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guide to the best of Oman every week.

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

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FO L L O W U S O N :

If there’s one thing I am passionate about, it has to be educating people about financial literacy. As a former personal finance editor in the UAE, I witnessed firsthand just how devastating it can be if we are not financially prepared to weather any storm. From knowing the difference between good and bad debt, to having an emergency savings account, sticking to a budget and making

informed choices about our investments, it is vital to ensure that our financial futures are strong. But it seems that we’ve not learnt much since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), with a new worldwide study finding that one in every three adults (!) lack smart money skills. Considering the devasting impact of the GFC, I am surprised and disappointed to learn that we’ve done very little to improve our financial literacy.

In our cover story this week, we put the spotlight on Oman and meet people who have learned some very tough financial lessons. Some lost everything, but have recovered after some exceptionally hard work, while others are still struggling to get back on their feet. It’s a sobering story, but also one of hope.

Elsewhere, we check out the best gadgets for the festive season in Y-Fi, head to the UK city of Portsmouth in Postcard and road test the new Kia Optima.

Have a great week!

Fast forward

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

EDITOR IN CHIEFSayyida Iman bint Hamad

bin Hamood Al Busaidi

MANAGING EDITORFelicity Glover

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kate Ginn

ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

SUB-EDITOR Matt Blackwell

PHOTOGRAPHER Shaquel al Balushi

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Feroz Khan

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,

Team Y enjoyed an afternoon at the golf, had a great time at the movies

watching Pixar’s latest blockbuster, The Good Dinosaur, and won a

whopping 1,279 tickets by playing all the fun games at Magic Planet in City

Centre Muscat.

THIS WEEK…

GOING UPTHE FLU

There’s been a rise in flu patients seeking medical assistance in the

capital, prompting doctors to warn residents to take precautions as the

cooler months take hold.

GOING DOWNINFLATION

Oman’s consumer price index dipped 0.55 per cent last month, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information. We know it’s small, but have you noticed a difference in the

price of goods?

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

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Are you ready to “Raise the Heat”? Y has teamed up with Muscat Hills

Golf & Country Club to offer two lucky readers a chance to win a pair of tickets to the hottest New Year’s Eve bash in town. Turn to page P10

for details on how to enter.

Sw

contentsD E C E M B E R 1 7 - 2 3 2 0 1 5

Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Garry Friend

08 Voice Of Oman Heather Duncan

10 News National Museum Opens

13 Gallery Festive Fun

14 Gallery Europcar Open Golf Challenge

15 Hyundai – Driven To Success Ahmed Al Nadabi

T h i s We e k

16 Movie Listings Macbeth

18 This Week Golden Bolly

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Party Time

34 Beauty Holiday Makeup

10

33

Fe at u r e s20 Dollars And Sense The Importance Of Financial Literacy

26 Super Women Inspirational Series Continues

28 Y’s Coolest Fresher The Auditions Begin

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

40 Outdoors BBQ Nation

42 Postcard From Portsmouth, UK

44 Y-Fi Tech The Halls

46 Car Of The Week Kia Optima GT

44

FEATURES / COFFEE WITH DEEBA / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / FOOD / DESTINATION / HEALTH / FASHION

NEXT ISSUE...

1820

Fo o d a n d D r i n k30 Taste Test Café Malaysia

30

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Deeba Hasan meets Garry Friend, former general manager at the Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel, who shares his thoughts on tourism and reflects on three years in Oman

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Garry Friend, 50, has built up more than 25 years of experience in hospitality and after

spending three years in charge of the five-star Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel, he is moving to Zanzibar to head up the group’s operations there.

However, he was not always inclined towards the hospitality industry; it was more a career that he stumbled into by chance. Garry bought his first house while working at a seed laboratory in Australia and to ensure the funds kept coming in, he took up a part time job as a waiter – something he turned out to be rather good at it.

As his interest and enjoyment grew, Garry considered exploring the field further and signed up to hospitality school. “I ended up organising functions and running a catering business for someone,” he tells me. “I enjoyed the role and so I went to hospitality school and studied, [giving me] some tertiary education leaning towards hospitality. After that, I did some work at the Sheraton and the Hilton and then joined Hyatt. Twenty-seven years later, I am still with them.”

His job has taken him to many interesting places around the world and he now refers to himself as “a global citizen with an Australian passport”. Before Oman, he was in Qatar, and prior to that it was South Africa, Egypt, Greece and Guatemala.

“I have enjoyed wherever I have been. Every city, every hotel has got its own story, diversity and places to visit,” he says. “Guatemala was exciting; there was so much beautiful landscape, great ruins and the pyramids of the Mayan tribes.

However, my favourite hotel is probably the Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh.”

Garry’s globetrotting job in the hospitality industry has led him to meet some famous personalities from the world over, including Bill Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, John Kerry, Hosni Mubarak and members of the British royal family, to name just a few.

Despite leaving his home country at the age of 25 and travelling the world since then, Garry says he has never struggled with adapting to new cultures because, he says, people are the same everywhere. “I have this thing about cultures,” he tells me. “Mothers care for their children, it doesn’t matter where they are, and usually the husband is the breadwinner.

“People are all the same, it doesn’t matter what religion they are, where they live or the colour of their skin. I don’t know any parent who doesn’t want their children to have a good education and grow up in a safe environment and that extends from the poorest countries I have worked in to the richest ones; we are all very similar.”

During his three-year stay in the Sultanate, Garry developed a special fondness for the country. “My first impression of Oman when I flew in was how green it was,” he tells me, going on to reveal that some of his favourite scenic spots in Oman are found in and around Jebel Akhdar.

He is also impressed with the number of Omanis working at the hotel. “We have nearly 60 per cent Omanis working here, which is great when compared to other GCC countries. It’s great to be working with the local workforce.”

Garry thinks that there is a lot

more that Oman can do to boost its tourism industry, from playing on its rich heritage to making the Sultanate a short break-friendly destination.

“They [the Government] need to make it easier for the travellers from Dubai to camp here during the long weekends instead of closing things up over holidays. During long weekends in Dubai, they could organise something special at the Royal Opera House and make sure the museums are open,” he suggests.

“An important way to attract tourists is by playing on heritage, because the nice thing about Oman is that it has a great history, so they can capitalise on that.”

For people who aspire to work in the hospitality sector, Garry has some advice. “I would say that they should join a hospitality school [to] get a feel for the educated side of it and go and meet people in the industry. If they are serious about it, they need to talk to the human resource people of any of the major hotels, work out what direction they want to take and see if they can do an internship for a couple of months to see if they like it or not.”

Garry is now looking ahead to Zanzibar and the new Hyatt property there. “It’s an exciting new opportunity, the hotel is small but brand new.

“It’s very different from what I have done previously. However, if you are someone like me who likes safaris, animals and wildlife, you would enjoy it.”

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

Garry Friend

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THUMBS UP FOR BUSES

correspondenceTHE VOICE OF OMAN HEATHER DUNCAN ON A NEW WAY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

NEXT WEEK: INTRODUCING FAHMI AL MA’AWALI

The Christmas season is coming around quickly whether I’m ready for it or not. I’m aware of

the daily countdown to the magical December 25, but I just can’t bring myself to get fully into the festive spirit racing round town hunting for that perfect gift and I really don’t want to start playing the perfect housewife crafting and baking like I do every other year. That may be something to do with the fact that last year I glued my two hands together in a last minute flurry of Christmas crafting.

Usually, I am a massive lover of all things Christmassy, decking my house out like Santa’s Grotto, so why am I turning all Bah Humbug this year? The main reason is that I’m feeling homesick away from my family. Even though this will be our third Christmas away from home, it doesn’t seem to get any easier. We don’t have any visitors flying in and it isn’t practical for us to travel back to Scotland to see them, so this year will be a very quiet occasion.

But there is always a silver lining. My homesickness combined with the fact that our young son is still pretty oblivious to the festive season is allowing us to be relaxed, lazy parents this year. There will be minimal decorations, some small gifts and the emphasis will be on having fun with our friends right here in Muscat, making it a diverse and hopefully enjoyable Christmas occasion.

The rest this year gives me time to muster the energy for future Christmases when our son will know exactly who Santa Claus is and everything that the season entails.

So wherever you shall be in the world this December 25, I wish you a very merry Christmas from the Duncan family.

Respected Editor,

Encouraged by the article “On the Bus” by by Deeba Hasan [Issue 398], I am putting down my experiences of the newly christened Mwasalat service that came as a great boon to commuters at a time when the Sultanate of Oman observed its 45th National Day with grand fervour.

I totally concur with Deeba’s input and it is never a belated strategy to go for such passenger-friendly transport that is sought after for a host of reasons. From increasing physical activity and reducing weight to saving on oil budgets; this service goes a long way in contributing to the nation.

However, there is still a long way to go for this system to meet the needs of the majority, as the service needs to extend to cover further areas. Though it may impact the taxi drivers to an extent, I am sure the government

is able to come up with alternative strategies to help them.

I welcome the present move and take it as a good starting point.

Best regards,Antony Joseph Vettiyazhickal, Muscat

Hello Team Y,

This refers to the inspiring Voice of Oman by Matt Blackwell, reiterating the need to spread kindness [Issue 398].

It is not uncommon to doubt anyone who voluntarily comes forward with help, offers, concessions, discounts or assistance, as we are bound to presume there is a catch with every such act.

The writer experienced a rare pleasant interaction and many expatriates have similar examples, which only reflect the kind-hearted mindset of the citizens of the Sultanate of Oman.

Way back in 1999, I tasted this compassion when our car tyres went flat en route to Quriyat on a Friday

KIND-HEARTED OMAN afternoon. With a relief service seeming impossible and the temperatures rising, an Omani car stopped and after a swift handshake, the driver took to replacing our deflated tyres, irrespective of his crisp white attire.

He used his own kit in the absence of any with us and with the same swiftness he dashed off, asking for no thanks.

I thought that it was one-off rarity, but I was proved wrong, as I have met with thousands of such instances since then. It only amplifies the fact that humanity lives in every quarter and can surface in an instant.

Regards,Usha Devi Rao Suddapalli, Muscat

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.

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WE ASKED: “Which public figure has inspired you the most in your life?”

IRWIN SERSO RIO I have to say Pope Francis. I love his admiration in pursuing his vision of one world religion. He despises war between nations because of religious indifferences and I admire him for uniting everyone with God’s faith.

SYED BOKHARI The public figure that has inspired me the most in my life is none other than Quaid e Azam [Muhammad Ali Jinnah], the founder of my homeland, Pakistan. He was a man of principle, never compromising on this whatever the occasion or odds. Ultimately, he brought Pakistan onto the world map.

SUNIL D’CRUZ When I visited Mother Teresa’s home in Kolkata, India, and saw her tomb, I was touched that she left her country to care for the homeless and sick and bring a smile

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to the face of those dying on the streets. The sisters of the Missionaries of Charity there told me that her only worldly possessions were two sarees and a bucket.

NALIN MISTRY I am deeply inspired by the Indian monk, Swami Vivekananda. When pursuing my chartered accountancy course, I experienced some initial setbacks in examinations and was about to leave the course. But I came across his writings on philosophy, which inspired me a lot. He emphasised that success was an outcome of focused thought and action. Take up one idea and make that one idea your life; think of it, dream of it and live on that idea. Let every part of your body be full of that idea and leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. I am consciously following it now in my life and I teach the same to my children.

WAFAA EL ANANY Princess Diana, for her charity work, campaign against landmines and the guts to tell it as it was.

MALINA GHOSH Whenever we read any quotes from famous role models they inspire us in various ways. I also have great respect for Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whose honesty, bravery and fighting spirit is truly inspiring. In day-to-day life, my daughter inspires me a lot

and encourages me to do inspiring work for others.

MUHAMMAD NADEEM ALVI I am inspired by the personality of Hazrat Umar (RA). His justice, braveness and decision power inspired me greatly. Not only Muslims, but non-Muslims also admired him.

LIBA KHAN True inspiration for the whole world is Prophet Muhammad PBUH. His flawless personality, kindness, honesty, patience and respect for all are a source of light for human beings until the end of the world.

YUSUF AL SALAMI His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said. He is a peaceful man whose hands are not stained by blood because he will not be dragged into war.

The new GLE.Make the best of every ground.

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D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 1 0

The long-awaited opening of the National Museum of Oman took place earlier this week in Muscat under the

auspices of His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood Al Said, deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers in Oman.

With a total area of 13,700 square metres, the museum houses 15 display halls, including the Land and People Hall, Maritime History Hall, Aflaj Hall, Currency Hall, Prehistory Hall and the Hall of Oman, and the Outside World. The National Museum will also offer the first UHD cinema hall in the Sultanate, which will screen a number of short movies about Oman.

Established by a Royal Decree issued in November 2013, the museum is the collaborative result of Oman working with Spanish and Russian consultants to curate the collections and will play an important role in preserving the cultural heritage of the Sultanate. The number of archaeological artefacts in the museum stands at about 6,000 and includes archaeological antiques, craft industries, manuscripts and models of ships, castles and forts among others. Objects showcased at the museum were brought from around the world, donated by Omanis and transported from an old museum in Oman.

“[The] Land and People Hall is the heart of the museum and shows how Omani cultural crafts are integrated into our daily lives. We have the Mihrab, which was deconstructed from Uwainah mosque in Wadi Bani Khalid, which was built at the beginning of the 16th century, and reconstructed here. The Land and People Hall has two of the biggest showcases in the

world,” said Janaab al Sayyida Nada Fakhri Al Said, head of the museum’s external relations department.

“Oman has the first conservation site in the museum and all the objects in the gallery are restored and went through conservation. There is also a temporary exhibition space, which will promote Omani artists and special artefacts from time to time,” she added.

Despite the official opening, it will be early to mid-2016 before the public gets a chance to visit, with the museum organising a number of VIP visits between now and then. When it is open to the public, entrance fees for Omanis and residents are likely to be kept at RO1, while tourists will pay RO5.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OPENS

Y Magazine has teamed up with Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club to offer our readers a chance to win a coveted spot at the biggest New Year’s Eve bash in town.

Ring in 2016 in sytle at IGNITE – Raising the Heat, Muscat Hills Golf Club’s exclusive New Year party that will feature top entertainment, a buffet dinner, unlimited beverages and spot prizes.

Dance the night away to the smooth sounds of The Electric Street Band, while Oman’s top DJs, VGroove and Manish will get you into the swing of the New Year. Meanwhile, international DJ Ola Ras should get the place jumping with her unique set, in which she’ll be complimenting her music by playing the saxophone.

Even if you don’t win, there’s still time to buy tickets to the party – priced at RO48 per person –

while limited VIP tickets, which give you access to the VIP Lounge and other exclusive benefits, cost RO90 per person.

For more information, call “The Club” on 2451 4082 or email fb@muscatgolf.com or events@muscatgolf.com

To enter, all you have to do is answer the following question:

What instrument does DJ Ola Ras play?

Email your answer to editor@y-oman.com no later than 5pm on Monday, December 21. The two winners, who will win two tickets each, will be announced in our December 31 issue.

Good luck!

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D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 1 2

YOUR OMAN

Say what?Well, you know the saying: karma works in mysterious ways? In this case, it literally bit back at somebody.How’s that?It seems that a man suspected of robbing homes in a suburb of Florida, in the US, was eaten by an alligator while trying to hide from police.Wow, karma really did bite back!That it did. According a Reuters news report, 22-year-old Matthew Riggins was partially eaten by the 3.4-metre-long alligator after he jumped into a lake to avoid arrest. Talk about paying for your crime.Yep. It is an unfortunate incident. The local sheriff ’s department told Reuters that officers were chasing Riggins and another suspect, but failed to find them. The next day, Riggins’ family filed a missing person’s report after he failed to come home. What happened next?His body was found floating in the lake 10 days later, being guarded by the aggressive alligator. Is this from an episode of CSI Miami?Ha, ha. No, it is real life. But we have to say it is an odd way to go. Don’t say: “Go jump in the lake.” Do say: “I surrender!”

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

KARMA BITES

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

In Saudi Arabia, 17 women are voted into public office in municipal elections, marking a historic moment for the country that saw women vote for the first time as well as run as candidates

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

Star Wars fans finally breathe a sigh of relief after the highly anticipated world premiere of The Force Awakens, the latest addition in the sci-fi franchise

Hundreds of Santas take to the surf at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach to set a Guinness World Record for the largest surfing lesson. With 320 Santas riding the waves, they easily beat the target of 250 surfers

A woman in New Delhi celebrates the safe birth of her newborn son by calling him Uber – after giving birth to him in a taxi operated by the app-based company

The Wave, Muscat Extreme Sailing team brought their season to a fitting end with a resounding victory in Sydney that saw them claim the 2015 championship title

in style, set against the backdrop of the city’s iconic Opera House.

Triumph in the final double points event was the team’s fifth consecutive victory in a dominant season after success in Cardiff, Hamburg, St Petersburg and Istanbul.

The unprecedented feat accomplished by Leigh McMillan and his crew of Nasser al Mashari, Sarah Ayton, Ed Smyth and Pete Greenhalgh is a record that will stand forever, as the Extreme 40, the type of yacht used in the Extreme Sailing Series, is set to be replaced by foiling GC32s from next year onwards.

Teams from the Sultanate ruled the proceedings in Australia and showed their extreme sailing pedigree, with the Oman Air team finishing second behind The Wave, Muscat. Despite fighting hard for a podium finish under the guidance of captain Steve Morrison, Oman Air eventually finished the 2015 season in fourth place, three places higher than the previous year.

Emotions were running high for skipper McMillan, who, after claiming his third Extreme

Sailing championship, will now bid goodbye to his teammates after five years at the helm.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic. We won the last race, the last Extreme 40 event and the last Extreme 40 championship and it doesn’t get any better than that,” McMillan said.

“We wanted to win the event and once again it was a standout performance from the guys, so we are very, very

happy. It has been an awesome week and a great way to end this chapter,” he added.

McMillan will now be joining British Olympic sailing champion Sir Ben Ainslie in the Landrover BAR squad as they campaign for the America’s Cup.

Omani bowman al Mashari, who has been a pivotal member of the team throughout

the season, dedicated the win to Oman and those who have supported him, adding that winning was “an incredible feeling”.

Speaking about the historic win, CEO of Oman Sail, David Graham said: “Oman Sail is privileged to work with such driven athletes. Our sailors joined this circuit with one objective and they knew that winning the season wasn’t going to be easy, especially with the impressive line-up of competitors.

“The focused, disciplined team had a great leader in Leigh McMillan – we are indebted to him for his efforts over the years and we are sorry to see him leave. He is a huge asset to any team and we wish him all the best in his new role.”

OMAN CLINCHES VICTORY IN SYDNEY

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marriot_condensed_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+|:”<>?å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб

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NEW YEAR’S EVE MASQUERADE GALA31 December 2015, 8 p.m. onwards

Ring in the New Year in style under the stars with a night of magicand mystique on the shores of the sea of Oman. Dress up to celebrate,surrounded by the lights of the torches around our Infinity pool and on

the beachfront of Al Bustan Palace.

©2

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he R

itz-C

arlto

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otel

Com

pany

, L.L

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For more information, call 2476 4000 or emailBoxOffice.Albustan@ritzcarlton.com

G A L L E R YFE

STIV

E FU

N

THE

INTERCONTINENTAL

HOTEL MUSCAT

LIT ITS CHRISTMAS

TREE IN A SPECIAL

CEREMONY WITH

PERFORMANCES BY

THE BRITISH SCHOOL

MUSCAT’S CHOIR

AND BRASS BAND,

AND A SPECIAL

APPEARANCE FROM

SANTA

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 1 4

G A L L E R YGO

LF CH

ALLEN

GE ON

PAR

THE THIRD EUROPCAR OPEN GOLF CHALLENGE TOOK PLACE AT ALMOUJ GOLF, WITH SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY CHALLENGING FOR THE TROPHY. THE EVENT CONCLUDED WITH A GALA DINNER AND PRIZE CEREMONY

YOUR OMAN

In association with Genesis

DRIVEN TOSUCCESS

ALL IN ALL, I FEEL LIKE IT IS A GOOD

PACKAGE AND AN EXCITING MACHINE FOR

PEOPLE WHO REALLY LIKE CARS

Q: What drives you to success?I can say it’s the passion to achieve, change

and succeed. I don’t like routine and view every day as a new day with its own tests. I talk to people from around the globe every day and I like the new experiences. I am fond of challenges, so every now and then when I see things are moving very smoothly and nothing is changing, I try to bring something new in.

Q: Who or what has been your inspiration in your career?

I have learnt from my father; he built himself from nothing and I can say that he is my biggest inspiration. Apart from that, it’s the people who I have worked with who like to take challenges and love to achieve.

Q: What is your biggest career success to date?

I have been at Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC) for almost eight years now and I have worked on several projects to date.

So I think this is an achievement, gaining the respect of people and their trust when handling several projects at once.

Q: What are your goals?I want to be independent and to work for

myself. I am very passionate about food and digital life. I am developing my own projects accordingly and I would love to own my own business.

Q: Career-wise, where do you plan to be in 10 years’ time?

I want to be a successful businessman who can travel whenever he likes. I don’t want to spend my life working. I want to contribute to the development of this country, but it doesn’t have to be me working for an organisation to do that. I would love to see Oman digitalised, which is why I am trying my best to drive digital, online and mobile solutions in my personal and professional life.

Q: What do you like about the Genesis, the premium series of Hyundai Motor Company?

The Hyundai Genesis is a luxurious car from inside and out. I like the interiors – they have a nice touch of elegance and class. From the dials on the dashboard to the other details in the car, it’s just amazing. The wide range of equipment impressed me; the car is loaded with features and some good technology. All in all, I feel like it is a good package and an exciting machine for people who really like cars.

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 9 0 1 5

GHOSTHUNTERS

After discovering a ghost lurking in the basement of his home, Tom (Milo Parker) is understandably scared. But Hugo (voiced by Bastian Pastewka) turns out to only be the average spooky kind and the duo enlist the help of paranormal investigator, Hetty Cuminseed (Anke Engelke), to reverse the work of on ancient ice ghost that is bent on spreading winter throughout the town in the middle of summer.

Bollywatch

Close Range

Opening with an extended scene of a man breaking into a criminal stronghold and proceeding to ruthlessly dispose of just about everyone in his path, the tone of Close Range is set from the beginning. The mysterious fighter is Colton MacReady (Scott Adkins), a soldier turned outlaw who is more than willing to battle a corrupt sheriff and a drug cartel as he hunts for his sister and

Macbeth

MOVIES MOVIESher young daughter. It’s not exactly award-winning cinema, but if you like your body count high and dialogue mumbled and gruff, give Close Range a go.

The Good Dinosaur

Playing out like Ice Age in reverse, The Good Dinosaur is about a bumbling Apatosaurus named Arlo (voiced by Raymond Ochoa), who makes an unlikely (not to mention implausible) young human friend (voiced by Jack Bright) who is determined to reunite the dinosaur with the rest of his family. Paleontological inaccuracies aside, the team at Pixar have come up with a suitably cutesy set of dinosaurs and thrown them into a familiar set up, along with a dash of mild peril, impressive visuals and a happy ending that will have young viewers smiling throughout.

DILWALE Touted as one of the biggest releases of the year despite available details on the plot being relatively scarce, Dilwale sees Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol Devgan come together in a romantic comedy, slated for release next week. Director Rohit Shetty has assured audiences that there will also be plenty of action packed in for good measure.

Perhaps one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, Macbeth gets a 2015 update in the form of Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel’s offering. After s fantastic big-screen treatment from Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa and Roman Polanski, you may ask what more can be done with the same story? The answer is a lot.

The film may be new, but the setting and words are not, with Macbeth taking place in Middle Ages Scotland and all the words spoken are written by the bard himself.

The battle-weary general Macbeth (Michael Fassbender) receives a prophecy that he is to one day claim the throne of Scotland and sets about bringing this dream to life by murdering

his king at the behest of his ambitious and greedy wife (played excellently by Marion Cotillard). What follows however, is a series of events that ultimately consume the newly crowned king.

If you think you know this story inside out, then think again. Macbeth may be a 400-year-old drama, but Kurzel and his screenwriters have cut iconic moments (no more toil and trouble), while breathing new life into others, reinterpreting them in unique way.

From blistering battle scenes to intense and emotionally raw performances, this is Shakespeare on film at its finest. 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

FOUR CITY CINEMA TICKETS

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Contact: Movie enquiries 24607360

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONWhat kind of dinosaur is Arlo?

LAST WEEK'S WINNERAjin Kuvakkat Anuraj

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO:

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

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

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 1 6

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 1 8

KIDS CAN EXCEL

THIS WEEKD E C E M B E R

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Looking to enroll your children in a fun yet educational activity? Art Excel is an excellent workshop for children aged between eight and 13. The course supports the overall well-being of kids by teaching them a variety of empowering techniques through a variety of games and activities, including art. They’ll have fun but also learn valuable lessons like sharing with others, working and playing in harmony and developing a sense of belonging with others. The workshop will be held in Ghubra from 10am to 4pm. For details, call 9524 4175 or 9280 1152.

Listen to the mesmerising tunes from the golden age of Bollywood at the Amitabh Aur Main concert, an illustrious event filled with melody and the nostalgic tunes of living legend Amitabh Bachchan, all sung by Sudesh Bhosle, together with Siddhant Bhosle and Arpita Thakkar. It’s a live musical event of the superstar’s greatest hits, happening at the City Amphitheatre in Qurum. Gates open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm. For ticket enquiries and group bookings, call 9618 2080 or email info@lightandshadowllc.com

This is your last chance to meet up with the fabulous ladies from the Women’s Guild in Oman before 2015 ends. They’ll be getting together a day before the New Year’s Eve celebrations for one of their famous coffee mornings. Meet at McKenzie’s Cafe & Deli in Madinat al Sultan Qaboos. Chat over coffee and cake from 10am to 12pm and gossip about what 2016 may have in store. For details, visit womensguildoman.com

18 - 22DEC

Cuban Sounds

COFFEE TIME

30D

ec

Golden Bolly

26Dec

The Sound of Cuba is an unforgettable performance by Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Havana’s Grammy-winning musicians who have taken Cuba’s traditional sound all over the world. Now, they’re coming to Muscat to perform at the Royal Opera House Muscat for one night only. Show starts at 7pm and ticket prices are from just RO5. For bookings, visit rohmuscat.org.om

27Dec

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 9 0 1 9

G a l l e r y M o v i e s

American soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, one of the leading operatic singers of her generation and hailed for her engaging interpretations of Verdi’s heroines, will sing some of the Italian

master’s most brilliant arias in a one-night only performance at the Royal Opera House Muscat. Accompanied by the PKF – Prague Philharmonia, it promises to be an unmissable evening. Curtain rises at 7pm. Ticket prices from RO5. For bookings and more information, visit rohmuscat.org.om Lad

y Sing

s the

Arias

Hop on board and meander down the coastline to Sifah enjoying canapés and light bites as you watch the world drift by in the latest InterNations trip. Afterwards, you can chill out at an exclusively booked campsite in the afternoon, take a stroll down the beach, a dip in the waves, snooze in the sun or simply catch up with old and new friends. As the sun sets, local chefs will prepare an authentic Omani meal with a little festive influence. Price is RO57 per person. For queries and bookings, check out internations.org

18 - 19Dec

If you thought a zarzuela was a fish stew, you would be forgiven for missing the recent production of Viva Madrid.

But then you would have missed the most perfect blend of flamboyant dance, spicy rhythms and delicious operatic songs that

delighted audiences on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday this week.The Youth Orchestra Comunidad de Madrid was as energetic and

vibrant as any orchestra can be, yet perfect in its execution of the most intricate ornamentation, Spanish triplets, percussive crescendos and military brass fanfares under its ever-youthful conductor, Manuel Coves.

The biographies of the five principal soloists show participation in worldwide opera houses, but in Muscat they returned home and sang zarzuelas in their native Spanish. Juan Carlos Barona, a character tenor was hilarious as he flirted with the women in the laundry and the language was earthy, fit for washerwomen! Then Amparo Navarro, an accomplished soprano, was wickedly disdainful of the amourous advances of Jose Sola, the lead tenor with a voice as versatile as it is beautiful. This was evident in the spellbinding, tender yet powerful, Bella Enamorada, of the first act, only to be surpassed by his rendering of Fernando’s Romance in the second act.

The baritone, César San Martín, propelled us splendidly into the 1930s with the chorus dressed in period costumes in a wild and gregarious dance, and later in a haunting lament, Joaquin’s Romanza, which explored the expressive quality of his outstanding and colourful voice.

No Spanish performance is complete without a nod to the famous flamenco style of Andalucia, and this was saved until close to the end. Women, clad in red layered skirts, rattled castanets in their hands as they stamped out the final fandango to rapturous applause.

For details of forthcoming performances at the Royal Opera House Muscat, visit rohmuscat.org.om

Georgina Benison exeriences a night of Spanish passion at the Royal Opera House Muscat

Viva Madrid

Christmas Cruise

Need to get into the festive mood? Why not try the Gingerbread House Decorating Class at the Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, for lots of seasonal fun? Open to children aged five and over, it’s a great way to keep them entertained. All classes will be held in the Al Maha Lounge from 4pm-5pm. RO7 per class but hotel guests can take part for free. For reservations, call 2476 4000.

GINGER FUN

20 - 24Dec

Financial literacy is back in the spotlight

after a new survey found that two thirds

of the world’s adult population lack smart money skills. But how does Oman stack up? Team Y investigates

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 2 0

DOLLARS

AND SENSE

Sajid al Askari learned some tough lessons during the financial crisis, but has recovered and now owns a successful company in Muscat.

It is 2006 and Sajid al Askari is preparing to take a huge leap of faith: moving his successful events business from Oman to the UAE.

With business booming in the UAE at the time, particularly in property development, Sajid and his business partner were keen to set up in Dubai to expand their horizons – and fortunes.

And no wonder. Dubai’s property prices practically quadrupled between 2002 and 2008, while there were trillions of dirhams committed to developing projects such as Dubailand, Palm Jumeirah and The World.

Fortunately, Sajid and his business partner found they were in the right place at the right time. Not only that, their business, Brand Impact, was focused on the lucrative property market, where they hosted events for developers to sell properties to investors.

“It was a big market and growing fast, whereas Oman was steady,” says Sajid, 42, who is now the founder and chief executive of Muscat-based Mursi United.

“I started a company called Brand Impact with a close friend and we were doing great work, at least 20 to 25 times more than we were doing in Oman.”

But elsewhere, the cracks were beginning to show and in 2007, global markets collapsed spectacularly on the back of the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US. It was a catastrophic time for world markets, banks and businesses, as well as for the personal finances of millions of people worldwide.

It was another year or so before the global financial crisis spread its ugly, grasping tentacles to Dubai, where the property bubble had continued growing unabated.

But it was only a matter of time before the bubble burst. And we know what happened next: Dubai risked defaulting on its US$20 billion sovereign debt and was bailed out by Abu Dhabi. Property developments worth a total of about AED1 trillion came to a screeching halt, either scrapped entirely or put on hold, businesses closed down as their lines of credit dried up and clients stopped paying their bills. Property prices

0 2 1D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 9

plummeted, along with the stock market.

The personal cost was also high, as Sajid and his business partner quickly discovered.

“The crisis hit and we lost everything overnight,” Sajid says, adding that they didn’t realise anything was wrong until their first client disappeared after failing to settle their account.

“As the business was growing, it was easy to get the payments back. And then you start giving away credit periods and they were going into six months, which, at that point in Dubai, was okay.

“So there was a lot of money that had to come in and then the crisis hit.

Fortunately for us, we had a system where we were paying our suppliers on time, so we had no issues, but we lost a lot of money – AED3.2 million [RO335,406.97].”

Sajid, who was born in Dubai and moved to Oman in 1985 with his Omani mother and Indian father, admits that he wasn’t financially savvy before the crisis hit, but he has learned some tough lessons – both personally and in business.

However, Sajid is certainly not alone in admitting this – even today, more than eight years after the global credit crunch, millions of adults worldwide continue to lack smart money skills.

In fact, a recent Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Financial Literacy Global Survey has found that one in three adults worldwide are not financially literate.

One of the largest studies of its kind, the survey’s organisers interviewed 150,000 adults in more than 140 countries, testing them on four basic financial concepts: numeracy, interest compounding, inflation and risk diversification.

The report found that in the GCC region, the results were not as disparate as the global average, with 40 per cent of men being financially literate compared with 36 per cent of women.

“Interestingly, all ages interviewed in the region scored similarly on their respective financial literacy rates with all age ranges achieving an average of 38 per cent literacy,” the report says.

However, this is far below Sweden, Norway and Denmark, all of which tied for first place with 71 per cent of their adult populations having a good understanding of financial literacy.

“With technology spreading the design of innovative banking services and payment methods, it is critical that we understand who knows what around the world,” says Leora Klapper, the lead economist at the World Bank Development Research Group and one of the authors of the S&P survey.

“My hope is that this data [from the survey] will help policymakers in finding ways to boost financial literacy and consumer protection and help open the door to greater financial inclusion and economic empowerment.”

Karim*, a Muscat-based expat from India who works in marketing, has learned the importance of financial literacy the hard way. Despite having very little knowledge about stocks, the father of three, who has been in Oman for several years, invested his family’s life savings in the market.

“In about 2004 or 2005, I can’t remember very clearly, we were advised by a bank official, who we regularly went to for advice, to invest money in shares at the Muscat Securities Market,” Karim says.

“My wife and I gave it some thought.

MY HOPE IS THAT THIS DATA [FROM THE SURVEY] WILL

HELP POLICYMAKERS IN FINDING WAYS TO BOOST

FINANCIAL LITERACY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

AND HELP OPEN THE DOOR TO GREATER FINANCIAL

INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

We studied it a little, but maybe not well enough and finally came up with the decision to invest our money in shares as that was supposed to be a good way to multiply your money faster. This is what our initial impression was.

“So we consulted a broker who advised us to buy the right shares and then we bought them and made some profits out of it. Actually, I did make some really good profits at the start and the more we made profits, the more attracted we got to the share market.

“However, we had no idea of what was coming. If we did, we would have taken it all out from the market. We just didn’t study the whole thing well enough and during the recession period of 2007, everything went so low and we lost so much money.”

Emboldened by making profits from their earlier investments, Karim says the worse decision he and his wife made was to withdraw their life savings and sink it all into stocks.

“We invested a lot of money – a figure I can’t even say here,” he says. “It was huge – basically all of our savings over the years.

“I wish someone back then had stopped us and told us to not put it all in. We were naïve. We were just told that it would help us increase our money. I wish that someone had also warned us about the other side.

“Ever since then, we have been struggling. We didn’t withdraw any money from shares after that because we still had the hope that it would rise one day. It’s been eight years now and nothing has improved.”

These days, Karim’s dreams of a secure financial future for his family are in tatters. He can’t afford to send his children abroad for their higher education, while they are struggling to pay off a mortgage back home.

“We are facing a really tough situation,” he admits.

“I think banks and other financial institutions need to have some basic financial literacy workshops for people like us, who are weak with their knowledge in finances.”

It is crucial for everybody to understand even the basics of financial literacy to ensure they have a secure future, the S&P study says.

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“Financial ignorance carries significant costs,” it warns. “Consumers who fail to understand the concept of interest compounding spend more on transaction fees, run up bigger debts and incur higher interest rates on loans. They also end up borrowing more and saving less money.

“[But] the potential benefits of financial literacy are manifold. People with strong financial skills do a better job planning and saving for retirement.”

And that’s exactly what some expats in Oman have done, saying that they have used their time here to secure their financial futures.

Bernardo is one such person. The 35-year-old Italian recently left Oman after spending three years working for a European company that was under contract with Oman’s military forces.

“I always had a good amount of disposable income each month, even though life in Oman was quite expensive,” he says.

“My company covered the cost of my house [a townhouse in Al Mouj Muscat], car, fuel and phone; so for me, only the food and the housemaid remained to pay from my monthly salary.

“I had some luxury things like a boat and a jet ski and I was able to take good holidays. It was a good life in Oman and I never had any problems with money.

“Thanks to Oman, I saved enough money to buy a house in Italy. I can afford to live even without a job right now because of the money I put aside.

“I saved enough to put 40 per cent of the house price down as a deposit and only had to loan 60 per cent from the bank.”

According to the S&P survey, financially savvy people are also more likely to diversify risk by spreading funds across several ventures.

Bernardo agrees with this strategy,

saying he invests his money in a variety of options rather than keeping it all in the bank.

“For me, stocks and shares are interesting if you are able to play at this game,” he says.

“I see gold and silver as a very long-term investment because now they are very cheap. You can buy the coins and keep them with you for a long time. When the prices rise again, it is time to sell. It is like insurance for me in case of some economic crash – that is why I do it.

“I am not an expert, but I like to think I am a bit smart with fiscal matters.”

While Sajid al Askari lost his business in Dubai and returned to Muscat at the end of 2008 with nothing more than his car and RO20 in his pocket, he was able to get back on his feet with help of his family, putting the financial lessons he learned to good use.

Today, his company Mursi United has four divisions specialising in the fields of event management, health and safety and a soon-to-be-opened spa in Oman Avenues Mall. He’s gone from a one-man start-up to a owning a company that employs 50 people, 95 per cent of them Omani.

“I think I am very careful in terms

I WISH SOMEONE BACK THEN HAD STOPPED US AND TOLD

US TO NOT PUT IT ALL IN. WE WERE NAÏVE. WE WERE JUST TOLD THAT IT WOULD HELP US INCREASE OUR MONEY. I WISH THAT SOMEONE HAD

ALSO WARNED US ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE

of my finances,” he says. “Previously, my knowledge of financials was limited and I was more focused on getting projects and cracking deals.

“My rules [now] are very simple: we make sure we cover our costs first and have a payment plan that would not exceed more than 30 days and usually I would take 100 per cent in advance.

“We say no to work if we don’t agree with the payment terms. I don’t believe waiting for six months just because it is a big company. Dubai has really opened up my eyes.

“My personal finances are [also] back on track and I have already diversified my savings into agriculture and property and we have investments in the Philippines, such as real estate.”

Six years ago, Michael* was forced to flee another GCC country after running up huge debts. Now living in Muscat and paying off his debts, he says he has learned some very valuable lessons.

“In my mind, I have learned my lesson, but probably not 100 per cent – I still do make minor mistakes,” Michael says.

Looking back on how he ran up massive debts on credit cards and extravagant holidays, Michael admits his spending spiralled out of control after he became caught up in the expat lifestyle. At its height, he blew RO4,000 on a week-long trip to Las Vegas in the United States.

By the end, he had six credit cards and two personal bank loans with debts of more than RO29,000, along with a property in Cyprus, which he sold for a loss after the financial crash. Unable to meet the huge monthly payments and with the banks closing in, he fled the country.

“I’m embarrassed about what I’ve done and how stupid I’ve been,” he says. “I’m still frustrated at myself for being so silly.

“It’s not as if I grew up without being told about being money smart. Both my mum and dad gave me very sound financial advice – I even had a pension when I was 18 – but I just ignored it when I got older.

“I’m only thankful that my behaviour didn’t affect anyone else, a wife or dependents, it was just me.”

With a steady job in Oman, Michael is slowly paying back his creditors and hopes to be debt free by 2019.

“I try to prioritise things. I recently had an electricity bill that needed paying urgently so I cancelled a planned weekend away to make the payment.

“I don’t tend to spend on going out to restaurants or nights out. My weakness is that I like gadgets.”

He has also taken out a personal loan from a bank in Oman to repay a lump sum from the outstanding debts, although he says he now feels more in control of his money.

“I have learned to plan my finances, ” he says. “I try plan for my priorities and essentials and forward plan for any possibilities. But I could be doing better.

“I do believe that I will get myself debt free in another three more years. That’s my goal and by 2019, I should be clear.

“By then, I would also like to have a financial cushion, some savings, and I am talking with my financial adviser about starting to contribute to an offshore savings account.”

The question is: when he’s debt free, will Michael be able to control his spending and not get into debt again?

“I honestly don’t know if I will,” he says. “I don’t know if it’s an addiction [spending]. It’s not my intention to get into debt again. I honestly hope that I will save and set myself up with a comfortable nest egg.

“But there is that thought that once I have cleared everything, I will go and blow it. All I can say is that I really don’t want that ball to start rolling again.”

* The names of some interviewees have been changed to protect their privacy

QWhy are smart money skills so

important in this day and age?

A We live in a world where you need

money to survive and having the right skills will make life easier. Unless you plan to live totally off-grid like a hermit, you need to know how to balance your bank account, how to get the right mortgage, how to save and invest for your future. Without some knowledge, it is easy to be misled into making poor decisions that could have negative consequences.

Q Who is responsible for teaching us financial literacy?

AParents have a responsibility to bring their children up to be aware of the value of money and to realise that “it doesn’t grow

on trees” and we have a responsibility to educate ourselves. I would like to see basic financial literacy included in schools, especially in the later years as it is so important. Certainly financial companies, including banks, insurance companies and brokers, also have a responsibility to explain their products clearly and in a way that is not misleading.

QWhat’s the most common mistake people make with their finances?

AThe biggest mistakes are probably not being fully aware of their outgoings so they get in to debt, paying interest unnecessarily, and

not planning for the future. Just about everyone could benefit from keeping a budget to not only ensure that they are not overspending, but also to see where money is wasted or can be saved. Not repaying debts, especially on costly credit cards, is a huge waste of money. People are often horrified when they find out what they have wasted in interest payments. As we live longer, it becomes even more important to save for our old age, but few people are saving anywhere near enough and they don’t start early enough.

Q: What lessons have been learned since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC)?

AFar too few! I suspect the biggest changes have been from banks in the way that they lend money. Many, often following directives from

central banks, have tightened up their lending criteria by restricting the amounts that can be borrowed in an attempt to reduce defaulters. Despite this, global levels of borrowing are higher than ever and the message that debt is dangerous doesn’t appear to have sunk in. Too many people are still burying their heads in the sand and not managing their investments properly, or not taking advice from the right people. In terms of investments, markets are volatile and the right management makes a difference. People are still borrowing money and getting into debt, often when there is no real need.

Q Have financial literacy skills improved since the GFC?

A If they have, then I don’t think they have by much, certainly not on a personal level. Many people are still carrying around

high levels of personal debt and will again be in difficulty if the economy sees a downturn or they lose their jobs. While banks should be prudent in their lending, adults still have to take personal responsibility for their actions.

QWhat would be your best advice for people when it comes to managing their money?

A Be honest with yourself. Work to a budget, keep an emergency fund aside in case of redundancy and protect both yourself and your

family from the financial consequences of illness or death. Limit debt and don’t spend what you don’t have. Planning for what could happen, or go wrong, next week, month or year should be a priority and too many people still leave this to chance. Take advice from qualified professionals, but ensure you have some understanding of what you are doing.

Visit Keren’s website at financialuae.com

Keren Bobker is a senior consultant at Holborn Assets in Dubai. Here, she offers some expert advice on becoming financially savvy

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TEST YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS

Suppose you have some money. Is it safer to put your money into one business or investment, or to put your money into multiple businesses or investments? A) One B) Multiple C) Don’t know

Suppose over the next 10 years the prices of the things you buy double. If your income ALSO doubles, will you be able to buy less than you can buy today, the same as you can buy today, OR more than you can buy today? A) Less B) The same C) More D) Don’t know

Suppose you need to borrow 100 dollars. Which is the lower amount to pay back: 105 dollars or 100 dollars plus three percent? A)105 B) 100 + 3% C) Don’t know

Suppose you put money in the bank for two years and the bank agrees to add 15 per cent per year to your account. Will the bank add MORE money to your account the second year than it did the first year, or will it add the SAME amount of money both years? A) More B) The same C) Don’t know

Suppose you had 100 dollars in a savings account and the bank adds 10 per cent per year to the account. How much money would you have in the account after five years if you did not remove any money from the account: more than 150 dollars, exactly 150 dollars, or less than 150 dollars? A) More than 150 B) Exactly 150 C) Less than 150 D) Don’t know

Take the test online at: mhfi.com/corporate-responsibility/global-financial-literacy-survey

ARE YOU FINANCIALLY SAVVY OR DO YOUR SMART MONEY SKILLS LEAVE A LOT TO BE DESIRED? TAKE THE S&P GLOBAL FINANCIAL LITERACY QUIZ TO FIND OUT.

Top 10 most financially literate countries in the world1. Norway – 71%2. Denmark – 71%3. Sweden – 71%4. Israel – 68%5. Canada – 68%6. UK – 67% 7. Netherlands – 66%8. Germany – 66%9. Australia – 64%10. Finland – 63%

In the second part of our special series, we meet two female high achievers who have made their mark in very different sportsInterviews: Matt Blackwell & Deeba Hasan

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Fatma al Nabhani, 24, professional tennis player

At the tender age of nine, Fatma al Nabhani chalked up her first victory on the court in the West Asia Tennis Championship – picking up two gold and two silver medals – and she’s been pushing sporting and cultural boundaries ever since.

Bursting onto the international scene at such a young age meant Fatma had to cope with tremendous expectations while still at primary school, but not only did she learn to deal with it, she used it to her advantage as motivation and inspiration.

Now at the age of 24, Fatma has four singles and four doubles titles on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) tour to her name. And as the only female tennis pro in the Gulf, she is flying the flag for not only Oman, but for women all over the Arab region.

“I grew up in a tennis family, my mum taught us the game,” says Fatma, whose two older brothers also play.

“No one forced me to train, I just loved the game because it was all around me. As we say, it runs in your blood.

“Being one of the very few women athletes in Oman, the spotlight was on me. I got pressured because people always expect the best from you,” she says. “You win tournaments, but sometimes they don’t understand that you cannot keep winning all the time; you have to lose and learn from your mistakes.”

When she was 13, Fatma started playing international tournaments, smashing her opponents out of the court. She was Arab champion, GCC champion, and West Asian champion for four years in a row, before rising to be among the world’s top 30 juniors.

By the age of 19, Fatma was ranked at 362 in the world, a huge achievement for a player who didn’t have a regular coach. She has competed in four Grand Slam tournaments.

It has not been all plain sailing, however. Fatma has had to face some criticism about her career along the way. There were issues with her tennis outfits (she

plays in a long-sleeved top and wears leggings under her skirt) and longstanding preconceived ideas about Arab women in sport.

“For every successful person you find people who speak negatively about them, they […] say she is a girl, she should stay home and not be exposed, stuff like that,” says Fatma.

Support from her family and friends kept her going, along with a burning inner determination to succeed despite, or perhaps because of, the negative comments.

“I continued because of the support my family gave me, they supported me very much, especially my mother. With all the support and the people around me, family, friends [and] fans, I never thought of quitting.”

When she was 16, Fatma won approval from the ITF to cover up while playing on court, the first girl to be given such dispensation. If she could, Fatma says she would play wearing the hijab to cover her hair, but rules in the game forbid it.

During her travels around the world on the tennis circuit she has become an unofficial ambassador for Oman and a representative for Arab women in global sport.

“A lot of people are surprised when they see me,” says Fatma. “They don’t know where Oman is and when I say I’m from the Middle East, they think that we live in the desert and that women have to wear niqab [a veil with only the eyes exposed] and they ask how I’m able to play tennis.”

Fatma has had to make many sacrifices for her career, missing out on a normal life, as WOMEN

OF OUR TIME

she travels the world. While her friends are settling down in jobs, or thinking about marriage and children, she spends up to six hours a day practicing or working on fitness.

It can be hard at times, particularly as a woman travelling to tournaments alone. Without a regular coach for two years – her mother stopped coaching her when she was 16 and she cannot afford another one at the moment – she has to rely on a sparring partner to practice.

Despite this, she has just had one of her best years in the sport, winning 14 titles and picking up a gold medal in the GCC Women’s Games held in Oman in March. In February this year, she made history at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships by becoming the first WTA player from this region to win a doubles match at a Premier 5 event.

Last week, Fatma was given an award by the Emir of Qatar in Doha for sporting excellence in the GCC.

As for the future of women’s tennis in Oman, Fatma is hopeful that there will be more like her coming through the ranks soon. She is now the role model for a new generation of young Omani sportswomen.

“Not just tennis but all sports for women in Oman are improving. We have a basketball team, a volleyball team and a very good athletics team. I am really happy to see that,” says Fatma.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have any sportswomen to look up to, but this generation is very lucky. The girls have facilities and they see me and think: ‘I could reach better than Fatma. If she did it, then I am able to achieve it.’

“I love seeing young girls playing tennis and trying to be even better than me. When I stop playing, I will try to find a talented tennis player to work with. I really want to teach them and give them a bit of the knowledge that I have.”

For now, Fatma’s immediate goal is to qualify for the Rio Olympics 2016. To be accepted for the tennis tournament, she needs a world ranking of 300. She’s currently at 377, so it looks like she’s in for a hard slog.

“You have to let a lot of things go to succeed at tennis,” says Fatma. “You don’t have many friends [and] you can’t just enjoy your time. It’s all about working hard, sweating, pain, having sore muscles, travelling, being tired [and] jet lag.

“But we are doing what we love. It’s our passion and I cannot give up tennis.”

Suhaila al Balushi, 37, freediverSunday to Thursday you will find Suhaila al Balushi working

hard in the office of Occidental of Oman, where she is a data and planning team leader, but come the weekend, an altogether different side of her is revealed.

Four months ago, she became a qualified freediver and since then she has been blazing her own trail in the sport, inspiring and encouraging Omani women to follow in her footsteps.

Having been fascinated with the sea and an avid swimmer for as long as she can remember, Suhaila was on the lookout for a hobby that would relax her and stumbled across freediving after a recommendation from a colleague.

“I deal with a lot of data and have a lot of meetings every day,” she explains. “It is a stressful time with the current oil crisis, but with freediving, you are forcing yourself to relax.”

Freediving can be traced back to ancient cultures, when it was used to gather food, and involves the participant diving to great depths without the aid of breathing apparatus, instead relying solely on their ability to hold their breath.

After a teasing taster of the serenity that exists beneath the sea, Suhaila was hooked and set about becoming fully qualified in the sport. She achieved this feat just a month later and says how it has helped her find out more about herself, her body’s boundaries and its abilities.

“You start to know what you are capable of. There are a lot of things, for instance, I never thought I would be able to hold my breath for two minutes the first time I tried,” she says.

“And it is just you. No one else is around so it makes me feel strong and I learn a lot about myself when freediving.”

The hobby has developed into a passion over a short space of time and now Suhaila would love to take the sport further, although she struggles to find the balance between her work, freediving and her duties as a single mother of two. “I would love to be a champion,” she admits shyly.

“I would also love to see more Omani women taking part in freediving. It would encourage and motivate us. I was the only female [in training] and one of the challenges I was facing was a lack of peers around me that I could talk to about it.

“There are a lot of people who don’t know about it, but I want females all over Oman to know that there is a sport like this that they can try and that it is relaxing.

“Omani females are strong and can definitely be part of freediving,” she says. “They work hard and I am sure they would love to so something like this, but sometimes the culture restricts them.” Here, she cites the wetsuit required to participate in open

water freediving as one of the potential cultural taboos women may encounter.

Suhaila did not ask for permission from her family to pursue freediving and knows that there will be some of them who do not like it, but she is enjoying her new hobby and hopes to continue her growth in the sport.

“I know that they [Omani women] are capable and maybe if they see someone else starting it that will encourage them, ” says Suhaila.

But does she see herself as a role model for her fellow Omani women? The question is met with a pause before Suhaila modestly replies: “I don’t know. Yes, I could be, but it is difficult to tell because it is so soon.”

Her coach and founder of Freediving Oman, Yahya al Hooti, is a lot clearer on the issue, however.

“Holding your breath for two minutes the first time is not easy,” he says. “A lot of Omani women don’t even know how to swim, so I believe this a big achievement.

“If she continues to train and learn, I expect Suhaila will be a very good freediver; she has the knowledge and skills, now she just needs the experience.

“If I feel there is ambition in the participant I will push them and this is what I felt with Suhaila. She shows talent and potential to progress,” meaning that her dreams of one day being a champion may not be that far fetched.

According to Yahya, there has been an increase in the number of women booking his freediving courses over recent weeks, showing that whether she is willing to admit it or not, Suhaila really is inspiring women in Oman to try new things and push their own personal boundaries.

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BeginBegin

AUDITIONS FORPre

sents

In Association with

Y’s Coolest Fresher has kicked off with a big bang, with auditions now being held in colleges around Muscat as we search for the king and queen of cool

Dressed in a white T-shirt and black waistcoat,

Ayman showcased some brilliant vocal talent

on stage to the delight of audiences and judges

alike at the first batch of auditions for Y’s Coolest

Fresher, which kicked off last week.

We started off at Oman Tourism College (OTC) before

moving to the National Hospitality Institute (NHI) and

Waljat College of Applied Sciences, where students showed

off their talents for singing, dancing, beat boxing, rapping,

poetry recitals, salad dressing, tarot card reading, and

playing different instruments.

The air was full of excitement as Team Y visited the

colleges to choose four cool first-year students – one male

and one female student for the talent show and one male

and one female student for the Splash fashion walk.

“It’s an amazing initiative to encourage young talents in

Muscat and I am really happy to see my friends participate.

I was here to motivate my friends who are taking part,” says

Adham, a senior student at OTC.

Y’s Coolest Fresher is presented by Splash, the Middle

East’s largest fashion retailer and part of the Landmark

Group, powered by Ford Figo and is in association with

NESCAFE 3 in 1.

Mark, a student who was selected for the fashion walk

from the NHI, expressed his excitement, saying: “I am

really happy to have been chosen for the fashion walk, it’s a

great event and I am looking forward to the finals.”

Y will be visiting 10 colleges in total over the coming

weeks to find those worthy of a place in the Grand Finale

on January 20, which will pit the top two male and female

students from each college against each other as they battle

it out to win a hefty cash prize.

“I enjoyed it very much, in fact I like it when I see the

young generation moving forward towards whatever

they like doing,” says Fahad al

Hinai, a judge at Y’s Coolest

Fresher auditions

“Whenever I see someone

play an instrument, it grabs my attention and the poetry

recitation was brilliant as well. It helps us find fresh, hidden

talents around Muscat and it’s really nice that Y Magazine

is providing a proper platform to showcase their talents.”

Excitement continues to build and we’re expecting the

standard to be high as students strut their stuff on stage

at the remaining auditions. If you attend any of the

colleges listed below, make sure you go along to

support your friends in the spotlight and cheer

them on to reach the final.

“After being involved in

the music scene in Oman,

I’ve analysed a lot of live

performers and studied what makes

a performer good or bad, says

Azzam al Raeesi, another of the

competition’s judges. “To me,

it was a great experience and to meet all

these talents was just amazing. I loved the tarot

reading, it was a totally out-of-the-box show and it’s

always great to see these different types of skills. This

platform by Y should encourage these talents to get

out of their shells and get over their nervousness.”

By the end, the best male and female student

will be crowned the coolest fresher in Muscat and

walk away with RO250 cash each. On top of that,

they’ll have the street cred of knowing that they are

the talk of their college. Good luck and we look

forward to seeing you at the

remainder of the

auditions.

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Are You Cool Enough?If you attend any of the following colleges and

know anyone who is taking part in Y’s Coolest

Fresher, make sure you’re there at the auditions to

show your support and cheer them on their journey

to the Grand Finale.

1) Waljat College of Applied Sciences

2) Middle East College

3) Oman Tourism College

4) College of Banking and Financial Studies

5) Modern College of Business & Science

6) GUtech

7) International College of Engineering

and Management

8) Mazoon University College

9) National Hospitality Institute

10) Oman College of Management and Technology

You can log on to y-oman.com for more

information on the competition, or alternatively call

9405 1770

The audition period will run until January 13

The Grand Finale will be held at a special

venue on January 20

Ford Oman is giving away a

free iPad at each of the 10

colleges taking part in the

Coolest Fresher. All you

have to do to be in with a

chance to win this cool

prize is to take a test

drive of the exciting

new Ford Figo.

Ford will be showcasing

the new Figo at each of the colleges

during the auditions and offering test-drives. Any

student who takes a test drive will be entered into a raffle to

win an iPad.

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Thank you Café Malaysia, you taught me a valuable life lesson. From now on, I will do my best to banish any preconceptions, particularly when

dealing with dining spots. I’d heard of the restaurant before, but never

visited. I don’t know why, but I just had the image of a pleasant but casual café with a hint of an Oriental twist. However, the reality turned out to be quite different.

What I found waiting for me on my visit to Café Malaysia was effectively a roadside fast-food diner. With only a handful of tables inside and little to no effort put in to any form of décor, my two friends and I decided to sit outside, where the Saturday evening Al Khuwair traffic flew past in a blur of motion. Thankfully, the cool winter temperatures made al fresco dining a viable option, but I wouldn’t fancy it much when the mercury starts to rise once more.

Appearances aren’t everything and I know that some of the best food can be found at the most unassuming places, so I wasn’t willing to give up hope just yet; instead, I was holding out for a culinary experience that would transport me to the heart of Kuala Lumpur and the bustle of its street hawkers.

The menu spurred my optimism, with a selection of rice and noodle dishes as well as seafood, chicken, beef and a list of specials. There were no starters on offer so it was straight to the mains. I wasn’t familiar with anything on the menu, so was using the short descriptions in

English to guide me and eventually went for the nasi leak ayam goreng (coconut rice with fried chicken to you and me) from under the specials heading. My dining partners opted for a plate of vegetable noodles with a side of fried chicken and a “Ramly Special” burger.

Who goes to a Malaysian eatery and orders a burger you may ask? But hold your criticism because, if anything, it was the probably best choice of the night. As with everything at Café Malaysia, there were no frills in the presentation, but the beef patty, which we were told was flown in from Malaysia, got the thumbs up from my friend. The Ramly Special was also crammed with cheese, egg and a simple salad, but no sides such as fries.

The noodles arrived at the same time and were slightly less impressive. Thin and limp, they looked little different from something I cook rustle up in 90 seconds in the microwave at home and tasted only a little better.

A token smattering of carrot, cabbage and mushroom just about warranted the “vegetable” prefix, but the whole dish was a bit bland, lacking salt in particular.

Clearly there was nothing terribly “fast” about this fast food, as my own dish took a few more minutes to arrive. In fact, my friend was done with his burger by the time my food was brought to the table.

The huge dome of rice looked very neat, but it dwarfed the tiny piece of fried chicken that sat alongside. The chicken itself was not as I was expecting either; it appeared to have been dusted in something and then fried, as opposed to coated in any form of batter as I had expected.

It offered no revelations taste-wise; it was edible, if a little dry. The sambal was my saviour here. The moderately spicy and popular Malaysian condiment, typically made from chilli peppers, fish sauce, garlic, ginger and lime, was dolloped to one side and made the plain rice more palatable once I’d eaten my meagre piece of chicken.

The menu we’d viewed earlier had no desserts listed and the staff weren’t exactly forthcoming with a range of puddings, but based on our dining experience thus far, I probably would’ve thought twice about ordering anyway.

The servers had largely left us to our own devices, which was fine, apart from when I wanted to pay up and leave. I had to venture inside and drag someone out of the kitchen to process my bill.

The biggest positive to take from the experience was probably the price. With dinner and drinks for three coming to a little over RO7, you really can’t complain too much. The same meal would easily cost four times as much at another restaurant, but then it’s a case of swings and roundabouts, as the quality would doubtless be higher as well.

From looking at the restaurant’s Facebook page, lunch, which is served in buffet format, appears to offer a more authentic option and the variety of dishes could warrant further investigation, but apart from that, I’ll likely not be back in a hurry.

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

MEDIOCRE MALAYSIAN

Info BoxCAFÉ MALAYSIAN

Dohat al Adab Street, nr Muscat Grand Mall, Al Khuwair

Tel: 9445 3050Opening hours: Monday-

Thursday 12pm-3pm, 6pm-11pm, Friday 8am-11am,

6pm-11pm, Saturday 8am-3pm, 6pm-11pm

Dinner and drinks for three: RO7.3

Verdict :5 / 10 Service

5 / 10 Food 5 / 10 Ambience

Food that justifies the price

Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

BUDGET

CAFÉ MALAYSIA PROMISES AUTHENTIC MALAY CUISINE, BUT FROM FACILITIES TO FARE, MATT BLACKWELL FINDS IT ALL A BIT AVERAGE

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Get The Look

HEALTH&BEAUTY

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

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 3 2

PARTY TIMEWith schools heading into the

winter break, there’s a lot of fun things to look forward to over

the next couple of weeks. From year-end dances to festive

season parties with your BFFs, we find the perfect look for

tweens and teens to shine like stars, such as this cute outfit

from Primark UK.

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Get The Look

From the high end to the high street,

Felicity Glover helps you to get the look

1. Deciding on what to wear to a party can be difficult. If you are worried about overdressing, hedge your bets and try pairing a pair of biker boots with black tights to give your favourite party look a funky edge. 2. Add a splash of colour to your outfit with some fun, bright accessories. 3. Be confident and have fun!HOW TO WEAR

This black and silver sequin dress from BHS will keep you sparkling all night long. From RO16.3

Add a pop of colour to your handbag and clip on this seriously cute Claire’s pom-pom keyring with googly eyes. From RO3.5

Dress up your nails with these funky stick-on designs from Claire’s. From RO3.5

Try this Accessorize novelty shopfront cross-over bag for size – it’s a perfect hold-all for lip gloss, a small purse and that tween/teen essential: a mobile phone. From RO18.6

Shine like the star that you are in this moon and stars dress from Next. From RO23.3

Can’t decide which shoes go best with your outfit? You could try these M&S silver glitter ankle boots (left), from RO15.1, or pump up the volume with these cute “wow/yay” pumps from Next (above). From RO8.1

Everyday glam make-up lookFor girly gatherings, festive first dates and the

legendary office party, this look tastefully embraces the sparkle of the season using just three versatile makeup brushes.

1 After prepping skin, sweep your face with powder using the 103 Angled Powder Brush to flatten skin

and set your face.

2 Using the same brush, work bronzer all around your face. To add a contour, pinch the brush and

work it down your cheekbone, letting the brush do the work.

3 Brighten eyes and lift dark circles by applying concealer under the eyes and in the inner

corners, also applying around the base of your nose to cover imperfections, using the 200 Oval Shadow Brush.

4 Flip the shadow brush to apply a pop of eye shadow over the eyelids for a subtle wash of

colour, and finish eyes with two coats of black mascara.

5 Use the 300 Tapered Blush

Brush to apply blush to the apples of your cheeks.

6 With the same brush, layer

highlighter on the top of the cheekbones for a slight glimmer.

7 Finish off the look with a light

pink lip gloss.

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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 l t h F a s h i o nHEALTH&BEAUTY

HOLIDAY Let your festive season celebrations sizzle with these on trend makeup looks

MAKEUP

Tis the season to be merry as your social calendar fills up with festive events. Don your favourite cool weather wear and get ready for some fun with glamorous looks to suit every occasion, from brunch with girlfriends to elegant parties.

“The holidays are a fantastic time to amp up your make-up routine with cheerful hues, subtle shimmers and bold, beautiful eyes,” says Sam Chapman, who, along with her sister Nic, runs the UK’s number one beauty YouTube channel, Pixiwoo.

To help bring your look together for the festive season, Sam and Nic have shared holiday looks inspired by two new make-up brush sets from their Real Techniques collection. Perfect for any beauty guru, they make transforming your holiday make-up look effortless.

“Whether a gift for you or a loved one, a brush set like the Deluxe Gift Set will make you feel like a make-up pro. From a flawless base to a smoky eye, this five-brush set has your holiday look covered, complete with two exclusive brushes, and a trendy white clutch for on-the-go,” says Nic. “The luxe Bold Metals Collection Essentials is another great way to give the gift of glam. For the first time, we’re bringing together three must-have brushes from the popular Bold Metals Collection, which will add a beautiful and enviable shine to any makeup bag.”

Try out these make-up looks to get into the holiday spirit:

Festive holiday party make-up look

From dinner parties with friends, to hitting the town to toast the New Year in style, only an ultra-glamorous holiday look will do.

1 Start with a tapered foundation brush to work

primer into the skin.

2 Layer foundation over the top, working the product through the centre of the face

toward the jaw, making sure to also sweep under the eyes for a flawless base.

3 Apply eyelid primer using the base shadow brush, then set with a powder.

4 Next, run a grey shadow through the socket of the eye to create a soft shadow.

5 Dip the fine liner brush in gel liner for added definition. Use the side of the brush to draw a long, straight line and

the tip of the brush to create a soft cat eye.

6 Complete your enhanced eye look with a sweep of black mascara.

7 For a pop of colour, work blush across your cheeks using the multi-task brush.

8 Using the angled highlighter brush, apply a cream highlighter to the tops of the cheekbones and under the

brow bones.

9 Complete the look with a bold red or dark plum lipstick.

For more festive make-up inspiration or to watch video tutorials on how to create these dazzling holiday looks, visit realtechniques.com

* BPT

HOLIDAY

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Station• Pizza Hut• Pizza Muscat• Shell Petrol StationMGM• Caribou Coffee• Gloria Jean’s

Coffees• Just Falafel • Ooredoo• Paul • Tim HortonsAl Mina• Bait Al Baranda • Bait Al Zubair MQ• Al Fair• Arab Open

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& Deli• Mood Café• Oman Oil Petrol

Station• Papa John’s Pizza

• Pizza Hut• Saharz Beauty

Salon• StarbucksAl Murtafa’a• Bank Muscat• KFC• Muscat Hills Golf &

Country ClubMuscat International Airport• Caribou Coffee• Majan Lounge• Plaza Premium

LoungeMussanah• Millennium ResortMuttrah• Shell Petrol StationQantab• Al Bustan Palace • Marina Bandar Al

Rowdha• Oman Dive Center• Shangri-La Qurum• Al Araimi Complex• Balance Health &

Fitness • Bank Nizwa• BMW showroom • Burger King• Chili’s Restaurant• Crowne Plaza • Finland Eye Center• Fun Zone• Gloria Jean’s

Coffees• The Jungle

Restaurant• Left Bank• McDonald’s• Mercedes-Benz

Showroom• Mumtaz Mahal

Restaurant• Nandos• Nissan Showroom• Oman Oil Petrol

Station• Pizza Hut• Qurum

Commercial Complex

• Ras Al Hamra Club• SABCO Centre• Second Cup• Starbucks• The Sultan Center• Tche Tche Café Rusayl• Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -1• Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -2• Knowledge Oasis

Muscat -3

• Knowledge Oasis Muscat -4 (ITA)

• Middle East College

• Omantel• Waljat College of

Applied Sciences Ruwi• Apollo Medical

Centre• Kamat Restaurant • KFC• Khimji’s Mega

Store – Swarovski Showroom

• Khimji’s Watches • KM Trading• Oman Air• Oman UAE

Exchange• Oman Trading

Establishment • Saravana BhavanSarooj• Al Fair• Al Masa Mall• City Cinema • Ayana Spa• Cosmeclic• Emirates Medical

Center• McDonald’s• Shell Petrol Station• VLCC WellnessSawadi• Al Sawadi Beach

ResortSeeb• Golden Tulip Hotel• McDonald’sShatti Al Qurum• Bareeq Al Shatti

Complex• Caribou Coffee• D’Arcy’s Kitchen• German Eye

Centre• The Indus

Restaurant• InterContinental

Hotel Muscat• Jawharat Al Shatti

Complex• Kaya Skin Clinic• Muscat Eye Laser

Center• Oasis By The Sea• Second Cup • Starbucks• VLCC WellnessSifah• Sifawy Boutique

HotelSQU• Diplomatic Club• College of

Economics and

Political Science• Students Banking

Area• Reception/

CanteenWadi Kabir• Al Maya

Hypermarket• LuLu Hypermarket• Muscat Pharmacy • National

Hospitality Institute

• Pizza Hut • Shell Petrol StationWattayah• Ahli Bank• Best cars• BLS International

Services• Chevorlet/GM

showroom• Ford Showroom• Hatat House• Honda Showroom • Hyundai

showroom• Kia Showroom • Lexus Showroom• National Travel &

Tourism • Passage To India

Restaurant• Shell Petrol Station• Subaru showroom• Suzuki Showroom• Toyota ShowroomThe Wave• Almouj Golf • Costa Coffee• Oman Sail • Shakespeare & Co.• The Wave Head

Office

Other RegionsBarka• Al Nahda Spa and

Resort• LuLu HypermarketNizwa• University of

NizwaSohar• Centrepoint

(Splash)• Crowne Plaza• National Gift

Markets• Ooredoo• Pizza Hut• Safeer Mall• Sohar Beach Hotel• Sohar Port and

Freezone• Sohar University

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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 O u t d o o r s C a r sCARS ANDADVENTURES

Destination

Saham On the fringes of Sohar, Saham has a lot to offer

including a restored castle and a quaint vegetable market, finds Shaquel al Balushi

After a string of Destination pieces focusing on the beauty of Omani nature, I decided to branch out last week and

visit the ruins at Al Hamra. The theme continued this week when I decided to find myself a fort or castle.

With nothing particular in mind, I decided to try my luck and go out searching for one. A friend of mine told me that coastal areas often have a lot of castles, so I took his advice and journeyed north from Muscat. Although I was driving without entirely knowing where I was going, I was keeping Sohar as a back-up plan the whole time.

Travelling up the coast, the first castle I found was a little over 150km from my home in Amerat, but unfortunately it was closed for renovation and I was informed that it wouldn’t be ready for the public until the end of next year.

Unperturbed, I stopped a passerby and asked him if he knew of any other castles or forts located in the area. As it turned out, luck was on my side and he pointed me further up the coast along the same stretch of road. This was how I stumbled upon Saham Castle.

Small but perfectly formed, Saham Castle has been skilfully restored to its former glory and now stands proudly looking out to sea as it would have done hundreds of years ago. Set in a square, Saham Castle features a watchtower at each corner and a courtyard within the complex.

It was closed when I arrived on Thursday, but I shot it from the outside, capturing some images of the striking cannons that stood guard on either side of the heavy-looking bolted wooden door.

As I raised my lens upwards to get some pictures of the walls and windows, I noticed almost every shot had the same crow in. It was as if the bird was determined to have his 15 minutes of fame in Y Magazine and no matter where

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 9 0 3 9

I pointed my camera, he would fly over and perch in the same place, posing in the same style with his head slightly cocked to one side.

The castle is literally just across the road from a well-maintained beach, meaning you can enjoy them both together in one trip.

I found that a thriving community has sprung up around the castle, including a mosque and some shops. What interested me the most, though, was the ramshackle vegetable market that has established

itself in the shadow of the castle’s imposing walls. Not at all modern, the rickety stands looked like they had been cobbled together, but they were all staffed by proud elderly Omanis.

Local fishermen selling dried fish doubled as stallholders and I captured a pair of them taking some time out to play hawalis, a traditional game that was covered in Y Magazine in Issue 396. They were seasoned professionals, their hands flying across their homemade board with impressive speed.

I presume that Saham Castle is open for visitors at the weekend, as it has been lovingly restored, but even if it’s not the beach is directly across the road and you can enjoy a day on the sand and in the sea regardless. Even better, you can pick up some fresh produce to cook a great meal when you get home.

HOW TO GET THERESaham Castle is around two hours’ drive from Muscat, but it is very easy to find. Take Route 1 towards Sohar and take the Saham exit (next to Makka supermarket). Continue straight until you reach the coast road. Turn left and drive

until you see the castle on your left.

GPS location of Saham Castle: N24° 10’ 21.63” E56° 53’ 26.131”TR

AVEL

GUI

DE

WITH WINTER USHERING IN THE COOLER MONTHS, IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO START AL FRESCO LIVING AGAIN

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

As we head towards the end of December, the sweltering temperatures and unbearable humidity of summer should be nothing more than a distant memory and it’s all about being outdoors again.

This time of year is when Oman really comes into its own, with the opportunity to spend weekends outside enjoying the diverse environments the Sultanate offers, from stunning coastlines to dramatic mountain landscapes. For urbanites, parks and beaches can become second homes in the winter, where families and friends can make the most of their time together. Pop down to Qurum Natural Park on a weekend and you’ll see a slice of winter park life at play.

Winter is also when the humble barbecue comes into its own. Wander down to the grass verge bordering the beach at Shatti al Qurum in Muscat to see just what we mean – you’ll see dozens of thin trails of smoke rising into the air from

barbecue grills, along with the smell of freshly cooked meat. Elsewhere, barbecues will be lighting up on apartment

balconies, backyards and gardens. That’s the beauty of a barbecue – it can be made

virtually anywhere there’s outside space.Cooking outside and the ritual of a barbecue is an integral part of the

Omani winter and our social lives in the cooler months. It’s no surprise that people love to barbecue. Friends, family, food and fire all come together in wonderful synchronicity. Getting this combination right is essential for a good barbecue, which is why Y is bringing you this “Good Barbecue Guide” to make sure you’re al fresco food gatherings are a hit

every time.As the barbecue season gets into

full swing, Helpling (helpling.ae), an online platform for home cleaners, has

listed some simple things to do to take care of your barbecue and ensure it is in prime

condition to make flawless steaks.

NATION

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BBQ

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Ch

arc

oa

l G

rill

s Use a stiff wire brush to clean your grill. It’s always best if you do this after you cook, not before as the remaining food particles will still be loose and get on your food. If your grill is made of iron, brush on some oil with a paper towel and wipe over the surface. This will prevent rusting and allow your barbecue to age well. Make sure you clean the grate of the grill. Ensure that all the ash is brushed out and there is no leftover food under the grate. Be sure to do this when the barbecue is off and the plates are cold to avoid injury. And at least once a year, depending on how often you use it, take time to give it a really good clean with soapy water.

Use a sturdy spatula to scrape off all residue right after you grill. The heat will help to easily remove foods and oils. Be sure to empty the container that retains the fat and wash with hot water and soap. If this gets blocked, the grill filtration will stop working and require a new one in order to fully cook your food. Once the barbecue is cold, soak the grills in soapy water for a couple of hours and then scrub with a sponge. The dirt will come off easily and make

for a nicer flavour the next time you cook. Dilute one tablespoon of baking soda and another with vinegar in one litre of warm water and put it on the external parts of the grill. This mixture will remove grime and dirt and will leave your barbeque shining. Disconnect the gas and lift out the grill parts layer by layer. Once you get to the burners, make sure you inspect them thoroughly and scrape off any residue. Look for any blockages in the gas pipe and make sure this is coming

through freely. After you remove each piece, wash with warm soap and water. Make sure to rinse off everything and dry before putting back in its place. Now that it’s clean, make sure you let the grill heat completely, just to ensure there’s no soap residue left. Put the lid on to create a little steam, which will reduce soap smells and you’re ready to go!

Ga

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cy

Tip

s! Leave a sponge soaked

with white vinegar by the barbecue. It prevents smoke from spreading and leaving your house smelling like a cooked steak. When preparing your meat for barbecuing, rub the cutting board with lemon and salt to kill germs from previous cooking and wash after. If the barbecue temperature needs to be increased, make sure you add a lit charcoal piece to the existing fire, do not add un-lit charcoal or it will become too smokey.

If you want to stay chemical free, you can clean any grill with half an onion. Rub the hot grill with half a cut onion (cut side down). This will loosen up baked on grime and basically take it right off the grill. Make sure to heat the grill up first, and then rub it hard with an onion stuck on the end of a fork.

Follow these tips and you should be enjoying stress-free barbecuing all winter. Just add some good friends and food into the mix and you’re ready to go. Happy barbecuing!

D E C 1 7 - 2 3 / I S S U E 3 9 90 4 2

CARS ANDADVENTURES

PORTSMOUTH, UKKate Ginn recommends

Pe r c h e d o v e r l o o k i n g a s t r e t c h o f s e a k n o w n a s t h e S o l e n t , t h e c i t y o f P o r t s m o u t h s h a r e s a s i m i l a r m a r i t i m e h e r i t a g e a s O m a n , w i t h t h e w a t e r s p r o v i d i n g t h e l i f e b l o o d t h a t f l o w s t h r o u g h i t s v e i n s .

L e t m e b e u p f r o n t f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g . I ’ m r a t h e r b i a s e d a b o u t P o r t s m o u t h a s i t ’ s t h e c i t y w h e r e I w a s b o r n ( S a i n t M a r y ’ s H o s p i t a l ) a n d I r e t a i n a g r e a t fo n d n e s s fo r i t , d e s p i t e h a v i n g l e f t t h e a r e a a t t h e a g e o f 1 0 . W h e n e v e r I g o b a c k t o t h e U K , P o r t s m o u t h i s a l w a y s o n m y l i s t o f p l a c e s t o v i s i t a n d I r e t a i n a d e e p a ff i n i t y w i t h t h e s e a , w h i c h i s p r o b a b l y w h y I l i k e O m a n a n d i t s 1 , 7 0 0 k m o f c o a s t l i n e s o m u c h .

P e r c h e d o n t h e s o u t h c o a s t o f E n g l a n d , a r o u n d 1 0 3 k m f r o m L o n d o n , P o r t s m o u t h h a s t h e d i s t i n c t i o n o f b e i n g t h e U K ’ s o n l y i s l a n d c i t y , a s t h e m a j o r i t y s i t s o n P o r t s e a I s l a n d , s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e m a i n l a n d b y a c r e e k . A s a s i g n i f i c a n t n a v a l p o r t fo r c e n t u r i e s ( m y d a d w a s i n t h e n a v y ) , t h e s e a h a s s e e p e d i n t o t h e v e r y f a b r i c o f t h e c i t y a n d p l a y s a h u g e p a r t i n i t s p a s t . A s a c o n s e q u e n c e , P o r t s m o u t h i s h o m e t o s o m e f a m o u s h i s t o r i c a l s h i p s , i n c l u d i n g t h e T u d o r w a r s h i p T h e M a r y R o s e a n d N e l s o n ’ s f l a g s h i p , H M S V i c t o r y . P o r t s m o u t h i s a ff e c t i o n a t e l y k n o w n a s “ P o m p e y ” ( a s a r e t h e c i t y ’ s fo o t b a l l t e a m ) a n d t h e 2 0 5 , 4 0 0 p e o p l e w h o c a l l t h e c i t y h o m e a r e k n o w n a s ‘ P o m p o n i a n s ’ . T h e c i t y h a s u n d e r g o n e s o m e t h i n g o f a t r a n s fo r m a t i o n i n r e c e n t y e a r s , a c q u i r i n g s m a r t w a t e r f r o n t d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d h i g h - e n d a p a r t m e n t s , s h a k i n g o ff i t s p a r o c h i a l i m a g e i n t h e p r o c e s s ,

T h a n k fu l l y , i t h a s n ’ t l o s t i t s e s s e n c e a n d d o w n - t o - e a r t h a p p e a l . I a l w a y s k n o w t h a t I a m n e a r i n g P o m p e y w h e n y o u c a n s m e l l t h e s e a s a l t i n t h e a i r a n d h e a r s e a g u l l s s c r e e c h i n g o v e r h e a d .

SOUTHSEA BEACH

PORTSMOUTH’S HISTORIC

DOCKYARD

COBBLED STREETS IN PORTSMOUTH

My favourite place So many to choose from but, if pushed, it would have to be Old Portsmouth, the area where the original town first began. Wander round on foot and visit Portsmouth Cathedral or Royal Garrison Church (built in approximately 1212), before browsing in quirky one-off shops selling antiques or art. There’s also some great period architecture to admire. You can then walk down to the seafront and stand on the old fortifications looking out to sea as they once did hundreds of years before, though you’ll be likely to spot ferries heading off to France as opposed to invading armadas.

Highlights A visit to Portsmouth really isn’t complete without delving into its fascinating naval past. Top of your list should be The Mary Rose, warship of the English Tudor King Henry VIII, which sank in the Solent while attacking a French invasion fleet in 1545. Her wreck was salvaged in 1982 and the restored hull can be viewed in a museum in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, along with recovered artefacts (the museum is currently closed but will reopen in summer 2016). You can also go aboard HMS Victory, Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and see firsthand how life would have been for her crew. I’d recommend a trip to Southsea to eat ice cream by the sea, followed by the old-fashioned funfair on Clarence Pier, while to see the modern side of Pompey, check out waterfront Gunwharf Quays with its designer outlets and trendy restaurants, where you can go up the 170-metre tall Emirates Spinnaker Tower and look out across Portsmouth Harbour. If you’re feeling brave you can abseil 100m down the tower. If you have time, take a 20-minute ferry ride to Gosport, a small town across the water (and where I grew up), or hop on the hovercraft across the English Channel to the Isle of Wight (visit during Cowes Week, the oldest and largest sailing regatta in the world, held during August).

Lowlights Being the UK, the weather isn’t guaranteed so you could find yourself sitting on the beach in the rain. Be warned as well that the beach at Southsea is shingle and not the soft sand that we’re used to – and the sea is cold!

Souvenirs Fill your suitcase with local art, often with a maritime theme, and mementoes from visits to The Mary Rose and HMS Victory. The Emirates Spinnaker Tower shop sells postcards, books and locally sourced sweets.

Where to stay All options are available. Stattons Boutique Hotel has Edwardian charm and is just a two minute walk from the beach, while the Best Western is right on the seafront. For no thrills, the budget Travelodge is a good bet. There are also lots of bed and breakfasts for a more homely feel.

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TECH THE HALLS

THE HOMEBODYThe Ninja Coffee Bar from RO61.56 offers precision technology to transform any old coffee beans into every type of java imaginable. Available at ninjakitchen.com

If you find your search for the perfect tech gift in today’s ever-changing landscape daunting, take heart: the experts at digitaltrends.com have reviewed all the latest tech

gear so you can shop for everyone on your list

THE WEEKEND WARRIORGive the outdoor adventurer the convenience of a GPS that mounts onto handlebars with the Hammerhead Bike Navigation from RO32.70. Available at hammerhead.io

THE BOOMEROffering a sharp, crisp screen for indoor or outdoor reading, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite from RO38.48 comes with a deep library selection of eBooks from amazon.com

* Family Features

THE MINI MOGULLight up little wrists with a Vtech Kidizoom Smartwatch from RO23.08, featuring a variety of watch settings, games, photo and video options and other features and designed for kids four years and

older. Available at amazon.com

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App of the Week

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMASIntroduce your kids to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang and join them as they embark on an adventure to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Narrated by Peter Robbins, the original Charlie Brown voice, A Charlie Brown Christmas includes soundtracks from the show, an interactive storybook with optimised illustrations and animation that is sure to bring hours of story magic into your home this Christmas. From RO1.920 for iOS.

THE MILLENIALBring sheer Christmas cheer to the ultimate techie in the family and treat them to a Sony X90C 4K Ultra HD TV. With the latest picture processing technology built in, you can’t go wrong. With the 4K technology you can now bring your favourite festive characters to life in great clarity and crisp colours. The TV is sure to look super stylish mounted on the wall as an entertainment centerpiece this festive season. Available at sony.com from RO729.96.

THE CONNOISSEURPebble started the smartwatch revolution a few years ago and the Pebble Steel is the company's newer, faster and more fashionable version. It's geeky yet sophisticated at the same time. Available for RO57.76 at pebble.com

THE GADGETEERAspiring videographers will love the LG V10, thanks to its enhanced filming capabilities, crash-proof stainless steel body and second screen. Available at amazon.co.uk and priced from about RO290.

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It’s an exhilarating ride and the all-new Kia Optima GT will literally take your breath away, finds Kate Ginn

Flicking the switch to Sport mode, I put my foot down and took the Optima GT off the leash, to which it

responded with a throaty roar of appreciation before showing just what its 2.0-litre Turbo engine is capable of. It is fast. The beachfront at Seeb, where Y’s office is, shot past in a blur of blue and brown, mixing sea and sky with sand, and the cars behind were left for dust. It is seriously fast.

Kia has taken to marketing itself with the slogan “The Power to Surprise”, which is a mighty boast to live up to, but they achieved that with my Optima GT test drive.

To be honest, I hadn’t been sure what to expect. In the UK, where I’m from, and the rest of Europe, Kia is a well-known brand, respected for value pricing and efficiency. It’s like a trustworthy friend.

Well this friend just got more racy and a whole lot more daring. The Optima GT is a dynamic, beautiful-looking car that delivers on every level and went way beyond my expectations. Handing the keys back to the Kia showroom after my test drive was painful. I wanted to keep this car!

This all-new Optima GT is a very different beast than before. Kia has taken the model and redefined it inside and out to create a car that is unashamedly upfront about its prowess. The Optima GT looks good and knows it, with that arrogance and a bit of a swagger that you look for in a sports model.

It’s not rough and ready, though,

far from it. What the Optima GT does very well is combine refinement and power with a bold new shape, new technology and luxury touches.

I love the graceful but aggressive body styling. When I parked up in a shopping mall in Muscat, several young Omani guys walking past cast admiring glances at my ride. I’m not surprised; it does look the business, with twin satin chrome exhausts, alloy wheels and a sleek, low-slung appearance. There are touches of chrome everywhere, from the radiator grille to doors. I loved the body colour, Pluto Brown, which changed in the light.

For first impressions, then, the Kia Optima GT gets top marks.

Step inside and the surprises just keep coming. My test car had sumptuous red leather sports seats, embossed with the GT emblem, while the transmission shift stick had black leather with matching red stitching.

All the materials used for the interior look and feel luxurious.

The cockpit is very driver-friendly, from the sports flat-bottomed steering wheel to the controls placed perfectly at your fingertips. There are some neat designs, such as the wireless smartphone charger, a pad at the front of the centre console, while the Harman Kardon music system with 10 speakers is top notch with incredible sound quality. Crank up the music (you can connect your smartphone), push back the panoramic sunroof as you cruise down the highway and you’ll be the king (or queen) of the road. The

acceleration is extraordinary, with the 2.0-litre turbo kicking out 245 horsepower, giving a rush of power and sense of raw energy. You really have to watch the speedometer as it’s frighteningly easy to go over 120kph without even noticing. The engine is so quiet, whispering away when you’re cruising, while the cabin noise is equally subdued.

Kia seems very switched on when it comes to technology and the Optima is no exception, packed with the latest innovations such as Blind Spot Detection and Lane Change Assist. I really liked the Auto Cruise Control, which lets you set and maintain a speed (above 40kph) and will do the braking for you if traffic ahead slows. This can be a little disconcerting at first, but once you get used to it, it’s a brilliant feature.

I was also a big fan of the advanced features to help with parking. I hate to be that stereotypical women driver but I really can’t reverse park and the Optima GT really came into its own here with an around view monitor, giving a bird’s-eye view of the space around the car, and parking assist system, which warns of any obstacles from ultrasonic sensors mounted on the front and rear bumpers. The Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which cleverly detects any cross traffic when reversing, saved me (and the test car) twice. It also made parking in City Centre Qurum a breeze.

When the time came to hand back my Optima GT, it felt like I was losing a new friend.

Sports suspension Leather sports seats with GT

emblem 8-inch navigation system Harman Kardon premium

sound system Blind Spot Detection Lane Departure Warning

System Auto Cruise remote controller Smartphone wireless charger Smart key with button start Hands-free trunk Electric panoramic sunroof Bird’s-eye rear camera

They say: “An iconic performer”

We say: “Fast, sporty and

desirable”

Kia Optima GTSpecifications:

Engine: 2.0 Turbo Direct Injection

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Horsepower: 2450-100kph in 7.4 seconds

Top speed: 240kphPrice: From RO12,800

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 O u t d o o r s Y - F i

ON ACCESSORIES17 DECEMBER - 31 DECEMBER

17 DECEMBER, 05:00 PM

GRANDRE-OPENING