Happy New Year to my Readers

Toboggan party in 1910 greeting card by almawad
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Thank you everyone for following this blog in 2013 .Thank you for my readers and visitors . I hope that 2014 will bring a lots of joy cheer and success to you all .

New year's Eve celebrations in Doha and Dubai

 The United Arab Emirates is preparing for an extravagant New Year Eve celebration in Dubai with  some  record -breaking huge fireworks .At the same time a lots of hotels in the UAE were forced to cancel their New Year's Eve programs as the organizer agency broke contract with them without any explanation . In Doha   a lots of concerts , dinners ,parties  are planned -almost all of them in five -star hotels ,nothing extravagant but the prizes . A ticket for the Arab Idol concert at the La Cigale hotel may cost 1200 rials .

see more  offers in Doha 

Moroccan Handicraft Week

Exhibition of 55 artisans and artists from Morocco
live calligraphy signatures, pottery, ceramic, wood, carpet ,embroidery, oil candles,traditional
clothing


26 Dec - 5 Jan 2014 10:00:am - 10:00:pm 

Katara - Building 3

Light in Moroccan Kitchen Cards by atross13
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Fun run at Aspire Park on New Year's Eve

Fun run at Aspire Park on New Year's Eve

No winners no losers - small gifts for everyone !

You are invited to this event if you are able to run 5 km and you are over 12 years .
Event Name : Aspire NYE Run Around
When : December 31 2013
What time : 6 :30 pm
Entry Fee : 30 QR

Register here

New Year’s Eve with Arab Idols at La Cigale , Doha

New Year’s Eve with Arab Idols – Mohammed Assaf and Farah Youssef


December 31 2013
10:00 pm


Tickets are available at La Cigale Hotel at QR600, QR800, QR1,000 and QR1,200, depending on the seating category.

For more information or reservations, contact 4428 8888

Nigel Kennedy Concert on 27 December 2013 in Qatar

Nigel Kennedy Concert on 27 December 2013 in Qatar

A wonderful event with a formidable violinist .
I am really so sorry that I can't go : (

The name of the concert :Bach meets Fats Waller

Jazz and experimental
Baroque music (1600 – 1760)
even he will play Hungarian csardas !


Friday - December 27, 2013 - 07:30 PM
Katara Cultural Village - Doha - Opera House- Seated
Doors Open 07:10 PM

Some tickets were still available when I checked out Virgin tickets page ! 200 QR - 300 QR

Maestro Kennedy - I hope you will come back to Doha on a day when I am better off and can see you performing live

so far I have youtube !

Travelling to Paris or Doha

Paris and Doha . Both cities I know .Had been to Paris and have been living in Doha for more than a decade .
I created luggage tags for those who travel to those cities .

I got in my unique design shop also business card design related to Paris or Doha . Check them out by clicking on the images .

Paris comes to Doha - Humor in Arabia

Qatar is the official destination of Paris Saint-Germain. Paris' most famous sporting club visit Qatar each year for its annual winter tour to enjoy amazing sports facilities, true Arabian hospitality and of course, the winter sun. Learn more about the partnership at http://psg.qatartourism.gov.qa



See this commercial to find out what Doha would  look like if it was under French protection :) Humor in Arabia by Qatar Tourism Authorities  .

authentic living legend, a strong example of emancipation.

Sheikha Mozah. First Lady of Qatar,mother of seven - she raises the bar of glamour for women in international politics . The Vogue called her "authentic living legend, a strong example of emancipation"

This is the season

funny vintage Xmas baby Postcards by almawad
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 though Xmas is not official holiday here - it is just a simple  week day - it might happen that you can not arrange something because the person you need took holiday - most of the schools close for a winter holiday as well  -so a lots of families travel abroad regardless of their religion

A rare find on flickr

Sheikha Mozah first Lady of Qatar. Attends WISH gala dinner with Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco on the 10th December in Doha, Qatar.

GLAMOROUS! In white gown with the spectacular cape from Valentino Fall/Winter Couture. Valentino, impeccable choice as always; the clutch is also from Valentino.

Numbers in Qatar -14

14 football pitches is the size of the Largest National Flag in the world .
Qatar has created a new Guinness Record .

With other words it is 101,978 sq m  = 9.8 tonnes = 200,000 school bags for schoolchildren when recycled

see image here

National Day Filmmaking Challenge 2013

48-Hour teams rallied on the weekend on Dec 12-14 to tell their story and make a film from scratch .

Snow in the Middle East

           Snow in the Middle East . Snow in Syria war zone . Snow fields in  West Bank city of Nablus .The cupolas of the mosques are covered by the snow .The camel is sitting in the snow . Children and fighters are building snowmen  -not very beautiful ones -they are just beginners :)   see photos here
And in Qatar ? No there is no snow here but suddenly it is cold . Suddenly we are looking for the box where our sweaters ,caps ,tights are packed away . Suddenly we count the number of the thick blankets we have .We drink much more hot drinks than before .And we wonder if that lousy heater from last year  still works .
                                                                                                                             

Our Book Fair Experience 2013

Arriving there my husband dropped us as it was not easy to find parking space .Later he told us he had to leave the car at the Katara - as no space was available closer ,
The fair was huge .So many stalls and publishers .We concentrated on books for kids .Bought some fun math books for my math lover and a beautiful big book for the craft lover child . Then they became tired and listened to the story-tellers -both Arabic and English .That gave me the chance to look around on my own .I found so many Arabic publishers .I have heard that only 30% of the population is Arabic speaking here  - there were a lots of books in English as well .I was disturbed by the stalls -so many of them are selling in a way that you can not take a book in  your hand but you have to ask for it from high shelf .It is difficult to browse this way the books .  I was interested in language learning ,cook books ,alternative medicine .But I found nothing exciting . There might have been some -but    checked out only a little part of the fair . There were no any information about where to look for those books . I saw people walking with the Tribe bookshop bag  - I like that place and wished to check them out but simply could not find their stall .
Many kinds of educational toys were on sale as well .I looked for a simple traditional chess set -but found no one .
Exhausted by the book hunt we took a rest on the red velvet seats of the lounge .I love Exhibition Center .It is so chic .Just this time the only cafe there was so much crowdy that it was rather a tiring than relaxing experience to get a drink .
When we were leaving I saw the famous Muslim scholar -Karadawi -arriving at the book fair .Inside the fair L .Ron Hubbard 's books were sold by smartly dressed agents . How very strange -I thought !

Doha Flea market December 6 2013

slide show of the event

Camp of Darb Alsaai - National Day programs from 8th to 18th December

Where : Darb Alsaai camp  - opposite the  Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel

When :Starts: Sunday, 8 December 2013
Ends: Wednesday, 18 December 2013

What Time :Morning Hours  From 08:00 To 12:00
Evening Hours   From 03:30 To 10:00


Heritage Village style exhibitons and activities

 What to expect : Camel taming for children and some camel shows

                                  Shooting

                                  Horse beauty show

                                   A show of Qatari riders on Arabian horses, old Qatari style

                                  School session - Shows by independent schools 

                                  Government entities Interactive and informative activities

                                  falconry hunting

                                  An exhibition of old cars used for Miqnas (hunting) in the past

                                  Al Rawi (The Story teller) 

                                  Al Rababa A musical instrument

                                  Handicrafts textile, pottery and swords making

                                  Al Azeema - Cooking Qatari authentic food, following traditional methods

                                  Al Hallal Sheep and goats grazing

                                  Albadia (Desert) Drawings inspired by the Qatari desert and its wild life

                                  Natural environment in Qatar

                                  Khatf Shraa Raising the sails of (Dhows)

                                   Falq Almahar  - Open of oysters to extract the pearl

                                  Al Mutawaa - Teacher who used to teach kids in Mosque in the past

                                  Sadah radah - Running race, Qatari style

                                   Aldamah - Old entertainment game

                                    Traditional cafe

                                  Al Fereej The main tent which the traditional cultural activities will take place like Ardha Add el Qaseed (poetry reciting) Elmrada (girls traditional dance) and Oratory

                                 Al Maseera Classic Cars parade along with camels and horses

                                 Al Timba Football matches as used to be in Qatar in the past

                                  AL Hooch Play area for children under the age of 10 Years

​                                  Al Maqlat Food court

                                   HMC Health Awareness activities

Winter arrived in Qatar

Day time temperatures drop to 20 C , strong northwesterly winds , in Al Khor at night it can go down even to 12 C . This is when the winter arrives in Qatar .

What to expect in Doha ? day time  24°C, night 16 C 

 Wild geese are flyng high . The sun loses its power early   around 3 / when the sun sets it is already  feels cold . Better to take a sweater with you when you are out .

Paris Saint German vs. Real madrid - match in Qatar

  A friendly soccer match between the two legendary European teams  .  Paris saint  German against Real Madrid .

When : January 2 - 2014 5:45
Where: Khalifa Stadium , Doha Qatar
 Tickets  1 . online here 
                 2. at the stadium ticket office from 31December to 2 January
prices : 100 QR, 150 QR,  300 QR

Soccer Nut Postcard by HobbiesLeisure
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40 % - numbers in Qatar

According to the the Supreme Council of Family Affairs 40 %of marriages ends up in divorce court in Qatar .

source

Divorce Cake Stock Cards by mariabellimages
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National Day park bazaar

if  you are in art and craft then you are invited to sell at special National Day Bazaar in MIA Park on Saturday 14 December. 
 .
 National Day related items will be allowed  - including food ,homemade and handmade products such as jewelry  arts, crafts, clothing, souvenirs and much more. 
 It was today that this ad was published on the MIA facebook page .I wonder if this was not too late . To prepare for an event like that . If I had time or energy then I would try to sell photos / t-shirts . But I do not have .In fact I have already  designed a lots of items related to Qatar .But those items are printed in the US and it takes time to get them .

 You can have a  look at them here.

To book a table to show your National Day related products at this unique event, please register at nationaldaybazaar@qma.org.qa or Mobile +97455510744 , Office +97444224536 by 3.30pm on Wednesday 11 December

The usual Park bazaar in December - review

One month ago we were suffering by the heat when visiting the bazaar . This month it was already much colder and very windy . A sweater was not exaggeration after sunset ... Some of the stalls were turned over by a heavy gust of wind .

We found a  good number of sellers and contrary to our expectation it was not full of Xmas related items . If I had arrived with  a lots of money I would have certainly bought some African batik textile /Indian carved chess set / a book from Gillespie about Qatar  and more Italian dishes from the stall of that lady . I learned a very important thing . Pizza frita or something  is just like our Hungarian langos . That fried flat bread that is so much loved in Hungary . I have always thought that it was a Hungarian recipe . Now I am not sure at all .

Saturday , December 7 Park Bazaar at MIA

The MIA Park Bazaar returns this Saturday!

 MIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of the old souq  with a vibrant mix of sellers of arts and cratfs /second hand books/clothes /home made dishes with around 150 stalls. 

Located at MIA Park, Saturday 7 Dec, 12pm – 8pm. For more info http://www.mia.org.qa/mia-park/park-bazaar

http://youtu.be/ENyTPrvPscQ

 art by  Dana Diala who will be selling on Saturday
 see more  at this facebook page Handmade Qatar

Reading is fun

Reading is Fun! Chipmunk Postcard by Meg_Stewart
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Keep Calm and Keep Reading Post Card by baxella
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Illustration of Mother and Daughter Reading Postcards by corbisimages
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Chimpanzee Reading Newspaper Post Card by corbisimages
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Vintage Child Reading a Book, Jessie Willcox Smith Postcard by YesterdayCafe
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Vintage Photo Japanese Geisha Postcard by Stark_Raving_Realist
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The Annual Book Fair 2013

 Reading is Good ! Browsing books and taking them home is cool too !
 Language learning , art and craft ,classics , antique books  are my favorites . The Doha book Fair is huge  it is worth visiting between  4 -14 December ,2013 .It will take place in the Exhibition Center . The British publishers will be the special guests with 200  square meter  to display their books .Do not miss it !

Reading Together Post Card by tnmpastperfect
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It will be opened  on 4 December around 6 pm  - expect a Scottish folk dance show around this time .

young Qatari boy in coma - again a manhole accident

 Why those workers  who lift the manholes do not think they should cover it once they finished their work ?

 Again a child suffered terrible accident and we all hope he will survive the  fractures in his skull and internal bleeding in his brain .For the time being he is in coma .

The accident happened at Qatar University ,female entrance  9.30 on Thursday night  . The child was a passenger of a car which hit an open manhole there then the car was flung off the road .

How many child victim  will make authorities to punish hard dangerous practices before any  tragedy ?

Street Manhole Covers Post Cards by mollymortphotography
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Leopard attacks five year old in Doha

 An innocent looking leopard cub attacked a five year old local boy in Doha , Qatar yesterday .The attack happened near the circus tent which can be found in the parking lot of  Hyatt Plaza . The mother of the victim just wanted to take photo with the leopard cub as a paid service available there when the cub seized the throat of the preschooler to the greatest horror of the mother and the  visitors . Some men threw themselves on the wild animal and with great hardship they managed to pull the leopard cub from the boy .He was rushed to the hospital . Luckily he survived the attack .

International organizations has been protesting against animals  in the circus for decades .Such attacks happen world wide quite often .

UPDATE ; the little boy is out of  danger but still in hospital 


STRANGE :  somewhere I read that the boy's name is Fahd which means leopard in Arabic ...Nomen est Omen ?
source

Snow Leopard Cub Post Card by prophoto
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