Y - February 22, 2011 - Issue 158 - Y-oman.com

This week inFebruary 22, 2011 Issue 15810BankTwentyfour Sevensohar, A'saffa, Dumond, Park Inn, Microsoft Oman, Bank Dhofar14 Check This OutEvents, Book Review, Craic Attack26 SpotlightAhlaam Al Marhoobi – Road safety20Y-ratedONLINEBANDITs28SpotlightVolker and Margrit Buchwald30 Yin-YangBeauty Tips from our Readers!31AutoBAHNFERRARI's FXX and 599xx Program36 X-tra TimeLocal Basketball, Motocross616VentureCAMEL DIVECLuBsharm-El-sheikh45 ChillaxativeCrosswords, social Mediasayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi Editor-in-Chief | Kiran Jay Haslam Managing Editor | Paul McLoughlin Work EditorKarima Farid Chief Reporter | Clint Derric Egbert Sports Writer/Photographer | Jerzy Wierzbicki Photographer | Jerome Adarle Art DirectorEihab 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.

WINNINGLETTERBiTTer SWeeTDear Y,I would ask whether other people feel the way I do when I ambuying foods at the supermarkets. My husband and I are bothdiabetic, and we are told by our doctors that this is not anuncommon disease affecting many people here in Muscat. Thenumber of diabetics has increased, and now it seems as thoughmany people are suffering. With this in mind I am trying to buyproducts that are diabetes friendly at my supermarket, and yetI cannot find them. I went to many other supermarkets lookingfor foods like this, but what I find is very few brands on the shelfthat cater for diabetics. Are our supermarkets not interested incatering for the needs of its customers?A. pereira[Ed: Dear Mrs Pereira, You have raised a valid point, and we wouldlike to add this to our list of stories we intend to investigate thisyear. It is not just diabetics, but what about people with nut andegg allergies or those who staunchly vegan? Where do they shop?It also find interesting the fact that many food channels on TV,such as BBC Food or The Food Network, rarely cater, if at all,to people with diabetes. In fact, healthy eating seems very lowon their list. Instead what we see are ’10 Dollar Dinners’ andfinancially skewed cooking shows. With over 285 million peoplenow living with diabetes throughout the world, we should see aswift change in the way we shop, the way we prepare food, andthe way we eat.]Be A WiNNer!Each week we are selecting ourbest reader’s letter or image,and giving away fantasticprizes care of Noodle House!simply email us atinfo@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.READER'SLETTERSpedAlliNg THe gOOdSTuFFDear Y,It was good to see a vehicle featured last week that can handle the Omanioutback with the tenacity that only a monster truck can offer. This followsa series of excellent articles featuring road cars, many of which arepersonal favourites, and the writing of this section is with clarity, passionand humour – all important points for a good car review. It’s good to seemotor journalists take to the field seriously, and with care, giving firsthandaccounts of the cars durability and dexterity ‘in the rough’ whilstproviding all the necessary information car enthusiasts can consume.Well done to Y for a great magazine and a brilliant car section, somethingwhich deserves praise for its original style.Best regards,Craig gowerpreCAuTiON iS THe BeSTpreVeNTiONIt was quite interesting to read the story "A filter a day keeps the doctorAway" on the spotlight pages (Y-issue 157). However "Filter every dayto keep the dangers of chlorinated water away" would have been moreappropriate caption.In fact it is usually the swimming pool water which has little higherconcentration of chlorine which can be instantly felt just in one dip.The tap water supplied n Oman does not have that much chlorineconcentration to cause the revealed side effects. However precaution isthe best prevention.The average of cost of Chlorine tap filters in the international marketis between 20-90 usD. The cost of 50-60 Omani Riyal is little on thehigher side. The dealers of the Pure spa shower Filter must look intothe possibility of reducing the cost to make this product within reach ofcommoners of Oman.With Regards,Mohammad Osama rawatRuwiY Weekly34x24.ai 2/13/11 12:12:35 PM

on wheels.Call it power dressingFebruary 22, 2011 Issue 158COMPLIMENTARY6The 2011• Available in 2.5 Ltrs. and 2.0 Ltrs. • 5-speed Activematic, 6-speed Manual Transmission • Advanced Keyless Entry System • 8-speaker BOSE ® Premium Sound System• Karakuri Design Seats • Xenon Auto Headlamps • 18” Alloy Wheels • 6 Airbags • Cruise Control • Fog Lamps • 4-sensor, 3-channel ABS with EBD • 6 CD MP3 Changeror Call 92888005for a test-drive today!9www.towellauto.comOUR 1 1 SHOWROOMS ACROSS OMAN :• WAT TAYA H • AT H A I B A • BA R K A • S O H A R • IBRI • N I Z WA • S U R • B A N I B U A L I • I B R A • S A L A L A H • B U R A I M I

February 22, 2011 Issue 158A’Saffa Foods Offers Only real HalalA’saffa Foods is reassuring its customers in Oman and across the GCC that they can buy any of their Chickens and food productswith confidence knowing that it has been raised and slaughtered by hand using Real Halal techniques in accordance with Islamiclaws. The company made the announcement as markets in the region continue to import produce from companies around theworld where there is no strong Islamic tradition. some companies in the GCC, using Islamic brand names, import chickens fromBrazil and are said to misguide the end consumer to believe it is from an Islamic nation.A’saffa Foods, the leading food producer in Oman and the fastest growing in the GCC, says that consumers can only truly buy withconfidence if they select home produced foods that have been prepared within an Islamic nation. The company’s spokespersonsays, “We believe that our products offer Real Halal to our growing customers here and in the region ensuring an authentic andcredible product to families who buy our frozen and fresh range of A’saffa Foods products.”duMONd – SuMMer 2011park inn Muscat gets S.T.A.r. TrainerDumond’s collection forspring/summer 2011of women’s shoes andaccessories went deepinto tropical watersintroducing severaldifferent colours andshapes from the bottomof the sea into thisseason’s pieces. summerBoots presents a colour chart with strong and tropical colours likeyellow, red, coral and several shades of blue, green, and also theclassic shades of grey, beige, brown and black.One of the lines of the collection is the Reefs, which blends organicshapes into its colour composition to build imagery of underwatergardens on bags and shoes.The Golden seaweeds has its inspiration in the golden brownpigment of the marine bodies and it brings models that add modernlines, a clean look and exotic style.The Crystal Clear Waters reproduce the transparency, fluidity andlightness from the seas and oceans into delicate pieces. Withtransparent, draped and soft leather finishing, the line bets in ankleshaped sandals – with buckling stripe or zipper, make for a modernlookRecently returned from Manchester, uK, where she was awarded a certificate for successfulcompletion of the s.T.A.R. Hotel Trainer Certification Workshop, Noora Al Nabri, HumanResources Manager at the Park Inn Muscat said the lessons learnt from the workshopwould help her identify and groom future leaders within the Hotel.The Hotel Trainer Certification Workshop (HTCW) is part of the Rezidor Group’s internalmanagement and leadership development initiative, called s.T.A.R. - supervisory Trainingand Resource Programme. Lasting between 5-6 months, s.T.A.R. aims to developknowledge and skills needed for “interactive supervision” through participative workshopsand modules.Along with her peers, Noora completed a foundation programme, followed by ten moduleson topics including goal setting, time management, appraisal, coaching, delegation, creativethinking, team communication and leadership, besides other subjects. These elements weredesigned to help participants to understand the different aspects of supervisory trainingand enable them to impart these lessons to their own colleagues.she said, “Two essential components of the workshop were the completion of a brandproject and a business development project. These are designed to drive home the lessonstaught during training, and more importantly, measure the impact of the training at work.”As a certified s.T.A.R. trainer, Noora will now be responsible for creating and developing apipeline of supervisory talent at the Hotel.For those who value traditional flat sandals, the collection offersseveral exclusive lines. There are options for different preferencesand styles, and the brand presents the perfect match of comfortand style with models ranging from the sturdy robust sandals tolight and casual ones.10

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Bank Sohar Organises Themed Fun day for StaffBank sohar organised the themed ‘The Fun Day Out’ for their staff at the Palm Gardens, MuscatInterContinental Hotel over the weekend. Members of staff, their spouses and children were given ‘AJourney Around the safari World’ topped with all the trimmings that combined to make an enjoyable andcomplete ‘Fun Day’ for all.‘The Fun Day Out’ included a choice of food,entertainment, pastimes and activities for everyone- both adults and children. Refreshments wereserved on arrival followed by a sumptuous lunch buffet and treats on the side for children. Children werespoilt for choice with bouncing castles, face painting, games and a fancy dress competition exclusivelyfor children. Adults had their own entertainment with live music all through the afternoon and displays offootball stunts and other shows. There was a photo shoot souvenir for each member of staff, and a raffledraw with amazing prizes for all those who participated in the ‘Fun Day’. The prize draw for the Bank’spopular in-house ‘staff saving scheme’ was also held during the celebrations.11

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Microsoft Oman launches imagine usCompetitionMicrosoft Oman today announced the launch of the 'Imagine us' competition in partnershipwith the Ministry of Education in Oman and technology partners, Fujitsu and AMD bytraining 100 master teachers across the sultanate of Oman to mentor high-school studentsas part of this innovative technology competition.Bankdhofar Sponsor OiCdVBankDhofar was a key sponsor of the ‘Omani InternationalConference for Divergence of Views’ on breast cancer organisedby the sultan Qaboos university (sQu) Hospital in cooperation withthe Oman Medical specialty Board. The conference, the first to beheld in the Middle East region, took place at the Al Bustan PalaceHotel from February 12th to 14th. The conference was opened byHer Excellency Dr. Rawiyah bint soud Al Busaidiyah, Minister ofHigher Education.As part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility,BankDhofar is proud to be associated with this important conferencewhich brings together doctors, specialists and researchers inbreast cancer to discuss one of the world’s most common forms ofcancers. More than 100 researchers and specialists participatedin the conference representing major hospitals, research andstudies centres from usA, Germany, Britain, France, Norway,Ireland, Austria, Hong Kong, Nigeria, India and the sultanate. Theypresented 24 papers, and lectured on research and the latestdiscoveries in breast cancer treatment and prevention. Two daysof the conference was dedicated to academic discussion whereasthe third day saw an event especially for ladies’ awareness.'Imagine us' is a pioneering technology competition aimed at developing the skills,imagination and creativity of high school students by using special computer applications indesigning, graphics, web, and digital video. The competition will encourage young studentsin Oman to apply their imagination, passion, and creativity to technology innovations thatcan make a difference in the world. This is in line with the ongoing efforts of Microsoftand the Ministry of Education in Oman to disseminate knowledge and educate high schoolstudents about the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).students from all the regions of Oman, aged between 16 and 18 at the time of entry, cantake part in the competition in teams of 3 to 4 students in one of three categories. In theWeb Design Category, teams will design and develop an HTML web site using MicrosoftExpression® Web. In the Digital Video category, competitors can submit a short film (5to 10 minutes) created and edited using Microsoft Windows® Movie Maker. The GraphicDesign Category will have teams designing an original poster using Microsoft Expression®Design.Teachers were trained in four sessions in Muscat, Al Buraimi and salalah. The teams fromschools across the country will be given a deadline to submit their entries which will beshortlisted for the final round. In the closing ceremony, students will present their worksin front of audiences, and winners will be selected by the end of April 2011 with valuableprizes from Fujitsu and AMD up for grabs.12

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Shoe Mart launches its Spring/Summer 2011 CollectionEmbarking on a new journey, ‘shoe Mart’, the region’s leading retailer offashion footwear and accessories has voyaged across the world to launchan exquisite spring/summer 2011 collection. This season be inspired bythe past, present and future that rings in a world of fascinating looks andwondrous styles that will get your feet tapping.Bling is back in style with footwear, and the trend is about sparkle andstatement shoes. The nude palette is key here, in soft satins and leathers.This collection ranges from gorgeous flat toe posts and gladiators to sexyplatform and heeled sandals that will make you standout in a crowd. Nothingexcites kids more than fun and colours. With vivid colours, fancy characters,varied sizes and lots of styles to choose from, shoe Mart, one of the region'sbiggeest retailer of funky and sleek footwear and accessories, launches avariety of styles for kids this spring/summer across all its stores.shoe Mart spring/summer collection walks high in style with sexysilhouettes and great styling and fabrications. With a range like no other, this collection is set to turns heads. Visit shoe Mart at all Centrepoint outlets in Oman tosee the range for yourself.13

February 22, 2011 Issue 158EventsCraic Attack to Bring Mark Maier andMike gunn to Crowne plaza MuscatMuscat Festival 2011The biggest event in Muscat (if not in Oman), is underway and willbe ongoing until 24th February. Check out both Qurum Park andNaseem Park as these locations will definitely be the place to be!Visit www.muscat-festival.com for the latest timings and furtherupdates.Surf, Turf & dip BBQ NightsWondering where to spend your Wednesday evenings during thiswonderful weather? The Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat has launchedthe surf, Turf & BBQ Nights every Wednesday in the hotel’srestaurant and terrace from 6pm.extreme Sailing SeriesThe sultanate of Oman will play host to the world’s mostexciting sailing event as part of this year’s Muscat Festival, from22nd to 24th of February. Racing will start at 2pm atThe Wave, Muscat. More information can be found onwww.extremesailingseries.com and www.omansail.comMuscat Fashion WeekThis event is organised by Muscat Municipality and will be ongoingfrom 22nd to 24th February, at 7pm. Details on how you can ticketswill be available on www.muscat-festival.comMommy & MeCheck out Oman’s first Mother & Child Exhibition on 27th and28th February at Noor Hall. shopping, entertainment, services,resources, seminars… they have all this and more, and all underone roof! Check out www.mommyandmeoman.com for moreinformation.SkerryvoreLive at Club safari, Grand Hyatt on 23rd February. Ticketsare only 12 rials on the door which open at 7pm and the showstarts at 9pm. For more information, call 95555699 or log ontowww.skerryvore.comMuscat international Book Fair 2011The Muscat International Book Fair Committee seeks to make the16th Exhibition a cultural forum for readers to exchange views ondifferent intellectual and literary issues. This event is starting from22nd February to 4th March 2011 at Oman International ExhibitionCenter. Check www.mctbookfair.gov.om for more information.Described as ‘both wacky and hypnotic’,‘lively and engaging’, this talentedwriter and stand-up Mark Maier is anestablished and highly sought-aftercomedy performer, on both nationaland international comedy circuits. Hehas toured Germany, Holland, Ireland,Hong Kong, the Bahamas, southAfrica, Australia and New Zealand -and has also appeared at the Comedystore in Los Angeles and Caroline’s inNew York.Amongst his many credits, Mark hastaught improvisational comedy in London and founded the group ‘MadLib’ whichperformed at the 1994 Edinburgh Festival. He now appears regularly as a guestwith the acclaimed 'Comedy store Players'. He has regularly appeared on radioand TV shows such as on ‘Rory Bremner Who Else - CH4’, ‘Four at The store’, ‘TheWorld stands up’.Mike Gunn has supported the likes of Jo Brand and Alan Davies. He now headlinesat top comedy venues in the uK and is rapidly reaching cult status on the circuit.He has performed internationally, taking his talent to Hong Kong, Ireland, Holland,Germany, switzerland, New Zealand, and saudi Arabia and to Australia at theMelbourne International Comedy Festival, where he completed a five-week selloutseason. He also had the dubioushonour of being the first comic toever play in Kuantan, East Malaysiaand recently entertained the troopsin the Falkland Islands. Mike hasalso taken two solo shows to theEdinburgh Festival.Television appearances includeMichael McIntyre’s ‘ComedyRoadshow’, ‘Harry Hill’s TV Burp’, AlMurray’s sit-com ‘Time GentlemenPlease’, ‘The Comedy store’, ‘Liveat Jongleurs’, and ‘The Gas’. Heis a regular on the sky Poker Channel. He has also been a contributor for 'TheGuardian'. He has written for ‘Time Out’, ‘The List’, ‘The 11 O’clock show’ and even‘Match of The Day Magazine’.Another night of comedy that should not be missed. Tickets are available at CrownePlaza Muscat and OuA retail outlet in MQ at 12 rials. Doors open at 8pm, showstarts at 9pm.Contact 955 55699 for more information.14

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Book ReviewThe Ottoman empire:Classical Age 1300-1600Halil InalcikWritten by one the lead scholarsof the Ottoman Empire era,Inalcik’s great work ‘ClassicalAge 1300-1600’ is a must readfor those looking for a deeperunderstanding on the workingsof the Middle East. The workexplains, albeit briefly, the riseand establishment of one of theworld’s largest empires, whichdominated the Middle Eastand much of Europe for centuries. It was a time that broughtimmense change to the region, with the Middle East againbecoming a centre of learning, a hotbed of religious thoughtand also a relatively tolerant area for the countless religious andethnic minorities who settled there. Although a little crammed,the book is a great way to learn a little more about the social,religious, military and economic workings of the empire, alongwith providing a general history of a fascinating time for theregion. Although it’s difficult to find in Muscat, the work isavailable on Amazon.Inauguration 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 AffairsBriT prize withHi FMIt’s the trip of a lifetime and TahirAl Barwani was the lucky winner,picking up two return flight ticketswith Oman Air to London, alongwith accommodation, spendingmoney and tickets to the BRITAwards and the aftershow party.speaking of winning the 95.9 HiHM/Oman Air prize, the winnersaid he was looking forward toseeing Justin Bieber at the showand will be taking his wife for theshow in London.15

February 22, 2011 Issue 158DIVING ADVENTUREDedicated to DivingThe Red Sea resort that’s a divers’ paradiseWords Penny Destro | Photography Hugh DestroEnthusiasts of diving who live in Oman are envied the world over.These scuba buffs get to dive all year round in temperatures thatvary very little, in a part of the Arabian Sea which encompasses awide variety of corals, fish, and mammals. So with such richnesson their doorsteps, when it comes to vacation time, where dothese over-indulged devotees go to liven their jaded palates?The answer is Sharm-El-Sheikh, a resort on the south-eastern tipof Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula which has more first class dive sitesthan many entire countries. For the true fanatic, the Camel DiveClub is the place to go. Situated right in the heart of Na’amaBay, Camel isn’t only the area’s longest established diving brand– it’s also a hotel dedicated to diving and its growing army offollowers.Divers under instructionin the purpose-built poolat Camel Dive ClubThe Club was established in 1986 by Hesham Gabr,who still owns it and keeps his finger on the pulse, thusensuring that new facilities and industry measures areinstigated and standards maintained.One of the most popular aspects of staying at theCamel Dive Hotel (apart from the renowned Camel Bar– but that’s another story!) is that it’s only five minute’swalk from the jetty where the dive boats are embarked.If you’re staying at a resort used by one of the manydive clubs, getting to your boat can entail a 10km busride, tediously picking up divers from other hotels enroute, thus by staying at Camel, precious dive-timeisn’t wasted in getting to the site.According to many experienced divers, the Red Seaincorporates some of the best dive sites in the world.Also, the world’s saltiest stretch of open water, it isdistinguished by the fact that its temperature becomeshigher the deeper you go. This phenomenon is due tothe median trench on the sea floor, caused millionsof years ago by a large intercontinental fracturewhich stretches from Lebanon to Africa’s RiftValley. At 1000 metres it can be 21C, whereasother oceans are about 6C, and in parts wherethe magma rises from the Earth’s mantleit can reach much higher temperatures –luckily at depths where divers can neverventure.However, these unique conditions ensurethe Red Sea has more than its fair shareof endemic corals and fish in its crystalclear waters. It is home to over 1,200species of fish and 250 different corals,a positive wonderland for snorkellersand divers alike. At Sharm, there are overthirty dive sites ranging from shallow coralgardens to globally famed wrecks.16

A colourful Foster’s hawkfishSwimmers of every level are catered for: the hiringof an inflatable collar will give confidence to theweakest of would be snorkellers, allowing themto experience the wonder beneath the waves, andalong this part of the coast some of the richestsites are only yards from the shore. Nevertheless,guides are always on hand to point out creatureshiding in the corals and to keep a practised eye onthe party.Even for the Open Water diver, or as a check divefor those whose skills may be a bit rusty, there areplenty of interesting sites. Ras Katy, for example,where because of its sheltered position, boats can moorclose to shore. Here you’ll find a display of corals such asgorgonians, acropora, and soft raspberry, and among themdart bright yellow butterflyfish and schools of small, almosttransparent glassfish. You might spot a scorpionfish though they’rewell camouflaged by the reef – and you’re advised to watch out fortriggerfish which are known to give divers a nasty bite - also their viciouscousins, the giant triggerfish. Triggerfish, big and small, are particularlyaggressive during the nesting season, though I’ve been unable to ascertainprecisely when this is (consensus is July and August in Egypt), however,with an inbuilt bad attitude, it’s best to give them a wide berth. Ifyou’re unlucky enough to be attacked, don’t retreat upwards as theirterritory is apparently pyramid shaped and they’ll chase you, butmake a hasty withdrawal on the same level!Wherever you choose to stay, Camel instruction iscomprehensive and totally professional whether thetrainee is a complete novice or an instructor developinghis or her skills. As a centre for the prestigious PADI(Professional Association of Diving Instructors)Instructor Development Courses, it is here thatDivemasters and Assistant Instructors come fromall over the world to gain their full Instructor’scertification. The best students are frequentlyemployed by the Club, and many have augmentedtheir diving knowledge with a season or two as aCamel Instructor. With a purpose-built pool, a fullrange of PADI courses are on offer, all of which canbe taken as part of a holiday package.Rich shadesof coral on thereef at MiddleGardenDisabled Divers are welcomed at the Hotel; one of thefew to have full wheelchair access in all public areas, itholds a PADI Accessibility Award. Instructors experiencedat adapting their teaching techniques to ensure disabledstudents’ performances meet certification requirements areon hand for all courses.

A school of glassfish at Ras KatyA tinylongnosehawfishcamouflagedagainst thecoral18One thing that particularly struck me was thesafety standards practised by the dive leaderson the boats. Everyone on board, regardlessof whether or not they actually go in thewater, has to sign in and out after every diveor snorkel: this might seem a tad extreme,but we’ve all seen the movie or at least heardthe story of the divers inadvertently left farfrom land, never to be heard of again. We’veall seen “Jaws” as well...Anyhow, diving off Sharm offers opportunitiesto see a variety of sharks including theBlacktip, Grey Reef, Leopard sharks andoccasional Hammerheads, but the favouriteis probably that greatest of fish, the Whaleshark, surprising divers with its appearancesall along the coast.Ras Mohammed National Park whichseparates the Gulf of Aqaba from the Gulfof Suez incorporates some of the mostpopular sites including Ras Za’Atar withits chimneys through which the sun’s rayscreate a spectacular effect. There’s alsothe caves in Jackfish Alley, where Mantarays are frequently seen; Eel Garden, SharkObservatory, and Shark and Yolanda Reef, allwith a plethora of marine life.For the more experienced there is one ofthe world’s top ten wrecks, the Thistlegorm,launched in 1940 to transport wartimematerials to the British Eighth Army, andsunk the very next year, 31 miles from Sharm,when the hold containing munitions was hitby two German bombs. Thirty metres fromthe wreck, two locomotives lie on the seabed wherethey came to rest, and other notable relics includetank wagons, motorcycles, jeeps, boots, rifles andammunition. It’s a difficult dive due to the depthand the current, and visibility is not always good.Unfortunately, because of the vast numbersof divers who now visit the site each year, thewreck’s framework is rapidly being corroded bymeans of the accumulation of air bubbles on themetal structure, endangering its very survival.And, despite the divers’ unwritten code, somejust cannot resist taking souvenirs from thishistoric site. Other popular wreck dives includethe Dunraven, a British steamer which sank in1876 after its cargo of timber and cotton caughtfire.Even non-diving partners can have the most relaxing ofholidays at the Camel Hotel. For a start, there’s no musicor annoying animators at the pool, and it’s possible toaccompany your diver on the boat simply to soak upthe rays. Boats contracted to the Club are spacious andrarely seem too crowded, and their Egyptian Captainsand their crews are usually polite and helpful.At the end of a day exploring underwater, Camel’slarge courtyard-like reception area is renowned for itsaprès-dive atmosphere where everyone gathers to talkabout...diving.If you’re looking for a holiday that is totally dedicated todiving, nobody does it better than Camel.Divers examine agiant Gorgonianfan (Hickson’sgiant sea fan)

A vividlycolouredsteepheadparrotfishA Napoleon wrasseposes for the cameraSHARM EL-SHEIKH TIPS:• You need a visa which can be bought at the airport – but pay in USD or it costsmore• The centre of Na’ama Bay is pedestrianised. Taxis are not allowed, so make sureyour hotel meets you at the airport if you’re staying in this area• Entry to Ras Mohammed National Park costs 5 euros – and you must take yourpassport• Wreck dives such as Thistlegorm cost as much as 85 euros extra• Shop around for tours – competition means the prices can vary• Shoes must be removed on dive boats• Ladies are expected to cover their swimwear when entering the saloon for lunchon dive boats• SCUBA is the acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing ApparatusA tank wagonfrom thedoomedfreighterThistlegorm liesin a watery graveA unicorn fish patrols the seabed19

Online BanditsWords Clint Derric EgbertOrganised crime like drug smuggling, illegal gambling and humantrafficking have made front page headlines for decades, drawing time andattention from the masses, governments and law enforcement agenciesacross the world. Simultaneously, in the shadows, another misdemeanourhas steadily made its way into the fold. Online piracy has become the mostrampant forms of theft in the modern world.Film and television studios, music producers, video game developers, andeven publishers have been victimis of this crime, and they are not alone,and according to recent statistics, the whole world suffers from this selfishfelony.where piracy has become an uncomfortably commonpractice, the Indian film industry was reported tohave lost 369 million rials due to piracy, which led toan avalanche of job losses, estimated to be almost600,000. All of this caused by money hounds lookingto make a quick buck by illegally distributing counterfeitcopies of movies – sometimes even before the film isreleased in cinemas. This in turn, has a negative effecton the gross revenues produced by the movie industryand authorised retailers around the globe, leading to alack of earnings, productivity and job opportunities.The movie industry has reported to have lost 3.38 million rials in the UnitedStates alone, and 2.346 million rials worldwide, leading to a 2.115 millionrials deficit in annual earning among US workers, a dearth of 141,030 jobsand a smashing 322 million rials deficit in annual tax revenue. In India,Piracy, however, in this day and age, is not how mostpeople imagine it to be. The act of sneaking a handycaminto a cinema hall, copying the movie onto a VCDor DVD and selling it on the side of the road for one20

'The numbers of pirated movie,tenth of the market price is a thingof the past. Instead, the act ofdownloading from various sites andBitTorrent portals on the internetis the most popular form of piracy,today.What are Bittorrentportals?BitTorrent portals are hubs whereuploads and downloads take placevery quickly, taking a movie filethat is in a very large format, andthen breaking it down into tinypieces and distributing those piecesamong the computers connectedto the network. This makes it easyto trade data back and forth viaa ‘swarm’, in which millions ofpeople simultaneously exchangethis data. When a user logs on andstarts downloading a file, they canthen piece together the completefile from hundreds or thousandsof other users, within minutes. Sobasically it is simple to illegallydownload pirated movies, songs,TV shows and practically anythingelse you might want.games and music appears tohave increased in distributionover the pastyear aloneand accessto these freedownload sitesvia the internetis no problemat all.'Bittorrent portals and video streaming link sites are the two main culprits for the hammeringthe movie, music and television industries around the world. This new form of illegal exchangehas grown rapidly over the past couple of years and shows no sign of stopping. It has becomea nightmare for rental stores around the world. These ripples can even be felt here in theSultanate of Oman, where watching movies and TV shows are a popular pastime for many.MovieTiMe shop owner Mashal Sulaiman Al-Mageni, talks to Y about the problem of piracyand how it is affecting his business here in the Sultanate: “Businesses are affected mainlybecause of downloading, although I have noticed people selling fake VCDs and DVDs on theside of the road too. The problem is that earlier it was only the internet savvy that used to21

Most pirated MoviesName of movie Number of illegal downloads Losses incurred due to piracyAvatar 16,580,000 $2,779,551,867Kick-Ass 11,400,000 $96,130,432Inception 9,720,000 $825,408,570Shutter Island 9,490,000 $294,803,014Iron Man 28,810,000 $621,751,988Clash of the Titans 8,040,000 $493,214,993Green Zone 7,730,000 $94,875,650Sherlock Holmes 7,160,000 $523,029,864The Hurt Locker 6,850,000 $48,612,915Salt 6,700,000 $175,190,850know how and from where to download these movies for free. But now,almost everyone in Oman knows how this is done. And they are doing itfrequently.”The number of movie, games and music being pirated appears to haveincreased over the past year alone and access to these free downloadsites via the internet is no problem at all.“I know many rental shops in Oman that have seen a drop in sales andincome over the past year alone. I myself have witnessed a plunge insales, but because I am a fairly new outlet, the impact has been less on meas compared to others. I also believe that to reduce piracy here in Oman,telecommunication companies could block these downloading sites, just asthey have blocked sites like Skype. This would really assist in preventingpiracy, at the same time making our businesses more lucrative.”Spotting the difference in a fake DVD from an original copy can be a trickytask and many people in Oman have confessed to their lack of knowledgeon the subject. When asked how to spot the difference between fakesand originals, Mashal explains, “Making a fake DVD costs as little asone rial, 400 to 800 baizas for an empty disk and 200 baizas at the mostto download it, I would assume. Whereas, the actual cost of making anoriginal DVD is a lot higher. There are various types of originals in themarket, eight to be exact, and one that allows playability on any DVDplayer. Region 1, which comes straight from the US territories, is the mostoriginal product available in the market. Region 2 and 5, which is soldin the Baltic States, is legally copied from Region 1, losing a small bit ofquality in the process – but not that much. Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwanuse region 3, which is legally copied from Region 2,but is less in quality. This continues down the chain inregions 4,5 and 6. So to know the difference betweenthe originals and fakes, I encourage customers to lookon the back of the cover for these regions.”Marshal goes on to say, “The invention of Blu Ray isanother means of curbing piracy. Blu Ray is difficult tocopy. You cannot copy that kind of quality easily. As ofnow Blu Ray is not that popular in Oman, but in time,probably the next two years, it’s sure to pick up.”Video streaming sites are also rapidly becominganother spoke in the piracy wheel. Practically devotedto pirated content, these sites have caused majordamage to the television and music industries, allowinginternet users to view copyright infringed content with asimple click of the mouse.There is not much that can be done to prevent thisinjustice, but there is no doubt that with a determinedand united effort piracy could someday be reduced.But, for this to happen there is much that needsto be done, primarily by internet users and also bygovernment and telecommunication bodies around theworld.22

What givesINteLLeCtuAL PROPeRtYthe right, anyWay? Kiran Jay HaslamThis issue's Y-rated article was prompted by a strong discussion I had a fewweeks ago with a dear friend of mine. There has been much public debate overthe extension of copyright terms, with industry leviathan, Disney, leading thecharge in North America. Whereas in many countries copyright is based on a50-year term, US corporate copyright duration currently stands at 95 years,and for individuals it is ‘life + 70 years after death’. This is simply becauseDisney has been able to influence the government to extend US copyright by,oh I don’t know, let’s say 10 years. (In 1998 they managed to extend it by awhopping 20 years!) And they seem to be able to effect such a change every10 years! These extensions are ‘retroactive’, which basically means they affectcontent that was created well before the extension date. This is content that nolonger pays royalties to the creator or individual (as they have perhaps beenburied years ago) but to their estates or large corporations like Disney.So what would Disney be without royalties being paidby all and sundry for their enigmatic character MickeyMouse? Probably a small-time studio. The funny thing is,good old Walt got his big break by re-hashing copyrightfree content; fairy tales and traditional stories that havebeen passed on for free, for generations. According to theUS Patent and Trademark Office, “The Walt DisneyCompany currently has a trademark applicationpending, filed November 19, 2008, for the name ‘SnowWhite’ that would cover all live and recorded movie,television, radio, stage, computer, Internet, news, andphotographic entertainment uses, except literatureworks of fiction and nonfiction.” What’s that? Mylocal laundromat here in Muscat could have its website shut downbecause Disney owns the rights to a name derived from German folklore? Yes,it seems that an adaption of tale number 53 from “Kinder- und Hausmärchen”printed in 1857, is now in the hands of Disney’s savvy lawyers.Imagine what Disney would be, if way back in the day they too were robbed ofthe right to use existing content, creatively. But the copyright loop also involvesthe music industry, with a war of words being exchanged between artists andrecord execs. The argument flip-flops; from the struggling musician - who isindebted to the record label, and unable to release or create content at their owndiscretion - over to the other side, where industry giants claim it is in the interestof the artist to get their 3 percent cut of whatever royalties flood into the label’sbank account, for as long as possible. So in steps Napster, and he quickly levelsthe playing field. Peer-to-peer sharing takes over cyberspace and evolves, andnow torrents are downloaded in locust-like swarms by computer geeks all acrossthe world.JAMMIE THOMAS-RASSET’SPAY TO PLAY-LISTA few months ago, mother of four - JammieThomas-Rasset, was taken to court fordownloading 24 songs from the peer-to-peernetwork Kazaa in 2006. The 32-year old wassuccessfully sued by Capitol Records, SonyBMG, Arista, Interscope, Warner Bros andUMG. She must now pay USD$1.92million(approximately US$80,000 per song) for lowquality MP3 rips of the following songs:Guns N Roses Welcome to the Jungle;November RainVanessa Williams Save the Best for LastJanet Jackson Let's Wait AwhileGoo Goo Dolls IrisJourney Faithfully; Don't Stop BelievingSara McLachlan Possession;Building a MysteryAerosmith Cryin'Linkin Park One Step CloserDef Leppard Pour Some Sugar on MeReba McEntire One Honest HeartBryan Adams SomebodyNo Doubt Bathwater; Hella Good;Different PeopleSheryl Crow Run Baby RunRichard Marx Now and ForeverDestiny's Child Bills, Bills, BillsGreen Day Basket CaseGloria Estefan Here We Are;Coming Out of the Dark;Rhythm is Gonna Get YouNow this is just my opinion, but copyright law was probably conceived toprovide an incentive for people to write books, record original music and createmovies; it was never designed to stifle creativity and artistic license by beingendless. To borrow from Mr. Ralph Nader, as it stands today, intellectualproperty rights and copyright law are really just forms of corporate welfare, andnasty at best. Just ask Jammie Thomas-Rasset.

MATCHTEAmSand CAPTAINSGRouP A & GROUP B mATCHES19 february 2011 12:30INDIA vS BANGLADESHSher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka28 february 2011 08:00ZImBABWE vS CANADAVidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur7 MaKENFerozAustrAliARicky PontingBAnglAdeshnetherlAndsPeter Borrennew ZeAlAnd20 february 2011 08:00NEW ZEALAND vS KENyAM. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai20 february 2011 13:00SRI LANKA vS CANADAHambantota International Cricket Stadium28 february 2011 13:00WEST INDIES vS NETHERLANDSFeroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi1 March 2011 13:00SRI LANKA vS KENyAR. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo8 MaPAKPalle9 MaINDIFerozShakib Al HasanCAnAdAAshish BagaiDaniel vettoriPAKistAnShahid Afridi21 february 2011 13:00AUSTRALIA vS ZImBABWESardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad22 february 2011 13:00ENGLAND vS NETHERLANDSVidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur2 March 2011 13:00ENGLAND vS IRELANDM. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore3 March 2011 08:00SOUTH AFRICA vS NETHERLANDSPunjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali10 MSRI LPalle11 MIRELPunjaenglAndAndrew Strausssouth AfriCAGraeme Smith23 february 2011 13:00PAKISTAN vS KENyAHambantota International Cricket Stadium3 March 2011 13:00PAKISTAN vS CANADAR. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo11 MBANZahuindiAmS DhoniirelAndsri lAnKAKumar Sangakkarawest indies24 february 2011 13:00SOUTH AFRICA vS WEST INDIESFeroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi25 february 2011 08:00NEW ZEALAND vS AUSTRALIAVidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur4 March 2011 08:00NEW ZEALAND vS ZImBABWESardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad4 March 2011 12:30BANGLADESH vS WEST INDIESSher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka12 MINDIVidar13 MNEWWankWilliam PorterfieldKenyAJimmy KamandeDarren SammyZiMBABweElton Chigumbura25 february 2011 12:30BANGLADESH vS IRELANDSher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka26 february 2011 13:00SRI LANKA vS PAKISTANR. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo5 March 2011 13:00SRI LANKA vS AUSTRALIAR. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo6 March 2011 08:00ENGLAND vS SOUTH AFRICAM. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai13 MAUSM. Ch14 MBANZahu27 february 2011 13:00INDIA vS ENGLANDM. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore6 March 2011 13:00INDIA vS IRELANDM. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore14 MPAKPalle24

SCHEDULEAll times indicated are local time (oman)QUARTER-FINALSrch 2011 13:00yA vS CANADAShah Kotla, Delhirch 2011 13:00ISTAN vS NEW ZEALANDele International Cricket Stadium, Kandyrch 2011 13:00A vS NETHERLANDSShah Kotla, New Delhi24 March 2011 13:00GROUP A2 vS GROUP B3Sardar Patel Stadium, AhmedabadSEmI-FINALS29 March 2011 13:00WINNERS FROm QUARTER-FINALSR. Premadasa Stadium, Colomboarch 2011 13:00ANKA vS ZImBABWEele International Cricket Stadium, Kandyarch 2011 08:00AND vS WEST INDIESb Cricket Association Stadium, Mohaliarch 2011 12:30GLADESH vS ENGLANDk Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagongarch 2011 13:00A vS SOUTH AFRICAbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur25 March 2011 12:30GROUP A3 vS GROUP B2Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka26 March 2011 13:00GROUP A4 vS GROUP B1R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo30 March 2011 13:00WINNERS FROm QUARTER-FINALSPunjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohaliarch 2011 08:00ZEALAND vS CANADAhede Stadium, Mumbaiarch 2011 13:00RALIA vS KENyAinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluruarch 2011 07:30GLADESH vS NETHERLANDSk Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong15 March 2011 13:00SOUTH AFRICA vS IRELANDEden Gardens, Kolkata16 March 2011 13:00AUSTRALIA vS CANADAM. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru17 March 2011 13:00ENGLAND vS WEST INDIESM. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai23 March 2011 12:30GROUP A1 vS GROUP B4Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka18 March 2011 08:00IRELAND vS NETHERLANDSEden Gardens, Kolkata18 March 2011 13:00SRI LANKA vS NEW ZEALANDWankhede Stadium, Mumbai19 March 2011 07:30BANGLADESH vS SOUTH AFRICASher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka19 March 2011 13:00PAKISTAN vS AUSTRALIAR. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo20 March 2011 08:00ZImBABWE vS KENyAEden Gardens, Kolkata20 March 2011 13:00INDIA vS WEST INDIESM. A. Chidambaram Stadium, ChennaiFINALSarch 2011 13:00ISTAN vS ZImBABWEele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy02 April 2011 13:00Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai25

Making our roads saferWords Karima FaridRoad safety is an issue that has to be spoken aboutmany times so both kids and adults can take note of itsimportance. Although different companies and individualefforts have been made to raise awareness of road safety,the citizens of Oman’s majority are not paying heed tosimple rules and regulations that can save lives. Manyindividuals are acting positively regarding the issue, andare coming up with unique and clever ways to contain thisproblem by exposing their children to road safety issuesso they end up growing up more aware and can knowinglyput themselves in a safer situation.We met an individual who is raising awareness in bothgovernment and private schools by bringing a RoadSafety Show from the UK to Oman for children. AhlaamAl Marhoobi is elegant, sophisticated and lovely witha beautiful soul. After working for an oil company for along time, Ahlaam surely found her calling when she gotinvolved in theatre. The way that she cares about Omanistudents is truly exceptional. For the past 10 years,Ahlaam has been managing different actors who cometo Oman through her administration to raise awarenessabout different topics. She elaborates: “I started about 10years ago, and I brought theatre to Oman. It was mainly forsmaller kids’ entertainment, with a little bit of educationbehind the message. Slowly, I got into bringing things thathad more of a theme to it, for example the environment,electricity, mathematics, so basically not just for the kidsto have fun with, although they love to enjoy and watchthe theatre, but also they can learn from. With road safety,this is a really serious matter.”26

Normally, Ahlaam would bring over plays that arefunny and would also get the kids singing andlaughing and learning at the same time. But thistime, the play is serious because Ahlaam believesthat a serious message should be passed ontostudents, and not only primary pupils, but alsosecondary students as well. Ahlaam said: "Ichose Road Safety because of the importance ofthe message it carries. Road traffic accidents areall too common in Oman and as it is the youngwho are most likely to be involved, in the deathsinvolved as orphans and widows are created andlives are shattered. All this carnage and pain canbe avoided by simply making the right decisionson the road. We can and must make our roadssafer."After research throughout the years, Ahlaamcame to the conclusion in all the othersubjects that she has been doing, the bestway the messages were portrayed was throughdrama, saying: “Everyone always remembersa live performance or a drama over a film or apresentation. We had a play on electricity whichwe took around to the interior regions and thekids there said that they had done the circuitlesson, but they understood it more when theysaw it performed live on stage. Even with the littlekids, they might not get everything but they willindeed get something out of it.”Ahlaam explains that this Road Safety Show is due to tour private schoolsin Muscat from Saturday, 26th February for one week, followed by aweek of performances at schools in Al Batinah region. The Al Batinahschools are sponsored by Sohar Aluminium Company. The script hasbeen specially written and devised by a professional theatre companyfrom the UK, targeting the road safety issue WE face in Oman and willbe performed by three professional actors. There are also two versionsof this play, ‘Nadia’s Nightmare’, for primary school students, and ‘SteerWisely’, a hard-hitting play for secondary school students. This show isalso sponsored by Shell.Ahlaam tells us: “Road Safety is about saving people’s lives and helping tokeep them from harm. It affects all people, of all ages, whether they aredrivers, riders, pedestrians or passengers. Hundreds of children are hurtor killed on our roads every year, making this issue of road safety highlycrucial.”Keep reading Y as we will be keeping tabs on what is happening with theRoad Show. We would like to thank Ahlaam for giving us the opportunity tospeak to her, she is an inspiration and we at Y are extremely proud of whatshe is doing and are extending our full support to this Road Safety Show.For all the decision makers in all the schools, get in touch with Ahlaam toschedule such shows with her for the future, as one show can definitelysave a child’s live. You may email her on almarhoobi@yahoo.com.27

Trip of aLifetimeWords Paul McLoughlinLast week we had the pleasure of meeting an elderly couple in Muscat whohave embarked on a series of adventures to see the world and experiencelife-changing encounters with different cultures and people. With his fullyequipped Toyota Land Cruiser, Volker and Margrit Buchwald have spentthe last two months travelling through the Middle East from their homein Germany. In a couple of weeks they will make the same trip back totheir home. Their car is fully-equipped for a journey of this magnitude,with a 250 litre diesel capacity, no electronics to minimise on repairs, anda 130 litre tank for drinking water. “We did not make too many additions,some springs in the rear axle and 33-inch tires, along with making it solarpowered. I made all the furniture myself with the help of my father-inlawwho is a carpenter.” Other embellishments to the 4X4 vehicle weremade more for comfort, transforming the Land Cruiser (aka 'The BushTaxi') into a temporary home with the roof transformed into a sleepingarea thanks to the addition of a tent and separate inside entrance, alongwith a shower and plenty of storage compartments. Before setting off, thecouple read up on the region, including the history of the Middle Eastand its people, and within five weeks all additions to the car’s interiorwere completed. Once the necessary visas were collected, and a few otheradjustments to the Land Cruiser were made, the couple were ready for theirtrip, which began on 7th December. The journey took the couple throughthe Balkans and then onto Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE28

and finally reaching Oman sevenweeks later. They will take the sametrip back after seeing some of thesites of Oman, including a shortstay in Masirah. He says one ofthe highlights of the journey is toSyria, where “the people were very,very friendly and helpful, we’ll bemaking a short stay in Damascuson the way back. Jordan was thesame, lots of very friendly people.We only spent 70 hours in Saudibecause we only had a transit visaso we didn’t have time to connectwith the people.” He says his timein Oman has also been a greatexperience with people eager tohelp at the first sign of trouble andkeen to find out more about thenature of his journey.As a former schoolteacher,Volker appreciates the time andopportunities that retirement hasgiven him, with a passion for off-road driving andexploration developing during this time. His firsttrip was to North Africa, and the sands of the Saharawhen he explored Algeria and from here was to catchthe travel bug. Future trips to the region took himand his wife through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali,Niger, four months in Ghana, and Burkina Faso. Thiswas during a time when there was a huge problem ofsecurity in the region – particularly common was thekidnapping of tourists. Volker says he was cautious butstill determined to explore the region, speaking with anair of nonchalance about the risks of being kidnappedsaying, “They get 2 million Euros (ransom money)for Europeans. It’s good money!” Other brushes withdanger include driving alongside the Afghani borderwhen the couple explored Central Asia, their favouritetrip to date. “It was great!” Volker enthuses. “Theywere totally different people (to what we expected)!The people are very friendly and open. Tajikistan’smountains are beautiful and the landscape in generalis beautiful.” Their next trip is a fairly ambitious planto travel around South America with their car. Thiswill entail a long trip by boat to West Africa and thenacross the Atlantic to South America where they willvisit Argentina and other countriesin the region. So what encouragesthis man to spend his daysrambling across the world whenother pensioners are tucked up athome enjoying a more sedentarylife? “One is much more open todifferent cultures after these trips.I’ve seen a completely different sideof people in the Islamic World fromwhat we see in Europe.” This isbased on the experiences with thepeople, and the unselfish desire tohelp those in need. Volker finishesthe interview with a first-handaccount of Libyan hospitality whenthe couple got stuck in the sands ofthe Sahara. “The army came by andat first we were thinking ‘uh oh!’They then went and picked up ourcar by helicopter and sent it back tous fully repaired. They treated it asa military exercise.” Now that’s anexperience you can’t buy.

From: Wilhelmina BhasavanichThere is nothing like having healthy,glowing, and vibrant skin. One ofmy most useful beauty tips that Ican swear by is the use of Arganoil. Applying one or two dropson the face in the morning aftercleansing and before bedtime withgentle tapping motions of theforefingers can achieve youthful,healthy, and vibrant skin. Arganoil originates from Morocco andcontains polyunsaturated fattyacids and Vitamin E which haveexcellent anti-oxidant propertiesthat promote oxygenation within theskin cells and neutralises the adverseeffects of free radicals. This way, itprovides skin protection and restoresnutrients inside the skin cells.Lennie San Jose says:They say Botox can make one's faceyounger...but for those women whodon't want to go with syringes andneedles this beauty tips will helprejuvenate your face. Every day,spend 3-5 minutes doing this exerciseand you will see the difference.1. Wear white cloth gloves (optional)2. With your fingers touching (exceptthe thumb) your forehead. Justright in the brows area.3. Palm scooping your cheek area.4. Perform exercise by pressing yourfingers in an upward motion, eyeswide open for 3 - 5 minutes at atime and you will notice the "lift".The good thing about this exerciseis you can do it in the office, whilewatching TV and when you haveany idle time. Try it and you will seeyour lines and crow feet becomesunnoticed.It is always helpful to hear from other ladies about what theythink can help us feel fresh, beautiful and glowing. For the pasttwo weeks, we have been receiving beauty tips from our Y readers.Below are a few interesting ones that you might want to try out athome. I tried a few and they were a success so far! Please do keepin mind that these tips have not been discussed with a professionaldoctor so use with caution. We would like to thank the ladies forparticipating; our winners have already been contacted.Mrs. Sujatha Vijay says:For swollen ankles: Dunk feet into a bowl containing warm water and 4 tablespoon of Epsom saltto help ease swollen ankles.Also...1. Dip cotton in cucumber water and apply on black circles. Remove after 10-15 minutes. (After afew days the skin becomes normal)2. If the skin is too oily, apply a piece of ice dipped in milk on the face and the extra oil will beremoved.3. Your daily diet should provide adequate amounts of vitamin A, to keep the eyes healthy. Milkand milk products, fish, eggs, yellow and green fruits and vegetables like carrots spinach,apricots, papaya and peaches are rich in Vitamin A.Dr. Sapna Sharma says:Pomegranates are excellent for oily and combination skin.Pomegranate juice can be used as an astringent and isalso a natural toner. Crush pomegranate seeds and useit as a scrub for skin care, this will remove excess oil andmake your skin look fresh. Massage pomegranate juiceon your face for around 10 minutes and then wash off foran instant glow. Like oranges pomegranates also containVitamin C and folic acid and numerous antioxidants.It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps inbuilding up the immune system.From Nelmarie Tiu:For me, the most important and useful beauty care tipis to have a GOOD NIGHT SLEEP. We can achieve a soundsleep through drinking a glass of milk, bananas, or wholegrains an hour or two before going to bed as these foodshave natural sedatives (tryptophan).And upon waking up, try to have a bath therapy in whichit can be adopted easily in everyday life. It has been seenthat warm water has a tranquilising and soothing impacton the mind and body. It can make you tension free... Stayhydrated by drinking 7-8 glasses of water a day to removetoxins from the body. And maintain a healthy diet aswell, by eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, instead ofeating processed food or fast food.Rashmi Bijesh says:Please find below my most favourite and most usefulbeauty tip from a healthy fruit PAPAYA –For a fresh and glowing skin apply mashed papaya and3 teaspoons of Aloe Vera gel and massage all over yourbody. Leave on your skin for no more than five minutesand rinse thoroughly. Use it with caution for the first timeas it may sometimes irritate sensitive skin. Papaya is agood source of Vitamin A and helps to removes dead skincells too. Rub mashed papaya on cracked heels to removedead cell and make feet softer.Hasliza Aspari says:A. Excessive oily skin may causepimples, so no need waste money tobuy expensive products. Just makesure you wash your face before sleepand use this simple and cheap way fora better looking skin.1. Cut a young and fresh cucumber atthe edge about 1” (so you have 2side; 1 the 1" and another one is thebalance)2. Squeeze the 1" side with thebalance of cucumber until the "sap"is coming out (white foam).3. Apply the sap thoroughly onto yourface and rub gently about 10 minuteand rinse with cold water.Do it every day for a week, then youcan see the result. Smooth and nomore oilB. Pale skin can make you look like asick person. Another cheap way to tryout is the following. (Not suitable forvery dry skin)1. Take one full hand of Thai rice(because Thai rice contain morestarch)2. Pound it until it becomes flour-like3. Mix with rose water (make it intopaste)4. Apply to your skin thoroughly andleave for half an hour5. Rinse with cold waterTwice a week, for a month. will makeyour skin glow and soft

Words & Photography Kiran Jay HaslamIf you’ve got a passion for supercars, a penchant for racing, and a fairly glamorousbank balance, you will love Ferrari’s ‘FXX’, ‘599XX’ and ‘F1’ Corse Clientiprogrammes. And, undoubtedly, the business development manager who sits inMaranello – who I presume, came up with these programmes – should be right upthere, alongside Red Bull’s Dietrich Mateschitz, facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, andOtto Frederick Rohwedder – the father of sliced bread.Why should he be famous? Because he managed to marry two aspects of theautomotive industry and turn a huge profit: factory based R&D and elitist supercarownership. Ferrari wait approximately two years after every F1 season to selltheir championship contending F1 cars to private buyers - along with technical andengineering support, race preparation, and the actual factory team personnel whowere part of that year’s championship! All of that comes at a price, naturally, butyou are essentially buying into the F1 dream. It is spectacular. The carmaker thenhandles all of the logistics and operates an international season of racing acrossEurope, Asia and the Middle East.That, however, is the top end programme known as F1 Clienti, in which very few carsare available, and hence the price is equivalent to owning and operating a privatejet! If you are looking for something more “affordable” you can buy into the FXXprogramme for $1.8million, which is limited to 30 cars. But these are no ordinarysupercars; they are high-performance, 6.3-litre V12 powered Ferraris with 860horsepower. With a 9500rpm redline, hairline-crack detecting suspension and anextreme aerodynamic package, it is clearly purpose built for track use. If you arein this programme you are effectively an “owner-test driver”, and Ferrari haveexpectations from owners to participate in the continual research and developmentof these vehicles, so your track time is anaylsed accordingly.There is another option, which at $1.3million is a ‘tad’ more affordable. The 599XXprogramme is aimed at those who derive great pleasure from blasting around on aracetrack in a non-homologated supercar. It is aimed at amateur drivers with somedegree of skill on track, but essentially the programme is designed to supply youwith all the technical and factory support you could possibly need to become a betterdriver.In all three of these programmes the owners store their cars at a special facilityin Maranello, so you don’t actually have direct access to your million-dollar toy.However, the manufacturer will accommodate your desire to take your car homewith you, but this presumably comes at an additional cost.Why am I telling you all of this? Because I was recently invited by Ferrari Middle Eastto get up close and personal with these programmes, and found myself gobsmacked,standing in the pits at the fabulous Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit in Abu Dhabi. So I’mgoing to show you what it means to actually be part of a Ferrari race programme forjust one day, only, without the ear splitting screams of a V12, acrid fumes of race fueland spleen pounding G-forces of actually being there in the flesh.

As we are ushered into a briefing room overlooking thepit lane, Ferrari Middle East GM, Pietro Innocenti, shiftstowards his microphone. He is seated next to legendary F1pilot, Marc Gene. Innocenti starts explaining how Ferrariare totally committed to these programmes, and thatno other manufacturer on the planet has ever operatedanything quite like it. Gene nods in accord and the twodeftly set about explaining the innovation and exclusivityof the programmes. Where (in his speech)Innocenti stays committed to the brandand service side of things, Gene takes itstraight to the heart of racing. “You canbuy any of our F1 cars, even from 30 yearsago. And with that what you get is theexpertise that was involved in running thatcar competitively.” What he is referringto is the ability for a wealthy would-beracer to buy and race Niki Lauda’s 1975championship winning Ferrari 312T; thefactory support and engineering expertiseyou receive as part of the programmecould be coming directly from the veryengineer that assisted Lauda to win thatchampionship 35 years ago! So, more thanjust owning a pricey red racing car, you areeffectively buying into history. There are only ahandful of manufacturers in the world that havea rich history like Ferrari, yet Ferrari is still theonly manufacturer running such a sophisticatedand specialised programme.Out the front of the hotel, Italy’s finest dominate thelandscape. An SLS AMG stands cowering in the background,for the magic of Maranello is stealing the spotlight. Theregular Ferrari road cars parked near the lobby are attractingas much attention as the wailing F1 cars out on the track, andI look down to notice the 458 Italia I’m standing next to has anOman license plate on it! For those who can afford it, Ferrarihas managed to create something rather spectacular withits Corse Clienti programmes. For the rest of the world, it isyet another reason to dream; yet another scarlet red posterto adorn a young boy’s bedroomwall; and yet another direct link tothe marque that has more brandequity than the American flag,and more fans than Justin Bieber.Now, before you baulk at thatstatement, think about all of the12-year old girls that make up theEarth’s ever-increasing populationof 6.9 billion!Scarlet Fever vs Bieber Fever?

I’m taken to the pits and allowed into the garages hosting the FXXand 599XX vehicles. There are approximately 8 cars out on track rightnow and the sound is deafening. I lean into an FXX, not unlike the oneowned by F1 ace Michael Schumacher. It is covered in brake dust andticking furiously; ticking from excessive exhaust temperatures andmerciless late braking. A race engineer lays out the defeated brakepads on a bench and states rather calmly, “We are testing out a newbrake system.”These ‘tests’will undoubtedlylead to thedevelopmentof systemsthat we’ll seeimplemented afew years fromnow in the nextgeneration ofFerrari roadcars.Photographers aregetting carried away,there’s a scurryof flashes and thethunderous roar ofengines starting,forces me to reach formy earplugs. Sportingfire retardant racesuits the ‘owner-testdrivers’ are gettingstrapped in. They arethe well-to-do set;movie stars, businesstycoons and savvyentrepreneurs, andclearly they all loveto race. We rush overto the barrier and look onas an FXX streaks out of thepits, squirming around likea depraved mongoose ontyres that are still not up totemperature. A 599XX followsand the driver puts the hammerdown; 730 horses catapult himtowards the first corner.I head back to the Yas hotel, checkinto my room and open my curtains,revealing a section of track that skirtsthe marina. After a day of briefings,debriefings, modifications, tweaksand tyre changes, night is falling.The track comes back to life withowners now making the most ofthe last few sessions under lights.Everyone is pushing hard and braketemperatures are soaring. As a fieryglow engulfs the hubs on a 599XX andtight racing lines are clearly gettinglooser, Ferrari fans are everywhere.In the lobby, track side, in therestaurants and out on the terracesoverlooking the circuit. Red t-shirts,caps, and a passion for the marqueunite them all.

STUFFClint Derric Egberttechno newSFacebookA step up on the value scalelevitrON AG ANti-GrAvity GlObeIf you’re looking to deck up your work desk or even your studytable at home, then the Levitron AG Anti-Gravity Globe is sureto tickle your fancy and turn a few heads. This device has thecunning ability to levitate in the air with the help of magneticenergy. Stylish and sleek, this product is developed by aninternational engineering team that has designed the device touse minimal power to create actual levitation. Defying gravity,this baby comes with a four inch globe base with a low voltageUL listed adapter. It’s important to remember that magneticdevices don’t gel too well with computers, so keeping them ata distance would be a smart thing to do. Priced at just 31.500Rials, this device is worth the money and is for keeps. To orderthis device online go to www.amazon.com.Osim NiOi AlArm ClOCkI’m not sure of how well this device works, but I am sure that I’drather wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread as opposed to thebuzzing of an alarm clock in my ear. This device is not your everydayshrilling alarm clock, but instead promises to wake you up by ticklingyour sense of smell, rather than testing your hearing capabilities.Equipped with a pressurised cartridge that releases a sweet aromaof baking bread at the time set by the user, this device will spray ascent into the air supposedly waking the user from their slumber.Another amazing feature about this product is that it can be used toput the user to sleep faster, but this time with a different fragrance.For more information go to www.gadgetheat.com.There is no doubt that Facebook is by far oneof the most popular websites, particularly inAmerica, but I bet very few people knew thatFacebook is now the second most valuableinternet company in the world. Falling behindGoogle, Facebook has climbed its way up themoney ladder valued today at$82.9 billion, thanks to a 1.5billion investment made byGoldman Sachs earlier thisyear. Surpassing Amazon,who earlier occupied secondplace, Facebook are now in acontest with Google, a battlethat many believe Facebookwill probably lose. Googleis currently valued at $192billion, and although Facebook is more popularthan Google in the US, around the globe it’sanother story.Shaving helmetNow as wacky asthis gadget mightappear, there issomething veryoriginal andinnovative aboutit. This is moreof a product forthe bald or maybe even a barber shop, but Iwould advise that this device stays out of reachof children at all times, in case you happen topurchase one. How this device works is simple. Ahelmet is fitted with multiple shaving blades thatslide up and down a Teflon-coated aluminiumrail. This motion, assisted with water and shavingcream that is also supplied by the helmet, willcleanly shave the user’s head, leaving a shinyscalp to admire when finished. Now if you stillhave difficulty in imagining it, then just watch theYouTube video clip provided below.http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5bgRszdUdhQ34

Words & Photography Clint Derric EgbertRoaRing FRidayFriday the 18th was not the conventional, relaxed weekend in the Sultanatethat one would have expected, especially for Motocross enthusiasts in thecountry, and racers from the Dubai Motocross Club who gathered at OmanAutomobile Club to battle it out for glory. The turnout for the event was agood one and the competition stiff, with a series of thrills and spills at theOman MX track. The competition saw racers, both men and women, of allages, battle it out to make it to the top of their respective classes. YoucefCummings’ daring highflying performances earned him the top spot in theExpert Level of the competition. He was followed by Peter Viljoen in secondplace and Brigit Lemp in third, who gave her male counterparts a great fight.The Clubman Class witnessed an enduring battle between Ryan Wynn, RegenLaue and Luke Basset, but it was eventually Ryan who clinched the victoryover Regen who took second place, while Luke followed in a respectable third.The young blood, too, performed fantastically well in the Junior Class, puttingon a great show for spectators at the tracks. Honing their skills throughcompetitions such as these, the young racers are the future of motocross inthe country and proved just why they deserve to be taken seriously. After agreat performance, showing tremendous skills and talent Nicholas Keffordtook first prize, followed by White in second place andSimen Bjerkstand in third.ResultsexpeRt1st Youcef Cummings2nd Peter Viljoen3rd Birgit LempClub1st Ryan Wynn2nd Regen Laue3rd Luke BassetJunioR1st Nicholas Kefford2nd White3rd Simen BjerkstandAll in all, it was a great day of racing and we hope to seemore of it in the coming future.36

play ball!After witnessing the turnout of the 6th Annual 3-on-3 StreetBasketball Tournament held on Friday, 18th at the Ras Al HamraRecreational Club, there is no doubt that the sport and thecompetition has grown in leaps and bounds over the years.Drawing hoards of talent from across the country, and of allages, the tournament has matured to become one of the mostfavoured sporting events for youths in Oman. Talent is aplenty,and the tournament poses as a podium for young players toshowcase their skills and aptitude.It was a day of great fun and excitement, nourished by goodspirited competition, boasting a record 42-team participation- this was the tournament’s sixth edition. Divided into threedifferent categories, the tournament had 14 teams competingin the men’s section, 16 teams in the boys’ Under-18 yearstournament and 12 teams in the girls’.Apart from the thrilling basketball action, spectators were alsoentertained by two scintillating dance routines and pumpingmusic from DJ Cliffard.ResultsChampions – We Got Game (Men)Runners-up – Oman Devil (Boys under 18)Champions – Charlie's Angels (Girls)Runners-up – IMCO (Girls)MVp (Most Valuable player)Men – Ali Saleh (We Got Game)Boys under 18 – Muamar Al Rasbi (Oman Devil)Girls – Claudia (Charlies Angels)best playeRMen – Hathim (Bongo)Under 18 Boys – Zer Siddiqi (Alpha Team)Girls – Tara (Alley-oops)best dRessed teaMAl Hassan Rockets (Men)speCial awaRdsMen – Dikkie Sheriff (Muscat Lakers)Boys under 18 – Paul Charles (Ballaholics)Girls – Nadia (IMCO)37

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Renault LoganLaunchWaljat College of AppliedSciences Clean-upcampaign38

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Regional RoadSafety YouthAssembly39

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Friendi Press Conferenceat the Park InnMuscat Festival40

February 22, 2011 Issue 15841

February 22, 2011 Issue 158Red Bull Extreme SailingTour of Oman42

The only media guideyou’ll ever need…mediate[v. mee-dee-eyt; adj. mee-dee-it]The act of connecting two or moreparties to develop a mutuallybeneficial outcome or goal.Introducing MEDIATE 2011Your concise guide to the media scene and a reference guidefor Advertising Agencies, Media Houses, Audio and Video Production,Multimedia, Events and Entertainment, Photography and Modeling,Market Research and Statistics, PR Services, Media Buying and Planning,Printing Services, and more...If you wish to advertise or be listed in MEDIATE 2011,please call 244 26900 or email advertise@mediate–oman.com

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KFWS • MindGymJanuary 3, 2011SUDOKUPlace a number in the empty boxes in such a waythat each row across, each column down and eachsmall 9-box square contains all of the numbersfrom one to nine.Go FigureThe idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figuresgiven at the bottom and right-hand columns of thediagram by following the arithmetic signs in theorder they are given (that is, form left to right andtop to bottom). Use only the numbers below thediagram to complete its blank squares and useeach of the nine numbers only once.—1—

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:There's been a string of top performers in Abu Dhabi this year. Which performer would you like tosee in Muscat and why?Olga KubrakIt would be fantastic if they could get Coldplay or Muse to come to Muscat :))))That would be the event of the decade!!!Cynthia H.They should bring legends to play here! like Guns'n'Roses. all ages would love to see them play and the concertwould get sold out in no time! (why didnt they pass by Muscat since they went to Abu Dhabi recently!?)Bhavna NeelIron Maiden/Metallica... In the past 2 years we have been seeing many groups of youngsters form metal bands andperform at different occasions. events/etc.Just think it would be pretty cool....Kate JonesEmpire of the sun, TAKE THAT !, Katy Perry, snow Patrol and Lady Gaga (but minus the cocoon from TheGrammy's.....) - any of the above would be awesome; be nice to get some big names over here...luiza Khabibullinawould love to see David Guetta and Tiesto, but don't think it will happen somewhowJoe Xua'biRihanna or Armin Van Buuren. They rock, they would possibly come to middle east because they did it before, theyare great and got a huge base fan in Middle East as well.I'd pay to travel to Muscat to see one of them.SOLUTIONSCrOSSWOrdSudOKugO Figure

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