Relaxing with Starbucks

Last night we decided to venture out - not really a good idea to be out at night in the Ramadan Traffic, but we went anyway.

Here we are sitting in Villagio - local shopping mall with our Starbucks fix - well my fix - Nick does not seem to crave it like me.

There was also a game of ice hockey going on - it was quite amazing to watch.

The home team was losing.

The rink is also inside the shopping mall

Once we were done we then had to make our way home in the traffic - OMG it was totally mad. So much traffic and they will do anything just to get ahead - the roads at night are not a safe place to be during Ramadan, everyone must be out. As the shops open at 1930 and close at 2400 during the month of Ramadan.

Camel Burgers Anyone!!

Last night on the way home in the MAD Ramadan traffic we spotted this truck loaded with camels.

They were most probably off to be made into something to be sold in the supermarket - mind you we have not yet seen camel meat for sale.

Maybe its exported!

Elite Marquees

This is not Qatar this is a little bit of home - well Sydney.

This is about my brother Matt and his partner Kirsty's new business venture.

Elite Marquees

(click link to check them out)

These are the pictures of their first job - Josh also went down to help them for the weekend.

I just love the lights

Josh & Kirsty

Matt & Kirsty

Matt & Kirsty

Josh & Matt

Josh & Matt

I look forward to seeing the pics of the next job.

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan Kareem Published: Monday, 1 September, 2008, 01:41 AM Doha Time PICTURE: Jayan Orma Today begins the holy month of Ramadan. Gulf Times congratulates its esteemed readers on this occasion. Ramadan is a Muslim religious observance occasion and it is the month in which the Qur’an began to be revealed.  It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which Muslims do not eat or drink anything from dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach a person patience and humility. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of God, to offer even more prayer than normal and ask forgiveness for the sins of your past.  It is also an occasion to ask for guidance in the future, to refrain from everyday evils and try to purify oneself through self-restraint and good deeds. During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God.  The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. The holy month also allows Muslims to practise self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate. Ramadan is also a time when Muslims slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment, establishing a link between God and themselves by prayer, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. And because we live in a Muslim country, welcomed guests among non-Muslims should respect the country’s rules and principles during the holy month. Gulf Times hopes that the holy month becomes a chance to spread tolerance among all faiths, as our great religion calls for peace and co-existence.   Gulf Times Newspaper, 2008 ©

Getting Fit & Getting a Tan

Well last night we took the plunge and paid an extremely large amount of money to join a local club - The Dana Club (click the link to check it out)

But first we had to have our application accepted - you can't just join because you want to they must accept you into the club. So now we have no excuse to get fit. Yes we do have a gym in our building but it really is not a safe place to go alone - it is on the same floor where all the men go to pray and they seem to hang out there, and they have women only hours so we can't go together.

The club has two gyms and one of them is always mixed, and we can have  personal training programs made up for us. So spending this money is huge motivation to go. There is also two swimming pools one indoor and one outdoor - so guess where we will be this weekend!!!

Sharq Village & Spa Doha

Today for something to do we decided (well I decided) that we would go and check out the 'Sharq Village & Spa" - as all the pictures I had seen were amazing.

This is the street frontage

One of the two swimming pools we came across

The hotel rooms around the pool

Walking down towards the hotels private beach - there were some pretty sizeable boats in the marina

Beachside loungers

One of the many luxury cars parked outside - a beautiful stretch rolls royce!!! This photo does not do it justice.

A flower arrangement inside the hotel - all the hotels have these amazing floral centrepieces. There was also a water fountain filled with red and white rose petals.

It was the most beautiful place and you could have  been almost  anywhere in the world - looks like pure luxury - that is until a Qatar Airways Jumbo Jet flew over - you could almost reach out and touch it. Unfortunately this place has been built right over the road from the end of the runway - not very good planning, and here most planes depart at night time.

There was an article in the local paper reviewing one of the suites in the hotel - it is supposed to be the most luxurious suite in the world - royal villa.

Its Like Processing Cattle!!

Translated this means - I went for my medical today. Yes for some strange backward reason they do the medical once you get here be it some months later. So you have given up your job, home, car and life to come here - and if you fail its see you later quick get out before you pass on your terrible diseases that you western people have that nobody here has!!!!

They test you for HIV, HEP and TB.

I was lucky enough to have a lovely driver from BMW drive me today to get this horrible thing over with his name is Benny... the nicest man, he opened the car door everywhere we went, I felt bad as I could of done this myself but he insisted.  I had been told that I would be there for at least 3hrs if not longer - so I had the latest gossip mag with me...HELLO!!!!

Well there were literally hundreds of people there waiting to have medicals done. Mens section and womens section of course.  The place was full of young asian girls obviously being bought here to be maids ... pick the odd one out.....ME (blond & old)!!!  Despite the masses it was quite well organised by a couple of very stern looking/speaking women.

First I was asked if I was married or single - not quite sure what difference this makes.  When was my LMP (period) not quite sure why they wanted to know this either. Maybe they were worried I may be pregnant - at my age I don't think so lady!!!

I then sat with the masses to wait to pay my money and have my photo taken which I did not know they were taking - I happened to look down and here she was putting the camera down - so on the screen there is a very unattractive picture of me looking up to the heavens.

Then it was time to literally be stabbed to have my blood drawn, no such thing as a nice tourniquet but a brutal piece of latex wrenched around your arm and then bang I was stabbed for my blood....ouch!!! 

Next it was everybody's turn to be xrayed  (line up like cattle).  I had been advised to wear a white tshirt so then I would not have to wear one of the used gowns. You walk into the xray room and there is trolleys of used gowns that you put on - thankfully I just had to take off the bra...and yes in front of everyone else...no privacy (but no men) then you just wait until its your turn to be xrayed but this is while everyone else is having theirs' done in the same room.  So everyone is exposed to radiation while waiting, just what the Dr ordered!!! You get shoved up against the xray board and as I had my hair down she grabbed this hair clip that was hanging on a piece of string from the ceiling and yanked my hair up in this clip. So now that I had been exposed to multiple doses of radiation it was time to leave for the next stage. But first the bra had to go back on .... in front of everyone again.  They are not big on privacy here.

And again for some strange backward reason you have to go to yet another facility to have your blood taken yet again for blood grouping.  So we pull up to this very very very dirty dirty  dodgy looking medical centre - god I really hope that I don't get sick here. (at least if I know what is wrong with me I can just go to the pharmacy and get whatever I need off the shelf without needing a prescription) This stage only involved a finger prick to get my blood group so no big deal.

Thankfully and it may well have been done in record time in under 1.5hrs - it was finished. Now next step is the fingerprinting - yes I have to be fingerprinted!!!! Not sure when this will be.  Then I will be issued with at last my Residents Permit ... al hamdu lillah!!!!