A new chapter: Qatar

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I am going to try to keep this short as I'm exhausted, but a lot happened today, so I'm exhausted!

I woke up this morning at 5:15 (Dubai time - one hour ahead of Doha) and finished my packing and cleaning from the previous night. I was able to fit all of my stuff for a month into my laptop bag and carryon. Go me!!!!

I was also able to catch a cab immediately upon leaving my building at 6, and we made it to the airport with no troubles. I was travelling on Fly Dubai out of Terminal 2. Terminal 2 is a very different place from the main airport; definitely the budget area, but not so bad. Because I had plenty of time, I grabbed an iced coffee and finished my book, The Illustrated Man, and started on the Princess Bride. Let me just say - I cannot believe I have never actually READ the Princess Bride, but if you haven't you should check it out. One of my top five movies, and now one of my top five books!

Anyway, so we were herded like cattle onto a bus (where I was still glued to my kindle while we wheeled around the taxiways), and then herded onto the plane. I had the whole row to myself and had my own individual tv, yet still I was glued to my book. When we landed about 45 minutes later, I saw that there was a plane full of hottie guys. I counted: six girls, including myself. Not bad... Then I returned to my book.

I had to wait in a long line at the airport for customs (still reading), collected my bags, and met Warren outside. He took me to our project at the airport to see and meet the drillers and geologists. I waited around at our site office until it was time to go to the safety training (I made myself work and not read). Ivan called me from Dubai to go over some of the project and asked what I thought of Doha so far. "Well, I don't know. I haven't even left the airport!"

Finally I did leave the airport and was subjected to the Doha driving I'd heard so much about - insanity! And our office is in the industrial part of the city, which is BFE. I honestly don't know how I'll find this place. When I arrived, I shared an office with Matt, who'd arrived the previous evening. We were both exhausted and soon requested a ride back to our respective hotels. He was staying at a nice place. Mine... eh. The hotel part seems nice. The long term stay where I am, not so much. It took me about 40 minutes to check, another 10 to find the store where I could buy my internet cable, and about 20 minutes to find my room! The towers are built like blocks: two legs with a connection across the top four floors or so. I am on floor 20, well below the top and apparently chose the wrong leg. I had to go back down and try again. There are no maps or guides and no service help. Not a great impression. Plus, the lobbies all smell like campho phenique. Ick!!!

My room is ok; better than what I expected based on the look of the lobby, but not as nice as I had hoped. I have a fridge, which actually seems to work and my a/c definitely works - brrr... No real view except of the other leg of the building. Oh well. It is very near the new area and corniches, so I can easily explore the city just by walking.

This evening, I met Matt at his hotel and we took a taxi to the Souq Wafiq. It is pretty cool. I'd read that it was super touristy and built up into a fake souq. But it is built on the old souq site and it had more of a middle eastern feel than anything I'd encountered in Dubai so far. It was full of locals and some really cool restaurants. We ate a Moroccan place and had couscous with vegetables and lamb tajine. Very good!

And now, I'm at my home for the next month and ready for bed. Good night all!

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