Ripples on Beach, Sealine Beach Resort, Qatar, Middle East






Qatar is a peninsula surrounded by the sea .It has more than 700 km of this kind of shore .It might be a day greater treasure than the gas and petrol .If you are looking for a job/position in tourism you will certainly find one .

the sea and the sky by almawad
See other Sea Business Cards

A Hungarian - Iranian group - the singer is Persian and the musicians are Hungarians .

Golestan is a Southern-Hungary-based world music group of Hungarian folk and rock musicians led by Doctor Khonji, a Persian living in Pécs, Baranya. They perform songs in Achom, a South-Iranian language of the Khonj community. Their musical arrangements are of a hybrid style including Persian nomadic, Hungarian, Gypsy and other popular elements.
They are going to perform this week in Abu Dhabi and  Dubai ...

Japan Relief T-Shirt Tee Shirt from Zazzle.com

Japan Relief T-Shirt Tee Shirt from Zazzle.com

Japan Relief T-Shirt by japanrelief
Begin selling my art online at zazzle.

Designed in support of relief efforts in Japan, this t-shirt is made for you to wear as you stand in solidarity with the earthquake victims and their families. For each purchase of this shirt, $10 will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross as they provide relief aid during this difficult time. Due to the large number of orders, please allow 4 to 5 business days for production.
日本の救援活動のサポートにデザインされたこのＴシャツは、地震で被害にあわれた被災者とその家族への支援を意味しています。この地震への支援として、Ｔシャツが売れるたびに１０ドルが日本赤十字社に寄付されます。大量生産をご注文の際は、製作に４～５営業日をいただいております。

Special Edition Csipke Collectible T-shirt from Zazzle.com

Special Edition Csipke Collectible T-shirt by dobi_gabor
View other Hungarian T-Shirts

Do you like folk dance ? Would you like to dance just for fun ? Then join this club

Hungarian &; Balkan Folk Dancing
Every Tuesday evening 7-9 PM

Folk Dance Club in the French Cultural Centre with circle dances from Hungary, Romania and other Balkan countries. Open for everyone, no previous experience necessary.

Contact: Csilla Szenti, 33866314, csilla.szenti@gmail.com for more info and directions

I heart fondue aprons from Zazzle.com

I heart fondue by almawad
Design your own aprons online" apron on Zazzle

Yesterday we went to the Food Festival behind the Exhibition Center.It was not exactly the gourmet event I expected. A bunch of 5 star hotels were offering junk food like hamburgers ,French fries etc .For the real gourmet dishes one have to go around all the tents and hunt .First I
ordered for myself a beef sausage with Sauer Kraut from hotel Kempinksi Suites( or something like that) They gave me a decent sized fried sausage, so much French Fries but I saw no Sauer Kraut at all. When I inquired as to where the SauerKraut was , then they pointed out to a few threads of braised cabbage under the sausage. Sausages were great hit for the children and I had to order them 2 more portions . The chef was very proud of himself:) My husband bought some Goulash which was sold for him as German dish :) or :( ..It was a stew with rice ..really not very much Hungarian)

Then I ordered swiss raclette from the Movenpick hotel, which was a decent fondue with melted swiss ? cheese - tiny boiled unpeeled potatoes and a hint of pickled veggies.. it was good as it was ..While having the fondue my husband brought me some fantastic ,subtle flavored herb tea ... but he had forgotten at which tent he bought it ...

The sushi at Dana club was an easily forgettable experience. The raspberry cream in tiny cups at Le macron was fine but giving five riyals for a thimbleful fruit cream !It was not the deal I expected here ! The tiramisu was of decent size - I just missed the flavor of coffee from that dessert .

Malay cuisine was featured at one hotel's tent - there was a large crowd of Malays there I saw some weird green candy were taken.I saw Latino dishes at other hotel ...

We just had something to eat and we spent 100 riyals quickly . It was nice spring weather - it was outdoors - every hotel brought some of their seats so there were chic nice places to sit around and relax ..from the heralded fun programs for kids we saw only an empty stage between 3pm and 5pm on Friday..

Food Festival this weekend at The Exhibition Center Doha

It sounds very nice deal .For the gourmet at least .Great restaurants are offering their dishes  at very low prices .The most expensive one is only 15 riyal .This is  the second year this event is held and it is already very popular .Take your family for a culinary adventure at low cost !


Wednesday - 4pm-10.30pm; Thursday - 12pm-10:30pm; Friday and Saturday - 1pm-10:30pm; Sunday - 12pm-10:30pm.

Qatar in 1971. Extract from

After seeing the Aspire Tower you can have a look at 1970's film when everything was much much simpler in Qatar .

Aspire Tower by almawad
Large format printing by Zazzle

Did you Know ?

Aspire Tower has 51 floors and it is 300 metres tall
The tallest building in Qatar
It was designed by Hadi Simaan

Sipping Soda Greeting Cards from Zazzle.com

Sipping Soda by Memory_Lane
Shop for a greeting card on zazzle.com

Who has the most beautiful Hat ?

Do you like vintage fashion ? Do you like horse races ? Do you like contests ?
Then you must participate at the hat contest organized by Racing and Equestrian Club .
When : 24th February from 03:30 pm to 06:00 pm
Where: Racing and Equestrian Club ,Al Rayyan racetrack

Registration : by e-mail patriciamusial@hotmail.com

More info :Patricia Musial

Mobile: 974 55536839

Qatar 2022's First Five Stadiums - impressive presentation of the five futuristic football stadium to be built in Qatar .

Egypt Is Free! Poster from Zazzle.com

Egypt Is Free! by MarkSkull
View more Free egypt Posters

the words of the desinger

"

True Democracy has come to Egypt!

On February 11th, 2011, the people of Egypt did what very few people imagined was possible: They peacefully forced their dictator of 30 years, Mubarak, to resign and hand over his power to someone else! The hope? That this will be the start of something big! That this will be the dawning of a new age fore the people of Egypt full of democracy and freedom! When I created my original "Free Egypt" poster, I had no idea that the people of Egypt would be able to achieve something so amazing so fast! My heart goes out to the people of Egypt and I sincerely hope that this works out for the best!"

Dhows in West Bay, Qatar Greeting Card from Zazzle.com

Dhows in West Bay, Qatar by PaulCowan
Shop for greeting cards at zazzle.com

Dhows with their lateen sails illuminated moored in West Bay, Doha, Qatar, Jan 2011


I just stumbled upon this great photo at zazzle .I am happy that I am not alone there taking photos around here and publishing them for sale .I like the contrast .Look at the the modernity of the new buildings and the ancient sail boat .This is a very exciting era here .Everything is changing .You can capture many things like that .

一番 by almawad
Design your shirt at zazzle

Japan won the Asian Football Cup in Doha yesterday .They played against Australia .
Not everything went well . Some fans with valid tickets were not allowed inside .Some people complained about the fireworks which hurt kids ....Qatarliving forum is full of threads like this ..
Actually there were thousands of fans who were barred from the stadium by police in full riot gear
Read more:  http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1594568#ixzz1CVfikGAd

Imagine how those fans feel who came all the way from Japan or Australia ....

after the prayer posters from Zazzle.com

after the prayer by almawad
View more Prayer Posters

An illuminated mosque in Doha Qatar after the last prayer of the day . Original photo poster by Alma Wad .It was taken in the Cultural Village /Katara .Available in four different sizes .

There will be Japanese "Yosakoi" Dance performance at Aspire Fan Zone (behind Hyatt Plaza) with below schedule:

21-Jan (Fri), 22:00-24:00
22-Jan (Sat), 14:00-16:00

the event is organized by Qatar Vision
Ms. Hala Omar Hashisho
tel. 4447-6660

Great  event to see after the Friday Japanese match .

more cultural programs will be on at Katara and Souq Waqif  See details here

Nippon Sunrise by almawad
See a different custom invitation on zazzle

 According to the Hungarian  paper Nepszabadsag  the first direct flight between Doha Budapest landed in Ferihegy airport ,Budapest some days ago .Four flights a week for the time being but it can be increased into daily flights within a half year .
Great news for us .  Hopefully their prices will be attractive too .

football mania in qatar print from Zazzle.com

football mania in qatar by almawad
More Football Posters

As Qatar was a bidding nation for the World Football Cup in 2022 the public places like Aspire park were decorated by giant footballs .They became the winner so you can expect to see these balls if you visit before 2022 .Original photo by Alma Wad .

Flag of Qatar Ornament from Zazzle.com

Flag of Qatar by almawad
Browse other Flag Ornaments

New designs in Alma Wad's shop gifts with the Qatari flag : ceramic ornaments . silver jewelry , iphone case and more ... just click on the image to see them .

brand new beach poster from Zazzle.com

Brand New Beach in Doha

It is at the New Cultural Village .Near Exhibition Center .
Daily Pass: 100 QR
Children : 25 QR ( special offer )
Family member ship : 7000QR/year(child=bellow 16 years)
Why all these sounds so unfair ?
I had expected that it would be the new municipality beach -that had been promised long ago ...
Now -this one turns out just a new place for the upper ten .

And it is long - nearly two kilometers -but no any private place for ladies - though the guys who are selling the membership claim that a part of the beach is preserved only for women ...

Made in Qatar Fair

Place : Exhibition Center
Date :4-7th January 2011

abayas ,jalabiyas ,evening gowns ,hats ,sheilas ,t-shirts ,hair accessories ,bags ,jeans ,evening suits ,

Africa exhibition at Katara

It was rather sad /genocides ,wars , famines .Some half naked tribal girls and child laborers for a change . Though kids were allowed to enter it was really not for them .It ends tomorrow .

Happy 2011 by almawad
Shop for greeting cards at zazzle.com

 The largest cake of the world was made in Qatar the other day .It was part of Qatar National Day celebrations and a five star hotel was involved .The total weight was 1.7 tonnes .New Guinness World Record was set .
Only one question remained unanswered . Who were the lucky ones who ate the cake ?

Qatar National Day

Have a nice weekend . There will be a lots of programs for kids at  the Corniche - near Sheraton park , at a tower building .Fireworks and fountains with laser show ... Military parade and old boats show .

Check the details here .

I am going to attend only morning programs  .In the afternoon things may get out of control - like it was last year .

Doha is full of empty  buildings nowadays .Rents are still high compared to salaries .Many Asian families share accommodation as they can not afford renting a flat just for them .Expats in Qatar fear that with the coming   World Cup in 2022 in Qatar rents would go higher and higher ...

Qatar 2022 -the Celebration

This little country has big dreams . An we are all amazed how theses dreams coming true . Good Luck with the 2022 World Cup ! May it bring prosperity and union for all the area !

You can learn art and you can teach art in Qatar . I took photos at an art exhibition at the Tribeca film festival . This was in the tent of International Academy for Intercultural Development

You can contact them to learn more about their art courses .

middle east sunrise ipad skins

middle east sunrise iphone 3 skins

middle east sunrise iphone 4 case

Falconry in Qatar is an old tradition . These birds can be bought at the souq /bazar .We saw this man with a falcon at the heritage tent at Tribeca film festival

ipad / iphone cases with photos from Qatar
 by Alma Wad
Fully customizable speck cases with a photo background . It was taken in Doha , Qatar in 2009 by Alma Wad.Great gift for architects , for  Qatar expats and for  nationals and for the lovers of modern architecture .
For more details click on the image








According to my experiences it takes 3 -4 weeks to arrive.It comes from the US .If you happen to be in the US it will be only question of days to get it .
And a great thanks to the great number of customers from Texas and recently from Italy who keep buying my photo art on Qatar .It seems to me that they had been living here  a day .

New Beach in Qatar

It looked amazing . Like a dream . Well maintained beach with colorful parasols beach beds and seats - flag systems , slides for the kids in the water and WC and showers and so on . As you were walking at a famous French riviera beach . It was not open yet . It was not clear when would it open . Some signs said that one can use it from 9 am to sunset . It was not clear either if it was for the grand public or it would belong to a club . But the size of it - 2km perhaps or more - makes one think of a public facility . I do not think  it is possible to make a women only day  -as it is by the edge of the Cultural Village -also known Katara . However if it opens for us - ordinary people- it will be a great step ahead .

Important dates

November 16 2010 EID in Qatar and GCC
December 2  2010 the Decision will be revelead on the location of football worldcup 2022

December 18th Qatar's National Day

Happy Diwali - Card by cycreation
View all other greeting cards on Zazzle

Sunset in Doha Bay by almawad
See more Sunset Posters

Tribeca Film Festival - Family Day 2010


It was the second festival . Last year the free screening and family day was held on the Corniche at the Museum of Islamic art .This year in the brand new Cultural Village in the outskirts of Doha.Oh my so so much concrete ! Last year we were in the city still near the nature .There were enough seats for everyone .This year we were not allowed to see the free screening . No more seats was the answer .The open air theatre was a huge structure - not very kid or family friendly . You had to climb  so many steps and it looked frightening . Last year I bought some Middle Eastern stuffed cabbage from local women .It was cheap and delicious . This year we saw a lots of exclusive restaurants . Nowhere the traditional local women selling their dishes from their hot pots .Last year on the family day there was a Hungarian - Iraqi cartoon on . This year there was a Disney film on .I thought that film festivals are for films which can not be seen too often on tv .Now as they brought this Disney film - you did not have the feeling that you see something special .There were a lots of programs organized to have this festival feel . We managed to see some and they were really good . We got a program guide only there to see that we missed a lots of other performances .
Well guys , you wanted to make this festival and family day very good and perfect event and it was spoilt by your good will - I had this feel .Everything became too posh too artificial .And heard many people asking each other" But where is Adel Imam ?"

Karwa was celebrating itself . I read in the Peninsula . The company is a success story .
Though they know that there are problems .Not everything is solved but they say that  there are enough taxis on the roads .
Are there ?
 Where are they ? Today I had an appointment  .I started to  wait for a taxi in Bin Mahmoud at 8:30 .Hundreds of cars were speeding on the busy roads .  I might have seen five taxis altogether  - none of them were available .Where are the taxis at this  time from the roads ? Are the drivers sleeping ?After one hour I gave up . I had to cancel my appointment . I was irresponsible not ordering 24 hours before a taxi .
Karwa is a success story . Success for who ?

 The other day I had to visit an embassy in the West Bay . The driver was new - and  could not find the place though I gave him exact address which number , what square . We were riding here and there  half an hour in the darkness .Finally we found a jogger who could help us . The cost was nearly double of the expected cost. Guess who had to pay  that !
Yes  be prepared if you ride a taxi in Doha you have to show the way to the driver . They are not educated before sending them to drive . They are new . They has just arrived and might leave soon as Singapore is a more attractive place for a driver .New ones are coming and leaving soon .
On the other hand the roads are full of illegal drivers  offering a ride . I had to turn down minimum ten guys during one hour .I do not dare to ride with them .It is not their beard or their  traditional clothes that disturbs me . Just that they are not registered and can not be controlled .They should get an official rank .They are the ones who know Doha and who are ready to live here .

Red sludge disaster near my hometown

We always loved to draw with those red pebbles and stones when we were children in Veszprem county , Hungary .Now it reminds me to that terrible disaster  which happened a week ago . You must have heard about the alumina factory which reservoir was overfilled and the toxic sludge poured on a village in the hills bellow the alumina plant 5-6kms .The Luck that it happened at lunch time  and not at night , This way most of the villagers had chance -around 20 seconds - to climb on a tree ,rooftops ,fence . Those living in lower part had less chance . Luckily the children were at school which was in an upper area . But the small ones were at home . Some of them died as their parents simply had no time or way to save them .They were drifted by the sludge which was burning their skins ...One mother told she had around 20 second to understand what was going on  and catch her little child put her on the top of a cupboard and then she was already burning  - she was standing  in the sludge until waste . as she was sure  she was going to die - she managed to grab her mobile and called her husband to tell him goodbye and begging him to try to save their kid  who was on the top of the cupboards surrounded by the toxic sludge . It was impossible to enter the village - the husband called the neighbours who rushed to save them . Everybody was saved  - though they pay the price  -suffering of burns ....
 This case was full nice of uplifting stories .Firefighters and policemen working hard to save lives ....
When the sludge dries it will turn into a toxic powder . People of three towns should leave everything behind ... and move and build a new place ....
The managers owners of the alumina plants are millionaires . Their greed caused that disaster .They should pay as soon as possible .They should be forced to pay .
Instead of that  money is begged here and there .I was shocked to see that money is  asked by our consul  here in Qatar for those victims .It is always nice to help however  the greatest help  would be if we Hungarians got rid of those corrupt people who grabbed  important factories ,facilities  20 years ago  then they irresponsibility causes danger  all the time .They are greedy in a revolting   way . Now this was a wake up call for all of us . We have to care about public issues  and not to burry our heads into the sand .
 

Royal Plaza at Eid . I love the look of this art deco structure at any time of the year but their festive image is so uplifting ! Five star for the designer !

Torch Tower in Doha Qatar illuminated for Eid - as I managed to capture that two weeks ago ...

Qatar News Agency

Again a building in good condition is being pulled down ...

Doha Film Institute is currently looking for extras to appear in two projects to be filmed on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. All roles are voluntary (not paid), but they will provide refreshments on the day, and you will be able to see the finished project on 100s of cinema screens around the gulf. If you are interested in being involved, please drop an email to casting/-a-t-/dohafilminstitute.com
It was someone who signed James and posted this  this ad at Qatarliving . It sounds good fun .

So the Eid is over . At least my husband had to go to work .It is still very hot . So we had organized indoor programs . So did the other 1 .6 million people in the country .But we were not surprised . Crowds everywhere . It is just Eid . Not a catastrophe .The special offer rush at Lulu was a little bit too much to handle . We saw an ad about lap tops . Special offer . We arrived at Lulu at 5 to 5 .. Others saw the ads as well .There was a large crowd in front of the mall . Most of them labourers . I do not think that they have no right to enter .They should have a place . And it is Lulu .I felt we were the intruders .We wished to get to the desired item to check it out - but there were too many people staring at them ..reading the details and dreaming .It was hard job to get it then to arrive to the cashier and to pay then to go out from the LuLu. I thanked God that family days exist at other malls .
We took the kids to ice rinks ,amusement parks . We  went to Sealine . Jammed roads .Arriving late at slow pace . The rescue helicopter had just landed near us . We just hoped that it was precaution and everybody survived the holidays .( It reminded me M7 the motorway to lake Balaton .)Being late there we could not see the blue sea -but we saw at night a very special thing in the sky . The moon and the Day Star were in very special constellation .Very close to each other . I kept taking photos - but I do no think that I managed to capture the thing .


While we were eating out we heard Hungarian talk .My kids were all excited but I was too tired to check those people out . I am always happy to meet nice , simple intelligent people . I   am just  tired by many bad experiences in the past eight years.Somebody reading this might think that I am a terrible person .I have a lots of very good friend in Hungary and a few in Doha . I had met in Doha before Hungarian people who are able to hold conversation on their four wheelers and similar topics during hours - speaking Hungarian with a lots of mistake ( an being proud of their ignorance ) and not speaking really any other language thus not being able to understand what is going on around them  but judging very harshly other nations living here . Many of my fellow Hungarians are real Mezga Geza and Paula . I would have never thought before that there was so much truth in that cartoon ...

eid mubarak by akhilesh
Learn how to sell artwork online at zazzle.com

art courses in Qatar         Mme Dhamiya Brandone - watercolor course tel 5563 97 10 or e-mail brandone/-a-t-/qatar.net.qa
 Her workshop is somewhere near Ramada hotel . Her courses are for adults .

Dar al Founoun art school  - Souq Waqif -5519 3224.( not sure if it still working)


Cafe Ceramique  - in case you are interested in ceramic painting
Laurence Hamenthienne drawing and painting workshop 5514 74 24 e-mail: halaurence/-a-t-/hotmail.com

Jannie van der Hagen drawing and painting course 5504 10 57 e-mail : rademaker.vanderhagen/-a-t-/gmail.com  Her courses are held at her workshop behind  Lanmdmark's Carrefour .She is open to teach anyone eager to study art .

The Talents Center Mme Rolande Gerges 5505 63 33
fine art courses for ladies and kids

Visual Art Center
Phone : +974 4467 8864 ext 231
Location : Al Hilal West, Near Mall round-about
Various workshops in painting, drawing, design, ceramics, graphic design and photography

Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/17786#ixzz15tqx6asR

Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar organizes non-credit community classes in art .All classes are open to both women and men and unless otherwise noted are taught in English at the Recreation & Sports Center located within Education City on Al Luqta Street, Doha. More info about  their courses  here .

SPRING 2011

Drawing Basics

Instructor: Jennifer Mock
Sundays and Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:30 PM
February 6 – March 15, 2011 (12 classes)
Fee: $330 (QR 1200)
Room: 266

Ceramic Mosaics

Instructor: Zaineb Balasem Yasser
Sundays and Tuesdays, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
February 6 – March 8, 2011 (10 classes)
Fee: $275 (QR 1000)
Room: 172

Color in Interior and Fashion

Instructor: Manjulakshmi
Sundays and Fridays, 5:30 – 7:00 PM (12 classes)
February 6 – March 18, 2011
Fee: $330 (QR 1200)
Room: 255

Intro to Fashion Design

Instructor: Manjulakshmi
Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 - 7:30 PM (12 classes)
February 6 – March 17, 2011
Fee: $330 (QR 1200)
Room: 255

Intro to Fashion Drawing - Level 2
nstructor: Don Earley
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
February 7 – March 9, 2009
Fee: $275 (QR 1000)
Room 241

Clay Sculpture and Pottery

Instructor: Zaineb Balasem Yasser
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
February 7 – March 9, 2011 (10 classes)
Fee: $275 (QR 1000)
Room: 172

Design Your Home

Instructor: Manjulakshmi
Tuesdays and Saturdays, 7:00 - 9:00 PM (16 classes)
February 8 – April 2, 2011
Fee: $440 (QR 1600)
Room: 255

and more courses Read ABOUT THEM HERE

eat ,sleep .art by almawad
More Eat T-Shirts

Ramadan in Qatar

Art Collage by Alma Wad(aka me)

Ramadan in Qatar by almawad
See other ""poster designs on zazzle.com

  This art poster features an intricate Islamic lamp with the view of the modern city in the background at sunset .It shows the modern and traditional side of this country in the Middle East . The poster is available in five different sizes .

 

How was it made ?

Picasa is a free image editor - that you can download at google.com . It can make collages .I chose multiple exposure option  and played with transparency untilI got the desired image.Orignally the photos were taken  on the Corniche and in the Pearl Island .

 

If you are interested in art and photos  you can read in my next post about the posibilites in Qatar .

Petrol Dollars Blessing or Curse ?
Aljazeera tv channel

Giving Birth in Qatar

 The other day there was simply no bed available in the delivery room for mothers in labour ....
 here is what the peninsula qatar writes 

A couple of days ago, procedures at Women’s Hospital, which sees more than 50 births each day, came to a standstill. The emergency services were stuck, the labour room was jammed and the inpatient beds were all occupied.
The reason was that some of the inpatients who had been discharged and were fit to go home were waiting in their beds until their families felt it necessary to move them. Due to lack of inpatient beds, post-natal women had to wait in their delivery beds in the labour room. Since all the delivery beds were thus occupied, women with labour pains could not be admitted and hence delivered in the Emergency Unit.
“Who has to be blamed here? When doctors say patients are fit to go home, we are responsible for them. We are not pushing them; we just need to make space for an equally important patient. Is it not unfair to leave a woman in labour spasm to deliver in the emergency,” asks Dr Halima Al Tamimi, Chairperson, Gynaecology & Obstetrics Department, Women’s Hospital.



I am really worried .One of my friend is expecting a baby ...Will she get a bed for delivery and after ?

Programs for kids during Ramadan :

 It seems to me that at the Islamic Art Museum there is  a program called Treasure Trail for kids between the age 6 -16 ..

You can visit the museum after iftar on Thursdays and on Saturday  between 8 - 11 pm

 Here is more detail about their timing

The Children Treasure Trail Competition will be running during the holy month of Ramadan.

Museum of Islamic Art Ramadan Timings:
Sunday – Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m.
Friday: CLOSED
Sat: 10:00 am – 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m.

Please note that Museum of Islamic Art will be closed on the first day of EID.

  Tribeca Film Festival

Volunteer Recruitment and Orientation: September 15 - October 14.
Mandatory Department Training Days: October 9 & October 16
Doha Tribeca Film Festival: October 26 – 30

One of my child was working there last year . The festival itself was great and we plan to visit it again . But this volunteer recruitment and orientation was rather time consuming  and without giving much useful information .
Come here go there  -but it was not understood well what for . So she refuses to volunteer again as she can not  spend so much time on all those  trainings ..However if you do not mind the time then  give it a try ...They distribute promotional stuffs like tees etc . you will be invited to exclusive movie shows and to a party  and the work  itself can be interesting  and emotionally rewarding .I think it is a great adventure after all .

I can’t believe it ! Zazzle sent me the e-mail yesterday that Alma Wad is a pro seller at Zazzle . I am very happy . A thing that I did not hope at all when I started to set up my shop at Zazzle .

For this occasion Zazzle sent me a $30 coupon gift and I can read and discuss at the proseller’s forum .I can use the icon of prosellers . That is all the changes that I noticed for the time being .

I think this blog helped me a lot with the promotion and I hope that it will help in the future !

Intricate Islamic Floor Lamp by akhilesh
See other fine art prints on zazzle

Ramadan Karim

 the fasting month has started on 11th August in 2010

timing at many places change  at this period 

most of the big supermarkets open at 9 am and they close only at 1 am - so they are open all the day - they  have one hour break only  on Fridays
( Family Food Centre  closing at 4 30 pm and reopens only at 7 pm)


Health Centers open at 8 am   and  there is no service in the afternoons   they reopen at 7 pm to close at 11 pm

 boutiques - if you feel like shopping in the plazas during ramadan then you can do it from 10 am till 12 /12 30 am  all the afternoon they remain closed only to reopen  at 7or 8 pm 


post office : from 8 am till 12  in the mornings
 in the afternoons there is no service
 they reopen at 8 pm  to close at midnight


Qtel : from 10 am to 3 pm
          from 8 pm 11:30 pm





P.S. if you need a stock photo for your ramadan posts you can find a lot around here :www.fotonium.com

AQUAPARK IN QATAR

  It is going to open soon  - at least for Eid  . It is a bit far from Doha .  16 km from the Ain Khalid roundabout driving along the Salwa road .What to expect there ? Lazy river ,1,500 square -metre activity area for kids ,giant wave pool where you can surf  ,food court to have lunch .  It costs 100 rial per person .For kids under five it is free .Tuesday is ladies only day   - Friday is for families.

Sounds like  great fun ! :) We have expected  it for so  long .
Update Finally the park opened only after Eid .Friday, 24 September 2010 .Nobody spoke about Ladies only days anymore ...

Can you believe that a taxi drives away with all your shopping bags in the back of the taxi then  after one hour he comes back then he wants you to pay for  that ?
Well , that is what exactly happened to  us . I had just left the  taxi and wanted to open the back of the car when he drove away and left me in  the middle of the road . He forgot the bags obviously . Then I called the karwa supervisors  - they wanted to know all sorts of things about me and my bags  - that had nothing to see with the matter .But finally they found the forgetful driver .

I expected him to apologize but at my greatest shock he wanted me to pay for his coming back .I was furious  I told  him my mind . But he would not get hurt  and would not go away . He was just standing there  in front of our house .


Finally my husband gave him some money .You can laugh at us -but it was so disturbing to see that he was ready to camp in front of our house for the want of 25 riyals . ...


Things like that happen only in Qatar I think .

While I was away from Qatar two important things happened in July .

1. There was an earthquake with the epicenter around 300 km from Doha .It was 5.8 .
It seems to me that very few people noticed that at all .

2 .All telephone numbers changed into 8 digit numbers in a way that you have to add the first digit one more time ... for example if you call karwa then in stead of 458 8888 you have to use 4458 8888 .
  Both landline and mobile phones changed this way .

Perhaps you need a new business card then with this change !:) Here is one of my bestseller:


 

I have not been able to write for a while . There was a bug and I had not been able to post .

I was back to Hungary and I compared the two countries all the time .  
 

It was rather hot there as well and  no AC at most homes . The days were longer even at 9 30 it was daylight . I think  this is the thing I miss the most when  it is  summer  in Qatar . It is early   and it is totally dark at 6 .Mcdonald's in Hungary is selling all kinds of healthy food :  fruit , cheese bars ,grilled chicken breast with salad ,muesli with yoghurt . 
Health service in Hungary is still not very well organized . It is still better in Qatar . It was not a surprise .Just I was shocked when at emergency  my adult child was asked to pay around  $50 for the treatment . I had always thought that emergency is something free everywhere  .

Summer entertainments are numerous in Hungary festivals all the time .
Here I saw no clue having something like that.

Hungarian Vacations by almawad
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It is nice in Qatar that dogs and there owners right is not above humans'. In Hungary you can see so many big ,dangerous dogs  without the prescribed protections .Nobody cares though there have been so many tragedies .
My kids enjoyed seeing frogs , spiders  , fruit on  trees / and my preschoolers noticed that women outnumber men in Hungary while in Qatar just the opposite .












All in all it was a nice holiday and a nice return .I have a nice spacious home  here and  I have  some friends  and we  can work and have a comfortable life .

criminal negligence  of a private mini van driver leaves another little child dead  Dammam , Saud Arabia  June 2010  

It seems that we did not shout  loud enough  when Sarah Gazdhar died in May ,2010 in Doha ,Qatar .
Not loud enough to be heard in  Saud Arabia

I do not wish to fill my blog with such tragic news  - but i can not stay silent when our kids life is so cheap . The story is the same : driver is too lazy to check the rear end of the bus . There is no attendant  -it is not a school van ,anyway .Little Fida Harris was found dead five hours later .


School transportation should be  reorganized  in the area ! Only dedicated drivers should be allowed to drive  kids to school / They should be trained   about the special challenges of transporting kids ! And because  the danger of death is so high in the hot weather those  buses should be checked by three different persons when arriving at the school !

500.000  riyal  fine for the school  where a five year old was forgotten on the bus .

 This happened in October ,2009 . The poor little girl  was sleeping at the rear end of the bus . A driver  was lazy to check that place . A school was too greedy to spend money on a bus attendant . The result  :   she was found in terrible conditions five hours later .Doctors were fighting for her life during days .Luckily she survived . It was October .Not as hot as May .She is still suffering from psychological problems .No wonder .
The driver got two year jail  and fined to 10. 000 riyal  which  is more than  the income of a year for a driver .
Shame on every school  where the life of  our kids is so cheap ! It was the Tunesian  School in Doha .

It was cool the other day in Doha . It was hot in Hungary the other day .It was around 36 C  there and here 38 C.
In Hungary the government warned people to stay inside and listed public places with air conditioning where anybody was free to enter and cool down .Roads were sprayed with water ...Free bottles of water were distributed in the streets .


Here nothing special .It is just June . School buses still come and go for some schools . Their badly working air conditioning  does not disturb the school managements usually .

Good news In Doha

 We happened to go for shopping to the New Lulu the other day . As we came home we noticed that the new motorway is made .It was like flying ... no  traffic jam , no roundabouts no cross  no junctions . We made  two third of our way to home   on that new motorway .  Then we had to  turn into the usual jammed roads . At snail pace !

Museum of Islamic Art by almawad
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Museum of Islamic Art is a very interesting building . If you are interested in architecture then the building itself is worth a visit . it is built in a man made island by the seaside promenade called  Corniche around here . The architect had been studying the islamic architecture for years before proposing this building design .  The result is a modern building with traditonal elements reminding one to famous  Mosques . 

It has got court with fountains and arches ... Refreshing and elegant .

court with fountains by almawad
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Turkish Vase by almawad
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 and it has got a lots of old objects to see ....


if you have not been to the museum yet
 I can highly recommend  to visit it ! 

Sarah Gazdhar , the four year old  , the one who was forgotten on the school bus was burried  in Doha.We just feel so bad and helpless . We adopted her into our heart . It feels a little bit as she was our child .

Many people keep asking why did it happen .So do I .
Answer number one : it can be that drivers or bus supervisors simply do not understand that locking someone into a bus or car in this heat can be very quickly fatal . They should be educated by videos to make them understand  how dangerous it is.

IN this video one can see  how quickly temperature rises inside the car . it is 27 C outside  and after one hour it is  over 50 C .
One can imagine how it is when the outside temperature is over 40 C . Plus children 's body get hot much faster than adult's .
In fact - it is so big danger around here that some minutes is enough and kids are baked inside a locked vehicle .
 The danger is so big  in the heat of Qatar that a system should be  done to be sure that no one will be left there .

 My child  had attended a small nursery  with 70 children and one bus . The place was not perfect but the principal took this issue very seriously . She did not trust the life of kids on untrained drivers and helpers . Every day she checked the bus personally  at arriving and at leaving . She registered personally who arrived and who left .
With big schools this system  does not work .Still there are other ideas  to use .

School Buses in Qatar

 Doha has got  very large number of students . Big ones and small ones .At the same time Doha's expat population is not steady . Many people come and go . So do the drivers   so do the teachers  and  bus attendants.
 When we trust our children on a school we have no option to check the driver  and the bus attendant if they are reliable persons .The school management  should do this job .


But it seems that they are  simply not interested . My child went to DPS MIS school for summer camp . She had a great time there  and  I believed that she is  at  the careful hands of professional adults . It was only after the camp that my six year old mentioned that once she fell asleep on the bus  and found herself alone and closed for some time . Luckily the driver came back  to check something then she was set free . Another time another little boy found himself forgotten in the bus . He managed to jump out through  a window .
He was a little bit bigger . The four year old Sarah Ghazdar was not so lucky . The driver did not come back and she could not set herself free . A little child died . She could have been yours  or ours .


Why ? Because schools are not supervised properly .Because bus drivers do not get proper training on their duties .Because bus attendants   do not care either  and many times simply the school does not  hire any .Because the drivers and attendants come from countries where they are not taught to think independently . They are taught only  to respect and follow ... and their common sense  is simply not working ...


Sorry to say so . But I am angry . I am furious .

A Little Girl who did not return home from school


It was just another school day at the kindergarten . Looking forward to meeting friends and having a day full of fun , singing , numbers,colors , rhyme .

For Sarah Gazdhar it was the last one . Somebody  forgot to check the school bus  after arriving .  A simple one minute job .Sarah fell asleep and was forgotten  there . It was 40 C outside . The bus was closed for four and half an hour . She  must had a terrible death .


That is the story .
It could have been your child or mine .
And the bus will come tomorrow and we will let our kids to school . Praying  that someone will not fail to do this one minute job .Hoping that no child will be left on the bus .

I found a gift shop in Islamic art museum it was selling neckties with patterns of famous traditional Islamic art .As a necktie designer myself I was pleased with their idea. There were also different kinds of  wrap paper with the same pattern on sale in case you like the pattern just do not wish to pay for a tie 130 QAR .

I found some hand painted china in cream color with golden motifs .They are nice presents .Just they are not cheap .  There were also  some cheaper mugs with printed motifs . Not as special as these ones but still they make a nice Middle Eastern souvenir .
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But best of all I liked this oval plate with calligraphy on it . It is a real exclusive piece . If they had a cheaper version I would buy it .







They are offering t-shirts with calligraphy .umbrellas ,posters , cards ,jewels whatever you would expect from a gift shop to sell.


The Museum itself is open between 10:30 and 5 30 entrance is free . It is on the Corniche

Pearl exhibition

It is on at Islamic Art Museum until the 5th of July . You can see a lots of pearls . Natural ones and cultivated ones .Pink , white , cream , golden ,black .From Qatar ,from Panama , from Australia , from the Philippines ,from Japan .The natural ones come in small cups and dishes -the cultivated ones by buckets . The heydays of pearl fishing around here was from 1850 -1940 . The era when the rich Westerner and Indian maharajas all wanted to decorate themselves and their surroundings by pearls . Then the pearl beds were depleted -then came Mikimoto the Japanese inventor with his cultivated pearls . The natural pearls are never as regular in shape as the cultivated ones . You can see a lots of jewels Indian dresses , Coco Chanel 's dress , Indian carpets all decorated by pearls . You can read a lots of interesting things on the pearls . It is rather dark inside the rooms and there is some mysterious music which made my preschooler feel uncomfortable .My bigger kid enjoyed it and found it relaxing .

It was worth the 20 riyal we payed for the tickets - for kids it was free ..

The Building of the museum itself is worth a visit ..but about that I am planning to write another article .

No photos were allowed inside the pearl rooms :(

Casol square silk scarf - Princess Grace Kelly style


Some vintage summer fashion from the era of Grace Kelly when wearing a scarf over the head was not banned in any European countries  from the era when France was not so restrictive and paranoid about a piece of clothes to cover the head  It was simply chic .

O tempora! O mores

!

Alma Wad's neckties for summer



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PLACIDO DOMINGO IN QATAR 2010

According to the official site of the singer the concert will take place at the PEARL QATAR - MARSA ARABIA

DATE : 13 th of May 2010
 TIME -7 pm  - from 6 pm onwards
Tickets : Virgin Megastore   -for more info call 
(+974)  4135823/4135824

online ticket 
350 - 600 -1200 rial 

Event : Antologia de la Zarzuela

Qatar ,the multicultural

This video features an international cultural night at CMU -Q ( an American University in Qatar ) -th performers are not professionals but simple students ..

If you love photography  then just have a look at the submitted images of the photo competition of the British Council .

2044    


is the year when the hatchlings of turtles will return
to the shores of Qatar to lay eggs at the same place where they saw the daylight themselves