Doha Bus-Hop On Hop Off

Today I joined 39 other AWA members and toured Doha on the Hop On Hop Off Bus.  A new tourist attraction here in Qatar, but found all over the world.  Previously I have been on one in Dublin. 

The bus provided cultural and historical information. I learned a few things, such as:  the Corniche is 7km long and was made when they dredged the bay.  When they started having mail service they used British stamps. City Center is one of largest malls in Middle East (where I buy my groceries.) The parliament is made up of half elected and half appointed officials, interesting concept.  The man-made island of the Pearl (where I live) has the largest marine life in Qatar surrounding it.

Outside the Museum of Islamic Art

The bus is two stories and the top level has a retractable roof which provides great views of Doha, a little windy.  There are 18 stops around town which you can get off at, then get back on a bus when you are ready.  Tricia, our organizer, planned some games with prizes and I won one!  A tissue holder dressed as Arabic woman, made by Tricia.

The tour took 31/2 hours with a stop at Souq Waqif for some shopping and coffee.  

Doha Skyline from the Corniche

February, short but busy month

Even though February is a short a month, we packed a lot into it this year.  John's parents came to visit and we showed them Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  I thought this time I would do a pictorial blog, since a picture is worth a thousand words, it will cut down on my typing (and your reading.)  Before the Ezzos came I went to a chocolate workshop, here I am making pasta with cocoa in the dough.

We went to our favorite place in Doha for John's Birthday, Jazz at Lincoln Center at the St Regis.  The band sang happy birthday to him! We also celebrated at Friday Brunch and Saturday we made Ezzo Sauce.

Feb. 11 was National Sport Day and John's company participated in a bowling event, coming in 6th place,               then we went to watch Women's Tennis. I spent National Sport Day watching sports, oh well.

We visited the Museum of Islamic Art, had Tea at the Ritz then it was off to Dubai and Abu Dhabi where we went to the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building.  The observation floor is on the 124th floor and we also had drinks on the 122nd floor before dinner at the Burj Al Arab, the only 7 star hotel.

View of the Dubai Mall and the Address Hotel, where we stayed.We all did some shopping at the mall, next time we agreed to bring an empty suitcase with us!  This picture is from the restroom on the 122nd floor.












In Abu Dhabi, John had some meetings and soon will be cleaning the outside of Etihad Towers which has a hotel (we stayed in) apartments, retail, restaurants and offices.  We also visited the Grand Mosque.

Back in Doha, we went with the AWA to visit Al Zubarah Fort and Archaeology site in the northwest corner of the country, it only took an hour to cross the country.  We also attended the Qatar Motor show, much smaller than Detroit's but fun to look at the expensive cars and the feel at home seeing the Big Three on display.  I also spent plenty of time this month eating out and now I am on a diet, swimsuit season is around the corner (maybe a little sooner here than at home.)

Super Bowl, Super Week

I am going to go back a week and fill you in on my Super busy Week.  Our Friends Jim (who works for John in Michigan and spent 1 1/2 years in Doha) and Laura came for a visit, only a week and we packed in a lot!

Sunday:  Laura and I went to tea with British friend Jackie at the Ritz Carleton where we hand lots to eat and good conversation.

Monday: we had a small dinner party with our friends Darren & Jackie (above mentioned Jackie's sister-in-law) and Dominick a jazz musician and served Ezzo sauce and Roush lemon pie.

Tuesday: we went to the Doha Equestrian Center to see some races and explore the grounds and stables.  Laura & Jim are horse people and really enjoyed the visit.  None of us could get over how many stables they have there, thousands.

Museum of Islamic Art

Wednesday: we went to the Museum of Islamic Art, where Jim has done a lot of work on the floors, but never saw the exhibits.  We also had lunch there in the cafe.  Then we went to Souq Waqif for some souvenir shopping, shisha and dinner at our friend's Italian restaurant.  Then we went to the Jazz at Lincoln Center at the St Regis for some nice music and met up with some Spanish friends.

Thursday: was a low key day as we got ready for a party.  We had an international shmorgish borg of appetizers including homemade spring rolls, Scottish cottage pie, Japanese crackers,Armenian dips and of course pizza plus many more.

Friday: we took part in a Doha tradition and had brunch from 12:30-4:00 all you can eat and drink, after we rolled out of there, we went to a business networking event with more drinks.


Saturday: John and I went out with some friends on their speed boat.  Jim & Laura went on a desert safari which included dune bashing and riding camels. Then they caught their flight home.

Our apartment tower from the boat.

Sunday: five loads of laundry done and catching up things.  I set my alarm to wake up and watch the Super Bowl.  After such a busy week, I did the math wrong and woke up in time to watch the third quarter, saw some commercials and went back to bed at 5:30AM as the game wasn't anything to watch and I had an AWA board meeting at 9:30AM.

Busy Week

This past week has been busy.

 Monday was the AWA general meeting with a Qatari author talking about his historical fiction set in the middle ages in the Qatar and surrounding areas.  He said the Portuguese had a large presence in the area and are the ones that built all the forts around, they were here for 170 years.  I am looking forward to reading the book and was lucky enough to get him to sign it.

Tuesday I spent in and scrap booked, I am almost done with all of Christmas.

Wednesday I had lunch with my friend Emily and her 15 month old son Liam.  In the evening John and I went to the fabric souq so he could go to the tailor and I bought some fabric.  There is small shop after small shop selling all kinds of fabric.  The lesson I learned was when you see something you like don't buy it right away, because the shop next door probably has it and cheaper.  I looked at one fabric and the guy said 25QR/meter, when he found out I wanted 4 meters he said 20QR.  The next shop had the same thing and it was 12QR/meter, no haggling needed!  Then we went out to dinner at the New York Steakhouse at the Marriott.

Thursday I took a tour of the main souq with the AWA and saw things I had never seen after going there for 3 years, it is a big place.  I finally saw where the camels and the falcons are located.  After dinner we went to the Jazz Club at the St Regis, it is one of our favorite places to go.

Today we are getting massages at the Hilton and tomorrow we are going to the Porsche race with friends.

Happy New Year

Well it's 2014 and I am back in Doha.  I spent New Year's Eve over the Atlantic again on a Delta airplane.  We had a great crew who made it fun and gave us champagne.  My resolution is to be a better blogger this year as my last entry was in October 2013, sorry.

Recap:  John and I spent the week before Halloween in Michigan and passed out candy to 550 kids in Clinton Township, then we came back to Doha and had a Halloween party here.  Only the Americans dressed up, but it was still a good party.  We spent Thanksgiving with 51 U.S. troops stationed in Doha making them dinner with other AWA members and their families, it was a nice time.  No black Friday shopping for us, we went Kayaking north of Doha in Al Khor.  The leader of tour just happens to be from St. Joseph, MI! 

I left Doha the beginning of December to get organized for Christmas in Michigan and was able to see many friends and family, John came home a few days before Christmas.  We had a great but busy time while we were home.  More blogs coming soon.

48 HOurs in Colombo

Last week John and Sean (VP of operations) went to Colombo, Sri Lanka to recruit employees, I tagged along with them.

Interestingly Sri Lanka is 2 1/2 hours ahead of Qatar, yes 2 and a HALF.  Once we landed in Sri Lanka, it took us an hour to get from the airport to the hotel.  There was lots of traffic including big trucks, cars, motor cycles, tuk tuks (like 3 wheel golf carts) and bicycles all vying for a lane and a half, plus they drive on the opposite side of the car and road from us in the States.  I did not get back into a car until the hour and a half ride back to the airport and that was taking a short cut that included cows also sharing the road with us.

The next morning (Tuesday) we had some time to explore a bit, saw the Indian Ocean from the "boardwalk" not much beach front and many stray dogs (of which I wanted to take home.)  I spent the rest of the day at the gym and pool while the guys worked.  I got a little shopping in before dinner at the Ministry of Crab.  They serve crab from 1/2 kilo up to Crabzilla witch is 2 kg an up.  I got the small, Sean got the large.  John said it was one of the best meals he has ever had.

 Wednesday, I helped John out with the recruiting.  I typed up the employment contracts then had to run to the hotel lobby and print them (4 trips in all, the guys in the business center got to know me.)  It is interesting and a little sad to hear the guys say they want to leave their family for two years so they can make money to send home since they can't find jobs in Sri Lanka or jobs that pay well.  One guy had a 6 month old baby and one guys wife will give birth just after he leaves.  They only got about 15 guys of the 40 they wanted to hire, just didn't have many show up for interviews.  The whole thing was a real learning process and we will more prepared for the next time we go back.

Cupcakes, Fish and Michigan

This has been a busy week with AWA:

On Monday I went to an icing demonstration at the famed, New York based, Magnolia Bakery.  We got to try samples and learn how to ice the cupcakes.  It takes the employees 40 hours of training and once they get it down, they can ice 15 cupcakes in 5 minutes. I had to take a brownie home and it very good (although John said "not as good as Ann's.")  Then I went out to lunch with two ladies, one from the Detroit area.

Wednesday I had to get up at 4:30am for a snorkel trip.  After an hour drive north and a pit stop at the last gas station with a restroom, we arrived at the "French Beach" I guess the French used to go there.  We got on our gear and headed out with our guide named Steve, and he is from the St. Joe area.  Saw lots of fish and coral.  I also got to be Steve's first person to have a run in with a sea urchin.  My knee feel into it as a wave pushed me over.  It hurt a lot at the time, but the tiny pricks are almost heeled now.  In the end we were all glad we got up early to go.

 

On Thursday, I went to a sushi demonstration. He started from the very begining, as in fileting the  salmon. Then how to take bones out, skin off and cut it into pieces for the Shake Sushi.  We got samples, and yes I tried the raw salmon and it was good in the Sashimi dressing he made.  He also showed how to make the Wasabi paste and how to present everything.  Then one of his assistants made the Californa Roll Maki and of course passed out samples (my favorite kind of sushi.)  For the adventurous type, you could try your hand at making the rolls, I just watched and ate.  Didn't meet anyone fom Michigan at this event.