Our five year adventure in Doha, Qatar ended June 1, 2012, but the memories will always remain. It's back to Texas where I have decided...Qatar isn't cornering the market on "quirky", as I once believed. Thanks for opening my eyes to the world, Doha!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Cagey Conditions

Can you take one more construction picture? I mean, it is the most in your face thing happening in this country, besides the humidity that rolled in yesterday sending the heat index up to 123F. We canceled our 6:00pm corniche walk routine due to the humidity factor...yeah, just call us wimpy. There's something about lungs and water that just doesn't mix for me. I'd say I can't wait to get to the states for cooler weather, but it seems Texas is having a record breaking heatwave that rivals Doha's intense temps. Joy. Anyway, back to the construction. I was in a little traffic backup last week and looked up to see this cage crossing above the street via crane. It looked a little different than usual. There were workers in it, and this wasn't your typical "construction people lifter mover whatchamacallit".

Checkout the zoomed in pic I cropped to get the full effect of the perils that these guys are facing. Now, say a little prayer for those that work in these dangerous jobs and severe heat conditions daily around the world and thank your luck stars that it's not you. Amen.


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Monday, June 29, 2009

Four's a Charm


Multiple shock waves have been sent around the world this last week. I always hear about things happening in 3's. First Ed McMahon, second Farrah Fawcett, and third Michael Jackson, but now we have a fourth. The unforgettable Billy Mays has died. Yeah, you may not know him by Billy, but who cannot conjure up the image of the OxiClean man? His enthusiasm and zest for life and the products he sold will stay with me as long as Michael's moon walk, Farrah's hair, or "Heeeeeeere's Johnny!" Another icon being called home reminding us...life is short. Live it while you have it. Peace out, folks.



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Sunday, June 28, 2009

Your Dragon Need a Make Over?



I'm not sure how many dragons are in Doha's latest census, but I guess someone has to take care of those they do have:


As I've said in the past, Qatar is quite multicultural.

Side Note: Forgive the "Trojan" commercial streaming across the song embed bar...my music source, Imeem, is reaching a new low.

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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Same Same Saturday

It's time to give my creative genius a break and take a peak at a blast from the past. Two years ago today, Kayla and Kristi had a little camel fun at Sealine...click the pic to take you back to that day.



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Friday, June 26, 2009

Just In Case you Didn't Hear...

Just in case S&K's Qatari Adventures is your only news source (wink wink), the self proclaimed King of pop lives no longer. Michael Jackson dead at 50. Even though Michael "weirded out" on us, I do believe that his talent for song and dance was unmatchable. "Billie Jean" will be running through my head all day. The news of Michael Jackson's death seemed to put Farrah Fawcett's death on the back burner. More than for Charlie's Angels, Farrah will be remembered by all women from the 70's era for her iconic hairstyle. Unfortunately the 80's rolled around and it was replaced by "big hair". For the guys, well, I think the famous pinup below was on every male students' wall in town. Rest in Peace.

King of Many Faces


Queen of Hair



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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Officially "Unofficial" or Vice Versa?


It has arrived! I'm the proud holder of an official unofficial press pass. Yeah, you heard me right. And don't think I'll be afraid to use it. Ok, so maybe just a little. I've always had this idea that if I had a lanyard with an i.d. hanging around my neck, I just might have a little more nerve when using my camera in the obvious not so touristy moments. I mean, don't people pay respect to those that they think are with the press or perhaps on a magazine shoot? And from what I see, the people here LOVE attention. So, what the heck, I do write for a publication and I do take pictures. They don't have to be know that my total following is, count'em, NINE. Some of you are hiding under rocks and refuse to step forward and be counted. I know, I know, that's an entirely different issue. So if I write, doesn't that make me a writer? If I take pictures, doesn't that make me a picturer photographer? So, now what? Am I officially unofficial or unoffically official. Enough already! Just look for me coming to an event near you. Oh, and don't forget to smile :D












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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Reflections on Attitude

At the risk of stereotyping, I have come to a conclusion. Qataris can be quite lazy. Now, don't get your colon in an uproar here, I'm as lazy as they come. The difference is, I'm a little more discreet about my couch potato ways. I perform my laziness in the comfort of my own home. Qataris put their laziness up on a pedestal. I have seen with my own eyes an abaya clad woman at Al-Rawnaq (aka "junk store") pull up a chair, sit back and relax, while the store "servant" goes through a huge bin of children's books one at a time raising them like flash cards to her face, while she says yea or nay. Try that in America and you will be eaten alive. I have been eyewitness to a thobed man, looking for a "tea boy" to provide him a bottle of water and then literally expecting the tea boy to walk back with him up a flight of stairs carrying the single bottle of water to his table, as if he were the Emir, himself. Nauseating. I've seen much more and much worse, but prefer not to go there. This hurts me to say this out loud, because I really do love the warmth of the Qatari people, but this is the one area that sends me into stroke range. The attitude that "I am above you" has no place in a civilized society. Surely those that act this way are in the minority and they will see the light one day. What brought this subject up? David and I were doing our people watching from Starbucks this weekend when we saw two Qataris walking through the mall being followed by a Carrefour employee with a nice brand new 42in t.v. in tow. It seems the thobed men had a little more shopping to do, as they ducked into Zara and left the yellow jumpsuit clad guy outside holding the goods. Bottom line: If they tipped him REALLY well, I forgive them.



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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

So is it Spell or Spel?




Qtel (Qatar Telecom) rolled out a huge marketing scheme a couple of weeks back regarding their Nojoom rewards program. Keep in mind that Qtel is a huge conglomerate in Doha, which includes the operation of mobile phones, landlines, and the television cable systems in the country. It's common on this side of the world to use the "British" spellings for words such as theatre, centre, and others that escape me at the moment. So, when I saw the word "Enrol" prominently displayed on Qtel's banners that are dispersed throughout the city's malls, I had to do a double take. It's very common in this country to see misspellings everywhere, but how can a company this big make such an error. Surely, the Brits don't spell enroll with one "l". Alas, the joke is on me, as I just Googled the supposed word "enrol".

No way! This post has gone to the dogs. Are you kidding me? Enrol is interchangeable with enroll? What does dictionary.com know? I'll check Webster, after all he is the authority on spelling.


I really am learning this as I type. Who would have thunk it? Maybe everyone on this side of the world, but I know this isn't the norm in America. I mean, "enrol" is even popping up in red on my post meaning it is spelled incorrectly. After discussing this subject with you this morning, I was supposed go off into a rant about the horrible misspellings in the Doha newspapers. After this find, I might have to do more research on that. Live and learn.


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Monday, June 22, 2009

Not Your Ordinary Barbie


I didn't realize my blog was going to turn into such a learning experience. While walking through City Centre Mall this weekend, a small showcase of dolls grabbed my attention. These weren't the usual Bratz or Barbie dolls that I'm accustomed to seeing. These were dolls of Muslim men, women, and children. I thought to myself how unflattering the features were...huge lips, flat puffy noses, and half lidded eyes. The very next day, David and I were walking through Al Rawnaq, a place we endearingly dub "the junk store" and I spotted these same characters on gift bags. Who are these people and where have I been? So, today as I uploaded the picture above that I snapped, I saw that there was writing at the top above the dolls...duh. I plugged the word "Freej" in and voila, the mystery was solved. Apparently I've been missing out on this Dubai based, soap opera of sorts, starring four animated grannies that solve their problems over a cup of coffee. I've found video of the show, though it's not dubbed in English, I'll share it just the same. I'm afraid my lack of Arabic is making me miss out on the fun that these ladies are having. I must find an English subtitled version. Now, if any of you in the states, can't live a moment longer without one of these dolls, just let me know and I'll pick one up for you before I fly out in two weeks, three days, and twenty three hours. But, who's counting?



Related article:


Freej Facebook page:


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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day to Our Dads

Happy Father's Day to our two great dads and to all the other fathers out there. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your day, while I do the same in your honor. Have a good one!

Side Note: If you are not keeping up with the election aftermath in Iran, at least know that it is an ongoing volatile situation. Pray that the Iranian people (and all others, as well) will have the same freedoms that our fathers fought for. Freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly are precious and are so often taken for granted by those that enjoy them on a daily basis. My prayers and thoughts are with those that dream of such basic freedoms. May peace be with you.

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Breathe, But Not too Deeply!

The Intercontinental Hotel (on the right) is barely visible.

West Bay area across from City Centre Mall

The Sheraton Hotel on the corniche


Dusty conditions
prevailed in Doha yesterday, so much that we didn't do our four mile corniche walk. Aaah, a relief from the heat for me. We did stroll City Centre Mall, but I don't think our pace counted for much. That's it from the Land of Sand. Until next time...
P.S. Are you FOLLOWING me, yet??!

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