doha daily 10/25/06

I thought I would show you some of the views we get to see in and around Doha everyday : ) Most of these pictures are related to the upcoming Asian Games - it is hard to imagine Doha is going to be ready in just over 30 days, but let's say the glass is half-full : )
Here is the torch that sits to the outside of Khalifa stadium where opening and closing ceremonies will take place. It is scheduled to be lit (I believe) Nov. 25 - Thierry and I are going to ride our motorcycles with the Qatar chapter (40 bikes total for the event) from Al Khor as part of the torch bearing festivities (we have opted NOT to actually carry the torch however - can you imagine?)
A parking sign for Khalifa Stadium and Aquatic Complex. Oh, and a Mosque.

Here are the stadium and torch shown together.

Lucky us! This road happens to pass directly in front of our compound and although you cannot see the progress, it is milestones from where it was in July. Because of its location this street is getting ALOT of attention and will be the major thoroughfare to opening/closing ceremonies. You can see the torch in the distance on the right. They are almost finished putting up these HUGE industrial contemporary street lights. I imagine they are going to shine right into our bedrooms. We'll have to wait and see : )
A large shopping cart that is often used as a landmark point for the Hyatt Plaza (small shopping mall). It has been covered with a "Doha Asian Games" banner which includes a picture of the mascot "Orry," an animated Oryx - African antelope in which one of its species comes from Arabia. We'll see more banners here in just a bit.

Oh hey, here's another one. This banner represents judo and hangs on the side of the Ramada Hotel. It was probably one of the very first banners put into place.

Here is the "Rainbow roundabout," (all roundabouts have names associated with them that are characteristic of their surroundings, hence the stone rainbow that sits inside the center of this one) with metal and wood structures/walls that have been erected to display banners. One may also say they are there to distract one's attention from the desert-like conditions that lay just behind them.

Taking a little break from the banners, here is Tristan and my Starbuck's that is once again open at 630am with the end of Ramadan, whoohoo!

This waterpolo banner was taken the night of the Harley ride. Notice the use of up-lighting here. You can see another banner to the left.

This rowing banner also hangs on a metal/wood structure and is hiding most of the construction taking place on the "Pearl," the manmade island/city that will try and match Dubai's "Palm." The Ritz-Carlton is on the right and the building on the left is one of two "Lagoon Towers," a city-like highrise.

Finally, here is the Athlete's village that will be used as staff housing for the Hamad Hospital once the games are finished. There are different color banners wrapped around the tops of each building.

That is all for you. More to come! See you!

GO CARDINALS!!!

doha daily 10/22/06

ramadan tent at four seasons hotel

Today is the 30th and FINAL day of Ramadan. It was announced in the paper this morning that Eid Al Fitr will officially begin tomorrow. Which for me (and everyone else) means, BACK TO NORMAL!!! Tomorrow, most stores are closed all day, but will re-open with normal hours Tuesday. So today, after spending the morning at the Hotel’s pool and thinking the grocery stores were even closed tomorrow, Tristan and I trekked off to Carrefour to stock up on a few food items. The store was so crowded it was as if they had announced a blizzard was coming and one had better stock up on extra batteries. I had to practically stalk a man in the parking lot to find a space. And when leaving and asking the clerk if Carrefour was indeed closed tomorrow as everyone has been telling me, she replied, “No Madam, tomorrow, open regular hours.” Oh well, chock it up to the rumor-mill that, “Everything is closed the first day of Eid, even the grocery stores!!!” At least now, I do not have to go back : ). Eid is technically a three-day holiday, but since the exact date is not known until almost up to the day before, it is stretched conveniently to 5 working days and with two weekends, that makes a total of 10 days. Most of my friends here have taken off for quick and easy exotic getaways – at least, those friends who work in the oil industry. Hotels never close, hence, we have stayed in Doha. Tonight’s iftar must be something as it is the last one after 30 days of fasting. Fasting begins at age 12, but I met a Qatari man at the Four Seasons Hotel who’s daughter is 7 and has been successfully fasting this Ramadan. He was very proud. He told me that his family wakes up every day at 3:45a to eat because by 4:15a the sun is starting to rise. They then go back to sleep and into work by 10:00a – at the start of Ramadan, iftar (breaking of the fast) occurred at 5:30p. It has now been happening closer to 5:00p as it is getting dark earlier.

Thierry and I had the pleasure of meeting Manzoor, the Qatari gentleman, Wednesday evening at the Ramadan tent of the Four Seasons Hotel. We met up on our motorcycles with 40 other bikes at 9:45p for a dinner reservation at 10:00p. Thierry was in his element; let me tell you – it has been a looooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg time since I’ve heard the “roar” of more than just the two of our bikes together. Although it is still 40-43C (104-109F) degrees during the day, the ride home at midnight was actually pleasant. The amount of traffic on the road at that time was wild, as people during Ramadan regularly come home late late from dining with friends and family. Manzoor told me that the Ramadan tents now found among the hotels in Qatar are much more commercial (influence coming from Egypt and Lebanon) than traditional tents. The traditional tent normally includes just extended family where holy discussions are held. The Four Season’s tent included a variety of entertainment, a gentleman playing a citar, dancers, etc…It was great to experience – there was a large buffet with a large variety of food with elaborate table ornamentation. People were eating late, drinking juice and smoking shisha. It was very lively. Needless to say, I was a bit tired by the end of the meal.

a member of the qatar chapter - he is also wearing patches from saudi arabia as well as bahrain and beruit

Our compound is gearing up for Halloween! There is “town meeting” Tuesday am which I will attend with all of the other expat ladies, and although there are no pumpkin patches here the spirit seems to be alive and kicking. We need to do our American duty and represent, so Tristan will be trick-or-treating as if we were on Madison Street in Pasadena (heh heh, we hope).

See you!

GO CARDINALS!!!

doha daily 10/16/06

In the throes of Ramadan. It is closer to the end now. The biggest difference for me and all other expats has been no food/drink in public as well as complying with the funky store hours of 10a-12noon, closed until 7 or 8pm and then opening again until 1 or 2am. Shops are practically empty in the mornings, which is when I choose to go out – it is kind of sad. They do not liven up until late at night – there is traffic all times of day now as people have special hours where they begin their workday at 10a. Thierry is starting an hour later than normal, but stays an additional hour at night. Going somewhere at 1230 in the afternoon is a big no-no (due to the traffic leaving the stores and going home for a long nap I imagine to forget about food) but I am stuck because that is when I pick Tristan up from school. Although I am happy to “experience” Ramadan, I think next year I will be happy to stay out of the country while it is going on. 530p is sundown and is celebration called "iftar,” when everyone fasting breaks their fast, traditionally with a date and juice. The hotels have big tents set up with grand meals and entertainment that lasts until 2am. I've concluded that every night is one big party, hence, not a good time to start the One Year Diet if you are Muslim. The Ritz-Carlton tent is renowned among the community. Wednesday night, Thierry and I are going on a Harley ride with the chapter here and then attending an organized dinner in the Ramadan tent of the Four Seasons Hotel. Ramadan is going to end the 24th of October, and so begins Eid Al Fitr, a 3-day celebration signifying the end of fasting and Ramadan.

There is a new sports satellite channel called “SportsNet America,” where we can catch many NFL, NHL and Cardinal’s games. My Sunday mornings before Thierry goes to work consist of checking the Cardinals scores as well as of course, SC.

We now have a dryer : )

I need to get a gas hookup for our BBQ, which has an USA adapter. I wish I had emptied out our propane canister and packed it with our things.
Here is a picture of the Doha skyline, which is growing. I’ll take more pictures of the city for you – LOTS of construction.

doha daily 10/1/06

My Summer Vacation,” by Tristan B Grandsire

France: Normandy, Brittany, Omaha Beach, Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo, Chateau Mont-Marin, Oysters in Cancale (Tristan ate frites, of course), Deauville, Trouville, Nice, The Galion Plage, LOTS of motorcycles/scooters everywhere you look, canyoning outside of Auron (This was Thierry, Sydney and I), golf at Valcros, Cap Benat, going by boat to Port Cros and Ile du Levant, jumping into the sea from off the side of the boat for the first time.

…Yet most important, seeing friends and family.

USA: The Magic House, St. Louis Zoo, The Butterfly House, a Cardinals game in the new Busch Stadium, visiting Mobile, Alabama and the new wharf for 3 days, Tristan’s wharf swing, downtown Fairhope, visiting Great-Grandparents for Tristan’s first time in Louisville, the trip to Los Angeles for 5 days, running along the strand in Playa del Rey, the afternoon at the Santa Monica pier, golf at Algonquin, Fox Run and Green Briar, Steak n Shake, IMO’s, TNG’s, Ted Drewes, Target, Schnucks and Trader Joe’s, and real-time American sports on the weekends!

…Yet most important, seeing friends and family.

WHAT A SUMMER!!!!! And now, we’re back home with Thierry : ). Just at the start of Ramadan – an experience I look forward to “experiencing” and writing about for oh, say, the next 3 weeks? Actually, the biggest thing for ME will be the closing of the coffee shops during the day – For those of you who ask me what I do all day and I reply, “Oh, I occasionally have coffee with my ex-pat friends!” WELL…NOT FOR THE NEXT MONTH MISSY! Thierry and I went for a motorcycle ride mid-day Friday which was actually quite pleasant in the mid-90’s and little humidity. We had to stop at a supermarket in Al Khor for a bottle of water and hid from the public to drink. Tristan and I visited the brand new Carrefour supermarket just down the street – THAT is going to be a very convenient thing for us, as all other supermarkets make us battle the traffic to get to them. Traffic is HORRIBLE again for us, as most people have been given abbreviated Ramadan hours, beginning their day at 10:00am. And what I thought was going to be completed and finished road works by the time we returned, is very far from reality. More and more stories are emerging on how the city is not NEARLY ready for these games – it is probably that way in every “Olympic city,” though, right? Although, here, amidst the desert white flatland with cranes towering over all major skyscrapers, as well as what feels like MORE traffic diversions than in July, it seems a tad more obvious.

Tristan and I returned to Doha at night so we were unable to see….THIS! Check it out! We are at the 6-mos mark today and the trees are already over the wall!
See you!