Back home, but sick as thanks to the Dust Storm...

On my final day/evening in Doha, when walking around, I was amazed at the amount of people sitting around, in parks, buildings trying to find some shade in the very late part of the daylight... But, I had NO idea what it was all about until I realised I was walking down the street that had all of the banks, and the people were waiting (even on a Friday) for them to open and withdraw their wages! It wasn't until around 6pm that people started moving, joining lines and scuffles were on!!!

Doha Waiting for Banks to open, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Doha Bank Waiting, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I also got this shot of the two swords, I will have to do some research to learn exactly what they are about though!

Doha Al Samad, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

As well as being back, Sydney yesterday had a major dust storm... The only problem I had with it all was that the night before, we had a good old thunderstorm pass through, and I opened up my windows to enjoy the fresh air! 5.15am when I woke up, the morning sky was as red as anything I had ever seen... Then I realised, I had bedroom windows open, and after a couple of hours when getting ready for work, I started to wheeze pretty bad, and I new I would not be getting to work and hunted down an old Ventolin... By lunch, I was at the doctors surgery, on a nebuliser and being closely monitored, or off to emergency! I ended up AOK, and a quick trip to the chemist ($145 poorer) back home and sealed up the house!

And, here are the pets, I haven't posted about them in such a long while... Macc is his usual self sleepy head on his bed, whilst Jasmine, still with a little red tinge about her, taking comfort in the leather lounge!

Sleeping Macc, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Sleeping Jasmine, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

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Doha through my camera...

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Changing face of Doha (Thematic Photographic)

Yesterday, when I was in my meeting, we got talking about the amount of demolition & construction work was happening in Doha at the moment. I walking around the day prior, I had noticed that a lot of the buildings were being demolished in a sort of revival type fashion.

Doha, which is not that big a city, is built along the shores of the Corniche. On one side is a 'New' Doha, whilst on the other, the side that I am currently staying on, is the 'Old'. When viewing across the Corniche and the harbour from the office yesterday afternoon, it is really such a stark difference between the two! The far side, full of multi story, glass and steel towers, whilst on this side, it is filled with stone, brick and concrete buildings, most of which are lucky to be under two or three stories. There are a few to the exception and these are mainly Hotels.

So I thought, I would grab, where I could, a few photos of some of the works in progress. There was many MANY more, but in the limited time I had, and the workman at the gates or nearby (and me not wanting to offend anyone and be thrown in jail!), I managed these two sites. The first is an old Hotel, which I understand had been closed for many years as it was seen by the Royal Family, 'too close' to the Palace, and wanted it closed/removed. I guess they got their wish:

Old Hotel, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

At first, I thought it was under repair after a bomb had hit it (and thought I got the wrong flight and ended up in Kuwait or Afghanistan, but no, I was in Doha! The second I was walking past, and all I could see was a dust cloud (of sorts) as I approached. Oddly, opposite there was a new hotel (or apartment's maybe) being constructed, and all of the dust was going into it. I pitied the painters on the inside with windows open!

Changing face of Doha, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

So, today is my last FULL day here, and the day is mine. I have been trying to catch up with a friend here, who I met in Feb when I was here, but time schedules have not been the best, so maybe another time. So I went across to the 'New' Doha and here is what the construction is like:

Doha New Construction, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Doha New Construction, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

It is also the Eid Holiday, which is a very big event. The papers FULL PAGE ADVERTISMENTS, are all congratulating as per the following:

On the happy occasion of

EID AL FITR

We extend our congratulations to

Eid Holiday, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

His Highness The Emir

Skeikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani

His Highness The Heir Apparant

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani

and the people of Qatar

So I suppose I had better send my congrats to them as well, just to keep on their good side...

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Written Inc.: Thematic Photographic 67 - Urban

Doha by night (and some day...)

Doha Night Skyline, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Tonight, I went out with my trusty, albeit OLD, Olympus C-50 camera and that above pic is the resulting shot I got... Well, it was a series of four that gave it to me, shhhh....

When I was walking back to my hotel, through the Souk, I also got a photo of the 'Pearl' and also the Doha Islamic Cultural Centere:

Doha Pearl, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Doha Islamic Cultural Center II, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Tonight’s meeting went well, and I suspect I have also met a very good friend. He is from Mumbai, and is very knowledgeable. BUT, in more exciting news, I have today found out, that a photo of mine is now a published (on the internet, but heck, it's published) so go and have a look (it's about half way down), tell me if you find it!

Tomorrow, I am again have another meeting, this time, at 1.45, I am being picked up and taken to the office... Then it will be onwards to various sites from there, so things are progressing nicely. This trip has also earned me the status of SILVER Skywards membership, yeah! ------

An Inland Sea in Qatar!

First, this is going to be a very QUICK post, as I am about to go into Old Doha for a bit of shopping before it gets to hot and unattractive (as in, for me when I am walking around, wet from sweat, yes, VERY unattractive I know)!

Yesterday was a very tiering day to say the least... It all started when the phone rang at 5.15am... NOT my mobile which was thankfully on silent due to time zones, but the hotel phone which was right at my ear! I was sort of awake anyway, but I was definitely awake after that!

I eventually got up, showered and ready for my meeting and headed down to breakfast... Food here is just fantastic, and the meeting went really REALLY well! It was a 2 and a bit hours of various discussions about Doha. I am now going to be having a follow-up meeting on Thursday morning sometime, that’s how well it went!

So, after the meeting I went quickly into the streets below where there is an abundance of shops, selling anything and everything, and it is replicated (randomly) like some weird scientific experiment! But, nevertheless, it is cheap! I made a purchase of a broad brimmed hat (NO, I did not forget mine, it was crushed beyond all recognition at home!) for the afternoon in the dunes. And on that note, I will let my pics tell the story of the afternoon, as I have gotta run!

Inland Sea Safari, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. Doha Desert Safari 2, 2. Doha Desert Safari 1, 3. Doha Desert Safari 4, 4. Doha Desert Safari 5

Inland Sea Safari, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. Doha Inland Sea, 2. Doha Inland Sea Pink Flamingo's, 3. Doha Desert Safari Downhill

Inland Sea Safari, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. Doha Inland Sea Dinner Table, 2. Doha Camels, 3. Doha Inland Sea Camp, 4. Doha Inland Sea------

Welcome to Doha, Qatar

Ok, so a lot has happened over the last couple of days... Last Friday, I was sent a confirmation of flights for a meeting I was to have in Doha, leaving SATURDAY! That's right, 24 hours notice to fly half way around the world...
Emirates have an amazing product for their new A380. Here is me in the first class suite and a picture of the First class shower that is onboard:

A6-EDD First Class Suite

A6-EDD First Class Suite Top

A6-EDD First Class Shower

Once I got to Dubai, 14.25 hours direct, it was amazing. It is just like a huge shopping mall! I was told today, that it turns over $1M USD a day, and after seeing it, I would believe it as well!

Dubai Terminal Shopping Mall

Dubai Car Promotion

Dubai Terminal 3 Garden

Depart DXB for DOH Haze

I finally arrived in Doha 8.35am local, some 17 odd hours after leaving Sydney. I had about 6 hours sleep (broken mind you...) on the flight and was not feeling too bad at all. There was a slight mix up regarding the hotel, which was a shame as the original one looked great, but the one I am in now, will do just fine. I had a quick shower and prepared for my first meeting after have a Tour of some of the facilities nearby:

Welcome to Doha Qatar

Royal Qatar Suite

Aspire Zone & Tower

Aspire Tower

Kahfila Stadium
So, this is a quick summary, as I have had a sleep but my body is still in Sydney time, instead of Doha time 2.32am!
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