Y - Issue 190 - 11 October 2011 - Y-oman.com

Weekly October 11, 2011Issue 190FISHING FORTHE FUTURECAROLINASAMARASTEVE JOBSSPECIALVOLTAMPYANNI COMPETITIONROYAL OPERAHOUSE MUSCATBILBAO

Dear Reader,The signs of Oman’s continued development are allaround us, as we recently witnessed at the opening ofthe new Voltamp Power Transformer Factory in Sohar.What makes Oman unique, however, is its ties to itstraditions, and in this week’s Y Rated we bring you astory that harmonises the two concepts of progress andcustom. Fishing has been a way of life along the coast ofOman for centuries, but a series of recent developmentswill provide a modern infrastructure and facilities for allfishermen in the country to enjoy. We look at soon-tobe-completedSeeb Fisheries Harbour, which will offera safe docking bay for local fishermen, along with aconvenient stop for luxury yachts travelling in the region.This will have untold benefits for the community andprovide a new lease of life for fishing in the country.Also in the issue, we take a look at one of Spain’s mostcultural cities, Bilbao, in our Culture section, along withinterview a headwear designer who has taken Oman tothe heart of her creations. For those looking at addingmore to their home, then check out our Spotlight section,where KR Appliances & Kitchens you how you canachieve a completely new look fin your kitchen. We alsoannounce the launch of the 5th Dive Challenge Oman,which offers disabled people in the country the chanceto explore the fascinating sport of diving, and we giveyou all the latest information on the Royal Opera HouseMuscat.We hope you enjoy the issue!Y Team

This week inOctober 11, 2011 Issue 19010 Voltamp,Twentyfour SevenESO, Aroy Thai Recipe, 5th Dive Challenge14Check This OutYanni Competition, Song & Movie Reviews,Women's Day Calendar, Events, Royal Opera House Muscat21 VentureBilbao26Y-ratedSEEB FISHINGDEVELOPMENTs38X-tra TimeWorld Cup Qualifier Clash,Omani Handball30 SpotlightV. Jayachandran45 ChillaxativeCrosswords, Social Media624CultureCarolinasamaraSayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi Editor-in-Chief | Paul McLoughlin Work EditorKarima Farid Chief Reporter | Clint Derric Egbert Sports Writer/PhotographerJerzy Wierzbicki Photographer | Shrikant Akojwar Art Director/DesignEihab Abutaha General Manager | Feroz Khan Director of Sales & Marketing | Ayman Canawati Logistics ManagerFor editorial enquiries, email info@y-oman.com | Published by SABCO Press, Publishing & Advertising LLC | Y is a SABCO Media Product.

October 11, 2011 Issue 190READER'SLETTERSSAVE FOR THE FUTUREDear Y,Water & Electricity are the 2 essential elements for today's life. Wehave witnessed several power cuts in a day itself & water scarcity inmany countries and we are very lucky that in Oman we have never seensituations like that. In order to sustain the situation for our generationsto come, i request every individual to take care of the situation regardingwater and electricity be it in residents or companies. I have witnessedmany scenarios where people open their water taps for no reason andwithout caring to close. If one individual is doing like this imagine ifeverybody follows the same. Many companies also suffer because of thisunwanted practice. The electricity & water bills will always go on the riseand not come down.Even though many organisations provided accommodation with all thefacilities, people using them should also be responsible. Many people notswitch off their room lights, A/c's and other things even when they wereat work place. Because they were not charged for water and electricity.If companies starts charging a small amount, then the responsibility willcome automatically.This kind of irresponsible acts by one single individualwill affect the whole country as everybody knows Small Rain dropsmakes one ocean.When not in use all the machines should be switched off and duringholidays if we keep all the A/c's and other machines in the office switchoff, then we are sure that we are doing something right for the future.I request everybody not to waste water and electricity so that our cominggenerations will not suffer due to our negligence.WINNINGLETTERDrive SafeDear Y,Not a day passes without news of a road accident somewhere in Oman. So it isheartening to note that the second Traffic Safety Expo is to be held at the OmanInternational Exhibition Centre in Seeb from October 18 to 20 to highlight theissue.Oman is the only country in the region to host such an event on traffic safety. Likeit did last year, the expo will continue to create awareness on the importance ofroad safety and instill a culture of traffic safety in the society.With the increasing traffic on the roads, it is always better to arrive five minuteslate to your workplace or for a meeting than never arrive at all.As the saying 'Catch 'em young' goes, children will learn about road safety theinteresting way with hands-on experience on driving mini cars while they getmore familiar about traffic signals and the significance of abiding by the trafficrules in a special corner of the exhibition devoted to them. The exhibition will alsoreach out to schools with quizzes and drawing competitions on road safety.For a beginning, let us observe this month as the Traffic Safety Month andcontinue doing so always, for the sake of our loved ones.Safe Driving!S. John MartinThanks,K.R.Anandbe a winner!Each week we are selecting our best reader’s letter or image, and giving awayfantastic prizes care of Al Nahda Resort & Spa! Simply email usat info@y-oman.comValue of prizes may vary each week. This prize is not redeemable for cash or alternatives.Only one winner is selected at the discretion of Y magazine. Proof of Identity is required to claim your prize.MALAYSIAN MADEBEST DEALNASR 190X90RO. 21.9*Mattress and accessories are not included in the PromotionMember of Golden Group of CompaniesLUIS 190X90عضو مجموعة شركات الذهبيةRO. 21.9NASR 190X150RO. 39.9SHIHAB 190X150RO. 42.9HAMDAN 190X150RO. 36.9LUIS 190X150RO. 39.9Branches: Muscat - Tel. no. 24602766 / 24604533, Nizwa - Tel no. 97307479 / 98034538,Sohar - Tel. no. 95750134 / 97307485,Salalah - Tel. no : 23293225 / 23290828 Email : sales@igfoman.com Website : www.igfoman.com

October 11, 2011 Issue 190Going for GarbageDear Y,October a month of happenings. Music,art, fashion, opera and the list goeson. October 17 th celebrated as OmaniWomen's Day and incidentally it is mybirthday too. The Rainbow fashion eventon the 13 th should be a grant eventempowering women. Deema jewellery isrocking in the world. Kudos to Shadya AlIsmaily.Man against machines was a superbpiece of information. It shows the thehumbleness of these great workers whotoil in the background of hardship andwork aimlessly with their skilful hands notfearing the hazards of the exposure, givinggreat results.Let them work, but protective laws shouldbe implemented for their safety. As seenin the photographs the amount of metallicdebris that lies around should be recycled.McDonald-A good opportunity for thosewho want to make a few bucks afterschool.Vow a pure Omani brand of cupcakes.And finally it is the month of breast cancerawareness and Ms Yuthar Al Rawahy'sdedication to NACA is commendable.Steve Jobs one of the great wonders oftechnology is no more but his Apple will bealways remembered.WishesVijayalakshmi R Shetty

October 11, 2011 Issue 190TECH GIANT IN SOHARThe rapidly developing city of Sohar was given a further boost last week with the unveilingof Voltamp’s state-of-the-art Power Transformer Factory in Sohar Industrial Estate. Voltampworked in collaboration with Taiwanese technological group TATUNG to see the projectrealised, and is fitted with the latest manufacturing equipment in the market coming infrom USA, Germany and Asia at a cost of 11 million rials. The plant spans an area of14,500sqm and will produce high-quality power transformers for the Middle Eastern andAfrican markets, as well as further afield.Formally inaugurating the event on Wednesday, 5th October was H.H. Sayyid Shihab binTariq Al Said, who was joined by dignitaries including H.E. Sheikh Sa’ad bin Mohammed AlMardhouf al Sa’adi, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Mrs. W Y Lin, President TATUNGCo, Taiwan.“We have begun production, but we had a good deal of production loss during recentevents earlier in the year in Sohar, but we are already working on the first transformers andour results for this year, we think, will be excellent; there is a good deal of demand for thesetypes of transformers in Oman,” says Aasit M. Naik, Assistant General Manager, Marketing& Sales, Voltamp. “We already have an order for four Number 125 MVAs, which are alreadyin an advanced stage. This is all of a world class standard - there are no factories of thisstandard anywhere in the world. We also have a high-tech power laboratory which is oneof a kind in this region,” he added.The complete manufacturing of transformers will be made in-house, thanks to a highlytrainedteam of 60 workers. Aasit tells me more about the team at the plant: “We have atarget of 40 percent of Omanis in the workforce. We have already recruited 20 Omanis andtrained them for six months and brought them into the factory; this will be a continuousprocess. Ultimately, instead of bringing in people from outside, we want to train Omanis inlower-skilled jobs and then to supervisory roles." Aasit adds that there are already Omanisworking in leading positions in the factory, saying, “Our head of the plant is Omani, who islooking after the cold-bay area.”However, Aasit acknowledges that there some challenges for the company in finding theright skilled workers in certain areas but working in collaboration with Sultan QaboosUniversity, Voltamp has a long-term strategy to ensure these demands are met. “We havetied up with SQU to take their engineers, and we are currently working on a programmefor this.” The opening of the plant in Sohar will not only play an important part in providingemployment opportunities for the people of Oman, but also put the country on the mapwith this new phase in high-tech manufacturing.For more information on Voltamp, log into http://voltampoman.com/

October 11, 2011 Issue 190PLANT PROGRESSThe Environment Society of Oman (ESO) and theEmirates Environmental Group (EEG) worked togetherlast week to host a tree planting initiative as part of EEG’s‘Million Tree Campaign’ to support sustainable greenspaces in urban areas. Ten native trees were planted atAl Oukdeen Primary School in Salalah, which included afamed frankincense tree, indigenous to the region. TheESO said they chose Salalah as a destination owing tothe perfect natural settings for these trees.A full orientation programme was implemented tofamiliarise pupils with the trees and the tree-plantingscheme will allow for a green space at the school forthe children to enjoy. A fence will ensure that the treesare kept in a secure environment and students will beencouraged to monitor their progress.Na’ila Sabir Mbarak, Principal of the School, said, “Itis a great honour for us at Al Oukdeen School to playa major role and cooperate with the ESO to be the firstInauguration of Oculoplasty UnitSenior Consultant SurgeonBotox Injection:Treatment of wrinklesBlepharoplasty:Treatment of Puffy EyesDacryocystorhinostomy:Treatment of TearingPtosis Repair:Treatment of Droppy LidOcular Implants:Artificial EyesEntropion and Ectropion Repair:Treatment of Old TrachomaFor more information:Call 2469 3738or visit us at Al Sarooj – Bareeq Al Shatti Complexopposite Ministry of Foreign Affairsschool to participate in this tree planting activity in Salalah.” An ESO BoardMember based in Salalah, Dr. Mohsen Al Amri, said, “It is wonderful that AlOukdeen Primary School has taken such initiative working in partnershipwith the ESO to plant native trees. The Society has always been active inSalalah and we hope to work with more schools in future activities.”For more information, visit the UNEP’S ‘Billion Tree Campaign’ website onwww.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/

October 11, 2011 Issue 190A TASTE OF THE ORIENTThis week we havean exciting recipe foryou, courtesy of Meji’sAroy Thai Restaurantlocated at the BeachHotel Shatti Al Qurum.The dish is preparedby Chef SongsakT h a m m a p a s a n ,who works for therestaurant. Meji’sAroy Thai is owned bySupaporn Phohaheo,also known as ‘Meji’in the community. Sheis the General Manager of the restaurant. For her,Meji’s Aroy Thai Restaurant is like a dream cometrue as she has great knowledge of, and passion for,Thai cuisine. The dish which we are sharing with ourreaders is the most popular dish at the restaurant.This Thai dish is better known as ‘Som Tam’ or ‘GreenPapaya Salad’ and is popular throughout SoutheastAsia. It's a refreshing, healthy salad that combinessweet, sour and salty ingredients all in one greatdish. It can make for a tasty starter or even a mainmeal for some. The ingredients may change fromchef to chef, but essentially the main ones remainthe same. We would like to thank Meji’s Aroy Thai forproviding us with their recipe.'Som Tam'Preparation time: 10 minutesCooking Time: 5 minutesUtensils• Mortar• PestleIngredients• Green shredded papaya• Sugar (to taste)• Salt (to taste)• Lime or Tamarind• Green Beans• Garlic• Chili peppers• Fish sauce (Nam Pla)• Tomatoes• Peanuts1 clove garlic (peeled)4 green bird’s-eye chillies30g/1oz yard-long beans or French beans(cut into 2cm/ 1/2in pieces)20g/ 1/2 oz/ 1/6 cup dried shrimps2 tbsp palm sugar3 tbsp fish sauce3 tbsp lemon juice60g/2oz cherry tomatoes (quartered)30g/1oz / 1/8 cup roasted peanuts200g/7oz unripe green papaya(peeled and grated into long, thin strips)Preparation• Shred green papaya• Slice tomatoes• Chop green beans• Slice lime• In a mortar, roughly crush the garlic and chilies.• Add the beans and continue to crush, then the shrimpsand again pound until crushed.• Add the sugar, fish sauce and lemon juice and stir together.• Add the tomatoes and press with the pestle.• Add the peanuts and the papaya and stir until well mixed.ServePile the salad onto salad plates or into bowls. Top with some morefresh basil and chopped/ground peanuts. Note - in Thailand, 'GreenPapaya Salad' is nearly always eaten with a side dish of sticky rice.Give it a try, and ENJOY!12

October 11, 2011 Issue 190TAKING THE PLUNGEFriday, 14th October will see a team of internationaldiving instructors arrive in Muscat to take part in the 5thDive Challenge in Oman, to give handicapped peoplein the country the opportunity to experience diving. Theinternational team will include Dr. Roswitha Prohaska(President of the Austrian Society for & HyperbaricMedicine) and Dr. Wilhelm (President of the GermanSociety for Hyperbaric Medicine) who are both qualifieddiving instructors and will ensure that conditions aresafe for divers, along with sharing their internationalexperience with the team in Oman. They will be joinedby Muscat-based physiotherapist, Andrea Blinkzler,who is a keen advocate of water therapy for disabledpeople.Scuba Diving is already an established form of therapyfor the disabled in numerous countries across theworld, with indications that it can provide a positiveinfluence on the body, along with aiding mental andphysical fitness. One of the early supporters of thisform of therapy in Oman is Tariq Al Khabori who is thebrainchild of the Dive Challenges, and has been workingclosely with the disabled community in the countrysince 1984. The event was first organised at the OmanDive Centre in 2009 and has since gained the interest ofthe Ministry of Sports who asked the group to make theDive Challenge a regular annual event. Soon, the teamwill be organised into a group called the Oman DisabledDivers Association (ODDA), inspired by the efforts lentfrom European disabled diving organisations.Tariq says, “To ensure that disabled people will havecontinued access to diving in the future we will need tohave a team on a permanent base in Muscat. Our aim isto train two or three Omanis up to the diving instructorlevel and let them run diving courses for handicappedon a monthly base.” He adds, “Euro Divers announcedthat they will train Omanis complimentary to supportthe aim. It is good to see that more and more Omanisare showing their interest in our events and work andare joining our team. Sayyid Nasr bin Badr bin HamadAlbusaidi, who is a passionate diver himself, is now partof our team and is supporting the team in all behalves.”One of the most recent members to join the group is Dr.Yousef Al Baluchi from the Royal Navy of Oman, whois a highly qualified doctor with profound expertise in“diving medicine,” Tariq says.in the beginning and thought that he would not be able to keep up with theother students I was very surprised that the handicapped person turnedout to be one of the best students during the course, extremely disciplinedand eager to do all exercises with a high performance level. This experiencemotivated me to become a diving instructor for handicapped people.”The 5th Dive Challenge will begin on Friday, 14th October at Marina BandarAl Rowdha swimming pool with the support of Nawras, Omantel, BankSohar, Euro Divers, Qalhat LNG and Y.Another founding member of the group is StefanieTrier, a diving instructor who has worked closely withdisabled divers in Oman. She said, “During my long timeof teaching I came across some handicapped students.One of them had only one leg. Although I was sceptical13

October 11, 2011 Issue 190WINYANNI’S LATEST CD!As the people of Oman wait in anticipation for thearrival of the legendary performer and musicianYanni, we at Y are following the excitement bygiving away FIVE free CDs from Yanni’s latestalbum 'Truth of Touch' to our readers. All youhave to do is answer three simple questionsright and you could be the lucky winner of thisfantastic album packed full of the artist’s legtappinghits from the last eight years. The CDalso includes a Special Deluxe Package and aBonus DVD to get you ready for one of the mostamazing concerts of the year!All you have to do is answer the following simplequestions:1) What country does Yanni hail from?Is it - Turkey, Cyprus or Greece?Movie ReviewTHE THREE MUSKETEERS2) What instrument is Yanni mostcommonly associated with?Is it - drums, guitar or the piano.3) What is Yanni’s birth name?Is it - Steven Demetre Georgiou, GeorgiosKyriacos Panayiotou or Yiànnis Hrysomàllis?Send in your answers via email to info@y-oman.com or fax it to us on 24426945 by 6pm onThursday, 13th October. The first five entries wereceive will each win one of these fantastic CDs.The judges’ decision is final.Good luck!This is a lively movie and has got some really funny moments for people of all ages toenjoy. There should definitely be a Part 2 of this flick, and I can’t wait to see it! ‘The ThreeMusketeers’ is a 2011 bawdy remake of the original Alexandre Dumas classic, but it stillis a great watch. Although a few critics believe that it is a poor movie, I on the other handthought the actors and directors delivered a brilliant film. There were no boring moments,as twists and turn will keep you wanting to see what’s next around the corner. The storyrevolves around a boy who becomes a musketeer after joining and waking the spirit ofthe king's musketeers, and then they become four. With love, action, creativity and style,this movie unfolds to become a real rollercoaster ride. One thing that I didn’t like thoughwas the 3D effects in the movie; I would have preferred it without 3D.14

October 11, 2011 Issue 190Sushi Ad.ai 9/11/11 3:36:06 PMA WOMEN’S DAYCALENDARCMIt is essential for every individual CMto give back to society, especially MYthose who are in a position to doCYso. Modern Woman’s Projects isCMYpleased to announce the launch ofKthe new Calendar and Agenda bookfor the year 2012, and the launch isscheduled to take place on Women’sDay, October 17th at Bait MuznaGallery at 7.30pm. All the proceedswill go directly to the Oman DiabeticAssociation and Al Noor Associationfor the Blind. The launch will behosted by H.H. Sayyida Muna BintFahad Al Said.Y“The concept behind the calendarand agenda book was to pay tributeto His Majesty Sultan Qaboos BinSaid for his leadership and positiveinfluence the past 41 years, ingiving the opportunity for womento explore and excel their ideas andwants within our growing Omanisociety,” says H.H. Nawal Al- Said,Founder and Director of ModernWoman’s Projects.“The event also pays tribute tosome of those astounding womenwhose stories are genuinely felt bythe general public,” says H.H NawalAl- Said. She added that the launchis in congruence with His MajestySultan Qaboos bin Said’s saying:“We encourage Omani women atany village, city, desert, mountain orvalley to participate and contributeto the social and economicdevelopment of the country,» and inappreciation of women’s progress.The calendar’s pictures are takenby Maisa Al Hooti, and will be ondisplay at the gallery. Also, some ofthe personalities in the photographswill appear at the occasion. Shiraz AlSinani who will be playing the Oudduring the event, is one of them.15

October 11, 2011 Issue 190EventsDo you have an upcoming event? Drop us a mail at info@y-oman.com andyour event could be featured in the next issue of Y!AN APPLE A WEEK…MyNawrasWords| Karima FaridWATCH OUT FOR SG12th October (Wednesday)Salim Ghalib, an Omani artist, will be launching his very own video soon. For those who wantto be a part of this exciting event, be at Zouk at the Crowne Plaza at 10pm on 12th October.The video premiere will be at midnight.TRAFFIC EXPO 2011From October 18th (Tuesday)Oman International Trade and Exhibitions, in cooperation with the Royal Oman Police, willdedicate a special corner to children at the Traffic Safety Expo 2011, scheduled to be held overthree days from 18th to 20th October at the Oman International Exhibition Center.YANNI CONCERT26th October (Wednesday)Legendary musician and performer Yanni will soon be in Muscat, and is scheduled toperform live in concert on 26th October, at Sultan Qaboos University's Cultural Grand Hall.This is in aid of Al Noor Association for the Blind. Tickets are available at yanniconcert@blackandwhiteoman.com.ASALAH SPEAKS 3D27th October (Thursday)For the first time in the Middle East, a 3D fashion show will take place here in Muscat. Theevent is organised by Layali Al Asalah. Check out the website www.layalialasalah.com formore information. This is an event that you shouldn’t miss out on.THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDSThroughout OctoberNational Association for Cancer Awareness at Qurum City Centre is hosting an exhibitionthroughout the month of October as part of raising awareness in the prevention and earlydetection of cancer. The mobile mammography unit is stationed at the premises of QCC andthey are offering free mammograms. Take your family with you and get checked up, the poweris certainly in your hands.JAY SEAN LIVE IN OMAN9th November (Wednesday)Jay Sean is coming to the Sultanate and is scheduled to perform in November. Tickets are noton sale yet, but when they are we will surely update you on where you can get your passesfrom.This free application is particularly for Nawras users.Launched in December 2010, 'MyNawras' was the firstiPhone App in Oman and one of the first in the region.Registration is simple, and once you register you can getinformation on all your recent phone calls, SMSs and billsusing this very handy application.With complete confidence and security, you can evencheck your balance as well as your data usage. If you havemore than one number you can even view your prepaidbalance as well. I like this app and would recommend it toany person who would like to enjoy a simple, convenientand innovative service.You can also report a lost SIM card using this application,very easily. 'MyNawras' was completed by a team oftalented Omanis at Nawras who worked hard to bring thisproject to life.To download the application, visit the Apple Store andsearch for the 'MyNawras' application.16

October 11, 2011 Issue 190Song Review‘MOVES LIKE JAGGER’MAROON 5Music enthusiasts who appreciate originality, great lyrics and impressive compositions are sure to haveAmerican band ‘Maroon 5’ in their record collection. The band has rocked audiences worldwide with theiradrenaline-pumping beats and bass lines for some time now. Their most recent album, ‘Hands All Over’,was released earlier this year, is another great example of their outstanding ability to deliver eccentric yetmagnificent pop tunes.In the album, ‘Moves Like Jagger’ is one track that truly stands out from the rest. It delivers a raw,typical 80s rock sound, but is kept recent with a touch of disco-pop and electro-pop genres that youngeraudiences will happily relate to.The song is written by Adam Levine, Benjamin Levin, Ammar Malik and Shellback, and was produced byShellback and Benny Blanco. The lyrics of the song speak of a male protagonist’s ability to impress womenwith his dance moves, referring to ‘The Rolling Stones’ legendary lead singer Mick Jagger.What also makes this song special is that it features diva Christina Aguilera, who does well to add soul tothe song thus giving it that extra technical edge, and more so commercially.The song debuted at Number 8 in the ‘Billboard Hot 100’, and later went onto top the charts in variouscountries, including the USA. This is definitely one track to watch out for!

October 11, 2011 Issue 190A NIGHT AT THE OPERAThe Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) announced its inaugural season schedule last week, with some of the biggest names in classical music due to arrivein Muscat in the coming months. The ROHM states that “The landmark building is an iconic symbol of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s ongoing dedicationto support the cultural development of the Sultanate and a commitment to global outreach and dialogue through arts.” The acts for the inaugural season arevaried, but include American Ballet Theatre’s rendition of ‘Don Quixote’, The London Philharmonic Orchestra & cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the Royal Opera Houseproduction of ‘Turandot’. Speaking of the occasion, Her Excellency Dr. Rawya Al Busaidi, Chair of the ROHM Board of Directors, commented: “The inauguralseason of the Royal Opera House Muscat represents a significant milestone in the cultural development of the country, and a momentous contribution to theperforming arts worldwide. The opening season will present outstanding international artists and attractions, many of which are being seen for the first timein the region. ROH Muscat is distinguished by an august and stately architecture that represents Oman’s proud heritage. Its technical facilities are state-ofthe-art.This year’s productions were chosen not only for their artistic excellence, but also for the inspiration they give the human spirit. The Royal OperaHouse welcomes all the people of Oman – as well as friends and colleagues from the region and around the world – to join in celebrating this splendid firstseason.”SCHEDULE FOR INAUGURAL SEASONOCTOBER(14th October) Premiere of the ROH Muscat's production of the Puccini masterpiece ‘Turandot’. The Fondazione Arena di Verona Orchestra and chorusconducted by Plácido Domingo will shown on 14th and 15th October, 8pm.(18th October, 8pm) Plácido Domingo ‘Sings for Oman’. The Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra will make their official debut under the baton of MaestroEugene Kohn.(21st October, 8pm) Legendary soprano Renée Fleming is joined by London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Joana Carneiro.(26th, 27th and 28th October, 8pm) American Ballet Theatre makes its first appearance in the region with the ballet ‘Don Quixote’, staged by Kevin McKenzieand Susan Jones, accompanied by The State Hermitage Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Russia.NOVEMBER(1st November, 8pm) Renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, is joined by The State Hermitage Orchestra and Maestro Eugene Kohn to perform a concert of ariasfrom classic Italian operas.(5th November, 8pm) The London Philharmonic Orchestra and celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma, conducted by Maestro Christoph Eschenbach, celebrate the artof the cello.(10th, 11th and 12th November, 8pm) ‘Giselle’ performed by Milan’s Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company, under the direction of Makhar Vaziev, conducted byDavid Coleman, and accompanied by the Academia Teatro alla Scala Orchestra.(17th November, 8pm) ‘Umm Kalthum: The Legacy’ - A homage to the legendary Egyptian classical singer Um Kalthum with acclaimed diva Riham AbdulHakim, and accompanied by the Selim Sahab Arab Music Ensemble.(23rd November, 8pm) A performance from Lebanese singer and soprano Magida El Roumi.(28th November, 8pm) The Universal Ballet of Korea performs an adaption of the Far Eastern fairy tale, ‘Shim Chung’.(30th November, 8pm) Acclaimed trumpeter Wynton Maraslis and New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra play the music of American jazz legendDuke Ellington.DECEMBER(17th, 19th and 21st December, 8pm) Royal Opera House Muscat’s new production of George Bizet’s dramatic opera ‘Carmen’, directed by Oscar-winningset designer Gianni Quaranta, along with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, the Coro Sinfonico di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, and the Coro di VociBianche de la Verdi.(27th, 28th, 29th and 30th December, 8pm) The world-renowned Mariinsky Ballet presents ‘Swan Lake’, together with the Mariinsky Theatre SymphonyOrchestra and conducted by Boris Gruzin.(31st December) The Mariinsky Ballet return for a special gala performance for the New Year, celebrating three celebratory works – Fokine’s romanticclassic, ‘Chopiniana’, a new work from Emil Faski and Avro Pärt with ‘Simple Things’, and Alberto Alonso`s ‘Carmen Suite’.For tickets and more information, visit http://www.roh.org.om18

October 11, 2011 Issue 190MORE DETAILS ON THE OPERA GALLIERAWith the Royal Opera House Muscat’s inaugural season due to begin, Savills Oman announced further detailsof the mall's accompanying shopping area, now to be known as ‘The Opera Galleria’, a name reflecting “theluxury and prestige that befits its presence.” The Opera Galleria is due to open in February, and will feature60 high-end retail stores, along with a host of fine dining and family eating options for visitors. Savills Omansay they want to create an area which is not only a place to shop, but also a holistic destination which willallow for visitors to relax and unwind, away from the bustle of the outside world. The leasing agents for thedevelopment add that they have witnessed high levels of interest for retail spaces, and there will be carefuldeliberation to ensure that there is a broad selection of choices to cater for all tastes.Chris Steel, Managing Partner of Savills, comments: “The importance of making the Opera Galleria an all dayand evening “gathering hub” has always been forefront of our leasing philosophy. This cannot be createdby shops alone. We want The Opera Galleria’s visitors and guests as part of their experience to be able toenjoy a quality coffee, savour luxury macaroons from Paris, relish traditional London café fare – it will allbe there. Famous café names will soon be announced. Fine dining options from the Italian-acclaimed BiceGroup and Frontier, a much awaited Northern Indian restaurant will be present, and some new and excitingdelicatessen concepts will be opening.” Stores will also include fashion, watches, perfumes and qualityhome-ware names, along with antiques, art and handicrafts, opening up The Opera Galleria to touristsvisiting the Sultanate.Further details announced by Savills Oman are plans for a footbridge to link the 6,500 square metre retailspot with the InterContinental Hotel Muscat, along with providing ample parking space for shoppers. Theinterior will reflect “understated elegance” with a liberal use of quality marble, etched glass and bronzework, along with three voluminous atrium areas that will be flooded with natural light to provide the perfectambience for guests.

BILBAOWords & Photography | Paul McLoughlinA little corner of Spain holds the remnants of an ancient civilisationwhich for centuries has attempted to fight off ensuing invadingforces of Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Castilians and Fascists - usuallyunsuccessfully. Now, the Basque Country is an autonomous region,although most of the occupying powers have left their own distinctivemark on the region. Yet Basqueness is still very much evident in theregion’s largest city, Bibao, even in its most reactionary form of Etainspiredslogans that are still periodically daubed on the whitewashedwalls of the city. The violence of the group, when it was more active inthe city, was one of the main reasons why tourists traditionally skippedthis rocky cove of Hispania, in favour of the warmer climes and vibranthaciendas in the south of the country. But for the more discerningholidaymaker, Bilbao, and the Basque Country as a whole, today offersoodles of options for entertainment, numerous stops for sightseers,and very, very good cuisine (some would say the best in the country).This is Spain, but with a difference - Welcome to Euskada!

For European passport holders, customs at Bilbao airport aremercifully a breeze and the bus service to the city centre is indicative ofthe overall superb public transport options in the country. Welcomed bylush green pastures and grimy grey factories, the Basqueness of the Bilbaometropolis is certainly there, as are its industrial traditions. Bilbao was oncean industrial powerhouse of the continent thanks to port facilities that sawheavy maritime traffic enter from across the world, along with housingnotable shipbuilding facilities. Owing to the loyalty many of its citizensshowed to the Republican government in the Spanish Civil War, the city sawa sad decline of its economic prowess during the rule of General Franco,but Bilbao is thankfully booming once again.The signs of Bilbao’s legacy as a maritime power are still evident in thegrid-aligned streets of the old town. Casco Viejo, as it’s known to locals,is a bubbling warren of pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares packed heavywith restaurants, cafes, bakeries, souvenir shops and pensions. Built in thelate 1800s, Casco Viejo soon became a hub for commerce in the city, andalthough business still appears to be thriving (despite current economicdifficulties) there are still enough relics of the time to catch the eye - suchas the small number of windowless theatres, inconspicuous against themodern-day drama on the streets. Energetic buskers vie for attentionagainst the temptations of the restaurants that spill out onto the streets,but it’s usually the fantastic Basque cuisine which win over the tourists andlocals that flock to the area.Eating in Bilbao is an experience that goes beyond the food served on yourplate. Like the rest of Spain, the Basque region has a similar tradition oftapas-style eating, although with a Basque nametag - ‘Pintxos’. These bitesizeddishes (often little more than morsels) are arguably more elaborate thanthe tapas served elsewhere in the country, and more seafood-orientatedthanks to the bounty of fresh fish available to the people of Bilbao. Smokedhaddock, salted cod, and fresh anchovies sit on soft bread skewered withtoothpicks, although you can still find more commonly-associated tapasdishes such as tortilla, stuffed peppers and meat croquettes in most joints.You are also encouraged to finger-pick your way through the ensemble offantastic restaurants and cafes in the city, all ready to welcome you withdoors opened wide onto the bustling streets. Some are better than others,so the best way to enjoy the experience is to stop for a coffee and a Pintxoat a cafe that catches your eye, and then move onto the next venue, ratherthan partaking in a full sit-down meal at one restaurant.Pil Pil is just one local dish that you will want to sit down and savour duringyour stay, a simple yet elegant dish which is steeped in Basque rebellioustradition and far superior in Bilbao to other varieties found outside theBasque region. Firstly, most Basques would turn their nose up at anythingother than salted cod in their Pil Pil, which could be more to do to the semihistoricalorigins of the dish. Just before the citizens of Bilbao were holedup in the city during a long siege in the 1st Carlist War, one discerningbusinessman ordered “some 20 or 22 bacalao” which he hoped would seehim through the blockade. Fortunately, a mistake was made in the order andthe merchant found himself with a delivery of 20,022 salted cods, which heattempted to flog to other residents in the nearby Cantabria region. Owing

to an abundance of olive oil in Bilbao, and the boatload of bacalao on themerchant’s hands, the city thankfully staved off famine during its hardydefence and this minimalist but rich dish was born made entirely from saltedcod, olive oil, garlic and chilli peppers.The arts have long been at the heart of the city, and the most recent signof its continued renewal is the space-age designed Museo GuggenheimBilbao on the banks of the Nervión. The gallery celebrates the works ofmodern art, from Spain and abroad, with a permanent collection includingRothko, Kooning and Pollock, along with temporary exhibitions from thesombre ‘Brit artist’ Damien Hirst, and the fantastic Lebanese-born artists,Walid Raad and Mona Hatoum. The design of the museum is an attractionitself, and had been touted as “the greatest modern building of our time”by the hugely influential architect, Philip Johnson. In its planning stages,the board made the unpartisan move of appointing American-Canadianarchitect, Frank Gehry, to design the building, avoiding the sensitive issueof having a Spanish architect cementing their mark on Bilbao’s landscape,or a Basque designer shaping a largely Spanish-funded project. Thecurved metal-panelled building is designed to catch the light of the sunto illuminate the structure in the daytime, and its ship-shaped design issuggestive of a forward, confident and progressive vision of the future, notonly for the Basque but Spain as a whole. Just as the old vessels of Bilbaoonce bravely ventured into the turbulent Atlantic to bring back the richesof the Americas, Spain needs all ‘hands-on-deck’ to navigate the countrythrough the unchartered waters of the future. If anything in Bilbao speaksof the new age of progression, cosmopolitanism and vibrancy then it’s theGuggenheim, but whether “Basque-ness” remains a permanent exhibit ofthe city is still not known.

FOREVERTRENDYCleopatra VII Philopator was the last Pharaoh (Queen) of AncientEgypt. She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family ofGreek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great’s deathduring the Hellenistic period. She does not only representwomen’s empowerment, but is testament to true beauty andfashion that gradually has made its way down the centuries, andstill exists, today. Women’s headgear, in particular, is one form ofaccessory that still remains a major part of women’s fashion.FOREVER TRENDYWords | Karima Farid Photography | Jerzy WierzbickiTiaras arecommonly founddisplayed in mostboutiques andadd eleganceto almost anyoutfit you wear.Women alwaystend to give theirhair that littleextra attention,c o n t i n u o u s l ydiscovering newways to styleit differently.A c c e s s o r i s i n gCarolina Samarayour hair might besomething new tosome, but in reality, headbands, tiaras and hair jewellerydate back a long time ago. The Greeks and Romanswere famous for their mystical and beautiful headpieces,some made from natural leaves and flora.In Oman, most Omani women tend to wear beautiful andcolourful headscarves. However, when it comes to hairaccessories there aren’t too many choices available.Today, in a world dominated by industrial units andmachinery, there are a few who carry on the tradition ofhand-made fascinators and hair accessories, and evenfewer who do it with a clear and creative conscious.This week we got to meet a lovely lady by the nameof Carolina Samara from Carolina Samara Couture24

Accessories, who continues this tradition. She tells usthat her designs are “dedicated to those women with adiscerning taste for timeless yet eclectic style.”Carolina welcomed our cameras into her cosy apartmentat The Wave, Muscat, where she lives with her husbandfrom Venezuela who moved to Oman to start a jobwith an oil company. Recently married, they moved toOman in April. Fascinated by the rich colours of Omanitraditional clothes, she quickly added Muscat to herestablished online store, and can now deliver across theSultanate too. Carolina also saw potential in Oman, asshe surveyed all boutiques, malls and stores and didn’tfind anything similar to what she does, and this pushedher to target the women here.FOREVERTRENDYCarolina showed us her beautiful pieces lined up on thetable. It was clear to me that Carolina had Arabic roots,and she confirmed this by saying, “I encapsulate mypersonal essence in each and every unique hairpiece Icreate (with an) influence that I owe to my ethnic Arabicroots from my Palestinian father, my rich Latin Americanheritage, as my mother is from Honduras, evolvingtogether with my European exposure.”Carolina grew up in the warm country of Honduras, inCentral America. She describes it as a country filledwith strong people, with a pretty small population of sixmillion. That is where she completed her engineeringdegree, but she definitely projected her talent in anotherdirection since she is indeed a creative designer atheart. Although she worked in a hospital for six years,this didn’t stop her from starting up her own business.She took up many courses that included fascinator(headwear-making) courses too, and is able to makehats too. We ask Carolina where she saw her firstfascinator and she tells us: “It all started when I turnedthe pages of ‘Hello’ magazine, and I started a collectionwith my friend back in Honduras as partners, and thiswas before I got married. But after marriage I startedmy own brand as it was impossible to do business ofthis kind with a partner across the globe. However, myfriend and partner is now a famous fashion designerback home and I wish her well. She was actually the onewho designed my wedding dress. But when I think backto my childhood, I have always loved designing things,and because my mom is a well-known florist, I used toattend all the courses she attended and travelled withher at times. I think I inherited the designing from mymom.”Carolina was previously shuffling between residences inthe United Kingdom and the Middle East, and has spenta great deal of time travelling to different continents,something she loves doing. In each country, she firstvisits their traditional bazaars and souqs to be able tofind new brooches and to gain inspiration. She tells us:“On my journeys around the world I have encounteredmarvellous and new materials, vibrant colours anddelicate textures and fabrics. I have collected manysamples of jewellery, semi-precious stones, and vintagebrooches drawing their splendour into each one ofmy accessories. I incorporate these original piecesof my treasure hunt into a unique inspiration creatingexclusive designs, there's never two of the same kind.Now that I am in Muscat, you will soon see Omaniinspiredcreations that reflect the vibrant colours I haveseen here.” The new goal of Carolina Samara CoutureAccessories is to penetrate the Middle East marketthrough exclusive boutiques here and we at Y wish herthe best of luck.You are welcome to browse her website (www.carolinasamara.com), which is created by her, andcheck out her collection of fascinating hair accessories.In addition to this, you can also avail of custom orderservices for unique specifications such as parties,weddings and events. I am sure that you will standout as a bride with her exclusively made designs. Formore information, you can contact Carolina at sales@carolinasamara.com.I would like to thank Carolina for her time, as she iscertainly a kind soul with lots to give the world. Weare eagerly awaiting her handbag collection that she iscurrently working on.FOREVERTRENDY25

A NET GAINWords | Paul McLoughlin Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki

The life source of a community is to get a further boost as Seeb FisheryHarbour begins its final stage of construction. Seeb Fishery Harbour isalready a popular part of the community in Seeb, and even the publicfinds it enjoyable to spend the evening around the harbour's waters.The site is still bustling with teams of workers putting the final touchesto the structure. It is expected that the harbour will not only provide asafe and convenient shelter for the vessels, and loading and unloadingfacilities for local fishermen, but it will also attract the other fishingvessels and fishermen from nearby areas to the area. The fresh fishcaught and brought in will be fed to the needs of the burgeoning numberof restaurants in the district, and will be sold in a new fish market.

Engineer Moosa Salim Al Shidhani, Director of Fishery Harbours atthe Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, says, “The Seeb FisheryHarbour is designed to cater to the needs of all the fishermenfrom, and around, Seeb. The salient features of the harbour arethat it is built with two land-connected breakwaters. The main andsecondary breakwaters will have a length of 1010m and 678mrespectively with a crest level of 7 metres above chart datum. Theharbour consists of a fixed Quay Wall of 157m, provided with arubber fender to facilitate easy berthing for vessels. The Quay Wallis formed with concrete blocks. There are three floating concretepontoons of 35m length and 6m width to facilitate the needs ofskiff boats. The deeper depth of the basin is 5 metres from thelowest water level. The depth is arrived by dredging a quantity of322,000 cubic meters of the seabed. The Break Water is made upof different sizes of stones at over 260,400 cubic metres and isstrengthened by providing 15,850 numbers of concrete armours.The harbour is provided with navigational lights for the easymanoeuvring of crafts at night and during bad weather.” PhaseI of the harbour is completed and Phase II will start immediately,which will finalise the constrution of harbour buildings and otherservices. The cost of the project, he says, will come to just over10 million rials.The harbour will be backed by the latest services and workshopsfor the maintenance of boats, engines and marine equipment. Inthe near future, fishing activities at the harbour will be supportedby retail stores for fishing equipment and spare parts, along withfuel stations. It is hoped that the community will be benefited fromthe opening of local shops, restaurants, cafes as well as plantsused for fish processing and the packing of fish. Even though theharbour is designed for fishing vessels, it will also accommodatesome leisure vessels, however, docking charges for these boats“will be finalised in due course,” Moosa says. Tourism throughthe harbour will be boosted by a series of “tourist docks”, whichwill accommodate for yacht vessels that will be connected to theSeeb area through a series of interlinking paved roads.The construction of Seeb Fishery Harbour, along with those inSuwaiq and Taqah, which are soon to commence, are of significantimportance to the nation, Moosa says. “The Seeb infrastructureneeded to develop its fishing sector and this provides anopportunity for the growth of the region economically.The presence of the harbour will lead to the expansion offishery industries, such as the establishment of ice plantsand factories, fish processing, value added productionplants, packaging and related activities, as these regionshave a wealth of fish stocks.” Local fishermen say that therehas been some disruption to the number of smaller fish found offthe coast of Seeb while the harbour is being completed, but manyare hopeful of the opportunities for further growth this harbour willprovide the community.Ali Nasser was busy fixing the engine of his fishing boat whichsits on the beach further up the road to the harbour when I spoketo him. An experienced fisherman who has lived his whole life inSeeb, he says, “Now it isn’t helping very much, but when the seais very rough then we can keep the boat safely in the harbour. Itwill be good for the shops to have people from outside Seeb tocome from outside here.” His hope is that that his children willbenefit from this harbour, many of whom are already continuingthis tradition of local fishing. One younger fisherman says that “Theharbour will be good as should will lower the price of maintenancefor boats,” although he would prefer to keep his fishing vessel onthe beach, closer to home for security. This massive project, itappears, is set to bring new life to this serene fishing town, alongwith providing new opportunities for local businesses to flourish.

Another project close to completion in theSeeb area is the Al Seeb Water TreatmentPlant, which will provide clean water to thelocal community. We spoke to Haya WaterCEO, Omar Al Wahaibi, about how this projectwill support further growth of the community.What’s the name of the plant, and how much will theproject cost?The Al Seeb water treatment plant, an essential phase ofthe Muscat water re-use project, is under construction andmore than 63 percent of the work is already completed.What will be the size and capacity of theplant?The Al Seeb plant will produce 80,000 cubic metres oftreated effluent per day with a size to allow it to cope withthe rapid expansion in both commercial and residentialdevelopments in the area. Treated effluent can be used forirrigation and the watering of public amenities like parks andother public areas and by reusing waste water produced inthe Muscat Governorate we will reduce the pressure that isplaced on scarce underground water reserves or the needto use treated desalinated waterWhen will it be ready?Work is undergoing and we recently announced the instalment of1,000km of pipes in the Seeb area as the company continues to developits state-of-the-art water reuse project for one of Muscat’s most heavilypopulated areas. Overall, the Seeb development is now more than 63percent completed with pipeline infrastructure work well developedacross every part of the wilayat.What is the reason for building of the plant?When completed it will bring major benefits to individuals and familiesby removing the need for old septic tanks, the yellow tankers to removewaste water and helping to promote a much healthier and smell-freeenvironment for the population. The project, that will ultimately connectover 30,000 homes, offices and commercial premises in Seeb to amodern, efficient and odor-free water reuse network, is part of the widersystem that Haya Water is building for the whole of Muscat.

KHIMJI’S KITCHENPARADISEWords | Clint Derric EgbertPhotography | Jerzy WierzbickiMore often then not, when choosing a cosy home to livein, or when building a dream house of our own, we tendto be fairly picky about the size of the rooms, the structureof the house and space in particular. But for food lovers,it’s usually the kitchen that takes top priority. Everybodylikes to have a clean, well-distributed kitchen and thesedays openness and storage space are must-have features.Clustered kitchens can become claustrophobic and tendto get dirty quickly, as well. By opening up the walls of theroom, you can create a kitchen island that in-turn allowsroom for both seating and storage.Modular kitchens have become increasingly popular overrecent years, and are gradually becoming an exceptedpart of newly built houses and apartments worldwide. Thisis mainly down to the practicality and convenience of thedesigns. Style, luxury and utility are the hallmark of wellplanned modular kitchens that are available at Khimji’sAppliances and Kitchens Division at Bait Al Ahlam inGhubra. Khimji's Kitchens fulfil every conceivable needof the customer, when it comes to setting up their dreamkitchen. Impressed with what they have to offer, we foundout more about the product and what it offers homemakersin Oman. Y spoke with V. Jayachandran, General Manager,KR Appliances & Kitchens Division.Can you tell us in detail about KR Kitchens and how it isdifferent from other modular kitchens in the market?KR Appliances & Kitchens Division represents worldrenownedbrands in home appliances and modular kitchens.It offers end-to-end solutions, from design to execution,for small and large scale applications. In addition to theshowroom at Al Ghubra, which displays both Khimji’skitchen and appliances, the division provides the bestpossible reach to its customers by offering professionalservices through direct sales channels that includegovernment, semi-government, corporate, contractors,consultants and villas. One of the well known brandsthat Khimji boasts of is Aran Cucine from Italy alongwith appliances from the likes of Siemens, La Germania,and Frigidaire. KR Kitchens can, through its expertiseand experience, translate customer ideas of a dreamkitchen into reality. This is a major area of value additionthat is unique to KR. The rapid rate of growth is actuallyan endorsement by our customers in this direction.This is further strengthened by the complements ofkitchens and built-in appliances brands that we offer.These brands are Aran, Siemens, La Germania - the topplayers in this field with quality, aesthetics, style andtechnology being the most common characteristics ofthese brands. This is how we can make a difference.Can you describe the functionality and aesthetics of thesemodern kitchens and how they can benefit consumers?In recent times, a kitchen is not only a place to prepare andcook meals but also should serve as a multi-functionalroom, a congregation point for the friends and family toget together and talk about the things that transpiredwithin the day. In view of the above, KR Appliances &Kitchens Division has always kept in mind that kitchensnowadays are lifestyle spaces that represent a seamlessblend of functionality and design, incorporating vividcolours and state-of-the-art technology. High-endmodular kitchens today are as much about aesthetics asthey are about efficiency. Aran Cucine is one example.Many astute customers prefer going in for an ultramodernand contemporary look for their kitchens that isboth classy and sophisticated. They’re all optimised forefficiency, with numerous ‘pullouts’ (smoothly slidingshelves attached on the inside of cabinet doors) thatuse even the most hard-to-reach corners for storage,and fully-organised drawer systems. The fact that KRKitchens are prevalent gave this distinction and we aretruly grateful to all concerned to have recognised us.KR Kitchens was recently chosen as the backdrop foran Oman TV cookery show during the Holy Month ofRamadan. What did this mean to the Khimji RamdasGroup and why do you believe that KR Kitchens waspicked as the appropriate venue?KR Appliances & Kitchens Division has been integralin redefining and revolutionising the message offunctionality and aesthetics in kitchen spaces in theOmani market. Its Bait Al Ahlam Al Ghubra showroom30

fulfils every conceivable need of the customer when it comesto setting up their dream home and kitchens. Its objectives hasbeen to educate the growing and aspiring local population onthe use and benefits of a completely modular kitchen, that arehaving value in terms of its original presentation and utility. A livepresentation of this nature with Oman TV would call for an easy,yet completely functional and open understanding of the designand the versatility of the product to fit into an ideal Omani home.Could you explain and describe the various kitchens on offer atKR?KR Appliances and Kitchens Division, with Aran Cucine, cater todomestic kitchens, in varied themes of styles, colors, finishes,with a plethora of variants. The range is versatile with sizeablechoices in contemporary, modern classical, traditional designswith finishes and material specifications that are suitable for alight use pantry to that of a daily-use kitchen. The division catersto every conceivable market segment, be it commercial, rental,residential, villas, high rises, or developments. This provides theunique mix of both being stylish and affordable.What can consumers get from KR Kitchens which they can’t findanywhere else in the market?A functional modular kitchen is essentially a conglomeration ofgood and safe workable ideas in the heart of the home. At KR webelieve in co-creating value with the end user. We do not believein providing the fastest or the easiest of selling propositions basedon price, however, the customer is taken through various stepsand in many cases, several hours are spent in planning with thecustomer to execute a beautiful and elegant kitchen. In specificterms, KR and its team of professionals have the knowledge andgrasp of the total solutions for a modular kitchen, with cabinetry,appliances, and associated services benefit the customer. Severalrelated errors are weeded out, and in most cases the customeris forewarned of mismatches with other building systems, thussaving cost, time, and redesign for the builder. A consumergets to know, and see, each element of the price, and all ourquotes in the retail segment indicate pricing, thus reflecting thetransparency in pricing at KR. If there is a cheaper alternativeto what is suggested by the KR Appliances and Kitchens team,the customer is informed promptly of the flip side and possibleobstacles that they could face in the long run.Can you give me a little background information or history on KRKitchens?KR has offered modular kitchens for the past 6 years. Middle Eastcountries, like their Asian counterpart, have an atypical style ofcooking, and there is a certain discipline to be followed whenusing modular kitchens. There was a drop in demand due to thisreason, which has now picked up again owing to changes inlifestyle. Aran Cucine has partnered with Khimji Ramdas to offera comprehensive range of kitchen solutions to the Omani market.Khimji Ramdas has a heritage of representing some of the mostvalued brands in the world. Continuing its legacy, it has addedthe prestigious Aran brand to its Appliances & Kitchens Divisionportfolio.What other services does KR Kitchens offer?A smart kitchen is incomplete, especially without built-inappliances. At Khimji’s Bait Al Ahlam, customers have the bestchoices to choose from a formidable range of built-in appliancesfrom Siemens. These modern kitchen built in appliances areengineered for both functionality and aesthetics. Khimji’s Bait AlAhlam has served as a one stop solution to fulfil every conceivableneed of the customer, setting up not only their dream home butalso their dream Kitchen too. With a qualified team of experiencedprofessionals, KR has produced customised designs and executeda variety of projects for its clientele. The division also has a range ofbuilt-in appliances to suit the customer’s needs. The division alsohas an in-house-team of design professionals. From customisedkitchen solutions within a budget to easy instalments, Khimji’sKitchens stand true to its specialist image.In what way does KR Kitchens represent style, luxury and utility?Modular kitchens serve this very purpose. Defined as a series ofmodular elements that maximise storage, usage of space andaesthetics while minimising effort. Modular kitchens have longbeen popular in western countries and are gaining acceptancewherever rising income levels are pushing living standards higherThe Italian export leader, Aran, is one of the best Italian companiesfor design, production and distribution of modular kitchens. Sinceits inception in 1962, it has been in the forefront of innovativedesigns and friendly kitchen concepts for the discerning customers.Down the ages, kitchens have always played a central role inhomes around the world. However, in modern middle and upperclassresidences, it has gone well beyond basic functionality.Therefore, a kitchen must be as well-designed and planned asany other room in the home. Aran has one of the most advancedtechnological and qualitative production systems that ensuresflawless craftsmanship in each kitchen produced. There is akitchen for every lifestyle, homes with working couples, bespokefirst or second kitchens, rental property, hotel suites, furnishedapartments and each requirement needs clear understandingand educated propositioning. Our effort has been to ensure thatneither the presentation, nor the feel of luxury, nor the utility takespredominance in the final presentation. Instead our consumers,must walk into their kitchen with a smile, even years later.For more information, call Ravi Prakash on 99105220 or Khaled on99258420.31

Words | Karima FaridThe Smoky look never fades and this week, courtesy of MAKE UP FOR EVER, we have tried and loved their latest collection.Maya Diab, the well-known Lebanese artist is the face for MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Fall/Winter 2011 Smoky Couleur collection inthe Middle East. You will be able to find these products in the MAKE UP FOR EVER outlet at Markaz Al Bahja from 20th Octoberonwards. So now for a completely stylish smoky look, Smoky Couleur Collection includes a Limited Edition Smoky EyeshadowPalette that brings together the most beautiful and intense smoky colours of the Fall/Winter season. As well as new colouredsmoky lash mascaras and kohl pencils that match the palette to perfect the smoky eye technique. With these products, everywoman can give herself a stunning smoky look of the season, and I was fortunate to have tried them out!Limited Edition Smoky PaletteThis little pretty smoky Palette has a complete rangeof eight gorgeous colours. The colours include a matteblack and seven iridescent or satiny eye shadows –Deep Plum Shimmer, Metallic Navy Blue, PeacockGreen, Metallic Copper, Metallic Taupe, YellowBeige and White Shimmer. You will end up lookingbreathtakingly well groomed. The colours are as wild oras soft as you want them to be.Smoky Lash MascaraThese come in four colours - brown, green, blue andplum, and they are ultra-pigmented. These colours arethe trends of the season. Your eye lashes will certainlylengthen out. These new mascaras come with a newgenerationbrush with twisted elastomer fibres thatseparates lashes and fully coats them with colour! I lovedthe mascara and the way my eyelashes looked afterapplication!Kohl PencilThis kohl is so easy to use, and the texture felt greaton my eyes. With the mascara and eye shadowsupport, the kohl ties up your look to amplify thesmoky effect as much as you desire. The colours areblack, pearly deep blue, matte mocha brown, pearlyblack purple, and they are all gorgeous. Using thiskohl will steepen the mystery effect in your eyes.32

MAYA DIAB, the face for MAKE UP FOR EVER’sFall/Winter 2011 Smoky Couleur Collection in the Middle East.

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36“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma,which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow yourheart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everythingelse is secondary.”-Steve Jobs

SPECIAL FEATUREClint Derric EgbertFARWELLTO THE MAN WHOPITCHED APPLETO GREATNESSAs I scrolled through my News applications on the myhandy Apple iPhone the other day I came across a newsalert that told of the sad passing away of Steve Jobs,Co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc. - exactly the way hewould have wanted me to learn of the incident, I’m sure.Jobs was a name that will always stand out amongst themany greats in the technology world, but the irony is thathe was no computer scientist. In fact, for that matter, hehad no formal training as a hardware engineer. Then whatmade Jobs the icon he is today?Personal computers, MP3 players and smartphoneswere already in the market when Jobs took over the reinsat Apple. But Jobs always brought something new tothe table, he did things that many people couldn’t – hereinvented the industry.Be it computers or music, Jobs knew how to lead, the reasonfor him being one of the most celebrated businessmen ofhis generation. He was a man who followed his instincts,and some say ruthlessly, nonetheless his leadership wasnever in question, especially because Apple was growing,and quickly.It was in 2011 when Jobs finally basked in glory, whenApple’s market capitalisation raced passed that of ExxonMobil, earning the company the title of ‘the planet’smost valuable company’. The outcome of his efforts wasbeautiful, but his journey up until there was a tough one.Born in San Francisco, USA, in 1955, Jobs was adoptedat birth by Paul and Clara Jobs (Steve’s biological fatherwas a Syrian immigrant to America). He grew up in SiliconValley, where his life was that of a regular child. However,when he turned 21 he officially started Apple with a closefriend, Steve “Woz” Wozniak, and a third founder, RonWayne, who dropped the idea in less than two weeks.Jobs found employment and much unhappiness inlow-level jobs at Hewlett-Packard and Atari, before heventured overseas to India where he received therapyamongst other forms of relief. He soon returned to hisfriend Woz who wanted to build computers, and Jobswanted to sell them for good money.It wasn’t long before 'Apple I’ was launched, but this wasonly the beginning of something bigger. ‘The Apple II’showcased the genius technicalities of Woz, but thestylish design of the ‘new’ Apple reflected Jobs’ ownpassion for technology in many ways. While othercomputers had a look that could easily come straightfrom ‘The Flintstones’, the Apple II was sleek and araging success.Just when things started looking up for Apple, thecompany made the strange decision in suddenlydeciding that they would be better off without Jobs. Infact, there were many who thought it was a great idea,well, until the company began to suddenly sink.Jobs went on to found ‘Next’, another computer companythat built some of the sleekest and most innovativedevices in the market at the time. Unfortunately, becauseit was aimed at the wrong market, the product didn’t dotoo well, so later the company decided to refocus onproducing software instead.Meanwhile, Apple was a sinking ship, with captains likeJohn Sculley, Michael Spindler and Gil Amelio jumpingoverboard. Apple needed a saviour - they needed Jobs.Jobs soon returned to Apple as CEO, determined toturn the company’s fate around. But to do this, he hadto make some harsh decisions. Jobs dumped boardmembers, cut costs, sacked staff, terminated dozens ofproducts and turned to perennial bête noire Microsoftfor a $150 million (57.7 million rials) grant. Staying trueto his capabilities, Jobs soon resurrected the companyagain. Even though there were serious competitors inthe market, because of its ecosystem, apps, movies,music and services that no other company could match,Apple continued to dominate the techno world.Sadly though, later Jobs was diagnosed with pancreaticcancer, and was told he had only months to live. However,further investigation gave him hope, revealing that hesuffered from a disease that could be controlled. Evenstill, Jobs handed over the day-to-day running of Appleto Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook. Jobs underwentmore surgeries, and on realising his deteriorating healthhe soon resigned as CEO on August 25, handing overhis duties and chair to Cook.Jobs died on October 5th, 2011 at the age of 56.37

October 11, 2011 Issue 190Words Clint Derric EgbertOman’s eyes set on victoryRested and well trained, Oman look ready to take on the Socceroos, inwhat is expected to be a cracker of a match. The much-awaited Oman-Australia World Cup 2014 qualifier soccer match at the ANZ Stadium inSydney is almost underway, and the Omani squad appear to be confidentand charged to put on a great performance.Despite the confidence in their capabilities, the Omani team are by nomeans underestimating their Australian competitors. They fully realise thetalent and skill that the Socceroos bring to the field and are aware of theirattacking capabilities.Oman’s Coach Paul le Guen was reported saying earlier, “We should allknow that Australians are a big power. See how they dominated againstthe Malaysians in their friendly on Friday. This is why I travelled to Canberrajust to have a close look at our opponents. There was a huge differencebetween both the teams. The Socceroos were much quicker and fasterthan the Malaysians. Seeing the Socceroos’ fighting spirit I made two-three adjustments in our approach so that somehow the samespirit could be inculcated in our boys. I have asked them to follow the never-say-die-spirit and fight till the end in this crucial match.’’There is no doubt that both the Omani and Aussie boys are going to put on a great show today, and we can only wish them the best,and hope for a victory. But, most importantly a good game of soccer.Oman qualify for the World Beach HandballChampionshipDespite losing to Qatar earlier, Oman managed a second place winat the recently-concluded Asian Handball Championship and hasthus qualified for the 2012 World Beach Handball Championshipto be hosted in Brazil, soon.Oman’s match against Qatar was truly one of the best games ofthe tournament, showcasing the sheer determination of a greatOmani team, as well as a strong Qatari squad. Qatar’s goalkeeperAbdulkarim al Hinu had most certainly attained a hero’s statusin his country after his performance that evening, saving a shotfrom Oman’s Ali al Hassani in sudden-death to clinch victory forQatar.With teams drawn at 1-1 post regulation time, and running neckto-neckin the first and second sessions, there was only one wayto go - a penalty shootout. Again, both teams fought hard forthe win and both sides converted their five chances. However,in sudden-death, Hinu managed his heroic save and OsmanMahmoud followed with a goal, giving Qatar the victory.Proud with his squad’s performance, Omani Coach Hamood al Hassani was reported saying, “It is a heartbreaking defeat. The playersnever gave up. In the end, however, I would say it was not our day. The sending-off of Harthy affected us in the second period. Wecould not attack from the left after that and Qatar took advantage of that.” Realising the efforts of the Omani team, Qatar coach KhaledAli said, “Oman was a tough team to beat.”All in all, the tournament was a success and the Omani boys are now set to go forth and represent Oman at the 2012 World BeachHandball Championship. We at Y would like to wish them the very best.38

October 11, 2011 Issue 190Atif Aslam in concert at theQurum Amphitheatre. Broughtto you by Roar Entertainment39

October 11, 2011 Issue 190Samsonite Press Conference At Mumtaz MahalAnil KhimjiFrom left: Vivek Pande, Anil Khimji, Ramesh Tainwala, Subrata DuttaRajiv AhujaLaunch of Lamborghini Aventador at LamborghiniShowroom in Al Khuwair40

October 11, 2011 Issue 190Voltamp Sohar FactoryInaugurationMr. Qais Al Yousef with H.H. Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq (Right)Sayyid Aymen bin Hamad Albusaidi41

October 11, 2011 Issue 190The Inauguration Of TheNational Assoaciation OfCancer Awarnes NACA In CCQ42

October 11, 2011 Issue 1905th Oman Dive Challenge for the Disabled Press ConferenceStefanie Trier and Tariq Al KhaboriThe Box Appeal in Oman for Dar Al Atta After Collecting 800 BoxesMichael Jacobi and Chris FisherRabih Zein43

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October 11, 2011 Issue 190SUDOKUPlace a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each rowacross, each column down and each small 9-box square contains allof the numbers from one to nine.Go FigureThe idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottomand right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmeticsigns in the order they are given (that is, form left to right and top tobottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete itsblank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.45

Each week we are asking our readers to take part in a topical discussionvia Y Magazine's facebook page.Join the group and you might see your comments printed in next week'sissue!This week:It’s the perfect time of year for a delicious ice creamor frozen yoghurt. Which is your favourite ice creamstore in town and what do you order?All answers will be printed in this week’s issue of Y.Paroma Banerjee DasguptaBaskin Robins is my all time favourite but now i prefer Pinkberry inMuscat City Centre. The best possible way to beat the crazy heat of thecity to indulge in an ice cream now.Vijayalakshmi ShettyBaskin robins--- still the old one is my favourite...Nezih YamanIL GELATO.Harleen OsahanBaskin Robins my all time fav pralines and cream... and i like mc donald’sice cream choco dip ......Arooba ShaikhTropical is my favourite... its soooo good!! especially the faluda isyummyyyyy!!!SOLUTIONSCROSSWORDSUDOKUGO FIGURE