The Huangs not guilty according to Qatari court

The parents of Gloria -a little child who was found dead in her room after four days of not eating were acquitted from the charges of starving their child   to death .
 The parents were aware of the eating disorder she had had but never took her to any doctor in Qatar .They knew that she was hungry still they locked her in her bedroom for nights because of her garbage eating habit .( Why did not they lock the garbage  bin rather ?)

Their  case  shared  the public opinion  very much . Some people prefer to see them as totally innocent people who were the victim of a  bad bad  Middle Eastern justice  system which might have been biased towards the American couple with Chinese origin .

Others see their  case as a pure case of parental negligence  - a case which would get harsh punishments  in their own country .
Gloria was an adopted little girl from Ghana . She had been suffering from an infection as well which was not treated either .Her American parents had all the means to provide her the best medical care possible . But they did not !After all the procedures of higher and lower courts it is still not clear why they  failed to take her to one clinic in Qatar !

A video for music and hedgehog lovers

Post by Genady Gorodetski.

Piano lessons in Doha

1. Qatar Music Academy 

you pay for a term or for a full academc year /around 4 000 rials
location Katara QMA buildng 08

2 .Steinway Showrooms -Pearl

adult group course is specially designed to teach people how to teach themselves
From September to June, they have two groups every week: one on Tuesdays (ladies only) and one on Wednesdays (mixed). Each month, they start with a new group. Classes are given in their showroom 6 to 7 pm, by  qualified instructors.

Costs of the course are QAR 2000 (for 4 lessons). - together with a friend you pay only QAR 1000 per person.

3 Mrs. Daniela Skaf

Mrs. Daniela Skaf is now a distinguished teacher in harp, piano and keyboards in the area of Doha, Qatar. Currently she works at the International Academy of Dance, Music and Arts in Doha. She also gives lessons in harp and piano privately.

Mobile: +974 660 20264

more info on piano teachers
you can check out this conversation too

Avenue 23 cafe - my breakfast experience

The breakfast was served with style - the tea came in a glass kettle and a candle kept it warm . It was not the usual tea bag but some pressed herbal tea in a metal tea infuser .We were sitting upstairs in a small room with glass partitions to separate us from the smoking guests .The windows were looking for the shabby area of Bin Mahmoud . If only it was in a nice park !
The white and purple decor /the comfortable armchairs made the place to have a stylish and cosy feel .

The time to taste the breakfast came !The omelet was very good - just a bit oily /just a bit hot with green chilly .The sausage was fried and very nice .The baked bean was nothing special .The labneh platter came with cut vegetables and toasts -it was artistic ! Very nice .
We ordered some crepe as well .It had beautiful look - as you expect a crepe in a five star hotel not in a street cafe .
Unfortunately , I forgot that chocolate cream means around here Nutella .That was disappointing .But the kids liked it - it came with banana and walnut pieces . It is also very strange for me that they do not sell in Qatar sweets stuffed with ground walnuts .Is it because the walnut grinder costs a fortune ? And the electric grinders are not really good ? Yeah I come from the country of Gundel crepe and I am very critical .The crepe with fresh fruits also came with Nutella . That really made me upset .No other filling exists around here ?

As we were leaving we saw everywhere only men - no one woman or family .

We arrived at this place on a Friday morning with coupons - just to hear that they do not serve breakfast on Friday mornings - they do not have chef !
We came back on Saturday morning - they had no clue what the advertisement promised us as breakfast . Finally what we got was totally different from what was promised . We did not make a fuss about it - and it was good . We had to wait 40 minutes for the breakfast .All the place have a very strong smell of cigarette . The smell in the small non-smoking rooms was of a chemical which was to neutralize the smoke's smell .

It is located right next to the Red Lobster restaurant at the end of the Al-jazeera street .

Sabah , the singer died at age 87

Lebanon mourns legendary 'songbird' #Sabah http://t.co/uSCS9ZdFAU #songbirdSabah pic.twitter.com/ElIXfTZCxC
— Gulf-Times (@GulfTimes_QATAR) November 26, 2014

 The legendary songbird , the Lebanese  Sabah died the other day  .She was 87  and she has been singing for 60 years .  She had more than 3000 songs during this time . She is popular all over the Arab world among Muslims and Christians .
 I saw her around ten years ago  in TV shows  many people wondered how old she was but she did not answer those questions - she had  young  look but her voice sounded old . Actually I am surprised that she was only 87 - I  thought she was well above 90 .

Equestrian Photography Competition

Theme : the Arabian horse in action
Prize :a trip to France’s most prestigious equestrian event, the Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe which will take place on the first weekend of October 2015, return flights and a 4-night stay at a 5-star luxury hotel in Paris
Deadlines :
until midnight 31st January 2015

who can participate ; anyone  who is 18 or older with a a valid qatari  id

more details

Arabian mare profile poster by almawad

new women and maternity hospital soon opens

 New women and maternity hospital will have 200 beds, Qatar is a young society . Unlike other parts of the world the rich and the middle class have a lots of kids . The economic stability encourages expat families  to have more babies   than their middle class compatriots would typically have in their own country .
The number of deliveries  is 21,000 annually in Qatar hospitals . Delivery outside the hospital is not allowed .Hospital beds sometimes simply not enough .
The government 's hospital service has different levels to accommodate mothers . The standard rooms usually have 2 /4 beds with telephone /TV  and bathroom  and chair  bed for the relative who would like to stay with the mother .
Private rooms have only one bed with bathroom and with all the above mentioned services .Private suits at hospitals have a little "living room"  for the mother can have a place for visitors .

Government hospital's doctor have huge experience  - but those who prefer private hospital they can choose from 2 - 3 places ...They get for their money  five star hotel like experience .
It is also chic to go abroad for delivery ....but that is another story .

New buses and taxis coming soon

Mowasalat  announced  that they ordered more buses and their new 150 buses are being  produced . When those buses arrive  then the public transport company will have 300 buses in their fleet .
They are planning to invite more people/company to join the private taxi franchise  - taxi drivers will have to pay only around 1000 rial rent  - 500 rial less than before . 

Starlight Doha Skyline by Swapna Namboodiri

Post by Qatar Collections.

Doha British School - Winter Bazaar

Post by Kids Doha.

NO -Kill shelter in Qatar gest QR 50 ,000

I was very happy to discover that there has been in Qatar a no kill shelter for animals since 2009 . Their name is 2nd Chance Rescue and the founder is Abdulla al Naemi . I was happy because I am totally disgusted from those places where they advertise " we have to kill poor thing unless you adopt it " One organization even left the cats unattended in a hot summer day in their cages when a fire broke out and pure kitties were grilled alive ... What a horror !2nd Chance Rescue is a nonprofit, no kill Rescue Shelter which takes in injured, abused and abandoned animals; nurses them back to health, and works hard to find them a loving home .So far they have a manager and two full time workers and  their capacity to shelter animals was limited to 120 .Hopefully, with this large amount they can give shelter to more animals . It was Chevron Phillips Chemical Qatar who donated this amount .

2nd Chance Rescue is welcoming anyone who would like to donate . If you are interested in their Volunteer Program, you can send them a private message or email 

2ndchancerescuedohaqatar@gmail.com.

Grand Prix Fencing - in December

when :From December 5 to 7

where;  Venue 1 : Competition being held at Aspire Dome (5-7 Dec. 2014)
Venue 2 : Finals will be held at The Gate Mall (6 & 7 Dec. 2014)


what to expect
: Fencing  Grand Prix 
 In collaboration with FIE with the slogan "One Series. Nine Cities." Doha Qatar was selected to be one of the nine cities.

Doha Flowers Expo 2014

 Where : Museum of islamic Art ( MIA) park 
 When : Thursday 20th November
12:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Friday 21st November
02:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Saturday 22nd November
12:00 pm to 10:00 pm

 What to expect :  international expo of the flower and gardening industry /live entertainment 

 more details

Qatar wins hosting rights for 2019 Athletics WC

#Qatar wins hosting rights for 2019 World Championships in Athletics : http://t.co/9RP7QFfwZb @QtrSport #Doha2019 pic.twitter.com/Sxsd0oVk7E
— Aspetar (@AspetarQatar) November 18, 2014

 Qatar celebrates as it won the rights to host the  World Championships in Athletics in 2019 . One more reason   to hurry up with all those construction projects .

Qatar and the football world cup 2022

Now that Blatter confirmed Qatar position as a host for the FIFA world cup of 2022  - and now as it is cleared from bribery allegations - now that neighboring countries  send back their diplomats I expect quick changes in the city . I expect the acceleration of construction projects and the influx of expat workers .I expat soaring rent and other prices .  I expect chaotic  traffic due to the constructions  and even fewer places at expat schools .

 I expect more entertainment and exhibitions than ever  remembering the years before the Asian Olympic games in 2006 . One festival came after the other ...

I know people who left Qatar and now they wish to return .Life may be more exciting here than ever . May it bring good luck for everyone !

Businessman visa and truck driver visa through smartphone

Post by Ministry of Interior - Qatar.

Numbers in Qatar - 421 millions

Fancy numbers bring in QR 421mn #Qatar #Doha #FancyNumbers http://t.co/wRnp2uk5eY pic.twitter.com/QsoPjLjkQO
— Gulf-Times (@GulfTimes_QATAR) November 14, 2014

 There was an online auction the other day in Qatar . Fancy registration numbers were sold  by the Traffic  Department. 19  numbers sold and brought 421 million of Qatari Riyal .

Thai snack restaurant - debunked myth

I had read so many good things about this restaurant before .On the tripadvisor it had been called the best budget restaurant of Doha . I had high expectations .

At least to eat something tasty ...

The interior of the place was shockingly low level . Very low ceiling with some pink paint and some posters advertising the Thai tourism and large -painted fans .

The guests were   strange fellows that one never sees in Doha . I just asked myself where all those people come from .Ethiopians or Americans in large group with one single female with them ,  old rocker looking Brits , some Far - Eastern people .

Their menu was very large .Illustrated . One dish cost from 20 -35 QR -the large steamed fish around 70 .One soft drink was 5 - home made ice tea 8 .

I asked for chicken noodle soup . It came quickly in a large melamine bowl . It was full of small pieces of chicken which clearly was not cooked in the soup -but looked like leftover chicken torn into small pieces .It was very disgusting -I had to force myself to eat it . It had no taste - I had to season it ...
The kids asked for fried fish - for 30 rials they brought some little pieces of fried  Pangasius fish  on a very small plate . The children
ate it quickly and they were still very hungry. I ordered two steamed rice for them - they served only one - then later they wanted to make us pay for three .
The curry was also very disappointing - having no taste - some tasteless gravy with very small portion of chicken ...

I am not a connoisseur of the Thai cuisine . But for similar prices I had already had much better meals at the Thai smile
restaurant at Al-Bida park .Sometimes I cook at home yellow curry in Thai style ...I have always thought that it was very amateurish dish - I just cooked chicken/beef cubes in coconut milk and Thai curry mix from the supermarket - but my beginner's tries tasted like gourmet specialty compared to this one.

It was not cheap at all - we payed 200 QR and we were still hungry .Next to us I saw a young Korean looking couple sharing one single noodle soup then payed . This way it might worth it .
I do not recommend this place to anyone . If you wish to have Thai food then rather look for the Thai smile restaurant .At least at the Al-Bida park they had a much better looking interior with tastier dishes and happier service .Now  that branch is closed as all the park did close but they have other branches in the city .

Beautiful bottle trees at the Aspire Park

Post by ‎وزارة البلدية والتخطيط العمراني‎.

Beat Diabetes Walkathon | Life In Aspire

Beat Diabetes Walkathon | Life In Aspire BEAT DIABETES WALKATHON Awareness about diabetes and healthy lifestyle.  Participants will walk one/two kilometers on the track around the lake in Aspire Park  
Date: 14/11/2014 -Friday
Time: 15:00 - 18:00
 Collect your free T-shirt and cap from 1pm onwards
Free blood glucose test
Live music
Fitness& Zumba session
Kids Fun Zone
Sports Zone
Drumming and more

Aspire Park Poster by almawad
Look for more office art at zazzle.com

Art competition for students at MIA

Would you like to see your artwork published and displayed at MIA?
All you need to do is enter the Marvellous Creatures Art Competition by 15 December, 2014. 20 finalists will have their work selected for publication in an illustrated album. 

Who can apply:  all students born between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 1998 living in Qatar and abroad.

Works must illustrate ONE of the 4 stories provided

a 2‐dimensional art media wanted

Original art wanted

Prize : 
The 20 finalists will be awarded by the panel of judges during a reception for the opening of the exhibition, to be held in the MIA Library.

 more details 

The most prominent families in Qatar

Qatar, Top 10 Families (Weighted by market value) 

Thani (rulers)

 Mohannadi
 Attiya
 Suwaidi
 Kamal
 Ibrahim
 Salat
 Mana

 Hitmi
 Fardan

 Note :a family in Qatar might be much bigger than in the west -  some families have thousands or ten thousand members - I guess

source

Korean language courses at QU soon

Korean language courses  will be available for Qatar university students from the next academic year .
Qatar University (QU) and Korea Foundation established a Korean language teaching programme at QU .

source


South Korea and Qatar established diplomatic relations in 1974.
Their estimated number here is around  2 thousand .Five Qatari nationals -112  students, 2,067 had other types of visas.


North Korean workers are reported to be among the lowest paid in the country, earning US$170/month.

Learn more about the Koreans in the Arab world .

Korean Alphabet Hangul (Consonants&Vowels) Poster by masterkorean
Browse more Southkorea Posters

2nd Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS 2014)

When : 11 - 14 November 2014
Where ; Mourjan Marina/Lusail City
What to expect :
boat builders and suppliers of marine equipment set up their stalls at the venue
they are from the region / France / Italy /UK /US

Visitors could tour the marina during the four-day exhibition
My tip : go there even if you are not interested in boats as it is a wonderful new marina of Doha - not discovered by the crowds yet

Dhows a big draw among visitors to boat show http://t.co/lP5pIJGYqH #doha #QIBS #qatar pic.twitter.com/tD0d1wtCLU
— Gulf-Times (@GulfTimes_QATAR) November 13, 2014

yacht in the bay print by almawad
Shop for Posters & Prints online at Zazzle.com

Eric Lanlard baking Master Classes today in Doha

#Qatar are you ready to go #bakingmad with @TavolaME & @EatopiaQatar ?#baking classes in this #Gorgeous Food Emporium pic.twitter.com/rKYIDup6Gx
— eric lanlard (@eric_lanlard) November 10, 2014

Eric Lanlard, the “Cake Boy” is in Doha on 10th and 11th November.
Eric Lanlard, aka the Cake Boy and star of Channel 4’s Baking Mad, will be giving baking Master Classes on 10th and 11th in Doha, courtesy of Tavola

QR 1,750 per day

Camping Season is Here

Enjoy camping with the family this season. Apply online now through the link: http://t.co/h2MmzhTbOG #Hukoomi #Qatar pic.twitter.com/bqysK6mpod
— حكومي - قطر (@HukoomiQatar) November 9, 2014

711 entries for novel competiton

Katara, the Cultural Village
Foundation’s Arabic Novel
Prize has received some 711
entries.157 novels were submitted
by women .The Arab Spring countries
have also the largest number
of  authors ,particularly  Egypt's ones .

1,900 students barred from school exams

1,900 students barred from mid-term school exams at the Independent Schools . The Supreme Educational Council had warned students before taking this step . Simply there were too many students missing classes without proper reasons , Those who were absent seven days or more will be barred from exams .

 source

Car accident in Doha

car accident in Doha pic.twitter.com/8OATWUbcRA
— Qatar Tribune (@Qatar_Tribune) November 8, 2014

Doha Book Fair in January

Don't miss the 25th @DohaBookFair from 7 - 17 Jan. at Doha Exhibition Center. http://t.co/rOmDBIUdkp #Hukoomi #Qatar pic.twitter.com/8S9f7mh5dV
— حكومي - قطر (@HukoomiQatar) November 4, 2014

Rough fights at Al- Mana Secondary School

Qatar is not typically the place where rough and noisy fights or quarrels happen .The locals themselves are rather of quiet nature and the expats embraced this " khalivali "= let it go culture .Avoiding the conflicts is part of the daily routine around here .That is why someone gets surprised when hears reports about a brawl in a school .

17 students were arrested when a fight broke out at Al-Mana Secondary School . The school administration could not control the situation and called the police to prevent serious injuries . Not all

the parents were happy with this solution . They think the school should have solved the problem themselves .

source

Free screening Rio at MIA park

Attending our free "Rio" screening tomorrow at MIA Park? Screening will start at 7:35 PM instead of 7 PM. #Qatar pic.twitter.com/nl9VJKXGaO
— Doha Film Institute (@DohaFilm) November 5, 2014

Yoga classes for ladies in Qatar

yoga woman shirts by almawad
Look at custom t-shirts online at Zazzle

where : Shimmers Yoga Studio/
AL-Siraj St. Opposite Peninsula Building D-ring Road Near Lulu Hyper Market
Doha
instructor : Reena Sahoo

Yoga Classes Timings:

6am to 7am
7am to 8 am

4pm to 5 pm
5pm to 6 pm.




call for appointment 33252536

Sunday deadly accident

The story is brief and so much deja vue ...
Land cruiser strayed from the road and killed someone at a workshop working peacefully . The driver also died . One injured is in critical condition ... Why someone drives this crazy way so early in the morning ? At 6:30 ....
 On Salwa road  driving towards Abu Samra ...


 source

Trees and parks in Doha

Palm trees in Doha Card by almawad
Look at Palm Cards online at Zazzle.com

Park in the Middle East Postcard by almawad
Full Color postcard printing on zazzle

Park in the Middle East Card by almawad
Check out other Palm trees Cards at zazzle.com

Under the Palm tree Greeting Card by almawad
Design your own card at Zazzle

Single plumeria card by almawad
More Single Cards

unusual tree greeting cards by almawad
See other Tree Cards at zazzle

Avoid Rumeilah/ Al-Bida Park

  I took my child for riding his little bike Friday night to the Rumeilah /Al-Bida park .
   It was full of people as usual - but it was like a nightmare .
No playgorund at all . It vanished . Around the lake missing fences / at the top of the hills -missing fences . Every toilet closed . Two buffets are still open but the Thai smile restaurant closed down ...
Kids can fall into the lake and  die =kids can fall off the higher areas onto concrets - kids are peeing around ...

 Later I found a notice that the park is under maintenance .
At other place I found an article that it is closed officially . 

 Why people are not warned ? How people with small kids are allowed to enter  when  all the area is full of hazardous objects ! How the  buffets are allowed to be open when the toilets are all closed !

Memory of the old parks of Doha

I met a young mother at a party. When we told her that we have been here for more than a decade then she said " Qatar must have been terrible when you arrived .. I mean there were no greens and parks "

Park in the Middle East Mouse Mats by almawad
View more Palm trees Mousepads at zazzle.com

I was thinking about it - when we arrived along the Corniche -
there were 3 parks - The Sheraton park , Al- Bida , Museum park - I think all three are closed now
At weekend they were quite crowdy then we would go to Muntazah park . It was never crowdy - there was a very small entrance fee - and the fee kept the crowds away ...the great old trees .. the fountains , the swings , they were all wonderful . Then it was closed down for maintenance .10 years ago !

For an affordable fee there was a ferry boat taking us to the Palm-tree island .It was like a tale !Fresh air and palm trees everywhere !

Yes , Aspire park , and MIA park came later - and I like both - but the memory of the trees and old parks is still strong
in my soul ...

middle east sunset posters by almawad
Search for another posters online at Zazzle

IKEA and Middle East Peace Process

Out of 193 states in the world, 138 recognise Palestine. But until yesterday, this included only three EU member states: Poland, Hungary and Slovakia - now a new EU member stepped into the club  :Sweden .

Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister :


"Sweden must understand that relations in the Middle East are much more complicated than self-assembly furniture at Ikea."

Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom


"I will be happy to send Israeli FM Lieberman an Ikea flat pack to assemble. He'll see it requires a partner, co-operation and a good manual"



 source :