Sybil & Kristi's Qatari Adventures

Doha's Breakfast Central

2012-02-01T12:52:00.002+03:00

Hide your coffee pot, hide your toaster,
and hide your fryin' pan, cuz...

(for best results use your Antoine Dodson voice ↑)

Doha's Breakfast Central has come to rescue us from banging those pots in the kitchen by removing the guess work of where Doha peeps can go for a good breakfast, OR where to avoid. Being that breakfast is my FAVORITE meal, I jumped on the @DineatDawn twitter bandwagon right away so that I wouldn't miss any of their review announcements. Yours truly was even bestowed the honor of accompanying them on a covert mission to a local diner, but I'm afraid my incessant chattering throughout the meal was a distraction and now they feel a "do over" is in order. So how do burning ears affect taste buds? I guess ears weren't the only thing burned...can you say bridges? Anyhoo, give my twitter buds @haniarif and @vallath a warm welcome by gracing them with a visit at their new tumblr site...

Oh, and just because I've been thrown under the bus doesn't mean they wouldn't enjoy a bit of chatter from you. Let them know how they are doing and/or suggestions on whom to review.

Happy eating!

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Arab in America

2012-01-31T16:04:00.005+03:00

I ran across a few tweets from someone I met recently in Doha that has put a spin on my reporting. While Qatari Adventures gives my take on what it's like to be an American in Arab lands, Ramy flips that around by giving his take of America while on the road in L.A. ~ California, that is. Ok, so Texans don't quite count California as a true representation of America, but we won't tell Ramy any better. These witticisms, if you may, hit on a few striking differences in our cultures.

On with the tweets...

One of the many things I'll miss about Doha...saying "fill'er up", just like we did in the olden days in America. No, Ramy, those gas stations were open. Now, get off your duff and do it yourself.

I love this one. This is truly one of my first complaints when arriving in Doha. Back off people, give me my space is what my eyes were glazed with on my first trip to the local mall. In America, there is a transparent two to three foot buffer zone that envelopes us and no one crosses into that zone without an "Excuse me", or an "Oh, I'm soooo sorry"....well, if you live in Texas, anyway. Kudos for picking up on that quirk so quickly, Ramy, and if you value that air that you breathe, I suggest you not breathe others', unless you've practiced up on your apologies.

LOOOOOL, definitely a no fly zone here, dear. This tactic will fly no where in America, not even California. Open your car door, get your lazy patooty out of your car and help yourself. Oh, if only that concept could catch on in Qatar.

Yep, no interaction with the fuzz here. You better be checking the MOI traffic website to see if you've been flashed by the many cameras around town or you just might not catch that flight out of Doha as you planned.

No reason to worry about hiring someone to close your criminal record here. Qatar will handle it for you. It's called deportation.

No doubt Ramy's running into as many quirky things in L.A. as I am in Doha. It's eye opening to see America through an Arab's eyes. Looking forward to more tweets as his trip unfolds. Safe travels!

You can follow Ramy here @ramykhalaf

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Dashing Diva

2012-01-17T16:49:00.000+03:00

Ran across yet another new salon under construction in Doha today. You read right, this one is NOT a saloon. It's the Dashing Diva Nail Spa & Salon. Where do they get these names, anyway? Can't wait to dash through that hand and come out a diva. I'll be sure to post pics.

Dashing Diva ~ Environmental Road (Landmark Area)

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Well, Don't Just Sit There

2012-01-16T12:26:00.009+03:00

If you're sitting on your duff in Doha these next few weeks, it's not for the lack of scheduled events in the desert. To say that Qatar is shakin' these next few weeks is an understatement. Here are some of the highlights...

January 18th is Doha Tweetup time, (not to mention my mom's 85th birthday ~ Happy Birthday, Mom!) The venue is Al Tabkha Restaurant on The Pearl and EVERYONE is invited. Take a moment to meet the tweeps you stalk on a regular basis. Click here to reserve your spot!

January 21st ~ 23rd is going to be a special treat at Katara with the Vienna Boys Choir performing live. No need to travel to Austria when they'll be in our own backyard. I have my tickets. Get yours HERE!

January 25th-28th Vroom Vroom! It's the Qatar Motor Sports Show 2012 bringing you luxury cars, sports, cars, ridiculously EXPENSIVE cars, live demonstrations and so much more to the Doha Exhibition Center. Checkout their site for all the nitty gritty.

February 2nd-5th The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is on tap. Meander around the Doha Golf Club and see your favorite golfers swing away.

February 13th-19th Khalifa Tennis Stadium will be buzzing with the Qatar Ladies Open. If you haven't had the opportunity to watch the tennis greats of the professional world in action, now's your chance. I'll be there behind the players' bench. You can buy your tickets here or at the kiosks set up at Doha's main malls.

February 16th If all that is not enough, Yusuf Islam, who we all know as CAT STEVENS is coming to Doha. Details are forthcoming. I hope to be able to hop on that Peace Train!

Peace Train performed live in 1976 by Cat Stevens

What are you waiting on?
Buy your tickets and mark your calendars now!

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Qatar in 60 Minutes

2012-01-16T11:00:00.001+03:00

If you live in the states (or elsewhere) and didn't tune in to "60 Minutes" on CBS last night, you missed seeing my little corner of the world. What used to be an unknown, unpronounceable nation is becoming a household word. Well, maybe that's going a bit far and yes, it's still probably unpronounceable to you and me both, but make no doubt about it...it's more than just a blip on the radar these days.

QATAR

A tiny country asserts powerful influence...

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Gender Bender

2012-01-13T15:58:00.000+03:00

I may never be able to show my face in
Doha's Rogers Diner, again...

As if things aren't already lively enough for me in Doha, I go and hatch one of those uh-oh moments that left me shaking my head. I shared it on my facebook page earlier this week, but instead of gaining sympathy from my so called "friends" they laughed at me. I mean, I could be scarred for life, people. Nonetheless, I'm thankful that my mishap didn't occur at one of our usual hangouts and that no one I know was in sight, Mashalla.

I swear, they were foot washers!

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Home Alone

2012-01-12T15:29:00.004+03:00

Because you asked or would've
if you cared ;) ...

It's day four for me in Doha, alone, since David has journeyed to Saudi Arabia to bring home the bacon. Ok, so bad choice of words, be it Saudi or Doha, but you know what I mean. Before we returned from our Texas hiatus, I had many moments that I questioned my decision to stay on in Doha while David worked and lived elsewhere. I'm happy to report that my fears, whatever they were, have been put to rest. I'm not afraid (except for maybe walking into restrooms not of my gender~fodder for another day, folks), I'm not bored (yet), and I actually have a sense of new found freedom. Ha! I do have an uncanny way of grasping the positive in a dreary situation. So, freedom is what I'll cling to (as if I didn't have it before). Lunch dates, pedis & manis, massages, walks on the corniche, facebook, twitter, blogging are all at my disposal, so no pity party here. I just hope my freedom doesn't need more bacon than David is sending home!

A few pics from my cornciche outing today ~ 84F and beautiful...

West Bay
Still construction, but not nearly what it was when we arrived in 2007

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Ron Paulitics

2012-01-11T10:57:00.008+03:00

I interrupt this blog to espouse the views of my activist son...

Jeff (left) and Shea (right) leading the pack

Yes, that would be my eldest, Shea, marching nearly ten miles around Austin, the capitol city of the great state of Texas this past weekend. He and his friend, Jeff, went downtown to check out the march, but ended up leading it. I'm not exactly sure what it is about the elderly Ron Paul that so attracts the young, but I appreciate the way it energizes them and gets them thinking. Whether one agrees with his politics or not, invigorating the future of America is a good thing.

“When you have decided what you believe,
what you feel must be done,
have the courage to stand alone and be counted.”

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Disclaimer: The intent of this message is a reminder to let your voices be heard. In no way am I trying to coerce, hoodwink, brainwash, or trick you into voting for any particular candidate. Now that I got that out of the way, Vote on, America.

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Where the Sidewalk Ends

2012-01-10T15:31:00.002+03:00

I appreciate the fact that Doha is really moving forward in providing information and directing people these days, but the placement of this sign smack dab in the middle of the sidewalk at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open this past weekend left me shaking my head.

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Qatar Airways ~ Sky High Pricing?

2012-01-09T12:54:00.000+03:00

Recently the hash tag #QatarAirwaysFail cascading on twitter got my attention and I wondered what all the hype was about. Then I ran across an article on Doha News’ tumblr, Qataris Renew Boycott Calls Against Qatar Airways, that really peaked my curiosity regarding the subject. Not being one to jump on the bandwagon without doing my own research, I found that the proof was indeed in the proverbial pudding. Perhaps locals and expats, alike, do have a little or a lot to be griping about. One return flight booked for the same city on the same day will cost you (and more importantly me!) 45% more on Qatar Airways as opposed to British Airways, if you’re going to London, anyway. That’s what I call a chunk of change, folks.

Here is another random search I did. Qatar Airways vs SriLankan Airlines with a Doha to Colombo return trip selected...

To be fair, the only other price I checked was a Lufthansa vs Qatar Airways flight to Frankfurt. Lufthansa beat out Qatar Airways by only a 10% savings, which I would have to opt for Qatar Airways in this case for the service alone.

The moral of the story here, check out the competition and decide where YOU want to spend your extra moolah...in the air or at your destination.

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Tsonga Reigns in Doha

2012-01-08T14:43:00.005+03:00

It was a mysterious looking mist filled night at Khalifa stadium for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open when Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga approached the chair umpire and cried, "It's impossible!". I didn't know what he was referring to until a serve or two later when Gael Monfils stopped play to confer with the umpire, as well. Play ended abruptly and a barrage of workers took to the courts to rough up, what appeared to be slick paint brought on by the 100% humidity in the air. It was quite a spectacle, but with the latest technology in court grooming (steel brushes and towels?), play resumed. Despite the fact that the crowd pleasing Federer and Nadal were absent from the action (Federer due to injury, Nadal due to loss to Monfils), the French came through with finesse making our prime seats worth the money. After a crash and burn that looked to be tournament ending, Tsonga went on to take out fellow Frenchman, Monfils, in two sets. Qatar Tennis Federation closed out the 20th anniversary of the ATP World Tour in high fashion with a light show montage of past champions of the tournament, as well as presenting many of them live on the court afterward.

Tsonga celebrates his win at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open

Photos by me ;)

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Morning in Doha

2012-01-07T11:23:00.005+03:00

I received an email a while back from an artist asking permission to put one of my snapshots of the Doha skyline to canvas. After a thoughtful period of, oh, maybe a half a second, I said YES! How cool is it to have a moment in time captured by moi hanging on someone's wall in a beautiful array of soft acrylics? VERY cool, from my perspective. The artist, Alena Carvalho, was kind enough to send me the lovely final result...

Morning in Doha

Here is the actual picture that I snapped this past summer. Upon request of Alena's client, the cranes that dot Doha's skyline were not included. I'm not sure how I feel about that, as the cranes in Doha represent the rapid growth that this desert city has experienced. You can check out this print along with other works by Alena at her website here.

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Squatters Beware

2011-12-19T12:48:00.002+03:00

As I've been ignoring my blog and instead spending my days on Amazon for all my Christmas shopping needs, David did a little scouting for me while in Saudi Arabia. He's found that they don't take kindly to squatters in the Kingdom ...

I wonder what the penalty for illegal squatting is?

Please note the ✔ (Proper) and X (Improper) techniques

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Texas Twosome

2011-12-12T06:22:00.001+03:00

Hmm, not so sure if Mickey D's serves coons...

Ticketable Offense?

2011-11-29T21:22:00.002+03:00

Land Cruisers aren't the only things rolling in Doha...

I wonder where the "jumping the light" ticket was mailed?

Source: Thanks for posting to twitter, @ibn_adem!

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Three Generations

2011-11-26T19:18:00.005+03:00

A little post Thanksgiving dinner action...

No technology generation gap in my family
Yep, that's my mom ;-D

Pictured: Me, Kayla, Kristi, Mom, Shea

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Deep in the Heart of...

2011-11-20T07:35:00.001+03:00

Texas!

My welcome home breakfast courtesy of a
missed connection, Qatar Airways, and The Marriott

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It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like

2011-11-16T17:52:00.002+03:00

....Dandruff?

Someone seriously needs to invest in some Head & Shoulders...

Or wait, would that be Headless Shoulders?
Whatever. I report, you decide ;)

P.S. Those are some pretty nice looking fiber optic trees with not too bad prices. Don't hesitate if you're interested. In Doha, it is here today and gone tomorrow!

~Al Ansar, City Center Mall, November 16, 2011

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Score Ten for Germany

2011-11-14T14:18:00.005+03:00

Thirty six hours post holiday and I can honestly say I'm happy to be back in Doha, not for a lack of a royal time, but for the perfect climate that November brings to the desert. The brrrr factor came into effect the last night in Germany, so we stuck close to our castle room. That would be "inside" close. We didn't even leave for dinner. I sliced up the complimentary apples in the room, scraped up a snack pack of peanuts from our carry on, scooped up the chocolates left on our pillows and voila, din din. Did I mention that The Bellamy Brothers were playing on the radio? Could it get any cozier? No polka bands within earshot. It was a great, relaxing getaway. Germany and Austria, as it is, have colorful landscapes, but what an unexpected bonus we received for going in the fall. The bursts of reds, yellows and oranges in the foliage were amazing. Germany was already ranked at the top of our list of vacations and this trip certainly didn't lower the score. Put it on your bucket list. You won't be sorry.

Castle Hotel Auf Schoenburg
in Oberwesel on The Rhine River

View from the castle grounds

Next stop: TEXAS for me~this Friday, November 18th, while David leaves the same day for The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Continuing Through Germany...

2011-11-10T18:20:00.000+03:00

We took the scenic route through some tiny towns...

but we eventually made it to Heidelberg...

Schloss (castle) Heidelberg

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Forging Ahead

2011-11-09T10:20:00.003+03:00

With Innsbruck behind us, we were back on the road...

Stopped at Lindau Island in Germany on Lake Constance for the night...

Views from our room

Next stop, we're thinking Heidelberg, but that could change in the blink of eye.

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On the Road Again...

2011-11-08T12:49:00.000+03:00

heading to Innsbruck, Austria...

...and now forging ahead to who knows where!

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Road Trip

2011-11-06T18:37:00.003+03:00

...through Germany enjoying the fall leaves

A bit of a change of scenery from Doha!

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360 Restaurant

2011-11-02T15:37:00.006+03:00

So here's the lowdown on The Torch Hotel's 360 Restaurant that we talked about a few days ago. Everyone needs to do it at least once, if not for the food, for the experience itself. Where else will you get a spectacular 360 degree view of Doha without leaving your chair and from 47 stories up? Pretty intense. So intense that on the ride up, Kristi announces, "I think I'm going to throw up". Not exactly reassuring "pre~meal" words. So what abut the food? There was an express lunch menu that offered three courses with several options each for 85QR ($23). Let's take it a course at a time.

Kristi and I both opted for the cauliflower soup for our "small" starter. It was delicious. If you don't like salmon, do not let the mention of it in the soup's name scare you off. It's one bite sized piece for decoration and did nothing whatsoever to taint the soup.

Time for the main course. Kristi ordered the "Grilled New Zealand Lamb Medallions". She found it to have more than just a mild wild taste. Also, she was sad to see such a measley portion of broccoli, but enjoyed the two florets, along with her roasted potatoes.

I ordered the "Broiled North Atlantic Salmon". I'm still trying to muddle through exactly why I got that, because it's never been one of my favorites. Unfortunately, 360's version didn't change my mind, but I did love the gravy that came with it. The "potato puree", aka mashed potatoes in my small world, were rich and yummy.

We ordered the "Nougatine Parfait" and the "White Chocolate Brownie...yada, yada, yada for dessert. Why are the food titles so long winded? Cut to the chase, please. The brownie didn't really seem so much, well a brownie that I'm used to anyway. And that huge lemon looking thing on top is passion fruit sorbet that will keep your mouth in a puckered state for a week of Sundays. The parfait was pretty good, nothing I'd write home about, hmm, or is that what I'm doing now?

Bottom line: 85Qr for a 3 course meal in a really nice restaurant in Doha is a pretty good deal. Even though we weren't "wowed" over by our first experience, I'm really glad we visited 360. The menu, we were told, will change weekly. So, maybe we will make better choices next time.

Cheapskate advice of the day: Drink your after dessert coffee at your favorite local chain afterward, unless you want to pay 27QR for a cup half the size that they offer. Ciao!

Last weeks menu...

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The Torch

2011-10-31T15:20:00.010+03:00

Kristi's last meal request before heading back to Texas was to check out the newest and only revolving restaurant in Qatar, 360. Not only does it gives diners a 360˚view of the city, or as far as the haze will allow, it revolves so they don't have to. This fancy schmancy diner is located on the 47th floor of The Torch Hotel in Aspire Zone. Yeah, you didn't know that either, did you? That 2006 Asian Games torch has been converted to a 5-Star, 167 room luxury hotel. Now, who says Doha doesn't recycle? Be ready for some early bird specials, as they are hoping to be ready to take reservations November 1st. So if you haven't booked your Eid holiday, you may have a vacation option right here in your own backyard. Fast forward. After lunch, the manager gave Kristi and myself a grand tour of the facility. I wasn't prepared for pics, or rather I didn't want to pull my bazooka camera out of my purse and embarrass Kristi, so my limited mobile snaps will have to suffice. Each room and/or suite is equipped with "mood" lighting. So, what color are you? Just dial it up and voila. Cute, novel, but maybe a bit over the top. The pool is located on the umpteenth floor on that protruding platform in the tower. Hmm, I've been known to be a bit of a scaredy cat. I'll pass. They have great social gathering areas, very casual and chic, to munch on hors d'oeuvres and sip on juice. Mocktail zone only. This is not The Pearl, gang, and it is government owned. The spa and gym are state of the art with Internet browsing on the workout machines. Oh, and free Internet everywhere in the hotel, including the dining area even for non overnight guests. Score. My intention was to review the restaurant, but I've blabbed on too long. Another day. Inshallah.

This is the steam room in the spa. I had a flashback of our visit to The Golden Palace in Bangkok a few years back...Intense.

Birds eye view of Doha from 47 floors up

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Star Gazing

2011-10-27T22:31:00.003+03:00

In my previous post, I made mention that Tahar Rahim, the heroic prince in Black Gold, "had me at hello". Well, he literally did today, as Kristi and I bumped into him at the Doha Ritz...

Jan Uddin, Me, Tahar Rahim, Kristi

He and fellow Black Gold cast member, Jan Uddin, were gracious enough to stop for a chat and pose for photo ops. If that wasn't enough, we also spoke with Robin Wright...you know, Jenny. No, not from the block, but from Forrest Gump fame. Ok, Sean Penn's ex, however you wish to remember her. I didn't ask her to ham it up for the camera, so I just chose the chicken shot.

You'll just have to trust me on this one. It's her
walking aside my friend, Nasser.

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Black Gold Delivers

2011-10-26T12:56:00.002+03:00

At a film festival near me...

Kristi and I trekked over to Katara yesterday to check out the world premier of Black Gold at The Doha Tribeca Film Festival. Back up. On second thought, I'm not sure if we can really call it the world premier, since our tickets were for the second screening that started thirty minutes after the first. Just for posterity purposes, I'm going to say it qualified. We were in the beautiful Katara Opera House while the other screening was occurring at the open air theater at Katara, constructed just for the event. No complaints from me not being in the "open air". Our controlled temperature environment with red cushy velveteen seats suited me just fine. A pleasant surprise awaited us on our chairs in a black gold embossed envelope filled with umpteen Black Gold commemorative post cards. Nice touch DTFF. For me, the gift alone was well worth the 30QR ($8) admission fee. As for the movie itself, I found it enjoyable and entertaining, but remember I have somewhat of a skewed interest. Parts of it were filmed in the deserts of Qatar, where I, myself, have ridden the high dunes and faced those horrid desert winds. Ok, so maybe not while fighting off the enemy. Nonetheless, Antonio Banderas brings a bit of mirth to his royal emir self while struggling for power with the handsome rival emir payed by Mark Strong. And Tahar Rahim, well, he had me at hello. Freida Pinto, (Tahar's love interest in the movie) was just ok, seeming a bit awkward at times or maybe it was just her character. Who knows. The only drawback in the film, for me, was missing out on some of the conversation. The "English" speaking characters were pretty heavily accented at times and I could have used some English subtitles along with the Arabic ones that were displayed. Other than that, kudos to all involved for bringing film to the desert.

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Doha ~ It's a Small Small World

2011-10-25T15:13:00.005+03:00

I don't think we shall ever again, live, in a such

a personable, small world as Doha

Funny story. Well, I think it's funny. My blog, I call the shots. In case you didn't know, Kristi is visiting us and on her "Last time I might get to visit Qatar to do list" is Oriental Carpet. Oriental Carpet is one of those must visit stores when in Doha. It has all your souvenir needs from beautiful Persian rugs to camel decorated Christmas ornaments. I bought a carpet there a few years back and usually take visitors there to peruse the eclectic selection of items. So, maybe I visit twice a year? Anyway, the moment we walked into the store, the welcoming gent that runs it looks at me and says, "Ohhhh, I've been waiting for you to come by. I have something for you!" I instantly think, sales pitch. He reaches behind the counter and pulls out the October issue of Qatar Happening magazine and says, "There is a picture of you and your husband in this magazine." Now I'm thinking, you are definitely mistaking me for someone else. I was already preparing myself for his impending embarrassment which would make me have to come up with something witty and nice to say for why he's got the wrong person. Then lo and behold, he points to a picture barely bigger than a postage stamp of mine and David's mugshots at a Doha Tweetup. Seriously, I could hardly tell it was us, even with my glasses that I had to whip out. Back to my first thought, what a sales pitch. I hope David likes the piece of furniture that I bought :)

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Street to Where?

2011-10-23T00:42:00.000+03:00

Doha's street to nowhere

I find it a bit ironic that this street sign has been put up in a deserted area, in the most literal since of the word. It's just down the street from me. No, don't ask me my street name. I wouldn't get it right. Heck the city can't even get it right as it is spelled differently at the two nearest roundabouts. Even though, Qatar has made leaps and bounds in marking their roads and intersections these last few years, there is so much more ground to cover. Street names seem to be relatively new. No one in this country asks what street you live on. That tidbit seems to be irrelevant. Directions please. Area? Near what roundabout? How many slip roads down? Or you can always just give my favorite directions to the newbies, "take a right at the mosque". Yeah, good luck with that ;P;P

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Staying or Going?

2011-10-17T13:52:00.005+03:00

As previously announced in July,
David's tour of duty in Qatar is up.

So are we staying or are we going? Both. We sorta kinda have a temporary reprieve. Well, I do anyway. It looks like David will be headed to Saudi Arabia mid November for a few months. Me? I'll head to Texas for my usual holiday hiatus. As it stands at this very moment in time, I'll return to Doha after the holidays (wives are not allowed to accompany the hubby's on limited assignments) and hold down Fort Pink. What? In Doha sans David?! So, how do I feel about that? Not sure. It's only temporary. I'll make do. I can eat at restaurants that don't have iced tea? Repeat, only temporary. Those are the thoughts running through my head today. Ask me again tomorrow if you don't like those answers. David will only be an hour's flight away, but we're not sure how all the logistics will work out as far as the possibilities of him coming and going on a whim. On the positive side, we'll be in the same time zone which should make communications a breeze and we can even have dinner together via Skype. Technology. Now, with all this said, my news flash could all change tomorrow or even today when he gets home from work. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I could just hop in my Jeep and go from A to B in 7 hours, BUT women are not allowed to drive in The Kingdom.

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Bring on the Rain

2011-10-13T15:30:00.003+03:00

A few clouds arrive in Doha and the last three days of #blackberryfail chatter have stopped.

Heaven help us when it rains...

I'm not any different...just the possibility of rain
gives me warm fuzzies.

Pictures tweeted by @expatemily (inset) and @kiwipaula

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Guess Who's Coming to Doha?

2011-10-12T14:53:00.010+03:00

...Other than Miss Kristi who will arrive next week!

Pretty much the entire cast of Black Gold, that's who.

Doha Film Institute has been rolling out hints on twitter and facebook of who is going to grace our fair desert for the much anticipated Doha Tribecca Film Festival coming up. As of right now, it looks as though this billboard will come alive in the next two weeks, not only on the big screen but in the flesh. Nothing like dangling a little Antonio Banderas in front of me to get my hiney off the couch and head to City Center Mall this afternoon to get in line for tickets to the world premier of Black Gold (partly filmed in Qatar). Whoa, "hello line". I had great intentions but came up a bit when I saw that it might take awhile. If I had known without a doubt that if I stood in that long line and walked out with tickets in hand I wouldn't have hesitated. No disrespect to DTFF, but let's face it friends, we are in Doha and a gut feeling came over me that the tickets to the premier would be set aside for "special" people and the last time I checked, my "wasta" card had expired. I chit chatted with a friend that I saw in line and made my final decision to exit the building. I'll take my chances for tickets from the comfort of my laptop in my pink villa, if they ever get their online sales in order. Good luck to those who are waiting it out. That's a wrap.

Follow up:

All good things come to those who wait...

Oh, ME, who has little faith :(

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Pass the Pumpkin

2011-10-10T15:49:00.004+03:00

Do we celebrate Halloween in Qatar, you ask? I don't know about everyone else, but our major grocery stores, LuLu and Carrefour do. For about $4.50 a pound you can take one home this holiday season for all your jack~o~lantern and pumpkin pie needs. Note the one in the pic prices out at 1576 QR. That would be a whopping 433 U.S. buckaroos.

Like I said, pass the pumpkin, literally. Sweet potato pie is sounding better and better.

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Heat Relief

2011-10-08T21:38:00.002+03:00

The Pearl Marina ~ Qatar

David and I took advantage of today's fair weather and spent the evening soaking up some fresh air and scenery at The Pearl. Yes, fall is in the air. It's hard to imagine when the temps are still in the 90's, but being my fifth October in Doha I've come to appreciate those digits. It's not really a magic temperature, it's the falling humidity that accompanies it that makes those here know that the season is upon us. Before you know it our local newspapers will be calling for all to "get out the woolies!". Yes, it would seem a bit premature for most of us, but there are those that take it and run. The first morning that the 70's mark is broken, you can bet that people will be running to Carrefour, snatching up every space heater in sight. God bless them. Bring it on mother nature. Hit me with your best shot.

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Bella Toscana!

2011-10-03T16:06:00.003+03:00

After a week in Tuscany, it is so hard to whittle down the pictures and events of our stay. I decided to summarize it with mainly the farmhouse. If we had not had a car at our beck and call, we would have been perfectly content staying on the grounds of Cretatoile and soaking up the area by foot.

The highlight of our week visit in Tuscany was our stay at Cretaiole. It is a beautiful agriturismo located in the heart of the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Val d'Orcia. David and I had a beautiful one bedroom efficiency style apartment while our traveling companions stayed in a three bedroom apartment above us. Just as beautiful as the views from our window was our hostess, Isabella, that welcomed us and made our stay relaxing, yet full of activities.

This is an early morning view of the city of Pienza from Cretaiole. The tranquility of the area was amazing. Our post sunrise hike led us past one of the most photographed sites in Tuscany, the Chapel of The Madonna di Vitaleta as well as past a cypress tree lined drive that was included in the movie, The Gladiator.

Chapel of The Madonna di Vitaleta

The scenic beauty was not the only offerings that Cretaiole had in store for us. There were wine and olive oil tastings, pasta cooking classes, biking, along with restaurant and tour suggestions. The much anticipated event of the year, the "vendemmia" was announced for the Wednesday while we were there. Yes, we wholeheartedly harvested Cretaiole's grapes, but much to my dismay, no stomping. The famous I Love Lucy episode that I refreshed myself on before leaving Qatar went to waste as that is no longer the way of the land.

After work and play every evening at Cretaiole, many of the guests met with the family patriarch, Luciano, for an evening of hand gestures and grappa, along with my new found friend, limoncello. Luciano did not speak a word of English, but somehow camaraderie and fellowship with alcohol trumped all language barriers. Salute! Oh, did I mention the fact that my brother in law speaks Italian?

Cretaiole was the core of our Tuscany visit, but we also ventured out to Assisi, Sienna, Pienza, Orvieto, among other small towns. So much to be discovered, so little time. Ciao!

Tuscan Sunset from Cretaiole's grounds

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Back From Tuscany

2011-10-02T10:53:00.000+03:00

Back from Tuscany...fat and tired. The official weigh in was 4.4 pounds more than when I left just nine days ago. Ouch...still trying to figure out the exact cause. Was it the olive oil tasting, the pasta cooking class, the feast I was served for harvesting the grapes, the dessert at every meal, the occasional gelato thrown in to round out our three square meals (more like three meals squared) a day? Food overload from this week would be an understatement. We even got bumped to Business Class on Qatar Airways for our trip home last night. Pass the Godiva chocolates please, the right hip needs a little more.

The Tuscan sun goes down on our holiday,
but leaves great memories behind.

My Doha antics will return, but please allow me to cling to our Tuscan adventures for a bit. Yes, that means you have to cling with me. Pictures forthcoming ;P

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And Just For the Record

2011-09-22T14:07:00.002+03:00

Not everyone in Qatar drives a Land Cruiser...

Yamaha

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Aroma

2011-09-20T14:25:00.003+03:00

Mini food review...

I visited Aroma at Kempinski Residences and Suites with a friend yesterday. Since I hadn't been before, I was a little extra excited being the multitasker that I am. "Double whammy, an overdue visit with a gal pal and a blog post to top it off!" Yeah well, not so much, as I was too engrossed in our rapid fire conversation to really soak in the nuances of the food before me. Mindless eating. We have been warned of such atrocities. I do however, remember liking the mozzarella smothered chicken. It was very tame with no Arabic spices screaming at me. Four years later and some of those flavors still don't jive with my buds. The carrot caraway soup was pretty good, I guess, if you like that sort bland flavor. Tomato basil would have been my ultimate choice, but it didn't happen to be an offering on the lunch set menu. For dessert, I got some kind of mascarpone cheese tart thingamabob and subbed good old standard vanilla in lieu of the Turkish coffee ice cream mentioned in the description. I was in play it safe mode. I'll give you my dad's canned answer when asked to judge the dessert. "It had sugar in it, didn't it?" Bottom line: I'll be back.

The set menu was 90QR ($25) which included a starter, entree, dessert, breads, and a coffee/tea. There were several options in each category to surely please everyone.

Food: Good
Atmosphere: Modern, quiet, cozy, not crowded
Service: Excellent
Location: Across from The W, Next to Somerset ~ Google Map
Phone: 4405 3333 ‏

I forgot to include this starter that my friend got. I'm not so sure what it is...

but, it sort of creeped me out.

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Rogers Diner ~ Doha

2011-09-18T11:28:00.000+03:00

Three times is a charm. That's how our third run to the newly opened Rogers Diner in Doha worked out for us. We tried to squeeze in Thursday night and then on Friday afternoon, but business was booming. One last attempt on Saturday and we sashayed on in. We were seated at a table for two, or make that one and a half. If we had been plus sized, we would have been SOL. We were understandably "bumped" a few times while awaiting our food with the tables being too crowded in the area we were seated. The noise level was pretty loud with the espresso machine running every few minutes and the ever screaming baby in the corner didn't help matters. Other than that, the decor was bright, open and airy, with the chrome 50's diner feel. Oh and there was a pretty cool vintage aviation theme going on. The moment I saw a booth vacate, I requested to be moved. The staff did so most obligingly not making me feel at all guilty for my request...almost like, "what took you so long to ask?". Seated at our new table it was an instant transformation. Much more relaxing, so much so that I forgot about the noise level and the big lunged baby. Bring on the food. The menu was a fair sampling of appetizers, burgers, pastas, fajitas, and steaks. The Tex Mex burger and Texas Chili that we decided on (do you spot a theme here?) arrived looking mighty delish, but the taste is in the test. They both passed with flying colors, but I do have to note that when scooping the chili with my chips, there seemed to be an abundance of grease. That sounds pretty disgusting, but the chili had great flavor and I didn't note the grease while actually eating it. So, if appearance bothers you, just close your eyes and savor the flavor. They had some good looking desserts, but we had to opt out in case we get stuck at the one and a half persons table next time. Ciao!

Location: C-Ring, across from BMW Showroom (Ramada area)
Phone: 974 4455 23333
Atmosphere: Fun, bright, casual, bit noisy
Food: Good
Service: Good
Price: Reasonable~similar or slightly higher than Chili's & Applebees

Tex~Mex Burger/fries: 44QR ($12)
Texas Chili and chips: 36QR ($10)
Fountain Drinks w/refills 10QR ($2.75)

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The Secret is Out...of Bras?

2011-09-15T09:30:00.000+03:00

Victoria's Secret has made it to a mall near you, well at least near me, anyway. Before I actually moved to Doha, I never thought of it as a target audience for sexy lingerie shops, but au contraire. Just in my local small mall, Landmark, I can think of four right off the bat. The odd thing about this particular Victoria's Secret is that it's missing all the famous lacy bras and negligees for which it is known. What's up with that? The whole storefront is perfumes and cosmetic displays. One would have to slither into the back room (and I did) to even get a glance of the frilly boy panties and a few t~shirts . If you are waiting on the real deal, folks, you're out of luck. My advice: Walk a few aisles over and visit the store with the revolving scantily clad "nipping" (can I say that?) mannequins in the window. Maybe they can hook you up.

Let us in on the secret, Vicki...
Where are the bras?

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Name and Shame

2011-09-14T10:22:00.002+03:00

Ask any expat in Qatar what their biggest complaint is and I'll wager that "the traffic" will come foremost to mind. I'm not so sure it's the amount that's the biggest problem as much as the style of the drivers. The words manic creative come to mind. Let's just say it's a rat race out there and it can bring any ~~sane~~ flighty ~~calm~~ hyper person to their melting point. "I'll have a McDonald's double grease, er I mean cheese burger to calm my nerves, please." Valium at its best. Yep, that was me yesterday while running the Doha roads. The character below didn't seem to want to wait his turn. He came whizzing by all the stopped traffic waiting their turn and proceeded to go over the curb and jumped out in front of the lead car as soon as the light turned green.

After tweeting the incident, there was talk on twitter about starting a "name and shame" blog to out all the traffic perpetrators. I'm not so sure we could keep up with the incessant infractions, though. It would definitely be a full time job. Oops, I accidentally got jerkface's license plate number. Maybe this can be the first in the installment. Gee, I hope no one harasses the poor guy *wink*wink*.

....Be safe peeps. It's a war zone out there.

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"The Day"

2011-09-11T11:23:00.007+03:00

What would the term be? "Happy Anniversary"? Hardly so. I honestly had zero intention of bringing up "the day" ten years later. There was not a bone in my body that wanted to discuss any emotions brought forward from the past. I was happy with it being just that, the past. It's hard to ignore, though, when it is all television, Internet news, facebook, and twitter have to offer is remembrances of that dreadful day. One would have to be a complete social misfit to avoid it, but that's exactly what I had intentionally done until this morning when I dare clicked on a local expat's link to her blog titled, Ten Years On. My curiosity overcame my need to stay in my bubble as I knew the author wasn't an American. What could she have possibly felt from a far off land to put the crumbling chaos of my country in perspective? Surprisingly (or actually comfortingly), feelings that weren't so far off from my own. She experienced the same need to cry, same need to be held, and that same need to feel for those that were beyond help. Reading her words, tears streaming, I was sucked back into that surreal day that I so wanted to leave behind. Hindsight, maybe it's not meant to be forgotten. Maybe I need a reminder of no matter what bubble I may live in, someone out there is experiencing their own 9/11.

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Qatari's Raising the Roof

2011-09-07T14:29:00.002+03:00

As reported in The Gulf Times~September 7, 2011

And we're ecstatic if we get 4% ...how you like them apples?

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Berlin, Prague, Dresden ~ In Pics

2011-09-06T10:23:00.002+03:00

The dust has settled from our Berlin/Prague/Dresden visit, so I've taken a moment to put some pictures together. Prague is by far our favorite of the three. The city is beautiful, festive, and buzzing with old world charm. It is a place definitely worth a do over, but if ever we get another chance we would try their off season (if there is such a thing). Apparently we aren't the only tourists to have discovered Prague's appeal, as it was crawling with the likes of us.

Thanks for coming along on our holiday.
We enjoyed the company!

Click on the slide show to go directly to

Photobucket to speedup, slowdown, or pause the pics.

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Czechin' In

2011-08-30T20:54:00.012+03:00

from Prague...

Been hitting the pavement pretty hard these last few days leaving no time to blog. Prague has shown us nothing but it's beauty since arriving. Perfect weather, friendly people, delicious food...who could ask for anything more?

Ok, so those last two may not fall into the beauty category for some eyes. These things are a bit strange to mine, to say the least, but they do make interesting conversation pieces.

View of Prague from up high on Petrin Hill

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Guten Tag from Berlin

2011-08-27T20:45:00.003+03:00

...but somehow I feel like I'm still in Qatar. The Q?

Checkpoint Charlie

Brandenburg Gate ~ Holocaust Memorial

Recycling Containers ~ Postal Delivery

Fun Vehicles

Transportation of Choice

Check y'all later!

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Headed to Cooler Grounds

2011-08-26T09:07:00.002+03:00

This morning in Doha...

I know what you're thinking. "95F, pfft, that's not bad. We've been having record breaking runs of over 100F here in Texas for quite a spell now." Please duly note that it is 8:14 a.m. AND the heat index is telling me that it feels like 124F. Trust me, the thermometer reading wasn't fooling me. All I had to do was take one peek at the water streaming down the back patio doors to know what I'll be leaving behind this morning. Yes, off to cooler temps and lower humidity. Heck, I don't even mind the rain I see in the forecast. Something I don't see in Doha, and honestly saw only a minuscule trace of while in Texas this summer.

Aaaah, the temp while we speak in Berlin....

and Prague, Czech Republic...

Headed to the airport. Pics forthcoming in a few days, Inshallah.

Tschüs!

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It's Only Words

2011-08-25T14:48:00.002+03:00

I could entertain myself for weeks if I would just go around and collect pictures of all the "saloons" (aka salons) in Doha. I captured a couple yesterday, but saw so many more along the way that I just couldn't shoot and drive without being a danger to society. Remember, it is Ramadan, so I had to be extra careful and be aware of (more than usual) erratic driving. I can hear it now,

"But officer, I had to have a picture of the saloon for man...

...and is that even a man??

Better yet, "Back off Jack, I'm late for my appointment at...

...beuty, is that pronounce "booty"?

So many signs, so little time, which reminds me I gotta get.
Have some dirty clothes I need to drop off at...

...geez, I hope so

Lawdy, lawdy, I shall miss this place!

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Ramp It Up

2011-08-24T13:55:00.002+03:00

I'm not a huge fan of an overabundance of parking spaces allotted for handicap people as we see so many times waste away in parking lots in America. I'm all for accommodating them, but let's just keep it to what the needs actually are. Here in Doha, we keep it down to the bare minimum...even the ramps.

You better get a running start on this ramp. Actually I'm not sure it matters. I don't think it's wide enough for your wheel base. Good luck, Skipper.

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The "Other" Family

2011-08-21T15:30:00.001+03:00

I know the question is coming, so I'll answer it ahead of time...Doha family. That is what we'll miss the most when we head back to the states (exactly when and where still yet to be determined!). The staff at the local restaurants that we visit frequently will be at the forefront of reasons that will make the move so difficult. Birthdays, anniversaries, kids visits, you name it and we celebrate it together with our extended families. One of those treasured families is at Bennigan's. We paid them a visit last night while modeling our latest gifted polo shirts from one of their awesome team members. What an honor to be included with the likes of these wonderful people that we are proud to call family.

Love, love, love these people!

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McStylin'

2011-08-20T10:59:00.001+03:00

Pic doesn't do this guy's lit up bike McJustice
but I'm still Lovin' It

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Eid Relief

2011-08-18T15:35:00.000+03:00

The Eid holidays are rapidly approaching and we all know what that means...get the hell out of ~~Dodge~~ Doha! Yep, three government imposed holidays with a few of our own equals mandatory vacation. Gosh, I hate when that happens. Needing to use up our accrued Qatar Airways miles before we make our final exodus, I closed my eyes and pointed to the globe to see where we might land. Berlin! Ok, so that was the only thing available for our "miles", but that will work out just hunky dory for us since Prague (Czech Republic) has been on our bucket list for quite some time. A couple days in history laden Berlin, a few days in beautiful Prague, with a stopover in war torn, but reconstructed Dresden is the plan. I'm on top of my game with still eight days from lift off and flights, hotels, and rental car booked. Impressive, huh? Hey, it is for me. Even though the Doha summer hasn't seemed too bad this year, I'm looking forward to the thirty degree cool down. Fall is in the air.

View Larger Map

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Feeding Frenzy

2011-08-16T14:15:00.004+03:00

In case you didn't get the newsflash, our local stray villa welfare cat aka "Momma Cat" brought us SIX presents to our front door a few days ago. Aren't we just blessed that she keeps returning to our home litter after litter. If you haven't had the opportunity to watch six kittens fight for their position at the dinner table, it's time you take a gander...

Don't hesitate to call dibs one of these kittens.
They should be good to go in four to five weeks!

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Some Like it Hot

2011-08-14T13:38:00.004+03:00

In 1987, CPSC helped develop requirements for temperature controls to make sure that spa water temperatures never exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

~U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.

...most people like a shower temperature slightly warmer than body temperature, about 105ºF or 40ºC.

~Wiki Answers

And here, my friends, is the cold water temp in my villa...

Yes, that reads 106° (41C)

Which means...

No taking of cold showers
No washing your delicates in cold water
No running to the tap for cold water when burning yourself

Oh, the joys of a Doha Summer...I will miss you dearly :(

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Big Kid Fun

2011-08-12T11:48:00.016+03:00

...or maybe that should be "old" kid fun

I had some big kid fun at City Center last night running down the "Freej" characters that were out in full force. Forgive me if I ran down your kid while in the process. It wouldn't be the first time. I recall tackling a few little ones at the Doha Ritz some years back to get my turn with the Filipino Santa. Hey, don't judge. You're only as old as you feel.

I'm the one in the middle ;)

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Qatar Strikes Black Gold

2011-08-09T21:08:00.000+03:00

Running across this beautiful advertisement near Katara of the upcoming Doha Tribeca Film Festival is a reminder of how much I'll miss this place. I'm really crossing my fingers that we'll be around at the end of October to be a part of the festival that made its debut here just a couple of years ago. As the billboard points out, "Black Gold" starring Antonio Banderas will make its world premier at this year's event. Yes, Mr. Banderas graced Qatar with his presence earlier this year while filming in the shining white deserts of Mesaieed. If I'm still a card carrying resident come October, I'll be there with rings on my fingers and bells on my toes (if I can score tickets, that is). Hey @DohaFilm, are you listening? What a nice parting gift that would be. Sigh.

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Getting Past the Lag

2011-08-08T16:16:00.001+03:00

Remember me? Yes, I am alive and yes, I am in Doha. Getting past the eight hour time zone crossing (aka jet lag) from the U.S. just gets the best of me. Last night was my first nonstop snooze fest...straight thru from 1:00am to 8:00am. Just hoping that's an indicator of more zzzz's to come.

Today was my first day to venture out since my return, so I don't have a lot to report other than that Ramadan is in full swing. One trip to the grocery store and my head is spinning. Everyone and their brother was shopping for their nightly feasts that follow their daylight fasts. Be it the grocery store isle or the Doha streets, my stern word of advice for all is, "Move it or lose it!" These people are hungry and tired letting nothing or no one stand in their way. I'm not one to usually yield to such behavior, but as Kenny Rogers puts it so eloquently to song, You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

Here's the one Doha tidbit I did muster up for you today. This is a picture of the road that runs along our complex. No, Mario Andretti did not retire to Doha, but it looks like a lot of Andretti wannabees have been getting their practice in.

After all one doesn't perfect two wheeling overnight...

(Pulled from the archives~filmed Sept 2008~ for still shots click here)

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Adios Tejas

2011-08-01T12:43:00.006+03:00

iPhone shot from the car somewhere between
Naco-no-where and Austin

My Texas road trips have come to a screaming halt as I prepare to jump on a plane headed to Doha in just short of five hours. It's been a busy week squeezing in last minute visits with family and friends and getting Kayla moved into her new apartment in Nacogdoches. Everything's been shoved back into my suitcases and now it's time to sit back and relax for my ~~pleasant~~ grueling eighteen hours of air time that awaits. Oh, joy. Praying that everyone has deodorant applied and can fit in their own seat. Signing out from Texas. See ya on the flipside!

Ramadan Kareem to my Muslim friends!

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Warm Fuzzies

2011-07-25T22:08:00.002+03:00

As my summer Texas getaway is coming to an end, I await what looks to be my final trip to Doha a week from today. What's the saying, "time flies when you're having fun"? Four years later and it hasn't slowed down. Full disclosure: My time in Qatar would not have been near the grand adventure it was had you not allowed me to share my experiences with you. The people I've crossed paths with along the way have been the icing on the cake of my sweet journey. I want to share with you an email from a Doha acquaintance, part time stalker, tweetup buddy and facebook friend that made me feel so warm and fuzzy that I couldn't keep it to myself. Ok, so I'm exaggerating about the stalker part. Get over it, I like to flatter myself.

copied and pasted verbatum...

Hi Sybil..

How are you and your family? hope your all enjoying your time back home. I saw your latest blog post about you leaving early next year. I had to re-read it as I was initially in disbelief and I immediately felt a pang of sadness when I realized that I hadn't misunderstood your words. I guess I got so used to reading your blog I felt like your were a permanent fixture of Qatar, despite you blogging about things from a distinctly expat perspective, giving me a different insight into my country, which I enjoyed immensely as I would come back for more each day. I have to agree with one of the commentators on your blog, you have been such a great ambassador for your country and you have really embraced Qatari culture with all it has to offer- good and bad- and although we are all entitled to our own opinions, I always found your posts thoughtful, respectful, positive and funny! You always wrote with such flair and vivacity that I found refreshing and enjoyable. I 'd like to ask you if you would like to get together sometime after your back, since I always wanted to but for some inexplicable reason haven't, and consequently feeling guilty for not doing so sooner! lol perhaps we can get together for coffee or dinner or shisha or all of the above?? :P I'm open to suggestions!
I hope I was able to convey my appreciation and admiration for you and your blog, and although your leaving Qatar, I am grateful to you for allowing me as a reader to have a glimpse into your world and seeing Qatar through your eyes.

Thank you and Warmest Regards,

Nasser

No, thank YOU, Nasser and TO ALL that came along for the adventure.

It was real, it was fun, it was real fun

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What Does the Future Hold?

2011-07-20T12:31:00.000+03:00

Can you say melodramatic?

I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. I decided I needed to add a bit of drama since little bit has played the role of "It's all about Kristi" these last 24 hours after finding out our pending expat fate. ALL of her plans have been ruined. Her words. Pass the Kleenex, please. I guess I'll give her a pass, since there never would have been a "Sybil and Kristi's Qatari Adventures" if she had not given the nod to make such a leap of faith four plus years ago. So, do you want bread with those beans, Kristi?

All Good Things

2011-07-19T10:09:00.003+03:00

"You shouldn't overspend at the moment.
Frugality is important."

The above ditty is was pulled from my fortune cookie yesterday while dining with Kristi. It did give me a bit of a pause, even though I don't really believe in fortunes and such. While we were stuffing our faces with sushi and Mandarin chicken in Texas, David was settling in for a night's sleep on the other side of the world unknowingly awaiting ~~his~~ our fate. So, David Skyped me this morning. Drum roll..........January 1. The magic date by his name that we've been waiting to hear, not necessarily wanting to hear, had been announced. Holy gee willikers, Batman ~ I still have things to do, people to see, and places to go! Ok, calm down, all good things must come to an end. Seriously, who said that and why do they? It was a nice ride, Qatar.

...to be continued

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Only in Texas

2011-07-17T20:58:00.009+03:00

It's time to share some "Only in Texas" moments since I've been know to dish on Doha quite often. Fair is fair.

This little lady proudly waltzed into Las Palmas Mexican Food cafe sporting her pink rollers while Kristi and I were getting our fill of cheese enchiladas yesterday. Do you think she just forgot that they were in?

Can you say "Walmartian"?

WARNING: THE LINK ABOVE TO URBAN DICTIONARY CAN
BE A ~~LITTLE~~ LOT MORE COLORFUL THAN SOME WOULD LIKE

During the same visit, Kristi used the powder room and then suggested I take my turn, but to make sure I took my camera with me. Hmm, I didn't need to go, but I was too curious to pass up what she thought may be a good photo op.

What? Texas is not a third world country with inadequate plumbing. By the way, they meant what they said. No toilet paper was provided ensuring that you didn't bend the rules. For those from Doha wondering what the big deal is, no water hose thingamajig was provided either. Horrors!

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Share and Share Alike

2011-07-16T13:18:00.007+03:00

So sue me...I like to share. No doubt some would cry "TMI" when I open my mouth, but when I open it, it spews. What can I say? It's not that it's necessarily info that shouldn't be shared, but more like why would I share it? Bless your heart if you've run into me during my USA summer tour. You, no doubt, had to endure my latest vacation pics via my photo book creations. I do appreciate all those obligatory, "Oh, it's beautiful" comments by the way. All compliments welcomed, sincerity is optional. It's not like I just corner you in person...all social venues are fair game, as well. Now, all 545 of my twitter followers (no doubt "unfollowing" as we speak) know that I got a new phone cover (visual included). Earth shattering news like that is meant to be shared. Oh, and no one is spared from my sharing. Did I mention that David not only backed into Dustin's car once during his short stay in Texas, but TWICE. And, on that second incident, I had announced when I plopped into the car, "Watch out for Dustin's car", before the ensuing crunch. I won't even mention the Whataburger incident where he jumped over the little bumper thingy in the parking space. Hmm, maybe that's the TMI part. Anyhoo, "Heads up Doha, he's coming back your way." Have a good one, peeps!

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Tennessee

2011-07-10T16:45:00.000+03:00

Kristi, Dustin, Shea and Kayla hanging at the
annual Knox reunion ~ Columbia, Tennessee

Old cousins...can I say that?

Young cousins

A few blue eyed cousins

Twin cousins

We gathered my side of the family a couple of weeks ago for a cajun crawfish boil. Yesterday we had a good old fashioned country picnic (fried chicken included) with David's side in Tennessee. Good times.

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Tee Time

2011-07-03T19:32:00.020+03:00

David, Kayla, and myself made our way to the Plum Creek Golf Course in our backyard for a round of...let's just say "simulated" golf. We chose the "twilight" after 5:00pm rate, since we knew our skills weren't worthy of any full price action. Good call. We sucked. At least he cart ride and the back to nature setting made it worth our while. Bunnies, mice, water birds, cacti, wildflowers, and more were in abundance to keep our attention when we weren't ducking from errant golf balls. "Fore" has a whole new meaning when you play with our group.

It's very important to stay in
"duck and cover" mode with us

"Uhhhh, can I get a "mulligan"
on this tee off?

"Twilight" quickly turned
to night on us.

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Molly vs Saudi

2011-06-30T16:40:00.001+03:00

While I've always made time to talk about our cats in Doha, whether it be the welfare kittens, Sykes (RIP) or Princess, I rarely speak of our Texas cats Saudi and Molly. Kristi captured their love/hate (ok, mostly hate) relationship in this short video...

Hang in there ~ the action is not until the minute mark

Side note: I forgot that Molly is actually Wally since we found out "she" is a "he" during our last Christmas visit. Poor thing is going to have an identity crisis.

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Yummy for the Tummy...

2011-06-28T08:55:00.003+03:00

but not so much the waistline

Hot Fudge Cake Sundae ~ Cheddar's Casual Cafe

It's true what they say 'round these parts...

Everything's BIG in Texas

And if I continue eating like I am on my Doha hiatus...
I, too will be in that category.

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... and I Will Go To Texas

2011-06-23T10:09:00.007+03:00

“You may all go to hell…

and I will go to Texas”

~ Davy Crockett

Shea (son) and friend, Tonya

There's nothing like a visit to the Alamo to bring out the "Texan" in me.

Another thing it brings out is the Photoshop. Would all you "extras" please remove yourselves from my pics?!
Thank you, very much.

original photo-->

Moral of the story: Seeing is NOT believing

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I Might Be InTexas If...

2011-06-20T16:40:00.003+03:00

Folks, we're not in ~~Kansas~~ Doha anymore
(now don't get excited...we will be going back)

Boudin Balls are as common as Land Cruisers...

Crawfish season is up and running...

Family is all around...

(me, my mom, and my sis, Regina)

Trahan Family Crawfish Boil ~ June 19, 2011

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Homecoming

2011-06-13T08:06:00.000+03:00

Sitting in the Doha airport lounge waiting for our flight to Austin. It's a bit of a bitter sweet moment as my dad and Kristi's "Paw Paw" passed away late Saturday night. So here I am on a planned eighteen our flight home that I would have been on even if I had not planned it. A bit ironic. Dad's moving on is not exactly a sad moment for me. Yes, I've spilled a few tears, but at the same time I know what a wonderful life he had. After all, he lived to the ripe old age of 85 and brought six children into the world with (just a little) help from my mom. Dad was always so proud of us. You know, embarrassingly proud. He introduced us to anyone and everyone he knew beaming from ear to ear like we were celebrities. God, he loved us. So, here we are, both heading home. Hope to see you one day on the flip side, Dad. I can hear you saying it now...

"If the good Lord is willin' and the creek don't rise."

I love you, Dad

...Syb

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Translate the Punch Line

2011-06-11T08:50:00.005+03:00

Living in Qatar, we found out pretty fast where the punctury is. We have a tendency to off road a bit around here due to traffic situations, well, and just for the heck of it. Problem is when when we do that, we take the chance of "puncturing" our tires with errant nails and wire from the ever present construction. You're so smart. I see you've figured out what a "punctury" is all by your lonesome. I've Googled the word punctury, and I do believe the term is truly an "Only in Doha" one.

Yesterday, we ran across a spin off of the tire repair shop...

Hmm...figure this one out.

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Today's News ~ Al Jazeera

2011-06-08T10:37:00.002+03:00

Have I mentioned that I was lucky enough to score a tour of the world famous Al Jazeera News while the kids were in town? Yes, I said Al Jazeera, the one put on the map by Bin Laden himself, but has since been a force to be reckoned with by keeping the Middle East (and the world) abreast of the Arab Spring. No, it's not been the most popular news source in the States, but it's gaining steam. Even Hillary recently gave it the "real news" stamp of approval*. Visiting Al Jazeera is something I've secretly wanted to do since moving to Doha four years ago, so I mercilessly used my kids as pawns and contacted the powers that be to fulfill my dream. Voila, before I knew it, I had a parking pass in hand and an appointed hostess with the mostess to show us the way. She informed me that usually only journalists and news related outlets are afforded tours of the facilities. Wow, my friends really do have "wasta". Impressive. Ok, she may have winked when she said that, but if she did, I missed it. Anyway we made our way around the English and Arabic buildings, whizzing in and out of busy news rooms with monitors everywhere imaginable. I was shocked when our guide told me I could take pictures anywhere I wanted, but just no flash in certain areas. Transparency in action...impressed, again. The kids were glad that I used them as bait as we really felt like we were part of history and the future by visiting the origin of Al Jazeera. Oh, and the goody bags were the icing on the cupcake.

Code of Ethics

*“viewership of Al Jazeera is going up in the United States because it’s real news… You may not agree with it, but you feel like you’re getting real news around the clock instead of a million commercials and, you know, arguments between talking heads and the kind of stuff that we do on our news which, you know, is not particularly informative to us, let alone foreigners.”

...Hillary R Clinton

Special thanks to the parties
involved in making this happen.
We truly enjoyed your hospitality and kindness.

...Sybil, Shea, Dustin & Kristi

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Undercover Cover Up

2011-06-04T10:55:00.005+03:00

At first glance, you may not notice anything unusual or out of place in this storefront window poster at H & M (Landmark Mall),

but look, again...

There's just something about leggings underneath a bikini bottom that's downright unflattering. Someone's editor needs to go back to the drawing board.

Follow Up: Received a tweet from @ibn_adem explaining the H&M censorship...

Gisele Censored! Supermodel Photoshoppedfor H&M ads in Dubai

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Sand, Dust, Smog, Fog?

2011-06-03T17:02:00.001+03:00

Remember yesterday's beautiful weather?

What a difference a day makes...

West Bay area ~ Doha, Qatar ~ June 3, 2011

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Desert and Airport Runs

2011-06-02T17:43:00.008+03:00

I loaded up the kids this morning for an early morning airport run. It's not just real often that I see Doha in all its glory at 5:30am with the sun bouncing off the bay. It was a beautiful site, not unlike the beautiful Qatari deserts that we trekked through yesterday on our last day with Shea, Dustin, and Kristi.

Shooting pics through the window of the Land Cruiser

Since it was Shea's first visit to the desert, we treated him to dune bashing* and camel riding that every new visitor to the area must experience.

The only thing missing was Kayla :(

Our resident pirate ~ doesn't every family have one?

Great family, great fun~See you on the flip side kids!

*We use Arabian Adventures for dune bashing

(974) 4436 1461

Related posts:
Dune Bashing or Sand Blasting?
A True Desert Experience

(The above posts have more in depth coverage of the experience)

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Bali Ends

2011-05-31T08:53:00.002+03:00

Juan Valdez has nothing on Kopi Luwak

pooped from a Mongoose

Eating in Bali

Balinese Pampering

Saying Goodbye
Special thanks to our wonderful Balinese guide, Alex.
For airport transportation and tours, email him at

alexbaliguide@yahoo.com

Leaving, but taking great memories

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Bali ~ Part 2

2011-05-29T12:21:00.007+03:00

Is it obvious that I'm milking our Bali vacation as long as I can? Just breaking it up into parts, doling out crumbs a few at a time so that I can relive it at the same time. Unfortunately, Kayla's roll in part two of her vacation (Qatar) came to an end early this morning. She had to leave lala land and report back to the real world, aka work. The rest of the clan is hanging with us until Friday.

On with the reminiscing...

Temple Time

Batik

Enjoying the Landscape

Out and About in Bali

Sumatran Elephants

to be continued...

Bali ~ Part 1

2011-05-27T09:22:00.005+03:00

Beach fun

Pool Fun

Resort Activities

Monkeying Around

Bali's Got Talent

Fish Tales

Just a few pics to give you a peak into our Bali adventure. I rank this vacation at the top of our travels, but having our entire family together could have skewed the results. Everything was picture perfect, if you don't count our trip home (and me being blindsided by a monkey). We hit a bit of a kink when the plane we were sitting in failed to leave the tarmac at our Singapore layover. It was deemed mechanical failure and we were eventually loaded onto another plane to complete our destination only to arrive thirteen hours later than planned. Thank goodness we were all chilled from our Bali experience.

More pics coming soon.

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Bring on Bali

2011-05-19T13:17:00.005+03:00

Running across an errant coconut~Having flashbacks of Gilligan's Island

Just a short note to let you know that all six of us made it to Bali safe and sound. We've beached it, pooled it, and even hit the fitness center to make up for the amazing breakfast and afternoon tea and pastries we consumed. No time for chit chat, we're off for dinner. Ciao!

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DFI Scores with Scorsese

2011-05-17T09:17:00.006+03:00

Doha Film Institute announced last week that the upcoming Arabian epic adventure, "Black Gold", starring Antonio Banderas will make its world premier in Qatar during the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival scheduled for October. The filming of Antonio and crew in the land of sand a few months back will be featuring the beautiful deserts and dunes of Mesaieed. Impressive for a little peninsula in the middle of nowhere that no one can pronounce, much less spell, no? Crossing my fingers that I can get my grubby little fingers on some nice tickets for that spectacular event.

Now, if that's not enough excitement for Qatar, famed film maker and director, Martin Scorsese, has sent his personal congratulatory message to Doha Film Institute, along with some good advice on the occasion of their first anniversary.

Lookout, Doha Film Institute is officially on the map. I look forward to this year's festival kickoff on October 25th at Doha's beautiful Katara Cultural Village, the perfect venue for the event. Katara's electric atmosphere with the excitement of the film festival is nothing short of magical. See you there!

Kristi at last year's festival

Related post: DTFF Up and Running (October, 2010)

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Qatar Pulls the Plug on Tumblr?

2011-05-15T15:11:00.005+03:00

Wasssssssup, Qatar?

Not sure about the answer to that, but I'll tell you what's down...tumblr. Wait, let me rephrase that, it's BLOCKED. America, click away, it will be there for you. Just not for us in Qatar. For some strange reason, the powers that be has disconnected our little corner of the world from that social platform. I mean, I did post a pic of Snoop Dogg in a thobe in Abu Dhabi last week, but surely that's not haraam. Random pics of Katara, Doha's famous Cheer leading man parading around town, a few human interest stories on Qatar's labor force...I mean, is this culturally demoralizing Qatar's society? I think not, but someone here is not happy with tumblr. Heaven forbid they get ticked off at twitter, facebook, or heavens to Betsy, Blogger (my blog platform)! I'll be up that proverbial creek sans a paddle. Horrors, I might have to get a real job if that happens.

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