Travel Blog Posts
December 18th 2006
Well I have sat on my suitcase to close it ... partied my little heart out the last few days ... and am well and truly ready to board my flight in a few hours. Have heard some nightmare stories about flights out of here in the last few days -- so let us hope that things go well for me at the airport, as I don't fancy spending Christmas in either Doha, Bahrain or Singapore. Although some funny stories too like "Luke Skywalker" being paged at the airport for about a half hour yesterday. Ha! Despite all the foreigners sitting around laughing hysterically, they kept paging him apparently. Looks like Luke isn't the only one lost in space! Things are winding up here. The colourful Games time look signs and posters have been torn down ... read more
December 9th 2006
Some good, some bad ... some very very ugly. But gives you a good idea what I have been up to! ... read more
December 8th 2006
Last night we decided that since out usual haunt was booked for a private function we would head to the only known nightclub in town ... and I mean the only nightclub. So straight away warning bells were ringing and I had grave concerns about the quality of the evening that lay ahead. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the said establishment was brand new and pumping with some alright tunes as we walked in. QUBE is the name of the club ... pronounced CUBE -- and which I believe stands for "COME UP BEHIND EM" or in my opinion by the end of the night .... "CARESS UNDERWEAR, BRAS, EVERYTHING!". Allora ... Once again as women we were let in free (warning #1), without having to go through the security check (warning #2), and ... read more
Desert parties, torrential rain and Dior watches darls ...
Published: December 7th 2006Middle East » Qatar » Doha
December 7th 2006
When I came to Doha .. the last thing I thought to pack was a rainjacket or umbrella. As all my colleagues said, 'it never rains here!'. Well I can now tell you that Doha has had more rain in the past four weeks than they have had in the past 42 years -- and we are feeling it big time today. I think it is the first time in sporting history that badminton, held in an indoor arena, has been declared a washout. Things here are progressing well, despite the hectic few days we have had covering the gymnastics competition. Some highlights of my past couple of weeks: 1. ULTIMATE DESERT PARTY aka DESERT STORM Get 130 people into an entourage of 4WD's and head off into the sands of Doha and there is bound ... read more
Das va dan ya Uncle Vanya --- from Russia with love, straight to dancing in the sands of Doha
Published: November 10th 2006Middle East » Qatar » Doha
November 10th 2006
When we accepted the offer of tickets to a local production of one of Chekov's plays - Uncle Vanya - we really didn't know what to think. Would it be local Qatari actors? Would it be in Arabic? Would it be in Russian? Would it be any good? Would we understand it? These were all the questions floating around in our heads as we piled into the trusty 4WD's and headed into the desert and towards the theatre. It was a big opening night ... lots of special guests, excitement in the air, non alcoholic drinks flowing -- and of course the chance for the actors to settle their nerves and get through their first performance unscathed. I must say it was a fantastic performance space. Great seating, a well positioned stage and good lighting. My ... read more
That Night --- Taxi Cab Confessions with Bangladesh B Boy aka "New Today" in the streets of Doha complete with offroad driving, red light running and chicken at the intersection
Published: November 8th 2006Middle East » Qatar
November 8th 2006
Considering the number of taxis I have found myself travelling in over the last week, it was to be expected that I would eventually have the taxi ride from hell. We should have known when we were waiting in the taxi line outside the Carrefour supermarket at City Centre that this was not a cab we wanted to get into. The rule of thumb is that you wait in line for your taxi -- and don't do what many of the locals do and jump the line and try to flag down a cab. So this woman carrying a couple of shopping bags jumps into this cab, ahead of the 60 or so people (including us) who were waiting somewhat patiently in the line. The next thing you know the cab control guys pull over this ... read more
November 4th 2006
Greetings from the sandy, dusty construction site that is downtown Doha. If you have no idea where that is (which is more common than you would think) it is in an interesting little island-like country called Qatar. Or "cutter" as people affectionately call it around here!! I was glad to make it here after my virgin-Gulf Air experience on the way over. Thankfully the plane was slightly below capacity on the flight over -- about 40 seats were taken out of a possible 225. So I had plenty of room to stretch out across four seats ... that would mean my flight cost about 10000 if you consider the seats I took up! The staff on Gulf Air are so helpful too ... I was pleasantly surprised to have one of the air stewards, who was ... read more
Red means go right?
Published: June 19th 2006North America » United States » California » San FranciscoJune 17th 2006
Well so much to say about our first week in the USA ... so little internet time! Have just returned from a few wild days in San Francisco and am still shaking after driving on the interstate. Can you believe that thing is six lanes wide!! Will do a more detailed blog later on ... but thought I would mention my near arrest in Monterey. Coming off the freeway with myself behind the wheel and Dad trying to navigate. Considering I am a terrible driver and he positively sucks as a navigator, we probably should have swapped over. So I am flying down the off ramp with Dad yelling directions at me when I get somewhat confused and run through a red light! Yes I know ... quite dangerous. Well I didn't hit anything or anyone ... read more
June 15th 2006
Had to make a quick mention of it ... just to prove there is a plus to a courtesy shuttle being late! Waiting with Dad outside LAX for a good hour ... I was no doubt ready to crack it -- someone was going to die making me stand there and wait when I had been up since 3am New York time! I turned to recognise a muscle machine sitting on the seat behind us. I said to Dad, almost having a heart attack, that this guy was a wrestler. None other than Rob Van Dam!! I was like a dog on heat, a child in a candy store, Leslie Nielsen at that Budapest bathhouse (see previous blog!) -- and was happy to see a young child approach him first and even happier when he got ... read more
New York State of Mind
Published: June 15th 2006North America » United States » New York » New York » ManhattanJune 15th 2006
Well New York is everything you hear about it and more ... well with a little more trash around the place that is! Dad and I jetted into the Big Apple on Friday and took off for Washington DC to mix it up with the big man .. George W .. for a few days. Does it sound stupid that we didn't realise we missed seeing the Pentagon until we left?? Washington DC is quite a happening capital city, even if the breakfast we were served at the hotel was far from happening. The only thing guranteed to happen with that meal is a quick trip to the toilet. Literally this breakfast porridge type thing smelled like puke and even resembled it -- well sans carrots anyway. Not sure what it was. All I know is ... read more
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