Sunday, January 20, 2008
Not quite Venice
The gondolas are now running at Villagio. For 15 Rials you can take a round trip spin on the canal in an electric gondola. I thinks it's a bit cheesy, but the kids all seem to love it - and it does make for an interesting feature in a shopping mall!
Not the New York Rangers...
Sometimes you can't believe that you're in the middle east.
What do you do on a Friday morning (first day of the weekend) after seeing some little league baseball?
Go to a shopping mall to see an ice hockey game!
And while watching the ice hockey, you nibble on some french pastries and raisin and hazelnut baguettes a l'ancien!
What do you do on a Friday morning (first day of the weekend) after seeing some little league baseball?
Go to a shopping mall to see an ice hockey game!
And while watching the ice hockey, you nibble on some french pastries and raisin and hazelnut baguettes a l'ancien!
How much fast food do you need....
One of the most striking elements of Doha is the amount of North American and European fast food chains. One intersection is actually called cholesterol corner because of the preponderance of fast food restaurants.
Some of the chains you will find here are...
McDonald's, Burger King, Dairy Queen, KFC, Hardee's, Arby's, Chilli's, Ponderosa Steakhouse, Starbucks, TCBY, Baskin Robbins, Haagen Daaz, Nando's, Applebees, Bennigans, Sbarro, Macaroni Grill, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee.
So as if we don't have enough fattening food here... here comes Krispy Kreme Doughnuts! Their advertising is everywhere. They are opening in Villagio mall of Feb 1 at 5pm and the first 25 customers get free doughnuts for a year! I can't believe that would be good for your waistline!
I must admit, I am a Krispy Kreme fan. I was introduced to them in the US by a cousin over ten years ago and they are a special treat. But I must admit, I wasn't expecting them here in Doha. What's next - a fried mars bar joint?
Some of the chains you will find here are...
McDonald's, Burger King, Dairy Queen, KFC, Hardee's, Arby's, Chilli's, Ponderosa Steakhouse, Starbucks, TCBY, Baskin Robbins, Haagen Daaz, Nando's, Applebees, Bennigans, Sbarro, Macaroni Grill, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee.
So as if we don't have enough fattening food here... here comes Krispy Kreme Doughnuts! Their advertising is everywhere. They are opening in Villagio mall of Feb 1 at 5pm and the first 25 customers get free doughnuts for a year! I can't believe that would be good for your waistline!
I must admit, I am a Krispy Kreme fan. I was introduced to them in the US by a cousin over ten years ago and they are a special treat. But I must admit, I wasn't expecting them here in Doha. What's next - a fried mars bar joint?
After the rain came the dirt!
So the sun came out again but there was now muddy roads everywhere. And not just muddy roads, there was sand and dirt spread all over the buildings too.
The W hotel in west bay which is opening in May this year gives you a glimpse of how dirty it got. The window cleaners have been busy taking layers and layers of dirt off the building and they still have a fair way to go!
I got my car washed at City Centre parking lot, and after driving less than a kilometer, the car looked just as dirty as so much mud was being thrown up on my car from the roads and other cars!
The W hotel in west bay which is opening in May this year gives you a glimpse of how dirty it got. The window cleaners have been busy taking layers and layers of dirt off the building and they still have a fair way to go!
I got my car washed at City Centre parking lot, and after driving less than a kilometer, the car looked just as dirty as so much mud was being thrown up on my car from the roads and other cars!
So it does rain here!
Came back after holiday to weather that was definitely cooler, but still very pleasant. Enjoyed the evening outdoor at the tennis open, and even went sailing a couple of times - just wearing a bathing suit with shorts and a fleece under my life jacket.
But then suddenly it turned COLD! Not 3 feet of snow, blizzard cold, but still cold. It rained for four days straight and I must admit, we just didn't feel like going out.
The rain was funny, it was more of a drizzle most of the time, a rain hat would keep you dry if you were just running from one place to another. But inside homes are where it really turned cold. All of a sudden tile floors and multiple air conditioners weren't really that helpful! I put on my sheep skin boots, watched tv with a blanket on my lap, and put extra blankets on our bed. My hands and feet are still cold though!
The sun has come out again but the chill is still inside. We have one space heater, and it doesn't make that much of a dint in the cold.
But then suddenly it turned COLD! Not 3 feet of snow, blizzard cold, but still cold. It rained for four days straight and I must admit, we just didn't feel like going out.
The rain was funny, it was more of a drizzle most of the time, a rain hat would keep you dry if you were just running from one place to another. But inside homes are where it really turned cold. All of a sudden tile floors and multiple air conditioners weren't really that helpful! I put on my sheep skin boots, watched tv with a blanket on my lap, and put extra blankets on our bed. My hands and feet are still cold though!
The sun has come out again but the chill is still inside. We have one space heater, and it doesn't make that much of a dint in the cold.
Tennis so easy
I haven't posted for a while as I was away on holiday - so I wasn't observing Doha. But I couldn't believe what happened the day I got back.
I got home from the airport at 2am and didn't get up until late. Went out for a drive and ran into a friend who had tickets for the final of the Qatar Tennis open, that evening. He said that he only got them that morning, and that they were free! So, of course, I had to go.
I am a tennis fan you see - I have previously been to matches at the Australian and US open and Wimbledon - but never could get finals tickets. So to be able to go to a fairly high calibre tennis final, for free... what a treat!
I saw a number of people I know at the final. The crowd was a good mix of ethnicities, but not many Qataris. The few that were there were in the VIP seats down one end, but that was the section with the most empty seats. What a shame.
Also got something else free that night. The Doha Olympic bid folks were handing out free t-shirts and baseball caps. So all in all a pretty good night!
I got home from the airport at 2am and didn't get up until late. Went out for a drive and ran into a friend who had tickets for the final of the Qatar Tennis open, that evening. He said that he only got them that morning, and that they were free! So, of course, I had to go.
I am a tennis fan you see - I have previously been to matches at the Australian and US open and Wimbledon - but never could get finals tickets. So to be able to go to a fairly high calibre tennis final, for free... what a treat!
I saw a number of people I know at the final. The crowd was a good mix of ethnicities, but not many Qataris. The few that were there were in the VIP seats down one end, but that was the section with the most empty seats. What a shame.
Also got something else free that night. The Doha Olympic bid folks were handing out free t-shirts and baseball caps. So all in all a pretty good night!
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