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Al Ghubra, Tel: 2449 9050, Mob: 9981 7786

NABIL AL BUSAIDI PENS HIS THOUGHTS FROM EVEREST BASE

CAMP

NOTES

inside

Food Court SHANNON BENNETT

REMINISCES ON MUSCAT’S VIBRANT, VERDANT HEART

AND THE MAGIC OF FESTIVE OMANI FOOD.

Food A PERFECT COFFEE IS ONLY

AS GOOD AS ITS ROAST, SAYS JIM REGAS.

38

ShowFOUR TALENTED

PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ONE STUNNING VISUAL TREAT…

3430

16

AN AUTO ENTHUSIAST’S DREAM COME TRUE:

THE SPORTS AND LUXURY CAR SHOW

Event

24

FOR SOME SUN, SAND AND REGGAE MUSIC,

VISIT ANTIGUA, SAYS HER HIGHNESS MUZNA AL SAID.

Destination

Music DIRECT FROM THE SOUL:

JEAN-PHILIPPE RIEU

Golf THE BEST GOLF COURSES

IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO BILL MCCOLL

Accessories JAN JANSEN ON HOW

‘BAMBOO SHOE’ MADE HIM A HOUSEHOLD NAME

BeautyOLIVIER ECHAUDEMAISON

SHARES HIS 10-YEAR JOURNEY AT GUERLAIN..

72

64

CarsIF YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR IT WILL, IN TURN, TAKE CARE OF YOU, FEELS COEN

FOSSEN.

ArtMATTHEW GIRLING SPELLS

OUT SIX PRE-REQUISITES TO BECOMING THE SAVVY

COLLECTOR

70

74

60

56

44

NINE SPECIAL VILLAGES DESIGNED TO MAKE HOLIDAY SHOPPING

ALL THE MORE SPECIAL…

Shop

48

Upfront

The Last Word

8

80

As usual Signature offers an eclectic range of subjects, this issue is no exception; from art collectors,

to extreme explorers.

No sooner had that pair of subjects appeared on the screen of my laptop I was struck by the strange

undertone that binds them together. I hope you will indulge me by reading on...

At an instinctive level both pursuits are evidence of good genes.

Art collectors show us that they are either rich and or, intelligent, that they can dedicate all their time

to a non utilitarian end, in fact specialising in art collection in certain environments would run entirely

against mans survival instinct. In nature those creatures that can afford to carry an art collection

around (the peacock or bower birds come to mind) these creatures are in fact saying; I am so

superior that I survive in spite of my oversized anti camouflage appendage.

Explorers are telling the same story; “I am able to survive and possibly provide for others in the most

hostile environment our planet has to offer.”

These arguments have been presented much more eloquently by the likes of Jared Diamond and

Richard Dawkins and it is difficult to paraphrase them in the context of a short introduction, when

looking at the details of our societies through their lens we find a common thread to the most diverse

human activities, and our readers can rest assured that the eclectic nature of this issue represents

the surface and that below lie all the natural tendencies that make us the people that we are.

I’d like to commend Nabil Al Busaidi on the great work he is doing to promote Oman and the region

and the inspirational nature of his pursuits, may he inspire others to prove their genetic worth and

may he have fun doing it, keep up the good work!

And, I hope you enjoy this issue...

Tarik Al Said

COVER IMAGEPhotographer: Ahmed Shukaili

CONCEPT & CREATIONPRIYA NAIRCONTENT

DEEPA RAJANGHALIB ABDULLAH AL FORI

FATMA AL ARAIMIMOHAMMED FAHMI RAJAB

EXPERTSTravel - BRUCE STEWART, ANNE COLBYFashion - NATASHA LUNN, NADIA FOUZI

Technology - PAUL VILESWatches, Pens & Jewellery - BRIAN. TFinance & Investments - K. L PRASAD

Art & Culture - FREDERIQUE. BART

Art DirectorsSANDESH S. RANGNEKAR

MINAAL G. PEDNEKARDesigner - MARYAM RASHID AL SARMI

PRODUCTION HEADGOVINDRAJ RAMESH

ADVERTISING & MARKETINGGroup Advertising Manager - MIMI DEB

Sr Media Executive - FAREEDA S AL BALUSHICORPORATE

Chief Executive - SANDEEP SEHGALExecutive Vice President - ALPANA ROY

Vice President - RAVI RAMAN

DISTRIBUTED WITH OER by

United Media Services LLCSignature is an OER presentation published monthly and released in the first week of every month. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of

the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining

as a result of material in this publication. Signature accepts no

responsibility for advertising content.

Correspondence should be addressed to Signature

United Media Services LLC, PO Box 3305, Ruwi, PC 112, Muscat,

Sultanate of Oman,

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An

PresentationCopyright © 2010 United Press & Publishing LLC

Some good genes & good reading...

FOREWORD

38

39

Picture Perfect

OMAN IN ITS MYRIAD HUES

AS SEEN THROUGH THE

LENS OF FOUR TALENTED

PHOTOGRAPHERS…

SHOW

rfect

OMAN IN ITS MYRIAD HUES

AS SEEN THROUGH THE

LENS OF FOUR TALENTED

16

17

NOTES

WRITE FROM THE TOPIt is an eternal question... why?

Why climb the highest mountain in

the world?George Mallory gave the most famous answer when he did a

lecture tour of the USA in the 1920s, answering in frustration and

exasperation; “Because it’s there.” Unfortunately this answer is never sufficient for most listeners

and the other answer given by experienced climbers is that if you

have to ask the question, you will never understand the answer,

and it will probably not satisfy either. After all, I hate the cold, hate

walking, hate camping, hate the outdoors, etc. It’s a paradoxical

answer, that makes little sense, but nevertheless I will try to

explain.

My standard answer is fourfold. I want:

1.To be the first Omani to climb Mt Everest

2.To raise money for charity

3.To inspire the youth4.And to present a positive image of Arabs and Muslims to the

Western media.

Nabil Al Busaidi pens his thoughts

from Everest Base Camp as he

prepares for the Falcon Oilfield

Services Everest Expedition.

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8

RIDE THE LOTUS Lotus Cars Limited is back in Oman. Brought to Oman once again by Shanfari Automotive, the impressive portfolio brings together the fabulous new multi-award winning Lotus Evora, the iconic Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige and the ultra-lightweight Lotus 2-Eleven (for track use only). The Lotus has always been known for its lightweight high performance cars and their astounding handling and ride quality. While Lotus Elise may be the basic entry model, it still has all the hallmarks of a Lotus and is by far one

of the most iconic names in the brand’s line-up. The Exige boasts of higher levels of performance and perfectly fills the gap between the track-only 2-Eleven and the Elise. The latest model to join the Lotus stable — the Evora — is the most family-friendly of all the Lotus vehicles.

UPFRONT

THE LATEST AND OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY…

Here are two new weapons to fight the aging process without surgery. ATP Hyaluronic Acid and ATP

Keratox, available at Essence Spa, can be used by both men and women and are popular because of

their rejuvenating qualities and because the dramatic improvements are achieved without invasive

treatment. ATP Keratox has the enhanced effect of relaxing wrinkles in the area it is applied to, instead of paralysing it like other treatments. This ensures more

natural expressions can be preserved. It is a unique anti-aging wrinkle cure concentrate for fine lines under

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and wrinkles are present.

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Muscat: Vinesh - 97232595, Manoj - 96937299, Rakesh - 99349324, Salalah: Tabook - 99480660, Murali Krishna - 95754411, Sohar: Manjit - 99485327, Sur: Khalid - 99600355

E XT RAO R D I N A RY P R I C EJ UST O N E I N A LO N G L I ST O F

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66-speed ZF aautomaatticc traansmission witth Jaguarr sequential shift™™,

FFormula 1 styyle padddlee shiftters, JaguarDDrive Seleccctor™, Fronnt & reear parking

sssensors, Reveerse caammeera, 117” alloy wheeels. All excceptional feeaturees and all

ssstandard in thhe XF LLuuxxury..

The Capital Store showroom at the Sabco Commercial Centre reopened with an all-new look recently. The store now sports a spacious and modern look in soothing white. The store offers world-renowned fragrance and cosmetic brands like Dior, Guerlain, Clarins, YSL, Issey Miyake, Narciso Rodriguez and Thierry Mugler to name a few. You can also shop from a wide range of handbags and wallets from luxurious brands such as Lancel, Givenchy, Thierry Mugler and Paris Hilton.

LUXURYREDEFINED

10

UPFRONT

Bait Al Ahlam’s sixth outlet at Al Ghubrah houses a comprehensive range of creative bathroom solutions under the Bagno Design concept from Italy. ‘Bagno’ in Italian means ‘bathroom’. Bagno Design brings together leading designer brands in tiles, sanitary ware, accessories, luxurious mirrors, Jacuzzis, and steam rooms under one roof to offer you the best in luxury bathrooms. The brands include names such as Apape, Apaiser, Bertocci, Art Cream, Bossini, Bonqio, Bati, GSI, Effegibi, Bugnatese, Geberit, Fantini, Galassaia, Nicolazzi, Hoesch Design, Vado, Reginox, Simex, Sanit Zucchetti, Wagner Ewar, and Stone forest.

A LUXURIOUS FIT

SPARKLING FLUIDITY From the house of jewellery iconoclast David Yurman, comes his perfumery’s de-but fragrance that was launched at a glittering function at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa recently. Called ‘David Yurman’, the fragrance’s sturdy clas-sical structure comes from a well-built base of sensual patchouli, exotic woods and soft musk. To this core, fluidity and modernity are enhanced with feminine florals of delicate peony, water lily and one of the most precious ingredients — natural rose otto. Accents of vibrant mandarin, fresh green petals and delicious cassis add sparkle, thus reflecting the brightness of David Yurman’s gemstones. Pick up a bottle from your nearest Capital Store outlet..

THE SCENTS OF

MADAGASCAREsetée Lauder’s new Hydrationist is just the right serum to quench your

skin’s thirst. The Hydrationist will work to hydrate your skin immediately and sustain its moisture over time to help resist the signs of premature ageing and with continued use, it will help skin hold and preserve its own internal

moisture for exceptional long-lasting, youth-infusing hydration. With its sweet-smelling signature scent inspired by the Madagascar coast, it brings

together a signature aqua coral note, a touch of algae, fresh ozone, refreshing grapefruit, tangerine and juicy pear to create a citrusy yet invigorating,

aquatic-smelling fusion. The fresh blend is then enhanced with hints of hyacinth, white lily, sheer rose, sandalwood and luscious musk.

12

UPFRONT

Sole distributors in the Sultanate of Oman

14

It has won the hearts of queens, movie stars and rock icons; of men and women around the world who share this precious bond: a Possession ring from Piaget. And, for its

twentieth birthday, it has a new, rather provocative look. The concept is still the same: two rings, one of which turns around the other. The surprise is the second ring: for 2010,

it is a chain. Two circles of white, yellow or pink gold, sometimes even set with diamonds, which tinkle slightly

as they rotate. It is bold and asserts its sensuality; just like the men and women for whom it is destined. For further

details contact Khimji’s Watches.

UPFRONT

LOVE LINKS

IN FULL BLOOM Displaying stunning boldness in a design with a contemporary touch is Breguet’s Crazy Flowers series. Housing a calibre 586 self-winding mechanical movement, the watch case features asymmetrical rows of baguette-cut diamonds mounted on minimalist settings affixed to the case from the middle section up to the bezel. These supple, springy settings make the most of the stones’ brilliance, swaying gracefully in response to movement. This dazzling tour de force comes with a Crazy Flower Haute Jewellery suite made up of a ring featuring a blooming-flower motif along with earrings, pendants and motifs also displaying mobile diamond clusters.

UPFRONT

16

NOTES

WRITE FROM THE TOP

It is an eternal question... why?

Why climb the highest mountain in the world?George Mallory gave the most famous answer when he did a

lecture tour of the USA in the 1920s, answering in frustration and

exasperation; “Because it’s there.”

Unfortunately this answer is never sufficient for most listeners

and the other answer given by experienced climbers is that if you

have to ask the question, you will never understand the answer,

and it will probably not satisfy either. After all, I hate the cold, hate

walking, hate camping, hate the outdoors, etc. It’s a paradoxical

answer, that makes little sense, but nevertheless I will try to

explain.

My standard answer is fourfold. I want:

1.To be the first Omani to climb Mt Everest

2.To raise money for charity

3.To inspire the youth

4.And to present a positive image of Arabs and Muslims to the

Western media.

Nabil Al Busaidi pens his thoughts from Everest Base Camp as he prepares for the Falcon Oilfield Services Everest Expedition.

17

18

NOTES

19

This expedition is such a feat

of endurance that having

clear goals is essential and I

realised one day when I was

floundering with the enormity

of the task and the breadth

of scope, that I knew I had to

focus my efforts into a few

distilled mission statements,

and from then on, exclude

all ideas that did not sit well

within those parameters.

1) My first goal might

seem obvious but,

sitting at home,

reading this, why is it me out

here, and not you? Although I

am just as guilty, I personally

get frustrated by the legions

of critics, who complain about

what is wrong with the world,

or why something is not done

and not doing something

about it themselves. Most

people completely miss the

fact that they could make a

difference.

I originally got roped into this

rather innocuously one day

when I was getting lunch and

bumped into a friend who had

tried to climb Everest before

and not succeeded and was

planning on going again.

He asked me if I wanted to

go with him, but I laughed

and said I had to get back to

work. Although I hadn’t seen

this friend much over the

last few years, I bumped into

him several times over the

next few weeks and so the

idea was sown and began to

germinate in the back of my

head. Eventually I asked a

few friends with expedition

experience for their opinion,

and one suggested I walk

to the Magnetic North Pole

instead of going to Everest, for

a couple of reasons. One was

that nearly 3,000 had already

climbed Everest whereas only

around 200 had walked to a

pole, so it was more unique.

Another was that no Arab had

walked to a Pole but two had

climbed Everest.

I think I was slightly bullied

into this ascent after walking

to the Magnetic North Pole

in 2009 for three reasons.

Because I had walked to the

pole, people would naturally

ask when I was going to climb

Everest, as if I hadn’t done

enough already! It was idle

light-hearted conversation,

but repeated enough, it

became stuck in my mind.

Secondly, I have lost count of

the number of times I have

been asked if the North Pole

is on top of Everest! Not at all

a good reason for climbing

the highest mountain in the

world, but nonetheless a

reason. And finally, I have

had so much criticism over my

walk to the Magnetic North

Pole, that I felt I had to do

something more.

It is strange that I should get

criticised for something that

did no harm, and probably

a lot of good. One criticism

is that it isn’t the real North

Pole, but if it weren’t real, why

do compasses point in that

direction? I understand that

the geographic North Pole is

where all Cartesian maps

point to, but it doesn’t make

the Magnetic Pole any less

real.

Another criticism I had, from a

Ministry official no less, was

that going to the North Pole

was easy, and he had been

there several times. Obviously

he hadn’t, and on closer

examination, it turned out

he had flown over it several

times. I tried to explain that

driving 26 miles to work every

morning wasn’t the same as

running a marathon everyday,

but when someone is

convinced of their divine right

there is no talking to them!

2) Bizarrely, some

people have said

that I only walked

to the North Pole for my own

selfish reasons, and there

is a lot of truth in that, but

considering I have helped

raise more than US$ 100,000

for charity, I think the world

could do with a lot more

selfish people like me.

Doing some things for

personal vanity is a strong

motivator, but when you

are doing something that

requires so much endurance

and perseverance, if there

isn’t a reason a lot bigger and

nobler than personal glory,

the lure quickly loses its

lustre. The idea of supporting

charity came to me during

Ramadan, when charity is a

big part of that month, and if

it hadn’t been for the money I

was raising, there are times

I would have given up. But

the thought of letting down

so many charities kept me

going at moments when

there was almost no reason

to go on. There is a saying

that to those whom much is

given, much is expected, and

I have been very lucky in

my life, even though I don’t

realise it or acknowledge it

sometimes. This is one way of

trying to redress the balance

and help those less fortunate

than myself. I am certainly

no Mother Teresa, but no

human can be expected to

be perfect, but trying to be a

better person should be good

enough. Luckily in my case,

it takes very little effort to be

a better person than I was

before!!

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Sir Winston Churchill

3) As a child my

parents bought me

Ladybird books to

encourage me to read. Most

were about historical figures

like kings and queens, but

some of them were about

explorers and adventurers.

These were my heroes

when I grew up. They were

not perfect people but they

were doing things for the

betterment of mankind, the

expansion of knowledge, and

usually at great personal

sacrifice.

Nowadays, the big heroes

for school kids are film stars,

footballers and the latest

winner of ‘Big Brother’. A lot of

this encourages lazy ambition.

And the hope that you are

secretly the next big thing

just waiting to be discovered,

completely ignoring the fact

that most real stars have had

to sweat their way to the top,

after putting hours of practice

and training.

Now I have no delusions that I

am anywhere near as famous

or influential as these modern

day heroes, but:

“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”

Shakespeare Merchant of Venice Act 5, Scene 1.

My modest hope is that my

efforts will inspire one of the

school kids that I visit to do

more than he thinks he is

currently capable of.

The most beautiful and

rewarding moment was going

to talk to a school where a

child asked me if I wanted to

get out of my sleeping bag in

the morning, during the North

Pole trek. I told him I didn’t,

but I wanted to be the first

Arab to walk to the North Pole

even more, so I had to get out

of bed.

A few days later, I got an

email from one of the teachers

who was teaching some of the

dyslexic kids. She was getting

them to do word searches and

one of the kids was refusing

because he found it hard.

Another kid piped up and

said, remember what Nabs

said, he didn’t want to get out

of bed, but if he wanted to get

to the North Pole, he had to

get up. So if you want to be

able to read, you have to do

your exercises. The kid didn’t

complain again!

I have no idea if I have had

any influence on anyone

else, but I like to think that

I have inspired one child to

be a better reader and that is

enough.

4) As a Muslim and an

Arab, it is difficult

to hear the Western

media always follow the

word Islamic with terrorist

or fundamentalist, as if the

two words are intrinsically

linked. There are no positive

examples, and certainly

none that are mentioned,

of Muslims or Arabs in the

international media. As I

like to tell the school kids,

I am going to be the first

Arab famous for not blowing

something up. Kids always

like that joke, adults rarely

do, and I think that just proves

how sensitive a subject it has

become.

In my expeditions, I have

been stopped at nearly every

border and had to justify

my appearance. In Canada

it happened five times in

one expedition, but each

time I left them with a better

impression of Arabs and

Muslims and a little history

of Oman. It is a small drop

in the ocean, but it makes

a difference. And having

completed my expeditions, it

has taken me places I never

expected when I started. As

a direct consequence of my

accomplishments, I have been

on Italian state TV with Miss

Italy, met the Crown Prince of

Bahrain, gone on Umrah, and

met my fiancée.

Having done one expedition,

I found it so rewarding in

different ways, that I have

never wanted to go back to an

ordinary job. In fact, I left a job

where the owner’s values and

my own did not coincide, so

it made the decision to resign

and go my own way very easy.

Whilst I was in the Arctic, one

of the employees was working

overtime before going home to

study for professional exams.

When his study partner

came to his flat, he found my

colleague dead. Even though I

had resigned several months

before, the staff were trying to

get in touch with me to assist

them in sorting the situation.

The owner was contacted and

came to see the scene. After

surmising that the employee

had died of natural causes,

he announced that he was not

liable and walked off.

The widow and children were

not given his last salaries

and due to cost-cutting by

the owner, an item we had

disagreed upon, all the staff

life insurance policies were

not paid as per the contracts,

so the widow had to leave

empty-handed as well as

heart- broken.

That owner wasn’t the only

awful boss I’ve had, but easily

the worst. And this engineer

had spent the last hours of

his life working overtime and

then getting ready to study

for professional exams for an

owner that didn’t care.

Remembering death has

made me enjoy my life more.

I had a friend who died from

breast cancer several years

ago, and in her last few

months, she had the best time

of her life. I thought she would

be depressed with the weight

of her prognosis, but instead

she knew she didn’t have long

left, and spent her remaining

time on earth enjoying it to the

full. She only did things she

liked, enjoyed or wanted to

do, and she avoided negative

people and situations.

And that could be the best

thing to come out of all this.

I have less time to waste

on negative people and

situations, and knowing I

could die at any moment,

want to enjoy what time I

have left. Of course I have put

myself at so much greater risk,

but when things are tough,

and they frequently are, I

just think, would I be happier

working overtime for an owner

who couldn’t care less, dying

slowly in a corporate rut, or

being uncomfortable and

miserable doing something

worthwhile? I am just lucky

to have supportive sponsors

who have allowed me to

answer that question to my

satisfaction

(My thanks to my sponsors Falcon Oilfield Services, Sohar Aluminium, SABCO, Renaissance Services, Mistal, Nawras, Omantel, ICAP, KPMG, BMMI, Qalhat LNG, Ministry of Sports, and Desert Line.)

NOTES

20

NOTES

Nabil Al Busaidi setting off to climb Lobuche Top of Mt Lobuche

21

24

A Glorious Collection of CarsThe Palm Garden at Intercontinental Muscat was the venue of the first ever Sports and Luxury Car Show in Muscat. It was a show that would make any auto enthusiast burst with excitement!

EVENT

25

The Porsche 911 GT2 aka ‘the Widowmaker’

26

The two day event was

inaugurated by HE Ahmed

bin Saleh al Maimani,

Undersecretary of

Administrative and Financial

Affairs and Regional affairs at

the Ministry of Commerce and

industry, who was seen visiting

and experiencing almost each

and every car at the show.

These included a wide range

of grand tourers, hatchbacks,

convertibles, coupes and

supercars lining the lawns,

occasionally busting into life

with a throaty roar of power

and barely contained intent.

Guests and visitors alike

moved from car to car,

eagerly snapping away

with cameras and taking the

opportunity to explore their

favourite machines. All the

while the DJ was adding flair

to the professionally created

ambience. The manufactures

were no doubt pleased with the

turnout, with a constant stream

of car enthusiasts and potential

buyers listening in rapt

attention as experts explained

key points of interest about their

high performance products.

For lotus in particular, this event

gave them the exposure they

needed especially considering

that they were launched just

a few days prior to the show.

“This event couldn’t have

come at a better time for us, it’s

a chance to get customers to

Open- air freedom - the

Ferrari California

Light and nippy - the Lotus Elise

SC

The collection of Hamaan vehicles

from UAE

EVENT

28

know what Lotus is all about,”

said Chris Edwards, General

Manager Shanfari Automotive,

the distributors of the Lotus

brand.

Al Nimr International

Exhibition Organisation, the

event organisers, expressed

satisfaction over the turnout

and the cars on display. “It

was our job to organise this

event, the main aim of which

is to generate publicity for

the vehicle manufacturers.

Diplomatically, I can’t say I

have a favourite, we are just

pleased to have gotten all these

cars under one roof especially

Mitsubishi, Lamborghini,

Maserati, Ferrari, Porsche,

lotus, Bentley, Audi, VW, Dodge,

Peugeot and even Hamann

from UAE,” said Salim Al

Hashmi, CEO at Al Nimr.

In case you missed the show,

or you just want to admire

these high-performance works

of art again, feast your eyes

on the following pages of

automotive glory. One would

be hard-pressed to find a better

collection of cars elsewhere in

Oman, especially when you

consider that they were all in

just one garden

Last of the great Murciélagos -

the LP 670-4 SV

Signature was a media partner for this event

Affordable performance -

the VW Gti

Luxuary at its best - the Bentley Continental Flying

Spur Speed

EVENT

29

30

The Bean Story

THE PERFECT COFFEE, FROM THE WORLD’S BEST MOUNTAIN GROWN

ARABICA, IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS ROAST, SAYS JIM RAGAS

FOOD

31

One of the first things you

need to understand about

coffee is how easily its

environment affects it. The

coffee tree is a product of

its environment; it draws its

nutrients from the soil in which

its roots are firmly planted

and its growth depends on the

climatic patterns, rainfall and

temperature. The care of the

farmer’s husbandry is equally

important, as is the care and

thoroughness of the processing

given to the coffee after it is

harvested.

The best coffee actually comes

from the cooler, more temperate

environments of the higher

mountainous regions within

the tropics. Conditions most

suitable for coffee growing

include: abundant rainfall,

mean annual temperature of

about 70 degrees Fahrenheit,

and well drained, nutrient-rich

soils — elements that can be

found at a variety of altitudes.

Coffee is cultivated at all

altitudes from sea level up to

the frost level.

The higher mountainous

elevations yield the ‘best

32

FOODFOOD

33

coffees’, ‘Arabicas’. Rainfall

is sparse, and the much cooler

temperatures and shortage

of oxygen at these altitudes

slow down growth, causing

the beans to mature more

gradually and develop more

flavour, essence and become

more delicate and delectable.

Higher grown coffee beans

usually have a higher density

than lower grown beans, which

enhances the complexity

of the flavour profile. The

soils in these mountainous

terrains lack the nutrients to

support the coffee trees, a hard

environment for the coffee tree

to contend with. In response to

these conditions, the trees only

produce a small annual yield

averaging about one pound per

tree every year. Yet, each one

of those beans is plump full of

valuable essence and coffee

flavour.

These coffees, because of their

low yield nature, tend not to

be very abundant. However,

their scarcity, along with the

special attention required

for their cultivation, makes

these genuine mountain

grown coffees costlier and

more special than the mass-

produced, commercial

varieties. Produced from these

extreme conditions is a flavour

that is worth all the hardship. It

is a taste that can be described

as rich, deep bodied, well

balanced, delicate, aromatic,

and overall an excellent coffee.

Companies such as Second

Cup select from only the top

one per cent of the world’s

coffee grown each year. Only

the world’s best mountain

grown Arabica coffee is chosen

from coffee producers who lead

the industry in the cultivation

of premium, specialty grade,

Arabica coffees. These include

farms like Hacienda La

Minita in Costa Rica, Fazenda

Vista Alegre in Brazil, Café

Volcan Baru in Panama, and

Exportadora De Café Condor

in Colombia and COCLA

Cooperative in Peru.

Not only do these farms

and co-operatives produce

exceptionally high

quality coffee, they set the

benchmark for both social and

environmental stewardship.

Our relationship with these

producers allows us to buy

directly from the growers and

mill operators and to see the

results of their social and

environmental activities first-

hand.

Of course, the perfect coffee

is only as perfect as its roast!

During roasting we bring out

the aromatic oils inherent in

the beans and reduce their

moisture content. Roasting

coffee evolves flavours and

aroma in the coffee producing a

complex and highly developed

beverage

Second Cup has grown to

over 400 cafés worldwide and

50 internationally. Second Cup

offers a variety of innovative

and exclusive blends,

espresso-based beverages

and iced drinks, signature

foods, indulgent treats and

premium beverages in a warm

and comfortable setting. You

can find more information on

http://www.secondcup.com

The author is Vice President, International Business Development &

Operations in Second Cup Canada.

34

Sights, Sounds and Spices

No travel guide, travel

magazine or pithy travel

agent spiel could have

prepared me for my arrival

in Oman, and that first

glimpse of the glittering jewel

that is Muscat.

Departing the airport,

monolithic dunes and

rippling sand that seems

to swallow the horizon,

till suddenly, the endless

expanse parts to admit an

emerald oasis of English

country gardens! The contrast

between greater Oman

and its vibrant, verdant

heart could not be more

startling. With the advent

of desalination, Muscat has

achieved the seemingly

impossible: bringing to life a

lustrous, thriving metropolis

deep in the deceptively

barren desert.

A more magical, inviting

city I would be hard pressed

to name, from its ancient

Souk to its achingly beautiful

mosques, its timeless culture

and thriving industry, Muscat

offers new and breathtaking

discoveries at every turn.

We were totally unprepared

for the sheer magnitude of

the bustling Souk, Madeleine

(my wife) swiftly opted to

purchase her first head scarf,

brilliant orange among the

iridescent blues, heavy reds

and vivid purples of the

hand-dyed pieces on offer,

and donned it quickly. Whilst

her blonde locks and bare

arms exposed by her simple

western dress didn’t attract

SHANNON BENNETT TAKES A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE AND

INTO MUSCAT’S VIBRANT, VERDANT HEART AND

DISCOVERS THE MAGIC OF FESTIVE OMANI

FOOD...

FOOD COURT

35

any animosity, we were clearly

something of a curiosity, so we

happily bowed to custom so we

could better enjoy the mind-

boggling sights and sounds of

this wonder. Spices, fabrics,

garments, jewels…you name

it the Souk sells it, running late

into the night beyond dawn till

the searing sun closes its doors

temporarily each day.

Naturally, our most anticipated

discoveries in Oman would

revolve around its food.

While Muscat does boast

the ubiquitous international

chain-fare, most eateries we

encountered were modest

Lebanese and Turkish food

stands. Dining out typically

takes place in hotel restaurants,

but as first-time visitors we

eschewed the more European-

influenced cuisine options in

favour of a true taste of Oman,

and thanks to the incredible

hospitality of its people, this

was no great feat.

Arriving in the last days of

the holy month of Ramadan,

the exclusion of the wining

component from the dining

equation was no great shock,

and despite observance of

daily fasting, the coming of

Iftar as the sun sets brought

its own delights: Sakhana (the

satisfying sweet soup of wheat),

dates, molasses and milk, and

the restorative fatta (meat

and vegetables mixed with

unleavened Omani bread).

As Eid-Al-Fitr approached, a

palpable excitement brought

Ramadan to its close. Muscat

hummed with preparation and

anticipation. Lacy trails of fairy-

lights festooned surrounding

parkland in our quarter as

the square became suddenly

animated with festival

attractions and long tables

ready to be burdened with the

accoutrements of feasting.

The first day of Eid brought

Mashuai (spit-roasted kingfish

on lemon rice), and Mugalab

(tripe slow-cooked in ground

cinnamon, clove, cardamom,

black pepper, ginger, garlic

and nutmeg) a veritable spice

market of dazzling aromas.

On our second day, we

welcomed the variety of

skewered meats cooked over

charcoal that is Mishkak, and

the tender delights of Arsia

(lamb and rice). This is truly

food you first eat with your

eyes, each dish seeming to

capture the rich hues of sunset

with their complex spicing.

The third day, the last and

most eagerly anticipated of Eid

introduced us to the delights

of Shuwa. Not many dishes

can boast they require an

entire village to aid in their

preparation; hence Shuwa

is served only on special

occasions. A whole goat,

marinated in red pepper,

turmeric, coriander, cumin,

cardamom, garlic, and vinegar

is wrapped in a sack made

from dry banana or palm

leaves. The sacks are then

laid in smouldering ovens

prepared in a pit dug into the

ground and roasted for up to

two days. The resulting meat is

breathtakingly succulent and

tender. This is followed by the

traditional desserts such as

Omani Halwa and Lokhemat

(delicious balls of deep fried

flour and yeast in sweet lime

and cardamom syrup). And

of course, no meal in Oman

would be complete without a

bitter, bracing shot of Kahwa

(Omani coffee).

The sense of pride, humility

and ceremony with which

each dish was prepared

and presented portrayed

how important food and the

rituals associated with it is

to the Omani way of life:

respecting its source, observing

seasonality and celebrating the

joy of feeding those you love is

a crucial part of this intricate

culture, and accordingly each

dish is received as no less than

a great gift.

Muscat is a revelation. The

warm evenings hum with

the energy of a city at once

being thrust headlong into

the future, while remaining

steadfastly faithful to its rich

cultural heritage. Overlooking

the city each night from the

vantage point of my balcony,

as the bustling city below is

lulled by the omnipresent song

of evening prayer and the

soothing desert winds full of

silent promise; I felt I stood with

one foot each in two utterly

diverse destinations. This

rare and startling sensation

is one I’ve never experienced

before, and it is a feeling only

heightened by each eagerly

anticipated return to the

majestic Muscat

The author is an internationally acclaimed chef and owner of ‘Vue De

Monde’, Australia. In Oman, the Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental Muscat

houses ‘Vue by Shannon Bennett’.

38

Picture Perfect

OMAN IN ITS MYRIAD HUES AS SEEN THROUGH THE

LENS OF FOUR TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS…

SHOW

39

40

“Photography is the essence

of my life. It leads me on a

voyage of discovery. Through it

I examine and record the beauty

of nature and the environment

of my country. I present my

visual impressions and vision

of beauty surrounding me.”

Ahmed Al Busaidi

SHOW

“I am still a beginner in

photography, I started in mid

2006, but then the world of

photography enchanted me.

I don’t consider photography

to be just a hobby for me; it’s

something more than that in

my life. Photography to me is a

lifestyle that connects me more

to Oman and its culture, its

places & people. Photography

made me appreciate the

moments more, and made me

crave to record a moment, with

all its details and emotions,

to be a reminder for me once

it’s forgotten from the memory.

Photography is a never ending

story between me & light.”

Ahmed Shukaili

42

“Photography is quite simply

a way of life. Photography is

part of my daily life, it helps me

to discover the world in which

I live and travel to. It enables

me to constantly search for new

things, meet new people and

respond to my surroundings.

Photography allows me to

constantly challenge myself to

produce better art and explore

and push the boundaries of

expression.”

Ibrahim Al Busaidi

SHOW

Visual Impressions is on at the Art Gallery at Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat in

partnership with Bait Al Zubair Museum.

“For me, photography is not

just a hobby, it`s my passion,

it`s the best thing I do, every

single photograph I take — be

sure that I have enjoyed taking

it, just going outdoors for

photography is an adventure

to me. I use photography to

capture a story that can be

remembered forever.

I mostly like to photograph

nature, Oman’s valleys,

mountains and coasts are

what truly inspire me. I feel

the incredible and diverse

nature that the Creator granted

us needs to be documented;

therefore I chose the camera to

help me to achieve this task.”

Salim Al Wardi

44

The

Sun, Sea

and Some

Regga

e... For those who love the

sun, sea and reggae music, Antigua is the place

to be, says Her Highness Muzna Al Said.

DESTINATION

45

It’s January 29, 2010. It’s a

cold, rainy and miserable

day and I can’t wait to

escape it as I look out

of the small, rounded

window of the Virgin

Airways flight that will

take me to my holiday

destination. The flight

takes around eight and

a half hours (non-stop) to

get from the London Gatwick airport, UK to the

island of Antigua, located in the middle of the

Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean.

When the plane lands at the V.C. Bird

international airport of Antigua, the sun

is shining and the temperature is perfect,

around 26 degrees Celsius. I am greeted with

smiling faces and the sound of Caribbean

music in the distance. This is my third trip

to Antigua and even though there is a sense

of comfort and familiarity, I can still feel my

DESTINATION

47

heart racing with excitement.

I can’t wait to get to the hotel

and then proceed to lie on the

white sandy beach and swim

in the clean, cool, turquoise

Antiguan Ocean.

Antigua has 365 beaches,

one for every day of the year.

The people who usually visit

Antigua are touring on cruise

ships or come to the island

on their yachts. However,

it is quite the popular

vacation spot for families and

honeymooners alike because

of its beauty, climate and

friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

The hotel I chose to stay

at was the 5-star Carlisle

Bay Resort, owned by

Campbellgray hotels, which

is located on the southwest

shore of the island. In fact,

the Carlisle Bay is said to

be the first bay of the island

that explorers set foot on

centuries ago.

Of course, there are several

hotels and resorts on the

island, depending on

your style and budget.

The top five, I would

recommend are the

Carlisle Bay Resort,

Jumby Bay Resort,

Sugar Ridge Resort,

Jolly Harbour Resort

and vacation

rentals and the

Sandals Resort.

All of these are

family-friendly and

have access to beaches and

an abundance of fun activities

from water sports to hiking

to zip-lining through the rain

forest.

There are four main places to

visit apart from the stunning

beaches on the island; St.

Johns, English Harbour, Jolly

Harbour and Shirley Heights.

Antigua is rich in history and

culture and has a couple of

national museums that must

be stopped at when exploring

the island. St. Johns is the

capital of the island with lots

of bustling, colourful street

life. It has wonderful markets,

from local Antiguan crafts,

artwork and food to boutiques

stores and designer labels.

English Harbour is a historic

town and is surrounded by

old stonewalls and look out

points. One of the main and

famous dockyards is located

in English Harbour: Nelson’s

Dockyard, named after Horatio

Nelson, the British naval

officer in 1784, who developed

naval facilities here.

The Island has lots to offer

in terms of cuisine as well.

Restaurants that I dined at

included the Johnny Coconat

that serves some amazing

Italian food and Catherine’s

Café that serves French and

European cuisine. Both are

on the waterfront overlooking

the harbour and hillsides. For

some great seafood, local food

and a chilled out atmosphere

on the west side of the

island, I recommend Dennis’

Restaurant. Another popular

location for locals and tourists

alike is the Shirley Heights,

especially on Sundays when

there is live Reggae music

and barbeque that starts

at sundown. Its partially-

restored fortifications of the

harbour’s colonial observation

post offers stunning views

looking out over the harbour

and the Caribbean towards

the Montserrat island, where

lies one of the few remaining

active volcanoes in the

world, and Guadeloupe (an

archipelago located in the

Leeward Islands).

The Island also celebrates the

Carnival, which many people

fly in for every year. Held

from July 24 to August 3 every

year, the vibrant and colourful

Carnival commemorates the

abolition of slavery. Carnival

hosts steel band competitions,

beauty pageants such as

The Caribbean Queen

competition, local concerts,

food fairs, parades and much

more. I am yet to attend the

Carnival and look forward to

returning to Antigua soon.

I encourage anyone who

enjoys the sun, sea and some

reggae music to visit this

paradise island. Whether

you are with friends, family

or your partner, Antigua

welcomes you all!

H.H Muzna Bint Kais Al Said

Born in London in 1985. Raised in the Sultanate of

Oman and educated in the UK and Oman.

“Motivated by creativity, I consider myself a free

spirit. I’m working towards my goal in life, my passion

that is Art.”

48

SHOP

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Here, retail really does equal relaxation. Stylish and open-air, each

Village has been designed to echo its surroundings. Depending on

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t of a longer stay, holiday shopping alwayso l g t h d s p g w st of a longer stay holiday shopping alwayso l g t h d s p g w st of a longer stay holiday shopping always

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49

Designed to emulate some of the most famous retail destinations in the

world — Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, Bond Street in London, Rome’s

Via Condotti — the scene is set for one of the choicest shopping

experiences in Spain. Just 35 minutes from central Madrid, Las Rozas

Village has more than 100 boutiques with exclusive price reductions.

What better place than here to indulge yourself with famous Spanish

labels including the globally-recognised Custo Barcelona, Antonio

Miró, and Purificación García alongside the best international labels.

How to get there: 1. Shopping Express from main hotels in Madrid,

ask your hotel’s concierge. 2. Public Bus – line 625, 628 and 629

from Madrid’s Moncioa bus station every 20 minutes. 3. Taxi from

Madrid is only around US$ 35.

For brands of international acclaim and local designers, the

residents of Munich make Ingolstadt Village their first-stop for

affordable luxury and high-end fashion and it’s as much a must-

do for visitors too. From Munich it’s an easy, 50-minute drive

into the beautiful region of Bavaria. The Village has more than

110 luxury boutiques including For All Mankind, Philipp Plein,

MCM, Aigner, Bogner, MCM, St.Emile — offering reductions

of up to 60 per cent on the recommended retail price. Prevent

shopping fatigue by sitting down to an authentic Bavarian lunch.

How to get there: 1. Shopping Express direct transfer every

Thursday and Saturday from Munich Main Train Station at

9.30am and from Odeonsplatz at 9.45am; 2. Ingolstadt Airport

Express Shuttle; 3. Train from Munich Central Station and then

bus service to Ingolstadt Village.

Las Rozas VillageMadrid (Spain)

Ingolstadt Village Munich (Germany)

MiróM

HowH

ask a

fromr

MadMM dMM d

Travel Tip:

Combine shopping at Las

Rozas Village with a tour

of Segovia or a visit to San

Lorenzo de El Escorial.

Travel Tip:

Combine shopping at

Ingolstadt Village with a

Danube boat trip or a visit

to Audi Museum.

50

SHOP

Amongst fairytale castles and enchanting scenery of the Romantic

Road, Wertheim is an essential stop. Only 50 minutes from Frankfurt

and Nuremburg, Wertheim Village is as charming as the nearby

picturesque towns that inspired it. Adding to the serene setting are

amazing price reductions on international brands as well as exclusive

German labels such as Aigner and Baldessarini, Steiff bears (the most

famous teddy bears in the world) as well as international names such

as Escada, Longchamp and L’Occitane en Provence.

How to get there: 1. Shopping Express direct transfer every Thursday

and Saturday at 9am from Frankfurt Marriot Hotel Trade Fair Centre;

at 9.30am from Main train station; 10am from Westin Grand Hotel; 2.

Train from Frankfurt, Nuremberg and Würzburg to Wertheim – regular

service from main city station and then free direct shuttle transfer to

Wertheim Village.

Only 60 minutes from Brussels, Antwerp and Cologne, Maasmechelen

Village is Belgium’s largest shopping attraction. More than 150 up-

market labels in more than 95 luxury boutiques offer savings of 30 to

60 per cent on the recommended retail price: fabulous Belgian brands

include Chine and Olivier Strelli, as well as such renowned names as

Scapa, Strenesse and Versace.

How to get there: Train from Brussels – SNCB services to Genk

or Hasselt and then bus line 45 to the Village; SNCB services to

Maastricht and then bus line 63 to the Village

Wertheim Village Frankfurt (Germany)

Maasmechelen Village Brussels (Belgium)

Itinerary Tip:

Combine shopping at

Wertheim Village with a

tour of Würzburg or a visit

to Medieval Aschaffenburg.

Maastricht and tha

Itinerary Tip:

Combine shopping at

Maasmechelen Village with

a tour of Maastricht or a visit

to the Fashion Museum in

Hasselt.

51

Kildare Village is Ireland’s premium designer brand outlet Village making it a must-

visit place to Ireland’s capital city. Only an hour’s drive from Dublin, it’s simple to

swap the bustle of the city for the beauty of the countryside and browse brands

such as Bally, Anya Hindmarch, Thomas Pink and L.K. Bennett. Whether it’s

designer names or cult brands you’re looking for there are more than 55 boutiques

offering luxury with savings of up to 60 per cent off the recommended retail price.

After a day of boutique browsing, grab something to eat in the Village or taste the

local cuisine in one of the cosy pubs nearby.

How to get there: 1. Shopping Express – direct transfer on Saturday at 10am and

on Sunday at 11am from outside the Dublin Tourism Office on O’Connell Street; 2.

train from Dublin – Irish Rail direct service from Dublin’s Heuston Station to Kildare

town station and then complimentary shuttle bus to Kildare Village.

For a country that does luxury as well as any in the world,

Fidenza Village stands out as one of its finest shopping

destinations. With more than 90 boutiques all with fabulous

price reductions even the Milanese are willing to step outside

their city to seek their fashion fix here — assurance, if any were

needed, that this is a ‘must-see’ for any visitor. It is a mere hour

from both Milan and Bologna. Unsurprisingly, given the Italian

influence on fashion, many of the labels here are native —

Missoni, Furla, Class Roberto Cavalli, Trussardi Jeans, Bruno

Magli — as well as the international names Brooks Brothers,

Escada, Diesel and many more

How to get there: Shopping Express – direct transfer with daily

departures from P.zza Castello 1 in Milan at 10am.

Kildare VillageDublin (Ireland)

Fidenza Village Milan (Italy)

HowH

on Soon S

trainr

towoTravel Tip:

Combine shopping at

Kildare Village with a visit

to the Irish National Stud

and Gardens.

Travel Tip:

Combine shopping at

Fidenza Village with a

visit to Ferrari Museum

or a spa treatment at

Salsomaggiore Terme

52

As enticing a ‘must-see’ as the stately homes and celebrity mansions

of the Oxfordshire countryside, Bicester Village is another kind of

luxury. Just 20 minutes from Oxford and only an hour from London,

its A-list clientele includes Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham. Pick up

British designer labels including Anya Hindmarch, Luella, Marni, Paul

Smith, Smythson, Temperley London, Tumi and Vivienne Westwood,

as well as cutting-edge brands such as All Saints and Reiss — all

reduced by up to 60 per cent off the recommended retail price. Choose

from a range of restaurants and cafés within the Village, or take a

short drive to a nearby Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Manoir aux

Quat’Saisons

How to get there: By train from London – Chiltern Railways’ service

journey takes 60 minutes and runs up to four times an hour from

London Marylebone to Bicester North and then direct shuttle transfer to

Bicester Village.

Shopping is at its chicest best at La Vallée Village. The charming

setting, just 35 minutes East of Paris, is fairytale-esque. Yet it’s the

exclusive price reductions on all the best luxury brands that are truly

magical. Browse the boutiques for fabulous French labels and the best

of its fashion boutiques including Antik Batik, Jimmy Choo, Sandro and

Zadig & Volatire. Stop for a coffee and croissant or finish the day with

a glass of bubbly nearby.

How to get there: Shopping Express – direct transfer by Cityrama,

daily departures from Place des Pyramides, at 10:15am.

Bicester Village London (UK)

La Vallée Village Paris (France)

Itinerary Tip:

Combine shopping at

Bicester Village with a

tour of Oxford or a visit to

Blenheim Palace

se

ex

mm

of

Za

a

HoHo

da

Itinerary Tip:

Combine shopping at La

Vallée Village with a visit to the

Château de Vaux le Vicomte

or a tour of the Champagne

Region

SHOP

Discover the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages, a collection of nine luxury brand outlet Villages offering previous seasons’ collections of the world’s leading designer fashion and lifestyle brands with upto 60% off the recom-mended retail price, all year round. Make a trip to Chic Outlet Shopping® Village part of your travel itinerary. Set in beautiful countryside, and within easy reach of Europe’s destination cities, the nine villages provide a perfect comple-ment to visiting London, Dublin, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich and the surrounding regions. Tax refund service is available in all the Villages. OVER 850 boutiquesAnne Fontaine, Antik Batik, Alexander McQueen, Anya Hindmarch, Armani, Bally, Brooks Brothers, Cacharel, Calvin Klein Jeans, Diesel, Diane von Fursten-berg, Ermenegildo Zegna, Escada, Guess, Jack Wills, Jimmy Choo, La Perla, Luella, Marni, Mathew William-son, Missoni, Paul Smith, Roberto Cavallu, Salvatore Ferragamo, Smyth-son, Temperley London, Tod’s, Tumu, Versace… and many more in nine Villages through-out Europe.

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54

La Roca Village Barcelona (Spain)

Itinerary Tip:

Combine shopping at La

Roca Village with a visit to

Girona or some sunbathing

on the Costa Brava

beaches

In the style of a traditional Catalan market town, La Roca Village, a

most exclusive of outlet shopping destinations, is only 40 minutes

from Barcelona. Shopping in style couldn’t be simpler. Amongst the

wealth of international labels are Spanish-born brands, including the top

names Barcelona-born Antonio Miró and Adolfo Dominguez, with the

international names represented by TAG Heuer, Belstaff and Carolina

Herrera. With prices reduced by up to 60 per cent off the recommended

retail price, there’s more than just the sunshine to enjoy at this open-air

shopping experience. There are some fantastic eating options within and

nearby the Village with traditional Catalan food on offer to add to your

taste of the area.

How to get there: 1. Shopping Express direct transfer in Winter (Jan

1 – Apr 30 / Oct 1 – Dec 31): Monday, Friday and Saturday. In summer

(May 1 – Sep 30): Daily from Monday to Saturday, Departures at 10am,

4pm and 6pm from Plaza Catalunya to La Roca Village. 2. Public Bus –

service by Sagalés, departures Monday to Friday from Fabra i Puig Bus

Station (Barcelona) to La Roca Village (www.sagales.com) 3. Train from

Barcelona – RENFE operates regular trains from Barcelona Sants Station

to Granollers Centre Station, the nearest train station to La Roca Village,

then take a 20-minute direct bus journey or a short taxi ride to La Roca

Village. 4. Return trip from Barcelona €110.

To book your experience contact on 24559977You can also email at: holidays@ouat.co.om

SHOP

SEIKO SHOWROOM: E-Mart, Al Raid House, Ground Floor, Qurum Shopping Area, Muscat. Tel.: 24571376

56

ThePerfect

10Look. Listen.

Dream. Imagine. Invent. Develop.

Try. Nuance. Refine. Rework. Accomplish.

Start again. Olivier Echaudemaison

shares his 10-year journey at Guerlain...

GUERLAIN AND ME...When I was 20, I wore Vetiver

and I loved to go and buy it.

For me, Guerlain was the very

embodiment of fine perfumery;

a world overflowing with

beauty. When I began working

as Creative Director for

Make-up, I still had this image

in my mind. I also had an

objective: To do even better;

to be the Prince Charming

who exalts the radiance and

brilliance of his beloved…

I’ve had a long love story with

this sensual and chic brand,

which has style, but isn’t

arrogant. It gives makeup its

true meaning, which is to be

simple and embellishing.

APPRENTICE-SHIPS... I started on photo shoots

with Alexandre in Paris. I did

hairstyling and then moved

on to make-up, because I

loved fashion. At the time,

there was no make-up artist

for the photo shoots. The cover

girls of the 70s did their own

make-up. I learned so much

just by watching them. Then,

with Harriet Hubbard Ayer,

I discovered the incredible

pleasure of carrying my vision

all the way through and

mixing and creating my own

textures and colours. This was

followed by a stint in America.

And the rest is history: First,

Creator of the Givenchy make-

up line and now Creative

Director at Guerlain.

BEAUTY

57

tMY A-LIST... You could say that I’ve done

the make-up of the most

beautiful women in the

world. It had even become

my speciality: Princesses, in

particular. Just imagine me,

a timid young man showing

up at the Buckingham Palace

without even knowing

why and finding myself

doing the make-up for the

official photos of Princess

Anne, who was about to get

married. I could not have

asked for a better debut!

This was followed with all

the princesses of Europe,

including the lovely Grace

and Caroline of Monaco, and

many film stars including

Audrey Hepburn, Sophia

Loren, Ava Gardner, Jackie

Kennedy, Romy Schneider and

the most beautiful face I’ve

ever seen: Elizabeth Taylor.

Everyone was fascinated by

these women! They truly lived

up to their status.

MUSES... I love discovering faces

and telling stories through

them. With my makeup, they

incarnate the spirit of a brand.

For Givenchy, I chose a model

who was just starting out:

Carla Bruni! I can always

sense the possible harmony

between the personality of a

model and that of Guerlain

immediately. I felt this

as soon as I laid eyes on

Natalia and Nora (the faces

of Guerlain). With Natalia,

there’s this absolute chic,

grace and youthfulness. She

loves to play. She’s elegant

and a rocker at the same time.

Nora has a sculptural and

ultra-feminine presence. Both

are great inspirations for me

SIMPLICITY...I hate complicated things that

are launched for image alone.

And women don’t fall for their

tricks either. We forget only

too quickly that women spend

an average of eight minutes

a day doing their make-up. At

Guerlain, we have a single

objective: to make women

more beautiful. To do so, we

have to give them textures

and tools that fulfil a very

precise mission. Even the most

sophisticated products are

incredibly simple to handle.

Just look at LE 2. I wanted

to move away from heavy

mascaras that made upper

lashes ultra-thick and left the

eyes looking severe. I wanted

to give women the desire to

apply mascara to lower lashes

and show off more delicate

and more innocent eyes. So

yes, two brushes and a very

elaborate construction, but

also foolproof application and

an amazing result. In terms of

its design, each product has

to correspond to an authentic

makeup object and allow the

consumer to attain results

with no risk of mistakes. When

the consumer feels wonderful

because she’s applied the

product perfectly and when

it makes her more beautiful

and people tell her so, then we

know we’ve done our job.

SENSUALITY...If there’s one thing that still

amazes me, it’s the vocation of

make-up: In the beauty world,

everything is literally right

on the skin. The contact of the

hand on the face, the colour

and texture that we smooth on

and that glides over the skin,

the object that we hold, the

mixing and handling in the

labs and studio…The shapes

and materials must also be a

joy to look at. Make-up must

be a moment of pure pleasure,

both aesthetic and sensory.

Long live the beauty of the

skin!

58

BEAUTY

TERRACOTTA FOUNDATIONS...It was such a thrill to become

the Creative Director for a

house with products that had

truly revolutionised make-up.

The make-up world would

never be the same after

Météorites and Terracotta.

Furthermore, Terracotta has

become a benchmark in

the make-up world — but

we have the one and only

creation! Do you realise how

incredible this is? It was

the first purchase, the first

make-up, for thousands of

women who never put a hint

of colour on their face… Now

they are Terracotta women.

But with this chance comes

the responsibility to go even

further. Today, Terracotta has

expanded. There are several

colour intensities and even

a specific one for men. It’s

a line in itself, one that is

continuously developed. And

it’s as successful as ever. I’m

a fan. And as I like to finish

what I start, I’m twice as

happy.

DESIGNERS...Contemporary art and

design have interested and

fascinated me for years. I

also like to consider beauty

as a whole. I believe that an

innovative formulation finds

its natural complement in

a beautiful and functional

shape. And let’s not forget that

Guerlain has always called on

avant-garde designers.

The boutique on the Champs-

Élysées, for example, was

entrusted to Jean-Michel

Frank. So it comes as no

surprise to see our very fruitful

and wonderful partnerships

with the stars of contemporary

design.

Hervé Van der Straeten for

KissKiss, Helle Damkjaer for

LE 2, Lorenz Bäumer for Rouge

G; I loved working with all of

them and consumers adore

the result (they can’t stop

raving about the little mirror

on Rouge G!). So, we will

continue this approach.

THE FUTURE...Creativity runs through the

very genes and history of this

house. It’s so motivating for

an enthusiast like myself. I

am absolutely certain that

Guerlain will always have

something to say. And I

also believe this because I

know the laboratories well:

they have exceptionally

innovative equipment and

they make breakthroughs at

an incredibly fast pace. I get

the feeling that everyone here

runs on adrenaline. And, more

than anything else, it is this

passion that fuels the future.

How do I see the future? I see

products that are more and

more intangible and invisible,

application that is easier and

easier and a make-up finish

that is more and more subtle

and long wearing. Especially

for the complexion, because

the complexion is everything.

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT...My personal projects… Do

they stray from makeup?

Not really, because I gave

a makeover to the trams of

Cosmetic Valley with a new

look and new colours. The first

one started running in Orléans

on December 22. I created

two palettes to adorn these

trams: the first in very warm

brown and honey Terracotta

tones and the second in more

‘girly’ turquoise, violet and

pink colours. But both versions

have something in common…

The ceiling is like a sunny sky:

blue, luminous and radiant.

For a beautiful journey every

time!

The author is the Creative Director, Guerlain Paris

60

aDutch shoe artist Jan Jansen on

how the ‘Bamboo shoe’ made him

a household name…

Shoe &A Success

Story

ACCESSORIES

61

aIt was September, 1973 and my first

shoe fair abroad; the ‘Semaine

du Cuir’ in Paris. It was for this

event that I designed my ‘Bamboo

shoe’. I made the first prototypes

by hand. A rattan artisan taught

me how to bend the rattan (general

term for species belonging to the

palm family) under a flame of fire.

(Everyone called it ‘the bamboo

shoe’, but in fact it was made of

rattan). The units I made looked

horrible. So, I asked the rattan

artisan to do them for me. He made

six pairs of bottom sole units and I

made the upper design.

These units looked nice and drew

the attention of the world. The New

York Daily News wrote: “Jan Jansen:

the star of the French Leather

SOMETIMES, THINGS COME

TO YOU A LITTLE LATE. BUT, IT’S ALL RIGHT AS

LONG AS THEY FINALLY COME

ALONG.

62

Fair… His name will be in no

time a household word in the

US….”

A customer walked into the

booth and wanted one pair for

each store he owned. He said,

“I do not intend to sell them,

but I liked the design so much

that I would like to display

it in my offices.” He asked

me about the price. I had no

idea of what I could quote,

and I didn’t have production.

I asked for US$100 per pair,

just to dissuade him. Because

I knew I couldn’t deliver. But,

he agreed to pay the price. I

asked him how many stores

he owned. “I am from the

Edison Brothers’ group and we

own 1,000 stores,” he replied.

As fate would have it, I never

could deliver the US$100,000-

order, which was an enormous

amount of money then. I had

no producer at the time.

It was only two years later

in 1975 that I would find an

artisan in Italy by the name

of Aldo Binarelli, who would

make the bamboo shoe

together with a small group of

workers. The collection was

launched in ‘De Bijenkorf’, a

department store, in 1975 in

Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

At the launch, I received a

golden clog for selling 100,000

pairs of my clogs (wooden

soles with leather upper).

At the same fair, I met Roland

Jourdan, owner of Charles

Jourdan Shoes, France, who

thought that the bamboo

shoe was not commercial

enough, but he told me, “If

you can think of this, then you

also can do something easy

and simple.” I got my first

freelance assignment at the

Charles Jourdan Shoe factory

for three weeks. Since then,

I have worked with Charles

Jourdan every season.

The publicity I got from

the bamboo shoe has been

enormous. So much so that

fifteen years after its creation,

I met an American importer,

Norman Finn, in an Italian

factory I was working at.

When he heard my name, he

asked, “Are you the guy who

made ‘the bamboo shoe’?” and

promptly hired me to design

shoes for him at the United

States Shoe Corporation, in

Taiwan.

The bamboo shoe has been

exhibited in museums all

over the world, including the

Museum of Contemporary

Craft in New York. Brigitte

Bardot, Priscilla Presley and

many other celebrities have

also bought a pair.

Such was its popularity that,

during my first exhibition

(held at the Parco museum

in Tokyo in 2004) of the six

exhibitions held in Japan, I

was asked if I could attempt

another bamboo shoe like the

one I made in 1973.

I thought it was quite

impossible. The rattan

artisans in Italy were either

retired or dead. But, in 2004, I

searched for them and found

a new generation of artisans,

who, under the guidance of

artisan Aldo Binarelli, who is

still alive, remade the bamboo

shoe. Only this time, the shoe

was a technical improvement

on its predecessor.

I showed my remade bamboo

shoe collection in Paris in

2004, this time at the Salon

Premier Classe. Yet again,

it drew attention, especially

of the ‘shoe people’. I had an

open booth at the fair and we

had a lot of visitors who kept

coming back for one more

look. The shoe had lived up

to its name. Its purpose was

clear to me.

In 2006, Prada came out with

a bamboo shoe, very much

like mine and in autumn of

the same year, the shoe was

nominated by UK Vogue as

‘THE spring shoe for 2006’. A

lot has changed in this world

between Charles Jourdan in

1973 and Prada in 2006.

Over the years, I have

safeguarded many of my

shoes’ prototypes and

ACCESSORIES

63

samples, especially the ones,

such as the ‘bamboo shoe’,

which I made by hand in the

sixties and the seventies.

In 2007, the VandenEnde

Foundation offered me

an auction at Christie’s,

Amsterdam (The auction was

held to celebrate Jan Jansen’s

65th birthday, as well as his

45th anniversary as an artist).

I had over 1,000 original

shoes that I had designed,

of which I offered 125 pieces

for the auction. The most

expensive boot was estimated

at €600 to €700 (US$ 800-900

approximately). It was sold for

€4,650 (US$ 6,277 approximately

for half a pair). The catalogue

also had the bamboo shoes.

Later, I got a phone call from

Ina Brouwers, who having

seen my shoe designs, felt that

furniture could be made based

on the ideas. Her father was

the owner of a furniture factory

in Gelderland. We met and

subsequently we got together

to produce a furniture line

consisting of bamboo chairs,

chaise lounges and tables.

Today, 37 years later, I am still

making bamboo shoes, and

the furniture line —launched

in 2008 — is selling very well.

Sometimes, things come to you

a little late. But, it’s all right as

long as they finally come along.

After all, perfect timing doesn’t

exist. Who knows what

‘perfect’ is?

The author is a well-known and celebrated shoe designer based in the Netherlands.

64

ART

DANCERS IN THE HAREM; ARTIST: FABIO FABBI

65

The Art of Art AppreciationTHE PRE-REQUISITES TO BECOMING THE SAVVY COLLECTOR, ACCORDING TO MATTHEW GIRLING...

With no fewer than 57 specialist

areas, from Old Masters to

Classic Cars and Entertainment

Memorabilia to Musical

Instruments, Bonhams provides a

vast historical base from which I

have seen many art enthusiasts

cultivate their knowledge and skill in appreciating art. Whether

it is for the simple appreciation of beauty, the desire to pursue

a pleasurable pass time, or the drive to build an alternative

investment portfolio, it is a skill that can be innate, but it can

also be cultivated. And Bonhams is committed to allowing

art enthusiasts all over the globe — regardless of the reasons

for interest — enjoy this wonderful experience and grow their

knowledge base in the process.

I personally believe there are six words that encompass the

process of the ‘art of art appreciation’: personality, eye, passion,

education, intelligence and aesthetics; and the savvy collector

will put all of these together to build a collection of true

significance.

PERSONALITY: You need to have a driven personality to collect.

Those who do are part of an exclusive group and do us all a

service. They travel the world seeking artefacts which they often

generously share with others. Collectors help to educate us in

the fields that interest them. We are all in their debt.

EYE AND AESTHETICS: You cannot spend much time in the art

world before becoming aware of the term ‘to have an eye for’.

66

ART

MICHMICH, A STREET IN CAIRO; ARTIST: ARTHUR VON FERRARIS

67

All truly great collectors have

an intrinsic understanding

of beauty, colour, balance

and aesthetics when looking

at an object. To have an eye

for something can mean

something as specific as the

ability to choose bloodlines

for breeding racehorses, or

it can be the ability to select

gems or old masters or glass,

silver or ceramics. It is hard

to define this quality, but it is

relatively easy to understand

its working when looking at

a collection of someone with

this great gift. One of the first

times I realised this was when

I walked through the fabled

Gulbenkian collection in

Lisbon, a collection that had

been offered by the collector

to Britain, which short-

sightedly turned him down.

Portugal is richer for housing

this splendid example of

a collection that covers

everything from ancient

ALL TRULY GREAT COLLECTORS HAVE AN INTRINSIC UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUTY, COLOUR, BALANCE AND AESTHETICS WHEN LOOKING AT AN OBJECT.

BEDAWEEN CARAVAN, SINAI; ARTIST: RICHARD BEAVIS

DANGEROUS PLAY; ARTIST: ANTONIO MARIA FABRES Y COSTA

68

ART

Egyptian art to Lalique glass, Persian carpets to silver.

The man had an eye that seldom failed him. I suppose we

should fuse the two words ‘eye’ and ‘aesthetics’ together,

because they both address the issue of harmony, the one

singular quality possessed by all great art. It is this that

activates and excites the eye of the collector and drives the

desire to own.

PASSION: What is it that affects us so powerfully; that one

emotion that makes us stop mid-stride — that feeling deep

within our soul that is hard to name when looking at a

really beautiful artefact or work of art. We call it passion,

a word that has to serve, but is perhaps inadequate to

describe the strength in its emotional power.

EDUCATION & INTELLIGENCE: I combine these two

qualities not because they are the same or similar, but

because they complement each other. In my experience

you need an education to understand and appreciate

art effectively. If you are blessed with intelligence you

are doubly fortunate, in that education has the power to

accelerate and deepen your love of art. An education can

provide a valuable skeleton of information upon which to

hang and develop the skill of art appreciation.

These are the qualities I believe will provide you with an

understanding of the ‘real art of art appreciation’.

Few people can honestly say their work is their passion,

but I am one of those very fortunate few. As the Chief

Executive for Bonhams UK and Europe it was my

responsibility three years ago to launch the Bonhams name

— founded in 1793 — in the Middle East region and I am

proud to have led four sales since its inception in Dubai.

At Bonhams, I am surrounded by heads of 57 specialist

departments who are leaders in their fields, world

authorities in their chosen subject and they are constantly

educating me in my approach to appreciating art. It is

indeed a great privilege

The author is Chief Executive, Bonhams Europe.

69

Bonhams’ Orientalist Auction of Pictures and Works of Art will take place on May 13, 2010 at the Royal Ballroom at the One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai. Bonhams will be selling the most valuable collection of Orientalist paintings to have ever been offered by auction sale in the Middle East. Values now range

from US$3,000 to US$1,500,000.

OTTOMAN ENCAMPMENT; ARTIST: ADOLF SCHREYER

70

the language of the soul WHEN IT COMES FROM THE SOUL, NO WORDS ARE NEEDED, OR EVEN SUITABLE, SAYS JEAN-PHILIPPE RIEU

Music is the

language

of my Soul.

Always has

been. The

thought of a single day without

music is simply too horrendous

to bear.

Today is my daughter’s

birthday. She is 16. How

time seems to fly by. Roos

shares my love of music. She

listens to it every day. Her

schoolteachers repeatedly tell

my wife and me how she is

either profoundly discussing

all matter of important issues

with her girlfriends or intently

immersing herself in her

personal music. I love it.

Of course, my role is to impress

upon her that she needs find

the balance between avoiding

impoliteness towards her

teachers and learning enough

to pass her exams well.

But I do feel that her social

development must be equally

as important as her academic

achievements. Perhaps even

more important. It causes me to

ponder.

Does it matter what type of

music she listens to? When I

hear the music Roos listens to

during her schoolwork or whilst

chatting it strikes me that her

music deeply touches her spirit.

It’s not just noise. I certainly

couldn’t have written it.

Sometimes it’s Rap, sometimes

it’s Rock, and it always has a

Soul. What is this Soul?

And can I be sure I see things

correctly? Am I right in my

assumptions about what is

important? Does someone

need to warn me I’m on the

wrong path? I feel I can only

answer these questions with

the cerebral answer that they

cannot be answered. I just

know, from my Soul, that I am

right. Again, what is this Soul?

Apparently, all I can do is

ask more questions, with the

answers eluding me.

What is this confounded Soul

that seems to be channelling

all my answers? I believe

that the spiritual foundation

of all our lives opens the

doors for our intuition, so

we can balance it with our

intellectual development.

And this, by definition, is a

state of continuous transit and

never a static moment stuck

in time, which is only possible

if one has a sincere respect

of tradition combined with a

creative open mind. I believe

it is this process that creates

a climate of true cohesion and

heartfelt tolerance. Sustainable

for any metaphor, not just for

music, but also for all acts of

creation: architecture, painting,

sculpture, poetry, design,

business, government and

more.

The beauty of it all is that no

words are needed, or even

suitable, for capturing it

completely.

Only the language of the Soul

can ever suffice. A language

I have found to be abundant

during my experiences in

Oman.

I hope my talents and

experience can in some small

part continue to assist in

building further on that, which

is the Soul of Oman. I have

found it to be a great source of

mutual inspiration.

I wish you a very happy

birthday Signature

MUSIC

The author is a well-known Dutch composer, filmmaker, director, writer

and organiser.

RAYMOND WEIL BOUTIQUESabco Commercial Centre

Al Qurum - 1st FloorMuscat - Oman

Tel: 24567638, 92802128

72

I currently work

in the oil and

gas industry

with Petroleum

Development

Oman (PDO)

and have been

in Oman for over six years

now. I have done several

different jobs within PDO. My

current job is ‘Maintenance

and Integrity Manager’ for the

Engineering and Operations

function. PDO operates a very

large fleet of complex rotating

equipment, in addition to others.

So, maintenance is a very big

challenge because we have

equipment that is over 40 years

old now and that equipment

has to be reliable, safe and

needs to be operated in a cost-

efficient way. So, maintenance

has always been a passion

of mine and a part of my

career. When it comes to cars,

regardless of their performance

and class, it is the same

principle. People are always on

the lookout for a reliable, safe

car and of course you wouldn’t

want to spend a fortune on

maintaining it. But keep in mind

that when you balance safety

with money, the former should

always be given priority.

My first car was a Fiat 600

and following that I had a

Mini, Skoda, Civic and even a

Triumph Spitfire. As a student

I had to maintain my own

CARS

currently work large fleet of complex rotating principle. People are always on

The Art of Car Maintenance

73

cars because of the financial

constraints of a student’s

budget and the expensive

labour costs at the dealers in

Europe. Should you choose

to do the same and if you are

meticulous enough, safety

concerns become less of an

issue. Unfortunately, this may

not be quite as feasible today.

With modern cars it can be

quite difficult to maintain your

own car without the correct

qualifications and equipment,

primarily because of the large

number of complex electrical

equipment and computerised

engine management systems. I

am currently the proud owner

of a 20-year-old Jeep wrangler,

a Porsche Cayenne which

is driven by my wife and a

Porsche 911 GT3 which is my

pride and joy.

The ease of living with a hi-

performance vehicle heavily

depends on the vehicle itself.

Some brands, like Porsches for

example, are extremely reliable

and are therefore just as easy

or difficult to live with as any

ordinary car. Others, while they

may be more exotic, may not

necessarily be as reliable. For

the most part though, this is an

issue of the past. Today most

manufacturers understand

the need and importance of

reliability and are all doing

their part to make their cars

as reliable as can be to retain

their customers. Motorsports

has played a big part in this,

namely endurance races. These

races do not reward the fastest

cars; they reward the most

reliable. To put it simply, in such

races you can be as fast as you

want but what is the point if

you never reach the finish line?

Learning from such races and

adopting such technology into

their real-world counterparts

has led to great advancements

in everyday reliability with

Porsche and other such

companies.

While it may not be that difficult

to own and maintain such

cars, you have to keep in mind

that parts tend to generally be

more expensive. Some people

economise on that and try to

get cheap parts and labour

by technicians that are not

properly qualified to handle

such vehicles. By doing so they

might think that they are better

off but in the long-run they

reduce the reliability of the car

and it is a good chance that it

is going to break down in the

near future and to add to that

the trade-in value will also

plummet. This in particular is of

great significance to luxury and

hi-performance cars because

people who are looking for

cars such as Ferraris, Porsches,

Lamborghini and the like; will

also be looking at the service

history. So, if the vehicle has

been dealer maintained

you can obviously charge a

premium over a vehicle that

wasn’t. Also, with a dealer-

maintained car you can always

have the assurance that the car

is safe.

One of the most important

aspects of maintaining a

car is that you should never

economise on things like tyres,

brake pads and other parts

that can wear down. These

can save your life in situations

where you have to depend on

their performance to protect

yourself from injury in case of

an emergency. This is true for

all cars be it a high-end luxury

vehicle or even a budget entry

model. On high-performance

sports cars this is of the utmost

importance, and doubly so

if you take them to the track,

simply because of the speeds

that they are capable of and

the extent to which they rely

on these key components to

keep you safe and in control

of the vehicle. To put it simply,

if you are doing 200kmph on a

track you wouldn’t want to be

questioning the performance

of your brakes right before the

next corner.

Another thing that quite a few

people fail to do is to ‘listen

to the car’. Whenever you

encounter unusual noises for

which the source cannot be

found, it is important to not

keep on driving and to seek

professional assistance from

your dealer immediately. The

same goes for warning lights.

They should never be ignored

The author is the President of the Porsche Club Oman.

and should be

looked into immediately. Also,

basic things like tyre pressure

and fluid levels should be

checked everyday and given

extreme priority before a track

day. Besides, they are easy

enough to do and are vital to

the car’s performance.

One useful tip that I can give

you for maintaining a vehicle

is to clean it yourself. Aside

from making sure that it is done

properly, it also gives you an

opportunity to scrutinise every

inch of the car personally

making it easy to spot any

damage or leakage that your

car may be suffering from.

The gist of maintaining a luxury

car, or any car in fact, is to drive

it sensibly, take care of it, have

it regularly serviced from the

dealer as per the recommended

service interval and always

listen to your car. Remember

that if you take care of your car

it will, in turn, take care of you

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO PROPERLY

MAINTAIN YOUR CAR? COEN FOSSEN

HAS THE ANSWER AND ALSO SOME

VERY USEFUL TIPS YOU’D FOLLOW...

Also,

ssure

e

74

GOLF

The Top TeesHERE ARE FOUR OF THE BEST GOLF COURSES IN THE WORLD THAT ANY GOLFER MUST PLAY AT LEAST ONCE IN HIS CAREER,

SAYS BILL MCCOLL. I

75

started my golfing career in Carnoustie, Scotland

in 1970 and turned pro when I was 16. Later, I

moved to Coombe Hill in London where I got my

first tour card in 1977. I kept my card for14 years

and had success winning twice in Africa and

played in five Open Championships. I coached

in Holland for a spell and later became a club

professional in the UK where I spent the next 15

years, still playing competitively and won the

British Club Pro’s Championship. I followed my

career as a Club Pro until three years ago, after

which I decided to play the European Senior Tour.

A few weeks ago I came here to join Muscat Hills

Golf and Country Club as the Director of Golf.

Having played in many tournaments worldwide I

have visited a number of prominent golf courses.

Here is a list of my four top golfing venues I

would recommend to anyone with a passion for

playing golf.

The first among my list of four, in no particular

order and not necessarily from a golfing

perspective, would be Mauritius. It was here that

we played a senior tour event last December —

The Mauritius Open European Senior Tour. The

Belle Mare Plage, a hotel with a golf course, is

simply an unbelievable place. It was a fantastic

setting, the weather was great and the hotel was

beautiful. Although the course itself wasn’t long,

it was quite narrow, which made it a stern test. It was primarily the beauty of the place —

the golden sand and the crystal clear water that made me place it at the top. The entire

week we spent there was a really stunning experience and playing a tournament just

added to that.

The second would have be Carnoustie, in Scotland, where I was brought up. It is a very

famous links course that hosts the British Open, or the Open Championship as it is more

commonly known. It is a course that any golfer should play, in fact I would go so far as to

say that any golfer hasn’t really completed his golfing career unless he has played it. It is

a fantastic golf course with a lot of history to it and is one of the toughest links courses in

the world. I would have to include it in this list, not because I grew up there, but because

every time I go back I would always want to play it and I never get bored of it. So, from

a golfing perspective, Mauritius wouldn’t be at the top, that honour would have to go to

Carnoustie.

For those of you that are not aware of it, Links golf is different to regular golf. Links was

the original form of golf from way back in the 1800s. The courses are much faster running

and you are completely open to the elements, especially the coastal winds. Unlike

IBelle Mare Plage، Mauritius

76

their regular modern-day

counterparts, they are quite

bleak and open with barely any

trees to shield you. Although

these courses are much harder

they are also more fun simply

because of the challenge

and the fact that this was the

original form of golf. In fact the

Open Championship, which

is the most prestigious golfing

tournament, is held on a links

course to keep the tradition

going and these types of

courses don’t come much better

than Carnoustie.

The next among my favourites

is the Muthaiga Golf Club in

Nairobi, where we used to play

every year. When I played in

the European Tour back in

the 80s and 90s we used to

take part in the Safari Tour

which was held in Africa and

that included Kenya, Zambia,

Zimbabwe and Nigeria among

its tournament destinations.

The reason the Muthaiga Golf

Club is up there is because

I have had some really nice

experiences there and it is a

very old colonial clubhouse

steeped in history. Nairobi,

when I first went there, was

a very interesting city. The

climate was superb and it

was a very fun week. The golf

course was very dry and dusty

but not a bad course and the

atmosphere was fantastic.

Again, the course itself is not in

the same league as Carnoustie

but, as with Mauritius, it is the

destination and the history

of the Club that makes it

desirable to play on. The course

is also special to me because

in the second year I went to

Kenya I hit a hole-in-one at the

11th in the Kenyan Open and

13 years later I did the same,

again at the 11th hole and in

the very same tournament.

That is a feat not a lot of people

have accomplished and it is

also strange to hit a hole-in-one

on the same hole in the same

tournament 13 years apart.

The fourth and final destination

would have to be Muscat Hills.

It is a project that has been on

the go for a number of years

now and a good friend of mine,

Bill Longmuir, a very prominent

Senior Tour player, has been

heavily involved in it. It was

he who persuaded me to come

down here to help organise his

academy and coach the Omani

Golf Team.

Carnoustie, Scotland

GOLF

78

The golf course itself is

fantastic. It is not like the

others in the Middle East, it

is not a flat golf course and

because of that it feels more

like a Scottish-type course. It

is also exposed to a bit of wind

and is bit higher up than any

of the other courses in Muscat.

Every hole is different, you

have the ‘wadis’ that factor into

the game all the year round

and the view from the 18th is

stunning, you can see all the

way to the mountains, the sea,

the course and the villas. It is

just a great setting for a golf

holiday. In fact I came here not

knowing what to expect and

stayed because of the potential

the course holds. It is again one

of those courses that you never

tire of playing.

I always judge a course with

a single question — would I

want to come back? As any pro,

or even for an avid golfer, you

know your favourite courses

when you look forward to

coming back to play them

again given any opportunity.

Muscat Hills, for me, definitely

falls into this category

primarily because it is not your

typical course. It is somewhat

of a mix between a links course

and a regular golf course. Also,

it was a different experience for

me the first time I played on it

because I have never played a

course with ‘wadis’ in it. In fact

I don’t think I have ever played

on any course in the Middle

East that is anything like this

and would recommend anyone

to come and have a go. In time,

as it matures, it will be a very

sought-after location

Muscat Hills , Sultanate of Oman

The author is Director of Golf, Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club

GOLF

Head Office: P.O. Box. 996, Ruwi, P.C. 112. Sultanate of Oman. Tel.: 24709171/73/74, Fax : 24795583 / 24787822, Muscat City Centre • Qurum City Centre • Lulu Ghubra • Lulu Darsait • Lulu Sohar • Lulu Salalah • Lulu Barka

80

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81

“Happy Anniversary to Signature. You are going stronger and stronger with

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