to participants during the weighing sessions, most of them were in high spirits and said that they were very happy with the active life they were now leading thanks to the competition.

“As participants in our ‘The Weight Is Over’ competition continue their quest to lose weight and change their lifestyle, we are happy to say that they are on track after their weigh-in at the weekend. Everybody is doing very well and it’s great to see many of the participants so eager to make a healthy change to their lives,” says Felicity Glover, managing editor of Y Magazine.

Some participants told us that “The Weight Is Over” had added a new dimension to their lives and that they were keen to continue with their efforts, even after the closing date, illustrating the legacy that the slim to win competition looks set to leave.

“We understand that change can be difficult, but with determination and the support of family and friends, we know it can be done – especially by combining it with an exercise programme and healthy eating habits,” adds Felicity.

There are two categories in the competition, one for men and one for women, and all participants are in with a chance of winning cash and RO2,200 worth of prizes, including gym membership and health treatments. Whoever has lost the most weight at the end of the four-week period (based on the percentage of weight loss), in both categories, will be crowned the winners, each claiming RO500. There are also prizes for second and third place, plus a special consolation prize.

“When they first came in, most people didn’t know what their goals were, they had just participated,” says Shubhangi Chonkar, a trainer from Balance Health & Fitness.

“Technology has improved so much and with the equipment at Balance, we can show people the composition of their bodies – how much muscle, bone, fat and

water they have. We are then able to make an assessment and advise each individual accordingly.”

Shubhangi recommends exercise and a balanced diet above all things. “Do any activity for 30 minutes, whether it’s walking, swimming or the gym,” she says. “People think if we eat less we will lose weight, but that’s not how it works. When you starve yourself your body thinks that there is a problem, so it starts storing whatever you eat as fat.”

Prabhu Amierthalingam, a dietician at VLCC says: “I think that this competition has really encouraged a lot of people to lose weight. Some participants have been thinking of losing weight for a long time, but had no motivation. ‘The Weight Is Over’ provides the perfect opportunity for them to reduce their weight”

“The Weight Is Over” is presented by Geely GC7, the new compact sedan, along with our fitness pPartner, Balance Health & Fitness, and our slimming partner, VLCC Wellness.

After overcoming this midway milestone, participants are looking ahead to the final weigh-in, which will reveal the results. The Grand Reveal will be at City Centre Qurum, our venue partner, on March 21, when the winners will be announced. Until then, there’s still time to cram in a few more workouts as contestants seek to drop every last gram possible.

With the completion of the halfway point weigh-in, participants now have a very clear idea of what they have achieved so far and know exactly what still needs to be done

0 2 6 M A R 0 5 - 1 1 I S S U E 3 6 0

0 2 7M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 9

BENIZA NORHONA, 19, COLLEGE STUDENT“I was thrilled about the whole idea of having something to motivate me to lose weight.

“After finishing school I started to put on a lot of weight, so this competition is a good platform for me, because it’s not easy to wake up one day and say ‘I want to go to the gym and I want to lose weight’. It’s difficult to fit into the schedule, but this competition is a good thing and I have come along to the weigh-in with two friends of mine who are also competing.

“So far, my eating habits have changed, although it hasn’t affected my weight that much, I am now 57kg. I have cut down on junk food and increased the amount of healthy food I eat. I am a lot more conscious about what I eat now. I am also going to start playing football again and go swimming as well. If I win, I plan to go to Dubai and spend the money shopping as a reward.”

MEET THE HOPEFULS:

MOHAMMED FAISAL, 36, IT PROFESSIONAL “My wife found the competition on Facebook and basically forced me to join. At the time, my weight was over 80kg and my old clothes weren’t fitting me. I was sad about my situation and on the verge of falling into depression, but ‘The Weight Is Over’ offered a good opportunity to get back into shape.

“I have taken a three-month membership at Balance and I have become strict with my daily routine. My office hours are from 7.30am to 2pm and I used to wake up at 6am, take a shower, go to the office and come back to sleep. Now however, I’ve changed my routine completely – I wake up at 6am, go to office and take my breakfast at 9am sharp. Once I’ve finished at the office, I go to the gym and then take my lunch at 4pm. I avoid oily food, rice and anything high in carbohydrates. My target is to reduce by around 10kg, but if we had a little more time I would have probably been able to do better.

“My old clothes are now starting to fit me again and I like this new life – it has definitely changed me. I feel like I want to get back into the shape I was around 10 years back.”

JENU THOMAS, 38, DIRECTOR OF FREIGHT COMPANY

“I actually started my journey alone last December, when I decided I wanted to do something about my weight. I noticed the competition earlier this year and thought that it would be a great help, so I applied to participate at the end of January.

“I bought a membership at Balance and have been exercising regularly. I am on a totally protein-based diet and have not consumed any carbohydrates for three weeks.

“On January 1, I was around 130kg, but now I am 115.5kg.

My target is to get to 90kg by June and during the competition period, I am looking to get down to 110kg.

“I went shopping last weekend and bought two XL shirts for myself, whereas previously, my size was XXXL. Ultimately, I’d like to be 87kg because that is the right weight for my height.

It’s been a big change for me, but it’s all part of my daily routine

now.”

PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

FIRST PRIZE MEN AND WOMEN:RO500 cash each and a Balance Health & Fitness health club single membership for one year worth RO399 each

SECOND PRIZE MEN AND WOMEN:RO350 worth of VLCC treatments each

THIRD PRIZE MEN AND WOMEN:RO200 worth of VLCC treatments each

VLCC SPECIAL AWARD (FOR MEN AND WOMEN):RO150 worth of VLCC treatments each

* Geely Oman, which is part of the Towell Auto Centre (TAC), has put up the RO500 cash prize for the men’s category, while Y Magazine has matched this for the women’s competition.

Young Omani Author 2015Submit a short storyBecome a published writer*Other great prizes to be won! Open to young Omani boys and girls aged 15 - 18 years. *Conditions apply.

N e w sT R E N D N e w R e s t a u r a n t

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 2 8

FOOD

DRINKAND

Monkey MunchIngredients:§ ½ cup peanut butter§ 4 squares semi-sweet chocolate§ 8 cups Post Honeycomb cereal (or your favourite cereal)

Method§ Microwave peanut butter and chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on high for 90 seconds. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended.§ Pour over cereal in large bowl; toss to evenly coat. § Place two large sheets of aluminum foil on counter, with long sides of foil slightly overlapping. Spread cereal mixture onto foil. Let stand two hours or until chocolate coating is set.

For teens and tweens, after-school snacks can pose a bit of a problem. Many options are geared towards younger (and smaller) tummies, while others may pack too big a punch, affecting appetites for dinner. One deliciously satisfying solution? Snacks they can make themselves.

DIY after-school snacks let kids push their creative limits. One way to get inventive is to use their favourite breakfast cereals in familiar types of recipes for a whole new taste. For example, a lightly sweetened corn and oat cereal such as Honeycomb has a one-of-a-kind playful shape that makes it an instantly recognisable and flavourful addition to treats.

You can go simple with a snack mix such as monkey munch (below), or even give muffins a playful and unique twist, as with these cereal muffins (right).

For plenty more recipes ideal for cooks in training, visit postfoods.com

Fussy teens and tweens can be a nightmare when it comes to their eating habits. But if you let them take control of their own after-school snacks, you may find they discover a healthier appetite

Ingredients:§ 1 cup flour§ 2 tbsp sugar§ 1 tbsp baking powder§ 1/8 tsp salt§ 1/3 cup cold butter or margarine§ 3 1/3 cups Post Honeycomb cereal (or your favourite cereal), divided§ 1 cup milk§ 1 egg§ 1 tsp sugar§ 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Method§ Preheat oven to 200° Celsius and grease a 12-cup muffin tin.§ Mix flour, two tablespoons of sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives (ask an adult to help) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. § Mix three cups of cereal and milk in medium bowl; let stand three minutes. Stir in egg. Add to flour mixture; stir until moistened (batter will be lumpy).§ Spoon evenly into muffin tin, filling each cup 2/3 full. § Mix remaining 1/3 cup cereal, 1 teaspoon sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over muffins. § Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.

Cereal Muffins

S N A C K T I M E

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 3 0

Since its lively opening a few months back, Volare (an Italian word that translates to “fly”) had been on my mind to try. I purposefully waited a while to give the

restaurant time to settle down before I put it to the test, but felt the time was right after a game of bowling at Fun Zone in Qurum last weekend.

We entered the restaurant a little before 8pm and I immediately noticed that there was hardly any people there – only one other table apart from ours. As we walked through the door, nobody noticed or greeted us. It was not until we walked further in that a waiter came forward and helped us locate a table for two.

I quite liked the look of the menu at first, but on opening it, I found a bunch of papers tied together, which you had to pull out and flip through – not the easiest thing to do. Anyway, as I was doing this I noticed intriguingly named dishes like “Frank Sea-Natra” and “Mad Pepperoni”. I settled on a “Revenge” pizza, comprised of chicken and capsicum, while my brother opted for “Show Me The Pesto” – penne pasta with chicken and the aforementioned pesto.

Water was brought to us a couple of minutes after we had ordered and the food itself took around 20 minutes to arrive. My stomach was growling with hunger, but I appreciate that our

meals were being prepared from scratch. I used the time to take in the restaurant’s interesting décor. My brother pointed out that the waiters were wearing black trilbys à la Michael Jackson, along with black-and-white striped uniforms; very 1920s, I thought, and in keeping with the general theme of the place.

When the pasta arrived we both leapt in and it was heavenly. The meat, pasta and veggies were all cooked to perfection, but it was the creamy mushroom sauce and basil that really topped this dish off. It was definitely a foodie’s delight; my only problem was that the portion was slightly too small. The dish was served with bread, which came in handy to mop up the last few drops of that delightful sauce.

We were so busy enjoying the pasta that we almost didn’t notice when the waiter brought the pizza over. But our attentions soon switched to the second dish, which was equally delicious, although not quite as good as the pasta (it would be a difficult feat to surpass it). The chicken was cooked well and the crust was pleasingly thin, if a tad overdone. I normally enjoy eating the crust, but was forced to leave it in this case.

After we’d finished the pizza and pasta, there was dessert to look forward to, although the “Et

tu Brute” wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I was told that it was like ice cream, but with fresh fruits. However, when it arrived, I saw a stand with six small glasses, each with a different flavoured fruity sorbet. I enjoyed the mango, but tried to keep away from the rest. I did take a spoon from each one in the interest of fairness, but they weren’t all that great.

When we asked for the bill, the waiters took quite a while to get around to it, although when it did arrive, it came in a hat, which was another esoteric touch I’d never experienced before. I hadn’t realised the time while we were busy eating, but it was now around 9pm and the restaurant was almost full of Omanis – not a tourist or expat in sight.

As we were leaving, I made my brother pose for a photo against the restaurant’s clever display – the brand name on square boxes in black and white, almost like a chessboard on the wall – and we were gone. The food is somewhat pricey considering the portion size, but a trip to Volare every once in a while would be worth it. I would definitely return for another helping of that pasta – it was beyond delicious.

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

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

DRINKAND R E V I E W S

VERY VOLAREWITH ELEGANT INTERIORS AND A HINT OF 1920S MAFIA IN THE MENU, MUSIC AND UNIFORMS, THERE IS NOWHERE IN MUSCAT QUITE LIKE VOLARE, WRITES DEEBA HASAN

Info BoxVOLARE PIZZERIA

Al Muntazah Street, Shatti al Qurum, Muscat

Tel: 2232 6664 Opening hours: 12pm to 12am daily

Price: Dinner for two: RO13.09

Verdict :8 / 10 Service

8 / 10 Food 8.5 / 10 Ambience

Delicious food and ambience

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

THE FOOD IS SOMEWHAT PRICEY CONSIDERING THE

PORTION SIZE, BUT A TRIP TO VOLARE EVERY ONCE IN A

WHILE WOULD BE WORTH IT. I WOULD DEFINITELY RETURN

FOR ANOTHER HELPING OF THAT PASTA – IT WAS BEYOND

DELICIOUS

Mid

Market

J A N 2 2 - 2 8 / I S S U E 3 5 40 3 2

HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 3 2

TIMES ARE CHANGING Choosing the right watch

can be a slow process. Just think, you’ve potentially got

to wear this piece of jewellery every day for years to come. Take your time in buying a design and look that feels

comfortable.

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 3 3

1. Always try on a watch before you buy it. What looks great in the display case may look dreadful on the wrist. 2. Go for something classic and it will stay in vogue for much longer. 3. Try to own more than one and wear them alternatively to even out the wear and tear. Also think about what activities the watch will be worn for. Don’t wear the same watch to the desert that you’d wear to work, for example. WATCH IT Three essential

buying tips

Watches are some of the most personal things we own. They say a little bit about us and are often chosen with great care

and thought. In this digital age, it is somewhat ironic that we spend so much money on things that are effectively redundant, but spend we do. It also seems somewhat paradoxical that the digital watch is now so out of date. Today, it’s all about analogue and the more simple and elegant the design the better. But at the end of the day, you really don’t need to spend a fortune to have a timepiece that is well made and elegant.

Finding the right watch can elevate your appearance to new levels and timeless classics don’t need to break the bank, says Adam Hurrell

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

The watch brand Christopher Ward started up in 2005 and although small, it has made a huge impression on the market, delivering high-quality watches at exceptionally reasonable prices. The C5 Malvern Quartz MkII is no exception. It has a quintesstially classic face and yet retains a contemporary feel. With a price of RO199, this is probably the world’s most affordable luxury watch on the market today

Larsson & Jennings is a brand with roots in Stockholm and London that mixes a classic British aesthetic with Swedish minimalistic design. This design ethos is obvious across its entire range but a favourite is the Lãder with a black leather Italian strap. Suitable for formal and more casual wear, this is the type of watch that can be worn any time, anywhere. Price from RO122

This is possibly one of my all-time favourite

watches. The Daniel Wellington Classic

Oxford face is timelessly elegant, beautifully made and astonishingly well priced. Seriously,

watches really do not get much better

than this, whatever your budget. Available in a variety of fabric or leather strap designs, while the face comes in rose gold or silver. RO89

Void is another

brand that you previously may not have come across. Although with products like

the VO3C, I doubt it will be under the radar

for long. The attention to detail is obvious in

this watch. The way the chronograph, with its six hands,

is so incredibly clean, clear and crisp. This is a great bit of design at an even better price. RO172

Great for weekends or casual outings, this Timex Expedition Scout water resistant to 50m, has a clear, simple face and a rugged look thanks to the tan-coloured fabric strap. It looks good and is so cheap that if it does get damaged on a weekend away, it can easily be replaced. RO36

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 3 4

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

TIPS FOR GOING GREY• Go to salon for the look rather than a DIY at home• Match your make-up palette to your hair. Hot pinks and dark plums work well with grey. Smokey eyes are flattering to match the smokey grey tones• Going grey requires maintenance to avoid looking faded. The colour will need regular retouching at the salon• If possible, use sulphate-free shampoo to avoid the colour being stripped too quickly

It’s been dubbed “granny chic” and is all the rage among celebrities. Going grey has never been more in vogue, as silver locks are the new must-have style

Singer Rihanna has been seen sporting the colour and so has fellow star Pink. Models have also been sashaying down the catwalk with salt-and-pepper tresses,

while members of the Kardashian clan have been showing off newly dyed hair.

We’re talking about going grey. Where once women were desperate to hide their greying manes, they are now letting it all hang out and embracing their silver strands. And if they haven’t started greying already, they are reaching for the dye. Salons and stylists are reporting a surge in requests from their clients for the grey look to make their own fashion statement.

When Rihanna, known for her cutting-edge image, chose to colour her hair extensions a silvery shade, she posted a pic to her 41 million Twitter followers with the caption: “New color ice grey ish, call it #Brr.” She later tweeted: “Grey is the new black! Blondies, it’s quiet for y’all!”

The message was clear: grey is cool.Among others to try out a shade of grey

have been singer and American TV host Kelly Osbourne, who, after colouring her hair grey at the age of 27, proclaimed: “I’ve always wanted to be young and have grey hair.”

Hollywood actress Demi Moore, famed for her glossy dark hair, supermodel Kate Moss and actress Elizabeth Hurley, are among others who have allowed their natural grey to show through.

Jasmin Allen, senior colour master at the UK-based Errol Douglas salon, says: “Grey, when styled correctly, really is the coolest new hue. I’ve seen an increase in interest among my younger clientele.

“There’s been a gradual creep towards complete grey, with celebrities experimenting with red carpet looks hinting grey via lilacs, blues and greens. I’ve particularly liked the high silver interpretation of grey, it reflects the light in a way that no other colour can.”

HEALTH&BEAUTY

Amara Dermatology Clinic

Location : Villa 973-A, Opposite Chedi Hotel, Next to Camel Racing Federation, 18th Nov.Street,Ghobra , Muscat

For Appointments : 24496003,24496319

:–

| Laser Hair Reduction

| Mesotherapy

| Botox

| Fillers

| Anti - Acne Services

| Anti - Ageing Services

| Pigment Reduction Services

| Laser Beard Shaping

Aspirational Aesthetics

Skin cancer is a very real risk in hot countries, including Oman. Y gives you the lowdown on how to protect yourself

SKIN

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 3 5

S C A N O U R Q R C O D E S

W I T H A N Y Q R R E A D E R A P P

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

Are you at risk for skin cancer? Do you know the signs? According to research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. That means the

odds are quite high that at least one in your circle of friends will face this dangerous disease. As the summer season approaches, it’s important to be aware of the risks and preventative measures necessary to avoid sun exposure.

Approximately 58 million Americans are affected by actinic keratosis (AKs), the most common form of pre-cancerous skin damage known casually as “pre-cancers”, according to a report published by the Society for Investigative Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology. An estimated 10 per cent of AKs will become squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer, within two years.

AKs are rough-textured, dry, scaly patches on the skin that are caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light such as sunlight. They occur most often on areas such as the face, scalp and ears. They can range in colour from skin-toned to reddish-brown. They can be as small as a pinhead or larger than a coin.

AKs predominately affect people over 50, and slightly more men than women. Individuals who are most likely to be affected by AKs include those who have risk factors including fair skin; blonde or red hair; blue, green or grey eyes; a history of kidney disease or weakened immune system; daily, long-term exposure to the sun; multiple severe sunburns early in life; and older age.

Fortunately, skin cancer can be avoided with treatment, yet many patients fail to seek it. What they may not realise is that there are actually many treatment options available, such as cryotherapy (freezing); topical medication; and photodynamic therapy. Additional treatment options include curettage, chemical peel, dermabrasion, surgical incision and lasers.

To reduce your risk of skin cancer you can take some precautions:

❏ Regular skin evaluations by a dermatologist can catch the disease early so that it can be treated. Just as you schedule an annual physical or other routine check-ups as part of your regular health routine, a recurring appointment with a dermatologist can significantly alter your chances of developing skin cancer.❏ In between visits to the dermatologist, perform thorough self-checks by examining your skin all over on a regular basis.❏ Avoid damaging sun rays and protect your skin by seeking the shade during high sun hours (10am to 4pm); avoiding sunburns; and covering your skin with clothing and hats.❏ Do not use tanning booths.❏ Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply 28g (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.

Do yourself a favour and get checked before the summer season to ensure you are properly caring for and protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Make the call to your dermatologist today.

For more information, including additional details about AKs and how to identify the signs of skin damage, visit spotsignsofAK.com

TOO LATE? DON’T WORRY. GET Y INSTANTLY ONLINE USING YOUR MOBILE DEVICES & PCVisit www.y-oman.com/current-issue/

No downloading required

GRAB IT BEFORE IT’S GONE

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF Y AT THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION POINTS…Yiti• Sifawy Boutique

HotelQantab• Al Bustan Palace

Hotel• Marina Bander AL

Rowdha• Oman Dive Club• Shangri La - Barr

Al JissahWadi Kabir• Al Maya

Hypermarket• Khimji Mart• Lulu Hypermarket• National

Hospitality Institute

• ShellMBD• Bank Dhofar• Moore Stephens• NBO• Oman Oil Ahlain• Pizza Hut• Pizza Muscat• ShellCBD• Al Maya

Hypermarket• Alizz Islamic Bank • Bahwan Travel

Agencies• Bank Sohar• Centre point-

Splash• Copper Chimney• Costa Coffee• HSBC• Lama Polyclinic• NBO• Oman Arab Bank• Standard

Chartered Bank• Woodlands

RestaurantMuscat• Muscat• Bait al Baranda • Bait al Zubair • Diwan• ShellDarsait• Cave Restaurant• Indian Social Club• Khimji Mart• KIMS Hospital• Lulu Hypermarket• Muscat Bakery• ShellAL Falaj/Rex Road• Al Falaj Hotel• Badar Al Sama• Golden Oryx

Restaurant• Kamat Restaurant

• Toshiba Showroom

RUWI• Kamat Restaurant • KFC• Khimji’s Watches -

Showroom• KM Trading• Oman Air• Oman UAE

Exchange• OTE• Sarwana Bhawan• SwaroskiHamriya• Apollo Medical

CentreWattayah• Ahli Bank • Best cars• BLS • Ford• GM (Chevrolet)• Hatat House• Honda• Hyundai• Kia• Lexus• National Travel &

Tourism • Passage to India• SABCO Group• Shell• Subaru• Suzuki• ToyotaQurum• Al Araimi Complex• Balance Gym• Bank Nizwa• BMW showroom • Burger King• Capital Store• Chili’s• Crowne Plaza • Finland Eye

Center• Fun Zone• Gloria Jean’s

Coffee• Jungle Restaurant• Left Bank• McDonald’s• Mercedes Benz• Mumtaz Mahal• Nandoos• Nissan• Oman Oil Ahlain• Pizza Hut• Qurum

Commercial Complex (Old CCC)

• SABCO Centre• Second Cup• Starbucks• Tché Tché coffee

shop • The Sultan centre

(TSC)PDO• PDO• Oman Oil Head

Office• PDO• Ras Al Hamra ClubRoyal Opera House• Indus Restaurant• More CaféShatti Al Qurum• Bareeq Al Shatti

Complex• Carribou Coffee• Darcy’s Kitchen• German Eye Laser

Center• Intercontinental

Hotel• Jawaharat Al

Shatti Complex• Kaya Skin Clinic• Muscat Eye Laser

Center• Oasis By The Sea• Second Cup • StarbucksSarooj• Al Fair S/M• Al Masa Mall• Al Shatti Cinema

(Dunkin Donuts)• Ayana Spa• Cosmeclinic• Emirates Medical

Center• McDonald’s• ShellMQ• Al Fair S/M• Arab Open

University• British Council • Costa Coffee• Darcy’s Kitchen• Emirates Airlines• Hana Slimming

Centre• Kargeen Café• KFC• Mackenzies• Mood Café• Oman Oil Ahlain• Papa John’s• Pizza Hut• Saharz Beauty

Saloon• Starbucks• TBWA ZeenahAl Khuwair• Badar Al Sama• Bait Al Reem• Bait Al Reem -

Coffee Shop• Café Vergnano

• Centre point-Splash

• Diplomatic Club• Friendi Mobile• Grand Hyatt

Muscat • Grand Hyatt

Muscat (Saloon)• Gulf College• Harley Davidson• HSBC (Old OIB)• KFC• Khimji Mart• Khimji’s Watches -

Showroom• KM Trading• Landmark Group• McDonald’s• Ministry of

Information• Muscat Bakery• Mustafa Sultan

Enterprises• Oman Bowling

Center• Oman Oil Ahlain• Oman United

Insurance• OMRAN• Pizza Hut• Radison Blu• Shell• TGI fridays • The Kebab

Factory• The Tikka Place• VLCC• Zahara Travel• Zakher Shopping

MallMGM• Carribou Coffee• Gloria Jean’s

Coffee• Nawras• Paul Patisserie• Tim HortonsBousher• College for

Banking & Financial Studies

• Costa Coffee• Crepe Café• Dolphin Village• Modern College

Of Business Studies

• Moka & More Café

• Muscat College• Muscat Private

Hospital - Emergency

• Muscat Private Hospital - Outpatient

• Oman Medical

College• Stationery HutGhubra• Al Hayat Polyclinic• Al Maya

Hypermarket• Aster Hospital• Bank of Beirut• GMC• Lulu Hypermarket• Oman Oil Ahlain• Park Inn• Porsche• The ChediGhala• National Mineral

Water• TAISMAzaiba• Al Fair S/M• Al Maha• Al Meera H/M• Audi• Bentely• Brand Oman• Carribou Coffee• Costa Coffee• Infinity Service

Station• Jaguar• Jeep• Land Rover• Mazda• McDonald’s• Mitsubishi• Oman Arab Bank• Oman Oil Ahlain• Peugeot• Seven Seas

Complex• Shell• Skoda• The Sultan centre

(TSC)• Towell• Volks Wagon• Volvo• Yamaha • Zubair

Automotive (Sayarati)

Al Murtafaa• Bank Muscat• Golden Tulip• DHL• KFC• Muscat Hills Golf

Club• Oman Air Mawaleh• Chili’s• Costa Coffee• Makkan Café• Noodle House• Starbucks• Starcare Hospital• Tim Hortons

• VLCCHail• Al Mouj Golf Club• Amouage - Oman

Perfumery LLC• Bait al Hail• Burger King• Caledonian

College• Costa Coffee• Markaz Al Bahja• McDonald’s• Oman Football

Association• Oman Sail • Shakespere & Co.• The Wave H.O.Rusayl• Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -1• Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -2• Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -3• Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -4 (ITA)• Middle East

College• Omantel• SQU - Diplomatic

Club• SQU - College of

Commerce• SQU - Students

Banking Area• SQU -Hospital• Waljat CollegeSeeb• McDonald’s• SABCO MediaAl Khoud• Badar Al Sama• Al Fair S/M• Pizza HutBarka• Al Nahda Spa and

Resort• Lulu HypermarketSawadi• Sawadi Beach

ResortMassnaah• Millennium HotelSohar• Centre point-

Splash• Crowne Plaza• National Gift

Market• Nawras• Pizza Hut• Safeer Mall• Sohar Beach Hotel• Sohar Port• Sohar UniversityNizwa• Nizwa University

@ytabloid facebook.com/ytabloid

FO L L O W U S O N :

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 3 7

P o s t c a r d s f r o m I n d o o r s Y - F i C a r s

CARS ANDADVENTURES

PERFECTLY FRAMED The old fort at Fanja

allows for some fantastic views out across a sea of green palm trees to the

town beyond.

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 3 8

CARS ANDOUTDOORS

D E S T I N A T I O N P o s t c a r d s f r o m Y - F i I n d o o r s C a r sCARS ANDADVENTURES

FINDING FANJARETURNING TO FANJA AFTER A QUARTER OF A

CENTURY, SHAQUEL AL BALUSHI FINDS A GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL HAVEN WAITING

Destination

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 3 9

HOW TO GET THERE

Take the expressway out of Muscat and stay on it until the exit for road 15. Stay on this road for 30km until you see the exit for Fanja.

GPS location of the turning for Fanja: N23° 28’ 1” E58° 7’ 52”

TRAV

EL G

UIDE

When I was a young boy, around nine or 10 years old, my parents used to take me to Fanja when they wanted to buy some handmade clay pots.

I, in my naïve innocence, thought that was what everyone went to Fanja for. However, I found on a recent trip that the small town, a little over 60km southwest of Muscat, has so much more to offer visitors.

The route is fairly straightforward and you can get to the town in 40 minutes from the capital on a good day. You know when you’re near; the mountains literally spell it out for you. High up on one of the slopes, the name “Fanja” is written out in Arabic using white stones. There’s also a huge wadi that is a popular destination for locals and tourists at the weekends.

Rather than exploring the wadi, I ventured into the town itself and parked my car to discover the area on foot. One of the first things I came across was a group of elderly Omani gentlemen sitting around close to their farm eating dates and chatting. After a pleasant conversation, they pointed me in the direction of some ruins that they said were worth visiting.

When I left Muscat in the

morning it was very hot, but there was a pleasant breeze in Fanja as I set off along

a track under the shade of dozens of palm trees.After a bit of trekking, I came to

a narrow road that led upwards and eventually gave way to a rocky hill. It was

a relatively tiring climb, but the view waiting at the top made everything worth it.

Directly in front of me were the dusty ruins of some houses and what looked like an old fort and when I turned to see where I’d come from, I was greeted by a sea of green palm trees stretching out before me.

There were still a few rusty old cannons pointing out over the town, hinting that this area had once been an important defensive position. My favourite picture was taken from one of the old fort’s rooms. It had the green of the palm trees, a mosque and the mountains, all outlined by the dark framing of the open-air window. Unfortunately, there were signs of partying, with rubbish strewn about, which is such a shame to see in places that are important to Oman’s cultural heritage.

The elderly gentlemen mentioned a waterfall close by, but sadly I couldn’t locate it. Nevertheless, Fanja is still an amazing place to visit. It’s so tranquil and calm. There aren’t many cars around the town, which means you can simply sit and appreciate the sound of the wind, the birds and the water that gently flows along the falaj under the shade of the palm trees.

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

0 4 0

Bowling is a game with a long and proud

history. Felicity Glover got reacquainted

with the sport at Fun Zone

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0

I’d forgotten just how noisy tenpin

bowling could be. The crack of the

bowling ball as it hits the lane and

rumbles towards the pins, striking

them with a loud, clattering crash. This is

followed by shrieks of delight or audible

groans – depending on whether you hit a

strike or not.

And when there’s numerous lanes being

used by multiple players, it can amount to

a cacophony of noise – to the point where

you can barely hear yourself think.

But that’s all part of the fun. Or at least it

was when I was growing up.

Tenpin bowling is an age-old activity that

has proudly held its own since the advent of

the modern game, which kicked off in the

early 1900s. Of course, archaeologists have

found evidence in Egypt that the game may

have been played as early as BC3,200, but

that’s another story.

These days, bowling, as it’s commonly

known, competes against the likes of video

games, Laserblast, paintballing and a host

of other activities that many 21st century

kids and adults have embraced.

Despite this, bowling has remained a

popular pastime around the world and

even has its own professional league in the

United States, although the prize money is

a far cry from that earned by the likes of

footballers and pro-tennis players, to name

just two multimillion-dollar sports.

And so it was that I found myself

standing in the bowling alley at Fun Zone

in Qurum on a recent Saturday afternoon,

wondering what I’d let myself in for and

trying to remember if it had always been

this noisy.There were six of us playing: four adults

and two kids. After the simple registration

(basically writing down the names of the

players so the manager could input them

into the electronic scoring system) and

paying to play for an hour, we were ready

to head to our lane and start sizing up the

bowling balls.

The weight of the ball is crucial to your

success, but it all depends on how strong

you are. Too heavy and you will struggle to

hit the pins, let alone lift it. Too light and

what might look like a strike will almost

always leave you disappointed.

The strongest in our group found a hefty

16-pound ball and used this to great effect –

a strike at first try, followed by a few more.

Me? Well, I stuck to the eight-pound

bowling balls and didn’t get one strike. But

I blame that on the fact that I’m what you’d

call petite.

The kids, aged 12 and eight, did pretty

well. For the first time, Miss 12 was trying

bowling without the ramp, which young

children can use if the ball is too heavy for

them. Master eight, tried both the ramp

and bowling the ball himself. While he

struggled with the weight of the ball, he

had more success doing it himself rather

than using the ramp.

Kate was going great guns, getting more

strikes than everybody else (including Shaq,

who was using the heaviest ball), while

Deeba was finding it as frustrating as me.

Did I also mention that we were using

that other child-friendly advantage? Ok,

even though there were four adults, we

decided that for the “sake” of the kids’

enjoyment factor we’d have to use the

bumpers to prevent our balls from rolling

into the gutter.

So it wasn’t really a proper game for

the grown-ups. But we did enjoy some

unnaturally high scores despite none of us

having bowled for years.

After all, we were only there to have fun.

Opening hours: Saturday to Friday, 9am-12am

Price: RO10 per hour or RO1.5 per person per game

Phone: 2466 2951

Location: Fun Zone, Qurum

Capacity: Maximum of eight people for one lane

I N D O O R S

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 4 1

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 4 2

TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO:1. Spend a day in Stanley Park2. Have dinner in trendy Gastown3. Take the cable car to Grouse Mountain4. Go whale watching on Vancouver Island5. Take the train to the Whistler ski resort

BEAUTY PERSONIFIEDRight in the heart of

the city of Vancouver is Stanley Park, a colourful open space you are able to run, bike or meander

around at your own leisure.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 4 3

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

My favourite place Vancouver is all about the lifestyle and enjoying the outdoors and there’s no better example of this than Stanley Park. This magnificent 405-hectare park combines excellent attractions with a mystical natural aura. Stroll or cycle (rentals are available) around the 8.8km seawall, fringed by a 150,000-tree temperate rainforest, where you can enjoy fantastic views of English Bay. I took a guided tour, but you can just as easily make your own way around. There are also 27 kilometres of forest trails, winding through the park’s dense foliage. We had lunch in one of the park’s picnic areas before heading off to see the famous First Nation totem poles at Brockton Point.

Highlights A visit to Gastown, the city’s oldest neighbourhood is an absolute must. The epicentre of Vancouver’s design, culture, food and fashion, it’s a mix of hip shops and restaurants. As Vancouver is the culinary capital of Canada, it would be a crime not to dip into the food culture and experience such gems as Japa Dog (a hotdog with seaweed and okonomiyaki sauce), the city’s quirky take on the classic American hotdog. The seafood is also fantastic, as is the coffee. Take a cable car up Grouse Mountain with breathtaking views of the city and have lunch at the very chic restaurant at the top or head across the water for whale watching to Vancouver Island, from where you can catch a 45-minute scenic flight to Seattle by seaplane. Whistler, the ski resort where the 2010 Winter Olympics was held, is just a 90-minute drive away (or take the train for incredible views). In summer, the resort’s cable car is equally spectacular.

Lowlights Being on the west coast, Vancouver gets a lot of rain and the downpours can make for a rather miserable mood when they come. The roads can be choked with traffic and congestion – but coming from Oman that shouldn’t be a problem. It can be expensive too, so keep a tight rein on your budget. Souvenirs Gastown is filled with cool, cutting-edge designer gear from fashion to contemporary interior designs. Jewellery with locally sourced gemstones such as jade, amber and quartz are a good bet. Aside from the usual tacky Canadian souvenirs (maple leaf-shaped anything and moose cuddly toys), it’s worth taking home a few bottles of original maple syrup.

Where to stay There are 25,000 hotel, B&B and hostel rooms in Vancouver, so you are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation. In the summer months, the city is colonised by tourists, so booking ahead is essential – unless you want to sleep in Stanley Park. Spring and autumn are good times for cheaper deals. Word-of-mouth favourite Urban Hideaway Guesthouse is good for smaller budgets while at the other end, check into the five-star boutique Opus Hotel. My personal choice was the ivy-covered The Sylvia Hotel, built in 1912 with a prime location overlooking English Bay and plenty old-world charm.

VANCOUVERKate Ginn recommends

THE HISTORIC GASTOWN

A POD OF ORCA NEAR VANCOUVER ISLAND

CABLE CAR TO GROUSE MOUNTAIN

A c o a s t a l s e a p o r t c i t y i n t h e w e s t o f C a n a d a , V a n c o u v e r i s o ff i c i a l l y o n e o f m y f a v o u r i t e p l a c e s i n t h e w o r l d . I t s l a i d -b a c k v i b e a n d s l i g h t l y b o h e m i a n a i r i s a w o r l d a w a y f r o m i t s m o r e u p t i g h t e a s t e r n C a n a d i a n c o u s i n , T o r o n t o . I t s c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o A m e r i c a - S e a tt l e i s u n d e r t h r e e h o u r s

a w a y b y c a r - i s a n o t h e r b i g p l u s . A r o u n d 6 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e c a l l t h e c i t y h o m e , m a k i n g i t t h e e i g h t h -

l a r g e s t C a n a d i a n m u n i c i p a l i t y , a n d 2 . 4 m i l l i o n i n h a b i t s l i v e i n t h e G r e a t e r V a n c o u v e r a r e a . T h e o r i g i n a l s e tt l e m e n t w a s n a m e d G a s t o w n - e l e m e n t s o f w h i c h s t i l l r e m a i n - fo u n d e d o n t h e e d g e o f a l o g g i n g s a w m i l l p r o p e r t y a n d n a m e d a f t e r t h e o w n e r o f a l o c a l t a v e r n , G a s s y J a c k . A s t h e w a t e r f r o n t d e v e l o p e d w i t h s t o r e s a n d h o t e l s , i t w a s r e n a m e d V a n c o u v e r i n 1 8 8 6 . I t ’ s g r o w n t o b e c o m e , i n m y v i e w , a w o n d e r fu l e x a m p l e o f h o w m o d e r n u r b a n l i v i n g s h o u l d b e : f a m i l y f r i e n d l y w i t h p l e n t y o f g r e e n s p a c e s , m o d e r n a r c h i t e c t u r e b l e n d i n g p e r f e c t l y w i t h n a t u r a l s u r r o u n d i n g s a n d v i b r a n t , b u s t l i n g n i g h t l i f e .

L i tt l e w o n d e r t h a t V a n c o u v e r i s c o n s i s t e n t l y n a m e d a s o n e o f t h e t o p f i v e w o r l d w i d e c i t i e s fo r l i v a b i l i t y a n d q u a l i t y o f l i f e .

O n e o f t h e m o s t e t h n i c a l l y d i v e r s e c i t i e s i n C a n a d a - 5 2 p e r c e n t o f i t s r e s i d e n t s h a v e a f i r s t l a n g u a g e o t h e r t h a n E n g l i s h - V a n c o u v e r e m b r a c e s v i s i t o r s w i t h a h u g e w e l c o m e h u g . W i t h i n a m a tt e r o f d a y s , y o u e a s i l y s l i p i n t o t h e V a n c o u v e r i t e l i f e s t y l e a n d s p i r i t . W h e t h e r y o u w a n t p a r k s , b e a c h e s , m o u n t a i n s , u r b a n c h i c o r s p o r t s , V a n c o u v e r h a s i t a l l a n d m o r e .

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 70 4 4

-FIT H E T E C H I N Y O U

Y - F IP o s t c a r d s f r o m C a r s I n d o o r s

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 4 4

TEEN TECHIn this day and age, teenagers' lives are often consumed by technology.

Matthew Herbst checks out the creative and useful ways teens can use tech

EDITO

R’S PI

CK HEY MR DJALL TEENS LOVE MUSIC AND MANY DREAM OF BEING ABLE TO MIX THEIR OWN TUNES ONE DAY. WHY NOT IMPRESS YOUR PEERS BY TURNING YOUR IPOD INTO A PORTABLE PARTY-MAKING MACHINE WITH THE POKKET MIXER MOBILE MINI DJ MIXER. THE MINI MIXER DOESN’T REQUIRE A POWER SOURCE, JUST PLUG IT INTO THE HEADPHONE JACK OF YOUR MP3 PLAYER, LAPTOP, OR PHONE AND INSTANTLY MIX YOUR OWN BEATS FOR HOURS OF FUN. YOU CAN ALSO PLUG IN ANOTHER FRIEND’S PHONE FOR A MIXING BATTLE. IT’S SMALL, LIGHT AND VERY MOBILE, SO NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT! AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM FROM RO89.74.

ON THE GO

With the handy HTC Re Camera, you can focus on being in the moment and then relive it onscreen whenever you fancy. This fun tool shoots wide-lens photos and videos without the need for a viewfinder and everything can be streamed to your Android or iOS device. Start your adventure film career at htc.com from RO76.62.

CUFF LINKTeen wearables are usually all about games and interaction. But The Cuff is a fantastic safety net and could literally provide a lifeline in emergencies. It looks like any other fashion piece and that's the beauty of it. Touching the black-inset link sends an alert directly to your chosen contact’s mobile via the Cuff app, along with your GPS location. A potential lifesaver available from cuff.io for RO23.10.

EYE OF THE SPIDERWhether you’re a teen or an adult, radio-controlled toys never go out of fashion. In fact, they keep getting better thanks to new technology. Meet the Parrot MiniDrone Rolling Spider, a miniature quad drone with built in vertical camera and detachable wheels. The drone is controlled via your smartphone and can drive across the floor, before mounting the wall and flying across the room, recording as you go. Available from parrot.com for RO53.48.

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 7 0 4 5M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 0 0 4 5

NEW LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3

App of the Week

GET ANGRYAngry Birds Go! is jam packed with hazardous roads and mischievious opponents chasing your tail with special powers to knock you off the path to glory. The Angry Birds world comes alive in this app with rich and colourful 3D for the first time. Join the rush as you freewheel around the track at breakneck speed in a thrilling race with the other birds. Free for iOS and Android.

CHARGE MEIf there's anything that can ruin a teen's Instagram moment, it's a dead phone battery. This conveniently portable Michael Kors iPhone Duracell Powermat Kit will make sure your iPhone stays juiced up for as long as you need. Grab one at michaelkors.com from RO53.90.

SONG BIRD

There are three model's in Gear4's Angry Birds audio range featuring the game's top characters. The most famous of all is, of course, the red bird and included with each 30W bass control speaker is a little faux-wooden plastic dock. It's an odd piece of plastic, but at least it gives you somewhere to put your phone or MP3 player. The dock has an audio cable that accommodates any music player, smartphone or tablet with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Find it at amazon.com from RO11.16.

LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 is here! Combine your Lego building skills

with some seriously advanced technology and unleash the mind-blowing powers of the

new Mindstorms set. Create robots that can walk, talk, think and

whatever else you command them to do.

Follow the step-by-step 3D building guide to create characters TRACK3R, R3PTAR, SPIK3R, EV3RSTORM (pictured) and GRIPP3R and then bring them to life with an easy, intuitive interface. Once built, take charge of the remote control and send your mean machine on any challenging mission you wish, or download the free app and control

your robot with your smart device. If you're quite the

engineer and want to share your own creations, then log on to lego.com/mindstorms, where you can access loads of cool content and interact

with fellow Lego fans. Let the Mindstorms robot revolution

begin! Available from shop.lego.com for RO134.74.

M A R 0 5 - 1 1 / I S S U E 3 6 00 4 6

Elegant, clean looks make the Volvo XC60 a cool customer both on and off the road, finds Kate Ginn

Volvo XC60 PremiumSpecifications:

Engine: 2.0L Turbo, 4-cylinder

Transmission: 8-speed Powershift

Two-wheel driveHorsepower: 245

0-100kph: 6.9 secondsTop Speed: 210kph

As I’m from the UK, I’m well versed with the ins and outs of the Volvo brand. It’s considered

the perfect blend of class and practicality with a superior safety record and solid design, ideal for families or those on the verge of starting one.

Nothing exciting, you might think. Well, the Volvo name stands for something else entirely: quality. The other word that springs to mind is “dependability.” My friend once had an old Volvo and it was like a tank that rumbled on and on for years without the apparent need for any kind of maintenance or expensive services. It only gave up the ghost when she crashed it into a ditch after swerving to avoid a dog on a country road.

You get the picture – Volvos are built to last.

Which is why the marriage of sensible Swedish design and longevity seems a match made in heaven to produce a crossover SUV such as the XC60. My test car was the Premium trim in power blue metallic paint, which I liked the look of immediately.

It’s a smaller car than the XC90 and feels more manageable as it’s perfectly proportioned.

The exterior is appealing without screaming for attention. As I mentioned, Volvos are very discreet and low key and, if personified, would be a middle-aged man in a well-cut, expensive suit who works in management and never talks

about how much he earns.Interesting fact: Volvo means

“I roll” in Latin, conjugated from “volvere” in relation to ball bearings. Volvo was established as a subsidiary of SKF, the ball bearing manufacturer in 1915.

The very first Volvo car – affectionately nicknamed “Jakob” – rolled off the production line at the factory in Gothenburg, Sweden, in April 1927. The brand has come a long way since then.

The XC60 is designed for those who hanker after an SUV, but don’t necessarily want to let go of a road car either and want adventures both in the city and away in the great outdoors.

It’s had a few tweaks and improvements for the 2015 version. Firstly, let’s clear away the misnomer that anything less than six cylinders just won’t cut the mustard. The XC60 now has four cylinders, but the power isn’t compromised. Believe me, it’s response when I pressed down on the accelerator took me by surprise, with a surge forward and sense of strength that its straight-laced image didn’t initially suggest. The handling is also superb.

My XC60 laughed in the face of the twisty-turny Bawshar-Al Amerat road that bends its way up the mountain, hugging the curves in the road thanks to the Corner Traction Control, while the raised driving position afforded a good view of what lay ahead.

It was a smooth, unlaboured

drive up and over, with the electric sunroof bringing in plenty of cool mountain air.

Full leather upholstery as standard adds a touch of luxury. All the interior materials feel and look expensive – nothing cheap or nasty here – and the specs are fantastic on even the basic trim. Techies will be happy with gadgets such as built-in hard disk and wireless internet capability (plus phone syncing).

The driving position was good and the seat comfortable, with plenty of legroom and space above the head. I liked the centre console with its ergonomic functionality and sparse but chic Scandinavian look. Steering wheel controls make everything easy to use.

I also loved the fun theme element, which allowed the dashboard dials to change looks depending on your mood, such as sporty or elegant. Parents will be happy with the acres of space in the back for the kids to crash around and the boot can store a pushchair and its assorted accompanying parental paraphernalia with ease.

Where the XC60 might fall down for some is not being a four-wheel drive. True, it can’t handle hardcore off-roading, but during the little detour we took off the beaten track, the car was surefooted and confident.

For anyone looking to move up to their first SUV or try another brand, I would advise you to take a look at Volvo and the XC60. It might well surprise you.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

C A R SD e s t i n a t i o n P o s t c a r d s f r o m I n d o o r s Y - F i

Panoramic sunroof Xenon headlamps Front & rear parking sensors Rear Park Assist camera 18-inch alloy wheels 7-inch display screen Satellite navigation with voice

command Wireless internet 6 airbags All leather seats

* Also comes with first year registration and three-year unlimited mileage warranty

They say: “Meet the SUV that’s

great to drive.”

We say: “Surprisingly nimble

little mover.”

OMN_7152_BPS_Campaign_March_Y_Mag_24x34cm_Eng.indd 1 3/1/15 2:37 PM