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O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 3

Y Magazine is published by SABCO Press, Publishing &

Advertising LLC / Y is a SABCO Media product.

CEO Eihab Abutaha

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

email info@y-oman.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to Y Magazine – your top

guide to the best of Oman every week.

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

/ytabloid ymagazine

FO L L O W U S O N :

Life experiences can be wonderful and I have to say that my first desert safari in Sharqiyah last weekend with The Guide Oman is up there with one of the best things I’ve ever done. That said, it was never on my bucket list either!

Before heading out, I was experiencing a range of emotions, including fear, trepidation and excitement. Part of it was fear of the unknown. As an inexperienced desert driver, I also feared for our safety.

But I am very happy to say that my fears were unfounded and I discovered that my calm, patient personality was a good fit for our exhilarating adventure in the desert.

This safari was unique as it’s an annual women-only event for The Guide Oman – it’s about empowerment and bringing together women from all walks of life to face the challenges of the desert in a safe environment. It’s about giving them the experience and knowledge to try this incredible sport firsthand.

The overwhelming sense of achievement and pride at the end of the two-day safari was incredible – and so great to see and be a part of!

Elsewhere, we head to the hills for a spot of quad biking in Outdoors, try some tasty Halloween treats in Food and head to Bahla, or the “City of Magic”, in Destination.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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

@ytabloid /ytabloid www.y-oman.com

/ymagazine

,

Team Y reckons we’ve had one of our most adventurous weekends on record: camping at Fins beach

and Jebel Shams, experiencing a desert safari, swimming at the stunning Bimmah sinkhole and

quad biking in Bawshar.

THIS WEEK…

There’s still a few more days left to enter our exciting competition to win tickets to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Turn to page

12 for details.

GOING UPHEALTHCARE

It’s great to hear that the Government is considering a proposal to make

healthcare insurance mandatory for all workers in the Sultanate. It’s already mandatory in other parts of the GCC

and Oman should follow suit.

GOING DOWNVOTERS

It was a disappointing turnout of registered voters for this week’s Majlis Al Shura elections compared with 2011. According to officials, just 56.6 per cent

of voters were involved in this year’s council polls, down from 76 per

cent in 2011. See p13 for a full report.

C O M P E T I T I O N

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

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

Ways to get your Y fix

THE BAROMETER

Got the OMAR App? Then hover your device over any pages marked with the OMAR symbol to see the video

Sw

contentsO C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 2 0 1 5

Yo u r O m a n06 Coffee With Deeba Seeniya Biju

08 Voice Of Oman Jane Jaffer

10 News Is Oman Overheating?

15 Hyundai – Driven To Success Saad Najeeb Ahmed

16 #FYI Most Scenic Railway Routes In The World

T h i s We e k

17 Movie Listings The Last Witch Hunter

18 This Week Sand Fun

H e a l t h a n d B e a u t y32 Fashion Spooky Style

34 Beauty Create Yourself

35 Health Healthy Bones

10

33

Fo o d a n d D r i n k28 Food Feature Fright Night Favourites

30 Taste Test Bazaar Café

28

Fe at u r e s20 Desert Queens Ladies In The Sand

24 Portait By A Nation Join Y’s Art Contest

26 Picture Perfect Through The Lens Of Omani Women

C a r s a n d A d v e n t u r e s38 Destination Bahla Or Bust

40 Outdoors Full Throttle Quads

42 Postcard From Al Medina, Saudi Arabia

44 Y-Fi Trick Or Treat

46 Car Of The Week Kia Sorento

44

FEATURES / COFFEE WITH DEEBA / NEWS /TOTS FASHION/ MOVIES / EVENTS / FOOD

NEXT ISSUE...

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

Seeniya Biju

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 6

Her job is hugely

demanding, yet she’s

always smartly turned

out with a smile

emblazoned on her face. Meet

Seeniya Biju, the chief operating

officer (COO) and country

manager of Aster Oman, who

is responsible for the day-to-day

running of the group’s hospitals,

medical centres and polyclinics

in Ghubra, Al Khoud, Amerat,

Liwa and Sohar.

It is somewhat rare to see a

woman in a position of such

authority in Oman, but Seeniya

puts her ascension through the

ranks down to good bosses, who

always had women’s career

growth at the fore of their

priorities. “I am very lucky to

have got that, she tells me. “My

staff have given me full support

and this is why just three years

after first joining Aster group,

I was promoted to the position

of COO, despite not having a

background in healthcare.”

Her husband, who is a

businessman, has also supported

her career every step of the way.

Seeniya, originally from India,

admits that sometimes those

from outside the hospital group

look puzzled when they see a

woman in the office of the COO

for the first time. “I do get that at

times,” she laughs. “People come

in for meetings and give me a

surprised look, as if saying ‘oh,

so you’re a woman?’”

“It’s not always this reaction,”

Seeniya is quick to point out.

“[Some people] come into the

office very angry, but once they

see a female is sitting in the

COO’s chair, they calm down

and are very polite, even when

they are complaining, so that is

an advantage.”

Her day starts off with

morning prayers at dawn and

Deeba Hasan meets Seeniya Biju, chief operating officer of Aster

Oman, who speaks about being the exception in a largely male-

dominated roleafter that, there is barely time

to rest. “After my prayers I sit

and think because the kids are

still asleep. That is when I get

the best ideas [and] that time

has positively contributed to my

growth at work as well,” she says.

Once she reaches the office,

Seeniya is invariably caught up in

a never-ending loop of meetings.

However, she always sets aside

time to meet in a more casual

environment with the heads of

different departments, which she

believes is incredibly important.

“Once in a while we make sure

to have lunch together and that’s

a great exercise, I think. We

gather informally and it’s a good

opportunity to learn about my

colleagues,” she says.

Having a busy schedule at

work doesn’t keep her from

being a mother of four, which

can at times be like a full-time

job in itself. There are times

when she juggles the two and

there are times when one will

need a little more attention than

the other, she tells me.

“Sometimes I have a tough

schedule at work and the kids

want me at home, so I have tried

to get them accustomed to my

secretary for some small needs

or questions they might have. It’s

difficult for me to entertain their

calls if I am in the middle of a

meeting.“Saying this, when they have

an annual day or an event

where parents need to attend, I

make sure I reach on time and

encourage them,” she explains.

Although she struggles with

preparing the daily meals for

her family due to the constraints

on her time, she enjoys making

desserts once in a while and is

fond of innovative cooking. “We

have a housemaid who does

that [the cooking], but my kids

complain, and most of the time

it’s their father complaining even

more than them. I make desserts;

I look up videos on YouTube

sometimes and also enjoy

watching MasterChef,” she says.

Although making the shift from

a corporate office to a hospital

environment was not an easy

transition when she made the

switch six years ago, Seeniya saw

the issues she was having with

her previous company as a signal

for change from God. She hasn’t

looked back and was recently

awarded the Al Mara Special

Award for Excellence in Fostering

Personalized & Preventive

Healthcare.“I am the COO, but I make

sure that I am in constant touch

with the patients and the staff. In

the initial period, when I noticed

some patients with severe injuries,

it used to make me gloomy, but

over the years I have learnt to live

with that and to also share the

feelings of the patients who come

into the hospital. At times, I go

and give a hug to some of them

and they really value it.”

Seeniya is grateful for the

mentors she has had throughout

her career and because of their

input, she has been able to make

a difference at Aster Oman in

the time she has been there. “I

was able to make a lot of changes

after being mentored for a whole

year. From around 15 specialties

we grew to 35, from 25 beds, we

have now got 62, from just two

centres, we have added one more

hospital and two more centres,

and these changes all happened

fairly quickly,” says a proud

Seeniya.

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

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 8

THIRD CULTURE KIDS

correspondenceTHE VOICE OF OMAN JANE JAFFER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF READING

NEXT WEEK: SHELINE CLARKE

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

WRITE TO US AND WIN A VOUCHER

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

/GoldenTulipSeebHotel

@GoldenTulipSeeb

How can we, as parents, help ensure our children’s academic success? One of the best ways

is by encouraging your child to read, as reading is a key factor in the child’s ongoing educational progress.

Shared enthusiasm about books between parents and children can help deepen the child’s interest in learning. Reading broadens the mind, increases knowledge and understanding, develops the imagination and aids relaxation. And yet, children aged three to five years are now spending an average of more than 13 hours a week passively watching television.

It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Just as a child develops language skills long before they can speak, they also develop literacy skills long before they are able to read. In fact, children develop much of their capacity for learning in the first three years of life.

Recent studies at The Fatherhood Institute in the UK found that when fathers read to their children on a regular basis they displayed better behaviour and concentration at nursery school and performed better at maths as well.

Even if your child can read, your role is not at an end. When you read aloud, your children develop an understanding of the sounds and rhythm of language, plus, sharing a bedtime story is a great way to spend quality time with your child.

Children who are given the opportunity to choose books themselves are much more motivated to read them. We witness this enthusiasm each time Maktabati (Oman’s first mobile library) visits schools across the country. The Let’s Read Charity Bookshop in Al Qurum Complex has hundreds of children’s books to choose from – all at RO1 each. Why not pay us a visit and bring your children along?

DEBATE OF THE WEEK

WE ASKED: “Do you think being a Third Culture Kid helps or hinders a child’s all-round development?”

SHIBHANGI GHOSE Being a student and a staunch believer in the importance of cultural diversity, I strongly feel that being a Third Culture Kid helps in a child’s all-round

Dear Editor,

The article Generation TCK [Issue 391] by Felicity Glover and Kate Ginn, is a well balanced approach, showcasing the pros and cons of being a Third Culture Kid.

This subject of TCKs has been debated ever since researchers coined it in the 1950s; with a divided opinion making a conclusion elusive as to whether being a TCK is a help or hindrance in a child’s development.

While the exotic locations, linguistic opportunities, exposure to varied cultures and facing new challenges are the pros for children, the crisis of identity, prolonged adolescence, uncertain loyalties to the parental traditions and a lack of security are the cons.

Either way, the present day TCKs-turned adolescents are equipped to face up to the

realities and take minimal time to acclimatise anywhere, so I don’t

agree to the point of them being “alien”.

The case of my daughter is just the opposite. From her nursery until completing her Bachelor of Medicine and getting married at 24, she never shifted from her native

place. She was selected for a Master’s in the US and

later travelled there alone, found a home, got a driving

licence and settled into her career, thus throwing this myth of being an

alien to smithereens. I soon came to believe that determination and confidence could take people to any level, beating all ifs and buts. With best regards,Dr Suddapalli Bhaskara Rao, Ruwi

development. It actually helps a child’s mindset because it gives them a more liberal, broad and tolerant outlook on life. Though it may cause youngsters problems at first, they soon overcome them, making them more social, resilient and flexible individuals. Lastly, to all those who believe that being a Third Culture Kid is a bad thing, remember, “variety is the spice of life.”

ANTONY VETTIYAZHICKAL JOSEPH For me, it looks like a double-edged sword and my limited knowledge and exposure to such kids here in the Sultanate of Oman makes me think that by being a TCK is a boon that helps rather than hinders. Unlike those kids who are pampered by grandparents in the motherland, they become more independent and are compelled to be bold. The multifaceted exposure it affords the kid can make them better equipped to face challenges here as well as back home. I witnessed such kids when some families repatriated them back to India due to some misguided and unfounded fears; they acclimatised themselves in a short time, but with the

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 9

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models for others on how to accept and respect other cultures.

RONNEIL SALES VALIENTE I am an example of a TCK and I think it mostly helps a child’s all-round development. Having an American dad and a Filipina mum, I grew up exposed to Filipino, American and British culture since those were the places my parents worked. Omani culture is the fourth that I have been exposed to and I see being a TCK as an advantage because I am broad-minded and able to maintain friendships with various nationalities.

GVK DURGA RAVI We have been in this country for the past 15 years and my only child who joined KG1 here has completed her 12th grade in the same school. Given the choice of either joining a reputed college back home in India or staying right here in Oman, she has opted to do her engineering studies here. Talking on a positive note, I personally feel it gives children more intercultural exposure to the outside world. Scores of children who are born or brought up here and had their education in Oman are now doing quite well in their jobs and prospering, obviously illustrating that being brought up in another country in no way hinders a child’s development.

added advantage of being better equipped to face challenges than the kids who never ventured abroad.

HUDA KHAN Third Culture Kids leave behind their comfort zones to face new challenges and adapt to them. They learn early on that change and adaptability are for the better, which is a vital lesson to be learnt at a young age. However, overexposure to various cultures and environments is bound to create confusion in young minds and hamper their efforts in developing enriched and stable personalities.

ELIZABETH JOSEPH I am an Indian, but spent 17 years in Oman and to be truthful, it is such a beautiful place to live. I went “home” to India after 12th grade to pursue my higher studies and wouldn’t say that Third Culture Kids face a hindrance in their overall development. Today’s world is a globalised one, where people accept the cultures of different countries and are well aware of how to react to them. Parents play a vital role in giving the right education to children when it comes to the cultures of their home and present living place. With the erosion of moral values, TCKs could be role

New Debate:“If you were elected into the Shura Council, what changes would you make and why?”Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be in with a chance of winning dinner

for two.

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 1 0

If you thought summertime was unbearable in Oman this year, then you were right: the country hit record-high temperatures during the hot months. But you should prepare

yourself as it could be heating up even more. A new scientific study shows that the situation could worsen and that extreme weather could push temperatures in the southwest Asian region beyond human habitation in a few decades if climate change remains unchecked.

The study, Future temperature in southwest Asia projected to exceed a threshold for human adaptability, shows that sweltering heatwaves, more intense than anything ever experienced on Earth, would kick in after 2070 and that the hottest days of today would by then be a near-daily occurrence.

And the Gulf region, including Oman, is likely to be heating up the most, experiencing deadly weather conditions that would be intolerable for humans. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha would also be affected.

For healthy people, a wet-bulb temperature (WBT) of 35º Celsius is considered the survivability limit. A WBT of 35ºC – the combination of 46ºC heat and 50 per cent humidity – was almost reached in Bandar Mahshahr, an ancient city in the southwest of

Iran, in July of this year.The scientists used standard climate computer

models to show that the fatal WBT extremes would occur every decade or two after 2070 along most of the Gulf coast if global warming is not curbed.

“Our results expose a specific regional hotspot where climate change, in the absence of significant [carbon cuts], is likely to severely impact human habitability in the future,” said Professor Jeremy Pal and Professor Elfatih Eltahir, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the report, which was published in the journal Nature Climate Change on Monday (Oct 25).

Using the normal measure of temperature, the study shows 45ºC would become the usual summer maximum in Gulf cities, with 60ºC being seen in places like Kuwait City.

The Gulf was hit this year by one of its worst heatwaves this year, with temperatures topping 50ºC and causing a significant number of deaths in Pakistan and other countires.

Although the WBT is not expected to cross the fatal level of 35ºC near the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca would still be difficult to complete.

N E W SYOUR OMAN

GULF TEMPERATURES TO SOAR BEYOND HUMAN ENDURANCE

AFTERNOON TEA WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Y would like to congratulate Karyn Harvey and Sabah Sultan, who won a place at the Pink Afternoon Tea

at the Grand Hyatt Muscat on October 28, in association with Y Magazine. This was the second fundraiser tea organised by the

Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel, with the first one held on October 8.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the event aims to raise awareness as well as funds.

We asked readers the question: In which year was the Oman Cancer Association founded? And both Karyn and Sabah correctly answered 2004 (October).

They both won the chance to tuck into an array of sumptuous pink

treats, including Y cakes, especially created by the Hyatt’s expert pastry chefs, all served

up in the five-star hotel’s Sirj Tea Lounge.Our winners were reserved a place at a

table with Team Y. “We are really happy to be part of

this initiative by the Grand Hyatt Muscat, which supports such a noble cause,” said

Felicity Gover, Y’s managing editor.A portion of the proceeds from the

Pink Teas will be donated to the Oman Cancer Association.

For information about breast cancer, visit breastcancer.org

Presents

Powered byIn Association with

New college freshers have got a lot

to contend with, not only proving

their academic ability but also

impressing their new friends and

getting noticed around campus.

Which is where Y Magazine comes in

with our Coolest Fresher 2015 competition,

as we seek out Mr and Miss Cool among

Muscat’s new college students.

Presented by Splash, the Middle East’s

largest fashion retailer and part of the

Landmark Group, powered by Ford and in

association with NESCAFE 3 in 1, Y will

be looking for the most gifted freshers the

city has to offer. Whether it’s a star turn

in singing, dancing, football tricks or some

other talent, we want to hear from you.

Impress our panel of judges and you

could win cash or be selected to take part in

a fashion show at the Grand Finale.

“We are very excited to be associated

with such an event.

Y’s Coolest

Fresher contest draws a vast

pool of [the] young generation who

are trendy and

enthusiastic. Characteristics

that make the Ford Figo an ideal

match for their active lifestyle.

“The Ford Figo is big on

features, is exciting to drive and is

available in trendy colours, making it

[the] perfect choice for enthusiastic

students who are passionate about

making each moment rewarding,”

says a Ford spokesman.

Students must be from the 10 colleges

taking part, which includes Modern College

of Business & Science in Bawshar.

“I am sure it will be an excellent

opportunity for students, freshmen and

faculty to have fun together,” says Agnieszka

Ches, head of the college’s marketing

department.“We are looking forward to the element

of competition and positive rivalry that the

Coolest Fresher will no doubt inspire among

the students. The idea of

competing with other colleges

should be an additional

incentive for them

to show the best of

their talents. We

believe they will

do their best for

themselves and

for the Modern

College.”The College

of Banking

and Financial

Studies is also

participating and

hoping two of its

freshers will emerge as

winners.“What caught my eye about

this event is that it’s the first of

its kind and it highlights the

importance of giving attention

and support to the newcomers at

college. The transition from

school to higher education is

not easy; therefore, the students

need as much encouragement

as possible and this event is

a fun way of doing so,” says

Sabriya Said al Naamani, head

of student affairs at the college.

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

want to get involved in Y’s Coolest Fresher,

pick up a registration form, fill in your details

and leave it in one of the drop boxes on site at

your college.

1) Waljat College of Applied

Sciences2) Middle East College

3) Oman Tourism College

4) College of Banking and

Financial Studies

5) Modern College of Business

& Science6) Gulf College

7) GUtech 8) International College of

Engineering and Management

9) Mazoon University College

10) Majan College

● Registration opened on October 15 and will close

on November 7

● The audition period will run from November

19-23● The Grand Finale will be held at a special venue

on December 23

● For more information, please call 9405 1770

Mr and Miss Coolest Fresher (overall):

RO250 cash each

Male and female Fashion Icon (overall):

RO250 Splash voucher each

Mr and Miss Coolest Fresher

(college level):

RO100 Splash voucher each

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 1 1

REGISTER NOW

Are you the king or queen of

cool and a college fresher? Show

us and you could win a share of

RO3,000 worth of prizes in our

very cool competition

THE P

RIZES

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 1 2

N E W SYOUR OMAN

Is this about eyesight problems?Not quite! It’s about doppelgängers – so you might feel like you are seeing double.Doppel what?Doppelgängers. According to the Oxford Dictionary, they are “an apparition or double of a living person”. Think identical twins or triplets, but these people are unrelated despite looking similar.Have you found your doppelgänger?Erm, no. I am a fraternal twin, which means that I don’t look like my brother. But somebody else has found her doppelgänger. Who?Two girls who grew up in the UK, but had never met each other before they both moved to Bremen in Germany to study. How odd!Very! According to a news report, Ciara Murphy and Cordelia Roberts were regularly stopped by people in Bremen who asked them if they had a twin. What happened next?It goes without saying that Ciara and Cordelia finally met and were stunned by the mirror image. These days, they are known as “the twins” and are the best of friends.Aww, really?It’s a lovely story – one of their friends even says they have a special bond because of their likeness.Don’t say: “Have I seen you before?” Do say: “I’ve just spotted your doppelgänger!”

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

LOOK AT A NEWS ISSUE OF THE WEEK.

DOUBLE VISION

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

Rescue efforts have been stepped up after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday. More than 270 people were killed by the temblor, while at least 2,000 have been injured

HEADLINING STORIES FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND

It’s all about the Southern Hemisphere in this year’s Rugby World Cup, with Australia and New Zealand facing off in the final this weekend

An American, Kurdish and Iraqi raid in northern Iraq has freed about 70 hostages, who were facing “imminent mass execution”, from an ISIS prison. One US soldier was killed during the operation

An Indian woman who was stranded in Pakistan as a child finally returns home. Known only as Geeta, she was unable to identify her family because of speech and hearing impediments

Formula One fans, start your engines. Y Magazine has teamed up with effect®, the world’s number one mental energiser drink, to offer two incredibly lucky readers tickets to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live next month.

But you only have a few more days to enter our competition, as the deadline nears its close.

The Grand Prix marks the end of a Formula One season that began in Australia in March, and will see the world’s top drivers hurtle around the Yas Marina Circuit at speeds of up to 360kph. While British driver Lewis Hamilton has already been crowned F1 Champion for the second year running after victory in the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, there will still be plenty of excitement on the track to entertain the UAE crowd as drivers bid to take the chequered flag in the last race of the season.

It’s not just about the racing, though. In addition to two three-day passes to watch the thrills and spills of Formula One from November 27-29 from the Yas Marina Circuit’s popular Abu Dhabi Hill area, the prize also includes three standard Ferrari World Abu Dhabi vouchers and three standard Yas Waterworld vouchers.

Not just that, our winner will also have access to all the post-race fun, such as the F1 Village, the Yacht Club and exclusive night concerts featuring Enrique Iglesias, Blur and Florence and the Machine – doesn’t that sound exciting?

So what are you waiting for? If you want to win this rare opportunity, all you have to do is send us a photo of yourself holding a can of effect® and come up with your own personal slogan for the energy drink. For Team Y, we feel there’s no words without effect® – what would yours be?

Send your entries to editor@y-oman.com or post them to our Twitter, Instagram or Facebook pages by no later than 5pm, Monday, November 2.

The winner will be announced in our November 5 issue and the judge’s decision is final.

Good luck!

* Accommodation during the event and transportation to and from Abu Dhabi are the responsibility of the winner.

LAST DAYS TO ENTER

GRAND PRIX COMPETITION

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 1 3

#وطني_ُعمان45#MyOman45

Join in the #MyOman45 contest and 45 winners get to win fuel worth RO 45 from Shell Oman

Celebrate the proud occasion of our nation’s45th National Day.

PARTICIPATE ON with #MyOman45

By visiting a participating Shell Service Station, getting the #MyOman45 car sticker, and posting a selfie with it

By posting a picture that represents #MyOman45 to you By taking a picture at the #MyOman45 selfie wall at

City Centre Muscat, Shell stations at Sarooj, North Azaibah(18 November St.), Azaibah (SQ St.), Al Amerat,Al Hail South, or Darsait

Contest Dates: 18 Oct - 17 Nov 2015.Draw Date: 18 Nov 2015

EXPRESS YOURPRIDE FOR OMAN

N E W SG a l l e r y I n t e r v i e w

Twenty women were among the 590 candidates who campaigned for the latest council elections. But when the votes were finally counted, Nemah bint

Jamiel bin Farhan al Busaidiyah was once again the only female candidate to make it to the Majlis Al Shura. She was declared the winner with her male counterpart, Hilal bin Hamad bin Mohammed al Sarmi, who will represent Seeb alongside her.

Voting began at 7am on Sunday as citizens headed to 107 voting centres spread across different wilayats in the country to cast their vote in the Majlis Al Shura’s eighth term membership.

The final results were revealed on Monday morning and the total number of voters from

Musandam to Dhofar was estimated at 611,906, with an estimated 56 per cent voter turnout.

This was lower than expected and a 24 per cent drop from the elections in 2011. It was also reported that men and women turned out in equal numbers to vote.

In this year’s elections, a total of 590 candidates contested 85 seats in 61 wilayats.

Meanwhile, there were reports of the death of an official who was part of the main committee for this year’s Majlis Al Shura elections. According to local press, the official died on Sunday.

A source said that he complained of a headache and went home in the afternoon. He was later found dead at home, according to the source.

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 1 4

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Q: What drives you to success?The abundant amount of opportunities

available in Oman drives me to do new things. Especially in the Food and Beverage [F&B] industry, if you compare our city with Dubai, we are bigger, but we don’t have as many options. So providing more options to people will give you a trademark in society.

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

My biggest inspiration has been my father; he is my role model, how he started from scratch and where he has reached. It has been 20-plus years now and looking at him motivates me.

Q: What is your biggest career success to date?

When I joined my father in our business, he

gave me my first project – The Manhattan Fish Market. I started this project from scratch and it was I, along with my corporate chef, Sam Afolabi, who made the project come to life. Now, it is very popular among people and we are already in the process of opening up another Manhattan Fish Market.

Q: What are your goals?I want my business to expand

even more with multiple brands of F&B. I want the Golden Spoon Group to become the biggest hospitality chain in Muscat and compete with other Middle Eastern and international companies, eventually franchising out of Oman.

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

I am a helping hand in my dad’s businesses and also doing my own projects. I would like to stand where he is standing right now. I would want to tell him “relax and sit at home, I’ll take care of everything”.

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

I really enjoyed driving it. The features are beautiful. It is definitely worth the money.

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O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 1 5

Glacier Express From Zermatt to St Moritz - Switzerland

Slicing through the cow-dotted green valleys of Switzerland, this journey has passengers pressed against the windows at the spectacular scenery passing by. There’s not many train trips where the Alps form a backdrop. During the seven-hour trek, you chug through 91 tunnels and cross 291 bridges.

Source: fodors.com

Step into the shoes of the ruling maharajas of a bygone era to get a taste of luxury train travel at its best. Launched in 2010, the nostalgia trip recreates the exquisite carriages and first-class service enjoyed by the Indian rulers. Carrying just 88 passengers, the train goes between Delhi and Mumbai on journeys that take in Agra (home of the Taj Mahal). Each cabin is named after a legendary jewel of a maharaja – from Heera (diamond) to Panna (emerald).

It may be only a short journey – a little under 100km – but a lot of incredible sights are packed in on Germany’s Rhine Valley Line. Centuries-old castles appear every few kilometres – including Pfalz Castle on an island in the river – along with beautiful verdant vistas. Arriving at Koblenz, the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, offering panoramic views across a valley, awaits.

The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin - Australia

Explore the vastness of the Australian Outback from the comfort of a train seat. Traversing a mammoth 2,969km route from Adelaide over three days and two nights, the train goes into the heart of the wilderness passing the famous sandstone monolith, Ayers Rock. There’s even a four-hour stopover in Alice Springs to allow for a spot of leg stretching and sightseeing. An interesting aside is that the name of the train was inspired by the Afghani cameleers who forged a trail into The Red Centre desert.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the exclusivity of a vintage train that accommodates only 36 passengers. The décor is like something out of a country estate from the Scottish Highlands, with textured plaid and polished wood adding to the authentic magic of the experience. From Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, the train sweeps through a landscape that takes in lochs (lakes), glens, ancient castles, babbling streams and heather-strewn mountains.

A full-day round-trip on this luxurious train links two of the top destinations in Peru – the colonial city of Cusco and the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Pic-chu – along an incredible winding, scenic route through the Urubamba River Valley with brunch served on the way there and four-course dinner on the re-turn leg. The train itself is an experience of its own, 1920s Pullman-style with rich upholstery and fine tableware, and named after the American explorer who discovered Machu Picchu in 1911.

It’s the wildlife not the scenery that is the main attraction on this journey across the North American wilderness. Massive moose and lumbering grizzly bears are just some of the creatures wandering around the Alaskan tundra. Mt McKinley, the highest peak in North America with a summit elevation of 20,310 (6,190m) feet above sea level, comes into view as the GoldStar double-decker dome cars glide past.

The Royal Scotsman - Scotland

Hiram Bingham Orient-Express from Cusco to Machu Picchu - Peru

Denali Star From Anchorage To Fairbanks - Alaska

Maharajas Express - India

Rhine Valley Line From Mainz To Koblenz - Germany

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O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 1 7

ASHBY

Former Hollywood heartthrob Mickey Rourke (who is almost unrecognisable from his heyday) puts in his strongest performance since The Wrestler in this comedy-drama, Rourke plays retired CIA assassin, Ashby Holt. With only a few months left to live, he strikes up a friendship with lonely high school student Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff) next door, who is in need of some paternal guidance and Holt’s brand of tough love. Emma Roberts shines as Eloise, the quirky girl at school.

Bollywatch

Soldiers of the Damned

Another horror thriller released to cash in on Halloween, but at the low budget end compared to Diesel’s offering. Set on the Eastern Front towards the end of World War Two, Major Kurt Fleischer (Gil Darnell), a war-weary commander of an elite troop of German soldiers, is ordered to escort a female scientist (Mariam Cooke) into a mysterious forest beyond

The Last Witch Hunter

MOVIES MOVIESenemy lines. There’s a reasonable attempt to hike up the tension, but by the time the zombie immortals hit the screen, you might not care.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension 3D

Said to be the film that will wrap up the Paranormal series, this sixth outing serves up pretty much the same horror fare. Set in December 2013, a new family, the Fleeges, are spending their first Christmas in the childhood home of the Featherston sisters (from the original film and sequel). Dad Ryan (Chris J Murray) discovers a VHS camcorder in storage and a bunch of tapes. What follows is formulaic, only this time, the special camera can see the spirits, as the family’s daughter Leila (Ivy George) is the object of an evil entity’s attention. Fans will love it, but there’s nothing new. After four movies and a spin-off, this should be the end of Paranormal Activity. Or is it?

SHAANDAAR With the sweet storyline of a romance that blossoms as the families of two east Indian business dynasties prepare for a merger, a big budget and lavish settings, you should have a huge hit on your hands. Sadly Vikas Bahl’s new film is more of a miss, with reviews saying it fails to match up to the fabulous Queen. Bahl also had a hand in writing this – it's been slammed as being sloppily written – but it’s not all bad. The two leads, Alia Bhatt and Shahid Kapoor, are gorgeous, showcasing some great dance moves, and do their best as two insomniacs who are made for each other, even though one has been employed as a wedding planner for the other’s nuptials.

The last time we saw Vin Diesel on the big screen, he was driving a Lykan Hypersport through the windows of one of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Towers skyscrapers for the hugely entertaining Fast & Furious 7.

His latest incarnation couldn’t be more different, playing an immortal witch-hunter who must stop a plague from ravaging New York in a supernatural/fantasty/action film. It's directed by Breck Eisner, which didn’t bode well as he’s the man who was at the helm of the disastrous movie Sahara, considered one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood history.

Luckily, the same fate doesn’t befall The Last Witch Hunter, which, if you suspend disbelief for a couple of hours, is an enjoyable way to pass the time.

One of the secrets of today’s world, apparently, is that witches still live among us. Who knew? 800 years ago, Kaulder (Diesel) managed to slay

the all-powerful Witch Queen. But before her death, she cursed the brave warrior with her own immortality, thus separating him from his wife and daughter.

Now her supporters want revenge and plan to unleash a modern-day Black Plague to wipe out the human race. The only thing standing in their way is Vin Diesel. Will he defeat them? What do you think?

Veteran actor Michael Caine makes an appearance, as does Elijah Wood, while Diesel’s sidekick in witch hunting is a good witch named Chloe (Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie).

The action scenes are fun and Vin Diesel gives it his all, wielding a flaming long sword. Settle back with a box of popcorn, ignore the naff dialogue and slightly dodgy visuals at times and just enjoy.

Review by Kate Ginn

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

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONWho gave Kaulder his immortality?

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FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO:

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

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 1 8

Shopping Spree

THIS WEEKO C T - N O V

WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO SEE.

WHAT TO HEAR.

NO

V0

4

Catch up with the friendly women from the Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO) over some lighthearted conversation while sipping coffee (or tea) at the Hormuz Grand Hotel in Muscat from 10am to 12pm. Bring along some friends to make it an event to remember. It’s RO3 per person. For details visit womensguildoman.com

T H E W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Shop till you drop and have some fun with your partner and kids at the Global Consumer Fair happening at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Muscat from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 10pm daily. Don’t forget your credit card to grab great deals on some of your favourite items. For more information, call 2478 3800 or email oiecoman@omantel.net.om

Fancy a trip to the dunes in the company of some wonderful people? Here is your opportunity, as expat group InterNations is organising its next outing to the scenic and exciting Wahiba Sands, where you can do some extreme dune bashing and spend some time under the stars contemplating life with your newfound friends. For more information, visit internations.org

Hit the dance floor and enjoy a happening Zouk and Kizomba social dancing night in Muscat. Brought to you by Zouk Elements and the Oman Salsa Zouk Group, the event will be held at the InterContinental Hotel Muscat from 10pm onwards. If you haven’t tried Zouk dance before, you can take a free class from 9pm to 10pm, right before the event starts. For more information, call 9576 6194, 9280 0250 or visit zoukelements.com

29OCT

06

Nov

-0

7

Coffee & Chat

Time to DanceSA

ND

FUN

23O

ct-

29

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 1 9

20N

ov

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

This is the social event of the year for parents of British School Muscat kids. We’re talking about The BSM Ball 2015 at Grand Hyatt Muscat hotel with live entertainment and a three-course gourmet meal with beverages or soft drinks. This year’s theme is “Movie Star’s Red Carpet” so glam up and shine like a Hollywood star from 7pm-1.30am. Dress code is black tie and national dress. The Hyatt is offering a special rate of RO59 for guests attending the ball to stay the night. Tickets cost RO50 per person with funds raised used by the school for the benefit of the children. Proceeds from last year’s event bought a new sound system for the Main Hall. To reserve your seats, or a table for 10, please email Karen Casemore at headbsm1@britishschoolmuscat.com

HAVE A BALL

SAN

D FU

N

It’s back – and better than ever. The Big Book Sale is being held on the last Saturday of each month at Dar Al Atta’a Let’s Read Book Shop in Al Qurum Complex in Muscat. There will be hundreds of books for adults and children at ridiculously cheap prices – just RO2 for hardbacks and RO1 for a paperback. Sale runs from 10am-1pm. The shop has also extended its regular opening hours to 8pm, while there are plans to start a monthly book club. For more information on the sale, the shop or to join the book club, contact letsreadoman@gmail.com or call 9931 4230. Search for Dar Al Atta’a Let’s Read on Facebook.

MOH/304/2015

95961234

sundentalghubra@hotmail.com

www.sundentalmuscat.com

facebook.com/sundentalcentre

ADDRESS: AL KHUWAIR PLAZA, NEXT TO MCDONALDS,

NEAR SHELL GAS STATION,AL KHUWAIR MAIN ROAD,

MUSCAT

30O

ct

Head down to the Bahja Hall at The Jungle Restaurant in Qurum for another Meena Bazaar and some superb shopping. Go with friends or family and browse stalls selling the latest Indian, Pakistani and western designer wear, jewellery, accessories, home décor and much more, all under one roof. Entry is free and the bazaar will be open from 10am-10pm. For details or more information, call 9581 2004.

HOW BAZAAR

Bag A Book

Regal O

pera

Witness an intense love story set in Europe’s turbulent society at the beginning of the 20th century in a production of The Csárdás Princess by Budapest Operetta and Musical Theatre at the Royal Opera House Muscat. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, it’s still one of the most popular operettas in the world today. The show starts at 7pm on both the days and is in three acts with two parts. Tickets start from RO10. For bookings and seating plans, visit rohmuscat.org

12Nov & 14

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 22 0

With a low rumble on the ground announcing its imminent arrival,

a white Nissan Xterra crests over a dune, spraying yellow sand into

the air before it careers down the other side. Behind it, a convoy of drivers

are executing similar manoeuvres, scaling dunes or navigating bone-shaking terrain while trying to stop their

vehicles skidding out of control. There’s always the danger of getting stuck in the soft sand, the tyres sinking into the unforgiving

surface of the arid, wind blown Sharqiyah Desert.What makes this desert crossing in Oman so different is that all the

drivers are women, many of them sand novices who have always sat in the passenger seat while their husbands took the wheel. Some have never even been to the desert before.

Despite this, all the drivers look like they are having the time of their lives. “It’s amazing. I’m doing things that I never imagined I could do. Today, I feel free,” says Monica Singh, who was not only doing her first desert trip, but also driving solo after her friend and co-driver dropped out.

Empowerment is a common feeling running through the group of women as they take on the desert and their own personal insecurities or fears. Here among the dunes, there is no room for egos.

Feelings of inadequacy are blown away like grains of sand in the wind as another seemingly impossible obstacle is overcome.

Beforehand, we had to been told to prepare “for the trip of a lifetime” and it was certainly action packed. One car broke down in the desert and had to be towed out, many got stuck and several had to be winched out.

But the dramas just added to the sense of adventure and feeling of achievement.

Around 35 women made up of 16 nationalities, ranging from Omani to Australian, joined the desert safari, the third held by The Guide Oman, specialists in off-road adventures. Led by Rebecca Mayston, an intrepid off-roader and veteran of more than 100 desert crossings in Oman, the new “Queens of the Desert” set about earning their sand stripes.

Before getting anywhere near any sand, we were given a briefing by Rebecca. With the aid of a toy truck and a handmade mini-dune, she outlined the rules of the desert.

“You are here to learn the skill and art of desert driving,” Rebecca tells the group of women, some of whom are looking a little nervous. Fear of the unknown can be more acute. “Desert driving is slightly crazy sometimes and it’s going to test all our limits. But by the end of this weekend, you’ll be tackling the terrain on your own.”

Taking on the dunes is not about going fast or aggression, says Rebecca. It is not a race. It’s about slow and measured driving, cool calculation and keeping calm, even when things get tough, both physically and mentally.

Day one is about learning desert etiquette and getting to know your car

They came, they saw and they conquered the dunes.

Felicity Glover and Kate Ginn join a ladies-only desert crossing

and find it an empowering experience

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 1 2 1

ueensPHOTOS: FELICITY GLOVER AND KATE GINN

and your own strengths and weaknesses. Our convoy snakes along the sand, always shadowed by the recovery guys in their Jeep Wranglers and black shirts, who will step in at the slightest hint of any trouble.

All the tyres on the cars have been deflated. The flatter the tyre, the larger the surface area connecting to the sand, allowing the car to almost float on top.

No one wants to be the first to suffer the embarrassment of having to be winched out, but as Rebecca reassures us: “We all get stuck, no matter our experience.”

The first dune is conquered and you can almost feel the self-confidence spreading throughout the first timers, like water slithering across the sand. There are thumbs up and smiles. You can see on the women’s faces that the first hurdle is over and now they’re thinking: “I can do this, I really can do this.”

Here, we are no longer defined as being mothers, wives, sisters or aunties. We feel like modern-day Gertrude Bells (a fearless British explorer and cartographer who travelled across Arabia in the 1890s and the subject of the recent film, Queen Of The Desert).

“I feel like the Queen of the Road,” laughs Cathleen Niklaus, a student from south Germany who only arrived in Oman two weeks ago to do an internship.

“I’ve never been to a desert before. It’s so beautiful and so different […] My family is coming out to visit me at Christmas and I’m going to get them to all come to the desert and try this.”

Frouke van As, a mother of two girls who is originally

from The Netherlands but now lives in Muscat, usually lets her husband do all the desert driving. This time, it was her turn to take the wheel of their Prado. “It was scary but I wanted to do this,” she says.

After a few hours in the sand, she was clearly elated. “I am still scared but I am in control of the fear now. I want to take my two daughters [aged 17 and 14] on a trip, just the three girls.”

As another vehicle gets stuck in the sand or doesn’t quite make it over a dune, the others wait patiently. By the time a third car gets into a bit of a scrape no one cares about looking weak or a bad driver in front of others, rather they enjoy the process of getting free, the elation of making it the second time around.

Rebecca says that staying calm and being patient are two key personality traits when it comes to tackling a desert safari. However, this can be difficult for beginners, who have a tendency to panic when they feel something might be going wrong.

“I think it has to be a personality where you can accept the challenges and also the defeat. Not everyone is comfortable with admitting the fact that they get stuck and need help from somebody else.

“But somebody who is going to get out there, have a go, have a laugh and get grubby can excel in that environment. Even if you don’t have patience initially, this is something that will calm you down and make you more accommodating as a person. You also have to think on your feet and overcome challenges, be it medical or mechanical.”

Desertof theWORDS: KATE GINN

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 22 2

At night, as we camp in the dunes, we’re reminded of the vastness of the desert and its barren beauty. There’s something magical, almost spiritual, about the desert.

“I always wanted to be in the desert,” says Anna Lazuka, originally from Poland, who is making her first trip into the sands. “Being here is about a willingness to confront yourself and the emptiness of the place.”

Rebecca says that when she first mooted the idea of all-female desert trips to her male crew, they were a little sceptical at first, unsure whether women were tough enough to withstand the physical, emotional and mental rigours that desert driving demands. “Now they love doing the ladies crossings,” says Rebecca. “They’re really impressed with the skills of the women drivers.”

Cristen Ashley-Williams, head of car care for Ramy 4x4 Center in Dubai, is an experienced off-roader who looks at home in a bright yellow souped-up Jeep Wranger with huge wheels. Beside her is her nine-year-old daughter, Megan, who is already learning the ropes with a few desert trips under her belt.

“Women desert drivers have a different style than men,” says Cristen. “Some of the guys are out to prove themselves, whereas women would rather enjoy it. The men can get competitive, the testosterone flows and they want to show off. Desert driving for me is about a time for peace.”

Her young daughter’s attraction to the desert is more simplistic. “I love to go rough in the sand and have fun,” says Megan.

Rebecca says the great success of the trip was seeing Omani ladies taking part and thriving in the environment.

Shakra al Balushi, a mum of two, stands proudly next to her bright yellow Jeep. Her hair is covered with the hijab, but she looks as much like a desert driver as the rest. It turns out she’s an enthusiast, having bought her own Jeep, but this is her first time actually driving in the sand.

“I feel so alive,” she says. “This trip was about me. I wanted to do something for myself.

“I was scared but after achieving this, I know that I can do something [even] more than this.”

Her cousin, Raihana al Balushi, adds: “This is a unique experience and I am feeling such an achievement inside.

“I have seen the boys doing it and you just watch, wondering if you

can do it. Now I know that I can. I want to tell other Omani women that they can do it too.”

We learn that the desert always has the upper hand. It can be unpredictable, shifting under wheel, reforming in a different shape within seconds. The sand looks alive at times, constantly, ebbing and flowing.

As Rebecca reminds us: “The car at the end of the day is always the boss. If it really doesn’t want to do something, it won’t.”

British duo Sara Holtom and Charlie Christmas are given a stark lesson in this when their Nissan Patrol takes a bashing in the dunes, losing its back bumper, before eventually breaking down in the sand. They make it out of the desert in another vehicle, while their car is

towed the 25 kilometres back to civilisation and a garage.

“The car aside, we had a brilliant time and we are raring to go again,” says Charlie. “I loved the fact we are all ladies. It’s been amazing.

“I want to take my daughter, who is four-and-a-half, next time and Sara wants to take her daughter. Next time we’ll just take a different car.”

Sara, who had a bit of explaining to do to her husband about their car when she got back home, also hasn’t been put off. “It was thrilling, a huge buzz, and I really enjoyed it. I felt completely safe and the rescue

team were just great. I can see why it’s so addictive. If I didn’t have the kids, I would be out there [the desert] all the time.”

While many of the women on the desert safari were beginners, Rebecca says practice makes perfect – especially if you want to take your desert driving skills to the next level.

“I think the main thing would be to keep coming,” she says. “The more often you come, the better your skills will become. It’s a learning curve. Even the best of us get stuck […] but once you build your confidence, you are going to relax and enjoy it more.”

After two days of desert driving, one night under the stars, and a total distance of 800km, the women all arrived back in Muscat with hair matted from perspiration and gritty with sand; tired and exhausted but overwhelmed with pride. We all learnt more than just driving that weekend; we learnt about ourselves.

I HAVE SEEN THE BOYS DOING IT AND YOU JUST

WATCH, WONDERING IF YOU CAN DO IT. NOW

I KNOW THAT I CAN. I WANT TO TELL OTHER OMANI WOMEN THAT THEY CAN DO IT TOO.

● Don’t go in to the desert alone● Wear your seatbelt● Take care of the environment● Maintain a moderate speed● Keep a safe distance between vehicles● Follow and listen to the instructions given

The Guide Oman will be hosting another Ladies Desert Safari in February or March next year (date to be confirmed). For more information, email Rebecca Mayston at Rmayston@theguideoman.com or call her on 9803 8820.Search for The Guide Oman. GuideOman

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 1 2 3

WORDS: FELICITY GLOVER

Fear and trepidation would have to be the two words that best described how I felt at the beginning of The Guide Oman’s Ladies Desert Safari in Sharqiyah last weekend.

As a novice desert driver, I was terrified that I would make a mistake and put my passengers and myself at risk. My mind was also filled with so many questions: Would I roll the SUV? Would I crash? Would I get stuck and have to be towed out?

Let’s just say that I didn’t sleep so well the night before. But that said, I was also determined to overcome my fear and finally do my first desert drive with my daughter, Cia. I wanted to show her that anything is possible, even if you’re way out of your comfort zone.

Sand is very difficult to drive on, even when the tyres are deflated. In the beginning, it felt as though I was losing control of my Nissan Xterra, as though it was sliding out from underneath me. That sensation took a while to get used to, but my first real test would be the dunes themselves. Obviously, there was no avoiding them. And as I watched the SUVs before us tackle our first dune of the day, my instinct was to run for the hills. Some got stuck, while some made it over on the first try.

I wasn’t so sure if I would be one of them, but one of The Guide Oman’s crewmembers gave me a bit of a pep talk and some brilliant advice: put your SUV into second or third gear and follow the top of the track to prevent sliding in the loose sand. Oh, and don’t slow down just before you get to the top of the dune. Keep the momentum going and brake when you get to the top and the bonnet is pointing downwards.

My head was spinning with too much information, but it was too late to turn back. I took some deep breaths, gripped the steering wheel and, with a pounding heart, sped off. And before I knew it, we were at the top, with the nose of the car pointing slightly down.

It was a surreal moment and the adrenaline was surging through me. My first thought as our shrieking stopped? How did I do that? As I slowly made my way down the dune, the next challenge loomed in front of me – literally. This one was going to be tougher, but after

another pep talk from the crew, off we went again.

But this time, my approach was off and as we started to get stuck in the sand with the Xterra tilting rather alarmingly, I panicked and slammed on the brakes. I was told to reverse slowly and start over. The tilting of the car was the scariest part – and it is a feeling that I think I will never overcome, regardless of how much time I spend driving in the desert.

Taking another deep breath, we tackled the dune again and made it. My relief was palpable

and I was shaking from yet another surge of adrenaline. But as each challenge became more and more difficult, I began to feel mentally drained.

The focus required to drive in the desert is intense, to say the least. You are constantly on alert; listening to the sound of the engine, watching the temperature gauge to avoid overheating, following your guide’s tracks, hoping that you won’t make a mistake as you tackle what seem like endless dunes.

As the sun was beginning to dip on the horizon, we finally spotted our overnight camp. And it was a welcome sight.

It had been a long, exhausting day full of curve balls and serious learning curves for us all.

The next day was even more challenging, with higher dunes and a trickier track. My worst moment was hitting an unseen ditch just as we were about to power up a dune. It sent a shuddering jolt through the car and we got stuck halfway up because we’d lost both momentum and power. But this time, I knew I had to reverse and start over. And a few words of advice from my knights in shining armour, aka the crew, saw us conquer yet another dune.

Twice more I couldn’t get us over a dune. But instead of panicking, I found myself calmly putting the Xterra into reverse and slowly backing down the dune, with not a crewmember in sight. Perhaps I was beginning to get the hang of this after all?

And suddenly I was smiling. This was the most amazing thing I’d done in a long time. And best of all, my daughter was there to share it with me. In the final part of our incredible journey, she’d become my co-driver and had picked up some pretty good skills herself. If I lost sight of the tracks, she’d find them for me. She’d give me words of encouragement if I felt I couldn’t find a way up a dune, while her trust and confidence in me was incredibly motivating.

As we finally made our way out of the desert and caught glimpses of the deep-blue ocean, I felt a huge sense of achievement and empowerment. We’d survived – and, incredibly, are now talking about doing it all over again.

YOU ARE CONSTANTLY ON ALERT; LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE

ENGINE, WATCHING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE

TO AVOID OVERHEATING, FOLLOWING YOUR

GUIDE’S TRACKS, HOPING THAT YOU WON’T MAKE

A MISTAKE AS YOU TACKLE WHAT SEEM LIKE

ENDLESS DUNES

Powered by

The countdown has begun. With one day to go before registration officially closes, the entries are flooding in for our Portrait By A Nation contest, Y’s art extravaganza that is being held for the second year, as the children of Oman get into the spirit of

National Day.As this year is extra special, with the country

celebrating 45 years, people are getting more creative to show their love for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, which is why our artistic competition is so perfect. Children aged between five and 17 have the opportunity to exhibit their flair for arts and their admiration for His Majesty.

With the deadline for applications just a day away on October 30, we’re expecting a last-minute rush as children join the wave of good feeling starting to spread across the country.

“There’s only one day left to register and the countdown has begun for Y’s historic annual event, Portrait By A Nation,” says Felicity Glover, manager editor of Y Magazine.

“We believe there’s no better way to celebrate National Day than by involving the future of the country – its children.”

This year’s categories are: five to nine years old, 10 to 13 and 14 to 17. Y Magazine will provide a pre-printed canvas of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for the children to paint or decorate.

Powered by Al Mouj Muscat and sponsored by IDdesign, Gloria Jean’s Coffees and the Salalah Marriott Resort, the event will be held on November 6-7 in the Interior regions and November 13-14 at Al Mouj Muscat.

“Team Y will be heading out to the Interior next week and we are looking forward to meeting young budding artists, who will be competing to win a share of RO2,550 in cash,” says Felicity.

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 24

There’s still time to take part in Y’s Portrait By A Nation competition to celebrate Oman’s 45th National Day, with a share of RO2,550 to be won

In Association with

“The following week, we will be back in Muscat for the capital’s children to show us what they can do.”

Felicity, who was one of last year’s judges and had the challenging duty of choosing the best out of hundreds of entries, adds: “We’re expecting the standard to be wonderfully high this year and, as a judge again this year, choosing the winners is going to be a very difficult task, even harder than last year’s event.”

After the competition finishes on November 14, the panel of judges, which will include art experts, will choose 45 finalists. From these 45

portraits, nine works will be selected as the winner and runner-ups in each age group. First prize is RO500 cash, while second collects RO250 cash and third

place will walk away with RO100.That’s not all. All portraits by the 45 finalists will be

made into a giant collage, which will go up on public display, with the paintings then being showcased at Al Mouj Muscat so that the whole community can enjoy and honour the child artists.

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 2 5

FADI AMJAD KAMAL, AGED NINE, WAS

RUNNER UP IN THE JUNIOR CATEGORY

OF PORTRAIT BY A NATION 2014

WINNING MOMENT

Simply pick up a registration form from Y’s office in Seeb,

complete it and post it in the drop box on site.

You will also find a registration form on Y’s website:

y-oman.com/register. We will need various details, such as your

name, age and contact number, to verify your registration and

add you to the event.

● Parents may complete the registration form – but

remember: the children must complete the

actual portrait.● Entry is restricted to children aged between

five and 17 years old.● There are three categories to enter: one for five

to nine year olds, another for 10-13 year olds

and a third category is open to teenagers aged

from 14 -17.● Only one entry per child.

● Paints and other materials needed for the

painting/decorating of the pre-printed canvas

must be brought by the child to the event.

● Y Magazine will supply the pre-printed canvases

depicting His Majesty’s portrait used by the

entrants.● Children selected to go forward for the painting

event will be notified and must be free to attend on

November 6-7 for all regional cities and November

13-14 for Muscat.● The judges’ decision is final.

WANT TO TAKE PART?

I heard about the competition from

Bank Sohar in Ibri and I was really

excited to take part because I have

always been very fond of art and

colouring. I am really happy that I won and I also

got a souvenir and a cash award, which I put in

the bank. The most important thing is that when

the children are colouring or drawing, they need

to love what they are doing and express their

creativity in the best way possible, and maybe

create a headline for their artwork. My parents

are encouraging me a lot now. I

practice art at both home and school

and my parents have enrolled me into music classes as well.

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WOMENTH

ROUG

H THE

LENS

OF

Proving they can cut it with the best of them,the photographic talents of the Sultanate’s femalesare being showcased in a current exhibition

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A little girl stares forlornly at what looks like a window pattered with drops of rainwater. The lady behind the lens responsible for capturing

this unique moment was Reem Masoud Ali al Khayari and she has called her image Wait and Hope.

Reem, along with 51 other talented photographers, managed to capture some stunning shots of scenes depicting different aspects of life from various parts of the world. What makes these photos special is that they were all taken by Omani women.

The 6th Omani Female Photographers Exhibition was inaugurated by His Excellency Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidi, the Governor of Buraimi, earlier this month at the Photographic Society of Oman in Muscat. The exhibition included 64 photos taken by 52 Omani female photographers from different Wilayats in the country.

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

FREAKY FOODEmbrace your inner

child this Halloween by jumping into a creepy

costume and rustling up some spooky surprises

in the kitchen.

FOOD

DRINKAND

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Take All Hallows’ Eve to the next level with these tasty treats that are sure to delight

A re you’re looking to add a little spooky flavour to your haunted celebration that is sure to keep all your little ghouls, ghosts and goblins in a festive mood? Look no further for the perfect ideas to dress up those Halloween

treats as we show you how to host the perfect scary gathering.Halloween is the perfect time to throw on a costume and act like

a kid. Of course, you want friends and family there to take part in the spooky fun, so here are a few tips to make sure your party is remembered long after the witches put away their cauldrons:

● Set a festive mood: Creepy Halloween decor, such as spider webs and carved pumpkins, can be placed around the house and terrace or balcony to help get guests into the spirit. Halloween-themed music, such as Monster Mash and movies, such as Dracula and Frankenstein, can help offset any down time and get your guests in a spooky mood.

● Play some ghoulish games: Bobbing for apples is a Halloween tradition you can’t leave out. Halloween bingo or a pin the tail on the donkey or camel-type game, such as pin the nose on a skull, can also add to the fun. Or try a treasure hunt for a ghost ship’s loot by scattering clues around the house that lead to ghastly goodies.

● Vampires, ghosts and zombies: Add a costume contest to the mix and hand out prizes to some of the best. Try breaking the contest into a few categories or by age and awarding prizes, such as most creative, judge’s choice and crowd favourite.

Frankenstein CakeBringing Frankenstein to Life You can’t have a mad scientist Halloween party without Frankenstein. This easy buttercream cake makes a big statement, is a fantastic centrepiece for your sweets table and will make others green with envy over your decorating skills. For more Halloween party ideas and inspiration, visit wilton.com.

Servings: 12Ingredients:§ 6 cups of your favourite cake recipe or mix§ 4 cups Wilton White Ready To-Use Decorator Icing (or another brand) § Green food colouring § Wilton Black Icing Pouch with Tips (or another brand)§ Large Candy Eyeballs

Tools:§ 6x3 inch round pan§ Cooling grid§ Cake plate§ Cake leveller§ Spatula§ Disposable Decorating Bags

Method:

§ Prepare cake according to box instructions and make two layers using 6-inch round pans. Bake and cool on grid. § Prepare Spring Green icing: 4 cups icing. Stack layers on cake plate for a two-layer cake, using leveler as needed. Ice cake sides smooth with green icing.§ Use black pouch icing without tip to cover top of cake. Use tip of spatula to create spiral effect. Use black pouch icing with star tip to pipe pull-out bangs around top edge and two hair strands on cake top. § Prepare a disposable decorating bag with green icing; cut a hole in point of bag the size of tip. Attach candy eyeballs with dots of green icing. Pipe green eyelids.§ Use black pouch icing with round tip to pipe nose and neck bolts, outline mouth and stitches.

FRIGHT NIGHTFAVOURITES

Cast a Sweet Spell Use fresh oranges, mandarins and lemons to cast a spell on your frightful Halloween party goblins with Bubbling Witches Brew and Spook-tacular Fruit Cups. Looking for more festive ideas? Add orange pumpkin treats to the menu. Just peel a mandarin and insert a small piece of celery in the center for the stem.

Find these and more

sweetly satisfying recipes at fruitsfromchile.com.

§ To make 5 cups, freshly squeeze 3 1/2 cups mandarin orange juice and 1/2 cup lemon

juice. Cover and chill. § When ready to serve, pour chilled juice into punch bowl or pitcher and stir in 1 cup chilled sweet sparkling soda and ice cubes. Taste for sweetness. § Peel and slice mandarin oranges to make pinwheel shapes that resemble spider webs to garnish each drink. Use frozen red or black grapes as an additional optional garnish.

Bubbling Witches Brew

§ Cut off top 1/5 of an orange and use paring knife to separate fruit from inside of orange, being careful not to cut through peel. It’s not necessary to get all of the flesh out, just enough to fill with cut fruit. § Squeeze juice from removed fruit and add to Bubbling Witches

Brew. § If necessary, shave small amount of peel off bottom so cups sit level, being careful not to create an opening in the base. Use paring knife to carve faces, and fill each cup with orange pieces, melon balls, grapes and blueberries.

Spook-tacular Fruit Cups

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I ’d already visited Bazaar Café with a friend for a spot of breakfast when I decided to return once more, this time with the keen eye of a food critic for my latest Taste Test

adventure. It was the relaxed style and funky ambience that drew me back – they just set a great mood for a meal.

So it was that last weekend a friend of mine, my little brother and I revisited the café in Madinat Sultan Qaboos to sample further delights from Bazaar’s menu. Seeing the restaurant at night gave it an enchanting look from the outside, while inside everyone greeted us with smiles from the moment we walked in and made us comfortable at a table in one corner of the restaurant.

We were given our menus soon after and it took us a while to decide what we wanted due to an extensive choice. After a couple of failed attempts at ordering various salads – they didn’t have all the necessary ingredients in the kitchen – we went with our server’s recommendation and settled on a beetroot salad, which didn’t sound the most appetising, but we were just relieved it was available. For the mains, we ordered a barbeque pizza and a half chicken

to share between the three of us, which came served with fries and bread. Drinks-wise it was the fallback favourite of lemon mint and a mango juice.

While waiting for our food to be prepared I took the opportunity to drink in my surroundings, which was a pleasing experience as they were lush and quirky. The café looked somewhat traditionally Turkish, but with a lot of funky colours added for good measure, which you can notice in the furniture, lamps and several other features.

I didn’t have to wait too long before the order started arriving – the drinks first and then the salad, pizza and chicken. I took a bite into the pizza and although it looked fantastic with a spider’s web of barbecue sauce on top, the flavours of the various ingredients weren’t quite distinctive enough for me. My friend’s chicken wasn’t the best either, a bit dry but still okay. The salad was probably the biggest disappointment of them all, heavy on the leaves and light on pretty much everything else. We ended up leaving most of it. My mango juice was thankfully delicious, but my friend’s lemon mint was a tad bitter apparently.

Nevertheless, we dutifully ate our meals and after a small pause, ordered a fettuccini alfredo pasta in white sauce for my little brother, who was not hungry at first. This turned out to be nice and creamy with well-cooked and tender chicken – easily the pick of the main courses.

After this we went for a small portion of strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Thick, creamy and delicious, it was probably the best way we could’ve ended our meal after a mixed bag of mains.

Generally, the food was alright, but certainly nothing exceptional. On the plus side, the presentation was impressive and the service was swift and attentive.

The next time I visit, it would be nice if the restaurant had all the ingredients required for the different items they list on their menu. Everything else aside, though, I think that Bazaar Café has done a fabulous job with the interiors – it looks like a little fancy cottage from the outside and the inside carries on this quaint theme superbly.

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

BEAUTIFUL BAZAAR

Info BoxBAZAAR CAFÉ

Madinat Sultan Qaboos, opposite Al FairTel: 2207 8888

Opening Hours: Daily from 8.30am–12am

Dinner and drinks for three (one child): RO31.4

Verdict :8 / 10 Service 6.5 / 10 Food

9 / 10 AmbienceGreat ambience, food needs to

improve a bitY Magazine reviews anonymously

and pays for its meals

MID

MARKET

WITH COLOURFUL INTERIORS AND A LOVELY AMBIENCE, BAZAAR CAFÉ MAKES AN IDEAL PLACE TO EAT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER, FINDS DEEBA HASAN

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

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 3 2

NAUGHTY IN NOIRInvited to a Halloween party this

weekend? Forget about that ill-fitting, cheap kitty costume – it’ll chafe. Unless you’re a trick-or-treating

toddler, stick to ultra-feminine lace dresses, waist-defining jackets

and cashmere sweaters in simple, seductive black. This lace panelled number from Wallis is timeless and suitable for everything from spooky

soirées to Christmas mocktails. We especially love the chiffon

cover for added modesty and mystery.

HEALTH&BEAUTY

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 3 3

SPOOKYSTYLE

Not into full-on fancy dress this Halloween? Add a frightening finishing touch to this season’s party outfit and you can still join the fun, says Penny Fray

1. The black dress is always a fail-safe option once the festivities kick in. Figure flattering, effortless and mysterious – it’s the reliable, grown-up go-to for Halloween. Just add a subtle sprinkling of ghoulish accessories like a kitty clutch, spider brooch or vampire fangs – just for fun. 2. Prefer something a little more casual? Upgrade an old black sweater with a spooky slogan made from safety pins. Punk panache has never been hotter – or cheaper.

A Halloween invite has just popped into your in box featuring something to make your heart beat that little bit faster – a fancy dress code.

Dressing up is the busy person’s worst nightmare. Who has time to hunt down an original costume? So, before you shell out on yet another witch’s outfit complete with pointy hat, wait a moment. Who says you have to wear something scary, silly or scratchy? You can sport your regular clothes. Go noir, adding a few drops of fake blood here and there. Better still, do as my blonde friend does – wear a Breton top and say you’re Amy from the bestselling novel turned movie Gone Girl. Alternatively, wear your clothes the wrong way round and claim you’re channelling Linda Blair from The Exorcist. We’re all about keeping it simple here at Y.

BACK TO BLACK

Playful pom-poms may be

all the rage, but this Dune bag accessory gets extra points for being shaped

like a cat. From RO11.5

A pair of black point-toe pumps is a modern wardrobe essential. Christian Louboutin’s “Anjalina” version comes in glossy patent-leather and is embellished with gold studs for an edgy point of difference this Halloween. From RO325

This simple spider headband can transform any outfit into a cool costume. We found this one at Primark for RO1.5, but you can find a whole range of hair accessories from sequinned horns to kitty ears at bargain

shops like Daiso or Claire’s

Slogan tees get a spooky upgrade at New Look this season. From RO5

Want to do goth the glamorous way? Try a pair of vampish leather trousers. This faux biker version is from Zara. From RO18

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 3 4

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

CREATEOvercome any lack of confidence and find your unique look

After another long, hot summer, the cooler weather is finally here. Time to emerge from air-con hibernation, pack away the box sets for another

year and get back outside and enjoy what Oman does best – the great outdoors. And of course you want to look good doing it as well.

To help you find that perfect look, author and singer/songwriter Tanille Edwards offers her top five beauty secrets inspired by her latest romance novel Broken – the tale of Milan, a high school senior who is hearing impaired as well as being a burgeoning supermodel. Like Milan, Tanille aims to help you conquer your insecurities and find a look that’s uniquely your own.

So follow these top tips and make the most of what you’ve already got by enhancing your assets:

● Pack your tool kit. Never leave home without moisturiser, eyeliner and lip gloss. You never know when any of these items will be called into action.

● Create eye-catching eyes. Pump up your eye colour by coordinating a complementary smokey eye for a look everyone will notice and no one will forget. This works well during the day or dressed up for nights out.

● Go for the gold. Try gold bronzer on the surfaces that the sun kisses, like your forehead, the bridge of your nose and your cheeks. This will keep your skin looking radiant and protected as well. After all, we all know

how strong the Omani sun can be, even in winter, so always be skin aware when outside.

● Make the unnatural natural. Use a light sweet pink blush and apply it before you apply concealer for a look that’s very natural. Once you’re finished, line your inner lower lids with white eyeliner and use a black eyeliner to complement your upper lash line. Finally, apply mascara but remember to go light. You don’t want your eyelashes overloaded, making your eyes and face appear heavy or harsh.

● Don’t be afraid to coordinate your look. Going matchy-matchy with your eye shadow and outfits isn’t always a bad thing. If you’re going for a more causal weekend look, consider going with a very light dusting of eye shadow. Choose a shade that matches your outfit. This will give you a put together look without a lot of effort.

Applying any of these tips will give you a fresh new look for the year’s freshest season so don’t delay. Get creative because redefining yourself is something you can do and enjoy every single day.

Whether you’re relaxing with friends over a coffee in a café, playing on the beach, indulging in some retail therapy in a mall or exploring a wadi, these ideas will keep you looking and feeling good.

To learn more about Tanille’s young adult novel Broken and its values of overcoming insecurities and accepting who you are, visit brokenthenovel.com.

* BPT

YOURSELF

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

It’s a debilitating condition that can affect men and women, but there are ways to live with or prevent osteoporosis

HEALTHY

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 3 5

It’s known as the “silent disease” as it often presents few symptoms until later in life and osteoporosis is to said to affect 200 million people worldwide, according to the

International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). These numbers are particularly relevant as the

international community recently observed World Osteoporosis Day on October 20 with a renewed focus to highlight what is one of the most common and debilitating bone diseases that affect both men and women.

But there are steps you can take to protect yourself or reduce your risk of developing the disease, say doctors.

Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break.

There are usually no warnings that osteoporosis has developed and it’s often only diagnosed when a bone is fractured after a minor fall.

“Osteoporosis manifests as an abnormal loss of bone mass; it affects the density and quality of the bone causing it to become porous and fragile, thus increasing the risk of fractures,” says Dr Ehab Saad Mostafa, specialist rheumatologist at Medeor 24x7 Hospital in Dubai.

“The loss of bone mass occurs without any symptoms and is progressive. In fact, osteoporosis is often discovered only when people have a fall where they sustain a fracture, or take a bone density test

According to the IOF, around the world, one in three women and one in five men are at the risk of an osteoporotic fracture, a type of fracture that is estimated to occur every three seconds. These fractures usually occur in the hip, spine and wrist and their likelihood, particularly in the hip and spine, increase with age in both men and women.

“Age is one of the main risk factors for osteoporosis. The others include gender; osteoporosis affects more women than men, family history, certain medications, poor nutrition, lack of vitamin D, low calcium intake, smoking and lack of exercise,” says Dr Ehab.

A bone density mineral test and a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry are the recommended tests to check for the presence of osteoporosis.

According to Dr Ehab, patients who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis should also take lab tests, including a chemistry panel, complete blood count, vitamin D levels, a thyroid and urine test to rule out any secondary causes for the disease.

Osteoporosis is treated with certain medications,

BONES

vitamin D and calcium supplements. However, prevention is still the better part of the cure.

“Genetic factors play a big role in osteoporosis,” says Dr Ehab.

“However, a nutritious diet fortified with foods that contain calcium, vitamin D and other important nutrients for bone development, and weight-bearing exercises complemented by low impact cardiovascular exercise such as brisk walking, swimming and cycling are a good start, as bone development is at its peak during childhood and the onset of adulthood.”

We reach peak bone mass between the age of 20 and 25 years old and to ensure that osteoporosis is caught at an early stage, doctors recommend bone density tests after 40 years old or even younger than this if the patient displays certain risk factors (see right).

“This test is important for those who have a family history of the disease,” says Dr Ehab. Medeor 24x7 Hospital has been spreading awareness about this debilitating disease in the community as both men and women in the UAE are increasingly at the risk of getting osteoporosis, along with other Gulf countries.

Causes:● Gradual loss of bone density starts from 35 years old● Women lose bone rapidly in the first few years after the menopause● Other risk factors include inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and an overactive thyroid gland● Long-term use of certain medications that affect bone strength or hormone levels, such as oral prednisolone (used to treat allergic reactions and asthma)● Smoking

Treatment:● Medication to strengthen bones● Help to treat and prevent fractures

Prevention:● Take regular exercise● Healthy eating, including foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D● Lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking

Osteoporosis – The Facts

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Mall• McDonald’s• Omantel• Starcare HospitalAl Khoudh• Al Fair• Badr Al Samaa

Hospital• Pizza HutAl Khuwair• Badr Al Samaa

Hospital• Bait Al Reem Mall• Caffè Vergnano • Centrepoint

(Splash)• Diplomatic Club• Grand Hyatt

Muscat • Harley-Davidson

Showroom• HSBC • KFC• Khimji’s Mart• Khimji’s Watches• KM Trading• Landmark Group

• McDonald’s• Muscat Bakery• Oman Bowling

Center• Oman Oil Petrol

Station• Oman United

Insurance• Omran• Pizza Hut• Radisson Blu• Shell Petrol Station• TGI Friday’s • The Great Kabab

Factory• The Tikka Place• Zahara Travel• Zakher MallMabela• Gulf College OmanMawalah• Chili’s Restaurant• Costa Coffee• Al Makan Café• The Noodle House• Starbucks• Tim Hortons• VLCC WellnessMBD• Bank Dhofar• Centrepoint

(Splash)• Khimji’s Mart• NBO• Oman Oil Petrol

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

University• British Council • Costa Coffee• D’Arcy’s Kitchen• Hana’s Slimming &

Skincare Centre• Kargeen Caffe• KFC• MacKenzies Café

& Deli• Mood Café• Oman Oil Petrol

Station• Papa John’s Pizza

• Pizza Hut• Saharz Beauty

Salon• 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

FO L L O W U S O N : @ytabloid /ytabloid www.y-oman.com /ytabloid ymagazine /ymagazine

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P o s t c a r d s f r o m O u t d o o r s Y - F i C a r s

CARS ANDADVENTURES SPECTACULAR RUIN

The crumbling remnants of Bahla’s old walls stretch

for 12km and are worth a visit on any trip to the

ancient city.

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 3 8

CARS ANDOUTDOORS

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

BAHLA OR BUSTINTRIGUED BY STORIES OF WITCHCRAFT AND JINNS, FELICITY

GLOVER HEADS TO THE HISTORIC TOWN AND FINDS THERE’S MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE – ESPECIALLY AT SUNSET

Destination

BAHLA OR BUST

Since arriving in Oman nearly 18 months ago, I’d heard many a story about Bahla and its connection with witchcraft and jinns, or spirits. And when I spotted

a newspaper ad announcing a variety of Eid Al Adha celebrations taking place around the Sultanate over the four-day weekend, the one place that stood out was, you guessed it, Bahla.

Determined to see the celebrations and explore the town, I rounded up Kate, Y’s Deputy Editor, and my tween daughter, Cia – who was keen to spot a jinn or two, even though I thought this would be highly unlikely.

The plan was to leave a little after lunch, but by the time we’d organised ourselves and packed what appeared to be a week’s worth of snacks and drinks for the trip, it was just after 3pm before we set out. I was hoping that it wasn’t too late and we’d get there before sunset.

Taking the road to Nizwa from the clock tower roundabout just past City Centre Muscat, the sun was still high in the sky. It was a beautiful day, a few clouds were about and the driving was

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 3 9

we were headed in the right direction. It was already 5pm and we still had to find the place where the Eid celebrations were being held. It was further out of town, but it turned out to be a fun fair. While it looked like fun, we decided to head back and explore the 14th-century fort, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, before the sun went down.

It wasn’t until we started clambouring up the incline towards the fort that we realised just how big it was. In fact, it’s the biggest fort in Oman, while its towers rise an impressive 50 metres above the foundations.

We got to the top just in time. The golden and pink hues of the sky meant the sun was going down and it was time to start taking pictures. Ignoring the Nikon I’d also brought along, I wanted to see how creative I could be with my iPhone and started to experiment with some of the filters. I caught a few shots with the chrome filter, which highlighted and intensified the colours of the sunset.

Just below the fort are some centuries-old crumbling village houses, but with all the doors firmly shut despite their condition, I imagined that that might have been for a purpose. Were there any jinns in there? I have no idea, but Cia was excited about the thought, but was disappointed not to spot a ghostly figure.

It was dark by now and we decided to see if the souq was open. Unfortunately, we got lost in the dimly lit labyrinthine streets and it was a good 20 minutes of dozens of twists and turns before we finally made our way out and started on our way home. I’d love to explore Bahla some more – but next time, during the day.

HOW TO GET THEREFrom Muscat, take Route 15 for 163km until you reach the turning for Bahla on the right. The old part of the city is located close to the fort, so use this as

your base for exploring.

GPS location of Bahla Fort: N22º 57’ 52.141 E57º 18’ 2.236TR

AVEL

GUI

DE

smooth, more so as there weren’t many cars about. I am guessing that’s because everybody left a lot

earlier than we did!Not long after, we started to

see the Hajar Mountains, so we stopped for a breather and I took the

opportunity to take a few snaps with my iPhone 6 – in fact, all the pictures that have been used for this week’s Destination were taken on my smartphone. I caught the sun peeking out of some clouds, the rays streaking across the sky and putting the mountains into a deep shadow.

But there wasn’t much time to waste as it was just past 4pm and we still had to reach Nizwa and drive on for another 40 or so kilometres.

Not far from Bahla, we took a wrong turn despite the GPS and wound our way through an ancient-looking stone arch and onto a twisting road that took us into a village with an impressive falaj system. A friendly local helped to guide us out and set us on the right road to Bahla, which is also known as Madinat Al Sehr, or the City of Magic.

It wasn’t long before we could see the impressive towers of Bahla Fort and we knew

CARS ANDOUTDOORSCARS ANDADVENTURES

An afternoon spent quad biking in the dunes of

Bawshar is the ultimate way to get the adrenaline

flowing for thrill seekers, finds Matt Blackwell

Sitting astride an idling 450cc engine that gently pops and crackles in

anticipation, the lone figure stares up at the wall of sand ahead of

him. The dune looks insurmountable.

As if happy with his internal calculations, his posture lowers,

becoming more streamline, and the quad bike beneath him roars into

action, hurtling the rider towards the steep incline full throttle.

Built for such tough terrain, the quad’s suspension takes the change in

elevation in its stride, losing minimal speed as it powers towards the top,

cresting the dune in Bawshar with relative ease, before both rider and bike

disappear from view in search of the next challenge.

I manoeuvre my own quad into position and attempt to emulate the sight.

Halfway up I slacken the throttle a little and in that instant the quad loses its

momentum, the wheels dig in to the sand and I’m stuck.

The expatriate worker who had provided me with a whistle-stop

introduction to quad biking – explaining how to switch the automatic quad

between drive modes, how to accelerate and how to brake – comes hurtling

up the hill to free the quad before sending me back down to the bottom and

directing me up another, slightly less steep dune.

Initial complications aside and once you get used to having handlebars in

your hands as opposed to a steering wheel, quad biking really is quite easy

and plenty of fun. The dunes found right in Muscat’s back yard, in Bawshar, are a sight to

see on the best of days, but when you’re blasting through them with the

wind whipping through your helmet and plumes of sand spraying up into

the air in your wake, you really get a newfound appreciation for them.

Several times I had to stop and admire the simple beauty of my

surroundings. Perched on top of a pristine dune with the dark brown

splendour of the rugged mountains to my left and the nation’s capital

spreading out below me, leading to the sea beyond, I felt on top of the

world.

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

Having all but mastered accelerating, braking

and turning, I quickly realised there was very little

else to quad biking – for beginners at least – and

my confidence grew with every minute that passed.

Soon I was thundering up and down the sprawling

expanse of dunes like a seasoned biker, relishing in

the fresh air and freedom.

The well-ridden tracks are easy to pick up and

follow, while some intrepid exploration will lead you

to less travelled paths where you can blaze your own

trail; just be careful you don’t fall into the trap of

getting stuck in the softer sand.

Confidence peaking, I changed the bike from

four-wheel drive to two-wheel, freeing it from its

shackles, which allowed the back end to kick out

more in flamboyant sprays of sand.

After finding a suitable straight and relatively level

stretch of sand, I was even able to open the quad

bike up, reaching speeds of up to 70kph. While this

may not sound incredibly fast to seasoned drivers,

when you’re bouncing along the dunes with the

wind whistling around your ears and unannounced

bumps forcing you from your seat into a semi-

standing position, it’s plenty fast enough.

Arriving around mid-afternoon on a Friday, I was

lucky enough to have the dunes almost exclusively

to myself for the duration of my hour’s rental.

However, as the temperature cooled, increasing

numbers of dune enthusiasts appeared in their

4x4s, making those flat out sprints up blind summits

a little more risky.When he removes the helmet after an hour

of dune bashing, the lone figure I had

first glimpsed turns out to be Jim

Hargreaves, a 26-year-old

British tourist visiting

friends in Muscat, who

stops for a chat.“I’d heard that Oman

was a good place for

outdoor adventures, but I never expected to

be doing this on my first day here. Less than

48 hours ago I was working outside in 10°C in

central Scotland, now I’m racing up and down

sand dunes. It’s hot, I’m covered in sand, but I

love it,” he says.“This is the first time I’ve driven a quad bike

in years and even then it was relatively flat

ground. This was something else entirely, it was

great to have the freedom to let rip up there.

“When I was able to really open the bike up

on the straights the thrill was second to none.

The speed, combined with bumps, was a bit

nerve-wracking at times, but the adrenaline rush

was easily worth it.”As my own hour with the quad bike comes

to an end, I line up at the top of the dune that

defeated me earlier on. Coming down was easy,

but when I reach the bottom I turn around

immediately, determined to conquer it second

time around.When I eventually power down the quad bike

and remove my helmet, my hair is dripping with

sweat, but the expatriate employee-cum-tutor is

all smiles. With a broad grin he gives me a fist

bump before waving me off into my own car. I

have to remind myself that I’m not on the dunes

as I get used to the feel of a steering wheel in my

hands once more.

➊ Always wear a helmet

➋ Give the bike a quick inspection to

ensure it is in good working order

❸ Start slowly until you build

confidence❹ Don’t carry a passenger unless the

vehicle is designed for it

❺ Use a healthy dose of common

sense

QUAD BIKE SAFETY

● There are numerous rental companies at the Bawshar dunes. General opening times are from 8am to 7pm daily. ● Prices for hourly rental of quad bikes starts from RO6 for a 50cc bike and goes up to

RO30 for 700cc.

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TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO:1. Visit the Prophet’s Mosque and enjoy

walking in the courtyard

2. Take a trip to Wadi Jinn

3. Take a tour of the city with a guide

4. Eat broasted chicken at Al Baik

5. Go in search of the best Ajwa dates

HOLY SITEThe Prophet’s Mosque

in Medina is an instantly recognisable building thanks to its

green dome and is the second-oldest mosque

in the history of Islam.

CARS ANDADVENTURES

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

My favourite place This is without doubt the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi), which was only the second mosque in Islamic history and is one of the largest mosques in the world today. The green dome of the mosque is a notable feature, situated in the southeast corner, directly over the Prophet’s grave. Originally built by the Prophet himself, it is Islam’s second holiest site, after The Holy Mosque in Mecca. The site of the mosque is close to where the Prophet settled after leaving Mecca in 622CE. He shared in the heavy work of construction of the mosque and the original structure was an open-air building. In addition to its religious function, it also served as a community centre, a court and a religious school. It has undergone tremendous changes over the years and has become an impressive and instantly recognisable piece of architecture. The original mosque was 30 metres by 35 metres and was built of palm trunks and mud, but over the years it has been rebuilt and embellished several times and can now accommodate more than 500,000 worshippers.

Highlights Apart from the Prophet’s Mosque, there are some amazing historical sites in Medina. The Quba Mosque is the oldest mosque in the world, built by Muhammad and his companions upon their arrival in Medina. There is also the Qiblatain mosque – a unique mosque with two directions of prayer – where the Prophet was commanded by God to change the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Mecca. Wadi Jinn can be found a little over 40km outside of Medina and no visit to the city is complete without a quick stop in this mysterious valley. It is reported that when poured downhill, water will actually flow uphill and that cars move on their own, largely owing to the magnetic properties in the surrounding mountains. Other locals have also reported hearing the unfriendly voices of jinns asking them to leave when staying out in the wadi at night. You also can’t leave Medina without trying broasted chicken, a popular fast-food snack.

Lowlights There really isn’t anything that I can point out; Medina truly is an amazing place. Of course, the crowds get denser during holy periods like Ramadan or the Hajj, so book your stay accordingly. Souvenirs The shops in the area surrounding the Prophet’s Mosque usually sell simple souvenirs such as religious paraphernalia (books, CDs, prayer rugs and prayer beads), but there are also shops selling beautiful jewellery, bags and shoes, which are cheap and durable. Just like Oman, Medina is famous for its dates, so make sure you try some of the nutritious fruit while there. The most popular variety is the Ajwa date.

Where to stay People from all over the world come to visit Medina, so there are various types of hotels to suit all budgets. The Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick Hotel, Madinah Hilton and the Ramada Madinah al Hamra are good choices. However, there are lots of other mid-level and budget options to choose from.

MEDINA, SAUDI ARABIADeeba Hasan recommends

Al M e d i n a l i t e r a l l y t r a n s l a t e s t o “ T h e C i t y ” a n d i s t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e l a s t P r o p h e t o f I s l a m , M u h a m m a d ( p e a c e b e u p o n h i m ) s p e n t t h e f i n a l 1 0 y e a r s o f h i s l i f e a f t e r h e m i g r a t e d

f r o m M e c c a fo l l o w i n g t h e a tt a c k o f t h e r e b e l s . I t ’ s a n i n c r e d i b l y o l d c i t y t h a t d a t e s b a c k m o r e t h a n 1 , 0 0 0 y e a r s a n d h o l d s a p o s i t i o n o f g r e a t s i g n i f i c a n c e i n t e r m s o f I s l a m i c h i s t o r y . T h e c i t y ’ s l e g a c y i s v i s i b l e i n t h e m a n y o l d b u i l d i n g s d o tt e d a r o u n d t h e s t r e e t s a n d t h e f e e l i n g o f b e i n g i n t h e P r o p h e t ’ s c i t y i s o n e t h a t i s b e y o n d c o m p a r i s o n . I fo u n d i t f a s c i n a t i n g t o j u s t s i t b a c k i n o n e o f t h e c o ff e e s h o p s a n d p o n d e r o v e r w h a t l i f e w o u l d h a v e b e e n l i k e a l l t h o s e h u n d r e d s o f y e a r s a g o . A p a r t f r o m t h o s e w h o v i s i t M e d i n a fo r p i l g r i m a g e r e a s o n s , t h e c i t y c a n a l s o b e v e r y u s e fu l fo r a r c h a e o l o g i s t s a n d a n y o n e w h o h a s a n i n t e r e s t i n M i d d l e E a s t e r n h i s t o r y t h a n k s t o i t s r i c h h e r i t a g e .

ISLAMIC PRAYER

WADI JINN

BROASTED CHICKEN

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

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

Y - F IP o s t c a r d s f r o m D e s t i n a t i o n

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 4 4

TRICK OR TREAT

EDITO

R’S PI

CK WHATS THAT SOUND?THE MEGA STOMP PANIC IS AN AUDIO REALITY EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER AND YOU’RE SURE TO BE THE TALK OF THE TOWN WEARING ONE. IF YOU FANCY YOURSELF AS A ZOMBIE, COWBOY, PIRATE OR A HOST OF OTHER CHARACTERS, JUST CLIP THE MEGA STOMP PANIC TO YOUR TROUSERS, SELECT THE DESIRED MODE AND WALK. EVERY TIME YOU STEP OR STOMP, THE GADGET SENSES YOUR MOVEMENT AND PLAYS THE APPROPRIATE SOUND EFFECT TO COMPLETE THE AUDIO ILLUSION. AVAILABLE AT THINKGEEK.COM FROM RO15.39.

It’s that spooky time of year again and what better way to keep yourself busy over Halloween than with these cool but scary gadgets, says Matthew Herbst

CREEPY CRAWLIESYou’ve probably owned a couple of radio-controlled cars in your time, but I bet you haven’t had an eight-legged pet under your control before. Now you can and your friends better watch out, as with this gadget you’ll have the power to send a giant black widow spider their way without them knowing. The Elenco Mechanical R/C Black Widow can scurry forward, backward and in circles around the feet of your frightened friends and family for some priceless scares. Available at amazon.co.uk from RO18.

CRAZY EYESYou’re likely to cause a stir at any party this Halloween with the Frantically Moving Eyeball T-Shirt from Digital Dudz. To achieve its disturbing effect, just download the free app to your smartphone, pop the phone into the pouch inside the shirt and let the horror commence, as the eye in the middle flits about madly. Compatible with both iOS and Android, available at morphsuits.com from RO9.50.

-FI

IN SAFE HANDSNothing is more frightening than being chased by an angry teacher or boss for losing your files on an important day. The solution is to scare everyone off by storing your most valuable documents in the very safe hands of this miniature Jason Vorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise, which actually doubles as an 8GB flash drive. Available at amazon.com from RO9.63.

J U LY 0 3 - 0 9 / I S S U E 3 2 7 0 4 5O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 2 0 4 5

App of the Week

NEW ANNOY-A-TRON PRANKSTER PACK

LIGHT SOUNDSAdd spooky sound effects to your Halloween party with the Sengled Pulse Solo. But this is no ordinary Bluetooth speaker, it’s also a dimmable LED light bulb able to screw in to regular light bulb sockets to draw power. Great for surprise howls or undead moans from a hidden source. Kill two birds with one stone at amazon.com from RO20.50.

ZOMBIEBOOTH: 3D ZOMBIFIEREver wondered what you’d look like if you became infected and turned into a zombie? The ZombieBooth gives you the opportunity to make this dream a reality through a series of 3D and animated features, creating a killer look. You can then send your creation to your friends and give them the fright of their lives! Free for iOS and Android.

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?If you feel your home has an unwanted guest then you'll want to pick up the Baketan Ghost Detector 2.0. It apparently has the ability to detect ghosts in your immediate area at the push of a button by analysing the noise level of the atmosphere. When a disturbance is detected, the light on the strap turns red, which can only mean one thing – a spirit is close. If that doesn’t frighten you enough, the device also has something called a Kotodama Tuner that supposedly uses algorithms to translate spiritual energy into human speech. Available at strapya-world.com from RO8.93.

Let your inner mischief-maker loose with the Annoy-a-Tron Prankster Pack and drive everyone at home or at work mad in the process. If you’re aiming for a light and fun Halloween this year, then use this pack of three for a series of annoying and spooky sounds that will have everyone turning their home or office upside down searching for them. The Eviltron is particularly good for Halloween and will terrify any colleagues working late by emitting eerie sounds. Available at thinkgeek.com from RO5.77.

O C T 2 9 - N O V 0 4 / I S S U E 3 9 20 4 6

For a comfortable and luxurious drive, both on and off-road, you should seriously consider the new 2016 Kia Sorento, says Matt Blackwell

Kias are a common sight on Muscat’s roads and everything from sedans to SUVs can be seen darting

in and out of the traffic. Yet despite this, the concept of owning or driving one had never really entered my head.

So it wasn’t so much trepidation, but more curiosity that I was filled with as I picked up the new 2016 Sorento 3.3-litre EX SPL for a three-day test drive. One of my day-to-day drives is a Nissan Pathfinder and I was keen to see how the two compared.

At first glance, the Sorento comes across as a chunky, solid car that looks like it was built to tackle the many and varied terrains Oman can throw at it in style. Stepping up in to the spacious cabin, which offered three rows of seating with ample legroom, the leather seats enveloped me in luxury and an array of sensors, together with the rear-view camera came in incredibly useful when navigating out of the tightly packed car park in Wattayah.

Having made my way out, I had to pull a U-turn to point me in the direction of home and the first thing I noticed was just how light the Sorento was. Defying its considerable size, the SUV was easily able to swing itself round in an impressively tight turning circle with just the slightest of touch to the power steering.

Being 7pm on the eve of a weekend, my next priority was getting some suitably feel-good tunes going

and the six-speaker audio system did not disappoint, linking up to my iPod via AUX to satisfy my hunger for loud music perfectly. The sound was crisp and clear, with impressive bass for a standard car stereo.

Everything about the driver interface was intuitive and easy-to-navigate, just as it should be, with the steering wheel featuring controls for stereo volume, Bluetooth calls, audio commands and cruise control, as well as a button for flicking through the information from the vehicle’s trip computer was displayed in front of the driver, between the rev counter and the speedometer. I often find that a cluttered steering wheel can be daunting, but the Sorento’s leather-wrapped offering has struck the perfect balance.

When it came to the actual drive, the Sorento was faultless. It smoothly gobbled up the kilometres on the highway with an impressive spurt of speed when I really put my foot down, and had a commanding presence that saw smaller road users move out of my path in a hurry.

It would have been easy to tip over the speed limit, but the cruise control feature kept me in check, allowing for bursts of acceleration when the road conditions demanded a quick overtake. After a day or two of regular use I stumbled across the Sport mode, which made spectacular use of the Sorento’s 3.3-litre V6 engine and only made the driving experience even more enjoyable.

For me, the most novel and my favourite feature on the Sorento was the Smart Power Tailgate. Activated by pressing and holding a button on the key, this feature remotely opens and closes the boot from a distance, which comes in incredibly handy when bogged down with shopping bags from a busy mall trip.

The SUV has off-road capabilities that I was able to test somewhat when I headed to Bawshar for a quad biking trip. The Sorento handled almost as smoothly on the sand as it did on the road and seemed like it would be happy with any kind of terrain it encountered. But I stopped short of the intimidatingly steep dune that saw even the quad bikes and seasoned off-roaders struggle with; instead content to play around in the sands below.

The only niggle I could really find with the Sorento was that the mat in the driver’s footwell had the tendency to slide around slightly and occasionally rose up to cover the first few centimetres of the accelerator pedal. This made for uncomfortable driving from time to time, but in the grand scheme of things, if the only criticism a car attracts is this minor flaw, then in my book, the test drive goes down as a raging success.

The manufacturer’s website features a section that gives you 101 reasons to drive a Kia, but from my experience with the 2016 Sorento I only needed one; it’s simply good fun to drive – and that’s what matters most.

19-inch alloy wheels Daytime running lights Xenon headlamps Smart Power Tailgate Active On-Demand 4WD Smart key with button start Leather seats Panoramic sunroof Rear-view camera 3rd row manual air

conditioner Anti-lock Braking System

(ABS) Front side and curtain

airbags Rollover sensor

They say: “The perfect getaway

vehicle”

We say: “All-terrain luxury”

Kia Sorento EX SPLSpecifications:

Engine: 3.3L V6Horsepower: 267

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Price: RO12,600

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

Top up Y Mag eng 35h x 25w cm.ai 1 9/7/15 3:33 PM