Hot Hot Hot!!!!

Qatar sizzles as mercury hits 48C

By Ramesh Mathew Staff Reporter Qatar baked yesterday in the scorching summer heat with the officially recorded maximum temperature hitting 48C. Hot conditions prevailed even early in the day as temperatures hovered around 36.3C at 5.30am.  The hot weather will continue today with the expected maximum temperature again at 48C. “The situation is nothing unusual, and similar situations were experienced in the country even in the previous years,” a weather official said. Temperatures could be a little higher in the desert areas and the heat could be more intense in open areas. Attributing the blistering conditions to the movement of southwesterly winds from the central part of Saudi Arabia, which is the “nucleus” of the Arabian deserts, the Met official said Qatar and Kuwait could experience higher temperatures. When pointed out that the temperature display in cars showed as high as 50C in Doha yesterday, the official attributed it to the heat radiated from the tarred roads. When asked if this summer was going to be hotter than in the previous years, the official said it was too early to forecast long-range climatic conditions.

Sample of the Housing

These are just a few examples of the types of villas that the locals live in - most of them are massive and look very palatial.

(If you click on the image it enlarges it)

Lovely front entrance...sand and more sand....

What are footpaths????

Just another dusty/windy day in Doha

This is my favourite.

New House

While I was in Australia Nick moved into a new villa (in preparation for when I leave to go to Saudi)  He is sharing with another couple but the place is so huge there is plenty of room for everyone.   There is four bedrooms each with its own bathroom, plus there is also maids quarters, and another lounge room upstairs.  There are 11 air conditioners in the house.

These are the villas from the outside

The swimming pool - there is also a gym, sauna, restaurant, internet cafe and tennis courts.  We are usually the only ones at the pool as no-one else is stupid enough to sit outside in 42 degrees!!

The backyard of the villa

Nice big kitchen

Our bedroom

And this is Bomber!!!  Never known a dog to make so much noise.